Series 3 > Highland papers

176
VATICAN TRANSCRIPTS
ceterisque in contrarium editis non obstantibus quibus-
cumque cum clausulis oportunis.
Fiat O.
Datum Rome apud Sanctumpetrum septimo kalendas
Februarii anno quinto (26 Jan. 1421-2).
(Abstract)
Cristina, daughter of Dominic, professed nun of the Monastery of
St. Mary of Hy of the order of St. Augustine, prays that notwithstanding
the defect of her birth as the daughter of a priest who was also a monk
of the order of St. Benedict and an unmarried woman, she might be
enabled to hold any offices, administrations, priories, or dignities below
Abbacy if duly elected thereto or if they be otherwise canonically conferred
upon her.
Granted, 26 Jan. 1421-2.
Archivio Vaticano. Reg. Suppliche 159, fol. 124. Martin v.
Beatissime pater Nuper sanctitas vestra devoto vestro
Celestino 1 Celestini dicto Macgillemichael 2 rectori parro-
chialis ecclesie Sancti Molrvue3 de Melfort Ergadiensis
diocesis de perpetua vicaria Sancti Finani in Keirwe 4 dicte
1 By some process, of which the secret remains undisclosed, a man known in
Gaelic as Gilleasbuig is styled Archibald in English and Celestin in Latin.
2 Macgillemichael. This name used to be common in Lismore. But many
of the tribe have assumed Carmichael in its place—probably under the impres¬
sion that they were accommodating themselves to a higher civilisation.
3 St. Maelrubha of Applecross, to whom many dedications exist all over the
Highlands; vide ‘Saint Maelrubha,’ by the Rev. Archibald B. Scott, Scottish
Historical Review, vol. vi. p. 260 ; Ancient Columban Dedications in the Celtic
West, by the Duke of Argyll. With the kindly intention, it would seem, of
assisting enquirers, the following entry is inserted in the index to Papal Letters,
vol. vii. p. 636, published under the direction of the Master of the Rolls, ‘ Kil-
molroy [in Arasaig in the parish of Ardnurchan, co. Argyll] St. Molrwa de
Molferth (i.e, Morvern)’ !
4 Kilfinan is the parish which skirts the Kyles of Bute and the lower part of
Loch Fyne. Between 1231 and 1241 the Church of Kilfinan with the patronage
of the same was granted to the monks of Paisley by two early Lamonts—Duncan
son of Fercher and Lauman son of Malcolm, nephew of the said Duncan {Reg.
de Passelet, p. 132).
Among the names of the parish of Kilfinan collected by the editors of the
Origines Parochiales, II. i. p. 49, is Ceathramh or Kerry. And a footnote says :
‘ Modern local name signifying a fourth part {New Stat. Acc.). This is a mani¬
fest abbreviation of Kethromecongal, which thus appears to mean “ the fourth
part of Cowal,” that is of King’s Cowal as afterwards defined.’ This writ, how¬
ever, shows that so far from being modern the name was in use in 1423.