John de Lindesay
Encyclopedia
John de Lindsay or simply John Lindsay was a 14th century bishop of Glasgow. He was from the Lindsay family, a family of Anglo-Norman
origin who had settled in Scotland
, and in the 14th century were noted for their crusading exploits, a feature which earned them the patronage of the Scottish kings (esp. David II
and Robert III
) and who by the end of the century were elevated to comital
status with the creation of the Earldom of Crawford
. The Lindsay arms are depicted in Bishop John de Lindesay's seal. So also are the de Coucy arms, probably suggesting he had some sort of connection with this great French noble family. John himself was the son of Sir Philip de Lyndesay of the barony of Staplegorton, probably the son or grandson of the 13th century Chamberlain
of King Alexander III
who also bore this name.
John was a canon
of Glasgow before becoming bishop. After the death of bishop-elect Stephen de Donydouer
in August 1317, the Glasgow canons elected John de Lindesay as bishop. However, they apparently did not know that the pope, Pope John XXII
, had already reserved the see
for his own appointment. The pope himself provided the Englishman John de Egglescliffe
to the see, making John de Lindsay's election null and void. The latter, however was regarded as a pro-English appointment, and the Kingdom of Scotland
at this time was at war with the Kingdom of England
. Egglescliffe hence never took possession of this see, but in March 1323, was translated to the bishopric of Connor in Ireland
. Upon this translation, the pope commanded Vitalis de Furno, Bishop of Albano, to provide de Lindsay to the bishopric of Glasgow. John de Lindesay was probably consecrated at Avignon
before 10 October 1323.
Bishop John de Lindsay was an active participant in the politics of the day. He frequently attended parliamentary gatherings, and offered his support to both King Robert de Brus
and Edward de Balliol. Although the Lanercost Chronicle
places his death in 1337, he actually died around 15 August 1335. He seems to have died when a Flemish
ship upon which he was being transported was captured by English pirates. Walsingham's account is that he was wounded in the head, whilst Lanercost says that the bishop starved himself upon capture. He was buried at a place called "Wytsande", an unknown location somewhere in England
.
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
origin who had settled in Scotland
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...
, and in the 14th century were noted for their crusading exploits, a feature which earned them the patronage of the Scottish kings (esp. David II
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
and Robert III
Robert III of Scotland
Robert III was King of Scots from 1390 to his death. His given name was John Stewart, and he was known primarily as the Earl of Carrick before ascending the throne at age 53...
) and who by the end of the century were elevated to comital
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
status with the creation of the Earldom of Crawford
Earl of Crawford
The title Earl of Crawford is one of the most ancient extant titles in Great Britain, having been created in the Peerage of Scotland for Sir David Lindsay in 1398. It is the premier earldom recorded on the Union Roll.The title has a very complex history...
. The Lindsay arms are depicted in Bishop John de Lindesay's seal. So also are the de Coucy arms, probably suggesting he had some sort of connection with this great French noble family. John himself was the son of Sir Philip de Lyndesay of the barony of Staplegorton, probably the son or grandson of the 13th century Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
of King Alexander III
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
who also bore this name.
John 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 ....
of Glasgow before becoming bishop. After the death of bishop-elect Stephen de Donydouer
Stephen de Donydouer
Stephen de Dunnideer [Donydouer, Donydoir, Dundore] was a 14th century bishop-elect of Glasgow. He was elected by the canons of the see of Glasgow either in December 1316 or early 1317...
in August 1317, the Glasgow canons elected John de Lindesay as bishop. However, they apparently did not know that the pope, Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII
Pope John XXII , born Jacques Duèze , was pope from 1316 to 1334. He was the second Pope of the Avignon Papacy , elected by a conclave in Lyon assembled by Philip V of France...
, had already reserved the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
for his own appointment. The pope himself provided the Englishman John de Egglescliffe
John de Egglescliffe
John de Egglescliffe was a 14th century English bishop. Little is known of his personal background except that he was an Augustinian friar, and that he probably came from County Durham ....
to the see, making John de Lindsay's election null and void. The latter, however was regarded as a pro-English appointment, and the 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 this time was at war with the Kingdom of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
. Egglescliffe hence never took possession of this see, but in March 1323, was translated to the bishopric of Connor in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Upon this translation, the pope commanded Vitalis de Furno, Bishop of Albano, to provide de Lindsay to the bishopric of Glasgow. John de Lindesay was probably consecrated 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...
before 10 October 1323.
Bishop John de Lindsay was an active participant in the politics of the day. He frequently attended parliamentary gatherings, and offered his support to both King Robert de Brus
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
and Edward de Balliol. Although the Lanercost Chronicle
Lanercost Chronicle
The Lanercost Chronicle is a northern English and Scottish history covering the years 1201 to 1346. It covers the Wars of Scottish Independence, but it is also highly tangential and as such provides insights into English life in the thirteenth century as well as Scottish life...
places his death in 1337, he actually died around 15 August 1335. He seems to have died when a Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
ship upon which he was being transported was captured by English pirates. Walsingham's account is that he was wounded in the head, whilst Lanercost says that the bishop starved himself upon capture. He was buried at a place called "Wytsande", an unknown location somewhere in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.