History of the Fife Pitcairns

88 THE FIFE PITCAIRNS.
my lordship from that part of Scotwater, in which part their church
is situated. Witnesses, Andrew, the bishop j Duncan, the Earl ;
Hugh de Moreville ; Walter, the son of Alan ; Herbert the
Chamberlain ; Nicholas the Clerk ; Alwyn Macarkil. At Perth. 1
Showing the power of the Abbots of Dunfermline, we see
what King David I. said to the Abbot of Holyrood —
" And I will that the Abbot may hold his court as freely,
fully, and honourably as the Bishop of St Andrews, and the
Abbot of Dunfermline, and the Abbot of Kelso, hold their
courts." 2
Abbots received the dignified title of Lord, and were
distinguished as Mitred and non-Mitred Abbots. Mitred
Abbots were Lords of Parliament, and called Abbots
Sovereign, and Abbots General, to distinguish them from
the other Abbots. The Abbot of Dunfermline was a Mitred
Abbot. The Abbot lived in great pomp in his private
apartments of the Monastery, and sometimes in a separate
Hall or Palace. He had servants, horses, hawks and
hounds, and entertained guests at the Convent, and at his
private table. He had also a chaplain, who besides his
spiritual duties managed his household. Every day the
monks met in the Chapter House. Every one as he entered
bowed towards the place of dignity; and the Abbot, when
they were all assembled, invoked a blessing upon them ;
prayers were then said, and a lesson read, and the names
of those appointed to any services were read from the
register, every one, on his name being read, bowing in token
of obedience. Next the deaths were commemorated, and
the Abbot, standing in his place, pronounced the absolution
of the souls of the dead. Those who had been convicted
of any fault were accustomed at this time to prostrate
themselves upon the ground, making a humble confession,
and entreating forgiveness. Punishment was sometimes
inflicted on the spot by the Prior or his deputy. The busi-
ness being concluded, they united in saying Psalm cxxx.,
De Profundis, unless it happened to be a High Festival,
then the Abbot said, " Our Help is in the name of the
1 Chalmers, Hist, of Dunfermline, p. 112. 2 Ibid., p. 227.