A period of comparative peace followed and the canons returned to their daily round of prayer. The ravages of war however returned to the cloister in 1385 during the invasion of Richard II. The abbey was devastated by hostile fire apparently almost beyond recovery.

Like his predecessor Robert III gave financial assistance and the abbey was rebuilt. This work must have taken many years and as late as 1425 as there is mention of a gate used to guard the route for carrying timber for the building of the abbey.

Somehow, monastic life continued despite these interruptions, but signs that the austere life of the founding brethren was gradually being eroded had appeared as early as the mid fourteenth century when the abbot received special powers from Rome to deal with indiscipline.

Throughout the fifteenth century the canons appeared more intent on defending their earthly treasures in the land-courts than attending to their heavenly goals.

One scandal was as the misuse of church appointments. Commendators were originally appointed to levy the fruits of a benefice during a vacancy but during the reigns of James IV and James V the system was abused, chiefly to reward illegitimate off spring.

When Abbot Andrew died in 1507, he was not replaced by another canon despite the pleas of Dryburgh's chapter who petitioned the king to prefer David Finlayson, their colleague and parish priest in Gullane. Instead the king nominated James Stewart, illegitimate son of Master John Stewart, though it seems he never took up the appointment.

James Stewart died in 1541 and was succeeded by Thomas Erskine.

In 1544 they were once again devastated by war, this time at the hands of the earl of Hertford's men. The final blow was dealt on 4 November when an English raiding party some 700 strong rode into Scotland to Dryburgh and burned Dryburgh town and abbey down tot he ground. Neither the town nor the abbey recovered from the shock

The Reformation of 1560 spelt the end for monastic life at Dryburgh. Although the commendator, David Erskine, the sub-prior and the eight remaining canons embraced the reformed religion, and by doing so were allowed to remain, no new members were permitted.

By now the cloister buildings must have been in an advanced state of decay and the new buildings erected in this period may reflect the scattered nature of monastic life at this date, with the canons leading separate lives in their individual plots. In 1580 their numbers were down to four, and in 1584 to two and finally a significant document in 1600 declared that 'all the convent are now deceased'

Buchan and his work at Dryburgh Abbey...

 

 

 

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[text and some pictures courtesy and copyright of Historic Scotland]

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