Chapter XIII: Restoration,
1405-1459
We do not know how long Abbot Thomas remained abroad. He was present in the Parliament held in October, 1456, and on the 19th of that month was chosen to sit in “a committee of causes and complaints.” He died three years afterwards, on the 29th June, 1459. He was the most energetic ruler the Convent had had since Abbot William, who did so much for it in its early days, and well deserved the character given him in the account of his death, “ane richt gude man.” [29] Though we have drawn already on the Chronicle for our information regarding him, it may not be out of place in closing this chapter to quote what it says of this distinguished ecclesiastic in full :—
“The quhilk was ane richt gude man, and helplyk to the place of ony that ever was, for he did mony notable thingis, and held ane nobil hous, and wes ay well purvait. He fand the place al out of gude reule, and destitute of leving, and all the kirkis in lordis handis, and the kirk unbiggit. The bodie of the kirk frae the bricht [30] stair up he biggit, and put on the ruff, and theekit it with sclats, and riggit it with stane, and biggit ane porcion of the steple, and ane statlie yet-hour ; and brocht hame mony gude jowellis, and claithis of gold, silver, and silk, and mony gude bukis, and made statlie stallis, and glass quit, mekle of al the kirk, and brocht hame the statliest tabernakle that was in al Skotland, and the maist costlie ; and schortlie he brocht al the place to fredome and fra nocht till ane michty place, and left it out of al kind of det, and al fredome to dispone as them lykt, and left ane of the best myteris that wes in Skotland, and chandiliaris of silver, and ane lettren of brass, with mony uther gude jowellis.” [31]
[29] Among other of his achievements, he obtained a perpetual lease of the third part of a famous fishing on the Clyde, opposite Dunbarton, called the Crooketshot.
[30] This was probably an outside stair. The word indicates, possibly, that a portion of the church remained unroofed.
[31] Chronicle of Auchenleck, p. 19.