Obrazy na stronie
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I can nott blame you albeit you have no good opinion of thame. But yf ye hear anything of myself that myslikis you, come to myself and tell me, and I shall hear you."

"Madam," quod he, "I am assured that your uncles ar enemyes to God, and unto his Sone Jesus Christ; and that for manteanance of thair awin pompe and worldlie glorie, that thei spair not to spill the bloode of mony innocents; and thairfoir I am assured that thair interpryses shall have no better successe than otheris haif had that befoir thame have done that thei do now. But as to your awin personage, Madam, I wold be glade to do all that I could to your Grace's contentment, provided that I exceed nott the boundis of my vocatioun. I am called, Madam, to ane publict functioun within the Kirk of God, and am appointed by God to rebuk the synnes and vices of all. I am not appointed to come to everie man in particular to schaw him his offense; for that laubour war infinite. Yf your Grace please to frequent the publict sermonis, then doubt I not but that ye shall fullie understand boyth what I like and myslike, als weall in your majestie as in all otheris. Or yf your Grace will assigne unto me a certane day and hour when it will please you to hear the forme and substance of doctrin whiche is proponed in publict to the churches of this realme, I will most gladlie await upoun your Grace's pleasur, tyme, and place. But to wait upoun your chalmer doore or ellis whair, and then to have no farther libertie but to whisper my mynd in your Grace's eare, or to tell you what otheris think and speak of you, neather will my conscience nor the vocatioun whairto God hath called me suffer it. For albeit at your Grace's commandiment, I am heare now, yitt can not I tell what other men shall judge of me, that at this tyme of day am absent from my book, and wayting upoun the courte."

"You will not alwayis," said sche, "be at your book" -and so turned hir back. And the said Johne Knox departed with a reasonable meary countenance; whairat some Papists offended said: "He is not effrayed." Which heard of him he answered: "Why should the pleasing face of a gentill woman effray me? I have looked in the faces of many angrie men, and yit have nott bene effrayed above measure." And so left he the Quene and the courte for that tyme.'

DAVID CALDERWOOD-SIR JAMES MELVIL.

In the reign of James VI., a work similar to that of Knox, but on a much more extensive scale, more

minute, and including many public documents, was written by DAVID CALDERWOOD, another zealous Presbyterian divine. An abridgment of this work has been printed under the title of The True History of the Church of Scotland: the original, in six folio volumes of manuscript, reposes in the library of the university of Glasgow. For his resolute opposition to Episcopacy, Calderwood was imprisoned in 1617, and afterwards banished from Scotland. On his return, he became minister of Pencaitland, in Haddingtonshire. The style of his work deserves little commendation; but though tinged with partyfeeling, it has always been valued as a repertory of

historical facts.

of England and Scotland, under the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, and King James. In all which Transactions the Author was personally and publicly concerned. This work is esteemed for the simplicity of its style, and as the sole authority for the history of many important events. But Dr M'Crie, the biographer of Knox, points out several errors in Melvil's narrative of the transactions of that period, and is of opinion that all our historians have given too easy credit to Melvil, both in his statements of fact, and in his representations of character. In 1564, Melvil was despatched to the English court by Mary Queen of Scots, and in his Memoirs he gives a lively and graphic account of his interviews with Queen Elizabeth. We subjoin a part of this description:

[Melvil's Interview with Queen Elizabeth.]

