[1] That Lord Torphichen's picture at Calder House is a portrait of
Knox, cannot be doubted, and it may have been copied from an older
painting; but at best it is a harsh and disagreeable likeness, painted
at least a century after Knox's death. It was engraved for Dr. M'Crie's
work; and, on a large scale, there is a most careful engraving of it, by
a very ingenious and modest artist, Mr. William Penny of Mid-Calder.
[2] The ornamented border in the original is very rudely cut: here it is
given only in outline. A French translation of Beza's volume appeared in
1581, with several additional portraits; but it is somewhat remarkable
that a totally different portrait should have been substituted in place
of that of Knox. This, I think, may be explained, from the circumstance
of the original cut having been either injured or lost; and not from the
other exhibiting a more correct likeness of the Scotish Reformer. From
its marked resemblance, I am convinced, that the portrait substituted
was intended for William Tyndale.--When the engraved pseudo-portraits of
Knox are brought together, it is quite ludicrous to compare the
diversity of character which they exhibit. Besides the ordinary
likeness, with the long flowing beard, copied from bad engravings to
worse, we have the Holyrood one, not unworthy of Holbein, of a
mathematician, with a pair of compasses; the head at Hamilton Palace,
which might serve for the Hermit of Copmanhurst; and others that would
be no unsuitable illustrations to any account of the fools and jesters
entertained at the Scotish Court.
[3] I state this from having lent him Verheiden's work, for the purpose
of his copying Knox's portrait. Perhaps the fine arts sustained by the
death of this eminent Painter, no greater loss than in his leaving
unfinished the most exquisite design of "Knox dispensing the Sacrament,"
which, in its half-finished state, has fortunately been secured by the
Royal Scotish Academy. His previous painting of "Knox preaching to the
Lords of the Congregation," is sadly disfigured by the extravagant
action and expression of the Reformer.
[4] This MS. when rebound, at some early time, was unfortunately too
much cut in the edges. Its present ragged state suggested a minute
examination, which shows that the volume consists of seventeen sets or
quires, each of them, with two exceptions, having twenty-two or
twenty-four leaves. Six of those quires, judging from the hand-writing
and the colour of the ink, were apparently written somewhat later than
the rest:--viz., the 7th set, fol. 137-158; the 9th and 10th, fol.
181-228; the 12th, fol. 253-272; the 14th, fol. 295-309; and the last
set, fol. 359 to the end. What renders this the more evident is, that
while the first page of each set runs on continuously from the previous
page, as if there was no interruption, the catchword on the last page of
these rewritten sets or quires, often stops in the middle of the page,
or the beginning of a line, leaving the rest blank, owing to the style
of writing, or the matter contained in these sets having varied from
those which they had replaced.
[5] The following is the title of a work on the Harmony of the Gospels,
with a fac-simile of the signature referred to: "In nomine dnj. Nostrj
Jesu Chrj Anno Salutis humanæ 1581. Contextus historiæ Euangelicæ
Secundum tres Euangelistas Mat. Mar. et Lucam.--Septembris 4."
[6] App. No. VI. pp. 358-363. Lond. 1702, 8vo. Nicolson, in giving some
account of the History, considers the question of the Authorship, which
was then reckoned doubtful, and referring particularly to the Glasgow
Manuscript, he says, it "was lately presented to the College by Mr.
Robert Fleming, a late preacher at Rotterdam, now at London, Mr. Knox's
great-grandchild; who having several of his said ancestor's papers in
his hand, pretends to assure them, that this very Book is penn'd by the
person whose name it commonly bears. For the better proof of this matter
he sends them the preface of another book, written in the same hand,
wherein are these words:--'_In nomine Domini Nostri Jesu Christi, &c.,
Septembris_ 4^o, M. Jo. Knox, _August_ 18, _A_^o 1581.' There might
indeed have been some strength in this evidence, were we not assur'd
that the famed Knox dy'd in 1572; so that nothing could be written by
him in 1581. There was one Mr. John Knox, who was Moderator of the Synod
of Merse in 1586; who perhaps is Mr. Fleming's true ancestor, as well as
the transcriber of this book, and might be one of the assistants in the
revising of it."--(Ib. p. 192.) These remarks gave considerable offence
to Fleming, who answers them, at some length, but without throwing any
new light on the subject, in the preface to his "Practical Discourse on
the Death of King William III. &c.," p. xii; Lond. 1702, 8vo. Fleming
was not a descendant of Knox. It is indeed true that his grandfather
married Knox's daughter; but his father was the issue of a subsequent
marriage. These facts are plainly stated in a letter from R. Fleming to
Wodrow, dated at London, on the 6th of June 1702.
[7] In the footnotes, the errors and mistakes in Vautrollier's edition
are occasionally pointed out. A sample of them may here be brought
together:--
P. 40. Aue hes tuit aue spurtill.
41. priests of whordome--trystis of whoredome.
44. Andrewe Balsone--Balfour.
52. Baltlewich, Lyniltquilk, Lemax--Balcleueh, Lynlithgow, Levenax.
54. the time thereof--the teind thereof.
55. paying such losses--paying such teinds.
62. Earle of gleuearne--Earle of Glencarne.
78. appoints--oppones.
97. the Cardinal skipped--the Cardinal scripped.
113. taken from--given to.
116. inversion--intercession.
122. entracted--entreated.
142. enduer him--cummer him.
143. receiving of limes and staues--receiving of lime and stanes.
_ib._ in great number--in no great number.
144. cryed I am Leslie a priest--cryed, I am a priest.
146. the Queen's daughter--the Queen Dowager.
149. Langundrie--Langnidrie.
166. the Gouernoures--the Gunnar's.
169. should be--should not be.
170. Scotish preachers--Scotish prikers.
177. scarcenesse--scarmishing.
180. some drunken beare, which laye in the saudes chappell and
church--some drynkin bear, which lay in the syidis Chappell and
Kirk.
182. were pressed--were not pressed.
186. Silbard--Sibbald.
187. and for his other William--and for his other villany.
192. Lordes Maxwell flying--Lords Maxwell, Fleming.
195. Wilbock--Willock.
199. Meruses--Mernes.
200. hearie--Harie.
226. according to comely and common lawes--according to the civile and
cannon lawes.
249. auow your graces hart--move your Graces heart.
280. Ancheddirdour--Auchterarder.
281. should be--should not be.
301. estates of our religion--estates of our realme.
[8] See "Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. JOHN MILTON for the Liberty of
Unlicens'd Printing," addressed to the Parliament of England, London,
1644, 4to. In arguing against the abuses committed by licensers of the
Press, he says, "Nay, which is more lamentable, if the work of any
deceased Author, though never so famous in his lifetime, and even to
this day, come to their hands for license to be printed or reprinted, if
there be found in his book one sentence of a venturous edge, uttered in
the height of zeal, (and who knows whether it might not be the dictate
of a divine Spirit,) yet, not suiting with every low decrepit humour of
their own, THOUGH IT WERE KNOX HIMSELF, THE REFORMER OF A KINGDOM, that
spake it, they will not pardon him their dash: the sense of that great
man shall to all posterity be lost for the fearfulness, or the
presumptuous rashnesse of a prefunctory licenser. And to what an Author
this violence hath bin lately done, and in what book of greatest
consequence to be faithfully publisht, I could now instance, but shall
forbear till a more convenient season."--(page 22.)
[9] In following the MS. of 1566, I have discarded all contractions, and
generally avoided the old form of using _u_ and _w_ for _v_, or _v_ for
_u_; _i_ for _j_. In order to avoid distracting the attention of an
ordinary reader, such words in the MS. as _hie_ for _he_, _on_ for
_one_, _cane_ for _can_, _don_ for _done_, are printed in the usual
form; but indeed the orthography of the MS. is very irregular, and might
have justified much greater innovations.
[10] This Preface is not contained in either of the editions by David
Buchanan of the History printed in 1644.
[11] In MS. G, "cloude."
[12] In MS. I, "whairby idolatrie."
[13] In MS. G, "eyis."
[14] Ib.
[15] In the MS. "trawalled."
[16] That is, the year 1558.
[17] Mary Queen of Scots arrived from France on the 19th of August 1561.
[18] The author's original intention, as here stated, was, that the
History should merely embrace the limited period from 1558 to 1561. That
portion was probably revised and enlarged, to form Books Second and
Third, when this introductory Book was added in 1566.
[19] This phrase was not uncommon: see page 10. But MS. I. makes it,
"some faythfull brethrene, concerning that which was thought."
[20] That is, the Civil Policy.
[21] In the MS. "wane."
[22] This title occurs as a marginal note in the MS.
[23] In the MS. it was originally written "mentioun of one N.," the
words, "whais name is not expressed," being afterwards added on the
margin. The letter N., it may be observed, was an abbreviation of _Non
nemo_, i.e. _aliquis_, or Somebody, a mode adopted from the Canon Law,
when the name of a person was not ascertained.
[24] From the collation of David Buchanan's text, it will be seen that
he has here inserted the words "One whose name was James Resby, an
Englishman by birth, schollar to Wickliff: he was accused as a
hereticke, by one Laurence Lindores," &c. Buchanan overlooks the
circumstance that Resby suffered martyrdom at Perth, fifteen years
before the person referred to by Knox. See Appendix, No. I.,
"Interpolations in Knox's History by David Buchanan."--In the Appendix,
No. II., some notices will be given of Resby and other Lollards in
Scotland, during the 15th century.
[25] Bower, the continuator of Fordun, calls him Paul Crawar, and fixes
the date of his execution on the 23d of July 1433. (See Appendix No.
II.)
