Volume II Part 45 (1/2)
[875] Easter Sunday, 11th April.
[876] Whitehorn or Candida Casa, was a Priory in Wigtons.h.i.+re, founded in the reign of David the First, by Fergas, Lord of Galloway. The Commendator here mentioned was Malcolm Fleming, supposed to be a younger son of John second Lord Fleming, who died in 1524. Dns.
Malcolmus Flemyng Vicarius chori Glasg., was incorporated in the University of Glasgow, 29th October 1519. He was Commendator and Vicar-General of the Diocese of Galloway, in December 1541. His name as Commendator occurs in February 1515-6, (Chalmers's Caledonia, vol.
iii. pp. 439, 419.) Also, in 1565, (ib. p. 432.) He died intestate in the year 1568. John Lord Fleming being ”decernit executor dative.”
(Register of Confirmed Testaments.)
[Sidenote: THE STOUTNES OF THE PROTESTANTIS IN THE WEST.][877]
[877] This marginal note is omitted in MS. G.
The brethren universallie offended, and espying that the Quene, by hir proclamationis, did but mock thame, determined to put to thair awin handis, and to punishe for example of otheris. And so some Preastis in the westland war apprehended, intimatioun maid unto otheris, (as unto the Abbot of Crossraguell,[878] the Parsone of Sanquhair,[879] and such,) that thei should nether complayne to Quene nor Counsall, but should execute the punishment that G.o.d has appointed to idolateris in his law, by such means as thei mycht, whairever thei should be apprehended.
[878] Quintin Kennedy, Abbot of Crossraguell in Ayrs.h.i.+re, (see _supra_, pp. 351, 352.)
[879] Mr. Robert Creichton was Parson of Sanquhar, in Dumfries-s.h.i.+re, and Canon of Glasgow, in 1549. He was educated at the College of Glasgow, being incorporated in 1521. He died 16th January 1570-1.
(Register of Confirmed Testaments.)
[Sidenote: JOHNE KNOX SEND FOR BY THE QUENE.]
The Quene stormed at sick fredome of speaking, but she could not amend it; for the Spreit of G.o.d, of boldness and of wisdom, had not then left the most part of such as G.o.d had used instrumentis in the begynyng. Thei war of one mynd to manteane the treuth of G.o.d, and to suppresse idolatrie. Particularties had not divided thame; and thairfoir could not the devill, working in the Quene and Papistis, do then what thei wold; and, thairfoir, she began to invent a new craft.
She send for Johne Knox to come unto hir, whair she lay at Lochleaven.[880] She travailled with him earnestlie two houris befoir hir suppar, that he wold be the instrument to perswaid the people, and princ.i.p.allie the gentilmen of the West, not to put handis to punishe any man for the using of thame selfis in thair religioun as pleased thame. The other perceaving hir craft, willed hir Grace to punishe malefactouris according to the lawis, and he durst promesse quietness upoun the part of all thame that professed the Lord Jesus within Scotland. But yf hir Majestie thought to delude the lawis, he said, he feared that some wold lett the Papistis understand, that without punishement, thei should not he suffered so manifestlie to offend G.o.ddis Majestie.
[880] This interview is supposed to have taken place on the 13th April 1563. On the 15th of that month the Queen removed from Lochlevin to Perth.
[Sidenote: REa.s.sONYNG BETWIX THE QUENE AND JOHNE KNOX.]
” Will ye,” quod sche, ”allow that thei shall tack my sweard in thair hand?”
”The Sweard of Justice,” quod he, ”Madam, is G.o.ddis, and is gevin to Princes and reuallaris for ane end, which, yf thei transgresse, spairing the wicked, and oppressing innocentis, thei that in the fear of G.o.d executis judgement, whair G.o.d hes commanded, offendis not G.o.d, althought Kingis do it not; neather yitt synne thei that brydillis kingis to stryek innocent men in thair raige. The examples ar evident; for Samuell feared not to slay Agag, the fat and delicate king of Amalech, whom king Saule had saved. Neather spaired Helias Jesabellis fals propheittis, and Baallis preastis, albeit that king Achab was present. Phyneas was no magistrat, and yit feared he not to stryek Cosby and Zimbrye in the verray act of fylthie fornicatioun. And so, Madam, your Grace may see that otheris then cheaf magistrattis may lauchfullie punishe, and hes punished, the vice and crymes that G.o.d commandis to be punished. And in this case I wold earnestlie pray your Majestie to tack good advis.e.m.e.nt, and that your Grace should lett the Papistis understand, that thair attemptatis will not be suffered unpunissed. For power, be Act of Parliament, is gevin to all judges within thair awin boundis, to searche mesmongaris, or the heareris of the same, and to punishe thame according to the law. And thairfoir it shalbe profitable to your Majestie, to considder what is the thing your Grace's subjectis lookis to receave of your Majestie, and what it is that ye aught to do unto thame by mutuall contract. Thei ar bound to obey you, and that not but in G.o.d. Ye ar bound to keape lawis unto thame. Ye crave of thame service: thei crave of you protectioun and defence against wicked doaris. Now, Madam, yf ye shall deny your dewtie unto thame, (which especialle craves that ye punishe malefactouris) think ye to receave full obedience of thame? I feare, Madam, ye shall not.”
Heirwith, she being somewhat offended, pa.s.sed to hir suppar. The said Johne Knox left hir, informed the Erle of Murray of the hoill rea.s.sonyng, and so departed of finall purpose to have returned to Edinburgh, without any farther communicatioun with the Quene: But befoir the sonne, upoun the morne, war two direct (Watt Melven was the one[881]) to him, commanding him not to departe whill that he s.p.a.ck the Quenis Majestie; which he did, and met hir at the halking[882]
be-weast Kynross. Whitther it was the nychttis sleape, or a deape dissimulation lokked in hir breast, that maid hir to forget hir formar anger, wyese men may doubt; but thairof sche never moved word, but began diverse other purposses; such as the offering of a ring to hir by the Lord Ruthven,[883] ”Whome,” said she, ”I can not love, (for I know him to use enchantment,) and yit is he maid one of my Privy Counsall.”
[881] In MS. G, ”war two directed, (Walter Melvill was the one.)”--Walter Melville, a younger son of Sir John Melville of Raith, was in the Queen Regent's service, and at the time of her death received 30. At this time he was in the Queen's service. He afterwards became one of the gentlemen of the Earl of Murray's chamber. His brother, Sir James Melville, in reference to him and Kirkaldy of Grange, says, ”Quhilk twa tint him sa schone (soon) as he became Regent, and lykwise my self; for we had bene famyliar with him, and had a.s.sisted him in all his troubles; but when he was Regent, wald reprove, admonish, and tell his faltis, wherby we tint his favour. And uthers that had ny bene in his contrair befoir, cam in and flatterit him in his proceedings, and bekkit wery laiche to him, calling him 'Your Grace,' at ilk word, &c.” (Memoirs, Bann. Club, edit. p. 260.)
[882] Hawking appears to have been a favourite pastime of the Queen.
In April 1562, Matthew Ker succeeded James Lindesay as ”Maister Falconar.” In the same month 20 was paid to two persons, ”pa.s.sand of Edinburgh to Scheitland for halkis.”
[883] Patrick Lord Ruthven. His grandson, John second Earl Gowrye, was also accused of dealing in magic.
”Whome blamis your Grace,” said the other, ”thairof?”
”Lethingtoun,” said she, ”was the haill cause.”
”That man is absent,” said he, ”for this present, Madam; and thairfoir I will speak nothing in that behalf.”