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RE-INTERMENT OF THE
REMAINS OF MALCOLM III., AND OPENING OF THE CHURCH FOR THE CELEBRATION OF
WORSHIP.—It may be taken for granted that Alexander I. would not exhume
his father’s remains at Tynemouth in Northumberland (where they had lain
since 1093, a period of 22 years) until the completion of the new tomb,
erected before the High Altar of the Church of the Holy Trinity,
Dunfermline, and we have therefore place the event in the Annals as having taken place
just before the Church was opened. No doubt Alexander I. would arrange
all this for the purpose of giving solemnity and éclat to the opening and
re-interring ceremonies.
It may be presumed
that the ceremonies on this occasion would be conducted in presence of a
large assembly of the then notables of Scotland. Alexander I., acting as
chief mourner at the re-interment, would be accompanied by his brothers
David and Ethelrede, as also, in all probability, by their uncle, Edgar
the Atheling, and by the venerable Turgot, their late mother’s confessor.
A large number of Earls, Bishops, Abbots, and other ecclesiastics, would
swell the procession at the double ceremony.
The remains of Malcolm
III. were thus, with much ecclesiastical pomp
and ceremony, deposited in the tomb prepared for them, before the High
Altar of the Church. (See Fordun,
v. 35, &c.) At the same time, the Church of the Holy Trinity was opened
for the celebration of public worship.
ROYAL GIFTS TO
DUNFERMLINE CHURCH BY ALEXANDER I. AND SIBILLA THE QUEEN.__ Alexander I.
bequeathed to the Church of the Holy Trinity at Dunfermline the following
properties, viz., Duninald, Schyre de Gatemilc, Petconmarthin, Balekerin,
Drumbernin, Keeth. (Print.
Regist. Dunf. pp. 3,5,&c.)
Sibilla, the Queen,
bequeathed Beeth, and also mortified to it her lands of Clunie. (Print.
Regist. Dunf. pp. 3-5, &c.; Sibbald’s Hist. Fife, p. 377;--see
date 1107.)
It is probable that
many of these munificent gifts were bestowed on Dunfermline Church of the
Holy Trinity on the day of the re-interment, and the opening of the
Church, as a token of their veneration for the Church in which now lay the
remains of Malcolm III., Margaret the Queen, Edward, and Edgar.
Duninald—either
Duninald in Forfarshire, or Dunino in Fife, probably the former. Schyre
de Gatemilc, now called “Gaitmilk” and “Goatmilk” is a small district of
land, about 14 miles north-east of Dunfermline. Petconmarthin, Balekerin,
and Drumbernin—places now unknown. Keeth or Keith now supposed to be
Humbie, in Haddingtonshire. The lands of Beeth, or Beath, occupied a
considerable district of country, perhaps either the Kirk lands of Beath,
or Keirs-Beath (Castle Beath) formed the nucleus; the lands lie between
two and six miles north-east of Dunfermline.
CIVIL PRIVILEGES
GRANTE TO THE CHURCH.—About this period Alexander I. conferred on this
Church the privilege, or
right of holding its courts in the fullest manner, and to give judgment
either by combat, by iron, by fire, or by water; together with all
privileges pertaining to its court, including the right in all persons
residing within its territories of refusing to answer except at their own
proper court. (Tytler’s Hist. Scot. vol. i.)
ROYAL BURGH OF
DUNFERMLINE.—The date of erection of Dunfermline into a Royal Burgh has
not been ascertained, but it has bee supposed that it was so constituted
by Alexander I. who, by charters, raised Stirling, Dunfermline, Perth, St.
Andrews, Haddington, &c. to the dignity of Royal Burghs. These towns are
each designated in these charters as “burgum
meum”—i.e., “my
Burgh,” the King’s burgh, hence a Royal Burgh. Dunfermline first appears
in a charter as “burgum meum” in the year 1126. We place the date of the erection of Dunfermline
into a Royal Burgh in the middle of his reign, viz., A.D. 1115, which may
be received as the nearest approximate date now to be obtained. (see
also date 1126.) We place the date of the erection of Dunfermline into a
Royal Burgh in the middle of his reign, A.D. 1115, which may be received
as the nearest approximate date now to be obtained. (See also date 1126.)
1117.—PRINCE ETHELREDE,
son of Malcolm and Margaret, appears to have died about this period in
England, while on a visit to his sister, Matilda, Queen of England; and,
no doubt, it would be at his own request that his remains were conveyed to
such a distance as Dunfermline to be interred. He was buried before the
Altar of the Holy Cross, near his mother Margaret the Queen, and his
brother Prince Edward, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Dunfermline. (Balfour’s
An. Scot. vol. i. p. 2; Wynton’s Orygynale Cronikil,
vol. ii. pp. 217, 272, &c.)
