Knox to the General Assembly at Peeth, with
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these dayes publictlie, as Edinburgh can witness ; and secretlie conferred, can testifie.
Remedie now on earth resteth none, but onlie that both England and Scotland humblie submitt themselves to the correcting hand of God, with humble confessioun of their former inobedience, that blood was not punished when
He, by his servants, publictlie craved justice, according to his law.
In which head your realme is no lesse guiltie than we, who now drink the bitter part of the cuppe, which God of his mercie avert from you.
And thus wearie of the world, with my heartilie commendations to all faithfull acquaintance, Mr. Bodlih^ and his bedfellow especiallie remembred, I committ you to the protection of the Omnipotent.
Off Sanct Andrewes [Jiily 1572].
CIV.
Knox to the General Assembly at Peeth, with CERTAIN Articles and Questions.
Fight and faint not, for the battle is short, and the victory with Jesus Christ is rich and without end.
Albeit I have tain my leave not only of you, dear Brethren, but also of the whole world and all worldlie affairs ; yet remaining in the flesh I could not nor' cannot cease to admonish you of tilings, which I know to be most prejudiciall to the / Kirk of Christ Jesus within this realme.
Above all things. preserve the Kirk from the bondage of the Universities.
Persuade them to rule themselves peaceably, and order tliair schools w in Christ ; but subject never the pulpit to their Judgment, neither yet exempt them from your Jurisdiction.
Take"Tieid * John Bodleigh, with bis wife and of the English congregation at Geneva, family, came to Geneva in June 1557.
SirThomas Bodleigh or Bodley, who was His son Thomas, who was born in 1544, knighted by King James after his acceswas educated at that University.
Their sion, and who died in 1612, was the names occur in the list of exiles durcelebrated founder of the Bodleian Libing the time that Knox was minister rary, Oxford.
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that nothing proceed, under your name, be particular factions.
Farther I have communicated my mmd with thir two dear brethren.
Hear them, and doe as ye will answer before God, who presently worketh potently, how blind that ever the world remaineth.
Fight ye in the truth and for the liberty of the same, and be assured to triumph with Jesus Christ
: To whose mighty protection I unfainedly commit you.
Off Sanct Andrewes, the 5th day of August 1572.
[John Knox.] With this letter, which was sent be Mr. John Wynraine, Superintendent of Fife, and Mr. Eobert Pont, were sent thir Articles following :
First, Desiring a new Act to be made, ratifying all things concerning the King and liis obedience that were enacted of before, without any change, and that the ministers who have contraveened the former Acts, be corrected as accordeth.
That sute be made to the Regent's grace and nobility maintaining the King's cause, That whatsoever proceedeth in this treaty of peace, they be mindfull the Kirk be not prejudged thereby in any sort ; and they specially of the ministry, that have been robbed of their possessions within the Kirk during the time of the troubles, or otherwise dung and injured, may be restored.
3. To sute at the Regent, That no gift of any bishoprick or other benefice be given to any person contrar to the tenor of the Acts made in the time of the first Regent of good memory ; and they that are given contrar the said Acts, or to any unqualified person, may be revocked and declared null be ane Act of Secret Couusell ; and that aU bishopricks vacaud may be presented, and qualified persons jiominat ^ thereunto, within a year after the vaikiug thereof, according to the order taken in Leith be the Commissioners of the Nobility and of the Kirk in the monelh of January last ; and, in speciall, to complean upon the giving of the Bishoprick of Rosse to Lord IMethven.
That no pensions of benefices great or small be given be simple donation of my Lord Regent, without consent of the possessor of the said benefices having title thereto, and the admission of the Superintendent or Commissioner of the province where this benefice lyeth, or of the Bishops lawfully elected according to the said^order taken at Leith ; and desire ane act of Couneell to be made thereupon unto the nixt Parliament, wherein the same be specially inacted, with inhibition to the Lords of Session to give any letters or decreets upon such simple
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gifts of benefices or pensions, not being given in manner above rehearsed ; and that the Kirk presently assembled declare all such gifts nvill, so far as lyeth in their power.
