opposed themselves to such corruption, for they foresaw the purpose
of the Devil, and clearly understood the butt at which the Queen
and her flatterers shot. In the stool[192] of Edinburgh, John Knox
said, "Well, if the end of this order, pretended to be taken for
sustentation of the ministers, be happy, my judgment faileth me; for
I am assured that the Spirit of God is not the author of it. First I
see two parts freely given to the Devil, and then the third must be
divided betwixt God and the Devil. Bear witness to me that this day
I say it--before long the Devil shall have three parts of the third;
judge what God's portion shall then be." This was an unsavoury
saying in the ears of many. Some were not ashamed to affirm, "The
ministers being sustained, the Queen will not, at the year's end,
have enough to buy her a pair of new shoes." And this was Secretary
Lethington.
[192] Pulpit.
[Sidenote: The Modification of Stipends.]
There were appointed to modify[193] the ministers' stipends, the
Earls Argyll, Moray, and Morton, Lethington, the Justice Clerk, and
the Clerk of Register. The Laird of Pittarrow was appointed to pay
the ministers' stipends, according to their modification. Who would
have thought that, when Joseph ruled Egypt, his brethren should
have travelled for victuals, and have returned to their families
with empty sacks? Men would rather have thought that Pharaoh's
poise, treasure, and girnells should have been diminished, before
the household of Jacob should have stood in danger of starving for
hunger.
[193] Adjust.
So busy and circumspect were the modificators (because it was a new
office, the term must also be new) to secure that the ministers
should not be too wanton, a hundred marks was considered sufficient
for a single man, being a common minister. Three hundred marks was
the highest stipend appointed to any, except to the superintendents,
and a few others. Shortly, whether it was from the niggardliness
of their own hearts, or the care that they had to enrich the
Queen, we know not; but the poor ministers, readers, and exhorters
cried out to the heaven, as their complaints in all Assemblies do
witness, that neither were they able to live upon the stipends
appointed, nor could they get payment of that small thing that
was appointed. The Comptroller would fain have played the good
valet, and have satisfied the Queen, or else his own profit, in
every point; and he got this saying and proverb, "The good Laird
of Pittarrow was an earnest professor of Christ; but the big Devil
receive the Comptroller, for he and his collectors are become greedy
factors."[194]
[194] Stewards.
We put an end to this unpleasing story. When the brethren complained
of their poverty, it was disdainfully answered by some, "There are
many Lords that have not so much to spend." Men did reason that the
vocation of ministers craved books, quietness, study, and travel,
to edify the Kirk of Jesus Christ, while many Lairds were waiting
upon their worldly business. The stipends of ministers, who had no
other industry, but had to live upon that which was appointed, ought
therefore not to be modified according to the livings of common men,
who might and did daily augment their rents by some other industry.
But they gat no other answer than, "The Queen can spare no greater
sums." Oft was it cried into their ears, "O happy servants of the
Devil, and miserable servants of Jesus Christ; if after this life
there were not hell and heaven." To the servants of the Devil, to
your dumb dogs and horned bishops, to one of those idle bellies, I
say, ten thousand was not enough; but to the servants of Christ that
painfully preach His Evangel, a thousand pounds; how can that be
defended?
[Sidenote: Secretary Lethington gets his Answer.]
One day, in reasoning of this matter, the Secretary burst out in a
piece of his choler, and said, "The ministers have so much paid to
them year by year, and who yet ever bade the Queen 'grand-mercies'
for it? Was there ever a minister that gave thanks to God for
her Majesty's liberality towards them?" One smiled and answered,
"Assuredly, I think that such as receive anything gratis of the
Queen, are unthankful if they acknowledge it not, both in heart and
mouth. But whether the ministers be of that rank or not, I greatly
doubt. Gratis, I am assured, they receive nothing; and whether they
receive anything at all from the Queen, wise men may reason. I am
assured that neither Third nor 'Two-part' ever appertained to any
of her predecessors within this realm these thousand years by-past,
nor yet has the Queen better title to that which she usurps, be
it in giving to others or in taking to herself, than had such as
crucified Jesus to divide His garments amongst them. If the truth
may be spoken, she has not so good title as they had; for such spoil
used to be the reward of such men. And these soldiers were more
gentle than the Queen and her flatterers, for they parted not the
garments of our Master until He Himself was hung upon the cross;
but she and her flatterers do part the spoil while poor Christ is
yet preaching amongst you. But the wisdom of our God makes trial
of us by this means, knowing well enough what she and her faction
have purposed to do. Let the Papists, who have some the Two-parts,
some their Thirds free, and some abbacies and feu lands, thank the
Queen, and sing, '_Placebo Dominæ_.' The poor preachers will not yet
flatter, for feeding of their belly." These words were judged proud
and intolerable, and engendered no small displeasure to the speaker.
