Privy Council. They appeared ; and Pont, in their
name, after protestation of their readiness to yield
all lawful obedience, declined the judgment of that
court, as incompetent, according to the laws of the
country, to take cognizance of a cause which was
* Bishoprick of Glasgow devolvit in the King's hands : Re-
cord of Privy Council, April 12. 1582. — The royal gift, be-
stowing the bishopric /j/f;?© jV/rf, being presented to the Lords
of Se .sion for t!ieir confiimation, the King discharged them, by
letter, frcm admitting the commissioners of thechuich as a party.
But the Lords passed an interlocutor (?>lay 25.) sustaining their
right to be heard. The ministers had the support of all the ad-
vocates, except Dav'd Macgill, who '.vas King's advocate and
Montgomery's procurator. When the cause was to be called,
the i 'resident was sent for to Dalkeith by the King, and a stop
put to the process. Cald. iii. 109.
268 I^n E OF ANDREW MELVILLE.
purely ecclesiastical*. This was done amidst the
menaces and taunts of Arran, who was peculiarly
exasperated at seeing the king disposed to shed tears,
while one of the ministers affectionately warned him
to be on his guard against wicked counsellors.
JMelville was chosen moderator of the General
Assembly, which met at St Andrews in April 1582.
Upon their taking up Montgomery's cause, as re«
ferred to them by the presbytery of Stirling, the
Master of Requests presented a letter from his Ma-
jesty, desiring the Assembly not to proceed against
him for any thing connected w4th the bishopric of
Glasgow. Soon after a messenger at arms entered
the house, and charged the moderator and members
of the assembly, on the pain of rebellion, to desist
irom the process. After serious deliberation, the
assembly agreed to address a respectful letter to his
]Majesty ; resolved that it was their duty to proceed
with the trial ; summoned Montgomery, who appealed
to the privy council ; ratilied the sentence of the pres-
bytery of Stirling, suspending him from the exercise
of the ministry ; and, having found eight articles of
the charge against him proved, declared that he had
incurred the censures of deposition and excommuni-
cation. The pronouncing of the sentence was pre-
vented by the submission of the culprit, who ap-
peared before the assembly, withdrew his appeal, and
solemnly promised to interfere no farther with the
bishopric. Though gratified with this act of submis-
* Dischairge proceiding contra Mr Ro* Montgonierie : JRec,
ot Vrivy Council, die ut svpra*
LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 269
si Oil, the assembly dreaded his tergiversation, and
therefore gave instructions to the presbytery of
Glasgow to watch his conduct, and provided they
found that he violated his engagement, to give im-
mediate information to the presbytery of Edinburgh,
who were authorised to appoint one of their number
to pronounce the sentence of excommunication
against him. These precautions were not unneces-
sary. Urged on by his own avarice, and the im-
portunities of Lennox, who was incensed at his de-
signs being thwarted, the assembly was scarcely
broken up, when ^lontgomery began to preach at
court and to revive his episcopal claims. The pres-
bytery of Glasgow^ having met in consequence of
this, he entered the house in which they were as-
sembled, and, accompanied by the magistrates of the
city and an armed force, presented an order from
the king to stop their procedure. Upon their re-
fusal, the moderator, John Howieson, minister of
Cambuslang, was pulled out of the chair by the
provost, and after being struck several times with
great brutality, was conveyed to prison. The stu-
dents of the university, for testifying their indigna-
tion at such conduct, were dispersed by the guard,
and several of them wounded. In spite of the con-
fusion produced by this disgraceful intrusion, the
presbytery continued sitting until they finished
their deed, finding, that jNIontgomery had violated
his promise and contravened the act of the General
Assembly. This was transmitted to the presbytery
of Edinburgh, who appointed John Davidson.
270 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.
minister of Libbertoii, to excommunicate Mont-
gomery. Davidson pronounced the sentence ac-
cordingly ; and, although the court threatened and
stormed, it was intimated on the succeeding Sab-
bath from the pulpits of Edinburgh and Glasgow,
and all the surrounding churches '^.
