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The Bannatyne miscellany.
THE LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH
Date due
MAR
MAR
241975
KING PRESS NO. 3O3
THE
BANNATYNE MISCELLANY ;
-. .-•
CONTAINING
ORIGINAL PAPERS AND TRACTS,
CHIEFLY RELATING TO THE
HISTORY AND LITERATURE
OF SCOTLAND.
VOLUME I.
PRINTED AT EDINBURGH :
M.DCCC.XXVII.
AT a Meeting of the Committee of Management of the BANNAT YNE
CLUB, held at Edinburgh, in the House of the PRESIDENT,
on the 4th day of July 1823,
Resolved, That a Work, to be entitled THE BANNATYNE MIS
CELLANY, containing a COLLECTION of TRACTS AND ORIGINAL
PAPERS, RELATIVE TO THE HISTORY, LITERATURE, AND ANTI
QUITIES OF SCOTLAND, be printed in fucceffive parts or numbers,
under the joint fuperintendance of the PRESIDENT andSECRETARY ;
and that Members be invited to communicate fuch original papers
and documents in their poffeffion, as may appear to be peculiarly
fuited to this Work.
DAVID LAING, Secretary.
THE BANNATYNE CLUB,
MDCCCXXIV.
SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM ADAM, LORD CHIEF
COMMISSIONER OF THE JURY COURT.
SIR WILLIAM ARBUTHNOT, BART.
JAMES BALLANTYNE, ESQ.
SIR WILLIAM MACLEOD BANNATYNE.
ROBERT BELL, ESQ.
WILLIAM BLAIR, ESQ.
GEORGE CHALMERS, ESQ.
HONOURABLE JOHN CLERK, LORD ELDIN.
HENRY COCKBURN, ESQ.
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE, ESQ.
DAVID CONSTABLE, ESQ.
J. T. GIBSON CRAIG, ESQ.
ROBERT DUNDAS, ESQ.
ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ.
HENRY JARDINE, ESQ.
THOMAS KINNEAR, ESQ.
DAVID LAING, ESQ.
REVEREND DOCTOR JOHN LEE.
JAMES MAIDMENT, ESQ.
THOMAS MAITLAND, ESQ.
GILBERT LAING MEASON, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF MINTO.
JOHN ARCHIBALD MURRAY, ESQ.
ROBERT PITCAIRN, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR SAMUEL SHEPHERD, "LORD
CHIEF BARON OF SCOTLAND.
ANDREW SKENE, ESQ.
JAMES SKENE, ESQ.
GEORGE SMYTHE, ESQ.
THOMAS THOMSON, ESQ. VICE-PRESIDENT.
PATRICK FRASER TYTLER, ESQ.
THE BANNATYNE CLUB.
FEBRUARY M.DCCC.XXVIII.
SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.
[PRESIDENT.]
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF ABERDEEN.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM ADAM, LORD CHIEF
COMMISSIONER OF THE JURY COURT.
SIR WILLIAM ARBUTHNOT, BAR*.
5 JAMES BALLANTYNE, ESQ.
SIR WILLIAM MACLEOD BANNATYNE.
'THE RIGHT HONOURABLE VISCOUNT BELHAVEN.
GEORGE JOSEPH BELL, ESQ.
ROBERT BELL, ESQ.
10 WILLIAM BELL, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD BINNING.
JOHN BORTHWICK, ESQ.
WILLIAM BLAIR, ESQ.
GEORGE BRODIE, ESQ.
IS BRUDENELL J. BRUCE, ESQ.
THE BANNATYNE CLUB.
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBEHRY.
JOHN CALEY, ESQ.
JAMES CAMPBELL, ESQ.
THE HONOURABLE JOHN CLERK, LORD ELDIN.
20 WILLIAM CLERK, ESQ.
HENRY COCKBURN, ESQ.
DAVID CONSTABLE, ESQ.
ANDREW COVENTRY, ESQ.
JAMES T. GIBSON CRAIG, ESQ.
25 WILLIAM GIBSON CRAIG, ESQ.
THE HONOURABLE GEORGE CRANSTOUN, LORD COHEHOUSE.
ROBERT DUNDAS, ESQ.
HENRY ELLIS, ESQ.
ROBERT FERGUSON, ESQ.
30 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR RONALD C. FERGUSON.
THE COUNT DE FLAHAULT.
JOHN FULLERTON, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD GLENORCHY.
WILLIAM GOTT, ESQ.
35 SIR JAMES R. G. GRAHAM, BART.
ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD GRAY.
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF HAMILTON AND BRANDON.
E. W. A. DRUMMOND HAY, ESQ.
40 JAMES M. HOG, ESQ.
THE BAN NATYNE CLUB.
JOHN HOPE, ESQ.
DAVID IRVING, LL.D.
JAMES IVORY, ESQ.
THE REVEREND JOHN JAMIESON, D. D.
45 ROBERT JAMESON, ESQ.
SIR HENRY JARDINE.
FRANCIS JEFFREY, ESQ.
JAMES KEAY, ESQ.
JOHN G. KINNEAR, ESQ.
SO THOMAS KINNEAH, ESQ. [TREASURER.]
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF KINNOULL.
DAVID LAING, ESQ. (.SECRETARY.]
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE.
THE REVEREND JOHN LEE, D. D.
55 THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN.
COLIN MACKENZIE, ESQ.
THE HONOURABLE J. H. MACKENZIE, LORD MACKENZIE.
JAMES MACKENZIE, ESQ.
JAMES MAIDMENT, ESQ.
60 THOMAS MAITLAND, ESQ.
GILBERT LAING MEASON, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE VISCOUNT MELVILLE.
WILLIAM HENRY MILLER, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF MINTO.
05 SIR JAMES W. MONCREIFF, BAR*.
THE BANNATYNE CLUB.
JOHN ARCHIBALD MURRAY, ESQ.
WILLIAM MURRAY, ESQ.
MACVEY NAPIER, ESQ.
FRANCIS PALGRAVE, ESQ.
70 HENRY PETRIE, ESQ.
ROBERT PITCAIRN, ESQ.
JOHN RICHARDSON, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF ROSSLYN.
ANDREW RUTHERFURD, ESQ.
75 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR SAMUEL SHEPHERD, LORD
CHIEF BARON OF SCOTLAND.
ANDREW SKENE, ESQ.
JAMES SKENE, ESQ.
GEORGE SMYTHE, ESQ.
JOHN SPOTTISWOODE, ESQ.
80 THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUESS OF STAFFORD.
MAJOR-GENERAL STRATON.
SIR JOHN ARCHIBALD STEWART, BAR1.
THE HONOURABLE CHARLES FRANCIS STUART.
ALEXANDER THOMSON, ESQ.
85 THOMAS THOMSON, ESQ. [VICE-PRESIDENT.]
W. C. TREVELYAN, ESQ.
PATRICK FRASER TYTLER, ESQ.
THE CONTENTS.
PART FIRST.
A Propofal for Uniting Scotland with England, addrefied
to King Henry VIII., by John Elder Clerke, a Redd-
flianke. [1542.] 1
[MS. Bibl. Reg. British Museum, 18. A. 38.]
The Progrefs of the Regent of Scotland, with certain of his
Nobility, June 1568, 19
[MS. in the possession of Thomas Thomson, Esq.]
An Account of a Pretended Conference held by the Regent,
Earl of Murray, with the Lord Lindfay, and Others, Ja
nuary 1570, 31
[Richard Bannatyne's Journal, MS., University Library, Edinburgh.]
An Opinion of the Prefent State, Faction, Religion, and
Power of the Nobility of Scotland, 1583, ... 51
[MS. in the possession of Mr David Laing.]
Inflructions from Henry III, King of France, to the Sieur
de la Mothe Fenelon, Ambafiador at the Court of Scot
land, 1583, 73
[MS. Caldwwood. Advocates' Library, XLIII. M. 6. 8. No. 4.]
•riii THE CONTENTS.
Extracts from the Obituary of the Rev. Robert Boyd
of Trochrig, Principal of the College of Edinburgh,
1609—1625, 283
[MS. Wodrow. Advocates' Library, Rob. III. 3. 5. No. 6.]
Poems by Sir Robert Ayton, 299
[From the different works enumerated in the Notes on the Poems.]
Letters of Florentius Volufenus, 325
[MSS. Cotton. British Museum. Calig. £. ir. fol. 44 and Nero, B. vi. fol. 20.]
Meditation faite par Marie Royne d'Efcofle et Dovairiere
de France, 1572, 339
[Leslffii Scoti Episc. Rossen. Libri Duo, etc. Paris. 1574, 870.]
Letters of John Earl of Gowrye, 1595 349
[MS. Caldenrood. Advocates' Library, XLH. M. & 9. No. 32. &c.]
RULES OF THE BANNATYNE CLUB, AND LISTS OF THE MEMBERS.
M.DCCC.XXIIL— M.DCCC.XXVII.
A PROPOSAL
FOR UNITING SCOTLAND WITH ENGLAND,
ADDRESSED TO KING HENRY VIII.
BY JOHN ELDER, CLERKE,
A REDDSHANKE.
PART FIRST.
THE introduction of the Reformation into England, soon spread
the Protestant doctrine in the neighbouring kingdom ; and to such
as embraced it, the authority of James V., who, for want of poli
tical knowledge and education amongst the nobility, was unhap
pily compelled to govern chiefly by the counsels of the churchmen
of the old faith, became peculiarly obnoxious. These ministers
became still more odious during the regency of Mary of Guise. We
have in the following treatise, the project of an union betwixt
England and Scotland, addressed to Henry VIII., who is therein
counselled to invade his deceased nephew's kingdom, and is assured
of conquest by aid of the disaffected Highland chiefs, who are re
presented as so many " true hearts," devoted to the King of Eng
land, from learning his beneficence towards the Irish, who resem
bled them in language and manners. The scheme was as wild as
treasonable, for the time was long past since the Reguli of the He
brides and of Lome had affected independence of the Scottish
crown, and made treaties with England in their own name. The
policy of Robert Bruce, and his successors, in settling the Argyle
and Gordon families, as well as others connected with the Low
lands, in the Highland districts, had long since ruined the great
sept of Macdougal, and divided and disunited that of Macdonald ;
nor did there exist any other clan of strength sufficient, if so mind
ed, to have raised the banner of rebellion against the Scottish king.
This tract, which is printed from an original manuscript in the
British Museum,1 forms a sort of introduction to a Plot, or Plan of
of Scotland, setting forth the strength and weakness of the kingdom,
for information of the English Monarch. The author, who proposed
to get rid of Popery by sacrificing the independence of his country,
was John Elder, a native, as he says, of Caithness, and a clergy
man who had studied at the Universities of Saint Andrews, Aber
deen, and Glasgow, for twelve years, and was now, probably on ac
count of his religious profession, an exile in England.
The Plot, or Description of Scotland, to which this treatise ser
ved as a preface, is not now known to exist ; nor, indeed, any other of
the author's works,2 except a little volume of very uncommon rarity,
entitled " The Copie of 'a Letter sent in to Scotlande."3 In this cu-
1 Bibl. Reg. MSS. 18 A. 38, 17 leaves iu 4to.
* Occasional notices concerning Elder, occur in our bibliographical writers ;
which it may be sufficient in this place merely to indicate to the curious reader
where they are to be found :— BALEI Script, illustr. Maj. Brit. etc. Basil. 1557,
t'ol. xu. 75, p. Q5. PITSBUS de Rebus Anglicis, Paris. 1619, 4to. p. 866. DKMP-
STKIII Historia Eccles. Gentis Scotorum, Bonon. 1627, 4to. p. 92. TANNEHI
Bibl. Britaunica, Land. 1748. fol. p. 24, and likewise at p. 58 of the same work.
3 The full title of this tract is here copied from Herbert's edition of Ames's
Typographical Antiquities, vol. I. p. 563. — " The Copie of a letter sent in to
Scotlande, of the arival and landynge, and most o noble marryage of the must c II-
lustre Prynce Philippe, Prynce of Spaine, to the most excellente princes Marye
Quene of England, solemnisated in the Citie of Winchester : and howe he was re-
cyeued and installed at Windsore, and of his triumphyng entries in the noble Citie
of London. IT Wherunto, is added a brefe ouerture or openyng Of the legation of
nous tract is described the reception of Prince Philip of Spain, and
an interesting account is given of the pageants and ceremonies used
on occasion of his marriage with Mary, Queen of England. This
letter is directed to Lord Robert Stuart, Bishop of Caithness, bro
ther to the Earl of Lennox. It appears that Elder was at that
time tutor to Lord Darnley. At the end of the letter, he says
that he sends some verses and adages, written with the hand of
" the Lorde Henrie Stuart, Lord Darnley, your nephew, I being
with him then at Temple Newcome, in Yorkshire ;" and, continuing
in praise of his young and noble pupil, as likely to prove " a witty,
virtuous, and an active well-learned gentleman, — whose noble pa
rents (he adds) are my singular good patrons." Nor is it to be conceal
ed that the author, who, in addressing Henry VIII., expressed such
a violent antipathy against the Popish clergy, had accommodated his
sentiments too readily to existing circumstances, having uniformly
avoided, as he says, to give offence on either side. In the opinion
the most reuerende father in God Lorde Cardinal! Poole, from the Sea Aposto-
lyke of Rome, with the substaunce of his oracyon to the kyng and Queue's Ma-
gestie, for the reconcilement of the Realme of Englande to the vnite of the Catho-
lyke churche. With the very copye also of the supplycation exhibited to their
highnesses by the three Estates assembled in the parliamente. Wherein they re
presenting the whole body of the Realme and dominions of the same, haue submit
ted themselues to the Pope's Holynesse." In small 8ro, black letter, contains F.
in eights. ^It is said to l)e " Imprinted in Flete Strette, by John Waylande," no
date, but apparently in 1555.
This letter is directed " to the ryght reuerend Father in God lord Robert
Stuarde, Bishoppe of Cathenes, prouost of Dumbritane Colledge in Scotland." —
From the citie London the 1st of January, 1555. By your Reuerende Lordeshippes
humble oratour, John Elder."
6
of Anthony Wood,4 it is uncertain whether the author of this letter
was the individual of the name of Elder who was incorporated in
the University of Oxford, July 30, 1561.
The following letter to Henry VIII., contains some curious in
formation regarding the Highlanders, and a minute account of the
mode in which they acquired amongst their neighbours the name of
Redshanks, from making buskins of the deer's hide. In other re
spects, Elder shews considerable ignorance, as when he confuses the
two distinct nations of Scots and Picts. The crouching and flat
tering style which he uses to Henry, corresponds with the senti
ments of an author who was desirous of laying the honour and in
dependence of his native country at the foot of the English mo
narch. It is true, that like a Scottish faction of the period, Elder
assumes that this conquest was only to be made in consequence of
an union betwixt Prince Edward and the young Queen of Scotland.
Conjuffium vocal — hoc prtetexit nomine culpain.
4 He is simply styled, "one Elder." — Fasti Oxoniensis, I. 90.; — new edit. p. 159-
To the mojost Noble, Victorius, and Redoubted Prynce,
HENRY the Eight, by the grace of God, of Eng
land, France, and Irland Kynge, Defender of the
Christen Faithe, and in erth next vnto God, of the
Churche of England and Irland Supreme hed, JOHNE
ELDAR Clerk a Reddshank, wisseth all wealth, all
honour, and triumphant victory ouer all his enymies.
ALBEIT that fere, for laick of leirnyng and witt (moost high, excel
lent, and myghtie Prynce,) oftentymes persuadid me to withdraw my
pene, from writting vnto your noble Grace : Yeit, neuer the les, per-
ceaving emonges other thinges, in what miserable estate the realme
of Scotland is presently in, for neid of a wyse gouernour, syns the
soden death of our noble Prynce Kynge James the Fyfte, your
Maiesties nephew, laite Kynge of the same, now after his decese, be
ing reuled as it was in his tyme, be the advyse of the Cardinall, asso-
ciatt with proud papistical! buschops, which euer allured our said
noble Prynce in his daies, with their fals, flatteringe, and jugglinge
boxes, from the natural! inclinacion, and loue, which he ought vnto
your Maiestie, his moost myghtie and naturall Vncle. Consideringe
also what ease and quiettnes, what wealth and ryches we shulde haue
8 ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII.
in Scotland in few yeares, yf now after our said noble Kynges de-
cese, Prynce Edowarde, whom God preserue, your Maiesties natu-
rall sonne and heare of the noble empyr of England, shuld, as he
shall by the grace of God, marye our younge Queyne of Scotland ;
by reason whereof, the forsaid buscheps, which be the Dewils convo-
cacion, and the father of mischeif, Dauid Beton ther cardinall, with
Beelzebubs flesmongers, the abbotes and all ther adherentes, beinge
quyte expulsed and drywyne away, boithe the realmes of England
and of Scotland may be joynede in one ; and so your noble Maies-
tie for to be superiour and kynge. Furthermore, knowinge what
trew faithfull hartes the moost part of the commons of Scotland, (yf
they durst speke,) beyound the watir of Forth, haue to your highnes,
and wold hartly and glaidly so continew, yf the said pestiferous Car
dinall, and his blynd ignoraunt busschops, with certane other wylde,
fals, craftie bores, which haue drunkyne the Frence kynges wynes,
and taistide of his cwps, plainge leger de mane (as they say) with
boithe haundes, wer tyied vp in ropis and halters. Moreouer, heringe
and seinge what loue and fauour the valiaunt Yrishe lordes of Scot
land, other wayes callid the Reddshankes, (excepte the Erll of Ar
gyll, which is ravisshide onelye from the opinioun of the rest, be the
Cardinall and his busscheps, becaus he is nourisshed and brought vp
in ther bosomes, and lyis vnder ther wynges,) beris vnto your said
Maiestie, of whois princely magnanimitie, Salomonicall wysdome and
sapience, and hcroicall humanitie and beneuolence, now syns the
death of our said lord naturall and Kynge, is euer ther communica
tion, and euer ther reasonynge : Sene they heire and vnderstand^ how
ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII. 9
mercifully, how graciously, and how liberally your noble Grace haith
vsed, orderide, and dealide with the lordes of Irland ther nyghboures,
which haue continewidso many yeares rebellis ; perdonyng and forgy v-
ing theame ther offences and trespasses ; creatinge of theame, some
erlis, some lordes, and some barons ; rewardinge theame more lyke
princis then erlis and lordis, with gold, siluer, and riches ; and sending
theame home agane with gorgious indumentis, and riche apparell.
Also, perceavinge what sedicion and variance, what dissension and in
surrections, what theifte and extorcions, what dearth and misery, what
pryde and hypocrisy, what invye and haterat we shall haue in Scot
land, so long as this miserable, wretched Cardinall and his busscheps
reagnethe and reulithe emonge ws ther, without your Highnes, by
the prouision of God, hunt and drywe theame shortly fourth of the
same with fyre and swerde : I can no les do, then offer this plotte
of the realme of Scotland vnto your excellent Maiestie, wherein your
Highnes shall perceaue and se, not onely the descripcion of all the
notable townes, castels, and abbeis ther set fourthe, and situat in
ther propir places, as they stand in euery countie and schyre, withe
the situacion of all the principall yles marched with the same, callid
Orknay and Schetland, and of the out yles, commonly namede the
Sky and the Lewys : but also your noble Grace shall se the cost of
the same, the dangers lying therby, with euery port, ryver, loigh,
creke, and haven ther, so truely drawyn and set fourthe as my poore
witt and lernynge can vttir and discerne. Which plotte, I haue not
maide by relation of others ; but in so moche (and pleas your High
nes) that I was borne in Caitnes, which is the northe part of the
PABT FIRST. B
10 ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII.
saide plotte, marched with the East yles of the same, callid Orknay ;
educatt, and brought vp, not onely in the West yles of the same
plotte, namede the Sky and the Lewis, wher I haue bene often
tymes with my frendis, in ther longe galeis, arrywing to dyvers and
syndrie places in Scotland, wher they had a do : but also, beinge a
scholer and a student in the southe partis of it, callid Sanctandrois,
Abirdene, and Glasgw, for the space of XIIth yeares, wher I haue tra-
vailde, aswell by see as by the land, dyuers tymes ; by reason where
of, knowinge all the notable places ther euery wher, with ther lordis
and masters names, and from thens vnto the said countreth wher I
was borne, I am the bolder (pardon cravide) to offer the saide plotte
vnto your excellent Maiestie ; — wherein, becaus it bicommes not me,
a wretch e destitude of all good lernynge and eloquence, to interturbe
your noble Grace with theis my rude, barbourous, and fessious let-
tres, in declaringe of the forsaide plotte in this litle boke, I haue
written the principal erlis and lordis names in Scotlande, annext to
ther common habitncion and duellinge place in the same ; with a
breif declaracion of all the ryvers, loighis, and havens ther also, to
the intent your noble Maiestie may perceaue, se, and reide the same
ther, without any farther investigacion. And fforsomoche, and pleas
your Grace, that I haue written the names of all the Yrische lordes
of Scotland, commonly callit the Reddshanckes, and by historiogra-
phouris, Pictis ; joyuede also to ther cuntreth and duellinge places,
I will, be your Maiesties pardon, writ somethinge of theame heir,
whois names, bicause they be Yrishe, and soundis not well to be in-
terprete in Englis, I will declair theame to your Grace in Latyne.
ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII. 11
Therfor, if it pleas your excellent Maiestie, Scotland, a part of your
Highnes empyre of England, bifor the iucummynge of Albanactus,
Brutus secound soune, was inhabitede, as we reide in auncieut Yrische
storeis, with gyauntes and wylde people, without ordour, ciuilitie, or
maners, and spake none other language but Yrische, and was then
called Eyryn veagg, that is to say, little Irland ; and the people wer
callit Eyrynyghe, that is to say, Irlande men. But after the iucum
mynge of Albanactus, he reducynge theame to ordour and ciuilitie,
they changed the forsaid name, Eyryn veagg, and callid it Albou, Albon, Scot
land, Albonyghe,
and their owne names also, and callid theame Albonyghe ; which too Scottis men,
drywyne from
Yrische wovdes, Albon, that is to say, Scotland, and Albonyghe, that -Albanactus.
is to say, Scottische men, be drywyue from Albanactus, our first go-
uernour and kynge. Which diriuacion (and like your Highnes) the
papistical, curside spiritualitie of Scotland, will not heir in no maner
of wyse, nor confesse that euer such a kyuge, namede Albanactus,
reagnede ther. The which dirivacion, all the Yrische men of Scot
land, which be the auncient stoke, can not, nor will not denye. For
as Sanctus Columba, a Pict and a busshep, who in prechinge of Sanctus Colum-
ba, a Reddshank.
Goddis worde syncerly in Eyrische, in followinge of the holy apostlis
in godlie imitacion, doctryne, and pouertie, excellid then, our proude
Romische Cardinall and his bussheps now adaies in Scotlande, writ-
tethe in his monumentis of the same, we haue our names of Alba
nactus, and so haithe Scotlande also. But our said bussheps (and
pleas your Grace) drywithe Scotland and theame selfes, from a cer- Scotland (as the
tane lady, namede Scota, which (as they alledge) come out of Egipte, drywyne from
Scota.
a maraculous hote cuntreth, to recreatt hir self emonges theame in
12 ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII.
the colde ayre of Scotland, which they can not afferme be no proba
ble auncient author. Now, and pleas your excellent Maiestie, the
said people whiche inhabitede Scotland afoir the incummyng of the
said Albanactus, (as I haue said,) beinge valiant, stronge, and coura-
gious, although they wer savage and wilde, had strange names, as
Morwhow .1. Mordachus; Gillecallum .1. Malcolmus ; Donyll .1.
Wherfor the
Evrische lordes Donaldus, and so fourth. Then ther sonnis followinge theame in
calhs theume-
selfes Makkis. manneicl and valiauntnes, callide theame selfes after this maner of
wyse, leavinge ther propir names vnexpresside, Makconyll .1 . filius
Donaldi; Makgillecallum .1. filius Malcolmi, etc*. : — and so they haue
contenewide vnto this daye, and neuer expressis ther propir names,
but whene they subscryue a lettir, as Donyll Mak Leode Lewis .1.
Donaldus filius Ludouici de Levisia, etc". The Yrische lordis names
in the saide plotte be theis, Mak Eoyn whanyghe .1. filius Joannis
bellicosi ; Mak-kye .1. filius Hugonis; Mak Leode Lewis .1. filius
Ludovici de Levisia ; Mak Leode ne Harr .1. filius Ludouici de
Hartha insula ; Mak Yllean .1. filius Kellani ; Mak Kymmy .1. filius
Kymmeci; Mak Kenny .1. filius Kennici; Mak Tossigh .1. filius
Tossei; Mak Allan .1. filius Allani; Mak Neill Varray .1. filius
Nigelli de Barra insula : — for Mak in Eyrische signifieth a sonne.
Ireland they Likwise your Maiesties subiectis, the lordes of Irland vnto this
called theame-
selfesOos. tyme, that your noble Grace haithe moost royally changede ther
names, and creatide theame erlis and lordis, wer callide O Neill .1.
nepos Nigelli ; O Bren J . nepos Bernardi ; O Conwhir .1. nepos Con-
radi ; a degre forthir of, then the Eyrische lordes in Scotland, bicaus
the sonnis of the forsaide Neill, Bren, and Conwhir, and so of the
ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII. IS
rest, chancede not to be so valiaunt in manhede and chiualre at the
begynninge as ther ffathers, but ther nephiew. Therfor they wer
callit O'Neill, O'Bren, O'Conwhir ; omittinge also ther propir names,
and pleas your Highnes, but when they subscryuede a lettir, as
Ewwyn O'Neill .1. Eugenius nepos Nigelli ; for O' in Eyrische sig-
nifiethe a nephew. Moreouer, wherfor they call ws in Scotland
Reddshaukes, and in your Graces dominion of England roghe footide wherfore the
• T»I • •»*••• i 11 f 11 i courtyours of
bcottis, Fleas it your Maiestie to vnderstande, that we 01 all people Scotland call
ws Redd-
can tollerat, suffir, and away best with colde, for boithe somer and shankis.
wyntir, (excepte whene the froest is mooste vehemente,) goyuge alwaies
bair leggide and bair footide, our delite and pleasure is not onely in
hwntynge of redd deir, wolfes, foxes, and graies, wherof we abounde,
and haue greate plentie, but also in rynninge, leapinge, swymmynge,
shootynge, and thrawinge of dartis : therfor, in so moche as we vse and
delite so to go alwaies, the tendir delicatt gentillmen of Scotland call
ws Reddshankes. And agayne in wynter, whene the froest is mooste
vehement (as I haue saide) which we can not suffir bair footide, so wherefor -m
weill as snow, whiche can neuer hurt ws whene it cummes to our
girdills, we go a hwntynge, and after that we haue slayne redd deir, scottis.0"
we flaye of the skyne, bey and bey, and settinge of our bair foote on
the insyde therof, for neide of cunnynge shoemakers, by your Graces
pardon, we play the swtters ; compasinge and mesuringe so moche
therof, as shall retche vp to our ancklers, pryckynge the vpper part
therof also with holis, that the water may repas when it entres, and
stretchide vp with a stronge thwange of the same meitand aboue our
saide ancklers, so, and pleas your noble Grace, we make our schoois :
14 ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII.
Therfor, we vsinge sucbe maner of shoois, the roghe hairie syde out-
wart, in your Graces dominion of England, we be callit roghe footide
Scottis ; which maner of schools (and pleas your Highnes) in Latyne
Perones. be called perones, wherof the poete Virgill makis mencioun, savinee,
Verg. ^Ened. 7°. 3 B '
That the olde auncient Latyns in tyme of warrs vside suche maner
of schoos. And althoughe a greate sorte of ws Reddshankes go af
ter this maner in our countrethe, yeit ueuer the les, and pleas your
Grace, wheue we come to the courte (the Kinges grace our great mas
ter being alyve) waitinge on our Lordes and maisters, who also, for
velvettis and silkis be right well araide, we haue as good garmentis as
some of our fellowis whiche gyve attendaunce in the court euery daye.
And howbeit the babilonicall busscheps and the great courtyours of
Scotland repute the forsaide Yrishe Lordes as wilde, rude, and bar-
bourous people, brought vp (as they say) without leminge and nour-
tour, yeit they passe theame a greate deale in faithe, and honestie,
in policy and witt, in good ordour and ciuilitie ; ffor wher the saide
Yrische Lordes promises faithe they keipe it truely, be holdinge vp
of ther formest fyngar, and so will they not, withe ther sealis and
subscripcions, the holy Euangel twichide. Therfor, and pleas your
Highnes, like as the saide bussheps and ther adherentis repute ws
rude and barbourous people, euen so do we esteme theame all, (as
they be,) that is to say, ffals, flatteringe, fraudelent, subtile, and co
vetous. Your noble Grace haithe many good hartis emonges the
forsaide Yrische Lordes of Scotland, bicaus they vnderstand and heire
how mercifully and how liberally (as I haue saide) your Highnes
haith orderide the Lordes of Ireland. Therfor I have written the
ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII. 15
saide Yrische Lordes names of Scotlande in the saide plotte, as your
Grace may perceaue and se ; wherfor I moost humbly exhort your
excellent Maiestie, of your royall huraanitie and gentilnes, to accepte
and pardon my good will therein ; and wher I haue failide in my
Cosmographie in drawing and settinge fourthe of the same, I shall
not faille (willing God) in declaringe of all thinges therein contanide,
to any to whom your Highnes shall pleas to apoint me so to do.
What plotte, truely, (and pleas your Grace) I haue drawene for that
same porpas and intent, that your Royal Maiestie shall not onely se
and perceaue the similitude and ymage of the saide realme of Scot
land in the same, which your Highnes haithe (all ambiguitie set
apart) a thousand tymes bettir set fourthe, then my sclendir capaci-
tie and witt is able to expres and declair heir : but also, yf thar be
any thing in the saide plotte concerninge the land, wherein your
Maiestie doubtis, and woll haue the treuthe of the same schawene
and notifiede to your excellent Grace, that I (yf your royall Maiestie
pleas to accepte and allowe my good will therin) maye declair the
same, (as I haue saide) so farr, by the helpe of God, as my know
ledge and vnderstandinge will vttir and serue ; wheron I shalbe al-
wayes, and pleas your noble Grace, redy with hart and hand to wait
and gyue attendance. For suerly, (moost humbly besechinge your
Highnes heir of pardon) yf my dreade Soueraigne Lorde and Kinge,
my liege Lorde, naturall and superiour, Kinge James the Fyfte,
laite Kinge of Scotlande, and your Maiesties nephiew, wer alyve,
whom soden deathe (allace,) haithe ravissede from ws for euermore ; or
yf he hade lefte ws a Prynce lawfully begotten of his body, in whom,
16 ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII.
after his decese, our joye and comforte, our hope and felicitie, shulde
haue bene affixt, I wolde in no maner of wise presume to shaw and
declair the privities of Scotlande to no Prynce Christen. Therfor, in
so moche as our saide noble Prynce (whom the Hewinly Kinge, I
pray God the Father, superiour ouer all, mercifully receaue in his
celestiall throne,) haithe lefte ws (the Lorde be thankede) as chaunce
is, a Prynces, whom your excellent Maiestie moost godly desyres for
to be mariede withe noble Prynce Edowarde, your Graces lawfull
begotten sonne and heare of the empyre of England ; by reason wher-
of, hypocrisy and supersticioun abolissede, and the Frence Kinge
cleane pluckt out of our hartis, England and Scotland, and the pos-
teritie of boith, may Hue for euer in peax, loue, and amitie ; which
godly porpas and desire beiuge contrariede by a sortie of Papist
preistis, according to their accustomed falshede and disceite, which
allurede not onely our noble Prince in his daies from your Maiestie,
whom his Grace vndoubtedly louede aboue all Pryncis mortall in his
hart ; and hath provide so, yf the said traiterous preistis had not beue
allwaies roundinge in his Graces eyris, which, as often as his Highnes
porposede ametingewith your Maiestie, seduced and blindide him with
ther boxis ; as often as he intendide to repair to your Grace, causide
invasions and roddis ; and as often as he wolde speke of your High
nes, allectide him with armonie, fables, and soiiges : but also now,
by ther presumpcion, intendeth to drounde all Scotland in bloude, I
can no les do, by Goddis law, mannis law, and all humanitie, then
invent, declair, expres, notifie, labour, and studie for that thing vn-
to your excellent Maiestie, (whom all honest stomakes in Scotland,
ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII. 17
presumption and arrogancy set asyde, shulde, with all ther hartis, loue
for our noble Pryncis sake) whiche myght bringe the forsaid traiter-
ous preistis of Scotland, if it wer possible, to mischeif and vttir ruyne :
ffor ther is no people, and pleas your Grace, in no region in Europe,
so perturbed, so molestide, so vexide, and so vtterly opprest withe
bussheps, monckes, Rome-rykers, and preistis, and euir haue bene,
a cardinal, a carlis-birde, a common-cluner, and a hen-kyller, some-
tymes in France, now beinge ther capitane, as they which inhabite the
real me of Scotland ; and so shall contenewe, without your Highnes,
(who haith moost iuste caus and quarell, euery thinge considerit syns
the reagne of your Maiesties nephiew, vnto this daye, to invade
theame) by the help and assistance of God, hwnt, drywe, and smoyke
the forsaide fals papisticall foxis, with all ther partakers, out of ther
cavis, with bowis, billis, fyre, and swerde. At the which hwntinge,
wold God that I and euerye haire in my head (I meane faithfully
without any dissimulacion, I take God to recorde) wer a man with
your noble Grace, havinge, as poetis feane, if it wer possible, Hercules
strengh and fortitude to owerthraw and wressell with the saide Car-
dinall and his chaplans ; Hectours manhede and chiualrie to fyght
withe the fals, wylde, craftie boris, whiche have plaide bo peip withe
bothe haundes ; and, finally, Achilles subtiltie and witt, to invent
gyrnis and traps for the fals bussheps of Scotland and all ther adhe-
rentis.
I keipe your Highnes to longe with my barbourous and rude
talke, wherfor, mooste noble Prynce (pardon cravide) I will make an
end, moost humbly exhortinge your excellent Maiestie to pardon and
PART FIRST. C
18 ELDER'S LETTER TO HENRY VIII.
accepte the forsaide plotte in gre, and not to regarde the rudenes ther-
of, but rather the faithefulnes of me, your Maiesties poore oratour ;
and for so moche as I know myself vnmeite to do any bodely seruice
condigne to so noble and excellent a Prynce ; yeit, at the least, I
shall gyve vnto your excellent Maiestie the thing which, as well the
feble as the stronge may gyve, that is to say, hartie prayers to Al-
myghtic God for the longe preseruacion of so mercifull, so faithefull,
and so gentill a Kynge, to the settinge fourthe of his wordes to the
comforte and joye of all thoise which loue your Highnes, and to the
destruction and vttir ruyne of our high presumptuous Scottis Cardi-
nall, his bussheps, and ther partakers, and death of all ther pryde
and popery. Amen.
THE PROGRESS
OF THE REGENT OF SCOTLAND,
WITH CERTAIN OF HIS NOBILITY,
JUNE M.DLXVIII.
PART FIRST.
[COMMUNICATED BY THOMAS THOMSON, ESQ.]
THE following pages contain an account of the active and ener
getic measures pursued by the Regent Murray against the Lords
Herries, Maxwell, Fleming, and other chiefs of the Queen's party,
which had been recently defeated at the battle of Langsyde.
In a collection of Original Letters recently purchased by the cu
rators of the Advocates' Library, there is one from Sir William
Drury to the Earl of Leicester, dated at Berwick, July 1, 1568,
which had unquestionably formed the envelope of the copy from
which this account of the Regent's Progress has been printed.
They have been since restored to their original connection, and are
now deposited together in the Advocates' Library. The Letter is
as follows : —
" My dutie remembred unto your L. Being loth to lett flipp
overmuch tyme without remembring your L. I have at this pre-
fente appoynted theis advertizementis of Therle of Murreys maner
of proceadingis in his laft jorney, to performe fome part of my dutie
unto the fame ; praying your L. to accept as the tyme ferveth : And
I 22 ]
when anie thinke of woorthie preferment happeneth, I fall not fayle
to guide unto your L. And fo praying God ever to kepe the fame
in all happenes, I humblely take my leave ; ffrom Barwick, this firft
July, 1568.
your L. humble affured,
at commandment,
WILL". DRURY."
" To the right honorable and my very good
Lord the Erie of Leceftre, Maifter of the
Quenis Majt-flies horde and of hir Privy
CounfeV
It appears from the Rev. Mathew Crawford's collections,1 that
another copy of this paper, (endorsed with Cecil's hand, " xi Junij
1568, — The Regent of Scotland's Progresse,") has been preserved
in the State Paper office. The two copies differ chiefly in minute
particulars of orthography, not necessary to be specified.
1 MS. Advocates' Library, W. 2. 21. fol. 223.
23
THE PROGRESSE OF THE REGENT OF SCOTLAND, WITH
CERTEN OF HIS NOBILITIE, BEGYNNING THE Xlth OF
JUNE, ANNO 1568.
IN primis the xviij"1 daye of Maye, anno 1568, the Regent of Scot
land made a proclamation, that the Shires of Mernis, Angus, Fyf,
Merse, Lowdyan, Kyll, and Gary eke shold provyde xvten dayes vic-
tuallis, and to meete hym the Xth daye of June in Begger, to ryde
in the sowthwest of Scotlande, for punyshinge of dysobedyent persons
and theves.
The xj"1 daye of June, the Regent of Scotlande, with certen of
his nobilitie, marched furth of Edenborough, and that night come
to Begger, where they receaued the castle of Boghall, perteyninge
to my Lord Flemynge ; they had cast that downe, but these reasons
stopped them : First, he was in England, and at that present could
gett no worde to them ; Secondly, he had the castle of Dumbarton
in his hande, whiche they were in hope to receave, they sparinge his
place. The armye jornyed this daye xx myles.
The xijth daye, the Regent caused cast dowue the castle and place
of Skyrlinge, a notable buyldinge, vpon this consideracion, that others
might heare and feare.1 And that night he marched forward to a
1 Skirling was treated with this severity, in all probability, because its owner,
James Cockburn, was married to a sister of the Lady Herries.
24, THE PROGRESS OF
place called Crawford John, perteyninge to Sir James Hamylton,
and receaued the castle therof, but cast it not downe because they
hadde the man in their owne handis. They jornyed this daye x
myles.
. The xiij01 daye of June, they marched to Sawcher [Sancher,2] and
laye there all night, but cast not downe my Lords place, because he
hath made a promysse to come in to the Regent to Edenborough at
a daye, and sewertie found therefore. They jornyed that daye xij
myles.
The xiiijth daye they marched forward to a valley called barbarusle
the holme of Dawherny [Dalquherne,] where they remayned all
the night, and toke some goodis there. This daye they sende the
Lard of Wedderburne to the Larde of Lowinvar [Lochinvar,] to
desyre hym to come in, who all vtterly refused. After they seude
hym offers, that if he wold come in, and laye a pledge at Michel-
mas nexte, that they wold do hym no injurye; and yf there were any
chaunge of courtis betwene this and that tyme, that he should be at
his advantage without reprofe ; but all their offers were refused by
hym. This daye they jornyed xij myles.
The xv* daye they marched to a place called St John's clawan,
[clachan,3] and remayned there, two myles from Lowinvar place, in
hope of incommynge, for they wold not haue destroyed his place if
they could haue gotten any appointement of hym ; but this night my
Ladye Herrys wrote to hym not to go in to the Regent, and shewed
1 Sanquhair — belonging to Lord Sanquhair, ancestor of the Earls of Dumfries.
3 Saint John's Clachan, or Saint John's Church.
THE REGENT OF SCOTLAND. 25
hym that her husbande4 wold gett supporte ; the which lettre was a
great stoppe to his incommynge. They jornyed this daye x myles.
The XVJ"1 daye they marched to Lowtkayn [Loch Ken,] foranenst
Kenmvre. In the morninge there appeared about Ix men vpon an
hill syde, but enterprysed nothinge. This daye the place of Kenmvre
was destroyed and cast downe, and another proper place, also an
ffreindis of Lowinvaris. They jornyed this daye two myles.
The xvij* daye they come to the water of Vr, to a gentlemans
place, called Makneth, [Macnaught of Kilquhonnetie,] and re-
mayned, where diuerse gentlemen come in and gaue obedyence, and
were receaued thankefully. This daye they jornyed viij myles.
The xviij* daye they marched toward Dumfreis, and in march-
inge forwardis toke certen robbers and villanes, and hanged. They
jornyed this daye xiiij myles.
The xix01 daye they remayned in Dumfreis, and the castle therof
was offred them, which apperteyneth to my Lord Maxewell. This
daye sondrye of the Maxewellis, Johnstouns, Vrwins, Grahames, and
Belis, come to the Hegent, and offred them selves, and was thanke
fully receaved : for the Maxewellis, come in the goodman of Hillis ;5
for certen of the Johnstons, the Larde of Newbe ; for the Grahames,
Fergus the Grahame ; for the Vrwins, Kirstie of Bonshawe,6 &c.
My Lorde Maxewell, the Lorde of Johnston, Cowhill, Lowinvar,
4 The Master of Maxwell, created Lord Herries, eminent for his loyalty to the
unfortunate Mary, was at this time in England on her behalf.
5 A strong castle, now ruinous, about three miles from Dumfries, belonging for
merly to the Lords Maxwell, now to Mr Maculloch of Ardwell.
8 Christopher Irving, of Bonshaw.
26 THE PROGRESS OF
with them the noraber of a thowsande men, was in Dumfreis two
dayes before, and spent all the meate and drinke that was readye, as
also consulted what was best to be done agaynst the Regentis com-
mynge. Yt was thought that my Lord Maxewell shold haue come
in, yf Cowhill, Johnston, and Lowinvar had not stopped hym, and
conselled hym to the contrarye. They jornyed this daye xiiij myles.
The xx* daye they marched ' toward Hoddome, a place of my
Lord Harrys,7 the which was maynteyned by men of warre agaynst
the Regent on Harrys behalfe, and was a stronge forte.8 This night
they helde it, and shott many shott of greate ordynance furth of
the place, and slewe one horse and man. This night the broken
countries and theves gathered to the nomber of a thowsande men,
and brake a chase after some of our men that was goynge furth of
the campe ; the whiche when the Regentis men perceyved, sende
furth a chase after them, and toke two or three, and one of them
was the Lord Johnstons father brother. They laye within halfe a
myle of the campe. This daye they jornyed x myles.
The xxj* daye the house was geuen over to the Regent, the
1 When the Regent was at Dumfries, he gave orders to pull down the house of Ter-
reglis, the family mansion of Lord Herries ; " but the Laird of Drumlanrig, who was
Lord Herries's uncle, and in favour with the Regent, told that Lord Herries would
take it as a favour to ease him of pains in throwing it down himself, to be built in
another place. The Regent swore, he scorned to be a barrow-man to his old walls,
and so it was safe." — Abridgement of the Scottish History, by LOUD HERRIES, MS.
1656. In this MS., Hoddam Castle is said to hare held out for three days.
" Hoddam Castle is still entire and habitable, being the beautiful residence of
General Sharpe. The arms of the Herries's, being three hedge-hogs, were carved
above the stair-case, but are now destroyed.
THE REGENT OF SCOTLAND. 27
which they might haue holden longe ynoughe, yf they had ben good
fellowes within it : and vpon this condicion only, that the men shold
haue their lyres, and no more ; all bagge and baggesse to remayue
in yt ; and yt was delyuered to the Lord of Dumlanarige to kepe,
who is appointed Warden in those partis of Scotlande foranenst
Englande. This daye my Lorde Regent sende furth a thowsande
men with my Lorde Hewme8 and Morton, to haue drawen a chase on
the theves and rebellis, but they fledde, and wold not preike. This
daye, as also of before and after, there was a greate hunger in the
campe ; for the Scottis pynte of wyne was at vijs Scottyshe, and no
breadde to be hadde. Some dyed for hunger in the campe. This
daye and before, they burnt diuerse gentlemens places about, that
wold not come in nor obeye.
The xxij"1 daye the campe remayned, but the Regent, with a
thowsand horsemen went to Annan, and receyved the castle therof,
and put one Edwarde Vrwyn to kepe yt ; and there mett my Lorde
Scroope of Englande, and talked with hym a longe while, and that
night retorned to the campe to Hoddome. They jornyed this daye
vj myles.
The xxiijth daye they marched to Lowchmaben, and receyved the
castle therof, and gaue yt to Drumlanarige ; but some of the Maxe-
wellis remayned in a closse house or volt within, and toke the house
9 Although the Earl of Home attended the Regent on this expedition, he after
wards embraced the cause of the Queen. But the influence of Morton with Wed-
derburn and others kept most of the name of Hume (Ferdinand of Broomhouse ex-
cepted) on the King's side.
PART FIRST. D
28 THE PROGRESS OF
agayne, after the Regent was gone; and so they haue the house
agayne.
That daye they receyved a place of the Larde of Johnston, called
Lokat [Lochwood,] and another called Lowhouse [Lochhouse,10] but
they cast them not downe, for he hath promysed to come in at a
daye, and sewertie for the same founde. This daye, tpke many cat-
tell and furnyshed the campe. This night also they slew two of
the theves, by a shott of greate ordynance shott at threscore of them.
This night they hanged one of the theves that was taken in the campe
stealinge horses. This night they laye at a place called Mylton
Holme. Jornyed x myles.
The xxiiij"1 daye they come to Pebles, and remayned all night ;
and toke order with that countrie, for they come all in to the Re
gent. They jornyed xxij myles.
The xxv01 daye the Regent went to Edenboroughe, and the rest
of the armye to their owne countrie and boundis. They jornyed xij
myles.
The nomber of the whole campe of horsemen in armour to fower
thowsand; of harquebuzoiers and halbertmen one thowsand ; ofcariage
horses with victuallis fower thowsand ; n of boyes and yonge men that
kept horses three thowsand.
10 Lochwood, and Lochhouse, two strong castles belonging to the Johnstones,
near Moffat. The former was the abode of Lord Johnstone himself, and being situ
ated amongst woods, and in the middle of a morass, James VI. said, that " he who
built it must have been a thief in his heart." According to the continuator of Ho-
linshed, the two castles were " utterly spoiled and committed to the fire," by the
Earl of Morton, Warden of the West Marches, in 1583.
11 The great disproportion between the fighting men and their attendants is worth
observing.
THE REGENT OF SCOTLAND. 29
The Countries the Regent passed throughe.
In primis, he passed through Cliddisdaill ; secondly, through Gal-
lawaye ; thirdly, through Nyddisdaill ; ffourthly, through Anner-
daill ; flyftely, through Tweddell.
The Order of his Armye.
Fyrst, Alexander Hewme of Manderston and Huton Hall went
before all the armye a myle, with a cornett of two hundred men, and
they were appointed to skewre the feildis.
Then followed them the vauntegarde, to witt, Hewme and Mor
ton, with a thowsande men and mo.
Nexte after them came the caryage, and behinde the caryage the
Regent selfe, with the rest of the armye ; and behinde the Re
gent went the Larde of Cesfourde, with a cornett and a companye
with hym. At euery side of the armye there went a cornett, to
wete, on th' one side, the Lardis of the Marshe, on the other syde,
the Larde of Buckclewghe.12
THUS KNDES THE PROGRESSE AND ORDER.
12 Sir Walter Scott of Buccleugh is shortly afterwards found among the keen ad
herents of Queen Mary. Probably his near relation to Morton, whose niece he had
married, or perhaps some clan quarrel with the Maxwells, brought him forward on
this occasion.
AN ACCOUNT
OF A PRETENDED CONFERENCE
HELD BY THE REGENT, EARL OF MURRAY,
WITH THE LORD LINDSAY AND OTHERS ;
JANUARY, MD.LXX.
33
IN the year 15G8, when the talents and character of James Stuart,
Earl of Murray, then Regent of Scotland, were considered as the
chief obstacle to the re-establishment of Queen Mary, her partizans
resorted to a literary fraud, in order to diminish his interest among
the people, by representing that it was his object, and that of his
principal followers, to dethrone the young King, and to usurp the
royal seat and dignity, as he already possessed the real authority, of
the monarch. This remarkable paper, which was entitled, " Aue
Advertisement sent from the Court to a Friend of my Lordis," was
not circulated till after the Regent's death, either because that event
had anticipated the publication, or because it had been reserved for
such a crisis by the author, or authors, who probably had a shrewd
guess that the close of Murray's life was approaching.
" At this time," says the learned biographer of John Knox, " there
was handed about a fabricated account of a pretended conference,
held by the late Regent with Lord Lindsay, Wishart of Pitarrow,
the tutor of Pitcur, James M'Gill, and Knox ; in which they were
represented as advising him to set aside the young King, and to place
the crown on his own head. The modes of expression peculiar to
each of the persons, were carefully imitated in the speeches put into
their mouths, to give it the greater air of credibility. The evident
design of circulating it at this time was to lessen the odium of the
murder, and the veneration of the people for the memory of Murray ;
34
but it was universally regarded as an impudent and gross forgery.
The person who fabricated it was Thomas Maitland, a young man of
talents, but corrupted by his brother, the Secretary, who before this
had engaged himself to the Queen's party, and was suspected of ha
ving a deep hand in the plot for assassinating the Regent."1
This curious dialogue is now printed for the first time, from a
Manuscript of the Journal kept by Richard Bannatyne, secretary to
John Knox, preserved in the Library of the College of Edinburgh,
which contains a more perfect copy of that interesting work than the
manuscript used by John Graham Dalyell, Esq. in his printed edi
tion. Another copy of it, somewhat modernized, is inserted in Cal-
derwood's Manuscript History of the Church of Scotland. After
collating these, some obscurities still remain in the text, arising pro
bably from the errors of transcribers.
The Dialogue is introduced into Bannatyne's Journal in the fol
lowing terms : — " Immediatlie efter the murther, thair was a buik
set fourth in forme of a letter, conteaning a counsall gevin be the
Lord Lindsay, the laird of Pitarrow, Johne Knox, Mr Johne Wood,
the tutor of Pitcure, and Mr James M'Gill. The wryter, or wryteris,
(for it apeiris thair hes bene moe than ane,) laboures wonderfullie to
counterfoute the countenance, the knawledge, and the affectiounes of
sic as ar broght in to give counsall to the Regent. Bot the wryteris,
Hum il tonnes, Maitlandis, or vtheris of thair factione, they ar impu
dent liaris, or sones of the dewill."
At the conclusion of the dialogue, Bannatyne continues : —
1 M'Crie's Life of Knox, Second Edition, vol. ii. p. 381.
[ 35 ]
" Who was the devyser and inventare of this most fals, sclandrous,
and dewilish lie against the Regent, it was not at that tyme pub-
lictlie knawiu. Yit it was suspected to be some of the brether of the
house of Lethingtoun ; which was not far by : for afterwardis, it was
plainelie affirmed, that it wes inventit be Mr Thomas Maitland, the
younger brother of that house ; who, after, departit this life, gangand
to Rome.
" Dauid Forester, called the generall, gaue the copie heirof to
Alice Sandilandis, Ladie Ormistoun, a litill efter the cuming abroad
thereof, or with the first of thame, which he affirmed to be trew. But
the gude and vertuous lady (quha wad beleive na sic thing) brocht the
copie ; ' and' shoe gave it to Mr Knox, which quhen he sawe, and af
ter shoe had requyred the treuth thairof at him, he said, ye sail knaw
my ansuer afterwards. And so the nixt day, when he preached, he
echew the effect thairof in pulpet ; and declairit that the devile, the
father of leyis, wes the cheif inventer of that letter, quha euir was
the penner thairof. And this was his ansuer to the said guid ladie,
quha was not a litill reiosed, quhen shoe hard the same reproved
oppinly in the pulpet, which was inventit to bring the guid Regent
in hatred with the nobilitie and vtheris guid men. Thairfoir, for an
suer, it is said be the said Johne Knox, that the thingis be thame
affirmed, and be vtheris beleived, ar als fals as God is true. And yit
the Ducke eschames not to say, that he will gar men avow everie
word in our faces." —
" To returne, quhairsoeuer the buik was forged, the Abbot of Kil*
wynning send it to my Lord Argyle, and he send it bak to the Erie
of Mar, who delyuered it to his brother Alexander Erskeine, who,
PART FIRST. E
C 36 ]
after the reiding thairof, said, heir ar the maist malitious lies that
ever man invented ; and yit the man is a knawin Papist."
The substance of these remarks is repeated hy Calderwood, who
mentions that Knox, after rehearsing " the purpose of this letter or
advertisement" from the pulpit, " threatened that the contriver should
die in a strange land, where he should not have a friend near him to
hold up his head. The author, Mr Thomas Maitland, Lethington's
brother, (he adds,) was present and heard, and, going out at the kirk
door, confessed to his sister, the Lady Trabrowne, that he had forged
that letter. But, as the servant of God denounced, it came to pass,
for he departed out of this life in Italy, while he was going to Rome."
It is scarcely necessary to add, that the pamphlet, which imputes
to the Regent Murray, and those nearest to his councils, the most
desperate purposes of making good their authority, by exercising the
utmost rigour against all who did not come into their measures, and
even, according to the advice put into Knox's mouth, by dethroning
the King himself, was calculated ingeniously to do them the greatest
prejudice with the public. A good deal of talent is shewn, as well as
some humour, in suiting the speeches to the persons of the drama,
and contrasting the military rudeness of Lindsay with the hypocri
tical cant ascribed to John Knox, and the worldly wisdom of Pitar-
row and M'Gill. Although drawn in derision, or rather with the
purpose of fraud and misrepresentation, the characters and language
bear probably the same resemblance to the original, as the sketches
of a caricaturist do to real portraits, and are therefore not without
their value, when duly considered, as evidence of the temper and
manners of the age.
THE COPIE OF ANE ADUERTEISMENT SENT FROM
THE COURT TO A FREIND OF MY LORDIS.
EFTER most heartlie commendatioune, I promised to aduertise
yow of the proceidingis heir in court, principal! as concerning my
Lord your cousing. They will yow to vnderstand, that at this tyme
thair is no hope of ony guid wayis ; for, and this I know, nocht
onlie by diuerse report of courteouris, and sa meikill as I can perceave
myself be my Lord Regentis awin speaking, but also, be ane discourse
of counsall haldin verie secretlie, whairinto I traist no man in this
realme is previe, but thai which namelie wer called thairto, and I
who was covered.
About foure dayis since, in this toun, my Lord Regent went in ane
previe chalmer, and with him thir six persones : my Lord Lindsay,
the Laird of Pittarrow, Mr Johne Woud, Johne Knox, Mr James xhe Regent his
M'Gill, and the Tutour of Pitcurre, which ar the men in the world he
beleivis maist into. When thai war entered, he desyred thame to
place thaimselues, for he wold reteane thame the space of thrie or four
houris. It chanced that I was sleipand into ane bed within the ca-
binate, so weill hid that no man micht perceave me ; and efter I was
waikned be the bruite they maid at thair entrie, I mycht easilie heir
38 A PRETENDED CONFERENCE
everie word that thai spake. Then, first my Lord Regent sayis to
thame, " I haue convened yow at this tyme, as the men of the world
whome into I maist put my grittest confidence, and whome, I beleive,
wald fainest haue my estaite standing, — to give me your faithful ad
vise familiarlie, for my aduancement and standing. Ye sie how
monie lyis out from me ; and inonic that wer with me in the beginning
of this actione, ar miscontent with my proceidingis ; quhairfoir, I wald
desyre yow to declaire to me your opiniones how I may best stand,
and set foreward the purpose ye wot of." And after he had thus
spokin, he commanded my Lord Lindsay2 to speike first — who
said:
Lord Lindsay's « My Lord, ye know of ould that I was moir rashe than wyse.
speiche.
J can nocht giue yow a verie wyse counsall, but I loue yow weill
aneughe. To be schort, quhat should ye do, bot vse counsall, which
ye will never do ; thairfoir I think mony tymes thedevill gart me mak
yow Regent. My Lord, make us quite of thir Matchewillians and
bangster lordis, that will circumvene yow with thair policie, and
wraike yow with force. And when ye fall to thame, bourd ' not' with
thame ; ffor be Godis breid, give ye take thaim in mowes, I will gange
* The Lord Lindsay of the day, a fierce and ready warrior, seems to have parta
ken much of the genius of his ancestor mentioned by Pitscottie, who had great know
ledge of the wars, but was otherwise of " rude and small ingine." His party appears,
however, to have had considerable confidence in his personal prowess, of which he is
here made to brag ; for when the Earl of Bothwell, at Carberry Hill, refused the single
combat offered by Kirkaldy of Grange, under pretext of inequality of rank, Lord
Lindsay was the person selected to meet him, and the Earl of Morton upon that oc
casion is said by Godscroft to have made him a present of the sword with which his
ancestor Belle-the-Cat slew Spens of Kilspindie. He died llth December, 1589.
WITH THE REGENT, EARL OF MURRAY. 39
to the Byiris and haike,3 as I did this last tyme at Striveling. Bot
gar thame daunce heidles, and than ilke guidfellow may gat a lumpe
of thair landis, which will gare them feght lyke swyne ; and vthir
men wilbe suire of the spange of thair taill. And give thair be ony
stout kairle that will fight, set me till him, and ye sail sie that I sail
give him ane targate and strotchard.* And gif he be a hote man, I
will lat him play him a while, syne take him a cupe darer,5 and he
may die with gogeis6 as ye list. Gif we had this old craig7 in our
handis, I wald lyke the materis the better. Ye knaw I will nocht
3 He would go to Byres, his estate in Fife, and idle away his time, — " Haike"
signifying to play truant.
4 " Strotchard," an offensive weapon, probably some kind of sword to be used with
the target. The derivation is perhaps from the Italian Slraciare, to slash or cut to
pieces.
5 " Cupe darer," coup-d'arrest, or coup-d'arriere, a fencing term. In Cald. MS.
the passage stands thus, " And if he be a hot man, I will lett him play him awhile,
and syne tak him a cup darter, and when the principals are past, ye may doe with
the gogeis what ye list."
6 " Gogeis." Gouge, in old French, signifies a silly wench. Here it is applied to the
other sex. The meaning seems to be, " and he (the Regent) may do (northern, die) with
simple fools as he pleases, I having disposed of the forward and active combatants."
7 " The Auld Craig," mentioned in this and in a subsequent passage, is certainly
the Bass, the ancient inheritance of the Lauders. — It had long been an object
with the Kings of Scotland to obtain this very strong island, in which they at
length succeeded, but not without much reluctance on* the part of the original
inheritors. It is said of James V., that when one of the Lauders had in due form
made a resignation of his lands in order to obtain new infeftment, the King bid him
pause, apd consider whether, among all the Baronies of Scotland belonging to the
Crown, he could not point out one which he would accept instead of this barren
rock. The Laird paused, hesitated, scratched his head, but ended by saying, " In
troth your Majesty maun e'en gie me the Avid Craig back again."
40 A PRETENDED CONFERENCE
speake Grainge,8 but let him ly thair, while the principalis be dis
patched. Than give him ane heill waige :9 bot yit, I thinke to be evin
with him for taking the Erie of Rothes part aganis me."
Ye will nocht beleive quhen he pat on his bonat, how grit a lauch-
ter was in the hous. And syne my Lord Regent sayis, " Yea weill,
Sirs, for all his raschnes in speiking, he kenis weill ynoughe wherat
he wald be." And than thai swore all with ane voice, " The devill
speid thame but my Lord hath spoken weill."
Johne Knox. Nixt my Lord Regent caused Johne Knox to speike ; who, luiking
up to the heaving, as gif he had bene begynand a prayer befoir the
sermont, (for be ane hole, I micht behold thair countenances, and so
sie what thai did ;) and efter he had keipit silence a guid space, he
begynis with a stuir and brocken voice,10 and sayis, " I praise my God
grittumlie that hes hard my prayer, which often tymes I powreth
furth befoir the throne of his Majestic, in angwise of my hart, and
that hes made his evangell to be preached with so notabill a succes,
vndir so waike instrumentis ; which, indeid, could neuer bene done,
except your grace had bene constitute a member over his churche,
especiallie endewit with sic ane singular and ardent affectione to
obey the will of God and voice of his ministeris. In respect whereof,
I embrace, as the servand of God, your grace's guid will, and zeal
to the promotione of Godis glorie, as Johne Knox favoris your grace
8 The celebrated Kirkaldy of Grange was already beginning to fall off from the
Regent's party, and there was art in representing him as an object of secret male
volence on the part of Murray and Lindsay.
' " Heill~tvage," — qu. Heitt-wage ? It may signify hail wage, — nothalfyears'swage.
10 This is a striking description of Knox's external manner.
WITH THE REGENT, EARL OF MURRAY. 41
better then ony man vpoun the face of the earth. Now, to explaue
to your grace, my judgment concerning your awin standing, which
being sa convenient with the standing and establishing of the churche ;
yea, seing the weillfair of Godis kirke so dependis vpoun your grace,
that ye circumvenit, it is nocht abill to endure ony long tyme : whair-
foir it seimes to me necessar, both for the honour of God, the com
fort of the poure bretherin, and vtilitie of this commone weill, that
first your grace, nixt your estait, be preservit in a qualitie of tyme,
and nocht to prescryve ane certane dyate, of xv or xvij yeiris, leuing
more to the observatioun of publict lawis, then to the commone pro-
batioune of eternall God. As I could neuer away with thair jolie
wittis and polytick braines, which my lord Lindsay callis Match-
vellis discipilis ;u swa wald I wische thai war out of the way, gif it
wer possibill. And I trust suirlie, give first your grace, and syne the
nobilitie of that confederatioune had passit to work with als grit
magnanimitie, as I vttered my judgment simplie and assuiredlie in
my sermondis, made expresslie for that purpose, the mater had bene
farder advanced, nor it is, or salbe this long tyme, gif God send
nocht better succes, nor my sorrowful hart persaues. Sicklike, thame
of the nobilitie that wold hinder your grace's pretence, thought thai
semid nocht so in the eyes of the blind world, I have preiched opinlie,
and yit daylie craves of God, that thai may be coufoundit with that
wicked woman, whome to thai cleave so obstinatlie ; and that thair
posted tie may drinke of the cupe prepaired for the judgment and pu-
11 An allusion to Secretary Maitland, to whom the name of Machiavel is often
assigned in Bannatyne's Journal and elsewhere.
42 A PRETENDED CONFERENCE
nissment of thair childreue. Heirin I agrie with ray lord Lindsay,
that spake immediatlie befoir : hot me think to establishe true reli-
gione, to obteine this, I say, we man haue a farder respect and consi-
deratioune than this : ' that is' — That the governement be established
in your persone sa lang as ye live, ffor when this bairne, whome we call
now King, shal come to age, dois ony man think that he will leive all
royall insolence, and suffer himself to be rewled according to the sim-
plicitie of the evangell ? What guid hope can we haue of the child,
borne of sic parentis ? I will nocht speike of the suspitione may be con
cerning the man that was killed ; but thocht he be his, whois he is
called, what can we luik for, but, as it wer, the heritage of the slaines
lychtness, and the motheris iniquitie ? Gif John Knox counsall be
followed, the estaite of the evangell and professouris thairof shall neuer
be gevin ouer to such, be hasarde. Better it is to content with our
selues, with him in whose majestic we haue guid experience, both in
wealthe and truble, then to change frae the gravitie of ane aiged
rewler, to the intemperancie of ane vnbridled childe. Your grace
hes persavit how my blast of the trumpet against the regiment of
weimen, is approved of all the godlie. I haue written in lyk man
ner, and hes it reddie for the printing, a bouke, whairin I prove by
sufficient reasones, that all kingis, princes, and rewleris, goes not be
successione ; and that birth hes no power to promote, nor bastardry to
seclude men from governement. This will waikin vtheris to pance
moir deiplie vpoun the matter. Besydis this, we shall set fourth ane
act, in theGenerall Assemblie, and bayth I and the rest of the brethe-
rin shall ratifie the samyn, in our daylie sermondis, till that it be
WITH THE REGENT, EARL OF MURRAY. 43
moir than sufficientlie perswadid to the peipill. This beand solemp-
nedlie done, the bulk of God opened and laid befoir the nobilitie,
who will say the contrare, except he that will nocht feir the wechtie
hand of the magistral stryking with the sword, and the censure of
the churche, rejecting him as the scabbit scheip from the rest of the
floke, be excommunicatioune ? This shall also seme, in eventure the
King departit this lyfe, as we are all mortal!, to keip us fourth of the
handis of Lennox andHammiltoun, whois imperfectiones are both no
torious. Then, your grace being thus advanced be God, we doubt
nothing but ye sail be thankful], in punishing but pitie all that dis
pleases the churche, and provyde that the servandis of God be ho-
norablie entreated12 with ane portione of this commone wealth, ac
cording to thair calling." And so he held his peace.
Then my Lord Regent said, " Ye knaw I was neuer ambitious, Regentis answer.
that I will nocht oppone myself to the will of God, revealed be yow,
which ar his trew minister ; but Johne, heir ye, tell your opinione in
ye pulpit !" — Which, when he had promised so to do, the Laird of
Pittarrow 13 was desyred to speik, who said : —
" Sir, and it pleis your grace, that which your brother, Mr Knox, Pettarro.
hes spoken, lies euer bene my opinione ; ffor, to be plane, vnless ye
12 ' Be honorablie intertained.' Cald. MS.
13 Sir John Wishart of Pitarrow, comptroller of the modification of the stipends
of the clergy. He was, according to Sir John Scott, " a small friend to the minis
ters, anent their stipends, being more careful to make up his own house than to fur
nish them bread." (Staggering State, p. 144.) His character in this respect was so
notorious, that it became a common saying, " The gude laird of Petarro was an er-
nest professor of Christ, but the mekill devil receive the comptroller."
PART FIKST. F
44 A PRETENDED CONFERENCE
be so weill heaft in the authoritie that ye can nocht be taken fourth
of it, I can nocht see how this commoune wealth can stand. But for
bringing this matter to pas, besydis the furtherance that standis in
the ministeris hands, ye man haue some vthir respect : that is, that
ye have the strenthis in your handis. Stirling is weill, so long as ye
and my Lord of Mar agries so weill together as ye doe : — bot I wald
wis the King wer in your awin haudis, ffor your grace knowis, quhat
guyding my Ladie hes of your vncle ; and ye know whois sister shoe
is. Edinburgh, (sayis he, hyme, hyme, shakand his heid,) it wer
better that both the housses wer in your brotheris handis, with the
plenishing thairof, or some vther that loues yow weill as your brother
dois. To get Dumbartan, I wald nocht stik for geir ; and albeit I
shuld give als meikill as Sir James Balfour " gat. Ane kyng seikand
treasone may find land. And ye list ye may ay get your hand beyond
my Lord Flemyng. I heir say my Lord of Mortone15 is trafficquen
to get the house of the Bass, which gif he dois, he will stope some
14 Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich, President of the Court of Session, had been
appointed Deputy Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh, and was accessory to its
being rendered up to the Earl of Morton, for which he received the lands of Strath-
kinnes and Ballone. (Scott's Stagg. State, p. 117.) Although a party in all the differ
ent factions of his time, he contrived to escape the fate which his treacherous and
iniquitous practices justly entitled him to have received. During the regency of
Morton, he was said to be his head and chief adviser ; but afterwards he appeared
against him at his trial, and was instrumental to his accusation and condemnation.
Well was it said of him, ' l/iat he could wag as the buss wagged,' when it was to serve
his purpose.
15 It is here and elsewhere intimated, that the interest of Morton was not united
and identified with that of Murray.
WITH THE REGENT, EARL OF MURRAY. 45
devyses your grace knowis : and thairfoir, wer I in your graces steid,
I sould be betwixt the kow and the corne. I tell yow that auld craig
is ane guid starting hole : at the least, it will serue to keip thaim
that ye wald be suir of ; and gif thair be ony vthir grit strenthis
within this realme, I wald haue that, be some moyen, in my handis.
Bot besydis the strenthis, ye mon haue respect to some grit housses,
that will neuer lat yow come to honour, sua far as thai may : Sic as
Hammiltoun, Lennox, Argyle, Huntlie, that perteanis16 to the
Crowne ; and vther men that hes over grit power in this cuntrie, as
Morton, Athole, Hereis, Home, Pherniherst, Lethingtoun, Sir
James Balfour, Tulibarden, and diuers vtheris, whome your grace
hes in ticket. This I wald ye handled, as it hes oftymes bene de-
vysed."
Nixt him spake the Tutore of Pitcurre 17 in this manner — " My Tutour of ntcu
Lord, when Hannibald past to conqueis Italic, he made him selfe
starke with men of wane, whairvnto he gave wages. Scipio, when he
past to Africa, and to destroy Carthage, did the lyke ; evin so, my
Lord, giue your lordship will do weill, make your selfe starke with
waged men, both on horse and foute, and so I thinke with some
strangeris, ye may easilie conqueis this cuntrie."
When he hes schortlie spoken to this effect, Mr John Woude 18 be- Johne Wood
his speiche.
16 That pretend to the crowne. — Cald. MS.
17 Mr Jaines Halyburton, of the ancient family of Halyburton of Pitcur, provost
of Dundee, and coramendator of Pittenween. He was a zealous friend of the Regent,
and continued steady in his opposition to the Queen's faction.
1 John Wood of Tilliedavy, one of the Extraordinary Lords of Session, was Se-
4.6 A PRETENDED CONFERENCE
gan and said — " My Lord, I trust my vprightnes in your seruice hes
sufficientlie perswadit your grace, that I am no flatterer ; and in the
vther part, addicted to no factione ; quhairthrow, both I will and
may give your grace ane faithfull counsall for your behoufe, quhom
I love inteirlie in my hart, both for your awin grace, guid natuire,
and profeit of the commoune wealth : ffor, in guid faith, as I haue
said oftymes, 'gif I knew that thair wer ony vice into yow, I should
neuer seme yow. I wrote long since, a long discourse, how ye should
behalfe your selfe ; off the which I will remember yow at this present
of a few heidis, in stead of my counsall. Senephone, in ane litill
prettie buike, intitulat Cyripadia, writes that ane captane that de-
syris to vinqueis his enemies, shuld vse strenth, moyen, subtilitie,
craft, deceit, leasingis, suith sayingis, oathes,liberalitie, andcrweltie.
