cessor, William Clark, a pious and laborious minister, had been burdened with the care of the neighbouring parishes of Kilrinny, Pittenweem and Abercromby; according to the vicious arrangement which the court, in concert with the spoilers of the ecclesiastical revenues, had sanctioned *. James Melville entered on the same extensive charge, but it was with views very remote from those of a necessitous and mercenary pluralist. By his exertions with the parishioners, and with the proper courts, separate ministers were settled at Pittenweem and Abercromby, in whose favour he relinquished the proportions of stipend due to him from these places. He had brought with him as an assistant, Robert Dury, a connection of his own †. To him he demitted the charge of Anstruther with all its emoluments, while he himself removed to Kilrinny. Thus, in the course of three years, he provided a minister for each of these four parishes, which had been long deprived of the dispensation of divine ordinances, or had enjoyed that benefit but

cipal. "1588, 25 Junii. Andro Melvill, a chyld baptisit called Andro. Witnes Mr Andro Melvill.” (Ibid.)—“ 3 November 1590. Androu Melvill, ane child baptizit, called Robert. Witnesses thomas Morton of Cambo and S′ Joa Melvill of carnbie." (Record of Kirk Session of Anstruther.)

* Melville's Diary, pp. 1,101. "Mr Wm Clerk min' of ye kirkis of Kylmarynnie and anstruther deceissand in ye month of feb 1583"-no person was placed in his room on the 8th of June 1585. (Reg. of Present. of Benef. vol. ii. f. 133.)

† James Melville had married Elizabeth the daughter of John Dury, minister of Edinburgh and afterwards of Montrose. Robert Dury, if not a son, was at least a relation, of that minister. He married Elizabeth Ramsay, and one of his children was

partially and occasionally*. On his settlement in Kilrinny he built a manse almost entirely at his own expence. The legal funds for supporting the minister being alienated, the parish had voluntarily bound themselves to pay him an annual stipend. This he relinquished for a sum of money; and with it, added to what he could borrow from his friends, he purchased from the family of Anstruther the right to the vicarage and tythe-fishes. Instead of taking his title to these from the laird of Anstruther as tacksman, in which case he would have secured the repayment of what he had expended, he entered to the benefice by presentation and institution, as actual minister; thus securing it to his successors in office, and leaving his family to providence, and to the sentiments of justice and gratitude with which the future incumbent might be inspired. He paid the salary of the schoolmaster out of his own stipend; and as the parish was populous, and he was often called away on the common affairs

presented to baptism by George Ramsay of Langraw. (Session Rec. of Anstruther, May 18. 1605, and March 8. 1607.) "Mr Androw Meluill" was a witness to the baptism of a son of Dury's, named Andrew, and a daughter, Margaret. (Ibid. March 18. 1592.)

*The minutes of the kirk session of Anstruther Wester, contain the following most natural expression of disappointed love, on their minister's leaving them. Had he taken that step "for any worldly respect," it might have been difficult for him to have read it without a pang of remorse. "Mr James Meluill touk his guid nyt from yis cōgregaon ye said monet of october 1590 vers and took him to kylrynnie to be yair minister. God forgif him yat did sa, for I know and saw him promes yat he suld

of the church, he constantly maintained one to assist him in his parochial duties. Indeed, his whole conduct in this affair exhibits a rare example of ministerial disinterestedness, which, in this calculating and knowing age, will be in danger of passing for folly, not only with the professedly worldly, but even with those whose spirituality is so exquisitely sensitive as to shrink from the very idea of a legal or fixed provision for ministers of the gospel *.

James Melville was succeeded, as professor of Hebrew, by his cousin Patrick Melville, who had held the same situation at Glasgow †. About the

never laif ws for any vardlie respect sa lang be lyvit except he var forssit be ye kirk and his Ma. bot nevir being forsit aither be kirk or his Matie leift ws." (Ib. October 6. 1590.) The town of Anstruther Easter belonged to the parish of Kilrinny.

