CHAPTER V
ACTIVITIES FROM 1591 TO
THE CALL TO PRESTONPANS IN 1595
THERE is nothing to record of Davidson1s
activities after he resumed the work of the regular ministry
at Canongate till he came again into conflict with King James.
Preaching on Sunday, June 6th, 1591, in his Majesty's presence,
he admonished him with pointed severity, upbraiding him with
want of success in the execution of justice, and affirming that
he and his council lacked the assistance of God because he had
not sufficiently repented of his former gjry5,T Two days later
Davidson was brought before the court with other members of
his Presbytery when the King demanded that they should desist
from using such public censures. His Majesty alleged that David
Lindsay had promised him, in the name of the ministry another
sort of behaviour", but since the promise had not been kept,
he was determined to have a General Assembly held at Edinburgh
where that and other matters would be discussed. The ministers,
convened in the Little Kirk, agreed to make arrangements in
accordance with the King's wishes, but also to express to him
their regret that he had accused them before the Lords of Session,
some of whom were not very friendly disposed to them.
When the brethren appointed to take the Presbytery's reply to
his Majesty, received access, |
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James took the initiative by declaring that they ought to affirm
nothing in the pulpit concerning vice until men were actually
convicted by the law. Davidson, who seems to have been the leader
of the deputation). Ignoring that statement, conveyed to him
the ministers' answers, and thereafter discussion turned upon
that ever-recurring question-the power of the King and the jurisdiction
of the Kirk. James alleged that none could charge him with any
personal faults and therefore he would use the power of his
office and his authority over them because they did so often
exceed their duty. Davidson answered that the office of the
ministers consisted for the most part in words and warning,
but that of his Majesty in deeds. He counselled the King to
use his regal authority against malefactors rather than ministers
and he maintained that there was great complaint among the people
that justice was not at all executed and almost every criminal
was spared.' The King was so angry at these words that he threatened
to correct Davidson as he had done others before. However, the
royal wrath was appeased by the preacher's assurance that he
and his brethren loved his Majesty and just because of their
love, used such freedom with him. And so they parted on friendly
terms.
In this same year, in the month of December, Davidson was afforded
another opportunity of proving his zeal in conversation with
the King. The ministers of those days claimed spiritual authority
not only over congregations but also over households, and in
the different presbyteries prominent families had to undergo
a somewhat rigorous examination. The
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Presbytery of Edinburgh, after completing
the visitation of the particular congregations under their care,
resolved not to omit their duty to the Royal house. So Davidson
with two of his brethren, went down to Holyrood Palace on the
8th " to try what negligence was in pastors, and abusses in
the familie ". They went again on the 10th when the King himself
was present. They urged him to have some part of the Scripture
read at dinner and supper time, and willed that new elders should
be chosen for the session of his family, advising that the Comptroller
should be left out of the new nominations, because his life
was not so exemplary as such an office required.
Davidson's hearty concern for the King and his household did
not rest there however. The following week he visited the Palace
alone and obtained a private interview with his Majesty, telling
him that he had come to speak about some matters which he had
not felt inclined to mention publicly, at the visitation. James
seemed to take that in good part and Davidson went on to admonish
him of what, in the Church's opinion, was his present great
neglect of justice, the appointment of incapable magistrates,
the placing of unfit men in positions of trust, and his unjustifiable
clemency to offenders. James gave plausible answers to most
of these charges. He found, he said, no concurrence in inferior
magistrates many diverse officers claimed their place by heritage
and while he was as careful as possible over pardons granted,
yet sometimes amid the multiplicity of his business, some would
deceive him and secure stolen subscriptions- a matter most difficult
to avoid. Time not
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permitting of further conversation, Davidson
asked if lie might come again and his request was granted.'
