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William Malvoisin (d.
1238), chancellor of Scotland and archbishop of St. Andrews, was of
Norman origin, and was said to have been educated in France. He became
one of the clerici regis in Scotland, and he was made chancellor of
Scotland in September 1199. During the following month he was elected
bishop of Glasgow. Subsequently, while at Lyons, he was ordained priest
and consecrated to the see of Glasgow 23 Sept. 1200 by John Belmeis [q.
v.], archbishop of Lyons, at the order of Innocent III. He landed at
Dover on his return home on 1 Feb. following.
He was a frequent correspondent of the Archbishop of Lyons, one of whose
letters to him, written about this time, has been reproduced by Mabillon
in his 'Analecta,' p. 429. The letter contains two replies made to
inquiries by Malvoisin: one referring to the working of the consistorial
courts in the diocese of Lyons, 'de temporali regimine ecclesiae
Lugdunensis;' and the other as to how far those in holy orders ought to
take part in civil disputes or to bear arms a question which the arch-
bishop answered wholly in the negative.
In 1201 he, as bisbop, was party to an arrangement, made in confirmation
of one previously existing, in presence of the papal legate, John de St.
Stephanus, at Perth, by which the monks of Kelso held the property of
the churches within that borough free from dues or charges of any kind.
In 1202 Malvoisin was transferred on the king's recommendation to the
archbishopric of St. Andrews, he showed much wisdom and energy in ruling
the church. Many rights and privileges that had lapsed through the
remissness of his predecessors were vindicated anew by him and zealously
defended. He was in constant communication with the holy see, asking
instructions on points of doctrine, forms of procedure, or legal
opinions, such as whether or no he could allow proof by witnesses in
establishing contracts of marriage.
A long-standing dispute between the see of St. Andrews and Duncan of
Arbuthnot regarding the kirklands of Arbuthnot was settled, after
inquiry by the legate and the king. A bull of Innocent III, addressed to
Duncan in July 1203, describes the settlement as a compromise. Other
authorities state that it was in favour of the bishop.
Malvoisin,who was abroad during the greater part of 1205, was afterwards
confirmed in all his prerogatives and immunities by bulls of Innocent
III, dated 2 April 1206 and 12 Jan. 1207, which were doubtless suggested
by him while at the papal court.
The later bull is termed
'De confirmatione privilegiorum Episcopi Sancti Andreae ejusque
successoribus in perpetuum.' The properties belonging to the see are
thus stated: 'In Fife Kilrymond, with all the shire, Derveisir,
Uhtredinunesin, the island of Johevenoh, with its appurtenances, Munemel,
Terineth, Morcambus, Methkil, Kileci- neath, Muckart, Pethgob, with all
the church lands, Strathleihten, llescolpin, Cas, Dulbrudet, Russin,
Lossie, and Longport, near Perth; in Maret Buchan, Monymusk, Culsamuel,
Elon, with the church lands and all their appurtenances; in Lothian
Listune, Egglesmaniken, Keldeleth, Raththen, Lasswade, Wedale,
Clerkington, Tyningham, with their appurtenances.' The bull finally
provides that Can (cam. superior duties) and Cuneveth (cean-mhath),
first-fruits for the bishop's table, are to be duly levied. The bishop
was always fastidious about the supply to his table. Fordun says that he
withdrew from the abbey of Dunfermline the patronage of two livings
Kinglassie and Hales because the monks had stinted his supply of wine.
He was empowered by a bull, November 1207, to fill up any vacant charges
caused by the decease of vicars, if the titulars of such charges did not
do so within the proper time. In 1208 he conse- crated the cemetery of
Dryburgh Abbey.
His name is appended to a bond given by William, king of Scotland, for
the payment of fifteen thousand marks to John of Eng- land, dated
Northampton, 7 Aug. 1209. In 1211 he resigned the chancellorship of
Scot- land. During the following year he presided at a provincial
council of the church held at Perth, when the pope's order was read
regarding a new crusade a proposal coldly received by the nobles
present. In 1212 he was empowered by bull (1 June) to consecrate John,
archdeacon of Lothian, as bishop of Dunkeld, and in the following year
he consecrated Adam, abbot of Melrose, as bishop of Caithness. He was
sent, 7 July 1215, to treat with King John of England.
During the same year he went to Rome to attend a general council,
accompanied by the bishops of Glasgow and Moray. He returned in January
12 18and found the country under papal interdict, but with the help of
the legate he succeeded in having the interdict removed. He gave
absolution to the monks of the Cistercian order on their submitting to
the authority of the church. He signed the act of espousals between
Alexander II of Scotland and Joan (1210-1238) [q. v.], sister of Henry
III, at York, 15 June 1220; and 18 June l221 he witnessed a charter of
dowry granted by Alexander to his bride.
The bishop founded the hospital of St. Mary at Lochleven, called
Scotland Wall. He also confirmed to the master and brethren of Soltre
both the church of St. Giles at Ormiston in East Lothian with its
revenue for their proper use, and the church of Strath- martin in
Forfarshire, which was confirmed by Pope Gregory 14 Oct. 1236. He gave
to the canons of Lochleven the revenue of the church of Auctermoonzie
for the support of pilgrims. He continued the building of the idral at
St. Andrews, begun by his predecessor, and devoted a part of the revenue
of his see to that purpose. He died at his residence at Inchmurtach 5
July 1238, and was buried in the cathedral.
Dempster says that he wrote the lives of St. Ninian and St. Kentigern,
but Hardy, the compiler of the catalogue of the Rolls publications, says
that of the two anonymous lives of these saints he has been unable to
assign either of them to him.
[Fordun's Scotichronicon, lib. viii.; Kymer's Fcedera, vol. i.; Melrose
Chronicle; Midlothian Charters of Soltre (Bannatyne Cluh); Patrologise
Cursus Completus; Spotiswood's History of Church of Scotland, vol. i.;
Gordon's Eccl. Chronicle of Scotland, i. 146-54; Tanner's Bibl. Brit.]
J. G. F. |
