Knox to Lord Eobert Dudley.^
LETTERS, ETC.
LXXII.
Knox to Lord Eobert Dudley.^ The Father of all mercies mak you feall the sweet odour of his grace, which hy his Holie Spreit floweht to mankynd from Jesus Christ, &c.
Amen.
Seing that it hath pleased your honour to call me to that t'amiliaritie, that by writeing I may conferr with your Lordship, men myght judge me more then foolish yf I should lyghtlie esteame so great a benefitt, or yit neglect the opportunitie so liberallie offerred : one thing I fear, that my writeingis att all tymes shall be unto you more faschious nor confortable, but as att comand I begyn, so upon the sam I shall gladly desist and yit, befor I enter in any farther familiarite, I man protest that it be in Jesus Christ, for without him ye shall esteam no favour of man.
God hath placed you in favour, credith, and in some authoritie, by which ye may greatlie advance the puritie of religion, yf uprightlie ye will apply your witts and power thereto.
I am not ignorant that ye shall have many hiuderars, and that many terrible blocks shalbe cast befor your feitt, yf you ones purpos openly to walk in that straitt way that leadeht to lyef ; but, my Lord, yf this sentence of your God shalbe printed in your hart, " Farr be it from me (saieht the EternaU), but that I shall glorifye such as giorifye me ;" yf this sentence, I say, be surelie persuaded unto your hart, and oft remembred, as it becomeht, ye shall easely overcome tentations and dangers that appear most difficill : and this for my protestacion.
Becaus the sufficiencye of the bearer is able faythfully to reaport the estate of all common effares heir, I shall trouble your Lordship for the present only with tuo headis, the on con - * Lord Eobert Dudley, a favourite of tionably insincere in this proposed marQueen
Elizabetli, wbo, at Sir William riage, originating, as Chalmers asserts, Cecill's suggestion, recommended him in " the malignity of Cecill, to into Mary Queen of Scots for an husband, volvc tlie man whom he hated in a He was created Earl of Leicester in difticult jn-cdicament between the two 1.5fi4.
The English Queen was unquos Queens."
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cerneht of our Nobilitie, the other the faythfull diligence of my dear Brethren, the trew preacheris, with yow.
Trew it is, my Lord, that zeall, joyned with knowledg, ones appeared in a great part of our nobilitie ; but allace, to the greif of many hartes, it is now judged to be waxen cold, whether it be be reasson of this laitt calme and tranquillitie, in the which every man seakeht to build his own hous, and to mack him selfe great, having small care to re-edify the hous of God : whether this, I say, be the caus, or whether becaus, from the begynnyng thei sought not the treuht, but their owen advantage, I know not, God knoweht : but this is most certen, that there appears no suche fervencye in the most part of our Nobilitie (our courteours ar coldest) as somtymes I have sein.
Yea, I am eschamed and confounded within myself, when I considder so great mutacion within so schort a space ; and yet my hope is, that for his mercies saik God shall preserve some evn unto the end.
I prase my God, throught Jesus Christ, that it pleaseht him to mack his woord to be effectuall in the mouhtes of many within this yle ; but allace, my Lord, when that I hear that grosse superstition is manteaned, and vane ceremonies ar required in this greatte [tyme ?] of Christ's evangill, I can not but lament, doubting in whome the fait consisteht.
For the present I will compleane no farther, but concluding, I pray my God, that for Christ Jesus his Sones saik, that it will please him so to assist all that travell in the gospell of Jesus Christ, that thei may leave a testimony to this present most wicked generation, and unto the posteritie to cum, that the zeall of his hous eateht up in thame all carnall affections.
It may be that heirafter I comprehend your Lordship, my Lord President of Wales, and my Lord Secretary, in on letter for I suppos that in the publict effares ye all be of on mynd, and of on secrecye, but heirintill I will use your Lordship's owen advysses.
Of Capitaine Cockburn, his larg commission, of his articles and ansuer, I suppos the bearer can sufficiently instruct
LETTERS, ETC.
your Lordslii[).
Meutinie .
. promessed, and our [t'ooles and murderars ?]'...
And tJius 1 liartlie wishe unto your lionor prosperitie, and stabilitie in Jesus Christ, to whose protection I committ your Lordship.
Of Edenburgh, [the Gth] of October 1563.
Your Lordship to commaund in Jesus Christ, John Knox.
To the ryght honorable lord, my Lord Eobert Dudley, Be these delivered att the Court in England.
LXXIIL —Extracts—Randolph to Sir William Cecill.
