[878] Quintin Kennedy, Abbot of Crossraguell in Ayrshire, (see supra, pp. 351, 352.)
[879] Mr. Robert Creichton was Parson of Sanquhar, in Dumfries-shire, and Canon of Glasgow, in 1549. He was educated at the College of Glasgow, being incorporated in 1521. He died 16th January 1570-1. (Register of Confirmed Testaments.)
[880] This interview is supposed to have taken place on the 13th April 1563. On the 15th of that month the Queen removed from Lochlevin to Perth.
[881] In MS. G, "war two directed, (Walter Melvill was the one.)"—Walter Melville, a younger son of Sir John Melville of Raith, was in the Queen Regent's service, and at the time of her death received £30. At this time he was in the Queen's service. He afterwards became one of the gentlemen of the Earl of Murray's chamber. His brother, Sir James Melville, in reference to him and Kirkaldy of Grange, says, "Quhilk twa tint him sa schone (soon) as he became Regent, and lykwise my self; for we had bene famyliar with him, and had assisted him in all his troubles; but when he was Regent, wald reprove, admonish, and tell his faltis, wherby we tint his favour. And uthers that had ny bene in his contrair befoir, cam in and flatterit him in his proceedings, and bekkit wery laiche to him, calling him 'Your Grace,' at ilk word, &c." (Memoirs, Bann. Club, edit. p. 260.)
[882] Hawking appears to have been a favourite pastime of the Queen. In April 1562, Matthew Ker succeeded James Lindesay as "Maister Falconar." In the same month £20 was paid to two persons, "passand of Edinburgh to Scheitland for halkis."
[883] Patrick Lord Ruthven. His grandson, John second Earl Gowrye, was also accused of dealing in magic.
[884] In MS. G, "the Bishop of Cathenis;" (but the marginal note in that MS. reads correctly "Bishop of Athens.") This error in the printed copies has led Mr. Tytler and others into the mistake of saying, that the Queen here referred to "the Bishop of Caithness." The titular Archbishop of Athens, Alexander Gordon, afterwards Bishop of Galloway, &c., (see page 259, note 10,) was undoubtedly the person alluded to.
[885] In the proceedings of the General Assemblies, held between June 1562 and August 1575, (or less than three months of his death,) Bishop Gordon's name frequently occurs. Having petitioned the Assembly in June 1562, it was declared, the Assembly "cannot acknowledge him for a Superintendent lawfully called for the present, but offered unto him their aid and assistance, if the Kirks of Galloway shall suit (solicit), and the Lords present;" and enjoins him to subscribe the Book of Discipline, (although he seems actually to have done so in 1561: see page 258.) On the 29th December 1562, the Assembly nominated for that office, "Mr. Alexander Gordon, entituled Bishop of Galloway, and Mr. Robert Post, minister of Dunkell;" and ordered the inauguration of the person elected to take place in the Parish Kirk of Dumfries, "on the last Lord's day of April." The election, as Knox intimates, did not take place. But Gordon was continued as Commissioner for planting and visiting the churches of that diocese; although there were frequent complaints made against him.
[886] Lady Jane Stewart, a natural daughter of King James the Fifth, and Elizabeth, daughter of John Lord Carmichael. Her marriage with Archibald fifth Earl of Argyle took place in April 1554, and proved unfortunate for both parties; but no separation ensued till about the year 1564. She received from her sister, Queen Mary, a pension of £150, in June 1565. She was one of the party at supper in Holyrood Palace the night of Riccio's murder, 9th March 1566. She stood sponsor for Queen Elizabeth at the baptism of James the Sixth. In 1567, (15th November,) the Treasurer paid "to Dame Janet Stewart, Comptis of Ergile," £133, 6s. 8d. The action of Divorce founded upon the complaints of both parties, led to a lengthened litigation, of which Mr. Riddell has furnished a detailed account in his most valuable work on Peerage and Consistorial Law, vol. i. pp. 547-551. In 1569, the Earl offered to adhere, and to receive her in his Castle of Dunoon, but the Lady now refused. At length the Earl, on the 23d June 1573, "obtained, (says Mr. Riddell,) a decree of divorce, simpliciter, by the Commissaries of Edinburgh, adjudging her to have 'lost her tocher ad donationis propter nuptias."' The Earl immediately availed himself of this judgment, by forming an alliance with Lady Jane Cunningham, daughter of Alexander Earl of Glencairn, in the month of August. Having died within a month of his second marriage, 12th September 1573, (see page 258;) his first wife soon afterwards raised an action of Reduction of the Divorce, styling Lady Jane Cunningham, as "pretendit spous of umquhil Archibald Erle of Argyle." She died in the Canongate, 7th January 1586-7, and was interred in the Royal Vault in the Abbey of Holyrood House. Her own settlement became the subject of litigation. (Commissary Court Records, 11th March 1587)
[887] On the 15th of February 1562-3, proclamation had been made for Parliament to assemble on the 20th March. It was delayed till the 26th of that month: see next page, note 2.