This we put in memory, that the posterities to come may know that
God once made His truth to triumph; but, because some of ourselves
delighted more in darkness than in light, He hath restrained our
freedom, and put the whole body in bondage....
[Sidenote: Lord James Stewart created Earl of Mar: his Marriage.]
In the meantime, to wit, in February, the year of God 1561, Lord
James Stewart was first made Earl of Mar,[195] and then married to
Agnes Keith, daughter to the Earl Marischall. At the marriage, which
was public in the church of Edinburgh, they both got an admonition
to behave themselves moderately in all things; "For," said the
preacher (John Knox) to him, "to this day the Kirk of God hath
received comfort by you, and by your labours. If hereafter ye shall
be found fainter in this than ye were before, it will be said that
your wife hath changed your nature." The greatness of the banquet,
and the vanity used thereat, offended many godly. There began the
masking, which from year to year hath continued since.
[195] "Soon after, the Earldom of Moray was bestowed upon him,
instead of the Earldom of Mar. Lord Erskine had an old right to the
Earldom of Mar."--_MS. variant._
Master Randolph, agent for the Queen of England, was then, and
for some time after, in no small conceit with our Queen; for
his mistress' sake, she drank to him in a cup of gold, which he
possessed with greater joy for the favour of the giver, than for
the gift and its value; and yet it was honourable. The things that
then were in handling betwixt the two Queens--Lethington, Secretary
Cecil, and Master Randolph being ministers--were of great weight, as
we will afterwards hear.
[Sidenote: Disorderly Conduct of Earl Bothwell and others.]
This winter, the Earl Bothwell, the Marquis D'Elboeuf, and Lord John
of Coldingham, played riot in Edinburgh, misordered the whole town,
broke Cuthbert Ramsay's gates and doors, and searched his house for
his good-daughter,[196] Alison Craik. This was done in despite of
the Earl of Arran, whose mistress the said Alison was suspected to
have been. The horror of this fact, and the rarity of it, highly
commoved all godly hearts. The Assembly and the nobility were in
the town for the most part; and they concluded to crave justice by
supplication. This they did....
[196] Daughter-in-law.
This supplication was presented by divers gentlemen. At first the
flatterers of the Court stormed, and asked, "Who durst avow it?"
The Master, now Lord Lyndsay, answered, "A thousand gentlemen
within Edinburgh." Others were ashamed to oppose themselves to the
supplication in public; but they suborned the Queen to give a gentle
answer until such time as the Convention was dissolved. This she
did; for she lacks no craft, both to cloak and to maintain impiety.
She alleged that her uncle was a stranger and had a young company;
but that she should put such order to him, and unto all others, that
thereafter they should have no occasion to complain....
But punishment of that enormity and fearful attempt we could get
none: more and more they presumed to do violence, and frequented
nightly masking. Some, as Robin Craig's household, because his
daughter was fair, delighted therein; others lamented, and began to
bear the matter very heavily. At length, the Lord Duke's friends
assembled one night upon the causeway. The Abbot of Kilwinning (who
then was joined to the Church, and, as we understand, doth yet abide
so) was the principal man at the beginning. To him repaired many
faithful; and amongst others came Andrew Stewart, Lord Ochiltree, a
man rather born to make peace than to brag upon the causeway, and
demanded the quarrel. Being informed of the former enormity, he
said, "Nay, such impiety shall not be suffered so long as God shall
assist us. By His grace, we will maintain the victory that God in
His mercy hath given." So he commanded his son, Andrew Stewart, then
Master, and his servants to put themselves in order, and to bring
forth their spears and long weapons; and thus did others.
