John Howison
Encyclopedia
John Howison was Minister in the Parish
of Cambuslang
during a turbulent time in Scotland’s history. He was imprisoned several times for his campaign for a Presbyterian, as opposed to Episcopal
structure for the Church of Scotland
. (He was always very quickly released). He also often reprimanded the King James VI
for taking the advice of evil counsellors. He quarrelled with his own parishioners and was convicted of publishing a doctored version of an Act of Parliament, but he died peacefully in Cambuslang, apparently resigned to accepting Bishops in the Kirk
.
and a work defending the Protestant view of Scripture against the work of the great Cardinal Bellarmine. He established the first known public school in Cambuslang
as well as the Howison Bursary (1613) which, along with the The Trades House of Glasgow http://www.tradeshouse.org.uk/about_the_trades_house.asp supported a poor student in the University of Glasgow
. The Trades House had a (much damaged) portrait of him taken in 1609, though it was damaged beyond recognition by a fire, and he is still commemorated in the University as a benefactor. His Howison Trust maintained two poor men of the Parish in the Hospital (that is, Poor House of Hamilton
) right up until the 20th Century. Two silver communion cups designed by Gilbert Kirkwood and assay
ed in Edinburgh
in 1618 are still used in the Church, and are known as the Howison Cups, because of an inscription thought to refer to him. Howies Hill near the Parish Church in Cambuslang is most likely to be remembrance of him. The Presbyterian form of Church governance
which he fought for was not firmly instituted until eighty years after his death (following the invasion of William of Orange
. It is still the form of the Church of Scotland
today and to many of its members John Howison is a hero. (In fact, most of what we know about him comes from historians who obviously hero worshiped him, though one did admit that there was “more force than charity” in some of his words.)
was Principal there. From him, he imbibed a strict Presbyterianism
. He graduated in about 1576, not long after Protestantism
had been established by law in Scotland, but before the form of the Reformed Church had been finalised. He was then ordained and took up his first post at Kelso (including the parish of Sprouston and the districts of Maxwell and Lempitlaw). He did not remain there long, leaving on 11 October 1577. It is not known where he then went. He is recorded to have been at Glassford between 1587 and 1588 but it is suggested that this is a misprint for 1577/1578, for he took up his post in Cambuslang
in 1580.
He was nominated to this post by the major local landowner James, Earl of Arran at the request of King James VI
and his Council. The Reformed Church needed trustworthy ministers in parishes vacated by Catholic priests across the country. His appointment was in due course confirmed by the King. Howison must already have been a man of promise if not of distinction.
In 1581 Howison was a member of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
. There he objected, along with others, to the King’s appointment as the new Archbishop of Glasgow
of The Minister of Stirling
Robert Montgomery. He objected on principal, claiming Bishop
s were against the Word of God but he claimed that Mr Montgomery was an unfit person to lead Christians. The King nonetheless ordered the Church to accept him as Archbishop. On 8 June 1582 Montgomery entered into Glasgow Cathedral
to claim his see
. By this time Howison was Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow which was at that time meeting in the Cathedral. Howison demonstrated his opposition to the entry of the new archbishop by climbing into the pulpit and beginning to preach before the archbishop arrived. The archbishop arrived to claim the pulpit, accompanied by the Lord Provost of Glasgow Sir Mathew Stewart of Minto - one of Howison’s own Cambuslang Parishioners - and other leading citizens. There was a stand-off. Sir Mathew ordered Howison out of the pulpit and in response Howison called upon Minto in the name of God to do nothing to disturb the peace. Some rough handling ensued and Howison was dragged - apparently by the beard - from the pulpit and had some of his teeth knocked out. He was then taken to the Trongate
- the town gaol. Some armed students tried to rescue him, but they were bloodily put down. The Church responded by excommunicating
Archbishop Montgomery. Howison was released from prison after three days. The General Assembly
, meeting later that month also tried to excommunicate
the Lord Provost of Glasgow and his supporters. These did not bother to appear to their answer charges and the King called the case to his own Council, meeting at Perth
on 6 July. The Assembly sent a letter to the King complaining of many things including “the violent drawing of Mr John Howison out of his judgement seat where he was placed as Moderator of the Presbytery, his cruel and outrageous handling and carrying to prison like a thief by the bailies of Glasgow…” After some manoeuvring Sir Mathew submitted to the Assembly. The Assembly then demanded that those who had perpetrated the “unaccustomed violence against Mr Howison” should be “sua punischt that nane hereafter be bald to attempt the lyke” (sic
). However, the King had meanwhile been abducted by rebel nobles in the so-called Ruthven Raid. He subsequently escaped, but the escapade meant that no notice was taken of the Church’s complaints.
