52 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1956-57.

IV.

DOCUMENTS RELATIN PRIORE ISLE MAYF TH TH EO O F GYT O , c. 1140-1313. BY A. A. M. DUNCAN, M.A., F.S.A.ScoT.

INTRODUCTION . I. 1 In 1868 the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland published a volume with the title Records of the Priory of the Isle of May, edited by Dr John Stuart and containing the text of documents relating to that house preserved in the charter roll of 35 Edward I and in the now lost Register of St Andrews priory. The following documents supplement that collection and are in e maith n derived fro ma cartular f Readinyo g abbey, Egerto . 3031MS n (cited henceforward as E), which is now in the British Museum.2 This sourcr Archibal Si s use y wa edb d Lawri printeo wh e d three charterf o s David I therefrom in his Early Scottish Charters, and these three are here reprinted thao s 3 t thi s complet a collectioe b y a esupplemen ma n s a t possible least ,a t fo12te rth h century,Ho that publishe 1868 Stuart'n dr i D . s introduction requires modificatio mann no y pointlighe th documentf o tn si s printed in his volume and in this one,5 and some account of the priory of 1 I have to thank Professor W. Croft Dickinsou and Dr D. B. Easson for reading these pages and making many useful comment . BarroS d . suggestions s answerean W sw ha . G r dM .man y queries with unfailing patience. The errors which remain are, of course, my own responsibility. 2 Catalogue of Additions Manuscriptso t Britishe th n i Museum, 1921-5, . 302-3 maie pp Th n. texf o t this manuscrip writtes wa t n lase inth t decad 12te th documente hf eth o century l al d an s, here printed from it were entered then. A good colour photograph of one page is to be found in M. R. James, Abbeys (Great Western Railway, 1925 reduce a paga . 82) ,p f d Scottisf o e o ,an e don h . ThoytscharterB . B n ,si How to Decipher and Study Old Documents (2nd ed. 1903), p. 92. 3 Nos. 42-4. 4 The documents are numbered in continuation of those in Stuart's collection; the latter is cited as "Stuart" when no document number can be given. Citations of "No. 1" to "No. 41" refer to Stuart, of "No. 42" to "No. 59" to the text following this introduction. r StuarD 5 e readintth denie) x g. "Inveri(p s fuie nqu t Averin favoun "i f "Inverio r e fuiqu nt Averni invento s d "fictitiouan a s s landowner called Avernus manuscripd r ha thi e Fo sh . t authority, suco n hd authorit ha contradictes i fictitious e t i hi H t r . yfo bu E sy clasdb gilleserff so s (pp. Ixxi-lxxv) Gilleserd an personaa s fi l nam . BarrowS e. (seW . e,G "D rGilleserfe Stuarth d an tClackmannan,f so " Scottish Gaelic Studies, vn, 193-5). Dr Stuart fathers upon earlier writers (such as Spottiswoode, p. Ixv, view) 1 vere . n sth y opposit thosf eo e which certai thew no y ns i held that I t Adrian.S t subjece th , f to lata e medieva identifiee b islande l th o cult n s i o t,d cels wit hi t Ethernanl hS e therd th ha n eo i wh , 9th century (cf. No. 53 with Stuart, p. xv, n. 1). For a revised list of priors and a different account of the transfer of the priory from Beading to St Andrews, see below, pp. 61-70. Many of Dr Stuart's references are wrong, and in particular all references in his Preface to the documents in the "Appendix to Preface" are eight pages short of the true page number—probably because the extracts from the Treasurer's accounts were inserted afte preface th r printes ewa d off. DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 53

May willhopeds i t i , , serv usefua s ea l introductio whole th o net collection. It is not intended to discuss the priory after it had become Augustinian and settlemainlane th n do t Pittenweemda .

II. The abbe Readinf yo foundes gwa kiny db g Henr Englanf o yI 112n di 1 independenn a s a t hous f blaceo k monks followin e customgth obserd san - vances of Cluny.1 The evidence to show when David I founded a cell of his brother-in-law's abbey in Scotland is meagre and of uncertain value. Four papal confirmations earliese th , 20tf to h June 1123 lasEugeniue f ,th (o t s III) datable 1145 x 53, list the possessions of Reading without mention of king David's endowments.2 Adrian IV's bull, datable 115 , introduce8 4x e th s latte fora n rmi which yield evidenco sn monastif eo c colonisation—manerium quod dicitur Rindalgros . . . insulam Mail . . .3—and not until the bull of Innocen I doeII e tgif th st appea s "tha rs it ewity l prioral hMa f o y appurtenances. the y priorb A nd " beeyha n existencni r somefo e fifty

years. It may b4 e judged that the similar failure of Eugenius III to mention the Scottish possessions of Reading in his bull is not evidence that they must have been granted after 1145. Papal confirmations were not an

up-to-date record of the monastery's6 possessions, but the length of the s uncertaini tim g ela probabld an , y varied. These bull e mosar s t safely use indicato dt e wha firse th t t Scottish endowments were—Rindalgros (now parise Rhynd)e th th f h o isl e Mayf e,th froo d man , earl Gospatrick, "a house in port.a priorite Th " y give papan ni l document Rindalgroo st borns si e out by the Scottish evidence, for king David gave that vill—lying three miles eas Perth—betweef o t n 114 115d 1an 0 wit provise hth r o e thah f i t his heirs e giftadde thao th s , a conveno tdt t coul maintainede db , then Reading abbey should sen a dconven o thit t s placeking'e Th .s letter,

witnessess datee whicit b y n db h ca addresses i , abboe th Readingf o dt o , 6 Brian fitz Count (who kept Wallingfor e empresth r fo ds Matildae th d an ) conven Readingf o t stated an , s that Rindalgro beed sha n perambulatey db the king, William Giffard, Herbert the Chamberlain, and others unnamed. Two of these persons—Brian fitz Count and William Giffard—deserve some consideration. Brian fitz Counfira s m wa tsupporte emprese occurrence th th f o rd san e

1 See note at the end of this introduction for the unusual status of Beading abbey. 2 Walther Holtzmann, Papsturkunden in England, iii [Abhandlungen der Akademie der Wissen- schafte Gottingenn i u , Philologisch-Historische Klasse, dritt . eThi 85 folge , . 331s 28 Nr ,, Nos12 , 9 . volum s hereafteei r cite s Holtzmannda England,U P , s obtainabli t iiiI . Edinburgn ei h University Library. 3 Ibid., . 126No . Cat. Papal Letters, i, 28; Migne, Opera Innocentii III, II, 1123.

4 5 The earliest possible date of Eugenius Ill's bull. 6 No. 1. 54 . PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1956-57.

nams ohi f thin ei s context suggests tha lettee th t r belong tima o st e when he exercised royal rights of patronage over Beading abbey on behalf of Matilda, a time when king Stephen was not in control of Berkshire. The years which best satisfy these conditions are 1141—4. William Giffard

appears in the witness list of king David's letter as a mon1 k and in a position which departs fro usuae mth l hierarchy: "fratre Willelmo Giffard, Gaufrido abbat Dunfermeline d e , Edwardo cancellario, Walter e Bidunod , Nicolao clerico, Dunecano comite, Hugone de Morevilla, Herberto camerario, Walter e Lindesied o , Leo e Brechind d , apud Dunfermelin." William 2 Giffard occur onln sothei o ytw r place Scottisn si h sources e firstth ; , king David's giff halo t f Balgalliy prioryMa o ,t n wher e witnesseth e e ar s "Gregorio episcop e Duncheldend o t Andree , a episcop e Cateneisd o t e , Willelmo Giffard et Dunecano comite et Alfwino filio Archil, apud Dun- fermelin; e seconth e samd th d an e" king's confirmatio e giff o th t f o n Liddesdale church to Jedburgh abbey by Randolph de Sules, where the •witness list reads "WilleZmo Falc'. WilleZmo Giffard. abbafe Calcoensi Arnaldo/priore de Rading'. . Eduuard cancellario regis. Engelramo cancel- lario comitis. Nicholao/clerico. Waltero de Bidim. Gospatric comite. Hugone de Moreui'ZZa. " Liddesdale church does not feature in the general

confirmations given by3 David I and earl Henry to Jedburgh abbey, August 1147 x 12th June 1152,4 and de Sules' gift and the king's confirmation are to be dated withi e samnth e limits firse Th t .fou r namee lasth tf witnesso s list present difficulties 'Williar fo , m Falc. otherwiss i ' e unknow Arnald nan d was almost certainl prioe th abboReadingf e t o ryth Kelsf no o t d t I oan . is just possible that William Giffard by the time of this last writ was prior of Reading quitd an , e certai somnd thaha ee h tspecia l connection wite hth Reading dependencie Scotlandn i s thesn i r efo , three lists—all connected with Reading—he enjoys a priority over all but bishops. The family connections both of this William Giffard, and of the later Scottish Giffards are alike unknown. s possibli t I e that William Giffard e monkth s , wa ,

connected with Walte5 r Giffard, ear Buckinghamf o l witd namesakes ,an hhi , 1 See the article by J. H. Bound in Die. Nat. Biog., "Fitzcount, Brian." I owe this suggestion to my colleague, Mr D. A. Bullough. 2 No. 3. 3 S.B.O. Crown Office , eacWrits3 . h obliqueNo , strok e originalinea e f Th indicatino . d l en e gth shows trace foldes stils hastef wa lswa o dwetd k whilan in , . e eth Printe . RReidy dC b . , Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, 3 ser. xxvi (1949), 155. 4 Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, CLXXXIX, cxc. t Andrews,S 5 . 208-10pp , 248-50; Laing Charters, ; Dunfermline,2 . No . 152No ; Tester Writs, Nos. 1-8, show the connection between Hugh, Walter, and William Giffard and the countess Ada, styled " domina mea " by Hugh Giffard in Newbattle, No. 81. These brothers were with David, earl of Hunting- don, in Northamptonshire,-Sir Christopher Hatton's Book of Seals, ed. L. C. Lloyd and D. M. Stenton, Nos. 200, 220. Earl Henry had a clerk called William Giffard, who remained with countess Ada after deats hi h havy (Dunfermline,ma e o beewh n. 151 d engageNo )an controversn di y with William Comyn ove e churcth r Budleigf ho h (Devon) about 1152 (Saltman, Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, 144-6), cannoe h t bu t have bee mone nth k with here who. ar eS e m. concernedw W . indebtem G a r I ( M . o dt Barro thir wfo s last reference. alse oSe )C'oupar . Angus,IX . No DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 55

bishop of Winchester from 110 o 11297t t therbu , s nothinei shoo gt wn i what way. Thus nothing more definitsaie b dn thaca e n tha vile r manoth to l f o r Rindalgros was granted by king David after 1141, and that the king then had in mind the augmentation of his gift and the foundation of a cell at Rhynde th . Ther reasotitho e n th s ei doubd o nt an y t tha Ma isle f eth to s fishingoit f this swa s augmentation t comei r fo , s secon Rindalgroo dt n si Adrian IVs lisf Scottiso t h possessions;1 unfortunately o documenn , t survives to record the grant. Malcolm IV, however, confirmed an unspecified "gift and grant of king David as he gave and confirmed it with his charter in all things, as much lands as waters and meadows. Wherefore I order theo d me on injurtha r o exacn t no y t anything from them, except only what was exacted in the time of my grandfather." 2 There had been a charter recording the "donatio et concessio" of king David, but the appeal to the custom of his time suggests that its terms were not specifically known. King William's general confirmation (1166 x71) lists only those possessions for which earlie individuad an r l charter evidence still survives, t omitbu 3 s islandt only no t alsyMa bu ,o Rindalgros latte e tims th cele hi t erth y la B . had come to an end, and a priory flourished on the island—a- reversal of the circumstances envisaged in king David's grant of the Rhynd. It is possible that the lost grant of May isle similarly did not accord with the circumstance kinf so g William's time. r whateveFo r reaso nchartea lackings ri absencs it , e leave uncertais su n of the date at which king David gave May isle to Reading abbey; charter evidence permits onl datee yth s 114 50—th1x e sam grane thoss th ea r tefo of Rindalgros. A cell was indeed founded at the Rhynd, presumably in accordance wit e declarehth d intentio s writ f kinhi n o f so g e Davidon r fo , orders the payment of tithes to "the monks of Rindalgros," and can be dated 114 53.7x Thi firsse strongesd th facan t s i t t argument tha grantinn i t g

the isl4 e of May, the king did not intend the setting up of a priory there. The islan indees dwa d associated wit h9th-centura y missionary t Ethernan,S , 5 but there is no evidence that the king was inspired with devotion to his cult, and his name does not occur in royal charters. The foundation of a cel addition li Rhyne thano th t t ta d would see mdefeao t king'e th t s purpose tha adequatn a t e provisio firse th tr celnfo l should still leav esurplua s of revenu r Readinefo g abbey. In the second place, the isle of May was ill-suited to the monastic customs ohousa f e with Cluniac observances mord an , e appropriat thosef o e ,on s ea

1 Holtzmann, PU England, . 126 inNo ,. 2 No. 10. I suspect that this confirmation was intended to cover all the possessions of the priory, includo t d an e Rindalgros. possiblA . 12 e . exceptioNo 3 gif a earf s no ti l Gospatrick. 53 . whicr No fo , e hse 4 No. 7. 5 No. 53. 56 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1956-57.

