MUIRHEAD, Andrew of Durisdeer, Bishop of Glasgow, University Chancellor (1455-1473), Right Reverend Mr ^{1 2}

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  General Notes:

"Andrew de Durisdeer, sometimes referred to as Andrew Muirhead (d 1473) was Archbishop (?) of Glasgow and Chancellor of the University from 1455 until his death.
A graduate of the Universities of St Andrews and Paris, Durisdeer became a sub-dean in Glasgow and then Dean of the Diocese of Aberdeen. In 1455 he was succeeded William Turnbull as Bishop of Glasgow and as Chancellor of the University. He became an important government adviser, serving on the Council of Regency during King James III's minority and as an ambassador.
Durisdeer was responsible for building St Nicholas' Chapel and a Hospital near the Cathedral. In 1471 he built a manse for the hospital, which became known as Provand's Lordship and is the oldest surviving building in Glasgow. He founded the College of Vicars of the Choir of Glasgow in 1467."

from The University of Glasgow Story

Note: Andrew Muirhead was Bishop, not Archbishop. The Bishopric of Glasgow became an Archbishopric during the tenure of Robert Blackadder later in the 15th century. ^{1 3}

  Research Notes:

'OF DURISDEER'?

"Ultimately, the mystery is resolved by research performed by Walter Grosset, and published in his book, An Account Of The Family Muirhead Of Lachop, dated 1742 (and subsequently included in Alexander Nisbet's A System Of Heraldry). Mr. Grosset had discovered that Andrew would have been a great-grandson of James Stewart, of Durisdeer. James Stewart's daughter, Mary Stewart, married Henry Wardlaw. Their daughter, Christian, married Thomas de Haya. Thomas and Christian, in turn, gave birth to 'Dame' Jean, who married William Muirhead, and who were Andrew's parents. So Andrew Muirhead would indeed have been correct in using the appelation of 'of Durisdeer'. "

from Mother Bedford website ²

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Student, 1437-1438, University of Paris, France. ² "Dominus Andreas de Durisder studied under Master Robert Esschinck. Andrew was at the Paris University during the years 1437 and 1438 as evidenced by the fact that the records reveal his payment to the university of a bursa, or tax, in the amounts of twelve shillings in the year 1437 and eleven shillings in the year 1438. Those records also noted in 1438 that Andrew had paid the sum of two francs for 'pro jucundo adventu' "

2. Held office: Rector, 1447 or earlier, Cadzow parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ²

3. Held office: Vicar, 1448, Kilpatrick parish, Scotland. ²

4. Represented: Bishop Turnbull of Glasgow, 1450-1451, Rome, Italy. ² "In 1450-51 he served his king, James II by travelling to Rome for the purpose of representing Bishop Turnbull in negotiations to found the Glasgow University. The Glasgow University was originally constructed in the Rottenrow, but was later (circa 1460) moved to new quarters on High Street (on land granted by James, Lord Hamilton). There is no direct evidence that Andrew was involved with the project (i.e. the Papal Bull of 07 January, 1451 does not include his name in the list of those involved in the creation of the university); but on 19 November, 1451 Andrew was appointed to serve as one of the deputies to oversee its affairs. He was noted as one of the new university's incorporati, or matriculated students, with his name given as 'sub-decanus magr. And. de Drusdere, non solvit'."

5. Held office: Dean, 26 March 1450, St Machar Cathedral, Aberdeen, Scotland. ² "This information was confirmed in a letter that was sent from Pope Calixtus III on 05 May, 1455 to Andrew Stewart, in which it was noted that prior to Andrew being provided as Bishop of the Church of Glasgow, he was the Dean of Aberdeen."

6. Held office: Sub-Dean, 22 November 1450-1455, Glasgow Cathedral, Scotland. ² "While in the position of Dean of Aberdeen, and as the clerk and counsellor to King James II, Andrew served as the Procurator (i.e. pleader) to the papal court. Andrew therefore would have been personally acquainted with Pope Nicholas V. It was during this period of Andrew's life that he was named as Sub-Dean of the Church of Glasgow. That occurred on 22 November, 1450; he would remain in that position until 1455."