I am requiered by the Lord of Lidington to desier your Honour, that yf ther be a statute that contayneth all the cases of a Premunire, that yt wyll pleas your Honour to let hym have a coppie.
I knowe yt is ment for the wele of the Prelates.
Yt is saide that Mr. Elmer ^ made answer to the terrible Blaste of the Trompet.
The Lord of Lidingeton also hartelye desyerethe to have yt .
Your Honour wyll tayke yt for a great wonder, when I shall wryte unto you that Mr. Knox shall marrie a verrie nere kynswoman of the Duke's, a lord's daughter, a young lasse, not above xvi yeares of age.^ I rather thynke you wyll laughe at my madnes thus to wryte so great an unlykelye a matter then that you wyll beleeve that yt is trewe.
One Paule Meffane,'* a preacher, brought up under Mr.
Coverdall, who married an ^ This letter has been deciphered bably occasioned the marriage to be with some difficulty, owiiisj; to its havpostponed till the following year.
(See ing been much injured with damp and next page.) attempts to restore the faded writing.
* Paul Methven, originally a baker ^ John Ayltner, Bishop of London. in Dundee, turned preacher, and was a In 1559, he published anonymously zealous Reformer.
He was appointed " An Hai-borowe, etc., against the Late minister of Jedburgh in 1560.
When Blowne Blast, concerning the Governthe scandal arose, Kno.\ was charged ment of Wemen."
See vol. ii. pp. 26, by the General Assembly, 30th De278; and vol. iv. p. 354. cember 1562, to examine its truth. lu ' " The age of this young lasse" proJune
he reported that this trial
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Englishe woman, minister of Gedbrouglie, is convicted of manifeste advouterie.
He is escaped into Englande, or, as some saye, drowned in a boate goynge over the water thytlierwarde.
The Erie of Morton is created Lord Chanceler.
I dowte not nowe but we shall have good justice.
The venerable Prelate of St. Andrews hathe byne in thys towne.
I thought to have harde when he sholde have byne committed unto the Castle for sayinge and heringe of masse, and refusinge to paye the thyrde of hys benefice to the mayntaynance of the ministers and poore.
He is dimissed in hope of amendement ; and for suclie faultes with us are sildom puneshed.
At Edenbroughe, the xxii. of Januarie 1562[-3].
Me. Knox hathe byne twyse proclaymede in the churche, to be married upon Palme Sondaye to Margaret Stewarde, dawghter to the Lord Ocletrie,-' whear at the Queue stormetlie wonderfullye, for that she is of the bludde and name.
Yf she keape promes, he shall not byde in Scotlande.
Yf I be not deceaved, ther wilbe myche a doe before he leave yt.
In thys, I wyshe that he had done otherwyse.
Leavinge farther to treble your honour at thys tyme, moste humblye I take my leave.
At Edinbourghe, the xviii of Marche 1563[-4].
Thee shalbe also a newe reformation of the thyrdes of the benefices to be payde unto the preachers.
The Abbot of Corsrogall is dede,^ and the Kenedies reddie to fall by the eares for hys good.
Mr. George Bouchanan hathe geven unto hym by the Queue the whole temporalities of that Abbacie
: with spiritualities he wyll not meddle, bycause he can not preache.
The Queue wolde have made hym Abbot.
At Edenbourge, the xxiiiith of October 1564, had taken place, and that Methven was and supplication in June 1566, to be removed from his ministerial charge, and restored, is noticed in vol. ii. p. 531. excommunicated.
See vol. i. p.
300; ^ Andrew Lord Stewart of Ochiltree, vol. ii. pp.
87, 364.
His repentance ^ Quintinc Kennedy, see .swpra, p. 153.
LETTERS ETC.
LXXIV.
Mr. John Spottiswood Superintendaijt of Lotheane, John Knox and John Craig, Ministers of Edinburgh,
TO THE Most Eeverend Fathers in God, the ArcheBussHOPS OF Canterbury and York, desyre the perpetuall increase of the Holie Spirit, etc.
Becaus that, iu the Generall Assemblie of the Churche of Scotland, begun at Edinburgh the xxvth of Decembre 1563, and there contynewed certen dayes, aftre it was compleyned by oure brother, John Baroune, minister of Christe Jesus his Evangile,^ upon Anne Goodacre, sometymes his wyfe, that she, aftre great rebellion shewen unto him, and aftre divers admonitions geven, as well by himself as by others in his name, that she should in no wyse departe from this realme, nor frome his house without his lycence, haeth not the less stubbornlie and rebelliouslie departed, seperated herself frome his societie, left his house, and withdrawne herself frome this realme, as the said John's complaint more fullie doth proport : The hole Assemblie, as well ' Some particulars respecting Baron neva the kindness he had received, and may be added.
