stratagem be declined at first and yet the same afterward authorized by strength The long disconsolate captivity of the Queen and despair of ever obtaining her liberty had withdrawn her thoughts from her Scepter on earth and rais'd them to an higher kingdom than the Scots whereon that they might be fixed without any diversion she resolves to divest her self of the other interest and confer freely her Royal title upon her Son The Assembly Brethren have intimation hereof do not like to have their King become absolute or Reign by any other Title than what he had before received on courtesie from them The Duke of Lenox and Earl of Arran are two good Friends to his Majesty not to be instrumentall in promoting so just an advancement to his Crown and therefore it is the Presbyters tasks to preach them out of all favour with the people and then an opportunity is fairly taken in their absence from Court for the Earls Gowry Marre Lindsey and others to invite his Majesty to the Castle of Ruthen and by the Laws of Displinarian hospitality detain him prisoner dismiss his retinue deny him the liberty to stir abroad but at his peril Nor indeed could he well be at leisure to walk for the perpetuity of business they found him within doors forcing him first by a Writ to recall Earl Angus from England whither the guilt of his late rebellion had carried him by another after the imprisonment of His Majesties dearest Friend to command the Duke of Lenox into France who being in possession of Dunbriton Castle might have disputed the freedome of that Royal command if his clear awfull spirit had not dreaded the thought of the least disloyal averseness to obey And by a slight of singulâ—r cunning tyranny in a third fram'd into a Letter to Queen Elizabeth of England to justifie their act and contract the guilt of that unnatural sin in laying violent hands upon himself By a fourth to authorize the Convention of States indicted by them All acts of such transcendent rebellion that George Buchanan their never-failing advocate before could be wrought neither to advise by his Council nor justifie with his pen nay 't is said he turn'd penitent upon it retracted with tears what he had writ before in their cause and wished he could wash out all the spots the black calumnies he had dropt upon Royal Majesty with his blood yet further he would have writ retractions if being so old he could have hoped such a conversion would not have been interpreted an act rather of dotage then devotion The Queen of Scots much affected with this treasonable surprisal of her Son complains at large to Queen Elizabeth in a Letter appeals to her conscience for Justice and summons her to her plea about the differences between them before the highest Tribunal of Heaven yet very charitably imputes the obstruction of intercourse between her and her Son for a twelvemoneth before as likewise Queen Elizabeths long silence notwithstanding some former importunate letters not unto her self but some malignant disposition in her Council Queen Elizabeths blood and thoughts had many quick motions upon this querulous writing many ebbs and flows of resolutions and fears at length Mr. Secretary Deale an austere man and no Friend at all unto the Royal Prisoner was joyn'd in Commission with the Earl of Shrewsbury to expostulate the business with the captive Queen and yet treat with her about articles of enlargement but the Disciplinarian Scots being called in about what concern'd them raised new spirits of division by interposing ungrounded jealousies of one Father Holt a Iesuit and some other Emissaries lately come over as they alledged on purpose to plot the invasion of England and therewith a violent rescue of their Queen As little truth as there was in this calumny there was Sophistrie enough to prevaile with Queen Elizabeth to lay aside the complaint of her prisoner and to imploy her two Agents in Scotland Bowes and Davison in vying Courtship with two other from the French to gaine upon the affection of the King The News of the Duke of Lenox's death at Paris though accompanied with that which confounded his enemies who thought they had undone him by traducing him for a Papist puts life into the Kings banded Jailers who take assurance by this they had him prisoner during pleasure but His Majestie escapes soon after to the Castle of Saint Andrews makes them curse the lying spirit in their Prophets and desperate enough to become executioners of themselves but the good King repriev'd them by his mercy offering pardon unto all that could find confidence to ask it but this appear'd in none but Earl Gowrie who corrupted the benefit of it unto his bane The rest not long after being banish'd went some into Ireland others into France only Angus ask'd and had a confinement unto his Earldom Queen Elizabeth sends Sir Francis Walsingham to the King not so much to gratulate his liberty as to instill some sententious Counsel how to use it He meets with a greater luster and gallantry in the Scotch Court then he expected and a young King as grave a politician as himself He was entertained better than his carriage to the captive Queen had deserved and returned with an answer no less modest than Majestick Though many acts had passed the Assemblies of late derogatory to the safety and Royal authority of the King yet none more than the justifying the late Treason requiring the Ministers in all their Churches to commend it unto the people and threatning excommunication to such as subscribed not though against their Conscience to the unjust judgement of the Assembly And in the year 1582 the Assembly at Saint Andrews proceeded violently against one Montgomery Bishop of Saint Andrews cutting off the appeal he had made unto the King rejecting both his Letter and Messenger sent on purpose to inhibite them The late treasonable justification voted by the Assembly though nipt in the bud by the Kings unexpected escape and all the leaves scattered by the breath of his displeasure into several corners of the world began now to sprout again in a second conspiracy many of the Traitors being at that time appointed by Gowry return'd again and under the colour of care and courtesie to the King attempting a second surprizal of his person But the Earl of Arran whom they had not now time or opportunity to secure seizeth upon Gowrie at Dundee and the Kings martial appearance suddenly affrights his Complices out of the Castle of Sterlin which they had taken Queen Elizabeth whose Court because the Cathedral of Religion was ever abused as a sanctuary after a Scotch rebellion had now a new address to make by mediation unto their King And her Secretary Walsingham by the no justifiable priviledg of his place issued out Writs in Her Majesties name though without her knowledg for
