Chapter XVII: Abbot Robert,
1498-1525
Abbot Robert, like his uncle, carried on the extension of the newly founded Burgh of Paisley, and reaped his reward in various important benefactions to the Monastery from the citizens. Altars were erected by several burgesses in the nave of the Abbey, which, like that of other abbey churches, was set apart for the use of parishioners, the monks retaining the choir for their own use. [10] There were altars to Our Lady, St. Peter, St. James, and St. Nicholas, St. Katherine, St. Ninian, St. Anne, and St. Rocques. [11] These altars were well endowed, [12] and special priests were appointed to officiate at them. One burgess, however, outdid all his fellow townsmen by erecting not only an altar but a chapel to the patron Saint of the Abbey, with whom he joined in his dedication the Saint of Iona, St. Columba. This generous benefactor was James Crawfurd of Kylwynet, a burgess of Paisley, and friend of Abbot George. The townsman, with his wife, Elizabeth Galbraith, devoted his savings to this pious purpose. [13] The charter states that they were “moved by a desire of pious devotion, and for the increase of divine worship.” The new chapel was “built by the granters from their own industry in praise and honour of Almighty God, and Son, and Holy Spirit, the glorious Virgin and Mother Mary and the blessed Peter and Paul the Apostles, and in honour of all saints; also, for the souls of that excellent deceased Prince James, King of Scots, and likewise for our illustrious Prince, King James the Fourth, and their predecessors and successors; and for the souls of them, the said James and Elizabeth, and Master Archibald Crawfurd, vicar of Erskeyne, and for the souls of all their friends, benefactors, ancestors, and successors, and the salvation of all the faithful dead.” For the endowment of the Chapel, altar, and chaplain, they grant all their lands of Seedhill, “near the mill of the Lord Abbot,” the outfield land of Seidhill, and the lands of Welmedow, with pertinents. The bailies of the town were made patrons of the chapel, with right to present a chaplain on the death of the founders; and unless they made a presentation within twenty days after a vacancy, the right to do so devolved on the Prior and Convent. If such a person could be found qualified, the chaplain was to be a Paisley man. He was to reside at the chapel and give daily attendance to perform masses for the welfare of the souls of those mentioned in the narrative of the mortification, and if he absented himself for fifteen days without leave, the patrons could dismiss him. The handing over of the mortification to the patrons took place on the 21st July, 1499, in the Council Chambers of the town house. It was a great day in the new formed burgh. All the inhabitants were present, and the two bailies,—the first dignitaries of that name in Paisley,—with the town clerk, [14] were present in all the pomp of civic dignity. James Crawford was the first of Paisley's many sons who have endowed the town of their adoption with the savings of their industry. The choice of a native to be chaplain indicates his love for the burgh ; and when he died, in the same year as that in which he made his bequest, many of the citizens would comply with the request which is still inscribed on his tombstone in the nave of the Abbey, “orate pro anima ejus.”
[10] Lindores Abbey, p. 188.
[11] There was a chapel to this Saint in the west of the town, in the Broomlands, which had “twa aikes of ground.”
[12] The endowment charters are in the town chest of Paisley.
[13] An admirable paper on St. Mirin's Chapel, read before the Glasgow Archaeological Society, has been published by David Semple, F.S.A., to which I have been indebted for my facts.
[14] The names of these worthies were Alan Stewart and Stephen Ness, bailies, and William Stewart, town-clerk.