"Two causes impeded me, Richt Worschipfull, to visite you at
any pairt of England. Formar, no significatioun of your mynd
and plaisour was maid unto me, for only did Sir Harye
Percye[93] will me to cum and speak him, which,
convenientlie at that tyme I could nott do, be reasone that
the Frenche men, (which was the Secound cause of my stay,)
did then most furiouslie persew us, whill our company was
dispersed; and then durst I nott be absent for dyverse
inconvenientis. Neather did I think my presence greatlie
necessarie with you, considdering that the mater, which I
desyred maist, was opened and proponed. To the quhilk I wald
have wished that a more plaine and especiall answer should
have bein maid. For, albeit Mr. Quhitlaw, by his credite,
Mr. Kirkcaldie, by his letter, and I, boyth by letteris, and
by that which I had ressaved from Sir James Croftis, did
persuade your goode mindis; yitt could not the Counsall be
uthairwayis persuaded, but that this alteratioun in France
had altered your former purpois. It is nott unknawin what
favor we three do beare to England; and, thairfoir, I wishe,
that rather your pen then our credite, or ony thing writtin
to ony of us, should assuire the Lordis and otheris, of your
goode myndis, (who ar bot now in nomber fyve hundreth).
Onless that money be fournissed without delay to pay the
soldiouris with, for thair servise bypast, and to reteane
ane uther thousand footmen, with three hundreth horsmen,
till some stay be had in this danger, these gentilmen will
be compelled to leave the feildis. I am assured, as fleshe
may be of fleshe, that some of thame will tak a verry harde
lyve befoir that ever they compone eather with the Quene
Regent, eather yitt with France; but this I dar nott
promeise of all, onless in you they see a greatter
fordwardness. To support us will appeir excessive, and to
break promeisse with France, will appeir dangeruss. But the
loss of expensses, in my opinioun, aucht nott to be esteamit
from the first payment; neather yitt the danger from the
first appearance. France is most fervent to conqueise us,
and avoweth, that against us thei will spend thair Croune,
(so did my awin earis heare Buttencourt brag[94]). But, most
assuredlie I knaw, that onless by us thei thocht to mak ane
enteress to you, that thei wald nott bye oure povertie at
that price. Thei labour to corrupt some of oure great men by
money, (and some of oure nomber ar poore, as befoire I
wraitt, and can nott serve without supporte); some thei
threattin; and against utheris thei have raised up ane
partie in thair awin countrey. In this meane tyme, gif ye
lye by as neutrallis, quhat wilbe the end, ye may easellie
conjecture. And, thairfoire, Sir, in the bowellis of Christ
Jesus, I requyre you to mak plaine answer; What the
gentillmen heir may lippin to, and quhatt the Quenis
Majestie will do, may without long delay be put in
executioun. Rest in Christ Jesus. Off Sanct Johnstoun, the
&c. day of, &c."[95]
[92] In MS. G. and Vautr. edit., "to Maister Cicillis writing."
[93] "Sir Henry Percy, second son of Sir Thomas Percy, who was
executed in 1537, on account of Aske's rebellion, and brother of
Thomas seventh Earl of Northumberland. Having remained attached to the
Queen, and even taken arms against the insurgents, in the great
northern rebellion, headed by his brother and Westmoreland, he escaped
one great peril, and succeeded to the family titles and domains upon
his brother's execution, in 1572. But having engaged in Lord Paget's
enterprise for setting Queen Mary at liberty, and being imprisoned, he
shot himself through the heart to prevent the attainder and forfeiture
which must have attended a conviction for treason."--(Note by Sir
Walter Scott, in Sadler's State Papers, vol. i. p. 409.)
[94] In Vautr. edit. this name occurs as two words, "Butteau Court;"
in MS. G, "Buttincourt." The person referred to, the Sieur de
Béthencourt, is already mentioned in a note to vol. i. p. 384. Sir N.
Throkmorton, in his correspondence from Paris, notices that on "the
11th of this present, (_i. e._ the month of June) there arrived here
in post out of Scotlande, _one Butomcourt, a Frenchman, Maister
d'hostel_ to the Quene Dowagier there, &c." (Forbes's State Papers,
vol. i. p. 130.) On the 21st June, he is called "Betoncourt, the
Scotishe Quenis Master d'hostel," (ib. p. 141); again, on the 29th
July, "Butomcourt, which I thinke passed through to England, had in
charge to will the Quene Douagier of Scotland _to conforme herself to
the Scotts procedings in religion, and to dissemble with them_;
supposing that to be the best meane to worke theyr purposes." (Ib. p.
