Everyone，almost，believedinmagic。Taketwocases。ReadthestorywhichBenvenutoCellini，thesculptor，tellsinhislife（everyoneshouldreadit）ofthemagicianwhomheconsultsintheColiseumatRome，andthefigurewhichheseesashewalksbackwiththemagician，jumpingfromrooftoroofalongthetilesofthehouses。
Andlistentothisstory，whichMr。Froudehasdugupinhisresearches。AChurchcommissioneratOxford，atthebeginningoftheReformation，beingunabletotrackanescapedheretic，"causedafiguretobemadebyanexpertinastronomy;"bywhichitwasdiscoveredthatthepoorwretchhadfledinatawnycoatandwasmakingforthesea。ConceivetherespectedheadofyourCollege——orwhoeverhemaybe——incaseyousleptoutallnightwithoutleave，goingtoawitchtodiscoverwhetheryouhadgonetoLondonortoHuntingdon，andthenwritingsolemnlytoinformtheBishopofElyofhismeritoriousexertions！
InsuchamadworldasthiswasParacelsusborn。ThesonofaSwissphysician，butofnobleblood，PhilipAureolusTheophrastuswashisChristianname，BombastvonHohenheimhissurname，whichlastwordheturned，afterthefashionofthetimes，intoParacelsus。Bornin1493atEinsiedeln（thehermitage），inSchweiz，whichisstillafamousplaceofpilgrimage，hewasoftencalledEremita——thehermit。
Erasmus，inaletterstillextant，butsuspectednottobegenuine，addressedhimbythatname。
Howhepassedthefirstthirty—threeyearsofhislifeitishardtosay。HeusedtoboastthathehadwanderedoverallEurope，beeninSweden，Italy，inConstantinople，andperhapsinthefarEast，withbarber—surgeons，alchemists，magicians，hauntingmines，andforgesofSwedenandBohemia，especiallythosewhichtherichmerchantsofthatdayhadintheTyrol。
Itwasfromthatwork，hesaid，thathelearntwhatheknew：fromthestudyofnatureandoffacts。Hehadheardallthelearneddoctorsandprofessors;hehadreadalltheirbooks，andtheycouldteachhimnothing。Medicinewashismonarch，andnooneelse。HedeclaredthattherewasmorewisdomunderhisbaldpatethaninAristotleandGalen，HippocratesandRhasis。Andfactseemedtobeonhisside。HereappearedinGermanyabout1525，andbeganworkingwondrouscures。HehadbroughtbackwithhimfromtheEastanarcanum，asecretremedy，andlaudanumwasitsname。Heboasted，saysoneofhisenemies，thathecouldraisethedeadtolifewithit;andsotheeventallbutproved。Baslewasthentheuniversitywherefreethoughtandfreecreedsfoundtheirsafesthome;andhitherOEcolampadiusthereformerinvitedyoungParacelsustolectureonmedicineandnaturalscience。
Itwouldhavebeenwellforhim，perhaps，hadheneveropenedhislips。Hemighthavedonegoodenoughtohisfellow—creaturesbyhisownundoubtedpowersofhealing。HecuredJohnFrobenius，theprinter，Erasmus’sfriend，atBasle，whenthedoctorsweregoingtocuthislegoff。Hisfamespreadfarandwide。RoundBasleandawayintoAlsacehewaslookedon，evenanenemysays，asanewAEsculapius。
Buttheseweredaysinwhichinauniversityeveryonewasexpectedtotalkandteach，andsoParacelsusbeganlecturing;andthentheweaknesswhichwasmingledwithhisstrengthshoweditself。HebeganbyburningopenlythebooksofGalenandAvicenna，anddeclaredthatalltheoldknowledgewasuseless。Doctorsandstudentsalikemustbeginoveragainwithhim。Thedonswerehorrified。ToburnGalenandAvicennawasasbadasburningtheBible。AndmorehorrifiedstillweretheywhenParacelsusbeganlecturing，notinthetime—honoureddog—Latin，butingoodracyGerman，whicheveryonecouldunderstand。Theyshudderedundertheirredgownsandhats。IfsciencewastobetaughtinGerman，farewelltotheGalenists’formulas，andtheirlucrativemonopolyoflearning。Paracelsuswasboldenoughtosaythathewishedtobreakuptheirmonopoly;tospreadapopularknowledgeofmedicine。"Howmuch，"hewroteonce，"wouldIendureandsuffer，toseeeverymanhisownshepherd——hisownhealer。"Helaughedtoscorntheirlongprescriptions，usedthesimplestdrugs，anddeclaredNature，afterall，tobethebestphysician——asadog，hesays，lickshiswoundwellagainwithoutourhelp;orasthebrokenriboftheoxhealsofitsownaccord。
Suchamanwasnottobeendured。Theyhatedhim，hesays，forthesamereasonthattheyhatedLuther，forthesamereasonthatthePhariseeshatedChrist。Hemettheirattackswithscorn，rage，andlanguageascoarseandviolentastheirown。Thecoarsenessandviolenceofthosedaysseemincredibletousnow;and，indeed，Paracelsus，asheconfessedhimself，was，thoughofgentleblood，roughandunpolished;andutterly，asonecanseefromhiswritings，unabletogiveandtake，toconciliate——perhapstopardon。Helookedimpatientlyonthesemenwhowere（notunreasonably）opposingnoveltieswhichtheycouldnotunderstand，asenemiesofGod，whowerebalkinghiminhisgrandplanforregeneratingscienceandalleviatingthewoesofhumanity，andheoutragedtheirprejudicesinsteadofsoothingthem。
Soontheyhadtheirrevenge。Uglystorieswerewhisperedabout。
Oporinus，theprinter，whohadlivedwithhimfortwoyears，andwholefthim，itissaid，becausehethoughtParacelsusconcealedfromhimunfairlythesecretofmakinglaudanum，toldhowParacelsuswasneithermorenorlessthanasot，whocamedrunktohislectures，usedtoprimehimselfwithwinebeforegoingtohispatients，andsatallnightinpothousesswillingwiththeboors。
Menlookedcoldlyonhim——longedtoberidofhim。Andtheysoonfoundanopportunity。HetookinhandsomeCanonofthecityfromwhomitwassettledbeforehandthathewastoreceiveahundredflorins。Thepriestfoundhimselfcuredsosuddenlyandeasilythat，byastrangelogic，herefusedtopaythemoney，andwenttothemagistrates。Theysupportedhim，andcompelledParacelsustotakesixflorinsinsteadofthehundred。Hespokehismindfiercelytothem。Ibelieve，accordingtoonestory，hedrewhislongswordontheCanon。Hisbestfriendstoldhimhemustleavetheplace;
andwithintwoyears，seemingly，afterhisfirsttriumphatBasle，hefledfromitawandererandabeggar。
Therestofhislifeisablank。HeissaidtohaverecommencedhisoldwanderingsaboutEurope，studyingthediseasesofeverycountry，andwritinghisbooks，whichwerenoneofthempublishedtillafterhisdeath。Hisenemiesjoyfullytrampledonthefallenman。Hewasa"dullrustic，amonster，anatheist，aquack，amakerofgold，amagician。"Whenhewasdrunk，oneWetter，hisservant，toldErastus（oneofhisenemies）thatheusedtooffertocalluplegionsofdevilstoprovehisskill，whileWetter，inabjectterrorofhisspells，entreatedhimtoleavethefiendsalone——thathehadsenthisbookbyafiendtothespiritofGaleninhell，andchallengedhimtosaywhichwasthebettersystem，hisorParacelsus’，andwhatnot？
Hisbookswereforbiddentobeprinted。Hehimselfwasrefusedahearing，anditwasnottillaftertenyearsofwanderingthathefoundrestandprotectioninalittlevillageofCarinthia。
ThreeyearsafterwardshediedinthehospitalofSt。SebastianatSalzburg，intheTyrol。Hisdeathwasthesignalforempiricsandvisionariestofoistonthepublicbookafterbookonoccultphilosophy，writteninhisname——ofwhichyoumayseetenfolios——
notmorethanaquarter，Ibelieve，genuine。Andthesefoolishbooks，asmuchasanything，havehelpedtokeepupthepopularprejudiceagainstonewho，inspiteofallhisfaultswasatruepioneerofscience。{15}Ibelieve（withthosemodernswhohavetriedtodohimjustice）thatunderallhisverbiageandconfusiontherewasaveinofsoundscientific，experimentalcommonsense。
