Donald Campbell (abbot)
Encyclopedia
Donald Campbell (died 1562) was a 16th-century Scottish
noble
and churchman
. He was the son of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll
and Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox
. From 1522, he was a student of St Salvator's College, at the University of St Andrews
. After graduation, he became a cleric in his home diocese, the diocese of Argyll
.
recommended Campbell's appointment as Abbot of Coupar Angus
, a recommendation confirmed by parliament in the following year - despite the fact that the monks of Coupar Angus Abbey
had already elected one of their brothers, Alexander Spens, to the position in early 1524. In September 1529, the papacy
agreed that Campbell could hold the abbey for eight months in commendam
, providing that if he did not become a monk in this period the abbey would thereafter be regarded as vacant; the following February, 1530, he received an eight-month extension to this. Campbell seems to have complied, and was in France
in the following months.
Donald was back in Scotland in 1532, attending parliament that year. In May 1533, he was given a five-year appointment as commissioner
of the Chapter-General of the Scottish Cistercian Order. While delegating the ordinary business of the abbey to monks, kinsmen and friends, and in Scotland held a variety of high-profile political offices in this period, including Senator
of the College of Justice
(July 1541), Lord of the Articles for the parliaments of March and December of 1543 and was a member of the Privy Council
(June 1545); he had visited France again in 1536.
from the Governor of Scotland, James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault. The vacancy was caused by the translation of the previous bishop, John Hamilton
, to the archbishopric of St Andrews
in 1547.
His appointment was opposed by one Robert Crichton
. Crichton was the nephew of George Crichton
, Bishop of Dunkeld
, and had been appointed coadjutor and successor to his uncle the year before the latter's death - without the consent of the Scottish government. The government thus ignored the appointment, placing Hamilton in charge. Robert litigated - unsuccessfully - against Hamilton in the Papal see
. When Hamilton was translated, Crichton was still litigating. The dispute continued into 1553. When Mary of Guise
took over the government from Châtellerault in 1554, she acknowledged Crichton's position and Campbell appears to have given up the bishopric. In this year, perhaps in compensation, he was made Keeper of the Privy Seal
, a position he held until his death in 1562.
, possibly receiving a nomination from Mary of Guise. The vacancy had been caused by the death of Bishop John Hepburn
in the early summer of 1557. Campbell's proctor
in Rome
, John Row, attempted to gain permission for his master to abandon the dress Cistercian monk and to hold the bishopric of Brechin with the abbacy of Coupar Angus. Campbell never seems to have been awarded the see.
Campbell's ambition for Brechin was overtaken by the events of the Scottish Reformation
. Although he was present at the burning
of the Protestant Walter Milne
in April 1558, in the following year Abbot Campbell himself became a Protestant
and, at the urging of the Lords of the Congregation
, abandoned monastic habit, banned mass
from his monastery and destroyed its icon
s and altars. In the following year he attended the Reformation Parliament
which severed Scotland's ties with Rome.
He died sometime between 16 December 1562 and 20 January 1563. He is said to have left five illegitimate sons, to each of whom he left an estate of property.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
and churchman
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
. He was the son of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll
Gillespie Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and politician.-Biography:Archibald was the eldest son of Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll and Isabel Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Lord Lorn. He was made Master of the Royal Household of James IV of Scotland on 24...
and Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox
John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox
John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox. was known as Lord Darnley and the Earl of Lennox. Stewart was the son of Catherine Seton and Sir Alan Stuart, a great-great-great-grandson of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland....
. From 1522, he was a student of St Salvator's College, at the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
. After graduation, he became a cleric in his home diocese, the diocese of Argyll
Diocese of Argyll
The Diocese of Argyll was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese in Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Diocese was led by the Bishop of Argyll, and was based at Lismore....
.
Abbot of Coupar Angus
In May 1525, King James V of ScotlandJames V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
recommended Campbell's appointment as Abbot of Coupar Angus
Abbot of Coupar Angus
The Abbot of Coupar Angus was the head of the monastic community and lands of Coupar Angus Abbey, on the boundary between Angus and Gowrie in Scotland. The abbot David Bane was granted the mitre in 1464...
, a recommendation confirmed by parliament in the following year - despite the fact that the monks of Coupar Angus Abbey
Coupar Angus Abbey
Coupar Angus Abbey was a Cistercian monastery near Coupar Angus, in central Scotland, on the boundary between Angus and Gowrie.It was founded on the old royal manor of Coupar in 1161 x 1162 with the patronage of Máel Coluim IV , King of Scots, by Cistercian monks from Melrose Abbey...
had already elected one of their brothers, Alexander Spens, to the position in early 1524. In September 1529, the papacy
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
agreed that Campbell could hold the abbey for eight months in commendam
In Commendam
In canon law, commendam was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice in trust to the custody of a patron...
, providing that if he did not become a monk in this period the abbey would thereafter be regarded as vacant; the following February, 1530, he received an eight-month extension to this. Campbell seems to have complied, and was in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the following months.
