Notarial Instrument containing a precept by William Scheves, archbishop of St. Andrews, primate of Scotland, 3rd October 1495

Notarial Instrument containing a precept by William [Scheves], archbishop of St. Andrews, primate of Scotland, papal legate, addressed to the provost and canons of the collegiate church of St. Salvator, etc., declaring that he had observed that the said church, situated in his city of St. Andrews, was one in which there was great and continuous labour to a few ministers in celebrating divine service, and the parish church of Forteuioth in his diocese was one in which there is great cure of souls and only a vicarage pensionary of 20 merks of current money with croft and manse for him who has the cure, which is insufficient to maintain him. The archbishop directs, and by desire of Mr. Walter Drummond, rector of the said parish church of Forteuioth, erects a canonry in said collegiate church, and as a prebend the rectory of Forteuioth, appointing Mr. Walter to the canonry and prebend, and in the church of Forteuioth a perpetual vicarage full and complete, to be conferred on a fit person who shall have the cure of souls in the parish, the teind sheaves to belong to the canonry and prebend [to Mr. Walter and his successors], and the remaining fruits of the parish, the wool, flax, lambs, calves, cheese, oblations, mortuaries, funeral rites, and other pertinents, with the croft and manse, to belong to the vicar and successors in the vicarage. Reserving forty shillings yearly 'juveni cantori qui puerilem habeat vocem' in the stall of said prebend, who shall minister in the divine offices celebrated in said collegiate church, to be paid by the prebendary, also the use of the manse of the church to the prebendary for reception of his ordinary in visitation when he shall wish to reside there, or for gathering his teinds or tithes there, but without prejudice of the vicar pensioner, his exercise and administration of the whole parish cure during his life, and who on this account is to receive the said pension and fruits of the whole vicarage, subject to the archiepiscopal and archidiaconal dues, all other burdens, as the repair, etc., of altar or choir of said church, and the expense of visitations, to belong to the prebendary's part of the fruits. The archbishop further declares that, with consent of his chapter, and of Mr. Walter Drummond, rector, and Sir Andrew Thomson, vicar pensioner, he has bestowed the perpetual vicarage of Forteuioth on William Irland, presbyter of Dunkeld diocese, and by the episcopal ring has invested him in the whole care and administration of said vicarage, reserving a pension to be paid the said Sir Andrew for life. The archbishop therefore directs the said provost or others to induct Mr. Walter Drummond into his canonry, stall in choir, and place in chapel, and the said William Irland into possession of the vicarage, with their respective emoluments. Instrument of publication dated at St. Andrews, 3rd October 1495.