183.) And on the 8th August, he further says, there was "sent by
Botuncourt, at his last dispetche, diverse blankes to the Quene
Dowager, signed by the French King and Queen." (Ib. 193.) His arrival
in Scotland, with these letters, is noticed by Knox: see vol. i. p.
384.
[95] This date is left blank in the various copies of Knox's History.
But the above is neither a full or accurate copy of the letter, of
which Mr. Tytler has given an extract from the original in the State
Paper Office.--(Hist. vol. vi. pp. 136, 386.) It is dated not from St.
Johnstone (or Perth,) but from "St. Andrews, 15th August 1559;" and
will afterwards be given entire.
Answere with great expeditioun was returned to this letter, desyring
some men of credite to be sent frome the Lordis to Berwyk,[96] for the
receaving of money for the first supporte, with promeise, that gif the
Lordis of the Congregatioun meant no utherwyse then befoire thei had
writtin, and gif thei wald enter in league with honest conditionis,
thei sould neather lack men nor money to thair just caus. Upoun this
answer, was directed from the Lordis to Berwik, Maister Henrye
Balnaves, a man [of] goode credit in boyth the realmes, who suddenlie
returned with such a somme of money as served all the publict effaris
till November nixt; when Jhonne Cokburne of Ormistoun send[97] for the
second supporte, and receaving the same, unhappelie fell in to handis
of the Erlle Bothwell, was wounded, tane, and spoilzed of a great
somme.[98] Upoun whiche mischance followed all the rest of oure
troubles befoire rehersed.
[96] In Sadler's State Papers, (vol. i. p. 401), there is a letter,
dated 20th August 1559, addressed by Sir James Crofts to Knox,
mentioning that Sadler and himself were desirous "to have som
conference eyther with Mr. Henry Balnaves, or som other discrete and
trusty man, for the better expedicion of this grete and weightie
busyness, which you have in hande;" and suggesting, that he should
come by sea to Holy Island, and afterwards to be conveyed in secret
manner to Berwick. On the same day, Sadler and Crofts wrote to Cecil,
representing that some aid should be granted, along with the sum of
2000 or 3000 crowns, to relieve the Protestant party in Scotland in
their present necessities: see page 35, note 2.
[97] In MS. G, "being sent;" in Vautr. edit., "sent."
[98] The sum of £1000 sterling, on the last of October: see note in
vol. i. p. 455.
In the Secound Booke preceading, we have declaired how Secretarye
Lethingtoun[99] was directed to England: but one thing we have befoire
past by. In that, oure greatest dejectioun, this ordour was tackin,
That the Duike his Grace, the Erlle of Glencarne, Lord Boyd, Lord
Uchiltrie, and thair freindis, should remain togither at Glaskow, for
conforte of the countrey, and for geving of answeris, as occasioun
should requyre; and that the Erlle of Arrane, the Lord James, the
Erlle of Rothess, the Maister of Lyndsay, and thair adherantes,
should continew togither within Fyffe, for the same causses, that
advertissementis mycht go frome the one to the other, as neid
requyred. In the negotiatioun of the Secretary Lethingtoun with the
Quene and Counsall of England, (in whiche he travailed with no less
wisdome and faithfulnes then happy successe,) mony thingis occurred
that requyred the resolutioun of the hole Lordis,[100] amanges which
thair was one quhairof befoir no mentioun is maid.
[99] William Maitland, see _supra_, p. 4, note 2.
[100] In MS. 1566, "holye;" in MS. G. "haill."