Supporters of the Reformation became perturbed anew in November
1592 by accounts of the restless practices of Papists and also
by the restoration to favour of the King's evil advisers. The
ministers of Edinburgh applied to his Majesty who agreed to
the holding of a Convention of well-affected noblemen, barons
and burgesses to consult upon measures for personal safety,
and other ministers were invited to come to Edinburgh to give
their advice.2 The result was the appointing of a solemn fast
to be kept on December i7th and 24th ; and a committee was chosen,
Davidson being a member, to meet every week to watch and report
upon any proceedings of Papists that might come to light, and
providere in omnibus ne quid ecelesia detrimenti capiat.3 Meanwhile
Davidson preaching on December ~rd from Exodus on the constancy
of Moses and Aaron showed the duty of the servants of God to
follow their example, especially when men were so loth to forsake
their evil ways. He discoursed upon the obstinacy of the enemies
of Christ in Scotland) including the queen Regent, the queen
Mother, and others, and their abiding influence 'a which appeareth
now In bringing backe Captan Stuart to continue the same course
". Using as illustrations the history o£ Absalom5 Joab, David
and the woman of Tekoa, Calderwood4 tells us, he described the
evil nature of Arran, and the manner of |
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his return which tended to preferment,
contrary to the promise of the King.
The fast began with a service in the East or Little Kirk of
Edinburgh on the morning of the 17th and Davidson was again
the preacher. His sermon on that occasion was very vehement
and many of its expressions were highly displeasing to the
Court. Particularly objectionable was the statement that,
since D'Aubigny's coming to Scotland the King had received
infection, which if vomited not out, he would not escape severe
judgment ; that the corpse (meaning the Earl of Moray's mangled
body) cried to the Abbey for justice, but neither the living
nor the dead could procure justice to be executed, howbeit
great severity had been used against the servants of God.
The King, when informed of these expressions-which possibly
were exaggerated to him-swore that Davidson would no longer
be suffered to teach in Edinburgh. The Duke was so angry that
he desired to kill him. Upon the following Thursday, James
complained of him to the magistrates and ministers of Edinburgh.
I marvel much of Mr. Davidson," said he, for I heard once
that he was one of the greatest theologues in Scotland and
learned and well approved both at home and abroad, and sometimes
I have had good proofs of him in privy conference. But now
I cannot to how he is become so phrenetick that he does little
but make ballads and playbills, and all his teaching is turned
to railing against me and the State."
Then the King asked the Provost if he
was their ordinary minister and on receiving a negative reply
asked further What did he there ? " The Provost said that
the Kirk Session had a warrant to place any
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preacher they pleased at that hour. "If
yee avow him to be yours," said the King, yet sail answere
for him if not, I will not suffer him to byde there."' The
ministers asked James to leave the Kirk to deal with him.
Notwithstanding his Majesty's threats, Davidson preached the
next Sabbath in the same place. Acting upon the advice of
some of his friends who lamented his excessive zeal, he was
on this occasion very apologetic, protesting that he loved
the King and his welfare in body and soul and he repeated
the similitude he had used a week before, that " honie slipped
doun to the bottom of a sore, and did byte als much as any
liquor, and yitt ceased not to be sweete."~ The ministers
were about to meet and advise what was fit to be done for
warranting his calling to preach in the Little Kirk without
irritating the King. The matter, however, was disposed of
more easily by Davidson himself who proposed to desist, considering
the season of the year and his growing age and infirmity.
After preaching a few more Sabbaths and realizing that some
of the ministers and magistrates were miscontent with his
rough applicatioun "he was as wilting to remove from them,
as they were to part with him.3 He did not appear again therefore
in the Little Kirk till March i8th, 1593, when he declared
the cause of his long absence and suggested that Satan envied
his ministry, that his calling to them was questioned by the
Court, and the magistrates had denied him to be their minister,
though he was called by the Synod, the
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Presbytery and the Session.' He desired
the godly not to blame him if he came not there again and said
that they might get worse guests in his place. His hearers were
much moved and shed many tears, not without reason, for he was
a faithful watchman, forewarning dangers, a free rebuker of
sin, a familiar and sensible teacher."2 Calderwood relates3
that on the same day Davidson conferred with Andrew Melville
upon the iniquity of the time. It was natural that two such
scholars should descant on the words of the Apostle in Ephesians
iv and a phrase of Cyprian, Anceps temporum palpator. Melville
complained that the ministry was now turned to a kind of political
dealing and that he never thought to have seen such a general
desertion and coldness in his days ; a sentiment with which
Davidson doubtless found himself in entire agreement.
