John Forbes (friar)
Encyclopedia
John Forbes was a Capuchin
friar
, known as Father Archangel, born in Scotland
in 1571.
Forbes was the second son of John Forbes, 8th Lord Forbes, by his first wife, the Lady Margaret Gordon, eldest daughter of George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly
, the leader of the Scottish Catholics at the time of the Reformation. Lord Forbes was a protestant, and eventually drove his wife away from his house on account of her continued attachment to the ancient form of religion. Their son John adhered to the same faith, being encouraged to do so by his elder brother William, who had gone to Flanders
and joined the Capuchin order, and by his uncle, Father James Gordon, the celebrated jesuit. Having changed clothes with a shepherd boy, he crossed over to Antwerp, where he was arrested by a soldier of the Spanish army and imprisoned as a spy in the citadel. On recovering his liberty he learned Flemish and Latin
; and on 2 Aug. 1593 he received the habit of a novice in the Capuchin monastery at Tournay
. On the same day in the following year he took the solemn vows. He was remarkable for his zeal and piety, and resided in succession in the houses of his order at Bruges
and Antwerp. It is related that at Dixmude he converted three hundred Scottish soldiers to the catholic religion. His mother ultimately went to Flanders, and a pension was granted to her by the king of Spain. She died at Ghent
on 1 Jan. 1605–6, and her son John survived her only seven months, dying on 2 Aug. 1606. He was buried in the nave of the Capuchin Church at Termonde. He and his brother William, also called in religion Father Archangel (who died 21 March 1591–2), are regarded as distinguished ornaments of the Capuchin branch of the Franciscan
order.
The life of John Forbes was written in Latin by Father Faustinus Cranius of Diest
, under the title of ‘Alter Alexius, natione Scotus, nobili familia oriundus, nuper in Belgium felici S. Spiritus afflatu delatus, et in familiam Seraphici Patris S. Francisci Cappucinorum adscriptus, sub nomine F. Archangeli,’ Cologne, 1620, 12mo. It was translated into Italian
under the title of ‘Narrativa della Vita d'un Figlio et d'una Madre,’ Modena
, 1634, 4to. An English
version, with Forbes's portrait prefixed, engraved by J. Picart, was printed at Douay
, 1623, 8vo, together with a memoir of Father Benedict Canfield, and ‘The Life of the Reverend Fa. Angel of Ioyevse, Capvchin Preacher.’ These three biographies had previously appeared in French
at Paris
in 1621.
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
, known as Father Archangel, born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1571.
Forbes was the second son of John Forbes, 8th Lord Forbes, by his first wife, the Lady Margaret Gordon, eldest daughter of George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly
George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly
George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly was a Scottish nobleman.-Biography:He was the son of John Gordon, Lord Gordon, and Margaret Stewart, daughter of James IV. George Gordon inherited his earldom and estates in 1524 at age 10...
, the leader of the Scottish Catholics at the time of the Reformation. Lord Forbes was a protestant, and eventually drove his wife away from his house on account of her continued attachment to the ancient form of religion. Their son John adhered to the same faith, being encouraged to do so by his elder brother William, who had gone to Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and joined the Capuchin order, and by his uncle, Father James Gordon, the celebrated jesuit. Having changed clothes with a shepherd boy, he crossed over to Antwerp, where he was arrested by a soldier of the Spanish army and imprisoned as a spy in the citadel. On recovering his liberty he learned Flemish and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
; and on 2 Aug. 1593 he received the habit of a novice in the Capuchin monastery at Tournay
Tournay
Tournay may refer to:* Tournai , a municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut* Tournay, a commune of the Hautes-Pyrénées département, in southwestern France...
. On the same day in the following year he took the solemn vows. He was remarkable for his zeal and piety, and resided in succession in the houses of his order at Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
and Antwerp. It is related that at Dixmude he converted three hundred Scottish soldiers to the catholic religion. His mother ultimately went to Flanders, and a pension was granted to her by the king of Spain. She died at Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
on 1 Jan. 1605–6, and her son John survived her only seven months, dying on 2 Aug. 1606. He was buried in the nave of the Capuchin Church at Termonde. He and his brother William, also called in religion Father Archangel (who died 21 March 1591–2), are regarded as distinguished ornaments of the Capuchin branch of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
order.
The life of John Forbes was written in Latin by Father Faustinus Cranius of Diest
Diest
Diest is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Situated in the northeast of the Hageland region, Diest neighbours the provinces of Antwerp to its North, and Limburg to the East and is situated around 60km from Brussels. The municipality comprises the city of...
, under the title of ‘Alter Alexius, natione Scotus, nobili familia oriundus, nuper in Belgium felici S. Spiritus afflatu delatus, et in familiam Seraphici Patris S. Francisci Cappucinorum adscriptus, sub nomine F. Archangeli,’ Cologne, 1620, 12mo. It was translated into Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
under the title of ‘Narrativa della Vita d'un Figlio et d'una Madre,’ Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
, 1634, 4to. An English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
version, with Forbes's portrait prefixed, engraved by J. Picart, was printed at Douay
Douay
Douay can refer to:* Abel Douay , French general* Félix Douay , French general and brother of Abel Douay* Douay–Rheims Bible, an English translation of the Bible, c.1600* Douai, a commune in northern France...
, 1623, 8vo, together with a memoir of Father Benedict Canfield, and ‘The Life of the Reverend Fa. Angel of Ioyevse, Capvchin Preacher.’ These three biographies had previously appeared in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1621.