Ferme to his double duties. This was given by the General Assembly which met at Montrose in March, 1600: "Anent supplicatioun given in be the Presbiterie of Deir, makand mentioun that quher the Laird of Philorth having erectit ane Colledge vpun the toune of Fraserbrughe, and agreit with Mr. Charles Ferme to be both Pastour of the said brugh and Principal of his Colledge; quhilk burdein the said Mr. Charles refuses to accept vpon him, without he be commandit be the Generall Assemblie: Desyreand, therfor, ane command to be given to the said Mr. Charles to accept both the said charges, as at mair length is containit in the said supplicatioun: The Generall Assemblie having at length considderit the necessitie of the said wark, and how the said Laird of Philorth has refusit to intertaine a Pastour at the said Kirk, vnlesse he vndertake both the said charges, therfor commands and charges the said Mr. Charles Ferme to vndertake and awaite vpon, as weill the said Kirk, as to be Principall of the Colledge of Fraserbrughe". (The Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland, Vol. iii., p. 958.) The then incumbents of the other three charges mentioned in the Act of Parliament were-Crimond: John Gordon, M.A., second son of Alexander Gordon of Lesmoir. Rathen: Duncan Davidson, previously Regent in University and King's College, Old Aberdeen. Tyrie: John Howesoun, son of David Howesoun, Minister of Aberdour. For five sessions the work of the newly founded college probably went on without interruption, but in 1605 the ecclesiastical troubles of the time gave a death-blow to the scheme. Mr. Ferme was one of those devoted sons of the Church who convened at Aberdeen, and constituted the Assembly there in July, 1605, irrespective of the royal pleasure. The inevitable result was that, with seventeen others, he was denounced by the Privy Council on the 18th of the same month "for unlawfully assembling against the letters and charges of his Majesty". Having undergone imprisonment at Stirling, in the Castle of Doune, and for three years in the Isle of Bute, Mr. Ferme was finally allowed to return to his cure, where he zealously discharged his duties, teaching both in public and in private, till, worn out by study and shattered by incessant toil and sufferings, he died Sept. 24, 1617, aged fifty-one. "Through his industry, by the divine blessing, such a light blazed forth that even children could render an account of their faith, and that not without some feeling of piety. A Tydeus in body, he was a Hercules in spirit." (Hew Scott's Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, Vol. iii., p. 626.) After the death of Mr. Ferme we find no trace of the university. It was, indeed, unlikely that it could survive the removal of its head and the rivalry of the now flourishing Marischal College of Aberdeen. Nor have we any evidence as to the nature of the course of study at Fraserburgh. But there is no reason to suppose that it differed in any essential details from that enjoined in the charter of Marischal College (1593), and in the Nova Fundatio of King's College, ratified by the same Parliament of 1597. So late as 1793 a portion of the college buildings was still to be seen in Fraserburgh- -a quadrangular tower of three stories. (Sir John Sinclair's Stat. Acc. of Scotland, Vol. vi., p. 9.) But this tower was demolished many years ago. A large house to the left on entering the town is said to have been erected with materials taken from the college. Four stones built into the front of this house bear inscriptions, probably renewed at the time of the removal. These are: Trust in God, for He is good. His Mercy is for ever. Give Him thanks for all you have. For He is the only giver. (Pratt's Buchan, p. 158.) These stones alone now remain to tell of the University of Fraserburgh, III. David Cunningham, Bishop of Aberdeen, in name of the Masters, Regents, and Members of the New College, takes Sasine from the Earl Marischal propriis manibus of the lands of the Black and of the White Friars. 