Andrew Forman

Andrew Forman (c. 1465–11 March 1521) was a Scottish diplomat and prelate who became Bishop of Moray in 1501, Archbishop of Bourges in France, in 1513, Archbishop of St Andrews in 1514 as well as the headship of several monasteries. He was probably the son of Nicholas Forman of Hutton in Berwickshire, and Jonet Blackadder. Forman had three brothers, John and Adam who were both knights—Adam was the standard-bearer to King James IV at the Battle of Flodden Field .... Battle of Flodden and John, the king's serjeant-porter who was captured at the battle—and Robert who was dean of Glasgow cathedral. He also had two known sisters—Isabel, the second wife of Sir Patrick Home of Fast Castle and an unnamed sister whose son, John Roul, became commendator of May after Forman's death. A possible third sister, Jonet Forman the Prioress of Eklis (Eccles), is the first named in a letter of protection and respite (similar to a will) dated 28 March 1513, when Forman lists a number of his kith and kin. Like many senior churchmen of his day, his vow of celibacy was not one that he kept and was known to have had a daughter Jane who married Sir Alexander Oliphant of Kellie. He was educated at the University of St Andrews graduating as a Licentiate of the Arts in 1483. By 1489, Forman had entered the service of King James IV whom he represented in Rome in 1489/90 and where he was appointed protonotary apostolic by Pope Innocent VIII. King James’s foreign policy was directed at bringing peace to Europe and required Forman to spend extended periods in Rome, Paris and London. During his ambassadorial career Forman gained many church and lay endowments. The king's death at Flodden and that of his son Alexander, Archbishop of St Andrews, triggered a round of attempted seizures of senior ecclesiastical offices in Scotland. Forman eventually emerged with his appointment to the archbishopric of St Andrews in 1514 which he held until his death in 1521.