In 1584 a plague struck Perth
and as there was no minister there, Howison went “ministering to the great comfort of the sufferers”. The King agreed he could stay there so long as he arranged for another minister for Cambuslang
. He again started organising opposition to the bishops while at Perth, and he was again put in prison, this time in the Spey Tower of St Johnstone. Again, it did not last long, nor did it seem to harm his career, as he is soon after found to be preaching to the King, rebuking him to his face “with good exhortation, telling the truth meet for the purpose” (in his own words). Later he preached at Blackfriars, Edinburgh against a “wicked and godless Council” which tried “to stop the mouths of ministers from teaching of the truth”. He declared “We will acknowledge nae princes nor magistrates in teaching of the word; nor be bounden to nae injunction, nor obey nae Acts of Parliaments, nor nae other thing that is repugnant to the word of God.” He was careful to say it was not the King he was opposing, but the “wicked, godless and villain Council". Anyway “What can the King get of me but my heid and my bluid? I shall never obey their injunctions!” At Linlithgow
in 1585 it was claimed “he maid an odious comparison of His Majesie to Jeroboam
and making him inferior to him”. He was seized and sent to Falkland Palace
where he admitted he had said these words and had added that he had urged others “to do the lyke”.
Meanwhile, James, Earl of Arran
had declared Howison’s post in Cambuslang
illegal and tried to give it to another minister, but was not successful.
) but he was back in Cambuslang the following year. The oddness of this is what makes some people think this is a misprint (see above). The Assembly appointed him to be one of a party of “visitors” to Nithsdale
, to check on church discipline and “plant” sound ministers.
In 1592 the Sheriff of Lanark
ordered James Hamilton of Shawton, in Cambuslang, to find £1000 caution that he “would not harm the minister of Cambuslang”, so Howison was still making enemies, this time among his parishioners. Howison later applied for further protection. A complaint was made to the Court of Session
in Edinburgh
from “John Hamilton of Shawton, Andro Hamilton of Westburn, Robert Lyndsay in Vicarland, John Hamilton in Turnelaw, John and Patrick Duning in Halsyde, and William Mader in Newtoun”. The places named are all in Cambuslang Parish. They were complaining Howison was making up complaints against them, so they had to go to the trouble to find money for cautions. Howison did not turn up to contest the complaint, and the case was suspended.
Sometime after 1592 Howison had the King’s own printers publish the so called “Charter of the Church”. This was supposed to be an Act of Parliament
titled “An Act for abolishing the Acts contrar (sic) to the liberties of the Church”. In fact, it was a forgery, or at least a falsification. Howison was charged at the Court of Justiciary for “treasonably causing to be printed a false, adulterate and altered Act of Parliament instead of the true and genuine Act of 1592. He was sentenced to prison, but the General Assembly
petitioned the King and he was released on 7 March 1596.
