Clerics and clansmen: the Diocese of Argyll between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries

469 Pages·2013·5.147 MB·English

by  Episcopal Church in Scotland. United Diocese of Argyll and the Isles;Episcopal Church in Scotland. United Diocese of Argyll and the Isles., MacDonald, Iain G

Clerics and Clansmen
The Northern World
North Europe and the Baltic c. 400–1700 A.D.
Peoples, Economies and Cultures
Editors
David Kirby (London)
Jón Viðar Sigurðsson (Oslo)
Ingvild Øye (Bergen)
Piotr Gorecki (University of California at Riverside)
Steve Murdoch (St. Andrews)
VOLUME 61
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/nw
Clerics and Clansmen
The Diocese of Argyll between the Twelfth
and Sixteenth Centuries
By
Iain G. MacDonald
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2013
Cover illustration: Medieval effigy of an unknown priest at Kilmory Chapel, Knapdale.
© Iain MacDonald
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ISSN 1569-1462
ISBN 978-90-04-18547-0 (hardback)
ISBN 978-90-04-24541-9 (e-book)
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To my parents

CONTENTS
List of Figures  ................................................................................................ ix
Figures  ............................................................................................................. xi
List of Tables  ................................................................................................. xix
Tables  ............................................................................................................... xxi
List of Maps  ................................................................................................... xxxiii
Maps  ................................................................................................................. xxxv
Acknowledgements  ..................................................................................... xli
Abbreviations  ................................................................................................ xliii
Note on Nomenclature  ............................................................................... xlix
Introduction  .................................................................................................. 1
1 The Origins of the Bishopric of Argyll  ............................................ 19
2 The Late Medieval Bishopric and Its Bishops  .............................. 61
3 The Origins of the Clergy  ................................................................... 109
4 Clerical Celibacy, Illegitimacy and Hereditary Succession  ...... 163
5 Education and Learning  ..................................................................... 205
6 Pluralism, Non-Residency and Pastoral Care  ............................... 233
Conclusion  ..................................................................................................... 265
Appendix A Parochial fasti of the Diocese of Argyll to 1560  ...... 271
Appendix B List of University-Educated Beneficed Clergy
by Institution  ..................................................................... 359
Bibliography  .................................................................................................. 367
Index  ................................................................................................................ 391

LIST OF FIGURES
1. Reconstruction of Lismore Cathedral as it may have
looked in the late medieval period by Henry Edward Odling.
(© Odling family)  ....................................................................................... xi
2. Lismore Parish Church as it stands today. (© Author)  .................. xi
3. The Episcopal Castle of Achadun, Lismore. (© Author)  ............... xii
4. Letter, dated 20 November 1454, from George Lauder, bishop
of Argyll, confirming papal marriage dispensation for Cailean
Caimbeul of Glenorchy and Seònaid Stiùbhart, daughter of
Eoin Stiùbhart, Lord of Lorn. The episcopal seal is attached.
(SCOTLANDSIMAGES.COM Crown Copyright 2009
The National Archives of Scotland GD112/1/8)  ................................. xii
5. Nereabolls Cross, Islay. (SC 423573 © Crown Copyright:
RCAHMS. Licensor www.rcahms.gov.uk)  ........................................... xiii
6. The Bachull Mòr of St Mo Luóc. (© Niall Livingstone, Baron
of Bachuil)  .................................................................................................... xiv
7. The remains of the late medieval tower of the collegiate
church of St Fionntáin Munnu, and the modern church of
St Munn, Kilmun. (© Author)  ................................................................ xv
8. Effigy of an unidentified priest at Kilmory church, Arisaig.
(© Andrew MacDonald)  .......................................................................... xvi
9. The remains of the medieval parish church of St Comgan,
Kilchoan in Ardnamurchan. (© Author)  ............................................ xvii