The Works of John Knox Volume II Part 45

[875] Easter Sunday, 11th April.

[876] Whitehorn or Candida Casa, was a Priory in Wigtons.h.i.+re, founded in the reign of David the First, by Fergas, Lord of Galloway. The Commendator here mentioned was Malcolm Fleming, supposed to be a younger son of John second Lord Fleming, who died in 1524. Dns.

Malcolmus Flemyng Vicarius chori Glasg., was incorporated in the University of Glasgow, 29th October 1519. He was Commendator and Vicar-General of the Diocese of Galloway, in December 1541. His name as Commendator occurs in February 1515-6, (Chalmers's Caledonia, vol.

iii. pp. 439, 419.) Also, in 1565, (ib. p. 432.) He died intestate in the year 1568. John Lord Fleming being "decernit executor dative."

(Register of Confirmed Testaments.)

[Sidenote: THE STOUTNES OF THE PROTESTANTIS IN THE WEST.][877]

[877] This marginal note is omitted in MS. G.

The brethren universallie offended, and espying that the Quene, by hir proclamationis, did but mock thame, determined to put to thair awin handis, and to punishe for example of otheris. And so some Preastis in the westland war apprehended, intimatioun maid unto otheris, (as unto the Abbot of Crossraguell,[878] the Parsone of Sanquhair,[879] and such,) that thei should nether complayne to Quene nor Counsall, but should execute the punishment that G.o.d has appointed to idolateris in his law, by such means as thei mycht, whairever thei should be apprehended.

[878] Quintin Kennedy, Abbot of Crossraguell in Ayrs.h.i.+re, (see _supra_, pp. 351, 352.)

[879] Mr. Robert Creichton was Parson of Sanquhar, in Dumfries-s.h.i.+re, and Canon of Glasgow, in 1549. He was educated at the College of Glasgow, being incorporated in 1521. He died 16th January 1570-1.

(Register of Confirmed Testaments.)

[Sidenote: JOHNE KNOX SEND FOR BY THE QUENE.]

The Quene stormed at sick fredome of speaking, but she could not amend it; for the Spreit of G.o.d, of boldness and of wisdom, had not then left the most part of such as G.o.d had used instrumentis in the begynyng. Thei war of one mynd to manteane the treuth of G.o.d, and to suppresse idolatrie. Particularties had not divided thame; and thairfoir could not the devill, working in the Quene and Papistis, do then what thei wold; and, thairfoir, she began to invent a new craft.

She send for Johne Knox to come unto hir, whair she lay at Lochleaven.[880] She travailled with him earnestlie two houris befoir hir suppar, that he wold be the instrument to perswaid the people, and princ.i.p.allie the gentilmen of the West, not to put handis to punishe any man for the using of thame selfis in thair religioun as pleased thame. The other perceaving hir craft, willed hir Grace to punishe malefactouris according to the lawis, and he durst promesse quietness upoun the part of all thame that professed the Lord Jesus within Scotland. But yf hir Majestie thought to delude the lawis, he said, he feared that some wold lett the Papistis understand, that without punishement, thei should not he suffered so manifestlie to offend G.o.ddis Majestie.

[880] This interview is supposed to have taken place on the 13th April 1563. On the 15th of that month the Queen removed from Lochlevin to Perth.

[Sidenote: REa.s.sONYNG BETWIX THE QUENE AND JOHNE KNOX.]

" Will ye," quod sche, "allow that thei shall tack my sweard in thair hand?"

"The Sweard of Justice," quod he, "Madam, is G.o.ddis, and is gevin to Princes and reuallaris for ane end, which, yf thei transgresse, spairing the wicked, and oppressing innocentis, thei that in the fear of G.o.d executis judgement, whair G.o.d hes commanded, offendis not G.o.d, althought Kingis do it not; neather yitt synne thei that brydillis kingis to stryek innocent men in thair raige. The examples ar evident; for Samuell feared not to slay Agag, the fat and delicate king of Amalech, whom king Saule had saved. Neather spaired Helias Jesabellis fals propheittis, and Baallis preastis, albeit that king Achab was present. Phyneas was no magistrat, and yit feared he not to stryek Cosby and Zimbrye in the verray act of fylthie fornicatioun. And so, Madam, your Grace may see that otheris then cheaf magistrattis may lauchfullie punishe, and hes punished, the vice and crymes that G.o.d commandis to be punished. And in this case I wold earnestlie pray your Majestie to tack good advis.e.m.e.nt, and that your Grace should lett the Papistis understand, that thair attemptatis will not be suffered unpunissed. For power, be Act of Parliament, is gevin to all judges within thair awin boundis, to searche mesmongaris, or the heareris of the same, and to punishe thame according to the law. And thairfoir it shalbe profitable to your Majestie, to considder what is the thing your Grace's subjectis lookis to receave of your Majestie, and what it is that ye aught to do unto thame by mutuall contract. Thei ar bound to obey you, and that not but in G.o.d. Ye ar bound to keape lawis unto thame. Ye crave of thame service: thei crave of you protectioun and defence against wicked doaris. Now, Madam, yf ye shall deny your dewtie unto thame, (which especialle craves that ye punishe malefactouris) think ye to receave full obedience of thame? I feare, Madam, ye shall not."

