A Short History of Scotland

A curious controversy is constantly revived in this matter. It is urged that Knox’s mobs did not destroy the abbey churches of Kelso, Melrose, Dryburgh, Roxburgh, and Coldingham: that was done by Hertford’s army. If so, they merely deprived the Knoxian brethren of the pleasures of destruction which they enjoyed almost everywhere else. The English, if guilty, left at Melrose, Jedburgh, Coldingham, and Kelso more beautiful remains of mediæval architecture than the Reformers were wont to spare.

17

This part of our history is usually and erroneously told as given by Knox, writing fifteen years later. He needs to be corrected by the letters and despatches of the day, which prove that the Reformer’s memory, though picturesque, had, in the course of fifteen years, become untrustworthy. He is the chief source of the usual version of Solway Moss.

18

The dates and sequence of events are perplexing. In ‘John Knox and the Reformation’ (pp. 86-95) I have shown the difficulties.

19

The details of these proceedings and the evidence for them may be found in the author’s book, ‘John Knox and the Reformation,’ pp. 135-141. Cf. also my ‘History of Scotland,’ ii. 58-60.

20

See ‘Affaires Etrangères: Angleterre,’ xv. 131-153. MS.

21

Mary’s one good portrait is that owned by Lord Leven and Melville.

22

I have no longer any personal doubt that Mary wrote the lost French original of this letter, usually numbered II. in the Casket Letters (see my paper, “The Casket Letters,” in ‘The Scottish Historical Review,’ vol. v., No. 17, pp. 1-12). The arguments tending to suggest that parts of the letter are forged (see my ‘Mystery of Mary Stuart’) are (I now believe) unavailing.

23

I can construe in no other sense the verbose “article.” It may be read in Dr Hay Fleming’s ‘Reformation in Scotland,’ pp. 449, 450, with sufficient commentary, pp. 450-453.

24

It appears that there was both a plot by Lennox, after the Raid of Ruthven, to seize James – “preaching will be of no avail to convert him,” his mother wrote; and also an English plot, rejected by Gowrie, to poison both James and Mary! For the former, see Professor Hume Brown, ‘History of Scotland,’ vol. ii. p. 289; for the latter, see my ‘History of Scotland,’ vol. ii. pp. 286, 287, with the authorities in each case.

25

Of these versions, that long lost one which was sent to England has been published for the first time, with the previously unnoticed incident of Robert Oliphant, in the author’s ‘James VI. and the Gowrie Mystery.’ Here it is also demonstrated that all the treasonable letters attributed in 1606-1608 to Logan were forged by Logan’s solicitor, George Sprot, though the principal letter seems to me to be a copy of an authentic original. That all, as they stand, are forgeries is the unanimous opinion of experts. See the whole of the documents in the author’s ‘Confessions of George Sprot.’ Roxburghe Club.

26

Colkitto’s men and the Badenoch contingent.

27

Much has been made of cruelties at Aberdeen. Montrose sent in a drummer, asking the Provost to remove the old men, women, and children. The drummer was shot, as, at Perth, Montrose’s friend, Kilpont, had been murdered. The enemy were pursued through the town. Spalding names 115 townsmen slain in the whole battle and pursuit. Women were slain if they were heard to mourn their men – not a very probable story. Not one woman is named. The Burgh Records mention no women slain. Baillie says “the town was well plundered.” Jaffray, who fled from the fight as fast as his horse could carry him, says that women and children were slain. See my ‘History of Scotland,’ vol. iii. pp. 126-128.

28

Craig-Brown, ‘History of Selkirkshire,’ vol. i. pp. 190, 193. ‘Act. Parl. Scot.,’ vol. vi. pt. i. p. 492.

29

‘Act. Parl. Scot.,’ vol. vi. pt. i. p. 514.

30

Hume Brown, vol. ii. p. 339.

31

The Boot was an old French and Scottish implement. It was a framework into which the human leg was inserted; wedges were then driven between the leg and the framework.

32

Many disgusting details may be read in the author’s ‘Life of Sir George Mackenzie.’

33

Hume Brown, ii. 414, 415.

34

Dr Hay Fleming finds no mention of this affair in the Minutes of the Societies.

35

All this is made clear from the letters of the date in the Stuart Papers (Historical Manuscript Commission).

36

In addition to Saint Simon’s narrative we have the documentary evidence taken in a French inquiry.

37

See ‘The King over the Water,’ by Alice Shield and A. Lang. Thackeray’s King James, in ‘Esmond,’ is very amusing but absolutely false to history.

38

‘The Porteous Trial,’ by Mr Roughead, W.S.

39

See the author’s ‘History of Scotland,’ iv. 446-500, where the evidence is examined.

40

‘Register of Decreets,’ vol. 482.

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