This precept I wald your grace should note. Secondlie, I haue euer
said, that this natione can uocht be dantoned be babisnes : Propone
to your self the Duck d'Alues example. Ye man come in thair, and
be bawld amonges thaim ; and that will gar thair hartis trumbill,
and thair hair stand widdirshynes. Thridlie, the prince can neuer
do ane notabill enterpryse, except he be right polyticke. Ye man
haue ane factione bothe within the cuntrie and without, to repose
' upon." And now to speik, how to put thir thingis in executioune. To
speike of the last heid, the men ye ought to repose on, in Scotland,
cretary to the Earl of Murray, Regent. Sir James Melvill speaks of him as " a great
ring-leader." Lesley, Bishop of Ross, informs us, that " within very few daies after
[[the death of the Regent, Jan. 1569-70,]] his man, Mr John Wood, was also slaine
in Fife." Anderson's Collections, vol. iii. p. 84.
WITH THE REGENT, EARL OF MURRAY. 47
ar the preceis protestantes and raiuisteris :19 ffor the nobilitie of thir
be ane man, ar ane pack of fals greidie traytoris. Without the
cuntrie, the Queine of England and Lady Caterenis factione : ffor
quhat reckis yow, who bruik the croun of England, sua thai be your
frends ? I wold nocht ye shuld cast away your self, for conquessing
of kingdomes to the Queines sone. It is meit also, to be confederat
with the Princes of Almany, that ar of the religione ; and the King
of Denmarke : and, or ye faill, lat some of Scotland or Orknay slip
with him, for ye get nocht meikle profeit of it. The best way to get
siluer, is to caus the kingis rentis be lifted be a faithfull man to
your behuise. I can nocht tell quhair ye will get one better nor my
fathir, the Laird of Pittarow. Nixt, gar tak all the benefices to the
croun, ffor why shuld these idle belleis bruike these rowmes, in the
kirkes name ? And give the ministeris the thrid, and hald the twa
part to yourself. The kirklandis that ar sellit,20 make yow to reduce
thame all ; ffor that way, ye sail haue the whole fewis in your owin
hands ; or get grit sowmes of money, in compositioune. And syne
of thir noblemen that hes offendit, and riche burges carles, lat
non pas without debursing of siluer. And I traist, and ye behaife
your self wyselie, ye may get everie yeir some litill pot of wyne21 out
of England, to pay your men of weir. Feid France with fair wordis,
19 This sentence in Cald. MS. reads, " To speak of the last head, the men ye are
to repose on in Scotland, are the precise protestants, for the nobility and their bands
of men, are a pack of false greedy traitors."
20 That ar fewit. Cald. MS.
21 Some small supply of money like the gratuity given to servants or the like, to
buy them a pot of wine, as we would now say a pot of beer.
48 A PRETENDED CONFERENCE
and luike alsmeikill to the Adrairallis factione22 as ye may. As for
the nobilitie, ye sie they ar divydit in tuo pairtis ; some ar grit men
and puissant ; some ar feble and gogeis : Off the one sort ar thay
that my father the Laird of Pittarrow hes reckned, and the rest that
your grace hes in bills. Lat thea childer want the heidis ; which sail
both make yow quite of thair cumber, (quia mortui non mordent,)
and sail caus vtheris stand in awe. Make the simpill band a connyen-
hous, and gar thame pay euerie yeir ane guid tribute. Moirover ye
most change all the offices, both of Court and Sessioune ; and vther-
wayis, in the cuntreis ; impute men of thair your creatioune. Feid
the simpill with fair wordis ; boast the faint-harted ; dispatche the
men of spreitis ; and make ane new forme in this cuntrie. As for
the strenthis, my father hes spoken weill ellis. But I man speike
this ane word, concerning the Laird of Grange. To trap him, caus
Alexander Clerke, Mr Knox, Dauid Murray, and vtheris of his
acquentance, both wryte and say, he is evill spoken of throw the
cuntrie, for lying out from your grace, and that can nocht stand with
his honour ; and able he will give credite : which give he doe, and
get him out in your hands, ye know quhat is devysed. I neid to
speik no farder. Gif ye will know vtheris thingis in speciall, tak
the paine to reid my discours once agane ; and I sail come the
morrow, to your rysing, and explane it poynt by poynt, that ye may
be the moir resolute."
22 The Admiral Coligny, the great patron of the Protestants in France, who suf
fered in the barbarous massacre of St Bartholomew's, by orders of Charles IX. and
Katherine de Medicis.
WITH THE REGENT, EARL OF MURRAY. 49
And after he had done, my Lord Regent sayis — " Now, Clerk of
Register, lat me heir yow ; becaus ye ar ane wylie child, we keipit
yow to speike hindmest ; so speake plainelie, ffor sorrow a body heiris
us, bot our selues, nor yit sail heir." — Bot I thocht, sorrow fall yow,
and God saue me that lyis heir, and heiris weill aneughe all that is
spoken.
Then the Clerk Register23 said — " My Lord, I am ane ewill dis- Mr James
his speiche.
coursare, but I wald speir ane questiouue, Give ye wold saue zour
awin lyfe and stait ?" — " Yes," quod my Lord Regent — " Then,
my Lord, ye man put thame out of the way, that may, or hes desyre
to hinder yow. The tyme hes bene, quhen I wald my Lord of
Mortone had bene weill ; bot now, sene he traistis vther men, or
his awin fantasie, better than me, and rinnis nocht your course, let
him pas amonges the leave ; syne wyte the nifferraris. As to the
strenthis, in guid faith ye man haue men of your awin impositioune.
I grant, all thame that ar of Matchevelis doctrine will say, that thai
haue done your grace guid seruice ; but the Clerk Blair said, Nay,
Matcheivell is ane ewill buik, and I wold he had bene brunt sewin
yeir syne, that be thair and heir be guid yeir. Remember ye what
the old Bischope of Dumblane said, in the yeir of God Ivj, quhen I
was commissioner at the bordour,21 ' Princes sould nocht be ' windie','
quod Mr Henry. — Alace, in guid faith, he was a guid companione,
23 James M'Gill, Clerk Register. He had been dismissed from office on account
of his being concerned in the murder of Rizzio ; but was restored in the year 1567.
24 The commission alluded to was held for the settlement of Border matters, at
the town of Dunse, in the summer, or rather autumn, of 1556. M'Gill, with
ansuer.
50 A PRETENDED CONFERENCE, &c.
could haue tauld yow my mynd. Thay say thai haue money agauis
yow. Weill, I am als auld as thir folkis, and has seine the faschione
of Scotland alsweill as ane vther : thocht thai haue the toung, I can
tell the taill. Ye will get als mony to take your part, as the contrair
wilbe against yow, and ane mae. Tak thair ane ansure, in a word."
The Regent his When thai had all done, my Lord Regent said, " It was ane
heavie burding that lay vpoun him, and that he wald vnderly the
same als lang as he mycht, and depend vpoun thair counsallis allan-
erlie ; prayand thame to aduerteis him quhene he keipit nocht all his
kewis, for the thing thay spake he judged all to be trew."
Be this dayis taking, ye may judge what ismeant. I can nocht write
all that was spocken, hot this was the effect, sa far as I remember.
Suirlie materis are euill guydet heir, and I can perceave nothing but
grit crueltie, disceat, and dissolutioune. Suppose I beir a fair coun
tenance, and hes ane ressonabill dres in court, 1 mislyke very sair
the thingis I saw, and wald wische all the nobilitie knew that I know
concerning thair awin wracke. I traist thay suld nocht be so arche
to put remedie to their inconvenientis. Aduerteis, my Lord, your
cowsing of this, and desyre him to provyde for himself, for heir thair
is nothing but geld him. — THUS FARE WEILL.
Richard Maitland of Lethington, and the Bishop of Dunblane, were Commissioners
for Scotland. This was Bishop William Chisholm, who held the see from 1527 to
about 1 564, although he seems to be called Henry in the text. The meaning of the
Bishop's apothegm seems very obscure, unless we interpret the word tvindie to mean
winding, or crooked in politics, when the sense is obvious enough. The transcriber
of Bannatyne's Journal has left out the word, which is supplied from Calderwood.
SINCE the publication of the firft part of the prefent volume, we
have been favoured, by the kindnefe of JAMES CHALMERS, ESQ.,
London, with a minute and careful collation of the preceding
Iheets, with a copy of the Conference which is preferved among the
Cottonian MSS. (Calig. B. ix. 172. fol. 326.)1 in the Britifh Mu-
feum. As the two copies differ in many refpects, and as this pre
tended Conference is a paper of confiderable intereft, we iliall in-
fert the paffages of the Mufeum MS. which contain the moft ma
terial difcrepancies with the printed text.
" THE COPEY OF ANE BILL OF ADUERTEISMENT, SEND BE
ANE FKEIND OWT OF COURT TO ANE KYNISMAN OF THE ERLE
OF ARGILLIS, THE x. OF DECEMBER, 1569, DISCLOSAND THE
CONSALL OF SAX PERSONIS."
Page 38. — LORD LYNDSAY'S SPEECH.
MY Lord, ye knaw of the aid that I was evir mair rafhe nor wyfe. I can nocht
gifF yow ane verray wittie confall, hot I luif yow weill aneughe. To he fchort, qohat
luld ye do, bot vfe counfall, quhilk ye did nevir yeit ; thairfor, I think the devill
cawfit men cheis yow to be ane Regent. Yet my Lord, mycht ye be quit of thir
Machiwelliftes and thir baftard lordis, that will circum vein you with thair policie, and
wrak yow with than- force, I wald have ane guid hoip of all materis. And qnhen ye
fall to thame, bourd not with thame : ffor be Godis breid, and I perfave that, I will
pals to the Byris and halk as I did the laft tyme at your being in Stre veling. Gif ye
do will [[weill ?3 gar thame dance heidles ; and than ilk gnid fellow may get ane
Inmpe of thair landis, quhilk will gar them fecht lyke fwyne ; and uthir men wilbe
werer [[beware^ of the fpang £or laflT] of the taill. And gif thair be ony flout carle,
1 It is signed Finis Ha. Patersoun, who may probably have been the transcriber.
[ 48f ]
fet me till him, and I fall gif him ane callado with ane ftokado. And gif he be ane
het man, I fall lat him play him ane quhyle, and fyne fall gif him, behind the hand,
ane cowp de jarret, and lat him ly thair. And quhen the principallis ar this wayia
difpefchit, ye may do with the gogie Lordis quhat yow lift. And CgiP] we had the
auld Crage in our hands I wald lyk materis the bettir ; hot ye knaw I will nocht
fpeik aganis Grange ; hot yet, I think I will be evyn with him, and gif him ane heill
wage for takin part with the Erie of Rothes aganis me.
Page 40. — JOHNE KNOX'S SPEECH.
Nixt my Lord Regent caufit JohneKnox to fpeike ; qnha eftir he had keipit fylence ane
goid quhile, he begynis with ane ftuir and kroken voce, and fayis, " I pryfs my God
gretumlie that hes hard my prayer, quhilk oftymis I powrit furth befoir the throne of
his Majeftie, in angwifs of my forowful hart, and that hes made his evangell to be
prechit with fo notabill fucces, vndir so walk inftrumentis ; quhilk, indeid, cnld neuir
haif bene done, except your grace had bene conftitute rewlar over this kirk, spcciallie
endewit with ane fingular and ardent affectione to obey the will of God and voice of
his minilleris. In refpect quhairof, I, as ane of the fervandis of God, imbrace your guid
grace's zeil to the promotione of Godis glorie ; and as Johne Knox favoris your grace
better nor ony man apon the face of the erth. Accordingly fall explane to your
grace, my jugement concerning your awin f lauding, quhilk is fa conjunit with the
eftabliihment of the kirk ; yea, the weillfair of Godis kirke fo dependis apone your
grace, that gif ye fuccumbe, it is nocht poflible to it for to induir ony lang tyme : whair-
foir it feimes to me maift neceflar, bayth for the honour of God, the comfort of the
puir bretherin, and vtilitie of this commoun weill, that firft your grace's lyfe, nixt
your eftait, be prefervit in equalitie of tyme, and nocht to prefcryve ane certane. dyat,
of xvi or xvij yeiris, lyving mair to the conftitutioun of the politik lawis, than the
fouer operationn of the eternall God. And as I neuer culd away yet with thir jolie
wittis and polytick branis, quhilk my Lord Lindfay callis Machivilliftes ; fa wald I
that thay war furth of the way, gif it war pofiibill. For I traift afluredly, gif firft your
grace, and fyne the reft of the nobilitie of onre focietie had paffit to wark with als gret
magnanimitie, as I vtterit my jugement (imply and fyncerly in my fermondis, maid
purpofly for that cauls, the mater had beue forthir avancit, nor it is, or falbe this lang
tyme, gif God grant na haftier fucces, nor my forrowfnl hart prejugis. Siclyk, tbame
of the nobilitie, and utheris, that wald hinder your juft pretence, tliocht thay femu
[ 49f ] -
nocht fa in the eis of the blind world, I have prechit opinlie, and yit daylie craves of
God, that thai may be confoundit with that wickit woman, quhome to thai cleiff fo
obftinatlie ; and that thair pofteritie may drinke of the cowpe preparit for the iniqui-
tie and punifment of thair forfathers. And heir I agre with my Lord Lindfay, that
fpake immediatlie befoir ; hot men fuld, to eftablifhe the trew religioun, have ane for-
ther refpect and confideratioun : that is, that the governement be establiihit in your
perfone fa lang as ye leif, ffor qulien this barne, quhome we call King, fall cum to age,
dois ony man think that he will leif off all his royall infolence, and fuffer himfelf to
be rewlit according to the fimplicitie of the evangell ? Quhat guid hoip can we haue
of the child, borne of fie parentis ? I will nocht fpeike of the fufpitioun concerning
the man that was killit ; bnt thocht he be his quhois he is callit, quhat can we luik
for, but, as it wer, the heritage of the fatberis lychtnef s, and iniquitie of the mother.
Gif Johne Knox counfall be followit, the eftait of the evangell and profeflburis thairof
fall nener cum under fuch ane haflarde. Better it is to content ourfelfis with him of
quhais modeftie we have rycht gnid experience, baith in welthe and rubre, and not
to change from that graftit and rowttit focietie, with the intemperance of ane unbri-
dlit childe. Your grace hes perfavit quhow my blaft of the trumpet fet furth aganis
the regiment of wemen, is apprevit of all the godlie. I haue wrettin in lyk manner,
and hes it reddie for the prenting, ane bulk, quhairiu I preif by sufficient reflbnis, that
all kingis, princes, and rewlaris, goes nocht be succeffioun ; nor that birth hes firynth
to promote, nor yet baftardy to feclude men fra governement. This will walkin
vtberis to pance mair deiplie upcun the mater.
Page 45. 1. 6. — THE LAIRD OF PETARRO'S SPEECH.
.... Bot befyd the firenthis ye man hae refpect to fum grit houfles that will
neuer let yow cum till honour and quietnes, fa far as tliay may : Sic as Hammiltouu,
Lennox, Argyle, Huntlie, that pretendis to the Crown ; and als to fie utheris as ar
owr welthie and eftemes thamefelfis bangftars ; lykas Mortoun, Atholl, Hum, Hereis,
Farnihurft, Tullibarne, Grange, Lethingtoun, Sir James Balfour, and divers utlieris,
quhome your grace hes in ticket. Thir I wald war handlit, as hes bene oft devyfit.
Page 45. — THE TUTOR OF PITCUR'S SPEECH.
My Lord, when Hannibald geid to conquefs Italic, he maid him felf flark be men
of weir, quhome to he gaif wagis : Scipio quhen he past in Affrik to deftroy Carthage,
did the lyke ; cvin fo, my lord, gif your grace will do weill, mak your felf ftarke
[ 50f 3
with waget men, bayth on horl's and fat, and fync I tbinke with fome ftratagemis, ye
may eafilie conqueis this cuntrie.
Page 46. 1. 6. — MR JOHN WOD'S SPEECH.
... In guid faith, as I haif faid oft tymes, and I had knawin ony notable rice in you,
I fuld nener haif remanit in your fervice. I wreit lang tyme fyne ane ampill difcurfs
quhow ye fuld behaif your felfe ; off the quhilk I will remember yow at this prefent of
ane few heidis, infleid of my confall. Zenophon, in ane litill prettie buik, intitulat
Cbiapatra [Cyropsedia], writtis that ane capitane quhilk defyris to vinqueifs his ene-
meis, fuld haue ftrenthis, and ufe fubtilitie, craft, diflait, leiingis, fum fuith fayingis,
aithis, liberalise, and crueltie. This precept I wald your grace fuld nocht forzeit.
Secondlie, I hare ever faid to you that this natioun can nocht be dantit with bairne-
lynes or meikbehawor, bot with vigour, as the Italian fayis, ' cum la Curia de la fpada :"
And defyrit you, and yet defyris to propon to yourfelf the Duik of Alvas exempli],
that is to cut fra the fcbulderis up for the firft fait, and that wil gar thame all trymbill,
and thair hair turn widdirfhynes. Thridlie, Ane prince can nevir do na notabill en-
terpryfs without riches. Ferdly, Ye man have ane factioun bayth within the cuntrey
and without, that he may repoifs himfelf upon. Now to fpeik quhow ye fall put thir
thingis to executioun. We fall begyne firft at the laft heid, the men quhome ye may
credeit or put your confidence into in Scotland, ar the precifs Proteftantis, and rnini-
fteris ; ifor as to the nobilitie and thir new ftartand men, ar bot ane pak of fals greidie
traytoris. And without the cuntrey, the Queue of England and Lady Catherinis fac
tioun ye man lippin to, for quhat rakis yow quha bruik the croun of England, fa thai
be your freinds ? I wait nocht quhy ye fuld caft away yourfelf, for conqueffing of
kyndomis to the Quenis fucceflioun
P. 48. . . For the libertinis, ye fe ar in twa fetts : fum ar gret men and puif-
fant ; utheris ar febill, puir, and obftinat : Of the ane fort ar they quhilk my fader,
the Lard of Pittarrow, hes raknit, and the reft quhilk your grace hes in bill, lat ther
children want the heidis, quhilk fall baith mak yow queit of cumir, fed precepne quod
inortoun non mordeat (fie in M.S.,) and fall caus vtheris to ftand in aw, mak the fim-
pill band a cunzehoufs and gar thame pay euerie yeir ane guid tribut. Mair attour
ye may of force change all the office men, als weill in Court and Seflion as utheris in
the cuutray ; and imput men of your awin creatioun ; feid the iimpill men with fair
wordis ; boift the faint-hartit, depefcbe the men of fpreit, and mak ane new form in
this cuntray. As for the ftrenthis, my father hes fpoken weill ......
AN OPINION
OF THE PRESENT STATE, FACTION, RELIGION,
AND POWER OF THE NOBILITY
OF SCOTLAND.
M.D.LXXXIII.
PAUT FIRST.
THE English Princes, since the reign of Henry VIII., had made
the important discovery, that they could more easily avoid the dan
gers to be apprehended from Scotland, by supporting and encou
raging a party within the kingdom itself, than by force of arms.
The progress of the Reformation in Scotland tended greatly to fa
vour this course of policy ; since the Protestant Nobles were easily
induced to look to England for support, even at some risk of na
tional independence, when they beheld the power of France exerted
on the part of the Catholics. The following List, evidently made
up by one of the English envoys or agents, is curious, as shewing the
state of these two contending parties, and the respective influence of
the Nobility, engaged in either faction, about the year 1583.
C 55 ]
A BREIFE OPINION OF THE STATE, FACTION, RELI
GION, AND POWER OF THE SEVERALL NOBLE MENN
IN SCOTLANDE, AS THEY DWELL, NOT PLACINGE
THEM ACCORDINGE TO THEIR GREATNES, DEGREE,
OR ANTIQUITIE, VNDER THE RAIGNE OF KINGE
JAMES VI. ANNO DOMINI 1583.
DUKE OF LENNOX.
ESME STEWART, sonne to Esme Stewart, the late Duke, is an in
fant, and remain eth yet in Fraunce. The lyuinge he hathe in Scot
land, besydes that his father gott by the forfaitures of the Hamiltons,
and Erie of Morton, is very small ; the whole propertie of the olde
Erledome of Lennox beinge morgaged, dismembred, and brought in
manner to nothinge ; and the reste like to breede him some treble
with the Hamiltons and the Douglasses, if euer the tyme affourde
them the oportunitie to recouer their owne. He is Shereife of Dum-
bretoun, and hath the cheif commandement of that castell, beinge a
place of principall strengthe amongest all the fortis of Scotlande.
56 PRESENT STATE OF THE
ERLES.
ORKENAY.
THE LORD ROBERT STEWARTE, base sonne of King James Vth-
bathe possessed Orkenay and Zetlande since this Kinge was crown
ed, beinge a cheife thinge of the Kinges propertie, and created into
an Erldome, in Nouember, 1581. A man dissolute in lyef ; lyttle sure
to any faction ; of small zeale in religion. His reuennu is greate ;
and power suche as those countries can make. His wyef is daugh
ter to the olde Erie of Cassills, and aunte to him that now lyuethe.
KATHNES.
GEORGE SINCLAIR, half brother to this Erie Bothuille by the
mothers syde, is a youthe of xvij yeares of age, vnder the tutorie of
therle of Gowrie, who hath his wardeshipp, (a cause of the late
vnkindenes and harte burninge betwene him and Bothuile.) Of his
religion and inclination their is yet lyttle tryall. His power extendes
ouer the bondes of Cathnes, althoughe therle Marshall and the Lorde
Oliphonte be porcioners with him of that countrye.
SUTHERLANDE.
ALEXANDER GORDON, a younge man within xxx yeres of age,
a branch lately discended of the house of Hunteley, and hath ma-
ried this Erie of Huntleys father's sister, that was diuorced from the
NOBILITY OF SCOTLAND, 1583. 57
late Erie Bothuill. He is in lyuinge poore ; in religion well affect
ed ; but of no greate partie, nor enterprise. His mother was sister
to Matthew, Erie of Lennox.
MURRAY.
JAMES STEWARTE, eldest sonne to the Lord of Down, begotten one
this Erie of Argiles sister, styled of that Erledom in the right of his
wyef, beinge theldest doughter of James, laste Erie of Murray and
Regent. Is a yonge man of xvij yeres of age ; of a very tall sta
ture, but lyttle proofe.
HUNTLEY.
GEORGE GORDON ; his mother was doughter to the Duke Ha
milton ; himselfe aboute xxj yeres of age. In religion doubted, and
in affection Frenche. He is contracted to marry with the Duke of
Lennox doughter ; by whose meanes he obteyned the Kiuges fauor.
His power and frendeshipp in the North is greate ; his estate as yet
not fully restored since the forfaiture of his father ; and therfore
slowe to engage himself in any faction, or quarrell of state, but at
the Kinges pleasure, to whose humor and fauor he dothe wholy bende
and apply himself.
BUCHANE.
JAMES DOUGLAS, an infante of three or four yeres olde. The
sonne of Robert Douglas, seconde brother to this Lairde of Loche-
leuin, who maried the heretrix. An Erledome that some now in
58 PRESENT STATE OF THE
courte are suspected to have aimed at, to the prejudice of this
younge Erie.
ERROLL.
ANDROW HAY, Constable of Scotlande ; amaifof LV yeres olde ;
of greate lyuinge and power ; but the man himself of lyttle valure
and judgement.
MARSHALL.
GEORGE KEITH, Marshall ; a younge noble man of good com
mendation ; his lynnige ancient, and reuennew greatest of any Erie
in Scotlande. His mother was sister to this Erie of Erroll, and him
self maryed to the LordHumes doughter, sister to him that now is.
He was lefte very welthye ; and is estemed honest, religious, and fa-
uoringe the best parte.
CRAUFOURDE.
DAUIDE LINDSF.Y, a younge man of an auncient house, of Erie
of that surname. His mother was doughter to the Cardinall himself ;
maryed to therle of Athols sister. His liuing and estate muche
ruined. Himself in affection Frenche ; in religion vnsettled ; but his
power tyed shorte, by the feude he hathe with the Master of Glamis
and his frendes, for the slaughter of the last Lord Glamis, committed
at Sterlinge.
ATHOL.
JOHN STEWARTE ; his mother the Lord Fleminges doughter ;
NOBILITY OF SCOTLAND, 1583. 59
himself maryed to therle of Cowries doughter ; a man of lyttle va
luer or accompte ; in religion suspected ; and that power he hathe
is of Hilandmen, but not greate.
ROTHES.
ANDROWE LESLYE, a man of L yeres and vpwardes; noted to
be wyse, but no open medler, or parte taker in any faction. He is of
good welthe, power, and frendes. Himself maryed the Erie of
Cowries sister, and his sonne the Lord Linsayes doughter.
MONTROIS.
JOHN GRAHAME, a man aboue xxx yeres of age ; borne of the
same mother with therle of Atholl. His wyef the Lord Drumundes
doughter. His power not greate ; in affection Frenche ; and in re
ligion doubted. He seemes to depende on therle of Argile, the
rather to fortyfie himself againste therle of Angus and his frendes,
whose wyef he is charged to haue dishouered. The man is, for cou
rage, and spirite, a principall man amonge the nobilitie of Scotlande.
MENTEITH.
WILLIAM [JOHN] GRAHAME, an infant; his mother was daugh
ter to [Sir James] Douglas of Drumlangrige. His power is small, and
that of Hylandmen dependinge one therle of Ergile, whose mother
was therle of Menteiths daughter.
PART FIRST. H
60 PRESENT STATE OF THE
Here the Duke of Lennox is to be placed accordinge
to his dwellinge.
MARCHE.
ROBERT STEWAUTE, vncle to the late Duke, brooking in ef-
fecte but the title of therldome ; is a man paste LX ; simple, and
of lyttle action or accompte. His repudiate wyef is now maryed to
Stevvarte, the pretended Erie of Arrane. He is Bushop of Cathnes,
and Prior of St Androwes.
GLENCARNE.
JAMES CUNNINGHAM, is a man aboue xxx yeres of age ; not
well- thought of since the trebles in Scotlande, aboute the remouingc
of the late Duke ; wherein he was suspected not to haue delte sin-
cerely. He is of reasonable good lyvinge, if yt were freed of the
morgages, wher [with] some of his auncestors haue entangled a good
parte thereof. His power is reasonable greate, by his surname and
frendes ; and in religion thought to be well affected.
EGLINGTON.
HEW MOXGOMERY ; a man about L yeres of age, inclyned to
quiefnes, and of no greate action or capacitie. He is thought to fa-
uor the [blank in M.S.], and deemed in affection, to be Frenche ;
and in religion not throughly assured. His sonne hath maryed the
Lorde Bwydes [Boyd's] dough ter.
NOBILITY OF SCOTLAND, 1583. 61
ARRANE.
JAMES STEWAKTE, seconde sonne to the Lord Vchiltree ; a man
from nothinge sodenly raysed to the state he is in, by the fauor of the
late Duke, for the good seruice he did, in accusinge and persecutinge
the Erie of Moreton to the deathe ; a man of more wy tte than cou
rage, but of no fayeth, conscience, or honestie ; insolent where he
preuayleth, and of a restlesse and troblesome spiryte ; suspected of
all men, and ueuer fauored or trustyd of any but his like ; of no
power, frendes, or welth, but that he hathe by his vsurped Erledome
of Arcane.
CASSILLS.
JOHN KENNED, an infant ; his mother was sister to the Lord
Glannis. He possesseth a greate countrye, and hathe many frendes
in Carrich and Gallowaye.
GOWRIE.
WILLIAM RCTHNEY, L. RUTHNEY, [Ruthuen,] Treasurer of
Scotlande, lately created Erie of Gowrie ; a man whose courage and
power hathe bene well tryed, bothe in former actions againste the
Quenes partie, etc. ; and of late, the Erie of Ruthney against Len
nox. He is greately hated by the Quene ; as well for his fathers ac
tion in the slaughter of Dauid, as for his owne doughter suire againste
her and her frendes. He is in religion well-affected ; inclyned to the
amitie of Englande, but since his enterteyninge the frendshipp and
62 PRESENT STATE OF THE
seruice of Sir Robert Meluin, his vnder-treasurer, he is fallen into
some jelousie with the better sorte.
MORETON.
JOHN MAXEWELL, Lord MAXEWELL, late created Erie, after
the forfeiture of the laste Erie Moreton, and Regent, whose brothers
doughter, sister to the Erie of Angus, he maryed ; his mother be-
inge one of the three doughters of the olde Erie of Moreton, a fol
lower of the late Duke of Lennox : A man vnsetled in religion ;
Frenche in affection ; of reasonable power and frendis, vpon the bor
ders, but of no greate gouernement or iudgement.
BOTHUILLE.
FRANCIS STEWARTE, the son of the Lord John, Prior of Col-
disham, one of the base sonnes of King James the Vth., and of this
laste Erie of Bothuille's sister. A man not paste xxj yeres of age, well
trauayled, and of goode wytt and gouernement. His wyef is sister
to therle of Angus, that was wydow to the Larde of Baucolugh,
[Buccleugh,] by whome he hathe greate welthe. He is well geuen in
religion, and in speciall frendeshippe with therles of Angus and
Marr.
ARGILE.
COLINE CAMPBELL ; a man of fortie yeres and aboue ; of a greate
house, lyuinge, and power, cheifely of Hilandmen. He is now
Chauncellor, and by inheritaunce Cheife Justice. Religious, and of
NOBILITY OF SCOTLAND, 1583. 63
good nature, but weak in iudgement, and ouermuche ledd by his
wyef ; a man very sickely, and not like to lyue longe.
ANGUS.
ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS ; a younge noble man, of an honest and
curtuous nature ; religious, fauoringe the best parte ; and of greate
power, and lyuinge in the heicher partis of Scotlande. Vnhappy in
his mariage : his firste wyef was sister to therle of Marr, and dyed
without issue ; his laste, a woman touched in her honor with
therle of Mountrois, and therfore abondoned of her husbande: is
doughter to therle of Rothes. Himself is the first Baron in their
Parliament, Huntley the second, and Argile the thirde.
LORDES, OR BARONS OF PARLIAMENT.
LOUET.
HEW FRASSER, a childe of xij yeres of age ; sonne to her that is
now Lady of Arrane, and auncient house, and of good power of Hi-
landmen in the North.
SALTON.
ALEXANDER ABIRNETHIE, an auncient Baron, but no great
lyuinge or pqwer ; a seldome curtier and medler in any faction.
64 PRESENT STATE OF THE
FORBES.
JOHN FORBES ; a man aged, betwixt whome and the house of
Huntley hathe ben longe and greate feude. His landis and frendes
lye cheifely in Abirdeneshire ; himself estemed to fauor religion, and
encline to the beste parte.
INNERMYRE. [INNERMEATH.]
JAMES STEWARTE; aunciente, but nether of greate lyuinge,
power, or enterprise.
GLANNIS.
JOHN LYON, an infant, vnder the charge of his Vncle, the Master
of Glannis, [Glamis,] who mainteyneth the feude with therle of
Craufourde, for the slaughter of his Lordis father : his liuinge, power,
and frendis greate ; and the man his Vncle, a man religious, wise,
and valiante.
GRAY.
PATRICQ GRAY, an aged man, estemed to come of English
bloode, that came into Scotlande with the Lady Somerset, wyef to
King James the Firste. In religion suspected ; of no greate power
or frendes. His eldest sonne maryed therle of Cowries fathers sis
ter, and his other, the doughter of Lord Glannis.
OGILUY.
JAMES OGILUY ; a man of no greate lyuinge, but of a good num-
NOBILITY OF SCOTLAND, 1583. 65
her of landed men of his surname, which makes his power in Angus
the greater. His sonne maryed therle of Cowries doughter.
Himself was an earnest fauorer of the Duke, and is denied Frenche
in affection ; and vnsettled in religion.
METHUEN.
HEXRY STEWARTE, an infant ; his father was slaine in the cy-
uill warres, by the shott of a canon out of the Castle of Edenburgh.
He is sisters sonne to therle of Gowrie. A new house, and of no
great lyvinge or power.
OLIPHONT.
LAWRENCE OLIPHONT ; a man paste L ; an auncient Baron, and
of greate lyvinge, but his landes lye dispersed. His sonne maryed
Locheleuins doughter ; a younge gentelman of good valure and ac-
compte. Himself maryed therle of Arroles sister.
; .>, ' DRUMMOUNDE.
DAUID DRUMMOUNDE, maryed the laste Erie of Craufourdes
doughter, of an auncient house, and hathe a Hand of frendes in
Stratherin. Himself vnhable in his hearinge, and is presentely in
Fraunce.
LYNDSAY.
PATRICQ LINDSAY ; a very auncient , Baron, of good lyuinge,
frendesbippe, and power, cheifely in Fife. A man that hath shew-
66 PRESENT STATE OF THE
ed himself stoute and constants in the cause of religion, and seruice
of the Kinge againste his Mothers partie. His eldest sonne hath
maryed therle of Rothes doughter.
SAINT CLAIRE.
HENRY SINCLAIR ; discended of the olde Erles of Orkenay ; a
man of good nature, but of small lyuinge, and lyttle action.
ELPHINGSTON.
ROBERT Lord ELPHINGSTON, made Lord in the dayes of King
James the iiij*, by the maryage of an English lady called Barlow, that
came into Scotlande with his Queue. Himself not wyse : his sonne a
proper younge gentelman, dependinge partely on therle of Huntley,
and partely one therle of Marr, beinge nere cousin to them bothe.
His lyuinge and power is not greate, and his religiou lyttle valued.
LEUINGSTON.
WILLIAM LEUINGSTON, a man of no great judgement, or ly
uinge, but of an auncient house, and many frendis of his surname ;
in religion outwardly well affected ; in affection Frenche. His sonne
departed out of Scotland into Fraunce with the Duke.
FLEMINGE.
JAMES FLEMINGE ; a youth of xv yeres of age ; his house aun
cient, his lyvinge small, and himself in muche debte and troble by
his fathers doingis, whilest he held the Castell of Dumbreton.
NOBILITY OF SCOTLAND, 1583. 67
SOMERVILE.
HEW SOMERUILE ; an auncient house, but of no greate lyuinge or
power. He maryed the Lord Setons sister, and dwelleth in Clud-
desdale-
SIMPLE. [SEMPLE.]
ROBERT SIMPLE ; a youth of xvj yeres of age ; his lyuinge not
greate, but of an auncient house. He hath lately maried therle of
Eglintons doughter.
BOYDE.
ROBERT Lord BOYDE ; a man past LX yeres ; he is accompted
wyse, and of good welthe and power. His auncestors were greate in
the dayes of King James the Seconde. Himself hath putt of many
stormes. He is a fauorer of the Douglasses, and alwayes hated of
the house of Lennox.
VCHILTREE.
ANDROWE STEWARTE, the successor of the Lord of Auendale ;
himself a man aged ; hauinge to his seconde sonne this Erie of Arrane,
and some others of ill gouernment. His owne lyuinge and power of
lyttle value.
CATHCARTE.
AL L AXE CATHCARTE ; an auncient name and house, and of some
PART FIRST. I
68 PRESENT STATE OF THE
good frendis. He is one of the Masters of housholde to the Kinge.
His lyvinge and power not greatly valued.
HEREIS.
WILLIAM MAXEWELL; a younge man of xxvj yeres of age;
he maried the Abbot of Newbottles dough ter. His mother was
heretrix to tholde Lord Hereis : his father a man of good wytt and
seruice ; himself of good reputation, but of no greate power.
HUME.
ALEXANDER HUME ; a younge man of xvij yeres of age ; of a
greate lyuinge, and many frendes, althoughe they all follow him not.
Himself of no very good gouernement or hope. His mother is doughter
to the Lord Gray, and now wyef to the Master of Glannis. His sur
name and power vpon the Borders is very greate.
BORTHUICH.
JAMES BORTHUICH ; a childe of xiiij yeres olde, yet maryed to the
Lord Zester's doughter. An auncient name and house, but greately
decayed, by the laste Lorde, who was of yll gouernement, and dyed
in Edenburgh not past two yeres since, of the Frenche decease.
ZESTER.
WILLIAM HAY; a braunche of the house of Arroll; of good ly
uinge and power, but no courtier, or partaker in any factions. His
sonne maryed the Lord Hereis sister.
NOBILITY OF SCOTLAND, 1583. 69
SETON.
GEORGE SETON ; an auncient baron, and of reasonable lyuinge,
which lyeth all in Lothian, within 6 or 7 miles of Edenburgh. His
power is not greate, nor his frendis or followers many. He hath
ben alwayes Frenche in affection, and is in harte a Papiste, thoughe
he dare not aduowe it. Of a nature busye and curyous ; of more
speche than iudgement ; a principall instrument [of the] Sc. Queue ;
and a harbourer of Jesuitis, and fugitiues of a countrye/and enemye
to a peace.
TORPHECHYN.
JAMES SANDELANDE, an infant ; brothers sonne and heire to the
laste, and first Lord of that Barony, which being before the house of
St Johns was erected into a temperall lordeshipp by the Quene that
now lyveth. His mother is sister to Mr James Murray, and hath
now maryed Mr John Graham, a seruante of therle of Argile, to the
greif and mislike of her best frendes.
70 PRESENT STATE
THE PRINCIPALL OFFICERS OF THE STATE
OF SCOTLAND.
ARGILE. The Chauncellor, and Cheif Justice, by in
heritance.
GOWRIE. The Lord Treasorer of Scotlande.
BOTHUILE. The Admirall.
ERROLL. The Constable of Scotland, by inheritance.
MARSHALL. The Erie Marshall.
LENNOX. The Create Chamberlaine. — The place was
hereditary to the house of the Lord Fle-
minge, but translated from that name
since his forfaiture.
WARDENS ON THE BORDERS.
Lord HUME. Warden one the Easte Marches.
Lord SESFURDE. Warden of the Middle Marche.
Larde of JOHNSTON. Warden of the Weste Marche, byprouision.
DCMFERMLING. Secretary of State.
FENTON. Comptroller of the Kinges housholde.
BLANTIRE. Lord Priuie Seale.
A. HAY. Clerk Register.
BALLANDINE. Justice Clerke.
DA. MACGILL. The Kinges Aduocate.
OF SCOTLAND, 1583. 71
PRINCIPALL FAUORITES, AND OF THE KINGES CHAMBER.
The Collonell Stewarte.
The Prior of Blantire.
Dauid Gllass.
THE LORDES OF THE SESSION.
CHURCHMEN ORDINARY.
The Lord Prouane, President. Mr William Baillie.
The Bushope of Orkenay. Mr Adam Bothwell.
The Abbot of Dumfermling. Mr Robert Pretarie [Pitcarne.]
The Deane of Murray. Mr Alexander [Archd.] Dumbarre.
The Parson of Menny[Menmure.] Mr John Lyndesay.
The Abbot of Cullws [Culross.] Mr Alexander ColluUle.
The Parson of Win ton. Mr Patricqe Vass,Lard of Barneborrowe.
TheProvostof theQuenesColledg. Mr Robert Punt.
LAYMEN ORDINARY.
The Chauncellor. Therle of Argile.
The Larde of Ledingston. Sir Richarde Mateland.
The Larde of Segie. Mr James Meldrom.
The Larde of Quhittingham. [Wm.] Douglas, brother to Archibald.
The Larde of Ledingtons sonne. Mr John Mateland.
The Clerk Register. Mr Alexander Hay.
The Kinges Advocate. Mr Dauid Macgill.
Mr Thomas Ballandine.
72 PRESENT STATE, &c.
LAYMEN EXTRAORDINARY.
The Treasorer.
The Lord Bwyde [Boyd.]
KIRKEMEN EXTRAORDINARY.
The Abbott of Newbottle.
The Abbott of Balmerinoch.
INSTRUCTIONS
FROM HENRY III. KING OF FRANCE,
TO THE SIEUR DE LA MOTHE FENELON,
AMBASSADOR AT THE COURT
OF SCOTLAND.
M.DXXXXIII.
PART FIRST.
COPIE DE CE QUE LE ROY TRESCHRESTIEN A COM-
MANDE AU SIEUR DE LA MOTHE FENELON, L'EN-
VOYANT EN ESCOSSK1
QU'IL ayt a faire de.la part de leur Majest^s treschrestiennes la plus
lionorables salutation et visite au Serenissime Roy de Escosse, leur
bon frere et nepueu et petit fils, qu'il luy sera possible.
Et luy bailler leur lettres qui sont in placart, et telles quelles luy
escripuent de leur mains, auec grande expression de la parfaicte
amitie et singuliere affection que leur dictes Majest6s luy portent, et
d'en rapporter la response.
De regarder aux choses qui sont prez du diet Serenissime Roy,
1 La Mothe Fenelon arrived at Edinburgh, 7th January, 1583, as Ambassador
from Henry III. King of France. The interest which Queen Elizabeth felt with
regard to his mission, may be seen from her Letter, dated 1 3th January, to Bowes and
Davidson, her Ambassadors at that time in Scotland, QMurdin's State Papers, p.
372 ;]] the latter of whom had been sent to accompany La Mothe, with the evident
design to watch his motions, and counteract his proceedings as much as possible.
It appears that the real object of La Mothe's embassy to Scotland was to move
King James " to accept of an association in the government, with the Queen his
mother ;" although no hint to this effect is contained in these Instructions, the
copy of which, as here printed, seems to have been that given to the persons who
were appointed to confer with him, " and crave his demands in writing."
76 INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AMBASSADOR
a ce que sa persone ny soyt en aulcun danger, mais tressongneuse-
ment conseruee.
Et qu'il ne soyt empesch6 en 1'honeste libertd qu'il doibt auoir, ny
enuirond d'autres plus grandes, ny plus estroittes gardes qu'il n'auoit
accoustume'.
Qu'il ne soit pareillement empesch£ en I'authorit6 que Dieu luy a
donnd du Roy et Prince Souerain sur sesdictes subiectes, pour pou-
uoir ainsi librement ordonner et commander en ces affaires, et aux
affaires de son royaulme, auec son Conseill ordinaire, comme il auoit
accoustum6 de faire.
Que ceux de sa Noblesse, et de bonnes villes, et communaultez de
son royaulme ayent tout libre acces a sa Serenissime Majeste", et sans
que par crainte et soupe^on de plus grandes gardes, ou de plus de
gens armes pres de sa personne que de coustume ils soyent intimides
ou empescWz d'en approcher.
Que le diet Sieur de la Mothe Fenelon ayt faire dessus a parler
librement et franchement au diet Serenissime Roy, et a ceulz de son
Couseill, de requerir le restablissement de ce qui pourroit estre
change" ou altere*.
Et qu'il sache si les principaulx de la Noblesse, et les aultres gens
de bien des villes et communaultes de royaulmes, conviennent et sont
contentes de la forme du present gouuernement qui est prez du diet
Serenissime Roy, a fin que s'il y en auoit de malcontentez et diuises
OF HENRY III. KING OF FRANCE. 77
qu'il mette peine de les accommoder ensemble et les reunir et accorder,
et qu'il ne s'en retourne' sans en rapporter certitude.
Et s'il entend qu'il y ait en aulcuns qui ne se soyent si reuerement
port£s vers leur diet Serenissime Roy, leur souerain Seigneur, comme
le debuoir de leur obeissance le requiert, qu'il prie de la part de la
Majeste" treschrestienne le diet Serenissime Roy son bon frere et luy
donne conseill d'entierement oublier, et qu'il les exhorte a eux de bien
le rabbiller et luy porter doresnauant tout respect, auec Pobeissance
et fidelle subiection qu'ilz luy doibuent.
Que si le diet Sieur de la Mothe Fenelon trouue le diet Serenis
sime Roy soit en quelque estat plus contraint de sa personne, de son
authorite, de sa liberte, et de la disposition de ses affaires, qu'il nc
sentoit et qu'il ne conuient a sa dignit6 du Roy et Prince souerain
d'estre, Qu'il mette peyne par toutz moyens decentz et honestes
de le remetre, et qu'il y employe" ce que peut le credit de sa Ma-
jeste treschrestienne vers la Noblesse et subiectes de ce royaulme, et
que peut son nom, et le nom de sa couronne vers toute la nation la-
quelle il aym et se confie d'elle comme des propres Francoys.
Et qu'il tesmoigne audict Serenissime Roy, et aux Sieurs de son
Conseil, et a touts la Noblesse et aultres principaux personages du
royaulme, comme sa Majest6 treschrestienne veut continuer de sa
part en la tresancienne alliance et confederation qu'il a auec le diet
Serenissime Roy son bon frere et son royaulme ; le priant, et ceux de
sa Noblesse et ses principauls subiectes, d'en perseuerer de mesmes, et
78 INSTRUCTIONS, &c. -
de perseuerer en touts bonne intelligence et amitie auec luy, ainsy que
de sa part il la leur veult inuiolablement garder.
Au surplus, entendant sa Majest6 treschrestienne que le Serenis-
sime Roy son bon frere auoit agreable le Due de Lennox, et son ser-
uice, le diet Sieur de la Mothe auoit charg£ de supplier sa Majest6
Serenissime, qu'il peut demeurer prez de luy a son contentement, Es-
perant qu'il entretiendroit de tant plus volontiers les poinctes de 1'a-
mytie et confederation d'entre leur Majestes et leur royaulmes, qu'il
estoit tout subiect de toutes deux ; et s'il ne pouuoit demourer sans
quelque alteration de la tranquillity de 1'estat, qu'il se peut retirer
dans sa maison dans le diet royaulme, et y estre en seurt^, ou s'il vou-
loit s'en retourner en France, qu'il le peut faire en seurte'.
Plaira a sa Majest6 Serenissime faire cesser les empeschement
et difficultes qu'on a mis de nouueau a la frontier, a ce que les iiatu-
relles Francoys puissent entrer librement au ce royaulme, comme ils
auoyent accoustume'.
Et qu'il ne soit tenu propos diffamatoire, ny parle en aultres termes
que bien honorables du Roy treschrestien, en ce royaulme, Ainsi
qu'on ne parle si non bien honorablement du Serenissime Roy d'Es-
cosse en France. "
* Calderwood, who inserts in his MS. History a translation of these Instructions,
(which has been printed by Dr Robertson, in the Appendix to his History of Scot
land,) remarks, that the French Ambassador " had another head to propone, which he
concealed till a little before his departure, to wit, that the Queen, the King's mother,
was content to receive her Son in associatione of the kingdom. By this, (says the his
torian,) all things done since the King's corronation, aither in religion or policie,
should have been shaken loose, and so whosoever had susteaned the King's cause
should be holden as traitors." — Vol. III. p. 210.
THE HEADS OF
A CONFERENCE BETWEEN KING JAMES VI.
AND SIR FRANCIS WALSINGHAM,
AMBASSADOR TO THE QUEEN
OF ENGLAND,
SEPTEMBER, M.D.LXXXIII.
81
THE CHEIF HEADES OF THE CONFERENCE BETWIXT
THE KINGS MAJESTffi AND SECRETARIE WALSING-
HAM, AMBASSADOR TO THE QUENE OF ENGLAND.1
His Majestic assured him that he was resolved to harme no man,
nor put at any man farther, in bodie, landes, or gudes, for the public
fact at Ruthen, they behaving themselues as duetifull subjects here
after, not having delt with na other priuie practises against our per
son, wele, suertie, nor estate; The which we doubt not but the
Quene, our dearest Sister, will both allow and assyst vs in trial!
taking, and punishing of the same.
As for any put at presentlie upone just triall of their innocencie
in others their priuie practises and dealings prejudiciall to vs, as
saide is, they finding such noblemen cawsion and answerable for
1 This paper is indorsed on the back, " Chefe Heades of the Conference betwixt
the K. and Sir Francis Walsingham, as the K. hath sett them downe, xv°. Sep-
tcmbris, 1583." In the same volume is a paper, professing to contain " Suche
Greenes, as Secretarie Walsingham, hir Majesties Ambassador to the King of Scotts,
is directed to requier Satisfaction of, at the handes of his Hienes. September,
1583 ;"— the Answers to which, in the King's name, are preserved in Calderwood's
MS. History. The nature of these Griefs are such as intimate the pretensions of
Elizabeth to interfere in the most minute particulars of James's government.
From a monarch of a more independent temper they would have received a very
brief answer.
PART FIRST. L
82 CONFERENCE, &c.
them whom we can like of and trust into, that they and ilk ane of
them salbe answerable to vs in doing their duetie and obedience, we
will vse our former clemencie, as to our gude subjects.
We are content at our next Parliament, accordinge to our dearest
Systers aduise, to assure all our guid subjects, that we mynd to call,
accuse, nor harme na man herefter for the public causes by past, as
the cyuell troubles taken vp by act of Pacification, as likewise the
public fact at Ruthen, excepting allwaies the thre murders, and
other priuie practises before mentioned, as they are or salbe tried
herefter.
We haue resolued, at our next Parliament, efter our Estates haue
proponed to vs ane nomber to chuse one, as salbe most meet to giue
vs aduise and counsell, to elect suche as are best affected to Religion,
suertie, and tranquillitie of our estate, and best likes of the amitie
betwixt vs and our dearest Syster.
We require that the said Secretarie1 be ane gude instrument in
balding forward the treatie for renewing of the peace betwixt both
the Realmes, as also for Commissioners meting anempt the affaires of
the Borders.
That there be such ane person chosen, whom by, their male at all
tymes, priuie and sure intelligence passe betwixt vs and our dearest
Syster, for the more full entertayning of amytie and gude loue
amongst vs.
1 " Alwise Secretar Walsingham got hastie dispatch, and was weel pleased, the
Lords of the Interprise expected that things would have fallen out otherwise than
they did, but the end declared the Queen of England would not cast off the King
for anie man's particular pleasure." — Calderwood, vol. iii. 259.
NOTES
PRESENTED BY MR JOHN COLVILLE,
TO LORD HUNSDON,
M.D.LXXXIV.
85
NOTES TO BE PRESENTIT TO MY SPECIALL GOOD LORD
MY LORD HUNDSDON, ANE OF HIR MAJESTIES MOST
HONORABILL PRIVY COUNSALE, BE HIS HONORS
HUMBILL ORATOUR, MR COLVILE.1
FIRST, concerning the approbation of the Eaid of Ruth-
ven, and declaratioun of his Majesties contentment and
good lyiking of the actouris thairof.
His Majestie confirmit the same be Act of his Secreit Counsale,
and be the Assembly of his Estatis ; his Grace causit the Ministeris
declair his contentment wnto the pepill, for thair satisfaction, and
proclamations wer publesit throuchout the hoill cuntre for that effect.
To Sir Georg Gary also, hir Majesties ambassador, both secreitly and
opinly ; his Majestie confirmit the same to Mr Robert Bowes and
Mr William Davesone ; and Mr Colvile wes sent him allone to
England, to certifie hir Hienes thairof. Lyik as Colonell Stewart,
joynit with the said Mr Colvile, wes at ane other tyme directit to
the same end. And thocht theis wer sufficient argumentis of his
Majesties contentment, yit the moir to werifie the matter, his Grace
1 On the back of this paper, which is the scroll copy in Colville's hand, is written
" Copy of my Notes, giffin to my Lord Hondsden, the xv. of Jvlij, 1584, quhen he
passit to intreit with Arren in the Scottis matteris." Sir James Melville has given
an account of this interview between the Earl of Arran and the Earl of Hunsdon,
which took place on the Borders*— Memoirs, edit. 1735, p. 315.
86 NOTES TO LORD HUNSDON,
hes writtin sundry letters, all of his awin hand, confirming the same,
bayth befor and efter the lait alteratioun at Sanct Andruss.
And for the pretendit allegiance of captivite. It may be ansuerit,
that his Majestic wes nocht so captyve bot that he mycht ether half
spokin or writtin with the said Sir Georg Gary, ambassador, with
Mr William Davesoun, or Colonnell Stewart, at his awin plesor,
gif ony miscontentment had bein in his hart. And quhair thai
alleig that the Actis of Secreit Counsale, and of the Estatis, appro
ving the interprys forsaid, is bot conditional!, the ansuer is, That gif
thair be ony condition expressit in the said Actis, all sail be confessit
trew that is objectit agans the distress! t.
Secondly, concerning Colonell Stewart legation and myne.
THE said Colonell at his camming to England semit weill content,
bot efter he had insistit eirnistly for that .heritage quhiche apertenit to
his Majesties grand-father, becaus sic ansuer wes nocht giffin as pie-
sit him, (albeit the said ansuer wes moir nor in resone we culd haif
wischit,) he changit purpos ; affirming, be the way, in our return,
mony absurditeis, contrarius to the advancement of religion, his Ma
jesties honor, and amite betuix the tuo Crownes, as in a speciall col
lection I haif notit ; quhairunto, becaus I opponit myself, alleging
him to be ane inprofitabill servand to his Majestic, our Maister, and
wnfaithfull to the Estait of England, and to all the Nobill men that
had best servit his Majestic in his youth, he consauit wrath agans me,
and finally did so muche at his Majesties handis, that, without ony
try all, I wes commit tit to vard, and so injustly vsit as never wes ony
PRESENTED BY MR COLVILLE. 87
subject in Scotland ; and eftervart, be degres the hoill nobill men,
that ar this day distressit, \ver persequutit in suche sort as now to the
varld is manifest.
Last, gif thair meaning be vpricht, your Honor will
persaif be this tryall.
THAI say in generall thai will deill moir invartly with hir Majestic
nor with ony other foren prince, and follow hir advys in governing
thair estait.
Gif so be, lett thame declair quhat deling his Majestic hes with
his Mother, quho ar the instruments, as weill in England as Scotland,
that makkis intelligence betuix thame, and quhat privy moyen haif
thai for convoying of thair letters to and fro. Lett the letters quhich
passit betuix his Majestic and his Mother be producit. Of all theis
thingis I knaw your Honor is resonabill weill informit, without thair
knawleg ; gif thai dissimill with your Lordship in ony of thir pointis,
then thair lait promises wilbe no surer nor the former.
Nixt, lett thame be vrgit to declair quhat privy deling thai haif
with France ? quhat dois the Lord Setounis long abode thair signi-
fie, and his frequent conferancis with the Bischopis of Glesgo and
Ross, with the Spans ambassador, Popis nvntios, and Scottis Je-
suitis ? quhairfor wes Sir John Seton his sone sent into Spain, and
ane othir alredy agane directit thidder, or ellis to go verey schortly ?
And, in governing of thair estait gif thai will follow hir Majesties
advys, then quhat is the caus moving his Majestie to promot and
favor all thois that ar recommendit be his Mother, or ony foren
88 NOTES TO LORD HUNSDON.
Prince saving hir Majestic, howsoever thai half behavit or behavis
thame selfe in religion, or othervyis ? and that thai quho ar recom-
mendeit be hir Majestic can find no kynd of fauor, bot extrem per-
sequution be dethe, imprisonment, or banisment ?
And gif it may pleis your good Lordship, heir my foolische opinion.
Suirly I can nocht think that thai quho hes violat in tyme past pro-
missis, handvrittis, and instruments meid in the vord of a Prince,
ar so far chargit as to keip better in tyme cumming nor thai haif
done heirtofor ; and supposing for a quhile thai suld keip promis,
thair is no question the same is moir for perticular commodite to
thair self nor for ony fauor thai haif to the estait of England, and
rather to prolong tyme till thai may be strenthenit to work sum greter
mischeif aganis your freindis in Scotland ; yea, and perhappis aganis
your awin estait, nor for ony other good caus. I reid that fraudfull
Hannibal maid farest offeris to the Romanis, quhen as he wes mak-
and gretest preparation aganis thame ; and the vyis Grekis out-
vardly pretendit lest hostilite aganis the Troians, quhen the fatall
hors wes in preparation ; and the tratorus Siuon gaif smoothest
wordis to the said Troians quhen he wes evin at point to vork thair
ruin, quhiche the said Troians had escapit gif thai had nocht trustit
the said Sinon. My Lord, I culd nominat to your Honor four or
fyue deceitfull Sinous, werey neir his Majestic, quho ar as gret ene
mies to the estait of England (quhiche I pray God to blis) as Sinon
wes to Troy ; quhiche I dar, be Godis grace, affirm agans ony of thame
ether be resone, or ony other vay that gentill men suld deill with
otheris ; thairfor I pray God thai be not trustit, quhiche beand, thair
Is no thocht or sourty to be had of thame.
THE MANNER AND FORM
OF THE EXAMINATION AND DEATH OF
WILLIAM, EAEL OF GOWKYE.
MAY, M.D.LXXXIV.
PAET FIRST. M
C 91
THE MANNER AND FORME OF THE EXAMINATIONS
AND DEATH OF VMQUHILL WILLIAME, ERLE OF GOW-
RYE, LORD RUTHUEN AND DIRLTOUN, AND GREAT
THESSAURER OF SCOTLAND, THE 3 OF MAY, 1584.'
BEING upone the Thursday brought from Kinneill* to Stirling, he
stayed before he was brought to Judgement thre dayes ; having con
ference with soundry, depute be his Majestic to confer with him.
Upone the Monenday very erlie, he was conveyed to the Lady Marr's
1 William, fourth Lord Ruthven, a nobleman of great power and influence, during
the minority of James VI., was appointed Lord Treasurer of Scotland in 1571, and
created Earl of Gowrye, 23d August 1581. He was the only person concerned in
the .Raid of Ruthven who submitted to the King, and obtained remission, after James
had escaped from the hands of the confederates in that enterprize. But the Earl soon
had cause to regret a step which condemned himself and his associates as guilty of
treason, and which excited the jealousy of his former friends, while it had no effect
towards conciliating the King's affections, or securing to him any personal advantage.
This account of the trial and execution of William, Earl of Gowrye, is copied
from a MS. in the Cotton Library, Calig. C. VIII., fo. 28. In the same volume is
contained another account of the trial, which differs in many respects from the pre
sent narrative, while it is full of gross blunders, owing to the illiterate person who
has transcribed it. Several other copies of the same account are known, but the only
one which approaches to accuracy, and from which we have supplied various correc
tions, or omissions in the present copy, is preserved among the Harleian MSS. (No.
291, fol. 96,). It is indorsed, — " A Discourse of the Deathe of the Erie of Gowrie ;"
but the title of the paper itself is nearly the same as above.
2 The introductory paragraph in the Harl. MS. is as follows : — " Beinge brought
from Edinbrough with the armie, he was conveyed to Kinneile, be Sir William Steward
92 THE EXAMINATION AND DEATH
house ; and after the repaire of the Judge and noblemen who were
upon his assyse, the clerk preceded to the proces in this maner : —
" WILLIAME, ERLL OF GOWRYE,S you ar indyted of tresoune,
treteruslie committed against his Majestie, notwithstanding the in
numerable honorris you have received off his Highnes, as be the aug-
mentatione off your rent, and also in challenging to be of his Ma-
jestie's blood, is manifest ; and lykways be the remissione off yowr
former tresoune, when ye deteaned his Majestie's persoun in your
of QHouston], knight. There he remained fyve dayes, till the tyme he was brought
to Sterling ; and the fourth day thereafter, was accused in these words," &c. : —
After the Earl of Gowrye's seizure at Dundee, we are told he " was brocht to Ha-
lyrondhouse upon the xviij day of Aprile, partlie by sea and partly by land," (Moy-
sie's Memoirs, MS.); and from the Privy Council Record, 24th April, 1584, it ap
pears that Gowrye was committed to the keeping of James Earl of Arran, " in the
hons of Kynneil, the Castle of Blackness, or sic uther hous as the said Earl shall
think nmist suir."
3 In the MS., the name is usually written " Gaury," but we have adopted the Earl's
own method of writing his name. The following letter, written while the King was
residing at Ruthven, " To the Layrde of Barnbawrache," is here printed from the
original, in the possession of his descendant Lieut.-Col. P. Vans Agnew of Scheuchan
and Barnbarrocli.
" Brother, eftir maist hertly commendationis. At last the Kingis Majestie, with
auise of his counsall, hes resolvit upoun the balding fordward of the justice courtis in
this tyme of vacance, appoynting to everie coramissioun, sic as he thinkis sail be maist
hable for his seruice in that pairt, having a verie gude opinioun of your self, as a man
affectionate to further the puneischment of offendouris, to quyet the cuntrey, and procure
his hienes commodetie : And seing a pairt of the releif of my greit and wechtie burding
consistis in your diligence and gudwill, I will effecteouslie requyre you to be mynd-
full thairof ; and to be upoun a reddiness to pas ford wart to the jorney of the North,
for balding of the courtis there agane sic tyme As my Lord of Thirlustane sail gif
you adverteisment ; quha is presentlie tayreit upoun sum courtis, that the Duke haldis
be commissioun, sua that I think you may spend ane greit pairt of this moneth in your
OF WILLIAM, EARL OF GOWRYE, 1584. 93
hous of Ruthene ; yet, notwithstanding of all this, you have entred
in more dangerus and deiper tresounes sen syne." The clerk having
ended, he answered, — " Forsamikle as be his Majesties licence, I was
awin effairis, befoir he can be reddy. Alwyis, I will pray you to be on a reddiness,
as he adverteisis, for, as I put you to paynis, sua sail ye fynd me na lea reddy to do
for you, quhairin my trawell and paynis may awiiill. The court of Drumfreis is con-
tinewit to the xx of October, quhere my Lord of Arran is appoynted to be Lieutennent,
sua that ye will have sufficient tyme to accompleis your jorney in the North, and re-
turne thereto againe in convenient tyme. I ressaved nevir word fra you sen your hame
passing, albeit I wrait laitlie fra Edenbrough with ane boy of your awin, bot I under-
stude be the Clerk Register, that ye past to Drumfreis belt-Stand the court hald hadin
there, quhereof I was sorie that ye suld have maid sic waist trawell. The Clerk Re
gister sayis, that the lettre come ane moneth eftir the daiting thereof, to his handis.
The Kingis Majestic is heir presentlie at my house, and pas heirfrom ane of thir tua
dayis to Athoill to the hunting, and is to be ewiss they partis, and about Glasgw be
foir the end of this moneth. All thingis heiraway continewis in gude quyet ; and SUB
hertlie desyring to understand of your weilfair, I ceis for the present, committing you
to God. At Ruthven, the sext of August 1582.
Another original letter from the Earl of Gowrye, written to the Lord Burghley
soon after the Raid of Ruthven, and evincing his attachment to the English party,
may likewise be here introduced : it is preserved among the Cotton MSS., (Calig.
C. VII., f. 68.)
" My very gude Lord, Efter my very hartlie commendatioun, having gude oportu-
nitie of this gentilman, directit to the Quenis Majestie be the King my Souverain, I
am movit be the gude report quhilk I have alwayis hard of your Lordships vpricht
94 THE EXAMINATION AND DEATH
to depart out of this countrie, and resting to [in] Bundle to depart,
I entered in shipp, as the ba^eis and publik notars of Dundie can
record, but the wind being not in the way, I stayed. In the meane
tyme was I assyled be a privat commissione, procured be my adver-
sarie, writin be his own hand,4 I having his Majesties letter of pro-
tectione "under the Great Seall. But now to answere : As for the
Raid of Ruthene, I haid remissione for it ; and God is my witness,
meanyng to the contiuewance of the amitie betwix the contrayis, and now laitlie of
that glide will and fauorable meane, quhilk ye have kythit to the forth setting of this
godlie and gude purpos, quhilk we had heir in handis, to wishe and drawe on be the
present, some gude occasioun and ouuerture, of a further acquentance and intelligence
betwix ws in sic thingis, as may serue to the weill and standing of hail li our Souueranis
aud their estatis. — Praying your Lordship verie hartlie not to weary of your wountit
meanys and gude offices, quhereof baith the realmes have had sic happy pruiff, In-
during your charge, and handling of effaris within that contray, and quhairas your
Lordship sail heare of any craft or opin sorte, meanit in any part of Christindome,
to the diuisioun of the countrayis, quhilk sa mony gude respectis hes knit vp in grade
amitie and freindsbip, That it may be your Lordshipis pleasour to mak me in parti
cular acquentit with it, that with commoun consale and concurrence we may the bet
ter withstand it, and disapointe their practises, that sail pretende to worke that in
convenient to any of the contrayis, As I sail be found ready to meit it with the lyke
intelligence, quhair any sic occasioun sail fall out of my vnderstanding in thir partis,
as I have willit the bearer to declair and certifie your Lordship at greater lenth ;
quhome praying your Lordship to credite in my behalf, I commit your Lordship to
Goddis protection]!. From Halyrudehouse, this xxix of December, 1582.
Your Lordshipis richt asseurit freind at power,
GOWRYE.
4 In the Harl. MS. it is here added, — " And upon a sudden, my servants and
freinds being from me departed, I was pursued, and beseged by all manner of hosti-
litie, though I was under his Majesties protection, and having his great seal for my
warrant. But to answer now to that whereof I am accused," &c.
OF WILLIAM, EARL OF GOWRYE, 1584. . 95
it was never mened against his estait, persone, or authoritie.5 sA
touching the honors that I have receved of his Majestic, yow know
what service I have done in his minoritie ; and, as in chalenging
his blood,6 treulie, albeit I be not a Steward, nor a discever of this
countrie, bringing nather the king nor his comonewell in hazerd ;
yet, am I als neir in sibnes, and hath domie better and ofter service
thane he who thrists for my blood, be this couerdlik revenge.
Would to God this wer to be debated betuix me and my malicious
adverfiar, bodie for bodie."7 — " Be patient," sayeth the Judge.
The Erll sayd, " My Lord, I speak not this of any malice, but of my
intent to defend my inocent lyf, which is unjustlie sought for."
— " My Lord, (sayeth the Judge) yow sail heir the rest of the accu-
satione : answere shortlie and derectlie, whome will your L. have
prelector for yow ?" The Erll replyed, " I s£ none heir except the
Advocat, who will excuse him self, for he is to accuse me. It [is]
very hard for me, not being acquented with the feir [forme] of the
law to dispute of [for] my lyf, with ane experimented and practysed
advocat, the tyme being so short, and so sudden : yet, Justice-Clerk,
I protest be this Instrument, thought yow be under the bound and
yoke of the court, that my answeres be wreatin all atenticlie ; and
5 " But for his welfare," is added in the Harl. MS.
6 The Cotton MS. reads inaccurately, " as in ehanaling to be of blood."
7 Calderwood says, that " Gowrye was trained to the shambles ; for Arran craftily
induced him to confesse diverse things under promise of pardoun." He adds, that
" they had layn in wait before for his life, partly by poisone, which brake forth in
fleeks, partly by violence, shrewdly threatened against him, when the King was at
Saint Johnstoun, by Aubigny and his fellowes, howsoever after craftily they collouiv
ed the matter." — MS. History, vol. iii. p. 340.
8 In the margin of the Harl. MS. it is said, " And these words he spake with an
assured modestie."
96 THE EXAMINATION AND DEATH
yf they be informal!, extern it rather to have proceidit from the laik
of experience and practyse of the law, then from the weiknes of my
cause. Then, I say, I should not [have] bene accused this day, be
cause whosoever is to be accused of any cryme is to be sommonded :
yff for tresoune, upon fourtie days, yf for any uther cryme, upone
fyfteine ; but it is so with me, that first I was apprehendit, and now
accused, before ever I was sommonded." The Advocat replyed,
" That the answer was not relevant ; for a theif stelling ridhand and
actu ipso may be taken, without sommonds, meikill mair he in tre
soune, when he is with ridhand of the cryme." The questione was
referred to the Judge, Mr Jhone Gryme, and his assessionaris, the
Mr. of Livynston, the Lard of Lochinwar, the Lard of Airth, who
said, It Avas not sufficient which my Lord hade answered.
Thene they [the Clerk] proceidit, " Ye ar to be accused for the
intercommuning with Mr David Home and Mr James Eskin,9 ser-
vantes to the Erll of Angus ; and met undernyght, where ye devy-
sed, for the better bringing your tresones to pass, it was most neces-
sare that ather the toune of Sanct Jhonstoune or Sterling shuld be
taken, or both." My Lord said, " I [see I] ame to be accused for
9 In March 1584, in order to bring about a change in affairs, a plan was concerted
by the Earls of Angus, Marr, and the Tutor of Glamis, to surprise the castle of Stir
ling. Doubtful, however, whether it was prudent to trust Gowrye in this affair, Da
vid Hume of Godscroft was sent by the Earl of Angus, to confer with him, " that he
might trie and sound his minde as narrowly as he could, and report to him what he
found." Accordingly, having proceeded to Perth, where the Earl of Gowrye was, he
found him " in words, in countenance, and in gesture, (says Godscroft,) greatly per
plexed, solicitous for his estate, besides the affaires of the country, and greatly afraid
of the violence of the courtiers. So that looking very pitifully upon his gallerie, where
wee were walking at that time, (which he had but newly built, and decorated with
OF WILLIAM, EARL OF GOWRYE, 1584. 97
these thingis which I rewelled upone houpe of my lyf, and for the
Kings Majesties promeis ; for ye, my Lords of Mountroes, Doun, Sir
Jhone Maitland, Sir Robert Melvin, the Colnell, and the Captane of
Dumbartane, came to me very oft, and urget me with the declara-
tione of the treuth in this maner : my answere was to you, that I
was not so baislye as to pane [pen] my awin accusatione ; nather
would I. Ye replyed, that be this meane the King shuld be offend
ed, and have the juster cause of wrath against me ; but for that
tyme, other wayes ye could not persuade me to doe. At last, you
come unto me, shewing me, that it stood not with his Majesties
honor to capitulat with me, his subject, be writ ; ye left me, and
thene come agane and suere unto me, that the Kings Majestie suare
unto you, that he hade granted me my lyfe, yf I would disclose the
truth of these thingis wheirof I was to be demandet off : I yeilded
unto the condition, and wreat all these pointes,10 wherof I see my
selfe now accused. Therfore, this mater shuld not be laid to my
charge, in the respect of the promeis." The Advocat said, it was
not in the noblemens pouer to promes lyf. " Yea, (says he) the King
promissed unto them, which they avoued unto me be ther oath."
pictures,) he brake out into these words, having first fetched a deep sigh. — ' Cousin,'
sayes he, ' Is there no remedie ? Et impius htec tarn culta novalia miles habebit 9
Barbaras has segetes f Whereupon he was perswaded of his upright meaning, and at
his returne perewaded the Earl of Angus thereof also." — History of the House of
Douglas and Angus, edit. 1644, p. 377.
