some of the following Kings namely where there was any opposition feared of setling them in the Royall Throne for further Confirmation were anointed Read diligently the History of the Kings and you shall not finde that each one or every one of them was anoynted externally although they were all the Anoynted of the Lord. Next you shall note That the Oyl wherewith Samuel anoynted Saul and David and so the Oyl wherewith other Kings were anoynted was not an Oyl consecrated as that wherewith the High-Priest c. was anoynted but common Oyl The reason of the Scripture-phrase whereby all Princes are said to be anoynted is this Anoynting in first and most ancient times was a signe of setting apart of a man for the Office of a King Hence by progresse of time any man that was set aside by Gods providence to execute the Office of a King whether he came thereunto by Succession or by choice or by Conquest was called the Anoynted of the Lord because they had the thing signified by Gods appointment notwithstanding they wanted the signe to wit the Oyntment Further we shall observe here That not onely those whom God hath set aside to be Kings be called the Anoynted of the Lord but also the people whom he hath set aside or apart for a peculiar end So the Prophet speaking of the People of Israel in Gods Name useth this expression Touch not mine Anoynted For their sake I have reproved Kings Moreover note That as the people set aside by God are said to be his Anoynted so they are also called A Royall Priesthood Kings and Priests Not that every one of the people is a King or a Priest these being particular Callings no more then they were anoynted but because they are set aside by God as Priests to offer daily unto him the Sacrifice of Righteousnesse c. And as Kings were anoynted with Oyl to signifie their setting aside for their peculiar Office so every one of us being anoynted in Baptisme by the holy Spirit is set aside to do justice c. as a King in our severall station Thus much have I in few words spoken of Kings anoynting and how the people are said to be anoynted or to be Priests and Kings because in the beginning of the fifteenth Age sundry were condemned as hereticks for saying That every man is a Priest in some kinde and that the anoynting of Kings is now needlesse being an invention of Rome to subject Princes unto it Some yeers after the beginning of the twelfth Age King David beside the Bishopricks formerly erected did erect the Bishoprick of Rosse Breachen Dunkel and Dumblane This debonaire Prince was so profuse towards Church-men that he gave them a good part of the ancient Patrimony of the Crown So he and his Successors were necessitated to lay Taxes and Impost upon the people more then formerly to the harm of the Common-wealth In this also he wronged the Church for the Clergie being rich and powerfull left their Function and gave themselves over to all riot and idlenesse Till riches made Church-men lazie this distinction in discharging the Duty of a Pastor or of the souls per se aut per alium was unknown While riches did not so abound in the Church Church-men kept more conscience in the discharging of their places In this twelfth Age the Scots although they had Bishops ever since Palladius who for a long time did discharge the Function indifferently in every place where they came to And although they had of later times distinguished the limits of the bounds wherein they were to execute their Calling by Diocesses yet in that Age I say they were not come to that height to have Primates Metropolitans and Arch-bishops Wherefore their neighbour the Arch-bishop of Yorke having gained the consent of the Pope bestirred himself very earnestly by the assistance of his King to have the Scotish Bishops acknowledge him for the Metropolitane whereunto the stoutest of the Scotish Clergie would not consent but they would depend immediately upon the Pope and to this effect Legats were sent from Rome to Scotland who being come hither and seeing the resolution of the Scotish Bishops not to submit to the Archbishop of Yorke and finding their own benefit thereby they did exempt and free the Scots Clergie from the trouble of the Arch-bishop of Yorke There was one Gilbert Bishop of Catnes a great strugler for this businesse About the later end of this Age sundry Priests were put from their Office because they had taken Orders upon Sunday In that time there was a Synod in Perth of Divines such as they were who decreed That Sunday should be kept holy from all work from Saturday at mid-day or twelve of the clock till Munday morning In the thirteenth Age few yeers after the beginning thereof divers kindes of Monks came into Scotland formerly unknown to the Land as Dominicans Franciscans Iacobins and sundry other of that sort of Locusts In this Age these Vermine of Monks did so multiply every where that at a Councell at Lyons it was decreed That no more new Orders of Monks should be admitted or tolerated But how the Decree hath been kept we see in our dayes Next the Monks of severall kindes gave themselves so to Begging that the people were much eaten up by them and the poor his portion was withdrawn which occasioned a great murmure among the Commons Upon this there was a Decree made then That onely the Minorites Praedicants Carmelites and Hermits of S. Augustine should have liberty to beg Whence they are called The four Mendicants Les quatre Mendiants Towards the end of this thirteenth Age fell out that great desolation of the State of Scotland occasioned by the Controversie for the Succession of the Crown betwixt Baliol and Bruce Baliol being constrained by the States of Scotland to break the promise he had made to Edward of England To subject the Crown of Scotland unto him for judging the cause on his side After much trouble and misery of War the State of Scotland receives Robert Bruce come of the second Branch for King recalling all the subjection and Allegiance that they had given to Baliol because of his unworthinesse to Reign who beside unfitnesse to bear rule over a Military People had basely condescended to enslave that Nation to whom their Liberty hath been so dear to this day that for it and the purity of true Religion which both by Gods mercy they now enjoy they have willingly and cheerfully undergone all hazard of life and means judging That if they suffered these two twins Liberty and Religion either to be infringed or taken from them they had nothing left them whereby they might be called men The remarkable History of King Iames the first of Scotland fitteth this purpose very well The Passage is this King Iames the first going into France was taken by the English and kept prisoner by them for many yeers In that time the King of England goes
to France to make Warre and at his arrivall there he findes an Army of Scots ready to fight for the Alliay of Scotland the French King against the English Upon this the King of England moves King Iames whom he had taken along with him to write unto the Scots and to charge them upon their Allegiance not to draw their Sword against the party where he their King was in person The Scots answered That they were sent into France to assist their Alliays against the common enemy As for him who writ unto them since he was a prisoner and not a free man they neither owed him Allegiance nor would they give him any so long as he was in prison but if he were set at liberty and were living among them they would obey him according to the Laws of the Countrey since the Crown was setled upon him by the consent of the States and so they did for these Kingdoms were governed in his name without any communication with him during the time of his imprisonment which was very long but when he went home he was received and obeyed as King From this Princes may learn that although people do submit themselves to their Government the resignation is not so full as to devest themselves of all power in such a way That the Prince may dispose of them as he thinks right or wrong he ordinarily being misled and kept captive by those that are about him who for the most part have no regard to the publike good nor to the credit and esteem of him to whom in shew they professe themselves so addicted the people have constantly reserved even unto themselves by the consent of all men yea of the greatest Court-parasites and Sycophants of Princes that the Prince cannot nor ought not to enslave or subject the people to any Forreign Power and where Princes by Pusillanimitie and ill counsell have essayed or attempted such a thing they have smarted for it witnesse Baliol who not onely was excluded himself from the Crown but also his Posterity and it was setled upon the next Branch to wit Robert Bruce with his descendents where it continues to this day by Gods providence Then since the people have reserved this power in themselves to stop the Prince to put them under any Forreign yoak or slavery is it possible That they have not reserved a power to right themselves from domestick and intestine slavery and misery slavery being ever one and the same For what is it to me by whom I suffer evil of one and the same kinde and degree whether it be by a neighbour or a stranger a forreigner or a con-citizen yea when I suffer by him who should be my friend and stand for the same Freedom with me my suffering is the greater To this purpose you have a memorable Passage of William the Norman who although he had invaded England with the Sword and by it had defeated him who did oppose him for the Crown with all his adherents and party and in consequencie of this Victory had committed many out-rages with a strong hand yet the same William could never assure himself nor his Posterity of the Allegeance of the People till he had sworn solemnly according to the Rite of the times for himself and his To govern according to the good and approved Laws of the Land as the best Kings before him had done Then the County of Kent in its own name and in the name of the whole Kingdom