James Haldenston
James Haldenston | |
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James Haldenston or James Haldenstoun (died 18 July 1443) was an
Background
Haldenston's origin is unclear.[1] His surname is spelled variously as "Halenston", "Haldenson", "Hawdenston", "Haddistoun", "Haldestoun" and "Aldeston", and it is attested in eastern Fife in the 1380s and 1390s.[1] He had a brother called Andrew, who witnessed two of his charters in the 1430s, and a kinsman by the name of Robert de Kinmounth (or Kininmund, as in Alexander de Kinimund, Bishop of Aberdeen 1355–1380).[1]
James was a
He had intermittent possession of the office of prior of May for over a decade, litigating for the right with his rival William Nory.
Prior of St Andrews
Haldenston became prior of St Andrews late in 1417, being elected following the death of the previous prior William de Camera.[7] William de Camera himself had been elected only in 1416, and had gone to the papal court to have his position confirmed.[3] Prior William however found Haldenston and John Bullock already there claiming the position.[8] Pope Benedict XIII commissioned the bishops of Glasgow and St Andrews to investigate the matter, but Prior William died on his way back to Scotland, at Bruges in Flanders.[8] Haldenston was elected prior later in the year [1417].[9] The claim to the position by John Bullock was probably given up by the latter when he became bishop of Ross.[9]
He was one of an embassy from James I to the Roman court in 1425. He did much to beautify the monastery and the
During his time as head of the cathedral priory, Haldenson was dean of theology in the new University of St Andrews, and became closely involved in its affairs.[1] The prior witnessed James I's confirmation of the university's privileges at Perth in March 1432.[1] His close involvement with the university generated conflict with the university rector regarding power and jurisdiction, and an agreement between the prior and rector had to be drawn up.[1] He was later remembered [in the 16th century] as one of the university's founders, but this tradition is inaccurate.[1]
The dean installed graduands at the university, and was praised by historian
He died at St Andrews on 18 July 1443, and was interred in the north wall of the lady chapel of the cathedral. He is said to have written a treatise, Contra Lolardos, another entitled Processus contra Hæreticos, and a third, De Privilegiis Claustri sui, but none of these seem now extant. A letter-book of his, a Copiale, survives, illuminating James' period of office.[12] Walter Bower, abbot of Inchcolm and source of much information about the priors of St Andrews, described him as "a man of great eloquence, and a person of pleasing appearance, quite elegant and becoming in his dress and bearing".[13] Bower recorded his epitaph, and added a physical description, noting his white hair and medium size.[14]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Watt, Biographical Dictionary, p. 248
- ^ Ditchburn, "Haldenston [Haldenstoun]"; Watt, Biographical Dictionary, p. 249
- ^ a b c d e Watt, Biographical Dictionary, p. 249
- ^ Ditchburn, "Haldenston [Haldenstoun]"; Watt, Biographical Dictionary, p. 249; Watt & Shead (eds.), Heads of Religious Houses, p. 145
- ^ a b Watt & Shead (eds.), Heads of Religious Houses, p. 145
- ^ Cowan and Easson, Medieval Religious Houses, pp. 94–95
- ^ Date given in Watt & Shead (eds.), Heads of Religious Houses, p. 189
- ^ a b Watt, Biographical Dictionary, p. 249; Watt & Shead (eds.), Heads of Religious Houses, p. 189
- ^ a b Watt & Shead (eds.), Heads of Religious Houses, p. 189
- ^ MacQueen, MacQueen and Watt, Scottichronicon, vol. 3, p. 439; Watt, Biographical Dictionary, p. 248
- ^ Watt, Biographical Dictionary, pp. 248–29
- ^ Ditchburn, "Haldenston [Haldenstoun]"; see Baxter (ed.), Copiale Prioratus Sanctiandree
- ^ MacQueen, MacQueen and Watt, Scottichronicon, vol. 3, pp. 435, 437
- ^ MacQueen, MacQueen and Watt, Scottichronicon, vol. 3, p. 437
References
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Haldenstoun, James". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- Baxter, James Houston, ed. (1930), Copiale Prioratus Sanctiandree : the letter-book of James Haldenstone, Prior of St Andrews (1418–1443) / transcribed and edited, with an appendix of documents illustrating Scottish history from 1378 to 1450, St Andrews: OUP for St Andrews University
- Cowan, Ian B.; Easson, David E. (1976), Medieval Religious Houses: Scotland With an Appendix on the Houses in the Isle of Man (2nd ed.), London and New York: Longman, ISBN 0-582-12069-1
- Ditchburn, David (2004). "Haldenston (Haldenstoun), James (died 1443), prior of St Andrews". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/11898. Retrieved 11 September 2009. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- MacQueen, John; MacQueen, Winifred; ISBN 1-873644-49-3
- ISBN 0-19-822447-8
- ISSN 0143-9448