THE PARISH OF TURREFF. 1

Sancti Congani abbatis qui apud Turref Aberdonensis dyocesis vene

ratur.

D

Oracio.

EUS qui beatum Conganum pium pastorem confessorem pariter et abbatem preclaris decorasti miraculis : presta quesumus vt eius meritis patrociniisque suffulti ad celestia mereamur gaudia peruenire . Per [Dominum etc.]

Lectiones.

Conganum Kentigerne matrone germanum beati Felani abbatis carissimum esse ferunt auunculum hic illum

[See Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp. 460-473. The church of Turreff (Turuered) was given to the monks of St. Thomas at Arbroath, by Marjery countess of Buchan, before the year 1214. The grant was confirmed by King William the Lion, and by Adam bishop of Aberdeen (A.D. 1207-A.D. 1228); but was annulled or revoked during the episcopate of his successor Bishop Gilbert (A.D. 1228-A.D. 1239.) Cf. Registrum Vetus Cenobii de Aberbrothoc, MSS. Adv. Bibl. ; and above, pp. 121, 122. In the year 1263, Sir William of Lamberton, rector of the church of Turreff (Turuereth), appears as a witness to a charter by Richard bishop of Aberdeen. (Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 562.) Ten years afterwards, the church of Turreff (Turrech, Turreth) was, by Alexander Cumyn earl of Buchan, bestowed upon the Hospital of Saint Congan, which he founded at Turreff, for a master, six chaplains, and thirteen poor husbandmen of Buchan. (Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i., pp. 30-34.)

The church of Turreff, by consent of the patron, Sir John Stuart earl of Buchan, was, in the year 1412, erected into a prebend of the cathedral of Saint Machar at Aberdeen. The whole fruits of the benefice (in which the Hospital of Saint Congan seems to have merged) were assigned to the prebendary, under burden of six merks yearly, a surplice, and certain other vestments, to a chaplain officiating in the cathedral, and of twelve merks yearly, with a toft and croft, to a perpetual vicar serving the cure of souls in the parish, and making his residence at Turreff. The right of presentation to the prebend was reserved to the Earl and his heirs. (Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i. pp. 213, 214; vol. ii. p. 253.) A manse in the Chanonry at Aberdeen, which, in contemplation of this erection, had been granted, in the year 1407, to Sir William Lang, rector of Turreff, was annexed to the prebend: it was built on a piece of ground which lay on the south side of the manse of the prebendary of Methlick, measuring eighty feet in breadth, and stretching from the public way on the east, to the Bishop's Loch on the west. (Id., vol. i. pp. 210, 211.)

ex Scotorum Ybernencium et Laynensium reguli genologia discendisse et ab adolescencia milicie deditum arcu et equitum cursu exercitatum tradidit hystoria. Sed vtrisque orbatus parentibus regnum paternum legibus et armis gubernandum rempublicam ipsam et eiusdem vtilitatem cunctis domesticis rebus et commodo singulari preferendam esse censuit et ordinauit Catholicam fidem seruandam et Dei sanctam ecclesiam decorandam Deo decimas soluendas et oblaciones frugum terre salutiferas ecclesie sacerdotibus tradendas statuit et sibi subiectis hec et similia palam inuiolabiliter seruanda iudicauit. Interea dum beatus ipse Conganus adeo regnum sibi a Deo commissum in pace et tranquillitate collocaret vt omnes qui sue iurisdictioni traditi fuerant sub Dei lege viuebant inuicem nemini iniuriam inferentes in tantum quod eius doctrina et lege omnes Deo magis seruiendum quam mundo preelegerent Sed qui bonorum operum insidiator inimicus est ille inueteratus in vicinos seu regulos zizaniam seminauit et aduersus beatum Conganum dira excitauit bella et suum regnum vi et armis depopulandum et depredandum illorum animos commouit: bello autem concito et multis ferro et sagittis vltro citroque peremptis Conganus tanta innocentum sanguinis aspersionem videns in fugam vertitur et per hostes fugatus pede sagitta percussus est sed illorum manus diuina virtute alia absque lesione euasit Regno paterno et ipsius vana gloria derelictis religionem ingreditur et cum Kentigerna sorore sua matrona Deo deditissima et filiis eius Felano Furseo et Vlcano viris Deo carissimis ac septem clericis aliis in Scociam nauigio peruenit et ad locum qui Lochelch dicitur in Erchadia boriali vbi acerrimam duxerat vitam Christianam vbique enuncians fidem solitariam vitam ducere regeo preelegit palacio et humili indutus cucullo castitatis aliis relinquebat exemplum . Quare eo in loco paulo post ob sanctitatem auunculi sui beatus ipse Felanus ecclesiam in eius honore construxit qua in presens vsque hodie

