Chapter IV: The Founding of the Monastery
Having now received the full concurrence of his superiors, Humbald set out with his thirteen monks for their future home. How they travelled, or by what road, we have no means of ascertaining. Such long journeys by members of religious houses were very common. The English monasteries were generally dependent on those of France, and nearly all the Scotch monasteries were cells or dependencies of others in England. As the mother house exercised a certain authority over its offshoot, it was necessary that there should be frequent communication between them; and, as all religious orders were dependent on the Pope, his authority had to be sought for all transactions of importance. Some of the monks were therefore great travellers. The difficulties of a journey like that undertaken by the Prior of Wenlock were not so great as might be supposed. The old Roman roads were clearly marked out and unbroken by the inroads of agriculture; and at short intervals there were convents where the travellers would always be sure of a hearty welcome. It was in the year 1169 that Humbald reached Renfrew, [18] where he and his monks were received by the High Stewart, and received lodgment on the island [19] near his castle, at a church dedicated to St. Mary and St. James, [20] whilst their future home was being built. Osbert, one of their number, was chosen their Prior, and Humbald left them and returned home. Having formally inspected, in terms of the Stewart's charter, the fishings and property in Renfrew which the Stewart had given him and his house in return for their good offices with Stephen of Clugny, he came to the conclusion that they were of little value at so great a distance from their owners. Wenlock and Renfrew were three hundred miles apart. He accordingly resigned them to the donor, receiving from him instead a property nearer Wenlock, and likely to be more productive than the fishings on the River Clyde and the “toft” in the Burgh of Renfrew. [21] This property was called Menwede, or Manhood, a village giving name to an “hundred,” in the southwest angle of Sussex, a county where Walter Fitz-Alan had other property.[22] Humbald then went back to Wenlock, doubtless carrying many stories of his travels in Scotland with which to entertain his brethren. He attests an English charter in 1170, and that is the last that we hear of him. In a chronicle of the time he is called “Holy Humbandus,” [23] but, as we shall see afterwards, he was not altogether worthy of that appellation, having, in his transaction with the Stewart, grossly deceived him, leading that nobleman to think he had given privileges to the house of Paisley, which he had no power to confer. Menwede, the gift he obtained from Walter for Wenlock remained in its possession till the dissolution of the monasteries at the Reformation, perpetuating to the sixteenth century a memorial of Humbald's mission to Paisley in the twelfth. [24]
So soon as the buildings were sufficiently forward at Paisley the monks moved thither. The founder, accompanied by his son Alan and some honest men, [25] perambulated and measured off certain land in the neighbourhood for their use. He also drew up two charters [26] in their favour, which, as they contain a statement of the nucleus of the wealth that they subsequently acquired, we venture to give in their entirety. The first is entitled “The Charter of Walter, the son of Alan, the founder, of various lands and churches as well on this side of the muirs as the other.” It is as follows:—
[18] Chronicon de Mailros.
[19] The Inch called the King's Inch. “This name was given to certain lands now belonging to Elderslie because of their insular situation, caused by the separation of the Clyde into two branches, the larger of which formed its present channel, while the other ran from the ford above Braehead house along the north side of the common, where the waters were united very near the place where the present ferry is. The course of the latter branch may still be traced.”—Ramsay's
Views of Renfrewshire.
[20] Reg. de Pas., p. 249.—It has been supposed that the convent was first established at Renfrew, and afterwards moved to Paisley; we however agree with Ramsay (“Views of Renfrewshire”) when he says—“Paisley Abbey was already founded, and we apprehend the only inference that can be drawn from the words of the Charter is that the monks who were destined for Paisley re-sided at Renfrew temporarily until the house at Paisley was ready for their reception. Nothing could be more natural than that they should in the interval dwell in the neighbourhood of the founder's mansion at Renfrew.”' It is possible that some of the brotherhood preceded Humbald.
[21] Reg. de Pas., pp. 2, 3.
[22] Eyton's Shropshire.
[23] Chronicon de Mailros.
[24] Eyton's Shropshire.
[25] Probi homines.
[26] Reg. de Pas. p. 5.