The Works of John Knox Volume II Part 15

_Extractum, etc._

[271] The t.i.tle in the Acts of Parliament 1567, is, "Anent the abolissing of the Pape, and his usurpit authoritie.--Cap. iii."

[272] See note to the preceding Act, which was pa.s.sed on the same day.

These and other thingis ordourlie done in lauchfull and free Parliament,[273] we direct to France, to our Soveranis, Sir James Sandelandis, Lord of Sanct Johne,[274] with the Actes of the said Parliament, that by thame thei mycht be ratifeid according to the promeisse of thair Heyghness Commissionaris maid to us, as by the Contract of Peace most evidentlie may appear. Bot how the said Lord of Sanct Johne was entreated we list nott reherse; but alwyis no Ratificatioun brought he unto us.[275] But that we litill regarded, or yit do regarde; for all that we did was rather to schaw our debtfull obedience, then to bege of thame any strenth to our Religioun, whiche from G.o.d hes full powar, and neideth nott the suffrage of man, but in so far as man hath neid to beleve it, yf that ever he shall have partic.i.p.atioun of the lyfe everlesting. But somewhat most we answer to suche as since hes whispered, that it was but a pretended Parliament and a privye conventioun, and no lauchfull Parliament. Thair rea.s.sonis ar, the King and Quene war in France; thair was neather sceptour, sweard, nor croune borne, &c., and some princ.i.p.all Lordis war absent.

We answer, That we rather wishe the Papistis to be quyett, nor too curiouslie to travell in that head; for it may be, that whill thei think to hurte us, thei tack the Quene and hir authoritie a great blawe, and yitt amend thame selffis nothing. For in whose defalt, we pray yow, was the Quene absent frome this Realme? We think thei will not be so schameless as that thei will blame the Protestantis thairof.

Her persone was absent, and [that] to no small greaff of our hartis.

But war nott the Estaitis of hir Realme a.s.sembled in hir name? Yea, had thei nott hir full power and commissioun, yea, the commissioun and commandiment of hir head the King of France, to convocat that Parliament, and to do all thingis that may be done in lauchfull Parliament, evin as yf oure Soveranis had bene thair in proper personis? Yf thei will limitat the power of princes to the places onlie whair thair bodelye presence is, it will be thocht strange; for so not onlie shall Kingis be compellit to content thame with one Realme, but also with one citie; for the bodilie presence of Kingis can no more be in diverse cities in one instant, then that thei can be in diverse Realmes. Hitherto we haif understand, that whairsoever the Counsallouris of the King, with his power and commissioun, ar a.s.sembled to do any thing at his commandiment, that thair is the Kingis sufficient presence and authoritie, whairsoever his awin body be leving at fredome and libertie. Which, yf the Papistis deny, we will find faultis with thame, and with the princes whome thei have abused, that more will annoy thame then anything that we can lose by the insufficiencie of that Parliament; whiche not the less we ar bold to affirme, to have bene more lauchfull, and more free then any Parliament that thei ar able to produce this hundreth year befoir it, or yitt any that hath ensewed since it was; for in it, the votes of men war free, and gevin of conscience: in otheris thei war bought or gevin at the devotioun of the prince. All thingis in it concluded ar able to abyde the tryall, and nott to be consumed at the prufe of the fyre. Off otheris the G.o.dly may justly call in dowbt thingis determined.

[273] As already mentioned, no record of the proceedings of this Parliament in August 1560, was included in any of the printed collections of the Public Statutes, until Mr. Thomson restored the three Acts, (see page 123, note 1,) along with the Confession of Faith, in his edition of Acta Parl. Scot., vol. ii. pp. 525-535. An abstract of the proceedings was furnished to Bishop Keith, by Father Innes, from Archbishop Beaton's MSS. in the Scots College, Paris: a copy of this abstract will be given in the Appendix, along with the extract of Randolph's letter, mentioned at page 121, note 2.

