Patrick Paniter was a man of parts, professional cleric and collector of beneficies, courtier and political adviser to King James IV. After service abroad, Paniter became rector of Fetteresso in the Mearns and Vicar of Kilmany in Fife. He became Secretary to the king (James IV) and gained further, more important religious posts associated with Dunkeld and then Moray. His first benefice in Angus came was the rectorship of Tannadice. Patrick's family came from Newmanswells, near present Borrowfield, north of Montrose. This local connection explains why the well connected cleric cared so much about this specific foundation in the burgh. There is a theory that the panels actually come from the local kirk, after it was demolished in the last years of the 18th century. The first of the family recorded locally was one William Paneter, mentioned around 1350, while Andrew Panter was a burgess of Montrose.
This close connection with Montrose explains why he ordered the restoration of the derelict Hospital of St Mary in the burgh. A royal charter dated 18 August 1512 tells us that Patrick Paniter rescued the hospital from the hands of powerful laymen, recovered its alienated lands, and also rebuilt the foundations its hall, chapel and other buildings. According to R. L. Mackie, 'For this reason he was granted, as Preceptor of the Hospital, the power to recast its constitution, and the sole right of electing poor bedesmen, scholars, and chaplains.' Paniter arranged the rebuilding of the hospital from his own pocket and by obtaining indulgences from other who contributed from Pope Julius II. As the Dominican friary in the burgh was also in similar decline, Paniter revived it by annexing the hospital to it, a move which meant Montrose would be serviced with preachers and the old friary could be ased as an asset. The vicar of the hospital was tasked with praying for Paniter's uncle and brother.
The family who gained the property before Paniter were the powerful Erskines of Dun, who were destined to be major players in the Reformation and afterwards as staunch Protestant Reformers as well as significant players both locally and nationally. John Erskine of Dun had resigned the lands of Spittal Fields to Patrick on 19 October 1509, though agents acting on behalf of Dun's grandson challenged this nine years later.
Nothing now remains in Montrose of the ancient hospital buildings, but, remarkably, there are 18 panels - possibly from the dias of the hall of the hospital - which have survived are are now in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. They were integrated in an old property in Montrose and were saved when it was demolished around the year 1878. The panels are mostly carved with floral patterns, but some carving intriguingly portray monks satirically shaped like foxes and pigs. Some experts believe the work as a native Scot perhaps influenced by Flemish woodwork. Along with a door the panels were discovered in the 19th century and are linked to Patrick by including his family's coat of arms.
Patrick himself, who was born around 1470, luckily survived the mass cull of Scots at the Battle of Flodden. He was certainly present on the field that day, since in May 1514 Pope Leo X granted him absolution and license to retain his holy orders and the Abbey of Cambuskenneth, despite him having 'manipulated engines of war' on the battlefield, where he was present as King James IV's secretary. The final petition from the Governor of Scotland, the Duke of Albany, went to the Pope in 1517, aformally asking the hospital to be dissolved and annexed to the friary. Patrick himself died peacefully in 1519 in Paris.
This close connection with Montrose explains why he ordered the restoration of the derelict Hospital of St Mary in the burgh. A royal charter dated 18 August 1512 tells us that Patrick Paniter rescued the hospital from the hands of powerful laymen, recovered its alienated lands, and also rebuilt the foundations its hall, chapel and other buildings. According to R. L. Mackie, 'For this reason he was granted, as Preceptor of the Hospital, the power to recast its constitution, and the sole right of electing poor bedesmen, scholars, and chaplains.' Paniter arranged the rebuilding of the hospital from his own pocket and by obtaining indulgences from other who contributed from Pope Julius II. As the Dominican friary in the burgh was also in similar decline, Paniter revived it by annexing the hospital to it, a move which meant Montrose would be serviced with preachers and the old friary could be ased as an asset. The vicar of the hospital was tasked with praying for Paniter's uncle and brother.
The family who gained the property before Paniter were the powerful Erskines of Dun, who were destined to be major players in the Reformation and afterwards as staunch Protestant Reformers as well as significant players both locally and nationally. John Erskine of Dun had resigned the lands of Spittal Fields to Patrick on 19 October 1509, though agents acting on behalf of Dun's grandson challenged this nine years later.
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| Early 20th century view of the coast at Montrose |
Nothing now remains in Montrose of the ancient hospital buildings, but, remarkably, there are 18 panels - possibly from the dias of the hall of the hospital - which have survived are are now in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. They were integrated in an old property in Montrose and were saved when it was demolished around the year 1878. The panels are mostly carved with floral patterns, but some carving intriguingly portray monks satirically shaped like foxes and pigs. Some experts believe the work as a native Scot perhaps influenced by Flemish woodwork. Along with a door the panels were discovered in the 19th century and are linked to Patrick by including his family's coat of arms.
Some Works Consulted
R. L. Mackie (ed.), The Letters of James the Fourth 1505-1513 (Edinburgh, 1953).
James S. Richardson, 'Oak Panels Presented to the Museum by the National Art Collections Fund,' Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 71 (1938-9), pp. 324-5.
James S. Richardson, 'Oak Panels Presented to the Museum by the National Art Collections Fund,' Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 71 (1938-9), pp. 324-5.
John Warrack, Domestic Life in Scotland, 1488-1688 (London, 1920).
