initientur ad minores ordines infra hinc et festum Omnium Sanctorum, et ordinem subdiaconatus infra hinc et proximum festum Natiuitatis Domini, et deinde ad alios sacros ordines videlicet diaconatus et presbiteratus ad terminos proximos statutos ab ecclesia infra hinc et dictum proximum pascha, sub pena depriuationis ab eorum bursis ipso facto absque quocunque alio processu, sic quod lapsis dictis terminis et monitionibus huiusmodi dicti reuerendi patris minime perimplentibus ex nunc prout ex tunc ipso facto sint eorum bursis priuati et aliis prouideantur. Et de cetero lapso dicto die nullatenus dicto collegio recipiantur; necnon ut perimpleant fundationem dicti collegii in punctis eiusdem eiisdem concernentibus sub penis in dicta fundatione contentis. In cuius rei testimonium presens actitatum subscriptum fuerit per prefatum reuerendum dominum anno die mense quibus supra unacum subscriptionibus manualibus dictorum studentium in fidem et testimonium premissorum .

Vs. Epus. Ab'don.

Sexto Junii anno Domini 1550 .

Quo die monitus est magister Alexander Allerdes unus studentium in theologia ad faciendum se promoueri ad ordinem subdiaconatus infra hinc et festum Sancti Michaelis proxime futurum et deinceps ad alios sacros ordines usque ad ordinem presbiteratus temporibus successive congruis sub pena remotionis eiusdem a sua bursa . Et similiter moniti sunt reliqui studentes in theologia quod se faciant promoueri ad ordinem subdiaconatus infra hinc et festum Trinitatis sub simili pena; testibus eorum subscriptionibus manualibus.

Alexander Allyrdes.

Vilhelmus Skeyne.

Andreas Galloway.

ROYAL VISITATION A.D. 1619.

Jacobus Dei gratia magne Britannie Francie et Hybernie rex etc. fideique defensor omnibus probis hominibus suis ad quos presentes littere peruenerint salutem. Sciatis cum proxime elapsis annis abusus plerosque et corruptelas, que ad utriusque academie veteris et noue Abredonensis et nosocomiorum ibidem labem et perniciem tenderent inolevisse atque in dies accrescere, fideliter nobis indicatum sit, idque eorum partim incuria et negligentia qui academiis iisdem et nosocomiis prefecti et quorum errata et quecunque resarcienda curavisse interfuit commissam sibi curam et provinciam indiligentius administrarunt; partim quum aliquammultis annis seria visitatio nulla aut censura de iisdem ut fieri decuit facta sit: unde academiarum et nosocomiorum patrimonia et prouentus debiti inutiliter et misere decocta et profusa sunt, edificia in ruinam dilapsa; ordinaria docendi ratio et accuratior morum et discipline animadversio, ab ipsis fundatoribus instituta, et ab eruditis et dignissimis professoribus exinde solerter obseruata neglecta est et posthabita, ut predicte academie et nosocomia brevi ad interitum ruitura videantur; professores oscitanter et neglecte se gerunt, debitus et justus docentium et professorum numerus imminutus est, exactus ordo et solitum illud regimen in iisdem academiis despicatui habentur et exoleverunt penitus; in quibus, ut non mediocris in nos offensa commissa est, ita grave juventuti ad ingenii cultum percipiendum eo misse illatum damnum. Quare cum nobis abusus illos et corruptelas inolescentes e medio tollere decretum sit, ut academie et nosocomia debitos proventus et patrimonia antiqua hactenus profusa recuperent et reintegrata obtineant, veteresque mores et academica disciplina consueto modo usurpanda revocetur : constituimus ordinauimus et presentium tenore ordinamus predilectos nostros consanguineos et consiliarios Alexandrum Fermeluduni comitem dominum Fyvie et Urquhart nostrum cancellarium Georgium Mariscalli comitem dominum Keith etc. Thomam Melrosie comitem dominum Bynning et Byris etc. nostrum secretarium, dilectos nostros consanguineos Willelmum dominum Keith Alexandrum dominum Elphingstoun Dauidem dominum Carnegy, Alexandrum dominum Kildrymmie, reuerendum in Christo patrem Patricium episcopum Abredonensem, dilectum nostrum familiarem consili

