The Works of John Knox Volume II Part 36

It may be added, that the Grand Prior, the Sieur Damville, and most of their attendants, returned by land, intending to visit the English Court. They were accompanied to Berwick by several of the Scottish n.o.bility; the Queen having addressed letters "to some Lords and others to convoy the Grande Priour and Mons^r. Damweile of Edinburgh to Berwick," on the 8th and 9th of October. About the same time, the Treasurer "deliverit to the Quenis Grace ane chene of gold contenand J^o 1. (150) crounis of the sone, and twa chenis of gold, ilk ane of tham contenand 1. (50) crounis of the sone, quhilk hir Grace deliverit to Mons^r. Marquess, to gif three Frenche men that pa.s.sit with the Grande Priour and Mons^r. Danweill--Summa, 333, 6s. 8d." There was also paid to James Mosman, goldsmith, for making these chains, 29, 10s., and 20s. in drink-silver to his servants.

[667] Preparatory to the Queen's progress, her Master Stabler, on the 6th September, purchased 10 horses or haikneys. She was accompanied by two of her Uncles, Monsieur Damville, and a number of ladies. She set out from Holyrood Palace on horseback, after dinner, on the 11th of that month, and remained at Linlithgow Palace that night, and the following day; on the 13th she rode to Stirling Castle, and was there on Sunday the 14th; on the 15th she pa.s.sed through Alloa to Kincardine, or, as some authorities state, to Leslie Castle in Fife; on the 17th she came to Perth; on the 19th to Dundee; crossed the Tay to St. Andrews, on the 20th; a few days afterwards she proceeded to Falkland Palace; and returned to Holyrood on Monday the 29th of September 1561. (Chalmers's Queen Mary, 2d edit. vol. i. pp. 82-86; Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 69.)

[Sidenote: BALFOUR, HIS DOCTRINE.]

In the begyning of October,[668] sche returned to Edinburgh, and at the day appointed sche was receaved in the Castell. Great preparationis war maid for hir enteress in the town. In ferses, in masking, and in other prodigalities, faine wold fooles have counterfooted France. Whatsoever myght sett furth hir glory, that sche heard, and glaidlye beheld. The keyes war delivered unto hir by a pretty boy, descending as it war from a cloud. The verses of hir awin praise sche heard, and smyled. But when the Bible was presented, and the praise thairof declared, sche began to frown: for schame sche could not refuise it.[669] But she did no better, for immediatelie sche gave it to the most pestilent Papist within the Realme, to wit, to Arthoure Erskyn.[670] Edinburgh since that day had reaped as thai sew. Thai gave hir some taist of thair prodigalitie; and becaus the liquor was sweet, sche hes licked of that buist oftar than twyse since.[671] All men know what we mean: the Quene can not lack, and the subjectis have.

[668] See next page, note 1.

[669] From the preceding note it will be seen that Queen Mary returned from her progress on the 29th of September; and that Knox has mistaken the date of her first entry into Edinburgh. It was on Tuesday the 2d September. A minute and interesting notice of it occurs in the Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 67, but the pa.s.sage is too long for quotation. She rode through the town to the Castle, where she dined at 12 o'clock; and then returning, various pageants were represented in different parts of the town, as she proceeded, convoyed by the n.o.bility and chief inhabitants, dressed in velvet gowns and bonnets, carrying a pall of fine purple velvet, with fringes of gold and silk. Upon reaching the Palace of Holyrood, she received a _propyne_, or gift of a cupboard, "quhilk was double our-gilt; the price thairof was 2000 merks." Randolph, in his letter to Cecil, on the 7th September, also mentions that part of the pageant to which Knox alludes. He says, "Upon Tuesday last the Queen made her entry. She dyned in the Castle.

The fyrst syghte she sawe after she cam oute of the Castle, was a boye of six yeres of age, that cam, as it were, from heaven oute of a rounde globe, that presented unto hir a Bible and Psalter, and the keys of the gates, and spake unto her the verses which I send you.

