to him to proceed. When he reached the house at i
which they had previously agreed to lodge, he found j
his two countrymen in great trepidation lest their |
papers should have been examined, and disposed to ]
laugh heartily at the equivoque by which they had
escaped detection. They had reason to congratulate i
themselves, if the report of their landlord was to be i
credited ; for he assured them that several persons
had of late lost their lives for as small an offence as |
that of having come from Geneva. On leaving Or-
leans next day they were thrown anew into consterna-
tion, by unexpectedly falling in with a procession of
the host, when they were again relieved from their , |
embarrassment by the promptitude and address of '
Melville*-. j

At Paris they met with a great many of their j
countrymen, and resolved to spend some time in
the French capital. At the desire of Lord Ogilvy,
Melville went to the Jesuits' College, and meeting
with Father Tyrie, was involved in a public dispute,
with that eager polemic. The dispute was con- i
tinned during several days, but the archbishop of j
Glasgow, being informed of it, let fall some threat-
ening expressions, which coming to the ears of j
Melville's friends, they persuaded him to leave the
place as quickly as possible. Accordingly he left
Paris on the 30th of May, and proceeding with his
former companions to Dieppe, sailed to Ky, and \

* Melville's Diary, pp. 35, 36. I



LIIE OF ANDllEW MELVILLE. 57

arrived safely in London. On the day that they
quitted Paris, the French king, Charles IX., who
had rendered himself so odious hy his tyranny and
cruelty, died of an issue of blood, which burst from
all the apertures of his body.

After remaining a short time in London, our
travellers purchased horses, and took their journey
by Berwick to Edinburgh ; where Melville arrived
in the beginning of July 1574, after an absence of
ten years from his native country *.

* Melville's Diary, p. 36,



58 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.



CHAPTER II.

1574—1580.

JMelville declines an offer from the Regent Mo7-
ton — retires toBaldovy — superintends the studies
of his nephew — James Melville — applications to
the General Assembly for Melville's services — he
visits Glasgow — is inti'oduced to the young king —
is admitted Piincipal of the iiniversity of Glas-
gow — history of that university — his plan for re-
covering it from the decayed state into which it
had fallen — new mode of instruction introduced
hy him — effects of it — individuals educated under
him at Glasgow — Nova JE?'ectio — literar^y con-
versation — Peter Blachburn — John Colville —
college discipline — Mark Alexander Boyd — in-
stance cf Melville\s intrepidity in maintaiyiing
the authority of the university — charged with ad-
vising the demolition of the Cathedral of Glas-
gow — receives his library from Geneva — uni-
versity library — Carmen Mosis,



JVIelville had scarcely arrived at Edinburgh,
when he was waited on by George Buchanan, Alex-
ander Hay, clerk to the Privy Council, and Colo-



LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 59

nel James Halyburton, on the part of the Regent
Morton. They proposed that he should act as do-
mestic instructor to the Regent, promising that he
should be advanced to a situation more suited to his
merit, as soon as a vacancy occurred. INIorton had
himself no ta^te for letters, and was not disposed, as
his predecessors were, to be liberal to learned men.
But his sagacity convinced him of the influence
which they exerted over the minds of others, and of
the importance of attaching them to his interests.
When individuals distinguished for their literary
acquirements came into the kingdom, it was there-
fore his policy to draw them to court, to ascertain
their dispositions, and, on finding them pliable to
his wishes, to advance them to benefices in the
church. INlelville was at that time a stranger to
the Regent's plans, but he was decidedly averse to
a residence at court. He preferred an academical
life ; one principal object which he had in view in
returning to his native country, was to assist in the
revival of its literature ; and his highest ambition
was to obtain in one of the universities a situation
similar to that of Royal Professor at Paris. He
therefore respectfully declined the proposal made to
him in the name of the Regent, and requested per-
mission to spend some time with his relations, from
whom he had been so long absent, before he accepted
of any public employment

He went accordingly to Angus, and took up his
residence with his elder brother at Baldovy, where
he had spent his early years. During the following



60 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.

three months he amused himself with superintend-
ing the studies of one of his nephews, whom Rich-
ard Melville resigned to him as a pledge of frater-
nal love, and charged to " wait upon him as a son
and servant." This was the young man whose let-
ter had such influence in inducing his uncle to quit
Geneva, who afterwards became his academical
assistant, and his faithful adherent in all the hard-
ships which he suffered, and to whose zealous and
grateful affection w^e are indebted for the most im-
portant particulars of his life, and the most inter-
esting traits of his character. As we shall fre-
quently have occasion to speak of this amiable indivi-
dual, it is proper to introduce him to the acquaint-
ance of the reader.

