The Works of John Knox Volume II Part 40

[769] In MSS. G, and L 4, "Mr. Gawin Hammyltoun, Abbot of Kilwynning"

[770] Henry Drummond of Riccarton succeeded his father, who is mentioned as slain at the siege of Leith in 1560. But see note to vol.

i. p. 376. In 1574 he was succeeded by his brother of the same name, and probably the issue of a second marriage. (House of Drummond, p.

292.)

The said Johne Knox, in audience of thame boyth, and of thair freindis, said, "Now, my Lordis, G.o.d hath brought you to gitther be the laubouris of semple men, in respect of such as wold have travailled thairin. I know my laubouris ar alreaddy tacken in ane evill parte; but becaus I have the testimonye of a good conscience befoir my G.o.d, that whatsoever I have done, I have done it in his fear, for the proffeit of you boith, for the hurt of none, and for the tranquillitie of this Realme: seing (I say) that[771] my conscience beareth witnesse to me, what I have sought and continewallie seak, I the more patientlie bear the mysreporttis and wrangouse judgementis of men. And now I leave you in peace, and desyres you that ar the freindis to study that amitie may increase, all formar offenses being forgett." The freindis on eather partie embrased other, and the two Erles departed to ane wyndo, and talked by thame selfis familiarlie a reasonable s.p.a.ce. And thairafter the Erle Boithwell departed for that nycht: and upoun the nixt day in the mornyng returned, with some of his honest freinds, and came to the sermoun with the Erle foirsaid; whairat many rejoised. But G.o.d had ane other work to wyrk then the eyes of men could espy.

[771] In MS. G, "Seeing therefore that."

The Thurisday nixt[772] they dyned togetther; and thairafter the said Erle Boithwell and Maister Gawane Hammyltoun raid to my Lord Duckis Grace, who then was in Kynneill. What communicatioun was betwix thame, it is not certanelie knowne, but by the reporte which the said Erle of Arrane maid to the Quenys Grace, and unto the Erle of Murray, by his wryttingis. For upoun Fryday, the ferd day after thair reconciliatioun, the sermon being ended, the said Erle of Arrane cam to the house of the said Johne Knox, and brought with him Maister Richart Strang[773]

and Alexander Guthre,[774] to whom he opened the greaf of his mynd befoir that Johne Knox was called; for he was occupyed, (as commounlie he useth to be after his sermonis,) in directing of writtingis. Whiche ended, the said Erle called the thre togetther, and said, "I am treasonablie betrayed;" and with these wordis began to weape. Johne Knox demanded, "My Lord, who hes betrayed yow?" "Ane Judas, or other (said he); but I know it is but my lyef that is sought: I regard it not." The other said, "My Lord, I understand not such dark maner of speaking: yf I shall geve you any ansuer, ye maun speik moir plane."

"Weill, (said he,) I tack you three to witnesse that I oppen this unto you, and I will wryt it unto the Quene: Ane act of trea.s.sone is laid to my charge; the Erle Bothwell hes schawin to me in counsall, that he shall tack the Quene, and put hir in my handis in the Castell of Dumbertane; and that he shall slay the Erle of Murray, Lethingtoun, and otheris that now mysgyde hir: and so shall I and he reull all.

But I know that this is devised to accuse me of trea.s.sone; for I know that he will inform the Quene of it: But I tack you to witnes, that I oppen it hear unto you; and I will pas incontinent, and wryte to the Quenis Majestie, and unto my brother the Erle of Murray."

[772] The 26th March, 1562.

[773] Mr. Richard Strang was an Advocate. His name occurs in the proceedings of the General a.s.sembly as one of the three Procurators who were appointed in 1567, "to defend and pursue all actions pertaining to the Kirk."

[774] Alexander Guthrie held for many years the office of Town Clerk of the City of Edinburgh.

