possessed the power, along with the assessors, of visiting the college, and examining into the administration of its revenues, and state of its buildings. The election of the rector and four assessors, by the principal, sub-principal, and other members of the incorporated body, was appointed to be made annually. Although there be no rule in the foundation for the election of the four assessors, yet it mentions particularly that they should be quatuor probi viri, and masters of arts in the university. As in foreign universities there were distinguished persons appointed by supreme authority for preserving their rights and privileges, under the denomination of conservators, so, in like manner, there were, in ancient times, superior officers of this description in the university of Aberdeen. By a charter from King James IV. in the year 1498, he nominated the sheriff of the county of Aberdeen, or his deputy, and the alderman of the royal borough of Aberdeen, or the bishop's baillie, as conservators of those privileges, laws, and liberties, which had been bestowed by his Majesty upon the university, similar to those which had been granted by the most Christian kings of the French to the university of Paris; and, by a bull from Pope Alexander, in the year 1500, the bishop of the diocese, and the abbots of Cambuskenneth and Scone, were appointed apostolical conservators for a similar purpose. The principal of the university, besides superintending the morals of the students, and attending to the discipline of the college, convened and presided at all public meetings of the collegiate body. In ancient times, he, as well as the sub-principal, regents, and students, two among the Jacobins. The other religious orders afterwards augmented the number; and the belles lettres and philosophy were taught in several of these schools. The superintendence of the whole was committed to one, who, in an edict of Philip the Bell, in the year 1200, was styled capital scholarum. He was afterwards distinguished by the name of rector of the university. Hence the office of rector in all the Scottish universities. The scholars and masters in those foreign seminaries were divided into four nations, distinguished by the names of France, Scotland, Picardy, and Normandy, and had their several Syndics, under whose protection they lived. The students of the university of Saint Andrew's were also divided into four nations, namely—1st. Fifans; 2d. Angusians; 3d. Lothians; and 4th. Albans: and those of the university of Glasgow into 1st. Clydesdale; 2d. Teviotdale; 3d. Albany; and 4th. Rothesay. + Professor Gordon's MS. p. 106. dents, resided within the college; and the canonist, civilist, doctor of medicine, and grammarian, within their respective manses, erected for them, severally, in its close vicinity. For many ages, there was no vacation during the whole year, except in the months of August and September; and the degree of master of arts was generally conferred upon the students of the fourth class in the end of July, when their academical studies terminated. Previous to the commencement of the session, in the beginning of October, such of the thirteen bursaries as were vacant were bestowed upon those candidates who were found to possess most merit, at the annual competition; and, as the bursary continued for four years, three at least of these were, of course, open for competition every session. At this time, the principal also, with the advice of the sub-principal, made choice, from among the students of theology, of the regent, who was to commence the course of teaching for the four succeeding years. At what particular period the teaching and lectures commenced after the foundation of the college cannot be ascertained from the records. It was, perhaps, about the year 1505; for, at that time, Principal Boece was appointed, by the magistrates of Aberdeen, chaplain, during life, of the altar or chantry dedicated to Saint Ninian, the confessor, in the church of Saint Nicholas.* Probably this office was conferred upon him in order that he might be duly qualified, as a priest, to take upon him the charge of principal of the college, according to the terms of the first foundation. From this circumstance the commencement of education at the college may be nearly ascertained. As he was the first teacher in this ancient seminary, some account of his life may not, perhaps, be deemed foreign to our purpose. HECTOR BOECIUS, or BOECE, of the family of Boece of Panbride, in Angus, was born in Dundee; but the year of his birth is uncertain. He was probably educated at a grammar school in some of the neigh * Vol. ii. p. 30. neighbouring monasteries. Having passed through the usual preparatory studies, as may be reasonably supposed, with celerity and success, he went to France, when very young, for the purpose of completing his education, and was admitted a student in the university of Paris. He took the degree of master of arts, in that seminary, about the year 1494, and was afterwards a teacher in the college of Montis Acuti, in Paris: thence he was called, by Bishop Elphinston, to fill the important offices of principal, and of a teacher of philosophy, in King's college, recently founded.