"desert places" soughearle th yy b Cistercianst valuabla s wa t eI .endow - ment, for, accordin t Kentiger S e liff th o e o gt n written between 114d 7an 1164 "aboundefishinge y th , Ma f o s muco ds h that from every shore come many fishermen, English, Scots, and men from the shores of Belgium and France sak th fishingf fitley r o whof o efo y l Ma e isl mreceivef al ,th e o n si s harbours.it "Apart fro e emphasim th priore th n ysi writ fishingsn o s ,

ther independens ei 1 t evidenc supporo et t this statemen wria f kinn o i t g William protectin canone gth Holyroof so d from illegal distraint "eithen i r f e Holyroodisl f Mayth [o eo Scotia t n a , r me wheo ]e comnth e thero et fish." 2 The value of May was in the shelter of its rocks and the harvest of the waters around it. s fishinit d Readino gt an y Afte Ma ggif e f abbeyth o rt smala , l s celwa l founded on the island with the duty of administering the endowment. The likelihood that this was not at first a conventual priory derives a small measure of support from those charters of David I (most of them datable x 1150) which speak only of "brethren" or "monks" and not of a "priory" of Maye samTh e. king's charter f dato s e 114spea3 a 5 prio 7x f r ko o r prior shod yan w tha a convent beed ha tn established, probably wite hth support of king David. In 1293 its numbers were said to have been nine,

doubtfus i t i statement a f i bu l reliee b lato n ds t eca upon . 3 It seems certain that from, the first the priory ran into difficulties. King David's gift of common pasture in the shires of Kelly and Crail, and else- where,4 of commoning on the moor of Clackmannan,5 and king Malcolm's specificatio royaf no l protection, involvin e prohibitiogth f fishine no th n gi priory -waters, buildin islands it n diggind go san r takingo g gras May,n o s 6 all suggest a severe shortage of pasture, for which the grant of tofts in Berwick,7 Haddington 8 and Bele 9 -was no relief. These burgage tenements, and especiall laste yth , which seems soo havo nt e been exchange tofa r tdfo Dunban i r -with berthin shie carro pon t r necessitiee gyfo th house,e th f so 10 may be connected with the need to market the fish which came to the priory. From king Davi priore dth y received Pittenwee Inverin,d man hald 11an f

of Balgallin, t tha a streae t tth bu endowmentmf o s ceased. Isolation must 2

have been th1 e greatest difficulty, for the priory was not merely remote . from supplie weatherd ba n s i t als,bu o expose piraco dt goodyn i . According Orkneyinge th o t a saga Orknen a , y pirate landeislane th t somn da do e time in the decade 1140—50, sheltering for seven days from the storm. The monks under their abbot (sic) Baldwin disbelieve -wholls dhi y untrue account of himself and sent for aid to the mainland. Accordingly their island was

1 Glasgow, I, Ixxxiv; Anderson, Early Sources, I, 129. 2 Holyrood, No. 28 (1189 x 99). 3 Stuart, p. Ixxxvi. * No. 3. 5 No. 5. . 6 . No ' . 42 . No 8 . 46 . No 6 . 53 . No 9 . 12 . 1No 0 . 4 Inveri . t "MouansNo S s ni . 12 No. 3. I have failed to identify this place. It may be Baglillie, which was "Balglaly" (but crown e 14tlandth hn )i century ; R.M.S., , 241I , 287, Appendi , 976xII . DOCUMENTS RELATIN PRIORO GT F ISL YO F MAY 7 O E5 . plundered before the pirate sailed on to Edinburgh, where he told his friend, king Davids deeds e kinhi f Th go ,. compensate e sufferers.th d 1 narrative Th f whiceo h this forms at ,reliabl parno s details it s i t n t ei bu , there is no reason for rejecting its outline, and it illustrates the vulnerability islane oth f d convent. As a final argument of king David's intentions, it may be noted that in grans hi t hele Balgallib d o landt y "aalmy s hellonm e so an n s ,ar wa n d i g as ther (fuerit)s ei convena f monko t May,n si " phrasa 2 e whic usualls hi y takea circumlocutio s na r "info perpetuity meay e verma nth t y bu " opposite.3 No other phrase of "perpetuity" occurs in the grant, nor is this phrase found elsewhere in king David's charters. Thus there is a strong suggestion, thoug conclusivo hn e proof, that Davi dI intende prioro dn r yfo May islan tha d convene dan tth t there owe existencs dit "haphazarde th eo t " colonisation carriemonasteriey b t dou Cluniae th f so c observance.4 Whether the interpretation of king David's intentions given here is correct or not, this final assessment, that Reading abbey colonised in Scotland with more enthusiasm than wisdom, is fairly certain, for it seems to have become apparent to the mother house a few years after the death of the old king. The monks of Rindalgros still maintained their cell in the early years of Malcolm IV, "when the tithes of that vill were granted to them;5 e vilth l t was kinbu s a , g Davi seend dha , inadequat e maintenancth r efo e of a convent, and the monks were faced with the alternatives of continuing an extra-conventual, and therefore irregular life, or leaving the vill to be exploite somn di e other way re-enterind an , e convength f Readino t r g(o another dependency thereof). The decisio abandoo nt Rhyne th celprobable s t nth a l dwa y takey nb Reading abbey seemd an , havo st e bee t intnpu o abour effeco yeae n i tth t r somewha1160e Th . t complicated reason thir sfo s conclusio followss a e nar : in one of the charters printed below, Malcolm IV confirmed to "the monks i suntqu y deo Ma fHading'" exchangn a e chapeth tithef d eo an l Perthf so , r severawhicfo d hlha the yeard y gify ha kinf sb o t g David r fivfo ,e merks from the reeves of Perth,6 or, according to a later confirmation, five merks fro e cai mth f shipn o s comin o Perth.gt 7 These five merks, which Dun- fermline abbe agreed yha fiv e giv o dappea, t th e e merkup b o rt s grantey db Davi Dunfermlino t dI e fro firse mth t ships comin Stirlino gt Perth,r go 8a 1 Icelandic Sagas (Rolls Series, 88) , 144I , ; in, 149; Andersou, Early Sources, , 194II . 2 No. 3. For proiverunt read periverunt. 3 It is possible that king David hoped to move the convent from May island to the Rhynd. e Cluniath s cwa practict "I occupo et estatn ya e with hal dozea f o n n d monkha o r leso s wh s stabl4 e existence or the power of receiving recruits." Some cells developed, others "dragged on a more irregular existence." Knowles, Monastic Order England,n i y e histor153e priorTh th Ma .f f yo o cele Riudalgrof th o l d an s illustrates these points well. . 8 . No 5 6 No. 45. ' No. 12 8 Dunfermline,. 2 . No 58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1956-57.

grant still effective in 1155 xO but not in 1165 x8. The ancient appro- 1 a priation to Dunfermline of St John's kirk, Perth ( x 1136),8 was augmented by Malcolm IV into the grant of the church of Perth and the chapel of the appearo s castl t i ed s an (1154agai) 60 n 1167ni e x fiv 8.Th 5ex 2 annual merks fro e cai mf th Stirlinno r Pertgo h were thus limite Perto dt d han priory yielde Ma exchangn yi o dt e chape th r f Perto efo l hs it castl d ean tithes (now given to Dunfermline), between 1157 and 1160. priory Ma Hoy d acquirewha chapee dth Pertf o l h tithes castlit d s? e an The wri Davif o t dI orderin g paymen tithemonkf e o tth o Rindalgrof st s o s has already been mentioned. Perthshirf o n addresses i me t t I l 5ebu al o dt it cannot be taken to apply to the tithes of the Rhynd. In the first place these were granted by Malcolm IV in a charter which seems (from the inclusion of dedisse) not to be a confirmation,6 and in the second it is unlikely that a royal writ would be necessary for the enforcement of tithes so local. The most obvious, and indeed the only, possible alternative to the tithes of the Rhynd are the tithes due to the chapel of Perth castle, which thus belonged reige monke th Davi th f nn o i ,o Rindalgrosf t so , dI . O nclosa e examination this explains rather than contradicts Malcolm IV's confirmatio exchange th f no e effectewit y priore th h Ma y Dunfermlinf ydb o e abbey. chapee titheTh d 7 statean le sar havo dt e been owned "for several year gify kinf sb o t g David "quiy e monkth Ma y f sunt"b so de Rading'." suggestes i t I d that this last cele phras monkf th lo f o ed s merk froen e msth Readin t Rindalgrosga transfee th , thef o theird man r endowmenty Ma o st priory before 1160, and indicates why May priory could dispose of an endow- ment of Rindalgros. It need scarcely be added that the immediate value of tithes rendere kinn di t Pertda h woul considerable db monko e et th t a s Rhynd t muc,bu h lesisland y monko st Ma who o ,t n so mt wouli distana e db t responsibility. Exchange for an annual cash payment was the natural consequence of the transfer suggested above.8 A tailpiecsa histore th o eRindalgrof t notee y o b y d thama t si t among the puzzles presented by the list of religious houses compiled about 1207 by Gervas Canterburf eo "ths yi e prior f Perthyo , black monks." 9 Thiy sma be a late echo of the abortive cell at the Rhynd, and was to undergo yet one more twist when the list was revised in the late 13th century. The priory of Perth turns up again, this time with "black nuns." 10 The parish of Rhyn containew no d a dCistercia n (white) nunnery,e Elchoth d an , revisor seems to have altered his text to make the best of a bad job. 1 Dunfermline, . 35 . No 2 Dunfermline,. 50 . No 3 Dunfermline, . 1 . No * Dunfermline,. 40 . No c No. 7. • No. 8. ' No. 45. 8 This annual rent was still being paid in the early 14th century (Exch. Rolls, I, 66, 88, 168, 264, 306, 364) but must have been compounded thereafter, as it is not mentioned in Excn. Rolls, ir. Cf. R.M.S., I, Appendix II, 1325. 8 Gervase f Canterburyo (Bolls Series, 73), 11, 441; Auderson, Scottish Annals, . 327p . 10 Hadda Stubbsd nan , Councils, , 182i . ;pt , AndersonII , Early Sources, n, 698. DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 59

