.about fourteen months. During offence to the violent Papists in that space of time, a great change other places. John Hamilton, appeared in the city of St. An- who had been elected, but was drews, where popery had for- not yet consecrated to the archmerly been awfully predominant. bishopric, wrote an angry letter Protestant ministers preached in to Mr. Winram, expressing his the castle, and under its protec- surprise at his permitting such tion, also in the parish Church practices, and requiring that he of the town. The controversy should immediately put a stop to about religion was carried on, not them. with the aid of burning and impri- Mr. Winram, on his having resonments, but, as it ought always ceived this letter, saw it would to have been, by the lawful and be proper for him to show some rational methods of preaching and compliance; but in his doing so, writing. he still adhered to his favourite

The principal champion on the plan, of submitting the cause in popish side of the controversy dispute to calm reasoning or arwas John Annand, dean of St. An- gumentation. He summoned to drews, who both wrote and appear before himself, and some preached against the doctrines of friars whom he had selected, Mr. the Reformation. His chief an- John Rough, who, under the protagonist was John Knox, who tection of the Earl of Arran the wrote answers to the dean, and Governor, had long been a Proafterward, having become a testant minister in Scotland, and preacher, answered him also from also Mr. Knox.

the pulpit.

writer of that history which goes under his name. The account of what may be called Mr. Knox's examination, may be abridged, with the language in some degree modernized in the following manner.

The convention was held "in When Mr. Knox preached his St. Leonard's Yards." We are first sermon, in which it was ex- not told of what passed at the pected he was to make a full re-examination of Mr. Rough, but ply to the dean, there assembled the particulars of the conference to hear him in the parish Church, with Mr. Knox are related by Mr. John Winram, sub-prior of Spottiswood, and by Mr. Knox the abbey, who now, during the himself, if he really was the vacancy of an archbishop, was vicar-general of the diocess; a great number of the canons of St. Augustine, and of the friars of St. Dominic and St. Francis; Mr. John Major, Professor of Divinity, and all the other members of the university. In the argumentative parts of the sermon Mr. Knox acquitted himself well in the opinion of most of the people present, who said, that even more explicitly than George Wishart had done, he had exposed the iniquities of the Roman Church.

But the proceedings thus allowed at St. Andrews, gave great

A list was read to him of certain articles of doctrine, which he was said to maintain. "I rejoice," said he, "that before so modest, so honourable, and judicious an auditory, I am called to declare my mind upon the points which have now been read." Then addressing himself more particularly to the sub-prior, Mr. Winram, who

sat as preses of the meeting, "It

Mr. Knox gave a serious anis a long time since I have heard swer. Upon which Mr. Winram that you are not ignorant of the said, "Forgive me; what I spake truth. But I now charge you be- was only in jest, and I was indeed fore the supreme Judge, if you thirsty." Then turning to the believe in your conscience that aged friar, he said, "Father, folthe articles for which I am blamed low the argument; you have are contrary to the word of God, heard what I said, and the answer that then you will plainly oppose which he has given." them, and not suffer the people The friar seemed to be in his to be deceived. But if, on the dotage. In the course of the arcontrary, you know them to be gument, he so far forgot himself true and sound, then I crave your as to affirm, that the apostles had patronage, that by your authority not received the Holy Ghost the people may be moved to em- when they wrote their epistles, brace the truth, whereof many but after they had received the are doubtful because of your in- promised gifts of the Spirit, then differency." they ordained the ceremonies. Mr. Winram replied, "I am Mr. Knox started with surprise. come here, not as a judge, but " Father," said Mr. Winram, only to talk familiarly. I will" what do you say? God forbid therefore neither affirm nor con- that your affirmation should be demn these points; but if you true, for if it be truth, then fareplease we will reason. Why well to the foundation of our may not the Church, for good hope." causes, devise ceremonies to decorate the sacraments, and other parts of God's service?"

Spottiswood tells us, that shortly afterward Mr. Winram dismissed both Mr. Rough and Mr. Knox, "with this brotherly admonition, that they should take heed of what doctrine they delivered in public."