There, for the terrible sygnifications of the vengeance of G.o.d upon idolatrie, ther war burnt Coron, Dathan, and Abiram, in the tyme of thair sacrifice. Thei war mynded to have had a priest (that is, the representation of a priest) burned at the altar, at the elevation. The Erle of Huntlye stayed that pagent, but hath playde manye as wicked as that since he came hyther." (Wright's Queen Elizabeth, vol. i. p. 73.) The expenses attending the "Banquet" on the 31st August, and the "Triumph," on the 2d September, cost the inhabitants of Edinburgh the sum of 4000 merks, which it was resolved should be levied by a general stent or a.s.sessment.

[670] Arthur Erskine was Captain of the Queen's guard. He was present at supper in Queen Mary's apartment the night of Riccio's murder. And having escaped from her temporary confinement in Holyrood, on the night of the 11th of March 1566, she "came to the place where Arthur Ersken, the captayn of her garde kept the horses, and so rode her waye behinde Arthur Erskin untill she cam to Seton. There she took a horse to herself, and rode to Dunbarre," &c. (Wright's Queen Elizabeth, vol.

i. p. 231.) In April 1562, the Treasurer paid "be the Quenis Grace speciall command, to Arthur Erskin to by him ane hors, 40:" and on the 2d of June 1565, in like manner there was paid "to Arthur Erskin ane of the maisteris of hir Graces Curie to by him ane horse, xx crownis." In December 1564, he is styled "Arthur Erskine of Blackgrange, brother-german to John Lord Erskine." (Register of Signatures.) He was probably the ancestor of the Erskines of Scotscraig in Fife, who flourished in the following century.

[671] In MS. A, the marginal note is thus inserted in the text, "ance or twice since this was Balfoures rule."

In Edinburgh it hath bene ane auncient and laudable custom, that the Provest, Baillies, and Counsall, after thair electioun, which useth to be at Michaelmess, caused publictlie proclame[672] the Statutes and Ordinances of the town. And thairfoir Archibald Dowglas, Provest; Edwarde Hope, Adame Fowllartoun, [Mr. James Watsone, and David Somer,][673] Baillies, caused proclame, according to the formar Statutes of the town, that no adulterar, [no fornicatour,] no noted drunkard, no mess-mongare, no obstinate Papistis that corrupted the people, such as preastis, freiris, and otheris of that sorte, should be found within the toun within fourty-aught houris thairafter, under the paines conteaned in the statutes. Which blawin in the Quenis earis, thair began pryde and maliciousnes to schaw the self; for without farther cognitioun of the caus, was the Provest and Baillies charged to ward in the Castell; and immediatlie was commandiment gevin, that other Provest and Baillies should be elected.[674]

[672] Keith has accused Knox of misstating this fact. Had he examined the Council Records more carefully, he would have found direct evidence of the practice of proclaiming the Statutes enacted by the Council, to which Knox alludes, on the 8th November 1555. Knox's account of the change of the Magistracy of Edinburgh is quite correct, although it has also been called in question. Upon examining the Council Records, it appears that Archibald Douglas was Provost; and Mr. James Watson, David Somer, Edward Hope, and Adam Foullarton, Baillies, in 1560-1561; and that on the 24th March 1560-1, proclamation was made of the Act 1560, against Priests, Adulterars, &c. At the next election in September 1561, Douglas was re-elected Provost, with David Forster, Robert Kar, Alexander Home, and Allan Dikesoun, as Baillies. On the 2d October, the above proclamation was ordered to be made on the following day; and on the 5th, the Queen sent a macer enjoining the Town Council to deprive their new Magistrates, and to appoint others in their room. A new election accordingly took place on the 8th of October, as detailed at considerable length by Maitland, (Hist. of Edinburgh, p. 21.)

[673] In MS. 1566, and also in MSS. G and A, a blank s.p.a.ce is left for these names; in MS. L 4, "&c." is supplied; and this marginal note added, "The Provost, Baillies, of Edinburgh changed at the Quenes command."

