The Works of John Knox Volume II Part 18

There are several entries in the Town Council Records on this subject: see the account given in Maitland's History of Edinburgh, p. 20.

[Sidenote: AMBa.s.sADOUR FRA FRANCE, AND HIS DEMANDIS.]

In the meantyme, quhill Lord James (we say) wes in France, thair came ane Amba.s.sadour frome France,[316] subornit, na doubt, with all craft that mycht truble the Estait of the Religioun. His demandis wes 1.

That the league betwix us and Ingland suld be broken: 2. That the ancient league betwix France and Scotland suld be renewit: And, 3.

That the Bischops and Kirkmen suld be reponit in thair formair places, and be sufferit to intromet with thair levingis. The Counsall delayit answer to the Parliament appoynt.i.t in May. In the meantyme the Papistis of Scotland practisit with him. The Erlis of Huntlie, Atholl, Bothwell, and utheris, intendit to haiff takin Edinburgh befoir the said Parliament. The haill Bischoppis a.s.semblit, and held counsall in Striveling. Some quhispering thair wes, that the Duke and the Bischop of Sanctandrois were too familiare; and some feared that the auctoritie of the Quene suld haif bene usurpit, be ressone of her absence, and that the Duke wes secound persone, for thairat haid some of his preissit immediatlie efter the death of the King of France. The Protestantis thairof advertised, prevent.i.t thame, and came to Edinburgh. The Erle of Arrane stude constant with his brethrene. Thair war some that cairfullie and panefullie travellit that nathing prejudiciall to the Quenis auctoritie, suld be done in absence of the Lord James; to quhom the Quene hes recompensit evill for gude service.

Maister James Makgill,[317] in that poynt did baith stoutlie and treulie; for Johne Knox and he war than fallin in familiaritie, in quhilk thay yet contineu, 20 Octobris 1567,[318] be ressone that the said Maister James haid embrasit the Religioun, and professit it publiclie.

[316] The Amba.s.sador here spoken of was Mons. de Noailles, Master of Requests, who had formerly been Amba.s.sador in England. (Hardwicke's State Papers, vol. i. p. 157.) He arrived on the 11th of March, and returned on the 7th of June 1561. (Diurnal of Occurrents, pp. 64, 282-3.)

[317] Mr. James Makgill or M'Gill, eldest son of Sir James Makgill, Provost of Edinburgh.

He was educated at St. Andrews, having been incorporated in St.

Leonard's College in 1532. He probably took his Master's degree, and completed his studies at some foreign University. On the 1st March 1549-50, he was admitted an Advocate. On the 25th June 1554, he was advanced to be Clerk-Register; and continued to be employed in various public affairs. He joined the Reformers, but on account of his concern in the murder of David Riccio, 9th March 1566, he fled from Edinburgh, and his situation as Clerk-Register was conferred upon Sir James Balfour. Upon a vacancy, in December 1567, after the accession of the Regent Murray to power, Makgill was restored, and he continued in office till 1577. He died in 1579. (Senators of the College of Justice, p. 99.)

[318] This date occurs in the text; and the set or quire in this place was no doubt transcribed about that time.

[Sidenote: SOME SAYIS HIS NAME IS KYLLONE]

The Papistis and Bischoppis, dissapoynt.i.t of thair princ.i.p.all purpose and interpryse did yet mak broillie for trouble; for the raschall mult.i.tude war stirred up to mak a Robene Hude,[319] quhilk enormitie wes of mony yeiris left and dampnit by statute and act of Parliament.

Yit wald thay nott be forbiddin, bot wald disobey and truble the Towne, especiallie upone the nycht. Quhairat the Baillies offendit, tuke fra thame some swerdis and an enseynze, quhilk wes occasioun that thay that same nycht maid a mutinye, keippit the portis of the towne, and intendit to have persewit some men within thair awin housses; bot that, upoun the rest.i.tutioun of thair swerdis and enseynze, wes stayit. Bot yit thay cea.s.sit nott to molest, alsweill the inhabitantes of Edinburgh as diverse countrey men, taking frome thame money, and threitnyng some with farder injureis. Quhairwith the Magistratis of the towne, heychtlie offendit, tuke mair diligent heid to suche as resort.i.t to the towne, and so apprehendit ane of the princ.i.p.all of that misordour, namit Gillone,[320] a cordinare, quhome thai put to ane a.s.sisse; [and being convicted, for he could not be absolved,][321]

