When Jhon Roughe, a minister weke,
And Margaret Mering, with corage died,
Because Christ onely they did seeke,
With fier of force they must bee fried;
When these in Smithfield were put to death,
We wishte for our Elizabeth.
[475] In Vautr. edit. "M. Iohne."
[476] In Vautr. edit. the name Annand having been omitted, he is spoken
of as "Dean John."
[477] Dean John Annand was an ecclesiastic of some note. In a decreet
arbitral, dated 16th Oct. 1518, as well as in the sentence pronounced
against Sir John Borthwick, in 1540, he is styled a Canon of the
Metropolitan Church of St. Andrews. He became Principal of St. Leonard's
College in 1544, and he held that office till 1550, when he was
succeeded by John Law.
[478] In Vautr. edit. "preaching."
[479] In Vautr. edit. "briefly."
[480] In Vautr. edit. "other new names."
[481] In MS. G, "names."
[482] Or Major: (see note 74.) He was born in 1469, and consequently at
this time was far advanced in years. At the Provincial Council held in
1549, "_M. Johannes Mayr_, decanus facultatis theologicæ Universitatis
Sancti Andrete, et Martinus Balfour, Doctores in theologia, _annosi_,
_grandævi_, _et debiles_, comparuerunt per procuratores."--(Wilkins,
Concil., vol. iv. p. 46.) He died in 1550.
[483] John Wynrame: see note 395.
[484] In Vautr. edit. "others hewed;" in MS. G, "utheris hued."
[485] In MS. G, "Nydre."--The person referred to was James Forsyth of
Nydie, who had a charter of the salmon fishings pertaining to the King,
in the water of Edyn, in Fyfe, 25th September 1541. The name of James
Forsyth of Nydie in the regality of St. Andrews, between 1533 and 1552,
occurs in an old Rental book belonging to the City of St. Andrews. One
of his descendants was Alexander Forsyth, who was served heir of his
father James Forsyth, in the lands of Nydie Easter, in the regality of
St. Andrews, 16th April 1634.--(Retours, Fife, No. 142.)
[486] John Hamilton, Abbot of Paisley, as already stated, was appointed
High Treasurer in 1543, when Kirkaldy of Grange was superseded. The
Abbot's Accounts, under his designation of Bishop of Dunkeld, were
rendered on the 1st October 1546, having commenced 13th August 1543. In
the title of his Accounts, commencing 1st October 1546, and rendered on
the 16th of September 1550, he is styled Archbishop of St. Andrews. He
may therefore have been promoted to the Primacy in October 1546; but he
was not inducted until the year 1549. This date is fixed by the
Archbishop himself, in a deed, 31st March 1558, as "the 12th year of our
Consecration, and the 9th of our Translation to the Primacy."--(Lyons
Hist. of St. Andrews, vol. ii. p. 262.) Keith has shown that Hamilton,
who had been presented to the See of Dunkeld on the death of George
Crichton, in January 1543-4, was not consecrated until 1545, or more
probably the beginning of 1546. In like manner he continued to be styled
John Bishop of Dunkeld, until the 14th June 1549; immediately after
which date his translation to St. Andrews no doubt took place.--(Catal.
of Bishops, pp. 38, 96.)
[487] In MS. G, "unfaythfull."
[488] That is, as in MS. G, &c., "our youth;" Vautr. edit. has "your
thoughtes."
[489] This Friar may probably be identified with Alexander Arbuckylle,
whose name appears in the list of Determinants, in the fourth class
(4^tus actus) "in Pedagogio," at St. Andrews, in 1525. There was a
Franciscan Monastery of Observantines at St. Andrews, to which he
doubtless belonged.
[490] In MS. G, and in Vautr. edit., "abashed."
[491] In MS. G, "his fault."
[492] In Vautr. edit. "hinder."
[493] In Vautr. edit. "were merily skoft ower."
[494] The Treatise which Knox wrote on board the French galley,
containing a Confession of his Faith, and which he sent to his friends
in Scotland, is not known to be preserved. The substance of it was
probably embodied in some of his subsequent writings. Knox might,
however, have had some reference to the Epistle which he addressed to
his brethren in Scotland, in 1548, in connexion with Balnaves's
Confession, or treatise on Justification, (see note 575.)
[495] Mr. John Spittal, Official Principal of St. Andrews, held the
office of Rector of the University, from 1547 to 1550. In the "Liber
Officialis S. Andree Principalis," from which extracts were printed for
the Abbotsford Club, Edinb. 1845, 4to, his name occasionally occurs:
thus, "Joannes Spittal a Niuibus rector, in utroque Jure Licentiatus,
Officialis Sancti Andree Principalis," &c., 24 Aprilis 1547; and on the
20th February 1548-9, he has the additional title of Provost of the
Collegiate Church of St. Mary in the Fields, near Edinburgh--"Prepositus
Ecclesie Collegiate diui Virginis Marie de Campis prope Edinburgh," (pp.
97, 101, 112; Wilkins, Concilia, vol. iv. p. 46.)
[496] Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich, eldest son of Balfour of
Montquhanie, (see before, p. 183,) is styled by Principal Robertson, and
not unjustly, us "the most corrupt man of his age." Having joined the
conspirators at St. Andrews, he was, when the Castle was surrendered to
the French, sent on board the same galley with Knox. According to
Spotiswood, he obtained his freedom before the other prisoners were
released, by abjuring his profession; and upon his return to Scotland,
he was appointed Official of Lothian, by the Archbishop of St.
Andrews.--(Hist. p. 90.) At a subsequent time, when raised to the bench,
he took his seat under the title of Parson of Flisk.
[497] That is, Martin Luther's.
[498] In MS. G, "lat the godlie bewar of that race and progeny." So in
Vautr. edit., with this addition, "progenie by eschewing." The obvious
meaning of the words is, "let the person of that race who lives godly be
shown."
[499] Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich, eldest son of Balfour of
Montquhanie, (see before, p. 183,) is styled by Principal Robertson, and
not unjustly, us "the most corrupt man of his age." Having joined the
conspirators at St. Andrews, he was, when the Castle was surrendered to
the French, sent on board the same galley with Knox. According to
Spotiswood, he obtained his freedom before the other prisoners were
released, by abjuring his profession; and upon his return to Scotland,
he was appointed Official of Lothian, by the Archbishop of St.
Andrews.--(Hist. p. 90.) At a subsequent time, when raised to the bench,
he took his seat under the title of Parson of Flisk.
[500] That is, Martin Luther's.
[501] In MS. G, "lat the godlie bewar of that race and progeny." So in
Vautr. edit., with this addition, "progenie by eschewing." The obvious
meaning of the words is, "let the person of that race who lives godly be
shown."
[502] Langhope, a castle on the Borders, belonging to Lord Maxwell,
which the English had obtained possession of.
[503] In Vautr. edit. "court."
[504] In Vautr. edit. "plague."
[505] In the MS. "age."
[506] In Vautr. edit. "The xxix of July."
[507] In Vautr. edit. "comming with the Priour," &c.
[508] Leon Strozzi, a Knight of Malta, Prior of Capua, and
Captain-General of the galleys of France. His brother, Peter Strozzi,
was Captain of the French galleys which came to Scotland in 1549.
[509] In MS. G, Vautr. edit., &c., "Felcam."--That is, the vessels
arrived at Fecamp, a sea-port of Normandy, about half-way between Dieppe
and Havre.
[510] The water of Sequane, or the river Seine, is one of the four great
rivers of France. It rises in Burgundy, and passing the cities of Paris
and Rouen, (called by Knox, Rowane,) flows into the English Channel at
Havre.
[511] This John Hamilton of Milburn is not mentioned by the Historian of
the Hamiltons. The earliest of the family mentioned is Matthew, in 1549.
His name, however, is correctly given by Knox, as we find in the
Treasurer's Accounts, these three payments:--
1545, January. "Item, be my Lord Governouris precept deliverit to my
Lord Cardinale, quhilk he lent to Maister Jhonn Hammyltoun of Mylburne,
to set furth the artailze at Birgen raid, £600."
1547, November. "Item, to Maister Jhonn Hammyltoun of Mylburn, Maister
of Wark for the tyme to the Quenys Grace's bigingis, quhilk he debursit
upoun hir Grace's warkis _befoir his departing towart France_, as his
tiket of compt, heir present to schaw, beris, £1238, 17s. 6d."
"Item, to Maister Jhonn Hammyltoun of Mylburne, _direct to the Kingis
Grace of France_, in the effaris of this Realme, £400."
That Knox is also correct in regard to the time of his death, may be
inferred from the date of these payments, and from the circumstance that
(his son, no doubt) Matthew Hamilton _of Mylburn_, had a charter under
the Great Seal of the lands of Houston in Linlithgowshire, dated in
1549. This Matthew had another charter of the same lands to himself, and
to Agnes Livingstone his spouse, and to Henry Hamilton his son and heir
apparent, 20th November 1553. His son predeceased him, and the property
came to Robert, fratri quondam Mathæi Hamilton de Melburne. See
Anderson's House of Hamilton, p. 323*.
[512] In Vautr. edit. "mountain." _Craig_, a _rock_, is in other
passages also erroneously made _mountain_.
[513] The city of Rouen, in Normandy.
[514] Nantes in Bartanze, or Britanny, the large commercial city in the
west of France. It is situated in the department of the Loire
Inferieure, about twenty-seven miles from the mouth of the river Loire.
[515] In MS. G, and Vautr. edit., "went."
[516] The Castle and Episcopal Palace of St. Andrews is now in ruins. It
stands on a detached point of land to the north of the town, and is
bounded on two sides by the sea. It entered from the south side by a
drawbridge, across a deep fosse or ditch, which being now removed and
filled up with rubbish, very much injures the picturesque appearance of
the Castle. After its surrender, on the last of July 1547, the Castle
was ordered by an Act of Council to be rased to the ground. The fortress
and "block-houses" were no doubt partially demolished, but the building
itself was speedily repaired and inhabited by Archbishop Hamilton, whose
arms cut in stone still remain over one of the windows at the south-east
corner. The north-west corner or keep was surmounted by a tower, and is
the place mentioned by Knox at pages 53, 179, as "the Sea-tower." On
entering it, after descending a few steps, the dungeon is shewn to
visitors by letting down a light, till it nearly reaches the bottom, at
about 20 feet. The diameter at the top may be 7 feet, and after a
descent of 7 or 8 feet, it gradually widens to 18 or 20 feet diameter,
cut out of the solid rock. There is no appearance of any similar
excavation at the north-east corner. The Castle, when surrendered, was
abundantly supplied with provisions, and it contained the Cardinal's
money and furniture, to the value, it is said, of £100,000; and also the
property of other persons, which had been brought hither as to a place
of security.
