[176] In MS. G, "gud."
[177] In MS. L 2, "stayed."
[178] In Vautr. edit. "Such lasie scamleris."
[179] In MS. G, "Christis glorie."
[180] In MS. G, "to."
[181] In MS. G, "fra treuth."
[182] To _turse_, or carry. In MS. G, and all the other copies, it is
"to curse," which has no sense.
[183] In MS. G, "on craftie."
[184] Friar _Walter_ is apparently a mistake for Friar William Laing.
(See the following note.) Foxe has stated it was through this Friar
William Laing, "bewrayer of the confession to Archbishop James Beaton,"
that Henry Forrest, whose fate is mentioned at page 52, was condemned
and given over to the secular judges to suffer death. See the extract
from Foxe's Martyrs, in Appendix, No. V.
[185] Calderwood says, "Frier Laing had been confessor to the King,"
(Hist. vol. i. p. 142;) and the Treasurer's Accounts in 1540, show that
"Schir William Layng, Chaplane," was then attached to the Court. On the
6th of February 1539-40, he received various articles of dress, viz., a
gown of French black, a hugtoun of Parise black, a doublet of black
sattin, and a black bonnet. On the 22d Dec. 1540, "abbis, towellis,"
&c., were furnished "to his chapell." In 1511, "Schir William Layng," is
described as "Maister Elymosinar in the Princes house;" £13, 6s. 8d.
having been previously paid "for his liveray clathis, be ane precept,
above the ordinar, admittit to him in my Lord Prince house;" and in July
that year, £20 was "gevin to Schir William Layng, Chaplane, enterit this
zere (in the Household)."--"Willelmus Laynge, studens," was incorporated
in the University of Glasgow, in 1493; and another "Willelmus Layng,
clericus Parochialis Glasguensis," in 1501.
[186] According to a contemporary chronicler, the Chapel of our Lady of
Loretto was founded so late as 1533, by Thomas Douchtie, here styled the
Hermit of Alareit. "In this mene tyme (1533,) thair come ane heremeit
callit Thomas Douchtie, in Scotland, quha had bein lang Capitane
[captive?] befoir the Turk, as was allegit, and brocht ane ymage of our
Lady with him, and foundit the Cheppil of Laureit besyid
Musselburgh."--(Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 17, Edinb. 1833, 4to.) In like
manner Buchanan says, this impostor Douchtye, having returned from
Italy, built a church to the Virgin Mary, and made great gain by his
fictitious miracles.--(Hist. lib. xiv. p. 41.) The Chapel dedicated to
our Lady of Loretto, (sometimes called Alareit,) stood beyond the
eastern gate of Musselburgh, near the Links; and the name for the
locality is still retained. It was connected with the Nunnery of the
Sciennes, and became one of the most noted shrines in Scotland, during
the reign of James the Fifth. Lesley says, that the King, previously to
his marriage, having sailed for France, (24th July 1536,) the vessel in
which he had embarked, after sailing by the north of Scotland, and the
west, was driven by a storm, and that he landed at St. Ninians, in
Galloway, "and sua returnit to Strivilinge, _and thairfra passit on his
feet in pilgrimage to the Chapell of Lorrett_, besid
Mussilburgh."--(Hist. p. 150.) Queen Margaret, in a letter to Henry the
Eighth, printed in the State Papers, vol. v. p. 181, (where it is placed
under the year 1540, instead of 1536,) thus mentions her son's voyage,
saying that his nephew had been "in grete dangere of seyis, be contrare
wyndis, quhilk agane his mynd, be extreme stormis, compellit to mak
course furth of this Est sey northward, compassing the maist parte of
this realme throuch the occeane seyis, and be the grace of God arryvit
in the port of St. Ninianis callit Quhithorne." James, after his
pilgrimage on foot from Stirling, sailed from Leith, with a squadron of
seven vessels, and had a more fortunate voyage. On the 7th of September
1536, the Treasurer paid £13, 6s. 8d. to Sir Henry Balfour, in part of
£40, "to be gevin to puir houshuldarris to pray for his Hienes
prosperous returnyng."
[187] Proposals for such a meeting had been made in 1534, and again in
1536. The above meeting was to have taken place on the 15th of January
1541-2, according to Articles agreed upon the previous month.--(State
Papers, vol. v. p. 199; Tytler's Hist. vol. v. p. 242.)
[188] Henry the Eighth, says Sir Walter Scott, "insulted James by the
threat, that he had still the name rod in in keeping which had chastized
his father. By that rod, the Duke of Norfolk was intimated, who, while
yet Earl of Surrey, commanded at Flodden, where James IV. fell."--(Hist.
of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 31.) See note 193.
[189] Pitscottie says, that the Bishops, in apprehension that James
might follow his uncle's example, in casting down the Abbeys, "budded
(bribed) the King to bide at home, and gave him three thousand pounds by
year to sustain his house, off their benefices." At a later date, the
Clergy, we are told, offered to contribute and assign to him of yearly
rent of their benefices, the sum of thirty thousand pounds; or to
enlarge the sum to £100,000, provided the King gave them a secular judge
to their mind, to execute justice on the wicked heretics whom they had
delated to the King, in the list or scroll elsewhere referred
to.--(Hist. pp. 230, 255, 256, edit. 1778.) It was but proper that the
Clergy, to whom the King had sacrificed so much, should thus manifest
their liberality; but indeed such contributions were not unusual, on the
part of the beneficed clergy and dignitaries of the Church. In August
1513, previously to the calamitous expedition which had such a fatal
catastrophe at Floddon, the Clergy contributed the sum of £10,275, 10s.
9d. (Treasurer's Accounts.)
[190] The 24th of August 1542.
[191] In MS. G, "Malberie." The name should be Mowbray.
[192] Halden Rig, or Hawden Rig, in Roxburghshire, a few miles to the
east of Kelso. In the MS. it was originally written "Maxwell heucht,"
but this is corrected to Haldane Rig. In the later MSS. "Reade," is
written more intelligibly "raid."
[193] Thomas Howard, second Duke of Norfolk, when Earl of Surrey,
convoyed the Princess Margaret from England, to her marriage with James
the Fourth, at Holyrood, in 1503; and he commanded the English army at
Floddon, in 1513, when the rashness of that gallant but unfortunate
Monarch proved fatal to himself, and so disastrous to his country. He
died in 1524; and was succeeded by his eldest son, Thomas third Duke of
Norfolk, who was Lieutenant-General in the North, and had also been at
Floddon. He commanded the English troops which invaded the southern
parts of Scotland, in August 1542 and died in 1554, upwards of eighty
years of age.
[194] Now Smailholm.
[195] Fala Muir, a plain near the western termination of the Lammermuir
hills.
[196] In Vautr. edit. "Hallow-evin." The Eve of Hallowmass; in Scotland,
Halloween, the 31st of October; Hallowmass, or All Saints, of course,
being the 1st of November.
[197] This alludes to the summary execution by the Scotish nobles of
Cochrane and other favourites of James the Third, in hanging them over
the bridge of Lauder, in the year 1479, as related by all our
Historians.
[198] In Vautr. edit. "had he runne."
[199] See note 210, respecting this Scroll.
[200] In the later copies, "once."
[201] The date of the King's voyage round the Isles has been mistaken by
most of the older writers, such as Buchanan, Lesley, and others. This
may have partly arisen from confounding it with his previous voyage in
1536. (See note 186.) James purposed to have sailed on the 14th
of May 1540, but he deferred setting out till after the birth of his
son, who was born at St. Andrews on the 22d of May. This happy event
James communicated in a letter to his uncle, the King of England, on the
same day: "It hes liket God of his great gudnes to have send unto us,
this 22 day of May instant, ane sone and Prince, fair and lillik to
succeid to ws and this our Realme. We think it accordis ws weill to mak
you participant with ws of sic joyus gud novellis," &c.--(State Papers,
vol. v. p. 177.) The baptism of the Prince took place on the 28th of
May, and the King is said to have sailed on the day following. The
Treasurer's Accounts for 1540 and 1541, which furnish a number of
interesting notices connected with the expense of this voyage, show that
the arrangements for sailing were not compleated before the 11th or 12th
of June, which may be held as the actual date of the expedition. In the
collection of State Papers referred to, are two letters, conveying
reports of the preparations for the voyage, furnished by some of "the
espiallis," or English spies; and also another letter from James himself
to Henry the Eighth, on his return, dated at Edinburgh the 29th of July
1540, in which he says, that "all thingis standyng at gude poynt and
ordour, we addressit us, as we thought expedient, to visie our Ilis,
North and Southt, for ordouring of thame in justice and good policy,"
&c. (ib. p. 182.)
[202] James Kirkcaldy of Grange held the office of High Treasurer from
the 20th March 1537, till the death of James in 1542; but his Accounts
during the latter months of the King's reign are not preserved. Having
accompanied James to France, the Laird of Grange had also acted as
Treasurer Extraordinary from 11th September 1536, until the King's
return in May 1537.
