Ayrshire > Volume 2

THE KENNEDYS 9
When James, Sir Gilbert's eldest son, died he left
three sons, Sir John, Gilbert, and James. Sir John was
one of the hostages for the redemption of James I., and
he had a safe conduct to meet the King at Durham with
horses and retainers. A mystery shrouds his later
career. With the Earls of Douglas and Ross, he had,
for some unknown cause, fallen under the displeasure of
the King. Every offence that the two Earls had done
was remitted, but Kennedy was kept in close custody in
the castle of Stirling. From an entry in the Chamberlain
Rolls, it is evident that he was alive in 1434, but from
that year and onwards he is heard of no more. Gilbert
succeeded his grandfather, and to him we shall return
immediately. James, born 1405 or 1406, was consecrated
Bishop of Dunkeld in 1438. He had no sooner taken
office than he entered upon a career of reform. Great
abuses had crept into the Church, which sorely exercised
him ; and he repaired to Florence, where he received
authority from Pope Eugenius IV. to put a stop to them.
While he was there the Bishopric of St. Andrews fell
vacant, and he was translated thither. So effectually
did he put in force the powers conferred on him by the
Sovereign Pontiff that it has been recorded of him that
" no man then living did remember to have seen the
Church in such an estate." He was Chancellor of
Scotland for a few months in 1444, and by a combination
of influence, talent, probity, and political skill attained
a position such as never before had been enjoyed by any
Churchman in Scotland. When James II. died in 1460,
the Queen Dowager used his tried wisdom and abilities
in conducting the Government, and on her death the
whole power of State, and the education of the young
King were placed in his hands ; but, unfortunately for
both, he died in 1465. He founded the College of St.
Salvator, St. Andrews, 1450, reserving to the house of
Cassillis the right of presentation to ten prebendaries,
or bursaries. One of the Earls of Cassillis subsequently
acquired other four prebendaries from the College. By
an Act of the Parliament of Scotland, July 22, 1644, it