That the first form of presentation to benefices, which were in the first and second Regent's time, be not changed as now it is commonl^T"^^^^ that this clause be contained in the presentations, That if the persons presented make not residence, or be slanderous, or found unworthy either in life or doctrine be the judgment of the Kirk (to the ^ which alwise he shall be subject), or meet to be transported to another room at the sight of the Kirk, that the said presentation, and all that shall fall thereupon, shall be null and of no force nor effect ; and this "
^ '" to have place also in the nomination of the Bishops.
"~~15.~ That ane Act be made in this Assembly, TEat all things done in prejudice of the Kirk's assumptions of the Thrids, either be Papists or others, in giving of fewes, liferents, or tacks, or any otherwise disponing the said assumed Thrids, be declared null, with a solemn protestation.
The whole Kirk disassenteth thereto.
That ane Act be made, decerning and ordaining all Bishops admitted be the order of the Kirk now received, to give account of their whole rents and intromission therewith once in the year, as the Kirk shall appoint for such causes as the Kirk may easily consider the same to~T5e" most" expedient and necessar.
8. Anent the jurisdiction of the Kirk, That the same be determined in this Assembly, because this article hath been very long postponed.
To make sute to the Regent and Counsell for remedy against messmongers and excommunicate persons.
1 0.
Last, That order be taken anent the procurers of the Kirk, who procure against ministers and ministry, and for sisting of justice of the Kirk's actions in the Session.
Thir Questions were also presented at this Assembly :
If a Bishop, being elected to a great diocie, may be admitted beside
that to the oflice of Rectory of ane University or Provest of a CoUedge, or any other like charge, or to bruike any inferior benefice.
2. If controversy rise upon doctrine, before whom shall it be treated, where the Bishops are placed according to the order of the Kirk
: Whether shall the Superintendents jurisdiction expire or not.
3. If any Abbot may sett his whole abbacie in prejudice of his successors and of the ministry, for the half of the thing it payed before, or otherwise far within the availl.
Thir Articles were read in the Assembly with the former letter.
The Assembly wrote again ane Answer to Mr. Knox, thus :
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The mychtie comfort of the Holy Ghost vioste strengthen yow unto the end.
We have received your writting (dear Brother iu the Lord Jesus), togetlier with certain Articles and Questions, the which \ we have read and diligently considered, and find the same both
I reasonable and godly ; and therefore we have taine like order ' as we could for the furtherance thereof, as thir our brethren bearers of this present will declare unto you, beseeking you to comfort yourself in the mercies of God through Jesus Christ.
We think it not meet to trouble you presently with long letter, seing our minds are all bent (as we believe) to sett fordward the self same cause, which our God hath putt into our hands, to the advancement of his glory and comfort of his Kirk through Jesus Christ ; to whose protection we committ you.
Off Perth, the 10th of August 1572.
Your brethren and fellow members in Jesus Christ, Mr. John Wyneame.
Bischop of Cathnes.
Mr. David Lindesay.
Johne Areskine.
Mr. Eobert Pont.
Johne Spotswood.
Mr. Johne Eow.
CV.
Knox's Eeturn to Edinburgh from St, Andrews, August 1572.^ To this Assemblie"^ the Toun of Edinburgh, efter thei war come home againe to thair houses (I meane of thame that wer banished and remained not in the toun, nor tiiike pairt with the traytoris of the Castell), send thair commissioneris, as alwayis before thei had done, at every Assemblie ; and becaus tliai wer destitute of Ministeris, desyrit that thai mycht choise whom thai pleisit to have for thair minister, beeaus Mr. Johne Craig and thei had gevin uther over ; for thei thocht that the said Mr. Johne Craig,^ wha befoir was ane of thair ministeris, * From Eichard Bannatyne's Memoburgh, removed first to Montrose, and rials. then to Aberdeen, but returned as mini- '^ The General Assembly held at Perth, ster of the King's household in 1580. on the 6th of August 1572.
He died in 1600, at the advanced age ^ Mr. John Craig, after leaving Edinof eighty-eight.
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sweyecl over meikle to the sword-haud.
• I will say no moir of that man ; l)ut I pray God continow with him his Holy Spreit, and that he be not drawin asyde be Lethingtoim.