[26] In MSS. G, A, &c., "a Bohemian."
[27] In the MS. "wach."
[28] Robert Blackader, on the 5th of June 1480, was styled Prebendary of
Cardross, in the Cathedral Church of Glasgow, (Registrum Episcopatus
Glasguenis, p. 443.) On the 23d of that month, he sat among the Lords of
Council, as Bishop elect of Aberdeen, which seems to discredit the
statement of Keith and other writers, of his having been consecrated at
Rome by Pope Sixtus IV., upon the death of Bishop Spens. (Registrum
Episcopatus Aberdonensis, Mr. Innes's Preface, page xlii. note.)
Blackader, however, was much employed in public negotiations with
England and other countries. He was translated to the See of Glasgow,
previously to February 1484; and during his Episcopate, that See was
erected into an Archbishopric. As stated in a following page, Blackader
died on the 28th of July 1508. See page 12.
[29] The shire of Ayr in former times was locally divided into the three
districts of Carrick, Kyle, and Cunningham; and those districts are
still retained, but without any political or judicial distinction. Kyle
was the central district, between the rivers Doon and Irvine; and was
subdivided into two sections, by the river Ayr, King's-Kyle lying on the
south, and Kyle-Stewart on the north of the river.--(Chalmers's
Caledonia, vol. iii. p. 446.)
[30] In the MS., a blank space had been left for these names, which were
apparently added at a somewhat later period.--The escape of John
Campbell of Cesnock at this time is taken notice of by Alexander Alesius
in his Letter to James Fifth, see Appendix No. II.
[31] Mure of Polkellie, the title of _Lady_ being given by
courtesy.--From a detailed genealogical account of the family of
Chalmers of Gadgirth in Ayrshire, inserted in the Appendix to Nisbet's
Heraldry, vol. i., we find that John Chalmers, in a charter dated 1491,
was styled son and heir of Sir John Chalmers of Galdgirth; and that one
of his daughters, Margaret, was married to George Campbell of Cesnock;
and another, Helen, to Robert Mure of Polkellie. A third daughter is
mentioned in the following note.
[32] The baptismal name of Lady Stair is left blank in the MS., and
Calderwood, who copied from Knox, inserted the letter N., to indicate
this; while David Buchanan supplied the name of Isabella. On the
supposition that Knox himself had so written it, Professor Forbes, in
noticing the Lord President Stair's descent from one of the Lollards of
Kyle, says, "The Historian hath mistaken the Lady's name; for, by
writings in the Earl of Stair's hand, it appears she was called Marion
Chalmers, daughter to Mr. John Chalmers of Gadgirth, whose good family
was very steady in the matters of religion."--(Journal of Decisions,
&c., p. 29, Edinb. 1714, folio.)--On the other hand, in the pedigree of
the Gadgirth family, in Nisbet, William Dalrymple of Stair is said to
have married Isabella Chalmers.
[33] This "Register," and "the Scrollis" referred to in the former page,
were probably the Court-books of the Official of Glasgow, an office
usually held by one of the Canons of the diocese. But no registers of
the kind are known to be preserved.
[34] The additions to Articles 4, 8, 9, 19, and 31, included within a
parenthesis, are evidently comments by Knox.
[35] In MSS. G, A, &c., "bread."
[36] That is, to judge in matters of divine worship.
[37] Vautroullier's suppressed edition of the History commences, on
sign. B., page 17, with those three words. The previous sheet, or 16
pages, containing the title and preface, had no doubt been set up, but
the sheet may have been either delayed at press till the volume was
completed, or all the copies carried off and destroyed when the book was
prohibited.
[38] In Vautr. edit., and MSS. G, A, &c., "doubtfully spoken."
[39] In this place, the MS. has "Basqueming," and Vautroullier's edition
makes it "Adam reade of blaspheming."--Adam Reid of Stair-White, or
Barskyming, the representative of an ancient family in Ayrshire,
probably accompanied James the Fourth, in his first voyage to the
Western Isles, in July 1494. He obtained two charters, under the Great
Seal, of the King's fortress of Ardcardane, and some lands near Tarbert,
in North Kintyre, dated 15th September 1498, and 27th August 1499, in
which he is designated "Adam Rede de Sterquhite." The service annexed to
the first grant included the maintenance of six archers sufficiently
provided with bows and arrows, upon occasion of the King's curbing the
inhabitants of the Isles, who had long set the royal authority at
defiance: "Neenon sustentando sex homines defensivos architenentes, cum
arcubus et sagittis bene suffultos, ad serviendum Regi, et successoribus
suis, in guerris si quas Reges in Insulis contra inhabitantes carundem
habere contigerit, cum dictus Adam vel hæredes sui ad hoc requisitus
fuerit."
[40] For "shut up;" in Vautr. edit., and MSS. G, A, &c., "set up."
[41] The erroneous date of 1500 occurs in the MS. and in all the
subsequent copies; it is also repeated by Spotiswood. The actual time of
his decease is thus recorded,--"Obitus Roberti Blacader primi
Archiepiscopi Glasguensis, vigesimo octavo die Julij A.D.
1508."--(Regist. Episcop. Glasg., vol. ii. p. 616.) The place where
Blackader died is not ascertained; but Bishop Lesley confirms Knox's
statement, that he had set out on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "Scotia
discedit, paucis post diebus, Episcopus Glasgoensis, Robertus Blacaderus
pio studio illa loca (quæ Christi vestigiis trita, aliisque humilitatis,
virtutisque monumentis illustrata erant) invisendi flagrans
Hierosolymitana profectione suscepta; sed mortis impetu præclusa, ad
coelites in itinere migravit."--(De Rebus Gestis, &c., p. 349, Romæ,
1578, 4to.) In his English History, Lesley mentions this more briefly,
"About this time, [5th of July 1508,] the Bishop of Glasgow, quha wes
passit to Jerusalem, or he com to the end of his journay, deceissit the
xxix [28th] day of July. He was ane noble, wyse, and godlie
man."--(Hist. p. 78, Edinb. 1830, 4to.)
[42] The truth of this remark is very evident, as Beaton, along with his
high civil and ecclesiastical appointments, held several great Church
benefices. He was the youngest son of John Beaton of Balfour, and was
educated at St. Andrew's. In 1487, the name "Ja. Betone" occurs among
the _Intrantes_; in 1491, among the _Determinantes_; and in 1493, as a
Licentiate, he took the degree of Master of Arts. In October 1497,
Maister James Betoun was presented to the Chantry of Cathness, vacant by
the decease of Mr. James Auchinleck.--(Bannatyne Miscellany, vol. ii. p.
162.) In 1503, he was Provost of the collegiate church of Bothwell, and
Prior of Whithorn. In 1504, he was Abbot of Dunfermline, and a Lord of
the Session. In the following year he succeeded his brother as Lord
Treasurer. In 1508, he was raised to the See of Galloway; and within
twelve months having been translated to Glasgow, as successor to
Blackader, he resigned the office of Treasurer. In the Rolls of
Parliament, 26th November 1513, the Archbishop of Glasgow appears as
Chancellor of the kingdom; and he secured to himself the rich Abbacies
of Arbroath and Kilwinning. On succeeding to the Primacy of S. Andrew's,
in 1522, he resigned the commendatory of Arbroath in favour of his
nephew David Beaton, with the reservation to himself of half its
revenues during his life. In a letter to Cardinal Wolsey, Dr. Magnus the
English Ambassador, on the 9th of January 1524-5, after referring to the
Archbishop of St. Andrews, as "the gretteste man booth of landes and
experience withyne this realme," speaks of Beaton as "nooted to be
veraye subtill and dissymuling."--(State Papers, vol. iv. p. 286.) But
with all his dignities and wealth, he experienced occasional reverses of
fortune; and in 1526, upon a change in public affairs, he was deprived
of the office of Lord Chancellor. He died in 1539.
[43] On the 9th of September 1513.
[44] In the preface to Lambert's "Exegeseos in sanctam diui Ioannis
Apocalypsim, Libri vii." The passage will be given in the Appendix, No.
III.
[45] This reference to the well known "Actes and Monumentes" of John
Foxe, the English Martyrologist, has more than once been pointed out as
an anachronism. Thus, Spottiswood asserts, that Foxe's work "came not to
light [till] some ten or twelve years after Mr. Knox his death," (p.
267,) and concludes, that "the History given forth in his name was not
of his inditing." But Knox's phrase, "laitlie sett furth," is quite
applicable to the first publication of Foxe's Martyrology; as there is
no reason to doubt that Knox wrote this portion of his History in 1566,
and it is certain that Foxe's "Actes and Monumentes," &c., printed at
London by John Daye, was completed in the beginning of 1564, in large
folio. In this edition there is an account of Patrick Hamilton, which
(with some other notices) will be given verbatim in the Appendix, No.
III. Foxe's Martyrology was again printed by Daye, "newly recognized by
the author," in 1570, 2 vols. folio; a third time in 1576; and a fourth
(being probably the earliest edition of which Spottiswood had any
knowledge) in 1583.
[46] Hamilton was merely titular Abbot of Ferne, and was not in holy
orders. His predecessor, Andrew Stewart, was Bishop of Caithness, and
Commendator of the two Abbeys of Kelso and Ferne. He died 17th June
1517; and the latter benefice was probably then conferred on Hamilton.
