ROBERT, Archbishop of Glasgow, was born in the year 1611. His father, Alexander Leighton, Leighton, a descendant of the ancient family of Ulyshaven in Forfarshire, commenced his academical studies at St Andrews, and afterwards repaired to Leyden, where he took the degree of M.D. Having fixed his residence as a medical practitioner in London, he met with strong opposition from the College of Physicians. In order to publish his *Sows Plea against the Prelacie*, he retired to Holland; and in 1629 became minister of the English church at Utrecht. But his conscientious scruples in regard to the observance of festivals, induced him to resign his charge within a few months. His book having been printed in the course of the preceding year, he returned to London. Two copies were presented to parliament two days before the dissolution; and he was immediately arrested by two pursuants of the high commission, and conducted to the house of Laud, then Bishop of London, and inquisitor-general of England. On the bishop's warrant he was committed to a loathsome dungeon in Newgate, and only after fifteen weeks did the inquisitors permit his wife to visit him. In the interval his house had been ransacked and robbed by Laud's emissaries, who by their brutality so frightened one little boy of five years old, "that he never recovered it all his days." By flattering promises, one of Laud's agents prevailed upon him to confess that he was the writer of the book; but neither threats nor entreaties could induce him to betray any one of his friends and adherents. Before the court of Star-Chamber he repeated the admission, that he was the author of the book, but denied all criminality of intention. No counsel dared to plead his cause, and he returned to prison to await his doom. It was the opinion of four physicians that poison had been administered to him in Newgate. He had been seized with a violent distemper, which was accompanied with loathsome symptoms, and his strength was so completely exhausted that he could not be produced before this atrocious court. In his absence, he was sentenced (4th June 1630) to pay a fine of L10,000; it was also ordained that the high commission should degrade him from his ministry; that he should be brought to the pillory at Westminster, should be whipped, have one of his ears cut off, one side of his nose slit, and his face branded with the letters S.S., denoting a sower of sedition; that he should then be carried back to prison, and, after a few days, should again be pilloried at Cheapside, should then likewise be whipped, have his other ear cut off, and the other side of his nose slit; and should then be detained in close custody in the Fleet Prison for the remainder of his life. When this sentence was pronounced, it has been stated that Laud pulled off his cap, and gave thanks to the God of mercy. Before the execution of the sentence, Leighton made his escape from prison; and two of his countrymen, named Anderson and Elphinstone, were each fined L500 for aiding and abetting him in his flight. He was, however, retaken in Bedfordshire, and endured the first part of his punishment on the 26th of November; it was inflicted with the most unrelenting severity; the second part followed after a short interval; and thus miserably mutilated, he lingered in prison for nearly ten years. In 1640 he presented a petition to the Long Parliament, reciting the direful persecution to which he had been subjected, and he now obtained such redress as could be afforded to him; "but," as Dr Benson has too truly remarked, "no sufficient reparation in this world could possibly be made to a man so highly injured."

Robert Leighton, the eldest son of this learned and persecuted individual, is commonly represented as a native of Edinburgh; but as Burnet speaks of his father having sent him to be educated in Scotland, it has been inferred that he was born in London. He entered the University of Edinburgh in 1627; and, though even at that time remarkable for his piety, was censured for writing an epigram on the provost of the city. He made uncommon progress in his studies, and took the degree of A.M. in 1631. After he left the university he travelled on the Continent, and, among other places, visited Douay, where some of his relations were then residing. In France he spent several years. Returning to the land of his fathers, he became, on the 16th December 1641, Presbyterian minister of Newbattle, a parish within 7 miles of Edinburgh. He had now attained the age of thirty, and was qualified by his natural endowments, as well as by his acquired knowledge, to appear with singular advantage in his public capacity. His large and tolerant views, however, made him withdraw from the society of his brethren, and his retiring disposition caused himself seldom to let his voice be heard beyond the precincts of his parish. Bishop Burnet, who speaks with enthusiasm of Leighton's style of preaching, tells us that he had "a very low voice, and could not be heard by a crowd."

