Appendix CASE ONE - Collection Point® | The Total Digital Asset ...

Disputations of Scots Attending Universities in the Netherlands 103
Senatu Academico per Magnificum D. Rectorem, D. Bronchorstium'. 33 Did
this professor write a dissertation? 34 We may ask the same question about
Guilelmus Mackdowall, that is William Macdowell, who took the degree of
doctor iuris at Groningen on 20 May 1625. From 1614 until 1627 he was a
professor ordinarius of logic (until 1620), physics, metaphysics and (from 1620
also) ethics. 35 Again at Leyden, the highest degree in law was conferred on
Guilelmus Hagius or William Haig by Professor Maestertius, acting on behalf
of his colleague Bernardus Schotanus (12 July 1645). This time we know with
certainty that Haig disputed publicly. 36 Unfortunately for the time being at
least I have been unable to trace either a copy of the disputation or its subject.
On the other hand two libraries possess a copy of the disputatio inaugurate
which Robertus Hamiltonus defended successfully at Leyden on 25 August
1671; it is entitled Disputatio politico-juridica, inauguralis, de Aerarii publici
necessitate, ac pleno principum vectigalia, etc. imponendi iure. 37 The auctor et
defendens Hamilton dedicated it to 'Carolus II, Magnae Britanniae, Franciae,
ac Hiberniae Rex, Fideique Defensor, Pius, Felix, Inclytus\ As appears from
his text Hamilton was a pure royalist. Not only does he regard his birth in
a monarchical kingdom as a privilege, 38 but he also denies to parliament all
right of interference with the imposition of taxation. 39 Thus the young doctor
33 19 May 1604. See Molhuysen, Bronnen, i, 153. Cf. Feenstra, 'Legal relations', 137, n.21.
34 Strangely enough Murdison's promotion is not mentioned at all in Bronchorst's diary; see Diarium
Everardi Bronchorstii sive Adversaria omnia quae gesta sunt in Academia Leydensi (1591-1627), J.C.
van Slee, ed., Werken uitgegeven door het Historisch Genootschap, Derde serie, xii (The Hague, 1898),
112-15. The Advocates Library, Edinburgh, possesses a pamphlet containing the congratulations
of Murdison's friends Baud, Daniel Heinsius and Petrus Scriverius on his doctorate of law, Vota et
gratulationes amicorum quum Nobilissimus Doctissimusque Vir lohannes Murdisonius Scotus Naturalis
Philosophiae in illustri Batauorum Academia Professor post licentiam in utroque jure summum in eadem
facultate gradum assumeret (Lugduni Batavorum, Ex Officina Thomae Basson, 1604).
35 See 'Li j st van promo tien', col. 448. Cf. Dictionary of National Biography [D. N. B. ], L. Stephen and
S. Lee, ed. 22 vols. (1908-9), xii, 511; and N.N.B.W., ii, col. 862.
36 See Molhuysen, Bronnen, ii, 292. Jacobus Maestertius himself was the son of a father of Scottish
origin, Adam Mesterton or Masterton, cf. Feenstra, 'Maestertius', 297-98. 'Guilelmus Haig, Scotus,
[Act.] 49, J[uris] Cand[idatus]' matriculated at Leyden on 1 May 1635 (Album studiosorum, col. 270).
The interval between the matriculation and the promotion seems odd.
37 See Molhuysen, Bronnen, iii, 315*. Copies of this disputation (printed Apud Viduam & Haeredes
Joannis Elsevirii, Leyden) exist in Leyden University Library and the Advocates Library, Edinburgh.
On 2 November 1668 'Robertus Hamilton, Scotus, [Act.] 24' matriculated at Leyden as a law student
(Album studiosorum, col. 551).
38 Disputatio, fo.B verso: '. . . verum cum mihi, quae mea est felicitas, in acre Monarchico nasci
contigerit, contra omnes & quosvis Monarchomachos evincere conabor, Monarchae cuivis vere sic dicto,
qui unus & solus imperat, cuique caeteri parent, . . . competere potestatem'.
39 See e.g. Disputatio, fo.B 3 verso: 'Concludimus . . . Vectigalium, Tributorum & Taxationum
impositiones esse legitima illud (sc. Aeraria bene constituta) fovendi & augendi media, hasque imponendi
potestatem plenam atque absolutam summae in Republica competere Majestati independenter ab omni
inferioris alicujus Magistratus assensu, quidquid hi enim habent vel dignitatis vel potestatis a summa
Majestati mutuantur . . .'