Back in Cambuslang
, Howison brought a charge of immorality against James Hamilton of Turnelaw (one of the group who had complained about him to the Court of Session
in Edinburgh
). This case went all the way to Edinburgh
, as a criminal prosecution, with an uncertain outcome. Howison was also taken to court for refusing to call the Banns
for a marriage between Andro Yule of Flemington and Janet Armour, a thirteen year old girl who had been left a small property by her father, George Armour. Howison had been appointed one of the trustees for the girl and he claimed that Yule and his brother John had “carried off the said Janet” (in March 1602) and forced her mother to agree to a marriage. Howison tried to stop the marriage by appealing to the Lords of Session
in Edinburgh
, but they dismissed his case, saying it was no business of his. Meanwhile, his own Presbytery had ordered him to proclaim the Banns
and when he refused, took him to court in Edinburgh. This time the Lords
asked the Presbytery to take no further action.
to look at it. It seems to have been forgotten in the tumult of the times. Howison also reported to the Assembly that he had endowed “with 90 merks, schoolhouse and yaird besyd the Kirk, under sycht of Mr Howison, he bein’ cairful in instructing the youth of the said parochin, and utheris thairabout in their rudiments in religion and gramer”. It was “erected” by royal authority on 5 April 1603.
In 1610, Howison was again a member of the General Assembly. His wife Agnes died in 1612. There is a bell in the steeple of the current Church dated 1612 with the initials “M I H”. This has been interpreted as Mr Iohn Howison, either because he donated it or because it was donated to him in that year.
In 1613, he gave 1000 merks to the Principal of Glasgow University and the Deacon Convenor of the Crafts (the later Trades House) for the maintenance of a student at the university, who must be a son of a Glasgow burgess (citizen). It is interesting that the document that set up this “Howison’s Bursary” is addressed to “ye Richt Reverend Fader Johnne
Archibischop of Glasgow”, so he had obviously resigned himself to, if not accepted, bishops in the kirk. The Earl of Arran
had used donated land from Lady Chapel at Cambuslang to set up a hospital (Poor House) in Hamilton
. In 1615, Howison gave it a further 2000 merks - from the same source - for the support of two old men from Cambuslang.
In 1617, Howison met King James
at Paisley
. The King was making a royal visit from England
whose king he had become in 1603 and where he had lived since then. At Paisley, Howison roundly scolded the King for his practices and intentions. In 1618 Howison died. We do not know where his grave is. He left his books, etc to Glasgow University.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
during a turbulent time in Scotland’s history. He was imprisoned several times for his campaign for a Presbyterian, as opposed to Episcopal
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
structure for the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. (He was always very quickly released). He also often reprimanded the King James VI
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
for taking the advice of evil counsellors. He quarrelled with his own parishioners and was convicted of publishing a doctored version of an Act of Parliament, but he died peacefully in Cambuslang, apparently resigned to accepting Bishops in the Kirk
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
.
Howison’s Legacy
He wrote a CatechismCatechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
and a work defending the Protestant view of Scripture against the work of the great Cardinal Bellarmine. He established the first known public school in Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
as well as the Howison Bursary (1613) which, along with the The Trades House of Glasgow http://www.tradeshouse.org.uk/about_the_trades_house.asp supported a poor student in the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. The Trades House had a (much damaged) portrait of him taken in 1609, though it was damaged beyond recognition by a fire, and he is still commemorated in the University as a benefactor. His Howison Trust maintained two poor men of the Parish in the Hospital (that is, Poor House of Hamilton
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
) right up until the 20th Century. Two silver communion cups designed by Gilbert Kirkwood and assay
Assay
An assay is a procedure in molecular biology for testing or measuring the activity of a drug or biochemical in an organism or organic sample. A quantitative assay may also measure the amount of a substance in a sample. Bioassays and immunoassays are among the many varieties of specialized...
ed in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1618 are still used in the Church, and are known as the Howison Cups, because of an inscription thought to refer to him. Howies Hill near the Parish Church in Cambuslang is most likely to be remembrance of him. The Presbyterian form of Church governance
Presbyterian polity
Presbyterian polity is a method of church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply...
which he fought for was not firmly instituted until eighty years after his death (following the invasion of William of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
. It is still the form of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
today and to many of its members John Howison is a hero. (In fact, most of what we know about him comes from historians who obviously hero worshiped him, though one did admit that there was “more force than charity” in some of his words.)
