The Murder of the Cardinal
Cardinal Beaton was a key figure in the early years of Mary's reign.
He came down hard on the new breed of heretics to be found in Scotland.
In 1546 he made an example of the young charismatic Protestant preacher
George Wishart by having him burned at the stake for heresy. Wishart's
friends vowed vengeance. They had political as well as personal motives.
The cardinal was pro-French while the would-be reformers supported Protestant
England. They embarked on an English-backed plot to assassinate Beaton,
leading to the occupation of St Andrews Castle. One of those who joined
the defence of the castle was John Knox. In his time at St Andrews he
had the opportunity to talk firsthand to Beaton's murderers when the deed
was fresh in their minds. The result is a harrowing narrative of violence
told in a gloating tone. Knox drags the name of the dead cardinal through
the mud with sexual innuendo and aspersions of greed. Certainly Beaton
was no saint and he had just presided over the gruesome execution of Wishart,
but the self-righteousness of his murderers still seems chilling even
today.
- Mony purpoises war devysit, how that wickit man mycht have bein
- Many plots were devised for getting rid of that wicked man, but they all
- taikin away; bot all faillit, till Fryday the 28th of Maii, anno 1546,
- failed until Friday 28th May 1546,
- quhen the foirsaid Normand [Leslie] came at nycht to St Androis,
- when Norman Leslie came to St Andrews
- William Kirkcaldie of Grainge youngar was in the toun befoir,
- at night. William Kirkcaldy of Grange younger was already in the town,
- awaytting upoun the purpois. Last came Johne Leslie forsaid, who
- ready and waiting for the plot. John Leslie came last, as he
- was moist [most] suspected: quhat conclusion they tuik that nicht it
- was the most suspect of them. What decision they reached that night
- was not knawin, bot by the ischew [issue] that followed. Bot airlie
- was not known, but by what followed. Early
- upoun the Settorday in the morning, the 29th of Maii, war thay in
- upon the Saturday morning, the 29th of May, they came together in
- sundrie cumpanies in the Abbay Kirkyaird, not far distant frome the
- companies in the Abbey kirk yard, not far from the castle.
- Castell: first, the yettis [gates] being oppin and the draw-brig lattin
- The gates of the castle were open and the draw-bridge
- down for receaving of lyme and stanis, and uther things necessarie for
- down to allow lime, stones and building materials in,
- building, for Babilon [the cardinal's new block-house] was almost
- for Babylon [the Cardinal's new block house] was almo
- finisched. First we say, assayit William Kircaldie of Grange younger,
- finished. First William Kirkcaldy of Grange and
- and with him sex [six] personis, and getting entres, held purpois with
- six persons with him tried, and getting in asked the
- the porter, gif my Lord Cardinall was wakin? Who answered, No: and
- porter whether my lord cardinal was awake? The porter answered no,
- so it was indeid, for he had bein bussie at his accomptis with Mestres
- and so it was indeed, for he had been 'busy' at his 'accounts' that night
- Marioun Ogilby that nicht, who was espyit to departe from him by
- with Mrs Marion Ogilvy, who had been seen sneaking out via the
- the privie posterne that morning; and therefoir quietnes, efter the
- privy postern that morning and therefore according to the dictates of
- reullis of physick and a morne sleip was requisite for my Lord. Quhille
- medicine he needed a good sleep in the morning. While William
- the said William and the Porter talked, and his servandis maid thame
- Kirkcaldy and the porter talked, and his servants pretended to be
- to luik the wark and the warkmen, aproched Normond Leslie with his
- looking at the work and the workmen, Norman Leslie and his
- cumpanie; and because they war no grit number, thay easilie gat
- company came up, and because there were not many of them, they easily
- entres. Thay addres thame to the middis of the clois, and immediatelie
- got in. They took up the middle of the close when suddenly
- came Johne Leslie sumquhat rudelie, and foure personis with him: the
- John Leslie and another four of the company came in somewhat roughly.
- porter fearing, wald have drawn the brig, bot the said Johne being
- The porter, being afraid would have drawn up the bridge, but John
- enterit thairone, stayit and lap in: and quhill the porter maid him for
- Leslie being on it, stayed on it and leapt in and while the porter tried to
- defence, his heid was brockin, the keyis was taikin frome him, and he
- defend himself, his head was broken, the keys taken from him and he was
- castin in the fowsie [ditch], and so the plaice was seisit. The warkmen,
- thrown in the ditch and so the castle was taken. The workmen
- to the number of mo than ane hundreth, ran of the wallis, and war
- to the number of more than a hundred ran off the walls and were
- without hourt put furthe at the wickit yet [wicket gate]. The first thin
- put out of the wicket gate unharmed. The very first thing that was
- that evir was done Williame Kirkcaldie tuk the gaird of the privie
- done was for William Kirkcaldy to guard the privy
- posterne, fearing that the fox sould have eschaipit. Than go the rest to
- postern, fearing that the fox should have escaped. Then the rest went to
- the gentilmenis chalmeris, and without violence done to ony man,
- the gentlemen's chambers and without any violence done
- thay put mo than fyiftie personis to the yet: the number that
- they put more than fifty people out of the gate. The number which dared
- interprysit and did this war but sextein personis. The Cardinall
- and did this were but 16 persons. The cardinal awakened
- wacknit with the schoutis, askit frome his window, quhat meanit that
- by the shouts, asked from the window, what the noise meant?
