1133.-PETER, the Prior
of Dunfermline, died about this period, and was probably interred a
Dunfermline. (See An. Dunf.
dates 1108-1120.)
RICHARD MONGAL,
elected Prior in the place of Peter, the deceased Prior. (Collier’s
Hist. Dict.; An. Dunf. date 1150.)
1136.--INVERESK
CHURCH, bequeathed by David I. to the Abbey, the gift not to take effect
until after the death of
Nicholas the priest. (Print. Regist.
de Dunf. p. 17,
cart. No. 30. This priest is not heard of after 1136.
ROYAL GIFT—CRAIGMILLAR.—Kind
David I., about this period, gave to the Abbey of Dunfermline, in free and
perpetual gift, a carrucate of arable land and some houses at Craigmillar.
(Print. Regist. de
Dunf. p. 11.)
1139.—INVERKEITHING
CHURCH BEQUEATHED TO THE ABBEY.—This church, dedicated to St. Peter, was
this year bequeathed to Dunfermline Abbey by Waldeve, the son of Gospatric
(a Northumberland baron). In the
Registrum de Dunfermlyn, there is, at p. 94, cart. 165, a deed
conveying the gift under the following brief title:--“Waldenus
filius Gospatricij
de ecca de Inuirkethi”—i.e.,
Waldeve, the son of Gospatric, in regard to the Church of Inverkeithing.
The charter informs us that Waldeve gave the Church of Inverkeithing to
Dunfermline Abbey “for the love of God
and Saint Margaret, that the Lord Jesus Christ, by the intercession of
that Holy Queen, and by the prayers there offered up, may have compassion
on our souls.” Fourteen witnesses attest this charter. This
gift was confirmed to the Abbey by a Bull from Pope
Lucius III. in 1184 (Print.
Regist. de Dunf. p. 156), Archibald
being Abbot of Dunfermline.
1140.—COUSLAND CHURCH
(in East Lothian).—The patronage of it is
granted to the Abbey.
1142.—BONDMEN, OR
CUMBERLACHI.—David I., about this period, bequeathed to Dunfermline Abbey
his servi—Ragewin,
Gillepatric, and
Ulchell—“for
ever to the Church of the Holy Trinity,
as my own men.” (Print.
Regist. de
Dunf. p. 13, No, 19;
Dal. Mon. Antiq.
P. 41.)
1144.—ROYAL GIFT OF
GOLD TO THE ABBEY.—About this period David I. bequeaths, by charter-right,
to the Abbey the tenth of all his gold obtained in Fife and Fothriff.
(Title of Charter, or Writ, “De
Decima Auri.”)
Translation of the short Charter:--“David, King of Scots, to all honest
men, Greeting,--Be it known to you that I have conceded, as a free gift,
to the Church of the Holy Trinity, Dunfermline, the tenth part of the
whole of my gold obtained in Fife and Fothrif.—T.
Chancellor, HUGH DE MOREVILL; JOHN,
Episcopus.—Given
at Elbothel.” (Print.
Regist. de
Dunf. p.16, cart. 28.)
1146.—THE CHURCH OF
ECCLES.—About this period “an Assembly was held in the
Castrum
Puellarum” (Edinburgh Castle),
“where a compact was made regarding the Church of Eccles, between the
Bishop of St. Sndrews and the Abbot of
Dunfermline, ‘coram
rege David et Henrico
filio ejus et
baronibus eorum.’”
(Acts of the Parliament of
Scotland, vol. i. p. 56,
Ap.)
1148.—RICHARD MONGAL,
Prior of Dunfermline, died
about the end of this year at San Iago de
Compostella, in Spain, where he had gone on a
pilgrimage. This prior was the author of a small work, titled “The
Lives of St. Bernard and Abelard,” and is therefore the first
Dunfermline author whose name is on record. Fordun speaks of him in high
commendation, and styles him “Richard
Mongal, Prior Claustralis de Dunfermelyn.”
(Collier’s Hist. Dict.: Chalmers’ Hist. Dunf.
vol. i. p. 501.)
1149.—“ROGER,” a monk
of the Abbey, elected Prior in the place of Richard Mongal, deceased.
David in his great Confirmation Charter alludes to “Roger, the presbyter:”
probably the same Roger.
1150.—ROMISH
CONSECRATION OF DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—In the
Chronicle of Holyrood, under
this date, there is the following incidental entry, viz.:--
“MCL
dedicate est
Ecclesia de Dunfermelyn”—i.e., The Church of Dunfermline was
dedicated in 1150. (Vide “Chronicon
Coenobii Sanctae
Crucis Edinburgensis.”)
