Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew vol 1.djvu/122

of this burgh, and that, be thair honest Industrie and experience in thair craftis, with tyme, thai sall be ane gritter furtherance and avantage to the commoun weill than the tred and commoditie quhilk may fall in thair hands may be hurtfull to any particulare persoune; thairfore, thai willinglie accordet and agreit to the saids articles as followes:— Anent the first, it is universally accordet that the saidis ministeris and bretherein sall haif deput and assignet unto thame ane sufficient tempill. Anent the secund, Ike said ministeris sail haif ane sufficient lugeing with the chalmeris efferand thairto frelie. Anent the thrid, it is lykewayes agreit thairto, with provisioun that, quhen it sall pleis God to bring the estaitt of France to ane resonabill quyetnes as concerning the materis of relligioun, gif any of the said brether sall still remayne within the libertie of this burgh, thay to be oblist to mak thame selffis frie with the towne and with thair craftis as uther inhabitants of the burgh hes done of before, Fynallie, anent the last heid the samin wes fullie agreit upoun in all poynts.

and manners unto all the inhabitants of this burgh, and that, by their honest industry and experience in their crafts, in time, they shall be a greater furtherance and advantage to the common weal than the trade and commodity which may fall into their hands may be hurtful to any particular person, therefore, they willingly accorded and agreed to the said articles as follows:— Anent the first, it is universally accorded that the said ministers and brethren shall have, deputed and assigned unto them, a sufficient temple. Anent the second, the said ministers shall have a sufficient lodging with the chambers effeiring thereto freely. Anent the third, it is likewise agreed thereto, with provision that, when it shall please God to bring the state of France to a reasonable quietness as concerning matters of religion, if any of the said brethren shall still remain within the Liberty of this Burgh, they be obliged to make themselves free of the town and with their crafts, just as other inhabitants of the burgh have done before. Finally, anent the last head, the same was fully agreed to in all points.

There seems to have been a large influx of refugees into England at this time, which taxed the resources of the French churches there beyond their powers. The Edinburgh Town Council agreed to help them through a public collection:—

“27th Sept. 1587. — Upon the report of John Edzeir of the misterful estaitt of the Fraynche kirk in Ingland — Grantis that ane voluntare contribution be maid throw this burgh for thair support, and that the avyse of the kirk be tayne heirinto that ordour may be tayne thairwith on Fryday nist.” [The Scottish adjective misterful, or mistirful, means necessitous: tayne means ta’en, i.e., taken.]

Very little additional information is given in the Books of the Commissariot of Edinburgh. The Commissary, Mr. John Preston, on 1st June 1591, confirmed “Stevin Peiris,” Frenchman, in the Canongate, as executor, being the nearest kinsman of Peir [Pierre?] Dolerance, Frenchman, servitour to my Lord Seytoun, who had died intestate on 21st May, having in his possession forty pounds Scots.

We find also “The Inventar of y^e guids, geir, sowmes of money, and debtis perteining to umq^ll Nicolas Inglis frenchman m^r of y{{sup|e]] frenche schole in Ed^r the tyme of his deceis Quha deceist upon y^e tent day of August y^e zeir of God 1611 yeris ffaithfullie maid and geven up be Mary Preset his relict spous and only exec^x in lyfe nominat be y^e defunct in his l^r Will underwrytine as y^e samin of y^e twelff day of May y^e zeir of God foresaid.”

This inventory was laid before Mr. John Arthur, Commissary of Edinburgh, on 23d July 1614. The reason why the widow is described as the only executrix in life is, that a daughter Marie Inglis, whom her father had made joint-executrix, had died in the interval between 1611 and 1614. The inventory detailed 1 silver piece and 4 silver spoons, weighing in all 11 oz., value £3 per oz. — £33; library, value £20; ready gold and purse-pennies, value 20 merks; 2 little gold rings, “price of baith, ten merkis;” utensils, domicils, and abulzements of his body, value 200 merks. Due by Thomas Foulis, £2154. Due by Bartilmo Kello, £480. Total of inventory and debts, £2840, 6s. 8d. Scots money. [Apparently the debtors had paid the annual interest regularly, as the debts represent what they owed to the testator.]

The following was Nicolas Langlois’, alias Nicholas Inglis’, will:—

Au nom de Dieu. — Je Nicolas Langlois, Francois, Maistre de L’ecole francoise en ceste ville de Lislebourg, me sentant sain d’entendement et malade de corps Jay bien vouleu ordonner mon testament et dernier volunte comme sensuit Je Recommende et laisse à Dieu nion ame Et quant au corps Je desire que apres mon decez il soit enseveli à la facon accomtumée en attendant le jour de la Resurrection bien heureuse. J’ordonne ma femme Marie Presot et ma fille Marie Langlois elles deux mes seules execeteures et entremeteures avec mes biens quelconques. En Tesmoinge de ce Jay signé ce present testament et ma dernière volunté de ma main Le douzieme de may M D C sixcentes onze En presence de Henry