Andrew Melville and Humanism in Renaissance Scotland 1545-1622 (Studies in the History of Christian Traditions)

388 Pages·2011·1.94 MB·English

by  Ernest R. Holloway III

Andrew Melville and Humanism
in Renaissance Scotland
1545–1622
Studies in the History of
Christian Traditions
General Editor
Robert J. Bast
Knoxville, Tennessee
In cooperation with
Henry Chadwick, Cambridge
Paul C.H. Lim, Nashville, Tennessee
Eric Saak, Liverpool
Brian Tierney, Ithaca, New York
Arjo Vanderjagt, Groningen
John Van Engen, Notre Dame, Indiana
Founding Editor
Heiko A. Oberman†
VOLUME 154
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.nl/shct.
Andrew Melville and Humanism
in Renaissance Scotland
1545–1622
By
Ernest R. Holloway III
LEIDEN • BOSTON
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2011
Cover illustration: ‘John Slezer. St Andrews – ‘The Prospect of the Town of St Andrews’ in
Theatrum Scotiae. 1693. [NLS shelfmark EMS.b.5.1] Reproduced by permission of the Trustees
of the National Library of Scotland.
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Holloway III, Ernest R.
Andrew Melville and humanism in Renaissance Scotland, 1545-1622 / by Ernest R. Holloway III.
p. cm. -- (Studies in the history of Christian traditions, ISSN 1573-5664 ; v. 154)
Based on the author’s thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Aberdeen, 2009, issued under
the title: Andrew Melville and humanism in the reign of James VI.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978-90-04-20539-0 (hardback : alk. paper) 1. Melville, Andrew, 1545-1622.
2. Humanism--Scotland--History. I. Title.
BX9225.M4H65 2011
285.092--dc22
2011011258
ISSN 1573-5664
ISBN 978 90 04 20539 0
Copyright 2011 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ............................................................................ vii
A Melville Chronology ...................................................................... ix
Abbreviations ...................................................................................... xi
I. Andrew Melville and the Melville Legend .............................. 1
1. The Melville Legend .............................................................. 1
2. The Development of the Legend ......................................... 7
3. Demythologizing the Legend .............................................. 13
4. Knox and Melville ................................................................. 18
5. Buchanan and Melville ......................................................... 22
6. Melville and Humanism ....................................................... 27
II. The Formative Years (1545–1563/4) ........................................ 35
1. The Narrative History ........................................................... 35
2. Childhood and Family .......................................................... 37
3. Early Education ..................................................................... 47
4. The University of St Andrews .............................................. 53
5. Conclusion ............................................................................. 58
III. France: Paris and Poitiers (1563/4–1569) ................................ 61
1. The Collège Royal and University of Paris ......................... 61
2. Petrus Ramus ......................................................................... 74
3. George Buchanan .................................................................. 82
4. Poitiers .................................................................................... 91
5. Conclusion ............................................................................. 98
IV. Switzerland: Geneva (1569–1574) ............................................ 101
1. The Academy of Geneva ....................................................... 101
2. Melville’s Genevan Circle ..................................................... 112
3. Joseph Justus Scaliger ........................................................... 131
4. Theodore Beza ....................................................................... 136
5. Melville’s Departure .............................................................. 146
6. Conclusion ............................................................................. 148
vi contents
V. Scotland: Glasgow (1574–1580) ............................................ 151
1. Melville as Private Tutor .................................................... 151
2. The University of Glasgow ................................................ 155
3. A Humanist in Service to the Kirk ................................... 166
4. Fellow Humanists and Advocates of Reform ................. 170
5. 1577 Nova Erectio ............................................................... 179
6. Relocation to St Andrews .................................................. 185
7. Conclusion .......................................................................... 187
VI. Scotland: St Andrews (1580–1607) ....................................... 191
1. The University of St Andrews ........................................... 191
2. The Controversy Over Aristotle ....................................... 197
3. The Ecclesiastical Statesman ............................................. 205
4. Exile in England: London, Oxford, and Cambridge ...... 210
5. The Visit of Du Bartas ........................................................ 220
6. Melville’s Literary Circle .................................................... 223
7. Melville’s Poetry .................................................................. 232
8. Conclusion .......................................................................... 246
VII. England and France: London and Sedan
(1607–1622) ............................................................................. 251
1. Prelude to Conflict ............................................................. 251
2. James VI and the Tower of London ................................. 260
3. The Melvini Epistolae ......................................................... 268
4. The University of Sedan .................................................... 277
5. Arthur Johnston ................................................................. 283
