HIS Highnesse the Lord Protector ta­king into consideration the great ad­vantage which may redound to the People of this Commonwealth, inha­biting in Scotland, That the Vni­versities there should receive both countenance and encouragement, and be provided for with compe­tent maintenance for the Members of the said Vni­versities, for the better training up of Youth in Pi­ety and good Literature; Doth Ordain, and be it Ordained by his Highnesse, by and with the consent of his Council, that the Superiorities of all and sin­gular the Lands belonging to the late Bishoprick of Galloway, Abbacy of Tungland, Priory of Whit­horn, and Abbacy of Glenluce, And all other Lands annexed and appertaining to the said Bishoprick, together with all Few-Farmes, Few-Duties, Kains, Customs, and Casualties thereunto be­longing, accrewing, or which shall accrew; As also the Superiorities of the whole Teinds, Parsonage [Page 6]and Vicarage, Teind-Duties, and all other Du­ties of all and sundry the Churches and Parishes of and belonging to the said late Bishoprick, Abbacy or Priory where ever the same lye, and by whatso­ever Name or Designation the same be known, (ex­cepting the Superiority of the Deanry of the Chap­lin of Striveling) be, and are hereby, and shall from henceforth he adjudged, deemed, and taken to be gi­ven, granted, doted, mortified and disposed to the Vniversity of Glasgow, and the Principal, Profes­sors and Regents thereof, and their Successors for ever, with power to the Principal, Professors, and Regents of the said Vniversity, present and in time to come, and their Successors, to receive Re­signations, Enter the Few-holders, Tenants, and all others formerly called Vassals of the said late Bishoprick, Abbacies and Priory, to their respec­tive Lands, by Charters of Resignation, Confir­mation, or otherwise to Compound, Transact and Receive Fines and Compositions for the same, and to do all and every other Act and thing touching the same, as any Superior or Over-lord in Scotland may do to their Tenants and Few-holders, or others, commonly called Vassals, according to Law.

And be it further ordained by the Authority afore­said, That for the better Encouragement of Stu­dents in the said Vniversity, the sum of Two hun­dred Marks Sterling yearly shall be paid out of the first and readiest of the Customs of Glasgow to the Principal, Professors, and Regents of the said Vni­versity of Glasgow, and their Successors for ever, or such person or persons as they shall from time to time appoint to receive the same, to be employed by them and their Order, for the education of pious and hopeful young men and Students of Theolo­gy and Phylosophy in the said Vniversity; And [Page 7]that the Collectors and Receivers of the said Cu­stoms for the time being, shall pay the said yearly sum of Two hundred Marks Sterling, by Quar­terly Payments accordingly, and shall be allowed the same upon their Accompts; The first Payment to be made at or upon the first day of December next.