[517] The Earl of Hertford, created Duke of Somerset, was Lord Protector
of England. Of his Expedition into Scotland, there was published at the
time a minute and interesting account. See note 535.
[518] Preston is near the village of Prestonpans, in the parish of that
name, being about eight miles east from Edinburgh.
[519] In this place in the MS., half a page on the reverse of fol. 70,
and nearly as much at the top of the next leaf, are left blank, us if
for the purpose of afterwards inserting the letter here
mentioned.--There is still preserved among the "State Papers, in the
reign of Henry the Eighth," a letter addressed by that Monarch to the
Governor and Council of Scotland, on the 20th December 1546, (vol. v. p.
576.) It expresses his desire for peace and tranquillity; but stipulates
that the siege of St. Andrews shall be relinquished, as he formerly had
made promise to the gentlemen in the Castle "to helpe them in their
necessities." The English Monarch died on the 28th of January 1546-7;
and it is scarcely necessary to add, that the expected aid was not sent.
[520] In all the copies, "Friday the 7th."
[521] Or Inveresk.
[522] In MS. G, "playand;" in Vautr. edit., "playing."
[523] In Vautr. edit. "preachers."
[524] Hume Castle, in Roxburghshire, in the united parishes of Stitchell
and Hume, was a celebrated border fortress, often besieged by the
English.--Alexander fifth Lord Home, succeeded his father in 1547, a few
days after the battle of Pinkie. It was in order to save his life, he
being then a prisoner, that his mother, Lady Home, was influenced to
surrender the Castle to the English, 20th September 1547; from whom it
was recovered by stratagem, in 1548, as minutely detailed by Beaugué, in
his History of the Campaigns, &c., pp. 77-82. Lord Home was appointed
Warden of the East Marches; and was a supporter of the Reformation. He
died in 1575.
[525] Falside hill or bray, is in the parish of Inveresk, near Carberry
hill.
[526] The battle of Pinkie took place in a field to the east of
Musselburgh, and adjacent to Pinkie house.
[527] George Durie, Abbot of Dunfermline: see note 463.
[528] Hugh Rigg of Carberry: see note 165. Buchanan mentions him as one
of the persons by whose advice the Governor suppressed the Duke of
Somerset's letters; and calls him "a lawyer, more remarkable for his
large body and personal strength, than for any knowledge of military
affairs."
[529] Archibald Douglas seventh Earl of Angus, succeeded his
grandfather, the sixth Earl, who was slain at Floddon, along with his
son George Master of Angus. He married Margaret, the Queen Dowager,
mother of James the Fifth, and during the King's minority he obtained
and exercised great power; but was banished when James had assumed the
Royal authority. His daughter, Lady Margaret Douglas, by the Queen
Dowager, became Countess of Lennox, and mother of Darnley. The Earl of
Angus died at Tantallon Castle in the year 1556.
[530] Archibald Campbell, fifth Earl of Argyle: see a subsequent note
near the end of Book First.
[531] MS. G, has "the armie."
[532] The word "host," omitted in the MS., is supplied from MS. G.
[533] In MS. G, "frayed thame grettumlie." Vautr. edit. has, "affraied
them wonderouslie."
[534] In MS. G, "the Erle of Huntlie."
[535] Dr. Patrick Anderson, in his MS. History of Scotland, in
describing the disastrous flight at Pinkie, says, "it was owing more to
lack of good and prudent government, than by any manhood of the enemie.
For it was plainly reported, that some were traitors amongst us, and
that they received gold from England; whereupon the following distich
was said,
It was _your_ gold, and _our_ traitors wanne
The field of Pinkie, and noe Englishman."
The date of this calamitous defeat at Pinkie, near Musselburgh, was the
10th of September 1547. The English forces were accompanied by William
Patten, who, from his notes or diary, published his curious and
interesting work, intituled, "The Expedicion into Scotlande of the most
woorthely fortunate prince Edward, Duke of Soomerset, vncle vnto our
most noble souereign lord the kinges Maiestie Edvvard the VI. Goouernour
of hys hyghnes persone, and Protectour of hys graces Realmes, dominions,
& subiectes: made in the first yere of his Maiesties most prosperous
reign, and set out by way of diarie, by W. Patten, Londoner. VIVAT
VICTOR."--Colophon, "Imprinted in London, by Richard Grafton, &c.,
M.D.XLVIII." Small 8vo, bl. 1.
[536] In MS. G, "many ransomes;" in Vautr. edit., "many reasons,
Honestie or unhonestie."
[537] Robert Master of Erskine, eldest son of John fourth Lord Erskine,
(and fifth Earl of Mar, who died in 1552.) As stated in the text, he was
slain at Pinkie, 10th September 1547; and leaving no issue, his next
brother Thomas, Master of Erskine, having also predeceased his father,
John Erskine, originally intended for the Church, became sixth Earl of
Mar, in 1552.
[538] In Vautr. edit. _craig_ is rendered "mountains."--Broughty Craig,
now known as Broughty Ferry, at the mouth of the river Tay, four miles
below Dundee. The old Castle, now in ruins, forms a conspicuous object
from the opposite side of the river.--Among other disbursements for
"resisting of our old enemies," are the following:--
"Item, (Jan. 1547-8,) at my Lord of Argilys passing to Dunde, Lieutenant
for the tyme, for the recovering of the said toun and fort of Brochty
furth of the Inglismennis bandis, rasit ane band of J^o [100 men] of
weyr, send with him, and put under the governance of Duncan Dundass; and
to the said men of weyr, ... iij^m lib."
"Item, (Feb. 1548-9,) to summound Alexander Quhitlaw of New Grange, to
underly the law for his tressonable art, part, and counsale geving to
the putting of the House of Brouchtye in the Englische mennis handis,
continewall remanying with thame, conveying of thame to the byrnyng of
Dunde and Forfair, rydand and gangand with thame in all thair dedis and
heir-schippis upoun our Souerane Ladyis landis and subjectis, etc."
[539] Probably in January or February 1547-8. Bishop Lesley mentioning
Gawin Hamilton's death, calls him "Gubernatoris cognato," (De Rebus,
&c., p. 489,) and "awin tender kynisman" of the Governor.--(Hist. p.
203.) We may therefore suppose he was the same person with Gawin
Hamilton of Orbiston, who was named in the settlement of the Hamilton
estates in 1540.--(Anderson's House of Hamilton, p. 271.) In October
1547, the Treasurer repaid "to Maister Gawyne Hammyltoun, quhilk he
debursit in the Castle of Edinburgh, the tyme of the field (of
Pynkeclouch) xxvi lib." He had previously been engaged in conducting the
siege of St. Andrews, as in December 1547, "The Compttar, (or
Treasurer,) discharges him in this moneth, quhairwith he sowld have been
dischargeit in the moneth of December, in Anno 1546, quhilk was
deliverit to J^c lxxx culvering men, under the governaunce of Capitane
Gawyne Hammylton and Robert Lindesay, parson of Covingtoun; quhilk band
was rasit for recovering of the Castell of Sanctandrois, and indurit v
monethis, to ilkane of thir culvering men in the moneth, iiij lib. Summa
to the said space, ... iij^m vj^c lib." (£3600.)
"Item, the samyne tyme, under the governaunce of the saidis Capitanis
J^c xx pikmen, quhilkis alsua remanit the tyme of the said assege, to
every ane of thame in the moneth, iij lib. x s. Summa be the said space,
... ij^m lib." (£2000.)
"Item, to the saidis twa Capitanis, for thair awin feis, thair
hand-seinze lieutenant, provest, clerk, and officiaris of band, ilkane
of the said Capitanis in the moneth, J^c lib. Summa in the saidis v
monethis, J^m lib." (£1000.)
[540] In Vautr. edit. "That Lent."
[541] John Cockburn, (who has been already noticed, and will be again
met with under the year 1559,) was forfeited 14th December 1548.
[542] Alexander Crichton of Brunstone was a leading agent in the English
schemes for assassinating Cardinal Beaton, although eventually
accomplished without his aid. From his connexion with George Wishart,
some fruitless attempts have been made to implicate Wishart in such
schemes. See Appendix, No. IX.--The situation of Brunstone, in the
barony of Pennycuik, is already noticed at page 135. A charter under the
Great Seal of the lands of Gilberton, was granted to Alexander
Creichtoun of Burnstoun, and John Creichtoun his son and heir, 19th
November 1542. On the 8th November 1545, there was paid, "be my Lord
Governouris speciall command, to the Laird of Brounstoun, in support of
his expensis maid in tyme of his being in Ingland, lauborand for redres
of certane Scottis schippis tane be the Inglische men, &c., 44 lib." He
was forfeited, and escaped from Scotland in the year 1548. His death
must have taken place before the 5th December 1558, as on that day the
process of forfeiture against him was reduced by the Scotish Parliament,
at the instance of John Creichton, eldest lawful son and heir of
_umquhile_ Alexander Creichton of Burnstane.--(Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii.
p. 520.) On the 26th February 1564-5, John Creichton of Brunstone, had a
charter of confirmation of the lands of Gilbertoun; and another, on the
12th February 1565-6, of the lands of Stanyhill, in the shire of
Edinburgh. In the Retours we find the names of James Creichton junior,
as heir of his brother John, of lands in the barony of Pennycuik, 30th
May 1604; and James Creichton, as heir of John Creichton of Brunstone,
his father, of the lands of Brunstone, &c., in the barony of Pennycuik,
17th May 1608.
[543] In Vautr. edit. "after sore assalted."
[544] Knox has evidently mistaken the year. Mons. de Dessé, Mons.
Dandelot, and Pierre Strozzi, Captain of the galleys, arrived in
Scotland, about June 1548; and Mons. de Térmes, in the year following:
see 555. Bishop Lesley has given a detailed account of
their proceedings.--(History, p. 206, &c.) See also "L'Histoire de la
Guerre d'Escosse, traitant comme le Royaume fut assailly, & en grand'
partie occupé par les Anglois, & depuis rendu paisible à sa Reyne, &
reduit en son ancien estat & dignité, Par Ian de Beaugué, gentilhomme
François. A Paris, 1556," 8vo. A translation of this work, ascribed to
Dr. P. Abercromby, was published at Edinburgh in 1707, 8vo, with an
historical preface. A MS. note by the celebrated Dr. Archibald
Pitcairne, in a copy in my possession, asserts that the preface was
written by Crawford the Historiographer, although claimed by the
translator as his own; "but poor Crawford," he adds, was then dead.