(for he wes the cheif man that spoillit Johnne Mowbray of ten crownis of the Sone,) thai thocht to have execute jugement upone him, and so erected a jebbete beneath the Croce. But, quhidder it came by pactioun with the Provest and some uther, or by instigatioun of the Craftismen, quha ever haif bene bent too muche to mayntene suche vanitie and ryotousnes, we fullie knaw nott, but suddandlie thair did ryse a tumult; the Tolbuyth wes brokin up, and not onlie the said Gillone, quho befoir wes dampnit, wes violentlie takin furth, bot also all uther malefactouris wer set at fredome; the jebbete wes pullit downe, and dispitfullie brokin; and thairefter, as the Provest and some of the Counsall a.s.semblit to the Clerkis[322] chalmer for consultatioun, the haill rascall [mult.i.tude] bandit togidder, with some knawin unhonest[323] craftismen, and intendit invasioun of the said chalmer.

Quhilk perceavit, the Provest, and such as wer in his c.u.mpany, past to the Tolbuyth, suspecting nothing that thai wald haif bene sa enragit that thai wald mak new persute, efter that thai had obtenit thair intent: Bot thai wer suddandlie deceavit, for from the Castelhill thai come with violence, and with stanis, gunnis, and such uther weaponis as thei had, began to a.s.sault the said Tolbuyth, ran at the dure of it, quhilk that parte by stanis cast from above, and partlie by a pystoll schott by Robert Norwell, quhilk hurt ane Twedy, thai wer repulsit [fra the door]; bot yit cea.s.sit not thai to cast and schute in at the wyndowis, threitnyng deith to all that war within. And in verray deid the malice of the craftismen, quho wer suspect.i.t to be the occasioun of that tumult, bare na gude will to dyvers of thame that wes with the Provost.

[319] During the festivities of the month of May, the games of Robin Hood were attended with so much disorderly license, that they were ordered to be suppressed by an Act of the Scotish Parliament in 1555.

It is not easy, however, to abolish long continued customs; and complaints to the General a.s.sembly for their continued observance were made until the close of the 16th century. Of the tumult that took place in Edinburgh, on the 21st of June 1561, a very minute and interesting account is preserved in the Diurnal of Occurrents, pp.

283-4.

Several persons were brought to trial on account of these riots. On the 20th July 1561, Robert Hannay, smith, and nine others were tried, as art and part in choosing George Durye in the month of April last, and calling him Lord of In.o.bedience, and for rioting on Sunday the 12th May. (See Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, vol. i. p. 409.) And James Fraser, sadler, and five others, were tried on the 8th of August, on account of the riots in the month of July. (Ib. p. 410.)

[320] In MS. G, "Kyllone:" Vautr. edit. makes the name "Balon." In the Diurnal of Occurrents, he is called James Killone and Kellone, at p.

65, but James Gilloun and Gillone, at p. 283.

[321] The words enclosed in brackets, omitted in MS. 1566, are supplied from MS. G.

[322] Alexander Guthrie, city clerk.

[323] In MS. G, "and honest."

The argumentis that the Craftis wer the caus of that uproire, besydis thair first misordour that thai haid usit befoir, in tackin Sandersoun from the exectioun of punishment, are twa. The formar, Archibald Dewar, Patrik Schange, with uther five deaconis [of the craftis] come to Johnne Knox, and willit him to solist the Provest and the towne to delay the executioun: quho did answer, "That he haid sa oft solist.i.t in thair favouris, that his awin conscience accusit him, that thai usit his labouris for na uther end, bot to be a patrone to thair impietie." For he haid befoir maid intercessioun for William Harlaw, James Frissall, and utheris, that wer convict of the formare tumult.

Thai proudlie said, "That gif it was not stayit, bayth he and the Baillies suld repent it." Quhairto he answerit, "He wald not hurt his conscience for ony feir of man." And sa thai depart.i.t; and the tumult (as said is) immediatlie thairefter did aryse. The secund argument is, the tumult continewit fra twa at efter none till efter aucht at nycht.

The Craftismen wer requyrit to a.s.semble them selfis togidder for deliverance of thair Provest [and Baillies]; bot thai past to thair foure houris penny, and in thair jesting said, "Thai will be Magistratis allone, latt thame reule the mult.i.tude allone." And sa, contrair to the ayth that thai haid maid, thai denyit thair a.s.sistance, counsall, and conforte to thair Provest and Baillies; quhilk ar argumentis verray probable, that the said tumult raise by thair procurement. The end heirof was, that the Provest[324] and Baillies wer compellit to gif thair handwrittis, that thai suld never perseu ony of thame that war of that tumult, for ony cryme that wes done in that behalf. And this wes proclamet at the Croce efter nyne houris at nycht; and sa that truble quyetted. Bot the n.o.bilitie avowit, that thai suld not spare it; and sa a greit nomber of that factioun war absent frome the towne, till the arryvall of the Quene.

