O Eternall and everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, quho,
of thy infinite gudeness and mercy, hes chosin to thy self a Kirk of
the lost seid of Adame, quhilk thow hes ever reulled by the
inspiratioun of thy Holie Spirit; and yet not the less, hes always
usit the ministry of men, alswell in preiching of thy word, and
administratioun of thy sacraments, as in gyding of thy flock, and
provyding for the puir within the same, as in the Law, Propheits, and
in thy glorious Evangell we have witnesses: Quhilk ordour, O Lord,
thow of thy mercie hes now restoired unto us agane efter that the
publict face of the Kirk hes bene deformed by the tyrany of that
Romane Antichrist. Grant unto us, O hevinly Father, hairts thankfull
for the benefites quhilks we have receaved, and give unto these our
brethrein, elected unto thir charges within thy Kirk, sick abundance
of thy Holie Spirit, that they may be found vigilant and faythfull in
that vocatioun, quharunto thow of thy mercy hes callit thame. And
albeit, O Lord, these small begynings ar contemned of the proude
world, yet, O Lord, do thow for thy awne mercies sake, bless the same
in sick sorte that thy godlie name may be glorified, superstitioun and
idolatry may be ruited out, and vertue may be planted, not onely in
this generatioun, bot also in the posterity to cum. AMEN. Grant us
this, mercifull Father, for Christ Jesus thy Sones saik, in quhose
name we call unto thee, as he hes taucht us, saying, _Our Father_, &c.
* * * * *
And so efter the rehersall of the beleif, efter the quhilk sall be
sung this portioun of the 103 Psalme, ver. 19. _The hevins hie ar maid
the seat_,[314] and so forth to the end of that Psalme. Efter the
quhilk sall this schort Admonitioun be given to the elected:--
[314] That is, according to the old version of the Psalms, by
Sternhold and others, which continued in public use in Scotland until
the year 1650. The earliest edition is that printed at Edinburgh by
Robert Lekprevik, 1565, along with the Common Prayers and Calvin's
Catechism: See notices and extracts in the Appendix to Baillie's
Letters and Journals.
Magnifie God, quho hes of his mercy callit yow to ruill within his
Kirk: Be thankfull in your vocatioun: Schaw yourselfis zealous to
promote verity: Feir not the faces of the wicked, bot rebuik thair
wickitnes: Be mercifull to the puir, and support thame to the
uttermost of your power; and so sall ye receave the benedictioun of
God, present and everlasting. God save the Kingis Majestie, and gif
unto him the Spirit of sanctificatioun in his young age: Blesse his
Regent, and sick as assist him in upricht counsaill, and eyther
fruitfully convert, or suddanely confound the enemies of trew
religioun, and of this afflicted Comoun-welthe. AMEN.
As the servandis of God uprychtlie travellit to haif vice punissit and
verteu plantit, so did the Devill ever steir up some in the contrair
of baith. Thair was a law maid aganis fornicatouris and
adulteraris,[315] that the ane and the uther suld be cartit throcht
the townis, and so banissit, till that thair repentance wes offerit
and receavit. And albeit this wes nott the severitie of Goddis law,
especiallie aganis adulteraris, yet wes it a greit brydill to
malefactouris; quhairat the wickit did wonderouslie storme. It chancit
that ane Sandersoun, a fleschour, wes deprehendit to haif put away his
lauchfull wyffe, (under cullour that he was lauchfullie partit efter
the maner of the Papisticall religioun,) and haid takin to him ane
uther in [his] housse. The complaynt and sclander proponit to the
Kirk, and tryall takin that he wes nott maryit with the secund woman,
nather that he wes able to prove that he wes devorcit by any ordour of
law from the first, he wes committit in the handis of the Magistratis,
quha, according to the lawis, commandit him to be cartit. Bot the
raschall multitude, enflambit be some ungodlie craftismen, maid
insurrectioun, brake the carte, boistit the officiaris, and tuke away
the malefactour. This wes the begyning of farther evillis, as we will
efter heir.