From the Council Reasked permission to return to his couiigisters of Geneva, we learn that he was try of Scotland, where, he said, the the son of Andrew Baron, and was a Gospel is preached, but he desired still native of Edinburgh.
When enrolled to continue a burgess.
His request was as a resident at Geneva, he is called a granted. student, 14th October 1557.
He was , Upon Baron's return to Scotland, he then married, but his wife's name is not published in 1562 a translation from the specified, and had a daughter, Susanna, French of the Answer made by Theodore baptized 17th August 1557, who died Beza to an Oration, and certain Articles
'26th October in the following year. of the Cardinall of Lorraine.
In the folJohn Baron was received a free burgess lowing year he became the minister of of the city, 21st June 1558, and had a the parish of Galston (pronounced Gawson named Gehut.
He appears to have stone) in Ayrshire, where he appears to taken some charge of printing Knox's have remained till Candlemas, or FebTreatise on Predestination.—(See Exniary 1566 7. He was then translated to tracts, 13th November 1559, supra, Quliytherne or Whitehorn in Galloway, vol.
V. p.
16''-.) It is added, in the "Register of Mini.sOn the 8th March 1560, John Baron tors," etc.,
(pp.
39-48), "but he acknowledged to the magistrates of Gedeparted this life 1568."
LETTERS, ETC.
as the Nobilitie, as uf the Superiuteiidants, Ministers, aud Commissioners of Churches, gave to us commandement and charge, as by this other acte youre wisdomes more clearelie may perceive, humblie to request and pray you, whome God of his providence and mercie haith erected as principalles in Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction within the reahne of Englande, that it wold please you, and either of you, within your jurisdictions, to caus, by publique edictes, or els personallie apprehended, simimond, charge, aud warne the foresaid Aiine to compere before the said Superintendants, Ministers, and Session of Edinburgh, in their Consistorie, the saxtie day aftre your summondes.
We therefore, in the name of the eternall God, of his Sonne Jesus Christe, and as ye desyre synne to be punisshed, and as your fellowservants in Christe Jesus, to serve you, or any of you, in the like case, most humblie requyre you to caus your edicts to be published in all such places as you know them to be expedient, chargeing the said Anne to compere before the Session of Edinburgh, in the accustomed place of their assemblie, the xxvth day of May next to cum, to ansuer by herself, and not by her procurator, to suche crymes as shalbe layd to her charge by her said liusband, and by us, for her rebellious departing, and other crymes that may be suspected to have ensewed there upon : With certification to her, that if she compere not the said day and place, we will procede and minister justice at the said John's instance according to God's worde.
Forther, we moste humblie desyre you to remitte to us, upon the expense of the said John compleyneour, this our act of the Generall Assemblie, together with your edicts or summondes duelie executed and indorsed in authentik forme.
Which doing, as we doubt not, you shall please the Eternall God, and discharge that part of youre godlie office, so shall you binde us to the like or greater service, when soever it shall plais you or any pastour within that realme to charge any of us.
And thus we desyre tlie Lorde Jesus, that great and ouelie Pas-
LETTERS, ETC.
tour of the shepe, so to reuU your lieartes and oures, that we, with one mynde and one mowthe, may unfeynedlie seke the advancement of His name, the comfort of his troubled flocke, the mainteyning of vertue and suppressing of vice
; tliat it will so please Him to blesse our common laubours in this his last harvest by the power of his Holie Spirit
; that in the same His glorie may be illustrate, His chosen edified, and our consciences discharged.
Amen.
From Edinburgh, this tenth of February 1563[-4].
Your loving Brethren in Christe Jesus, and fellowservantes in His holie Evangile.
M. Jo. Spottiswod, Superintendant of Lotheane.
John Knox, Minister of Christ Jesus His holie Evangill.
JoHNE Craig, Minister of Christes Evangile.
J. Gray.
We understand that the wicked and rebellious \voman, aftre her unlawfull departing from her husband, remayned for a season at York.-^ To the Ptight Eeverend Father in Christe, th' Archebusshop of Cantorbury, Primate of all Engloud, or, in his absence, to his Chancelor, Officiall, Commissare, or Vicegerent in the Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall of the Province of Cantorbury.
' The occasion of this letter or mester may be quoted, from the Parker Corsage to the Archbishops in England, as respoudence, p. 209:
Strype remarks, " was pretty strange and hardly weighty enough for the cog- " Archbishop Paeker, 14th April nisance of so solemn an assembly."
