and thy troublit kirk to thy m̅cie. Becaus I haif had to do w{t}
dyuers ꝓsonages of the mīistrie q{r}unto god of his m̅cie erectit me
w{t} in this realme my dewetie cravis that I sall leve unto thaim
now ane testimony of my mynd. And first unto the papistis and to
the vnthankfull warld I say that althocht my lyfe hes bene vnto
thaim odious and that oftintimes yai haif socht my destruction & ye
destructioun of ye kirk qlk god of his mercie hes plantit within this
realme & hes alwayis preservit & kepit the samin fra thair crewale
Int̃prysis zet to yaim I am ǫpellit to say that onles thai spedele
repent my departing of this lyfe salbe to yaim the greatest calamitie
that evir zet hes apprehendit yaim. sum small apperance yai may zit
haife in my lyfe gif thai haif grace to se ane deid man haif I bene
almaist yir tua zeiris last bypast And zet I wald that {414} yai suld
rypelie considder in quhat bettir estait yai and yair materis stands
in yan it hes done befoir and thai haif hard of lang tyme befoir
threatnit. bot becaus yai will nocht admit me for ane adminiser, I gif
yaī ouir to the Judgement of him quha knawis ye hartis of all and will
disclose the secretis yairof in dew tyme. And yis far to the papistis.
To the faithfull God befoir his sone Jesus christ and befoir his
halie Angellis I ꝓtest yat God be my mouth, be I nevir sa abiect, hes
schawin to zow his trewth in all simplicitie. Nane I haif corrupted,
nane haif I defraudit, m̅chandise haif I nocht maide (to godis glorie
I write) of the glorious evangell of Jesus Christ, bot according to
the measr of the grace graunted unto me, I haif dividit the sermont of
trewth in just ꝓtis, beatin doun the pryde of the proude In all that
did declare y{r} rebellioun aganis God, according as God in his law
gevis to me zit testimonie, & raising vp the ǫsciences trublit with
the knawledge of y{r} awin synnis be the declaring of Jesus Christ the
strength of his death & the michtie operatioun of his resurrectioun.
In the hartis of the faithfull off yis I say I haif ane testimony
yis day in my conscience befoir God, how yat evir ye warld rage. Be
cōstant y{r} foir in doctrine that anis publictlie ze have professit,
lat nocht sclandrous dayis draw zow away fra Jesus Christ, nayir lat
the prosperitie of the wickit move zow to follow it nor yame. ffor
howsoeuer it be yat God appeiris to neglect his awin for ane seasoun,
zit he remanis ane Just Juge quha nathir can nor will justifie
the wickit. I am nocht ignorant yat mony wald that I suld enter in
particulare determinatioun of thir ꝓn̄t trubles, to quhome I planelie
and simplie āswer yat as I neuir excedit ye boundis of Goddis
scriptures, sua will I nocht do in yis pairt by Godis grace. Bot
heirof I am assurit be him quha nathair can dissave nor be dissavit
yat the castell of Edinbur{t}, in the qlk all the murthour all the
truble & the haill destructioun of yis puir commounweill was Inventit,
as our awin eis may witness, by yaim & by yair mātenaris was put
in executioun, sall cum to destructioun mantene it quhasa list, The
destructioun I say of body & saull, except yai repent. I luik not
to the momētary prosperitie of ye wicked, ze not althot yai suld
remane conquerors to the cūing of o{r} lord Jesus, bot I luik to this
sentence, that quhasaeuir scheddis Innocent bluid defyles the land
and provoikis Godis wrath aganis {415} himself & the land, vntill his
bluid be sched agane be ordor of law to satisfie gods anger. This is
nocht the first tyme that ze haif hard this sentence. althot yat mony
at all tymes sturrit at sik severitie I zit afferme the same being
reddy to entir to gif compt befoir his Maiestie of the stewartship he
committit vnto me. I knaw in my death the rumours salbe strange, bot
be ze nocht trublit abone measor, belouit in the Lord Jesus. Bot zit
agane I say, remane cōstāt in ye trewt, & he quha of his m̅cie send
me, conductit me, and prosperet ye work in my hand aganis Sathan will
provide for zow abundantlie, quhen yat athir my bluid sall wattir
the doctrine taucht be me, or he of his mercie vtherwayis provide
to put ane end to yis my battell. My executors I mak constitute &
ordane m̅garet Stewart my spous, Martha Margaret & Elizabeth knoxis my
dochteris, and the faithfull to be ōrsmen. To my tua sones Nathaneell
& Eleazare Knoxis I unfeignedlie leif ye same benedictioun yat yair
dairest mider Mariorie Bowss left vnto yaim To wit that God for his
sone christ Jesus saik wald of his mercie mak yaim his trew fereris
and als vpricht worschippers of him as ony yat euer sprang out of
Abrahames loynes, quhairto now as than I fra my trublit hart say amen.
