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the course of philosophy in the College of St. Andrews, went to France at the age of twenty-three years. There, applying himself to the laws, he lived five years an auditor of that great Doctor Cujacius, and being made licentiate, returned to Scotland in the year 1566, of purpose to follow that calling. But God otherwise disposing, in the year 1569 he was made principal of the College of Aberdeen, where, by his diligent teaching, and dexterous government, he not only revived the study of good letters, but gained many from the superstitions whereunto they were given. He was greatly loved of all men, hated of none, and in such account for his moderation with the chief of men of these parts, that without his advice they could almost do nothing, which put him in great fashery, whereof he did often complain. Pleasant and jocund in conversation, and in all sciences expert; a good poet, mathematician, philosopher, theologue, lawyer, and in medicine skillful, so as in every subject he could promptly discourse, and to good purpose." This is a favourable testimony by the Archbishop to a leader of the anti-episcopal party.

Arbuthnott was the friend and associate of the Melvilles, and a chief among that small section of the kirk who, themselves most learned, felt the necessity of reforming education as a means of religious reformation. James Melville never names him without commendation. He relates that, after the General Assembly of 1575, his uncle and he "past to Angus, in companie with Mr. Alexander Arbuthnot, a man of singular gifts of lerning, wesdome, godliness and sweitnes of nature, then Principall of Aberdein, whom withe Mr. Andro communicat anent the haill ordour of his collage in doctrine

of Thornton. Andrew was fourth son of Robert Arbuthnott of that ilk, by his second wife Mariot Scrimgeour.-Originis et incrementi Arbuthnoticæ familiæ descriptio historica-a MS. compiled by the Principal himself and preserved at Arbuthnot. Alex

ander was minister of Arbuthnot and Logie Buchan, before he became Principal of King's College.

'Spottiswood's History, II., p. 319, Edit.,

1850.

and discipline, and aggreit as therefter was sett down in the new reformation of the collages of Glasgow and Aberdein.” 1 At another time, this best of gossips, recalls the pleasant society in the house of his father-in-law John Dury, where the ministers of Edinburgh used to meet "with a wonderful consent in varietie of giftes, all strak on a string and sounded a harmonie"-and where, at the seasons of the General Assembly, they were joined by still more eminent men: "Ther ludgit in his house at all these Assemblies in Edinbruche for common, Mr. Andro Melvill, Mr. Thomas Smeton, Mr. Alexander Arbuthnott, thrie of the lernedest in Europe

with sum zelus godlie barrones and gentilmen. In tyme of mealles, was reasoning upon guid purposes, namlie,2 maters in hand; therefter ernest and lang prayer; therefter a chaptour read, and everie man about gaiff his not and observation thereof; sua that giff all haid bein sett down in wryt, I haiff hard the lernedest and of best judgment say, they wald nocht haiff wissed a fuller and better commentar nor sum tymes wald fall out in that exercise." Principal Arbuthnot died in 1583; Spottiswood says he was in the forty-fifth year of his age, and that he was buried in the College Church.*

Arbuthnot's communication with Andrew Melville without doubt gave rise to that famous "new foundation" of King's College, which was the subject of such contention afterwards. Like the parallel measure for Glasgow, it went to break down all the usages and feelings of a University, setting up a teaching institution in its place." On this account we cannot regret that it was abortive, but some of

1

1 Mr. James Melville's Diary, p. 41. Namely, i. e. especially.

Mr. James Melville's Diary, p. 60. 'p. 319.

Charles I. speaks very indignantly of the attempt to abolish the ancient and true foundation, and to bring in one of their own

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forging, and "to redact all the foundation to
ane bair scoole of philosophie," p. 286.
"Notwithstanding the vehement assertions
of the charter of the new foundation having
been "privilie destroyed," (p. 287) it seems
more probable it was never completed. The
ratification in Parliament, 1597, (p. 139),

its provisions were evident improvements upon the existing practice, if not on the original foundation. The teachers were to be confined, each to one department, and not as hitherto, each to take his students through the four years of their course, a change sanctioned by the universal practice of the present day, yet not without leaving some cause of regret for the better acquaintance that must have existed between the teacher and the scholars when they journeyed in company through their whole academic life. The Canonist and Medicus were to be abolished. If the functions of the former were abrogated by the Reformation, that reason could hardly affect the latter.

