Part 25

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.]