She appeared to be so affectionate to the queen her good sister, that she expressed a great desire to see her. And because their so much by her desired meeting could not so hastily be brought to pass, she appeared with great delight to look upon her majesty's picture. She took me to her bed-chamber, and opened a little cabinet, wherein were divers little pictures wrapped within paper, and their names written with her own hand upon the papers. Upon the first that she took up was written My lord's picture.' I held the candle, and pressed to see that picture so named: she appeared loath to let me see it, yet my importunity prevailed for a sight thereof; and I found it to be the Earl of Leicester's picture. I desired that I might have it to carry home to my queen, which she refused, alleging that she had but that one picture of his. I said: 'Your majesty hath here the original;' for I perceived him at the furthest part of the chamber, speaking with secretary Cecil. Then she took out the queen's picture and kissed it; and I adventured to kiss her hand, for the great love evidenced therein to my mistress. She shewed me also a fair ruby, as great as a tennis-ball; I desired that she would send either it or my Lord of Leicester's picture, as a token to my queen. She said, that if the queen would follow her counsel, she would in process of time get all that she had; that in the meantime she was resolved in a token to send her with me a fair diamond. It was at this time late after supper; she appointed me to be with her the next morning by eight of the clock, at which time she used to walk in her garden.

kingdom (Scotland), and other countries wherein I had She inquired of me many things relating to this

travelled. She caused me to dine with her dame of

*

*

honour, my Lady Strafford-an honourable and godly lady, who had been at Geneva banished during the reign of Queen Mary-that I might be always near her, that she might confer with me. At divers meetings we had divers purposes. mistress, had instructed me to leave matters of gravity The queen, my sometimes, and cast in merry purposes, lest otherwise she should be wearied; she being well informed of that queen's natural temper. Therefore in declaring my observations of the customs of Dutchland, Poland, and Italy, the buskins of the women was not forgot; and what country weed I thought best becoming gentleSIR JAMES MELVIL, privy-councillor and gentle-women. The queen said she had clothes of every sort, man of the bed-chamber to Mary Queen of Scots, which every day thereafter, so long as I was there, she was born at Hall-hill, in Fifeshire, in the year 1530, changed. One day she had the English weed, another and died in 1606. He left in manuscript a historical the French, and another the Italian; and so forth. She work, which for a considerable time lay unknown in asked me which of them became her best. I answered, the Castle of Edinburgh, but having at length been in my judgment the Italian dress; which answer I discovered, was published in 1683, under the title of found pleased her well, for she delighted to shew her Memoirs of Sir James Melvil of Hall-hill, containing golden-coloured hair, wearing a caul and bonnet as they an Impartial Account of the most Remarkable Affairs do in Italy. Her hair was rather reddish than yellow, of State during the Last Age, not mentioned by other curled in appearance naturally. Historians; more particularly relating to the Kingdoms

She desired to know of me what colour of hair was

JOHN LESLIE.

reputed best; and whether my queen's hair or hers was best, and which of them two was fairest. I answered, the fairness of them both was not their worst faults. But she was earnest with me to declare which JOHN LESLIE, bishop of Ross, was a zealous of them I judged fairest. I said, she was the fairest partisan of Queen Mary, whom he accompanied on queen in England, and mine in Scotland. Yet she her return from France to Scotland in 1561, and in appeared earnest. I answered, they were both the whose behalf he actively exerted himself during her fairest ladies in their countries; that her majesty was imprisonment in England. Forced by Elizabeth whiter, but my queen was very lovely. She inquired to withdraw to the continent on account of the which of them was of highest stature. I said: 'My conspiracies against her in which he engaged, he queen.' 'Then,' saith she, she is too high, for myself was appointed bishop of Constance in 1593, and am neither too high nor too low.' Then she asked what in that situation employed his wealth and influence exercises she used. I answered, that when I received in founding three colleges for the instruction of his my dispatch, the queen was lately come from the High-countrymen, at Rome, Paris, and Douay. Being land hunting; that when her more serious affairs permitted, she was taken up with reading of histories; that sometimes she recreated herself in playing upon the lute and virginals. She asked if she played well. I said reasonably, for a queen.

[Character of James V.]

[From Leslie's History of Scotland.]