[545] This meeting of Parliament referred to, was "holdin at the Abbay
of Hadingtoun," on the 7th July 1548; of which the only proceedings
recorded are the "Propositioun by the maist Christian King of France;
and the determinatioun of the Three Estatis, concerning the mariage of
our Soverane Lady with the Dolphin of France."--(Acta Parl. Scot., vol.
ii. p. 481.)
[546] Sir Walter Scott of Branxholm, was served heir of his father, Sir
Walter, in October 1517. He was slain in Edinburgh by Sir Walter Ker of
Cessfurd, and Andrew Kerr of Fernyhurst, in October 1552.--(Acta Parl.
Scot. vol. ii. p. 461.) In the Diurnal of Occurrents, the writer
noticing his slaughter, calls him "ane valzeand guid Knycht," (p. 51.)
Knox simply styles him "a bloody man."--(See Douglas and Wood's Peerage,
vol. i. p. 240; and Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel.)
[547] The proposed alliance between Queen Mary and the Dauphin of France
having been agreed to at Stirling, on the 8th February 1547-8, the same
day, the Governor, James Earl of Arran, was created Duke of
Chatellerault, by the King of France and the letters patent of his
nomination were registered by the Parliament of France, on the 22d of
April.
[548] The Order of St. Michael was instituted by Louis XI., King of
France, in 1469. The number of Knights was limited to thirty-six. It
received the name of the Cockle, from the escalop-shells of gold with
which the collar of the Order was ornamented.--In September 1548, is
this payment by the Treasurer, "Item, for paintting of my Lord
Governoures armes setting furth of the Collar that day that my Lord of
Angus and Argyle had ressavit the Ordour, xlv s." From the date, we
might have concluded that this referred to the Order of the Cockle, had
it not been that three years previously mention is made, in a letter
from one of the English "espialles," in Scotland, (communicated to Lord
Wharton, on the 12th June 1545,) that "the Order of the Cocle," with a
collar of gold, had then been sent from France to the Earl of
Angus.--(State Papers, vol. v. p. 460.)
[549] In the MS. this marginal note is scored through, as if to be
deleted; but this seems to have been done by a later hand. A few of the
letters are cut away by the binder, but the note itself occurs in
Vautrollier's edition, p. 176; which does not contain the marginal words
that follow, marking the precise time when this portion of the History
was written. It is worthy of notice, that on the 15th June 1567,
Bothwell having escaped to Dunbar, Queen Mary surrendered herself to the
Nobles at Carberry Hill, and two days later, she was imprisoned in
Lochleven Castle. The marginal words, therefore, to this purport,
"Finish what thou hast begun, O my God, for the glory of thy name: 15th
June 1567," may be regarded as if the author had viewed that event as
being a partial accomplishment of his prediction which he states to have
been written in April 1566. But the language here used by Knox, it is
impossible to vindicate.
[550] On the 26th November 1549, a pursuevant was sent to Stirling "with
letters to the Maister of Arskine, charging him to keip Sir Robert
Bowes, Inglisman, untransportit hame in his awin cuntré, quhill my Lord
Governour and Counsale be farder avisit."--(Treasurer's Accounts.)
[551] Sir James Wilford was taken prisoner by the French at Dunbar, in
the year 1549: See Holinshed's Chronicles, England, vol. ii. p. 996;
Scotland, p. 349, edit. 1586.
[552] Prince Alexander Labanoff, in his collection of the Letters of
Mary Queen of Scots, states, that at the end of July 1548, M. de Brézé,
who arrived for that end, and Villegaignon, commander of the French
squadron, received the young Queen and her suite, at Dumbarton. On the
13th August, he adds, Mary Stuart disembarked at the port of Brest, and
was immediately conducted to St. Germain-en-Laye, where she was educated
as one of the Royal family.--(Lettres de Marie Stuart, &c., vol. i.)
The following entries from the Treasurer's Accounts, as relating to the
young Queen, are not devoid of interest, in connexion with the similar
payments quoted in note 287,--
"Item, (March 1548,) the Comptar dischargis him, gevyn to my Lord Erskyn
and Lord Levingstoun, to ane compte of thair feyes restand awyn thame
for keping of the Quenis Grace persoun, the sowme of J^c lxxvi lib. vi
s. viij d.
"Item, mair to thame, in compleit pament of all feyes restand awyn thame
for the causis forsaid, (fra the last day of November in the zeir of God
1545 zeris,) unto the last day of Februar, in the zeir of God J^m V^c
and fortye sevyn zeris, [1547-8,] quhilk was the day of thair departing
with the Quenis Grace to Dumbartane, and sa dischargit the sowme of ij^m
(2000) lib.
"Item, (July 1548,) to Johnne Patersoun, to pas for marinaris to be
pylattis, and to pas about in the galayes to the Vest seyes, that past
to France with the Quenis Grace, xxij s."
[553] In MS. G, and Vautr. edit., "I assure yow."
[554] Cramond, a village on the south side of the Frith of Forth, five
or six miles higher up than Leith.
[555] In October 1547, a messenger was directed "to charge the maister
capitane, quarter maisterris, and skippares of the schip callit the
Schallop, chargeing thame to prepair and mak hir reddye for the
recovering of Sanct Colmys Inche."--(Treasurer's Accounts.) St. Colme's
Inch is a small island in the Frith of Forth, within two miles of the
shore from Aberdour. There are still some remains of fortifications of a
recent date. The island of Inch-Colme is chiefly remarkable for the
ruins of an Abbey founded by King Alexander the First, about the year
1123, and dedicated to St. Columba. The inmates were Canon-Regulars of
St. Augustine.
[556] Although the name is apparently "De Arfe" in the MS., it might be
read "De Aese." But the name "De Arfe" is found in Vautr. edit., and in
MSS. A, E, I, and W. MS. L 2, has "De Anfe." In the MS. as originally
written it stood, "That wynter remaned _Monsieur de Termes_ in
Scotland," &c. This name was afterwards deleted, and that of "De Arfe"
interlined; and it so appears in the copies above specified. But in MS.
G, the original words are retained, thus indicating that the
intermediate MS. from which MS. G was transcribed, may have been made
previously to the correction of the name.--On the 12th June 1548, £4.
10s. was paid by the Treasurer "to Alexander Ross, pursevante, to attend
upoun Monsieur Darse and the Frenche bande." The name, however, should
be _Mons. de Dessé_, who continued in command of the French troops in
Scotland, during 1548. Mons. de Termes arrived at Dumbarton with
reinforcements, early in 1549, when Dessé returned to France.--(Beaugué,
Histoire, fol. 107, 119.)
[557] In Vautr. edit. "scarcenesse."
[558] Niddry's Wynd, is now called Niddry Street, its former character
of a wynd or close having been changed, when the houses at the top of it
were removed in 1785, and the street called South Bridge was built,
which connects the Old Town of Edinburgh with the Southern districts.
[559] The Nether bow Port or gate was a large building, with houses on
each side, dividing or forming a barrier between the High Street of
Edinburgh, and the street in continuation still known as the Canongate,
where the French troops were quartered during the Winter 1548-9. The
building alluded to was removed as an obstruction to the street, in the
year 1764.
[560] In MS. G, and Vautr. edit., "violentlie repulsit him."
[561] James Hamilton, Laird of Stenhouse, already alluded to at page
124, was Provost of the City as well as Captain of the Castle. Bishop
Lesley says the occurrence which led to his death, took place early in
October 1548. It must have been on or before the first of that month, as
Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar was on that day appointed Captain of
the Castle of Edinburgh, with the salary of £533, 6s. 8d.--(Treasurer's
Accounts.)
[562] James Hamilton was his father's deputy as Captain of the Castle;
and was also Director of the Chancery.
[563] In MS. G, "Mr. Walter Stewart."
[564] The town of Haddington was strongly garrisoned by Lord Grey of
Wilton and the English forces, in April 1548; and was soon after
besieged by the French auxiliaries, and likewise in the following year,
but on both occasions without success. The Friar Kirk belonged to the
Franciscan or Gray Friars; the choir of which, from its beautiful
structure, was called _Lucerna Laudoniæ_, (the Lamp of Lothian.)
Notwithstanding all the changes this church has undergone in the course
of five or six centuries, it still exhibits the outlines of an imposing
building, about 210 feet long, surmounted by a handsome square tower. No
traces are now preserved of St. Catherine's Chapel.
[565] According to Beaugué, this was a French soldier "corrupted by the
enemy," who had served them as a spy.
[566] In other copies, "aneughe,"--"enough."
[567] See note 524.--Bishop Lesley says, the Castle, which had been left
in charge of Sir Edward Dudley, was recovered on St. Stephen's night,
(26th December,) 1548.--(Hist. pp. 201, 222.)
[568] The Laird of Raith was Sir John Melville, Knight. Charters of the
lands of Murdocairney, in Fife, were granted to him and his wife Helen
Napier, in 1536 and 1542. James the Fifth, who conferred on him the
honour of knighthood, appointed him Captain of the Castle of Dunbar. He
was accused of heresy by Cardinal Beaton; but was not convicted. It may
have been in reference to this charge that he obtained from the King a
remission "for all crimes, excepting treason," which he may have
committed prior to the 15th August 1538.--(Pitcairn's Crim. Trials, vol.
i. p. 250*.) Subsequently being in favour of the English alliance, when
all correspondence with England had been interdicted, an intercepted
letter, addressed by Sir John Melville to his son, was laid hold of, and
formed the ground of accusation for treason. On the 3d December 1548,
writings were sent from Edinburgh "to all the lairdis and gentilmen of
Fyfe to be heir Dec. 5^to. upoun the Laird of Rathis assise;" and on
that day, the Treasurer paid 34s. "to Adame M'Cullo, pursewant, send
agane to Fyfe to summond ane assiss to the Laird of Raith; and to
execute summoundis of tressoun upoun the Laird of Petmille, and Maister
Henry Balnavis, to the xxj day of Februar [1548-9.]" He was accordingly
tried and executed in 1548-9, and his forfeited estates were bestowed on
David Hamilton, youngest son of the Governor.--(Buchan. Hist. lib. xv.
c. 65.) The forfeited estates, however, were restored by Queen Mary to
his eldest son John Melville, by a special gift dated 12th Feb.
