Patrick Paniter
Encyclopedia
Patrick Paniter Scottish churchman and principal secretary to James IV of Scotland
and the infant James V. The surname is usually written Paniter, or Painter, or occasionally Panter.
Paniter was born around 1470 at the village of Newmanswells. He was educated in Paris. On his return, without taking holy orders, he became Rector of Fetteresso
in the Mearns and Vicar of Kilmany
in Fife. James IV first made him the teacher of his illegitimate son Alexander Stewart
, and shortly afterwards the first secretary. Alexander went to Italy with Erasmus, and Paniter became tutor to the king's brother, the Earl of Moray
. Ecclesiastical titles piled up, next Paniter became Archdeacon and Chancellor of Dunkeld
, then Deacon of Moray
in 1509. He exchanged some of these livings to become Rector of Tannadice in Angus
in 1510. In 1513 he became Abbot of Cambuskenneth
. Paniter hoped to become Preceptor of Torphichen
, and Henry VIII of England
wrote to Leo X in his favour, but it was not to be. By now Paniter had a papal dispensation for holding these church appointments while still not a priest, on account of his duties as royal secretary.
In 1510, Paniter was made Customar General of Scotland. In 1511 James IV wrote to the Pope mentioning that only letters for Scotland with Paniter's countersignature could be trusted. In 1513 he donned armour at the Battle of Flodden Field
and directed the field artillery, even helping to fire the guns. The Duke of Albany identified him as a Douglas supporter and he was imprisoned on the Isle of Inchgarvie
in May 1515. Soon Paniter gained the Duke's confidence and he was included in a diplomatic mission to Paris in July 1517. Paniter fell ill and remained in Paris where he died two years later.
David Panter
, secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots and John Lesley
, Bishop of Ross
, was his son. David's mother was Margaret Crichton, an illegitimate daughter of William Crichton, Lord Crichton
.
Paniter restored the Hospital of St. Mary in Montrose
and was its Preceptor. Carved panels bearing his family heraldry from the Hospital are displayed in the National Museum of Scotland
in Edinburgh. They are among the most important and well-preserved examples surviving from the relatively small corpus of late medieval Scottish woodwork.
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
and the infant James V. The surname is usually written Paniter, or Painter, or occasionally Panter.
Paniter was born around 1470 at the village of Newmanswells. He was educated in Paris. On his return, without taking holy orders, he became Rector of Fetteresso
Kirkton of Fetteresso
The Kirkton of Fetteresso is a well preserved village near Stonehaven, Scotland. In the planning area of Kincardine and Mearns, Aberdeenshire, this village contains many very old stone residential structures as well as the Church of St. Ciarans and its associated graveyard...
in the Mearns and Vicar of Kilmany
Kilmany
Kilmany is a village in Fife in Scotland.It is notable for being the birthplace of Jim Clark, former world champion Formula One racing-car driver. There is a statue of Clark in the village, unveiled in 1997 by Sir Jackie Stewart....
in Fife. James IV first made him the teacher of his illegitimate son Alexander Stewart
Alexander Stewart (Archbishop of St Andrews)
Alexander Stewart was an illegitimate son of King James IV of Scotland and his mistress Marion Boyd. He was the eldest illegitimate child of King James IV of Scotland his mistress Marion Boyd...
, and shortly afterwards the first secretary. Alexander went to Italy with Erasmus, and Paniter became tutor to the king's brother, the Earl of Moray
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (1501 creation)
James Stewart, Earl of Moray was the illegitimate son of James IV of Scotland and his mistress Janet Kennedy. He was created Earl of Moray in 1501, and was young enough to avoid fighting at the disastrous Battle of Flodden Field in 1513. He went on to have a varied relationship with his...
. Ecclesiastical titles piled up, next Paniter became Archdeacon and Chancellor of Dunkeld
Dunkeld
Dunkeld is a small town in Strathtay, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is about 15 miles north of Perth on the eastern side of the A9 road into the Scottish Highlands and on the opposite side of the Tay from the Victorian village of Birnam. Dunkeld and Birnam share a railway station, on the...
, then Deacon of Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
in 1509. He exchanged some of these livings to become Rector of Tannadice in Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
in 1510. In 1513 he became Abbot of Cambuskenneth
Abbot of Cambuskenneth
The Abbot of Cambuskenneth or Abbot of Stirling was the head of the Arrouaisian monastic community of Cambuskenneth Abbey, near Stirling...
. Paniter hoped to become Preceptor of Torphichen
Torphichen
Torphichen is a small village located near Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. The placename may be Gaelic in origin, eg, "Tóir Féichín" , Tor Fithichean or British, eg, modern Welsh "tref fechan" .The village church is said to have been founded by St...
, and Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
wrote to Leo X in his favour, but it was not to be. By now Paniter had a papal dispensation for holding these church appointments while still not a priest, on account of his duties as royal secretary.
In 1510, Paniter was made Customar General of Scotland. In 1511 James IV wrote to the Pope mentioning that only letters for Scotland with Paniter's countersignature could be trusted. In 1513 he donned armour at the Battle of Flodden Field
Battle of Flodden Field
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey...
and directed the field artillery, even helping to fire the guns. The Duke of Albany identified him as a Douglas supporter and he was imprisoned on the Isle of Inchgarvie
Inchgarvie
Inchgarvie is a small, uninhabited island in the Firth of Forth. Its name comes from Innis Garbhach which is Scottish Gaelic for "rough island"...
in May 1515. Soon Paniter gained the Duke's confidence and he was included in a diplomatic mission to Paris in July 1517. Paniter fell ill and remained in Paris where he died two years later.
David Panter
David Panter
David Panter [also written Painter, or Paniter] , Scottish diplomat, clerk and bishop of Ross, was the illegitimate son of Patrick Paniter, secretary to James IV; his mother was Margaret Crichton, illegitimate daughter of William Crichton, 3rd Lord Crichton and widow countess of Rothes.He and his...
, secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots and John Lesley
John Lesley
John Lesley was a Scottish Roman Catholic bishop and historian. His father was Gavin Lesley, rector of Kingussie, Badenoch.-Early career:...
, Bishop of Ross
Bishop of Ross
The Bishop of Ross was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Ross, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness to Adomnán of Iona's Cáin Adomnáin. The bishopric was based at the settlement of Rosemarkie until the mid-13th...
, was his son. David's mother was Margaret Crichton, an illegitimate daughter of William Crichton, Lord Crichton
Lord Crichton
The Lordship of Parliament of Crichton was created in the Peerage of Scotland around 1443 for William Crichton, who was Chancellor of Scotland . The third lord made the lordship become forfeited in 1484....
.
Paniter restored the Hospital of St. Mary in Montrose
Montrose, Angus
Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles north of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers...
and was its Preceptor. Carved panels bearing his family heraldry from the Hospital are displayed in the National Museum of Scotland
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, was formed in 2006 with the merger of the Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, and the Royal Museum next door, with collections covering science and technology, natural history, and world...
in Edinburgh. They are among the most important and well-preserved examples surviving from the relatively small corpus of late medieval Scottish woodwork.
Sources
- William Fraser ed., The Cartulary of Cambuskenneth, Registrum Monasterii S. Marie de Cambuskenneth, Grampian Club, (1872), lxii-lxxxvii.