JOHN ROW. John Row, second son of John Row, minister of Carnock and author of The History of the Kirk of Scotland, 1558-1637, and grandson of the well-known reformer of the same name, was born at Carnock, about 1598, and educated at the University of St. Andrews, graduating M.A from St. Leonard's College, 1617. He became master of the Grammar School of Kirkcaldy, and in 1632 was transferred to the Rectorship of the Grammar School of Perth, which enjoyed at that time a very great repute. A knowledge of Hebrew had been hereditary in the family (M'Crie's Knox, p. 375, for grandfather; Row's History, ed. Laing, p. 466, for father), and this language was taught by Row at Perth, where he drew up a Grammar, dedicated in 1637 to a former pupil of his, the Earl of Kinnoul. In 1641 Row, who had entered the ministry, was translated to Aberdeen, as minister of St. Nicholas Church, and Spalding, the local chronicler, who never misses an attack on him and Andrew Cant, on frivolous grounds, thus introduces his enemy (Memorialls, ii. 89): "Mr. Johne Rew, scool maister at Sanct Johnstoun, by convoy of Mr. Androw Cant, is brocht to Abirdein, quhair he baid his tryellis, being bot ane young man, and thair efter wes admittit minister at Abirdein. Mr. John Oswall, minister at Pencaithland, wes, by order of the generall assemblie, apointit to be translatit thairfra to Abirdein, quhair he cam with his wyf and famelie, to serve as ane minister. Thir ministeris, with the said Mr. Androw Cant, cam not be the tounes seiking, or free electioun, as they war wont to do, bot imposit vpone them be assemblies one way." On Nov. 23, 1642, the Provost and Council ordained that a Hebrew lesson be given weekly in Marischal College, and the Principal Patrick Dun was instructed to secure the service of Row. On Sept. 20, 1643, the Council, in consideration of the dedication of his Hebrew dictionary to Provost Patrick Leslie and the Town Council, assigned to him 400 merks Scots. Row's Hebræa Lingua Institutiones appeared at Glasgow in 1644. This is said by David Laing to be the first work of the kind ever printed in Scotland. In England, however, William Symson, minister of Dumbarton, had printed in London, 1617, his Regula de Accentibus Hebraicis (M'Crie's Andrew Melville, p. 388 n.: for the lack of Hebrew and Greek type in Scotland in 1579, see his Knox, pp. 309, 386). Row's work was commended to the Church by the General Assembly in 1646. In Aberdeen he acted with the Covenanting minority, and in March, 1645, along with Professor William Douglas, he had to seek refuge within the walls of Dunnottar Castle (Spalding, ii. 451, 459). He continued the History of his father down to July, 1639, under the quaint title of An Handful of Goat's Haire, for the Furthering of the Building of the Tabernacle, and he appears also to have meditated the preparation of a History of the Times. On the deposition of Dr. Guild from the Principalship of King's College, the Cromwellian Commissioners appointed Row in 1652 to the office. In October of the same year the new Principal along with John Menzies, Professor of Divinity at Marischal College, and John Seaton, minister in Old Aberdeen, was charged by the Church with separating themselves from the discipline of the Assembly and seceding to Independency. Row at least maintained the reputation of the University as a teacher and as a disciplinarian. In June, 1658, there was erected in the north-east corner of the quadrangle the building of six flats and of twenty-four chambers, which, from the help given by the officers of the Commonwealth in the north, has come in recent years to be styled "Cromwell's Tower" (Walker, Historical Notes, p. 29). "Nor in his care for the fabric did Row neglect the internal upbuilding of his college. He was a masterful man; not altogether ungenial, for he encouraged football, and did not frown on the 'wyn, tobacco and pypes' of the Regents; but he was a most strict disciplinarian of the Puritan type, and withal an alert educationist-his students becoming famous for their disputations in Philosophy, not in the vernacular, but in Greek, Latin, French or Hebrew. For nine years, from 1652 to 1661, John Row laboured and taught. And then the fate of Dr. Guild overtook him. At the restoration of the monarchy, Row was dismissed" (Aberd. Quatercent. Studies, p. 46). Row's Eucharistia Basilike, with its altered opinions and attack on Cromwell as Trux vilis vermis et alter Ahabus, was issued on June 14, 1660. But the Philistines were upon him, and his political time-serving failed to save him. He anticipated deposition by resignation on Aug. 1, 1661. He fell back on his old profession and opened a private school in New Aberdeen. Orem, who inherited the antipathies of Spalding with a virulence of his own, says Row's books were taken from the College to the Cross and burned by the hangman, adding that he lived "by keeping the said school, and for the most part by charity". He retired to the manse of his son-in-law, Mr. John Mercer, at Kinellar, where he died of palsy in 1672, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. For Row's Diary (now in possession of his descendant, James A. Wilson, M.A. 1885) see Scottish Notes and Queries, Aug., 1893. For the confusion of the Principal (Memorials of the Family of Row, Edinb. 