east-lothian-1924/05-110

Transcription

HADDINGTON.] -- HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION. -- [HADDINGTON.

in 1545, a list of chalices pertaining to the
" College Kirk of Hadingtoun," several of them
inscribed with the names of their donors-a
silver chalice with a paten belonging to St.
Catherine's alter, one of silver overgilt to the
Lady alter, one of silver double overgilt with
paten to the Trinity alter, one of silver overgilt
with paten to the alter of St. John the Baptist,
one of silver with paten to the alter of the
Holy Rood and one of silver with paten to the
alter of St. James. In 1426 a silver chalice
weighing twelve ounces and eight penny-
weights had been given to the alter of St.
Peter. There were also chalices of St. Nicholas,
St. Ninian and the high alter. Other alters in
the church were dedicated to John, Michael
the Archangel, Crispin, the Holy Blood and
the Three Kings of Cologne. In addition the
Register of the Great Seal, towards the end of
the 15th and in the first half of the 16th
century, records chaplainries of St. Blaise and
St. Crispinianus. St. Salvator's altar is also
mentioned in the Retours. There were thus
seventeen chaplinries or minor alters in the
church. Apparently while the upkeep of the
structure of the choir fell upon the Priory of
St. Andrews as Rector, the maintenance of at
least part of the service there was met by the
Town Council. In 1535 they fixed that Sir*
Thomas Mauchlyn, Rood priest, should have
£4 10 annually for " findyn of the barnis (i.e.,
singing-boys) and buikis (i.e., service-books) in
the queir," and sums were allotted also to Sir
Thomas Mauchlyn (Our Lady Alter) for his
service and " to find lychtis." to Sir William
Cockburn (alter of St. John the Baptist) for
his service, Mr George Kerington (St. Cath-
erine's alter), Sir Adam Brown, and Sir Alexr.
Henryson, the total sum " termlie to the Queir
of Hadingtoun" being £19 : 4. We find further
that on November 26, 1540 " The Counsell
ordains the baillies to require the master of
the College to perwuyss and correct the faltis
within it and, faillieing that he do it not, to
call him and thaim bayth for the samyn."
Thus the clergy under a Master constituted the
" college." This foundation dates from the
time of Archbishop David Beaton (1539-1546),
when there is recorded " a petition from the

* Honorary title : he was not a Master i.e.
Magister Artium of a University.

42

community of Haddington that they have at
their own expense instituted, in the parish
church of St. Mary a college of priest choristers,
for which they desire collegiate rights." At
the date of the petition there was no provost ;
subsequently a " president " was appointed
" with power to frame statues, levy fines, and
maintain discipline in terms of the agreement
between the community and the choristers.4
In 1544 the Council appointed Sir Archibald
Borthwick to the chaplaincy of the Holy Rood,
vacant by the death of Sir Thomas Mauchlyn,
and Sir Adam Browne, chaplain, to the chap-
laincy of the parish clerkship thus vacated by
Borthwick. The last had been made joint
clerk with William Walson eleven years before
on condition that both should " do daily
service in the queir of Haidinton and nane
other for thaim . . . in matins, hours, he mes
(high mass) and evynsang as the laif (rest) of
the queir does and to be priest als sone as thai
cum to aig (age)." The appointment was made
by the baillies, council and community of
the burgh, 138 all told. The Council also
ordained the parish clerks to uphold " the
lamp with oyle that hingis in the Queyr " and
light it during certain specified hours each day.
Haddington Church suffered in the seige of
1548 (cf. Introd. p. xxix). On May 21 the
English order was that it should be taken
down. A month later (June 20) it was said to
be " in maner " down, but on July 3 it was
reported that the church was " upp styll " and
that the Scots and French ' hacbutters go to
the top and shoot into the town at random,'
from which position, however, they were driven
off by the English guns. The " vawltes " of
the steeple and church had been broken, the
church uncovered, the pillars cut and under
propped " thynking they might have turned it
over when they hadd lyst " : this was the
work of the English in order to destroy a
position that commanded the town, but the
arrival of the French and Scottish army on
June 30 apparently prevented its consumma-
ation. Nevertheless the garrison anticipated
no great harm from the place, since " our
ordnance beats through the steeple at every
shot " &c. There is no sign now of any
underpropping of the piers, nor indeed any
evidence of battering by artillery on what
remains, save perhaps on a broken stone below