Seeing that "St. Serf's Bridge" still spans the Devon at one part
within the parish of Glendevon, and that the good Saint did not himself
build the bridge, but, following a common practice, baptised and made
Christian what was a Pagan structure, reared in this instance by the
Imperial legionaries, it might be permissible for the local historian
to go back at least to the times of the Roman occupation. After
describing the camp and the Roman road which still exist in the mind's
eye of the antiquaries, he might then go on to tell of holy St.
Servan's feats in the way of detecting sheep-stealers by making them,
like Speed under the influence of Proteus' reasoning, cry "Baa," or
relate some such pretty human story as that of how he turned water into
wine for the sake of a sick monk, or unfold the thrilling tale of how
he fought the Dovan dragon, as Wyntoun sings, or at least says:--
"In Dovyn of devotyoune
And prayere, he slew a fell Dragoune,
Quhare he was slayne, that place wes ay
The Dragownys Den cald to this day."[1]
The more exact methods of writing history now in vogue, however, almost
compel the chronicler to begin with the first certain mention of
Glendevon in accredited records, and that belongs to the year 1521. On
the eleventh of July of that year an interesting ceremony was gone
through down at Cambuskenneth, on the banks of the Forth. Abbot Mylne,
a man both of culture and character, who to a genuine love of letters
added a love of art and architecture, and who was ultimately the first
President of the Court of Session, had re-built the great altar, the
chapter-house, and part of the cloister of his Abbey, and had laid out
two new cemeteries. In order to signalise these notable additions and
restorations he invited the Bishop of Dunblane to conduct a
consecration and dedication service. The Bishop was directly assisted
in this solemn function by three of his principal clergy--his
archdeacon, George Newton; John Chesholme, prebendary of Kippane; and
"Jacobus Wilson, prebandarius de Glendowane." John Tulydaf, warder of
the Minorites of "Striueling" (Stirling), preached on the efficacy of
dedication after the celebration of the Mass, and amongst those present
were the "noble and powerful" Lord John Erskin, Jacobus Haldene of
Glenegges (Gleneagles), Knight, and various others of the local clergy,
nobility, and gentry, together with a large concourse of people from
the surrounding district. The official account of what took place on
this high day when Glendowane, Glendovan, Glenduen, or Glendevon, first
emerges into the light of history, is duly signed by Jacobus Blakwood,
presbyter of the Diocese of Dunblane, public notary by apostolic
authority, who was on the spot and saw everything properly done.[2] The
name of Prebendary Wilson occurs in several documents both before and
after this, all of which have reference to matters connected either
with Cambuskenneth or Dunblane. He gets prominent mention in a paper
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account