John Hepburn, a lord of session, 1467 to c. 1479.
James Chisholm, son of Edward Chisholm of Cromlix, chaplain to James
III., 1534; a careful administrator and good bishop, 1489-1527.
William Chisholm, half-brother of the preceding, who resigned in his
favour; a shameless wretch, who wasted the See by fraudulent tacks to
his three bastards and his nephew, and who burned men for heresy,
1527-1564.
William Chisholm, nephew of the robber bishop, appointed by Papal brief
of 2nd June, 1561, and nominated by Queen Mary in 1564; was in exile
Bishop of Vaison in France, became a Carthusian of Grenoble, and died
at Rome, 1564-1593.
PAROCHIALE DUNBLANENSE
Dunblane, St. Blain. Chapelry of Kilbride at Kilbride Castle.
Aberfoyle in Menteith. Dependent on _Inchmahome_. Has five lakes.
Abernethy, St. Brigid. _Arbroath_. Prebend, 1240. In See of Dunkeld
in 1446. For four vicars. Probable date of round tower, 854. At
first had Dron, Dunbulg, and Erole as chapels.
Auchterarder, St. Mungo. _Inchaffray_. Old church in a valley, one
mile westward. Mackessock in charter of Innerpeffray.
Aberuthven, St. Cathan. _Inchaffray_, 1200. Later to Arbroath. Now
joined to Auchterarder. Very ancient church survives.
Tullibardine. A collegiate church. Now in parish of Blackford.
Bondington or Boddington. _Arbroath_. In 1369 the lands of Boddington
belonged to Peter de Innerpeffry. Bonnyton, near Montrose. (Jervise,
93.)
Blackford, St. Patrick. Original church was Strogeith, now in Muthill.
Dundurn, or St. Fillans. St. Fillan the Leper. Church here since c.
550. Associated with a fortress on Dunfillan. Now in Comrie.
Comrie, St. Kessog, R.[8] _Paisley Abbey_. Prebend. Chapel at
Tullikettle. Had St. Kessog's Fair, third Wednesday of March.
Dron. Once chapel under Abernethy. Now includes Pottie, at the mouth
of Glenfarg (see deanery of Gowrie, St Andrews), and Ecclesia Macgirdle
("Exmagirdle") at Glenearn.
Dunning, St. Serf, c. 1200.
Dupplin. Family chapel of castle. In 1618 joined to Aberdalgie.
Foulis, St. Methven and St. Bean (Foulis-Wester.) _Inchaffray_. Chapel
of St. Methven at Buchanty Bridge. Also chapel at Gorthy, 1266.
Renewed in 1454 by agreement between Abbot of Inchaffray and Tristam of
Gorthy.
Fordishall or Ferdshaw. Prebend. Again under Dunkeld.
Gask, Holy Trinity (Trinity-Gask). _Inchaffray_.
Innerpeffray, St Mary. Mentioned 1342. Collegiate, 1508, by first
Lord Drummond. In Monzie, _quoad sacra_ to Muthill. Had Lady Fair on
25th March.
Kilmadoc, St. Madocus or Aidus (Doune.) _Inchmahome_ Priory.
Kincardine, St. Latan or Lolan. Mentioned c. 1190 (Kincardine in
Menteith). _Cambuskenneth_. Old parish of Lany in Kincardine, and
chapelry of Balquhapple.
Kinkell, St. Bean. Prebend. _Inchaffray_. Now in Trinity-Gask.
Minister of Kinkell hanged at Crieff, 1682.
Logie, St. Woloc (Logie, Stirling). Prebend.
Kippen, St. Davius or Movean. In Menteith. Prebend.
Lecroft or Leckraw, St Moroc or Maworrock (Lecropt, Bridge of Allan).
_Cambuskenneth_.
Monzie in Stratherne. Prebend. St. Laurence Fair, 22d August.
