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| He was infeft in the barony of Arbuthnott on a precept from Chancery as heir to his father, on 10 November 1471 . It is said of him that he was a man of great estimation in the Mearns, and that by his wisdom, magnificence, number of dependants, and many notable deeds he promoted the dignity of the family. He was in favour with both James III and James IV, and by his prudence and frugality was enabled to make considerable additions to the family estates. In particular, he obtained a charter of the lands of Portertown, Orchardtown, and Halgreen, in the county of Kincardine, dated penult February 1487-88, and another of the lands of Arduthoquhy or Arduthie, in the same county, dated 20 October 1488. He recovered the barony of Fiddes, which had been alienated from his family for upwards of two hundred years ; and he also completed the Castle of Arbuthnott, which had been begun in 1420 by Hugh Arbuthnott, for protection at the time of the killing of Melville of Glenbervie. He sat in Parliament in 1487 and 1491.19 |
| Both he and his second wife, Mariota, seem to have been devout persons. On 30 April 1482, in return for a contribution to the Expedition to the Holy Land against the Turks, they obtained from Brother John Litster of the Minor Brethren of the Observantines in Scotland, and Brother Emir de Hamel of the same order in those parts beyond the mountains, an Indulgence with the form of absolution granted thereupon. In the year 1487 Robert Arbuthnott, dominus ejusdem, and his wife and their issue of both sexes, were received into the privileges of the Order of the Observantines conform to letter of the Vicar-General of the Order, dated at the Convent of St. Maria de Angelis *apud Tholosam in provincia de Aquitaine tempore generalis capituli super festo Penthecostes' in the said year. In 1491 they obtained under the hand of Julian, Bishop of Ostia, a papal licence dated at St. Mark's, Rome, 9 May, seventh year of the pontificate of Innocent VIII, to have a portable altar for the celebration of Mass and other divine services.20 |
| Robert Arbuthnott bestowed two bells upon the Church of St. Ternan of Arbuthnott, to which he also built an addition 'verie gorgious bothe in craft and materiallis' - known as the Arbuthnott Aisle, and ever since his time used as the burial-place of the family. 'And that this wark micht be the better exceptid of God he diligentlie foresaw that this costlie building in no wayis suld be hurtfull to his puir tenantis sua that he carrit the stonis, lyme and all the rest of the materiallis with his avin horses and wald tak no help off his tennantis as the custom was.'21 |
| In 1503, for the well-being of the souls of King James IV, and his own wife and other relatives, he mortified, for behoof of a chaplain to perform divine service in the Church of St. Ternan's of Arbuthnott, an annualrent of 23 merks, payable out of his lands of Halgreen and others, together with a mansion-house, garden, and croft of land with the pertinents lying near the said church. And on 30 May 1505, by charter confirmed 9 August of the same year, he also endowed an altarage in honour of the Blessed Virgin 'juxta latus chori parochialis S. Ternani Archipresulis de Arbuthnot.' The parson of Arbuthnott at this time was Sir James Sibbald (probably one of the family of Kair), and to his industry and skill, as well as to the munificence of this laird, are due some of the most interesting Scots Ecclesiastical MSS. now extant.22 |
| One of his daughters, or an unknown daughterm\, was married to David Rait of Drumnagair prior to 25 September 1490.23 |
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