[203] In the MS. "propheit."
[204] In MS. G, "josrellis;" MS. A, "jesuits;" MS. L2, "jeffells."
[205] In Vautr. edit., MS. L 2, &c., "I shall reprove you by sharpe
punishmentes."--From an interesting letter of Sir William Eure to
Crumwell, dated from Berwick, 26th January 1539-40, it seems, that this
answer or reprimand was uttered at Linlithgow, rather than Holyrood; and
was occasioned by his witnessing the representation of Sir David
Lyndesay's play, called, "Ane Satire on the Three Estates," which
evidently produced a strong, but unfortunately no lasting impression on
the King's mind. After describing "the Enterlude," Eure proceeds, "My
Lorde, the same Maister Bellenden shewed me, that after the said
Enterluyd fynished, the King of Scottes did call upon the Bischope of
Glasgow [Gawin Dunbar], being Chauncelour, and diverse other Buschopes,
exorting thaym to reforme thair facions and maners of lyving, saying,
that oneles thay soe did, He wolde send sex of the proudeste of thayme
unto his Uncle of England, and, as those were ordoured, soe He wold
ordour all the reste that wolde not amende: And therunto the Chauncelour
should [did] aunsuer, and say unto the King, that one worde of his
Graces mouthe should suffice thayme to be at commaundement: And the King
haistely and angrely answered, that he wold gladely bestowe any wordes
of his mouthe that could amend thaym."--(State Papers, vol. v. p. 170.)
[206] John Ross of Craigie, near Perth, was one of the prisoners taken
at Solway Moss, in 1542.--(State Papers, vol. v. p. 233.)
[207] In the later copies, "once."
[208] Oliver Sinclair, see note 224.
[209] In Vautr. edit. "minion."
[210] Knox has previously alluded to this scroll or list of names. See
pages 81 and 82. Sir Ralph Sadler, in a letter to Henry the Eighth,
dated 27th of March 1543, details a conversation he had with the
Governor, who told him, "That a number of noblemen and gentlemen the
late King had gotten written in a Roll, _which were all accused of
Heresy_; of the which, (he said,) he was the first, and the Earl of
Cassilis, the Earl of Glencairn and his son, the Earl Marishal, and a
great many gentlemen, to the number of eighteen score, because they were
all well minded to God's Word, which then they durst not avow; but now,
(quoth he,) I shall do mine endeavour to set forth the glory of God with
the assistance of the King's Majesty."--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. p.
94.)
[211] Herbert Lord Maxwell, Warden of the West Marches, was taken
prisoner at the battle of Solway. Sir Ralph Sadler, in a letter dated
4th April 1543, reports a detailed conversation he had with him on the
state of Scotland.--(State Papers, vol. i. p. 117.) He died in 1546.
[212] Lochmaben--see note 225.
[213] That is, the foray. In Vautr. edit. this sentence, reads, "The
forward goeth forth, feare ryses, daunger might have bin scene on every
side." The later MSS. are equally unintelligible.
[214] The words, "cornes and houses," connecting the foot of p. 71, and
the top of p. 72, in Vautr. edit, have been omitted; and this omission
occurs also in MSS. I, and L 2.
[215] In Vautr. edit. "fentes."
[216] In Vautr. edit. "slaked."
[217] In Vautr. edit., and MS. G, &c., "the regiment of things."
[218] In MS. G, "gritter."
[219] In Vautr. edit. "were mired, and lost their horses."
[220] In MS. G, "proik;" MS. A, "pricke."
[221] In MS. G, "of futemen soldeors."
[222] In Vautr. edit. "his own sluggard;" in MSS. G, I, and L 2,
"slughorne."
[223] In MS. A, "Solloway Mosse;" in Vautr. edit. "the slimy mosse."
Solway Moss derives its name from the Solway Frith, a well known arm of
the sea, which forms the boundary between England and Scotland for
upwards of fifty miles. The Moss lies on the Cumberland side of the
small river Sark, in the tract of land formerly known as the Debateable
Ground.
[224] Oliver Sinclair of Pitcairns was the third son of Sir Oliver
Sinclair of Roslin. He was a favourite of James the Fifth; and
Pitscottie says the King placed him as Governor of Temptallon or
Tautallon Castle, when the powerful family of the Douglasses were driven
into exile.--(Hist. p. 224.) It is more probable it was some years later
that he received the command of this stronghold, which is on a cliff
overhanging the sea, about two miles to the east of North Berwick. In
the Treasurer's Accounts, June 1537, we find £120 "was delivered to
Olivere Sinclare, in Cowper, to pay the Kingis gentillmen with." In the
following month, £20 was paid "to Olivere inclare, in compleat payment
of his lyveray clathis." And on the 6th Oct. 1540, there was "gevin to
Olipher Sinclar at the Kingis command, to the warkis of Tamtalloun,"
£66, 13s. 4d. In November 1541, when the Queen Dowager died at Methven,
he and John Tennant, two of the gentlemen of the King's Privy Chamber,
were sent to take and lock up all her goods.--(State Papers, vol. v. p.
194.) He was taken prisoner after his shameful defeat at Solway; but
obtained his liberty in 1543. Sadler mentions, that when he was about to
repair to Tantallon Castle, at the end of that year, as a place of
security, under the protection of Sir George Douglas, Sinclair was lying
in wait, in a small village near hand, in the hope of seizing him and
his retinue.--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. pp. 220, 329, 333.)
[225] Lochmaben, in the parish of that name in Annandale. Lesley,
however, says, "During the tyme of this Raid, the King of Scotland
remanit in Carlaverock upoun the Bordour, not far from Soloway
Moss."--(Hist. p. 165.) The distance of either place from the scene of
this disgraceful defeat was not considerable. Lochmaben was a Royal
Castle; and Pitscottie, like Knox, says, that the King "was in the
Castle of Lochmaben."--(Hist. p. 174.) But Pinkerton and Tytler follow
Lesley.
[226] _Hand_, or hold: in MS. G, "hald."
[227] In Vautr. edit., MS. G, &c., "and so went."
[228] 25th of November.--James was still at Edinburgh on the 30th of
November, when he wrote a letter to Henry the Eighth.--(State Papers,
vol. v. p. 228.)
[229] See note 245.
[230] Hallyards, in the parish of Auchtertool.
[231] In Vautr. edit., MS. G, &c., "the Lady of Grange." This was Janet
Melville, daughter of Sir John Melville of Raith, and Helen Napier. She
married James Kirkcaldy of Grange, High Treasurer, from 1537 to 1542.
See page 82, note 3.
[232] Yule, or Christmas; as in Vautr. edit., MSS. E, I, and L 2.
[233] In Vautr. edit. "Christmas daye."
[234] Castle of Carny, in the parish of Moonzie, in the shire of Fife.
[235] These words are omitted in MS. G.
[236] Lesley and later writers say that Mary was born on the 7th of
December. Prince Labanoff, however, proves that it was the 8th, "C'est
la véritable date.--J'ai trouvé dans le _State Paper Office_ de Londres,
une lettre autographe de Marie Stuart de 1584, dans laquello elle dit:
_le viij Décembre, xlij^e de ma naissance_."--(Lettres de Marie Stuart,
vol. i. p. 1.)
[237] This story of Cardinal Beaton having forged, or caused the King,
in his last moments, to subscribe his name to a paper, which he
afterwards filled up as a Will, constituting Beaton Regent during the
minority of Mary, has been discredited; (see note in Keith's Hist. vol.
i. p. 63;) but it undoubtedly obtained credence at the time, as Sadler
reports a conversation he had with the Governor on the 12th April 1543,
who said, "We have other matters to charge the Cardinal with; for _he
did counterfeit_, (quoth he,) _the late King's Testament_; and when the
King was even almost dead, (quoth he,) he took his hand in his, and so
caused him to subscribe a blank paper."--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. p.
138.) Lesley also says the Cardinal made some impediment to Arran's
appointment as Governor, "alleging that the King be his Testament
nominat four Regentis: _bot the same on no wise could be verefeit nor
provin_."--(Hist. p. 169.) Buchanan further confirms this by asserting,
that Beaton "having bribed Henry Balfour, a mercenary priest, he, with
his assistance, forged a false Will for the King," &c.--(Hist. lib. xv.
1.) This Henry Balfour is the Priest or Chaplain who is mentioned at the
end of note 186.
[238] In MS. G, this sentence occurs on the margin, having been omitted
in the text by the transcriber.
[239] James the Fifth died at Falkland, and was buried in the Chapel of
the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The day of his death is variously stated.