declared That neither Kent nor any other of the Kingdom was conquered but in a peaceable way did submit to William the Norman upon Condition and with Proviso That all their Liberties and free Customs in use and practice should be kept If this was not accomplished afterwards it was sillinesse of the People that suffered themselves to be abused and the fault of misled Princes that did not keep their promise whereunto they were tyed And sundry for the breach of this promise have had occasion to repent when it hath been too late We shall adde one example more which is of Henry the eighth who anno 1525 the seventeenth yeer of his Reign by the advice of his Councell put a Tax upon the people which the people did not onely refuse to pay but declared That the thing was unjust and unlawfull Withall wherever they met those whom the King had employed for the gathering the money they used them so kindely that they did never come twice to one place for the payment of the Tax The King seeing this he disclaims the Imposition of the Tax and so do the Nobles that convened at London by his Command for that purpose and layes all the fault upon ill counsell namely upon Wolsey This was Henry constrained to do notwithstanding his resolutenesse against all forreign enemy chiefly the Pope with his shavelings By this instance Henry acknowledged his power to be limited and no wayes arbitrary Against the doctrine of our now Cout-parasites Now if the People have this much power in them as to stand for their Temporall Liberty both against forreign and domestick slavery far more may they and ought they to defend the Spirituall Freedom which Christ having purchased with his Blood hath left them as Members of his Church But all this defence of Liberty and Religion ought to be made so that it be without by-ends sinistrous respects of hatred malice ambition c. The onely scope and main drift being To have Gods glory in the Light of his Gospel setled and maintained The People at quiet The Prince obeyed in God and for God i. e. according to the Law of God Nature Nations and the Countrey or Kingdom so far as possibly can be This being lookt to carefully there is no gap opened to Rebellion which is a fighting against Gods Ordinance and not the just and necessary opposing of the abuse and corrupting of the good Ordinance of God But here a Court-slave will say If things be so there is no absolutenesse in Monarchs and Princes To answer this we must know what is to be meant by absolute or absolutenes whereof I finde two main significations First absolute signifieth perfect and absolutenesse perfection Hence we have in Latin this expression Perfectum est omnibus numeris absolutum And in our vulgar Language we say A thing is absolutely good when it is perfectly good Next absolute signifieth free from tye or bond which in Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now say I if you take absolute for perfect that Prince or Magistrate is most absolute that is most perfect who governs most absolutely or most perfectly The absolutenesse or perfection of Government consists in its conformity to the perfect Rule which is written in the Law of God printed in the heart of man received generally of all wise People and in practice by all particular well-polished Common-wealths Next I say if you take absolute for free from tye or bond That no Prince nor Magistrate is free for every
their servants and other that appertained to them and were exempted from common service should neverthelesse serve in time of necessity These vain promises lifted up in pride the heart of the unhappy king and so begins the Warre The Realme was Quartered and men were laid in Iedburgh and Kelso All men fools we mean bragged of victory and in very deed the beginning gave us a faire shaw For at the first Warden Reade which was made on Saint Bartholomewes day in the yeere of our Lord 1542. was the Warden Sir Robert Bowes his brother Richard Bowes Captaine of Norhame Sir William Mamebery Knight a Bastard Sonne of the Earle of Angus and Iames Dowglas of Parkhead then Rebels with a great number of Borderers Souldiers and Gentlemen taken The Reade was termed Halderig The Earle of Angus and Sir George his brother did narrowly escape Our Papists and Prelats proud of this victory encouraged the King so that there was nothing heard but All is ours They be but Heretickes if we be a thousand and they ten thousand they dare not fight France shall enter into one part and we the other and so shall England be conquest within a yeere If any man was seene to smile at such vanitie he was no more but a Traytour and an Hereticke And yet by these meanes men had greater liberty then they had before as concerning their conscience for then ceased the persecution The Warre continued till midde September And then was sent down the old Duke of Norfolke with such an Army as a hundred yeeres before had not come into Scotland They were in gathering their Forces and setting forward of their Preparations and Munitions which were exceeding great till midde October and after And then they Marched from Barwick and tended to the wast ever holding Tweid upon their own side and never camped from that River the space of a mile during the whole time they continued in Scotland which was ten or twelve dayes Forces were sent up and down to Smallame Stichell and such places neere about but many snappers they gat some Corn they burnt besides that which the great host consumed but small bootie they carried away The King assembled his Forces at Fallowe for he was advertised that they had promised to come to Edinburgh and tooke the Musters all at an houre two dayes before Hallowe even There were found with him eighteen thousand able men Upon the Borders that awaited upon the English Army were ten thousand good men with the Earle of Huntlie Lords Erskin Seton and Hume These were judged men aneuh to hazard Battell albeit the other were esteemed fourty thousand While the King lay at Fallowe abiding upon the Gunes and upon advertisement from the Army The Lords began to remember how the King had been long abused by his flatterers and principally by the Pensioners of the Prelats It was then concluded that they would make some new remembrance of Lawder brig to see if that would for a season somewhat help the state of their Country But because the Lords could not agree among themselves upon the persons that deserved punishment for every man favoured his friend the whole escaped and the purpose was opened to the King and by him to the courtiers who till they came to Edinburgh stood in no little fear but that was suddenly forgot as we shall after hear While time is thus protracted the English army for want of victuals as was bruted retired over Tweid in the night and so begin to skale sunder wherof the King advertised desired the Lords and Barons to assist him to follow them into England whose answer was with one consent That to defend his person and Realme they would hazard life and whatsoever they had But to invade England neither had they so just Title as they desired neither yet could they be able to do any thing to the hurt of England considering that they had long before beene absent from their houses their provision was spent their horses wearied and that which was greatest of all the time of the yeere did utterly reclaime This their answer seemed to satisfie the King for he in words praised their prudent foresight and wise counsell But the essay made to his Courtiers and that bold repulse of his desires given to him in his owne face so wounded his high stomacke for long had he runne as himselfe listed that he decreeth a notable revenge which no doubt he had not failed to have executed if God by his owne hand had not cut the dayes of his lyfe He returnes to Edinburgh the Nobility Barons Gentlemen and Commons to their habitations And this was the second and third dayes of November Without longer delay at the palace of Halyrud-house was a new councell assembled a councell we meane of his abusers wherein were accusations layd against the most part of the Nobilitie Some were Hereticks Some favourers of England Some friends to the Dowglas and so could there be none faithfull to the King in their opinion The Cardinall and Prelats cast fagotts in the fire with all their force and finding the King wholly addicted to their devotion delivered unto him a schroll containing the names of such as they in their inquisition had convict for Hereticks For this was the order of Justice which these holy Fathers kept in condemning of innocent men Whosoever would accuse any of Heresie he was heard no respect nor consideration had what minde the accuser bare to the person accused Whosoever was produced for witnesse were admitted how suspitious and infamous so ever they were if two or three had proved any point that by their Law was holden Heresie that was an Hereticke There rested no more but a day to be affixed to his condemnation and to the execution of their corrupt sentence What man could be innocent where such â—udges were partie the world may this day consider True it is by false Judgement and false Witnesses have innocents been oppressed from the beginning But this freedome to shed innocent blood got never the Devill but in the Kingdome of Antichrist That the innocent should die and neither know accuser nor yet the witnesse that testifieth against him But how shâ—ll the Antichrist be knowne if he shall not be contrarious to God the Father and his Sonne Christ Jesus in Law Life and Doctrine But this we omit The same schroll had the Cardinall and Prelats once presented to the king before at that time when he returned from the Navigation about the Isles in the yeere 1534. But then it was refused by the prudent and stout councell of the Laird of Grainge who opened cleerely to the King the practices of the Prelats and the danger that thereof might ensue Which considered by the King for being out of his passion he was tractable gave this answer in the palace of Halyrud-house to the Cardinall and Prelats after that they had uttered their malice and shewed what
