CHAPTER XII.

Of the Suppression of the Culdees.-Means employed for this Purpose.-Their Promotion to Bishoprics.-Increase of Episcopal Sees.-Preference given to Foreigners.-Introduction of Canons Regular ;-at St Andrews;-Lochlevin ;-Dunkeld;-Brechin.-Convention between Bishop Malvoisin and the Culdees of Monimusk.-Remarks on it.

VARIOUS were the means employed for suppressing the Culdees, who were viewed with so jealous an eye by the votaries of the papal chair, and who had all along presented so powerful a barrier to its influence. This was first attempted in an artful manner. "It is observable," says Sir James Dalrymple, "that the Romish church did advance very warily, and by slow steps, endeavouring to gain the Culdean abbots to their partie, by promoting them to bishopricks to be erected, and by preserving to the Culdees (possessed of parochial churches) their benefices for their life time, and making the

suppression of these churches in favours of the new-erected Romish abbacies, only to take place after the incumbents death and frequently these concessions bear the consent of the presbyter or churchman incumbent, with the reservation of his own right during life time.”

In the passage quoted, as well as in p. 286, Sir James gives several proofs of the annexation of parish churches, formerly occupied by Culdee presbyters, to the newly-erected abbies.

"It

The learned Dr Ledwich gives a similar account. was not easy to eradicate a reverence founded on solid piety, exemplary charity, and superior learning; or to commit sudden violence on characters where such qualities were found. The Romish emissaries were therefore obliged to exert all their cunning to remove those favourable prejudices, and where force could not, seduction often prevailed. The alternative of expulsion or acquiescence must ever strongly operate on human imbecility: in a few instances the latter was chosen thus, about the year 1127, Gregory, Abbot of the Culdean monastery of Dunkeld, and Andrew his successor, were made bishops, the first of Dunkeld, the other of Caithness. The same policy was followed in Ireland. The president of the Culdees was made præcentor; he was to have the most honourable seat at table, and every respect from his corps. Such little distinctions, while they flattered and saved appearances, were fatal to the Culdees; many

'Collections, p. 248.

breaches were made in their rights, and at last, they lost all their privileges, their old institute, and retained barely the name of their pristine celebrity." 1

An increase of the number of the episcopal sees seems, indeed, to have been one of the measures adopted for the overthrow of the Culdean influence. The idea may excite a smile from those who affect to speak contemptuously of this religious body. But there can be no doubt, that their influence, among the lower classes especially, had been great. How much soever the testimony of Boece may be despised, when he pretends to narrate the history of a very early period; he certainly deserves attention, when speaking of things almost within his own observation. "The name," he says, "acquired such a degree of authority among the vulgar, that all priests, almost to our own times, were commonly designed, without distinction, Culdees, that is, worshippers of God." David I., who seems to have been determined to depress this order, and who pursued a variety of measures which had this tendency, added at least four bishoprics to those which had been erected before his time; and it is by no means improbable, that this was one thing that he had in view in extending the power of the prelacy. '

2

3

In connexion with this, I may add, that the description

Antiq. of Irel. p. 118. V. also Keith's Cat. p. 46.

Invaluit id nomen apud vulgus intantum, ut sacerdotes omnes, ad nostra pæne tempora, vulgo Culdei, i. cultores Dei, sine discrimine vocitarentur. Hist. Fol. 95. b.

3 V. Dalrymple's Collections, p. 245, 246.

of the prelates invested, from this time forward, strongly corroborates what has been said. Sir James Dalrymple has made some observations on this head, which I shall give in his own words. "Other methods perhaps were taken to subvert the antient, and to introduce the Romish religion into this kingdom, viz. that used in England, to make the Saxons depend intirely upon Rome for their conversion, and to hinder conformity with the British Scots or Picts; that first their bishops were chosen forreigners, at least of forreign education. It is observed in Chr. Sax., that from Austine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, there was no Saxon admitted to be archbishop there, till Brightwaldus anno 690; and just so the Norman kings of England would not admit of the Saxons to be bishops there, till the reign of Henry the Second. Our Scots kings Alexander and David have followed this patern, in choising Turgot, Eadmer, and Robert (instructed in the Romish religion in England) to be Bishops at St Andrews. John Bishop of Glasgow also appears to be a forreigner, and probably educat at Tours in France, whence he brought monks to Selkirk, and where he retired when he was dissatisfied with the manners of the Scots. It is said that he was consecrate by Pope Paschasius. It is plain that Robert, the first prior of St Andrews, was bred in England with the prior of St Oswald's," &c.

I

But the great plan devised for the overthrow of the Culdees, was the introduction of Canons Regular. These had

Collections, p. 284, 286.

been erected into a permanent order in the eleventh century. Being patronised by the pope, they were devoted to the interests of the church of Rome, and zealous for the extension of the authority of their ghostly father. They acquired credit with the superstitious, as having more appearance of sanctity than the Culdee Presbyters; especially as they lived in celibacy, while the honest Culdees laid no claim to the gift of continence. They affected far greater pomp in their worship. No sooner were these canons introduced at St Andrews, than matters assumed an appearance of what was deemed religion in those days, which had been quite unknown before. Their prior at St Andrews "wore, in all public meetings, and in solemn services upon festival days, the pontifical ornaments, viz. a mitre, gloves, ring, cross, crosier, and sandals or slippers, as the bishops; and in parliament had the precedence of all abbots and priors." The very design of their introduction into those places, where the Culdees had formerly had the power, was the establishment of this species of religion ;—ut in dicta ecclesia religio constitueretur.

2

Wyntown, when speaking of the zeal of David I. commonly called the Saint, in furthering the injunctions of his brother Alexander as to the establishment of those canons, gives such an account of the aspect of matters before, as if the country, because of the more simple forms of worship, had been absolutely in a state of heathenism.

'Keith's Catalogue, p. 237.

• Excerpt. ex Registro Prior. Sti. Andr. Dalr. Coll. p. 262.