Chapter XII: The Mercat Cross 137 (6)

‘We have rendered ourselves to her Majesty, which to our own countrymen we would never have done, for no extremity that might have come. We trust her Majesty will not put us out of her hands to make any others, especially our mortal enemy, our masters. If it will please her Majesty to extend her most gracious clemency towards us, she may be as assured to have us as perpetually at her devotion as any of this nation, yea, as any subject of her own; for now with honour we may oblige ourselves to her Majesty farther than before we might, and her Majesty’s benefit will bind us perpetually. In the case we are in, we must confess we are of small value; yet may her Majesty put us in ease, that perhaps hereafter we will be able to serve her Majesty’s turn, which occasion being offered, assuredly there shall be no inlack of good-will. Your Lordship knoweth already what our request is; we pray your Lordship to further it. There was never time wherein your Lordship’s friendship might stand us in such stead. As we have oftentimes heretofore tasted thereof, so we humbly pray you let it not inlack us now, in time of this our great misery, when we have more need than ever we had. Whatsoever our deservings have been, forget not your own good natural. If, by your Lordship’s mediation, her Majesty conserve us, your Lordship shall have us perpetually bound to do you service.

‘Let not the misreports of our enemies prevail against us. When we are in her Majesty’s hands she may make us what pleaseth her.

‘From Edinburgh, the 1st June 1573.’

The petition was unheeded. A few days later Drury was instructed to hand over his prisoners to the Regent. In the meantime Maitland had died,--it is difficult to determine whether it was from natural causes or ‘after the old Roman fashion, to prevent his coming to the shambles’--and Grange was left to bear the brunt of Morton’s revenge.

On the 3rd of August, Sir William Kirkcaldy and his brother James, together with Morsman and Cockie, the two goldsmiths who had coined money in the Queen’s name, were brought to trial and condemned to death. Between the passing of the sentence and its execution in the afternoon of the same day, a final and frantic effort was made to save the Laird of Grange. Five score gentlemen,--kinsmen, friends, and well-wishers,--the least of them having heritage worth five hundred marks Scots a year, offered to become servants, themselves and their offspring, perpetually, to the houses of Angus and Morton, by giving their bond of man-rent; and, in addition to that, to pay twenty pounds annually, for more thraldom. They further promised to hand over twenty thousand pounds to the Regent, before the following Michaelmas, and to restore twenty thousand pounds of the Queen’s jewels that were in sundry hands. But Morton was under the influence of a power greater than even his own avarice. The offers, he admitted to Burghley, were as large as could possibly have been made; yet, he added, ‘considering what has been, and is, daily spoken by the preachers, that God’s plague will not cease till the land be purged of blood, and having regard that such as are interested by the death of their friends, the destruction of their houses, and the away-taking of their goods, could not be satisfied by any offer made to me in particular, I deliberated to let justice proceed.’

It was through David Lindsay, the minister of Leith, who visited Kirkcaldy after the trial, that this last appeal for mercy was made. When he returned with a stern refusal the condemned man said to him: ‘Mr David, for our old friendship and for Christ’s sake leave me not.’ A little later, when he saw the scaffold prepared at the Cross, the day fair and the sun shining brightly, so marked a change came over him that Lindsay, noticing it, inquired what affected him. ‘Faith, Mr David,’ replied he, ‘I perceive well now that Mr Knox was the true servant of God, and that his threatenings are accomplished.’ He then desired Lindsay to repeat Knox’s words. The minister did so, adding that Knox had told him that he had been earnest with God for Grange; that he was sorry for what should befall his body for the love he bore him; but that he was assured there was mercy for his soul. Kirkcaldy seemed much comforted and encouraged by this. As the fatal hour drew near he begged Lindsay to accompany him to the scaffold: ‘I hope in God, that after men shall think I am passed and gone, I shall give you a token of the assurance of that mercy to my soul according to the speech of that man of God.’