1562-3.--(Criminal Trials, vol. i. p. 341*.) He survived till the 13th
July 1583.
[569] In Vautr. edit. "prankes."
[570] Ninian Cockburn, called Captain Ringan. In Vautr. edit.
"Reingzein," and "Rengzeane," being a common or vulgar pronunciation of
the name Ninian.
[571] In order not to crowd the pages unnecessarily, some further
particulars respecting Norman Lesley are reserved for the Appendix, No.
XI.
[572] Monypenny of Pitmilly, in the parish of Kingsbarns, in Fife, is a
family of old standing. The mother of Cardinal Beaton was Isabell
Monypenny of Pitmilly. David Monypenny, heir apparent of Petmillie, had
a charter under the Great Seal, dated 30th March 1549. It is noticed at
note 568, that summons of treason upon the Laird of Petmille, to the
21st February 1548-9, had been served on the 5th December 1548. But one
of his daughters, as well as the "Laird," was implicated in
countenancing the conspirators. On the last of November 1546, "a
messinger was sent with ane letter direct to summound Jonet Monypenie,
douchtor to the Laird of Petmylle, for hir remanyng in the Castell of
Sanctandrois, and intercommonyng and assistance gevin be hir to Normound
Leslie and his complices, slaares of my Lord Cardinall."--(Treasurer's
Accounts.)
[573] Sherisburg, is evidently Cherburg or Cherbourg, a well known
sea-port in France, in Lower Normandy, (near Cape La Hogue.)
[574] Henry Balnaves of Halhill raised himself to distinction by his
talents and application. After pursuing his studies abroad for several
years, he returned to Scotland, and was admitted an Advocate in November
1537. In July 1538, he was appointed a Lord of Session; and survived
till the year 1570. A more minute account of his history will be given
in Vol. III., in connexion with extracts from the Treatise mentioned in
the following note, to which Knox prefixed an Epistle, in the year 1548.
[575] This treatise on Justification, of which Knox, we are informed,
had expressed an earnest desire, _as almost nothing more_, that it
should be diligently sought after, and preserved from perishing, was
discovered in MS. at Ormiston, subsequently to the death both of Knox
and the Author. Yet David Buchanan, instead of these words, makes Knox
to say, "which is extant to this day." It was first published under the
following title:--
"The Confession of Faith, conteining how the troubled man should seeke
refuge at his God, thereto led by Faith: with the Declaration of the
article of Justification at length, &c. Compiled by M. Henry Balnaves of
Halhill, and one of the Lords of Session and Counsell of Scotland, being
a prisoner within the old Pallaice of Roane: In the year of our Lord
1548. Imprinted at Edinburgh, by Thomas Vautrollier. 1584." Small 8vo.
[576] In Vautr. edit. the words, "the Messe was said in the gallay, or
ellis heard upoun the schoar, in," are omitted by the printer, at the
foot of page 181. The words are likewise omitted in MSS. L2 and 1.
[577] The City of Nantes: see note 514.
[578] MS. G reads correctly, "such an _idolle_;" but Vautr. edit. has,
"such a _jewell_ is accursed;" and this blunder is retained in MSS. A,
E, I, ("javel,") L2, and W.--Although no name is given in regard to the
incident alluded to, this "merry fact" evidently happened to Knox
himself.
[579] Official of Lothian: see notes 496 and 603.
[580] In MS. G, "a kape."
[581] Probably in June 1548.
[582] Mont St. Michel is a Benedictine Abbey, with a village strongly
fortified, on a rocky island, surrounded with quicksands, and only
accessible at low water. It is sixteen miles S.W. of Avranches, in
Normandy. Its situation is highly picturesque; and many chivalrous
associations are connected with the place; which, during the fifteenth
century, had often been besieged, but unsuccessfully, by the English.
From its strong and isolated position, it had probably been chosen for
that purpose, and it still continues to be used for a State prison.
[583] In MS. G, "eyes."
[584] See note 202.
[585] The King's Even, is evidently meant for the Eve of Epiphany, and
the King of the Bean: see footnote to page 51. David Buchanan, aware of
this allusion, from his long residence in France, has this marginal
illustration: "_Le jour de Roys au soir, quand ils crient 'Le Roy
boit.'_" The mention of this _fête_ may show, that Kirkaldy and his
companions had made their escape on the 5th of January, and in the year
1549-50.
[586] Sir John Masone, Ambassador for England at the French Court, on
the 14th June 1550, says, "Touching the Scots at St. Andrews, he (the
Constable of France) told me that the Lord Grange and his brother are
flown he wist not whither, and two others were already set at liberty;
and that the rest, at the King (Edward VI.) my master's contentation,
should out of hand be put at large."--(Tytler's Edward VI., &c., vol. i.
p. 295.)
[587] In Vautr. edit. "they purposed."
[588] The names of these brethren are very much overlooked by the
different Peerage writers of Scotland, in their pedigrees of the Rothes
family. The first marriage of George Earl of Rothes with Margaret
Crichton, daughter of William Lord Crichton, was declared before 1524 to
be uncanonical. But by this lady, "his affidate spouse," he had four
sons: the eldest was George, who died unmarried; the others were Norman,
William, and Robert. The reader may be referred to the Appendix of
Nisbet's Heraldry, vol. ii. p. 141, to explain the grounds upon which
the two latter, as heirs-male, were passed over in the succession, at
their father's death, in 1558, when Andrew Lesley, the eldest son by
subsequent marriage, and who had married a niece of the Governor the
Earl of Arran, became Earl of Rothes. Of these two brethren, William is
styled in Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections, "Laird of Cairnie, and,
(it is added,) as some say, he died without succession." Bishop Lesley,
in noticing the death of Norman Lesley in France, in 1554, says, "The
King of France, for recompence of his service, received _his eldest
brodir William_ in favour, and maid him gentill man of his
chalmer."--(History, p. 249.) Knox's words in the text imply that he was
alive in 1566. The other brother Robert, is perhaps the same who was
admitted an Advocate in the Court of Session, in May 1537. He settled in
Morayshire, in the parish of Spynie, and became founder of the
Fendrassie family. He married Janet Elphingstone, a daughter of Robert
Lord Elphingstone, and left three sons and two daughters. An
inscription, in Latin verse, in the Cathedral Church of Elgin, while it
commemorates their virtues and attachment, records that he and his wife
were interred in the same grave.--(Monteith's Theatre of Mortality, p.
222, Edinb., 1713, 8vo.)
[589] Le Conquet, a small town of Britanny, with a good harbour,
opposite the island of Ushant, sixteen miles west of Brest.
[590] He was probably the same person with Alexander Clark of Balbirnie,
who became Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1579 to 1583 inclusive.
[591] In this paragraph Knox sums up briefly his own history between
February 1548-9, when he was delivered from the French galley, and his
first return to Scotland, in the end of harvest 1555.
[592] Edward died on the 6th July 1553.
[593] The word "English" is omitted in Vautr. edit.
[594] Knox has abstained from entering upon any statement of the
disputes which took place in the English congregation at Francfort, in
1554, in consequence of the introduction, by Dr. Coxe and others, of the
Book of Common Prayer, and the use of various ceremonies. A short paper
by Knox himself, connected with the charge brought against him before
the Magistrates of Francfort, has been preserved by Calderwood, (Hist.,
vol. i. p. 120,) and will naturally fall to be included in Vol. III. of
the present work. But a detailed account of the transactions at that
time was drawn up and published anonymously, three years after Knox's
death, by one of the Nonconformists. It is entitled, "A Brieff Discours
off the Troubles begunne at Franckford in Germany, Anno Domini 1554.
Abowte the booke off Common Prayer and Ceremonies, and continued by the
Englishe men theyre, to thame off Q. Maries Reigne," and was originally
published (at Geneva) in 1575, 4to. There is an accurate reprint of it
at London, by John Petheram, 1846, 8vo, in which it is suggested, by the
Rev. Thomas M'Crie, with great probability, the author may have been Dr.
William Whittingham.
[595] There were two editions of Knox's Admonition printed in 1554,
within a few months of each other, under a fictitious imprint, and both
of them abroad, as will be fully described in Vol. III.
[596] In printing these names, Vautr. edit. is very incorrect; instead
of John Sibbald, John Gray, William Guthrie, &c., it has "John
_Sibbard_, John Gray, _within gathered_, and Stevin Bell." Yet this
unintelligible nonsense is literally copied in MSS. L 2 and 1. MSS. A,
W, and E, have "Sibbard," but give Guthry's name correctly. In the
summons of treason against the conspirators, John Sibbald is called
"brother of the Laird of Cukiston;" and Auchinleck is styled Sir John
Auchinleck, chaplain. For mention of Guthrey, in connexion with an
indignity offered to the Cardinal's body, the reader may be referred to
Pitscottie. In the Treasurer's Accounts, we find 10s. was paid to a
messenger, sent on the 3d of December 1547, with "Letters to serche and
seik the gudes of Maister Jhonne Gray, persoun of Sanct Nycholace Kirk,
beside Cowper, quhilkis pertenis to our Souerane Lady be resoun of
eschete, throu the said Maister Jhonnis being fugitive fra the lawes for
art and part of the slauchter of the Cardinall."--Gray's name, however,
is not included in the list of persons forfeited by the Parliament on
the 14th August 1546.
[597] From the above paragraph in Knox, it appears that the prisoners
were liberated at different periods between the Winter of 1548-9, and
July 1550.
[598] This statement of Knox, written in 1566, or twenty years after the
event, is certainly very much opposed to assertions which are easier
made than proved, that all the persons concerned in Cardinal Beaton's
assassination came to a violent death. There is no doubt that Bishop
Lesley says, "Cædis ujus auctores violenta morte Deo vindice
mulctantur;" (De Rebus Gestis, &c., p. 482;) but he passes this over in
silence, in his English History. Dempster also asserts "Nam nullus
nefariorum percussorum non violenta morte extinctus est."--(Hist.
Eccles. p. 89.) "So, 'tis observed by the Protestants, that there was
not one of his (Beaton's) murderers but afterwards died a violent, and,
for the most part, an ignominious death."--(Preface to Beaugué's
History, p. 50.) It is not necessary to quote similar assertions
reiterated by writers of the present day. James Melville died, it is
true, during his imprisonment, in 1548 or 1549, but certainly not a
violent death. Norman Lesley died of his wounds, but in no inglorious
manner, in 1554; and nineteen years later, in August 1573, Sir William
Kirkaldy of Grange, after his gallant defence of the Castle of
Edinburgh, suffered an ignominious death. Any other instance of a
violent death remains to be proven.
