[4] In 1558 Scotland was threatened by an invasion from "the auld inemies of Ingland", the Edinburgh craft guilds were required to list those men who could be mustered in the event of an attack and Primrose was included.

[6] In March 1580 Primrose was one of a number of Edinburgh surgeons who examined and treated Robert Aslowane, the victim of an assault by James Douglas of Parkhead and his accomplices.

He was allowed bail or caution for future loyalty at £1,000 Scots, guaranteed by the textile merchant Robert Jousie and the apothecary Alexander Barclay.

[9] On 10 February 1594 he was appointed to attend Anne of Denmark at Stirling Castle, when she gave birth to Prince Henry, with the physicians Martin Schöner and Gilbert Moncreiff, Alexander Barclay, and the midwife.

Gilbert Primrose died in Westminster, London on 18 April 1616 and was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh where his monument still stands.

His grave carries a Latin inscription translated as:To Gilbert Primrose, Chief Surgeon to James and Anne, King and Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland.

To the end of his life he was Chief Surgeon to the King, and died, adorned with testimonials of public sorrow from Prince and people, in the year of our Lord 1616 on the 8th of April.

Great Gilbert Primrose shut his mortal eyes Full fraught with honours as with length of days My will and life to Christ I still resign'd