Patrick de Leuchars
Encyclopedia
Patrick de Leuchars [also de Locrys or de Lochrys] was a 14th century administrator and prelate in the Kingdom of Scotland
. He first appears in the records in 1344 holding a church in East Lothian
, and in 1351 attains national prominence as the new Bishop of Brechin
. Bishop Patrick, who would be a core supporter of King David II of Scotland
, became Royal Chancellor
in the same decade. He held the chancellorship until around 1370, and the bishopric of Brechin until 1383, when he resigned it on account of his old age.
, primarily because his name connects him with the settlement at Leuchars
, located in that province. He does not seem to have been university educated, a surprising fact given both the abundance of graduates in Scotland at the time and given Leuchars career as a senior royal administrator, a testament perhaps to the quality of non-university education that was available in Scotland at the time, perhaps in Patrick's case at St Andrews Cathedral Priory
.
In 1344, he became parson
of the important parish church
of Tyninghame, East Lothian
, a parsonage within the patronage of St Andrews Cathedral Priory, of which Leuchars was a canon
. At some time in the following seven years, Leuchars took over the parish of Tannadice, a settlement to the north of Forfar
in Angus
; he probably obtained Tannadice on exchange for Tyninghame, though there is no record of this. He seems to have been a close protégé of Adam de Moravia, the Bishop of Brechin
in the 1330s and most of the 1340s.
had quashed because the bishopric had been reserved for direct papal appointment during the brief episcopate of Leuchars' predecessor Philip Wilde - there was obviously no practical implication regarding the result. Patrick had received consecration - probably at Avignon
- from Bertrand de Déaulx, Cardinal Bishop of Sabina, by 11 December.
Leuchars appears in the records as Chancellor of Scotland in the months between March and December 1353, perhaps having been appointed during the visit to Scotland of the king, David II of Scotland
, who was briefly released from English captivity for some months in 1351/2; Leuchars was definitely not exercising his office of Chancellor by 12 February 1354, perhaps because of his lack of favour with the Regent, Robert Stewart
, who held power from 1354 until David's return in 1357. Leuchars was back in office after the king's return, regaining the Chancellorship by 26 September 1357. Thereafter, Leuchars retained the Chancellorship until sometime after, not more than a few months after, 4 March 1370; he was succeeded in this position later in the year by John de Carrick
.
Leuchars is usually characterised as a steadfast supporter of the king, and he can be found throughout his period as Chancellor attending to royal administration and close to the king. He witnessed dozens of royal charters, attended parliaments and councils, and sat on the exchequer until 1369. He also engaged on occasional diplomatic activity. On 13 December 1356, he and a number of other bishops were granted safe conducts to travel to London
, in order to participate on a deal over the king's proposed ransom. Along with four other dignitaries he participated in an embassy to the French, for which these men were issued a safe-conduct in July 1360.
) provided Stephen de Cellario to the bishopric of Brechin; the mandate of provision noted that Stephen was already bishop-elect and present at the papal curia, and that Patrick had freely resigned the bishopric. On 20 June, two indult
s and a grant of a pension were made to Patrick, and the grant notes that he had resigned the see because of "his advanced age and infirmity".
Contrary to what was stated by Duncan, he was not present at the papal see, as the grant of the pension explicitly states that it was resigned "to Pierre d'Ameil, cardinal priest of S. Marco, at the papal court by the bishop's special proxy". The pension was an annual one of 100 marks, and was to be taken from Brechin episcopal revenues; one indult allowed Patrick to continue wearing episcopal vesture, while the other was an indult for plenary remission of sins, indicating that Patrick expected death. Patrick was never heard of again after that date.
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...
. He first appears in the records in 1344 holding a church in East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, and in 1351 attains national prominence as the new Bishop of Brechin
Bishop of Brechin
The Bishop of Brechin is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Brechin or Angus, based at Brechin Cathedral, Brechin. The diocese had a long-established Gaelic monastic community which survived into the 13th century. The clerical establishment may very well have traced their earlier origins...
. Bishop Patrick, who would be a core supporter of King David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
, became Royal Chancellor
Lord Chancellor of Scotland
The Lord Chancellor of Scotland was a Great Officer of State in pre-Union Scotland.Holders of the office are known from 1123 onwards, but its duties were occasionally performed by an official of lower status with the title of Keeper of the Great Seal...
in the same decade. He held the chancellorship until around 1370, and the bishopric of Brechin until 1383, when he resigned it on account of his old age.
Early career
It is likely that Leuchars came from FifeFife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, primarily because his name connects him with the settlement at Leuchars
Leuchars
Leuchars is a small town near the north-east coast of Fife in Scotland.The town is nearly to the north of the village of Guardbridge, which lies on the north bank of the River Eden where it widens to the Edenmouth estuary before joining the North Sea at St Andrews Bay. Leuchars is north-east of...