Johne Knox demanded, "Did ye consent, my Lord, to any part of that trea.s.sone?" He ansuered, "Nay." "Then, (said he,) in my judgement, his wordis, albeit thei war spoken, can never be trea.s.sone unto you; for the performance of the fact dependis upoun your will, whairto ye say ye have disa.s.sented; and so shall that purpose evanise and dye by the self, onless that ye waiken it; for it is not to be supposed that he will accuse you of that which he him self [hes] devised, and whairto ye wold not consent." "O, (said he,) ye understand not what craft is used against me: It is trea.s.sone to conceall trea.s.sone." "My Lord, (said he,) trea.s.son maun importe consent and determinatioun, quhilk[775] I hear upoun neather of your partis. And thairfoir, my Lord, in my judgement it shalbe more suyre and moir honorable to you to depend upoun your [awin] innocencye, and to abyde the injust accusatioun of ane other, (yf any follow thairof, as I think thair shall not,) then ye to accuise, (especiallie after so lait reconciliatioun,) and have none other witnesses but your awin affirmatioun." "I know, (said he,) that he will offer the combatt unto me; but that wold not be suffered in France; but I will do that which I have purposed." And so he departed, and took with him to his loodgeing the saidis Alexander Guthery and Mr. Richart Strang; from whense was dyted and written a letter to the Quenis Majestie, according to the formar purpose, which letter was direct with all diligence to the Quenis Majestie, who then was in Falkland.

[775] In MS. G, "of the quhilks."

The Erle him self raid after to Kynneill, to his father, the Duckis Grace.[776] How he was entreated, we have but the commoun bruyte; but from thense he wrait ane other letter with his awin hand, in sypher, to the Erle of Murray, compleanyng upoun his rigorous handelling and entreatment by his awin father, and by his freindis; and affirmed farther, that he feared his lyef, in case that he gat not suddane reskew. But thairupoun he remaned not, but brack the chalmer whairin he was put, and with great pain past to Striveling, and from thense he was convoyed to the Hallyardis,[777] whair he was keapt till that the Erie of Murray cam unto him, and convoyed him to the Quene, then beand in Falkland, who then was sufficientlie instructed of the hoill mater; and upoun suspitioun conceaved, had caused apprehend Maister Gawan Hammyltoun and the Erle Bothwell foirsaid; who knowing nothing of the formar advertismentis, cam to Falkland,[778] which augmented the formar suspitioun.

[776] "Upon the 25th day of March 1562, my Lordis of Arrane, quha was eldest sone to James Duke of Chattellarault, and Bothwill, wer aggreit be Johne Knox minister, and thairefter raid and spak with the Duke."

(Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 71.) "And upoun the 29th day of March, my Lord of Arrane come furth of the Palice of Kynneill, in ane franysy, in the nycht, at ane heich wyndo, and past to the Quenis Grace at Falkland, and sayd to her that my Lord Duke his fader, and my Lord Bothwill, and Gawin Commendatare of Kilwynning, had conspirit aganis the Quenis Grace and Lord James." (Ib. p. 71.)

[777] Hallyards, in the parish of Auchertule in Fifeshire. Sir Robert Sibbald, in 1710, speaks of "Hallyairds, the residence of a gentleman of the name of Skeen: a great building, surrounded with gardens, large enclosures and planting: having large meadows to the west, and a loch fertile of fish to the east." (Hist. of Fife, edit. 1710, App. p. 3.) At the time referred to by Knox, it belonged to Sir William Kirkaldy of Grange: see vol. i. p. 90.

[778] "Upon the last day of March (1562,) my Lord Bothwill and the Commendatare of Kilwynning wer commandit in ward, in the Palice of Falkland." Diurnal, p. 71.)