1564, to Sir William Cecil.
(Life of Parker, p. 149.) Upon receiv- " Sir,—Where of late was sent to me ing the above letter, and tiie extract these letters enclosed, to such effect as from the Assembly Records, Archbishop your honour may perceive, for that I Parker, on the 14th of April 1564, enam in doubt how agreeable it were for closed them to Sir William Cecill, to mc to satisfy such request, I am bold to ascertain his opinion in regard to such pray your honour to impart your counsel a request.
The first portion of his lotto me, the rather for that it may seem
LETTEES, ETO.
LXXV.
Act of the General Assembly.
At Edinburgh, the xxixth day of December 1563.
The same day aneut the request and supplication geven in the Generall Assemblie, by John Baronne, minister of the Kirk of Gawston, bearing in effect how Anne Goodacre being his married wyfe, had of lier owne wickednes and evill couusell departed from his house here in Edinburgh, in June last bepast, withoute his licence (he being in the Calston, shortway from this town), towardes the realme of Englonde, notwithstanding his lettres directed unto her requyring and charging her to remayn, notwithstanding also the requestes of dyvers brethren to whom he also had written to request and charge her in his name to remayne to his returninge ; not the les the said Anne had departed oute of this realme towarde Englonde, to his great greif and heartes sorowe : and therfore moste hiimelie requested the maiste honorable Privie Oounsell there assembled, with the rest of the nobilitie, the superintendants, ministers, commissioners of provinces and kirks, to give unto him their advise, counsell, and direction, by what meanes he might be at libertie frome the foresaid wicked woman, according to the precise reuU of God"s worde, as at mair leught was conteyned in the said John's supplication.
The Assemblie ordeyned lettres to be directed to the Archebusshops of Cantorbury and Yorke, in name of the haile Assemblie, subscribed by the Superintendant of Lowthean, John Knox, Mr. John Craig, ministers of Edinburgh, and the scribe of the Assemblie, requesting them, vicissitudinis causa, that they should cause edicts to be proclaimed in ether of their boundes, or personal citation, to be executed against the said Anne Goodacre, that she should compere before the Superintendant of Lowthean, and Session of the Kirk of Edinburgh, the sextie daye after their citation or edict's execution, by her self, and not by her proto toucli the state and order of the any such commandement of the Archrealiu. bishops in England to appear in Scot- " The request, in my opinion, is land, the case as it is.
And some doubt strange, for that this vicissitudo is used may rise whether they go about to pracat the request of them which agnise one tise a precedent by our assents to divorce superiorgovernoras subjects of one reahn the parties, and to license the innocent or empire ; and is also used where the to marry again." abode or continuance of the party to be This application in favour of John called is certainly known, in whose terBaron seems to have produced no effect. ritory the party continueth. And doubtIt was by no means likely that the Archful it is to me by what authority these bishops would concur, either by public requesters do exercise their conference, edicts or personally, to apprehend, sumfor they make no mention of their warmon, and proceed against Anne Goodrant or commission.
And, further, I acre, in consequence of this complaint, take that the party is not bound to obey
LETTERS, ETC.
curator, to answer to sicke things as the said John Baron, hir husband, should lay to her charge, and further, to answer as law will ; with certification, that if she compere not tlie said day and place, the said Superintendant and Session will procede and minister justice against her at the said John's instance, according to God's word, &c.
Gevin in the Generall Assemblie of the Kirke of Scotland, and fourth session thereof, day, year, and place aforesaid.
Extracted oute of the register of the said Generall Assemblie, by me, John Geay,^ scrybe to the same, quhilJc I certifie by this my subscription and signet accustomed.
Gray.
LXXVI.
Eandolph to Queen Elizabeth.
Maye it please your Majestie that it may not be imputed unto over greate boldenes, that at this present I write unto your Majestie not havinge anie matter of certayne knowledge, but onlie by the reporte of other ; which I fynde by lykelihoodes to beare with it suche trothe, that I thoughte it fitter to be communicated unto your Majestie alone, then to mayke it knowne to anye other before your Majestie selfe ; I send your Majestie two letteres.
I thynke it a faulte hastelie to beleve, or to be over suddayne in reportes.
To these I gyve the better credit, for that I knowe from whome these advertisementes come, and whoe are lyke to be the workers of these greate attemptates that are suspected : be it either to sturre trobles amongste themselves, or to bringe anye man farther of that shall move the same.
More then is written in these two letteres I have not to wryte, savinge that I knowe that it hathe hjne longe looked for what answer your Majestie will gyve to the laste that was sente unto your Highnes by the Queue of Scottes.