[315] There were several Acts against immorality passed about this
time, in Parliament, and in the Civil as well as Ecclesiastical
Courts. One of these Acts of the Town Council of Edinburgh, when about
to be enforced against a delinquent in the person of John Sanderson,
Deacon of the Fleshers, led to the tumult to which Knox refers. On the
22d November 1560, "The quhilk day the Baillies and Counsale being
convenit in the Over Counsale House of the Tolbuith of this bur^t.
Comperit William Harlay, dekin of the Hammarmen, and certane uthir
craftismen, and desyrit the decreit and sentence gevin aganis Jhone
Sandersone, dekin of the Fleschouris, decernying him to be cartit
throuch the town, and thairafter banischit the samyn, for his manifest
adulterie committit with Margaret Lyell, to be continewit quhill the
morne: Quhilk the Provost, Baillies, and Counsale foresaid grantit,
and thairupoun the said William askis instruments."
On the following day the Council having adhered to their resolution
that the sentence against Sanderson should be carried into effect;
this was so much resented by the craftsmen of the town as a dishonour,
that they assembled in a tumultuous manner, broke up the prison, and
set him at liberty. The Magistrates having immediately complained to
the Lords of the Secret Council, several persons connected with this
tumult, were apprehended and imprisoned in the Castle of Edinburgh.
There are several entries in the Town Council Records on this subject:
see the account given in Maitland's History of Edinburgh, p. 20.
[Sidenote: AMBASSADOUR FRA FRANCE, AND HIS DEMANDIS.]
In the meantyme, quhill Lord James (we say) wes in France, thair came
ane Ambassadour frome France,[316] subornit, na doubt, with all craft
that mycht truble the Estait of the Religioun. His demandis wes 1.
That the league betwix us and Ingland suld be broken: 2. That the
ancient league betwix France and Scotland suld be renewit: And, 3.
That the Bischops and Kirkmen suld be reponit in thair formair places,
and be sufferit to intromet with thair levingis. The Counsall delayit
answer to the Parliament appoyntit in May. In the meantyme the
Papistis of Scotland practisit with him. The Erlis of Huntlie, Atholl,
Bothwell, and utheris, intendit to haiff takin Edinburgh befoir the
said Parliament. The haill Bischoppis assemblit, and held counsall in
Striveling. Some quhispering thair wes, that the Duke and the Bischop
of Sanctandrois were too familiare; and some feared that the
auctoritie of the Quene suld haif bene usurpit, be ressone of her
absence, and that the Duke wes secound persone, for thairat haid some
of his preissit immediatlie efter the death of the King of France. The
Protestantis thairof advertised, preventit thame, and came to
Edinburgh. The Erle of Arrane stude constant with his brethrene. Thair
war some that cairfullie and panefullie travellit that nathing
prejudiciall to the Quenis auctoritie, suld be done in absence of the
Lord James; to quhom the Quene hes recompensit evill for gude service.
Maister James Makgill,[317] in that poynt did baith stoutlie and
treulie; for Johne Knox and he war than fallin in familiaritie, in
quhilk thay yet contineu, 20 Octobris 1567,[318] be ressone that the
said Maister James haid embrasit the Religioun, and professit it
publiclie.
[316] The Ambassador here spoken of was Mons. de Noailles, Master of
Requests, who had formerly been Ambassador in England. (Hardwicke's
State Papers, vol. i. p. 157.) He arrived on the 11th of March, and
returned on the 7th of June 1561. (Diurnal of Occurrents, pp. 64,
282-3.)
[317] Mr. James Makgill or M'Gill, eldest son of Sir James Makgill,
Provost of Edinburgh.
He was educated at St. Andrews, having been incorporated in St.