According to several
histories, it would appear that this Prince accompanied his father and
elder brother to Alnwick. At all events, it was he who conveyed to his
dying mother, in Edinburgh Castle, the sad and disastrous account of that
expedition. Ethelrede had his mother’s remains removed to Dunfermline for
interment. (Wynton’s Cronikil, &c.)
In the “Admore Charter” he is styled, “Vir
veneranadae memoriae Abbas de Dunkelden et insuper comes de Fyfe.”
It is well known that he was Abbot of Dunkeld; but his being also Earl of
Fife has been the occasion of much dispute among archaeologists; the
dispute continues. Ethelrede was married; he had at least three sons
named Edwy, Alfred, and Edward, and they are styled “Clito,”
i.e. an imbecile. (S.
Dunelm, pp. 176-179;
Hailes’s An. Scot. vol. i. p. 7)
Ethelrede was one of
the benefactors of Dunfermline Church, about the year 1104, having then
donated to this church his property of Hailes. Wynton refers to his place
of sepulture, and also his brothers’, when noticing his mother’s
interment. (See Wynton’s Orygynale
Cronikil, vol. ii. pp. 271, 272, and also An. Of Dunf. in notice of Queen Margaret’s decease and
interment.)
1120.—PETER, PRIOR OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Alexander I. sent Peter, the Prior of Dunfermline, along with
other ambassadors, to Radulph, Archbishop of Canterbury, to congratulate
him on his return from Rome, and beg of him Eadmerus, one of his monks,
to be the Bishop of St. Andrews. (Keith’s
Catal. P. 402.) Eadmerus, in his lib. v.
p. 130, says “Horum unus quidam monachus et prior ecclesiae Dunfermline”—i.e.,
“One of these a certain monk and prior of the Church of Dunfermline.”
(See also Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 776; and An. Of Dunf. date 1121.)
1124.—ALEXANDER I.
INTERRED AT DUNFERMLINE.—Alexander I., the King (fifth son of Malcolm
III.), died at Stirling on April 26th, in the 18th
year of his reign, and about the 48th of his age, and was
interred before the High Altar of the Church of the Holy Trinity,
Dunfermline.
According to Fordun, he was interred “near
his father before the Great Altar.” The Great Altar and the High Altar
are identical. (Fordun, v.
40.) The following are a few notices from authorities relative to the
death and funeral of Alexander I.:--
“Alexander, soun freir, et fitz Maulcoum regna xvij. Aunz, et iij. Moys et demy, et gist a Dunfermlyn”—(Skene’s Chron.
Picts and Scots)—i.e., Alexander, his brother (Edgar) and son
of Malcolm, reigned 17 years and 3 months and a-half, and lies at
Dunfermlyn.
“Alexander xvij. Annis
et tribus mensibus
et dimidio et mortuun
in Strafleth et sepultus in Dunfermlyn”—(Skene’s
Chron. Picts and Scots)—i.e., Alexander reigned 17 years and
a-half; he died at Strafleth, and was interred at Dunfermlyn. (Strafleth,
Stirling?)
Winton, in referring
to the death and place of interment of Alexander I., thus rhymes the
event:--
“ A thowsand a hundyr
twenty and foure,
The yheris of Grace were past oure;
The Kyng Alysawndyr
in Strevylyng,
Deyed,
and wes browcht till Dwnfermlyn;
Quhare
he wes with gret honoure,
Enteryed
in halawyed Sepulture,” c.
(Wynton’s Orygynale Cronikil, vol. i. p.
281.)
It may be noted that
there is a blank in the history of the Church of the Holy Trinity,
Dunfermline, from 1115 to Alexander’s death in 1124. Such a blank can now
only be dilled up by conjecture.
From what is known of
Alexander I., and his strong Romish proclivities—as strong as those which
influenced his brother and successor, David I.—it may be presumed that at
the time, or shortly after the time of the opening the Church of the Holy
Trinity, Dunfermline—the most splendid church Scotland had yet seen—he
had, besides the munificent gifts he had bestowed on it, resolved to raise
it still higher in importance, viz., to the rank of an Abbey; but to carry
out such a resolution, monastic buildings for the domestic accommodation
of an abbot, monks, and their necessary attendants, would in the first
place have to be erected. It may be presumed, therefore, that a
considerable portion of the time between 1115, and the time of his
somewhat sudden death in 1124, was employed in erecting the necessary
buildings. His sudden death in the latter year prevented him from
carrying out his pious wishes, and the duty of doing so fell on his
brother, David I. It well be seen by the next
entry in the Annals, that
immediately after ascending the throne, David, apparently without the
least delay, sent to Canterbury for his 13 monks, which fact implies that
the monastic buildings erected for their accommodation by his brother and
predecessor, Alexander, were complete. There can be little or no doubt
that it was Alexander I. who founded and finished the Monastery of
Dunfermline, between the years 1115 and 1124, and not David I. as has been
hitherto asserted.