ffurther I have delyuerit be Maister Randulphe to Mr Robert Bowss
schereff of the bischoprik & bruder to ye said Mariorie my vmqle
dairest spous ye sowme of fyve hundreth punds of scottis money to
ye vtilitie and proffett of my saidis tua sonis, The qlk money is
yat pairt of substāce yat fell or pertenit to yaim be the deces of
Mariorie Bowss yair moder of blissit memory, And augmētit be me as I
my{t} or may spair to mak out the said sowme, for I ressavit of y{r}is
bot ane hundre{t} merkis sterling, qlk I of my povirtie extendit to
fyve hundre{t} punds scottis, and yat in contentatioun of yair bairns
pairt of geir qlkis may fall to yaī by my deces. Item I leif to my
saids tua sones Tua sylver drinking cowpis the ane of thaī is m̅ket
J. K. M. on ye ane syde, and on ye vther syde w{t} E. B. N. And in
like mnner ye toyir w{t} ye same m̅k and lēres, The wecht of ye saidis
tua cuipis contenand xxii vnce, or y{r}by, Tua salt fattis of sylver
and xviii sylver spvnes, weyand xxxiiii z. and ane q{r} vnces, price
of ye vnce ōrheid xxvi s. viii d. The qlks cuipis salt fattis & spvnes
I leif in keping to ye said Margaret my spous qll my saidis sones be
of the aige of xxi zeiris At ye qlk tyme {416} I ordane & commandis
hir to delyver the samī to my saidis sones, or to ony ane of yaim,
gif be deces ye vthir faillis. Item I leif also to my saids sones ane
pairt of my saidis buikis of ye availl of xxx li And failzeing of my
saids sones & thair airis I ordane the foirsaidis fyve hundre{t} punds
w{t} ye syluer cuips spvnes saltfattis and buikis to return agane as
eftir followis, That is to say, ye ane equale half y{r}of to ye said
Margaret my spous & my saids thrie dochteris, And ye vyir half of ye
samī to my bruder Williame Knox & his airis quhatsumevir. Item I leif
to my said spous Margaret Stewart ye Aucht hundre{t} merkis qlkis ar
laid vpoun the landis of pennymoir quhairin scho is infeft be Andro
lord Stewart of vchiltree my fader of law, and failzeing of ye said
Margaret I leif ye samē to my saids thre dochters & failzeing of
thaim I leif the samin to ye said Andro lord Stewart of vchiltrie &
his airis quhatsūeuir, chairgeing & requyring my said fader of law &
his airis, as yai will āsuer befoir yat incorruptible Judge ye lord
Jesus, yat yai suffer not my said spous & children to be defraudit or
evill payit of the males & ānual rent of the saids lands during the
nonredemptioun of ye samī. Item I leif to paule knox my bruder sonne
ane hundreth pundis qlk lyis in wodset upoun Robert Campbellis landis
in Kinzeanclew{t} & quhairin the said paule is ellis infeft, and
yat to be ane help to hald him at ye scuilis. And as concerning ye
rest of my haill guids quhatsumeuir I leif to be dividit betuix my
said spous & my saids thre dochteris, and becaus my said spous man
tak the cair of my saidis dochteris & faithfullie travell for thair
guid nurischment & upbringing, Thairfoir I leif my said spous ye use
of y{r} geir qll yaibe mareit or cum to perfite aige, at qlk tyme I
ordane thaim every ane as the tyme approches to haif yair awin yat to
yaim appertenis
sic subscribitur Johne Knox.
