Chapter VIII: The Prosperous Times of Alexander III, 1248-1286
We perhaps get the best idea of the privileges and possessions of the Convent during the period immediately preceding King Alexander III.'s death,—so disastrous an event for the Church as well as the country in general,—from the great Bull of Pope Clement IV. [24] (1265). As this document gives us a view of the Monastery in its most prosperous days, before the sorrows into which Scotland was plunged, and in which the Abbey fully shared, we give it entire :—
“CLEMENS Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his beloved sons, the Abbot of the Monastery of Paisley, and St. Mirin, Confessor of Paisley ; and to the brethren there and in all time coming, following the monastic life.
It is proper that the Apostolic protection be given to those choosing a religious life, lest, perchance, any indiscretion either draw them off from their purpose or—which heaven forbid—impair the strength of their sacred vows. Wherefore, beloved sons in the Lord, we mercifully assent to your just demands, and receive the Monastery of St. James the Apostle, and St. Mirin, the Confessor of Paisley, in the diocese of Glasgow, in which you are vowed to divine obedience, under the protection of St. Peter and our own, and fortify this ordinance by the present writing. In the first place, we ordain that the Monastic order which, it is known, was instituted in that Monastery according to God, the rule of St. Benedict, and of the Clunaic brethren, be observed there inviolably in all time coming. Moreover, let whatever property and whatever goods the said Monastery may at present justly and canonically possess, or can in future acquire by the concession of Popes, the bounty of kings or princes, the oblation of the faithful, or in other just methods, by the favour of God, remain sure and inalienable to you and to your successors : of which things we have reckoned the following worthy of express mention :—The place in which the said Monastery is situated, with all its pertinents, and the Chapel of Lochwynoc, with its pertinents ; the Churches of Innerwyc, of Lykadwod, of Katcart, of Rughglen, of Curmanoc, of Polloc, of Merness, of Neilston, of Kylberhan, of Hestwod, of Howston, of Kylhelan, of Harskyn, of Kylmacolm, of Innerkyp, of Largyss, of Prestwic burgh, of the other (in the monks) Prestwic, of Cragyn, of Turnebery, of Dundonald, of Schanher, of Haucynlec, of Kylpatrik; of Neyt (Rosneath), of Kyllynan, of Kylkeran, of St. Colmanel, of Scybinche, with chapels, lands, and pertinents ; the Chapels of Kylmor, at Kenlochgilpe, with its pertinents ; and the land which Duncan, son of Ferchard, and Lauman, his cousin, gave to the Monastery there ; and that whole land lying on both sides of the Kert, as the late Walter Fitz-Alan Steward of the King of Scotland, founder of the Monastery, himself bestowed it; and the carucate of land which formerly Grimketil held, and which is now called Arkylliston, and the carucate of land which they possessed between the Kert and Grif, which is now called the Island; and the whole land of Drumloy and Swynschawis, and the Graynis, which is now called Drumgrane, and the whole land of Hakhyncog of Dalmulyn, and the land which they had in the manor of Polloc ; and the whole land of Drepss, which the late William, son of Maduse, held at ferm of the Monastery; and a carucate of land at Hunteley, which the late King William of Scotland excambed, with lands which they had in the manor of Hastanisden ; and the carucate of land which the late Eschena de Mona bestowed on them in that place, and the fishing which they had upon the Water of Clude between Perthec and the island which is commonly called the Island of Renfrw, and an annual of half a merk of silver from the ferm of the burgh of Renfrw and the Mill which they had in the tenement of that burgh, with the water courses and all its pertinents, and a plenary toft in the town of Renfrw, and one net for salmon in the River Clude at Renfrw, and the land which they possessed there near their mill, and the lands of Hyllington and Castelside; and the whole mill of Innerwyc, with the water courses and all the pertinents ; and the whole land of Prestwic, which is now called Monkstoun, and the land of Moniabroc, and the land of Cnoc, and the Mill of Paisley, with its sequel which they held by the gift of their founder, and half the fishing at the issue of Lochwinoc, with that liberty of fishing in the lake itself, which Walter, their founder, granted ; and the whole land of Penuld, which is called Fulton, as Henry de St. Martin, with the consent of his overlord, conferred it ; and the land situated between the Mach and Caldouer, and that part of the land where the Mill of Paisley is situated, which Walter the Steward conceded by certain boundaries; and the land beyond Bert, between the Espedar and Aldpatrick, as the said Steward gave it; with all their liberties and easements in the forests of Paisley and of Seneschathir ; and the land at Carnebro, which they had from the gift of the late Uctred, son of Paganus; and the land at Orde, which the late Walter, called Murdhac, bestowed on the Monastery; and the annual rent of a chalder of wheat which they received from the late Patrick, Earl of Dunbar ; and the annual rent of a chalder of wheat and of half a mark of silver which they possessed at Cadiow by the gift, of Robert de Loudoniis, brother of the late King of Scotland ; and an annual mark of silver from Kilbride by the gift of the late Philip de Valoinis, and by the gift of the late Earl Maldoven of Lennox, and that fishing upon the water of Lewyn, which is called Linbren, with the land between it and the highway leading to Dunnberton ; and the lands which they had in the county of Lennox, which are commonly called Coupmanach, Edinbernan, Bacchan, Finbelach, Cragbrectalach, Druncrene, Dallenneach, Drumtocher, Drumteyglunan, Drumdeynains, Cultbwy, and Reynfod ; and the land which they had in the place called Monachkenran with its pertinents ; and the land which Thomas the son of Tankard conferred at Moyclirual ; and the land called Garyn received from the late Rodulfus de Cler ; and the whole land of Crosragmol and Sutheblan, by the gift of Duncan, Earl of Karric; and two chalders of meal received from Alexander, the patron of their Monastery, in exchange for the multure of the Rasa ; and an annual rent of two marks of silver for the Mill of Thornton, with lands, vineyards, woods, customs and pastures, thickets and open grounds, water, mills, roads, and pathways, and all other liberties and immunities.
[24] Reg. de Pas., p. 308.