Of the Orthographie and Congruitie of the Britan Tongue | Page 3

proposed to himself was to exclude from the schools the
grammar of the Priscian of the Netherlands, the celebrated John Van
Pauteren, but his work did not give the satisfaction which he had
expected. He succeeded, however, in his wishes after many reverses, by
the help of Alexander Seton, Earl of Dunfermline, Chancellor of
Scotland, and by authority both of Parliament and of the Privy Council
his grammar was enjoined to be used in all the schools of the kingdom.
But through the interest of the bishops, and the steady opposition of
Ray, his successor at the High School, the injunction was rendered of
no effect. He would not, however, be beaten, and we find that in 1623
he was again actively engaged in adopting measures to secure the
introduction of his grammar into every school in North Britain where
the Latin language was taught.
The following is a list of our author's works:--
A Reioynder to Doctor Hil concerning the Descense of Christ into Hell.
By Alexander Hume Maister of Artes. 4o.
No place of printing, printer's name, or date, but apparently printed at
London in 1592 or 1593. Dedicated to Robert Earl of Essex. Although
this is the first work that I can find attributed to Alexander Hume, yet
there is no doubt that there must have been a former one of which we
have no record, and the title and contents of Dr. Hill's book would lead
us to this conclusion--"The Defence of the Article. Christ descended
into Hell. With arguments obiected against the truth of the same

doctrine of one Alexander Humes. By Adam Hyll, D of Divinity.
London 1592. 4o. This little volume consists of two parts; 1st, the
original sermon preached by Hill 28th February, 1589; 2nd, the reply to
Hume. At p. 33, the end of the sermon, is this note, "This sermon ...
was answered by one Alexander Huns, Schoolemaester of Bath, whose
answere wholy foloweth, with a replye of the author" ... At p. 33, "The
reply of Adam Hill to the answere made by Alexander Humes to a
sermon," etc.
A Diduction of the true and Catholik meaning of our Sauiour his words,
this is my bodie, in the institution of his laste Supper through the ages
of the Church from Christ to our owne dayis. Whereunto is annexed a
Reply to M. William Reynolds in defence of M. Robert Bruce his
arguments on this subject: displaying M. John Hammilton's ignorance
and contradictions: with sundry absurdities following upon the Romane
interpretation of these words. Compiled by Alexander Hume, Maister
of the high Schoole of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, Printed by Robert
Waldegrave, Printer to the King's Maiestie, 1602. Cum Privilegio Regis.
8o.
Prima Elementa Grammaticæ in usum juventutis Scoticæ digesta.
Edinburgi, 1612. 8o.
Grammatica Nova in usum juventutis Scoticæ ad methodum revocata.
Edinburgi, 1612. 8o.
Bellum Grammaticale, ad exemplar Mri. Alexandri Humii. Edinburgi,
excud. Gideon Lithgo, Anno Dom. 1658 8o. Several later editions.
This humorous Grammatical Tragi-Comedy was not written by Hume,
but only revised by him.
King James's Progresses, collected and Published by John Adamson
afterwards Principal of the University of Edinburgh, entitled-- +TA
TÔN MOUSÔN EISODIA+: The Muses Welcome to the High and
Mighty Prince James &c. At his Majesties happie Returne to Scotland
In Anno 1617. Edinburgh 1618, folio.

At page 1: "His Majestie came from Bervik to Dunglas the xiij day of
Maye, where was delivered this [latin] speach following by A.
Hume."--At page 16, there is also a couple of Latin verses signed
"Alexander Humius."
MS. in the British Museum. The present work.
MS. in the Advocates' Library:--
Rerum Scoticarum Compendium, in usum Scholarum. Per Alexandrum
Humium ex antiqua et nobili gente Humiorum in Scotia, a primâ stirpe
quinta sobole oriundum. This work is dated October 1660, and is
therefore merely a transcript. It is an epitome of Buchanan's History,
and Chr. Irvine in Histor. Scot. Nomenclatura, calls it Clavis in
Buchananum, and Bishop Nicholson (Scottish Hist. Lib.) praises its
Latin style.
The following three works are inserted by Dr. Steven in his list of
Hume's writings, and have been supposed to be his by M'Crie and
others; but Mr. D. Laing believes "there can be no doubt, from internal
evidence, that the true author was Alexander Hume, the poet, who
became minister of Logie, near Stirling, in 1597, and who died in
December, 1609." In Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses, by Bliss, i., 624, it is
stated that all three of them "were printed in London in 1594, in
October," but this must, I think, be a mistake.
Ane Treatise of Conscience, quhairin divers secreits concerning that
subject are discovered. At Edinburgh, printed by Robert Walde-grave,
Printer to the King's Maiestie 1594. 8o.
Of the Felicitie of the world to come, unsavorie to the obstinate,
alluring to such as are