[599] James Melvin or Melville. See note 449. Spotiswood says he
was "one of the house of Carnbee." In this way, we may conjecture he was
brother of John Mailvile of Carnbee, who had charters of the lands of
Granton, 21st February 1508-9, and to his wife Margaret Leirmonth, 26th
May 1513. Their son, John Mailvile of Carnbee junior, and his wife Janet
Inglis, had a charter of half of these lands, 26th June 1509. The person
who acted such a prominent part in Cardinal Beaton's murder, was called
Senior, probably to distinguish him from James, "naturali et legitimo
filio" of John Mailvile of Carnbee, who had a charter of half the lands
of Carnbee, 15th November 1528.--Brist in Bartanzea, is the same as
Brest, the well known sea-port of France, one of the best harbours in
Europe, on the west coast of Britanny.
[600] MS. G, "Gif we, I say, or they."
[601] In Vautr. edit. "yeare of our Lord."
[602] In Vautr. edit. the word _villain_ was mistaken for the name of a
person, and thus we have "his other _William_;" and in the marginal
note, "The slaughter of that _Williame_ Davie."--The date of this event,
so memorable in Scotish history, from its relation to Queen Mary, was
the 9th of March 1565-6.
[603] Balfour, as stated at page 202, was Official of Lothian, and he
still retained his ecclesiastical denomination, Parson of Flisk, when
raised to the bench, 12th November 1561. Immediately after Rizzio's
murder, in March 1566, he was knighted, and appointed Lord
Clerk-Register, in place of Mr. James Macgill, one of the conspirators.
And on the 6th December 1567, Balfour became Lord President, by the
title of Pettendreich.
[604] John Sinclair, Bishop of Brechin, died in April 1560: see
subsequent note.
[605] The person here referred to, and whose baptismal name is left
blank in the MS., and in all the later copies, was John Lesley, Bishop
of Ross. This eminent and learned Prelate, whom Knox calls "a priest's
gett," or illegitimate child, was the natural son of Gawin Lesley,
parson of Kingussie, as Keith, in his Catalogue of Bishops, has shown
from original documents. Lesley's several preferments will afterwards be
noticed. He survived till the year 1596.
[606] In Vautr. edit. "gate;" MS. G, "geitt."
[607] Sir Symon Preston of Craigmillar: see note 322.
[608] In the MS. "keape."
[609] A treaty of peace between England and France, comprising Scotland,
was concluded at Boulogne, on the 24th March, and proclaimed at
Edinburgh in April 1550.
[610] There was concluded a commercial treaty between France and the Low
Countries, 26th April 1550; and a treaty of peace between the Emperor
Charles the Fifth and Mary Queen of Scots, 15th December 1550.
[611] From Foxe's account, of Wallace's trial, we learn that he was a
native of Fail, in Ayrshire; and there was a family of Wallace of Feale.
Fail, or Failford, in the parish of Torbolton, was the site of a
Monastery founded in 1252, which belonged to the Red Friars. (See the
notices in New Stat. Account, Ayrshire, p. 748, &c.) The manner in which
Knox speaks of Wallace as "a simple man without learning," may mean,
without much pretension to learning, or not having enjoyed a learned
education. Yet we find two persons of the same name, Adam Wallace,
incorporated at Glasgow in 1536 and 1539.--His trial and execution took
place in 1550; yet in the Latin verses by John Johnston of St. Andrews,
on the Scotish Martyrs, the date given is 17th July 1549.
("Constantissime demum pro testimonio Christi mortuus, Edinburgi xvii
Julij 1549.")
[612] The wife of John Cockburn of Ormiston, called in those days Lady
Ormiston, was Alison Sandilands, daughter of Sir James Sandilands of
Calder. Her son Alexander, was Knox's pupil: see note 472. She was still
alive in 1584, when Vautrollier dedicated "To the Honourable and
vertuous Ladie Alison Sandilands, Lady of Hormiston," the treatise
called "The Confession of Faith," by Henry Balnaves, (see note 575,)
the MS. of which had been fortunately discovered at Ormiston, by
Richard Bannatyne, Knox's Secretary.
[613] Winton Castle, in the parish of Pencaitland, East Lothian, about
five miles west from Haddington, appears to have been a place of great
splendour, according to the glowing description of it by Sir Richard
Maitland, in his "Historie and Cronicle of the House of Seyton," p. 35.
Winton House or Castle, "biggit, with the yard and garding thereof," by
George second Lord Seaton, we are informed, was burned, and the policy
destroyed, "by the English of old;" but the house was re-edified by
George tenth Lord Seaton, and third Earl of Winton, in 1620.
[614] The monastery of the Dominican or Black Friars was one of the
largest establishments in Edinburgh, with extensive gardens, occupying
the site of the building which formerly was the High School, on the
rising ground to the south of the Cowgate. The close, or "le Venelle,"
still known as the Blackfriars Wynd, formed a connexion between the
Monastery and the High Street, and had been granted to the Friars by
Alexander the Second. The Convent was burned to the ground by a sudden
fire, on the 25th April 1528, and had only been partially rebuilt at the
time of the Reformation.
[615] To the notices at page 152, respecting John Lauder, it may be
added, that being one of the Auditors of the Chamberlain's Accounts for
the Archbishoprick of St. Andrews, from 1540 to 1549, he is styled
Archdeacon of Teviotdale.--(MS. Rental Book, Advocates Library.) In
Foxe's account of the trial of Adam Wallace, 1550, Lauder is called
Parson of Morebattle. In February 1551, he is styled Archidene of
Teviotdale, and Notary Public of St. Andrews.--(Acta Parl. Scot., vol.
ii. p. 489.) In the same year, Lauder signs a deed as "_Secretarius_" of
Archbishop Hamilton, (MS. Rental Book, at St. Andrews;) as the deed
referred to was cancelled, and reconfirmed in 1556, without any notice
of Lauder's name, it may be conjectured that he had died during that
interval.
[616] In MS. G, "bindeth."
[617] George Gordon, fourth Earl of Huntley, succeeded his grandfather
in the year 1524. In 1546, after Cardinal Beaton's death, he became Lord
High Chancellor. His subsequent history is well known; and he was killed
fighting against the Earl of Murray, at Corrichie, about twelve miles
from Aberdeen, 28th October 1562.--(Douglas and Wood's Peerage, vol. i.
p. 648; Senators of the College of Justice, p. 83-87.)
[618] See note 173.
[619] Robert Reid: see subsequent note.
[620] In Vautr. edit. "Take yon all, my Lordis, of the clergie."
[621] Foxe, in his Book of Martyrs, as already noticed in note 457, has
given a minute account of the trial and execution of Adam Wallace. It
will be inserted as No. XII. in the Appendix to this volume, every
contemporary narrative of such proceedings, at this early period, being
possessed of more than ordinary interest.
[622] The Queen Dowager of Scotland embarked at Leith on the 7th,
reached Dieppe on the 19th, and Rouen on the 25th September 1550. In
this visit to her daughter in France, she was absent for upwards of
twelve months. On her return, she landed at Portsmouth, about the middle
of October 1551, and proceeded to London, where she was welcomed by
Edward the Sixth and the English Court. See note 627.
[623] In December 1553, Henry the Second, King of France, wrote to the
Duke of Chatelherault, to induce him to resign the Regency of Scotland
in favour of the Queen Dowager; and on the 22d March 1553-4, the young
Queen addressed an order to the Duke to that effect. This led to his
resignation, and on the 12th April 1554, Mary of Guise, Queen Dowager,
was proclaimed Regent of Scotland, with great solemnity and public
rejoicings.
[624] In MS. G, and Vautr. edit., "all understanding or expectatioun of
men."
[625] According to the Journal by the English Monarch, which contains a
description of the Queen Dowager's sumptuous entertainment during the
period she remained at the Court of Edward, from the 22d of October to
the 6th of November 1551.--(Tytler's Edward VI., &c., vol. ii. pp. 5,
6.) Bishop Lesley also takes notice of the "gret banqueting and
honorabill pastyme maid for intertenement of the Quene Douarier;" and
"of the honorabill convoye" she had in returning through England, until
she reached Berwick, (Hist. p. 239;) when some of the Scotish Nobility
escorted her to Holyrood, where she arrived at the end of November that
year.
[626] In MS. G, "Martin Luther."
[627] In the MS. a blank space is left, as if for the purpose of filling
in some other names; such as Paulus Fagius, Francis Dryander, and Justus
Jonas, who, like the three above mentioned, were eminent Foreign
divines, and came to England during the reign of Edward the Sixth.
[628] In adding the name _Emanuel Gualterus_, Knox has evidently
confounded two persons: _Emanuel_ Tremelius, a learned Italian, who
succeeded Fagius as King's Reader of Hebrew, (Strype's Eccl. Memorials,
vol. ii. p. 206,) and Rudolphus _Gualterus_ of Zurich, who had visited
England in 1537.--(Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 449.)--Martin Bucer died
in 1551; Peter Martyr, in 1562; and John a Lasco, in 1560.
[629] It is scarcely necessary to add that Queen Mary of England was the
daughter of Henry the Eighth, by Catharine of Arragon. Her accession to
the throne is reckoned from the death of Edward the Sixth, 6th July
1553. She married Philip, King of Spain, 25th July 1554; and died 17th
November 1558.
[630] During the short reign of Queen Mary, it has been reckoned that
not less than upwards of 300 persons were committed to the flames, on
account of their religious sentiments.
[631] See page 242.
[632] William Harlaw was born soon after the year 1500; and, as we are
informed by Calderwood, "first was a taylour in Edinburgh; thereafter
went to England, and preached some times as a Deacoun, according to the
corrupt custome of that Kirk, under the reigne of King Edward. Howbeit
he was not verie learned, yet his doctrine was plaine and sound, and
worthie of commendatioun."--(History, vol. i. p. 303.) On the death of
Edward, he returned to Scotland in 1551, and in 1556, began "publicly to
exhort in Edinburgh," and also in other parts of the country. He was one
of the preachers, at Perth, who were denounced as rebels for usurping
the authority of the Church, 10th May 1559.--(See page 257.) Harlaw, in
1560, became minister of the parish of St. Cuthberts, in the vicinity of
Edinburgh, and he continued there till his death. Robert Pont, who had
for four years been his colleague, was presented to "the vicaraige of
St. Cuthbert's Kirk, vaicand be the deceise of William Harlaw," in
December 1578.