Efter that the Quene and Counsall of England had concluded to send
thair army into Scotland, for expelling of the Frenche, the Duke of
Northfolk was sent to Berwyk,[101] with full instructionis, power, and
commissioun, to do in all thingis concerning the present effaris of
Scotland, as mycht the Quene and Counsellis in thair awin
personis[102] do. Heirupoun the said Duke requyred sicke a pairt of
the Lordis of Scotland, as had power and commissioun from the whole,
to meet him at suche day and place as pleised thame to appoint. This
advertissement came first to Glaskow, by the meanis of the Maister of
Maxwell. Quhilk redd and considdered by the Lordis, conclusioun was
takin, that thei wald meitt at Carleill;[103] and that was the
procurement of the said Maister of Maxwell, for his ease. Heirupoune
war letteris direct fra the Lordis, lyeing in Glaskow, to Lord James,
requyring him, with all possible expeditioun, to repair towardis thame
for the purpois foirsaid. Which letteris redd and advised upoun,
commandment was gevin to Jhone Knox to mak the answer: For so it was
appointed at the devisioun of the Lordis, that he should answer for
the pairte of thoise that war in Fyffe; and Maister Henrye Balnaves
for the pairte of thame that abaide at Glaskow. The said Jhone
answered as followis:--
[101] The Queen's letter to Sadler, intimating the appointment of the
Duke of Norfolk as Lord Lieutenant in the Northern Counties, is dated
the last of December 1559. He arrived at Newcastle on the 6th or 7th
of January. The whole of his correspondence with the Privy Council of
England, while he exercised that office, has been printed in Haynes's
Collection of Original State Papers, from the Cecil or Burghley
Papers. (Lond. 1740, folio.) Sir Ralph Sadler has also preserved
several other letters of a less public nature: see note by Sir Walter
Scott, in Sadler, vol. i. p. 718.
[102] In MS. G, "thair awin proper persons."
[103] The town of Carlisle.
"TO THE LORD DUKE HIS GRACE, AND THE LORDIS
AT GLASKOW.
"AFTER humill commendatioun of my service. Albeit I have
writtin ofter then anes to Mr. Henrye Balnaves, what thingis
have myslyked me in youre slaw proceideings, alsweill in
supporting youre brethrein, quho many dayes have susteined
extreame danger in these pairtes, as in making provisioun
how the ennemye mycht have bein annoyed,[104] quho lay in
few nomber nye to youre quarteris in Striveling; and in
making lykewayis provisioun, how the expectatioun of your
freindis, quho long have awaited for youre answer, mycht
have bein satisfied;--Albeit, (I say,) that of thoise
thingis I have befoire complained, yet of verry conscience,
I am compelled to signifie unto youre Honoris, that onless
of these, and other inormiteis, I sall espye some redress, I
am assured that the end shalbe suche as godlie men shall
murne, that ane good cause shall perishe for lack of wisdome
and diligence. In my last letteris to Mr. Henrye Balnaves, I
declared, that youre especiall freindis in England wounder
that no gritter expeditioun is maid, the weycht of the mater
being considdered. Gif the falt be in the Lord Duke, and his
freindis, I wrait also, that the greatest loss should be his
and thairs in the end. And now, I can nott cease, boyth to
wonder and lament, that youre hoile Counsall was so
destitute of wisdome and discretioun as to charge this poore
man, the Priour,[105] to come to you to Glaskow, and
thairefter to go to Carleill, for suche effearis as ar to be
entreated. Was thair none amangis you, quho did foirsee
quhat inconvenientis mycht insew his absence frome these
partis? I cease to speake of the dangeris in the ennemy.
Youre freindis have lyen in the Frith now xv. dayis bypast,
(what was thair formar travaill is nott unknawin); thei have
never receaved conforte of any man (him only excepted), more
then thei had lyen upoun the coast of thair mortall ennemye.
Do ye nott considder, that suche a companye sall neide
conforte and provisioun from tyme to tyme? Remove him, and
quho abydeth that cairfullie will travaill in that or any
uther wechty materis in these pairtis? Did ye nott farther
considder, that he had begune to meddle with the
gentilmen[106] who had declaired thameselfis unfreindis
heirtofoir; and also that ordour wald have bein taekin for
suche as haif bein neutrall: now, be reassoun of his
absence, the one shall escaip without admonitioun, and the
other shalbe at thair formare libertie? I am assured that
the ennemye sall nott sleip, neather in that nor in uther
effairis, to undermynd you and your hoile caus; and
especiallie to hurte this pairt of the countrey to revenge
thair formare foly. Gif none of these formar causses should
have moved you to have considered that such a journay (at
suche a tyme,) wes nott meet for him, neather yit for thame
that must accompany him; yit discreit men wald have
considdered, that the men that have lyen in thair jackes,
and travailled thair horse continuallie the space of a
moneth, requyreth some longer rest, boyth to thame selfis,
but especiallie to thair horsses, (befoire thei had bein
charged to suche a journey,) then yitt they have had. The
Priour may, for satisfactioun of your unreasonable myndis,
interpryse the purposse; but I am assured, he shall nott be
able to have sex honnest men in all Fyiff to accompany him:
And how that eather standis with youre Honoris, or with his
safetie, juge ye youre selfis. But yitt, wonder it is, that
ye did nott considder, to quhatt paine and fascherie shall
ye putt youre freindis of England, especiallie the Duke of
Northfolke, and his Counsall, whome ye shall caus travaile
the most wearesoum and fasschous gaitt that is in England.