Whenhetalksofastronomyasnecessarytobeknownbyaphysician，itseemstomethathelaughsatastrology，properlysocalled;thatis，thatthestarsinfluencethecharacteranddestinyofman。
Mars，hesays，didnotmakeNerocruel。Therewouldhavebeenlong—
livedmenintheworldifSaturnhadneverascendedtheskies;andHelenwouldhavebeenawanton，thoughVenushadneverbeencreated。
Buthedoesbelievethattheheavenlybodies，andthewholeskies，haveaphysicalinfluenceonclimate，andonthehealthofmen。
Hetalksofalchemy，buthemeansbyit，Ithink，onlythatsoundsciencewhichwecallchemistry，andatwhichheworked，wandering，hesays，amongminesandforges，asapracticalmetallurgist。
Hetellsus——whatsoundsstartlingenough——thatmagicistheonlypreceptorwhichcanteachtheartofhealing;buthemeans，itseemstome，onlyanunderstandingoftheinvisibleprocessesofnature，inwhichsenseanelectricianorabiologist，aFaradayoraDarwin，wouldbeamagician;andwhenhecomparesmedicalmagictotheCabalisticscience，ofwhichIspokejustnow（andinwhichheseemstohavebelieved），heonlymeans，Ithink，thatastheCabaladiscovershiddenmeaningandvirtuesinthetextofScripture，sooughtthemanofsciencetofindtheminthebookofnature。Butthiskindoftalk，wraptuptoointhemostconfusedstyle，orrathernostyleatall，isquiteenoughtoaccountforignorantandenviouspeopleaccusinghimofmagic，sayingthathehaddiscoveredthephilosopher’sstone，andthesecretofHermesTrismegistus;thathemustmakegold，because，thoughhesquanderedallhismoney，hehadalwaysmoneyinhand;andthathekepta"devil’s—bird，"afamiliarspirit，inthepommelofthatfamouslongswordofhis，whichhewasonlytooreadytolugoutonprovocation——thesaidspirit，Agothbyname，beingprobablyonlythelaudanumbottlewithwhichheworkedsomanywondrouscures，andofwhich，tojudgefromhiswritings，hetookonlytoofreelyhimself。
ButthecharmofParacelsusisinhishumour，hismother—wit。Hewasblamedforconsortingwithboorsinpot—houses;blamedforwritinginracyGerman，insteadofbadschool—Latin：butyoucanhardlyreadachapter，eitherofhisGermanorhisdog—Latin，withoutfindingmanyagoodthing——wittyandweighty，thoughoftennotalittlecoarse。Hetalksinparables。Hedrawsillustrations，likeSocratesofold，fromthecommonestandtheoddestmatterstoenforcetheweightiesttruths。"Fortuneandmisfortune，"hesays，forinstancenoblyenough，"arenotlikesnowandwind，theymustbededucedandknownfromthesecretsofnature。Thereforemisfortuneisignorance，fortuneisknowledge。Themanwhowalksoutintherainisnotunfortunateifhegetsaducking。"
"Nature，"hesaysagain，"makesthetext，andthemedicalmanaddsthegloss;butthetwofiteachothernobetterthanadogdoesabath;"andagain，whenheisarguingagainstthedoctorswhohatedchemistry——"Whohatesathingwhichhashurtnobody？Willyoucomplainofadogforbitingyou，ifyoulayholdofhistail？Doestheemperorsendthethieftothegallows，orthethingwhichhehasstolen？Thethief，Ithink。Thereforescienceshouldnotbedespisedonaccountofsomewhoknownothingaboutit。"Youwillsaythereasoningisnotveryclear，andindeedthepassage，liketoomanymore，smacksstronglyofwineandlaudanum。Butsuchishisquaintracystyle。Ashumorousaman，itseemstome，asyoushallmeetwithformanyaday;andwherethereishumourthereisprettysuretobeimagination，tenderness，anddepthofheart。
Asforhisnotionsofwhatamanofscienceshouldbe，theservantofGod，andofNature——whichistheworkofGod——usinghispowersnotformoney，notforambition，butinloveandcharity，ashesays，forthegoodofhisfellow—man——onthatmatterParacelsusisalwaysnoble。AllthatMr。Browninghasconceivedonthatpoint，allthenoblespeecheswhichhehasputintoParacelsus’smouth，aretruetohiswritings。Howcantheybeotherwise，ifMr。Browningsetthemforth——ageniusasaccurateandpenetratingasheiswiseandpure？
ButwasParacelsusadrunkardafterall？
Gentlemen，whatconcernisthatofyoursormine？Ihavegoneintothequestion，asMr。Browningdid，cannotsay，anddon’tcaretosay。
Oporinus，whoslanderedhimsocruelly，recantedwhenParacelsuswasdead，andsanghispraises——toolate。ButIdonotreadthatherecantedthechargeofdrunkenness。Hisdefendersallowit，onlysayingthatitwasthefaultnotofhimalone，butofallGermans。
Butifso，whywashespeciallyblamedforwhatcertainlyothersdidlikewise？Icannotbutfearfromhiswritings，aswellasfromcommonreport，thattherewassomethingwrongwiththeman。Isayonlysomething。Againsthispuritythereneverwasabreathofsuspicion。Hewassaidtocarenothingforwomen;andeventhatwasmadethesubjectofbrutaljestsandlies。Butitmayhavebeenthat，wornoutwithtoilandpoverty，hefoundcomfortinthatlaudanumwhichhebelievedtobethearcanum——theveryelixiroflife;thathegotmoreandmoreintothehabitofexcitinghisimaginationwiththenarcotic，andthen，itmaybe，whenthefitofdepressionfollowed，hestrunghisnervesupagainbywine。Itmayhavebeenso。Wehavehad，inthelastgeneration，anexactlysimilarcaseinaphilosopher，nowItrustinheaven，andtowhosegeniusIowetoomuchtomentionhisnamehere。
ButthatParacelsuswasasotIcannotbelieve。Thatfaceofhis，aspaintedbythegreatTintoretto，isnotthefaceofadrunkard，quack，bully，butofsuchamanasBrowninghasconceived。Thegreatglobularbrain，thesharpdelicatechin，isnotthatofasot。
Norarethoseeyes，whichgleamoutfromunderthedeepcompressedbrow，wild，intense，hungry，homeless，defiant，andyetcomplaining，theeyesofasot——butrathertheeyesofamanwhostrugglestotellagreatsecret，andcannotfindwordsforit，andyetwonderswhymencannotunderstand，willnotbelievewhatseemstohimasclearasday——atragicalface，asyouwellcansee。
Godkeepusallfrommakingourlivesatragedybyonegreatsin。
AndnowletusendthissadstorywiththelastwordswhichMr。
BrowningputsintothemouthofParacelsus，dyinginthehospitalatSalzburg，whichhavecomeliterallytrue：
Meanwhile，Ihavedonewellthoughnotallwell。
Asyetmencannotdowithoutcontempt;
’Tisfortheirgood;andthereforefitawhileThattheyrejecttheweakandscornthefalse，Ratherthanpraisethestrongandtrueinme：
Butafter，theywillknowme。IfIstoopIntoadarktremendousseaofcloud，Itisbutforatime。IpressGod’slampClosetomybreast;itssplendour，soonorlate，Willpiercethegloom。Ishallemergeoneday。
GEORGEBUCHANAN，SCHOLAR
Thescholar，inthesixteenthcentury，wasafarmoreimportantpersonagethannow。Thesupplyoflearnedmenwasverysmall，thedemandforthemverygreat。Duringthewholeofthefifteenth，andagreatpartofthesixteenthcentury，thehumanmindturnedmoreandmorefromthescholasticphilosophyoftheMiddleAgestothatoftheRomansandtheGreeks;andfoundmoreandmoreinoldPaganArtanelementwhichMonasticArthadnot，andwhichwasyetnecessaryforthefullsatisfactionoftheircravingaftertheBeautiful。Atsuchacrisisofthoughtandtaste，itwasnaturalthattheclassicalscholar，themanwhoknewoldRome，andstillmoreoldGreece，shouldusurptheplaceofthemonk，asteacherofmankind;andthatscholarsshouldform，forawhile，anewandpowerfularistocracy，limitedandprivileged，andallthemoreredoubtable，becauseitspowerlayinintellect，andhadbeenwonbyintellectalone。
