| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Fonds |
| Ref No | MS 630 |
| Title | James Fraser of Phopachy, clergyman: 'Homilies and exercises theological and moral' |
| Date | 27 August 1661 - 14 March 1688 |
| Extent | 1 volume (0.04 linear metres) |
| Creator Name | Fraser; James (1634-1709); of Phopachy, clergyman |
| Administrative History | James Fraser, the son of William Fraser of Phopachy (Invernessshire), was born in 1634. He graduated AM at King’s College, Aberdeen in 1655. While still a student of divinity, he travelled through Scotland and England and on the Continent of Europe between June 1657 and April 1660, an account of which is given in his ‘Triennial travels’ (1670). He returned to succeed his father as wadsetter of Phopachy and to be appointed to the charge of Kirkhill and Wardlaw in 1661, where he remained until his death in 1709. Though still adhering to Episcopalian beliefs, he was allowed to remain in the charge after the Revolution of 1688. An edition of his Chronicles of the Frasers, The Wardlaw Manuscript entitled ‘Polichronicon seu Policratica Temporum, or, the true genealogy of the Frasers, 916 - 1674’ by William Mackay, was issued by the Scottish History Society in 1905, and the introduction includes an account of his life and works, which are learned and directed mostly at an educated audience. |
| Source | The manuscript was purchased by Aberdeen University Library in September 1912 along with three other manuscripts, and has a King's College Library bookplate. |
| Description | Volume of 'Homelies and Exercises Theological and Moral' by James Fraser. The volume includes eleven homilies, 1661 - 1688, ten exercises theological and moral, 1661 - 1678, two popular sermons, 1662 - 1663, one lecture, 1661, and two theological exegeses, 1661. These were delivered at Inverness or before the presbytery there between 1661 and 1668, apart from the first, which was given in the nearby parish of Moy on 27 August 1661. There are frequent quotations from Latin, Greek and Hebrew in discourses which were directed to a learned audience rather than to an ordinary congregation. These exercises were part of Fraser's examination for appointment to the ministry. On the title page is written: 'Homelies and Exercises Theological & Moral: Being the Substans, of the Regular Probation & Triall off Master James Fraser Student of Divinity Before the Exercise of Inverness Anno 1661 and Successively his Probation & Trials In order to the Ministry & Cum Intuitu Clercum Enioned by the Right Reverend Father in God My Lord Bishop of Murray 1662'. The content of the manuscript is as follows:
Blank (folio 2)
'Index Alphabetically Directing the Reader to the Principall Points Handled in this Treatise' (folio 3)
'Homelies and Exercises Theological delivered be Mr James Fraser student in divinity and Written Anno 1661' (pp.1-44)
27 August 1661- 19 December 1661
'Homelie First', delivered at Moy; text: John xiv. 6 (pp.1-10)
27 August 1661
'Homelie ii being a doctrinal addition the second point of trial delivered by Master James Fraser, student in divinity, before the Presbetrie at Inverness'; text: i. Cor. vii. 1-2 (pp.11-20)
2 September 1661
'Exercise First', delivered at Inverness; text: i. Cor. vii. 3-4 (pp.21-28); begins, 'Having the good Occasion to Deliver My weake Conceptions, formerlie befor this venerable and Reverend auditorie upon the preceeding verses of this chapter...'