Johne Adamesoun witness
Ro{t} Watsoun witness
Johne Johnesstoun witness
Quotta gratis.
The quote of yis testament is given gratis be spēale command of my
lords Commissaris.
* * * * *
{417}
Nº XXI. THE TESTAMENT OF MRS WELSH.
[Glasgow Testament Register.]
The Testament testamentar and Inventar of the guidis, geir, debtis and
soumes of money quhilkis pertenit to vmquhile Elizabeth Knox, relict
of vmquhile Mr Johnne Welsche, sumtyme minister at Air, within the
parochin yairof, the tyme of hir deceis Quha deceist In the moneth of
Januar, the zeir of God I{m}vj{c} tuentie fyve zeiris, ffaythfullie
maid and gevin vp be hir awin mouthe Insafar as concernes the
nominatioun of hir executouris nominat be hir and legacie vnderwrittin,
and pairtlie maid and gevin vp be Mr James Inglis, minister at Daylie,
Mr Josias Welsche hir sone, twa of the executouris nominat be the
defunct Insafar as concernes the vpgeving of the Inuentar of hir
guidis, geir, debtis awand In and Out, As hir latterwill and testament
of the daite vnderwrittin mair fullie proportis.
Inuentar.
Item, the defunct had the tyme foirsaid the guidis and geir
vnderwrittin of the availlis, quantities and pryces eftirspecifeit,
viz{t} the Insycht of the hous in vtincillis and domicillis with the
abuilzement of the defunctis bodie estimat to iij{c} lxxx{li}.
Summa of the Inuentar iij{c} lxxx{li}
Debtis awand In.
Item, thair was awand to the defunct the tyme foirsaid, the sowmes
of money following: Be the persones eftirspecifeit, viz. Be Robert
Wallace, burges of Air, and his cautionneris ij{m} iij{c} xxxiij{li}
vj{s} viij{d}. Be Johnne Stewart burges yair vj{c} lxvj{li} xiij{m}
iiij{d}. Be the Lady Cesnokis and hir sone the laird of Cesnok, vj{c}
lxvj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d}. Be Archibald Dumbar, j{c} xxxiij{li} vj{s}
viij{d}. Be Vchtred M{c}Dowgall of Mondork lxvj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d}.
Be Johnne Stewart j{c} xxxiij{li} vj{s} viij{d}.
Summa of the debtis in, iiij{m li}
Summa of the inuentar and debtis, iiij{m} iij{c} lxxx{li}
Debtis awand out.
Item, thair was awand be the defunct, the tyme foirsaid, the {418}
sowmes of money following:――To the persones eftir specifeit, viz. To
Jonet Kennedy of fie, xx{li}; to Bessie Ingrahame of fie, x{li}; to
Allan Cathcart, hir servand, of fie, xxx{li}.
Summa of the debtis out, lx{li}
Restis frie geir, debtis deducit, iiij{m} iij{c} xx{li}
Na diuisioune.
Quota be compositioune, ij{c} xix merkis.
Legacie.