Some writers, as Knox, calling it the 13th, others the 14th of December;
but in the Treasurer's Accounts, there are various payments connected
with his obsequies, under this head,--
"The Expensis debursit be the Compter fra the tyme of the Kingis Grace
decess quhoine God assolze, _quhilk ves the xxj day of December_, anno
etc. xlij^e" &c.
[240] See note 237.
[241] Buchanan states, that the three persons who were joined with
Beaton, when the King's pretended Will was proclaimed, were the Earls of
Huntly, Argyle, and Arran. Knox and Spottiswood, instead of Arran, name
the Earl of Murray, who was bastard brother of James the
Fifth.--(Keith's Hist. vol. i. p. 64.)
[242] James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, failing Mary Queen of Scots, then
an infant, was next heir to the Crown.
[243] In MS. G, "successors."
[244] In Vautr. edit. "appoints;" the same blunder is copied in MSS. I,
and L 2.
[245] On the last of February 1542-3, the Treasurer's Accounts exhibits
this "Item, gevin to Henry Wardlaw, for the writing of the Inventour
Buke of all the Kingis clething, jowellis, and uther gere, for his
laubouris, xl s."
[246] The infant Queen remained in the Palace of Linlithgow, under the
nominal charge of the Queen Dowager. Parliament, in March 1543,
nominated the Earls Marishal and Montrose, Lords Erskine, Ruthven,
Livingstone, Lindesay of Byres, and Seton, and Sir James Sandilands of
Calder, "as keepers of the Quenis Grace," or any two of them
quarterly.--(Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii. p. 414.)
[247] On the 22d of December 1542, after the death of James the Fifth,
James Hamilton, 2d Earl of Arran, was chosen Regent or Governor of
Scotland during the minority of the infant Princess. At the first
meeting of the Estates of Parliament, on the 12th of March 1543, his
appointment was confirmed, with a declaration of his being second person
of the realm, and nearest to succeed to the Crown, "failing our
Sovereign Lady, and the children lawfully to be gotten of hir
body."--(Acta Parl. Scot, vol. ii. p. 411.)
[248] Friar Thomas Guilliam, (or Williams,) is described as a native of
Athelstaneford in East Lothian; and is said to have attained
considerable distinction in his Order of Dominican or Black Friars in
Scotland. The Governor entertained him as his Chaplain, until the return
of his brother the Abbot of Paisley from France, had the effect of
withdrawing him from the English interest, and disowning the new
doctrines. The Friar's name occurs in the Treasurer's Accounts:--
1542-3, On the 23d of February, there was furnished "to be ryding
gownis, with hudis, to Freir Thomas Gilzame, and Freir Alexander
Lindsay, of Scottis black," &c. Also, "cottis, ryding sokkis," &c.
1543, 21st April, "Gevin to Freir Thomas Gilzem, at his Grace command,
at his passing to Hamilton, v lib. x s."
On the following day, the 22d of April, Sir Ralph Sadler communicates to
Henry the Eighth the information, "that the Governor was clearly altered
from your Majesty, and will surely revolt to the Cardinal, the Earls of
Lennox, Huntley, Argyle, and Murray, and the clergy, to his own utter
confusion.... In so much as the said Governor hath not only _put away
his Friers preachers_, which he hath all this while defended, and kept
about him to preach the Word of God, but also hath secretly sent to the
said Cardinal and Earls," &c. (vol. i. p. 158.)
[249] In Vautr. edit., MSS. G, &c., the words "in the dayis of Marie of
curssed memorie," are omitted.
[250] Calderwood, under the year 1531, says, "A landed man, named Johne
Scot, after he had travelled through Italie, France, and the Holie Land,
returneth home. He brought with him from Jerusalem some date-tree
leaves, and a pocke full of stones, which he fained were taken out of
the pillar to which Christ was bound, when he was scourged." He then
records some instances of Scot's extraordinary fasting, first in
Scotland, and afterwards at Rome, Venice, and London; and also of his
deceptions.--(Hist. vol. i. p. 102.) In April 1532, John Scot "was
wardit in the Castle of Edinburgh, for not obeying a decreit against him
be James Lawson of Hieriggs; the quhilk Johne Scot fastit without meat
or drink of veritie xxxij dayes, exceptand ane drink of water." And on
the 6th of October, "he was brocht nakit to the Croce of Edinburgh,
quhair he preichit publictlie, the samyne quhilk fasting was be helpe of
the Virgin Marye."--(Diurnal of Occurrents, pp. 14,16.) In 1541, on the
11th of July, there was paid "to Johne Scot, callit the Santt, at the
Kingis command, xxij s."--(Treasurer's Accounts.) In George Makeson's
MS., among his "Recollectionis of my Lordis G[racis] missives," &c., is
this note, "To let Freir Johne Scott vant [want] na thing for his bukis
and pensioun: at command quhairof I gaif him xxiij lib. 3 Septembris
1553."
[251] Edward Hope, in 1560, was one of the Bailies of Edinburgh.
[252] This Patrick Lyndesay was probably the same person whose name
appears in the Treasurer's Accounts, as follows:--
1543, April 21. "Item, gevin to Patrick Lindsay, goldsmyth, for making
of the Quenis Grace selis, and graving thairof, and for service and
laubouris done he him to our Soverane Lord, quham God assolze, as the
precept direct thairupoun beris, xxxj lib."
[253] In Vautr. edit., &c., "at length by notice given."
[254] Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, near Haddington, whose name is
honourably associated with the early poetical literature of Scotland,
was born in 1496, and studied at St. Andrews. He then went to France to
study the laws. He was admitted as a Judge in 1551, and was often
employed in public commissions. He died at the advanced age of 90, on
the 20th of March 1586.--(Brunton and Haig's Senators of the College of
Justice, p. 97.)
[255] Cardinal Beaton was arrested in the end of January 1542-43, and
imprisoned by the Governor first in the Castle of Dalkeith, from whence
he was transferred to Blackness. He at last obtained permission to go to
his own Castle of St. Andrews, under the guard of George fifth Lord
Seaton, (who died in 1545.) Sir Ralph Sadler confirms the above
statement by Knox, of Seaton having been bribed by the Cardinal. In a
letter to Henry the Eighth, 12th April 1543, he says the Governor told
him of the proposal to have the Castle of St. Andrews delivered to the
Lord Seaton, and all the Cardinal's retainers put out, "Nevertheless,
(quoth he,) the Lord Seton being corrupt by the Cardinal with great sums
of money and other gifts, brought the Cardinal into his own strength, in
the said Castle of St. Andrews. And whereas the Lord Seton, (quoth he,)
hath not twelve or sixteen men within the Castle, the Cardinal hath
three hundred; so that he is plainly at his own liberty," &c. Sadler
adds, "I told him he had been very evil served, and that the Lord Seton
had a great matter to answer unto. Whereunto he said, That he should
answer to it," &c.--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. pp. 70, 107, 131, 136, and
137.)
[256] Pasche, or Easter: the Parliament met on the 12th of March
1542-43.
[257] Knox apparently refers to various Acts passed in the Parliament
held at Edinburgh, 14th of March 1540-41, at which the King was present.
These Acts prohibited all discussion on matters of religion; and persons
from arguing against the Pope's authority, under the pain of death and
confiscation of their goods; suspected heretics were declared to be
incapable of exercising any office; and such as had fled to avoid the
censures of the Church, were held to be condemned.--(Acta Parl. Scot.
vol. ii. p. 370.) There were still earlier Acts against Heresy, and the
importation of Heretical books. The Act 17th July 1525, contains some
additions in the original record, on the 5th September 1527, (see
fac-simile plate, vol. ii. p. 295;) and the Act so enlarged was renewed,
12th June 1535, (ib. p. 341.) There is also preserved a letter written
by James the Fifth, addressed to the Lords of Council and Session, dated
at Aberdeen, 3d May 1534, in reference to "diverse tractatis and bukes
translatit out of Latin in our Scottis toung be Heretikis, favouraris
and of the secte of Luther," which were sent to various parts of the
realm; and the Lords, on the 8th of May, passed some stringent rules,
for destroying all such books, and for punishing trespassers and
suspected persons.--(Acts of Sederunt, p. 21, Edinb. 1811, folio.) But
the Acts alluded to were in part nullified by the additions made to them
on the 15th March 1542-43, (Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii. p. 415.) On the
same day, Parliament sanctioned the "haifing the Haly Write, in the
vulgar toung," as mentioned in note 265.
[258] These words, "Now, yf" &c., are omitted in MSS. A and W.
[259] The words, "and to hear it preached," are omitted in MS. G.
[260] In MS. G. "[Greek: agapê.]"
[261] David Rizzio.
[262] Henry, Lord Darnley.
