A history of Scotland from the Roman occupation

Front matter

iililililii II l'.IH{|l!ll,}j'Ji il I ro

President White LfBRARv

CORN'ELL UNIVBRSITY

Preface To Second Edition

In this impression a few corrections have been made, and the author has tried to profit from certain marginal adversaria by Dr Hay Fleming. Had they been more numerous the book would have benefited the more.

On one point which might be disputed the writer cleaves to his opinion. On pages 123, 124, Knox is said to have "broken the rules of his own Book of Discipline." The circumstances were as follows. Knox was " assured " that "the Queen had daunced excessively till after midnycht, becaus that she had receaved letteris that persecutioun was begun agane in France, and that her Uncles war begyning to steir thair taill, and to truble the hoill Realme of France." Upon this news Knox preached a sermon which the Queen, judging by the reports that it was a personal attack on herself, took ill, so she sent for the prophet.^ She said "Yf ye hear anything of my self that mislykis you, come to myself and tell me, and I shall hear you."^

I maintained, and maintain, that Mary was right, and that, if Knox had any business with the matter, he should have used private admonition, not a public sermon. The words of the Book of Discipline are : " Yf the offence be secreit and knawin to few, and rathir standis in suspitioun than in manifest probatioun, the offender aught to be privatle ad-

IV PREFACE.

monischeit to abstene from all appearance of evill." Mary's "offence" was dancing, probably in her own house. The " suspitioun " was that she danced because her uncles began to stir their tail, persecute, and so on. The Book of Discipline goes on : " Gyf the cryme be publict, and suche as is haynouse, as fornicatioun, drunkynnes, fechting, commoun sweiring, or execratioun, then aucht the offender to be callit in the presence of the Minister, Elderis, and Deacounis," and there admonished.^

Mary was not accused of fighting, drinking, fornicating, or swearing — on this occasion. Knox took neither of the courses prescribed in the Book of Discipline. On the reports and suspicions brought to him he preached a public sermon. By his own account of it (ii. 331, 333) he put an hypothetical case. He did not " utterly damn " dancing, if it did not interfere with duty, and if not indulged in by the performers "for the pleasur that thai tack in the displeasur of Goddis people." If they did that their reward would be " drynk in hell." ^ Knox (ii. 330) appears to have been certain that the Queen had thus sinned, and the inference is obvious. Instead of acting by the Book of Discipline, he had preached at his sovereign : the very practice which led to the troubles of Scotland.

Preface To First Edition

The number, variety, complexity, and importance of the events and characters of the Reformation and the reign of James VI. fill the present volume. Concerned with a period of less than a century, the volume is based on documents far more numerous than exist for the previous fifteen hundred years. After the accession of James VI. to the English throne (1603) the student loses the invaluable guidance of Mr Tytler, who lacked, indeed, the Spanish evidence first seriously explored by Mr Froude, but who is certainly, beyond all rivalry, the most learned and impartial historian of Scotland.

The present writer has made use of the printed Calendars and State Papers, and, in many cases, has had recourse to the original MSS. in the Record Office and the British Museum. Through the generosity of Father Pollen, S.J., he has had the advantage of using Father Stevenson's transcripts of the Cambridge MSS., for the most part once in the possession of the Regent Lennox. These have been more copiously employed by the author in his ' Mystery of Mary Stuart ' (1901). To the kindness of the Earl of Haddington, and of Lady Cecily Baillie-Hamilton, the author owes his knowledge of the Sprot papers as to the Cowrie Conspiracy, — papers which he has edited for, and presented to, the Rox-

VI PREFACE.

burghe Club. To the Rev. John Anderson, of the General Register House, and to Mr Gunton, Librarian at Hatfield House, he is very greatly indebted for assistance and advice ; not less to Father Pollen ; and on several points he has had the advantage of consulting Dr Hay Fleming and Major Martin Hume. He must also express his thanks to Mr Maitland Anderson and Mr Smith, of the University Library, St Andrews, and to Miss E. M. Thompson, who made many transcripts from the MS. Records, and helped in verifying references. The portrait of James VL is reproduced by permission of the Curator of the Scottish Gallery of National Portraits, Mr Caw.

The author must apologise for any errors in fact which have escaped his attention, or are due to that subconscious bias from which no historical student can be free. In his opinion the hardships of the Catholics, after the Reformation, have been rather cavalierly treated by many of our historians, and he has therefore dwelt upon a point too much neglected. As Sir Walter Scott observed in a private letter, our sympathies — at the period here treated, and later — are apt always to be with the party which is out of power.