Tlie Assemblie grantit unto them to choise wher thai pleased ; with a charge also to the persone whome thei wold desyre to obey, except of the tuo ministeris of Dundie and Sanct Johnstoun.'
And thairefter the said comraissoneris come to Johne Knox (now thair only minister at this present, albeit he was dwelling in Sanct Androis), to seike his advice heirin ; aud also delyverit to him this lettre following, direct from the Ku'ke and Bretherin of Edinburgh, for to will him to returne home againe, as followes :
The Kirk and Brethren of Edinburgh to Knox.
The comfort of the Holie Spirit, for salutatioun !
Off the restoiring of iis (undeservit) of our God, to this our Toun, we beleive ye ar not ignorant ; and yit we can not excuse our sleuth, that has not as yit adverteised you thairof But being trubled to obtaine that libertie whUk we had befoir our departing thairfra, quhairin we ar as yit occupied, was and is the caus of our slaknes, quhilk we doubt not ye will accept in good part.
Our estait present, in that thing whilk is to us most deir, is that ministeris may be had, of whome for the present we ar destitute (you only excepted), moves us moir then ony uther thing.
And for that purpose, and treating of sic uther thingis as concerne the stait of the Kirke, we directit Nicoll Udward, with Johne Johnstoun, this beirare, to the Assemblie at Sanct Johnstoun, who will certifie you of thair ansuer, which thai thair resaved.
Bot becaus ye ar he to whome we are mareit undir, and we to you, we wald crave, and craves of God, gif habilitie of your persone mycht susteine travell, that ones againe your voice mycht be hard amonges us, and that thing reformed whilk sumtymes be you, under God, amonges us was planted.
Laith we ar to disease or hurt your persone in ony wayis, and farre laither to want you, we being so joyned together in love, be God ; and knowing your cair to be no les for us than it hes bene heii-tofoir, we referre your returning to your self, and your judgment.
But gif it mycht stand with your will, we desyre the samyn, maist earnestlie.
And knowing the sufficiencie of the beiraris, wha will declair our myndis to you at grit length, whairin ye sail give thaim credite, we committ you to the protectione of the Eternall.
Off Edinburgh, the fourth of August, 1572.
Your Bretherin and Childrene in God (with their names subscryvit with thair owin handis).
' William Christisone, was minister of Dundee and Mr. John Row of Perth, or St. .Johnstoun.
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Tlie iircsftutens of this letter wer the rommissionerisi of the said Kirk of E(liubiir>,^h, as said is, to wit, NieoU Udward, and Johne Johustouii, scril)e.
"Whilic letter -when thei had delyvcred, and shewed the guid will and ansuer of the General Assemblie, requyred his advise for the choise of a minister, the Superintendent of Lowthiane being present and after some rcssoning, they concludit upoun Mi*. James Lowsone, then sub-principall of the College of Aberdeiu, placed thair be the first Regent, the Lord of ilurray.
Maister Knox, eftir the reiding of his letter, grautit to the Commisisioneris and beiraris foirsaids to returne agane to Edinburgh ; bot Avith this conditione, that he suld not be desyred or preissed in ony sort to temper his toung, or ceise to speake against the treassonabill dealingis of the Castell of Edinburgh ; whois treassonabill and tyrannous doiugis he wald cry out against, sa long as he wer able to speike.
And thairfoir willed them to signifie the same to the whole Kirke and Bretheriu of Edinburgh, leist thei sould afterward aither repent of his austeritie against the said Castle, or yit leist thai sould feir to be worst intreated for his cans.
Whilkis wordis, or the like in effect, the said Mr. Knox oftymes repetite unto the Bretherin of Edinburgh, when he was returned, befoir he enterit the pulpet.
Bot thai i)lainelie confessit that never meanit nor thocht to put a brydle to his tounge, but willed him t(t speike his conscience, as he had done afoir tymes.