In 1648 Leighton declared in favour of the Engagement for the king, and thus exposed himself to the hazard of being subjected to heavy penalties. When some of his parishioners, who had been concerned in the unfortunate expedition to England, were enjoined to make a public profession of their repentance, he studiously avoided all mention of the grounds of the war, but admonished them that "they had been in an expedition in which, he believed, they had neglected their duty to God, and had been guilty of injustice and violence, of drunkenness, and other immoralities, and he charged them to repent of these very seriously." The Earl of Lothian, who resided in his parish, and entertained a high esteem for his character, had sufficient influence to protect him from any serious annoyance. It is, however, evident that he found himself placed in a very uncomfortable situation; and his uneasiness must in no small degree have been increased by the differences which unhappily ensued between the Resolutioners and Protesters. He was at length induced to resign the pastoral charge of Newbattle in 1652.

On the 17th January 1653, Leighton was elected principal of the University of Edinburgh, and was persuaded to accept an office for which he was so eminently qualified by his character, his talents, and his attainments. Being *ex officio* primarius professor of divinity, he often preached to the students in Latin, with such animation and purity of style as to draw crowded audiences. His conversation and piety had an equally good effect upon the youth under his charge. He also increased the temporal prosperity of the university, by soliciting and obtaining from Cromwell an annuity of L200 to increase its funds, which were then very low.

During the vacations, he made occasional excursions to England, and even to Flanders. He had an opportunity of observing the character of the eminent men who fre-

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1 Even in the solitude of his prison, Laud seems to have entertained a deliberate opinion that Dr Leighton's punishment had fallen short of his deserts. "In which book of his," he remarks very coolly, "were many things, which in some times might have cost him dearer" (*Hist. of the Troubles and Tryal of Laud*, vol. i., p. 198). 2 *Burrough's Historical Collections*, part ii., p. 58. Oldmixon's *Hist. of England during the Reigns of the House of Stuart*, p. 110. *Pierce's Vindication of the Dissenters*, p. 177; *Neale's Hist. of the Puritans*, vol. ii., p. 209, Toximn's edit.; *Brock's Lists of the Puritans*, vol. ii., p. 476; *Brodie's Hist. of the British Empire*, vol. ii., p. 308. 3 Benson's *Brief Account of Archbishop Laud's cruel Treatment of Dr Leighton*, inserted in the third edition of his *Collection of Tracts*, p. 224, Lond., 1748, 8vo. 4 Murray's *Life of Robert Leighton*, D.D., *Archbishop of Glasgow*, p. 42, Edinb. 1828, 12mo. Leighton quented the Protector's court; but in his continental tours found more congenial society in the Jansenist divines, who seemed to be struggling for that primitive simplicity on which his own heart was set. At his restoration Charles II. tried to force Episcopacy upon Scotland, as he considered that form of church government most favourable to his despotic opinions. The politic apostate Sharp, the willing tool of the king, was appointed Archbishop of St Andrews and Primate of Scotland; and, chiefly at his recommendation, three bishops were nominated. One remained to be chosen, and Leighton was pointed out as a proper person. His brother, Sir Elisha Leighton, who had embraced Popery, and become secretary to the Duke of York, commended him to Lord Aubigny, and on account of his celibacy and ascetic mode of life, falsely represented him as fostering a secret favour for the Romish faith. At this nobleman's suggestion, Charles appointed Leighton one of the five bishops. Leighton, who was then in London, on his return from Bath, where he had been residing for the benefit of his health, was persuaded, after considerable difficulty, to accept of the bishopric of Dunblane, a small diocese, as well as a small revenue. He had previously cultivated an acquaintance with several Episcopalians, and, among others, with the father of Bishop Burnet. No person of ordinary candour can impute his change to any unworthy motive. Considering church government as a matter not determined by any positive injunctions, but open to the adjustment of bodies of men varying in their opinions, and placed in a variety of circumstances, he also cherished the hope (as he himself says) "of reconciling the devout on different sides."