III. Under Willia e Lionacquirey m th e prior Ma th , f o yd Pittoter,e th 1 remaining hal f Balgallin,o f minod an 2 r privileges. Other scattered lands along the Fife coast came to it and its mainland possessions seem to have made ever increasing demands upoe prior e timth nth f o e. Thero n s ei indication of how these lands were exploited or what they were worth, though in the later 13th century the priory was said to be worth 400 merks per annum—doubtless an exaggeration—and was sold for £1000.3 Unfortunatel t i ydoet occuno s n Bagimond'i r s taxatio f n 127i no r 4no any subsequent valuations until the 16th century, but that it was fairly •wealthy is indicated by its acquisition in the Lammermuirs of pasturage for 300 sheep, 30 cows, 24 mares, and 10 sows.4 Presumably in consequence of these extensive landward interests, as early as 1202 x 6 the prior appears as "prior of Pittenweem" 5—the first of two occasions on which this title was used in the 13th century (the second being in 1270).6 It is clear that the church and convent remained on May until the end of the century, but the prior must have been residing for long periods in a house at Pittenweem 12te th hf o century d en onlr e fo ,th titls y explainedy hi e thu eb b n sca . Founded from Reading, May was to that abbey in the relationship of Cluniaa c dependenc mothee th o yt r house.7 This Cluniac relationshis pwa not stereotyped, for in all cases ecclesiastical subjection was modified by the demands of the lay founder whose feudal or proprietary rights over the cell which he endowed could not be ignored. The visitatorial rights of the abbo Clunf o t y ove whole th r e order were rarely exercise Englann di d dan in any case Reading and May stood outside this system. Reading abbey was founded with Cluniac monks, continued to follow the customs and observances of Cluny and was described as "Cluniac" in 12th-century papal documents e abbo Th f Readin.o t g owe o obediencn d o Clunyt e , and Reading was not, therefore, a Cluniac house as that term is now understood; but in the 12th century, since Reading was Cluniac in custom— and particularly in its relationships with its daughter houses—there were feature f ecclesiasticao s l subjectio e foundinth o nt g house whic t hwouli d undoubtedly see prioryy preservo kt e casprofessioMa e th f th e:o n ei f no obedience of individual monks to it, the right of visitation and disciplining, the right to appoint the prior and (what did not necessarily go therewith) righe th deprivo t e him lastld righe ,an monea y th o t y tribute, marking this subjection. In the face of this hierocratic aim, the lay founder had

. 15 . 1No . 47. No.. cf ;No 2 .12 3 Stuart . Ixxxvi-lxxxviipp , . . 24 . No 4 5 Advocate 15.1.18. . 33 sMS . No , 6 A.P.S., , 102I . papan I 7 l letterfirss wa t f 125describey so 7Ma Benedictina s da e prior thed Cluniaa ys an n a c one (Col. Papal Letters, i, 340, 344). 60 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1956-57.

assero t t explicitl patronatuss iu e yth whic implicis h wa accepte d an t n di e oldeth f ro Benedictine on e relationshio t th n ki e s a founde hi f po d an r houses. Many 12th-century Cluniac foundation charters in England are veritable capitulations between lay founder and founding house, expressing the compromise of the Cluniac aim with the claims of the founder. Their general characteristics are to state the obligation of the mother house to maintai ncertaia n numbe limio t f s monkrighte celd o it rt th an l f n o si s interference in the government thereof.1 In the case of May priory the payment of a tribute was not to our knowledge disputed, and in the 13th century it owed Reading sixteen merks annually.8 There is nothing to show whether May could admit novices, but certainly it could clothe a dying man with the habit and accept him in monachatum.3 Most houses of the Cluniac order were privately founded, and Reading probably stood outside this "order" because founded by a king, who sought the benefits of reformed (Cluniac) observance without the disadvantage of external control from Cluny. But if Henry I of England was not prepared compromiso t rights ehi patronagf so e wit hmothea r house same th , e does not see mhavo t e been tru Davif e o Scotlandf o dI . Foreseein sendine gth g of a convent to Rindalgros he allowed that it should draw its needs from his endowments but the remainder was to go "to the use and disposition" of Reading.* This seem recogniso st erelationshia f continuinpo g depend- ence, while the presence of the prior of Reading at David's court 6 also implies some visitation or supervision of May priory. A different attitude is shown in king William's charter granting both halve f Balgalli prioryo sy Ma ,o n t "s oo ought y tha t prioe Ma no th tf o r be removed at any time except for manifest fault previously adjudged r rabeforo y e successorm ee bisho t Andrewsth S thao f d s o p an tsd an , there shall be there a convent of thirteen monks of the Cluniac observance." 6 Determined to secure the religious benefits of the foundation, the king also asserte s rightdhi f disciplinso e against e mothethosth f eo r house. There would be little point in forbidding Reading to remove a prior if appointments were not already subject to royal supervision or control,7 and thus this charter expresse e Cluniae defeath th s f o t c e royahierocratith y l b m ai c vie monasterief wo Eigenkloster.s sa Unfortunately ther e onlroyao ar e ytw l charter f dato s e 1214—86o t 8 t againsse twenty-sevee th t n given betwee . 114 nc 1214d 0an thao s , t little can be learned of the exercise of royal patronage in the 13th century. There are many 13th-century private charters in Dr Stuart's collection, some of

1 Knowles, Monastic Order, 154-8. For Beading a,s a "Cluniac" house see Note at the end of

this Introduction. 2 Hurry, Beading Abbey, 180, No. LXV (Brit. Mus. Addit. Charter 19633); Stuart, xci. . 25 . . 1 . No 3 No 4 s jedburgh charter cited above (54). . 47 . No 6 Bower'e Se s accoun tinfluence e (whicb y h ma latter-da y db y nationalism kinf o ) g Alexander Ill's attitud appointmenn 7 a o et t from Beading, below (61). . 8 20 Nos , 19 . DOCUMENTS RELATIN PRIORO GT F ISLY O F MAY EO 1 6 .

which suggest that Reading abbey was still intimately concerned in the business islane affairth f do s convent seae f ReadinTh o l . appendeds gwa , along with that of May, to several agreements x whose validity without the former would presumably have been doubtful. This accords wit e fachth t that in the later 12th century the papacy had prohibited the alienation of May's possessions without the consent of the mother house.2 On two occasion e Scottisth s h priory litigate s procuratoa d r Readinfo r g abbey over property in Berwick,3 which seems to have belonged in fact, and perhaps in common law, to the priory, but in which the abbey had an interest in canon law. But the evidence is too slight to give any definition of this relationship. From the remonstrance to king Alexander III printed below,4 it does seem that all was not going smoothly with the priory. Probably about 1256 ther troubls ewa e wit bishoe t Andrewhth S f po s over procurations5 and, in 1257, when Reading complained to the pope of the unjust alienatio usurpatiod nan e priory'th f no s possessions commissioa , n was issued to judges delegate to help in their recovery.6 Eighteen months later a further commission was issued to the abbot of Dryburgh and the prior of Coldingha msecuro t restoratioe eth Readino nt g abbee chapeth f yf o o l Perth long detaine Dunfermliny db e abbey "wity la e suppor e hth th f o t power." 7 Nothing further is known of this attempt to go back upon a century-old agreement, but it suggests that there may have been some justification for the king's later interference.

IV. According to Walter Bower 8 prior Hugh died in 1269 and Reading sent north one William, a monk of Reading, to fill his seat. But king Alexander III, althoug admittee hh d William "pro tune", feare dangee dth r which might reale aris th hande Englishmann mf suco th ea i t f n i hsplaco a s ewa d an , decided to buy the priory. To hasten the doing so, and to have quittance of the monks of Reading, William Wishart, bishop of St Andrews, paid 700 merks, and then annexed the priory to the priory of St Andrews. It is probable that Bower attributed the outcome of later negotiations to an earlier demarche, for his circumstantial details cannot be wholly false.9 cleas i t i r t froBu m documents whic r StuarhD t printe n whicd ca dan e hh 1 Nos. 31, 40. 2 No. 55. » Nos. 32, 36. 4 No. 56. 5 Col. Papal Letters, I, 344; Theiner, Vetera Monumenta, cxciv. 6 No. 36 (dated 31st January 1257). ' Dunfermline, . 602No , from Advocate 15.1.18. (13t4 1 . MS sh JunNo , e 1258) amon t AndrewgS s priory documents, presumably through the later appropriation of May priory. ScoUchronicon, . Goodalled , 110—11II , .

8 Elsewher e 15tth hn i ecentur alleges wa s returt yi dhi than n "o tfro m England king William 9 appropriated to himself the [priory] of May . . . expelling the [Reading] monks from it, and assigned the island ... to the monastery of St Andrews." Priory of Coldingham (Surtees Soc. 12), 250-1. This is probably a confusion of king Alexander and bishop William, for it is most unlikely that William the Lion took measures against the priory of May after the treaty of Falaise. 62 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1956-57.

scarcely have read—the parliament roll of king John Balliol, and the schedule attached to it—that the sale did not take place until much later, and that t Williano s mwa t Wishars i successohi t bu t r William Fraser, bishof o p St Andrews, who made the purchase. In the parliament of John Balliol held at Scone on 10th February 1292-3 there compeared two attorneys of the abbot and convent of Reading with a petition asking that the king and his council should give such remedy and such counsel that the house e kino th ff Englan go d (Reading e e houskin th th f Scotlan go f d eo an ) d (May) should not be parted ("descrite") and their alms destroyed. The petition narrate detain si l that Reading f whico , kine hth Englanf go s dwa patron, was endowed by king David of Scotland, with the priory of May, worth 400 merks or more, to be served by nine monks of Reading. Abbot Robert de Burghgate of Reading, now deposed, with the aid of a party of his monks, now in restraint, but against the will of the older and wiser part, sold the priory, to the detriment of the king of England, patron of kine Reading th Scotlandf go f o d an , , patron May—thougf o t thiha s time there was no king of Scotland (com a eel tens rey de Escoce ne avoit)—to Willia esto e presenmth ce )e bisho(k t f Sainpo t Andrews r £1000fo , f o , whic paie hh abboo dt t Robert only 314 t merksthia t d s timha Bu . e eh no right to purchase the priory, for he was chief Guardian of the Realm, and sworn to guard the realm, and the estate of the king who was to come, without Imrt. The petition goes on to ask for the fruits of the prior ys alienated—i sincwa t i e l foual n re followinyearth n o s g Palm Sunday (22nd March 1293)—and for justice.1 Thus it would appear that bishop William Fraser purchased the priory froy moMa f Reading abbe t somya e date after Palm Sunday (21st March) 1288, when presumably the last payment of the annual due of sixteen merks was made to Reading. This census was still being paid in 1284 when ten merks from it were assigned to the countess of Warwick as a supplemen e pittancth o t t e receive r religioudfo fror he ms purposes (30th December 1284). It is possible to narrow down the date of the

alienation still further,2 for between November 1287 and October 1288 Edwar dcitedI appeao ,t r befor counci e Julyh eth 5t ,n lRalpo Broughtone hd , appointed whoha e mh d custos f Readino g abbe 16tn yo h March 1286 with the duty of relieving it from debt,3 to answer for his connivance in the alienatio priory.y Ma f o n4 Abbot Rober f Burghgato t d reduceha e s hi d house to bankruptcy—not altogether an unusual state of affairs in monasterie t thasa t period5—an helo dt p clea e mas th r f deb sold o s ha dt

1 Stuart, Ixxxv-lxxxvii, where the punctuation is meaningless; A.P.S., I, 445b—446b. 2 Hurry, Beading Abbey, 180, No. LXV (Brit. Mus. Addit. Charter 19633). See also Sir Christopher Hatton's Book of Seeds, . L. Lloy0 .ed Dd .d an M . Stenton . 327No , . 3 Cal. Patent Rolls, 1281-92, p. 242; Harleian MS. 1708 (Beading Cartulary), fo. 232 v. 4. Cal. Docs. Scot., iv, 1765 (P.B.O. London, 047/22/11/55). 5 K. WooL . d Legh, Church Life under Edward III, chapte. 1 r DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 63