[274] James Sandilands, second son of Sir James Sandilands of Calder, (see vol. i. page 301,) became Preceptor of Torphichen, (ib. page 249,) and in virtue of this office, under the t.i.tle of Lord St. John, he had a seat in Parliament. He was employed in several emba.s.sies; and with the rest of his family he joined the Reformers; this mission to France shews the estimation in which he was held. Having obtained a grant of the possessions of the Knights Templars and Hospitallers in Scotland in 1563, the same were erected into a Free Barony or a Temporal Lords.h.i.+p, in his favour, by Queen Mary, as Lord Torphichen; and he relinquished his former t.i.tle of Lord St. John. See the copy of the Charter, dated 24th January 1563-4, with several interesting notices regarding the Templar Lands and Dignities, by Mr. Maidment, in the Spottiswoode Miscellany, (vol. ii. pp. 17-32,) Edinb. 1845, 8vo.

James Lord Torphichen, died 29th November 1596, leaving no issue, and his estates and t.i.tle devolved on his grand-nephew, James Sandilands of Calder.

[275] See note 1, page 131.

To the sweard and sceptour, nor yitt to the absence of some Lordis, we ansuere nothing; for oure adversaries know weall yneuche that the one is rather a pompe and gloriouse vane ceremonye, than a substantiall point of necessitie, requyred to a lauchfull Parliament; and the absence of some prejudges nott the poweris of the present, providing that dew advertis.e.m.e.nt be made unto thame. But now we returne to oure Historye.

THE Parliament dissolved, consultatioun was had, how the Kirk mycht be establissed in a good and G.o.dlie Policy, whiche by the Papistes was altogether defaced. Commissioun and charge was gevin to Mr. Johne Winram[276] Suppriour of Sanctandrois, Maister Johne Spottiswoode, Johne Willok, Mr. John Douglas Rectour of Sanctandrois, Maister Johne Row, and Johne Knox, to draw in a volume the Polecey and Disciplyn of the Kirk, as weill as thei had done the Doctrin; whiche thei did and presented to the n.o.bilitie, who did peruse it many dayis. Some approved it, and willed the samyn have bene sett furth be a law.

Otheris, perceaving thair carnall libertie and worldlie commoditie somewhat to be impaired thairby grudged, insomuche that the name of the Book of Discipline became odious unto thame. Everie thing that repugned to thair corrupt affectionis, was termed in thair mockage, "devote imaginationis." The caus we have befoir declaired; some war licentious; some had greadelie gripped to the possessionis of the Kirk; and otheris thought that thei wald nott lack thair parte of Christis coat; yea, and that befoir that ever he was hanged, as by the Preachearis thei war oft rebuked. The cheaf great man that had professed Christ Jesus, and refuissed to subscrive the Book of Discipline, was the Lord Erskyn;[277] and no wonder, for besydis that he has a verray Jesabell to his wyffe, yf the poore, the schooles, and the ministerie of the Kirk had thair awin, his keching wald lack two parttis and more, of that whiche he injustlie now possesses.

a.s.suredlye some of us have woundered how men that professe G.o.dlynes could of so long continewance hear the threatnyngis of G.o.d against theavis and against thair housses, and knowing thame selfis guyltie in suche thingis, as war openlie rebucked, and that thei never had remorse of conscience, neather yitt intended to restore any thingis of that, whiche long thei had stollen and reft. Thair was none within the Realme more unmercyfull to the poore Ministeris then war thei whiche had greatest rentis of the Churches. But in that we have perceaved the old proverbe to be trew, "Nothing can suffice a wreche;" and agane, "The bellie hes none earis." Yitt the same Book of Discipline was subscrived by a great parte of the n.o.bilitie: to witt, the Duckis Grace, the Erle of Arrane, the Erles Ergyle, Glencarne, Merschall, Menteth, Mortoun, Rothes, Lord James, now Erle of Murray; Lordis Yester, Boyd, Vchiltree; Maister of Maxwell,[278] Lord Lyndesay elder, and the Maister now Lord;[279] Baronis Drumlanryg, Lochinwar, Garleise, Bargany; Mr. Alexander Gordoun Byschop of Galloway, Alexander Campbell Deane of Murray, with a great number mo, subscrived and approved the said Book of Discipline,[280] in the Tolbuyth of Edinburgh, the twenty-sevin day of Januare, the year of G.o.d J^m V^c threscoir yearis, by thair approbatioun, in these wordis:--

