maintenance of the Gospel. Conflicting interests began to stir in
connection with these lands. When they come under our notice the
kirk-lands of Crieff are attached to the Chapel Royal at Stirling. In
"Ane Index of Rights of the Chappell and of their Bulls or Patents" we
read, as one of the contents, "Applicatio prima fructuum de Air,
Kincardin, Crieff, et Pettie Brachley." This seems to have been
sanctioned by a Bull of Alexander VI., of date May 16th, 1502; and
surely it is interesting to know that the kirk-lands of Crieff, Ayr,
Kincardine, and Pettie Brachley--wherever that was--were allocated to
the Chapel Royal at Stirling by the Borgia Pope, Alexander VI., one of
the prime disgraces of the Chair of St. Peter. But the allocation did
not pass unchallenged. Crieff had its perpetual pensionary vicar in
those days, and naturally enough he could see neither rhyme nor reason
in the arrangement which a Pope had no doubt sanctioned, but which
completely ignored his interests. The name of the worthy vicar was
Master John Broune,[1] a discreet man, as he is called in the public
instrument in which the process is recorded, by means of which he got
an augmentation of stipend. The instrument begins in this way:--

"In the name of God. Amen. By this present public instrument, be it
evidently known to all men, that in the year of the Incarnation of our
Lord, 1511, on the 5th day of March, the 15th year of the Indiction,
being the 9th year of the Pontificate of the Most Holy Father in
Christ, and Master of our Master, Julius II., Pope by the Divine
Providence. Compeared in person, in Court, Master John Broune,
perpetual pensionary vicar of the parish of Crieff, in Stratherne, on
the one part, and on the other, Masters William Sterheid and John
Goldsmyth, Canons of the said Chapel Royal and Prebendaries of the same
Church of Crieff."

The President of the Court was Master David Abercrummy, principal
official of Candida Casa and of the Chapel Royal, Stirling, also
sub-deacon of the same Chapel Royal. A notary public was also present
and certain subscribing witnesses. Master John Broune, the vicar,
stoutly maintained that the pension was too small and mean (_exigua
parva et exilis_) for his proper maintenance, and strengthened his plea
by the production of two documents--one subscribed by the proper hand
of the most excellent Prince and Master of our Master, James IV., the
most illustrious King of the Scots; the other