May priory wit e consen e royahth th f lo t custos againsd an e interestth t s of the king. The month-date on this writ is now illegible, but Joseph Bain

surmise correcs di e "May, priorh e 1 f i tth sols d ydwa " an afte r 21st March and, befor casy an e 128827tbeforn y i t hMa ,bu e 27th June 1288. Negotiations for the sale must have been going on for some time before it -was completed, t thehavy bu yma e been kept secret. Probabl t lonyno g afte purchass hi r e bishop William Fraser annexed the priory to his cathedral priory. It

ma assumee yb d tha e Cluniath t c brethren returne Readino dt thad gan t 2 their place was taken by a convent of Augustinian canons from St Andrews. It is unlikely that any remonstrance against these transactions was made before 1290 when abbot Robert resigned about October, e matteth t rbu 3 was taken up by the new abbot, William Sutton,4 as soon as the "Great- Cause" was decided. His proctors brought the petition which has been summarise parliamene th o dt kinf o t g Joh Februarn i y 1293 t receivebu , d slight satisfaction. Asked whether they would retur e 110th n 0 merks whic beed hha n pai abboo dt t Robert, they refuse commio t d t themselves

and asked for time to consul5 t their principal, the petition meanwhile standing fuln i l effect unti nexe lth t parliamenaftere on .e th Probablr o t y attorneys of Reading appeare e Scottisth n i d h parliamen f Auguso t t 1293 forn ,o 2nd September following, Edward I cited the Scottish king to answer to him for denying justice to Reading, in that when the matter was discussed before him king John had refused to proceed any further on the pretext of an appeal to Rome by the bishop of St Andrews. This appeal must

have been made on some occasion subsequent to the proceeding6 s of February 1293, recorded on the Scottish parliament roll. On this roll the proctors are John de Sottone, a monk, and master Hugh de Staunforth, perhaps a lawyer, whil kinn ei g Edward's wri f Septembeo t differena r t monk, Alan de Eston nameds i , sequence Th . eventf eo s seem havo st e bee followss na : proctors appointe t Readina d 17tn go h January 1293 reache e Scondth e parliament by 10th February and then returned to Reading where the abbot and convent probably consulted the king and where a new proctor was commissioned. The appeal had been left over until a future Scottish parliament and it is probable that two proctors were again present -when t Stirlin a August d t on3r eme n go , onl fino yt d justice denied the appeamy b l of the bishop to Rome. There was still time for them to return to England and obtain king Edward's warrant of 2nd September to cite the Scottish

king to answer for default of justice7 .

custose removes 1Th wa 10tn do h January 1289 (Harleia. r) 3 . 170823 . nMS fo , 2 Memoranda de Parliamento, 1305 (Bolls Series, 98), 192; Stuart, cii. 3 Col. Patent Rolls, 1281-92, . 393p . 4 Elected betwee Novembed n2n r and 27th November 1290 (Cal. Patent Rolls, 1281-92, . 393pp , 409). 5 No explanation is given of this figure, which is substantially higher than the 314 merks which Heading claime havo dt e been paid. 6 Stuart, Ixxxvii; Rot. Scot. I, 19. 7 Cal. Chancery Warrants,. 38 64 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1956-57.

King John ignored the repeated summons before King's Bench at

Westminster, for a petition to Edward I to take direct action seems to 2

belong to the 1 period immediately after Balliol's resignation (10th July 1296) though this datint absolutelno s gi yprobabls i certait i d nean that further documents similalurkine ar thi o e t rAncientn g i on s Petitions. Certainly Reading obtained re-entry to May priory, and in view of the silence of English record t seemi s s likely tha mattee th tbee d ha rn remittee th o dt council of king Edward's Lieutenant in Scotland. The restitution is attested by a writ of Edward I of 1305 narrating that the cell "was " delivered to the abbot . . . after the realm of Scotland came to his hands by the rebellio f Johno nwhicd Ballio an abboe . h th . . lt held peacefull cela s lya ... until William le accomplice s Waleyhi d san s lately insurgent ..n .i thos ". e 3. part. Thi n ss me ejecterestoratio s hi abboe th d y an t nma thus be dated between 10th July 1296 and llth September 1297, when the battle of Stirling Bridge was fought. The date of the forcible deprivation in favour of St Andrews which followed and which "was still unredressed in 1305 is more difficult to fix. Relevanpetitioa s i t i no t fro m Thoma Houburne sd , cano t AndrewsS f no , who state beed thaha n e ousteh t d from priore th , Pittenweef yo e th y mb sincd Scotha e d beesan n living "aking'e tth s alms. petitios "Hi 4 n mentions that "it appeartruce e tha term e th f thi th verms ]i [o o s t y long, frod " 5man this reference it can be dated to the earlier part of either of two periods, 30th October 1300 to 21st May 1301, or 26th January to 30th November 1302, and certainly not after mid-1302.6 From a subsequent document, datable Februarh 7t y t i appear130 , x 1 s quarteres wa e abbetha th e h tf n yo o d Leiceste probabls r wa -witgroomso t i tw t hhorsa Leiceste ya d d an ,ean r that he wished to make his profession as a monk if he could not be received back to St Andrews.7 Thomas de Houburn "was a canon of St Andrews, and his occupancy of Pittenweem would certainly fall into a period after Wallac expelled eha d Readin restored gan t AndrewsdS t alsbu o; since eh wa Englishman sa t musni t belon perioa o gt d when controEdwarn i s wa l dI of Fife, tha , afte is e battlt th r f Falkirkeo , 22nd July 1298. Accordingly Wallace's action in depriving Reading and annexing the priory of May to that of St Andrews must have occurred before the battle of Falkirk and most probably after that of Stirling Bridge, llth September 1297.

1 Select Cases King'sn i Bench under . SaylesO . G Edward ,. ined , (SeldeI n Soc. . 13,; No 58), 26 , Stuart, Ixxxix—xci. These are proceedings in Trinity term 1294 and Easter term 1295. 2 No. 57. 3 Col. Close Rolls, 1302-7, 249. 4 Col. Docs. Scot, 11, 1964. 5 The words in parenthesis, not in the calendared version, are translated from the original, where they ca seee nb n unde ultra-violee th r t lamp. 6 This enables us to be sure that the expulsion of Reading was not the work of Wallace in the three years befor captures ehi . 7 Cal. Docs. Scot., n, 1965. DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 65

It was not untypical of Edward I that, the St Andrews convent was not deprived by him of the dependent cell which it had received so recently from his enemies. Clearly the rival rights in the matter were not easily to be judged, but the abbot of Reading after some eight years persuaded the English council to restore his seisin "so that after he have had seisin he answey ma everybodyo t r ought,e orden h a s thao d a t r "an t effec tho t te English officer rulinw no sg Scotlan issues dwa 24tn do h March 1305.t I 1 immediatels wa y effective. Once morpriory eMa y returne dependenco dt Readinn eo g abbeyd an , e Englisth n i h parliamen f Septembeo t t AndrewS rs 130wa st 5i priory which petitione s restoratioit r dfo n "i mucs na thes ha y have been evicted unjustl e abboth f Reading"y o tyb , whil e abboeth t submitte dcountea r petition for damages for wrongs done by the bishop of St Andrews to him t Perta Pittenweem.d n han me s hi d 2an Both petitions were referreo t d Lieutenane th justico firse d th o t t o e "accordint s Scotlan n i t wa o dwh o gt custoe th thaf mo t land, notwithstandin king'e gth s orders previously made for the parties on both sides by the lord king." This is presumably a referenc lettee th o r et precedine closth f eo g 24th Marchsubsequeno t d an , t (and unknown) documents. A year later Reading abbey still had a pre- cariou ss Scottis it hol n do h dependency, complainins wa t bu 3 g bitterlf yo e violenth t interference e bisho th t Andrews d S priof o an f pso r n O . 20th December 1309 the acting Chamberlain of (English-occupied) Scotland gave four quarters of grain to Jordan, prior of Pittenweem, for his sus- tenance, perhaps becausd beeha n e expelleh e d fro e s priorth mhi y b y

Scots. Certainl4 y by 1313 Reading had been finally deprived for on 3rd August than i t year Martin, prio Mayf litigatinro s ,wa g with Scone abbey. 131n I 58 Martin agreed to the payment of the annual census of sixteen merks to t AndrewS ss clearl prior wa e nomine yd th y an 6 e s curthereofhi eo T . of the priory belongs the last document printed below.7 There is no evidence to show whether Reading had sent monks back to May island brieo durintw f s restorationsgit ; perhaps onl ya prio r came north to occupy the prior's house in Pittenweem—it may be significant that therworo n f maltreatmens edo i f monko t kinn si g Edward's wrif o t 1306 8—or perhap sconvena t once more occupie lonele dth y , islandso f I . it was probably for the last time. Although references to a prior of May infrequent no e ar t after 1306, ther mane ear y priomore th Pittenweem f reo o t . Adriat AberdeeS lif e e f eth o th n n i I n Breviar sais i yt di tha monastere tth y

Col. Close Rolls, 1302-7, 249 cites ,a d above. 64 . p ,

1 2 Memoranda de Parliamento, 1305 (Kolls Series, 98), 192, where they are attributed to the Lent parliamen f 1305t theso t Bu .e membrane role th l f havso e been show belono nt Septembeo gt r 1305 (Rotuli Parliamentorum hactenus Kichardso. Sayle. G inediti, . O . H G . s d (Camdeed nan n Third Series, LI), xxx). ' 3 No. 58. 4 Col. Docs. Scot., in, 121. * Scone, No, 148. • • Stuart, xci, ' No. 59. 8 No. 58. VOL. xc. 5 66 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1956-57.

was destroyed by the English,1 and this may well be true of the buildings.2 But there is no evidence that the convent of Augustinian canons from t AndrewS s which replace e Benedictinedth f Readino s g evere wenth o t t island and the complaint of the canons of St Andrews in 1305 of their ejection from "the priory of Pittenweem" suggests that their convent had been sited on the mainland at least from the time that it was restored to them (1297 x8)n 1328—I . a paymen9 e king's madth wa n ts o e behalf of eight shillings to four men to go to the isle of May to catch rabbits; 3 in 1550 the prior of Pittenweem in feuing out the island of May, confessed that e chieth f wealtislane th f dho whic oncd hha w e s rabbit it laino s n ni swa

despoiled through the ravages committed on their warrens by the English. 4

NOTE.

The Order whichto Reading Priory May Abbey and belonged. papan I l e 13tbullth hf so centur y (Cal. Papal Letters, (1207)8 2 , I ; Harleian MS. 1708, fo. 195 r-v (1227 x 34)) Reading abbey was described as ordinis Cluniacensis, but in the 14th century as ordinis S. Benedicti (Lettres Communes de Jean XXII, . Gred . Mollat , xvi, s.v. "Rading") priory s likewisMa ;ywa o s e described whan I . t sense were these houses "oCluniae th f c ordo?" certais i t I n that they never owe obediency dan abboe th Clunyf o eo t , though such obedience -wa e mosth s t notable feature Cluniath f o e c e 12tordeth hn i r century. Yet soon after Reading abbey was founded with monks from Cluny and Cluniac Lewes, a confraternity agreement with Cluny was made, which concludes wit provisioe hth n that "fo e greaterth r stabilit e Cluniath f yo c ordo in the house of Reading . . . when an abbot of Reading dies, the convent thereof shall choose an abbot from their own number, and not from another house (de propriis professis ecclesie sue non de alienis). But if a suitable person is not found among them the e monknth f Readino s g shall choos abbon ea t froe mth monkv (112 8 4 f Cluny 3. o s x30)) fo E ( ". This agreemen s confirmewa t y b d Adrian (HoltzmannV I England,U P , III. 127,No ' (115 close 48))Th x e . relation- ship of Reading abbey with Cluny and her dependencies, which this implies, has also been demonstrate e 12tth hr Knowles dcenturfo m Do y yb , with examplef so interchang f personneeo l between themsame Th e. writer points out, too, that Readin Clunias gwa s liturgica custom—thait n ci n i othed y an sa l ro t obser s i t - vances (Monastic Order England,n i independenn a . 281—2) s pp wa t i ; t house witl hal the characteristics (other than dependence on Cluny) of a Cluniac monastery. case Readinth f e o n I g abbey ordinis Cluniacensis meant "of Cluniac observances." This is consistent with the fact that the abbey reproduced the relationship of a Cluniac cel motheo t l r housrelationshie th n priorei y Ma Readingo yt f po . After 1215independenn a s a , t abbe blacf yo k monks, Reading sen s abboit t t

Breviarium Aberdonense, pars hiemalis, fo. Ixii. 21 See Ancient Monuments Commission Report, Fife, Kinross, and Clackmannan, 25-6. For Pittenweem priory see ibid., pp. 222-4. 3 Exch. Bolls, 1, 160. 4 Stuart, xcviii. DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 67 e chapteth o t f Engliso r h black monks obediencn i , e decreth o n singulist eI regnis, of the fourth Lateran Council (Chapters of the English Black Monks, ed. . WPantinA . I ,(Camde n Third Series, XLV) , 273-6)a centur18 , n I . y when "reform and the making of constitutions was in the air" (Knowles, Religious Orders n England, i a stricte ) 9 , I r distinctio e monastith f no c "orderss wa " possible; those which participate e chapter th blace n dth i f kso monks coule db distinguished as ordinis S. Benedicti while others participating in a different syste f visitationmo d chaptersan s , were "Cluniac." Reading belongee th o t d former group, and by the 14th century was always described as "Benedictine." In the case of May priory, evidence is slender. In 12th-century royal charters, s monkit s were ordinis Cluniacensis (Nos , 47)describe s n 125.12 I wa . t 7i s da Benedictine in one and Cluniac in another papal letter (Gal. Papal Letters, I, 340, 344) e uncertaintTh . y probably arose froo circumstancesmtw , namely continued dependence, in the manner of a Cluniac cell, on Reading, and the possible failure of the Scottish Benedictine houses (Coldingham, Dunfermline, and lona) implemeno t decree tth singulisn eI notee b y d regnis. tha ma descriptioe t I th t n of May as "Benedictine" was probably derived from Arbroath abbey, that as "Cluniac" probably from May priory. In time May would doubtless have assumed regularl designatioe yth n "Benedictine, indeed hav"y an dma e dono es before 1288t furtheBu . r informatio thin no s poine eventth s deniei y t sb s du of that year.

