John Spottiswoode Jacobean Archbishop and Statesman

Archbishop John Spottiswoode (1565-1639) was one of the most important men of his generation in Scotland. Originally a zealous Presbyterian, he became an Episcopalian sympathizer sometime in the 1590s, and was nominated as Archbishop of Glasgow in 1603 following the death of the pre-Reformation Archbishop James Beaton. Spottiswoode’s abilities as an administrator and politician quickly became apparent. In 1615 he was elevated to the Archbishopric of St Andrews where he dominated Scottish politics for the rest of his life. In this careful study, Dr Wayne Pearce considers the career of Spottiswoode until the death of James VI in 1625. While seeking to understand Spottiswoode’s perspective, the study does not shy away from the blemishes in his conduct and character. • The result is a fascinating account of the continuing struggle between the adherents of Presbyterianism, Episcopalianism, and Roman Catholicism in Scotland during those momentous years.