ancient league between the crowns, which negotiation he carried through in such an able manner that, at the instance of Charles v., lie was, by Pope Urban vi., created a cardinal in 1384. This dignity he enjoyed only two years, and died in 1387.
Among succeeding bishops may be mentioned William Lauder, who began the work of the stone spire, and John Cameron, who may be credited with the building of the chapter-house on the level of the crypt, and the vestry above it. The former prelate was one of the negotiators with the Court of England for the liberation of James i., while the latter went as one of the two episcopal representatives of Scotland to the General Council of Basle.
The successor to Bishop Cameron was William TurnbuU, who was translated from Dunkeld in 1447, and who is ever memorable as the founder of the University of Glasgow. This institution was formally erected by a Papal Bull, dated 26th December 1450, and the office of Chancellor was to be held by the Bishop of Glasgow and his successors. No allusion has yet been made to the nave of the Cathedral, and the massive and imposing square tower which, till some forty years ago, stood at the north-west end. The dates of these have not been handed down to us, but the tower was evidently very old. It was 120 feet high, and had been the bell tower. Opposite it, at the south-west of the nave, there was also another erection, evidently meant to be a tower, but which was only carried up to about two-thirds of the height of the other, and was finished with gables and corbie-steps. It was called in ancient records the Library House of the Cathedral, and was the place where the bishops held their ecclesiastical courts, and where the records of the diocese were kept. A list of the books belonging to the Cathedral has been preserved, and is printed by the Maitland Club; also a list of the vestments and ornaments, made by order of the Bishop and Chapter in 1432, remains to us, showing that these were of more than usual richness and magnificence. An inventory of the relics has also been preserved and published. In the fifteenth century, such was the renown of the See of Glasgow, 'the mother of many races," as William the Lion had styled her three centuries before, that King James iv. deemed it an honour to be numbered among her canons.
In the time of Bishop Blackader, the third in succession from Turnbull, the Parliament, probably on account of a wish on the part of the royal canon, made a move in favour of Glasgow being raised to the dignity of an Archiepiscopal See, as St. Andrews had been seventeen years before. A resolution was passed by it on 14th January 1489, which set forth that the honour and welfare of the realm demanded the erection of Glasgow into an Archbishopric, with the same privileges as those enjoyed by York. King James iv. urged upon the Pope the desired erection, saying that ' Glasgow surpassed all the other Cathedral churches in his realm by its struc- ture, its learned men, its foundations, its ornaments, and other very noble prerogatives.' Innocent granted the request, and by a Bull dated 9th January 1492 raised Glasgow to an Archbisliopric, with Dunkeld, Dunblane, Galloway, and Argyle for its suffragans. In this way the prelate, made Bishop of Glasgow in 1484, eight years later became Archbishop Robert Blackader. He is popularly known by the work at the Cathedral associated itli his name. He constructed the stairs which lead to the great crypt, and built the rood loft. Also, he resolved to add a south transept ; but completed only the under croft, or south crypt, commonly called ' Blackader's Aisle,' and sometimes 'Fergus' Aisle,' — the last piece of work attempted before the Reformation. The archbishop died in 1508, when making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. James Beaton was the next Archbishop of Glas- gow. His consecration took place at Stirling on 15th April 1509, and he also held the office of Chancellor of the kingdom. This prelate crowned James v. in the Castle of Stirling on 21st September 1513, and after presiding over the See for the space of twelve years, was translated to St. Andrews in 1521. Gavin Dunbar, Prior of Whithorn, and former tutor to James v., was now appointed to the See of Glasgow, being consecrated on 5th February 1524-5. He must be looked on as the originator of the College of Justice, inasmuch as James instituted it by his advice. The College was to consist of fourteen Judges, half clerical and half lay, the president to be always an ecclesiastic. It received the confirmation of Pope Clement vii. in the year 1534, and the first president was the Abbot of Cambuskenneth. In the year 1546, the year pre- vious to the death of Dunbar, the Collegiate Church of Biggar, in Lanark, was founded. It was dedi- cated to the Blessed Virgin, and was endowed for a provost, eight canons, four clioristers, and six poor bedesmen, and was one of the last religious founda- tions in Scotland previous to the Reformation. Another work of this archbishop's was the building the gatehouse at the Bishop's Castle.
Archbishop Dunbar died on 30th April 1547. He was acknowledged, even by his enemies, to be a prelate of learning and piety. The family seems to have been noted for goodness, zeal, and charity. An uncle of his was Bishop of Aberdeen from 1518
