The Works of John Knox Volume II Part 43

The Papistis constantlie looked for a wolter, and thairfoir thei wold maid some bragg of rea.s.sonyng. The Abbote farther presented him self to the pulpit, but the voice of Maister George Hay[839] so effrayed him, that efter ones he wearyed of that exercise.

[838] The Disputation referred to took place at Maybole in September 1562. Knox published a detailed account of it, under the t.i.tle of "The Copie of the Reasonyng which was betwix the Abbot of Crossraguell and Johne Knox, in Maybole, concerning the Ma.s.se," &c. Printed at Edinburgh by Robert Lekprevik, 1563, 4to. This, of course, will be reprinted in a subsequent volume of his Works.

[839] Mr. George Hay was first minister of Eddilston, and in or before 1563, was appointed Commissioner of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Banff, and also Minister of Ruthven. In August 1562, he had been appointed to visit Ayrs.h.i.+re (see page 347); and Knox's allusion is evidently to Hay's controversy with the Abbot at this time, which was published under this t.i.tle, "The Confutation of the Abbote of Crosraguells Ma.s.se, set furth by Maister George Hay. Imprinted at Edinburgh, by Robert Lekprewik, 1563," 4to; dedicated "To the Most n.o.ble, Potent, and G.o.dly Lord James, Earle of Murray."

After that the Quene was somewhat satisfyed of hunting, and other pastyme,[840] sche cam to Abirdene, whair the Erle of Huntley met hir and his Lady, with no small tryne, remaned in Court, was supposed to have the greatest credyte, departed with the Quene to Buchquhane, met hir again at Rothymay, looking that sche should have pa.s.sed with him to Strabogye. But in the jorney certane word cam to hir that Johne Gordoun had brocken promesse in not re-entering in ward; for his father the Erie had promessed that he should enter agane within the Castell of Stryveling, and thair abyd the Quenis pleasur. But whetther with his fatheris knowledge and consent, or without the same we know not, but he refused to enter; which so offended the Quene, that she wold not go to Strabogye, but pa.s.sed through Straythyla to Innerness, whair the Castell thairof was denyed unto hir. The Capitane was commanded to keape it, and looked for releaf, for so had Johne of Gordoun promessed; but being thairof frustrat, the Castell was randered, and the Capitane named Gordoun was executed; the rest war d.a.m.ned, and the handis of some bound, but eschaiped.

[840] The following is a brief notice of the Queen's progress in the North of Scotland. She set out from Edinburgh, on horseback, on the 11th August 1562, dined that day at Calder, and then reached the Palace of Linlithgow. Next day, after dinner, at Lord Livingstone's, in Callander House, she came to Stirling Castle, where she remained till the 18th. She proceeded to Aberdeen, where she arrived on the 27th, and remained till the 1st of September. Having changed her purpose of visiting the Earl of Huntley, she proceeded, stopping at places not so well prepared for her reception, pa.s.sed the Spey, and reached Elgin on the 4th. On the 8th she pa.s.sed forward to Kinloss Abbey; on the following day to Tarnaway Castle, the chief mansion of the Earldom of Murray, where a Privy Council was held on the 10th of September; and Lord James Stewart having resigned the t.i.tle of Mar, produced his patent, and a.s.sumed the t.i.tle of Murray. Next day the Queen reached Inverness. On the 15th she set out on her return, stopping at Tarnaway and Spynie Castle, recrossed the Spey at Fochabers, and reached Aberdeen on the 22d, where the inhabitants shewed their loyalty on occasion of her public entry. Here she remained till the 5th of November, during which time the fatal conflict at Corrichie took place, ensuring the triumph of Murray, and the ruin of Huntley, which Chalmers and other writers a.s.sert was the chief object in inducing the Queen to undertake this journey. In her return she pa.s.sed through Dunottar, Montrose, Dundee, Perth, and arrived at Holyrood on the evening of the 21st of November, after more than three months' absence. See Chalmers's Life of Queen Mary, vol. i.

sect. iv.

[Sidenote: SO WAS THE DUCK, THE ERLIS ERGYLE, MURRAY, AND GLENCARNE, WITH ALL THAIR COMPANIES AFTER SERVED.][841]

[841] Being denounced rebels, in August and October 1565.--Some letters in this marginal note, cut away by the binder, are supplied from MS. G.