[633] John Willock was a native of Ayrshire. Spotiswood says, he became
a Franciscan, and Lesley, a Dominican Friar. Having at an early period
relinquished his monastic habit, he went to England, and was employed as
a preacher in St. Catherine's, London, and also as chaplain to the Duke
of Suffolk. On the accession of Queen Mary to the throne of England, he
escaped to the Continent, and practised as a physician at Embden, in
Friesland. In 1555, and in 1556, he twice visited Scotland, on a mission
to the Queen Regent, respecting trade; and having returned in October
1558, he undertook the public office of the ministry. See the notices in
the Wodrow Miscellany, vol. i. pp. 261-264, and the authorities there
quoted.
[634] Knox's arrival in Scotland may be placed about the end of
September 1555. He set out from Geneva in the previous month, and came
to Dieppe, from whence he sailed, and landed on the east coast of
Scotland, not far from Berwick.
[635] See subsequent note, page 268.
[636] This was apparently a metrical version of Psalm 103, but the line
does not correspond with any of the known versions of the Psalms in
metre. The Wedderburns, however, may have versified a greater number of
Psalms than those contained in the volume best known as "The Gude and
Godly Ballates:" see note 370.
[637] In MS. A, "then if all."
[638] In MS. G, "servantis."
[639] In Vautr. edit. "that might serve for the purpose."
[640] John Erskine of Dun.--The house of Dun is in the parish of that
name, in Forfarshire, about half-way between Montrose and Brechin.
[641] Calder house, near Mid-Calder, in West-Lothian, was the seat of
Sir James Sandilands.--His second son James, in 1543, succeeded "Schir
Walter Lyndesay, Knycht of the Roddis, and Lord of Sanct Johns," (he is
so styled in Sir David Lyndesay's Register of Armes, 1542, fol. 57,) as
Preceptor of Torphichen, and thus became head of the Knights
Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem in Scotland. In 1563, Lord St.
John having resigned the possessions of the Order to the Crown, he
obtained a new charter of the lands belonging to the Knights Templars
and Hospitallers in Scotland, erected into a barony, with the title of
Lord Torphichen.--(Spottiswoode Miscellany, vol. ii. pp. 6, 17-32.)
[642] John fifth Lord Erskine, and afterwards sixth Earl of Mar, at this
time was Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
[643] Archibald Campbell, Lord Lorne, succeeded his father, the fourth
Earl of Argyle, in 1558.
[644] Lord James Stewart was the natural son of James the Fifth, by
Margaret Erskine, daughter of John fifth Earl of Mar, and fourth Lord
Erskine. This lady afterwards married Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven;
and she appears to have enjoyed a pension from the King; as the
Treasurer, in September 1539, in his "Exoneratio," has, "Item, gevin to
the Lady Lochlevin, in contentatioun of her pensioun, awing to her
zerelie, be ane precept,
vj^clxvj lib. xiij s. iiij d." (£666, 13s. 4d.)
Her son Lord James Stewart was born in 1533, and when five years of age,
in 1538, the King conferred on him the Priory of St. Andrews. In the
Treasurer's Accounts, March 1539, are various entries for dresses to the
Kingis Grace sonis, Lord James of Kelso, and Lord James of Sanctandrois;
and in May, to "the Abbot of Kelso, and the Priour of Sanctandrois." He
was also Prior of Maçon, in France. As Prior of St. Andrews, he sat in
the Provincial Council held at Edinburgh, in October 1549.--(Wilkins,
Concilia, vol. iv. p. 46.) He was sent to France in March 1561, to
invite Queen Mary to return to Scotland; by whom, on the 30th January
1561-2, he was raised to the Peerage by the title of Earl of Murray.
[645] That is, the winter of 1555.
[646] Most of these places in Kyle, in which Knox taught or officiated,
have already been noticed; being the seats of John Lockhart of Barr,
Hugh Wallace of Carnell, Robert Campbell of Kingyeancleuch, Andrew
Stewart Lord Ochiltree, and James Chalmers of Gadgirth.
[647] Easter fell on the 5th of April, in 1556.
[648] Finlayston in the parish of Kilmalcolm, near the Clyde, to the
east of Port-Glasgow. The silver cups which were used by Knox on this
occasion, are still carefully preserved; and the use of them was given
at the time of dispensing the Sacrament in the Parish Church of
Kilmalcolm, so long as the Glencairn family resided at Finlayston.--The
title of Earl of Glencairn has been dormant since the death of James
15th Earl in 1796.
[649] Dr. M'Crie, on the authority of this passage, says, that most of
the gentlemen of the Mearns "entered into a solemn and mutual bond, in
which they renounced the Popish communion, and engaged to maintain and
promote the pure preaching of the Gospel, as Providence should favour
them with opportunities. This seems to have been the first of those
religious Bonds or Covenants, by which the confederation of the
Protestants in Scotland was so frequently ratified."--(Life of Knox,
vol. i. p. 179.)--I do not think, however, that Knox's words are quite
conclusive on this point: that the mutual agreement or resolution of the
gentlemen of the Mearns, had assumed the form of a Band or Covenant,
such as "the Common Band," signed on the 3d December 1557, (see page
273,) or those of a later date, which Knox has inserted in the Second
Book of his History.
[650] William Keith, fourth Earl Marischall, succeeded his grandfather,
in 1530. He accompanied James the Fifth in his visit to France, in 1536;
and was nominated an Extraordinary Lord of Session in 1541. See note
339, for Sir Ralph Sadler's opinion of him. It was at his request
that Knox, in the year 1556, addressed his Letter to the Queen Dowager.
He died 7th October 1581.
[651] We find that at the siege of Leith, in 1560, "young Henry
Drummond" was slain.--(Lesley's Hist. p. 286; Holinshed's Chron. p.
492.)
[652] This Letter to the Queen Dowager was originally printed in a very
small volume, without date, or name of the place or printer, but
apparently on the Continent: It is entitled "The Copie of a Letter sent
to the Ladye Mary Dowagire Regent of Scotland, by John Knox, in the
yeare 1556."
[653] James Beaton was nephew of the Cardinal, and was preferred to the
See of Glasgow in 1551. He has been incidentally mentioned in note 459;
and in reference to this, Lesley says that the Governor, after Cardinal
Beaton's death, "disponed the Archbishoprike of Sanct Androis to his
owne broder, the Abbot of Paisley, and gaif ane gift of the Abbay
[abbacy] of Arbroith to George Douglas, bastard sone to the Erle of
Angus, _notwithstanding that Maister James Beatoun_, tender cousing to
the Cardinall, _was lawfullie provydit thairto of befoir_; quhilk maid
gret trubill in the countrey eftirwart."--(Hist. p. 193.) It may be
added, that when Beaton was translated to Glasgow in 1551, the abbacy of
Arbroath was conferred on Lord John Hamilton, second son of the
Governor.--(Ib. p. 241.)
[654] The Letter addressed by Knox to the Queen Dowager in 1556, (as
above, note 652,) was reprinted at Geneva, "_nowe augmented and
explained by the Author_, in the yeare of our Lord 1558." It will be
included in Volume Third.
[655] Elizabeth Bowes, mother-in-law of the Reformer, sent before him to
Dieppe. She was the daughter and co-heiress of Sir Roger Aske of Aske in
Yorkshire, and by her husband, Richard Bowes, youngest son of Sir Ralph
Bowes of Streathan, had two sons and ten daughters. See Pedigree of the
family, in M'Crie's Life of Knox, vol. ii. p. 407. Knox's first letter
addressed "to his mother in law, Mistres Bowis," is dated from London,
23d June 1553.
[656] This very zealous and disinterested friend of the Reformer, as
stated in note 345, was a cadet of the ancient family of Campbell of
Loudon.
[657] Archibald Campbell, "the old" Earl of Argyle, was fourth Earl, and
died in the year 1558.
[658] Castle Campbell, now in ruins, is situated in the Ochil hills,
immediately above the village of Dollar. It was burned and destroyed by
Montrose, during the Civil Wars, in 1645.
[659] Sir Colin Campbell of Glenurchy, the ancestor of the Breadalbane
family. He was a younger son, but by the death of two elder brothers, he
succeeded to the family estates in 1551. He became a stedfast friend to
the Reformed religion; and survived till the year 1584.
[660] This date should evidently be 1556. Knox having remained in
Scotland till after Spring, he arrived at Dieppe, in the month of July
1556.
[661] Knox's Appellation against the sentence of the Bishops, in 1556,
was first printed in the year 1558.
[662] There seems to be a confusion in the dates of the events recorded
in this paragraph. Knox, as stated above, had left Scotland in July
1556, and returned in May 1559; yet the Comet he mentions was evidently
that which made its appearance in September 1558.--(Hevelii
Cometographia, p. 853. See also next note.) Christian the Third, King of
Denmark, died at the Castle of Coldinghuus, 1st January 1559, aged 56.
The Commissioners for a treaty with England met at Dunse, in July 1556;
and afterwards at Carlisle, for settling matters in the Borders. This
treaty was concluded in July 1557. Yet the Queen Regent, before November
1557, at the instigation of France, was prevailed upon to declare war
with England. But the Nobility and Barons would not consent to the
proposed invasion.
[663] Bishop Lesley, at the close of 1558, among other "portenta,"
describes this "flammivomus et barbatus Cometa."--(De Rebus, &c. p.
540.) Sir James Balfour also says, "A fearfull Comett appeired this
zeire [1558,] which not only, as the sequell proved, protendit change in
Government, but in Religione lykwayes."--(Annals, vol. i. p. 312.) In
those days Comets were regarded as the harbingers of disastrous events.
Thus Shakespeare, in the First Part of his Henry VI.,--
"Comets importing change of times and states;"
and again,--
"Now shine it like a Comet of revenge, A prophet to the fall of
all our foes;"
and Milton, in Paradise Lost,--
"and like a Comet burn'd,
That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge
In th' Artick sky, and from his horrid hair
Shakes pestilence and war."
[664] Newbattle, in the parish of that name in Mid-Lothian, was the site
of an Abbey founded by David the First, in the year 1140.
[665] Wark Castle: see note 4, page 122.