DUNFERMLINE ABBEY AND
MONASTERY OF THE ORDER OF ST. BENEDICT.—Shortly after his accession to the
throne this year, David I. raised the Church of the Holy Trinity, at
Dunfermline, to the rank and dignity of an Abbey and translated to it a
colony of 13 Benedictine monks from Canterbury, in England—thus carrying
out the pious wishes of his deceased brother and predecessor. Thus there
were belonging to the Abbey, in 1124, 13 Culdees and 13 Benedictine monks.
ABBOT GAUFRID,
sometimes called “Gosfredus,” one of the 13 monks brought to Dunfermline
from Canterbury, was chosen Abbot (first abbot) of Dunfermline; but in
consequence of a dispute regarding the election of a Bishop of St.
Andrews, Gaufrid, although elected Abbot, could not therefore at the time
be consecrated Abbot until
after the dispute was settled, which was not until 1127, the year in which
the Bishop of St. Andrews was consecrated.
THE MONASTERY, founded and finished by Alexander
I., inter 1115-1124, stood
a little to the south of the Abbey, was of such ample dimensions that any
three sovereigns could be accommodated and entertained within its walls
without inconvenience. (Mathew of
Westminster; Mercer’s Hist. Dunf. p. 55,
&c. See also date 1304 of Annals of
Dunfermline.)
It may here be
noticed, that a very great many historians write down the names of “Abbey”
and of “Monastery” indiscriminately, as if they were interchangeable.
They are quite distinct in their meanings. “Abbey” is the building in
which worship was conducted;
and” Monastery,” the houses and offices for the accommodation of the monks,
the resident worshippers, &c.
Although Dunfermline
had now an Abbey, it is remarkable that it is not so designated in its
chartulary, or register—perhaps “Church of the Holy Trinity” was retained
in consequence of the great many valuable properties that had been
bequeathed to it under that title or designation, previous to its
elevation to the rank of an Abbey (1074-1124), and probably it would be
more secure to keep by its early dedication title, in order to prevent
future legal disputes about its gifts and possessions. Henceforward from
this date the designation, “Church of
the Holy Trinity” will, in the Annals, be in a great measure
superseded by the new designation of “Abbey.”
CHARTERS, &C., OF
DAVID I. TO DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—There are in the printed “Registrum
de Dunfermelyn,” between pages 2 and 19, no less than 34
charters, writs, and memoranda, from David I. to the Abbey, viz., Two Confirmation Charters,
followed by 32 lesser ones consisting of from 3 to 20 lines). None of
them are noted with either “Anno
Gratiae,” or “Anno Regni;” and, in one or two
instances, even the names of the
places, where they were written or granted, are omitted!
Besides all this, they do not follow each other in the order of tiem in which they were written, which,
unfortunately, is the case with many other charters and writs in the
Register. But there can be no doubt that the greater number of them
were granted between the years 1124 and 1130. (See An. Of Dunf. dates 1127 and
1130.) A great many of these writs
should have preceded the town Confirmation Charters, both in the MS.
Chartulary and in its printed
Registrum de Dunfermelyn. Dalyell, in his “Monastic
Antiquities,” p. 8. in alluding to
the manuscript Register (which he had perused), states that “it contains
above 600 deeds of different descriptions, all arranged in the most
irregular manner, &c. This circumstance, along with want of dates of any
kind, makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, I many cases, to
fix the time when some of the charters, &c., were written.
In order to
approximate to the dates of the charters, recourse must be had to the list
of witnesses affixed to them; we must then find out when any of the
witnesses died, nearest to the
supposed date of the given charter, and the date of the death
will be a stop to advancing further; while some notable incident may be
found as a limit in the opposite direction. (See the two testing cases at the close of
“David’s Confirmation Charters,” Nos. 1 and 2, in the Annals, under dates 1127 and
1130; and for an account of the Chartulary itself, see Appendix D.)
TRANSLATION OF MONKS
FROM CANTERBURY TO DUNFERMLINE BY DAVID I.—In
the year 1124, David I. translate
Gauford
and
13 monks from Canterbury for the service of his newly-founded Abbey and
Monastery of Dunfermline. Gaufred, or Gosfrid, was “an eminent theologian
of his day , was chosen Abbot of Dunfermline in
1124, but was not consecrated until 1127 or 1128.” Of the translation, Winton, in his “Cronykil,” says—
“Of
Canturbery in Dunfermlyne
Mwnkis
he browcht, and put thame syn,
And dowyt thame rycht rychely,
With gret possessyounys
and mony.”