HISTORICALL COLLECTIONS OF ECCLESIASTICK AFFAIRS IN SCOTLAND And Politick related to them Including the Murder of the Cardinal of St. Andrews And the Beheading of their Queen Mary in England By Ri. Watson Sanguis sanguinem tetigit Hosea Chap. 4. ver. 2 By swearing and lying and killing and stealing and commiting adultery they break out And bloud toucheth bloud London Printed by G. D. for Iohn Garfield and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Rolling-Presse for Pictures near the Royal Exchange in Corn-hill over against Popes-head-alley 1657. TO The Right Reverend FATHER in GOD And Religious Assertour of Christs Catholick Church JOHN LORD Bishop of ROCHESTER My Lord THE certain hazard of all one hath or is in these uncertain times annexed to the nicessity of a strict account to be rendred in the porch or passage unto eternity of the managing all affairs and offices relating either to obligation or restitution in this world puts me upon a serious review of mine own concernment wherein among many instances of chief regard I find one of my great engagements unto your Lordship with the impresse or character of Holy Orders into which I receiv'd my entrance by the imposition of your sacred hands unto whom I take my self in some degree of duty to stand responsable for what I act by that Commission or write with any reflexion upon the Doctrine or Discipline of our Church The Historical Observations I here humbly present your Lordship with are inseparable from that title in respect of both the Sect of Schismaticks I describe having according to the Tradition I am guided by in a phrenetick fury from the beginning thrown the price of their estates at their false Apostles feâ—t and they with them cast souls and bodies into the fire of a raging persecution by impious cruelties when predominant by opprobâ—ious calumnies when unarmed and by civil wars when their plough shares and pruning hooks could at any time be fashioned into swords or axes for the cutting down not onely superfluous innovations in the habit but the very body and existence of that Apostolick rule and worship to which pattern we pretend I pursue them but to the period of their first domestick insolencies drencht in the bloud of that famous Queen Whom their best Poet but one of Her Majesties worst subjects once thought worth this Distich Quae sortem antevenis meritis virtutibus annos Sexum animis morum nobilitate genus What latter attempts they made when they marched over their borders to reform according to the mysterious model of their new Cove nant that whereunto their old enormous practices ought rather to have been conformed is declar'd and historiz'd by that Royal Pen which hath Registred to their eternal infamy their cutting in sunder the common Tieâ— of nature soveraignty and bounty their forgetting speciall fresh obligations wherewith their active spirits had been gratified not without some seeming diminution to or deprâ—ssion of the Doners interest and honour their inroad with an intent to confirm the Presbyterian copy they had set by making our Church to write after them though it were in bloudy characters How infatuated they were in those counsels how by providence defeated in their most desperate wicked eâ—ds the unpittied spectacle of their downfal demonstrates to all the world Yet my Lord this is not to raise a Trophee out of their miseries or to trample on their dejected persons If by pourtraiâ—ing the horrid actioâ—s of their Ancestours I can excite their guilty consciences to compare the copy with the original and repent effectuâ—lly for the transcendâ—ncie of their own rebellions I shall have great complacency in the assurance that I have outrun or outwrit my hopes Howsoever in what proportion I may expect credit to be given unto my care which was not little in the Collection and what resignation by the impartial Reader unto the naked truth of the contents I shall not doubt but hereby I may in the same confirm all pious and humble hearts in the preferring the ancient and univâ—rsal successive government of the Christian Church before the new Genevatizing bloudy discipline of some heady Scots and perswade all moderate and quiet minded men to acknowledge one supremacy over both estates by trusting the same hand with Christs Scepter here on earth which himself doth with it and the civill sword But this endeavour may seem impertinent if not impudent in the face or memory of that most Reverend heroick Prelate whose greater eminency in authority and interest in the same Country hath with much more advantage particularly and amply satisfied the world by a grearer Volume for the suppressing which so many subtilties and violences had been used beside the power of a forraign Magistrate for a surprisal of the Secretarie in his preparing it to the Presse that nothing could be a surer evidence than such self-confessing guiltinesse against that party nor ought else after the Grace and Reverence of the renowned Authour put a greater estimate and opinion upon the Book at least if publisht as he writ it May it please your Lordship therefore to believe upon my word who am invested with the second order to make it valid that this Treatise was designed long since in a preparatorie antecedence unto the other and to that purpose with more ingenious confidâ—nce than worldly prudence trusted in the same hand which was to print and reap the profit of His Grace's work from which after the dilatory pretences of some judgement to be made by a view to be taken of it or rather after the Printers turn was served in dispersing the greater Copies it was returned with this sentence delivered by a person whose name I had not of much learning honour and integrity upon perusal of it That there was too much gall in the ink wherewith it was wrote and supposed that an enemy was the Collector for that through the sides of those the design is against our own Mother is wounded My Lord if the name of that severe person with a particular of his exceptions had been sent me I should have endeavoured his satisfaction or if theirs could have been otherwise effected whom I serve in it and mine own reputation preserved who have made implicite reference to this in another Book a sharp reply to which I am yet to expect perchance I might have chosen rather to lose my pains than give such a person scandal or confront his censure professiing in the words of my learned Collegue heretofore now a most singularly devout and acute Divine in the case of like question and appeal unto your Lordship That I would rather dye than either willingly give occasion or countenance to a schism in the Church of England I mean that Church of England which conform'd her self to the Ancient Latin and Greek Church and I would suffer much evil before I would displease my dear Brethren I adde such as keep close to their due
and other habits weekly or monthly or quarterly as his fancy serv'd he bestowed upon the poor His having a tub of water nightly by his bed-side wherein he by moon-shine bath'd himself to allay some heat that troubled him in his rest And by the latter he so exasperated the young spirits of his pupills that the desperate part of them complotted his murder to obtain their deliverance his apprehension whereof might be the reason that brought him back into his Country with the Scotish treaters that came from England who when they had him at home magnified him for a Prophet and sent him up down under colour of Religion to draw the people to their party What Town soever rejected hâ—m he denounced against it fire and sword by the spirit which judgement they prepared as Gods instruments to fulfill He began at Montrosse and thence passed to Dundee where an inhibition was given him in the Queen and Governours name and they that brought it were told by him that they chaced from them the messenger of God The Lord Marshall and other Noble men whose part he acted would have maintained him in the place or have taken him along with them but some other spirit diâ—ected him to the Westland where the Bishop of Glascow was fain to raise a great party to dispute with Mr. George's disciples for the Church which the Earl of Glencarne and diveâ—s Gentlemen of Kyle would have made good for him but that he thought it as good mustering his men at the Market-Crosse as he did otherwhile about a Mole-hill or some other little piece of rising ground