in the fatal Marble â—hair the Year from the Creation of the World 3641. before the Coming of Christ 330. the first year of the 112 Olympiad in the year 421. after the Building of Rome about the beginning of the fourth Monarchy when Alexander the Great vanquished Darius the last Monarch of Persia in the Reign of King Chimarus King of Brittans Some conjecture that Scotland had its name from Scoti or Scitty or Scythy from a People of Germany over whose Northern Limits the name of Scythia did extend of the truth of this there is no manner of ground in History â—lim Edinburgh is scituated between the degrees of Latitude 56 d. 2 m. of Longitude 3 d. 0 m. from London West longest day 17 hours 27 minutes Aberdeen 57 d. 10 m. of Latitude 2 d. 20 m. Longitude the most Northerly part of Scotland is Dunsby head whose Latitude is 58 d. 5 minutes The longest day in the most Northern part in this place is 18 h. 8 m. Dimensions It is in length about 480 miles it is of a much disproportionable breadth there being no place 60 miles distant from the Sea Division The Country is divided according to the Inhabitants into High-land and Low-land The People of the former live upon the Western Coast of Scotland or in some out Islands being a hardy People much inclinable to War who are in a continual readiness whenever commanded by their Chief as they love to call the most eminent Persons of their name or Clanne Their weapons are commonly Bow and Arrows a people that can endure all the hardships of War being bred to all manner of cunning in relation thereunto not much trusted by the Low-landers Their Chiefs have a great Authority over them they pay little or no Rent for the Lands they hold being obliged when their Chief calls them to be upon all occasions at his service It was the custom when any of the Chiefs of these Clanns came to Edinburgh they were attended with a numerous Train of these their Vassals which appearing mutinous was forbidden by an Act of Council These Gentlemen being allow'd to have the Attendants of their Menial Servants only They espouse the quarrel of their Master being much given to revenge and it is observable that for some generations the private quarrels of one Family against another hath been pursued with such vigour even almost to the ruine of both Parties The names of these Clanns are M ck Donald M ck Naughtoune M ck Cleane c. which reckon their Families to be of a very old standing in the Kingdom by several Generals some of seven hundred years and upwards and others more The Low-landers bordering on the East have much of the disposition and civility of other Countries their Language like the English and in their Habit according to the Fashions from France Again Scotland according to the Scituation of its Parts or Provinces may be divided into two parts To witt Southwards of the River Tay which made the Antient Kingdom of the Picts and Eastwards and Northwards of the River Tay which made the Antient Kingdom of the Scots besides abundance of little Islands lying round about According to its Ecclesiastical Government it is divided into two Provinces viz. St. Andrews and Glascow these two Provinces into several Diocesses It was long after the Christian Religion was received in Scotland that the Ecclesiastical Government was thus divided For more full satisfaction of the Affairs of the Church the inquisitive Reader may consult the most Reverend Archbishop Spotiswood in his History of the Church of Scotland The Christian Religion in the Year of our Lord 203. which was the fourth year of Donald the first was publickly established the King with his Queen and many of the Nobility being then baptized several years before this publick manifestation many people were converted to the Christian Faith Tertullian who liv'd some years before the Coronation of this King speaking of the Propagations of the Gospel throughout the whole World doth reckon among other Countries the Parts of Britanny unto which the Romans could not find access And what these Parts were are no doubt that little corner of the Island which the Scots did inhabit all the Inland of Britanny being subject to the Romans There be Authors of no small credit who transmit to posterity that St. Paul after his Imprisonment at Rome did visit this Island and did Preach the Gospel in the utmost parts thereof Nicephorus writeth that Simon Zelotes after he had travelled through Egypt Cyrene Africk Mauritania and Lybia came at last ad occidentalem oceanum insulasque Britannicas and there Preached the Gospel Dorotheus addeth that he was Crucified in these parts Others write as if Pope Victor did send Preachers as first promulgers of the Gospel but this is not very probable being this Church was not fashioned like to that of Rome in its rites especially in the observation of Easter These foregoing opinions are not grounded upon the surest testimonies of History the writers of most credit give place to this conjecture That when the Apostle St. John was banish'd into the Isle Pathmos some of his Disciples took their refuge hither and were the first Preachers of the Gospel The more sober