Knox to Sir William Douglas of Lochleven.^
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Lord, yit oppone thy power to thair pryde !
And thus 1 end this yeir, with a dolorus hart, the 24 of Marche 1569[-70].
Lord give thy Spreit, in abundance, to sic as it sail pleis thee to appoynte, to write efter me these thingis which I but niidlie twiche XCII.
Knox to Sir William Douglas of Lochleven.^ After harty commendatioun of my service unto you, rycht wyrshipfull I receaved your missive this last of March, perceaving tharby the bruite that ye hear of the purpose of some to tack the Castell of Sanctandrois, quhilk bruite I easely beleve be not alltogidder vane ; for men will not faill to hurt what thei can the quietnes of this realme, and to reenter in thare usurped possessioun and injust uplifting of the fruitis that never justlie did apperteane to sick idill bellies.
How sick trublaris may be stayed of thare interprises, I remitt to God, to whose counsall I committ yow in that and all other cases worldly, for I have tacken my gude nyclit of it, and therfor bear with me, gude Sir, albeit I writ not to the Superintendent of Fyff in the actioun that ye desyr ; as conceruyng the excuse of the tua ministeris, to our Superintendent, I shall do the best that I can when I meitt with him, and thus, with my harty commendatioun, I committ you to the protectioun of the Omnipotent.—Of Edinburghe, the sam hour I receaved youris, this Friday, att 5 after none (31st March), 1570.
Yours to power in God, trubled in body, JoHNE Knox.
To the Ryght Worshepfull the Lard of Loghlevin.^ ^ Sir William Douglas of Lochleven, accompanying facsimile was engraved in
succeeded to the title and for the " Kegister of Ministers," etc., honours of the Earldom of Morton.
He 1567, contributed by Mr.
Macdonald survived till 1606. to the Maitland Club in
; and * The original of this letter is in the was afterwards used for the " Morton possession of the Earl of Morton.
The Papers."
f-/^^ ^, ^
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XCIII.
Knox and Kirkcaldy of Grange, 1570-1571.^ The Queinis suddan hamecuming trotted in the moiithis of all the Kyngis enemeis.
Yule [2.5th December 1570] was apointed for the last day.
The postis gat no rest betwix the Castle of Edinburgh and the north, whair the Secretar, that grit god to the Captane, called Sir William Kirkcaldie of Grange, knycht, whose confederacie with the Klngis enemeis was long befoir sene and suspected of mouy.
But yit the former honestie of the man stayed the hartis of all the faithfuU in thair former gude opinione of him, unto such tyme as his rebellione so brusted furth as none culd excuse it.
The mater fell out as followes :
Johne Kirkcaldie, sone to umquhill Patrike Kirkcaldie, father-brother to the said Sir Williame, now Laird of Grange, receaveth some injurie in the toun of Dumfermeling, be one George
Durie, as efter wilbe declaired, in whose cumpany was one Henrie Seatoun, who schort thairefter repairing to the toun of Edinburgh, his busines being endit, was to return to his master ; and being fordwart in his jornay with his horse, which was boated at Leith, and he himself in reddines to have entered, the Lairde of Grange, captane, had gevin charge to sex of his principall servantis to stryke the said Henrie with a batton, in recompense of the injurie done to his kinsman, who attending upon the said Henrie presentit the batton to him upon the schoir of Leithe.
Tlie said Henrie, beinge unpatient to be dunge as a doge, maid him for defence, and hurt ane of the sex
; who, being unmyndfull of thair chairge receavit, left the batton and fell to the scharpest waponis thai had, and so set upon and schortly and cruellie murthered him, after that the cable of ane anker had taken his feit from him
; and socht to win thair strenth, the Castle, be speid of fute.
One of the number, named Fleyming, was apprehendit, and put in the Tolbuithe of Edinburgh.
The captane stormed, and bad intreat his man weill, for he wald not suffer his man to die for obeying his commandement.
That day, which was Thurisday, the 21 of December, he made his preparatiounes without and within.
Without, he had the deaconis of the craftis, and be thair meanis the rable of the craftismen (reddie aneughe to uproare and tumult) wer easilie perswadit to fortifie his interpryse.
Within the Castle, wer the cannones monted, and a ram was made to make oppin doores.
And swa betwix sex and sewin at nycht, the most pairt of men being at supper, his men of weir and servandis ishued out of the Castle, and without ony noyse or clamour come to the Tolbuithe.
The number was not grit that made the first assault ' From Richard Bannatyne's Memorials.
r>7(j
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bot the pveparatioune made for thair savegarde was uot little ; for all the passages be the which men micht be assembled, to have stayed thair enterpryse, were stopped be uien armed with culveringis, pickis, and uther long weapones.
The darknes of the nicht hid thair faces ; but God will reveale thame, at his guid pleisoure, and a vigilant magistrat mycht easilie smell thaim out
The Captane himself, accumpanied with the Lord Home, keipit the upper waird above the Over Trone to be thair saivegard, that none should cum betwixt thame and the Castle.
Farder provisione was made that none shuld have acces to the commone bell ; and swa, all thingis put in order, the Laird of Drylay,^ cheif leader of that band, began to requyre open doores.
The jeaveler denying, the ram was put to the worke, and quicklie prevailed aganis all doores ; and so was the house of justice violated, the recent murtherer reft fra the handis of the magistrates,^ and libertie proclaimed to all malefactoris that wald take the captanes pairte.
In the end, to give defyance to the Regent in his face, the grit ordinance of the Castell began to be discharget ; and so cannone followed cannoue until nyne wer shot.
The towne was in grit feire ; but small, yea na, danger was done, except John Wallace hous was shot through, and a corne stake and a barne in the Cannongaite.
And so God sent rest for that nycht.
Sonday following, which w^as the 24 of December^ v[ohne Knox preiched ; and omittit not to reprove, as he mycht, sic disorder ; and affirmed that in his dayes he never sawe so slanderous, so malepairte, so fearful!, and so tyrannous a fact ; " For (said he), gif the committar had bene a man without God, a throat-cutter, and sic ane as had never knowin the workis of God, it had movit me no moir then uther rj^otis and enormiteis that my eyes have seine the prince of this world, Sathan, be his instrumentis, wicked men, raise upoun against Jesus Christ now preiched !
Bot to sie starris fall from heavin, and a man of knowledge to commit so manifest treasone, what godlie hart can not but lament, trimble, and feare ?
God be mercifull, for the exemple is terrible ; and we have neid all earnestlie to call to G6d,
' lead us not into tentatioune,' and speciallie to delyver us from the cumpany of the wicked
; for within these few yeiris men wald have luiked for uther fruitis of that man then now buddeth furth !"
As the subsequentis will declair.
At this sermonde and particular repi'ehensioune, the Captane of the Castle was so offendit, that both God and worldlie honestie were forgot in that rage ; for in what furie he, burst furth, diverse men of sufficient credite can testifie.
But against him will we produce nothing which his awin hand write and plaine factis shuld uocht verefie.
That same day, at eftirnoune, he wrote a ticket to Mr. Johne Craig, minister, in ^ Alexander Crichton of Drylay. tion, in the " Heart of Mid-Lothian," of ' The above passage might have sugthe similar assault on the Tolhooth by gested to Sir Walter Scott his descripthe Porteous Mob in 1736..
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this sentence ; and send it downe with a servant, wha delyverit it to Mr.
Craig, being in the pulpet.
The letter is this, writtin with his awin hand :
Ticlcet, Sir Williame Kirkcaldie of Qravge^ Knycht, to Mr. John Craig.
This day Johne Knox, in his sermond, openlie called me a murtherer and a throat-cutter !
Whairin he hes spoken farther than he is able to justifie ; for I take God to be my dampnatioune, gif it was my mynd that that manis bloud sould have beine shed, whairof he hes callit me the murtherer.
And the same God I desyre, from the bottome of my hart, to powre out his vengeance suddainlie upoun him or me, whither of us twjie hes bene most desyrous of innocent bloud !
This I desyre yow, oppinlie, in Godis name, to declaire to the people.
At Edinburgh Castle, the 24 of December 1570.
This ticket was preseutit be the Captanes awin servand to the said Mr.
Johne Craig, being in pulpet.
But he wisely ausuerit, that he durst reid nathing, in that place, without the knawledge and consent of his churche.
And so that dart being shot, the strenth of it vanishit.
And yit the bruite and veiitie of it posted from Edinburgh Castell to mae cuntries then one.
To schaw his greife and his otfence farther against Johne Knox, he directed his complent to the Sessioue of Edinburgh
; in forme as followes :
The Laird of Grange, Captane of the Castle of Edinhurghe, his Complent upoun Johne Knox, givin in to the Sessione of the Churche of Edinburgh, the 28 of December.
