Solymas, Athenas, et Romam scite sonat.
About the year 1567, James Lawson (afterwards Knox’s successor at Edinburgh) returned from the continent, where he had studied Hebrew. The professors of St Andrews prevailed on him to give lessons in that language in their university. Life of Lawson, p. 2, in Wodrow’s MS. Collections, vol. i. Bibl. Coll. Glas. As he was made sub‑principal in the university of Aberdeen, in 1569,it is to be presumed that he would also teach that language there. Lawson, after his settlement in Edinburgh, patronised the interests of literature in this city. It was chiefly by his exertions that the buildings for the high‑school were completed in 1578. His intentions were to have it erected into an university, or at least to make it schola illustris, with classes of logic and philosophy. The books destined for the library were kept in his house, previous to the foundation of the college. Crawfurd’s History of the University of Edinburgh, p. 19, 20. It is unnecessary to say any thing here of the influence which Andrew Melville exerted on the promotion of Oriental literature in this country. Thomas Smeton, who succeeded Melville as principal of the university of Glasgow, was a Hebrew scholar, as appears from his answer to Hamilton’s dialogue. Those who held the situation of principal in the universities at that time were accustomed to teach such branches of learning as were most neglected.
Of George Buchanan.—As every thing relating to this scholar must be interesting to the learned, I shall add a few notices of him which have been hitherto overlooked.
The following entries in the treasurer’s accounts refer to the period during which he was tutor to James Stewart, abbot of Melrose and Kelso, an illegitimate son of James V.
“Anno 1536. Item, the xvi day of februar, be the kingis gracis precept and speciale cōmand, to Maister George Balquhanan and Andro Mylin, seruandis to lord James, to be thame twa gownis, xi elnis pareis blak, price of the elne xxxijs. Sum̅a, xvijli xijs, &c. &c.
“Augt 1537. Item, to Maistr George Buchquhanan, at the king’s command, xxli.
[July 1537.] “Item, for vi elnis paris blak to be Maister George Balquhanan ane gown, price of the elne xxxvis. Sum̅a, xli xvis.” [Compot. Thesaur.]
From the manuscript belonging to Thomas Thomson, Esq. quoted in the preceding note, it appears that an absolution was procured at Rome, for George Buchanan, by the regent Arran and the archbishop of St Andrews; and that his brother Patrick was appointedtutor to the regent’s children at Paris. In an accompt entitled “The archden of Sanctandros memole of expenses in Rome,” (MS. p. 141,) is the following article:—