[8] See "Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. JOHN MILTON for the Liberty of Unlicens"d Printing," addressed to the Parliament of England, London, 1644, 4to. In arguing against the abuses committed by licensers of the Press, he says, "Nay, which is more lamentable, if the work of any deceased Author, though never so famous in his lifetime, and even to this day, come to their hands for license to be printed or reprinted, if there be found in his book one sentence of a venturous edge, uttered in the height of zeal, (and who knows whether it might not be the dictate of a divine Spirit,) yet, not suiting with every low decrepit humour of their own, THOUGH IT WERE KNOX HIMSELF, THE REFORMER OF A KINGDOM, that spake it, they will not pardon him their dash: the sense of that great man shall to all posterity be lost for the fearfulness, or the presumptuous rashnesse of a prefunctory licenser. And to what an Author this violence hath bin lately done, and in what book of greatest consequence to be faithfully publisht, I could now instance, but shall forbear till a more convenient season."--(page 22.)
[9] In following the MS. of 1566, I have discarded all contractions, and generally avoided the old form of using _u_ and _w_ for _v_, or _v_ for _u_; _i_ for _j_. In order to avoid distracting the attention of an ordinary reader, such words in the MS. as _hie_ for _he_, _on_ for _one_, _cane_ for _can_, _don_ for _done_, are printed in the usual form; but indeed the orthography of the MS. is very irregular, and might have justified much greater innovations.
[10] This Preface is not contained in either of the editions by David Buchanan of the History printed in 1644.
[11] In MS. G, "cloude."
[12] In MS. I, "whairby idolatrie."
[13] In MS. G, "eyis."
[14] Ib.
[15] In the MS. "trawalled."
[16] That is, the year 1558.
[17] Mary Queen of Scots arrived from France on the 19th of August 1561.
[18] The author"s original intention, as here stated, was, that the History should merely embrace the limited period from 1558 to 1561. That portion was probably revised and enlarged, to form Books Second and Third, when this introductory Book was added in 1566.
[19] This phrase was not uncommon: see page 10. But MS. I. makes it, "some faythfull brethrene, concerning that which was thought."
[20] That is, the Civil Policy.
[21] In the MS. "wane."
[22] This t.i.tle occurs as a marginal note in the MS.
[23] In the MS. it was originally written "mentioun of one N.," the words, "whais name is not expressed," being afterwards added on the margin. The letter N., it may be observed, was an abbreviation of _Non nemo_, i.e. _aliquis_, or Somebody, a mode adopted from the Canon Law, when the name of a person was not ascertained.
[24] From the collation of David Buchanan"s text, it will be seen that he has here inserted the words "One whose name was James Resby, an Englishman by birth, schollar to Wickliff: he was accused as a hereticke, by one Laurence Lindores," &c. Buchanan overlooks the circ.u.mstance that Resby suffered martyrdom at Perth, fifteen years before the person referred to by Knox. See Appendix, No. I., "Interpolations in Knox"s History by David Buchanan."--In the Appendix, No. II., some notices will be given of Resby and other Lollards in Scotland, during the 15th century.
[25] Bower, the continuator of Fordun, calls him Paul Crawar, and fixes the date of his execution on the 23d of July 1433. (See Appendix No.
II.)
[26] In MSS. G, A, &c., "a Bohemian."
[27] In the MS. "wach."
[28] Robert Blackader, on the 5th of June 1480, was styled Prebendary of Cardross, in the Cathedral Church of Glasgow, (Registrum Episcopatus Glasguenis, p. 443.) On the 23d of that month, he sat among the Lords of Council, as Bishop elect of Aberdeen, which seems to discredit the statement of Keith and other writers, of his having been consecrated at Rome by Pope Sixtus IV., upon the death of Bishop Spens. (Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, Mr. Innes"s Preface, page xlii. note.) Blackader, however, was much employed in public negotiations with England and other countries. He was translated to the See of Glasgow, previously to February 1484; and during his Episcopate, that See was erected into an Archbishopric. As stated in a following page, Blackader died on the 28th of July 1508. See page 12.
[29] The shire of Ayr in former times was locally divided into the three districts of Carrick, Kyle, and Cunningham; and those districts are still retained, but without any political or judicial distinction. Kyle was the central district, between the rivers Doon and Irvine; and was subdivided into two sections, by the river Ayr, King"s-Kyle lying on the south, and Kyle-Stewart on the north of the river.--(Chalmers"s Caledonia, vol. iii. p. 446.)
[30] In the MS., a blank s.p.a.ce had been left for these names, which were apparently added at a somewhat later period.--The escape of John Campbell of Cesnock at this time is taken notice of by Alexander Alesius in his Letter to James Fifth, see Appendix No. II.
[31] Mure of Polkellie, the t.i.tle of _Lady_ being given by courtesy.--From a detailed genealogical account of the family of Chalmers of Gadgirth in Ayrshire, inserted in the Appendix to Nisbet"s Heraldry, vol. i., we find that John Chalmers, in a charter dated 1491, was styled son and heir of Sir John Chalmers of Galdgirth; and that one of his daughters, Margaret, was married to George Campbell of Cesnock; and another, Helen, to Robert Mure of Polkellie. A third daughter is mentioned in the following note.