But yit the letteris of Johne Knox maid all thingis to be used more circ.u.mspectlie; for he[779] did planelie foirwarne the Erle of Murray, that he espyed the Erle of Arrane to be stricken with phrenesy, and thairfoir willed not oure great credytt to be gevin unto his wordis and inventionis. And as he advertised, so it cam to pa.s.s; for within few dayis his seaknes increased; he devised of wonderouse signes that he saw in the heavin; he alledged that he was bewitched; he wold have bene in the Quenis bed, and affirmed that he was hir husband; and fynallie, he behaved him self in all thingis so foolishelie, that his phrenesy could not be hyd. And yit war the saidis Erle Bothwell and Abbott[780] of Kylwynning keapt in the Castell of Sanctandrois, and convent.i.t[781] befoir the Counsall, with the said Earl of Arrane, who ever stoode ferme, that the Erle Boithwell proponed to him suche thingis as he advertissed the Quenis Grace of; but styflie denyed that his Father, the said Abbote, or freindis, knew any thing thairof, eathir yit that thei intended any violence against him; but alledged, that he was enchanted so to think and wryte. Whairat the Quene, heghlie offended, committed him to preasone, with the other two, first in the Castell of Sanctandrois, and thairafter caused thame to be convoyed to the Castell of Edinburgh. James Stewarte of Cardonall,[782] called Capitane James, was evill bruited [of], for the rigorous entreatment that he schew to the said Erle in his seaknes, being appointed keeper unto him.

[779] It is a peculiarity in Knox's chief amanuensis, always to write "he" as "hie."

[780] In MS. G, "Mr. Gawin, Abbot," &c.

[781] In MSS. G, and L 4, "conveened."

[782] James Stewart of Cardonald, about two miles from Paisley, in the county of Renfrew. In a letter dated 7th September 1561, Randolph says, "James Steward's admission to be Captain of the garde, stayett upon the Lord of Lidington's retorne, to certifye whether he be sworne Englishman." (Wright's Queen Elizabeth, vol. i. p. 74.) On the 4th May 1562, "Capitane Stewart, capitane of the Quenis gard," with 24 hors.e.m.e.n, convoyed Arrane, Bothwell, and the Abbot of Kilwinning from St. Andrews to Edinburgh. (Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 72.)

To consult upoun these accusationis, the hoill Counsalle was a.s.sembled at Sanctandrois, the 18 day of Aprile, in the year of G.o.d J^m V^c, and threscoir twa yearis;[783] in which it was concluded, that, in consideratioun of the formar suspitioun, the Duck his Grace should render to the Quene the Castell of Dumbartane,[784] the custodie whairof was granted unto him by appointment, till that lauchfull successioun should be sein of the Quenis body: But will prevailled against rea.s.sone and promisses, and so was the said Castell delivered to Capitane Anstrudour, as having power fra the Quene and Counsall to receave it.[785]

[783] In the Acts of the Privy Council, there is no minute of any meeting held on the 18th of April 1562. But the records of that time are not very entire. In the Diurnal of Occurrents it is stated, that a Convention was appointed to be held at St. Andrews, on the 15th of that month, "for taking tryell of the matter above written, and thair compeirit certane Lordis to the samyne;" and that, on the 18th of April, "My Lord Duke raid to the Quenis Grace in Sanctandrois, quhairintill he purgit himself of the conspiracie foirsaid in hir presens."

[784] "Upon the xxvij day of April (1562) the Castell of Dumbartane wes deliverit be my Lord Duke to Capitane Anstruther, in the name and behalf of the Quenis Grace." (Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 72.) Captain Robert Anstruther, in the previous year, had the command of the fortified island of Inchkeith, in the Frith of Forth, with "40 hagb.u.t.teris, remanand within the said Inche," (Treasurer's Accounts.)

[785] At the end of this paragraph, the transcriber of MS. L 4, has added, "Thus farr Mr. Knox in the Fourth Booke of his Historie. Let the Reader compare this relation with Buchanan's, and follow his own judgement." In like manner Calderwood (Hist. vol. ii. p. 177,) says, "Thus I have related this part of the Historie, as Knox hath sett it down in the Fourth Booke of his Historie. Mr. Buchanan, his relation, is somewhat different. He writeth," &c. Instead of quoting this pa.s.sage, the reader may be referred to Buchanan's own work, in which he ascribes a plot to murther the Earl of Murray, as having been devised by the Earl of Bothwell, upon finding that he would not join Bothwell in his first design against the Hamiltons.

[Sidenote: PSAL. 2.]