it betwixt them for that day The feare riseth and at an instant they which before were victors and were not yet assaulted with any force except with ordnance as is said cast from them their spears and fled So that Gods power was so evidently seen that in one moment yea at one instant time both the armies were fleeing The shout came from the hill from those that hoped no victory upon the English part The shout rises we say They flee they flee but at the first it could not be beleeved till at the last it was clearly seene that all had given back and still began the cruell slaughter which was the greater by reason of the late displeasure of the men of arms the chase and slaughter lasted till neer Edinburgh upon the one part and toward Dalketh upon the other The number of the slain upon the Scottish side were judged nigh ten thousand men The Earle of Huntly was taken and carried to London But he relieved himselfe being surety for many reasons Honesty or unhonesty we know not but as the bruite was he used policie with England In that same time was slain the Master of Erskin dearly beloved of the Queene for whom she made great lamentation and bare his death many dayes in minde When the certaintie of the discomfiture came she was in Edinburgh abiding upon tidings But with expedition she posted that same night to Sterlin with Monsieur Dosell who was as fearfull as a Fox when his hole is smoaked And thus did God take the second revenge upon the perjured Governour with such as assisted him to defend an unjust quarrell Albeit that many innocents fell amongst the middest of the wicked The English armie came to Leyth and their taking order with their prisoners and spoile they returned with this victory which they looked not for to England That Winter following was great hearships made upon all the borders of Scotland Broughtie mountain was taken by the Englishmen and besieged by the Governor but still kept And at it was slain Gawine the best of the Hamiltons and the ordnance left Whereupon the Englishmen encouraged began to fortifie upon the hill above Broughty house which was called The fort of Broughty and was very noisome to Dundie which it burnt and laid waste and so did it the most part of Angus which was not assured and under friendship with them The Lent following was Hadington fortified by the English men The most part of Lothian from Edinburgh East was either assured or laid waste This did God plague in every quarter But men were blinde and would not nor could not consider the cause The Lairdes Ormeston and Brunstone were banished and after sore assaulted and so were all those of the Castle of S. Andrews The sure knowledge of the troubles of Scotland coming to France there was prepared a Navie and Army The Navie was such as never was seen to come from France for the support of Scotland for besides the Gallies being twenty two in number they had threescore great Ships besides Victuallers How soon so ever they took the plain seas the red Lion of Scotland was displayed and they holden as rebels unto France such policie is no falshood in Princes for good peace stood betwixt France and England And the King of France approved nothing that they did The chiefe men to whom the conducting of the Army was appointed were Monsieur Dandelott Monsieur de Termes and Peter Strozi In their journey they made some harship upon the coast of England but it was not great They arrived in Scotland in May in the yeere of our Lord 1549. The Gallies did visit the Fort of Broughtie but did no more at that time Preparations were made for the siege of Hadington but it was another thing that they meant as the issue declared The whole body of the Realm assembled the form of a Parliament was set to be holden there to wit in the Abbey of Hadington The principall head was the Marriage of the Princesse by the State before contracted to King Edward to the King of France and of her present deliverie by reason of the danger she stood in by the invasion of the old enemies of England Some were corrupted with buds some deceived by flattering promise and some for fear were compelled to consent for the French Souldiers were the officers of Arms in that Parliament The Laird of Balcleuch a bloody man with many Gods-wounds swore They that would not consent should do worse The Governour got the Title of Duke of Chattelherauld with the order of the Cockle and a Pension of 12000. lib. turn with a full discharge of all intermissions with King Iames the fift his treasure and substance whatsoever with possession of the Castle of Dumbartane till that issue should be seen of the Queenes body With these and other conditions stood he content to sell his Soveraigne out of his own hands which in the end will be his destruction God thereby punishing his former wickednesse if speedie repentance prevent not Gods judgements which we heartily wish Huntly Argyle and Angus were likewise made Knights of the Cockle and for that and other good deeds received they sold also their part Shortly none was found to resist that unjust demand And so was she sold to go to France To the end that in her youth she should drink of that liquor that should remain with her all her life time for a plague to this Realm and for her own ruine And therefore albeit that now a fire cometh out of her that consumes many let no man wonder she is Gods hand in his displeasure punishing our former ingratitude Let men patiently abide Gods appointed time and turn unto him with hearty repentance then God will surely stop the fire that now comes from her by sudden changing her heart to deal favourably with his people or else by taking her away or by stopping her to go on in her couâ—se by such meanes as he shall think meet in his wisdom for he having all in his hand disposeth of all and doth with all according to his own will unto which we must not onely yeeld but also be heartily pleased with it since it is absolutely good and both by Sacred and Prophane History we are taught to do so for in them we finde That Princes have been raised up by his hands to punish his people But when they turned unto him with hearty repentance he either turned the heart of the Prince to deal kindly with his people or else did take him away or at least did stop his violent course against his people Of this the examples are so frequent that we spare to name them heere But to returne to our Historie This conclusion That our Queene without further delay should be delivered to France The siege continued great shooting but no assaulting and yet they had fair occasion offered unto them For the English-men approaching to
formed in manner following The Forme of the Protestation made in the Parliament holden at Edinburgh Anno 1558. IT is not unknowne to this Honourable Parliament what controversie is now lately risen betwixt those that will be called the Prelats and Rulers of the Church and a great number of us the Nobility and Communalty of the Realme for the true worshipping of God for the duty of Ministers for the right Administration of Christ Jesus holy Sacraments How that we have complained by our supplication to the Queen Regent That our consciences are burthened with unprofitable Ceremonies And that we are compelled to adhere to Idolary That such as take upon them the Office Ecclesiasticall discharge no part thereof as becometh true Ministers to do and finally That we and our brethren are most injuriously oppressed by their usurped authority And also we suppose it is a thing sufficiently known That we were of minde at this present Parliament to seek redresse of such enormities but considering that the troubles of the time do not suffer such Reformation as we by Gods plain Word do require we are enforced to delay that which most earnestly we desire And yet lest that our silence should give occasion to our adversaries to thinke that we repent of our former enterprisers we cannot cease to protest for remedy against that most unjust tyranny which we heretofore have most patiently sustained And first we protest That seeing we cannot obtain a just Reformation according to Gods Word that it be lawfull to us to use our selves in matters of Religion and conscience as we must answer unto God unto such time as our adversaries be able to prove themselves the true Ministers of Christs Church and to purge themselves of such crimes as we have already laid to their charge offering our selves to prove the same whensoever the sacred Authority please to give us audience Secondly we protest That neither we nor yet any other of the godly that list to joyn with us in the true Faith which is grounded upon the invincible Word of God shall incur any danger of life or lands or any politicall pain for not observing such Acts as heretofore have passed in favour of our adversaries neither yet for violating of such Rites as man without Gods Commandment or Word hath commanded We thirdly protest That if any tumult or uprore shall arise amongst the members of this Realme for the diversity of Religion and if it shall chance that abuses be violently reformed that the crime thereof be not imputed to us who most humbly do now seek all to be reformed by an Order But rather whatsoever inconvenience shall happen to follow for lack of Order taken that may be imputed to those that do refuse the same And last we protest That these our requests proceeding from conscience do tend to none other end but to the reformation of the abuses in Religion onely Most humbly beseeching the sacred Authority to take us faithfull and obedient subjects into protection against our adversaries and to shew unto us such indifferency in our most just Petition as it becometh Gods Lieutenants to do to those that in his Name do call for defence against cruell oppressors and blood-thirsty Tyrants This our Protestation publikely read we desired it to have been inserted in the common Register but that