The 17th of August, Mr. Knox departed out of Sanct Androis, not without dolore and displeasure of the few godly that wer in that toun
; bot to the grit joy and pleasuire of the rest, and specialie to the Bal- \ fouris, Kirkcaldies (few thocht thei be !), and Hammiltones (enemies to God and to the King !) and their factione, for his severitie used against them in his sermondis, reproving their treasonable dealing, falsett,
deceit, and trubliug of this commonwealth ; quhilk they culd not abyde !
Bot especiallie the Hammiltones, becaus his invydng against thair tressonabill murther of the first Regent ; for all the tyme he was in Sanct Androis (quhilk was fra the begining of J ulii, in anno 1571, till the 17 of August, in the yeir following, 1572) he preichit everie Sonday, and teichet the Prophet Daniell, to the middis of the ix chapter, alwayis applying his text (as a faithful preichore ought to doe) according to the tyme and stait of the people ; whairby the wicked and trubleris of Godis Kirk myght be kuowin and painted out in their cullouris '
Bot, contrarielie, Mr.
Robert Hammiltoun, the minister of the said toun, in all his sermondis, usit sic generalitie (as, alace ! the maist part of the rainisteris doe, becaus thai have no will to take upt)un thaime the displeasure of men, for the reproving of vice !) that his sermondis mycht be applyed to these that susteaned the guid cans, alsweill as to the trubleris of this commoun wealth, and the puire Kirke withui it : quhas doingis he alwayis went about to suppres and cover, that the
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same suld not appeir to the eies of the multitude ; thinking it sufficient, as oftymes was said, to have ane approved authore for ony thinghe spake.
Bot the word of God aucht to be distributed as a guid and faithful! phisitiane (quhilk a minister aucht to be to the saule and conscience of men) doeth his medicine, that is, according to the disease of the patient, and not to think it sufficient to give unto him guid medicine ; for that which is guid for one, is death for another ; and that medicine that is proper and also profitable for ane disease, is most noysome and hurtfull to another !
Therfoir, as I have said, the medicine most be applyed as is most convenient for the curing of the disease of the seik ; even so most and aucht everie trew preicheore distribute the medicine of Godis trew word.
But how this is done now a dayis (alace !) is moir than evident.
Becaus, I say, Johne Knox did thus use himself in his sermondis, it gendrit unto him a deidlie hatred and envye of all the foirsaidis in Sanct Androis, and especiallie of the Principallis of the New College and the Auld (a few exceptit)
; and yit, be outward gesture, and befoir his face, thei wald seime and apeir to favore and love him above the rest.
The caus why I speik this is, that at the inauguratioune of the Bischope of Sanct Androis foirsaid, altogether against the mynd of Mr.
Knox/ as he at that tyme oppinly spake in pidpet, he gritlie inveyed against sic ordour and doiugis as then was uset.
Bot Mr. Johne Rutherfurde, Proveist of the Auld College, called Sanct Salvatoris College, said that Mr. Knox did so earnestlie speike against that doing, and macking of Mr. Johne Douglas bischope, becaus he gat not the Bischoprike himself!
Whairunto Mr. Knox maid ansuer the next Sonday, in the pulpet, that he had refuised a gritter Bischopricke^ then ever it was, which he mycht have had with the favore of gritter men then ever the uther had this bischoprike, and yit did refuse.
Bot only that he spake for discharge of his conscience ; and that the Kirke of Scotland suld not be subject to that ordore which then was used, considdering the Lordis of Scotland had subscryvit, and also confirmed in Parliament, the ordore alreadie and long agoe appointed, in the Buike of Discipline.
Also the said Mr. Johne Rutherfurde, atwhat tyme one of his Colledge, called Mr. Homere Blair, hath made oratione, invective against Sanct Leonardis Colledge, affirming thaim to be als guiltie of the death of Mr. Williame Ramsay, as Jamie of Bothwelhauch was of the Regentis slauchter, whome he shot with a culvering in Linlythgow ; with other mony injuries against the young men of that College.
Mr. Johne Rutherfurde, I say, fearing Mr. Knox sould have spocken sumwhat ' In a previous page Bannatyne says, But he refused to inaugurate Mr. John that on Sunday the 10th of February Douglas, who had been elected Bishop 1571-2, John Knox preached at St. Anof St. Andrews, etc.
