[962] The ballads to which Knox specially alludes are not known to be preserved. Various enactments and proclamations were made from time to time, prohibiting, in 1556, for instance, "the odeous ballates and rymes laitly sett furth be sume evill inclinit personis of your toun." (Maitland's Hist. of Edinb., p. 14.)

[963] In MS. 1566, "Bischope of."

[964] In MS. G, "Achermoutie." It will be seen from the previous note 3, that the lands of Auchtermuchty, in Fife, had been conferred on John Sempill and Mary Levingstone, his wife, in 1565. The Lordship of Abercorn was probably bestowed about the same time upon one of the courtiers. At a later period, at least, John Levingstone, one of the Master Stabularis, had a grant in feu-farm of the lands, &c., of Abercorn, 10th October 1587, of which he obtained a ratification by Parliament, 5th June 1592. (Acta Parl. Scot., vol. iii. p. 643.)

[965] In MS. 1566, "tyranitie."

[966] Or, in the year 1566.

[967] In MS. 1566, "regairdand" as one word.

[968] In MS. 1566, "to pronunce."

[969] See the proceedings of the General Assembly, (Book of the Universall Kirk, vol. i. p. 48.)

[970] In MS. 1566, "gentillman."

[971] In MS. 1566, these words appear in this unintelligible form, "ze had the coule of the waill, ye and the taill junit with all."

[972] In MS. 1566, "the collowre."

[973] In MS. 1566, "chyrrable."

[974] In MS. 1566, "mynnistrey."

[975] In MS. G, "Monsieur la Usurie." The person referred to was Jacques Lusgerie, who had been the Queen's physician while she resided in France. He is mentioned by her in a letter to Catharine de Medicis, 12th March 1565. In May 1571, the Queen requests Beaton to send her a physician from France, with the advice, or recommended by Lusgerie. (Labanoff, Lettres, &c., vol. i. p. 256; vol. vii. p. 305.)

[976] Before the Queen's second progress in the North, she had visited the West of Scotland, and returned from Inverary through Ayrshire to Dumfries. This journey lasted from the 29th June till the beginning of September 1563. After stopping a few days in Edinburgh, she proceeded to Perthshire and Stirling. But the journey to which Knox here alludes was in the following year. She rode from Edinburgh on the 22d of July 1564. She was at Perth on the 31st, when she went into the district of Athole "to the hunting." After crossing the mountains, and visiting some parts of Inverness-shire, and the Chanonry of Ross, she returned along the east coast, by Aberdeen and Dunottar, to Dundee and St. Andrews, reaching Holyrood on the 25th or 26th September, after an absence of upwards of two months.

[977] George fourth Earl of Caithness, who died 9th September 1582.

[978] In MS. 1566, "flattering."

[979] That is, by Knox himself.

[980] In MS. G, "that boastis."

[981] In MS. 1566, "wounde."

[982] In MS. M. there is added this remark, "But this threatening was accomplished in his owne person;" and the next paragraph is wholly omitted.

[983] At Edinburgh on the 25th June 1564.

[984] In MS. 1566, "aggreit."

[985] Here and a few lines above, in MS. 1566, of two marginal notes only some unintelligible letters remain unmutilated by the binder: but the notes occur in MS. G, as follows:—

"Lethingtounes countenance at the threatnings of the preichars."

"Let the Warld judge quhidder this has cummyn to pas or not, and quhat has fallin out sen that tyme."

[986] In MS. G, "began one Davie, ane Italiane." That is David Riccio: see article in the Appendix to this volume.

[987] The words "in France," are omitted in MS. 1566; and "effaires," is written "faires."

[988] The words enclosed within brackets, are supplied from MS. G. They occur in MS. L 4, but neither in L 3, or in MS. 1566. In place of this, on the margin of that MS. we find, as above, "This wes nevir done be this Author;" a remark, which was probably added after Knox's death by his Secretary, or the person who transcribed this portion of the MS.

[989] Walter Lundie or Lundin of Lundie, in Fife. The name of the "Laird of Lundie" occurs very frequently in the Book of the Kirk.

[990] The words within brackets are omitted in MS. 1566.

[991] According to Calderwood, on the 26th June 1564 "The Laird of Lundie, and the Superintendent of Lowthian, war appointed to request the Lords of Secreit Counsell to assist the Assemblie with thair presence and counsell." In like manner, at the next General Assembly, on the 25th December, "William Wallace of Carnell, and Andrew Ker of Fadownside, war sent to the Lords of Secreit Counsell, to requist thair Honours to assist the Assemblie with thair presence and counsell."

