Chapter XIV: Abbots Henry Crichton and George Schaw, 1459—1498
His familiarity with charters appears to have enabled him to settle in a happy way a dispute into which the Convent had fallen with an Highland chieftain, Lawmund of Lawmund, regarding the patronage of the church of Kilfinan in 1466. [4] The Celt had been very pugnacious, and had claimed very determinedly the right of appointing his own parish priest, and had even gone to law in the ecclesiastical courts in defence of what appeared to him his just privilege. He was probably one of those “lordis” who in the days of easy-going Lithgow and Cheshelme had managed to get into his hands a portion of the Abbey patrimony, and was loth to give it up. Abbot Henry induced this Argyleshire warrior to pay him a visit at Paisley, which he did, accompanied by his brother and his shield-bearer, a clansman. There the Abbot, as one who was “a true lover of peace,” [5] treated him kindly. Doubtless he regaled him with the best that his refectory and wine-cellar afforded, but, in addition, he took the chieftain to the chapter-house, and showed him “all the letters, charters, monuments, donations, concessions, and confirmations made by his ancestors and progenitors of revered memory, to the Abbot or Convent, to the praise of God, and the increase of divine worship.” This formidable array of documents seems to have quite overcome the Highlander, for having “fully pondered” [6] them, he acknowledged that he had no such right as he claimed to the patronage of his parish church, and “piously and healthfully acknowledging, and mentally revolving” the matter, that it would be “wicked to annoy the servants of God by putting them to trouble or expense,” he resigned all his rights in connection with Kilfinan church, and confirmed all the donations of his pious ancestors. Two notaries record the transaction between the Abbot and the chieftain, and as several of the surrounding lairds were witnesses, [7] the occasion was probably accompanied by conviviality, and the laird would return to his castle by the Kyles of Bute, feeling more kindly towards the Church than when he left home.
Abbot Henry was a statesman as well as an ecclesiastic, and a person of importance at the Court of the young King James III. When commissioners were engaged in negotiating a truce with England at Newcastle the Court was at Berwick. Abbot Henry was there also, empowered by Parliament to give advice as to the matter under consideration. He was in Parliament in 1464, and also in 1469, [8] where he saw, and it is to be feared took part in, the accomplishment of one of those tragedies so common in that turbulent age. The Abbot was in Parliament on the 21st of November, and on the 22nd Sir Alexander Boyd, who had been the tutor of the King, was sacrificed by Parliament to the jealousy of his enemies, and executed on the Castle-hill of Edinburgh. [9] Abbot Henry was in Parliament again in 1471, and also the year following. The Abbey probably benefited by the position its lord held at Court. One mark of royal favour has come down to us in the gift to Abbot Henry of a quantity of lead in the Castle of Bute, [10] which the King gave him for the roofing of the church, which Abbot Tervas had only “theekit [11] with sclate.” A better gift than this came to him from the same source ; this was his promotion to the Benedictine Abbey of Dunfermline, which took place in 1473.
[4] Reg. de Pas., pp. 149, 150, 151.
[5] Vere pacis amator.
[6] Plenarie prependebat.
[7] James Hammylton of Torrens, George Wales of Elyrisle, John Knok of Knok.
[8] Index to Scottish Acts of Parliament.
[9] Tytler, Vol. II., p. 203.
[10] The following is the deed of gift: —“28th Jan., 1470.—James, be the grace of God King of Scottis till our lowite cousing John Lord Dernle capitane of our castell of Bute, greeting. We charge you that ye deliver till a venerable fader in God, Henry, Abbot of our Abbaye of Paslay, or his assignais the lede that ye have in keeping in our said castel of Bute, indenting with him quhat that ye deliver, keep, and the to part of the indenture with zou, and deliver, the tother parte of it to the said Abbot haldand thir our letteris for your warrand. Given under oure signet at Strivelyne, the 28th day of Januar of oure regne, the 11th year.—Lennox Papers, Vol II.
[11] Thatched.