SIR ROBERT SIBBALD. 23 



attended with bad consequences, as it led him to 

 the study of Sir Kenelm Digby's works " with 

 great delight." Under the direction of Leighton, 

 he was put upon a better course ; but it is pro- 

 bable that his early admiration of Sir Kenelm 

 might have some influence upon his opinions at 

 the time he changed his religion, Digby having, 

 like himself, embraced the Romish faith. Be this 

 as it may, Leighton's influence and his mother's 

 both encouraged him in theological studies. The 

 latter was anxious he should enter into the minis- 

 try ; but the polemical disputes at that time raging 

 so furiously, had so completely banished all traces 

 of Christian charity from the professors of religion, 

 and Leighton had so impressed on his pupil 

 the duty of loving " all good men of any per- 

 suasion," that he preferred a mode of life that 

 would not almost necessarily involve him in the 

 factions of Church and State. 



Having chosen the profession of medicine, as 

 one in which he could keep clear of party politics, 

 and be of utility to his fellow-creatures, he pro- 

 ceeded to Leyden, at that time in high repute as 

 the first medical university in the world. He 

 embarked in a Dutch frigate, March 23, 1660, 

 and remained there a year and a half, studying 

 anatomy and surgery, under Van Home ; botany, 

 under Adolphus Vorstius ; the institutions and 

 practice of medicine with Sylvius ; and chemistry 