[992] See note 2, page 352. In the proceedings of the General Assembly, 30th December 1563, Mr. George Hay is styled "Minister of the Privie Counsell."

[993] In MS. G, "to separate."

[994] "Assemblie" is usually written "assemble;" but, as already remarked, the orthography in this portion of the MS. is very peculiar, and requires correction.

[995] In MS. G, "acknawlege."

[996] John Erskine of Dun, John Spottiswood, and John Wynrame.

[997] John Douglas.

[998] In MS. G, "concernit."

[999] In MS. G, this marginal note stands: "Lethingtonis harrange in the Assembly in 1584;" a mistake in the date only worthy of notice, as affording an indication of the time when the MS itself was transcribed.

[1000] In MS. G, "quia mens."

[1001] In MS. G, "ingender."

[1002] Sinclair had been appointed President of the Court of Session in 1559: see page 398, note 1.

[1003] In MS. 1566, "and praysit."

[1004] In MS. 1566, "lyke secreit."

[1005] That is, Paralipomena, a name given by the Alexandrian translators to the two Books of Chronicles, as things omitted or supplementary to the other historical records belonging to the Old Testament Canon. (Kitto's Biblical Cyclopedia.)

[1006] In MS. G, "iniquity."

[1007] In MS. 1566, "conversatioun."

[1008] Those words are omitted in MS. 1566.

[1009] In MS. G, "pronuncit."

[1010] In MS. G, "Helisias."

[1011] In MS. G, "tax the vices."

[1012] In MS. 1566, "quhairfoir."

[1013] In MS. 1566, "oppone" is usually written "appone."

[1014] In MS. G, "I remember yit our resouning quhen the Quene was in Carrick."

[1015] In MS. 1566, "because thai."

[1016] In MS. G, "micht resist."

[1017] The words inclosed within brackets are omitted in MS. 1566.

[1018] In MS. 1565, "Godis worde."

[1019] In MS. 1566, "appone."

[1020] In MS. G, "that I speik in favours of my self."

[1021] In MS. G, "yourselves."

[1022] In MS. G, "inhabitants."

[1023] In MS. 1566, "that to heip upone."

[1024] In MS. G, "or be sum uther kynd of his plagues."

[1025] Mr. Robert Maitland was Dean of Aberdeen, having succeeded Mr. Robert Erskine, about the year 1560. He was frequently a member of the General Assembly, and became one of the Commissaries of Edinburgh. He died at Brechin in August 1579. In his confirmed Testament, (recorded 19th August 1580.) mention is made of his brother-german, James Maitland, in Monlaittie: and in 1601, the name occurs (probably his nephew) of Mr. Robert Maitland of Monlatie. (Eccl. Records of Aberdeen, p. 177.)

[1026] In MS. 1566, "yea, the Buik of Baruce was nocht admitted, with his conclusioun."

[1027] In MS. G, there is this marginal note, which, we may suppose, was added by the transcriber: "Quhidder this hes cum to pas or not, let the Warld judge."

[1028] The conclusion of this sentence is corrected by MS. G. In MS. 1566, the words are here awkwardly transposed; and various others in this Disputation have either been omitted, or inaccurately transcribed.

[1029] In MS. G, "thair Kings."

[1030] See page 427, note 1.

[1031] In MS. 1566, "gottin."

[1032] In MS. 1566, "faltis."

[1033] In MS. 1566, "malankourelie;" in MS. L 3, "malancholik."

[1034] In MS. G, "it apperteneth not unto Uzzias."

[1035] In MSS. G, and L 3, "the leprosie was espyed."

[1036] In MS. G, "I am not."

[1037] Magdeburg, in the province of Saxony, is a town of ancient date, and of importance from its situation. It was involved in disputes with Austria, on account of the protection which it granted to Lutheranism. This drew upon it the ban of the Empire, followed by a siege in 1550, which endured for twelve months; but a treaty was concluded in 1551, without the Magdeburgers being betrayed into any mean submission to the Emperor. (See Robertson's Charles V., Book x.)

[1038] That is, "Men of no note."

[1039] That is, "Servants of God however."

