XXV. Charter by William Turnbull, Bishop of Glasgow, with consent of
the Chapter, granting various privileges to the University of
Glasgow. 1 December 1453.
[Latin text]
Nos Willelmus, miseratione divina episcopus Glasguensis, de consensu
et assensu capituli nostri, vobis rectori universitatis Glasguensis, doctoribus,
magistris, ceterisque suppositis ejusdem universitatis, volumus, damus et
concedimus in primis quod habeatis liberam facultatem emendi, et res
proprias vendendi, quas causa negociandi non defertis in dicta civitate
nostra Glasguensi et ubique per regaliam nostram et alias terras ac portus,
omnia et singula vobis necessaria quecunque, et presertim ea que ad
victum, esum et vestitum pertinent, quotiescunque et quandocunque
volueritis, vel aliquis vestrum voluerit, absque exactionibus custumarum et
licentia a quocumque petenda. Item, ut assise panis et cernisie, et appretiationes omnium que ad esum pertinent, debite secundum leges burgorum
et consuetudines vobis plenius observentur, et ut in hiis delinquentes
debita animadversione puniantur. Volumus et concedimus, pro nobis et
successoribus nostris Glasguensibus episcopis, quod hujusmodi delinquentes qui fuerint preposito vel alicui ballivorum per rectorem universitatis intimentur, quos a dicto preposito vel aliquo ballivorum coram testibus requirat
corrigi sufficienter et puniri. Et nisi infra octo dies naturales prefatus prepositus, vel aliquis ballivorum, super hoc requisitus, defectus et delinquentes
procuret debite reformari, ex tunc correctio eorundem secundum leges
civitatis, tociens quociens, contigerit, ad ipsum rectorem transferatur. Et
si discordia aliqua super hujusmodi correctione et punitione inter rectorem
et prepositum vel aliquem ballivorum oriatur, ad nos et successores nostros
cognitionem et determinationem super hoc volumus pertinere. Item quod
idem rector universitatis nostre Glasguensis, qui pro tempore fuerit, habeat
jurisdictionem, cognitionem et correctionem in quibuscunque causis ciuilibus, pecuniariis ac minoribus, necnon contentionibus, litibus, rixis et controversiis, inter predicta supposita, seu perhujusmodi supposita, contra quoscunque nostros cives vel nostram terram inhabitantes motis, seu de futuro
movendis, ac omnia et singula hujusmodi, in forma et effectu ut prefertur,
audiendi, corrigendi ac summarie et de piano fine debito terminandi, tociens
quociens necessitas exigit, sive alias sibi videbitur expendiens vel opportunum. Ita tamen quod de injuria atroci sive causis majoribus se non
intromittat, quarum cognitionem nobis specialiter reservamus. Item volumus et concedimus per presentes quod omnia et singula supposita,
infra nostram civitatem Glasguensem existentia, habeant plenam et veram
facultatem et libertatem, an velint, contendere in causis et litibus antedictis
coram prefato domino rectore, vel coram nobis, seu officiali nostro qui pro
tempore fuerit, salvis libertatibus, consuetudinibus et privilegiis decani et
capituli nostri Glasguensis. Et si quis sentiat se per dictum dominum
rectorem in aliquo gravatum, facultatem et libertatem ad nos et successores
nostros appellandi et provocandi habebit. Preterea concedimus vobis quod
hospicia et domus ciuitatis nostre vobis locentur ad taxam vestram, et
civium in equali numero eligendorum et ad hoc juratorum, et ab illis non
moueamini quamdiu bene solvatis firmam et bene conversamini in eisdem,
et salvis aliis casibus in jure expressis. Ad hec adicimus quod beneficiati
nostre dioceseos actu regentes, studentes vel qui studere voluerint, dum
tales dociles sunt, petitia a nobis et successoribus nostris licentia, non valeant
compelli in suis beneficiis residere personaliter, dummodo tamen faciant in
eisdem in divinis pro tempore sue absentie laudabiliter deserviri, quodque
interim fructus dictorum beneficiorum suorum possint percipere et habere.