[Original Spelling.-Thier wes gryt dule and meane maid for him throw all the partis of his realme, because he was a nobill

prince, and travaillet mekill all his dayis for maintening of his subjectis in peace, justice, and quietnes. He was a man, &c.]

now, however, advanced in years, he shortly afterwards resigned the mitre, and retired to a monastery in the Netherlands, where he died in 1596. His chief publications are, a treatise in defence of Queen Mary and her title to the English crown; a DescripThat same day after dinner, my Lord of Hunsdon tion of Scotland and the Scottish Isles; and a work on drew me up to a quiet gallery that I might hear some the Origin, Manners, and Exploits of the Scotch. All music; but he said he durst not avow it, where I might these are in Latin; the last two forming a volume hear the queen play upon the virginals. After I had which he published at Rome in 1578. He wrote in hearkened awhile, I took by the tapestry that hung the Scottish language a History of Scotland from before the door of the chamber, and seeing her back was 1436 to 1561, of which only a Latin translation toward the door, I ventured within the chamber, and stood a pretty space hearing her play excellently well;-contained in the volume just mentioned-was but she left off immediately, so soon as she turned published by himself; the original, however, was about and saw me. She appeared to be surprised to printed by the Bannatyne Club in 1830. see me, and came forward, seeming to strike me with her hand; alleging that she used not to play before men, but when she was solitary, to shun melancholy. She asked how I came there. I answered: As I was walking with my Lord of Hunsdon, as we passed by the chamber-door, I heard such melody as ravished me, whereby I was drawn in ere I knew how;' excusing my fault of homeliness as being brought up in the court of France, where such freedom was allowed; declaring myself willing to endure what kind of punishment her majesty should be pleased to inflict upon me, for so great an offence. Then she sat down low upon a cushion, and I upon my knees by her, but with her own hand she gave me a cushion to lay under my knee; which at first I refused, but she compelled me to take it. She then called for my Lady Strafford out of the next chamber, for the queen was alone. She inquired whether my queen or she played best. In that I found myself obliged to give her the praise. She said my French was very good, and asked if I could speak Italian, which she spoke reasonably well. I told her majesty I had no time to learn the language, not having been above two months in Italy. Then she spake to me in Dutch, which was not good; and would know what kind of books I most delighted in-whether theology, history, or love matters. I said I liked well of all the sorts. Here I took occasion to press earnestly my dispatch: she said I was sooner weary of her company than she was of mine. I told her majesty, that though I had no reason of being weary, I knew my mistress her affairs called me home; yet I was stayed two days longer, that I might see her dance, as I was afterwards informed. Which being over, she inquired of me whether she or my queen danced best. I answered the queen danced not so high or disposedly as she did. Then again she wished that she might see the queen at some convenient place of meeting. I offered to convey her secretly to Scotland by post, clothed like a page, that under this disguise she might see the queen; as James V. had gone in disguise with his own ambassador to see the Duke of Vendome's sister, who should have been his wife. Telling her that her chamber might be kept in her absence, as though she were sick; that none need be privy thereto except Lady Strafford and one of the grooms of her chamber. She appeared to like that kind of language, only answered it with a sigh, saying: 'Alas! if I might do it thus !'

There was great dole and moan made for him through all the parts of his realm, because he was a noble prince, and travailed mickle all his days for maintaining of his subjects in peace, justice, and quietness. He was a man of personage and stature convenient, albeit mighty and strong therewith, of countenance amiable and lovely, specially in his communication; his eyes gray and sharp of sight, that whomsoever he did once see and mark, he would perfectly know in all times thereafter; of wit in all things quick and prompt; of a princely stomach and high courage in great perils, doubtful affairs, and matters of weighty importance: he had, in a manner, a divine foresight, for in such things as he went about to do, he did them advisedly and with great deliberation, to the intent that amongst all men his wit and prudence might be noted and regarded, and as far excel and pass all others in estate and dignity. Besides this, he was sober, moderate, honest, affable, courteous, and so far abhorred pride and arrogance, that he was ever sharp and quick to them which were spotted or noted with that crime. He was also a good and sure justiciar,1 by the which one thing he allured to him the hearts of all the people, because they lived quietly and in rest, out of all oppression and molestation of the nobility and rich persons; and to this severity of his was joined and annexed a certain merciful pity, which he did ofttimes shew to such as had offended, taking rather compositions of money nor2 men's lives; which was a plain argument that he did use his rigour only-as he said himself-to bow and abate the high and wrongous hearts of the people, specially Irishmen 3 and borderers, and others, nursed and brought up in seditious factions and civil rebellions; and not for greedy desire of riches or hunger of money, although such as were afflicted would cry out; and surely this good and modest prince did not devour and consume the riches of his country; for he by his high policy marvellously riched his realm and himself, both with : Criminal judge. 2 Than. 3 Ersemen, or Highlanders.