Unto your Wisdomes humblie meanis and schawls I your servitore, and ane of your bretheren, William Kirkcaldie of Grange, knycht :
That whair Johne Kirkcaldie, my cowsing germane, being laitlie charged to compeir in ane justice-court halden within the towne of Dumfermeling, upoun the xj day of December instant, to pas upoun the assise of certane persownes called for the slaughter of umquhill Johne White in Kirkcaldie, my cowsigne ; at command of the charge, as ane obedient subject, repaired to Dumfermeling in quyet and sober maner, his alone, witliout armore, luiking for no truble, harme, injurie, or displeasoure to have bene done to hiin, bot to have lived under Godis peace and the kingis.
Nochttheles George Dury and Lowry Dury, brether to the Laird of Dury, and umquhill Henry Seatoun, his servand, with thair complices, come to the said Johne, as he was passand to the kirke of Dumfermeling, and efter few wordis speiking, the said George tuike him with his steikit neive upon the face, as he had bene altogether vyle and ignoble, and not in rancke, place, or number of gentle or honest men, without ony offence, provocatioune, or occasioune gevin VOL. VI.
2 o
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be the said Jolino in word, deed, or counteanance, to be so contempteouslie and shamefiillie used.
And, in the meine tyme, the said Henry and remanent persounes, being with tlie said George Dury in (;umpany, drew tliair swordis, and had slaine the said Johne Kirkcaldie, my cousing, wer not the Proveist of Dumfermeling come and put thame fra him ; upoun awld feid, forthocht fellony, sett purpose and provipione.
Efter the which the said Henry Seatoun, not satisfiet with thir injuries, but still malignand and perseverand in his wicked mynd and conceavit malice against me and myiie, shortlie come to this burght of Edinburgh, purposelie, as apeired, to put liis hatred farther in executioune against some of my freindis, as indeid sundrie innocent men hes of befoir had over grit proofe of his unmercifull dealing, whair he mycht sie advantage or be maister, which I delyte not farder to reherse nor may serve to manifest the ground and occasioune of the lait truble.
And the said Henry, being thus in Edinburgh, most disdainfully passeth up and doun the toun, and most pro\idlie crossed my servantis gaitis, with sic jeasting and mocking meanes and countenance, as wold have irritate and commovet the most patient fieshe leving ; throw whose contemptuous provocatioune I was moved, and send certaine of my servandis to Leith to have dung him with ane battone, in semnable maner as he and his complices of befoir dung the said Johne Kirkcaldie, my cousing, with thair neives : Which my servandis never drew sword while he had hurt ane of thame, thay nor nane of thame having uther counsall or command of me to shed that manis bloud, as I man ansuer ill Godis presence, but onlie, as I have said, to have recompensed the schamefull cuffing and misusing of my kindsman, quhilk I take to be done for ray cause, as your Wisdomes may easilie credite it was.
For it is notoriouslie knowin, that the principallis of the saidis Henreis bloud (T mean the hous of Dury) hes done to me and myne mony grit offences, grievous injuries, and exorbitant displeasoures, tlie principall of that hous being tlie chief author of the deathe and destructioune of my guidschire,^ the Laird of Raithe, with the rwyne of his hous.
And sensyne, have thay not daylie and continwallie molestit and trubled us, his posteritie and freindis, in our richteous tytles, native rowmes, and juild possessioiines ; and yit, praised be God, we never made us to take revenge thairof, be way of deid or bludshed, but patientlie have suffered and susteaued the same, as Christianes.
Nochttheles, how ignomineouslie I have bene spoken of, in pulpet and publict sermond, npoun Sonday last, the 24 of December instant, be Johne Knox, our minister ; your Wisdomes selves that were auditoris thairto, can beir record.
For not allanerlie hes he set me furth, in his said sermond, for a crwell homiceid or maiislayer, bot als for ane oppin tratoure, mi- '
"iJuidschire," grandfather :
Iiis mother beiiig the eldest daiiglitcr of Sir John Melville of Kaitii.
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niorcifuU murtherer, and plane throatcutter, designand mo. be my luuue, ill speciall, geviug the auditore to understand that he had ccrtane knawledge, proofe, and experience of my nature and inclinatione to be bent to murther and blood.shed ; saying also, that when he sawe me in miserie, as vther puir men was, T devysed to have socht my delyverance be bloudsched, bot was stayed thairfra be the counsall of utheris, ' and nocht be my owin inclinatioune ; which I take God to witness is nocht of veritie.
Which particular accusatioune M^as expres coutrare the actis, ordinances, and practises of our Kirke, obscrvit in sic cases ; f namelie, at the first admonitione, and aganis the rewle of Christiana | charitie.
And sua, in effect, hes accused, injuried, and sclanderit me, in most opprobrious and partieulere maner, befoir ony admonitione, citatioune, or declaratiouiie ; and, swa far as in him lyis, condempned me, befoir tryall of my cans or declaratore preceading
; whilk, probablie, he hes done of private grudge, to alienat the hartis of all honest men fra me, and to make me odious and contemptible, rather than for correctiounes cause.
In that he hes past the bowndis of discretione, and left the order and custome of ane cairfull pastore in his rigorous and particulare threatuingis, without admonitione or tryall preceiding, M'hich mycht rather have cassin me in dispair (as God forbid), then have reducit me in the way of repentence, incaice I had bene culpable and guyltie of sic horrible crymes as he particularlie rehearsed, to my sclander and ignominie ; whairof (praised be God) my conscience is no farder burdenit, then I have declaired to Mr.
Johne Craige and Mr.
Clement Little.'
Heirfoir, I beseike your Wisdomes gravely to weay and consider the premissis, and how far our minister hes transcendit his bowndis, in his speciall accusatioune and sclandering of me, chargene me wrangouslie and partiallie with sic greivous off'ences as are befoir expressit ; And, thairfoir, your Wisdomes, be your judgment and auctoritie, will caus me to be repaired to my honour, and restored to my guid name and fame, in the self same place quhair I was so sclanderouslie calumniat, befoir admonitioune gevin, and coguitione tane in my caus :
And thairin reguard, indiffereutlie, the olience of the minister, being bot fleshe and blood, and cled with manlie passiones, as uther in the flocke are.
And in sa far as I, in ony wayis, have bene offensive to the Kirke, I am content, with all liumilitie, at tyine and place convenient, to submit my self to your Godly willis and correctione.
And your Wisdomes ansuere humblie I beseike.
This lettre ofterit to the Sessione, and red in the same, it was thocht * Mr^,J[^UemeilL...Litin , who died in University of Edinburgh, having be- | 1580, was one of the Commissaries of qneathed liis books for the use of the I Edinburgh.
He may be said to have ministry, marked as " Gevin to EdinI been the founder of the Library of the burgli, and Kirk of Ciod," etc.
LETTERS, ETC!. most reasouabill that the copie thairof sould be send to the pairtie accused ; who long befoir had bene seike, and never come out in publict, except upouu the Sonday befoir noune to make the sermonde.
And so the lybell and acousatioune presentit to the said Johne, (lie) gave ane verball ans-\\ er, that the nixt Thurisday he sould answer, in write, to the principall accusatioune ; bot becaus that in it thair was monie thingis impertinent, and some so manifest and deteastable leyis, that with saife conscience, in his nixt sermond, he could nocht pas by thame with silence, he prayed the bretherin that presentit the said complent unto him, hiimblie to desire the Sessiouue not to be offendit with him althocht he defendit his awin innocencie, seing he was ane preicher.
Which being granted (as justlie it culd not be denyed), the next Sonday, in his publict sermond, he said I am compellit, and that be impudent and manifest lyaris, to crave of yow (loving Auditouris), as ye will ansuer to God, to beir trew and faithful witnessing.
I am greivouslie accused, as a bill delyverit to the Sessione of my kirke dois proport ; and thairfoir to yow, as to my competent judges, have I my refuge, desyriiig yow yit once againe, as ye will ansuer befoir the justice seate of God, to spair nothing of the veritie.
Is there ony of yow that hard me in this publict place call the Laird of Grange, now Captane of the Castell of Edinburgh, " a cruell murtherer, ane oppin throat-cutter, and one whose nature I had long knowin to be bloud-tliristie V etc.
Or was not the conclu.^ione of my just reprehensioune and complent direct to the plaine contrair end 1
I accused, indeid, that unjust and cruell niurther ; I affirmed that the violating of the house of justice to be treasone ; and finallie, I compleined that the lyke enormitie and pernitious exemple I never sawe in Scotland.
Not but I had sene murther and rebellione of befoir ; ye, I have sene magistratis ganestoode, and the supreme magistratis of the c.roun I have sene besedgit in thair awin tolbuith ; and I have sene condempned persones violentlie reft fra the gallous and gibbet ; but nane of all theis foirnamed can be compared to this last attemptat.