10 Spotiswood says, that hopes were given to the Earl, that he should find favour
if he would discover the conspiracy, and what the rebels had intended to do ; with
the promise, that what he declared should not be made an indictment against himself.
The confession " set down by himself in writing," is printed by Spotiswood, (History,
edit. 1677, p. 331,) and by Crawfurd, (Lives of the Officers of State, p. 388.)
PART FIRST. N
98 THE EXAMINATION AND DEATH
" Ask them," sayes the Advocat. He inquired of theme, [but]
they denyed that such promeis was maid be the King to them, or
by them to his L. " What, my Lordis, ye will not say so ? ye maid
fayth to me be your honors otherways : I refare it to your oath
and conscience : ll I am assured ye will not deny it." They sware
it was not so. " This is a strange mater, (says my Lord) that neither
promise nor lawe availl ; yit, my Lords, I derect my speech unto
yow all, I pray yow [go] to the Kynge, to know his mynd towardis
me ;" which they refused, after consultatione. Then he prest every
one severallie, and the Erll of Arran him self. He could not pre-
vaill.
Then the clerk proceidit,12 accusing him, " That he [had] con-
ferance with the Erll of Angus servant, the 7 of Apryll ; to whome
he sent lykways his speciall dependant Mr Patrik Whytlaw : the end
and some was to troble the countrie." " I deny it ! yea, I diswadit
him, for I said, I knew they would bring no moe, than they would
doe at the first instant. And yet, why is it not lawfull that the
noblemen may assemble themselfs, they seing ther lyf and landis
11 One or two palpable errors in the MS. (such as ' conference' for ' conscience,'
' sare' for ' sware,' &c.) are here corrected.
12 In the Harl. MS. it is stated, that the clerk proceeded, asking first what an
swer made he to the last accusation, he said, — " I denie it all, for I know not Mr
David Hume." The following passage, in a letter from Mr P. Galloway, the King's
Minister, to James Carmichael, dated from Newcastle, 21st Dec. 1584, evidently re
fers to another David Hume, then the Laird of Godscroft, and may have been the
person here alluded to. " As for news, David Hume, who was left be the Lords,
captain in Stirline, is hanged for reading of a letter sent be one of this company to
his tennents — his head is put on the Nether Bow, to the great wrath and out-crying
pf the people,"
OF WILLIAM, EARL OF GOWRYE, 1584. 99
put at by them who ar gredie of both, alswell as the burgeissis ?
they ar in no war cace than they."
The [clerk then] accused him to have keipt his hous in most feir-
full and wairfull manner, thrie houres after the sight of the Kingis
commissione. " My Lord, (said he) I thocht that a particular wret-
ting procured and writtin by my enemie, was not of sufficient fors
to derogat to the letter of protectione and the King's Great Seall ;
and yet I obeyed. I hade bene long away before, yf I had not bene
stayed be the King, who directed one [David Murray] over to cause
the skipper found suertyes, under pane of ten thousand pounds, that
he shuld not land ather in England, Irland, or Scotland, which he
could not doe ; so, when the wind wes fare I was stayed, and when
I could not mak saile I was aprehendit."
The clerk proceiding to the fyft point, accusing him for conceling
the tresonable conspiracie, as he confesed him self, devysed against
the Kings Majestie, and the Quene, his most deirest mother, for the
distructione of theme both : His answere was, with this distinc-
tione, " The concealing of it is no tresoune, but the revealing a
benefeit ; and it concernes no nobleman, nor uther persone in this
countre."
Then, " You ar accused for witchcraft, in conferring with sorse-
reris."13 His answere was, (that he thoght they mened not to mew14
with him ; and shawin lykwyse that it was well knowen how
he served his God.) " This is no just accusatioue, but a mali-
13 In tbe Harl. MS. he is said to have conferred with " one Macklene, a sorcerer."
11 That is, " They meaned not to jest with him."
100 THE EXAMINATION AND DEATH
cious slander, and I know be whom devysed. I will tell yow the
truth : there come to me 'a tenand of myne, duellyng by Dunkell,
who speak with a womane, asking him, How I did ? he ansuered,
Well. No, sayes sche, ther is some ill fallen to him, that he knows
not : the Kings fawor is withdrawin frome him, and be the Ladie
of Arran ; and yet [there] may be remeid for it, yff my Lord list ;
which I refused. Yff the woman war heir, I would be content sche
wer brunt, and I would be the first would confess to it. Yff ther
be any witchcraft used, I thynk it be more neir the court."
The Syse beyng called, and ther names read, sic as the Erll of
Huntlie, whome he excepted because he was under xxv yearis ; Ar
gyll, Crafourd, Arran, Montroes, Eglintone, Glancarne, Marshall,
Doun, Saltoun, Ogilbye, . . ,15 Mr of Elphingston, and the lard of
Tillieberne, he desyred them, to purge them selfis by oath that they
gave no particular advyce or confirmatione to the King's Advocat
to accuse him. Every one swere severallie they did not so ; then it
befell the Erll of Arran to speak, [who, rising upon his feet, said,]
" Though yor L. think the name of a sudert infamous, yet I think
it great glorie to have bene one : I confess mair ; ye have bene a
good frend to my fatheris hous, but in particular frendship, I have
bene as gretful as ye have bene : I speak in presence of the gryt
God, I loved yow alswell as my awin saull, and ye knew when ye
[had] to doe against the lord Oliphant,16 how I counterfited the
Kingis handwreat for the advancement of your cause. As for the
15 A blank in the MS.
16 The affair alluded to is thus mentioned in Calderwood's Manuscript, (Vol. ii. P-
643 :) — " In October, 1580, Lord Ruthren coming from Kincardin, where he had
OF WILLIAM, EARL OF GOWRYE, 1584. 101
wreating off that commissione to aprehend yow, I will not deny it,
seeing it was donne be ray maisteris desyr : for his Majestie esteem
ing more of me than of them of the commone sort, and reposing
more fidelitie in me nor in them, he imployed me in that point ;
and [who] thinkis that I have done more than my dutie in this, I
ame to maintaine the contrary both be deidis of handis and word."
So, after the purging him self, [he sware he informed] not, nor ever
gave consell to the Kings Advocat in his contrare. He was admited to
go on his assysse ; yet, before he arose to go to the innerchamer, with
the rest of the Jurie, the Erll [of Gowrye] spak the Erll of Arran, de-
syryng he would remember the good deed was done to him the last
yeir, in his house. The uther ansuered, " It was not lawfull, for
been at the Erie of Marr's marriage, as he returned to Perth, hU way lying a litle
from Duplin, a place belonging to the Lord Oliphant. The Lord Oliphant, offended
that he sould ride so near his dwelling-place, inimitie standing betwixt them for a
certain feud, the Master of Oliphant rushed furth, and chased the Lord Ruthven with
a few horse, and some harquebussiers, the foremost flying, the rest followed in such
misorder, that they could not be recalled be the Lord Rnthven's cry, whereupon he
fled himself also. Alexander Stewart, a brother of the house of Traquare, his kins
man, staying behind the rest, partly to conferre with them, and mollifie their rage with
fair speeches, was shott with a harquebutt, and slaine by one that knew him not, to
the great grief of the Master of Oliphant. The Lord Ruthven cites the Master before
the Justice-General. He had married Margaret Dowglas, daughter to William Dow-
glas of Lochlevin, therefore, now pursued of his life, was assisted be him. The Erie
of Morton would gladely have reconsiled them, but could not effectual the agreement,
and therefore was forced to assist the partie persued, whereupon the Lord Ruthven
was not a little offended at the Erie of Morton. Mr John Matland, and Mr Robert
Melvil, who depended upon him, blew the bellows. The Stewarts were no less of
fended for assisting a man accused for the slaughter of a Stewart. The Erie of Len
nox understood very well that he was jealous of his courses, which were generally
suspected be all men to tend to the overthrow of religion."
102 THE EXAMINATION AND DEATH
my Lord, yow ar accused for tresoune, and I was no tratour ; be-
sydes my lyf was saif." 17 The other smyled, and called for a drink.
At the syse departour, when I hard him (being behend him) re
quest a gentill man, cause his frendis conceall his death from his
wyff 18 till scho were of mor strength ; being weakned through [her]
child's last delyverie.
The Jurie re-entring, convicted him of four pointis, to the 2, 3,
4, and fyft, passyng from the first and last. His answere was, with
a smylling countenance, " My Lordis, I am willing to losse my lyf to
bring the King contentment, as I often before did hastored [hasard it]
to do him service. But the noble men who were upone my syse in con
demning [me], hasard ther awen saulls ; 19 and God [grant] that my
17 In the Harl. MS. this passage is, — " The other answered, ' The cause was
not alike, for he came not to his house as traitor, although, my Lord, ye be accused
of treason, and my life was safe or ever ye saw me." So that openly the Erie of Ar-
raine denied his request," &c. Arran here alludes to the manner of his escape from
the party who lay in wait to apprehend him, when on his way to the Earl of Gowrye's
house, the day of the King's seizure by the nobility concerned in the Raid of Ruthven,
the particulars of which may be found in Spotiswoode's History, (edit. 1677, p. 320.)
18 Calderwood relates, " That as the King and the Lords were going a-foot to the
Tolbooth, (where the Parliament was held,) with the honours before him, the Lady
Gowrie came to the King to hare spokea with him, and sat down on her knees, cry
ing for grace to her, and her poor bairns, who never had offended his Grace. But
Arran would not suffer her to come near unto the King, but thrust her down be force
on the street, and hurt her back and her hand. She fell a soun, and lay in the higk
gate till they were in the Tolbooth ; then was she taken up and carried to an house.
She was in great perril of her life. This was the reward she got for saving Arran's
life at the Raid of Ruthven." — MS. History, vol. iii. p. 527.
- 19 In the Harl. MS. we are informed that, ere he began, he was interrupted a little
by the Judge, who said to him, " My Lord, the King's Majestie bath sent down his
chaplein for the expedition of justice."—" Well, my Lords, since it is the King's coa-
OF WILLIAM, EARL OF GOWRYE, 1584.
blood be not wpone the Kingis head. The longer that I live I sould
bene involved in the greater care, and wreiped in the more miseryes ;
and now, fred from the firre ferryes of the court, whereof I would
[have] acquyted my self langsyne, yf I could, I remit my adver-
sars, and commit my revenge to God. My Lord Judge, the pointis
whereof I am condemned ar but small oversightes, and so it will
be knowin afterward ; I pray yow to mak not the mater so hay-
nous, as to punishe it be the penalty of forfaltrie. My sones ar in
my landes [manye yeares since ; and failing the eldest] the second
is confirmed in all his rightes be the Kings Majestic." The Judge
excusing himself because he was condemned of tresoune, so it be-
huived him to pronounce the ordinarie punishment :JO which being
pronounced, he said, " I pray God that my blood may satiat and
extinguish the yre of the purseoures [courteours], and set this coun-
trie at quyetness.:' So kissing his hand to these that were about him,
and commending him to them all, called for the minister, and went to
his privat prayers ; after to the scafold and place of executione, which
was covered with lynnyng cloth, then sand, nixt cloth, then scarlet.
After a litill pausing, he speak in this maner: " Bretherin, this
spectacle is mor commone then plesant unto yow. I am condemned
tentment that I lose my life, I am as willing now to do it, as I was before sene oft to
hazard it to do him service ; and the nobils who hath been upon my sise will know
the matter better hereafter. And yet, in condemning me to die, they have hazarded
their own soules, for I had their promise."
20 According to the Harl. MS. the form of the sentence pronounced was as follows :
« In respect of these crymes, whereas WILLIAM ERLE OF GOWRIE is convict, it is
given for dome, that he shall be taken to the Market-place of this brongh, and there
his head striken from his shoulders."
102f THE DEATH OF WILLIAM, EARL OF GOWRYE.
to die ; and God is my witnes I never offendit his Majestic, nather
do I ask Godis raercie for any offence that ever I did against him ;
and the Lord condame me yf I was not mor cairfull of his welfare,
than I was of my owinwyfand childrine." Then after his prayers,
he adrest him to the pepill,21 saying, that he forgot something to
speik to them, quhilk was, that ther wer [many] bruitis spred of
him, that he shuld be the accuser of many noblemen : he prayed
them not to believe such fals lyes : he accused none ; he knew of
none, but such as had takene the fault upone them ; so badd the pe-
peli feirwell, and lowsed his butones, knit with his owin handis the
handkurscher about his eyes. He desyred Sir Robert Melvill to
content the hangman for his clothes, and gave them to his page, so
smylinglie pat his head under the aix; and his body and blood
keiped in the scarlet was put in the chist, and conveyed to his
ludging [and] his head thereafter set to his shulder. He was buryed
bysydis my lord Chancelare my lord Glames, in Sterling ; borne be
the Secretarie Sir Robert Mellving, the Justice- Clerk, and Sir Ro
bert Stewartt of Traquhair, the third day after his executione, to
his buriell.
11 A more correct and detailed account of the Earl of Gowrye's Declaration on the
Scaffold, is given in Calderwood's MS. History, and is here annexed ; along with
Queen Elizabeth's overture to King James in behalf of the Earl's " poor wife and
thirteen fatherless children." The sentence of forfeiture was afterwards remitted by
King James, and the estates and honours of the Earldom of Cowrie restored to the
family by an Act of Parliament, dated the 10th of December, 1585.
In the Records of Privy Seal is an Act, dated at Falkland, 6th June, 1584, " To
inbring and deliver the escheat guidis of William, sumtym Erll of Gowrie, to the Erll
of Arran."
103
THE DECLARATION MADE BE THE EARLE OF COWRIE,
UPON THE SCAFFOLD, THE 2D OF MAY, ANNO 1584.1
IN the first he gave his confession that he was an offender against
God sundrie ways, for which his offences God did bring him to be cor
rected and punished after this manner, the which he doubted not
should be in his mercy, and not in his justice ; but protested that he
had been a faithfull servant to his Prince, and had never offended
against his Majestie, so that he deserved not to suffer death at his
hand ; That he was innocent of any evil meaning towards the King's
person, his estate and common weale, affirming, that ever he pre
ferred his Majesties wellfare and standing to all things in the
world, yea, to the care and wellfare of his wife and children ; and
that, if he had been as carefull to advance God's glory as he was to
wards the King's estate, he had not suffered that day, and therefore
desired the whole people to learn, by his example, the instability of
this unhappy world ; not to depend or put their confidence in kings
or princes, or any worldly kingdom, power, or promotion, but only to
depend and put their care upon God. He regrated that he, being
1 Sir James Melvill says, " At his death upon the scaffold he shewed himself a de
vout Christian, and a resolute Roman, much regretted by all who heard his grave
harangue, and did see his constant end."
104 THE EARL OF COWRIE'S
under the King's Majesties protection, was surprised craftily, and
used beside all kind of good order and equity, the which he impu
ted rather to the malice and invy of such as were about the King's
Majestic, than to his Grace ; — which persons, he declared, he forgave
them from his heart, committing always the revenge of his innocency
unto God. And further declared, seeing it hath pleased God to
grant unto him the benefit of life in this world, the which for sa
meikle as it was the King's Majesties will to take it from him, that
he was as willing and ready there to render the same unto God
again, as ever he was joyfull to bruick it ; and that he feared not for
the flesh, wishing at God as well that his innocent blood were not
laid to his Majesties charge, as that the thirst and cruelty of the
procurers thereof might be satiat and slakned therewith ; so that
they attempted no further ; and herefor prayed to God to send the
King's Majestic such a counsel as should be more carefull of God's
glory, and of his Majesties standing, than of their own promotion,
by seeking noblemens blood, whereof the practise they might see in his
person. He requested all friends that were there to make intercession
to his Majestic, to be good and favourable to his wife and children ;
and through remembrance hereof, takeing himself somewhat altered in
his stout countenance, and therefor desisting to speak hereof, further
prayed his friends, in few words, to recommend him to them, desi
ring all the people finaly to pray to God to be mercifull unto him.
Moreover, in the end he called to mind this point following, preter-
mitted almost as he said be him, namely, that concerning the accu
sations laid to his charge, whereof the process will bear witness in
DECLARATION ON THE SCAFFOLD. 105
the examination of him thereanent, and confession given by him
thereupon, he had delated nor slandered no person, erle, lord, barren,
burgess, nor minister, to be guilty and participant of any point
whereof his accusers had accused him : And therefore protested, that
his declaration should stop the mouths of any thereafter that should
otherways alledge in his name ; and so recommending himself to
their prayers again, he humbled himself upon his knee, and made
his prayer unto God, which he read upon a book, intituled, the
Enemy to Atheism. And after that he had spoken with sundrie upon
the scaffold with him, and had taken his leave from them, declareing
constantly and stoutly that he was no ways feared for the flesh, or
was affraid for the present death, — he then presented himself to the
heading-stock, his eyes being covered with a napekine, or cloath, be
the Justice-clerk, his sark neck removed be him, and doublet neck
laid doun over from his shoulders, by the handling only of the Jus
tice-clerk. Finaly, with prayer to God, he rendered up his life unto
him at half hour to nine, or thereby.
106
OVERTURES FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH HER REQUEIST TO THE KING
FOR THE HOUSE OF COWRIE, IN DECEMBER, 1584.
RIGHT High, &c — Understanding the long and faithfull service of old of your trusty
cusine, umquhile William, some time Earle of Gowrie, who, as he was one of the
chief instruments to put the royal crown upon your head, so did he constantly per
sist, without shrinking, in maintaining of that cause, against the murtherers of
your dearest father, grand father, and uncle, of noble memory ; and in prosecution
whereof not only lost the Lord Methven, his brother-in-law, in the civil wars be
twixt Leith and Edinburgh, and George, his brother-german, at Stirline, in res-
cueing your grand father from the hands of George, umquhile Erie of Huntly,
Claud Hamiltoun, and Pharnihirst, but also many other landed gentlemen of his
kinsmen, and hazarded his own life and his friends at sundrie times; as he was al
ways most ready to doe at your pleasure. We are the rather, of pity and conscience,
moved to interpone our credite, earnestly to solicite that your ire, incensed against
his poor wife and 13 fatherless children, may be aswaged with his own execution;
and to extend your royal clemency and compassion towards them, whose offence, as
it could not merit, so could not their innocency bear your indignation, nor their
youth be thought worthy your wrath ; that they being restored to enjoy their fa
ther's lands, rents, and possessions, under your obedience and protection, some mo
nument of that ancient house may abide with the posterity, and that name be not
rooted out from the face of the earth, through the private craft and malice of their
privat adversaries, contrar your good nature ; for we would be very loath to hear
your name slandered through satisfying with any part of his lands and goods, whose
eyes could not otherways be satiat but by his blood and death, as natural affection to
your own, tied so near by kindred and consanguinity to your self, and remembrance
of their father's tedious travels in all your civil wars ; for maintaining whereof, and
satisfying your creditours, at your command he did ingadge almost his whole lands,
will be no hinderance to this our requeist. So, wee hope his earnest affection well
known to the promoting of true religion, and good likeing to the continuance of the
.•unit ic betwixt us both and the people, shall be no small furtherence to the accom
plishing thereof, according to your good pleasure. So, reposing upon your gratious
and favourable answer, we take our leave.
THE APOLOGY
OF MR PATRICK GALLOWAY,
MINISTER AT PERTH,
WHEN HE FLED TO ENGLAND,
MAY, M.D.LXXXIV.
109
PATRICK GALLOWAY was chosen to succeed Mr John Row, as
minister of Perth, Nov. 14, 1580. By his mode of preaching he
gave great offence to the courtiers, and especially to the Duke of
Lennox, who, it is said, ' purchased' that " he sould he discharged
the pulpit and toune of Perth, so long as the King was in the toune :
but he avowed he would not remove till his flock refused him, hut
would present himself into the pulpit untill they discharged him to
come furth." In allusion to the free and bold manner in which he
inveighed against the corruptions and the licentiousness of the Court,
Montgomery, the well-known author of The Cherrie and the Slae,
addressed him in the following Sonnet : —
Sound, Galloway, the trompet of the Lord !
The blissit brethren sail obey thy blast ;
Then thunder out the thretnings of the word
Aganst the wicked, that away are cast.
Pray that the (aithfull in the fight stand fast,
Suppose the Divill the wicked's hairts obdure,
Yit perseveir, as in thy preichins past,
For to discharge thy conscience and cure.
Quhat, justice sauld ! quhat, pilling of the pure !
Quhat, bluidy murthers ar for gold forgivin !
God is not sleipand, thoght he tholde, be sure :
Cry out, and he shall heir the from the Heuin.
And wish the King, his court and counsel! clenge,
Or then the Lord will, in his wrath, revenge.
The following paper contains his Apology, or statement of the
causes which forced him to leave his pastoral charge, and seek for
PART FIRST. O
110
safety in England. But Galloway did not always continue thus sted-
fast in ' the true faith ;' and it is matter for reflection, that he, who
at this period was so closely connected with the first Earl of Gowrie,
should have so easily credited, and so zealously entered on the sub
ject of a conspiracy, which, in a few years after, proved so fatal to the
House of Gowrie.
This change in Galloway's conduct may possibly be traced to his
being brought more immediately in contact with King James, and
his attendants. On the change of affairs, he returned to his charge
at Perth, in November 1585. In June 1589, he was appointed one
of the Ministers of the King's Household, and continued to offi
ciate as such till June 1607, when he was translated to one of the
churches of Edinburgh.
Ill
APOLOGIA M : P : G. MINISTRI PARTHENSIS.
VNDERSTANDING my selff to haiiF bene injustlie detractit and ca-
lumniat be malicious persouns, and that som in thair wrytings, als-
weill as in speachis, hes nocht sparit to traduce me, and to charge
me with divers odious misraports, agans the trewth and thair awiii
conscience ; I thocht meit to notifie, and mak knawin my innocencie
in that behalff ; for better resolutioun off the godlie, and stopping
of the mowthis off wikkit and godles persons, enemies to the trewth,
and to the prechours and professours thairoff ; and to that effect hes,
in this schort treatis, declarit the weritie.offall things, that euer at
anie tyme touchit that mater quhairapon thir misraports ar pro-
cedit.
First, in the yeir of God PVlxxxij, in the moneth off Junij, the
Kings Majestic cam to the toun off Perth, quharin I was, be the
apointment off the Generall Assemblie, at the earnest sute and de-
syre of the Magistrals and haill Inhabitants of that towne, esta-
blissit Pastour and Minister ; and in his Grace companie wer divers
Nobilmen and Counselours, and amang others the vmquhill Duke
off Lenox, quha than had the chieff steir and credit in court, pre-
ferrit to all others in dignitie, autoritie, and rewle off the affaires off
the realm ; quha professit nocht onlie the religioun with vs, bot sub-
112 THE APOLOGY OF
scryvit with his hand the Articlis of the Faith, and the publik forme
set downe in Parliament, for obedience to the word, sacrements, and
ecclesiastical! discipline ; and comunicat at the table off the Lord
divers tymes, for better attcstatioun off his zeale and afFectioun to
the trewth, professit and establissit in the countrey. At the tyme
forsaid, he had in his companie Mr Robert Montgomrie, quha ha
ving left his flok and congregatioun of Stirling destitut of a pas-
tour, without advys off the Kirk, or of his awin flok, did accept the
Bischoprik of Glasquo, the title quhairof the said Duke had pro-
curit to him, that he having the name of Bischop, and aucht hundreth
merks money for his living and sustentatioun, the haill rents, and
other dewties off the said benefice, micht com to the Dukes vtilitie
and behove. Quhilk being signifyed to the brethren off the Mi-
nistrie, he was, according to the word off God and rewle off charitie,
admonissit to desist from that office off a Bischop, quhilk was nocht
lawfull to him to accept, becaus, be the apointment of the Generall
Assemblie, he was placit minister to another congregatioun ; as als
that the ordour and degrees of Bischops, as than they war vsit, war
be publik and vnanime consent off the Generall Assemblie, off the
haill Ministrie, commissioners of the Kings Majestic, schirrefdoms,
and burrowis within the realm, apoynted to haiff na place nor aiito-
ritie, but to expyre and to ceas ; to the quhilk the said Mr Robert
Montgomrie him selff had nocht only consentit and subscryvit, bot in
his sermonts had allowit and approvit the same act ; and efter his
admonitioun had solemnitlie promisit, in presence of the haill As
semblie, neuer to accept anie sik charge, or cure, as to be a bischop;
MR PATRICK GALLOWAY. 113
and did protest that he repentit, and was fra his hart sorie, that he
had done agans his knawlege and conscience alredy, in consenting
to the Duks desyre in that mater ; and tharfore, that he wald obey
the censure and will of the rest of the Ministrie in that poynt.
Quharthrow I, at his awin desyre, did sute at thair hands to bring
him to thair favour, and my intercessioun avalit sa with thame that
he was acceptit and admitted to his repentance.
Bot, nochtwithstanding off all thir promises maid to the Assembly,
and the seuerall aithis and protestatiounis maid to my selff, he maks
defectioun immediatelie, and agans his conscience, knawlege, and
faith, accepts the same, and is efter the forme directit be the Duke,
inaugurat his Bischop. For the quhilk defectioun and obstinat per
sisting in his sin, without signe or will to amend, preaching erroni-
ous doctryne, and wilfull refusing to submitt him selff to the censour
of ecclesiasticall discipline, he was adjugit and ordanit, by decreit
and act off the Generall Assemblie, to be excommunicat, quhilk
sentence was, efter the dew ordour and forme prescryvit in the Buke
of Discipline, pronuncit agans him, and he accursit, excommunicat,
and cutt off from the societie off the Kirk of God, and of the faith-
full members of the same. Quhilk being signifyed to the Kings
hienes, and Lords of his Secreit Counsell, was contemnit be the
Duke ; and the said excommunicat Bischop nocht onlie interteynit
in his companie and hous, and placit nixt him selff at his table, bot
in contempt and despyte off the religioun and professours tharoff,
broucht in to the Kings hous, to his hall, and chalmer quhar his
Majestic did eate, and to his privie chalmer to quyett conference.
114 THE APOLOGY OF
Quhilk quhen I had, according to the word of God, charitablie
desyrit to be reformitt, it was promisit to be mendit, and that he
sold nocht be admitted to haiff access to court, nor to his Hienes
presence, nor resauit in his hous. Bot fynding that promis was nocht
kepit, and that the Duke reteynit him still in his companie, and in
the court, I spak agans the same divers tymes in pulpit ; and per-
saving na signe nor apperance of amendment, I plainlie reprovit the
same, as my dewtie was ; otherwys I cold nocht haiff dischargit my
calling befor God, nor dewtye to his Majestic, nor to the auditour
present, to haiff sufferit sa notorious ane abuse and enormitie vnre-
provit.
Quharat, the Duke stormitt in sik sort, that I was callit, and
chargit afore the Secreit Counsell ; and having comperit, was, efter
resoning and conference, according to the word off God, dismissit,
and na fait imput or found to me ; and promis maid that that
abuse sold be reformit. Bot the Duke nocht contentit that I was
thus lettin depart without trouble, insisting obstinatlie in his pro-
cedings, thinking that quhat euer he did sold be comportit with,
did interteyne his Bischop, and favourablie did use him, purchas-
sing letters to cause him be obeyit off his Benefice, and mayn-
tening him in his new vsurpit dignitie. Quhen I did speak agans
the same, he did plainlie menas me in pulpit, and callit me pultron,
vilain, meschant, with mony other injurious words, and threatnit to
thrust me through with ane rapier, till his Majesties selff was com-
pellit to lay his hand on his mowth, and to stay his furie and mali
cious langage, hard of all that stude in his Hienes seate, and vtterit
publiklie before the people.
MR PATRICK GALLOWAY. 115
And efter the sermont was endit, at his passing out at the kirk-
dur, in plaine audience, laying his hand on his sword, bostit to haif
my lyff, and vsit divers contumelious and reprochefull words off
malice and despyte, and in na wyse cold be mitigat nor asswagit,
except I war dischargit off preaching in my awin congregatioun
during the Kings remayning thair ; quhilk he obteynit exped, and
past be som off his favorers in the cabinet Counsell, and sa causit
command me nocht to preache any more sa lang as the King taryed
at Perth. Quhilk charge was nocht past, nor knawin to the Lords
off Secreit Counsell, as I tryed seuerallie be tham selffis : And for
farder declaratioun off his malice and hatred aganis me, he causit
pen and reid ane infamous libell in the kirk, immediatelie efter the
serrnont, for better vtteriug of his anger and wraith ; as the same
yit extant, proper ts.
He perswadit his Majestic lykwys to consaiff' evill opiniouu of me,
and to vow that he sold neuer heir me preache thairefter : and yit I
obeyit the charge, and passed to Kynnowle and preachit.
Heirefter, in the samin moneth, his Majestic past to the Hieland
huntes in Atholl, and the Duke passit to Dalkeith, to prepare for
his Chalmerlayne-ayre in Edinburgh, and his Justice-ayre in Glasquo,
at the quhilk alevin off the ministers thair sold haif bene put to death.
And his Majestic, in the end of the moneth of August, did returne
to Ruthven, quhair apon the xxiij day thairoff, the Erie of Mar,
with his freynds, the Erie of Gowrie, and som others off the nobilitie,
did place tham selffis abowt his Majestic, and causit apprehend the
Erie off Arraue, quha was com thither, to haif convoyit his Majestic
116 THE APOLOGY OF
to Kynneill, quharin thair sold divers of the Nobilitie half bene ap-
prehendit, that favorit the religioun, and the Kings weilfare and
estait.
Bot this being preventit, as at length is declarit in the Apologie set
out for the said Nobilmen,1 the Kings Majestic cam again to Perth ;
and thair,inmy sermon t, I desyrit hisHienes to consider the dangerous
estait quhairin he was of before ; and that he aucht to praise God that
he was delyverit and fred off sik pernicious persons, as had bene
about his Majestic this quhyle by past, quha socht iiathing bot the
ouerthrow and subuersioun of his estate and religioun, with the
trouble of the Comounwelth. I lykwyse exhortit the Nobilmen
thair present to prosecute that guid and godlie cause with constancie,
zeale, and feare of God ; and to studie, to the advancement of Gods
glorie, the weilfare of the Kings Majestic, and quyetnes of the coun-
trey ; — albeit his Hienes was nocht weill pleasit with this forme of
doctryne at that tyme. Efterward I was send for to Stirling, quhair,
in my sermonts, lykwyse, I gave the lyke admonitiouns and exhor-
tatiouns ; and som quhat touchit the imperfectiouns of thaise quha
hed misgovernit the estait in tyme bypast ; quhairthrow his Majestie
did mislyk mair of me nor afore. Efter this his Majestie being com
to Halerudhous, in my sermont preachit in the Abay-kirk, I did
vse the lyke exhortatiouns, with earnest desyre to his Hienes, and
1 This was printed at the time under the title of " Ane Declaration! of the iust
and necessar causes, moving vs of the Nobillitie of Scotland, vthers of ye Kings
Maiesties faithful subiectis, to repair to his Hienes presence," &c. IT Derectit from
Striuiling, with special! command and licence to be prentit. Anno M.D.LXXXII.
8vo, 16 leaves.
MR PATRICK GALLOWAY. 11T
the Nobilitie, to be cairfull for the avancement off Gods glorie, and
mayntenance of vertew, with punissing of vice ; and I did speak aganis
som abusis and enormities that had reignit in court, quhilk I wissit
now to be amemlit ; bot that did miscontent his Majestic greatlie,
being movit thairto be som ill persouns in his companie, quha sus-
pectit me to haif knawin off the Raid of Ruthven, becaus I was
Minister of Perth, quhairof the Erie off Cowrie was Provest.
The Erie off Arrane, efter his apprehensioun, being put in the
place of Ruthven, to remayue, quhair he was honourablie and
courteslie intreatit, at divers tymes entered into conference with
me, and opnit to me the vnhappie deceincts and complots intentit
and purposit to haiff bene practisit be the Duke off Lenox, for
wrack off the religion, and of divers Nobilmen and Ministers ; and
alteration!! off the present estait and governement off the realm : —
quhilk at that tyme, with monie attestatiouns and solem aithis, he
affirmit to me that he mislykit in his hart, as repugnant to Gods
trew word, and to all humaine societie ; And becaus he knew that
throw his behaviour bypast, he had maid him selff to be thoucht off
a corrupt lyff and suspect religioun, he trauellit with me, and study-
ed to perswade me, to deale publiklie and playnlie with the Kirk in
his favour, to move thame to consaiff guid opinioun off him, and to
lyke off his conversioun and zeale for the trewth : — and to remove
anie ill lyking consaiffit of him afore, quhilk he sold in tyme
cumming amend, and be a maist zealous favorer and advancer
off Gods glorie and the trewth professit : — Bot I, being movit be
monie guid reasouns nocht to give haistie and facile credit thairto,
PART FIRST. P
118 THE APOLOGY OF
thoucht it a mater hazardous to deal in, except I had seyne better
prove nor his nakit wordis, quhilk oftymes, in tymes bygane, had
bene accompanyed with few guid effects ; and thairfor, he persaving
my slawnes to promis that quhilk he desyrit, he consaiffis agans me
ane inward malice and hatred, quhilk than he did craftely dissemble,
but hes sensyne maist evidentlie vtterit, as his procedings agans me
beris record.
In the moneth of Julij, efter the alteratioun maid at Saint An-
drois, be removing the Erles of Mar, Angus, Bothwell, and others,
weill affectat to the religioun, out off his Majesties companie ; and
others quha favorit Arran's proceedings, and consentit to ane vn-
quyetnes and trouble off the religioun and countrey, being chieff
courtiours ; the Kings Majestie directs his missive lettres to ane
greit nomber off the brethren of the ministrie to com to Saint An-
drois ; and ane lettre was send to me, ainang the rest, to that sam
effect. Efter the resait quhairoff, another lettre was send to me, to
com thither aucht dayis before the day apointed to the rest ; and,
according to the will thairoff I obeyit ; and being com thither the
Coronell, Sir Robert Melvin, and the lard off Segie, entrit in confe
rence, giff they micht haiff entysit, or any wyse movit me, to disalow
off the act of the Generall Assemblie, maid anent the subscryving of
generall bands for mayntenance off the King's weilfare, religioun,
and to the quyetnes of the countrey ; quhairin the haill Synodall
conventioun had found, that the Nobilmen had done guid service to
God, the King, and Realme, that had removit ill counsellours fra his
Majestie, and had preventit the greit evillis that otherwys had fallin
MR PATRICK GALLOWAY. 119
out, giff thair pernicious intentiouns had nocht bene stayit, as the
said act beris. Bot they could nocht move, nor induce me, in anie
sort, to yeild to that thair purpose. Thairfore the Erie off Arrane
thairefter, apon ane nicht, in his awin privie chalmer, enterit in con
ference with me a lang space, to the same effect ; bot fynding me
constantlie to abyde at the said act, and to dissent fra the rest off my
brethren in na sort, he nocht onlie consaiffis a malicious hatred at
me, bot movis his Majestic to alter his favour and countenance far
aganis me ; in so mekle, that becaus I wald nocht applaud to the
appetytes off thay pestilent counsellours, I was altogether mislykit,
and out off favour off the court, partlie becaus the tyme forsaid, the
yeir preceding, I had reprovit the abusis and enormities croppin in
the court, and had spokin agans the vyces and imperfectiouns off
thame quha bare chieff rewle ; and partlie becaus I wald nocht aganis
my conscience agrie to the present procedings, quhilk tendit to the
wrak of the religioun, corrupting of his Majesties tender yeris, and
affable eare and inclinatioun ; and to the ouerthraw and ruine off all
guid and godlie Nobilmen, and others that socht the advancement off
God's glorie, weilfare off the King, and quyetnes of the comoun-
welth ; quhairthrow I was altogether out of credit, and was brocht in
malgrace of the courteours.
The Kings Majestic having reteirit him selff fra Fyff to Stir
ling, and thairfra to Edinburgh, to mak his residence all that wyn-
ter, did assemble ane conventioun off the Estaits, quhairin the alter-
atioun at Ruthven was found treasoun, and sik as was thairat,
apointed to tak remissiouns for the same, as a cryme of lese-majestie
120 THE APOLOGY OF
and haynous conspiracie ; quhilk off before, was found in aue mair
ample conventioun, guid and necessair service, for the weilfare of his
Hienes awin estait, the religioun, and countrey ; and be this new
act, all men war broucht in ane vnsurtie and dispair of thair estait ;
and all promises, in effect, war brokin, that of before war maid to
the nobilitie and the ministrie. The Erie of Gowrie, resident at
Perth, access to court being denyed him, because his Lordship re-
sortit daylie to my sermonts ; Arrane had som of his flatterars and
pyke-thanks present thair to note my teaching and his Lordship's
behaviour ; quha nocht onlie send daylie advertisments to court,
falslie and calumniouslie agans the trewth, and thair awin conscience
concerning his Lordship, bot did maliciouslie lie of my selff, and in-
ventit fals raports, quhilk I neuer spak or mentioned ; that I sold
haiff exhortit his Lordship and the people, to mak insurrectioun
agans his Majestie ; and that I affirmitt they micht justlie tak ar
mour on thame ; and that his Hienes had declynit fra the trewth ;
and that I neuer prayed for his Majestie att my sermonts. Althocht
in presence of God thay did manifestlie lie of me, and spak agans
the trewth and thair awin knowlege, yit thir misraports beinge thus
brocht to his Hienes eare, did daylie move his mislyking to increas
agans me ; becaus the reporters war nocht knawin, bot suspectit be
me, and onavowit ; sa that I cold nocht haiff the moyen, to bring
my innocence to tryell.
And thairfore in the moneth of December, quhen his Majestie di-
rectit the Erie of Rothes, the Lards of Caprintoun, Coluthie, and
Mongo Graham, to Perth, in commissioun to the Erie of Gowrie,
MR PATRICK GALLOWAY. 121
to command him, in his Majesties name, to tak a remissioun for
that alteratioun at lluthvcn, and to condem that fact as treason :
The said commissioners had in speciall directioun, to enter with my
selff concerning the forsaids reports, as they did ; to quhom I decla-
rit my innocencie in that matter, and the malice of thay Hers, quha
had thus surmysit aganst me, and durst nocht avow the same. They
had directioun to trye the same be the Erie of Gowrie, quha nocht
onlie assurit thame off the contrare, bot be his letter, and be som
gentilmen off guid credit, send to his Hienes, resoluit him that thair
was na sik thing trew, and preassit to haiff that mater tryed ; bot it
cold nocht be had. Yit Arrane persisting in his malice, and having
na way, bot be misreports and lies, to mak me odious to the King,
he movis his captours still secreitlie to insist in thair former lies
and advertisments ; and he raports thair as trewth to his Hienes,
nocht onlie for my harme, bot to accumulat hatred and mal-grace
to the said Erie of Gowrie, then absent fra court ; sa that his Ma
jestic did account thay raports trew, and was mindit to haiff causit
charge me to compeir before the Secreit Counsell for the same. Bot
Arraue knawing my innocence, and that the tryell thairoff wald turne
to his awin schame, stayed that; and thocht in the moneth off Merche
thairefter, quhen I cam to Edinburgh for som of my awin particular
affaires, to haiff causit apprehend and imprison me without tryell,
war nocht I, being advertisit thairoff be freynds, reteyrit my selff
hame, and so eschewit that present inconvenient.
Thus his Majestie having bene movit be the Erie of Arrane and
sik others his adherents, as war in his Majesties companie, to tak
122 THE APOLOGY OF
up a cours, repugnant to that quhilk be act off Conventioun of the
Estaits in the moneth off [October,] anno 1582, was establissit, and
found guid service ; and be the act off the Generall Assemblie, was
on the sam maner allowit and approvit. Becaus nobilmen, and manie
others, quha favorit the religioun, war thair throw brocht in ane un-
surtie ; and impietie and daylie vyce began to abound in the court
and realm ; — as the text ministrit occasioun, sora ministers did re
prove the enormities that reigned, and thairfore war nocht onlie mis-
lykit off and hatit, bot captours war privelie apointit in everie no
table congregatioun, to advert quhat was prechit and taucht toward
the abus and misgovernment off the country ; and som off our brethren
was commandit silence, others war banissit fra thair flocks, and som
war chargit afore their Secreit Counsell, and, amang others, that no
table instrument in the kirk of God, quhais lerning and qualities ar
manifestlie approvit and knawin, Mr Andro Melvin, was com
mandit to prison to the Blackness ; fra quhilk he sold haiff bene
brocht to his death ; quhairoff he being secreitlie advertisit, accord
ing to the rewle prescry vit be our Maister, Christ, for saiftie off his
lyff, he was forsit to eschew thair hands, and flie out of the coun-
trey ; quhairat Arran and his associats consaivit sik rage and pas-
sionat wrath, that they procurit an act to be maid, that thairefter
thair sold neuer ane minister be chargit be lettres to compeir before
the Secreit Counsell, but sold be apprehendit, and hands laid on
thame, to be brocht and presentit to justice for thair doctrine, or any
other mater, that pleasit the court lay to thair charge.
Thair was, besyde the publik and manifest contempt off the word
MR PATRICK GALLOWAY. 123
off God, and the prechours and professours thairoff, a manifest and
daylie testimonie off Atheisme, and evill, vngodlie, and licentious
lyff, gevin be thara that had the rewle in court. For, nocht onlie war
sik in credit, and brocht in favour, that had bene enemies to the
Kings autoritie, and war cheiff favorers off the papisticall and
bludie counsell of Trent ; bot, avowit papists, and sik as, for papist-
rie, had bene, and remaynit still excommunicat and accursit, war
brocht in to his Majesties company, privie chalmer, and war in favour,
and guid estimatioun, and held swey and steir in maters off estait,
to the greit greiff and grudge off the ministrie, and all other godlie
and zealous servants off God.
The greit hasard off the Kings Majesties persouu, estait, and re-
ligioun, and off the comouuweill, being thus vnderstand, forseyne,
and cleirlie persaiffit be dyvers Nobilmen, the preachours and pro
fessours of the trewth, to thair greit grieff and regrait, thair appeirit
daylie occasioun off greter sorow to all faithfull hearts ; for that
apostat, Mr Patrik Constyne,2 Bishop of Saint Androis, being in Ing-
land Embassadour, be all possible diligence studyed to invent and
* Patrick Adamson, Archbishop of St Andrews. Robert Setnple, in his satirical
poem, the Legend of the Bishop of Saint Androis, alludes to Adamson, who was
the son of a baker in Perth, having changed his name, which originally was Coustan,
or Constyne, and afterwards Constantyne. He speaks of him as
Ane baxters sone, ane beggar borne,
That twyse his surnaime hes mensuome ;
To be called Constene he thocht schame,
He tuke up Cons famine to name. . . .
— He changed his surname ouer agane ;
Now Doctour Adamsone at last,
Quhairthrow he ower to Paris past. . . .
124 THE APOLOGY OF
practise trouble and scisme to be brocht in into the kirk of God ; and
was diligent to bring to pas sik instructiouns as he resavit fra Ar-
rane and other godles courteours, as the effect sensyne hes sufficient-
lie testified ; quhilk, becaus it is mair nor notorious to all the
warld, for brevitie I omitt.
The Erie off Gowrie likwys, in the moneth of Apryle, (a pearle
and patron of godliness, policie, lerning, and all notable ver-
tewis,) was tresouablie, be the craft of the Erlis of Arran, Montros,
Crawfurd, and Coronell Stewart, surprysit and apprehendit iu Don-
die, and brocht to Edinburgh to be put to death, apon simulat causis,
to the greit sorow and lamentable grief off all guid men, and to the
evident parrel off the religioun. fSom off the Nobilitie, apon the xviij
of the said moneth, assemblit in Stirling for redress of the saids
enormities, and saiffetie of his Hienes persoun, religioun, and coun-
trey, from the imminent evillis that hang ouer thair heads, and be
thair proclamatiouns made publik attestatioun of that thair inten-
t Advise gift' this tioun as maist godlie, necessare, and proffi table, for the estait and
pertikle salbe omit- .
tit or nocht.t realm.f
The Erie of Gowrie being taue, and the enemies off God and his
trewth thus trywmphaud, and rewland all things at thair plesour,
and abusing his Majesties eare and flexible inclinatioun, I knawing
thair devilis purposis and intentiouns, quhilk daylie mair and mair
vtterit the selff, prayit to God in my secreit meditatioun for redres
heiroff ; and apon Sonday the xix of Apryle, following in my ser-
mont my ordiner text, quhairin becaus the word ministrit apt occa-
sioun thairto, I did open to my flock quhat parrell the religioun and
MR PATRICK GALLOWAY. 125
estait of the trewth was in, and provit, be divers arguments, that
thay menit nathing hot subuersiouu and wrak off the same.
And becaus I am traducit and misreportit of for that sermont, I
haiff insert it here word be word, as I preachit it ; sa that my ad-
versaris can nocht say that I haif in anie thing alterit anie part
thairoff; quhairby all indifferent reidars may consider how justlie, in
the feare of God, without anie spot of treasoun, I haiff dischargit my
conscience according to his word, and how wrangouslie I am calum-
niat without cause. The sermont followis.3
Into this moneth off Aprile thair was ane Synodall Assemblie off
the ministrie apoynted to be in Saint Androis, for som affaires off
the ecclesiasticall policie, to the quhilk divers off the best lernit and
maist qualifyed of that professioun being convenit, I cam thither
lykwyse. Quhair luking that in quyetnes sik things sold haiff
bene handlit and treatit, as servit for avancement off Gods glorie, Mr
Johnne Graham, Justice-deput, was directit fra court, weill stuffit
and replenissit with Arran's informatiouns ; and nocht onlie vtteris
in presence off the brethren thair convenit, menassing language and
words off reproche agans vs all, with a plaine discharge of our Assem
blie, and that he wald nocht onlie be moderator, but commander
thairin ; bot in particuler schew me quhat ill opinioun and mislyking
was had off me in speciall ; and having prevelie ane commissioun to
3 The Sermon alluded to is not preserved with the MS. The Apology was evi
dently intended for publication, and the Sermon in that case would have been in
troduced.
PART FIRST. Q
126 THE APOLOGY OF
apprehend Mr James Lowsoun, Mr Dauid Lindsay, Mr Andro
Hay, [a blank in the MS.], and my selff. Becaus of Mr Andro Hais
absence, (quhom he lukit for to haiffresortit thair that nicht,) he de
fers the executioun of his intentioun that nicht, that he micht haiff
trappit vs all together ; bot I being certifyit and warnit thairoff,
withdrew that same nicht out of Saint Androis, and cam to Perth to
my awin flok on Satterday the xxv of Aprile, and prechit on Sonday
the xxvj thairoff, before none and efter none, opening, according to
the word of God, my mynd, and discharging my conscience to my
auditours, willing thame to convert richtlie to God, and with all hu-
militie to pray for avoyding the perrillis and plaigis that hang on
that countrey and every pairt thairof. Bot I was immediatlie thair-
efter maid foreseyue that thair was another charge, direct to the
Bailyies of Perth, and commissioun send to apprehend me.
Quhairof being advertisit, I past to Dondie to visit som freynds,
and eschew that surpryse that was devysit agans me ; and quhen I
had nocht remaynit twa dayis thair, another commissioun was send
to the Magistrats thair, to apprehend me, in lyk maner. For eschew
ing quhairoff I past to ane freynds hous saxtene mylis distant
thairfra, to Robert Guthrie off Lownans dwelling, quhair I had nocht
abiddin aboue two or three dayis, quhen the fourt commissioun was
send to the Schirreff off the schyre, the Master of Gray elder, to ap
prehend me, quhilk with all obedience he wald not refuse, bot send
xviij horse thither for that effect ; bot God, quha neuer leavis his
awin in thair distres, was cairfull for me, sa that I was certifyit
thairoff; and being thus vnnaturallie, and agans ordour off law, hun-
MR PATRICK GALLOWAY. 127
tit vp and downe, was at last forsit to caire for my awin saffetie and
relieff, and be Gods providence escapit thair bludie and crewell hands.
Immediatelie efter my departour out of Saint Johnestoun, my
wyff remayning thair desolat and solitair, my hous was maist narowlie
socht for me, my servants examined with rigorous words, and threat-
nit to tell quhair I was ; and the beds off my house stoggit with
swords, to haiff bereft my lyff giff I had nocht thus eskapit. Thair-
efter, they pat sa extremelie at my wyff,4 that sho was compellit to
by my escheat fra thair thesaurer, and to depurs mair money thair-
fore (onlie for saiftie off my buks) nor the comoun custome of sik
merchandris was wont to be valewit at, albeit I had bene ten tyraes
richer nor I was.
Besydis this rude and barbarous dealing, thair was all kynd off
rigour vsit aganis Robert Guthrie off Lownan, ane gentilman off
guid calling, quha fearis God with his hart, to quhais house T cam,
and remaynit two or three dayis, I neither being chargit nor sum-
mound privatlie, nor publiklie, nor put to the home. And yit,
agans the law of God, of natour, and the comoun law of the coun-
4 Patrick Galloway, who died in 16*24, left by his wife, (Mary, daughter of Mr
James Lawson, minister of Edinburgh,) a son, Sir James Galloway of Carnbie, who,
after holding various high offices in the state, under James VI. and Charles I., was
created Lord Dunkeld, in 1645. His grandson, James, third Lord of Dunkeld,
followed the fortunes of James VII., and having been outlawed after the battle of
Killicranky, in 1689, became a field-officer in the French army, and was killed. His
only son, the last Lord Dunkeld, died a lieutenant-general in the French service,
and his only daughter died in a nunnery.
128 THE APOLOGY, &c.
trey, he was thairfore callit to thair law, put out of his hous ; and the
Master of Gray, younger, causit his brother tak his escheat ; sa that
to rid him selff out off that trouble, he behovit to pay four hundreth
merks, besyde his trouble, and sicknes, and the spolyie of his hous.
FINIS.
RELATION
BY THE MASTER OF GRAY,
CONCERNING THE SURPRISE
OF THE KING AT STIRLING.
NOVEMBER M.D.LXXXV.
131
A CHANGE of administration, which, in more peaceful countries, is
attained by political intrigue, was in Scotland always carried through
by force of arms. James Stewart, created Earl of Arran, the un
worthy, but favourite, minister of James VI., had been once before
driven from the King's presence and counsels, by the insurrection,
called the Raid of Ruthven, in August, 1582. The following under
taking, which took place in November, 1585, had the more perma
nent effect of depriving him for ever of power and consequence.
Patrick, Master of Gray, whose narrative is now first printed, was
one of the ' friends at court,' who were most instrumental in bringing
about this change. " He was," says Godscroft, " a near kinsman to
the late Earl of Gowry, and of the ancient nobility, who did hate
Arran, for that he had been author of the death of his dear friend,
seized on his lauds, and did presumptuously take upon him to govern
the whole country alone, being but newly raised to be noble. There
\vas also Sir Lewis Ballantine, of kin likewise to Gowry, an ancient
depender on the house of Angus, and Mr John Maitland, Secre
tary, who had indeed been an enemy to the Earl of Morton, and
was well contented that Arran should be employed to work his ruin ;
but he could not away with his peremptory and absolute domi
neering. These were the actors and great instruments of his fall :
Gray directly, and of purpose, the other two by conniving and being
132
conscious to the plot, yet so as they would have seemed not to know
of it ; and they did rather give way to it than work it."1
By a contemporary writer/ the Master of Gray is spoken of " as
a practising papist," — who, when he came out of Scotland, professed
himself a Catholic, and would have been excommunicated for his
obstinacy in popery, " if the state of the kirk had not been troubled ;'
but now, the same writer adds, when he is sent to England as am
bassador, he giveth himself out for a protestant ; no doubt finding it
his interest to profess himself " a protestant of the King's religion."
But, as Wotton, the English ambassador — himself a bold and dark
intriguer, wrote to her Majesty, that at this time, " there was no
thing but double dealing and deceit in this court ;" and Elizabeth,
speaking of the Earl of Arran, and the Master of Gray, said, " that
they were two cozening knaves."
The Master of Gray was afterwards a prime agent in procuring
the execution of Queen Mary, encouraging Queen Elizabeth to the
perpetration of that iniquity, by assurances that James would not
attempt to revenge the fact when once committed, though decency
obliged him to make an apparent opposition.
1 Hume of Godscroft's History of the House of Douglas. 12mo. edit. 1743, voK
ii. p. 357.
2 Letter of James Carmichael to the Earl of Angus, 4th December, 1584, in Cal-
denvood, vol. iii. p. 633.
133
THE RELATION OF THE MASTER OF GRAVE, CONCERN
ING THE SURPRIZE OF THE KING AT STERLING.
FOR the reformation of matters out of order, both in the Court par
ticularly, and the Government generally, of Scotland, and the remo
ving of some bad instruments (namely, the Earle of Arrane, by
whose credite the King was running a course that this state might
not suffer,) from the King, it was at last thought expedient to let
loose, and turne downe the Lords banished and abiding in London
to the Borders.1
But before they should go down, a partye was first provided for
them on the Borders, to joine with them, and secret friends wrought
for them in the court, against they should come forward ; the chief
whereof was the Master of Gray, opposite enemy to Arrane, and as
great a favourite of the King as he. These things being rype, the
ambassador retyreing himself at the instant, it so fell out, that he
arryving at Barwick the xvj. of the last moneth, the Lords were
come downe to the Borders the next day after.
1 Meaning the lords after named, who were exiled from Scotland on account of
their concern with the conspiracy called the Raid of Ruthven.
PART FIRST. R
134 RELATION CONCERNING THE SURPRIZE
The Lords tearmed the Lords of the faction, or banished lords,
were these — the Earles of Angus and Marr, the Master of Glamis,
the Lords of Arbroth, Pashley, Cambuskenneth, and Dryburgh, and
others. The opposite were, the Earles of Arrane, Montrosse, Craw
ford, Collonell Steward, Sir William Steward, Arrane's brother, and
the Lord of Downe, &c.
The first meeting of the banished Lords together was at Kelso,
Here all were like with"1 the midle Marches, and thence divided themselues thus —
reason of the Lor/ Angus and his company, the better to gather friends, went to Pebles,
ing. not farre from Edinburgh ; Arbroth and his company went to Dum-
freys, to joyne with the Lord Maxwell, that had been in urines all
the summer before, for a particuler against Johnston, the King's
Warden ;2 and so being severed, apppincted for a general rendevous,
or -meeting-place, Faukirk, xij miles from Sterling, the last of the
moneth ; where they met together, and were to the number of 8000
horse and footmen.
The Master of Gray in this tyme was gone from the Court to ga
ther friends, and meant to surprise Saint Johnstone, being secretly
friends for the Lords of the faction, but pretended to levy all that he
8 The Johnstons and Maxwells had been long divided by a deadly feud. The
Johnstones had obtained considerable interest at Court, in consequence of their ser
vices in pursuing the Lords concerned in the Raid of Ruthven. The Lord Johnstone,
having obtained the Wardenry of the West Marches, was sufficient reason to Lord
Maxwell (although a Catholic) to join with the opposite faction. He scandalized
his new Protestant allies by assigning the words, Saint Andrew, for the watch-word,
which was thought, said Godscroft, to smell of his superstitious disposition. But it
was rather privately cavilled at than openly reproved.
OF THE KING AT STERLING. 135
did for the King, that then purposed to make a rode upon the Lord
Maxwell, commanding all men from sixty to sixteen, to go with him.
All this tyme Arrane lay at his house at Kenneil, so commanded by
the King upon suspicion of the Lord Russell's slaughter ;3 but under
standing of Mr Wotton's4 secret retyre, and the comeing of the ba
nished Lords, whom he tearmed rebells to the Borders, he repaired to
the court, enformeing the King of all that he heard, persuadeing
him that all this was done with the Master of Grayes privity and
knowledge ; and therefore desirous that the King should take his
life from him, drew him for to send for the Master of Gray with dili
gence. The Master being sent for, (he was then assembling his friends
in the Fife shyre,) was doubtfull what to do, being privily adverti
sed that his life was sought for by Arrane ; yet fearing least his ab
sence should overthrow the whole plot, and by giving place to Ar
rane, hazard the cause, adventured and came to the King, whom he
3 Sir Francis Russell, eldest son of the Earl of Bedford, was killed at a fray which
arose at a Border meeting on the Middle Marches of England. Elizabeth insisted
that the slaughter was intentional on the part of Sir Thomas Ker of Fairuihirst, the
Scottish Warden, at the instigation of Arran, to involve the two kingdoms in war.
The King, on hearing that the Lord Russel was slain, said, " It had not grieved him
so much if ten thousand men had entered in the country, and spoiled till Edinburgh."
To appease Queen Elizabeth, James commanded Arran to ward in Saint Andrews,
and Ker in Aberdeen. The former seems to have obtained leave of returning to
Kinneil, a house near Linlithgow, being a part of the spoils of the Hamilton family,
with which he had invested himself.
* At this period, Wotton was concerned in a plot for seizing James's person. Sir
Robert Melville informed the King of the plot ; and one of the parties implicated
having stoutly denied the charge, Melville offered to verify it by the combat. So
soon as the English ambassador heard of this discovery, he fled " in great haste, and
without taking leave."
136 RELATION CONCERNING THE SURPRIZE
found gracious, andbeleived all that the Master had said in his purga
tion ; which when Arrane and his complices saw, they determined to
kill him in the King's presence amongst themselves, or at the least,
within the castell.
But whilest they were thus occupyed in court, word came that the
Lords were marched and come within a mile of Sterling, which
gave Arrane and them cause to bethink themselves of defending the
townc ; and all the night, the first of November, with Montrosse and
the rest, he watched on the walles himself in person.
The next morning, the 2 of November, the Lords marched to
wards the towne, with purpose to scale the same. But Arrane, know
ing all this storme to be bent only at his head, and suspecting false
hood in fellowship and his own deserts, with one man fled secretly
out of the towiie, over the bridge. The rest seeing him slipt away,
retyred all into the castell,5 where the King, and Master of Gray,
and other secret friends to the Lords were.6
The towne thus abandoned made small resistance, but gave entrance
to the Lords, who forthwith made themselves masters thereof, by
seazing of the Market-place and the Earle of Marr's house.
4 Colonel Stewart made some skirmishing with about fifty horse. The town of
Stirling was severely used by the South-country men, who broke even the iron gra
tings -of the windows. — JONSTONI Historia Rerum Brilt. p. 102. They plundered
the houses of both parties, says Godscroft, sparing neither friend nor foe.
6 A very full and interesting account of the taking of the Castle of Stirling,
which is here so briefly passed over by the Master of Gray, occurs in Calderwood's
unpublished history. A similar account is given by Hume of Godscroft, in his His
tory of the House of Douglas and Angus.
OF THE KING AT STERLING. 137
After the breaking into the towne, they went streight and sett up
their banners before the sparre of the castell, that was ramde full
in a manner of great personages, with the King, some friends, some
enemys.
The King the next morning sends out the Secretary and Justice-
clerk, to take assurances for such as should come to parle with them.
Which done, the Master of Gray, was sent to them from the King,
to demand the cause of their coming ; and after an houres com-
moning returnes, and makes an honourable report of their dutifull
submission and desire to see his Majesty, and kiss his hands.
The King, reteyning a fear that Arrane had put him in of them,
sent them word that if they would have their lands and livings and
depart, he would give them all.
They insist still upon entring the castell to see his Majesty, whose
favour they sought more then their livings. Whereat the King re
turning the Master againe to them, propounded three things to them ;
viz. the safety of his own person ; no innovation in the state ; and
the assurances of the lives of such as he should name.
They made for answere, that for the King's person they never
meant harme unto it, but would dye in defence of it. They desired
no innovation. But for the third proposition, seeing they were the
men that had for so long a tyme bene injured ; they desired rather
for their suretye hereafter, the persons, as they knew to be then
enemys, might be deli vered into their guard and hands, together with
the fourts and strengths of the realme.
About these two points there was much adoe, and a day spent
138 RELATION CONCERNING THE SURPRIZE
in debating : yet, at length, what with the want of victualls for so
great a number, the castle, together with the goodwill of the medi
ator's necessity, enforced to yield unto it, and so were the gates open
ed, the Lords let in, and admitted to the King's presence.7
The first thing after their entry, was the delivery of the persons of
Montrosse, Crawford, Rothes, (Earles,) Collonell Steward, Sir Wil
liam Steward, the Lord of Downe, and others ; Arrane being fled, as
said is before.
Immediatly after was Arrane proclaymed traytor at the marquet-
place, in the King's name. The King's guard altered, and in the af-
ternoone of the same day, a pacification and remission proclaymed in
the Lords behalfe, all faults forgiven, and all things reputed as done
for the King's service.
The castle of Dombritton assigned to Arbroth, the chiefe of the
house of the Hamiltons, and of right Earle of Arrane. The castle
7 Melville has given us an interesting account of James's behaviour on this occa
sion, which shews his anxiety, in yielding to circumstances to preserve at least his
kingly dignity, and give way, with due decorum, to the sturdy petitioners whom he
could not repulse : —
" The Lords, when they came into his Majesty's presence, fell down upon their
knees, humbly begging pardon, adding, That the hard handling by Arran, and other
partial persons about his Majesty, had compelled them, upon plain necessity, and for
their last refuge, to take the boldness to come in arms, for the surety of their lives
and lands, being ever humbly minded to serve his Majesty and obey him.
" The King, again, like a prince full of courage and magnanimity, spoke unto
them pertly and boastingly, as though he had been victorious over them, calling
them traitors, and their enterprize plain treason. Yet, said he, in respect of your
necessity, and in hope of your good behaviour in time coming, he should remit their
faults ; and the rather, because they used no vengeance nor cruelty at their in
coming." — Memoirs of Sir James Melvil. Third edit. 1752, p. 338. 8vo.
OF THE KING AT STERLING. 139
of Edinburgh granted to the keeping of Coldenknowes ; and other
strengths to the rest, as Tomtallon to Angus ; and Sterling to
Marre, &c.
And thus hath the good success in court fallen out,8 being well
handled off all parties, which giveth hope to the ministers to recover
their Sinode againe against the bishops ; and so to restore the disci
pline of the church, if not better, at least as it was before Arrane's
government.
8 Calderwood suras up his narrative of this transaction with the observation, that
" The event of this enterprise justified the first conveeuing at Stirlin, [[in 1584,
previous to the death of the Earl of Cowrie,] and the authors thereof, that the end
of it had been no other if it had had the same success. Justified lykways the mi
nisters who had fled to England, and such as favoured their cause at home, that they
followed not traitors, or traiterous enterprises."
THE APPLICATION
OF THREE SEVERAL DISCOURSES
DELIVERED ON OCCASION OF
THE GOWRIE CONSPIRACY.
AUGUST, MDC.
PART FIRST.
DISCOURSE ON PSALM CXXIV. BY MR PATRICK GALLO
WAY,! ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF THE KING'S HOUSE
HOLD.
DAVID the King com posit this psalme efter that he had bein freed
fra the grit danger of his deedlie enemies. In it he dois thrie thingis
especiallie, — [he] settis doune his danger, his delyuerie fra the danger,
1 This Discourse was delivered at the Cross of Edinburgh, in presence of King
James, ou Monday llth August, 1600. On that day his Majesty crossed the Firth,
and landed at Leith, when, to use the words of a contemporary writer, " The citi
zens of Edinburgh were attending upon him in their armes. Mr David Lindsay, mi
nister at Leith, takes him to the kirk, exhorteth him after thanksgiving to performe
his vow, made before times, of performance of justice ; at which words he smyled, and
talked with these that were about him, after his unreverent manner of behaviour at ser
mons. Thereafter he went up to Edinburgh, and sat upon the merkat Croce, cloathed
with tapestry, accompanyed with some of the Nobility, where Mr Patrick Galloway
made a sermon to the people conveened about the Cross, and the King an harrangue,
both tending to persuade the people that Gowrie and his brother had verily conspired
the King's death, and were slain in the execution of the interprize."— CALD. MS.
History, vol. v. p. 393.
This and the other discourse by Galloway have been often referred to by writers
on the subject of the Gowrie Conspiracy. It is probable that the first of them
contains all that was delivered at the time ; and the Sermon, to which the other
" harangue" served as the Application, does not seem to have been preserved.
142 DISCOURSE ON PSALM CXXIV.
and his thanckfulnes to God for his delyuerie ; and in sick sort, that
almest all the thrie is incluidit in euerie verse. His danger was this,
that he had fallin into the handis of men, and men onlie, naturall
men, that had not ane spunk of grace, or of that spreit ; and the
thing that agregis his danger is the properties of thir men — crueltie
and craft, quhilk becumes rather bruit beistis then men. Their cru
eltie is sett doune be tua comparisounes, ane taine fra beistis, ane
other taine fra the watteris,2 — fluidis, proud and suallein, that with
thair force caries with them euerie thing that is objected to thair force.
Thair craft is sett doune be ane similitude tane fra the fouller, quha
be his craft ourcoueris the poore foull with his nett and catchis it.
This is the danger Dauid was in ! — Or I gang forduard, I obserue ane
lessoune, and that for your Majesties vse. Sir, I sie this is not the
first tyme that kingis, good kingis, euen kingis quhome the Lord
hes chosin according to his auin hert, hes fallin be Godis permis-
sioune, vnto the handis of men, — Men cruell and «raftie, and hes
bein delyuert also fra thame. But quhairto ? not to the end, they
suld leif according to the fassoune of the warld, bot that they suld
be new men, and schau ther gratitude to God, as Dauid did, heirof
quhilk we sail speick heirefter. As to his delyuerie, it wes not
fra man bot fra God, and therfor he opinlie proclames, that ex-
cep the Lord had bein with vs, men had suallouit him vp, accor-
* In the manuscript the letter v is generally substituted for n — thus ' fattens,
for ' watteris/ &c. ' trith,' for ' with,' &c., a peculiarity which it is not thought ne
cessary should be here adopted.
DISCOURSE ON PSALM CXXIV. 143
ding to the fassoune of beistis ; and therfor he tackis him to God,
quhilk is his gratitude, andascryves his delyuerie halie to him, quhil
he say is, our help is in the name of the Lord.
This schortlie concerning the danger that Dauid was in, his de
lyuerie, and his thanckfulnes for his delyuerie. The lyck caus we
haue in hand presentlie : our King, our Dauid, our Anointed, has
bein in danger deedlie, and is delyuerit, praised be God ! for the
quhilk baith he, and ye, and we, hes occasioune to be grate and
thanckfull to the Majestic of God, the delyuerer. As to his dan
ger, it is lyck Dauidis, he fell in the handis of men, and men onlie;
for, as to that man GAUEIE, let nane thinck that be this tratourous
fact of his, our religioune hes ressauit onie blot, ffor ane of our re-
ligioune was he not, bot a deip disshnulat hipocreit ! ane profound
Atheist ! ane incarnall deuill, in the cot of ane Angel ! as is maist
euident, bayth be this tratourous fact, quhilk he had attempit ; and
also be sindrie other things quhilk we have receauit be his familiaris,
and the maist deir and neir of his freindis ; as the bookes quhilk he
uset, — quhilk preiffes him plainlie to have bein ane studier of ma-
gick, and a conjurer of deuillis, and to haue had sua monie at his
command. His maner of liuing out of the countrie, in banting with
papistis, yea the Pape himself, with quhom he had not conferance
onlie, bot farder hes maid couenand, and bandis with him ; as ap-
peiris verie weill, for sen his hame comming, he has treuellit maist
eirnestlie with the King, and his Majestie hes receaued fra him the
hardest assalt, that euer he did, fra him ; I say, to reuolt fra reli-
144 DISCOURSE ON PSALM CXXIV.
gioune, at leist in inuard sinceritie, to interteine purpose with the
Pape, and he himself promeisit to furneis intelligence ! — Wes sick
ane man of the religioune ? Or can onie man say that our religioune
is stained be the doingis of sick ane man ? Na not ! He wes nothing
but ane man, and our Dauidis danger wes that he had fallin in the
handis of men. Nou, that ye may knau the danger the better, I
sail receite the historic to you euen as it wes befor my God, quha
ane day salbe my Judge, as he sal beir me record, and befor my
Prince and Soweraine, and befor yow all quha ane day sail stand vp
and beir witness agans me, in cais in ony point I lie.