, located in that province. He does not seem to have been university educated, a surprising fact given both the abundance of graduates in Scotland at the time and given Leuchars career as a senior royal administrator, a testament perhaps to the quality of non-university education that was available in Scotland at the time, perhaps in Patrick's case at St Andrews Cathedral Priory
St Andrews Cathedral Priory
St Andrews Cathedral Priory was a priory of Augustinian canons in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Plans were made for its foundation in the reign of Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim , who set aside some land for that purpose. It was finally established by King David I and his son in 1140 with canons from...
.
In 1344, he became parson
Parson
In the pre-Reformation church, a parson was the priest of an independent parish church, that is, a parish church not under the control of a larger ecclesiastical or monastic organization...
of the important parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of Tyninghame, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, a parsonage within the patronage of St Andrews Cathedral Priory, of which Leuchars was a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
. At some time in the following seven years, Leuchars took over the parish of Tannadice, a settlement to the north of Forfar
Forfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
in Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
; he probably obtained Tannadice on exchange for Tyninghame, though there is no record of this. He seems to have been a close protégé of Adam de Moravia, the Bishop of Brechin
Bishop of Brechin
The Bishop of Brechin is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Brechin or Angus, based at Brechin Cathedral, Brechin. The diocese had a long-established Gaelic monastic community which survived into the 13th century. The clerical establishment may very well have traced their earlier origins...
in the 1330s and most of the 1340s.
Bishop of Brechin and Chancellor of Scotland
On 17 November 1351, Leuchars himself received papal provision to the bishopric of Brechin. This followed an election earlier in the year which Pope Clement VIPope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI , bornPierre Roger, the fourth of the Avignon Popes, was pope from May 1342 until his death in December of 1352...
had quashed because the bishopric had been reserved for direct papal appointment during the brief episcopate of Leuchars' predecessor Philip Wilde - there was obviously no practical implication regarding the result. Patrick had received consecration - probably at Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
- from Bertrand de Déaulx, Cardinal Bishop of Sabina, by 11 December.
Leuchars appears in the records as Chancellor of Scotland in the months between March and December 1353, perhaps having been appointed during the visit to Scotland of the king, David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
, who was briefly released from English captivity for some months in 1351/2; Leuchars was definitely not exercising his office of Chancellor by 12 February 1354, perhaps because of his lack of favour with the Regent, Robert Stewart
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...
, who held power from 1354 until David's return in 1357. Leuchars was back in office after the king's return, regaining the Chancellorship by 26 September 1357. Thereafter, Leuchars retained the Chancellorship until sometime after, not more than a few months after, 4 March 1370; he was succeeded in this position later in the year by John de Carrick
John de Carrick
John de Carrick , a native of Carrick, Scotland, was a 14th century Chancellor of Scotland and Bishop-elect of Dunkeld. Although John's exact origins are obscure, he seems to have come from a branch of the old native comital family of Carrick...
.
Leuchars is usually characterised as a steadfast supporter of the king, and he can be found throughout his period as Chancellor attending to royal administration and close to the king. He witnessed dozens of royal charters, attended parliaments and councils, and sat on the exchequer until 1369. He also engaged on occasional diplomatic activity. On 13 December 1356, he and a number of other bishops were granted safe conducts to travel to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in order to participate on a deal over the king's proposed ransom. Along with four other dignitaries he participated in an embassy to the French, for which these men were issued a safe-conduct in July 1360.
Resignation & death
On 31 May 1383, Pope Clement VII (of AvignonAvignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
) provided Stephen de Cellario to the bishopric of Brechin; the mandate of provision noted that Stephen was already bishop-elect and present at the papal curia, and that Patrick had freely resigned the bishopric. On 20 June, two indult
Indult
An indult in Catholic canon law is a permission, or privilege, granted by the competent church authority – the Holy See or the diocesan bishop, as the case may be – for an exception from a particular norm of church law in an individual case, for example, members of the consecrated life seeking to...
s and a grant of a pension were made to Patrick, and the grant notes that he had resigned the see because of "his advanced age and infirmity".
Contrary to what was stated by Duncan, he was not present at the papal see, as the grant of the pension explicitly states that it was resigned "to Pierre d'Ameil, cardinal priest of S. Marco, at the papal court by the bishop's special proxy". The pension was an annual one of 100 marks, and was to be taken from Brechin episcopal revenues; one indult allowed Patrick to continue wearing episcopal vesture, while the other was an indult for plenary remission of sins, indicating that Patrick expected death. Patrick was never heard of again after that date.