Seing we desire that Innocencie shall defend us rather than Privelege,
we think that ilk persoun of the Universitie shuld answeir before the
Provest and Baillies of ilk town whaire the Universities ar, of all
crymes whairof thai ar accusit, onlie that the Rectour be Assesour to
thame in the saidis actionis. In civill materis yf the questioun be
betwix memberis of the Universitie on ilk side, making thair residence
and exercitioun thairin for the tyme, in that case the partie callit
shall not be haldin to answer, but onlie before the Rectour and his
Assesouris heirtofore expremit. In all uthir casses of civill persute,
the generall reule of the Law to be observit, _Actor sequatur forum
rei, &c._
_Item_, That the Rectour and all inferiour memberis of the Universitie
be exempted frome all taxationis, impostis, chargeis of weir, or ony
othir charge that may onerat or abstract him or thame from the cair of
thair office; suche as Tutorie, Curatorie, Deaconrie, or ony siclike,
that ar establischeit, or heirefter shall be established in our
Common-wealth; to the effect, that but trubill, that ane may wait
upoun the upbringing of the youth in learnyng, that othir bestow his
tyme onlie in that most necessarie exercitioune.
All othir thingis tuiching the bookes to be red in ilk classe, and all
suche particular effaires, we refer to the discretioun of the
Maisteris, Principallis, and Regentis, with thair weill advisit
Counsallis; not doubting but yf God sall grant quietnes, and gif your
Wisdomes grace to set fordward letteris in the sort prescribed, ye
shall leave wisdome and learnyng to your posteritie, ane treasure more
to be estemed nor ony earthlie treasure ye ar abill to provide[489]
for thame; whiche, without wisdome, ar more abill to be thair ruyne
and confusioun, than help or confort. And as this is most treu, so we
leave it with the rest of the commoditeis to be weyit by your Honouris
wisdome, and set fordwart by your authoritie to the most heigh
advancement of this Common-wealth, committed to your charge.
[489] In edit. 1621, "to amasse."