On Twysday last was Alexander Ruthven cam to Facland to
his Majestic, and fand him at his pastyme, and desyrit him to ga to
St Jonstoune ; and sua he leidis him fra Facland to Perth, as ane
maist innocent lamb, fra his palice to the slauchter-hous. Thair he
gettis his denner, ane cauld denner, yea, ane veri cauld denner ! as
they kend quha was thair. Efter denuer, Alexander Ruthven leidis
his Majestic up ane turnpeyk, and throuch ane trans, the dore
quhairof, sa sone as they had enterit in, chekit to with ane lok ; then
throw ane galery, quhais dore also cheket to ; throw ane chalmer,
and the dore thairof cheket to also ; and, last of all, bringis him to
ane rounde, skairs sax feit breid, and sax feit weyd, and the dore
thairof he lokkit also; in the quhilk their was standing ane armit man,
with ane drawin dagger in his hand, to have done this filthie turne,
the maist and naturallie, and contraire that dutie quhilk we aw to
Princes. Then Alexander coweris his heid, and sayis, " I am suir thy
DISCOURSE ON PSALM CXXIV. 145
hairt accusis the now ; thow was the deid of my father, ami heir is
ane dager to be awengit upon the for that deid." Now, judg ye, guid
people, quhat danger your Dauid was in ! quhen, as ane innocent
lamb, he hes closit wp betuix twa hungerie lyounis, thristing for his
blud, and four lokks betuix him and his freindis, and his servandis ;
sua that they micht neither heir nor harkin him. This was his dan
ger ! but quhat sort of delyverie gat he ? it was holy miraculous, al-
togither to be ascrywit to God, and no part to man ! and amaug
mony that occurrit I sail poynt out unto you fyue or sax circumstan
ces quhilk ye will all call and accknawleg to be miraculous : and
first his Majestic, standing betuix twa armit men, without all kynd
of armour, hawing nathing on but his hunting-home about his neck,
quhen he, at his entry, suld have bein astonischit at the sicht of ane
armit man to tak his lyf, yeit, on the contrair part, this man was sa
astonischit at his sicht, that he micht nether moue fute nor hand :
was not this miraculous ? But yeit, farder, quhen Alexander had tane
him be the gorget, and had haldin the dager to his breist, not twa
vnce fra it, sua that their was skers twavnce betwix his deid and his lyf,
yeit, ewin then, be his gracious, christiane, and maist lowing wordis, he
ouercame the traitour. The wordis wes this : " Master ! consider that
ye ar ane Christiane, and farder, that hitherto ye haue bein tranit
wp in the principallis and groundis of Christianitie ! — and then con-
sidder, Master, how ye wes brocht up in the schuill quhilk hes send
so mony noble and haly youth, the Coledge of Edinburgh, vnder Mr
Robert Rollok, that haly man, and maist worthy of all gud memory,
quha wald never have teichit yow to put hand in your Prince !— and last
146 DISCOURSE ON PSALM CXXIV.
of all Master, suppois ye taik my lyf, nether ye nor your brother will
be King efter me ; ye, the subjects of Scotland, will ruit yow out,
and all your name !" Thir wordis sua movit the hart of the tra-
tour, that he beguith to enter in conditionis with the King, and
maid him sueir (quhilk he also did) that all theis thingis suld
be foryeit, and that efter he suld ever be faworable to him and his
brother ; and sua he gaid forth to his brother, fra quhom he resafit
commissioune to dispach him hastely. He then coming wp agane,
brings ane pair of silk gartanis in his hand, and efter he had lokkit
the door, sayis, " Tratour, thow maun die, and thairfor lay thy handis
togither, that I may bind the" ;" to the intent, na doubt, that he
being bund thei micht haue stranglit him, and castin him in a coif,
or pit, quhilk thei had prepairit for that vse, that na blud being
found, his freindis micht miss him without suspicioune, and not witt
quhair to seik him : Now heir is the Thrid miracle. The King an-
sueris the tratour, " I was borne ane frie prince, I have lifit hetherto ane
frie prince, I sal never die bund !" With this every ane of them greips
to vtheris gorgetis quhill in warsling the King ouercoms, and getis
him under him : Now is not this miraculous ? Will ony consider it ?
the Master of Gourie, ane able young man, in comperisoune with the
King, I am assurit had strenth doubill, yea and threfald greiter, nor
the King, and yeit is ouercome and castin vnder. Quhill thei ar thus
worsling, up comes John Ramsay, be the black turn pyk, and at
the Kings command, gives the Master ane deid straik : Now yeit ane
miracle ! My Lord being in the close quhen he hard that the Mas
ter was slayne, sa he had bewichit the hartis of thir people of Parth,
DISCOURSE ON PSALM CXXIV. 147
be the counterfeit vertews he had begun to kyth amang them, that
gif he hadcryit, My brother is murtherit, the same people had saikit
that same haill hous ; bot yeit, sa the Lord derectis be his Providence,
that he corns vp the steir immediatly with aucht with him ; And mark,
how that same word quhilk thei had prepairit to be ane word for the
keiping clos of their knavrie, God. vsit as ane mein for the pre-
servatioune of the Prince ; for thei had appointit this for their wach-
word, — ' The King is gane to the Vnce ;' quhilk word his servandis
heiring, ran about to meit his Majestic in the Vnce,3 and going by
the window, quhair the King and the Master was worsling, hard the
Kings skriechs and cryis, quhilk hes tane sic impressioune in their
hairt, that, sa long as they leif, will never gang out of them, and
is heir sitting to beir witness to it. The cry was, ' Tressoune, fy !
help Yearle of Marr, I am murderit !' The Kingis servandis heiring
his cryis, incontinent cums vp this black turnpyk, — Now yeit ane mi
racle ! Into the chamber with the King is only four, twa ladis and
twa men, and ane of the men mutilate ; my Lord, ane man weill ex-
cerceisit in his arms, corns vp, and aucht with him, and at the first
cals vp all thir four in ane nuik, and never stayis quhill Jone Ramsay
chancit to cry, "Fy upon thd ! cruell tratour, — hes thow not done evil
anuch ells ; thou hes goten the Kingis lyf ells, and wald thou have
ouris to ?" At quhilk speiche he drew ane ly tie bak ; and in bak going,
he gat the straik quhairof he deid. This is the vary [trewth] of the fact,
quhilk I have resauit, (not be the Kingis Majestic,) bot be him quha
3 ' The Vnce'— the Inch at Perth.
PART FIRST. T
148 DISCOURSE ON PSALM CXXIV.
suld have bein the doar of the turne : — He is livand yeit, he is not
slainc ; ane man weil ami eh knavne to this toune, Andro Hender-
soune, chamberlane to my Lord of Gourie. This day Iresavit ane letter
fra him, wrytin be his awin hand, subscryvit be his awin hand ; ony
man that wald sie it, come to me and sie gif thei can knaw his hand-
wry t for their satisfactioune. The tennour of the letter is this : ' It
is of treuth, that on Twysday last I was commandit be my Lord of
Gourie to ryd with his brother to Fakland, fra the quhilk he send me
bak againe to tell my Lord, that the King was comming, and to bid pre-
pair for his comming. My Lord commandit me to put on my secreit,
and my plait sleif, and to wayt on the Master, and do quhatever
he bad me. At the Masteris lichting, I went to him, and tauld him
of my Lordis command, quhilk I had resawit. He taks me with
him up a turnepyk, throw ane trans, ane galrie, and chamber, and
loks me in into the round that gois aff the chamber, at quhilk doing
I beguith to grow fleit, and suspect sum evil agans the King ; and
then I tuik me to my kneis to pray, that it wald pleis his Majestic
never to suffer me to be imployit to sick ane turne ; and quhill I was
setting on my kneis, Mr Alexander come in to the round [with the
King in his hand.' The rest of his narration differs almost nothing
from this 4J quhilk ye have hard according to the Kingis informa-
tiouHc- ; this only he schew the maner how he chappit [escapit]
In the MS., which is in a contemporary hand, with a few corrections, appa
rently by the author, some words are illegible ; but are supplied from Calderwood,
who lias inserted both of the Discourses by Galloway, in his History — MS. Hist,
vol. V.
DISCOURSE ON PSALM CXXIV. 149
to have bein thus, — Quhen the King and the Master war worsling,
he opnit the dore and gaid doune be the blak turnepyke, — be the
quhilk the Kingis servands came up, and saifit him.
This is the verity, quhilk will satisfy ony gud subject, for as
for thir romuris that gois that the King was ane doar, and not
ane sufferer ; ane persewar, and not persewit, it is not true, nor lick-
ly, — for think ye, hawin sick ane turne in his hand, he wald go to
thair towne, in quhilk he was sa meikle esteimit, accompanyit with
sic few folks, only ten persouns ; and sic men, quha as I am as-
surit wald have bein content to have bled their hail blud with my
Lord of Gourde, and it had not bein in ane actioune agans the King ;
the Duik his good brother, the Yearle of Mar his good father,
quha, at that unhappie and cursit tyme he was baptizit, gave him
the name. As for sik, as will not be satisfeit with this, let them pe-
risch in their incredulitie, their is evidencis anuch of the verity. Now,
quhat am I that speikis thir thingis ? Ane, (as I will protest befor
God,) quha lowit the Yearle of Gourie better nor ony flesch in the
Eirth, acceptis his Majestic.3
3 Calderwood mentions, that after the foregoing " harrangue" was ended, they
sung the 124th psalme — and makes the following remark : —
" Mr Patrick Galloway his harangue, (he says,) did not perswade many, partly,
becaus he was a flattering preacher, partly, becaus others were named before Hen
derson to be the armed man in the studie, to wit, Oliphant, Leslie, and Younger,
who was slaine." Henderson is described as " a man of low stature, rudie counte
nance, and brown bearded," and the King himself being asked " by the goodman of
Pitmillie, whether Henderson was the man ? answered, That it was not he , be
Cthe KingH knew that smaick well enough."
150
EXTRACT FROM A SERMON ON THE CONVERSION OF
ZACCHEUS, LUKE, CAP. XIX. BY MR WILLIAM COW-
PER, ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF PERTH.1
QUHAT sail we doe then, bot haue our recourse to that grace of
Jesus Christ, that onlie is able to change vs ? and especiallie let vs
seek it at this tyme, that now we abyde not in the hardnes of our
heart, quhen the Lord, both by his word and works, is sa fast call
ing for our repentance ; and I think, amongst all the works of God
that semis to humble vs, this last miserable euent is one of the first.
I know there is mony of yow bot thinks of it as I did my self
quhen I heard first of it ; thought, indeid, he had sufferit as ane in
nocent ; and quhat greif then it wrought in me, my owne conscience
beareth me record ! The lose of ane earthlie creatur went neuer so neir
my heart ; and the first thing that ever chiled my affectioun toward
him, wes ane appeirance that he had gone without the compas of
1 Preached in St Giles's Church, Edinburgh, Sunday, August 24, 1600. Cowper
had been sent for, to preach in one of the vacant churches of Edinburgh, after the
ministers there had been banished from the town, as stated in Mr Bruce's Account
of his Troubles at that time, which follows-
The Application only of Cowper's sermon has been copied, as being all that relates
to this transaction. The volume containing it, along with other Sermons, supposed
to be in his hand-writing, at one time belonged to the late Mr Scott, one of the mi
nisters of Perth, who has mude particular mention of it in his History of John, Earl
of Cowrie.
ON THE CONVERSION OF ZACCHEUS. 151
godlines, quhilk maid me then to say thir words vnto my people,
" I know," said I, " it is light that first mon satisfie your discontent-
it myndis, and, thairfore, the Father of Light send light !"
Bot I am sorrowfull from myne heart, that the light that is maks
against him quhom we loued ; and if this light break out as it is be-
gunne, we will find our selues disappoyntit of our hope, and that
quhilk I spake than vnto thame I speake presently vnto yow : " The
light that hitherto God hes discouerit in that matter enclynes to the
cleiring of his Majesties innocencie, and layis ane blame on the
other." And if ye craue my ressoun, I say, it is the testimony of
his seruant, that presentlie is in prisoun, quhilk, in my judgement,
is mekle to be regairdit ; for I haue knoweu him now this four or fyue
yeiris bygane, and can give him no other witnes bot that quhilk both
toune and countrye will giue vnto him, that is, the testimonie of a
man that feareth God, and delt vpryghtlie with all men.
And quhair as some of yow thinks that he is bot ane suppositius
man, and that his depositioun is rather a policie then any verittie,
that is mair incredible to me nor any other thing of this actioun
vnto yow ; and if my testimonie can haue ony credit with yow, I
will beare to yow record that it is verifeit vnto me by honest men of
our toune, that he wes seene come doun the stair from that chalmer
quhairin the King wes, before ony of the Kingis seruants enterit vp,
except only John Ramsay, or before my Lord enterit in. And quhat
his depositioun is I will tell yow shortlie, etc.
* The Deposition of Henderson is not contained in the Manuscript, but it has been
often printed.
152 ON THE CONVERSION OF ZACCHEUS.
Now, [before] I leaue this, there is thrie things I will touche
shortlie : The ane is concerning the bretherin of the Ministrie. This
doing of myne may seeme to condampne thame in a fault, bot I hope
no wise man will thinck so, quhen he considereth that ane preachour
may speake that with ane warrand quhilk ane other may not.
The nixt thing concernis his Majestic. We are to craue of God
that this wairning may work amendement in him, and a great caire to
purge the countrye of the great contempt of the Gospell, and of the
innocent blud quhairwith it is defyled ; for I saw neuer yet thir great
temporall delyuerances fra danger, quhair they wrought not a turning
of the heart vnto God, bot they were ay forrinners of ane greater
temporal judgement.
And the last concernis yow that are his People. I exhort yow, in
the name of God, to thinke reverentlie of your Prince, remembring
that Salomon binds your consciences not to speake ill of him, even
in your secreit chalmers.
153
THE APPLICATIOUN OF THE XXX PSALME, PRECHIT BE
MR PATRIK GALLOWAY, THE LAST OF AUGUST, 1600,
BEFOIR HIS MAJESTIE, IN GLASGOW.1
Now I suld end, gif I had not to let yow sie, in the Applicatioun
of this Psalme, that as Dauid and his pepill had than just occasiouu
to prais God, sa our Dauid and we haif now just occasioun to prais
God : Dauid than in danger, our Dauid has now bene in danger ;
Dauid than delyuerit in the heich raercie of God, our Dauid now
delyuerit in the heich mercie of God. Now, the Lord of Hevin, that
is present with us, as he has gevin us proif of the ane, sa mot he gif
us the proif of the wther, that we may be thankfull for this great
grace ; for, concerning the danger, Dauid was neuer in gretar danger
nor our Dauid, his delyuerance neuer mair magnificent than the de-
lyuerance of our Dauid ; and thairfoir we haif as just occasioun as
euer Dauid had to prais God. Tak tent then ; I think thair is heir
1 When the King came to Glasgow, there was also " an Oration made to him be
one in name of the Town, congratulating him for the delivery out of the late dan
ger, with a commemoration of their service to him and his progenitors." — CALD.
vol. v. p. 420. A copy of this Oration is preserved in a volume of Calderwood's
MS. Papers in the Wodrow Collection.
154 THE APPLICATIOUN OF THE XXX PSALME.
na small number that neuer hes hard the danger quhairin the Kings
Majestic has bene in ; or gif thai haif hard, than haif thai hard a
poysonit wntreuth. Thairfoir to cleir the treuth, I will shaw yow
the storie trewlie.
His Majestic, be persuasioun of the Master of Gaurie, was led
fra his pastyme to Sanct Jhonestoun, (tak tent that ye may eschew
fals informatioun !) Quhen he camis thair, and enteris in my Lordis
ludging, efter ane cauld denner, and ane far caulder welcome, his Ma
jestic istanebe the hand be the Master of Gaurie, and led wp ane
stair, thre or four durris all lokit on his bak, nather freind nor ser-
uant with him ; and thair is sitting a man prepairit to joyne with
the wther to the tressonabill murthering of his Majestic ! Quhen
he is set betuix these twa, the Master of Gaurie, a vyll tratour ! na
soner cumis the King in, but to testifie that all reuerence of a Chris
tian to his God, and of a subject to his prince, was strampit wnder
fute, he puttis on his hat, drawis his dager, and sayis, " I sail now
be avengit on the" for my fatheris slauchter." But the Lord stayit
the dager, that he ducht not stryk with it. Quhen the ire of this
tratour was sumthing mitigat be the Kingis modest language, he
gois out, leifing the wther man to keip him, appeirandlie to get fur-
der resolutiouu of his brother. Agane he cumis in, as a wod lyoun,
and enteris wpon his Majestic, with his gartanis to bind him. No-
bill men, and citizens of St Jhonestoun, hard his Majestic cry,
" Tressoun ! I am murdreissit !" as the voyce of ane half deid man.
Let vyle knavis say athort the cuntrie quhat they will, this is the
treuth ! I ken weill thair is mony surmises of the pepill castin in
THE APPLICATIOUN OF THE XXX PSALME. 155
withal, to breid ane evill consait of the Kingis Majestic in the hairtis
of the pepill. I will tell pairt of thame. This is ane : How can it
be sik a nobill man as the Erie of Gaurie, sa weill brocht up, culd
haif fosterit sik a tressoun ? — This wald appeir to carie sum thing
with it, but in very deid hes na probabilitie. If the Erie had bidden
still in Scotland, and keipit that educatioun quhilk he gat wnder
that worthie man, Mr Robert Roltok, he mycht perchance not haif
sttempit sik ane tressouu. But quhen he yeid to Padua, thair he
studieit Nigromancie : his awiu pedagog, Mr William Rin, testifies
that he had these characteris ay upon him, quhilk he luifit sa, that
gif he had forgot to put thame in his breikis, he wald rin up and
down lyk a mad man ; and he had thame wpon him quhen he was
slane ; and as thai testifie that saw it, he culd not bleid sa lang as
thai war wpon him. He that this wyse castis of all reuerence to his
God, quhat reuerence can he haif to ane eirthlie king ? Ane wther
questioun, I ken, wilbe muifit. Sum will say, Sail we trew that he
culd haif devysit his allane sik a tressoun ? culd he haif enterprysit
sik a work without a bak ? — I dout not hot he had ane bak ! the Lord
discouer it — and I am assurit he sail at last discouer it ! And, as I
haif said befor to your Majestie, I say yet, and ye try it not out, ye
sail yit sum day mak us all ane sorrowfull morning ; if ye rype not
wp the fontaine thairof, it is a manifest tempting of God ; and I
exhort your Majestie and Counsall to do it, as thai will ansuer to
God, befoir quhom thai salbe countit tratouris, one day, if thai keip
up the leist chope of it, quhilk they can try out. But to meit the
questioun, It is na meruell, suppois it be hid, for the Erie of Gawrie
PAIIT FIRST. u
156 THE APPLICATIOUN OF THE XXX PSALME.
was a man of exceiding great secrecie ; thair was not ane man he
wald reueil it to. His awin pedagog, Mr William Rin, said, that
the Erie talking of tressoun against Princes, said, that gif the rycht
hand wist quhat the left hand was doeand, he was not to be compt-
ed a man, and thairfoir I trow, indeid, thair was none wpon the fore-
kuawledge of the executioun but the Erie, and his brother, and the
Deuill, that led thame bayth. I ken thair wilbe a third question,
Is thair nane can beir witnes to it ? God forgiue thame that say the
King is a pairtie, he can not be beleuit, and thow war a guid Chris
tian, thow sould rys up and say, I am ane pairtie, and the King, that
neuer hes bene a lyar, suld be beleuit him self, and not sik suspicious
surmises spred abrod. But I go on : Thair was thair nobill men, his
Majesties seruandis, and citizens of Sanct Jhonestoun, quha saw his
Majestic carieit thair without ony wapin, but his hunting home
about his craig ; fowr durris all lokkit wpon him ; my Lord Duke,
the Erie of Mar, baillieis and burgesses, saw his handis in the Kingis
face and throt. If they will not beleue thame, quhom will thai be-
leif ? fy wpon wncredulous and malicious hairtis ! I say mair for the
treuth ; Andro Hendersoun, a man to that hour approuit guid and
zealous, and without spot all the dayis of his lyf ; this man perforce
is put into the rowme, without ony foreknawledge ; this man yit
liueth, euerie man hes acces to him ; this man, as befoir he was
maid be God ane instrument to saif the King, sa now he is maid ane
instrument of the Kingis honour, to tell the treuth. I must speir
heir, becaus sum sayis, quhill [untill] we sie him die on the scaffald
for it, we will neuer beleif it. Fy on it, that his Majestic sould execut
THE APPLICATION OF THE XXX PSALME. 157
him that sauit his lyf for thair plesour ! I man say in my conscience,
that man is rather worthie of rewaird nor of punishment ; and I trow
not a man that feiris God, but he will consent to it. But he was
put in be the prouidence of God to be ane instrument of your dely-
uerance. Now, as ye haif hard the danger, tak tent also how he was
delyuerit. As Dauid said, Lord, thow hes exalted me, and not maid
my fois to rejoys ouer me, justlie may your Majestic say, I was in
deidlie danger, and thow, Lord, hes luikit on me. Quhen I consid-
der his Majesties delyuerance, I man say, thair was not ane circum
stance of that actioun, but ilkane is a wonderfull preseruatioun !
First, quhen the Eric of Gaurie and his brother takis that man,
and puttis him in, and sayis to him simplie, Do quhat my brother
commandis the", — they thought he suld haif put to his hand to do
the turne ; but God ,cumis doun fra hevin, and alteris the man.
Na soner cumis the King in, but he cryis, " Allace ! allace ! wo is
me !" Is not this ane great work of God ? He that suld haif slane his
Majestie, is maid ane instrument of his safetie ; and quhen the
Master of Gawrie is bringand doun to slay his Majestie, he withhaldis
his hand. Thridlie, quhen the master of ane cruel tiger is maid as
it war ane dow, saying, " I will promeis yow your lyf, Sir, gif ye will
hald your twng." Fy, tratour ! quhat had he to do with his Majesties
lyf. But he is mitigat be the Kingis modest wordis ! — "Ye and I cum
in wnder freindship ; ye are a Christian, brocht wp under that guid
man, Mr Robert Rollok, quhy wald ye put handis in your Prince ?"
With this he gangis out, and shortlie cumis in agane, and as a tiger
158 THE APPLICATIOUN OF THE XXX PSALME.
enteris upon his Majestie. This is a mervell, he was far beyond the
King in strenth, and yit the leving God sa strenthened his Majestie,
that he gat him wnder his fute. And last, quhen the Erie of Gawrie
causit cry, The King is away ! they, running out to follow his Ma
jestie, heir his voyce ; agane, quhen the Erie, and sevin men with him,
cumis in against fowr, he himself is slane be these fowr, and the rest
of his cumpanie hurt and put to flicht. Yea, had Gawrie bidden
still on the calsay, and said ' The tratouris about the King hes slane
my brother,' all the men of Sanct Jhonestoun had rushit in with him.
But the Lord wrocht wtherwys ! And thairfor, as Dauid said, sa
suld your Majestie say, O Lord, I will magnifie the, becaus thow
hes exalted me.
Now, becaus it is said, als falslie as the sone shynis not, the King
yeid to Sanct Jhonestoun to slay the Erie o.f Gawrie, (sik is the
spreitis of malicious hairtis !) I wald now haif you indifferent pepill,
quhen the Master of Gawrie cumis to Falkland and muifis him to
come to Perth, I think not threttene in his companie, Judge gif he
wald have come to Sanct Jhonestoun, quhilk was Gawries Londoun,
thair to haif slane him ! Agane, if he wald haif brocht my Lord
Duke, the Erles guid brother, and the Erie of Marr his godfather,
with him, gif he had bene myndit to slay him ! Judge last of this,
quhen his Majestie is led be the Master of Gaurie, and seperat fra
all his folkis, put in ane lytill round, hailing nathing but a hunting
horne about him ! Let indifferent pepill judge heir, whether his
Majestie wald haif bene myndit to slay the Erie of Gaurie or not.
THE APPLICATIOUN OF THE XXX PSALME. 159
Now, quhen I half shawin yow the danger, and devyne delyuer-
ance, sie quhidder our Daniel suld not say, I will magnifie th6, O
Lord, becaus thou hes exalted me ; quhair he sayis Sanctis sing
praisis for me, sie gif we have not just occasioun to prais God for
the delyuerance of our Dauid ; for wofull had bene the estait of Scot
land, yea wofull darknes, if the Lord had not wrocht this delyuer
ance. The Lord gif your Majestic a thankfull hairt, and to ws your
subjectis thankfull bairtis for your delyuerance.1
1 " In this harangue Mr Patrick saitli, that Mr Alexander drew his dagger, which
would seem to be his own dagger, and not the armed man's standing in the study, as
is related in the discourse. But it is certain that Mr Alexander had no dagger. But
leaving this speech as ambiguous, it is to be considered, That Mr Patrick doubteth not
but he had a back to the enterprize, and prayeth the Lord to discover it, exhorts the
King and Counsel to try out the fountain of it. And yet, forgetting himself, he saith
immediately after, That the Erie was a man of exceeding great secrecie, and there
was no man to whom he would reveal it, and that he believed there was none upon
the foreknowledge of the execution, but the Erie, and his brother, and the Devil.
The circumstances that are most unlykely, Mr Patrick turnes all into miracles ; but
here is need of a true and seen miracle indeed, to make unseen miracles to be be
lieved." — C A LDBR WOOD.
NARRATIVE
BY MR ROBERT BRUCE,
ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF EDINBURGH,
CONCERNING HIS TROUBLES
IN THE YEAR M.DC.
163
[NARRATIVE BY MR ROBERT BRUCE.]
1600.
IN the begynning of August, ane new storme aryissis. For, on the
fyft day of August, quhilk wes on Tyisday, the Erie of Gourye and
his brother, in thair awin house ar bayth slane. It wes geuin out
to be ane vyle treassoun ; bot quhidder it wes ane vyle murder, or
treasoun, as yit it is nocht clearlie reveillit. The bruite of this
cummis to ws in Edinburgh on Wednisday, the morne efter, be
nyne houris. Ane letter cummis fra his Majestie to the Counsall
be ten houris, vpoun the sycht of the quhilk we the ministerie1 wer
chargit first befoir the Counsall of the toun ; in presens of the quhilk
Counsall his Majesties letter wes red wnto ws. It buir that his Ma
jestie wes delyuerit out of ane perrell, and thairfoir that we sould
be commandit to ga to our kirkis, convene our pepill, ring bcllis,
and gif God praisses. As we wer gewand our ansuer, the Counsall
of the cuntrey sendis for our Proueist, and sum of the Toun Coun
sall ryssis, and we are demist with out ony ansuer.
In the mid-tyme, we of the ministrie gangis to the Eist Kirk, and
thair we adwyse quhat ansuer we sail gewe ; and be commoun ad-
1 Besides Bruce, the ministers who are referred to were Mr James Balfour, Mr
Walter Balcanquel, Mr John Hall, Mr William Watson, Mr Peter Hewat, and
Mr George Robertson.
PART FIEST. X
164
\vyse, it is fund that we could nocht enter in the particular defence
of the tressoun, seing the King wes silent of the tressoun in his awin
bill ; and the reportis of courteouris wairied amangis thame selffis.
Be this, the messinger cummis and chairgcis ws befoir the Previe
Counsall. I wes thair mouth. The Chanceler* desyrit ws to gang to
the kirk, and to prais God for his Majesties miraculous delyuerie fra
that vyle tressoun. We ansuerit, all in ane voice, We could nocht be
certane of the tressoun, and thairfoir we could mak na mentioun of it ;
bot we sould keep the gcncrall, and say he wes delyuerit fra ane greit
danger. Or, vtherwyis if thair Lordships wald suffer ws to byde,
quhill we mycht haue the certaintie, we sould nocht onlie blais the
tressoun, bot we sould be content that his hous sould be made ane
Jax. Thay said it suld be sufficient to reid his Majesties letter.
We ansuerit that we could nocht reid his letter, and dout of the
treuth of it. It war better to say generallye, iff the report be trew ; —
[but] the Counsall wald nocht haue na conditioun, — wald nocht haue
na iffis nor andis. With this, Mr Dauid Lyndsay3 come in, and
shew that he had bene at Falkland, and begouth to recount the storie
of it ; so it wes thocht that he, in respect he had harde the treuth out
of the Kingis awin mouth, that he should gif to God prais for all ;
and our consent wes cravit thairto ; and as to me, I said, " Sa that ye
wald speik the treuth, as he wald ansuer to God, I wes hairtlie weill
content." Sa Mr Dauid, with the haill Counsall, yeid to the Croce,
and thair made ane publict thanksgeving. With this, I luikit that the
Counsall had bene satisfyit, and that thay sould haue reportit to his
* John Graham, Earl of Montrose. * Minister of Leith.
OF HIS TROUBLES. A. D. 1600. 163
Majestic of ws. Bot be the plane contrair, they reportit to his [Ma
jestic] veray ill of ws ; and said, that we had disobeyit thair charge,
and wald in na wayis prayse God for his deliwery ; and so incensit
the King, in so hie ane mowde, that sa sone as he come ower the
water, we wer all chairgit be the messenger.
Vpon Tyisday the twelt day of August, we compeirit efter none.
The King begouth and speirit at me, in name of the rest, " Quhy
we had disobeyit him and his Counsall, and wald nocht pvayse God
for his delyuerie ?" — We shew that we had not dissobeyit, bot we
wes redie all to haue praysit God (as we did vpoun the Sabboth im-
mediatlie following) for his Majesties delyuerie generallye, bot we
could nocht enter into the particular to qualifie quhat sort of danger
it wes, in respect we had na certaintie. — " Had ye nocht my letter
(sayis the King) to schaw yow the certantie ?" — " Sir, we saw your
Majesties letter : — your letter buire na particular ; it spak onlie of
ane danger in generall, and we wes content to follow it."—" Could
nocht my Counsall (said his Majestie) assure yow of the particularis ?"
— With this he addressit him to the President.4 " Assurit ye nocht
him ?" sayis he to the President. The President said, " Yis, Sir !
we all assured thame of the certantie of the tressoun."— " Sir, with
thair honouris, they had ressauit na informatioun, except Dauid
Moysses bill, and Johnne Grahame of Bagonie his report, quho
come in the meane tyme that your Lordship wes at the Counsall,
and thir twa reportis they faucht sa togidder, that na man could
hawe ane certantie of it." Vpstart the Secritour,6 and said they agreit
4 Alexander Seton, President of the Court of Session, afterwards created Earl of
Dunfermline.
5 James Elphinstone of Innereity, afterwards created Lord Balmerino.
166 NARRATIVE BY MR ROBERT BRUCE,
wery weill ; and so said the President. I ansuerit, " I had Dawie
Moysses6 letter to testifie the contrair."
To lewe farder commoning, the King at the last speirit, " How ar
ye yit persuadit ? Ye haue harde me, — ye haue harde my minister, —
ye haue harde my Counsall, — ye haue harde the Erie of Mar tuiching
the report of this tressoun. Quhither ar ye yit frelie persuadit or
not ?" — " Suirlie, Sir, I wald haue farder licht or I preichit it, and
persuadit the peopill ; and iff I wer nathing bot ane previe subject,
nocht ane pastour, I could reuerence and rest vpoun your Majesties
report, as the rest dois." — " Then ye are nocht fully persuadit ?" —
" Yea, sir." His Majestic speiris nixt at Mr James Balfour, " Ar
ye fullie persuadit ?" His ansuer wes, " I sail speik nathing to the
contrair, Sir." — " Bot ar ye nocht persuadit ?" — " No yit, Sir," sayis
he. Mr William Watsoun said siclyke. Mr Walter said, that
" he wald affirme all that Mr Dauid Lyndsay preichit into the pul-
pet in presens of your Majestic yisterday." — " Quhat said Mr Da
uid ?" sayis the King. " Mr Dauid foundit him vpoun your Ma
jesties report, and made ane faithfull recounte of your reporte, and
sa sail we, Sir." — " Think ye (sayis the King) that Mr Dauid doutit
of my reporte ? Quhair is Mr Dauid ?" sayis he. So Mr Dauid wes
incontinently sent for, and brocht befoir the Counsall. " Dout ye ?'
sayis the King — " ar ye nocht certanelie persuadit of this tressoun ?"
— " Yis, Sir, (sayis he) I am persuadit in conscience of it." — " Now,
(sayis he) Mr Walter, are ye surelie persuadit indeid ?" — " Sir, (sayis
he) I wald haue farder tyme and lycht." — " Weili, another of yow !"
6 Moyse was author of a volume of Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland from 1577
to 1603, first printed at Edinburgh, 1755, 12mo. In these Memoirs he has intro
duced the King's Narrative of the Conspiracy.
OF HIS TROUBLES. A. D. 1600. 167
sayis the King. He speiris at Mr Johne Hall, " Ar ye fullie per-
suadit ?" sayis he. " I wald haue the ciuill tryell going befoir, Sir,
that I micht be persuadit." — " Another of yow !" So he speiris at Mr
Peter [Hewat] — " Mr Peter, quhidder ar ye persuadit or not ?" —
" Sir, (sayis he) I suspect nocht your proclamation." — " Bot quhidder
beleive ye it or not ?" — " The President hard (sayis he) quhat I said
the last Sabboth." And so the President begouth to justifie him ; bot
the King insistit, — " Bot lat me heir himself, (sayis he.) Quhither
beleue ye my proclamatioun or not ?" — " Sir, (sayis he,) I beleue it."
With this, we wes all demist, and stude thairout ane gude space,
till at the last the messinger come for ws, with ane row, [roll]
quhairin all our names wer writtin, and ane skoir drawin vpoun Mr
Peteris heid and Mr George Robesounes. They twa wer bidden
byde still, and the rest (we to wit) wer callit ben vpoun. So we come
in. Now the Chancelar pronunceis the sentance against ws, and first,
dischairgeis ws preiching, wnder the pane of deid, throwout all his
Majesties dominioun ; and nixt, chairges ws out of Edinburgh, that
we cume nocht neir it be ten myles, and that wnder the pane of
death ; also within fourtie aucht houris efter the charge. We
thankit thair Lordships maist humblie, and said thair sentance wes
werray welcome ; and so we departit, and remanit that nycht into
the towne. And the morne, quhilk wes Wednisday, we gaue in ane
new supplicatioun, be commoun consent, quhairin we offerit thir
thre thingis : First, to geue God thankis for his Majesties delyuer-
ance maist hairtlie ; Secundlie, to mak ane faithfull report, as his
Majestic had delyuerit ws, of the haill storye tuiching that tressoun ;
168 NARRATIVE BY MR ROBERT BRUCE,
Thridlie, we offerit to speik nathing to the contraric, bot to do all
the gude offices that micht serue to nurish his Majesties credeit and
estimation!! into his peopillis hairtis.
All men thocht that this supplicatioun could nocht haue bene re-
fusit ; yit it was refusit, and ansuer gevin vpoun the bak of our bill,
That we sould first confes ane fault, and craue his Majestie pardoun
maist humblie ; nixt, that we sould cstemc the storye of that tres-
soun ane wndowtit treuth, and publish it as ane wndowtit treuth to
our flokis. We seing our bill refusit, at last we craue ane proroga-
tioun of our day, that we may haue farder licht ; bot this wes refu
sit also. Sa vpoun the Thurisday, in the morning, we departit off
the toun, and come that nyclit to the auld Ladie Quhittingames, and
thair remanit ane quhyle, and out of that yeid to Coldinknowes, and
out of that to Craillene in Tiwedaill, and thair remanit ane quhyle,
and come bak to Cowdenknowis, and out of Cowdenknowis to Mor-
pett, and from Morpett to Arnistoun ; and thair, vpoun the Thuris
day, quhilk wes the fyft day of September, we ressauit ane new
charge, quhairin we wes chairgit, at the mercat cross of Edinburgh,
to compeir before his Majestie and his Counsell in Stirling, Mr
William Watson, vpoun Tyisday, quhilk wes the nynte day : Mr
Johne Hall and Mr Walter to compeir vpoun Wednisday, quhilk
wes the tent ; and I and Mr James Balfour to compeir vpoun Thuris
day, quhilk wes the ellevint. We wes chairgit to sie farder pwnish-
inent inflictit vpoun ws, and that for our obstinat blindnes, (as they
call it,) and for our perswading of vtheris to dout in the partis quhair
we come.
OF HIS TROUBLES. A. D. 1600. 169
Vpoun the morne efter we had ressauit this charge, I raid to North
Berwick, and wes in Eist Fentoun all nycht, and vpoun the morne
efter we corssit the water at the Erles-fferrie, quhair I wes werry
extreme seik ; and efter we had landit, we come first to Mr William
Scottis in Carmurie, and thair we gat worde that our brederene wes
departit immediatlie befoir ws in Innerketbing. Sa we remanit thair
all the Sabboth day, and on the Mononday tuik our jorney towards
Innerkething. And we come to Innerkething, we gat worde thair that
our bretherene wes departit immediatlie befoir to the Pow-hous to
wards Stirling ; and I crossit the watter at the Quenes-ferrye, and
come to Dundas that nycht. Vpoun the morne, quhilk wes Tyisday,
I come to the Kerse at ewin, and on the morne, quhilk wes Wed-
nisday, I raid to Stirling, nane in cumpanie with me except my twa
men and my self. My broder Johnne convoyit me to the Sauchin-
furde, and thair left me, and went hame. My bretheris, twa of thair
day is being past, Mr Williame Watsoun is commandit first in waird ;
bot the morne efter, his humble supplicatioun being gevin in, quhair-
in he shew he wes resoluit, he wes relaxit frome his wairde, and ap-
poyntit to gang to sa mony kirkis to publish his resolutioun. Mr
Walter and Mr Johne Hall appoyntit siclik to gang to vther kirkis
in the cuntrie to publish thair resolutioun. As to me, in respect I
wes nocht fullie resolute, I wes chargit to remane within the place of
Airth, vpoun Thurisday the ellevint day of September, and thair to
remane quhill the aucht day of October ; and thairefter to depart the
cuntrie, and nocht to returne, athir to Ingland or Scotland, till I gat
his Majesties licence. Sa as yit we continew in this wairde.
170
My hert ! 7 I gat nocht lassure quhill now, to write the particularis
of this our last comperance. I send yow Mr William Watsoun
his bill, hot sensyne he gaiff in his supplicatioun, and he hes gottin
his waird releiffit him, and is send to sum kirkis to teiche as the rest
ar. As to me, as God in his prowidence sewerit ws all the way,
that I culd never ourtaik thame, sa we ar severit in this sentance.
The particulars of my examination!! is : — The Chanceler, sa sone as
I come in, gart me hald vp my hand, and sweir, that I sould speik
the treuth. First, he speirit quhair I had bene ? I said, I wes in
East-Lowdiane. He speirit, gif I wes in ony vther partis ? I said I
wes in the Merss. Then he speirit, in quhat part of Eist-Lowdiane ?
I said, in the auld Lady Quhittinghames. Then he speirit, in
quhat part of the Merss ? I said, in Cowdenknowis. Then he speirit,
wes I in na vther part of the countrie ? I said, yis, I wes in Tyvi-
daill. Then he speirit, quha wes with yow in your cumpanye ? I shew
him that the Principal! of the Colledge, and sum of the Regentis,
Efter this he speirit gif I wes resoluit twiching this last tressoun
or nocht ? I ansuerit, " I am in the way of resolutioun, bot nocht
fullie resoluit." Sayis his Majestic, " Quhat movis yow mair nor
the rest of your bretherene ? they say, all they ar fullie resoluit.
Mr Johne Hall sayis he is mair nor resoluit ; Mr Walter sayis he
wes seik quhen the worde first come, bot fra tyme he travellit in Fyfe,
i This appears to be the copy of a letter, written by Mr Bruce to his wife, after
his appearance before the King and Council at Stirling.
OF HIS TROUBLES. A. D. 1600. 171
he become resoluit ; Mr Williame Watsoun lies gevin in his sup-
plicatioun to the King ; and Mr James Balfour, he is ewin now
gane furth, saying that he is resoluit. And, Mr Rohert, ye wes hot
thair mouth, quhy sould ye speik vtherwyis nor the bodie biddis
yow ?" — " Sir, I speik na vther wayis. I wes thair mouth indeid,
choissin be thame, sanctifiet be prayer, and luik quhat ewer I spak
to the counsall I had thair desyre and voit thairto, and I am per-
suadit, Sir, that they ar nocht fullie resoluit yit." — " Then (sayis he)
they spak ane thing to yow, and ane vther thing to me." — " I will
not say that, Sir, hot I sail speik the treuth." — " And ye pleis (sayis
he) I sail gar thame all cume in befoir yow, and say that they ar
fullie resoluit."
I seing that his Majesties drift wes this, to put ws be the earis
this way, I ansuerit — " Weill, Sir, lat thame leiff in thair awin
fayth, I mon leiff in myne. As to me, I purpois, be Godis grace, .
to keip the thing that I speik ; sa far as I canne I sail preiche, and
farder I will nocht promeis. Thair is twa thingis that movis me to
enter in the way of resolutioun. Thair is first the depositioun of
George Craigingelt, as I hard. I, of eventour, met be the way
yisterday, cumming to this toune, ane young man of Edenburgh,
callit Robert Car, quha shew me that he wes in St Johnstoun at
the executioun of George Craigingelt, and wes vpoun the skaffald, and
James Kynneir, clerk to our sessioun, and Robert Askene, tailyeour,
quha all hard the said George Craigingelt say, " That he wald nevir
have beleiffit that my Lord, his master, had ony enteres in that mater,
war nocht, efter he had gane in to the ludging, and land the twa
PART FIRST. Y
172
croces lying, he tuik vp first my Lordis cross, and then tak vp
the Masteris, and laid thame togidder ; and with this he tuik ane
lang tyme, and weipit, remembering my Lord. Efter this, I yeid,
sayis he, to Andro Hendersounes house, quhair I and he lamentit,
and speirit at him, gif he knew that my Lord had ony enteres?
Andro ansuerit that it [wes] my Lord himself that gart him ga vp
to the galerye chalmer, and put him into the rowme. And I wes
dressing the dessert, sayis he, quhen I saw Andro ga vp the stair,
and wist nocht quhat it menit." — Iff this be trew, Sir, that George
deponis this, in respect he deyit sa weill, I will rest vpoun his testi-
monie as ane. And this same day I haue writtin to James Kinneir,
our clerk, and to Robert Askene, that thai may testifie quhidder
they hard sick thing or nocht. Sa, Sir, I am als diligent as I can.
Nixt, Sir, gif this Andro Hendersoun — if he speik trew, and die with
that confessioun, I will be satisfy it for my awin part."
Heir the Controller8 interrupis me — " Will ye trow ane condemp-
nit man better nor the King, and his Counsall ?" — " My Lord,"
say I, " and he die penitentlie, I will trust him : I saw Ramsay,
the fals nottar, die werrey penitentlie ; and fra tyme that God res-
saue the saule, I think that we may ressaue the testimonye." Sayis
the Controller, " He saiffit the Kingis lyfe." — " As to that I can
nocht tell ; hot, and it wer for na mair bot onlie this, that he ira-
ployit nocht the quhinger, that he threw out of the Masteris hand
vpoun the Master him self, I say justlie he audit to die. For, I say
he sould have strukin the tratour, and nocht haue fauldit it vp in
* Sir David Murray of Gospetrie, afterwards created Lord Scoone.
OF HIS TROUBLES. A. D. 1600. 173
his cloik." — " Indeed, (quoth the King,) I waitt nocht quhidder he
fauldit it vp or nott !" — Then, sayis the Controller, " Quhat if he ga
bak of the thing that he hes deponit." — "I tell yow, my Lord, his tes-
timonye is the war." — " Thairfor (sayis he) it wer the better to keip
him alywe." — " Na, (my Lord,) ye sould prefer the Kingis honour
to his lyfe : ffor it will serve gritlie to his honour gif he die peni-
tentlie." — Then sayis the King, " I sie ye will nocht truist me, nor
the nobill men that wes with me, except ye try me." — " Sir, your
•will can nocht be constranit. I may weill ley to yow in my mouth,
bot I can nocht truist bot efter tryell." — " I sie, Mr Robert, that ye
wald mak me ane murderar. It is kend werray weill that I wes
neuer bloode thristie. And iff I wald haue tane thair lyfles, I had
causs anew ; I misterit nocht to haue hazard my selff sa !" — " Suirlie,
Sir, I will nocht mak yow a murderer, — yea, Sir, suppois I knew it wer
sa. I will neither withdraw my affectiouu nor obedience fra your
sendee. I wald onlie preis to draw yow to repentance, in respect ye
ar nocht subject to our punitioun."
Heir my Lord of Mar spak and said, " I marwell that ye will
nocht truist men that saw his hand in his thrott, and hard the King
cry." — " My Lord, (say I,) and ye wes thair to heir and to sie, sa
ye may the mair easilie credite." Heir, the Pryer of Blantyre, Mr
Edward [Bruce,9] and all start vp, " Quhy stand ye in ane thing sa
cleir ?" — " Becaus, I will nocht haue yow to luike for mair of me nor
I speik. I gat nevir ane tyme to try thingis. I hard nevir my Lord
of Mar heir, nor my Lord Duik out of his awin mouth, nor, I haue
9 Mr Walter Stewart, Commendator of Blantyre, and Mr Edward Bruce, Abbot
of Kinloss, two of the Lords of Session.
in
nocht libertie to ga to Edinburgh, nor to Sanct Jolinstoun, to sie,
and I can get na full resolutioun without thir thingis." Sa the King
takis vp, " Then (sayis he) this is your speiking. Ye ar bot in the
way. Ye ar nocht fullie resoluit yit." — " Yis, Sir, I am in the way,
if thir thingis try trew."
Sa he demist me, and I thocht with ane werrie loving counte
nance, and luikit certainlie for ane guid ansuer, bot I wes newer cal-
lit ben on agane. The first newis that evir I hard, your maister,
Archibald Douglas, cummis furth, and he chairgis me to enter in
waird within the toun of Airth, and thair to remane quhill the aucht
day of October, and efter that, he chairgis me to pass aff the coun-
trey, and nevir to returne, quhill his Majestic geue me licence. I
desyrit the chairge in write, and the clerk hes promesit to gif it to
Anten Bruce, and to send me. Mr Eduart Bruce come to me af-
foir we yeid to the counsall, and sperit at me, " Giff I wes resoluit ?"
I assurit him that I wes nocht yit. " I marvell of yow (sayis he,)
your haill bretherene sayis, all they ar mair nor resoluit." " I assure
yow, my Lord, of the contrair. They ar all with me, and I ken thair
myndis." — " Bot ye sail trust me (quoth he.) They spak it at
large."^-" Trubill yow nocht with that, my Lord." — " I knaw the
contrair be thame selffis," sayis he agane. " I assure yow, Sir, (sayis
he,) ye will be wrackit and ye be nocht fullie resoluit." — " I may
nocht do with it, my Lord, (sayis I ;) I sail tak it in patience be
Godis grace." — " I pray yow, (sayis he,) keip ane gude countenance,
and gif ws werray gude wordis." — " That I sail do, my Lord, (sayis
I,) be Godis grace."
OF HIS TROUBLES. A. D. 1600. 175
I hard that Mr Eduart wes instant in the couusall for ane licence
to me, gif he wald haif me aff the cuntrey, bot the King wald nocht
on na wayis ; bot wald haue me banishit, to the end that my leving
micht fall. The King wald haue had me also in ane vther waird,
but heir the Thesaurar interponit him selff, and said, it could nocht
be. I behouit to prepair my selff befoir I yeid aff the cuntrey.10
This is my caise, My hert, and, indeid, to say the treuth, iff we had
spokin all ane thing, I had nocht bene in this cace. And yit, I
wald nocht haue thair cace for all the benefite they haue gottin ; ffor
the Court gevis it out that they ar send to mak thair repentance
ilkane of thame in sa mony kirkis. And indeid thair act beiris that
they sail confes thair errour, and thair incredulitie, and shaw that
thay ar fullie resoluit. Sa, he makis ane trimnphe and ane spectacle
of thair ministrie ; and Mr Williame Watsoun shew me that he rewis
fra his hairt that he enterit nocht in waird. Mr Peter [Hewat]
shew me that he had requestit Mr Patrick Galloway weray eirnest-
lie to byde my day, and to help me, as he had done the rest. But he
10 Robert Bruce of Kinnaird, was a younger son of Bruce of Airth. At the time
of the above occurrence, he was the most popular minister in Scotland, and his doubt
ing the truth of the Conspiracy, being considered as " the principall cause of the
doubt of many of his Hienes sklander," may in some measure have occasioned the
treatment he experienced. But his conduct shewed that he was resolved nothing
should be able " to staine the glorie of his ministrie." His friends having in vain
endeavoured to procure a remission of his sentence, he embarked at the Queensfeny,
November 3, 1600, and on the eighth of that month arrived at Dieppe, in France,
where he resided for some time. Although permitted subsequently to return to his
native country, he was not allowed to resume his ministerial labours in Edinburgh,
chiefly in consequence of his having so steadily refused to profess a belief in the al
leged Conspiracy. He died in the year 1631.
176 NARRATIVE BY MR ROBERT BRUCE, &c.
wald nocht byde ane hour, gat out of the toun, and raid away. The
Secretar was thair also. Sa, that as I shew yow, this wes ane laid
plat for me, say quliat I wald haue said, etc.
EDINBURGI
REGIME SCOTORUM URBIS DESCRIPTIO,
PER ALEXANDRUM ALESIUM, S.T.D.
TEMPORE JACOBI V.
PART II
URBS antiqua jugis furgens accliribus, omni
Ex aditu, Isetns fegetes, laetifque propinquos
Culminibus montes, et amicum mercibus sequor
Profpiciens ; potis armorum ; quaque ultima longe
Scotia porrigitur, fuperans florentibus urbes
Divitiis ; augnila fedet ubi curia regni :
Nota Puellaniin prius Arx, quam nomine dicunt
None EDINBURGUM : templis domibufque fuperba,
Tutaque mannoreis excelfae molibus arcis ;
Gens humana, DEUM, puri ealtiHiina ritus,
Chriftus ut inf lituit, fumma pietate reretur ;
Maxima ubi Temper colit obfervantia regem, &c.
HADR. DAMMAN. Schediaftnata. Edinb. 1590, 4to.
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.
DURING the interminable wars between the Scots and English,
Edinburgh remained a place of small extent and importance; as
the protection afforded by the vicinity of the Castle, then deemed
impregnable, was insufficient to preserve the town from being fre
quently plundered or burned in times of predatory warfare. Such
a calamity, however, seems at that period to have been but lightly
regarded ; and a passage in a contemporary historian, relating to
the invasion of Scotland by the Duke of Lancaster, at Easter, in
1384, intimates, that the inhabitants of Edinburgh, upon the ap
proach of the English army, conveyed their goods and cattle be
yond the Forth, and even carried away the straw roofs of their
houses, as some security against a conflagration.1
In the following year, (August 1385,) Richard II., at the head
of a considerable force, taking advantage of an inroad which the
Scots had made into the Northern parts of England, advanced to
wards Edinburgh, and having resided there a few days, consigned
the town to utter destruction. According to Froissart, at that time
1 " Ad quam cum venissent, nihil prater domos vacuas invcnerunt, et non tantum
racuas, sed omne stramentum tectorum depositum propter incendium, et detractum."
(Walsingham, Hist. Angl. p. 308.) Edinburgh owed its preservation at that time to
the Duke of Lancaster, who allowed the inhabitants three days to carry off their goods
" into the forests beyond the Forth ;" so that, (says Holinshed,) " when the armie came
thither, they found nothing but bare ivalls, which grieved the soldiers not a little."
C 180 ]
" the Kyng of Englande, came and lodged in Edenborrowe, the
" chefe towne in all Scotlande, and there taryed fyve dayes, and at
" his departyng, it was set afyre, and brent up dene ; but the cas-
" tell had no hurt, for it was stronge ynough, and well kept." 3
Froissart, in the account he gives of the reception of Jehan de
Vienne, Adm?ral of France, with the French troops which came
to Scotland in the year 1385, to assist Robert II. in his invasion of
England, has preserved a brief but not uninteresting notice of
Edinburgh ; which, although the metropolis of Scotland, was not,
in his opinion, to be compared with some of the subordinate towns
in France. " Edenborough, (says the historian, in the words of his
" translator,) though the Kynge kepte there his chefe resydence,
" and that it is Parys in Scotland, yet it is nat like Tourney or Va-
" lencennes, for in all the towne is nat foure thousande houses ;
" therefore, it behoved these lordes and knyghts to be lodged about
" in [the neighbouring] villages." The French, it seems, " founde
" a wylde countrey of Scotland ;" and we are presented with a de
plorable account of the poverty and rudeness of the people, and
of their most uncourteous reception of their allies ; for we are in
formed they " dyde murmure and grudge, and sayde, Who the
" devyll hath sent for them ? What do they here ? Cannot we
" mayntayne our warre with Englande well ynoughe without their
" helpe ? We shall do no good as longe as they be with us. Let
" it be shewed unto theym, that they may returne agayne, and that
" we be stronge ynough in Scotland to mayntayne our warre with-
" out theym : and therefore we wyll none of theyr company. They
* Froissart's Chronicles, translated by Lord Berners, vol. ii. fol. iii. and fol. xi.
C 181 ]
" understand not us, nor we theym ; therefore we cannot speke to-
" guyder : they wyll annone ryffle and eat up alle that ever we have
" in this countrey : they shall doo us more dispytes and damages
" than thoughe the Englysshemen shulde fyght with us ; for thoughe
" the Englysshe men brinne our houses, we care lytell therefore ;
" we shall make them agayne chepe ynough : we axe but thre dayes
" to make them agayne, if we maye gete foure or fyve stakes and
" bowes to couer them"
During the fifteenth century, Edinburgh must have made great
advances in improvement, as may be inferred from existing remains
of public as well as private buildings of that period. The ancient
collegiate church of St Giles, destroyed by the English in their de
vastations in 1385, had been rebuilt in a style of greater magnifi
cence, with many other churches, monasteries, and chapels ; and the
suburbs of the town, laid out in gardens.3 To add also to the se
curity of the inhabitants, against the invasion " of owr aid ene-
" myis of England," James II. granted the community, by charter in
1450, the privilege of fortifying the city and surrounding it with a
wall ; with " full license and leiff to fosse, bulwark, wall, toure,
" turate, and uthir wais to strength our forsaids burgh." A few
years later (in 1478,) Edinburgh is styled a place of opulence ;4
its importance having been greatly increased, when it became the
seat of government and of the supreme courts, as well as the usual
residence of the Scottish monarch.
3 The lands to the south of the Cowgate were mostly laid out in gardens belong
ing to the Convent of Black Friars, and Church of St Mary in the Fields ; while the
grounds farther to the west were in a similar manner laid out by the Grey Friars.
1 " Ditissimnm oppidum." Contin. Ann. Croyl. (Fell, Script* Hist. Angl. p. 563.)
C 182
In considering the state of Edinburgh at an early period, it may
be remarked, that the town seems always to have been stigmatized
for want of cleanliness ; probably owing to the confined accommo
dation which the inhabitants enjoyed within the walls of the city.
Thus, for instance, in the reign of James IV., the poet Dunbar ex
claims against the merchants of Edinburgh for their inattention
to external appearance, in a curious and hitherto unpublished satire,
of which we shall quote a few verses :—
I.
QUHY will ge, Merchantis of renoun,
Lat EDINBURGH, gour nobill toun,
For laik of reformatioun
The commone proffeitt tyne and fame I
Think ge not fchame ?
That ony uther regioun
Sail with dif honour hurt gour name.
II.
May nane pas throw gour principal! gaitis,
For i i ink of haddockis and of fcaittis ;
For cryis of carlingis and debaittis,
For fenfum flyttingis of defame :
Think ge not fcharae ?
Befoir ftrangeris of all eftaitis
That lie dil I lonour hurt gour name.
HI.
3our Hiukaiul (cull, that flandis dirk,
Ilaldis the lycht fra gour parroche kirk ;
Sour foirftair makis gour houfes mirk,
Lyk na cuntray hot heir at hame :
Think ge not fchame ?
Sa litill polefie to work
In hurt and fklander of gour name.
IV.
At gour hie croce, quhair gold and filk
Sould be, thair is bot crudis and milk ;
And at gour trone but cokill and wilk,
Panfches, pudingis of Jok and Jame :
Think ge not fchame ?
Sen as the world fayis that ilk
In hurt and fclander of gour name.9
The following account first appeared in 1550 ; and, although
probably written at that time,6 it may be considered as descriptive
5 Dunbar's Works, vol. i. now in the press.
6 The author, Alexander Alesius or Alesse, was a native of Edinburgh, and born
23d April, 1500. From his having embraced the reformed faith about the time when
E 183 ]
of the town during the earlier part of the reign of James V. Being
the earliest known description of Edinburgh, it is matter of regret
that the account is so meagre and concise ; it may, nevertheless,
serve to illustrate the accompanying plan, which also is presumed
to be the most ancient delineation of the city now extant. The
original sketch is preserved in the British Museum,7 and may,
from various circumstances, be assigned to May 1544," at which
time, it is well known, Edinburgh was exposed to complete devas
tation by the English forces under command of the Earl of Hert
ford,9 the city having been set on fire, and continuing to burn
during three days ; " so that neither within the walls, nor in the
Patrick Hamilton, the first Scottish martyr, was brought to the stake, (1527), our
author, who was threatened with a similar fate for heresy, left Scotland in 1532, and
appears never to have revisited it. After a short abode in England, where he was
patronized by Cranmer, he went abroad, and was appointed Professor of Divinity at
Francfort, and afterwards at Leipzig, and held that situation till the time of his death,
which took place the 17th March, 1565.
7 MS. Cotton. Augustus 1. vol. ii. Art. 56. The lithographic fac-simile is exe
cuted with great accuracy, and coloured in imitation of the original drawing, by Messrs
Engelmann, Graff, and Coindet, London. The colouring perhaps may indicate that
the roofs of the houses in the city were covered with tiles, while those in the suburbs
were only thatched.
8 The name given to Holyrood (" the Kyng of Scottes palais,") evidently denotes
the sketch to have been made by an Englishman ; and such a name it may be sup
posed to have still retained, although at that time (two years after the death of James
V.) there was no " King of Scots." The approach of the English army from Leith,
and their entering by the Water-gate at the lower extremity of the Canongate, cor
respond with the narrative of the Earl of Hertford's progress.
9 From the contemporary account of the Earl of Hertford's Expedition in May
1544, we learn that the English army was deterred from laying siege to the Castle
of Edinburgh, but that the town itself was entirely destroyed by fire. With regard to
[ 184 3
" suburbs, was left any one house unburnt." As the walls of the
houses remained, the city would appear to have been speedily re
paired ; and, in Patten's history of the Expedition of September
1547, under the Duke of Somerset, we are told that " My Lord's
" Grace, for consideracions mooving hym to pitee, having al this
" while spared Edenborowe from hurt, did so leave it."
the castle, we are told " the situation is of such strength, that it can not be approched
" but by one waye, whiche is by the hyghe strete of the towne ; and the strongest
" parte of the same lyeth to beate the sayde strete : . . . And consyderynge the strength
" of the sayde castell, with the situation therof, it was concluded not to lose any
" tyme, nor to waste and consume our munition about the siege therof, all be it the
" same was courragiously and daungerously attempted ; tyl one of our peices, with
" shotte out the sayde castel, was stroken and dismounted.
" And, finally, it was determyned by the sayde Lorde Lieutenant utterly to ruyn-
" ate and destroye the sayde towne with fyer ; which, for that the nyghte drewe faste
" on, we omytted thoroughly to execute on that daye ; but settynge fyer in thre or iiii.
" partes of the towne, we repayred for that night unto our campe. And the nexte
" mornynge, very erly, we began where we lefte, and continued burnynge all that daye,
" and the two dayes nexte ensuinge contynually, so that neyther within the wawles nor
" in the suburbes was lefte any one house unbrent, besydes the innumerable botyes,
" spoyles, and pyllages, that our souldyours brought from thense, notwithstanding ha-
" bundance which we consumed with fyer. Also, we brent thabbey called Holy Rode-
" house, and the pallice adjonyngc to the same." — The town and harbour of Leith
shared a similar fate.
On this occasion, the English ravaged the country so completely, that for several
miles round Edinburgh " they lefte neyther pyle, village nor bouse standynge un-
" brente, nor stakes of corne ; besydes great nombres of cattayles which they brought
" dayly into the armye, and met also with much good stuffe, whiche thinhabitantes of
" Edenborrough hadde, for the savetie of the same, convayed out of the towne."
C 185 J
EDINBURGI REGIME SCOTORUM URBIS
DESCRIPTIO, PER ALEXANDRUM ALESIUM, SCOTUM,
SACR.E THEOLOGY DOCTOREM.'
EST Edinburgus in provincia Laudoniae fita ad auftrum miliario
Italico a brachio maris, in quod influit aranis Fortha, ab occidente ve-
niens. Habet autem civitas ipfa duos monies ad orientem ; auftralior
vocatur Cathedra Arthuri,2 et qui refpicit aquilonem, Collis Apri.
Ager undique fertiliffimus est, amrena prata, fylvulae, lacus, rivuli,
1 This description of Edinburgh was communicated by the Author to Sebastian
Munster, for his Cosmography, — a singularly curious volume, printed at Basle, 1550,
folio. It is here given from that work, compared with the republication in 1572.
The same description, with some unimportant variations, was republished anony
mously, (about the year 1580,) in Braun's Civitates Orbis ; a well known work
containing Views and Plans of the principal Cities of the World, among which is one
with the title " EDINBURGUM." Any person, however, who is acquainted with
the localities of the place may easily perceive that this plan has been delineated by a
foreign artist from the information contained in the printed text, and not from any
actual survey or sketch ; and consequently is of little interest or value. The small
wood-cut view of Edinburgh, contained in Munster's work, is altogether imaginary.
8 In the original « Arthmi," (in Braun, ' Arithmi,') evidently a typographical error,
as the hill of Arthur's Seat is not known to have been ever so called : The Calton-
liill in Braun is also styled Collis Apri, the hill of the Wild-boar, but on what tradition
cannot now be discovered.
PA11T II. A A
186 EDINBURGI REGLE SCOTORUM
arces plures quam centum 3 per circuitum urbis, intra unum miliare
Germanicum. Ad feptentrionem intervallo Italic! miliarii, ut ilixi-
mus, eft brachium maris, juxta quod fitum eft oppidum Letha, in
cujus medio conftructa eft porticus, in qua fimul videre licet centum
magnas onerarias naves.* Habet brachium maris ibi ad aquilonem
in latitudine feptem miliaria. Eft et ex altero latere aquilonari op
pidum et nova porticus extructa.5 Porro Edinburgus fita eft in
monte inftar Pragae, habetque in longitudine miliare Italicum, in la
titudine dimidium. Longitudo accipitur ab occidente in orientem. Ab
occidente urbis afiurgit mons, et alta rupes, atque arx in rupe, fub
qua undique eft profunda vallis, nifi ea parte qua refpicit urbem ;
quare arx eft inexpugnabilis nifi ex urbe,6 nee quisquam ad earn
fcandere poflet etiam fcalis, tam praeceps et dura eft petra, in qua
8 A similar statement respecting the number of gentlemen's seats in the vicinity of
Edinburgh, is made by Fynes Morison, in 1598, and by the Duke de Rohan, who
visited Scotland at the same period.
* Here the importance of Leith is certainly exaggerated ; yet, when the English army,
in 1544, " brake down the peire of the heauen of Lythe, and brent every sty die of
it," and had " set fyre to every house in the town, and brent it to the grund," we are
told that Leith was " founde more full of ryches than we thought to have founde
any Scottishe towne to have been."
5 The word porticus in the text is evidently misapplied, or mistaken forportus.
6 At this period the Castle was deemed impregnable, and inaccessible, except by
the Eastern approach from the High Street. The description which follows may part-
ly be owing to the author's writing from distant and faint recollection :— he may per
haps have formed an exaggerated idea of the height of the Castle rock, from having
attempted to clamber up when a youth ; and indeed it is related, that he had a mi
raculous escape on some such occasion. (Mackenzie's Lives, ii. 144.)
In a subsequent part of this publication, it is intended to insert an account of the
Siege of the Castle by the English forces, in May 1573, accompanied with a plan,
and copies of several original letters of the period relating to that event.
URBIS DESCRIPTIO. 187
vultures nidificant. Harum aviuin nidos depredantur juvenes auda-
ciores, ex arce in fportis demiffi. Haec arx vocatur Caftrum Puel-
larum, clauditque urbem ab occidente. Casterum ad orientem urbis
eft auguftiffimum raonafterium Sanctae Crucis,7 habens annexum pa-
latium regis et amoeniflimos hortos,8 quos claudit lacus ad fundum
mentis Cathedrae Arthuri. In hoc monte inveniuntur praetiofi lapi-
des, clara die radiantes, adamantes praecipue. In urbe funt duse
inagnaj viae ab Arce Puellarum ufque ad monafterium et regium pa-
latium, lapidibus quadris ftratae, praefertim Regia Via. Eft fuburbium
ad occidentem, dimidio miliario longum, vocaturque Via Sancti Cuth-
berti.9 Sunt in urbe multa monafteria et templa, praefertim Francif-
cani, Dominicaftri, ecclefia Mariae de Campo, collegium facerdotum,
et aliud Collegium Trinitatis, Hofpitale S. Thomae.10 Urbs ipfa non
7 The Abbey of the Holy Cross, or Holyrood, founded and richly endowed by
King David I. in 1128, and by some of his successors. During the English expedi
tion of September 1547, the Abbey was ransacked, and in part destroyed. Patten,
in his Narrative of the Expedition, says, " Thear stode south westward, about a quar-
" ter of a mile from our campe a Monasterie, thei call it Holly roode abbey. Sir
" Walter Bonham and Edward Chamberlayne gat lycence to suppresse it ; whear-
" upon these commisioners makyng first theyr visitacion thear, they found the moonks
" all gone : but the church and mooch part of the house well coouerd with leade.
" Soon after, thei pluct off the leade, and had doun the bels (which wear but ii.) ;
" and, according to the statute, did sumwhat nearby disgrace the hous. As touching
" the moonkes, bicaus thei wear gone, thei put them to their pencions at large."
8 The gardens surrounding the Palace of Holyrood appear to have been very exten
sive, and may have given rise to the tradition, that Arthur's Seat and its environs were
once covered with wood.
9 The street of St Cuthbert, now called Portsburgh. The port or gate of which
was built in 1514, and was long the principal entrance into Edinburgh, on the west.
10 St Thomas' Hospital in the Canongate, was founded by Geo. Creighton, Bishop of
Dunkeld, in the reign of James V. rebuilt in 1617, and finally pulled down in 1778.
188 EDINBURGI 11EGLE SCOTORUM
eft conftructa ex coctis, fed natiiralibus et quadris lapidibus,11 ut etiam
fingulae aedes poflent magnis palatiis comparari. In medio urbis eft
capitoliura,12 et ecclefia collegiata Sancti Egidii. Habent epifcopi,
duces, comites, barones, et proceres totius regni, in ipfa urbe fua
palatia, quando vocantur ad comitia.13 Eft palatium regis pofitum
fupra monafterium, ampliflimum, et fuperbiffimum,14 et extenditur
11 Not built of brick, but of unhewn and square stones.
12 This is rather a doubtful expression, as no town-house (unless the Provost of St
Giles's house be considered as such,) or tolbooth is known to have stood in the vici
nity of the church, earlier than the year 1561. The Cross is not taken notice of, nor
does it appear in the old plan ; but, at that period, it may have been a less prominent
and handsome building than the octagon which was taken down in March 1756.
13 The meetings of Parliament, and of Council and Session, were usually held in the
upper rooms of the Tolbooth ; which, being ruinous, was pulled down in 1561,and a new
Tolbooth erected at the expense of the inhabitants. In 1593, on Act of Parliament
was passed for repairing " the Hous of Justice, utherwayis callit the Tolbuith of the
burgh of Edinburgh." The building at the west end of St Giles's Church (pulled
down in 1817,) continued till about the year 1640, when the present Parliament House
was completed, to serve the joint purpose of the high council house and a jail.
11 The view of the old Palace of Holyroodhouse, here introduced, is an accurate
copy of a print, supposed to be engraved about the year 1650, by F. De Witt, a Dutch
artist, from a design by James Gordon, parson of Rothiemay. He was the son of Sir
Robert Gordon of Straloch ; and fortunately had turned his attention to delineating
the public buildings, and drawing plans of the principal cities in Scotland. He exe
cuted a large and accurate survey of Edinburgh, (also engraved by De Witt, in Hol
land,) for which the Magistrates, 2d April 1647, granted him 500 merks ; while, for a
similar survey of Aberdeen, the Council of that city, in 1661, ordered a silver cup,
weighing 20 ounces, to be made and presented to him, with a silk hat, and also a silk
gown to his wife.
The Palace of Holyrood appears to have been built by James IV., and additions
made to it by James V. ; the Abbey having served as the occasional residence of
some of our former sovereigns. It was plundered and burnt by the English in 1544 ;
but probably soon recovered from the effects of this disaster ; for, (as Sir Walter Scott
URBIS DESCRIPTIO. f!85
ab eo ufque ad Arcem Puellarum una perpetua platea, dicta Vicus
Regius, fed quae prope Arcem Puellarum latior, et prope monafterium
anguftior eft : atque haec Regia Via ex utraque parte habet infignes
remarks) " before gunpowder was much employed, the Gothic edifices suffered little
from fire, save the demolition of the roofs." (Provincial Antiquities, pp. 119, 120.)
After the accession of James VI. to the English throne, the Palace had been al
lowed to fall into decay, and at that time seems, from the following inventory drawn
up by order of the Privy Council of Scotland, to have been very completely stripped
of all its moveables : —
" On the 9th of Junii, The Lords of Secreit Counsall thinkis meitt, That the Lord
" Cbancelar and Clerk of Register visite the Palaice of Halyrudhouse, and make in-
" ventar of the insicht and plenissing being thairin, and to delyver the dowbell of the
" same to John Fenton, comptroller clerk, and Thomas Fentoun, keeper of the said
" Palace.
« 10th Junii, 1603.
" Inventar of the movables of Halyrnidhous.
" The quhilk day the Erie of Montroise, Chancellair, and Mr John Skeine, Clerk
" of his Hienes Register, haveing visit the Paleice of Halirnidhous, and everie particuler
" hous of the same, exceptand the gairdrobe, fand na uther thingis by the particulerg
" underwritten, except sum buirdes, furmes and stuillis, nocht worthie to be inrollit.
" In the first, in the counsal hous ane knok : In the over chalmer abone the Quenis
" cabinet, twa peicis of tapestrie : In the Master of Warkis outwith chalmar, ane fair
" wrocht pend for a bed, wantand the heid, and bak pend with courtingis for tlie
" frontell and the fut ; ane chair coverit with purpill velvott, ane coverlet of ane
" buird of reid velvot uponn qnliyt saiting ; ane auld covering of ane bed of chainging
" taffatie. Item, lyand in the transe, be the quhilk thai gang to the wyld bestial],
" twa peices of talpestrie, quhilkis ar deliverit to the keiping of Thomas Fentoun,
" and he to be answerable thairfor. The saidis Lordis ordanis the key of the chal-
" mer duir to be delyverit to the said Thomas Fentonn, quhairintill the bell is hing-
" and, with the haill bnirdis and daskis that war standing thairintill of befoir." — (Lord
Haddington's extracts from the Privy Council Records. MS. Advocates' Library.)