At Air, the aucht day of Januar, the zeir of God I{m} vj{c} tuentie
fyve zeiris, I, Elizabeth, relict of vmq{le} Mr Johnne Welsche,
sumtyme minister at Air, being, at the pleasour of the Lord, now
viseit with seiknes and infirmitie of bodye, vncertane of the hore of
my daithe, hes thairfoir, for setting in ordour of my wordlie effairis,
maid my testament and latterwill, as followis: Be the quhilk I nominat,
mak, and constitute Mr James Inglis, minister at Daylie, Mr Josias
Welsche, my sone, and Nathaniell Welsche, also my sonne, my onlie
executouris; and willis and requestis Mr Jo{nn} Ker, minister at
Prestounepannis; Williame Stewart, brother‑german to Josias Stewart
of Bonytoune; Alexander Schaw of Keirhill, and Johnne Stewart, lait
bailzie of Air, to be ouerismen and ouersearis of the weill of my
bairnes; and referris the vpgeving of the inuentar of my guidis, geir,
debtis and sowmes of money belanging vnto me to the saidis Mr James
Inglis, Mr Josias Welsche, and Nathaniell Welsche, my executouris
foirsaidis, quhilk I declair salbe als sufficient as gif I had gevin
vp the samyne myself. Item, I leif to the puir and hospitalitie of
Air ffourtie pundis money of this realme; and I leiff the haill rest
and remanent of my guidis, geir, debtis, sowmes of money, and vtheris
quhatsumever belanging vnto me, or quhairvnto I haue richt and title
in ony sort, to the said Mr Josias Welsche, Nathaniell Welsche, my
sones, and to Luyse Welsche, my dochter, equallie amangis thame thrie,
be equall diuisioun. Item, I leif to the said Mr Josias Welsche, twa
gold ringis. Item, to the said Nathaniell Welsche, ane gold ring;
and I leif ane pair of golden̄ bracelettis and ane chinze of gold,
ane taffatie gowne, and dames wyliecoitt, and ane taffatie wyliecoitt,
with my sylwir belt; and with sex gold ringis, ane lang stalkit {419}
sylwir coup, twa sylwir spwnes, to the said Lwyse Welsche, my dochter.
Item, I leif to the said Mr Josias Welsche ane marmet sylwir pott,
with the cover yairof and twa sylwir spunes; and I leif to the said
Nathaniell Welsche, twa sylwir spunes. In witnes of the quhilk thing,
to this my present testament, writtin be George Masoune, notar, I haue
subscryvit the samyne with my hand, at Air, the aucht day of Januar,
the zeir of God I{m} vj{c} tuentie fyve zeiris; befoir thir witnesses,
James Will, merchand burges of Edinburgh, the saidis William Stewart,
and Allexander Schaw, with Allane Cathcart, my servitor, and the said
George Masoune, writter heerof. Sic subscribitur, Elizabethe Knox.
Williame Stewart, witnes; James Will, witnes; George Masoune, notar,
witnes.
I, Mr James Hammiltoune, of Westport, commissar of Glasgow, &c.,
be the tennor heirof, ratifeis, approvis, and confermis this
present testament and inuentar, insafar as the samyne is dewlie and
lauchfullie maid and gevin vp, nathing omittit furth of the samyne,
nor set within the just availl yairincontenit, and gevis and committis
full power and intromissioun with the guidis and geir abonewrittin
to the saidis Mr James Inglis and Mr Johne Welsche, twa of the
executouris abonespecifeit allanerlie, with power to yame to call
and persew yairfoir. Becaus twa of the executouris foirsaid hes maid
fayth, as vse is, in respect of the said Nathaniell Welsch, the vther
executouris minoritie, and hes fund cautioun, as law will, as ane act
maid yairvpoune at lenth beiris. At Glasgow, the xxiij day of Maij,
1625 zeiris.
* * * * *
Nº XXII.
Extracts from “A Historie of the Estate of Scotland from the year 1559
to the year 1566.”――MS. belonging to Thomas Thomson, Esq.
[This is the MS. to which I have frequently referred in the account
which I have given of the differences between the queen regent and the
Protestants, in the years 1558 and 1559. At the beginning of it is the
date “7th January, 1663,” most probably the day on which the writing
was begun. It is undoubtedly a transcript from a more ancient MS.,
and the transcriber has not been well {420} acquainted with the old
hand. Accordingly, he has sometimes left blanks, and at other times
has evidently given a false reading. Only a small part of the original
MS. seems to have been transcribed by him. In making the following
extracts from it, I have endeavoured to select such passages as
contain facts or circumstances not mentioned in other histories; and
I am not without hopes that the publication of these may contribute
to the discovery of the original MS., which may be preserved in some
public library or private repository.]