[263] It may be remarked, that either Hay's name, or Dean of Restalrig,
appear to be a mistake; and the marginal note may have had reference to
this.--In 1540, Thomas Gibson, Dean of Restalrig, was conjoined with
Cardinal Beaton as his suffragan; and it was proposed, that whilst
acting in that capacity, Gibson should retain the benefices which he
then held. At the Provincial Council in 1549, Mr. John Sinclair,
afterwards Bishop of Brechin, and Lord President, sat as Dean of
Restalrig.--(Wilkins, Concilia, vol. iv. p. 46.)
[264] In MS. G, "lesoun," (lesum.) In Vautr. edit. "lawfull."
[265] The Act of Parliament, 15th March 1542-3, allowing the translation
of the Scriptures "in the vulgar tongue, in the English or Scotish, of a
good translation," was proclaimed on the 19th of that month. It has been
doubted whether, during the short interval which this Act was allowed to
remain in force, any edition was printed in Scotland; most probably
there was. But we know that Parliamentary enactments of a previous date
were insufficient to prevent the importation of copies of Tyndale's
translation of the New Testament, so early as 1526, as well as in
subsequent years: See the Rev. C. Anderson's Annals of the English
Bible, vol. ii.
[266] Sir Ralph Sadler was born in the year 1507. Having gained a
situation in the family of Thomas Lord Crumwell, he was brought under
the notice of Henry the Eighth, and after various other engagements, he
commenced his diplomatic career in 1537, by an embassy to Scotland. He
was again in this country as ambassador on seveval subsequent occasions.
His "State Papers and Letters," edited by Arthur Clifford, with a Memoir
by Sir Walter Scott, Edinb. 1809, 2 vols. 4to, is a work of great
importance for illustrating the history of the period to which they
relate.
[267] Lady Jane Seymour.
[268] In Vautr. edit., and in MS. G, Hamilton's name is omitted.
[269] The Commissioners sent to England in March 1542-43, were Sir James
Learmonth of Balcomie, Treasurer; Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar; and
Henry Balnaves of Halhill, Secretary. Their names frequently occur in
the political transactions of the period. They returned to Edinburgh
sometime between the 10th and 31st of July 1543. In the course of their
negotiation, (in May,) the Earl of Glencairn and Sir George Douglas wore
joined with them. See Sadler's State Papers, vol. i. pp. 59-63, 83, 90.
[270] Alluding to the pensions granted by the English Monarch, as an
effectual mode of securing such persons to his interest.
[271] In Vautr. edit. "Solon mosse." The rout of the Scotch forces at
Solway took place on the 26th of November 1542. Among the State Papers
(vol. v. p. 232) recently published, is a document intitled, "The yerely
value of the lands, and also the value and substance in goodis, of the
Scottish prisoners lately taken at Salone Mosse." The principal persons
were the Earls of Cassilis and Glencairne, Lords Somerville, Maxwell,
Gray, Oliphant, and Flemyng, Oliver Sinclair, George Hume of Eyton,
Robert Erskine son of Lord Erskine, Walter Seton of Tough, Patrick
Hepburn of Waughton, and John Ross of Craigie.
[272] In Vautr. edit. "immediately."
[273] The treaty of pacification between the two kingdoms, and the
projected alliance of Edward the Sixth with Queen Mary, when she had
attained the age of ten years, sanctioned by the Parliament of Scotland,
8th of June, was concluded at Greenwich on the 1st of July 1543. But
this proceeding, as stated in the text, was opposed by Cardinal Beaton
and the French faction. (See next note.) The Commissioners, however, as
mentioned in the preceding note, having returned, this treaty, on the
25th of August, was solemnly ratified by the Governor, "at the High
Mass, solemnly sung with shalms and sack-buts, in the Abbey Church of
the Holyroodhouse," and the Great Seal of Scotland appended to the
treaty.--(Rymer's Foedera, vol. xiv. pp. 786-791; Acta Parl. Scot. vol.
ii. pp. 425, 426; Sadler's State Papers, vol. i. p. 270.)
[274] In Vautr. edit. the words, "and they made a brag to depose the
Governour," are omitted.--Sadler, on the 16th of July 1543, writes to
the English Monarch, that the Governor had informed him of the intention
of the Cardinal and his party "to come to Linlithgow to surprize the
young Queen, _and afterwards_, (if they can,) _to depose and put him
downe_."--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. p. 233.) And in another letter from
Edinburgh, dated the 23d of July, he says, "_I thinke they woll not
fight, for all their bragges._ The Cardynall and his complices do lye at
Lythcoo, with the nomber of 5 or 6000; and the Governour and his frendes
and adherentes, with 7 or 8000, do lye here in this toune, not 12 myle a
sonder; and ambassadours go bytwen them to treate the matiers, so that,
by treatie, it is thought they shall agree, and no hurte done."--(State
Papers, vol. v. p. 326.)
[275] This sentence, on to the words "confouud all," is written on the
margin of the MS. with this addition, "as after follows;" which, I
presume, has reference to the concluding part of the sentence, although
it is partially deleted. The statement is not only correct in itself,
but is required for the context. In MS. G, Vautr. edit., and all the
other copies, while the marginal addition, "The Papists raged," &c., and
also the words, "as after follows," are incorporated with the text, the
clause, "And without delay," &c., is wholly omitted.
[276] Sir James Foulis of Colinton was appointed Clerk-Register in 1531,
and was also admitted a Lord of Session, at the first meeting of the
Court, on the 27th of May 1532. He held the office of Clerk-Register
till 1548, the year before his death. The Treasurer paid "to Maister
Henry Foullis, for his umquhill fatheris feyes, in the yeris of God 1547
and 1548, £26, 13s. 4d."
[277] In Vautr. edit. "preparation."
[278] John Hamilton, Abbot of Paisley. He arrived in Scotland between
the 2d and 18th of April 1543.
[279] George Crichton, a son of Crichton of Naughton, (Keith's Bishops,
p. 94,) must have been far advanced in life at this time. He was a
fellow-student with Dunbar the poet at St. Andrews, having taken his
Master's degree in the year 1479. He was Abbot of Holyroodhouse, which
he probably resigned on obtaining possession of the See of Dunkeld,
previously to November 1520. In 1533, he was nominated an Extraordinary
Lord of Session, (Senators of the College of Justice, p. 45;) and died
on the 24th of January 1545.
[280] See note 30.
[281] Or, Bellenden, Justice-Clerk. see note 166.
[282] It is surprising that Sir David Lyndesay, among the various
persons who were accused of heresy, should have escaped all persecution.
For a time, the personal attachment of James the Fifth may explain this
exemption, having been in his service since the King's infancy; but the
effects of Lyndesay's satirical writings must have rendered him
peculiarly obnoxious to the clergy. Yet we find him officially employed
in foreign missions, as Lyon-King at Arms, till within a short time of
his death, which took place about the year 1555.
[283] Michael Durham appears among the Determinants in St. Leonard's
College, St. Andrews, in 1527, and the Licentiates in 1529. It is
probable he then went abroad, and took a degree in medicine at some
foreign University. From the Treasurer's Accounts, we learn that for a
short period before the death of James the Fifth, he was King's
physician:--
1542, July or August, "Item, to Maister Michaell Durehame, doctour in
medecyne, (enterit before the last feist of Whitsunday,) for his half
yearis fee, £50."
1543, Jan., "Item, gevin to Maister Michael Durehame, doctour in
medecyne, be one precept in recompensatioun of service done be him to
our Sovernne Lord, quhome God assolze, and for the rest of his feis, as
his said precept beris, £200."
[284] The name of David Borthwick occurs among the Determinants in the
Pedagogy of St. Andrews, in 1515. He became King's Advocate, and will be
afterwards noticed.
[285] In MS. G, "to the uter point of ruyne."
[286] James second Earl of Arran was the grandson of Sir James Hamilton
of Cadzow, created Lord Hamilton in 1445, and the Princess Mary,
daughter of James the Second, and relict of Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran.
His father was thrice married. His first wife was Beatrix Drummond, by
whom he had one daughter, married to Andrew Stewart Lord Evandale and
Ochiltree. His second wife was Lady Elizabeth Home, sister of Alexander
Earl of Home, from whom he obtained a divorce in 1511. Janet, daughter
of Sir David Beaton of Creich, Comptroller of Scotland, was his third
wife, by whom he had his son James, second Earl of Arran; but who being
born during the life of his father's divorced wife, his legitimacy
depended on the validity of his divorce. Had he, in such a case, been
set aside, Matthew Earl of Lennox would have been next in succession.
[287] The infant Queen, who had hitherto been kept in the Palace of
Linlithgow, (note 246,) was brought to Stirling on the 23d of July 1543,
(note 274.) After the Governor's very inconsistent proceedings in the
month of August, and his reconciliation with the Cardinal, Queen Mary
was crowned with great ceremony, on the 9th of September 1543. The
following entries are from the Treasurer's Accounts:--
1543. "Item, the fourth day of August, be my Lord Governoris precept and
speciall command, deliverrit to Mathew Hammiltoun, capitane and kepar of
the Palice of Linlithqw, for furnesyng of the said Palice, the sowme of
£55.