Word came to the Earl Bothwell and his party that the Hamiltons were
upon the gait.[197] Vows were made that the Hamiltons should be dung
not only out of the town, but also out of the country. Lord John
of Coldingham had married the Earl Bothwell's sister, a sufficient
woman for such a man; others drew the Lord Robert; and so they both
joined with the Earl Bothwell. But the stoutness of the Marquis Le
Boeuf, D'Elboeuf they call him, is most to be commended; for in his
chamber, within the Abbey, he started to a halbert, and ten men were
scarcely able to hold him; but, as hap was, the inner gate of the
Abbey kept him that night. The danger was betwixt the Cross and the
Salt Tron; and so he was a large quarter of a mile from the shot
and slanting[198] of bolts. The Master of Maxwell gave declaration
to the Earl Bothwell that, if he stirred from his lodging, he, and
all that would assist him, should resist him in the face: these
words did somewhat beat down that blast. The Earls of Huntly and
Moray,[199] being in the Abbey where the Marquis was, came with
their companies, sent from the Queen to stay that tumult. This
they did; for Bothwell and his party were commanded to keep their
lodgings, under pain of treason.
[197] On the move.
[198] Range.
[199] Formerly Lord James Stewart: cf. page 247, _n._
[Sidenote: Plots against the Earl of Moray.]
It was whispered by many that the desire for a quarrel with the Earl
of Moray was as strong as was any hatred that the Hamiltons bore
against the Earl Bothwell, or he against them. Indeed, either had
the Duke very false servants, or else the Earl of Moray's death was
conspired oftener than once by Huntly and the Hamiltons. Suspicion
of this burst forth so far that one day the said Earl, being upon
horse to come to the sermon, was charged by one of the Duke's own
servants to return and abide with the Queen.
[Sidenote: Earl Bothwell speaks with John Knox.]
The Earl Bothwell, by means of James Barron, burgess[200] and
merchant of Edinburgh, desired to speak with John Knox secretly. The
said John gladly granted this request, and spake with him one night,
first in the said James's lodging, and thereafter in his own study.
The said Earl lamented his former inordinate life, and especially
that he had been provoked by the enticements of the Queen Regent to
do that which he sorely repented, as well as his conduct towards
the Laird of Ormiston, whose blood had been spilt, albeit not by
his fault. But his chief dolour was that he had misbehaved himself
against the Earl of Arran, whose favours he was most willing to
redeem, if it were possible that he might do so. He desired the said
John to give him his best counsel. "For," said he, "if I might have
my Lord of Arran's favours, I would wait upon the Court with a page
and few servants, to spare my expenses. At present I am compelled,
for my own safety, to keep a number of wicked and unprofitable men,
to the utter destruction of what of my living there is left."
[200] Inhabitant with full municipal right.
The said John answered, "My Lord, would to God that in me were
counsel or judgment that might comfort and relieve you. Albeit to
this hour it hath not chanced me to speak with your Lordship face
to face, yet have I borne a good mind to your house; and I have
been sorry at my heart concerning the troubles that I have heard
you to be involved in. My grandfather, goodsire,[201] and father,
have served your Lordship's predecessors, and some of them have
died under their standards; and this is a part of the obligation
of our Scottish kindness:[202] but this is not my chief reason.
As God has made me His public messenger of glad tidings, it is my
earnest desire that all men may embrace the same, and they cannot do
this perfectly so long as there remaineth in them rancour, malice,
or envy. I am very sorry that ye have given occasion to men to be
offended with you; but I am more sorry that ye have offended the
Majesty of God, who by such means oft punishes the other sins of
man. Therefore, my counsel is that ye begin at God; if ye will enter
into perfect reconciliation with Him, I doubt not but He shall bow
the hearts of men to forget all offences. As for me, if ye continue
in godliness, your Lordship may command me as boldly as any that
serves your Lordship."
[201] Maternal grandfather.
[202] Fealty of retainers.
The said Lord desired John Knox that he would sound the Earl of
Arran as to whether he would be content to receive him into his
favour. This he promised to do; and he so earnestly travailed in
that matter, that it was once brought to a conclusion and agreement,
such as caused all the faithful to praise God. The greatest
stay[203] stood upon the satisfaction of the Laird of Ormiston, who,
besides his former hurt, was, even at the time of the communing,
pursued by the said Lord Bothwell, his son Master Alexander Cockburn
taken by him, and carried with him to Borthwick, but gently enough
sent back again.
