Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Malvoisin, William
MALVOISIN, WILLIAM (d. 1238), chancellor of Scotland and archbishop of St. Andrews, was of Norman origin, and was said to have been educated in France. He became one of the clerici regis in Scotland, and he was made chancellor of Scotland in September 1199. During the following month he was elected bishop of Glasgow. Subsequently, while at Lyons, he was ordained priest and consecrated to the see of Glasgow 23 Sept. 1200 by John Belmeis [q. v.], archbishop of Lyons, at the order of Innocent III. He landed at Dover on his return home on 1 Feb. following. He was a frequent correspondent of the Archbishop of Lyons, one of whose letters to him, written about this time, has been reproduced by Mabillon in his 'Analecta,' p. 429. The letter contains two replies made to inquiries by Malvoisin: one referring to the working of the consistorial courts in the diocese of Lyons,' de temporali regimine ecclesiae Lugdunensis; ' and the other as to how far those in holy orders ought to take part in civil disputes or to bear arms a question which the archbishop answered wholly in the negative. In 1201 he, as bisbop, was party to an arrangement, made in confirmation of one previously existing, in presence of the papal legate, John de St. Stephanus, at Perth, by which the monks of Kelso held the property of the churches within that borough free from dues or charges of any kind. In 1202 Malvoisin was transferred on the king's recommendation to the archbishopric of St. Andrews, lie showed much wisdom and energy in ruling the church. Many rights and privileges that had lapsed through the remissness of his predecessors were vindicated anew by him and zealously defended. He was in constant communication with the holy see, asking instructions on points of doctrine, forms of procedure, or legal opinions, such as whether or no he could allow proof by witnesses in establishing contracts of marriage. A long-standing dispute between the see of St. Andrews and Duncan of Arbuthnot regarding the kirklands of Arbuthnot was settled, after inquiry by the legate and the king. A bull of Innocent III, addressed to Duncan in July 1203, describes the settlement as a compromise. Other authorities state that it was in favour of the bishop. Malvoisin, who was abroad during the greater part of 1205, was afterwards confirmed in all his prerogatives and immunities by bulls of Innocent III, dated 2 April 1206 and 12 Jan. 1207, which were doubtless suggested by him while at the papal court. The later bull is termed 'De confirmatione privilegiorum Episcopi Sancti Andreae ej usque successoribus in perpetuum.' The properties belonging to the see are thus stated : 'In Fife—Kilrymond, with all the shire, Derveisir, Uhtredinunesin, the island of Johevenoh, with its appurtenances, Munemel, Terineth, Morcambus, Methkil, Kilecineath, Muckart, Pethgob, with all the church lands, Strathleihten, llescolpin, Cas, Dulbrudet, Russin, Lossie, and Longport, near Perth ; in Maret Buchan, Monymusk, Culsamuel, Elon, with the church lands and all their appurtenances; in Lothian Listune, Egglesmaniken, Keldeleth, Raththen, Lasswade, Wedale, Clerkington, Tyningham, with their appurtenances.' The bull finally provides that Can (cam. superior duties) and Cuneveth (cean-mhath), first-fruits for the bishop's table, are to be duly levied. The bishop was always fastidious about the supply to his table. Fordun says that he withdrew from the abbey of Dunfermline the patronage of two livings Kinglassie and Hales because the monks had stinted his supply of wine. He was empowered by a bull, November 1207, to fill up any vacant charges caused by the decease of vicars, if the titulars of such charges did not do so within the proper time. In 1208 he consecrated the cemetery of Dryburgh Abbey. His name is appended to a bond given by William, king of Scotland, for the payment of fifteen thousand marks to John of England, dated Northampton, 7 Aug. 1209. In 1211 he resigned the chancellorship of Scotland. During the following year he presided at a provincial council of the church held at Perth, when the pope's order was read regarding a new crusade a proposal coldly received by the nobles present. In 1212 he was empowered by bull (1 June) to consecrate John, archdeacon of Lothian, as bishop of Dunkeld, and in the following year he consecrated Adam, abbot of Melrose, as bishop of Caithness. He was sent, 7 July 1215, to treat with King John of England. During the same year he went to Rome to attend a general council, accompanied by the bishops of Glasgow and Moray. He returned in January 12 18 and found the country under papal interdict, but with the help of the legate he succeeded in having the interdict removed. He gave absolution to the monks of the Cistercian order on their submitting to the authority of the church. He signed the act of espousals between Alexander II of Scotland and Joan (1210-1238) [q. v.], sister of Henry III, at York, 15 June 1220; and 18 June l221 he witnessed a charter of dowry granted by Alexander to his bride. The bishop founded the hospital of St. Mary at Lochleven, called Scotland Wall. He also confirmed to the master and brethren of Soltre both the church of St. Giles at Ormiston in East Lothian with its revenue for their proper use, and the church of Strathmartin in Forfarshire, which was confirmed by Pope Gregory 14 Oct. 1236. He gave to the canons of Lochleven the revenue of the church of Auctermoonzie for the support of pilgrims. He continued the building of the cathedral at St. Andrews, begun by his predecessor, and devoted a part of the revenue of his see to that purpose. He died at his residence at Inchmurtach 5 July 1238, and was buried in the cathedral. Dempster says that he wrote the lives of St. Ninian and St. Kentigern, but Hardy, the compiler of the catalogue of the Rolls publications, says that of the two anonymous lives of these saints he has been unable to assign either of them to him.
[Fordun's Scotichronicon, lib. viii. ; Rymer's Fœdera, vol. i. ; Melrose Chronicle ; Midlothian Charters of Soltre (Bannatyne Cluh) ; Patrologise Cursus Completus ; Spotiswood's History of Church of Scotland, vol. i.; Gordon's Eccl. Chronicle of Scotland, i. 146-54; Tanner's Bibl. Brit.]