John de Glasgu

Date: 1200 [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Contents 1 1240 John de Glasgu 2 Biography 2.1 Early Life and Background 2.2 Service to Bishop Gamelin 2.3 Possible Later Life at Holyrood Abbey 2.4 Association with Andrew de Glasgow 2.5 Association with other John's 3 Use of the Title "Dominus" 4 Sources 5 Notes 6 Acknowledgments

1240 John de Glasgu

POMS

Biography

John de Glasgu (fl. mid-13th century), also known as John of Glasgow, was a Scottish cleric best known for serving as the chaplain to Bishop Gamelin of St Andrews.

Early Life and Background

Details about John's early life are not well-documented. His surname suggests a connection to Glasgow, indicating that he was either born there or had significant ties to the city, which was an important ecclesiastical center in medieval Scotland.

Service to Bishop Gamelin

John first appears in historical records around 1258 as the chaplain to Bishop Gamelin of St Andrews, who served from 1255 until his death in 1271. Gamelin was a key figure known for advocating the Scottish church's independence from secular interference.

As Gamelin's chaplain, John would have assisted with liturgical services, managed ecclesiastical correspondence, and possibly advised the bishop on theological and administrative matters. He is referred to as "Master John" in some documents, suggesting he held an academic degree, likely in theology or canon law, highlighting his scholarly background.

John is noted as a witness to one of Bishop Gamelin's official acts, underscoring his trusted status within the bishop's household and his involvement in significant ecclesiastical affairs.

Possible Later Life at Holyrood Abbey

A John of Glasgow appears as a monk at Holyrood Abbey in 1299.^[1] While it is not definitively established that this is the same individual, it is within the realm of possibility. If John was in his 30s during the 1250s, he would have been in his 70s by 1299.

Retiring to monastic life was common for clerics after serving in ecclesiastical offices, so it's plausible that John became a monk at Holyrood Abbey in his later years.

Association with Andrew de Glasgow

An Andrew de Glasgow is mentioned in records from 1289 as an escheator in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland.^[2] While direct evidence linking him as a son or relative of John is lacking, the shared surname and time period suggest a possible familial connection.

Association with other John's

• May be the same person as Master John, who is listed as Gamelin's brother^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}.
• John of Kilwinning

Use of the Title "Dominus"

In medieval times, the Latin title Dominus (meaning "Lord" or "Sir") was commonly used as an honorific for individuals of high social or ecclesiastical standing. While the title was often applied to noblemen, it was also used within the church, especially for ordained priests. It denoted respect and authority, but its use was not universal for all clergy.

In the case of John of Glasgow, who served as chaplain to Bishop Gamelin in 1259, the title Dominus was recorded alongside his position. This suggests that he was an ordained priest and held a certain level of prestige within the ecclesiastical hierarchy. As chaplain to a bishop, John likely had significant responsibilities, which contributed to his receipt of the honorific.

Sources

People of Medieval Scotland (PoMS): John de Glasgu Aberdeen Court Records. Bain, Joseph. Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, Vol. II, 1052. Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Vol. I. Volume LXXXVIII: 13 to 25 Benedict XIII. Anti-Pope. Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome 1418–1422, edited by E.R. Lindsay and A.I. Cameron, Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1934.

Notes

1. ↑ Bain, Joseph. Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, Vol. II, 1052.
2. ↑ Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Vol. I, p. 47.
3. ↑ https://poms.ac.uk/record/person/456/
4. ↑ https://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotland/history2s.pdf
5. ↑ https://1.droppdf.com/files/WiaFG/in-the-footsteps-of-william-wallace-alan-young.pdf
6. ↑ https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-pat-rolls/hen3/vol2/pp209-224
7. ↑ https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/petitions-to-pope/1342-1419/pp594-612
8. ↑ https://www.poms.ac.uk/record/factoid/15765/
9. ↑ https://www.poms.ac.uk/record/person/456/
10. ↑ https://www.poms.ac.uk/record/source/1423/

Acknowledgments

Note: Due to the limited and sometimes fragmented nature of medieval records, definitive conclusions about familial relationships and the continuity of individuals across decades are challenging. The connections outlined between John de Glasgu, the monk at Holyrood Abbey, and Andrew de Glasgow are speculative but based on plausible interpretations of historical documents.