the age, was promoted to the fee, that the inftitutions of the univerfity attained 
their full fplendor. 
The high encomiums given him in the royal charter, and other parti- 
culars relative to this eftablilhment, feem worthy of an extraft ; and, along 
with a few particulars of Boetius’s comment, will afford an ample idea of 
the fubjeft. 
« For the fpecial devotion, fays the monarch, which we bear to the moft 
« glorious Virgin Mary , patron of the cathedral church of Aberdon, m 
« praife and honour of her ; and for the fingular favour and love we bear 
« towards the reverend father in Chrift William Elphingston, prefent bifhop 
“ and prelate of the faid cathedral church, our well beloved chancellor? 
« keeper of our privy-seal and for his faithful and willing fervice ; freely 
<f undertaking great travel and expences at diverfe times in our employments, 
« and ambaffages to the kings and kingdoms of France and England ; to the 
« dukes of Burgundy and Auftria, and other potentates and foreign parts ; and 
tc in our fervice within our kingdom— for the common wealth and tranquillity 
<c thereof diverfe ways by him accomplifhed. And alfo— for the unity, quiet, 
« and neceffary fuftentation of the reverend father and his fucceffors, the chapter, 
« can0 ns, chaplains, and fubftitutes of the forelaid cathedral church and univerfity 
“ of Aberdon, and their domeftic fervitors there refiding: — We have created, 
« made, and feued, now of new as before, and by the tenor of this our prefent 
« charter, we create, make, and feu the aforefaid vill of Aberdon , with the bounds 
« and pertinents, into a city and university, and into a free burgh 
“ barony for ever.” 
As it was one of the peculiar and prevailing tenets of that fera, to hold the 
papal authoriry requifite, to give fan ft ion to every more important eftablifhment, f°’ 
promoting religion and fcience; bishop Elphingston obtained from pop e 
Alexander VI. an edift; — “ conftituting the bilhops (of Aberdeen chancellors of the 
« univerfity, in all time coming, foie and fupreme judges of all caufes therein, 
« whether temporal or fpiritual; and endowing it with all the privileges enjoyed 
M by the univerfities of Paris and Bononia.” 
Boetius is warm and animated in his eulogiums of the above eminent 
charafter, whom he calls, the chofen of God, and the glory of the age ’.—they 
do equal honour to their author, as to the prelate, in whofe praife they are 
written ; and, involving other eircumftances relative to the eftablilhment of th 
univerfity, are every way deferving of record here. “ It gives us joy to con- 
« template ftch a charafter; we ought to be grateful to Heaven, which g a ^ e 
« us f 0 great a pattern of all excellence in knowledge and in virtue. — If the 111(10 
« is to be extolled, who adds fplendor and dignity to the inftitutions of relig 1 ^ 
« an d of fcience, whereby the number of learned perfons are increafed, for i 
« promotion of devotion and knowledge If we account any man worthy 0 
« immortality for his virtue; — or any thing more excellent than virtue 
<« -whereby youth paifes uncorrupted, manhood illuftrious, and age re fp e ^ ca ^.* 
u gy integrity, piety, and fanftity of life ; Such was he who wore the mitre at 
70 u time* 