There is no other
entry bearing this out in any other of the old Abbey chronicles,
chronicles, chartularies, or memoranda of Scotland, which, to say the
least of it, is rather singular.
It is a well known
authenticated fact, that this church was founded, partly built, and
dedicated to
the Holy and undivided Trinity.”
By Malcolm III. and Margaret his consort, the
Queen, circa A.D. 1074.
David I., in his two Confirmation charters, refers to these dedications,
which see under dates 1127 and 1130. In early writings the words,
“dedication” and
”consecration,” were often
used as interchangeable or equivalent terms; and had the scribe of
Holyrood known that the Church at Dunfermline had, by Malcolm III., been
dedicated to the Holy Trinity, he would undoubtedly have used the word “consecration”
instead of “dedication.”
It would appear that it was not until about
the year 1150 that the Romish worshippers in the Abbey superseded the
original service; and thus after becoming masters of the situation, the
Abbot and monks would, by an imposing ceremony, according to the rites of
Romish worshippers, consecrate the
fabric of the Church, and also
consecrate the dedication.
The oblong stone, placed under the arch of the north-west Norman door of
the Church (within the porch) by the late Rev. Dr. Chalmers, should have
had “consecrata”
instead of “dedicata,” thus—
ECCLESIA SANCTE
TRINITATIS
De DUNFERMLYN.
CONSECRATA ANNO MCL.
(Vide Chal. Hist. Dunf.
vol. ii. pp. 162-166; vide
Appendix E.)
1151.—ABBEY SEAL.—The
following engraving represents the
obverse side of what had hitherto been taken for the oldest
Abbey Seal, taken from a much defaced impression, in brown wax, attached
to a deed, by the Abbot (R) of Dunfermline, in the
archives of Durham
Cathedral. There is evidence to show that this Abbot, R, was Abbot Robert
de Berewick, who was in office from 1198 till 1202, and therefore the age
of this seal has been assigned to this period; but the fact of its being
found attached to a deed of this period does not infer that it had no
previous existence. After the Abbey became thoroughly
Romanized, circa
1150, a seal would be a
necessary instrument for giving legality to deeds, writs, and other
documents. We are inclined therefore to place the origin of this seal
under date 1151, as the most likely year it was made and granted. On
this, the most ancient seal of the Abbey, there is a representation of a
Baptismal Font, enclosed within a Norman-arched canopy, with side columns,
and round the circumference is the legend, “SIGILLVM SANCTE TRINITATIS”—i.e.,
“Seal of the Holy Trinity.”
1152.—ROYAL GIFT TO
DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—Ada, Countess of Northumberland (wife of Earl Henry,
son of David I.) gave about this period, “a
full toft, in Haddington-schyre, to the Lord, the blessed Mary,
and the Church of Dunfermline, for ever, freely and quietly, for the
safety of my Lord, Earl Henry, for the safety of my own soul and all my
predecessors, deceased, and to all the faithful servants of God.”
(Print. Regist. Dunf. No.
152, p. 88.)
1153.—DAVID I.
INTERRED AT DUNFERMLINE.—David I., the King, the sixth and youngest son of
Malcolm III. and Margaret his consort, died in the Castle of Carlisle, on
27th May, in the 30th year of his reign, and about
the 76th year of his age, and “was
buried at Dunfermline honourably, on the day of St. Mark the Evangelist,
near his father (Malcolm),
before the Great Altar”—(Fordun, v. 40)—“in
the pavement of the middle choir.” (Fordun, viii. 7.) David
was “found dead in a posture of
devotion.” (Hailes’s An.
Scot. vol. i. p. 93.) The
Chronicle of the Scots and Picts
refers to the occurrence as follows:--
“David
filius Malcolmi
xxix.
annis et tribus
mensibus regnavit,
et mortuus in Karleil
et Sepultus in Dunfermlin”—i.e.,
“David, the son of Malcolm, reigned twenty-nine years and three months,
and he died at Carlisle,
and was buried at Dunfermline.”
“David,
soun freir regna
xxix.
aunz et
iij.
moys, et morust a
Cardoil, et gist a
Dunfermelin”—i.e., David, his brother (viz., Alexander
I.) reigned twenty-nine years and three
months, and died at Carlisle, and lies at Dunfermlyn. (Vide
Skene’s Chronicles of Scots and Picts.)