- noyis? It was answerit that Normond Leslie had taikin his castell:
- It was answered that Norman Leslie had taken his castle,
- which understaude, he ran to the postern; bot perceaving the passage
- understanding this, he ran to the postern, but realising that the exit
- to be keipit without he returnit quicklie to his chalmer, and tuk his
- was guarded outside, he returned to his chamber, and took his
- two handit sword, and garth [the] chalmerchyild cast kistis and uther
- two-handed sword and ordered the chamber boy to put chests and other
- impedimentis to the dure [door]. In this mein tyme came Johne Leslie
- barriers against the door. In the meantime John Leslie came to it
- unto it, and biddis opin. The Cardinall asking who callis? He answerit
- and asked them to open it. The cardinal asked 'Who calls?' He answered
- my name is Leslie. He redemands, is that Normond? The other sayis
- 'My name is Leslie'. The cardinal asked again 'Is that Norman?' The other
- nay, my name is Johne. I will have Normond sayis the Cardinall, for
- replied 'No, my name is John.' 'I will have Norman' replied the cardinal
- he is my friend. Content your self with suche as ar heir, for uther sall
- 'for he is my friend.' 'Content your self with such as are here, for you
- ye get nane. Thair war with the said Johne, James Melvell, a man
- won't get any others.' There were the said John, James Melville, a man
- familiarlie acquainted with the said Mr George Wischeart, and Petir
- who knew George Wishart well, and Peter
- Carmichell, a stout gentilman. In the mein tyme, whyll they force at
- Carmichael, a courageous gentleman. In the meantime whilst they forced
- the dure, the Cardinall hyddis a box of gold under coills that war layd
- the door, the cardinal hid a box of gold under coals in a secret corner of
- in a secret corner. At lenth he asketh Will ye save my lyif? The said
- the room. At length he asked 'Will you save my life?' John Leslie answered
- Johne answerit It may be that we will. Nay sayis the Cardinall Sweir
- 'It may be that we will.' 'No' said the Cardinal 'Swear
- unto me by Godis Woundis, and I sall oppin unto yow. Than answerit
- to me by God's Wounds and I shall open the door to you.' Then John
- the said John, It that was said is unsaid; and so he cryit Fire, fire for
- Leslie answered 'It that was said was unsaid' and so he called 'fire, fire
- the dure was verie stark and so was brought ane chimlay full of
- for the door was very strong and so a grate full of burning coals was
- burning coallis, quhilk perceavit the Cardinall or his chalmer-chyld (it
- brought to him, on perceiving this the cardinal or the chamber boy (it is
- is uncertain) oppinit the dure, and the Cardinall sat doun in a chayre
- uncertain which) opened the door and the Cardinal sat down in a chair
- and cryit I ame a preist, I ame a priest, ye will not slay me. The said
- and cried out ' I am a priest, I am a priest, you will not slay me.'
- Johne Leslie, according to his former vowis [to avenge Wishart], straik
- John Leslie, according to his former vows [to avenge Wishart] struck
- him anis or twyis, and so did the said Petir. Bot James Melvell, a man
- him once or twice and so did the said Peter, but James Melville, a man
- of nature moist gentill and most modest, perceaving thame bayth in
- of a most gentle and modest nature, seeing that they were both enraged,
- cholere, withdrew thame and said the wark and judgement of god,
- pulled them back and said 'The work and judgement of God
- althocht it be secreit yit aucht to be done with gritter gravitie. And
- although it is hidden, yet it ought to be done with greater gravity.' And
- presenting unto him the point of the sword said 'Repent of thyne
- presenting to the cardinal the point of the sword said 'Repent of your
- former wickit lyif, but especiallie of the schedding of the bluid of that
- former wicked life, but especially of the shedding of the blood of that
- notable instrument of God, Mr George Wiseheart whiche albeit the
- notable instrument of God, Mr George Wishart, which although
- flame of fyre consumit befoir men, yit cryis it a vengeance upoun
- consumed by the flame of fire before men, yet it cries a vengeance upon
- the[e] and we from God ar sent to revenge it. For heir befoir my god,
- you and we from god are sent to revenge it. For here before my God, I
- I protest, that neither haitrent of thy persone, the love of thy ryches,
- protest that neither hatred of your person, the love of your riches,
- nor the feir of anie trouble thow could have done to me in particular,
- nor the fear of any trouble you could have done to me in particular,
- muisit or movethe me to straik the[e]; bot onlie because thow hes bein,
- inspires or moves me to strike you, but only that you have been and
- and remainis ane obstinate enemie to Chryist Jesus and his holie
- remain an obstinate enemy to Christ Jesus and his holy gospel.'