At the beginning of 1593 the city of Edinburgh was greatly excited
by the news that a fresh Popish plot had been discovered of
startling importance. We must briefly relate the facts, as it
will be seen that John Davidson had a keen interest in the event.
For almost a quarter of a century the Roman Catholics in Scotland
had been plotting and scheming to recover the ground lost to
them through the Reformation. Their hopes which had centred
largely upon the help of France or Spain did not materialize,
and even the crushing defeat of the Armada did not serve to
convince them that their project was doomed to failure.4 When,
in 1592, the Church of Scotland |
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secured what is known as her carter of
liberties, the Act of Parliament, sanctioned rather unwillingly
by the King, formally ratified all previous legislation in favour
of Presbyterianism and confirmed all repressive measures against
Roman Catholics.' It was therefore a case of" now or never"
with the Catholic nobles; they must strike quickly before Presbyterianism
should attain to complete supremacy. Too weak however, to do
anything of themselves they must again seek foreign aid. So
the next two years saw their last and rather desperate effort
to overthrow the Protestant settlement and win Scotland again
for the Pope.
The story of that final attempt and its failure is the story
of the " Spanish Blanks " George Ker, brother of Lord Newbattle,
was to be sent to King Philip of Spain with letters from the
earls Huntly, Errol and Angus, soliciting his help in an effort
to seize James VI and convert Scotland to Romanism, as preliminary
to a similar attempt on England. A Spanish army was to land
either at Kirkcudbright or in the river Clyde and such forces
as the Earls could raise would be ready to act in concert with
it. Ker was entrusted also with certain blank letters subscribed
and sealed by the earls, with a commission to William Creighton
S.J. (with whom the idea had originated), to fill them up with
the above details and use them as he thought fit. The plot was
found out, probably by the sharp-eyed English ambassador Bowes,
who is thought to have given warning to some of the ministers.
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Ker was seized off the island of Cumbrac as he was about to
set sail by Andrew Knox, minister at Paisley, and some Glasgow
students, who found in his possession the incriminating papers.
He was taken to Edinburgh and placed in the Tolbooth and his
associate, the notorious Graham of Fintry, was soon after apprehended.
The King, who was absent at the time, was summoned home and
was met by loud demands on the part of the ministers, magistrates
and others for the arrest and punishment of the plotters. He
must, they said, " tak ordour with the unnatural subjects, betrayers
o£ thair countrey to the crewall Spanyeard".' James, however,
showed his usual weakness, and exasperated an excited and fearing
people with a series of trifling complaints instead of promptly
dealing with the matter, despite a strong urge from Elizabeth,
who had heard all about it. It is true that he announced the
discovery of the plot in a royal proclamation in which he promised
to take drastic measures against the Catholic nobles and the
Jesuits. But Scotland was tired of his promises so often unfulfilled
; the nation wanted deeds, not words; and the ministers, the
guardians of the people's rights, urged him to immediate justice
lest an undying stain should rest on his name and "the chronicles
keep in memory James the Sext to his shame".
So far no details of the plot were known and people were left
guessing till Ker was forced by torture to make a confession.
