Colvill had originally been elected principal of the university in April 1652 following the death of John Adamson. However, Colvill openly prayed for King Charles II in Edinburgh and was resultantly imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, and was forbidden to take office by Cromwell's Government. Therefore, the position was declared vacant again on 17 January 1653, with Dr Robert Leighton being elected Principal instead. However, since Colvill had already given in his demission to his church and left the Netherlands, he was allowed a year's stipend (2000 Scots merks) for his trouble and expense.[3]
In November 1654 he was reponed by the Synod of Lothian and reallowed to minister, being reordained as minister of Perth. When Leighton resigned from the university to become Bishop of Dunblane in 1662, Colvill left Perth and finally became Principal of Edinburgh University.