by the labor of enemies was denied unto us Neverthelesse the Queen Regent said Me will remember what it protested and me shall put good order after this to all things that now be in controversie And thus after she by craft had obtained her purpose we departed ed in good hope of her favour praising God inour hearts that she was so well inclined towards godlinesse The good opinion that we had of her sincerity caused us not onely to spend our goods and hazard our bodies at her pleasure but also by our publike Letters written to that excellent servant of God Iohn Calvine we did praise and commend her for her excellent knowledge in Gods Word and good will towards the advancement of his glory requiring of him That by his grave counsell and godly exhortation he would animate her Majestie constantly to follow that which godlily she had begun We did farther sharply rebuke both by word and writing all such as appeared to suspect in her any venom or hypocrisie or that were contrary to that opinion which we had conceived of her godly minde But how far we were deceived in our opinion and abused by her craft did suddenly appear For how soon that all things pertaining to the commodity of France were granted by us and that Peace was contracted betwixt King Philip and France and England and us she began to spue forth and disclose the latent venom of her double heart Then began she to frowne and to look forwardly to all such as she knew did favour the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She commanded her houshold to use all abominations at Easter and she first her self to give example to others did communicate to the Idol in open audience she controlled her houshold and would know where that every one received ther Sacrament And it appeared That after that day that malice took more violent and strong possession in her then it did before for from that day forward she appeared altogether altered insomuch that her countenance and facts did declare the venom of her heart For incontinent she caused our Preachers to be summoned for whom when we made intercession beseeching her Majesty not to molest them in their Ministry unlesse any man were able to convince them of false Doctrine she could not bridle her tongue from open blasphemy but proudly she said In despight of you and your Ministers both they shall be banished out of Scotland albeit they preached as true as ever did Saint Paul Which proud and blaspemous answer did greatly astonish us and yet ceased we not most humbly to seek her favour and by great diligence at last we obtained that the Summons at that time were delayed For to her were sent Alexander Earl of Glenclarne and Sir Hues Campbell of Lowdone Knight Sheriff of Air to reason with her and to crave some performance of her manifold promises to whom she answered It becomes not subjects to burthen their Princes with promises further then it pleased them to keep the same Both the Noble men faithfully and boldly discharged their duty and plainly forewarned her of the inconveniences that were to follow wherewith she somewhat astonied said she would advise In this mean time did the Town of Perth called Saint Iohnston embrace the Truth which did provoke her to a new fury in which she willed the Lord Ruthuein Provest of that Towne so suppresse all such Religion there To the which when he answered That he could make their bodies to come to her Majesty to prostrate themselves before her till that she was fully satiate with her blood but to cause them to
the Councell of the Realme he shall present his Complaint to their Majesties and generally they shall oblige them under the said pains to do the things which pertaineth to good and faithfull Subjects for the quietnesse and tranquility of the Realme and Rights of their Soveraigne Item It is Agreed That if any Bishops Abbots or other Church-men shall finde or alleadge them to have received any injuries either in their persons or goods the Complaints shall be seen and considered by the States of the said Convention and Parliament and there shall be made redresse as they shall finde according to reason and in the meane time no man shall stop them but they shall brook and enjoy their goods nor shall do any hurt injury or violence to them And if any doth contravene to this Article he shall be pursued by the Lords as a perturber of a good Common-wealc Item It is Accorded c. That the said Lords shall binde them to observe and cause to be observed all and sundry Points and Articles agreed in this Treaty And if it happen that any of them or any other should gainsay the same the remnant Lords and residue of the whole people shall be enemies to him and shall pursue him till he be chastned and punished according to his demerits Item It is Concluded c. That all the whole Realm may know that the King and Queen are not willing to keep any remembrance of the troubles and differences past and so far as concerns the Nobility and other subjects of this Realme That their Majesties desire is to use them humanely and to be favourable unto them the said Deputies have promised and accorded That the Duke of Chattellarault and all other Noble-men of Scotland shall be restaured and setled again in all their goods and benefices which they had enjoyed in France That they may brook and enjoy the same in the same manner as they did before those debates the said sixth day of March and yeere aforesaid even as the said controversies had never chanced And also that all Capitulations and Articles agreed upon in times past and especially those that were appointed in the King and Queens Contract shall be observed and kept as well for the part of their Majesties as for the part of the Nobility and people of Scotland And as concerning David son to the Duke of Chattellarault now being in Bois de Vincennes liberty shall be granted unto him to returne into Scotland and to do as he pleaseth Moreover when the said Deputies exposed that some time it might chance That the King might have need and use of his great Guns and Artillery in France the said Lords having consideration thereof accorded That no other Artillery be translated out of this Realme but those which were sent and brought in from the said day of the decease of Francis King of France of good memory to these parts And that all other Artillery aud Munition be reposed into the places whence they were taken forth and in speciall they that have the Arms of Scotland shall be put into the places whence they were taken forth of And there shall be Noble-men of Scotland appointed therefore and two for the part of the Kings Majesty are to be deputed to agnosce and view the same afore the Shipping thereof And moreover That whereas in the names of the Nobility and people of Scotland certain Articles concerning Religion and other Points have been presented which the said Deputies will not touch and considering the weight and importance of them has remitted the same to be cognosced and decided by their Majesties The said Lords and Nobility do promise That a certain number of Noble-men should be chosen in the next Convention and Parliament to be sent to their Majesties which shall expose to their Highnesses those things that shall be thought needfull for the state of their busines and for the forementioned and other Articles and Points undecided by the Deputies to the effect they may know their Majesties intention good wil concerning those things which shal be exposed from the Country the which also shall have with them a confirmation ratification by the states of the Realm of those articles which are concorded c. by the Deputies to whom also the same time or before shal be given and delivered and like Confirmation and Ratification made by their Majesties so being that the said States send their Ratification aforesaid The Proclamation of the things above-written made the 8 of Iuly in the yeere of God 1560. TO the glory of the Almighty Lord God and to the comfort of all Christians the most puissant Prince and Princesse and most Christian King and Queen Francis and Mary by the grace of God King and Queen of France and Scotland and by the most puissant Princesse Elizabeth by the same Grace Queen of England France and Ireland c. It is accorded and Reconciliation of Peace and Amitie made which is to be observed inviolably amongst them their Subjects Realms and Countries For as much as in name of the said Prince and Princesse it is commanded and straitly charged to all manner of persons under their obedience or being in their service from henceforth to desist from all hostility both by Sea and Land and to keep a good Peace the one with the other and with charge that none shall break the same under perill of c. These things transacted and the Peace Proclaimed as is said sudden provision was made for transporting of the French to France of whom the most part were put in the English Ships who also carried with them the whole spoile of Leith and that was the second benefit which they received of their late promised liberty the end whereof is not yet The English Army departed by land the 16 day of July in the yeere of God 1560. The most part of our Nobility Protestants honourably conveyed them as in very deed they had well deserved But Lord Iames would not leave the Lord Gray with the other Noble-men of England till that they entred into Barwick After whose returning the Councell began to look as well upon the affaires of the Common-wealth as upon the matters that might concern the stability of Religion As before we have heard the Parliament was concluded to begin the tenth of July and to be continued till the first of August next and therefore the Lords made the greater haste and diligence that all things should be put in convenient order But before all things the Preachers exhorted them for then in Edinburgh were the most part of the chief Ministers of the Realme to be thankfull unto God and next to provide that the Ministers should be distributed as the necessity of the Countrey required A day was appointed when that the whole Nobility and the greatest part of the Congregation assembled in S. Giles Church in Edinburgh where after the Sermon made for that purpose publike thanks were given unto God for
