MEMOIR OF SIR J. G. DAL YELL. xxiii 



In 1806 appeared ''Journal of the Transactions in Scotland, during 

 the contest between the adherents of Queen Mary, and those of her son, 

 1570, 1571, 1572, 1573. By Richard Bannatyne, secretary to John Knox." 

 This bulky volume was printed by Ballantyne & Co., and published by A. 

 Constable & Co. As explained by Sir John, in the prefece, it is probable 

 that both Calderwood and Spottiswoode, as well as the author of " King- 

 James the Sext," had seen Bannatyne's Journal ; yet neither of them men- 

 tion it. " Crawford (author of the Peerage), I'efers to the manuscript, penes 

 Robert Miln ; at whose death, in 1748, it most likely was conveyed to 

 the Advocate's Library in Edinburgh." Sir John expresses his surprise 

 " that this Journal should have been almost entirely overlooked by modern 

 historians. Goodall, who writes in defence of Queen Mary, quotes it as 

 authority, but does not mention where it was deposited, as the work is so 

 adverse to the Queen, he possibly did not care about its being known." " Six 

 or seven years ago," adds Sir John, " when engaged in an examination 

 of all the manuscripts in the Advocate's Library, I found Bannatyne s Jour- 

 nal among some papers quite unconnected with the subject. It is entered 

 in no catalogue of the Library, which further induces me to believe that 

 Goodall, who was many years librarian there, was solicitous that it should 

 remain in concealment. " To Sir John's industry, and anxiety to illustrate 

 the more ol)scure passages in Scottish historj', we are thus indebted for 

 Bannatyne' s Journal. As secretary to John Knox, the author seems to 

 have imbibed much of the bitter spirit of the Eeformer. All opposed to 

 his party are vilified and spoken of with the utmost contempt. The Jour- 

 nal \s, supplemented by several other manuscripts : — 1. "Letters from Se- 

 cretary Maitland and the Earl of Mortoun, 1572." 2. " An account of the 

 Death of the Earl of Huntly, 1576." 3. " Confession of the Earl of Mor- 

 toun, 1581." 4. " Mutual aggressions by the coiatending factions, 1570." * 



Although deeply engaged with his own inquiries. Sir John was at all 

 times extremely ready to assist others. About this time we find him in 

 correspondence with the celebrated George Chalmers, author of " Cale- 

 donia," &c., from whom the following letter has been preserved : — 



* A complete copy of the MS. lias turned up since Sir John's publication, and lias been 

 printed by the intervention of the Bannatyne Club. 