Winton rhymes the
event thus—
“The
nynd Kalend, that
day of June
The guid Kyng
Daiiys
dayes ware dwne,
Intil
Karlele, quhare he
made
A Styth castell,
and thare he hade
Oft and mekyl hys
dwelling
All the tyme that he
wes Kyng,
Hys
Body dede til Dwnfermlyn:
Thare
in halowyed Sepulture
It wes
enteryed with honowere.”
(Wynton’s Orygynale Cronykil,
vol. i. p. 306.)
(Vide
Aldred
apud For.
V. 59; Hailes’s An. Scot.
vol. i. p. 93;
Aber. Mart; Ach.:
Lardner’s Cab. Cycl. Chron. p. 337; also
App. An. Dunf.)
John, the Prior of
Hexham, relates that, when those who had the charge of conveying the
King’s body from Carlisle to Dunfermline to the place of sepulture, on
arriving on the shores of the Firth of Forth, at Queensferry, “they found
the sea in so boisterous and agitated a state, that they were afraid to
venture upon it; but no sooner had they place the royal corpse in the
boat, than the storm abated, so that they reached the opposite shore
without difficulty;” and that, after the King’s body was safely landed on
the north shore, “the tempest began again with redoubled fury.” (Decem.
Scriptores Col. 282;
Morton’s Monastic Annals of Teviot, p. 81.)
ST. DAVID.—It
appears not to be known when King David was
canonized. If it did not take
place shortly before his death, it may be supposed that such a pious King
ad David was, would not be kept long out of
“the catalogue of the saints,”
and we have therefore inserted the occurrence in this place. Dr. Lardner,
in his Cabinet Cyclopaedia
article, “Alphabetical Calendar of Saints’ Days,” p. 134, gives it thus:
David,
King (Saint Day), Dec. 29,”
which has been extracted
from MS. Vespasion A. ix.
ROYAL GIDTS BY MALCOLM
IV. TO DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—Malcolm IV.,
on the day of the interment of
his grandfather, David I., bequeathed to the Abbey the lands of
Ledmacduuegil, near Dunfermline; and also 23 acres of arable ground. (Confirmation
Charter of Malcolm IV.” Regist. de Dunf. p. 21.)
CONFIRMATION CHARTER
OF MALCOLM IV.—CARTA, No.35: “Confirmacio
Malcolmi Regis.”—This is the first
of Malcolm IV.’s charters to the Abbey of
Dunfermline. He granted fifteen charters to the Abbey. This one is a
Confirmation Charter, granted shortly after he had ascended the throne.
It occupies three-and-a-half quarto pages of
“Registrum de Dunfermlyn,”
and, like the other Confirmation Charters, confirms the gifts of his
predecessors, &c., as also those bequeathed by himself. (Print
Regist. De Dunf. pp. 19-22.)
1154.—GAUFRID, first
Abbot of Dunfermline, died in October, 1154, in the 30th year
of his abbotship, and about the 70th year of his age. His name
in charters is variously spelt, as Galfridus, Galfrid, Gosfrid, and
Geoffrey, Gaufred appears the most common spelling. He was a very learned
man for the age, and “a man of
singular piety.” Although the fact is not on record, he would
most probably be interred within the precincts of Dunfermline Abbey. (Chron.
D. Crucis, p. 32;
Fordun-a-Goodall,
vol. i. p. 443;
Dart’s History of Canterbury.)
GAUFRID II. elected
and consecrated the second Abbot. He was nephew of Gaufrid I., and
appears to have been elected and consecrated Abbot of Dunfermline in
November, 1154.
SUNDRY DONATIONS TO
DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—About this period a great many of the nobles of
Scotland, and also others who were possessed of land, tofts, houses, &c.,
“conveyed much of their inheritances in free gifts for ever to the Abbot
and conventual brethren serving God in
the Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity of Dunfermline.” (Vide
Register of Dunfermline, and
old Charters.)
1155.—HEADS OF
CRESPEIS BEQUEATHED TO THE ABBEY.—Charter No. 37 of the
Register of Dunfermline,
entitled “De
capitibus piscium quos
vocant Crespeis,”
is a curious
one. The following is a free translation of it:--
“Relative
to the Heads of Fishes called Crespeis.
