Guards. If you meet with him, and by recommending him to my Lord Gerard's favour, or in anything else can do him good, you shall oblige both me and the honest widow. She makes often mention of you. Cher frère, adieu, "For Sir Ellis Leighton at St. James's." "R. LEIGHTON." "1 The above letter indicates that Leighton's health was not satisfactory. The following one to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh makes it clear that he had gone South in search of health, and also at the Council's request to represent the affairs of the University to the King and his Counsellors. It was during this visit that he was evidently persuaded by his brother to accept a bishopric, and his brother had evidently coadjutors in leading the good man to the decision. He distinctly states in August-three months before his "re-ordination "-that he "projected" nothing for himself in London, and would be quite happy to return to his academic office in Edinburgh. Letter from Principal Leighton to the Right Honourable Sir Robert Murray, Lord Provost of Edinburgh (dated London, 20th August, 1661). "MY LORD "Having bin some weeks at the bath and found litle benefit by it, I returnd to Lond. some four or five days agoe where I found a letter from your Lo. and your Councell concerning the Colledg for which my great inclination and affection I know is out of doubt, but my hopes in it are very small. I have spoke with those great persons here that yow name and they promise their assistance, but unless yow can find out some particular whereon to fixe, to mention the bussinesse in generall with all the recomendations possible will signify nothing at all, and I beleev it will bee hard to find any thing 1 Secretan's Archbishop Leighton, pp. 43 to 44. 2 Cf. Minute of Town Council, p. 298. worth the asking that is not either disposd of some other way or in the aime of some that will bee more likely to cary it, for the Signature formerly sent up, and whereof I likewise have a copy, I perceive 'twill bee to little purpose to looke further after it, yet I intend to tryt once more. For myself I am so far from projecting any thing here that I can imagine nothing though most freely offer'd that would stay mee from returning to that station where I have found so much unmerited respecte and kindnesse from all, and particularly from your Lo. and the present Councell, but the simple truth is, growing of late so sensibly still more crazy and unhealthfull, and having (I beleev and hope) so short a stage of remaining life to run, I know not if it shall be pertinent to take so long a journey to doe yow and that place so litle or no service, I had almost sayd so great an injury (and I speak it without art or feigning). I shall heartily absolv yow, yea I doe it before hand, if yow should plainly send mee word to save the labour, and while I live would continue no whit the lesse a most affectionate welwisher to your City and Colledg and all that concerns yow, and, My Lord, "Your Lordship's "Most oblig'd and humble servant, "Lond. Aug. 20. "R. LEIGHTON. "I know your Lo. will be pleasd to impart this, together with my humble service, to the Councill. "[28. Augt. 1661, produced and read]." When Leighton returned from London, he was Bishop of Dunblane, and although we do not possess any letters that indicate his mind prior to his taking this step, we have luckily preserved in the Diary of Brodie of Brodie several references to interviews that the latter had with Leighton, and which show "development" towards a form of Brodie of government different from the Presbyterian. Brodie was a lord of session, and married Mary, daughter of William, third Earl of Lothian, the warm friend of Robert Leighton. Like his father-in-law, Brodie was a pronounced Presbyterian, and in December 1640 had headed a party that demolished two oil paintings of the Crucifixion and the Day of Judgment in the Cathedral of Elgin, and also mutilated the finely carved interior of the building as unsuitable for a place of worship! His records of Leighton are, however, valuable, and give us an insight into his thoughts from 1653 to 1662. (Cf. Chap. X.) APPENDIX TO CHAPTER IX NOTE. I am indebted for these full extracts from the Edinburgh Council Records to the kindness of Thomas Hunter, Esq., W.S., Town Clerk of Edinburgh, and his obliging assistant, Mr. John Jarvis. Extracts from Edinburgh Town Council Records relative to Mr. Robert Leighton, Principal of the College of Edinburgh. 368. 