21st April, 1593. IN DEI NOMINE Amen per hoc presens publicum Instrumentum Cunctis pateat Evidenter et sit notum quod anno Incarnationis dominice Millesimo quingentesimo nonagesimo tertio Mensis vero Aprilis. die vigesimo primo et regni Supremi domini nostri regis Jacobi sexti anno vigesimo sexto In mei notarij publici et testium subscriptorum presentia personaliter comparuit Nobilis et potens dominus Georgius Comes Marischali dominus Keyth et Altre &c Qui animo deliberato matura deliberatione prehabita Accessit personaliter cum venerabili viro Magistro Dauide Cuninghame Episcopo Abredonensi testibusque inferius scriptis ad fundum vbi templa ædificia et domus fratrum predicatorum et Carmelitarum burgi de Abredene edificata et constructa fuere Et ibidem tanquam apud principalia messvagia et mansiones dictorum fratrum actualem realem et corporalem possessionem sasinamque hereditariam ædificiorum domuum hortorum mansionum dictorum fratrum predicatorum et carmelitarum infra dictum burgum situatorum Necnon omnium et singularum croftarum rigarum terrarum tenementorum feudifirmarum et annuorum reddituum tam infra dictum burgum et territoria eiusdem quam extra predictum burgum olim dictis fratribus spectantium et incumbentium jacentium infra dictum burgum et territoria eiusdem vel in quocunque alio regni scotiæ loco jacent nunc ad dictum comitem spectantium ratione sue Infeodationis earundem Memorato Magistro Dauidi Cuninghame Episcopo Abredonensi procuratoris nomine Noui Colledgij per dictum nobilem comitem infra dictum burgum de abredene in loco fratrum. Minorum eiusdem in medio dicti burgi situato de nouo et recenter fundati nomine magistrorum Regentium et Membrorum eiusdem colledgij juxta tenorem fundationis mortificationis et erectionis per eundem Comitem conserte eius manu et sigillo in ampla et autentica forma subscripte et roborate dictus comes fundator dicti colledgij suis propriis manibus per donationem terre et lapidis fundi dictorum edificiorum et hortorum in signum realis et hereditarie possessionis eorundem edificiorum mansionum hortorum domuum terrarum croftarum rigarum annuorum reddituum et feudifirmarum tam infra dictum burgum territoria eiusdem quam extra Cum dicto collegio omni tempore affuturo remanentium juxta mentem et tenorem dicte fundationis et mortificationis SUPER QUIBUS Omnibus et singulis Memoratus Magister Dauid Cuninghame Episcopus Abredonensis nomine dicti colledgij infra dictum burgum per prefatum comitem de nouo et recenter fundati et erecti Magistrorum Regentium et membrorum eiusdem a me notario publico subscripto sibi fieri petijt Instrumentum seu Instrumenta vnum vel plura publicum seu publica Acta erant hec super fundis habitationum seu mansionum dictorum fratrum predicatorum et carmelitarum respectiue et successiue horam inter vndecimam et duodecimam diei presentibus ibidem honorabilibus viris Ioane Forbes de Petslego Alexandro Bannerman de Vatertoun Joanne Keth Roberto Kar seruitoribus dicti Comitis Magistris Petro Blakburne et Roberto Howye Ministris verbi dei ecclesie dicti burgi Magistro Patricio Cheine Georgio Forbes Vilhelmo Gray tribus balliuorum eiusdem burgi Dauide Cargil thesaurarij eiusdem burgi Magistro Thoma Cargill ludimagistro eiusdem Dauide Robertsoun et Thoma Dicksoun duobus sergeandorum prefati burgi testibus ad premissa vocatis pariterque rogatis. Et ego vero magister Thomas mollesonus Abredonensis diocesis clericus regali auctoritate notarius publicus per dominos consilij iuxta tenorem acti parliamenti juratus et creatus burgique de Abredene scriba comunis premisse possessionis dationi mansionum domuum edificiorum feudifirmarum annuorum reddituum supra specificatorum per dictum comitem marischalli suis propriis manibus dicto episcopo aberdonensi nomine noui collegii infra burgum de Aberdein per dictum comitem erecti ceterisque omnibus dum sic vt premittitur dictis actis factis vnacum prenominatis testibus presens personaliter interfui eaque omnia et singula sic fieri vidi sciui et audiui ac in notam cepi Ideo hoc presens publicum instrumentum manu aliena fideliter scriptum exinde confeci signaui et subscripsi In fidem robur et testimonium veritatis omnium et singulorum premissorum requisitus et rogatus. From the original Instrument in the Mar. Coll. Charter Room, Mass. iii., L IIIa. Abstract of foregoing Sasine. On 21st April, 1593, between the hours of eleven and twelve, compeared George Earl Marischal, and at the places of the Black and of the White Friars did personally infeft Master David Cunningham, Bishop of