[674] See note 2, p. 289, respecting the election. In a letter to Cecill, Knox, on the 7th October 1561, writes:--"At this verry instant ar the Provost of Edinburgh and Baillies thairof, command to ward in thare Tolboght, be reason of thair proclamatioun against Papists and hoormongeris. The whole blame lyeth upon the necke of the two fornamed," viz. Lord James Stewart and Lethington.

[Sidenote: THE QUENIS FIRST PRYDE AFTER HIR ARRYVALL.]

Some ganestood for a while the new electioun, alledgeing, that the Provest and Baillies whom thai had chosen, and to whom thai had gevin thair oath, had committed no offence whairfoir that justlie thai aught to be depryved. But whill charge was doubled upoun charge, and no man was found to oppone thame selffis to iniquitie,[675] Jesabellis letter and wicked will is obeyed as a law. And so was Mr. Thomas Mackalzeane chosen[675] for the other. The man, no doubt, was boyth discreat and sufficient for that charge;[676] but the depositioun of the other was against all law. G.o.d be mercyfull to some of our owen; for thai war not all blameless that hir wicked will was so far obeyed.

[675] In MS. G, "to oppone himself to impietie."

[676] In MS. G, "Mr. Thomas M'Cally chosen Provost."--Mr. Thomas M'Calzean of Cliftonhall, was educated at St. Andrews, being a fellow-student with George Buchanan, in St. Salvator's College in 1525. He was admitted Advocate in 1549, and became a.s.sessour of the Town of Edinburgh; and was chosen Provost in 1558, as well as on the above occasion. He was appointed a Lord of Session, 20th October 1570; and died 5th June 1581.

[Sidenote: THE QUENIS TREW LIEGES, WHA?]

A contrair proclamatioun was publictlie maid, that the toun should be patent unto all the Quenis lieges; and so murtheraris, adulteraris, theavis, hooris, drunkardis, idolateris, and all malefactouris, gatt protectioun under the Quenis wyngis, under that cullour, becaus thai war of hir religioun. And so gatt the Devill fredome agane, whair that befoir he durst nott have bene sene in the day lyght upoun the commoun streatis. "Lord deliver us from that bondage."

[Sidenote: THE DEVILL GETTING ENTRESS WITH HIS FYNGAR, WILL SCHOOT FURTH[677] HIS HOLL ARME.]

[677] In MS. G, "will schut in."

The Devill finding his rainzeis lowse, ran fordwarte in his course; and the Quene took upoun hir grettar boldness than sche and Baalles bleatting preastis[678] durst have attempted befoir. For upoun Allhallow day[679] thai blended up thair Messe with all myscheivous solempnitie. The ministeris thairat offended, in plane and publict place, declared the inconvenientis that thairupoun should ensew. The n.o.bilitie war sufficientlie admonished of thair dewiteis. But affectioun caused men to call that in doubt, whairin schort befoir thai seamed to be most resolute, to wit, "Whitther that subjectis mycht put to thair hand to suppresse the idolatrie of thair Prince?"

And upoun this questioun conveined in the house of Mr. James[680]

Mackgill, the Lord James, the Erle of Mortoun, the Erle Mersch.e.l.l, Secretarie Lethingtoun, the Justice Cleark,[681] and Cleark of Registre;[682] who all rea.s.soned for the parte of the Quene, affirmyng, "That the subjectis mycht not lauchfullie tack hir Messe frome hir." In the contrair judgement war the princ.i.p.all Ministeris, Mr. Johne Row,[683] Maister George Hay,[684] Maister Robert Hammyltoun,[685] and Johne Knox. The rea.s.sonis of boyth partyes we will omitt, becaus thai wilbe explaned after, whair the same questioun, and otheris concernyng the Obedience dew unto Princes, war long rea.s.soned in open a.s.semblie. The conclusioun of that first rea.s.sonyng was, "That the questioun should be formed, and letteris direct to Geneva for the resolutioun of that Churche," whairin Johne Knox offered his laubouris. But Secretarie Lethingtoun, (alledging that thair stood mekle in the informatioun,) said, that he should wryte. But that was onlie to dryve tyme, as the treuth declaired the self. The Quenis partye urged, "That the Quene should have hir religioun free in hir awin chapell, to do, sche and hir houshold, what thei list." The Ministeris boyth affirmed and voted the contrair, adding, "That hir libertie should be[686] thair thraldome or it was long." But neathir could rea.s.sone nor threatnyng move the affectionis[687] of such as war creipping in credite. And so did the vottis of the Lordis prevail against the Ministeris.