Thosewho，whetherpoororrich，didnotfearthemonkandpriest，atleastfearedthe"scholar，"whoheld，sothevulgarbelieved，thekeysofthatmagiclorebywhichtheoldnecromancershadbuiltcitieslikeRome，andworkedmarvelsofmechanicalandchemicalskill，whichthedegeneratemoderncouldneverequal。
Ifthe"scholar"stoppedinatown，hishostessprobablybeggedofhimacharmagainsttoothacheorrheumatism。Thepennilessknightdiscoursedwithhimonalchemy，andthechancesofretrievinghisfortunebytheartoftransmutingmetalsintogold。Thequeenorbishopworriedhiminprivateaboutcastingtheirnativities，andfindingtheirfatesamongthestars。Butthestatesman，whodealtwithmorepracticalmatters，hiredhimasanadvocateandrhetorician，whocouldfighthismaster’senemieswiththeweaponsofDemosthenesandCicero。Whereverthescholar’sstepswereturned，hemightbemasterofothers，aslongashewasmasterofhimself。Thecomplaintswhichhesooftenutteredconcerningthecrueltyoffortune，theficklenessofprincesandsoforth，wereprobablynomorejustthenthansuchcomplaintsarenow。Then，asnow，hegothisdeserts;andtheworldboughthimathisownprice。
Ifhechosetosellhimselftothispatronandtothat，hewasusedandthrownaway：ifhechosetoremaininhonourableindependence，hewascourtedandfeared。
Amongthesuccessfulscholarsofthesixteenthcentury，nonesurelyismorenotablethanGeorgeBuchanan。ThepoorScotchwidow’sson，byforceofnativewit，and，asIthink，byforceofnativeworth，fightshiswayupward，throughpovertyandseverestpersecution，tobecomethecorrespondentandfriendofthegreatestliterarycelebritiesoftheContinent，comparable，intheiropinion，tothebestLatinpoetsofantiquity;thepreceptorofprinces;thecounsellorandspokesmanofScotchstatesmeninthemostdangerousoftimes;andleavesbehindhimpoliticaltreatises，whichhaveinfluencednotonlythehistoryofhisowncountry，butthatofthecivilisedworld。
Suchasuccesscouldnotbeattainedwithoutmakingenemies，perhapswithoutmakingmistakes。ButthemorewestudyGeorgeBuchanan’shistory，thelessweshallbeinclinedtohuntouthisfailings，themoreinclinedtoadmirehisworth。Ashrewd，sound—hearted，affectionateman，withastrongloveofrightandscornofwrong，andahumourwithalwhichsavedhim——exceptonreallygreatoccasions——frombitterness，andhelpedhimtolaughwherenarrowernatureswouldhaveonlysnarled，——heis，inmanyrespects，atypeofthoseLowlandScots，wholongpreservedhisjokes，genuineorreputed，asacommonhouseholdbook。{16}Aschoolmasterbyprofession，andstrugglingforlongyearsamidthetemptationswhich，inthosedays，degradedhisclassintocruelandsordidpedants，herosefromthemerepedagoguetobe，inthebestsenseoftheword，acourtier："One，"saysDanielHeinsius，"whoseemednotonlybornforacourt，butborntoamendit。Hebroughttohisqueenthatatwhichshecouldnotwonderenough。For，byaffectingacertainlibertyincensuringmorals，heavoidedalloffence，underthecloakofsimplicity。"Ofhimandhiscompeers，Turnebus，andMuretus，andtheirfriendAndreaGovea，Ronsard，theFrenchcourtpoet，saidthattheyhadnothingofthepedagogueaboutthembutthegownandcap。"Austereinface，andrusticinhislooks，"saysDavidBuchanan，"butmostpolishedinstyleandspeech;andcontinually，eveninseriousconversation，jestingmostwittily。"
"Rough—hewn，slovenly，andrude，"saysPeacham，inhis"CompleatGentleman，"speakingofhim，probably，asheappearedinoldage，"inhisperson，behaviour，andfashion;seldomcaringforabetteroutsidethanarugge—gowngirtcloseabouthim：yethisinsideandconceiptinpoesiewasmostrich，andhissweetnessandfacilitieinversemostexcellent。"AtypicalLowlandScot，asIsaidjustnow，heseemstohaveabsorbedallthebestculturewhichFrancecouldaffordhim，withoutlosingthestrength，honesty，andhumourwhichheinheritedfromhisStirlingshirekindred。
Thestoryofhislifeiseasilytraced。Whenanoldman，hehimselfwrotedownthemaineventsofit，attherequestofhisfriends;andhissketchhasbeenfilledoutbycommentators，ifnotalwaysfavourable，atleasterudite。Bornin1506，attheMoss，inKillearn——whereanobelisktohismemory，soonereads，hasbeenerectedinthiscentury——ofafamily"ratherancientthanrich，"hisfatherdeadintheprimeofmanhood，hisgrandfatheraspendthrift，heandhissevenbrothersandsisterswerebroughtupbyawidowedmother，AgnesHeriot——ofwhomonewishestoknowmore;fortherulethatgreatsonshavegreatmothersprobablyholdsgoodinhercase。
Georgegavesigns，whileatthevillageschool，offuturescholarship;andwhenhewasonlyfourteen，hisuncleJamessenthimtotheUniversityofParis。Thosewerehardtimes;andtheyouths，orratherboys，whomeanttobecomescholars，hadacruellifeofit，castdesperatelyoutonthewideworldtobegandstarve，eitherintoself—restraintandsuccess，orintoruinofbodyandsoul。AndacruellifeGeorgehad。Withintwoyearshewasdowninasevereillness，hisuncledead，hissuppliesstopped;andtheboyofsixteengothome，hedoesnottellhow。Thenhetriedsoldiering;
andwaswithAlbany’sFrenchAuxiliariesattheineffectualattackonWarkCastle。Marchingbackthroughdeepsnow，hegotafreshillness，whichkepthiminbedallwinter。ThenheandhisbrotherweresenttoSt。Andrews，wherehegothisB。A。atnineteen。ThenextsummerhewenttoFranceoncemore;and"fell，"hesays，"intotheflamesoftheLutheransect，whichwasthenspreadingfarandwide。"Twoyearsofpenuryfollowed;andthenthreeyearsofschool—masteringintheCollegeofSt。Barbe，whichhehasimmortalised——atleast，forthefewwhocaretoreadmodernLatinpoetry——inhiselegyon"TheMiseriesofaParisianTeacheroftheHumanities。"Thewretchedregent—master，paleandsuffering，sitsupallnightpreparinghislecture，bitinghisnailsandthumpinghisdesk;andfallsasleepforafewminutes，tostartupatthesoundofthefour—o’clockbell，andbeinschoolbyfive，hisVirgilinonehand，andhisrodintheother，tryingtodoworkonhisownaccountatoldmanuscripts，andbawlingallthewhileathiswretchedboys，whocheathim，andpayeachothertoanswertotruants’names。Theclassisallwrong。"Oneisbarefoot，another’sshoeisburst，anothercries，anotherwriteshome。Thencomestherod，thesoundofblows，andhowls;andthedaypassesintears。""Thenmass，thenanotherlesson，thenmoreblows;thereishardlytimetoeat。"Ihavenospacetofinishthepictureofthestupidmiserywhich，Buchanansays，wasruininghisintellect，whileitstarvedhisbody。However，happierdayscame。GilbertKennedy，EarlofCassilis，whoseemstohavebeenanobleyounggentleman，tookhimashistutorforthenextfiveyears;andwithhimhewentbacktoScotland。