Lennox and Arran were enraged beyond measure
at this resolute behavionu' of the church-courts. A
proclamation was issued by the Privy Council, de-
claring the excommunication of Montgomery to be
null and void. Such as refused him payment of
the episcopal rents were ordered to be imprisoned
in the castle of Inverness f . The College of Glas-
gow was laid under a temporary interdict on account
of the opposition made by its members to their new
bishop. The ministers of Edinburgh, on account
of their freedom in condemning the late measures
of the court, and pointing out the favourites as the
guilty advisers of them, were repeatedly called be-
fore the council and insulted ; and one of them, John
Dury, was banished from the capital, and discharg-
ed from preaching L
IMelville preached the sermon § at the opening of
* Bulk of the Uuniv. Kirk, ff. 114. 117.— 123. Cald. MS.
vol. iii. pp. 68, 74. — 7, 83, 91. — 112. Melville's Diary, p.
95. Spotswood, pp. 316. — 320.
When informed thut Davidson had ventured to preach in his
own chuich on the Sabbath subsequent to the excommunication,
Lennox exclaimed, Cest un 'petit Diable !
t Record of Privy Council, July 20, 1582.
t Cald. iii. 108, ]14.
4 His text was 1 Tim. iv. 10.
LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 271
a meeting of tlie General Assembly, extraordinarily
convened at tins critical juncture. He inveighed
against those who had introduced the hludie guUie *
(as he termed it) of absolute power into the country,
and who sought to erect a new popedom in the per-
son of the prince. The pope, he said, was the first
who united the ecclesiastical supremacy to the civil,
which he had wrested from the emperor. Since the
Reformation, he had, with the view of suppressing
the gospel, delegated his absolute power to the
emperor, and tlie kings of Spain and France ; and
from France, where it had produced the horrors of
St Bartholomew, it was brought into this country.
He mentioned the design, then on foot, of resigning
the King's authority into the hands of the Queen,
which had been devised eight years ago, ^when he
was in France, and was expressed in prints contain-
ing the figure of a queen with a child kneeling at
her feet and craving her blessing. And he named
bishops Beaton and Lesley, as the chief managers of
that affair. ** This will be called meddling with
civil affairs (exclaimed he) ; but these things tend
to the wreck of religion, and therefore I rehearse
them f ."
As this assembly was considered as a continu-
ation of the preceding one, INIelville was appoint-
ed to retain the chair. The assembly drew up
a spirited remonstrance to the King and Council,
complaining of the late proceedings, and craving a
redress of grievances. They complained that the
* bloody knife or sword. t Cald. ili, 113, 114.
272 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE
autliority of tlic cliiirch had been abrogated, her
censures condemned and disannulled, and her minis-
ters obstructed, maltreated, and shamefully abused
in the discharge of their office ; that his majesty
had been persuaded, by some of his counsellors, to
lay claim to a spiritual power, as if he could not be
a complete king and head to the commonwealth
unless he was also head of the church ; and that the
-two jurisdictions, which God had divided, were thus
confounded, benefices conferred by absolute authority,
and unworthy persons intruded into the ministerial
office to gratify the pleasure of men and advance
their worldly interest, to the great hurt of religion,
and in direct opposition to the standing laws of the
land. These complaints were arranged under four-
teen heads, and the assembly concluded by " be-
seeching his ISlajesty most humbly, for the love of
God who had placed his Grace on his royal throne,
and had hitherto wondrously maintained and de-
fended his authority," to redress their grievances,
with '* tlie advice of men that fear God, and do
tender his Grace's estate and quietness of this com-
monwealth.'* INIelville was appointed, along with
a number of other members, to go to Perth, where
the King was then residing, and to present this re-
monstrance.
The favourites expressed high displeasure at
hearing of this deputation, and the rumour ran that
the commissioners would be massacred, if they ven-
tured to approach the court. When they reached
Perth, Sir James ]Melvillc of Halhill waited on
James JMelvillc, and besought him to persuade his
LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 273
uncle not to appear, as Lennox and Arran were
particularly incensed against him for the active part
which he had taken in defeating their measures.
When the message was brought to him, and his
nephew began to urge him not to despise the friendly
advice of their kinsman, Melville replied, " I am
not afraid, thank God! nor feeble-spirited in the
cause and message of Christ : come what God
pleases to send, our commission shall be executed."
Having obtained access to the King in council, the
commissioners presented their remonstrance. When
it had been read, Arran looking round the assembly
with a threatening countenance, exclaimed, " Who
dares subscribe these treasonable articles ?" " We
DARE," replied Melville; and advancing to the table,
took the pen from the clerk and subscribed. The
other commissioners immediately followed his ex-
ample. Presumptuous and daring as he was, Arran
felt abashed and awed for the moment ; Lennox
addressed the commissioners in a mild tone ; and
they were peaceably dismissed. Certain English-
men, who happened to be present, expressed their
astonishment at the bold carriage of the minis-
ters, and could scarcely be persuaded that they had
not an armed force at hand to support them. They
might be surprized ; for, more than forty years
elapsed after that period, before any of their coun-
trymen were able to meet the frown of an arbitrary
court with such firmness and intrepidity *.