[276] In Knox's MS. 1566, the names of Winram and Douglas are added on the margin, apparently in his own hand; in the text being simply styled, "_the_ Suppriour," &c., and "_the_ Rectour," &c., "the," being afterwards deleted. In Vautr. edit., and the later MSS., the names are introduced into the text. The transcriber of MS. G, has, however, omitted the name of "John Willok," as one of the compilers of the Book of Discipline.

[277] This charge of avarice was made against John Lord Erskine, afterwards Earl of Mar, and Regent of Scotland; who had married Annabella Murray, eldest daughter of Sir William Murray of Tullibardine, and Catherine, daughter of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenurchy.

[278] In MS. G, "Maister of Maxwell, thairefter Lord Herise." Sir John Maxwell, in virtue of his marriage with the eldest daughter and co-heiress of William third Lord Herries, a.s.sumed that t.i.tle in 1567.

[279] John fifth Lord Lindesay of Byres, died in 1563, and was succeeded by his eldest son Patrick, Master of Lindesay.

[280] Upon comparing this list of names with the signatures attached to the Book of Discipline, it will be seen that Knox's amanuensis has unfortunately copied them only in part, as the names of the Earls of Marischal, Monteith, and Morton, and a few others here specified, are not given. See the end of Book Third, in the present volume.

"WE quhilk have subscrivit thir presentis, havand advised with the Articles herein specified, and as is above mentionat, from the begyning of this Book, thinkis the samyn goode, and conforme to G.o.ddis word in all poyntis, conforme to the notes and additionis thairto eikked; and promittis to sett the same fordwarte at the uttermost of oure poweris, providing that the Bischoppis, Abbottis, Priouris, and utheris Prelattis and beneficed men, quhilkis ellis have adjoyned thameselfis to us, bruik the revenues of thair benefices during thair lyfetymes, thei susteanyng and upholding the Ministerie and Ministeris, as is heirin specified, for preaching of the worde, and ministring of the sacramentis."

What be the contentis of the haill Book, and how that this promeise was illuded frome tyme to tyme, we will after hear.

Schort after the said Parliament, war send from the counsall Amba.s.sadouris to England, the Erles Mortoun and Glencarne, togidder with William Maitland of Lethingtoun youngare. The cheaf poynt of thair commissioun was earnestlie to crave the constant a.s.sistance of the Quenis Majestie of England, against all forane invasioun, and to propone the Earle of Arrane (who then was in no small estimatioun with us) to the Quene of England in mariage.[281]

[281] In the Acta Parl. Scot., vol. ii. p. 605, "The Commission of the Estates to move Queene Elizabeth of England to tak the Erle of Arran to hir husband," in August 1560, is inserted, with the signatures, from the original, preserved among the Hamilton archives. This Commission authorized "that honorable personis be sent in amba.s.sat fra and on behalf of the Estates." The amba.s.sadors, the Earls of Morton and Glencairn, and Maitland of Lethington, set out from Edinburgh, accompanied with fifty-four horse, on the 11th or 12th October 1560.

(Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 62.) They returned on the 3d of January 1560-61. (Ib. pp. 63, 281.)

