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Chapter XV

Chapter XIV: Abbots Henry Crichton and George Schaw, 1459—1498


Many an inmate of the Monastery would obey the wish which the pious Abbot thus expressed. He was “a true father” to his monks, and they had every cause to think of him with gratitude. For their comfort he assigned them certain rents within the new-formed burgh, to be paid yearly, at Whitsunday and Martinmas, and to be shared by all the monks in common. The whole amounted to £2 2s but as the monks could have nothing but what was allowed them by the rule of their Order, liberty had to be asked from the authorities of Clugny to receive even this sum. A supplication was therefore addressed to them at the Mother Abbey, and the monks received from these dignitarie [38] leave to enjoy their pittances. A copy of the license is still in existence, and it states how, “For the augmentation of the pittance, and recreation of his Convent, the Abbot gave and granted to the said Convent forever, trigenta scuta auri of annual and perpetual rent for the foundation and support of a solemn anniversary, and of some other suffrages in the said Monastery of Paisley, to be made and celebrated by the said Convent and their successors according to the intention of the said Lord Abbot in each year for ever.” The monks of Paisley had good reason to think kindly of their Abbot.

The King, with whom he seems to have been a great favourite, made him, in 1495, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. His chief interest seems to have centered in his Monastery, for two years after his appoint¬ment he resigned the white staff of office which he bore as treasurer into the hands of another, and retired to Paisley to spend the evening of life in the midst of the good works he had done. He erected a manor-house at Blackston, in the neighbourhood—one of the Abbey Granges—and there he passed much of his time. It was a pleasant, shady spot, by the banks of the Kert Lochwinnoch, and memories of the old Abbot's sojourn there still linger around it. It is a saying in Renfrewshire when any special authority is required in confirmation of a statement, that “a line must be brought from Blackston for it,”—an unconscious reference to the time when the good Abbot Shaw resided there.

As the Abbot grew old he felt himself becoming unable to fulfil his duties, and looked about for one who should succeed him in the Abbacy. His choice fell upon his own nephew, Robert Shaw, Vicar of Munkton, a son of the Governor of Stirling who had been so good a friend to the King in his youth. He was canonically elected, and his election was approved by the Crown. The Pope also gave his consent, on condition that Robert Shaw should take the monastic habit within six months, and decreed that the old Abbot should enjoy as his pension a third part of the fruits of the Monastery,
[39] and might return to his former position when he thought proper. Robert Shaw took possession of the Abbot's stall in March, 1498. His uncle lived some years afterwards. He is called in charters “the pensioner of the Abbey.” [40] He was living seven years after his resignation of office, and is supposed to have died in 1505. He filled his place well, and the visitor to Paisley who sees his shield of three covered cups with the pastoral crook behind them upon the wall of one of the outhouses, which has been ruthlessly transformed by modern iconoclasts, or reads the defaced inscription which tells of the “nobil fundacioun” he reared, will do well to remember that they are the memorials of a good man, one of the best of his time, to whose wisdom and benevolence the town of Paisley itself owes its existence. [41]


[38] The pittance rental is given in the “History of the Paisley Grammar School,” by Robert Brown. The license to hold the pittances is in the charter chest of the town. It is dated at the Monastery of Clugny, 13th May, 1492, and is issued by the “definitors,” persons ap¬pointed by the superior to determine all difficulties that might arise regarding the rules and statutes of the Order. Among them is mentioned the Bishop of Lepanto.
[39] A full account of the transaction is given from the Vatican Archives, by Mr. Brady in his “Episcopal Succession,” Vol. II., p. 206.
[40] Reg. de Pas., p. 354.
[41] The memorials of Abbot Shaw should be carefully treasured by the sons of Paisley. Hitherto, the very reverse has been the case.