Series 3 > Charters of the Abbey of Inchcolm

244 CHARTERS OF THE ABBEY OF INCHCOLM
integerrime agunt) James considers that they should have a devout
Augustinian over them and no secular. He nominates Richard
Abercrummy, canon of Cambuskenneth, and desires the Pope motu
proprio to reserve a yearly pension of 110 merks Scots during life
for John Steil, clerk of St. Andrews diocese, now reaching his
ninth year, the churches of Ouchtertule and Dolour (both of
Dunkeld diocese and not exceeding the above value) to be assigned
for payment, with power to John Steil or his procurators to collect
the said fruits, set them in lease, and dispone during his life, also
with faculty to transfer the pension, whole or in two parts, to one
or two individuals through an ecclesiastical person constitute in
dignity, and with the usual pains and censures for Abbot Richard
and his successors.
(Tyningham Letter Book, H.M. General Register House.)
II
James V to Clement VII; Edinburgh, 23 Aug. 1532.
On the death of John Elwand, Abbot of Inchcolm, James was
asked by the brethren to refrain from promoting any one who was
not of the order, and he named Sir Richard Abircrummy, a man
specially distinguished for holiness and zeal for the religious life
and pursuit of letters. He thought he had given satisfaction to
the convent, when word came that a certain Bartholomew de
Ferrariis had impetrated the monastery on grounds far from con¬
ducive to monastic life and observance. It is neither seemly nor
lawful that a profane person should be in charge of sacred things :
also the privileges granted to James do not permit him to tolerate
infringements of his right by men of that kind. He asks the Pope
to act according to his former letters : Richard to be promoted,
a life pension of 110 merks Scots for John Steil, clerk of St. Andrews
diocese now in his ninth year, exigible from the churches of
Ouchtertule and Dolour, with power to Steil to transfer the said
pension whole or divided through some one in ecclesiastical dignity
to one or two persons, as specified in the previous communication.
James hopes that Clement will be more ready to hear because the
matter is intimately connected with the royal privilege, and the
desires and interests of the monks demand that the abbey be not
given to Bartholomew.