gold and silver, all kind of rich substance, whereof he left great store and quantity in all his palaces at his departing. And so this king, living all his time in the favour of fortune, in high honour, riches, and glory, and, for his noble acts and prudent policies, worthy to be registered in the book of fame, gave up and rendered his spirit into the hands of Almighty God, where I doubt not but he has sure fruition of the joy that is prepared for these as shall sit on the right hand of our Saviour.

[Burning of Edinburgh and Leith by the English in 1544.]

the next day, being the sixth of May, the great army came forward with the haill ordinances, and assailed the town, which they found void of all resistance, saving the ports of the town were closed, which they broke up with great artillery, and entered thereat, carrying carted ordinances before them till they came in sight of the Castle, where they placed them, purposing to siege the Castle. But the Laird of Stanehouse, captain thereof, caused shoot at them in so great abundance, and with so good measure, that they slew a great number of English men, amongst whom there was some principal captains and gentlemen; and one of the greatest pieces of the English ordinances was broken; wherethrough they were constrained to raise the siege shortly and retire them.

Now will I return to the earnest ambition of King Henry of England, who ceased not to search by all means possible to attain to his desire, and therefore sent a of the town, but was not suffered to maintain it, through The same day the English men set fire in divers places great army by sea into Scotland, with the Earl of continual shooting of ordinance forth of the Castle, Hertford, his lieutenant, and the Viscount Lisle, his wherewith they were so sore troubled, that they were admiral, with two hundred great ships, besides boats constrained to return to their camp at Leith. But the and crears that carried their victuals, whereof there was great number; and the whole fleet arrived in the firth next day they returned again, and did that they could to fornent 2 Leith the third day of May, and landed at the tinued some days after, so that the most part of the town consume all the town with fires. So likewise they conNew Haven about xx thousand men, with great artillery and all kind of munition, the fourth of May. In the horsemen did great hurt in the country, spoiling and was burnt in cruel manner; during the which time their meantime, the Governor being in the town of Edinburgh, burning sundry places thereabout, and in special all the hearing of their sudden arrival, departed forth of the castle and place of Craigmillar, where the most part of town toward Leith, accompanied with the Cardinal, the whole riches of Edinburgh was put by the merchants Earls of Huntly, Argyll, Bothwell, and others, with their of the town in keeping, which not without fraud of the own household men only, purposing to stop the landing keepers, as was reported, was betrayed to the English of the enemy; but frae3 they were surely advertised of men for a part of the booty and spoil thereof. the great number of their enemies, wherethrough they were not able to withstand their forces, they returned burning and spoiling, the Governor sent and relieved the When the English men of war was thus occupied in to Edinburgh, and sent Sir Adam Otterburne, provost Earl of Angus, Lord Maxwell, Master of Glencairn, and of the town, and two of the bailies, to the said Earl Sir George Douglas, forth of ward, and put them to Hertford, lieutenant, desiring to know for what cause liberty; and made such speedy preparation as he could he was come with such an army to invade, considering to set forward an army for expelling the English men there was no war proclaimed betwixt the two realms; forth of the realm; who hearing thereof, upon the xiiij and if there was any injuries or wrongs done whereupon day of May, they broke down the pier of Leith haven, the king of England was offended, they would appoint burned and destroyed the same; and shipping their commissioners to treat with them thereupon, and to that great artillery, they sent their ships away homeward, effect thankfully would receive them within the town of laden with the spoil of Edinburgh and Leith, taking Edinburgh. The said Earl of Hertford answered, that with them certain Scottish ships which was in the he had no commission to treat upon any matters, but haven, amongst the which the ships called Salamander only to receive the queen of Scotland, to be convoyed in and the Unicorn were carried in England. Upon the England to be married with Prince Edward; and if they would deliver her, he would abstain from all pursuit, Leith at one time, the town of Leith being set on fire xv day of May, their army and their fleet departed from otherwise he would burn and destroy the towns of the same morning; and their said army that night Edinburgh, Leith, and all others where he might be lodged at Seaton, the next night beside Dunbar, the master within the realm of Scotland, and desired there-third night at Renton in the Merse, and the 18 day of fore the haill men, wives, bairns, and others being within the town of Edinburgh, to come forth of the same, and present them before him as lieutenant, and offer them into the king's will, or else he would proceed as he had spoken. To the which the provost, by the command of the Governor and council, answered, that they would abide all extremity rather or 5 they fulfilled

