sixteen years in England, partly engaged in studying and partly in
teaching. During the latter part of this term he was a schoolmaster at
Bath, as appears from Dr. Hill’s answer to him, published in 1592; and
the fact of his residence in this city is corroborated at page 18 of
the present treatise. He then returned to Scotland, having gained a
reputation for the excellence of his learning and for the power he
possessed of communicating it to others. On the dismissal of Hercules
Rollock, Rector of the High School, Edinburgh, from his office, Hume was
unanimously chosen to succeed him, and his appointment was dated 23rd
April, 1596. During his incumbency the High School underwent many
changes, and received the form which it retains to the present day. In
March, 1606, Hume resigned his office to become principal master in the
grammar school founded a short time previously, at Prestonpans, by the
munificent John Davidson, minister of the parish. The following document
gives an account of Hume’s admission to this school:--

{Transcriber’s Note:
In this passage, caret ^ means that the following single letter,
or bracketed group of letters, was printed in superscript.}

“At hadintoun y^e 25 of Junij 1606. The q^{lk} day M^r Jo^n ker
minister of y^e panis producit y^e prēntat^one of M^r Alex^r
hoome to be schoolm^r of y^e schoole of y^e panis foundit be M^r J^o
Davedsone for instructioune of the youth in hebrew, greek and latine
subscryvet be yais to quhome M^r Jo^n davedsone gave power to noiãt
y^e man q^{lk} prēntat^one y^e prēbrie allowit and ordenit y^e
moderator & clerk to subscrive y^e samine in y^r names q^{lk} yay
ded. As also ordeanit y^t y^e said kirk of y^e panis suld be visited
upon y^e eight day of Julij next to come for admissione of y^e said
M^r Alex^r to y^e said office. The visitors wer appoyntit M^r Ar^d