In the moneth of Julij anno 1558, conveened in Edenburgh a certen
number of the professours of Christ’s Evangell. The cause of their
meeting wes partly to assist certen brethren of Dundie who wer
summoned to vnderly the law by instigation of the bishops. And after
consultation ād advice taken, the presented a suplication in the
palace of Halyrud house to the queene regent, conteining in effect
thes articles ffollowing. In the first desyring that it might be
lawfull to all such as pleased to meete publiquely _that_ in any
part within this realme of Scotland to read comon prayers in the
mother tongue. Secondly, that it should be lawfull to all persons
haveing knowledge to preach the word of God without the leaven of
mens traditions. Thirdly, that it should be lawfull for the sayd
persons, ministers of God’s word, to minister the sacraments, to witt,
of baptisme and the lords supper, according to the true institution
commanded by Christ and his apostels, and to the faithfull to receave
the same. The which supplication the said queene regent receaved with
a joyfull countenance forth of the hands of the Laird of Cadder in
the presence of a great part of the nobilitie, the Papist Bishops
also being present. And at that tyme shee gave an indifferent answere,
saying always shoe would advise in the matter. But soone after shoe
delyvered the sayd supplication to the Bpp of St Andrewes to be
advised with him _that_ wes to be done, as the yssue of the said
matter did declare. Alwayes the faithfull reioiced and gave condigne
thanks to the eternall our God, for that it had pleased him to give
them the boldness to vtter themselves to be such as desyred the
advancem{t} of his glory notwithstanding the multitude of their
enemies. At the same meeting ther wer certen {421} brethren of Dundie,
who were summoned to vnderly the law for the cause of religion. They
wer releived vpon securitie to enter vpon eight dayes warning. Finally
departing from Edenbrugh, everie man in their owne shyrs and townes
they beganne to proceed according to the effect of the said articles
privatly and publickly where they might without occasion of sedition
or greate trouble: the greatest fervencie apeared in the Mearns and
Angus, and Kyle and Fife or Lothian; but chiefly the faithfull in
Dundie exceeded all the rest in zeall and boldnes, preferring the true
religion to all things temporall. But in Edenburgh their meeting wes
but in private houses.――――
In October the minister of Gods word John Willock came into this
countrie, by whose godly sermons the brethren were strengthened in
all places where the faithfull came, and the number increased dayly;
bot Sathan never ceases to suppress by all meanes the truth where
he perceaves the same truely to increase. In the end of September
following the Bpp of St Andrews caused summone the preachers,
viz. John Willok, John Douglas, William Harlaw, Paul Meffan, and
John to appeare before him at St Andrews the second of February
following; wherof the brethren being advertised, advised what wes to
be done, and after consultation taken in the matter, caused informe
the queene regent that the said preachers would appear with such
multitudes of men professing their doctrine as wes never seen befor in
such like cases in this countrie. Then the queene fearing some vproare
or sedition, desyred the Bishopp to continue the matter, and declared
that shee would send for the nobilitie and estates of the realme to
advise for some reformation in religion, and for the same purpose
assigned the seventh of March following for a convention to be holden
at Edenburgh. bot the Bpp of St Andrews caused warne all the sects of
the Papists to the said day to hold a provincial counsell at Edenburgh,
wher they being mett after some commoneing by the principall Bpps with
the nobles, whereof nothing in effect followed; then the sayd Bpps
after their old manner offered themselves to the queene, to doe all
that shee would command them, proveiding that they might be maintained
in their dignitie for the suppressing of the truth, and after they
were agreed with her vpon the summe which wes within {422} 15000_l._
they sate them downe in the Blackfryers of Edenburgh in their vsuall
councell. Where the 7th day wes devised, and the next sunday the 15th
of March the said Bpp sang a magnifick mass of the holy spirit, as
they tearmed it, for a beginning of the deformation. On the other
part the cōmissioners of the faithfull met by themselves at the same
tyme in Edenburgh, and everie day consulted for the furtherance of the
gospell; and finally perceaving that the queene regent and the Papists
were agreed by reasone of the said summe promised by them to her, they
departed, leaving the Papists still at their provinciall councell;
Where, amongst others of the statutes, the 23d of March the queene
regent caused proclame this at the markett crosses at Ed{r} and other
places, conteining in effect, that no manner of persone should take