In the afternoon the Laird of Grange, and Morsman, who was to be executed with him--James Kirkcaldy and Cockie were to be hanged later in the day--were drawn backwards from their prison to the gibbet. It was about four o’clock, ‘the sun being west, about the north-west corner of the steeple, when Sir William was thrust off the ladder. As he was hanging, his face was set toward the east; but within a prettie space turned about to the west against the sun, and so remained; at which time Mr David marked him, when all supposed he was dead, to lift up his hands which were bound before him, and to lay them down again softlie; which moved him with exclamation to glorify God before all the people.’

Of the man who thus ended his eventful life, his contemporary Melville has written: ‘He was humble, gentle, and meek, like a lamb in the house, but like a lion in the fields. He was a lusty, strong, and well-proportioned personage, hardy, and of a magnanimous courage, secret and prudent in all his enterprises, so that never one that he made or devised misgave, where he was present himself. When he was victorious he was very merciful, and naturally liberal, an enemy to greediness and ambition, and a friend to all men in adversity. He fell frequently in trouble in protecting innocent men from such as would oppress them, so that these his worthy qualifications were also partly causes and means of his wreck; for they promoted him so, in the opinion of many, that some loved him for his religion, uprightness, and manliness; others, again, depended upon him for his good fortune and apparent promotion, whereby divers of them hoped to be advanced and rewarded, supposing that offices and honours could not fail to fall to him. All which he wanted through his own default; for he had fled from avarice, and abhorred ambition, and refused sundry great offices even to be Regent, which were in his offer as well as other great benefices and pensions. Thus wanting place and subsistence to reward he was soon abandoned by his greedy and ambitious defenders: for when they saw him at a strait, they drew to others, whom they perceived to aim at more profitable marks. On the other hand, he was as much envied by those who were of a vile and unworthy nature, of whom many have made tragical ends for their too great avarice and ambition, as shortly after did the Earl of Morton. This gallant gentleman perished for being too little ambitious and greedy.’

Nothing that has been recorded in these pages contradicts Melville’s eulogy. And posterity may be content to adopt his estimate of the character of an honourable man, a brave soldier, and a sincere patriot.

THE END.

INDEX

ARRAN, Earl of, besieges St Andrews, 29.

BALNEAVES, Henry, at St Andrews, 28.

---- sent to Henry VIII., 30.

---- a prisoner in France, 42.

BEATON, murder of Cardinal, 20-25.

BOTHWELL accused of murdering Darnley, 84.

---- carries off Mary, 85.

---- marries Mary, 89.

---- retreats to Borthwick Castle, 89.

---- at Carberry, 90.

---- pursued by Kirkcaldy, 94.

CAITHNESS, Bishop of, writes to Wharton, 56.

CARBERRY HILL, 90.

CARMICHAEL, one of Beaton’s murderers, 24.

---- a prisoner in France, 42.

DARNLEY, marriage of, 82.

---- murdered, 84.

EVERS, Lord, Governor of Berwick, 53.

EVERS, Ralph, meets Kirkcaldy in single combat, 54.

GRANGE, the, 9.

GUISE, Mary of, attempts to check the Reformation, 63.

---- enters Perth, 67.

---- death of, 79.

HAMILTON, James, a hostage at St Andrews, 27.

HENRY VIII. negotiates with James V., 11.

---- at war with James V., 15.

---- sends help to St Andrews, 30.

JAMES V., 11.

---- and the Treasurer, 12.

---- threatens the Prelates, 12.

---- rejects alliance with England, 15.

---- defeated at Solway Moss, 16.

---- at Halyards, 16.

----, death of, 17.

JEWELS, the Queen’s claimed, 149.

KIRKCALDY, James, 13.

---- marries Helen Leslie, 18.

---- his brother’s agent, 144.

---- betrayed by his wife, 144.

---- executed, 153.

KIRKCALDY, John, a prisoner in England, 53.

---- attacked by Durie, 118.

KIRKCALDY, Sir George de, 10.

KIRKCALDY, Sir James, 10.

---- appointed Treasurer, 10.

---- opposed to Beaton, 10.

---- arrests Sir James Hamilton, 11.

---- negotiates with Henry VIII., 11.

---- accused of Heresy, 12.

---- denounces the Prelates, 12.

---- plot against him, 13.

---- plots against Beaton, 21.