(Wynton’s “Cronikil,” vii. P. 6; Hist. of Scot. &c.)
ST. JEROME’S LATIN
BIBLE.—A beautifully written and illuminated copy (in MS., of course) of
Jerome’s Latin Bible was used in the Abbey service, at Dunfermline, from
its foundation in 1124 till its destruction in 1560. Some have thought
that this Dunfermline copy is as old as the days of Malcolm III. and St. Margaret; but we are rather inclined to
think that it was brought from Canterbury this year by Gaufrid, the Abbot.
This Bible is still in
existence, and in good preservation in the Advocates’ Library, where it is
shown as one of its choicest literary treasures. It is written on vellum,
is quite entire, legible, and clean except at some parts where it is a
little soiled with grease spots, which appears to have been caused by the
frequent anointing with the Holy Oil. The leaves are ornamented with a
great variety of figures, such as scriptural and historical subjects, and
there are several seemingly out of place, as they are singularly
grotesque. It is not in the original binding; it was re-bound about 40
years ago in a very elegant and expensive way. This Bible was used in the
Abbey service at Dunfermline from about this period, 1124, down to the
Reformation in 1560, when it was taken by Abbot Dury, the last Abbot, to
France, along with other sacred relics. Afterwards it came into the
possession of the celebrated Mons. Foucalt, as appears from his arms on
it. At his sale it was bought by a Scotch gentleman, and brought back to
this country, and deposited as a gift in the Advocated Library,
Edinburgh. (Fernie’s Hist. Dunf. p. 89; Mercer’s Hist. Dunf.; Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 156, &c.)
1125.—DUNFERMLINE
MONKS TRANSLATED TO URQUHART.—This year David
I. transferred a colony of 13 Benedictine Monks from Dunfermline Abbey to
his newly erected Priory at Urquhart, in Morayshire. (Chalmers’s
Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 204.)
1126.—DAVID I.: HIS
(APOCRYPHAL) “VISIOUN.”—As the following note has long been in print, and
although questionable, still continues to be now and then quoted, we here
reproduce it under this date, the probable on, if it ever did occur:--
“In the quilk tyme David
mad mony castell
and abbays, and
chanounryes, with sundry nunerys and mayson Dieuwis—that
is to say, almis houssis,
in the honoure of God and our Lady, Sweet Saynt Mary—and began
throu a visioun he
ment in his sleep at Dunfermlyn,” (Hailes’s
An. Scot. vol. iii. p. 311.)
BURGUM MEUM DE
DUNFERMLYN (ROYAL BURGH OF DUNFERMLINE.—As previously noted, a great many
of the small writs of David I. in favour of the Abbey were granted between
1124 and 1130, and, although they are incorporated in the great
“Confirmation Charters” (see dates 1127 and 1130) we shall copy, at least,
one of the writs entire, because it has in it the first intimation on
record of Dunfermline being “my burgh” (burgum
meum), or “King’s burgh.” The writ on which it occurs in No.
26, p. 15, of the printed “Registrum
de Dunfermlyn,” and it titled “De
Decimis de Dunfermlyn.” This writ, like the other writs in the
chartulary, is in Latin. The following is a free translation of it:--
“David, by the Grace
of God, King of Scots, wished health to Robert, elect of St. Andrews, and
also to all his Earls and Barons, and all his faithful subjects. Know ye
that I have granted and given in perpetuity in alms, for the soul of my
father and mother and brothers, and predecessors, to the Church of the
Holy Trinity of Dunfermline, all the teinds of all my property quiet; and
another in my BURGH OF DUNFERMLINE (Burgo
meo de Dunfermlyn), and another in my burgh of Stirling, and
another in my burgh of Perth, and another in my burgh of
Edinburgh.—Witness, Robert elect of St. Andrews, and Herbert,
Chancellor.—At Dunfermline.”
This writ has no date,
neither is the year of the reign
mentioned; but it is evident that David was King of Scots when it was
granted. He succeeded to the Scottish throne in the year 1124; and Robert
was Bishop-Elect of St.
Andrews from 1122 to 1127; consequently, the writ dates 1124-1127. We
place it under date 1125 as the most probable date. It may be noted that,
although the expression, “burgo meo de Dunfermlyn” is the first time noticed in this
writ, it does not imply that the designation was for the first time used
in 1126. It comes into notice in the charter as a use-and-wont designation.
Alexander I., between 1107 and 1124 created several Royal Burghs, among
which were those, it would appear, noticed in the writ. It is likely that
Dunfermline was made a Royal Burgh by Alexander I. early in his reign.