“John [fourth] lord Glammis succeeded his father [in the year 1497], who when he was Master marryed [in the year 1487] Elizabeth Gray daughter to the Lord Gray. . . . He had children George and John, both Lords of Glammiss, and Mr Alexander Lyon, chanter of Murray, who was a singular scholar in these tymes and was tutor to his brothers sones, and lyeth buried in the quire of Turreffe which he built; of whom being a churchman and unmarryed cam no laufull succession. He dyed in the yeare of God 1541." (The Pedigrie of the House of Glammiss, MS. (of the seventeenth century) in the possession of The Maitland Club.)]

ab illius terre incolis beatus ipse Conganus colitur et veneratur qui post longam et diuturnam huius vite miseriam sub regula et habitu monachali sancte et deuote viuendo spiritum Deo reddidit et in Yona sepultus est insula . I

Carta Roberti Regis concessa magistro et domui Hospitalis de Turrith super terra de Pets 2 (A.D. 1328.)

Robertus Dei gracia Rex Scotorum Omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre sue Salutem Sciatis nos dedisse concessisse et hac presenti

1 [From the Breuiarium Aberdonense, prop. Sanct. pro temp. estiuali, fol. cxxvii. The royal letter of privilege granted to the printers of this work, places beyond all doubt, that the Proprium Sanctorum owed much to the labours of good Bishop Elphinstone : "James etc. To al and sindrj our officiaris liegis and subdittis quham it efferis to quhais knawlage thir our lettres salcum greting Wit ye that forsamekill as our lovittis servitouris Walter Chepman and Andro Millar burgessis of our burgh of Edinburgh has at our instance and request for our plesour the honour and proffit of our realme and liegis takin on thame to furnis and bring hame ane prent with all stuff belangand tharto and expert men to use the samyne for imprenting within our realme of the bukis of our lawis actis of parliament croniclis mess bukis and portuus efter the use of our realme with addicionis and legendis of Scottis sanctis now gaderit to be ekit tharto and all utheris bukis that salbe sene necessar and to sel the sammyn for competent pricis be our avis and discrecioun thair labouris and expens being considerit And becaus we wnderstand that this cannot be perfurnist without rycht greit cost labour and expens we have grantit and promittit to thame that thai sall nocht be hurt nor prevenit tharon be ony utheris to tak copyis of ony bukis furtht of our realme to gar imprent the samyne in utheris cuntreis to be brocht and sauld agane within our realme to cause the said Walter and Androu tyne thair gret labour and expens And alis it is divisit and thocht expedient be us and our consall that in tyme cuming mes bukis manualis matyne bukis and portuus bukis efter our awin Scottis use and with legendis of Scottis sanctis as is now gaderit and ekit be ane reverend fader in God and our traist consalour Williame bischope of Abirdene and utheris be usit generaly within al our realme alssone as the sammyn may be imprentit and providit and that na maner of sic bukis of Salusbery use be brocht to be sauld within our realme in tyme cuming and gif ony dois in the contrar that thai sal tyne the sammyne Quharfor we charge straitlie and commandis yow al and sindrj our officiaris liegis and subdittis that nane of yow tak apon hand to do ony thing incontrar this our promitt devise and ordidance in tyme cuming under the pane of escheting of the bukis and punising of thair persons bringaris tharof within our realme in contrar this our statut with a rigour as efferis Geven under our prive sel at Edinburgh the xv day of September and of our regne the xxti yer [1507.]" (Registrum Secreti Sigilli, vol. iii. p. 129, printed in The Miscellany of The Maitland Club, vol. ii. part i. pp. 4—7.)]

2 [From the Registrum Album Ecclesie Aberdonensis, fol. cxxiiij. MSS. Adv. Bibl. The charter of foundation of the Hospital of Saint Congan at Turreff is printed in the

carta nostra confirmasse magistro et domui Hospitalis de Turreth · terram de Pets cum pertinentiis in puram et perpetuam elemosinam · ad inveniendum unum capellanum divina celebrantem imperpetuum infra Hospitale predictum pro anima Nigelli de Bruys a fratris nostri absque omni alia exactione servicio seu demanda In cujus rei testimonium. presenti carte nostre sigillum nostrum fecimus apponi hiis testibus Thoma Ranulphi comite Moravie domino Vallis Anandie et Mannie nepote nostro carissimo Waltero de Twyname cancellario nostro . Alexandro Fraser Roberto de Keth marescallo nostro Gilberto de Haya constabulario nostro Nicholao de Haya et Adam More militibus Apud Kynkell sexto decimo die Octobris vicesimo tercio

.

anno regni nostri

Instrumentum procuratorie ad recuperandum jus patronatus ecclesie de Erole (A.D. 1446.)

