Adam Otterburn facts for kids
Sir Adam Otterburn of Auldhame and Redhall (died 6 July 1548) was an important Scottish lawyer and diplomat. He served as the chief legal advisor to King James V and was a key helper to Mary of Guise and Regent Arran. He played a big role in Scottish politics during a time of major changes.
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Sir Adam Otterburn: The King's Lawyer
How Adam Otterburn Helped the King
Adam Otterburn was a very important person for the Scottish kings. He worked as a lawyer and helped with talks between countries. In 1524, he went to England to discuss peace. He also talked about a possible marriage for King James V with Princess Mary of England.
English officials liked him. In 1525, an English ambassador even suggested he get a yearly payment. Adam Otterburn continued to talk about the idea of King James V marrying Princess Mary in 1528.
Dealing with the Douglas Family
When King James V took full control of Scotland, he wanted to reduce the power of the powerful Douglas family. In 1529, Adam Otterburn helped prepare legal papers against them.
Later that year, he was part of a group that met English diplomats in Berwick. They talked about allowing the Earl of Angus (a Douglas leader) to return to Scotland. King Henry VIII of England used this to try and influence who James V would marry. They agreed to a five-year peace, and the Douglas family had to live in England for a while.
In 1532, Adam Otterburn became one of the first 15 judges in a new court called the College of Justice. While he was away in England, King James V made him a knight in 1534. His other home, Redhall, was near Edinburgh.
Searching for Gold in Scotland
Around this time, Adam Otterburn talked about gold mining in Scotland. He said that earlier kings, like James IV, tried to find gold. But it was very expensive, and they didn't find much. Another leader, the Duke of Albany, also tried mining for gold. Years later, a gold medal was made that was said to be from Scottish gold.
Politics and Religious Changes
In 1534, Adam Otterburn signed a peace treaty in London about the border between Scotland and England. After big changes in the English church, King Henry VIII wanted to meet James V. Adam Otterburn went to London again in 1536 to find out why Henry wanted to meet. He was in London when Queen Anne Boleyn was arrested. In 1537, he joked with an English messenger about English priests who had become refugees in Scotland.
In 1538, he helped write a speech in French to welcome Mary of Guise to Edinburgh. But later that year, he was put in prison. He was also fined a lot of money because he had talked with the Earl of Angus, who was not allowed to be in Scotland.
After King James V died, Adam Otterburn received some armor from the king's collection. This included a helmet and other protective gear.
The War of the Rough Wooing
Adam Otterburn's Difficulties
An English diplomat named Ralph Sadler thought Adam Otterburn was on the side of Cardinal Beaton, who supported France. But Adam said he actually favored England. He believed his past problems were because he was pro-English. In 1544, the Governor of Scotland, Regent Arran, ordered Adam's arrest. But a bishop named Robert Reid helped him.
Years later, in 1561, Ralph Sadler remembered what Adam Otterburn had told him about a plan to marry Mary to the English prince Edward. Adam had said, "Our people do not like it. Even if our leaders agree, our common people and even the stones in the street would rebel against it." He meant that Scots would never accept an English king.
Defending Edinburgh
In 1544, an English army came to destroy Edinburgh. They landed at Granton and took Leith. As the leader of Edinburgh, Adam Otterburn went out to talk with the English commander, the Earl of Hertford. Hertford had been told not to negotiate, so Adam bravely refused to give up the town.
During a break in the war, Adam Otterburn was trying to get money that was owed to him. He also had to pay duties for his lands to Cardinal Beaton. Adam wrote to the Cardinal about money owed by a neighbor. He also noted that other landowners were selling their wool in England. Regent Arran did not trust Adam and put him in prison briefly. Friends, like Elizabeth Gordon, wrote to Mary of Guise to help him. Adam's son, John, had married Elizabeth's sister-in-law, Janet Stewart, showing their close family ties.
In 1546, Adam went to England with other diplomats to meet King Henry VIII. They brought the Scottish agreement for a peace treaty. Before they left, Adam complained he didn't have enough money for the trip. The other diplomats enjoyed watching them argue while they waited to see the King.
Last Talks Before the Battle of Pinkie
Adam Otterburn was still trying to make peace in London before the Battle of Pinkie. On August 7, 1547, he went to Hampton Court and met King Edward VI. But the English council told him that talks were over because they were going to war. He was given money for his journey home.
Adam saw "very great preparation of war" with "great horses, armor, firearms, and all the gorgeous equipment set forward towards our realm." This included fancy leather armor for horses.
He wrote to Regent Arran, urging him to take the warnings about the English invasion seriously. He begged Arran to let another Scottish leader talk with the English commander. Adam wrote, "I dread you will not believe till you see them come in at the door." Arran had already set up coastal watchers and warning beacons. However, the Scottish army was defeated by the English at the Battle of Pinkie on September 10, 1547.
Sir Adam Otterburn's Death
In his letters from 1546 and 1547, Adam Otterburn said he was "aged and sickly." He died after being attacked in Edinburgh on July 3, 1548. He was "sore hurt on the head and his servant slain." A man named Patrick Mure and his son were accused of his murder.
Family Life
Adam Otterburn was married twice. First to Janet Rhynd, and then to Euphame Mowbray. With Euphame, he had three sons: John, Robert, and Thomas. He also had three daughters, named Margaret, Janet, and one whose name is not known. His oldest daughter, Margaret, married Sir John Wemyss. In 1544, another daughter got married, and Adam asked Mary of Guise for money to help with the costs. He also mentioned to David Beaton in 1546 that he had trouble paying his daughter's dowry (money given to the groom's family). His son, John, married Janet Stewart, who was the sister of the Earl of Atholl.
See Also
Images for kids
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Auldhame Castle, a close neighbor to Tantallon Castle.