are inclinable to give credit to this because in that contention moved about Easter the Christians here for some two hundred years after did retain the custom of the Oriental Church maintaining this by the Authority of St. John from whom they pleaded to have received the Faith Others are agreed that not long after the Ascension of our Lord whilest the Apostle St. John yet lived that the Faith of our Lord was known and embraced in this Kingdom Origen saith that they are to be numbred inter primitias among the first Fruits of the Gentiles gathered unto Christ This made Petrus Cluniacensis call the Scots antiquiores Christianos of greater antiquity than many others Air. The Air is mild and temperate The cold in the Winter towards the North is very sharp but there being a great plenty of Wood and other firing the Inhabitants do not suffer much by it The heat in Summer is less scorching than in some parts of the Continent There is no need of Stoves in Winter nor Grottes in Summer Soil The Soil is very wholsome abounding with Springs and Streams there are some Navigable Rivers very convenient for Trade Towards the North it 's Mountainous yet not wanting fruitful Valleys apt for Grain Corn or Wood. Commodities There is plenty every where of Sheep Oxen and Coneys and in the North of fallow Deer great plenty of Hens Ducks Geese Turkeys and Pigeons Partridges Sea-plover Pewits Woodcocks Snipes Plovers Quails Larks and Herons c. with great plenty of Salmon Trouts Carps and Pikes c. a great abundance of Herrings Oysters Cockles Musles Scate Turbots Freshling and Lobsters c. there is not wanting Apples Pears Plums and Cherries It abounds with Wheat Barley Rye Beans Pease and
who is Judge of the Spiritual Court within his Diocess Unto this Court are referred matters of Testaments Bastardy Divorce Tithes Perjury c. and many civil Affairs This Court sits at the same time with the Session and it may likewise sit in the vacancy of Session but then the Judges thereof or party pursuing must have a dispensation to decide such a case from one or two of the Lords of Session who are by course upon Tuesdays and Thursdays each week during the time of the vacancy obliged to attend for granting of Dispensations and several other such business without which the Decreet of the Commissaries is not valid in Law The same might have likewise been said of the Sheriff Courts Commissaries of Scotland Commissaries of Edinburgh Sir David Falconer Henry Foulis James Deans Jâ—hn Wishart John Lindsey Official of St. Andrews Sir William Fleeming Official of Glasgow John Stewart Commissary of Dunkeld John Scougall Commissary of Aberdeen Alexander Mackenzie Commissary of Murray George Paterson Com. of Ross James Strachan Com. of Brichen James Innes Official of Cathnes Will. Scrougy Com. of Argile The Officials of Dumblane Galloway Orkney Isles Of a Session There are 4 Ecclesiastical Courts in Scotland For the clearer Method let us begin with the Lowest Court which is in every Parish This Court is called The Session it consists of the chief and most grave men of the Parish who are called Elders and Deacons In this small Court whereof the Minister is President all Fornicators Adulterers Blasphemers Swearers Prophaners of the Lord's Day c. are convented and put to publick confessions of their sins and professions of their Repentance according to the degree or hainousness of them For Fornication they make publick confessâ—on in the Church several Lords Daies in the last of which they receive Absolution For Adultery they make their professâ—on of Repentance for half a year every Lord's Day and for six Lords Daies they stand in Sackcloth at the Church Door half an hour before Morning-prayers and then in the end receive Absolution And for other faults they do Pennance according to their several degrees The Office of a Deacon and Elder The Deacon's Office is to collect the money for the use of the Poor to delate Delinquents and such like that of the Elder is to be careful of the Fabrick of the Church to assist in the censuring scandalous persons and to wait on the Minister at the Celebration of the Lords Supper c. This Court sitteth once a week Of a Presbytery The next Court is called the Presbytery consisting of twelve or twenty Ministers more or less This sits once in two or three weeks the Moderator or President thereof is chosen by the Bishop In this Court are discussed Appeals from Sessions and other difficult cases Here are convented all those who refuse to submit to Church-Discipline and all such as apostatize to Popery and Quakerism who if they remain obstinate are prosecuted with the Censures of the Church Here also all such as enter into holy Orders are examined and an account taken of their Learning and other Qualifications in a course of many several Tryals as making Homilies Sermons and common places which hold two or three months and then they are returned to the Bishop well qualified who upon that proceeds to Ordain them Presbyteries of Scotland The Presbyteries of Dunce Chirnside Kelso Ersiltoun Jedburgh Melross Dumbar Haddingtone Dalkeith Edinburgh Peebles Linlithgow