Adam is an elderly, devoted servant to Orlando’s family. Following the death of the father, Sir Rowland de Boys, he is currently in service primarily to the older brother, Oliver. Adam serves as Orlando’s confidant, hearing his grievances about Oliver’s mistreatment and failure to abide by their father’s wishes.
As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, and, as thou sayest, charged my brother, on his blessing, to breed me well: and there begins my sadness.
As Oliver approaches, Orlando sends Adam off to eavesdrop, probably expecting that what Adam hears will confirm his claims.
When Oliver comes in and he and Orlando start to fight—at first arguing, then threatening to get physical—Adam returns and intervenes as peacemaker: “Sweet masters, be patient: for your father's remembrance, be at accord.”
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/asyoulikeit/asyoulikeit.1.1.html
In act 1, scene 1, of Shakespeare's comedy As You Like It, the audience meets Orlando and his family's elderly servant Adam. Orlando is the youngest son of the late Sir Roland de Boys and as such is in the power of his wicked older brother Oliver. Adam, though loyal to Orlando, is technically Oliver's servant because of these same inheritance laws and must do as he says. Adam attempts to keep the peace between the brothers, in the name of their father's memory, but his attempts are futile. Oliver abuses both Adam and Orlando in this scene, establishing him as one of the play's antagonists.
Though their interactions are brief, this opening scene establishes that Orlando and Adam have an extremely close and caring relationship. Orlando delivers his opening monologue to Adam, treating him as a trusted confidant and shoulder to lean on. Adam is also one of the remaining links to Orlando's father, as he was once his servant and seems to have loved him dearly.
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