Insuper presentium tenore volumus quod bedelli scutiferi, familiares et
servitores vestri, necnon scriptores, stationary et pergamenarij vestrique, et eorum uxores, liberi et ancille gaudeant privilegiis omnibus infra et suprascriptis nominatis. Preterea curabimus, et nos pro nobis et successoribus
nostris concedimus, quod prepositus, ballivi et alii officiary predicte civitatis
nostre singulis annis in eorum assumptione jurabunt in presentia nostri et
successorum nostrorum cancellariorum, et in nostri absentia ad hoc deputatorum vnius vel plurium, rectorisque et certorum suppositorum vniversitatis predicte, omnia et singula privilegia et libertates vniversitati nostre
predicte concessa et concedenda, quantum ad eos spectat, necnon statuta
et consuetudines ejusdem vniversitatis nostre fideliter observare et possetenus facere observari. Eximimus quoque vos et immunes facimus ab
omnibus tributis, exactionibus, vexationibus, capitalationibus, vigiliis, custodiis, collectis, oneribus, angariis et perangariis, in nostra civitate quacunque prestandis ratione temporibus de futuro perpetuis. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum autenticum vna cum sigillo communi capituli
nostri presentibus apponi precepimus. Apud civitatem nostram Glasguensem, primo die mensis Decembris, anno Domini millesimo quadringentesimo quinquagesimo tercio, et consecrationis nostre anno sexto.
[Translation]
We, William, by divine mercy Bishop of Glasgow, with consent and assent of
our chapter, to you the Rector of the University of Glasgow, the doctors, masters,
and other supposts of the same university, will, give and grant in the first place
that ye have free power of buying and selling your own goods, which ye bring,
not for the purposes of merchandise, within our said city of Glasgow, and all and
sundry things whatsoever required by you everywhere through our regality
and our other lands [and] harbours, and especially those things which appertain
to food and diet and clothing, as often as and at what time soever you or any of
you please, free of custom and without licence from any one. Item, That the assise
of bread and ale and the appraising of all things which belong to food, duly according to the laws and customs of the burghs be fully observed to you, and that
transgressors in these things be punished with due correction. We will and grant
for us and our successors bishops of Glasgow that persons who transgress in this
manner shall be reported to the provost or any of the bailies by the rector of the
university, who may demand of the said provost or any of the bailies in the presence
of witnesses, that they be sufficiently corrected and punished. And if within eight
natural days the foresaid provost or any of the bailies, after being so required, shall
not cause defaults and delinquents to be duly reformed, then the correction of
the same according to the laws of the city, as often as it shall happen, shall
be transferred to the rector himself. And if any dispute shall arise between
the rector and the provost, or any of the bailies, in regard to such correction and
punishment, we will that the cognisance and determination thereof shall belong to
us and our successors. Item, That the rector for the time of our university of
Glasgow shall have the jurisdiction, cognition and correction of all civil pecuniary
and minor causes, as well as of contentions, suits, brawls and controversies, commenced or which may be hereafter commenced among the foresaid supposts or by
such supposts against any of our citizens or inhabitants of our lands, and of hearing
correcting and finally deciding summarily and immediately all and sundry such as
often as necessity requires, or it shall otherwise seem to him to be expedient or
opportune. Provided however they shall not interfere in regard to cruel injuries or
more important causes, the cognisance of which we specially reserve to ourselves. We will also and grant by these presents, that all and sundry supposts existing
within our city of Glasgow, shall have full and true power and liberty, if they
choose, to prosecute in the foresaid causes and suits before the said lord rector, or
before us, or our official who shall be for the time, reserving the liberties customs
and privileges of our dean and chapter of Glasgow. And if any one shall consider
himself aggrieved by the said lord rector in any matter, he shall have the power
and liberty of appealing to us and our successors. Besides, we grant to you that
inns and houses of our city shall be let to you according to the taxing of yourselves
and the citzens to be elected in equal number and sworn for the purpose, and ye shall
not be removed from these so long as ye duly pay the rent and conduct yourselves
well in the same, and saving the other cases in the law expressed. To this we add
that beneficed persons within our diocese actually regenting or studying, or
wishing to study, provided however they be teachable, having sought leave of
us and our successors, may not be compelled to reside personally in their benefices,
provided only they cause the same to be becomingly served in divine things during
their absence, and that in the meantime they may reap and enjoy the fruits of
their benefices. Moreover, by the tenor of these presents, we will that your esquire
beadles, domestics and servants, as also your writers, stationers and parchment
makers, and your and their wives, children and hand-maids shall enjoy all the
privileges under and above written. Besides, we shall take care, and for us and
our successors grant, that the provost, bailies and other officers of our foresaid
city shall each year on their election swear in presence of us and our successors,
chancellors, and in our absence of one or more deputed for that purpose, and of the
rector and certain of the supposts of the foresaid university, faithfully to observe,
and to the utmost of their power cause to be observed, all and sundry the privileges
and liberties granted and to be granted to our foresaid university as far as belongs
to them, as well as the statutes and customs of the university. We also exempt
you and make you free from all tributes, exactions, vexations, capitations, watchings, wardings, contributions, burdens and personal services, whatsoever, to be performed in our city for any cause in time to come for ever. In witness whereof
we have commanded our authentic seal, together with the common seal of our
chapter, to be affixed to these presents. At our city of Glasgow on the first day of
the month of December in the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred and fifty
three, and of our consecration the sixth.