* While in this situation, he published the Lives of the successive Bishops of Aberdeen, in which many important local facts and circumstances, founded upon records, to which he had access, are minutely detailed. This work was printed in the year 1522, and dedicated to Bishop Dunbar. He afterwards wrote the History of Scotland, which was printed, at his own expense, by Badius Ascensius of Paris, in the year 1526. It consisted of seventeen books only, and ended with the death of King James I. He afterwards wrote a continuation of the history, consisting of the eighteenth book complete, and part of the nineteenth; and with these, and some other additions made to it by Joannes Ferrerius Pedemontanus, who brought it down to the end of the reign of King James III. the work was reprinted in the year 1574.† Boece, who is allowed, by historians of that age, to have been a man of superior learning, took the degree of doctor of divinity at the university, in the year 1528.‡ During *Boecius de Vitis Epis. Abred. fol. 28. "His history is undoubtedly written with elegance and vigour, but his fabulousness and credulity are justly blamed. His fabulousness, if he was the author of the fictions, is a fault for which no apology can be made; but his credulity may be excused in an age when all men were credulous. Learning had then made but slow progress in the world, and ages so long accustomed to darkness were too much dazzled with its light to see any thing distinctly. The first race of scholars in the fifteenth century, and for some time after, were, for the most part, learning to speak rather than to think, and consequently were more studious of elegance than of truth. The contemporaries of Boecius thought it sufficient to know what the ancients had delivered. The examination of tenets and facts were reserved for another generation." On this occasion, the magistrates and town council of Aberdeen voted him a present of a ton of wine, when the new wines arrived, or L.20, to purchase a new bonnet.[Council Register, vol. xii. p. 401.] During his stay at Paris, he commenced an acquaintance with the celebrated Erasmus,* and continued to correspond with him on his return to his native country. He was also intimately acquainted with many others eminent for literature at the time, both in this country and abroad. He died about the year 1536, and was interred in the chapel of the college, near the place of sepulture of his venerable friend, Bishop Elphinston. Bishop Elphinston. A single marble stone distinguishes the place of interment of the one, and a double marble stone that of the other. He was succeeded in his office by William Hay, sub-principal, who had been his fellow student and teacher at Paris, and his coadjutor in the college during its infancy. While Principal Hay enjoyed the office, King James V. and his Queen, in the year 1541, after the death of their two sons, the Princes James and Arthur, made a progress to the north, accompanied by the nobility, with a view to amuse the king, and to remove the melancholy with which he had been seized on the loss of his sons. They visited the college almost daily during their fifteen days stay in the place, and were entertained with stage comedies, and with orations, both in Greek and Latin, by the students;† while nothing was neglected by the principal and professors that could contribute to the amusement of the royal visitors. The first principal and professors in this seminary were Principal Boece and Sub-principal Hay, whom we have already had occasion to notice; Arthur Boece, brother german to the principal, canonist; Nicholas Hay, civilist; James Cumine, doctor of medicine; John Vaus, grammarian or humanist, who published a Latin grammar, printed at the Ascension press; Henry Spittal, teacher of philosophy; Robert Gray, John Bisset, and Michael Walker, actu regentes. John Awell was the first cantor, and Patrick Hay, sacrist. § *Boecius, ut supra, f. 27. + Bishop Leslie's History, p. 451. § Professor Gordon's MS. p. 18, 19. 30. 33. 40. 46. 56. 74, 75. Boecius, ut sup. f. 28. 50. CHAPTER CHAPTER III. SECTION II. Of Principal Anderson-Principal Arbuthnot-Offices in the College suppressed attempts to establish a new foundation-Bishop Forbes reforms various abuses-Visitations by the Marquis of Huntly, &c.Principal Leslie-Union of the two Colleges-Professorships of Theology, of Oriental Languages, and of Mathematics, foundedRevenues and Benefactions to the University-Eminent Men connected with it. Ar the time of the Reformation, Alexander Anderson, D. D. parson of Methlic, and vicar of Kinkel, was principal of the university. While the new doctrine was making rapid progress in the north, and its votaries were successfully employed in converting the people from the errors of popery, Principal Anderson and his colleagues persevered in maintaining and supporting the ancient doctrines of religion, and set themselves in opposition to the measures which the reformers were pursuing. Although a man of considerable learning, he bore no good will to them; and observed, with concern, the prejudices against him which were growing among the leaders of the Reformation. Perceiving that the new doctrines were daily gaining ground, and that there was every prospect of a thorough reformation in the university, he privately conveyed away all the ancient ornaments, and many of the books belonging to the college, alienated some of its revenues, and destroyed several of its ancient charters, particularly some of those belonging to the hospital of Saint Germains.* By these means, a considerable part of the ancient patrimony of the university was irretrievably lost. He afterwards attended a meeting of the nobility, which VOL. 11. 3 A Spottiswood, App. p. 24. |