Chapter III: Personis Subject to Discipline (7)

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 circumspect 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 godlie, 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] assured 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 reassonyng 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 assured then," said he, "that ye shall please God, 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 cumith and shall not tarie, &c._

"AFTER commendatioun of my service unto your Lordschipe, yf
I had knawin of your Lordshipis 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 Lordshipe
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 godlie. 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 God, ar ye debttour unto hir, as
reassonablie 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
God, but also doeth what in you lyeth, to kendle against
your self his wraith and havie displeasour. These wordis ar
scharpe, and God is witnesse that in dolour of heart I
wraitt thame; but becaus thei ar trew, and pronunced by God
himself, I dar not but admonische you, perceaving you, as it
war, sleaping in synne. The proude stubburnes, whairof your
Lordship hath oft compleaned, will not excuise you before
God; 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 God: 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 cumpany from your lauchfull wyff. I wrytt nothing in
defence of hir mysbehavour towardis your Lordship 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
God of this freammed and strange intreatment of your wyff.
And yf by you such impietie be committed, as is bruited,
then, befoir God, 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 God to be [ane] ennemye.

"In the end, I most heartlie pray your Lordship, 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 Lordship, 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 Lordship, whom God assist. In haist
from Glasgu, the 7. of May 1563. Your Lordships to command
in godlynes.

(_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.]

[Sidenote: HUNTLEY FOIRFALTED.]

The summondis war direct against the Messe-mongaris with expeditioun, and in the streatest form. The day was appointed the xix of May, a day onlie befoir the Parliament. Off the Papis knychtis[887] compeared the Bischop of Sanctandrois,[888] the Priour of Whitthorne,[889] the Parsone of Sanquhair,[890] Williame Hammyltoun of Camskeyth, Johne Gordoun of Barskeoghe, with otheris diverse. The Protestantis convened hoill to crave for justice. The Quene asked counsall of the Bischope of Ross,[891] and of the old Laird of Lethingtoun,[892] (for the youngar was absent, and so the Protestantis had the fewar unfreindis,) who affirmed, "That she must see hir lawis keapt, or ellis she wold get no obedience." And so was preparatioun maid for thair accusationis. The Bischope, and his band of the exempted sorte, maid it nyse to entyre befoir the Erle of Argyle who sat in judgement;[893] butt at last he was compelled to entir within the barr. A meary man, (who now sleapis in the Lord,) Robert Norwell, instead of the Bischoppis croce, bair befoir him a steyll hammer; whairat the Bischope and his band was not a lytill offended, becaus the Bischoppis priviledges war nott then currant in Scotland, (which day God grant oure posteritie may see of longar continuance then we possessed it.) The Bischope and his fellowis, after much ado, and long dryft of tyme, cam in the Quenis will, and war committed to warde, some to one place, some to ane other. The Lady Erskin,[894] (a sweatt morsall for the devillis mouth,) gatt the Bischoppis for hir part. All this was done of a most deape craft, to abuse the simplicitie of the Protestantis, that thei should not prease the Quene with any other thing concernyng materis of religioun at that Parliament, quhilk began within two dayis thairefter.[895] Sche obteined of the Protestantis whatsoever sche desyred; for this was the reassone of many, "We see what the Quene has done; the lyek of this was never heard of within the Realme: we will bear with the Quene; we doubt not but all shalbe weill." Otheris war of a contrarie judgement, and foirspak thingis, as after thei cam to pas, to wit, that nothing was meant but deceat; and that the Quene, how soon that ever Parliament was past, should set the Papistis at freedome: and thairfoir willed the Nobilitie not be abused. But becaus many had thair privat commoditie to be handilled at that Parliament, the commoun cause was the less regarded.

[887] On the 15th of February 1562-3, proclamation had been made for
Parliament to assemble on the 20th March. It was delayed till the 26th
of that month: see next page, note 2.

[888] On the 19th of May 1563, John Archbishop of St. Andrews, and
forty-seven others, chiefly persons in holy orders, were tried before
the Court of Justiciary for celebrating Mass, and attempting to
restore Popery, at Kirk Oswald, Maybole, Paisley, and Congalton. Among
the pannels were the persons mentioned by Knox--Malcolm Prior of
Whitehorn, Robert Creichton, parson of Sanquhar, William Hamilton,
tutor of Cammiskeyth, and John Gordon of Barskcocht. Most of the
persons were committed to ward in Edinburgh, Dumbarton, and other
places. See Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, vol. i. p. *427, and the
Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 75.

[889] See page 370, note 4.

[890] See page 371, note 3.

[891] Henry Sinclair, Bishop of Ross, and President of the Court of
Session.

[892] Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington. This venerable Judge was
born in 1496, and survived till 1586. His attachment to literature has
conferred an enduring celebrity on his name.

[893] Archibald Earl of Argyle, as hereditary Lord Chief Justice,
presided on such occasions.

[894] Daughter of Sir William Murray of Tullibardine: see page 128,
note 2.

