years, in order to indemnify him for his expences in the support of the monastery during his incumbency there. ' It also contains a protestation, in name of the abbot and convent of Aberbrothoc, against James Bonar of Rossy, before the lords of council, A. 1483, for claiming the tithes of Dumbolg of Abernethy, as if they had been heritable property. 2 David, Abbot of Arbroath, A. 1490, grants to John Ramsay of Kilgour, to his spouse, and to his sons James and Colin, "for the term of eleven years, the tiend-sheaves of the church of Abernethy, in the diocese of Dunblane, of the chapel of Dron, and of that piece of land commonly called the Bellauth, [f. Bellauch] on condition of the payment of 213l. 6s. 8d. Scots money, annually, to him and his successors.' 99 3 The same tithes were afterwards given, A. 1501, to Robert Arnot and Peter Carmichael, for the term of thirteen years, for 360 marks Scots, to be paid annually. ↑ 4 History has not been equally silent with respect to the temporal superiors of this place. Besides Henry of Abernethy, already mentioned, we meet with different persons, who have a similar designation, and who seem to have been of the same family. Orme de Abernethi is one of the witnesses to a charter of William the Lion, concerning a resignation, on the part of the king, of Nar, one of the vassals of the Abbot of Scone." 1 Fol. 20. 3 Ibid. Fol. 129. 2 Ibid. Fol. 102. Macfarl. MS. p. 342, 3. 3 Ibid. Fol. 160. 5 Regist. Sconens. p. 19. As one of the witnesses is Nicol. Cancellar., this must have been previous to the year 1171, when Nicol the Chancellor died. V. Crawfurd's Officers of State, p. 9. 10 By the way, it may be observed, that, as many of the old Pictish race may be supposed to have settled about Abernethy, their ancient capital, it is highly probable that this family was Pictish. Orm was a designation common among the ancient Goths, whether Norwegians, Danes, or Angles, which at length passed into a surname. This, the learned Worm informs us, was the origin of his family name. "Laurentius de Abernethie, son of Orm," says Keith," gave Corbie, called also Birkhill, from a park of birks [birches] surrounding the house, to this monastery [of Balmerinach ;] and in his charter is expressed the reason of his donation, viz. Because Queen Emergarda dying 3tio. Id. Februarij, anno 1233, and being buried in the church of Balmerinach, ante magnum altare, had by her testament left him 200 merks sterling." The same Laurence de Abirnet attests a charter of Alexander II., granting to the Abbot of Scone the wood of Kelcamsy for a forest. 3 He is also one of the witnesses to a charter granted by Roger de Quenci, Earl of Winchester, constable of Scotland, confirming the donation of William de Len, also called de Lyn, to the Abbot and Canons of Scone.* This may have been about the year 1231. The name of Reginald de Abernethy also occurs. "I have seen," says Nisbet, "a charter of Hugh de Abernethy, of the lands of Owrebenchery to William de Federeth, • Monumenta Danica, p. 195. Catalogue, p. 259. * Ibid. p. 193, 194. exonering him and his heirs from making any appearance in his court for these lands. This charter was granted in the reign of Alexander III. and the seal thereto appended was entire, having a lion rampant bruised with a ribbon.' In the reign of Robert I. Alexander de Abernethy, Dominus de eodem, (Sir Robert Sibbald's History of Fife) left behind him three daughters, coheirs; Margaret, married to John Stewart, Earl of Angus, who got with her the barony of Abernethy; Helen to Norman de Lindsay of Crawford, who got with her the barony of Balinbreich; and the third daughter, Mary, was wife to Andrew Leslie of Rothes, who with her got the barony of Downy in Angus. These three daughters were the mothers of three great families, Earls of Angus, Rothes, and Crawford, who have been in use to marshal the arms of Abernethy, as before blazoned, with their own." " But though Nisbet quotes Sibbald as his authority, he differs from him. For, according to Sibbald, Mary was the second daughter, heiress of Balmbriech, and married to Norman de Lesly. The third, he says, was married to Lindesay de Craufurd, who got with her the baronie of Downie.” 3 It may be added, that William de Abernethy is mentioned by Prynne, vol. iii. p. 663. 66 2 The ancient seal of the College of Abernethy has been found within these few years. I have been favoured with the This Hugh de Abernethy appears as witness in a charter of Alexander III. confirming the church of Obeyne to the Knights Templars, Reg. Aberdon, p. 170, 171. Macfarl. MS. Heraldry, i. 282. 3 Hist. Fife, p. 407. R following account of it, from the records of the Literary and Antiquarian Society of Perth. "The matrix in brass, or instrument for making casts of the common seal of the old collegiate church of Abernethy, was found in the year 1789, in a garden in Enniskillen, in the county of Fermanagh, in Ireland. It is now in the possession of the Honourable James Drummond of Perth. "Obverse. A shield of arms. In a shield, Gules; a lion rampant, surmounted with bend dexter, argent. Legend, S. Commune Collegii De Abernethe. "Reverse. An abbess (probably representing St Bridget) in a vail, holding a crosier in her right hand; and at her right side is a small figure of a bull, deer, or such other animal. Legend, In Domo Dei Ambulavimus Cum Concencu." These words are taken from the vulgate translation of Psal. LV. 14. An impression of this curious seal is given. CHAPTER VII. Monastery of Culdees at Lochlevin.—Of St Serf.-Donations.Library.-Foundation at Dunkeld.-Reliques of Columba transported thither.-Of the Primacy ascribed to it.-The Memory of Columba long held in Veneration there.-Monastic Seal.-Culdees at St Andrews.-Of Regulus.-Of Constantine.-Endowments of the Priory.-If originally the Seat of a Bishop? I BRUDI V., son of Derili, King of the Picts, about the year 700, bestowed the island of Lochlevin on St Serf, and the Culdees residing there, and serving God. St Serf, or, as his name is given in Latin, Servanus, was, if we may credit Wyntown, the Prior of Lochlevin, contemporary with Adomnan, Abbot of Iona. Although not himself educated in that 237. Reg. Sti Andr. V. Pinkerton's Enquiry, ii. 267. Keith's Catalogue, p. |