__NOTOC__ Patrick Primrose OP (c. 1605–1671) was a Scottish Dominican priest of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

, Scottish

Vicar General A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ...

, and

royal chaplain A royal chapel is a chapel associated with a monarch, a royal court, or in a royal palace. A royal chapel may also be a Chapel (music), body of clergy or musicians serving at a royal court or employed by a monarch. Commonwealth countries Both ...

to Queen

Catherine of Braganza Catherine of Braganza ( pt, Catarina de Bragança; 25 November 1638 – 31 December 1705) was List of English royal consorts, Queen of England, List of Scottish royal consorts, Scotland and Ireland during her marriage to Charles II of England, ...

, who died in 1671 after being jailed for two months over winter for celebrating Mass.

Biography

Patrick Primrose graduated from

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1582 ...

in 1631. He was admitted to Faculty of Advocates, that is, licensed to practice law, on 15 January 1635. He was ordained a priest of the

Dominican Order The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...

. He was in Italy as early as 1649 and was named the Dominican's

for Scotland on 8 November 1651, the only person ever to hold that title. His appointment to that position required special dispensation because he had not been a Dominican for 12 years as required. He worked first in the

Lothian Lothian (; sco, Lowden, Loudan, -en, -o(u)n; gd, Lodainn ) is a region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills and the Moorfoot Hills. The principal settlement is the Sco ...

s and then in

Banffshire Banffshire ; sco, Coontie o Banffshire; gd, Siorrachd Bhanbh) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. The county town is Banff, although the largest settlement is Buckie to the west. It borders the Moray ...

. After King Charles II was restored in 1660, Primrose was appointed a

to his Catholic consort, Queen

, in the hope that this would allow him some freedom to exercise his Catholic ministry. He was taken into custody at the

Tolbooth A tolbooth or town house was the main municipal building of a Scottish burgh, from medieval times until the 19th century. The tolbooth usually provided a council meeting chamber, a court house and a jail. The tolbooth was one of three essen ...

of Banff and held for two months in the winter of 1670 for holding Mass. The ''Domestic Annals of Scotland'' describe how several months passed after his imprisonment before he was identified as a servant of the Queen. Primrose was then released on condition that he exile himself. The authorities later allowed that he was prevented from leaving by ill health, likely caused by the conditions of his imprisonment. He was granted permission to remain in Scotland until 5 February 1671. The date of his death is unknown, being ambiguously referred to as "the ''late'' prisoner" when given the extended period to remain. He is sometimes reported to have died in prison, although the location of his death is at most uncertain. He was buried in the grounds of the pre-Reformation church of St. Peter, Drumdelgie, at the

River Deveron The River Deveron ( gd, Uisge Dubh Èireann), known anciently as the Dovern, is a river in the north east of Scotland. The river has a length of , and has a reputation for its Atlantic salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing. In its upper re ...

near

Milton of Strathbogie Huntly ( gd, Srath Bhalgaidh or ''Hunndaidh'') is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, formerly known as Milton of Strathbogie or simply Strathbogie. It had a population of 4,460 in 2004 and is the site of Huntly Castle. Its neighbouring settlemen ...

(now

Huntly Huntly ( gd, Srath Bhalgaidh or ''Hunndaidh'') is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, formerly known as Milton of Strathbogie or simply Strathbogie. It had a population of 4,460 in 2004 and is the site of Huntly Castle. Its neighbouring settlemen ...

) in the former parish of Botary. His monument there was ordered demolished by the authorities, citing the penal laws, on 4 March 1672. The Dominicans of Edinburgh retain Primrose's

chalice A chalice (from Latin 'mug', borrowed from Ancient Greek () 'cup') or goblet is a footed cup intended to hold a drink. In religious practice, a chalice is often used for drinking during a ceremony or may carry a certain symbolic meaning. Re ...

, identified by an inscription on its base.

References

External links

Scalan Association Website, Patrick Primrose details.
* ttps://canmore.org.uk/site/17322/drumdelgie-parish-church Canmore St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church OS Grid Reference information. {{DEFAULTSORT:Primrose, Patrick 1600s births 1671 deaths Dominican martyrs Scottish Dominicans 17th-century Scottish Roman Catholic priests Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish Catholic martyrs Year of birth uncertain Household of Catherine of Braganza

Biography

See also

References

Further reading

External links