In the progress of James to the metropolis of EIM• land, the Puritans, who were universally favourable to his title, presented a petition, representing their grie vances, and praying that the corruptions of the church might be removed. The two universities publicly de clared their dissatisfaction with this petition, and denounc ed vengeance against every one who should presume to question any part of the doctrine or discipline of their church. The terms of these declarations were peculiarly offensive to Melville, and provoked from his powerful pen a most caustic satirical poem, well known by the abbreviated title, Anti-Tami-Cand-Categoria. Many at tempts were made to retort upon the author ; but none of them wounded so deeply, or attracted so much notice, as the original poem.
In 1604 and 1605, the activity of Melville and his nephew, in maintaining the rights of the General As sembly, was so displeasing to the sovereign, that a war rant for their imprisonment was sent from London ; but the council found reasons for declining to execute it. In 1606, Melville waited on the parliament at Perth, on behalf of his presbytery, and protested against the act restoring Episcopacy in its ancient form, and reviving chapters; but he was never more suffered to make a similar appearance. Ile received a letter from the king, ordering him to repair to London before the Isth of September, along with seven other eminent ministers, most of them from Fife, to treat of the affairs of the church. Here they maintained an animated controversy in presence of his majesty, attended by a numerous as semblage of the English and Scottish nobility, and other officers of state, as well as dignitaries of the church. On Michaelmas clay, they were ordered to attend the royal chapel, which was decorated with great magnificence. Melville, conceiving that the service did not differ ma terially from that of the church of Rome, imprudently wrote an epigram expressive of his idea, and as an in correct copy of it was conveyed to the king, the author was summoned to appear before the English privy council ; and the proceedings terminated in his being found guilty of scandalum magnatum, and committed to the Tower. His office was declared vacant, and one Robert Howdie was appointed his successor.
The first year of his imprisonment was aggravated by wanton severity, and particularly by that refinement of cruelty, which attempted to shackle the faculties of his mind, by depriving him of the means of expressing his thoughts either by writing or oral communication.
Through the influence of Sir James Sempill, he was re moved, at the end of ten months, to a more healthy and spacious apartment, and was allowed the use of pen, ink, and paper. When the rigour of his confinement was re laxed. he was consulted both by Arminius and his anta gonist Lubbertus on their theological disputes. He still continued to refresh his mind by occasional poems ; and in two or three letters to his nephew, he reviewed Dr. Downham's sermon on Episcopacy. In 1610, he printed a specimen of poetical translations of the Psalms into Latin verse ; and he never wrote a letter to his nephew, without transmitting copies of some of his verses.
After fear years imprisonment, Melville, on the inter cession of the Duke of Bouillon, was permitted to accept the office of professor of divinity at the Protestant univer sity of Sedan, in Fiance; but the infirmities incident to the age of three score and ten were now gathering round his brad, although he continued to write and act with all the force and fire of his youth. In his 74th year, he wrote an epithalamium on the marriage of the Due de la Trentouille to the daughter of his benefactorDu Bouillon; and he wrote and published, a year or two alterwards, a treatise in opposition to the Articles of Perth. His health, however, which had been broken by his long confine was now sadly wasted ; and he died in the year 1622. at the age of seventy seven.
Melville possessed strong natural talents, and his mind was enriched with the choicest stores of ancient and modern learning. His ascendancy was owing entirely to his genius and erudition, and not to any of the arts of management and intrigue. his piety was fervent and unaffected ; his benevolence enlarged, but unobtrusive ; he was ardent in his pursuits, and disinterestedly zealous in the public service. lie possessed great independence of spirit, an unyielding boldness in word and action, and amazing readiness and rapidity in debate. In short, his talents, his erudition, and his heroic courage, well quali fied him for a Presbyterian leader in the difficult times in which he lived. Sec Dr. M'Cric's Life of Andrew Melville, Ste. Edinburgh, 1819. (z)