In my opinioun, quhosoever gaif you that counsall eather
laicked rycht judgement in thingis to be done, or ellis had
too much respect to his awin ease, and too small regaird to
the travaill and danger of thair bretherein. A comoun cause
requireth a comoun concurrance, and that everie man beare
his burdein proportionablie. But prudent and indifferent men
espy the contrair in this caus, especiallie of lait dayis;
for the weakest ar maist greavouslie charged, and to quhome
the mater maist belongeth, and to quhome justlie greatest
burthein is dew, ar exempted in a manor boyth from travaill
and expensses. To speik the mater plainlie, wyse men do
wonder what my Lordis Dukis freindis do meane, that thei ar
so slaike and backward in this caus: In uther actionis, thei
have bein judged stout and fordward; and in this, whiche is
the greatest that ever he or thei had in hand, thei appeir
destitut bayth of grace and of courage. I am nott ignorant,
that thei that are most inward of his counsall ar ennemyes
to God, and thairfoire can nott bot be ennemyes to his
cause. But wounder it is, that he and his uther freindis
should nott considder, that the tinsale of this godlie
interpryse, shalbe the routing of thame and thair posteritie
frome this realme. Considdering, my Lordis, that by Goddis
providence ye ar joyned with the Dukis Grace in this comoun
cause, admonishe him plainlie of the danger to cum: will him
to beware of the counsale of those that ar plainlie infected
with superstitioun, with pryde, and with vennome of
particulare proffeit; whiche gif he do not at your
admonitioun, he shall smarte, befoir he beware: and gif ye
cease to putt him in mynd of his deutie, it may be that, for
youre silence, ye shall drynk some portioun of the plague
with him. Tak my plaine speking, as proceeding from him that
is nott youre ennemye, being also unceartaine when I shall
have occasioun to writt heareafter. God, the Father of oure
Lord Jesus Christ, assist you with the spreit of wisdome and
fortitude, that to his glorie, and to youre Lordschipis and
oure commoun conforte, ye may performe that thing, which
godlie wes ones begun. Amen. From Sanctandrois, the vj. of
Februare, in haist, 1559.[107]
(_Sic subscribitur_,)
"Your Lordschipis to command in godliness,
"J. K."
[104] In the MS. of 1566, "anoyned;" MS. G. has "anoyit."
[105] Lord James Stewart, Prior of St. Andrews: see vol. i. p. 249,
note 5.
[106] See notes to pages 7 and 43-4.
[107] That is 1559-60. In MS. G. and Vautr. edit. this letter is dated
"the 6th of Februare in haist." In the former it is signed, "Your
Grace's, &c.--JOHNE KNOX." The MS. 1566, makes it "the 5th of
Februarie, in Christ."
Upoun the receatt of this letter, and consultatioun had thairapoun,
new conclusioun was tackin: to witt, that thei wald viseit the said
Duke of Northfolke at Berwyke,[108] quhair he was.
[108] Thomas Randall wrote to Sadler from Glasgow, on the 10th
February 1559-60, mentioning that the Lords of the Congregation had
come to that town to consult; and that Lord James, Lord Ruthven, the
Master of Maxwell, Wishart of Pittarrow, and Henry Balnaves, had been
appointed by the whole Council to meet with the Duke of Norfolk at
Berwick, on the 23d of that month. (State Papers, vol. i. p. 704.)
Thus far have we digressed fra the style of the Historie, to lett the
posteritie that shall follow understand, by quhat instrumentis God
wrocht the familiaritie and freindschipe, that after we fand in
Ingland. Now we returne to oure formare Historie.
* * * * *
The pairtis of Fyiff sett at fredome frome the bondage of those
bloodie wormes, solempned thankis war gevin, in Sanctandrois, unto God
for his mychtie delyverance. Schorte after the Erlle of Arrane and
Lord James, apprehended the Lardis of Wemes, Seafeald, Balgonye, and
Durye,[109] and utheris, that assisted the Frenche; but thei war sett
schoirtlie at fredome, upoun suche conditionis as thei mynded never to
keape: for sick men have neather fayeth nor honnestie. Mr. James
Balfoure,[110] who was the greatest practiser, and had drawn the band
of the Balfouris, eschaiped. The Ingliss schippis daylie multiplied,
till that thei war able to keape the whole Firth: whairatt the Frenche
and Quene Regent, enraged, begane to executt their tirranye upoun the
pairtes of Lowthiane that lay neye to Edinburgh. Lett Mr. David
Borthwick[111] witnesse quhat favoris[112] his wyffe and place of
Adenstoun[113] fand of the Frenche, for all the service that he had
maid to the Quene Regent.
