JOHN

See also:

• JOHN COLVILLE (c. 154o-16o5)

COLVILLE (c. 154o-16o5)  , Scottish divine and author, was the son of Robert Colville of Cleish, in the county of Kinross . Educated at St Andrews University, he became a Presbyterian minister, but occupied himself chiefly with political intrigue, sending secret information to the English government concerning Scottish affairs . HA0 joined the party of the earl of Gowrie, and took part in the Raid of Ruthven in 1582 . In 1587 he for a short time occupied a seat on the judicial bench, and was commissioner for Stirling in the Scottish parliament . In December 1591 he was implicated in the earl of Bothwell's attack on Holyrood Palace, and was outlawed with the earl . He retired abroad, and is said to have joined the Roman Church . He died in Paris in 1605 . Colville was the author of several works, including an Oratio Funebris on Queen Elizabeth, and some political and religious controversial essays . He is said to be the author also of The Historie and Life of King James the Sext (edited by T . Thompson for the Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, 1825) . Colville's Original Letters, 7582-1603, published by the Bannatyne Club in 1858, contains a biographical memoir by the editor, David Laing .