[203] Impediment.
[Sidenote: The Reconciliation of the Earl of Arran and the Earl
Bothwell.]
That new trouble so greatly displeased John Knox, that he almost
gave over farther travailing for amity. But yet, upon receiving the
excuse of the said Earl, and after the declaration of his mind, he
re-entered upon his labours, and brought it to pass that the Laird
of Ormiston referred his satisfaction in all things to the judgments
of the Earls of Arran and Moray. To them the said Earl Bothwell
submitted himself in that respect, and thereupon delivered his
handwrit. He was convoyed by certain of his friends to the lodging
of the Kirk-of-Field, where the Earl of Arran was with his friends,
the said John Knox being with him, to bear witness and testification
of the end of the agreement. As the Earl Bothwell entered at the
chamber door, and would have done those honours that friends had
appointed (Master Gavin Hamilton and the Laird of Riccarton were the
chief friends that communed) the Earl of Arran gently passed to him,
embraced him, and said, "If the hearts be upright, few ceremonies
may serve and content me."
The said John Knox, in audience of them both and of their friends,
then said, "Now, my Lords, God hath brought you together by the
labours of simple men, in respect of such as would have travailed
therein. I know my labours are already taken in an evil part;
but, because I have the testimony of a good conscience before my
God that whatsoever I have done, I have done in His fear, for the
profit of you both, for the hurt of none, and for the tranquillity
of this realm: seeing, I say, that my conscience beareth witness to
me--a witness that I have sought and continually seek--I the more
patiently bear the misreports and wrongous judgments of men. And
now I leave you in peace, and desire you that are the friends to
study that amity may increase, all former offences being forgotten."
The friends of either part embraced the others, and the two Earls
departed to a window, and talked by themselves familiarly for a
reasonable space. Thereafter the Earl Bothwell departed for that
night; and upon the next day in the morning he returned, with
some of his honest friends, and came to the sermon with the Earl
foresaid. At this many rejoiced. But God had another work to work
than the eyes of men could espy.
[Sidenote: The Earl of Arran suspects Treachery.]
The next Thursday, the 26th of March 1562, they dined together; and
thereafter the said Earl Bothwell and Master Gavin Hamilton rode to
my Lord Duke's Grace, who then was at Kinneil. What communication
was had betwixt them, it is not certainly known, except by the
report which the said Earl of Arran made to the Queen's Grace, and
to the Earl of Moray, by his writings. For upon Friday, the fourth
day after their reconciliation, the sermon being ended, the said
Earl of Arran came to the house of John Knox, and brought with him
Master Richard Strang and Alexander Guthrie. To them he opened the
grief of his mind before John Knox was called; for he was occupied,
as he is wont to be after his sermons, in directing of writings.
These labours ended, the said Earl called the three together, and
said, "I am treasonably betrayed;" and with these words began to
weep. John Knox demanded, "My Lord, who has betrayed you?" "One
Judas, or other," said he; "but I know it is but my life that is
sought: I regard it not." The other said, "My Lord, I understand
not such dark manner of speaking: if I shall give you any answer,
you must speak more plain." "Well," said he, "I take you three to
witness that I open this to you, and I will write it to the Queen.
An act of treason is laid to my charge; the Earl of Bothwell has
shown to me in counsel that he shall take the Queen and put her in
my hands in the Castle of Dumbarton; and that he shall slay the
Earl of Moray, Lethington, and others that now misguide her: and so
shall I and he rule all. But I know that this is devised to accuse
me of treason; for I know that he will inform the Queen of it. But I
take you to witness that I open it here to you; and, incontinently,
I will go and write to the Queen's Majesty, and to my brother, the
Earl of Moray."