[109] In MS. G, "Balgone, Durie;" in MS. 1566, "Bawgane,
Druye."--Supra page 7, Knox alluding to the ravages committed by the
French on the coast of Fife, in the beginning of 1560, says, they did
not spare even their own friends, the Lairds of Senfield, Wemyss,
Balmuto, and Balweary. In reference to the statement in the text, Sir
Ralph Sadler, in a letter dated 4th February 1559-60, says, "In Fife,
all suche gentlemen as were of any power or creditt, that tooke ony
parte with the Franches, as the Lorde of Wymes, the Lorde Bawerye,
Syfeld, Bagonye, and other, have promised their fidelitie, and given
pledgis never to stand against the Congregation. This hath bene the
Lord James's action since the Franches cam their way." (State Papers,
vol. i. p. 701.)
The persons mentioned by Knox, (using _Lord_ for _Laird_,) I suppose,
were, (1) Sir John Wemyss of Wemyss, the ancestor of Lord Wemyss; (2)
George Moutray of Seafield, the ruins of whose castle or tower stands
close upon the sea, to the west of Kinghorn; (3) Andrew or Robert
Lundie or Lundin of Balgonie, in the parish of Markinch, a property
that gives a second title of the Earl of Leven and Melville; and (4)
David Durie of Durie, in the parish of Scoonie. This property was
afterwards acquired by the father of the eminent lawyer, Sir John
Gibson of Durie.
[110] Afterwards Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich: see notes, vol. i.
pp. 202, 235.
[111] Mr. David Borthwick of Lochill was appointed Lord Advocate, and
one of the Judges in the Court of Session, on 20th October 1573. He
was educated at St. Andrews. His name occurs among the Determinants,
in St. Leonard's College, in 1525. He probably spent some time on the
Continent; and passed Advocate, 1st March 1549. He was twice married;
Marion Blyth, his first wife, died 24th March 1570, (Register of
Confirmed Testaments.) His second wife, Margaret Guthrie, having
survived him, married Mr. John Lindesay, second son of Sir David
Lindesay of Edzell, and Parson of Menmuir. According to Scot of
Scotstarvet, Borthwick had acquired "many lands in Lothian and Fife,
as Balnacreiff, Admiston, Balcarras, and others; but having infest his
son, Sir James, therein in his own time, he rested never till he had
sold all." Borthwick died in January 1581.
[112] In the MS. 1566, incorrectly written "Borwick," and "that
favoris."
[113] In MS. G, "Audistoun." The property of Addiston is in the parish
of Ratho. It now belongs to the Earl of Morton; but the old house,
situated on an elevated terrace, was pulled down a few years ago.
In the middest of Februarie war directed to England, frome the Dukis
Grace and the Congregatioun, the Lord James, Lord Ruthven, the Maister
of Maxweill, the Maister of Lyndsay, Maister Henrye Balnaves, and the
Laird of Pittarrow; who, with thair honnest cumpanyeis and
commissioun, departed by sea, all, except the Maister of Maxwell, to
Berwick, whair thair mett thame the Duke of Northfolke, lievetennent
to the Quenis Majestie of England, and with him a great company of the
gentillmen of the north, with some also of the south, having full
power to contract with the nobillitie of Scotland, as that thei did,
upoun suche conditionis as in the same Contract are specified. And
becaus we have hard the malicious tounges of wicked men mak false
reporte of that our fact, we have faithfullie and trewlie inserted in
this oure Historie the said Contract, alsweill thatt whiche was maid
at Leyth, during the seige, as that whiche first was maid at Berwick,
that the memorie thereof may byde to our posteritie; to the end that
thei may judge with indifference, whither that we have doun ony thing
prejudiciall to our comoun wealth, or yitt contrarius unto that
debtfull obedience whiche trew subjects aw to thair supperiouris whose
authoritie aucht to deffend and mainteine the libertie and fredome of
the Realmes committed to thair charge; and nott to oppress and betray
the same to strangearis. The tennour of oure Contract followis:--