“Malcolm, King of the
Scots, to all good men of his whole land, clerical and lay, French and
English and Scotch, health,--Know ye that I have given and granted to the
Abbot of Dunfermline, and to the monks serving God there, in perpetual
alms, for the salvation of the soul of my predecessor, King David, the
heads of the fishes which are called Crespeis (except the tongue), which
may be stranded in my lordship on that part of Scotwater, situated within
the bounds of their Church. Witness—ANDREW, the bishop [of Caithness];
DUNCAN, the Earl; HUGH DE MOREVILLE; WALTER, the son of Alan; HERBERT, the
Chamberlain; NICHOLAS, the Clerk; ALWYN MACARKIL, at Perth.”
NOTE.—These Crespeis
are supposed to be a species of small whales, “bottle-noses”;
“Scotwater,” the name of the Firth of Forth, at this period,
and the part of it alluded to, would likely embrace in extent the space of
shore-water lying between Limekilns and North Queensferry. The
tongue appears to have been a
tit-bit. (Chal. Hist. Dunf.
vol. ii. p. 112.)
1158.—CONFIRMATION OF
NEWTON CHURCH TO THE ABBEY.—By this charter the church of Newton appears
to have been the property of Elwinus Renner
and Eda, his wife. They handed it over to
Malcolm IV., to be by him gifted and confirmed to the Abbey of Dunfermline;
Newton Is near Dalkeith. (Print.
Regist. De Dunf. p. 25, carta 44; dated from Dunfermline.)
PROTECTION CHARTER DE
CONNEUTH.—Malcolm IV., in this charter, unites with Earl Duncan;
Marleswain; Hugo; the son of
Gillemichael; G. Mac-sloclac;
Neis, the son of William; and Alun. (Regist.
de Dunf. No.
45.)
MALCOLM IV., in a
short charter of this date, “claims the
protection of the Abbey of Dunfermline,
where the body of his grandfather, King David, rests in God.”
(Print. Regist. de
Dunf. p. 25;
Dal.
Mon. An. P. 51—printed at Edinburgh.)
THE CHAPEL OF
INVERKEITHING BEQUEATHED TO THE ABBEY BY MALCOLM IV.—This
carter was granted by Malcolm IV. At Dunfermline, by which he conceded and
confirmed to the Church of the Holy Trinity (or Abbey of Dunfermline), and
to the Abbot and monks serving God there, in free and perpetual gift, the
“cappella de
Inuirkethin,” along with
two tofts, near or adjacent to
the chapel. (Print. Regist.
de Dunf. p. 26, carta 46.) Granted
at Dunfermline.
1157.—ABERCROMBIE
CHURCH, about this period, was freely gifted Dunfermline Abbey by Malcolm
IV> Abercrombie was once a parish; it was in
later times united to the Parish of Torryburn.
(Print. Regist. Dunf. p.
24.)
1159.—INVERKEITHING
CHAPEL AND TWO “TOFTS” BEQUEATHED TO DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—Malcolm IV., by
charter gave the Chapel of Inverkeithing, along with
two tofts to the Abbey, to be
held in free and quiet possession. Granted at Dunfermline. There are
three bishops and four other witnesses to this charter (Print.
Regist. de
Dunf. p. 26, carta 46, under title of “De
Cappella de Inuirketh et de
duobus toftis.”)
One of these tofts is in the town, the other near the chapel.
ROYAL GIFT OF DUNKELD
CHURCH TO DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—Malcolm IV., about this period, gave the
Church of the Holy Trinity of Dunkeld (the Cathedral) to the Abbey of
Dunfermline, “as a free and perpetual gift, with the lands and all other
rights belonging to it, to be possessed by the Abbey
after the decease of Andrew, Bishop of
Caithness, which gift is given for the salvation of the souls
of all his ancestors,” *c., and was afterwards frequently confirmed.
(Print. Regist. de
Dunf. No. 36, p, 22.) Andrew, the Bishop, died in the
year1184. (See An. Dunf.
date 1184.)
1160.—THE CHURCH OF
“HUCHTERCALEDOUIR” BEQUEATHED AND CONFIRMED TO THE ABBEY.—The Church of
Upper Calder was gifted to Dunfermline Abbey as a free and perpetual
donation by Earl Duncan, and which, by this charter, Malcolm IV.
Confirms. Done at Edinburgh. (Print.
Regist. Dunf. p. 26, carta.
47.)
TOFT IN INVERKEITHING,
granted by charter to Dunfermline Abbey about this period, by Walter, the
son of Alan. (Print. Regist. Dunf.
p. 93, No. 163.)
1162.—THE MONKS OF
DUNFERMLINE ABBEY were prohibited from forsaking the Abbey, “after
their professions” of adherence to the Order, without the
Abbot’s leave, unless they entered into a stricter order. (Dal.