ADDITIONAL, NOTE. Prior Hugh de Mortimer (below, p. 69). The date of Scone, No. 30, depends on two chronicle statements—that of Hoveden that William, prio ambassadon f a May o rs wa , kino t r g John about May 119Melros e thad th 9f an to e chronicler tha Williata m became abbo Coupaf to r on 15th January " 1200." I followed Dr Basson in reading this as 1200/1, but the Melrose chronicler seem havo st e begu yeae n25tth n ro h Decembe accordingld ran y his evidence means that Arnold (a witness of Scone, No. 30) was no longer abbot of Coupar on 15th January 1200. This leaves no year to which Scone, No. 30, can be attributed, unless thererron a eithen s ei i r r Hovede e Melrosth r no e chronicle. The year 1199 is impossible because bishop Roger was at king John's coronation on 27th May. . Barro S tha royae a . pointes s m i W twM. , o ha lScone,t G r gran30 t . dou tNo that the canons might in future elect one of their number as abbot with royal assen counseld an t gives thad i t an ,i t Forfan a 29tn o r h May. Accordino gt Bower (Scotichronicon, i, 513) in 1198 abbot Robert of Scone resigned and on the same day there "was elected at Forfar, Reinbald, cellarar of Holyrood (not one of their number) "sicut placuit curialibus" (i.e. under royal pressure). It is very likely—indeed almost certain—tha e grante s kine th wa th n t , g o Scone,y db 30 . No occasion of this election; either therefore Reinbald was elected in May 1200 (not 1198 as Bower says) and Scone, No. 30, issued then (which also means that somehow Melrose th e chronicle date muserron i th electio f ee o n b tro abbof no t Williamf o Coupar r alternativelo ) y Hovede s givenha n wrongl e prioe namth yth f f o ro e May in 1199 as William. The second alternative seems to me to be correct and woulI datw t Forfaea d no , Scone, 29t1198n y 30 o r. hMa .No Accordingly William had demitted office and been succeeded as prior of May by Hugh de Mortimer by that date. 68 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1956-57.

APPENDIX I.

The Charters in Dr Stuart's Records of the Priory of Isle of May. On pages cxii-cxi s editionhi f vr o Stuar D , t printe da "rol f chartero l d san muniments of Scotland" drawn up at Reading abbey, italicising those entries for t "discoveredno d whicha e h h " corresponding charters. Som f theso ee ar e however to be discovered in his text, and others are printed below. The number e rol e entrs th followe oi l th e numbe fn e identifieth yo th y f b do r d charter: 1=4; 8=48; 25=53; 41=49; 43=52; 52=37; 56=56; 62=55. The charters printed by Dr Stuart are datable as follows: 1 1141x50 21 1273 x 79 2 1143 5 7 x 2 2 1279 7 4x 3 1131x53 23 1202 x 63 4 1141x50 24 1227x31 5 1141x50 25 1178x1214 6 1147x53 26 1209x37 7 1147x53 7 2 1240 9 9x 8 1153x60 28 1260 9 1153 x?59 29 1260 x62 30 1285 10 1153x62 31 1219x40 11 1153x62 32 1222x40 12 1166x71 3 3 1202 2 4x 3 1 120, 10 3x 4th July 34 1204x22 14 1178x88 35 1242 15 1189x99, 17th April 36 24th October 1261 16 1176x77 37 1128x78 17 1165x71 8 3 1206x22 18 1165x71 39 1231 19 1215x22, 26th March 40 15th December 1225 20 17th August 1233 41 1206x9 These dates are based mainly on the holders of the offices of chancellor, chamberlain, archdeaco t AndrewS f no r Lothian o sf variou o d an ,s bishoprics. An exception is No. 16, so datable 1171 x78, but at Reading. King William was in England for war in 1174, on a hurried journey home in 1175, and in 1176 and 1177accordingls i t I . y date theso dt e latter years.

APPENDI. XII

PriorsThe May.of Achard, is prior 1141 x 50, and probably 1143 x (No. 4). Baldwin the "abbot mentioney Ma Orkneying e f "th o n di a Sag omittes ai d from this list. Robert witnesses the following charters: Holyrood, No. 26, 1153 x64; St Andrews, . 132p , almost certainl . e same129p th y s a ,, 20th November 116 12t 1161x 0y ht Andrews,Ma S ; . 144p ,perhapd 116an , 6 5 t x consecra sa - tio Richardf no , bisho t AndrewsS f po , 28th March 1165 t Andrews,S ; . 216p , 1165 x 71 (chancellor Nicholas). DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 69

. Willia3 names mwa dchartero priotw , n databl i rMay o st 12 . ,eNo 1166 (earl Waltheof) xl!71 (chancellor Nicholas) and below No. 50, datable 1165 x71, e latteth r bein gspeciaa l privilege limitelifetimes hi o dt , surel ymara f ko e king'th s personal favour. Taking into accoun e king'th t s limitatiof no Reading's right to remove a prior, a struggle over the priory may be inferred, in which the king successfully appointed William as his candidate. There is no evidenc shoo et w s -whethesame t thith wa o no s esi r Williawh o r e h s ma sent as ambassador to king John about May 1199 (Lawrie, Annals, p. 316; Anderson, Scottish Annals, havy . 320)ma ep e beeH . n William Giffard. 4. Hugh of Mortimer. He witnesses a royal charter, Scone, p. 30, from a cartulary which must have wrongly extended the initial R; read Roger, not Richard, bishop of St Andrews. It is witnessed by Arnald, abbot of Coupar, who had demitted office by 15th January 1200/1 (Coupar Angus, II, p. 268) and by Roger, bishop of St Andrews, consecrated 15th February 1198. Scone, No. 30, is datable 1198 x 1200, on 29th May, on this internal evidence, but in May 1199 William was still prior of May and bishop Roger was at the coronation of king John at Westminster, so that it must be dated 29th May 1200. The mistake texe thif th o t n si royal charter misled Dowdend an , n , 0 Inchaffray,25 . pp 271. (Bu Additionae tse l Note, above . 67)p , . He witnesses Inchaffray, xxiv, 1204 x, Melrose, No. 63, x 1204, and North Durham, ccccLXXiu, self-dated 17th August 1204, and n errori , s Huga , h de Mortun, Arbroath Veins, Nos. 47, 52, both datable 1204 x . As H., prior of Pittenweem, he acts as papal judge delegate, Advocates MS. 15.1.18, No. 33, datable date120e b llto thesl x 2dt hAl xe e.Apriar l . 12065 e se , 5. John became H . e prior after 17th Augus synoa t a tn d s i 120 wa 4d (sean ) e4 Pert lltn ho h April 1206, Spalding Club Miscellany, witnesse209, e v H . s Dun- fermline, . 167No 121 x , 0 (deat f bishoho p Richard); Cambuskenneth,, 47 . No 1214 (deat f kinho g William 121x ) 9 (deat f abboho t Guido); Lindores, XLII, 1210 (consecration of bishop Abraham) x 1222 (see 6) and not 1210 x 1214 as Dowden says, basing himsel Stuart'n o f s lis priorf o t Mayf so ; Dunfermline, No. 215, and Cambuskenneth, No. 118, both self-dated 1215, and St Andrews, . 316p , self-dated 1212. This prior occur chartern si . 41 , s Nos38 , 34 . Ivo, apocryphal. He is known by only one reference, Dryburgh, No. 200, Advocates MS. 34.4.7 . 140fo , .vers i Thi. y latsMS probabld ean y copied from another cartulard yan not from the charters. "Ivo" acts with Thomas, prior of St Andrews 1200-11, between which dates there is scarcely room for another prior of May. In the same charter Hugo miles at the beginning becomes Henricus miles at the end, indicating that the copyist was guessing at full names from an initial, and hence misread I[ohannes] as Ivo. Adam, prior of Pittenweem, listed by Stuart, citing Balmerino, pp. 37-8, which "is datee saib o d dt onle 1221th y t plac"bu e where this "isn saidow earlies s "i hi n i r preface, p. xxvi, n. 3; Adam is a witness of the charter cited to Balmerino abbey, which s foundewa probabls d wa onl e 1229e n prioh yi y th d ran , Adam mentioned 134n i 5 Cal. Papal Letters, m. 162. 6. Richard, prio f Mayo r judgs ,wa e delegat action a n ei n between Kilwinning Dryburgd an h abbey 122n si probabld 2 (Dryburgh,an ) 84 y. alsNo o actes da suc virtuhn i papaa f eo l commission date Junh d7t e 1221 (Dryburgh, 231. No , f 122o t Stuars 6a no t says) althoug documene hth t runs " t NRicardue e sd May et de Dumfermling priores" which is taken to be an error of reversal. 7. Ralph, prior of May, in whose name runs the charter No. 32, x 1240 when Laurenc ceased archdeacoe eb ha o dt t AndrewsS f no witnessee H . s Dun- fermline, . 222No , 26th April 1233. . John8 , prio Mayf ro actin s wa , judgs ga 1248y e delegatMa , h Dryburgh,7t n eo No. 280t thereaftebu ; -wae h r s receive mona s da k int Cisterciae oth n housf eo 70 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1956-57.

Balmerino abbo s whicf ,o wa e th h fro m 125 1252o t 1 , accordin Melrose th o gt e chronicle. 9. Hugh 126n i v 0, prio(charteMa f ro . 30) No r, resigned according Boweo t n ri 1269. 10. William of Gloucester, prior of May, was admitted by Alexander III, but reluctantly because he was an Englishman. There was a prior of Pittenweem unname 25tn do h October 1270 (A.P.S., , Willia102d I an ) witness mwa o st St Andrews, p. 108, x 1273 (death of abbot Thomas of Lindores). As " Wilel- mus dictus de Glouernia" he witnesses Nat. Lib. Scot. Pitfirrane Writs No. 3.

DOCUMENTS. 42. Carta eiusdem donacionede unius tofte Hadintun.in Dauid rex Scot' Prepositis ministris & omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre sue . Salutem. Sciatis me in elemosinam fratribus de Mai unam plenariam tofta Hadintune burgmd n i o ome e dedisse liber quiete& omnb ea i consuetudine & seruitio . T . Andrea episcopo de Cateneis & Gaufredo abbate de Dunfermelin . t multie s aliis. David I grants to the monks of May a toft in his burgh of Haddington. v0 Source.6 . fo E : Date: 1128 x 53. Printed: Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, ccxxxi.