Ordination and opposition
We do not know when and where John Howison was born but he was a student at Glasgow University while Andrew MelvilleAndrew Melville
Andrew Melville was a Scottish scholar, theologian and religious reformer. His fame encouraged scholars from the European Continent to study at Glasgow and St Andrews.-Early life and early education:...
was Principal there. From him, he imbibed a strict Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
. He graduated in about 1576, not long after Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
had been established by law in Scotland, but before the form of the Reformed Church had been finalised. He was then ordained and took up his first post at Kelso (including the parish of Sprouston and the districts of Maxwell and Lempitlaw). He did not remain there long, leaving on 11 October 1577. It is not known where he then went. He is recorded to have been at Glassford between 1587 and 1588 but it is suggested that this is a misprint for 1577/1578, for he took up his post in Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
in 1580.
He was nominated to this post by the major local landowner James, Earl of Arran at the request of King James VI
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
and his Council. The Reformed Church needed trustworthy ministers in parishes vacated by Catholic priests across the country. His appointment was in due course confirmed by the King. Howison must already have been a man of promise if not of distinction.
In 1581 Howison was a member of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
. There he objected, along with others, to the King’s appointment as the new Archbishop of Glasgow
Archbishop of Glasgow
The Bishop of Glasgow, from 1492 Archbishop of Glasgow, was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Glasgow and then, as Archbishop of Glasgow, the Archdiocese of Glasgow...
of The Minister of Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
Robert Montgomery. He objected on principal, claiming Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s were against the Word of God but he claimed that Mr Montgomery was an unfit person to lead Christians. The King nonetheless ordered the Church to accept him as Archbishop. On 8 June 1582 Montgomery entered into Glasgow Cathedral
Glasgow Cathedral
The church commonly known as Glasgow Cathedral is the Church of Scotland High Kirk of Glasgow otherwise known as St. Mungo's Cathedral.The other cathedrals in Glasgow are:* The Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew...
to claim his see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
. By this time Howison was Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow which was at that time meeting in the Cathedral. Howison demonstrated his opposition to the entry of the new archbishop by climbing into the pulpit and beginning to preach before the archbishop arrived. The archbishop arrived to claim the pulpit, accompanied by the Lord Provost of Glasgow Sir Mathew Stewart of Minto - one of Howison’s own Cambuslang Parishioners - and other leading citizens. There was a stand-off. Sir Mathew ordered Howison out of the pulpit and in response Howison called upon Minto in the name of God to do nothing to disturb the peace. Some rough handling ensued and Howison was dragged - apparently by the beard - from the pulpit and had some of his teeth knocked out. He was then taken to the Trongate
Trongate
Trongate is one of the oldest streets in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.Located in the area of the Merchant City commonly known as "Old Glasgow", it is the main route into the central area from the East End...
- the town gaol. Some armed students tried to rescue him, but they were bloodily put down. The Church responded by excommunicating
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
Archbishop Montgomery. Howison was released from prison after three days. The General Assembly
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
, meeting later that month also tried to excommunicate
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
the Lord Provost of Glasgow and his supporters. These did not bother to appear to their answer charges and the King called the case to his own Council, meeting at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
on 6 July. The Assembly sent a letter to the King complaining of many things including “the violent drawing of Mr John Howison out of his judgement seat where he was placed as Moderator of the Presbytery, his cruel and outrageous handling and carrying to prison like a thief by the bailies of Glasgow…” After some manoeuvring Sir Mathew submitted to the Assembly. The Assembly then demanded that those who had perpetrated the “unaccustomed violence against Mr Howison” should be “sua punischt that nane hereafter be bald to attempt the lyke” (sic
Sic
Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
). However, the King had meanwhile been abducted by rebel nobles in the so-called Ruthven Raid. He subsequently escaped, but the escapade meant that no notice was taken of the Church’s complaints.