Mon. Antiq. p. 15; and
Regist. Dunf.)
1163.—BULL FROM POPE
ALEXANDER III. TO DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—It repeats
the names of all the gifts given to the Abbey to date; and this, his
Confirmation Charter 12, dated
from “Turon, 7 June 1163,” confirms all to the
Abbot and monks. (Print. Regist de
Dunf. pp.151-153.)
1164.—PORTUS REGINAE—i.e.,
Queen’s Port, or Ferry—is
for the first time noticed with tog
nudas natione,
in the Carter granted to Scone, in 1164, by Malcolm IV., when
he gives the Abbot and monks of that place a free passage at all times,
ad portum
reginae. (See
Liber
ecclesia de Scon; and
Chalmer’s
Hist. Dunf. vol. i. pp. 87, 88,
&c.; An. Dunf. date 1182.)
SCOTWATER (Firth of
Forth).—During “the Roman occupation,” and for a considerable time after
that had ceased, the Firth of Forth appears to have been known as “the
Sea of Bodotria.” Afterwards, and
down to about the 1100, it was known as
Scotwater. This latter name
appears twice in the Regist.de Dunf.
at pp. 22, 23, and 420. The name,
“Scotwater” had ceased to be used about A.D.1100, and it is therefore
singular that Malcolm IV. In his charter, date1164—(Regist.
Dunf. pp. 22, 23)—should have used it, seeing that his
predecessors had never done so.
THE DONATION OF THE
CHURCH OF DUNFELD to Dunfermline Abbey by Malcolm IV., in 1159, was this
year (1164) confirmed by Charter of Robert, the Bishop of Dunkeld. The
following is a translation of this Confirmation Charter from printed copy
in Registrum de Dunfermlyn,
p. 22, by Cosmo Innes, Esq., Professor of History in the University of
Edinburgh, 1842:--
“To all the Sons of
Holy Mother Church: Richard, by the Grace of God, Bishop of Dunkeld,
Salutation and Episcopal Benediction,--Since it belongs to our office to
increase the respect of holy religion, let all as well present as future
know, that I have granted, and by this my Charter confirmed, to the Abbot
of Dunfermline, and the monks there serving God, the donation of King
Malcolm, and Andrew, Bishop of Caithness, as their Charters testify, the
Church of the Holy Trinity of Dunkeld, and all the lands justly pertaining
to it, free and quit from every exaction, as well of ecclesiastics as of
seculars, saving Episcopal rights/ I also grant to them
conversationem
in my bishoprick, and that they may
exercise the divine office, and hold the cure of souls among their
dependants; and that, while
conversantes in my
diocese, they shall receive from me, those things which pertain to
Christianity.—Witnesses:
MATTHEW, archdeacon of St. Andrews;
BRICIUS, prior of
Inchcolm; MICHAEL, the clerk;
MASTER MATTHEW and
JOHN, his brother; ROBERT,
cupbearer to the bishop;
RADULFUS, the chaplain;
THOMAS, the presbyter;
MURDOCH, the clerk; ABRAHAM
LITTLE.”
(Print.
Regist. de Dunf. p. 419; also
Chalmers’ History of Dunfermline,
vol. i. p. 504.)
BULL OF ALEXANDER
III.—confirming the grant of Dunkeld to Dunfermline Abbey; translated by
Cosmo Innes, Professor of History in the University of Edinburgh, 1842:--
“Alexander, bishop,
servant of the servants of God, to his beloved sons Geoffrey, Abbot of the
Holy Trinity, Dunfermline, and his brethren, salutation and apostolic
benediction,--It becomes us to grant a ready consent to the just desires
of suppliants; and reasonable vows are to be effectually performed;
Therefore, sons beloved in the Lord, we, heartily assenting to your just
requests, confirm, by our apostolic authority, to you, and through you to
your Church, the Church of the Holy Trinity of Dunkeld, as reasonably
granted to your Monastery by Andrew, Bishop of Caithness, with the consent
of the Church, which we have judged proper to mention by name: FORDOUN,
Dunmernic,
BENDACHIM, CUPERMACCULIM, INCHE, RUMM, CETHEC. Let it be
unlawful, therefore, to any to infringe this our
confirmation, or oppose in any manner. Should any one presume to attempt
this, let him know that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God, and
of the blessed Peter and Paul, his apostles.—Given at
Sens, 27 July” [1164].