(Memorials, p. 22). drews, the Lord of Morton being present.
- The See of Rochester, VOL. VL 2 K
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in his nixt sermoud against the said oratione, or els sumquhat for the said young men, or regentis of the said College, sendis to Mr. Knox his letter following :
Mr. Johne Rutherfurd, Provest of St. Salvator's College,'^ St. Androis, to Johne Knox.
Brother in the Lord Jesus, I am within this half houre adverteised, that some of the regentis of Sanct Leonardis College hath bene at yow with some repoirt of the thingis that was spockiu in the schooles be ^ne Regent of our College in his oratioune publict
I desyre you not to medle with thea meateris, while both the parties be hard ; for the auld saying is trew, " Wha evill speikis eviU heiris
It was reported what ansuer I gaive to the Bischope, be the beddell ; of the quHilkis thair was thir wordis, as was referrit be sum to you :
That I said, " Cowper in Fyffe and Sanct Johnstoun wer ever authoris of seditione !"
Bot this I said, that " in Cowper and in Sanct Johnstoun was oft seditione, and swa the personis of these tounes shuld beine war withall."
(Lat men tak it as they pleis !) I wald the wordis wer fals that I said.
Be Godis grace, in Sanct Androis sail none be moir willing of quyetness nor I ; and I assuir you, that I never knew, nor in ony sort uuderstude, what he that made the oratioun was to speik, whill I hard him in the schooles.
And yit, when all salbe tried befoir the honestest of the Universitie, it wilbe fund utherwayis nor men speikis ; and gif thair be fund fault with the man, it sail not defend him.
Bot, in the meintyme, I wald ye medled nothing in the mater, as it aperteinis nothing to you ; and I assuire you that we have als guid zeale in this College towardis Godis word, and als guid opinione of you, as ony uther.
Ye will remember heirafter of this my adverteisraent.
Committing you to Godis protectioune, not wUling to truble you ather with wryting or talking, Your assuired Brother in the Lord Jesus,
Mr. Johne Rutherfurde.
The nixt Sonday Mr. Knox, into the pulpet, declaired the contentis of this letter send unto him, without the expressing of his name that send it, schawing that hitherto nane could accuse him of medling in ^ Rutherfurd was a native of Jedlege in that University.
As head of burgh, and spent the early part of his that College, he was ex officio Rectcr or life in France.
He was, in the year Minister of the parish of Cults, in Fife.
1553, invited by Archbishop Hamilton He died before December 1577, soon to accept the Professorship of Humanity after republishing his work De Arte in the newly erected College of Stilary
Disserendi Libri guatur.
Edinburgi> at St. Andrews; and in 1560, having 1577, 4to.
See M'Crie's Life of Mel" embraced the Reformed doctrines, he ville, vol. ii. pp. 367-371, 474. became Principal of St. Salvator's Col-
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materis which aperteiuet not unto him ; notwithstanding, whair offences wer oppinly committed, he of his office aught to reprove thaim, whidder thai wer done in the Colleges or not ; and that he knew the pairt of the young men of Sanct Leonardis College to be uprycht and just in that matter ; and thairfoir he wald justifie thair cans.
Bot for the plainer declaratioune of this mater, we man open the same as the treuth is ; and quhilk I know to be most trew indeid.
Thair hes evir bene, of auld, a privie hatred of the uther tuo Colleges against Sanct Leonardis, which began sumwhat more to incres eftir the depairtore of the man of God, Mr. Gudeman, out of Sanct Androis, wha thair was minister ; in whais rowme Mr. Robert Hammiltoun foirsaid enterit, and was minister.
Now when the trubles began, efter the Kingis slauchter, that was murthered be the Queine, with whome the Hammiltounes joyned (to their wraike), the said Mi\ Robert began to be sumwhat caulder in his sermondis then he was wont of befoir ; for in the tyme that my Lord of Murray had the handling of the Court in the Queinis tyme, he wald not spair to reprove, most seveirlie, whatsoever he knew to be done amiss, ather be the Queine, in the Court, or utherwayis.
