Robert Spottiswood

Sir Robert Spottiswood (Spottiswoode, Spotiswood, Spotswood), Lord Newabbey of New Abbey and Dunipace (1596 – 20 January 1646), was a Scottish lawyer, Lord President of the Court of Session and member of the Privy Council to James VI of Scotland, and Lord President of the College of Justice and Secretary for Scotland, appointed by Charles I of Scotland. Early life and education He was the second son of John Spottiswoode (1565–1637), archbishop of St. Andrews, and Rachel, daughter of David Lindsay, bishop of Ross. Educated at Glasgow Grammar School, he matriculated at Glasgow University in 1609, graduating M.A. 15 March 1613. Thence, he proceeded to Exeter College, Oxford, where he studied under John Prideaux, afterwards bishop of Worcester. He pursued his studies on the continent, chiefly in France, where "he applied himself to the study of the laws civil and canon, and of theology, especially the oriental languages, the holy scriptures, the fathers, and church history." His father had projected his 'History of the Church' before Spottiswood set out on his travels and he was commissioned to make researches for documents, many of which had been carried to France at the Reformation. In this search, Sir Robert was very successful, recovering many important papers used by the archbishop, and discovering at Rome the Black Book of Paisley, a manuscript of great value. After spending nine years abroad, Spottiswood returned home, and was received with favour by James VI, who appointed him privy councillor on 25 June 1622.