That same tyme was the Castell of Sempill[282] besieged and tane, because the Lord thairof disobeyed the lawes and ordinances of the Counsall in many thingis, and especiallie in that, that he wold manteane the idolatrie of the Messe, and also that he besett the way to the Erle of Arrane, with a great gathering, as he was ryding with his accustumed companye.

[282] "My Lord Duke and the Earl of Arrane, his son, on the 24th September 1560, depart.i.t to cast doun my Lord Sempills hous;" and on the 14th October, "the Castell of Sempill was tane be my Lord Duke."

(Diurnal of Occurrents, pp. 62, 63.)

Castle Semple is in the parish of Lochwinnoch, and county of Renfrew, and stood at the northern end of the lake called Lochwinnoch, from which the parish derived its name: it was demolished in the year 1735, and replaced by a modern mansion.

The Papistis war proude, for thei looked for ane new armye from France at the nixt spring, and thairof was thair no small appearance, yf G.o.d had not otherwyse provided. For France utterlie refused the confirmatioun of the peace contracted at Leyth, wald ratifie no parte of oure Parliament, dismissed the Lord of Sanct Johne without any resolute ansure,[283] begane to gather new bandis of throte-cuttaris, and to maik great preparatioun for schippes. Thei farther send befoir thame certane practisaris (amonges whome the Lord Seatoun,[284] who had departed with the Frenche out of Leyth was one) to rouse up new trubles within this Realme. And all this came partlie of the malice of the house of Gwise, who had avowed to revenge the displeasour of thair sister, boyth upoun England and Scotland, and partlie by instigatioun of proud Beatoun, falslie called Bischope of Glasgu, of Dury, Abbot of Dumfermeling, Saulles Seatoun,[285] and Mr. John Sinklar, Dene of Restarick,[286] with suche utheris of the Frenche factioun,[287] who had openlie spokin, that thei had refused all portioun of Scotland, onless that it war under the government of a Frenche man. "Recompense thame, O Lord, as thou knowest maist expedient for thy awin glorie, and for the perpetuall schame of all tratouris to thair commoun-wealth."

[283] The journey of Lord St. John seems to have been delayed for nearly a month after the dissolution of Parliament. Robert Melville, who was to have accompanied him, addressed a letter to the Lady Cecill, on the 21st September, in which he says, "quhilk journay is alterit, and thought mare expedient that my Lord of Senjhone pa.s.s in France, quhaire I daire not go at this tyme. Seeing my Lord is desirous to offer his service untoyour Ladys.h.i.+p," &c. (Haynes's State Papers, p. 362.)--"Upoun the xxiij day of September, the zeir of G.o.d 1560 zeiris, James Lord of Sanctjohne was direct.i.t as amba.s.sadour, and depart.i.t to France, throw the Realme of Ingland, to obtane eonfirmatioun of the Quenis grace of this Realme, and hir Spouse, upoun the Actis maid of the Parliament foirsaid." (Diurnal of Occurrents, pp. 62, 280.) The same authority states, that on the 19th December, "James Lord Sanctjohne come furth of France to Edinburgh, and obtenit little or nathing of his errands expeid." (ib. p. 281.)

[284] George sixth Lord Seaton, was one of the Commissioners sent to France in 1558, at the marriage of Queen Mary. On the Queen's return to Scotland, he was appointed Master of the Household, and remained attached to her in all her misfortunes.

[285] So in the different MSS.; but it may be suggested, whether the name is not a mistake for the Abbot of Sauls Seat, (_Sedes Avimarum_,) in Wigtons.h.i.+re.

[286] In MS. G, "Restalrig."--Sinclair's name is added on the margin of MS. 1566.

[287] The persons of the French faction here named, have been previously mentioned by Knox, viz. James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, (vol. i. p. 252, note 2,) who survived till the year 1603; George Durie, Abbot of Dunfermline, (vol. i. p. 183, note 2); and John Sinclair, Dean of Restalrig, (vol. i. p. 265, note 2,) became Bishop of Brechin in 1563. See _infra_, p. 141. Beaton and Seaton arrived at Paris on the 3d of August. (Tytler's Hist. vol. vi. p. 176.)

