XXXV. Dr. Alexander Reid mortifies to the Provost and Baillies the sum of one hundred and ten pounds sterling for Bursaries. 4th October, 1633.* Nov. 6, 1633. The Quhilk day In presens of the Prouest Baillies and Counsall Compeirit Robert Skeyne Thesaurar and produceit ane missive letter direct to the saidis Prouest and Baillies be Mr Alexander Reid * "ALEXANDER cum Fratre [Thoma] de Meritis et Gloria certâsse videtur: Quum in Patriæ Scholis, maximos fecisset in literis progressus Hippocrati nomen dedit, et propter uberiorem ingenii culturam, ad exteros se contulit, ubi majorem in Medicina doctrinam et / peritiam, quam illa ferebant tempora, adeptus est, ut doctissima ipsius opera, Anatomica, Chirurgica, &c., testantur. "Inter Medicos Londinenses, sui temporis Primus habitus, splendide vixit, immensas congessit opes, et stupenda reliquit Pietatis suae monumenta: Nam praeter numerosas et amplissimas, Cognatis, amicis, et familiaribus, factas Legationes; Banchorii, ubi prima eruditionis elementa cum vita accepit, Scholam liberam aperiendam, annuum Ecclesiastae reditum augendum, Bibliothecam instaurandam, et Ptochodochium extruendum curavit : Collegii Regii Bibliothecam restituit; et Pauperum Beneficia, sumptibus non modicis auxit: Bibliothecam Academiae Marischallanae, ab ipsius Fratre instructam, optima praestantissimorum librorum, praecipue Theologicorum et Philosophicorum, pro temporum ratione collectione ditavit; Magnetem Magni pretii cum appensa Anchora, Globum Terrestrem, et aenea quaedam Instrumenta Mathematica donavit: Duobus praeterea Academiae nostra, Alumnis, ducentas libras Anglicanas erogavit: Et denique quadringentas libras Anglicanas duas nempe Collegio Regio totidemque Marischallano, et Literarum Humaniorum Professoribus legavit: Sed temporum injuria et gravissimae, quibus debitorum morte et fraude implicita fuit, difficultates, donationem hanc hucusque frustraneam reddidere: Nam irrita saepe fiunt, et sperato excidunt successu, vel optimè ab hominibus instituta. "Audiists [sic] igitur, A. A. O. O. Nobilium horum Fratrum, in Nos egregia Merita, breviter, licet imperfecte exposita, quae si minùs ore exprimere, animo tamen admirari jurabit: Dignas equidem pro tanta Munificentia rependere grates, non opis est nostrae; sed ad RAEDORUM memoriam et famam, in aeternum exultabit haec Academia, et Illorum laudes per terrarum orbem indefessa celebrabit: Et “Quamvis in gelido, requiescant membra sepulchro, (Smith's Oratio, p. 21.) See also Professor Andrew Strachan's "Coronis," p. 41. "Non sinebant," says Mr. Strachan, after nine pages of fulsome eulogy, "MILTIADIS Trophaea THEMISTOCLEN noctu dormire. RHAEDUS vobis Miltiades esto. RHAEDUM Somniate. RHAEDUM vigilantes cogitate. Semper vestro animo observetur RHAEDUS. Cura illum laude assequendi vos dormientes, cura illa vos vigilantes teneat." On the Heraldic Ceiling Reid's arms were not those assigned to his brother (supra, p. 106,) but Azure, an eagle's head erased argent. Doctor in Phisick quhilk the said Robert resauit from him at his late being in Londone Off the quhilk missive the tenor followes. To the Right worshipfull and my muche respected freyndes The Prouest and Baillies of the Town of Aberdein Delyver this Haveing persaived that wpon all occasiounes offered yow have expressed as loveing nursing fatheris your respect towardis our poore kinred in cheretably releiveing of thame for my deceassit brotheris saike who extendit his munificence towardis your colledge I wes induced to promise* ane hundreth pund sterling after my death to be employit towards the releiff of poore studentis who sould fall out to pass their course in your colledge frome tyme to tyme in subsequent aiges nothing doubting of the Continuance of your former favour extendit towardis our poore kinred I thocht gude to be exequutor of my awin will and testament in my owne lyftyme I have sent unto you by Alexander Stewart a Burgess of your awin towne ten punds and now by Mr Robert Skeyne ane hundreth pundis in all 110 tib lauchfull money of England towardis the mantenance of two or thrie poore schollares as you in your wisdome sall think fitt I doubt not but that our poore kinred sall taste of the fruit of this gift befoir otheris yff they salbe presented wnto you for so * Reid's previous letter appears in the Town Council Register, Vol. lii., p. 52:— April 24, 1632. "The Said day compeirit Robert Skeyne merchand and produceit in presence of the Counsall ane missive letter direct to the Prouest and Baillies be Mr Alexander Reid Doctor in Phisick quhilk the said Robert hed reseauit frome him at his late being in Londone Off the quhilk missive the tenor followis To the right worschipfull and my muche respected freyndis The Prouest and Baillies of the Towne of Aberdeine delyver this Richt worshipfull I cannot bot acknawledge myselff muche beholdin unto you in that you have wochsaffed first to grace me with your letter I ever wished the florischeing estate of your towne and that deservedlie Because in it I laid the fundatioon of learning and it hath beine the nurse of sundrie eminent persones In my