"Item, to Maister Johnne Lauder, for his [laubours] in writing of
directionis to the Courte of [Rome?] for promotioun of the Abbayis of
Coldinghame, [Kelso, and] Melros, to the Kingis; Grace sonis."
[400] In Foxe, "your doctrine uttereth many blasphemous," &c.
[401] In Foxe, "with."
[402] In Foxe, "high voyce."
[403] The words inclosed in brackets, are omitted in Knox's MS., and in
all the subsequent copies, such as MS. G, Vautr. edit., &c. They are
however necessary for the context, and are supplied from Foxe.
[404] See note 383.
[405] See a subsequent note respecting Cardinal Beaton.
[406] The Bishop of Brechin (John Hepburn, see page 37) hearing that
George Wishart taught the Greek New Testament in the School of Montrose,
summoned him to appear on a charge of heresy, upon which Wishart fled
the kingdom. This was in the year 1538. See Appendix, No. IX.
[407] In Foxe, and Vautr. edit., "Gospell."
[408] In Knox's MS., and Vautr. edit., "it is."
[409] In Foxe, and Vautr. edit., "Gospell."
[410] In Foxe, "punishment;" in Vautr. edit. "trespasse."
[411] Foxe gives the passage as follows: "Knowledge your faultes one to
an other, and praye one for an other, that you may be healed."
[412] The whole of this sentence, after the quotation from the Epistle
of James, is omitted in Foxe, edit. 1576.--It may have been an
explanatory remark by Knox.
[413] In Foxe, "grynned;" and the word "horned" before "Bischopis," is
omitted. In Vautr. edit. "gyrned."
[414] In Vautr. edit. "Bleitter Chaplin;" and in MS. G, "Blecter."
Pitscottie has "Blaitter:" it may be only a term of reproach, and not
the name of a person.
[415] In Vautr. edit. "child." Pitscottie, who introduces Wishart's
Accusation, but somewhat condensed, in this place makes it, "Than
answered ane yong scoller boy, 'It is a devillish taill to say so: for
the Devill can not move a man to speik as yon man dois.'"
[416] Sailing on the Rhine. It may have been during this visit to
Germany, and probably Switzerland, that Wishart employed himself in
translating the first CONFESSION OF FAITH of the Helvetian Churches.
This Confession was printed after Wishart's death, about the year 1548,
and has been reprinted, for the first time, in the "Miscellany of the
Wodrow Society," Vol. I. pp. 1-23.
[417] In the MS. "Jew," and "Jewes," are written "Jow," and "Jowes."
[418] The concluding words of this sentence from "earth: And" &c., are
omitted in the printing, by Vautroullier, at the foot of page 129, or
the top of page 130. A similar omission occurs in MSS. I, A, and W: The
two latter keeping out the words "and spitted into the."
[419] In Foxe, "auditorie."
[420] In Foxe, "dumbe as a beetle."
[421] In Foxe, "hold my peace"
[422] In Foxe, "dumbe."
[423] As in Foxe, and in MS. G, &c., this evidently should be
"Provinciall."
[424] In Foxe, "woodnes."
[425] See some notices of Scot, at page 96.--In Foxe, "called Joh.
Gray-finde Scot."
[426] In Foxe, "dumbe."
[427] In Foxe, "to voyde away."
[428] In Foxe, "warders."
[429] Dean John Wynrame: see note 395.
[430] David Buchanan has an interpolation in this place, (See Appendix,
No. I.,) respecting Wishart's dispensing the Sacrament, on the morning
of his execution, to the Captain of the Castle. It is nearly the same as
in George Buchanan's History, and Pitscottie's Chronicle, but somewhat
condensed.
[431] In Foxe, "sup."
[432] In Foxe, there is this marginal note: "M. George Wyscheart
prophesieth of the death of the Cardinall, what followed after."--David
Buchanan has here another interpolation, containing the alleged
prediction by George Wishart of Cardinal Beaton's death. It was probably
copied from George Buchanan: See the passage in Appendix, No.
