Series 3 > Charters of the Abbey of Inchcolm

xxxviii CHARTERS OF THE ABBEY OF INCHCOLM
the restoration of its fabric, there is no evidence that either
from this source or from the private generosity of Stewart’s
family was anything expended or any attempt made to
restore it; while the competence of their defence of the
monastery against attack was such that, on 22nd August
1547, the Privy Council ordained the Abbot of Inchcolm
to pay 500Z. for the recovery of the island from the English,
the members of the convent to be placed meanwhile in
St. Andrews, Scone, Lindores, Dunfermline, Paisley and
Cambuskenneth
One feature of the instrument which records Richard
Abercromby’s procuratory of resignation 1 2 deserves men¬
tion. The list of agents employed to carry through the
transaction at the Vatican is an unusually long one and
contains the names not only of Italian officials but of a
number of ‘ Scots living at Rome ’ (Scoti Rome residentes)
who are, in most cases, individually mentioned elsewhere.
The scandalous trade in benefices conducted by these
Scottish ‘ touts ’ at the Vatican has its counterpart in the
enactments against ‘ barratry ’ 3 of the Scottish Parliament
and the actions against ‘ barrators ’ recorded in the Acts
of the Lords of Council. The list given in this Inchcolm
record includes at least three Scottish agents at Rome
whose services (as will be seen in the notes to No. lx.) were
greatly in demand and whose activities were multifarious—
John Duncan or Duncanson, a notorious intriguer, de¬
scribed, in exasperation, by James v. as an ‘ inveterate
schemer ’ (veterator technis) and a ‘ worthless old man,’
who, ultimately, was banished from Scotland for life ; 4
James Salmond ; and John Thornton.
1 PCR., i., p. 8o. 2 Charters, No. lx.
3 Barratry was the crime of obtaining a benefice by papal provision
without licence of the Crown.
4 See notes to this charter.