LIII: Letter of Mary exempting certain members of the University from a tax on clergy (1556)

LIII. Letter by Queen Mary and her mother, the Queen Regent, exempting the rector of the University, the dean of faculty, and a regent in the pedagogy, from any share of the tax of £10,000 granted by the clergy of the realm. Edinburgh, 8 February 1555–6.

We and our derrest moder Mary Quene Drowrear and regent of oure realme vnderstanding that the Vniuersite of Glasgw and membris thairof hais bene fre and exemit fra all payment of taxtis and contributionis to ony oure maist nobill progenitouris of gude mynd sen the first erectione thairof; And beyng myndit rather to augment nor hurt thare priuilegis, for the zele and favoure we beir thairto and commone wele of our realme, dischargis exoneris and quieteclamis Maister Johne Colquhoune person of Stobo, Rector for the tyme of the said Vniuersite, Maister Johne Layng, person of Luss, dene of Facultye, and Maister Johne Houstone, vicar of Glasgu, regent in the Pedagog tharof, for thair partis of the taxtt and contributioun of ten thousand pund grantit to ws and oure said derrest moder be the clergy of Scotland in the moneth of Januare the yeir of God j^m v^c fifty-foure yeiris or tharby. And attore dischargis ane reverend fader in God, and oure traist counsaloure, Williame bischop of Dunblane, collectour generall of the said taxt, oure familiar clerk and counsaloure Maister Henry Synclare dene of Glasgw, [and all] vtheris quhome it efferis, of all asking cravyng monyssing and ledyng of process quhatsumever aganis the saidis personis for thare partis of the said taxt of thare foirsaidis beneficis of Stobo, Luss and Vicarage of Glasgu, be the tenore heirof. Gevin vnder oure signett, and subscrivit be our said derrest moder Marie Quene Drowriar and regent of our realme, at Edinburgh, the viij day of Februar the yeir of God j^m v^c fifty-five yeris, and of our regnne the xiiij yeir etc.