[678] In MS. G, "Baalim's bleating preests."

[679] Hallowma.s.s, or All Saints, the 1st of November.

[680] In MS. 1566, one of the transcribed quires ends here with the catch-word, "of Mr. James," the last page being blank.

[681] Sir John b.e.l.l.e.n.den of Auchinoule, held the office of Justice Clerk for nearly thirty years. He was appointed successor to his father, 25th June 1547, and the office was again filled in November 1578, by Sir Lewis b.e.l.l.e.n.den, although then in "his less age," which Lord Hailes conceives to mean that he was not then twenty-five. Sir John died 6th October 1576. (Register of Confirmed Testaments.)

[682] Mr. James Makgill of Nether Rankeillor, was Clerk Register from 1554 to 1566, when he was deprived for his being concerned in Riccio's murder. He was restored in December 1567, and continued till 1577. He died in 1579.

[683] At the first nomination of ministers in July 1560, Row was appointed to Perth. He died 16th October 1580.

[684] Mr. George Hay, Commissioner of the diocese of Aberdeen and Banff.

[685] Mr. Robert Hamilton, minister of St. Andrews, and formerly one of the Masters or Regents, was advanced in 1574 to be Provost of St.

Mary's College. When the new erection of the College was agreed upon, Hamilton was superseded; and in May 1580 he was ordered to account for his intromissions. In October following, he was denounced as rebel.

(Treasurer's Accounts.) He died 16th April 1581. (Wodrow Miscellany, vol. i. p. 283.)

[686] In MS. G, "should be to."

[687] In MS. G, "move the hearts."

For the punishement of thift and of reaf, which had encrea.s.sed upoun the Borders, and in the Sowth, from the Quenis arryvall, was the Lord James maid Lievtenent.[688] Some suspected that suche honour and charge proceaded frome the same heart and counsall that Saull maid David capitane against the Philisteanis. But G.o.d a.s.sisted him, and bowed the heartis of men boyth to fear and obey him. Yea, the Lord Bothwell him self at that tyme a.s.sisted him (but he had remissioun for Lyddisdaill.) Scharpe executioun was maid in Jedburgh,[689] for twenty-aught of ane clan, and others war hanged at that Justice Courte. Brybes, buddis, nor solisitatioun saved not the gilty, yf he myght be apprehended; and thairfoir G.o.d prospered him in that his integritie.

[688] In MS. G, "appointed Lieutenant." In MS. L 4, the whole structure of this sentence is thus changed: "Whill the Court wes myndefull of nothing bot pleasures and prodigallitie, the Border[er]s brack lowse, and vexed the countrie adjacent with rapine, thift, and murther; Lord James, Lievtennant since the Quenis arryvall, was sent hither to repress them. Some suspected," &c.

[689] On the 13th October 1561, the Privy Council resolved that a Justice Court should be held at Jedburgh, by Lord James Stewart on the 15th of November; and in the Register, on the 12th of that month, is preserved a copy of Instructions to be used by him. See Keith's History, vol. ii. pp. 104-107.

That same tyme the said Lord James s.p.a.ck the Lord Gray of England at Kelso, for good reull to be keapt upoun boyth the Bordouris, and agreed in all thingis.

[Sidenote: THE QUENIS FIRST FRAY IN HALYRUDHOUSE]

Befoir his returnyng,[690] the Queyn upoun a nycht took a fray in hir bedd, as yf horse men had bein in the close, and the Palace had bene enclosed about. Whitther it proceaded of hir awin womanlie fantasye, or, yf men pat hir in fear,[691] for displeasur of the Erle of Arrane, and for other purposes, as for the erecting of the garde, we know not.