in the fields This itenerant Doctor thus travelled from place to place and wheresoever he lodged thither the devoted Gentry of that quarter address'd themselves with their armed Vassals and Tenants to receive Orders rather for the managing the great design than instructions for the amendment of their lives If any were so addicted to their old Religion or alleageance or so disposed to their quiet that they made no appearance worthy Mr. Georges preaching or presence he would run from his Tet into an invective for an hour or two still brandishing his threats of fire and sword as at Haddington because he could not take from his pulpit an account of an hundred auditors in the Church after which vehemency so dejected in spirit having it may be some other intimations of his being at the end of his prophetick race that the last part of his speech was like a testament at departure and his good-night a taking leave for ever of his acquaintance which howsoever he meant it proved proper enough being seized on before morning at Ormeston by order from the Governour with the Cardinals advice as a person dangerous for his sowing the tares of sedition among the seed of his new Evangel The Earl Bothwel with a guard of House was imployed in surprising him or else he had not been taken nor was he without some resistance and articling with the Earl having some armed Proselytes in the house who observe no orders obey no commands but when they cannot help it who would not have surrendred him but that they saw themselves over-power'd What promise if any the Earl Bothwell had passed for his protection was not judged so obligatory as his alleageance to deliver him up to justice which he did after some better satisfaction than what Knox most ambiguously and maliciously instanceth the Cardinals gold or the Queens undertaking to favour him in all lawfull suits to women Edenburgh was not thought so fit a place for his imprisonment as the Castle of St. Andrews whither he was shortly sent and soon after brought unto his tryall although the bold opportunity of one David Hamilton the speaker for him and his partisans by a mixture of advice intreaty terrour had wrought the Governour into some uncertainty of allowing the proceedings About the end of February 1546. the Iudges Ecclesiastical and Civill sitting in the Abbey Church Mr. Wisheart was sent for to answer divers articles alledg'd against him who going into a Pulpit according to the custome of that place after one Father Lawder a Priest who was to manage the accusation had read the articles against him began an Oration making entrance and advancing what he could into the mindes of his Auditors under the glorious canopy of the Word of God which onely and that purely and sincerely he pretended to have taught and nothing in the mother-tongue beside the ten Commandements the twelve Articles of the Faith and Prayer of the Lord and at Dundee the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans where I do not find he insisted long upon the 13. Chap. at least in the sense the holy Apostle intended it though I censure him not to have deserved the unhandsome titles put upon him by Lawder at the beginning of every Article Thou false Heretick Runnagate Traitor and Thief c. which is not a form prescribed against any person brought before that justice added little force to the sequell of his accusation part of which as to the substance he might Christianly and honourably have acknowledged I mean that wherein the latter Tenents of the Roman-Church superinduced to that purity her great Apostles planted in her carry more weight in the ear than the genuine stalk is able to support But where the accusation was justly laid in behalf of the Government under which he lâ—vâ—d or the Authority of the Church delivered to her by Christ and his Apostles and their incorrupâ—ed Successors I must elevate Mr. Georges answers and leave the rest to the restriction or relaxation of mens â—iâ—â—vate opinions in the world To the first which chargeth him with preaching at Dundee after the Governour had commanded him to desist and again after the Bishop of Brechen had excommunicated for contâ—macy of that kinde he in vâ—in claims the liberty taken and given but not in that latitude by the Apostle in the Acts We shall rather obey God than men which qualifies not every man with a mission that pretends to it of his own head nor with a remission of his passive obedience to higher powers else every bold Heretick rightly so called may assume as much Nor can he wrest that of the Prophet Malachy I shall curse your blessings and blesse your cursings saith the Lord against the after Excommunication in the Christian Church which duly regulated the Romanes may challenge and justifie to be valid in fit cases Nor as to the ninth Article will St. Iohn and St. Peter countenance him in laying hands of Ordination upon himself when the one saith He hath made us Kings Priests the other He hath made us a Kingly Priesthood any more than they will another man in setting the Diadem on his head which he thinks fitter for it than the Kings or taking that Scepter into his hand which he supposeth an infirm
passge into France But the walls of Leith were not to be blown down by this breath nor was it strong enough to fill the sails for her passage into France A stronger wind blew out of the Town which so dispelled the Congregational Brethren that glad was he who could shelter himself and many grew desperate of the cause But Iohn Knox by power of the spirit when but a spark or two of rebellion was left could ever blow it up into a flame which he began now at Sterlin in a Sermon upon the 80. Psalm v. 4 5 6 7. and encreased it in another afterwards some where else upon Iohn 6. exhorting the Congregation that they should not faint but that they should stiâ—l row against the contrarious blasts till that Iesus Christ should come so that onely the day of judgement is to put an end to the Presbiterian commotions But nothing can be done without a Covenant which An. 1560. was entred at Edenburgh That what person soever will plainly reject their godly enterprises and will not concur as a good and true member of their Common-wealth they shall fortifie the authoritie of Council to reduce them to their duty c. The issue of this as of all their Covenants was to put many quiet conscientious people to the choice of either extream without the priviledge of a detestable neutrality Do as we do Rebel or perish whereby they never faild of an Army that should guard the gospell with an unparalell'd villany and resist the Queen Regent unto her death which fell out very opportunely while they lay at the siege before Leith being if not procur'd by their means very evidently hastened by their malice denying Her Majesty the benefit of some drugs for which she sent to her Apothecary and Chyrurgeon and in her inrecoverable condition not indulging her free speech with some Lords joyntly though of their own faction and what curtesie they granted being clogged with the ungrateful presence and more unpleasing discourse of Iohn Willock Brother-rebel-preacher with Knox who was sent on purpose to set the Queens conscience on the rack and torture it to despair if he could By all these unchristian proceedings having speeded on their impatient wishes and fretted open a passage for that Royal soul to expire they become soon Lords not onely of the Congregation but Countrey and having eleven points of the law their young Queen and her Husband being absent in France upon advantage enough they capitulate with their Majesties for the