John Knox and the Reformation

The proclamation against “all monks, friars, priests, nuns, adulterers, fornicators, and all such filthy persons,” was of October 2. On October 5 the Queen bade the council and community of the town to meet in the Tolbooth, depose the Provost and Bailies, and elect others. On October 8 the order was carried out, and protests were put in. A note from Lethington was received, containing three names, out of which the Queen commanded that one must be Provost. The Council “thought good to pass to her Grace,” show that they had already made their election, and await her pleasure. “Jezebel’s letter and wicked will is obeyed as law,” says Knox. —Extracts from Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh, 126, 127.

226

Knox, vi. 133-135. Corp. Refor., xlvii. 74.

227

Corp. Refor., xlvii. 114, 115.

228

Bain, i. 582, 583.

229

Ibid., i. 491. Randolph to Cecil.

230

Bain, i. 565, 566.

231

Froude, iii. 265-270 (1866).

232

Knox, vi. 83.

233

Knox, vi. 11-14.

234

Bain, i. 569. Randolph to Cecil, November 11.

235

Ibid., i. 568-570.

236

There was a small guard, but no powerful guard existed till after Riccio’s murder.

237

Bain, i. 575. Randolph to Cecil, December 7.

238

Ibid., i. 571.

239

It is plain from Randolph (Bain, i. 575) that the precise feared that Mary, if secured by the English alliance, would be severe with “true professors of Christ.”

240

Keith, iii. 384, 385.

241

Knox, ii. 300-313. Pollen, “Mary’s Letter to the Duc de Guise,” xli. – xlvii.

242

Bain, i. 568, 569.

243

Ibid., i. 585. Randolph to Cecil, January 2, 1562.

244

There is an air of secrecy in these transactions. In the Register of the Privy Seal, vol. xxxi. fol. 45 (MS.), is a “Precept for a Charter under the Great Seal,” a charter to Lord James for the Earldom of Moray. The date is January 31, 1560-61. On February 7, 1560-61, Lord James receives the Earldom of Mar, having to pay a pair of gilded spurs on the feast of St. John (Register of Privy Seal, vol. xxx. fol. 2). Lord James now bore the title of Earl of Mar, not, as yet – not till Huntly was put at – of Moray.

245

Dr. Hay Fleming quotes Randolph thus: “The Papists mistrust greatly the meeting; the Protestants as greatly desire it. The preachers are more vehement than discreet or learned.” (Mary Queen of Scots, p. 292, note 35, citing For. Cal. Eliz., iv. 523.) The Calendar is at fault and gives the impression that the ministers vehemently preached in favour of the meeting of the Queen. This was not so, Randolph goes on, “which I heartily lament.” He uses the whole phrase, more than is here given, not only on January 30, but on February 12. Now Randolph desired the meeting, so the preachers must have “thundered” against it! They feared that Mary would become a member of the Church of England, “of which they both say and preach that it is little better than when it was at the worst” (Bain, i. 603).

246

Keith, ii. 139.

247

The Teviotdale Ormistouns of that ilk.

248

In Pitcairn’s Criminal Trials is Arran’s report of Bothwell’s very words, vol. i., part 2, pp. 462-465.

249

Bain, i. 613, 614.

250