[282] "My Lord Duke and the Earl of Arrane, his son, on the 24th September 1560, departit to cast doun my Lord Sempills hous;" and on the 14th October, "the Castell of Sempill was tane be my Lord Duke." (Diurnal of Occurrents, pp. 62, 63.)
Castle Semple is in the parish of Lochwinnoch, and county of Renfrew, and stood at the northern end of the lake called Lochwinnoch, from which the parish derived its name: it was demolished in the year 1735, and replaced by a modern mansion.
[283] The journey of Lord St. John seems to have been delayed for nearly a month after the dissolution of Parliament. Robert Melville, who was to have accompanied him, addressed a letter to the Lady Cecill, on the 21st September, in which he says, "quhilk journay is alterit, and thought mare expedient that my Lord of Senjhone pass in France, quhaire I daire not go at this tyme. Seeing my Lord is desirous to offer his service untoyour Ladyship," &c. (Haynes's State Papers, p. 362.)—"Upoun the xxiij day of September, the zeir of God 1560 zeiris, James Lord of Sanctjohne was directit as ambassadour, and departit to France, throw the Realme of Ingland, to obtane eonfirmatioun of the Quenis grace of this Realme, and hir Spouse, upoun the Actis maid of the Parliament foirsaid." (Diurnal of Occurrents, pp. 62, 280.) The same authority states, that on the 19th December, "James Lord Sanctjohne come furth of France to Edinburgh, and obtenit little or nathing of his errands expeid." (ib. p. 281.)
[284] George sixth Lord Seaton, was one of the Commissioners sent to France in 1558, at the marriage of Queen Mary. On the Queen's return to Scotland, he was appointed Master of the Household, and remained attached to her in all her misfortunes.
[285] So in the different MSS.; but it may be suggested, whether the name is not a mistake for the Abbot of Sauls Seat, (Sedes Avimarum,) in Wigtonshire.
[286] In MS. G, "Restalrig."—Sinclair's name is added on the margin of MS. 1566.
[287] The persons of the French faction here named, have been previously mentioned by Knox, viz. James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, (vol. i. p. 252, note 2,) who survived till the year 1603; George Durie, Abbot of Dunfermline, (vol. i. p. 183, note 2); and John Sinclair, Dean of Restalrig, (vol. i. p. 265, note 2,) became Bishop of Brechin in 1563. See infra, p. 141. Beaton and Seaton arrived at Paris on the 3d of August. (Tytler's Hist. vol. vi. p. 176.)
[288] There can be little doubt that by "Mr. George," we are to understand Mr. George Buchanan. He was in France at the time of the King's death, and it is highly probable he may not only have furnished Knox with the information contained in this paragraph, but also have supplied him with the translation of the Latin verses on page 136. The style of this version corresponds so much with the prose writings and the few letters of Buchanan written in his native tongue, as to warrant this ascription: but in either case, whether translated by Buchanan or Knox, these lines may be esteemed a literary curiosity. Buchanan returned to Scotland about the same time with Mary Queen of Scots, in the summer or autumn of 1561.
[289] The account here given is not exaggerated, as the French Protestants were subjected to fearful persecutions, and the number of persons brought to the stake on account of religion, from time to time, would scarcely be credited, unless for the undeniable testimony of contemporary writers. The sudden death of Francis the Second, had undoubtedly the effect of preventing some intended atrocities against the Reformed party in France.
[290] A blank space of about two lines left here in MS. 1566, as if to insert some additional names.