Similar disclosures were made by Graham of Fintry, who was immediately
tried, convicted and executed at the Mercat Cross of
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Edinburgh.1 Ker was kept in prison, but, like Angus, whom the
citizens of Edinburgh had arrested, managed to escape probably
by bribing the guards. The depositions of Ker and Graham were
set forth in a black letter tract, published with royal authority
by the King's printer, Waldegrave, and it was reprinted almost
immediately in London. It was entitled A Dtscoverie of the
Unnatural and Traiterous Conspiracie of the Scottish Papists
against God, His Kirke, their Native Cuntrie, the Kinge's Majesties
Person and Estate. Set doune, as it was Confessed and Subscrivit
be Mr. George Ker, yet remaining in Prisone, and David Graham
of Fentrie, justly executed for his Treason in Edinburgh, the
[5 of Februarie 1592. Whereunto are annexcd certaine intercepted
Letters, written by sundrie of that factioun to the same purpose."2
It seems quite evident that John Davidson was the editor of
that tract3 and that he wrote for it a short preface, giving
the story of the plot as gathered from the confessions ofits
principals, and describing the blanks "Quhilkes blankis hes
no designation on the bak, nor declaratioun of the causes for
the quhilk thai wer send, bot blank and quheit on baith sydes,
except the said subscriptiounis." His address to the reader
is very brief but states clearly the purpose of the short publication.
Many and dangerous points of unnatural and treasonable practises
of Scottish Papists,"he says, against their country, King and
God,
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having come to light by the mercy of providence and the confession
of some of the evil-doers, it has been thought good that the
most substantial points of their depositions should be taken
out of the original confessions and for the help of the reader
gathered into this form following. Some of the most remarkable
intercepted letters he indicates had been deciphered, translated
and printed for the use of the people, to the glory of God,
the edification of the Kirk and the perpetual detection and
shame of the unnatural enemy". All these things are so faithfully
done, he maintains, in the volume following that no one can
accuse the writer or writers of any false statement. The reader
is then invited to note carefully the following considerations
: (i) The goodness of God in delivering His Kirk from such deep
and dangerous practices 3, so cunningly and craftily conceived
by a deadly enemy. (2) The necessity of being wakeful and alert
regarding the power of those who are so cruel and diligent they
must not be regarded as sleeping, for they are still planning
evil to Scotland and encouraging the Spaniard in his cruel enterprise.
(3) All true Scotsmen ought to unite to overthrow an enemy whose
wickedness is unsurpassed, whether one considers the barbarity
of selling King and country to Spain, or the pretence of friendship
to the true religion which they have professed and in which
they have participated. (4) What evil would happen to the Kirk,
the commonwealth and the Prince, and to the miserable wretches
themselves if their woeful purpose were successful 3 (5) All
good men and lovers of their country should be brought speedily
to a state of repentance to the Lord, and to a resolve to withstand,
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according to their station in life, these desperate attempts
on the common weal 'ere it is too late. They ought also, he
adds, to take a part in the execution of justice upon the
detected traitors, that such evils may be prevented and so
the Lord, having begun the work, will bring it to a happy
end.'
The necessity for this appeal was now as apparent to everyone
as it was to Davidson himself The discovery of the "Blanks"
had brought to an end a period of prolonged nervous tension,
and the certain danger of which all were now aware, was, at
any rate, preferable to the haunting dread which for long
had perplexed that lovers of the Reformed Church. Yet grave
suspicion was still entertained concerning the King, who undoubtedly
was not free from negotiating with Spain himself; although
certainly actuated by a different motive from that of the
Catholic lords. It was very awkward for James that among the
papers found upon Ker was a memorial of his own referring
to a possible Spanish invasion of England. Whether it had
been entrusted to Ker or had fallen accidentally ,nto his
hands, is not clear. Calderwood has a paragraph on it, entitled
" The King privyc to the Traffiquing In which he writes Mr.
