The Works of John Knox, Volume 2 (of 6)

Part 25

Chapter 254,031 wordsPublic domain

[581] That is, the 27th (in edit. 1621, the 17th) of January 1560-1; as the year did not begin at that time till the 25th of March.

WE, quhilkis hes subscryvit thir Presentis, haveand avysit with the Articles heirin specifeit, as is abone mentionat fra the begynning of this Book, thinkis the samin good, and conforme to Goddis Word in all pointis; conforme to the Notes and Additionis thairto eikit; and promittis to sett the samin fordwarte at the uttermost of oure poweris: Providing that the Bischoppis, Abbotis, Priouris, and otheris Prelattis and beneficit men, quhilkis ellis hes adjonit thame to us, bruik the reveneues of thair benefices during thair liftymes, thei susteanand and uphaldand the Ministerie and Ministeris, as is herein specifeit, for preaching of the Word, and ministering of the Sacramentis of God.

(_Sic Subscribitur._)

JAMES.[582] JAMES HAMMYLTON.[583] AR^D. ERGYLL.[584] JAMES STEWART.[585] ROTHESS.[586] JAMES HALIBURTON.[587] R. BOYD.[588] ALEX^R. CAMPBELL, DENE OF MURRAY.[589] VILLIAM OF CULROS.[590] MAISTER ALEX^R. GORDOUN.[591] BARGANY YOUNGER.[592] ANDRO KER _of Fawdonsyd_.[593] T. SCOTT _of Hanyng_.[594] JOHNE LOKHART _of Barr_.[595] GEORGE CORRIE _of Kelwod_.[596] JOHNE SCHAW _of Halie_.[597] ANDRO HAMMYLTOUN _of Lethame_.[598] GLENCARN.[599] UCHILTRIE.[600] SANQUHAR.[601] SANCTJOHNS.[602] WILLIAM LORD HAY.[603] DRUMLANGRIKE.[604] CONYGHAMHEID.[605] JOHNE MAXWELL.[606] GEORGE FENTOUN _of that Ilk_.[607] LOCHINWARE.[608]

[582] James Duke of Chattelherault, Regent and Governor of Scotland, after the death of James the Fifth: see vol. i. pp. 95, 242. In edit. 1621, his name is omitted in the above list.

[583] James third Earl of Arran, and eldest son of the Duke of Chattelherault. Owing to his declared incapacity, at his father's death, in 1575, the family estates devolved upon Lord John Hamilton the second son; but the Earl survived till 1609.

[584] Archibald fifth Earl of Argyle, succeeded to the title in 1558. He at first adhered to the Queen Regent, but soon joined the Lords of the Congregation, and continued to act along with the Earl of Murray, until 1568, when he went over to the Queen's party, without materially aiding her cause. When the Earl of Morton was chosen Regent, the Earl of Argyle succeeded him as Lord Chancellor, 17th January 1573; but he did not long enjoy his honours, having died suddenly on the 12th September 1573, and not 1575 as stated in the Peerages and other works. (Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 337, and Register of Confirmed Testaments.)

[585] Lord James Stewart, Commendator of St. Andrews and Pittenweem; afterwards Earl of Murray, and Regent of Scotland.

[586] Andrew fourth Earl of Rothes, succeeded on the death of his father, November 1558.

[587] In the MS. this name stands in a kind of intermediate column by itself. James Halyburton, sometimes styled Tutor of Pitcur. He was a person of great activity and influence, and filled the office of Provost of Dundee for the long period of thirty-three years. He died in 1588, aged seventy.

[588] Robert, fourth Lord Boyd, had a pension from England, and was concerned in most of the public affairs between 1560, and the Raid of Ruthven in 1582. He was appointed an Extraordinary Lord of Session, 24th October 1573. Although removed in 1578, he was subsequently restored, and died 3d January 1590, in the 72d year of his age. (Brunton & Haig's Senators of the College of Justice, p. 155.)

