under the provost of his college, Mr William Cranstoun; but how far he prosecuted his studies, none of his biographers mention. He ultimately became one of the regents in the college, and continued in that situation, till the doctrines of the Reformation began to be warmly agitated in the university. When the protestant party at length gained the ascendency, Sineton, still zealously attached to the popish system, left his native country, and res'ded for many years with his continental brethren. The history of his life, for about twenty years, is most fortunately preserved, as related by himself, in the Diary of Mr James Melville; a work, as we have already mentioned, (see article James Melville,) of so interesting a character, that we feel gratified by every opportunity of quoting from it. Luckily the narrative, while it is perfectly distinct, is so much condensed, as to be completely suited to our limits; and we, therefore, make no apology for its introduction.
"At the reformation of religion, Mr Sineton, being put from the auld college of S. Andros, past to France, whare in Paris he thought mikle vpon the trew way of saluation; and be dealling of diwerss of his acquentance, nainlie, Mr Thomas Matteland, a young gentilman of guid literature and knawlage in the treuthe of religion, was brought to ken and be inclynde to the best way: whar also he was acquentit with my vncle, Mr Andro and Mr Gilbert Moncreiff Yit lothe to alter his mynd wherin he was brought vpe, and fund himselff sum tyme fullie perswadit in the mater of his fathe and saluation. He thought he wald leaue na thing vntryed and esseyit perteining therto; and, vnderstanding that the ordour of the jesuists was maist lerned, halie, and exquisit in the papistrie, he resoluit to enter in thair ordour during the yeirs of probation; at the end wharof, gitf he fand himselff satteled in his auld fathe, he wald coritinow a jesuist; and, giif he fand nocht amangs tham that might remoue all the douttes he was cast into, it was bot folie to seik fordar, he wald yeild vnto that light that God be the ernest delling of his lowing frinds and companions haid enterit him into. And sa he enterit in the Jesuists collage at Paris, whar he fand Mr Edmont Hay, a verie lowing frind, to whom he communicat all his mynd. Mr Edmont, seirig him wortliie to be win to tham, and giffen to lerning and light, directes him to Rome; and be the way he cam to Geneu, whar Mr Andro Meluill and Mr Gilbert MoncreifF being for the tyme, lie communicat with tham his purpose, and cravit thair prayers. Of his purpose they could gie na guid warand ; but thair prayers they promissit hartlie. .Sa making na stey ther, he past fordwnrt to Rome, whar he was receavit in the Jesuist's collage gladlie. In the quhilk collage was a father, hauldin of best lerning and prudence, wha was ordeanit to trauell with sic as wer deteinit in pressone for religion, to convert tham: of him he cravit that he might accompanie him at sic tymes when he went to deall with these presoners, quhilk was granted to him. Be the way as they (kirn from the presoners to the collage, quhilk was neir a myle, Mr Thomas wald tak the argument of the presoners, and mentein it against the jesuist, for reasoning's cause, and indeid to be resoluit; and the more he ensisted, he fand the treuthe the strangar, and the jesuist's answers never to satisfie him. This way he continowit about a yeir and a halff in Rome, till at last he becain suspitius, and therfor was remitted back to Paris throw all the collages of the jesuists be the way, in all the quhilks he endeworit mair and mair to haiff his douttes resoluit, bot fand himself ay fordar and fordar confirmed in the veritie. Coming to Paris again, he abaid ther a space verie lowingly interteined be Mr Edmont;[1] till at last he could nocht bot
- ↑ According to Dempster, Smeton taught humanity in the university of Paris, and afterwards in the college of Clermont, with great applause. (See M'Crie's Melville, 2nd. edit. p. 380, note.)