Included Logiealmond. Chapel at Tomenbowie, and Stuck Chapel with
burial-grounds.
Monedie. Included Logiealmond, detached from Monzie.
Monyvaird, St. Serf, with Strowan (St. Rowan or Ronan). United before
1662.
Madertie, St. Ethernan (Maderty). An old abthane. Has Abbey of
_Inchaffray_.
Capeth Moothill (Muthill). The Dean. Chapels and wells of St Patrick
at Struthill and at Blairinroar; also, Dalpatrick across the Earn, from
St. Patrick's of Strageath; Easter and Wester Feddal and Bennie (now in
Ardoch), belonged to _Lindores Abbey_ from 1198.
Port [of Monteith]. Included old parish of Lany or Leny.
St. Madocus or Aidus (St. Madoes, Perth), R. Also Samadoss.
Tullicultrie, St. Serf. _Cambuskenneth_. Colvilles of Tillicoultry,
1483-1634.
Crieff, St. Michael, R. Prebend. Religious house--St. Thomas at
Milnab (= Abbot's Mill), belonging to Inchaffray. Besides Crieff
_primo_ and Crieff _secundo_ in Strathearn, there was also a Crieff
_tertio_ in Perthshire, probably the outlying portion of the parish in
Glenalmond round Corrymuckloch.
Logie-Airthray, St. Serf (Airthrey, Bridge of Allan). _Nuns of North
Berwick_.
Strogeyt or Strageith, St Patrick. Once church of Blackford, now in
parish of Muthill. _Inchaffray_. Planted by St. Fergus c. 700.
Callender, St. Kessaig. Chapel of Kilmahog or St. Chug.
Fyndogask, St. Findoca (Gask). _Inchaffray_.
Tuelliallan (Tulliallan), R. Seat of the Blackaders, who gave an
archbishop to Glasgow.
Glendovan (Glendevon), R. Old church in Gleneagles (= Glen Eglise).
_Cambuskenneth_.
Fossowy (Fossoway). _Cupar Angus_, c. 1310. Included Tullibole,
_Culross Abbey_. United in 1614.
Buffuder, St. Angus (Balquhidder). Has Strathyre and Glenogle.
Prebendary, 1298, Abbot of Cambuskenneth _ex officio_.
Prebendary, 1240, for parish of Abernethy, Abbot of Arbroath _ex
officio_.
Preceptor or Provost of Dunblane, Abbot of Inchaffray _ex officio_.
[1] II. 403.
[2] Preliminary Dissertation in Keith's "Bishops," iv.
[3] See Crawford's "Officers of State," vi.
[4] II. 404.
[5] Reeves' "British Culdees," Evidences, S., 141.
[6] "Hist. Scenes in Perthshire," 346.
[7] Ibid., 343.
[8] R=Rectory.
NEAR THE PICTISH CAPITAL
By Rev. P. THOMSON, B.D., Dunning
The title is retained as it was given. But it would be more correct to
say, "Near a Pictish Capital," for, as is well known, of such capitals
there were more than one. Nobody, however, who keeps in mind the origin
and range of the present volume will need to be told that "The Pictish
Capital" here meant is Forteviot--or, as it is often otherwise spelt in
legends, and chronicles, and charters--_Fertebeith, Ferteuioth,
Fertenyoth, Ferthevioth, Fetherthauethn, Fethirthant, Fothuirtabaicht,
Fortewyot, Fetherteviot_.
When Forteviot attained the dignity of being a royal abode cannot be
definitely ascertained. Dr Stuart gives it as his opinion that the royal
residence is to be identified with the "Dun Fothir" mentioned in the
Irish annals, which is recorded to have been twice besieged--in 681 and
694 A.D.; and it has been suggested by the same authority that probably
the name means "the dun of the district, or of the men, or of the King of
Fortren," which term latterly meant the kingdom of the Southern Picts.