The haill mult.i.tude wer haldin excomunicat, and war admitt.i.t to no partic.i.p.atioun of the sacramentis, unto suche tyme as thai satisfied the Magistratis, and maid humble sute unto the Kirk.

[324] Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie, filled the office of Provost of Edinburgh in the year 1561. By a special mandate from Queen Mary, dated 21st August 1562, Douglas was again chosen Provost of the City.

(Maitland's Hist. of Edinburgh, p. 24.)

[Sidenote: OF THE QUENE REGENTIS BURIALL.]

Off the deith of the Quene Regent, we haif befoir spokin,[325] but of hir buriall wes nothing herd; and it may appeir that suche matteris are unworthy of remembrance. Bot and gif all thingis salbe rychtlie weyit, we sall perceave G.o.ddis just jugementis, how secreit that ever thai be. Befoir, we herd[326] the barbarous inhumanitie that wes usit at Leyth by the Frenche, quha exponed the naked carcasis of the slane, as it war in a spectacle, dispiting G.o.d. We herd, that this Quene Regent rejosit at the sycht; bot hir joy was suddandlie turned in sorrow, as we haif herd. The questioun wes moved of hir buriall. The Precheouris boldlie ganestude, that ony superst.i.tious rytes suld be usit within that Realme, quhilk G.o.d of his mercy had begun to purge.

And sa conclusioun wes takin, that hir buriall suld be deferred till farther advis.e.m.e.nt; and sa scho wes lappit in a cope of leid, and keipit in the Castell, fra the nynt of Junij,[327] unto the nyntene of October, quhen scho by pynouris wes caryed to a schip, and sa caryed to France. Quhat pompe wes usit thair, we nather herd nor yit regard.

Bot in it we se, that scho that delited that utheris lay without buryall, gat it nether sa sone, as scho hir self (gif scho haid bene on the counsall in hir lyff) wald have requyred it, nather yit sa honorable in this realme, as sometymes scho lukit for. It may chance be a prognostication that the Guisians blude can nocht haif lang rest within this Realme.

[325] See supra, page 71.

[326] Ib. page 68.

[327] The 10th of July is the day usually a.s.signed for the Queen Regent's death: others say the morning of the 11th: See notices of the Queen's death and funerals in the Appendix to the present volume.

[Sidenote: _NOTA._]

The Papistis, a little befoir the Parliament, resorted in diverse bandis to the towne, and began to brag, as that thai wald haif defaced the Protestantes. Quhilk thing perceaved, the brethrein a.s.semblit togidder, and yeid[328] in such c.u.mpanyes, and that in peciable maner, that the Bischoppis and thair bandis forsuyk the calsay. The brethrene understanding quhat the Papistis meant, convenit in counsall in the Tolbuyth of Edinburght, the xxvij of May, the yeir of G.o.d J^m V^c thre scoir and ane yeir; and efter consultatioun, concludit, that ane humble Supplicatioun suld be present.i.t unto the Lordis of Secreit Counsall, and unto the haill a.s.semblie, that then wes convenit, in the quhilk suld thir subsequent heidis be required, and a law to pas thairupoun.

[328] In Vautr. edit. and MS. G, "and went."

First, That Idolatrie, and all monumentis thairof, suld be suppressit throwout the haill realme; that the sayaris, heiraris, mayntenaris, and usaris of the Messe, suld be punischit according to the Act of Parliament, as said is.

2. That speciall and certane provisioun be maid for the sustentatioun of the Superintendentes, Ministeris, Exhorters, and Readers. That Superintendentes and Ministeris suld be planted quhair nane war. That punyschment suld be appointed for suche as dissobeyid or contemned the Superintendentes in thair functioun.

3. That punischment may be appoynted for the abusaris of the sacramentis, and for the contempnaris of the same.

4. That na letteris of the Sessioun be gevin to answer or pay to ony persoun thair teyndis, without especiall provisioun, that the parrochinaris retene sa mekle in thair awin handis, as is appoynted to the ministrey; and that all suche as ar ellis gevin be called in, and dischargit; and lykewise that na Schireffis gif preceptis to that effect.