Mr. Knox answered, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin, and faith cometh by the hearing of the word of God. If you contend that the ceremonies are observed A plan, seemingly devised by with faith, and are pleasing unto Mr. Winram, was now adopted God, you must first prove that by by the Popish clergy at St. Anhis express words he has com- drews. The learned men of the manded them." abbey, convents, and university, "Will you bind us so strait," agreed to preach in their turns, said Mr. Winram, "that we may in the parish Church on the Sabdo nothing without the express bath-days. They resolved that word of God? what if I should ask they would not give offence to a drink? Do you think that in this any persons of a tender conI would be committing sin? and science, and that therefore they yet I reckon that I have not the would avoid in their sermons the word of God for me." He spake mention of any points of controthis rather in a jocular way, and versy. That this caution might was wishing to refer the argu- be the better observed, they ment to an old Franciscan friar agreed" to pen their sermons." of the name of Arbuthnot, or Ar- Mr. Winram began this course of buckle. preaching, and was followed by

the rest according to their rank were restored, nearly as severe or seniority. as they had been before the Car

Mr. Knox was thereby pre-dinal's death. cluded from preaching in the pa- An anecdote related by Spotrish Church on the Sabbaths, but tiswood, in which Mr. Winram he was not hindered on the week was concerned, may now be taken days. He regularly attended as a notice of: It is not, indeed, of hearer, the sermons which were any great importance, farther than delivered by the Popish clergy as it serves to illustrate Mr. WinOn the week days he praised God ram's cheerfulness of temper, his that the Gospel was now preach-urbanity of manners, and the reaed, though he regretted that diness with which he embraced these men were not as busy in every favourable opportunity of other places where they were exposing the fooleries of the more needed. "I have not yet," | Popish Church.

said he, "heard them say any About the year 1551, Richard thing contrary to the doctrines Marshall, who was Prior of the which I maintain. But if they Dominicans at Newcastle, and should say any thing in my ab who had imbibed some Protestant sence, opposite to what they say principles, came on a visit to in my presence, then I entreat Scotland. When at St. Andrews, you, my hearers, to suspend your where the people had contracted judgment till you shall hear me a fondness for hearing disputes again." on religion, he preached several So remarkable was the liberty sermons, in one of which he had which the Protestants at St. An- the courage to assert, that the drews now enjoyed, that many in Pater noster, or Lord's prayer, the castle and in the town par- should be addressed to God only; took of the sacrament of our and that it was a perversion of Lord's Supper, in the same scrip- our Saviour's intention, when tural manner in which that ordi-that prayer was addressed to any nance was administered after the of the saints.

establishment of the Reforma- Some of the doctors of the unition.

versity were highly offended, and But this favourable season came excited a Franciscan friar, who is to an end, the castle having been said to have been an ignorant assaulted by armed galleys which and audacious fellow, to preach had arrived from France, was against this new doctrine, and to surrendered, July 30, 1547. Ma- endeavour to refute it. But the ny in the castle, one of whom arguments the Franciscan used was Mr. Knox, were condemned were so plainly sophistical and to serve as slaves in the French inconclusive, as excited the laughgalleys; and though the princi- ter of his hearers. He rendered ples of the Reformation were now himself so completely ridiculous, become more generally known in that even the children who met the town and in its neighbour-him in the streets, called to him, hood, and were privately em-giving him the name of "Friar braced and promoted by Mr. Pater noster," which made him Winram, and some other literary at length so much ashamed, that men, yet the outward restrictions he left the city.

It may be presumed, that Mr. Winram and his Prior, Lord

The doctors, however, were also ought to be invocated:" seriously divided in their opin- Which was an ambiguous deterions, some of them declaring mination; and many afterward themselves on the side of the Do- observed, "that a simple man minican, and others on the side had given a wiser decision than of the Franciscan. All the scho- the doctors had done, with all lastic terms and distinctions pos- their learned distinctions." sible on such a subject were introduced; and the matter in debate was at last referred to the James Stewart, who was afterjudgment of a provincial synod, ward Earl of Murray, fully unwhich was to meet at Edinburgh, derstood each other's sentiments and of which Mr. Winram was a with regard to religion, and that member. they concurred in such wise and prudent methods, as appeared to them best calculated for promoting the sure progress of the re