I.--Pitscottie also relates such a prediction, in the following words:
"Captain, God forgive yon man that lies so glorious on yon wall-head;
but within few days, he shall lye as shamefull as he lyis glorious
now."--(Dalyell's edit. p. 481.)
[433] In Foxe's work is introduced a wood-cut representation of "The
Martyrdome of M. George Wiseheart;" he is suspended on a gibbet, in the
midst of flames. It is evidently an imaginary portrait.
[434] The account of Wishart, contained in Foxe's Martyrs, ends with the
above words. It is followed by a paragraph, described in the margin as
"The just judgment of God upon David Beaton, a bloudy murtherer of God's
Saintes,"--which the reader will find copied into note 451. Foxe
acknowledges that he followed a printed work, (_Ex histor. impressa_;)
having in fact introduced a literal copy of the latter portion of a very
rare tract, of which Dr. M'Crie has given a description in his Life of
Knox, vol. i. p. 382. The general title is, "The tragicall death of
Dauid Beato, Bishoppe of Sainct Andrewes in Scotland; Whereunto is
joyned the Martyrdom of Maister George Wyseharte, gentleman, for whose
sake the aforesayd Bishoppe was not long after slayne," &c. The preface
of "Robert Burrant to the reader," extends to twelve leaves. Next
follows Sir David Lyndesay's poem on the Cardinall's death; and then
"The Accusation" of Wishart, which Foxe incorporates in his Martyrology,
from whence Knox's copy is taken, as well as the abridged copy inserted
in Pitscottie's Chronicle. The volume extends to signature F vi. in
eights, black letter, without date, "Imprinted at London, by John Day
and William Seres." Lyndesay's poem, under the title of "The Tragedy,"
&c., is included in all the subsequent editions of his poems. See it
quoted in a subsequent page.
[435] John Lesley was the second son of William Lesley, who was killed
at Floddon, along with his brother George second Earl of Rothes;
William's eldest son, George, succeeding to the title in 1513, as third
Earl. John Lesley is styled late of Parkhill in the summons of treason
for the Cardinal's slaughter; and we find that John Lesley, Rector of
Kynnore, and brother-german of George Earl of Rothes, had a charter of
the King's lands of Parkhill in Fife, 24th March 1537. He also held some
office at Court, as the Treasurer, in December 1533, paid "John Leslie,
bruther to the Erle Rothwes, be the Kingis command, for his liveray,"
£30. Again on the 22d Oct. 1541, there was "gevin to Johnne Leslye,
broder to my Lord of Rothes, to by him clathis to his mariage," £50. He
was taken prisoner at Solway in 1542, and released 1st July 1543, upon
payment of 200 merks sterling. Along with his nephew Norman Lesley,
Master of Rothes, and the other conspirators, he was forfeited, 14th
August 1546; and died without issue.--(Douglas and Wood's Peerage, vol.
ii. p. 427.)
[436] In Vautr. edit. "diet;" _Seinzie_, is Synod or Assembly.--A
Provincial Council or Synod was appointed to be held in the Black Friars
at Edinburgh, on the 13th January 1545-6. Knox says that the Cardinal
came to attend it, "after the Pasche," or Easter, (25th April 1546;) the
meeting, therefore, had probably been adjourned. The Archbishop of St.
Andrews, as Lord Hailes remarks, "was, at that period, understood to be
perpetual President in Provincial Councils.... This may be imputed to
the title of _Legate_, which the Archbishops of St. Andrews had obtained
from the Papal See."--(Histor. Memorials, p. 27.)
[437] See note 459.
[438] Norman Lesley, as heir apparent to his father, is here called
Sheriff of Fife. His father, George Earl of Rothes, was constituted
Hereditary Sheriff of the County, by James the Fifth, in the year 1531.
[439] Sir James Leirmonth of Balcomy and Dairsye, in Fife, was the son
of David Leirmonth of Clatta, who acquired the estate of Dairsye, in
1520. He was for many years Provost of St. Andrews, between 1532 and
1547. Patrick Leirmonth of Dairsye, was served heir of his father, Sir
James Leirmonth of Balcomy, 13th March 1547-8.--(Retours, Fife, No. 7.)