It is unfortunate that we have no documents to show how the University throve under Arbuthnot's presidency, nor any lists of graduates or students that might serve to prove the increase which we must believe would follow his improved discipline. We know that he introduced the study of Greek, and if, in other things, he followed Andrew Melville's example, as shown at Glasgow and St. Andrews, where that zealous scholar set himself to educate teachers for future generations of students, we may look to Arbuthnot as the fountain of that theological learning and classical and literary taste which distinguished Aberdeen for a century after his own labours had ceased. The number of students when we first become acquainted with it, at the beginning of the seventeenth century, had, indeed, much increased since the "fifteen or sixteen

points to it as a charter still to be "revised;" and the copy which Dr. M'Crie used was of such an inchoate charter, wanting the concluding solemnities of date, witnessing, and sealing.-Life of Melville, 2nd edit., II., p. 475.

The new system had either not been enforced, or had fallen into disuse immediately after Arbuthnot's death. The lists of intrants from 1601 downwards, show that a

Regent taught the same students from the first to the fourth year, (p. 449.) The first occasion when that order was broken through, seems to have been in 1628, (p. 459), but the innovation was short lived, and the old system prevailed down to the end of the last century; being retained chiefly, it is said, at last, from respect for the opinion of Dr. Thomas Reid.

scollers" of Queen Mary's visit; but the quieter state of the country, and the comparative subsidence of the war of opinions, might, in a great measure account, for that improvement.

The history of the University during the seventeenth century— the government of the College funds-the discipline and studies— the dangers from without, and the greater perils from intestine discord the partial decay and the restoration of the venerable school of learning the steady increase of students through all the impediments of a turbulent age-are to be gathered, in general with sufficient accuracy and detail, from the records collected in this volume, especially the series of "Visitations." We must not expect that any memorials of that period of church dissension should be free of party bias, especially where recorded by churchmen; but in the midst of prejudice and misrepresentation, some events, and fortunately some characters, stand above them and cannot be misunderstood.

Patrick Forbes of Corse, a gentleman of a competent estate in Aberdeenshire, having been induced by some peculiar causes to take orders, was made Bishop of Aberdeen in 1618. Of a presbyterian family, and educated by Andrew Melville, he had imbibed his master's love of learning, and the principles of the straitest sect of the kirk. The views of that body, when developed, appearing

For those who wish to study the subject more fully, the following books will be useful. Gordon of Rothiemay's "History of Scots Affairs," Spalding Club, edited with notes full of accurate information, biographical, ecclesiastical and literary, by Mr. Joseph Robertson and Mr. Grub. The "Funerals" of Bishop Patrick Forbes, reprinted and also edited with copious and valuable notes and biographical preface, by Mr. C. F. Shand, for the late Spottiswood Society. Spalding's "Memorials of the Trubles in Scotland," a much improved edition con

tributed by the late Lord Saltoun to the Spalding Club, and edited by its Secretary. The Correspondence of Principal Baillie, very carefully edited, with similar literary apparatus, by Mr. D. Laing, for the Bannatyne Club. "Original Letters relating to the Ecclesiastical Affairs of Scotland, 160328," the contribution to the Bannatyne Club of Mr. B. Botfield, where Mr. Laing's care and accurate knowledge are again visible. It may be necessary here to state that these works have been used in this Preface frequently without special acknowlegement.

to him almost inconsistent with discipline or civil government, at length drove him from them, and threw him heartily into the party of the church as then established. Spottiswood says of him that he was the best prelate in the church of Scotland since Elphinstone, and adds-" So wyse, judicious, so grave and graceful a pastor, I have not known in all my time in anie church." Judging not by his writings alone, but by the impression he made upon his age-gathering our opinion even from the vehement denunciations of his opponents--it is easy to see that that high character is not beyond the truth. Of his desire to enforce conformity by the secular arm-of his equal antipathy to Papists and Puritans-we need not speak: toleration was then unknown to Churchmen in power, of whatever sect. His pastoral care of his people was an example to the humblest minister of a parish; his discharge of his duties as Bishop of a great diocese, was regarded with admiration by those most averse to the office. As Chancellor of the University his attention was perhaps too exclusively devoted to rendering it a school of sound theology; but, like Elphinstone, who had the same object in view, he knew that it could only be reached by the legitimate and severe discipline of secular learning and philosophy. Like Elphinstone, also, his care was to draw round his College and his Cathedral, men, who by their own accomplishment, might command respect for the lessons they taught.

He was alike vigilant concerning the fabric and the funds of the College, and the discipline of the members of the University. It appears that his care for these matters was much required. The Royal commissioners in 1619 represent the internal economy of the College as exceedingly faulty, and its affairs as verging to ruin, through neglect or dishonesty,' and the Bishop writing to the King, speaks in even stronger terms "as your Hienes' pleasure

p. 276-7, infra.

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