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Archbishop John Spottiswoode: Chancellor of Scotland, 1635–1638

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Allen B. Birchler
Allen B. Birchler
Affiliation:
Mr. Birchier is associate professor of history inWisconsin State University-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin
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Extract

Charles I, King of England and Scotland, appointed John Spottiswoode Chancellor of Scotland on December 23, 1634. This position was the last and highest bestowed upon a man who had served the crown faithfully for over three decades. Spottiswoode was ordained a minister in the Scottish Reformed (Presbyterian?) Church in 1583. In 1604 James named him Archbishop of Glasgow; in 1605, appointed him to the Privy Council; and in 1615, translated him to the Archbishopric of St. Andrews. In this position it fell to Spottiswoode to implement the Scottish ecclesiastical policy of James I, which consisted of an attempt to make the Scottish Kirk more episcopal in form. In the early stages of the transfromation which dealt with structure Spottiswoode was successful. However, in the final analysis, he failed because, even though the Five Articles of Perth which contained the liturgical changes were ratified by the Perth General Asembly of 1616 and by Parliament in 1621, they did not receive general acceptance. Nothing that Spottiswoode did quieted the vocal opposition among the clergy and laity.1 These groups became the nucleus of the opposition to Charles in the 1630s.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 39 , Issue 3 , September 1970 , pp. 317 - 326
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1970

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References

1. Birchler, Allen B., The Five Articles of Perth. (Unpublished M.A. Thesis, University of Nebraska, 1959.)Google Scholar

2. Three authors have written “lives” of John Spottiawoode. Wodrow's, Robert “Collection on the Life of Mr. John Bpottiswoode” printed in Gordon, J. F. S., Scotichronicon, Vol. I (Glasgow: John Tweed, 1867)Google Scholar contains many documents and relates many incidents that occurred during the chancellorship of Spottiswoode, but does not deal in any comprehensive manner with the chancellor. Russell's, N. “Life of the Author” (Spottiswoode) published as a preface to Spottiswoode's History of the Church of Scotland (Edinburgh: Spottiswoode Society, 1847)Google Scholar makes only casual reference to Spottiswoode as chancellor. Russell wrote that Spottiswoode “wanted to resign his high position.” (cxxiv). The author (Bishop Dupppa¶) of the abbreviated life of Spottiswoode prefaced to the 1655 edition of Spottiawoode's, History (London: J. Flesher)Google Scholar devoted two paragraphs to the chancellorship. The author noted that Spottiswoode had been appointed chancellor, served with the “approbation of all” except for some of the clergy, and resigned. Other authors have devoted all or a portion of a work to Spottiswoode but have not attempted to assess his contributions while he was chancellor. These authors are: Cowan, Samuel, The Lord Chancellors of Scotland From The Institution of The Office to The Treaty of Union (Edinburgh: W. and A. K. Johnston, 1911)Google Scholar; Crichton, Joseph, Archbishop John Spottiswoode: 1625–1639 (Unpublished M.A. Thesis, University of Nebraska, 1964)Google Scholar; and Charters and Other Documents Relating to the City of Glasgow A.D. 1175–1646, ed. James D. Marwick (Glasgow: Scottish Burgh Record Society, 1897)Google Scholar. In addition, James Cooper has published two articles concerned exclusively with the chancellor. In neither of these articles does the author attempt to assess the four year chancellorship of Spottiswoode. [Scottish Ecclesiological Society, (New Series), 7 (1923–1924)Google Scholar, and Glasgow Archaelogical Society (New Series), 7 (1924.)]Google Scholar