66

* Melville's Diary, pp. 2-9. After stating that he had expended 3,500 merks on the manse, and 2,400 merks on the tiends, he says: My frind wald ask, What I haiff for my relieff of sic soumes. I answer, the fawour and prouidence of my guid God. For giff he spear my dayes, with rest in his kirk, I hope he sall utreade all my dettes.-Gif not, and the Intrant be worthie of the roum of this ministrie, God and his conscience will moue him to pay the deat resting; giff he will not, the grieff and los will be graitter to haiff sic a man in the roum, nor of myne to pay my deattes whowbeit they sell the books and plenessing for y' effect. As for the Town and paroche the benefit indeed is thairs: let them y'for, as I hope they will, consider thair dewtie &c.-I man ernestlie admonische the hous of Anstruther nevir to mein to acclame againe the tytle and possessioun of thay teinds-for I promise heir a curse and malediction from God upon whosoever sall intromet and draw away the commoditie y3of from the right vs of sustening of the minstrie of Gods worschipe and of the saluation of Gods peiple," &c.

"M. Patricius Melvin" signs the Articles of Religion in the

same time John Caldcleugh was employed to teach as a fourth professor *. Robertson continued in the college until the year 1593, when he either died or resigned his situation, and was succeeded by John Jonston. Jonston was a native of Aberdeenshire, and of the family of Creimond †. After finishing the ordinary course of study at King's College in Aberdeen, he went abroad, and continued during eight years to cultivate polite and sacred letters at the most celebrated universities on the continent. Having gained the friendship of the

University of St Andrews in 1587, and in the following year he was chosen one of the Rector's assessors.

* Grant by James to Mr John Caldcleugh, anuo 1588. (MS. in Bibl. Fac. Jurid. Edin. Jac. v. i. 12.) This ratifies and dispones to him "the 3d place of the Lectors and professors of the said new Colledge," and assigns to him "for his stipend yearly Three chalders of victuall together with a Hundred pounds money." It states that he had been chosen by the Commissioners for the reformation of the university and had taught within the said college continually since that time. But it appears from the Commissary Records that Andrew Melville, James Melville, and John Robertson were the only professors between 1580 and 1584.

+ John Jonston calls himself "Aberdonensis" in the titlepage of his Heroes; but this does not necessarily imply that he was born in the town of Aberdeen. In his Last Will he constitutes Robert Johnston of Creimond one of his executors, and bequeathes a small legacy to the laird of Caskiben. " Item I leave to Mr Rob Merser persoun of Banquhorie, my auld kynd maister, in taiken of my thankeful dewtie, my qubyit cope w* the silver fit."

Consolatio Christiana, per Joan. Jonstonum, p. 4. In 1587, he was at the University of Helmstadt, whence he sent a MS. сору of Buchanan's Sphæra, to Pincier, who published a second

chief foreign literati, and spent some time in England, he returned to his native country. Jonston was at the same time a scholar, a poet, and a divine. Melville, who had heard of his reputation abroad, was so much pleased with him on a personal interview, that he never ceased until he procured him as an associate in the work of theological instruction *. His admission was opposed by Caldcleugh, who thought himself entitled to Robertson's place, and had recourse to legal measures to enforce his claim; but he not only lost his cause, but was also deprived of the situation which he already held in the college t.

About this time the King invited Hugh Broughton, the celebrated Hebrician, to Scotland ‡. I should have mentioned before, that Melville joined in an invitation to Cartwright and Travers, the two well-known English non-conformists, to come to St

edition of that poem, with two epigrams by Johnston. (Sphæra, a Georgio Bvchanano Scoto. A 5, 6. Herbornæ, 1587.) In 1587, he was in the University of Rostock, whither Lipsius wrote him in very flattering terms, acknowledging the receipt of a letter and a poem from him. (Lipsii Opera, tom. ii. pp. 49, 50.) In 1591, he was studying at Geneva. (Hovæus, De Reconciliatione : Epist. Ded. ad Joan. Jonstonum. Basil. 1591.)

Consolatio Christiana, ut supra, pp. 4, 5. In the Dedication of that work (4. eid. Feb. 1609.) Jonston says he had been only 14 years in the University of St Andrews-" binas annorum hebdomadas." But" Mr Jhone Jhonesoun maister in ye new college" was elected one of the elders of St Andrews "Die xxviii mensis Novembris 1593." (Record of Kirk Session.) + Melville's Diary, p. 226.

Strype's Life of Whitgift, (A. 1595.) p. 432.