A. LANG.

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

Chapter I

FROM THE cardinal's DEATH TO THE REGENCY OF MARY OF GUISE, I546-I5S4.

Anarchy ....

Arran besieges the castle Knox on the scene .

Early career of Knox The call of Knox .

The French take the castle Domestic treachery English invasion

PAGE

Battle of Pinkie . . . .

Mary at Inchmahone

French aid arrives (1548)

Mary lands in France (1548) ,

Martyrdom of Adam Wallace

Mary of Guise to be Regent .

The regency of Mary of Guise (1554'

PAGE 10

13 14

IS 16

Chapter II

THE REGENCY. THE MARRIAGE OF MARY STUART. 1554-1559-

Hope of social reforms .

The French unpopular .

New men and Knox

Knox in England .

Knox stirs up English Protestants

Knox and Calvin (1555) .

Knox and Lethington (1555) .

Knox and Mary of Guise (1556)

State of public opinion .

Popular literature , Godly ballads ....

Knox recalled to Scotland (1557) Weak war with England (1557) Protestant riots (1557) , Knox's scruples and " Blast " .

The first godly band (1557) Mary marries the Dauphin (1558) Mary Stuart ....

Chapter III. The Wars Of The Congregation

Martyrdom of Milne. Discontents

Protests of the Congregation (1558) Quentin Kennedy . . , The beggars' warning (1559) .

" The battle approacheth " (1559) Was Mary of Guise treacherous ?

Confusion of evidence The wrecking of Perth .

Priests condemned to die Conference at Perth The Regent garrisons Perth The ruin of St Andrews .

Edinburgh seized , ,

43 44 45 46

47 48

Proposed marriage of Arran and

Elizabeth ....

Protestants evacuate Edinburgh Singular statements of Knox .

Perfidy of Elizabeth The open rebellion , The wars of the Congregation Protestant league with England

The English besiege Leith (1560) Huntly deserts the Regent Knox's safe prophecy Death of Mary of Guise .

The Treaty of Edinburgh (1560)

57 58 59 60 61 62

63 64

65 66 67 68

Chapter IV. The Reformation Consummated, I560-1561

The age of ruin

NinianWinzet (1562)

Winzet not answered, but exiled

Knox's measure of success

Arran, Ehzabeth, and Amy Robsart

Missions to Mary and Elizabeth Death of Francis II. Wooings

Arran .....

Mary a widow. Lord James Stewart The queen of many wooers (1561) A compromise suggested Declined by Ehzabeth (1561) .

Mary leaves France (1561) Predestined doom of Mary

The Protestants infringe the treaty

Details of the infringement

A revolutionary Convention (1560)

Confession of Faith

Circular reasoning .

Persecuting Acts

The old clergy . . ,

" Knox's Liturgy " .

Preachers, how appointed

Social and educational reforms

Failure of these hopes (is6r) .

The new ethics and theology .

Scottish economy in thought .

Knox unchristian .

Misery of the Cathohcs .

of

90 91 92

93 94

95 96

97 98

Chapter V. Mary In Scotland, I561-1563

CONTENTS.

IX

CHAPTER VI. Mary's marriage, 1563-1565

Chastelard 124

Lethington's marriage diplomacy

Persecution of Catholics . . . 126 " God save that sweet face I " . . 127 Knox wooes a young lass . . 128 Elizabeth proposes the return of

Lennox ....

Knox " convocates the lieges "

War of Kirk and State (1563) Tyranny of pulpiteers (1564) .

Dudley proposed for Mary's hand Elizabeth opposes Lennox's coming

129 130

131 132

133 134

EUzabeth causes " strange tragedies "

The English send Darnley

The English snare (1565)

Riocio " creeps in " (1564)

Uninvited return of Bothwell (1565)

Bothwell exiled

Darnley to marry the Queen

Darnley braves Elizabeth

Charges of treachery

The Raid of Baith .

Murray declines to come to Court

Marv's marriage . t •

137 138 139 140 141 142

143 144

145 146

Chapter VII. The Two Murders, 1565-1567

Scandal about Riccio (1565)

Mary pursues Miuray

ISO

Murray retreats to England

The comedy of Elizabeth

^52

Darnley's feud with Riccio

Mary's attitude to religion

iSS

Mary's aim toleration ? .