Heirwith, she being somewhat offended, pa.s.sed to hir suppar. The said Johne Knox left hir, informed the Erle of Murray of the hoill rea.s.sonyng, and so departed of finall purpose to have returned to Edinburgh, without any farther communicatioun with the Quene: But befoir the sonne, upoun the morne, war two direct (Watt Melven was the one[881]) to him, commanding him not to departe whill that he s.p.a.ck the Quenis Majestie; which he did, and met hir at the halking[882]

be-weast Kynross. Whitther it was the nychttis sleape, or a deape dissimulation lokked in hir breast, that maid hir to forget hir formar anger, wyese men may doubt; but thairof sche never moved word, but began diverse other purposses; such as the offering of a ring to hir by the Lord Ruthven,[883] "Whome," said she, "I can not love, (for I know him to use enchantment,) and yit is he maid one of my Privy Counsall."

[881] In MS. G, "war two directed, (Walter Melvill was the one.)"--Walter Melville, a younger son of Sir John Melville of Raith, was in the Queen Regent's service, and at the time of her death received 30. At this time he was in the Queen's service. He afterwards became one of the gentlemen of the Earl of Murray's chamber. His brother, Sir James Melville, in reference to him and Kirkaldy of Grange, says, "Quhilk twa tint him sa schone (soon) as he became Regent, and lykwise my self; for we had bene famyliar with him, and had a.s.sisted him in all his troubles; but when he was Regent, wald reprove, admonish, and tell his faltis, wherby we tint his favour. And uthers that had ny bene in his contrair befoir, cam in and flatterit him in his proceedings, and bekkit wery laiche to him, calling him 'Your Grace,' at ilk word, &c." (Memoirs, Bann. Club, edit. p. 260.)

[882] Hawking appears to have been a favourite pastime of the Queen.

In April 1562, Matthew Ker succeeded James Lindesay as "Maister Falconar." In the same month 20 was paid to two persons, "pa.s.sand of Edinburgh to Scheitland for halkis."

[883] Patrick Lord Ruthven. His grandson, John second Earl Gowrye, was also accused of dealing in magic.

"Whome blamis your Grace," said the other, "thairof?"

"Lethingtoun," said she, "was the haill cause."

"That man is absent," said he, "for this present, Madam; and thairfoir I will speak nothing in that behalf."

"I understand," said the Quene, "that ye ar appointed to go to Drumfreise, for the electioun of a Superintendent to be establessed in thai countreys."

"Yis," said he, "those quarteris have great nead, and some of the gentilmen so require."

"But I hear," said she, "that the Bischope of Athenis[884] wold be Superintendent."

[884] In MS. G, "the Bishop of Cathenis;" (but the marginal note in that MS. reads correctly "Bishop of Athens.") This error in the printed copies has led Mr. Tytler and others into the mistake of saying, that the Queen here referred to "the Bishop of Caithness." The t.i.tular Archbishop of Athens, Alexander Gordon, afterwards Bishop of Galloway, &c., (see page 259, note 10,) was undoubtedly the person alluded to.

"He is one," said the other, "Madam, that is put in electioun."

"Yf ye knew him," said sche, "als weall as I do, ye wold never promote him to that office, nor yit to any other within your Kirk."

"What he hes bein," said he, "Madam, I neather know, nor yitt will I enquyre; for, in tyme of darkness, what could we do but grop and go wrang evin as darkness caryed us? But yf he fear not G.o.d now, he deceaves many ma then me. And yitt, (said he,) Madam, I am a.s.sured G.o.d will not suffer his Churche to be so far deceaved as that ane unworthy man shalbe elected, whair free electioun is, and the Spreit of G.o.d is earnestlie called upoun to decyd betwix the two."

[Sidenote: THE QUENIS JUDGEMENT OF THE BISCHOPE OF ATHENIS.]