Aberdeen, procurator for the New College, in all the properties of the said Friars, mortified by the said Earl for behoof of the said College: whereon the said Master David craved instruments. Present: John Forbes of Pitsligo; Alexander Bannerman of Waterton; John Keith and Robert Kar, servants of the Earl ; Masters Peter Blackburn and Robert Howie, ministers of Aberdeen; Master Patrick Cheine, George Forbes, and William Gray, baillies; David Cargill, treasurer; Master Thomas Cargill, rector of the Grammar School; David Robertson and Thomas Dickson, town serjeants. All certified by Thomas Mollison, town clerk, notary public. IV. Margaret Home, Countess Marischal, renounces, in favour of the New College, her liferent interest in the lands of the Black Friars and of the White Friars. 21st April, 1593. IN dei nomine Amen per hoc presens publicum Instrumentum cunctis pateat euidenter et sit notum quod anno Incarnationis Dominice millesimo quingentesimo nonagesimo tertio mensis vero aprilis die vigesimo primo et regni supremi dñi nostri regis Jacobi Sexti anno vigesimo sexto In mei notarij publici et testium subscriptorum presentia necnon presentia honorabilis viri vilhelmi Gray vnius balliorum burgi de Aberdene personaliter comparuit nobilis Domina Margareta home comitissa de Mershell vxor nobilis et potentis domini georgii comitis Mariscalli domini Keyth et altrie extra presentiam sui mariti Que comitissa non vi aut metu ducta nec errore lapsa seu quouis dolo vel fraude circumuenta sed mature auisata Jureque suo certiorata Animo non variante vt apparuit renunciauit sue coniuncte Infeodationi et vitali redditui cum omni titulo jure et proprietate que et quas dicta Margareta comitissa de Mershell habet habuit aut habere poterit in vel ad aedificia mansiones domos hortos terras tenementa croftas rigas annuos redditus feudifirmas que olim pertinebant ad fratres predicatores et Carmelitanos dicti burgi tam infra dictum burgum territoria eiusdem quam extra eundem burgum in quo cunque alio regni Scotie loco Et hoc in gratiam et fauorem Noui collegij per dictum comitem eius maritum infra dictum burgum in loco fratrum minorum eiusdem de nouo et recenter erecti magistrorum regentium et membrorum eiusdem collegij cum eodem collegio remanentes secundum mentem et tenorem fundationis mortificationis et erectionis dicti comitis sui sponsi Et jurauit dicta comitissa quod ad dictam Renunciationem faciendam non fuit compulsa seducta neque quouis modo coacta sed quod eandem libere et spontane fecit Et quod in contrarium ejusdem nusquam clam vel palam in Judicio nec extra judicium deueniet sub penis periurii infamie et inhabitatis Renunciando omni juris exceptionis et preuilegio in gratiam mulierum facto et speciatim senatus consulti telliani Et intervallo medio idem georgius comes Mariscalli comparens in presentia dicti vilhelmi gray balliui Ratificavit predictam Renunciationem factam per dictam Margaretam home comitissam eius vxorem de dictis edificijs hortis domibus mansionibus tenementis terris croftis rigis annuis redditibus et feudifirmis in fauorem dicti collegij magistrorum regentium et membrorum eiusdem modo supradicto factam ratificauit et approbauit eidem renunciationi suum consensum et assensum interposuit Super quibus omnibus et singulis Alexander Rutherfurd procuratorio nomine dicti collegij a me notario publico subscripto sibi fieri petiit presens publicum Instrumentum Acta erant hec in hospitio dicti comitis. infra dictum burgum in vico castri eiusdem ex australi parte eiusdem vici et in domo anteriore hora duodecima diei aut eo circa presentibus Ibidem Dauide episcopo abredonensi magistris petro blakburne roberto howie ministris verbi dei dicti burgi magistro patricio cheyne georgio forbes duobus balliorum eiusdem magistro thoma cargill ludimagistro dicti burgi et magistro duncano skene notario publico testibus ad premissa vocalis pariterque rogatis. From the Sasine Register of the Burgh of Aberdeen, Vol. xxiv., f. 80. IVa. Abstract of foregoing Renunciation. On 21st April, 1593, about the hour of twelve, compeared Margaret Home, Countess Marischal, at the Earl's house on the South side of the Castlegate, and, her husband not being present, did renounce her conjunct infeftment and liferent of the properties of the Black and of the White |