The Archbishops of St. Andrews. By John Herkless and Robert
Kerr Hannay. Vol. M. (W. Blackwood and Sons. 7s. 6d. net.) —This third volume is wholly occupied with the biography of James Beaton. It is no disparagement to the labours of Professor Herkless and his coadjutor to say that they have not given us an interesting narrative. It may be supposed that nothing is known of the man's private character. He stands before us a political personage, ecclesiastical in garb, we may say, but quite remote from any religious interest. He was a skilful financier, managing his own affairs with great success; he accumulated preferments ; he held the Great Seal of Scotland ; and he was not subservient to foreign influences — this is the one distinction which may be claimed for him. But his only religious activity was the burning of heretics. He was not very keen about this, if that is to be put to his credit, for indeed, it may be urged that a zealous persecutor is better than a slack one. Still, the career of James Beaton was worth telling. It is a significant illustration of Scottish ecclesi- astical history.
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