Buttherehisplainspeakinggothim，asitdidmorethanonceafterward，intotrouble。Hetookitintohisheadtowrite，inimitationofDunbar，aLatinpoem，inwhichSt。FrancisaskshiminadreamtobecomeaGrayFriar，andBuchananansweredinlanguagewhichhadtheunpleasantfaultofbeingtooclever，and——tojudgefromcontemporaryevidence——onlytootrue。Thefriarssaidnothingatfirst;butwhenKingJamesmadeBuchanantutortooneofhisnaturalsons，they，"menprofessingmeekness，tookthemattersomewhatmoreangrilythanbefittedmensopiousintheopinionofthepeople。"SoBuchananhimselfputsit：but，todothepoorfriarsjustice，theymusthavebeenangels，notmen，iftheydidnotwrithesomewhatunderthescourgewhichhehadlaidonthem。Tobetoldthattherewashardlyaplaceinheavenformonks，washardtohearandbear。Theyaccusedhimtothekingofheresy;butnotbeingtheninfavourwithJames，theygotnoanswer，andBuchananwascommandedtorepeatthecastigation。Havingfoundoutthatthefriarswerenottobetouchedwithimpunity，hewrote，hesays，ashortandambiguouspoem。Buttheking，wholovedajoke，demandedsomethingsharpandstinging，andBuchananobeyedbywriting，butnotpublishing，"TheFranciscans，"alongsatire，comparedtowhichthe"Somnium"wasblandandmerciful。Thestormrose。CardinalBeaten，Buchanansays，wantedtobuyhimoftheking，andthen，ofcourse，burnhim，ashehadjustburntfivepoorsouls;so，knowingJames’savarice，hefledtoEngland，throughfreebootersandpestilence。
Therehefound，hesays，"menofbothfactionsbeingburnedonthesamedayandinthesamefire"——apardonableexaggeration——"byHenryVIII。，inhisoldagemoreintentonhisownsafetythanonthepurityofreligion。"SotohisbelovedFrancehewentagain，tofindhisenemyBeatenambassadoratParis。Thecapitalwastoohottoholdhim;andhefledsouthtoBordeaux，toAndreaGovea，thePortugueseprincipaloftheCollegeofGuienne。AsProfessorofLatinatBordeaux，wefindhimpresentingaLatinpoemtoCharlesV。;andindulgingthatfancyofhisforLatinpoetrywhichseemstousnowadaysachildishpedantry，whichwasthen——whenLatinwasthevernaculartongueofallscholars——aserious，ifnotaltogetherauseful，pursuit。Ofhistragedies，sofamousintheirday——the"Baptist，"the"Medea，"the"Jephtha，"andthe"Alcestis"——thereisneitherspacenorneedtospeakhere，savetonoticethebolddeclamationsinthe"Baptist"againsttyrannyandpriestcraft;andtonoticealsothatthesetragediesgainedforthepoorScotsman，intheeyesofthebestscholarsofEurope，acreditamountingalmosttoveneration。WhenhereturnedtoParis，hefoundoccupationatonce;and，ashisScotsbiographerslovetorecord，"threeofthemostlearnedmenintheworldtaughthumanityinthesamecollege，"
viz。Turnebus，Muretus，andBuchanan。
Thenfollowedastrangeepisodeinhislife。AuniversityhadbeenfoundedatCoimbra，inPortugal，andAndreaGoveahadbeeninvitedtobringthitherwhatFrenchsavantshecouldcollect。BuchananwenttoPortugalwithhisbrotherPatrick，twomoreScotsmen，DempsterandRamsay，andagoodlycompanyofFrenchscholars，whosenamesandhistoriesmaybereadintheeruditepagesofDr。Irving，wentlikewise。AllprosperedinthenewTempleoftheMusesforayearorso。Thenitshigh—priest，Govea，died;and，byaperipeteiatoocommoninthosedaysandcountries，BuchananandtwoofhisfriendsmigratedunwillinglyfromtheTempleoftheMusesforthatofMoloch，andfoundthemselvesintheInquisition。
Buchanan，itseems，hadsaidthatSt。AugustinewasmoreofaLutheranthanaCatholiconthequestionofthemass。HeandhisfriendshadeatenfleshinLent;which，hesays，almosteveryoneinSpaindid。Buthewassuspected，andwithreason，asaheretic;theGrayFriarsformedbutonebrotherhoodthroughoutEurope;andnewsamongthemtravelledsurelyifnotfast，sothatthestoryofthesatirewritteninScotlandhadreachedPortugal。Theculpritswereimprisoned，examined，bullied——butnottortured——forayearandahalf。Attheendofthattime，theproofsofheresy，itseems，wereinsufficient;butlest，saysBuchananwithhonestpride，"theyshouldgetthereputationofhavingvainlytormentedamannotaltogetherunknown，"theysenthimforsomemonthstoamonastery，tobeinstructedbythemonks。"Themen，"hesays，"wereneitherinhumannorbad，bututterlyignorantofreligion;"andBuchanansolacedhimselfduringtheintervalsoftheirinstructions，bybeginninghisLatintranslationofthePsalms。
Atlasthegotfree，andbeggedleavetoreturntoFrance;butinvain。Andso，weariedout，hegotonboardaCandianshipatLisbon，andescapedtoEngland。ButEngland，hesays，duringtheanarchyofEdwardVI。’sreign，wasnotalandwhichsuitedhim;andhereturnedtoFrance，tofulfilthehopeswhichhehadexpressedinhischarming"DesideriumLutitiae，"andthestillmorecharming，becausemoresimple，"AdventusinGalliam，"inwhichhebidsfarewell，inmostmelodiousverse，to"thehungrymoorsofwretchedPortugal，andherclodsfertileinnaughtbutpenury。"
Somesevenyearssucceededofschoolmasteringandverse—writing：
theLatinparaphraseofthePsalms;anotherofthe"Alcestis"ofEuripides;anEpithalamiumonthemarriageofpoorMaryStuart，nobleandsincere，howeverfantasticandpedantic，afterthemannerofthetimes;"Pomps，"too，forherwedding，andforotherpublicceremonies，inwhichalltheheathengodsandgoddessesfigure;
epigrams，panegyrics，satires，muchofwhichlatterproductionshewouldhaveconsignedtothedust—heapinhisoldage，hadnothistoofondfriendspersuadedhimtorepublishthefolliesandcoarsenessesofhisyouth。HewasnowoneofthemostfamousscholarsinEurope，andtheintimatefriendofallthegreatliterarymen。Washetogoontotheend，die，andnomore？Washetosinkintothemerepedant;or，ifhecouldnotdothat，intothemerecourtversifier？
Thewarsofreligionsavedhim，astheysavedmanyanothernoblesoul，fromthatdegradation。Theeventsof1560—62forcedBuchanan，astheyforcedmanyalearnedmanbesides，tochoosewhetherhewouldbeachildoflightorachildofdarkness;whetherhewouldbeadilettanteclassicist，orapreacher——itmightbeamartyr——oftheGospel。BuchananmayhaveleftFrancein"TheTroubles"merelytoenjoyinhisowncountryelegantandlearnedrepose。Hemayhavefanciedthathehadfoundit，whenhesawhimself，inspiteofhispublicprofessionofadherencetotheReformedKirk，readingLivyeveryafternoonwithhisexquisiteyoungsovereign;master，byherfavour，ofthetemporalitiesofCrossraguelAbbey，andbythefavourofMurray，PrincipalofSt。Leonard’sCollegeinSt。Andrew’s。
Perhapshefanciedattimesthat"to—morrowwastobeasto—day，andmuchmoreabundant;"thatthenceforthhemightreadhisfolio，andwritehisepigram，andjokehisjoke，asalazycomfortablepluralist，takinghismorningstrollouttothecornerwherepoorWisharthadbeenburned，abovetheblueseaandtheyellowsands，andlookinguptothecastletowerfromwhencehisenemyBeaton’scorpsehadbeenhungout;withthecomfortablereflectionthatquietertimeshadcome，andthatwhateverevildeedsArchbishopHamiltonmightdare，hewouldnotdaretoputthePrincipalofSt。
Leonard’sintothe"bottledungeon。"
IfsuchhopesevercrossedGeordie’skeenfancy，theyweredisappointedsuddenlyandfearfully。ThefirewhichhadbeenkindledinFrancewastoreachtoScotlandlikewise。"Revolutionsarenotmadewithrose—water;"andthetimewasathandwhenallgoodspiritsinScotland，andGeorgeBuchananamongthem，hadtochoose，onceandforall，amiddanger，confusion，terror，whethertheywouldserveGodorMammon;fortoservebothwouldbesoonimpossible。
Whichside，inthatwaroflightanddarkness，GeorgeBuchanantook，isnotorious。Hesawthen，asothershaveseensince，thatthetwomeninScotlandwhowerecapableofbeinghercaptainsinthestrifewereKnoxandMurray;andtothemhegaveinhisallegianceheartandsoul。
