bishops of St. Andrews, Dunblane, and Roger de Quincy, earl of Winton, constable of Scotland, not cancelled, nor in any part vitiated, and well and duly indentured, that he (Nicholas) and his successors, archdeacons of Dunblane, are under obligation to pay yearly at Martinmas, at Nesgask, to the abbot and convent of Inchaffray or their assignee twenty shillings sterling for tithes and all other things which the said abbot and convent were accustomed to receive from the land called Pettynefive [see No. LXIV.] by reason of their church of Gask Christi (Trinity Gask), and which the archdeacon possessed by reason of his church of Nesgask, by reason of an agreement between the predecessors of both parties, as in the indenture made on the subject is more fully contained. All who have an interest in the matter are hereby informed. Seal of Nicholas, and, for clearer testimony, the seals of William, bishop of Dunblane, and Laurence, prior of Abernethy. At Dunblane, Wednesday, 11 April 1358.

CXXXIII

[Robert, earl of Strathern, grants forty-two marks from the thanage of Duning, as of old.]

Robert, Steward of Scotland, earl of Strathern, to all his mairs of Duning. In his court, held at Crieff, 8 May 1358, the charters and muniments of the abbot and convent of Inchaffray, as to a yearly payment of forty-two marks from the thanage of Duning, were inspected. After careful deliberation he has given state and possession of the said annual payment to the religious aforesaid, as of old. And he commands all and each of his mairs to cause the payment to be made at the usual terms according to ancient custom, and to compel the tenants of the thanage to pay the proportion due from them. He will punish deficiency of their duty on the part of the mairs. Seal of the earl. At Methfen, 13 May 1358.

CXXXIV

[Confirmation of charters by Robert, earl of Strathern.]

Robert, Steward of Scotland, earl of Strathern, makes known that in his court held at Crieff, 8 May 1358, he had inspected the charters of the abbey relating to the annual revenue of forty-two

marks from the thanage of Duning given to the abbey by Malise the first (Malise II.) and Malise the second (Malise I.), earls of Strathern, which charters he ratifies in all particulars. Seal of the grantor. At Perth, St. John Baptist's day [24 June], 1358. Witnesses

CXXXV

[Surrender of deeds by Nevin MacEwyin and Marion,

his wife.]

Nevin MacEwyn and Marion his wife, daughter, and one of the heirs of Malmoran of Glencharny, makes known that after solemn conference with kindred and the counsel of friends, they have for their advantage, and especially for the weal of the souls of the late Malmoran and Cicilia his wife, and of their predecessors and successors, granted, given, and sold for forty marks sterling to John, abbot of Inchaffray, and the convent of the same (which forty marks were paid in money by the said abbot), the letters, writs, instruments and muniments, all and singular, and all right and claim to succession by us, our heirs, and successors,' which letters, writs, etc., the late Malmoran, our predecessor had relating to the lands of Achelonsyche (which is called the Crage), Ardeweny, and Ardbany within the shire of Madderty. These lands had been pledged to Malmoran by Symon of Scone, abbot of Inchaffray, for the sum of forty pounds sterling by wellauthenticated instruments. Nevin and Marion acknowledge the payment of the forty marks in full, and declare themselves wellcontent and satisfied. To the security of this grant and sale they swear on the Gospels in the chapel of St. Mary at Innerpefry, before Walter, bishop of Dunblane, Adam and Andrew, dean and archdeacon of Dunblane, and others [named].

Nevin and Marion further oblige themselves, their heirs, and successors, under a penalty of two hundred marks sterling to be applied to the fabric of the cathedral church of Dunblane and the monastery, and also under penalty of the greater excommunication, to be fulminated ipso facto, that they will not by word or deed attempt to set aside the above agreement on any plea in law. If any letters obligatory, instruments, or writs, touching the pledging of the said lands should be found in the future, they are to have no force; and yet at the expense of Nevin and Marion they are to be annulled, and delivered to the abbot and convent. They

subject themselves, their heirs and successors, under the penalties aforesaid, to the jurisdiction, coercion, and judgment of the bishop, dean, archdeacon, their officials for the time being, who can compel observance of the above, all privileges, indulgences, and exceptions notwithstanding, more particularly the benefit of the Velleian law. In the event of any attempt at reclaiming, the penalty of two hundred marks is to be levied and paid in full, the present agreement nevertheless remaining irrevocably in full force. Their seals; and for greater security the seals of Robert, Steward of Scotland, earl of Strathern; Walter, bishop of Dunblane, and others [named]. Given in the parish church of Perth, on Friday next before the feast of St. Andrew [30 November], 1365. Witnesses.

