ARBUTHNOT, ALEXANDER, principal of King's College, Aberdeen ; was one of the most conspicuous members of the church of Scotland during the first age of the reformation. He was born in the year 1533, and was descended from a respectable family, which was afterwards ennobled by Charles I. His father was baron or laird of Arbuthnot, in the county of Kincardine ; and it may be concluded that he himself was a younger bro ther. According to archbishop Spotswood, he studied in the university of St Andrews ; but Dr Mackenzie, whose authority is seldom entitled to much regard, has transferred him to Aberdeen. He visited France in 1561 ; and, for the space of five years, prosecuted the study of the civil and canon law under the celebrated Cujacius. Having taken the degree of licentiate, he returned to Scotland with the view of following the profession of an advbcate. This plan he, however, re linquished, and afterwards directed his attention to the study of theology. Having received ordination, he was presented to the living of Arbuthnot and Logie-Buchan. In the year 1569, the principal, as well as some other members of King's College, having been expelled by the ecclesiastical visitor, Arbuthnot was promoted to the vacant office. " By his diligent teaching, and dex terous government," says Spotswood " he not only re vived the study of good letters, but gained many from the superstitions whereunto they were given." He soon afterwards established his character as a man of learn ing, by the publication of his Orationes de Origine et Dignitate Juris. Edinb. 1572, 4to. This production was honoured with an encomiastic poem by Thomas Mait land, who represents Arbuthnot as one of the brightest ornaments of his native country. (Deliti.e Poetarum Scotorum, tom. ii. p. 253.) He was successively chosen moderator of the General Assemblies, which met. at Edinburgh on the 6th of August 1573, and on the 1st of April 1577 ; and the assembly, on various occasions, charged him with commissions of importance. In the year 1583, he received a presentation to one of the churches of St Andrews; but the king commanded him to remain in his college, under pain of horning. When the clergy complained of this arbitrary exertion of the, royal prerogative, it was answered by his majesty, that he had issued the order with a view to the general inte rests of the church. It is probable, however, that the
real cause of the prohibition was an apprehension, lest the removal of Arbuthnot to such a situation might tend to the advancement of the schemes which were then in agitation. He is said to have had some bias towards the episcopal form of ecclesiastical polity : But what ever might be his private sentiments, he adhered with steadiness to the presbyterian party ; and his personal influence must at that crisis have rendered him an object of suspicion to the pusillanimous monarch. Arbuthnot did not long survive this transaction. Ile died at Aber deen on the 10th of October 1583, before he had com pleted the age of forty-five. His learned friend, Andrew Melvin, composed a Latin elegy on his death. (Del. Poet. Scot. torn. ii. p. 120.) The probity and moderation of Arbuthnot seem to have equalled his literary attain ments; notwithstanding the violence of the times, his name has never been found subjected to censure. " He was greatly loved of all men," says Spotswood, " hated of none ; and in such account for his moderation with the chief men of these parts, that without his advice they could almost do nothing, which put him in a great fashrie, whereof he did oft complain; pleasant and jocund in conversation, and in all sciences expert ; a good poet, mathematician, philosopher, theologue, lawyer, and in medicine skilful ; so as in every subject he could promptly discourse, and to good purpose." (Hist. of the Church of Scotland, p. 335.) Under the name of Alexander Arbuthnot, three Scottish poems, of an ingenious and pleasing character, have lately been published by Mr Pinkerton ; and various circumstances have induced us to ascribe them to the excellent man whose life we have now delineated. That he was a successful cultivator of poetry, is evident from the testimony of archbishop Spotswood. The poems in question appear to have been written by a clergyman ; they were written during the age of principal Arbuthnot; and they breathe the hu mane and liberal spirit by which he was distinguished. See Irving's Lives of the Scottish poets, vol. ii. p. 169.