25 September 1661
'Exegesis theologica de ecclesiae regimine'; delivered in Latin before the presbytery at Inverness; texts: Ps. xix and lxv.1 for oration, and Col. i. 18 for exegesis (pp.29-36)
16 October 1661
Lecture, delivered at Inverness before the presbytery; text: Ps. xliii. 1-2 (pp.37-44)
19 December 1661
'A popular sermon', preached at Inverness; text: John xvii. 3 (pp.45-56)
6 September 1662
'Exercises Second', delivered at Inverness before the presbytery; text: i. Cor. vii. 5 (pp.57-66)
28 January 1663
'Exegesis Theologica de transubstantione...'; delivered in Latin at Inverness; with dedication to Hugh Fraser, Lord Lovat, his patron; signed at 'Phoppachie' by 'Jacobus Fraserus' on p 69; text: Luke xxii. 19 (pp.67-77)
25 March 1663
'A popular sermon', delivered at Inverness before the presbytery; text: Jer. iii. 15 (pp.78-92)
April 1663
'Homilie or doctrinal addition', delivered at Inverness; text: i. Cor. vii. 9-10 (pp.93-101)
12 August 1663
'Exercise third', delivered at Inverness before the presbytery; text: i. Cor. vii. 12-14 (pp.102-110)
2 September 1663
'Homile iv; a doctrinal addition'; preached at Inverness before the presbytery; text: i. Cor. vii. 32-33 (pp.110-123)
1 February 1665
'Exercise Fourth', delivered before the presbytery at Inverness; text: i. Cor. vii. 35-36 (pp.123-132)
26 April 1665
'Homile vi-a doctrinal addition', delivered at Inverness before the presbytery; text: i. Cor. vii. 39-40 (pp.133-143)
21 June 1665
'Exercise Fifth', delivered at Inverness before the presbytery; text: i. Cor. viii. 1-3 (pp.144-153)
29 July 1665
Title-page: 'Homilys, and Exercises Theological, delivered be Master James Fraser: Minister of the Gospel at Wardlaw in the Ordinarie Course of Exercises at Invernes before the Prestiterie att their Meeteings there. And writen In August Anno 1668. Part Second.' (p.154)
August 1668
Blank page (p.155)
'Homily Sext. a Doctrinal Addition', delivered at Inverness before the presbytery; text: Col. i. 2 (pp.156-171); page headings are variously, 'Homilie vi', 'Exercise vi', Exercise v'.
5 August 1668
'Exercise Sexth', delivered at Inverness before the presbytery; text: Col. i. 12 (pp.172-181)
18 November 1668
'Exercise Seventh'; 'this discourse was delivered at Inverness befor the presbyterie': text: Col. i. 27 (pp.182-190)
29 June 1670
'Homily vi A Doctrinal Addition', delivered at Inverness; text: Col. iii. 1-2 (pp.191-204)
2 March 1674
'Exercise Eigth' [headed at top of some pages 'Exercise viiii9'] delivered at Inverness; text: Col. iii. 2-4 (pp.205-213)
1 April 1674
'Homily Sevnt or Doctrinal Addition', delivered at Inverness before the presbytery; text: Col. iii. 14 (pp.214-228)
8 September 1675
'Exercises Ninth', delivered at Inverness; text: Col. iii. 15 (pp.228-237)
6 October 1675
'Exercise Tenth', preached at Inverness before the presbytery; text: Col. iv. 2-3 (pp.238-247)
1 May 1678
'Homily Eight Doctrinal Addition'; no place or date of delivery given; possibly delivered in two parts as there is a break at p.261; text: Col. iv. 2-3 (pp.248-277)
not dated
'An Homile and Exercise Theological', delivered at Inverness; text: i. Thess. ii. 7-8 (pp.278-294)
17 March 1686
'Homile x', 'An Homle and exercise theological', delivered at Inverness; text: i. Thess. ii. 19-20 (pp.295-303) [pp.302-303 have no heading]
14 March 1688 |
| Appraisal | This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures. |
| Accruals | None expected. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | The records are available subject to the signed acceptance of the Department's access conditions. |
| Copyright | Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation. Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the University Archivist and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material. |
| Language | English |
| Latin |
| Physical Description | The manuscript is bound in full leather with raised bands on the spine and tooling on back and front. It measures 21.5 x 16 cm, consists of 6 folios containing title-page and index, text paginated 1-303 and 13 unused folios at the end. Pages 295-303 show signs of repair. Each section is elaborately headed and pages are ruled at fore-edges to allow for the insertion of detailed scriptural and other references and place and date of delivery, with a format similar to that in MS 2538 and in the Wardlaw manuscript. The binding is tight, which might make reproduction difficult. |
| Related Material | MS 2538 James Fraser: Triennial Travels |
| Related Record | MS 2538 |