[589] Alexander Campbell, Dean of Murray, was the third son of Colin, third Earl of Argyle. In the edit. 1621, the name Dean of Murray has been separated from Alexander Campbell, as if two distinct persons. Alexander Dunbar, Sub-Chantor of Murray, was appointed a Lord of Session, 16th August 1560, as he appears in the Books of Sederunt, on the 26th June 1566, under the designation of Dean of Murray, we may presume that Campbell was then dead.

[590] William Colville, Commendator of Culross: see note in the Appendix to the present volume.

[591] Alexander Gordon, titular Archbishop of Athens, was second son of John, Master of Huntly, by Jane, natural daughter of King James the Fourth. He was Bishop of the Isles, in 1553, and Abbot of Inchaffray and Icolmkill; and was translated to the See of Galloway, after the death of Andrew Durie, in September 1558. He joined the Reformers, and still enjoyed his titles; but he was not allowed to exercise his functions as a bishop, nor was his petition acceded to, to be appointed visitor of the churches within his diocese of Galloway. He died 11th November 1575. (Register of Confirmed Testaments.)

[592] Thomas Kennedy, o Bargany, (in the parish of Dailly, Ayrshire,) the son of Sir Thomas Kennedy. In 1540, he is styled "Apparent of Bargany;" and died in June 1564. (Register of Confirmed Testaments, 26th April 1580.)

[593] Andrew, (frequently by mistake called Sir Andrew) Ker of Faldonsyde, in Selkirkshire. He was concerned in Riccio's murder, and was at the battle of Langsyde in 1568. He had from Parliament a ratification of the third part of the lands and barony of Bolton in 1581. He married, for his second wife, Margaret Stewart, daughter of Lord Ochiltree, and widow of John Knox. He died about the year 1598.

[594] Thomas Scott of Hayning, in Selkirkshire. A Charter of Confirmation, "quondam Thomæ Scott de Hanyng," of the lands of Eleistoun, in the shire of Roxburgh, dated 23d March 1575-6, shows that he was dead in 1576.

[595] John Lockhart of Bar, in the parish of Galston, Ayrshire. He died before 10th May 1575, when his son John Lockhart of Bar was served his heir. (Retours, Ayr, No. 13.)

[596] In the edit. 1621, this name is omitted. George Corrie of Kelwood was served heir of his father, Thomas Corrie of Kelwood, "qui obiit sub Majestatis vexillo in bello de Fausyde," 25th October 1547. (Retours, Ayr, No. 2.) He was alive in December 1580. (Pitcairn's Crim. Trials, vol. i. p. 89.)

[597] John Schaw of Haly, near Largs, in Ayrshire.

[598] Andrew Hamilton of Lethame, in Lanarkshire. He was Captain of the Castle of Dumbarton in 1546. He went to France on a mission in 1550, and had a charter under the Great Seal of the lands of Drumcross, in the county of Linlithgow in 1552. He was at the Raid of Stirling in 1571, and died before 1585. (Anderson's House of Hamilton, pp. 320, 469.)

[599] Alexander Earl of Glencairn: see vol. i. p. 72. He died in the year 1574. (Register of Confirmed Testaments.)

[600] Andrew, second Lord Stewart, of Ochiltree or Uchiltree, in Ayrshire. He succeeded to the title in 1548, and survived till near the close of the 16th century.

[601] Edward Lord Crichton of Sanquhar, ancestor of the Earls of Dumfries (now represented by the Marquis of Bute.) He died 23d May 1569, and was succeeded by "his son and air, Robert, now Lord Creichton," who was then a minor. (Register of Confirmed Testaments, 8th March 1573-4.)

[602] Sir James Sandilands, Lord St. John, and afterwards Lord Torphichen: see vol. i. p. 301, vol. ii. p. 125.

[603] William fifth Lord Hay of Yester, was served heir of his father in 1559. He died in August 1576.

[604] Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig, ancestor of the Marquesses of Queensberry, was Knighted by the Governor of Scotland in 1553, and appointed Warden of the West Marches. He died in 1578.