6. Conclusion .......................................................................... 287
VIII. Andrew Melville and the Renaissance
in Scotland ................................................................................ 291
1. Melville the Humanist ....................................................... 291
2. Melville the University Reformer. .................................... 306
3. Melville the Ecclesiastical Statesman ............................... 315
4. Melville the Man ................................................................. 329
5. Conclusion .......................................................................... 336
Selected Bibliography ........................................................................ 337
Index of Melville’s Selected Works ................................................... 359
General Index ..................................................................................... 361
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study is based on my PhD thesis “Andrew Melville and Humanism
in the Reign of James VI” originally submitted to the University of
Aberdeen in 2009 and supervised by Nicholas J. Thompson in the School
of Divinity, History and Philosophy. During my time in Old Aberdeen,
I enjoyed interaction with a number scholars who contributed to the
development of my own thought on Melville, humanism, and the north-
ern European Renaissance but none were more helpful than my advisor
who generously gave of his time and skillfully assisted me in my investi-
gations. For this and his enduring friendship I remain in his debt.
Complementing the work of my supervisor, I would also like to thank
those who conducted my viva at King’s College, Mark Elliot of the
University of St Andrews and Marie-Luise Ehrenschwendtner of the
University of Aberdeen. I am most grateful for their careful perusal of
the thesis and their insightful and probing questions. Those hours of
examination were a sheer delight stimulating my own thought and
opening up new avenues of inquiry.
Another scholar who is owed special thanks for his indirect contri-
bution to this work and his direct contribution to my development as
an historian of early modern Europe is my former American doc-
toral thesis advisor Carl Trueman. It was during his doctoral seminar
on the English Reformation that the seeds of my subsequent Aberdeen
research were sown. As an alumnus of and former Senior Lecturer at the
University of Aberdeen, his friendship helped make the transition from
Philadelphia to Old Aberdeen relatively seamless.
I would especially like to thank the members of staff of the Special
Collections at King’s College, the University of Aberdeen who graciously
provided invaluable assistance in the research process. Particular recog-
nition should be given to Mrs. B. J. Ellner and Miss M. B. J. Gait who
patiently and diligently tracked down materials from the University’s
extensive collection of rare books and manuscripts. I am also most grate-
ful for the help provided by those members of the library staff during my
work at the University as a tutorial instructor and teaching fellow. To
those members of staff of the Bodleian Library, British Library, National
Library of Scotland, University of Edinburgh, and Bibliothèque de
Genève, Université de Genève I am deeply indebted for their excellent
assistance in locating correspondence, manuscripts, and rare books.
viii acknowledgements
Particular recognition is especially due to E.J. Brill, Leiden and its fine
editorial staff and scholars who have expertly supervised every phase of
the publication process. I am especially grateful to Mr. Ivo Romein, edi-
tor in the Brill History Department for his excellent assistance and for
the judicious review of the manuscript supplied by the anonymous
reader. It will always be my distinct honor to have had my work pub-
lished by Brill.
I am grateful to my family in the United States whose love, under-
standing, and support have made this work possible. In addition to the
generous support of my mother, Janet Davis Holloway, I would like to
offer special thanks to my late grandfather Ernest R. Holloway Sr. of
Dallas, Texas whose generosity has helped to make the costly venture
of living and studying abroad a reality.
Most of all I would like to thank my wife Rebecca whose sacrifices,
love, and devotion to me and our three children, Addison, Davis, and
Genevie, have made this work what it is today. Her role as my loving
companion and mother of our children has been complemented by her
indefatigable labors as my chief redactor, literary critic, and constant
supporter. To her and our three beautiful children this work is most
affectionately dedicated.
Ernest R. Holloway III
January 2011
A MELVILLE CHRONOLOGY
1545 Andrew Melville born near Montrose on the estate
of Baldovy
1557/58–1559/60 P ursues Greek studies under Marsilier
1559/60 Matriculates at St Mary’s College, St Andrews
1563/64 Probably graduates from St Andrews, departs from
Scotland, and commences studies at the University
of Paris and the Collège Royal
1565–1566 Studies under Buchanan in Paris
1566/67 Departs from Paris and commences study at the
University of Poitiers
1569 Serves as classical tutor in Poitiers, departs from
Poitiers, commences work as a regent in the schola
privata of the Genevan Academy
1570 Attends Ramus’ lectures on dialectic in Lausanne
1574 First publishes Carmen Mosis, departs from Geneva,
returns to Scotland, appointed principal of the
University of Glasgow, tutors nephew
1575 Melville and Arbuthnot plan the reform of the
Universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen
1577 The University of Glasgow ratifies nova erectio
1578 Melville serves as moderator of the general
assembly
1579 St Andrews approves nova fundatio
1580 Melville transferred from the University of Glasgow
to become principal of St Mary’s
1582 Melville serves as moderator over two separate gen-
eral assemblies, Buchanan dies
1583 Arbuthnot intends nova fundatio for King’s College,
Old Aberdeen, Arbuthnot and Smeaton die
1584 Summoned before Privy Council in Edinburgh,
confronts James VI
1584–1585 Exile in England, resides in London, visits Oxford
and Cambridge
1586 Returns to St Mary’s, warded briefly north of
the Tay