[1040] At page 286 of the former volume, a brief notice of Douglas is given, in order to show that he must be distinguished from John Douglas, a Carmalite Friar, who, forsaking his order, became in 1558, Chaplain to the Earl of Argyle. As stated in the note referred to, Mr. John Douglas was elected Provost of St. Mary's College, St. Andrews, in 1547. He was also elected for a long series of years Rector of the University; and having embraced the Reformed opinions, he still continued his residence at St. Andrews, retaining his situation as Provost of the College. In 1571, when "an auld feeble man," by "compromise with the Earl of Morton, he was nominated to the See of St. Andrews: Knox having refused to inaugurate him, the ceremony was performed by Mr. John Wynrame. (M'Crie's Life of Knox.) According to his Confirmed Testament, 29th January 1574-5, "Johne Archbishop of Sanctandrois, &c. died in (blank) 1574;" and it shows that his nominal dignity had not enriched him. The Summa of his Inventar amounted only to £280, 4s. 4d., and this included "Item, his L[ordship's] liberall [library] of bukis, extending to ane hundreth pundis."

[1041] In MS. G, "that have professit."

[1042] Mr. John Wynrame. See note in vol. i. p. 150. As Sub-prior of St. Andrews, he sat as one of the Judges at the trials of Sir John Borthwick in 1540, of George Wishart in 1546, and of Walter Myln in 1550. In 1549, at the Provincial Council held at Edinburgh, he is styled "M. Johannes Wynrame Ecclesiæ Metrop. Primitialis S. Andreæ, Canonicus Regularis, et Supprior, Theologiæ Doctor." He survived till the year 1582, when he died at the advanced age of ninety.

[1043] In MSS. G, and L 4, "repressed."

[1044] Mr. John Craig was born in 1512, became a Dominican Friar, and narrowly escaped from a sentence of the Inquisition at Rome, which had condemned him to the flames as a heretic in 1559. He at length succeeded in reaching Scotland. He was minister of the Canongate for a short time, before he was appointed Knox's colleague. He was translated from Edinburgh to New Aberdeen before 1574; but was brought back as King's Minister in July 1580. He survived till the year 1600, and died at the advanced age of eighty-eight. (M'Crie's Life of Knox, vol. ii. p. 53-57; Wodrow Miscellany, vol. i. p. 455.)

[1045] The Latin name of Bologna.

[1046] So also in MS. L 3; but in MS. A i, the date is "1550;" in MSS. L 4, and M, "1553." MS. G, makes it "1562"—an obvious mistake, as Craig returned to Scotland in 1560, and is not known to have left it at any subsequent period.

[1047] In MS. 1566, "haif brocht."

[1048] In MS. 1566, "who continewing."

[1049] In MSS. 1566, and L 3, "nocht concluded."

[1050] In MS. 1566, "ressonit."

[1051] Some notices respecting Mackgill, who was appointed Clerk Register in 1554, are given at page 156. From the Treasurer's Accounts it appears his salary was only 20 merks, or £13, 6s. 8d.

[1052] William Maitland, usually styled Laird of Lethington, was the eldest son of Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, and was born probably between 1525 and 1530. He is said to have studied at St. Andrews, but his name does not occur in the Registers as having taken any degree. Chalmers has devoted much labour in tracing the career of this very able man, whose policy in changing his views from time to time proved equally unfortunate to himself and his country. (Life of Mary Queen of Scots, 2d edit. vol. iii. page 530 to 615.) At an early period of life Maitland took an active share in public affairs. Knox mentions him under the year 1555, (vol. i. p. 247;) and on more than one occasion calls him "the author of all the mischief" that had occurred. He first appears in the service of the Queen Regent; and in September 1555, the Treasurer paid "to William Maitland, be the Quenis Grace precept, for his pension of this instant zeir, £150." After the death of Bishop Panter, on the 4th December 1558, he was appointed Secretary of State. In October 1559, he joined the Lords of the Congregation; in August 1560, he acted as Speaker of Parliament; and in the following year he was raised to the bench. After various embassies to France and England, and after having an active share in all the intrigues and public affairs of the time, he died at Leith, as alluded to at page 363, note I, 9th June 1573. He was twice married. On the 10th November 1552, he had a charter of lands in Stirlingshire to himself and Janet Menteith his spouse: she was the daughter of Menteith of Kerse. He married, secondly, at Stirling, 6th January 1566-7, Mary Fleming, daughter of Malcolm third Lord Fleming. After his death she addressed a pathetic letter to Lord Burleigh, dated from Edinburgh, 21st June 1573, praying that her husband's body might "receive no shame or ignominy." The English General, on the 18th, had also written, that he had been pressed by the Earl of Athole and others, "that the body of Ledingtoun might be buried, and not remain above the ground as it does."—In 1584, Parliament passed an Act of "Pacification to Marie Flemyng, (relict of umquhill William Maitland younger of Lethingtoun, Secretare to our Soverane Lord) and his bairnis." (Acta Parl. Scot. vol. iii. p. 313.)