I wyshe onlie that which shalbe moste to your Majesty's contentemente, and ther unto cheiflie will applie my mynde, as your Majestie, I trust, shall ever fynde with us greate trothe and good wille as any tliat ever was so happie to serve your Majestie, or ever did beare the name of your Majesty's servante.
God, ^ " Maister John Gray, scribe to the in April 1574.— (Register of Confirmed Generall Assemblie," died at Edinburgh Testaments.)
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that liytherto hatlie prospered all your Majesty's doynges to a liappie ende, sende your Hyghnes no worce succes of this to your Majesty's comforte, then of what somever hathe byne moste to your Majesty's contentemente.
The cause of my long aboode here is knowne to Mr. Secretarie, to whome I have made requeste to have some goode arrante for my retorne, as also good occasion to do my duetie unto your Majestic presentUe, to no worce ende, I truste, then my will is that your Majestic sholde be served.
At Barwicke, the 5tli of Maye 1564.
Your Majesty's moste humble and obbediente, Tho. Eandolphe.
To the Queues Majestic my Soveregne.
LXXVIL—[KiRKALDY OF Grange] TO Thomas Eandolph.
Me Lord of Murray is presently verye great, and may do quhat he will, and yit his Lordship is determenit to tak no charg upon hym, without he se niair constancye nor he hes found in tynies past ; for my own part, I reseve good wordis with good contenances, for they have said to me they wald be glaid to do me pleisour.
Eolletis newis ar keipeit very closs, quhilke maketh U-S to lyk them the better.
The farthest I can learn is, and it is trew in deid, he wes not very welcum to the Queue mother, quhome now our Queue begynnetht altogyther to myslyk, and we ar lyk to get litell freindscheip frome that part.
Also, our Queue begynnes to complane upon her oncles unkyndnes, and says, Seyng that thay have no respect to hir Weill, scho will do the best scho can for hir self
This muche I learnet of the Frenche man, as to the Kyngis goyng to Barleduce and Lyons with the dead of Marshall Brisac.
I dout not bot ye have hard therof.
The Erll of Lenox will obtene licence to cum home and speak the Queue.
Hir meanyng therin is not knawing, bot sum suspectis scho sail at lentht be perswadit to
.'34(»
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favour his Sonne.
And to the effect the Erll may the mair surlye cum in this cuntry, the Queue is myndit to writ to me Lord Due, and hes ah-edye requested me Lord of Murray to speak the Erll of Argyll, quha, I assure you, will do litell in that mater, without he se a gretter mater lyk to tak effect nor his incuming.
I cannot writ all that I thynk in this mater, hot the bottome of the stomok salbe laid ahreid unto }'ou at your meityng, and also lat you se quliow he may cum to intend.
Amongis our selfis all thyngis ar presently in quyet, hot I fear it sail not be long ; for thyngis begynes to grow to a rypnes, and there is great practeseris quho ar lyk to set all thyngis a loft, quhilkis ye sail also knaw at meityng.
Heirfor, in the meantyme, I wald wyslie, as ye knaw I have alwayis done, that the Erll Botheill wer keipit still ; for our Queue thynkis to have hym at all tymes redye to schaik out of hir pusliet agaynst us Protestantis.
Morower, the Queue Mother liathe writin to our Queue, that Lid. said to hir, that all that was spoken of the mariage with Spaine, was done to cans England grant to our desyris
; heirfor meit us with the lyk, and that in gentill termes, quhill I speak with you, for I am in gud hope ye sail cum to your purpos, using the counseill of your brother.
As for the Commissioneris that aulde meit me Lord of Bedford, I dout not hot ye will cans them be handlit accordynglie.
This is mente for the day of trewe with the Laird of Cesford, wher ther are appojmted the Mr. Maxwell and Justice -Clerk.-^ The Bischope of St. Andros is desyries to speak Math J\lr. Knox : Judge ye quhat is lyk to fallow.
The Queue dyet is to depart owt of St. Johnston, the viii of this present ; hot becaus hir dyet hes bene oft alteret, I feir sclio keip not this.
Thar is syndre slawtheris maid be geutilmen in our low cuntreis, and our yles ar altogyther redye to break lous.
The Lord rest with you.
At St. Johnston's, the last of Aj)ryll [1561].^ * 1'his is written on the margin. dolphe," has heen carefully erased.
I - The signature of this letter, adilresshave no donbt that the writer of the cd "to hi.s kiviiig brother Mr.
Ranletter was Kirkcaldy of Cirange.