Leonard's College in 1532. He probably took his Master's degree, and
completed his studies at some foreign University. On the 1st March
1549-50, he was admitted an Advocate. On the 25th June 1554, he was
advanced to be Clerk-Register; and continued to be employed in various
public affairs. He joined the Reformers, but on account of his concern
in the murder of David Riccio, 9th March 1566, he fled from Edinburgh,
and his situation as Clerk-Register was conferred upon Sir James
Balfour. Upon a vacancy, in December 1567, after the accession of the
Regent Murray to power, Makgill was restored, and he continued in
office till 1577. He died in 1579. (Senators of the College of
Justice, p. 99.)
[318] This date occurs in the text; and the set or quire in this place
was no doubt transcribed about that time.
[Sidenote: SOME SAYIS HIS NAME IS KYLLONE]
The Papistis and Bischoppis, dissapoyntit of thair principall purpose
and interpryse did yet mak broillie for trouble; for the raschall
multitude war stirred up to mak a Robene Hude,[319] quhilk enormitie
wes of mony yeiris left and dampnit by statute and act of Parliament.
Yit wald thay nott be forbiddin, bot wald disobey and truble the
Towne, especiallie upone the nycht. Quhairat the Baillies offendit,
tuke fra thame some swerdis and an enseynze, quhilk wes occasioun that
thay that same nycht maid a mutinye, keippit the portis of the towne,
and intendit to have persewit some men within thair awin housses; bot
that, upoun the restitutioun of thair swerdis and enseynze, wes
stayit. Bot yit thay ceassit nott to molest, alsweill the inhabitantes
of Edinburgh as diverse countrey men, taking frome thame money, and
threitnyng some with farder injureis. Quhairwith the Magistratis of
the towne, heychtlie offendit, tuke mair diligent heid to suche as
resortit to the towne, and so apprehendit ane of the principall of
that misordour, namit Gillone,[320] a cordinare, quhome thai put to
ane assisse; [and being convicted, for he could not be absolved,][321]
(for he wes the cheif man that spoillit Johnne Mowbray of ten crownis
of the Sone,) thai thocht to have execute jugement upone him, and so
erected a jebbete beneath the Croce. But, quhidder it came by pactioun
with the Provest and some uther, or by instigatioun of the Craftismen,
quha ever haif bene bent too muche to mayntene suche vanitie and
ryotousnes, we fullie knaw nott, but suddandlie thair did ryse a
tumult; the Tolbuyth wes brokin up, and not onlie the said Gillone,
quho befoir wes dampnit, wes violentlie takin furth, bot also all
uther malefactouris wer set at fredome; the jebbete wes pullit downe,
and dispitfullie brokin; and thairefter, as the Provest and some of
the Counsall assemblit to the Clerkis[322] chalmer for consultatioun,
the haill rascall [multitude] bandit togidder, with some knawin
unhonest[323] craftismen, and intendit invasioun of the said chalmer.
Quhilk perceavit, the Provest, and such as wer in his cumpany, past to
the Tolbuyth, suspecting nothing that thai wald haif bene sa enragit
that thai wald mak new persute, efter that thai had obtenit thair
intent: Bot thai wer suddandlie deceavit, for from the Castelhill thai
come with violence, and with stanis, gunnis, and such uther weaponis
as thei had, began to assault the said Tolbuyth, ran at the dure of
it, quhilk that parte by stanis cast from above, and partlie by a
pystoll schott by Robert Norwell, quhilk hurt ane Twedy, thai wer
repulsit [fra the door]; bot yit ceassit not thai to cast and schute
in at the wyndowis, threitnyng deith to all that war within. And in
verray deid the malice of the craftismen, quho wer suspectit to be the
occasioun of that tumult, bare na gude will to dyvers of thame that
wes with the Provost.
[319] During the festivities of the month of May, the games of Robin
Hood were attended with so much disorderly license, that they were
ordered to be suppressed by an Act of the Scotish Parliament in 1555.
It is not easy, however, to abolish long continued customs; and
complaints to the General Assembly for their continued observance were
made until the close of the 16th century. Of the tumult that took
place in Edinburgh, on the 21st of June 1561, a very minute and
interesting account is preserved in the Diurnal of Occurrents, pp.