(Vide
Print. Regist.
de Dunf. No. 236, p. 151; also
Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 504.) This is the
first Bull from a
Pope in Registrum de Dunfermlyn,
and is here given as a specimen of the tenor of
the Bulls in the Register.
POPE ALEXANDER III.
between the years 1163 and 1165, granted two
Bulls or Writs, to Dunfermline
Abbey. (Vide Print.
Regist. de
Dunf. pp/ 151-153.)
1165.—MALCOLM IV.
INTERRED AT DUNFERMLINE.—Malcolm IV. Died at Jedburgh, December 9th,
1165, in the 24th year of his age and the 12th of
his reign. He was brought with the highest honour, by the most
distinguished persons of all ranks in the kingdom, to Dunfermline, and
“interred in the middle pavement of the Abbey, to the right of his
grandfather, King David, before the High Altar, the royal burial place.” (Fordun
viii. II; Hailes’ Annals of Scotland,
vol. i. p. 109.)
The following are
extracts from old authors, who refer to the death and interment of Malcolm
IV.:--
“Maucloun
le fitz Henry count
del Garuyaghe de
Huntingdoun et de Northumbreland
qi fust le
fitz Dauid le
roy, regna xij.
Aunz et vi.
moys et
xx.
iours qi
monest auaunt la pier a
Jedworth et gist a
Dunfermelin.”
That is---
Malcolm, the
osn of Henry, Earl of
Garuyaghe and Huntingdon and of Northumberland, the son of David
the late King, reigned 12 years, 6 months, and 20 days; he died at
Jedburgh, and lies at Dunfermline.” (Skene’s
Chron. Picts and Scots.)
“Malcolm
filius Henrici
filii Dauid,
regnavit eji.
annis et six
mensibus et xx.
diebus et
mortuus in Jedwed
et Sepultus in Dunfermlin cum
predeccessoribus regibus.”
That is---
Malcolm, the son of
Henry, the son of David, reigned 12 years and 6 months and 20 days; and
died in Jedburgh, and was interred with his predecessors, the kings, at
Dunfermline.
Winton, in alluding to
the occurrence, says—
“Athowsand
a hundyr Sixty and
Fyve
Yheris
of Grace, owt of his lyve
Malcolm oure Kyng
past with honoure,
In Gedwood, till hys
Creature
Of Decembyre the nynd
day,
Efter
the Conceptyown ay
Of oure Lady the Virgyne
slere;
Frat hire hus body
was browcht syne,
And entyr’d in Dwmfermlyn.”
(Wynton’s Orygynale Cronykil Scot.
vol. i. p. 318.)
(Vide
also Chron. Melrose,
p. 169; Hailes’ An. Scot.
maj. vol. i. p.
109; Fordun, 1.8; c. 4, 10,
11; Abrid. Scots Chron. p.
98.)
ROYAL DONATION OF 100
SHILLINGS TO THE ABBEY.—King William (the Lion), on
the day of his brother’s
demise, gave to the Abbey, as a free and perpetual gift, 100 shillings out
of the revenue of the burgh of Edinburgh, and 20 acres of land, and a toft
of land in Dunfermline. (Print.
Regist. de Dunf.; Confirm. Charters; Chal. Hist.
Dunf. vol. ii. p. 231.)
WALTER FITZALAN’S GIFT
TO THE ABBEY.—“Walter, the son of Alan, the King’s Steward, gave to the
Abbey on the day that King Malcolm was buried there, a gift of
20 acres and a toft, for the
weal of the soul of King Malcolm IV. And his ancestors; and also for the
souls of his own father and mother and his ancestors, and for his
own soul in free Alms,
reserving a lodging
for himself and his
heirs.” Confirmed by William the Lion.—(Regist
de Dunf. No. 161, p. 93;
Dalyell’s
Monas. Ant. p. 51.)
1166.—CONFIRMATION
CHARTER OF KING WILLIAM.—Shortly after his ascension to the throne this
year, King William granted a Confirmation Charter to the Abbey, confirming
the gifts and privileges bestowed by his predecessors, and his own. This
charter is entitled “Confirmacio
Willmi Regis”, and occupies pp. 28,
29, 30, of the printed Registrum de
Dunf.
1168.—A TOFT IN
INVERKEITHING was given to Dunfermline Abbey about this period by Walter,
the son of Alan, as a free and perpetual eleemosynary gift, &c. (Print.
Regis. Dunf. pp. 93, 94,
No. 163.)
