[13] The entry of his name as a student on the roll is in the following terms: "In Academiam regiam Aberdonensem recepti sunt adolescentes quorum nomina sequuntur, præceptore Alexandro Lunano, Anno 1622.
[14] _King's College: Officers and Graduates_, by P. J. Anderson, M.A., pp. 347, 348.
[15] An "eminent Yorkshire educationist" introduced the same rules into the establishment under his charge. It is probable, however, that in Mr Squeers's case the arrangement was the result of independent research into methods of education, rather than a hint borrowed from Andrew Melville. "No holidays--none of those ill-judged comings home twice a year that unsettle children's minds so!" (_Nicholas Nickleby_, chap. iv.).
It is only fair to say that there are doubts as to how far the arrangements under the _Nova Fundatio_, as above described, were in force in Sir Thomas Urquhart's student days. If the older system were still in operation, the Alexander Lunan, who is mentioned as his preceptor, would virtually have taught our author all the subjects contained in the curriculum through which he passed. As there is no proof that Alexander Lunan was another Admirable Crichton, the fact of his doing so would strengthen what we have said above as to the comparative slightness of the erudition imparted in a university education in those days. Sir Thomas Urquhart speaks of having "learned the elements of his philosophy" in the University of Aberdeen under William Seaton (_Works_, p. 263). It has been suggested that it is an error for John Seaton, and that it indicates that our author, like many other students of King's College, took a session or two at Marischal College (see Anderson's _Fasti Acad. Marisc._ ii. 34, 588).
[17] Dr Lesley was successively Humanist, Regent, Sub-Principal, and Principal of King's College. In 1639 he was deprived of his office by the Covenanting party.
[19] _Works_, p. 263. The editor of the _Book of Bon Accord_ gives a lower estimate of Dr Guild's character: he says that his works are of no literary merit, and that he got fame by his wealth and ostentatious liberality. He was minister of King-Edward before he went to Aberdeen; and his widow, Catharine Rolland, founded a bursary at the university for young men belonging to that parish.