Of the four bishops-elect, only two had received episcopal ordination; but before the consecration of the other two, Sharp and Leighton, it was considered as absolutely necessary to ordain them deacons and priests, since they could not be considered as really presbyters: an opinion which was by no means prevalent previous to the ascendancy of Laud, and which has since been ably refuted by Bishop Stillington. To this idle ceremony of re-ordination, Sharp, who had "swallowed down greater matters," submitted with no small reluctance, but Leighton had good sense enough to know that it was a matter of no consequence whether he submitted to it or not. These two were privately ordained deacons and priests; and on the 15th of December 1661, all the four were publicly consecrated in Westminster Abbey. The good Bishop of Dunblane was scandalized at the feasting and jollity which followed this religious ceremony. They travelled towards Scotland in one coach; and Leighton stated to Burnet that he believed his associates were weary of him, for he was very weary of them. When he found that they intended to enter the metropolis with some degree of pomp, he left them at Morpeth, and saved himself from a triumphal entry by reaching Edinburgh a few days before them. When parliament assembled in the month of April 1662, most of the bishops took their seats, but Leighton did not appear among them; and he still retained enough of presbytery to refuse the title of Lord. With his new associates Leighton could mingle far less than with the intolerant presbytery of Newbattle; and as they carried their relentless schemes into his diocese, he quickly lost heart and hope. In 1665 he announced to the clergy of Dunblane his intention of resigning; and with a tale of sorrow, which moved even the heart of the king, he supplicated for leave to retire from his bishopric. The king, however, persuaded him to retain his office, promised the adoption of a more lenient policy, and suspended the functions of the ecclesiastical commission. But most of his Scottish ministers were so destitute of principle and humanity, that no material improvements ensued. The Presbyterians were subjected to intolerable grievances; and at length, in 1666, had recourse to arms, when their military proceedings were very speedily terminated at the battle of Pentland Hills.

In the midst of these scenes of persecution, the gentle spirit of Leighton must have been heavily afflicted. He opposed all the violent methods of producing a formal compliance with the established mode of worship, and made great exertions to secure a general and permanent toleration. With this view he repaired to court in 1669, and had two audiences of the king. One of those who seconded his endeavours was Dr Wilkins, Bishop of Chester. The proclamation of indulgences complicated the politics of both parties, and for his zeal against the measure, Dr Alexander Burnet, Archbishop of Glasgow, found it expedient to retire to a private station, with the provision of an annual pension. It was not without much reluctance that Leighton was induced to accept of the vacant office; and, as his translation was attended with some informalities, he became, according to the strictness of ecclesiastical law, not archbishop, but administrator of the bishopric. He removed to Glasgow in 1670, and in the course of the preceding year his friend Dr Gilbert Burnet had been elected professor of divinity in that university. They appear to have lived upon terms of great cordiality; and to Burnet, who became Bishop of Salisbury, we are indebted for a copious and most interesting record of his evangelical virtues.

Soon after his translation, he held a synod of his clergy, who uttered many complaints of being deserted by the people; but Leighton only exhorted them to lay aside all desire for revenge and to humble themselves before God. "This was a new strain to the clergy. So they went home, as little edified with their new bishop as he was with them." Accompanied by the professor of divinity, he afterwards visited some of the most eminent of the indulged ministers in different districts, with the view of persuading them to listen to terms of accommodation. In the presence of the Earls of Lauderdale, Rothes, Tweeddale, and Kincardine, he held a conference at Edinburgh with six of the Presbyterian clergy; but his arguments in favour of Episcopacy produced no effect upon those to whom they were addressed, and a second conference was attended with the same result. Leighton tried also to obtain some mitigation of the acts against conventicles. In reference to one of them, he declared to the Earl of Tweedale, that the entire tenor of it was so contrary to the common rules of humanity, not to say Christianity, that he was ashamed to participate in the councils of those who could frame and pass such laws. Nor must it be forgotten that these atrocious laws were not suffered to continue a dead letter.

In the course of one year, four bishoprics became vacant, and the choice of them was offered to Dr Burnet. Leighton was authorized to recommend such individuals as he thought most worthy of promotion; but as neither Burnet, Charteris, nor Nairne, could be induced to undertake the office, he found himself beset with new discouragements. Having failed in his endeavours to conciliate the Presbyterians, being suspected and hated by the Episcopalians, and in utter despair of securing any benefit to others or satisfaction to himself, he repaired to London in 1672, and, not without considerable difficulty, obtained the king's permission to resign his preferment, after an interval of one year. He, however, retained it till the year 1674, and Alexander Burnet was then restored to his former dignity.