twelfth In which pacification the Deputies from France would not medle with the matter of Religion but agreed that a certain number of Noblemen should be chosen in the next Convention and Parliament to be sent to their Majesties to whom they shall expose those things that shall be thought needful for the State of that business In the interim the Brethren I 'le warrant you were not idle but after publick thanksgiving at Edenburgh for their deliverance that is to say for the death of their Queen upon whom they heap though they name her not a heavy load of calumnies in their prayers A Committee sits to distribute Ministers and so Knox is made Primate of Edenburgh or in it rather of Scotland that being the fountain head from whence all future Rebellion must stream by Goodman to St. Andrews by Heriot to Aberdeen by Row to St. Iohnston c. And though they will have no Bishops they 'l have Over-seers {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Spotswood for Lothian Winram for Fife c. And now to work they go to drive the stray-doctrine and discipline of the Countrey into the Parliament pound at Edenburgh Please your Honours comes presently from the supplicant Barons Gentlemen and Burgesses A Confession of Faith with a more imperious preface or title from the Presbytery out of Matth 24. And this glad tidings of the Kingdome shall be preached through the whole world for a witness unto all Nations and then shall the end come that is the Presbyterian Scot shall pull down all Government in the world establish the Kingdome of Iesus Christ upon the earth and then the end shall come the work is done 't is fit then the wages should be paid especially since by this new engine they draw Christ into their Covenant chap. 11. rebellion into the fifth Commandement under the notion of saving the life of innocents and repressing Tyranny resisting authority if they take it to passe the bounds of the Magistrates office not suffering innocent bloud to be shed if they may gain-stand it ch. 14. Likewise they dash all moral vertues at a stroak restrain the power of Gods Grace from effecting due obedience to his Law ch. 15. Confine the Catholick Church to themselves and such as shall communicate with them denying all other Christians the undeniable benefit of their Baptism ch. 16 18. which they say notwithstanding ch. 21. was instituted of God to make a visible difference betwixt his people and those that are without his League Pretend to reconcile these contradictions making both true at a time This Church is invisibly known onely to God who alone knoweth it whom he hath chosen c. ch. 16. and yet the notes signs and assured tokens whereby the immaculate Spouse of Christ Iesus is known to whom from the horrible Harlot the Church malignant we affirm are c. Defraud Antiquity and lineal descent in an undivided continuity the reverence rendred by the Primitive Fathers of the Church to be paid by us for the first knowledge benefit of the Gospel and yet at the same time running to the Ancients for strengthening the authority of the Canon For the doctrine taught in our Churches say they is contained in the written Word of God to wit in the Books of the New and Old Testaments in those Books we mean which have been reputed by whom but Bishops and Episcopal Doctors no Preâ—byterian canonical Depriving the Church of her just priviledge in interpreting the Scriptures under a pretence of bestowing it upon the Spirit distracting Christians hereby in matter of opinion without extraordinary divine revelation as in the point of Justification wherein St. Paul and St. Iames seem to differ and in matters of practice by the example of St. Peter and St. Paul Gal. 3. All this in one ch. viz. 18. frame a plausible excuse for negligence in or after the receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ch. 21. Exclude all but Preachers though Priests or Deacons from the efficatioâ—s administration of the Sacraments annexing the power and vertue of the same to divine revelation or operation of a Sermon and so defrauding many that have had legitimate imposition of hands call'd Ordination of the character exercise of that power Justifie such as resist Supream powers doing that which appertaineth not to their charge ch. 24. so taking away the glory of Christian
humility patience and the crown of Martyrdome it self Retâ—act in part ch 15. what they professed chap. 18. about the notes of the Church and so take Gods Name in vain making a formal confâ—ssion of his truth to no purpose This pretty Pageant fram'd in a schismatical Assembly was brought into the packt Parliament to be voted The true Representative of the doctrine of Christs Church which the Bishops suffered quietly to pass by without spoiling any of the pastboard or guilding because they durst not writes Knox say any thing to the contrary and very likely when they knew it would be to no purpose and were well assured they should pay their Ecclesiastical Benefices if not their lives for a syllable of any such contradiction the Bretheren having petitioned that they might be compelled to answer to former accusations and to other likewise they had yet to lay to their charge which were such no doubt as wanted no weight of further delinquence to press them down to the depth of any Parliamentary Vote This Confession of Faith very liberally suffrag'd was sent into France by the Lord St. Iohn to be ratified by their Majesties By which act of pretended submission to the supremacy of their Princes we may interpret the true meaning of all the rest and take a sure essay of the Presbyterian subjection whatsoever otherwhere they pretend which I desire the Reader diligently to observe and have in mind whensoever afterward shall occur their hypocrisie in dutifull expressions for saith no less author than Mr. Knox No ratification brought he the Lord St. Iohn unto us but that we little regarded or yet do regard for all that we did was rather to shew our dutiful obedience than to beg of them the King and Queen any strength to our religion which from God hath full power and needed not the suffrage of man wherefore then was it put to the Vote in Parliament but in so far as man had need to believe it if that ever he shall have participation of the life everlasting Such obedience as this shewed the Souldiers to our Saviour when they bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying Hail King of the Iews Buchanan acknowledgeth it was sent to the Queen without hope of grant onely to discover the nakedness of her thoughts as good an argument of the modesty as the other was of loyalty of the Brethren But this was not enough to make the Assembly magisterial who themselves must stoop as low as any lay-brother in doctrine and confession of faith It is the discipline that must hold up the rod at least if not the axe too bind their Kings in chains their Nobles in links of iron To the framing of which immediately after this Parliament dissolved commission was given to Mr. Iohn Winram Sub-prior of St. Andrews Mr. Iohn Row and Iohn Knox Mr. Iohn Spotswood Iohn Willock Mr. Iohn Dowglass Rector of St. Andrews all Iohns and beloved disciples that had laid their heads on Christs breast and knew his heart about the reglement of his Kingdome Yet their letters of credit were not so good as to obtain the reception of Ambassadors from heaven though they pretended their message was in every point consonant to the word The Lord Erskin as great a professor as he was and the major part of the Nobility refused this new model Knox imputes it to the care of his Kitchin and 't is