Chapter XVIII: Abbot John Hamilton, 1525-1547
A certain Robert Crichton, Provost of St. Giles, claimed the Bishopric in virtue of a decree of the Pope, and the Abbot entered into litigation with him, and successfully vindicated his own appointment. [17] About this time he was often at Paisley. The Reformation principles were taking firm hold in the west, and the presence of the champion of the Church was greatly needed there. An English army was threatening the borders. The Earl of Glencairn was using his powerful influence in Ayrshire on the side of the reformers, and the head of the house of Lennox,—the family which had in old days befriended the Abbey,—had gone over to the enemy. [18] The monks and their possessions were in great peril : at any moment their lands might be invaded, and their Church and Monastery given to the flames. They were actually threatened by their enemies, and would have suffered but for the aid of the Master of Sempill who interfered for their pro¬tection. The young noble was in consequence appointed in 1545 bailie and justiciary over the whole lands of the Abbey. [19] The Charter of his appointment begins by a reference to the troubles of the time, which is somewhat striking. “In these days,” it says, “the wickedness of men so increases that nothing gives them greater delight than to invade the possessions of the monks, and to overturn their monasteries, nor had we ourselves been saved from that disaster but by the aid and assistance of that noble man, Robert Sempill, master of the same, son and apparent heir to Lord William Sempill. The same master bravely defended us, not only from the madness of heretics, but also from the insults of most powerful tyrants, and unless he continues to defend us by his arms, friends, counsel, and assistance, without doubt nothing will soon be saved to us. But so far as we are concerned, nothing must be omitted which tends to our greatest safety, for, according to the old proverb, it is not less a virtue to preserve what we have than to acquire what we have not.” The deed goes on to appoint Robert and his heirs bailies of the Abbey at a stipend of three chalders of oatmeal yearly, paid from “our granary,” and forty-three shillings and fourpence from our lands of Glen, called Lie Lochied. It gave Sempill great power over all the possessions of the Abbey, and he and his family became bound to defend the monks against all their foes, and to see that all the tenants of the Monastery paid their rents and dues regularly to the “chamberlain, grainter, and cellarer. The father of the Master of Sempill also entered into an agreement [20] to bring the whole power of his family to their aid in time of need, and to see that all the lands and revenues of the Abbey were conserved to their proper owners.
[17] Index to Acts of Parliament—“John, the Abbot of Paisley, having been nominated by Queen Mary to the Bishopric of Dunkeld, according to the privilege belonging to the Queen and her predecessors to nominate to vacant Sees, and sent her nomination to the Pope, who, in virtue thereof, granted him the Bishopric, and having been opposed by Robert Crichton, Provost of St. Giles, who produced an alleged decree from the Pope, that the promotion of John was conditional upon his being appointed Bishop of Ross, failing which, he himself was Bishop of Dunkeld, and since the Queen had promoted her secretary, David Panter, to the Bishopric of Ross, this decree declared contrary to the Royal privilege.” The Abbot raised an action against his opponent in the Court of Session accusing him of barratry at Rome; and the defender pled that he was a Churchman, and the Lords only temporal judges. The Abbot, however, was victorious. The dispute was also carried to Rome, and on 8th June, 1546, the Pope, in consistory, referred the cause to the adjudication of certain Cardinals. The decree is given from the Barberini MSS. in Brady's Episcopal Succession, Vol. I., p. 131.
[18] October 23, 1547, Glencairn writes the Earl of Lennox, that he has managed his affairs so well that nothing is wanting but his presence. All the Barony of Renfrew is his own, except the Sempills. He requests him to come immediately, when they will be ready to pass with him to Glasgow or Paisley.—Papers in State Paper Office.—See Appendix.
[19] Reg. de Pas., Appendix, p. 2.
[20] Reg. de Pas., Appendix, p. 6, “Ane Obligatioun of the Lord Sympill and Robert Sympille, maister of the samyn.”