 Nicholas' apparent surname, "de Balmyle", points to an association with Balmyle near Meigle, in the region where Gowrie and Angus border, though that is only one of two possible locations.As a graduate, Nicholas is first found active at St Andrews in the entourage of Gamelin, Bishop of St Andrews, in 1259.He does not appear very often in any witness lists during the following few decades, but does appear along with other St Andrews clerics witnessing a charter of William, Earl of Mar at Falkland on 21 January 1268.