James Sempill
Encyclopedia
Sir James Sempill was the son of John Sempill of Beltrees, and Mary Livingston
, one of the "Four Marys", companions of Mary, Queen of Scots.
, After a course of instruction with the young king, he completed his education at the University of St. Andrews, and later assisted the king in the preparation of his Basilikon Doron
. He was on good terms with Andrew Melville
, and caused a furore by showing Melville the contents of Basilikon Doron in advance. Via James Melville they reached the synod of Fife. Sempill later supported Andrew Melville when he was in 1606 committed to the Tower of London
. Robert Boyd of Trochrig considered Sempill an enemy of the bishops.
Ambassador to England
1591-1600, he was made a knight bachelor
, and in 1601 was sent to France
. He died at Paisley in 1626.
He is now chiefly remembered for the poem The Packmans Pater Noster, a vigorous attack on the Roman Catholic Church
. An edition was published at Edinburgh in 1669 entitled A Pick-tooth for the Pope, or the Packmans Pater Noster, translated out of Dutch by S. I. S., and newly augmented and enlarged by his son R. S. (reprinted by Paterson). Seven poems, chiefly of an amorous character, are printed in T. G. Stevenson's edition of The Sempill Ballates.
and George (who died young), and five daughters, of whom Marion was married to Colin Campbell of Ardkinlas, and Margaret to Walter Macfarlane of Macfarlane.
Mary Livingston
Mary Livingston was a Scottish noblewoman and childhood companion of Mary, Queen of Scots, one of the famous "Four Marys". As a child, she and three other girls of similar age and standing, chosen by the queen's mother, Mary of Guise, became Queen Mary's ladies-in-waiting. The other three "Marys"...
, one of the "Four Marys", companions of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Life
He was brought up with James VI under George BuchananGeorge Buchanan (humanist)
George Buchanan was a Scottish historian and humanist scholar. He was part of the Monarchomach movement.-Early life:...
, After a course of instruction with the young king, he completed his education at the University of St. Andrews, and later assisted the king in the preparation of his Basilikon Doron
Basilikon Doron
The Basilikon Doron is a treatise on government written by King James VI of Scotland, later King James I of England, in 1599. Basilikon Doron in the Greek language means royal gift. It was written in the form of a private and confidential letter to the King's eldest son, Henry, Duke of...
. He was on good terms with Andrew Melville
Andrew Melville
Andrew Melville was a Scottish scholar, theologian and religious reformer. His fame encouraged scholars from the European Continent to study at Glasgow and St Andrews.-Early life and early education:...
, and caused a furore by showing Melville the contents of Basilikon Doron in advance. Via James Melville they reached the synod of Fife. Sempill later supported Andrew Melville when he was in 1606 committed to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. Robert Boyd of Trochrig considered Sempill an enemy of the bishops.
Ambassador to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
1591-1600, he was made a knight bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
, and in 1601 was sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He died at Paisley in 1626.
Works
He wrote some theological works:- Cassander Scotiana to Cassander Anglicanus (1616);
- Sacrilege sacredly handled (1619), written against Joseph Justus ScaligerJoseph Justus ScaligerJoseph Justus Scaliger was a French religious leader and scholar, known for expanding the notion of classical history from Greek and Ancient Roman history to include Persian, Babylonian, Jewish and Ancient Egyptian history.-Early life:He was born at Agen, the tenth child and third son of Italian...
and John SeldenJohn SeldenJohn Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
; - Sacrilege saved by Cassander (1619);
- An Answer to Tilenus' Defence of the Bishops and the Five Articles (1622). This was written against Daniel TilenusDaniel TilenusDaniel Tilenus was a German-French Protestant theologian. Initially a Calvinist, he became a prominent and influential Arminian teaching at the Academy of Sedan. He was an open critic of the Synod of Dort of 1618-9....
at the suggestion of Andrew Melville.
He is now chiefly remembered for the poem The Packmans Pater Noster, a vigorous attack on the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. An edition was published at Edinburgh in 1669 entitled A Pick-tooth for the Pope, or the Packmans Pater Noster, translated out of Dutch by S. I. S., and newly augmented and enlarged by his son R. S. (reprinted by Paterson). Seven poems, chiefly of an amorous character, are printed in T. G. Stevenson's edition of The Sempill Ballates.
Family
His wife was Egidia or Geillis Elphinstone of Blythswood. They had two sons, Robert Sempill the youngerRobert Sempill the younger
Robert Sempill, the younger , Scottish poet, son of James Sempill, was educated at the University of Glasgow, having matriculated in March 1613....
and George (who died young), and five daughters, of whom Marion was married to Colin Campbell of Ardkinlas, and Margaret to Walter Macfarlane of Macfarlane.