Sir Archibald Napier (1534 – 15 May 1608) was a Scottish landowner and official, master of the Scottish mint and seventh Laird of Merchiston.
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Early life
He was eldest son of Alexander Napier, sixth of Merchiston, who was killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1547. His mother was Annabella, youngest daughter of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenurchy. His paternal grandfather was Alexander Napier, 5th Laird of Merchiston, fifth of Merchiston, who was killed at the battle of Flodden in 1513. Archibald was infeft in the barony of Edenbellie as heir to his father on 8 November 1548, a royal dispensation enabling him, though a minor, to feudalise his right to his paternal barony in contemplation of his marriage with Janet Bothwell, which took place about 1549.
Napier began to clear his property of encumbrances. On 1 June 1555 he redeemed his lands of Gartnes, Stirlingshire, and others from Duncan Forester, and on 14 June 1558 he obtained a precept of sasine for infefting him in the lands of Blairwaddis, Isle of Inchcolm. In 1565 he received the order of knighthood.
According to Claude Nau, Napier had the reputation of being a wizard or magician and made bets that Mary, Queen of Scots would escape from Lochleven Castle. He sided with her when she gained her freedom. In 1569, William Stewart of Luthrie was accused of witchcraft and conspiracy against Regent Moray. He was said to have held meetings in the loft or upper chamber of Merchiston Tower with Napier to conjure a spirit called "Obirion". Stewart also made an invocation to summon Obirion in the "yaird" or garden at Merchiston.