In 1584 a plague struck Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
and as there was no minister there, Howison went “ministering to the great comfort of the sufferers”. The King agreed he could stay there so long as he arranged for another minister for Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
. He again started organising opposition to the bishops while at Perth, and he was again put in prison, this time in the Spey Tower of St Johnstone. Again, it did not last long, nor did it seem to harm his career, as he is soon after found to be preaching to the King, rebuking him to his face “with good exhortation, telling the truth meet for the purpose” (in his own words). Later he preached at Blackfriars, Edinburgh against a “wicked and godless Council” which tried “to stop the mouths of ministers from teaching of the truth”. He declared “We will acknowledge nae princes nor magistrates in teaching of the word; nor be bounden to nae injunction, nor obey nae Acts of Parliaments, nor nae other thing that is repugnant to the word of God.” He was careful to say it was not the King he was opposing, but the “wicked, godless and villain Council". Anyway “What can the King get of me but my heid and my bluid? I shall never obey their injunctions!” At Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
in 1585 it was claimed “he maid an odious comparison of His Majesie to Jeroboam
Jeroboam
Jeroboam was the first king of the northern Israelite Kingdom of Israel after the revolt of the ten northern Israelite tribes against Rehoboam that put an end to the United Monarchy....
and making him inferior to him”. He was seized and sent to Falkland Palace
Falkland Palace
Falkland Palace in Falkland, Fife, Scotland, is a former royal palace of the Scottish Kings. Today it is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, and serves as a tourist attraction.-Early years:...
where he admitted he had said these words and had added that he had urged others “to do the lyke”.
Meanwhile, James, Earl of Arran
Duke of Hamilton
Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1643. It is the senior dukedom in that Peerage , and as such its holder is the Premier Peer of Scotland, as well as being head of both the House of Hamilton and the House of Douglas...
had declared Howison’s post in Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
illegal and tried to give it to another minister, but was not successful.
Marriage and struggles with parishioners
Howison married Agnes Coluines in 1586, but we have no record of any children. He is reported to have been appointed minister of Glassford (further up the River ClydeRiver Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
) but he was back in Cambuslang the following year. The oddness of this is what makes some people think this is a misprint (see above). The Assembly appointed him to be one of a party of “visitors” to Nithsdale
Nithsdale
Nithsdale , also known by its anglicised gaelic name Strathnith or Stranit, is the valley of the River Nith in Scotland, and the name of the region...
, to check on church discipline and “plant” sound ministers.
In 1592 the Sheriff of Lanark
Lanark
Lanark is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8,253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade"....
ordered James Hamilton of Shawton, in Cambuslang, to find £1000 caution that he “would not harm the minister of Cambuslang”, so Howison was still making enemies, this time among his parishioners. Howison later applied for further protection. A complaint was made to the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
from “John Hamilton of Shawton, Andro Hamilton of Westburn, Robert Lyndsay in Vicarland, John Hamilton in Turnelaw, John and Patrick Duning in Halsyde, and William Mader in Newtoun”. The places named are all in Cambuslang Parish. They were complaining Howison was making up complaints against them, so they had to go to the trouble to find money for cautions. Howison did not turn up to contest the complaint, and the case was suspended.
Sometime after 1592 Howison had the King’s own printers publish the so called “Charter of the Church”. This was supposed to be an Act of Parliament
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
titled “An Act for abolishing the Acts contrar (sic) to the liberties of the Church”. In fact, it was a forgery, or at least a falsification. Howison was charged at the Court of Justiciary for “treasonably causing to be printed a false, adulterate and altered Act of Parliament instead of the true and genuine Act of 1592. He was sentenced to prison, but the General Assembly
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
petitioned the King and he was released on 7 March 1596.