with such others of the French faction who had openly spoken That they had refused all portion of Scotland unlesse that it were under the government of a French-man Recompence them O Lord as thou knowest most expedient for thine owne glory and for the perpetuall shame of all Traitours to their Common-wealth The certain knowledge of all these things came to our eares whereat many were afraid and divers suspected that England would not be so forward in times to come considering that their former expences were so great The principall comfort remained with the Preachers for they assured us in Gods Name that God would performe in all perfection that worke in our hands The beginning whereof he had so mightily maintained because it was not ours but his own And therefore exhorted us That we should constantly proceed to reform all abuses and to plant the Ministery of the Church as by Gods word we might justifie it and then commit the successe of all to our God in whose power the disposition of Kingdoms standeth And so we began to do for troubles appearing made us give eare to the admonitions of Gods servants And while that we had scarcely begun again to implore the help of our God and to shew some signes of our obedience unto his Messengers and holy Word Lo the mighty hand of God from above sent unto us a wonderfull and most joyfull deliverance For unhappy Francis husband to our Soveraigne suddenly perished of a rotten eare But because the death of that young man was not onely the cause of joy to us in Scotland but also by it were the faithfull in France delivered as it were from the present death We think expedient to speak of the same somewhat more largely These cruell and conjured enemies of God and of all godlinesse the Duke of Guise the Cardinall of Loraine and their faction who then at their owne appetite plaid the Tyrants in France had determined the destruction of all that professed the true knowledge of Jesus Christ within that Realme What tyrannie late before they had used at Amboyse the History of France doth witnesse now in Orleance in the moneth of November conveaned the King unhappy Francis the Queen our Soveraigne and the Queen mother of the King the Duke of Guise with all his faction The King of Navarre and the Prince of Condie his brother So that great was the confluence of the Nobilitie but greater was the assembly of the murtherers for there was not a Hang-man in all France which was not there The prisons were full of the true servants of God The King of Navarre and the Prince of Condie were constituted Prisoners The Sheriffe of Orleance a man fearing God was taken and so were many others of the Towne Briefly there was none that professed God or godlinesse within that Towne that looked not for the extremity for the Walles and Gates were night and day kept with the Garisons of the Guysians miserable men were daily brought in to suffer judgement but none was suffered to depart forth but at the devotion of the Tyrants And so they proceeded till the tenth or twelfth of December when that they thought time to put their bloody councell in execution and for that purpose conclusion was taken That the King should depart out of the Towne and lie at a certaine place which was done to this intent That there should no suite be made to the King for the safetie of any mans life whom they thought worthy of death And so was the Kings house in Orleance broken up his beds cofers and tapistrie sent away his owne bootes put on he sitting at the Masse immediately hereafter to have departed and so their tyrannie to have begun When all things we say were in this readinesse to shed the blood of innocents the eternall our God who ever watcheth for the preservation of his owne began to worke and suddenly did put his own work in execution for as the said King sat at Masse he was suddenly stricken with an Aposthume in that deaf ear that never would hear the Trueth of God and so was he carried to a void and empty house laid upon a palliase unto such time as a Cannaby was set up unto him where he lay till the fifteenth day of December in the yeere of God 1560. When his glory perished and the pride of his stubborne heart vanished in smoke And so was the snare broken The Tyrants disappointed of their crueltie Those that was appointed to death raised as it were out of their graves And we who by our foolishnesse had made our selves slaves to strangers were restored againe to freedome and libertie of a free Realme O that we had hearts deepely to consider what are thy wondrous works O Lord that we might praise thee in the midst of this most obstinate and wicked generation and leave the memoriall of the same to our posterities which alas we feare shall forget these thy inestimable benefits Some in France after the sudden death of Francis the 2. and calling to minde the death of Charles the 9 in blood and the slaughter of Henry the 2. did remark the Tragicall ends of these three Princes who had persecuted Gods servants so cruelly by their instruments the Guisians and by their Pens both in Prose and Verse did advise all other Princes not to authorize any Persecution or wrong done unto Gods servants left they should have the like end And indeed the following Kings of France unto this day hath found this true by their infortunate and unexpected ends The death of this King made great alteration in France England and Scotland France was erected in some esperance that the tyranny of the Guisians should no longer raigne above them because God at unawares had broken the staffe whereupon they leaned but alas they were deceived For the simplicity of some was so abused that against the Lawes of the Realm to the Queen mother was committed the Regiment which lifted up as well the Duke of Guise as the cruell Cardinall for a season The Queen of England and the Councell remitted our Ambassadours The pride of the Papists of Scotland began to be abated and some that ever had shewn themselves enemies unto us began to think and plainly to speak amongst whom the old Sheriff of Ayre was one That they perceived God to fight for us The Earle of Arrane having suffered repulse in his designe to marry the Queen of England he began to fancie unto himselfe that the Queen of Scotland bare unto him some favour And so he wrote unto her and sent for credit a Ring which the said Queen our Soveraign knew well enough The Letter and Ring were both presented to the Queen and by her received Such answer was returned to the said Earle after the which he made no further pursuit in that matter And yet neverthelesse he did bear it heavily in heart and more heavily then his friends would have wished for grief he
avoyding of Inconveniences This Summer there came an Embassadour from the King of Sweden requiring marriage of our Soveraigne to his Master the King His entertainment was Honourable but his Petitions liked not our Queene one whit for as yet she could not resolve to be Wife to the King of Sweden having been lately Queen of France And yet she refused not one much inferiour to a Soveraigne King The Earle of Lennox and his Wife were committed to the Tower of London for traffiquing with Papists the young Laird of Barre was a stickler in that businesse and was apprehended with some Letters which was the cause of his and their trouble The Earle of Murray made a private journey to Hawicke upon the Fayre day thereof and apprehended fifty Theeves of which number were seventeen drowned others were executed in Iâ—dburgh the principall were brought to Edinburgh and there suffered according to their merits upon the Burrow Mure. The Queene was no whit content of the prosperitie and good successe that God gave to the Earle of Murray in all his enterprises for she hated his upright dealing and the Image of God that evidently did appear in him but at that time she could not well have been served without him The assembly of the Church at Midsommer the four and twentieth day of Iune 1562. approached in the which were many notable heads handled concerning good Order to be kept in the Church and for the Papists and for the Idolatry of the Queen which troubleth the former good order Some Ministers such as Master Iohn Sharpe had left their charges and entered into other Vocations more profitable for the belly against whom were Acts made although this day they have not put them in execution The tenour of the Supplication read in open audience and approved by the whole Assembly to be presented to the Queens Majesty was this To the Queens Majesty and her most honorable Privy Councell The Superintendents and Ministers of the Evangell of Christ Iesus within this Realme together with the Commissioners of the whole Churches desire Grace and Peace from the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ with the Spirit of righteous Iudgement HAving in minde that the fearfull sentence pronounced against the Watch-men that see the Sword of Gods punishment approach and do not in plain words forewarn the people yea the Princes and Rulers that they repent we cannot but signifie unto your Highnesse and to your Councell That the state of this Realme is such for this present that unlesse redresse and remedy be shortly provided Gods hands cannot long spare in his anger to strike the Head and the Tayle the inobedient Prince and sinfull People For as God is unchangeable and true so must he punish in these our dayes the grievous sins which before we reade he hath punished in all Ages after that he hath long called for repentance and none is showne And that your Majesty and Councell may understand what are the things we desire to be reformed we will begin at that which we know assuredly to be the Fountain and Spring of all other evils that now abound in this Realme To wit That Idoll and