But now, I say, when that the Hammiltounes did joyne with the Queine in the defence of hir, efter the murther of hir owin husband, he began to grow cauld in his sermondis, and never spake a word of these materis, as gif thei never aperteinet unto him ; and sua from tyme to tyme he thus continowed, tiU at lenth the young men, regentis of Sanct Leonardis Colledge, thinking him to be sumwhat changed, began to admonise him, and desyre him first (as I understand) to pray for the Regent, my Lord of Murray, and the rest of his cumpany, for thair prosperous returne out of England, whair thai wer for the tyme, for tryall of the Quenis schamfuU act, before the Queine of England :
Bot for all thair admonishing of him, he did nathing, but rather drew uther ministeris with him to disallow all thingis done against the Queine and Kingis coronatioune ; quhilk opinly thei spak not, becaus thei durst not, at the first ; but as trubles began, so did he and thei of his faction moir and moir utter thaimselves, till at lenth the foirsaid young men of Sanct Leonardis College did opinly complaine of the said Mr. Robert and utheris of the Generall Assemblie of the Kirke, and gave in particulare accusatiounes against them, that thei did not pray for the Regentis grace foirsaid, and for the King, and for sundrie thingis spocken be thaim, tending to the derogatioune of the Kingis authoritie
; with dyverse utheris thingis, which to recite wer tuo long.
And amonges the rest that wer accused, Mr. Williame Ramsay (a learned and a guid man, but seducit be the Hammiltounes factione, and Mr.
Johne Rutherfurde), nixt undir the said Mr. Johne, Proveist of Sanct Salvatoris Colledge, was one, for sum thingis he had spocken for plea-
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sure of the Hammiltouues ; for thai made him beleive that a dochter of the auld chamerlandis of Sanct Androis, • callit Hammiltoun, wald marie him, Avhome he eirnestly desyred ; whairby he was drawin to follow thair foctione :
Bot Mr. Williame, being callit befoir the Assemblie, tuike grit displeisoure, and was not a littil commoved in his mynd, whairthrow he tuike seiknes, and schortlie died.
He confessed to some that, for the pleisoure of his intyseris, he did against his conscience, which movit him to gritter dolore in his hart ; bot alwayis, he deid of two or thrie dayis seiknes.
Whilk his disease or seiknes apeired the Sonday befoir his death, being in pulpet, and being requyred be Mr.
Robert Hammiltoun, befoir, to preich that Sonday efternoune, was so caried away, as ane without memorie, so that he culd not observe his mater ; and efter he come fra the pulpet, tuike his bedd, and within thrie dayis (as said is) died.
A fearfull document of Godis judgmentis to monie now a dayis, wha dois cleane contrarie to thair knowledge and conscience ; upoun whome Godis judgmentis sail stryke in gritter measoure, gif God make them not repent !
Becaus, I say, the Regentis and young men of Sanct Leonardis College summouned Mr. Williame
Ramsay to the Generall Assemblie (as said is), which was the cause that he tuik his seiknes and died, they of the auld CoUedge, callit Sanct Salvatoris CoUedge, bure thaim evir since sic indignatioune, that thei socht alwayes to lay the blame of his death upoun thame ; whilk this young man did, Mr. Homer Blair, in open schooles, in his oratione
(as said is).
And this was the cans of his invyeing against the said College ; for the whilk oratione Mr. Johne Rutherfurde, being Proveist of the said auld CoUedge, wrote as we have hard.
Bot to returne to thame wha buire privie indignatioune, in hart, unto Mr. Knox for his maner of doctrine, and yit in countenance wald apeir to love him as thair brother, in speciall was the said Mr. Robert Hammiltoun, wha had sparced abroad and tauld to sundrie, that Mr. Knox was als grit a murtherer as ony Hammiltoun in Scotland, gif all thingis wer well tryed ; and thairfoir suld not cry out so fast against murthereris !
For (said Mr.
Robert) he had subscryvit to the death or slauchter of the Quenis husband, me Lord Darnelie, with my Lord of Murray, quhilk sould have bene done in Sanct Johnstoun, as said is.
