John Durie

Durie was in born in Mauchline on 1537. He educated at Ayr Through the influence of his cousin George Durie, Abbot of Dunfermline, became a conventual brother in that abbey, but falling under suspicion of heresy, was condemned to be shut up till he died. On the Reformation taking place, he escaped through the influence of James, Earl of Arran, and became exhorter at Penicuik[6] or Restalrig.[7] between 1563 and 1567. Durie was minister at Hailes (Colinton) in 1569. He translated, to South Leith in May 1570 and subsequently translated, to St Giles, before 6 August 1573. He was admitted to Montrose in 1585.[4][4]

In 1580 Durie was Visitor or Superintendent of Teviotdale. With his colleagues, James Lawson and Walter Balcanquhal, he attended the Earl of Morton at his execution, 1581. He became conspicuous in the conflicts between the King and the Church, and for inveighing against the Court on a Fast Day, on 23 May 1582, he was called before the Privy Council and ordered to quit Edinburgh and desist from preaching. By and by he was permitted to return, when he was met and welcomed by a great concourse of people, 4 September 1582. "At the Nether Bow they took up the 124th Psalm, 'Now Israel may say, and that truly,' and sang it in such a pleasant tune, in all the four parts, these being well known to the people, who came up the street bareheaded and singing, till they entered the kirk. This had such a sound and majesty as affected themselves and the huge multitude of beholders who looked over the shots and forestairs with admiration and amazement. The Duke [Lennox] himself was a witness, and tare his beard for anger, being more affrayed at this sight than anything he had ever seen since he came to Scotland. When they entered the kirk Mr Lawson made a short exhortation in the reader's place to thankfulness, and after the singing of a psalm the people departed with great joy" (Calderwood's History, iii.). In November 1583 he was again charged to leave the city, and was confined to Montrose, of which parish he became minister the year following.[3]

Durie was appointed as part of a committee to redraft the Book of Discipline in October 1576. In 1580 he was made a visitor to Teviotdale.[8] He was a member of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland of 1586, 1587, 1588, 1590, 1593, and 1595. He had a pension of £140 granted to him out of the lands of Altyre, on 7 August 1590, for his services in advancing the public affairs of the Church for many years.[4]

James Melville, who was his son-in-law, says of him that though he had not much learning, he was a man of singular force of character, mighty in word and deed. Preaching and athletics went together, for ‘the gown was no sooner off and the Bible out of hand in the kirk, when on went the corselet and up fangit [snatched up] was the hagbut, and to the fields.’ But he speaks of him as a man of singular devoutness, who prayed and communed with God in so remarkable a manner that he counted it one of the privileges of his life that he had come in contact with him.

In many ways he bore a great resemblance to his master, John Knox. Andrew Melville composed no fewer than eight Latin epitaphs in his honour, chiefly celebrating the courage with which he resisted the court.

Duræus, ore tonans, Edenâ pastor in urbe, Arcuit a stabulis quos dedit aula lupos. Celurcâ in cælum migravit nunc, quia non quit Arcere a stabulis quos dedit aula lupos.

(‘Celurca’ is the Latin for Montrose.)[5]

Durie married Marion, daughter of Sir John Majoribanks, provost of Edinburgh, and had her husband's pension continued to her by act of parliament 11 July 1606. They had issue —

• Joshua, minister of Inverkeilor
• Robert Durie, minister of Anstruther
• Simeon, minister of Arbroath
• Christian (married George Gledstanes, Archbishop of St Andrews)
• Elizabeth (married James Melvill, minister of Kilrenny)
• a daughter (married John Dykes, minister of Kilrenny)[4]

• Melville's Diary
• Calderwood's Hist.
• Knox's Life of Melville[9]
• Reg. Assig.
• Melvill's Autob.,
• Wodrow Miscell.
• Wodrow's Biog. (i.) and MS. Biog. (i.)
• Petrie's, Spottiswood's, and Row's Histories
• Edin. Counc. Reg.
• Edinburgh Christian Instructor, v.[3]
• Acts of Pari., iii. 551, iv. 311
• Edin. Tests.[4]