- evangell.' And so he straik him twys or thryis throw with a stoge
- And so he struck him twice or thrice through with a stabbing sword,
- sword: and so he fell, nevir a word hard out of his mouthe bot I ame
- and so he fell, never a word heard out of his mouth but 'I am a
- a priest. I ame a Preist. Fy, fy all is gone.
- priest, I am a priest. Fy, fy, all is gone.'
- Whill they war thus occupyed with the Cardinal, the fray ryissis in
- While they were busy with the cardinal, a stir rose in
- the toun; the proveist assembles the commonalitie, and cumis to the
- the town, the provost assembled the ordinary people and came to the
- fouseis syde, crying Quhat have ye done with my Lord Cardinal? Let
- ditch-side crying 'What have you done with my lord cardinal.' They
- us sie my Lord Cardinall. Thay that war within answerit gentillye,
- that were within answered gently
- 'The best it war to yow to returne to your awin houses; for that man
- 'The best thing for you would be to return to your own houses, for that
- you call the Cardinall hes receaved his reward, and in his awin
- man you call the cardinal has received his reward and in his own
- persone wil trouble the warld na mair. Bot then mor inragitlie they
- person will trouble the world no more.' But then more enragedly they
- cryit We sall nevir departe till that we sie him. And so was he brocht
- cried 'We shall never depart until we see him.' And so he was brought to
- to the Eist Blokhouse Heid and schawin deid over the wall to the
- the east blockhouse head and shown dead over the wall to the
- faythles multitude, which would not beleve befoir that it saw. And so
- faithless multitude, which would never believe until they saw. And so
- they departit, without requiem aeternam & requiescat in pace sung
- they departed without requiem mass being sung for his soul. Now
- for his saull. Now because the wedder [weather] was hotte, for it was
- because the weather was hot, for it was May, as you have heard, and his
- in Maii, as ye have hard and his funerallis culd not suddantlie be
- funeral could not suddenly be prepared,
- prepaired, it was thocht best (to keip him frome stinking) to give him
- it was thought best (to keep him from stinking) to give him
- grit salt yneuche, a cope of leid, and a nuck in the bottome of the Sey-
- enough salt, a winding sheet of lead and a corner in the bottom of the sea
- tour, a plaice quhair mony of God's children had bein imprisonit
- tower, a place where many of God's children had been imprisoned
- befoir to await quhat exequies his brethren and bischopis wald
- before to await what funeral ceremonies his brethren and bishops would
- prepair for him. These thingis we wrytte merrille, bot we would that
- prepare for him. These things we write with gladness, but we would wish
- the reidar sould observe God's just judgementis, and how that he can
- that the reader should observe God's just judgements and how he can take
- deprehend the wardlie wyis in their awin wisdome, mak their tabill to
- the worldly wise in their own wisdom, make their table to
- be a snair to trappe thair awin feit, and thair awin presuppoisit streth
- be a snare to trap their own feet and their own pre-supposed strength
- to be thair awin destructioun. These ar the warkis of our God,
- to be their own destruction. These are the works of our God,
- whereby he wald admonisch the tirrants of this earthe, that in the end
- whereby we would admonish the tyrants of this earth, that in the end he
- he will be revengit of thair crueltie, quhat strenth soevir they mak in the contrair . . .
- will revenge their cruelty, whatsoever strength they make to the contrary . . .
- The deith of this forsaid tirrant [tyrant] was dolourous to the
- The death of this tyrant was sorrowful to the
- preistis, dolourous to the Governour, and moist dolourous to the
- priests, sorrowful to the regent and most sorrowful to the
- Quein Dowager: for in him perisched faythfulness to France, and
- queen dowager, for in him perished faithfulness to France and
- comfort to all gentilwemen and especiallie to wantoun wedowis: his
- comfort to all gentlewomen and especially to wanton widows: his
- deith muist be revengit.
- death had to be revenged.
John Knox, Historie of the Reformatioun of Scotland, Edinburgh,
1732.