not unlikely he and the rest thought their title as good to the Church lands that they might eat the fat and be cloathed with the wooll of the lambs which themselves as well the Clericall Iohns had taken the pains to worry and slay Or it may be they had a care of their eyes which already began to swell with fatness and if they yielded this they would go on with the Psalmist being holdâ—n with pride and overwhelmed with cruelty they would then do even what they lust Yet this curtesie they did the discipline to call it A Book of devout imaginations that is zealous whimzies which might run the round in the Name sakes noddles but if they once got abâ—oad with power to captivate the thoughts of other men which were to be kept in a more reasonable service and obedience of Christ they were to be cast down by the Apostles command like high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge if God yet Argile Glencarn and the whole private pack of conjur'd Rebels subscribe the Book and promise to set it forward at the uttermost of their power whose names were enough to write Nobility in the front and hold it out with the approbation of the Honourable to the people But to accomplish the work behold the hand of God appears through this cloud and scatters morning roses in the way of the Râ—formers Here saith Knox was joy to Scotland and matter of Thanksgiving for the wondrous work and inestimable benefit of the Lord And what is this but the death of an innocent young King Francis the second Husband to the Queen of Scots who because no friend to the Brethren and so a robber c. Knox cannot but brand his memory in the forehead with He was suddenly stricken with an Apostâ—me in the deaf ear that nevâ—r would hear the truth of God His glory perished and the pride of his stubborn heart vanished in smoak Upon notice hereof was a new Convention of the Nobility at Edenburgh wherein the Book of Discipline was again perused in favour of some that pretended ignorance who when they heard it were not so taken as to own it by subscription or adde to the authority of it by their vote yet to prepare the way for the people to be acquainted with it twelve things call'd Superintendents are â—ut out chipt and fashioned just after the pattern in the Book And because all must run in the name Iohn Spotswood is appointed for Lowthian and as the leading man is in the printed form and order of the election March 9 1560. In which form I shall onely intimate two or three things as I go First that the election of him not onely approbation is in shew devolv'd upon the people who promise obedience to him as their Pastor no longer than he remains faithfull in his office This election of the people is styl'd The Call of God in them who it should seem miraculously moves their hearts and directs them to the summoning of Iohn This Iohn must professe That the life of Angels relates to Christ as Head and Mediator of his Church that is if any thing Christ came to redeem as well Angells as men and either summon'd part of those lapsed spirits out of Hell or recovered others that never had been condemned so low This Iohn must further profess himself Subject to the wholesome discipline of the Church and to avoid ambiguity the discipline of the same Church by which he is now
opposite conclusions Many Lords retracted their subscription to the Discipline and drew into question the expedience of Assemblies This put them upon offering the Discipline to the Queen which Her Majesty absolutely refused Hereupon the state of the question is altered and Burrowes a bold fellow is set in the front of a seditious party to put up articles about maintenance for the Ministry of the Reformation For quietness sake to this purpose the Bishops relinquish the third part of their revenues to settle which Commissioners are ordered and to satisfie any of the discontented faction proclamation is made that it shall be dispatched with all possible speed Some makes jests upon it as the Earl of Huntley bids Good morrow to the Lords of the two parts But Knox who gap'd at the whole said in earnest That the Spirit of God was not the author of it for he saw two parts freely given to the Devil and the third must be divided between God and the Devil The regret at this so sticks in the stomachs of him and his Assembly brethren that they are fain to have recourse to their usual remedy and disgorge it in a filthy supplicate to the Queen part of the contents were these Gods hands cannot long spare in his anger to strike the head and the tayl the inobedient Prince and sinful people They presse the Queen again to forsake the practice of her Religion and revile it as the fosterer of whores adluterers drunkards blasphemers of God c. threaten that the obstinate maintenance of it shall in the end be to her destruction of soul and body if she repâ—nted not declare They could no longer keep silence unlesse they would make themselves criminal before God of her bloud perishing in her own iniquity and they plainly admonish her of the danger to come They humbly require that Bishops may not be set up again to empire above the people of God for they fear that such usurpation of their former estate will be neither in the end pleasant to themselves nor profitable to them that would place them in that tyranny That if the Papists think to triumph where they may and to do what they list where there is not a party able to resist them that some will think that the godly must begin where they left But the equity and civility of tendring such language was discussed between Secretary Lethington and the Brethren who advised them upon any grievance to make complaint and appeal to the Law Here one mends the matter and saith If the sheep shall complain to the Wolfe the Queen That the wolfes whelps have devoured the lambs the complainer may stand in dangeâ— c. After such cautious reasoning as Knox calls it the supplication was left to the Secretary to review who moderated the language but not so as to gain a grant from the Queen nor indeed did the Brethren expect it but took advantage hereby to pursue their design to stirre up the people by certain emissaries sâ—nt from the Assembly of whom the great incendiary Knox must be one whose gospel had the usual successe in Kyle and Gallowoy the chief Professors meeting at Ayre where they covenanted to maintain the Ministers of the evangel against all persons power and authority that should oppose themselvs to the doctrine propounded So that whosover should hurt molest or trouble any of their bodies should be reputed enemies to the whole except he submit to the government of the Church then established they say not by whom At the next Assembly were great complaints made about the Churches lacking Ministers and Ministers their stipends c. For redress hereof some thought of a new Supplication others mentioned that no answer had been given to the former So that for such things which could not be done without the Queen they â—eem'd to express themselves dutifull subjects in waiting her pleasure the rest that could they did by themselves not craving her consent or approbation unless in mockery to make sport But because the law kept not pace with the Brethrens haste nor as they thought the Queen with the law they take an easie occasion for a quicker dispatch Having discovered some Priest that said Masse at Easter avow'd by the Bishop of St. Andrews contrary to the Queens Proclamation they take justice into their own hands clap him up in prison whose pardon the Queen could scarcely obtain with abundance of tearâ— punish others and give