And be it further ordained by the Authority afore­said, That the Superiorities of the Lands belong­ing to the late Bishoprick of Aberdeen, that is to say, The Superiorities of the Lands of Aberdeen, formerly called the Barony of Aberdeen, of the Lands of Murthill, Fetterner, Clett, Tallienessell, Da­viot, Reine, and Beirse, all lying within the Sheriff­dome of Aberdeen; As also the Lands of Fordice and Murtlawh, lying within the Sheriffedome of Bamff, together with the Superiority of the Acres of Old-Aberdeen, and of all other Lands, Tene­ments, Houses, with the Appurtenances formerly belonging to the said late Bishoprick of Aberdeen, the Few-Farms, Few-Duties, Kains, Customs, Casualties, Teins, Parsonage and Vicarage, Tend-Duties, and all other Duties of the Lands, Churches and Parishes aforesaid; together with other Duties of the Church of Maucher and Nicho­las, and of all other Kirks and Parishes which for­merly belonged to the said Bishoprick; together, with the Tenths of the Salmon Fishing, and other Fishings upon the Waters of Dee and Done, or on the Sea, or any other places formerly belong­ing to the said Bishoprick, together with the whole Fruits, Teinds, Church-Rents, and other Du­ties any way belonging to the Temporality or Spi­rituality of the said Bishoprick be given, granted, doted, and mortified to the said Vniversity of Aber­deen, the Principals, Professors, Regents and re­manent [Page 8]Members thereof and their Successors for ever, in manner following, (that is to say) To the Colledge of Old-Aberdeen two parts in three to be divided, And to the Colledge of New-Aberdeen one third part in three to be divided, with power to the Principals, Professors, Regents, and remanent Members of the said Vniversity according to their Proportion and Division aforesaid, present and to come, and to their Successors for ever, to receive Resignations, enter the Few-holders, Tenants, and all others, formerly called Vassals, of the said Bishoprick Lands, and other the Premises, by Charters of Resignation, Confirmation or other­wise to compound, transact and agree about the Fines and Compositions due for the same, and to receive and take up the same, And to do all and every other act and thing therein that any Supe­rior or Over-Lord in Scotland may do to their Few-holders, Tenants, and all others commonly called Vassals, according to Law in such Cases: And in respect of the Incompetency of the Maintenance of the Masters, Professors, and other the Mem­bers of the said Vniversity, and especially of the said Colledge of New-Aberdeen, Be it Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That the sum of two hundred Marks Sterling by the year, out of the first and readiest of the Customes of Aberdeen, shall be from henceforth paid unto the Principals, Pro­fessors, and other the Members of the said Vniver­sity, and their Successors for ever, or to such person and persons as they shall from time to time appoint to be paid Quarterly by even and equall portions to be imployed for the Augmentation of the provisi­ons and maintenance of the Principals, Professors, Regents, and Remanent Members of the said Vniversity of Aberdeen, in manner following, (that [Page 9]is to say) two parts thereof to the said Colledge of New-Aberdeen, and the other third part to the Col­ledge of Old-Aberdeen; And that the Collectors and Receivers of the said Customs for the time being, shall pay the same accordingly: Provided always, That the Principals of either of the said Colledges shall have twice as much added to their Provisions out of the said Augmentation or yearly sum, as is added to the Provision of other Professors and Members of the respective Colledges; The first Payment to be made at or on the first day of December next, and so from thenceforth Quarter­ly. And for the better Propagation of the Gospel and Advancement of Godliness in Scotland, Be it Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That the Commissioners for Visiting the Vniversities, Col­ledges and Schools of Learning in Scotland, do take especiall care, That none but Godly and Able men be Authorized by them to enjoy the Li­vings appointed for the Ministry in Scotland; And to that end, That respect be had to the Choice of the more sober and Godly part of the People, al­though the same should not prove to be the greater part; And that no Person shall be by them Au­thorized, or admitted into any such Living or Be­nefice, but such as shall be first Certified by the persons hereafter named for the respective Pro­vinces hereafter mentioned, or any Four or more of them, whereof two to be Ministers, to be a person of a holy and unblameable Conversation, disposed to live peaceably under the present Go­vernment, And who for the Grace of GOD in him, and for his Knowledge and Vtterance is able and fit to Preach the Gospel: Within the Provinces of Louthian, Mers, and Teviotdale, Ma­ster Robert Traile, Master Alexander Levingstone, [Page 10]Master Gilbert Hall, Master John Scot, Master Ed­ward Jamesone, Master John Sinclare, Master John Levingstone; Sir Archibald Johnstone, Sir Andrew Ker, Colonel Gilbert Ker, [...] Dundas of Dud­distone. Within the Provinces of Dumfrieze and Galloway, Master Hugh Henderson, Master Samuel Austine, Master Alexander Trumbel, Master Andrew Lawder, Master Samuel Rowe, Master William Ferguson of Kaitlocke, Earle of Cassilis, Alexander Gordoun of Knockgray. Within the Province of Glasgow and Aire, Master John Carstayres, Master Alexander Dunlap, Master John Nevay, Master Wil­liam Guthery, Master William Adayre, Master Tho­mas Willye, Master Patrick Colvile, Master Francis Ayrd, Master William Somervill, Master Patrick Gillespie, Sir George Maxwell, William Muyre of Glanderstone, Master John Graham, Master John Spreule, George Porterfield. Within the Provinces of Perth, Fife, and Angus, Master James Guthery, Master Robert Blaire, Master Samuel Rutherford, Master Alexander Moncrieffe, Master James Simson, Master William Oliphant, Master John Murray, Ma­ster William Rait, Sir William Bruce, David Weemes of Fingask, Vicount of Arburchnet. Within the Provinces of be-north Angus, Master Robert Keith, Master Duncan Forbes, Master John Rowe, Master Nathaniel Martin, Master Joseph Brody, Master John Menzies, The Lord Brody, The Laird of Eight, Earle of Southerland, Alexander Jeffrey, Master Wil­liam More, Master Andrew Cant.

And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Commissioners do allow and provide out of the Treasury of Vacant Sti­pends, or otherwise, as they shall think fit, a Competent Maintenance, for such Ministers who have Gathered Congregations in Scotland; And [Page 11]to take care that the Stipends of the Parochial Churches there be imployed to the use of such godly Ministers as are free to Labour amongst them, in the Way of the Churches of Scotland.

And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Commissioners do take care, That such of the Ministers of that Nation as they shall finde to promote Godlinesse, and to endeavour the suppressing of all Vngodlinesse, and Scandalous Practices, whether in the Ministry or the People, do receive all due Encouragement and Assistance; And that they do oppose all such as discountenance the Power of Godlinesse, and are indulgent to such as are Scandalous or Pro­phane.