Christi nomine Inuocato: We Iames, by the mercy of God, Archbishop of
Saint Andrew, Primate of Scotland, wyth the counsaile, decree, and
authoritie of the most reuerend fathers in God, and Lordes, Abbottes,
Doctoures of Theologie, professors of the holy Scripture, and maisters
of the Uniuersitie, assisting us for the tyme, sitting in iudgement
within our Metropolitane Church of S. Andrew, in the cause of hereticall
prauitie, agaynst M. Patrike Hamelton, Abbot or pensionarie of Ferne,
being summoned to appeare before vs, to aunswere to certeine Articles
affirmed, taught, and preached by hym, and so appearyng before vs, and
accused, the merites of the cause beyng ripely weyde, discussed, and
understanded by faythful inquisition made in Lent last passed: we haue
fonnde the same M. Patrike, many wayes infamed wyth heresie, disputing,
holding, and maintaynyng diuers heresies of Martin Luther, and hys
folowers, repugnant to our fayth, and which is already[1067] condemned
by generall Councels, and most famous Vniuersities. And he being vnder
the same infamie, we decernyng before, hym to be summoned and accused
vpon the premisses, he of euill mynde (as may be presumed) passed to
other partes, forth of the Realme, suspected and noted of heresie. And
beyng lately returned, not beyng admitted, but of his owne head, without
licence or priuiledge, hath presumed to preach wicked heresie.
We have found also, that, he hath affirmed, published, and taught diuers
opinions of Luther, and wicked heresies, after that he was summoned to
appeare before vs and our councell:[1068] That man hath no free wyll:
That man is in sinne so long as he lyueth: That children incontinent
after their baptisme, are sinners: All Christians that be worthy to be
called Christians, do know that they are in grace: No man is iustified
by workes, but by fayth onley: Good workes make not a good man, but a
good man doth make good workes: That fayth, hope, and charitie, are so
knit, that he that hath the one, hath the rest, and he that wanteth the
one of them, wanteth the rest, &c., wyth diuers other heresies and
detestable opinions: and hath persisted so obstinate in the same, that
by no counsaile nor perswasion, he may be drawen therefrom, to the way
of our right fayth.
All these premisses being considered, we hauing God and the integritie
of our fayth before our eyes, and followyng the counsaile and aduise of
the professours of the holy Scripture, men of law, and others assistyng
vs, for the tyme:[1069] do pronounce, determine, and declare, the sayd
M. Patrike Hamelton, for his affirmyng, confessing, and maintayning of
the foresayd heresies, and his pertinacitie (they beyng condemned
already by the Church, general Councels, and most famous Vniuersities)
to be an hereticke, and to haue an euil opinion of the fayth, and
therefore to be condemned and punished, like as we condemne, and define
hym to be punished, by this our sentence definitiue, depriuyng and
sentencyng him, to be depriued of all dignities, honours, orders,
offices, and benefices of the Church: and therfore do iudge and
pronounce him to be deliuered ouer to the secular power,[1070] to be
punished, and his goodes to be confiscate.
This our sentence definitiue, was geuen and read at our Metropolitan
Churche of S. Andrewes, the last day of the moneth of February, an.
1527, beyng present, the most reuerend fathers in Christ, and Lordes,
Gawand Bishop of Glasgow, George Byshop of Dunkelden. Iohn, Byshop of
Brecham. William, Byshop of Dunblane. Patrike, Prior of Saint Andrew.
Dauid, Abbot of Abirbrothok. George, Abbot of Dunfermelyng. Alexander,
Abbot of Caunbuskyneth. Henry, Abbot of Lendors. Iohn, Prior of
Pittynweme. The Deane, and Subdeane of Glasgow. M. Hew Spens. Thomas
Ramsay. Allane Meldrum, &c. In the presence of the Clergy and the
people.
After the condemnation and Martyrdome of this true Saint of God was
dispatched, by the Bishops and Doctours of Scotland, the rulers and
Doctours of the Uniuersitie of Louane hearyng therof, receaued such ioyc
and consolation, at the shedyng of that innocent bloud, that for the
aboundance of hart, they could not stay their penne, to vtter condigne
thankes, applaudyng and triumphyng in their letters, sent to the
forcsayd Byshop of S. Andrewes, and Doetours of Scotland, at the worthy
and famous descruynges of their atchieued enterprise, in that behalfe:
as by the tenour of their sayd letter may appeare, which here foloweth.
