T ROLLOCK._

Mr. Rollock was descended from the antient family of the Livingstons. He
was born about the year 1555. His father, David Rollock, sent him to
Stirling to be educated for the university under Thomas Buchanan, where
his genius, modesty and sweetness of temper soon procured to him the
particular friendship of his master, which subsisted ever after. From
this school, he went to the university of St Andrews, where he
prosecuted his studies for four years; at the end of which, his progress
had been so great, that he was chosen professor of philosophy, the
duties of which office he discharged with applause for other four years,
until, about the year 1583, he was invited, by the magistrates of
Edinburgh, to a profession in their university, which was, not long
before this time, founded by K. James VI. He complied with their
invitation, at the earnest desire of Mr James Lawson, who succeeded Mr
Knox. His reputation, as a teacher, soon drew a number of students to
that college, which was soon afterwards much enlarged, by being so
conveniently situated in the capital of the kingdom. At first he had the
principal weight of academical business laid upon him, but in process of
time, other professors were chosen from among the scholars which he
educated. After which, his chief employment was to exercise the office
of principal, by superintending the several classes, to observe the
proficiency of the scholars, to compose such differences as would arise
among them, and to keep every one to his duty. Thus was the principality
of that college, in his time, a useful institution, and not what it is
now, little better than a mere sine-cure.--Every morning, he called the
students together, when he prayed among them, and one day in the week,
he explained some passage of scripture to them, in the close of which,
he was frequently very warm in his exhortations, which wrought more
reformation upon the students, than all the laws which were made, or
discipline which was exercised besides. After the lecture was over, it
was his custom to reprove such as had been guilty of any misdemeanour
through the week. _How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold
changed!_ He was likewise very attentive to such as were advanced in
their studies, and intended the ministry. His care was productive of
much good to the church. He was as diligent in his own studies, as he
was careful to promote those of others.--Notwithstanding all this
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