Ferne is a parish in the eastern part of the shire of Ross. The Abbey
was founded by Farquhard first Earl of Ross, in the reign of Alexander
the Third. The Church, built or completed by William Earl of Ross, who
died in 1371, was a handsome structure of about 120 feet in length, with
chapels on the north and on the south sides. It continued to be used as
the parish Church till Sunday the 10th of October 1742, when, during
public service, the flagstone roof, and part of the side walls fell in,
and killed 40 persons, besides others who died in consequence of the
injuries they sustained.--(Scots Magazine, 1742, p. 485.) At a later
period (1772), the centre part of the Church of Ferne, but reduced in
its length, was repaired, with a new roof, and still serves as the
parish Church. Unless for some ruined portions of the side chapels
attached to the eastern end of the Church, which were suffered to
remain, all marks of its venerable antiquity have now disappeared.
[47] It was at Marburg, the capital of Upper Hesse, and not at
Wittemberg, where Lambert was professor.
[48] In the MS. "trawailled." The letters _w_ and _v_ are used
indiscriminately by Knox's amanuensis.
[49] This statement, we presume, is incorrect, as there is no evidence
to show that James the Fifth visited the Shrine of St. Duthac at this
time. Lesley speaks of the King dealing with Hamilton, which implies at
least a knowledge of his accusation, "adhortante Rege ipso."--(De Rebus
Gestis, &c., p. 427.) The chapel of St. Duthac, Bishop of Ross, now in
ruins, is situated about half a mile to the north-east of the town of
Tain. In the Appendix No. IV. will be given various extracts from the
Treasurer's Accounts relating to the frequent pilgrimages which James
the Fourth made to this Shrine, as illustrative of a superstitious
custom of that period.
[50] In the MS. "lief."
[51] See page 19.
[52] Gilbert Kennedy third Earl of Cassilis. He was probably only at St.
Andrews for one session; as his name does not occur in the Registers of
the University. In 1532, he was at Paris, pursuing his studies under
George Buchanan, who dedicated to him his first edition of Linacre's
Latin Grammar. Lord Cassilis was one of the prisoners taken at Solway
Moss in 1542. As Knox afterwards mentions, he died at Dieppe in 1558.
[53] The University of St. Andrews, founded by Bishop Wardlaw in the
year 1410, was confirmed by Papal authority in 1413. Its endowments,
however, continued to be very limited, until St. Salvator's College was
erected and endowed in 1456 by James Kennedy, his successor in the See.
At this time it received the name of the Old College, to distinguish it
from that of St. Leonard's College, created in 1512, and St. Mary's, in
1537.
[54] In Vautr. edit., and MSS. G, A, &c., "scorched."
[55] Lindesay of Pitscottie, (_circa_ 1575,) in his detailed account of
Hamilton's condemnation, after narrating the Martyr's last speeches, and
his solemn appeal to Campbell, proceeds,--"Then they laid to the fire to
him; but it would no ways burn nor kindle a long while. Then a baxtar,
called Myrtoun, ran and brought his arms full of straw, and cast it in
to kindle the fire: but there came such a blast of wind from the East
forth of the sea, and raised the fire so vehemently, that it blew upon
the Frier that accused him, that it dang him to the earth, and brunt all
the fore part of his coul; and put him in such a fray, that he never
came to his right spirits again, but wandered about the space of forty
days, and then departed."--(Edit. 1728, p. 134; edit. 1776, p. 209.)
Pitscottie gives the false date of September 1525. This writer indeed is
often very inaccurate in names and dates; but his details were evidently
derived from some contemporary authority.
[56] Foxe, and other authorities, state that Campbell was Prior of the
Dominican or Blackfriars Monastery, St. Andrews.
[57] According to modern computation, the year 1528.
[58] Foxe, in republishing his "Actes and Monumentes," among other
additions, has the following paragraph:--"But to return to the matter of
Master Hamelton; here is, moreover, to be observed, as a note worthy of
memory, that in the year of our Lord 1564, in which year this present
History was collected in Scotland, there were certain faithful men of
credit then alive, who being present the same time when Master Patrick
Hamelton was in the fire, heard him to cite and appeal the Black Friar
called Campbell, that accused him, to appear before the high God, as
general Judge of all men, to answer to the innocency of his death, and
whether his accusation was just or not, between that and a certain day
of the next month, which he then named. Moreover, by the same witness it
is testified, that the said Friar had immediately before the said day
come, without remorse of conscience, that he had persecuted the
innocent; by the example whereof divers of the people, the same time
much mused, and firmly believed the doctrine of the aforesaid Master
Hamelton to be good and just."--(Third edit. p. 650, Lond. 1576, folio.)
[59] In Vautr. edit. "true fruites;" in MSS. G, &c., "trow fruittis."
[60] The above title, and Fryth's preface are not contained in Knox's
MS., but are inserted from Foxe's Martyrology, p. 949, 3d edit., Lond.
1576.
[61] This evidently refers to Archbishop Beaton; but he had previously
been deprived of the Chancellorship: see note, page 13.
[62] Hamilton's treatise was probably printed as an academical
dissertation, whilst he was at Marburg, in 1526. It in uncertain whether
Fryth's translation was published during his own life. There are at
least three early editions, with this title, "Dyvers frutefull
gatherynges of Scripture: And declaryng of fayth and workes." One was
printed at London by Thomas Godfray, and two others by William Copland,
each of them without a date, but probably before 1540.--(Dibdin's
Typogr. Antiq., vol. iii. pp. 71, 161, 162.) In 1562-3, Michael Lobley,
a printer in St. Paul's Churchyard, had license to print "The Sermonde
in the Wall, thereunto annexed, The Common Place of Patryk
Hamylton."--(ib., p. 540.) Foxe's copy of this Treatise differs from the
present in a number of minute particulars, which would occupy too much
space to point out.
[63] John Fryth, as the reward of his zeal in the cause of religion, was
confined to the Tower, in 1532, and was brought to the stake, at
Smithfield, on the 4th of July 1533.--(See the Rev. Chr. Anderson's
Annals of the English Bible, vol. i. pp. 339-377.)
[64] This title, with the numbers of the Propositions, and the words
included within brackets, are supplied from Foxe. Also a few trifling
corrections in the orthography.
[65] These Propositions are put in a syllogistic form; but the terms
_Major_, _Minor_, and _Conclusion_, marked on the margin of Foxe's copy,
except in one or two instances at the beginning, are not contained in
Knox's MS. Such as are marked, being incorrectly given by his
transcriber, as well as in Vautr. edit., are here omitted.
[66] In Vautr. edit. and MSS. E, A, and I, is this marginal note--"This
is to be understood of circumstance of worldlie men, and not of them of
God; for the neirer that men draw to God, we ar bound the more to love
them." Also a similar note to page 24, Prop. IV., "Christ is the ende
and fulfillinge of the lawe to everie one that beleveth."
[67] Foxe has given this sentence more correctly:--"Now, seying he hath
payed thy dette, thou needest, neither canst thou pay it, but shouldest
bee damned, if hys bloud were not."
[68] In republishing his "Actes and Monumentes," Foxe, along with
Fryth's translation of "Patrick Hamilton's Places," has subjoined
"Certaine brief Notes or Declarations upon the foresayd Places of M.
Patrike." He says, "This little treatise of M. Patrike's Places, albeit
in quantitie it be but short, yet in effect it comprehendeth matter able
to fill large volumes, declaryng to us the true doctrine of the Law, of
the Gospell, of Fayth, and of Workes, with the nature and properties,
and also the difference of the same." But Foxe's Notes are too long to
be here inserted, and they have several times been reprinted.
[69] Gawin Logye, under whom so many of the early Reformers had
prosecuted their studies, was educated at St. Andrews, and took his
degree of Master of Arts in 1512. In 1518, "Gavinus Logye" was "Regens
Coll. Sancti Leonardi de novo fundati." In the "Acta Fac. Art.," his
name occurs as Principal of that College in 1523. Calderwood says, that
in the year 1533, Logye "was forced to flee out of the countrie," (vol.
i. p. 104.) This date is certainly erroneous. At the election of Martin
Balfour, as Dean of Faculty, "Mag^r. Gavinus Logye," Principal of St.
Leonard's College, was appointed one of his assessors, on the 3d of
November 1534. He probably fled before the close of the year 1535; but
of his subsequent history no particulars have been discovered. Logye's
immediate successor was "Dominus Thomas Cunnynghame," whose name first
occurs as Principal Regent, on the 3d of November 1537.
[70] In MS. G, "novittis;" in other MSS., and in Vautr. edit.,
"novices."
[71] Probably John Wynrame, see note 395.
[72] In Vautr. edit., "William Archbishop," and also in MSS. A, I, and
W. In MS. E, "William Arth." In MS. G, "William Arithe."
[73] John Hepburn, Bishop of Brechin, was descended of the Hepburns of
Bothwell. He held this See from 1517, for upwards of forty years, till
his death in August 1558.--(Keith's Catal.)
[74] Best known by his Latin name Major. He was a native of Haddington,
and spent many years on the Continent, where he acquired great
reputation by his numerous works, and became a Doctor of the Sorbonne.
After his return to Scotland, he was for a short time (1518-1522)
Principal Regent in the College of Glasgow, where Knox himself was his
pupil. He was at this time Vicar of Dunlop; and Treasurer of the Chapel
Royal at Stirling. In 1533, he was incorporated in the University of St.
Andrews; and became Provost of St. Salvator's College; an office which
he held till his death in 1550. See M'Crie's Life of Knox, vol. i. pp.
7, 339; and Irving's Life of Buchanan, pp. 8, 373.
[75] George Lockhart, Provost of the Collegiate Church of Crichton, in
Mid-Lothian, was Rector of the University of St. Andrews, from 1521 to
1525. He was the author of more than one work, printed at Paris, on
Dialectic Philosophy. He afterwards was Dean of Glasgow, where he died
on the 22d of June 1547.--(Obituary in the Registrum Episcopatus
Glasguensis, vol. ii. p. 614.)