283-4.
Several persons were brought to trial on account of these riots. On
the 20th July 1561, Robert Hannay, smith, and nine others were tried,
as art and part in choosing George Durye in the month of April last,
and calling him Lord of Inobedience, and for rioting on Sunday the
12th May. (See Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, vol. i. p. 409.) And James
Fraser, sadler, and five others, were tried on the 8th of August, on
account of the riots in the month of July. (Ib. p. 410.)
[320] In MS. G, "Kyllone:" Vautr. edit. makes the name "Balon." In the
Diurnal of Occurrents, he is called James Killone and Kellone, at p.
65, but James Gilloun and Gillone, at p. 283.
[321] The words enclosed in brackets, omitted in MS. 1566, are
supplied from MS. G.
[322] Alexander Guthrie, city clerk.
[323] In MS. G, "and honest."
The argumentis that the Craftis wer the caus of that uproire, besydis
thair first misordour that thai haid usit befoir, in tackin Sandersoun
from the exectioun of punishment, are twa. The formar, Archibald
Dewar, Patrik Schange, with uther five deaconis [of the craftis] come
to Johnne Knox, and willit him to solist the Provest and the towne to
delay the executioun: quho did answer, "That he haid sa oft solistit
in thair favouris, that his awin conscience accusit him, that thai
usit his labouris for na uther end, bot to be a patrone to thair
impietie." For he haid befoir maid intercessioun for William Harlaw,
James Frissall, and utheris, that wer convict of the formare tumult.
Thai proudlie said, "That gif it was not stayit, bayth he and the
Baillies suld repent it." Quhairto he answerit, "He wald not hurt his
conscience for ony feir of man." And sa thai departit; and the tumult
(as said is) immediatlie thairefter did aryse. The secund argument is,
the tumult continewit fra twa at efter none till efter aucht at nycht.
The Craftismen wer requyrit to assemble them selfis togidder for
deliverance of thair Provest [and Baillies]; bot thai past to thair
foure houris penny, and in thair jesting said, "Thai will be
Magistratis allone, latt thame reule the multitude allone." And sa,
contrair to the ayth that thai haid maid, thai denyit thair
assistance, counsall, and conforte to thair Provest and Baillies;
quhilk ar argumentis verray probable, that the said tumult raise by
thair procurement. The end heirof was, that the Provest[324] and
Baillies wer compellit to gif thair handwrittis, that thai suld never
perseu ony of thame that war of that tumult, for ony cryme that wes
done in that behalf. And this wes proclamet at the Croce efter nyne
houris at nycht; and sa that truble quyetted. Bot the Nobilitie
avowit, that thai suld not spare it; and sa a greit nomber of that
factioun war absent frome the towne, till the arryvall of the Quene.
The haill multitude wer haldin excomunicat, and war admittit to no
participatioun of the sacramentis, unto suche tyme as thai satisfied
the Magistratis, and maid humble sute unto the Kirk.
[324] Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie, filled the office of Provost of
Edinburgh in the year 1561. By a special mandate from Queen Mary,
dated 21st August 1562, Douglas was again chosen Provost of the City.
(Maitland's Hist. of Edinburgh, p. 24.)
* * * * *
[Sidenote: OF THE QUENE REGENTIS BURIALL.]
Off the deith of the Quene Regent, we haif befoir spokin,[325] but of
hir buriall wes nothing herd; and it may appeir that suche matteris
are unworthy of remembrance. Bot and gif all thingis salbe rychtlie
weyit, we sall perceave Goddis just jugementis, how secreit that ever
thai be. Befoir, we herd[326] the barbarous inhumanitie that wes usit
at Leyth by the Frenche, quha exponed the naked carcasis of the slane,
as it war in a spectacle, dispiting God. We herd, that this Quene
Regent rejosit at the sycht; bot hir joy was suddandlie turned in
sorrow, as we haif herd. The questioun wes moved of hir buriall. The
Precheouris boldlie ganestude, that ony superstitious rytes suld be
usit within that Realme, quhilk God of his mercy had begun to purge.
