The Scots College, Spain, 1767–1780: Memoirs of the Translation of the Scotch College from Madrid to Valladolid.

Edited by Michael Briody. Publicaciones Universidad Pontificia: Salamanca, 2015. 202pp. £15.00 paperback. ISBN 9788416066612.

In this book, Michael Briody has made accessible John Geddes’ handwritten account of the translation of the Scots seminary from Madrid to Valladolid, in 1771. At a time when the formation of students for the priesthood was struggling at the seminary in Madrid, it was Geddes who secured the premises in Valladolid, where the seminary was going to be situated for over two hundred years. The book has three parts: the account of John Geddes; a brief textual analysis, with some background information; and illustrations. My part in its production was to provide some proof reading of the typescript.

The text prepared by John Geddes is a carefully presented account of the events which enabled the move from Madrid to Valladolid to take place. Michael Briody has accompanied his presentation of the Geddes pages with helpful footnotes. The general reader is assisted in understanding the difficulties which prevailed regarding the education of seminarians – the penal laws, the Jacobite failures, and the subsequent effects on the locations of seminaries. Fr Briody argues that the John Geddes text is an account written after the fact, rather than a daily-kept record. Thus Geddes’ record, as well as reading like a well-ordered account of the moving of a seminary, points to inter-ecclesial intrigue. It highlights the tensions which existed in Spain between the Scots and the Irish. The Irish, according to Geddes, desired to ‘rob the Scots of their College’ (p. 50). However, such tensions were not in evidence in relations between the Scots and the English. Indeed, it is interesting to note how the English in Valladolid, not that many years after the defeat of the Jacobites, were most helpful to the Scots in their move from Madrid to Valladolid. Particularly helpful in this regard was Philip Perry, the rector of the English College, in Valladolid. John Geddes noted that ‘Dr Perry not only comforted and encouraged him ... but did everything in his power to help him’ (p. 50).

Briody’s publication offers material for anyone studying the effects of the Jesuit expulsion from Spain. The Valladolid building which Geddes sought and acquired had been the Jesuit College of San Ambrosio. The Crown expelled the Society of Jesus, took possession of their property in Valladolid, then with the assistance of Dr Perry at the English College of St Alban, the Crown gave the premises to the Scots for their seminary. Perhaps the light shone on this particular area may encourage others to examine the Scots dimension in Spain. Similar to REVIEWS 75 the way in which the photography of Henri Cartier Bresson catalogued cultural changes by working over an extended period, so the existence of the Scots seminary (from 1627), living through the expulsion of the Jesuits, the Peninsular Wars, the Spanish Civil War, the bombing of Guernica, the birth of democracy, and the failed coup of Colonel Tejero, offers a unique witness. Michael Briody has with this book opened the door to a perhaps under developed area of study and issued an invitation to further study.

Reading through Geddes’ account it is easy to be confused by the complexities of the Castilian bureaucracy prevalent at the time. Geddes brings to our attention various individuals who were instrumental in helping him to negotiate his way through legal and political procedures. One of these was Don Pedro Rodriguez de Campomanes. In the opinion of Geddes he played a significant and exemplary role in establishing the Scots seminary in Valladolid. John Geddes was the person who recognised that the Scots seminary in Madrid had, from 1627 until 1771, been of limited success. However, without Don Pedro and others, Geddes’ project of re-establishing the college in the capital of Old Castile would have failed. Geddes records his gratitude to Campomanes. In addition to Campomanes, and Philip Perry of the English College, Michael Briody gives honourable mentions to others who helped Geddes: Alexander Munro, the British Consul-General in Madrid, who although not a Catholic, considered it desirable to have such a Scots presence in Spain; Don Andre´s Gonza´lez de Barcia who was zealous in his collaboration with Geddes; Count Hippolytus Vincenti, the Papal Auditor, who had known Geddes many years previously, and renewed the acquaintance in the cause of the Geddes project; and King Carlos III who met Geddes after his consecration as bishop in 1780, but had been cognizant of Geddes’ work prior to their meeting. Fr Briody perhaps might have written more fully about these individuals, if it had not been for his intention to allow Geddes’ document to speak for itself. Interesting snippets of information about some of the students of the time have also been given by Briody. Lachlan McIntosh, one of the students, won a Spanish lottery of the time, left the College, went to enjoy himself in the Canaries, and then returned and presented himself for re-admission. Fr Briody describes this return succinctly: ‘[McIntosh] rang the door-bell, and knelt to await the rector to seek re-admission. He was ordained only a year later, 1782, and served as a priest in Glengairn for 64 years.’ (p. 174) Paul MacPherson, who was ordained in 1779, died at the age of ninety. According to Briody it had been claimed that he had been a spy for the British government against France. Angus Bernard MacEachran was ordained in 1787. He went to Prince Edward Island with some of his emigrating parishioners, and was consecrated bishop there in 1821. Donald MacDonald left un-ordained in 1776. He joined a Portuguese regiment and died at the Battle of Badajoz in 1812.

In this publication, Michael Briody has made available for study the account of John Geddes. He has allowed the original text to be seen as John Geddes wrote it, resisting the temptation to regularise and update the spelling and punctuation of the text, in order that the authentic Geddes might not be injured. He has reproduced it as it has been written. Photographs provided of the Geddes original are a helpful addition for the reader not engaged in academic research, as are all the photographs. Although he has not created chapter headings, a useful set of headings, acting as sign-posts, has been prepared by Bishop Maurice Taylor. This book oozes with Fr Briody’s admiration for John Geddes. In bringing the words of John Geddes out from the present seminary at Salamanca, so that they might be available to a wider audience, he has been careful not to intrude upon this detailed and interesting part of Scotland’s history. With the collaboration of the Pontifical University of Salamanca he has produced something which may have interest for the general reader, and which may provide valuable source material for future scholarship.

The Rev. Gerard Bogan, St Ninian’s Church, Hamilton