The Palace of Holyroodhouse was eventually destroyed, either by wilfull or accidental
fire, on the 13th of October 1650, at a time when a body of Cromwell's soldiers were
J86f EDINBURGI REGIME SCOTORUM
aedes, potiorefque ex lapide polito conftructas. Porro alia oblonga
via, quae vocatur Vicus Canonicorum,15 eft anguftior, fejungiturque
a Regio Vico muro, porta, et turribus, et reputatur pro fuburbio.
A Regia Via inter auftrum et boream extenduntur infmiti viculi,
qui omnes excelfis funt ornati sedibus, ficut et Via Vaccarum,15 in
qua habitant patricii et fenatores urbis, et in qua funt principum
regni palatia, ubi nihil eft humile aut rufticum, fed omnia magnifica.
Inter majores ecclefias Edinburgi, poft monafterii eximiam bafilicam,
quartered there. The circumstance is thus mentioned in the MS. Diary of Andrew
Nicol, amongst the remarkahle events of that year : — " The body of the English army
being thus quarterd in Edinburgh, Cannogait, Leith, and in several other partes of Lo-
thiane, and a number of the Englisches futemen being lodged within the Abbay of
Haly-Rud hous, it fell out that upone ane Weddensday, being the thretene day of Oc
tober, 1G50, the haill royall part of that Palaice wes put in a flame, and brent to the
grand on all the partis thereof, except a lyttill." The small part which is here stated
to have escaped the conflagration, was the double tower upon the north-west, with the
adjoining building, still known as Queen Mary's apartments, the preservation of which
was no doubt owing to its having been built in a more durable manner, than the other
parts of the edifice. No other view is known to be preserved of the old Palace than
this by Gordon, which shows it to have been a very handsome building.
15 The street of the Canons, or Canongate, was always considered as being in the
suburbs ; and derived its origin and name from the monks of the Abbey of Holyrood.
The Netherbow Port, one of the principal gates of the city, and connecting the High
Street with the Canongate and suburbs, was repaired in 1539. The handsome port,
with its tower and turrets, pulled down in 1763, was of a more recent erection, and
stood farther to the east than the old gateway which is here alluded to.
16 From this passage it would appear that, in the Author's time, the Cowgate was
considered the fashionable part of the town, being the place of residence of the nobi
lity and persons of rank,— a distinction, at successive intervals, transferred to the Ca
nongate, the Castle-hill, and Brown's Square, previous to the migration of the inhabi
tants to the New Town. The suburbs of the Cowgate were inclosed with the city
wall on its extension in the year 1513.
URBIS DESCRIPTIO.
primum locum tenet collegiata ecclefia S. Egidii,17 conftructa in me-
dio Regise Via?. Deinde in vico qui dividit Edinburgura a Via Ca-
nonicorum et fuburbio, eft ecclefia magnifica vocata Collegium Re-
ginse intra Muros.18 Item inter monafteria Francifcanorum19 et
Prsedicatorum20 fita eft ecclefia Mariae de Campo,21 ubi quoque eft
collegium facerdotum. Et fub rupe Arcis Puellarum fita eft nova
parochia S. Cuthberti.82
17 The old church of St Giles, destroyed by the English in 1385, is said to have
been but a mean building. That it was speedily rebuilt, appears from the accounts
of the Great Chamberlain of Scotland, in which are recorded various sums contributed
by the King, between the years 1390 and 1413, towards the expense of the fabric of
the parish church of St Giles or the burgh of Edinburgh. But it is certain that the
present building, (which has at subsequent periods undergone a great variety of
changes,) was not completed for many years thereafter ; and the armorial bearings
in various parts of the church, plainly indicate, that it was not finished until the reign
of James II. In the year 1466, a charter was procured from James III. by the
Magistrates, erecting St Giles into a collegiate church. During the reign of his suc
cessor, it had for its Provost the celebrated Gavin Douglas, the poet, afterwards
Bishop of Dunkeld.
18 Trinity College Church, on the N.E. of Edinburgh, founded by Mary of Gneldres,
Queen of James II. in 1462, but left unfinished, as it now remains, the choir, central
tower, and cross of the church only having been erected.
19 The Franciscan order of Friars, called the Grayfriars. Their monastery stood on
the south side of the Grassmarket, with extensive gardens adjoining, including the
High-riggs, or the grounds of Heriot's Hospital and Lauriston.
*° Fratres Prsedicatores, — the Preaching, or Black Friars, of the order of St Do
minic. Their convent, founded in 1230 by Alexander II. on the site of the present
High School, and called in their charter, " Mansio Regis," was accidentally burned
in 1528, and was not wholly rebuilt in 1559, when the Order was suppressed by the
Reformers.
M The Collegiate Church of St Mary in the Fields, the site of the present College,
and famous in history as the scene of Darnley's nturder.
84 The church and parish of St Cuthbert's were granted by David I. in 1128, to the
monastery of Holyrood.
ELEGY
ON SIR EGBERT KERR, OF CESSFORD,
FIRST EARL OF ROXBURGHE.
M.DC.L.
ELEGY ON SIR ROBERT KERR, OF CESSFORD,
FIRST EARL OF ROXBURGHE.
[COMMUNICATED BY sm WALTER SCOTT, BART.]
THE fubject of this elegy was diftinguifhed as much in his younger
days for courage and activity, as in the latter part of his long life
for wifdom and political talent. His life was extended to an un-
ufually long period, as born about the year 1570, he died in 1650.
In his early youth he was deeply engaged in the border-warfare ;
and in the Memoirs of Carey, Earl of Monmouth, feveral interesting
anecdotes are given of the various bickerings which took place be
tween Sir Robert Kerr of Cefsford, which was then his title, and
the English wardens. The Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth, copied from
the correfpondence of Bacon, make frequent mention of " young
Cefsford" at the period when, according to the following verses,
He danton'd England with the Teviotdale spears.
The difturbed ftate of the borders at this time (1596) is alluded
to by Mrs Eleanour Bowes, wife of the Englifh ambaflador : —
" My melancholy mood," fays fhe, " being yet unremoved and the
daily tidings of new murders, harships, and slaughters on the bor
ders, Hill increafing, I fay no more at this time, but again and
192 ELEGY ON SIR ROBERT KERB,
again pray for us, and God fend fome better feasons." Again, Mr
James Colvil informs Bacon, " that there was great trouble on the
borders, which would continue, till order fhould be taken by the
Queen of England and the King, by reafon of the two young Scots
chieftains, Cefiford and Baclugh, and of the present neceffity and
fcarcity of corn amongft the Scots borderers and riders. That there
had been a private quarrel betwixt those two lairds on the borders,
which was like to have turned to blood ; but the fear of the gene
ral trouble had reconciled them, and the injuries, which they thought
to have committed againft each other, were now transferr'd upon
England ; not unlike that emulation in France between the Baron
de Biron and Mons. Jeverie, who, being both ambitious of honour,
undertook more hazardous enterprifes againft the enemy, than they
would have done if they had been at concord together." *
When the border warfare was ended by the union of the Crowns,
Cefsford, being created firft Lord Roxburghe, and then Earl by the
fame title, exchanged his habits of a military chieftain for thofe of
a courtier, in which, notwithftanding fome deficiency in his early
education, he is faid to have excelled. James L, who faid of him, as
we learn from the elegy, that " though no fcholer, he was near akin
to learning," favoured him, and he enjoyed the fmiles of his unfor
tunate succeffor. When the civil wars broke out, the Earl of Rox
burghe adhered to the King's party, yet not with a conduct fo de
cided as to avoid fufpicion. When Montrofe was commanded by
Charles I. to march fouthwards, it was with confiderable reliance on
the affiftance which he would receive from the Earls of Roxburghe,
1 Birch's Memoirs of the Reign of Elizabeth, 1754, vol. II. p. 67.
FIRST EARL OF ROXBURGHE. 193
Home, and Traquair. But as Leflie's troops croffed the border at
the fame time near Berwick, he detached a party of horfe, who ar-
refted both Roxburghe and Home, which Wifcheart, the hiftorian
of the heroic Marquis, alleges was done by their own connivance.
" That cunning old fox, Roxburgh, practifed this artifice as a con-
fummate piece of policy ; he expected to curry favour with the Co
venanters, by having thus voluntarily delivered himielf into their
protection, and at the fame time was in no danger of lofing that of
the King, as he pretended that he fell into their hands much againft
his will. Befides, he had influence enough with the Earl of Hume
to bring him into the fame measures."2 It ought, however, to be re
membered, that the Earl of Roxburghe was at this time extremely
advanced in years, and that Wifcheart is a prejudiced witnefs. Ha
ving declared in favour of the celebrated engagement of the Dukes
of Hamilton, the Earl of Roxburghe was deprived of his office of
Keeper of the Privy Seal by the Prefbyterian Parliament of 1649,
and died 18th January in the fame year.
The verfes appear to have been written by one who regretted a
deceafed benefactor, but his name is unknown. The Epitaph on
R. R. occurs in the fame manufcript, (which is among the papers of
the late Sir Alexander Don of Newton, Bart.) but nothing occurs by
which we can trace the fubject, although he appears to have been a-
person of fome confequence. Perhaps we ought to read R. K. for
Robert Kerr, but the premature death of the elegant fcholar and
accomplished gentleman to whom the manufcript belonged, prevents
us from referring to the original for verification of this conjecture.
8 Wishart's Memoirs of Montrose (Edinburgh, 1819), p. 194.
PART II. B B
194 ELEGY ON ROBERT KERR,
TO THE MEMORIE OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS AND NOBLE
LORD ROBERT, LAITTE EARLE OF ROXBURGHE.
MARS and Minerva did agree in one
To make young Sefsfurde pal't comparifone
For witt and manhoode in his younger years.
He daunted England with the Tevydale fpeirs.
As he inadg'd, he inaibled, and rote
To fouch efteeme, they durft not him oppofe.
No interceflion but that of renowne
Call'd him to court, where he fill'd up his rowme
To admiratione ; for his worth did mount
Through all degreis, till he was creat Countt.
The Solomon of thir dayes said oft of him,
Roxbrough's no fcollar ; yet he's neer a kin
To learning, for his verie natural pairts
Exceed all other fciences and airts.
In points of ftate so ftayd, and for a tryft
His words arre foft and fmooth, yet fo well fpyfte
With reafon and reproofe, that all men faid,
He always did convince, or elfe persuade.
His wifdom balanced to the change of tymes :
Envy itfelf cannot charge him with crymes.
And for difcourfe, Athens and Rome affords
. Patternes of rhetoricke non of richer woords.
FIRST EARL OF ROXBURGHE. 195
His witt, his woorth, his induftree, yea more,
His ftrength ftill flourifhed till he was fourfcore :
Then with the fhield of faith he overcame
Sathan and Sin to triumphe with the Lamb.
I have no pith nor purpofe to run over
All his achievements— they require a Homer ;
But for he prefFer'd more than I did craive,
Juft fix my thankfgiving upon his grave,
And, fighing, fay, thaire lies within this Ihrine
Achilleis valour, Ulyffes's ingine.
S. M.
ON R. R.
MY over weighted Mufe, fo far o'ercome
With grief and wonder, ftands amazed and dumb :
First, to behold with grander worth combyned,
Than both in one fad cell to be enfhryned.
Who cannot, wondering, fee pafs from earth's ftage
Age crowning honour, honour crowning age ?
When this I eyed, I fondlay did affay
This Hero's parts at full for to difplay ;
But from my hands did fall my drippeing quill,
When I perceived my theam outftretch my Ikill
196 ELEGY ON ROBERT KERR, &c.
Not mending, as unlearned limners do,
To draw that beautie they can not reach too,
With trembling blottings fpoiling fome fweet face,
To quhich, by vailing, they may adde more grace ;
For what feems fupprefled, thoughts might underftand,
But might be exprefled by fume higher hand ;
To which vailed filence I refolve to ftay,
And gladly 'd view what quicker witts can fay.
A RELATION
OF THE IMPRISONMENT AND EXAMINATION
OF JAMES CATHKIN, BOOKSELLER.
JUNE, M.DC.XIX.
C 199 ]
A RELATION OF JAMES CATHKIN
HIS IMPRISONMENT AND EXAMINATION ABOUT PRINTING
OF THE NULLITIE OF PERTH ASSEMBLIES BY HIMSELF.4
THURSDAY the 3 of June 1619, I embarked in James Broun's
fchip, in the Panns,3 at 9 houres at night ; bot becaufe I was pour-
pofed to have failled fum 10 or 12 dayes befor, and was ftayed by
contrarie winds, the adverfaries took occafion therof to write to his
Majeftie, and the Bifliop of St Androes,4 being prefent at Court.
1 In the various attempts made by King James to impose the Episcopal form of
worship on the people of Scotland, the most remarkable was the arbitrary manner in
which certain articles were adopted by the Assembly held at Perth, in August 1618,
and which were confirmed by Parliament in 1621. The articles alluded to were five
in number : — 1. Kneeling in the act of receiving the Sacrament. 2. The observance
of festival days. 3. Episcopal Confirmation. 4. Private Baptism. And 5. Private
Communion ; — all of which were peculiarly obnoxious to the people at large. But
King James was so much set upon carrying this measure, that Archbishop Spotiswoode,
at the opening of the Assembly, in urging the necessity of a compliance, said, he was
persuaded " his Majestie would be more glad of the consent of this Assemblie thereunto,
than of all the gold of India"
Cathkin in this Relation (which is preserved in a MS. volume in the possession of
ROBERT GRAHAM, Esq. Advocate,) has given a most curious account of his exami
nation by King James and the Privy Council of England, for a supposed concern in the
publication of an anonymous tract, in 1619, entitled " Perth Assemblie, &c." without
the name of the printer or place, which was written by David Calderwood the historian,
and in which the Nullity of the Assembly was argued in no very gentle terms.
The reader will be amused with the princely and dignified style of " Great Britain's
Solomon," which seems in part to justify his character as delineated by Weldon.
200 A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN.
Upon the which ther was a commiffion directed be Secretaire Col-
uart, at the Ipeciall command of his Majeftie, to feek for me at Mr
Bill's8 houfe, in London, the fame day that I embarked in Scotland.
Bot I not being come, the meflenger gave Mr Bill a ftrait com
mand, that how foon I come ther Mr Bill fould prefent me befor
his Majeftie.
The 12 of June, being Saturday, at 10 houres, I arrived at Lon
don in fafetie, all praife to God ! ; and comming to Mr Bill's befor 12
houres, Mr Bill's mann fchew me that his matter was not within,
bot had left word with him, that quhenfoever I come, I fould not
go abroad wntill fuch time as his mafter come in. So I ftayed and
2 James Cathkin, bookseller and burgess in Edinburgh, in the reign of James VI.
appears on several occasions to have shewn great zeal in the cause of Presbyterian
discipline. From the depositions in a case which came before the Presbytery of Edin
burgh, in July 1593, when he and his elder brother, Edward'Cathkin (who was his part
ner, and probably predeceased him,) were examined as witnesses, we learn that at that
time he was 34 years of age. It was urged against their being received as witnesses,
that in the year 1584 they had been banished the town of Edinburgh for sedition ;
being the time of Arran's administration, when Lawson, Melville, and others of the
Presbyterian clergy, were forced for a time to leave Scotland. The names of Edward
and James Cathkin arc mentioned on various occasions by Calderwood ; (see bis
printed History, pp. 166, 364, 367, 369, 732, and 748,) according to whom, the wri
ter of this relation, at the time specified in the text, had set out to London " to follow
" his lawfull trade ;" and " he landed no sooner at London, but he was apprehended
" and presented before the King, and tried by questions furnished by the Ministers of
" Edinburgh, specially Mr Patrick Galloway. But the Lord assisting him, he profess-
" ed his nonconformity plainly, and purged himself of other things laid to his charge."
Cathkin died 30th Sept. 1631. In the register of his latter will and testament, the
inventory of his property (which included " an immense number of buikis of Divinitie
in Latine, of Hnraanitie and Historic," &c.) amounted to vjm.j°.lxxxiij. li. xiiij. s.
3 The village of Prestonpans, a few miles from Edinburgh.
* Archbishop Spotiswoode. s John Bill, the King's printer.
A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIK 201
dyned. After dinner Mr Bill took me to a chamber, arid fchewed
me Secretarie Coluerd's6 letter, which was fent to him be his Ma-
jeftie's direction, for apprehending of me ; and therfor faid he,
' Yow muft go with me prefentlie to Court.' So we took boat, and
went doun to Greenwich. Bot Secretar Coluard was come up to
London, and therfor ther could be nothing done that night.
The morne being the Lord's day, 13 June, quhat advife I could
gett of Mr Mitchell and Mr Bill I took ; and at 7 houres in the
morning, Mr Bill and I went againe to Greenwich to court, and
i'tayed all that foruoon without heareing of preaching. The King's
fermon being ended, a great courtier come throgh all the great halls,
and cryed, that no mann fould putt up anie fute to his Majeftie that
day, becaufe he wold not be greaved be reafon he had receaved. I
thoght it was good for me that he wold not be angrie. In the af
ternoon, quhen the Counfell was diflolved, the Secretar called upon
Mr Bill and me to come up the back ftaires ; and comeing to the
chalmer beds, quher the attenders lay, we wer lett in, and flayed
ther while the Bifliop of St Androes putt by the hanging, and wavit
with his hand to come in, quher his Majeftie was, in the chamber
of prefence. Bot the Bifliop letting the hanging clofe againe, I
ftayed again while a courtier come • and called me, and broght me
quher his Majeftie was fitting ; at whoes fight I kneeled doune, bot
his Majeftie willed me to come befor him directlie quher he fate in
his chire of eftate ; and fo I did, kneeling doun juft befor him at the
6 Sir George Calvert, Secretary of State. See Wood's Ath. Oxon., vol. ii. p. 565,
edit. 1722.
PART II. C C
202 A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN.
edge of the footcloath. Bot this kneeling repented me, becaufe his
Majel'tie did tak advantage therof. I might have pleaded ignorance,
be reafon I was no courtier.
Firft, his Majeftie demanded me ' quher I duelt ?' ; next, ' quher I
was borne ?' I faid, " If it pleas your Majeftie, I was borne in Edin
burgh, and duells in Edinburgh." King. " Quhat religion ar ye of?"
Cathkin. " Of the religion your Majeftie profefles." K. " The
divell take yow away, both ibule and bodie ! for yow ar none of my
religion ! yow ar a recufant ! yow go not to the church !" C. " If
it pleafe your Majel'tie, I go to the church ; I think no mann will
complain of me in that." K. " Was yow ther on Christmes day ?"7
C. " Not." K. " And why wer yow not tber ?" C. " Becaufe,
Sir, holie dayes have bein caftin out of our kirk, and hes ever bein
preached against fince ever I cann remember ; and we have bein
teach'd that it was fuperftition to keep them." K. " Ar ye not my
fubject ?" C. " I am your Majeftie's moil humble fubject, to ferve
your Majeftie with my life, goods, and all that I have." K. " Ar
ye not a Chriftiane ? Sould ye not keep in memorie the birth, and
paffion, and afcenfion of Chrift ?" C. " Everie day fould be the
7 " Upon the 10th of Februar 1619, Richard Lawson, James Cathken, and John
" Meen, merchants and burgesses of Edinburgh, were summoned to compear before the
" High Commission. They were accused for not coming to the Kirk upon Christmas
" day, for opening of their booth doors, walking before them in time of sermon, dis-
" suading others from going to the kirk, and reasoning against preaching upon that day.
" They answered, they did nothing of contempt ; their reason was to try what warrant
" others had. They were dismissed with an admonition to be modest in their speeches
" and behaviour in time coming." Calderw. Hist. p. 720.
A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN. 203
birth and paffion day of Chrift." K. " Bot efpecially that day.
Why obey yow not your pallors, and goe to heare them ?" C. " I
goe and heares them." K. " Quhen fpak ye with anie of them ?"
C. " If it pleas your Majeftie, I fpak with Mr William Strudders 8
the laft week." K. " Quhat fpeech had ye with him ?" C. " About
book matters." K. " Ye ar worfe than Turkes and Jewes !" and
fpeaking to the Lords that was prefent, " I cann never gett a order
of thir people of Edinburgh. I forgave them the feventeenth day !9
The devill ryve ther foules and bodies all in collops, and caft them
in hell !" His Majeftie being in great wrath and anger, I feared to
mak anfwer.
The Bifhop of St Androes, ftanding hard by his Majefties chaire
of eftate, afked me, " If I had ane hand in printing of a book fchortlie."
I afked him quhat book he ment of ? K. " A book againft Perth
Aflemblie." C. " I had nothing to do with that book ; I never fold
anie of them, nor vented any of them." K. " Did yow ever fee anie
of them ?" C. " If it pleafe your Majeftie, that day I come from
Edinburgh, I was in the Bifhop of Glafcow's houfe about fome
money he was owing me, and I did fee one of them lying on the
Bifhop's boord." K. " He does hot equivocat with ws. Bot did
yow never fee anie of them before that time ?" C. " Yes, if it
8 Mr William Struthers, a strenuous supporter of court-measures, one of the Mi
nisters of Edinburgh, and author of Christian Observations, and other works.
9 This refers to the tumult of the people of Edinburgh, on the 17th day of Decem
ber 1596. See Calderwood's History, p. 364. M' Cries Life of Melville, vol. ii.
p. 82. Cook's History of the Church of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 74,
SOt A KELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN.
pleafe your Majeftie." K, " Quher ?" C. " I do fell books, and
keep ane open booth, and fyndrie have come in with it in ther hand,
afking me if I had fik a book." K. " Quhat wer they ?" C. " If
it pleafe your Majeftie, I did not obferve them."
The Bifliop having a lang fcroll in his hand, quhilk was my
ditta, afked me if I did not give out fome writts to a fcholemaster
to be copied ? C. " Never." The Bifliop affirmed that Mr David
Calderwood had menn that did write wnto him in my houfe, and
laid, " Hes not Mr David Calderwood lyne, and bein entertained at
your houfe ?" C. " He wold not refave anie entertainment from me,
and did ly verie rairlie with me." K. " Did he not ly at your houfe
fence he was banifched ?" C. " Pleis your Majeftie, verie rarelie."
K. " Anfwer to me as I fpeik. Did he not ly at your houfe ?" C.
" Yes, pleafe your Majeftie." K. " Hold up your hand, and fay,
as ye fall anfwer to God, how fchort time it is fince yow did fpeak
with Mr David Calderwood ?" C. " Your Majeftie does ftrait me
verie hardlie; I muft needs gather mymemorie before I cann tell your
Majeftie." Then his Majeftie did fuear I was going to equivocate ;
bot prefentlie I did remember my felf, and faid, " I did fpeak with
him within this 15 dayes." K. " We haue found the teade ; let ws
hold ws here : forfuth, Mr David Calderwood is a good brother and
ane good leir-father." 10 And with this his Majeftie did rife in a great
rage, and went his owin length, and leaned on a table hard by, and
prefentlie did fitt doun again, and faid wnto me, " Traitour ! theef !
how durft thow refave my rebell ?" C. " He is not your Majefties
10 ' Leir-father,' a good teacher, or expounder, from lere, learning.
A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN. 205
declared rebell." K. (being in grit anger) " Did thow not know that
I banifched him ?"" I, being fo dafched with his Majefties wrath,
forgatt to tell his Majeftie that Mr David had gotten ane over-
fight. Then the Bifhop afked me if I knew not that Mr David
Calderwood was the author of that book againft Perth Aflemblie ;
and wold have had me to have fuorne : bot I refufed the oath, and
laid, I had nothing to do quho was the author of it.
The Bilhop preceded in his accufation againft me as it was fett
doun in his libell, quhilk he keeped in his hand, and faid, " Ye ar
delated here to his Majeftie that ye fould have faid, the Tuifday
before the communion, that the Aflemblie of Perth was ane wnlaw-
full Aflemblie ; and that the acts that was made ther was againft
the word of God." C. " I fpak not thefe words." K. " Quhat was
it ye fpak, then ?" C. " If it pleas your Majeftie, I faid, it had
11 According to Archbishop Spotiswoode, in 1617, Calderwood for " carrying him-
" self nnreverently, and breaking forth into speeches not becoming a subject," was
committed in the town-house of S. Andrews, and afterwards banished the kingdom.
(Church History, p. 534.) He returned privately in the year 1624.
Calderwood, who was at that time minister of Crailing, in his History, has given a
particular account of the circumstances which led to his banishment. To console him
under this sentence of exile, he was told, if he was not content to be suspended spiritual
ly, he should be suspended corporally ; and King James, on being urged to prolong the
time of his departure, on account of the tempestuous season of the year, answered, Jf
he be drowned in the seas, he migJtf thank God he hath escaped a worse death. His fate,
however, was neither to be hanged nor drowned ; being soon after the re-establishment
of Presbytery, in 1638, appointed minister of Pencaitland ; and, according to an unpub
lished Elegy (" On the setteing of that famous and long shyneing light of our Church,
« the Reverend Mr David Calderwode") he died at Jedburgh, 29th Oct. 1650. — The
publication of his larger Church History, from a collation of the original MSS. deposited
in the British Museum, would prove a valuable accession to our historical literature.
206 A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN.
bein good if our minifters had acquainted the feffion of the Kirk
before they had brought in thefe novelties upon ws." K. " Farts
on yow and the feffion of your Kirk baith ! Quhen I was in Scot
land, I keeped Yoole and Pafch in Ipite of all your harts ; (and
directing his fpeech to the Lords, faid,) See, thir people will kneel
to me, and will not kneel to God !" C. " If it pleafe your Majeftie,
I am no fcholler, and if I wer, I durft not prefume to reafone with
your Majeftie ; notwithftanding I have fufficient reafon, quherfor I
will not kneel, for fatiffieing my owin confcience." K. " Ye are recu-
fants, that will not come to the kirk on holie dayes to heare preach
ings. The devill a warrand ye will gett in all the word for keeping
of Sunday." C. " Yes, Sir, ther is warrand for keeping the Lord's
Sabbath-day." K. " Ye will be a Jew ; that is Saturday." C. " Sir,
ther is ane command for keeping the feventh day, and your Majeftie
has ane law againft all holy dayes, and efpeciallie againft Yule and
Pafch." K. (Speiking to the Bifhop) " Quhat law is this he fpeiks
of?". The Bilhop faid he remembered not lick a law. K. " Quhat
law is that yow meane of ?". C. " Ane Act of Parliament of your
Majeftie, made in the 90 yeare of God." K. " It is not againft
preaching on holie dayes." C. " It is preaching that makes the
holie day. K. " Quhat devills errand have ye here ? or how dar ye
come here, or anie the like of yow ? We fall gett ane law, and hes
a law againft that law !".
Being difinift, and ftaying in the bed-chamber, Secretar Coluard
did fend for me, and alked, if I knew his Majefties will ? C. " Not,
my Lord." S. C, " I muft let yow know his will. Ye muft go to
A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN. 207
prifon to the Gate-houfe, and ther remaine clofe prifoner dureing
his Majefties pleafure." And prefentlie he delivered a warrand to
a mefienger, quho went all the way with me to the prifon, and de
livered me to Mr Weiks, the matter of the prifon, with my war-
rand. The jailor, how foone he redd the warrand, faid to me, " I
fee yow ar a clofe prifoner ; know yow quhat that is ?" C, " I
know not." He faid, " That is to fay, yow muft fpeek with no
mann, and no maim muft fpeek with yow." So, prefentlie he caufed
one of his menn mak readie a chamber for me, and delivered me to
him. How foone I come into the chamber, the mann did clofe the
doore upon me and him, and faid, " I muft fee quhat yow have
about yow, or quhat money yow have." I faid, " Quhat was that to
him quhat money I had ; I could do no harme." He faid, " I might
caft money out at the windowes to caufe doe things for me, and ther-
for ane clofe prifoner muft have no money about him." Upon the
quhilk he riffellit my pockets, fo that I was forced to let him fee
all my money, quhilk was three pounds fterling, the quhilk he wald
have taken from me, but I refufed at that time to give it him ; hot
within ane litle time after, at ten houres that night, he come againe
with ane of his companions, quho faid, ' their mafter fend them to
tak that money from me,' quhilk I deliverit to them, with my knife
and my feale.
The morne, being Monday the 14th of June, I was fend for by
Secretar Coluard, quho with the Bifliop of St Androes was depute
be his Majeftie to examine me again the fecond time. The jailor
send my keeper with me to Greenwich, (quho was ane profane,
208 A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN.
gracelefs, and wngodlie fuaggerer) ; we went along on foot to Bil-
lingfgate, and quhen anie of my acquaintance preafit to have fpoken
with me, he thruft them back, and faid " I was clofe prifoner, and
therfor no mann muft fpeek with me ;" and coming to Billingfgate,
he and his mates fell a drinking of tobacco and botteld ale. In end,
we took boat all alone, and come to Greenwich, and prefentlie my
keeper and his companions ther went to the wine and tobacco, with
fuearing and fuaggering ; and having with him the meflenger that
convoyed me to the prifon, he prefentlie took out 6s. and 8d. fterling,
and gave him for me of my owin money, for that he fpent and drank
was of my purs onlie. Quhen he had endit his drinking, he went
with me to the Secretar Coluard's lodging ; bot becaus the Bifliop
of St Androes, my accufer, was not cum, he commanded my keeper
to tak me to prefon again. I complenit to him they had taken my
purs and all my money from me, and defired his Lordfliip to pity my
eftate, becaufe I was ane poore ftranger ; bot he laid he could not
help me. So my keeper went and hyred ane boat for ws, and we
landed at Weftminfter llaires, and fo to prifon againe.
Weddinfday the 16th of June, the Bifliop of St Androes fent for
me to St Marlines lane, quher he was for the time, with Sir Wil
liam Alexander,12 and the Bifhop's brother, Mr James Spottifwood,13
fend be the King to examine me. Mr James desired me to tell the
truth of the prenting of the book of the Nullitie of Perth Aflemblie.
18 Sir William Alexander of Menstrie, afterwards Secretary of State for Scotland,
and created Earl of Stirling.
13 Afterwards Bishop of Clogher in Ireland.
A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN. 209
The Bifliop called for pen, ink, and paper, to peu my depofition,
which was prefentlie broght him, althocht nothing was written.
The Bifliop prayed me to tell the truth, and I fould gett favour ;
and he afked me " If I was partner with Andro Hart in prenting ?
and if I knew his letter that he had ? I fpeir (said he), becaufe it is
faid that Perth AfTemblie was printed in Edinburgh ;14 for they that
hes written to his Majeftie affirmes that the book was watt, new
come of the prefs, quhen they wer found, and that augments the
fufpicion that it was done in Edinburgh. If his Majestie knew the
printer, he wold not efcape with his life." C. " I had nothing to
do with the printing of that book ; and as for Andro Hart, I was
partner with him in printing, bot not this five or fix years ; and as
for his letter, ther ar manie printers that have letters lik wnto
wthers." JS. " Hes he ane Englifhman to his mann ? and know ye
quher he is ?" C. " I think he be about the citie, bot I know not
quher." Also he took out a roll out of his pocket, that he had refavit
out of Edinburgh, quherin he red that I had given out pamphlets
l* Calderwood's tract was printed in Holland. In his MS. history is a curious no
tice how the copies escaped detection when imported. " The booke entituled Perth
••' Assembly was brought hether in Aprile, and were landed at Bruntisland. It pleased
" God that howbeit Mr John Mitchelson [[Parson of that place] was inquisitive to
" know what books were in the fatt, the customer Qthe collector of the customs] would
" not suffer him to medle with them. When they were brought from Bruntisland to
" Leith, the Bishop of St Andrews comming in immediately after saw the fattes, but
" took no notice of them, becaus they were laying on the shear among other fatts
" brought out of France, containing French wares. The books were keeped closs till
" the present suspition vanished." (Vol. vi. p. 474.) The tract referred to is a small
•I to. printed in the year 1619, without name of place or printer.
PART II. D D
210 A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN.
to a fchoolmafter to write copies of. C. " I never gave anie to copie."
Alfo he red that upon that Tuifday's meeting before the Commu
nion, I faid that the Afiemblie of Perth was ane wnlawfull affemblie ;
and that the Acts concluded ther was againft the word of God.
C. " I might well think it, hot I never fpak it." B. " Quho trow
yow be the author of the book ?" C. " I fufpect Mr David Cal-
derwood was the author of it, be reafon he wrote fomething againft
kneeling, and holy dayes, and I heare it is in that book." B. " I
cannot think he is the author of it, becaufe he was not at Perth
Aflemblie. Quher mett ye with him laft ?" C. " In Edinburgh."
B. " Was it not in your owin houfe ?" C. " Not." B. " Then
I muft tell yow a fecret ; prefentlie after ye wer committed to pri-
1'on, it was a fecret then, bot not now, his Majeftie lent to learch
your houfe, both for Mr David and the book, and if any of them be
found in your houfe, it will go verie hard with yow : for we heard
he hes bein all this year in your hous writeing."15 C. " He came
not mekle in my houfe, bot quhen he took phyfick for his een,
and quhen he fpake the Bifhops of Glafcow and Caithnes." B.
15 It appears that Calderwood remained for a considerable time concealed after his
sentence of banishment in 1617. In reference to the search mentioned in the text, he
informs us, " they found neither them (the books) nor the author, Mr D. C., as was
" intendit ; for the author was in the meantime lurking in Cranstoun, in a secret cham-
" her appointed for him by my Lady Dame Sarah Cranstoun, who was many ways
" stedable to him. He removed from place to place as the Lord had provyded for
" him, till the 27th of August, that he imbarked at Newheaven, and sailed to Hol-
" land." And with regard to the books, he adds, " When the house was searched,
" howbeit there was 5 or 6 Perth Assemblies laying above the bed-clothes where Mr
" David had wont to lay, they were not perceived." MS. History, vol. vi. p. 475.
A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN. 211
" Ye muft crave the King's Majeftie's pardon for refaveing him."
C. " He was not the King's rebell." 13. " He found furetie to
depart out of the King's dominions." C. " He had ane oversight."
B. " Be my faith, I wold not for ane 100 pounds ye had told the
King that, quhen ye was examined." (At which words he leugh as
if he had bein kittled, and said,) " Ye muft lay in furetie, both here
and at home, to be anfuerable to the 5 articles, for his Majeftie hath
lent doun to tak order with all them that went to other kirkis to
the Communion, and left ther owin1 pallors." C. " It is ane hard
matter to ws to leave the thing that we have bein initructed in,
and have continuallie practifed this 60 year, being warrandit by
the word of God ; and this ye wold have ws to embrace is with
out warrand of God's word. And fould our minifters abruptlie
bring them in upon ws, without ever making ws or the leffion of
the Kirk acquainted therwith ?" B. " They did not well of that,
for I gave them counfell that they fould urge no mann to kneele,
bot to give it to everie mann according as he defired to tak it ; and
this Mr Patrik Galloway made intimation of from the pulpit the
Sonday before the Communion, that non fuld be urged to tak it,
bot as they pleafed." C. " Bot he did find fault with them that did
not kneele." B. " No ; the firft day ther was a fkinner16 that fatt,
and he faid no more bot ' Sitt ye ?' " C. " He was offendit with others
that fatt." B. " The King's Majeftie has promifed to root out that
toune and the memorie of it, except he gett obedience." C. " I
16 The name of this skinner was Robert Meiklejohn, and his sitting occasioned him
afterwards " to be warded" in the Citie " of Dunkelden." Cold. Hist. p. 754-.
212 A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN.
think your felf was not refolved at the firft in thir things ?" B.
" It is true I made great fcruple of holy dayes, and is not well re
folved yet. But I think Whitgift17 will raak that matter cleir ; hot
for kneeling, I made no fcruple in it how fone I did fee the forme
of it." C. " Then how cann I of a fuddan be refolved, feeing I have
heard fo mekle in the contrarie, and fo litle for it ?" JB. " Ye are will-
full ! ye will not hear, nor confer, nor read ! Doctor Lindfay18 hes
printed a book, read it, and it will refolve yow." C. " I will not refute
to do that ; and if I could gett a warrand for my confcience out of the
word of God for embraceing of thefe things I wold be loath to call
my felf in a wnnecefiar truble." S. " Ye muft ether embrace them
or leave the King's dominions." C. " I am content, for the earth is
the Lord's, and it wer better to do that than to bring ane guiltienes
17 This must be an error, as John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury, died in
1603-4. The person alluded to is probably Thomas Morton, Bishop of Chester, who
published a Defence of the Surplice, Crosse, and Kneeling, in the year 1619, 4to ;
a work, which speedily drew forth an answer from the indefatigable Calderwood.
18 Dr David Lindesay, minister at Dundee, who published in the year 1621 a full
Account of the Proceedings and a Vindication of the Perth Assembly, in reply to Cal
derwood. The work referred to in the text is entitled, The Reasons of a Pastor's
Resolution touching the reverend receiving of the Holy Communion, 12mo, London,
1619 ; which led to Lindesay's appointment, in November that year, to the Bishoprick
of Brechin. This work Calderwood answered in an anonymous tract, The Solution
of Doctor Resolutus, his Resolutions for Kneeling. 4lo, 1619.
Bishop Spotiswoode, in reply to a minister who said Lindsay " had shamed him
self" by his writings, said, " He purposed to have written no more, were not that
" knave (meaning Mr David Calderwood), who is now loppen over sea with his purse
'' well filled by the wives of Edinburgh, had written Perth Assembly. It had been good
" it had never been written." Cald. Hist. p. 750.
A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN. 213
upon my own confcience that I could not be quit of." B. " It is
fore againft our heart thir things, hot the King mull be obeyed in
indifferent things." C. " I do not think them indifferent." B.
" Quhen come ye out of Scotland ?" C. " The 3 of June." B.
" Quhat broght ye with yow ?" C. " Nothing but my cheft and
fea cloathes." B. " Have yow anie books in your cheft ?" C. " Some
few that will not fell in Scotland, and therfor I broght them to gett
fome others for them." Upon the quhilk I give him the key of
my cheft, and fchew him I had fome money in it. B. " All fchall
be fafe." Sir William Alexander defired the Bifliop to write to his
Majeftie for my releis, and he fould carie it to Tibulls,19 quher his
Majeftie was for the prefent. But the Bifliop refufed ; yet, in
end he promifed to fpeak the King himfelf, how foone he come to
Greenwich, quhilk wold be within 3 or 4 dayes ; and fo he called
for my keeper, and bad him cary me to prifon again.
Monday at night, 21 June, betwixt 9 and 10, the Bifhop's mann
come to me to the prifon, and fchew me that his mafter had gotten
a grant of a warrand from his Majeftie for me, bot before I come
out I muft find furetie to be anfuerable both at home and heir ; and
that Samuel Hart and James Lawfoun20 muft do the like. I knew
not that they had bein confined till then. I fend the Bifhop word
be his mann that Mr Bill wold be furetie for ws all, notwithftanding
I was defaved, for he refufed.
Wedinfday, 23 June, the Bifhop's mann, Hew Scrimgeour, broght
me a warrand, in the morning, to releife me out of the Gate-houfe ;
19 Theobalds. m Booksellers and printers in Edinburgh.
214 A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN.
and therefter he broght me to the Bifhop, quher he was for the time
in S. Martines Lane ; quher I found Mr Johne Hay21 with him, new
come out of Scotland ; quho did offer me great kindnes, and Ib did
the Bifhop, and fchew me that he had procured my liberty ; and
hecaufe Mr Bill had refufed to be furetie, he took my promiie that
I, and Samuel Heart, and James Lawlbun, fould not depart out of
London without his Majeftie's fpecial licence. After this we went
divers and fyndrie times to the Bifhop, both in S. Martines Lane,
as alfb to Greenwich, intreateing the Bifhop to gett ws libertie of
his Majeftie to go home ; which he promifed daylie. And after his
Majeftie had gone to his progres, I Avent to the Bifliop in Paules
Churchyaird, being in Mr Fedderf'ton's ; I enquired of him, if he
had fpoken with the King's Majeftie for our licence to go home ? He
faid he had forgotten to fpeak it to his Majeftie, quhen he took his
leave of him, hot he had left word with John Murray of the bedd-
chamber, to excufe him at his Majeftie's hand ; for he wald tak me
in his owin hand, upon that condition that I fould be anfuerable at
home to anie thing that was to be laid to my chairge.22 Quherupon
he defired my hand and promife. So, being difmift, I embarked at
Graves-end, 3 Julij, and in the mercifull providence of my mercifull
Father in Chrift Jefus, we arrived in Leith, 10 Julij, 1619 ; — and
how soone the Bifliop come to Edinburgh, I went to him to Gour-
21 Mr John Hay, Town Clerk of Edinburgh, the same person who delivered a most
learned oration to King James, at his entrance to Edinburgh in 1617.
28 Calderwood in his MS. History says, " The Bishop of St Androes procured
(Cathkin) his liberty that he (Spotiswoode) might be the more acceptable to the people
himself at his return from court."
A RELATION BY JAMES CATHKIN. 215
layes lodging, quher he was fitting with our minifters. How Ibone
he did fee me, he did putt furth his hand, and ib did all the reit.
I laid, " I was come to fee if he had anie thing to charge me with ;
according to my promife, I fould be furth-comming." He laid, " I
was welcome, and was an honel't man." And fo I took my leave.-'3
23 In April 1620, Cathkin was " charged to address himself to the countrey and
bounds of Cathness within the space of 30 days ;" but he had interest enough to get
this sentence remitted. Cald. Hist. p. 754, 756. See also pages 802 and 804, where
his name appears as taking a leading part in some transactions at a later period.
LETTER
FROM ROBERT OF DUNHELM, MONK OF KELSO,
TO THE PRIOR AND CONVENT
OF TTNEMOUTH.
A.D. M.CC.LVII.
PART II. E E
C 221 ]
LETTER FROM ROBERT OF DUNHELM, MONK OF KELSO,
TO THE PRIOR AND CONVENT OF TYNEMOUTH.
A. D. M.CC.LVII.
[COMMUNICATED BY ROBERT PITCAIRN, ESQ.]
THE following account of the difcovery of the bodies of King Mal
colm Canmore and of his eldeft fon, Prince Edward, is contained
in an original MS. in the Cotton Library, preferved in the Britifli
Mufeum. The genuineneis of this MS. feeras unqueftionable, and
its value and curiofity are enhanced, by the circumftance of the
volume having been formerly the property of the perfon to whom
the letter by the Monk of Kelfo is addrefied, and who prefented it
to the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ofwin of Tynemouth. This
appears from an infcription on the 67th folio, in thefe words : —
" Hunc librum dedit Frater Radulfus de Dunham prior, Deo et
Ecclefie Sancte Marie et Sancti Ofwini de Tineme. Qifem qui ab-
ftulerit, aut hunc titulum deleverit, out aliquafraude alienaverat,
anatemafit. Amen"
A copy of the fame letter, but evidently derived from another
Iburce, is inferted in the Additamenta to Wats's edition of Matthew
Paris's Hiftory ;l from which fuch variations as appear to be of any
importance are fpecified in the notes.
i Lend. 1684, foL 1118.
•[ 222 ]
The date of the letter is fixed, by a pall'age in Matthew Paris'8
Hiliory (himfelf a Monk of St Alban's), who, under the year 1257,1
remarks : — ' Eodemque anno, inventafunt offamenta Regis Scoto-
rum Malcolmi et Edwardi filij Jut, cum fundamenta cujufdam
ftructurce pararentur, apud Thynemuam Prioratum Sancti Al~
bani.'
The notice relative to the death of Queen Margaret, fubjoined to
the letter, was moft probably written by the Prior of Tynemouth.
It agrees with the relation of that event in the Acta Sanctorum.
With regard to the period when the bodies were carried to Dun-
fermline, nothing certain has been afcertained, though it is by no
means unlikely to have taken place fhortly after their difcovery at
Tynemouth.
i (41 Hen. III.) fol. 815.
[ 223 ]
HEUERENDO patri in Chrifto domino Radulpho1 de Dunham Dei
gracia Priori de Tyneme,2 (et) eiufdem loci facro Conuentui, Frater
Robertus3 dictus de Dunelmo, humilis monachus de Kilchow,4 eter-
nam in Domino falutem. Multum regraciam vobis de hofpitalitate
nobis in domo veftra curialiter exibit me'fcilicet et focio meo.6
Placuit curialitati veftre in ipfo conuiuio et7 confabulatione narrare
talia ;8 scilicet inuenifle vos oflamenta cuiufdam viri magne ftature,
et alterius minoris, que putabatis9 efle oflamenta venerabilis Re
gis quondam Scotorum Malcolomi, et eius filii. Vnde petebatis a
me, vt li in aliquo codice autentico certum aliquo10 de hoc inuenire
potuiflem, qualiter obierit, vel ubi" fepultus fuerit, vobis literatorie
certificarem.12 In Danorum hiftoria fie reperi. Rex Scocie Melcol-
mus et primogenitus filius eius Eduuardus, cum fuis exercitibus, in
Northumbriam die feftiuitatis Sancti Bricii,13 a militibus Roberti
1 R. s Thinemoe. 3 R. * Kelstona.
5 Exhibits mihi ? 6 The whole of this sentence omitted in M. Paris.
7 " Conuiuio et" omitted. 8 Talia recitare. 9 Credebatis.
1° Aliquod ? — The words " aliquo de" omitted, and " super" inserted.
11 Ubinam. 12 Significarem.
18 Festum S. Bricij (13. Novembris). The death of King Malcolm certainly was
on 13th November, though various dates have been assigned. Lord Hailes corrobo
rates the date mentioned in the MS. Guthrie says 6th June, and Sir James Balfonr
13th December.— Haifa's Ann. vol. L p. 24. Gttth. Hist. vol. L p. 204. Balf. Ann.
vol. i. p. 83.
224 LETTER FROM ROBERT OF DUNHELM.
Northumbrorum comitis occifi funt. In cuius raorte iufticia iudi-
cantis Dei aperte confideratur ; vt videlicet in ilia prouincia cum
fuis interiret, quam fepe ipfe vaftare auaricia ftimulante confueuit.
Quinquies cum1 namque illam atroci populacione atriuit, et miferos
indigenas in feruitutem redigens, abduxit captiuos ; femel, Eaduuar-
do regnante, Egeliunlino2 epifcopante Dunelmi, quum Tofti3 Comes
Northumbrorum prefectus Rome fuerat ; iterum, regnante Wilel-
mo,4 fub eodem epifcopo Egelwyno ,6 et Cliuelande depo-
pulatus eft ; terci6, regnante eodem Rege Wilelmo, fub Walthero
epifcopo, ufque Tinam progreffus, poft cedes hominum et concre-
maciones locorum, multa cum preda reuertitur ;6 quart6, regnante
Wilelmo iuniore, Wilelmo regente epifcopatum Dunelmenfem, cum
fuis copiis infinitis7 ufque Ceftriam peruenit,8 omnino9 intendens
ulterius progredi, fed ordinata10 contra eum in ill tar i manu non
multa,11 metu ipse12 citius reuertitur ; quint6, cum omni quo potuit
exercitu in ultimam deducturus desolacionem, Northumbrian! inua-
fit, fed iuxta flumen Alne perimitur a Morello13 milite ftrenuif-
1 " Cum," omitted.
2 Egelhuulino. " Egelwynum, eum nominat praesul noster Godwinus." Wats ad
M. Paris.
8 Tostias. * Gulielmo. 6 No blank here in M. Paris. 6 Reversns est.
7 In lii lit us. 8 « Inter Dunelmum et Thynam." added in M. Paris.
9 " Omnino," omitted. 10 Adunata. n Minima. l- Omisso " ipse."
13 " Proximahyeme ab hominibns Roberti (Moubray) Comitis Hunbronensium ma-
gis fraude quam viribus, occubuit." Will. Malmsbur. p. 1 22.
" Verum ilium (Malcolmnm) Rodbeardus (Robertus) Conies de Northumbris
cum suis copiis imparatum ex insidiis adortus, interfecit. Eum occidit Mortelus de
Babbaburh (Bamborough) qui fuit Comitis procurator, et Malcolmi Regis snscep-
tor." — Gibson Cron. Sax. fol. 199.
LETTER FROM ROBERT OF DUNHELM. 225
fimo, cum primogenito fuo Eaduuardo,1 quern heredem regni poll
fe difpofuerat. Exercitus illius uel gladiis confoditur, vel qui gladios
fugerunt, inundacione fluminum que tune pluuiis hyemalibus plus
folito excreuerant, abforpti funt. Corpus uer6 Regis et cruentiflimi
carnificis, cum fuorum nullus remaneret qui terra illud cooperiret,
duo ex indigenis carro impofitum in Tinemuthe fepelierunt. Sicque
factum eft, vt ubi multos vite2 et rebus et libertate priuauit,3 ibidem
ipfe iudicio Dei vitam fimul4 cum rebus amitteretur.5 Ifta igitur
" This Morel is said to have been Malcolm's godsib or gossip (susceptor), in French
Compere, that is, Malcolm and he had stood god-fathers together. This created a
spiritual affinity in those days, like that of brothers." Hailes's Ann. vol. i. p. 395.
" Iste Robertus (de Mumbrai vel Moubray) cum esset vir audacissimus et bellipo-
tens, vicit et interemit Malcolmum Regem Scotise, quern de licentia Regis Henrici
Anglie primi, audacter diffiduciavit. Et propter regiam excellentiam, fecit corpus
Regis occisi honorifice intumulari in Ecclesia de Thynemue, quam idem Comes con-
stnixi-nit. Scotis tamen postea corpus sui Regis frontose postulantibus, concessum est
et datum corpus cujusdam hominis plebei de Sethtune : et ita delusa est Scotorum
improbitas." M. Paris (additamenta W. Wats), fol. 1118.
1 " I have said, on the authority of the Saxon Chronicle, p. 199, and S. Dunelm.
p. 218, that his eldest son, Edward, fell with him. Fordun, however, lib. V. c. 25,
observes, that Prince Edward was mortally wounded in the retreat of the Scottish
army, died 15th November, at Edwardisle, in the forest of Jedwood (al. Redwere),
and was buried at Dunfennline, in the church of the Trinity, before the altar." Hailes's
Ann. vol. i. p. 395. , •
" Eduard, the eldst sone of K. Mai. 3d, Prince of Scotland, in a conflicte against
the Northumbrians, being mortally wounded, 17 kal. of December (15th Nov.) the
3d day after hes father K. Mai. death, in A°. 1093, departed this lyffe, at Eduards-
dyke, in Jedwood forrest, and wes interred in the Trinitey Churche of Dunfermlin,
befor the altar of the Holy-Crosse." So/four's Annals, vol. i. p. 2.
2 Vita. 3 Privaverat. * " Sinral," omitted. 6 Amitteret universis.
226 LETTER FROM ROBERT OF DUNHELM.
vobis fignificare curaui, quod corpus eius penes vos1 conftat efle
humatum. Cuius anime, fi uobis placet, precibus fubueniatis ; et
offamenta in decentiori loco, ficut polliceba . . . . ,2 locari faciatis.3
Viuenda lete per tempora longa. Valete.
Cuius morte cognita, Regina Scotorum Margareta, tanta affecta
eft iftericis, vt fubito in magnam incideret infirmitatem. Nee mo-
ra prefbiteris ad fe vocatis ecclefiam intrauit, eifque fua peccata
confeffa, oleo fe perungit, celeftique munire viatico fecit, Domini
affiduis precibus execrans, vt in hac erumpnosa vita diucius illam
viuere non permiteret. Nee multo tardius exaudita eft ; nam die
tercio poft Regis occifionera,4 foluta carnis vinculis, vt creditur, ad
gaudia eterne falutis.
1 " Vos," omitted. 8 Proposuistis.
3 Here ends the transcript in M. Paris.
* Lord Hailcs states that Queen Margaret died 16th Nov. 1093 (vol. i. p. 25), which
exactly agrees with this relation ; but Guthrie (vol. i. p. 284), and Hay in his Scotia
Sacra (MS.), assert that it happened on 10th June ; probably taking it for granted that
she died on the day of the Festival of Saint Margaret (10th June). See also Turgot,
Acta Sanctorum, 10th Jun. p. 328, &c.
" Sail ict Margaret died in the Castle of Edinburgh, the 10 of June, her body was
carried with royall pompe to Dunfermeling," &c. Hay's Scotia Sacra, MS.
In the year 1250, or 1251, Saint Margaret's bones were translated by King Alex.
III. to a more honourable place of the Church of the Trinity at Dunfermline. For-
dun, lib. x. c. 3. Hailess Ann. vol. i. p. 45.
" This zeire, (1250) also, in presence of K. Alexander and hes mother, at Dum-
fermling, wer the bones of S. Margarett the Queine, diged vpe from the wodden coffin
quherin the lay, and wer inclosed in grate boxe of golde set with pretious stones."
Balf. Ann. vol. i. p. 58.
REASONS
AGAINST THE KECEPTION
OF KING JAMES'S METAPHEASE
OF THE PSALMS.
MDCXXXI.
PART II.
C 227 .1
THE metrical verfion of the Pfalms, which pafies under the name
of King James, was a pofthumous publication, being firft printed
at Oxford, in the year 1631. That he had long entertained a de-
fign to translate the Book of Pfalms, appears from " His Majefties
Poeticall Exercifes at vacant Hours." With reference to the con
tents of that volume, printed in 1591, King James thus addrefles
the Reader : " Rough and unpolifhed as they are, I offer them unto
thee : which being well accepted will move me to hafte the prefent-
ing unto thee of my Apocalyps, and alfojuch nomber of the PJalms
as I have perjited, and encourage me to the ending out of the rest."
A volume of Pfalms in the Scotilh dialect, written in his Majefty's
own hand, is preferved in the Britifh Mufeum :' and they are evi
dently thofe he defcribes as having ' perfited' ; but they bear no re-
femblance to the Englifh verfion. «
In 1601, at the General Aflembly held at Burntifland, a propo-
fition was made for a new translation of the Bible, and a revifal of
the Pfalms in metre, — which King James (to ufe the words of Arch-
bifhop Spotifwoode) " did urge very earneftly, and with many reafons
" did perfuade the undertaking of the work, Ihowing the neceffity
1 MSS. Reg. 18 B. XVI. They consist of translations of Psalm I. to XXI. inclu
sive, (except the VIII^.)— XXIX. XL VII. C. CH. CXXV. CXXVHI. CXXXI.
CXXXIII. CXLVIII. and CL. ; along with a metrical paraphrase of Ecclesiastes,
chap, xii., of the Lords Prayer, and of the Song of Moses.
C 228 ]
" and the profit of it, and what a glory the performing thereof fliould
" bring to this Church ; and when he came to fpeak of the
" Pfalms, he did recite whole verfes of the fame, Ihowing both the
" faults of the metre, and the difcrepance from the text. It was the
" joy of all that were prefeut to hear it, and bred not little admira-
" tion in the whole AfTembly But nothing was done (at this
" time, he adds) in the one or the other : yet did not the King let
" this his intention fall to the ground, but after his happy coming
" to the Crown of England, fet the moft learned Divines of the
" Church a work for the Tranflation of the Bible ; which with great
" pains and the fingular profit of the Church they perfited. The
" revijing of the Pfalms he made his own labor, and at fuch hours
" as he might fpare from the publick cares, went through a num-
" ber of them, commending the reft to a faithful and learned fervant,
" who hath therein anfwered his Majefties expectation."2
It is evident that King James had fet his heart on the comple
tion of a verfion of the Pfalms, which, in furtherance of his views
to a uniformity of Church-fervice in both kingdoms, might fuperfede
thofe which were then in ufe. The ' faithful and learned fervant' to
whom he affigned the work which he found himfelf unable to exe
cute, was Sir William Alexander of Menftrie, author of the ftately
' Monarchicke Tragedies,' who was afterwards created Earl of Stir
ling. In a letter to his friend, William Drummond of Hawthornden,
18th April 1620, he fays, " Brother, I received your laft letter,
" with the Pfalm you fent, which I think very well done : I had done
" the fame long before it came ; but He [King James] prefers his
8 Spotiswoode's Church History, p. 466.
[ 229 ]
" own to all elfe ; tho', perchance, when you fee it, you will think it
" the worft of the Three. No Man muft meddle with that Subject,
" and therefore I advife you to take no more Pains therein."3 With
refpect to the lhare which his Majefty had in this Englifh verfion, the
Bifhop of Lincoln, in his Funeral Sermon, entitled ' Great Britain's
Salomon,'4 after remarking that in King James was " obferved all
" that was admirable in the eloquence of Salomon," thus quaintly
proceeds : — " For, befide his profe, Iter ad carmen nouerat, hee made
" a verfe alfo when hee pleaf 'd, and that (as became Buchanan's beft
" fcholler) Saniffimi coloris, of a moft dainty and elaborate compo-
" fition. An everlafting honour to the Mufes ! .... So the greateft
" potentate of all the Earth, may now ftoope to a Verfe, being the
" ufuall Recreation of King David, together with this firft, and fe-
" cond Salomon. The King our Mafter . . was in hand (when God
" called him to ling Pfalmes with the Angels) with the tranflation
" of our Church Pfalmes, which he intended to have finifhed, and
" dedicated withall to the onely faint of his devotion, the Church of
" Great Britaine, and that of Ireland. This worke (he adds) was
" ftaied in the one and thirty Pfalme"
At length, in the year 1631, there appeared, in a fmall volume,
" THE PSALMES OF KING DAVID, TRANSLATED BY KING IAMES.
Cum Privilegio Begiee Majeftatis" A licence for the Ipace of 31
years for printing this verfion had been granted to Sir William
Alexander, 28th December 1627, in confideration " of the great
" paynes already taken, and to be taken, in collecting and review-
" ing the fame, and in feeing the firft impreffion thairof to be care-
s Drmnmond's Works, Edin. 1711, Mo, p. 151. , * London, 1625, 4to, p. 41.
[ 230 ]
" fullie and well done."5 This edition has the imprint, " Oxford,
Printed by William Turner, Printer to the famous Univerfity,
M.DC.XXXI." ; and the following Privilege is engraved under the
Royal Arms : — " CHARLES R. — Haueing caujed this Translation
of the Pfalmes (whereof oure late deare Father was Author) to be
perufed, and it being found to be exactly and truely done, wee doe
hereby authorize the fame to be Imprinted according to the Patent
graunted thereupon, and doe allow them to be Jong in all the Churches
of oure Dominiones, recommending them to all ouregoode Subjects
for that effect."
The various " Reafons" againft the reception of this ' Metaphrafe'
which follow, were apparently drawn up by Calderwood at this time ;
and they furnilh fome curious particulars derived from the old
Church Regifters, which, if ftill extant, are not acceffible. But du
ring the interval which elapfed between the publication in 1631,
and the 14th March 1637, when a Proclamation was ifTued to en
force the reception of this Paraphrafe, it was diligently revifed, and
considerable changes introduced, with additional tranflations. This
revifed edition has alfo the title of " The Pfalmes of King David :
tranflated by King James. London, Printed by Thomas Harper,
1636," folio, and is ufually attached to the Scotifh Liturgy, which
iflued from the prefs early in 1637. In order to ferve as a fpeci-
men of thefe tranflations, and of the changes alluded to, a few fliort
examples are fubjoined from the King's original MS., and the printed
editions.
5 See the Licence, printed from the Register of the Privy Seal, in the Appendix to
the Rer. Dr Lee's Memorial for the Bible Societies of Scotland, p. 36.
C 231 ]
THE PSALMES OF DAUID IN MEETER ALLOWED BE THE
GENERALL ASSEMBLIE, SHOULD BE SUNG IN THE KIRKS
OF SCOTLAND, AS THEY HAUE BEEN SINCE 1564, FOR
THE REASONS VNDER WRITTEN.1
THE reformed kirke of Scotland being fubject to no other kirk
in the world, bot independent and frie, lies power to interpret, and
apply the word, to hir awin purgation, confervation, and edification.
BE vertue of this power, the paftors of this kirk, at command of
the great counfall of this kingdome, penned certane heads of refor
mation whilk wer allowed and fubfcryved in Januar 1560.
IN thefe articles it is expreflie provyded, that men women and
childrene be exhorted to exercife themfelvis in pfalrns, that whene
1 The above " Reasons" are copied from a volume of MS. papers in the Advocates'
Library, collected by Mr David Calderwood, which contains duplicate copies of these
and some other papers relating to the same subject. Copies of the same papers occur
in different collections, but those which have been followed contain a few corrections
in Calderwood's hand, by whom they are generally considered to have been compiled.
Wodrow has introduced some of them in his Life of Spotiswode (MSS. Univ. Glasg.
vol. iii.)
The version of the Psalms alluded to in the first paper is that usually known by the
name of Sternhold and Hopkins, which, with several alterations and additions, was
adopted for the use of the Scotish Church, after the establishment of the Reformation ;
and which continued in general use until the year 1650, when it was superseded by
the present version.
232 REMARKS ON KING JAMES'S
the kirk conveenes and fings they may be the moir able together
with commoun heartes and voyces to praife God.
IN the General Aflemblie conveened at Edinburgh in December
1 562 for printing of the pfalmes, the kirk lent Robert Licprivick
printer tua hundreth punds to help to buy irons, ink, and paper, and
to fie craftfmen for printing.2
IN the Generall Aflemblie holden at Edinburgh in December 1564
it is ordeaned that everie Minifter, Exhorter, and Reader, fhall
have one of the pfalme books printed in Edinburgh, and fhall ufe
the order therein conteaned in Marriage, Miniftration of the Sacra
ments, etc.
IN the Generall Aflemblie holden at Stirline in Februar 1569> the
kirk in teftification of ther contentment with the works printed be
Robert Licprivick did aflign to him in penfion fiftie punds.
IF anie perfon or perfons had required reformation of the pfalmes
in whole or in pairt, that mater would have bene done in right tyme
and place, ammo edificandi non tentandi, conforme to the order agried
vpon at Glafco, April 1581, and at Perth 1596.
IF the law of prefcription, as it is refpected be the civil law,
the lawes of nations, and the lawes of this kingdome, be a juft
exception againft pleyes moved efter the expyring of threttie or
fourtie yeirs, and if it wer extended, as it fhould be, not onlie to
2 The earliest edition of the Scotish Psalms and Liturgy, was probably completed
in 1564, but it has the imprint " Printed at Edinbvrgh by Robert Lekprevik,
M.D.LXV." 8vo. The Catechisme which forms part of the volume has a separate
title-page, dated 1564.
METAPHRASE OF THE PSALMS. 233
privat mens rightes, hot to publict faiftie and tranquillitie, then all
actions moved, or to be moved efter thriefcoir and eight yeirs againft
the Scots Pfalmes, receaved and retained vpon fo good grounds,
and fo profitable and confortable to Chriftianes his Majefties good
fubjects, would be judged moir then void and vneffectuall.
IF decennalis and triennalis possessio, be law and cuftome have
the nature of a perfite right, wherby things perteaning to the kirk,
may be peaceablie pofleft, then this kirk fould reteane the poflef-
fion of the Pfalmes, ay and while ther poffeffion be lawfullie de
clared to be groundles and vitious.
Foil forder confirmation of the kirks right and pofleffion of the
Pfalmes, in the year 1579,it is statute and ordeaned,by our Soverane
Lord and his three eftates in Parliament, that all gentlemen houfe-
holders and all others worth thrie hundreth merks of yeirlie rent
or above, and all fubftantious yeamen, men, or burgefles, likwayes
houfholders efteemed worth five hundreth punds in lands or goodes,
be holden to have ane bible and pfalme booke, vnder the paines
conteaned in the faid act.
SUN D 11 IE Mufitians of belt ikill and affection3 for furtherance of
the act of Parliament anent the inftructing of the youth in Mufick,
have fett downe commoun and proper tunes to the whole pfalmes
according to the diverfe formes of meteer.
8 Manuscript copies are still preserved of some of the parts of these tunes, com
posed by Angus, Blackball, &c. which appear to have been written for the use of the
Chapel-Royal. The edition of the Psalms, printed at Edinburgh, by the Heirs Or
Andro Hart, 1635, 8vo, is the only one which has the tunes arranged with the sepa
rate parts.
PAKT II. G G
234 REMARKS ON KING JAMES'S
BOTH paftors and people be long cuftome, ar fo acquanted with
the pfahnes and tunes therof ; that as the paftors ar able to direct
a pialme to be fung agrieable to the doctrine to be delyvered, fo he
that taketh vp the pfalme is able to fmg anie tune, and the people
for the moft pairt to follow him.
BOTH people and paftors have fome pfalmes, or parts of pfalmes,
be heart, as may beft ferve for ther different difpofition and cafe of
concience, and for the chainges of ther externall condition.
BY the lofe of that heavenly treafure in ther hart alreadie, they
would be farder greived, and prejudged in ther fpirituall eftate, than
they could be hurt in bodie or goodes fuffering for retention of ther
owne pfalmes.
IN other reformed kirks, as Ingland, France, Germanic, Nether
lands, etc. ther pfalmes in meeter ar not fo abfolutely perfite, and
frie of blame that nothing can be cenfured in them, and yet nether
have they, nor will they reject the comelie face of ther owne pfalter,
for a finall blott, one or mae, bot ftill reteane what they have had
in long continued and comfortable practife.
IF it ihould happen (as God forbid) that our pfalme bookes in
meeter with the commoun order prefixed unto them, and the catechife
following them now printed cum privilegio regite majestatis wer
removed, it might be juftlie feared as the kirk decays in moyane
and meanes that the confeffion of faith, the order of the election of
minifters, of the ecclefmfticall difcipline, and of excommunication and
publike repentance, the vifitation of the fick, the buriall of the deade,
the commoun prayers, the formes of the Lords fupper, of baptifine
METAPHRASE OF THE PSALMS. 235
and mariage, the booke of failing, and Calvines catechife, fliould be
fuppreft to the great hinderance of publict and privat vfes.
IT were a fliameles ingratitude to extinguifti the memorie of fo
many worthie men by whofe caire and paines God had vouchfafed
to beftow fo manie benefites vpon his kirk, and a great teftimonie
againft the paftors and profeflbrs of this aige, who having thefe
pfalmes and vther meanes, hes gained fo litle by them for ther com
fort and edification that they are readier to quyte them then to keip
them.
IN the Generall Aflemblie holden at Brunteland in Maij 1601, the
occafion of a certane motion maid be fome brether, concerning our
vulgar tranflation of the Bible, the commoun prayers, and the
Pfalmes in meeter. It wes ordeaned that Mr Robert Pont4 sould
revife the pfalmes, and that his labours fould be revifed at the nixt
affemblie, hot as the motion above written proceeded from perfonall
refpectes, fo it is to be fuppofed, that if that faithfull man who was
both holie and learned had found anie juft caufe of alteration, nether
he to whom the mater was recommended, nor the afiemblie who
ftiould have taken compt of his diligence would have fuffered that
mater to be buried in oblivion.
IF it had bene found expedient to alter thefe pfalmes, Montgomrie*
and fom others, principals of Englifh poefie in ther tymes, as they
4 Mr Robert Pont, one of the Lords of Session, and Minister of St Cuthbert's, near
Edinburgh. He died in the year 1608, at an advanced age.
5 The psalms translated by Montgomery, author of the Cherrie and the Slae, are
probably some of those included in the late edition of his works. His offer is again
alluded to at p. 237 and 24<3.
236 REMARKS ON KING JAMES'S
gave ther affayes of fom pfalmes yet extant, fo they offered to trans
late the whole book frielie without anie pryce for ther paines, ather
frae the public ftate or privat mens purfes.
As the kirk refufed the offer of thefe poets as neidles for the
private and publict worfhip of God, fo it is ftatute and ordained in
the generall affemblie holden at St Johnftoun in Junii 1 563, and in
fundrie other aflemblies, that no work be fett forth in print, nor
publifhed in writ, vnto fuch tyme as it fall be advyfed and approven
be the kirk, conforme to the order fett doun be the generall aflemblie.
SINCE it hath pleafed God to raife fome hope of deliverence to
the kirks of other countries fo long troubled with bloody perfecu-
tion, and to ftretch out the hand of his power againll fuperftition
and idolatrie, pietie and compaflion, would that we fould hold faft
what we have, and ferventlie pray to God to vindicat his truth fra
the tyrannic of idolators, and to delyver his diftrefled people fra
the craft and crueltie of men that praifes may be given to his Ma-
jeftie be all kirks and perfons whom he hes blefled with anie mea-
fure of mercifull reformation.
IN refpect of the premiffes and other reafons to be eiked as occa-
lion fhall requyre, the pfalmes in meeter as they have bene,
and ar vfed privatlie and publictlie in Scotland ought to be
reteaned and no wayes fupprefled for any thing sein or hard
yet.
METAPHRASE OF THE PSALMS. 237
REASONS AGAINST THE PUBLICK VSE OF THIS NEW
METAPHRASE OF THE PSALMES.
JOHN of Lincolrae,6 in his fermone preached at the funerall of King
James reporteth that he was in hands, when God called him, with
the tranflation of our Church Pfalmes, which he entended to have
fmifhed, and to dedicat to the fainct of his devotion, the Church of
Great Britaine, and that of Ireland ; and that this work wes ftayed
in the threttie one psalme. This controlleth the title. The reft then
wer tranflated be others ; and the firft revifed be them. [ The people
call them Menftries Pfalmes. Hot we heir that another? if not
others, alfo hath had ane hand in them, and that thefe have revifed
King James his part. Of thefe, then, we mene infpeciaU when I
Jpeik of the new metaphrase?] I have not as zit compared ther
tranflation with the originall, nor confiddered what libertie they
have takin in the metaphrafing to add, infert, or degreffe. Bot fup-
pofe there war na faill in thefe, zit [/ vouch and many ane that]
they can not be foong in our kirk, for thefe Refones following : —
1. Firft, this labour is vndertakin without direction of the kirk,
or offer made to the kirk before. Alexr Montgomrie had a fingular
6 John Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, see the introductory notice, p. 229.
7 This report seems to receive confirmation from the letter of Drummond of Haw-
thornden, quoted at page 228.