intâ—mation to the Abbot of Cosragnel the Parson of Sangohar c. that they should neither complain to the Queen nor Council but should execute the punishment that God had appointed to Idolaters in his Lâ—w by such means as they might wherever they should be apprehended This incensed the Queen yet put her not beside a temper'd discourse with Iohn Knox whose you may be sâ—re had been this bloudy advice to whom Her Majesty propounds this question Will ye allow that they shall take my sword in their hand who answered The sword of justice is Gods and they that in the fear of God execute judgement where God hath commanded offend not God althoâ—gh Kings do it not neither yet sin thâ—y that bridle Kings to strike innocent men in their rage The Queen yielded not to his reason she did to his power with her poor deceived lieg people And so strickt she was in observing her laws made against her own interest that she suffered the Bishops and dâ—vers other Priests to be summoned before the Earl of Argile accus'd and committed to prison In requital for which act of impartial justice writes Iohn Knox All this was done of a most deep craft to abuse the simplicity of the Protestants that they should not presse the Queen with any other thing concerning matters of Religion A good encouragement for Princes to grant any thing to the Presbytery when by their largest concessions they shall obtain nothing but the character of politick deceivers gain neither upon their affection nor duty Indeed the more reasonable part of the Nobility and people did somewhat reverence the Queen for her great largeness and declâ—n'd for some time being further importunate instruments of her trouble or the Clergies imperious tyranny upon her conscience which made an absolute breach between the Earl of Murray and Knox who denounced Gods judgements upon him for his coldness in his service The like he did publickly in a Sermon to the rest that should consent to the Queens Marriage with an Infidel for such are all Papists with the Presbytery though they hold the same Creed which he said was to banish Christ Iesus from the Realm These and other his exâ—travagancies were such as disliked both parties who concurred to have him question'd by the Queen which poor Lady she could not do according to his desert for the passionate cries and tears which this Tiger confesseth burst out in such abundance that
which was pretended deserted their party and so infirmed their strength The remnant sent a Letter to their Majesties flattering their persons but enveighing against their Council putting in some caution for Religion and menacing a hard market for their blood if sought The Princes guessing this might be to gain time remitted no whit of their Military care but made hard marches the weather being very bad At St. Andrews Proclamation was publish'd to inform the subjects about the true state of the difference demonstrating to them that nothing lesse was mean'd than Religion most pretended how hardly they were used according to Mr. Knoxs's Doctrine like Boyes and Gyrls in their pupillage the Lords appointing their Council as their Guardians The Ministers all this while were no cyphars but knowing their Majesties were somewhat necessitated for money to pay their Army which was come to a considerable number of 18000 men thought it the fittest time to supplicate for their meanes This piece of impertinency was easily swallowed among greater troubles their authority being not such at this time as to stand upon termes and expostulate at length the Holy Lords of the Congregation being confiscate and banish'd Therefore they fall to their Prayers for patience comfort and constancy to the exil'd which Iohn Knox did not without honorable mention of them as the best part of the Nobility the chief Members of the Congregation But prayers and tears were not wont to be the onely arms of this new Church and though they had no other at present yet some course must be taken to reduce them into possession of such a power This cannot be done without the exil'd Lords return into the Countrey for which their Letters and missive supplicates not prevailing enquiry was made about the principal obstruction the common current of the Queens favour and mercy diffusive enough requiring naught of the most delinquent Subject but to take the paines to stoop and taste it as he pleased This was found to be David Rizio Her Secretary who by the excellency of his parts and fidelity of his service in these many turns of treachery and falsehood had rais'd himself to an intimacy with the Queen much beyond the quality oâ— his Birth or place in Her Court The Brethren had no such free accesse to the retirements of the Royal Palace as afforded them an opportunity to commit such a rape on Majesty as this nor could there be they thought a better hand than the King to rend in sunder the Queens heart and rifle thence by prerogative priviledge the counterfeit of her dearest servant whom they were resolved to have thrown out of the world that she might never more have benefit by his Counsel nor content by his presence and attendance But such transcendent wickedness as this requires supream providence to guide it nor can any miraculous mischief be wrought but by the plenipotence of Heaven To this purpose a Fast is proclaimed by the Assembly and observed No Fast for strife and debate nor to smite with the fist of wickedness such a Fast no doubt as the Lord had chosen to undo the heavy buâ—thens to break the yoak and to let the oppressed go free The Kings head is daily possessed by convenient instruments with variety of jealousies about his Queen her privacies with David Rizio are suggested as no arguments of her matrimonial fidelity and the precedence of her name before his Her paramours invention did derogate as much from the due authority of an Husband as from the Majesty of a King Naught but David Rizio's removal can make way for the future innocency of the Queen and very just is it thought that his heart blood should blot out his hands error in the writs But bare-fac'd murder is not so beautiful as to draw a tender Conscience to embrace it Religious mask may hide somewhat of the horror and necessity of state animate an adventure to take it by the hand which the Lords of this black Council weighing with themselves propound three Atticles to the King Establishing the Religion Recalling the banish'd Lords and in the rear of these The murder of David Rizio His Royal word might vanish into ayr and be no standing evidence for the security of the actors who presse for a subscription by his hand The discourse alone upon this is enough for an after-claim to his consent and the counterfeit of his name to give his disavowing Majesty the lie Howsoever if his engagement were any the reverence of a Father that advised brought him half way upon the misse-taken borders of his duty and old Patrike Ruvens resurrection who had for many moneths been bed-rid but skipped very lively into this action might impose on his youth as an oracle from the dead Upon the Saturday before the Tuesday prefixed by the Queen for the attainder of the Lords this cripled assassin in the company of the Earl Morton Lord Ruthuen Lord Lindsay c. broke into the presence and in Her Majesties sight who was then great with child carry violently away her servant of greatest secresie and trust and within a Chamber or two by fifty three stroaks with their whingers or daggers murder him for the advancement of the Discipline which work now goes on a pace the Earl Murray and the banish'd Lords returning to the