At this period, in England as well as in Scotland, the title of SIR was
usually applied to Priests, obviously derived from the Latin _Dominus_.
But the origin of this application, or rather the peculiar class of the
Priesthood to whom it was applicable, has not been well defined. It was
to distinguish them from persons of civil or military knighthood that
they were popularly called Pope's Knights, and not as some writers have
supposed, because the title was conferred on the secular clergy by the
Bishop of Rome. In the account of the trial of Walter Myln, who was
burnt for heresy in 1558, (see this Appendix, No. XIII.) it is related,
that when his accusers addressed him as "Sir Walter Myln," he answered,
"And where you call me Sir Walter, they call me Walter, and not Sir
Walter: _I have been ouer long one of the Pope's Knightes._" Sir David
Lyndesay says,--
"The pure Priest thinkis he gets na richt
Be he nocht stylit like ane Knicht,
And callit _Schir_ befoir his name,
As Schir Thomas and Schir Williame."
Dr. Jamieson, in his Dictionary, (v. _Pope's Knights_,) has collected
much curious information on this head, but says, he could assign no
reason why this designation, "is more frequently given to one called a
Chapellan than to any other; sometimes to the exclusion of a parson or
parish priest, who is mentioned at the same time as Maister."
The reason for this, perhaps, may be accounted for without much
difficulty, if the suggestion should be correct, (as I apprehend it is,)
that it denoted the academical rank or degree which had been taken; and
was not intended to designate an inferior order of the priesthood. This
title of Sir was never applied to laymen, and appears to have been given
both to the regular and secular clergy, or persons in Priests orders who
had taken their Bachelor's degree; but it was not an academical title in
itself. Those priests who received the appointment of chaplains, were
chiefly persons who, either from want of means or influence, had not
been able to prosecute their studies the full time at a University, to
obtain the higher rank as Master of Arts; and therefore the title of Sir
was given them, but simply to mark the absence of that academical rank,
which was long held in great respect, and led to the practice, both
among the clergy and laity, until the close of the 17th century, of
signing Master before their names.
Thus, in the present volume, we have _Sir_ George Clapperton, who was
Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal, (p. 45,) _Sir_ Duncan Symsoun, (p. 62,)
and _Sir_ William Layng, as Chaplains, (p. 75,) and many others, besides
_Sir_ John Knox, (p. xiv.); and I believe it cannot be shown that any of
the persons alluded to had taken the degree of Master of Arts. On the
other hand, ecclesiastics of all ranks, from Archbishops and Abbots, to
Friars and Vicars, who are known to have done so, are never styled
_Sir_, but have always _Master_ prefixed to their baptismal names, in
addition to the titles of their respective offices. For instance, we
have Maister James Beton, who became Primate, (p. 13,) Maister Patrick
Hepburn, Prior of St. Andrews, (p. 38,) Maister James Beton, Archbishop
of Glasgow, (p. 252,) Maister David Panter, Secretary and Bishop of
Ross, (p. 262,) and a hundred others, who held different ecclesiastical
appointments. In one instance, (see page 549,) we find "Sir _alias_ Mr.
John Macbrair," from an uncertainty as to his proper designation. On the
institution of the College of Justice, one half of the Judges belonged
to the spiritual side; and at the first Sederunt, 27th May 1532, when
their names and titles are specified, the churchmen have, with one
exception, _Magister_ prefixed to their names,--the exception being
_Dominus_ Joannes Dingwell, Provost of Trinity College, near Edinburgh.
It cannot be said he was so styled from holding any situation in the
Church inferior to the Rectors of Eskirk, and Finevin, or the Provost of
Dunglass, three of his brethren who then took their seats on the bench
as Judges. (See note 86.)
The Sederunt of the Provincial Council held at Edinburgh, 27th November
1549, as published by Wilkins, vol. iv. p. 46, exhibits the usual
designations and the order of precedency among the dignitaries of the
church. They are, after giving Archbishop Hamilton his titles, ranked
under the following heads:--"Episcopi.--Vicarii Generales sedium
vacantium.--Abbates, Priores, et Commendatarii.--Doctores in Theologia,
Licentiati et Bacalaurei.--Ordines Praedicatorum.--Ordines
Conventualium: Ordines S. Augustini: Ordines Sanctissimae Trinitatis de
redemptione captivorum: Ordines Carmeletarum." In this list the higher
clergy are styled simply William Bishop of, &c., Quintin Abbot of, &c.,
Alexander Prior of, &c., William Commendator of, &c. Among those who had
taken degrees in Theology, as Doctors, Licentiates, or Bachelors, there
are seven with the title of Master, and three with F. or _Frater_
prefixed to their names. Of the Preaching Friars, there were four, all
designed F. or _Frater_. The Conventual and other Orders, included
Provosts of Collegiate churches, Deans, Archdeacons, Subdeacons,
Rectors, Canons, and Subpriors; of whom there are fifteen with the title
of M. or _Magister_, and only six with D. or _Dominus_, so usual was it
to find that a regular academical course of study was requisite for
obtaining promotion in the Church, even when the weight of family
interest might have been supposed sufficient otherwise to have secured
it.
* * * * *
This opportunity may be taken to add a few explanatory words on the
Academical designations which so frequently occur in the footnotes to
this volume. There is likewise considerable difficulty in defining such
titles; and the following explanations may require to be modified. The
three Universities in Scotland founded during the course of the 15th
century, were formed on the model of those of Paris and Bologna. The
general name applied to students of all ranks was _Supposita_, or
_Supposts_; implying that they wore subject to the Provost and Masters
in the University. The _Incorporati_ were persons who upon entering the
College had taken the oaths, and were matriculated in the registers; but
this was not confined to students who first entered upon their studies
at College, as it might include persons of advanced life, who had been
educated and obtained their degrees at some other University. The usual
course extended over four years, and was devoted to the study of
philosophy, including rhetoric, dialectics, ethics, and physics. In the
middle of the third year, students were allowed to propose themselves as
candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts; and for this purpose,
those who had completed or _determined_ their course of study, during
the _trivium_ or period of three years, obtained the name of
_Determinantes_; and such as acquitted themselves were confirmed
_Bachelors_ by the Dean of Faculty. The _Intrantes_ or Licentiates were
a class farther advanced, and denoted that they were prepared to enter
or take their _Master's_ degree. For obtaining this a more extended
examination took place before they were _laureated_, or received the
title of Master of Arts, which qualified them to lecture or teach the
seven liberal arts.--See article Universities, in the last edit, of the
Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. xxi.; Statuta Universitatis Oxoniensis;
M'Crie's Life of Melville, 2d edit. vol. ii. p. 336, _et seq._; and
Principal Lee's Introduction to the Edinburgh Academic Annual for 1840.
No. XV.