Johne Davidsone in his Diarie - recordeth on the 26th of May,
that among the letters of the traffiquers intercepted were
found one to the Prince of Parma which tuiched the King with
knowledge and approbation of the traffiquing, and promise
of assistance, etc., but that it was not thought expedient
to publishe it. Mr. Johne was acquaint with the discoverie
and all
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the intercepted letters, and made a preface to be prefixed to
the printed discoverie, and a directorie for understanding the
borrowed and counterfooted names~"~ The letter here referred
to was separated from Ker's other papers~" withdrawn for the
safety of His Majesty's honour". It revealed that James in the
summer of 1592 was at least prepared to consider the advantages
to himself of a Spanish invasion of England but there does not
seer, to have been anything more in it than that. There is no
evidence to be found of the King's approbation" or promise of
assistance" said to be contained in it. Davidson, in the excitement
and suspicion of the time evidently either misapprehended it
or read more into it than was actually there.2 It is remarkable
that no reference was made to it either by Ker or Fintry at
their trial. Perhaps they were unaware of its contents or, if
they were, they may have felt that it would be unwise to challenge
a King who probably would deny all and take speedy measures
to secure the silence 0£ his accusers. There seems to have been
nothing more In it than another evidence of James's dominating
passion to secure the throne of England, for which end he was
prepared to seek Spanish aid, as he was prepared to do anything.
Nevertheless the letter gave rise to fresh suspicions in the
minds of the ministers and people that the conspirators doubted
not the King's consent to the enterprise or perceived him inclined
that way" They could not help concluding that'
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the King was playing them false The chief offenders were still
at large and it was thought that he was not anxious to bring
them to justice. Ker's escape confirmed their fears and was
the subject of great denunciation, and when the Papist earls
escaped forfeiture in the Parliament of JuIy 1593 indignation
knew no bounds. On the Sunday following, Davidson preaching
on I Thessalonians i;, denounced this as a blacke parliament,
becaus iniquitie was come in rowme of equitie in the high court
of justice ". Our arch-traitours," said he, "have not onlie
escaped but In a manner are absolved, in that they have escaped
as men against whom no probation could be gotten. The absolving
of the wicked importeth the persecutioun of the righteous, except
God restrained the adversareis. He prayed that " the Lord would
compell the King by his sanctified plagues, to turne to Him
rather er he perishe otherwise that he should guide his governement
to the weelefare of the Kirk, whether he would or not."'
The Provincial Synod of Fife, that stronghold of the Reformed
Church, meeting at St. Andrews in September, championed the
cause of the ardent Protestants and excommunicated the Popish
earls, justifying the action on the grounds that these earls
had been, sometime, students of the University of St. Andrews.2
Davidson was evidently a correspondent from Lothian on that
occasion as his name appears on some of the committees.3 When
the dangers of the time and ways of meeting them came
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up for discussion he was invited to give his judgment. Beginning
with what was now with him a deep-seated conviction, he set
down all the trouble first to the coldness and negligence of
the ministers themselves and he expressed the fear that, unless
that state of affairs was remedied, greater evils would result
both to them and to the people. After an impertinent interruption
by Mr. Thomas Buchanan, lately become a favourer of the Court,
he continued, at the request of the Moderator. He showed further
that the present danger was also in part due to the defection
of the King and his disposition presently alienated from the
good cause. There is little use, however, in pointing out the
causes of an evil if one has no remedy for removing them, but
Davidson had his remedy. He proposed recourse to " the ordinary
and lawful armour of fasting and prayer ", and he suggested
the making arrangements for a universal fast and the sending
of a grave message on the situation to his Majesty from all
Synods. So great was his influence and so weighty were his words
that all his proposals were cordially agreed to.' Next day he
was by appointment the Synod preacher in the Parish Church of
St. Andrews. Taking for his theme the parable of the Good Steward,
Luke xii., in the course o£ his sermon he freely rebuked the
ministers for their negligence and profaneness, and declared
that he thought a great part of the ministry were " the mirriest
and carelesest men in Scotland'3 and that their message was
not faithfully discharged, to the King in particular.
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The Synod, following the excommunication
of the Popish earls, went onto make some important appointments
affecting the situation. Certain brethren were to visit the
King5 the barons and the burgesses, craving their assistance
in the face of the danger and in defence of Christ's Cause.