Whatever probability there may be in the above suggestion, when we refer
to the Legend of S. Andrew, we find what appears to be corroborative
evidence that Forteviot was the residence of Pictish kings from a very
early period. According to this legend, it was to Forteviot, in the hope
of seeing the King there, that S. Regulus and certain of his followers
made their way with the relics of the most holy Apostle Andrew, after
their landing at Muckros or Kylrimont (now Saint Andrews). It so
happened that the King (Hungus, or Ungus, or Angus, who died A.D. 761)
was not at home, having gone on an expedition into Argyle (Argathelia).
But they found his three sons[1] residing at Forteviot, and these princes
gave the tenth part of the town[2] to God and S. Andrew, the holy men
blessing the place and the royal family who abode there. They then went
in further search of the King himself, and having met him at Kindrochet,
in Braemar, and subsequently at Monichi (Monikie), they returned in
company with him to Forteviot, where he built a church ("basilica"[3]) to
God and S. Andrew.
But these are not the only references that we have. According to one of
the Pictish chronicles, it was at Fothuir-tabaicht that Drust (Filius
Ferat), the last King of the Picts, was killed.[4] It was here--"in
palacio suo de Fothuir-tabaicht"--where Kenneth MacAlpin, the first of
the Scotic dynasty (formed by the union of the lines of the Picts and the
Dalriadic Scots), died in 860. It was here, in Fothuir-tabaicht, where
Donald I., Kenneth's brother and successor, established with his council
the mode of succession to the throne, confirming "the rights and laws of
the kingdom of Aodh, son of Eocha."
According to Skene, Forteviot continued to be a royal residence until the
reign of Donald II., the son of Constantine, when the capital was
transferred to Scone. But it would appear that the ancient "palace" at
Forteviot was subsequently restored by Malcolm Canmore, and that his
successors at least occasionally came to live in it. Malcolm the Maiden
(1153-1165) is found to have granted at Fetherteviot a charter conveying
certain lands--the names of Ada, the King's mother, and of William, his
brother, appearing as witnesses. And even so late as 1306, during the
English invasion, there is mention of a letter, dated from Forteviot by
Edward, Prince of Wales.
The traditional site of the "palace," which would, no doubt, correspond
also with the site of the early church dedicated to S. Andrew, as before
mentioned, is still pointed out a little to the west of the village, and
is known as the Halyhill or Holyhill. Whether this first church was
built of stone is not known. But that there was a stone church at
Forteviot at an early date is made comparatively certain by the
discovery, in 1830 or thereby, of a large semi-circular and arched stone
lying in the bed of the River May, and directly under the Halyhill. How
long this most interesting arch had been hid away no one can tell; but it
was a fortunate "spate" that washed it bare and exposed it to the light
of day. It is now in the Antiquarian Museum in Edinburgh, where the
writer recently made an inspection of it. An excellent engraving of it
is contained in J. Romilly Allen's _Christian Symbolism in Great Britain
and Ireland_, and with the kind permission of that gentleman it is here
reproduced.[5]
The arch is 4 feet in span and 21 inches high. Carved in relief in the
centre of the stone is a cross, on one side of which is an animal--very
probably intended for the Agnus Dei; while, on the same side, a little
below the Agnus Dei, there are three figures with helmets on their heads
and swords in their right hands. On the other side of the cross there is
a robed figure in a sitting posture, with a sword across his knees, and
with one foot resting on the back of a horned animal.
It has been erroneously supposed by some that this arch must have formed
part of the principal doorway of the "palace," but from the fact of its
bearing such symbols as the Cross and the Agnus Dei, there is no doubt
that it belonged to an early church.[6] Bearing in mind the legend of
the founding of a church to S. Andrew in the time of Hungus, perhaps the
suggestion of Dr Joseph Anderson has great probability--viz., that the
four figures are "not contemporary, but early representations of King
Hungus and his three sons."[7]
All lovers of antiquarian lore will be interested in knowing that, a few
years ago, there was brought to light at Forteviot, and through the
kindness of the parish minister, Dr Anderson, exhibited to the Society of
Antiquaries a fine specimen of a bronze bell of Celtic type (the fifth of
the kind known in Scotland), whose date is believed to belong to about
the middle of the 10th century.