5. That nather the Lordis of Sessioun, nor ony uther Jugis, proceid upone suche preceptis or warnyngis, past at the instance of thame that of lait haif obtenit fewis of vicaragis, and personagis,[329] manses, and kirkyardis; and that s.e.x aikkeris (gif so muche thairbe) of the gleib, be alwayis reserved to the minister, according to the appointment of the Buke of Disciplyne; and that everie minister may haif letteris thairupoun.

[329] In MSS. 1566, G, &c., and Vautr. edit. "personis."

6. That na letteris of the Sessioun, nor [any] utheris tak place, quhill the stipendis contened in the Buke of Disciplyne, for sustentatioun of the ministeris, be first consignat in the handis, at the leist, of the princ.i.p.allis of the parochinaris.

7. That punischement be appoynt.i.t aganis sik as purchess, bringis hame, or executis within this Realme, the Paipis Bullis.

The tennour of the Supplicatioun wes this:--

PLEIS your Honouris, and the wisdomes of suche as ar heir presentlie convenit with yow in Counsall, to understand, that by mony argumentis we perceave quhat the pestilent generatioun of that Romane Antichrist within this Realme pretendis; to wit, that thai wald of new erect thair idolatrie, tak upone thame to impyre abufe our conscience, and so to command us, the trew subjectis of this Realme, and suche as G.o.d of his mercy hes (under our Soverane) subjected unto us, in all thingis to obey thair appet.i.tis. Honestie cravis, and conscience movis us, to mak the verray secreittis of oure hertis patent to youre Honouris in that behalf; quhilk is this, "That befoir that ever thai tyrantis and dumb doggis impyre abufe us, and abufe suche as G.o.d hes subjected unto us, that we the Barronis and Gentilmen professing Christ Jesus within this Realme, ar fullie determined to hasard lyffe, and quhatsoever we haif received of our G.o.d in temporall thingis." Most humblie thairfoir beseiking your Honouris, that suche ordour may be takin, that we haif nott occasioun to tak agane the swerd of just defence into oure handis, quhilk we haif willinglie (efter that G.o.d hes gevin victorie, bayth to your Honouris and us) resignit ovir in your handis; to the end, that G.o.ddis Evangell may be publiklie within this Realme preached; the trew Ministeris thairof resonabillie sustened; Idolatrie suppressed, and the committaris thairof punissit, according to the lawes of G.o.d and man. In doing whairof, your Honouris sall find us, nott onlie obedient unto yow in all thingis lauchfull, but also reddy at all tymes to bring under ordour and obedience, suche as wald rebell aganis your just authoritie, quhilk, in absence of our Soverane, we acknawlege to be in your handis. Beseiking your Honouris, with uprycht jugement and indifferencie, to luyk upone thir oure few Articles, and, by thir oure brethrein, to signifie unto us suche answer agane, as may declair your Honouris worthy of that place, quhairunto G.o.d (efter some dangeris sustened) in his mercy hes called yow. And lett thir ennemeis of G.o.d a.s.sure thameselfis, that gif your Honouris put nocht ordour unto thame, that we sall schortlie tak suche ordour, that thai salbe nather abill to do quhat thai list, nather yit to leif upone the sweit of the browis of suche as ar na debteris unto thame. Lett your Honouris conceave na thing of us, bot all humble obedience in G.o.d.

Bott let the Papistis be yitt anys agane a.s.sured that thair pryid and idolatrie we will not suffer.

(Directed fra the a.s.semblie of the Kirk, the 28th[330] of Maij 1561, and send by thir brethrein,[331] the Maister of Lindesay, the Laird of Lochinvar,[332] the Laird of Pharnyhirst, the Laird of Quhittingham, Thomas Menzies Provest of Abirdene, and George Lowell burges of Dundee.)

[330] In MSS. 1566, G, &c. "the 18." Vautr. edit. gives the correct date, "28th:" see next page, note 4.

[331] The persons who formed this deputation from the General a.s.sembly to the Lords of Secret Council, were, (1.) Patrick Master of Lindesay, who succeeded to the t.i.tle of Lord Lindsay of Byres, on his father's death in 1563; (2.) John Gordon of Lochinvar, in Kirkcudbrights.h.i.+re; (3.) Andrew Ker of Farnihurst, in Roxburghs.h.i.+re, ancestor to the Earls of Lothian; (4.) William Douglas of Whittingham, in East Lothian, a grandson of James second Earl of Morton, and afterwards one of the Senators of the College of Justice; (5.) Thomas Menzies of Pitfoddellis, who was Provost of Aberdeen, from 1547 to 1576, without interruption; and, (6.) George Lovell, burgess of Dundee, whose name has already occurred in Knox.

[332] In MS. 1566, "the Lard of Low^clewen."