Mr. Davidson, with two of his brethren, was directed to deal
with the Earl of Morton and his wife, to rebuke them for receiving
to their home and entertaining rapist enemies 0f the Kirk and
country.
The excommunicated lords, in refuge in the North, finding that
their trial was delayed, gathered their forces together and
resolved to proceed South When this became known, the most zealous
of the barons, gentlemen of Fife, Angus and Stirling, came to
Edinburgh to consult with the ministers and others in Lothian
loyal to the Reformed Faith, for the safety of king and country.
The meeting was not a success from the point of view of the
zealots, as nothing more was decided than to send comrnissioners
on the subject to the King then at Linlithgow. They had hoped
that an effort would have been made to resist the enemy, and
some of them expressed themselves thus to Mr. Davidson It is
not tyme to goe to reasoun with words, when the enemeis appeared
with swords we will provide for ourselves if the mater goc this
way. This course will overthrow us that are mett heere we looked
for another kind of deahng."
Mr. David Lindsay, who was by this time showing great leanings
to the Court side, was Moderator at this meeting. When it was
about to terminate,
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Mr. Davidson craved a hearing, which having
obtained with great difficulty, he delivered a short harangue
"in his usual bold, open and zealous manner. The matter of it
did not differ much from his earlier deliverances on the same
subject. They were considering, he said, the imminent danger
they were in, the greatness of which could not be denied whether
they considered its cause or the instruments of it. The cause
of it he maintained, was the great sins in all estates. Ministers
neglected their duty and became self-seekers and worldlings
the Prince and nobility were become either enemies of God's
truth or disobeyers of it. He asked, who among the nobility
had cleansed his hands of sacrilege, notwithstanding the long
crying of God's servants to that purpose? Who had reformed his
life or family? Who had shown mercy to poor tenants ? As for
towns and burgesses, great contempt for God's Word and the ministry
was to be found in most towns throughout the country. The enemies
wcre mighty and many, either openly professing punishment to
the ministers or craftily dissembling the same to their greater
danger. He concluded with the following words:
"Now, we have to avert the caus [of the danger] by unfained
repentance, and to meete the instruments as becometh. As for
repentance, it is to be had by publict fasting and prayer, and
quicke stirring up our dulnesse by droice men of the ministrie,
which would be appointed heere presentlie, to continue heere,
till we receave a confortable answere of the King to your commissioners
; and thereafter, take purpose, before we departed how to meete
the enemies; which thing if they did, for my owne part, I would
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them in death and life by God's assistance."' As he was leaving,
he addressed this message to the Moderator I pray you, Mr.
David, Moderator, that yee give me not an answere to these
things of your owne head, untill yee receave it of your brethrein."
After some discussion a fast was agreed on for the next Wednesday.
Davidson urged that there should be preaching on the morrow
and as long as they were to continue he offered to begin himself
if any would follow, " which Mr. David Lindsay hearing, would
not heare, but praised God ".
Several brethren came to Davidson to thank
him for his motion, saying that they had seen nothing in the
way of turning to God or savouring of godliness in the gathering
till he had spoken. No salutary result followed the meeting,
however, for, at Linlithgow in a day or two measures were
taken to protect the excommunicated lords. The accounts of
that caused Davidson to use great plainness when he preached
from 2 Chronicles xxx., in the Little Kirk on November 1st,
1593. He said he feared it would fare with them as it did
with the Israelites, of whom 40,000 were slain before they
truly humbled themselves (Judges xx.). He added we had als
great right to mainteane the possessioun of the truthe, whether
the prince would or not, as our forebeares had to bring it
in, and putt us in
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possessioun of it, whether the prince would or not, if need
so required."'