ThisisthecriticalepochinBuchanan’slife。ByhisconducttoQueenMaryhemuststandorfall。Itismybeliefthathewillstand。Itisnotmyintentiontoenterintothedetailsofamattersopainful，soshocking，soprodigious;andnowthatthatquestionisfinallysetatrest，bythewritingsbothofMr。FroudeandMr。
Burton，thereisnoneedtoalludetoitfurther，savewhereBuchanan’snameisconcerned。OnemaynowhaveeverysympathywithMaryStuart;onemayregardwithaweafiguresostately，sotragic，inonesensesoheroic，——forsheremindsoneratheroftheheroineofanoldGreektragedy，swepttoherdoombysomeirresistiblefate，thanofabeingofourownfleshandblood，andofourmodernandChristiantimes。Onemaysympathisewiththegreatwomanhoodwhichcharmedsomanywhileshewasalive;whichhascharmed，inlateryears，somanynoblespiritswhohavebelievedinherinnocence，andhavedoubtlessbeenelevatedandpurifiedbytheirdevotiontoonewhoseemedtothemanidealbeing。Sofarfromregardingherasahatefulpersonage，onemayfeeloneselfforbiddentohateawomanwhomGodmayhaveloved，andmayhavepardoned，tojudgefromthepunishmentsoswift，andyetsoenduring，whichHeinflicted。Atleast，hemustsobelievewhoholdsthatpunishmentisasignofmercy;thatthemostdreadfulofalldoomsisimpunity。
Nay，more，those"Casket"lettersandsonnetsmaybearelieftothemindofonewhobelievesinherguiltonothergrounds;areliefwhenonefindsinthematenderness，asweetness，adelicacy，amagnificentself—sacrifice，howeverhideouslymisplaced，whichshowswhatawomanlyheartwasthere;aheartwhich，joinedtothatqueenlybrain，mighthavemadeherablessingandaglorytoScotland，hadnotthewholecharacterbeenwarpedandruinatefromchildhood，byaneducationsoabominable，thatanyonewhoknowswhatwordsshemusthaveheard，whatscenesshemusthavebeheldinFrance，fromheryouthup，willwonderthatshesinnedsolittle：
notthatshesinnedsomuch。Onemayfeel，inaword，thatthereiseveryexcuseforthosewhohaveassertedMary’sinnocence，becausetheirownhigh—mindednessshrankfrombelievingherguilty：butyetBuchanan，inhisownplaceandtime，mayhavefeltasdeeplythathecoulddonootherwisethanhedid。
Thechargesagainsthim，asallreadersofScotchliteratureknowwell，maybereducedtotwoheads。1st。Thelettersandsonnetswereforgeries。MaitlandofLethingtonmayhaveforgedtheletters;
Buchanan，accordingtosome，thesonnets。Whoeverforgedthem，BuchananmadeuseoftheminhisDetection，knowingthemtobeforged。2nd。WhetherMarywasinnocentornot，Buchananactedabaseandungratefulpartinputtinghimselfintheforefrontamongstheraccusers。Hehadbeenhertutor，herpensioner。Shehadheapedhimwithfavours;and，afterall，shewashisqueen，andadefencelesswoman：andyethereturnedherkindness，inthehourofherfall，byinvectivesfitonlyforarancorousandrecklessadvocate，determinedtoforceaverdictbythebasestartsoforatory。
NowastotheCasketletters。Ishouldhavethoughttheyboreinthemselvesthebestevidenceofbeinggenuine。IcanaddnothingtotheargumentsofMr。FroudeandMr。Burton，savethis：thatnoonecleverenoughtobeaforgerwouldhaveputtogetherdocumentssoincoherent，andsoincomplete。Fortheevidenceofguiltwhichtheycontainis，afterall，slightandindirect，and，moreover，superfluousaltogether;seeingthatMary’sguiltwasopenandpalpable，beforethesupposeddiscoveryoftheletters，toeverypersonathomeandabroadwhohadanyknowledgeofthefacts。Asfortheallegedinconsistencyoftheletterswithprovenfacts：
theansweris，thatwhosoeverwrotetheletterswouldbemorelikelytoknowfactswhichweretakingplacearoundthemthananycriticcouldbeonehundredorthreehundredyearsafterwards。Butifthesemistakesastofactsactuallyexistinthem，theyareonlyafreshargumentfortheirauthenticity。Mary，writinginagonyandconfusion，mighteasilymakeamistake：forgerswouldonlytaketoogoodcaretomakenone。
Butthestrongestevidenceinfavourofthelettersandsonnets，inspiteoftheargumentsofgoodDr。WhittakerandotherapologistsforMary，istobefoundintheirtone。AforgerinthosecoarsedayswouldhavemadeMarywriteinsomeSemiramisorRoxanavein，utterlyalientothetenderness，thedelicacy，thepitifulconfusionofmind，theconsciousweakness，theimploringandmostfemininetrustwhichmakestheletters，tothosewho——asIdo——believeinthem，morepatheticthananyfictitioussorrowswhichpoetscouldinvent。Morethanonetouch，indeed，ofutterself—abasement，inthesecondletter，issounexpected，sosubtle，andyetsotruetotheheartofwoman，that——ashasbeenwellsaid——ifitwasinventedtheremusthaveexistedinScotlandanearlierShakespeare;whoyethasdiedwithoutleavinganyothersign，forgoodorevil，ofhisdramaticgenius。
Asforthetheory（totallyunsupported）thatBuchananforgedthepoemusuallycalledthe"Sonnets;"itispayingoldGeordie’sgenius，howeverversatileitmayhavebeen，toohighacomplimenttobelievethathecouldhavewrittenboththemandtheDetection;
whileitispayinghisshrewdnesstoolowacomplimenttobelievethathecouldhaveputintothem，outofmerecarelessnessorstupidity，thewell—knownline，whichseemsincompatiblewiththetheorybothofthelettersandofhisownDetection;andwhichhaserenowbeenbroughtforwardasafreshproofofMary’sinnocence。
And，aswiththeletters，sowiththesonnets：theirdelicacy，theirgrace，theirreticence，aresomanyargumentsagainsttheirhavingbeenforgedbyanyScotofthesixteenthcentury，andleastofallbyoneinwhosecharacter——whateverhisothervirtuesmayhavebeen——delicacywasbynomeansthestrongestpoint。
AsforthecomplaintthatBuchananwasungratefultoMary，itmustbesaid：Thatevenifshe，andnotMurray，hadbestowedonhimthetemporalitiesofCrossraguelAbbeyfouryearsbefore，itwasmerelyfairpayforservicesfairlyrendered;andIamnotawarethatpayment，orevenfavours，howevergracious，bindanyman’ssoulandconscienceinquestionsofhighestmoralityandhighestpublicimportance。Andtheimportanceofthatquestioncannotbeexaggerated。AtamomentwhenScotlandseemedstrugglingindeath—
throesofanarchy，civilandreligious，andwasindangerofbecomingapreyeithertoEnglandortoFrance，iftherecouldnotbeformedoutoftheheartofherapeople，steadfast，trusty，united，strongpoliticallybecausestronginthefearofGodandthedesireofrighteousness——atsuchamomentasthis，acrimehadbeencommitted，thelikeofwhichhadnotbeenheardinEuropesincethetragedyofJoanofNaples。AllEuropestoodaghast。ThehonouroftheScottishnationwasatstake。MorethanMaryorBothwellwereknowntobeimplicatedinthedeed;and——asBuchananputsitintheopeningofhis"DeJureRegni"——"Thefaultofsomefewwaschargeduponall;andthecommonhatredofaparticularpersondidredoundtothewholenation;sothatevensuchaswereremotefromanysuspicionwereinflamedbytheinfamyofmen’scrimes。"{17}
