John Colville (c. 1540–1605)

John Colville (c. 1540–1605), Scottish clergyman, judge, politician and author, was the son of Robert Colville of Cleish, in Kinross.

Career

Educated at the University of St Andrews, he became a Presbyterian minister, but occupied himself chiefly with political intrigue, sending secret information to the English government concerning Scottish affairs. He joined the party of the Earl of Gowrie, and took part in the Raid of Ruthven in 1582. In 1587 he for a short time occupied a seat on the judicial bench, and was burgh commissioner for Stirling in the Parliament of Scotland.

Colville was in London in 1589 and collected £1000, a gift from Queen Elizabeth to James VI of Scotland, and £2000 worth of gilt silver plate supplied by the London goldsmith Richard Martin. This present, a magnificent cupboard of plate, was intended for the reception of Anne of Denmark.[1]

In December 1591 he was implicated in the Earl of Bothwell's attack on Holyrood Palace, and was outlawed with the earl. He retired abroad, and is said to have joined the Roman Church.

He died in Paris in 1605.

Works

Colville was the author of several works, including an Oratio Funebris on Elizabeth I of England, and some political and religious controversial essays. He is said to be the author also of The Historie and Life of King James the Sext (edited by T. Thompson for the Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, 1825).

Colville's Original Letters, 1582–1603, published by the Bannatyne Club in 1858, contains a biographical memoir by the editor, David Laing.

Marriage and children

Colville married Janet Russell in 1572. Their children included:

  • Robert Colville
  • Thomas Colville.
  • Margaret Colville, who married in December 1595 Jerome Lindsay, son of David Lindsay, minister of Leith.[2]
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References
  1. HMC Salisbury Hatfield, vol. 3 (London, 1889), p. 440: Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 160-162: Annie I. Cameron, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1593-1595, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 130: William Murdin, Collection of state papers left by William Cecill lord Burghley (London, 1759), p. 638.
  2. Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1595-1597, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1952), p. 87: David Laing ed, Original letters of Mr. John Colville, 1582–1603 (Bannatyne Club, 1858), pp. xxxix-xl.
  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Colville, John" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 748.
  • Cooper, Thompson (1887). "Colville, John" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 11. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 420–422.


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