"Item, to the Lord Levingstoun, for keping of the Princes[s] in
Linlithqw, quhilk was awin him the sum of £93, 6s. 8d.
October. "Item, to the Lord Levingstoun, for keping of the Princes[s] in
Striveling, fra the xxiij day of Julij in anno Domini etc. xliij^o to
the last day of this moneth of October inclusive, £180."
[288] In MS. G, "with him than in."
[289] All this took place about the 3d of September, or within nine days
of the Governor's ratification of the English alliance, mentioned in
note 273, and six days of his having issued a proclamation against the
Cardinal.--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. pp. 277, 278, 282.)
[290] On the 9th of September 1543: see note 287.
[291] Sadler, in this embassy, arrived in Edinburgh in March 1543.
Notwithstanding the treaty referred to in a previous note, he did not
succeed in the great object of his mission at this time, that of gaining
the Governor to a steady adherence to his original policy of favouring
the Reformed doctrines, and adhering to the English in opposition to the
French interest. Sadler was recalled in December 1543; and the country
was speedily invaded and devastated by the English troops.
[292] Matthew Earl of Lennox returned to Scotland, by the advice of
Cardinal Beaton, and landed at Dumbarton on the last day of March 1543.
[293] A blank in the MS. and in all the copies. The name of Somerville
is supplied on the authority of letters from Sir Ralph Sadler to Henry
the Eighth, and from the Privy Council of England to Sadler.--(Sadler,
vol. i. p. 161; State Papers, vol. v. p. 280.)
[294] Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudon.
[295] In MS. G, "was efter tane in the Lenterne, at the siege of
Glasgw."
[296] John Charteris of Couthilgourdy had been elected Provost of Perth,
1st October 1543, but was discharged, by appointment of the Governor,
26th January 1543-44, when Mr. Alexander M'Breck was chosen. Patrick
Lord Ruthven, who was chosen Provost on the 7th October 1544, was
attempted to be discharged on the 26th January 1544-45, and to be
replaced by John Charteris; but the Ruthven party prevailing, Charteris
was not admitted.
The skirmish of which Knox here gives a minute and accurate description,
took place on the 22d of July 1544, when Lord Gray's partizans were
repulsed with a loss of upwards of sixty men.--(Adamson's Muses
Threnodie, by Cant, pp. 70, 71, 112.) Lord Gray, in October that year,
received from the Cardinal a grant of part of the lands of Rescobie in
Forfarshire, for his "ready and faithful help and assistance in these
dangerous times of the Church."
[297] Patrick Master of Ruthven was the oldest son of Patrick third Lord
Ruthven, the principal actor in Rizzio's murder, on the 9th March 1566,
and who fled into England, where he died on the 13th June that year.
Having predeceased his father, and leaving no issue, Patrick was
succeeded by his next brother, William, who is styled Master of Ruthven,
in a charter, 9th April 1565. This son, who was afterwards created Earl
of Gowrye, was also concerned with his father in the murder of Rizzio.
[298] Moncrieffe of Moncrieffe, in the parish of Dunbarny, Perthshire.
[299] Mary Magdalene's day, the 22d of July. But the year was 1544, and
not 1543: see note 296; and the Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 84, where
forty persons are said to have been slain.
[300] In MS. G, "a pretty spaice fra the Fische-Yet."
[301] Sadler, on the 13th of November 1543, states that "the Governor
and Cardinal are now gone over the water of Forth, into Fife and Angus,"
to gain the Earl of Rothes, the Lords Gray, Ogilvy, and Glammis, to
their party, "either by force or policy."--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. p.
340.)
[302] Castle Huntley, in the parish of Longforgan, built by the second
Lord Gray of Foulis. He had extensive possessions in the Carse of
Gowrye, and according to tradition, he named the Castle after his Lady,
a daughter of the Earl of Huntley.
[303] In MS. G, "Balgawy." The place referred to is Balgavie, near
Innergowrye, two or three miles from Dundee, on the road to Perth.
[304] The old name of the city of Perth.
[305] The Provost of St. Andrews in 1544, was Sir James Learmonth of
Balcomie, or Dairsye.
[306] In Vautr. edit. "their friend."
[307] The marginal explanation having been taken into the text, the
later copies read as if the Bishop of St. Andrews and the Abbot of
Paisley were different persons. John Hamilton, Abbot of Paisley, became
Cardinal Beaton's successor in the Metropolitan See. In MS. G, the
passage reads, "This answer reported, was send to thame the Bishop of
Sanct Andrewes, the Abbot of Pasley, Mr. David Panter," &c., "to
desyre," &c. In Vautr. edit. it is still further from the correct
reading, by the omission of _thame_, "This answer reported, was sent to
the Bishop of Sainct Andrewes, the Abbot of Pasley," &c.
[308] This proverbial phrase, "Ay rynnis the fox, quhill he fute hes,"
occurs at the end of a poem "againis Treason," by Dunbar.--(Poems, vol.
i. p. 136.)
[309] The Parliament met at Edinburgh, in December 1543, and the
following Act against Hereticks was passed on the 15th; which may be
quoted in connexion with the proceedings at Perth in the following
month,--
"The quhilk day, My Lord Governour causit to be schewin and proponit in
plane Parliament to all Estatis being thair gaderit, how thair is gret
murmure _that Heretikis mair and mair risis and spredis within this
Realme_, sawand dampnable opinionis incontrar the fayth and lawis of
Haly Kirk, actis and constitutionis of this Realme: Exhortand thairfor
all Prelatis and Ordinaris, ilkane within thair awin diocy and
jurisdictioun, to inquir apoun all sic manor of personis, and proceid
aganis thame according to the lawis of Haly Kirk; and My said Lord
Governour salbe rady at all tymes to do thairin that accordis him of his
office."--(Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii. p. 443.)
[310] St. Paul's day was the 25th of January, and the year 1543-4, is
fixed by the reference to "the first burning of Edinburgh," by the
English troops under the Earl of Hertford, in May 1544. (See note 320.)
Keith, and his editor Mr. Parker Lawson, are at a loss to
reconcile the dates of the Governor and Cardinal's visit to Perth, and
the execution of the persons mentioned by Knox. Knox's account of these
martyrs at Perth is corroborated not only by the more detailed account
given in Foxe's Martyrs, (p. 1230,) but by the following extracts from
the Treasurer's Accounts. The Governor spent his Yule or Christmas,
1543, not at St. Andrews, but at Stirling. The following were payments
made by the Treasurer:--
1543, December. "Item, in the tyme of Zule, deliverit to my Lord
Governour, to play at the cartis with the Quenis Grace in Striviling, in
ane hundreth crownis of the Sonn, £110."
1543-4, "Item, the xij day of Januar, efter the aggreance maid betuix my
Lord Governour and the saidis Lordis, (Earl of Levinox, &c.,) at
convenit in Leith againis his Grace, hyrit liiij cart hors, quhilk past
agane to Striveling with the said artalze, and fra Striveling to Sanct
Jhonstoun [and] Dunde, _for punising certane Heretikis_ within the
saidis townis, and payit to the saidis hors viij dayis wagis, to every
hors on the day iij s.... Summa, lxiiij lib. xvj s.
"Item, xx Jannarij, after the Counsale and Convention haldin at
Striviling, at my Lord Governoris departing towart Sanct Johnstoun _for
punischment as said is_, hyrit to turs certane small artalze with his
Grace thair, xxvj cart hors, to ilk hors the day iij s.... Summa, xxxj
lib. iiij s.
"Item, to xij pyoneris, quhilkis past and convoyit the said small
artalze, viij dayis wagis, to every man in the day ij s. Summa, ix lib.
xij s."
In Mercer's Chronicle of Perth, is this brief notice, "The execution of
James Hunter, Robert Lambe, James Ronaldstone, and his spouse, at Perth,
in Januar, in Sanct Pawlis day. 1543[-4] yeiris."
[311] His name was Robert, not William Lamb, burgess of Perth.
Calderwood has given a detailed account, as related by "Mr. John
Davidson, a diligent searcher in the last acts of our Martyrs," of the
manner in which Lamb interrupted Friar Spence, when preaching on
All-hallow-day. See Wodrow Society edit, of his History, vol. i. p. 174.
He also states that Knox's account of these Perth Martyrs "is confirmed
by the Registers of the Justice-Court, where it is registered, that
Robert Lamb, merchant in Perth, James Ranoldsone, skinner, William
Andersone, maltman, James Hunter, fleshour, were convicted of art and
part in breaking the Act of Parliament, by holding an assemblie and
convention in Sanct Anne's Chappell, in the Spey-yards, upon Sanct
Andrewes day [30th Nov.] last by past, conferring and disputing there
upon the Holie Scriptures.... Item, Helen Stirk, spous to James
Ranoldsone, convicted Becaus of art and part in breaking the Acts of
Parliament, in dishonouring the Virgin Marie." See also Foxe's Martyrs,
p. 1230. The executions at this time are thus very summarily noticed in
the Diurnal of Occurrents, (p. 30,)--
"Upoun the xxviij day of Januare [1543-4,] the Governour with his Lordis
past to Sanct Johnstoun and Dundie, and brunt mony limmaris in the said
tolbuis [townis]."