[895] The meeting of Parliament took place on the 26th May 1563.
Randolph, on the 3d June, writes thus to Cecil: "The Parliament began
26th May, on which day the Queen came to it in her robes, and crowned;
the Duke carrying the crown, Argill the scepter, and Murray the sword.
She made in English an oration publiquely there, and was present at
the condemnation of the two Earles, Huntley and Sutherland." In like
manner, the Diurnal of Occurrents states, that "Upon the xxvj day of
the said moneth of Maij, the Quenis Majestie come to the Tolbuith of
Edinburgh, with the Lordis of Parliament, in the maist honourable
manner, and past thairin; and efter that she had maid hir proposition
and orisoun in Parliament, the Lordis chesit the Lordis of the
Articles," &c. (p. 76.)

The Erle of Huntley, whose corps had lyn unburyed till that tyme, it was brought to the Tolbuyth:[896] he was accused, his armes rent of, him self, the Erle of Sudderland, and ellevin Baronis and Lairdis, bearing Gordoun to surname, war that day foirfalted. The Lady Huntley craftely protested, and asked the support of a man of law. In that Parliament war restored the Laird of Grange in Fyff, Maister Henrie Balnaves, Johne Lesly, and Alexander Whytlaw.[897]

[896] According to a barbarous custom, the body of a person deceased,
when accused of treason, was brought into Court. It will be seen from
the note at page 359, that Huntley's body, in the view of carrying
through his forfeiture, had been brought to Edinburgh in December
1562. And, "Upoun the xxviij day of the said moneth, [May 1563] the
Quenis Majestie come to the Tolbuith of Edinburgh and Lordis of
Parliament, at ane efternone, and foirfaltit George Erle of Huntlie,
_being in the said Tolbuyth in ane kist_, &c.; and als Alexander Erle
of Sutherland was foirfaltit, and the saidis Erlis armes reven and
deletit furth of memorie." (Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 76.)

[897] The record of this Parliament is lost; and in the printed Acts
no mention is made of the forfeitures of Kirkaldy of Grange, Balnavis
of Halhill, Lesley of Parkhill, and Whytlaw of New-Grange, having been
rescinded.

[Sidenote: THE PRYDE OF WEMEN AT THAT PARLIAMENT.]

[Sidenote: FLATTERARES VNEW.]

Such styneken pryde of wemen as was sein at that Parliament, was never sein befoir in Scotland. Thre syndrie dayis the Quene raid to the Tolbuyth. The first day sche maid a paynted orisoun;[898] and thair mycht have bene hard among hir flatteraris, "_Vox Dianæ!_ The voce of a goddess, (for it could not be _Dei_,) and not of a woman! God save that sweat face! Was thair ever oratour spack so properlie and so sweitlie!"

[898] In MS. G, "an oration."

[Sidenote: WHY RELIGIOUN AND THE COMMOUNWEALTH WAR DOYTH NEGLECTED.]

[Sidenote: VARIANCE BETWIX THE ERLE OF MURRAY AND JOHNE KNOX.]

All thingis myslyking[899] the Preachearis, thei spack boldlie against the tarejatting of thair taillies, and against the rest of thair vanitie, which thei affirmed should provock Goddis vengeance, not onlie against those foolishe wemen, but against the hoill Realme; and especiallie against those that manteaned thame in that odiouse abusing of thingis that mycht have bene better bestowed. Articles war presented for ordour to be tacken for apperall, and for reformatioun of other enormities; but all was scripped at. The Earldome of Murray neaded confirmatioun, and many thingis war to be ratified that concerned the help of friendis and servandis; and thairfoir thei myght nott urge the Quene, for yf thei so did, she wald hald no Parliament; and what then should become of thame that had melled with the slaughter of the Erle of Huntley? Lett that Parliament pas ower, and when the Quene asked[900] any thing of the Nobilitie, as sche most do befoir hir mariage, then should the Religioun be the first thing that should be establessed. It was answered, That the poetts and paynteris erred nott altogether, that fayned and paynted Occasioun with a bald hynd-head:[901] for the first, when it is offered, being lost, is hard to be recovered againe. Thc mater fell so hote betwix the Erle of Murray and some otheris of the Courte, and Johne Knox, that familiarlie after that tyme thei spack nott togetther more then a year and half; for the said Johne, by his letter, gave a discharge to the said Erle of all further intromissioun or cayr with his effaires. He maid unto him a discourse of thair first acquaintance; in what estait he was when that first thei spack togetther in London;[902] how God had promoted him, and that abuf manis judgement; and in the end maid this conclusioun, "But seing that I perceave myself frustrat of my expectatioun, which was, that ye should ever have preferred God to your awin affectioun, and the advancement of his treuth to your singular commoditie, I committ you to your awin wytt, and to the conducting of those who better can please you. I praise my God, I this day leave you victour of your enemyes, promoted to great honouris, and in credytt and authoritie with your Soverane. Yf so ye long continew, none within the Realme shalbe more glad than I shalbe: but yf that after this ye shall dekay, (as I fear that ye shall,) then call to mynd by what meanes God exalted you; quhilk was neather by bearing with impietie, neather yitt by manteanyng of pestilent Papistis."

[899] In MS. G, "mislyked."

[900] In MS. G, "sall ask."

[901] In MS. G, is this marginal note, "Occasioun painted with a bald
hind-heid."

[902] This was probably in July 1552, Lord James having remained for
some time in London on his way to France, or upon his return in
December following. In 1556-7, he subscribed the letter sent to Knox
at Geneva, inviting him to return to Scotland. See vol. i. p. 267.

