William de Cambuslang

infobox bishopbiog
name = William de Cambuslang


religion= Roman Catholic Church
See = Diocese of Dunblane
Title = Bishop of Dunblane
Period = 1347–1361
consecration = October 23, 1347
Predecessor = Maurice
Successor = Walter de Coventre
post = Canon of Dunblane | ordination =
bishops =
date of birth = Late 1200s/Early 1300s
place of birth = Perhaps Cambuslang, Clydesdale
date of death = 1361
place of death = Dunblane (?), Strathearn, Scotland

William de Cambuslang (died 1361) was a 14th century Scottish churchman, presumably coming from a family based at or originating from Cambuslang near Glasgow.

The first clear notice of his existence comes from his papal letter of provision to the bishopric of Dunblane dated October 23, 1347; in the letter Pope Clement VI complained about the election of William being made despite an earlier papal reservation of the see; Pope Clement declared the election null and void, before himself providing William to the see directly, ordering him to be consecrated by Cardinal John, Bishop of Porto. [Cockburn, "Medieval Bishops", p. 99; Watt & Murray, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 101.] The same letter said that William had previously been a canon of the cathedral chapter of Dunblane. [Cockburn, "Medieval Bishops", pp. 97-8; Dowden, "Bishops", p. 203.]

As Bishop of Dunblane, William witnessed at least six charters that are extant. [See Cockburn, "Medieval Bishops", p. 99; Dowden, "Bishops", p. 203.] He was sent, along with three other bishops, on a diplomatic mission to England in early 1351 relating to a temporary release of the imprisoned Scottish king David II; he and the bishops of St Andrews, Aberdeen and Brechin met English officials at Hexham.Cockburn, "Medieval Bishops", p. 99.] He was involved in another embassy in the summer, an embassy which met their English counterparts at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

He last occurs in contemporary sources in a charter of Inchaffray Abbey dated April 11, 1358. [Lindsay "et al", "Charters, Bulls and Other Documents", no. 132, at p. 125; Watt & Murray, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 101.] A 16th century insertion in the Donibristle manuscript of Walter Bower's "Scotichronicon" stated that he died on November 1, 1361; this cannot be correct however, as contemporary sources testify that he had already died by June 18, but the year is nevertheless probably reliable.Watt & Murray, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 101.] The same 16th century insertion is the only source for his surname, "de Cambuslang".

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