Back in Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
, Howison brought a charge of immorality against James Hamilton of Turnelaw (one of the group who had complained about him to the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
). This case went all the way to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, as a criminal prosecution, with an uncertain outcome. Howison was also taken to court for refusing to call the Banns
Banns of marriage
The banns of marriage, commonly known simply as the "banns" or "bans" are the public announcement in a Christian parish church of an impending marriage between two specified persons...
for a marriage between Andro Yule of Flemington and Janet Armour, a thirteen year old girl who had been left a small property by her father, George Armour. Howison had been appointed one of the trustees for the girl and he claimed that Yule and his brother John had “carried off the said Janet” (in March 1602) and forced her mother to agree to a marriage. Howison tried to stop the marriage by appealing to the Lords of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, but they dismissed his case, saying it was no business of his. Meanwhile, his own Presbytery had ordered him to proclaim the Banns
Banns of marriage
The banns of marriage, commonly known simply as the "banns" or "bans" are the public announcement in a Christian parish church of an impending marriage between two specified persons...
and when he refused, took him to court in Edinburgh. This time the Lords
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
asked the Presbytery to take no further action.
Publications and benefactions
The first book we know of is his “Discourse on Conscience” published in Edinburgh in 1600. Howison had thought he had lived “in all good conscience”. He also produced a reply to the great Catholic apologist Cardinal Bellarmine titled “Scripture, the interpreter of Scripture”. The General Assembly agreed to examine this and appointed a panel of ministers, including Andrew MelvilleAndrew Melville
Andrew Melville was a Scottish scholar, theologian and religious reformer. His fame encouraged scholars from the European Continent to study at Glasgow and St Andrews.-Early life and early education:...
to look at it. It seems to have been forgotten in the tumult of the times. Howison also reported to the Assembly that he had endowed “with 90 merks, schoolhouse and yaird besyd the Kirk, under sycht of Mr Howison, he bein’ cairful in instructing the youth of the said parochin, and utheris thairabout in their rudiments in religion and gramer”. It was “erected” by royal authority on 5 April 1603.
In 1610, Howison was again a member of the General Assembly. His wife Agnes died in 1612. There is a bell in the steeple of the current Church dated 1612 with the initials “M I H”. This has been interpreted as Mr Iohn Howison, either because he donated it or because it was donated to him in that year.
In 1613, he gave 1000 merks to the Principal of Glasgow University and the Deacon Convenor of the Crafts (the later Trades House) for the maintenance of a student at the university, who must be a son of a Glasgow burgess (citizen). It is interesting that the document that set up this “Howison’s Bursary” is addressed to “ye Richt Reverend Fader Johnne
John Spottiswoode
John Spottiswoode was an Archbishop of St Andrews, Primate of All Scotland and historian of Scotland.-Life:...
Archibischop of Glasgow”, so he had obviously resigned himself to, if not accepted, bishops in the kirk. The Earl of Arran
Duke of Hamilton
Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1643. It is the senior dukedom in that Peerage , and as such its holder is the Premier Peer of Scotland, as well as being head of both the House of Hamilton and the House of Douglas...
had used donated land from Lady Chapel at Cambuslang to set up a hospital (Poor House) in Hamilton
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
. In 1615, Howison gave it a further 2000 merks - from the same source - for the support of two old men from Cambuslang.
In 1617, Howison met King James
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
at Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
. The King was making a royal visit from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
whose king he had become in 1603 and where he had lived since then. At Paisley, Howison roundly scolded the King for his practices and intentions. In 1618 Howison died. We do not know where his grave is. He left his books, etc to Glasgow University.
Sources
- Porter, Wm Henry 'Cambuslang and its Ministers' (in Mitchell LibraryMitchell LibraryThe Mitchell Library is a large public library and centre of the public library system of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:The library was established with a bequest from Stephen Mitchell, a wealthy tobacco manufacturer, whose company, Stephen Mitchell & Son, would become one of the constituent members...
- Glasgow Collection, reference GC941.433 CAM 188520 Box 952 - Scott, Hew Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae V4: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation Edinburgh 1922
- Wilson, James Alexander OBE, MD A History of Cambuslang: a Clydesdale parish. Jackson Wylie & Co Glasgow (1929)