[Sidenote: JOHNE KNOXES DISCHARGE TO THE ERLE OF MURRAY.]

This bill and discharge was so pleasing to the flatteraris of the said Erle, that thei triumphed of it, and war glad to have gotten thair occasioun; for some invyed that so great familiaritie was betwix the said Erle and Johne Knox. And thairfoir fra the tyme that thei gat ones that occasioun to separat thame, thei ceassed nott to cast oyle in the burnyng flambe, which ceassed nott to burne, till that God by watter of afflictioun, began to slocken it, as we shall after hear. But least that thei[903] should alltogetther have bein sein to have foirsaikin God, (as in verray deid boyth God and his Word was far frome the hearttis of the most parte of the Courteouris in that aige, and a fewe excepted,) thei began a newe schift, to wit, to speak of the punishement of adulterye, of witchcraft, and to seik the restitutioun of the glebes and manses to the Ministeris of the Kirk, and of the reparatioun of churches: and thairby thei thought to have pleased the godlye that war hyghtlie offended at thair slackness.

[903] After the words, "least that they," in the margin of MS. 1566,
there was added, "Lethingtoun and his Companyons;" but this note was
afterwards deleted. At this Parliament, Lethington was not present.
Two or three slight corrections in the text of the MS. also occur in
this place.

The Act of Oblivioun passed, becaus some of the Lordis had intresse; but the actis against adulterye, and for the mansses and gleibes, war so modifyed, that no law, and such law mycht stand _in eodem predicamento_; to speak plaine, no law and such Actis war boyth alyik. The Actis ar in prynt:[904] lett wyese men read, and then accuse us, yf without cause we compleane.

[904] The Acts of this Parliament were printed in a separate form at
Edinburgh by Robert Lekprewik, 1565, folio,--an edition of great
rarity. The Acts of 1563, are twenty-five in number, "extractit furth
of the buikis of Parliament," by Maister James Makgill, Clerk
Register. They are included in the collected edition of the Acts of
1424 to 1564, which issued from the same press in 1566, and in all the
subsequent editions.

[Sidenote: JOHNE KNOX HIS SERMON.]

[Sidenote: [905]THE SPEAKAR WAS THE DEANE OF RESTALRIG.]

[905] Mr. John Sinclair, Dean of Restalrig, and afterwards Lord
President of the Court of Session.

In the progresse of this corruptioun, and befoir the Parliament dissolved, Johne Knox, in his sermon befoir the most parte of the Nobilitie, began to enter in a deape discourse of Goddis mercyes which that Realme had felt, and of that ingratitude quhilk he espyed almost in the hoill multitude, which God had marvelouslie delivered from the boundage and tyrannye boyth of body and saule. "And now, my Lordis," said he, "I praise my God, throught Jesus Christ, that in your awin presence I may powre furth the sorowis of my hearte; yea, your selfis shalbe witnesse, yf that I shall maik any ley in thingis that ar bypast. From the begyning of Goddis myghty wirking within this Realme, I have bein with you in your most desperat tentationis. Ask your awin consciences, and lett thame answer you befoir God, yf that I, (not I, but Goddis Spirite by me,) in your greatest extremitie willed you nott ever to depend upoun your God, and in his name promissed unto you victorye and preservatioun from your ennemyes, so that ye wold only depend uponn his protectioun, and preferr his glory to your awin lyves and worldlie commoditie. In your most extreame dangearis I have bein with you: Sanct Johnestoun, Cowper Mure, and the Craiggis of Edinburgh, ar yitt recent in my heart; yea, that dark and dolorouse nyght whairin all ye, my Lordis, with schame and feare left this toune,[906] is yitt in my mynd; and God forbid that ever I forgett it. What was (I say) my exhortatioun unto you, and what is fallen in vane of all that ever God promised unto you by my mouth, ye your selfis yitt lyve to testifie. Thair is nott one of you against whom was death and destructioun threatned, perished in that danger: And how many of your ennemyes hes God plagued befoir your eyis! Shall this be the thankfulness that ye shall render unto your God, to betray his cause, when ye have it in your awin handis to establesh it as ye please? The Quene, say ye, will not agree with us: Ask ye of hir that which by Goddis word ye may justlie requyre, and yf she will not agree with you in God, ye ar not bound to agree with hir in the Devill: Lett her plainelie understand so far of your myndis, and steall not from your formar stoutness in God, and he shall prosper you in your interpryses. But I can see nothing but such a reculling frome Christ Jesus, as the man that first and most spedelie flyeth from Christis enseignzie, holdeth him self most happy. Yea, I hear that some say, That we have nothing of our Religioun establesshed, neather by Law or Parliament. Albeit that the malitious wordis of sick can neather hurte the treuth of God, nor yitt us that thairupoun depend, yitt the speakar for his treasone against God committed, and against this poore Commounwealth, deserves the gallowes. For oure Religioun being commanded, and so establesshed by God, is accepted within this Realme in publict Parliament; and yf thei will say that was no Parliament, we man, and will say, and also prove, that that Parliament was also lauchfull as ever any that passed befoir it within this Realme. Yea, yf the King then lyving[907] was King, and the Quene now in this Realme be lauchfull Quene, that Parliament can nott be denyed.