This was the begynning of farther truble; for the Erie of Huntley thairat offended, began to a.s.semble his folkis, and spaired not to speak that he wold be revenged. But alwayes his Wyef bayre faire countenance to the Quene; and it is verrely supposed, that no other harme then the Quene hir self could easilie have stand content with, was ment unto hir awin persone. But the hoill malice lay upoun the Erie of Murray, Secreatarie Lethingtoun, and upoun the Lard of Pittarro. Yitt the Quene begane to be effrayed, and by proclamatioun caused warne Stryveling, Fyffe, Anguss, Mearness, and Straytherne, charge all substantiall men to be in Abirdene the fyfth day of October, thair to remane the s.p.a.ce of twenty dayis. In hir returning from Innerness, sche required the Castell of Fynlater, which was lykewise denyed, and so was Auchendowne, which more inflammed the Quein. The Erie of Huntley was charged to caus deliver the said housses, under pane of trea.s.son. To schaw some obedience, he caused the keyis of boyth to be presented by his servand, Mr. Thomas Keyr.

But befoir had the Quene send young Capitane Stewarte, (sone to Capitane James,[842] who to this day hes neather bein stout, happye, nor trew,) with s.e.x scoir of soldartis, to ly about the said place of Fynlater. They lodged in Culane, nott far distant from the said place.

Upoun a nycht Johne Gordoun cam with a c.u.mpany of hors.e.m.e.n, took the Capitane, slew certane of the soldiouris, and disarmed the rest. This fact, done (as the Quene alledged) under traist, so inflambed hir, that all hope of reconciliatioun was past; and so the said Erle of Huntley was charged, under pane of putting of him to the home, to present him self and the said Johne befoir the Quene and Counsall within sax dayis: whiche charge he disobeyed, and so was denunced rebell. Whitther it was law or not, we dispute litill thairintill; but it was a preparative to otheris that after war served with that same measure. He was sought at his place of Strathbogye, but eschaped.

[842] Apparently Capt. Alexander Stewart, son of Capt. James Stewart of Cardonald, who is mentioned at page 329. On the 29th October 1562, there was paid by the Queen's speciale command "to Capitane Moffet ensinge to Capitane Stewart for his trew service done and to be done, 66, 13s. 4d."

[Sidenote: 1562.]

The evill encreased, for the Erle a.s.sembled his folk out of all partes of the North. He martched forward towardis Abirdene, and upoun the twenty-twa day of October, the year of G.o.d J^m V^c threscoir twa yearis, cam to the Loch of Skein. His army was judged to sevin or aught hundreth men. The Quenis army, boyth in nomber and manhead, far surmounted his, and yitt he took no fear; for he was a.s.sured of the most parte of thame that war with the Quene, as the ishew did witness.

Within the toune thei stood in great fear; and thairfoir it was concluded that thei wold a.s.saile the uttermost upoun the feildis. The Forbesses, Hayes, and Leslyes, took the vantgard, and promessed to feght the said Erle without any other helpe. Thei pa.s.sed furth of the toune before ten houris. Thei putt thame selfis in array, but thei approached not to the enemye till that the Erle of Murray and his c.u.mpanye war come to the feildis, and that was efter two at efter none; for he was appointed with his c.u.mpanye onlye to have beholden the battell. But all thingis turned otherwyese then the most parte of men supposed.

[Sidenote: THE ERLE OF HUNTLEYIS PRAYER.]

The Erle of Huntley was the nycht befoir determined to have retyred him self and his c.u.mpanye; but that mornyng he could not be walkened before it was ten houres, and when he was up on foote his spreitis failed him, (be rea.s.sone of his corpolencie,) so that rychtlie a longe tyme he could do nothing. Some of his freindis, fearing the danger, left him. When that he looked upoun boyth the c.u.mpanyes, he said, "This great c.u.mpany that approcheth neyest to us will do us no harm, thei ar our freindis. I only fear yonder small c.u.mpayne that stand upoun the hill-syd, yone ar our enemyes. But we ar anew for thame, yf G.o.d be with us." And when he had thus spoken, he fell upoun his knees, and maid his prayer in this forme. "O Lord, I have been a bloode thristye man, and by my meanes hes mekle innocent bloode bein spilt; but wilt thou geve me victory this day, and I shall serve thee all the dayis of my lyef."--Note and observe, good Readar, he confessed that be had bein a blood-thristy man, and that he had bein the cause of the schedding of much innocent bloode: but yitt wold he have had victorye; and what was that ellis, but to have had power to have schedd more, and then wold he have satisfied G.o.d for all togetther. Wherein is expressed the nature of hypocrytis, whiche neather farther feareth nor loveth G.o.d then present danger or proffeitt suadeth. But to our Historye.