8 The words printed in italic letters, and inclosed in brackets, are deleted in the ori
ginal MS. copy, but as they contain some additional information, it was thought proper
tio retain them.
238 REMARKS ON KING JAMES'S
vaine of poefie, zit he tuik a more modeft courts, for he tranflated
bot a few for a proofe, and offered his travells in that kynde to the
kirk. Jofeph Hall9 metaphrafed alfo fome few pfalmes, and offered
his endevour to do the lyk in the whole, if he fould be employed
be authoritie. [Hot our new metaphrafts endeavour to have the
whole metaphrafe of there making empofed vpon the kirk ivithotit
direction or employment of the kirk, or offer made efter proof be
fore.']
2. Nixt the people ar acquainted with the old metaphrafe more
than any book in fcripture, zea, fome can fing all, or the raoft pairt,
without buik, and fome that can not read, can ling fome pfalmes.
Therfor our kirk wold not accept of anie other. Howbeit fome
pairts might be bettered, zit they would not admitt that the whole
fould be changed. Bot in the Aflemblie holdin at Bruntiland, anno
1601, appointed Mr Robert Pont, a man fkilfull in the originall
toungs, to revife [the tranjlation of] the pfalmes in meeter, and or-
deaned that his travell fould be revifed at the nixt Aflemblie. And
for the fame caufe, it appeareth, Jofeph Hall's offer was not accept
ed. And this fame new metaphrafe is rejected, as we heir, be the
cheef bifchops in England. Nether can they accept it without con-
fent of ther Convocation hous. [ Thefe new metaphrasts have had
fuch a fpite at the old metaphrafe, that they have not left nothing
9 Joseph Hall, author of the well-known Satires, printed in 1597, and afterwards
Bishop of Exeter and Norwich. The Psalms he translated are printed in the collect
ed edition of Bishop Hall's works, (Lond. J628, fol. vol. I. p. 151 — 160,) under the
title of " Some few of Davids Psalmes metaphrased, for a taste of the rest." They
are addressed " to his loving cousin, Mr Samuel Burton, Archdeacon of Gloucester."
METAPHRASE OF THE PSALMS. 239
of it for mans memories, even wlier iher icas no necejffitie of a change,
when they could not avoyd the words, as Pfal. 1, v. 2., Sot of the
Lord he on the law, for the old I Sot in the law of God the Lord.~\
3. Thridlie, it is a difcredite to the clergie [and the Idrlt, that the
pfalmes fould be foong in the kirk tranjlated in meeter be a cour~
teour or commone poet} when ther is no fuch raritie among theme
of learned men, fltilfull both in poefie and the original! toung ; yea,
gif fuch war not be found, the moft famous amangft the faincts for
holines, wifdome, gravitie, fould be appointed be the kirk to that
effect. [ For courteours ar commonlie fufpected be the people as
prophane, becaus they imploy often there vane on bad purpofes as
often as on good, and both toung and pen againft the beft of God's
fervants : a courteour like Abadiah or Nehemiah is als rare as a
wedg ofgoldJ] The papifts cafts in the teeth of the profeffbrs of
France, that they ling the pfalmes tranflated be Clement Marot, a
courtlie gentleman, who tranflated onlie fiftie.10 [Sail wefuffer the
lyk to be caft in our teeth, andfuffer God's fervice to be loathed J]
4. Fourtlie, this work of metaphrafing the pfalmes is holie and
ftrict, and abydes not anie youthfull or heathenifli libertie, bot re-
quireth hands free frome prophannes, loofhes, aflFection, fayeth Jofeph
Hall. Scultingius, a profeffor in Colene, in his Anacrifis, and the
author of the book intituled Caluino Turcifimis, jeft at the commen
dation made be one of Clement Marot that he was fo wele fene in
10 The writer of these cogent reasons seems not to have been aware that Thomas
Sternhold, ' the chief author' of the old version, for which he expresses so much zeal,
was himself a courtier, being groom of the robes successively to Henry VIII. and
Edward VI.
240 REMARKS ON KING JAMES'S
Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, and other poets, as gif, fay they, the
elegancies and pleafant conceats of prophane poets might be broght
in into fo grave and auftere a work. Have we not fuch heathenifh
libertie and poeticall conceats in this new metaphrafe ? Tak thefe
for a tafte :" Pfa. 69- 7. And with the hue that bluflies die / lhame
covered hath my face. Pfa. 72. 6. Or like foft pearles of quickning
fhowers / on earth that num'rous fall. Pfa. 78. 20. Loe, wounded
rockes gave criftall blood / which ftraight a torrent roar'd. Pfa. 89. 1.
The mercies of the Lord I ftill / will fing, with facred rage. Pfa.
104. 26. There walke the ftiips amidft the floods / where captiu'd
aire commands. Pfa. 105. 32. And in their conntrey ominous
flames / like fatall fires did burne. Pfa. 147- 16. He gives the fiiow
like labour'd wooll / whofe liquid threds oft turne. Pfa. 148. 3. You
flaming Lord of light / and with the ftarres in ftate / pale Lady of
the night.
5. Fyftlie, the people muft be firft taught to vnderftand thefe
and the lyk French, Latine, and hard Englifch tearmes, and harfli
phrafes following, before they can fing with vnderftanding : — as,
regall / oppofites / vaftnes / various / vindicate / invoke / torrents /
brandiflit / vflier / guerdoned / obloquie / appall / gratefullie / finis-
trous / verdure / billowes / fite / cite / depraue / portend / portentu-
ous / prodigies / divulge / tumide / exorbitant / vilified / dignified /
11 Calderwood, in a separate paper, made a more extensive selection, to display
the ' poetical conceats,' ' harsh and thrawen' phrases, &c. occurring in this version.
These he afterwards condensed, and entitled " A Taist," &c., but those given above
will probably be sufficient to answer that purpose. Several of the lines objected to are
rendered in more homely terms in the revised text.
METAPHRASE OF THE PSALMS. 241
rayes / impetuous / accumulat / emulate / exhilirat / refide / fpheares /
vafes / fhelfs / liquid / declind, for crooked / harmonious rounds /
criftall rounds / &c. Our awin metaphrafe hath non hot fuch as
may be understood, except tuo or three that war wele knowin to
that tyme when the pfalmes war translated in meeter, and may be
eafilie changed. Bot to bring in a number of words which have need
of a dictionarie in the end of the metaphrafe, is to mak worfe and
not better. As for harfli phrafes, tak for example Pfa. 9. 6. De-
ftructions vaftenefle now my foe / a period ftill doth bound.
6. Sextlie, our kirk fall be infected with the error of the locall
defcent of Chriftis faull to hell, be the metaphrafing of the 16 pfalme
if this new translation lhall be allowed, [ which is fufficient to reject
the whole : for fall we be softupid as to honnor the works of fuch
as ar erroneous, or entertain error ?~\
7. Seventlie, it fall mak vther kirkis call vs light-headed Scotts,
inconftand and vnfetled in our orders, changing without anie ne-
ceffitie, if we will put quit doun the metaphrafe which was recom-
mendit to all the profeflbrs be the Generall Aflemblie, and fett vp
another.
Others have obferved that there is a whole double verfe wanting in
the 43 pfalme ; and another pfalme hath tuell lynes in the double verfe.
REASONS AGAINST THE PRIVATE VSE.
The verie privat vfe aucht to be fupprefied, Firft becaus Ibme per
haps will labour to have them by, heart, who fould rather labour to
have thefe in memorie which ar foong in the church ; for who will
PAET II. H H
242 REMARKS ON KING JAMES'S
ftudie to both ? And therfor a metaphrafe of the pfalmes different
frome that which is vfuall in the church is the rnoft vnprofitabill
work that may be ; yea, prejudiciall to that which is publictlie recea-
ved, onless it be in Greek or Latine, which ar not, nor can not be
vfed in publict. Therefore, ye fee the lyk doth not occur in any
vther reformed church, French, Dutch, or Italian. A learned para-
phrafe vpon the pfalmes is permitted to any that hath the gift, and
is commendable. Bot another metaphrafe is nevir convenient, hot
prejudiciall to that which is vfed in the kirk and ferveth onlie to mak
people glaik. Nixt, [the printing of this book cum privilegio, ami]
the allowing of it to be red in privat importeth allowance of the
error above mentioned. Thirdlie, it may juftlie be feared that in
fchort proces of tyme it may pafs frome private vfe to publict. For
have not fome alreadie vfed this new metaphrafe when the congre
gation wer finging the old. A door fould not be opened to fuch
light heads and prophane hearts.
A CAVEAT FOR THE BURGHS.
We can not deeme that the burrowis will commit fuch ane ab-
furditie as, for the recommendation of vfurping bifchops, rnedle with
that which the Convention of the three Eftates wold be loath to
medle with, and which belongeth to a frie and right conftitute Ge-
nerall Afiemblie. Can they appoynt fome to try ? or whome will
they appoint ? or will they receave without triall ? Then may
they luik for the new fervice to be recommended to them, the nixt
day the organes, &c. Bot we hope better things.
METAPHRASE OF THE PSALMS. 243
REASONS AGAINST THE RECEAVING OF THIS NEW
METAPHRASE OF THE PSALMES.12
FIKST, it wanteth both the direction befor, and the approbation
efter, of a Generall Afiemblie, which is the onlie meeting that re-
prefenteth the bodie of our kirk, and not a meeting of pretendit
bifhops and minifters not freelie chofin be prefbytreis.
Nixt, the people hath beene fo long acquented with the old meeter,
that fome can ling all or at leaft many of the pfalmes without buik.
Howbeit that excellent poet, Mr Montgomerie, gave a proofe of his
fkill in fome, yet the Generall Affemblie holdin at Brunteland, anno
1601, wold not admit a chang, bot ordeaned that metaphrafe which
was in vfe fmce the Reformation, to be revifed be Mr Robert Pont,
a man fkilfull in the originall toungs, and his travells to be revifed
at the nixt Generall Aflemblie. Jofeph Hall offered his travells in
that kind to the kirk of England, and gave a proofe of his gift in
fome few pfalmes, yet the kirk of England wold nevir accept of his
offer. Our new metaphrafts have caried fuch a defpyte at the old,
that they have not left a verfe vnaltered ; for which caufe, fuppofe
ther wer no other, this ther work is to be rejected.
Thridlie, the papifls caft in the teeth of the profeflbrs in France,
12 These Reasons are chiefly condensed from the former, but it was judged better to
give them as a separate paper, although they contain various repetitions, instead of
inserting the additional passages, which seem to hare been written at a subsequent
time.
244, REMARKS ON KING JAMES'S
that they fing the pfalras translated in meeter be Clement Marot, a
courtlie gentleman, howbeit he tranflated onlie fiftie. We fould not
geve occalion to the adverfaries to reproach us with the lyk ; nor
trouble tender confciences that will not fing hartlie praifes to God
with words framed be fuch as ar not authorized be the kirk, and
famous among the faints, either a clergie man, or one appointed be
the clergie, if ther be non fo fitt among themfelfs.
Fourtlie, fuch a work as is the tranflating of the pfalmes in
meeter is holie and ftrict, and as Jofeph Hall fayeth, cannot admit
any youthfull or heathenish libertie. The papifts themfelfs fay that
the elegancies and pleafant conceats of prophane poets ought not to
be brought into fo grave and auftere a work. Have we not fundrie
poeticall conceats in this new meeter.13
Fiftlie, the people can not fing with underftanding the pfalmes
in this new meeter, till they be firft taught to vnderftand thefe and
the lyk French, Latino, and hard Englifh tearmes, and the harfh
phrafes of it."
Sixtlie, the metaphrafts have takin great libertie to add mater of
ther awin to the text of fcripture, which may be feen almoft in
everie pfalme. Luther requefting Spalatinus to tranflate fome of
the pfalmes in Dutch meeter, defyreth with all that he abftain from
new coined and court tearms, and to content himfelf with fuch as
were vulgar, and meeteft for the capacitie of the people.
Sevintlie, this new meeter beareth that Chrifts faull difcended
IS & 1* The poetical conceats, hard terms, and harsh phrases objected to, being the
same that occur at page 240, it was not thought necessary to repeat them in this place.
METAPHRASE OF THE PSALMS. 245
locallie into hell, as may be feen in the 16. pfalme. So the recea-
ving of this metaphrafe fall import that our kirk embraceth that
errour : For avoiding of this imputation, therfor it ought not to be
receaved for publict vfe, nor allowed to be vfed in privat.
Eightlie, the receaving of this new metaphrafe, and rejecting of
the old, fall geve occafion to forranners to call us light headed Scots,
inconftant and vnfetled in our orders, changing at the plefor and for
the commoditie of men. England will not receave it, and fall we,
that wont to be more fcrupulous, geve way to it, and fo expofe our
felfs to opin fliame before the world ? Nay, fuppofe England wold
receave it, what war that to us ?
Nintlie, the countrie fall be burthened with the lofs of thrie
hunder thoufand buiks of the old, and with the coaft of fex hunder
thoufand of this new meeter, during the privilege which we heir is
to be granted to the cheef author.
As thefe Reafons ferve for rejecting of it, fo fome of them alfo
ferve againft the committing it to revifing. For to commit it to
fome to revife tendeth to the approbation of it, if it be approved be
the revifers, which may be eafilie obteaned. If any ought to be re-
vifed it is the old, and non hath power to commit it to be revifed
in prejudice of the old bot the Generall Aflemblie ; and fpeciallie,
feeing the Generall Aflemblie hath ordeand alreadie that the old be
revifed, which be reafon of the troubles that followed efter wes not
yit performed. The pretendit prelats therfor can not medle with
this bufines.
[ 246 ]
PSALME I. FROM KlNG JAMES'S MS.1
1. That mortal man most happy is and blest
Who in the wickeds counsals doth not walk,
Nor zit in sinners wayis doth stay and rest,
Nor sittis in seatis of skornfull men in talk ;
2. Bot contrair fixis his delicht
Into Jehouas law ;
And on his law, both day and nicht,
To think is neuer slaw.
3. He salbe lyk a plesant plantit tree,
Vpon a reuer syde incressing tal,
That yeildis his frute in saison dew, we see ;
Whose plesant leif doth neuer fade nor fal.
Now this is surely for to say
That quhat he takis in hand,
It sal withoutin doute alway
Most prosperously stand.
4. Bot wickit men ar nowayis of that band ;
Bot as the caffe quhich be the wind is tost :
5. Thairfor they sail not in that iugement stand
Nor yett among the iust be sinneris lost.
6. For gret Jehoua cleirly knowis
The iust mens way vpricht,
Bot sure the wickeds way that throwis
Sail perish be his micht.
1 It may be proper to notice that King James's MS. contains transcripts of some of the Psalms,
written in a different hand : others are said to be copied in the blew buik. They are sometimes
signed D. J. R. S. QDominus Jacobus Rex Scotorum] or J. D. R. S. It may likewise be remarked
that Sir Henry Wotton, in a letter dated 12th Aug. 1628, sayjs, " I have gotten with much adoe,
some of the Psalms, translated by my late most blessed Master, for the young Prince of Bohemia.
Reliquite Wotton. 1685, p. S58.
[ 247 ]
PSALME I.
(Edit. Oxford, 1631, 12mo.)
1. THE man is blest that doth not walke
where wicked councells guide ;
Nor in the way of sinners stands,
nor scorners sits beside :
2. But of the Lord he on the law
doth ground his whole delight ;
And on his law doth meditate
devoutly day and night.
3. He shall he like a planted tree,
the streames of waters neare ;
Whose pleasant boughs bring timely fruit,
in season of the yeare.
4. His leafe it never wither shall
as Winters blasted prey ;
And whatsoever he designes,
shall prosper every way.
5. But wicked men are nothing so,
for they as chaffe shall prove ;
Which whirling windes doe drive away,
and from the earth remove.
PSALME I.
(Edit. London, 1636, folio.)
1. The man is blest who to walke in
tli' ungodlies counsell hates,
And stands not in the sinners way,
nor sits in scorners seats.
2. But in the Lord's most holy law
he hath his whole delight,
And in his law doth meditate
devoutly, day and night.
3. He shall be like a tree that grow'th
the streames of waters neare,
Whose pleasant boughs bring timely fruit
in season of the yeare ;
4. His leafe shall never withered be,
as Winters blasted prey,
And whatsoever thing he doth,
shall prosper every way.
5. They who are wickedly dispos'd,
no such assurance finde ;
But like unto contemned chaffe,
are tossed with the winde.
PSALME VIII.
(Edit. Oxford, 1631.)
1. O Lord, our Lord, how gloriously
thy name o're all doth sound I
Whose glory plac'd aboue the heavens,
no time, nor bounds can bound !
PSALME VIII.2
(Edit. London, 1636, folio.)
1. O Lord, my God, how doth thy name
in all the earth excell?
Who hast thy glory set above
the heavens where light doth dwell !
'-' From note 1, page 227, it will be seen that this Psalm does not occur in King James's origi
nal MS. In an 8vo edition of this Version, without date, (which follows the revised copy 1636,
[ 248 3
2. From infants mouthes and sucking babes
thy praise with power cloth goe ;
Because of foes, to silence thus
the proud avenging foe.
3. When I looke vp vnto the heavens,
workes which thy finger wrought :
The lightning moone, the sparkeling starres,
which thou from darkenesse brought.
4. Ah, what is man (poore wretche) that he
should come within thy mimic ?
Or yet the sonne of dying man,
that thou to him art kinde ?
2. From infants mouths and sucking babes,
thou didst great strength ordain,
Because of foes, that soe thou might'st
th* avenging foe restraine.
3. When I looke up unto thy heavens,
thy fingers workes which be,
The lightning moon, the sparkling stars
which were ordain'd by thee.
4. Ah, what is man (poor wretch) that he
should come within thy minde ?
Or yet the sonne of dying man,
that thou to him art kinde ?
5. Thou him then Angells in degree,
more low a little plac'd ;
With glory and with majestic,
thou hast him crown'd and grac'd.
6. The soveraigne power of all thy workes,
thou didst to him commit :
And vnderneath the feete of him
didst all things else submit.
7. The sheepe and oxen every one
to him obedience yeeld ;
And as depending on his will
the beasts of every field ;
8. The fowles of aire, and fish of sea,
and what in deepes doe dwell.
O Lord our God, in all the earth
how doth thy name excell !
5. For thou a little lower him
than Angels mad'st to be :
With glory and with honour too,
he crowned is by thee.
6. The soveraigne power of thy hands works,
thou didst to him commit :
And underneath the feet of him,
didst all things else submit.
7. The sheepe and oxen every one,
to him obedience yield ;
And as depending on his will,
the beasts of every field ;
8. The fowles of th' ayre, fish of the sea,
and what in deepes doth dwell :
O Lord, our Lord, how doth thy name
in all the earth excell ?
although it has the same frontispiece and engraved title as that of 1631,) the last two lines of
verse 1. are altered to—
Who bast thy glory made above | The highest heavens to dwelt
[ 249 ]
PART OP PSALME CXLVIII. FROM KING JAMES'S MS.
1. Sing laude vnto the Lord
Heavens Indwelliris, I say
To do the same accord
In places hie and stay
2. And so alwayse
Ye Angellis all
Great hostes and tall
Jehoua prayse.
3. Prayse him both snnne and moone
And starres of shyning light
The same of you he done
Ye heavens of heavens most bryght
4*. Set forth his fame
Ye wateris eaven
Abone this heaven
And praise his name.
(Edit. Oxford, 1631.)
1 . From heavens harmonious rounds
give praise vnto the Lord :
And in the parts most high,
to him due praise afford.
2. And praise him most,
You Angel Is pure ;
His praise procure,
All you his hoast.
5. All ye who by his will
And word created bene,
Praise great Jehoua still,
Who dois you ay conteiu,
In stablisht rest.
Whose just decree
Can nowyse be
By oght transgrest.
6. Praise him eche levyng beast
That on the earth dois go ;
Thou deape, with most and least
Of fislie, and whailes also ;
Thou glancing lows-,
Hail roundlie roundlie rolde,
Snow, whyte and cold,
His praise furthe showe.
(Edit. London, 1636.)
1. Praise ye the Lord, praise ye,
even from the heavens the Lord ;
In parts that highest be,
to him due praise afford.
2. And praise him most,
You Angels pure,
His praise procure,
All you his hoast.3
3 These lines in the 8vo edition referred to in the preceding note are thus altered " Praise him
each where \ You Angels his \ And all doe this \ His hosts that are." These and such like changes
prove that this Version had undergone a Third Revisal ; but whether this was the work of the
Earl of Stirling cannot be ascertained. He seems at least to have continued to interest himself in
this work. In a letter, addressed to the Bishop of Rosse, he complains of Young, the printer
of the Service-Book, as " the greatest knave" that he ever dealt with, and says, " I hope my Sonne
will take such a course with your advice concerning the Psalmes as shall be fltt, to whom I referre
the same." 17th Feb. 1636.
PART II. I I
[ 250 ]
3. His praise at length dilate, 3. His praise at length dilate
you flaming Lord of light : tlum sun that shin'st so bright,
And with the starres in state, Praise him with stars in state,
pale Lady of the night. thou moon that clear'st the night.
4. Heavens, heavens him praise, 4. Heavens, heavens him praise,
And all you floods, Ye floods that move
Enclos'd in clondes, The heavens above
His glory raise. His glory raise.
Since the sheet of introduction was printed off, various letters on the subject of this transla
tion of the Psalms are found to be contained in Sir William Alexander's " Register of Letters."
They evince the great anxiety of Charles I. to have his father's version received in all the churches
of his dominions. The earliest letter is the following, addressed to " The Archbishop of St An-
drewis" —
" Wheras it pleased our late dear father of famous and eternal) memorie, considering how im
perfect the Psalmes in Meetter presentlie vsed ar, out of his zeal to the glorie of God, and for the
good of all the churches within his dominions, To translate them of new, Therfor, as we have
gevin commandement to our trustie and weilbeloved Sr William Alex1 Knycht to consider and
revew the meeter and poesie thairof, So our pleasour is, that zow and some of the most learned
divynes in that our kingdome confer them with the original! text, and with the most exact trans
lations, and thairefter certifie back zour opinions vnto ws concerning the same, whether it be fit
ting that they be published and sung in churches, instead of the old translation, or not ; To the in
tent that we may neglect nothing so much importing the memorie of our said late father ; and far
less if zow find that it may tend to the advancement of the glorie of God, and so recommending
the samyne to your earnest care, We bid, &c. Windsore, 25th August 1626."
On the 14th June 1631, his Majesty, after mentioning his having " caused revewe and imprint"
the translation, directs the " Archbishops and Bishops" to use their best means to have it " recei
ved in schooles, and sung in all the churches," &c. On the 13th March 1632, " The Archbishop
of Canterbury" is informed of his Majesty's pleasure " to convene the Bishop of London, and such
other bishops nere London as you may most convenientlie have — To resolve upon some course how
this our purpose (of having these Psalms used in all the churches) may take effect." There arc
letters of the same date, to the Archbishop of St Andrews, and the Primate of Armagh, directing
them to pursue a similar course in Scotland, and in Ireland. Of the other letters, the one most
worthy of notice is addressed to the Privy Council of Scotland, (in Dec. 163t,) in which the
King, expressing his " being now fully resolved of the exactness" of the translation, informs them,
" It is our pleasure (seeing we have alreadie gevin ordours for ane Impression of that translation,)
that zow give present ordour in such manner as is requisite that no vther Fsalmes of any edi
tion whatsoever be either printed heirefter within that our kingdome, or imported thither, either
bound by tbemselffs or vtberways, from any forraync parts." A similar injunction is contained
in a letter written at the same time to the Archbishop of St Andrews, adding, " that no Psalme
bookes in meeter of the old translation be printed or brought in, under the pane of confiscation of
ther books and punishement of ther persons." Had this object been successful, the exclusive pri
vilege granted to Sir Wm. Alexander, for the space of 31 years, of printing this version, would
have proved very lucrative.
DECLARATOR IN THE COURT
OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIFE,
M.D.LXI.
UPON THE ARTICLES AND SENTENCE
AGAINST SIR JOHN BORTHWICK, KNIGHT,
BY CARDINAL BEATON,
M.D.XL.
[ 253 ]
[COMMUNICATED BY THE REV. DR LEE.]
SIR JOHN BORTHWICK was one of the sons of William, third
Lord Borthwick, who was flain at Flodden in 1513. He is del'cri-
bed in a charter under the Great Seal, 21ft Auguft 1538, as next in
fucceffion to the fon and heir of William fourth Lord Borthwick.
Knox and other writers call him Captain Borthwick, and Sir Ralph
Sadler, in February 1539-40, mentions him repeatedly as lieutenant
of the French King's Guard, and as a confidential and favourite fer-
vant of James V. It is probable that his intimacy with Sir Ralph
Sadler contributed to excite the fufpicions and dillike of the clergy,
and that his marked familiarity with Sir David Lyndfay, whole
Satyre of the three Eftaittis was prefented about this period at Lin-
lithgow (of which town Borthwick is faid to have been provoft), did
not by any means tend to ingratiate him with the fupporters of the
declining intereft of the Church of Rome. Sir John died between
the year 1565 and 1570, at which laft date we find William Borth
wick mentioned as fon and heir of the late Sir John Borthwick of
Cinery [Reg. Mag. Sigil. Ixxxiii. No. 55.] His condemnation as a
heretic is tranfiently noticed by feveral of our hiftorians, and the
articles preferred againft him, with the anfwers which he publifhed
after his elcape, have been inferted by Fox in the fecond volume of
his Acts and Monuments. From Fox the account of the procels is
profefiedly copied by Keith, in his Appendix to the Hiftory of Scot-
[ 254 ]
land (p. 6) ; but he has omitted feveral material parts of the charge,
which were faithfully detailed by Fox, particularly that which re
lates to the reading of the New Teftament in Englifh, and other
prohibited books. The tranflation from the Latin, both in Fox and
Keith, is in fome parts fo inaccurate, as to be quite unintelligible.
No writer has ever yet publifhed an account of the reverfal of the
fentence. The circumftances attending the fecond judicial inquiry
are remarkable, particularly in this refpect, that the judge who pre-
fided in the court by which Borthwick was unanimoufly acquitted
in 1561, was one of thofe " plain enemies to the truth," defcribed
in the Procefs of Declarator, who had fat on his firft trial in 1540,
and had then been confenting to his condemnation. This was John
Wynram (inaccurately named Winton by Keith), the fubprior of the
Auguftinian Monaftery, afterwards fuperintendent of Fife, author
of a Catechifin, of which no copy is now known to exift. If it were
poffible to recover the private memorials of John Wynram, many
curious particulars in the fecret hiftory of the Reformation might
thus be fupplied. He was a man of an intriguing turn, and pro
bably was admitted to the confidence of men of both parties. It is
not underftood that he ever made any ftrenuous efforts in fupport-
ing the Proteftant doctrines, but he was allowed to retain fome of
the moft lucrative appointments in the Church, along with the
dignity and honour of a fuperintendent. In various actions carried
on in the Commiflary Court of St Andrews, he continued to be de-
figned prior of Portmoak, subprior of St Andrews, superintendent
of Strathern, parfon of Kirknejs, &c. till the time of his death in
September 1582.
[ 255 ]
FOLLOWIS THE ORDOR AND PROCESS DEDUCIT IN THE
DECLARATOR GEVYN UPON THE ARTICLES AND SEN
TENCE GEWYN AGAINS SCHYR JHON BORTHUICK OF
CENERIE, KNYCHT, BE UMQLL DAVID, CARDINALL.
DIE VIGESIMO MENSIS AUGUSTI ANNO DNI. M°VCLXI.
THE quhilk daye comperis Schyr JHONE BORTHWICK,
Knycht, and produces ane commiffion and fupplicatione, fubfcrivit
be the Lordis of our Soweran Ladeis Secreit Counfall, of dayt at
Edenburgh the xij of Auguft inftant, direct to the Superintendent
and Miniftrie of Sanctandrois, for cognicione taking upon the arti
cles and feutence thairupon gewyn be umquhill David Cardinall
Archbifliop of Sanctandrois, agains the faid Schyr Jhon Borthwick,
condempnyng the faid articles heretical, and the faid Schyr Jhon
thairfor infarait and punifled,&c. And to gewe thair Declarator thair
upon as they fynd, according to the law and word of God ; Quhilk
commiffion red and underftand be the faids Superintendent and
Miniftrie, and they accepand the fame at defyr of Schyr Jhon, they
decern hym ane edict to fummond al hawand interels or pretending
interels in the faid caufs, or ony thing that followed thairupon, to
compear for thair interefs upon the fy we daye of September nixt to
cum befoyr thaine. And the faid Schyr Jhon exhibitis and delivers
256 THE ORDER AND PROCESS AGAINST
to the Minifteres foyrfaid the trewe exemplar of the foyrnamed ar
ticles and lenience copied and collationat be Jhon Mofman, notar
public and fcrib to the Schyrref Deputes of Edenburgh, under his
figne and fublcripfion, fufficientlie recognofcit be hym, drawyn
furth of the actentik extract of the lame extract furth of the regyf-
ter of the layd umqu David Cardinal!, be Maifter Andro Olephant,
notar publict and fecretar to the laid umq11 David Cardinall, under
his figne and fublcripfion, and be Jhon Lord Borthwick, purcheft
be compulfatoris executed upon the faid Mr Andro, and be the layd
Lord produced befoyr the fayds Schyref deputis, to be feyn, confi
dent, and difculsed. In the myd tym, and alfo prefentlie, declaris
his mynd in quhat lenfe he fpak the faids articles be explications
thairof, of the quhilkis articles and fentence the tenoris followis.
JOANNES BORTHUIK, CAPITANEUS BORTHUIK, wlgariter nuncupates sus-
pectus infamatus et convictus per testes omni exceptione majores Anno Domini
juiyc quadragesimo, vigesimo octavo Mensis Maij, in Coenobio St Andr. prscsenti-
bus Reveml9 ac reverendis et venerabus in Christo patribus Gavino Archiep" Glasgnen.
regni Scotise Cancellario ; Willelmo Abyrdonen. Henrico Candida Casse et Capel-
lae regiae Strewillengen. Joanne Brechinen. et Wmo Dumblenen. Ecclesiarum Episcopis ;
Andrea de Melross, Georgio de Dunfermling, Joanne de Pasleto, Joanne de Lindo-
ris, Roberto de Kynloss, et Wmo de Culross, Monasteriorum Abbatibus ; Macolmo
de Qnhytern, Joanne de Pyttynweyme Prioribus ; Magro Alex™ Balfour, vicario de
Kilmanie, Rectore Unirersitatis Sancti Andr. Magrls Nr'8 Joanne Mayr, Petro Capel-
lano, in sacra theologia profeasoribus et doctoribus, Martino Balfour, in sacris literis
et decretis barhalario officiali Sancti Andreae principal!, Joanne Wynram, Suppriore,
Joanne Annand, et Tlioma Cwnyngham, canonicis ecclesiae Sancti Andrea; Fratribus,
Joanne Thomson, priore fratrum prsedicatorum civitatis S" Andrese, cum socio
Joanne Tuledaf Guardiano fratrum minorum dictee civitatis Su Andrea, et Joanne Pa-
terson, vicario conventns ejusdem ; Necnon prsesentibus nobilibus, potentibus, et mag-
SIR JOHN BORTHWICK, KNIGHT. 257
niticis Domiuis, viz. Georgio de Huntlie, Jacobo de Anme, Willelrao Marescallo, Wil-
lelmo de Montross, comitibus, Macolmo I)"" Flemyng, Camerario Scotiae, Joanne
Dno Lyndesaye, Joanne D"° Erskyn, Georgio Dno Setoun, Hugone Dno Somerwyll,
Jacobo Hamyltoun de Fynnart, Waltero Dno Sancti Joannis de Torphichen, militi-
bus, Magris Jacobo Fowlis de Colintonn, S.D.N. regis ac registri clerico, Thoma
Ballindyn, ejusdem Dnl Nrl Regis justiciario clerico, et multis atque compluribus
aliis 1)"'" baronibus ac honestis personis, in testiinoniuni praemissor. rogatis et re-
quisitis ; Hos sequentes tenuisse en-ores publice dogmatasse et instruxisse, viz.
Primo et in specie Sanctissimnm Do"1 Nostrum Papam Jesu Christ! servatoris nos-
tri vicarium non habere nee posse exercere aliquatenus majorem anctoritatem in
Cristianos quara quicumque alius Eps vel sacerdos.
Indnlgentias concessas a supremo Dno Nro Papa nullins esse roboris efficacise vel
moment!, sed duntaxat eas ad populi abusionem et animarum earund. deceptionem
fuisse et esse factas.
Papam esse symoniacum pubm quotidie vendenteni dona spiritualia ; et presbyte-
ros omnes per matrimonium conjungi et copulare debere.
Omnes hsereses Anglicanas vulgo nuncupatas seu saltern earund. majorem et sa-
niorem partem de present! per Anglos observatas fuisse et esse bonas justas et
C'hristi fidelibus observandas tanqnam veraces et divinae leg! conformes ; quas etiam
publice affirmavit dogmatizavit authorisavit, diversas et plurimas personas ad illas ac-
ceptanduin persuadendo.
Populum Scoticanum fuisse et esse omnino excsecatmn et abusnm per ecclesiam
Scoticanam et ejusdem clernm, quos dixit et affirmavit non Lahore veram fidem Ca-
tholicam, et per hoc publice affirmavit et predicavit fidem suam fuisse meliorem et
praestantiorem quam fidem omnium aliorum ecclesiasticorum in regno Scotia?.
Conformiter ad veteres errores Joannis Wycleif et Joannis Hwss haereticonun in
Cousilio Constantiensi condemnatorum, affirmavit praedicavit Ecclesiasticos non de
bere possidere nee habere possessiones aliquas temporales, imo nee etiam habere ju-
risdictiouem aut authoritatem aliquam in temporalibus, etiam in eorum subditos, sed
" i in uiia lin-c j ab eis similiter subtrahi debere quemadmodum his diebns fit in Anglia.
Mendose et contra honorem statum et reverentiam sacrae regia? Majestatis Scoto-
i inn, dixit teauit et asseruit, regem Scotorum nostrum serenissimum, Cristianae fidei
propuguaculum, velle sibi appropriare contra jura et libertatein ecclesise possessiones
terras et redditus, a progenitoribus et etiam a Cristomet8 serenissimo regi ecclesix da-
J Sic in MS. Qu. oi iptomrl f
1'AKT II. K K
258 THE ORDER AND PROCESS AGAINST
tas et concessas, etin sues privates usus convert!, et ad hoc ut se multipliciter ascrip-
sit eundem serenissimum Dom nostrum regem toto conamine suasit.
Voluit ac petiit et frequenter ac ferventer ex aniino desideravit ecclesiam Scotica-
nam pervenire et deduci ad idem punctum eorund. et similem finem et ruinam ad
quam ecclesia Anglicana jam actu pervenit.
Publice tenuit dixit asseruit et affirmavit ac prsedicavit et dogmatizavit, leges ec-
clesiee videl1. sacros canones et sanctorum patrum decreta ab ecclesia sancta Catholi
ca et apostolica approbata nullius esse vigoris aut valoris, inferendo propterea affir-
maudo eadem fuisse et esse contra legem Dei condita et emanata.
Pluribus ac multimodis vicibus dixit tenuit et affirmavit et publice asseruit, nullam
religionem fore observandam sed illam sinipl1' abolendam et destruendatn fore et esse
sicut nunc in Anglia destructa existet : Omnem sanctam religionem vilipendendo, et
affirmando fore propter abusionum eorum habitus per eos delati asseruit, eos esse de-
formes admodum monstrorum nihil utilitatis ant sanctitatis pra? se ferentes. Inducendo
propter hoc et suadendo, quantum in eo erat, omnes suae opinioni adhserentes ut
omnis religio in regno Scotia? simplr et penitus tollatur ac destruatur in maximum
Catholica' <vrl;l' scandalum et Cristianse religionis diminutionem et detrimentum.
Plane constat per legitimas probationes eundem JOANNEM BORTIIUIK habuisse et
actualiter habere diversos libros suspectos, de haeresi damnatosque, tain papali quam re-
gia et ordinaria etiam authoritatibus lege prohibitos, vid'. specialiter et in specie
Novum Testamentum in vulgari Anglice impressum, OScolampadium, Melanctonem,
et diversos Erasmi, et diversorum alionim heereticorum condemnatorum necnon et
librum Unio Dissidentiwn nuncupatum manifestissimos et maximos errores seu hse-
reticos assertiones in se continentes, illosque tarn publice qm privatim legisse stu-
duisse aliisque praesentasse et communicasse, atque plures Cristianos in eisdem in-
struxisse docuisse et dogmatizasse, ad effectum divertendi eos a vera fide Cristiana et
Catholica.
Eundem JOANNEM BORTHUIK in omnibus his erroribus et hreresibus tarn pertinacem
esse constat, et indurato animo eosdem sustinuisse docuisse dogmatizasse, sic ut nolit
ab eisdem, diversis suis amicis et personis ilium diligentibus, et ad fidem sanctam Ca-
tholicam reducere volentibus cupientibus et suadentibus, ullo modo divertere nee a
suis erroribus per eorum consilium declinare velle, aut illis sic suadentibus aliquatenus
acquiescere, sed potius in suis erroribus immobiliter persistere vellet, de quibus omni
bus prsemissis et muliis aliis erroribus, per eum tends dictis publicatis afiirmatis prse-
SIR JOHN BORTHWICK, KNIGHT. 259
dicatis et dogmatizatis, est et laborat publica vox et fama, et ita dictus Joannes Borth-
uik ut lia-roticus lucrcsiarrliii, pessime de fide Catliolica sentiens, a compluribus per-
sonis tenetur habetur etreputatur. Proptereanos DAVID CARD"", &c., sedentes pro
tribunal!, more judicum judicantium, positis coram nobis sacrosanctis Dei evangeliis
ut de vultu dei judicium nostrum prodeat et oculi nostri videant aequitatem, solum
Deum et Catholic* fidei veritatem prae oculis liabentes, ejusque nomine sanctissimo
primitus invocato, habito in et super his et secuto prudentium consilio tarn theologo-
rum quam jurisperitorum, praefatum Joannem Borthuik Capitaneum dictum de pramis-
sis baeresibus et dogmatibus iuiquis et multipliciter damnatis, ut praemittitur, suspec-
tum infamatnm et per legitimas probationes contra eum in singulis praemissis haeresi-
bus convictum, et legitime vccatum citatum et non comparentem, sed profugum et fu-
gitirum, absentem tanquam praesentem sententiamus pronunciamus decernimus defini-
mus et declaramus vere haereticum et luHresiarcham fuisse et esse, ac pcenis heretici
convicti et haeresiarchi debitis plectendum puuiendum et castiganduin fore, et prop-
terea curiae et potestati secular! tradendum et relinquendum, prout tradimus et relin-
quimus omniaque et singula ejus bona niobilia et immobilia qualitercunque et quo-
cnnque titnlo acquisita, et in quibuscunque partibus existant, ac officia quaecunque per
eum hactenus habita, salvis tamen dote et parte seu portione bonorum uxori suae in-
cumbentibns quae personis fiscis et usibus, quibus de jure et consuetudine regni applicare
debeant, per praesentes confiscamus et applicamns, ac confiscari et applicari decernimus
et declaramus per praesentes : Necnon dicti Joannis effigiem manu factam, et ad ipsius
instar depictam et formatam, publice per bane nostram civitatem Sancti Andrea- in
curru devehendam, et postea apud crucem foralem ejusdem nostrse civitatis in signum
maledictionis, aliorumque terrorem et exemplum, ac suae contumaciae et condemna-
tionis perpetuam memoriam, fuisse et esse comburenda similiter decemimus, non minus
tamen quod si postea idem Joannes apprehendatur eum similes poenas juxta juris dis-
positionem heresiarchis debitas subiturum similiter decernimus et declaramus, nulla
spe misericordiae desuper subsequente, ac omnes et singulos utriusque sexus Cristi
fideles cujuscunque dignitatis status gradus ordinis conditionis vel praeeminentiae fu-
erint, ac quacunque ecclesiastica vel mundana praefulgeant dignitate, tenornra praeseo-
tiumexpresse monemus,ne abhuc dictum Joannem Borthuik baereticum et heresiarcham
convictum et declaratum in eorum domibus hospitiis castris villis oppidis aut aliis qui
buscunque locis recipiant seu admittant, aut sibi esculenta vel potulenta ant aliqua
alia hunianitatis obsequia et necessaria ministrent seu ministrari faciant, ant secnm com-
260 THE ORDER AND PROCESS AGAINST
inunicent edendo bibendo aut aliquo alio humanitatis solatio eidein irapendendo aut
pertractando, snbsimili inajoris excommunicationis poena, et cum certified tione, quod si
in prsemissis culpabiles inventi fuerint, quod accusabuntur propterea ut hsereticorum
fautores receptores et defensores et prius eisdem incumbentibus prout de jure puni-
entur. Lecta lata et in scriptis redacta fuit hsec nostra sententia in ecclesia nostra
raetropolitana et provincial! Sancti Andrese nobis inibi in navi ejusdem super scalarn
et pro tribunal! sedentibus, sub anno incarnationis dorainicse tnillesimo quingentesimo
quadragcsimo, die vero Menais Maij vigesimo octavo.
DIE QUINTO MENSIS SEPT. ANNO DOMINI M°VCLXI.
The quhilk daye Mafter WYL.IAM SCOT comperis as procurator,
and in name of Schyr JHON BORTHUIK, knycht, be his mandat, red
and admittit, and produces ane edict of the Superintendent and Mi-
niftrie prelent under thair fail, deulie executit and indorfat tharin,
lummond be oppyn proclamation at the mercat croce of the citie of
Sanct Androis, upon the premonition of xv dayes bypaft, al and
fyndry hawand or pretending to have interefs in the caufs of dif-
cuffing and declarator gewyn upon the articles allegit, haldyn be
the laid Schyr Jhon, be umq" David Cardinal, Archbifliop of Sanct
Andros, as at mayr lent is contenit in the laid edict ; and al and
lyndry forfayds hawand interes, and being oft tymes called, and
nane comperand, to propone or ufe ony defence of objectione in the
1'ayd cawfs and flop of the fayd declarator, the fuperintendent and
minil'trie ryplie and maturelie awyled with the faids artikles and
lentence, the confall of godlie lernit men, and thair contents thairtq
had, pronunces thair Declarator as follows : — To al and iyndry, to
quhais knawlege thir prelentis fal cum, Maifter JHON WYNRAM,
SIR JOHN BORTHWICK, KNIGHT. 261
Superintendent of Fyff, minifter, eldaris, and diaconis of Criitis kyrk
within the reformed citie of Sanct Androis, grace, mercie, and peace
from God our Father through Jefus Crift our Lord and onle Sal-
vior, with perpetual increafs of his holie fpirit. It mot be knawen
that we, be vertue of ane commiflion and fupplication, direct to wls
be deliverance of the Lordis of our Soweran Ladeis fecreit confayll,
under thair Lordfchippes fublbripfionis, of dayt at Edenburgh the
xij day of Auguft, in the zear of God M°vclxi yearis, purcheft and
prefented befoyr wfs be Schyr Jhon Borthuik of Cenerie, knycht,
being requei'ted and defyrit to confidder certane articles alleged
haldyn be the faid Schyr Jhone Borthuik, and quharupone ane pre-
tendit fentence wefs gewyn be umqu David Cardinall, archbifhop
of Sanct Androis, decernand the faids articles hereticall, and thair-
through the faid Schyr John to be infamed and punifled : And the
faids articles being fundyn be ufs reffonabyle, conform to Goddis
word, and not hereticall, to declar the faid Schyr Johne not to have
falzeit tharintill, nor to be infamed nor punifled, or to incur ony
fkayth therthrowgh, bot that he may perfow his juft actionis befoir
quhatfumewer jugis, notwithftanding the famyn ; and to gewe our
declarator thairupon, conforme to the law and word of God : Quhilk
commiffione being be ufs refavit with reverence and obedience, as
efferit, together with the trew exemplar of the foyrnamed artiklis
and fentence copeit and collationat be Jhon Mofman, notar publict,
and fcrib to the Schyrreff Deputs of Edenburgh, under his figne
and fubfcripfion, drawyn furth of the actentik extract of the famyn,
extractit furth of the regifter of the fayd umqu David Cardinall,
262 THE ORDER AND PROCESS AGAINST
under his figne and fubfcripfion, and be Jhon Lord Borthuik, pnr-
cheft be compulfatoris, executed upon the faid Mr Andro, and be
the faid Lord produced befoyr the faids Schereff Deputis, the copies
quhairof ar regiftrat in our bwks : And efter our acceptation of
the foyrfaid commiffion, all and fyndry hawynd or pretending to
hawe interefs in the faid cawfs, or ony thing that followed thair-
upon, being fummond be our publict edict and proclamation of the
fam at the marcat croce of the faid citie (and copie thairof affixed
upon the faid croce) to compeir for thair interefs at certan day and
place thairin affigned, upon the premonition of xv dayes warnyng
preceding the faid day : And we in the mayn tym hawand trial,
confideration, and jugement in difcuffing of the faids artikles and
fentence, with the confail, jugement, and confent of venerable and
godlie lernit men, to wyt, Mr Jhon Dowglafs, rector of thellniverfite
of Sanct Androis, and proweft of the New College, Mr Robert Ha-
myltone, regent in the fame, Mr Jhon Rwtherfurd, principall, Mat
ter Wm Ramfay, and Mafter David Gwyld, mefteris in Sanct Sal-
vatoris College, Mr Jhon Duncanfon, principall, and Mr James
Wylkie, regent in Sanct Leonards College, with otheris diverfs
minifteres and profellbres of Godis word, the explication of the faid
Schyr Jhon Borthuik, concerning certan generaliteis contenit into
fum of the faids artikles be wfs hard, confiderat, and with the faids
artikles conferred and fullelie aggreand : We find the faids artikles
rationabill, not hereticall, bot ma Hand with Godis word, and none
of them bot may be interpreit to ane gud fenfe, according to the
mynd of the laid Schyr Jhon in his explication tharof : And heir-
SIR JOHN BORTHWICK, KNIGHT. 263
for declars the faids artikles rationabill and not hereticall, and the
laid Schyr Jhon Borthwick not to haw falzeit tharintyll, nor to havve
defervit infamite punifchement nor ! kath tharfor, hot he as ane man
of gud fame may perfovv his juft actionis befoir ony juge competent,
notwithftanding the laid pretendit fentence, quhilk in the felf we
declair to be null and wranguflie gewyn, and the geauris tharof to
haw fchawyn thamfelfis tharby men ignorant of Godis word and
lawis, and plane menu-is to his trewth. Pronunced in the Coniil'to-
riall hows, within the paroche kyrk of the citie of Sanctandrois,
upon the v day of September, in the zeir of God M°vclxi zeares, as
day afligned in our faid edict, in payne of not comperance of tham
hawand intereis heyrto fummoned, called, and not comperand. In
wytness and teftimonie of" the premifs to thir our prefent letters of
teftimoniall and declarator, fubfcriuit with our hands, the failis of
luperintendent and miniftrie forfayd are affixed year and day
foyrfaids.
A DIARY
OF THE EXPEDITION OF KING EDWARD I.
INTO SCOTLAND.
M.CC.XCVI.
PAKT II.
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.
[COMMUNICATED BY PATRICK PHASER TYTLER, ESQ.]
THE following Diary is preferred in two different manufcripts in
the Britifh Mufeum, and is now printed for the firft time. Al
though exceedingly brief, it relates to an interefting and important
period of Scottifh hiftory, and is valuable in fixing the Chronology
of Edward's noted Expedition into that country in the year 1295.
At this time a party of the Scottifh nobility, incenfed at the iniqui
tous conduct of this Monarch, and dreading the eafy fubmiffion of
Baliol to the Englifh yoke, fecluded the newly-elected King from all
power, confined him in a ftrong mountain fortrefi, and placed the
management of the government in the hands of twelve of the lead
ing nobles.1 The meafures adopted by thefe guardians were decided
and fpirited. They, in the name of Baliol, drew up an inftrument,
renouncing all fealty and allegiance to Edward ; they difpatched
ambafladors to France, who concluded a treaty of marriage and al
liance between the niece of the French King and Baliol's eldeft fon
Edward ; and they afiembled an army, under the command of Comyn
Earl of Buchan, which invaded Cumberland, but having failed in an
attempt to ftorm Carlifle, returned without honour.2 Indeed, nothing
1 Annals of Ireland, ad an. 1295. Math. Westm. p. 425. Fordun, a Ilearne, p. 969.
8 Hemingford, vol. i. pp. 87, 88, 89.
268
could be more favourable for Edward than the miferably difunited
Hate of Scotland. Three powerful factions divided the country, and
hindered that firm political union, without which, againft fuch an
enemy, no fuccefeful oppofition could be expected. Bruce, and his
numerous and powerful followers, remained true to England. The
friends of Baliol and that part of the nation who recognized him as
their lawful fovereign, beheld him a captive in one of his own fort-
refles, and refufed to join the rebels, who had imprifoned him, and
the party of Comyn which had invaded England were either fo
deftitute of military talent, or fo divided amongft themfelves, that
a handful of the citizens of Carlifle compelled them to retreat with
lofs into their own country. Thefe advantages were eafily percei
ved by the King of England. When the revolt in Scotland firft
broke out, he had been occupied with foreign affairs, and was com
pelled to delay and to diflemble. It was now his time for action,
and for inflicting that vengeance againft his enemies, which, with
this monarch, the longer it was delayed, was generally the more
lure and terrible. He accordingly afTembled a numerous and well-
appointed army. It confifted of thirty thoufand foot, and four
thoufand heavy armed horfe. He was joined by Anthony Beck,
the warlike Bilhop of Durham, who brought a thoufand foot and
five hundred horfe ; and at the head of this combined force, with
the two facred banners of St John of Beverley, and St Cuthbert of
Durham, carried before the army, he marched towards Scotland, and
crofled the Tweed a little below the nunnery of Coldftream.8
3 Rymer's Fcedera, TO!, ii. p. 732. Prynne's History of K. John, Hen. HI., and
Edw. I. p. 667.
269
Our prefent limits will not admit of any detailed account of the
fiege and ftorming of Berwick, in which eight thoufand perfons
were put to the fword ; nor of the battle of Dunbar, an event which
decided, in a great meafure, the fate of Scotland. Edward, as we
lee from the following Diary, was not flow to follow up the advan
tages which his fuccefs had given him. Returning from Lothian,
he lat down before the Caftle of Roxburgh, which was furrendered
to him by James the Steward of Scotland ; who not only fwore fealty
to Edward and abjured the French alliance, but prevailed upon
many others of the Scottifli nobility to forfake a ftruggle which was
deemed defperate, and to fubmit to England. It was at his infti-
gation that Ingeram de Umfraville furrendered the Caftle of Dum
barton,4 and gave up as hoftages his daughters Eva and Ifobel.
Soon after, the Caftle of Jedburgh was yielded to his mercy, and
his victorious army being reinforced by a body of fifteen thoufand
men from Wales, he was enabled to fend home that part of his Eng-
lifli force which had fuffered moft from fatigue in the expedition.
With thefe frefh levies he advanced to Edinburgh, and made him-
felf mafter of the Caftle after a fiege of eight days.5 He then paff-
ed rapidly to Stirling, which he found abandoned, and while there,
the Earl of Ulfter, with a new army of thirty thoufand foot and
four hundred horfe, came to join the King, and complete the triumph
of the Englifli arms. Edward continued his progrefi, without oppo-
fition, to Perth, where, on the 24th of June, he halted to keep the
Feaft of the Nativity of John the Baptift, with circumftances of high
Prynne's Edward I. p. 649. Rotuli Scotia, 22 Edw. I. Mem. 8 dorso.
Hemingford, vol. i. p. 98. Lelandi Collectanea, vol. i. p. 460.
270
feudal pomp and folemnity, feafting his friends, creating new Knights,
and folacing himfelf and his Barons.
In the midft of thefe rejoicings, meflengers arrived from the
unhappy Baliol, announcing his fubmiffion, and imploring peace.6
Edward would not deign to treat with him in perfon, but referred
him to the Bifhop of Durham to inform him of the determination
of his Lord Superior. This determination was none other than
that of an abfolute and unconditional refignation of himfelf and his
kingdom to the will and mercy of the conqueror, to which Baliol,
who was now a mere fhadow of royalty, dejectedly and patiently
fubmitted. In prefence of the Bifhop of Durham and the Barons
of England, ftript of his regal ornaments, and ftanding as a criminal
with a white rod in his hand, he performed in the church-yard of
Strathkathro a humiliating feudal penance,7 and after the ceremony
delivered his eldeft fon Edward to the King of England as a hoftage
for his fidelity. This youth, with his difcrowned father, were foon
after fent by fea to London, and committed to the Tower.8 The
further progress of Edward from Perth to Aberdeen, and from
thence to Elgin in Murray, returning through Badenoch to Kil-
drummie Caftle, and thence by Kincardine in the Mearns to Dun
dee, Perth, Lindores, and Dunfermline, will be found in the Diary.
6 Du Chesne, Hist. p. 597. ? Prynne's Edward I. pp. 650, 651.
8 Langtoft's Chronicle, vol. ii. p. 280, in speaking of Baliol, says —
First he -was a kyng, now he is a soudjoure,
And is at other spending bonden in the Toure.
[ 269f ]
THE preceding fheets were printed off previous to our being
aware of a communication having been made by N. H. Nicolas, Efq.
to the Society of Antiquaries of London, on the fubject of Edward's
Invafion, and which has been inferted in a recent volume of the
Society's Archaeologia, under the title of — " A Narrative of the Pro-
grefi of King Edward the Firft in his Invafion of Scotland, in the
year 1296 : communicated, with fome obfervations thereon, by Ni
cholas Harris Nicolas, Esq., F.S.A. &c. Read 25th Feb. 1826."
(vol. xxiii. pp. 478 — 498.)
In this communication, Mr Nicolas has given the Englifh ver-
fion of the Diary from a collation of three MSS., accompanied with
fome valuable hiftorical illuftrations. Mr Nicolas informs us this
curious document firft fell under his obfervation in the Afhmolean
Library, in a volume marked No. 865, which is faid to have been
tranfcribed " from a faire vellom manufcript belonging to Sir J.
Maynard, Sergeant-at-Law, in 1660." At a fubfequent period, he
met with three different copies in the Britifh Mufeum, viz. Harl.
MSS. 1309 ; Additional MSS. 5758 ; and Cotton. MSS. Domitian.
A. xviii. The latter is in Norman French, and occafional paflages
from it, are quoted by Mr Nicolas in the notes, to illuftrate difficult
readings. It is, however, fomevvhat fingular, that he feems not to
have been aware of either of the two additional and earlier MSS.,
preferved in the Britifh Mufeum (Cotton. MSS. Nero D. vi. and
C 270f ]
Vefpas. C. xvi.) from which the original text, as well as the Englilh
verfion, have been printed in the prefent volume. *
In his preliminary remarks, Mr Nicolas has entered upon an exa
mination, to prove the genuinenefs of the Diary, from a companion
of the dates. Thefe, he fays, he found " to be ftrictly confiftent
with each other, and with the truth ;" and confirmed likewife by the
dates of the inftruments in the Fcedera, between the 28th March
and the 22d Auguft, 1296; viz. two at Berwick on Tweed, 24th
April; four at Roxburgh, 12th May; three at the fame place, on
the 14th, 15th, and 16th May; one at Cluny, 26th June; and one
at Aberdeen, 15th July ; the next in the feries being tefted at Ber
wick on the 2d of September.
1 The laft paragraph of the French original, at page 281-2, is not contained in any
of the Engliih rerfion*.
A DIARY OF EDWARD THE FIRST [HIS] JOURNEY INTO
SCOTLAND, IN THE TIME OF JOHN KINGE OF SCOTTIS.
A°. REGNI 24, 1296.1
L'AN du regne le Roy Edward
xxiiij6 dEngleterre feu le iour de
Pasque p le iour de lAnunciation
notre Dame, et le Mefcredy de
Pasque, fur le xxviij iour de
Marz, passa le Roy E / auantnome
la Riuere de Twede oue v. milles
chiuaux couert, et xxx. milles
IN the xxiiijth yere of the 1296.
reign of Kyng Edward. Efter March 25.
day was on the day of the an-
nuncyacion of Our Lady, and on
the Wednyfday in the Efter weke,
beyng the xxviij day of Marche, . . 28.
paflyd Kyng Edward the fibre
nene, the ryuer of Twede, with
1 As stated in the introductory notice, this Diary is printed from two manuscripts
preserved in the British Museum. The French (MS. Cotton. Nero D. VI. 18. Co
dex Memb. Soec. xiv.) is the original, and evidently coeval with the date of the Ex
pedition. The English translation (MS. Cotton. Vesp. C. XVI. 16.) appears to be
long to the early part of the 16th century, and has the above title inserted in a later
hand. For the benefit of modern readers, the dates of ' this Royal Progress' are added
in the margin, from a comparison with the valuable French work, I.' Art de Verifier
les Dates, by Mr PITCAIUST, who communicated for the present work a transcript he
had made of the English version. In the notes, which are added by Mr TYTLER, an
attempt is made to point out the names of most of the obscure places mentioned in
the Diary.
272
DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION OF
1296.
hommes de pees et uit celle v.m horsis couered / and xxx.m March 28.
nuyt en Efcoce a la priorie de fote men, and lay that nyght in
Caldeftrem ; et le loedy a Hot- Scotland at the priorie of Calde-
ton2 ; le Vendredy prift la ville ftreme ; and the Thurfday at . . 29.
de Berewyk fur Twede, a force Hatton8 / and the ffryday toke . . 30.
d armes fanz arefte. Le clial'tel the towne of Barwyk vppone
rendi mefme le iour Monf.r Wil- Twede, by force of arrays, with
Ham Douglas qeftoit dedeinz ; out tareyng. The caftell was
et uift le Roy a nuyt a chattel, geven vppe the fame day by the
et fa gent en la ville cefcun a Lord William Dowglas, which
fon houftel qil auoit gayne, et was in ytt ; and the Kyng lay in
y demoert le Roy pres de vn the feyd caftell all that nyght,
moys.3 and his hoft in the towne, euery
man in the houfe that he hathe
gotten / and the Kyng tareyd
there almoft a monyth.3
2 Hatton, probably Handen, see Macpherson's Geogr. Illust. — In Blean's Atlas,
Hutoun, a few miles N. W. from Berwick.
3 In the storming of Berwick, the King, mounted on his horse Bayard, was the
first who won the outer dyke, and the soldiers, animated by the example and presence
of their King, carried all before them.
What did then Sire Edward, pcre he had non lyke,
Upon his Stede bayard first he wan the dyke ;
In pask weke it was, the Fryday thai it wan
In the non tyme fel this cas, that slayn was ilk man
That were in Berwick.
PETER LANGTOFT'S Chron. voL ii. p. 272.
Eight thousand, or, according to Knighton, p. 2480, seventeen thousand persons
were slain in the sack of Berwick, and for two days the city ran with blood like a
river. The churches, to which the miserable inhabitants had ffed for sanctuary, were
EDWARD I. INTO SCOTLAND.
273 1296.
23.
Le iour de feint George xxiiij And on Seynt Georgia day, the April 24
iour d Auerill vyndrent nouelles au xxiiij day of A prile, cam ne wes to
Roy q cil dEfcoce auoient afiege the Kyng that they of Scotland
le chaftel de Dombar q eft al Cont hadde befeged the caftel of Dum-
Patryk4 / le quel fe tient ferment barre, that longyd to the Erie Pa-
oue le Roy dEngleterre / ces feu trike,4 the which holdyth ftrongly
p vn Lundy le Roy enuoia fon with the Kyng of Engeland/ And
gent pur leuer le fiege, auaut qils on the Monday, the Kyng fent his •
vyndrent la fi feu le chaftel rendu, men to areyfe the fiege, butt be
et feurent ceux dEfcoce dedeinz / fore they cam the caftell was
quant la gent le Roy dEngleterre geven vppe the fame day, and
y vyndrent fi assisterent le chaftel the Scottis were in ytt whan the
de trois hoftes p le Marfdy qils Englyfshemen cam to ytt, and
vyndrent pardeuant / le Mefcredy didd affiege ytt with iij hoftis on
cils dedeinz enuoieronthorspriue- the Wednefday [Twyfday] that •
ment ; et le loefdy, et le Vendre- they cam there / and the Twyf- •
dy vient loft dEfcoce tout apres day [Wednefday] they that were
none pur auoir leue le fiege de within fende ought priuely ; and
ceux dEngleterre ; et quant cils theThurfdayandFfrydaycamthe .
dEngleterre virent ceux dEfcoce hofte of the Scottis nere theym, .
violated and defiled with blood, spoiled of their sacred ornaments, and turned into
stables for the English cavalry. A fine contrast to the brutal ferocity of Edward was
presented, when, 22 years after this, the town of Berwick was stormed and taken from
the English by Douglas and Randolph. — Forduni Scotichronicon, B. xi. c. 54, 55.
4 Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, called Patrick with the black beard. Leland, Collect,
vol. i. p. 540. The Earl was a steady partizan of Edward, but his Countess hated
the English, and delivered the castle to her countrymen. Walsingham, Hist. p. 67.
PART II. M M
24.
25.
26.
27-
274
DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION OF
1296.
fi curreront a eux, et cils dEfcoce
difcomfiteront ; et durra le chace
plus de v. lieus de voie loinz, et
tanque a heure de vefpres / y ont
mort Monf.r Patrik de Grehem,5
grand fieur, et x. milles et LV. p
droit acont. Mefrae eel Vendredy
uint le Roy de Berewyk pur aler
a Dombar, et uist la nuyt a Cold-
yngham ; le Samady a Dombar, et
mefme eel iour fi rendirent als du
chattel a la volunte le Roy / et y
feu le Conte dAflecels,6 le Conte
de Ros, le Conte de Monetet /
Monfieur Johan Commyn de Ba-
denafok, le filz Monfieur Richard
Suard Monfieur William de
Seint Cler et tant que iiij"
abowte none, to haue rayfed the April 27.
fiege of the Englyfshe men ; and
whan theEnglylshe men fee them
come toward theym, than the
Engelifshemen ran to the Scottis
and difcomfytyd theym, and
dydde ouercome theym ; And the
chayfe duryd well v. myles of
way,vntillyttwas evenyng. And
ther dyed the Lord Patryke of
Greham/ a great lord, and x* and
i/v. by right accompt. And the
fame ffryday cam the Kyng from
Barwik to goo to Dunbar, and
lay that nyght at Coldyngham /
the Saterday at Dunbar; and the • • 28.
famyn day they of the caftell gaue
ouer at the Kyngis pleafur, and
5 Hemingford, vol. i. p. 96, gives this high character of Graham, " a valiant knight,
amongst the wisest in the kingdom, and noblest amongst the noble."
6 The Earls of Athol, Ros, and Monteith. Sir John Comyn of Badenoch, called the
Red Comyn, afterwards slain by Bruce in the convent of the Grey Friars at Dum
fries. Suard is Siward. All the prisoners of rank were immediately sent in fetters
to England, where they were committed to close confinement in different Welsh
and English castles. Dunbar was fatal to the Scots ; for, three hundred and fifty years
after this, Cromwell defeated the army of the Scottish Covenanters, which occupied
the same position as that held by the Scots in 1296, and with equal precipitancy de
serted it.
EDWARD I. INTO SCOTLAND. 275 1296.
homines darmes et vij" de pees / ther was in ytt/ the Erie of Ace- April 28.
illoeques demora le Roy iij iours. celles,6 Therle of Roos, Therle of
Monetet, Sir John Comyn of Bed-
wafok, the fon of Sir Richard
Suard, Sir William Santcler, and
iiij. fcore men of arrays and vij.
fcore fotemen. / Theyr tareyd the
King .iij. day[es.]
LeMefcredy, la veile de lAfcen- The Wednyfday, Aflent evyn, May 3.
(ion, ala le Roy a Hadyngton ; le the Kyng went to Hadyngton, /
Dymenge apres a Lowedere7 ; le theSondayaftrtoLowedere;7the • • 6.
Lundy a Rokefburgh a frere me- Monday to Rokyfbrough at the • • 7.
nours8 ; le Marfdy al Chaftel, et y Grayfreres ;8 / the Kyng loged the
demeura le Roy .xiiij. iours. Le Twyfday at the caftell, and the • • 8.
xv. iour p Mefcredy ala a Gyde- Kyng tared ther xiiij. dayes : And
worde9/le loefdyaWyel/le Ven- the xv. day went to Gardeford,9 • • 23.
dredy a Caftilton / le Dymenge the Thurfday to Wyell / the ffry- • • 25.
apres arere a Wyel / le Lundy a day toCaftelton/the Sonday bake • • 27.
Gydeworde9 / le Vendredy apres ayen to Wiell / the Munday to • • 28.
a Rokefburgh / le Lundy apres a Guydeford,9 the ffryday to Rokef- June 1.
Loweder / le Marfdy a labhey de brough / the Munday after to • • 4.
7 Lawder.
8 Rokisburgh Castle was surrendered to Edward by James the Steward of Scotland,
who swore fealty to England, and abjured the French alliance. Prynne's Hist, of
Edward I. p. 649.
9 Jedburgh, generally in old writers called Gedworde. The surrender of Jedburgh
is to be found in Rymer's Fcedera, vol. ii. 714-, 715.
276
DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION OF
1296.
Neubatel / le Mefcredy a Edenef-
burgh / a labbey et fift adrefler
trois engyns gettantz au chattel
iour et nuyt / au quint iour ils
parleront de pees.10 Al oytifme
iour le Roy ala gifer a Lunfcu,11
et lefla les engyns gettantz en
bone garde deuant le chaftel / le
loefdy ala a Eftryuelyn,1? et cils
q feurent en le chaftel fenfueront
et ne remeit q le porter qui rendi
le chaftel / et la vient le Cont de
Stradern" a la pees ; et y demora
le Roy v. iours.
Le Mefcredy deuant le feint
Julian pafia le Roy la meer dEf-
coce, et uit a Outrear fon chaf
tel / le loefdy a feint Johan de
Perte" bone ville, et y demora le
Vendredy, Samady, etDymenge /
mefine eel iour feu le iour feint
Lowdere / the Tuefday to the June 5.
abey of Newbot'tell, the Wednef- . . 6.
day toEdenburgh / [to] the abbey
and caufed there to be fett .iij.
engynes caftyng into the caftell
day and nyght / and the .Vth. day . . H.
they fpake of peas. The.viij.day . . 14.
the Kyng went to his bed to
Linnifca,*1 et engyns caftyng ftyll
before the caftell. / The Thurf-
day went to Efteruelyn,18 and
they that were in the caftell ran
awey, and left non butt the porter
which did render the keyes ; and
thether camTherle of Straudern13
to the peas. And the Kyng tary- . . 19.
ed there v. dayes.
The Wednefday byfore Seynt . . 20.
Johns day the Kyng paflyd the
Scottyfshe fee, and lay at Lut-
reard his caftell ; the Thurfday . . 21.
to Seynt Johns," a metely good
towne / and ther abode ffryday, . . 22.
Saturday, and Sonday, which was . . 23.
1° See Hemingford, vol. i. 98. u Linlitbgow. ls Stirling.
14 Perth, anciently called St John's town, or Saint Johnston.
Stratbern.
EDWARD I. INTO SCOTLAND.
277 1296.
Johan le Baptiftre / le Lundy ala
a Kynelouyn15 chattel / le Marfdy
a Clony chattel,16 et y demora .v.
iours / le Lundy apres a Entre-
koyt chattel / le Marfdy a Forfar,
chattel et bone ville / le Vendredy
apres a ffernouell17 / le Samady a
Mounros,18 chattel et bone ville ; et
y demora le Dymenge, Lundy, et
Marfdy / et y vient le Roy Johan
dEfcoce a fa mercie, et luy rendi
tout quitement le Royaume dEf
coce come celuy q lauoit forfait19 /
Enfement vindrent la a mercie
le Cont de Mar, le Conte de Bof-
chan, Monf.* Johan Comyn de
Badenach,20 et plufours autres. /
Le Mefcredy ala a Kyncardyn en
Mernes21 maynor / le loefdy es
montaynes aGlonberwy^/le Ven
dredy a Dunes23 maynor entre le
faynt John Bapti'ft day. The June 24.
Munday went to Kyng Colowens . . 25.
caftell,15 the Tuefday to Clony caf- . . 26.
tell,16 and there abade v. dayes. July 1.
The Monday after to Entrecoit . . 2.
caftell ; [the Twyfday to Forfar
caftell, and] a good towne /the . . 3.
ffryday after to Fernovell caftell / • • 6.
the Saturday to Monorous18caftell, • • 7.
and a good towne, and there abyd
Sonday, Monday, and Twyfday ; . . 10.
and ther cam to hym Kyng John
of Scotland to his mercy, and did
render quyetly the realme of Scot
land/as he that had done amyfe19 /
and alfo there cam to mercy
Therle of Marre / Therle of Bof-
con / Sir John Comyn of Bade-
nafshe,20 and many other. The
Wednyfday went to King Garden*1 . . 11.
afarourmanour;theThurfdayto . . 12.
15 Kinclevin on the river Tay. 16 Cluny.
17 Fernel, near Montrose. 18 Montrose.
19 See Prynne's Edward I. pp. 650, 651, for an account of the feudal penance per
formed by Baliol in the churchyard of Strouthkatherac, or Strathkathro.
so The Earls of Mar and Buchan, and Sir John Comyn of Badenoch.
n Kincardin in the Mernes. w Glonberwy is probably Bervie.
