William de Lauder

William de Lauder [Lawedre] (b. c. 1380 – June 14, 1425 [ Watt, D. E. R., & Murray, A. L., editors, "Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae Medii Aevi Ad Annum 1638", revised edition, Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 2003, p.192, where it is suggested that whilst this is the traditionally remembered date of death, it may in fact be January 14, 1425/6] ) was bishop of Glasgow and Lord Chancellor of Scotland.

The son of Sir Robert de Lawedre of Edrington, and The Bass, by his spouse Annabella, William was uterine brother (i.e. shared his father) to Alexander de Lawedre, bishop of Dunkeld.

Before 1404, William Lauder had the Archdeaconry of Lothian conferred on him by Bishop Wardlaw of St.Andrews. "Willielmus de Lawadir, Archdeacon of Lothian, accompanied by Alanus de Lawedir de Scotia" (his brother) had a safe-conduct from King Henry IV dated as early as 18 September 1404. (Another is recorded the following year).

He was 'preferred' and appointed to the bishopric of Glasgow by Avignon Pope Benedict XIII on July 9 1408, and not by election of the Chapter. The Chapter did not challenge his selection, however, and he probably went to Avignon to receive consecration, as on October 24 King Henry IV of England granted "William de Lawedre, Bishop of Glasgow" safe conduct to pass through the Kingdom of England to the Kingdom of France. This seems to be supported by an indult dated 11th July 1408 for him to be consecrated elsewhere, and it is likely that occurred in France.

Bishop William was deeply involved in the affairs of the kingdom. In 1406 he was one of the commissioners sent to Charles, King of France, in order to renew the alliance with France against the English. Before January 8 1421 until his death four years later, William was Lord Chancellor of Scotland. On the 9 August 1423 he was named First Commissioner to treat with England for the ransom of James I, which was accomplished during the following years.

Bishop Lauder built several portions of Glasgow or St Mungo's Cathedral, notably the crypt under the chapter house where the Lauder Arms were carved in several places. He also added the stone steeple and battlement to the already built tower and placed his arms, with a cherub for a crest, on the centre panel of the western parapet.

He was interred in the ancient (now gone) parish church of St. Mary, at Lauder, Berwickshire, and succeeded by John Cameron.

Notes

References

*Stewart-Smith, J.,"The Grange of St Giles", Edinburgh, 1898.
*Dowden, John, "The Bishops of Scotland", ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
*Lindsay, the Rev. & Hon. E.R.Lindsay, MA., and Cameron, A.I., MA., Ph.D., D.Litt., "Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome 1418 - 1422",Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1934, p.233.