Series 3 > Charters of the Abbey of Inchcolm

INTRODUCTION
XXXIX
The Last Stages of the Abbey’s Career
James Stewart was technically Abbot and was provided
as such ; but there are references to his having the ‘ com-
menda ’ of the Abbey in the bull of 1544 1 and, in 1545, he
is called ‘ commendatour of oure abay of Sanct Colmis
Inched 2 Although there is provision for his receiving
episcopal blessing as Abbot when he attained canonical
age, there is no likelihood that he ever did so, as the
Reformation supervened ; and his rdle as head of the
Abbey, even when he is mentioned as acting with the
convent ‘ cheptourlie gaderit,’ 3 was in no sense spiritual,
but was concerned entirely with the disposition and
management of the Abbey’s temporal affairs and posses¬
sions. It is questionable if conventual life was ever re¬
sumed on the island after its occupation by the English
on 13th September 1547.4 The island continued in their
hands for some time. On 25th October 1547, the English
garrison on the island were to be furnished with all things
necessary from England ; 5 and, on 2nd November of that
year, Sir John Luttrell, the English Governor of St. Colm’s
Inch, complained to the Earl of Warwick of the bad state
of his garrison.6 On 21st January 1547/48, Somerset
writes to Luttrell:—
‘ Touching the servauntis of the late Abbot of St.
Combes Inche whom ye declare to have relyeved you,
and doo nowe, beeng put at, seke protection at your
handis ; forasmuch as ye knowe their honest doings
1 Charters, No. lxii. 2 Ibid., No. lxiv.
8 Charters, No. lxix.
4 Scottish Corresp. of Mary of Lorraine, p. 206, footnote. Buchanan
states that after Pinkie (10th September 1547) the English ‘ attempted
nothing besides worthy of notice, except that they fortified the barren
islands of Inchkeith and Inchcolm in the Frith of Forth, and took Broughty
Castle, in the Firth of Tay ’ (History of Scotland, iv., p. 369).
6 Cal. of State Papers (Scotland), 1508-89, i., p. 24.
6 Ibid., pp. 70, 71.