James ISlelville was the son of Richard JMelville
and Isabel Scrimger, and was born at Baldovy on
the 25th of July, 1556. His early education* was
marred by the change of his teachers, and on enter-
ing the College of St Leonards in 1571, he was so
mortified at finding tliat he was incapable of under-
standing the lectures, which were delivered in Latin,
that he burst into tears before the whole class.
This attracted the notice of his regent, William
Collace, who, pleased with this trait of youthful
sensibility, kindly condescended to give him private
instructions, and to provide him with an assistant,
until he had surmounted the difficulties under which
he laboured f . His mind was early impressed with

* See above p. 7. t Melvillc'si Diary, p. 22.



LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 61

a deep sense of religion, and a strong desire to de-
vote himself to the preaching of the gospel. This
desire was in a great measure the effect of the ser-
mons which he heard from John Knox at St An-
tbews ; and it remained unahated notwithstanding
what he witnessed of the poverty and hardships of
the protestant ministers. His father, however, in-
tended him for the more lucrative profession of the
law, and had fixed on a man of husiness in Edinburgh
with whom he should serve as an apprentice. Iliclxard
INlelville w^as an excellent man, and an affectionate
father, but he had higher notions of parental autho-
rity, and kept his children in greater subjection, than
are altogether consistent with the liberal notions
of the age we live in. Being restrained by bashful-
ness, and the deference he had always been accus-
tomed to pay to his father's will, James had recourse
to an innocent stratagem to intimate his predilec-
tion for a different line of employment. He com-
posed a sermon on a passage of Scripture, in the
best manner of which he was capable, and put it
carefully into one of the Commentaries which he
knew his father w^as in the habit of consulting in his
w eekly preparations for the pulpit. The expedient
succeeded according to his wish. For llichard
Melville having once ascertained the decided inclina-
tions of his son, and being pleased with the juvenile
specimen of his gifts, was too wise and too good to
persist in carrying his own plans into execution.
The apprenticeship was no more talked of; but
still a due regard was paid to parental dignity and



62 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.

the good of the young man, by keeping him for some
time in suspense as to his father's intentions. The
arrival of Andrew Melville put an end to this reserve.
James was now told that he was at full liberty to
follow his own inclinations, and to his great joy,
was delivered over to his uncle, in the manner we
have already stated, instead of being bound to the
barrister *

Notwithstanding the striking resemblance between
the uncle and nephew in stature and physiognomy,
they differed in mental temperament, perhaps as
widely as ever two individuals did who were united
by the closest and most inviolable friendship. The
talents of James Melville were respectable, without
being of the same superior order as those of his uncle.
But, though not endowed with great liveliness or
force of imagination, he possessed a sound judgment,
and a heart tenderly susceptible of all the benevolent
and social affections. His temper was mild, his man-
ners courteous, and he was capable of exerting great
authority over others because he had the complete
command of himself. To these amiable qualities
were united a guileless uprightness, and an unshaken
constancy in maintaining the friendships which he
contracted, and adhering to the cause which his con-
victions led him to espouse. He was accordingly
fitted for becoming a most useful companion to his
uncle, who did not uniformly study the molUter in
verbis, and was apt to be involved in difficulties by

* Melville's Diary, pp. 21 — 31.



LIFE OF ANDUEW MELVILLE. 63

an impetuosity of temper which he was not always
able to command, and was sometimes unwilling to
restrain.

James JNlelville had lately finished his course
of philosophy at the university of St Andrews,
and, though a modest youth, flattered himself
that he was capable of professing those liberal arts
of which he had been declared a master by the
first literary authority in the land. But a few
hours' conversation with his new instructor dispelled
this pleasing dream, and convinced him that he
needed yet to begin his studies. There is some-
thing interesting in the artless manner in which
he relates what he felt on making this discovery,
and describes, from his first impressions, the eminent
qualifications which his uncle possessed for a task
in which he spent the greater part of his life *.

