[MR] Wikipdia; Death of Glasgow's Archbighop Robert Blackadder

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1508 the Archbishop of Glasgow Robert Blackadder (or
Blacader, there being no standard spelling in Scotland at that time) died
during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Besides having a cool name, Blackadder
was the first Archbishop of Glasgow. He was an important diplomat for King
of Scots James IV, and was directly involved in negotiating the marriage of
James IV and Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII. He also expanded Glasgow
Cathedral with the Blacader Aisle, the building's last major addition. More
about Archbishop Blackadder can be found at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Blackadder .

Wikipedia does not discuss the circumstances of Archbishop Blackadder's
death, but a summary can be found in Peter Yeoman's PILGRIMAGE IN MEDIEVAL
SCOTLAND (Batsford, 1999: ISBN 0713481749). King James IV had a notion to
enhance his status by undertaking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Blackadder was
sent ahead in early 1508 to lay the groundwork for the trip. After visiting
the Vatican, his party went on to Venice where they were entertained by the
Doge. Blackadder was offered the use of ducal galley for the next part of
his trip, but being a penny-pinching Scot, he instead chartered some sort
of lesser craft of a type known have poor and unsanitary conditions. Bad
move. Before reaching Jerusalem, the Archbishop and most his party were
dead from "plague", which could mean a whole lot of other diseases besides
the Black Death.

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