KIRKCALDY, Sir James, at St Andrews, 28.

---- a prisoner in France, 42.

----, death of, 53.

KIRKCALDY, Sir William de, 10.

KIRKCALDY, Sir William, birth of, 18.

---- with James V., 16.

---- at the King’s death, 18.

---- educated in France, 20.

---- at the murder of Beaton, 22.

---- sent to Henry VIII., 30.

---- returns to St Andrews, 32.

---- a prisoner in France, 42.

---- escapes from Mt. St. Michel, 45.

---- returns to Scotland, 47.

---- secret agent in France, 48.

---- serves under Henry II., 48.

---- offers his services to Mary Tudor, 51.

---- returns to Scotland, 52.

---- meets Evers in single combat, 54.

---- negotiates with Wharton, 56.

---- his interview with Knox, 67.

---- writes to Sir H. Percy, 68.

---- sets forth the Policy of the Congregation, 69.

---- declares himself with the Protestants, 72.

---- at the siege of Leith, 73.

---- his house destroyed, 76.

---- harasses the French in Fife, 77.

---- reported to be wounded, 78.

---- Knox’s praise of, 78.

---- besieges Castle Semple, 80.

---- nearly captures Huntly, 81.

---- opposes the marriage with Darnley, 81.

KIRKCALDY, Sir William, in the Round About Raid, 82.

---- escapes to England, 83.

---- returns to Scotland, 83.

---- writes to Cecil concerning Darnley’s murder, 85.

---- pursues Mary and Bothwell, 89.

---- at Carberry, 90.

---- protests against the treatment of Mary, 92.

---- pursues Bothwell, 94.

---- Governor of Edinburgh Castle, 97.

---- at Langside, 99.

---- disapproves of Murray’s policy, 100.

---- challenges Morton, 103.

---- rescues Maitland, 105.

---- his intentions suspected, 108.

---- justifies his conduct, 109.

---- his attitude towards Lennox, 115.

---- forcibly rescues a prisoner, 119.

---- denounced by Knox, 120.

---- prepares for a siege, 125.

---- writes a ballad, 126.

---- his challenge, 127.

---- justifies his conduct, 128.

---- his challenge taken up, 133.

---- surrenders to Drury, 148.

---- his appeal to Burghley, 150.

---- appeal to Morton, 152.

---- his execution, 153.

---- his character, 153.

KNOX, John, at St Andrews, 28.

---- a prisoner in France, 41.

---- returns to England, 47.

---- preaches in Perth, 65.

---- urges an appeal to England, 67.

---- denounces Kirkcaldy, 120.

---- his death, 141.

LANGSIDE, battle of, 99.

LEITH besieged by the Congregation, 73.

---- siege of, raised, 74.

LENNOX appointed Regent, 115.

---- his death, 135.

LESLEY, John, one of Beaton’s murderers, 24.

LESLEY, Norman, one of Beaton’s murderers, 21.

---- a prisoner in France, 42.

---- death of, 49.

LESLIE, Helen, 13.

---- married to James Kirkcaldy, 18.

---- betrays her husband.

LINDSAY, Sir David, at St Andrews, 28.

MAITLAND of Lethington joins the Congregation, 73.

---- impeached, 102.

---- finds refuge in Edinburgh Castle, 105.

---- during the siege, 144.

---- appeals to Burghley, 151.

---- his death, 152.

MAR appointed Regent, 136.

---- his death, 141.

MARY STUART returns to Scotland, 81.

---- marries Darnley, 82.

---- pursues the malcontents, 82.

---- carried off by Bothwell, 85.

---- marries Bothwell, 89.

---- retreats to Borthwick Castle, 89.

MARY STUART at Carberry, 90.

---- escapes from Lochleven, 97.

---- takes the field against Murray, 98.

---- at Langside, 99.

MORTON appointed Regent, 141.

MURRAY appointed Regent, 97.

---- takes the field against Mary, 98.

---- at Langside, 99.

---- death of, 106.

PERTH, religious riots in, 66.

---- the Congregation departs from, 67.

---- Mary of Guise enters, 67.

PITTENWEEM, Prior of, 14.