Thingis ordoured in Fyfe, the Quene returned to Edinburgh,[786] and then began dansing to grow hote; for hir freindis began to triumph in France. The certantie heirof came to the earis of Johne Knox, for thair war some that schew to him, from tyme to tyme, the estait of thingis; and amangis otheris, he was a.s.sured, that the Queyne had daunced excessivelie till after mydnycht, becaus that sche had receaved letteris that persecutioun was begun agane in France, and that hir Uncles war begyning to steir thair taill,[787] and to truble the hoill Realme of France. Upoun occasioun of this text, "And now understand, O ye kingis, and be learned, ye that judge the earth," he began to taxt the ignorance, the vanitie, and the dyspyte of princes against all virtue, and against all those in whom haitterent of vice and love of vertew appeired.[788]

[786] Queen Mary returned from her journey and residence in Fife, to Edinburgh, early in May. Knox probably confounded this absence from Edinburgh, with the Queen's more protracted progress in the North in Autumn, (see page 381,) which may account for his mistaking the precise time of his second communing with the Queen, which actually took place in December: see next page, note 2.

[787] In MS. G, "taills."

[788] Randolph, in a letter to Cecil, dated 16th December 1562, says, "upon Sunday last he (Knox) inveighed sore against the Queenis dancing, and little exercise of herself in vertue and G.o.dliness. The report hereof being brought unto her ears, _yesterday she sent for him_. She talked long time with him: little liking there was between them, of the one or the other, yet did they so depart as no offense or slander did rise thereon." We thus learn, that Knox's sermon was delivered on the 13th, and that the interview occurred on the 15th December.

[Sidenote: THE SECOUND COMMONYNG OF JOHNE KNOX WITH THE QUENE]

The reporte heirof maid unto the Quene, the said Johne Knox was send for. Mr. Alexander c.o.c.kburne,[789] who befoir had bone his scolare, and then was very familiare with him, was the messinger, who geve him some knowledge both of the report and of the reportairis. The Quene was in hir bed-chalmer, and with hir, besydis the Ladyes and the commoun servandis, war the Lord James, the Erle of Mortoun, Secreatarie Lethingtoun, and some of the garde that had maid the report. He was called and accused, as are that had irreverentlie spoken of the Quene, and that travailled to bring hir in haitterent and contempt of the people, and that he had exceaded the boundis of his text: And upoun these three headis, maid the Quene hir self a long harangue or orisoun;[790] whairto the said Johne ansuered as followis:--

[789] In MS. L 4, "Patrick c.o.c.kburne." See page 324, note 3.

[790] In MS. G. "oratioun."

