CRAIG, JOHN (1512-1600). A preacher of the Scottish Reformation. He was born in Aber deenshire, and educated at Saint Andrews. He entered the Dominican Order, but soon fell under the suspicion of heresy, and was cast into prison. On his release (1536) he trav eled on the Continent. and after some time was, through Cardinal Pole's influence, made novice master in the Dominican convent at Bologna. and later was rector. While here Calvin's Institutes fell in his way, and converted him to Protestant doctrines. Ile was brought before the Inquisi tion and sentenced to be burnt—a fate from which he was saved by the snob, on the death of Pope Paul IV., breaking open the prisons of Rome. Craig escaped to Vienna, and obtained favor at the Court of Maximilian II.: but the Pope de manded his surrender as one condemned for heresy. The Emperor, however, instead of com plying with the request, gave Craig a safe con duct out of Germany. He now returned to Scot laud (1560), and was appointed the colleague of John Knox in the parish church of Edinburgh.
Thinking the marriage of Queen Mary and Both well contrary to the Word of God, he boldly re fused to proclaim the banns, but afterwards yielded under protest. In 1572 Craig was sent "to illuminate the dark places" in Fo•farshire until 1579, when he was appointed chaplain to King James VI. 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 household. He was a man of great conscientiousness, and was not slow to op pose the prttceedings of the Court when he deemed them contrary to Scripture, and to speak whole some but unpleasant truths to majesty itself. He died December 12, 1600. Consult the black letter facsimile reprint of Craig's Catechisms (Edinburgh. 1885), with introduction by T. Graves Law.