Alexander Campbell of Carco
Encyclopedia
Alasdair Caimbeul or Alexander Campbell of Carco (died February 1608) was a Scottish
noble
and prelate
. Coming from a branch of Clan Campbell
in the allegiance of the Earl of Argyll, his career began in the 1560s still only a minor, serving the Earl of Argyll's interest. He was made Bishop of Brechin
, and almost immediately alienated the majority of the bishopric's historical resources into the hands of the earl.
After some traveling to receive a Protestant education at Geneva
, he returned to Scotland in the mid-1570s as an adult and resumed his career as minister and (now) titular Bishop of Brechin. He held this position until 1607, a year before his death.
and the son of Eóin Caimbeul (Sir John Campbell), laird of Ardkinglas, he was born in the mid-16th century. During the minority of King James VI of Scotland, Alexander's brother Seamus Caimbeul (James Campbell of Ardkinglass), became comptroller
.
Still a minor, on May 6, 1566, at the instigation of Gilleasbaig Caimbeul
, the Protestant Earl of Argyll, Alasdair Caimbeul was put to the vacant bishopric of Brechin. Crown nomination to the papacy was sent on July 21, 1566, and although Caimbeul was acting with a bishop's authority almost immediately, there is no proof that he had received consecration until he is clearly represented as consecrated-bishop in a document dating to July 23, 1569.
The earl's purpose in pushing his young kinsman into the bishopric was made clear by the new bishop's following actions. Bishop Alasdair proceeded to alienate most of the bishopric's lands and revenues, giving the lion's share to the earl. According to the historian Robert Keith
, Bishop Alasdair "retained for his successors scarce so much as would be a moderate competency for a minister in Brechin".
. Although his activities are difficult to trace, Caimbeul was attending school in Geneva
in January 1574, but travelled back to Scotland later in the year with his tutor
Andrew Polwart and the latter's friend Andrew Melville
, who were in Edinburgh
by July of the same year.
of the Scottish Church
in his capacity as bishop. James Paton, Bishop of Dunkeld
, another Argyll acolyte, accused Caimbeul of giving out pensions on the revenues of his bishopric. This came before the Edinburgh assembly of March 1575, which ordered that John Erskine of Dun, Superintendent for Angus
and the Mearns instruct Caimbeul on the duties befitting a bishop.
Five years later, Bishop Alasdair was once again in trouble with the church. He failed to attend a summons issued to him by the Dundee
assembly of July 1580, and in 1582 another assembly ordered the Presbytery of the Mearns to bring charges against him. The outcome of these charges is, however, not known, as the records do not survive. In the following two decades, though, Caimbeul can be seen to take an active part in establishment politics, attending many assemblies, parliaments and meetings of the privy council
, often acting as a supporter of Argyll. Notably, the privy council which met at Brechin in April 1602 denounced him as a traitor, even though Caimbeul himself was sitting on it. That was the last time that Caimbeul sat on the privy council.
As marriage became acceptable in post-Reformation Scotland
, Caimbeul was married twice, firstly to the daughter of the laird
of Circlet
, Margaret Bethune, and secondly to Helen Clephane. Clephane, who bore him two daughters and one son survived her husband's death as a widow.
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...
noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
and prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
. Coming from a branch of Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
in the allegiance of the Earl of Argyll, his career began in the 1560s still only a minor, serving the Earl of Argyll's interest. He was made 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...
, and almost immediately alienated the majority of the bishopric's historical resources into the hands of the earl.
After some traveling to receive a Protestant education at Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, he returned to Scotland in the mid-1570s as an adult and resumed his career as minister and (now) titular Bishop of Brechin. He held this position until 1607, a year before his death.
Accession and alienation
A native of AthollAtholl
Atholl or Athole is a large historical division in the Scottish Highlands. Today it forms the northern part of Perth and Kinross, Scotland bordering Marr, Badenoch, Breadalbane, Strathearn, Perth and Lochaber....
and the son of Eóin Caimbeul (Sir John Campbell), laird of Ardkinglas, he was born in the mid-16th century. During the minority of King James VI of Scotland, Alexander's brother Seamus Caimbeul (James Campbell of Ardkinglass), became comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
.