The Assembly of May '594 ratified the action of the Synod
of Fife in excommunicating the earls, and when Parliament.
opened a little later, the King promised to take strong measures
against them.' Not only were they attainted but " wilful hearers
of the Mass " were ordained to be put to death and Papists
who refused to satisfy the presbyteries were to be summoned
before the Council. When the King and commissioners, however,
intimated these decisions to the Presbytery of Edinburgh,
bidding them praise God for his Majesty's proceedings and
exhort all men to remove suspicion from him, Davidson was
singularly unimpressed and was not slow to express his dissatisfaction.
" One dead," he said with great daring, if
it were but to execute Mr. Walter Lindsay3 for his idolatry
would do more good than all the King's letters and the Commissioners
both." He felt so strongly about it, that, in the Great Kirk3
he preached one of his most vehement sermons from Ezekiel,
Chapter xx~. He inveighed against the corruptions of ministers
who, he maintained, winked at the profanation of the Sabbath,
admitted all and sundry to the Holy Sacrament, stole the word
from the people and failed to rebuke sin in Kirk and country.
It was not that they preached false doctrine so much as that
they delivered the truth so unfaithfully and so coldly
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as to leave their flocks consumed with
hunger. They were also ambitious and wordly, thinking more about
their stipends and the welfare of their wives than about theology.
Going on to deal with the proceedings of Parliament and the
commissioners' letter to the Presbytery commending the same,
lie said that he was prepared to excuse the writers if they
went not too far in the matter afterwards. For," he declared,
I take it to be the worke of God's almightie hand, hearing our
prayers and making the King to doe what in the judgment of many,
he inclined not to have done ; if he performe the mater it is
weill. But I looke not for anie great good at his hand, till
he repent him of his sinnes." He reminded his hearers of Charles
IX of France who on the eve of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew
had done more for the cause of Reformation than James and yet
minded nothing but murder and massacre. He would not have the
King to be prophesied such an one, although he regarded him
as rather vaunting himself than humbly craving for his sinnes
on his knees with teares as he sould have done which if he doe
not he must goe from evill to worse till he be destroyed.'
Davidson made it clear that he always spoke from a sense of
duty and a real desire for amendment. In proof of that, his
castigations fell alike upon all. The nobility were accused
of oppression, sacrilege, blasphemy and even worse the common
people, imitating them, were guilty of evil living and of holding
the word and the ministry in contempt. A special charge was
made against Edinburgh with his rebels against God and His Kirk,
traffickers with
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Spain, hinderers of the planting of parishes and those who had
set up the Monday market, which would be chronicled to their
shame.'
Such outspoken language and such biting criticism of all ranks
have been strongly condemned by those living in quieter and
milder times. As Wodrow points out, however, when such utterances
as Davidson S are compared with Scripture precedents, when the
necessity arising from the circumstances of the time is remembered
as well as the obviously genuine love of the ministers for the
King, it will be seen that there is not so much that calls for
censure as at first appears.2 Davidson, at any rate, was inspired
by the purest motives and had no idea of having exceeded his
rights as a preacher. So on the 29th of June, he followed the
same line and reckoned up the judgments already begun in all
ranks. The King, he declared, was given over to evil company
and loved them so dearly that it was to be feared he was not
sound at heart. Ere long that would be apparent to all, as it
was now to those with greater foresight. The queen, though not
ill-disposed naturally was in danger of being corrupted by her
associates. The nobility were either young or corrupt, plagues
both to themselves and the land. Few among the earls and lords
could be reckoned on the side of true religion, and the barons
were almost gone. As for Edinburgh," he said, I feare more the
multitude and bodie of Edinburgh to be persecutors of me and
my brcthrein, and their readinesse to concurre to take our lives
from us, than I feare the court, except they repented."
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It must not be thought that it cost Davidson nothing to preach
so boldly or that he was never apprehensive as to the results
of his daring words quite often he needed comfort and encouragement.