[666] Maxwell-heugh, is a village on a height to the south of the Tweed,
nearly opposite the eastern part of the town of Kelso.
[667] Hume Castle: see note 2, page 210.
[668] In MS. G, "pavilion."
[669] This was in November 1557.
[670] MS. G, instead of "breath," substitutes very oddly, "This put an
affray in Monsieur D'Oysell's breaches."
[671] Of these preachers, Harlaw has been noticed at page 245: Douglas
and Methven will afterwards be mentioned.
[672] John Willock returned to Scotland from Embden in Friesland, (see
note 2, page 244,) in October 1558. He continued to preach in different
parts of the country, and to officiate publicly in Edinburgh, in the
year 1559, when it was unsafe for Knox to remain.--(Wodrow Miscellany,
vol. i. p. 213.)
[673] George, sixth Lord Seatoun.
[674] Sanct Geill, or St. Giles, was the tutelar Saint of the
Metropolis, whose name is still retained in connexion with the
collegiate Church in the Old Town of Edinburgh.
[675] The North Loch formed a kind of boundary of the City towards the
north, in the hollow ground, between Princes Street and the Old Town,
and extended nearly from St. Cuthbert's Church to the Trinity College
Church, in former times.
[676] In Pitcairn's Criminal Trials will be found some interesting
details, respecting four of the preachers mentioned by Knox, who were
denounced "as rebels for usurping the authority of the Church," 10th May
1559, viz., John Christison and William Harlaw, at Perth; John Willock,
at Ayr; and Paul Methven, at Dundee; along with the names of the persons
who became cautioners for their appearance, (vol. i. p. 406*, &c.)
[677] Andrew Durie: see subsequent note to page 261.
[678] James, son of Robert Chalmer of Gadgirth, by Margaret, daughter of
Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudoun. He had several charters under the Great
Seal in 1548, of parts of his estate in the shires of Ayr and Wigtoun.
He married Annabella, daughter of John Cunninghame of Caprintoun, in
Ayrshire. (Nisbet's Heraldry, App. *20, vol. i. p. 4.)
[679] This use of "Me," instead of "I," or "We," occurs in all the
copies.
[680] This Appellation, according to some payments made by authority of
the Town Council, was not later than February 1557-8.
[681] St. Giles's day was the 1st of September. In the Appendix, No.
XIII., some contemporary notices will be given of the disturbances which
were occasioned in September 1558, by this idolatrous procession.
[682] James Carmichael was for many years one of the Magistrates of
Edinburgh. He filled the office of Dean of Guild from October 1552 to
1553, again, from 1555 to 1556, and from 1557 to 1559. In his official
capacity, he had the charge of the "Kirk werk," that is of looking after
the preservation of St. Giles's Church, and taking charge of the jewels,
the gold and silver candlesticks, eucharists, chalices, and other
precious things belonging to that Church; but these were all ruthlessly
disposed of, by order of the Council, (including the _arm-bane_ of Sanct
Geill, or rather the ring with "ane dyamant stane, quhilk wes on the
fingar of the forsaid arme of Sanct Geill,") in October 1560. See
Appendix, No. XIII.
[683] In MS. G, "the comone Crose."--Probably the Girth Cross, at the
foot of the Canongate, near Holyrood. But Arnot also makes mention of
St. John's Cross, and of a third, near the Tolbooth in that
street.--(Hist. of Edinburgh, p. 304.)
[684] Between the _Bowes_, must mean the West-Bow and the Nether-Bow; or
the two principal gates of the Old Town.
[685] David Forress: see note 1, page 137.
[686] See pages 209-213.
[687] Andrew Durie, Bishop of Galloway, was brother of George Durie,
Abbot of Dunfermline, (note 463,) and was born before the year 1500. His
name, "Andreas Durie," occurs in the Registers of both Colleges, as
having been Incorporated at St. Andrews, in the year 1511; and at
Glasgow, in 1513. He probably completed his studies abroad. Upon a
vacancy in the Abbacy of Melrose, he had sufficient interest to procure
the King's letters of commendation to the Pope, in the year 1526, and
notwithstanding powerful rival claims, he succeeded in the following
year in obtaining the benefice. Andrew, Abbot of Melrose, was present at
the trial of Sir John Borthwick, in 1540; and he appears as an
Extraordinary Lord of Session on the 2d of July 1541. On the following
day, he was recommended to be successor to Henry Wemyss as Bishop of
Galloway, conjoined with the Deanery of the Chapel Royal, and the Abbacy
of Tungland upon his resigning that of Melrose, but retaining a pension
of 1000 marks, and some other emoluments. In the Provincial Council at
Edinburgh, 1549, his name is enrolled as "Andreas Episcopus Candidæ Casæ
et Capellæ Regiæ Strivilingensis."--He was the bearer of a letter from
Queen Mary, in France, to her Mother, in June 1554.--(Lettres de Marie
Stuart, vol. i. p. 24.) Bishop Durie died at Edinburgh, in September
1558. His name occurs in the list of Scottish Poets; but none of his
writings are known to be preserved, although his sayings recorded by
Knox, indicate a rhyming propensity. John Rolland of Dalkeith, in the
prologue of his "Seven Sages," a kind of poetical romance, alludes to
the poets who flourished at the Scotish Court, and after naming Lyndsay,
Bellenden, and William Stewart, who he says,
To mak in Scottis, richt weill he knew that art,
he immediately adds,
BISHOP DURIE, sum tyme of Galloway,
For his pleasure sum tymes wald tak thair part.
[688] This has an evident allusion to the name of Mons. de Ruby, one of
the Frenchmen patronized at this time by the Queen Dowager. Bishop
Lesley, in noticing the several appointments made by the Queen Regent,
in 1554, says, there was "Ane callit Monsieur Rubie, Frenchman, a
procutour of Paris, appointit to keip the Greit Seill, and to be as
Vice-Chancelar and assistar to the Erle of Huntlie, then
Chancelar."--(History, p. 250.) He was Controller of her Household, in
1557: see subsequent note, page 292.
[689] David Panter, or Panyter, who held several Church livings, was
much employed in public negotiations abroad. His uncle Patrick Panter,
Abbot of Cambuskenneth, and David Panter, were successively Secretaries
of State in the reigns of James the Fourth and Fifth, and "being
admirably versed in the Latin tongue," their names are honourably
distinguished by the series of Letters of our Kings, addressed to
Foreign Princes, which Ruddiman published under the title of "Epistolæ
Regum Scotorum," &c., in the years 1722 and 1724, in 2 vols. 8vo. In the
Treasurer's Accounts, 1544, we find this entry,--
"Item, the thrid day of Aprile, gevin for vj^c. (600) crownis of the
Sonn, of fynance deliverit in France to Maister David Panyter, Secretar
Ambassatour thair, the sowme of viij^c. x lib." (£810.)
On the same day, a similar payment of 400 crowns (or £540) was delivered
to Sir John Campbell of Lundy, Ambassador in France. Panter was promoted
to the See of Ross in the latter part of 1545. Sir James Balfour, in his
Annals, calls him "a notable adulterer."--(Annals, vol. i. p. 312.) He
died, says Holinshed, of a lingering illness, at Stirling, on the 1st of
October 1558.--(Keith's Catal. of Bishops, p. 192.)
[690] Bishop Lesley, in noticing the return of the Commissioners from
the Queen's marriage, says, "they came to Deip about the ende of
(August,) quhair suddantlie all the principall Nobillmen and Prelatis
became seik. But shortlie thairefter, the most of thame, being of the
wysest and most valyeant of the realme of Scotland, deceissit their, to
the gret hurt of the commoun weill of the realme."--(Hist. p. 266.) The
dates of their death are, however, not accurately given, either by
Lesley or more recent historians. The Commissioners who were appointed
on the 25th and 26th of June 1558, were James Beaton, Archbishop of
Glasgow; Lord James Stewart, Prior of St. Andrews; George Lord Seaton,
Provost of Edinburgh; and John Erskine of Dun, Provost of Montrose;
along with Robert Reid, Bishop of Orkney; George Earl of Rothes; Gilbert
Earl of Cassillis, Lord Treasurer; and James Lord Flemyng, Great
Chamberlain. The first four being present in the Parliament held at
Edinburgh 29th November 1558, to report their proceedings, it was then
mentioned, that the Bishop of Orkney was "deceissit, and the Earls of
Rothes, Cassillis, and the Lord Flemyng yit remannand in the partis of
France."--(Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii. p. 505.) This shows that no tidings
of their death had then reached this country: see the three following
notes.
[691] Gilbert Kennedy, third Earl of Cassilis, as already noticed at
page 16, completed his studies under George Buchanan at Paris. In 1554,
he was appointed High Treasurer; and was one of the eight Commissioners
sent from Scotland as representatives of the Scottish nation, at the
marriage of Mary and the Dauphin of France. He died on his return, at
Dieppe, on the 28th November 1558.
[692] George Lesley, third Earl of Rothes, the father of Norman Lesley,
was tried before the Governor for his accession to the murder of
Cardinal Beaton, but wan unanimously acquitted. He was the son of
William Lesley and Margaret daughter of Sir Michael Balfour of
Mountquhannie; and this relationship may have induced James Balfour and
his brothers to join their cousin, Norman Lesley, in the Castlo of St.
Andrews. The Earl of Rothes had been appointed one of the Lords of
Council and Session 11th November 1532; and he attended James the Fifth,
in his journey to France in 1536. He was employed in various public
commissions; and was sent as Ambassador to Denmark in 1550. He died at
Dieppe on the 28th November 1558. His son Andrew succeeded to the title
as fourth Earl of Rothes, and was served heir of his father, 20th
February 1558-9.--(Burgh Court-Book of Dundee, marked Vol. iv.)
[693] James Lord Flemyng, hereditary Great Chamberlain of Scotland, was
the third of his family in succession who held that office, having
succeeded his father, Malcolm, Lord Flemyng, who was slain at Pinkie, in
1547. James, as mentioned above, was one of the Commissioners who were
seized with illness at Dieppe. On the 8th November, he made his
testament; and having returned to Paris for the benefit of medical aid,
he lingered there till he died on the 15th December 1558, aged
24.--(Crawfurd's Officers of State, p. 329.)
[694] Robert Reid, although accused by Knox of avarice, applied at least
his wealth to laudable purposes; and in the words of Keith, was "a man
of great learning, and a most accomplished politician." He entered St.
