| Description | On 6 February 1495, Bishop William Elphinstone, presented a supplication, issued in the name of King James IV, to Pope Alexander VI to found a university in the town of Old Aberdeen. The supplication was granted and the Foundation Bull was issued on the 10 February 1495. This foundation bull is part of a series of documents, papal, royal and episcopal, which define the original constitution of the University and King's College. The bull is accompanied by mandates, confirmation of privileges and gifts and Bishop Elphinstone's foundation charters for the College. Papers documenting the various endowments and financial support for the College also form a core element to this series. The vital importance of these documents has resulted in a number of official copies to be created to safeguard the College's many privileges and authority. |