[906] After the skirmish of Restalrig, (see vol. i. pp. 460-463,) on
Monday the 6th November 1559, "the said day at evin in the nycht, the
Congregatioun depairtit furth of Edinburgh to Lynlithquo, and left
thair artailzerie void upon the calsay lyand, and the Toun [of
Edinburgh] desolute." (Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 54.)

[907] This refers to Queen Mary's first husband, Francis the Second,
who was styled King of France and Scotland.

[Sidenote: JOHNE KNOX HIS AFFIRMATIOUN.]

"And now, my Lordis, to putt end to all, I hear of the Quenis mariage: Duckis, brethren to Emperouris, and Kingis, stryve all for the best game; but this, my Lordis, will I say, (note the day, and beare witnesse efter,) whensoever the Nobilitie of Scotland professing the Lord Jesus, consentis that ane infidell (and all Papistis are infidellis) shalbe head to your Soverane, ye do so far as in ye lyeth to banishe Christ Jesus from this Realme; ye bring Goddis vengeance upoun the countrey, a plague upoun your self, and perchaunse ye shall do small conforte to your Soverane."

These wordis, and this maner of speaking was judged intollerable. Papistis and Protestantis war both offended; yea, his most familiaris disdained him for that speaking. Placeboes and flatteraris posted to the Courte to geve advertisement that Knox had spockin against the Quenis mariage. The Proveist of Lyncluden,[908] Dowglass of Drumlangrik by surname, was the man that geve the charge that the said Johne should present him self befoir the Quene: quhilk he did sone after dennar. The Lord Ochiltrie, and diverse of the faythfull, bayr him cumpany to the Abbay; but none past in to the Quene with him in the cabinet but Johne Erskine of Dune, then Superintendent of Anguss and Mearnes.[909]

[908] In MS. 1566, it was originally written "The Persone of Dundrennan," but this is deleted, and "Proveist of Lyncluden, Douglas of Drumlanrig by name," inserted. In the MS. the name Lyncluden appears as if written Glyncluden; and this form of the name is retained in the later MSS., adding an additional blunder, by writing, "N. Douglas _of Lanerk_ by surname, &c."--Lincluden was a Priory or Convent of Black Nuns, situated upon the water of Cluden a few miles above Dumfries; but owing to their scandalous lives, the Priory had been changed by the Earl of Douglas, in the reign of Robert the Third, into a College or Provostry. (Keith's Catalogue, pp. 459, 470.)

According to the peerage writers, Mr. Robert Douglas, Provost of Lincluden, (from whom the Douglasses of Burford are descended,) was the second son of Sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig, who was killed at Floddon in 1513. But Chalmers has shown, that he was the natural son of Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig, who succeeded to the estates in 1513, and died in 1578. Mr. Robert Douglas obtained letters of legitimation, 8th October 1559, being twelve years after his appointment as Provost of Lincluden, 16th September 1547. (Caledonia, vol. iii. p. 309.) In December 1585, Mr. Robert Douglas still retained his title as Provost of Lincluden, and the fruits of the benefice, when a gift of the Provostrie was ratified by an Act of Parliament in favour of William Douglas, lawful son to ---- Douglas of Drumlanrig. (Acta Parl. Scot. vol. iii. pp. 415, 436.) About the same time he was appointed Collector General and Treasurer of the New Augmentations: he is so styled in deeds and Parliamentary proceedings between 1587 and 1594. William Douglas of Lincluden and Grenelaw, "the eldest son and apparent heir of William Douglas of Baitford," was tried and executed at Edinburgh in September 1610. (Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, vol. iii. p. 90.)

[909] This interview with the Queen must have been at the end of May or beginning of June, as Knox says it was immediately after a sermon he had preached before Parliament was dissolved.

[Sidenote: THE QUENIS FUME AGAINST JOHNE KNOX.]

The Quene, in a vehement fume, began to cry out, that never Prince was handled as she was. "I have," said sche, "borne with you in all your rigorouse maner of speaking, bayth against my self and against my Uncles; yea, I have sought your favouris by all possible meanes. I offered unto you presence and audience whensoever it pleassed you to admonishe me; and yitt I can nott be quyte of you. I avow to God, I shalbe anes revenged." And with these wordis, skarslie could Marnock,[910] hir secreat chalmer-boy, gett neapkynes to hold hyr eyes drye for the tearis; and the owling, besydes womanlie weaping, stayed hir speiche.

[910] Evidently the same person with Marna, whose name occurs among
the "gentilhomes servans," in the "Menu de la Maison de la Royne,
faict par Mons. de Pinguillon," 1562; as the names of persons, in this
curious record, are very incorrectly written. A few copies were
printed for private circulation, by Thomas Thomson, Esq., in 1818,
4to.

[Sidenote: ANSURE.]

The said Johne did patientlie abyde all the first fume, and att opportunitie answered, "Trew it is, Madam, your Grace and I have bein att diverse controversies, into the which I never perceaved your Grace to be offended at me. Butt when it shall please God to deliver you fra that bondage of darknes and errour in the which ye have been nurisshed, for the lack of trew doctrin, your Majestie will fynd the libertie of my toung nothing offensive. Without the preaching place, Madam, I think few have occasioun to be offendit at me; and thair, Madam, I am nott maister of my self, but man obey Him who commandis me to speik plane, and to flatter no flesche upoun the face of the earth."