Salvator's College, St. Andrews, in 1511, and took his Master's degree
in 1515; and then proceeded to Paris. On his return to Scotland, he
became successively Sub-Dean and Official of Moray; Abbot of Kinloss, in
1526; Commendator of Beaulieu, in 1530; one of the Lords of Council and
Session, in 1532; Bishop of Orkney, in 1540; and Lord President of the
Court of Session, about the end of 1548. During all this time, he was
frequently employed in foreign embassies, and other diplomatic affairs.
A variety of liberal benefactions on his part have been recorded, such
as the foundation of bursaries, the adornment of the buildings at
Kinloss, which he enriched with what was considered an ample library,
and the endowment of a school at Kirkwall. He also erected an addition
to the Bishop's Palace in Kirkwall; and the Cathedral Church of St.
Magnus, in that town, still exhibits the fine porch and some additional
pillars erected at his expense; and had he survived for a few years, he
no doubt would have put a finishing hand to this venerable edifice; the
choir or chancel of which serves for the parish Church, (fitted up as
usual in defiance of all good taste.) Bishop Reid's munificence was not
limited to his own diocese, as a bequest of 8000 merks towards founding
a College for the education of youth in Edinburgh, enabled the
Magistrates, in 1581, to purchase from the Provost of the Kirk of Field,
(St. Mary's in the Fields,) the ground on which were erected the
buildings of our University. Lesley styles Bishop Reid a man "of
singular wit, judgment, guid learning, and lyve, with lang experience,"
(Hist. p. 267;) and says he died at Dieppe on the 6th, but according to
other authorities, it was the 15th September 1558.--(Keith's Catal. pp.
223-226; Senators of the College of Justice, pp. 14-19.)
[695] In MS. G, "lickit of the same buist."
[696] To this marginal note there was added, "INSIGNIA QUIDEM ELOGIUM;"
but those words are deleted.
[697] John Sinclair was the fourth son of Sir Oliver Sinclair of Roslin,
and a younger brother of Henry Sinclair, Bishop of Ross. He was admitted
one of the Lords of Council and Session, under the title of Rector of
Snaw, 27th April 1510. In 1549, he sat in the Provincial Council at
Edinburgh, as Dean of Restalrig. In 1565, he was promoted to the See of
Brechin. His brother Henry, Bishop of Ross and President of the Court of
Session, having died in 1564-5, the Bishop of Brechin was, on the 13th
November, advanced to the Presidentship of the Session. But he did not
long enjoy his judicial and prelatic dignities, as he was seized with
fever, and died in the month of April 1566. This we learn from
Ferrerius, the Continuator of Hector Boethius, who, mentioning that
Henry Sinclair, Bishop of Ross, had collected materials for writing a
History of Scotland, which were in the hands of John Sinclair, Bishop of
Brechin, says, "Sed idem (Præsul) quoque pauculos post menses in febrem
peracutam decidit, ex qua derepente o virorum in terris numero exemptus
est."--(H. Boethii Hist. App. p. 384, Paris, 1574, folio.)
[698] See note 689.
[699] That is, 10th of March 1556-7.
[700] Sym and Barron were citizen burgesses of Edinburgh, and zealous
friends of the Reformer. As here intimated, James Sym, in whose house
Knox resided, on his return to Scotland, had died before 1566. At page
245, Knox has given an account of the death of Elizabeth Adamson,
Barron's wife, in 1566. James Barron was one of the Magistrates of
Edinburgh, and filled the office of Dean of Guild from Michaelmas 1555,
to the same term in 1556; and again in 1560 and 1561. At the first
General Assembly, held at Edinburgh 20th December 1560, James Barron and
Edward Hope were the commissioners appointed for the town, along with
John Knox, as minister. His name also occurs in the proceedings of the
Assemblies in the years 1562, 1565, and 1569--(Booke of the Universall
Kirk, pp. 3, 13, 60, 145.)
[701] In MS. G, "afflictioun;" Vautr. edit. has "affection."
[702] The "Band" subscribed by the Earls of Argyle, Glencairn, Morton,
and others, dated 3d December 1557, has been considered as the First
Covenant or engagement of the Scottish Reformers, for their mutual
defence, in which they engage "to maintain, set forward, and establish
the Word of God, and his Congregation." See, however, note 649.
[703] Keith supposes it was Erskine of Dun who signed the letter at page
268, "for the Lord Erskine (he says) had not yet joined himself to that
party."--(Hist. vol. i. p. 153.)
[704] There was a John Gray who took his Master's degree at St. Andrews,
in the year 1523. It is uncertain whether the person mentioned in the
text can be identified with Mr. John Gray, who held the office of Clerk
to the General Assembly, from 1560 till his death, which took place in
April 1574.--(Register of Conf. Testaments; Booke of the Univ. Kirk,
vol. i. pp. 299, 311.)
[705] That is, to procure the Papal Bulls, confirming Sinclair's
appointment to the See of Ross, upon the death of David Panter, in
October 1558: (see note 688.) But it appears that Sinclair was not
consecrated until 1560.
[706] Henry Sinclair, a younger son of Sir Oliver Sinclair of Roslin,
was born in the year 1508. He studied at St. Andrews, and was
incorporated in St. Leonard's College in 1521. He obtained the favour of
James the Fifth, who appointed him a Lord of Session; and he was
admitted on the 13th November 1537, as Rector of Glasgow. In 1541, he
was Commendator of the Abbey of Kilwinning; which benefice he exchanged
with Gawin Hamilton for the Deanery of Glasgow. He was employed in
various public matters abroad; and during the absence of Bishop Reid, he
acted as Vice-President of the Court of Session. On Reid's death, he was
admitted, on the 2d December 1558, as Lord President; and in 1560, he
succeeded David Panter in the See of Ross. He died at Paris, after
undergoing a painful surgical operation, on the 2d January 1565. Lesley
calls him "ane wyse and lernit prelate," (Hist. p. 252,) and Ferrerius
refers to his MS. collections for writing a History of Scotland. His
name written upon various books and manuscripts preserved in the
Advocates Library, and in other collections, evince his great love of
literature, in common with several other members of his family.
[707] It has generally been supposed that the Book of Common Prayer of
the Church of England, known as the Liturgy of Edward the Sixth, was the
one here recommended; and the mention of "the Lessonis of the New and
Old Testament, conforme to the ordour," &c., renders this most probable.
Dr. M'Crie has considered this point very fully in his life of Knox,
(Note DD, vol. i. p. 437-441,) and comes to a similar conclusion. If,
however, the English Prayer Book was then used, it was soon afterwards
replaced by "The Forme of Prayers and Ministrations of the Sacraments,
&c., vsed in the Englishe Congregation at Geneva: and approved, by the
famous and godly learned man, Iohn Caluyn." This volume was originally
"Imprinted at Geneva, by Iohn Crespin, M.D.LVI." Small 8vo. There were
later impressions at Geneva, in 1558 and 1561. It was very frequently
reprinted in this country between 1562 and 1643, and was usually
prefixed to the metrical version of the Psalms.
[708] Sir David Hamilton of Preston, as heir of his father Robert
Hamilton, had charters of the lands of Priestgill and Langkype, in 1541
and 1545. He was one of the attendants of James the Fifth in his voyage
to France in 1536.--He survived till November 1584: see the detailed
account given in Anderson's House of Hamilton, p. 346.
[709] In MS. G, "how heavy and displeasing a thing."
[710] Not one who belonged to the law, but a person whom the law had
rendered infamous.--The reference here is to John Douglas: see page 286.
[711] Vautr. edit. makes this "how well," which changes the sense.
[712] In MS. G, "waver from:" Vautr. edit. has "vary of his faith."
[713] In the other copies, the signature is simply "Sanct Androis."
[714] The Archbishop here alludes to his being _Legatus Natus_, or
Pope's Legate, as well as Primate of the Scottish Church.
[715] That is, John Douglas.
[716] In a former page, mention is made of this Lady, who obtained in
her days sufficient notoriety. (See p. 124, notes 4 and 5.) Grizzel
Sempill was the daughter of Robert Master of Sempill, who succeeded his
father, William, as third Lord Sempill, in 1548. The death of her
husband, James Hamilton of Stanehouse, is also mentioned by Knox at page
222. He had been appointed Captain of the Castle of Edinburgh, about
September 1543; (Lesley's Hist. p. 174;) and five years later, when he
lost his life, he also filled the office of Provost of the City. His
eldest son and heir, James, who was slain at the same time, was his
father's Deputy, and Director of the Chancery. Notwithstanding the
ambiguity of Knox's statement at page 124, we may charitably conclude,
it was only subsequent to her husband's death that she became the avowed
mistress of John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, by whom she had
several children: (see note 336.) Two of her sons are thus styled in the
Register of the Great Seal: "Legitimatio Johannis Hammyltoun junioris
bastardi filii naturalis Grissillidis Sempill filiæ Roberti Magistri de
Sempill, et Willielmi Hammyltoun ejus fratris etiam bastardi." 9 Oct.
1551. See also note by George Crawfurd, in his Officers of State, p.
381.--It was probably in virtue of some property she may have acquired
that she obtained the title of Lady Gilton; as there is no evidence of
her having contracted any second marriage. On the 11th July 1550, (not
1553, as usually stated,) William third Lord Creichton of Sanquhar, was
slain in the Governor's chamber by Robert Master of Sempill; who was
acquitted by the Governor, on the 10th September 1550.--(Pitcairn's
Crim. Trials, vol. i. p. 354*.) "He escaped punishment, (says
Pitscottie,) by means of John Hamilton, Bishop of St. Andrews, brother
to the Governor, who entertained the Lady Stenhouse, _commonly called
Lady Gilton_, daughter to this Robert Lord Semple, as his concubine."
From the date of the remission, it must have been her brother who had
committed this murder. Buchanan and other authorities likewise attribute
his acquittal to the same influence; and one compiler says of the
Archbishop, in very plain terms, "Amangis many utheris his harlottis, he
interteayned this harlot Semple, nather bewtifull, of good fame, or
utherwayis in any sort notable, except his awin kynsman, and followed
him as scho had bene his lauchfull wyffe."--(Johnston's Hist, of
Scotland, MS., Advocates Library.)
[717] Archibald fourth Earl of Argyle, in 1529, married to his first
wife, Lady Helen Hamilton, second daughter of James first Earl of Arran,
and sister of the Duke of Chattelherault. Their son Archibald succeeded
as fifth Earl of Argyle about the end of 1558. See page 290.
[718] See note 710.
[719] In MS. G, "waver from."