Perth Dunkeld Auchterardor Striveling Dumblane Dumfreis Penpont Lochmabane Midlebie Wigton Kirkudbright Strannaver Aire Irwing Pasly Dumbarton Glasgow Hamilton Lanerick Biggar Dunnune Kinloch Innerary Kilmoir Skye St. Andrews Kirkaldy Couper Dumfermling Meigle Dundee Arbroath Thirso Forfair Bâ—ichen Mernis Aberdeen Kincarden Alford Gareoch Deir Turreff Fordyce Kirkwall Colmkill Ellon Strathbogy Abernethie Elgine Forress Aberlower â—hanrie Tayne Dingwell Dornoch Week Scalloway The Number of Parishes in Scotland is uncertain they may be reckoned to be above a thousand Of a Synod A third Court whereof the Bishop is President is the Provincial Assembly or Synod In this Court are discussed all Appeals from Presbyteries and all other difficult cases For hence are issued Warrants for visiting of Churches Here also the lives of scandalous Ministers are tryed who if found guilty of crimes laid to their charge are either deposed suspended or excommunicated The Sentence of Excommunication cannot be pronounced against an obstinate person but after a long process of near a years continuance and many Citations and much pains to bring the scandalous person against whom only it is denounced to a due sense of his sins and a willingness to submit to the Censures of the Church and then it must be ratified and confirmed by the Bishop The Provincial Synod meets twice in the year in April and in October Of the General Assembly The Highest Ecclesiastical Court is the General Assembly which as its constitution and authority was settled in King James's minority was made up of two Ministers Commissioners from every Presbytery and one Lay Elder a Commissioner from every Royal Burrough one from every University and one from the King These had the Supreme Authority about all Church-matters While this Court was thus constituted there was nothing but Divisions among these Commissioners it was impossible that any happy conclusions could be expected when so little respect was given to the Civil Magistrates Commissioner as does appear by all their meetings In a word it was from the General Assembly thus subsisting that so much trouble in the Church was in King James the sixth's daâ—es kindled and in King Charles the first 's burnt our Churches almost into Ashes when all manner of good Order and Discipline was become a burden they desiring to invent new Methods by which issued nothing but confusion and desolation By what you find in this Relation of the Bishops according to their Successions how lamentable a thing is it to understand how some of these Pious and Learned men were thrust out of their Bishopricks others plundered others imprisoned and others dying in other Kingdoms among strangers This was a forerunner of greater miseries for afterward into what a sad Chaos did the State fall The long peace and plenty which we enjoyed under the Government of the best of Kings made us wanton our prosperity puâ—t us up with pride we were enemies to our own welfare weary of our present State too much desirous of Revolutions and greedy of Novelties Our private discontents begat jealousies and animosities which since they could be no longer smothered must needs burst out into a flame We were afraid of we knew not what nothing but the preservation of Religion must be the pretext and the Cloak to cover the knavery which was afterwards acted The great out-cry in the Pulpit was Remove these Prelates who intend to bring us under the slavery of Rome but it is so well a known maxim Nullus Episcopus nullus Rex that I am sorry it was by this
but also by four Procuratores Nationum In all the Elections the Foundation gives the Principal one great priviledge Volumus enim ut in hisce omnibus Electionibus Principalis habeat vocem nominativam Electivam Conclusivam which seems to be a negative voice inherent to him If a place be vacant a Bursar or Alumnus is to be preferred before any other if he be sufficiently qualified If a vacant place be not filled within one month then it falls to the Chancellor jure devoluto who presents one for that time The Procuratores Nationum their having a Voice in the Election imports the Like to be in the Scholars from whom they derive their power of Voting The Scholars are divided into four Classes according to the number of Diocesses or Provinces wherein they live The Provinces are these 1. Provincia Abredonensis contains the Shires of Aberdeen and Bamf 2. Provincia Moraviensis includes all those Countries that lye on the North-side of the River Spey 3. Provincia Augusiensis contains Angus and Mernis 4. Provincia Laudoniensis comprehends besides Lothian all the rest of Scotland The Students of each Province do chuse a Procurator to give up their Votes in the Election Every Michaelmas the Masters convene after the ending of the Ten weeks Vacation and a Problema is affixed on the Colledge Gates inviting young Scholars to come and dispute for a Burse which is their maintenance at the Colledge To these are prescribed Exercises or Theams to make then Latine Authors in prose and verse to expound and the first four for so many Burses are void at every