(See An. Dunf. dates 1109,
1112, 1115.)
1127.—GAUFRID
CONSECRATED ABBOT OF DUNFERMLINE—Gaufrid, appointed Abbot of Dunfermline
in 1124, was this year (1127) consecrated Abbot of Dunfermline, by Robert,
Bishop of St. Andrews. After the consecration, the Abbot could legally
attend clerical meetings, and append his
signature to charters, deeds, and writs.
He was a man of singular piety and learning,
and was previous to his leaving Canterbury in 1124, Prior thereof. Gaufrid’s
name often occurs as a witness in charters, &c., inter 1129-1154.
Sir James Dalrymple, in his “Historical Collections,” at
p. 243, notes:--“In 1128, it is observed in continuation—Vir religionis eximiae Cantuariae, Prior
Gosfridus nominee, Rege Scottorum David petente
et Archiepiscopo
Willielmo annuente, Abbas eligitur adlocum in Scotia qui Dunfermlin dicitur; Ordinatus est autem a Roberto, Episcopo Sancti Andreae.”
Translation: “Prior of Canterbury, Gosfrid by name, a man of singular
piety, at the request of David, King of Scots, and with the consent of
Archbishop William, is elected abbot to a place in Scotland which is
called Dunfermline. He was ordained, moreover, by Robert, Bishop of St.
Andrews.” (See also Chalmers’ History
of Dunfermline vol. ii. p. 212.
TRANSLATION OF THE
CONFIRMATION CHARTER OF KING DAVID I. TO DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—No. I.
(Printed Registrum de Dunfermelyn, pp. 3, 4.)
“In the name of the
Holy and Undivided Trinity, I, David, by the Grace of God, King of the
Scots, by my Royal authority and power, with the consent of Henry, my son,
and of Matilda, the Queen, my wife, with the confirmation and testimony of
the Bishops, Earls and Barons of my Kingdom, the Clergy also, and the
People acquiescing, do hereby grant and, in perpetual peace, confirm all
the possessions written below to the Church of the Holy Trinity of
Dunfermline, which was begun through the zeal and liberality of my
predecessors; and I set forth the gifts of my father and mother as
follows, viz.:--PARDUSIN, PETHNAURCHA, PETCORTHIN, PETBACHELIN, LAUER,
BOLGIN, SCHYRE OF KIRCALETHIN, INUIRESC, the Lesser: The Gifts of my
brother EDGAR—the SCHYRE OF GELLALD: The Gifts of my brother ETHELREDE—Hale:
The Gifts of my brother ALEXANDER, the King—DUNINAD, SCHYRE OF GATEMILC,
PETCONMARTHIN, BALEKERIN, DRUMBERNIN, KEETH: The Gifts of SIBILLE, the
Queen—BEETH. And these foresaid Gifts of my predecessors, with their
appendages and right divisions, I freely grant forever to the foresaid
Church. Further, my own Gifts follow, viz.—DUNFERMLINE on this side of
the water on which the same Church is situated; KINGORN, nearest to
Dunfermline, and its appendages: FOETH, INVERESK, the Greater, with its
MILL and FISHINGS; a MANSION in Berwick, another in the Burgh of
Edinburgh, a third in the Burgh of Stirling, a fourth in the Burgh of
Dunfermline, and a fifth in the Burgh of Perth, and the CHURCH of the
Burgh of Perth; also the interest of 100 shillings in England: All these
foresaid Gifts I grant to the foresaid Church, in free and quiet
possession, in the same manner as I possess my own lands, excepting the
defence of my kingdom and Regal justice, should the Abbot in his Court
decide cases with a disregard to justice;: Likewise, I grant the eighth
part of all the judgments and lawsuits of Fife and Forthrif, and the tenth
part of the whole of my Can which shall be brought to Dunfermline: And
all the teinds of the Prebend which shall be brought to the same place
from Fife and Forthrif; and a tenth of all the game that shall be brought
to the same place; and the HALF of the SKINS, TALLOW, and FAT of all the
beasts that shall be killed for the festivals to be held at Stirling, and
between the Forth and the Tay: I grant likewise the CAN of one SHIP, free
and quiet, wherever it my land in my kingdom: I grant likewise, that they
have in my forests everything necessary for fire, and for their buildings,
as to myself, and to their men, as to mine: Further, I wish that they
have freely without calumny all the offerings that shall be presented at
the High Altar of the said Church: Also, I grant of the Seals taken at
Kinghorn, that they have the SEVENTH, after they have been tithed: I
likewise grant the tenth of all the Iron and the Salt that may be brought
for my use at Dunfermline: Furthermore, I give a taxed Church, with all
its privileges, which through the clemency of God it at present possesses,
as the present privilege testifies, and in future, through the same
clemency may posses: We decree that it be possessed, in the utmost
tranquility, entirely free from any subjection or exaction, either
ecclesiastical or secular, with the exception of canonical obedience,
which every Church, all the world over, owes to its mother Church: And
let it possess the same freedom in all things which the Church of St.
