Walter Forrester

Walter Forrester (died 1425 or 1426), bishop of Brechin, was an administrator and prelate in later medieval Scotland. Originating in Angus, he came from a family of English origin who by the end of the 14th century had become well established in Scottish society. A student of the University of Paris and University of Orleans, he began his career at home by the later 1370s.

He became a royal clerk, and appears to have held the position of archdeacon of Lothian c. 1386. After extending his education at Paris in the 1390s, he returned to Scotland to continue clerical and ambassadorial duties for the monarch, and was awarded with the bishopric of Brechin in 1407. He held this post, along with that of Clerk of the Register, until his death in either 1425 or 1426.

Origins and early education It is known from later documents that Walter Forrester was from the diocese of Brechin, born sometime in or before 1355. The Forresters were a middle-ranking family of English origin who rose to greater prominence during Walter's lifetime. The name of his father is unrecorded, but his mother's name was Mariota or Marion. He had a brother named Patrick Forrester, a burgess of Dundee, and a half-brother named Patrick de Dalgarnock.

Forrester attended the University of Paris, graduating Bachelor of Arts under fellow-Scot William de Trebrun in March 1375, and becoming Licentiate in Arts the following May. It is likely that the prebend was the church of Mortlach, as he can be confirmed holding this church in a document datable to 22 April 1392. He was Keeper of the Privy Seal for a short period in 1386 (filling in for Duncan Petit), and served an auditor of the exchequer from March 1386.

He appears as Archdeacon of Lothian in documents from 1386, an extremely prestigious position (or claim at least) he appears to have lost by 1390, when the position is securely held by another. Other honours held before the episcopate, excluding Mortlach, include the church of Liston (by November 1391), previously held by Gilbert de Greenlaw, and the office of sub-dean of Brechin. By February 1394 he had an M.A. from Paris, and served as regent in the Arts for several years while once again studying canon law.

Returning to Scotland in 1398, he regained his position as Clerk of the Wardrobe. On 11 April 1407 Benedict XIII instructed Henry de Wardlaw, bishop of St Andrews, and Fionnlagh MacCailein, bishop of Dunblane, to investigate any objections to Walter's election, perhaps on account of former hostility to Benedict's cause.

After becoming bishop, Walter remained a prominent royal servant, continuing his duties as Clerk of the Rolls and Clerk of the Register, and enjoyed a strong relationship with the ruler of Scotland, now Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. After James I's return in 1424, he served once more as exchequer auditor, 7 May 1425.

Like other bishops of Brechin, Forrester does not seem to have been very active in his diocese, on several occasions obtaining papal indults legitimizing procurations without visitation. By 7 June 1426, when his successor John de Crannach was provided to the see at the papal court, he must have been dead for some time.