A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen Volume 3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853 edition. Excerpt: ...write, that the day his corpse was brought forth to be interred, the pastoral staff," which was all of silver, and carried by Alexander Lauder a priest, broke in two pieces, one part thereof falling into the grave where the corpse was to be laid, and a voice was heard to cry, Tecum, Gulielme, Mitra sepelienda--With thee the mitre and glory thereof is buried." ERIGENA, John, Scotus, an eminent scholar of the middle age, is supposed to have been born at Ayr, early in the ninth century, though neither the place nor the date of his birth is ascertained with any precision. According to some, his principal name, Erigena, signifies that he wasiora at Ayr; but others point to Ergene, on the borders of Wales, as the place of bis nativity; while others, again, contend for Ireland, on the strength of his name Scotus, which, at that period, was used to indicate a native of the sister island. It would be a mere mockery to say, that any thing is known with certainty respecting the life of John Scotus Erigena. It is almost inconceivable, that a man should have been born among the rude people of Scotland in the ninth century, who afterwards distinguished himself in the eyes of Europe as a scholar. Assuming, nevertheless, the imperfect authorities which have handed down the name of this person, he seems to have, at an early period of his life, been entertained at the court of Charles the Bald, king of France, as a profound philosopher, and, what is strange, a witty and amusing companion. It is stated, as an instance of the latter qualification, that, being once asked by the king what was between a Scot and a sot, he answered, " Only the breadth of the table;" a proof, in fact, of the fabulous character of Erigena's history, since there could...