[76] The Abbot of Cambuskenneth, Alexander Myln, was appointed first
President of the College of Justice in 1532. In 1494, Alexander Myl, was
a Determinant at St. Andrews. In 1515, he was Official of Dunkeld, and
in that year he wrote a Latin work, Lives of the Bishops of Dunkeld,
first printed in 1823, for the Bannatyne Club. In Brunton and Haig's
Historical Account of the Senators, a very accurate notice is given of
his several preferments in the Church. Myln, who died about the close of
the year 1548, is acknowledged to have been a man of great
accomplishments, and to have displayed a most commendable zeal for
religion and learning.
[77] In the year 1522, on the death of his Uncle, John Hepburn, Prior of
the Metropolitan Church of St. Andrews, Patrick Hepburn succeeded; and
held the Priorate till 1535, when advanced to the See of Moray. See note
82.
[78] The Scotish Parliament passed an Act on the subject, on the 12th of
June 1535, in which the cause of this disregard of the censures of the
Church is mainly attributed to "the dampnable persuasions of heretikis,
and thair perversit doctrine," which, it is added, "gevis occasioun to
lichtly (or despise) the process of cursing, and uther censures of Haly
Kirk."--(Acta Parl. vol. ii. p. 342; Keith's Hist., vol. i. p. 28.)
There is a singular production by one of the early Scotish Poets, a
priest named Sir John Rowll, called his Cursing, which exemplifies the
abuses to which this process was perverted. It was written between 1492
and 1502, and is directed chiefly against the stealers, among other
articles,
Of fyve fat geiss of Sir Johne Rowllis,
With caponis, hennis, and uther fowlis;
but it also contains a general invective against persons who defraud the
clergy of their tythes or dues. The following entries in the Treasurer's
Books, shew that ecclesiastical persons were not exempted from such
censures:--
"Item, the thrid day of November [1533], to Sir Johne Smyth, notare, to
pass to execut the Process upon the Abbot of Melross, and Prioress of
Eccles, for non payment of thair taxt,. xl. s.
"Item, the first day of Junij [1534], to ane cheplane to pass to Curss
the Prioress of North Berwick and Eccles, for non payment of thair
taxtis,. xx. s."
[79] In MS. A, &c., "canon law."
[80] In MS. G, "Kirkmen."--The Church of Rome, however, always performed
the ceremony of depriving a Priest of his holy orders, before being
handed over to the secular authorities for punishment; "because (in the
words of a modern writer) she was too watchful over the immunities of
the privileged order of Priests, to deliver them up to temporal
jurisdiction, till stripped of the sacerdotal character, and _degraded_
to the situation of laymen." (Dowling's History of Romanism, p. 551, New
York, 1845, 8vo.)
[81] The Abbot of Unreason in Scotland, was a similar character to the
Lord of Misrule in England. "This pageant potentate," as Stowe calls
him, "was annually elected, and his rule extended through the greater
part of the holydays conected with the festival days of Christmas." But
these "fine and subtle disguisings, masks, and mummeries," too often
degenerated into abuse, as indeed was to be expected, when such pastimes
had for their object to turn all lawful authority into ridicule, and
more particularly to burlesque the services of the Church. On such
occasions, "the rude vulgar occupied the Churches, profaned the holy
places by a mock imitation of the sacred rites, and sung indecent
parodies of the hymns of the Church;" and the lively representation of a
scene of this kind is familiar to most readers, in a well known work of
fiction, "The Abbot." Part of Sir Walter Scott's comment on his own
description may be here quoted:--"The indifference of the clergy, even
when their power was greatest, to the indecent exhibitions, which they
always tolerated, and sometimes encouraged, forms a strong contrast to
the sensitiveness with which they regarded any serious attempt, by
preaching or writing, to impeach any of the doctrines of the
Church."--(Waverley Novels.)
[82] Patrick Hepburn, son to Patrick first Earl of Bothwell, was
educated at St. Andrews, under his uncle, John Hepburn, Prior of St.
Andrews, whom he succeeded in 1522. He was Secretary from 1524 to 1527.
In 1535, he was advanced to the See of Moray, and was likewise
Commendator of Scone. He retained his bishopric after the Reformation;
and died at his Palace and Castle of Spynic on the 20th of June 1573.
[83] Knox has been blamed for recording this "merry bourd" or jest; but
Bishop Hepburn had rendered himself notorious by his profligacy. This
indeed appears on the face of the public records. Under the Great Seal
there passed the following letters of Legitimation;--(1.) "Johanni et
Patricio Hepburn, bastardis filiis naturalibus Patricii Prioris Sancti
Andreæ." 18 Dec. 1533.--Also, (2.) "Legitimatio Adami, Patricii,
Georgii, Johannis, et Patricii Hepburn, bastardorum filiorum naturalium
Patricii Episcopi Moraviensis." 4 Oct. 1545. And, (3.) "Legitimatio
Jonetæ et Agnetis Hepburn, bastardarum filiorum naturalium Patricii
Moraviensis Episcopi." 14 Maij 1550. Here are no less than nine
illegitimate children, evidently by different mothers. (4.) Agnes
Hepburn, another daughter of the late Patrick Bishop of Murray, was also
legitimated on 8th Feb. 1587.
[84] In MS. G, "he was imprisonit."
[85] According to Spotiswood, (Hist. p. 65,) these words were spoken at
the time when Henry Forrest was to be burnt for heresy. See note 113.
[86] In Vautr. edit., "Dungwaill." In MS. G, "Dungwell."--Sir John
Dingwall was a priest, and evidently a person of some note. On the 18th
of August 1516, his name occurs in the Treasurer's Accounts, when 3s.
8d. was paid to "ane child to bring the auld (Service?) bookis out of
Edinburgh fra Sir Johne Dingwall to Dundie." John Dingwall, Archdeacon
of Caithness, was one of the Auditors who signs the Treasurer's
Accounts, in October 1516. In two charters under the Great Seal, 15th
September, and 19th November 1524, he is designed Archdeacon of
Caithness, and Rector of Strabrok, in Linlithgowshire. In another
charter, 7th April 1529, he is styled "Dominus Johannes Dingwall
Præpositus Ecclesim Collegiatæ Sanctre Trinitatis prope Burgum de
Edinburgh." Having been nominated one of the Spiritual Lords at the
Institution of the College of Justice, on the 27th of May 1532, at the
first meeting of the Court, he took his seat under the title of Provost
of Trinity College. But he did not long enjoy his judicial office, as he
died before the 9th of July 1533.--(Brunton and Haig's Senators of the
College of Justice, p. 11.) Buchanan wrote an epigram on Dingwall,
founded upon some verses of Sir Adam Otterburn of Redhall, King's
Advocate, ("argumento sumpto ex Adami Otterburni Equitis clarissimi
hexametris,") from which it may be inferred that Dingwall's father had
been a priest, and left him no patrimony; that he himself had acquired
great wealth, accompanied with pride and luxury, whilst employed at the
Court of Rome; and that a monument had been erected to his memory,
containing his titles in high sounding terms.
[87] In MS. G, "Kirkmen." See some notes on the use of the title "Sir,"
as applied to priests, in Appendix, No. IV.
[88] In MS. G, "delaittit."
[89] Some notice of Oliphant will be given in a subsequent page.
[90] Gawin Dunbar was the son of Sir Alexander Dunbar of Westfield, and
Dame Elizabeth Sutherland; (see note to Poems of William Dunbar, vol.
ii. p. 433, Edinb. 1832, 2 vols. 8vo.) and not son of Sir James Dunbar
of Cumnock, as Keith states. He had been a student at St. Audrews, where
he took his Master's degree in 1475. On the 7th of October 1488, his
name occurs as Dean of his native diocese of Moray. He also held the
office of Clerk-Register from 1500 to 1513. In 1503, Dunbar received a
presentation to the Archdeaconry of St. Andrews. (Regist. Secr. Sigil.)
On the death of Bishop Gordon, 30th June 1518, being promoted to the See
of Aberdeen, he resigned his Archdeaconry. He died at a very advanced
age on the 9th or 10th of March 1531-2.--(Preface by the Editor, Mr.
Cosmo Innes, to the Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, p. lv.)
[91] In Vautr. edit. and MS. A, &c., "Andro Balsone." He was probably
related to Martin Balfour, "Official Principal" of St. Andrews, Rector
of Dunyno, and a Canon of St. Salvator's Church, St. Andrews. The name
of Andrew Balfour occurs among the licentiates of St. Leonard's College
in 1524; but we cannot say whether or not he was the person who is here
mentioned.
[92] In MS. "hell."
[93] Richard Carmichael, _yet living in Fife_; that is, in the year
1566; but these words are literally copied by Dr. Patrick Anderson in
his MS. History of Scotland, (vol. i. p. 187.) This seems sufficiently
absurd in a work which was written as late as 1636, or nearly 100 years
subsequent to Carmichael's accusation. "Ane letter maid to Richard
Carmichaell, remittand to him his eschete gudis pertenying to our
Soverane, throw being of the said Richard abjurit of heresy," &c., was
passed under the Privy Seal, on the 25th of March 1539.
[94] Clapperton was only Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal of Stirling. The
Deanery, which was first conjoined with the Provostry of Kirkheugh, St.
Andrews, was afterwards annexed to the Bishopric of Galloway. Henry
Weemys, Bishop of Galloway, was accordingly Dean of the Chapel Royal,
during his incumbency, from 1526 to 1541.--In MS. G, Clapperton is
erroneonsly called Sir John.--From the Treasurer's Accounts we learn,
that Schir George Clappertoun was "Maister Elimosinar to the Kingis
Grace," during the latter years of James the Fifth (1538 to 1542.)