[Sidenote: CORRECHY BURNE, OR FARA BANK.]

[Sidenote: THE TREa.s.sONABLE FACT OF THE NORTH.]

[Sidenote: SECRETARIE LETHINGTOUN HIS ORISONE ATT CORRECHIE.]

The Leslyes, Hayes, and Forbesses, espying the Erle of Murray and his to be lyghted upoun thair foote, maid fordwarde against the Erle of Huntley and his, who stoode in Correchie Burne, (some call it Fara Bank;)[843] but or thei approched, ney by the s.p.a.ce of the schote of ane arrow, they caist frome thame thair spearis and long weaponis, and fled directlie in the faces of the Erle of Murray and his company. The danger espyed, the Lard of Pettarro, a man boyth stout and of a reddy wytt, with the Maister, now Lord Lyndsay, and Tutour of Pettcur,[844]

said, "Let us cast downe spearis to the formest, and lett thame nott come amanges us, for thair is no doubt but that this flying is by trea.s.sone." And so thei did: so that they that fled keapt thame selfis apart frome the few nomber that war marching upoun foote in ordour.

The Erle of Huntley, seing the vantgard flie, said unto his company, "Oure freindis ar honest men, they have keapt promesse: lett us now rencounter the rest." And so he and his, as suyre of victorye, martched fordwarte.

[843] The battle of Corrichie takes its name from the vale or small stream so called, in the parish of Mid-Mar, about twenty miles west of Aberdeen. The hill of Fare is computed to be 1793 feet above the level of the sea.

[844] This veteran has been several times mentioned by Knox: see vol.

i. p. 317; vol. ii. pp. 56, 63. It may be added that at a later period of life he obtained a grant of the Commendators.h.i.+p of the Priory of Pittenweem. As elsewhere mentioned he died in 1588, aged seventy. He was buried in the church of Dundee, and the inscription on his monument, which, I believe, is still preserved, was published by Monteith, in his "Theater of Mortality." Edinb. 1713, 8vo.

The Secreatarie, in few wordis, maid a vehement orisoun, and willed everie man to call upoun his G.o.d, to remember his deuitie, and nott to fear the mult.i.tude; and, in the end, concluded thus: "O Lord, thou that reullis the heavin and the earth, look upoun us thy servandis, whose bloode this day is most unjustlie sought, and to man's judgement is sold and betrayed: Our refuge is now unto thee and our hope is in thee. Judge thou, O Lord, this day, betwix us and the Erle of Huntley, and the rest of our ennemyes. Yf ever we have injustlie sought his or thair destructioun and bloode, lett us fall in the edge of the sweard.

And, O Lord, yf thou knowest our innocencye, manteane thou and preserve us for thy great mercyes saik."

[Sidenote: THE RESPONSE OF THE ERLE OF HUNTLEIS WYTTCHES.]

[Sidenote: 12 JUNIJ, 1566.][845]

[845] In MS. G, this marginal date is inserted in the text.

Schort after the speaking of these and the lyke wordis, the formar rankis joyned, for Huntleyis c.u.mpany maid great haist. They war repulsed by the Maister of Lyndsay, and the c.u.mpanyes of Fyffe and Anguss. Some of thame that fledd returned, and followed the Erle of Murray, but gave na straykis till that Huntleyis c.u.mpanye geve back.

In the front thair war slane about eighteen or twenty-foure men, and in the fleyeing thair fell ney a hundreth. Thair was tacken a hundreth, and the rest war spaired. The Erle himself was tacken alyve; his two sons, Johne foirsaid, and Adam Gordoun, war tacken with him.