vpon hands to preach or minister the sacraments, except they were
therto admitted by the ordinarie or Bishopp vnder no less paine
then death. And because they vnderstood perfectly of the afore said
proclamation that it wes disobeyed and contemned by the preachers,
in April following,[360] for contravening of the said acts and
proclamations vnder the paine of Rebellion and putting to the horne,
which thing was done express agt. the laws and practice of the
Countrie. In the end of this moneth of Aprill the minister of Gods
word John Knox arrived at Leith,[361] and on the next day after
his commeing, which wes called Phillipp and Jacobs day, the Papists
meeting at the Councell being well sett downe in the Blackfryers of
Edenbrugh, one came in and assured them that John Knox wes now come
out of ffrance, [and] had bene all that night in the Towne: at the wch
newes they being all astonished, leaving the councell rose suddenly
from the board where they satt, and passing forth to the yeard
altogether abashed, fearing the thing which came suddenly to pass. In
the mean time that court wes cast so that they never mett there again
to this day. Nevertherless they sent incontinent a post to Glasgow to
the queene, acquainting her of the matter, who caused him to be blowne
loud to the horne the third day after. Bot in the mean time the {423}
faithfull being informed of his commeing and thirwith encouraged
ceased not to give praise to God, and finally he being convoyed to
Dundie incontinent preached the word publicquely.――――
Alwayes when they [the Lords of the Congregation] had purged the kirks
in Sterling, and ordered the Friers as they had done with them in
St Johnstone and St Andrewes, destroying the Altars and Idolls, caused
the Evangell to be publicquely preached in the Parish Kirk, then
they came to Edenbrugh the penult day of June not above 1000 horse in
companie, at the first commeing, with some men of warr about 300 men.
But before their commeing to Edenbrugh, the Friers takeing the fray,
for their master the Lord Seyton then Provost who wes appointed them,
wes wearie of his office, the ffriers then begane to dispose amongst
their acquaintance the best of their goods which were left at that
tyme, which thing the Rascall people perceiving went in finding the
yates open and suddenly fell to work and sacked all. So that before
the arriving of the Congregation neither Altars, nor Idolls, nor any
thing pertaining to Idolatrie in the friers, wes left standing: soe
that the whole Churches about Edenburgh, as well as within the Towne
being purged, the faithfull reioiced giving condigne thanks to the
Eternall God who of his mercie had wrought so great things without
the expectation of all men. The minister of Gods word John Knox the
same day that the Congregation came to Edenbrugh, made a Sermone in
St Giles Church, and the next day in the Abbay, so that the dumbe
Idolls and all darkness being taken away, the clear Ligh‑shineing of
Gods word was truely preached. The third day after the arriveing of
the Congregation at Edenburgh, My Lord of Glenkarne with the Gent.
of the west countrie came _to her_ [there?] after that they had
_purchased_ [purged] the churches in Glasgow of Idolatrie. The names
of the Lords of the congregation wes the Earle of Argyle, the Lord
James, the Earle of Glencarne, the Earle of Menteeth, the Earle Rothes.
The same day after their comeing to Edr. the Lords and Principalls of
the Congregation send to the Queene Regent, being at Dumbarr, my Lord
of Glencarne, the lairds of Cunninghamhead and Pittaro, declaring to
her that the whole prætence wes for the suppressing of Idolatrie and
advancement of the glory of God, desyring her to release the Preachers
from the horne, {424} so that they might publicquely preach the word
of God. The Lords in that cause offered to doe obedience and service,
protesting that they meant nothing but the setting furth of true
religion, and suppressing Idolatrie and superstition, and advancing
the glory of God by preaching of the word. Att that tyme they obtined
of the Queene that the Preachers should be released from the horne
so that they might preach freely to all such as pleased to heare
them, which wes put in execution the nixt day after when they were
released.[362] After this there were divers commeings [communings] for
appointment in Haddington and other places, the Earl of Huntley being
present for the Queene and others such as shee pleased to appoint. The
things that the Lords demanded consisted only of these two heads, that
the word of God might be publiquely preached, and the frenchmen sent
forth of the countrie; but her mind was to drive tyme with them as
well appeared. For shee had sent alreadie to france for more men of
warr. During this tyme the Congregation of Edinburgh elected and chose
John Knox publiquely in the Tolbooth of Edr. for their minister the
7th of July.――――