"Dominus Georgius Clappertoun," on the 28th of July 1540, obtained a
presentation to the Provostship of Trinity College near
Edinburgh.--(Reg. Mag. Sig., vol. xiv.) He sat in the Provincial Council
at Edinburgh in 1549 under this title.--(Wilkins, Concilia, vol. iv. p.
46, where his name is erroneously given as George Cryghton.) He probably
resigned this office on being appointed Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal.
After the Reformation, he still retained the designation of Sub-Dean,
and received his two-thirds of the benefice, although John Duncanson was
Minister. Sir George Clapperton, Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal of
Stirling, and Vicar of Kirkinner, granted a life-rent of the teinds of
Kirkinner, 14th September 1562. (Analecta Scotica, vol. i. p. 2.) "Sir
George Clappertoun, Sub Dene of the Kingis Majesties Chapell Royall of
Striveling, deceissit in the moneth of Apryle 1574." In his testament,
written at Striviling in his "awin dwelling house," on the 5th of that
month, as he nominates Mr. Robert Pont, Provost of Trinity College, to
act as oversman, and one of his assignees, we may infer, that Clapperton
had embraced the reformed doctrines.--(Reg. of Confirmed Testaments,
21st Sept. 1574.)
[95] In MS. G, "Seytoun."
[96] In Vautr. edit. and MSS. G, A, &c., "a whole Lent."
[97] In MS. G, "Lent."
[98] In Vautr. edit. and MS. G, "condemned the holie doctrine."
[99] In Vautr. edit. and MS. A, &c., "the whole Lent past." In MS. G,
"whatsoever he had taught in all his sermons before, the hole Lent-tyde
preceiding."
[100] James Beaton, Archbishop of St. Andrews.
[101] In Vautr. edit. and MSS. G, A, &c., "ye may heir."
[102] In Vautr. edit. "skoffe."
[103] In MS. G, the words "and more easely beleved," are omitted. In
Vautr. edit. and MS. A, &c., the passage reads, "This accusation was
easely beleeved of," &c.
[104] In the habit of the Dominican Order to which he belonged.
[105] The exact time of Seaton's flight from Scotland, and the date of
his Letter to the King, have not been ascertained. The probable date is
1535 or 1536. Some particulars of his history will be given in the
Appendix, No. VII.
[106] In MS. G, "thy Grace's."
[107] In MS. G, "thy Grace's."
[108] In MS. G, "bairdit mulls;" in Vautr. edit, and MS. L 2, "barbed
mules;" MS. I, has "barbed mooles;" MSS. A, W, and E, "bardit" or
"barded mules"--the meaning of the phrase is, mules with trappings, or
richly caparisoned.
[109] In MS. G, "conceat."
[110] The custom of choosing the King of the Bean on the Vigil of the
Epiphany (5th of January), was not peculiar to this country. The
payments in the Treasurer's Accounts show, that a "Queen of the Bene"
was frequently chosen. For the custom itself, see Strutt's Sports and
Pastimes; Brand's Popular Antiquities, by Sir Henry Ellis; and
Jamieson's Dictionary, _v._ Bane. Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty,
amongst other remarks, says, the Presbyterians made use of Kings "as we
do of card-kings, in playing at the hundred," &c., "or, as the French on
the Epiphany-day use their _Roy de la febre_, or King of the Bean; whom,
after they have, honoured with drinking of his health, and shouting
aloud _Le Roy boit, le Roy boit_, they make pay for all the reckoning;
not leaving him sometimes one peny, rather then that the exorbitancie of
their debosh should not be satisfied to the full."--(Most Exquisite
Jewell, Lond. 1652, p. 238.)
[111] In MS. L 2, after the words, "of many read," there is added, "for
every gentleman at Court was curious to gett the coppie of the same, as
was thocht weill of by the most part; but what," &c. On the other hand,
the transcriber of that MS., in the next paragraph, omits two or three
passages, concerning "the bloodie beasts," and "bands," in referring to
the persecutions at this time, by "Beaton and his Doctors."
[112] In MS. G, "greitlie."
[113] The time of Forresse, or Forrest's imprisonment and martyrdom has
not been well ascertained; and Knox's subsequent remark, "after whose
death, the flame of persecution ceased, till the death of Norman
Gourlay, the space of ten years or neirby," is not intelligible,
according to the dates usually assigned. Foxe gives no precise date, but
says, that _within few years after_ Hamilton's martyrdom, "ane Henry
Forrest, a young man born in Linlithgow, who a little before had
received the orders of Benet and Collet, &c., suffered death at the
North Church stile of the Abbey Church of St. Andrews," (edit. 1576, p.
955.)--Caldorwood has copied from Foxe, and supposes it might have been
in 1529, or the year following. (Hist, vol. i. p. 97.) Keith conjectures
it was about 1533. (Hist, vol. i. p. 15;) and M'Crie, in 1530. (Life of
Knox, vol. i. p. 354.)--As Knox speaks of Forresse's "long
imprisonment," we may conjecture it was in 1532. From the Treasurer's
Accounts, 17th of May 1532, we find that some persons were then under
accusation of heresy, letters having been sent on that day "to the
Bishop of St. Andrews, to advertize him of the changing of the dirt of
the accusation of the Lutherans."--Forrest was a Benedictine Monk; and
from mention of the town where he was born, we may conjecture he was the
son of "Thomas Forrest of Linlithgow," to whom various sums were paid by
the Treasurer "to the bigging of the dyke about the Paliss of
Linlithgow," between April and July 1505.
[114] Vautr. edit, and all the later MSS. have erroneously "the _said_
tower." The Castle of St. Andrews, originally built in the year 1200, by
Bishop Roger, as an Episcopal residence, stands close to the sea-shore,
and one of the towers projecting into the sea, no doubt obtained for it
this name. "A _nuik_ in the bottom of the Sea tower, a place where many
of God's children had been imprisoned before," is again mentioned by
Knox in 1547.
[115] See note 113 above: all the MSS. read "ten years."
[116] The events here mentioned were all connected with the sway of the
Douglasses in the minority of James the Fifth. The first was the attempt
by Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch, at the head of 1000 horse, at Melrose,
to rescue the King from the Earl of Angus, on the 25th of January 1526.
The second was an equally unsuccessful attempt, for the same end, by the
Earl of Lennox, at Kirkliston, on the 4th of September that year, where
Lennox was cruelly slain by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart. But the King
at length made his escape from Falkland in July 1528, (or, as Mr. Tytler
conjectures, on the 22d or 23d of May.) On the 5th of September that
year, an act of forfeiture was passed against Archibald Earl of Angus,
his uncle, and his brother Sir George Douglas. They had retired to
England, and continued in exile till the death of James in 1542.
[117] Wyncester, that is Stephen Gardyner, Bishop of Winchester. He
became Lord Chancellor of England in the reign of Mary, and died in
November 1555. See Lord Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors, vol. ii.
pp. 40-71.
[118] Both Foxe and Calderwood have preserved a detailed account of
Seaton's accusation in 1541, in which year his "Declaration made at
Poules Crosse," was printed at London. A notice of this rare tract, and
some further particulars of his history will be added in the Appendix,
No. VII.
[119] "Duch land," _Deutschland_--means Germany, not Holland.
[120] See Appendix, No. VI.--Protestant Exiles from Scotland.
[121] In MS. G, "providence."
[122] Steidis, _Stadts_--probably one of the States in North Holland.
Calderwood has strangely confounded Macdowall and Macchabeus, as one
person. Macdowall's Christian name is not given by any of our writers;
but there is, I think, little doubt that he was James Mackdowell, one of
the Determinants in St. Leonard's College, St. Andrews, in the year
1515.
[123] Alexander Alesius, or Alesse, was a native of Edinburgh, born in
1500, and educated at St. Andrews. Calderwood, Bayle, the Biographia
Britannica, Dr. M'Crie, and, in particular, the Rev. Christopher
Anderson, (Annals of the English Bible, vol. ii. pp. 427-468,) have
given detailed accounts of his subsequent life and writings. He was
imprisoned, and narrowly escaped the persecuting violence of his
Superior, Patrick Hepburn, Prior of St. Andrews, in the year 1529.
Alesse has the merit of being among the first who contended for the
translation of the Scriptures into the vernacular tongue. He died at
Leipzig on the 17th of March 1565.
[124] John Fyfe prosecuted his studies in St. Leonard's College, St.
Andrews, under Gawin Logye. His name occurs as a Determinant, in 1522,
and a Licentiate in 1524. Dr. M'Crie says, that Fyfe having fled from
St. Andrews, accompanied Alesse to Germany, and shared in his honours at
Leipzig.--(Life of Knox, vol. i. p. 371.) He is said to have returned to
Scotland, and died in St. Leonard's, about the beginning of the
Reformation, or soon after.--(Calderwood's Hist. vol. i. p. 96.) He
seems however to have been a Professor at Frankfort. See Appendix, No.
VI.
[125] Dr. M'Crie has brought together a number of particulars respecting
Dr. John Macchabeus.--(Life of Knox, vol. i. p. 372.) Some additional
notices will be given in the Appendix, No. VI. But it may here be
noticed, in connexion with the following footnote, that Macchabeus was
brought from Wittemburg to Copenhagen, in the year 1542; that he was one
of the translators of the Bible into Danish, first printed at
Kiobenhaffn, in 1550, folio; and that he died on the 5th of December
1557.