John Knox demanded, "Did ye consent, my Lord, to any part of that
treason?" He answered, "Nay." "Then," said he, "in my judgment,
his words, albeit they were spoken, can never be treason to you;
for the performance of the act depends upon your will, whereto ye
say ye have dissented; and so shall that purpose vanish and die by
itself, unless ye waken it; for it is not to be supposed that he
will accuse you of that which he himself devised, and whereto ye
would not consent." "O," said he, "ye understand not what craft is
used against me: it is treason to conceal treason." "My Lord," said
he, "treason must import consent and determination, which I hear
upon neither of your parts. Therefore, my Lord, in my judgment,
it shall be more sure and more honourable to you to depend upon
your innocence, and to abide the unjust accusation of another, if
any follow thereof, as I think there shall not, than for you to
accuse, especially after so recent reconciliation, and have none
other witnesses but your own affirmation." "I know," said he, "that
he will offer combat to me; but that would not be suffered in
France: I will do that which I have purposed." And so he departed,
and took with him to his lodging the said Alexander Guthrie and Mr.
Richard Strang. Thence was dated and written a letter to the Queen's
Majesty, according to the former purpose, which letter was directed
with all diligence to the Queen's Majesty, who was then in Falkland.
The Earl himself rode afterwards to Kinneil, to his father, the
Duke's Grace. How he was treated, we have but the common bruit; but
thence he wrote another letter with his own hand, in cipher, to the
Earl of Moray, complaining of his rigorous handling and treatment by
his own father, and by his friends; and affirming, farther, that he
feared his life, in case he gat not speedy rescue. He did not rest
there, but brake the chamber wherein he was put, and with great pain
passed to Stirling, and thence he was convoyed to the Hallyards.
There he was kept until the Earl of Moray came to him, and convoyed
him to the Queen, who was then in Falkland. She was sufficiently
instructed concerning the whole matter; and, upon suspicion
conceived, had ordered the apprehension of Master Gavin Hamilton and
the Earl Bothwell. They, knowing nothing of what had passed, came to
Falkland, and this augmented the former suspicion.
[Sidenote: The frenzy of the Earl of Arran.]
The letters of John Knox, however, ensured that all things were done
the more circumspectly; for he did plainly forewarn the Earl of
Moray that he espied the Earl of Arran to be stricken with frenzy,
and therefore would not have too great credit given to his words and
inventions. And so it came to pass; for within few days the Earl's
sickness increased; he devised of wondrous signs that he saw in the
heaven; and, finally, he behaved himself in all things so foolishly
that his frenzy could not be hid. Nevertheless, the Earl Bothwell
and the Abbot of Kilwinning were detained in the Castle of St.
Andrews, and convened before the Council, with the Earl of Arran,
who ever stood firm in alleging that the Earl Bothwell proponed
to him such things as he had advertised the Queen's Grace of. He
stiffly denied that his father, the said Abbot, or his friends, knew
anything of the matter, or that they intended any violence against
him; and alleged that he had been enchanted so to think and write.
Thereat the Queen, highly offended, committed him to prison with the
other two, first in the Castle of St. Andrews, and thereafter in the
Castle of Edinburgh....
[Sidenote: John Knox reproves the Queen.]
Things put in order in Fife, the Queen returned to Edinburgh, and
then began dancing to grow hot; for her friends began to triumph
in France. Sure information of this came to the ears of John Knox,
for there were some that showed to him the state of things from
time to time. He was assured that the Queen had danced excessively
until after midnight, because she had received letters informing
her that persecution was renewed in France, and that her uncles
were beginning to stir their tail, and to trouble the whole realm
of France. Upon occasion of this text, "And now understand, O ye
kings, and be learned, ye that judge the earth," he began to tax
the ignorance, the vanity, and the despite of princes against all
virtue, and against all those in whom hatred of vice and love of
virtue appeared.
[Sidenote: He is summoned before the Queen.]
Report of this sermon was made unto the Queen, and John Knox was
sent for. Mr. Alexander Cockburn, of Ormiston, who had formerly been
his scholar, and then was very familiar with him, was the messenger,
and gave him some knowledge both of the report and of the reporters.
The Queen was in her bedchamber, and with her, besides the ladies
and the common servants, were the Lord James, the Earl Morton,
Secretary Lethington, and some of the guard that had made the
report. He was called, and accused of having spoken irreverently of
the Queen, of travailing to bring her into the hatred and contempt
of the people, and of exceeding the bounds of his text. Upon these
three heads, the Queen herself made a long harangue or oration; to
which the said John answered as follows:--
[Sidenote: John Knox, states his Views concerning the Behaviour of
Princes.]