Court upon a pretended summons from the King These with the Murderers sit in Council desire the Queen to take the act for good service because hereby were so many Noblemen restored The poor Queen was fain to be silent in what she could not help and not knowing how soon her own turn was to come as an essay of their intentions desired the armed Guard might be dismissed for granting which the cruel Brethren count the King uxorious and simple the Earl Murray facile and the other Lords too inclinable to submit Her Majesty though good natur'd was neither stupid nor partial when indued with exercive power The blood of Rizio called upon her for Justice more then the memory of his good service or her own affection did incite her to revenge This opportunity she took to summon her loyal Subjects to Dunbar whither Her Majesty privately withdrew The guilty Lords did not like to have any armed assemblies appear but their own and accounted it an entrenchment on their priviledge for the Queen to act any thing but by their counsel At the same time and * place where they should have answered to their charge they convene to protest against the Q. proceedings yet wanting that which was wont more then either their authority or innocency to spirit their dispute they disperse themselves to seek each a single sanctuary in a corner The King and Queen in March were attended with a strong Guard to Edenburgh His Majesty having before by Proclamation quit himself not onely of the guilt but all fore-knowledge of the murder which is not
to marry whom she pleased Queen Elizabeth not liking the Perth Parliaments answer nor the young Messenger that brought it they call'd another at Sterlin and from thence sent Pelkarn with a subtile enlargement about their declining the two former of her three Propositions but because they saw so long as the exil'd Queen had the countenance of Queen Elizabeth she had oppoâ—tunity to encourage and some means to assist their enemies which now began to be somewhat potent they take a sure way to set the two Queens at variance by severall suggestions wherein what was true had been done by Murray's advice if not fiâ—st procurement the private overture of a Marriage between the Queen of Scots and the Duke of Norfolk and what was false they were sure would incense Queen Elizabeth and prevent all possibility of farther mischief from the South Of this nature was That she had passed away to the D. of Andyn her right to the Crown of England That She and the Duke of Norfolke intended to cut off the present Royall possâ—ssours of both Kingdomes which plotâ— must be discoverd by providence just at Pelcarnes coming to the English Court whereupon the Queen and Duke were presently secured After this the Regent Murray goes on with less opposition and better success in Scotland yeâ— in the midst of his victories was rewarded for his murders rebellions and falsehood being shot at Lithgow in the belly upon a private revenge and so prevented of dispatching the young Prince which may be very fairly guessed by his proceedings to be intended his Mother boasting her self to have been the Wife not the Harlot of Iames the fifth and so this her son the lawfull inheritor of the Crown The holy Brethren would fain had Murray cannoniz'd for a Saint and Martyr in the cause and his bloud reveng'd they car'd not upon whom so any of the Queens dutifull Subjests might be cut off To bring such upon tryal as stood most in their way were many popular supplicates presented and what reason was rendred for deferring the enquiry at least till the Assizes if not rather till the next Assembly in May they either take for a close compliance of their Peers with the Queens or an impolitick yielding advantage to their enemies At length some of the wisest began to put in questions by what authority they could proceed to this or any other execution of Laws the Queen being deposed the King in his non-age and no legal establishment to be made of a successor to Murray in his Regency of the Kingdome Fain would they have made use of an old by grant extorted from the Queen but that they found null by the former election of Murray and if now taken up for authentick might be thought a recalling her Majesties authority from the dead This not holding good they leave all their sawcy French Proverbs behind them and come fawning upon Queen Elizabeth in English she denies them as well advice as assistance having before made plausible promises of both to the Queen of Scots though her prisoner The Rebeâ—lâ— were sensible what ground the Quâ—ens party daily got by their Anarchy though their necessities hastened them toward a conclusion of somewhat yet not knowing what they were to seek by what means and in what method to effect it Queen Elizabeth who seem'd not fullâ— satisfied with the thing must not be disgusted by the person The Earl of Lenox the young King's Grandfather is pitcht on for several reasons looking that way and first upon some Assembly revelation he was chosen an Interrex or Interloping King which soon after by some divine counter-light was discovered to be a monster in Government suspected for Saturnes unnatural stomack that might possibly devoure the young King and Iesus Christs Scepter to boot which the Presbytery had given him to play with in his hand To avoid this danger they divest him of his intercalary Kingship and having no law upon earth to impower them they furnish him with a Regency from heaven And now in his time no question all Parliamentary as well as Assembly authority may plead to be by divine right and their proceedings are justified by this extraordinary providence of God Upon this Patent the new Regent reforms what he could by the sword according to the true sense of the Discipline The poor captive Queen in compliance with the principles of nature and likewise in discharge of her civil duty who had the trust though not possession of a Kingdome by submisse yet enough Majestick requests in England by a mediation from France and Spain agitates what she can for her liberty and this for stopping farther effusion of Christian bloud in her Countrey and preventing the progresse of oppressive tyranny over her party Queen Elizabeth sensible of these unchristian proceedings by her arbitrary power sometimes orders a truce between the Scots gives fair answers as well to her prisoner as forein Ambasdours that interceded for her adviseth with her Council Wherein some were mis lead by too facile credulity of false informations from the North others not improbably corrupted all too much adâ—cted to their own interests and an overweening solicitude about the peace and security of England This begat an overture too high and imperious for a magnanimous free-born Princesse to yield to put new thoughts and designs into the Pope Spaniard and French enlarged the breach between her English Subjects for they had been divided and some unsatisfied in the proceedings relating to the Scotch Queen reviv'd and multiplied conspiracies at home Into all these did the northwind blow the sparkles of the Disciplinarian Rebellion which more or less encreased the flame where they lighted if upon matter ready to fire with a touch Queen Elizabeth finding her self environ'd with danger and apprehending no possible security but in a perfect composure of the Scotch differences in order to it calls upon the Presbyterian division for a new account about the deposition of their Queen They exhibit a large remonstrance upon it stuffed with so much pride and barbarous insolence as left no place for religion reason or law although they were great pretenders to the last pleading Ancient priviledge of the Scotch peoples superiority to their Prince This for which their Reformed Brethren may thank them they fortified with Calvins authority and in some cases enlarged it to imprisoning and deposing Kings what or wheresoever They not onely justified their censure but magnified their own lenity to their Queen as to the paâ—doning of her life to the succession of her son who being in their power and standing onely by their pleasure no marvail if in this years Assembly and Parliament all Acts and Statutes made before by him and his Predecessors annext the freedom and liberty of the true Kirk of God aâ—e ratified by his name whenas yet he could not superscribe them with his hand Queen
