John Lauder

John Lauder (born c. 1488, died between 1551 and 1556) was Scotland's Public Accuser of Heretics.

In the Great Seal of Scotland, (number 1136 dated at Edinburgh on 15 February 1532) - "the King grants Letters of Legitimacy for John Lauder, bastard son of Sir Robert Lauder of The Bass", knight, (who died before February 1508). These Letters were subsequently confirmed by Pope Clement VII.

Lauder was a licentiate 'in Pedagogio' (the science of learning) at the University of St Andrews in 1508, and in a Decree Arbitral, dated at St. Andrews on 16 October 1518, he thus designates himself: "Ego sacris Apostolica et Imperiali auctoritatibus notarius, ac in officio Scriptori archivii Romane Curie matriculatus ac descriptus."

He was subsequently ordained and became at different stages of his career Archdeacon of Tweeddale, and of Teviotdale. Later he famously became Scotland's Public Accuser of Heretics; he was at the same time Secretary to Cardinal David Beaton, and after him, Archbishop Hamilton.

In the Treasurer's Accounts we find that he was frequently employed in ecclesiastical negotiations and in 1533 was sent to Rome "in the Kingis erandis". In the National Archives of Scotland (CH7/53B) are letters of Pope Clement VII addressed to King James V acknowledging that John Lauder had delivered to him in the city of Marseilles the King's letter (dated at Stirling 10 June 1533) together with the process raised by the bishop of Whithorn and the abbot of the monastery of Holyrood against James, Archbishop of St. Andrews. Although the cause had been committed to Laurence, Cardinal Campegio, he, nevertheless, resolved to despatch a special "nuncio" to Scotland to settle it, the archbishop until his arrival being detained in custody without prejudice to his spiritual jurisdiction. (dated at Marseilles, 31 October, 1533). King James V had sent Lauder to Rome again the following year, with a letter, dated 5 November 1534, to congratulate Pope Paul III on his election, and "to testify to James's zeal and regard for the papacy."

Lauder is quoted in a transcript of Forrest's trial (see below). In addition he successfully prosecuted as heretics Norman Gourlay and David Strattoun who were both burnt at the stake in August 1534. Partial transcripts of their trials are also extant.

Patrick Fraser Tytler chronicled the trial of Thomas Forrest, the martyr, in 1539: Dean Thomas Forrest had been vicar of Dollar, and a canon regular of the monastery of St. Colm's, Inch. He was tried along with two black friars - Keillor and John Beveridge - plus a notary in Stirling by the name of Forrester, before a council held by Cardinal Beaton and William Chisholm, Bishop of Dunblane. Bishop Crichton of Dunkeld was also present. Lauder prosecuted. During Forrest's own defence "his Bible was plucked from his hand by Lauder, who denounced as heretical the conclusions he had drawn from it, and Forrest and his companions were condemned to the stake". The sentence was executed on the Castle Hill of Edinburgh on the last day of February, 1539.

The prosecution of Norman Gourlay, (sometime spelt Gowrlay or Galloway, also described as vicar of Dollar, in Perthshire, David Stratton, a brother of the Laird of Lowrinstoun, both of whom were burnt at the stake in August 1539, was also carried out by Lauder.

In a Feu Charter granted by David Cardinal Beaton dated 6 October 1539 (RH6/1210), one of the witnesses was "John Lauder, Archdeacon of Tweeddale, the Cardinal's Secretary".

Lauder, Archdeacon of Teviotdale, had a personal armorial seal, noted from a document in 1539 as: a shield bearing arms:- 1st & 4th: Three piles (charged with as many annulets?). 2nd & 3rd: A griffin segreant contourne.

In the National Archives of Scotland (GD111/6/2) is a Papal confirmation by John Lauder, archdeacon of Teviotdale, and John Coldane, Provost of Methven, and John Guillermi, Provost of Seton, of a Feu Charter by Andrew, abbot of Melrose, to Arthur Sinclare of the lands of Lessudwyne except the lands of Newtoun, Elistoun, Maxpeffill, Cammestoun and Plewland, with the mill of Newtoun and thirlage of Newtoun, Lessudwyne, Eliston, Cammestone, Maxpeffill, Murehouslaw and Plewland except the fishings on the Tuede (Tweed) belonging to said lands of Lessudwyne, dated 26 February 1541.

