The archbishopric of Glasgow being vacant, Mr Robert Montgomery
accepted it from the king, on an understanding with the king’s
favourite, the Duke of Lennox, as to the income. The church
excommunicated him. In Edinburgh, ‘he was openly onbeset [waylaid] by
lasses and rascals of the town, and hued out by flinging of stones
at him, out at the Kirk of Field port, and narrowly escaped with his
life.’--_Moy._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: SEP. 4.]
One consequence of the _coup d’état_ at Ruthven was the return of John
Durie from the banishment into which he had gone in May, to resume his
ministry in Edinburgh. The affair makes a fine historic picture.
‘As he is coming from Leith to Edinburgh, there met him at the Gallow
Green two hundred men of the inhabitants of Edinburgh. Their number
still increased till he came within the Nether Bow. There they began
[with bare heads and loud voices] to sing the 124th psalm--“Now Israel
may say, and that truly,” &c., in four parts [till heaven and earth
resounded]. They came up the street to the Great Kirk, singing thus
all the way, to the number of two thousand. They were much moved
themselves, and so were the beholders. The Duke [of Lennox, who was
lodged in the High Street, and looked out and saw], was astonished and
more affrayed at that sight than at anything that ever he had seen
before in Scotland, and rave his beard for anger. After exhortation
made in the reader’s place by Mr James Lowson, to thankfulness, and the
singing of a psalm, they dissolved with great joy.’--_Cal._
[Sidenote: SEP. 5.
1582.