[312] Sir Henry Elder, as his name denotes, was in Priest's orders; and
John Elder, we may suppose, was his brother. In a list of the
Magistrates of Perth, elected 7th Oct. 1541, we find "John Elder,
Treasurer;" and, as a burgess of the town, he is to be distinguished
from John Elder "the Redshank," who fled at this time into England. (See
Appendix, No. VI.) In the Treasurer's Accounts, 1543-46, there was £200
paid as the composition for the remission granted to John Elder, burgess
of Perth, and also £40 for the similar exemption given to Laurence
Pillour, "pro disputatione in Sacris Scripturis contra tenorem Acti
Parliamenti."--(M'Crie's Life of Knox, vol. i. p. 359.)
[313] In the MS. "broking."
[314] In MS. G, &c., "eye."
[315] In Vautr. edit. "Granton hilles."
[316] In Vautr. edit. "the hilles."
[317] In MS. G, "Sir George." Sir George Douglas of Pittendreich was
brother of the Earl of Angus.
[318] Blackness Castle, in the parish of Carriden, Linlithgowshire,
close to the river Forth, about five or six miles above South
Queensferry. This is one of the four fortresses which were stipulated in
the Act of Union, in 1707, to be kept in repair.
[319] In Vautr. edit. "between one and two of the clock."
[320] During this Expedition under the Earl of Hertford, the town of
Edinburgh, with the exception of the Castle, was "utterly ruinate and
destroyed with fire," during the space of four successive days; "Also,
we brent th'abbey called Holy Rode-house, and the Pallice adjonynge to
the same." This took place in the beginning of May 1544.--(Dalyell's
Fragments of Scotish History, p. 7.)
[321] In MS. G, the word "judged" is omitted.--Craigmillar Castle, now a
picturesque ruin, in the parish of Libberton, is about three miles south
from Edinburgh. The English forces, on the 8th of May 1544, "past to
Craiginillar, quhilk was haistilie gevin to thame: promesed to keip the
samyne without skaith; quhilk promes thai break, and brunt and destroyit
the said Hous."--(Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 32.)
[322] Sir Simon Preston of Craigmillar. He was Provost of Edinburgh in
1565, and three following years. His father, Simon Preston, had been
Provost in 1536.
[323] The Tron, or beam, used for weighing merchandize, stood in the
High Street, nearly opposite what is now called the Tron Church. But the
Butter-Tron was probably at the building afterwards called the
Weigh-House, which stood nearly in the middle of the street, at the head
of the West Bow, leading to the Castle.
[324] Among the spoils, it is stated, that the furniture and library in
the Palace of Holyrood were carried off; including a fine brazen font
from the Abbey. (See Archæologia Scotica, vol. iv. p. 13.) But some of
the books and furniture had previously been removed by the Governor to
Hamilton Palace, where probably they are still preserved. On the 8th of
May the Treasurer paid, "be his Gracis speciall command, to certane pure
men quhilkis tursit (carried) his Gracis cofferis out of the Palice of
Halyrudhous to the Castell of Edinburgh, and fra thare to the Castell of
Hammiltoun, the soume of xj lib."
"Item, (on the 16th of May,) to ane pure man of Edinburgh, quhilkis
savit fifty-pece of weschell of my Lord Governouris, the tyme of the
Inglische menis being thair, and deliverit the samyn to Sir David
Hammiltoun, x s."
[325] Ancrum Moor, about a mile and a half to the north of the village
of that name, in the county of Roxburgh. The battle took place on the
17th of February 1544-45, when Sir Ralph Evers was slain, and the
English forces routed.
[326] Captain de Lorge Montgomery, with about 3500 men, arrived from
France in May or June 1545.--(Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii. pp. 594-596.)
[327] The Castle of Wark, a border fortress, on the bank of the river
Tyne in Northumberland, near Coldstream.
[328] In Vautr. edit. "great slaverie."
[329] In MS. G, "the Frenche Captane."
[330] Matthew Stewart fourth Earl of Lennox, had retired to England in
1545. He married Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of the Earl of Angus
and Margaret, widow of King James the Fourth. She was thus niece of the
English Monarch, at whose Court she resided until her marriage. Their
son was Henry Lord Darnley, who married Mary Queen of Scots. The Earl of
Lennox became Regent of Scotland in 1570, upon the death of the Earl of
Murray.
[331] John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, was a natural son of
James first Earl of Arran. He pursued his studies first at Glasgow, and
afterwards at Paris. In 1525, he obtained the rich Abbacy of Paisley;
and as Abbot he sat in the Parliaments of 1535 and 1540. His
relationship to the Governor, over whom he obtained great influence, led
to his rapid promotion. He was successively Lord Privy Seal, High
Treasurer, Bishop of Dunkeld, and a Judge in the Court of Session. On
the death of Cardinal Beaton, he became his successor as Primate. The
"Catechisme," which usually passes under his name, from having been
printed at his expense, at St. Andrews, in 1552, exhibits a solitary
instance on the part of the Roman Catholic clergy to convey spiritual
instruction, and is most creditable to his memory.
[332] That is, the Abbot of Paisley now began, &c.
[333] In the MS. this word _Eme's_, at first inaccurately written, was
corrected, but not distinctly, and led to the substitution of _Enemies
wyfe_, in all the other copies. _Eme_ usually means _Uncle_; here it
merely signifies _kinsman_.
[334] Lady Grizell Sempill was the eldest daughter of Robert third Lord
Sempill, and was the second wife of James Hamilton of Stenhouse, Captain
of the Castle of Edinburgh. A charter under the Great Seal was granted
of the lands of Kittiemuir, on the 10th of March 1539, "Jacobi Hamilton
de Stanehouse et Grizeldi Sempill ejus conjugi." Her husband, who was
Provost of Edinburgh, was slain in endeavouring to quell a tumult
between some of the auxiliary troops quartered in the Canongate, and the
inhabitants, on the 1st of October 1548.
[335] In MS. G, "Gilston;" and in Vautr. edit., &c., "haldin in
povertie." It probably means, that her connexion with the Archbishop
always continued. Some further notice of this Lady will be given in a
subsequent note.
[336] George Martine, in his "Reliquiæ Divi Andreæ," written in 1683,
has given an account of Hamilton, in which, in reference to the
Archbishop and this Lady, he says, "I have seen copies of charters
granted by this Archbishop to William, John, and James Hamiltons, his
three naturall sones born of this Grizzell Sempill; and they are
designed her naturall sones, but they came all to be forfeited." (P.
244.) Letters of Legitimation of John and William Hammylton, bastard
sons of Grissel Sempill, daughter of Robert Master of Sempill, were
dated 9th Oct. 1551.--(Reg. Mag. Sigill.)
[337] Knox places Wishart's return to Scotland in 1544, although the
Commissionars to whom he alludes came back in July 1543. The exact time
has not been well ascertained: see Appendix, No. IX.
[338] In MS. G, "a litill space."
[339] William fourth Earl Marishall, according to Sadler's report to
Henry, 27th March 1543, was "a goodly young gentleman, well given to
your Majesty, as I take him." He was friendly to the Reformation, and
survived till about the year 1581.--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. p. 99.)
[340] In MS. G, "Locnoreis." The person referred to was George Crawfurd
of Leifnorris, or Loch Norris, now called Dumfries House, the seat of
the Marquess of Bute, in the parish of Old Cumnock, Ayrshire.
[341] Gaston, or Galston, a parish in the district of Kyle.
[342] This phrase, "used much in the Bar," signifies that he frequented
the house of Barr, the seat of John Lockhart of Barr, in the parish of
Galston.
[343] Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudoun, was hereditary Sheriff of the county
of Ayr.
[344] The persons here named were all proprietors of lands in Ayrshire.
Mongarswood, or Monkgarswood, is in the parish of Mauchline; Bronnsyde,
in Sorne; Dawdeling, (in Vautr. edit. "Dawdilling,") or Daldilling, also
in the parish of Sorne; and Tempilland, in that of Auchinleck. The
Crawfurds were proprietors of Templeland; and the Reids of Daldilling,
appear in the Retours 1651 and 1673, in the succession of their
property.--(Ayr, Nos. 449 and 679.)
[345] Kinyeancleuch is in the parish of Mauchline. Hugh Campbell was a
cadet of the Campbells of Loudoun; and his son Robert Campbell of
Kinyeancleuch, who is afterwards mentioned, was a special friend of
Knox, and much distinguished himself by his singular zeal and
devotedness in promoting the Reformation.
