Thomas Vaus

Thomas Vaus [de Vaus, Vause] was a 15th century Scottish royal official and cleric. He was a graduate of the University of Paris, being admitted there as a Bachelor "ad eundem" in 1445, graduating as a Licentiate in 1447.Dowden, "Bishops", p. 369.] At some stage he completed an M.A., and bore the title of "Master". His brother Martin Vaus, later Dean of Ross, was at Paris with him. He became Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland and secretary of King James II of Scotland. [The authority for both positions are given in Dowden, "Bishops", p. 369, as Exchequer Rolls, vi. 146 and R. M. S. ii.]

On May 8, 1456, he was provided to succeed James Inglis as Dean of Glasgow Cathedral. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 155.] In the following year, Vaus was provided to bishopric of Galloway, vacant on the expected translation of Thomas Spens to the bishopric of Aberdeen on November 21, 1457. Unfortunately for Vaus, Spens' translation to Aberdeen was not effective, and while Spens was indeed successfully translated to Aberdeen in the following year, it was Ninian Spot, not Vaus, who on December 15, 1458, got the new provision to Galloway. The reasons for this change are not clear, but Thomas never became a consecrated Bishop of Galloway nor did he ever attain another bishopric.

In 1468, he exchanged the deanery of Glasgow with James Lindsay to become Precentor of Elgin Cathedral ("Precentor of Moray"). [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", pp. 155, 224.] He was Dean of Fortrose Cathedral ("Dean of Ross") following the death of the previous dean David Ogilvie; this occurred perhaps as early as May 18, 1457, that is if Vaus is the same as the "Thomas Ross" provided in that year; he was certainly provided to the deanery by October 21, 1458,.Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 273.] This provision involved him in litigation with one David Balfour, who was said to have been in possession of the deanery on June 25, 1463. Thomas in turn was said to have been in possession of the deanery on September 27, 1466; but sometime between the last date and May 14, 1468, Thomas resigned it to the Bishop of Aberdeen, who in turn collated Thomas' brother Martin to the deanery.

Thomas Vaus resigned, sometime between August 4, 1478, and June 8, 1480, the precentorship of Moray to his relative Alexander Vaus, not to be confused with Alexander Vaus the bishop. Little is heard of Thomas after this. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 224.]

Notes

References

* Donaldson, Gordon, "The Bishops and Priors of Whithorn", in "Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarians Society: Transactions and Journal of Proceedings", Third Series, vol. 27 (1950), pp. 127-54
* Keith, Robert, "An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688", (London, 1824)
* Watt, D. E. R., "Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638", 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)