[Sidenote: THE DEATH OF THE YONG KING OF FRANCE, HUSBAND TO OUR JESABELL.]

The certane knowledge of all these thingis came to our earis, whairat many war effrayed; for diverse suspected that England wald nott be so fordwarde in tymes to c.u.m, considering that thair formar expensses war so great. The princ.i.p.all conforte remaned with the preacheouris; for thei a.s.sured us in G.o.ddis name, that G.o.d should performe in all perfectioun that worke in our handis, the begyning whairof he had so mychtelie mainteaned, becaus it was not ouris, but his awin; and thairfoir exhorted us that we should constantlie proceid to reforme all abuses, and to plant the ministerie of the Churche, as by G.o.ddis word we mycht justifie it, and then committ the successe of all to our G.o.d, in whose power the dispositioun of kingdomes standis. And so we begane to do, for troubles appearing, maid us give ear to the admonitionis of G.o.ddis servandis. And whill that we had skarslie begune agane to implore the helpe of our G.o.d, and to schaw some signes of our obedience unto his messingeris, and holy worde, lo! the potent hand of G.o.d from above send unto us a wonderfull and most joyfull deliverance: For unhappy Francis, husband to our Soverane, suddandlie perissheth of a rottin ear. But becaus the death of that child was nott onlie the cause of joy to us in Scotland, but also by it war the faythfull in France delivered, as it ware, from the present death, we think expedient to entreat the same somewhat more largelie.

[Sidenote: CORRECTED BE MR. GEORGE.][288]

[288] There can be little doubt that by "Mr. George," we are to understand Mr. GEORGE BUCHANAN. He was in France at the time of the King's death, and it is highly probable he may not only have furnished Knox with the information contained in this paragraph, but also have supplied him with the translation of the Latin verses on page 136. The style of this version corresponds so much with the prose writings and the few letters of Buchanan written in his native tongue, as to warrant this ascription: but in either case, whether translated by Buchanan or Knox, these lines may be esteemed a literary curiosity.

Buchanan returned to Scotland about the same time with Mary Queen of Scots, in the summer or autumn of 1561.

These cruell and conjured ennemyes of G.o.d, and of all G.o.dlynes, the Duck of Gwyse, the Cardinall of Lorane, and thair factioun, who then at thair awin appet.i.te plaide the tyrantis in France, had determined the destructioun[289] of all that professed the trew knowledge of Jesus Christ within that Realme. What tyranny laite befoir thei had used at Amboyse, the historie of France doth witness. Now, in Orleance, in the moneth of November, conveyned the King, unhappie Francis, the Quene oure Soverane, and the Quene Mother, the Duck of Gweise, with all his factioun, the King of Navar, and the Prince his brother.[290] So that great was the confluence of the n.o.bilitie; but greater was the a.s.semblie of the murtheraris; for thair was nott a hangman in all France whiche was nott thair. The preasonis ware full of the trew servandis of G.o.d: the King of Navar and the Prince war const.i.tut preasonaris. The Schereff of Orleance, a man fearing G.o.d, was tackin, and so war many otheris of the toune. Breiflie, thair was none that professed G.o.d or G.o.dlyness within that toune, that looked nott for the extreamitie; for the walles and yettis war nycht and day keapt with tha garnysonis of the Gwysianes: miserable men war dalie browght in to suffer judgement, but none was suffered to departe furth b.u.t.t at the devotioun of the tyrantis. And so thei proceided till the tent or twelft[291] of December, when that thei thowght tyme to putt thair b.l.o.o.d.y counsall in executioun, and for that purpoise conclusioun was tackin that the King should departe of the toune, and lye at a certane place; whiche was done to this intent, that thair should no suyte be maid to the King for the saiftie of any manis lyfe, whome thei thowght worthy of death. And so was the Kingis house in Orleance broken up, his beddis, cofferis, and tapistree sent away; his awin b.u.t.tis putt on, he sitting at the Messe, immediatlie thairafter to have departed, and so thair tyrannie to have begune,--when all thingis, we say, war into this readdyness to sched the bloode of innocentis, the Eternall, our G.o.d, who ever watches for the preservatioun of his awin, begane to work, and suddandlie did put his awin werk in executioun. For as the said King satt at Messe, he was suddandlie strikkin with ane aposthume, in that deaf eare that never wald hear the treuth of G.o.d; and so was he caryed to ane void house, layd upoun a palliase unto suche tyme as a cannabie was sett up unto him; whair he lay till the fyftene day of December, in the year of G.o.d J^m V^c threscoir yearis,[292] when his glorie perished, and the pryde of the stubburne heart evanished in smok. And so was the snare brokin, the tyrantis disappoynted of thair crueltye; those that war appointed to death rased, as it war out of thair graves; and we, who by our foolischnes had maid our selves slaves to strangearis, war restored agane to freedome and libertie of a free Realme.