Melville was not permitted long to enjoy his re-
tirement at Baldovy. Beza's letter to the General
Assembly, and the report of Polwart and the bishop
of Brechin, spread the fame of his erudition through
the country. At the Assembly which met in
August he w^as much talked of, and applications
for his services were made from different qual-ters.
The commissioners of the Synod of Fife were in-
structed to request that he might be granted to
them, with the view of his being appointed Provost
of St Mary's College, St Andrews, in the room
of archbishop Douglas, who had just diedf. A

* See Note K.

■5- Doutflas died on the last day of July 1574. Act Bullc of



64 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.

similar application was made in behalf of the
University of Glasgow ; and archbishop Boyd, and
Andrew Hay, commissioner of the west, urged so
strongly the ruined state into which that seminary
had fallen, that its claims were preferred to those of
St Andrews. To secure their object they prevailed
upon such of Melville's relations as were present to
use their influence to induce him to comply with the
recommendation which they had obtained from the
Assembly*. The Assembly conferred a mark of
their approbation on him by inserting his name,
though he had not yet been present with them,
among the examinators of a poetical work, before
its publication f . It deserves notice that this As-
sembly recognized the doctor, or interpreter of
Scripture, as a distinct functionary of the church,
and petitioned the Regent to appoint competent



llie Comnilssarlot of St Andrews, 19th Feb. 1574. — When ad-
mitted to the bishopric, Douglas promised to resign the offices of
lector of the university, and provost of St Mary's College ; and
complaints were at different times made on him at the General
Assembly for continuing to retain them. Calderwood, MS.
Hist. vol. 11. pp. 344—428.

* Melville's Diary, p. 29, 30.

t " For revewlng and sighting of the history of Job compiled
be Mr Patrick Adamsone in Latine verse the present Assembly
hath willed their loved brethren and the right honourable Mr
George Buchanan, keeper of the privy seal, Mr Peter Young Pe-
dagogue to our Soveraign Lord, Mr Andrew Melvill, Mr James
Lawson, minister of Edinburgh, to take travell in perusing of the
said book, and if the same be found be thame agreeable to the
truth of Gods word to authorize the samine with testimony of
their hand writ and subscription." Cald. MS. vol. ii. p. 465.



MFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 65

salaries for such learned men as were willing- to
discharge this oliice in the universities *.

In consequence of a pressing invitation from the
patrons of the University, Melville paid a visit to
Glasgow ; and, after conversing with them, and
making some necessary arrangements, he agreed to
return, and undertake the office of Principal. Ac-
cordingly, in the end of October, he took leave of
his affectionate brother (who died soon after f ) and
set out for Glasgow, attended by James Melville.
By the way he stopped two days at Stirling, and
was introduced to the young king, who had en-
tered the ninth year of his age, — " the switest
sight in Europe that day for strange and ex-
traordinar gifts of ingyne, judgment, memorie, and
language !" says James Melville, who was ad-
mitted to see him along with his uncle : " I hard
him discourse, walking up and down in the auld
Lady JNIarr's hand, of knawlege and ignorance, to my
grait marvell and astonishment." No doubt this
astonishment was greatly heightened by the reflec-
tion that the young philosopher was a king ; but
the truth is, that James did at this time exhibit
symptoms of more than ordinary talents, and his
teachers were highly gratified at the proficiency
which he made under their tuition. At Stirling,
Melville found Buchanan engaged, at leisure hours,
in v^^riting hi,-; History of Scotland, and, Laving
taken his adviee on the plan of education which he

"* Buik of flu- Universal Kirk, p. 60, b.
t Richard MeiviUe died in June 1575. Diary, p. 14, 41.
VOL. I. E



66 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.

intended to follow, proceeded to Glasgow. Thomas
Buchanan, the nephew of the poet, went along with
him to be present at his installation *.

Before proceeding to state what JNIelville did for
the University of Glasgow, it will be proper to take
a brief review of the previous history of that se-
minary.