his desires; and so the Governor caused furnish the Castle of Edinburgh with all kind of necessary furniture, and departed to Striveling.6 In the meantime, the English army lodged that night in Leith. Upon the morn, being the fifth of May, they marched forward toward Edinburgh by the Canongate, and or their entering therein, there came to them six thousand horsemen of English men from Berwick by land, who joined with them, and passed up the Canongate, of purpose to enter at the Nether Bow; where some resistance was made unto them by certain Scottish men, and divers of the English men were slain, and some also of the Scottish side, and so held them that day occupied skirmishing, till the night came, which compelled them to return unto their camp. And on

1 To enforce a marriage between his son and the infant Queen Mary of Scotland.

2 Opposite. 5 Erc.

3 When, from the time when. 4 Whole.
6 Stirling.

May they entered in Berwick. In all this time, the borderers and certain others Scottish men, albeit they held them busy with daily skirmishing, that sundry of were not of sufficient number to give battle, yet they their men and horse were taken, and therefore none of them durst in any wise stir from the great army in all their passage from Edinburgh to Berwick.*

1 Whole ordnance.

*As some of our readers may be pleased to see Bishop Leslie's

Latin version of this atrocious affair, we here transcribe the greater part of it from his volume printed at Rome in 1578. It will be observed that the style is much more concise than in the original :

'Anglorum copiæ Leythi pernoctant. Postero autem die Edinburgum versus per vicum qui à canonicis nomen habet progredientes, sex millibus equitum, qui terrestri itinere Bervico venerant, se conjungunt. Ad inferiorem urbis portam Angli tota die levibus præliis à Scotis lacessiti sistere coguntur. Repulsi, nocte appetente, se in castra recipiunt; sequenti die ad oppidum jam desertum ab omnibus oppugnandum universi prodeunt. Portis igitur, quæ clausæ erant, diruptis, in urbem irruunt, ac tormentis, quâ ex arce prospici potest, dispositis, obsidionem parant. Interea D. Stanhousius arcis præfectus magna vi tormenta bellica displodens, rupta ingenti hostium machina, Anglos circiter quingentos transverberat. Quam ob rem soluta obsidione, Angli eadem die in varias oppidi partes

JOHN SPOTISWOOD.

manner; yet was the prior permitted to take with him what he might carry of gold and silver plate. All the spoil was given to the poor, the rich sort forbearing to meddle with any part thereof. But that which was most admired was the speed they made in demolishing these edifices. For the Charterhouse-a building of exceeding cost and largeness-was not only ruined, but the stones and timber so quickly taken away, as, in less than two days' space, a vestige thereof was scarce remaining to be seen. They of Cupar in Fife, hearing what was done at Perth, went in like manner to their church, and defaced all the images, altars, and other instruments of idolatry; which the curate took so heavily, as the night following he put violent hands on

himself.