[126] In Vautr. edit., and MSS. G, W, &c., "Cawpmanhowen;" in MS. G,
"Capmanhoven." This name joined with the words "and famous men," might
suggest that an individual was meant. It is however Copenhagen, (in
Danish, Kiobenhaven, _i.e._ the Merchant's haven,) the city in which
Macchabeus attained great distinction. Sir David Lyndesay of the Mount,
in his official character as Lyon-King at Arms, visited Denmark in 1550;
and his acquaintance with Macchabeus might have led to the first
publication of his Dialog, or Four Books of the Monarchie, under a
fictitious designation, although actually printed by John Scot, either
at St. Andrews or Edinburgh in 1554: it bears on the title, "Imprintit
at the command and expensis of DOCTOR MACHABEVS in Capmanhovin." There
is a later edition, apparently in 1558 and 1559, with a similar imprint,
but the name is rendered "Nachabeus."
[127] The 26th of August 1534, is the date assigned for the trial,
"befoir the Bishop of Ross, be ane commission of the Bischope of
Sanctandrois," of Kirk and others. (Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 18.) Of
these persons, Calderwood informs us, that Sir William Kirk, as his name
denotes, was a priest; but "whether he compeared and abjured, or fled,
we can find no certaintie;" that Adam Dayes, or Dease, was "a
ship-wright that dwelt on the north side of the bridge of Leith;" that
Henry Cairnes, "skipper in Leith, fled out of the countrie to the Easter
seas;" and that "John Stewart, indweller in Leith, died in exile."
(Hist. vol. i. p. 108.)--"Henricus Cairnys, incola de Leith," was
denounced as a fugitive, and condemned for heresy, in 1538-9; and on the
8th of April 1539, the names of seven sons and five daughters of Henry
Carnis in Leith, are specified in a letter under the Privy Seal,
granting them the escheat of the various goods and property which
belonged to their father.--(M'Crie's Life of Knox, vol. i. pp. 358-366.)
[128] In Vautr. edit., MS. A. &c., is added, "our advocate."--Johnstone
studied at St. Andrews, and his name appears among the Determinants, in
St. Leonard's College, in 1525. Mr. William Johnstone was the last of
nine Advocates who were admitted at the insitution of the Court of
Session, 27th May 1532. The time when he fled appears to have been two
years later. But after the death of James V, he returned to Scotland,
probably with the Governor, and apostatized from the Reformed faith.
This we learn from a letter, written to the Pope, in the Queen's name,
which states, "that the bearer, Mr. William Johnstone, a layman, had ten
years previously imbibed the new doctrines; that after much distress of
mind, he earnestly longed to be reunited to the mystical body of Christ,
but no opportunity had hitherto presented itself. Wherefore James Earl
of Arran, Governor of our kingdom, supplicates that his Holiness the
Pope might receive the said William into the bosom of the Church." This
letter is dated the 18th of April 1544.--(Epistolæ Regum Scotorum, vol.
ii. p. 200.)
[129] Henryson, or Henderson, appears in the list of Licentiates in St.
Salvator's College, St. Andrews, in 1524. He had previously been
employed as an assistant to Mr. David Vocat, principal Master and Tutour
of the Grammar School of the burgh of Edinburgh, who having chosen "his
kind freend and discipill, Master Henry Henrison, to be con-master;"
this nomination was approved of by George Bishop of Dunkeld and Abbot of
Holyroodhouse; and (apparently on the death of Vocat,) it was further
confirmed by a royal charter, dated 21st of March 1529, enjoyning that
"the said Master Henry Henrysoun be at hie solempne festivale tymes with
ws, the said Abbot and our successouris, at Hie Mass and Ewin sang, with
his surples upoun him, to do ws service the time that we sall doe devyne
service within our said Abbey, as efferis." (Reg. Mag. Sigilli, lib.
xxiii. No. 157.--See M'Crie's Life of Melville, vol. ii. p. 479,)
Calderwood, in mentioning that Henryson had fled, and been condemned as
a heretic, adds, that he died in England.--(Hist. vol. i. p. 108.) The
escheat of his goods was granted to James Bannatyne, according to an
entry in the Treasurer's Accounts, 1539, 1540, "Compositio bonorum
eschætorum Magistri Henrici Henderson convict. de crimine heresieos, _ab
antiquo concess_. Jacobo Bannatyne," &c. (M'Crie's Life of Knox, vol. i.
p. 359.)
[130] To burn one's bill, was a sign of recantation. "The form of
burning one's bill, (says Keith,) or recanting, was this--The person
accused was to bring a faggot of dry sticks and burn it publicly, by
which ceremony he signified that he destroyed that which should have
been the instrument of his death." (Hist. vol. i. p. 15.)
[131] David Stratoun is described by Calderwood and other writers, as a
brother of the Laird of Lauriston. (See note to next page.) On the 10th
of March 1538-9, for the sum of £20, the composition of a tenement in
Dundee, falling to the King, "per decessum Davidis Straitoun in
Quhitstoun, justificati ad mortem pro certis criminibus heresieos," was
granted to David Gardyne and Mariote Erskyn. Pitscottie erroneously
places the execution of Stratoun and Gourlay under the year 1530. Their
trial took place in Holyroodhouse, in the King's presence; James Hay,
Bishop of Ross, (from 1525 to 1538,) acting as Commissioner for
Archbishop Beaton.--(See Foxe's Martyrs; Cald. Hist. vol. i. p. 106;
Keith's Hist. vol. i., p. 16.)
[132] Norman Gourlay was in priest's orders, and had been a student at
St. Andrews. His name occurs in the list of Determinants, in 1513, and
of Licentiates, in 1515.
[133] These words are added in the margin of the MS., probably in Knox's
own hand.
[134] See note 77.--The Rev. C. Anderson shows, from Foxe, that it was
the Vicar of Ecclesgreig, and not Prior Hepburn, with whom Stratoun had
a dispute about tythes. (Annals, vol. ii. p. 470.)
[135] From the Register of the Great Seal, it is evident that the
Stratouns of Stratoun and the Stratouns of Lauriston in Kincardineshire,
were one and the same family. Thus we find that charters were granted to
(1.) Alexander Stratoun de eodem, and Agnes Ogilvy his spouse, in 1507;
and to Alexander Stratoun de Lauranstoun, (of the barony of Stratoun,)
in 1509.
(2.) Andrew Stratoun de eodem, and Isobel Lindsay his spouse, in 1541.
(3.) George Stratoun, son and heir of Andrew Stratoun de eodem, in 1539;
and George Stratoun de Lauriston, in 1547. (The last will of George
Stratoun of that ilk, is recorded 5th April 1576, in the Register of
Confirmed Testaments.)
(4.) Alexander Stratoun, son and heir of George Stratoun de eodem, in
1553. This Alexander Stratoun de eodem was served heir of George
Stratoun de eodem, his father, 3d June 1580.
David Stratoun, who suffered martyrdom, was probably a younger son of
the first Alexander Stratoun above mentioned.
[136] In MS. G, "cast himself."
[137] The Rood or cross of Greenside. The actual site of the gibbet,
where criminals were executed, is somewhat doubtful; (Maitland's
Edinburgh, p. 215;) but it was near the road leading from the Calton
towards Leith. James the Second, in 1456, had granted a piece, on the
eastern side of this road, in the place which still retains the name of
the Greenside, for holding public sports and tournaments.
[138] In MS. G, "Church."
[139] Among the persons who fled at this time to England, was James
Hamilton, Sheriff of Linlithgow, and brother of Patrick Hamilton; also
his sister Katherine. In August 1535, Cranmer introduces him to Crumwell
as a gentleman who had left his country for no cause, but "that he
favoured the truth of God's word;" and on the 24th of April 1536, he
sent to Crumwell a copy of the sentence given against him by the Bishops
at Holyrood, praying that Henry would write to his nephew on his behalf.
See the Rev. Chr. Anderson's Annals of the English Bible, vol. ii. pp.
471, 472. Hamilton obtained permission to return in 1540.
[140] The exact dates of the several persons accused of heresy, or who
suffered martyrdom in Scotland during the reign of James the Fifth, in
many instances cannot be ascertained; but it is evident that while many
persons were accused between 1534 and 1537, the flames of persecution
were rekindled with greater fury, at the time that David Beaton became
Coadjutor of St. Andrews, and was raised to the dignity of a Cardinal,
at the close of the year 1538.
[141] Knox has here mistaken the time when Sir John Borthwick, being
accused, but having made his escape to England, was burned in effigy.
The date was the 28th of May 1540, or two days after the baptism of
Prince James. See Appendix, No. VIII.
[142] Mary of Lorraine, daughter of the Duke of Guyse, and widow of the
Duke of Longueville, became James the Fifth's second Queen. On her
arrival from France, she landed at Balcomie, near Crail, in Fife, on the
14th of June 1538. She was conveyed to St. Andrews with great pomp; and
Pitscottie has furnished an interesting account of the pageants, &c.,
represented on that festive occasion. See also Lyon's Hist, of St.
Andrews, vol. i. p. 273.
[143] In Vautr. edit., "Killor." Unfortunately his play, which probably
was represented in 1535 or 1536, has not been preserved. Neither has any
information respecting Friar Kyllour himself been discovered.
[144] The property of persons convicted of heresy and other penal
crimes, became escheated to the Crown; and the escheat was usually
bestowed by a special grant from the King under the Privy Seal, upon
payment of a composition to the High Treasurer. On the 1st of March
1538-9, such a grant was made to James Menteith, "of all gudis quhilkis
pertenit to uniquhile Sir Duncane Symsoun, Chaplane, and pertenyis to
our Soverane Lord be reason of eschete, through justifying of the said
Sir Duncane to the deid for certane crymes of heresy imput to
him."--(M'Crie's Knox, vol. i. p. 363.)
