(Extracted from Scots Worthies)
The subject of this sketch was born about the year 1512, and had the misfortune to lose his father next year at the Battle of Flodden. Notwithstanding this misfortune, he obtained a good education, and removing to England, became tutor to the children of Lord Dacre. In consequence of war arising between England and Scotland, he returned to his native country, and became a monk of the Dominican Order. Having afforded some reason for a suspicion of heresy, he was cast into prison, but being acquitted, he returned to England, and endeavoured, by the influence of Lord Dacre, to procure a place at Cambridge, in which, however, he was disappointed. He then travelled to France, and thence to Rome, where he was in such favour with Cardinal Pole, that he obtained a place among the Dominicans of Bologna, and was appointed to instruct the novices of the cloister. Being advanced to the rectorate, he had access to the library, where, happening to read Calvin’s “Institutes”, he became tainted with the Protestant heresy.
Craig did not conceal his new views; he was laid hold of, sent to Rome, thrown into prison, tried, and condemned to be burnt; from which fate he was only saved by an accident. Pope Paul IV having died the day before his intended execution, the people rose tumultuously, dragged the statue of his late holiness through the streets, and, breaking open all the prisons, set the prisoners at liberty. Craig immediately left the city; and, as he was walking through the suburbs, he met a company of banditti, — one of whom, taking him aside, asked him if he had ever been in Bologna? On his answering in the affirmative, the man inquired if he recollected, as he was one day walking there in the fields with some young noblemen, having administered relief to a poor maimed soldier, who asked him for alms? Craig replied that he had no recollection of such an event; the bandit told him, however, that he could never forget the kindness he had received on that occasion, which he would now beg to repay by administering to the present necessities of his benefactor. In short, this man gave Craig a sufficient sum to carry him to Bologna.
Craig was afraid lest some of his former acquaintances might denounce him to the inquisition; accordingly, he directed his course to Milan, avoiding all the principal roads, for fear of meeting an enemy. One day, when both his money and strength were exhausted by the journey, he came to a desert place, where he threw himself down upon the ground, and almost despaired of life. At this moment a dog came fawning up to him, with a bag of money in its mouth, which it laid down at his feet. The despairing traveller instantly recognised this as “a special token of God’s favour”; and, picking up fresh energy, proceeded on his way till he reached the village, where he obtained some refreshment. He now turned to Vienna, when, professing himself of the Dominican order, he was brought to preach before the Emperor, Maximilian II, and soon became a favourite at the court of that sovereign. His fame reaching Rome, Pope III sent a letter to the Emperor, desiring him to be sent back as one that had been condemned for heresy. The Emperor generously gave him a safe guidance out of Germany.
On reaching England, about the year 1560, Craig heard of the Reformation which had taken place in his native country, and offered his services to the church. He found, however, that having been for the long period of twenty-four years absent from the country, he was unfitted to preach in his vernacular tongue, and was therefore obliged for some time to make known the Truth to the learned in Latin. Having partly recovered his native tongue, he was appointed next year to be the colleague of Knox, in the Parish Church of Edinburgh, which office he held for nine years. In 1567, the Earl of Bothwell obtained a divorce from his lawful wife, preparatory to his marriage with Queen Mary. The Queen sent a letter to Mr Craig, commanding him to publish the banns of matrimony betwixt her and Bothwell; but on Sabbath, having declared that he had received such a command, he added, that he could not in conscience obey it, the marriage being altogether unlawful. He was immediately sent for by Bothwell, to whom he declared his reasons with great boldness. He was repreved for this conduct at the time by the council; but two years afterwards, it was declared by the Assembly that he had acted as a faithful minister. Thus John Craig continued not only a firm friend to the Reformation, but a bold opposer of every encroachment made upon the crown and dignity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1579, Mr Craig being appointed minister to the King (James VI), returned to Edinburgh from Aberdeen and district where he had been preaching and teaching the youth in the College. He was compiler of part of the Second Book of Discipline, and the writer of the National Covenant, signed in 1580 by the King and his household, which was destined in a future age to exercise so mighty an influence over the destinies of the country. In 1584, when an Act of Parliament was made, that all ministers, masters of colleges, etc., should, within forty-eight hours, compeer and subscribe the Act of Parliament concerning the King’s power over all estates, spiritual and temporal, and submit themselves to the Bishops; Mr Craig and some others having opposed this Act, were called before the council, and asked, “How they could be so bold as to controvert the late Act of Parliament”. Mr Craig replied, they would find fault with anything repugnant to God’s Word. At which answer the Earl of Arran started to his feet, and said they were too pert; that he would shave their heads, pare their nails, and cut their toes, and make them an example unto all who should disobey the King’s command, and his council’s orders; and forthwith charged them to appear before the King at Falkland, on the 4th September following.
Upon their appearance at Falkland, they were again accused of transgressing the foresaid Act of Parliament, and disobeying the Bishop’s injunction, when there arose a hot discussion between Mr Craig and the Bishop of St. Andrews. The Earl of Arran interfered, and spoke most outrageously against Mr Craig, who coolly replied “that there had been as great men set up higher, who had been brought low”. Arran rejoined, “I shall make thee of a false liar, a true prophet”, and, stooping down on his knee he said, “now I am humbled”. “Nay”, said Mr Craig, “mock the servants as thou wilt, God will not be mocked, but shall make thee find it in earnest, when thou shalt be cast down from the high horse of thy pride, and humbled”. This came to pass a few years afterwards, when he was thrown off his horse by a spear by James Douglas of Parkhead, killed, and his corpse exposed to dogs and swine before it was buried.
John Craig was forthwith discharged from preaching any more in Edinburgh, and the Archbishop of St. Andrews was appointed to preach in his place; but as soon as the latter entered the great church of Edinburgh, the whole congregation except a few court parasites, went out, and it was not long before Craig was restored to his place and office.
On the 27th December, 1591, when the Earl of Bothwell and his accomplices came to the King and Chancellor’s chamber doors with fire, and to the Queen’s with a hammer, in the Palace of Holyrood House, with a design to seize the King and the Chancellor, Mr Craig, upon the 29th, preaching before the King, upon the two brazen mountains in Zechariah, said, “As the King had lightly regarded the many bloody shirts presented to him by his subjects craving justice, so God in His providence had made a noise of crying, and fore-hammers, to come to his own doors”. The King would have the people to stay after sermon, that he might purge himself; and said, “If he had thought his hired servant (meaning Mr Craig, who was his minister) would have dealt in that manner with him, he should not have dealt with him so long in his house”. Mr Craig, by reason of the crowd, not hearing what he said, went away.
John Craig died on the 4th December, 1600, aged 88, his life having extended through the reigns of four sovereigns.
Mr Craig will appear, from this short memoir, to have been a man of uncommon resolution and activity. He was employed in most part of the affairs of the Church, during the reign of Queen Mary, and in the beginning of that of her son.