"But what have ye to do," said sche, "with my mariage?"

"Yf it pleise your Majestie," said he, "patientlie to hear me, I shall schaw the treuth in plane wordis. I grant your Grace offered unto me more than ever I requyred; but my answer was then, as it is now, that God hath not sent me to await upoun the courtes of Princesses, nor upoun the chamberis of Ladyes; but I am send to preache the Evangell of Jesus Christ, to such as please to hear it; and it hath two partes, Repentance and Fayth. And now, Madam, in preaching reapentance, of necessitie it is that the synnes of men be so noted, that thei may know whairin thei offend; but so it is, that the most parte of your Nobilitie ar so addicted to your affectionis, that neather God his word, nor yitt thair Commounwealth, ar rychtlie regarded. And thairfoir it becomes me so to speak, that thei may know thair dewitie."

"What have ye to do," said sche, "with my mariage? Or what ar ye within this Commounwealth?"

[Sidenote: LETT PAPISTIS JUDGE THIS DAY, 1567.]

"A subject borne within the same," said he, "Madam. And albeit I neather be Erle, Lord, nor Barroun within it, yitt hes God maid me, (how abject that ever I be in your eyes,) a profitable member within the same: Yea, Madam, to me it apperteanes no lesse to foirwarne of suche thingis as may hurte it, yf I foirsee thame, then it does to any of the Nobilitie; for boyth my vocatioun and conscience craves playness of me. And thairfoir, Madam, to your self I say that whiche I speak in publict place: Whensoever that the Nobilitie of this Realme shall consent that ye be subject to ane unfaythfull husband, thei do as muche as in thame lyeth to renunce Christ, to banishe his treuth from thame, to betray the fredome of this Realme, and perchance shall in the end do small conforte to your self."

At these wordis, owling was heard, and tearis mycht have bene sein in greattar abundance than the mater requyred. Johne Erskin of Dun, a man of meak and gentill spreit, stood besyd, and entreated what he could to mitigat hir anger, and gave unto hir many pleasing wordis of hir beautie, of hir excellence, and how that all the Princes of Europe wold he glaid to seak hir favouris. But all that was to cast oyle in the flaming fyre. The said Johne stood still, without any alteratioun of countenance for a long seasson, whill that the Quene gave place to hir inordinat passioun; and in the end he said, "Madam, in Goddis presence I speak: I never delyted in the weaping of any of Goddis creatures; yea, I can skarslie weill abyd the tearis of my awin boyes whome my awin hand correctis, much less can I rejoise in your Majesties weaping. But seing that I have offered unto you no just occasioun to be offended, but have spocken the treuth, as my vocatioun craves of me, I man sustean (albeit unwillinglie) your Majesties tearis, rather then I dar hurte my conscience, or betray my Commounwealth through my silence."

[Sidenote: JOHNE KNOX HIS TALK AMONGIS THE QUENIS LADYIS.]

Heirwith was the Quene more offended, and commanded the said Johne to pass furth of the cabinet, and to abyd farther of hir pleasur in the chalmer. The Laird of Dun taryed, and Lord Johne of Coldinghame cam into the cabinet, and so thei boyth remaned with hyr neyr the space of ane houre. The said Johne stood in the chalmer, as one whom men had never sein, (so war all effrayed,) except that the Lord Ochiltrie bayre him companye: and thairfoir began he to forge talking of the ladyes who war thair sitting in all thair gorgiouse apparell; whiche espyed, he mearelie said, "O fayre Ladyes, how pleasing war this lyeff of youris, yf it should ever abyd, and then in the end that we myght passe to heavin with all this gay gear. But fye upoun that knave Death, that will come whitther we will or not! And when he hes laid on his areist, the foull wormes wilbe busye with this flesche, be it never so fayr and so tender; and the seally sowll, I fear, shalbe so feable, that it can neather cary with it gold, garnassing, targatting, pearle, nor pretious stanes." And by suche meanes procured he the cumpany of women; and so past the tyme till that the Laird of Dun willed him to departe to his house quhill new advertisement. The Queue wold have had the censement of the Lordis of Articles, yf that such maner of speaking deserved not punishement; but sche was consailled to desist: and so that storm quiettit in appearance, but never in the hearte.

[Sidenote: THE BISCHOPPE OF SANCTANDROIS SETT AT LIBERTIE.]

[Sidenote: LEDINGTHONIS PRACTISES.]

Schort after the Parliament, Lethington returned frome his negotiatioun in England[911] and France. God, in the Februare befoir, had strycken that bloody tyrane the Duke of Gueise,[912] which somwhat brak the fard of our Quene for a seassone. But schort after the returnyng of Lethington, pryde and malice begane to schaw thame selfis agane. Sche sett at libertie the Bischope of Sanctandrois, and the rest of the Papistes that befoir war put in preasone for violating of the lawis. Lethingtoun, at his returnyng, shew him self nott a litill offended, that any bruit should have rissen of the Quenis mariage with the King of Spane; for he took upoun him that suche thing never entered in hir hearte: but how trew that was we shall after hear. The end of all his acquittance and complaynt was to discreditt Johne Knox, who had affirmed, that such ane mariage was boyth proponit, and, upoun the parte of our Quene, by the Cardinall accepted.[913] Lethingtoun, in his absence, had run intill ane verray evill bruite among the Nobilitie for too muche serving the Quenis affectionis against the Commounwealth; and thairfoir had he, as one that lacketh no worldly wisdome, maid provisioun boyth in England and in Scotland: For in England he travailled for the freedome of the Erle Bothwell, and by that meane obteaned promesse of his favour. He had thair also tacken ordour for the hamecuming of the Erle of Levenox, as we shall after hear. In Scotland he joyned with the Erle of Atholl: him he promoted, and sett fordwart in Courte; and so began the Erle of Murray to be defaced. And yitt to the said Erie, Lethingtoun at all tymes schew a fayre countenance.