[32] The baptismal name of Lady Stair is left blank in the MS., and Calderwood, who copied from Knox, inserted the letter N., to indicate this; while David Buchanan supplied the name of Isabella. On the supposition that Knox himself had so written it, Professor Forbes, in noticing the Lord President Stair"s descent from one of the Lollards of Kyle, says, "The Historian hath mistaken the Lady"s name; for, by writings in the Earl of Stair"s hand, it appears she was called Marion Chalmers, daughter to Mr. John Chalmers of Gadgirth, whose good family was very steady in the matters of religion."--(Journal of Decisions, &c., p. 29, Edinb. 1714, folio.)--On the other hand, in the pedigree of the Gadgirth family, in Nisbet, William Dalrymple of Stair is said to have married Isabella Chalmers.
[33] This "Register," and "the Scrollis" referred to in the former page, were probably the Court-books of the Official of Glasgow, an office usually held by one of the Canons of the diocese. But no registers of the kind are known to be preserved.
[34] The additions to Articles 4, 8, 9, 19, and 31, included within a parenthesis, are evidently comments by Knox.
[35] In MSS. G, A, &c., "bread."
[36] That is, to judge in matters of divine worship.
[37] Vautroullier"s suppressed edition of the History commences, on sign. B., page 17, with those three words. The previous sheet, or 16 pages, containing the t.i.tle and preface, had no doubt been set up, but the sheet may have been either delayed at press till the volume was completed, or all the copies carried off and destroyed when the book was prohibited.
[38] In Vautr. edit., and MSS. G, A, &c., "doubtfully spoken."
[39] In this place, the MS. has "Basqueming," and Vautroullier"s edition makes it "Adam reade of blaspheming."--Adam Reid of Stair-White, or Barskyming, the representative of an ancient family in Ayrshire, probably accompanied James the Fourth, in his first voyage to the Western Isles, in July 1494. He obtained two charters, under the Great Seal, of the King"s fortress of Ardcardane, and some lands near Tarbert, in North Kintyre, dated 15th September 1498, and 27th August 1499, in which he is designated "Adam Rede de Sterquhite." The service annexed to the first grant included the maintenance of six archers sufficiently provided with bows and arrows, upon occasion of the King"s curbing the inhabitants of the Isles, who had long set the royal authority at defiance: "Neenon sustentando s.e.x homines defensivos architenentes, c.u.m arcubus et sagittis bene suffultos, ad serviendum Regi, et successoribus suis, in guerris si quas Reges in Insulis contra inhabitantes carundem habere contigerit, c.u.m dictus Adam vel haeredes sui ad hoc requisitus fuerit."
[40] For "shut up;" in Vautr. edit., and MSS. G, A, &c., "set up."
[41] The erroneous date of 1500 occurs in the MS. and in all the subsequent copies; it is also repeated by Spotiswood. The actual time of his decease is thus recorded,--"Obitus Roberti Blacader primi Archiepiscopi Glasguensis, vigesimo octavo die Julij A.D.
1508."--(Regist. Episcop. Glasg., vol. ii. p. 616.) The place where Blackader died is not ascertained; but Bishop Lesley confirms Knox"s statement, that he had set out on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "Scotia discedit, paucis post diebus, Episcopus Glasgoensis, Robertus Blacaderus pio studio illa loca (quae Christi vestigiis trita, aliisque humilitatis, virtutisque monumentis ill.u.s.trata erant) invisendi flagrans Hierosolymitana profectione suscepta; sed mortis impetu praeclusa, ad coelites in itinere migravit."--(De Rebus Gestis, &c., p. 349, Romae, 1578, 4to.) In his English History, Lesley mentions this more briefly, "About this time, [5th of July 1508,] the Bishop of Glasgow, quha wes pa.s.sit to Jerusalem, or he com to the end of his journay, deceissit the xxix [28th] day of July. He was ane n.o.ble, wyse, and G.o.dlie man."--(Hist. p. 78, Edinb. 1830, 4to.)
[42] The truth of this remark is very evident, as Beaton, along with his high civil and ecclesiastical appointments, held several great Church benefices. He was the youngest son of John Beaton of Balfour, and was educated at St. Andrew"s. In 1487, the name "Ja. Betone" occurs among the _Intrantes_; in 1491, among the _Determinantes_; and in 1493, as a Licentiate, he took the degree of Master of Arts. In October 1497, Maister James Betoun was presented to the Chantry of Cathness, vacant by the decease of Mr. James Auchinleck.--(Bannatyne Miscellany, vol. ii. p.