base service of God the Masse the fountain we call of all Impiety not onely because many take boldnesse to sin by reason of that opinion which they have conceived of that Idoll to wit That by vertue of it they get remission of their sins But also because that under this colour of the Masse are Whores Adulterers Drunkards Blasphemers of God of his holy Sacraments and such other manifest Malefactors maintained and defended For let any Masse-sayer or earnest maintainer thereof be deprehended in any of the fore-named crimes no execution can be had for all is done in hatred of his Religion And so are wicked men permitted to live wickedly cloked and defended by that wicked Idoll But supposing that the Masse was occasion of no such evils yet in it self it is so odious in Gods presence that we cannot cease with all instance to desire the removing of the same as well from your selfe as from all others within this Realm Taking Heaven and earth yea your own Consciences to record That the obstinate maintenance of that Idol shall in the end be to you destruction of soul and body if you do not repent If your Majesty demand Why that now we are more earnest then we have been heretofore We answer our former silence no wayes excused Because we finde our selves frustrate of our hope and expectation which was That in processe of time your Majesties heart should have been mollified so farre as ye would have heard the publike Doctrine taught within this Realme by the which our further hope was That Gods holy Spirit should so have moved your heart that you would have suffered your Religion which before God is nothing but abomination and vanity to be tryed by the true Touch-stone the written Word of God And that your Majesty finding it to have no ground nor foundation in the same should have given that glory unto God that you would have preferred his Truth to your own preconceived vain opinion of what antiquity that ever it hath been whereof we in part now discharged can no longer keep silence unlesse we would make our selves criminall before God of your blood perishing in your own iniquity for we plainly admonish you of the danger to come The second thing that we require is Punishment of horrible vices such as are Adultery Fornication open Whoredome Blasphemy Contempt of God of his Word and Sacraments Which in this Realme do even so abound that sin is reputed to be no sin And therefore as we see the present signes of Gods wrath now manifestly appear so do we forewarn that he will strike ere it be long if his Law without punishment be permitted thus manifestly to be contemned If any object That punishment cannot be commanded to be executed without a Parliament we answer That the Eternall God in his Parliament hath pronounced death to be the punishment of Adultery and for Blaspheming whose Act if we put not in execution seeing that Kings are but his Lievtenants having no power to give life where he commands death as that he will repute you and all others that foster vice patrons of Impiety so will he not fail to punish you for neglecting the execution of his judgements Our third request concerning the poor who be of three sorts The poor labourers of the ground the poor desolate Beggers Orphans Widows and Strangers and the poor Ministers of Christ Jesus his holy Evangel which are so cruelly used by this last pretended Order taken for sustentation of Ministers that their latter misery farre surmounteth the former for now the poore labourers of the ground are so oppressed by the cruelty of those that pay their hire that they for the most part encroach upon the poore in whatsoever they pay unto the Qâ—een or to any other As for the
should leave the Countrey and therefore desired that he might have Justice Her answer was That seeing the Earle Bothwell was a Noble-man and had done her service she could not hate him Neverthelesse she would do nothing that might be prejudiciall to the Earle of Murray but desired that the matter might be taken away within few days she caused summon the Earl Bothwell to answer to the course of Law the 2 of May for the Conspiracy which the Earl of Arrane had alleadged two yeers before and for the breaking of the Ward of the Castle In the mean while there was nothing in the Court but Banquetting Balling and Dancing and other such pleasures as were meet to provoke the disordered appetite and all for the entertainment of the Queens Cousin from England the Lord Darley to whom she did shew all the expressions imaginable of love and kindenesse Within few dayes the Queen being at Sterlin order was given to Secretary Lethington to passe to the Queen of England The chief point of his Message was to declare to the Queen of England That the Queen was minded to marry her Cousin the Lord Darley and the rather because he was so neer of Blood to both Queens For by his mother he was Cousin German to the Queen of Scotland also of neer kindred and of the same name by his father His mother was Cousin German to the Queen of England Here mark Gods providence King Iames the fifth having lost his two sons did declare his resolution to make the Earl of Lenox his Heir of the Crown but he prevented by sudden death that designe ceased Then come the Earle of Lenox from France with intenion to marry King Iames his Widow but that failed also He marries Mary Dowglas and his son marrieth Mary King Iames the fifth his daughter And so the Kings desire is fulfilled to wit The Crown continueth in the Name and in the Family The Queen of England neverthelesse shewed her self nothing pleased therewith but rather declared That she would in no wise suffer her subjects to make such Contracts or Alliance that might be prejudiciall to her and for the same purpose sent a Post to the Queen with Letters wherein she complained greatly of the mind of our Mistris seeing the great affection she bare to her intending to declare her Heretrix of her Realm of England providing onely that she would use her counsell in Marriage but she could not approve her Marriage with the Lord Darley although he was their neer Cousin by Birth since he was below the Rank of the Queen by Condition being but a private subject At the same time she wrote to the Earle of Lenox and to his son commanding them to repair both into England Some write That all this was but counterfeit by the Queen of England and from her heart she was glad of the Marriage for by that means the Succession of the Crown of England was secured the Lord Darley being the right Heir after the Queen of Scotland and Queen Elizab. was not angry to see her married to one of inferiour Rank for by that means she thought the Scots Queen would be lesse proud During this time there were certain Letters directed to the Brethren of Edinburgh to Dundie Fyfe Angus and Mernes and other places from the Brethren of Kyle and other places in the West Countrey desiring the professors of the Evangel in all places to remember what the Eternall God had wrought and how potently he had abolished all kinde of Idolatry and superstition and placed his Word in this Realm so that no man could say otherwise but it was the Work of God who also had delivered this Countrey from the bondage and tyranny of strangers Neverthelesse by our slothfulnesse we have suffered that Idol the Masse not onely to be planted again but to encrease so that the maintainers thereof are like by all appearance to get the upper hand which would be the occasion of our destruction And for that the Papists purposed to set up their Idol at Easter following in all places which was to be imputed to the slothfulnesse and want of godly zeal of the Professors Therefore they admonished the Brethren to strive to avert the evil in time not to suffer such wickednesse to continue and encrease lest that Gods heavie wrath come upon us unawares like a consuming fire By these Letters many Brethren were animated and their spirits wakened minding to provide as God should give them grace And first of all by the advice of the most learned in Edinb there was a Supplication made and given to the Queens Majestie by the Superintendent of Lowthian containing in effect That the Church in generall of the Realme had divers times most humbly craved of her Majesty That committers of Adultery should be punished according to the Law of God and the Acts of Parliament neverthelesse they continued in their wickednes and the Papists of obstinate malice pretended nothing else but to erect and set up their Idolatry and Superstition and especially at Easter day following they intended to put the same in practice which the Brethren and Professors of the Evangel could not suffer Therefore wished her Majestie to take heed of the matter This Supplication the Secretary received of the hands of the Superintendents of Lowthian and Glasgow and told them in the Queenes Name That there should be such provision made as should serve to their contentment And for the same purpose the Queens Majestie writ to all such places as were suspected especially to the Bishop of Saint Andrewes and Aberdeine as was said not to use any Masse And that they should not do any such thing as was feared by the Protestants or convene any Councell and thereto commanded them Now the Communion was administred in Edinburgh the first day of April 1565. At which time because it was neer Easter the Papists used to meet at their Masse And as some of the Brethren were diligent to search such things they having with them one of the Bayliffs took one Sir Iames Carvet riding hard as he had now ended the saying of the Masse and conveyed him together with the Master of the house and one or two more of the assistants to the Tolbuith and immediately revested him with all his Garments upon him and so carried him to the Market-Crosse where they set him on high binding the Chalice in his hand and himself fast tyed to the â—aid Crosse where he tarried the space of one hour During which time the boyes served him with his Easter egges The next day following the said Carvet with his assistants were accused and convinced by an Assize according to the Act of Parliament And albeit for the same offence he deserved death yet for all punishment he was set upon the Market-Crosse for the space of three or four hours the hang-man standing by and keeping him the boyes and others were busie with egges casting and some Papists there were that stopped as far