Ambassador composed the publick difference at present after which a better expedient was supposed to be found to prevent by poyson all further martial attempts of Athol while Earl Morton betook himself more unto his privacy than innocency at home The first salley of Regal government under the pretended personall conduct of the King put the Assembly brethren in mind to strengthen their incroachment upon the Church to which purpose follows a discharging of Chapters with their election of Bishops the titular Bishops are warned to quit their anti-christian corruptions in particular was instanc'd their receiving Ecclesiastick emoluments so that notwithstanding all former Acts and agreements for life their known assignation of benefice must be as well extinct as their Jurisdiction and office yet to please the young King who beyond his years had a discretive Judgement and held Episcopacy in a reverend esteem that they might seem to leave them somewhat to do they make them Itinerant Visiters of their Hospitals themselves being the Sacrilegious Collectors of the Rents Beside this they heave hard to obtain an establishment of the policy in the Second Book of their Discipline but as that yet could not be got to be incorporated with other Parliament Acts At this time two French Noblemen raise fears and jealousies in abundance the Duke of Alanson in England by endeavouring a Marriage with Queen Elizabeth with whom he held private conference but was suspected to aime at restoring the Queen of Scots Lord Aubignie in Scotland who was become the only favorite of the King The consequences of the Marriage were debated by the Lords in Council and their opposite possibilities or conjectures represented to the Queen The new humours of Esme Stuart Lord d' Aubignie whom the King had â—arely câ—eated Duke of Lenox was a business undoubted to be of Ecclesiastical cognizance and therefore taken into consideration by the Assembly the Christian result of whose counsels was this To set up against him an emulous rival Iames Stuart of the Ochiltrie Family call'd Earl of Arran which title he attained by cession from one of the Hamiltons not well in his wits to whom he had been Guardian but these two were soon reconciled by the King and the Assembly Brethren defeated in their plot They can soon find means to be revenged and make the King hear of his misdemeanour A large complaint is sent up to Queen Elizabeth which being sweetned with the discovery of a feigned designe to conveigh the captive Queen out of rison laid to the charge of the Duke of Lenox rellisheth well in the Court and Council of England from whence come endeavours and Embassies to degrade him from favour if not his honour and demâ—nds to have him baniâ—â—ed out of Scotland The young King had now quit himself of his pupillage and with that of his custome to return suppliant answers by his Regent according to the instructions that ever accompanied the demands Sir Robert Bowes the Agent was admitted to deliver his Message but not with his condition to have Lenox removed from the Council and therefore went grumbling home without audience Humes was sent with a complement after him and had the like reception in England where he was turn'd over to Lord Treasurer Burleigh and could have no admission to the Queen Lord Burleigh at large expostulated with him about the miscarriage of some in the Scotch Kings Council The Queen of Englands succesfull endeavours were magnified and her tender care in preventing many eminent mischiefs from the French Some sharp language was used which was hoped would cut off the Kings affection to the Duke of Lenox and make way for Mortons restitution to favour but the issue was otherwise Morton was question'd for many great enormities especially the murder of the Kings Father Randolph is sent to intercede somewhat magisterially and hinder the proceeding against him for his life The King adhears to his Laws by which he answers he is bound to submit Delinquents to Justice Randolph by the help of the Assembly Brethren makes a strong faction of Lenox's enemies and Mortons Friends draws Argile Angus and many other of the Nobility to the party but their different interests caus'd division in their counsels made them quit the engagement and leave Morton after proof and his own confession of the murder to pay his Head â—o the Justice of the Law In this time passed many arrogant Acts in their general Assemblies one among the rest did confine the holy Kirk of Iesus Christ in that Realm to the Ministers of the blessed Evangel and such as were in communion with them excluding all the Episcopal party and deâ—ivâ—ring them up to Satan as being Members of a Kirk divided from the Society of Christs body They professed That there was no other face of Kirk no other face of Religion then was presently at that time established which therefore is â—ver stiled Gods true Religion Christs true Religion the true and Christian Religion admiâ—ting it seems no other Religion to be so much as Christiâ—n but that Beside thâ—s other Acts there were entâ—encâ—ing upon the civill authority whereupon the King by Letter required the Assembly to abstain from making any innovations in the Policy of the Church and from prejudging the decisions of the State by their conclusions to suffer all things to continue in the condition they were during the time of his minority They regard not his letter send a Committee to Striveling to contest with His Majesty and sit down again about the ordering their Discipline Set Iohn Craig a Presbyter about framing a most rigid * Negative confession of Faith Never let His Majesty have quiet untill himself and his Family subscribe it Wrest a charge from him to all Commissioners and Ministers to require the like subscriptions from all and upon this authority taken by violence play the tyrants over the Consciences of the people They censure the Presbytery of Striveling for admitting Montgomery to the temporallity of the Bishoprick of Glascow and him for aspiring thereto contrary to the word of God and Acts of the Kirk While they are thus fencing with the spirituall Sword in Scotland their pure Brethren in England execute their Commission by the pen where the marriage between Qu. Elizabeth and Alanson new Duke of Anjâ—u being in a manner concluded they set out a virulent book with this Title The Gulf wherein England will be swallowed by the French Marriage but the Author Iohn Stubbs of Lincolns-Inne a zealous professor as he must needs be who was Brother-in-Law to Cartwright and one William Page who dispersed the Copies soon after had their hands cut off on a Scaffold at Westminster and play'd their parts no more at that weapon But the civil Sword must have its turn and what no menacing bulls of the Assembly nor any pointed calumnies of mercenary pens can keep off must by a