Tovindicatethenationalhonour，andtopunishtheguilty，aswellastosavethemselvesfromutteranarchy，thegreatmajorityoftheScotchnationhadtakenmeasuresagainstMarywhichrequiredexplicitjustificationinthesightofEurope，asBuchananfranklyconfessesintheopeningofhis"DeJureRegni。"Thechiefauthorsofthosemeasureshadbeensummoned，perhapsunwiselyandunjustly，toanswerfortheirconducttotheQueenofEngland。QueenElizabeth——afactwhichwasnotoriousenoughthen，thoughithasbeenforgottentillthelastfewyears——wasdoingherutmosttoshieldMary。Buchananwasdeputed，itseems，tospeakoutforthepeopleofScotland;andcertainlyneverpeoplehadanablerapologist。Ifhespokefiercely，savagely，itmustberememberedthathespokeofafierceandsavagematter;ifheused——anditmaybeabused——alltheartsoforatory，itmustberememberedthathewasfightingforthehonour，anditmaybeforthenationallife，ofhiscountry，andstriking——asmeninsuchcaseshavearighttostrike——ashardashecould。Ifhemakesnosecretofhisindignation，andevencontempt，itmustberememberedthatindignationandcontemptmaywellhavebeenrealwithhim，whiletheywererealwiththesoundestpartofhiscountrymen;withthatreformingmiddleclass，comparativelyuntaintedbyFrenchprofligacy，comparativelyundebauchedbyfeudalsubservience，whichhasbeentheleavenwhichhasleavenedthewholeScottishpeopleinthelastthreecenturieswiththeelementsoftheirgreatness。If，finally，heheapsupagainsttheunhappyQueenchargeswhichMr。
Burtonthinksincredible，itmustberememberedthat，ashewellsays，thesechargesgivethepopularfeelingaboutQueenMary;anditmustberememberedalso，thatthatpopularfeelingneednothavebeenaltogetherunfounded。Storieswhichareincredible，thankGod，inthesemilderdays，werecredibleenoughthen，because，alas！theyweresooftentrue。ThingsmoreuglythananyrelatedofpoorMarywerepossibleenough——asnooneknewbetterthanBuchanan——inthatveryFrenchcourtinwhichMaryhadbeenbroughtup;thingsasuglywerepossibleinScotlandthen，andforatleastacenturylater;
andwhilewemayhopethatBuchananhasoverstatedhiscase，wemustnotblamehimtooseverelyforyieldingtoatemptationcommontoallmenofgeniuswhentheircreativepowerisrousedtoitshighestenergybyagreatcauseandagreatindignation。
Andthatthegeniuswasthere，nomancandoubt;onecannotreadthat"hideouslyeloquent"descriptionofKirko’Field，whichMr。
BurtonhaswellchosenasaspecimenofBuchanan’sstyle，withoutseeingthatwearefacetofacewithageniusofaveryloftyorder：
not，indeed，oftheloftiest——forthereisalwaysinBuchanan’swork，itseemstome，awantofunconsciousness，andawantoftenderness——butstillageniusworthytobeplacedbesidethoseancientwritersfromwhomhetookhismanner。Whetherornotweagreewithhiscontemporaries，whosaythatheequalledVirgilinLatinpoetry，wemayplacehimfairlyasaprosewriterbythesideofDemosthenes，Cicero，orTacitus。AndsoIpassfromthispainfulsubject;onlyquoting——ifImaybepermittedtoquote——Mr。Burton’swiseandgentleverdictonthewhole。"Buchanan，"hesays，"thoughazealousProtestant，hadagooddealoftheCatholicandscepticalspiritofErasmus，andanadmiringeyeforeverythingthatwasgreatandbeautiful。Liketherestofhiscountrymen，hebowedhimselfinpresenceofthelustrethatsurroundedtheearlycareerofhismistress。Morethanonceheexpressedhisprideandreverenceintheinspirationofageniusdeemedbyhiscontemporariestobeworthyofthetheme。Thereisnot，perhaps，tobefoundelsewhereinliteraturesosolemnamemorialofshipwreckedhopes，ofasunnyopeningandastormyend，asonefindsinturningtheleavesofthevolumewhichcontainsthebeautifulepigram"NymphaCaledoniae"inonepart，the"DetectioMariaeReginae"inanother;andthiscontrastis，nodoubt，afaithfulparallelofthereactioninthepopularmind。Thisreactionseemstohavebeengeneral，andnotlimitedtotheProtestantparty;fortheconditionsunderwhichitbecamealmostapartofthecreedoftheChurchofRometobelieveinherinnocencehadnotarisen。"
IfBuchanan，assomeofhisdetractorshavethought，raisedhimselfbysubserviencytotheintriguesoftheRegentMurray，thebestheadsinScotlandseemtohavebeenofadifferentopinion。ThemurderofMurraydidnotinvolveBuchanan’sfall。Hehadavengedit，asfaraspencoulddoit，bythat"AdmonitionDirecttotheTrewLordis，"inwhichheshowedhimselfasgreatamasterofScottish，ashewasofLatinprose。Hissatireofthe"Chameleon，"
thoughitspublicationwasstoppedbyMaitland，musthavebeenreadinmanuscriptbymanyofthosesame"TrueLords;"andthoughtherewerenoblerinstinctsinMaitlandthananyBuchanangavehimcreditfor，thesatirebreathedanhonestindignationagainstthatwilyturncoat’smisgoings，whichcouldnotbutrecommendtheauthortoallhonestmen。Thereforeitwas，Ipresume，andnotbecausehewasarogue，andahiredliteraryspadassin，thattothebestheadsinScotlandheseemedsouseful，itmaybesoworthy，aman，thathebeprovidedwithcontinuallyincreasingemployment。AstutortoJamesI。;asdirector，forashorttime，ofthechancery;askeeperoftheprivyseal，andprivycouncillor;asoneofthecommissionersforcodifyingthelaws，andagain——forinthesemi—anarchicstateofScotland，governmenthadtodoeverythinginthewayoforganisation——inthecommitteeforpromulgatingastandardLatingrammar;inthecommitteeforreformingtheUniversityofSt。
Andrew’s：inalltheseBuchanan’stalentswereagainandagaincalledfor;andalwaysready。Thevalueofhiswork，especiallythatforthereformofSt。Andrew’s，mustbejudgedbyScotsmen，ratherthanbyanEnglishman;butallthatoneknowsofitjustifiesMelville’ssentenceinthewell—knownpassageinhismemoirs，whereinhedescribesthetutorsandhouseholdoftheyoungking。
"Mr。GeorgewasaStoicphilosopher，wholookednotfarbeforehim;"
inplainwords，ahigh—mindedandright—mindedman，bentondoingthedutywhichlaynearesthim。Theworstthatcanbesaidagainsthimduringthesetimesis，thathisnameappearswiththesumof100
poundsagainstit，asoneofthose"whoweretobeentertainedinScotlandbypensionsoutofEngland;"andRuddiman，ofcourse，commentsonthefactbysayingthatBuchanan"wasatlengthtoactunderthethreefoldcharacterofmalcontent，reformer，andpensioner："butitgivesnoproofwhatsoeverthatBuchananeverreceivedanysuchbribe;andintheverymonth，seemingly，inwhichthatlistwaswritten——10thMarch，1579——Buchananhadgivenaprooftotheworldthathewasnotlikelytobebribedorbought，bypublishingabook，asoffensiveprobablytoQueenElizabethasitwastohisownroyalpupil;namely，hisfamous"DeJureRegniapudScotos，"theveryprimer，accordingtomanygreatthinkers，ofconstitutionalliberty。HededicatesthatbooktoKingJames，"notonlyashismonitor，butalsoasanimportunateandboldexactor，whichinthesehistenderandflexibleyearsmayconducthiminsafetypasttherocksofflattery。"HehascomplimentedJamesalreadyonhisabhorrenceofflattery，"hisinclinationfarabovehisyearsforundertakingallheroicalandnobleattempts，hispromptitudeinobeyinghisinstructorsandgovernors，andallwhogivehimsoundadmonition，andhisjudgmentanddiligenceinexaminingaffairs，sothatnoman’sauthoritycanhavemuchweightwithhimunlessitbeconfirmedbyprobablereasons。"BuchananmayhavethoughtthatnineyearsofhissternrulehaderadicatedsomeofJames’sillconditions;thepetulancewhichmadehimkilltheMasterofMar’ssparrow，intryingtowrestitoutofhishand;thecarelessnesswithwhich——ifthestorytoldbyChytraeus，ontheauthorityofBuchanan’snephew，betrue——JamessignedawayhiscrowntoBuchananforfifteendays，andonlydiscoveredhismistakebyseeingBachananactinopencourtthecharacterofKingofScots。
