Andrew Melville | Page 6

for discoursing at large and learnedly to the
'marvell and estonishment' of his hearers. But it was to visit the King's
illustrious preceptor, George Buchanan, that Melville came by Stirling.
The two were kindred spirits; they were like in their love of learning, in
their scholarly accomplishments, in their passion for teaching, in their
political and religious sympathies, in the ardour and vigour with which
they maintained their convictions, in their valorous action for the
defence of civil and religious freedom. At this time Buchanan was
beginning the work which filled his closing years--his History of
Scotland. Seven years afterwards the Melvilles paid him another visit,
in Edinburgh, the account of which by the younger is one of the loci
classici of Scottish history. It contains, like the same writer's
description of the last appearance of Knox in the pulpit, one of the most
living pieces of portraiture in our literature: 'When we cam to his
chalmer, we fand him sitting in his chaire, teatching his young man that

servit him in his chalmer a, b, ab; e, b, eb, etc. Efter salutation, Mr.
Andro sayes, "I sie, sir, yie are nocht ydle." "Better this," quoth he, "nor
stelling sheipe, or sitting ydle, quhilk is als ill!"' Buchanan put the
proof of his Epistolary Dedication to the King into the hands of
Melville, who read it and suggested some amendments. 'I may do no
mair,' said the worn-out veteran, 'for thinking on another mater.' When
Melville asked what he meant, he replied, 'To die.' Leaving him for a
little, the Melvilles accompanied his nephew, Thomas Buchanan, on a
visit to his printer, whom they found setting up the passage of the
History relating the 'burial of Davie.'[2] Its boldness alarmed them, and
they asked the printer to stop the passage meanwhile. Returning to the
house, they found him in bed, and, asking how he did, he replied, 'Even
going the way of weil-fare.' His nephew then mentioned their fear that
the passage referred to would so offend the King that the work would
be suppressed. 'Tell me, man,' Buchanan answered, 'giff I have tauld
the treuthe?' 'Yes,' replied his nephew; 'sir, I think sa.' 'I will byd his
fead[3] and all his kin's, then!'
[Footnote 2: Rizzio.]
[Footnote 3: Feud.]
Melville needed a stout heart for the task that lay before him in
Glasgow. The University, which had never been prosperous, being
always starved in its revenues and undermanned, had declined so far
that its gates had to be closed for lack of students; so that when he
entered on the Principalship he actually constituted the whole Senatus
in his own person. He began by training a number of young men as
regents, the course of study embracing classics, mathematics, and
mental and moral philosophy, in each of which he carried his class as
far as the highest standards of any University in Europe; and in addition
to these labours he taught all the theological classes. When the regents
were qualified he specialised their subjects--a great reform on the old
system, under which the students passed through the entire curriculum
under the same teacher.
Melville's teaching was not confined to his class-hours nor to his
professor's desk; he sat with the students at the college table, and in his

table-talk gave them some of his best instruction. The fame of the
University rose so rapidly under his régime that the class-rooms were
soon crowded: 'I dare say there was na place in Europe comparable to
Glasgow for guid letters during these yeirs, for a plentifull and guid
chepe mercat for all kynd of langages, artes an sciences.'
In 1580 Melville was translated to the Principalship of St. Mary's
College, St. Andrews. Mainly through his own exertions a new
constitution for the University had just been framed and sanctioned by
Parliament, in accordance with which that College was to be henceforth
set apart for theological education. The reforms made at this time in St.
Andrews went on the same lines as those effected in Glasgow.
Before Melville's time the study of Greek never went beyond the
rudiments: Hebrew and other Oriental languages were not taught at all;
and in philosophy Aristotle held exclusive possession of the ground.
His reforms applied particularly to these branches of learning: Greek,
Hebrew, and Syriac were taught according to the best methods of the
age; and the Platonic Philosophy was introduced. M'Crie, who always
speaks with authority on such a subject, describes the reformed
curriculum as the most liberal and enlightened plan of study in any
University, whether at home or abroad.
Melville continued in the Principalship of St. Mary's for upwards of a
quarter of a century--from the close of 1580 to 1606, when he was
summoned by the King to London, never to return to his