43. Carta eiusdem piscibusde uendendis. Dauid rex Scot' . Justic' . vicecomitibus prepositis . & omnibus probis hominibus tocius . saluteterr e su e m . Sciati s quod concessi monachi sui& s s hominibus libertatem uendendi pisce portmn i sicu o uburgsu n ti o. Quar e precipio super meum forisfactum ne calumpnientur de mercimoniis comparatis . plusquam de emptitio . in meo domini[c]o burgo . T . Gaufrido abbate de Dunfermelin . Edwardo cancellario . Et multis aliis. David I grants to the monks [? of May] license to sell fish in their port as in a burgh, and orders that they shall not be impleaded for conducting trading any more than for buying in the king's demesne burgh. Source: E fo. 60 v. Date: 1141 x 50. Printed: Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, CLXVI. Lawrie's textbeenhas amended, apparently orderin yield to translation the printed on his p. 394. 44. Carta eiusdem de quietantia nauis monachorum ab omni consuetudine. Daui Scotx dre ' omnibus probis hominibus . saluteterr e esu m . Mand o uobis atque precipio quatinus ubicumque nauis fratrum de Mai applicauerit in terra mea sit quieta de cano & tolneo & omni consuetudine . ita ne ullus eis aut rebus DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 71

eorum forisfaciat . T . Gaufrido abbate de Dunfermelin . & Edwardo cunstabulario . apud Edeneburh. Davi dI grant s that whereve shal y monke shia rth l Ma f berthf po so t shali , quie lb f o t can, customtold lan . Source: E fo. 61 r. Date:. 11253 x 8 Printed: Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, CLXVII.

45. Carta eiusdem annuade pensibne marcarumv. capellapro decimis& Pert.de x ScottoruMRe . m Episcopi . sAbbatibu . sComitibu . sVicecomitibu . s Baronibu . sMinistri . Prepositis alii& . ss omnibus terr probie su e s hominibus tain clericis quam laici . star n futuris quam presentibu . sSalute m . Scian t omnes me dedisse & concessisse & hac mea carta confirmasse monachis de Mai qui sunt de Rading . quinqu' e marca perpetuan i s m elemosina ma prepositi s mei Pere d s t singulis annis persoluendas predictis monachis de cano primo de nauibus uenientibus apud Pert . in escambio pro capella & decimis de pert . quas ex dono aui mei Regis Dauid plurlmis annis optinuerunt . quas predictas marcas ante eos monachi de Dunfermelin ex dono predict! regis aui mei solebant accipere a prepositis & ministris meis de Pert . Dedi itaque & concessi predictis monachis de Maio . illas . v. marcas voluntate et consilio abbatis & monachorum de Dunfermelin . Et uol t predictou i monach Maie id o habeant illas marca perpetuan si m elemosinam. ita bene et libere sicut aliqua ecclesiastica beneflcia melius & liberius in toto regno meo habentu . rTestibu . Willelm s shi o episcop Morauie od a. Gregori o episcopo de Dunchel multi& d. s alii s. apu d Edeneburh. Malcol frogranty mmonke V I mth Ma o sReadinf t so g five mark fren si e almspaie b do t , reeves hi y Pertf sb o h each yea rshipf froo firse n msth ca tcomin Pertho gt exchangn i , r efo the chapel and tithes of Perth, which they held by gift of David I for several years, and which five marks, previously, the monks of Dunfermline were wont to take from the king's reeves and ministers of Perth. Malcolm gave these five marks to May with the consent of Dun- fermline, to be held in perpetual alms, as any ecclesiastical benefices are held in Scotland. . r 1 Source6 . fo E : Date: 1157 x 60, and probably at the same time as Dunfermline, No. 40 (given at Edinburgh), which has the same two bishops at the head of its witness list. This charter is fully discussed above (pp. 57-58).

46. Carta eidem ne aliquis piscari presumat aquisin monachorum absque consensu eorum. Scotx MRe . Omnibu' s probis hominibus . Saluteterr e esu m . Sciati s quod recepi monachos de Maio in firma mea pace . Quare prohibeo ut nemo piscari presuma aquin i t s sui . nes e edificia construa pertinentibus insulin i t eo d sa s nisi per eos . nee fodiat insulam Mai nee capiat herbam in earn . T . Waltero cancellario . Roberto Auenel . Waltero de Lindes' . apud Berewic. Malcolm IV receives the monks of May into his peace. No one is to fish in their waters, construct buildings on their islands, cultivate the isle of May, or take grass in it. Source: E fo. 61 v. Date: accession of Malcolm IV, 1153, x demission of chancery by Walter de Bidun, 1162 (Chron. Holyrood, 147, n.). The isfact in group a May isle threeof of islets, thisand probably explainsthe plural "insulis." PROCEEDING. SOCIETYE 72TH F O S , 1956-57.

47. Carta eiusdem donationede Balegallin conuentu& monachorum. Willelmu x ScottRe s . Episcopi' . Abbatibus . Comitibus . Baronibus . s Justiciis . Vicecomitibus . Miriistris . & omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre sue . salutem . Sciant presentes & futuri me dedisse & concessisse & hac carta a confirmassme Ecclesi& o de e e omnium prior & sanctoru . i i eiusdeMa e md m loc successoribui& s eiu fratribus& s ibide seruientibuo mde liberan si quietam& m & perpetuam elemosinam Balegallin per suas rectas diuisas ita tamen quod prior iste de Mai non debeat aliquo tempore remoueri nisi pro manifesta culpa que prius cognita fuerit coram me uel successoribus meis & coram episcopo Sancti Andre quo& e. d amodo eri i conuentutib s xii . monachorui ordinmx e e cluniacensi . Quare uolo & firmiter precipio ut predicti monachi prenominatam terram de Balegalli omnibum ncu s tenuris suis quaDauix sRe d . frateauu M s. r meux re s& meus eis dederunt & concesserunt ita libere & quiete & honorifice teneant sicut aliqua abbatia liberiu quieciu& s honorificentiu& s s elemosinas suas tene& t possidet . in regno meo . T . Dauid fratre meo . Nicholao cancellario . comite Waldeuo . comite Dunecano . Et multis aliis . Apud Sanctum Andream. King William grants to May priory Balgallin, with the purpose that the prior of May shall not be removed except for a manifest fault demonstrated to the king and the bisho t AndrewsS f po thad an ,convena t thery Ma thirteef e o t n shalo e b ln monke th f so Cluniac observance. Source: E fo. 62 r. Date: 1166 (successio earf no l Waltheof 117x ) 1 (deat Nicholaf ho chancellor)e sth . Granted before generalthe confirmation kingof William (No. which12) shows that the provision relating to the removal of the prior is not limited (as the use of'' iste'' might suggest) to one particular prior ; "prior iste de Mai" means "the said prior of May.". Half Balgallinof beenhad granted kingby David this(No.but charter3) seems grantto remainder.the Balgallin appears Balgally as rubric the one to in charter (St Andrews, p. 392) but cannot now be identified with certainty. It may be Baglillie near Kirkcaldy ; see above p. 56, n. 12. The size of the convent prescribed shows influence the constitution the of Cistercian the of order, where exactly this minimum was laid down. There was no such provision or observance among the black monks. 48. Carta eiusdem de quietancia. Willelmu x ScotRe s . Vicecomitibu' . sPrepositi 7 ministri . s . s& omnibus hominibus tocius terre sue . Salutem . Precipio ubicumque prior de Mai aut aliquis suorum fratrum aut clientum domus de Mai uenerint cum rebus domus sue quatinus sint quieti a cano & theloneo per totam terram meam . & ut licenciam habeant uendendi propria s sua sre emend & s emend& i i [sic] necessarias domus su e. sicu t carta regi i stestatu Dauime i confirmad& au r t prohibeoE . t firmiter ne quis eis aut eorum possessionibus iniuriam aliquam faciat super meum foris- factum . T . Nicholao [cjancellario . Ricardo de MoruilT . & multis aliis . apud Pert. King William orders that wherever the prior of May or one of his monks or dependents comes with the goods of the house, he shall be quit of can and toll and have license to sell and buy. . r 2 Source6 . fo E : Date: 1165 x71 (deat Nicholaf ho chancellor)e sth . King David's charter6. No. is DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 73

49. Carta eiusdem de communitate nemoris de Clacmanet. Willelmus Rex Scot' omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre sue . Salutem . Sciati e eoncessissm s fratribu& i e priorMa s e d ibidei o seruientibumde n i s elemosinam communionem nemoris de Clacmanet sicut carta regis Dauid aui mei testatur & confirmat . Quare prohibeo ne quis eos aut eorum homines in nemore disturbet . T . Nicholao cancellario . Ricardo de Moruill' const' . Waltero filio Alan t multiE . i s alii . sapu d Pert. King William confirms the rights of common in the wood of Clackmannan given to May priory by king David. . r 2 Source6 . fo E : Date: 1165 x71 (deat Nicholaf ho chancellor)e sth . King David's5. charterNo. is 50. Carta eiusdem ut monachi quieti sint ab auxiliis & operationibus. Willelmus Rex Scot' omnibus probis hominibus tocius Scotie . Salutem . Mando & firmiter precipi t monacho u teneani Ma e d it tenuras suas quas haben Scotin i t a libere & quiete ab omnibus seruitiis . & nominatim quieti sint ab auxiliis & operacionibus tempor . priori eW . squamdi u curai ips dome ed Ma m e od capie . t T . Engelramo episcopo de Glascu . Nicholao cancellario . Et multis aliis . apud Eneburg. King William orders thashal y monke tth l Ma holf so d their lands quit fro l servicesmal , namely aidworksd san lons a , Willias ga mprios i Mayf ro . Source: E fo. 62 r-v. Date: 1165 x71 (deat Nicholaf ho chancellor)e sth . This quittance is probably limited to Scotia proper, for the use of that word where in the address terr mighte texte esu th expected, e infrb n i d a an regnu m meum, cannot be accidental. Evidence about aidsworks,and especially bridge lacking,work,not is but the subject has not been investigated ; it is here clear that the liability to them was territorial—i.e. tenurial. 51. a comitissAd a mater regis Scot . Omnibu' s amicis sui hominibu& s s suie d s Carealibe d (de)& i& l 1 Balliis sui Karee sd . Salutel m Sciant cleric e laic& im . i suscepiss omnibum ecu i prioresMa possessionibue md s quas monachi Ma e d i possiden e Care d feud n i n mano i . lt me oprotection& u . Quar a eme mando uobis & precor . & hominibus meis precipio quatinus predictos monachos de Mai n omnibui s negotiis suio posspr s e uestro adiuueti s eorure m& . s protegati. s tenendas tarn bene & libere & honorifice . sicut carta Willelmi regis Scot' . filii mei eisdem testatur & confirmat . T . Alexandro de Sancto Martino . Hugone de Mailo multi& . l s aliis. Countes r fietakea f Crai o he fe possession sAd n sth li unde y e priorr th Ma he rf f o syo protection officerd an heln o t sorderd t pwheme i an ,r snhe possible. Source: E fo. 62 v. Date: 1165 (accessio kinf no g William) xl!78 (deatcountese th f ho s Ada). Alexander de St Martin was a frequent witness to charters of the countess Ada along with Hugh Balliol, whose name is here spelled erroneously Mailol. 1 Underpointe deletionr dfo . 74 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1956-57.