* Bulk, of the Univ. Kirk, ff. 125—127. Melville's Diary,
p. 96. Cald. MS. vol. ill. pp. 123 — 9. Petiie, part 3, p. 431.
VOL. I. S
274 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.
In all these contendings, the ministers had no
countenance or support from any of the nobility.
They acted solely upon their own convictions of
duty, and were not animated by the prospect of ex-
ternal protection from the rage of those whom they
offended. There is no evidence of their having
been concerned in the confederacy which led to a
change in the administration of the country. But,
on the other hand, it is evident that their resistance
contributed greatly to check the career of the favour-
ites, and roused the nation to assert their liberties so
ignominiously trampled on by unworthy minions and
insolent strangers. Had they acted in as passive a
manner as the nobility had hitherto done, a des-
potism might have been established in the country,
which nothing short of a national convulsion could
have overturned. The resistance which they made
to the arbitrary measures of the court was perfectly
defensible and legal. ^Vhile they kept within the
strict line of ecclesiastical business, their procedure
was authorized by law. They were entitled to
disregard the prohibitory mandates which were
issued, and to hold them as forged, as surreptitiously
obtained, or illegally granted by corrupt courtiers,
who attempted to supersede the statutes of the
realm, and to stop the established course of justice.
And they had a right to employ, in defence of their
liberties, those censures which were competent to
them, and which in this light had been solemnly
sanctioned and repeatedly recognized by acts of the
legislature. At the same time their resistance was
LIFE OF AXDUEW MELVILLE. 275
tempered by a becomiiij^ respect for authority, and
a due regard to public peace. They supplicated,
represented, remonstrated. No tumult was excit-
ed by them. And although pulpits were forced,
and church-courts violated, and ministers assaulted,
they never attempted to raise the populace, or, ac-
cording to a practice common at that time, to arm
their friends in their defence.
The haughtiness, rapacity, and arbitrary mea-
sures of the favourites at length exhausted the
patience of the nobles, who resolved to free them-
selves and the country from a disgraceful servitude.
The course which they took to accomplish this was
very different from the open and regular resistance
of the assemblies of the church. A combination
having been secretly formed among the principal
barons, they got possession of the King's person by-
surprize, compelled Lennox to leave the kingdom,
and Arran to confine himself to one of his own
houses, and took upon themselves the direction of
public affairs. By this enterprize, known by the
name of the Raid of Rutlwen, the church was re-
stored to her liberty, and enjoyed a temporary calm.
Nothing can be a clearer proof of the haughtiness
with which Lennox had used his power, and the
dangerous influence which he was understood to
possess over the royal mind, than the inexorable
manner in which the confederated lords insisted on
his quitting the country, contrasted with their con-
duct to Arran, whose personal character and private
manners were incomparably more hateful and de-
S 2
§76 LIFE OP ANDREW MELVILLE.
tested. If they were really actuated by any favour
for the latter, or, which is the more probable sup-
position, if they imagined that the detestation felt
at his vices would prevent him from ever regaining
his former influence, they were soon undeceived, and
smarted severely for their criminal partiality or im-
politic forbearance.
Soon after this change of administration, John
Winram, sub-prior of the abbey of St Andrews,
and superintendent of Fife, died at an advanced
age *. Though inclined to the reformed sentiments
at an early period, he had retained his situation in
the popish chui'ch until its overthrow. His timidity
and temporizing conduct were often blame'l by the
protestants, and afforded topics of invective against
him to the Roman Catholics, when he at last de-
serted their communion. He appears to have been
a man of amiable dispositions and of considerable
learning f .
* John Johnston, in his verses to the memory of Winram, says,
that he died on the 28th September 1581. (Life of John Knox,
ii. 443.) But that September 18. 1582 is the true date, ap-
pears from a decreet of the Lords of Session, against the tenants
of Portmoak, Nov. 24. 1582,—" the Priory of St Servan be
within the Loch of Levin, otherwise called Portmoak — vacand
be demission of the same be umqll Mr John Wynram, last Prior
and albeit it be of veritie that the said Mr John departit this
mortal life upon the xviii of Sept*" last," &c. The Priory of
Portmoak having been resigned by him, was given to the Col-
lege of St Leonard's in 1580. (Register of Presentations to
Benefices, vol. ii. f. 37.)
t Life of John Knox. i. 31, Ii. 443. NIcol Burne's Dispu-
tation : Admonition to the Ministers, — In the Records of the
I.IFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 277
At this time too the country was deprived of its
greatest literary ornament, by the death of Buchanan.
