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James Hay (bishop)
Encyclopedia
James Hay O. Cist. was a Cistercian abbot
and bishop
important in the early 16th century Kingdom of Scotland
. At some stage in his life he achieved a doctorate
in decrees (i.e. canon law
), enabling him to be styled D. D..
After the death of Edward Story, Abbot of Dundrennan
, on November 28, 1516, Hay was provided to the now vacant abbacy; he became abbot sometime between June 2 and August 9, 1517.
In 1523, following the death of Robert Cockburn
, Bishop of Ross
, the regent
John Stewart, Duke of Albany, nominated Hay to become the new bishop there, a nomination which seems to have been accepted by Pope Adrian VI
before the latter died on September 14, 1523.
It was not, however, until September 16, 1524, that the temporalities of the bishopric of Ross were given into Hay's possession, and he had still not received consecration by February 25, 1525.
Among the few things known of his episcopate, Hay was one of the commissioners who held parliament on March 11, 1538; one William of Johnstoun was convicted of heresy
in Hay's court in April of the same year. Hay appears to have died in this year, by October 3 at the latest. He was succeeded by Robert Cairncross
.
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
and bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
important in the early 16th century Kingdom of Scotland
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...
. At some stage in his life he achieved a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in decrees (i.e. canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
), enabling him to be styled D. D..
After the death of Edward Story, Abbot of Dundrennan
Abbot of Dundrennan
The Abbot of Dundrennan was the head of the Cistercian monastic community of Dundrennan Abbey, Galloway. It was founded by Fergus of Galloway in 1142. Dundrennan was a large and powerful monastery in the context of the south-west. It became secularised and protestanised in the 16th century...
, on November 28, 1516, Hay was provided to the now vacant abbacy; he became abbot sometime between June 2 and August 9, 1517.
In 1523, following the death of Robert Cockburn
Robert Cockburn
Robert Cockburn was a 16th century Scottish diplomat and cleric. Cockburn was a university graduate, and appears for the first time in 1501 when he was presented to James IV of Scotland for the position of parson of Dunbar, being styled "Master Robert Cockburn, dean of Rouen"...
, Bishop of Ross
Bishop of Ross
The Bishop of Ross was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Ross, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness to Adomnán of Iona's Cáin Adomnáin. The bishopric was based at the settlement of Rosemarkie until the mid-13th...
, the regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
John Stewart, Duke of Albany, nominated Hay to become the new bishop there, a nomination which seems to have been accepted by Pope Adrian VI
Pope Adrian VI
Pope Adrian VI , born Adriaan Florenszoon Boeyens, served as Pope from 9 January 1522 until his death some 18 months later...
before the latter died on September 14, 1523.
It was not, however, until September 16, 1524, that the temporalities of the bishopric of Ross were given into Hay's possession, and he had still not received consecration by February 25, 1525.
Among the few things known of his episcopate, Hay was one of the commissioners who held parliament on March 11, 1538; one William of Johnstoun was convicted of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
in Hay's court in April of the same year. Hay appears to have died in this year, by October 3 at the latest. He was succeeded by 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...
.