Volume I Part 52 (1/2)
[554] Cramond, a village on the south side of the Frith of Forth, five or six miles higher up than Leith.
[555] In October 1547, a messenger was directed ”to charge the maister capitane, quarter maisterris, and skippares of the schip callit the Schallop, chargeing thame to prepair and mak hir reddye for the recovering of Sanct Colmys Inche.”--(Treasurer's Accounts.) St. Colme's Inch is a small island in the Frith of Forth, within two miles of the sh.o.r.e from Aberdour. There are still some remains of fortifications of a recent date. The island of Inch-Colme is chiefly remarkable for the ruins of an Abbey founded by King Alexander the First, about the year 1123, and dedicated to St. Columba. The inmates were Canon-Regulars of St. Augustine.
[556] Although the name is apparently ”De Arfe” in the MS., it might be read ”De Aese.” But the name ”De Arfe” is found in Vautr. edit., and in MSS. A, E, I, and W. MS. L 2, has ”De Anfe.” In the MS. as originally written it stood, ”That wynter remaned _Monsieur de Termes_ in Scotland,” &c. This name was afterwards deleted, and that of ”De Arfe”
interlined; and it so appears in the copies above specified. But in MS.
G, the original words are retained, thus indicating that the intermediate MS. from which MS. G was transcribed, may have been made previously to the correction of the name.--On the 12th June 1548, 4.
10s. was paid by the Treasurer ”to Alexander Ross, pursevante, to attend upoun Monsieur Da.r.s.e and the Frenche bande.” The name, however, should be _Mons. de Desse_, who continued in command of the French troops in Scotland, during 1548. Mons. de Termes arrived at Dumbarton with reinforcements, early in 1549, when Desse returned to France.--(Beaugue, Histoire, fol. 107, 119.)
[557] In Vautr. edit. ”scarcenesse.”
[558] Niddry's Wynd, is now called Niddry Street, its former character of a wynd or close having been changed, when the houses at the top of it were removed in 1785, and the street called South Bridge was built, which connects the Old Town of Edinburgh with the Southern districts.
[559] The Nether bow Port or gate was a large building, with houses on each side, dividing or forming a barrier between the High Street of Edinburgh, and the street in continuation still known as the Canongate, where the French troops were quartered during the Winter 1548-9. The building alluded to was removed as an obstruction to the street, in the year 1764.
[560] In MS. G, and Vautr. edit., ”violentlie repulsit him.”
[561] James Hamilton, Laird of Stenhouse, already alluded to at page 124, was Provost of the City as well as Captain of the Castle. Bishop Lesley says the occurrence which led to his death, took place early in October 1548. It must have been on or before the first of that month, as Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar was on that day appointed Captain of the Castle of Edinburgh, with the salary of 533, 6s. 8d.--(Treasurer's Accounts.)
[562] James Hamilton was his father's deputy as Captain of the Castle; and was also Director of the Chancery.
[563] In MS. G, ”Mr. Walter Stewart.”
[564] The town of Haddington was strongly garrisoned by Lord Grey of Wilton and the English forces, in April 1548; and was soon after besieged by the French auxiliaries, and likewise in the following year, but on both occasions without success. The Friar Kirk belonged to the Franciscan or Gray Friars; the choir of which, from its beautiful structure, was called _Lucerna Laudoniae_, (the Lamp of Lothian.) Notwithstanding all the changes this church has undergone in the course of five or six centuries, it still exhibits the outlines of an imposing building, about 210 feet long, surmounted by a handsome square tower. No traces are now preserved of St. Catherine's Chapel.
[565] According to Beaugue, this was a French soldier ”corrupted by the enemy,” who had served them as a spy.
[566] In other copies, ”aneughe,”--”enough.”
[567] See note 524.--Bishop Lesley says, the Castle, which had been left in charge of Sir Edward Dudley, was recovered on St. Stephen's night, (26th December,) 1548.--(Hist. pp. 201, 222.)
[568] The Laird of Raith was Sir John Melville, Knight. Charters of the lands of Murdocairney, in Fife, were granted to him and his wife Helen Napier, in 1536 and 1542. James the Fifth, who conferred on him the honour of knighthood, appointed him Captain of the Castle of Dunbar. He was accused of heresy by Cardinal Beaton; but was not convicted. It may have been in reference to this charge that he obtained from the King a remission ”for all crimes, excepting treason,” which he may have committed prior to the 15th August 1538.--(Pitcairn's Crim. Trials, vol.
i. p. 250*.) Subsequently being in favour of the English alliance, when all correspondence with England had been interdicted, an intercepted letter, addressed by Sir John Melville to his son, was laid hold of, and formed the ground of accusation for treason. On the 3d December 1548, writings were sent from Edinburgh ”to all the lairdis and gentilmen of Fyfe to be heir Dec. 5^to. upoun the Laird of Rathis a.s.sise;” and on that day, the Treasurer paid 34s. ”to Adame M'Cullo, pursewant, send agane to Fyfe to summond ane a.s.siss to the Laird of Raith; and to execute summoundis of tressoun upoun the Laird of Petmille, and Maister Henry Balnavis, to the xxj day of Februar [1548-9.]” He was accordingly tried and executed in 1548-9, and his forfeited estates were bestowed on David Hamilton, youngest son of the Governor.--(Buchan. Hist. lib. xv.
c. 65.) The forfeited estates, however, were restored by Queen Mary to his eldest son John Melville, by a special gift dated 12th Feb.
1562-3.--(Criminal Trials, vol. i. p. 341*.) He survived till the 13th July 1583.
[569] In Vautr. edit. ”prankes.”
[570] Ninian c.o.c.kburn, called Captain Ringan. In Vautr. edit.
”Reingzein,” and ”Rengzeane,” being a common or vulgar p.r.o.nunciation of the name Ninian.
[571] In order not to crowd the pages unnecessarily, some further particulars respecting Norman Lesley are reserved for the Appendix, No.
XI.
[572] Monypenny of Pitmilly, in the parish of Kingsbarns, in Fife, is a family of old standing. The mother of Cardinal Beaton was Isabell Monypenny of Pitmilly. David Monypenny, heir apparent of Petmillie, had a charter under the Great Seal, dated 30th March 1549. It is noticed at note 568, that summons of treason upon the Laird of Petmille, to the 21st February 1548-9, had been served on the 5th December 1548. But one of his daughters, as well as the ”Laird,” was implicated in countenancing the conspirators. On the last of November 1546, ”a messinger was sent with ane letter direct to summound Jonet Monypenie, douchtor to the Laird of Petmylle, for hir remanyng in the Castell of Sanctandrois, and intercommonyng and a.s.sistance gevin be hir to Normound Leslie and his complices, slaares of my Lord Cardinall.”--(Treasurer's Accounts.)
[573] Sherisburg, is evidently Cherburg or Cherbourg, a well known sea-port in France, in Lower Normandy, (near Cape La Hogue.)
[574] Henry Balnaves of Halhill raised himself to distinction by his talents and application. After pursuing his studies abroad for several years, he returned to Scotland, and was admitted an Advocate in November 1537. In July 1538, he was appointed a Lord of Session; and survived till the year 1570. A more minute account of his history will be given in Vol. III., in connexion with extracts from the Treatise mentioned in the following note, to which Knox prefixed an Epistle, in the year 1548.