23 Probably Burns Castle near Aberdeen.
278
DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION OF
1296.
mountz. le Samady a la citee dA-
berden,21 bon chaftel et bone ville
fur la meer; et y demora v. iours ;
et elloeques luy feut araefne fon
enemy Monf.r Thomas de Mor-
ham q Monf.r Hugh de Seint
Johan prift luy doufsime a armes
oue luy / le Vendredy apres ala
a Kyncorn25 maynor / le Samady
a Fimin26 chaftel / le Dymenge a
Banet27 chaftel / le Lundy a In-
colan*8 maynor / le Marfdy en ten-
tes en Lannoi fur la riuere de
Spe*9 / le Mefcredy paffa, et uit
de outre part de mefme la riuere
a Rapenache maynor, en le paiis
de Moureue / le loefdy a la ci
tee dEigin, bone chaftel et bone
ville, et y demora ij iours / le Dy
menge a Rofeife31 maynor / Monf.'
Johan de Cantelou mefme eel
iour enuoia le Roy Monf/ Hugh
the mountagn of Glowberwy ;**
Wenfday[Friday]toamanourin July 13.
the Downes23 amonge the moun-
tayns / the Saturday to the cytie . . 14.
of dAbberden,24 a faire caftell and
a good towne vponn the fee, and
tareyd ther .v. dayes. And the-
ther was brought the kyngis
enymy, Sir Thomas Warham,
which Sir Hugh Saynt John
didde take and xij with him.
The ffryday after went to Kin- . . 20.
colne25 manour ; the Saturday to . . 21.
Fynin26 caftell; the Sonday to Ba- . . 22.
net*7 caftell ; the Monday to Inco- . . 23.
lan28manour;theTwefdayinten- . . 24.
tis in Lannoy vppon the ryuer
[ofSpey ;29theWednyfdaypaflyd . 35
and came on the other fide of
the fame riuer] to Repenage ma
nour in the county of Merenne ;
the Thurfday to the citie of dAi-
44 Aberdeen. 25 Kintore, or Kinkell ? 2« Fyvie ? « Banff.
28 Inverculan or Cullen, q. Inchellan, near Forres. (Font's Maps.)
89 This we conjecture to be the district of Enyie on the Spey, which agrees with
Edwards route to Elgin, through Moray.
30 Elgin.
EDWARD I. INTO SCOTLAND
279 1296.
le dEfpencer et Monf.r Julian gin,30 a good caftell and a good
Haftynges fercher le paiis de Ba- towne, and tareed there ij dayes./
denache32 / et lEuefque de Du- The Sonday to Rofers31 manour : July 29.
refme33 oue fa gent renuoia outre the Kyng fent the fame day Sir
les mountz, p vn autre chemin q John Cantlow, Sir Hugh Spen-
il mefmes ne ala/le Lundy a Yn- cer, and Sir John Haftyngis, to
terkerach34 ou il ont trois mefons, ferche the con trey of Badnafshe,30
fanz plus, en vne valeie en tre deux and fent the Bifhope of Durefyn33
raontaynes / le Marfdy a Kyndro- with his people ouer the moun-
kun35 chattel le Conte de Mar, et y tayns by another wey than he went . . 30.
demora le Mefcredy / le iour feint hymfellf / The Monday he went
Pier entrant en Ouft / le Joedy a hymfellf into Interkeratche,31
lofpitaldeKyncardynenMernes30/ wher ther was noo more than iij
le Samady a la citee de Breghyn37/ houfes in a rowebetwene ij moun- . .31.
le Dymenge a labbeie de Berbro- tayns / the Tuefday to Kyndro-
doch,38 et on dift q eel Abbe fift ken35 caftell belongyng to Therle
entendre as Efcocz qil nauoit of Marre ; and there taryed Wed- Aug.' 1.
nient qfemmes en Engleterre/le nyfday, faynt Peturs day, the
Lundy a Donde / le Mar fdy a Ba- ffirft day of Auguft / On Th urfday
ligarnach le Roge chattel39 / le to thofpitall of Kyncarden36 in . . 2.
32 Badenoch. M The Bishop of Durham.
34 Probably some wild spot in the district of Balvany or Strathavon.
35 Kildrummie ; in Rymer's Fffidera, it is often written Kyndromyn.
36 Kincardin in Mernes. 37 Brechin. ^ Aberbrothock.
39 The Red-Castle. In Grose's Antiq. of Scotland, ii. 95, is given a view of the
ruins of this ancient castle, which stood on a high cliff called the Red Head, on the
south side of the Bay Lunnan, near Montrose. According to tradition, it was built
by King William, snrnamed the Lion, at the end of the 12th century.
280
DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION OF
1296.
Mefcredy a Seint Johan de Perte10 /
le loefdy a labbeie de Loungdos,"
et y demora le Vendredy, iour de
feint Laurence / le Samady a la ci-
tee de feint Andrew, chaftel et bone
ville / le Dyraenge a Markynch42
ou il na q le monfter et iij me-
fons / leLundy a labbeye deDom-
fermelyn, ou touz les plus des
Roys dEfcoce gifent / le Marfdy
a Stryuelyn, et y demora le Mef
credy, le iour lei Affumpcionnotre
Dame / le loefdy a Lunifcu43 / le
Vendredy a Edenburgh, et y de
mora le Samady / le Dymenge a
Hadyngton / le Lundy a Pykel-
Marnes, the Saturday to the cy- Aug.1 4.
tye of Breghan37 / the Sonday to . . 5.
the abbey of Burbrodoche,38 and
ytt was feyd that the abot [of
that] place made the people be-
leue thatt ther were butt women
and noo men in Engeland / the . . 6.
Munday to Dunde / the Twfday . . 7.
to Baligernacche, the redde caf- . . 7.
ftell39 / the Wednyfday to Seynt . . 8.
John of Porte40 / the Thurfday to . . 9.
the abey of Londos/1 and taryed
ther the ffryday,fayntLaurens day • • 10.
/Saturdaytothecitieof Seynt An- • • H-
drew, a caftell and a good towne /
the Sonday to Merkynch/2 where • • 12.
40 Perth. — In this Diary we have no mention made of Edward's visit to Scone,
from whence he gave orders to convey the famous marble stone to Westminster as a
trophy of his conquest ; a circumstance noticed by most of our historians, and thus re
lated by Holinshed : " After the submission of John Baliol, King Edward went for-
ward to see the mounteine countries of Scotland, the Bishop of Durham ever keeping
a daies journie afore him. At length, when he had passed through Murrey land, and
was come to Elghin, perceiuing all things to be quiet, he returned towards Berwike,
and coming to the abbeie of Scone, he tooke from thence the marble stone, where
upon the Kings of Scotland were accustomed to sit as in a chaire at the time of their
coronation, which King Edward caused now to be transferred to Westminster, and
there placed, to seme for a chaire for the priest to sit in at the altar." — Vol. iii. p. 301.
11 Lindoris. i2 Markinch on the water Leven.
EDWARD I. INTO SCOTLAND.
281 1296.
ton pres de Dombar / le Marfdy as ys butt the churche and .iij. Aug. 13.
a Goldyngham / le Mefcredy a lioules / Monday to the abbey of
Berewyk / E / conquift le Roi- Donffermylyn, where as all the
aume dEfcoce: Et le fercha come moft of the kyngis of Scottis
il eft defus efcrit dedeinz .xxj. liethe / The Twysday to Streue- . . 14.
femaynes, fanz plus. lyn, and tareyd there Wednyfday . . 15.
our Lady day / the Thurfday to . . 16.
Lunfcu43 / the ffryday to Eden- . . 17.
bourgh, and there taryed Satur- . . 18.
day / Sunday [to] Hadyngton / . . 19.
Munday to Pykelton by Dun- . . 20.
barre / Twefday at Coldyngham / . . 21.
Wednyfday at Barwik : And con- . . 22.
quered and serched the kyngdom
of Scotteland, as ys afforfeyd in
xxj wekis withought ony more. /
A Berewyk tient fon parlement, et y feurent tous les Euefqes,
Contes, et Barons, Abbes, et Priours, et les Souereignes de tout la
commune gent, et la receut les homages de touz et ferementz qils
luy ferroient bons et loialz. As gentz de ordre rendi tantoft
touz lour bens, et de lour tenantz / les Contes, et Barons, et Euefqes
lefla il iouir de lour terres / mes eux vyndrent a la touz seintz au
parlement a feint Efmond / Puis ordina le Conte de Garane Gardein
de la terre, Sire Hugh de Creflyngham Treforer, Sire Wauter de
48 Linlithgow, written variously, Lunscu, Lunisru, Linlisco, Linlythko, Lytbqw,
&c. See Macpherfon's Geogr. Illust.
PAKT II. N N
282 EXPEDITION OF EDWARD I. &c. 1296.
Modefliem Chanceller, iffi ordinant fes bufoignes / demoura a Bere-
wyk iij femaignes, et iij iours, et sen departi en alant vers Engleterre Sept. .16.
le Dymenge apres la feint Croiz.44
** This last paragraph, respecting the Parliament held at Berwick by Edward 1.,
on his return from this expedition, is not contained in the English version.
EXTRACTS
FROM THE OBITUARY
OF ROBERT BOYD OF TROCHRIG.
MDCIX.— MDCXXV.
C 285 ]
EXTRACTS FROM THE OBITUARY
OF ROBERT BOYD OF TROCHRIG,1 MDCIX.— MDCXXV.
Li' An 1609, Mr. Herpenius,2 jeune homme Flaraand, duquel Dieu
fa fufcitd 1'efprit pour f 'addoner avec grand fruit et fuccefs a la
langue Arabefque et les autres Orientates.
1 The following extracts from the Obituary of the learned Divine, Robert Boyd
of .Trochrig, were made early in the last century, by the industrious historian
Wodrow. It has not been ascertained where Boyd's papers are deposited, but they
well merit further inquiry. Wodrow, who had access to them, made good use of
such excellent materials when compiling his Life of our Author, in which he copies or
refers to a variety of original letters of considerable interest, addressed to Boyd. (MS.
Lives, vol. v. Univ. Glasg.) The notices in the Obituary furnish the dates of the de
cease of several persons eminent for their learning or Christian zeal, and present some
curious traits' of character. A few slight variations in orthography have been intro
duced, as it is suspected the peculiarities are more likely to belong to the transcriber
than the author.
Robert Boyd of Trochrig was bora at Glasgow in the year 1578, and educated
under Robert Rollock at Edinburgh, where he took his Master's degree 10th Au
gust 1595. On the 16th Feb. 1608, he was served heir of his father, James Boyd
of Trochrig, who died Archbishop of Glasgow in June 1581. He himself was suc
cessively Professor of Belles Lettres at Montauban (in Nov. 1599;) Minister of a.
Protestant Congregation at Vertal in France ; Professor of Divinity at Saumur
(from 1608 to 1614 ;) Principal of the College of Glasgow, and Minister of Govan,
(from 1615 to 1621 ;) and, Principal of the College and one of the Ministers of Edin
burgh (from Nov. 1622 to Jan. 1623.) He died in Carrick, 5th Jan. 1627.
- This notice seems to refer to Thomas Erpenius, a celebrated Oriental scholar,
but he survived long after 1609. He was born in Sept. 1584, and died Nov. 1624.
286 THE OBITUARY OF R. BOYD
Memor : qu'ayant confer^ avec Mr. de Four (qui Chymiatrus
eft, et in iis operibus exercitatus) il m'enfeigna contra Amici Hae-
morroidas et hsemorrahias, imprimis valere taleolam dentis illius
monftri marini quod Galli Rohard appellant, collo fufpenfam.
Le Docteur Jac. Arminius,3 un des plus fubtils efprits, qui enfeig-
naflent la theologie, en fon temps.
Le bon homme Mr. du Bignon, profefleur en la langue Hebraique,
icy (a Saumure) decedd le Dimanche 24 de Juillet, 1611. e"toit aag6
d'e'nviron foixante 18 ou 80 anndes : et un des meilheurs grama-
riens, en ces langues Orientales, qui fe trouvaft.
It. Mr. He-or-Perauld4 le pere, pafteur et profeffeur a Montauban,
aage* de 72 ans; homme de grand efprit et favoir, et jugement, et
dexterit^ es affaires de 1'eglife, entre tous ceux de fon temps ; a moy
cognu familierement, par beaucoup d'ann£es.
It. The Laird of Garthland,5 quha died in Rochel : I'eft6 de nof-
tre grand aflemblde : gentilhomme prudent, humane, et craignant
Dieu, que j' avoy familierement cognu en . . land.
It. Ce moy de Mars 1612, morut a Paris Mr. de Bongars, homme
doct, que j'avoy bien cognu a Francfort, et veu a Londres.
It. Mr. Rob'. Wilky, principall of Saint Leonards colledge in Sl.
Andrews, ane honneft man.
a Minister at Amsterdam, and afterwards Professor of Divinity at Leyden, and
founder of the sect of Arabians or Remonstrants. He died 19th October 1609.
4 Probably Michael Beraud, pastor and professor in the Church of Montauban.
(Quick's Synod, in Gall. Reform, i. 262.)
5 John M'Dowell of Garthland. " Joannes M'Dowell de Garthland, Pater Do
mini Joannis M'Dowell de Garthland — decessit in mense Majj Anno D1^. Mill™0.
Sexcentesimo vndecimo." (Record, Retours, ix. 244, 5to. Jan. 1625.)
OF TROCHRIG. MDCIX— MDCXXV. 287
Ce moy d'Aout 1614, nouvelles ont 6t& apportez de la mort de
Mr. Cafaubon, qui mourut en Angleterre, apres avoyr commencer la
decouverte des Erreurs des Annales de Baronius," et en avoir pub-
lid la partie. J'avois bonne connoiffance et amitid avec lui a Paris,
ou j'avoy confere avec lui par plufieurs foys.
Get Hyver 1615, mourut Mr. Renaudot, jeune homme de 26 ou 27
an : qui fut notre difciple, et puis notre collegue au miniftere, et
principal du colledge de Saumure ; homme doct, diferte, candide et
naife au poffible, qui apres avoir languy deux ans et demie, et beau-
coup fouffert de pein et doleure en son corps, rendit fon ame au
Seigneur.
Ce moy Novr. 1616, mourut a Edin1. mon bon amy et frere bien
ayme', mon ancien condifciple et collegue Mr. Craig 7 du bonne me-
6 Isaac Casaubon was invited by King James, " out of France into this our realme
here to make aboad," in October 1610, " in regard of his singular learning, and
of his concurrancye with us and the Church of England, in profession of religion ;"
assigning him " for his better support and mayntenance," a yearly pension of L.300.
(19th January, Anno 8. Jac. 1.) He likewise obtained a dispensation to hold two
prebends, one at Canterbury, and the other at Westminster, without entering into holy
orders. The refutation of the Annals of Cardinal Baronius, above alluded to, formed
part of the task allotted him for the favours he thus received from the English mo
narch. He died July 1. 1614, aged 55.
7 William Craig, " a very learned and gracious young man," took his master's de
gree at the University of Edinburgh, in 1593, and was appointed one of the Regents
in October 1597. " He demitted his charge (says Crawfurd,) iu December 1601, and
went to France, where he was elected Professor of Divinity in the Colledge of Sau
mure, (in the year 1606) in which profession he died not many years after, with much
regrete : returning home to Scotland, he died in his own house in Blackiriers Wynd."
(Hist, of the Univ. p. 54.) Boyd came from Glasgow to Edinburgh to see him on
his death-bed, but was too late.
288 THE OBITUARY OF R. BOYD
moyre, profefleur en theologie en 1'accademie de Saumure ; horame
grave, docte, retire", moder£, fans reproche, apres avoir languy long
temps.
En merae temps, me fut mandd la nouvelle de la mort de mon
bon et ancien amy Mr. Hairt,8 Principal du colledge de Rochel, et
docteur en medicine ; homme grave, docte, et enteir, qui mourut au
moy de Fevr*. cet meme anne"e.
Cede meme anne'e les nouvelles de la mort de mon beau pere
Monf1. de la Vignolle.
[Ce moy] de Juillet 1616, mourut mon coufin M°". Ja. Car,
pafteur de 1'eglife de Calmonelle ; homme de bien, et craignant
Dieu, fimple, ze\6, doux, humble et debonaire.
Ce moy d'Aout 1616, mourut a Edinr. Mr. Walter Balcanquell,
pafteur de ceft eglife la, qui y avoit fidelement fervy au S'. miniftere
plus de 40 ans enfemble ; homme de bien et entier, que j'avoy cognu
familierement.
Ce moy de 1'Octob. 1616, les nouvelles de mort de ces, m'ont e'fte'
apportez : Mr. Rob'. Catchcart, homme de grand piety et experi
ence en la voye et vie de Dieu; et de Mr. Robert Durie,9 un des fi-
deles pafteurs qui furent bannis, avec Mr. Welfli, I'anne' 1606.
8 Dr William Hart, a native of Edinburgh. He is the author of a Latin poem
under the title of " Ecloga Caledon. ad Potentiss. et Feliciss. Jacobum Primum Bri-
tanniae et Hiberniae Regem." Parisiis, 1605, 4to.
!) Robert Dury, Minister at Anstruther, was one of the exiled ministers, in 1606.
He became minister of a Scots congregation at Leyden, where he died. His son John
Dury distinguished himself by his unwearied endeavours, during a long course of years,
to promote a union between the Lutheran and Reformed Churches.
OF TROCHRIG. MDCIX— MDCXXV. 289
En ce moy de Juin 1617, je fceu la mort de Monf •>. James Ken
nedy filz de Heugh Kennedy prevoft d' Air ; jeune homme, grave,
fage, craignant Dieu, et de fort bonne esperance, qui morut en
France, cette anne ou paM.
En ce moy et an, j'ay e'fte' adverty de la mort de ces mes bonnes
amys : Mr. Murifoun, D. [aux] loyx, lequell il enfeignoyt a Edin'., a
moy longuement cognu a Saumure ; — Mr. Thomfon,10paftenr de la
Chaftaignoraye, demeurant a la laiterie en Poytou ; homme fcavant,
difert, joyeufe, entier, et d'un fort agrdable converfation ; — et Mr. Blair,
de 1'Efcar en Beam, primierement principal du college a 1'Efcar et
Ortes, et puis docteur en theologie, et pafteur de la dite eglise, apres
la mort de Ma. Cafanove; homme grave, favant, fage, difcret, judi-
cieufe, et qui par plus de 30 ans enfemble a e'fte' un des plus grand
piliers et ornaments de cefte accademie royale de Beam, aage' de
plus des 60 an :
Ce Lund, matine 2 d'Avrill6l8, mourut en fa maifon de Mouncton
Mr. le Comte de Abercorne,11 homme fort renomm£, en tout cefte ifle,
pour fes belles et virteufe qualityes ; d'un efprit noble, genereux,
affable, et fort ayme' de tous pour fes vertues civiles et domeftiques,
et grandement regrett6 de tous ceux qui la cognoissoyent, et de
tout le pays : aag6 d'environ 44 ans, et ayant laifsfe de par fa femme
10 George Thomson, a native of S*. Andrews, author of " Vindex Veritatis ad versus
Justum Lipsium," 1606, 8vo. ; " La Chasse de la Bete Romaine," 1611, 8vo. ; and
translator into French of Napier of Merchiston, on the Revelation of St John, 1607,
&c. His Latin poems are included in the Delitiae Poet. Scot.
11 James Hamilton, first Earl of Abercorn.
O O
290 THE OBITUARY OF R. BOYD
10 enfants ; ils eftoyert tous 2 mes parents egaleraent prochez, et
bon amies.
Ce moy d'Avrile 1618, m'ont dftd manddes de France les nouvelles
de la mort de Mr. Chamier, docteur et profefleur en theologie k
Montauban ; horame grave, prudent, et favant, a moy cognu depuis
la grand aflemblee de Saumure, et de qui nous attendions une re-
fponfe a tout Bellarmine.
Au commencement de moy de May 1618, mourut a Edinr. Mr.
Will. Hay de Barro, commifiaire de cefte ville de Glafgou, qui avoit
e"ft6 recteur de cefte accademie, plufieurs annees enfemble ; homme
prompt et fincere, et mon bon amy.
Ce moy de Mars dernier 161 9> mourut icy a Glafgou, mon bon
amy Mr. Alex1. Boyd, premier regent du colledge, aage de 30 ans
ou environ. II £ftoit homme prompt et fincere, aymant fort a rire
fans offence, pourtant fociable et diligent a fon vocation, et qui laifie
au College plus de mille merks de fon bien.
Au meme an. 1619, mourut icy Monf r. David Pollock, mon amy et
allid, pafteur de 1'eglifedeGlenluce; homme de bien, et craignantDieu.
Ce moy, 1620, Octob. nouvelles me furent apportez de la mort
de Mr. Barrde Sieur de la Primaudaye, ancien de 1'eglise de Saumure,
auteur de 1' Accademie Fran^oife,12 et mon ancien amy ; homme doux
et fociable, qui eft mort en bonne viellefle.
Ce moy de Decbr. 1621, mourut a Edinr. le bon homme Andreu
12 " The French Academie," a very popular work, which was translated into differ
ent languages. The English translation passed through several editions.
OF TROCHRIG. MDCIX— MDCXXV. 291
Hart,13 imprimeur et libraire ; deced6 en bonne viellefie ; homrae de
bien et notre ancien amy.
Ce moy de May 1622, nous furent apportez les nouvelles de la
mort de cet S'. serviteur de Dieu, Mr. Welfch,14 1'un des peres et
piliers de cette eglise, et lumiere de fon fiecle, qui mourut a Londres,
exild de fon pays, pour P6ft£ oppose' au reftabliflement du Gouverne-
ment Epifcopal, et fermement maintenu la difcipline prefbyterienne
et fynodale, auparavant par nous re^eue et ^ftablie, et ce apres
18. ans de exile: homrae remply du S'. Esprite, de zele, de
charit6, et d'un labeur et diligence incroyable 6s oeuvres de fa voca
tion : et avec cela exerce tout fa vie, et jufque k la fin d'icelle, fous
le faix des toutes fortes d'afflictions en fon corps, en fon ame, en fon
miniftere, en fon eftate exterieur, portant toujours en fon corps la
mortification du Seigneur Jefus, duquel auffi la vie k 6fte manifefte
en luy, en un degree et mefure tres excellent, fi en aucun homme de
fon fiecle. Benite en foit a jamais le nomme de Dieu ! qui 1'a donne"
et fufcite', a fa pauvre eglife en un temps fi neceflaire, et luy meme
13 Andrew Hart carried on the trade of a bookseller many years before he commen
ced printer. Several works were printed in Holland, ' at his expence,' in the years 1600
and 1601 ; but long before this, he was in the habit of importing books from abroad.
His folio edition of the Bible, 1610, has been always admired for its typography.
14 John Welsh, minister of Ayr, was banished in 1606, for opposing the measures
of King James, in reference to ecclesiastical discipline. After remaining for some
time at Bordeaux, he became Minister at Jonsack in France. From a letter quoted
by Wodrow in his Life of Boyd, it appears that Welsh proposed to go to Nova Sco
tia, King James refusing him permission to return to his native country for the benefit
of his health ; but he died in London, as mentioned by Boyd. Several of his letters
to Boyd are preserved in a volume of Wodrow's MSS. (Adv. Library, Jac. V. i. 14.)
292 THE OBITUARY OF R. BOYD
nous face la grace d'en fuiver conftamment la lumier d'un fi faint
exemple, pour £tre conduit a la fin h la meme gloire de fon royaume,
par son filz J. C. N. S. Amen.
It. Ce moy de Juin 1622, mourut a Edin'. 1'un de mes bons amis,
Mr John Carmichael, fidelle pafteur de 1'eglife de Ely en Fife;
homme docte, et grave, et venerable, entre les primieres de fa robbe,
et de fa nation, refiftant fermement k toutes les innovations du Roy,
et des Evefques ; apres avoir fouffert de pein et de douleur de la
gravelle.
Quant k la mort de ce venerable pere de notre eglise, ornament
de fa nation, et lumiere de fon fiecle, en tout vertue, erudition, vi-
vacite' de efprit, promptitude, zele, ferveur, franchise, parrhafie, et
conftance invincible en une bonne caufe, et faint courfe de vie, et
refolution, Mr. Andreu Melvil,15 qui mourut a Sedan, 1'an pafle, 1621,
aage' environ 80 anne"es ; rejett£ de fon pays par la malice du temps
et des hommes, pour avoir fort et ferme maintenu la veritd, rendu
tefmoignage a icelle devant les princes de mond ; garde* une bonne
confcience, fans varier, ni pour craintes ni pour faveurs des hommes ;
apres la prife en la tour de Londres, et 1'exile de plus de 10. ans :
quant a fa mort di'je, et de temps precife, et les circomftances parti-
culiers d'icelle, je n'en ay peu encore recevoyr information, k caufe des
troubles et perfecutions fufcit6es en 1'eglife Fran9oyfe, en ces anne*es.
Ce moy de Aout 1622, mourut icy a Glafgou, Mr. James Steuard,
pafteur de 1'eglife de Campfey, jeune homme et regrettant grande-
u Andrew Melville, the able and fearless champion of Presbytery, has had ample
justice done to his memory by his learned biographer Dr M'Crie.
OF TROCHRIG. MDCIX— MDCXXV. 293
ment les abus et corruptions de ce temps mefmes introduites en
1'eglife de Dieu, qui nous en vueille feparer de plus en plus, et nous
prepar6 pour fon royaume celefte.
Ce moy de Sept. 1622, me fut mand6e la mort de mon ancien
amy Mr. Ramfay de Montauban, qui £ftoit primier regent au col-
ledge d'icelle, qui m'amoyt grandement.
Ce moy de Juin 1623, mourut k Ayr, ce saint et excellent perfonage
Heu Kennedy,16 fou vent prevoft de la ville; homme vivant felon
Dieu ; doufee d'une piete' excellente, excerce' 6s fecrete, et en la
practique d'icelle, defeft et zel6 ; exerc6 de plufieurs croix et afllic-
tions domeftiques ; et rernply avant fon fin de la payx et joye me
morable du S. Efprite, par deffus tout ce qu'il pouvoit exprimer,
ou comprendre ; un des plus fignales difciples, et plus familieres
amys de cette homme de Dieu, Mr. Welfch.
Ce moy de Sept'. 1623, de grand fievres et extraordinaires qui
ont exerce prefques tous les habitans de cette ville de Edin*., mourut
mon bon amy Mr. Andreu Zoung,17 primier regent de ce colledge,
qui y avoit exerc^ cefte charge fidelement par 1'efpace de 22 ans ; et
e'ftoit bon mathematicien, outre fa profeffion ordinair.
16 Provost Kennedy is mentioned in terms of great respect by Mr John Livingston.
11 Andrew Young (says the Historian of Edinburgh College,) " was born of mean
parents nigh to Jedburgh, laureat [or, took his Master's Degree at Edinburgh^ anno
1598 ; and at that same time entered Regent of an Philosophic class in Aberdeen."
In 1601 he was called to Edinburgh, and was one of the disputants in 1617, in
the presence of King James, who, in commending the Professors, said of him, that
" Mr Young was Old in Aristotle." At the time of his death, " he was apparently
not being aged above 45 years." (Crawford, pp. 52. 54, and 55.)
294 THE OBITUARY OF R. BOYD
Auffy pour clofiure de cette an. 1623, le 30 Decemb. deceda en ma
maifon a Edinr. ma fille aifne" Anne, travaill^e d'une diftillation fur
fes pulmones, et de la tombe'e en phthife, aage" de 8 ans et 3 moyes ;
enfant au reft fort accomply en dons, tant du corps quant d'efprit ;
douce, gratieufe, docile, d'une efprite fort capable des toutes bonnes
chofes, de tres bonne efperance ; ayant et la piete" et la prudence, et
la connoiffance de Dieu, beaucoup au deffus de fon aage, et laquelle
par la grace et mifericorde du Seigneur tant envers elle meme, qu'
envers nous fes pauvres et defol^s parens (qui en fa mort fait une
perte irreparable) la fait un excellent fin et beureufe, felon nous pri-
eres ferventes au Seigneur pour elle; donnant tefmoignage de fa foi et
efperance en D. et en J. C. fon Seigneur, par defTus la porte"e de fon
enfance ; invocant le nom du Seigneur, et prennant conge de nous,
de fes freres et foeurs, de fes amies et compagnes d'age et d'eftude,
et les beniflant, et recommendant de Dieu immediatement avant
qu' expirer, avec un douceur et gravitde fainte, au grand eftonne-
ment des afiiftans. Benit et magnifie en foit le nom de Dieu a tout
jamais ! lequel nous vueille imprimer fi avant en nous efprits la me-
moyre de cefte oeuvre, et de jugement, et de mifericorde tout enfem-
ble, et de fon gaine et de notre perte ; que par la nous foyons attir&s
et convertus a luy de plus en plus, pour nous preparer a fon Roy-
aume, ou nous avons defja envoy£ devantnous une partie de nous en-
trailes, et puis c'eft cy qui nous prometoit le plus de confolation en
ce monde. Mais luy meme nous foyt au lieu de tout et icy et eter-
nellement en J. C. N. S .
Ce moy de Jan. 1624 j'appris les nouvelles de la mort de mon.
OF TROCHRIG. MDCIX— MDCXXV. 295
bon amy Mr. Gedde, profefleur en philoibphie en Saumure, et excel
lent efcrivain, comme il apparut meme par les rares pieces de fa
main, que j'ay aupres de moy : homme grave, douce, debonair, et
d'une fort modeft et paifible difpofition, et converfation agreable.
Ce moy de May 1624, me fut mandee de Paris la mort heureufe
et paifaible de M"5*. Du Pleffis Mornay, (quern femel nominafle
fufficit,) qui mourut en fa maifon de la foureft en Poytou, en moy
de Novem: 1'an: 1623, apres avoyretfe gouvernour de Saumur 32
ans, aage de 74 ans ; et fous le gouverment et en la compagnie
tres douce et agreable duquell j'avoy vefcu en tres-parfait intimie
et sainte amitie par 1'efpace de 9 ans, comme pafteur et profefleur
en 1'eglife et accademie de Saumure. Le Seigneur vueille fufciter a
la France et a tout fon eglife, un telle lumiere et de fageffe, et de
doctrine, et de vie exemplair et fans reproche, et auffi d'eloquence
prefque inimitable18 reluifoyt cefte illuftre per-
fonage, entre tous les hommes de fon fiecle.
Ce moy de Jan. 1625, mourut a Air, ma coufine Madam le
Welfch,19 fille de ce grand ferviteur de Dieu feu Jean Knox, et femme
de ce faint homme de Dieu Mr. Welfche cy deflus mentionn£ ; digne
femme et fille d'un tel mary, et d'un tel pere.
18 Two or three words are here left blank in Wodrow's transcript.
19 A characteristic anecdote of an interview between King James and Mrs Welsh,
when soliciting permission for her husband to return to Scotland for the restoration of
his health, will be found in Dr M'Crie's Life of Knox, taken from the MSS. of Ro
bert Traill. On being asked who was her father, she replied, " Mr Knox." " Knox
and Welsh !" exclaimed the King, " The devil never made such a match as that."
v It is right like, sir," said she, " for we never spiered his advice."
296 THE OBITUARY OF R. BOYD
Ce moy de Feb. 1625, me ffit mand£e par Mr. Dick,20 pafteur de
1'eglife d'lrving, la mort de ce rare et digne perfonage, et des mes
bons amys, Sr. James Semple of Beltrees ;21 gentilhomme favant,
prompt, vife, efveille', 1'un du meilleur efprits de cefte ifle pour efcrire,
foyt en Latine ou en notre langue; nourry et eflev£ a la cour, ancien
et familier ferviteur du Roy, et tenant et maintenant toufjours le bon
party contre les corruptions de la cour et de temps ; grand enemie
a la pfeudo-hierarchie, et de tous fes tenans, et aboutiflans a favoir
les ceremonies ou conformit6, &c. comme vray et digne difciple
de feu Mr. Melvin, lefquel il reveroit toufjours comme pere ; qui
mourut en fa maifon k Paflay ce moys, apres avoir efte mine', et
fort afflig£ par plulieurs ans, des goutes, coliques, et gravelle.
Ce moy d'Auvrile 1625, mourut k Glafgou, le bonne homme Jean
Craige, collecteur au colledge de Glafgou, de mes anciens amis, et
qui avoyt fervi k ce college la plus de 20 ans.
Car, quant a la mort de notre dernier Roy, Jaques, qui mourut le
27 du Mars, en 59. an : de fon aage, et 58. et 23. de fon regne"e ; je
laifle fes eloges a ceux qui en pourront efcrire des libres;22 tant
10 Mr David Dick, or Dickson, minister of Irvine, and successively Professor of
Divinity and Minister at Glasgow and at Edinburgh.
11 Sir James Semple of Beltrees, a courtier, but steadily attached to the Presby
terian party, published a work on Sacrilege, 1619, and some other treatises.
22 This dispassionate notice of the death of King James says much in favour of Boy d,
considering that in the later period of his life he suffered from the king's arbitrary mea
sures. At the close of 1614 he had been invited home from Saumur by King James,
and, in Feb. 1615, was appointed Principal of the College of Glasgow, and Minister
of Govan ; but his firm adherence to Presbytery occasioned his removal from Glasgow
in 1621, to make room for John Cameron, who was more inclined to Episcopacy, (but
OF TROCHRIG. MDCIX— MDCXXV. 297
feulement je fouhaitt et efpere que Dieu luy 1'a gratieuferaent par-
donnd fes fautes, et 1'aura receu en fon royaume celefte ; et fupplie
le Seigneur qu'il face la grace a fon fil Charles d'en fuivre fes ver-
tues et fuir fes vices, a la gloir, et au bien de fon eglife.
Ce moys de Juillet 1625, £ftant a Edin ., j'appris la mort d'Efther
Angloys*5 femme de Barr. de Kello ; damoyfelle doud de pleufieurs
who is said to have obtained from King James nothing but fine words. Haying re
ceived a call to Edinburgh, on the 18th October 1622 he was admitted Principal of
the College, " and ane of the audit Ministers of this burgh, with the yearly stipend of
1200 merks" — an honourable preferment, but which he was suffered to enjoy a very
short time ; as we learn from the Council Register, that on the 29th January 1623, he
appeared and demitted his charge, " for causes and considerations moving him," into
the hands of the Provost, Sir William Nisbet of the Dean. In Calderwood's History
(p. 801.) will be found a more particular detail of these " causes and considerations,"
originating in the interference of King James, who had expressed a marked dislike at
Boyd's appointment, and commanded the Provost and Council to urge him to conform
to the measures then in agitation for the introduction of Episcopacy, and in the event of
his refusal to remove him, his wife and family, out of Edinburgh. " The King's words
were these following : — ' Therefore, as ye will answer to us on your obedience, we com
mand you to put him, not only from his office, but out of your town, at the sight hereof,
unlesse he conform totally. And when ye have done, think not this sufficient to satisfie
our wrath for disobedience to our former letter.' Mr Robert was sent for to the Council,
and the King's will was intimate to him, which they professed they would not withstand."
In Wodrow's MS. Life of Boyd is given a particular account of the circumstances which
prevented his settlement as Minister of Paisley, in the year 1626. He died 5th Jan.
1627. His son John, (who was served heir of his father, 21st April 1640,) published
his father's Commentary on the Ephesians, in 1652, folio, pp. 1236.
23 Esther Inglis, a lady who has obtained a place, for her calligraphy, in Ballard's
Memoirs of celebrated women of Great Britain. From one of her manuscripts written
" at Lislebourge (Edinburgh) en Escosse," in 1599, and presented to Queen Elizabeth,
and by her Majesty given to Christ's College Library, Oxford, it appears that she
PART II. P P
298 THE OBITUARY OF R. BOYD.
beaux dons, et entre autres excellent efcrivain, par deffus toutes les
femmes de fon fiecle, dont j'ay quelques beaux monuments, de fa
main et fon amitie enverfe ma femme et moy.
This is tranfcribed faithfully from a MSS. ofTroghridgs oun hand, in folio
in 6 or Ifheets, <f he gives account of his acquaintance abroad, his
freinds, his acquaintance during y 7 years he was at Glafgow, his
acquaintance in y* K'. retenue, q* he came doun an. 1617.24 his ac
quaintance at Edinr., Stirling, §~c. .• For most part he gives only a list
of their names : qr he gives any ac<f of if character, Sfc. I have tran-
Jcribed him, except in his ace**' of his freinds, and private perfons of
lefs note. He has a list in near a leafe in folio of perfons, qm he re
membered in his prayers, and thefe wer the honest people in the west at
that time, and his friends. The MSS. I had from his grandchild, the
pr"* Laird of Trochrige, by ye means ofMr B. M. Minr atPortglaf-
gou. Witnefs my hand, Jan. 2. 1701., erf Glafgow,
Ro. WODROW, B. et Q.85
was born in France. From another volume, written by her at London, and inscribed
on the 1st January 1608, to Sir David Murray, we learn that she was then the wife of
Bartholomew Kello, (a native of Scotland,) " Parson of Willingale Spayne, in the conn.
tye of Essex." Several of her MSS. are described in Harding's Biographical Mirrour,
vol. iii. 52. 192., accompanied with an engraved portrait, from a drawing by herself.
21 The following paragraph, relating to Sir Kenelm Digby and Sir William Alexander
of Menstrie, afterwards Earl of Stirling, is contained in Wodrow's Extracts, and though
it cannot be considered to form a part of Boyd's Obituary, it may be here subjoined as a
note. — " L'Este avec Roy lors quil vint en Escosse, an. 1617, Mr. Digby qui est ce-
luy, qui si bien estrilla I'apostat; et quern inter primes numeros se opportuit, Sr. Will.
Akyf. of Menslrie, Tun de M"s. des Requests, qui m'ha promis de m'envoyer de son
histoyre, ou ilfait le Tacite ou Salust Angloys, par un stik grave, serri et pointer
25 This note is an exact transcript of the original, and may evince that the worthy
historian was not distinguished either for correctness of orthography or elegance of
style.
POEMS
BY
SIR ROBERT AYTON.
r. 301
IN the following pages, we have made an attempt to collect the
English poems of an author, whose name might in vain be looked
for in the different collections or specimens of the British Poets.
The name of SIR ROBERT AYTON, as a poet, is, nevertheless,
worthy of remembrance, as he was one of the earliest of our native
bards who wrote English verses with any degree of elegance or
purity. These poems, which we have been able to recover, display
so much elegance of fancy, and sweetness of versification, as to oc
casion a regret that their number should not have been sufficient
for separate publication. To a remark by John Aubrey, " that Sir
Robert was one of the best poets of his time," he adds the more
important testimony, that " Mr John Dryden says he has seen
verses of his, some of the best of that age, printed with some other
verses ;" ' and according to Dempster,2 Ayton was a writer of verses
in Greek, Latin, and French,3 as well as in his vernacular tongue.
Sir Robert Ayton, a younger son of Andrew Ayton of Kinaldie,
in Fife, was born in the year 1570, and received his education at
1 Aubrey's Letters, &c. from the Bodleian Library, vol. ii. p. 200. Lend. 1813. 8vo.
- Historia Ecclesiastics Gentis Scotorum, p. 62. Bonon. 1627. 4to.
3 His Greek and French verses are unknown ; but several of his Latin poema are
contained in the " Delitiae Poetarnm Scotorum hujus zevi illustrium," torn. i. p. 40.
Amsterdam, 1637, 2 vols. 12mo. Among the MSS. of Sir James Balfour of Den-
myln, in the Advocates' Library, was a " Second volume " of Ayton's Latin Poems,
which contained several not elsewhere preserved ; but the volume unfortunately has
been missing for several years.
F. 302 ]
the University of St Andrews.4 From the Registers, it appears
that he was incorporated, or enrolled, as a student in St Leonard's
College, 3d December 1584, and he took his master's degree, after
the usual course of study, in the year 1588. Subsequent to this,
he resided for some time in France; from whence, in 1603, he ad
dressed an elegant panegyric to King James, on his accession to the
crown of England/ which was printed at Paris the same year ; and
this panegyric had, no doubt, some influence in securing to the
author the favour of that Monarch, from whom he afterwards re
ceived the honour of knighthood," and was successively appointed
one of the gentlemen of the bed-chamber, and private secretary to
his Queen, Anne of Denmark. He was also honoured with the
appointment of Secretary to Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I.
* John Ayton, the elder brother of our author, on the 28th May 1590, was served
heir of his father, Andrew, to the lands of South Kinaldie, and the Mill of the same (in
Denino parish) in the regality of St Andrews. (Inquisit. Special. Fife, 1488.) And
further, on the 5th October, 1591, to the Manse of Kirkness, with the garden, &c.,
and St Serfs Isle in Lochleven, (in Kinrosshire). (ibid. 1497.)
5 DeFcelici, et semper Augusto, Jacobi VI. Scotise, Insularumque adiacentium Regis
Imperio, nunc recens florentissimis Angliae et Hiberniae Sceptris amplificato. Robert!
Aytoni Scoti Panegyris. Parish's, CI^lQCJII. 4to. 10 leaves, including a prose
dedication to King James. The poem is reprinted in the Delitiae Poet. Scot.
6 The exact time when this honour was conferred on him, is uncertain, but it must
have been previous to the year 1616, the date of the publication of the following lines :
AD ROBERTUM ETONEM EQUITEM, ANNjE REGINJE SECRETARIUM, &C.
ETON, inexhaustis Phoebi satiate fluentis,
Palladis et Suadae viva medulla dese :
Mars aliis equitnm solos largitur honores ;
Hos tibi sed praebent Mars et Apollo simul.
Una manus calamum teneat, manus altera ferrum,
Sic sis nominibus dignus utrinque tuis.
EPIGRAMMATON JOAN. DUNBARI, Cent. III. xlv. Loud. 1616, p. 73.
[ 303 ]
It is recorded on Ayton's funeral monument, as a distinction,
that he had been sent to Germany as Ambassador to the Emperor,
with a work published by King James, which is supposed to have
been his Apology for the Oath of Allegiance. If this conjecture be
correct, this must have been in 1609, when his Majesty acknowledged
a work published anonymously three years before, and inscribed it
to all the crowned heads of Europe. During Ayton's previous re
sidence abroad, as well as at the Court of England, he lived in in
timacy with, and secured the esteem of the most eminent persons
of his time. " He was acquainted (says Aubrey)7 with all the witts
" of his time in England. He was a great acquaintance of Mr
" Thomas Hobbes, of Malmesbury, whom Mr Hobbes told me he
" made use of (together with Ben Johnson) for an Aristarchus,
" when he made his Epistle dedicatory, for his translation of Thu-
" cydides." * To this information we may add, as a proof of this
respect on the part of Ben Jonson, that in his conversations with
Drummond of Hawthornden, he said, " Sir Robert Ayton loved
" him (Jonson) dearly."
Sir Robert Ayton died at London in March 1637-8, in the 68th
year of his age. He lies buried in the south aisle of the choir of
Westminster Abbey, at the corner of King Henry the Fifth's cha-
7 Letters vol. ii. p. 200. Aubrey adds an erroneous note as to Ayton's parentage,
which it is unnecessary to quote.
8 " Eight bookes of the Peloponnesian Warre, &c. interpreted with faith and dili
gence." This translation, dedicated to Sir William Cavendish, Earl of Devonshire,
was first printed at London, 1634, folio. In the Address to the Reader, Hobbes
says it had " past the censure of some, whose judgment I very much esteem."
[ 304 ]
pel, under a handsome monument of black marble,0 erected by his
nephew ; having his bust in brass gilt, which has been preserved,
while that of Henry, the hero of Agincourt, (said to have been of
more precious metal,) has long since disappeared. A copy of the
Inscription follows : —
M.S.
[EQVITJS
CLARISSMI. OMNIGENAU. VIETVTE ET ERVDITIONK, PR*F.SEIITIM POESI OENATISSIMI
DOMINI ROBERTI AITONI EX ANTIQVA ET ILLUSTIU GENTE AITONA, AD
CASTRVM KINNADIXVM AFVD SCOTOS, oinvyni, uvi A SERENISSMO. R. JACOBO IN
CVBICVLA INTERIORA ADMISSVS, IN GERMANIAM AD IMPERATORI, IMFERIIQ.
PRINCIPES CVM LIBELLO REGIO, REGIME AVTHOEITATIS VINDICE LEGATVS, AC
PHIMVM ANNvE DEMVM MARINE SERENISS*"*- BBITANNIARVM REGINIS AB
KPISTOLIS, CONSILIIS ET LIBELLIS SVPPLICIBVS, NEC WON XENODOCHIO,
S". CATHERINE PREFECT vs. ANIMA CREATORI REDDITA HIC DEPOSITIS
MORTACIBVS EXVVIIS SECVNDVJI REDEMPTORIS ADVENTVM EXPECTAT.
CAROLVM LINQVENS, REPETIT PARENTEM
ET VALEDICEITS MARINE, REVISIT
ANNAM ET AVLAI DECVS, ALTO OI.YMPI
MVTAT HONORE.
OBIIT i o I.IDIS IN REUIA ALBAVLA
NON SINE MAXIMO HONOR OMNIVM HOC DEVOTI GRATIQ. ANIMI
LVCTV ET M^RORE jETAT. SV^E LXVIII. TESTIMONIVM OPTIMO PATRVO
SALVT. HVMANJE M.D.CXXXVIII. lo. AITONVS M.L.P.
31VSARVM DECVS HIC, PATRLEQ. AVL^EQ. DOMIQVE
ET FORIS EXEMPLAR SED NON IMITABILE HONESTI.
9 An engraving of the bust and monument is given in Dart's History and Antiquities
of the Abbey Church of St Peter's, Westminster, vol. ii. no. 79. A better represen
tation, from an original sketch, is contained in Smith's Iconographia Scotica. Lond.
(1798) 4to. On the 27th October 1649, David Aytoun, of Kinaldie, was served heir
of taillie and conquest of his uncle, Sir Robert Aytoun, " Secretarii S. D. N. Regis
Moderni," to the lands of Over Duirdie, with the whole tithe sheaves 6? same, in the
parish of Kilspindie, and lordship of Scone. (Inquisit. Special. Perth, 693.)
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
ON KING JAMES THE VL1
THE old records of analized fame
Confirms this wonder with the world's affent,
That once that Ifle which Delos heght by name,
In Neptune's bofom like a pilgrim went ;
After, when great Apollo was content,
To grace it with the blifs of his birth-day,
Then thofe inconftant motions did relent,
And it began to Hand [fecure] and ftay.
When I admire thy hap I needs muft fay
In this, our Albion may with thee compare :
Before our Phoebus birth we were a prey
To civil motions, tofled here and there ;
But fince our birth-ftar did o'erfhine our ftate,
We Hand fecure redeem'd from all debate.
TO QUEEN ANNE, ON A NEW YEAR'S-DAY, 1604.*
MADAM,
Who knows your greatnefs, cannot but with fear
Draw near your altar, to make offerings there ;
1 Watson's Collection of Scots Poems, part iii. Edin. 1711. p. 44. Part of this
Sonnet being eridently corrupted, the word < secure,' in line 8, is inserted, to fill up
the measure ; and ' Delos,' at the beginning of line 9, and ' none,' after ' Albion,' in
line 10 omitted, as superfluous, and affecting the sense.
PART II. Q Q
306 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
But whofo knows your goodnefc, may make bold
And with a mite as with a mine of gold, - - ••"
As confidently facrifice to you :
And this is it that muft plead pardon now,
Both for the poorness of my gifts and lines.
Princes are gods, gods laugh to fee their fhrines
Adorn'd with any gift but of that kind,
That beggars may as well as Crrefus find :
They know how worldlings perfonate their parts,
And mafk with gold prefents of leaden hearts ;
They know how gifts at court are but a train
To fteal from great ones twice as good again.
Now I have no fuch end ; my poor oblation
At this aufpicious time of falutation,
Had it a tongue, this only would it fay,
Heavens heap upon you many a New-year's day.
TO THE AUTHOR OF THE MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES.s
Well may the programme of thy tragick ftage
Inuite the curious pompe-expecting eies,
To gaze on prefent Ihewes of paffed age,
Which juft defert Monarchick dare baptize.
Crownes throwne from thrones to tombes, detomb'd arife
2 Watson's Collection, part iii. p. 44.
3 Sir William Alexander of Menstrie, created Earl of Stirling by Charles I. This
commendatory sonnet is prefixed to his Monarchicke Tragedies, (London, 1604, 4to,)
which had for their patron his Majesty King James.
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON. 307
To match thy Mufe with a Monarchick theme,
That whilft her facred foaring cuts the ikies,
A vulgar fubject may not wrong the fame :
And, which giues moft aduantage to thy fame,
The worthieft Monarch that the funne can fee,
Doth grace thy labours with his glorious name,
And daignes protector of thy birth to be :
Thus all Monarchick, patron, fubject, ftile,
Make thee, the Monarch-tragick of this He.
TO THE AUTHOR.4
Why thought fond Grece to build a folid fame,
On fleeing fhades of fables paising vaine ?
Why did her felfe-deceaving fanfie dreame,
That none but fhee the Mufes did maintaine ?
She fayd, thefe facred lifters did remain
Confined within a Craig which there did lie,
That great Apollo felfe did not difdaine,
For that.rough palace, to renounce the fkie ;
That there a well ftill drawne, but never dry,
Made lay-men poets eir they left the place ;
But all were tales, which Fame doth now bely,
And builds up Albions glore, to their diigrace.
Lo here the CRAIGE, whence flows that facred well,
Where Phosbus raignes, where all the Mufes dwell.
* This Sonnet is subjoined to the rare volume entitled " The Poeticall Essays of
Alexander Craig. Scoto-britane." London, 1604, 4to.
308 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
TO THE MOST WORSHIPFULL AND WORTHY KNIGHT,
SIR JAMES *HAY, GENTLEMAN OF HIS MAJESTIES BED-
CHAMBER.«
When Janus keys vnlocks the gates aboue,
And throwes more age on our fublunar lands,
I facrifize with flames of feruent loue
Thefe hecatombs of kifles to thy hands :
Their worth is linall, but thy deferts are fuch,
They! pafle in worth, if once thy Ihrine they tuch.
Laugh but on them, and then they will compare
With all the harueft of the Arabian fields,
With all the pride of that perfumed aire
Which winged troupes of mufked Zephirs yeelds,
When with their breath th' embalme th' Elifian plaine,
And makes the floures reflect thofe fents againe :
Yea they will be more fweet in their conceat
Than Venus kifles fpent on A dons wound ;
Then thofe wherewith pale Cynthia did entreat
The louely shepheard of the Latmian bounds ;
And more than thofe which Joue's ambrofian mouth
90
Prodigaliz'd vpon the Trojan youth.
5 These stanzas serve as the dedication to Sir Robert Ayton's Latin poem, " BASIA :
sive Strena Cal. Jan. ad JACOBUM HAYUM Eqnitem illustrissimum." Londini, 1605,
4to. The poem (omitting these dedicatory stanzas) is reprinted in the Delitiee Poeta-
rum Scotorum. Sir James Hay, a favourite of King James, was afterwards raised to
the Peerage, by the title of Earl of Carlisle, and Viscount Doncaster.
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON. 309
I know they can not fuch acceptance finde,
If rigor cenfure their vncourtly frame :
But thou are courteous, and wilt call to minde
Th' excufe which fhields hoth me and them from' blame ; —
My Mufe was but a nouice into this,
And, being virgin, fcarfe well taught to kifle.
TO HIS DEAR FRIEND AND FELLOW STUDENT
M* ROBERT AETON.e
Sing fwift hoof d JSxHON to thy matchlefs felfe,
And be not filent in this pleafant fpring :
I am thy echo, and thy aerie elf,
The latter ftrains of thy fweet tunes I'll fing.
Ah, fliall thy Mufe no further fruits forth-bring
But Bafia7 bare ? and wilt thou write no more
To higher notes ? I pray thee tune thy firing !
Be ftill admired as thou haft bene of yore.
Write, jETHON, write, let not thy vain decay,
Leaft we become Cymerians dark, or worfe ;
If JET HO N faill, the fun his courfe muft ftay,
For Phoebus chariot laks the cheefeft horfe :
Thogh Fortun frown, ah, why fhould vertue die ?
Sing, jETHON, ling, and I ftiall echo thee.
6 This poem and the answer form part of " The Poetical Recreations of Mr Alex
ander Craig of Rosecraig. At Edinburgh : printed by Thomas Finlason. 1609." 4to.
In the Records of the University of St Andrews, it appears Alexander Craig entered
the year previous to Ayton.
~i The Latin poem under that title, printed in the year 1605. See note 5, p. 308.
310 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
jETHON CRAGIO SUO.
Fane wold I fing, if fongs my thoghts culd eafe,
Or calme the tempeft of my troubled braine,
Fane wold I force my lilent Mufe to pleafe
The gallant humor of thy wanton vaine :
But O a mifer mancipat to paine,
Sould Have to forrow, wedded to mifchief,
By mirth of fongs, perhaps more greefe might gane,
In vaine of them I Ihould expect relief:
Then, facred CUAIG, if thou wold eafe my greef,
Invite me not to wantonize with thee,
But tune thy notes vnto my mourning cleif,
And when I weepe, weepe thou to echo mee.
Perhaps the tears that from a CRAIG fhall floe,
May proue a foueraigne balme to cure my woe.
ON RETURNING LATE AT NIGHT FROM COURT.*
The other night from Court returning late,
Tir'd with attendance, out of love with ftate,
I met a boy, who aflc'd, if he fliould go
Along to light me home ? I anfwer'd, No.
Yet he did urge the darknels of the night,
The foulnefs of the way, requir'd a li
" Watson's Collection, part ii. p. 1 16. In a copy of these verses in an old hand,
contained in a yolume of the Wodrow MSS. in the Advocates' Library, (which
might have furnished a few various readings of little importance), line 5 reads,
' But yet the hoy did cry the darksome night.'
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON. 311
«
It's true, good boy, quoth I, yet thou may'ft be
More ufeful to fome other, than to me :
I cannot mifs my way ; but they that take
The way from whence I come, had need to make
A light their guide ; for I dare boldly fay,
It's ten to one but they Ihall lofe the way.
ON PRINCE HENRY'S DEATH, TO PRINCE CHARLES.9
Admired Phrenix fpringing up apace
From the aflies of another Phoenix bones,
Which too too courteous yielded thee his place,
Left earth were burden'd with two birds at once
Of that rare kind which love to live alone,
Whofe only offence is to be but one.
ON MRS MARGARET LESLEY, LADY MADERTY.10
Religious relicts of that ruinous place,
Which fometimes gloried in the glore of faints,
Now hath no glore but one, whereof it vaunts,
That no faints beauty makes it heaven of grace,
In balmie fields which fairds her flowry face
With fweet perfumes of corns, of trees, of plants,
While Neptune fwells with pride, where there he haunts,
And longs for joy fuch beauty to embrace :
9 Watson's Collection, part iii. p. 45. Prince Henry died 6th November 1612.
10 Watson's Collection, part iii. p. 41. Lady Margaret Lesley was daughter of
Patrick Lesley, first Lord Lindores, and married to John Drummond, second Lord
Maderty.
312 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
Bear me record, that while I pafied by,
I did my dutious homage to your dame ;
How thrice I figh'd, thrice on her name did cry,
Thrice kift the ground for honour of the fame ;
Then left thofe lines, to tell her, on a tree,
That fhe mad them to live, and me to dy.
ON DIOPHANTUS AND CHARIDORA.11
When Diophantus knew / the deftinies decreet,
How he was forced to forgoe / his dear and only fweet,
Ov'rvaulted with the vail / of beam reheating trees,
And gaftly gazing on the ground, / even death ftroke in his eyes,
Oft preffed he to fpeak, / but whyll he did eflay,
The agonizing dreads of death / his wreftling voice did ftay.
At laft, as one that ftrives / againft both woe and fhame,
Dear Charidora, ah ! he cryes, / my high-adored dame,
Firft 1 atteft thy name, / and then the gods above,
But chief of thofe, the boy that bears / the ftately ftyll of love :
Let thofe record with me, / what was my conftaut part,
And if I did not honour thee / with an well hallowed heart.
I facrific'd to thee / my fecret chaft defires,
Upon the beauties altar burnt / with never quenching ;
11 Watson's Collection, part iii. p. 33. It is suspected that this poem was print
ed at the time, in a separate form, but no copy of it has been met with. In a List, by
Drummond of Hawthoruden, of his English Books, in 1611, is one entitled ' Diaphaii-
tus,' price ' 6d.' Ayton alludes to this poem in his panegyric to King James in 1603
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON. 313
Thou was that idol ftill, / whofe image I adored,
The faint to whom I made my vows, / whofe pitties I implored ;
The ftar that faved my fhip / from tempeft of defpair,
When the horizon of my hope / ov'rclouded was with care.
Thou was the fovereign balm, / that fweet Catholicon,
Which cured me of all my cares / when I did grieve and groan.
Though now fuch ftrange events / are interveen'd fincefyne,
As I dare not avow to fay, / or think that thou art mine :
Which makes me thus infert / in thofe my forrowing fongs,
The hiftory of my inilliap, / my miferies and wrongs.
Not that I can accufe / my Charidora ; no :
I only execrate the Fates, / chief workers of my woe,
Should flie whom I have lov'd / fo many loathfome years,
For whom my dear diftilling eyes / has fhed fuch ftreams of tears ;
Should fhe, I fay, be made / a prey to fuch an one,
Who for her fake yet never gave / not one untymely groan.
No furely : furely no, / the Fates may do me wrong,
And make her by their bad decreet, / to whom they pleafe belong :
Yet I dare boldly fay, / and peradventure vant,
That flie is mine by lot of love, / though luck in love I want.
And though my horofcope / envy my worldly things,
Yet unto love it gave me leave / for to compair with kings.
And if I knew the vyer, / under the ftarry Iky,
That durft avow to love my dame / more faithfully than I,
I fhould tear out this heart / that entertains my breath,
And caft it down before her feet, / to dy a Ihameful death.
But fmce both time and Hie / have try'd me to be true,
PART it. R R
314 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
And found fuch faithfulnefs in me, / as fhall be found in few :
I reft fecure in this, / and cares not who pretend,
The more perfues, the more my pairt / proves perfect to the end.
And others faithlefs faiths, / in ballance weighed with mine,
Shall make my faith for to triumph, / and as the fun to fhine.
There fhall no change of things, / of time, of foyl, nor air,
Inforce me to forgoe the vows / made to my faireft fair ;
Which here I do renew, / in folemn form again,
To witnefs, as I did begin, / fo fhall I ftill remain.
I fwear by thole two eyes, / my only deareft dear,
And by the Stygian flanks of Hell, / whereby the gods did fwear,
That thou art only Ihe, / whofe countenance I crave,
And fhall be, both in life and death, / thy belt affected flave.
That there fhall no deceits / of lovely laughing eyen,
No fugard found of Syren fongs, / with far fetch'd fighs between,
Deface out of my mind, / what love did fo ingrave,
Thy words, thy looks, and fuch things elfe, / as none but angels have.
And this, which here I fwear, / and folemnly proteft,
Thofe trees, which only prefent are, / fhall witnefs and atteft.
But chiefly above all, / this holy fhade and green,
On which the cyphers of our names, / character'd fhall be feen.
O happy, happy tree, / into whofe tender rynd,
The trophies of our love fhall live, / eternally infhryned.
Which fhall have force to make / thy memory remain,
Sequeftrate from the baftard fort / of trees which are prophane ;
And when with carelefs looks / the reft ov'rpaft fhall be,
Then thou fhall be adored and kift, / for Charidora's tree,
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON. 315
And peradventure too, / for Diophantus fake,
Some civil perfon that comes by, / {hall homage to thee make.
Thus bleft fliall thou remain, / while I unhappy prove,
And doubtful where I fliall be bleft, / when I fliall leave my love.
Indeed all is in doubt ; / but thus I muft depart,
The body muft a pilgrim be, / and fhe retain the heart.
The thoughts of which exile, / and dolorous divorce,
Works forrow, forrow doth from me / thofe fad complaints inforce ;
For while I was refolved / to finoother up my grief,
Becaufe it might but move in men / more marvel than belief ;
The never ceafing frowns / of male-encountrous fates,
Extorted thofe abortive births / of importune regretes.
To witnefs to the world / that my miihaps are fuch,
As though I mourn like one half mad, / 1 cannot mourn too much.
For if of all miihaps, / this be the firft of all,
To have been highly happy once, / and from that heigth to fall,
I'm lure I may well fay, / that Diophantus name,
Is the fynonyme of mifliaps, / or elfe exceed the fame.
Or if there be no Hell, / but out of Heaven to be,
Confider what her want fliould work, / whofe fight was fuch to me.
I think all thofe that fpeak / of forrow, fliould think flaame,
When Diophantus fliall be heard, / or Charidora's name :
Her worth was without fpot, / his truth was unreproved ;
The one deferv'd at leaft to live, / the other to be loved.
Yet hath the devilifh doom / of Deftinies ordained,
That he fliould lofs both life and love, / and flie a faithful friend :
Wherefore all you that hears / thofe amorous tragick plays,
Beftow on him a world of plaints, / on her a world of praife.
316 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTOff.
UPON A GENTLEWOMAN THAT WAS PAINTED.14
Pamphilia has a number of good parts,
Which commendation to her worth imparts ;
But amongft all, in one ftie doth excell,
That Ihe can paint incomparably well ;
And yet fo modeft, if that praif 'd for this,
She'll fwear fhe does not know what painting is,
But ftraight will blufh, with fuch a portrait grace,
That we would think vermilion dy'd her face.
One of her pictures I have oftimes feen,
And would have fworn that Ihe itfelf had been ;
And when I bad her it on me beftow,
I fwear I heard the Picture's felf fay, No.
What ? think you this a prodigy ? It's none,
The Painter and the Picture were both one.
ON LOVE.13
Love's like a game at tables, where your dy
Of mad affection doth by Fortune fly ;
Which, when you think you're fureft of the fame,
Proves but at beft a doubtful after-game,
For if they find your fancy in a blot,
It's two to one if then they take you not ;
Watson's Collection, part ii. p. 114. l3 The same, part ii. p. US.
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON. 317
But being gamefters you muft boldly venture,
And, when you fee the point ly open, enter :
Believe me one thing, nothing brings about
A game half won fo foon, as holding out ;
And next to holding out this you lhall find,
There's nothing worfe than entering ftill behind :
Yet doth not all in happy entrance ly,
When you are on, you muft throw home and hy ;
If you throw low and weak, believe me then,
Do what you can, they will be bearing men ;
And if you look not all the better on,
They will play foul, bear two inftead of one.
ON LOVE."
There is no worldly pleafure here below,
Which by experience doth not folly prove ;
But amongft all the follies that I know,
The fweeteft folly in the world is Love .
But not that paffion which, with fools couient,
Above the reafon bears imperious fway,
Making their lifetime a perpetual Lent,
As if a man were born to faft and pray.
No, that is not the humour I approve,
As either yielding pleafure or promotion :
14 Watson's Collection, part iii. p. 39.
318 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
I like a mild and lukewarm zeal in love,
Although I do not like it in devotion ;
For it has no coherence with my creed,
To think that lovers die as they pretend ;
If all that lay, they dy, had dy'd indeed,
Sure long e're now the world had had an end.
Befides, we need not love but if we pleafe ;
No deftiny can force men's difpofition,
And how can any die of that difeafe,
Whereof himfelf may be his own phyfician ?
But fome feems fo diftracted of their wits,
That I would think it but a venial I'm
\
To take fome of thofe innocents that sits
In Bedlam out, and put fome lovers in ;
Yet fome men rather than incur the flander
Of true apoftates, will falfe martyrs prove ;
But I am neither Iphis nor Leander,
I'll neither drown nor hang myfelf for love.
Methinks a wife man's actions Humid be fuch
As always yields to Reafon's beft advice ;
Now for to love too little or too much,
Are both extreams, and all extreams are vice ;
Yet have I been a lover by report,
Yea, I have dyed for love, as others do :
But praifed be God, it was in Yuch a fort,
That I revived within an hour or two.
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON. 319
Thus have I liv'd, thus have I lov'd till now,
And find no reafon to repent me yet ;
And whofoever otherways will do,
His courage is as little as his wit.
SONNET.'*
Wilt thou, remorfelefs fair, ftill laugh while I lament ?
Shall ftill thy chief contentment be to fee me malcontent ?
Shall I, Narciffus like, a flying fhadow chafe ?
Or, like Pygmalion, love a ftone crown'd with a winning face ?
No ; know my blind Love now fhall follow Reafon's eyes ;
And as thy fairnefs made me fond, thy temper make me wife.
My loyalty difdains to love a lovelefs dame,
The fpirit ftill of Cupid's fire confifts in mutual flame.
Hadft thou but given one look, or hadft thou given one fmile,
Or hadft thou lent but one poor figh my forrows to beguile,
My captive Thoughts perchance had been redeem'd from Pain,
And thefe my mutinous Difcontents made friends with Hope again.
But thou, I know at length, art carelefs of my good ;
And wouldft ambitioufly embrew thy beauty in my blood :
A great difgrace to thee, to me a monftrous wrong,
Which time may teach thee to repent ere haply it be long ;
But to prevent thy Ihaine, and to abridge my woe,
Becaufe thou canft not love thy friend, I'll ceafe to love my foe.
15 This and the Song which follows were first printed in Pinkerton's Scotish
Tragic Ballads,, 1781, STO, p. 117-118, from a MS. collection then in his possession,
and which subsequently (at a sale in April 1812) was purchased by Mr Heber.
320 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
SONG.
What means this ftrangenefs now of late,
Since time muft truth approve ?
This diftance may conlift with ftate,
It cannot ftand with love.
Tis either cunning or diftruft
That may fuch ways allow ;
The firft is bafe, the laft unjult ;
Let neither blemilh you.
For if you mean to draw me on,
There needs not half this art ;
And if you mean to have me gone,
You over-act your part.
If kindnels crols your wifh'd content,
Difmifs me with a frown ;
I'll give you all the love that's fpent,
The reft fliall be my own.
ON A WOMAN'S INCONSTANCY.1*
I loved thec once, I'll love no more,
Thine be the grief, as is the blame,
10 Watson's Collection, part iii. p. 41.
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON. 821
Thou art not what thou waft before,
What reafon I fhould be the fame ?
He that can love unlov'd again,
Hath better ftore of love than brain.
God fend me love my debts to pay,
While unthrifts fools their love away. .
Nothing could have my love o'erthrown,
If thou hadft ftill continued mine ;
Yea, if thou had remain'd thy own,
I might perchance have yet been thine.
But thou thy freedom did recal,
That if thou might elfewhere inthral ;
And then how could I but difdain
A captive's captive to remain.
When new defires had conquered thee,
And changed the object of thy will,
It had been lethargy in me,
Not conftancy, to love thee ftill :
Yea, it had been a fin to go
And proftitute affection fo,
Since we are taught no prayers to fay
To fuch as muft to others pray.
Yet do thou glory in thy choice,
Thy choice of his good fortune boaft ;
PART II. S S
322 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
I'll neither grieve, nor yet rejoice,
To fee him gain what I have loft :
The height of ray difdain ihall be,
To laugh at him, to blufh for thee ;
To love thee ftill, but go no more
A begging at a beggar's door.
THE ANSWER, BY THE AUTHOR,
AT THE KING'S MAJESTY'S COMMAND.
Thou that loved once, now loves no more,
For fear to fhow more love than brain ;
With herefy, unhatch'd before,
Apoftacy thou doft maintain.
Can he have either brain or love,
That doth inconftancy approve ?
A choice well made no change admits,
All changes argues after-wits.
Say that fhe had not been the fame,
Should thou therefore another be ?
What thou in her as vice did blame,
Can thou take vertue's name in thee ?
No, thou in this her captive was
And made thee ready by her glafs ;
Example led revenge aftray,
When true love Ihould have kept the way.
POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON. 323
True love has no reflecting end,
The object good fets it at reft,
And noble breafts will freely lend,
Without expecting intereft.
'Tis merchants' love, 'tis trade for gain,
To barter love for love again :
'Tis ufury, yea, worfe than this,
For felf-idolatry it is.
Then let her choice be what it will,
Let conftancy be thy revenge ;
If thou retribute good for ill,
Both grief and fhame fhall check her change,
Thus may'ft thou laugh when thou fhalt fee
Remorfe reclaim her home to thee ;
And where thou beg'ft of her before,
She now fits begging at thy door.
INCONSTANCY REPROVED."
I do confels thou'rt fmooth and fair,
And I might have gone near to love thee;
17 This is the song which Burns altered, and thought he had " improved the sim
plicity of the sentiments, by giving them a Scots dress." It is usually attributed to
Ayton, and is just as likely, from its easy and graceful style, to hare been written by
him as by any of his contemporaries ; but in Watson's Collection, part iii p. 91, (where
Burns probably found it,) it is anonymous ; as also it is in Playford's earlier musical
324 POEMS BY SIR ROBERT AYTON.
Had I not found the flighteft prayer
That lips could fpeak, had power to move thee ;
But I can let thee now alone
As worthy to be lov'd by none.
I do confels thou'rt fweet, yet find
Thee fuch an unthrift of thy fweets,
Thy favours are but like the wind
Which kifleth every thing it meets ;
And fince thou canft love more than one,
Thou'rt worthy to be kifTd by none.
The morning rofe, that untouch'd ftands,
Arm'd with her briars, how fweet fhe finells !
But pluck'd, and ftrain'd through ruder hands,
Her fweets no longer with her dwells ;
But fcent and beauty both are gone,
And leaves fall from her, one by one.
Such fate, ere long, will thee betide,
When thou haft handled been a while
Like fair-flowers to be thrown afide,
And thou fhalt figh, when I fliall finile,
To fee thy love to every one
Hath brought thee to be lov'd by none !
collection of " Select Ayres and Dialogues, 1659." There are a few slight variations
between the two copies which it is not necessary to specify.
LETTERS
OF
FLOKENTIUS VOLUSENUS.