52. Carta Dunecani comitis de quietantia exerciius & expeditionis. Sciant presente futurs& i quo Dunecao deg n comef concedFi e sd conflrme& o hac carta mea priori de Mai & hominibus suis de tota terra sua omnem quietantiam de exercit expeditionu& . confirma s sicuM cartar x pe tre i e tm suatestibiis Hi m . s Reginaldo de Warenna . & Michaele clerico . Bt multis aliis. Duncan, earl of Fife, conflrms to May priory the quittance from army and hosting con- firmed to them by king Malcolm IV. Source: E fo. 62 v. Date: 1153 x 1204. William Lionthe gave acquittancean from "army expedition"and (No.16) which seems (frome omissionth f dedisseo haveo t ) been a confirmation. Unfor- tunately the charter of king Malcolm referred to here is not extant, and like other charters which must have existed but whose text has not come down to us, it is not mentioned in king William's general confirmation (No. 12). A private confirmation of a royal charter, such as this is, is rare, and implies that earl Duncan, and perhaps the earls of Fife, had a special duty to perform when the host, or "common army" calledwas "army out.the earlhave The Fife."may of led Professor Dickinson thatme points to Jordan out Fantosme seems show to earls the of Buchan Angusand leading the host from, their provinces in 1173 (Lawrie, Annals of the Reigns of Malcolm and William, p. 113). Reginald de Warenne is identified by Sir Frank Stenton with the first of the Warennes of Wormegay, who became a monk in 117S-9 (Early Yorkshire Charters, ed. C.Clay,T. Reginald viii,the 26-7).pp. thisBut of charter must have been connected with Warennesthe werewho Fife landowners. A Reginald Warennede exchanged lands with Laurence, son of Orm (ofAbernethy), with Malcolm, earl of Fife, as a witness (Douglas Book, Hi, No. 281, 1204 x ), and was a benefactor of that earl's foundation, the abbey of Culross (ante, Ix, 71-2, 1217 x). He granted Lindores, LXX (1216 x24), LXXI, LXXII, and witnessed Lindores, LXVIII, and Scone, x!223).( married125 He No. Orabilla, sister heiressand Hughof Say, diedand before 1247 (Scone . 87).No , Michael, the clerk, may have been a clerk of earl Duncan and perhaps his relative. higha s H witness eha e place th n i lists of various charters t Andrews(S . 242,,pp 246). Other references to him appear in the indices to St Andrews and Dunfermline, but he s probablyi t Masterno Michael, clerk bishopo t William Malvoisin t Andrews(S , pp. 155-6). The manuscript reads Dunecan with marko n of abbreviation. 53. Carta Gospatricii comitis de Dunbar . de donatione unius tofte in Bele. Gfospatricius Come e Dunbad s . rOmnibu s probis hominibus tocius terre esu tarn presentibus quam futuri . Salutes m . Sciati concessisse sm perpetuan i e& m elemosinam dedisse Sancto YOernin Mae od fratribu & l s ibide seruientibuo mDe s unum plenarium toftum . iuxta portum meum de Bele libere & quiete ab omni consuetudine sicut aliquis liberius & quietius tenet in tota terra mea pro anima omniu& matri. patri& e i mme sme s antecessorum meoru o salutpr m . e anime mee . & uxoris mee & filiorum meorum . His . T . filio comitis Waldef . & comitissa Derd' . & multis aliis apud Dunbar. Earl Gospatrick of Dunbar grants a toft next to his port of Bele to St Bthernan of May brethree th d an n servin thered gGo . DOCUMENTS RELATIN PRIORO GT F ISL YO F MAY 5 O E7 .

. v 2 Source6 . fo E : Date: 1140 x 59 (the latest date of Adrian IV's bull confirming the gift) and perhap 1153sx , since that bull confirm earliese th s t gift kinf o s g David. This charter is the earliest to mention St Ethernan, the missionary whose fame lasted longer than Cluniacthe priory, although royalthe chancery consistently refused to name him in writs to the priory. It is also by a good many years the first in which earln a o/Dunbar styled himself thus—unless Dunbae d inserteds cartularye rwa th y b scribe. King William's general confirmation (No. 12) names unam mansuram cum tofto in Dunbar et applicationem unius navis ad necessaria domus sue transportanda sicut Comes Gospatricius eis dedit . . . et rex Malcolmus ... eis carta sua confirmavit, but does not mention the toft beside the port of Bele. Presumably this port is Belhaven, beside Dunbar, and the tofts in the two charters may be identical, exchangeoran havemay taken place. eitherIn case seemmonks the haveMay to of had another charter from this earl, now lost. The general confirmation of pope Adrian Beadingo t V I abbey mentioned datinge th n i above runs: Manerium quod dicitur Rindalgros ex dono Dauid regis Scotie . cum decimis piscariis et aliis pertinentiis suis . Insulam Maii ex dono eiusdem cum decima piscium . terris et aliis pertinentiis donx suiE . so comitis Gospatrici . domui m una mportn . i . u. (Holtzmann, PU England, Hi, No. 126).

54. Carta Edwardi filii Gospatricii comitis de donatione unius cheldre \ farine / * singulis annis. Sciant presentes & futuri quod ego Ego [sic] Eduuardus films Gospatricii comitis concess ha& i c carta mea confirmau ecclesi& o e insulde d ei a Mai& e monachis ibide seruientibuo mde n perpetuai s m elemosinam . una m cheldram farin molendine d e Beletuno ome r singuloepe s anno festud sa m sancti Cudberti reddenda mei& e s m infantibu animo o mpr pr & a . nen uxoris Sibillno e sme e & animabus antecessorum meorum & successorum . Waldero filio meo & herede hoc simul mecum annuente & confirmante . Quapropter uolo & firmiter precipio t quicumquu e illud prefatu e uee meid m l se md heredibu s quocumquemodo tenuerit molendinum . ant e omni supe& a r omnia alia illam mensuram plenarie sicut prescriptu t persoluames . Quot i disturbardqu e uolueri t aliquau t o modo detinere . iram Dei & sancte matris ecclesie & omnium sanctorum & meam incurrat maledictionem . Ad cuius rei confirmationem . hoc adhibeo testes . Paganum canonicum de Alnewic . & Herueum canonicum socium eius . Adam de Dunbar . Waldeuum filium meum . Stephanum de Hant' . Et multos alios. Edward f earo ln Gospatrickso , , grant r confirms priory (o s Ma ya chaldeo t ) f meao r l annually fro mils mBeltonf hi o l . Source: E fo. 62 .v. Date: 1147 (foundatio f Alnwico n k abbey aftex ) r 1180, when Edwardf o n so , Gospatrick stils lwa , alive. From the assent of Edward's son, Waltheof (Walderus in the text), this charter is unlikely earliere b o t than . 1160.c Although Edwardextensiven a s wa landowner in England (Scots Peerage, iii, 246) "Beletune" in the light of No. 53 is more probably Belton, near Dunbar, than Beal, opposite Lindisfarne.

1 Interlined. 76 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1956-57.

55. Item carta eiusdem \Alexandri pape tercii] de confirmatione Leominstrie et Maii. Alexander episcopus seruus seruorum de . Dilectil s filiis abbat t fratribue i s Radingensis monasterii . salutem et apostolicam benedictionem . Cura nos admonet suscepti regiminis ecclesiarum profectibus paterna consideratione prospicere et earum iura contra malignorum incursus apostolice tuitionis patrocinio communire . Eapropter dilecti in domino filii officii nostri debitum prosequentes . et uestris iustis postulationibus grato concurrentes assensu . Leominstriam et possessiones alias siquas circa marchiam Wallie uel in ipsa Wallia habere noscimini . et insulam de Mai . et alias possessiones quas habetis in Scocia . sicut eas rationabiliter possidetis uobi t monasterie s o uestro auctoritate apostolica confirmamu t presentie . s s scripti patrocinio communimus auctoritate apostolica artius inhibente e qui n e prenominati . sd s s cellis abbatias facer . auepree d t - scriptis possessionibus aliquid disponere . sine assensu abbatis et capituli uestri aliquo modo presuma . Nullt i ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis et constitutionis infringere uel ei aliquatenus contraire . Siquis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit . indignationem oninipotentis Dei . et beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum eius . se nouerit irtcursurum. Bul popf o l e Alexande I confirmingII r abbee th f Beadingo yt o , , Leominste othed an r r possession WaleMarchesn e si othe d th r an so thr y d possessionean , Ma isl f eo Scotlandn si , and forbidding anyone to make these cells into abbeys, or to dispose of their possessions without the consent of Reading. Source: B fo. 70 v. Date: 1159 x81. Printed: Holtzmann, PU England, . 300 IIINo .,

56. . A . dei gratia Illustri Regi Scocie . eadem gratia Sancti Albani . Sancti Petri Westmonasteri . Sancti e Mari e Thamd e e. Abbate n Anglii s a. Salute m mcu omni honor t debite a reuerencit nobisi m sedsa Cu e a. apostolica libertates. Iura . et possessiones Ecclesie Rading' Abbatis eciam et conuentus loci eiusdem in Regnis Anglie Scocie . Wallie . defendendi a malignorum incursibus . ac protegendi tar n spiritualibuni s qua mtemporalibun i s cura commiss e filin i. a inobediencie uideamu . dissimularr n possumuno e s quin mandatis pereamus apostolicis in hac parte . propter quod uestre duximus excellencie in domino supplicandum deuote monentes quatinu aliquorud a i ss m instancia mPrioratun I m monasteriud a i qu y deMa m Rading t eiusdee ' m loci monachos spectare dinoscitur uel res seu possessiones quascumque ad dictum Prioratum spectantes contra sedis apostolice eisdem concessa priuilegia manus extendi preceperitis . Vos hoc Regali clemencia reuocare studeatis . quantum in nobis est inhibentes ne per uos uel aliquem de uestris eisdem monachis Rading' supra dicto Prioratu uel aliquo iure uel possessions ad ilium pertinente molestia inferatur aut grauamen . Vos sic in hac parte habentes ut a deo dignam retribucionem inueniatis et quod ad defensionem menbrorum suorum tantum filium sibi regenerasse saricta mater ecclesia Romana gaudeat infuturum Valeat Regia potestas xiestrdominon i u adi . "To Alexande Kind e Gracf ScotlanGo th go f y o eb r e Abbotse dth th y b , same Gracet AlbansS f o ,t PeteS , f Westminstero r t MarS f Thamed o y an , , greeting witreverencee l honouhdu al d an r . Sinc e car eth committes ei s u o dt apostolie th y b c see defendinf o , g fro attacke protectind mth an n evif so me l s ga much in spiritualities as in temporalities, the liberties, rights, and possessions in realme th Englanf so d Scotlan Wales d churce dan th f Readingf o ,h o alsd f an o,o the abbot and convent of the same place; lest we seem sons of disobedience, we cannot pretend otherwise than that we are proceeding by apostolic mandates in this matter; wherefore we have led the petitioning of your excellence in the Lord, respectfully warning, that if at the instance of anyone you have ordered the extending of a hand against the priory of May which is known to belong to the monaster Readingf yo monke same th th d f eso an ,place againsr o , goody an t r so possessions belongin e saith d o gt priory , agains privilegee th t e apostolith f o s c see granted to them, you shall take care to recall them with royal clemency, and cane w ,s forbiddina r fa s a g that hur damagr o t anyonr eo shalu done yo e b l y eb of your [subjects] to the same monks of Reading in the aforesaid priory or in any right or possession belonging to it. If you act in this way you shall find from God worthy reward, and Holy Mother Church of Rome shall rejoice in future that rebors ha e defenc e herselr o membersnt th sh he r youf y fo o ef n sucMa rso . ha royal power nouris hLord.e lonth n gi " Source: British Museum, Additional Charter 19630. Size: 6 x 2-5 ins. Sealing: tongues for three seals par simple queue with damaged seal in red-brown wax on centre tag. Legend: [mona]steri[i]. Device: an ecclesiastic blessing. There is a loose seal in green wax, bearing the same device, in the box containing the charter. Endorsed: litter aconseruatoribua s regi Scocie missa. Date: x April 1286, when the news of the death of Alexander III must have reached England e unwillingnese date. th b Thio y dt ma s f thao s t kino gt admit prior William subsequens hi d ,an 126, priore t73 9th attempx y y bu o t f bishoo d ai witp e Williahth m Wishart earln a o yt e ,r stag o th 127 , f e9 o 3 x negotiations which were completed March-May 1288 t ther havy Bu . ema e been other occasions on which the king interfered with this '' alien'' priory. unlikelyis It that this copy letter sentof the Alexander to was of one is III,it as groupa documentsof from Reading, versiona Reading at and was when "rollthe of muniments" was drawn up there (Stuart, p. cxiv, No, 56).

