James Etkins

or Atkins son of Henr. Atkins Sheriff and Commissary of Orknay, was born in the Town of Kirkwall in the Stewartry of Orknay in Scotland, educated in the Coll. of Edinburgh, where he commenced Master of Arts, afterwards he retired to Oxon to compleat his Learning, especially his Divinity, by the advice, instruction and lectures of Dr. Prideaux an. 1637. 38. &c. Soon after he, upon recommendations, became one of the Chaplains to James Marquess of Hamilton at that time his Majesties High Commissioner for Scotland: In which station he did acquit himself so well to the satisfaction of his noble Patron, that upon his return to England he procured a Presentation for him from his Majesty to the Church of Birsa in the Stewartry of Orknay: where Continuing some years, his prudence, diligence and faithfulness in the discharge of his Office did procure him much of veneration and respect from all persons, especially from his Ordinary, who confer’d upon him the dignity of Moderator to the Presbytery. In the beginning of the year 1650, when the noble James Marq. of Montross landed in Orknay, this Dr. Atkins was nominated by the unanimous Votes of the said Presbytery to draw up a Declaration in their names and his own; which, with their approbation and consent, was published, containing very great expressions of Loyalty, and constant resolution firmly to adhere to their dutiful Allegiance. For this the whole Presbytery being deposed by the general Assembly of the Kirk at that time sitting at Edinburgh, the said Doctor was likewise excommunicated, as one that conversed with the said Marquess, against whom they had emitted the like Brutum Fulmen. At that time the Scottish Council past an Act to apprehend him the said Doctor, to the end that he might be tried for his life; but upon private notice from his Kinsman Sir Archibald Primerose at that time Clerk to the said Council, he fled into Holland, where he sculked till 1653, and then returning into Scotland, he transfer’d his family to Edinburgh, where he resided quietly and obscurely till the year 1660. Upon the return then of his Majesty K. Ch. 2, he attended Dr. Tho. Sydserf Bishop of Galloway (the only Scottish Bishop who had the good fortune to survive the calamities of the Usurper’s Government) to London, where the Bishop of Winchester presented him to the Rectory of Winfrith in Dorsetshire, and continuing there till the year 1677. he was elected and consecrated Bish. of Murray in Scotland, to the great rejoycing of the Episcopal Party. In 1680 he was translated to the See of Galloway, with dispensation to reside at Edinburgh, because it was thought unreasonable to oblige a reverend Prelate of his years to live among such a rebellious and turbulent People as those of that Diocess were: the effects of whose fiery zeal hath too frequently appeared in affronting, beating, robbing, wounding, and sometimes murthering the Curates. He had the oversight of the said Diocess for 7 years, which he so carefully governed, partly by his pastoral Letters to the Synod, Presbyteries and Ministers, and partly by his great pains in undertaking a very great journey for a man of his age and infirmities to visit his Diocess, that had he resided on the place, better order and discipline could scarce be expected. He died at Edinburgh of an Apoplexy, on the 28 of Octob. in sixteen hundred eighty and seven,1687. aged 74 years: Whereupon his body was decently inter’d in the Church of the Grey Friers there, at which time John then Bish. of Dunkeld (since deceased) preached his funeral Sermon. His death was sadly regretted by all good and pious men, who knew him to be a man of great reputation for his sincere piety, constant Loyalty, singular learning and true zeal for the Protestant Religion, according to the Constitutions of the Church of England, of which he lived and died a worthy Member. Upon his Coffin was fastned this Epitaph,

Maximus Atkinsi pietate, & maximus annis,

Ante diem, invitâ religione, cadis,

Ni caderes, nostris inferret forsitan oris,

Haud impune suos Roma superba Deos.