For, giff the maisteris and authoris of this last ryote had been knowin befoir to have been oppin throat-cutteris, bloud-thristie men, and sic as had bene void of the trew feir of God, I wald have bene no moir movit at this tyme tlien I have bene at other tymes befoir :
But to sie staris fall from heavinc ; to sie men that have felt alsweill Godis judgementis as mercies, in ane pairt ; and to sie men of whome all godly hartis have had a guid opinione ; to sie, I say, sic men so far cariet away, that both God and man are nocht only forget, but also publictlie dispyset, is both dolorous and feirfuU to be remembred
; for I have knawin that man in his grittest extremitie, when that he mycht have set him
!?elf at fredome be scheding of blood, at the counsall of sober men, he ritterlv refuised all sic crueltie, and tuke a hasard to the fleshe most
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feirfull ; which God nochtwithstanding blessed, having respect to the simplicitie of his hart.^ And thairfoir, then I said, and yit I say, that this exemple in him is the maist terrible exemple that ever I sawe in Scotland.
I know that some have made uther repoirt ; bot in thair face I say, that of thair father the Devill they have learned to lie ; whairin gif thai continow, without repentance, thai sail burne in hell
This meikle being spoiken in ojipiu pnlpet, he made this ausuer following, in write, to have bene gevin in to the Sessioune the uixt Thurisday, for his full ansuer unto the foirsaid lybell or accusatioune
The Ansuer of Johne Knox, minister of Christ Jesus, in preicking of his blessed Evam/ile, to the Complent and Accusatioune of Sir Wilijame Kiekcaldie of Grange, Knyght.
To the long narrative preceiding the complent of the said Williame unto your Wisdomes, and his accusatioune of me,
I ansuer nothing, save only this : that his owin confessione convicts him to be a murtherer in hart, befoir that his servandis committed murther
; indeid, for his owin confessione is, that he, movit be divers misbehaviouris of umquhile Henrie Seatoun, send certane of his servandis to Leith to have dung the said Henry with a batton ; which directione and charge, I avow, was murther befoir God, afoir ony bluid was shed.
For our maister Jesus Christ, and his Apostle Johne, pronounced the hatreat of the hart to be murther befoir God ; yea, Johne affirmes, that ' who so loveth nocht his brother is a manslayer."
The Apostle Paul atfirmeth, that " love worketh no evill."
And so the charge to stryk with a batton imported with it, from the first conceptione therof, murther ; which is burst furth to the knowledge of the world, in mae sortis then one.
I utterlie deny that I have done or said ony thing in publict reprehensione of the said Sir Williame, repugnant to the dewtie of a faithfull pastore.
Yea, I feir not to atiirme, that a true pastore nor a faythfull watchman I had nocht bene, gif I had keipit silence at so oppin a sclander, and so proud contempt both of God and man.
And this for summar answer to this whole complent ; referring the particularis to farther opportunitie.
Whair he complenis that privie admonitiones past not befoir, I ansuer, that nather to him nor yit to ony that in sic sort oifendis, perteaneth privie admonitione.
Bot against so proude and manifest attemptates belongeth publict reprehensioune, that utheris may feir, according to the commandement of the Apostle Paull (1 Timothy 5).
Whair he complainis that I called him " oppin traytoure, unmcrciefuU murtherer, and a plaine throat-cutter," and that I did expres him be his name, giving the people to understand that I had certane knawledge, ^ This refers to the esoape of Kirkdescvibed in KLnox's History, vol. i. pp. caldy a,nd two of his companions from 229, 230.
Mont St. Michel, in the year 1549, as
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jn'oul'e, and experience of liis nature and incliuatioune, to be bent to mui'ther and bloudsched, etc; becaus that this jtairt of his conipleut and accusationue is nianifestlie fixls, and so far eontrarious to my wurdis,
I oniittit all ansner and pui'gatioun of my self, that only excepted which in publict audience I gave upon Sonday last.
But in my rigorous acousatiouue, as it pleisit the said Sir Williame to terme the publict discharge of ray conscience, and dewtie to God, to his kirke, and to him
(then and yit, alace !
I feir, sleipiug in syn), that my publict demmciatioune of his defectione, I say, is iu ony wayis contrarious to the actes, ordinances, and practises of this or ony weill reformed kirke, or yit against the rule of Ohristia-ue charitie, I utterlie deny.
For iu this Kirke, since the erecting of it, this order hes bene observit, that upon the notorietie of sic enormities committed within our owin body, jjublict declaratioune lies bene made to the whole people, as I suppose your Wisdomes doe well aueugh remember and understand
] and tludrfoir I siiperseid ony farther probatioun in tliat held, and also farther apologie or defence of ray self, unles your Wisdomes pleis give me new commandement.
And so for couclusione, I say, the said Sir Williame maist unjustlie accuses me, who hes done nothing, in all that actione, besydis the dewtie of a taythfull pastour.
That I am fleshe and bloud, and i-led with manly passiones, as he alledges, I never have denyed ; bcjt that ather fleshe or bloud iinpyred iu me, in rebuking his manifest impietie, that I utterlie deny
; praying God, that he may deale with him so faithfullie and so uprichtlie, that ye comnumicatc uocht with his sinnes ; bot that it may pleis God so potentlie to worke with yow, that he may be brocht to the deip consideratioune of his feirfuU defectione, and so to unfeaned repentance, be contiuwance whairof he may escaipe the vengeance prouunced, and that inevitablie sail fall upouu all impenitent persones.
And this for ansuer in generall, being reddie, as habilitie of body will serve or suffer, and gif it sail pleis yow to command me, to ansuer every head in particular.
Youris to command iu God, JoHNE Knox.
Upon the declaratioune befoir said, opinly made iu pulpet (which was most true), the Captane tuke new purpose ; and whair it was luiketh for that the said Captane shuld in proper persone cometh, and fortified liis accusatioune, he send a new bill to the Sessione, the tenour whairof foUowes :
New Bill to tlie Sessione hy Sir William Kirkcaldie of Grange, Knycht.
Rycht reverend ministeri.s, elderis, and deacons of the kirke of Edinburgh, unto your Wisdomes, humblie meanis and schawls I your servi-
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tore, and aiie of your brethrin, William Kirkcaldie of Grange, kuight, forsameikle as I gave, this day aught dayis, aue cumpleiit upouu Juhue
Knox, minister, auent ane pairt of his preiching be him made the Sonday then preceiding, concerning me ; the quhilk, as I was informed by diverse that hard the same, was taue, reported, and understand be thanie, and mony utheris, to my grit injury, and sclander, and defamatiouue, as at mair lenth is conteinet in ray said complent :
Nevertheless, I understand that the said Johne Knox, minister, upon Sonday last was, hes declaired, in his sermond, his former sayingis and intent to have bene utherwayis then thai were understand be monie, as said is : As to the lament and amendement of my fault, and not to my hurt, injury, or defamatioune, I am content to give jDlace to the treuth, and credit his awin declaratione, and swa quyet myself in the hope of the mercie of God, and not to unquyet your Wisdomes nor him, be farder persuite of the complent ; only desyring, gif it pleis him and yow, for satisfactione of sic as understoude and reported his sayingis utherwayis then he declaired, to give his saidis wordis and declaratioune in Avrite.
Utherwayis, referring the same to God, and end of the same mater, which will declair all.
And your Wisdomes ansuer I beseike.
As Johne Knox was passand to the Sessione to ansuer the greivous complent, according to his promeis, this former bill was presentit unto him be two eldaris ; quhilk beaud red, he said, " I will goe to the Sessione and give ray owin ansuer."
And so creiping upon his clul), came in befoir them, and standing, said, " This day was assigned unto me to ansuer the complent of Sir William Kirkcaldie of Grange, knycht
; but becaus, as this lettre proportis, he is nocht willing to persew the same, whatsoever pleises yow pleises me : for, God knowis, I have never bene enemie to that man ; and thairfoir, his pursuit ceasing, my defence sail sleip.
Bot tuo thingis I man jjrotest and desyre of your Wisdomes : The former, that this my easines to be intreated, nather jl prejudge my self, nather yit ony of my bretherin, fellow-preichouris ; |/ for quhat it is to accuse a minister for the functiouue of his office, I suppone ye understand : farther, in this held, I delay.
The secund is, that I desyre that ye suffer not the gentle man to sleip longer in his syn.
He is snared by Sathan.
It is your deutie to have compassione upoun him, and, thairfoir, ^iperintendent.
I pray yow, for the mater *^ cheiflie tuiches yow^, be faithfuU, and stoul in your office.
Admonishe him of his offence committed against God, against the partie, against ^ the Kirke, and cheiflie against the magistrate."
Heirupon was the Superintendent of Lowthiane direct to the Castell.
But ansuer is not yit (to wit, the last of Februar) reported to the Sessione.
But the brute came to the eares of some, that the Captane had satisfiet the Superintendent, in all thingis ; and wald satisfie the Kirke, as thai wald
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command.
But iii the mean tyme, the brute went that Johue Knox had recanted, and had asked the captaue niercie.
The nixt Sonday after, the said Johne Knox, in his serniond, declared the nature of trew repentance ; and in the end, concludit that unfeaned repentance brocht with it humiliatioune without excuse, and true humiliatioune procuired of God delay of plagues, how scharplie that ever they were pronunced, at least for a tynie ; and that heid he set fourth be the historie of Elias, who in his face rebucked Achab of Nabothes slauchter, who was not participant theirof, bot be approbatiouue, when the fact was done.