"Weall," says she, "do as ye will, but that man is a dangerouse man."[885]

[885] In the proceedings of the General a.s.semblies, held between June 1562 and August 1575, (or less than three months of his death,) Bishop Gordon's name frequently occurs. Having pet.i.tioned the a.s.sembly in June 1562, it was declared, the a.s.sembly "cannot acknowledge him for a Superintendent lawfully called for the present, but offered unto him their aid and a.s.sistance, if the Kirks of Galloway shall suit (solicit), and the Lords present;" and enjoins him to subscribe the Book of Discipline, (although he seems actually to have done so in 1561: see page 258.) On the 29th December 1562, the a.s.sembly nominated for that office, "Mr. Alexander Gordon, ent.i.tuled Bishop of Galloway, and Mr. Robert Post, minister of Dunkell;" and ordered the inauguration of the person elected to take place in the Parish Kirk of Dumfries, "on the last Lord's day of April." The election, as Knox intimates, did not take place. But Gordon was continued as Commissioner for planting and visiting the churches of that diocese; although there were frequent complaints made against him.

And thairintill was nott the Queue deceaved; for he had corrupted most part of the gentilmen, not onlie to nominat him, but also to elect him; which perceaved by the said Johne, Commissionare, delayed the electioun, and left with the Maister of Maxwell, Mr. Robert Pont, (who was put in electioun with the foirsaid Bischope,) to the end that his doctrin and conversatioun mycht be the better tryed of those that had not knawin him befoir. And so was the Bischope frustrat of his purpose for that present. And yit was he, at that tyme, the man that was most familliare with the said Johne, in his house, and at table. But now to the formar conference.

When the Queue had long talked with Johne Knox, and he being oft willing to tack his leave, she said, "I have one of the greatest materis that have tweiched me since I cam in this Realme, to open unto you, and I maun have your help into it." And she began to maik a long discourse of hir sister, the Lady Ergyle,[886] how that sche was not so circ.u.mspect in all thingis as that sche wisshed hir to be. "And yitt," said sche, "my Lord, hir husband, whom I love, entreattis hir not in many thingis so honestlie and so G.o.dlie, as I think ye your self wold requyre."

[886] Lady Jane Stewart, a natural daughter of King James the Fifth, and Elizabeth, daughter of John Lord Carmichael. Her marriage with Archibald fifth Earl of Argyle took place in April 1554, and proved unfortunate for both parties; but no separation ensued till about the year 1564. She received from her sister, Queen Mary, a pension of 150, in June 1565. She was one of the party at supper in Holyrood Palace the night of Riccio's murder, 9th March 1566. She stood sponsor for Queen Elizabeth at the baptism of James the Sixth. In 1567, (15th November,) the Treasurer paid "to Dame Janet Stewart, Comptis of Ergile," 133, 6s. 8d. The action of Divorce founded upon the complaints of both parties, led to a lengthened litigation, of which Mr. Riddell has furnished a detailed account in his most valuable work on Peerage and Consistorial Law, vol. i. pp. 547-551. In 1569, the Earl offered to adhere, and to receive her in his Castle of Dunoon, but the Lady now refused. At length the Earl, on the 23d June 1573, "obtained, (says Mr. Riddell,) a decree of divorce, _simpliciter_, by the Commissaries of Edinburgh, adjudging her to have 'lost her tocher _ad donationis propter nuptias_."' The Earl immediately availed himself of this judgment, by forming an alliance with Lady Jane Cunningham, daughter of Alexander Earl of Glencairn, in the month of August. Having died within a month of his second marriage, 12th September 1573, (see page 258;) his first wife soon afterwards raised an action of Reduction of the Divorce, styling Lady Jane Cunningham, as "pretendit spous of umquhil Archibald Erle of Argyle." She died in the Canongate, 7th January 1586-7, and was interred in the Royal Vault in the Abbey of Holyrood House. Her own settlement became the subject of litigation. (Commissary Court Records, 11th March 1587)

"Madam," said he, "I have been trubled with that mater befoir, and anes I put sick ane end to it, (and that was befoir your Grace's arryvall,) that boith she and hir freindis seamed fullie to stand content: And she hir self promessed befoir hir freinds, that sche should never complain to creature, till that I should first understand the controversie by hir awin mouth, or ellis [by an] a.s.sured messinger. I now have heard nothing of hir part; and thairfoir I think thair is nothing but concord."

"Weall," said the Quene, "it is war then ye beleve. But do this mekle for my saik, as anes agane to put thame at unitie; and if sche behave not hir self so as she aught to do, she shall find no favouris of me: But, in any wyse, (said sche,) let not my Lord know that I have requested you in this mater; for I wald be verray sorry to offend him in that or any other thing. And now, (said sche,) as tueching our rea.s.sonyng yisternycht, I promess to do as ye requyred; I sall caus summond all offendaris, and ye shall know that I shall minister Justice."

