Adam Abell
Encyclopedia
Adam Abell was a Scottish Friar
at Jedburgh Abbey
. He wrote a chronicle
in the 1530s that gives an insight into contemporary thought and contains anecdotes that appear in later writings.
around 1480. He was related to the Bellenden family; Robert Bellenden, Abbot of Holyrood
was his great-uncle. Abell became a monk at Inchaffray Abbey
in 1495, then moved to be an Observantine Franciscan
Friar at Jedburgh
. His chronicle, the Roit or Quheil of Tyme ends in 1537. Possibly Abell died soon after. The manuscript survived in the family of Sinclair of Roslin Castle
.
and his daughters, and Macbeth
and the witches. The chronicle ends in 1537 mentioning a process of divorce between Margaret Tudor
, and Harry Stewart, Lord Methven
. Norman Macdougall
thought the three pages of the Quheil of Tyme that refer to James III of Scotland
significant enough to print in his study of the king. Abell said of the death of James III in 1488;
, but was able to infer that his other sources for the reign were sympathetic to James III and Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany, and to Abell's contemporary, John Stewart, Duke of Albany. Writing in 1537 of events in the previous year, Abell tells the story of the visit of James V of Scotland
to Mary of Bourbon
, with the interesting suggestion that there had been an exchange of portraits;
Stewart contends that Abell's moralising handling of his subject matter and the examples he offers show his own strong character, contemporary attitudes and a unique view of international events from the cloister at Jedburgh.
, Ms. 1746. It was donated by Lt.-Colonel W. W. Cunninghame of Caprington.
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
at Jedburgh Abbey
Jedburgh Abbey
Jedburgh Abbey, a ruined Augustinian abbey which was founded in the 12th century is situated in the town of Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders just north of the border with England at Carter Bar...
. He wrote a chronicle
Chronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
in the 1530s that gives an insight into contemporary thought and contains anecdotes that appear in later writings.
Life
Abell was born at PrestonpansPrestonpans
Prestonpans is a small town to the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the unitary council area of East Lothian. It has a population of 7,153 . It is the site of the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans, and has a history dating back to the 11th century...
around 1480. He was related to the Bellenden family; Robert Bellenden, Abbot of Holyrood
Abbot of Holyrood
The Abbot of Holyrood was the head of the Augustinian monastic community of Holyrood Abbey, now in Edinburgh. The long history of the abbey came to a formal end in July 1606 when the parliament of Scotland turned the abbey into a secular lordship for the last commendator, John Bothwell...
was his great-uncle. Abell became a monk at Inchaffray Abbey
Inchaffray Abbey
Inchaffray Abbey was situated by the village of Madderty, midway between Perth and Crieff in Strathearn, Scotland. The only trace now visible is an earth mound and some walls on the island where the abbey once stood.-History:...
in 1495, then moved to be an Observantine Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Friar at Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
. His chronicle, the Roit or Quheil of Tyme ends in 1537. Possibly Abell died soon after. The manuscript survived in the family of Sinclair of Roslin Castle
Roslin Castle
Roslin Castle is a partially ruined castle near the village of Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland. It is located around 9 miles south of Edinburgh, on the north bank of the North Esk, only a few hundred metres from the famous Rosslyn Chapel.There has been a castle on the site since the early 14th...
.
The Roit or Quheil of Tyme
Abell recounts much legendary history including the story of King LearKing Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
and his daughters, and Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
and the witches. The chronicle ends in 1537 mentioning a process of divorce between Margaret Tudor
Margaret Tudor
Margaret Tudor was the elder of the two surviving daughters of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and the elder sister of Henry VIII. In 1503, she married James IV, King of Scots. James died in 1513, and their son became King James V. She married secondly Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of...
, and Harry Stewart, Lord Methven
Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven
Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven was Master of the Scottish Artillery and third husband of Margaret Tudor, eldest daughter of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York.-Ancient lineage:...
. Norman Macdougall
Norman Macdougall
Norman Macdougall is a Scottish historian who is known for writing about Scottish crown politics. He was a senior lecturer in Scottish history at the University of St Andrews....
thought the three pages of the Quheil of Tyme that refer to James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
significant enough to print in his study of the king. Abell said of the death of James III in 1488;
"thai conspirit againis the king and gaif him batell beside striwilingMacdougall found nothing strikingly original in Abell's account of James III, which depends in part on Hector BoeceStirlingStirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
and thare he wes slane. He wes confessit before with maistir Johne Yrland proffessor of theologieJohn of IrelandJohn of Ireland, or Johannis de Irlandia was a Scottish or Irish writer, resident for thirty years in Paris and later a professor of theology...
., ... thai slew him in the mill of bannoburne.Battle of SauchieburnThe Battle of Sauchieburn was fought on June 11, 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a stream about two miles south of Stirling, Scotland. The battle was fought between as many as 30,000 troops of King James III of Scotland and some 18,000 troops raised by a group of dissident Scottish nobles...
.
Hector Boece
Hector Boece , known in Latin as Hector Boecius or Boethius, was a Scottish philosopher and first Principal of King's College in Aberdeen, a predecessor of the University of Aberdeen.-Biography:He was born in Dundee where he attended school...
, but was able to infer that his other sources for the reign were sympathetic to James III and Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany, and to Abell's contemporary, John Stewart, Duke of Albany. Writing in 1537 of events in the previous year, Abell tells the story of the visit of James V of Scotland
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
to Mary of Bourbon
Mary of Bourbon
Mary of Bourbon or Marie de Bourbon was a daughter of Charles, Duke of Vendôme and Françoise d'Alençon, daughter of René, Duke of Alençon. Mary was the subject of marriage negotiations of James V of Scotland. He visited her in France, but subsequently married the Princess Madeleine...
, with the interesting suggestion that there had been an exchange of portraits;
"In ane dissimilit vestement he com to the duik of Vendôme fathir of the lady that he suld haif marreit. He wes knawin thare be his picture."
Stewart contends that Abell's moralising handling of his subject matter and the examples he offers show his own strong character, contemporary attitudes and a unique view of international events from the cloister at Jedburgh.
Sources
Abell's manuscript of the Roit or Quheil of Tyme is kept at the National Library of ScotlandNational Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter...
, Ms. 1746. It was donated by Lt.-Colonel W. W. Cunninghame of Caprington.
- Macdougall, Norman, James III, a political study, John Donald (1982)
- Stewart, Alasdair M., 'The Final Folios of Adam Abell's 'Roit or Quheil of Tyme,' in Hadley Williams, Janet, ed., Stewart Style 1513-1542, Tuckwell (1996), 227-253.