George Brown (bishop)
Encyclopedia
George Brown was a late 15th century and early 16th century Scottish churchman. He first appears on record in 1478 as the rector
of the church of Tyningham, and is called a clerk of the diocese of Brechin
. In 1482, he was selected to be Chancellor
of the diocese of Aberdeen
.
On 22 October 1483, he was selected to be Bishop of Dunkeld
, despite the election of Alexander Inglis
on 17 September the same year. On 13 June 1484, Brown had been consecrated at the Papal see. Brown, as orator regis ("the king's priest"), had been sent to Rome
by King James III of Scotland
to press the claims of George Carmichael
to the bishopric of Glasgow. According to Alexander Myln, in his 16th century Vitae Dunkeldensis ecclesiae episcoporum ("Lives of the Bishops of Dunkeld"), Brown used the opportunity to become friendly with many of the cardinals
, including Roderick Borgia, papal vice-chancellor and Bishop of Porto, the future Pope Alexander VI
. Myln alleges that it was Borgia's influence that secured Brown's provision and consecration, even though, he alleges, it was against the will of the Scottish king.
Brown's position was not thus initially secure. In May 1485 the Parliament of Scotland
supplicated the Pope to reverse his decision in favour of Alexander Inglis. Brown, however, had the support of Robert Lauder, Lord of the Bass, and through a mixture of pressure and bribery, secured James III's recognition of Brown. Brown returned to Scotland, landing at Inchcolm
, part of the diocese of Dunkeld.
Brown's episcopate was comparatively long, though most of the details were not recorded. Alexander Myln attributes reconstruction of the diocese to Brown's episcopate, namely in the creation of four rural dean
s. This is supported by other records, whereby four new deaneries come into the record during Brown's tenure, although Deans of Angus
(Rattray
) and Atholl
can be found in the 13th century.
Bishop Brown's last years witnessed the defeat and death of King James IV of Scotland
at the Battle of Flodden, while the bishop himself suffered from Gallstone
. He died on either 14 or 15 January 1515, aged 76.
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the church of Tyningham, and is called a clerk of the diocese of Brechin
Diocese of Brechin
The pre-Reformation Diocese of Brechin or Diocese of Angus was one of the thirteen historical dioceses of Scotland. The diocese was believed to have been founded by Bishop Samson in 1153, and based at the cathedral in Brechin, Angus...
. In 1482, he was selected to be Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of the diocese of Aberdeen
Diocese of Aberdeen
Diocese of Aberdeen was one of the 13 dioceses of the Scottish church, before the abolition of the episcopacy in 1689.-Early history:...
.
On 22 October 1483, he was selected to be 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...
, despite the election of Alexander Inglis
Alexander Inglis
Alexander Inglis was a Scottish cleric and royal clerk. He was the son of one George Inglis and his wife Margeret. At some point in his life he had attended university and obtained a Licentiate in Decrees. In 1477 he became Dean of the diocese of Dunkeld, and in 1480 became Archdeacon of St Andrews...
on 17 September the same year. On 13 June 1484, Brown had been consecrated at the Papal see. Brown, as orator regis ("the king's priest"), had been sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
by King James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
to press the claims of George Carmichael
George Carmichael
George Carmichael [George de Carmichel] was a 15th century bishop-elect of Glasgow. He was elected to the bishopric in early 1483 soon after the death of his predecessor John Laing. He was never consecrated. The Pope, Pope Sixtus IV, rejected his election because he had previously reserved the see...
to the bishopric of Glasgow. According to Alexander Myln, in his 16th century Vitae Dunkeldensis ecclesiae episcoporum ("Lives of the Bishops of Dunkeld"), Brown used the opportunity to become friendly with many of the cardinals
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
, including Roderick Borgia, papal vice-chancellor and Bishop of Porto, the future Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
. Myln alleges that it was Borgia's influence that secured Brown's provision and consecration, even though, he alleges, it was against the will of the Scottish king.
Brown's position was not thus initially secure. In May 1485 the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
supplicated the Pope to reverse his decision in favour of Alexander Inglis. Brown, however, had the support of Robert Lauder, Lord of the Bass, and through a mixture of pressure and bribery, secured James III's recognition of Brown. Brown returned to Scotland, landing at Inchcolm
Inchcolm
Inchcolm is an island in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. Repeatedly attacked by English raiders during the Wars of Scottish Independence, it was fortified during both World Wars to defend nearby Edinburgh...
, part of the diocese of Dunkeld.
Brown's episcopate was comparatively long, though most of the details were not recorded. Alexander Myln attributes reconstruction of the diocese to Brown's episcopate, namely in the creation of four rural dean
Rural Dean
In the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church, a Rural Dean presides over a Rural Deanery .-Origins and usage:...
s. This is supported by other records, whereby four new deaneries come into the record during Brown's tenure, although Deans of 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...
(Rattray
Rattray
Rattray may refer to:* Blairgowrie and Rattray, beside Blairgowrie, Scotland* Cathy Rattray-Williams, Jamaican track and field sprinter* David Rattray, South African historian* Robert Sutherland Rattray, British anthropologist and africanist...
) and Atholl
Atholl
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....
can be found in the 13th century.
Bishop Brown's last years witnessed the defeat and death of King James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
at the Battle of Flodden, while the bishop himself suffered from Gallstone
Gallstone
A gallstone is a crystalline concretion formed within the gallbladder by accretion of bile components. These calculi are formed in the gallbladder, but may pass distally into other parts of the biliary tract such as the cystic duct, common bile duct, pancreatic duct, or the ampulla of...
. He died on either 14 or 15 January 1515, aged 76.