At the solicitation of William Tumbull f, bishop
of Glasgow, Pope Nicholas V. granted a bull, dated
the 7th of January 1450, constituting " a Gene-
ral Study for theology, canon and civil law, the arts,
and every other useful faculty," at Glasgow ; and
granting to it all the rights and privileges belonging
to the University of Bologna. In the following year
a body of statutes for its government was prepared
by the bishop and his chapter, which, together with
the papal bull, were confirmed, in 1453, by a Royal
Charter from king James II. During the two
first years of its erection more than a hundred in-
dividuals were incorporated into it ; but the most
of these were not young men commencing their
studies, but secular or regular ecclesiastics, who be-
came members chiefly for the sake of the honour
attached to a learned corporation, or of the immu-
nities to which it entitled them. The annals of
the University are sufficiently copious in information
respecting its government, but they are almost
entirely silent as to what is more important, the

* Melville's Diary, p. 39.

I See List of persons educated at St Andrews, in the Appen«
dix.



LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 67

means of instruction which it provided, and the
mode in which that instruction was conveyed. So
tar as we can collect from scattered hints, it would
seem that tliere was no stated or regular teaching
in the higher faculties. The zeal of individuals
prompted them to read occasional lectures, the con-
tinuance of which depended on the caprice of the
hearers, whose attendance on them was optional.
" On the 29th of July 1460, a venerable man, INIaster
David Cadyow, precentor of the church of Glasgow,
and rector of the university, read, in the chapter-
house of the Predicant Friars of Glasgow, at 9 o'clock
ante meridiem, the title or rubric in the third book
(of the Canon Law), De vita et Jionestate clerico-
rum, in the presence of all the clergy and masters ;
and he continued at the pleasure of the hearers."
On the same day, and in the same house, Master
William de Levenax read a title in the Civil Law.
The first notice of any lecture on theology is at a
much later period. *' On the 23d of March, 1521,
a religious man, Father Robert Lile, of the order of
Predicant Friars, bachelor of theology, and prior
of the Convent of Glasgow, began, pro Jbrma, to
read a lecture on the fourth book of the Sentences,
in the foresaid monastery, in ptesence of the rector,
dean of faculty, and the rest of the masters ; John
Ade, professor of theology, and provincial of the
whole order in Scotland, presiding at the time."
The wMit of salaries to the professors was doubtless
one great reason of the rarity of these lectures,
llishop Turnbull died before he had an opportunity

E 2



68 LIFE OF AKDREW MELVILLE.

of carrying his munificent purposes into execution * ;
and the defect was not supplied by his successors, or
by the government. With the exception of certain
small perquisites paid at promotions to degrees, the
University, as such, was destitute of funds, and the
professors of divinity, and of canon and civil law,
depended for their support on the benefices which
they held as ecclesiastics in various parts of the
kingdom.

Happily more attention had been paid to the in-
ferior branches of science. These were taught at
an early period ; for the records mention the admis-
sion of a regent of philosophy within two years after
the erection of the University f . It is probable that
bishop Turnbull had founded the Paedagogium, or
College, in which the students of the liberal arts lived
together with the masters who superintended their
education. They resided in a house situated on
the south side of the "Rottenrow, until a benefaction
from Lord Hamilton enabled them to remove to
the situation which the college occupies at present.
By means of donations and bequests from different

* D. Buchananus de Scrlptoribus Scot. Art. De D. Turnbullo.
MS. in BIbl. Col. Edinb. Bishop Turnbull died in 1454.

t *' Congrt'gatione facultatis artlum tenta &c. 1452. 28'°.
Julij, supplicavlt vcnerabilis et rellgiosus vir Domlnns Alex-
ander Geddes, licentiatus in theologia, nionachus de Melross,

pro Hcentia exponendi textuni xVristotelis pro cwjus snp-

plicalioni facnltas favorabiliter inclinata illam quam petiit salvls
siiis privileglls duntaxat sibi contullt potestateni " Act. Fac.
Art. Glasg. This was the usual vvav of admitlinu a regent to
teach a course of philosophy.



LIFE OF ANDliEW MELVILLE. 69

individuals, moderate provision was made for the
continuance of regular instruction in the College *
Some idea may be formed of the nature of this in-
struction from the lists, inserted in the notes, con-
taining the titles of books presented for the use of
the regents f . The number of students was small ;
and we find few persons of note who were educated
at Glasgow. Among these were bishop Elphing-
ston, Chancellor of Scotland, and founder of the
University and King's College of Aberdeen ; Wil-
liam Manderston, doctor of medicine, and succes-
sively rector of the Universities of Paris and St
Andrews ; Cardinal Beaton ; John Knox, the Re-
former ; and John Spottiswood, the Superintendent
of Lothian. Its most distinguished professors, an-
terior to the Reformation, were John Major, David
^lelville, and John Ade or Adamson :|:.