¶ THE COPY OF A LETTER CONGRATULATORIE, SENT FROM THE DOCTOURS OF
LOUANE, TO THE ARCHBYSHOP OF S. ANDREWES AND DOCTOURS OF SCOTLAND,
COMMENDYNG THEM FOR THE DEATH OF M. PATRIKE HAMELTON.
Your excellent vertue (most honourable Bishop) hath so deserued, that
albeit we be farre distant, both by sea and land, without coniunction of
familiaritie, yet we desire with all our hartes, to thanke you for your
worthy deede, by whose workes, that true faith which, not long ago, was
tainted with heresie, not onely remaineth vnhurt, but also is more
confirmed. For as our deare frend M. Alexander Galoway, Chanon of
Aberdon, hath shewed vs, the presumption of the wicked hereticke Patrike
Hamelton, which is expressed in this your example, in that you haue cut
him of, when there was no hope of amendement, &c.
The which thyng, as it is thought commendable to vs, so the manor of the
procedyng was no lesse pleasant, that the matter was performed by so
great consent of so many estates, as of the Clergy, nobility, and
vulgare people, not rashely, but most prudently, the order of law beyng
in all poynts obserued. We haue sene the sentence which ye pronounced,
and alway do approue the same, not doubtyng but that the Articles which
be inserted, are erroneous: so that whosoeuer wil defend for a truth,
any one of the same, with pertinacitie, should be esteemed an enemy to
the fayth, and an aduersary to the holy[1071] Scripture. And albeit one
or two of them appeare to be without errour, to them that will consider
onely the bare wordes: as (for example) good workes make not a good man,
but a good man worketh good workes, yet there is no doubt, but they
conteine a Lutheran sense, which, in a maner, they signifie: to witte,
that workes done after fayth, and justification, make not a man the
better, nor are worthy of any reward before God. Beleue not, that this
example shall haue place onely among you, for there shalbe among externe
nations, which shall imitate the same, &c.
Certainly, ye haue geuen vs great courage, so that now we acknowledge
your Vniuersitie,[1072] which was founded accordyng to the example of
our Vniuersitie of Louane, to be equall to ours, or els aboue: and would
God occasion were offered of testifying our myndes toward you. In the
meane tyme, let vs labour with one consent, that the rauenyng Wolues may
be expelled from the shepefold of Christ, while we haue tyme. Let vs
study to preach to the people more learnedly hereafter, and more wisely.
Let vs have Inquisitours, and espyers of bookes, containyng that
doctrine, especially that is brought in from farre countreys, whether by
apostatiue Monkes, or by Marchauntes, the most suspected kynde of men in
these dayes. It is sayd, that since Scotland first embraced the
Christian fayth, it was neuer defiled with any heresie. Perseuer
therfore, beyng moued thereunto by the example of England, your next
neighbour, which in this most troublous tyme, is not chaunged, partly by
the workyng of the Byshops, among the which[1073] Roffensis hath shewed
hymselfe an Euangelicall Phoenix, and partly of the Kyng, declaryng
hymselfe to be an other Mathias of the new law: pretermittyng nothyng
that may defend the law of his realme. The which, if your most renowned
Kyng of Scotland will follow, he shall purchase to himselfe eternal
glory. Further, as touchyng the condigne commendation, due for your part
(most Reuerend Byshop) in this behalfe, it shal not be the least part of
your prayse, that these heresies haue bene extinct sometymes in
Scotland, you beyng Primate of Scotland and principal authour therof:
Albeit that they also which haue assisted you, are not to be defrauded
of their deserued prayse, as the Reuerend Byshop of Glasgow, of whose
erudition, we haue here geuen vs partly to understand, and also the
Reuerend Byshop of Aberden, a stoute defender of the fayth, together
with the rest of the Prelates, Abbots, Priours, and professours of holy
Scripture. Let your reuerend fatherhode take this litle testificate of
our duety toward you, in good part, whom we wish long and happely well
to fare in Christ. From Louane, an. 1528, Aprill 21.
