John Naysmyth

John Naysmith (or Naismyth or Nasmyth) (1556-16 September 1613) was a Scottish surgeon who became surgeon to King James VI of Scotland and was appointed Royal Herbalist in London when the monarch became King James VI and I. He was Deacon (President) of the Incorporation of Surgeons and Barbers of Edinburgh.

Early life and education

John Naysmith was the younger son of Sir Michael Naysmyth (or Nasmyth) of Posso (1516-1607), Chamberlain to John Hamilton, the archbishop of St Andrews.[1] His mother was Elizabeth,(1503-1606) daughter of John Baird of Posso (1483-1526), owner of the estate of that name in Peebles-shire.[1][2] His elder brother James Naysmith inherited the Posso estate and became falconer to King James VI. John Naysmyth's early education was at St Mary's College, St Andrews after which he was apprenticed to the surgeon Gilbert Primrose in Edinburgh.[3] He was admitted to the Incorporation of Surgeons and Barbers of Edinburgh in 1588.[4]

He married Helen Macmath in Edinburgh on 26 March 1600.[5]

Career

He was elected Deacon (President) of the Incorporation of Surgeons and Barbers of Edinburgh in 1595.[6]

Gilbert Primrose, his surgical master had been surgeon to King James VI and became Serjeant-Surgeon to King James VI and I when the King and his court moved to London. Presumably as a result of Primrose’s patronage Naysmith was made a surgeon to King James VI, and he too moved with the Court to London on the occasion of the Union of the Crowns. King James VI, now King James I made him Royal Herbalist for life. During his time in London he attended Prince Henry during his fatal illness.[6]

Political activity

Like his father he was an active supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots. It is thought that he was a member of Lord Seton's party, a small select group who were entrusted to journey to England in 1675, ostensibly to pay homage to Queen Elizabeth, but in reality to smuggle letters to the imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots from the then Scottish Regent, James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton.[1] This was achieved successfully, and, as a result of his part in this exploit he found favour with the teenage King James VI. Yet in an era of plotting and conspiracy and vaccillating political loyalty he had been suspected of involvement in the 1591 plot against the King by Francis Stewart 5th Earl of Bothwell. He was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle then Dumbarton Castle before being ordered by the privy council to go abroad under caution of 1000 merks (£666 Scots). The caution was subsequently deleted by warrant of the King on 1 August 1593.[7] He fled to France where he became Chief Surgeon to the Scots Guards of the King of France.[8]

Returning to Scotland in 1599, he appears to have been forgiven for his earlier infidelity, and was accepted back into the Royal Court. He was among the retainers with the King at Falkland Palace on the occasion of the Gowrie Conspiracy in 1600.[6][1] Gilbert Primrose, his surgical master, had by now been made Serjeant-Surgeon (or Chief Surgeon) to King James VI. Naysmith became a surgeon to King James VI and, on the Union of the Crowns in 1603, he travelled with the Court to London. King James, now King James I of England, made him Royal Herbalist for life.[6]

Death and burial

Naysmith died in London and was buried in Greyfriars churchyard in Edinburgh where an elaborate monument marks his grave.[1][9] The inscription in Latin is now almost obliterated but has been translated as follows;

Here lies John Nasmyth, of the family of Posso, an honourable family of Tweedale, a citizen of Edinburgh, chief surgeon to his most Serene Majesty and to the King of France's troop of guards from Scotland - having excellently performedall the duties of a godly life; who dying at London to the grief of both nations, in the exercise of office with his Majesty, ordered his body to be conveyed hither (such was his love to his country), to be buried in this dormitory; acquiting himself to his King, his country and his friends by the utmost of his power and duty. He died in the 57th year of his age, the 10th of September 1613. Why is it grievous to return whence you came?[8]

His testament was proved in the Edinburgh Commissary Court on 19 January 1614[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Comrie, J.D. History of Scottish Medicine to 1860. London, Wellcome Historical Medical Museum, 2nd ed, 1932 p 174 https://archive.org/details/b2045711x
  2. ↑ Michael Naesmyth https://www.ancestry.co.uk/genealogy/records/michael-naesmyth_19269434
  3. ↑ Anderson, William. The Scottish nation; or. The surnames, families, literature, honours, and biographical history of the people of Scotland. Edinburgh, Fullarton and Co, 1867 https://archive.org/details/scottishnationo05andegoog
  4. ↑ Gairdner, John. Historical sketch of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, Sutherland and Knox, 1860. https://archive.org/details/b2145209x
  5. ↑ OPR register indexes NASMYTH, JOHNNE; HELENE MCMATHE/FR652 (FR652); 131; 26/03/1600; 685/1; 430 30; Edinburgh from https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
  6. 1 2 3 4 Dingwall, Helen. A famous and flourishing Society ; The History of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 1505-2005. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University press, 2005. p15 ISBN 978-0748615674
  7. ↑ Dingwall, HM. ‘Nasmyth , John (1556/7–1613)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/19796, accessed 10 May 2017]
  8. 1 2 Forbes-Leith, William. The Scots Men at Arms in France. Vol 2; Edinburgh,W. Patterson, 1882.p187
  9. ↑ Brown, James Epitaphs in Greyfriars Churchyard.Edinburgh, J. Moodie Miller, 1867. p10.https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=15EZAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PP1
  10. ↑ Nasmythe, Johne; 19/1/1614; chirurgeon to our Sovereign Lord, burgess of Edinburgh; Testament Testamentar and Inventory; Edinburgh Commissary Court; CC8/8/48 from https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
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