Its Physical aspect—Moffat
denominated at a remote period a "Toune "—Its inhabitants, and their
Customs. —Necessities of the Scottish People during the Bruce period—Villas
and Territories—Division of Lands, and privilege of Pasturage—its first
Charter—its next.—Ecclesiastical Notes—Its Church prior to the
Reformation—The Vicarlancis.
IT is impossible
to procure sufficient evidence to give us a correct idea as to the size and
condition of Moffat at this period. In imagination we wander six centuries
back, and behold it in the beauty of its hamlet garb,
"A place of nestling green for poets made."
rendered still more lovely by its woody surroundings
(now much diminished), which in future days were destined to give shelter
alike to the marauder and the persecuted in the days of the Covenant.
Certain it is that at this period Moffat had in and around it a small
population, which, from the wording of sundry charters and deeds, we presume
carried on various trades, which although existing to meet the necessities
of its inhabitants, still evinced strong signs of animation—we niight say
unusual activity, considering its size, as far as we can learn. One peculiar
feature regarding this is, that at this date it is talked of as a "Toune."
Whether this alludes to its size and external appearances of prosperity at
the time, or is merely a mode of expression peculiar to the particular
period, we know not, but to the latter we incline. The inhabitants did not
as now apply themselves assiduously to work, to breed and preserve stock,
but looked more to the brewing and selling of "yill," in the manufacture of
which they appear to have been adepts; and of which a Superior of Moffat
(James Johnstone of Corehead) at a later date makes mention, when in his
Deposition anent Teinds he says, "that the Tennants take no care of stock,
but of their brewing and yill selling." This is shown too by the various
grants of tenements in Moffat, denoting that such trades were carried on,
more especially the charter of Robert Bruce already referred to, wherein he
speaks of "brewhouses and bakehouses." Before the period of Bruce the people
of Scotland were compelled, owing to the daring acts of their neighbours, to
evacuate their retired and peaceful homesteads, to give up those seclusions
wherein their joys and sorrows had alike been fostered, and retire into
hamlets and villages, rendering themselves less liable to those depredations
which necessitated their removal. Chalmers states that they had thus to
live, "rather than in farms, for their mutual security and comfort." While
enumerating the public buildings, churches, &c., and places of manufacture
they possessed, he says, "all of them had their malt-kills and their
brewhouses; and even the hamlets had their brewhouses, which supplied their
common beverage." These villages and the like were termed villas; hence we
find Moffat in the Retonr frequently mentioned in this fashion, even at a
much later date-1635, and snbsequently. Adjoining this was a considerable
tract of land called a territory, which was under the supervision of the
husbandmen and cottagers4 whose duty it was to cultivate it in their
proportions and of the "territorio de Moffat" mention is made continually in
the public registers of lands. To the husba.ndmen were allotted the somewhat
arduous task of tending the cultivation of carucates, bovates, or oxgates,
while the cotters were imposed with the more homely duty of renovating, when
necessary, their tenements and toft,%§ The extent of the privilege of the
inhabitants to pasturage on the common-lands (of which we speak elsewhere)
was controlled by the amount of amble land they possessed within the
territory. The first charter which has any
special reference to Moffat is one granted by Robert I. to "Adae
Barbitonsorie of the lands of the toft in Moffat cum duabus boustis terre
adjacentibus que quondam Wilhielmus dictus Inglis ad flrmam tenuit, de
Domino Vallis Annandiae ave nostro." During this reign we find it seldom
mentioned, and when so, in such an inadvertent manner as to render it
impossible for us to put it into any form. We may however safely infer, from
its comparatively insignificant aspect at present, that it made few and
unimportant steps towards progression, that it retained its rustic beauty
and calm, not yet destroyed by the bustling sounds of manufacture: and that
it played a simple, yea, unnoticed part in the history of Scotland at this
date. It was, however, destined to be associated with one or two stirring
events—deeds that caused our country fearlessly to don the spotless garb of
liberty, and wield the sceptre of protection over a true-hearted and a loyal
people. Its next charter is in the reign of David II., when he grants to
"Robert Lage, of the lands of Neatherholme, Altounayle, four oxgate of land
in Moffat; and twa cottages, whilk was ane Wni. Wezage and John Plegnans
forisfecit." These are not Burgh Charters, but are simply introduced in
these pages to show when mention is first made of it, and by this means more
easily find out the early incidents connected with the town, and trace its
progress. Many lands are at this period transferred to various parties, but
which having latterly become more intimately associated with the town, we
refrain from taking notice of at present, reserving the information for a
subsequent chapter.
