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not altogether a useful； pursuit。 Of his tragedies； so famous in their day
the 〃Baptist；〃 the 〃Medea；〃 the 〃Jephtha；〃 and the 〃Alcestis〃there is
neither space nor need to speak here； save to notice the bold declamations
in the 〃Baptist〃 against tyranny and priestcraft； and to notice also that
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these tragedies gained for the poor Scotsman； in the eyes of the best
scholars of Europe； a credit amounting almost to veneration。 When he
returned to Paris； he found occupation at once； and； as his Scots
biographers love to record； 〃three of the most learned men in the world
taught humanity in the same college；〃 viz。 Turnebus； Muretus； and
Buchanan。
Then followed a strange episode in his life。 A university had been
founded at Coimbra； in Portugal； and Andrea Govea had been invited to
bring thither what French savants he could collect。 Buchanan went to
Portugal with his brother Patrick； two more Scotsmen； Dempster and
Ramsay； and a goodly pany of French scholars； whose names and
histories may be read in the erudite pages of Dr。 Irving； went likewise。
All prospered in the new Temple of the Muses for a year or so。 Then its
high…priest； Govea； died； and； by a peripeteia too mon in those days
and countries； Buchanan and two of his friends migrated unwillingly from
the Temple of the Muses for that of Moloch； and found themselves in the
Inquisition。
Buchanan； it seems； had said that St。 Augustine was more of a
Lutheran than a Catholic on the question of the mass。 He and his friends
had eaten flesh in Lent； which； he says； almost everyone in Spain did。
But he was suspected； and with reason； as a heretic； the Gray Friars
formed but one brotherhood throughout Europe； and news among them
travelled surely if not fast； so that the story of the satire written in Scotland
had reached Portugal。 The culprits were imprisoned； examined； bullied
but not torturedfor a year and a half。 At the end of that time； the proofs
of heresy； it seems； were insufficient； but lest； says Buchanan with honest
pride； 〃they should get the reputation of having vainly tormented a man
not altogether unknown；〃 they sent him for some months to a monastery；
to be instructed by the monks。 〃The men；〃 he says； 〃were neither
inhuman nor bad； but utterly ignorant of religion；〃 and Buchanan solaced
himself during the intervals of their instructions； by beginning his Latin
translation of the Psalms。
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At last he got free； and begged leave to return to France； but in vain。
And so； wearied out； he got on board a Candian ship at Lisbon； and
escaped to England。 But England； he says； during the anarchy of Edward
VI。's reign； was not a land which suited him； and he returned to France； to
fulfil the hopes which he had expressed in his charming 〃Desiderium
Lutitiae；〃 and the still more charming； because more simple； 〃Adventus in
Galliam；〃 in which he bids farewell； in most melodious verse； to 〃the
hungry moors of wretched Portugal； and her clods fertile in naught but
penury。〃
Some seven years succeeded of schoolmastering and verse…writing： the
Latin paraphrase of the Psalms； another of the 〃Alcestis〃 of Euripides； an
Epithalamium on the marriage of poor Mary Stuart； noble and sincere；
however fantastic and pedantic； after the manner of the times； 〃Pomps；〃
too； for her wedding； and for other public ceremonies； in which all the
heathen gods and goddesses figure； epigrams； panegyrics； satires； much of
which latter productions he would have consigned to the dust…heap in his
old age； had not his too fond friends persuaded him to republish the follies
and coarsenesses of his youth。 He was now one of the most famous
scholars in Europe； and the intimate friend of all the great literary men。
Was he to go on to the end； die； and no more？ Was he to sink into the
mere pedant； or； if he could not do that； into the mere court versifier？
The wars of religion saved him； as they saved many another noble soul；
from that degradation。 The events of 1560…62 forced Buchanan； as they
forced many a learned man besides； to choose whether he would be a child
of light or a child of darkness； whether he would be a dilettante classicist；
or a preacherit might be a martyrof the Gospel。 Buchanan may have
left France in 〃The Troubles〃 merely to enjoy in his own country elegant
and learned repose。 He may have fancied that he had found it； when he
saw himself； in spite of his public profession of adherence to the
Reformed Kirk； reading Livy every afternoon with his exquisite young
sovereign； master； by her favour； of the temporalities of Crossraguel
Abbey； and by the favour of Murray； Principal of St。 Leonard's College in
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St。 Andrew's。 Perhaps he fancied at times that 〃to…m