People of Medieval Scotland
1093 - 1371

Baldred Bisset (d.1311×)

Biography
Watt and Murray, Fasti, 418: Baldred occurs as official of St Andrews on 12 October 1282 and again on 5 January 1289. Baldred Bisset was born around 1260, perhaps in Stirlingshire, and may have been related to William Bisset, lord of Upsettlington (BWK), constable of Stirling Castle in 1306. Apparently, he attended school in Stirling and studied philosophy at St Andrews before pursing further studies in France. He was a master by 1284 and was described at 'doctor of law' in 1305. By August 1284, Baldred was a canon of Caithness, and by September 1289, rector of Kinghorn (FIF) until his was replaced (1296×1301) by Peter of Dunwich, an English cleric. He was in Bologna at the time of the replacement and may have taught law there during the 1290s. He is most remembered as a spokesman for the Scottish cause at the papal curia in 1301, before Boniface VIII, together with other appointed commissioners - Master William Frere, archdeacon of Lothian and Master William of Eaglesham sent to argue Scottish independence against Edward I of England. Bisset may have been the principal author of the Instructiones and the Processus, offered as a reply to Edward's claims. From the curia, he returned to Bologna and was appointed vicar-general there to Bishop Hubert by April 1305 and occurs occasionally at Avignon. He was still living on 27 April 1311, but probably died soon afterwards. R.J. Goldstein, 'Baldred Bisset', ODNB, v, 881-2; [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/2475]
Floruits
1282 × 1289
Matrix
Baldred Bisset, Official of St. Andrews
Matrix
Baldred Bisset, Rector of Kinghorn

Total number of associated factoids: 25