"I am a.s.sured then," said he, "that ye shall please G.o.d, and enjoy rest and tranquillitie within your Realme; which to your Majestie is more profitable than all the Papes power can be." And thus thei departed.

This conference we have inserted to let the world see how deaplie MARIE, QUENE OF SCOTLAND, can dissembill; and how that she could cause men to think that she bare no indignatioun for any controversie in religioun, whill that yitt in hir hearte was nothing but vennome and destructioun, as short after did appear.

Johne Knox departed, and prepaired him self for his jorney, appointed to Drumfreise; and from Glasgow, according to the Quenis commandiment, he wraitt this Lettir to the Erle of Ergile, the tenour whairof followis:--

"_The Lord c.u.mith and shall not tarie, &c._

"AFTER commendatioun of my service unto your Lordschipe, yf I had knawin of your Lords.h.i.+pis suddane departing, the last tyme it chaunsed me to see and speak you, I had opened unto you somewhat of my greaf. But supposing that your Lords.h.i.+pe should have remaned still with the Quenis Grace, I delayed at that tyme to utter any part of that which now my conscience compelleth me to do. Your behaviour toward your wyff is verray offensive unto many G.o.dlie. Hir complant is grevouse, that ye altogetther withdraw the use of your body from hir. Yf so be, ye have great nead to look weill to your awin estait; for albeit that ye within your self felt no more repugnance, than any flesche this day on earth, yitt by promesse, maid befoir G.o.d, ar ye debttour unto hir, as rea.s.sonablie ye shalbe requyred of hir. But yf that ye burne on the one syd, (albeit ye do no worse,) and sche in your defalt upoun the other, ye ar not onlie mensworne befoir G.o.d, but also doeth what in you lyeth, to kendle against your self his wraith and havie displeasour. These wordis ar scharpe, and G.o.d is witnesse that in dolour of heart I wraitt thame; but becaus thei ar trew, and p.r.o.nunced by G.o.d himself, I dar not but admonische you, perceaving you, as it war, sleaping in synne. The proude stubburnes, whairof your Lords.h.i.+p hath oft compleaned, will not excuise you before G.o.d; for yf ye be not able to convict hir of one cryme, ye aught to beir with other imperfectionis, and that ye wold that she should bear with you, in the lyik. In the bowellis of Christ Jesus, I exhort you, my Lord, to have respect to your awin salvatioun, and not to abuse the lenitie and long suffering of G.o.d: for that is a fearfull treasure that ye heap upoun your awin head, whill that he calleth you to reapentance, and you obstinatlie contineu in your awin impietie; for impietie it is, that ye abstract your confort and c.u.mpany from your lauchfull wyff. I wrytt nothing in defence of hir mysbehavour towardis your Lords.h.i.+p in any sort; but I say, yf ye be not able to convict hir of adulterie committed since your last reconciliatioun, which was in my presence, that ye can never be excuissed befoir G.o.d of this freammed and strange intreatment of your wyff.

And yf by you such impietie be committed, as is bruited, then, befoir G.o.d, and unto your awin conscience I say, that everie moment of that fylthie pleasure shall turne to you in a yearis displeasur; yea, it shalbe the occasioun and caus of everlasting dampnatioun, onless spedelie ye reapent: and reapent ye can nott, except that ye desist from that impietie. Call to mynd, my Lord, 'That the servand knawing the will of his Lord, and doing the contrarie, shalbe plagued with many plagues.' Syn, my Lord, is sweat in drinkyng, but in digesting more bitter then the gall. The Eternall move your heart earnestlie to considder, how fearfull a thing it is ever to have G.o.d to be [ane] ennemye.

"In the end, I most heartlie pray your Lords.h.i.+p, not to be absent from Edinburgh the nynetene of this instant, for sick causses as I will not wraitt. This much onlie I foirwarne your Lords.h.i.+p, that it will nott be profitable for the commoun quyetness of this Realme, that the Papistis brag, and that justice be mocked that day. And thus I cease farther to truble your Lords.h.i.+p, whom G.o.d a.s.sist. In haist from Glasgu, the 7. of May 1563. Your Lords.h.i.+ps to command in G.o.dlynes.

(_Sic subscribitur._) "JOHNE KNOX."

This bill was not weall accepted of the said Erle; and yitt did he utter no part of his displeasur in publict, but contrairrelie schew him self most familiar with the said Johne. He keapt the dyett, and sat in judgment him self, whair the Bischope and the rest of the Papistis war accused, as after followis.

[Sidenote: ROBERT NORWALLIS FACT.]

[Sidenote: THE JUDGEMENT OF SOME.]