11 Facts About Patrick Adamson

Patrick Adamson was a Scottish divine, and Archbishop of St Andrews from 1575.

Patrick Adamson was released only through the intercession of Queen Mary and other senior Scots nobility, thereafter relocating with his pupil to read law at the University of Bourges.

At the time of the 1572 St Bartholomew's Day Massacre in Paris, Patrick Adamson had been living under cover at a tavern in Bourges for seven months; its aged landlord was later reportedly thrown from the roof for offering charity to such a "heretic".

In 1572, Patrick Adamson returned to Scotland becoming Minister of Paisley.

Patrick Adamson had already published a catechism of Latin verse dedicated to James VI, which work was highly acclaimed even by his opponents, as well as a Latin translation of the Scots Confession of Faith.

In 1578, Patrick Adamson submitted himself before the General Assembly, procuring a brief respite but the following year fresh accusations were brought against him.

In 1583, Patrick Adamson returned to public service by being posted as Scottish ambassador to the Court of St James's of Elizabeth I of England; whilst in London rumours were spread about his bad behaviour.

Meanwhile, Patrick Adamson had produced the Book of Lamentations, and the Book of Revelation in Latin verse which he dedicated to the king but complained of his harsh treatment.

Patrick Adamson possessed many gifts, being learned and eloquent, but had grave defects of character; however, the "Recantation of Episcopacy " attributed to him is probably spurious.

Patrick Adamson's collected works, prefaced by a favourable panegyric, in the course of which it is said that "he was a miracle of nature, and rather seemed to be the immediate production of God Almighty than born of a woman", were published by his son-in-law, Thomas Wilson, in 1619.

An heraldic memorial to Patrick Adamson survives at the ancient cathedral of St Andrews.