Andrews holds, with rights undiminished, forever. To preserve its rights,
also previously noticed in this grant, and the privileges of its rank
unimpaired, and to strengthen them with perpetual stability, We, who are
present, by confirming, ordain, and by ordaining confirm, to our
successors, under this condition, that if any one should wish to disturb
these things, and strive to overturn, diminish, and violate our decrees,
let him not be ignorant that he is striving against the Saviour of the
world himself, and, unless he repent, he will incur eternal damnation, and
God will blot out of the Book of Life him who abstracts anything from the
right and powers granted to the foresaid Church. Amen. So be it.--*I,
ROBERT, Bishop of St. Andrews, confirm; * I, JOHN, Bishop of Glasgow,
confm; * I, CORMACCUS, Bishop of Dunkeld, confm; *I, GREGORY, Bishop of
Moray confm; * I, MACBETH, Bishop of Rosemarky, confm. Of the privilege
also are witnesses and assertors:-- EDWARD, Earl; CONSTANTINE, Earl;
MALISE, Earl; ROTHERI, Earl; MADETH, Earl; GILLEMICHEL MACDUFF; HERBERT,
Chancellor; HUGO DE MOREVILL, ROBERT CORBET, ROBERT MONTACUTE, MALDOUENI
MACCOBETH; MALDOUENI of Scoon; GILLEPATRIC MACIMPETHIN; ALWYN MACARKIL;
ROBERT BURGH; EDWARD, son of Siward; WALCLINUS, Chaplain.” (vide Printed “Registrum de
Dunfermelyn,” pp. 3, 4.)
It will be observed
that this Charter has neither the date
of the year, nor the year
of the reign in it; but as Robert Bishop of St. Andrews was not consecrated a bishop until
late in the year 1127, and he appears to have been disqualified from
adhibiting his signature to legal documents until after his consecration
ceremony was accomplished. He was nominated Bishop of St. Andrews in the
year 1122; but owing to “a vexatious dispute,” he was not consecrated
until 1127, as noted, and therefore no legal document connected with the
diocese of St. Andrews, in which Dunfermline was situated, appears to have
been signed by him. Therefore, this first Confirmation Charter of David
I. to Dunfermline Abbey would not be written before 1127: and as Constantine, Earl of Fife, is
one of the witnesses to it, the date cannot be later than 1129, for
Constantine died during this year; consequently, 1127-1129 is the period
when it was written, but it is probable that 1127 is the correct date of
it, viz., that of the date of Robert’s consecration as Bishop of St.
Andrews, who thereby had a legal right to sign legal documents in his
diocese.
1129.—CONSTANTINE,
THIRD EARL OF FIFE, died was interred at Dunfermline (perhaps within the
walls of the Abbey). He is one of the witnesses to David I.’s Charter of
Confirmation to Dunfermline Abbey. (Regist.
de Dunf. p. 4; Sibbald’s
Hist. Fife, p. 227; Chalmer’s
Hist. Dunf. p. 133.)
THE MILL OF
DUNFERMLINE.—There must have been a Mill for grinding victual in
Dunfermline as early as this period. David, in his second Confirmation
Charter, gives the tenth part of it to the Abbot and Monks. (David’s Confirmation Charter, No. 2.)
“THE SHIP OF
INVERKEITHING.”—David I. bestowed on the Abbot and Monks the “Ship of
Inverkeithing,” under certain conditions. (Vide
Print. Regist. de
Dunf. p. 7; also Second Confirmation Charter, Annals of Dunfermline.) In
the original charter, the words conveying the gift, are—“I concede to the
Church of the Holy Trinity the Passage and Ship of Inverkeithing.”
1130.—TRANSLATION OF
THE CONFIRMATION CHARTE OF KING DAVID I. TO DUNFERMLINE ABBEY.—No 2.
(Printed Registrum de Dunfermelyn,
pp. 5-7.)