1828) with the Independent John Rowe, M.A., Oxford, 1648, son of John Rowe of Crediton, Devonshire, see Laing's note in his edition of Row's History, Pref. p. 1. For authorities, see Laing's Preface; Orem's Description of Chanonry; Selections from Records of the Synod of Aberdeen, Spald. Club., Aberd. 1846. The Minutes of College for Feb. 18, 1664, mention Row's "poore and necessitous conditione" (King's Coll. Off, and Grads. p. 26). Row's effort in verse is conspicuously inferior to the similar productions by the Wedderburns and others of an older day. At times he is incoherent and obscure; his Hebrew, doubtless, was better than his Latin, which marks the decline from the classic period of the Raban Press. It is here printed as a historical curiosity, without an argument. The political apostasy of the old Roundhead is painful, and his breathless attempt to "rush" his book through the press on the eve of the Restoration has only served to land his Latinity in confusion and his memory in disgrace. For Cromwell's generous attitude to the University, attested under Row's own signature, see the recent evidence in Aberd. Quater. Studies, P. 44 n. That Row's hand was forced by the condition of affairs in Aberdeen is clear. The following bibliography for the period speaks for itself: 1. Message Sent from the King of Scots, And the Duke of York's Court in Flanders; to the Lord Douglas, and Collonel Brown; To be communicated to the rest of the Nobility and Gentry in the Scottish Nation. With Proposals and Overtures, for the composing of all Differences, the submitting to Counsel, and the preventing of a Universal Desolation. Printed at Aberdeen by David Straughan (possibly a print by James Brown under an alias): Signed "C. Culpepper"; Dated at Brussels, Nov. 6, 1659. 2. Address to Charles II. from the University of Aberdeen. 1660. Oblong folio leaf, printed on one side. 3. Britannia Rediviva, or a Gratulatory Sermon for His Majesties safe Arrival and happy Restitution to the Exercise of His Royall Government. Preached, at the desire of the Magistrats and Councell of Aberdeen, on the xix of June, which they had designed to be a day of Solemne Rejoicing within the City, for the Mercy above mentioned, by John Menzeis, Professor of Divinity; and Preacher of the Gospell in Aberdene. Aberdene; James Brown. 1660. 4. Post Nubila Phœbus, or a Sermon of Thanksgiving, &c. Preached in the City of Aberden, at the desire of the Lord Provest, Bailies, and Councell thereof, upon the xix day of June. By Mr. John Patersone, Minister of the Gospell in the said Burgh. James Brown. 1660. 5. Humble Address of the Synod of Aberdeen, praying for the Restoration of Episcopal Government in the Church of Scotland. Addressed to the High Commissioner and High Court of Parliament. Dated "at the King's Colledge at Aberdeen, the 18 of April, 1661 ". See Edmond's Aberdeen Printers, pp. 94-99. Against such a platoon of besotted loyalty schemings by shifty men like Menzies, a multitudinous turn-coat, and Professor Douglas, Row was in the hands of the Philistines. 5 10 15 EUCHARISTIA BASILIKE. A love principium: Christus mihi poßos Apollo, Quique thronum merito tandem conscendat avitum. (Impia quam pietas!) Veniunt sub voce parentis Rex, Pater, et Pastor; Dominum haec eademque parentem En spectat pietas. Erythraeis sustulit iste Qui manibus regem fidum populique parentem, 20 25 30 35 40 ποιμένα τοῦ λαοῦ, patrem patriaeque necavit, 5 2 3 Inde thronum et cunctos reditus possedit avarus, 41-44. Row, doubtless, has Aristotle (Poetics, 24) in view on the fitting qualities of the τὸ ἡρωικὸν μέτρον. 45 50 Iliacos intra muros laetatur et extra. Carolus eximius rex, nomine fortis et acer, 1 Reg. xvi. 7; 2 Reg. ix. 31. 1 Reg. xvi. 9, 10, 11, 16, etc. 5 Oliver Crōwel. Anag. O vile cruel worm! Occidisti, Dum possedisti. 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 Te reducem grato salvum salvere iubemus Lilia vicini spirantis, plectra süavis Reddere tu mites caveâ sine, vel sine clathris Pacem1 amet, et, si res poscant, sit ad arma paratus, Discordes solo (facta est quibus Anglia pulchra : Tempore crescit amor; sic mens hostilis in hostem. 1 1 Reg. iv. 26. 2 Pf. 137, 2. TT |