RIZZIO murdered, 84.

ROUND ABOUT RAID, 82.

SEMPLE, poetical appeal to Kirkcaldy, 116.

---- his description of Kirkcaldy’s surrender, 149.

SINCLAIR, Master of, Kirkcaldy’s comrade, 76.

ST ANDREWS, Castle of, besieged, 26-40.

STIRLING, the Raid of, 134.

STROZZI at the siege of St Andrews, 37.

WHARTON negotiates with Kirkcaldy, 58.

FAMOUS SCOTS SERIES

_The following Volumes are in preparation_:--

GEORGE BUCHANAN. By ROBERT WALLACE, M.P.

JEFFREY AND THE EDINBURGH REVIEWERS. By Sir HUGH GILZEAN REID.

ADAM SMITH. By HECTOR C. MACPHERSON.

MUNGO PARK. By T. BANKS MACLACHLAN.

ROBERT FERGUSSON. By A. B. GROSART.

JAMES THOMSON. By WILLIAM BAYNE.

DAVID HUME. By Professor CALDERWOOD.

THOMAS REID. By Professor CAMPBELL FRASER.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE “FAMOUS SCOTS” SERIES.

Of SIR WALTER SCOTT, by GEORGE SAINTSBURY,

The _Pall Mall Gazette_ says:--

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Of THOMAS CARLYLE, by H. C. MACPHERSON,

The _Literary World_ says:--

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Of ALLAN RAMSAY, by OLIPHANT SMEATON,

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Of HUGH MILLER, by W. KEITH LEASK,

The _Expository Times_ says:--

“It is a right good book and a right true biography.... There is a very fine sense of Hugh Miller’s greatness as a man and a Scotsman; there is also a fine choice of language in making it ours.”

Of JOHN KNOX, by A. TAYLOR INNES,

Mr Hay Fleming in the _Bookman_ says:--

“A masterly delineation of those stirring times in Scotland, and of that famous Scot who helped so much to shape them.”

Of ROBERT BURNS, by GABRIEL SETOUN,

The _New Age_ says:--

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Of THE BALLADISTS, by JOHN GEDDIE,

The _Spectator_ says:--

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Of RICHARD CAMERON, by Professor HERKLESS,

The _Dundee Courier_ says:--

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Of SIR JAMES YOUNG SIMPSON, by EVE BLANTYRE SIMPSON,

The _Daily Chronicle_ says:--

“It is indeed long since we have read such a charmingly-written biography as this little Life of the most typical and ‘Famous Scot’ that his countrymen have been proud of since the time of Sir Walter.... There is not a dull, irrelevant, or superfluous page in all Miss Simpson’s booklet, and she has performed the biographer’s chief duty--that of selection--with consummate skill and judgment.”

Of THOMAS CHALMERS, by W. GARDEN BLAIKIE,

The _Spectator_ says:--

“The most notable feature of Professor Blaikie’s book--and none could be more commendable--is its perfect balance and proportion. In other words, justice is done equally to the private and to the public life of Chalmers, if possible greater justice than has been done by Mrs. Oliphant.”

Of JAMES BOSWELL, by W. KEITH LEASK,

The _Morning Leader_ says:--

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Of TOBIAS SMOLLETT, by OLIPHANT SMEATON,

The _Weekly Scotsman_ says:--

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The _Leeds Mercury_ says:--

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The _Weekly Citizen_ says:--

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Of NORMAN MACLEOD, by JOHN WELLWOOD,

The _Star_ says:--

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FOOTNOTES:

[1] Sent back.

[2] If any troubles should arise.

[3] Worthy.

[4] Without equal in this kingdom.

[5]
For I have men and meat enough,
They know I am a fighter tough,
And will be right soon grieved;
When they have lost as many teeth,
As they did at the siege of Leith,
They will be fain to leave it.
Then who, I pray you, shall be bound
Their losses to make good?
Or give such composition
As they got then of France?
Thus blinded, beguiled,
They will but get a cheat;
Come they here, these two years
They shall not miss their thrashing.

[6] clamour.

[7] afraid.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:

--Obvious print and punctuation errors were corrected.