Copy of numerous earlier documents concerning the royal exemption from taxes.

• Reference:GB 248 GUA BL/485
• Dates of Creation:1600s (transcripts of 15th and 16th century originals)
• Language of Material:Scots Latin

• Scope and Content

  • 1) Bull of Pope Nicolas V obtained by William Turnbull, Bishop of Glasgow, issued at the suit of James II King of Scots, erecting a 'stadium generale' in the city of Glasgow, as well for theology, canon and civil laws, arts and any lawful faculty, and conferring on the Doctors, Masters, and students all privileges, honours and immunities enjoyed by the university of the Pope's city of Bologna, bestowing on the bishops of Glasgow the office and jurisdiction of chancellor with the right, after due examination, of conferring degrees and making licenciates, and granting to all persons so graduated or licensed full liberty of reading and teaching, as well as in the university of Glasgow as in all other universities without any further examination or trial. Confirmations by King James V and Mary Queen of Scots. Date of the original: 7 January 1451.
  • 2) Letter under the great seal by James II King of Scots, obtained by William Turnbull, Bishop of Glasgow, granting the King's firm peace and protection to the rectors, deans of Faculties, procurators of nations, regents, masters, and scholars of his well beloved daughter the University of Glasgow, and exempting the same rectors, deans, procurators, regents, masters, beadles, scribes, stationers, parchment-sellers, and resident scholars, prelates only excepted, from all manner of taxes, duties, watch and ward, exigible within the King's realm. Date of the original: 20 April 1453.
  • 3) Confirmation under his great seal, by James III King of Scots, to his well beloved daughter the University of Glasgow, of the letter of exemption from taxes granted by his progenitor King James II. Date of the original: 10 December 1472.
  • 4) Confirmation by King James V, with advice and consent of his turor John Duke of Albany, Governor of the Realm, of the letter of exemption from taxes to the university by King James II, by King James III, and by King James IV. Date of the original: 20 May 1522.
  • 5) Confirmation by Mary Queen of Scots, with the advice and consent of her tutor, James Earl of Arran, governor of her realm, of the letters of exemption from taxes granted to the university by King James II, James III, and James IV. Date of the original: 6 July 1547.
  • 6) Letter under the signet of Queen Mary and her mother the Queen Regent, exempting the rector of the university, the dean of faculty, and a regent in the Pedagogy, being beneficed clerks in the diocese of Glasgow, from any share of the tax of 10 000 pounds granted by the Clergy of the realm. Date of the original: 8 February 1556.
  • 7) Letter under the signet of Queen Mary and her mother the Queen Regent, exempting the rector of the university, the dean of faculty, and a regent in the Pedagogy, beneficed clergymen, from payment of the subsidy of 2 000 pounds voted by the Clergy, and discharging the rectos, deans of faculty, and regents from payment of taxes in all time coming. Date of the original:15 June 1556.
  • 8) Letter under the signet of Queen Mary and her mother the Queen Regent, discharging the rector of the university, the dean of faculty, and the principal regent of the Pedagogy, all beneficed clergymen, from payment of any part of two subsidies, one of 2 000 pounds, the other of 2 500 pounds, granted by the Clergy of Scotland. Date of the original: 14 March 1557.

  The document is written on pieces of paper bound together in a mixed hand combining secretary and italic elements. No ornamentation.

• Custodial History

  No previous reference or description.

• Bibliography

  Munimenta Alme Universitatis Glasguensis, Records of the University of Glasgow from its Foundation till 1727, ed. by Cosmo Innes (Glasgow : the Maitland Club, 1856), I, p. 3-5, 6-7, 25-26, 48-49, 54-56, 59-60, 60-61, 61-62 (entries no 1, 2, 13, 26, 31, 34, 35, 36).