[605] William Cunningham of Cunninghamhead, in Ayrshire. He died in January 1575-6. (Register of Confirmed Testaments, 17th April 1577.)

[606] In edit. 1621, "James Maxwell." As John sixth Lord Maxwell was a minor at his father's death in 1552, and was not served heir till May 1569, it was no doubt Sir John Maxwell of Terreglis, (who became Lord Herries in 1567,) whose signature was attached to the Book of Discipline.

[607] George Fenton of Fenton was probably succeeded by "John Fenton of that Ilk," to whom the three daughters of Patrick Quhitlaw of Quhitlaw were served heirs-portioners of their grand-uncle (_abavus_), 30th March 1586. (Retours, Haddington, Nos. 399, 400, 401.)--In MS. 1566, the name is made "George Seton." As Lord Seaton was the head of the family, there could be no Seaton of that Ilk; and George fifth Lord Seaton never joined the Reformers.

[608] Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar, in Kirkcudbrightshire, the ancestor of the Earls of Kenmure. In 1555, he was appointed Justiciary of the Lordship of Galloway. He survived till the year 1604. (Douglas and Wood's Peerage, vol. ii. p. 25.)

* * * * *

According to Knox, (see page 129,) who is followed by Calderwood, Petrie, Spotiswood, and other writers, in addition to the above Subscribers to the Book of Discipline, there were,

WILLIAM, EARL MARISCHALL. JOHN, EARL OF MENTEITH. JAMES, EARL OF MORTON, (afterwards Regent.) JOHN, LORD LINDESAY of the Byris. PATRICK MASTER OF LINDESAY. SIR ALEXANDER STEWART, Younger of Garlies, (who was slain at Stirling in September 1571.)

THE FOURT BOOK OF THE PROGRESSE AND CONTINUANCE OF TREU RELIGIOUN WITHIN SCOTLAND.

IN the former Bookis,[609] gentill Reidar, thou may clearlie see how potentlie God hath performed, in these our last and wicked dayis, alsweall as in the aiges that have passed befoir us, the promisses that is maid to the servandis of God, by the propheite Esais, in these wordis:--"Thei that waite upoun the Lord shall renewe thair strenth; thei sall lift up the wynges as the egles: thei shall runne, and not be wearie; thei shall walke, and not fainte." This promeise, we say, suche as Sathan hath not utterlie blyndit may see performed in us, the professouris of Christ Jesus, within this Realme of Scotland, with no les evidencye, than it was in any aige that ever have passed befoir us. For what was oure force? What was our nomber? Yea, what wisdome or warldlie pollicey was into us, to have brought to ane goode end so great ane interpryse? Oure verray enemyes can bear witnesse. And yit in how great puritie God did establisse amanges us his treu Religioun, alsweall in doctrine as in ceremonyes! To what confusion and fear war idolateris, adulteraris, and all publict transgressoris of Goddis commandimentis, within short tyme brought? The publict ordour of the Churche,[610] yet by the mercy of God preserved, and the punishmentis executed against malefactouris, can testifie unto the world. For as tueching the doctrine taught by our Ministeris, and as tueching the administratioun of Sacramentis used in our Churches, we ar bold to affirme, that thair is no realme this day upoun the face of the earth, that hath thame in grettar puritie;--yea, (we mone speak the treuth whomesoever we offend,) thair is none (no realme, we meane) that hath thame in the lyek puritie: For all otheris (how synceare that ever the doctrine be, that by some is taught,) reteane in thair churches, and the ministeris thairof, some footsteppis of Antichrist, and some[611] dreggis of Papistrie;[612] but we (all praise to God alone) have no thing within oure Churches that ever flowed frome that Man of synne: And this we acknowledge to be the strenth gevin unto us by God, because we esteamed nott our selves wyise in oure awin eyes, but understanding our hoill wisdome to be but meare foolishnes, befoir [the Lord] our God, layed it asyd, and followed onlie that whiche we fand approved by him self.