The Erle, immediatlie after his tacken, departed this lyiff without any wound, or yitt appearance of any strock, whairof death might have enseued; and so, becaus it was laitt, he was ca.s.sen over-thorte a pair of crealles, and so was caryed to Abirdene, and was laid in the Tolbuyth thairof, that the response whiche his wyffis wyttches had gevin mycht be fulfilled, whay all affirmed (as the most parte say,) that that same nycht should he be in the Tolbuyth of Abirdene without any wound upoun his body. When his Lady gatt knowledge thairof, sche blamed hir princ.i.p.ale witche, called Janet; but sche stoutlie defended hir self, (as the devill can ever do,) and affirmed that she geve a trew answer, albeit she s.p.a.ck nott all the treuth; for she knew that he should be thair dead:[846] but that could nott proffeit my Lady.[847] Scho was angrye and sorye for a sea.s.sone, but the Devill, the Messe, and wyttches have als great credyte of hir this day as thei had sevin yearis ago.

[846] In MS. L 4, all the words after "should be there dead," are omitted.

[847] Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Robert Lord Keith, who with his father William third Earl Marischal, was killed at Floddon in 1513.

The Erle of Murray send message unto the Quene of the mervalouse victorye, and humblie prayed hir to schaw that obedience to G.o.d as publictlie to convene with thame, to geve thankis unto G.o.d for his notable deliverance. Sche glowmed boyth at the messenger[848] and at the requeast, and ska.r.s.elie wold geve a good worde or blyth countenance to any that sche knew earnest favoraris of the Erle of Murray, whose prosperitie was and yitt is, a verray vennoume to hyr boldened harte, against him for his G.o.dlynes and uprycht plainess. Of many dayes she bair no better countenance; whairby it myght have bene evidentlie espyed, that sche rejosed nott greatlie of the successe of that mater; and albeit sche caused execut Johne Gordoun and diverse otheris, yitt it was the destructioun of otheris that sche sought.

[848] In MS. 1566, "message."

[Sidenote: THE LADY FORBES HIR WOURDIS.]

Upoun the morow after the disconfiture, the Lady Forbess, a woman boyth wyese and fearing G.o.d, cam amangis many other to vesytt the corps of the said Erle; and seing him ly upoun the cold steanes, having onlye upoun him a doublat of cammoise, a pair of Scottishe gray hoise, and covered with ane arra.s.s-work,[849] she said, "What stabilitie shall we judge to be into this world: thair lyeth he that yesterday in the morneyng was holden the wyesest, the richest, and a man of greatest power that was within Scotland." And in verray dead sche lyed nott; for, in mannis opinioun, under a prince, thair was not suche a one these thre hundreth yearis in this Realme produced. Bott felicitie and worldlye wisdome so blynded him, that in the end he perished in thame, as shall all those that dyspyse G.o.d, and trust in thame selfis.[850]

[849] In MS. L 4, "an Yrish work."

[850] In MS. G, in this place there is a marginal note, "Let utheris that yet live mark this."

Johne Gordoun,[851] at his death, confessed many horrible thingis, devised by his father, by his brother, and by him self. Thair war letteris found in the Erles pocket, that disclosed the trea.s.sone of the Erle of Sutherland, and of diverse otheris. Mr. Thomas Keir, who befoir was the hole counsallour to the Erle foirsaid, disclosed whatsoever he understoode myght hurte the Gordones and thair freyndis: and so the trea.s.sone planelie disclosed, whiche was, that the Erle of Murray with certane otheris should have bene murthered in Strabogye; the Quene should have bene tane, and keapt at the devotioun of the said Erle of Huntley.

[851] See page 345, note 2.

[Sidenote: 1562.]

[Sidenote: MENIS JUDGEMENTIS OF THE QUENIS MARIAGE.]

These thingis (we say) reveilled, the Quene left the North,[852] and cam to Dondye, Sanct Johnestoun, Stirveling, and then to Edinburgh.[853] The Erle of Huntleyis body was caryed about in a boat,[854] and laid without buriall in the Abbay of Halyrudhouse, till the day of his forfaltour, as after shall be declaired.[855] The Duck apprehended the Lord Gordoun[856] his sone in law, becaus that the Quene had straitlie commanded him so to do, yf he repaired within his boundis. Befoir he delivered him, the Erle of Murray laubored at the Quenis hand for the saiftye of his lyeff, which hardly was granted; and so was he delivered within the Castell of Edinburgh, the twenty-aught day of November, whair he remaned till the aught of Februare, when he was put to ane a.s.sise, accused, and convict of trea.s.sone; but was restored agane, first to the Castell foirsaid, and thairafter was transported to Dumbar, whair he remaned preasoner till the moneth of August, the year of G.o.d J^m V^c threscoir fyve yearis, as we will after hear.

