Series 3 > Charters of the Abbey of Inchcolm

INTRODUCTION
xli
‘ 111 abbay and mansioun of sanct-colmis Insh ’ was
ratified :—
‘ Forsamekle as be diuerss actis of Parliament maid
of befoir concerning the reformatioun of religioun within
this realme The monkreis ar altogidder abolishit And
thair places and abbayis for the maist part left waist
namelie the abbay of sanctcolmis Insh quhilk of ancient
tyme quhen the samyn was Inhabit be the abbay and
conuent thairof wes at diuerss tymis takin be the English¬
men than enemeis to our realme and seruit vnto thame
as ane fortalice and strong hold aganis our soueran lordis
guid subiectis Be occasioun quhairof the cuntreis Hand
about wer be the enemie infestit and trublit/And at
sum vthir tymis sen the reformatioun of the religioun
within this realme/Sen the quhilk tyme this abbay wes
left desert the same hes bene receptakle to Piratis
And may heirefter be diuerss apperance serve to the
elyke Inconvenientis And can na wayis be profittable to
our souerane lord nor his realme Except the samyn be
in the handis of ane speciall tennent quha may foirsie
and provide that the said Ille witht the abbay mansioun
dowcat and sairdis being thairin may be put to sum
profittable vse/And thairfoir our said souerane lord with
auise of his saidis thrie estaitis of this present parliament
Ratefeis appreuis and confermis the infeftment off few-
ferme of the said Ille abbay mansioun howss jairdis and
dowcatt thairof with all thair pertinentis maid be sir
James Stewart of downe knycht Commendatar of the said
abbay witht consent of the convent thairof To vmquhill
Archibald Ergyill his airis and assignais Togidder witht
the Infeftment maid be the said erll to James now Erll
of Murray his airis and assignais with all that followit
thairvpoun.’1
1 APS., iii., p. 276a. For a curious point of law arising out of the dis¬
posal of the monastery’s lands (‘ Can a superior become vassal to his own
vassal ? ’) see Craig, Jus Feudale, 1.14.18.