[609] In MS. L4, is this note at the top margin, "This Preface was not written by Mr. Knox untill the moneth of Maij 1566." This indeed we learn from Knox's own words, in the second following page. In the MS. 1566, the commencement of Book Fourth forms part of one of the re-written quires or sets.

[610] MS. G, has always "Kirk;" MSS. M, and L4, "Churche."

[611] In MS. G, "some" is omitted. In MS. L 4, "some degrees."

[612] In the margin of MS. G, "Witness the tippets and cornered cappes."

[Sidenote: THE FIRST PETITIOUN OF THE PROTESTANTIS OF SCOTLAND.]

In this poynt could never our enemyes caus us to fainte, for Our first Petitioun was, "That the reverent face of the primitive and apostolick Churche should be reduced agane to the eyes and knowledge of men."[613] And in that poynt, we say, our God hath strenthened us till that the work was finished, as the world may see. And as concerning the suppressing of vice, yea, and of the abolishing of all suche thingis as myght nureise impietie within the Realme, the actes and statutis of the principale Townes reformed will yitt testifie: For what adulterar, what fornicatour, what knawin messe-mongare, or pestilent Papist, durst have been seen in publict, within any reformed town within this Realme, befoir that the Quene arryved? And this victorie to his wourde, and terrour to all fylthie lyvaris, did oure God wirk by such as yit leave and remaine witnesses (whither thei will or not) of the foirsaid workis of our God. We say, our God suffered none of those whome he first called to the battell, to perishe or to fall, till that he maid thame victouris of thair ennemyes: For evin as God suffered none of those whome he called frome Egypt to perishe in the Red Sea, how fearfull that ever the danger appeared; so suffered he none of us to be oppressed, nor yit to be takkin from this lyeff, till that mo Pharaoes then one war drowned, and we set at fredome, without all dangear of our ennemyes; to lett boyth us and our posteritie understand, that suche as follow the conducting of God can not perishe, albeit that thei walked in the verray schaddo of death.

[613] See the Petitions referred to, in vol. i. pp. 306, 333, &c.

[Sidenote: THE CAUS OF THE TRUBILLIS OF THE KIRK WITHIN SCOTLAND FLOWED FROME THE COURTEIRS THAT SEEMED TO PROFESS THE EVANGELL.][614]

[614] MS. L 4, adds to this marginal note, the words, "and did it not,"

But frome whence (allace) cumeth this miserable dispersioun of Goddis people within this Realme, this day, Anno 1566, in Maij?[615] And what is the cause that now the just is compelled to keap silence? good men ar banished, murtheraris, and such as ar knowin unworthie of the commoun societie, (yf just lawis war put in deu executioun,) bear the hoill regiment and swynge within this Realme? We answere, Becaus that suddandlie the most parte of us declyned from the puritie of Goddis word, and began to follow the warld; and so agane to schaik handis with the Devill, and with idolatrie, as in this Fourte Booke we will hear.

For whill that Papistis war so confounded, that none within the Realme durst more avow the hearing or saying of Messe, then the theavis of Lyddesdaill durst avow thair stowth in presence of ane upryght judge, thair war Protestants found, that eschamed not at tables, and other open places, to ask, "Why may nott the Queyn have hir awin[616] Messe, and the forme of hir Religioun? What cane that hurte us or our Religioun?" And from these two, "Why" and "What," at lenthe sprange out this affirmative, "The Quenis Messe and hir Preastis will we manteine: this hand and this rapper sall feght in thair defence, etc."

[615] This "dispersioun of Goddis people," refers to what occurred shortly after the murder of David Riccio, when besides the persons who were implicated in that outrage, many others, like Knox himself, who had rendered themselves obnoxious to the Queen, were obliged to fly from Edinburgh for safety. As Knox was employed at this time, while residing in Kyle, in continuing his History, this may serve to explain, although not to justify, the very strong language which he frequently uses in mentioning Queen Mary, and the license of the courtiers.

