Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 51.djvu/76

Scott that he (Scot) was ‘adjudged to endless torment’ (, History, ed. 1644, p. 25).

[Brunton and Haig's Senators of the College of Justice.]

 SCOTT, THOMAS (1580?–1626), political writer, born about 1580, occurs as one of the chaplains to James I in 1616, being then B.D. He was incorporated in that degree at Cambridge in 1620 as a member of Peterhouse, but the university records do not state where he originally graduated. He was rector of St. Saviour's, Norwich, and when Count Gondomar arrived in England to settle preliminaries for the marriage of Prince Charles with the infanta of Spain, he had the temerity to publish in 1620 a tract against the projected match. It was entitled 'Vox Populi,' and purported to give an account of Gondomar's reception by the council of state upon his return to Madrid in 1618. The ambassador is there made to explain his schemes for bringing England into subjection to Spain, to describe with evident satisfaction the crowds which went to assist at mass in his chapel in London, and to recount how he had won over the leading courtiers by his bribes. The whole story was an impudent fabrication, but at the time it was widely received as a piece of genuine history (, Hist. of England, iii. 392, 393; cf., Autobiogr. i. 158). John Chamberlain on 3 Feb. 1620-1 informed Sir Dudley Carleton that 'the author of "Vox Populi" is discovered to be one Scot, a minister, bewrayed by the printer, who thereby hath saved himself, and got his pardon, though the book were printed beyond sea' (, Court and Times of James I, ii. 226). Again, the Rev. Joseph Mead, writing on 10 Feb. 1620-1, tells Sir Martin Stuteville that 'Scot of Norwich, who is said to be the author of "Vox Populi," they say is now fled, having, as it seems, fore-notice of the pursuivant' (ib. ii. 226). In 'Vox Regis' (1624) Scott gave in somewhat obscure biblical language an account of the motives which induced him to write 'Vox Populi,' and the consequences of that publication to himself. 'Vox Populi' was suppressed by royal authority. Dr. Samuel Harsnett, bishop of Norwich, was commanded to institute proceedings against him (State Papers, Dom. James I, vol. cxxiv. nn. 20, 75). Scott's absence from England was brief. He preached an assize sermon at Bury St. Edmund's on 20 March 1622, being then 'minister of the word' at St. Clement's, Ipswich, and chaplain to William, earl of Pembroke. But it is probable that Scott quitted England for the Netherlands towards the close of 1623, when he became preacher to the English garrison at Utrecht. There he continued writing pamphlets against the Roman catholics, many of which were published in England after Scott's departure. He was assassinated by an English soldier named John Lambert on 18 June 1626, as he was corning out of church, accompanied by his brother William Scott and his nephew Thomas Scott. The assassin was put to the torture, but persisted in asserting that he was 'never hyred or induced by the perswasions of any priest, Jesuit, or other person to attempt that bloudy act.' Although the man was evidently mad, and subject to strange hallucinations, he was condemned to death and executed, his right hand being first cut off (, i. 123; cf. A briefe and trve Relation of the Mvrther of Mr. Thomas Scott, London, 1628, 4to).

There is a portrait of Scott, 'aetatis sure 45, anno 1624-,' drawn and engraved by Crispin de Pass. His portrait has also been engraved by Marshall.

Subjoined is a list of his writings, winch made a deep impression on the public mind at the time of their appearance: 1. 'Christs Politician and Salomons Puritan,' London, 1616, 4to, 2. 'Vox Populi, or Newes from Spayne, translated according to the Spanish coppie: which may serve to forwarn both England, and the Vnited Provinces, how farre to trust to Spanish Pretences. Impr. in the Year 1620,' sine loco, 4to. Reprinted in 1659 and 1679 under the title of 'A choice Narrative of Count Gondomar's Transactions during his Embassy in England: By Sir Robert Cotton, Knight and Baronet.' It is also printed in the 'Somers Collection of Tracts.' A minutely written contemporary copy, possibly in the author's autograph, was among Dawson Turner's manuscripts, sold in 1859. 3. 'A Speech made in the Lower House of Parliament, Anno 1621. By Sir Edward Cicill, Colonell,' 1621, 4to; again in 1624 (a forgery by Scott, cf., Hist. iv. 28). 4. 'A Relation of some speciall points concerning the State of Holland. Or the Provident Counsellors Companion. By many reasons shewing, why for the good and security of the Netherlands vnited Prouinces Warre is much better then peace' (anon.), The Hague, 1621, 4to. 5. 'The Interpreter, wherin three principall termes of State much mistaken by the vulgar [viz. Puritan, Protestant, Papist] are clearely unfolded,' inverse, Sine loco 1622, 8vo. The authorship has been ascribed to Scott (Addit. MS. 24942, p. 374). 6. 'The Belgicke Pismire; stinging the slothfull Sleeper, and awaking the Diligent, to fast, watch, pray, and worke out