[1053] In MS. 1566, this short paragraph of three lines, is in a different hand and colour of ink, and bears a close resemblance to Knox's own writing.

[1054] So in the MS.; but evidently intended for fremmit, strange, foreign: in MS. G, "fremmed;" in MS. M, "freamed;" in MS. L 4, "frame;" in MS. A 1, "framed;" but MS. L 3, has "formed."

[1055] In the later MSS. there are several variations at the end of this book. In MSS. A 1, and L 3, an extract from his Sermon in 1565, is added with this title, "These words following are found written be John Knox, in the preface of a certain Treatise maid be him upon the xxvj. cap. Isayas." In MSS. M, and L 1, we read as follows: "In this Conference, (with Lethington,) ye may see a proofe of Mr. Knox his deep jugement and promptness in citing the passages of Scripture, besides his great zeal, courage, and sinceritie in the cause of God, without respect to flesh or blood." MS. L 4, adds, "Mr. Knox endeth the 4 Buik of his Storie, with this Conference." In MS. M, "Heere endeth the Fourth Booke of Mr. Knox his Historie of the Church of Scotland." On a separate leaf in MS. L 4, are four paragraphs which occur in Book Fifth, and are copied nearly verbatim in Calderwood's History, vol. ii. pp. 280, 284, 294, 295. The last paragraph breaks off in the middle of a sentence, and in the margin is added, "The rest of this section ye will find elsewhere, in the beginning of some writt scrollis."

[1056] The marginal notes in this Book are evidently added by the original editor, David Buchanan.

[1057] On the 25th or 26th September 1564: see note 4, page 420.

[1058] Matthew Stewart, fourth Earl of Lennox. He arrived at Edinburgh on the 23d September. A letter, addressed by Queen Mary to Queen Elizabeth, on the 28th of that month, mentions, that he had presented the letters of Elizabeth, at Holyrood-House, on the previous day. (Tytler's Hist., vol. vi. p. 297; Keith's Hist., vol. ii. p. 233.)

[1059] The proceedings of this Parliament are not preserved, and the day of meeting in variously stated. Some Acts passed on the 15th December are recorded. (Acta Parl. Scot. vol. ii. p. 545.) In an abstract of a letter from Randolph to Cecil, marked 3d December 1564, (an evident error in the date for the 23d,) we read, "Lennox restored by Parliament called only for that purpose. The Queen made an Oration in the Parliament, shewing the reason of restoring Lennox; and the rather, because it was at the request and suit of her sister of England." (Keith's Hist., vol. ii. p. 259.) On the 15th, Lennox's restoration was proclaimed with great solemnity at the Cross of Edinburgh.

[1060] In Buchanan's republication of Knox's History, at Edinburgh, 1644, this and the next paragraph are transposed to the end of Book Fourth, with two additional paragraphs, for the purpose evidently of bringing the History down to the close of the year 1564. The first of these, as follows, occurs nearly verbatim in Calderwood's History, vol. ii. p. 280: see also the Book of the Kirk, vol. i. p. 47.—

"Articles And Petitions.

"It was thought good by the Church Assembly immediately preceding [viz. in June 1564,] and conforme to the Acts made before the Queen's arrivall, and approven since, that Christ's true Religion bee de novo, established, ratified, and approven throughout the whole Realme; And that all Idolatry, especially the Masse, he abolished every where, so that no other face of Religion be suffered to be erected within this Realme. And for this effect, that the Ministrie be sufficiently provided with maintenance, and sure appointment where they shall take up thair stipends. In like manner, to desire that the transgressors of the said Laws bee punished, specially in Aberdeen, the Karse of Gowry, Seyfield, and other places which shall be specified. These Articles were appointed to bee presented to the Lords of the Secret Councel. The Earls of Murray, Argyle, Glencairne, and the Secretary being present, and sent by the Queene to observe what things were propounded in the Assembly, thought not good that the Articles should be propounded after this manner, but drew out two heads; First, they would declare the good mind and obedience of the Assembly; Next, they would labour at her G[race's] hands for settling of Religion according to the order established before her arrivall. They promised also to deal with her for set stipends. Lethington returned a gracious answer to these Heads. It was appointed that a request should be presented to the Queen for obtaining the gift of the Frier's Kirk of Kirkcudbright, to be holden hereafter the Parish Kirk of Kirkcudbright."

The second paragraph is entitled,

"An Answer to Paul Methven's Supplication.

