John Balfour (bishop)
Encyclopedia
John Balfour was a 15th-century Scottish prelate. He was vicar
of Linlithgow
and rector
of Conveth
, before being provided as bishop of Brechin
on 29 November 1465. He was consecrated
on 8 December by Mark
, bishop of Vicenza, with the assistance of Athanasius, bishop of Gerace and Patrick (Balfour's predecessor), bishop of St Andrews.
He was allowed to retain the church of Conveth (now called Lawrencekirk) after becoming bishop, the papal documents stating that he had held this rectorship for more than nine years prior to 1465. On 9 December his proctor
offered 500 gold florins to the papacy.
As bishop, Balfour sat frequently in parliament
, his first recorded appearance being 14 October 1467.
After twenty-three years in office there was preparation to secure the appointment of William Meldrum
, vicar of Brechin, to the see. On June 4 1488 a payment of 200 lb. of Flemish groats was made by Walter Monypenny, prior of Loch Leven
, to a Florentine merchant for securing bull
s in Meldrum's favour; Meldrum was to succeed to the bishopric on the expected vacancy following "the resignation or death of the reverend father in Christ, John Balfour, now bishop of Brechin".
Meldrum was appointed on 4 July. It is unclear if Balfour resigned or died in office. He was definitely dead by 28 July.
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
and rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Conveth
Laurencekirk
Laurencekirk is a small town in the ancient county of Kincardineshire, modern county of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, just off the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen main road. It is the largest settlement in the Howe o' the Mearns area and houses the local secondary school; Mearns Academy, which was awarded the...
, before being provided as 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...
on 29 November 1465. He was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on 8 December by Mark
Marco Barbo
Marco Barbo of Venice was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and patriarch of Aquileia who served in the capacity of cardinal-nephew to his third cousin Pietro Barbo, Pope Paul II. In Rome he resided in the Palazzo di San Marco, as did the Venetian pope, who elected not to remove to the...
, bishop of Vicenza, with the assistance of Athanasius, bishop of Gerace and Patrick (Balfour's predecessor), bishop of St Andrews.
He was allowed to retain the church of Conveth (now called Lawrencekirk) after becoming bishop, the papal documents stating that he had held this rectorship for more than nine years prior to 1465. On 9 December his 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:...
offered 500 gold florins to the papacy.
As bishop, Balfour sat frequently in parliament
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
, his first recorded appearance being 14 October 1467.
After twenty-three years in office there was preparation to secure the appointment of William Meldrum
William Meldrum
William Meldrum was a prelate in the late 15th- and early 16th-century kingdom of Scotland. He appears to have come from the Meldrum family of Seggie, as suggested by the otters on his arms....
, vicar of Brechin, to the see. On June 4 1488 a payment of 200 lb. of Flemish groats was made by Walter Monypenny, prior of Loch Leven
Prior of Loch Leven
The Prior of Loch Leven was the head of lands and of the community Augustinian canons of St Serf's Inch Priory, Loch Leven . There was a Scottish Céli Dé establishment there in the first half of the 12th century, allegedly found by Bruide, son of Dargart, King of the Picts...
, to a Florentine merchant for securing bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
s in Meldrum's favour; Meldrum was to succeed to the bishopric on the expected vacancy following "the resignation or death of the reverend father in Christ, John Balfour, now bishop of Brechin".
Meldrum was appointed on 4 July. It is unclear if Balfour resigned or died in office. He was definitely dead by 28 July.