 The rector of Haddington was St Andrews Cathedral Priory and although the church of Calder Comitis was normally under the patronage of the Mormaer of Fife, at that point in time the wardship of the young mormaer's lands was being held by the Bishop of St Andrews.On 6 November 1292, he acted as a substitute auditor on behalf of John de Balliol at Berwick in the Great Cause.The latter was the legal process by which Edward I, King of the English, mediated the succession dispute to the Scottish throne, the end result of which Balliol was selected by King Edward to be king on condition of open subordination.