The book Arran; - Cook Clan

CHURCHES BEFORE THE REFORMATION 83
blane, who was- apparently a by-product of the Argyll family,
for he must be rid by dispensation of his bar to holy orders
in being ' the natural son of a married nobleman.' ^ Camp-
bell's successor apparently was John Clerk's-son (Clerici),
whose name betrays his parentage, for he was the son of a
clerk or cleric, while he himself fell short of all a priest should
be, aggravating his offence by being also a ' scholar of canon
law,' who should have known better. It was reported of
him that, despite his position, he was not ordained priest
for two years, a not uncommon delinquency either, and
further that he had had unbecoming relations witb his
housekeeper,^ though this seems to be an Irvine not an
Arran affair. In March 1405 appears a confirmation of
his appointment to the perpetual vicarage of Irvine, that
is a vicarage from which he could not be removed by his
rector, the Cathedral of Glasgow ; a preferment worth
30 marks, which was just the figure of St. Mary's which
he professes himself ready to resign. Later in the same
year he is granted his petition to hold with St. Mary's a
benefice in the gift of the bishop, prior, and chapter of
St. Andrews. What exactly happened with Kilmorie cannot
be made out. First we have an application in the same
year by Richard de Cornel, ' licentiate of canon law,' of noble
birth, who already held a chaplaincy, ' of small value,' he
explains, as well as the perpetual vicarage of St. Mary's, for
the rectory of the same, which dispensation and confirmation
are granted. As there was a vicar, it would appear that the
rector was non-resident, took to do with nothing but the
stipend. It is further explained that the rectory is vacant
because Clerkson has got the vicarage of Irvine. But for
precisely the same reason, later in the year, we have it
granted to Duncan MacBean (Beani) to hold the rectory
of St. Mary, value £15, ' notwithstanding that the petitioner
' ' Calendar of Entries ' in Papal Registers, vol. 73, pp. 576-6.
^ 'Cum quadam sua comatre concubuit/ ibid., vol. 83, p. 595.