The Works of John Knox Volume II Part 32

[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, t.i.tular 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 t.i.tles; but he was not allowed to exercise his functions as a bishop, nor was his pet.i.tion 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, Ayrs.h.i.+re,) 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 Selkirks.h.i.+re. 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 Selkirks.h.i.+re. A Charter of Confirmation, "quondam Thomae Scott de Hanyng," of the lands of Eleistoun, in the s.h.i.+re of Roxburgh, dated 23d March 1575-6, shows that he was dead in 1576.

[595] John Lockhart of Bar, in the parish of Galston, Ayrs.h.i.+re. 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 Ayrs.h.i.+re.

[598] Andrew Hamilton of Lethame, in Lanarks.h.i.+re. 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 Ayrs.h.i.+re. He succeeded to the t.i.tle 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 Ayrs.h.i.+re. 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 Kirkcudbrights.h.i.+re, the ancestor of the Earls of Kenmure. In 1555, he was appointed Justiciary of the Lords.h.i.+p 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.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Hand written page]

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 G.o.d hath performed, in these our last and wicked dayis, alsweall as in the aiges that have pa.s.sed befoir us, the promisses that is maid to the servandis of G.o.d, 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 pa.s.sed 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.ddis commandimentis, within short tyme brought? The publict ordour of the Churche,[610] yet by the mercy of G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d, 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 PEt.i.tIOUN OF THE PROTESTANTIS OF SCOTLAND.]

In this poynt could never our enemyes caus us to fainte, for Our first Pet.i.tioun 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 G.o.d 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 abolis.h.i.+ng of all suche thingis as myght nureise impietie within the Realme, the actes and statutis of the princ.i.p.ale 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 G.o.d wirk by such as yit leave and remaine witnesses (whither thei will or not) of the foirsaid workis of our G.o.d. We say, our G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d can not perishe, albeit that thei walked in the verray schaddo of death.

[613] See the Pet.i.tions 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) c.u.meth this miserable dispersioun of G.o.ddis 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 G.o.ddis 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 G.o.ddis 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 REa.s.sONIS.]