The Church of Moffat was,
by a grant of Robert do Bras, transferred to the Bishop of Glasgow in the
year 1174, thus we find it with others recorded in 1187-89 - "Do ecclesiis
do Moffet—de Kirkepatrick—de Dricufdale—de Hodelm-.--et de Castlemilk,"
followed by a similar passage written under the same date, all of which were
confirmed by the grants of William the Lion, and likewise by several Popes
of a subsequent period.* Prior to thefleformation the "reetoria de Moffat"
was constituted one of the prebends of Glasgow, and corroborative evidence
of this is found by its being taxed £5 in a ta.xatio of such prebends, which
was instituted for the benefit of the Cathedral. about 1401.1' And again in
Bagimont's Roil during the reign of.James V., the sum of £10, "being a tithe
of the estimated value." William the cominendator of Cuiross was, on account
of the death of one John Stewart, presented on the 25th of April, 1552, to
the vacant prebend of the rectory of Moffat, the right of presentation being
invested in the hands of the Queen, by the vacancy of the See: and we find
the parish favoured or supplied with the counsel or ministrations of David
Mayn, denominated "reidar," from 1567 to 1586, receiving for his services
the sum of £21; when we procure evidence of the proper installation of
proper ministers, to rule over the people in holy things4 Bishop Cameron
ordained, immediately after the erection of his palace or castle, in close
proximity to the Cathedral Church of Glasgow, that the thirty-two
prebendaries, rectors, or parsons of the metropolitan church—the privilege
of prebendaries being the right of electing the Bishop in the event of a
vacancy (a right often disregarded by the Popes)—should build houses for a
permanent residence in the city, close by him: and that they should procure
curates for the accomplishment of their duties, within their several
parishes. Hence we find the incumbent of Moffat mentioned of as residing in
the Rottenrow, lapped in security and comforts enjoying the luxury of
repose.1- But, as will be seen in chapter vi. of the present work, the
reception the curate of Mo'at met with, was one of a nature by no means to
be envied. We can imagine the procession, with all its glorious
associations, which took place at the instigation of the Bishop upon the
completion of this master-scheme—the erection of the prelate's palace, and
the manors of the prebendaries adjacent. High in truth was the ceremony.
Twelve persons bore in front his massive silver crozier, and eleven immense
maces were held exultingly on high, while the performers of vocal and
instrumental music, arrayed in gorgeous attire, indicative of something
better than the choristers of the cathedral, perfectly performed To Deunz,
and other appropriate sacred selections. Here, too, the rector of Moffat
must of necessity participate in the pomp, and be present at the-
celebration of mass. And so in truth he was! All the representatives of the
various parishes within the See encouraged by their presence the alike novel
and high festivity. Upon the transference of the church of Moffat to the
Bishop, for ever after to be under his paternal superintendence and
control—the Viccarlands are said to have been included in the grant, and up
to the period of the .Leformation were recognised as having no special
connection with the place; tradition having declared them part of the
Bishopric of Glasgow. This is quite reconcileable, seeing thatthe
Viecarlands were the church lands till long after the Reformation, when they
became the property of a lesser branch of the Johnstone family, who are
emphatically denominated the Johnstones of Viccarlands, though they held
them from the then existing Superior. In fact, we find the Chartulary
contains a passage which has a meaning synonymous to that in question, at
least such could readily be deduced from it, even by a cursory observer.
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