THE LAST DAYS OF MICHAEL SCOT 161 



this for a reason which showed how high was the 

 conception he had formed of the pastoral office. 

 His nolo episcopari proceeded on the ground that 

 he was ignorant of the Irish language. He would 

 not, it seems, be a chief pastor without the power 

 to teach and feed the flock committed to his 

 care. He would not consent to be intruded upon a 

 ople to whom he must have proved unacceptable, 

 or would he, in the too common fashion of the 

 ay, commit his duties in Ireland to a suffragan, 

 hile enjoying ample revenues and a lordly title 

 Italy. 



It is somewhat startling to find a principle 

 ot unheard of in the Scotland of our own century 

 clearly grasped and so conscientiously followed 

 y this non-intrusionist countryman of ours six 

 undred years ago. Yet Michael Scot did not 

 tand alone in his sacrifice even in these slack 

 irnes, as may be seen by the case of his name- 

 ke, John Scot, who was Bishop of Dunkeld during 

 .he pontificate of Clement in. 1 This earlier Pre- 

 ate ruled a vast diocese which included the country 

 f Argyll as well as the more eastern parts of 

 entral Scotland. His conscience became uneasy 

 der the responsibility, and, unwilling to continue 

 lie spiritual overseer of those whom from his 

 gnorance of their language he could not edify, 

 e wrote to the Pope, desiring that Argyll might 

 disjoined from Dunkeld, and that Ewaldus his 

 baplain, who knew Erse, might have charge of 

 he new diocese as its Bishop. This was actually 

 one in 1200, and the good Bishop died in great 

 Deace two years later. ' How can I give a com- 



1 Milman's Church History, vol. iv. p. 17. 

 L 