BY THE MAISTERS AND PROFESSOURS OF THEOLOGIE IN THE VNIUERSITIE OF
LOUANE, YOURS TO COMMAUNDE.
¶ In this Epistle of the Louaniane Doctours, I shall not neede (gentle
Reader) to note vnto thee, what a pernitious thyng in a common wealth,
is blynd ignoraunce, when it falleth into cruell hartes. Which may well
be compared to a sword put in the handes of one, that is both blynd and
mad. For as the blynd man, hauyng no sense to see and iudge knoweth not
whom he striketh: so the madde man, beyng cruell and furious, hath no
compassion in sparyng any. Wherupon it happeneth many tymes with these
men, as it dyd with the blynd furious Phariseis, that as they hauyng the
sword of authoritie in their handes, in stede of malefactours and false
Prophetes, slue the true Prophetes of God, and at last crucified the
kyng of glory: so these Catholicke Louanians and folowers of their
Messias of Rome, take in their handes the sworde of iurisdiction, who
neither seyng what to spare, nor caryng whom they smite, vnder the stile
and pretense of heretiques, murther and blaspheme without mercy, the
true preachers of the Gospell, and the holy annoynted of the Lord.
* * * * *
"But to returne to the matter agayne of M. Hamelton, here is moreouer to
be observed, as a note worthy of memory, that in the yeare of the Lord
1564, in the which yeare this present history was collected in Scotland,
there were certaine faythfull men of credite then alyue, who beyng
present the same tyme, when M. Patrike Hamelton was in the fire, heard
him to cite and appeale the blacke Frier called Campbel, that accused
him, to appeare before the hygh God, as generall iudge of all men, to
aunswere to the innocency of his death, and whether his accusation was
iust or not, betwene that and a certaine day of the next moneth, which
he there named. Moreouer by the same witnes it is testified, that the
sayd Frier dyed immediatly before the sayd day came, without remorse of
conscience, that he had persecuted the Innocent. By the example wherof
diuers of the people the same tyme, much mused, and firmely beleued the
doctrine of the foresayd M. Hamelton, to be good and iust.
"Hereunto I thought good to adioyne a certaine godly and profitable
Treatise of the sayd M. Patrike Hamelton, written first by him in
Latine, and afterward translated by John Frith into English, which he
names Patrikes Places; not vnprofitable in my mynde, to be sene and
read of all men, for the pure and comfortable doctrine conteined in the
same, as not onely by the treatise it selfe may appeare, but also by the
preface of the sayd John Frith, prefixed before; which also I thought
not inconuenient to insert with the same, as here foloweth."
* * * * *
The "brief Treatise," translated by John Fryth, which immediately
follows the above extracts from Foxe, has already been included in the
present volume: see pages 19 to 35.
It appears from some payments in the Treasurer's Accounts, in 1543, that
Patrick Hamilton had left an illegitimate daughter named Isobell. Some
readers perchance may think that such a fact should have remained
unnoticed, as casting a blemish on his hitherto pure and immaculate
character; but a regard to what may be called historical justice, will
not allow such a circumstance to be concealed, while the habitual
licentious conduct of the highest dignitaries of the Church at that time
are, in the course of the present work, so frequently alluded to.
"Item, the x day of Aprile deliuerit to be ane gowne to Issobell
Hammiltoun, _dochter to umquhill Patrik Abbot of Fern_, four elnis
Frenche blak, price of the eln xxxiiij s.... Summa, vj lib. xvj s.
"Item, deliuerit to be hir are kirtill, thre elnis Frenehe brown, price
of the eln xxx s.... Summa, iiij lib. x s.
"Item, deliuerit to hir to walt the samin, and to be hir pertlettis, ane
eln blak veluet, price thairof, ... lvj s."
In the following month of May 1543, another gown was furnished to
Isobell Hamilton.
No. IV.
ON THE ROYAL PILGRIMAGES TO THE SHRINE OF ST. DUTHACK,
AT TAIN, IN ROSS-SHIRE.