Tliir wordis Mr. James Hammiltoun declaired to me, beand Mr. Knoxis servand ; and also said, that the said Mr. Robert had diverse tymes spocken the same unto him, and to ane called Mr. Johne Carnegie, ane uther Regent that tyme in the said New CoUedge.
Quhilkis wordis, when I hard, I said, I could not of my honour conceill the same, but wald avow him to be the speiker thairof to me ; and willed him not to goe bake thairof.
Eftir that I had declaired thir wordis to my maister, he wrote to Mr. Robert on this maner, being ewill at eas for the tyme :
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CVI.—Knox to Mr. Egbert Hammiltoun, Minister of St. Andrews.
Thair is nothing so secreit hut salbe reveiled !
Becaus the inhabilitie of my body is sic tliat I may not do the thing quhilk utherwayis I wald gladly, I write unto you (not without pane) these few wordis, desyring to be resolved whidder that ye have affirmed (to ane or mae) that ye have sene my subscriptioune and consent to the murther of the Lord Darnley.
Off your awin conscience and knawledge ye your self can best testifie.
I crave your ansuir, affirmative or negative.
JoHNE Knox.
Quhilk I delyverit the 15 of November, in anno 1571, and requyred his ansuir ; bot his schifting wordis, spoken to me, mycht have maid ony man sufficientlie beleive that he had spocken the same.
But after long talk, he willed me to give this ansuer :
That he neidit not to have writtin unto him, for gif he would have send the leist boy to his hous, he sould cum to him and satisfie him.
Whilkis wordis I reported agane.
Thaireftir my maister schew the mater to the rector, Mr. Johne Douglas, new maid Bischope, and to Mr. Johne Rutherfurde, desyring thame to speike Mr. Robert to satisfie this sclander, or elis to byd be it ; whilk gif he wold nocht, he wald comijleue to the Kirke.
Thairaftir come the said Mr. Robert, and talketh with my maister.
What it was I know not, bot when I come in upoun thame, my maister willed me schaw him that I tauld him it ; which I confessed, and schew wha spake the same to me ; whilk when I hard, I said, I culd nocht, neather of honestie nor honour, conceill the same ; adding farder, that, " Gif I knew my maister to be sic a man, I wold nocht serve him for all the geir in Sanct Androis !
Then the tryall of the matter was referred to me, Richaed BannaTYNE, be command of my maister
; whairof I thocht Mr. Robert had litle will, or none at all.
After finding fit opportunitie, I confronted the said Mr. James (Hammiltoun) and Mr. Robert (Hamiltoun) together ; which he denyed, but the uther aflBrmed in his face to be most trew that he had so spoken, not only unto him, but also unto Mr. Johne Carnegie, to bring Mr. Knox in hatrent and disdaine.
Mr. Robert said he suld caus the uther repent his speiking, and that he suld have him befoir the Kirke to make the mendis.
Then, said I, " Gif ye be inno-
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cent, and not have spocken it, ye will do so ; bot gif that be not done, it may easilie be kuowin that ye have spocken the same."
Bot thair was no moir thairof, except that he said he sould caus Mr. James repent it :
Quhilk he and the rest of tlie Hammiltoiines did what thei could, till at lenth he was compellit to leive the College.
Utheris mocked him, calling him " Knoxis byrd !" with sic uther tauntis.
God grant thaim repenting hartes, to acknowledge thair despite they have against that poure man, becaus he had a favour to Mr. Knox
Also Mr. Archbald Hammiltoun for a long tyme come not to Johne Knoxis sermondis, becaus that he affirmed, in his teiching, that Hammiltounes wer murthereris.
And a day being apointed to him to give a ressone why he come not to the said Mr. Knoxis sermond, as he was apointed be the Superintendent and be the Bischope, Mr. Johne Douglas?
I can not tell quhither be the one, or be thame bothe, that he sould come to my maisteris hous, befoir the said Bischope of Sanct Androis, the Bischope of Caitnes, Mr. Johne Wynrome, Mr. James Wilkie, Primarius of Sanct Leonardis CoUedge, and Mr. Johne Rutherfurde, Deane of Facultie and Proveist of the auld CoUedge.
And being convenit, the said Mr. Archbald baid styfe, and said, that he was greived to sie the place (meaning the pulpet) so abused as it was.
