CRAIG, JorrN, an eminent preacher of the reformation, was b. in Scotland about 1512. Having spent some time as a tutor in England, he returned to Scotland and entered the Dominican order, of which he had not long been a member when he fell under the sus picion of heresy, and was cast into prison. On his release, he traveled on the conti nent; and after some time was, through cardinal Pole's influence, intrusted with the education of the novices in connection with the Dominican order at Bologna. While here, Calvin's Institutes fell in his way, and converted him to Protestant doctrines. Having opeply avowed the change in his opinions, he was brought before the inquisi tion, and sentenced to be burnt—a fate from which he was saved by the mob, on the death of pope Paul IV., breaking open the prisons in Rome, and setting the prisoners at liberty. C. escaped to Vienna, and obtained some favor at the court of Maximilian II. ; but the news of his being there reached Rome, and the pope demanded his sur render as one condemned for heresy. The emperor, however, instead of complying
with the request of his holiness, gave C. a safe-conduct out of Germany. He now returned to Scotland, and was appointed the colleague of John Knox in the parish church of Edinburgh. Thinking the marriage of queen Mary and Bothwell contrary to the word of God, he, while holding this position, boldly refused to proclaim the banns. In 1572, C. was sent " to illuminate the dark places" in Forfarshire and Aberdeenshire, and remained in the north until 1579, when he was appointed minister to king James VI. in Edinburgh. He now took a leading part in the affairs of the church, was the compiler of part of the Second Book of Discipline, and the writer of the national covenant signed in 1580 by the king and his licrusehold. He was a man of great conscientious ness, and was not slow to oppose the proceedings of the court when he deemed them opposed to Scripture, and to speak wholesome but unpleasant truths to his majesty himself. He died Dec., 1600.