Henry Adamson

Henry Adamson (1581 - 1639) was a Scottish poet and historian.

Henry was the son of James Adamson, Dean of guild in Perth. He was trained for the church,but became a schoolmaster in his home city [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/adamson_henry.htm Significant Scots: Henry Adamsom] ] .

His friend William Drummond induced him to publish his most famous poem:"Muses Threnodie: of Mirthful Mournings on the death of Mr Gall", (Edinburgh, 1638). The poem is an important document in that gives a general account of Perth in the seventeenth century. He is credited with first using the word "curling" in 1620. He related that his friend, Mr Gall, "a citizen of Perth, and a gentle-man of goodly stature, and pregnant wit, much given to pastime, as golf, archerie, curling and jovial companie." It also records the playing of Golf on the South Inch:

:"And ye, my clubs must no more prepare":"To make your balls flee whistling through the air"

It is also particularly noted for its connection of rosicrucianism, freemasonry and second sight. Referring to the rebuilding of a bridge over the River Tay, swept away in 1621, Adamson wrote:

:"Thus Mr Gall assured it would be so":"And my good genius doth surely know:":"For what we do presage is not in grosse":"For we be brethren of the Rosie Crosse;":"We have the Mason word, and second sight,":"Things for to come we can foretell aright." ["The muses threnodie, or, mirthfull mournings, on the death of Master Gall. Containing varietie of pleasant poëticall descriptions, morall instructions, historiall narrations, and divine observations, with the most remarkable antiquities of Scotland, especially at Perth" by Henry Adamson, King James College, Edinburgh, 1638]

External links

* [http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/35923-Henry-Adamson-The-Muses-Threnodie--Eighth-Muse Extracts from"The Muses Threnodie"] (but not list the extract dealing with the Mason word)

References