162.) In 1503, he was Provost of the collegiate church of Bothwell, and Prior of Whithorn. In 1504, he was Abbot of Dunfermline, and a Lord of the Session. In the following year he succeeded his brother as Lord Treasurer. In 1508, he was raised to the See of Galloway; and within twelve months having been translated to Glasgow, as successor to Blackader, he resigned the office of Treasurer. In the Rolls of Parliament, 26th November 1513, the Archbishop of Glasgow appears as Chancellor of the kingdom; and he secured to himself the rich Abbacies of Arbroath and Kilwinning. On succeeding to the Primacy of S. Andrew"s, in 1522, he resigned the commendatory of Arbroath in favour of his nephew David Beaton, with the reservation to himself of half its revenues during his life. In a letter to Cardinal Wolsey, Dr. Magnus the English Amba.s.sador, on the 9th of January 1524-5, after referring to the Archbishop of St. Andrews, as "the gretteste man booth of landes and experience withyne this realme," speaks of Beaton as "nooted to be veraye subtill and dissymuling."--(State Papers, vol. iv. p. 286.) But with all his dignities and wealth, he experienced occasional reverses of fortune; and in 1526, upon a change in public affairs, he was deprived of the office of Lord Chancellor. He died in 1539.
[43] On the 9th of September 1513.
[44] In the preface to Lambert"s "Exegeseos in sanctam diui Ioannis Apocalypsim, Libri vii." The pa.s.sage will be given in the Appendix, No.
III.
[45] This reference to the well known "Actes and Monumentes" of John Foxe, the English Martyrologist, has more than once been pointed out as an anachronism. Thus, Spottiswood a.s.serts, that Foxe"s work "came not to light [till] some ten or twelve years after Mr. Knox his death," (p.
267,) and concludes, that "the History given forth in his name was not of his inditing." But Knox"s phrase, "laitlie sett furth," is quite applicable to the first publication of Foxe"s Martyrology; as there is no reason to doubt that Knox wrote this portion of his History in 1566, and it is certain that Foxe"s "Actes and Monumentes," &c., printed at London by John Daye, was completed in the beginning of 1564, in large folio. In this edition there is an account of Patrick Hamilton, which (with some other notices) will be given verbatim in the Appendix, No.
III. Foxe"s Martyrology was again printed by Daye, "newly recognized by the author," in 1570, 2 vols. folio; a third time in 1576; and a fourth (being probably the earliest edition of which Spottiswood had any knowledge) in 1583.
[46] Hamilton was merely t.i.tular Abbot of Ferne, and was not in holy orders. His predecessor, Andrew Stewart, was Bishop of Caithness, and Commendator of the two Abbeys of Kelso and Ferne. He died 17th June 1517; and the latter benefice was probably then conferred on Hamilton.
Ferne is a parish in the eastern part of the shire of Ross. The Abbey was founded by Farquhard first Earl of Ross, in the reign of Alexander the Third. The Church, built or completed by William Earl of Ross, who died in 1371, was a handsome structure of about 120 feet in length, with chapels on the north and on the south sides. It continued to be used as the parish Church till Sunday the 10th of October 1742, when, during public service, the flagstone roof, and part of the side walls fell in, and killed 40 persons, besides others who died in consequence of the injuries they sustained.--(Scots Magazine, 1742, p. 485.) At a later period (1772), the centre part of the Church of Ferne, but reduced in its length, was repaired, with a new roof, and still serves as the parish Church. Unless for some ruined portions of the side chapels attached to the eastern end of the Church, which were suffered to remain, all marks of its venerable antiquity have now disappeared.
[47] It was at Marburg, the capital of Upper Hesse, and not at Wittemberg, where Lambert was professor.
[48] In the MS. "trawailled." The letters _w_ and _v_ are used indiscriminately by Knox"s amanuensis.
[49] This statement, we presume, is incorrect, as there is no evidence to show that James the Fifth visited the Shrine of St. Duthac at this time. Lesley speaks of the King dealing with Hamilton, which implies at least a knowledge of his accusation, "adhortante Rege ipso."--(De Rebus Gestis, &c., p. 427.) The chapel of St. Duthac, Bishop of Ross, now in ruins, is situated about half a mile to the north-east of the town of Tain. In the Appendix No. IV. will be given various extracts from the Treasurer"s Accounts relating to the frequent pilgrimages which James the Fourth made to this Shrine, as ill.u.s.trative of a superst.i.tious custom of that period.
[50] In the MS. "lief."
[51] See page 19.
[52] Gilbert Kennedy third Earl of Ca.s.silis. He was probably only at St.
Andrews for one session; as his name does not occur in the Registers of the University. In 1532, he was at Paris, pursuing his studies under George Buchanan, who dedicated to him his first edition of Linacre"s Latin Grammar. Lord Ca.s.silis was one of the prisoners taken at Solway Moss in 1542. As Knox afterwards mentions, he died at Dieppe in 1558.
[53] The University of St. Andrews, founded by Bishop Wardlaw in the year 1410, was confirmed by Papal authority in 1413. Its endowments, however, continued to be very limited, until St. Salvator"s College was erected and endowed in 1456 by James Kennedy, his successor in the See.
At this time it received the name of the Old College, to distinguish it from that of St. Leonard"s College, created in 1512, and St. Mary"s, in 1537.