Commencement who are reckoned to be the best Scholars are preferred In October the Students begin to convene They wear a Scarlet Gown with hanging Sleeves and these who are Bursars a black Gown with a Girdle Their time of continuance at the University is four years They are ranked into four Classes To those of the first Class is taught the Greek Language The Students of the second Class learn Logicks and Metaphysicks Those of the third who at the years end are Batchelors of Arts do learn Ethicks and general Physicks The fourth and highest Class do compleat their course with special Physicks and Mathematicks The time of Commencement of Masters of Arts is in July The manner thus as in all other of the Universities These who are to receive their degrees do publish their Theses some daies before the Commencement inviting all Learned men and Scholars to come and dispute At the day appointed great preparations are made the Candidates apparelled in black with black Gowns and at Ten of the Clock all go into the publick School where the Professor of Philosophy or Regent who is to confer the degree or in some Colledges the Principal confers the degree makes a long Speech beginning with prayer to the Auditors which being ended the Disputes begin and continue till Four or Five of the Clock Then they take a little refreshment and so return to the Graduation or Lauriation The following Oath is tendered to the Candidati Ego A. B. coram Omniscio Omnipotenti Deo Religionem Fidem unicam solam Orthodoxam in Ecclesia Scoticana palam propositam professurum me ab omnibus Pontisiciorum aliorum quorumcunque haeresibus longe abhorrentem spondeo voveo juro Insuper Vniversitati huic almae Parenti cui hanc ingenii culturam debeo liberaliter relaturum me nutritiam quam potero eâdem fide solenniter promitto Quod si fidem sciens volens fefellero arcanorum cordis recessuum Scrutatorem Deum ultorem vindicem non recuso Ita me adjuvet Deus After the Oath one of the Candidati ascends the Desk and the Regent taking into his hand a Hat or Cap with these following words doth give him his Degree Ego eadem Authoritate quam summi ac potentissimi principes Almae huic Vniversitati amplissimam indulsere Te A. B. in Artibus liberalibus Disciplinis â—hilosophicis Magistrum creo proclamo constituo renuncio Tibique potestatem do legendi scribendi omniaque id genus alia committendi quae hîc aut ubivis gentium Artium Magistris concedi solet Et in signum manumissionis Tuae Caput Tuum hoc pileo putting the Cap on the Scholars head adorno Quod ut Tibi faelix faustumque sit Deum optimum maximum precor Insuper librum hunc tibi apertum trado ut ingenii tui aliquod specimen coram celebri hoc coetu edas rogo Then the Graduate hath a short Speech to the Auditors and so the Ceremony is ended with clapping of hands sounding of Trumpets Shoutings c. Thus are all the Candidati graduated one after another Present Masters and Professors John Menzies Professor of Divinity in the Marischal Colledge of Aberdeen Rector Dr. Lewis Gordon Dean of Faculty Alexander Middleton Dean of Aberdeen Principal Henry Scougall Prof. of Divinity Sir Geo Nicolson Prof of The Laws Patrick Vrqhuart Dr. and Professor of Physick George Middleton Sub-principal and Professor of Philosophy Patrick Gordon Prof. of Humanity and of the Oriental Languages Robert Forbes Prof. of Philosophy John Buchan Prof. of Philosophy Geo. Middleton Prof. of Philosophy There are also a Student of Divinity 15 Bursars of Philosophy And A Cantor who is Master of the Musick-School in the Town An Oeconomus A Janitor A Cook A Gardener and other inferiour Servants Learned Men and Writers Hector Boeth Principal according to the Time he lived in was very considerable a great Philosopher and much commended by Erasmus for his Eloquence Buchanan who could well discern of Learned men speaking in a certain place of him saith Quod non solum artium liberalium cognitione supra quam illa ferebant tempora insignis erat sed etiam humanitate comitate singulari praeditus That he was not only notably Learned in the Liberal Sciences above the condition of those Times but also of an exceeding courteous and humane inclination yet he is traduced by some of the English Writers for a Fabulous and partial Historian But they who please to peruse his History will perceive that that is spoken out of passion and malice and not upon any just account John Lesley Canonist in the King's Colledge and Official of Aberdeen was a very worthy person and of great Learning in those daies he lived in He suffered much for his Loyalty to his Princess Queen Mary John Forbes Dr. and Professor of Divinity All that I shall say of this great man is that he was one of the best Scholars that ever our Kingdom bred as will appear to all that ever read his Instructiones Historico-Theologicae which these very unhappy Times suffered him not to finish to the great regret of all Learned men His Irenicum doth also shew both his Learning and Moderation His piety and devotion was so signal that his name will be alwaies remembred there with great honour William Guild D. D. Principal he wrote Commentaries on