[440] Sir John Melville of Raith, Knight: see a subsequent note.
[441] Marion Ogilvy was the daughter of Sir James Ogilvy, who was
created Lord Ogilvy of Airly, in the year 1491, and who died about 1504.
Her son, by Cardinal Beaton, was the ancestor of the Beatons, or
Bethunes, of Nether Tarvet, (Nisbet's Heraldry, vol. i. p. 210;) and it
was her daughter, Margaret Beaton, whose marriage with David Lindesay
Master of Crawfurd, (and afterwards ninth Earl,) the Cardinal celebrated
at Finhaven in Angus, almost immediately after Wishart's death.--On the
26th November 1549, letters were sent by a pursuevant, "chargeing
Marioun Ogilby to find soverte to underly the lawis for interlyning of
the Quenis Grace letteris." Marion Ogilvy, designed as Lady Melgund,
died in June 1575. In her testament, mention is made of her son, David
Betoun of Melgund, and Mr. Alexander Betoun, Archdene of Lothian. This
Alexander, it is said, became a Protestant minister.
[442] In Vautr. edit. "a morning sleepe."
[443] In Vautr. edit. "into the foule sea;" in MS. G, "fowsie;" that is,
the _fosse_, or ditch, which extended round the Castle, except towards
the sea.
[444] In MS. G, these three words are omitted.
[445] In Vautr. edit. "the wicked gate;" in MS. G, "wickit yet."
[446] Norman Lesley, Master of Rothes, usually considered as having been
the principal actor in the Cardinal's slaughter, was the eldest son of
George third Earl of Rothes. In June 1537, there was furnished a gown of
black satin, lined with black velvet, a doublet of black velvet, hose of
Paris black, a black bonnet, &c., "to Normond Leslie."--(Treasurer's
Accounts.) And in August that year, at the King's command, the Treasurer
paid him £40. In December 1539, dresses being also furnished to him,
shews that he held some situation at Court. After his forfeiture, he
entered the service of the King of France, and died of his wounds, in
the year 1554, as will be related in a subsequent note.
[447] In Vautr edit. "James Melvin;" in MS. G, "Melvell."
[448] In the summons of treason, he is styled Peter Carmichael of
Balmadie. How long this "stout gentleman" survived, is uncertain; but he
appears to have been succeeded by his brother. A charter of confirmation
under the Great Seal was passed, "_quondam Petro Carmichaell de
Balmadie_, Euphemiæ Wymes ejus conjugi, et quondam Jacobo Carmichaell de
Balmadie suo fratri," of the lands of Kirkdrone, Easter Drone, Balmadie,
and Quhelphill, in the shires of Perth and Lanark, 13th December 1593.
The next in succession seems to have been David, who died before 1646:
David Carmichael of Balmadie, on the 14th November 1646, having been
served heir of his father, David Carmichael of Balmadie. Two years
later, in another service, he is styled "Dom. David Carmichael de
Balmadie miles."--(Retours, Fife, No. 575, 747; Perth, 557, 575.) The
lands of Balmadie are in the lordship and regality of Abernethy.
[449] In the summons of treason, he is called James Melville elder. See
footnote, where Knox makes mention of his death, in France, under the
year 1549.
[450] Knox must certainly be held responsible for this marginal note,
which has given rise to so much abuse. But after all, this phrase, "_the
godly fact and words_," applies to the _manner_ of putting Beaton to
death, as a just punishment inflicted on a persecutor of God's saints,
rather than an express commendation of the act itself.
[451] David Beaton was a younger son of John Beaton of Balfour, in Fife.
