# William Scheves

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British archbishop

William Scheves Archbishop of St Andrews Primate of Scotland Church Roman Catholic Church Archdiocese St Andrews Personal details Died 1497 (1498)

**William Scheves** (sometimes modernized to **Chivas** or **Shivas**) (died 1497)[1] was the second [Archbishop of St. Andrews](/source/Archbishop_of_St._Andrews).

## Life

His parentage is obscure, but he was probably the illegitimate son of a royal clerk, John Scheves.[2] Sixteenth-century accounts claim he spent several years abroad and studied at the [University of Louvain](/source/Old_University_of_Leuven). He spent several years at the [University of St Andrews](/source/University_of_St_Andrews) as an administrator. In his earlier ecclesiastical career, he had been *clericus regiae* (royal cleric) and master of the hospital of [Brechin](/source/Brechin). In 1474 he was provided unsuccessfully to the [Archdeaconry of Dunblane](/source/Archdeacon_of_Dunblane), but by the beginning of 1477 he was [Archdeacon of St Andrews](/source/Archdeacon_of_St_Andrews) and [coadjutor](/source/Coadjutor) (successor) and vicar-general of the [archdiocese](/source/Archdiocese). After the deposition of Archbishop [Patrick Graham](/source/Patrick_Graham_(bishop)) in 1478, he succeeded to the archbishopric, apparently receiving the [papal](/source/Pope) [pall](/source/Pall_(liturgy)) while in the presence of King [James III](/source/James_III_of_Scotland) and many of the nobility at [Holyrood](/source/Holyrood_Palace). The titles of *[legatus natus](/source/Legatus_natus)* and [primate of all Scotland](/source/Primate_of_Scotland) were bestowed upon him in 1487.[3]

His rapid rise from junior clergyman to archbishop of St Andrews with a powerful role at court appears to have generated resentment from both ecclesiastical and lay rivals. As a result, he has been associated with the so-called "low-born favourites" or "familiars" who sixteenth-century chroniclers alleged surrounded [James III](/source/James_III_of_Scotland) in the years before 1482. Yet Scheves was not especially 'low-born', and was probably the illegitimate son of a former [clerk register](/source/Lord_Clerk_Register), John Scheves. There is little doubt, nevertheless, that he had an unusual level of influence with the King until the [Lauder](/source/Lauder) coup of 1482.[4] In a highly unusual practice, he is found countersigning royal letters regularly in the later 1470s. After the coup, he was briefly disgraced, and although he was restored to favour after the king regained power in 1483, his influence was not what it had been.[5]

[George Buchanan](/source/George_Buchanan), writing approximately a century later, claimed that Scheves studied medicine and astronomy at Louvain University; he certainly practised as a physician, and was acting as court physician for the king by 1471. He had an extensive library of medical texts and also had a keen interest in [astrology](/source/Astrology).[6] He was "one of the earliest book collectors on the grand scale in Scotland."[7]

Scheves' likeness is preserved in a medallion portrait commissioned from Flemish artist [Quintin Matsys](/source/Quentin_Matsys) in 1491 during a visit to Rome. Multiple medallions were struck from the design, and examples are held by the [National Museum of Scotland](/source/National_Museum_of_Scotland) and the [British Museum](/source/British_Museum), while a third was sold to an unknown buyer from the [Neil Goodman](/source/Neil_Goodman) collection by the auctioneer [Spink & Son](/source/Spink_%26_Son) between 2016 and 2026 for $24,000 US dollars. A copy held by the [National Gallery](/source/National_Gallery) is probably a reproduction of a lost original.[8][9]

It was suggested by A. P. Forbes, editor of the printed [Arbuthnott Missall](/source/Missal_of_Arbuthnott) in 1864, that a painting of St Ternan contained in the manuscript was 'perhaps the bishop [*sic*] of the diocese, according to a custom not uncommon at the time'. The archbishop when the missal was written in 1491 was William Scheves, but Forbes does not provide any specific evidence to support his suggestion.[10][11]

The Italian merchant [Jerome Frescobaldi](/source/Jerome_Frescobaldi) was the factor for his foreign debts, and received payments from the merchant and Conservator of Scottish Privileges [Andrew Halyburton](/source/Andrew_Halyburton).[12][*[original research?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research)*]

Scheves died on 28 January 1497.[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["A Manuscript Owned by William Scheves Now at Maynooth"](https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/files/243326981/schevespreprint.pdf) (PDF). *University of St Andrews Research Portal*. University of St Andrews. Retrieved 14 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Macdougall, Norman (2009). *James III*. Edinburgh: Birlinn, Limited. pp. 146–7. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78885-242-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78885-242-5). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1314609130](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1314609130).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Patrick, David (1907). *Statutes of the Scottish Church 1225-1559*. Edinburgh. pp. Introduction CVII.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Macdougall 2009, pp.146-7