This sermond did exasperat the Captane agane, and put him in a new raig.
The fourt Sonday, it chanced the Ladie Murray to be in Edinburgh, for whose cans, to wit, to salute hir, the Captane came to the sermond (as he had nocht bene befoir almost ane whole yeir).
He brocht at his back the principall murtheraris, and sic as had befoir brockeu up the Tolbuithe.
Johne Knox was quicke in that sermond against all sic as forget Godis benefits receaved, and entreating of Godis grit mercies bestowed upoun penitent sinneris.
According to his commoune maner, he forewarned proud contempneris, that Godis mercie aperteined not to such as with knowledge proudlie transgressit, and after moir proudlie menteaned the same.
All that scharpnes the said Laird of Grange tuike, as spocken against his persoue only ; and spake his pleisoure to moe then ane or twa.
Upoun this new displeasoure, the brute therof ran to all partes ; swa thair is no tydiugis, but this is one, that the Laird of Grange lies sworne him enemie to Johne Knox, and vi'iil slay him.
Whairupoun, the bretherin of the West wrot this lettre to the Captaue, as foUov.-s
Letter from the Br-etherin of the West to the Laied of Grange.
He that continowls to the end salbe savit.
Sir,—After hartlie commendatioune in the Lord ; forsamcikle as into this our assemblie at Ayre, the secund of Januare, we have hard be report of some, that not only ye have conceived ane offence against our brother Johne Knox, but also that ye are purposet to injure him be sum way of deid (a thing hard to be beleiv^ed of us) : for albeit iu materis of civile regiment ye doe not fullie agrie with us, yit in the actione of religione, God hes heirtofoire sa far used your labouris to the furtherance thairof, that ye have not bene a simple professore only, but also a chiefe defendar thairof, with the hasard of your lyfe, landis, and guidis :
And, thairfoir, hard it is to perswade us that ye shuld be movit to doe ony harme to him, iu whose protectione and lyfe (to our judgment) standis the prosperitie and incres of Godis Kirke and religione ; and so, be the injureing of him, to cast doun that worke which with so
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grit labouris and manifold dangeris ye have lielpit to build.
Yit, nochttheles, the grit cair that we have of the personage of that man, whome our God hes made both the first planter," and also the clieif waterer of his Kirk amonges us, and moves us to write these few lynis unto you
; protesting, that the death and lyfe of that our said brother is to us so pretious and deir, as is our owin lyves and deathis.
Desyring to have a plaine declaratioune of your mynd in this matter with this beirar, whom we have directed unto yow with farther credite.
And this nocht trubling yow with farder wryting, we committ yow to the regiment of the Spreit of God.
From Ayre, tlie 3 of Januare l/>70[-l].
Glencairne.
Hew Wallace of Carnall.
VcHiLTRiE.
JoHNE FouLERTOUN of Dreghome.
CuNNYNGHAMEHEiD.
JoHNE Cathcart of Carriltoun.
WiLLiAME CuNYNGHAME GILBERT KENNEDY of Dalquharran. of Caprintoun.
Johne Neilsone of Craigcaffie.
Barganye.
Hew Kennedy of Benname.
Johne Lockhart of Bar.
Thomas Kennedie of Lamby.
XCIV.
Libels upon Knox, and his Answers.^ March 1570-71.
Short efter .
. the General Assemblie of the Kirke was to conveine in Edinburgh, to wit, upoun the first day of March 1570[-1].
Befoir this Assemblie, thair was no small boast, that the Captane of the Castle wuld accuse Johne Knox of the reproving of his murther, and of his uther enormities done ; which the said Johne heard of diverse, patieutlie did abyde the time appointed, not omitting his dewtie upoun the Sonday, as the text offered occasioune.
But when the Assemblie was full, and a day was past, nothing was heard ; whairat mony marvellit.
That Tuysday nycht, the secund day of the Assemblie, ther was a '-^ or ellis a foolishe vanitie, devysed in the Casteil.
The one brawade, pairt of the Captanes souldieoris touke upoun thaim to scirmishe in maner of ane assault to the Castle ; the uther pairt, with his gentlemen, tuike the defence and keiping of the Castle.
The skyrmeis begouth about eight houris at nycht, and so continowed quhill efter nyne.
Questioun was demandit from the hous, " What thei were that trubled the Captane under silence of nycht ?"
It was ansuerit (as the feares was devysed), " The Queine of Englandis armie."
Thare began flyting, and sic tiyting as commounlie we have nocht hard ; for besydis thir wordis, " Away lubbard !"
" Away blewcoate !"
"I defy thee, whytcoite !"
' From Richard Bannatyne's Memorials.
* Rravjido.
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" L)yrt upoun your teithe !"
" Hence knavis, and gu tell that whore your maistres, sho sail nocht come heir !"
" We lat you to wit, that we have ineti, meit, and ordinance for sevin yeiris !"
And so about the end of the scirmishing, the Castle began to discharge cannones, first an(!, syne ane uther, and last the third
; and so shortlie, the counterfout assaidtarls touke the flicht, and quytnes was in the touu fi3r that nicht.
At diverse tables wer diverse communicatiounes, and amongis utheris, Johne Knox, sitting with two bretherin, said, " I could expone, gif I inyght speike, the mysterie of yon thrie cannones
; but becaus the nicht is fjire spent, and I may nocht weill speike, I conclud with this sentence of Salomon, Ante ruinam prceit fasUis, " Befoir destructioune goeth ])ryde," etc.
I sawe als grit bravetie in the Castle of Sauct Androis, and yit few dayis brocht a miserable desolatione."
The third day of the Assemblie thair was a lybell, without name, in a counterfuite hand cassin in, and fra the house of the Lordis fell into the Assemblie hous.
The tenor of it, as salbe eftir declaired, was to accuse Johne Knox.
The lettre being presented to the said Johne, he willed the same to be made manifest to the moderatour and bretherin of the Assemblie ; desyring thame oulie to give him place to ansuer for him self Utheris thocht it not expedient, suddainlie, but rather to sufter tyme to wirke, that the compleners mycht oppen farther of thair myndis
; and so that day it passed by with silence.
The nycht following, this same lybell, with some additione, was affixed upoun the Assemblie doure ; the tenour whairof, together with Mr. Knox his mariginall observations foUoweth
Unto yow, rycht honorabill Superintendentis, Ministeris, and Kii'k of God, presently assembled within this burcht for refonnatioune, humblie meanis and compleanis your fellow memberis^ of Jesus ], j'jigy y,^,.
Christ, professing ane self Religione with you, upoun 7iocJd Gentlex accused Johne Knox, minister of this burcht.
That quhair, upoun *^*".^ j Sonday last l)ypast, and diverse utheris tymes of befoir, the said Joime, contrair to his professione, opinlie, in this kirk
2. Fahhe lyof Edinburgh, maist sec litiousliedetracted, rayled, and o y invyed against our soverane ladie,^ the nobilitie, and ^ne lady is shoe uther subjectis of this Realme, professing her grace obetome, nor yit to dience, naming her ane idolatres, and miirtherer, and ane
"* realme, and ° , , .
, , '
. so ye ar traitadulteres,^ and her subjectis, menteaneris ol adulterie and ouris. idolatrie ; with mony utheris injiu'ious and sclanderous
jqrant the wordis, as is notorly knowin to this haill burcht.
Ataccusaiioune, tour, whairas of dewtie,'' not only he shuld have oppeuly, y^ reuimy J in his commoune prayer, have prayit for her, bot ex- .' liorted the haill Kirk to pray for her weillfair, repentd^ }„ thatpairi ance, and conversiouue to God ; not only doeth he omitt
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the same, but, coutvariewayis, uses all mauer of imprecatiounes and execratiouues against hir," and utherwayis speikis of her
G. What Ihave .
,71 11i 11-i.i not Mopped, nor not repent,' because shoe desyns, most ressounablie, to be
^^^n f^^f gi^L restoired to hir owin realme and auctoritie, justly aperteiu- ^ rpf^^^ ^^.^ ing to her, both be Godis richt and manis, and whairfra ane impudent shoe was unuaturallie dejected, and is wrangouslie debarit
; liare!
I said, as shoe wer a reprobat, saying shoe repentis not, nor can '^^^^ man ha^ thus entering in Godis secreit counsall, as thocht he war
Ty^d^'^'^^d j.". previe thairof, and called thairto. lu which doing, he pentance ahi/d workis, sa far as lyis in him, be sic presumptious and "''^ *'* ^' ^""'' malapairt arrogancie,^ to make the religione of Jesus 8. Ihwwyou Christ to be ewill spoken of, and the haill ministrie to -^"^^ ^hairhir^'l be heated and abhorred ; and be intermedling of civeill appeile to Godis and profaiue materis with the word of God, devydeth the mercie, and to church in contrarious factiones ; whaii'upoun may ensew ^Jn^^*^ o/" th' grit hurt and perrell, not only to the kirke, but also to KirJce. the commoune welth.
