| |
James Dundas was excommunicated by
the Abbot of Dunfermline, because he
persisted in molesting the Abbey boatmen at the
landing-rock, North
Queensferry.
ABSOLUTION FROM EXCOMMUNICATION Granted by the
Abbot of Dunfermline to James de Dundas
"MEMORANDUM. - That in the year of God, 1342, on
Wednesday before the Feast of St. Bartholomew the
Apostle, Alexander, by the grace of God, Abbot of
Dunfermline, went down to the south side of the
Queens's Ferry, at the request of James de Dundas,
concerning an amicable termination of a dispute that
had arisen between him and the Abbot, on account of
his molesting the Abbot's men and boat landing at two
rocks within the flowing of the tide, as they were
wont to do. However, James de Dundas had alleged
these rocks, to be his property, though the Abbot, his
predecessors, and the Monastery,
had quietly and peaceably enjoyed the right of landing
on them beyond the memory of man, and on this had a
Charter from King David, their founder and first
patron, as also the Confirmations of the various
Kings, his successors, and Popes, as the Abbot then
exhibited, in presence of the following subscribing
witnesses, viz., Magister Johannes de Gaytmilk, Alanus
de Liberton, Michael Squier, Radulphus Clericus,
Johannes de Herth, Alanus Dispenser, Richardus filius
Willielmi Scrismour, Robertus Young, Johannes filius
Henry, Johannes de Lochilde, Radulphus Gourley, as
also
before others, inhabitants of the ferry. James de
Dundas had, on account of his molestation, incurred
the general sentence of Excommunication contained in
the Confirmation of the Popes, which he had during
some time obdurately resisted, until, on the
before-mentioned day, he humbly supplicated the Abbot,
sitting along with some of his Council on these rocks,
as being in possession of them, that he would absolve
him from the sentence of Excommunication, as far as
lay in his power, on his finding security to abstain
from the like molestation; but, were it ever repeated,
he should immediately again incur the same censure."
|