Many authors have made only slight reference to Spottiswoode as chancellor. Representative samples of this category include the following: Burleigh, J. H. S., A Church History of Scotland (London: Oxford University Press, 1960), p. 213Google Scholar; Wedgwood, C. V., The Great Rebellion: The King's Peace, 1657–1641 (London: Collins, 1955), p. 116Google Scholar; Burton, James Hill, The History of Scotland (Edinburgh: Blackwood and Sons, 1873), VI, 99Google Scholar; Brown, P. HumeHistory of Scotland (Cambridge: University Press, 1912), II, 298Google Scholar; and Laing, Malcolm, The History of Scotland: 1605–1707 (London: J. Mawan, 1804)Google Scholar. Some authors, on the other hand, make no reference to Spottiswoode as chancellor. Representative samples in this category include: Mathew, David, Scotland Under Charles I (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1955)Google Scholar; MacKenzie, Agnes Mure, The Scotland of Queen Mary and the Religious Wars (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1957)Google Scholar; Pryde, George S., Scotland From 1605 to the Present Day (Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1962)Google Scholar; Gardiner, Samuel R., History of England From The Accession of James I, To the Outbreak of the Civil War, 1603–1642 (London: Longmans, Green, and Company, 1901)Google Scholar; and Mathieson, William Law, Politics and Religion. A Study in Scottish History From the Reformation to the Revolution (Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons, 1902).Google Scholar

3. Buchanan, George, History of Scotland, 4 vols. (Glasgow: Blackie, Fullerton and Co., 1827), III, 411Google Scholar. Spottiswoode “solicited, and obtained the succession.” Joseph Chrichton, op. cit., on the other hand, insisted that the primate did not want the office. (111). This latter position is apparently based on a statement made by the chancellor in a letter (dated November 14, 1638¶) to his son in which the elder Spottiswoode stated that he was “more willing (to resign the office) than ever I was to resave it.” Russell, op. cit., I, xivi.

4. Spottiewoode, John, The History of the Church and State of Scotland Beginning The Year 203, and Continued to the End of the Reign of King James VI of Blessed Memory (London: J. Flesher, 1655), p. 504 (Italics mine).Google Scholar

5. John, Earle of Rothes, A Relation of Proceedings Concerning the Affairs of the Kirk of Scotland, from August 1687 to July 1638 (Edinburgh: Bannantyne Club, 1830), p. 10.Google Scholar

6. Spottiswoode, op. cit., p. 540.

7. Sprott, George W., The Booke of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments. Scottish Liturgies of the Reign of James VI (Edinburgh: Edmondaton and Douglas, 1871), iiiGoogle Scholar. (Sprott's source for this information is a letter written by Laud, and reprinted in Troubles and Tryall, p. 169Google Scholar; iii, 328 - Ang. Cat. Lib.)

8. Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts, Relating to English Affairs, Existing in the Archives and Collections of Venice and in Other Libraries of Northern Italy, ed., Allen B. Hinds (London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1923), XXIV, 273.Google Scholar

9. Rushworth, John, Historical Collections, 3 vols. (London; John Wright and Richard Chisweel, 1659–1701), II, 314–15.Google Scholar

10. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, ed. P. Hume Brown, Series 2, 8 vols. (Edinburgh: H. M. General Register House, 1899–1908), VI, 336–37Google Scholar. Hereafter cited as RPC.

11. Baillie, Robert, The Letters and Journals of Robert Baillie, ed. Laing, David, 3 vols. (Edinburgh: Alex. Lawrie and Co., 1841–1842), I, 7.Google Scholar

12. Prynne, William, Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Publike Light, or, A Necessary Introduction to the History of the Archbishop of Canterburie's Trial (London: Thomas Brudenell, 1645), p. 169Google Scholar. (Letter of Archbishop Laud to Traquair, dated September 11, 1637.)

13. Monteth, Robert, The History of the Troubles of Great Britain: Containing a Particular Account of the Most Remarkable Passages in Scotland, From the Year 1633 to 1650, tr. Ogilvie, James (London: A. Millar, 1738), p. 12.Google Scholar

14. Rushworth, op. cit., II, 293. (Letter to Laud by four Scottish bishops, including Spottiswoode. The contents of the letter gives the impression that the bishops were attempting to slow down the preparation and introduction of the Service Book.)

15. Sprott, op. cit., li. (Sprott's source for this Information is Troubles and Tryall, III, 320Google Scholar- Aug. Cat. Lib.)

16. Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Reign of Charles I, ed. John Bruce (London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans and Roberts, 1858–1887), 1636–1637, 260.Google Scholar

17. Baillie, op. cit., I, 442.

18. The History of Scottish Affairs, Particularly During the Reign of Charles I, by Mr. James Wilson, Burgher of Dumfries (Perth: Literary and Antiquarian Society of Perth, 1827), p. 10Google Scholar. This work is an excellent edition of the Memoirs of Henry Guthrie and will be cited hereafter as Guthrie, Memoirs.

19. Baillie, op. cit., I, 437.

20. Lord Loudoun, one of the anti-royalist members of the Privy Council, delivered a speech to the council December 21, 1637, in which he stated that the Service Book had been approved by the council when only the bishops were present. This allegation cannot be substantiated by the Privy Council Register. Baillie, op. cit., I, 455–458; SirBalfour, James, The Historical Works of Sir James Balfour, ed. Haig, James (Edinburgh: Aitchison, 1824–1825), II, 240–46.Google Scholar

21. Baillie, op. cit., I, 17.

22. Birchier, Allen B., The Influence of the Scottish Clergy on Politics; 1616–1638. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Nebraska, 1966), 242ff.Google Scholar

23. On October 19, 1637, the Earl of Traquair wrote a letter to the Lord Hamilton in which he stated the people rioted because they had been promised that the Service Book would be introduced last in Edinburgh. Hardwicke, Philip Yorke, Miscellaneous State Papers, From 1501 to 1726 (London: Strahan, 1778), II, 95–97.Google Scholar

24. Ballie, op. cit., I, 18. Row, John, The History of the Kirk of Scotland, From the Year 1558 tp August 1637 (Edinburgh: Wodrow Society, 1842), p. 408Google Scholar, stated that the order was poorly received by the Edinburgh ministers.

25. RPC, op. cit., 2, VI, 490; Wodrow, op. cit., 544. (Letter of Laud to Traquair, dated September 11, 1637.)

26. Rothes, op. cit., p. 7.

27. “Extracts from the Register of the Presbytery of Lanark, 1623.1709,” ed. John Robertson (Edinburgh: Abbotsford Club, 1839), p. 11Google Scholar (Meeting of Presbytery on August 3, 1637.); Baillie, op. cit., I, 19.

28. Wodrow, op. cit., p. 548.

29. RPC, op. cit., 2, VI, 521.

30. “Report on the Muniments of the Honourable Henry Donstable Maxwell Stuart of Traquair, at Traquair House, in the County of Peebles,” ed. William Fraser, Histrical Mawscripts Commission, 9th Report (London: Byre and Spottiawoode, 1883), Pt. II, 260Google Scholar; Rushworth, op. cit., II, 397. (Letter, Laud to Spottiswoode, dated September 4, 1637.)

31. Gordon, James, History of Scptts Affairs, From MDCXXXVII to MDCXLI, ed. Robertson, Joseph and Grub, George, 3 vols. (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1841), I, 34.Google Scholar

32. Baillie, op. cit., I, 463–64. (Letter “Mr. David Mitchell, One of the Ministers of Edinburgh, To Dr. Lesley, Bishop of Raphe,” dated March 19, 1638.)

33. Rothes, op. cit., p. 26; Baillie, op. cit., I, 47. (Letter of Baillie dated February 28, 1688.)

34. RPC, op. cit., 2, VII, 7.

35. RPC, op. cit., 2, VII, 8–9.

36. RPC, op. cit., 2, VII, 11–12.

37. Wodrow, op. cit., p. 555.

38. Baillie, op. cit., I, 47.

39. Wodrow, op. cit., p. 563. (Letter, Charles to Hamilton, dated Sept. 9, 1638.)

40. The Hamilton Papers, Being Selected From Original Letters in the Possession of His Grace the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, Relating to the Years 1688–1650, ed. Gardiner, Samuel R., New Series, Vol. 27 (London: Camden Society, 1880), p. 24Google Scholar. (Letter, Hamilton to King Charles, dated September 12, 1638.

41. Wodrow, op. cit., pp. 564–65.