Patrick Paniter

Patrick Paniter (born c. 1470 - 1519) Scottish churchman and principal secretary to James IV of Scotland and the infant James V. The surname is usually written Paniter, or Painter, or occasionally Panter.

Paniter was born around 1470 at the village of Newmanswells. He was educated in Paris. On his return, without taking holy orders, he became Rector of Fetteresso in the Mearns and Vicar of Kilmany in Fife. James IV first made him the teacher of his illegitimate son Alexander Stewart, and shortly afterwards the first secretary. Alexander went to Italy with Erasmus, and Paniter became tutor to the king's brother, the Earl of Moray. Ecclesiastical titles piled up, next Paniter became Archdeacon and Chancellor of Dunkeld, then Deacon of Moray in 1509. He exchanged some of these livings to become Rector of Tannadice in Angus in 1510. In 1513 he became Abbot of Cambuskenneth. Paniter hoped to become Preceptor of Torphichen, and Henry VIII of England wrote to Leo X in his favour, but it was not to be. By now Paniter had a papal dispensation for holding these church appointments while still not a priest, on account of his duties as royal secretary.

In 1510, Paniter was made Customar General of Scotland. In 1511 James IV wrote to the Pope mentioning that only letters for Scotland with Paniter's countersignature could be trusted. In 1513 he donned armour at the Battle of Flodden and directed the field artillery, even helping to fire the guns. The Duke of Albany identified him as a Douglas supporter and he was imprisoned on the Isle of Inchgarvie in May 1515. Soon Paniter gained the Duke's confidence and he was included in a diplomatic mission to Paris in July 1517. Paniter fell ill and remained in Paris where he died two years later. David Panter, secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots and John Lesley, Bishop of Ross, was his illegitimate son. David's mother was Margaret Crichton, an illegitimate daughter of William Crichton, Lord Crichton and Margaret Stewart, James IV's aunt.

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