1171.—BALCHRISTIE.—The
dispute between the monks of Dunfermline and the canons of St. Andrews,
respecting their respective rights to Balchristie, was settled this year,
the King (William) deciding that the lands should belong to the monks of
Dunfermline, and the pension out of them,
excepted by King David to be
paid to the canons of St. Andrews. (Print.
Regist. Dunf. p. 34, No. 59;
and p. 5, No. 3.)
1173.—THE SCHOOLS OF
PERTH AND STIRLING, under the
Superintendence of Dunfermline Abbey.—As early as this period
there were Scolis in Perth
and Stirling wherein youthful candidates for ecclesiastical preferment
were instructed in grammar and logic,
of which the abbot and monks of Dunfermline were the directors. (Carta
de Paisley, p. 284;
Caledonia, vol. i. p. 767;
Sir J. Stewart’s Coll. In Adv.
Lib. No. 45; Tytler’s Hist. Scot.
vol. ii. p. 353;
Carta de Kelso, pp. 253-258;
Regist. de
Dunf. p. 56, 57, 63, 66, 81, 418;
Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 242.)
1174.—ROYAL DONATION
OF A CONDMAN AND HIS CHILDREN TO THE ABBEY OF DUNFEMLINE.—King William, by
a Charter, titled “De
Servis,” bequeaths for ever, as a
free eleemosynary gift to the Abbey,
Gillandrean
Mac Suthen and his children.
(Print. Regist. Dunf. p.
36, No. 64; Dal.
Mon. Ant. pp. 40, 41.)
1176.—GILLEBRIDUS,
Sheriff of Dunfermline.—According
to the “Register of the Priory of St. Andrews,” Gillebridus was
vice-comes, or Sheriff of Dunfermline, as early as the year. (Liber
Cartarum Prioratus
Sancti Andree,
p. 216; also, Chal. Hist; Dunf.
vol. i. p. 582,
&c.) Perhaps this Gillibridus
acted as chief magistrate of Dunfermline at this period. The
Sheriff (or
Schireeve)
appears to have been succeeded by the title
Alderman, and afterwards by
Provost-by Provost before 1450. See also date 1395.)
1178.—GAUFRID II.,
Abbot of Dunfermline, died
this year. He was Abbot 24 years. His name appears as a witness in
several Charters in Registrum de
Dunfermline, as also in Charters in other Abbeys, &c. Probably
he was interred at Dunfermline. (Chal.
Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 180; vol.
ii. p. 218.)
ARCHIBALD, elected and
consecrated Abbot of Dunfermline as successor to Gaufrid II. (the
third Abbot). His name is written in some Abbey Charters
Erkenbald,
Erkenbaldus,
Archembaldus, and sometimes with the initial A. or E. only. He is
several times noticed in the chartulary of Kelso Abbey. (See date 1198;
also, Chal. Hist. Dunf.
vol. i. p. 181; vol. ii. p. 313.)
1179.—TITHES OF THE
MALT OF FITKILL (Lesslie).—King
William in a Charter declares that xxiii.s.iiij.d.
was the sum that the monks of Dunfermline were wont to draw from his lands
of Fitkill.
(Print. Regist. Dunf. p.
35.)
CHURCH OF MELVILLE
BEQUEATHED TO THE ABBEY: A Perpetual
Light before the Tombs of Kings David and Malcolm.—Gaefrid
de Malcum (Melville), after (in his Charter)
saluting “all good men, present and future,” gives and confirms to the
Church of Christ at Dunfermline and Monastery of the same, the Church of
Melville, as a perpetual and free alms “for the souls of David the King
and Malcolm IV., and for his ancestors and successors;” at the same time,
he stipulates that, for this charitable gift, “a perpetual light must be
kept burning before the tomb of the said Kings.”
Coram Sepultura.
(Print. Regist. Dunf.
pp. 91, 92.)
1180.—THE CHURCH OF
MOULIN GIFTED TO THE ABBEY.—The Church of Moulin, in Perthshire, was
bequeathed to Dunfermline Abbey by Malcolm (the second), Earl of Athole.
The Charter of Conveyance is in Print.
Regist. de
Dunf. p. 85, and is titled “Malcolmus
Comes Atholie; De Ecclia
de Molin.” The date is not known with
accuracy, but A.D. 1180 appears to be the probable date. The Earl and his
Countess appoint Dunfermline Abbey to be the place of their sepulture.
THE CHURCH OF
STRATHARDOLF.—In an undated Charter of about this date, King William give
to the Abbey of Dunfermline the Church of
Strathardolf, or Strathardol, in the
north-east part of Perthshire, “as a perpetual free gift, to be held in
quiet and honourable possession.” (Regist.
de Dunf. p. 39; Carta
73; Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 230, &c.)
