Adam Otterburn

Adam Otterburn of Auldhame and Reidhall (died 6 July 1548) was a Scottish lawyer and diplomat. He was king's advocate to James V of Scotland and secretary to Mary of Guise and Regent Arran.

Adam Otterburn was an important servant of the Scottish monarchy in law and diplomacy. He drew up charges of treason against the Douglases and their associates on 13 July 1529. Adam was one of the Scottish commissioners who met English diplomats at Berwick-upon-Tweed on 8 November 1529. This meeting discussed the possible restoration of the Earl of Angus, which Henry VIII might use as leverage to decide James's choice of bride. A five-year truce was concluded and the Douglases were to go into English exile. In May 1532 he was of the first 15 Senators of Justice. While in England he was knighted by James V as Sir Adam Otterburn of Redhall on 16 February 1534. Redhall, his other estate, is within Edinburgh near Longstone.

Adam signed a border peace treaty in London on 11 May 1534. After the English reformation, in 1536, Henry VIII requested a meeting with James V, and Otterburn was sent to London to discuss Henry's motives. He was in London during the arrest and conviction of Ann Boleyn. In April 1537 Otterburn and other courtiers joked with the English messenger Henry Ray about English Friars now refugees in Scotland.

In June 1538 he wrote a French speech welcoming Mary of Guise to Edinburgh. In August 1538 he was imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle and next year deprived of office and fined £1000 for communicating with the forfeited Earl of Angus. After the death of James V, Otterburn received a gift of crossbows and armour.

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