William Leslie, Bishop of Laibach, Metropolitan of Carniola

WILLIAM KNOX younger

Tailor in Glasgow: Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow

It is unlikely that William Knox, Tailor in Glasgow, is the same person as William Knox

The Question of Identity

William Knox, here treated, is the son of William Knox, Merchant Tailor in Glasgow, and his wife Catherine Elphinstone. He was born before 15 September 1640, the date upon which his baptism was registered at Glasgow in Lanarkshire, Scotland. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Baptisms, reference OPR.644/1/3]

William Knox, here treated, Tailor in Glasgow, was enrolled as a burgess and guild brother of Glasgow on 27 June 1667: He was admitted in right of being the eldest son of William Knox, Tailor, burgess and guild brother of Glasgow. Glasgow Burgesses, 1573-1750, p. 179

Genealogy

The Knox Family, pp. 28-9

http://books.google.com/books?id=lyENAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA302#v=onepage&q=... Page 302 - 305

“William, born 1657. After going through a course of classical studies at the school of Rain, and finishing his academical studies at the University of Aberdeen, he was settled as schoolmaster in the parish of chapel of Garioch, where he remained for some years. In 1684 he left Scotland for foreign parts, and went to study at the University of Padua, where he became a Catholic, and received holy orders. He was so greatly noted for his learning, that Cardinal Barbarigo appointed him Professor of Theology at Padua. It appears that he next went to Germany, and attended Count James Leslie at Pittau, near Gratz, during his illness, and arranged all his affairs. After the death of Count James Leslie in 1692, William Leslie remained in Germany with Count James Ernest Leslie, son of Count Patrick Leslie, fifteenth Baron of Balquhain, assisting him in the management of his family affairs. By his own abilities and merits, and through the influence of his relatives the Counts Leslie, William Leslie was made Bishop of Waitzen in 1716, and in 1718 he was promoted to the bishopric of Layback in Styria, and was made metropolitan of Carniola, and a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. He wrote to his brother, Alexander Leslie, sixth Laird of Warthill, the following letter, dated 25th February 1718:-- ‘Dear Brother - I have endeavoured to purchase here credit and esteem in all stations, and am more and more assured of his Majesty the Emperor’s grace and clemency. It has pleased his Majesty to transport me out of Hungary, which is a country not much civilized or cultivated as yet for conversation, nor secure from foreign or intestine wars, and he gave me a much more honourable preferment and seat in the hereditary countries at Laybach, the metropolois of Carniola, to which belong many estates with fine castles, near the castle of Pewtau, which belongs to Count Leslie. By means of this promotion I am advanced to the dignity of Prince of the Empire, which is a great honour to our name and family, seing none before was elevated to this title. This Emperor, whom God preserve ! not by reason or regard of borrowed merit, but without vain-glory for my own comportment, has advanced me within three years to three steps of hounour, one higher than the other. I would needs adventure the present to let you know that I live - how long God knows, and his will be done - in a most honourable station. Be pleased to present my duty to all friends and relations. My residence is on the high post-way between Vienna and Venice. In the meantime I remain, with all fraternal affection’, etc. In 1725 he sent home an original portrait of himself, with his diploma from the University of Padua, to his brother, Alexander Leslie, sixth Laird of Wathill, and they are still preserved in the family. In a letter, dated 1st July 1725, he says, ‘You may direct to me in this Manner - “To the Bishop of Laibach, Metropolitan of Carniola, betwixt Vienna and Venice, Privy Councillor to his Imperial Majesty.” The title of Right Reverend here is due to others who are inferior to Bishops; and albeit I be a Prince of the Empire, which the Emperor himself and all the other Princes in Germany allow me who enjoy their courtesy of their grace, yet I am nowise desirous of those titles in a foreign kingdom, much less in the Land of Cakes. I judge, nevertheless, fitting that the graces and honours wich his Majesty has bestowed on me be known to my best friends and nearest relations, as a badge of the esteem of the greatest of monarchs, and as an evidence of my comportment and behaviour, whereby I have not degenerated from my birth and pedigree.’ In another letter he says, ‘I represent a greater person in the theatre of this world than I ever could have aspired to, or flattered myself to obtain; for higher than I deserved, for which I wish I may be grateful to God and my master.’ In these high stations, William Leslie, Prince Bishop of Laybach, continued till his death, and in every scene in life he demeaned himself with great dignity. He died in 1727, universally regretted and looked up to as an honour to his country."