bishop of Edinburgh, born at Aberdeen in the year 1585, was the son of Thomas Forbes, a respectable citizen descended from Forbes of Forsinday, whose ancestor was the second son of the same Lord Forbes from whom Forbes of Corse derived his lineage. His mother was Janet the sister of Dr Cargill, an eminent physician. From the grammar-school, where he had made unusual progress, he was at the early age of twelve removed to Marischal College, and there took the degree of A.M. The principal, Gilbert Gray, was so much pleased with his scholarship and modesty, that he procured his appointment to the professorship of logic. It was his duty to teach the logic of Aristotle, whom he very strenuously defended against the attacks of Ramus. This office he resigned at the expiration of four years, and afterwards prosecuted his theological studies on the Continent. Having landed at Dantzic, he travelled through a great part of Prussia and Poland. He studied in several of the universities, particularly those of Helmstädt and Heidelberg. He rendered himself familiar with the writings of the fathers and schoolmen; and in the Hebrew language he became a great proficient. After spending four years in Germany, he went to Holland, and visited the university of Leyden, where his relation Dr Jack was then a professor of philosophy; and thence he sailed for England. From London he proceeded to Oxford, where his learning was held in so much estimation that he was offered the professorship of Hebrew in that university; but his countryman Dr Craig, physician to the king, advised him to consult his health by returning to his native air; and he accordingly arrived at Aberdeen, after an absence of five years. The corporation immediately conferred upon him the freedom of the city. When his health was in some measure restored, he was appointed minister of Allford, whence he was removed to Monymusk. He soon acquired the reputation of a most eloquent preacher, and after a short interval he became one of the ministers of Aberdeen. During the king's visit to St Andrews in the year 1617, Forbes was created D.D.; and not long after, he was nominated principal of Marischal College, where he not only read lectures in divinity, but likewise taught Hebrew. After retaining the office for two years, he was induced to accept of a pastoral charge in Edinburgh, where, however, he soon discovered that his character and doctrines were held in much less estimation than in his native city. Aberdeen was the stronghold of Episcopacy, and its clergy were among the most learned and respectable of the Episcopalians; but in Edinburgh the Presbyterians were the predominant party, and Dr Forbes therefore found himself placed in a situation far from agreeable. When he already thought of resigning his living, his old friends at Aberdeen induced him to resume his spiritual labours among them, and there he continued to reside till near the close of his life. When King Charles visited Edinburgh in the year 1633, Forbes was one of those who preached before him; and the king was so much struck with his eloquence, that when he erected the new see he spontaneously nominated him as the first bishop. His patent bears the date of January 26, 1634; but he was not long permitted to enjoy his new dignity; he died on

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1 Burnet's Life of Redell, pref. 2 Orem's Description of King's College, Aberdeen, p. 85. the 11th of April, before he had completed the third month of his episcopate, and when he had only attained the forty-ninth year of his age. His remains were interred in the cathedral church of St. Giles.

Bishop Forbes was a man of very extensive reading, but he did not himself publish any work. Twenty-four years after the author's death, however, Thomas Sydserf, bishop of Galloway, published "Considerationes modestae et pacificae Controversiarum de Justificatione, Purgatorio, Invo- catione Sanctorum et Christo Mediatori, Eucharistia, per Gulielmum Forbesium, S. T. D. et Episcopum Edinburgensem primum. Opus posthumum, diu desideratum." Lond. 1658, 8vo. The preface, subscribed T. G., that is, Thomas Gallovidiensis, is followed by an account of the author's life. This volume, which was reprinted at Helmstedt in the year 1704, attracted a very considerable degree of attention, and is mentioned by many of the continental writers. The character of the learned author has thus been drawn by Bishop Burnet: "He was a grave and eminent divine: my father, that knew him long, and being of council for him in his law-matters, had occasion to know him well, has often told me, that he never saw him but he thought his heart was in heaven, and he was never alone with him but he felt within himself a commentary on these words of the apostles, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while we yet talked with us, and opened to us the Scriptures?' He preached with a zeal and vehemence that made him forget all the measures of time; two or three hours was no extraordinary thing for him; those sermons wasted his strength so fast, and his ascetical course of life was such, and he supplied it so scantily, that he dyed within a year after his promotion; so that he only appeared there long enough to be known, but not long enough to do what might have been otherwise expected from so great a prelate. That little remnant of his that is in print shows how learned he was. I do not deny but his earnest desire of a general peace and union among all Christians has made him too favourable to many of the corruptions in the Church of Rome: but tho' a charity that is not well balanced may carry one to very indiscreet things, yet the principle from whence they flowed in him was so truly good, that the errors to which it carried him ought to be either excused, or at least to be very gently censured."