He was born in 1494, and his name occurs in the Registers of the
University of St. Andrews in 1509, and of Glasgow, in 1511. He
afterwards went to France, where he studied the Civil and Canon Law. His
first preferment was the Rectorship of Campsie, in 1519, when he was
designed "Clericus S. Andreæ Diocesis;" and in that year he was made
Resident for Scotland in the Court of France. In 1523, his uncle, James
Beaton, being made Primate of St. Andrews, resigned in his favour the
Commendatory of Arbroath, or Aberbrothock, reserving to himself, during
life, the half of its revenues. David Beaton sat, as Abbot of Arbroath,
in the Parliament 1525. He was afterwards employed in public services
abroad. In December 1537, he was consecrated Bishop of Mirepoix in
Languedoc. The King of France contributed to Beaton's advancement to the
Cardinalate, to which he was promoted by the title of "Sti. Stephani in
Monte Coelio." In the same month he was made Coadjutor of St. Andrews,
and declared future successor to his uncle, James Beaton.--(Keith's
Catalogue of Bishops, p. 37; Senators of the College of Justice, p. 71.)
In a letter, dated 29th March 1539, "the Abbot of Arbroath, now Bushope
of Sanct Andrewes," is mentioned, his uncle having died in the beginning
of 1539. On the 13th December 1543, the Cardinal Archbishop was created
Lord High Chancellor. He was assassinated upon Saturday the 29th of May
1546.
[452] Sir James Leirmonth of Dairsye: see note 439. He had filled
the office of Master of the Household in the reign of James the Fifth,
(Holinshed's Chronicle, p. 448, edit. 1577,) and not Treasurer, as
previously stated at page 102, and in Tytler's Scotland, vol. v. p. 270,
when mentioned as one of the Commissioners sent to England in March
1543, to treat of the marriage of the infant Princess with Edward the
Sixth.
[453] These words, "How miserably," &c., are scored, as if deleted, and
are omitted in all the other copies.
[454] In Vautr. edit. "a corner;" in MS. G, "a neuk."
[455] The following paragraph is given by Foxe, in connexion with his
account of Wishart's martyrdom, as mentioned in note 434:--
"A note of the just punishment of God upon the cruell Cardinall
Archbyshop of Saint Andrewes, named Beaton.
"It was not long after the Martyrdome of the blessed man of God, M.
George Wischeart aforesayd, who was put to death by David Beaton, the
bloudy Archbyshop and Cardinall of Scotland, as is above specified, an.
1546, the first day of March, but the sayd Dauid Beaton, Archbyshop of
S. Andrewes, by the just revenge of God's mighty judgement, was slayen
within his own Castle of S. Andrewes, by the handes of one Lech [Leslie]
and other gentlemen; who, by the Lord styrred vp, brake in sodeinly into
his Castle upon him, and in his bed murthered him the same yeare, the
last day of May, crying out, 'Alas, alas, slay me not, I am a Priest.'
And so lyke a butcher he lyved, and like a butcher he dyed, and lay 7
monethes and more unburyed, and at last, like a carion, buryed in a
dunghill. An. 1546, Maij ult. _Ex historia impressa._"--(Foxe, edit.
1576, p. 1235.) Sir David Lyndesay thus alludes to the Cardinal's fate,
in his poem entitled "The Tragedie of the umquhyle maist reverend Father
David, be the mercy of God, Cardinal, and Archebischop of Sanct
Androis," &c.,--
"Quhen every man had judgit as him list,
They saltit me, syne closit me in ane kist.
I lay unburyit sevin monethis, and more
Or I was borne, to closter, kirk, or queir,
In are midding, quhilk pane bene to deplore,
Without suffrage of chanoun, monk, or freir;
All proud Prelatis at me may lessonis leir,
Quhilk rang so lang, and so triumphantlye,
Syne in the dust doung doun so dolefullye."
Foxe's statement respecting the Cardinal's burial, is evidently
incorrect. Sir James Balfour, in his MS. Account of the Bishops of St.