[346] In Vautr. edit. "Shaw." Laurence Rankin, laird of Sheill, in the
parish of Ochiltree, Ayrshire.
[347] The year 1544 is the date usually assigned for the ravages of the
plague in Dundee. It would seem to have prevailed in different parts of
the country for two or three successive years. The probable time of
Wishart's visit on that occasion may have been in August 1545, as we are
told, "In this tyme the pest was wonder greit in all burrowis townis of
this realme, quhair mony peipill deit with great skant and want of
victuallis."--(Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 39.)
[348] In MS. G, "at lycht parte."
[349] During the sixteenth century, the town of Dundee was surrounded by
a double wall, with ports or gates, which were all removed about sixty
years ago, with the exception of the East Gate, called the Cowgate Port,
which was then "allowed to stand, from respect to Wishart's memory, and
his services to the inhabitants of Dundee, during the plague of 1544;
and it is still kept in good preservation."--(New Stat. Account,
Forfarshire, p. 17.)
[350] In MS. G, "thay thrist in."
[351] John Kynneir of Kynneir, in the parish of Kilmany, in Fife. He was
served heir to his father David Kynneir _de eodem_, in the lands and
barony of Kynneir, 30th July 1543.--(Retours, Fife, No. 2.)
[352] In Vautr. edit., MSS. G, A, &c., "I shall ende my lyfe."
[353] John Erskine of Dun, near Montrose, a zealous and consistent
friend of the Reformation. After the establishment of the Reformation,
in July 1560, although a layman, he was admitted to the office of
Superintendent of Angus and Mearns.
[354] In MS. G, "with money siches and deip grones, he plat doun." In
Vautr. edit. "he fell upon."
[355] In MS. G, "keape-stone:" Vautr. edit. has "keepe stone."
[356] The words following "to meitt him," are a subsequent marginal
addition by the author.
[357] In MS. G, "and this the fyftein day befoir Yuill." Vautr. reads,
"the xv day before Christmas."
[358] That is, Alexander Crichton of Brunstone, Hugh Douglas of
Long-Niddry, and John Cockburn of Ormiston.--As there are two places of
the name of Brunstone in Mid-Lothian, it may be proper to notice, that
it must have been the old Castle now in ruins, in the parish of
Pennycuik, where Wishart occasionally resided, and not the house of that
name, at the eastern extremity of Libberton parish, which was built, or
afterwards belonged to the Lauderdale family. See a subsequent note
respecting the Crichtons of Brunstone.
[359] Or Inveresk, six miles from Edinburgh.
[360] Sir George Douglas of Pittendreich, was a younger son of George,
Master of Angus, who was killed at Floddon in 1513, and brother of
Archibald, seventh Earl of Angus. "He was, (says Sir Walter Scott,) a
man of spirit and talents; shared with his brother in the power which he
possessed during the minority of James V.; was banished with him, and
almost all the name of Douglas, into England, where they remained till
the death of the King; and were then sent by Henry back to their native
country, along with the Solway prisoners, in order to strengthen the
English party in Scotland."--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. p. 66, note.) His
name appears on the 1st of April 1549, as an Extraordinary Lord of
Session, which disproves the account in Douglas's Peerage of his having
been killed at Pinkie, in September 1547. Having predeceased his
brother, his eldest son, in 1556, became eighth Earl of Angus.
[361] In MS. G, "audience."
[362] In MS. G, "auditors."
[363] David Forres, or Forrest, is several times mentioned by Knox: he
afterwards held the office of General of the Conzie House or Mint.
[364] Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington: see note 254.--The house of
Lethington, being a massive old tower, with some modern additions, and
now called Lennox Love, is rather more than a mile to the south of
Haddington.
[365] This is the first occasion on which Knox introduces himself.
[366] In MS. G, the words after "world," are omitted.
[367] Clerk Plays was another name for those dramatic entertainments,
which in France and England were known under the title of _Mysteries_,
and which were usually founded on some passage of Scripture.
[368] Long-Niddry is situated in the parish of Gladsmuir, East-Lothian,
about four miles from Tranent, near the shore of the Firth.
[369] In MS. G, "mirrelie."
[370] These lines occur in a metrical version of some of the Psalms,
visually, and no doubt correctly, attributed to John Wedderburn, Vicar
of Dundee. Whether there was any printed edition so early as 1546,
cannot be ascertained; but there was a large impression (1034 copies) of
what was culled "the Dundee Psalms," printed in Scotland before 1603, in
the stock of Robert Smyth, bookseller in Edinburgh.--(Bannatyne
Miscellany, vol. ii. pp. 189, 234.) The collection of Psalms and Sacred
Poems, known by the title of "The Gude and Godly Ballates," may have
been the Psalms alluded to; and of this collection there still exist one
copy at least of editions printed at Edinburgh, by John Ross, in 1578;
by Robert Smyth, in 1600; and again by Andre Hart, in 1621.
In this collection is found the version of the 51st Psalm, mentioned by
Knox as having been sung by Wishart. It extends to 40 verses: the first
four may serve as a specimen. The reader may consult Calderwood's
History, vol. i. pp. 141-143, for an interesting account of the family
of James Wedderburn, merchant in Dundee, his eldest son James, and
another son, as well as John the translator of the Psalms, having
distinguished themselves by their "good gifts of poesie."
_Miserere mei Deus._ PSAL. 51.
Have mercy on me, God of might,
Of mercy Lord and King;
For thy mercy is set full right
Above all eirdly thing.
Therefore I cry baith day and night,
And with my hert sail sing:
To thy mercy with thee will I go.
Have mercy on me, (O gude Lord,)
Efter thy greit mercy.
My sinfull life does me remord,
Quhilk sair hes grevit thee:
Bot thy greit grace hes mee restord,
Throw grace, to libertie:
To thy mercy with thee will I go.
_Et secundum multitudinem._
Gude Lord I knaw my wickednes,
Contrair to thy command,
Rebelland ay with cruelnes,
And led me in ane band
To Sathan, quha is merciles;
Zit, Lord, heir me cryand:
To thy mercy with thee will I go.
Quhat king can tell the multitude,
Lord, of thy greit mercy,
Sen sinners hes thy celsitude
Resisted cruellie.
Zit na sinner will thou seclude,
That this will cry to thee:
To thy mercie with thee will I go.
[371] Patrick third Earl of Bothwell succeeded his father in 1513, when
an infant. In 1543, he was Lord of Liddesdale, and Keeper of the Royal
Castle of Hermitage. Sir Ralph Sadler, on the 5th of May that year, says
of him, "As to the Earl of Bothwell, who, as ye know, hath the rule of
Liddersdale, I think him the most vain and insolent man in the world,
full of pride and folly, and here, I assure you, nothing at all
esteemed."--(Sadler's Papers, vol. i. p. 184.) At the time of Wishart's
apprehension, he was High Sheriff of the county of Haddington. In
Douglas and Wood's Peerage of Scotland, (vol. i. pp. 227-229,) will be
found a detailed account of his subsequent fortunes. He died, probably
in exile, in September 1550.
[372] Elphingstone Tower is situated in the parish of Tranent, about two
miles from the village of that name.
[373] In MS. G, "over you."
[374] In MS. G, "persuasion."
[375] In MS. G, "promeis."
[376] This name Drundallon, or Dwndallon, is not very distinct in the
MS., and no such place is now known.
[377] John Cockburn of Ormiston.--In the Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 41,
it is stated, that "Upoun the xvj day of Januar, the Governour and the
Cardinall, to the nomber of 500 men, past to Ormestoun, [some words here
omitted?] and the yong laird of Calder; they war all brocht and put in
the Castell of Edinburgh; and the laird of Ormestoun, and the yong laird
of Calder followand, was tane be the Capitane, callit James Hamiltoun of
Stanehous." Wishart's name may have been omitted in this paragraph, but
it fixes the date of his apprehension at Ormiston. The following entries
occur in the Treasurer's Accounts, on the 10th of March 1545-6,--
"Item, to Jhonne Patersoun, pursevant letters direct furth of Edinburgh
to Ormistoun and Haddingtoun, to summond the Laird of Ormistoun to
underly the law in Edinburgh the xiij day of Apprile nyxt to cum, _for
resetting of Maister George Wischeart, he being at the horne_, etc. And
_for breking of the waird within the Castell of Edinburgh_, etc.
Togydder with ane other letter to arreist the saiddis Lairdis gudis,
etc., x s."
"Item, (7th of April,) with ane memoriall of the principall Lordis and
Baronis namys of Est Louthiane, to summond thame to be in Edinburgh
xiij^th Aprilis instant, to pass upon the assiss of the Laird of
Ormistoiin, quho was to thoill law that day for brekking of our Souerane
Ladyis waird within the Castell of Edinburgh."