At this time he became greatly affected by a seemingly trifling
coincidence which happened at service one morning during the
meetings of the General Assembly.' As he sat in Church he noticed
the skipper of the ship in which he had left Scotland twenty
years before, enter at one door, which brought to his thoughts
the great deliverance which he then had from shipwreck. While
musing on that, he saw enter by another door the skipper of
the ship in which he had first set sail at Leith but which had
been forced back by contrary winds. The sight of those two good
men and the thoughts of the kind providence of God toward him
in the days of suffering brought great comfort to his heart
and he cared not whether he should be called to suffer for his
speeches uttered so freely the week before, and all the reproofs
of sin he had lately given. Yet he was not troubled for some
time, notwithstanding the Chancellor's advice to King James
that if he were removed out of Edinburgh and out of sight of
the Castle, he would not make mention of them so often in his
sermons.2 His removal3 however, was yet a whole year off He
continued to exercise his ministry quietly in his own parish,
with an occasional excursion into the public affairs of the
Church. The excitement caused by the Popish plots had not been
forgotten and when the Earl of Angus applied to the Synod of
Lothian for
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a "conference" in October J595, Davidson
set up a strong opposition. Re blamed the King for the part
which he had in the matter and for granting the Earl, an excommunicated
person, permission to stay with a nobleman while the matter
was pending. Concerning Angus he spoke on this wise, It savoureth
greatlie of defectioun in these dayes, that such a notorious
rebell to God, his Kirk, and this realme, that hath so oft
and in so high degree mocked the Kirk, should be heard, before
farther tryell be had of his repentance. He has beene twise
excommunicated, and ever deceaved the Kirk, and polluted the
land with his messes. Therefore we ought to do nothing rashlie,
in so grave and dangerous a mater, least a doore be opin to
bring in the rest of God's enemeis, without better prooffe
of their repentance and amendrncnt, than we havc yitt scene."'
After some argument about procedure with his old opponent
David Lindsay, he finally consented that the Earl "sould be
tryed to the quicke, by some sound and judicious without authoritie
or warrant from the Synod. The following day he desired the
brethren the King to execute justice on so manifest a traitor.
Though Davidson's brethren had nothing
but admiration for his personal piety and his unflagging zeal
as a minister, yet they were somewhat embarrassed by his outspoken
denunciat,ons. A section of them whose ardour was never great
felt themselves condemned by his enthusiasm, while those most
Sympathetic to Ms views were not sure that his zeal was
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| always accompanied by discretion. He was
advised to accept a country charge, as his presence in Edinburgh
seemed to be attended with difficulties. In the spring of i5g~
an attempt was made to have him settled in the second charge
of Haddington but negotiations seem to have been suddenly broken
off Later in the year he received and accepted a call to Prestonpans
and on December 9th preached a valedictory sermon in Edinburgh.
As a fine apologetic for his recent ministry in the city and
an indication of the Christian motive behind all his preaching,
we set down the conclusion verbatim " I came not hither by haphazard,
but sent of God more than sevin yeares since. So long as I had
place to teache, I dealt faithfullie according to the meane
measure of know-ledge bestowed on me, after a rude and familiar
way, of verie purpose for edificatioun's sake ; whereas I could
have done otherwise if my conscience would have suffered me.
It was compted rude and rough by manic ; but I thanke God I
wist what I spake. So that I have uttered nothing against preacher,
or people, which I have not my warrant for, and by the helpe
of God will stand to the defence of it, in the face of man or
angell. So that my first preaching and last are one, without
differing, to witt, that the princes of the land, the King,
the chiefe prince, with the rest of the rebellious nobilitie,
the profane ministrie are negligent for the most part to winne
soules, and the rebellious multitude sail be severlie punished
except they repent. I have sought to be away, but could not
till now that it has pleased the Lord to ryppin my departure.
It was nather a drinke of the Muse |
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Well, nor anie other benifite in Edinburgh that drew me to it
like an adament stone, as some speekc, or that keeped me heere
but the mightie hand of God sent me hither for causes known
to Him. And so having cleered my ministrie hitherto, I take
my leave of you in Christ."
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