The University of Glasgow, from its peculiar con-
stitution, necessarily suffered more from the change
of religion at the Reformation than the other
learned establishments of Scotland. The professors
in the higher branches being all supported by their
livings in the church, and adhering to the old reli-
gion, successors could not be appointed to them owing
to the total want of salaries. It was so far a favourable

* Chapkinrles, for the benefit of the regents, were founded at
different times. Thomas Arthurlie bequeathed a tenement to
the college. And in 1557, archbishop Beatoun gave to it the
vicarage of Colmonell, which, with the glebe acres, is valued,
in the old Rental Book, at £ 44 : 13:4. Records of University j
and Statist. Account of Scotland, vol. 21. Appendix.

t See Note L. J See Note M.



70 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.

circumstance that John Davidson, the principal of
the college, embraced the reformed doctrines, and
continued his academical labours. By this means the
most valuable, though not the most dignified part
of the academy was preserved from extinction. But
it also suffered materially from the fraudulent alien-
ation, or the unjust seizure of its slender revenues.
To remedy this evil, the friends of the college ob-
tained from Queen Mary, in 1563, a grant under
the privy seal, founding bursaries for five poor
scholars, and bestowing certain houses and lands for
their support during the time of their education *.
In 1572, the town council of Glasgow, perceiving
" that the college had fallen into decay for want of
funds, and the study of the arts was nearly extin-
guished in it through poverty," bestowed on it rents
which were deemed adequate for the support of fifteen
persons f . It might be supposed that these gifts
would have been sufficient to place the college
on a respectable footing, but all that they could
make good, from the whole of their funds, did not
amount to more than three hundred pounds Scots
annually. The rest had been alienated, and was
either irrecoverable, or could be recovered only by
tedious processes, and at an expence disproportionate
to the subjects in question, and oppressive to the
existing members of the University. There was
maintenance for only two regents, with almost no
provision for bursars. The consequence was, that

* See Note N. t Gibson's Hi-t. of GIusuoav ; Aonends?;.



LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 71

the students gradually dispersed, and upon the death
of principal Davidson, by whose labours the exist-
ence of the college had for a number of years been
chiefly preserved, the classes were completely broken
up*.

Such was the state of the University when INIel-
ville came to Glasgow. It was sufficient to dis-
courage a person of ordinary resolution ; but such
was his zeal for the advancement of letters, and the
confidence which he felt in his own resoiu'ces, that
he entered upon the task with the utmost alacrity.
It would have been easy for him to have discharged
the duties belonging to his own office as principal,
and to have left the other branches to be taught by
such regents as could be found. A person of this
description had been provided by the patrons of the
University, and he had already begun to teach ac-
cording to the mode practised at St Andrews.
Allowing him to proceed, and devolving on him
the management of the revenues of the college, Mel-
ville set himself, with incredible labour, to the ex-
ecution of a plan, in the formation of which he had
availed himself of the most approved practices which
he had witnessed in the foreign academies. One great
object which he had in view was to train up a number
of individuals who should be qualified for acting as
assistants to him, and for following out his mode of
instruction. For this purpose he commenced with

* Records of the University of Glasgow j Memorial for Dr
Trail, and Answers for Dr Leecbman, in 1771 j and Statist.
Ace. of Scotland, vol, 21. *



72 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.

a select class of young men well grounded in the
Latin language, and determined to conduct them
himself through a regular and complete course of
study.

He began by initiating them into the principles
of Greek grammar. He then introduced them to
the study of Logic and Rhetoric ; using, as his text-
books, the Dialectics of his Parisian master, Ramus,
and the Rhetoric of Talaeus *. While they were
engaged in these studies, he read with them the
best classical authors, as Virgil and Horace among
the Latins, and Homer, Hesiod, Theocritus, Pindar,
and Isocrates, among the Greeks ; pointing out, as
he went along, their beauties, and illustrating by