arium dominum Jacobum Skene de Curriehill militem, dominum Thomam Menzeis de Cultis militem, magistrum Robertum Howy et magistrum Willelmum Forbes doctores divinitatis, dilectos nostros Thomam Burnet de Leyis, magistrum Thomam Nicolsoun commissarium Abredonensem, Patricium Dwne physice doctorem, magistrum Joannem Carmichaell ministrum verbi Dei apud Kynnewchar, magistrum Joannem Reid ministrum verbi Dei apud Logy, magistrum Robertum Gordoun de Strathloch, magistrum Willelmum Forbes de Cragyvar, Georgium Currour de Fingask, magistrum Patricium Maitland de Carnfechill, et magistrum Willelmum Forbes ministrum verbi Dei apud Fraserburgh, vel quoscunque eorum septem pluresue (dummodo dictus reuerendus in Christo pater Patricius Abredonensis episcopus ex iis sit unus) commissionarios nostros in hac parte ad effectum subscriptum: dando concedendo et committendo ipsis vel eorum septem quibuscunque pluribusue plenariam nostram potestatem commissionem et mandatum speciale ad predictas academias et nosocomia se conferendi quotiescunque et quo tempore iis commodum et oportunum videbitur, ut coram se arcessant et convocent publice professores quoslibet et ex fundatione jus pretexentes quoscunque in academiis, nosocomiorum etiam curatores cum oeconomis et questoribus, ex iisque ad omissum rationem omnium proventuum et patrimoniorum dictarum academiarum et nosocomiorum exigant, quibus rationibus modisque insumpserint, quibus etiam de jure suo cesserint, quas et quales de proventibus et redditibus tabellas assedationes aliasque securitates confecerint, explorent pariter quam docendi rationem prosequantur, vetera etiamnum statuta et precepta retineant, aut si defectus aut mutationes alique irrepserint, qua de causa et qua ratione primum admiserint, siue justus professorum aliquorum personarum secundum fundationem numerus, et si destinata sibi salaria et stipendia assequantur: deinque ut omnia faciant, inquirant et expiscentur unde abusus neglectus corrupteleque in predictis academiis et nosocomiis intelligi et explorari facilius possint, atque ubi abusus et delicta liquido comperta habuerint protenus eadem corrigere, tollere, et secundum jus et equum quantum prestare poterint persanare dent operam, constituantque et sanciant eum vivendi et docendi ordinem et modum, ne locus talibus delictis et incompositis confusionibus deinceps detur; firma atque rata habituri quecunque in premissis gesta fuerint: volumus etiam dictos nostros commissionarios omnium et singulorum que in hoc negotio prestiterint nostri secreti consilii dominis veram relationem in

tabellis descriptam reddere, quo illi suorum approbationis et authoritatem ad factorum confirmationem adiungant. Quare uniuersis et singulis quorum interest vel interesse poterit stricte precipimus et mandamus quatenus dictis nostris in hac parte commissionariis vel quibuscunque eorum septem pluribusue (dicto episcopo uno eorundem existente) prompte pareant respondeant et intendant sub omni pena quam erga nostram regiam in hac parte incurrere poterit maiestatem. In cuius rei testimonium presentibus magnum sigillum nostrum apponi precepimus apud New Mercat vicesimo primo die mensis Marcii anno Domini millesimo sexcentesimo decimo nono regnorumque nostrorum annis quinquagesimo secundo et decimo sexto. Per signaturam manu S.D.N. regis etc.