Heirfuir, we beseike Your Wisdoms, as yow that are apoyntit to watche above his Churche, to put order to the said Johne, in the executioun of his office, that he de9. Builimi I sist fra sic intollerable and enorme railiiig^ upoun our 'luny; your So- • verane Ladi/ J iSouverane Lady, and intromedlmg sic protame causes j.,iQi„nocht-nni with the word of God, far above his commissione ; commissione, ci T
• i.
11- • r utherwayis, ye wilbe thocht, in tymes cuming, Pertakeris *"'."^ <^""'
'"^^ ^'" t>f his Schisme, and charged thaii'with, as oportunitie will serve.
Unles ye put remeid heirto, the ingevaris ^^^^^ ^^^ '^^lone^heirof will seeke the .sameu with gretter unquyetnes.^*^ and to that just Judge Iaj)peule.
This preceidiug lybell comming to the knowledge of sundry, the Assemblie decried to adverteis the Lordis of Sessioun (wha war in the hous uprycht above thame), and for that purpose did direct unto them some bretherin and ministeris, with both the billis, to inquyre gif thai knew ony thing of the ingiving of the same ? Which being denyed utterlie be thame, the procutouris wer called, and thei lykwayes denyed both knowledge and counsall of and to ony sic accusatioune.
Then the As • semblie commandit a publict proclamatioune to be maid, as followes
Froclamatioune hy iJie General Assemblie.
Becaus some wrytingis are cassin in be some persones, sclanderouslie, against Johne Knox, and the ingevaris thairof are misknawin, thairfoir the Assemblie desyris ony persone or persones that will persew and stand to the samyn, to compeir and persew the samyn, and justice salbe done accordingly.
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Tliis proclaniatioune, nochtwithstandiug, no mau wes fund to accuse ; hot this tlirid bill was affixed upoun the kirke-doure, the teuour whairof followes :
To the Rycht Ilonourahill Superintendentis, Ministeris, and Kirke of God, presentlie assembled for reformatioune.
Forsaraeikle as upoun the Supplicatiounes gewin to yow of before, ye causit openly proclame at the counsall-hous doure, gif ony man wald compeir to persew the same, saying that Knox was readie to ansuer thairto :
Gif the supplicatioune be ressonabill, and foundit vpoun ane guid caus of compleut, worthie to be reguardit (as thai ar most ressonabill), then ar thai sufficient, but farder pursuite, to admonishe yow (men of judgment), of your dueitie, and move you to provyile that no slander be gevin be the minister that occupyis the cheif chaire ofthjs realme ; the ingevaris of the supplicatiounes luikis ItTiat the same be alsweill ane admonitione to the criminall as unto your Wisdomes ; yit, give he, upoun his corrupt sence and pervers afFectioune, persistis in his arrogant malice, he sail not want ane or mae accusatoris at the nixt Assemblie, provyding he be then law byding, and not fugitive, according to his accustomet manerr This bill being affixt upoun the kirk-dour, as said is, and upoun sundrie utheris places, was brocht be the bellman to Mr. Knox the 10 day of Marche 1570[-71], as he Avas putting on his cloathes
; and eftir that he had red it, delyverit it to his servant, Eichaed [Bannatyne], commanding him to talc it to the Assemblie, which di.'^solved that same day.
The bill being presentit, and also red, the said Richard sayis, " I beseike your Wisdomes to heir me, and to take in guid pairt the thing that I sail speike ; for God I tak to recorde, it proceidis of ua malice to ony persoun."
And so leive being grantit, he proceidis thus :
" It lies pleased God to make me a servant to that man, Johne Knox, quhom I serve (as God beiris me witnes), not so ineikill in respect of my worldlie commoditie, as for that integritie and uprychtues which I have ever kuowin, and presentlie understandis to be in him, especiallie in the faithfull administratioune of his office, in teiching of the word of God ; and give I understoud or knew that he wer a fals teichair, a seducar, a raiser of schisme, or ane that makis dividoune in the Kirke of God, as he is reported to be by the former accusatiounes, I wold not serve him for all the substance in Edinburgh.
Thairfor, I desyre your Wisdomes to make it manifest and knowin, be some ijublict edict, that ye approve his doctrine, consent and agrie with him, that ye are of one mynd and judgment with him, and that ye sing all ane songe ; that thairby, the rest of ministeris beiring the part and burding with him
(which, on my judgment, now lyis only on his back), the enemeis have
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no occasioune to say, it is ouly Joline Knox that speikis against the Queine."
Thay all said thei T\-okl beir thair pairt of the same burding with him ; for the which the said Richard earnestlie protested, and desyred ane act thairupon, but it was refuised.
Ane askit and demandit of the said Richart, " Gif his Maister badd him requyre ony sic thing f
Bot he confessed, as the treuth was, that the thing he spake was of his owin heid, without any knowledge of his Maister ; but onlie, that he was movet be the sclanderous accusatiouues, and thairfoir (he said) he could do no les, of his conscience, than to desyre thair Wisdomes to remeid the foresaid fals reportes, sa far as in tharne lay, which could be by no meanes better, in his judgment, than be thair publict declaratiouue, be edict or utherwayes, as thai thocht best, to mak it knowin to all that thei approvet the thiugis tliat Johne Knox spake, and that thei war in the same mynd and judgment with him, twiching these thingis whairof he was accused ; leist, be their silence in this behalf, thay sould confirme the opin speikingis of the enemeis, who alledge, and say, that thai have als monie ministeris on thair syde as the King hes upon his syde.
The said Richard, being not a litiil in choler that his just desyre was refuised, and that the clerke of the Sessione refuised to give him ane act upon the same, whois duetie, as he thocht, was not to have bene, so eirnest in refaseing his requeist, he requyred Mr. George Mackiesone, witnes in the premisses, and wald have givin him ane plack to make ane act under his handwrit of the former wordis
The said Mr. George promeist to beir witnes (as his hand write heirof testifies), but refuised the plack, and said it neidit not.
Thir are the names of thame that wer present in the Assemblie, quhen the said Richard made his Protestatioune
Mr. George Hay, Lloderator.
The Laird of Dun, Superintendent of Angus.
Maister Robert Pont, Commissionar for the Kirkis of Murray.
Mr. Akdro Hay, Commissionar of Glasgow.
Mr. David Weymis, Minister at Glasgow.
WiLLiAME Cristesone, Minister of Dundie.
Mr. David Lyndesay, Minister at Leith.
Mr. Johne Craig, Minister at Edinburgh.
Mr. Gilbert Gairdein, Minister at Llonyfuthe.
Mr. Johne Hepburne, Chantour of Murray.
David Fergusone, Minister at Dumfermling.
Donald Adamsone, Commissionar^ of Ros.
Mr. Johne Prestoun, and Adam Fowlartoun, Commissionaris '^ for the Kirk of Edinburgh.
^ and * In the MS. erroneously called " Commendatouris."
.590
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James DALRUMrKM>, Minister at Ayre.
JoHNE M'Cron, Minister at Straiton, iu Carrikc.
Mr. Robert Lockaud.
The Laird of Haltoun.
Thomas Summekwell, Burges of Edinburgh.
Mr. George M'Kiesone, Solister for the Kirke.
And JoHNE Gray, Scribe, who tuike the speich upon him, and first rcfuised.
George M'Keisone, ane witness of the pnmists, ivith my hand.
The General Assemblie being dissolved, some of the bretheren travellit with Johne Knox, and that of guid mynd, that he sould pas over all sic accusationes with silence.
To whome he ansucrit :— " The Kirk may forbid me preiching, but to stop my touug being in the pulpet it may not ; and thairfoir, either lat ma be discharget, or else lat you and the adversaires both looke for ane ansuer."
And swa Sonday beand the nixt day, the sermond endit, he ansuerit all the billis ; and first, he ansuerit the complent and title that the accusatouris cleamed to thaim selvis, calling them fellow-memberis of Jesus Clirist, etc., and said :
Albeit, it is most dolorus to my hart to make ane apologia against such as call thame selves fellow-memberis of Jesus Christ, and men professing the same religione with us ; yit, becaus it is no new thing that Godis servandis have beine accused of sic as have bene esteamed the cheif pillaris of the Kirke, it becometh me to take my lot in guid pairt ; for Jeremie was not accused of the Gentiles, bot his accusatouris were Jewis borne, and circumcised according to the law, and all externall professing and avowing the testament made with Abraham :
Paull was in mony dangeris, and, amonges the rest, he recomptis his ])errelis amonges fills bretherin.
Ye heir how greivouslie I am accused.
I will nocht say that TertuUus accuses Paull ; bot we know that once he accused him, as in the Actes of the Apostles, the 24cap. and
ver. we may reid.
Gif this accusatioune be wcill weyeth, I doubt not but ye sail persave the same to be the dytement and fills style of a flatteiing oratore travelling to cloake impietie, and to deface the just reprehen.sioune of Godis Spreit.