In 1541 Lauder, Archdeacon of Teviotdale, paid the third rental for the parsonage and vicarage of Morebattle, in Roxburghshire, amounting to £73/15/7. It is mentioned that this formed the prebend of the Archdeacon of Teviotdale, which post was held by Lauder from 1534 to 1551. His successor was John Hepburn, who held the post from 1544 to 1564. [Hepburn was later Bishop of Brechin, and brother to the wife of the Archdeacon's half-brother, Robert Lauder of Bass] .

On 5 January 1542 we find him as "the Cardinal's Secretary" representing Cardinal David Beaton at the reconsecration of the restored and ancient St Baldred's chapel on the Bass Rock, his father's stronghold.

In the "Calendar of Writs" preserved at Yester House there is an instrument upon the receipt by Robert Lawder of Bass of £80 Scots in redemption of the lands of Kylpallet, constabulary of Haddington and shire of Edinburgh, wadset to him by John Lord Hay of Yester; Done at the instance of the said Lord's procurator, Mr. Thomas Hay, provost of Bothanis Abbey St Bathans, place of Beil, 2 p.m., 21 March 1542. Witnesses: John Lawder, natural son of the laird of Bass, John Lawder in Stentoune and Thomas Wait. John Manderstoun is the notary public. (Seal of Robert Lauder appended in fair condition.)

John Knox also wrote a lot about this John Lauder, and referred to him as "a monstere, full of the Popis thunder, so spytfull that the ignorant people dreded least the earth then wold have swallowed them up."

Knox on Lauder is also quoted by Robert Lindesay of Pitscottie, in an almost complete transcript of the trial, on 1 March, 1546, of the martyr George Wishart, whom Lauder "laidin full off curssingis written in paper.....cruellie accussit him and condemnit him to death." Cardinal Beaton presided over the execution of Wishart, with his faithful secretary and prosecutor, Lauder, at his side, in front of the Cardinal's Castle of St Andrews.

Lauder, Archdeacon of Teviotdale, Cardinal's Secretary, is a witness to a charter by David Betoun, Cardinal Archbishop of St. Andrews, dated there 15 March 1545/6. This charter gives a lot of detail on the family of the Cardinal. (Laing)

Master John Lauder was one of the auditors of the Chamberlain's Accounts for the Archbishopric of St. Andrews from 1540 to 1549, wherein he is styled Archdeacon of Teviotdale. Calderwood mentions too the "Trial of Adam Wallace, 1550.........at the farther end of the chancellarie wall (in the church of the Blacke Friars in Edinburgh), in the pulpit, was placed Mr. Johne Lawder, Parson of Marbottle Morebattle [- see note above, this fell within his remit as Archdeacon of Teviotdale] , accuser, cled in a surplice, and a reid hood." Foxe also gave an account of this trial.

Cardinal Beaton was himself finally murdered by a mob of reformists not long after Wishart's execution, and subsequently Lauder is noted in February 1551 as a notary public of St. Andrews, and "Secretarius" to Archbishop Hamilton, Beaton's successor, who was also later hanged by the mob, in 1571.

Lauder's fate is unknown.

References

* "The Works of John Knox", Wodrow Society, Edinburgh, 1846.
* "The History of Scotland" by Patrick Fraser Tytler, Edinburgh, 1866.
* "Calderwood's History of the Kirk of Scotland", Wodrow Society, volume 1, p.263
* "The Historie and Chronicles of Scotland" by Robert Lindesay of Pitscottie, (edited by A.E.J.G.Mackay, Sheriff of Fife and Kinross), Edinburgh, 1899, vol.1, p.438, and vol. 2).
* "Calendar of the Laing Charters 854 - 1837" edited by Rev. John Anderson, Edinburgh, 1899, number 512 pps.134-5.
* "Scottish Armorial Seals" by W.R.MacDonald, Edinburgh, 1904, no.1565, p197.
* "Calendar of Writs preserved at Yester House" Scottish Record Society. (Number 606).
* "Essays on the Scottish Reformation 1513 - 1625", edited by David McRoberts, Glasgow, 1962, p.68, - chapter dealing with Legislation against heretics and the heresy trials.
* "The Books of Assumption of the Thirds of Benefices - Scottish Ecclesiastical Rentals at the Reformation" edited by James Kirk, Oxford, 1995, pps: 214/5.