Series 3 > Letters of James the Fourth, 1505-1513

LETTERS OF JAMES IV
23
1506]
predecessors had granted at the royal request to the
Dominican houses in Scotland. But as there are never
lacking those who would rather run into danger by their
own stupidity than be guided by the wisdom of others,
there are to be found in his order impious men who sully
the good name of their order (religionis decus deformantes)
by rushing into every kind of wickedness. Some, often
called in vain by the authority of the Provincial to forsake
their errors, to evade discipline, have fled in their madness
to the neighbouring English province, where they live,
apostate and a disgrace to their native land, in houses to
which they have been uncanonically admitted by the
Priors. Therefore he has thought fit to follow his ancestors
and advise the Prior General to restrain, with the threat
of censure, as ecclesiastical discipline and sound morality
require, those [English priors] from giving shelter to any
friar, whether novice or initiate (profanum aut initiatum),
without the consent of his superior or letters of permission,
and to compel them to send back at once any that they
may have received.1
31. James IV to the Authorities of Middelburg, Holyrood,
June l,2 1506. n.l. 206 ; b.m. 16 ; G. 210.
James has had to write more than once and at length
about the goods of Donald Crum, an inhabitant of their
town, who died in Scotland a year or two ago (superioribus
annis), and has asked them kindly to hear the complaints
of the testamentary executors against Patrick Merchem-
stoun and Margaret Manwell his spouse, Middelburg people
(cives vestros) who detain the goods, and to administer
speedy justice. He has heard, however, that the parties
have come to terms {in transactionem descenderunt) although
they have not observed the articles of convention {con-
ventionis capita). James requests the authorities to
put an end to the controversy all the sooner, now that
agreement will have made judgment easier. Andrew
1 For a briefer version, by Hannay, see No. 229.
2 Date from N.L. copy.