That I have called hir ane obstinate idulatrice, ane that consented to the murther of her owin husband, and ane that lies com mitted whordome and villanous adulterie, I glaidlie grant, and never myndis to deny ; bot railing and seditioue thai ar never able to prove in me, till that first thei compell Esai, Jeremie, and Ezechiel,
St. Paull, and utheris, to recant ; of whome I have learned, plainelie and liauldlic, to call wickitnes be the awin termes—a feg, a feg, and aspead, a sjicad.
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5!)1 I fear that threatening pronunced be Esai, in these wordis, " Woe to them that call licht darknes, and darknes licht, guid ewill, and ewill gnid."
Gif slio be innocent of ony of the crynies laid to her charge be me, then may I be accused as a realer ; but gif thair awin conscience bearis witues to tharae, that scho is guiltie in all the foirnamed, and in every ane of thame, and in monie raoe, lat thaim studie how thai salbe absolved befoir God, who threatenis to cast Jesabell in a bed, and thame that committ foniicatioune with hir in grit afflictioiine, except thai repent.
How mony flattered hir when sho raged in her iniquitie, under the cloake of authoritie, some within this realme, and within the same citie, understandis.
But how that God the just Judge hath overthrowin her pryde, and disapointed thair fals flattering promises, the whole world can witnes, and yit they will not cease, Init still thai will menteane hir as sho wer ane innocent, and unjustlie handled of her subjectis.
Let her and her menteaneris compleane upoun God, who made her cheife flattereris hir cheifest enemies.
What shoe salbe to thame or thai to hir, lat thaim declair.
I speik of thingis certane and bypast.
Now to the rest of my accusatioue, I pray not for hir ; I ansuer, T am not bound to pray for hir in this place, for soveran to me sho is not ; and I lat thaim understand that I am not a man of law, that hes my toung to sell for silver or favore of the world.
Bot to ressone with them of prayer, who never uuderstoude what trew prayer was, wer bot labj^jure lost.
I prayed till I was forbidden ; but this maner of speikiug the warld understandis not.
They terme her thair Soverane, and them selvis the Nobilitie and subjectis professing her obedience.
In this thai confes thaim selves traitouris, and so am not I bound to ansuer thame, nor yit thair accusatioune, till that thei give ansuer to my peremptour.
As to the impreeatiounes maid against hir, whairof I am accused, I have willinglie confessed that I have desyred, and in my hart desyres, that God of his mercie, for the comfort of his puire flocke within this realme, will oppoue his power to hir pryde, and confound hir and hir flattereris and assistaris in hir impietie.
I praise my God, he of his mercie hes not disapointed me of my just prayer ; lat them call it imprecatioune or execratioune as pleises thame.
It hes ofter then ones stricken, and sail stryke, in despite of man ; menteane and defend her who so list.
I am further accused, that I spake of thair Soverane (myne shoe is not) as that shoe wer a reprobat, affirming that shoe can not repent, etc.
Wharto I ansuer.
That the accuser is a calunmiatour and a manifest liare, for he is never able to prove that at ony tyme I have said that shoe could nocht repent :
But I have said, and yit say, that piyde and repentance abydis nocht in ane hart of ony long continowance together.
What title shoe hes, or ever had, to this Realme, and to the authoritie tl)airof, I list not to enter into con-
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tentioime : How shoe was dejected fra it, lat the Estaitis ansuer ; for me thai can uocht accuse, unles tbei lie ; for hitherto I have lived as a subject, and obeyed as a suliject, to all lauchfull ordinance of God within tliis realme.
Yet restis one thing that is most bitter to me, and most fearfull, gif my accusatouris wer able to prove thair accusatioune, to wit, that I proudly and arrogantlie entered in Godis secreit counsall, as that I wer called therto.
God be mercifull to my accusatouris, of thair rasche and ungodlie judgment !
Gif thai understoude how fearfull my conscience is, and ever hes bene, to exceid the bowndis of my vocatioune, they wold nocht so boldlie have accused me.
I am not ignorant, that the secreitis of God aperteiue to him self alone : but thingis revealed in his law aperteinis to us and to our children for ever.
What I have spocken against the adulterie, against the murther, against the pryde, and against the idolatrie of that wicked Woman, I spake not as ana that entered in Godis secreit counsall, being bot one (of Godis greit mercie) called to preich according to his blissed will, revealed in his most holy word, have ofter then once pronunced the threatningis of his law against sic as have bene of counsall, of knowledge, of assistance or consent that innocent bloud suld be sched : And this same thing I have pronunced against all and sundrie, that go about to menteane that wicked Woman, and the band of these murthereris, that thei suffer not the death according to his word, that the plague may be taken from this realme, which sail never be sa long as shoe and thai remaine unpunished, according to the sentence of Godis law.
Whare I am accused of intromedling civill and profaine thingis with the word of God ; I divide the Kirke in contrarious factiones
; I make the religione of Jesus Christ to be evill spoken of, and the whole ministrie to be hated and abliorred, etc.
I ansuer, that when thai sail teiche me, be Godis plaine written word, that the repruife of vice is a civile and prophane thing, and that it is a thing that perteaneth not to the ministrie, I sail do as Godis word coramandis me :
Bot unto that tyme (which will not be till the morne after Domesday, and not then),
I mon hold that sentence and power pronunced and gevin be God to his prophetis, be Jeremie and Ezechiell, to stand for a perpetuall law and rewle to all true ministeris ; which, with Godis assistance, I purpose to follow to my lives end.
Whare thai threaten to put order to me with grit unquyetnes, unles I cease from railing of thair Soverane, I ansuer as befoir :
Railing I deny ; thair Soverane I know not ; lat Godis will be done in me !
I have laid my compt ; mony thingis I knowe I have omittit, but in that I find no great fault with my memorie.
Lat thaim reply, gif ather thai can or dar, and I sail ansuer as it pleases God to assist me.
And this ansuered to both thair first accusationes, in schort wordis I ansuer
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the third ; in the which my accusatoris alledge, that there compleiit is sufficient that the Assemblie accuse me, for thair awin discharge, etc.
Whairunto I ansuer, that my accusatoris wold have the Assemblie of Christiane ministeris moir brutise and moir barbarous then an Etnick judge was in a moir notorious accusatioune : for the princes of the preistis cumming to Festus, the deputie desyred sentence against Paull to whom he ansuerit (Actis 25, 16), That it was nocht the consuetude of the Romanes to decerne against ony man befoir that he was accused had his accusatoris present befuir him, and that he him self had place to purge him of thingis objected against him.
Now, gif my accusatoris wald that a Christiane assemblie sould condempne me at there requeist, and upoun their accusatioune, they make it inferiour to this Ethnicke judge, as said is.
But thai have promised to accuse me face to face, at the nixt General Assemblie, gif I be found law-byding.
Whairunto I ansuer, that I praise God, that thai have nothing presentlie to accuse, when the tyme is als favourable unto thame, as ever thai will find it, gif Christ Jesus have place within this realme.
Bot becaus thai know that tliair persuite is unjust, they flie to the last refuge of all walterares of commone wealthis, tempora miitantur.
Whither I salbe law-byding or not at that tyme I know not, for my dayes and wayes ar in the handis of Him upon whome I depend, and who hath guydet me throughe in mony troubles, and hes yit preserved me to this decreapit aige, which now is not apt to flie farre.
Mairover, I think that no man is able to convict me to have bene a fugitive from the flocke, whairto I was bound, without thair awin commandement.
This Apologie, pronunced be word, befoir the secund Sonday they caused the fourth bill to be affixt, accuseing Johne Knox of seditione, of schisme, and erroneous doctrine.
As the tenour of thair accusatioune dois testifie ; which begins with a grite nota, thus : llie Fourth Bill, accusing Johns Knox of Seditione. of Schisme, and Erroneous Doctrine.
Nota.—Gif the buike intitulat " The Blast of the Trumpet," set fourth be Johne Knox, against the Regiment of Weomen, be grundeth upon a schisme and fals doctrine (as but dout it is), why then may he not be judged, trewlie, ane seditious man and a fals doctour, that set fourth the same so arrogantlie ?
And if it be groundit upoun ane infallible treuth, why then doeth he avowe and approve the contraire—I meane that regiment in the Queine of Englandis persone, which he avowes and appreives, not only in praying for the menteanance of her estate (as he hes done diverse tymes oppinlie in pulpet,) but als in suteing and procuring, be him self and utheris of liis alluiring, be all meanes possible,, hir aide and support against his owin native cuntrie and libertie thairof 1
VOL.
\l.
2 P
LETTERS, ETC.
It is evident, that ather his doctrine is fals, or els that he wurkis against the manifest treuth.
JoHNE Knox his Ansuer to tJie Fourth Bill.
That nixt Sonday, the sermond endit, Johue Knox requyred a litle audience of his Congregatioune.