“In the name of the
Holy Trinity, I, David, by the Grace of God, King of the Scots, by my
Royal authority and power, with the consent of Henry my son, and of
Matilda, the Queen, my wife, with the confirmation and testimony of the
Bishops, Earls, and Barons of my Kingdom, the Clergy also and the People
acquiescing, do hereby grant, and in perpetual peace confirm, all the
possessions written below to the Church of the Holy Trinity of
Dunfermline, which was begun through the zeal and liberality of my
predecessors. I set forth the gifts of my father and mother as follows,
viz.:--PARDUSIN, PETNAURCHA. PETTECORTHIN, PETBACLACHIN, LAUAR, BOLGIN,
the SCHIRE of KIRCALADINIT, INVERESK the LESSER: The Gifts of my brother
DUNCAN—the two Villas called LUSCAR: The Gifts of my brother EDGAR—The
SCHYRE OF GELLALD: The Gifts of my brother ETHELREDE—HALES: The Gifts of
my brother ALEXANDER, the King—PRIMROS, the SCHYRE of GATEMILC,
PETCONMARCHIN, BALCHERIN, DRUMBERNIN, KETH: The Gifts of SIBILLE, the
Queen—BEETH: And these foresaid Gifts of my predecessors, with their
appendages and right divisions, I feely grant forever to the foresaid
Church. Further, my won gifts follow:-- Dunfermline, on the side of the
water on which the same Church is situated; Kingorn, nearest to
Dunfermline, and its appendages—FOET; INVERESK the Greater, with its MILL
and FISHING; and SMITHETUN and CREFBARRIN; and the CHURCH of INFESK and
WYMET (Wemyss), with their right divisions; FOTHERCS, near St. Andrews,
with its right divisions; and PETHENACH, with its right divisions, and a
carrucate of land, and PETIOKER: Besides, I give and grant, with the
consent of Earl Henry, my son, for the salvation of our souls and those of
our ancestors, in perpetual alms, NITHBREN and its appendages, and
BELACHRISTIN, with its proper divisions in meadows and pastures, excepting
the rights which the Culdees ought to possess and everything justly
belonging to them, as they were granted to the foresaid Church as an
endowment on the day it was dedicated: Besides, I give to the same Church
a MANSION in BERWICK, another in ROXBURGH, another in the Burgh of
HADDINGTON, another in EDINBURGH, another in LINLITHGOW, another in the
Burghs of STIRLING, and two Churches in the same, and a carrucate of land
adjoining the Church; and also all the tithes of my Lordships, in fruits,
in animals, in fish from my own nets, and also in feu-duties, and the
tenth of my Can of the whole Castle district and the mansions of Roger the
presbyter, as fully as he himself sane and safe has held them, and one net
and a-half; and one MANSION in the BURGH of DUNFERMLINE, in free and quiet
possession, and a tenth of the feu-duties of the BURGH, and a tenth of
its MILL, and of all my Lordships in Dunfermline; also a MANSION in the
burgh of Perth and likewise its Church and a Mansion belonging to the
Church, with all the tithes of my Lordship: Moreover, all the foresaid
Gifts I grant to the foresaid Church in free and quiet possession, in such
a manner as I possess my own lands, excepting the defence of my kingdom
and regal justice, should the Abbot in his Court decide cases a with a
disregard to justice: I also grant every eighth part of all decrees and
fines of Fife and Fothrif and all the tithes of the whole of my Can, and
of the malt of Fife and Fothrif, excepting the rights belonging to the
Abbey of Dunkeld: And likewise the tenth of all the game taken between
Lammermuir and the Tay; and also the half of the skins, tallow, and fat of
all the beasts that shall be killed for the festivals to be held at
Stirling, and between the Forth and Tay: I also grant that they may have
in my forests every thing necessary for fire, and for their building, as
to myself, and to their men, as to mine, I wish that they have freely
without calumny all the offerings that shall be presented at the High
Altar of the foresaid Church: And I also grant that of the Seals taken at
Kinghorn, they have the seventh after they have been tithed: I likewise
grant the tenth of all the Iron and the Salt that may be brought for my
use at Dunfermline: Furthermore, my father and my mother gave to the
Church of the Holy Trinity the whole parish of Fothrif, and so I grant:
Further, I give and grant in alms, for ever, to the Church of the Holy
Trinity, that tract of land called ALDESTELLE, and all that justly belongs
to it; the tract given is in Berwick, free and quiet; besides, I prohibit
any caution from being taken over the lands or the vassals belonging to
the Holy trinity for the forfeiture of any one, not for their own proper
forfeiture; and also I grant that all their slaves, that my father and my
mother and my brother gave to it, be justly restored to the church of the
Holy Trinity, and all their cumerlache
[runaway slaves], from the time of Edgar, the King, until this day, with
all their money, wherever they may be found, I prohibit them on my
forfeiture from being unjustly retained: I grant also to the Abbot and
Monks all the Men, with all their money, in whose land soever they may
have been, who were on the lands at the time they were offered and given
to the Church of the Holy Trinity: I likewise grant to the foresaid