The splendour of his talents is universally acknow-
ledged, and his political sentiments and moral cha-
racter have found able advocates. But he deserves
also to live in the memory of his countrymen as a
sincere and zealous friend to the principles of the re-
formation. He had not concealed his partiality to
this cause when he was abroad *, and after his return
to his native country, he gave it his uniform and
most decided support f. Melville appears to have
university of St Andrews he is designed *' Sacrarum literarura
professor eximius." I was formerly disposed to suspect, that
the Catechism which Bale ascribes to Winram, under the name
of Wouram or Wyrem^ was the same with Archbishop Hamil-
ton's (Life of Knox, i. 411.) But in a list of books be-
longing to the university of St Andrews, taken in the year 1599,
are the two following separate entries :
** Catechismus D. J. Winram Supprior.
Catechismus Jo. Hamilton Epi."
The superintendent was of the family of Rathovr, and married
Margaret Stewart, Lady Kinawdy, (relict of — — Ayton of
Kinawdy) who died March 1573. (Act Buik of the Commis-
sarlot of St Andrews j May 1. and Oct. 18. 1574.)
* Langueti Epistolae, lib. ii. ep. 37.
t Dr Irving says, '* The extravagances of John Knox, have
received no splendid encomiums from the historical pen of
Buchanan. He was too enlightened to applaud the fierce spirit of
intoleration in men who had themselves tasted the bitterness of per-
secution." (Memoirs of Buchanan, p. 316. 2nd. edit.) The
Doctor appears to have overlooked the fact, that some of the
strongest measures to which he affixes the character of ** intolera-
tion," were approved by an assembly of which Buchanan was not
only a member, but also the moderator^ Buchanan's usual way
is to pronounce his encomiums on individuals when he records
their death, and bis history does not reach the death of Knox*
278 LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE.
enjoyed a large share of liis friendship and confidence;
and the last interview between them, presents us
with some of the most interevSting traits in the
character of the most original writer that ever
Scotland produced *.
While JMelville was engaged in this contest in
behalf of the liberties of the church, he found him-
* " That September, in tyme of vacans, my vncle Mr Andro,
Mr Tliomas Biicbanan, and J beiiing v* Mr George Bucbana was
^veak. and bis bistorie under }'e press, past ower to Edin"^. annes
earend to visit him and sie the wark, When we cam to bischiil-
mer we faud liim sitting in bis chaire teatching hi-* young man y*
servit him in bis cbalmer to spell a, b, ab •, e, b, eb ; &c. efter
saiiuation Mr Andro sayes, 1 sie, sir, yie ar no' ydle. better
this quoth he noi' steliing sheipe, or sitting ydle quhilk is als ill.
y'eher he shew ws the espistle dedicatorie to the kingj the
quhiik when Mr Andro had read, he tauld him j* it was obscure
in sum places and wanted certean words to perfyt the sentence.
Sayes he, J may do na roair for thinking on a notber mater.
What is that, sayes Mr Andro. to die quoth he : hot I leave y*
and manie rna things to you to helpe. (He was telling him also
of Blak woods answer to his hoik de iure regni.) We went
from hln' to the printers wark hous, whom we faud at the end of
the J 7 bulk of his Chronicle, at a place qhullk we thought verie
hard for the tyme, qbuilk might be an occasion of steving the
haill work, anent the burial of Davie. Therfor steying the
printer from proceiding we cam to Mr George again and fand
hih' bedfast by [contrary to J his custome, and asking him whow
he did, Even going the way of weilfare sayes he. Mr Thomas
his cubing s(h}
y* the king ivald be oflf ndit w* it and it might stey all the wark.
tell me man sayes be gifFi have tauld the treuthe. yis sayes Mr
Thomas ^iv I think sa. I will byd his fead and all his kin's
then ir^'^he, jiray, piay to God for me and let him direct all. Sa
be the printing of bis Cionicle was endit y* malst lerned wjse
and godlie man endit this moital lyff." Melville's Diary, p. 90
IJFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 279
self also involved in the performance of extraor-
dinary duty at St Andrews. Archbishop Adam-
son had begun to officiate as a preacher in the town,
but as he was sometimes absent, and at other times
did not feel himself disposed for such public appear-
ances, jNlclville was often prevailed on, at his request,
to occupy his place in the pulpit. On the death of
Hamilton, the kirk-scssion petitioned for his ser-
vices, and during the vacancy of their parish, the
public duties of the Sabbath were divided between
him and his nephew, James jMelville*. He was
extremely anxious that they should fix on an in-
dividual properly qualified for discharging the pas-
toral duties among them, and one who would be
useful in his station to the university. His exer-.