NEAR THE PICTISH CAPITAL would be found, as a matter of course, the royal
hunting-grounds. Very probably these were on both sides of the
Earn--stretching westward into the neighbouring parish of Dunning, the
northmost part of which is still called Dalreoch or Dailrigh, a word
which, in Gaelic, means the King's haugh or field.
To DUNNING, or rather to some of the objects in it, that are of the
greatest archaeological or antiquarian interest, the remainder of this
chapter will be devoted.
In many ways that we can readily conceive, traces of the proximity of
Dunning to a royal residence must have existed from an early period. The
existence of hill forts, as at Rossie-Law, and the discovery, from time
to time, of arms and stone coffins, indicate that the parish must have
been often the theatre of strife and bloodshed. Duncrub,[8] or, as it is
called in a Pictish chronicle, "Dorsum Crup," is said to have been the
scene of a battle, which is thus referred to by Robertson in his _Early
Kings_--"The reign of Duff, the eldest son of Malcolm the First, and
representative of the senior branch of the Royal family, appears to have
been passed in a continued struggle against the pretensions raised by the
now rival line of Aodh in the person of Indulf's son Colin, and, though
at first successful, defeating Colin at the Battle of Duncrub (A.D. 965),
in which the Mormaor[9] of Atholl and the Abbot of Dunkeld, partizans
apparently of the defeated prince, were numbered amongst the slain, he
was subsequently less fortunate, and was driven by his rival from the
throne, losing his life on a later occasion at Forres ... where his body
is said to have been hidden under the bridge of Kinloss, tradition adding
that the sun refused to shine until the dishonoured remains of the
murdered monarch received the burial of a king."[10] Part of the ground
which is believed to have been the site of the Battle of Duncrub now
forms the village tennis-ground and the village bowling-green, and yearly
are witnessed on it fightings still--though of a very different kind.
The traditional spot where the Abbot (by name Doncha) was slain is marked
by the "Standing-Stone," on "the acres," a little to the east of the
tennis-ground, while a similar "standing-stone," on the farm of "The
Knowes," is said to mark the place where the Mormaor met his doom.
The spelling of the name Dunning, at various times, and in various
records and charters, is rather interesting--_Donyng, Dunnyne, Dunyne,
Dinnin, Dunin_, or (as _e.g._, in the inscription on the Communion cups
presently in use, of date 1702) _Duning_. The word is generally thought
to be derived from the Gaelic term dún (already referred to), which means
a hill, or a hill with a fort.[11]
On first appearing on the page of tolerably trustworthy history, Dunning
formed part of the Stewartry or Earldom of Strathearn, which dates back
to a remote period. Among the ancient Earls of Strathearn there were
some very notable figures. Particularly so was Malise, the Earl of
Strathearn, who figured prominently in the Battle of the Standard. But,
more particularly notable still, was his grandson, Gilbert, who held the
Earldom in the reign of David I. Like his King--proverbially known as
the "sair sanct for the crown"--Gilbert was most lordly in gifts to the
Church, which was then fast rising into power. Dr Wilson[12] quotes an
old writer to the effect that, at this time, the Earldom of Strathearn
included "the haill lands lying betwixt the Cross of MacDuff, at
Newburgh, and the west end of Balquhidder, in length, and the Ochil Hills
and the hills called Montes Grampii, or the Grampians, in breadth." Even
though we make some reduction as to all this, and regard as somewhat
legendary what Fordun tells us--viz., that Gilbert divided all his huge
territory into three equal parts, giving two to the Church, and keeping
only one to himself, still there cannot be a doubt but that he was one of
the most liberal and extensive church-endowers on record. It was by him
that the Bishopric of Dunblane was founded; it was by him that the Abbey
of Canons-regular, at Inchaffray, was richly endowed through his
attaching to it the tithes of many of the neighbouring parishes. The
foundation charter of the Abbey, dated 1200 A.D., in the thirty-fifth
year of the reign of William, records the giving and making over to the
Abbey of the Church of S. Kattan, at Aberuthven; the Church of S.