Andrews, says of Cardinal Beaton, that "His corpse, after he had lyne
salted in the bottom of the Sea-tower, within the Castell, was nine
months thereafter taken from thence, and obscurely interred in the
Convent of the Black Friars of St. Andrews, in anno 1547." Holinshed, in
some measure, reconciles these apparent contradictions: After referring
to what Knox has called "the coloured Appointment," (see p. 183,)
entered into by the Governor, in the view of having his son released, it
is added, "_They delivered also the dead bodye of the Cardinall_, after
it had layne buried in a dunghill, within the Castell, ever sithence the
daye which they slew him."--(Chron. of Scotland, p. 466, edit. 1577.)
This must have been either in December 1546, or in January 1546-7,
immediately after the Governor had raised the siege of the Castle.
[456] In Vautr. edit. "merily."
[457] John Hamilton: See note 331. Immediately after the quotation in
the previous note, Foxe continues: "After this David Beaton, succeeded
John Hamelton, Archbyshop of S. Andrewes, an. 1549; who to the extent
that he would in no wayes appeare inferiour to his predecessour in
augmentyng the number of the holy Martyrs of God, in the next yeare
following called a certaine poore man to judgement, whose name was Adam
Wallace. The order and maner of whose story here foloweth." (See note
611.)
[458] In Vautr. edit. and the later MSS., "dolorous to the Queen's
daughter."
[459] George Douglas was a natural son of Archibald Earl of Angus. To
qualify him for preferment in the Church, a letter of legitimation was
passed under the Great Seal, 14th March 1542-3. On the death of Cardinal
Beaton, in the contest for his several preferments, the Abbacy of
Arberbrothick, (now Arbroath,) had been conferred on Douglas by the
Governor. Hume of Godscroft, alluding to his title of Postulate of
Aberbrothock, says, he "not only did postulate it, but apprehended it
also, and used it as his own."--(Hist. of the House of Douglas and
Angus, vol. ii. p. 63, edit. 1743.) Yet James Beaton obtained possession
of the Abbacy, and retained it till 1551, when he was raised to the See
of Glasgow. In the Treasurer's Accounts for November 1549, we find that
"Maister James Betoun, Postulat of Aberbrothock," was ordered to find
surety "to underly the lawis, for tressonable intercommunyng with Schir
Jhonn Dudlie Inglisman, sumtyme Capitane of the Fort of Brochty;" and
persons were sent "to Aberbrothok to requyre the place thairof to be
gevin oure to my Lord Governouris Grace, becaus Maister James Betoun wes
at the horne."--Douglas took an active share in devising the murder of
Rizzio, in 1566. Upon the death of Patrick Hepburn, Bishop of Moray,
Douglas became his successor, and was consecrated 5th February 1573-4.
Keith says he was Bishop of Moray for sixteen years; and that he was
buried in the church of Holyroodhouse.
[460] The summons of treason against the conspirators in the Castle of
St. Andrews, is contained in the Acts of Parliament. It was passed under
the Great Seal on the 10th of June 1546, and it cited them to compear
before the Parliament on the 30th of July, within the City of Edinburgh.
On the 29th of July the Parliament met, and continued the summons until
the 4th of August. On the same day, were "Letters direct to Fyf,
chargeing all maner of man that nane of thame tak upone hande to molest,
trouble, or mak onye impediment to Normound Leslie or his complicies,
that thai may frelie cum to Edinburgh to the Parliament and allege thair
defensis, and frelie to pas and repas," &c.--(Treasurer's Accounts.)
Some overtures to Parliament for their remission having proved abortive,
the persons referred to were declared guilty of high treason, and their
lands and goods forfeited. The chief persons mentioned in the summons
were--Norman Lesley, Fear of Rothes; Peter Carmichael of Balmadie; James
Kirkaldy of the Grange; William Kirkaldy, his eldest son; David
Kirkaldy, his brother; John, Patrick, and George Kirkaldy, brothers to
the said James Kirkaldy of the Grange; John Leslie of Parkhill;
Alexander Inglis; James Melville elder; John Melville, bastard son to
the Laird of Raith; Alexander Melville; David Balfour, son to the Laird
of Mountquhanny; William Guthrie; Sir John Auchinleck, Chaplain; and Sir
John Young, Chaplain.--(Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii. pp. 467, 468.)