"Madame, this is often tymes the just recompense which G.o.d geveth to the stubburne of the world, that becaus thei will nott hear G.o.d speaking to the conforte of the penitent, and for amendment of the wicked, thai are oft compelled to hear the fals report of otheris to thair greatter displeasur. I doubt not but that it cam to the earis of proud Herode, that our Maister Christ Jesus called him a fox; but thai told him not how odiouse a thing it was befoir G.o.d to murther ane innocent, as he had laitlie done befoir, causing to behead Johne the Baptiste, to reward the dansing of a harlottis doughtter. Madam, yf the reportaris of my wordis had bene honest men, thai wold have reaported my wordis, and the circ.u.mstances of the same. But becaus thai wold have credyte in Courte, and lacking vertew worthy thairof, thai mon haif somewhat to pleise your Majestie, yf it war but flatterye and lyes. But such pleasour (yf any your Grace tack in suche personis) will turn to your everlasting displeasour. For, Madam, yf your awin earis had heard the hoill mater that I entreated; yf thair be into you any sparckle of the Spreit of G.o.d, yea, of honestie or wisdome, ye could not justlie have bene offended with any thing that I s.p.a.ck. And becaus that ye have heard thair report, please your Grace to hear my self reherse the same, so neyr as memory will serve." (It was evin upoun the nixt day after that the sermon was maid.) "My text, (said he,) Madam, was this, 'And now, O kings, understand; be learned, ye judges of the earth.' After, Madam, (said he,) that I had declaired the dignitie of kingis and reullaris, the honour whairinto G.o.d lies placed thame, the obedience that is dew unto thame, being G.o.ddis lievtennentis, I demanded this questioun,--But, O allace! what compte shall the most part of princes maik befoir that Supreme Judge, whose throne and authoritie so manifestlie and schamefullie thai abuse? That the complaynt of Salomon is this day most trew, to wit, 'That violence and oppressioun do occupy the throne of G.o.d here in this earth:' for whill that murtheraris, blood-thrystie men, oppressouris, and malefactouris dar be bold to present thame selfis befoir kingis and princes, and the poor sanctis of G.o.d are banisshed and exyled, what shall we say, But that the devill hath tacken possessioun in the throne of G.o.d, which aught to be fearfull to all wicked doiris, and a refuge to the innocent oppressed. And how can it otherwyse be? For princes will not understand; thai will nott be learned as G.o.d commandis thame. But G.o.ddis law thei dispyse, His statutis and holy ordinances thei will not understand; for in fidling and flynging thei ar more exercised then in reading or hearing of G.o.ddis most blessed word; and fidlaris and flatteraris (which commonlie corrupt the youth) are more pretious in thair eyes then men of wisdome and gravitie, who by holsome admonitioun mycht beat doun into thame some part of that vanitie and pryde whairintill all are borne, but in princes tack [deepe] roote and strenth by wicked educatioun. And of dansing, Madam, I said, that albeit in Scripturis I fand no praise of it, and in prophane wryttaris, that it is termed the jesture rather of those that ar mad and in phrenesye then of sober men; yitt do I not utterlie dampne it, provyding that two vices be avoided: the formare, That the princ.i.p.all vocatioun of those that use that exercise be not neglected for the pleasur of dansing; Secoundly, That they daunse not, as the Philisteanis thair fatheris, for the pleasur that thai tack in the displeasur of G.o.ddis people. For yf any of boyth thai do, as thai shall receave the reward of dansaris, and that willbe drynk in h.e.l.l, onless thai spedilie repent, so shall G.o.d turn thair myrth in suddane sorow: for G.o.d will not alwayes afflict his people, neither yitt will he alwayes wynk at the tyranny of tyrantis. Yf any man, Madam, (said he,) will say that I s.p.a.ck more, let him presentlie accuse me; for I think I have nott only tueiched the somme, but the verry wordis as I s.p.a.ck them." Many that stood by bair witnesse with him, that he had recyted the verray wordis that publictlie he s.p.a.ck.

The Queyn looked about to some of the reaportaris, and said, "Your wourdis ar scharpe yneuch as ye have spocken thame; but yitt thei war tald to me in ane uther maner. I know (said sche) that my Uncles and ye ar nott of ane religioun, and thairfoir I can nott blame you albeit you have no good opinioun of thame. But yf ye hear any thing of my self that myslyikis you, come to my self and tell me, and I shall hear you."

"Madam," quod he, "I am a.s.sured that your Uncles ar enemyes to G.o.d, and unto his Sone Jesus Christ; and that for manteanance of thair awin pompe and worldlie glorie, that thei spair not to spill the bloode of many innocents; and thairfoir I am a.s.sured that thair interpryses shall have no better successe then otheris haif had that befoir thame have done that thei do now. But as to your awin personage, Madam, I wold be glade to do all that I could to your Graces contentment, provided that I exceed nott the boundis of my vocatioun. I am called, Madam, to ane publict functioun within the Kirk of G.o.d, and am appointed by G.o.d to rebuk the synnes and vices of all. I am not appointed to come to everie man in particular to schaw him his offense; for that laubour war infinite. Yf your Grace please to frequent the publict sermonis, then doubt I nott but that ye shall fullie understand boyth what I like and myslike, als weall in your Majestie as in all otheris. Or yf your Grace will a.s.signe unto me a certane day and hour when it will please you to hear the forme and substance of doctrin whiche is proponed in publict to the Churches of this Realme, I will most gladlie await upoun your Grace's pleasur, tyme, and place. But to waitt[791] upoun your chalmer-doore, or ellis whair, and then to have no farther libertie but to whisper my mynd in your Grace's eare, or to tell to you what otheris think and speak of you, neather will my conscience nor the vocatioun whairto G.o.d hath called me suffer it. For albeit at your Grace's commandiment I am heare now, yitt can not I tell what other men shall judge of me, that at this tyme of day am absent from my book and wayting upoun the Courte."

