Volume II Part 16 (2/2)
Alexander Anderson Princ.i.p.al of the College, Professor of Theologie, and sindrie utheris.” He adds, that after ”very sharpe and hard disputations,” with Knox, Willock, and Goodman, ”nothing was concludit, for everie ane of thame remanit constant in thair awin professione.” (Hist. p. 293.)
[305] That is, ”Holy Trinity, accept this oblation, which I, an unworthy sinner, present to thee the living and true G.o.d for my own sins, and for the sins of the whole Church of the quick and the dead,”
&c.
[306] A short notice of Lesley, Bishop of Ross, will be given in the Appendix, under the head of Abbots of Lundores. But here it may be mentioned, that the words in the margin, ”AND AFTER WAS MADE BYSCHOPE OF ROSS,” are written in a different hand, (most likely by Knox himself,) and clearly posterior to the rest of the page. By attending therefore to the dates of Lesley's successive appointments, this serves to fix the period when this portion of the History was written to the earlier part of the year 1566.
[Sidenote: THE LYEING DEANE OF RESTALRIG CALLED SYNCLARE.][307]
[307] This marginal note occurs in no other copy; and the words ”now to affirme,” were evidently written during Sinclair's life; and along with the similar mention of the Dean of Restalrig, in the Author's emphatic terms, ”as a perfect hypocrite,” (vol. i. p. 265,) it corroborates the supposition that the greater portion of this MS. must have been written in the year 1566. It will be seen from the footnotes on the pa.s.sage referred to, that Mr. John Sinclair, Dean of Restalrig, was promoted to the See of Brechin in 1563, and became President of the Court of Session, 13th November 1565. He died at Edinburgh, 9th April 1566.
Thus much we thocht good to insert here, becaus that some Papistis ar nott eschamed now to affirme, That thei with thair rea.s.sonis could never be hearde; but that all that we did, we did by fyn force; when that the haill Realme knawis, that we ever requyred thame to speak thair judgmentis freelie, not onlie promissing unto thame protectioun and defense, but also that we should subscrive with thame, yf thei by G.o.ddis Scriptures could confute us, and by the same word establisse thair a.s.sertionis. ”But who can correct the leasingis of such as in all thingis schaw thame selves the sones of the Father of all lyes.
Preserve us, Lord, from that perverst and malitious generatioun.
AMEN.”
AT this same a.s.semblie was the Lord James appoynted to go to France to the Quene oure Soverane;[308] and a Parliament was appointed to begyn the twenty of Maij nixt following; for at that tyme was the returne of the said Lord James looked for. And so was that Conventioun dissolved without any other thing of importance concluded. The said Lord James prepared him for his jornay; (for albeit he past in the publict effairis, he susteaned the charge of his awin expensses; and yit thair never past fra this Realme in the c.u.mpanye of one man so many, and so honest, throwght England to France.) Befoir he departed, he was foirwarned asweill of the danger in France, as of the Quenis craft, (not that we then suspected her nature, but that we understoode the malice of hir freindis:) he was planelie premonisshed, that yf ever he condiscended that sche should have Messe publictlie or privatlie within the Realme of Scotland, that then betrayed he the caus of G.o.d, and exponed the religioun evin to the uttermoist danger that he could do. That sche should have Messe publictlie, he affirmed that he should never consent: but to have it secreatlie in hir chalmer, who could stopp hir? The danger was schawin; and so he departed.
[308] Lord James Stewart was appointed to repair to Queen Mary, by the Convention, 15th January 1560-1. Chalmers is undoubtedly correct when he says, he had no authority, to persuade the Queen to return to Scotland. (Life of Queen Mary, vol. iii. p. 141.) But Lord James, as we are informed by Randolph, was in no hurry to depart ”till he see what will be done at the ensuing Parliament.” (Ib.) In a letter to Cecil, 7th February 1560-1, he desires a pa.s.sport, ”being ordered by the n.o.bility and Council, to our Sovereign, for declaration of our duty and devotion to her Highness.” (Ib.) He left Edinburgh, on his way to France, 18th March, pa.s.sing through England, where he was well entertained, and reached the town of Diziers, where Queen Mary was residing, on the 15th April 1561. (Bishop Lesley's History, p. 294.)