After residing for some time within the precincts of the University of Edinburgh, Leighton retired to England, and spent the remainder of his life with his sister Saphira, the wife, and finally the widow, of Mr Lightwater of Broadhurst, a demesne in the parish of Horsted Keynes, and county of Sussex. His time was chiefly spent in decent seclusion,

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1 Keith's Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops, p. 267, Russel's edit.; Pref. to Symson's Life of Sharp, p. xlviii. but he frequently officiated in the parish church, and in some others of that vicinity. In the year 1679, at the suggestion of the Duke of Monmouth, the king was induced to request that he would again fix his residence in Scotland, and use his endeavours in reconciling the ecclesiastical animosities which still prevailed in that country. But the Duke soon afterwards ceased to have any influence in the affairs of either kingdom, and this negotiation seems to have made no further progress.

In 1684 Leighton was urged by Dr Burnet to make a journey to London, for the purpose of meeting the Earl of Perth, Chancellor of Scotland, who had expressed an earnest wish to see him. When he reached the metropolis, Burnet was surprised to see him look so fresh and active at his advanced period of life; his hair was still black, and he retained much of his former vivacity, with the same quickness of conception and strength of memory. He, however, spoke of his work and journey being nearly finished at the same time; he was next day seized with a pleurisy; on the following day he suddenly fell into a state of insensibility, which continued for about twelve hours, when he expired, June 25, 1684, at an inn in Warwick Lane, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, ten years after he had ceased to be Archbishop of Glasgow. His remains were deposited at Horated Keynes. A great portion of his income had been devoted to deeds of charity and benevolence; and by a will, dated on the 17th of February, he had destined the residue of his property to charitable uses. To his sister, and to her son, Edward Lightwater of Broadhurst, he only left a small token of grateful acknowledgment of the great kindness with which they had treated him while he was their guest. His library he bequeathed to the Cathedral of Dunblane, where it is still preserved.

The grave learning, piety, and charity of Leighton has been described by Bishop Burnet in very striking colours. His gentle nature was never ruffled with bursts of angry passion; and in those troublous times his loving spirit was never known to gratify itself in laughter, and very seldom was he even seen to smile. Of his indifference to fame we have a sufficient proof in the fact of his never having committed any of his works to the press.

The following is a list of his writings—Sermons, Lond. 1692, 8vo; Proleclions Theologicae, Lond. 1693, 4to. Of a very recent date, there is a more correct edition, published under the title of Roberti Leighton, S.T.P., Archiepiscopi Glasguensis, Proleclions Theologicae, Paraenese, et Meditations in Psalmos, &c., exarata, editio nova, recensente Jacobo Scholzfeldt, A.M., B.D., S.S., Geocanonicus Literarum apud Cantabrigienses Professor Regio, et Coll. S.S. Trinitatis super Socio, Cantabrigiae, 1828, 8vo. An English translation of the preceding works, with exhortations had been published with the title of Theological Lectures, Lond. 1692, 8vo; A Practical Commentary upon the First Epistle General of St Peter, York and Lond. 1692-4, 2 vols. 4to; An Exposition of the Creed, Lord's Prayer, and Ten Commandments; with two Discourses, on St Matth. xxiii. 37, 38, 39, and Heb. viii. 10; to which is annexed a short Catechism, Lond. 1701, 8vo; Treats, Including Rules for a Holy Life, a Sermon, and a Catechism, Lond. 1708, 12mo. After a considerable interval appeared Select Works of Archbishop Leighton, some of which were never before printed; to which is prefixed an Account of the Author's Life and Character, Edinb. 1746, 8vo. This publication was soon followed by The Expository Works and other Remains of Archbishop Leighton, some of which were never before printed; revised by P. Doddridge, D.D., Lond. 1748, 8vo. There are many other editions of subsequent date, but among these we shall only specify that of Lond. 1825, 4 vols. 8vo, which has been reprinted several times, and contains a life of the author by the Rev. John Norman Pearson.