12 Facts About Andrew Forman

Andrew Forman was probably the son of Nicholas Forman of Hutton in Berwickshire, and Jonet Blackadder.

Andrew Forman was educated at the University of St Andrews graduating as a Licentiate of the Arts in 1483.

King James's foreign policy was directed at bringing peace to Europe, and although Andrew Forman obtained many high offices in the church, his primary role was as a senior emissary in the service of the king; a role that saw him receive generous royal and papal gifts and required Andrew Forman to spend extended periods in Rome, Paris and London.

In 1502, Bishop Andrew Forman concluded the Treaty of Perpetual Peace with England at Richmond Palace.

Andrew Forman was then appointed as a commissioner to oversee the exchange of the ratified marriage treaties at the courts of Henry and James.

In that year, Andrew Forman became commendator of Dryburgh Abbey, and in 1511 he tried unsuccessfully to obtain the commendatorship of the wealthy Kelso Abbey.

Andrew Forman did not rush to France's side but continued to send Forman on his shuttle diplomacy missions to try to conciliate the opposing demands of Pope Julius II and King Louis XII.

Andrew Forman had little freedom of action as a ruling council, consisting of James Beaton, archbishop of Glasgow and chancellor, Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, and James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran, were appointed to rule the country.

Andrew Forman instructed his ambassador John Battista to take control of the see of St Andrews on Cibo's behalf but the governing council of Scotland prevented his entry to the country.

Andrew Forman was highly regarded at the courts of Europe and this respect did not go unrewarded.

Andrew Forman's standing with Henry VIII was good in his early reign when the bishop was central in renewing the Treaty of Perpetual Peace and later in his attempts at mediation between the English and French kings.

MacDougall explains that Andrew Forman was one of the main participants in the peace treaty of 1502, its renewal in 1509 and his opposition to the renewal of the alliance with France in 1508; he goes on to say that it would have been inconceivable that the king could be manoeuvred into a position that was against his own wishes.