A Fit Conjucture of Religion and Learning, Book 2 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Of the Universities of Scotland and Ireland.
THe learned men of Scotland have been these.A Carolo Magno, qui Galliam non minus literis quam armis illustrare cu. piebat, accersiti è Scotia, qui Philosophiam Lutetiae Graecè & Latinè docerent. Apud Scotos enim adhuc multi erant Monachi vetere disciplina nondum extincta, literis & pietate insignes. Quo è numero erat Joannes Cognomento Scotus, sive Albinus, quod idem valet, (Scoti enim Albinos sua lingua vocant) Caroli praeceptor, qui plurima ingenii sui monumenta reliquit è quibus nos Rhetorica praecepta vidimus, cum inscriptione Joannis Albini. Clementis quoque Scoti, qui eodem tempore Lutetiae literarum insignis professor erat, quaedam scripta adhuc supersunt. Commigrarunt etiam in Gallias complures Monachi Scoti, studio pletatis ducti, qui populis circa Rhenum Christianam doctrinam praedicabant, tanto successu ut plurimis in locis condiderint. Eorum memoriae id Germani dederunt, ut us que ad nostram aetatem semper Scotos eis praeficerent. Buchonani Rerum Scotic. Hist. l. 5.
1. Marianus sirnamed Scotus.
2. Hector Boetius both Historians.
3. Iohn Major a well known Schoolman.
Since the Reformation.
George Buchanan an excellent Poet.
King Iames his Scholar, and a good Poet also.
Napier the Laird of Marchiston.
Barclay the Father and the Sonne.
Iohn Skeine the Antiquary of this Nation.
Doctor Iohn Maxwell the learned Bishop of Rosse.
Rolloc, Baronius, Cameron, Melvin.
The Universities.
I. Aberdein.
King Alexander with his Sister Isabella adorned this with many priviledges aboutAcademia Aberdoniensis. the year 1240.
Doctor Iohn Forbes was Professor of Divinity here.
Glasco.
It is honoured with an Archbishops See, and an University founded here by Archbishop Turbal, An. 1454.
St Andrews.
It is the chief Town of Fife, an Archiepiscopal See, and an University, erected in the year after our Saviours Incarnation, 1411.
The University of Ireland.
THe Christian Faith was first preached among the Irish by St Patrick.
The Irish Scholars of Patrick profited so notably in Christianity, that in the Age next following, Ireland was termed Sanctorum Patria, that is, the native Countrey of Saints; and the Scottish Monks in Ireland and Britain highly excelled for their holinesse and learning.
Out of Ireland came Caelius Sedulius a Priest.
Richard Fitz-Ralf, commonly called Armachanus, is of famous memory, who turned the edge of his style about the year 1355. against the mendicant Friers, as detesting in Christians such voluntary begging.
Dublin, or Divelin.
There is a beautifull Colledge consecrated unto the name of the holy and indivisibleDublinium & Dublinia. The Irish call it Balacleigh, the Town upon Hurdles, when it was built, the foundation was laid upon Hurdles, the place was so fenish and moorish. This is the chief City of Ireland, it is situated in a delightfull and wholsome place. Trinity, which for the exercising and polishing of wits with good Literature, Queen Elizabeth endowed with the Priviledges of an University; and it is furnished with a good Library.
Bishop Usher was born there, and was the first Scholar of that Colledge.
Thus much of Dublin (saith Camden in his Britaine) for the most part of which I acknowledge my self beholden unto the diligence and learning of Iames Usher Chancellor of St Patricks Church, whose variety of knowledge and judgement are far above his years.
The End of the second Book.