Whairunto Mr. Knox willed thame to take sic ordore as thei wald ansuer to God, as ane day thai sould, give ordore wer nocht put to his contempt.
At what tyme nothing was done, saving that aither of thame maid thair protestatiounes, in forme and maner as foUowes
Johne Knox's Protestatioune.
The 18 of Julii, 1572.
The quhilk day Mr. Knox protestit, that 110 thing being done nor to be done in this privie assemblie, prejudge the Kirke of God within Scotland, at ony tyme heirefter.
And first, I protest that nather the pulpet of Sanct Androis, nather yit of ony congregatioune within the Realme, be subject to the censure of the schooles, universitie, or facultie within the same ; bot only that it be reserved to God, the Judge of all, and to the General Assemblie gatherit within the same realme, lauchfullie.
The ressone of this my protestatioune is, that I luike for no better regiment in tymes to cum then hes bene in ages passing befoir us ; in the whilk it is evident, that universities, orderis weill establishit, and men raised up to defend the Kirke of God, have opprest it ; and the malice of Satlian is alwayis to be feared.
Mr. Archbald [Hammiltoun' s] Protestatioune.
The quhilk day Mr. Archbald Hammiltoun, following the auctoritie and command of the most venerable Lordis, my Lord of Sanct Androis,
Caitnes, the Deane of Facultie in Theologie, and uther principal! heidis
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in the Universitie of Sanct Androi.s, compeirit in the inner chalmer of Mr. Knoxis, in the new ludgene of the Abbey, who be his owin, and be him being charged for not cuming to his preiching, agriet halilie to the said Mr. Knox first protestatioune ; protesting lykwayis with him. That nothing in this privie conventione be done suld be prejudicial! either to ane trew reformed Kirke, either to the liberties and godly constitutiounes of this our Universitie.
Secondly, the said Mr.
Archbald^ protestis.
That nather he, nor any uther faithfuU in the Universitie, be thrallit to ony minister wha exemis him self fra ordore and godly discipline ; and cheiflie, when as the minister sail take that licence, that doctrine, to publishe in the pulpet, which afoir ordinar judges he refuises to defend in scholes, to schaw it to be consonant unto the word of God :
And his ressone is, that be the contentment of the whole learned and godly, it is affirmed, schooles to have bene intertained from the begining in all reformed Kirkis, to this purpose chieflie, that sanitie of doctrine mycht be reteaned, and schismes and heresies avoydit.
After Mr. Knoxis departore furth of Sanct Androis (as said is), he landit at Leith the 23 of August ; and eftir certane dayis taryeing thair, he come to Edinburgh, to the comfort of those that wer banishit, as he was ; and preichit in the pulpet of Edinburgh on Sonday the last of August.
Bot becaus his voice was feebled and waike, and thairfoir culd not be hard of the whole multitude that convenit, he desyred thame to provyde for that place ; for he confessed, that his voice was never able (the best tyme that ever he was) to extend to all that come together in Sanct Geillis Kirke, ^ and meikle les now was it able to satisfie the auditore, seing that he was so waike, and his voice so farre spent.
Thairfoir he desyrit thame that some uther place mycht be appointed for him, whair his voice mycht be hard, gif it wer but unto ane hundreth personis : Which efterwardis was done.
At this tyme was Mr. James Lowsone send for, out of Abirdein^e, to cum to Edinburgh ; and thairfoir thei desyrit Mr. Knox to writ for him ; which he did, as foUowes :
1 This Mr.
Archibald Hammilton it it) not easy to assign the precise limits soon after left Scotland for France, of the Great Kirk to which Knox refers, where he abjured the Protestant faith, It naight be called the Nave of the and published two works, in 1579 and Church, as only a portion of what is now
1581, filled with the most calumnious called the High Church or New Kirk statements against Knox and the other was then made use of for public worship ; Reformers :
See infra, p. 646. and it probably was part of the south- * The Church of St. Giles, Edinburgh, west corner, known as "the Tolbooth in the course of the last three centuries
Church" in which he latterly was able to has undergone so many alterations, that preach.