[791] In MS. G, "to c.u.m to waitt."

"You will not alwayis," said sche, "be at your book," and so turned hir back. And the said Johne Knox departed with a reasonable meary countenance; whairat some Papistis offended said, "He is not effrayed." Which heard of him, he answered, "Why should the pleasing face of a gentill woman effray me? I have looked in the faces of many angrie men, and yit have nott bene effrayed above measure." And so left he the Quene and the Courte for that tyme.

In this meanetyme, the negotiatioun and credytte[792] was great betwix the Quene of England and our Soverane: letteris, curreouris, and postis ran verray frequent.[793] Great bruyt thair was of the interview and meating of the two Quenes at York, and some preparatioun was maid thairfoir in boyth the Realmes. But that failed upoun the parte of England, and that be occasioun of the trubles moved in France, (as was alledged,) which caused the Quene and hir Counsall attend upoun the Sowth partes[794] of England, for avoyding of inconvenientis.

[792] In MS. G, "and credytte," are omitted.

[793] Various letters written by Queen Mary to Queen Elizabeth at this time are contained in the Prince A. Labanoff's collection: "Lettres, Instructions et Memoires de Marie Stuart, Reine d' Ecosse," &c.

Londres, (Paris) 1844, 7 vols. 8vo. See also Keith's History.

[794] In MSS. M and L 4, the words after "Sowth partes" are omitted, and the following sentence interpolated. "Duke D'Awmall had opened up the English Amba.s.saders letters, who was then lying at Court, as wes reported; and by his procurement an English schip quhairin another Amba.s.sador did fair, wes spoiled. There being appearance of warres betwix England and France, the Quene came from St. Andrews to Edinburgh, at what tyme she committed the Earl of Arran to ward in the Castell of Edinburgh." Calderwood has copied these words verbatim.

(History, vol. ii. p. 182.)

That symmer, thair cam ane Amba.s.sadour from the King of Swaden, requyring marriage of our Soverane to his Maister the King.[795] His intertenment was honorable; but his pet.i.tioun lyked our Quene nothing; for such a man was too base for hir estait; for had nott sche beyn great Queyn of France? Fye of Swaden! What is it? But happy was the man that of suche a one was forsaken. And yitt sche refuised nott one far inferiour to a vertouse King.[796]

[795] The Swedish Amba.s.sador, "Herr Peter Groif," arrived in Leith on the 24th April, where he remained till the 9th of May, when the Queen came from Fife. In Edinburgh "he logeit in Mr. Harie Lawder's lodgeing, quhairto he was conveyit honorabill," and departed on the 1st of June, "with his answer, and imbarkit that nycht at ten houris at nicht, and obtanit ane fair wynd." (Diurnal of Occurrents, pp. 72, 73.)

[796] The King of Sweden referred to was Eric XIV., who was born in the year 1533. He was educated in the Protestant faith, and succeeded to the throne on the death of his father Gustavus Vasa, 29th September 1560. He was unfortunate in his projected alliances, and also in the latter part of his career, having been forced to abdicate in 1568; and he died of poison in 1578.

The Erle of Levenax and his wyff[797] war committed to the Towre of London for trafiquin with Papistis. The young Lard of Barr[798] was a travaler in that busines, and was apprehended with some letteris, which war the cause of his and thair truble.

[797] Matthew, fourth Earl of Lennox, succeeded his father in 1526. He married Lady Margaret Douglas, the daughter of Archibald Earl of Angus, by his wife, Margaret Queen of Scotland, widow of James the Fourth, and sister of Henry the Eighth. Their son Henry Lord Darnley, who married Queen Mary of Scots, was born in 1545. The Earl of Lennox was elected Regent of Scotland 11th July 1570, but was slain 4th September 1571. The Countess of Lennox died 9th March 1577, in the 62d year of her age.