Buchananhadatlastmadehimascholar;hemayhavefanciedthathehadmadehimlikewiseamanfulman：yethemayhavedreadedthat，asJamesgrewup，theoldinclinationswouldreturninstrongerandugliershapes，andthatflatterymightbe，asitwasafterall，thecauseofJames’smoralruin。Heatleastwillbenoflatterer。Heopensthedialoguewhichhesendstotheking，withacalmbutdistinctassertionofhismother’sguilt，andajustificationoftheconductofmenwhowerenowmostofthempasthelpingBuchanan，fortheywerelaidintheirgraves;andthengoesontoarguefairly，buttolaydownfirmly，inasortofSocraticdialogue，thoseveryprinciplesbyloyaltytowhichtheHouseofHanoverhasreigned，andwillreign，overtheserealms。SowithhisHistoryofScotland;
laterantiquarianresearcheshavedestroyedthevalueoftheearlierportionsofit：buttheyhavesurelyincreasedthevalueofthoselaterportions，inwhichBuchananinsertedsomuchwhichhehadalreadyspokenoutinhisDetectionofMary。Inthatbookalsoliberavitanimamsuam;hespokehismindfearlessofconsequences，inthefaceofakingwhohemusthaveknown——forBuchananwasnodullard——regardedhimwithdeepdislike，whomightinafewyearsbeabletoworkhisruin。
ButthosefewyearswerenotgiventoBuchanan。Hehadallbutdonehiswork，andhehastenedtogetitoverbeforethenightshouldcomewhereinnomancanwork。Onemustbeexcusedfortelling——onewouldnottellitinabookintendedtobereadonlybyScotsmen，whoknoworoughttoknowthetalealready——howthetwoMelvillesandBuchanan’snephewThomaswenttoseehiminEdinburgh，inSeptember，1581，hearingthathewasill，andhisHistorystillinthepress;andhowtheyfoundtheoldsage，truetohisschoolmaster’sinstincts，teachingtheHornbooktohisservant—lad;
andhowhetoldthemthatdoingthatwas"betterthanstealingsheep，orsittingidle，whichwasasbad，"andshowedthemthatdedicationtoJamesI。，inwhichheholdsuptohisimitationasaherowhoseequalwashardlytobefoundinhistory，thatveryKingDavidwhoseliberalitytotheRomishChurchprovokedJames’switticismthat"Davidwasasairsaintforthecrown。"AndrewMelville，soJamesMelvillesays，foundfaultwiththestyle。
Buchananrepliedthathecoulddonomoreforthinkingofanotherthing，whichwastodie。TheythenwenttoArbuthnot’sprinting—
house，andinspectedthehistory，asfarasthatterriblepassageconcerningRizzio’sburial，whereMaryisrepresentedas"layingthemiscreantalmostinthearmsofMauddeValois，thelatequeen。"
Alarmed，andnotwithoutreason，atsuchplainspeaking，theystoppedthepress，andwentbacktoBuchanan’shouse。Buchananwasinbed。"Hewasgoing，"hesaid，"thewayofwelfare。"Theyaskedhimtosoftenthepassage;thekingmightprohibitthewholework。
"Tellme，man，"saidBuchanan，"ifIhavetoldthetruth。"Theycouldnot，orwouldnot，denyit。"ThenIwillabidehisfeud，andallhiskin’s;pray，praytoGodforme，andletHimdirectall。"
"So，"saysMelville，"beforetheprintingofhischroniclewasended，thismostlearned，wise，andgodlymanendedhismortallife。"
Camdenhasahearsaystory——written，itmustberemembered，inJamesI。’stime——thatBuchanan，onhisdeath—bed，repentedofhisharshwordsagainstQueenMary;andanoldLadyRosythissaidtohavesaidthatwhenshewasyoungacertainDavidBuchananrecollectedhearingsomesuchwordsfromGeorgeBuchanan’sownmouth。Thosewhowill，mayreadwhatRuddimanandLovehavesaid，andoversaid，onbothsidesofthequestion：whateverconclusiontheycometo，itwillprobablynotbethattowhichGeorgeChalmerscomesinhislifeofRuddiman：that"Buchanan，likeotherliars，who，bytherepetitionoffalsehoodsareinducedtoconsiderthefictionastruth，hadsooftendweltwithcomplacencyontheforgeriesofhisDetections，andthefigmentsofhisHistory，thatheatlengthregardedhisfictionsandhisforgeriesasmostauthenticfacts。"
Atalleventshisfictionsandhisforgerieshadnotpaidhiminthatcoinwhichbasemengenerallyconsidertheonlycoinworthhaving，namely，thegoodthingsofthislife。Heleftnothingbehindhim——ifatleastDr。Irvinghasrightlyconstruedthe"TestamentDative"whichhegivesinhisappendix——savearrearstothesumof100poundsofhisCrossraguelpension。WemaybelieveaswechoosethestoryinMackenzie’s"ScotchWriters"thatwhenhefelthimselfdying，heaskedhisservantYoungaboutthestateofhisfunds，andfindinghehadnotenoughtoburyhimselfwithal，orderedwhathehadtobegiventothepoor，andsaidthatiftheydidnotchoosetoburyhimtheymightlethimliewherehewas，orcasthiminaditch，thematterwasverylittletohim。Hewasburied，itseems，attheexpenseofthecityofEdinburgh，intheGreyfriars’Churchyard——onesaysinaplainturfgrave——amongthemarblemonumentswhichcoveredthebonesofworseormeanermen;andwhetherornotthe"Throughstone"which，"sunkunderthegroundintheGreyfriars，"wasraisedandcleanedbytheCouncilofEdinburghin1701，wasreallyGeorgeBuchanan’s，thereigningpowerstroubledthemselveslittleforseveralgenerationswherehelay。
ForBuchanan’spoliticsweretooadvancedforhisage。NotonlyCatholicScotsmen，likeBlackwood，Winzet，andNinian，butProtestants，likeSirThomasCraigandSirJohnWemyss，couldnotstomachthe"DeJureRegni。"Theymayhavehadsomereasonontheirside。InthethenanarchicstateofScotland，organisationandunityunderacommonheadmayhavebeenmoreimportantthantheassertionofpopularrights。Bethatasitmay，in1584，onlytwoyearsafterhisdeath，theScotsParliamentcondemnedhisDialogueandHistoryasuntrue，andcommandedallpossessorsofcopiestodeliverthemup，thattheymightbepurgedof"theoffensiveandextraordinarymatters"whichtheycontained。The"DeJureRegni"
wasagainprohibitedinScotland，in1664，eveninmanuscript;andin1683，thewholeofBuchanan’spoliticalworkshadthehonourofbeingburnedbytheUniversityofOxford，incompanywiththoseofMilton，Languet，andothers，as"perniciousbooks，anddamnabledoctrines，destructivetothesacredpersonsofPrinces，theirstateandgovernment，andofallhumansociety。"AndthustheseedwhichBuchananhadsown，andMiltonhadwatered——fortheallegationthatMiltonborrowedfromBuchananisprobablytrue，andequallyhonourabletoboth——laytrampledintotheearth，andseeminglylifeless，tillittilleredout，andblossomed，andborefruittoagoodpurpose，intheRevolutionof1688。
ToBuchanan’sclearheadandstoutheart，Scotlandowes，asEnglandoweslikewise，muchofhermodernliberty。ButScotland’sdebttohim，itseemstome，isevengreateronthecountofmorality，publicandprivate。WhatthemoralityoftheScotchupperclasseswaslike，inBuchanan’searlydays，istoonotorious;andthereremainsproofenough——inthewritings，forinstance，ofSirDavidLindsay——thatthemoralityofthepopulace，whichlookeduptothenoblesasitsexampleanditsguide，wasnotawhitbetter。Asanarchyincreased，immoralitywaslikelytoincreaselikewise;andScotlandwasinseriousdangeroffallingintosuchastateasthatintowhichPolandfell，toitsruin，withinahundredandfiftyyearsafter;inwhichthesavageryoffeudalism，withoutitsorderoritschivalry，wouldbevarnishedoverbyathincoatingofFrench"civilisation，"and，asinthecaseofBothwell，thevicesofthecourtofParisshouldbeaddedtothoseoftheNorthernfreebooter。