And sa conclusioun wes takin, that hir buriall suld be deferred till
farther advisement; and sa scho wes lappit in a cope of leid, and
keipit in the Castell, fra the nynt of Junij,[327] unto the nyntene of
October, quhen scho by pynouris wes caryed to a schip, and sa caryed
to France. Quhat pompe wes usit thair, we nather herd nor yit regard.
Bot in it we se, that scho that delited that utheris lay without
buryall, gat it nether sa sone, as scho hir self (gif scho haid bene
on the counsall in hir lyff) wald have requyred it, nather yit sa
honorable in this realme, as sometymes scho lukit for. It may chance
be a prognostication that the Guisians blude can nocht haif lang rest
within this Realme.
[325] See supra, page 71.
[326] Ib. page 68.
[327] The 10th of July is the day usually assigned for the Queen
Regent's death: others say the morning of the 11th: See notices of the
Queen's death and funerals in the Appendix to the present volume.
[Sidenote: _NOTA._]
The Papistis, a little befoir the Parliament, resorted in diverse
bandis to the towne, and began to brag, as that thai wald haif defaced
the Protestantes. Quhilk thing perceaved, the brethrein assemblit
togidder, and yeid[328] in such cumpanyes, and that in peciable maner,
that the Bischoppis and thair bandis forsuyk the calsay. The brethrene
understanding quhat the Papistis meant, convenit in counsall in the
Tolbuyth of Edinburght, the xxvij of May, the yeir of God J^m V^c thre
scoir and ane yeir; and efter consultatioun, concludit, that ane
humble Supplicatioun suld be presentit unto the Lordis of Secreit
Counsall, and unto the haill assemblie, that then wes convenit, in the
quhilk suld thir subsequent heidis be required, and a law to pas
thairupoun.
[328] In Vautr. edit. and MS. G, "and went."
* * * * *
First, That Idolatrie, and all monumentis thairof, suld be suppressit
throwout the haill realme; that the sayaris, heiraris, mayntenaris,
and usaris of the Messe, suld be punischit according to the Act of
Parliament, as said is.
2. That speciall and certane provisioun be maid for the sustentatioun
of the Superintendentes, Ministeris, Exhorters, and Readers. That
Superintendentes and Ministeris suld be planted quhair nane war. That
punyschment suld be appointed for suche as dissobeyid or contemned the
Superintendentes in thair functioun.
3. That punischment may be appoynted for the abusaris of the
sacramentis, and for the contempnaris of the same.
4. That na letteris of the Sessioun be gevin to answer or pay to ony
persoun thair teyndis, without especiall provisioun, that the
parrochinaris retene sa mekle in thair awin handis, as is appoynted
to the ministrey; and that all suche as ar ellis gevin be called in,
and dischargit; and lykewise that na Schireffis gif preceptis to that
effect.
5. That nather the Lordis of Sessioun, nor ony uther Jugis, proceid
upone suche preceptis or warnyngis, past at the instance of thame that
of lait haif obtenit fewis of vicaragis, and personagis,[329] manses,
and kirkyardis; and that sex aikkeris (gif so muche thairbe) of the
gleib, be alwayis reserved to the minister, according to the
appointment of the Buke of Disciplyne; and that everie minister may
haif letteris thairupoun.
[329] In MSS. 1566, G, &c., and Vautr. edit. "personis."
6. That na letteris of the Sessioun, nor [any] utheris tak place,
quhill the stipendis contened in the Buke of Disciplyne, for
sustentatioun of the ministeris, be first consignat in the handis, at
the leist, of the principallis of the parochinaris.
7. That punischement be appoyntit aganis sik as purchess, bringis
hame, or executis within this Realme, the Paipis Bullis.
* * * * *