Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 1.djvu/297

 continued his history, styles him a man of singular learning and erudition, and one who had transmitted to posterity, in a most decent style, the noble and heroic achievements of our kings and predecessors, and he believes that there is no man on the like subject could have done it more significantly, or to better purpose. Paul Jovius, in his description of Britain, says, that Boece wrote the history of the Scots kings down to James III. " with equal eloquence and diligence." Of his description of Scotland, the very subject upon which we have animadverted, he says that he made it his business, being led on by curiosity and the love of his country, to leave nothing unobserved that was praiseworthy, eithe* in our deserts or mountains, or in our lakes and seas. Joannes Gualterius says, that he was exquisitely versed in all the parts of philosophy and theology, and a most eminent historian. Bishop Lesly affirms that his style has the purity of Caesar's, and that for the nervousness of his words and reasonings, he seems to have transferred to himself that of Livy. Bishop Spotswood says, that he was a great philosopher, and much commended by Erasmus for his eloquence, and though he has been by some English writers traduced for a fabulous and partial historian, they who take the trouble to peruse his history will perceive this to be spoken out of passion and malice, not from any just cause. Even Buchanan, though he charges him with having, in his description of Scotland, delivered some things not time, and with having drawn others into mistakes, as well as with being over credulous of those to whom he committed the inquiry after many of his matters, and in consequence published their opinions in preference to the truth, admits that he was not only notably learned in the liberal sciences above the condition of those times, but also of an exceeding courteous and humane inclination." Bartholomew Latomas, a well known annotator on Cicero. Terence, and Horace, honoured his memory by the following very beautiful epitaph:—

To the merely English scholar, the following imitation will give some faint idea of this epitaph.

That in this tomb the never -fading light Streams bright from blazing torches unconsumed. Art thou amazed, and would'st thou read aright? Hector Boethius, know, lies here inhumed. He who his country's hills and vales illumed With all the lustre of the Latian lore, Chasing the shades of darkness deep, fore-doom'd, Beyond the freezing pole and Thule's shore.