[378] Hailes Castle is situated in a secluded spot on the banks of the
Tyne, in the parish of Prestonkirk, East Lothian. It belonged at this
time to the Earl of Bothwell. The ruins still shew that it must have
been of considerable extent and strength, like most buildings of the
kind intended for a place of defence.
[379] In MS. G, "keipit."
[380] The following is an Act of Council, obliging Bothwell to deliver
to the Governor the person of George Wishart, on the 19th of January
1545-6,--
"The quhilk day, in presens of my Lord Governour and Lords of Counsel,
comperit Patrick Erle Bothuell, and hes bundin and oblist him to deliver
Maister George Wischart to my Lord Governour, or ony utheris in his
behalf, quham he will depute to ressave him betuix this and the penult
day of Januar instant _inclusive_, and sal kepe him surelie, and answer
for him in the meyn tyme, under all the hiest pane and charge that he
may incur, giff he falzies herintill."--(Regist. Concil. fol. 25; Epist.
Regum Scotorum, vol. ii. p. 342.)
[381] There seems no reason to question the accuracy of these dates;
although Spotiswood marks Wishart's execution as having taken place on
the 2d of March 1546; and Mr. Tytler says the 28th, adopting an evident
blunder in the "Diurnal of Occurrents," where the 28th of March, instead
of the 28th of February, is given as the day when the Council was held
for Wishart's trial and condemnation. His execution took place on the
following day. I observe that at page 6 of the Miscellany of the Wodrow
Society, I have fallen into the same mistake.
[382] This word is omitted in MS. G.
[383] Pitscottie mentions, that the Cardinal having sent to the Governor
for a "commissioun and ane Judge criminall to give doom on Maister
George, if the Clergie fand him guiltie;" the Governor, upon the
remonstrance of Sir David Hamilton, was persuaded to write to the
Cardinal "to continue (or postpone) the accusatioun of Maister George
Wisehart quhyll he and he spoke togidder; and if he wold not, his awin
blood be upon his awin head, for he would not consent that any man sould
suffer persecutioun at that tyme."--(Dalyell's edit., p. 454.)
[384] Gawin Dunbar was a younger son of Sir John Dunbar of Mochrun. He
pursued his studies at Glasgow. In 1514 he was appointed Dean of Moray.
In the following year obtained the Priory of Whithorn in Galloway; and
was intrusted with the education of James the Fifth. In the Treasurer's
Accounts, 1517, are the following entries:--
"Item, xvj^to Februarij [1516-17,] gevin to Maister Gawin Dunbar, _the
Kingis Maister_, to by necessar thingis for the Kingis chamer, ix lib.
"Item, (the 28th day of August,) to Maister Gawan Dunbar, _the Kingis
Maister_, for expensis maid be him in reparaling of the chamer in the
quhilk the King leris now, in the Castell, iij lib."
On the translation of James Beaton to the Primacy, Dunbar was promoted
to the See of Glasgow; and he continued to enjoy the favour of his royal
pupil during the whole of his reign. He held the office of Lord
Chancellor from 1528 to 1543; and died on the 30th of April 1547. A
detailed account of this Prelate is given in Brunton and Haig's Senators
of the College of Justice, pp. 1-5.
[385] See note 391.
[386] The Castle and Episcopal Palace of Glasgow stood a little to the
westward of the Cathedral Church. The building, with its site and
garden, having been vested in the Crown, when Episcopacy was abolished,
were granted in the year 1791, for the purpose of erecting an Infirmary;
and the ancient but ruinous building was then removed.--(Caledonia, vol.
iii. p. 638.)
[387] In MS. G, "knypsed."
[388] In MS. G, "as sum bold men."
[389] In Vautr. edit. "merilie."
[390] In Vautr. edit. "bitter mirth."
[391] This ludicrous but unbecoming contest seems to have taken place on
the 4th of June 1545, when Mons. Lorge de Montgomery arrived from France
with auxiliary troops: "Upon the same day, the Bischope of Glasgow pleit
with the Cardinall about the bering of his croce in his dyocie, and
boith thair croccis war brokin, in the Kirk of Glasgow, through thair
stryving for the samin."--(Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 39.) Bishop Lesley
mentions it as having occurred at an earlier period, when the Patriarch
of Venice, who was sent by the Pope, first came to Glasgow, when "the
Cardinall and the principall Bischoppes come thair and ressaved him with
gret honour. Bot in the meintyme, (he adds,) thair happinned ane suddane
discord within the Kirk of Glasgw, betuix the Cardinall and Bischoppe of
Glasgw, for thair pre-heminence of the bering of the Cardinallis crosse
within that Kirk, quhair boith the Archebischoppes crosses was brokin,
and diverse of thair gentill men and servandis wes hurt."--(Hist. p.
178.) Cornelius Le Brun, a Dutch traveller, describes a similar contest
which took place, whilst he was at Rome during the Jubilee of 1675,
between two processions meeting first in a narrow street, near Monte
Cavallo, and afterwards in the Church of St. John, in Laterano, in which
several persons were killed, to the great scandal of religion. But the
Italians, he says, "qui sont plaisans de leur naturel et encline à la
raillerie se mocquoient furieusement de cette avanture."--(Voyage en
Levant, p. 6. Delft, 1700, folio.)
[392] This, according to tradition, was the Eastern tower or corner, and
the place of Wishart's execution was nearly opposite, at the foot of
what is called Castle Wynd. Spotiswood says, "A scaffold in the meantime
erecting on the east part of the Castle towards the Abbey, with a great
tree in the middest, in manner of a gibbet, into which the prisoner was
to be tied.... The fore tower was hanged with tapestry, and rich
cushions laid for case of the Cardinal and Prelates, who were to behold
that spectacle."--(History, p. 81.)
[393] As stated in note 45, "The Actes and Monumentes of Martyrs," by
John Foxe, was originally printed at London, by John Daye, in 1564, in a
large volume in folio. It was "newly recognized and enlarged by the
Author," in 1570, when he incorporated a number of passages relating to
Martyrs in Scotland, which he gives on this authority, "_Ex Scripto
Testimonio Scotorum_." In many places of these additions, the details
are more minute than the corresponding passages in Knox's History; yet
there is such a coincidence in the information, that Foxe may possibly
have been indebted for some of them to the Scotish Reformer. The account
of Wishart, however, is copied from a printed book: see notes 397, 434.
[394] The title of the Accusation and the introductory paragraph, are
not contained in Knox's MS., but are supplied from Foxe, edit. 1576.
[395] Dean John Wynrame was born in 1492, and educated at St. Andrews.
In 1515, his name occurs among the Determinants in St. Salvator's
College. The date of his appointment as Sub-Prior of the Monastery of
St. Andrews has not been ascertained. But on the 10th of Nov. 1537, he
is styled in the "Regist. Fac. Art.," Dominus Joh. Wynrame, Sup^r.
Sancti Andree Coenobii. His name often occurs in Knox, in connexion with
transactions of a later date. See M'Crie's Life of Knox, vol. i. p. 424;
Bannatyne Miscellany, vol. i. p. 241.
[396] In MS. G, "as sayis the Apostle Paull."
[397] It will be observed that all these opprobrious terms applied to
Lauder are copied from Foxe, or rather from the black-letter tract,
printed by John Daye, of which Dr. M'Crie has given a description in his
Life of Knox, vol. i. p. 382.
[398] In MS. G, the words "writtin," &c., to "cursingis," are omitted.
[399] Mr. John Lauder, who acted as public accuser or prosecutor on
other occasions, as well as this of Wishart, was educated at St.
Andrews. His name occurs among the Licentiates "in Pedagogio," in the
year 1508. In a Decree Arbitral, dated at St. Andrews, 16th October
1518, he thus designates himself: "Ego JOHANNES LAUDER, artium magister,
clericus Sancti Andreæ diocesis, publicus sacris Apostolica et Imperiali
auctoritatibus notarius, ac in officio Scriptoris archivii Romane Curie
matriculatus ac descriptus."--(Rental Book of St. Andrews, 1550.) From
the Treasurer's Accounts we find that he was frequently employed in
Ecclesiastical negotiations. Thus in 1533,--
"Item, to Maister Johne Lauder, to pass to Rome in the Kingis erandis,
maid in fynance v^c [500] frankis, price of ilk frank x s. vi d.,
Scottis money, £262, 10s.
"Item, gevin to him at his departing, to by him horse and other
necessaris, £40.
"Item, to Robene Bertoun, for the fraucht of ane litill schip, in the
quhilk the said Maister Johne past in Flanderes, £25.
"Item, dresses to his twa servandis," &c. Again, in 1534,--
"Item, to Maister Johne Lauder, to performeis certaine the Kingis
Grace's erandis in Rome, J^m [1000] frankis, Summa, £525."