Still a minor, on May 6, 1566, at the instigation of Gilleasbaig Caimbeul
Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll was one of the leading figures in the politics of Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the early part of that of James VI.-Biography:...
, the Protestant Earl of Argyll, Alasdair Caimbeul was put to the vacant bishopric of Brechin. Crown nomination to the papacy was sent on July 21, 1566, and although Caimbeul was acting with a bishop's authority almost immediately, there is no proof that he had received consecration until he is clearly represented as consecrated-bishop in a document dating to July 23, 1569.
The earl's purpose in pushing his young kinsman into the bishopric was made clear by the new bishop's following actions. Bishop Alasdair proceeded to alienate most of the bishopric's lands and revenues, giving the lion's share to the earl. According to the historian Robert Keith
Robert Keith (historian)
Robert Keith was a Scottish Episcopal bishop and historian.-Life:Born at Uras in Kincardineshire, Scotland, on 7 February 1681, he was the second son of Alexander Keith and Marjory Keith . He was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen between 1695 and 1699; graduating with an A.M...
, Bishop Alasdair "retained for his successors scarce so much as would be a moderate competency for a minister in Brechin".
Travels
In May 1567, Alasdair Caimbeul received royal license to leave Scotland, though he was still in the country in July 1569, when he voted against the proposal to annul the divorce between Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Earl of BothwellJames Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell
James Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney , better known by his inherited title as 4th Earl of Bothwell, was hereditary Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He is best known for his association with and subsequent marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, as her third husband...
. Although his activities are difficult to trace, Caimbeul was attending school in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in January 1574, but travelled back to Scotland later in the year with his tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
Andrew Polwart and the latter's friend Andrew Melville
Andrew Melville
Andrew Melville was a Scottish scholar, theologian and religious reformer. His fame encouraged scholars from the European Continent to study at Glasgow and St Andrews.-Early life and early education:...
, who were in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
by July of the same year.
Later episcopate
After returning to his native country, he resumed his charge as minister and titular Bishop of Brechin, attending general assembliesGeneral Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
of the Scottish Church
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
in his capacity as bishop. James Paton, Bishop of Dunkeld
Bishop of Dunkeld
The Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunkeld, one of the largest and more important of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Cormac...
, another Argyll acolyte, accused Caimbeul of giving out pensions on the revenues of his bishopric. This came before the Edinburgh assembly of March 1575, which ordered that John Erskine of Dun, Superintendent for Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
and the Mearns instruct Caimbeul on the duties befitting a bishop.
Five years later, Bishop Alasdair was once again in trouble with the church. He failed to attend a summons issued to him by the Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
assembly of July 1580, and in 1582 another assembly ordered the Presbytery of the Mearns to bring charges against him. The outcome of these charges is, however, not known, as the records do not survive. In the following two decades, though, Caimbeul can be seen to take an active part in establishment politics, attending many assemblies, parliaments and meetings of the privy council
Privy Council of Scotland
The Privy Council of Scotland was a body that advised the King.In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of material on the political, administrative, economic and social affairs of Scotland...
, often acting as a supporter of Argyll. Notably, the privy council which met at Brechin in April 1602 denounced him as a traitor, even though Caimbeul himself was sitting on it. That was the last time that Caimbeul sat on the privy council.
Death and family
Caimbeul resigned the bishopric of Brechin on or before April 22, 1607. He retired to his estates at Carco, near Kinclaven in Atholl. He died the following year, in February 1608.As marriage became acceptable in post-Reformation Scotland
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
, Caimbeul was married twice, firstly to the daughter of the laird
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
of Circlet
Circlet
A circlet is a crown with neither arches nor a cap ....
, Margaret Bethune, and secondly to Helen Clephane. Clephane, who bore him two daughters and one son survived her husband's death as a widow.