Ethirnin, at Madderty; the Church of S. Patrick, at Strageath; the Church
of S. Mockhessoc, at Auchterarder; and the Church of S. Bean, at Kynkell.
It will be seen that Dunning is not in this list. But it appears along
with some other parishes in a second charter granted by the same Gilbert
in 1217, which charter confirmed the grant of previously gifted parishes,
and adds "the Church of S. Serf at Monzievaird, S. Bean at Foulis, S.
Bridget at Kilbryde, the Holy Trinity at Gask, Tullichettel at Comrie,
and S. Serf at Dunnyne."
It is highly probable that between 1200 and 1219--say, about 1210--the
Church of S. Serf at Dunning was built. And that we have a considerable
portion of the original building still remaining is rendered almost
certain from what is known of the style of architecture of the period
referred to--viz., the Norman in transition--the Norman entering on a
First Pointed. The grey Tower, with its quaintly-mullioned windows and
saddle-back roof; the wall adjoining the Tower on the north, and
containing a fine Norman doorway and an interesting line of corbels; the
handsome arch rising from massive pillars, and showing beautifully
scolloped mouldings, all afford corroborative proof of the date above
assigned.[13]
If Dunning Church was built about the time we have mentioned, it would,
no doubt, be about the same time when the lands around it were erected
into a parish. We have one or two very early references. In a charter
of date 1247, Malise, Earl of Strathearn, granted 20 merks annually "de
Thanagio de Dunnyne et Pitcairn." In 1283 we find that there was made to
the Church of S. Serf a grant of "20 merks from our fermé[14] at Dunin,
to be paid half-yeirlie, at the Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of S.
Martin; and 10 merks of silver from our holding of Pitcairn, to be paid
in the same manner." And in 1358 there is ratified a grant, previously
made, of "42 merks yearly from the Thanage of Dunnyne"; also "the tithe
of all the rents, cane, corn, cheese, flesh, fish, fowl, and game, and of
all the food used in the Earl's Court, and 20 merks from our fermé at
Dunnyne."
It may interest lovers of archaeological studies to know that when the
Church of S. Serf at Dunning--originated and endowed as above
described--was being re-floored some thirty-five years ago, there was dug
up, from among earth and bones in the nave, a good specimen of a Celtic
cross, which is now erected in a fitting place underneath the Tower. Mr
A. Hutchison, F.S.A., Scot., Dundee (a reliable authority), has examined
it, and has pronounced it "of the true Celtic type." He adds the opinion
that "the fact that no mention is made in contemporary documents of an
earlier church (_i.e._, earlier than 1210) does not prove that such a
church did not exist.... It is a fair inference from the existence of
this early cross that an earlier ecclesiastical settlement existed at
Dunning, and that the present church superseded a pre-Norman, or Celtic
Church, in all probability on the same site."