[911] Lethington returned from England towards the end of June. Keith
says, "The Secretary was not in Council on the 18th of June, but he
was present next Council-day, viz. 8th July."

[912] Francis de Lorraine succeeded his father as Duke de Guise, in
1550. He died 24th February 1562-3, having been assassinated by one of
his own gentlemen, named Poltrot, while besieging the city of Orleans,
which was defended by the Protestants. In the following month, the
Grand Prior, (see page 268, note 7,) another of the Queen's uncles,
was slain at the battle of Dreux.

[913] The Cardinal de Lorraine, in August 1563, had actually proposed
the Archduke Charles of Austria to Queen Mary for a husband; but she
declined such an overture.

[Sidenote: JOHNE KNOX HIS ANSURE TOWARDIS HIS PRAYER.]

The rest of that Sommer the Quene spent in hir progresse throught the West countrey, whair in all tounes and gentilmennes places she had her Messe.[914] Which cuming to the earis of Johne Knox, he began that forme of prayer which ordinarlie he sayeth after thankis-giving at his table: "1. Deliver us, O Lord, from the boundage of Idolatrie. 2. Preserve and keap us from the tyranny of strangearis. 3. Continew us in quyetnesse and concord amangis our selfis, yf thy good pleasur be, O Lord, for a seassone," &c. Whille that diverse of the familiaris of the said Johne asked of him why he prayed for quyetnesse to continew for a seassone, and nott rather absolutlie that we should continew in quyetness? His answer was, "That he durst nott pray but in fayth; and faith in Goddis word assured him, that constant quietness could nott continew in that Realme whair Idolatrie had bene suppressed, and then was permitted to be erected agane."

[914] Knox, in a letter to Cecil on the 6th October 1563, (quoted by
Mr. Tytler,) expresses this same feeling in regard to the Queen's
progress, when he says, "the carrying of the Mass through those
quarters which longest had been best reformed, had dejected the hearts
of many, and caused him to disclose the plainness of a troubled
heart." (Hist. vol. vi. p. 286.)

From the West countrey, the Quene past in Ergyll[915] to the hunting, and after returned to Striveling. The Erle of Murray, the Lord Robert of Halyrudhouse,[916] and Lord Johne of Coldinghame, past to the Northland. Justice Courtis war halden; thevis and murtheraris war punished; twa witches war burnt, the eldest was so blynded with the Devill, that sche affirmed, "That na Judge had power ower hir."

[915] Randolph, on the 13th June 1563, informs Cecil that "The Queen,
the Parliament now ended, hath made her Highland apparel for her
journey into Argile." The absence of the English ambassador from
Scotland during the next three months, has deprived us of much minute
information. Keith states that the Queen "sat in Council at Glasgow on
the 8th of July, after which day both she and the Earl of Argyle were
not in Council until the 19th of August at Dumfries."

[916] See vol. i. p. 458; vol. ii. pp. 271, 321.

[Sidenote: THE LAST COMMENDATIOUN OF LORD JOHNE TO THE QUENE.][917]

[917] In the MS. 1566, these words, "quhairof more is spoken after,"
form part of this note, but are deleted, probably when the additional
passage was inserted: see next note.

That same tyme Lord Johne of Coldinghame[918] departed this lyfe in Innerness. It was affirmed, that he commanded suche as war besyd him to say unto the Quene, "That onless she left hir idolatrie, that God wold nott fail to plague hir. He asked God mercy, that he had so far borne with hir in hir impietie, and had manteaned hir in the same:[919] And that no one thing did him more regreat then that he had flattered, fostered, and menteyned hir in hir wickednes against God and his servandis." And in verie deid great cause had he to have lamented his wickednes; for besydes all his other infirmities, in the end, he, for the Quenis plesour, became enemie to verteu and all verteous men, and a patrone to impietie to the uttermost of his power: yea, his vennome was so kendled against God and his word, that in his rage he bursted forth thir wordis: "Or I see the Quenis Majestie sa trubled with the railing of thir knaves, I shall have the best of thame sticked in the pulpett," What farther villanie came fourth of baith their stinking throttes and mouthes, modestie will not suffer us to wryte; wherof, yf he had grace to unfeynedlie repent, it is no small document to Godis mercyes. But howsoever God wrought with him, the Quene regarded his wordis as wynd, or ellis thocht thame to have been forged be otheris, and not to have proceaded from him self; and affirmed plainlie, that they wer devysed be the Laird of Pettarro and Mr. Johne Wode, whome sche both hated, because they flattered hir not in hir danceing and other doinges.[920] One thing in plane wordis she spak, "That God tuik alwyse from hir thay persounes in whome sche had greatest pleasour:" and that she repented; but of farther wickednes no mentioun.