In Dei nomine Amen. Anno incarnationis Domini millesimo quadringentesimo sexto mensis Augusti die decima quinta. In mei notarii publici et testium subscriptorum presentia personaliter constitutus nobilis et potens dominus Dominus Willelmus de Haia dominus de Errol et constabularius

hereditarius regni Scotie constituit carissimum consanguineum suum Dominum Gilbertum de Haia militem verum procuratorem dando eidem

Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp. 467-470; and in the Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i., pp. 30–34.

"William de Kircuthbright / mestre del Hospital de Turrythe/ del counte de Banf" swore fealty and homage to King Edward I. of England, on the subjugation of Scotland, in the year 1296. (The Ragman Rolls, p. 164.)]

a [Sir Niel or Nigel de Bruys, (the third brother of King Robert I.), a youth of great beauty, was taken by the English in the castle of Kildrummy, and was put to death at Berwick, or at Newcastle, in the year 1306. (J. Forduni Scotichronicon, lib. xii., cap. xi., vol. ii., p. 233; Scalacronica, p. 131; Chronicon de Lanercost, p. 206; Lord Hailes' Annals of Scotland, vol. ii., pp. 13, 14.) The Archdeacon of Aberdeen relates that tidings of the capture of the young knight and his companions were brought to the English King as he lay on his death-bed at Burgh-on-the-Sands, and that, when it was asked of him what should be done with these captives, he exclaimed, with a ghastly smile, Hang and draw:

"Then lukyt he angyrly thaim to

"And said grynnand Hyngis and drawys.'” (Barbour's Bruce, book iii., ll. 549, 550; p. 74, edit. 1820.)]

1 [Abridged from a copy in the charter room at Slaines.]

suam plenariam potestatem ad prosequendum pro se et in nomine suo jus patronatus ecclesie de Errolle injuste ab eo alienatum et detentum ut dictus constituens asserit tam in consilijs generalibus regni Scotie coram domino nostro Rege ac domino nostro episcopo Sancti Andree seu domino nostro et papa sanctissimo Domino Eugenio quarto seu eorum commissarijs etiam in concilijs generalibus et specialibus uniuersalis ecclesie⚫ necnon in domo capituli ordinis Cartusianorum aut alibi ubicunque et ad intimandum predictis domino nostro Regi vel episcopo aut aliis quibuscunque et iisdem exponendum qualiter olim quondam nobilis et potens dominus Dominus Willelmus de Haia dominus de Erolle et constabularius hereditarius dicti regni avus predicti constituentis cujus heres et successor immediatus existit coactus ob timorem illustrissimi principis et domini Domini Jacobi Regis nostri ultimo defuncti fecit quandam donationem ac juris patronatus predicte ecclesie de Erolle alienationem sibi hereditarie et successoribus suis sub spe et conditione cujusdam recompensationis aliarum ecclesiarum patronatus ad valorem dicte ecclesie de Erole quam sibi similiter hereditarie promisit idem Rex in fauorem ejusdem fundationis ecclesie collegiate ordinis Carthusiensis prope villam de Perth per eundem illustrissimum principem in eodem regno noviter fundate Quamquidem recompensationem predictus quondam dominus de Erroll a predicto domino Rege ultimo defuncto licet sepius rogatam minime recuperare potuit. Propter quas causas et alias predictus constituens dicit predictam alienationem nullam fuisse et dictum jus patronatus sibi integre et indubite pleno jure spectare Et super hujusmodi intimatione remedium juris a domino nostro Eugenio papa quarto cum omni humilitate et instancia postulare ac etiam ab aliis principibus et prelatis et ceteris quibuscunque quorum interest requirere et exponere et cum omni reverentia et precibus quibus decet solatium juris implorare Et generaliter omnia alia faciendum que in premissis necessaria fuerint. Promisitque idem constituens se ratum habere quicquid per dictum procuratorem suum actum fuerit in premissis. De et super quibus predictus constituens me notarium publicum subscriptum sibi facere petiit publicum instrumentum. Acta fuerunt hec in ecclesia Fratrum Minorum ville de Dundee anno et mense quibus supra Presentibus Willelmo de Fenton • Johanne de Culase et Edmundo de Haia filio cum multibus aliis testibus.

Et ego Johannes Idill clericus Sancti Andree diocesis publicus auctoritate Imperiali notarius [etc.] ·