"The General Assembly of the Church conveened at Edinburgh the 25. of December, the exhortation and invocation of the name of God being made by John Knox. John Ærskin of Dun, Superintendent of Angus and Mearnes, was chosen Moderator. In this Assembly Paul Methven's supplication anent his receiving to repentance, &c., was read and considered. The Brethren were content to receive him, providing he presented himself personally before them, and shew evident signes of unfained repentance, and willingness to obey such a forme of repentance as they should enjoyne. As for deleting the processe out of their Books, they could no wayes condescend, neither thought they such a Petition could proceed of the Holy Spirit, seeing David, a notable servant of God, was not ashamed to leave in register his offence, to God's glory and his own confusion. Anent his admission and re-entrie to the Ministrie within this Realme, it was ansuered, That could not be granted till the memorie of his former offence were more deeply buried, and some particular Kirks within the Realme made request for him. And, further, That his entrie in the Ministrie of England, hee being excommunicated and unreconciled to the Kirk, hath grievously offended them." This paragraph is copied nearly verbatim from the Acts of Assembly, 27th December 1564. (Book of the Kirk, vol. i. p. 55.)

[1061] The General Assembly met on the 25th December 1564.

[1062] The Queen left Edinburgh on the 19th January 1564-5. Randolph, who followed soon after, transmitted to England an interesting account of his interviews with her at St. Andrews. (Chalmers' Life of Queen Mary, vol. i. p. 123-127. Keith's Hist., vol. ii. p. 261.) She afterwards visited Wemyss Castle. where she received Darnley's first visit, on the 16th February, and returned to the Palace of Holyrood on the 24th of that month.

[1063] Randolph, in a letter to Cecil, dated 20th March 1564-5, refers to the excesses of both parties at this time; and in particular, that "one of the Queen's chappel, a singing man, said, that he believed as well a tale of Robin Hood as any word is written in the Old Testament or New." He further adds, the Queen's "own Mass, and the resort into it; such blasphemies as there unpunished; her will to continue Papistry, and her desire to have all men live as they list, so offendeth the godly men's consciences, and so many besides that desire alteration, that it is continually feared that these matters will shortly break out to some greater mischief."

[1064] Henry Lord Darnley, then in the twentieth year of his age, arrived in Edinburgh, on the 13th February 1564-5. After visiting the Queen at Wemyss Castle, in Fife, on the 16th, he proceeded to Dunkeld, where his father the Earl of Lennox was residing; but he hastened back to Edinburgh to wait the Queen's arrival at Holyrood.—In both edit. 1644, his name is always printed "Darley."

[1065] Within a month of Darnley's arrival in Scotland, Queen Mary had fixed her affections on him, as her proposed husband, and to communicate this to Queen Elizabeth, was the main object of Lethington's mission to the English Court. He had arrived there on the 18th April, and had returned to Edinburgh on the 13th May 1565. (Chalmers's Life of Queen Mary, vol. iii p. 551.)

[1066] An error in both edit. 1644 for Lady Margaret Douglas: see page 336, note 2.

[1067] So in both edit. 1644; but at page 476 the name is "Carvet."

[1068] Throckmorton, in his letter to the Queen of England, on the 20th May 1565, mentions that he reached Edinburgh on the 13th, and Stirling on the morning of 15th May; when, he says, "At my arrival at the Castle, the gates were shut against me, whether it proceeded from fear, or of some other passion, I know not. I thus remaining some time before the gate, there came unto me the Master of Arskine and the Justice-Clerk, who desired me, in the Queen their Mistress's behalf, to retire unto my lodging which was appointed in the town, saying, that after I had reposed myself, the Queen did mind to give me audience." (Keith's History, vol. ii. p. 279.)

[1069] According to a memorial transmitted by Sir Nicholas Throckmorton to Queen Elizabeth, this ceremony took place at Stirling on the 15th May; and he enumerates the names and titles of the fourteen Knights. (Keith's History, vol. ii. p. 289.)

[1070] In the Lond. edit. 1644, "Sir Ariskin;" in the Edinb. edit. "Sir Ærskin."

[1071] Mr. John Hay was Master of Requests, a Privy Counsellor, and Commendator of Balmerinoch. He died on the 3d December 1573. (Register of Confirmed Testaments.)

[1072] Queen Mary applied for a safe conduct to "Maister John Sinclair, Deane of Restalrig, being from the partes of France, and willing to returne hameward," 18th September 1561. (Labanoff, Recueil, vol. i. p. 227)

[1073] In both edit. 1644, Lesley is called "Parson of Vune," an error for Une, or Oyne, in Aberdeenshire: see the Appendix to this volume.