[918] Lord John Stewart, Commendator of Coldingham: see page 320, note
5. By his marriage with the sister and sole heir of James Hepburn Earl
of Bothwell, his family inherited a reversion of that lordship; and
his son, Francis Stewart, in 1587, obtained the dignity of Earl of
Bothwell.

[919] The remaining portion of this paragraph is added in the MS.
1566, upon a separate slip of paper, written in a hand very like
Knox's own; and there is written as a marginal direction to his
amanuensis, "_Tak in this that is sewed in this place quhar it is
scraped out_." The words that are so scored through to be deleted,
are: "When such thingis war schawin unto the Quene, thei war but
mocked at, sche affirmyng that thei war devised by Maister Johne Woode
and by the Laird of Pettarrow; as we sall after more planelie heare."
See fac-simile.

[920] In MS. G, "uther things."

Whill the Quene lay at Striveling, with hir idolatrie in hir chapell, in the Palice of Halyrudhouse war left certane dontybouris, and otheris of the Frenehe menzie, who raised up thair Messe more publictlye then they had done at any tyme before. For upon those same Sundayes that the Church of Edinburgh had the ministration of the Lordis Table, the Papistis in great number resorted to the Abbay, to thair abomination. Which understand, dyverse of the brethren, being sore offended, consulted how to redress that inormitie; and so war appoynted certane of the most zelous, and most upryght in the religion, to await upon the Abbay, that thai myght note such persones as resorted to the Messe. And perceaving a great number to enter into the chapell, some of the brethren burst also in; whereat the Preist and the Frenche dames being affrayed, made the schout to be sent to the town; and Madame Raylie,[921] maistres to the Quenis dontiboures, (for maides that Court could not then beare,) posted on with all diligence to the Comptrollar, the Laird of Pettarro, who then was in Sanct Gelis Kirk at the sermon; and cryed for his assistance, to save hir lyfe, and to saif the Quenis Palice: Who, with greattar haist then nead requyred, obeyed hir desyre, and tuik with him the Provest, the Baillies, and a great part of the faithfull. But when they came where the feare was bruted to have bene, they fand all thingis quyet, except the tumult they broght with thame selves, and peaceable men luiking to the Papistis, and forbidding thame to transgress the lawis. Trew it is, a zelous brother, named Patrick Cranstoun, past into the chapell, and fynding the altar covered, and the Preast reddye to go to that abomination, said, "The Quenis Majestie is not heir: how dar thou then be so malepart, as opinlie to do against the law?" No farther was done nor said, and yit the bruit heirof was posted to the Quene, (with such information as the Papistis could give; which fand such credit, as thair heartis could have wished for,) which was so haynous a cryme in hir eyes, that satisfactioun for that syn was there none without bloode. And therfore, without delay was summoned Andro Armstrang[922] and Patrik Cranstoun, to fynd suyrtie to undirlie the law, for forethought, fellonie, hamesukkin, violent invation of the Quenis Palice, and for spoliation of the same.

[921] In MS. G, "Madame Baylie."--This Madame Raylie was the wife of
Mons. Raullet or Roullet, the Queen's private Secretary. The
disturbance which is here alluded to, happened on Sunday the 15th of
August 1563. Roullet is frequently mentioned in Queen Mary's
correspondence. He was sent to Flanders with letters of credit from
the Queen, addressed to the Cardinal de Granville, in January 1564-5.
(Labanoff, Recueil, &c., vol. i. pp. 197-206, vol. vii. p. 291.) He
died 30th August 1574, as the Queen informs Beaton, Archbishop of
Glasgow, in a letter dated Sheffield, 4th September, (ib. vol. iv. p.
216.) The Earl of Shrewsbury took this occasion to search his coffers
in the hope of discovering letters or papers that might implicate his
Royal Mistress, the unfortunate Queen of Scots. (Chalmers's Life, &c.,
vol. ii. p. 68.) In 1586, in the list of the Queen's attendants, one
of the "gentlewomen of her chamber," was Renee Rallay _alias_
Beauregard. (Labanoff, Recueil, &c., vol. vii. p. 252.)

[922] Andrew Armstrong and George Rynd, burgesses of Edinburgh, on the
1st October, found surety "to underly the law," on the 24th of that
month, for breaking the Queen's proclamation, "in carrying sundry
pistollets, and for convocation of the lieges at the Palace of
Holyrood, and invading sundry of the Queen's domestick servants
therein." The case was postponed to the 13th November, when Patrick
Cranston was commanded to appear. (Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, vol. i.
p. *434.) No account of the subsequent proceedings has been preserved.
At the same time Christian Pinkerton, spouse of James Rogers, and
twenty-one other persons, of whom eight were females, were impannelled
for being present at the celebration of Mass, in the Chapel of
Holyrood, on the 8th August.

These letteris divulged,[923] and the extremitie feared, Brethren (the few that war within the town) consulted upon the next remedie; and in the end concluded, that Johne Knox (to whom the charge was geven to mak advertismentis whensoever daunger sould appear) should wryte to the Brethren in all quarteris, geving information as the matter stoode, and requyring thair assistance: which he did in tennour[924] as heir followes:--

[923] In MS. 1566, "devulgat."

