823
From the epoch of the foundation of this monastery the monks of Paisley
enjoyed a baronial jurisdiction over their estates (z) ; and after the acces-
sion of the Stewarts to the throne they obtained the higher jurisdiction and
privileges of a regality. In 1380 they obtained from Robert II. a charter
of their lands in Dumbartonshire to be held in a regality (a). In 1396 they
obtained from Robert III. a charter of all their estates in Renfrewshire
and Ayrshire, of their lands of Moll, Huntlaw, and Hassendean in
Roxburghshire, and of their lands of Ord in Peeblesshire, the whole to
be held in a regality with the usual jurisdiction and privileges (b). Both
those charters of regality were confirmed by James II., who enlarged the
powers of jurisdiction by granting the four points of the law that belonged
to the crown (c). James II. at the same time granted to the abbot and
monks the power of repleging from the king's chamberlain courts the
tenants and inhabitants of their lands within the sheriffdoms of Ayr,
Renfrew, and Dumbarton; and he gave them the power of holding chamberlain
courts for the people living on their lands within those shires (d). These pri-
vileges were confirmed and enlarged by a charter of James IV., who granted
to the abbot and monks the power of repleging from the king's justiciary and
chamberlain courts the people living on their estates, who might be pro-
secuted for any offence, criminal or civil, the four points of law belonging
to the crown not excepted, and of trying in their own justiciary and cham-
berlain courts the persons who should be so repleged (e). The ample
jurisdiction of the abbot and monks was exercised by bailies appointed by
them. The office of bailie over all their estates, excepting those in Ayr-
shire, became hereditary in the family of Lord Sempil as we have seen.
The office of bailie for their estates in Ayrshire was held at the epoch
of the Reformation and for a long time before by Wallace of Craigie, who
(z) Chart. Paisley, No. 27.                      (a) Ib., 199.                      (b) Ib., 198.
(c)  Charter 13th January 1451-2.. in Chart. Paisley, No. 201 ; Reg. Mag. Sig., iii. 117 ; iv. 263.
The regality and the rights and privileges of the monastery were also confirmed by a charter of James
IV. the 19th August 1488.    Ib. xii. 23.
(d)  Charter  dated   13th  January   1451-2,   in   Chart.   Paisley,  No.   228;  Beg.  Mag.   Sig.,  iii.
116 ; iv. 262.     By a bull of Pope Clement in 1265, the monks of Paisley and the people living
on their lands were exempted from being called before any secular judge.     Chart. Paisley, No.
161.
(e)  Charter dated 19th August 1488, in Chart. Paisley, No. 202 ; and Reg. Mag. Sig., xii. 23.
On the same day another charter was granted to the abbot and monks erecting their town of Pais-
ley into a burgh of barony with ample privileges.     Ib., xii. 24 : Chart. Paisley, No. 231.     The