The Abbot of Holyrood was the head of the Augustinian

Augustinians

The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...

 monastic community of Holyrood Abbey

Holyrood Abbey

Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded...

, now in Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

. The long history of the abbey came to a formal end in July 1606 when the parliament of Scotland turned the abbey into a secular lordship for the last commendator, John Bothwell (confirmed by charter in December 1607). The following is a list of abbots and commendators:

List of abbots

• Alwin, 1128-1151
• Osbert, 1151
• William (I), 1152-1172
• John, 1173-1178x1184
• William (II), 1187x1189-1206
• Walter, 1210-1217 or 1218
• William (III), 1217 x 1218-1221
• William (IV) son of "Owin", 1221-1227
• Gilbert, 1236
• Elias son of Nicholas, 1227-1236 x 1253
• Henry
  Henry of Holyrood
  Henry was a 13th century Augustinian abbot and bishop, most notable for holding the positions of Abbot of Holyrood and Bishop of Galloway.It is not known when Henry became an Augustinian nor when he became Abbot of Holyrood Abbey...
  
  , 1236 x 1253-1255
• Radulf, 1253x1256-1258
• Robert, 1273 x1279
• William de Haddington, 1285
• Adam, 1291-1299
• Elias, 1309-1320 or 1321
• Simon de Wedale
  Simon de Wedale
  Simon de Wedale O. S. A., was a 14th century Augustinian canon who rose to become Abbot of Holyrood and then Bishop of Galloway. Little is known of Simon until he appears on 27 February 1321 as Abbot of Holyrood Abbey near Edinburgh...
  
  , 1321-1327
• John de Cambusnethan, 1328-1339
• Bartholomew, 1342
• Thomas de St Andrews, ?1347-1370
• John, 1370-1378
• David Bell, 1379-1386
• John de Leith, 1386-71415x1420
• Henry de Dryden, 1420-1423
  • Walter Bower
    Walter Bower
    Walter Bower , Scottish chronicler, was born about 1385 at Haddington, East Lothian.He was abbot of Inchcolm Abbey from 1418, was one of the commissioners for the collection of the ransom of James I, King of Scots, in 1423 and 1424, and in 1433 one of the embassy to Paris on the business of the...
    
    , 1420
• Patrick Witherspoon (Wotherspoon), 1423-1445
• William, 1425
• James Cameron, 1446-1450
• Archibald Crawford, 1450-1484
• Robert Ballantyne, 1484-1500
• James Stewart
  James Stewart, Duke of Ross
  James Stewart, Duke of Ross was the son of King James III of Scotland and Margaret of Denmark.-Titles and Offices:He was made Marquess of Ormond at his baptism...
  
  , 1498-1500
• George Crichton, 1500-1526
• William Douglas, 1526-1528
• Robert Cairncross
  Robert Cairncross
  Robert Cairncross was a Scottish bishop.At various times he was provost of Corstorphine, abbot of Holyrood. He was appointed bishop of Ross in 1539, holding in commendam the abbacy of Fern...
  
  , 1528-1538
• David Douglas, 1530-1531

List of commendators

• Robert Stewart, 1539-1568
• Adam Bothwell, 1568-1582
• John Bothwell, 1582-1606