will I have bequeathed unto your colledge these bookes alseweill manuscriptis as printed whiche I have reserved for my awin studies amongst which thair are sundrie treatises elseqr hardlie to be fund I have left also ane hundreth pund sterling towardis the mantenance of the poore schollares This my letter will serve for a confirmatioun of this my Deid I wishe unto you health and all hapienes and will rest your trewlie affectionat freynd Alexander Reid London 8 Marche 1632 Whilk missive being red in presence of the Counsell They ordane the same to be laid up in the towns charter kist and ordanes ane letter of thankis to be drawin wp in the Prouest and Baillies names and sent to the said Mr Alexander with the first occasioun " you sall Induce otheris whome God sall enable to show thair bountie in lyak maner when they persaive you to be so respective and thankful I sould be glad as you wishe to salute you face to face and to behold the plaice whairin I passed the most cairles and contented pairt of my Lyiff whiche onlie remaineth I wist wnto your towne and churche a florisching estate and will ewir Rest your wnfayned freynd redye to be employit in all freyndlie and dewtifull offices frome London 4 Oct₺ 1633 [Signed] Alexander Read From the Town Council Register, Vol. lii., p. 133.* * The earliest entry in the Burgh Accounts relative to Reid's Mortification is as follows: "COMPT of the moneyes mortifiet be Doctor Alexander Reid for help of poore scholares within the New College of Aberdene at the appointment of the Provost Baillies and Councall of the said burt RECEAVED be the Comptar at Martimes 1633 from the said Dr Alexr Reid be Summa of this charge Jmiijcxx lib lxvj lib Jmiijclxxxvj lib DISCHARGE. Imprimis lent be the Comptar at Martimes 1633 to the said Robert Skene to soume Item at command of the Councall and be thair special warrant delyvered to the said Doctor Reid his poore freynds and kinnisfolkes studentis in the said College Summa of this discharge The charge being als much Et sit eque Jmiijcxx lib lxvj lib Jmiijclxxxvj lib Memorand the said Robert Skene keips the principall soume as yet in his hands and is comptabill for payment thaireof with ane half yeris annuall at Martimes nixt 1634 conforme to his band Item restand be the comptar of thir profitts sex lib becaus thair wes disbursit onlie to the poore scholares threescoir punds " -Burgh Mortification Accounts, 1633-34. At the union of the Universities in 1860 the Account stood thus : Balance. Revenue. Expenditure. Balance. Stock. 1860. "9. Alexander Reid's, to two or three Bursars 713 6 12 II II 12 12 6 Under the Provisional Order of 1881 (supra, p. 118), the Reid and the Cruden (infra, under date 1770) bursaries have been united into one of £20 per annum. Reid's books, numbering 167 volumes, are included in Gray's catalogue, supra, p. 219. XXXVI. The Town Council grant the "backhouse" of the College to serve as a dormitory for students, on the understanding that the College renounce all claim to the Gray Friars Kirk. 11th December, 1633. The Quhilk day In presens of the Prouest Baillies and Counsall of the burghe of Aberdeine Compeirit Maister Patrick Dwn Principal of the Colledge of the said burghe and exponit and declairit to thame That for scairstie of Chamberis and want of beddis to serve the haill studentis within the said Colledge sindrie of the schollares wer forceit to ly in the Toun-hous quhair they wer buirdit to the great hinderance of thair studies And sieing that Doctour williame forbes ane of the ordinar ministeris of this burgh quha hes his duelling in the backhous of the said colledge is callit to be Bishop of Edinburgh and to remowe thither shortlie he thairfoir earnestlie intreatit thair wisdomes of the Counsall That they wald be pleasit to grant him entrie to the said backhouse to the effect he may caus big wp chamberis and beddis thairin for the ease of the schollares in tyme comeing Quhairanent the saidis Prouest Baillies and Counsall advysing Thay find the petitionares desyre most reasonable And thairfoir gives and grantis libertie and licence to him. to enter presently to the said backhous and to big wp chamberis and beddis within the samen for the weill and ease of the studentis within the said colledge in all tyme heireftir Provyding allwayis That the said Principal and Regentis of the said Colledge nor thair successouris clame nor pretend na richt to the grayfrier kirk of the said burghe in tyme coming But als neid beis That they renunce the samen in the tounis fauouris Lyke as it is heirby declairit be the saidis Prouest baillies and Counsall and als be the said Mr Patrik Dwn That the said Gray frier kirk is and sall be allwayis exceptit furth and fra the dispositioun and mortificatioun maid be the toun to the maisteris and memberis of the said Colledge of the gray friers place and 3ard thairof and that the samen kirk wes is and salbe speciallie and particularlie reserveit to the toune as ane of thair awin kirkis to be wsit be thame for Goddis worship and service in all tyme comeing From the Town Council Register, Vol. lii., p. 135. |