JOHNSTON, John Professor of Divinity, University of St Andrews ¹

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  General Notes:

"Arms of Johnston of Caskieben

(m) John Johnston, Professor of Divinity at St. Andrews, d. 1611. He belonged to the Crimond branch. His Arms, painted about 1680, are on the ceiling of Old Marischal College, Aberdeen, but are the same as (1) above."

from The Heraldry of the Johnstons




"Johnston, John, a Latin poet and classical scholar of considerable eminence in the earlier part of the 17th century. Though this individual is one of the ornaments of a very distinguished age of Scottish literature, the date of his birth is not accurately ascertained, but it must have been previous to the year 1570, as in 1587 he began to be known to the world. He styles himself 'Abredonensis;' and as he was a member of the house of Crimond, he was probably born at the family seat near Aberdeen.

Dr M'Crie, whose minute labours have thrown so much light on the literary history of this period, has, among other facts connected with Johnston, (which we shall here carefully recapitulate,) discovered the name of his master, from the last will of the poet, in which he affectionately leaves to that individual his white cup with the silver foot.'[Item \endash I leave to Mr Robert Merser, Persoun of Banquhorie, .... my auld kind maister, in talken of my thankful dewtie, my quhyit cupe with the silver fit.' - M'Crie's Melville, i. 351.] The same instrument appoints, as one of his executors, 'Mr Robert Johnston of Creimond,' probably his brother, a person who appears to have been in 1635 elected provost of Aberdeen. [History of the Family of Johnston, 29.]

Johnston studied at King's college in Aberdeen, whence, after the usual custom of the age, he made a studious peregrination among the continental universities, which he continued during a period of eight years. In 1587, we find him at the university of Helmstadt, whence he transmitted a manuscript copy of Buchanan's Sphaera, to be re-edited by Pincier, along with two epigrams of his own. [M'Crie's Melville, i. 331.] In 1587, he was at the university of Restock, where he enjoyed the intimacy and correspondence of the elegantly learned but fanciful Justus Lipsius. An epistle from this veteran in classical criticism to his younger associate, is preserved in the published correspondence of the former, and may interest from the paternal kindness of its spirit, and the acknowledgment it displays of the promising genius of the young Scottish poet. [....]

We learn that he had married Catharine Melville of the family of Carribee - but at what period seems not to be known - and he has left behind him epitaphs on her and their two children."

from Electric Scotland website

Note:

It is more likely that Robert Johnston, Provost of Aberdeen, was a nephew of John Johnston rather than his brother.




"Hardback; edge of pages untrimmed, otherwise good in creased, chipped and marked dustjacket. ; Seventy-three letters written by John Johnston, a Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews from 1593 to 1611, and twenty-three letters from John Howie, first Principal of Marischal College, Aberdeen, and Andrew Melville's successor in St. Andrews from 1607 to 1641. Illustrated; lxxxivpp. ; 392 pages

Title: LETTERS OF JOHN JOHNSTON C.1565-1611 AND ROBERT HOWIE C.1565-C.1645

Author Name: Cameron, James Kerr (edited. )

Location Published: University Court of the University of St. Andrews / Oliver & Boyd: 1963"

from Paul Meekins weebsite ^{1 2 3}