Series 2 > Rentale Dunkeldense

INTRODUCTION
xv
It is not unlikely that he prosecuted post-graduate studies
in law, though he does not seem to have become a bachelor.
By 1500, as is shown by the instrument from which the
facsimile of his writing comes, he was acting as clerk to
the bishop and chapter of Dunkeld. According to evid¬
ence in the accounts, he served for a time as steward,
was made prebendary of Lundeif, began his duties as dean
of Angus in 1505, and received promotion, about 1510, to
the richer prebend of Monydie. At this juncture the
bridge of Dunkeld was begun ; and Myln discharged the
function of master of work for more than four years. In
1511 the task of entering the episcopal accounts was de¬
volved upon Thomas Brown. It is about 1513 that Myln
begins to be designed in the accounts as Official. He had
previously acquired experience during three years as
clerk of court.1 There can be no doubt that he obtained
at some time or other the prebend of Phillorth in the church
of Aberdeen ; 2 but these accounts contain no reference to
the matter. The assertion that he was connected as a
conservator of privileges with the University of Aberdeen
seems to be an unfortunate inference from the fact that the
abbot of Cambuskenneth was one of three ecclesiastics
charged with this duty under the bull of Pope Alexander vi.
in 1500. Myln was not even named as administrator of
the abbey till 1516, and did not succeed to the enjoyment
of the benefice till the death of Patrick Paniter.
The date of Myln’s birth has been given as 1474—on
what authority does not appear.3 When he was about
sixty-four he resigned Cambuskenneth in the Roman court
in favour of David Paniter, his predecessor’s son ; 4 but un¬
fortunately the time of this transaction is not indicated.
1 P. 326: this was before 1508 (cf. p. 19).
2 Reg. Sec. Sig., i. 3033.
3 Diet, of Nat. Biog. : the writer makes him graduate in 1494, and probably
assumes that he was about twenty in that year.
4 Archbishops of St. Andrews, iv. 237 ; R.M.S., iii. 2072.
b