But the fear was so great, that the toun was called to the watch.

Lordis Robert of Halyrudhous,[692] and Johne of Coldinghame[692] keapt the watche by course. Scouttis war send furth, and centenallis war commanded under the pane of death to keap thair stationis. And yitt thai feared whair thair was no fear: neathir yit could ever any appeirance or suspitioun of suche thingis be tryed.

[690] This paragraph is very different in MSS. M and L 4, being thus amplified, in the style of David Buchanan's interpolations:--"When Lord James was absent, the Quene tooke greater libertie, for shee wes not content with the severitie of the present Government, nor the flooris.h.i.+ng of Religion, so that sometymes speiches would eschape her which bewrayed her disposition and inclination to tyrannie. Wheras Kings wont before to commit thamselfs to the trust of the n.o.bilitie, shee purposed to have a guard of hyred souldiours, bot could find no pretext, saving onlie the custome of forraigne Kings, and the shaw of magnificence. Shee consulted with hir b.a.s.t.a.r.d brother John, an ambitious man, bot not so grave and austere as Lord James. He resolved to obey hir in all things, and therfor wes the more deare to hir, being desirous to confound all things. She consulteth with him how to get a companie of hyred souldiers about her. Ther was a tumult or sturr famed as though the Erle of Arrane had enclosed the Palace of Halyrudehous round about, and by force wold cary the Quene to his Castell fourtene myles from thence. This invention had some likliehood becaus of the immoderate love he bare unto hir, and of her affection estranged from him; both which war not unknowin to the people. The fray was so great that the Toune of Edinburgh wes called to watch.

Robert Lord Halyrudhous, and John Lord Coldingham keeped watch by course; skouts wer sent furth, and sentrinells, and wer commanded under the pane of death to keep their stations. They feared wher ther was no feare. After the souldiers had skoured the fields all night, they shew themselfs before the Palace gates, some offendit at them, and others jesting at the sport. Bot the authors of this invention, howbeit they knew the vulgar people did not beleve them, yit being secure that no man wold controle them regarded not man's secreit judgement."--Calderwood has copied this pa.s.sage very closely. (Hist.

vol. ii. p. 158.)

[691] In MS. G, "in fear of it."

[692] Two natural brothers of the Queen: see page 271, notes 2 and 3.

Schort after the returnying of the Lord James, thair cam from the Quene of England, Sir Petir Mewtess,[693] with commissioun to requyre the ratificatioun of the Peace made at Leyth. His ansuer was[694] evin such as we have heard befoir, that sche behoved to advise, and then sche should send ansuer.

[693] Sir Peter Mewtas was sent by Queen Elizabeth to Scotland, chiefly to evade discussion respecting the Succession to the throne, although ostensibly to request that the Treaty of Edinburgh, in July 1560, should be ratified. See in Keith's History, vol. ii. pp.

132-136, the letters that pa.s.sed between Queen Mary and Elizabeth, after Mewtas's return in October 1561. On the 19th of that month, is this entry in the Treasurer's Accounts: "Item, be the Quenis Grace speciale command to Sir Peter Mutus, Inglis Amba.s.sadour, ane chene of gold of iij^o crownis of the sone, iiij^o lib." (400.)

[694] In MS. G, "Her answer was."

In presence of hir Counsall, sche keapt hir self [very] grave, (for under the dule wead, sche could play the hypocryte in full perfectioun;) but how soon that ever hir Frenche fillockis, fydlaris, and otheris of that band, gatt the howse allone, thair mycht be sean skipping not verry c.u.mlie for honest wemen. Hir commoun talk was in secreat, sche saw nothing in Scotland but gravitie, which repugned alltogetther to hir nature, for sche was brocht up in joyusitie; so termed sche hir dansing, and other thingis thairto belonging.