[461] Pitscottie, after stating that the conspirators at the end of six
days were put to the horn, thus proceeds in his narrative:--"So they
keipit still the Castle of Sanct Andros, and furnished it with all
neccssar; and all sie as suspected thamselffis guiltie of the said
slauchter, past into the said Castle for thair defence, to witt, the
Laird of Grange, Maister Hendrie Prymros, [err. for Balnaves,] the Laird
of Pitmillie, the old persone George Leslie, Sir Johne Auchinleck, _with
many utheris, who wer nocht at the slauchter_, but suspected thamselffis
to be borne at evill will; thairfoir they lap in to the Castle, and
remained thair the space of halfe ane yeir, and would not obey the
authoritie, nor yitt hear of no appoyntment nor offerris which was
offerred unto thame be the authoritie. But still malignant aganis the
Queine and Governour, thinked thamselffis strong enough againes thame
both; and send thair messingeris to Ingland to seik support; but quhat
they gott, I cannot tell."--(Dalyell's edit. p. 435.) Spotiswood is much
more concise. He says, "Diverse persons, upon the news of the Cardinal's
death, came and joyned with those that had killed him, especially
Maister Henry Balnaves, the Melvilles of the house of Raith, and some
gentlemen of Fife, to the number of seven score persons, who all entered
into the Castle the day after the slaughter, and abode there during the
term of the first siege. John Rough, he that had attended the Governour
as Chaplain in the beginning of his regiment, came also thither, and
became their preacher."--(History, p. 84.)
[462] James Lord Hamilton, afterwards third Earl of Arran, and eldest
son of the Governor, was kept as a hostage in the Castle of St. Andrews
at the time of the Cardinal's slaughter. He was retained by the
conspirators as a pledge for their own advantage. In the event of his
being delivered to the English, the Parliament, on the 14th of August
1546, passed an Act, excluding Lord Hamilton from all right of
succession to the family estates and the Crown, (being then regarded as
presumptive heir to the Crown,) during the time of his captivity.
[463] This was George Durie. George, Abbot of Dunfermline, was present
at the sentence against Patrick Hamilton in February 1527-8, yet it
appears that his kinsman, James Beaton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, was
actually Commemdator. Durie, however, who was Archdeacon of St. Andrews,
styles himself Abbot in 1530, and continued to act as subordinate to
Beaton during the Primate's Life. Beaton died in 1539; and Durie's
appointment to the Abbacy of Dunfermline was confirmed by James the
Fifth. He was nominated an Extraordinary Lord of Session, 2d July 1541.
Durie continued to act as Commendator, or Abbot, till 1560, when he went
to France, and died on the 27th January 1560-61: his successor on the
bench took his seat on the 12th November that year. According to
Dempster, two years after his death he was canonized by the Church of
Rome.--(Senators of the College of Justice, p. 67; Keith's Hist. vol. i.
p. 331; Registrum de Dunfermlyn, p. xvi.)
[464] Montquhanie is in the parish of Kilmany, and was the seat of Sir
Michael Balfour.
[465] "Nor by the law," omitted in Vautr. edit.
[466] In Vautr. edit. "enjoy."
[467] In MS. G, and other copies, "Arran:" see note 462.
[468] In Vautr. edit. "_esperance_", here and elsewhere, is rendered
"hope."
[469] See note 474.
[470] Pasche, or Easter. In 1547, this festival fell on the 10th of
April. Thus it was upwards of ten months after the Cardinal's death
before Knox took shelter in the Castle of St. Andrews. As this notice
fixes the duration of Knox's abode within the Castle to less than four
months, we may suppose that his vocation to the ministry, by John Rough,
was in the end of May, or early in June 1547. The Castle had been
besieged by the Governor, without any success, from the end of August
till December 1546. But the French fleet, to assist the Governor in its
reduction, arrived in June 1547, and the Castle being again invested
both by sea and land, and receiving no expected aid from England, the
besieged were forced to capitulate on the last of July that year.
