Series 2 > Rentale Dunkeldense

RENTALE DUNKELDENSE
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of which also is preserved in the Advocates’ Library. That
portion of the ‘ Lives ’—two-thirds of the whole—which
relates to the episcopate of Bishop George Brown, and
brings the narrative down to 1516 or 1517, is quite indis¬
pensable as a supplement to the accounts. Though the
Latin text has long been accessible in print, there seems
to be no fairly accurate translation available for the general
reader. A rendering of this part of the ‘ Lives ’ is there¬
fore included. In the earlier (and untranslated) section
there are occasional references to matters which bear
more or less closely upon the contemporary narrative or
upon details which occur in the accounts. Bishop Dowden
has fully discussed the chronological bearing of the con¬
tents in his Bishops of Scotland. It has accordingly
been considered sufficient, in view of the scope of the
present book, to add a note calling attention to state¬
ments which the reader may find it convenient to have
before him or consult more closely in the original.1
Statistical information regarding the bishopric and
chapter of Dunkeld in the Reformation period occurs in
the ‘ Book of Assumptions ’ in the Advocates’ Library,
of which there is a later copy now in the Register House.
As this material has an illustrative value and contains
elements of considerable interest, it has also been included
in condensed form by way of appendix.2 The returns were
not all made at the same time or in the same detail; and
the record is somewhat unsystematic in character. Keith
used the ‘ Book of Assumptions,’ and published the totals
relating to the bishoprics and religious houses.3 It may
be of use to print the information, such as it is, which
bears upon the bishopric and prebends of Dunkeld.
Additional matter regarding the lands might have been
taken from the ‘ Abbreviate of Feu Charters of Kirk-
1 Appendix I. A. 2 Ibid. II.
3 Affairs of Church and State, App. to Bk. III.: he used the Reg. Ho. copy.