Massacre or murder?

Secret conspirings (February 1566) .

Darnley's murder covenant (1566) .

The ghost of Douglas treason

The slaying of Riccio

Parliament dismissed

Mary recovers power

Isolation of Darnley .

I Birthof James VL (1566) . . 165

Darnley threatens Murray . . 166

Bothwell and Darnley . . . 167

Band against Darnley (October 1566) 168

Mary visits Bothwell at Hermitage 169

Mary's illness at Jedburgh . . 170

The Craigmillar conference . . 171

Darnley : plot and counterplot . 172

The affair of Hiegait (1566-1567) . 173 Mary brings Darnley to Kirk-o'-

Murray secures his alibi . . . 175

Death of Darnley (Feb. 10, 1567) . 176 "Jesu! Paris, how begrimed you

are I " 177

Chapter VIII. The Prisons Of Mary Stuart, 1567-1568

Mary suspected .... 181

Murray retires to France . . 182

" Ainslie's band " (April 19, 1567) . 183

Bothwell abducts Mary , . . 184 The fall of Mary . . . .183 Mary marries Bothwell (May 15,

1567) 186

Mary surrenders at Carberry . . 187

Treachery of Lethington . . 188

" The facts are only too well proved " 189

The casket is seized . . . 190

Mary signs her abdication . . 191

Throckmorton saves Mary , . 192

Character of Murray . . . 193

CONTENTS.

Murray Regent. Bothwell in Den

mark

Murray's party disunited (1568) Mary escapes from Lochleven Mary defeated at Langside Elizabeth's diplomacy Mary is deceived Rival duplicity of Mary .

Mary denies the casket letters

The letters shown at York Subtleties of Lethington .

Negotiations (November 1568) Murray produces his charges .

Weakness of Mary's commissioners The "Articles" against Mary Examination of the casket letters .

The inquiry huddled up .

Chapter IX. Regencies Of Murray And Lennox, 1568-1572

Maiy is threatened .... 213 Civil war imminent (1569) . . • 2r4 Murray intrigues with Norfolk (1569) 215 Murray in spring 1569 . . . 216 Schemes for Mary's release , . 217 Norfolk a suitor of Mary . . 218 Murray deserts Norfolk . . . 219 Murray's party reject Mary's proposals 220

Crawford impeaches Lethington . 221

Lethington's sin against Mary . 222

Lethington true to Norfolk . . 223

The rebellion of the North (1569) . 224 Murray tries to get possession of

Vengeance overtakes Murray . . 226

Murray's funeral .... 227

Randolph works for civil war . . 228

" The Douglas wars " . . . 229

Sussex and Lethington . . . 230

The mystery of Lethington . . 231

The treaty of Chatsworth . . 232 Knox preaches against Kirkcaldy

The Ridolphi plot (1571) . . 234

Mary loses Dumbarton . . . 235

New actors 236

Murder of Lennox .... 237

Morton and Archibald Douglas . 238

Failure of Ridolphi's plot . . 239

Mar Regent. Siege of the castle . 240

Tulchan bishops (1572) . . . 241

Intrigue to hand over Mary (1572) . 242 Death of Mar. Failure of intrigue

(1572) 243

Chapter X. Regency Of Morton, 157 2-1577-t 581

Death of Knox (Nov. 24, 1372) . 247

Pacification of Perth (Feb. 1573) . 248

The castle surrenders to England . 249

Death of Kirkcaldy and Lethington 250

Condition of the country . . 251

State of the Kirk .... 252

Morton's corruption . . . 253

The General Assembly . . . 254

Mongrel Episcopacy . . , 255

Andrew Melville to the rescue . 256

Raid of the Reidswire (157s) . . 257

Strong rule of Morton . . . 258

He inclines to Mary (1576-77) . 259

Argyll works against Morton (1578) 260

Fall and recovery of Morton . , 261 Mary's new intrigue (1578) . . 262 Death of AthoU (1579) . . . 263 The Hamiltons exiled . . . 264 Arrival of Stewart d'Aubigny . . 265 Intrigues of d'Aubigny (1579-1580) . 266 D'Aubigny (Lennox) secures Dumbarton 267

Elizabeth deserts Morton (1580) Arrest of Morton (Dec. 31, 1580) Plots and forgeries (1581) Trial of Morton Execution of Morton (1581) .

CONTENTS.