[289] The account here given is not exaggerated, as the French Protestants were subjected to fearful persecutions, and the number of persons brought to the stake on account of religion, from time to time, would scarcely be credited, unless for the undeniable testimony of contemporary writers. The sudden death of Francis the Second, had undoubtedly the effect of preventing some intended atrocities against the Reformed party in France.

[290] A blank s.p.a.ce of about two lines left here in MS. 1566, as if to insert some additional names.

[291] See next page, note 2.

[292] The date here a.s.signed for the death of the French monarch, is incorrect. He died on the 5th, not the 15th of December 1560, (although Mezeray, the French historian, says it was on the 4th of that month,) after a short reign of sixteen months and twenty-four days, in the 17th year of his age.

"Oh! that we had heartis deaplie to considder what ar thy wonderouse workis, O Lord, that we mycht praise Thee in the myddest of this most obstinat and wicked generatioun, and leave the memoriall of the same to oure posterities, whiche, allace, we fear, shall forget thy inestimable benefites." The G.o.dlie in France, upoun this suddane death, sett furth in these verses ane admonitioun to Kingis:--

AD HUJUS TEMPORIS MONARCHAS PROTREPTICON CARMEN.[293]

Consiliis Christum oppugnans et fraudibus, ingens Regum ille terror Carolus: Ipsis ridiculis pueris, furiosus, et excors, Totus repente corruit.

Tuque Henrice, malis dum consultoribus utens, Sitis piorum sanguinem: Ipse tuo vecors, inopina, caede peremptus Terram imbuisti sanguine.

Henrici deinceps, sectans vestigia patris Franciscus infoelix puer, Clamantem Christum surda dum negligit aure, Aure putrefacta corruit.

Versuti, fatui, surdi, haec spectacula, Reges, Vos sapere vel mori jubent.

[293] The writer of these verses is unknown. They occur in an anonymous work, containing much curious and important matter relating to the state of Religion in France, ent.i.tled, "Commentaires de l'Estat de la Religion et Republique soubs les Rois Henry et Francois seconds, et Charles neufieme. (1556-1561.)--M.D.LXV." 8vo. foll. 262. The above "Vers Latins faicts sur la mort du Roy Francois," are thus introduced at fol. 100:

"Non long temps apres furent divulguez quelques vers Latins faicts sur la mort dudict Roy Francois, du Roy Henry son pere, et de l'Empereur Charles cinquieme, qui m'ont semble estre dignes de memoire, et d'estre conservez a la posterite: lesquels pourtant i'ay voulu icy adiouster, la superscription estant telle qu'il s'ensuit ey apres.

"AD HVIVS TEMPORIS p??t?ept????

Monarchas p??t?ept???? Carmen.

_Consiliis Christum oppugnans," &c._