Church the tenth of all my wild mares of Fife and Fothriff: And I also
grant to the Abbot and Monks that they have, throughout the whole of my
land, everything they buy for their own necessary wants free of duty:
Besides all before mentioned, I grant and give to the Abbot and Monks the
sum of 5 merks of silver yearly for the purchase of vestments brought in
the first ships that arrive at Stirling or Perth: I also grant to the
Church of the Holy Trinity the SHIP and the PASSAGE OF INVERKEITHING, such
as I possessed it in my Lordship, on condition, however, that all
travelers and messengers, coming and going to and from me, and also the
persons belonging to my Court, and also that my sons have a free passage
in the same ship; and it should happen at any time, that any one of the
before-mentioned persons should not be permitted a free passage, and the
Abbot hear the complaint without giving redress, that I myself shall have
power to correct this without hindrance from the Abbot and the brethren of
the Church: I also grant willingly to what extent the Abbot and Monks of
the Church of the Holy Trinity do not reply to an one inflicting damage in
regard to the vassals who were in the lands, at the time they were offered
and given to the Church of the Holy Trinity: Also, I grant to the Church
of the Holy Trinity the tenth part of the whole of my Can of Clackmannan;
the Abbot and Monks of the Church of the Holy Trinity have, in the whole
of the King’s jurisdiction on this side of Lammermuir, every Saturday in
Court one skin, and on the sixth Saturday they have two skins and two
parts of the fat, and the sixth skin of the RAMS and LAMBS: I also grant
to the same Church the half part of my tithe of Ergaithel [Argull] and of
Kintire, in every year in which I myself receive the Can: And,
furthermore, I give a taxed Church, with all its privileges, which through
the clemency of God it now possesses, and in future through the same
clemency may possess: We decree that it be possessed, in the utmost
tranquillity and entirely free from any subjection or exaction, either
secular or ecclesiastical, excepting only that canonical obedience which,
all the world over, every Church owes to its mother Church: I likewise
grant to the foresaid Church a certain Fishery at Perth, as freely and
peaceably as I possess my own there. To preserve its rights, also
previously noticed in this grant, and the privileges of its rank
unimpaired, and to strengthen then with perpetual stability, We, who are
present, by confirming, ordain, and by ordaining confirm, to our
successors, under this condition, that if any one should wish to disturb
these things, and strive to overturn, diminish, and violate our decrees,
let him not be ignorant that he is striving against the Saviour of the
world himself, and, unless he repent, he will incur eternal damnation, and
God will blot out of the Book of Life him who abstracts anything from the
right and powers granted to the foresaid Church. Amen. So be it.--*I,
ROBERT, Bishop of St. Andrews, confm.; *I, G.G.,
Bishop of Dunkeld, confm.; *I, ANDREW, Bishop of Catiness, confm. Of this
privilege also are witnesses and assertors:--WALTER, the Chancellor;
DUNCAN, Earl; HUGH DE MOREVILLE; WALTER DE LINDSAY; ROBERT AUENEL; WALTER
RIDEL; HERBERT, the Chamberlain; NICHOLAS, the Clerk; ALWYN, the son of
Arkil; EWEN, the Marischal; GILLECOLM MAC CHIMPETHIN; MACBETH MAC TORFIN;
MEVIN, the son of Colbain.” (Vide
Printed Registrum de Dunfermelyn, pp. 5-7; Fernie’s Hist.
Dunf. pp. 187-193; Mercer’s
Hist. Dunf. pp. 316-320.)
This Charter
enumerates several gifts &c., bequeathed to the Abbey by David I., which
are not noticed in the First Confirmation Charter; besides, it
recapitulates the gifts and privileges of that charter; consequently, this
Second Confirmation Charter must have been written after the date of the first
one, for the special purpose of incorporating in it the several new gifts
and privileges which he had bestowed on the Abbey after the first was written.
By comparing the two Confirmation Charters with each other, the new
additional gifts, &c., inserted in
this second Charter, and not to be found in the first one, will readily
be discovered.
Like the first
Confirmation Charter, this second one has neither date of the year, not year of the reign; and, there
fore, to ascertain the date of this Charter, within as narrow limits as
possible, recourse must be had to the first recurring deaths amongst the
witnesses affixed to it. In the investigation it will be found that Constantine, Earl of Fife, who
died in 1129, is not in the list of witnesses here. His successor, Duncan, Earl of Fife, is a
witness. Again, Matilda, the Queen,
died in 1130. At the beginning of the Charter she is noticed as an
acquiescing witness; there fore, this second Confirmation Charter must
have been written between 1129 and 1130—the date 1130 being probably the
most correct one—and we have place this Charter under it in the Annals. It thus appears that
nearly three years may have
elapsed between the first and the second Confirmation Charter, granted by
King David I. to Dunfermline Abbey. |