[852] In MS. L 4, this sentence reads, "These thingis thus reveilled, the Quene returned shortlie efter, leaving the Thesaurer, Mr. James M^c Gill, Mr. John Spence of Condie, and the Laird of Pittarrow in Aberdene, to compone for the eschetes of those who were in the fields with the Erle of Huntlie." Calderwood (Hist. vol. ii. p. 200) copies these words verbatim. The Treasurer in his Accounts from February 1561-2 to February 1562-3, charges himself with 3542, 6s. 8d., as the composition of various persons in the North for a.s.sisting, &c. George Earl of Huntley, "in Campo de Correchie, in mense Oct. ult." In October 33 was paid to Archibald Earl of Argyle, Lord Justice, and 62 to Sir John b.e.l.l.e.n.den, Justice Clerk, for the time they remained in Aberdeen. "Item, to John Johnstoun, Clerk of the Secreit Counsel, for his extraordinar wagis and ane servand, awaiting upoun the Quenis grace and Lordis of hir Secreit Counsel, all the tyme fra hir Grace departing furth of Edinburgh towart the North partis, fra the first day of August, 1562 zeris, to the last day of November in the said zeir, extending to 122 dayis, &c. 100."

[853] On the 21st November.

[854] The following payments in the Treasurer's Accounts, confirm this notice of the Earl's contemplated forfeiture:--

1562, November, Item to Patrick Hume, for the fraucht of his schip, of Abirdene to Leith, 10 --for the carriage of ane kist, quhairin wes contenit my Lord of Huntleis bodie, of Leith to Edinburgh, 4s.

--for bandis for the same, 10s.

--to Robert Hendersone, chirurgen, for expensis maid be him upoun spicis, vinagre, acquavitie, pulderis, odouris, and hardis, with sindrie utheris necessaris, and for his laubouris in the handeling of the said Erle of Huntleis bodie that it suld nocht putrefie, as compt gevin in be the said Robert, beris 28, 3s. 4d.

[855] See _infra_, page 380.

[856] George Lord Gordon was the second son of the Earl of Huntley. He succeeded his elder brother Alexander Lord Gordon, who died in 1553, without issue. Alexander married Lady Margaret, the second daughter, and George, Lady Anne, the third daughter of the Duke of Chattelherault. On his father's death at Corrichie, George became fifth Earl of Huntley. But being apprehended, he was convicted of treason on the 8th February 1562-3, his estates forfeited, and he himself sentenced to be executed. The latter part of the sentence however being delayed, he was sent to Dunbar Castle, where he remained a prisoner until August 1565. He was then restored to favour, and adhered to the Queen's party. He was advanced to be Lord Chancellor in March 1566, and after several changes of fortune, he died in 1576.

In this meantyme the trubles war hote in France; and the intelligence and outward familiaritie betwix the two Quenis was great. Lethingtoun was direct with large commissioun both to the Quene of England and unto the Guisianes. The mariage of our Queyn was in all mannis mouth.

Some[857] wold have Spaine; some the Emperouris brother; some Lord Robert Dudlye; some Duck de Nemours; and some unhappilie gessed at the Lord Darnlye. What Lethingtounis credyte was, we know not; but schorte after thair began much to be talked of the Erle of Levenox, and of his sone, the Lord Darnlye. It was said that Lethingtoun s.p.a.ck the Lady Margarete Dowgla.s.s,[858] and that Robert Melven[859] receaved ane horse to the Secreatare's use, fra the Erle of Levenox, or from his wyff. Howsoever it was, Maister Foullare, servand to the said Erle, cam with letteris to the Quenis Grace, by the which, licence was permitted to the Erle of Levenox to c.u.m to Scotland, to travell in his lauchfull busynes. That same day that the licence was granted, the said Secreatarye said, "This day have I tacken the deadlie haiterent of all the Hamyltonis within Scotland, and have done unto thame no less displeasur than that I had cutted thair throttis."