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Friday 14th Feb 2025 14.30 UK time

Online Seminar: ‘Ita est Patricius Miller notarius publicus’: the earls of Argyll and their notaries in the sixteenth century

Our February presentation in the Friends seminar series 2024/25, will take place via zoom on Friday 14 February 2025 at 14:30 UK time when Katharina Pruente will present ‘‘Ita est Patricius Miller notarius publicus’: the earls of Argyll and their notaries in the sixteenth century’.

This talk explores the changing role and responsibilities of notaries and other legal personnel in the employ of successive earls of Argyll in the sixteenth century. Notaries are traditionally perceived as scribes or attorneys who offered legal guidance and facilitated the creation of contracts, yet they also served as close personal advisors to their employers and frequently got involved in matters of estate administration, governance, and all kinds of private affairs. The role of notaries in the Scottish clans has rarely been studied in detail, however. Rather, most historians draw on surviving contracts and notarial protocol books without considering the role, training and interests of the men who created them. By shifting the focus from the surviving material record to the notaries themselves, this paper sheds new light on the evolution of the notarial profession from the late medieval period into early modernity to show that while notaries are now primarily viewed as records-keepers and scribes, their role underwent a substantial transformation in the sixteenth century that merits further analysis. Talk of treasonous notaries and high-class robbery guaranteed. No prior knowledge of notaries in the early modern period required!

Katharina is a PhD researcher in Scottish early modern history at the University of Stirling where she works on the social networks of Archibald Campbell, fifth earl of Argyll and chief of Clan Campbell (1558-1573). Her broader research interests lie in historical communities, the impact of private relationships on diplomacy and politics, and the role of ambassadors and notaries in early modern Europe. She previously worked on trade and identity in the western Highlands. This is her first talk at the Friends of the Argyll Papers.

The seminar will be given on Zoom.Attendance at the seminar is free to members of the Friends. Non-members are asked to make a £10 donation to the Friends at Donate to Friends of the Argyll Papers (enthuse.com).

All attendees should book their place by emailing Alison at: friendsoftheargyllpapers@gmail.com

Seminars will be delivered on the Zoom platform and will include a 45 minute presentation followed by 15 mins for Q & A.

For information on past seminars, please visit the Cache Page

Everyone who wishes to attend needs to book a place for the sessions by emailing: friendsoftheargyllpapers@gmail.com