Chapter XVIII: Abbot John Hamilton, 1525-1547
These hopes were disappointed. The Abbot, with great energy, threw himself into the opposite interest, and became the great champion of the Church. His presence was soon felt at his brother's Court. The two Protestant preachers were dismissed. The Governor recanted his heretical opinions, and became reconciled to the Cardinal. The French party, which was the party of the Church, became triumphant, and what seemed to be a failing cause appeared to have new vigour suddenly infused into it. The famous historian whom we have quoted uses very strong language in speaking of the Abbot's influence. He calls him a hypocrite. He and his friends are represented as actuated by the lowest motives, “hastening to their prey like ravens to carrion.” “He led his brother so far from God that he falsified his promise, and dipt his hands in the blood of the sancts of God, and these were the first fruits of the Abbot of Paslaye, his godliness and learning.” It is questionable whether this vituperation by Knox is deserved. Hamilton was a staunch Catholic, brought up in all the traditions of the Church, and his residence in France naturally strengthened his attachments. He appears from the first never to have had any sympathy with the Reformers, and there seems no reason to believe that in the course he pursued he was actuated by any sordid motive such as is attributed to him by his opponents. He was certainly no hypocrite.
All the historians of the time speak of the Abbot, and the prominent position he occupied at Court. Sir Ralph Sadler, the English Ambassador, notices him in his letters again and again as the leading spirit of the French party, and the trusted counsellor of the Regent. “Ever since his brother the Abbot of Paisley came home he hath been chiefly ruled and counselled by him, who, they assure me, is altogether at the cast of France, and the Cardinal's great friend, and whatsoever they do mind with the Governor today the Abbot of Paisley changeth him in the same on tomorrow.” [12] So wrote Sadler in the year of the Abbot's return. When not at Court, the Abbot resided in his Abbey at Paisley, where on more than one occasion he entertained his brother the Governor, several of who letters and commissions are dated from the Monastery. [13] The Abbot, like many of his predecessors, did something for the architecture of the church. He was passionately fond of building, [14] but his attempt at Paisley was not so successful as his subsequent efforts of a similar kind. He built a tower to the church at immense expense, but the foundations not being secure, the structure, when hardly finished, fell by its own weight. [15] Its fall was an omen of coming troubles, and it is doubtful whether it was ever built up again.
The Abbot was made, by his brother, Keeper of the Privy Seal in the year of his return from abroad, and was soon after promoted to the office of Lord High Treasurer for Scotland, in room of Kirkcaldy of Grange, a distinguished friend of the Reformation. High honour was in store for him in Church as well as State. The Bishopric of Dunkeld became vacant in 1543-4, [16] and the Abbot was appointed to it by his brother, acting for the young Queen. He continued to be styled by his old title of Abbot of Paisley. Notwithstanding his elevation he retained his Abbey; and it is doubtful whether he ever was installed in his northern diocese. In 1546 he is styled Abbot of Paisley in the Acts of Parliament.
[12] Sadler's State Papers, p. 145.
[13] Report on Historical Manuscripts. Argyle MSS., 4th Report, p. 489.
[14] A catalogue of his erections in Fifeshire is given in M`Farlane's Genealogical Collections MSS., Vol. I., Advocates Library.
[15] Lesley's History of Scotland, see, Chap. XX.
[16] Keith.