CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Historical Account of the Philosopher’s Paternal and Maternal Lineage—Errors of Genealogical and Heraldic Writers regarding his Family, . • • Page 1

CHAPTER II.

Historical Account of the Philosopher’s Contemporary Relatives, and of the conspicuousparts they enacted in Scotland from the period of his Birth to the commencement of hispublic Education—Letters from his uncle, the Bishop of Orkney , to the Laird and Ladyof Merchiston, . ....... 56

CHAPTER III.

Of the Philosopher’s College Education—Notices of his most distinguished Contemporaries—Theory of his Travels—Farther Particulars of his Family and Relatives in connec-tion with the History of the Times—Letter from the Bishop of Orkney to the Laird ofMerchiston regarding the Plague of 1568—Conduct of that Prelate , and other Rela-tives of the Philosopher, towards Mary of Scotland —The Philosopher’s First Marriage—Various Sieges of the Castle of Merchiston during the King and Queen’s Wars , . 83

CHAPTER IV.

Of the Philosopher’s Habits, and Personal Connection with the State of Affairs in Scot-land—His Second Marriage—Opposed to his Father-in-Law in Public Affairs—HisMission from the General Assembly of the Church to James VI —His Epistle Dedica-tory to that Monarch, urging Reform in Church aud State,

CHAPTER V.

History and Analysis of the Philosopher’s Commentaries upon the Apocalypse—Compa-rison with Sir Isaac Newton and other Modern Writers on Prophecy—The Philosopher,a Poet,

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