CXXXVI

[Grant of Carnibo by Roger of Mekfen.]

Roger of Mekfen, lord of the same, makes known that in the spirit of devotion, for the weal of his soul, he has given and confirmed to the abbot and convent of Inchaffray, in pure and perpetual alms his whole land of Carnibo by its right meiths and marches, with all its liberties and easements, etc. To be held for ever by the said religious and their successors, of him and his heirs and successors, as free from secular exaction as any land can be granted by a baron or knight, saving the forinsec service of the king, and by performing for him and his heirs the forinsec service due to the earl of Strathern. Seal of grantor. Witnesses [c. 1370.]

CXXXVII

[Grant of land for a light in the church.]

William, son of Malise, makes known that of his own accord, for the weal of his soul, he has given and confirmed to the canons of Inchaffray in pure and perpetual alms, the portions of land, all and singular, belonging to him within and without the town of Auchterarder, by their meiths and marches, with all their pertinents, for finding a light before the image of St. Mary in the choir of the church of Inchaffray, which lands he had bought from John, son of Baldin. To be held, as aforesaid, with all their rights, liberties, and easements-save only the king's service.

Seal of grantor, and for greater security the common seal of the burgh of Auchterarder. Witnesses [c. 1370.]

...

CXXXVIII

[Declaration by David, earl of Strathern, that a grant of subsidy by the abbey must not be drawn into a precedent.]

'Inasmuch as our

David, earl palatine of Strathern beloved chaplains, the abbot and convent of our abbey of Inchaffray, have granted certain subsidies for the construction of bridges and the causeway lying on the west of the said abbey through the marsh towards our demesne lands of Fowlis,' he does not wish that any prejudice to the liberties of the abbey should be created by this grant of subsidies. To these letters patent his seal is placed. At Fowlis, 8 April 1375.

CXXXIX

[Petition to Pope Clement VII. to confirm the election of William of Culross as abbot.]

The prior and canons of Inchaffray, shortly after the decease of John de Kelly, last abbot of the monastery, who died forth of the Roman Court, unanimously elected as abbot William of Culross, canon of the monastery and vicar of Dunyne, a provident and discreet man, commended for his knowledge of letters and his life and morals, which election Andrew, of good memory, then bishop of Dunblane confirmed by his ordinary authority, and gave benediction to the elect. Wherefore the prior and canons petition his Holiness to confirm the election, the bishop's confirmation, and benediction, and all subsequent acts, apostolic reservations notwithstanding.

The Pope commits to the bishop of Glasgow to confirm the election, if it be canonical, or, if otherwise, to make fresh provision of the elect, if he be fit. [At Avignon, 2 December 1381.]

CXL

[Petition to the same for confirmation of the church of

Strugeith.]

The parish church of Strugeith, in the diocese of Dunblane, being vacant by the decease of the last rector, who died forth of

the Roman Court, the collation to which church belonged of full right to the bishop of Dunblane, Walter, of good memory, who then presided over the church of Dunblane, conferred the said parish church on the abbot and convent of Inchaffray by his ordinary authority, and united it for ever to the monastery, the possession of which church the monastery has peaceably and quietly possessed. But, because the abbot and convent have doubts as to their being in future troubled about this collation and union, because of their lacking confirmation from the Apostolic See, they humbly supplicate his Holiness to confirm the collation, union, and subsequent acts, and, if it shall be necessary, to confer the church anew on the monastery, and unite it anew, supplying defects, if any there were: apostolic statutes, ordinances and constitutions to the contrary notwithstanding.

The bishop of Glasgow is to inform himself, and, so far as was just, to confirm the collation and union.

Avignon,

2 December 1381.

CXLI

[Papal Commission to the Bishop of Dunkeld to provide to the abbey, 19 July 1387.]

[Clement VII.] to the bishop of Dunkeld [John de Peebles].

During the lifetime of the late John, abbot of the monastery of Inchaffray, of the order of St. Austin, in the diocese of Dunblane, the Pope had resolved to reserve to himself the provision to the abbacy on its becoming void, decreeing any act to the contrary, whether wittingly or unwittingly attempted, to be null and void. Afterwards, on the death of the aforesaid John, who died forth of the Court of Rome, the prior and convent of the said monastery, in ignorance, perhaps, of the aforesaid reservation and decree, after due summons of all who were concerned, and the appointment of a day for the election, as the custom is, convened, and unanimously elected (although it was only de facto) 'our beloved son William of Culros,' canon of the said monastery, in priest's orders, to be their abbot; and the said William, in like manner ignorant of the said reservation and decree, consented to the de facto election within the canonical time. Afterwards, when the said reservation and decree was brought to his knowledge, the