At the risk of its being regarded as an unpardonably wide digression,
reference may here be made, not to another cross, but to a monumental
stone of another kind and of a much later date (although no date is
inscribed upon it.) It is what is known as the "Ebenezer" stone of the
parish. Though at one time lying flat and covered with crop-bearing
soil, it now stands erect, and on what is believed to have been its first
site. It is placed on a field on the farm of Easter Gatherleys, and
about three-quarters of a mile west of the farm-house. Its origin is
said to have been this:--The farmer of Gatherleys of the time--who was
also "laird" of the place--had for long been in doubt and spiritual
darkness--to all appearance hopelessly perplexed. Sitting down, here,
one day, he found comfort, peace, and light. Showing a most laudable
example, he not selfishly received the blessing, but most gratefully
acknowledged it, raising on the spot his "Ebenezer" of indebtedness to
Him from whom our blessings flow. On the surface of the stone facing the
east are inscribed in English the words of Is. l., 10; while on that
facing the west we have the following:--
EBENEZER
========
Hic
EX TENEBRIS
LUX LUXIT
ERGO
PATER, FILIUS, ET
SPIRITUS SANCTUS
MEUS DEUS,
ET NOMEN
HUJUS LOCI
LUX[15]
Both as to size and shape the stone is similar to the quaint early 17th
century "head-stones" in the older portion of the graveyard around
Dunning Church.
Something must be written of the bells which have been connected, at one
time or another, with the Church of Dunning. One bell, no longer in the
Tower, came to sudden grief when discharging its duty on a certain happy
occasion. The Master of Rollo of the time, who was living at
Masterfield, having been blessed with four daughters, but no son and
heir, was met one evening by a messenger bringing the welcome news that a
son had just been born to him. "Go," he said, "and make the bell ring
till it crack." The order was literally obeyed--a broken bell being the
result. Its fragments having been taken to Duncrub, were, many years
after, re-cast into a bell, now used in connection with the private
chapel there. The inscription on the cracked bell, for a copy of which
the writer is indebted to the present Lord Rollo, was of a very
interesting and suggestive nature. Round the top were the words--"Soli
Deo Gloria. Joannes Oaderogge me fecit. Roterodami, 1681"; and on the
body of the bell, the following words placed thus:--
"HAEC AD EVANGELIUM
HOC AD CHRISTUM
HIC AD CAELUM
VOCAT PBCCATORES."[16]
His Lordship adds--"The bell, I believe, was in a vessel that was
captured in the American War, and it was brought here by my predecessor,
Andrew, fifth Lord Rollo.... It was broken in April, 1773, and I had it
re-cast by Mears in 1860, with the original inscription replaced."
Of much interest, also, are the two bells still in the Tower of Dunning
Church. The older and smaller bears the Dutch inscription:--"IC BEN
GHEGOTEN INE IAER ONS HEEREN MCCCCCXXVI."[17] But in addition to this,
the bell shows a two-fold representation that seems to give it a value
quite unique. What we have is--(1) a scallop-shell,[18] on which are
three figures--a central-seated figure, and two smaller figures kneeling
alongside. The central figure seems to hold something, which may be a
book, in the left hand close to the breast. The right hand is extended,
and seems to hold a staff and a garland. The figure has a _nimbus_, and
a curious triangular head-dress. (2) On the side opposite the shell and
figures is what appears to be a representation of the Virgin and Child,
alongside of which is a figure of the Crucifixion.[19] This old bell is
used to announce the half-hour as measured on the Steeple Clock,[20] as
also to tell the living that the mortal remains of some brother or sister
are about to be laid beneath the turf.
The large bell--used to announce the services of the church, and, through
the kindness of Lady Rollo, to ring at "matins" and at "even-song"--is of
very full tone. It was a gift to the church by a highly-respected
heritor of the parish, and bears this inscription:--
"T. Mears of London fecit.
"This Bell was presented to the Parish Church of Dunning by Mark Howard
Drummond, Esq. of Kelty, Major of the 72nd Regiment of Albany
Highlanders, in token of his attachment to his native parish, and of his
zeal to promote religious, industrious, and early habits among the
parishioners.--August 3d, 1825."
Mention has already been made of the fact that the patron Saint of
Dunning was S. SERF. The same Saint had churches dedicated to him at
Monivaird (Monzievaird), at Creich, and at Dysart. But, inasmuch as he
seems to have lived for some considerable time at Dunning, and also to
have died there, perhaps this is the most fitting place for a page or two
as to his history.