" Becaus (said he) I am accused as a schismaticke and fills doctore ;" and so he red the ticket that accused him self : And thaireftir said, " God be merciful! to my accusatoris, and give thame grace cleirlie to sie and pertitlie to understand the doctrine which, be me, God hes pronuuced ever since it pleased his mercie to illuminate myne eyes, and to instruct myne harte with the brightnes of his word.
And God grant me patience, that without bitternes I may beare the opprobrie of the croce of Jesus Christ ; whairintill I prais my God I am so assisted be his Holie Spreit, that gif I had not farther respect to you, who now of so long tyme have bene my auditoris, then I have or ever had to my self, I sould never oppin my mouth in my awin defence.
But becaus I am not ignorant that Sathan, through his malice, seikis to deface the treuth of God in my waike persoue, I dar not pas by sic accusatiounes with silence.
The ditment seames to smell of some craftie lawles man of lawes braine ; and yit, gif I list to handle him as his folie deserves, I micht easilie lat him sie, that in accusing the author of that tractat, he hes nather luikit to God, natuire, nor to just law.
His dilemma begyuis with a coiiditionall, saying, ' Gif the buike intitulat The First Blast of the Trumpet be grundit, etc.
; why may not Johne Knox be called a seditious man, and a fals doctour, that so arrogantlie set fourth the same V I will only ansuer his ' gif' with ane uther ; and so say, Gif that be groundit upoun guid reasone, upoun
Godis plaine treuth, and upon maist plaine and just lawes, then hes the accusatore nather God before his eyes, knowledge of just lawes, nor yit reverance to nature.
And so lat one 'gif ansuer ane uther, till that farther probatioune be produced.
He bauldlie affirmes that that buike is groundit upon a schisme, etc.
"Whairto T ansuer, that the affirmatione of ane Hare may not be a sufficient proufe against me, principallie in his awin cause.
A guid and wise dialectisiane wald have labored to have laid some pruife, befoir that he wold have so rashlie pronunced ; and so, becaus the former part of his dilemma hes no griter streuth then his awin affirmative, T say it is brocken, and he is a manifest liare.
Gif ever I entreatted that argument in publict or in privat, sen my last arryvell in Scotland, his argument niyght have sum probabilitie
; bot seing thairof I can not be convict, a schismaticke I can not be proven.
Bot the secund home of his argument the craftie accusatore thinks I can not avoid, for thus he writes :
' Gif it be grundit upoun ane infallible treuth, why then doeth he avow and approve the contraire— I meane that regiment in the Queine of Englandis persone,
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which he avowes and approves, nocht only in praying for the same, the mentenance of hir estate (as he hes done dyvers tymes opinlie in pulpet), but also in suiting and procuiring, be himself and utheris of his alluiriug, hir ayde and support against his owin native cuntrie,' etc.
This home, he thinkis so strong, that no force is able to brek it ; and yit ray guid hoip is, that the hammer of Godis treuth sail shaw it to be moir fragile and waike then ever glas was.
He affirmes, that I approve the contraire, to wit, that same regiment, in the persone of the Queine of England, his probatioune is, I pray for the mentenance of hir estate, and I procuire her ayde and help against my native cuntrie.
These appeir to my accusatoris so strong, as said is, that I am not able to avoid thaim.
And yit, I say that nether of both his ressones feght against me ; for natlier doeth the prayer of Godis servantis, for the mentenance of commone wealthis, whair the people of God remaines, prove that Godis servantis allow all things done in sic commone wealthis
; natlier yet dois the seiking of help (ewin from the wicked) prove that the godly justifies the wicket.
And that these, my assertiones, may be understand to be most true and suire, I will not alledge the testimoneis of prophaine wryteris, but content my self with the mouth of God, and with the factis of thame, who in thair cheif actiones wer rewled be the Spirite of God.
For example, I bring the Projjhetes of God that servit in Israel, from the dayes of Jeroboam, the sone of Nebat, till the destructione of that Kingdome, off whome (I meane of Godis prophetis) some comforted the kingis, althocht thai wer wicked, some forewarned thaim of dangeris, some gave them charge to feght, with promeis of victorie
; but did ony of these actis prove that the propheites did allow and approve that kingdome of idolatrie, or thair unnaturall defectione from the hous of David ?
Jeremy prayed, and commandit the Jewis to pray, for the prosperitie and health of Nabuchanedzare ; did he therfore justifie his crueltie against Jerusalem
I am assured he did not ; as his awin prophesie beareth plane witnes.
And so, my praying for the Queine of England can not prove that I do any thing contraire the treuth affirmed in that buike.
This same I ansuer to the secund member of his probatioune, to wit, that I seike and procuire her ayde, and thairfoir I justifie hir authoritie.
I ansuer, that gif he were able to prove his assert] one, to wit, that I seike and procuire her ayde, yet is he never able to prove that nather my doctrine is fals, or that I worke against the manifest treuth, Quia 07nma munda mundis.
David, pursewed be SauU, socht support and refuge of Achys, king of Gath ; did he thairfoir approve and justifie the enormitie that was used in Palestina 1
My accusator may considder how easie it is to simple treuth to brekc the strenth of lyes, how artificiallie that ever thai be composed.
But one thing, in the end, I may nocht preteimit, that is, to give
LETTERS, ETC.
hiui a lye in his throat, that either dar, or will say, that ever I socht support against my native cuntrie.
What I have bene to my cuntrie, albeit this unthankful aige will not knowe, yet the aiges to come wilbe compelled to beir witnes to the treuth.
And thus I ceise, requyring of all men that lies to o^jpone against me ony thing, that he will do it so plainlie as that I make myself and all my doingis manifest to the world ; for to me it seames ane thing most unressonabill, that, in this my decripit aige, I salbe compellit to fight against schaddowes and howlatis, that dare not abyde the lycht This ansuer gevin to that horned argument in ijublict, with gritter vehemencie then it is wrytten, accusatioun be wryting against Johne Knox ceased for a tyme ; for men had uther thingis to thinke upon.
[In Bannatyne's Memorials, the above is followed by a detailed account of the siege and surrender of Dunbarton Castle, 2d April 1571, with a letter addressed to Knox by Thomas Craufurd of Jordanhiil, at the Laird of Braid's request, dated at Leith, the 14th January 1571-2
; and also an Inventory of the munition in the Castle].
XCV.
Additiunal Extracts from Eichard Bannatyne's Memorials.
At this tyme (April 1571) a constant rumore rais of the returning of the Erie of Mortoun from England, with a guid dispatche.
These, and uther thingis, made poore Johne Knox to be more quiet fra all sic accusationes ; and yit he ceassed nocht to doe according to his accustomet manner, publictlie reproving the murther of King Harie Stewart, invented be the Queine, fortified be sic as efter God made instrumentes to confound hir, and put in executioun be Bothwell and utheris, whom God will yit disclose.
He ceased not to pray in publicke for the King and for his Regent, and to exhort the people to stand constant in defence of the present authoritie
; nochtwithstauding of the Queinis braggingis, and of all her lievetenueutis, who had apjioynted ane Couventioune at Edinburgh, the 10 of Apvile 1571; whairof we ceise to speike, abyding farther knowledge of the end.
The Captane of the Castle hes declared, by his letter to ane gentleman of honest fame, that he will receive the Ducke and his sones, and will accumpanie thame.
He hes this houre, upoun Fryday the 20 of April 1571, Claud Hammiltouu, in the Castle of Edinburgh, Artliure of Meritoun, Robert of luchemachan ; and a sort of the strongest throat-cutteris "f tlie Hammiltounos, going plainelio upoun
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Edinburgh calsay.
How ever that he be blindit, who soever fearis God, seis his handis defyled witli his maisteris bloud, in that he joynes with the menteaneris of the murther !
" Now, Lord, be mercieful to thy puire flocke, within this realme, and cheiflie within this citie ; give me strenth, Lord, to fight nay battell lauchfullie ; and welcome be thy merciful providence at thy guid pleisoure ; for in death I doubt not to overcome death, and to get enterance in eternall lyfe be Jesus Chryst, in whois handis I commend my spreit " Lord, provyde for thy flocks trew pastoris, raise thow up the spreitis of some to observe thy notable workis, faithfuUie to committ the same to writ, that the posterities to come may praise thy holie Name, for thy great graces plentifully powred fourth upoun this unthankfuU generatione !
" JoHNE Knox, trusting end of travellis."
Befoir our departoure furth of Edinburgh, this first of Maij, the Laird of Elphingstoun wret a lettre to his guid-brother, Robert Melving, that Mr. Knox sould not be trubled, etc.
; for the which purpose, Robert Melving wrytes to the Laird of Braid as followes
Letter, Robert Melving to the Laibd oe Beaid.
Sir,—It may pleis you to wit, that I have receavit ane lettre fra my guid-brother the Laird of Elphingstoun,^ to desyre me be cairfull that Mr. Knox incurre no displeisoure, but that the laird
(meaning the Captane) and my self sould tak ordor thairin, which we have nocht pretermitted to this present ; nochttheless, in respect the laird is compellit to take the assistance of some (that beiris Mr. Knox na guid will) for his owin defence, I pray you to caus him either come heir, whare he salbe preserved as our selves, or that ye convoy him to some freindis hous while ye understand sume quyeting of thir trubles.