17th January, 1653. The same day the Counsell Vol. 17, fol. togidder with the ministeris of this Brugh present being conveined in Counsell Elects, nominats and constitutis Mr. Robert Lightoun, Minister at Newbottle, to be Principal of the Colledge of this Brugh vacand be deceis of Mr. John Adamsone lait Principall thairof, and grauntis to the said Mr. Robert the yeirlie benefite and casuallities belonging to the said place siklyk and in the same conditioun as the said Mester John had the samen himselff and ordaines the Thesaureris of the Colledge to answer and make peyment thairof at the four vsuall termes in the yeir quhairanent thir presents shall be your warrand. 369. 17th January, 1653. The same day it is to be Vol. 17, fol. remembred that the Provest craveing the voteis of the ministers anent the electioun of Mr. Robert Lightoun, Primar, it halted there a tyme wishing they had not bene calld to the electioun and showing that albeit they were weill content with the man yet they could not give their Vol. 17, fol. 369. Vol. 18, fol. II. Vol. 18, fol. II. Vol. 19, fol. 154. Vol. 19, fol. 230. Vol. 19, fol. 253. voices to the electioun becaus they wer not cleir in the maner of the Call and desyned to be markit onlie present and non loquets in the voiceing. 20th January, 1653. The quhilk day the Counsell appoyntis the Thesaurer Andro Bryssone and James Ker to go to Newbottle to call Mr. Robert Lightoun to the place and office of Primar of the Colledge quhairunto he is elected and chosen and to delyver to him a missive direct to him fra the Counsell to that effect quhairanent thir presentis sall be your warrand. 30th March, 1653. The quhilk day compeird Mr. Robert Lightoun electit Principle of the Colledge of Edinburgh in place of umquhile Mr. John Adamsone lait Principle thairof and acceptit upon him the said place and gave his aith de fideli administratione. 30th March, 1653. The same day ordaines the Dean of Gild and his Counsell to admitt and resave Mr. Robert Lightoun, Principle of the College of Edinburgh to be burges and gildbrother of this Brugh for peyment of the ordinar dewties and ordaines the Dean of Gild to repay the same and dispenss with his arme silver and uther dewes accustomed to be peyit at the admissioun of burgessis quhairanent thir presentis sall be his warrand. 29th September, 1656. The Counsell appoyntis John Mairjoribanks baillie and David Wilkie Dean of Gild to goe over to the Colledge to the Primar and to show him that the Counsell can doe nothing in reference to the Colledge at this tyme, it being so neir the electioun and the bussiness being of itselff so weightie. 22nd July, 1657. The Counsell appoyntis Archibald Sydserff and Robert Murrey, baillies, John Milne and William Thomsone, clerk, to meitt with Mr. Robert Lightoun, Principall of the Colledge, and to deall with him for takeing a journey to Londoun to his Highnes and Counsell there for procuireing ane augmentatioun of the Rentall of the Colledge and to give him instructiouns for that effect, and the Thesaurer to pay the expensis of his journey, quhairanent thir presentis sall be their warrand. 16th October, 1657. The Counsell appoyntis John Lawder, baillie, William Johnstoun, Thesaurer, and 262. 9th December, 1657. Compeired the Lord Provest Vol. 19, fol. and gave in a Report of the meitting of some of the Counsell with the Primar and Regents of the Colledge yesterday eftirnoone. 1. That they had appoynted to remember that legacie of sex hundred merks left to the Colledge be William Wauchops mother in law, and upon that accompt the Counsell sould become debtors to the College for the same. 2. That they had appoynted the baillie Johne Lawder to give in a list of the legacies left to the Colledge to the Agent, and the Agent to goe about the way to procure payment of them, and the Thesaurer of the Colledge to be at the expensses thairof. 3. To remember what may be given to the Relict of Master William Forbes in farder consideratioun over and above the bygane rents of his fialls. 4. That they had appoynted the baillie John Lawder to give in to the Provest the names of those who intend to inlarge the buildingis of the Colledge. 5. That they had appoynted the Thesaurer of the Colledge and John Milne to visite the roofe of the auld hous and namelie the galvie thairof, and to report what is necessar to be done thairto, and lykwayis to visite the dropps of the leids of the Librarie and caus mend the same. 6. That they had recommended to the Counsell quhat is fitting to be done with the bromestaks neir the Colledge. 7. That they had lykwayis recommended to the Counsell to appoynt some of thair number with the Thesaurer and Agent to prosecute the Graunt of his Highnes to the Colledge with all caire and diligence and for settling of the localitie and drawing of the Signature. 8. That there sould be two exact Catalogues of the librarie, ane for the Counsell and another for the Colledge. The Counsell haveing heard the report appoyntis Mr. James Norwell to be spoken anent the legacie, approves the second, fourt and fyft, continues the thrid to the next meitting, |