The Electioun of the Superintendentis heirefter followed in this maner:[309]--
[309] In the MS. 1566, of Knox's History, several blank pages occur after these words; but the deficiency, consisting of the ”Forme and Order of the Election of Superintendents,” &c., (ending at page 150 of the present volume,) has been supplied from the Glasgow MS., collated with a copy annexed to ”The Ordour of Excommunication,” &c., subjoined to an edition of the Psalms and Prayers, printed at Edinburgh, by Robert Charteris, 1596. It is also included in the ”Collection of Confessions of Faith,” &c., vol. ii. p. 625, Edinb. 1722. The Editor says, he has printed it according to an edition by Robert Lekprevik 1569; and that ”it differs little from the ordinary copies that are printed with the old Psalms, but in the manner of spelling of words.”
The Editor of the Collection of Confessions, thus mentions the Order of Election of Elders and Deacons: ”It is uncertain when this was written; but it is in the Ma.n.u.script copy of Knox's History, which is in the College Library of Glasgow, and is printed at Edinburgh, with other publick papers, by Robert Lekprevik, Anno 1569, according to which this edition is printed. It is approved by the General a.s.sembly, April 1582, Sess. 12, in these words,--'Concerning ane General Ordor of Admission to the Office of Eldaris, referris it to the Ordor usit at Edinburgh, quhilk we approve.'”
The Admonition or prayer at the end, (see page 154,) in its reference to the King and Regent, apparently fixes the date to the year 1568.
THE FORME AND ORDOUR OF THE ELECTIOUN OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS, QUHILK MAY SERVE ALSO IN ELECTIOUN OF ALL UTHER MINISTERS. AT EDINBURGHE THE 9TH OF MERCHE 1560[310] YEIRIS, JOHNE KNOX BEING MINISTER.[311]
[310] That is, 9th March 1560-1.
[311] In some copies, ”Moderator.”
FIRST was made a Sermone, in the quhilk thir Heids war intreated.
First, The necessity of Ministers and Superintendents. 2. The crymes and vyces that micht unable thame [of the ministrie]. 3. The vertues required in thame. And last, Quhidder sick as by publict consent of the Kyrk wer callit to sick Office, micht refuis the same.
The Sermone finisched, it was declared be the same Minister, (maker thareof,) that the Lords of Secrete Councell had given charge and power to the Kirkis of Lauthiane, to chuse MR. JOHNE SPOTTISWODE[312]
Superintendent; and that sufficient warning was made be publict edict to the Kirks of Edinburghe, Linlythgow, Striveling, Tranent, Hadingtoun, and Dunbar; as also to Earles, Lords, Barones, Gentilmen, and uthers, having, or quho micht clame to have voite in Electioun, to be present that day, at that same hour; And, tharefore, inquisitioun was made, Quho wer present, and quho wer absent.
[312] Mr. John Spottiswood was born about the year 1510, and was educated at Glasgow. His name occurs in the University records, as incorporated in 1534, being designed ”Servus domini Rectoris.” In 1536 he had taken his degree as Master of Arts. He is said to have been in England from 1538 to 1543, and to have returned with the Earl of Glencairn. In 1548 he was presented to the Vicarage of Calder. Having early joined the Reformers, he was nominated as Superintendent of Lothian in July 1560, and was admitted, agreeably to the above form, 9th March 1561, without resigning his charge as minister of Calder.
(Wodrow Miscellany, vol. i. p. 367.) He may, with much more truth, be said to have ”continued in this holy function, with the approbation of all good men, till his death,” than to ”have exercised fully the power, and discharged faithfully the office of a Bishop, though under another style;” (Life prefixed to Spottiswood's History, Lond. 1655, folio.) The office of Superintendent was merely temporary; and he himself displayed no a.s.sumption of authority over his brethren in the ministry, nor aspired after Episcopal dignity. He died 5th December 1585. His eldest son, who became his successor as Minister of Calder, was ultimately Archbishop of St. Andrews, and Lord Chancellor of Scotland.
Efter was called the said Mr. Johne, quho answering; the Minister demanded, Gif ony man knew ony cryme or offence to the said Mr. Johne, that mycht unabill him to be called to that office? And this he demanded thryis. Secundlie, Questioun was moved to the haill mult.i.tude, If thair was ony uther quhome they wald put in Electioun with the said Mr. Johne. The pepill wer asked, If they wald have the said Mr. Johne Superintendent? If they wald honour and obey him as Christis Minister? and comfort and a.s.sist him in every thing perteining to his Charge? They Answerit.--We will; and we do promeis unto him sick obedience as bec.u.methe the scheip to give unto thair Pastour, sa lang as he remains faythfull in his office.
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