Donald was back in Scotland in 1532, attending parliament that year. In May 1533, he was given a five-year appointment as commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
of the Chapter-General of the Scottish Cistercian Order. While delegating the ordinary business of the abbey to monks, kinsmen and friends, and in Scotland held a variety of high-profile political offices in this period, including Senator
Senator of the College of Justice
The Senators of the College of Justice are judges of the College of Justice, a set of legal institutions involved in the administration of justice in Scotland. There are three types of Senator: Lords of Session ; Lords Commissioner of Justiciary ; and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
of the College of Justice
College of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
(July 1541), Lord of the Articles for the parliaments of March and December of 1543 and was a member of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
(June 1545); he had visited France again in 1536.
Bishopric of Dunkeld
In 1549 he secured crown nomination to the bishopric of DunkeldDiocese of Dunkeld
The Diocese of Dunkeld was one of the 13 historical dioceses of Scotland preceding the abolition of Episcopacy in 1689.-History:It is thought that the diocese was constituted as far back as the middle of the ninth century. The first occupant was styled Bishop of Fortriu, the name by which the...
from the Governor of Scotland, James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault. The vacancy was caused by the translation of the previous bishop, John Hamilton
John Hamilton (archbishop)
The Most Rev. Dr. John Hamilton , Scottish prelate and politician, was an illegitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran....
, to the archbishopric of St Andrews
Archbishop of St Andrews
The Bishop of St. Andrews was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews and then, as Archbishop of St Andrews , the Archdiocese of St Andrews.The name St Andrews is not the town or church's original name...
in 1547.
His appointment was opposed by one Robert Crichton
Robert Crichton (bishop)
-Biography:He was the son of Sir Patrick Crichton, Laird of Cranstoun. Robert was a younger son and chose an ecclesiastical career. From 1517 he was Provost of St Giles Collegiate Church...
. Crichton was the nephew of George Crichton
George Crichton
George Crichton served as the Bishop of Dunkeld until his death on 24 January in 1543 or 1544.He served as Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland from 1526....
, Bishop of Dunkeld
Bishop of Dunkeld
The Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunkeld, one of the largest and more important of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Cormac...
, and had been appointed coadjutor and successor to his uncle the year before the latter's death - without the consent of the Scottish government. The government thus ignored the appointment, placing Hamilton in charge. Robert litigated - unsuccessfully - against Hamilton in the Papal see
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. When Hamilton was translated, Crichton was still litigating. The dispute continued into 1553. When Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
took over the government from Châtellerault in 1554, she acknowledged Crichton's position and Campbell appears to have given up the bishopric. In this year, perhaps in compensation, he was made Keeper of the Privy Seal
Privy Seal
A privy seal refers to the personal seal of a reigning monarch, used for the purpose of authenticating official government document.-Privy Seal of England:The Privy Seal of England can be traced back to the reign of King John...
, a position he held until his death in 1562.
Brechin and the Reformation
By 1558, and perhaps as early as 1557, Campbell pursued another bishopric, the bishopric of BrechinDiocese of Brechin
The pre-Reformation Diocese of Brechin or Diocese of Angus was one of the thirteen historical dioceses of Scotland. The diocese was believed to have been founded by Bishop Samson in 1153, and based at the cathedral in Brechin, Angus...
, possibly receiving a nomination from Mary of Guise. The vacancy had been caused by the death of Bishop John Hepburn
John Hepburn (Bishop of Brechin)
John Hepburn was a 16th-century bishop from the kingdom of Scotland. Hepburn was provided bishop of Brechin by Pope Leo X on 29 October 1516, but there may have been a delay in consecrating him due to his "defect of age"...
in the early summer of 1557. Campbell's proctor
Proctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, John Row, attempted to gain permission for his master to abandon the dress Cistercian monk and to hold the bishopric of Brechin with the abbacy of Coupar Angus. Campbell never seems to have been awarded the see.
Campbell's ambition for Brechin was overtaken by the events of the Scottish Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
. Although he was present at the burning
Execution by burning
Death by burning is death brought about by combustion. As a form of capital punishment, burning has a long history as a method in crimes such as treason, heresy, and witchcraft....
of the Protestant Walter Milne
Walter Milne
Walter Milne , also recorded as Mill or Myln, was the last Protestant martyr to be burned in Scotland before the Scottish Reformation changed the country from Catholic to Presbyterian....
in April 1558, in the following year Abbot Campbell himself became a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
and, at the urging of the Lords of the Congregation
Lords of the Congregation
The Lords of the Congregation were a group of Protestant Scottish nobles who in the mid-16th century favoured reformation of the church along Protestant principles and a Scottish-English alliance.- Historical events :...
, abandoned monastic habit, banned mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
from his monastery and destroyed its icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
s and altars. In the following year he attended the Reformation Parliament
Scottish Reformation Parliament
The Scottish Reformation Parliament is the name given to the Scottish Parliament commencing in 1560 that passed the major pieces of legislation leading to the Scottish Reformation, most importantly Confession of Faith Ratification Act 1560; and Papal Jurisdiction Act 1560 .right|thumb|[[John...
which severed Scotland's ties with Rome.
He died sometime between 16 December 1562 and 20 January 1563. He is said to have left five illegitimate sons, to each of whom he left an estate of property.