Nicol Dalgleish
Encyclopedia
Nicol Dalgleish was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
in 1591. This met during a disturbed period in Scotland's history
. The Church
, in particular, was trying to establish its independence of King James IV and the civil courts. The highlight of the meeting was when they defied a deputation of Lords of Session
. They wished to try the case of the Minister of Stirling
whose reputation had been called into question in a civil case. A man charged with forgery had confessed to the Minister, but now wished to say the Minister had misused his position to get him to do so. The case was before the Court of Session
and it, the King and the Lords of Session
did not want the Assembly
to interfere. The Assembly was not intimidated and proceeded to examine - and clear - the minister. Nicol Dalgleish presided over these debates.
Nicol was born about 1560. His brother was a merchant in Inverness
so he may have originated in, or had connections with that city. He is mentioned as having been a Regent (or teacher) in St Leonard's College in the University of St Andrews
, so he most likely studied there. In 1582 he is mentioned as being a Minister in the Collegiate Charge of St Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh
. In 1582 he was tried for his life, accused of supporting rebel clergy who had fled from the King. He was acquitted, was tried again. This time it was for corresponding with the rebels - one (partisan) source says that he had merely looked at a letter one of the rebels had written home to his wife. He was sentenced to death, but this was not carried out. It was reported that the scaffold that had been prepared for him was left standing outside his home for several weeks.
He was appointed Chaplain
to the Earl of Angus
in the early summer of 1586, and left St Cuthbert’s in October of that year. Unfortunately, the Earl died two years later (in 1588) and Nicol had to find another living. He was licensed by the Assembly
to find himself some other parish, as "he could not continue for lack of provisioun, 12 July 1586, and had ane testimoniall from the haill parochin
In fact, his St Andrews contacts may have helped. James Melville
was the nephew of Andrew Melville
, both connected to St Andrews University. James Melville
as Principal of the University controlled a number of appointments to parish
es, among them one to a post that involved four separate churches - Kilrenny
, Anstruther
, Pittenweem
and Abercrombie
. He wanted to establish them as separate parishes with good, reliable (protestant) ministers. He offered Nicol Dalgleish the Pittenweem
post, along with an old priory
, which had also once belonged to the University
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
in 1591. This met during a disturbed period in Scotland's history
History of Scotland
The history of Scotland begins around 10,000 years ago, when humans first began to inhabit what is now Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last ice age...
. The Church
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, in particular, was trying to establish its independence of King James IV and the civil courts. The highlight of the meeting was when they defied a deputation of Lords of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
. They wished to try the case of the Minister of Stirling
Stirling
Stirling 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...
whose reputation had been called into question in a civil case. A man charged with forgery had confessed to the Minister, but now wished to say the Minister had misused his position to get him to do so. The case was before the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
and it, the King and the Lords of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
did not want the Assembly
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
to interfere. The Assembly was not intimidated and proceeded to examine - and clear - the minister. Nicol Dalgleish presided over these debates.
Nicol was born about 1560. His brother was a merchant in Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
so he may have originated in, or had connections with that city. He is mentioned as having been a Regent (or teacher) in St Leonard's College in the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
, so he most likely studied there. In 1582 he is mentioned as being a Minister in the Collegiate Charge of St Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. In 1582 he was tried for his life, accused of supporting rebel clergy who had fled from the King. He was acquitted, was tried again. This time it was for corresponding with the rebels - one (partisan) source says that he had merely looked at a letter one of the rebels had written home to his wife. He was sentenced to death, but this was not carried out. It was reported that the scaffold that had been prepared for him was left standing outside his home for several weeks.
He was appointed Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to the Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus and 5th Earl of Morton was the son of David, 7th earl. He succeeded to the title and estates in 1558, being brought up by his uncle, James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, a Presbyterian....
in the early summer of 1586, and left St Cuthbert’s in October of that year. Unfortunately, the Earl died two years later (in 1588) and Nicol had to find another living. He was licensed by the Assembly
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
to find himself some other parish, as "he could not continue for lack of provisioun, 12 July 1586, and had ane testimoniall from the haill parochin
In fact, his St Andrews contacts may have helped. James Melville
James Melville (1556-1614)
James Melville was a Scottish divine and reformer, son of the laird of Baldovie, in Forfarshire. He was educated at Montrose and St Leonard's College, St Andrews....
was the nephew of Andrew Melville
Andrew Melville
Andrew Melville was a Scottish scholar, theologian and religious reformer. His fame encouraged scholars from the European Continent to study at Glasgow and St Andrews.-Early life and early education:...
, both connected to St Andrews University. James Melville
James Melville (1556-1614)
James Melville was a Scottish divine and reformer, son of the laird of Baldovie, in Forfarshire. He was educated at Montrose and St Leonard's College, St Andrews....
as Principal of the University controlled a number of appointments to parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es, among them one to a post that involved four separate churches - Kilrenny
Kilrenny
Kilrenny is a village in Fife, Scotland. Part of the East Neuk, it lies immediately to the north of Anstruther on the south Fife coast....
, Anstruther
Anstruther
Anstruther is a small town in Fife, Scotland. The two halves of Anstruther are divided by a small stream called Dreel Burn. Anstruther lies 9 miles south-southeast of St Andrews. It is the largest community on the stretch of north-shore coastline of the Firth of Forth known as the East Neuk,...
, Pittenweem
Pittenweem
Pittenweem is a small and secluded fishing village and civil parish tucked in the corner of Fife on the east coast of Scotland. According to the 2006 estimate, the village has a population of 1,600. At the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 1,747....
and Abercrombie
Abercrombie
Abercrombie was a bay Standardbred world-record-holding pacer and winner of the E. Roland Harriman Award for Harness Horse of the Year in 1978, who went on to become one of the sport's leading sires.-Bloodlines:...
. He wanted to establish them as separate parishes with good, reliable (protestant) ministers. He offered Nicol Dalgleish the Pittenweem
Pittenweem
Pittenweem is a small and secluded fishing village and civil parish tucked in the corner of Fife on the east coast of Scotland. According to the 2006 estimate, the village has a population of 1,600. At the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 1,747....
post, along with an old priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
, which had also once belonged to the University
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...