[145] In Vautr. edit. and the later MSS. "Forrester." Robert Forrester
was "brother to Thomas Forrestare of Arngibbonne." Along with "William
Forrestare, son to John Forrestare, burgess of Stirling," and three
other persons, he found surety to underly the law, on the ground of
"haifing and using of sic bukis as ar suspect of heresy," &c. 10th
January 1538-9.--(Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, vol. i. p. 216.) It
appears from Knox and other authorities, that he was condemned, and
suffered on the 1st of March that year; and after their death, the goods
of Robert Forrester, and of William Forrester, were confiscated 23d
March 1538-9.
[146] Of Thomas Forret, Canon-regular in the Monastery of St. Colm's
Inch, and Vicar of Dollar, who finished his education at Cologne, an
interesting account is preserved in Foxe's Martyrs, and has been copied
into "The Scots Worthies." His father is said to have been Master of the
King's Stables, in the reign of James the Fourth. In the Treasurer's
Accounts, in February 1501, we find the name of Thomas Forret, as one of
the persons at Court to whom dresses were furnished at the King's
expense. In like manner,--
"1507, July 9. Item, to Thome Foret, in bredil-silver of ane hors send
furth of Sanct Johnstoun to the King, ix s.
"1512, July 10. Item, to Thome Foret, to pas to Fast Castle, to see the
Inglis schippis, xiiij s."
[147] In MS. G, is added, "Upoun the Castell Hill."
[148] That is 1538-9, the year then being reckoned to commence on the
25th of March. But the actual date of their martyrdom, instead of the
last day of February, seems to have been the 1st of March, according to
an incidental notice in the Household Books of James the Fifth; as, in
order to render the example more striking, the King himself was
present:--
"1 Mar. 1539. Accusatio Hæreticorum et eorum Combustio, apud Edinburgh,
REGE PRESENTE."--(Archæologia, vol. xxii. p. 7.) The next day the King
returned to Linlithgow. A corresponding notice is furnished by the
Treasurer's Accounts, 1st of March 1539.
"Item, deliverit to Archibald Heriot messinger, to pas and search their
goods who were abjured and declared heretics in Edinburgh and Stirling,
xij s."
[149] That is, the Cardinal Beaton; Gawin Dunbar, Archbishop of Glasgow
and Lord Chancellor; and George Crichton, Bishop of Dunkeld.
[150] In a letter from Sir Thomas Wharton, at Carlisle, 7th November
1538, to Lord Crumwell, it is said, "There was at Dumfreis laitlie one
Frere Jerom, callid a well lernid man, taken by the Lorde Maxvell upon
commandment from the Bishopis, and lyith in sore yerons, like to suffre
for the Inglish menes opynyons, as thai saie, anenpst the lawis of Gode.
Hit passeth abrode daylie, thankes be to God, there, all that same
notwithstandinge."--(State Papers, vol. v. p. 141.)
[151] Petrie the Church Historian, says, "The summer following (1539,)
Jerome Russell, a Gray friar, and Thomas Kennedy, a young man of Aire,
not above 18 years of age, were at Glascow, accused of heresy."--(Hist.
p. 179.) Whether he had any authority for calling him Thomas, can only
be conjectured. Calderwood names him N. Kennedy; hence he has been
called Ninian; but see note 23.
[152] Of Mr. John Lauder mention will afterwards be made, in connexion
with Knox's account of George Wishart's trial.
[153] Oliphant was educated at St. Andrews, his name occurring among the
Determinants, in 1525. Having taken his Master's degree, he obtained
preferment in the Church, as Vicar of Foulis and Innertig; and was
employed by Cardinal Beaton as his confidential agent at Rome. In
Sadler's State Papers is an intercepted letter from Beaton to him, dated
11th November 1539, (vol. i. p. 13.) In May 1540, in the proceedings
against Sir John Borthwick, he is styled Notary Public, and Secretary to
Cardinal Beaton. Oliphant, (misnamed Eliphant,) in the Provincial
Council, held at Edinburgh in 1549, is styled "Secretarius et Notarius
in Concilio."--(Wilkins, Conc. vol. i. p. 46.) In 1553 and 1554, he was
again employed at Rome, in the affairs of the Governor and of Archbishop
Hamilton; and in 1558, he appeared as the accuser of Walter Myll, when
tried for heresy. See next note. The name of Mr. Andro Oliphant, Notary
Public, also occurs in November 1559, in the Acts of Parliament, (vol.
ii. p. 508.)
[154] In MS. G, "servantis." In Vautr. edit. "servantes;" and Vautr.
edit., MSS. A, E, &c., read "Meitman." Of this Friar, who with Lauder
and Oliphant, are emphatically styled "servants of Satan," not much is
known. According to Pitscottie, whilst Schir Andrew Oliphant stood forth
as the public accuser of Walter Myln, in April 1558, Friar Maltman
preached a sermon on the same occasion, previously to his trial in the
Abbey Kirk of St. Andrews.
[155] Petrie, in his notice of their trial, says, "because Bishop Gawin
Dunbar was thought cold in the business, Messrs. John Lauder, and Andro
Oliphant, and Frier Maltman, were sent from Edinburgh to assist
him."--(Hist. Part ii, p. 179.) We may indeed conclude, that unless for
the zeal of these Inquisitors, Russell and Kennedy might have escaped
martyrdom.
[156] In MS. G, "trod:" in Vautr. edit. "taken."
[157] Thomas Duke of Norfolk, in a letter to Lord Crumwell from Berwick,
29th of March 1639, says, "Dayly commeth unto me, some gentlemen and
some clerkes, wich do flee owte of Scotland, as they saie, for redyng of
Scripture in Inglishe; saying that, if they were taken, they sholde be
put to execution. I geve them gentle wordes; and to some, money." In the
same letter, he adds, "Here is nowe in this toune, and hath be[ne] a
good season, she that was wife to the late capitaigne of Donbar, and
dare not retorne, for holding our waies, as she saithe. She was in
Englande, and sawe Quene Jane. She was Sir Patricke Hamelton's doughter,
and her brother was brent in Scotlande 3 or 4 yeres past."--(State
Papers, vol. v. p. 155.) This last reference as to date is an obvious
mistake. See extract from Foxe's Martyrs, in Appendix, No. V.,
respecting Katherine Hamilton, and her brother, James Hamilton of
Kincavel, who returned in 1540, and is mentioned in the following note.
[158] Sir James Hamilton of Finnart was a bastard son of James first
Earl of Arran; but he obtained letters of legitimation, 20 Jan. 1512-13.
His slaughter of the Earl of Lennox in 1526, (see note 116,) was
rewarded by the Captaincy of Linlithgow Palace. In Buchanan's
Admonition, written in 1570, after the Regent Earl of Murray's death, to
expose "the practises of the Hamiltons," there is a detailed account of
the several conspiracies against James the Fifth, in which Sir James was
concerned. But Hamilton latterly became a favourite of the King, and
acquired large possessions. In 1533, he was appointed an Extraordinary
Lord of Session; and, as Master of Works, he superintended the building
or additions made to the Palace of Linlithgow, Blackness Castle, and
other royal edifices.--(Treasurer's Accounts, Sept. 1538, and April
1539.) On the 9th of October 1539, is this entry,--
"Item, gevin to Schir James Hammiltoun, Master of Wark, to compleit the
Kingis wark in Striveling, as the appointment and contract maid betuix
the Compt and him thairupon beris, iiij^m. lib." (£4000.)
"Item, (in April 1540,) gevin to Schir James Hammyltoun, in parte
payment of the rest of his comptis for the warkis of Lynlythqw and
Blakness, at the Kingis command, be ane precept, iij^c. lib." (£300.)
But his fate was not less sudden than it must have been unexpected. In
the same record, we find that on the 16th of August 1540, a messenger
was employed "for summonyng of ane assiss to Schir James Hammiltoun, and
for wyne brocht into the Lordis, being upoun his inqueist, xv s. x
d."--His accuser was James Hamilton of Kincavel, Sheriff of Linlithgow,
and being convicted of treason, which had been long concealed, his
sentenco was carried into immediate execution.
[159] Pitscottie has given a more detailed narrative of Sir James
Hamilton's condemnation and of the King's vision.
[160] The birth of a Prince, named James after his father, on 22d of May
1540, is mentioned at page 82, note 1. The younger son, named Arthur,
Duke of Rothesay, &c., was born at Stirling, in April 1541, where he
died, according to Lesley, eight days after his baptism.--(Hist. p.
188.) In the Treasurer's Accounts, about the end of April 1541, there
was paid "to Andre Zare in Striviling, for ane cap of leid that my Lord
Duke was buried in." Prince James died within six hours of Arthur. Mr.
Tytler falls into a strange mistake in placing their death subsequently
to that of Queen Margaret, widow of James the Fourth. In a letter to her
brother Henry the Eighth, written from Stirling, on the 12th of May
1541, she mentions the great distress "for the death of the Prynce and
hys brothar, both with the Kyng my derrest son, and the Quene hys
wyffe."--(State Papers, vol. v. p. 188.) The Queen Dowager died,
however, within a few months; the "Diurnal of Occurrents" says on the
24th of November. This date is evidently incorrect, as on the 1st of
that month, messengers were despatched with letters "to divers Lordis
and gentilmen to cum to the Quenis tyrement." (Treasurer's Accounts.) A
letter, describing her last illness, is preserved among the State
Papers, vol. v. p. 193, written in December, by Ray the pursuevant, who
had been sent by the Privy Council to Scotland specially to report on
the subject.