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Macdougall 2009, pp.268-70

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Macdougall 2009, pp.263-7

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Bushnell, George H.(1960)."Portrait of a Bibliophile: William Schevez Archbishop of St.Andrews, D. 1497." *[The Book Collector](/source/The_Book_Collector)* 9 no.1 (Spring):19-29.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Redefining the Legacy of William Scheves – Museums Blog"](https://museumblog.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2022/04/11/redefining-the-legacy-of-william-scheves/). *museumblog.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk*. Retrieved 1 February 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["168 - QUENTIN MATSYS \[QUINTIN MASSYS\] (Flemish, 1466-1530) William Sch..."](https://spink.com/lot/390000168) *Spink & Son*. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: url-status ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Forbes, A. P. (1864). *Liber Beati Terrenani de Arbuthnott: Missal Secundum Usum Ecclesiae Sancti Andreae in Scotia* [*The Book of St Ternan of Arbuthnott: a Missal According to the Custom of the Church of St Andrews in Scotland*]. Burntisland: Burntisland : E Prelo De Pitsligo. pp. lxix.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: publisher location ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_publisher_location))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Renfrewshire Community Website – Arbuthnott Manuscripts"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070921071036/http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/els-cg-arbuthnott-manuscript). Archived from [the original](http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/els-cg-arbuthnott-manuscript) on 21 September 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Cosmo Innes](/source/Cosmo_Innes), [*Ledger of Andrew Halyburton, 1492-1503* (Edinburgh, 1867), p. 6](https://archive.org/details/ledgerandrewhal00goog/page/n126/mode/2up)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Watt, D. E. R. (1969). *Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638* (2nd Draft ed.). Edinburgh: Scottish Record Society. p. 295.

## Further reading

- [Dowden, John](/source/John_Dowden), *The Bishops of Scotland*, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912).

- Macdougall, Norman (1982). *James III, a political study*. Edinburgh: J. Donald Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85976-078-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85976-078-2). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [10949157](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/10949157).

- Macdougall, Norman (2009). *James III*. Edinburgh: Birlinn, Limited. pp. 146–7. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78885-242-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78885-242-5). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1314609130](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1314609130).

Religious titles Preceded by Patrick Graham Archbishop of St Andrews 1478–1497 Succeeded by James Stewart Academic offices Preceded by Patrick Graham Archbishop of St Andrews Chancellor of the University of St Andrews 1478–1497 Succeeded by James, Duke of Ross Archbishop of St Andrews

v t e Bishops and archbishops of St Andrews Known pre-Norman era bishops Cellach I Fothad I Máel Ísu I Cellach II Máel Muire Máel Ísu II Ailín Máel Dúin Túathal Fothad II Giric Cathróe Scoto-Norman era bishops Turgot of Durham Eadmer Robert of Scone Ernald Richard the Chaplain Hugh the Chaplain John Scotus Roger de Beaumont Geoffrey de Liberatione William de Malveisin David de Bernham Robert de Stuteville Abel de Gullane Gamelin William Wishart William Fraser William de Lamberton James Bane William Bell William de Landallis Stephen de Pa Walter Trail Thomas Stewart Walter de Danielston Gilbert de Greenlaw Henry Wardlaw James Kennedy Patrick Graham Pre-Reformation archbishops Patrick Graham William Scheves James Stewart, Duke of Ross Alexander Stewart John Hepburn Cardinal Innocenzo Cybo Andrew Forman James Beaton Cardinal David Beaton John Hamilton Gavin Hamilton Post-Reformation archbishops John Douglas Patrick Adamson George Gledstanes John Spottiswoode James Sharp Alexander Burnet Arthur Rose Afterwards, see also: Episcopal Archbishops of St Andrews, Bishops of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane (etc.) & Roman Catholic Archbishops of St Andrews and Edinburgh (etc.)

v t e Chancellors of the University of St Andrews 15th and 16th Century Henry Wardlaw (1413) James Kennedy (1440) Patrick Graham (1465) William Scheves (1478) James Stewart, Duke of Ross (1497) Alexander Stewart (1504) Andrew Forman (1514) James Beaton (1522) David Beaton (1539) John Hamilton (1547) John Douglas (1572) Patrick Adamson (1576) John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane (1592) John Lindsay of Balcarres, Lord Menmuir (1597) John Graham, 3rd Earl of Montrose (1599) 17th and 18th Century George Gledstanes (1604) John Spottiswoode (1615) John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun (1643) James Sharp (1661) Alexander Burnet (1679) Arthur Rose (1684) John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl (1697) James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos (1724) Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1746) Thomas Hay, 9th Earl of Kinnoull (1765) Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1788) 19th and 20th Century Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (1811) Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville (1814) George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll (1851) Alexander Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh (1900) Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (1922) Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane (1928) Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (1929) Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton (1948) Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae (1973) Sir Kenneth Dover (1981) 21st Century Walter Menzies Campbell, Baron Campbell of Pittenweem (2006) Dame Anne Pringle (2026)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [William Scheves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Scheves) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Scheves?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.