*

*

JOHN SPOTISWOOD, successively archbishop of Glasgow and of St Andrews in the reign of James VI., was born in 1565. A strenuous and active promoter of James's scheme for the establishment of Episcopacy in Scotland, he stood high in the favour of that king, as well as of Charles I., by whom he was made chancellor of Scotland in 1635. His death took place four years afterwards in London, the popular commotions having obliged him to retire from Scotland. He wrote, at the command of James, a History of the Church of Scotland, from A.D. 203 to 1625. When the king, on expressing The noblemen remained at that time in St Andrews; his wish for the composition of that work, was told that some passages in it might possibly bear too hard and because they foresaw this their answer would not be upon the memory of his mother, he desired Spotis-well accepted, and feared some sudden attempt for the wood to write and spare not;' and yet, says Bishop sent to the lords of Dun and Pittarrow, and others that queen with her Frenchmen lay then at Falkland-they Nicolson, the historian ventured not so far with favoured religion in the countries of Angus and Mearns, a commission as Buchanan did without one. The and requested them to meet at St Andrews the 4th day history was published in London in 1655, and is of June. Meanwhile they themselves went to the town considered to be, on the whole, a faithful and of Crail, whither all that had warning came, shewing impartial narrative. great forwardness and resolutions; and were not a little encouraged by John Knox, who, in a sermon made unto them at the same time, put them in mind of that he foretold at Perth, how there was no sincerity in the be kept, as they had found. Therefore did he exhort Queen Regent's dealing, and that conditions would not them not to be any longer deluded with fair promises, seeing there was no peace to be hoped for at their hands, who took no regard of contracts and covenants solemnly of the parties were masters, and strangers expulsed out sworn. And because there would be no quietness till one of the kingdom, he wished them to prepare themselves either to die as men, or to live victorious.

[Destruction of Religious Edifices in 1559.] Whilst these things passed, John Knox returned from Geneva into Scotland, and joining with the congregation, did preach to them at Perth. In his sermon, he took occasion to speak against the adoration of images, shewed that the same tended to God's dishonour, and that such idols and monuments of superstition as were erected in churches ought to be pulled down, as being offensive to good and godly people. The sermon ended, and the better sort gone to dinner, a priest, rather to try men's affections, than out of any devotion, prepared to say mass, opening a great case, wherein was the history of divers saints exquisitely carved. A young boy that stood by, saying that such boldness was unsufferable, the priest gave him a blow. The boy, in an anger, casting a stone at the priest, happened to break one of the pictures, whereupon stir was presently raised, some of the common sort falling upon the priest, others running to the altar and breaking the images, so as in a moment all was pulled down in the church that carried any mark of idolatry. The people, upon the noise thereof, assembled in great numbers, and, invading the cloisters, made spoil of all they found therein. The Franciscans had store of provision, both of victuals and household stuff; amongst the Dominicans the like wealth was not found, yet so

much there was as might shew the profession they made of poverty to be feigned and counterfeit. The Carthusians, who passed both these in wealth, were used in like

By this exhortation the hearers were so moved, as they fell immediately to the pulling down of altars and abused to idolatry in the town. The like they did the images, and destroyed all the monuments which were to St Andrews. The bishop hearing what they had done next day in Anstruther, and from thence came directly in the coast-towns, and suspecting they would attempt the same reformation in the city, came to it well accompanied, of purpose to withstand them; but after he had tried the affections of the townsmen, and found them all inclining to the congregation, he went away early the next morning towards Falkland to the queen. parish church, taking for his theme the history of the That day being Sunday, John Knox preached in the and applying the corruption which was at that time Gospel touching our Saviour's purging of the temple; in Jerusalem to the present estate in the church, and declaring what was the duty of those to whom God had given authority and power, he did so incite the auditors, as, the sermon being ended, they went all and made spoil of the churches, razing the monasteries of the Black and Gray Friars to the ground.