[161] His death may be referred to the end of the year 1541, or early in
1542; as the Treasurer paid "to David Hardy, be ane tykket of George
Steilis, for hinging of the tapescherie in Halyrudhouse, and doun taking
of the samin, vij s." on the 16 Oct. 1541.--The name of George Steill is
occasionally met with in the Treasurer's Accounts, during the reign of
James the Fifth. We may conjecture that he was the son of John Steill,
one of the servitors to James the Fourth, (apparently King's tailor,)
from 1495 to 1502. George, who was a burgess of Edinburgh, had acquired
the lands of Houston, and other property. He had a charter under the
Great Seal, of the office of Coquet Clerk of the borough: "Officii
Clericatus Coketæ Burgi de Edinburgo," 3 Sept. 1523. The charters of the
lands of Houston, in Linlithgowshire, were granted to himself and
Christian Wilson his spouse, 31 July 1530, and 22 Sept. 1532. He had
also a charter of "the Common-myre near Duddingston Loch," in the County
of Edinburgh, 24 July 1540. In the year 1672, the Common-myre is
described as extending to 52 acres, in the barony of Preistfield, now
Prestonfield, (Retours, Edin. No. 1196.)
[162] Thomas Scott of Pitgorno, in Fife, was the second son of Sir
William Scott of Balweary, (Douglas's Baronage, p. 304.) A person of the
same name was a Licentiate at St. Andrews in 1501. He seems to have held
some situation at Court, as, among other persons of the Royal Household,
he received £40, at Christmas 1530, for their "fealis and pensionis." In
1533, the Treasurer also paid "Thomas Scot for his fee, be the Kingis
precept," the sum of £133, 2s. 8d. On the 19th of October 1532, Scott
was admitted an Ordinary Lord of Session, in the room of his father, who
was then deceased--(Senators of the College of Justice, p. 40.) As a
further mark of Royal favour, he was appointed Justice Clerk in 1535. A
letter, signed by him, "Thomas Scott of Pitgorno," on the 1st of
December 1537, addressed to Crumwell, complains of the resetting of
traitors who had escaped to England, (some of them, we may suppose, were
persons accused of heresy;) and he concludes with suggesting that Henry
the Eighth would make an acceptable "propyne" to his nephew, by sending
James a young lion, brought from Flanders.--(State Papers, vol. v. p.
125.)
[163] Scott's death must have taken place about the close of 1539, the
office of Justice-Clerk having been conferred on Thomas Bellenden of
Auchinoul, 26th December that year. In a letter written by Mr. Alexander
Colvile, Justice-Depute, 20th December 1622, the above confession of
Scott is thus mentioned in connection with the appointment of suitable
persons to the office of Justice-Clerk, "If he, I say, be not a sound,
conscientious man, and free of baise bribrie, he may prove a pernitious
instrument, and to the cawse that iniquitie may be committed; as we have
yit in memorie of one Thomas Scot of Abotishall, quho was Justice Clerk
to James the Fift, of happie memorie, quho being strukin with a terror
of conscience, at the hour of his death, for his evill cariage in that
place, dyed in desperation, crying, 'I am damned! I am
damned!'"--(Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, vol. iii. p. 596.) A proof of
Scott's iniquitous proceedings is embodied in the Act of Parliament
rescinding the forfeiture of John Lord Glammys, on the 15th of March
1542-3, upon a pretended Confession, being "fraudfullie indusit be
umquhile Thomas Scot, Justice-Clerk, and utheris familiaris to our said
umquhile Soverane Lord, to mak the said pretendit Confessioune, sayand
to him, that his life, landis, gudis, movabill and ummovabill, suld be
saif to him; and that na process nor sentence of forfaultor sould be led
aganis him."--(Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii. p. 422.)
[164] Mr. Thomas Marjoribanks of Ratho, was one of the ten Advocates
admitted at the institution of the College of Justice, 7th of May 1532.
He acquired the lands of Ratho in 1540; and in that year, he was Provost
of Edinburgh, and sat in the Parliaments 1540 and 1546. He was admitted
a Lord of Session, and Clerk-Register, on the 8th of February 1548-9, as
successor to Sir James Foulis. "Maister Thomas Marjoribankis, now Clerk
of oure Soverane Ladyes Register, for his feyes in the yeris of God 1549
and 1550," received "for ilk year 20 merkis, _Summa_ £26, 13s. 4d." He
was deprived of the office of Clerk-Register in 1554, and died before
1560.--(Senators of the College of Justice, p. 98.)
[165] Mr. Hugh Rigg was admitted an Advocate, on the 16th of November
1537. He obtained a Charter of Confirmation to himself and Janet Hopper
his spouse, of the lands of Carberry, in the shire of Edinbuigh, 21st
July 1543. The old baronial mansion-house of Carberry stands in the
eastern part of the parish of Inveresk.--(New Statistical Account.) Hugh
Rigg is again mentioned by Knox, and also by Pitscottie, as one of the
four persons to whom the Governor of Scotland communicated the overtures
of the Duke of Somerset, immediately previous to the battle of Pinkie.
He was succeeded by his son James Rig of Carberry, whose name occurs, in
1577 and 1580, in lists of Assize (Pitcairn's Crim. Trials); and "Mag^r.
Quintigernus Rig," was served heir to his father, James Rig of Carbarry,
29 Jan. 1600.--(Retours, Edinb. No. 30.)
[166] Mr. Thomas Bellenden, or Bannatyne, of Auchinoul, was the son of
Patrick Bellenden. He was admitted an Ordinary Judge on the 22d of June
1535. He was appointed Director of Chancery, 10th of September 1538; and
on the 26th of December 1539, he succeeded Scott of Pitgorno, as
Justice-Clerk. He was one of the Commissioners who met for redress, on
the Border; and Sir William Eure informs Crumwell, on the 26th of
January 1540, that he had "hade diverse commynyages with Mr. Thomas
Bellendyn, one of the said Counsellours for Scotlande, a man by
estymatioun apperaunte to be of th'age of fiftye zeres or above, and of
gentle and sage conversatioun, specially touching the staye of the
spiritualitie of Scotland."--(State Papers, vol. v. p. 169.) He died in
1546, and was succeeded in his offices of Justice-Clerk and Director of
Chancery, by his eldest son, Sir John Bellenden.
[167] Buchanan was born in the year 1506. Having taken his Bachelor's
degree at St. Andrews, 3d Oct. 1525, he completed his academical course
at Paris. It is usually stated that he returned to Scotland, along with
Gilbert Earle of Cassilis, in 1537. The following notices from the
Treasurer's Accounts, prove that date to be incorrect.
"Item, the xvj day of Februar [1535-6,] be the Kingis gracis precept and
speciale command to Maister George Balquhannan and Andro Myln, servandis
to Lord James, to be thame twa gounis," &c., and various other
"leverays," viz., "hoiss, bonettis, hugtonis, and doublettis."
"Item, [the xxj day of August 1537,] to Master George Balquhannan, at
the Kingis command, xx lib."
In July 1538, upon occasion of "the Quenis (Magdalene's) saull mess and
dirige, quham God assolze," Maister George Balquhanan received a goun of
Paryse blak, lyned with blak satyne, &c. Also £20, at the King's
command.
[168] Lord James Stewart, to whom Buchanan acted as tutor, was the
King's natural son, by Elizabeth Shaw, of the family of Sauchie.--(Dr.
Irving's Life of Buchanan, p. 17.) He had the Abbacies of Kelso and
Melrose conferred on him; but he died at an early age, in the year 1548.
[169] On the title of the first edition of Buchanan's Paraphrase of the
Psalms, he is characterized as _Poetarum nostri sæculi facile princeps_.
It was printed at Paris, by Henry Stephanus, in 8vo, without date; but
apparently in 1564. A second edition has the date 1566. But the same
printer had published a selection of 18 Psalms by Buchanan, with
corresponding versions by other Poets, at Paris in 1556, 4to.
[170] The date of Buchanan's escape from Scotland is fixed by his own
statement to the beginning of the year 1539, when he says five persons
(Symson, Forrester, &c., see note 145) were condemned to the
flames, whilst nine others made a formal recantation of their Lutheran
errors, and many more were driven into exile; among whom was George
Buchanan, who escaped by the window of his bed-chamber, while his
keepers were asleep: "In his fuit Georgius Buchananus qui, sopitis
custodibus, per cubiculi fenestram evaserat."--(Hist. lib. xiv.)
[171] These words seem to belong to the last paragraph; but all the
copies place them as here printed.
[172] In MS. G, "espy and detest."
[173] Alexander Lord Kilmauris, third son of the fourth Earl of
Glencairn. In 1543, he was in England as a hostage for his father's
sincerity; and Sir Ralph Sadler says, in a letter to Henry the Eighth,
"Furthermore, he hath written to your Majesty to have his son home,
entring other pledges for him. He is called the Lord of Kilmaurs, and
the Master of Glencairn; and in my poor opinion, they be few such Scots
in Scotland, both for his wisdom and learning, and well dedicate to the
truth of Christ's word and doctrine."--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. p. 83.)
"The acute Sadler," as Sir Walter Scott remarks, "discerned the germ of
those qualities which afterwards made this nobleman the great promoter
of the Reformation, and in consequence a steady adherent of the English
interest." (ib.) Both the Earl of Glencairn, and his son Lord Kilmaurs,
received pensions from Henry the Eighth. Owing to the death of his
brothers, he succeeded to the Earldom in 1547, and survived till 1574.
[174] Thomas Douchtie, Hermit of Alareit, or Loretto, near
Musselburgh--see note 186.