[A1567/12/12]¹

Concerning the disposition of provostries, prebendaries and chaplainries to bursars to be founded in colleges

Item, forasmuch as the youth is not only seen to preserve the commonwealth, but also of them must rise such as after this must serve in the kirk of God within this realm and to the commonwealth of the same; and because the poverty of many is in such sort that they may not hold their children at letters, whereby the most part of the youth of this realm wants the gifts and graces of learning requisite to that charge; and, for remedy hereof, our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of [James Stewart, earl of Moray], my lord regent, and three estates of this present parliament, has statute and ordained that all patrons having provostries or prebendaries of colleges, altarages or chaplainries at their gifts and disposition may, in all times coming, at their pleasure present the same to a bursar whom they please to name, to study virtue and letters within a college of any of the universities of this realm, there to remain for such space as the patron aforesaid pleases to hold him at virtue and learning within the aforesaid college, and as shall be agreed upon by the patrons of the said provostries or prebendaries, with the principal and ministers of the college of the university; and after the patron remove that bursar out of the said college, to present another, and so forth, from one to another, to the effect aforesaid, at the patron's pleasure, notwithstanding any foundation or confirmation passed by whatsoever authority in any times bygone, with the which our sovereign lord, my lord regent and three estates of this present parliament dispense, so that the said patrons may convey their provostries and prebendaries to such bursars as they shall think expedient, as often as need be, which shall be no hurt nor prejudice to their patronage, notwithstanding their foundations and confirmations whatsoever, or any provision contained therein. And therefore, our sovereign lord, my lord regent and three estates aforesaid heartily request all patrons of colleges, prebendaries and provostries to grant and convey their provostries and prebendaries to the bursars aforesaid in manner above-specified, so that letters may be authorised and the youth sufficiently brought up in virtue and learning, to the glory of God and comfort of the commonwealth of this realm.