Chapter XVII: Abbot Robert,
1498-1525
On their return, the Royal pair stayed in the Monastery for eight days, and attended the religious services of the church. One of the days of their visit was the festival of St. Anne. They accordingly visited the altar newly founded in her honour, and gave an offering to the priest, a Sir Andrew Makbrek, to give to the poor. Nearly all the entries in the treasurer's book during this visit relate to religious observances.
1507. Item, the 21st day of Julij in Pasley to the offerand to the reliques, xiiijs
Item, that day to the Kingis offerand to ane priest's first mes in Pasley, aaiiijs
Item, to the Kingis offerand at the hie mes, xiiijs
Item, xxiiij day of Julij to the workmen in Pasley in drink silver, xiiijs
Item, the xxvi day of Julij in Pasley to Schir Andro Makbrek, to dispone, iijs
Item, that day, Saint Anne's day, to the Kingis offerand at the mes, xiiijs
Item, to the Kingis offerand on the bred to Sanct Anne's lycht, xiiijs
Abbot Robert seems to have remained pretty closely at Paisley, looking after the affairs of his Abbey, during the first part of his tenure of office. His name appears in various business documents. He feus ground in the Burgh of Paisley, executes various deeds regarding the Abbey property, [24] and, among other things, takes possession (whether by purchase or by gift is not stated) of three houses in Glasgow,—two lying on the west, and one on the east of the highway leading from the Cathedral to the Cross. [25] But a short time after the calamity at Flodden we get glimpses of him as a politician, and a leader in all the political intrigues of that troubled time. [26] The Abbot is no longer the “father of his monks,” and the Prior has to look after them and their duties.
Renfrewshire, like the rest of Scotland, suffered heavily at Flodden Field, and many of her nobles found a grave by the banks of the Till,
“When shivered was fair Scotland's spear,
And broken was her shield.—Marmion.
The gloom which overspread the land would be intensely felt by the inmates of the Abbey where the chivalrous King was well known, and where his presence and that of his courtiers had so often brightened the life of the cloister. In October of the year of Flodden a Parliament was called to consider what was to be done. Few of the nobility were there, for most of them had been slain, and the gathering consisted chiefly of the clergy. Abbot Robert was among them. [27] Then there followed that incessant warfare between contending factions which desolated Scotland. In 1524 we get a view of the sad state of the country from the letters of English ambassadors and English spies, and when the curtain is lifted, we find Abbot Robert a prominent figure at Court, one of the “most venerable and saddest” counsellers. He was evidently a man of mark, and Norfolk writes to the English Ambassador, Dr. Magnus, to make the most of him. “In anywise,” he writes, “falle in famyliarte with the Abbot of Paslaye, by whom ye shall know most of the secrets; but in anywise speak nothing to him of the Bishop of St. Andrews, for he doth not love him.” [28] Magnus obeys his orders, and was in close relations with the Abbot, who supported the English interest. We get glimpses in the State papers of a certain George Shaw, “a near kindsman of the Abbot,” whose duty it was win him over, and who received payment for his services. Won over he was, and he is constantly mentioned as a man whose influence could be calculated on for the English interests. Magnus speaks of him in a letter as one of those Scots who was “a right good Englishman,” and a spy, writes his master, that “The Abbot of Pasley beryth very good mynd unto your grace, by whom I have knolege partely what is done dayly in the Council.” He seems to have occupied a good position at court, and to have been tutor to the young King. He and his close friend, the Abbot of Holyrood, write a joint letter to Lord Norfolk giving an account of the Prince to the English Earl, “our mister is in gude heill and prosperity, and grows ane fair Prince, loving to God, not doubting that he is inspired by grace to all virtue and honour that should pertain to ane noble Prince, and, as we trust, shall be intending to nourish and authorise pece and justice in his realm. We shall await and attend contynuallie upon his service, for we give little estimation to ony uther things.” They then offer to do anything they are able for their correspondent, “to the utmost of our power. Beseeching almychti God and our blessed Lady to conserve you at your noble heartis desire.”
[29]
[24] Saint Mirin, by D. Semple, F.S.A. Reg. de Pas., p. 430-431.
[25] Reg. de Pas., p. 394.
[26] May 15, 1515, he witnesses a treaty of James V.
[27] Acts of Parliament, Index.
[28] Cot. MSS., Caligula 8 VII., fo. 85, Norfolk to Magnus. The whole of the State Papers referring to Abbot Shaw are in the Appendix.
[29] State Papers, Scot., Henry VIII., Vol. II, No. 69, Oct. 5, 1624.