THREE hundred years ago there were men in Scotland who were courageous enough to speak their minds to kings. Among these was the Rev. Patrick Simson. On Tuesday, 8th February, 1572, Edinburgh was thrown into great excitement and sorrow, through the news that the Earl of Moray had been done to death by the Earl of Huntly, who went out from the company King James and set fire to Donibristle House. On coming forth from the burning house Moray was killed. The King went forth hunting that morning as if nothing had happened and saw the fire, which had not yet died out.
Aware of being suspected of having been privy to the deed, he sent for some of the ministers, and asked them to “cleare his part before the people.” They replied, if he was innocent, he should arrest Huntly and try him for murder. A few days after the murder, Mr. Patrick Simson preached before the King at Stirling. He took for his text: “The Lord said to Cain, where is Abel thy brother” (Gen. iv. 9). In the course of his sermon he turned to the King and bluntly addressed him with the words—”Sir, I assure you, in God’s name, the Lord will ask you, ‘Where is the Earl of Moray, thy brother?'” The King was startled and in his excitement said: “Mr. Patrick, my chalmer [chamber] door was never steiked [closed] upon you; ye might have told me anything ye thought in secret.” Simson replied: “Sir, the scandal is public.” After the service was over the King sent for him. He went up to the Castle with his Bible in his “ockster” saying that the Book would speak for him. What happened at the Castle is not recorded, but the fact that Simson preached six years after this before the King again shows that his outspokenness did not interfere with his influence over his King.