Assuir your self, albeit he hes used us utherwayes than we deservit, we wold be als loathe to sie his displeisoure as utheris that he lippnis moir unto.
Ye will do heirin according to your wisdome, for he may get harme being at this tyrae within the toun, and we innocent, which wold be ane grit greif unto us, besydis sclander without desert.—This Fryday, be youris to comand, Robert Melving.^ Post scriptum.—Lykwayis tak heid to your self, for albeit ye sal never laike our guid will and intelligence, when we know of your hurt ; yit be assuired thair is gritter personages heir present that will have uther respectis.
Be the moir circumspect.
* James Johnstone of Elphinstone. blown up wiih gunpowder, and died on ^ Captain Robert Melving, Melvin, tbe 6th of that month, as related by or Melville, on the 2d of June, was Bannatyne.—(Memonals, pp. 136, 137.)
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Answer to this.
Sir,—I have ressaved your wryting, whairof I thanke you most hartlie.
As to me to enter in to persuade Mr. Knox to remove fra his vocatioune, I can not weill doe ; but thair is tuo thingis I most wame you of—Medle with him wha will, to his hurt, God sail revenge it or it be long.
The uther is, tliat gif the Laird and ye "be liis friend (as ye say ye are), ther is none that is come to that toun will medle with him.
But notwithstanding, I will travell as farre as I may, that he sail remove aff the toun :
And for my self, I will keip my owin lious ; and gif ouy persew me thair, I hope in God thai sail have na honour nor vantage.
Ane uther Letter written he a Freind.
Sir,—I have spocken the man that wrait to you, and lykwayis the principall ; first be thame selfis apart, and thairefter together, anent your owin pairt, and the uther manis that was written to you for.
As to his parte, they bothe thinke it best that he remove for a seasone, for sen thir folkis cuming to this Toun, it hes beine ijlainelie ressonit, that altliocht the priucipallis will do him nor wishe him no hurt, yit thei can not pleadge thair honouris for his savetie fra the multitude and rascall ; and they say, and it is* true, when he is gone thair is no remead nor restitutione for his lyffe ; and trewly, sa farre as I can persave, they speik it of a guid hart, and upoun intentioune only of his preservatioune.
Therfore, Sir, I wald wishe ye suld write your guid counsall to him, to will him to remove for a seasone.
As to your owin pairt, it hes bene spoken amonges thir folkis that are cum in, that thei sail revendge thair hearschipe upoune the Lowthiane lardis ; and named a certane of them, and named you amonges the leive.
Quhairfoir, he that wreat to you thocht guide to give you adverteisement thairof be the principalis avyse
; nocht in ony wayis to fray you, or to will you to remove your self or your guidis, bot allanerlie to tak tent about you, and to be the mair circumspect :
Assuiring you, that thei sail, nather in counsall nor outwith, know nor half wit of your harme, but thei sail give you intelligence of it ; and incaise it happen to be done by there intelligence, thair credit sail failyie, but it salbe redressit.
Al wayis, thei wold not wishe it to cum to that seay, gif ather your guid circumspectione or thair adverteisment myglit prevene it.
I find it gud that ye be als walkryffe about your place and guidis as ye may.
And sua committis you to God.
The caus why I came not up is, that I wald help to travell with the uther man for his removing.
Settirday the fyft day of Maij 1571, Johne Knox depairted the toun [of Ediuburgli] sore against his will, being compellit be tlie brethcrin
LETTERS, ETC.
of the kirk and toun ; becaus that his tarie wold be ane occasioue of farther truble unto thame, and ane occasioime of the schedding of thair blond for his defence, whome thei could not sie persecuted without assisting of him ; which mycht come to both thair destructiounes.
This day was renforced all the poirtis of the toun, except the Neddir Bow and Waster Port.
The Communione, this Sonday following, was delayed, becaus of the trubles.
A Memoriall of sic thingis as wes done in this Toun of Edinburgh, sen the depairtour of Johne Knox, Minister, out oj the same, sore against his loill.
Fryday the fourt of Maij, the Ducke and his sone Claud come to this toun, to the number of ane hundred hors, and threescore hacquebuteris or thairby, and lychted at the Castell gate.
At efternoune thei went all to the counsall in the Castell, whair all the murthereris was together, and Grange, now joyned with the Hammiltounes, wha slew his maister
; a thing befoir few wald have beleived, which causes utheris to beleive him to be als guiltie as thai war of that innocent bloud. w The Captaue desyred ane assuirance to certane men in the toun, of the counsall thair present, and in speciall to Johne Knox, minister, that he sould not be hurt be the Hammiltounes ; wha ansuerit, that thai could not promeis him assuirance upon thair honouris, becaus thair was mony rascallis and utheris amonges thame that loved him not, that micht doe him harme without thair knowledge.
The brether of the Toun seing thair minister in danger, come unto him with Mr. Johne Craig, also being minister, and desyrit him, in the name of God, to depairt (as oftymes thei had done befoir).
But seing on nowayes him to condiscend unto thair desyres, they said, they could nocht see him in ony wayis get harme, but it behoved thame to assist and defend him against whomsoever wald hurt him
; and so, in defending him, it sould be the occasioun of thair owin destructioune
; becaus now thai were not able to resist the Hammiltounes, and the rest in the towne.
Thairfoir thei charged thair said minister, Mr. Knox, in Godis name, as he tenderit thair savetie and weill, to depairt
; which gif he did nocht, that gif thair bloude wer shed for his cause and in his defence, that God wald requyre it of his handis.
And so, be this occasioune, he depairted on the morne, the 8 [Sth] of Maij, over the water of Leyth, and went to Abbotishall, whar he is presentlie.
This Sonday [13th of May 1571], I^Ir.
Craige teiched the
Psalme ; and, in his sermond, he compaired the stait of the Kirke of God within this toun unto the stait of the Maccabeis, wha wer oppressed sumtymes by the Assyrianis and sumtymes by the Egiptianis, be whome
lettp;rs, etc. the people of God than v.ev oppressed.
Also, he said, that when wicked men and wicked parties contendis and stryves for thair pryde, ambitione, and worldlie honore, the Kirke is alwayes in truble.
Be which maner of speich, mony wer offendit, in making the tuo paiieis alyke ; and how farre unlyke the comparisone is, all men may sie.
The weike preceidiug [the 19th of May], ther was nather preiching nor prayer, nather was thair ony sound of bell heard in all the Toun at that tyme, except the ringing of the cannones ; whairof thair was of canone, and cannone feir, myen and battard, 500 shot at leist, besydis small brasen peices, slanges of iron, and utheris mae peices that was tane fra the Toun.
This same day [the 1 3th of June], the Caiotell Lordis sent to Mr.
Craig, desyring him to caus the Kirke to be assembled, and redd this letter unto tharae sent from the Lordis, wha convenit at thrie houris efter noune.
Efter the reiding of the letter the Bischope of Galloway and Sir James Balfour come in, requyring, in the same manner, in the Lordis name wha had sent thame to the Kirke, that thei wold pray for the Quenis Majestie, thair Soverane, and for the Prince hir sonne:
Whilk thinge the Lordis besocht thame, with all gentlenes and submissione, to doe ; bot it was denyed of the whole bretherin : Whairat the tuo messingeris wer not content, and discharged them to preich gif they wald nocht pray for the Queine.
The Generall Assemblie of the Kirk held in Striveling the fyft of this moneth [of August] ; but the maist pairt of the effairis thairof wer continowed to the Parliament, which also was continowed till the 28 of this moneth, to be in Striveling.
This same Tuysday, the 28 of August 1571, was the first day of the Parliament in Striveling, whair the Kingis grace in proper persone was present, and spake thir wordis with his owin mouth
" Me Lordis, and the uther trew subjectis, we ar convenit heir, as I understand, to minister justice : and becaus my aige will not suffer me to exerce my chairge be myself, be reasone of my youth, I have gevin power to my guidschire^ as Regent and Tutore to me, and yow to assist him thairin as ye will ansuer to God and me heirefter."
They of the Castell of Edinburgh, lykwayis appoynted thair Parliament about this same tyme, and made tliair foirfaultouris as thei pleisit, botli upoun lordis, lairdis, gentlemen and burgessis, a grit number.
' Matthew Earl of Ijeiiuox, the father lowing.
His grandson, James the Sixth, of Darnley, was then Regent.
He was at this time only five years of was slain on the 3d of September folage.
TO HIS LOVING
BRETHREN WHOME GOD
ones Glorioufly gathered in the Church of Edinburgh, and now ar difperfed for tryall of our Faith. &c.
lOHN KNOX.
IMPRENTED AT
STRIVILING BE ROBERT
LEKPREVIK.
ANNO DO. M.D.LXXI.
[Small 8vo, 4 leaves, in Roman letter.]