William de Spynie
William de Spynie (died 1406) was a Scottish prelate. He was a canon of Moray by 1363 and Precentor (Chanter) of Aberdeen in 1371. By 1372 x 1373, he had exchanged the latter position with William Boyl for the Precentorship of Moray. He had become Dean of Aberdeen by 1388. It is possible he had become Dean of Dunkeld in 1397, though this may be a mistake in the source, "Aberdeen" rather than "Dunkeld" being meant. At any rate, in that year he was elected as the Bishop of Moray. He travelled to France and on September 1397 was consecrated as Bishop.
William de Spynie's episcopate, like that of his predecessor Alexander Bur's, suffered amid the political insecurity in this part of Scotland. Alexander of Lochaber, brother of Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles, had been using his role as "protector" of Moray, assigned to him by his brother and the absentee Earl, to further his own lordship. This included granting episcopal lands to his military followers. Tension gradually mounted and on 3 July 1402 Alexander burned much of the town of Elgin and plundered Elgin Cathedral. Bishop William excommunicated Alexander, and later in the year Alexander came to Spynie seeking forgiveness and bearing a gift of a large golden candle. Alexander was thereafter absolved.
Bishop William died at Elgin on 2 August 1406. He was buried in the choir.
References
- Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912), p. 156
- Keith, Robert, An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688, (London, 1924), p. 142
- Oram, Richard, "The Lordship of the Isles, 1336-1545", in Donald Omand (ed.) The Argyll Book, (Edinburgh, 2005), pp. 123–39
- Watt, D.E.R., Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969), pp. 7, 10, 103, 215, 222
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Preceded by Robert Monypenny | Precentor of Aberdeen 1371–1372 x 1373 | Succeeded by William Boyl |
Preceded by William Boyl | Precentor of Moray 1372 x 1373–1397 | Succeeded by James de Dunbar |
Preceded by Thomas Stewart | Dean of Dunkeld (?) 1397 (?) | Succeeded by |
Preceded by Simon de Ketenis | Dean of Aberdeen 1388–1397 | Succeeded by Patrick de Spalding |
Preceded by | Bishop of Moray 1397–1406 | Succeeded by |
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- Gregoir of Moray
- William
- Felix of Moray
- Simon de Tosny
- Andrew
- Richard de Lincoln
- Bricius de Douglas
- Andreas de Moravia
- Simon de Gunby
- Radulf of Lincoln§
- Archibald
- David de Moravia
- John de Pilmuir
- Alexander Bur
- William de Spynie
- John de Innes
- Henry de Lichton
- Columba de Dunbar
- John de Winchester
- James Stewart
- David Stewart
- William Tulloch
- Andrew Stewart
- Andrew Forman
- James Hepburn
- Robert Shaw
- Alexander Douglas (elder)§
- Alexander Stewart
- Patrick Hepburn
Church of Scotland |
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Scottish Episcopal |
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- § non consecrated, titular, or doubtful bishops or unsuccessful coadjutors
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