While the controversy had been going on at St. Andrews, Mr. Winram's servant, whose name was Thomas, and who was rec- formation. koned a very simple person, So late, however, as April, thinking that there was some great 1558, when Mr. Walter Mill was matter in hand which made the tried and condemned at St. Andoctors so often to convene, asked drews, Mr. Winram had not him one night as he went to bed, wholly laid aside his outward prowhat that business might be? fession of popery, as sub-prior of Mr. Winram merrily answered, the abbey, and consequently a "Tom, we cannot agree to whom member of the archbishop's chap. the Pater noster should be said:"ter, or select council, he behooved "To whom, answered Thomas, to be present at the trial, unless should it be said, but unto God?" he had subjected himself to the "But what then, replied Mr. wrath of the adversaries. But it Winram, shall we do with the is not to be supposed, that he apsaints!" Thomas's answer was proved of the condemnation of nearly in these words, "Give that faithful martyr, but rather them in the name of the great that he spoke against it; as Alexenemy Aves and Creeds enow," ander, Earl of Glencairn, had (viz. Hail, Mary! hail, St. Peter! done some years before, in the hail, St. Andrew! &c.) " for that case of Adam Wallace, another may suffice them; but let God martyr, who was tried, and sufhave his glory." Mr. Winram fered death at Edinburgh. was pleased with his servant's sa- I have met with no particular gacity, and did not fail to re-account of the time and manner in port it. which he disowned all connexion The judgment pronounced by with the Popish Church. It was the Synod at Edinburgh, was, probably about the end of the "that Mr. Winram should return year 1558, that he became more to St. Andrews, and settle the bold in declaring his real princiminds of the people there, by ples; and there can be no doubt telling them, that the Lord's that he was an open professor of prayer ought to be addressed to the truth in the summer of 1559, God; yet so as that the saints when his prior and many other

noblemen publicly espoused the cause of the reforming congregation.

rable men, both as to a spotless behaviour and exertion of talents, that it was an easy matter for disIn April, 1560, he was held in contented persons to find some such high estimation, as a learned grounds of complaint. In Decemman and sound Protestant teacher, ber, 1562, Mr. Winram told the that he was one of those ministers Assembly that some things for to whom the Lords of the congre- which he was blamed " lay out gation committed the important of his power to amend." And in trust of compiling the old Confes- 1574, he offered, in a formal sion of Faith, and the first Book manner, a resignation of his ofof Discipline. In this work, one fice; but the Assembly refused of his coadjutors was Mr. John to accept it. Knox, with whom he had for- When Queen Mary had arrived merly disputed at St. Andrews; from France, to take possession and he seems ever afterward to of her own kingdom, August 19, have lived with him in the most 1561, she was allowed, contrary entire friendship. to the minds of some ministers, to When the committee of par- enjoy so much liberty of conliament, July, 1560, nominated science, as to have the Popish the five ecclesiastical superin-services performed in her own tendents, Mr. John Winram was chapel of Holyrood House. This chosen to be one of them. He privilege was, however, abused; had long resided as a public per- for other Papists, besides those son at St. Andrews, which seems of her own household, resorted to have been the reason that the to her chapel. It was at last province assigned to his jurisdic-strongly contended, that the lition was the county of Fife, with berty granted her should be withthe district of Strathern, including drawn, and that some other sethe town of Perth. verities should be used against

The particulars to be now her as an idolater. mentioned, relating to his charac- In December, 1564, the Earls ter and conduct after he began to of Murray, Argyle, Glencairn, bear an office in the Protestant Sir William Maitland of LethingChurch, will not be many. He ton, and other members of her was a faithful attendant on the privy council, being under some meetings of the General Assem- alarm, thought it requisite to hold bly, and was employed in their a conference with some ministers committees on the most important concerning her. When Mr. John affairs. Like the other superin- Douglas, Rector of the Universitendents. he was called to give an ty, and Provost of the new Colaccount of the proceedings in his lege of St. Andrews, was asked, province, and, in common with in that conference, to give his them, was sometimes accused of opinion, according to his conneglects of duty. science, he said, "I refer it to

So early as June, 1562, the the superintendent of Fife, Mr. Assembly thought it necessary to John Winram, for I think that enjoin ministers to be obedient to we are both of one judgment; yet their superintendents. But so if it be your will that I should much was required of those vene-speak first, my conscience is, that