[616] MS. G. omits "awin."

The inconvenientis war schawin, both by tongue and pen; but the advertissaris war judged to be men of unquyet spreatis. Thair credytt was defaced at the handis of suche as befoir war not eschamed to have used thair counsall, in materis of greattar importance then to have resisted the Messe. But then, my Lord, my Maister, may nott be thus used: he hes that honour to be the Quenis brother; and thairfoir we will that all men shall understand that he man tender her as his sister; and whosoever will counsall him to displease her, or the least that apperteanes unto hir, shall not find him thair freind; yea, thei ar worthy to be hanged that wald so counsall him, etc.

[Sidenote: THE CORRUPTIOUN THAT ENTERED IN THE QUENIS COURTE.]

[Sidenote: THE THEOLOGIE OF THE COURTE, AND THAIR REASSONIS.]

These and the lyke reassonis took suche deape roote in flesche and bloode, that the trewth of God was almost foryett; and from this fontaine (to wit, that flesche and blood was, and yitt allace, is preferred to God, and to his messengeris rebucking vice and vanitie) hath all our miserie proceeded. For as befoir, so even yitt, althought the Ministeris be sett to beg, the Guard and the Men of war maun be served. Though the blood of the Ministeris be spylt, it is the Quenis servand that did it. Althought Messes be multipleyed in all quarteris of the Realme, who can stop the Quenis subjectis to lyve of the Quenis religioun. Althought innocent men be empreasoned, it is the Quenis pleasur: sche is offended at such men. Althought under pretence of justice innocentis be crewellie murthered; the Lordis shall weape, but the Quenis mynd must be satisfeid. Nobillis of the Realme, Baronis and Counsallouris ar banished, thair eschaittis disponed, and thair lyves maist injustlie persewed. The Quene hes lost hir trusty servand Davy: he was dear unto hir; and thairfoir, for hir honouris sake, sche maun schaw rigour to revenge his death. And yit farther, albeit that some know that sche hes plainlie purposed to wrak the religioun within this Realme; that to that Romane Antichrist sche hath maid hir promeise; and that from him sche hath tackin money to uphold his pompe within this Realme; yit will thai lett the people understand, that the Quene will establisse religioun, and provide all thingis ordourlie, yf scho war anes delivered.

[Sidenote: THIS WAS WRITTEN WHEN THE SECOUND RANK OF THE LORDIS WAS BANISSHED.][617]

[617] The Glasgow MS. of Book Fourth, as stated in the preface, vol. i. p. xxxiii. formed originally a separate volume, and was written apparently some years earlier than the first three Books. It contains marginal notes, so nearly _verbatim_ with the MS. 1566, as to leave little doubt of its having been copied from it, probably about the year 1580. But to the above marginal note, after "banisshed," there is added: "Anno 1566, after Davie's slauchter."

Yf such dealings, which ar commoun amangis our Protestantis, be nott to prefer flesche and blood to God, to his treuth, to justice, to religioun, and unto the libertie of this oppressed Realme, let the warld judge. The plagues have bein, and in some part ar present, that war befoir threatned; the rest ayproaches: And yitt who from the heart cryis, "I have offended; the Lord knows: in Thee onlie is the trust of the oppressed; for vaine is the help of man." But now return we to our HISTORIE.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: THE QUENIS LAST ARRIVAL IN SCOTLAND.][618]

[618] In MS. G, "The Quenis arryval from France."