arrayed to do her honour and offer her lawfull service Then she came to Craigmiller where she remained in November till she was advertised of the coming of the Ambassadors to the Baptisme of the Prince and for that purpose there was great preparation made not without the trouble of such as were supposed to have money in store especially of Edinburgh for there was borrowed a good round summe of money for the same businesse All her care and solicitude was for that triumph At the same time arrived the Counte de Briance Embassadour of the King of France who had a great Train Soon after the Earle of Bedford went forth of England with a very gorgious company to the number of fourscore Horses and passing to Sterlin he was humanly received of the Queens Majestie and every day banquetted The excessive expences and superfluous apparell which was prepared at that time exceeded farre all the preparation that ever had been devised or set forth afore that time in this Countrey The 17 of December 1566. in the great Hall of the Castle of Sterlin was the Prince baptized by the Bishop of Saint Andrews at five a Clock at Even with great Pompe albeit with great paine could they finde men to beare the Torches wherefore they took Boyes The Queen laboured much with the Noblemen to bear the Salt Grease and Candle and such other things but all refused she found at last the Earls of Eglington Athole and the Lord Seaton who assisted at the Baptisme and brought in the said Trash The Counte de Briance being the French Ambassadour assisted likewise The Earle of Bedford brought for a Present from the Queen of England a Font of Gold valued to be worth three thousand Crownes Soon after the said Baptisme as the Earle was in communing with the Queen who entertained him most reverently he began to say merrily to her amongst other talking Madame I rejoyce very greatly at this time seeing your Majestie hath here to serve you so many Noblemen especially twelve Earles whereof two onely assist at this Baptisme to the Superstition of Popery At the which saying the Queen kept good countenance Soon after they banquetted in the said great Hall where they wanted no prodigality During the time of the Earle of Bedfords remaining at Sterlin the Lords for the most part waited upon him and conveyed him every day to the Sermon and after to Banquetting The King remained in Sterlin all that time never being present kept his Chamber his father hearing how he was used writ to him to repaire unto him who soon after went without good-night toward Glasgow to his Father he was hardly a Mile out of Sterlin when the poyson which had been given him wroght so upon him that he had very great pain and dolour in every part of his body At length being arrived at Glasgow the Blisters brake out of a blewish colour so the Physitians presently knew the Disease to come by poyson he was brought so low that nothing but death was expected yet the strength of his youth at last did surmount the poison During the time of this Triumph the Queen was most liberall in all things that were demanded of her amongst other things she subscribed a writing for the maintenance of the Ministers in a reasonable proportion which was to be taken up of the Thirds of Benefices which writing being purchased by the Bishop of Galloway was presented at the generall Assembly of the Church at Edinburgh the five and twentieth day of December 1566. where were conveened the Superintendents and other Ministers in reasonable number but very few Commssioners The first matter that was there proposed was concerning the said Writing lately obtained and the most part of the Ministers being demanded their opinions in the matter after advice and passing a little aside they answered very gravely That it was their duty to preach to the people the Word of God truly and and sincerely and to crave of the Auditors the things that were necessary for their sustentation as of duty the Pastour might justly crave of their Flock and further it became them not to have any care Neverthelesse the Assembly taking in consideration that the said Gifts granted by the Queens Majestie was not to be refused they ordained That certaine faithfull men of every Shire should meet and do their utmost diligence for gathering and receiving the said Corne and money and likewise appointed the Superintendent of Lowthian and Master Iohn Row to waite upon the Bishop of Galloway and concurre and assist him for further expedition in the Court that the said Guift miâ—t be dispatched through the Seales In the same Assembly there was presented a Remonstrance by Writ by some Gentlemen of Kyle containing in effect That in asmuch as the Tythes ought to be given onely to the Ministers and Schooles of the Word and for maintenance of the poor that therefore the Assembly would Statute and Ordain That all the Professors of the Evangell should keep the same in their own hands to the effects aforesaid and no way permit the Papists to meddle therewith This Writing took no effect at that time for there was none else but the Gentlemen of Kyle of that opinion It was Statuted in the said Assembly That such publike Fornicators and scandalous livers as would not confesse their offences nor come to declare their repentance should be declared by the Minister to be out of the Church and not of the body thereof and their names to be declared publikely upon the Sunday After this Assembly the Bishop of Galloway with the Superintendent of Lowthian and M. Iohn Row passing to Sterlin obtained their Demands in an ample manner at the Queens Majesties hand according to their desire and likewise they obtained for every Borough a Guift or Donation of the Altarages Annuals and Obites which before were given to the Papists now to be disposed for the maintenance of the Ministers and Schooles within the Boroughs and the rest to the poor or Hospitall Notwithstanding the Domestick troubles that the Church of God in Scotland suffered in the time of these hurliburlies within the Kingdom yet they were not unmindefull of the affliction of Iacob every where upon the face of the Earth namely they had before their Eyes the State and condition of the Church of God in England witnesse this Letter from the Generall Assembly to the Rulers of the Church of God in England The Superintendents with other Ministers and Commissioners of the Church of God in the Kingdome of Scotland to their Brethren the Bishops and Pastours of Gods Church in England who professe with us in Scotland the Truth of Iesus Christ. BY Word and Letters it is come to our knowledge Reverent Brethren Pastors of Gods Word in the Church of England that divers of our Brethren of whom some be of the most learned in England are deprived from all Ecclesiasticall Function namely Are forbidden to Preach and so by you are stopped to
him who had been also in the chamber with him The people ran to behold this spectacle and wondring thereat some judged one thing some another Shortly thereafter Bothwell came from the Abbey with a company of men of War and caused the body of the King to be carryed to the next house where after a little the Chirurgions being convened at the Queens command to view and consider the manner of his death most part gave out to please the Queen That he was blown in the Ayre albeit he had no mark of fire and truely he was strangled Soon after he was carryed to the Abbey and there buryed This tragicall end had Henry Steward after he had been King eighteen moneths A Prince of great Linage both by mother and father He was of a comely stature and none was like unto him within this Island he died under the age of one and twenty yeers prompt and ready for all Games and Sports much given to Hawking and Hunting and running of horses and likewise to playing on the Lute and also to Venus Chamber he was liberall enough He could write and dictate well but he was somewhat given to wine and much feeding and likewise to inconstancy and proud beyond measure and therefore contemned all others He had learned to dissemble well enough being from his youth misled up in Popery Thus within two yeers after his arriving in this Realme he was highly by the Queen alone extolled and finally had this infortunate end by her procurement and consent To lay all other proofs aside her Marriage with Bothwell who was the main executioner of the King notwithstanding all the advices and counsells that the King of France and Queene of England did earnestly carefully give her as other friends did likewise witnesse anent their guilt Those that laid hands on the King to kill him by Bothwels direction was Sir Iames Balfour Gilbert Balfour David Chalmers black Iohn Spense Francis Sebastien Io. de Bourdean and Ioseph the brother of David Rizio These last four were the Queens domesticks and strangers The reason why the Kings death was so hastened because the affection or passion of the Earl Bothwell could not bear so long a delay as the procurement of a Bill of Divorce required although the Romish Clergie offered their service willingly to the businesse namely Bishop Hamilton and so he came great again at Court and he for the advancement of the businesse did good Offices to increase the hatred betwixt the King and Queen yea some that had been the chief instruments of the Marriage of the King and Queen offered the service for the Divorce seeing how the Queens inclination lay So unhappy are Princes that men for their own ends further them in all their inclinations and undertakings be they never so bad or destructive to themselves The Earle of Lenox in the mean time wrote to the Queen to cause to punish