XI

Chapter XI. King And Kirk, 1581-1584

Morton and the Kirk

. 276

Claims of the Kirk .

• 277

James a Protestant .

. 278

Mary's intrigues (1581) .

• 279

Cross intrigues by Jesuits

. 280

Lennox's vain hopes (1582)

. 281

Jesuit blunders

. 282

A national covenant

. 283

A band against Lennox (1582

. 284

The Raid of Ruthven (1582)

. 285

An English murder plot .

. 286

James and Lennox .

. 287

The raiders play for safety

. 288

Lennox leaves Scotland . . . 289

Death of Lennox (1583) . . . 290

James deserts his mother . . 291

James shakes off the raiders . . 292

James a free king .... 293

James's letter to Guise . . . 294

Throckmorton's plot . . , 295

James writes to the Pope (1584) . 296

Plot and execution of Gowrie . , 297

Flight of the preachers . . . 298

The Kirk overthrown (1584) . , 299

" The Black Acts " . . . 300

CHAPTER Xn.

THE END OF MARY STUART. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MASTER OF GRAY. 1584-1587.

Cecil schemes to separate James

from Mary ..... 304 " Graius an Paris ? " . . . 305 " What has your house done?" . 306 Perfidy of James .... 307 The castle plot and the Border

meeting 308

Latin and Greek of Arran . . 309 The Master will betray Mary . .310 Mary and the Master . . .311 English intrigues against Arran (1585) 313 The exiles let shp .... 314 All the exiles return (1585) . . 315 Raid of Stirling. Fall of Arran (1585) 316

Disappointment of the Kirk . . 317

Fall of Adamson (1586) . . . 318

Walsingham entraps Mary (1586) . 319

James receives Archibald Douglas . 320

League with England . . . 321

Mary condemned to die . . . 322

James desires her strict confinement 323

Honesty of the Master . . . 324

Embassy of the Master (1587) . 325

Error of Mr Froude . . . 326

Honesty of the Master . . . 327

Proof from Logan of Restalrig . 328

The preachers and Mary (1587) ■ 329

Chapter XIII. The King Of Many Enemies, 1587-1593

After Mary's death .... 334

Dilemma of Elizabeth . . . 33S

The Master suffers for his religion . 336

Parliament of 1587 .... 337

The case of Habakkuk . . . 338

Condition of the country . . 339

The Armada (1588) . . .340 Death of Angus .... 341 " Fiddler's wages " . . . . 342 Scottish Catholics and Spain (1589) 343 The king " weary of life " . . 344 The king pursues his rebels . . 345

Xll

CONTENTS.

Courage of James .

The king's marriage

The king seeks his bride

The king's return (1590)

Elizabeth on Puritans

Beginning of Bothwell troubles

(1591) ...

Preachers claim jurisdiction Bothwell attacks Holyrood "The great band " .

353 354 355 356

Murder of the bonny Earl (1592) . 357

Maitland driven from office . . 358

Bothwell's apology .... 359

The Kirk secures her charter (1592) 360

"The Laird of Wanton Logie" . 361

Danger of the king .... 362

The Spanish Blanks (1593) . • 3^3

Elizabeth abets Bothwell . . 365

The king's notes as to Spain . . 366

Protestant anxiety .... 3^7

Bothwell captures the king (1593) . 3^8

Chapter XIV. Intrigues Of Spain, England, And Bothwell, I593-is95

Bothwell and Colville trap the king

(1593) 372

Terms of Bothwell . . . 373

Bothwell acquitted of witchcraft . 374

Strange intrigue of Elizabeth . . 375

James escapes from Bothwell . 376

Impossibility of religious toleration 377

Morals of the age .... 378 Presbyterian excommunications

(1593) 379

Alliance of Bothwell and Gowrie . 380

James prevents a battle royal . . 381

The godly plot to trap the king ( 1593) 382

Vain attempt at compromise (1594) 383

Prince Henry born, and threatened 384

Bothwell's raid. Gowrie retires to

Padua

A menacing preacher

Kirk and king

Huntly receives foreign gold (1595)

Casuistry of Bothwell

Colville deserts Bothwell

Bothwell turns Catholic .

Battle of Glenrinnes

The king scatters the rebels .

Argyll imprisoned (1595)

Exile of Huntly and Bothwell (1595)

Death of Maitland .

The troubles with Mr Black .