57. La prier ..... [Reding] ges qi sunt del patronage nostre seigneur le rei . . . la premier fundac . . . seigneur . . . vieil premier fondeour qe aueit en Royne et compaigne Mahaud la bonne Royne file au . . .la bonne Royne sainte Margarete secom i Henra fundacios re e n l ee i labbaie d n e auandite pris amise a s qil lui aidassen lavencem[enta t . auss . . ]i fisbonna l t e royne Mahau soua l e ed part pria le rei descoce maucolm son pere qil les avancast dalcune chose et il pour dieu . . . dona en pure et perpet'uele almosne lisle de Maij ouesques le manoir de Pedenwem en Escoce ouesques les apourtenances. Et pour ce qe la Pfriourie de] May ouesque apourtenances sle t aloigneses labbaie zd e auandite san grie zl t e lassen volenta l t commue e tl t ee n consail nostre seigneu verrai Re e ril patroe d a ni toutes partz dec labbai e couvent delu ad e t do ae t ee t iointemen t ensemblemente t t encontre fourma el primieu edo i Descogr Re dou u nedo prient nostre seigneue rl i labbRe l couvene t auantdit poei e comml s Engleterr n e d e ra d l e i z q n e t e Escoce et a lui apent a justicier et adrescier toutes choses mesprises et nomeement les tort faie zq t sont pui i Alisandr naora sl Re e l t l deigneqi e comme souuerain seigneu patrot re maisoa l e nd n auandite faire repele qes Prioriy a rl t Ma aloigne ed e 78 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1956-57.

de sa maison de Rading' auandite sanz raison et par le poer leuesque de saint tenu Andrece s estoin e e uq t gardai t maistrne R[oyaumeu edo ] Descoce auant dit. The petition of [the abbot and convent] of Beading. [As Henry I] founder [of Beading] had as wife Maud, daughter of [Malcolm III and] queen Margaret, and as Henry in his foundation of Beading abbey sought the help of his friends in advancing the abbey, so queen Maud besought king Malcolm her father for his part to give some help. He gave in alms the isle of May with the manor of Pittenweem and appurtenances. As the priory d beeha ny alienateoMa f d froe aforesaimth d abbey withou e consene th kint th gf o t of England, true patron, and of the abbot and convent of Beading, against the form of the gift of the king of Scotland, the abbot and convent petition the king, since he has the power in both e dutrealm th remed o yt d an s y wrongs, especially those done sinc e deateth f ho Alexander [III], tha wile h t l restor e prioreth Mayf yo , whic alienates hwa d from Beading without reason and by the power of the bishop of St Andrews who, at that time, was guardian maste d reale an th f Scotlandf mo ro . Source: Public Record Office, London, Ancient Petitions, 13701. Size: 9-6 x2-7 ins. Endorsed: petitione. Date: Thicertainls swa y presented afte overlordshie th r Edwarf po beed ha n dI acknowledge Scottise th y db h baronage probabld an , y afte resignatioe th r f no king John. It refers to bishop William Eraser as though he were still alive, accordingld an databls i t yi e 10th July 129 20t6x h August 1297, thouge hth former date is not absolutely certain. Henry I founded Reading abbey in 1121, but his first wife, Maud, daughter of Malcolm III, died in 1118. Her father had been killed in 1093, so that neither he nor his daughter can have had a hand in the endowment of Reading. The phrase "souuerain seigneur" seems to echo Edward I's style in documents addressed to Scotland—"superior dominus regni Scotic."

58. Edwardus dei gratia Rex Anglie Dominus Hibernie et Dux Aquitanie . dilecto t fidele i nostro Adomar Valencie od a consanguineo nostro salutem . Querelam . . Abbatis et conuentus de Redingges recepimus commentem quod cum quedam insula vocata Mai t maneriue j Pet[in]wee md pertinenciim mcu s necnon alia loca tarn spiritualia quam temporalia ad insulam et manerium predicta in terra nostra Sfcocie] pertinenti done ad o quondam Regum Scocie fuissent monasteries u di t o de Redingges pacis tempore assignata et cum Abbas et conuentus et predecessores sui Abbates et conuentus eiusdem loci in pacifica possessione dictorum Insule et maneri t locorue i ma tempor e assignacionis predicte hactenus extitissen. t Willelmus Episcopus Sancti Andree et Prior eiusdem loci ac quidam alii Insulam manerium et loca predicta tarn spiritualia quam temporalia manu armata hostiliter inuadentes bona et catalla dictorum religiosorum in eisdem locis inuenta ceperunt et asportauerunt ac quedam de dictis bonis nequiter consumpserunt homines eorunde n locimi s predictis existentes verberauerunt vulnerauerun t male t e tractauerunt in ipsorum et ecclesie de [Radingjges preiudicium et dampnum non modicum et contra pacem nostram ut dicunt et prout per predictum Abbatem poteritis super hiis plenius informar t ideE . io vobis mandamus quod inquisita super dictis transgressionibus veritate . faciatis dicto Abbati de eisdem festinum iusticie complementum prout in huiusmodi cas iure ud e fuerfit] faciendum. Dat' sub priuato sigillo nostro apud Neuburgh in Tyndale secundo die Septembris anno regni nostri xxxiiij. Privy seal writ of Edward I narrating that he has received the complaint of Reading abbe Pittenweed yan y thaMa t m were lon thenn gi - peaceful possession thad an ,t William, DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PRIORY OF ISLE OF MAY. 79

bishop of St Andrews, the prior of St Andrews, and others invading the isle of May, removed e good th chatteld an s f Beadingo s , consumed some maltreated e sam oan n ,th f eme e dth abbey there, to the damage of Beading and against the king's peace. He orders Aymer de Valenc givo et e justicabbote th o et . Source: Public Record Office, London, Ancient Correspondence, XLVII/89. Size: 8-4 x 3-7 ins. Sealing: Trac narrof eo w tongu t bottomea , left-hand dorscornern o d e maran , k of seal (1 in. diameter) in red wax and of strip for sealing close. Date Septembed 2n : r 1306. 59. Pateat vniuersi r presentespe s controuersiu quolise m s dcu a mota esset inter dominum Martinum priorenominy Ma e med ipsius prioratu ipso pr o t actoree . s m ex una parte . et dominos abbatem et conuentum de Scona reos ex altera super jure decime piscariaru Sleplee m Inchescyrethislad e d t se u quas quidem decimas dictus dominus prior de May asserebat de iure communi sibi competere sicut situatas infra parochiam a Renl t ecclesisupee e d d. e r esu cessaciou e cuiusdam annue pensionis duarum marcarum a dictis Abbate et conuentu dicto Priori soluendarum . Tandem post dictam controuersiam seu litem coram commissariis Reuerendi patris domini Willelmi dei gratia Sancti Andree episcopi diucius agitatam placuit vtrique parti consens t auctoritate u e dicti Reuerendi patris Sancti Andree episcop prioric a i s loci eiusdem accedentibus quod uiri prouidt e i discreti magistri Willelmu Yathaye d s m archidiaconus Dunblanensi t Alexe . s - ander de Kinimonth rector ecclesie de Thayenas visis meritis . et circumstanciis cause possent discuter t plene e. e ordinar dicte ed a controuersi contencionu ase e secundum quod melius eisdem videretur expedire fide a qualibet parte corporaliter prestitn veniendno e d a o contra ordinacione t mdisposicionee m magistrorum Willelmi et Alexandri prenominatorum . Qui quidem habito consilio peritorum pensatisque natur t qualitatae e negoci meritic ia s ipsius cause diligenter inspectis. disposuerunt ordinauerun amicabilitet e . t r inter dictas partes composuerun quo. t d dictus dominus prior de May nomine suo et prioratus sui dictos Abbatem et conuentum de Scona super dictis decimis piscariarum de Sleples et de Inchescyre- thislau non inquietaret . nee perpetuo molesta'ret . Immo ipsos quietos . liberos . et absolutes ab omni exaccione juris vendicacione . et aprestacione decimarum piscariarum predictarum pro se et suis successoribus sponte et libere inperpetuum denunciare . Dictt i vero abba t conuentuse s annuam pensionem duarum marcarum festin i s sancti martin t Pentechostee i temporo pr i qu e y nfueri priorMa te d i soluendarum sicut actenu extan temporsa no to memoriqu ea a consuetum erat sine contradiccione aliqua imperpetuum persoluen . Idet m vero dominus Martinus pro se et prioratu suo et idem abbas et conuentus de Scona pro se et monasterio suo fide corporaliter prestit a aqualibe t parte dictam composicionet e m ordinacionem inperpetuum ualituram approbauerun t e ratificauerunt t E . t quilibet pro parte sua ratum et firmum habuit . Renunciantes in hoc facto ex certa scientia omni priuilegi o. omn i exceptioni doli mali accion factun i m condiccioni sine causa beneficio in integrum restitucionis . et omnibus remediis juris canonici et ciuilis competentibus in present! vel in futurum competituris . In signum corroboracioni t confirmacionie s s huius oomposicionis legitime fact consense d e u et procuracione parcium predictarum dictus reuerendus pater dominus Willelmus dei gratia Sanoti Andree episcopus sigillum suum presentibus duxit apponendum sigillm cu oa communun i capituli Sancti Andre t sigilliee s dictarum parcium . Dat ' apud Sanctum Andrea e dominicmdi a proxima post festum Sancti Nicholai episcop t confessorie i . Anns o grati e. m ° ccc . °Tertiodecimo . 80 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1956-57.

controversa n I y between Martin, prioabboe prior s Mayf th con-vend o rhi d r tan y,an fo t of Scone ove e e tithefishingth th r f so f Sleeples o s d Inchyran s a (?) whic claimy hMa y sb commo asw nla bein g withi parise nth theif ho r churc Rhynde th f oved h o grane an ,th r f o t annuan a l pensiomarko tw f sno payabl e priore abbo th th e matte o y th ,t lonts e b gwa r debated before the commissaries of William, bishop of St Andrews, and both parties agreed wit consens hhi authorityd an t t prioAndrewe S th ,f ro s agreeing, that Willia Yetholme md , archdeacon of Dunblane, and Alexander de Kinirnonth, rector of Tannadice, might ordain in mattere th , both parties having swor accepo nt t their decision. They ordained y thaMa t shoul t disturdno b Scone ove fishingse rth t shoulbu , d renounce the mSconeo t . Scone should pay the pension, as had been done mimemorially, to May. Both parties swore to observe this. Source: British Museum, Additional Charter 66571. Size: 14-25 x 5 ins. Sealing: Slits for four tags, three remaining, of which two bear fragments of • seals. Endorsed: de decimis de fischingis (15th to 16th century). Date: 9th December 1313. This document ofgroupa one is Sconeofsix charters, previousa and stage of this litigation will be found in Scone, No. 148. As early as 1171 x 8 Scone abbey was litigating before the king over the tithe of fishings on the Tay opposite Scone, Craig, and Kinfauns (Scone, No. 20) when its rights seem to have depended on a royal grant and episcopaln a confirmation f "theo tithe wholee oth f parish of Scone;" Scone, 5 . No , May y 11631164;Ma x , 1165x71; 26 Scone . No , , 1165x72.Scone47 . No , That parish included the three chapels of Kinfauns, Craig, and Rait, in the carse of Gowrie disputesd an , ) 1165(Scone48 78 x . mustNo , have arisen over divisione th f o fishing tithes between parishes eitheron bank Tay.ofthe William de Yetholm, archdeacon of Dunblane, was previously and afterwards archdeacon of Teviotdale; George Watson, '' The archdeacons of Teviotdale with special reference to the deanery of Teviotdale," Transactions of the Hawick Archeo- logical Society, 1907, pp. 36-7. (I am indebted to Mr Athol Murray for bringing this article to my notice.) Alexander de Kininmonth, rector of Tannadice, was later archdeacon of Lothian and bishop of Aberdeen; Coupar Angus, i, p. 241 (where the editor is reluctant to identify the holders of these offices). Sleples islandthe is of Sleepless near Rhyndthe ; Inchescyrethislau bankTay ofthe may be represented by Insherrit, an island slightly further downstream and near the Inchyra bank. Inchyra 17ththe centuryin " Inchesyraye"was " Inschryrra."and See also Exch. Rolls, i, 484-6.