[James VI. and a Refractory Preacher.]

ignes injecerunt. Verum illud incendium latius spargere non poterant; quod propter assiduam castri ejaculationem ita fuerant disturbati, ut coacti pedem in castra retulerint. Postero tamen die oppidum summa hostium diligentia inflammatum per quatuor dies miserabili incendio conflagravit. Foris ab equite, aliisque militibus tam Anglis quam Scotis, tanquam à furiis omnia vastata et diruta fuerunt. Gubernator hoc tempore Comitem Angusium, D. Maxuellum, ac Georgium The king perceiving by all these letters that the death Douglasium educi ex custodiis jubet; exercitum quam accura- of his mother was determined, called back his ambastissimè cogit, ut Anglos regno ejiciat. Quod cum illi cognovissadors, and at home gave order to the ministers to sent, pridie Id. Maii castra movent; aggerem portus Leythi remember her in their public prayers; which they denied diruunt, et alios in adverso littore portus, oppidaque incendio to do, though the form prescribed was most Christian consumunt, ac naves spoliis onustas in Angliam traducunt. and lawful; which was, That it might please God to Quasdam etiam Scoticas naves, inter quas duæ præcipuæ et illuminate her with the light of his truth, and save her insignes erant, Salamander et Unicornis dicta, secum auferunt. from the apparent danger wherein she was cast.' Id. Maii solvunt. Exercitus, qui terra ducebatur, prima nocte, their denial, charges were directed to command all Merchia; quarta ad xv Kal. Junii Bervicum pervenit. Scoti bishops, ministers, and other office-bearers in the church, hostes insequi, infestare, aliquos etiam capere, illos denique ita to make mention of her distress in their public prayers, agitare, ut toto itineris hujus spatio vix quisquam segregare se and commend her to God in the form appointed. But of all the number, Mr David Lindsay at Leith, and the king's own ministers, gave obedience. At Edinburgh,

Setonii castra locat, secunda Dumbarri: tertia Rentoni in

à toto agmine auderet.'

*Nicolson's Scottish Historical Library, 1735, p. 68,

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where the disobedience was most public, the king, purposing to have their fault amended, did appoint the 3d of February for solemn prayers to be made in her behalf, commanding the bishop of St Andrews to prepare himself for that day; which when the ministers understood, they stirred up Mr John Cowper, a young man not entered as yet in the function, to take the pulpit before the time, and exclude the bishop. The king coming at the hour appointed, and seeing him in the place, called to him from his seat, and said: 'Mr John, that place was destinate for another; yet, since you are there, if you will obey the charge that is given, and remember my mother in your prayers, you shall go on.' He replying, he would do as the Spirit of God should direct him,' was commanded to leave the place. And making as though he would stay, the captain of the guard went to pull him out; whereupon he burst forth in these speeches: This day shall be a witness against the king in the great day of the Lord' and then denouncing a woe to the inhabitants of Edinburgh, he went down, and the bishop of St Andrews entering the pulpit, did perform the duty required. The noise was great for a while amongst the people; but after they were quieted, and had heard the bishop-as he was a most powerful preacher out of that text to Timothy, discourse of the duty of Christians in 'praying for all men,' they grieved

sore to see their teachers so far overtaken, and condemned their obstinacy in that point. In the afternoon, Cowper was called before the council, where Mr Walter Balcanquel and Mr William Watson, ministers, accompanying him, for some idle speeches that escaped them, were both discharged from preaching in Edinburgh during his majesty's pleasure, and Cowper sent prisoner to Blackness.

GEORGE BUCHANAN.