At the kingis colledge in Old Aberdene the fourtene fyftene and sextene dayis of September respectiue, the yeir of God м vic and nyntene yeiris. The quhilk day in presens of the commissioneris underwrittin, they ar to say, ane reuerend father in God Patrick bischope of Aberdene, sir James Skeyne of Curriehill knycht, sir Thomas Menzeis of Cultis knycht provest of Aberdene, Messrs. Robert Howie and Wm. Forbes doctoris of divinitie, Mr. Thomas Nicolsoun commissar of Aberdene, Mr. Patrick Dun doctor of physick, Mr. Joa Carmichaell minister at Kilconquhair, Mr. Jo" Reid minister at Logie, Mr. Robert Gordoun of Stratloche, George Currour of Fyngask, Mr. Patrik Maitland of Cairnefechill, and Mr. Wm. Forbes minister at Fraserburgh, appointit for the visitatioun of the colledges and hospitallis of Old and New Aberdene, compeirit Mr. Dauid Rait principall, and behaving himselff as commoun procuratour of the said kingis colledge, Mr. Patrik Guthrie subprincipall, Mr. Wm. Forbes, Wm. Leslie, and Jo1 Forbes regentis. And his majesties commissioun being red and acceptit be the saidis commissioneris, the summondis callit, and the saidis pairteis compirand and lauchfullie summondit to the saidis dayes, the fundatioun of the college wes red, and accordinglie the saidis memberis being demandit of the warrandis and documentis of thair lauchfull electioun and admissioun to the saidis offices and places bruikit by thame respectiue, the saidis commissioneris findis and declairis that no formall electioun or admissioun had bene obseruit according to the statutis . . . . . . in any of thame, and that the principall had no right to the office of commoun procuratorie. Secundo, the saidis commissioneris findis that the grytest pairt of the foundit mem

beris wer quyte abolischit and out of use, speciallie sic as had speciall voyce in nominatioun and presentatioun of memberis quhairthrow formall and cannonicall electioun had fallen away. Tertio, the saidis commissioneris findis that the principall had not acquytit himselff in teaching as is prescryvit by the fundatioun, as haifing the yeir preceiding taught nothing but sum few preceptis of the Hebrew grammer, and for practise thairof onlie the first psalme. Quarto, the saidis commissioneris findis that in his procuratioun of the colledge effairis and rentis thairof he had not onlie bene negligent but also harmefull, by setting of incommodious takis and fewis of the patrimonie of the said colledge, quhairthrow the yeirlie revenewis of the said colledge wes reducit to small importance, and as he alledgit wes presentlie thrie thowsand pundis in his debt. Quinto, the saidis commissioneris findis that the statutis of the fundatioun wer all of thame broken or neglected, as namelie, that burses wes devydit; that promotioun siluer wes invertit to priuat use; that the memberis leivit not collegialiter; that nochtwithstanding ilk burser had payet at his entrie to the colledge a siluer spoone or the pryce thairof, that thair wes in all the colledge but sex siluer spoones, and no moir siluer wark of ony kynd; that no burser keipit the yett, but ane porter hyrit and feit; nathir any plenisching of tyn but twa dossen of plaittis and als many trincheris, no naperie but twa buird-clothes and fyue seruittis, na buird-clothe for the burseris; that the seponing of the sowme of fourtie pundis, and uther casualities appointed for the mantenance of the edifice of the said universitie wes cleane neglected, quhairthrow the haill place is becum ruinous. And, sextlie, the saidis commissioneris findis and declairis that, nochtwithstanding for the better mantenance of the said universitie that of lait the deanrie of Aberdene wes annexit thairto, as also the subchanterie and personage of Methlik, yit haif thingis bene so corruptlie and . . . gouerned, as the colledge is not the les in miserable estait; and withall, no ministrie of the gospell in the kirkis of the deanrie, but lamentable hethenisme and sic lowsnes as is horrible to record, albeit evin about the cathedrall kirk of the dyocie.

All quhilkis considderit by the commissioneris abonespecifeit, and that by the fundatioun it is expreslie provydit, that gif any thing perische or be losit throgh negligence or prevaricatioun of the principall, to quhais cair and superintendence all the effairis of the houss and stait thairof is cheiflie committed, that in that cais he sall be holdin to mak it gude of his propper geir; They heirupoun thoght gude to deale with the said principall, to sie