en they came to the
disputte, they were vncouered. Ther werre three of the five
ministers forsaide present at the disputs, viz., Mr. Alexander
Moncriefe, Mr. Walt. Greige, and Mr. Ja. Sharpe [afterwards
archbishop of St. Andrews], wha had decisive voices in the electione
of a Regent (thir werre the first ministers that ever had voice in
the electione of a measter to ane of the colledges there, the
custome formerlie, and of olde, was, that every colledge had
libertie to chose thir owne measters) For Mr. Ja. Weymes he was the
warst of the three, for in the disputs, he bracke Priscian's head
verry often, for Mr. Alex. James and Mr. Wil. Diled they werre
judged _pares_ by the wholle meitting, so that after longe debeatte,
they werre forcet to cast lotts, and the lott fell upon Mr. Alex
Jamesone wha did succeide to the forsaide vacant regents place. Mr.
Wil. Diled got a promise (bot with difficultie) of the next vacant
place. Mr. Ro. Noue, professor of Humanitie in the said colledge,
had no voice in the forsaide electione because, he was not present
at all the meittings of the disputs."--(Lamont's Diary, p. 4, Edin.
1830)

The last instance of a public competition for a chair in the
University of Glasgow, occurred towards the close of the seventeenth
century soon after the Revolution. It is remarkable enough that in
this case also, the result was ultimately determined by lot. "A
programme was immediately published, and on the day appointed no
less than nine candidates appeared to enter the lists in a
comparative trial. All of them acquitted themselves so well during
the whole course of a long trial that the electors were at a loss
whom to choose. Setting aside some of the nine who were thought less
deserving, they could not find a ground of preference among the
rest. It was therefore resolved, after prayer to God, to commit the
choice to lot. The lot fell upon Mr. John Law, and a present of five
pounds stirling was given to each of the other candidates. One of
the competitors was Mr. William Jamieson, a blind man known to the
learned world by his writings. He was after some years chosen to
give public lectures in the college upon Ecclesiastical History for
which he had a pension from the Crown till his death."--MS. Hist