Volume 6

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organ, as we may learn from the Gaelic scholars. Saint Kentigern, or
Mungo, founded his church here about the year 580 A.D., and he died in 601,
leaving the infant town his blessing, and thereby becoming its protecting saint.
It struggled, however, during many an age amidst the disasters of the
Cumbrian kingdom of Strathclyde.
In 1116 A.D. the church of Glasgow was revived by Earl David, and
the episcopate reinstated under bishop John. A castle or a church was one
of the original causes that induced people to settle in a village, which owing
to various circumstances, soon grew up into a town. As early as the reign
of King William, the grandson of David I., Glasgow was formed, by a grant
from him to Bishop Jocelyn, into a burgh, with a fair on Thursday (f).
There was a charter of Alexander II. exempting the burgesses of Glasgow
from paying toll to Rutherglen (g). There was a charter to the bishop by
Alexander III. in 1277, empowering his burgesses and men of Glasgow to
trade to Argyle and Lennox and throughout Scotland, as freely as the
burgesses of Dumbarton or of any other (h). The men of Glasgow were
now as free as any burgesses in the kingdom to carry on trade within every
district of that country. In 1268 there was a parcel of land sold by
Mythyngby to Archdeacon Irvine, within the town of Glasgow, which evinces
that the burgage lands were held of the bishop, and that the corporation of
the town then consisted of a provost and bailies and twelve burgesses.
From the time that bishop Rae built the bridge over the Clyde, about 1350,
which must have been a great advantage to the town, the buildings were
gradually extended from above, near the cathedral, to the flat below, towards
the bridge. Bishop Cameron, by obliging his prebendaries to build houses for
themselves and to reside constantly, must, no doubt, have had some share in
promoting a greater populacy. There was a parliament or great council holden
at Glasgow by Robert II., on the 21st of September, 1384, as we may learn
from Hay's Vindication. Whether any other parliament was ever held in this
busy town may be doubted.
(f) Chart. Glasg., 23 ; Gibson's App., No. xvii. The chancellor who tested that grant was Walter
Bidun, who was made chancellor in 1171 and died in 1178. Camb. Hist. Glasg., 92-3.
(g) Ure's Rutherg., 32. This charter was tested by Thomas de Strivelin, who was appointed
chancellor in 1226 and died in 1227. Crawf. Off. of State, 12. There was another grant of King
William to the bishop and his people, protecting every one who came there for trade to enter and
depart freely, provided they should act according to the assize of his burghs and the law of the land.
Gibson, App., xvii.
(h) Chart., p. 167.