[471] Hugh Douglas of Long-Niddry, in the parish of Gladsmuir,
East-Lothian, about four miles from Tranent. (See Patten's Expedition,
sig. D ii. for a notice of his wife, when the English came "to Lang
Nuddrey.") The mansion-house of Long-Niddry "is now known only by a
circular mound, rising a few feet above the ground, containing the
subterraneous vaults which were connected with the building."--(Stat.
Acc. Haddington, p. 184.) Near it is the ruinous Chapel which still
bears the name of John Knox's Kirk. Hugh Douglas, the father of Knox's
pupils, Francis and George, was a cadet of the Douglasses of Dalkeith.
He must have died before the year 1567; as his son, Francis Douglas of
Langnudry, is named as third in the line of succession to James Earl of
Morton, failing his lawful male issue, in the deed of ratification,
dated 19th April 1567.--(Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii. p. 564.)
[472] Alexander Cockburn, Knox's pupil, according to the inscription on
a brazen tablet, erected to his memory in the aisle of the old Church of
Ormiston, was born in the year 1535-6.--(Collection of Epitaphs, &c., p.
342, Glasgow, 1834, 12mo; Stat. Acc. Haddington, p. 179.) The following
is the inscription alluded to, as still extant at Ormiston:--
"Hic conditur Mag. ALEXANDER COCKBURN, Primogenitus Joannis Domini
Ormiston et Alisonæ Sandilands, ex preclara familia Calder, qui natus 13
Januarij 1535: Post insignem Linguarum Professionem, Obiit anno ætatis
suæ 28, cal. Sept."
As Cockburn was born in 1535-6, he must have died in 1564. The tablet
referred to also contains Buchanan's lines. _Omnia quæ longa_, &c.,
celebrating his learning, and lamenting his premature fate. Dempster
likewise quotes these lines and another elegy on his death, by Buchanan.
(Opera, vol. ii. pp. 106, 120,) and says, that Alexander Cockburn, who
had spent several years abroad, published various works, of which he had
only seen three, the titles of which he specifies; but he mistakes the
date of his death, in placing it in 1572, and his age, as 25.--(Hist.
Eccles. p. 182.)
[473] In MS. G, "in cumpany."
[474] John Rough is said to have been born in 1510. It must have been
previous to that date, as his name, "Johannes Rouch," occurs in the
second class or division of persons who were Incorporated in St.
Leonard's College, in the year 1521. He entered a monastery at Stirling,
when only seventeen years of age. The reputation he had acquired as a
preacher, induced the Governor to procure a dispensation for him to
leave the monastery, and become one of his chaplains. In the Treasurer's
Accounts, February 1512-3, he is called "Maister Johnne Ra, Chaplane to
my Lord Governour," upon occasion of receaving "ane goun, doublet,
hoiss, and bonet." Foxe mentions that Rough visited Rome twice, and was
very much shocked with what he witnessed in that city, which he had been
taught to regard as the fountain of sanctity. He entered the Castle of
St. Andrews, as Knox states, soon after the Cardinal's slaughter; but he
retired to England before the capitulation in 1547. (See Calderwood's
account of him, vol. i. p. 251.) He continued to preach till the death
of Edward the Sixth; when he crossed to Narden in Friesland. But having
come over to London, he was informed against to Bishop Bonner, by whose
orders he was committed to the flames at Smithfield, on the 22d of
December 1557. "An account of his examination, and two of his letters,
(says Dr. M'Crie,) breathing the true spirit of a Christian Martyr, may
be seen in Foxe, p. 1840-41."--(Life of Knox, vol. i. pp. 51, 52, 67.)
Rough's fate is thus commemorated, in a rare poetical tract by Thomas
Bryce, entitled "A Compendeous Register in Metre, conteigning the names
and pacient suffryngs of the Membres of Jesus Christ; and the tormented
and cruelly burned within England, since the death of our famous Kyng of
immortal memory, Edwarde the Sixte," &c. London, 1559, 8vo.