7. Appointed: to collect and transport church offerings, 24 November 1450-1453, from Scotland to Rome. ² "On 24 November, 1450, according to a Papal Bull, Andrew of Durisdere was appointed to assist Bishop Turnbull in collecting and guarding the money offered at the high alter of Glasgow Cathedral during the Jubilee year prior to remitting a third to the papal treasury. Andrew's name was included in subsequent requests to the Chancellor of England for a pass of safe-conduct through that nation's territories, presumably to transport the Jubilee offerings to Rome. Such safe-conduct passes were recorded on 05 June, 1452 and again on 31 August, 1453."

8. Granted: passport by Pope Nicholas V as Papal Nuncio, 6 April 1451, Kingdom of Scotland. ²

9. Consecration: Bishop, 1456, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ²

10. Named: a Lord of Regency to King James III, 1460, Scotland. ²

11. Named: a negotiator in peace treaty with England, 1462, Scotland. ²

12. Established: College of Vicars, 16 May 1467, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ² "Bishop Andrew Muirhead established the College of Vicars on 16 May, 1467 in order to ensure that a body of men, properly trained in music, would be available as a choir to perform the Sarum."

13. Sent: as ambassador, 1468, Copenhagen, Denmark. ² "The purpose of his journey was to firm up the relationship between the two nation of Scotland and Denmark and also to treat with King Christiern in order to arrange the marriage of Margaret, 'the Maid of Norway,' King Christiern's only daughter, to King James III. Andrew was accompanied on this mission by the Bishop of Orkney, Lord Evandale the chancellor, the Earl of Arran, Mr. Martin Wan, Gilbert Rerrick, David Crichton of Cranston, and John Schaw of Hallie. The marriage was agreed upon by both parties on 08 September."

" While the delegation, of which Andrew Muirhead was a member, had negotiated with King Christiern of Denmark for the hand of his daughter in marriage to King James III, an agreement between Scotland and Denmark had been reached in regard to the princess' dowry. Denmark, at that time, included those countries which are today Norway and Sweden. The agreement included the stipulation that in the event that King Christiern should fail to pay the agreed upon dowry, Denmark would cede the Orkney and Shetland Islands to Scotland. The Orkney and Shetland Islands had long been in the possession of Norway, but they indeed became forfeited to Scotland in the year 1472."

14. Named: member of commision for royal marriage with England, 1471-1473, Scotland. ²

15. Responsible for: construction of almshouse, 1471, Hospital of St Nicholas, Glasgow, Scotland. ² "In regard to the Hospital of St. Nicholas, it should be mentioned that Bishop Muirhead intended that the residents should be cared for. They were to be clothed in white cloth gowns, and that they were to receive a new white cloth gown every three years. Every New Year's Day they were to receive: 'a pair of new doubill ƒolit-ƒchone with ƒaxpence to every one for their kaill ƒilver, togidder with ƒufficient coillis to their fyer yearlie, with candell at evin to their prayeris.' "

"In the mid 1400s, under the auspices of Bishop Andrew Muirhead, a three storey stone structure, which would become known as Provand's Lordship, was constructed in Glasgow. The original purpose of the building is not known. The structure was built to the north of an almshouse, known as the Hospital of St. Nicholas, which Bishop Muirhead had constructed for the care of twelve elderly men in 1471. The structure that would come to be known as Provand's Lordship, served as the Preceptor's Manse, or House, of the Hospital of St Nicholas, located alongside Glasgow Cathedral. It also was known to have served for a while as the manse of the Lord of the Prebend of Barlanark (which was maintained by the Lord of the Prebend of Barlanark in addition to his country residence of Provan Hall). In addition to the Cathedral, the Hospital of St Nicholas and the Preceptor's Manse, the Cathedral precinct included residences of the thirty-two Canons of the Cathedral Chapter."