To His Grace, His Majesties High Commissioner, and the Right Honourable the Estates of Parliament. THE PETITION Of the Principal and Masters of the Marishal Colledge of Aberdeen.
THat where the Petitioners having represented to this Parliament, That they in consideration that their Colledge was exceedingly decayed had adventured to erect and join a new Building thereto, without any other Fond; But the Charitable Assistance of Noblemen, Gentlemen and others both at home and Abroad, and the Contribution being expended, and the Work uncompleat; It pleased his Majesties High Commissioner, and Honourable Estates of Parliament, to allow the Petitioners the Vacant Stipends of such Churches whereof the Earl Marishal and Earl of Kintore were Patrons, but the Act was restricted only to endure till this Session of Parliament; And seeing few of these Churches have Vaicked, and the Stipend of those that are Vacant, being near; Exhausted, by the twenty Merks payed, to such as Preach at the several parish Churches our new building lyes still uncompleat, and it will take a Considerable summ to finish the said Work, And the Royall Burrows in Consideration thereof, were pleased at their last General Convention at Aherdeen to bestow upon us a Generous Assistance, and it being his Majestie and Royall Predecessors, their Constant Care to provide for Universities and Colledges, and to allow them Supplies for repairing and upholding their Fabricks: The Petitioners have presumed to make this new Address to his Grace and Honourable Estates of Parliament, Humbly craving, That not only the former Act, allowing the Petitioners the Vacant Stipends of the Churches of Foverain, New Deer, Saint Brides alias Dunnottar, Fetteresso, Old Deer, Auchredie, Langside, Peterhead, Saint Fergus, King Edward, and any other whereof the Earl Marishal and Earl of Kintore are undoubted Patrons, may be allowed and continued for such a competent time, as His Grace and Estates of Parliament shall think sit. But also in consideration of the necessity. That the Old Fabrick lyes under to be repaired, and the New Work to be compleated; Your Grace and Honourable Estates of Parliament, would be pleased to allow the Petitioners some part of the Bishops Rents, or some other more certain and sure Fond then the Casual Vacant Stipends, for the use and ends asoresaid; And the rather because the Honourable Members of the last Visitation of Colledges, in consideration of the Premisses, by their Act in August 1696. Recommended the Petitioners to the Lords of Thesaury, that they might bestow upon them any Fond, that might be most Effectual for the Uses foresaid.
And Your Petitioners shall ever Pray, &c.