THE nyntene day[619] of August, the year of God J^m V^c threscoir ane yearis, betwix sevin and aught houris befoir noon, arryved MARIE QUENE OF SCOTLAND, then widow, with two galayis furth of France.[620] In[621] hir cumpany, (besydis hir gentilwemen, called the Maries,)[622] war hir thre uncles, the Duck D'Omall,[623] the Grand Priour,[624] and the Marques D'Elbuf.[625] Thare accumpanyed hir also,[626] D'Anweill, son to the Constable of France, with other gentilmen of inferiour conditioun, besydis servandis and officiaris.[627] The verray face of heavin, the time of hir arryvall, did manifestlie speak what confort was brought unto this cuntrey with hir, to wit, sorow, dolour, darknes, and all impietie; for in the memorie of man, that day of the year, was never seyn a more dolorous face of the heavin, then was at hir arryvall, which two days after did so contineu; for besides the surfett weat,[628] and corruptioun of the air, the myst was so thick and so dark, that skairse mycht any man espy ane other the lenth of two pair of buttis. The sun was not seyn to schyne two dayis befoir, nor two dayis after. That foir-warning gave God unto us; but allace, the most pairt war blynd.

[619] In MSS. A, M, and L 4, "The twentie day."

[620] The Queen arrived in Leith harbour on Tuesday the 19th August 1561, and landed on the following day.

[621] In MSS. M, and L 4, instead of the next five lines, there is substituted this sentence, which is also copied by Calderwood, (vol. ii. p. 142,) "Shee brought with her als faire Jewells, pretious stones and pearles as wer to be found in Europe. Her tapestrie, and other stuff wer brought to Leith, in October. The verie face," &c.

[622] Celebrated in Scotish Song: see "The Queen's Marie," in Sir W. Scott's Border Minstrelsy. One of the verses in this ballad of Mary Hamilton, thus names them:

Yestreen the Queen had four Maries, The night she'll hae but three; There was Marie Seaton, and Marie Beaton, And Marie Carmichael, and me

Bishop Lesley in describing the persons who accompanied the young Princess in her voyage to France in 1548, (see vol. i. p. 219,) says, "Of the quhilkis thair was four in speciall, of whome everie one of thame buir the samin name of Marie, being of four syndre honourable houses, to wyt, Flemyng, Levingstoun, Setoun, and Beatoun of Creich; quho remanit all foure with the Quene in France, during her residens thair, and returned agane in Scotland with her Majestie, in the yeir of our Lorde J^m V^c lxj yeiris." (History, p. 209.) And in his account of the Queen's arrival in Scotland in 1561, he repeats that she was attended "with many ladies and gentillwemen, speciallie the four maidis of honour quha passit with hir Hienes in France, of hir awin aige, the name everie ane of Marie, as is before mentioned." (Ib. p. 297.) Buchanan, in his verses, The Pomp of the Gods at the Marriage of Queen Mary, 29th July 1565, speaks of her _five_ Maries. When she arrived in this country she was still in her first dule or mourning dress. But on the 11th November some change was made in the dresses of her pages and maidens; and one of the entries in the Treasurer's Accounts on that day, is as follows:--"Item, be the Quenis Grace precept, to Jacques de Soulis, talliour to hir Grace, to gif the Madynnis efter following, viz. to ---- Flemyng, ---- Betoun, ---- Sunpartew, ---- Levingstoun, ---- Seitoun, ---- Wardlaw, to by thair secund dule, ilk ane of the said five, ix lib., and to the said Wardlaw, x lib. vij s.--Summa, £55, 7s." There was also furnished black stannyng for clokis, and black velvet to 14 dames, damosels, and maidens, "to be thair secund dule;" to the extent of £144, 18s., and £112, 16s. 3d. Also, on the 18th, £4, 10s. for gray mantill claith, to be a gown, lined with green, for hir Grace's Fule; and on the 28th, £23, for "quhite tafiteis of the cord," and "red tafiteis of the foure threidis," to the Lady Seitoun.

[623] Claude de Lorraine, Duke d'Aumale, third son of Claude Duke de Guise, was born in 1526. He was in the army, and gave proofs of his courage. He was killed at the siege of Rochelle, by a cannon ball, 14th March 1573.

[624] Francis de Lorraine, seventh son of Claude Duke de Guise, was a Knight of Malta, Grand Prior, and General of the French galleys or war vessels. He distinguished himself in the wars with the Turks in 1557; and died from the effects of his exertions at the battle of Dreux, 6th March 1563, aged 29.