Andrew Magnus
Encyclopedia
Andrew Magnus was a 14th-century Scottish
prelate
. Of unknown background, he is recorded for the first time in a document dating to November 28, 1365, holding the position of Archdeacon of Dunblane
. Having merely been collated to this position by an ordinary
, perhaps the Bishop of Dunblane
Walter de Coventre
, he received a fresh papal provision on January 6, 1367.
Following the death of Bishop Walter de Coventre sometime in the year after March 21, 1371, Andrew was elected as Bishop of Dunblane by the cathedral chapter of the diocese; he was provided to the see by Pope Gregory XI
on April 27, 1372. On July 1. 1372, he and all the other bishops of Scotland were ordered by the papacy to collect one tenth of their annual revenue "in aid of the defence of the Pope and the Roman Church in Italy".
Few other things are known of his episcopate or his life. Pope Gregory XI wrote to Bishop Andrew in 1375 requesting that the Bishop furnish Thomas Stewart
and his brother James Stewart, illegitimate sons of King Robert II of Scotland
, with benefices and to issue a dispensation
for their legitimacy. In 1380, the Pope requested that the Bishop of Dunblane confirm the annexation of the church of St Columba in Tiree
to Ardchattan Priory
; in the same year, a Bishop of Dunblane, probably Andrew, confirmed the election of William de Culross as the new Abbot of Inchaffray
.
Andrew died sometime later in the year. As late as September 1, 1380, officials at the papal curia believed that he was still alive; but Andrew was definitely dead by September 12, when his successor Dúghall de Lorne
was provided to the vacant bishopric; the officials must have been wrong in their belief, as Dúghall had already been elected at Dunblane, and the interval must have been large enough both for the election to have been organised and for news of the election to have arrived in southern France by September 12, almost certainly more than twelve days.
Bishop Andrew's seal survives appended to the Act made at Scone
on April 4, 1373, settling the succession of the Scottish crown. He is known to have had a kinsman, Michael by name, to whom he provided the perpetual vicarage Abernethy, despite the fact that this Michael was "under age and illiterate".
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
. Of unknown background, he is recorded for the first time in a document dating to November 28, 1365, holding the position of Archdeacon of Dunblane
Archdeacon of Dunblane
The Archdeacon of Dunblane was the only archdeacon in the Diocese of Dunblane, acting as a deputy of the Bishop of Dunblane. The first archdeacon, Andrew , was called "Archdeacon of Modhel" ; archdeacons Jonathan, Gilbert and Luke were styled "Archdeacon of Dunblane", while John and Duncan were...
. Having merely been collated to this position by an ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
, perhaps the Bishop of Dunblane
Bishop of Dunblane
The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane/Strathearn, one of medieval Scotland's thirteen bishoprics. It was based at Dunblane Cathedral, now a parish church of the Church of Scotland. The bishopric itself certainly derives from an older...
Walter de Coventre
Walter de Coventre
Walter de Coventre was a 14th-century Scottish ecclesiastic. There is no direct evidence of his birthdate, his family, or his family's origin, although he may have come from the region around Abernethy , where a family with the name de Coventre is known to have lived...
, he received a fresh papal provision on January 6, 1367.
Following the death of Bishop Walter de Coventre sometime in the year after March 21, 1371, Andrew was elected as Bishop of Dunblane by the cathedral chapter of the diocese; he was provided to the see by Pope Gregory XI
Pope Gregory XI
Gregory XI was pope from 1370 until his death.-Biography:He was born Pierre Roger de Beaufort, in Maumont, in the modern commune of Rosiers-d'Égletons, Limousin around 1336. He succeeded Pope Urban V in 1370, and was pope until 1378...
on April 27, 1372. On July 1. 1372, he and all the other bishops of Scotland were ordered by the papacy to collect one tenth of their annual revenue "in aid of the defence of the Pope and the Roman Church in Italy".
Few other things are known of his episcopate or his life. Pope Gregory XI wrote to Bishop Andrew in 1375 requesting that the Bishop furnish Thomas Stewart
Thomas Stewart
Thomas Stewart was an illegitimate son of King Robert II of Scotland. In 1380, Avignon Pope Clement VII provided Thomas with the Archdeaconry of the Bishopric of St. Andrews, as well as the canonry of Stobo in the Bishopric of Glasgow...
and his brother James Stewart, illegitimate sons of King Robert II of Scotland
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
, with benefices and to issue a dispensation
Dispensation (Catholic Church)
In the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, a dispensation is the suspension by competent authority of general rules of law in particular cases...
for their legitimacy. In 1380, the Pope requested that the Bishop of Dunblane confirm the annexation of the church of St Columba in Tiree
Tiree
-History:Tiree is known for the 1st century BC Dùn Mòr broch, for the prehistoric carved Ringing Stone and for the birds of the Ceann a' Mhara headland....
to Ardchattan Priory
Ardchattan Priory
The Ardchattan Priory was a Valliscaulian monastic community in Ardchattan, Argyll, Scotland. It was founded in 1230 by Duncan MacDougal, Lord of Argyll. From the early 14th century, the Prior of Ardchattan held the chantership of Lismore Cathedral. In April 1510 it was incorporated as a cell of...
; in the same year, a Bishop of Dunblane, probably Andrew, confirmed the election of William de Culross as the new Abbot of Inchaffray
Abbot of Inchaffray
The Abbot of Inchaffray, before 1221 Prior of Inchaffray, and then by the end of the 15th century, the Commendator of Inchaffray, was the head of the community of Augustinian canons of Inchaffray Abbey and their lands. Inchaffray is in Strathearn, in southern Perthshire, Scotland...
.
Andrew died sometime later in the year. As late as September 1, 1380, officials at the papal curia believed that he was still alive; but Andrew was definitely dead by September 12, when his successor Dúghall de Lorne
Dúghall de Lorne
Dúghall of Lorne [or de Ergadia] was a late 14th century and early 15th century prelate in the Kingdom of Scotland. Probably a MacDúghaill from the province of Lorne in Argyll, he appears to have studied at the University of Oxford before returning to Scotland for an ecclesiastical and...
was provided to the vacant bishopric; the officials must have been wrong in their belief, as Dúghall had already been elected at Dunblane, and the interval must have been large enough both for the election to have been organised and for news of the election to have arrived in southern France by September 12, almost certainly more than twelve days.
Bishop Andrew's seal survives appended to the Act made at Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
on April 4, 1373, settling the succession of the Scottish crown. He is known to have had a kinsman, Michael by name, to whom he provided the perpetual vicarage Abernethy, despite the fact that this Michael was "under age and illiterate".