Master Edward Henryson, LL.D., Advocate in Edinburgh

MASTER EDWARD HENRYSON LLD

Advocate in Edinburgh; Commissary of Edinburgh

Marriage

Master Edward Henryson married Helen Swinton. Diary of Sir Archibald Johnston, Lord Wariston. 1639. etc. (Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1896), p. 4

The Last Will and Testament of his wife Helen Swinton

Helen Swinton died on 1 July 1580. She made her last will and testament three days earlier, on 29 June 1580, at Edinburgh in Midlothian, Scotland, probably at her house there. The witnesses present included her brother Thomas Swinton. Her widowed husband, Mr Edward Henryson, gave up the inventory of their goods and gear in name and behalf of their three children, viz. Mr William Henryson, Thomas Henryson and Elizabeth Henryson. In her last will and testament she nominated and appointed her husband and their three children, to be her only intromitters with her goods and gear. On 29 May 1574 confirmation was granted to Mr. Edward Henryson and his three children, including his daughter Elizabeth Henryson and her husband John Nicholsoun, for his interest. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Testament Testamentar and Inventory of Helene Swyntoun, sometime spouse to Mr. Edward Henryson, advocate, and one of the commissers of Edinburgh. reference CC8/8/13]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament
4. Image of Testament

His Testament Dative and Inventory

Confirmation was granted on 24 July 1590. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, The Testament Dative and Inventory of Eduard Henrysoun, Advocate and Commissioner of Edinburgh, reference CC8.8/21]

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

19 February 1570: Precept of sasin, Robert Lauder, of Popill, knight, to James Harlaw, W.S. in favour of Mr Edward Henryson, Advocate, and Helen Swyntoun, his wife. Dated at Cunyngham. Seal. A wyvern, Crest a dragon's head erased S Robertila.... National Records of Scotland, reference GD122/1/343

Genealogy

1. The Diary of Sir Archibald Johnston, Lord Wariston 1639. etc. (Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1896), note 6 on page 4
2. Stirnet: Heriot 01

Biographical Summary

Edward Henryson, LL.D. This learned civilian received the degree of doctor of laws from the university of Bourges, where he studied under Equinar Baro, and where he was for several years professor of the civil law. When on the continent, his high talents as a scholar attracted the attention of Ullrich Fugger, a Tyrolese nobleman, who devoted a great part of his fortune to the collection of ancient Greek manuscripts and the encouragement of the learned. In 1551, and while residing in Fugger's castle, he translated the Feast of the Seven Sages, from Plutarch, which he afterwards published with a dedication to his patron. He returned to Scotland some time before the year 1557, having, on the 22d February of that year, been appointed Advocate for the Poor; an office which had been created shortly after the institution of the College of Justice, and which was remunerated by an yearly pension of L20 Scots, being half the sum allowed to the King's Advocate. On the institution of the Commissaries, Dr. Henryson was appointed to that office, with a salary of 300 marks; and he was appointed an Extraordinary Lord on the 14th January 1566, in place of the Secretary Lethington. This situation, however, he did not long retain, having, on the 19th November 1567, been removed aff Session becaus he was one of the king's counsel. While in office, however he was engaged in superintending the publication of that edition of the Statutes which was undertaken in 1566, and to which he wrote the Preface. He was one of the procurators of the church in the year 1573. He was alive in 1579, in which year Lord Forbes petitioned the parliament that he might be added to the Commissioners appointed to decide the differences then existing between the powerful families of Gordon and Forbes. How long he lived after this seems uncertain, but he was certainly dead before 10th March 1591. A monument, still to be seen, was erected to his memory, in the Greyfriars churchyard, by his son Thomas Henderson, Lord Chesters. A more particular account of his learned labours may be found in Mr Tytler's Life of Sir Thomas Craig, and Dr M Crie's Life of Andrew Melville. An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: From Its Institution in MDXXXII; by George Brunton (David Haig.183), page 132