1182.—POPE LUCIUS
III., between the years 1182 and 1183, granted two Bulls of Writs to
Dunfermline Abbey. (Vide
Print. Regist. Dunf. pp.
153-158.)
QUEEN’S FERRY.—The
old name of “Ardehinnechenam” began to be
disused in 1164, and that of Passaguim S.
Margaritae Reginae
“Passage of the Holy Margaret the Queen) substituted. This new name of
“Queen’s Ferry” again appears in a Confirmation Bull or Charter of
Lucius III.
ti the Abbey, and is dated 14th
Nov. M.C.LXXX.IIIJ. (1184) and occasionally it re-appears in this its
Latin designation in other Charters on the Register down to a late
period. The Seal of the burgh of South Queensferry is an oval one, in the
center of which is St. Margaret standing in a skiff or boat; crown on
head; rod of office in her right hand; the boat has a small flag at stern;
the legend between ornamental border lines round the circumference
reads—INSIGNIA *PASAGI* REGINAE. South Queensferry became a royal burgh
in 1636 and perhaps this is the date of the Seal.
1184.—ANDREW, Bishop
of Caithness, (formerly Culdean Abbot of Dunkeld)—died at Dunfermline 30th
December. (Chal. Hist. Dunf.
vol. i. p. 493.)
DUNKELD (Cathedral)
CHURCH—in consequence of the death of Andrew, Bishop of Caithness, this
year—becomes of legal property of Dunfermline Abbey.
1185.—KING WILLIAM
AND HIS DUNFERMLINE WORKMEN.—A Charter or Writ of King William about this
date notifies: “When I repaired my castles in Ross, the men belonging to
the Abbot and Monks of Dunfermline assisted, of their own goodwill, at my
request, along with other honest men of mine; but it is my command that,
having done this at my instance, it shall not be construed into any
precedent.” (Print. Regist. Dunf.
p. 32, No. 54.)
1187.—POPE URBAN III.
this year granted a Bull or Writ to Dunfermline
Abbey, in which he decrees that any vacant churches must not be granted to
any one, but must be retained for their original purposes. (Vide
Print. Regist. Dunf. pp.
158, 159.)
1190.—LIGHTING THE
CHURCH OF DUNFERMLINE.—Archibald, Abbot of Dunfermline, about this period
received an undated Charter from King William in his favour, granting the
right to receive annually from the burgh of Haddington, “the sum of 3
merks-one half at the Feast of St, Martin, the other half at the Feast of
the Pentecost-for lighting the Church of Dunfermline.” (Print
Regist. de. Dunf. p. 31;
Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol
i. p. 181.)
POPE CLEMENT III.
this year granted four Bulls to Dunfermline
Abbey. (Vide Print.
Regist. de
Dunf. pp. 159-161.)
1195.—ROGER, Prior of
Dunfermline, died about this period, and was probably interred within
Dunfermline Abbey. He appears to have been Prior for the long period of
46 years. (See An. Dunf.
date 1149.)
LAMBINUS, elected
Prior of Dunfermline Abbey about this period as successor to Roger the
Prior; exact date of death unknown, but between 1192 and 1198. (Liber
Cartarum Prioratus
Sancti Andre, p. 353; also
Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 582.)
1196.—MALCOLM, EARL OF
ATHOLE, and his wife the Countess, died between the years 1194 and 1198,
and were interred in the Abbey in the place they had selected. These
dates are found by a comparison of the dates of deaths of witnesses
affixed to his Charter in the Register
of Dunfermline, p. 85, No. 147.
1198.—ARCHIBALD, the 3rd
Abbot of Dunfermline, died. Not known where interred. (Chron.
Mel. P. 103; Fordun,
lib. 153.)
ROBERT DE BERWICK,
elected and consecrated Abbot of Dunfermline; successor to Archibald, the
last Abbot. He is represented as being a “careless man.” (See his
deposition in 1202.) The 4th Abbot.
1199.—KEETH CHAPEL,
CRICHTION.—This year it was ordained by Charter, that the Chapel of Keeth
should belong to the Chapel of Crichton for ever; and that the Church of
Crichton should pay to the Abbey of Dunfermline one mark of silver
annually at the Feast of the blessed Martin. (Print.
Regist. Dunf. pp. 68-69, No.
113: Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 227.)
END OF THE TWELFTH
CENTURY. |