THE Lives and Characters Of the most Eminent WRITERS OF THE SCOTS NATION; WITH An Abstract and Catalogue of Their WORKS: AND The Judgment of the LEARN'D Concerning BY GEORGE MACKENZIE, M. D. VOL. I. Mihi pulchrum imprimis videtur, non pati occidere, quibus Eternitas debeatur. C. Plinius Cæcil. Secund. Lib. V. Epist. 8. Cum Scotis animus fit, in quæcunque inclinant ftudia; nam nunquam Mufe de- Joan. Barclaius Icon. Animarum. EDINBURGH, Printed by James Watson in Craig's-Clofs, on the North-fide of the Crofs. M. DCC. VIII. To the Right Honourable, our Birth and Quality, confifts in Imitating the Actions of those Illu Arious Heroes, who have Diftinguish'd themfelves from the rest of Mankind, Baieither by their extraordinary Piety, baLearning or Valdir al thought, I could not make a more fuitable PreTent, hor better exprefs the Grate ploful Defire that L Have of letting the Publiek know, how much I am in 1 smot ni b'yline debted to your Lordship's Friendship and Kindness, than by: Prefen you with the Blues and Characters of the Illuftious Fertons of your own Nations not doubting, but that the fame Goodness that obliged me, to this Acknowledgment will alfò midduce your Lordship to accept of this First Opportunity I have had of ex preffing it. pl not yilmaï skok ert or stilra T Tis true, My Lord, that there are feveral Perfons I have here given an Account of, who are not to be propos'd as Patterns for your Imitation: No, My Lord, they acted in a lower Sphere, and were confin'd within the Narrow Limits of Cloysters. But there are others, that have been, not only the Glory of their own Nation, but the Envy and Admiration of all the other Nations that have heard of them: Yea, thofe of the lower Rank are not unworthy of your Lordship's Confideration, fince the Greatest Men in all Ages have either been the Patrons of fuchlike Perfons, or spent fome of their time in the fame Studies, that they imploy'd theirs in; many Inftances of which, I could give, out of the Grecian and Roman Hiftories: For,the Protecting and Encouraging of the Muses, either by their Liberality or Example, was the Diftinguishing Mark of Greatnefs amongst them; and Quintilian obferves of the Great Julius Caefar, That be Spoke, Wrote and Fought by the fame Spirit, and that the fame happy Genius which favour'd all his Victories, Animated all his Writings. Your Lordship will find, in the following Collections, our Noble and Illuftrious Prince Robert Bruce, amidst all the Hardships of A War |