The manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of ... - Electric Scotland

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service in the parish church, according to an inscription on it, was
consecrated by the abbot John Wriah. The founder of the abbey is by
Dugdale said to be John (Maxwell) lord of Kirkconnel. But Devorgilla
wife of John Baliol, lord of Barnard Castle, and mother of John Baliol,.
King of Scotland, is also named in this connexion. Edward Bruce,
lord of Galloway, in the reign of his brother. King Robert the Bruce,,
established at the abbey an hospital and chapel and endowed them with
lands in Galloway.
In 1257, the monks of this Abbey went into litigation with the monks
of Melrose regarding the tithes of Dunscore. Its abbot sat in the
parliament of Queen Margaret which met at Brigham on 17 March,
1290. Six years later, on 28 August, 1296, Dungald, Abbot of Holywood
(Seint Boyse) appears in the Ragman Roll, as swearing fealty to
King Edward the First at Berwick-on-Tw^eed. This act of the abbot
secured to him the restoration of his property by Edward. On 8th May
1365, letters of protection were granted to the Abbot and Convent of
the Monastery " de sacro nemore " by King David the Second. The
abbot of Holywood in the years 1475, 1481, 1483, and 1487, sat in
parliament.
No Cartulary of the Abbey of Holyrood containing charters granted
to or by the abbey is now knowm to exist. The original charters of
endowment of the lands of the abbey are also missing. The writs now
reported in this section, however, record many of the lands and possessions
of the Abbey. They also for the most part show the dispersal of these
after the Reformation had commenced. In 1522 Abbot John disposes
of the lands of Keyr, Bardanach, Barjarg, and others to Robert, Lord
Maxwell, in consideration of counsel and help given and to be given by
him and his heirs and successors to the Abbey, and an augmentation to
their rental. The various steps taken to obtain the Apostolic confirmation
to this arrangement are stated at length.
Thomas Campbell was abbot of Holywood in 1556 and is styled
Commendator in 1572. He dispersed many of the remaining lands as
appears from the Register of the Great Seal, and as is also evident from
some of the writs in this section. This commendator adhered to the
cause of Queen Mary after her escape from Lochleven. For this he wa&
found guilty of treason and sentence of forfeiture was passed upon him.
But this sentence must have been relaxed, to some extent at least, as he
is afterwards found disposing of the teind sheaves of the Abbey. About
1570 Thomas Campbell complained that Lord Sanquhar had withheld
the rent of Kirkconnel for a period of fifteen years. This commendator
died sometime before 28 April 1580, when through the influence of
James Douglas, Earl of Morton, the King granted to James afterwards
Sir James Johnstone, then a minor, son and heir apparent of John
Johnstone of that ilk, warden of the west marches, for all the days of
his life, the Abbacy of Holywood, vacant by the decease of Thomas
Campbell. One deed here reported on (No. 179 infra) is given by
James Johnstone as commendator. He was the hero of DryfPesands
and his tragical fate at the hands of John, Lord Maxwell, is well known.
James Johnstone continued to hold the commendatorship of Holywood
until the year 1600, when he demitted it. On 15th August of that year
King James the Sixth gave a grant of the office to Mr John Johnstone,
advocate, constituting him for his lifetime commen'lator of Holywood
and its spiritualities with a vote and place in parliament. The grant,
which is under the Great Seal, is said to be in compensation for particular
services in divers years rendered by him. Mr. John Johnstone
was the last cpramendator of the Abbey of Holywood.