Series 3 > Highland papers

210
MISCELLANEOUS
WRIT OF MARY OF LORRAINE TO
THE ABBOT OF CUPAR
The only connection with the Highlands possessed by this writ
is that the object of the royal solicitude was the fourth son of the
second Earl of Argyll. But it so illumines the conditions immediately
preceding the Reformation that its presence in this volume will
not be regarded with disfavour. While quite young Donald Camp¬
bell was in 1526 appointed abbot of the Cistercian house of Cupar-
Angus. He was a man of ability and took a considerable part in
public affairs. In 1541 he was appointed a Lord of Session, and was
for a number of years Keeper of the Privy Seal. In 1549 the Regent
Arran attempted unsuccessfully to secure for him the Bishopric of
Dunkeld on Hamilton’s promotion to St. Andrews, and actually
procured for him a gift of the temporalities during the vacancy of
the See. As this writ shows, a similar attempt was made in 1557
to have him made Bishop of Brechin. And it is curious that Mr.
John Row, afterwards the well-known reformer, was the agent
employed to carry on the negotiations in Rome. The Abbot’s
proposals are stated with the utmost frankness. He is to get the
See of Brechin and also to retain during his life the Abbacy of
Cupar. On his death that is to go to his illegitimate grand-nephew
John, son of the fourth Earl of Argyll. He also desires to abandon
the Cistercian habit and wear the ordinary dress of a bishop.
Further—and no doubt for the purpose of buying off opposition—
pensions out of the episcopal revenues are to be given to members
of two important local families. This scheme, whatever be the
reason, was not received with favour in Rome, and in spite of the
fact that some writers refer to him as Bishop of Brechin was never
confirmed by the Pope.
As Abbot of Cupar, Donald Campbell sat in the Parliament of
1560 which abolished the Papal authority in Scotland. He died in
1562 leaving at least five sons, for whom he provided handsomely
out of the possessions of the abbey. Much information about him
will be found in The Rental Book of Cupar, Grampian Club 1880, and
in Dowden’s Bishops of Scotland, s.v. Dunkeld and Brechin.