"And here, no doubt, too, wondrous Crichton strayed
That prodigy whom bounteous Nature made
A sage in childhood." - Millar.

BISHOP DOUGLAS was succeeded by Bishop George Chrichton, the very antithesis of his poetic and learned predecessor, for it is related of him that he thanked God he knew neither the Old nor New Testaments, yet had prospered well enough. He made this boast when addressing Dean Thomas Forrest, one of the vicars, who was afterwards burnt as a heretic on the Castle Hill, Edinburgh. "Dean Thomas," said he, "if you leave not these phantasies, you will repent it when you cannot mend it."

In his "Sketches of Scottish History, "the Revd. Thomas McCrie alludes to this speech, and says, " There arose a proverb which was commonly applied in Scotland for many years after to persons who were grossly ignorant, "Ye are like the Bishop of Dunkeld, that kent neither new law nor auld.’

It is also recorded of this Bishop that he was "a man nobly disposed and a great housekeeper, but in matters of his calling not very skilled. In questions of his religion, which, in his time, was severely agitated, he loved to have things calmly carried, but his counsel took little place."

Such a bishop would not be in sympathy with the Reformation of the Church; he did not vex his soul about matters of doctrine, but he did wish to prevent the spoliators from enjoying the revenue of those Church lands which his predecessors had worthily and laboriously added to the Barony

of Dunkeld. He saw a change coming and made a futile effort to preserve Clunie lands for the Cathedral. He died ere the Reformation culminated, and his nephew Robert succeeded to the See in 1559.

Through the instrumentality of Bishop Crichton, Clunie Castle and the adjoining lands were conveyed to a kinsman, Robert Crichton of Eliock, in Nithdale, who was also Lord Advocate of Scotland. There was a proviso, however, that possession of the property should not be taken without his leave and that occupants should remove themselves within forty days if required. The Reformation made this proviso valueless, and there is no record of the property ever reverting to the Church. The Crichtons retained possession, as did many other nobles in various parts of Scotland.

This action of Bishop Crichton brought the "Admirable Crichton," claimed as "the greatest prodigy the world ever saw," to Clunie Castle. He followed in the footsteps of Bishop Douglas, winning Continental fame as a scholar and worthily upholding Scotland’s lamp of learning in dark days. To the Poet Bishop he seemed more akin than to the bishop who had boasted of lack of learning. Robert Crichton with his family took up residence at Clunie in 1562. His wife was Elizabeth Stewart, and through her the Admirable Crichton could claim Royal descent. Several places claim the honour of being the birthplace of James Crichton, the wonderful scholar, Clunie and Nithsdale amongst the rest. The date of his birth is generally accepted as 1560, so it is unlikely that if the family did not reside in Clunie until 1562 he would be born there, but was brought as a young infant to the Castle, which is still in good preservation, though uninhabited, and now a favourite place for picnic parties.

It is built on a small islet in Clunie Loch, which was once a stronghold of a gang of robbers who terrorised and robbed the Church tenants. To prevent this, Bishop Brown built a house and chapel on the islet, only preserving the vault of the former Castle. It was his favourite residence; here the good Bishop retired for meditation, and here he died. The Castle was known as "The Key of the See of Dunkeld."

James Crichton’s boyhood was certainly spent at Clunie. Here, as the poet says, he strayed o’er that wooded hill," or rejoiced as his glance wandered o’er the broad lake’s bosom, where the green islet, his boyhood’s home, rested. It is not unlikely that he visited Dunkeld, where his kinsmen had been bishops, though their glory and that of the Cathedral were sadly diminished. It is even probable that he might have received early tuition there, for there was a Grammar School in the Church of St. George in the Cathedral and the Royal School in Dunkeld was founded in 1567. He had some schooling in Perth, and then went to St. Andrews.

He had a wonderful career, about which there has been much controversy. Tytler, the historian of Scotland, in his Life of Crichton," follows the account of the various Continental scholars, who lauded the youthful Scot as a prodigy of learning.

This youth of "very wonderful genius," as Scaliger, the famous Continental scholar, afterwards said of him, took his degree of BA. at the age of twelve, and two years after, that of M.A. He is actually said to have acquired ten languages besides his own, and was able to write and speak them fluently. He became a fellow student of James VI., under the tutorship of George Buchanan. Afterwards he set out on the grand tour through Europe and there displayed his erudition and eloquence after the manner of the times. In Paris he issued a challenge to all savants "in the city, offering to dispute with any on literature, science and art, in prose or verse, in the following languages, "Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, Greek, Latin, Spanish, French, English, Italian, Dutch, Flemish or Selavonic." There was a great meeting. Over 3000 people were present, including Church dignitaries, and he disputed with over fifty learned men, who plied him with questions of every kind, all of which he answered. From nine in the morning until six at night the discussion went on, and at the close he was addressed as "L’Admirable Crichton" and presented with a purse of gold and a diamond ring.

Not only was he a marvel in learning, he was an expert swordsman, and worsted another of European fame hitherto undefeated. "L’Admirable Crichton " was also claimed as a

model of manly beauty, a genius in music, the possessor of a fine voice. In the great cities of the Continent, Rome, Venice, Paris, Padua, men flocked to listen to his discourses on philosophy. Copies of his verses were eagerly circulated; a few are still extant; the Latin Ode to Massa, said to be a lyric of uncommon beauty, is full of classic elegance.

His career soon closed. Mystery surrounds his death. It is generally believed that he was assassinated by his pupil, the Prince of Mantua, either by his own hand or by his order.

Joseph Justus Scaliger, reputed the greatest scholar of his times, while admitting that he was a very wonderful genius, qualifies his statement by saying that he was "more worthy

of admiration than esteem." Still, even great scholars are prone to jealousy, and Scaliger may have felt a twinge of it when listening to Crichton’s praises. Scaliger, too, came to England, and confesses that he did not like the people, but it is curious to find that he drew a distinction between the English and the Scots, viewing the latter more favourably and according hearty praise to Scottish ballads.

Crichton had served in the French Army, and although his distinction in Borne as a disputant is sometimes denied, he certainly achieved distinction in Padua. Aldus Manutius, grandson of the founder of the Aldine Press, took him under his patronage and lauded him to the skies. Another James Crichton was on the Continent at the same time, and the two have sometimes been confused. Sir Thomas Urquhart wrote in 1652 an extravagant eulogy on "L’Admirable Crichton," hailing him as the "Discovery of a most exquisite Jewel."

His advent and his passing at the early age of 22 certainly created some stir in Continental circles whatever might be the manner of his life or death—

"The talented, the brave, the young

The gay, the beautiful,—so praised, so sung,

So loved, so gifted, and so early lost—

A comet blazing mid a countless host

Of dimmer stars—Scarce wondered at when gone

Leaving no trace behind but that it shone,

And was admired!"

—D. Millar

Dunkeld an Ancient City
Elizabeth Stewart
Dunkeld, 1926

Return to Dunkeld History