tions in forwarding this object were not spontane-
ous on his part, but made at the express ap-
pointment of the General Assembly, and at the
particular request of the kirk-session of St An-
drews f . The individual first chosen was the cele-
brated Robert Pont. He appears to have been a
native of St Andrews, had held the ofi[ice of elder
in that congregation for some time after the re-
formation, and was at present minister of St Cuth-
bert's Church, and provost of Trinity College, Edin-
burgh I, In compliance with the invitation now given
* Melville's Diary, p. 66,
t Register of Kirk-session of St Andrews, Dec. 6. and 20.
1581, and May 9. 1582. Bulk of Univ. Kirk, f. 134, a.
J ** Mr Robert Pont" signs, among the elders, a deed of
the session, March 20. 1560, and another May 14. 1561.
280 LIFE OF ANDREAV MELVILLE.
him, Pont came to St Andrews, and officiated as mi-
nister to the congregation for nearly twelve months,
but being unable to procure a sti}3end, left it with
the consent of the General Assembly *. This oc-
currence, with the cause in which it originated, was
the occasion of much uneasiness to Melville. The
late minister of the town had, during the latter
part of his life, grown remiss in the discharge of his
pastoral functions, and allowed the ecclesiastical
discipline to fall in a great measure into disuse.
The consequence w^as, that some of the principal
inhabitants had no desire to obtain an active and
conscientious minister, and would have been much
better pleased with a person of mean gifts, provided
only he would allow them to live at peace, as they
termed it, and not disturb them with reproofs from
the pulpit, or with sessional ])rosecutions. The
prior and pensioners of the abbey availed them-
selves of this feeling, and, with the connivance of
the magistrates of the city, retained the funds
(Record of Kirk session of St Andrews.) I understand him to
be the person called " Air Robert Kynpont," who was one of
the commissioners from St Andrews to the General Assemblj
1560, and whom the assembly declared qualified *' for minis-
iTinu; and teaching." (Keith, Hist. 498.) '* Maister Robert
Pontt commissioner of the superintendentrie of Murray," was
presented to " the personage and vicarage of the parish kirk of
Biroie, in the diocie of Murray.'* Jan. 13.1567. (Reg. of Present,
to Benefices, vol. i. f. 2.) " He was presented to '* the vicajage
of St Cuthbert's kirk, vaicand be the deceise of W" Hairlaw,"
Dec. 29. 3 57S. (Reg. of Privy Seal, vol. 45, f. 97.) He was
made piovost of Trinity College, Jan. 27. 1571, and resigned
this office, June 23, 1585. (Reg. of Present, vols. i. ii.)
* Bulk of the Univ. Kiik, f. 134, a.
LIFE OF ANDREW MELVILLE. 281
destined for the minister's support in their own
hands, and spent it in pastime and luxury. Find-
ing that their services were made an excuse for de-
laying the settlement of a regular minister, JNlel-
ville and his nephev\/ resolved to discontinue them.
The presbytery, on being informed of this, issued
orders for the speedy filling up of the vacant charge.
This injunction, with the reprimand with which it
was accompanied, gave great offence ; and two of the
baillies caused the precentor to read to the congre-
gation a paper, drawn up in the name of the prior,
and containing the most disrespectful reflections on
the presbytery ; for which they were brought before
the General Assembly, and enjoined to make public
satisfaction *. Smeton and Arbuthnot, the princi-
pals of the universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen,
were afterwards successively chosen ministers of St
Andrews ; and so sensible were the General As-
sembly of the importance of having that town pro-
vided with an able pastor, that they agreed to the
translation. But the King, influenced, as was sup-
posed, by the prior, prohibited it in both instances,
on the ground of its being injurious to the universi-
ties f . By these means, that extensive parish was
kept vacant during upwards of three years J:.
In these circumstances, the services which Mel-
ville performed gratuitously, though acceptable to
the great body of the people, exposed him to ill-
* Bulk of Univ. Kiik. ff. 132, b. 134, a.