[924] In the MS. 1566, the transcriber has written thirteen lines of
the paragraph at page 397, beginning, "The Brethren advertissed," &c.,
preceded with the words, "as after we shall heare." Having obtained a
copy of his own letter, all this is deleted; the words "as heir
followes" are added, and the paragraph itself repeated, after the
letter: see p. 397.

[Sidenote: THE SUPERSCRIPTIOUN.]

"_Wheresoever two or thre are gathered together in my
name, thare am I in the middest of thame._

[Sidenote: MR. ROBERT PONT STRIKKEN IN THE HEAD WITH A QUHINGAR BE CAPTANE LAUDER.][925]

[925] This marginal note is omitted in MS. G; but it occurs in MS. L
4; and in MS. L 3, it forms part of the text.--The name of Captain
Robert Lauder occurs in the Treasurer's Accounts for 1561, and at
other times. Captain Robert Lauder had a charter of the lands of
Straegthrow, in Forfarshire, 20th July 1566. Parliament, in 1578,
passed an Act of Pacification in his favour. (vol. iii. p. 111.) In
March 1566-7, we find the names of "Capitanes Robert and Hew Lauderis,
Alexander Stewart, and James Culane." (This Stewart was probably the
person mentioned at p. 354.)

"IT is not unknawen unto yow, deare Brethren, what conforte
and tranquillitie God gave unto us, in tymes most dangerous,
by our Christian assemblies, and godly conferences, as oft
as any danger appeared to any member or members of oure
bodye; and how that since we have neglected, or at the least
not frequented our conventionis and assemblies, the
adversaries of Christ Jesus his holie Evangill have
interprysed, and boldened thame selves publictlie and
secretlie, to do many thingis odious in Goddis presence, and
maist hurtfull to the libertie of trew religion, now of
Goddis great favour granted unto us. The holie Sacramentis
are abused be profane Papistis. Messes have bein (and yit
are) opinlie said and manteyned. The bloode of some of our
dearest ministeris has bein shed, without fear of punishment
or correction craved be us. And now last, are two of our
dear brethren, Patrik Cranstoun and Andro Armstrang,
summoned to underly the law, in the town of Edinburgh, the
24th of this instant October, 'For forethought fellonie,
pretended murther, and for invading the Quenis Majesties
Palice of Halyrudhouse, with unlauchfull convocatioun, &c.'
This terrible summonds is direct against owre Brethren,
because that they with two or thre more, passed to the Abbey
upon Sunday, the 15th of August, to behald and note what
persones repared to the Messe; and that because that the
Sunday before, (the Quenis Grace being absent,) there
resorted to that idole a rascall multitude, having opinlie
the least devillissh ceremonie (yea even the conjuring of
thair accurssed watter) that ever they had in the tyme off
greatest blyndnes. Becaus, (I say,) our said Brethren
passed, and that in maist quyet maner, to note sick
abusearis, thir fearfull summondis ar directed against
thame, to mak (no doubt) preparation upon a few, that a door
may be opened to execute creweltie upon a greattar
multitude. And yf so it come to pass, God, no doubt, has
justlie recompanced oure formare negligence and ingratitude,
towardis hym and his benefittis receaved in oure awin
bosoms. God gave to us a most notable victorie, of his and
our ennemies: he brak thair strength, confounded thair
counsailles: he sett us at fredome, and purged this Realme
(for the maist part) of oppin idolatrye; to the end, that
we, ever myndfull of so wounderous a deliverance, should
have keapt this Realme clean from sick vyle filthiness, and
dampnable idolatrie. But we, alace! preferring the pleasour
of flesche [and blude,] to the pleasour and commandement of
our God, have suffered that idoll, the Messe, to be erected
agane, and therfore justlie sufferis he us now to fall in
that danger that to luke to ane idolatour, going to his
idolatrie, salbe repute a cryme lityll inferiour to
treasone. God grant that we fall not farther. And now I,
whom God has of his mercye made one amangis many to travell
in setting fordward of his trew religion within this Realme,
seing the same in danger of ruin, can not but of conscience
crave of you, my Brethren, of all estaitis, that have
professed the treuth, your presence, comfort, and
assistance, at the said day, in the Town of Edinburgh, even
as that ye tender the advancement of Goddis glorie, the
saiftie of your brethren, and your awin assurance; togedder
with the preservatioun of the Kirk in thir appearing
daungers. It may be, perchance, that persuasions be made in
the contrarie, and that ye may be informed, that either your
assemblie is not necesser, or ellis that it will offend the
uppar poweris: But my gude hope is, that nether flatterie
nor feare sall mak you sa far to declyne fra Christ Jesus,
as that, against your publict promise and solempned band, ye
will leave your brethren in sa just a cause. And albeit
there ware no great daunger, yet cannot oure assemblie be
unproffitable; for many thingis requyre consultation,
quhilkis can not be had, onles the wysest and godliest
convein. And thus, doubting nothing of the assistance of
owre God, yf that we uniformlie seik his glory, I cease
farther to trouble you, committing you heartlie to the
protection of the Eternall.

"JOHNE KNOX.
"Fra Edinburgh, the 8th of October 1563."

[Sidenote: THE MINISTER OF FAILL, AND BISHOPE OF ROSSE.]