In a note to page 16, I expressed some doubt as to the accuracy of the
statement that King James the Fifth was sent in pilgrimage to the Shrine
of St. Duthack, immediately previous to the trial and condemnation of
Patrick Hamilton. Had the Treasurer's Accounts for 1528, or the
Household Book between July 1526 and August 1528, been preserved, they
might have enabled us to trace the King's movements. But the statement
is highly improbable in itself. Mr. Tytler has shown that James only
escaped from the thraldom of the Douglasses at the end of May 1528, or
nearly three months after Hamilton's sentence; and it was most unlikely
from the vigilant restraint under which the King was kept that he would
have been allowed to traverse a great part of the country upon such an
errand. It may also be kept in view, that if an application had been
made to James, before he assumed the reins of government, it is scarcely
probable his interference would have had any effect in preventing the
sentence of the Ecclesiastical Courts from being carried into execution.
* * * * *
Want of space prevents me from inserting here, as I intended, a series
of extracts from the Treasurer's Accounts during the reign of James the
Fourth, in connexion with his visits to that celebrated shrine. I shall
therefore merely notice, that the public registers furnish some evidence
to shew that he made an annual pilgrimage to St. Duthack's chapel, in
Ross-shire. On more than one occasion the King rode unattended from
Stirling across the mountain pass of the Grampians, leading from
Fettercairn to the north side of the Dee, and from thence to Elgin,
Inverness, and Tain. These repeated visits to a distant shrine may have
been performed as an act of penance, the chapel having been founded by
his father, James the Third. Such a journey, with a few attendants, he
appears to have made in August 1513, or only one month previously to his
setting out on his calamitous expedition, when he was slain at Floddon.
No. V.
FOXE'S ACCOUNT OF HENRY FORREST, AND OTHER MARTYRS IN
SCOTLAND, DURING THE REIGN OF KING JAMES THE FIFTH.
The fate of Henry Forress or Forrest seems to have excited much less
attention than might have been expected. In the note to page 52, I
suggested that the probable time of his martyrdom may be placed in 1532;
and he may thus be regarded as the second victim in the cause of the
Reformed faith in Scotland. The strict inquisition which took place, and
caused a number of persons to forsake their native country, whilst
others met with a similar fate as his own in the course of a few years,
may have contributed to this comparative silence. Even Foxe, to whom we
are chiefly indebted for preserving an account of his fate, seems to
have been ignorant of it in 1564; as in the following short paragraph,
from the first edition of his work, he refers to those who suffered in
Edinburgh in 1534, as the next in succession to the Abbot of Ferne:--
"¶ FIVE BURNT IN SKOTLAND.
"Seuen yeres after Patrik Hamelton, whose history is before passed,
there were v. burnte in Skotland, in the city of Edenborow, being the
Metropolitike citye of al Skotlande, of the which fiue two were
dominicane Friers, one Priest, one Gentleman, and the fifthe was a
channon: whose iudges and inquisitors were these: Jhon Maior, Archbishop
of S. Androwes, Petrus Chappellanus, and the Franciscane friers, whose
labor and diligence is never wanting in such matters." (Page 525.)
* * * * *
At the same time I suggested that Henry Forrest was the son of Thomas
Forrest of Linlithgow, who was in the employment of King James the
Fourth. Since that sheet was printed, I find the name of "HENIRICUS
FORRUS" in the list of students who were incorporated, that is, became
Bachelors of Arts, at the University of Glasgow, in the year 1518. If
this was the martyr, we may presume that at the time of his martyrdom he
must have been upwards of thirty years of age. This however may have
been another person of the same name, as we find "HENRICUS FORREST," as
a Determinant in St. Leonard's College, St. Andrews, in 1526, which
leaves no doubt of his having, two years later, witnessed the fate of
Patrick Hamilton.
The following is Foxe's account from his enlarged edition of his "Actes
and Monuments," in 1576:--
"HENRY FOREST, MARTYR.
Persecutors.
Iames Beton, Archbishop of S. Andrewes. Frier Walter Laitig, bewrayer of
the confession of this Henry Forest.