[ 327 ]
THE intereft of the following letters lies chiefly in the name of the
author, FLORENTIUS VOLUSENUS,' a native of Scotland, whofe Dia
logue on Peace of Mind2 has been always admired, as well for the
elegance and beauty of its compofition, as for the extenfive learning
and pbilofophic genius it difplays. The firft of thefe letters affords
the only known fpecimen of his English writing ; and had been evi
dently addrefsed, in the year 1531 or 1532, to " the right worfhipfull
Maifter" Thomas Cromwell, afterwards created Lord Cromwell and
Earl of Eflex. The other letter refers to his being engaged as
Teacher of the Greek and Latin languages in the public fchool of
Carpentras, a town of France, in the department of Vauclufe. As
Volufenus obtained this appointment at the clofe of the year 1535,
through the recommendation of Cardinal Sadoleto, at that time Bifhop
of Carpentras, we may here introduce (what we owe to the kindnefs
of Mr DRUMMOND HAY), a tranflation of a letter3 from the Cardi
nal ; as it gives an intereftiug account of their firft interview, and
communicates feveral particulars of our Author's life. The Cardinal,
(who, on more than one occafion, commends Volufenus as well for
1 In designating our author, we hare adopted his Latinized name, not only because
by it he is best known, but that, in fact, we hare no early authority for styling him
otherwise. His name may have been either Wilson, Willieson, or Williamson, or
even Wolsey, in the opinion of his Editor, David Echlin (in 1638), whilst he himself
makes use of Voluzene in signing the following English letter.
2 DE ANIMI TRANQUILLITATE DIALOGUS, first printed at Lyons, 1543, 4to.
. 3 Sadoleti Epistoke — Ad Paul. Sadol. Epist. 3.
[ 328 ]
the elegance of his manners as for literary acquirements,) thus
writes to his nephew Paul Sadoleto : —
" I do not think there is any longer need to feek through your means for a fchool-
mafter and instructor of the youth of this place. For I will give you a little hiftory,
whence you Shall at once acknowledge how far more fortune may oftentimes effect
than human counfel.
" Four days ago I had by chance gone into my library when already night, and was
turning over ibme books very diligently, when my chamberlain announced there was
Ionic one who wiShed to Speak to me. I inquire — who is he ? A. perfon in a gown
— was the anfwer. I order him to be admitted : He comes in. I a(k what he may
want, that he Should come to me at fuch an hour. (For I was anxious to get quit of
the man Speedily, and return to my Studies.) Then he, having entered on his intro
ductory matter in very humble terms, converfed with fuch propriety, correctnefs, and
modefty, as to produce in me a defire to queftion him particularly, and to become
more intimately acquainted with him. So, having Shut my book and turned round to
him, I began my queries ; of what country he might be, what was his profeffion, and
for what purpofe he came into this neighbourhood. Upon which he replies, — I am a
Scot, What, fay I, do you come from that nttermoSt part of the earth ? Even fo
faid he. Where then have you Studied the liberal fciences ? (Which question I put
to him becaufe his difcourfe favoured of genius and an elegant Latinity.) I applied
myfelf to philofophical purfuits, faid he, firSt in my own country, during many years ;
afterward I Studied at Paris, and had there under my tuition a brother's fon of the
Cardinal of York. Subfequently, when his uncle's death occasioned the lad to be
taken from me, I betook myfelf to Monfeigneur du Bellay, BiShop of Paris, and was
about to accompany him to Rome, had not a fevere illnefs feparated me from him
while on our journey. What then do you look for here ? was my question. In the
firft place, faid he, a longing to come and fee you, which I mainly deSired, urged me
hither : then, as it had been told me at Avignon, yon were in want of fome one to
teach in your city-fchool, I thought of offering myfelf to you, in cafe I Should be fit
for the undertaking ; not being indeed fo defirous of the office as anxious to make my-
S'elf agreeable to you : and having at the fame time understood that whatever function
I might enter upon near your perfon, by your direction or at your requeSt, would re
dound to my praife.
" What think you now ? So much did he pleafe me, that very early next morning
I would fend for Glocerius the magiftrate and for Helia. I explained to them my
[ 329 ]
expectations of the man, and related every thing in regard to him that had fo highly
gratified me : for affuredly we had little chance of finding, in any native of Italy, this
man's modefty, prudence, and propriety of addrefs and appearance.
" Not being, however, content with this, as well Florence himfelf (for that is his
name) as our phyfician, of whom I have already written to you ; Helia alfo, together
with the magiftrates, were my guefts. Forthwith, after dinner, fome difcufiions are
brought on by my encouragement ; and, while treating of fubjects in natural philo-
fophy, our medical friend maintains his argument with tartness, distorting his features
and labouring in deep afpirations. The other is inodelt and calm, uttering nothing
which is not to the purpofe, nothing but what is difcreetly and accurately exprefled,
every word, indeed, with fkill and understanding. Aye, and when I myfelf, oppofed
to the phyfician in argument, had concluded one of an intricate and difficult nature,
in the expounding of which the doctor had Struggled hard ; our Stranger, craving par
don, fuggeSted how in the molt fit and fcientific manner a folution might be afforded.
What further feek you to know ? All burn with defire to keep this character among
us — the magistrates take him aSide. The terms of his engagement are fixed at an hun
dred gold pieces, and with fuch Satisfaction upon the citizens' part, as I hear, that they
all conSider the event to be an occurrence of rare felicity for the town. Report, more
over, is circulated of difcoorfes which he has had with the magiftrates, that are fo
liberal and ingenuous, that nothing can furpafs them. Wherefore I do hope that, for
the office and its bufinefs, we are in the beft manner provided. The man, has, more
over, what to me is a main fubject of pleafure, enough even of Greek literature for the
inftruction of our boys. In refpect then, to this, you may caft away all anxiety."
The length of time during which Volufenus remained at Carpen-
tras is not known.; nor are we certain as to the exact period of his
death. Conrad Gesner4 mentions that he had met with him at Lyons
in 1540, while yet in the prime of life, and expreffes great hopes of
the benefit to be derived to the ftudious from his erudition. Another
teftimony to our author's acquirements occurs in an edition of Les
* His words are : " Nos hominem Lugduni vidimus, anno 1540, juvenili adhuc cetate:
el magnam ab ejus erudilione perventuram ad sttidiosos utililatem expectamus." (Gesneri
Bibliotheca Universalis. Tiguri, MDXLV. folio.) This interesting notice, which gives
us some idea of our author's age, is not found in Simler's editions of Gesner's work.
At the time of his death (in 1547) ? Volusenns was probably about 40 years of age.
PART II. T T
[ 330 ]
Eiriblemes de Seigneur Andre Alciat, de nouueau translates, etc.
publifhed at Lyons in 1549. The tranflator, Bartholomew Aneau, in
adducing the reasons which urged him to dedicate his work to James
Earl of Arran, writes thus : J'ay efti incit'' premierement par ma
propre election, et apres enhardy par Paduis consentant de M. Flo-
rent Volufen, homme, oultre la bontedes moeurs, et vertus, et le cog-
noijjance des ars etjciences, et choses bonnes et ciuiles, ayant aufsi
intelligence etfaculte des regulieres langues Grccque et Latine et des
vulgaires Efcoffolse fienne, Franfoise, Italienne, et Espaignolle, a
lay acquifes par frequentation des nations. Par le bon aduis doncq'
de luy, et premiere voluntede moy mejme, ie ay ejle induict a la liar-
diejfe de vous dedier et preefenter ce petit liure des Emblemes, §c.
Volufenus, who was born on the banks of the Loffie, in the neigh
bourhood of Elgin, appears to have intended returning to Scotland
in the year 1546 ; and, from the letter addrefled to him by Sadoleto
we learn that he had written afking the Cardinal's advice as to his
deportment in the ecclefiaftical diflenfions which at that time dif-
tracted the country. But our Author, it is faid, while proceeding
towards his native land, was taken ill, and died at Vienne in Dau-
phiny, during the courfe of the following year. Buchanan, with
whom he was perfonally acquainted,5 has confecrated to his memory
the following beautiful lines :
Hie musis, Volusene, jaces charissime, ripatn
Ad Rhodani ; terra quam procul a patria !
Hoc meruit virtus tua, tellus qnae foret altrix
Virtutum, ut cineres conderet ilia tuos.
5 This appears from an inscription in a copy of Seb. Munster's " Dictionarium He-
braicum, apud. Froben. M.D.XXIII." 8vo, in the University Library, Edinburgh, which
has the autograph " Georgius Buchananus : Ex munificentia Florentii Voluseni."
[ 331 ]
LETTERS OF FLORENTIUS VOLUSENUS.
[Ric]HT honorable fir,6 after humble commendatione of my fer-
uice, [I be]fich your Maifterfchip to vnderftand that nouellis thair
is [botj few heir, vorthy to be vvrittin ; notuithftanding, fuche [as]
thair is I fhall fchortlie rehers. The doctors of this [to]wne, not
all, but Beda,7 de Cornibus8 a Cordeleir and fuche, hes complened to
r> This letter, preserved in the Cotton Library, has been partially destroyed by fire ;
but an attempt is made to fill up some of the defects in the letters or words, printed
within brackets. The address has been also destroyed ; but there is little doubt that
it was written to Thomas Cromwell, who appears to have been the agent chiefly em
ployed by Cardinal Wolsey, and after his fall by Henry VIII., for the purpose of ob
taining private intelligence from Paris, Calais, and various other places.
7 Noel Bede (Natalis Beda), Principal of the College of Montague, from the year
1502, and Syndic of the University of Paris, distinguished himself as a determined
enemy of all religious innovations. His zeal excited against him many enemies, and
he was more than once held up to ridicule in the theatrical representations, then fre
quent in the different colleges of the University. He wrote against Erasmus, and the
learned Le Fevre d'Etaples ; and his ardour carrying him beyond the bounds of pru
dence, he attacked the King's sister, Margaret Queen of Navarre, who openly pro
tected the professors of the new doctrine, and induced the Faculty of Theology to
condemn her Miroir de Fame pecherewe ; which probably was the real cause of his
exile from the University in the year 1533. He is ridiculed, by Rabelais as author of
a treatise de optimitate Triparum.
s Pierre de Come (or de Cornibus) is described as a man of learning, but of singu
lar character, and is ridiculed by Rabelais and other satirical authors of the time. From
notes communicated by Sir WILLIAM HAMILTON, Bart, with reference to the pre
sent letter, Pierre de Corne appears to be alluded to in Buchanan's Franciscan, and
this circumstance serves to explain a very obscure passage in that poem.
332 LETTERS OF
the Kyng vpon one prechur called Maifter Petre Gerarde,9 wiche
preached afor the Quern of Nauarre, this Lent in Paris ; and as
Monfieur de Lange10 tolde me, thai haif noted hot thre articles, or
foure, the wiche thai iuge other erroneus, or ellis not to be preach
ed in this tyme, faying, that he layith luche generall grond whair-
vpon he intendith to beild a hous of herefi. Theis be the articles : —
Omnia Junt munda mundis, and thairfor this delectus ciborum
fhould be fuperfticiofe.
Sicut ancilla contrectans panem domine fue immundis manibus,
qffendit dominam, fie nos Deum quicquid operemur Jine fide, et
confcientia munda.
Sicut non licet vxori nmtare, augere, vel imminuere, vel commen-
tatione aliqua aut glqffa in hunc vel ilium Jenfum trakere tejta-
mentum mariti, Jic nee licere ecclefie Jdcras literas fie pro arbitrio
fuofingere ac refingere.
The fourt article I harde not.
The Kyng has fend for Gerard and for certaine doctors, and hes
commanded Gerard when that he preachis afor his fifter, to haue
euer two honeft men, and of iugement, fworne to recite faithfully
9 Peter Gerard was Principal of the College of Mignon. (Bulceus, vol. vi. p. 238.)
10 Monsieur de Lange,, one of three brothers of the family of Langei Du Bellay,
who were equally distinguished for learning. The one here alluded to is probably
John Du Bellay, Bishop of Paris, who was sent Embassador to England in 1527. In
his house Rabelais found protection and encouragement ; and from Cardinal Sadoleto's
letter, we learn that he patronized our author, who intended to have accompanied him
to Rome, in 1534, in his mission thither in the affairs of Henry's divorce, which Du
Bellay was employed to negotiate.
FLORENTIUS VOLUSENUS. 333
it? that he fays, when thai ftiail be required ; the wiche me think but
a fraall punifhment.
Thre or iiij thair was that preached againft him be name, and that
fediciofly, the wiche is commandit to fre waird,amongs thair freindis;
and amongs theis is thair one Cordeleir, wiche told openly in the
pulpite one example of a greate clerk, wiche fhould have come other
tyms out of Boheme to Englond, and thair, vith great eloquence,
preached erroneus opinions : The princis and nobles of the realme
perfuaded be his eloquence, fuffereth him, the comons for fear of
greate men, whobeit thai grougith, yet thai durft not do him no
harme than what foloued .... the corne was meruelus fair on . .
.... the erroneous preaching of this doct came and newe
breade this br but fwell men and poyfon thame fo . . . .
and perifhed mony thoufand. The [people] fetting a part all feir,
ordinance, an[d respect] of princis went of thair awne zeil and [haif]
ftoned this doctor to death ; and fo [that fell] wiche was perfaued
to be fend be God. [Ye kill] certaine fleis that eite and poyfont
the [body] ; and fo fhuld ye doo, faid the [cordelier], vith this he
retic Gerard, wich is now [poyfoning] princis and ladyis.
After this [on that] fame day, as he was going on the ft[reet, to
the] fermon he perfaued certaine feruandis of [the Quein] of Na-
uarre, and fchew to thame that [wich happened] faying, thois be
this heretics and falois hurt v or vj of thame be his exhor
.... will be corrected . Other matters I dif[fer to my]
cuming, wiche, be the grace of Gode, fliall be [in xv] or xvi days.
In the meane tyme I commend h[umblie] Nicolas Fedderftone my
34 LETTERS OF
procture of Spelhur ...... befiching you to help and fuccurs
him in hi[s neid] George Hamptones feruand wiche arriued [in
this toun] yiefter-euin, hoc eft xxiiij die Aprilis, fpakke [to me of]
bookis to your mafterfchip, and being will[ing to buy] the fame
and not hauing greate plenty as [I was wont] of money, I went to
Maifter Hamptone [who fpakke] to me, and faid, vith a meruelus
liberall [air, I fliuld] not laike no money for ony thing that con-
cer[neth your] Maifterfchip, declairing your great humanite, [which
was] daylie fchaw to him ; and fo fuche new th[ings as are] heir I
fliall bring vith me in all haift. [I pray] God haue your Maifter
fchip in his keping.
At [Paris] the xxv of Aprile be
Yor awne feruand,
FLORENCE VOLUZENE.
ERUDITISSIMO VIRO ET AMICO SUO IO. STARCHEO,"
LONDINI AUT IN AULA.
MEMIXI, mi Starchee, cum fuperiore aeftate Londini in hortis An-
tonii Bonnifii12 vnambularemus, verbaque faceremus quo mihi terra-
rum proficifcendum efiet, aut quern locum ftudiorum fedem delige-
rem, te Carpentoracten Narbonenfis Galliae vrbem laudafie, quod il-
11 There are various other letters, from persons abroad, addressed to Dr John Star-
key, preserved in the Museum.
18 In the Dialogue De Animi Tranquillitate, are introduced some verses by Volu-
zene in commendation of Antonius Bonnisius or Bonuisius.
FLORENTIUS VOLUSENUS. 335
lie eflet Ja. Sadoletus,13 Antiftes apprime doctus et facundus, quecum
vna poflem procul a turba philofophari. Caeterum quum iam antea
Italiara petere conftituiffem, nihil minus ifthinc difcedens in animo
habebam quam illo ire. Verura cum Lugdunum ad An. Bonnifium
perueniffem, diuque anceps ftetiffem quo me conferrem, tua motus
commendatione, placuit faltem illinc iter in Italiam facere. Et cum
iam Auinionem veniflem, nunciatur eundem Sadoletum paulo ante
fedulo quaefifie, quern iuuentuti erudiendae praeficeret. Carpento-
racten Antiftitis vifendi ftudio potiffimum me contuli,13 quocum
poftquam fuiflem aliquamdiu collocutus, gaudere fe plurimum aie-
bat, quod in me incidiffet,14 et poftridie illius diei, facile fuis ciuibus,
pro ea qua valet gratia et autoritate, perfuafit, vt me ad iuuentutis
inftituendae munus nauanduin, feptuaginta coronatorum annuorum
praemio propofito eligerent. Accepi conditionem non tarn commodi
mei caufa, quam honoris quern tanti viri contubernium mihi apud
amicos conciliabit. Nam praeter literas et eloquentiam eximiam
egregia eft et prudentia et humanitate praeditus, et maiora mihi
pofthac operae pretia pollicetur. Hue Lugdunum redii, codices
aliquot ad fufcepti muneris functionem neceflarios, ope D. A. Bon-
nifii comparaturus. Cras Carpentoracten verfus redeo, illic nefcio
quae Ciceronis, Vergilii, Graecaeque praeterea linguae rudimenta
enarraturus. Scis me ad huiufmodi prouinciam non ita idoneum,
13 Cardinal Jacopo Sadoleto, one of the most eminent Scholars of his time, was born
at Modeno in 1477. Erasmus styles him eximium hujus eetatis decus. He was
appointed Bishop of Carpentras by Pope Leo X., to whom he had acted as one of the
Apostolic secretaries for several years. He died at Rome in 1547.
14 A translation of part of a letter from Cardinal Sadoleto, giving an account of this
interview, is introduced in the preliminary notice.
336 LETTERS OF
et dum homo (vt fie dicam) philofophafter ifta tracto, in aliena
(quod aiunt) efle arena. Sed mos gerendus fuit Antiftiti ita volen-
ti. Aiebat enim fe facile perfpicere, omnia ilia mihi facilia fore,
modo diligentiam adhiberem. Itaque, mi Starchee, conftitui hie
annos aliquot procul turbis, procul ambitu, procul denique curis
omnibus, nifi fortunae me violentia hinc abripiat, philofophari. Te
per amicitiam noftram oro, vt etiam amicorum pauciffimos huius
noftri otii confcios eflScias. Caefar creditur iam veniffe Neapolin.
De Conilantinopolitano Caefare nullus fie hie fermo. Galliarum Rex
graui vexatus morbo, iam reualuit. Dicitur moliri aliquid in Infu-
bres, quorum Dux nuper vita functus eft.1* Verum ego puto vanum
efie rumorem. De futuro generali concilio qui fuit rumor, eft prope
fepultus. Vbi dabitur occafio, meo nomine falutabis illuftrem D.
Tho. Crumuellum Secretarium regium : item et Antiftitem Herford-
ienfem D. Edwardum Foxum. Vale et me ama. Lugduni, in
aedibus A. Bonnifii, vndecimo Calendas Decembris.
Tuus FLORENTIUS VOLUZENTJS.
Rdum Dm Wintonienfem, fi Londini aut in aula fuerit, certiorem
facias de Florentii fui rerum ftatu. Antonius Bonnifius, vbi
vidit hanc epiftolam, obiurgavit me quod tibi fuo nomine fa-
lutem non dixiflem ; quam nunc tibi mitto et dico falutem, fi-
mulque et iterum vale.
15 The notice of the recent decease of the Duke of Milan (to say nothing of the
Emperor's return from Tunis to Naples, and the convalescence of Francis I.) fixes
the date of this letter in 1535. Francis Sforza II. died 24th October of that year.
FLORENTIUS VOLUSENUS. 337
JAC. SADOLETUS S. R. E. CARDINALIS,
FLORENTIO VOLUSENO SCOTO, S. P. D.16
EuM, qui fuperioribus diebus tuas ad me attulit literas, teftimo-
nio tuo adductus, libenter vidi : operaque illi et ftudium meum de-
tuli, vt multum apud me valuifle commendationem tuam facile in-
telligere potuerit. Nee te tua fane, quam de me habes, opinio fe-
fellit. Sumus enim, femperque fuimus, ad bene de doctis et probis
hominibus merendum, fi minus opibus et facultatibus inftructi, at
certe natura ftudioque propenfi ac parati. Te quidem, quern et
optiinis artibus eruditum, et in his de religione diflenfionibus opti-
me fentientem Temper iudicauimus, eo quo debemus ftudio et amore
profequimur. Itaque quod fententiam exquiris noftram, quam viam,
cum in patria tua conftiteris, in qua maximas de religione conten-
tiones efle fcribis, inliftere debeas, nos id tibi confilii dabimus, quod
et amore noftro erga te, et virtute ac pietate tua dignum fit ; quod
tamen a te iam pridem captum effe minime dubitamus. Nam cum
et facrae nos literae, et rerum euentus ipfe docuerit, Ecclefiam Dei
turbulentis hominum feditiofomm confiliis perpetuo infeftam efle et
obnoxiam, nimirum id, permittente Deo, quo hie bonorum explore-
tur fides atque conftantia; profecto dubium efle non poteft, quin
quod fanctiffimi viri, huiulmodi diflidiis et contentionibus exortis,
Temper fecerunt, vt Ecclefise partes fequerentur, eique tanquam fir-
mamento veritatis inniterentur, id, hoc quoque tempore optimus et
grauiflimus quifque facere debeat, et fanctiffimam parentem ornni
16 Jacob! Sadoleti, Episc. Carpentoracti S. R. E. Cardinalis Epistolarum libri sex.-
decim. p. 639. Lngdnni, 1544, 8vo.
PAKT II. U U
338 LETTERS OF VOLUSENUS.
pietate et ftudio conftantiffime tueri atque defendere. Etenim fum-
maj fit, non dicam imprudentiae, fed amentia?, Catholica relicta ac
deferta Ecclefia, eiufque perpetuo confenfu, et tot fanctiffimorum
patrum autoritate contempta, eorum fectam fequi, qui impulfi odio,
et furore quodam rapti, tarn temere ac nefarie ab Ecclefia defcifcere,
eamque vexare atque oppugnare aufi I'uiit. Quos vt corrupt! facer-
dotum mores grauiflirae offenderint, nequaquam ea tamen, aut alia
omnino vlla, turbandae pacis et commouendae feditionis caufa iufta
efie potuit. Quamobrem te quidem nee confilio, nee cohortatione
mea egere arbitror. Sed tamen, quando me, quomodo gerere te in
patria tua debeas, confulendum putafti, credo quo autoritate mea
confilium tuum confirmaretur, fuadeo, hortor, et moneo, vt maio-
rum noftrorum veftigiis infiftas, atque ea quae ftatuit, decreuit, et
tot iam feculis obferuauit Ecclefia, tanquam Spiritus fancti, qui illi
cuftos et veritatis omnis doctor perpetuo adeft, decreta et inftituta
fanctiflime feruanda efie cenfeas : vtque haec quae tibi a Deo data
funt, ingenii, doctrinaeque munera, ad eos quibufcum viues in fide
et vera religione (quantum in te erit) continendos, fedulo vt Chrif-
tiano homine dignum eft, conferas. Haec profecto vna rectiffima
ad aeternam falutem via eft : hanc qui infiftunt, Deique et Ecclefia?
praeceptis ac legibus obtemperant, ad illam quae Chriftianis homini-
bus propofita eft felicitatem fine vllo errore perueniunt. Sed base
vt voluntati tuae obfequerer, non quo te putarem de his rebus non
optime et fentire, et tecum ftatuifie, iam attigi. Tu velim beneuo-
lentiam erga me tuam conferues : tantumque de animo et voluntate
mea tibi polliceare ac fpondeas, quantum virtus et probitas, et vetus
tuum erga me ftudium poftulat. Vale. Romee, M.D.XLVI.
MEDITATION
FAITE PAR MARIE ROYNE D'ESCOSSE ET
DOVAIRIERE DE FRANCE.
M.D.LXXII.
[ 341 ]
••rtitrn) nt!:
ACCORDING to Brantome, Mary, Queen of Scots, wrote French
verfes with great elegance and facility ; but the poems attributed to
her are fo inconfiderable, both as to number and extent, that it is
difficult to form a precife eftimate of the merit of her compofitions.
" The only poems of Mary's extant, (fays Mr Laing) are the verfes
" preferved by Brantome on the death of Francis II. ; the fonnets
" to Bothwell, in Buchanan's Detection ; a fonnet to Elizabeth, in
" the Cotton library, in French and Italian; and a French fon-
" net, in the State Paper office, to her fon the prince." 1
This enumeration is certainly not complete, as it omits the fol
lowing poem and sonnet ; which feem to have efcaped the refearch
of other writers whofe attention had been directed to the Queen's
verfes, in difcuffing the genuinenefs of the Sonnets to Bothwell. In
a letter from Queen Mary to Bilhop Lefley, dated from Sheffield in
Auguft 1572, fhe acknowledges having received a book of Medita
tions, written by him during his imprifonment in the Tower of Lon
don ; and fhe fays fhe fends him the following verfes, fuggefted by
the perufal of his work, which had afforded great confolation to her
afflicted mind.2 This work the learned prelate afterwards publifhed
1 Dissertation on the Murder of Darnley, i. 335. Mr Laing, in a note, adds,
" Among her Poems I do not include Sir Thomas Chaloner's Latin translation of
some French verses sent with a ring to Elizabeth, (De Rep. Angl. Instaur. 353,) nor
Bkickwood's Latin translation of a French poem made during her imprisonment."
2 Only a Latin translation of the Letter, which is said to have been written by
Mary in the Scottish idiom, is given. The following is an extract of the passage re
ferred to :— " Consolatur autem nos imprimis liber ille, quern ad nos misisti, non
C 342 ]
at Paris,3 and annexed her Majefty's verfes, with a Latin tranlla-
tion, which, with fome flight variations, is republifhed among the
poetical works of Adam Blackwood, Profeflbr of Law in the Uni-
verfity of Poictiers.4 The work by the Scotilh Queen, the lofe of
which is perhaps moil to be regretted, is thus defcribed in Biihop
Montague's preface to the Works of King James, 1616, folio : —
" The King's father [Henry Darnley] tranflated Valerius Maxi-
mus into Englifli : and the Queen, his Majeftie's mother, [Mary,
Queen of Scots] wrote a Booke of verfes, in French, of the Inftitu-
tion of a Prince, all with her owne hand, wrought the cover of it
with her needle, and is now of his Majeftie efteemed as a moft pre
cious Jewell." The fame book is mentioned by Sanderfon, in 1656,S
as a relique of her memory kept by King James, which he fays he
himfelf had feen.
minus gratus et acceptus, quam diuinis meditationibus, et piis afflict! et segroti animi
remediis plenus. Bum nos seme! atque iterum legimus, 11011 oscitanter ac perfunc-
torie, sed tanto cum fructu, vt afflictum regni statum et fortunse vicissitudinem, quoad
possumus, constanter ac fortiter coelesti beneficio consolemur. Atque vt hoc me ex
animo dicere sentias, ecce tibi versibus aliquot in earn rem a me Gallico idiomate
compositis testatum esse volui." The letter is dated, " E castro Shefeldise, prid. id.
August. 1572 ;" and signed, " Tibi amicissima Domina Maria R."
3 Joannis Leslaei Scoti, Episcopi Rossen. libri duo : quorum vno, Pise Afflicti
Animi Consolationes, diuinaque remedia : altero, Animi Tranquilli Munimentum, et
Consernatio, continentur. Ad Serenissimam Principem D. Mariam Scotorum Regi-
nam. Parisiis, 1574, 8vo.
4 Varii generis Poematia, p. 81. Pictaviis, 1609, 8vo. Adami Blacvodsei Opera
otnnia, p. 478. Parisiis, 1644, 4to.
5 Life and Death of Mary, Queen of Scots, p. 262. In the Catalogue of books
presented by Drummond of Hawthornden to the College of Edinburgh, 1626, there
is enumerated, under the title, " Marie, Queene of Scotland," — " Tetrasticha ou Qua
trains a Son fils. MS." Auctar. etc. p. 23. Edinb. 1627, 4to.
[ 343 ]
MEDITATION
FAITE PAR LA ROYNE D'ESCOCE, DOVAIRIERE DE
FRANCE, RECUEILLIE D'VN LIVRE DBS CONSOLATIONS
DIVINES, COMPOSEZ PAR L'EVESQUE DE ROSSE.
Lors qu'il conuient a chacun repofer
Et pour vn temps tout foucy depofer,
Vng fouuenir de mon amere vie
Me vient ofter de tout dormir 1'enuie,
Reprefentant a mes yeux viuement,
De bien en mal vn foudain changeraent,
1 These verses, under the title of " Meditation sur 1'Inconstance et Vanite du
Monde, composee par la Feue serenissime Royne d'Escosse, sur le commancement
de sa prison," are also contained in a little rare volume, entitled " Lettres et Traitez
Chrestiens," par " David Home en Dumbar," printed at Bergerac, 1613, 24to. The
author, in a letter of consolation addressed to Queen Anne on the death of her eldest
son, the accomplished Prince Henry, in Nov. 1612 ; adduces the example of Madame
de Nemours, Mary of Gnize, Queen Regent, and Mary, Queen of Scots, as persons
who, experiencing the reverses of fortune, had borne themselves up in the time of afflic
tion ; and he says he has reprinted these verses, as calculated, in some respects, to sup
ply the defects of his discourse. The passage in question may be here quoted.
" Suit vn tiers exemple (qui vous doit seruir comme d'vn patron de tous les autres ;)
cest assauoir de la fille vnique de la mesme Princesse que nous venons d'alleguer
Marie Stuart, mere de vostre man serenissime : en laquelle vous auez vn miroir d'vn
esprit inuincible, et mis a 1'espreuue de toutes sortes de peines, et perplexitez de corps
et de coeur : i'ay fait reimprimer ses meditations sur la vanite du monde a la fin de
mon premier traitte de 1'orgueil, esquelles vostre M. apprendra, ie m'asseure, a mes-
344 MEDITATION FAITE PAR MARIE
•£.
v Qui diftiller me fait lors fur la face
La trifle humeur, qui tout plaifir efface :
Dont toft apres, cerchant de m'alleger,
J'entre en difcours, non friuole, ou legier,
Confiderant du monde 1'inconftance
Et des mortcls le trop peu d'afleurance :
Jugeant par la rien n'eftre permanent,
Ny bien, ny mal, deffous le firmament.
Ce que foudain me met en fouuenance
Des fages diets du Roy, plein de prudence.
J'ay (ce dit il) cerche" tous les plaifirs,
Qui peuuent plus aflbuuir mes defirs :
Mais je n'ay veu en cefte maffe ronde
Que vanit^, done fol eft qui f y fonde,
De quoy mes yeux experience ont eu
Durant noz jours : car j'ay fouuent veu
Ceux qui touchoient les haults cieux de la tefte,
Soudainement renuerfes par tempefte.
Les plus grands Roys, Monarques, Empereurs,
De leurs eftats, et vies ne font feurs.
Baftir palais, et amafler cheuance,
Retourne en brief en perte, et decadence.
priser les accidens humains et supporter auec patience les miseres de la vie presente.
Ces meditations snpplieront aux defauts de mon disconrs, et vous persuaderont en
iiutorite de belle mere de ne vous fier point au monde, et de ne vous contrister pas de
r.e qu'il vous pourroit oster, comme aussi de ne vous resionir pas par trop, de ce qu'il
vons pourroit donner."
ROYNE D'ESCOSSE. 345
Eftre venu des parens geneureur,
N'erapefche point qu'on ne foit malheureux.
Les beaux habits, les jeu, les ris, la danfe,
Ne laiflent d'eux que dueil et repentance ;
Et la beaut^, tant agreable aux yeux,
Se part de nous, quand nous deuenons vieux :
Boire et manger, et viure tout a 1'aife,
Reuient auffi a douleur et malaife :
Beaucoup d'amis, richefle, ny f9auoir,
De contenter, qui les a, n'ont pouuoir.2
Brief, tout le bien de cefte vie humaine,
Se garde peu, et Pacquiert k grand' peine :
Que nous fert done icy nous amufer
Aux vanitez, qui ne font qu'abufer ?
II fault cercher en bien plus haulte place
Le vray repos, le plaifir, et la grace,
Qui promife eft a ceux, qui de bon coeur
Retourneront a 1'vnique Sauueur ;
Car au ciel eft noftre aeternel partage,
Lk ordonn6 pour nous en heritage.
Mais qui pourra, 6 pere tres-humain,
Auoir ceft heur, fi tu n'y mets la main,
D'abandonner fon peche, et ofFenfe,
En ayant fait condigne penitence ?
2 This line, in the republication of the poem by David Home, in 1613, reads, " Den
contenter nos desirs n'ont pouuoir."
PART II. X X
546 MEDITATION FAITE PAR MARIE
Ou qui pourra ce monde defprifer,
Pour feul t'airaer, honorer, et prifer ?
Nul pour certain, fi ta douce clemence
Le preuenant, a tel bien ne 1'auance ;
Parquoy, Seigneur, et Pere fouuerain,
Regard^ moy de vifage ferain,
Dont regardas la femme pecherefle,
Qui k tes pieds pleuroit fes maux fans cefle ;
Dont regardas Pierre pareillement,
Qui ja t'auoit ni6 par jurement :
Et comme k eux, donne moy cefte grace,
Que ta mercy tous mes pechez efface.
En retirant de ce monde mon coeur,
Fay 1'afpirer k 1'Eternel bon heur.
Donnd, Seigneur, donnd moy patience,
Amour, et foy, et en toy efperance ;
L'humilit^, auec deuotion
De te feruir de pure affection :
Enuoyd moy ta diuine prudence,
Pour empefcher que pechfe ne m'offence.
Jamais de moy n'efloign^ verite",
Simple douceur, auecques cbarite ;
La chaftete, et la perfeuerance
Demeure en moy, auec obeiflance.
De tous erreurs, Seigneur, preferu^ moy,
Et tous les jours, Cbrift augment^ la foy
ROYNE D'ESCOSSE. 347
Que j'ay receu de ma mere 1'Eglife,
Ou j'ay recours pour mon lieu de franchife,
Centre pechd, ignorance, et orgueil,
Qui font aller au perdurable dueil.
Permets, Seigneur, qui toufjours mon bon Ange
Soit pres de moy, et t'offre ma loiiange,
Mes oraifons, mes larmes, et foufpirs,
Et de mon coeur tous [les] juftes defirs.
Ton fainct Efprit fur moy face demeure,
Tant que voudras qu'en ce monde je dure.
Et quand, Seigneur, ta clemence et bont£
M'ofter voudra de la captiuite',
Oil mon efprit refide" en cefte vie,
Pleine de maux, de tourmens, et d'enuie.
Me fouuenir donne" moy le pouuoir
De tes merces, et fiance y auoir,
Ayant au coeur ta paffion efcrite,
Que j'offriray au lieu de mon merite.
Donques, mon Dieu, ne ra'abandonne" point.
Et mefinement, en ceft extreme poinct,
A celle fin que tes voyes je tienne,
Et que vers toy a la fin je paruienne.
SA VERTV M'ATTIRE.
MARIE STVVARTE.
348 SONET PAR LA ROYNE D'ESCOSSE.
SONET.3
L'Ire de Dieu par le fang ne f'appaife
De boufs, ny boucs, efpandu fur 1'autel,
Ny par encens, ou Sacrifice tel,
Le Souuerain ne recpoit aucun aife.
Qui veult, Seigneur, faire oeuure qui te plaife,
II faut qu'il ayt fa foy en 1'Immortel,
Auec efpoir, charite" au raortel,
Et bien faifant que ton loz il ne taife.
L'oblation, qui t'eft feule agr£able,
C'eft vn efprit en oraifon conftant,
Humble et deuot, en vn corps chafte eftant.
O Tout-puiflant, fois raoy fi fauorable,
Que pour touf jours ces graces dans mon coeur
Puiflent refter a ta gloire et honneur.
VA, TV MERITERAS.
5 This sonnet, accompanied by a Latin version, (with the Anagram MARIA STEV-
ARTA, VERITAS ARMATA,) is contained in the publication by Bishop Lesley, de
scribed in a former note, and is not known ever to have been repnblished. It may be
mentioned, that the sonnet to her son the Prince, referred to at p. 341, has not been
discovered ; and has probably been mistaken for the sonnet (printed in Seward's
Anecdotes,) said to have been written by her in Fotheringay Castle, the original of
which, in the Queen's own handwriting, is preserved in the State Paper Office, as
ascertained in the researches of ROBERT LEMON, ESQ. This sonnet is not men
tioned by Mr Laing. The first line should read,
Que suis je, helas, et de quoi sert ma vie.
LETTERS
OF
JOHN, EARL OF GOWBYE.
M.D.XCV.
[ 351 ]
LETTERS OF JOHN, EARL OF GOWRYE.1
PLEASE 3our Majefte, Gif the beftouing of great benefites fould
moue the receauers theroff to be thankfull to the giueris, I haue
mony and extraordinar occafionis to be thankfull to 3our Majefte ;
not only being fauored with the benefite of 3our Majefteis gude
countenance at all tymes, bot alfo that it hath pleafit 3our Majefte
to accept fo weill of me as to honour me with 3our Majefteis moft
louing letter, as with ane certane figne and viue teftimonie of 3our
Majefteis gude fauour and gracioufnes touartis me, wheroff I efteme
fo much, that I wald think my felff very hapie if it fould pleafe 3our
Majefte to comand me in any thing, that thereby 3our Majefte
might haue ane tryall of my prompt and fathfull obedience ; for
3our Majefteis worthines and valor, attour the particular courtefis
fchauin to me, merits whatfomeuer I am able to do, and ane hun-
1 These letters of John Earl of Gowrye, are the only remains known to be extant
of that noble and unfortunate youth, who was involved in a fate which still remains a
controverted point in Scottish history. The original of the above letter to King James
VI. was presented to the College of Edinburgh, by Drummond of Hawthornden, in
1626, but it has unfortunately been either mislaid or lost, (with other autograph letters
in the same collection,) subsequent to the year 1757, about which time it had been
transcribed and printed by Sir David Dalrymple, in a little tract intended to serve as
a specimen of Collections relating to the Gowrye Conspiracy. The other letter is pre
served in a volume of original papers, collected by David Calderwood the historian,
who was a fellow-student, under Principal Rollok, with the Earl of Gowrye, at the Col
lege of Edinburgh, where they took the degree of Master of Arts, in 1594. At the time
of writing these letters, the Earl was in his 17th year, prosecuting his studies at Padua.
352 EARL OF GOWRYE'S LETTERS. 1595.
dreth thoufand tymes more. In end, I pray 3our Majefte to haue
me excufed that I haue taine the audacitie to wrett againe to 3our
Majefte, for not hauing the comfort of jour Majefteis prefence,
could not declare my willing mynd better then be vfing of the nixt
remede. In the meane tyme, I fall repofe my felff ftill on jour Ma
jefteis conftant fauor quhill God of his mercie grant that I fe 3our
Majefte in fuche ane gude eftate as I w'iflie, whilk will give me the
greteft contentment of all.
Sua crauing earneftly of that Creator of all thingis to blifs jour
Majefte with all felicitie and fatisfactione in health, with ane increas
of mony prolperous dayis, I kils moft deuotly jour Majefteis
hands.
Your Majefteis
Moft humble Subiect and
Obedient Seruitor in all deuotione,
GOWRYE.
Att Padua, the 24th of
November 1595.
i' sffa ro ovopct, rts 3-esf st$ aiuva.
BELOVED brother,2 hauing taken occasione to wret to Scotland,
wald nocht omitt my deutie to 30U, in vifiting 30U with this letter,
2 Mr John Malcolm, one of the Regents, and afterwards principal of St Leonard's
College, St Andrews, was ordained minister of Perth, 4th November 1591. He
was the author of a Latin Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, a work of consi
derable learning, printed at Middleburgh, 1615, 4to. He died at an advanced age, at
Perth, 3d October, 1634.
1595. EARL OF GOWRYE'S LETTERS. 353
that therby 30 myght vnderftand of my prefent estate, quhilk con
tinues as of before, praifing God from my hairt, that of the riche abun
dance of his gude grace and mere mercie hes maid the beames and
licht of his countenance, to fhine vpon me most fauorably ; to be ane
guide to conduct me saiflie per hunc Auernum, quherin mony here,
(quorum oculi den/a caligine et nebulis dbfufcati Junt,) 6 mtferum
fpectaculum ! are drouned in his iustice ; I meane nocht all, abfit ;
for I am acquainted with diuers heir, qui etiam inter has paludesfti-
gias, hes neuer boued ther kne to Baal : Quhat ane meruell is this ?
and quha can beleue it ? and jit it is certanly true ; glorificetur
igitur Deus in operibus fuis, ac eo magis quo funt mirabiliora et
Trendy, rw fvaa. There wes ane notable exemple of constancie not long
ago, in ane Silefian minifter of fome threfcore yeares and mair,
quha, efter he had beine deteined in prisone about nyne yeares, and
the Jefuites had trauailed with him to recant ; hot persaiffing that
thei could preuaile nothing at his handis caufed bring him to the fyre
lyke bludie dogges ; quhere, efter he had maid ane excellent dis-
cours and harang to the people, flaauing them the gret honour he
wes callit to in fuffering for Chriftes fake, and exhorting them to
conuersione, abode moft patiently, without ony Ihrinking all tor-
mentis, magnifeing Godis holy name, and praying that ther fumes
mycht be forgiuen them. Efter he wes brunt, not being 3it fatif-
fied of the crueltie that they had vlit againft him, quhen he wes
lining, did caft ane gret heap of ftones vpon his alhes, multo feeui-
ores quam erant Judei aduerfus Stephanum. There were vtheris,
quha for feare of death at that fame tyme, maid filthie apoftacie fra
the true Religione to that damnable idolatrie, and at that inftant
PART II. Y Y
354. EARL OF GOWRYE'S LETTERS. 1595.
that ane of them began e to deny Chrift, in making defectione, there
iffhued blude out of his. nofe in fuche gret abundance, that all did
fee him thocht he fould have dyed presentlie ; this wes ane vifi-
bill signe of the hand of God, that chopped on him quha had done
fuch ane villanie aganist his confcience for to purchafe his auin
lyffe, quhilk he wes not worthie to bruik, be the lofs of his soule.
Bot thir renegates not the les efcaped not their auin punifhment,
for they all were fend ad triremes, vbi non vnius horefpatio vitam
finituri, fed morientesf&jiper, nee tamen morientur. Laitlie, efter
thefe thingis, ane certane Ingliflie man being moiled on 3ele to caft
theryacra hoftia (as thai moft falflie callis it) out of the prieftis
handis, that wes careing it in proceflione, to the grund, and to
ftramp on it with his fete, wes apprehendit and denudit of his clothes,
therefter ane hude putt on his heade, quheron wes painted the
deuils image, and fome with bleafis, quha brunt him continually in
the backe and brest as he walked forduart ; bot he, in the meane
tyme wes occupiet in fchauing the people how thai were fchamful-
lie abused be thefe mifcent idolaters, quha were leading them to
their auin damnatione. In end, he fpake with fuche ane vehemen-
cie, that the enymies caufed knett his toung, fearing fome vprore to
enfeu if he had gottin ony forder libertie to fpeke ; so he wes brought
to the place of executione, quhere, lifting vp his eyes to heauen, and
on his knees kissing the chaine he wes bund with, they caufed first
cut of his hand for the fact he had committed, and nixt burne him
quicke. All thir thingis were done in Rome, that mother of all
vyce, and hooriflie fynagog of deuils. I am sory that my abfence
will not permitt me to kyth my mynd and gudwill in helping to
1595. EARL OF GOWRYE'S LETTERS. 355
fett furth Godis glorie there, cui totus ex animo incumberem, hot
quhen, at his gude pleasure I returne, sail with his grace, indeuore
ray selffto amend quhatsomeuer is omitted for laike of my presens.
I thank 3011 moft hartfully, of 3our rememberance of me in 3our
prayeris, desyring 3ou earneftlie to contineu according to the loue 36
cary to the saluatioune of my soule. Thus remembering my very
loving commendationis to 3our felff, with the haill nychtbouris of
the toune, Committis sou with them all to the protectione of the
Omnipotent.
At Padoua the 28 of Nouember 1595.
ahi-fvpK a
I dout nocht hot 36 haue hard long since of the Papes
benedictione given to the King of France, quhilk hes
turned to ane maledictione. No vther neuis occurris
heir for the prefent, hot nou againe laitly there is fome
Inglifhraen put in the hous of inquifitione in Rome.
356 EARL OF GOWRYE'S LETTERS. 1595.
(Endorsed.)
To MY BELOUED BROTHER,
M. JHONE MALCOME,
MINISTER AT PERTH.
[ 357
INDEX.
Abercorn, James Earl of, 289-
Alesius, Alexander, 182 note, — his De
scription of the City of Edinburgh in the
reign of James V., 185.
Alexander, Sir William of Menstrie, Earl
of Stirling, — the supposed author of
the version of the Psalms published un
der the name of King James, 228 note,
— Privilege of printing them granted to,
251 — History by, 298 note— Sonnet to,
by Sir R. Ayton, 306.
Angus, Archibald Earl of, 63.
Aflne, Queen, Poem addressed to, in 1604,
by Sir R. Ayton, 305.
Argylle, Colin Earl of, 62.
Arminius, Dr J., Professor at Leyden, 286.
Arran, James Earl of, 61, 330.
Athole, John Earl of, 58.-
Ayton, Sir Robert, — Poems by, and notice
respecting his life, 299-
B
Bu lean quell, Walter, one of the ministers
of Edinburgh, 288.
Balfour, Sir James, of Pittendreich 44.
Balliol, John, submission to Edward I.,
270, 277-
Bannatyne, Richard,—Extract from his
Journal, 34.
Barnbarroch, the Laird of, Letter to, from
Wm. Earl of Gowrye, 1582, 92 note.
Beaton, David, Cardinal — Invective against,
by Elder, 1542, 8 — Articles and Sentence
against Sir John Borthwick, 1540, 256.
Bede, Noel, 331.
Bellay, John du, Bishop of Paris, 332.
Beraud, Mons., 286 note.
Berwick, Siege of, in 1296, 272.
Bignon, Mons. du, Professor at Saumur,286.
Blackwood, Adam, 342.
Blair, Rev. Mr, Principal of the College of
L'Escar in Bearn, 289.
Bonjars, Mons. de, 286.
Borthwick, James Lord, 68.
Borthwick, Sir John, Notice respecting him,
253— Articles and sentence against, by
Cardinal Beaton, 1540, 256 — Declarator
in the Court of the Superintendant of
Fife, upon these Articles, 1561, 251.
Bothwell, Francis Earl of, 62.
Boyd, Alexander, Regent in the College of
Glasgow, 290.
Boyd, Anne, daughter of R. Boyd of Troch-
rig, 294.
Boyd, Robert Lord, 67-
Boyd, Rev. Robert, of Trochrig, Principal
of the College of Edinburgh, — Notices
respecting his life, 285, 296, — Extracts
from his Obituary, 1609-1625, 283,
358
INDEX.
Bruce, Robert, one of the ministers of Edin
burgh, — Narrative of his Troubles in
the year 1600, ]6l.
Buchan, James Earl of, 57-
Buchanan, George, 330.
Burghley, the Lord, — Letter to, from Wm.
Earl of Gowrye, 1582, 93 note. -
Calderwood, David, — Notices respecting,
205, 210, 351 note, — Prosecution of
the supposed printer of his Tract entitled
" Perth Assemblie," 1619, 199,— his
Reasons against the reception of King
James's version of the Psalms, 1631, 231.
Car, James, Minister of Calmonelle, 288.
Carmichael, John, Minister of Ely, 292.
Cary, Sir George, 85.
Casanove, Mons., Professor at Beam, 289.
Casaubon, Isaac, 287-
Cassils, John Earl of, 61.
Cathcart, Allan Lord, 67.
Cathcart, Robert, 288.
Cathkin, James, Bookseller in Edinburgh,
—Relation by him of his imprisonment
and examination before the Privy Coun
cil, 1619, 197-
Cathness, George Earl of, 56.
Chamier, Mons., Professor at Montauban,
290.
Colville, John, — Notes presented to Lord
Hunsdon, 1584, 83.
Come, Pierre de, 331.
Cowper, William, Minister of Perth, and
afterwards Bishop of Galloway, — Extract
from his sermon on the conversion of Zac-
cheus, August, 1600, 150.
Craig, Alexander, of Rosecraig, — Sonnet
to, by Sir Ro. Ayton, 307 — Poem by, ad
dressed to Ayton, and answer, 309, 310.
Craig, John, Collector of the College of
Glasgow, 296.
Craig, William, Professor at Saumur, 287-
Crawfurd, David Earl of, 58.
Cromwell, Thomas Lord, — Letter to, from
Florentius Volusenus, 331.
D
Darnley, Henry Lord, 5.
Diaphantus and Charidora, a poem, by Sir
R. Ayton, 312.
Diary of the Expedition of King Edward
I. into Scotland, 1296, 265.
Dickson, David, Minister of Irvine, 296.
Digby, Sir Kenelm, 298 note.
Doncaster, Viscount, see Hay.
Drummond, David, Lord, 65.
Drury, Sir William, Letter to the Earl of
Leicester, 1568,21.
Dunbar, John, 302.
Dunbar, William,^Extracts from his Sa
tire on Edinburgh, 182.
Dunhelm, Robert of, Monk of Kelso, Letter
to the prior and convent at Tynemouth,
1257, 219.
Dury, John, 288 note.
Durie, Robert, Minister at Leyden, 288.
Edinburgh, — Notices of its early state, and
Froissart's Account of, in 1385, 179 —
Extracts from Dunbar's Satire on, 182
— Description of, by Alexander Alesius,
in the reign of James V., 185.
Edward I., King of England, Diary of the
Expedition of, into Scotland, 1296, 265.
Edward VI., King of England, proposed
Marriage with the Princess Mary of Scot
land, 16.
Eglinton, Hugh Earl of, 60.
INDEX.
359
Elder, John, a Reddshanke, — Notices re
specting him, 4 — his Proposal for uniting
Scotland with England, addressed to
King Henry VIII., 7-
Elegy on Sir Robert Kerr, Earl of Rox-
burghe, by S. M., 194.
Elizabeth, Queen, — Overtures to King
James VI. in behalf of the House of
Gowrye, 106.
Elphingston, Robert Lord, 66.
Errol, Andrew Earl of, 58.
Fenelon, Sieur de la Mothe, — his Instruc
tions as Ambassador at the Scottish
Court, 1583, 73.
Fife, Superintendent of, see Wynram.
Fleming, James Lord, 66.
Forbes, John Lord, 64.
Four, Mons. De, 286.
Froissart's account of Edinburgh, in 1385,
180.
G
Galloway, Patrick, Minister cf Perth, — his
Apology when he fled to England, 1584,
107 — his Discourse at the Cross of Edin
burgh, 1600, 141 — his Application of the
xxx. Psalm, preached before King James
at Glasgow, August 1600, 153.
Garthland, Laird of, see M'Dowell.
Gedde, Mr, Professor at Saumur, 295.
Gerard, Peter, 332.
Glammis, John Lord, 64.
Glencairn, James Earl of, 60.
Gordon, James, Minister of Rothiemay, —
Notice respecting, 188 note — his View
of the Palace of Holyrood, 188.
Gowrye, William Earl of, Treasurer of
Scotland, 6l — his Letters in 1582 to the
Laird of Barnbarroch, 92 note, and to Lord
Burghley, 93 note — Manner and form of
his Examination and Death, May, 1584,
89 — his Declaration on the Scaffold, 103
— Queen Elizabeth's Request to the King
in behalf of the family of, 106.
Gowrye, John Earl of — his Letters in 1595
to King James VI., 351, and to Mr John
Malcolm, Minister of Perth, 352.
Gowrye Conspiracy, August, 1600 — Dis
courses delivered on the occasion of, by
Mr Patrick Galloway, 139, 153— by Mr
William Cowper, 150.
Gray, Patrick Lord, 64.
Gray, Patrick, Master of, — his Relation con
cerning the surprise of King James at
Stirling, 1585, 129-
H
Hairt, Dr William, Principal of the College
of Roehelle, 288.
Haliburton, James, Tutor of Pitcur, — his
Speech to the Regent Murray, 45, 49f.
Hall, Joseph, Bishop of Exeter and Nor
wich, 238, 243.
Hart, Andrew, Bookseller and Printer, in
Edinburgh, 291.
Hay, Sir James, Viscount Doncaster, Poem
to, by Sir R. Ayton, 308.
Hay, John, Town-Clerk of Edinburgh, 214.
Hay, William, of Barro, Commissary, and
Rector of the College of Glasgow, 290.
Henry VIII., King of England,— Proposal
addressed to, by John Elder, 1.
Henry III., King of France, — Instructions
to his Ambassador at the Court of Scot
land, 1583, 73.
Henry, Prince, Poem on his Death, by Sir
R. Ayton, 311.
He-or-Perauld, Mons., Minister and Pro
fessor at Montauban, 286.
360
INDEX.
Herpenius QErpenius]], 285.
Hereis, William Lord, 68.
Holyrood, old Palace of, — Notices and View
of, 188.
Home, David, 343 note.
Hume, Alexander Lord, 68.
Hunsdon, the Lord, — Notes presented to
by J. Colville, 83.
Huntley, George Earl of, 57.
Inglis, Esther, 297.
Innermeath, James Lord, 64.
James V., King of Scotland, 7-
James VI., King of Scotland, — Conference
with Sir F. Walsingham, September,
1583, 79 — Overtures of Queen Eliza
beth to, in behalf of the House of Gow-
rye, 106 — Relation concerning the sur
prise of, at Stirling, 1585, 133— Letter
to, from John Earl of Gowrye, 1595, 351
—Examination of the Ministers of Edin
burgh, 1600, 180 — Examination of James
Cathkin, 1619, 201— Metaphrase of the
Psalms by, Reasons against the reception
of, 227 — Translations of Psalms by, 2*6
— Sonnet to, by Sir R. Ayton,305 — No
tice of his death, 296.
K
Kelloe, Rev. Barth. 298 note.
Kennedy, James, 289-
Kennedy, Hugh, Provost of Ayr, 293.
Kerr, Sir Robert, of Cessford, first Earl of
Roxburghe,— Elegy on, and notice re
specting him, 189.
Kirkaldy, Sir William, of Grange, 40.
Knox, John, — his Speech to the Regent
Murray, 40, 48f.
La Mothe, see Fenelon.
Lange, Mons. de, 332.
Leicester, the Earl of, — Letter to from Sir
Wm. Drury, 1568,21.
Lennox, Esme Duke of, 55.
Leslie, John, Bishop of Ross,— Poem in
French sent to him by Mary Queen of
Scots, 1572, 341.
Lesley, Margaret, Lady Maderty, Sir Ro
bert Ayton's Sonnet on her death, 31).
Levingston, William Lord, 66.
Lindsay, Patrick Lord, 65, — his Speech to
the Regent Murray, 38, 47t«
Lindsay, Dr, afterwards Bishop of Brechin,
—his account of Perth Assembly, 212.
Lovat, Hugh Lord, 63.
M
M. S. Elegy by, on Robert Earl of Rox
burghe, see Kerr.
M'Dowell, John, Laird of Garthland, 286.
M'Gill, James, Clerk Register, — his Speech
to the Regent Murray, 49.
Maitland, Thomas, the supposed author of
a pretended Conference, &c. 1570, 35.
Malcolm Canmore, King, and his son Prince
Edward, — Account of the discovery of
their bodies, in 1257, 221.
Malcolm, John, Minister of Perth, — Letter
to, from John Earl of Gowrye, in 1595,
352.
March, Robert Earl of, 60.
Marishall, George Earl, 58.
Mary Queen of Scots, — Notices respecting
her Poems, 341 — French poem and son
net by, 1572, 343.
Melville, Andrew, 292.
Menteith, William CJohnU Earl of, 59-
Methven, Henry Lord, 65.
INDEX.
361
Montgomery, Alexander, 235, 237, 243.
Montrose, John Earl of, 59-
Mornay, see Plessis.
Morton, John Earl of, 62.
Murisoun, £Morison3 Doctor of Laws, 289-
Murray, James Earl of, Regent, — his Pro
gress through part of Scotland in 1568
with certain of his Nobility, 19 — his pre
tended Conference held with the Lord
Lindsay and others, 1570, 31, 50.
Murray, James £2d[] Earl of, 57.
N
Nobility of Scotland, — a brief Opinion of
their state and power in 1583, 51.
O
Ochiltree, Andrew Lord, 67.
Orkney, Robert Earl of, 56.
Ogilby, James Lord, 64.
Oliphant, Lawrence, Lord, 65.
Oliphant, the Master of, 99 note.
Perth Assembly, 1619 — Examination re
specting a tract on the Nullity of, 199-
Plessis Mornay, Mons. Du, 295.
Pollock, David, Minister of Glenluce, 290.
Pont, Robert, Minister of St Cuthbert's,
235, 238.
Primaudaye, the Sieur de la, 290.
Psalms, Metaphrase of the, by King James,
— Reasons against the reception of, by
the Church of Scotland, 1631, 227.
R
Ramsay, Mr, Regent in the College of Mon-
tauban, 293.
Reddshankes, or Rough-footed Scots, — ori
gin of the name as applied to the High
landers, 13.
PART II.
Regent of Scotland, see Murray, James
Earl of.
Renaudot, Mons., Principal of the College
of Saumur, 287-
Robertus de Dunelmo, see Dunhelm.
Rothes, Andrew Earl of, 59-
Roxburghe, Robert Earl of, see Kerr.
Ruthven, the Raid at, in 1582, 117.
S
Sadoleto, Cardinal, — Account of his inter
view with Florentius Volusenus, at Car-
pentras, in 1535, 327, 335 — his Letter
to Volusenus, 1546, 337-
Salton, Alexander Lord, 63.
Semple, Sir James, of Beltrees, 296.
Semple, Robert Lord, 67.
Seton, George Lord, 69.
Sinclair, Henry Lord, 66.
Somerville, Hugh Lord, 67-
Starkey, Dr John, Letter to, from Floren
tius Volusenus, 334.
Sternhold, Thomas, 239.
Steuard, James, Minister of Campsey,
292.
Stirling, William Earl of, see Alexander,
Sir William.
Stirling, — Relation concerning the surprise
of the King at, 1585, 129.
Sutherland, Alexander Earl of, 56.
Thomson, George, Minister at Chastaigno-
raye, 289.
Torphichen, James Lord, 69.
Tynemouth, Letter to the Prior and Con-
vent of, see Dunhelm.
U
Union of Scotland and England proposed,
in 1542, 7-
z z
362
INDEX.
Vignolle, MODS. De la, 288.
Volusenus, Florentius, — Notice respecting
• his life, 327 — his Letters to Lord Crom
well and Dr J. Starkey, 331 — Letter to
him from Cardinal Sadoleto, 337-
W
Walsingham, Sir Francis, Conference with
King James VI. 1583, 79-
Welsch, John, Minister of Ayr, &c., 291.
Welsch, Elizabeth, daughter of John Kiiox,
295.
Wilkie, Robert, Principal of St Leonard's
College, St Andrews, 286.
Williams, John, Bishop of Lincoln, 237-
Wishart of Pitarrow, Sir John, — his Speech
to the Regent Murray, 43. 49f.
Wodrow, Rev. Robert, — Extracts from
Boyd of Trochrig's Obituary, note re
specting, 298.
Wood of Tilliedavy, John, — his Speech to
the Regent Murray, 45. 50f .
Wynram, John, Superintendent of Fife, —
Declarator upon the Articles and Sen
tence of Cardinal Beaton against Sir John
Borthwick, 1561,251.
Yester, William, Lord, 68.
Young, Andrew, Regent in the College of
Edinburgh, 293.
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND CO.
rt
«annatsne Club.
RULES
OF
THE BANNATYNE CLUB.
I. THAT the Club shall consist of a limited number of
Members ; at no time to exceed THIRTY-ONE.
II. That a General Meeting shall be held annually on the
Fourth Tuesday of November ; and that the President shall
have power, when occasion requires, to call an Extraordinary
General Meeting, of which three weeks' notice shall be given
to the resident Members.
III. That every Anniversary Meeting shall appoint a Com
mittee of Management, consisting of Six Members, under whose
direction the affairs of the Club shall be carried on for the
following year ; and that this shall be an open Committee.
IV. That no election of Members shall take place, except
by ballot at the Annual General Meeting, of which a printed
notice shall be circulated on or before the first of November*
[ 4 ]
mentioning the names of the Candidates, and the Members by
whom they have been severally proposed.
V. That three black balls shall exclude any person proposed
for admission.
VI. That in the event of the applications for admission ex
ceeding the number of vacancies to be supplied, a previous bal
lot shall take place, to determine the rotation in which the
Candidates on the list shall be ballotted for. A majority of
votes to decide.
VII. That the Members be requested to transmit to the Se
cretary notices of ancient manuscripts, books, or tracts, con
nected with Scottish literature, to be entered into the ALBUM
of the Club, with the names of the Members recommending
them for publication ; and that from this Register the General
Meeting shall from time to time make a selection.
VIII. That the annual contribution of each Member of the
Club to the General Fund shall be fixed at the Anniversary
Meeting ; and shall be paid before the first day of March.
IX. That the sum so collected be under the control of the
Committee of Management, in defraying the expenses of the
Works to be printed, under the authority of the Club.
X. That the impression of such Works shall never exceed
Eighty-four copies, of which number each Member of the
Club shall be entitled to receive two copies, free of all charge
or expense, that he may be enabled to present one to any of
his friends. The remaining copies to be at the disposal of the
Club, in order to be presented to such Libraries as shall be
named at the General Meeting.
XI. That when Works intended to be printed, are of such
importance or magnitude as to render it inexpedient to confine
their circulation within the Club, it shall be optional to have
an extra impression thrown off, on a paper differing in size or
quality from that which is made use of for the copies intended
for the Members ; and that these additional copies shall be
disposed of in such a manner as shall be determined on at the
General Meeting. In such instances, it is resolved, that the
copies printed exclusively for the Club, shall be limited to
Forty-eight ; and that each Member shall receive one copy for
his own collection.
XII. That if any Member of the Club shall voluntarily un
dertake to have printed, at his own expense, particular Works
or Tracts relative to Scottish affairs, for distribution among
the Members, and his friends, he shall be furnished with the
paper made for their regular publications, and with the use of
their device, to serve as a distinguishing mark of the destina
tion of such Tracts or Works ; it being understood that each
Member of the Club shall receive one copy of every Work or
Tract so printed. And, in order to preserve uniformity in the
style of execution, as well as in size, it is farther expected, that
[ 6 ]
the rules laid down for the publications of the Club, shall be
conformed to.
XIII. That unless in such special exceptions as are referred
to in the Xlth Rule, copies of no Work printed under the sanc
tion of the Club, shall, on any account whatsoever, be offered
to sale.
THE MEMBEKS OF
THE BANNATYNE CLUB,
FEBRUARY MDCCCXXIII.
SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART. PRESIDENT.
THOMAS THOMSON, ESQ. VICE-PRESIDENT.
THOMAS KINNEAR, ESQ. TREASURER.
DAVID LAING, ESQ. SECRETARY.
JAMES BALLANTYNE, ESQ.
ROBERT BELL, ESQ.
HONOURABLE JOHN CLERK, LORD ELDIN.
HENRY COCKBURN, ESQ.
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE, ESQ.
DAVID CONSTABLE, ESQ.
ROBERT DUNDAS, ESQ.
ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ.
HENRY JARDINE, ESQ.
REVEREND DOCTOR JOHN LEE.
JAMES MAIDMENT, ESQ.
GILBERT LAING MEASON, ESQ.
JOHN ARCHIBALD MURRAY, ESQ.
ROBERT PITCAIRN, ESQ.
JAMES SKENE, ESQ.
GEORGE SMYTHE, ESQ.
PATRICK FRASER TYTLER, ESQ.
MEMBERS ADMITTED 27TH FEBRUARY, 1823.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM ADAM, LORD CHIEF COM
MISSIONER OF THE JURY COURT,
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR SAMUEL SHEPHERD, LORD CHIEF
BARON OF SCOTLAND,
SIR WILLIAM MACLEOD BANNATYNE,
SIR WILLIAM ARBUTHNOT, BART.
MEMBERS ADMITTED 25ra NOVEMBER, 1823.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF MINTO,
GEORGE CHALMERS, ESQ.
WILLIAM BLAIR, ESQ.
JAMES T. GIBSON CRAIG, ESQ.
ANDREW SKENE, ESQ.
THOMAS MAITLAND, ESQ.
Extracted from the Minutes of the Club.
DAVID LAING, Secretary.
Edinburgh, December, 1821.
of
Club.
RULES
OF
THE BANNATYNE CLUB.
DECEMBER, M.DCCC.XXVII.
I. THE Club shall consist of a limited number of Mem
bers ; at no time to exceed ONE HUNDRED.
II. The objects of the Club shall be the printing and publi
cation of Works illustrative of the History, Literature, and
Antiquities of Scotland.
III. A General Meeting shall be held annually on the First
Monday of December for the election of Office-bearers, and
other matters ; and the President shall have power to call Ex
traordinary General Meetings, upon three weeks' notice given
to the resident Members.
IV. The ordinary affairs of the Club shall be conducted
under the direction of a Committee of Management, consisting
of the Office-bearers, viz. the President, Vice-President, Trea
surer, and Secretary, and of Six Members, two of whom shall
[ 4 ]
go out annually by rotation ; and this shall be an open Com
mittee.
V. No election of Members shall take place, except at an
Extraordinary General Meeting, called expressly for that pur
pose, by a Resolution of the Club at their Annual General
Meeting ; — and fourteen days previous to the day of election, the
Secretary shall transmit to each Member a List of the Candi
dates, with the names of the Members by whom they have been
respectively proposed.
VI. The election of Members shall be made by sealed Lists
or ballots, each bearing on the envelope the signature of the
Member by whom it is given : and two-thirds of the whole
number of votes so given, shall be requisite to the admission
of a Candidate. This Rule to continue in observance at least
until the limited number has been once completed.
VII. The annual contribution of each Member to the Ge
neral Fund shall be Five Guineas ; and the payment of this
contribution shall be made to the Treasurer on the first day of
February in each year.
VIII. The sum so collected shall be under the control of the
Committee of Management, for the purpose of defraying the
expense of Works printed under the authority of the Club.
IX. The Works to be published for the Club shall be deter
mined on by the Committee, who shall also regulate the num-
[ 5 ]
her of copies to be printed. Each Member of the Club shall
receive one copy of every such Work, free of all charge : The
remaining copies to be at the disposal of the Club, as donations
to such Libraries, and private individuals, as shall be approved
of by the Committee.
X. When Works intended to be printed, are of such import
ance or magnitude as to render it expedient to extend their
circulation beyond the Club, it shall be in the discretion of
the Committee to direct an extra impression to be thrown off,
for Sale, on a paper differing in size or quality from the Mem
bers' copies.
XI. If any Member of the Club shall undertake to have
printed, at his own expense, particular Works or Tracts re
lative to Scottish affairs, the printer shall be furnished with
the necessary supply of paper made for the Publications of the
Club ; it being understood that each Member shall receive one
copy of every Work or Tract so printed.
XII. A copy of every Work printed for the Club, whether
out of the general Fund, or at the expense of individual
Members, shall be retained by the Secretary for the Collection
or Library attached to the Club.
THE BANNATYNE CLUB.
MEMBERS ADMITTED BOTH JANUARY, 1836.*
HONOURABLE GEORGE CRANSTOUN, LORD COREHOUSE,
JOHN FULLERTON, ESQ.
E. W. A. DRUMMOND HAY, ESQ.
FRANCIS JEFFREY, ESQ.
JAMES KEAY, ESQ.
JAMES MACKENZIE, ESQ.
SIR JAMES MONCREIFF, BART. DEAN OF FACULTY,
WILLIAM MURRAY, ESQ.
JOHN RICHARDSON, ESQ.
ALEXANDER THOMSON, ESQ.
MEMBERS ADMITTED 5-ra JUNE, 1826.
WILLIAM CLERK, ESQ.
THE COUNT DE FLAHAULT,
DAVID IRVING, LL. D.
HONOURABLE J. H. MACKENZIE, LORD MACKENZIE,
WILLIAM HENRY MILLER, ESQ.
MACVEY NAPIER, ESQ.
* The following List contains the Names of the Members who have been admitted sub-
sequently to November 1823, in pursuance of Resolutions relating to the extension of the
Club.
ANDREW RUTHERFURD, ESQ.
W. C. TREVELYAN, ESQ.
MEMBERS ADMITTED IOTH JULY, 1826.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD BELHAVEN,
GEORGE JOSEPH BELL, ESQ.
WILLIAM BELL, ESQ.
JAMES CAMPBELL, ESQ.
WILLIAM GIBSON CRAIG, ESQ.
SIR JAMES R. G. GRAHAM, BART.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD GRAY,
JAMES MAITLAND HOG, ESQ.
JOHN HOPE, ESQ. SOLICITOR-GENERAL OF SCOTLAND,
JAMES IVORY, ESQ.
JOHN GARDINER KINNEAR, ESQ.
JOHN SPOTTISWOODE, ESQ.
MEMBERS ADMITTED 31sr JANUARY, 1827.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF ABERDEEN,
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD BINNING,
JOHN BORTHWICK, ESQ.
GEORGE BRODIE, ESQ.
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRY,
JOHN CALEY, ESQ.
HENRY ELLIS, ESQ.
ROBERT FERGUSON, ESQ.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR RONALD FERGUSON,
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD GLENORCHY,
THE REVEREND JOHN JAMIESON, D. D.
ROBERT JAMESON, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF KINNOULL,
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE,
THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN,
FRANCIS PALGRAVE, ESQ.
HENRY PETRIE, ESQ.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF R03SLYN,
MAJOR-GENERAL STRATON.
MEMBERS ADMITTED 9i<H FEBRUARY, 1828.
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF HAMILTON AND BRANDON,
THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUESS OF STAFFORD,
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD VISCOUNT MELVILLE,
BRUDENELL J. BRUCE, ESQ.
ANDREW COVENTRY, ESQ.
WILLIAM GOTT, ESQ.
COLIN MACKENZIE, ESQ.
SIR JOHN ARCHIBALD STEWART, BART.
THE HONOURABLE CHARLES FRANCIS STUART.
Extracted from the Minutes of the Club.
DAVID LAING, Secretary.
Edinburgh, February 18, 1828.
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