GEORGE BUCHANAN is more distinguished as a writer of classical Latinity than for his productions in the English language. He was born in Dumbartonshire in 1506, studied at Paris and St Andrews, and afterwards acted as tutor to the Earl of Murray. While so employed, he gave offence to the clergy by a satirical poem, and was obliged to take refuge on the continent, from which he did not return to Scotland till 1560. Though he had embraced the Protestant doctrines, his reception at the court of Mary was favourable: he assisted her in her studies, was employed to regulate the universities, and became principal of St Leonard's College, in the university of St Andrews. He joined, nowever, the Earl of Murray's party against the queen, and was appointed tutor to James VI., whose pedantry was probably in some degree the result of his instructions, and on whom he is said to have occasionally bestowed a hearty whipping. In 1571, he violently attacked the conduct and character of the queen, in a Latin work, entitled Detectio Marice Reginæ. After the assassination of his patron, Regent Murray, he still continued to enjoy the favour of the dominant party, whose opinion that the people are entitled to judge of and control the conduct of their governors, he maintained with great spirit and ability in a treatise De Jure Regni, published in 1579. Having by this book offended his royal pupil, he spent in retirement the last few years of his life, during which he composed in Latin his well-known History of Scotland, published in Edinburgh in 1582, under the title of Rerum Scoticarum Historia. He died in the same year, so poor, that his funeral took place at the public expense. Buchanan's reputation as a writer of Latin stands very high; the general excellence of his poetical compositions in this language has been already adverted to. As a historian, his style is held to unite the excellences of Livy and Sallust. Like

the former, however, he is sometimes too declamatory, and largely embellishes his narrative with fable. If his accuracy and impartiality,' says Dr Robertson, had been in any degree equal to the elegance of his taste, and to the purity and vigour of his style, his history might be placed on a level with the most admired compositions of the ancients. But instead of rejecting the improbable tales of chronicle-writers, he was at the utmost pains to adorn them; and hath clothed with all the beauties and graces of fiction, those legends which formerly had only its wildness and extravagance.'

In those who are accustomed to peruse the elegant Latin compositions of Buchanan, a specimen of his vernacular prose is calculated to excite some surprise. One exists in a tract called the Chamaleon, which he designed as a satire upon the slippery statesman, Secretary Maitland, of Lethington, whose final desertion to the queen's party he could never brief extract from it here subjoined, will suffice to forgive. A glance at this work, or even at the extinguish all lamentation for the fact of his other writings being in Latin. Yet this seemingly uncouth northern phraseology must have been the familiar daily speech of this rival of Horace and Virgil.

[The Chamæleon.]

Thair is a certane kynd of Beist callit Chameleon, engenderit in sic Countreis as the Sone hes mair Strenth in than in this Yle of Brettane, the quhilk1 albeit it be small of Corporance, noghttheless it is of ane strange Nature, the quhilk makis it to be na less celebrat and spoken of than sum Beastis of greittar Quantitie. The Proprieties 2 is marvalous, for quat Thing evir it be applicat to, it semis to be of the samyn3 Cullour, and imitatis all Hewis, excepte onelie the Quhyte and Reid; and for this caus anciene Writtaris commonlie comparis it to ane Flatterare, quhilk imitatis all the haill Maneris of quhome he fenzeis him self to be Freind to, except Quhyte, quhilk is taken to be the Symboll and Tokin gevin commonlie in Devise of Colouris to signifie Sempilnes and Loyaltie, and Reid signifying Manliness and heroyicall Courage. This Applicatioun being so usit, Zit5 peradventure mony that hes nowther sene the said Beist, nor na perfyte Portraict of it, wald beleif sick? thing not to be trew. I will thairfore set furth schortlie the Descriptioun of sic an Monsture not lang ago engendrit in Scotland in the Cuntre of Lowthiane, not far from Hadingtoun, to that effect that the forme knawin, the moist pestiferus Nature of the said Monsture may be moir easelie evited:8 For this Monsture being under coverture of a Manis Figure, may easeliar endommage9 and wers be eschapit 10 than gif it wer moir deforme and strange of Face, Behaviour, Schap, and Membris. Praying the Reidar to apardoun the Febilnes of my waike Spreit and Engyne, 11 gif.it can not expreme perfytelie ane strange Creature, maid by Nature, other willing to schaw hir greit Strenth,12 or be sum accident turnit be Force frome the common Trade and Course.

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11 Weak spirit and ingine.

12 Either willing to shew her great strength.

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