TodeliverScotlandfromthatruin，itwasneededthatsheshouldbeunitedintoonepeople，strong，notinmerepolitical，butinmoralideas;strongbytheclearsenseofrightandwrong，bythebeliefinthegovernmentandthejudgmentsofalivingGod。AndthetonewhichBuchanan，likeKnox，adoptedconcerningthegreatcrimesoftheirday，helpednotablythatnationalsalvation。Itgatheredtogether，organised，strengthened，thescatteredandwaveringelementsofpublicmorality。Itassuredtheheartsofallmenwholovedtherightandhatedthewrong;andtaughtawholenationtocallactsbytheirjustnames，whoevermightbethedoersofthem。
Itappealedtothecommonconscienceofmen。ItproclaimedauniversalandGod—givenmorality，abaratwhichall，fromthelowesttothehighest，mustalikebejudged。
Thetonewasstern：buttherewasneedofsternness。Morallifeanddeathwereinthebalance。IftheScotspeopleweretobetoldthatthecrimeswhichrousedtheirindignationwereexcusable，orbeyondpunishment，ortobehushedupandslippedoverinanyway，therewasanendofmoralityamongthem。Everyman，fromthegreatesttotheleast，wouldgoanddolikewise，accordingtohispowersofevil。ThatmethodwasbeingtriedinFrance，andinSpainlikewise，duringthoseveryyears。Notoriouscrimeswerehushedupunderpretenceofloyalty;excusedaspoliticalnecessities;smiledawayasnaturalandpardonableweaknesses。Theresultwastheutterdemoralisation，bothofFranceandSpain。KnoxandBuchanan，theonefromthestandpointofanoldHebrewprophet，theotherratherfromthatofaJuvenaloraTacitus，triedtheothermethod，andcalledactsbytheirjustnames，appealingaliketoconscienceandtoGod。Theresultwasvirtueandpiety，andthatmanlyindependenceofsoulwhichisthoughtcompatiblewithheartyloyalty，inacountrylabouringunderheavydisadvantages，longdividedalmostintotwohostilecamps，tworivalraces。
Andthegoodinfluencewassoonmanifest，notonlyinthosewhosidedwithBuchananandhisfriends，butinthosewhomostopposedthem。TheRomanCatholicpreachers，whoatfirstassertedMary’srighttoimpuritywhiletheyallowedherguilt，grewsilentforshame，andsetthemselvestoassertherentireinnocence;whiletheScotswhohavefollowedtheirexamplehave，totheirhonour，takenupthesameground。TheyhavefoughtBuchananonthegroundoffact，notonthegroundofmorality：theyhavealleged——astheyhadafairrighttodo——theprobabilityofintrigueandforgeryinanagesoprofligate：theimprobabilitythataQueensogiftedbynatureandbyfortune，andconfessedlyforalongwhilesostrongandsospotless，shouldasitwerebyasuddeninsanityhaveprovedsountruetoherself。Theirnoblestandpurestsympathieshavebeenenlisted——andwhocanblamethem？——inloyaltytoaQueen，chivalrytoawoman，pityfortheunfortunateand——astheyconceived——theinnocent;butwhethertheyhavebeenrightorwrongintheirviewoffacts，theScotchpartisansofMaryhavealways——asfarasIknow——
beenrightintheirviewofmorals;theyhaveneverdeignedtoadmitMary’sguilt，andthentopalliateitbythosesentimental，orrathersensual，theoriesofhumannature，toocommoninacertainschoolofFrenchliterature，toocommon，alas！inacertainschoolofmodernEnglishnovels。Theyhavenotsaid，"Shedidit;butafterall，wasthedeedsoveryinexcusable？"Theyhavesaid，"Thedeedwasinexcusable：butshedidnotdoit。"AndsotheScotchadmirersofMary，whohavenumberedamongthemmanyapureandnoble，aswellasmanyagiftedspirit，havekeptatleastthemselvesunstained;andhaveshown，whetherconsciouslyornot，thattheytooshareinthatsturdyScotchmoralsensewhichhasbeensomuchstrengthened——asIbelievebytheplainspeechofgoodoldGeorgeBuchanan。
Footnotes：
{1}ThislecturewasdeliveredinAmericain1874。
{2}Black，translatorofMallett’s"NorthernAntiquities，"
SupplementaryChapterI。，andRafn’s"AntiquitatesAmericanae。"
{3}OntheFiftiethBirthdayofAgassiz。
{4}ThislecturewasgiveninAmericain1874。
{5}ThislecturewasgiveninAmericain1874。
{6}Thislectureandthetwoprecedingones，beingpublishedaftertheauthor’sdeath，havenothadthebenefitofhiscorrections。
{7}ALifeofRondelet，byhispupilLaurentJoubert，istobefoundappendedtohisworks;andwithanaccountofhisillnessanddeath，byhiscousin，ClaudeFormy，whichiswellworththeperusalofanyman，wiseorfoolish。Manyinterestingdetailsbeside，IowetothecourtesyofProfessorPlanchon，ofMontpellier，authorofadiscourseon"RondeletetviesDisciples，"whichappeared，withalearnedandcuriousAppendix，inthe"MontpellierMedical"for1866。
{8}ThislecturewasgivenatCambridgein1869。
{9}ThislecturewasgivenatCambridgein1869。
{10}IowethisaccountofBloet’s——whichappearstometheonlyonetrustworthy——tothecourtesyanderuditionofProfessorHenryMorley，whofindsitquotedfromBloet’s"Acroama，"inthe"ObservationumMedicarumRariorum，"lib。vii。，ofJohnTheodoreSchenk。ThosewhowishtoknowseveralcuriouspassagesofVesalius’slife，whichIhavenotinsertedinthisarticle，woulddowelltoconsultonebyProfessorMorley，"AnatomyinLongClothes，"
in"Fraser’sMagazine"forNovember，1853。MayIexpressahope，whichIamsurewillbesharedbyallwhohavereadProfessorMorley’sbiographiesofJeromeCardenandofCorneliusAgrippa，thathewillfindleisuretoreturntothestudyofVesalius’slife;andwilldoforhimwhathehasdoneforthetwojust—mentionedwriters？
{11}Olivarez’s"Relacion"istobefoundintheGranvelleStatePapers。ForthegeneralaccountofDonCarlos’sillness，andofthemiraculousagenciesbywhichhiscurewassaidtohavebeeneffected，thegeneralreadershouldconsultMissFrere’s"BiographyofElizabethofValois，"vol。i。pp。307—19。
{12}InjusticetopoorDoctorOlivarez，itmustbesaidthat，whileheallowsallforcetotheintercessionoftheVirginandofFrayDiego，andof"manyjustpersons，"hecannotallowthattherewasany"miracleproperlysocalled，"becausetheprincewascuredaccordingto"naturalorder，"andby"experimentalremedies"ofthephysicians。
{13}ThislecturewasgivenatCambridgein1869，andhasnothadthebenefitoftheauthor’scorrectionsforthepress。
{14}Delrio’sbook，afamousoneinitsday，waspublishedabout1612。
{15}ForatrueestimateofParacelsusyoumustread"FurPhilippusAureolusTheophrarstusvonHohenheim，"bythatgreatGermanphysicianandsavant，ProfessorMarx，ofGottiingen;alsoavaluablearticlefoundedonDr。Marx’sviewsinthe"NouveauBiographieUniverselle;"andalso——whichiswithinthereachofall——ProfessorMaurice’sarticleonParacelsusinVol。II。ofhishistoryof"MoralandMetaphysicalPhilosophy。"ButthebestkeytoParacelsusistobefoundinhisownworks。
{16}SosaysDr。Irving，writingin1817。Ihave，however，triedinvaintogetasightofthisbook。IneednottellScotchscholarshowmuchIamindebtedthroughoutthisarticletoMr。DavidIrving’seruditesecondeditionofBuchanan’sLife。
{17}Fromthequaintoldtranslationof1721，by"APersonofHonouroftheKingdomofScotland。"