Financial reform

385 386

387 388

Chapter XV. The King Conquers The Preachers, 1596-1597

The Octavians (1596) . . . 402

The mystery of Pourie , . . 403

Outpouring of grace . . . 404

Bochim 405

" Here end all sincere Assemblies " 406

Kinmont Willie (1596) . . . 407

Cecil and Pourie .... 408

Forgeries of Pourie . . . 409

Huntly returns .... 410

Insolence of Andrew Melville . . 411 War of Kirk and king . . .412

Declinature of jurisdiction . . 413

The prophets to be judges

The prophets banished Edinburgh

The king truckles .

Riot of December 17 (1596) .

Maclean in the tumult .

James terrifies the burgesses .

Mr Bruce appeals to Hamilton

" Of all fools the worst " .

James re-enters Edinburgh (January

419 420 421

422 423

CONTENTS.

xm

Chapter XVI. James On Ill Terms With England, 1597-1600

Toleration and democracy

VicttE causa ....

The Synod of Fife .

Assembly of Perth (iS97)

Submission of Huntly and Errol

Witch-burnings

Episcopacy restored (1598)

Irish complications (1598)

Celts refuse rent Bad terms with England (1598) Death of Lachlan Maclean (1598) The judges defy the king (1599) " A hair in the king's neck " .

The doubtful letter to the Pope Preachers and play-actors .

Chapter XVII. The Gowrie Conspiracy, 160o

Cowrie's religion .

An useful Scot

Gowrie at Court

The convention on finance

Conspiracies of Colville (1598)

Gowrie in August .

The evidence ....

448 449 450

Andrew Henderson

45 1

The pot of gold

The turret ....

452 453

The king said to have ridden away The king cries " Treason ! " .

Ramsay to the rescue . . . 456

Death of Gowrie .... 457

The king returns to Falkland . . 458

Evidence of Craigingelt . . . 459

Henderson vanishes . . . 460

Henderson turns king's evidence . 461

Henderson in the plot? . . . 462

Evidence of Oliphant . , . 463

Restalrig 464

Affairs of the Kirk .... 465

Position of the preachers . . 466

Scotland still anarchic , , . 467

Chapter XVIII. James Succeeds To Elizabeth, 160i-1610

James and Essex (1600- 1601) .

"No bishops 1" . . . .

Cecil intrigues with James

Trial of the preachers (1605) .

The holiday of August 5

Threat and counter-threat

Trouble with Mr Bruce (1602)

Alarm of the Council (1606) .

Better relations with England .

Cadmeian victories . . . .

More of Mr Bruce . . . .

Strife of nobles and bishops (1606) .

James King of England (1603)

The Melvilles maltreated

James's religion . . . .

Abuse of prerogative

Governs Scotland by the pen .

Linlithgow convention (1606) .

Hampton Court Conference (1604) .

Oppression of the ministers (1608) .

The Assembly of Aberdeen (1605) .

Persecution of Catholics .

Declared seditious . . . .

Success of the persecution

The golden Act . . . .

Letter of Ogilvie of Pourie

XIV

CONTENTS.

Chapter XIX. The Last Years Of James VI., 1603-1624

Abortive scheme of Union The Posi-na/i {1608) Fall of Balmerino ....

Confessions of Balmerino Consecration of bishops (1610) Reforms of administration Persecution of Catholics (1613) , Martyrdom of Father Ogilvie (1614-

Jesuits and saints . . , .

General Assembly (1616)

"A mere hotch-potch " .

• 5"

■SOI

The king visies Scotland (1617

• 512

Innovations in worship .

• 513

50^

Calderwood in trouble .

• 514

The Articles of Perth (1618)

Black Saturday (1621) .

Sermons under censure .

• 517

Death of James (1625) .

. 518

James sowed the wind ,

. 519

Character of James .

. 520

Sio

Chapter XX. Highlands And Borders, 1603-1610

Border commissioners (1605)

■ 523

Lord Maxwell executed ,

• 524

The Highlands

• 525

Company of the Lewes .

. 526

Celtic feuds .

• 527

The Macgregors

. 528

The nameless clan .

• 529

Band of Icolmkill .

• 530

Lochiel ....

• 531

Glen Nevis Camerons . , Macneils and Macleans .

Escape of Dunluce .

Argyll recovers Kintyre and Isla Quieting of the Highlands

Orkney

Execution of the Earl of Orkney (1615)

532 533 534 535 536 537