Bothwell with his other complices for murthering the King The Queen not daring openly to reject the Earle of Lenox his solicitation did appoint a day for the Triall of Bothwell by an Assize the members whereof was the Earle of Cathnes President the Earle of Cassels who at the first refused but thereafter being threatned to be put in prison and under the pain of Treason was present by the Queens command Iohn Hamilton Commendator of Aberbrothok Lord Rosse Lord Semple Lord Boyd Lord Hereis Lord Olyphant the Master of Forbes the Lairds of Lochinuar Langton Cambusidentham Barnbougel and Boyne They to please the Queen and for fear did pronounce Bothwell not guilty notwithstanding the manifest evidences of the cruell fact committed by Bothwell who before the Tryall did make himself strong by divers means namely by the possession of the Castle of Edinburgh so that the accusers durst not appear not being strong enough The Earle of Marre did retire to Sterlin and had committed to his charge the young Prince All this was done in February In April Bothwell called together sundry of the Lords who had come to Edinburgh to a meeting that was there and having gained some before made them all what by fear what by fair promises first of their private State and then of advancing the Papists Religion to consent by their subscriptions to the Marriage with the Queen Then the Queen goes to Sterlin to see her son Bothwell makes a shew as if he were going to the Borders to suppresse Robbers and so he raiseth some men of War which when he had done he turneth towards the way to Sterlin where he meets the Queen according to appointment betwixt them and carrieth her to Dumbar as it had been by force although every one knew it was with the Queens liking The prime Nobility convened at Sterlin and from thence sent to her to know whether or not she was taken against her will She answered That it was true she was taken against her will but since her taking she had no occasion to complain yea the courteous entertainment she had made her forget and forgive all former offences These expressions were used by way of preface to the Pardon which was granted immediately thereafter to Bothwell for by Letters Patents he was pardoned by the Queen for laying violently hands upon her Majestie and for all other crimes So by this c. the murther of the King was pardoned During the Queens abode in Dumbar there was Letters of Divorce demanded and granted unto Bothwell from his Lady who afterward was married to the Earle Sutherland she was sister to the Earle of Huntley The ground of the Divorce was The parties being within the degrees prohibited could not be lawfully joyned Next because Bothwell was an Adulterer the Marriage was voyd The Bill of Divorce was granted by the Papisticall Court of the Archbishop of Saint Androes And here mark how they juggle in sacred things for when it pleaseth them they untie the Bond of Marriage as now and as we have seen in the first Book of this History When the Queen fell in distaste of the late King her husband it was proposed unto her to have Divorce upon the same ground from the King To which first ear was given but after second thoughts a Bill of Divorce was too tedious as we have now said and could not be stayed for therefore the King must be dispatched The Queen when Bothwell had obtained by the Archbishop a Letter of Divorce from his lawfull wife sent a Letter signed with her own hand to M. Io. Craig Minister of Edinburgh commanding him to publish the Band of Matrimony betwixt her and Bothwell M. Io. Craig the next Sermon day thereafter declared in full Congregation That he had received such a Command but in conscience he could not obey it the Marriage was altogether unlawfull and of that he would declare the reasons to the parties if he had audience of them otherwise he would make known his just reasons in the hearing of the people Immediately thereafter Bothwell sends
yet take heed Let janglers and inconstant mâ—n note Le the House of Hamilton remember this Conclusio Let the Papists and greatest enemies witnesse Proclamation against the Earl of Arranâ— Re 〈…〉 The drowning of the French Dominus pro nobis The Earle of Sudderland shot Note the French favour to their friendâ— John 6. Exhortation of Iohn Knox. Note The slaughter of a French Captain with his Band. Note The arrivall of the English Ships Note The Bridge of Tullibody Note the death of a plunderer Remark the Scots acknowledgement of the English help Iohn Knox his first Letter to Sir William Cecile Note Note Note As England had interest then not to suffer Scotland to perish so likewise Scotland hath interest now not to see Engâ—and undonâ— 1559. Note the Quaeres And Answers Let the enemies say if their hope be not frustrate Note diligently Note Note Note Sir Iames Crofts counsell Note a braggadoshie Note Note Note Note Note Note Note Let us mark our advantage from France Note Note Note Note a cruell â—act 1560 Note Note 1560. The fourth Covenant Now hereupon came the pursuit Let the Princes now adayes make use of this So now the worldlings speak unto the King concerning the Scots into England Note The Hamiltonsâ—amâ—ly â—amâ—ly Note this diligently We must go to the fiâ—st cause in all things The inhumanity of the mercâ—lâ—ss French The Quâ—en Regents cruell heart The comfortable Letter of the Duke of Norfolk Note Let the Princes now make use of these words of this dying Queen Note The death of the Queene Regent Note a Character of Popishly addicted French officers of State Note how they limit the Prince Note how the Prince is limitated and his will is not a Law Note The profit thâ—â— Leith got of their promise liberty Note a Covenant betwixt England and Scotland 1560. Some Prelats left Antichrist and did adherâ— unto Christ. William Mâ—itlands mockage of God See how this agrees with our timâ—s Deut. 14. 1 Cor. â— 8. Isai 44.4 5. 1 Tim. 1 27. 1 King 8.17 2 Chron. 8 18. Psal 139 78. Gâ—n 17 1. 1 Tim. 6.15 16 Exod 3.14 15. Matt. 28.19 1 Joh 57. Gen 1.1 Heb. 1. â—3 Act. 17.28 Prov 16.4 Gen 1.26 27 c. Col. 3.10 Ephes 4 24 Gen. 3.6 Gen. 2. â—7 Psal 51.5 Rom. 5 10. Rom. 7.5 2 Tit. 2.6 Eph. 2 23. Rom. 5.14 12. Rom. 6.23 John 3 5. Rom. 5.1 Phil. 1.29 Gen. 3.15 Gen. 3.9 Gen. 12 3. Gen. 15 5 6. 2 Sam. 7.14 Isai 7.14 Isai 9 6 Hag 2.6 John 8.38 Ezek. 6.5 6.7 8 9 c. Gen. 1 12. Gen. 13.1 Exod. 1.1 Exod. 1.20 Josh 3. 23 4 1 Sam. 10.1 1 Sam 16 13 2 Sam 7 12 2 Kingâ— 17.15 16 c. 2 King 24. 34 c. Deu. 28.36 38 c. 2 Kin. 25. â— Dan. 9 2. Ezr. 1 c. Hag. 1 14. Zach. 3.1 Gal 4 4. Luke 1.31 Matth. 1.18 Matth. 2.1 Rom. 1.3 Matth. 1.23 John 1.2.45 2 Tim. 2 5. Ephes. 1.3.4 15 6. Ephes. 1.11 Matth 25 34. Ephes. 1 21 22. Heb 27 8. Psal. 22.11 Heb 13.26 1 Pet. 2.24 5. Psal. 130.3 Psal. 143.3 1 Tim. 2.5 John 1.12 John 20.17 Rom. 5.17 18.19 Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4 36. Act. 17.26 Heb. 2.11 12. 1 Pet. 3 18. Isa. 53.8 Act. 2.4 1 John 1 2. Act. 20 28. 1 Tim 3.16 John 3.16 Heb. 10.1 12. Isa 53.5 Heb. 1 2.3 John 1.29 Matth. 26.11 Deut. 20.23 Matth. 15.1 2. Gal 3.13 Luke 23.1 2. Matth. 26.38 2 Cor 5. Heb 9 12. Heb. 10.5 Act. 2.23 Act. 3.26 Rom. 6.5 11. Act. 2.24 Rom. 4 25. Heb. 2.14 15. Matth. 28 John 20.27 21.7 Luke 24.41 42 43. Joh. 21.12 13. Luke 24.51 Act. 1.6 Matth. 28.6 Matth. 16.9 Luke 24 6. John 20.9 Matth. 28 18. 1 John 2.1 1 Tim. 2.5 Psal. 110 1. Matth. 22 44. Matth. 12 36. Luke 20.42.43 Acts 1.1 Acts 3.19 1 Thess. 1.4 5 6 7 8. Matth. 25.34 Revel 21.27 Esay 66.24 Matth 25.41 Matth 9.44 46 48 Matth. 22.13 2 Pet. 3 11. 2 Cor. 5.11 Luke 21.28 John 15.4 c. Esay 7.14 Ephes. 1.22 Col. 1.18 Heb. 1.11 15. Heb. 10.21 1 John 2.1 1 Tim. 2.5 Matth. 16.17 John 14 26. John 14.11 Acts 5.4 John 10.13 Col. 2.13 Ephes. 2. â— John 9.39 Revel 3.13 Matth. 17.17 Matth 9.19 Luke 9 41. John 6 63. Mic 7.8 1 King 8.8 Psal. 10.3 Rom. 5.10 John 3.5 Tit. 5.5 Rom. 5 8. Psal. 3.9 Psal. 1.6 2 Cor. 3.5 Ephes 1 6. Ephes. 2.10 Phil. 3.13 John 15.5 Rom. 8.9 Rom. 7.15 16 17. Gal. 5.17 Rom. 8 16. Rom. 7.24 Som. 8 22. Ephes 4.17 18 19. 2 Tim. 2.26 John 15 5. Exod. 20.3 c. Deut. 4.7 c. Luke 21.75 Mica 6.7 Ephes 6.17 Ezech. 22.104 1 Cor 6.19 20 1 The 4.4 5 6 Jer. 22.3 9 9 c. Esay 50.1 c. 1 Thess. 4 6. Rom 13.2 Ezek. 22.13 1 John 3 4. Rom. 14.23 Heb. 1 16. 1 Sam. 15.22 1 Cor. 10.31 1 John 3.4 Esay 29.19 Matth. 15.9 Mar. 7.7 Levit. 18.5 Gal. 3.12 1 Tim. 1.18 Rom. 7.12 Psal. 19.7 8 9. Deut. 5.29 Rom. 10.3 1 Kin. 8.4 6. Chron. 6.36 Eccles. 7.22 Prov. 20.9 1 â—oh 1.18 Iohn 1.18 Rom. 10.4 Gal. 3 13. Deut. 27.26 Phil. 2.15 Isai. 64.6 Luk. 17.10 Mat. 28.20 Ephes. 1.4 Col. 1.18 Ephes. 5.23 24 25 26. Apoc. 7.8 Ephes. 2.19 Iohn 5.24 Iohn 17.6 1 Tim. 2.19 Iohn 13.14 Ephes. 1.10 Col. 1.10 Heb. 12.4 Apoc. 14.13 Isai. 25 8. Apoc 7.16 17 Apoc. 21.4 Apoc. 16.10 11 Isai. 66.24 Mark 9.44 36 48. Luke 23.43 Luke â—6 24 25. Apoc. 6.9 10. Gen. 4.8 Gen. 21. â— Gen. 27.41 Mar. 23.34 Ioh. 15.18 19. Iohn 11 35. Ioh. 15.20 24. Act. 4.1 c. Act 5.17 c. Gen. 4 1. Psal. 48.1 2. Mat 5.35 Iohn 12.42 Ephes. 2.20 Act. 2.42 Iohn 10 27. Iohn 18.37 1 Cor. 1 13. 1 Cor. 11.20 23. Mat. 28 19 20 Mark 16.15 Rom 4 11. Matth 18 20. 1 Cor 1.2 2 Cor. 1.1 Gal. 1 2. Ephes. 1 1. Acts 16.9 10.18 1 Cor. 1. c. A 20 17 c. John 20.31 2 Tim 3 16 17 2 Pet. 1 20 21. John 5 29. Ephes 4 4 1 Tim. 3.16 17 Genes 27. Gal 2.11 12 13 14. 1 Tim. 4.1.23 Col. 2.18 19 20 21 22 23. Act. 15.1 c. 1 Tim. 3.15 Heb. 3.2 1 Cor. 14.40 Gen. 17.10 Exod. 12.32 Gen. 17.4 Num. 9.13 Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.17 Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 Luke 22.19 1 Cor. 11.24 10.16 Rom. 6.3 4 5. Gal. 3.27 Mar. 16.19 Luke 24.51 Act. 1.11 Act. 3.21 1 Cor. 10 c. Ephes. 5.30 Matth. 27.50 Mar. 15.31 Luke 23.46 John 14.30 6.51 53 54 55 56 57 58. 1 Cor. 11.28 28. Mat. 26.26 c Mar. 14.22 c Luk. 22.19 c 1 Cor. 11.24 Note 1 Cor. 11.25 26 Heb. 9.27 28 Col. 2.11 12 Rom. 4.11 Gen. 17.10 Mat. 28.19 1 Cor. 28.29 Rom. 13.1 Titus 3.1 1 Peter 13.2 Rom. 13.2 Rom. 13.7 1 Pet 2.17 Psal 82.1 1 Chron. 22.23 24 25. Chap. 26. 2 Chron. 29.30 31 chap. 2
Queene and the faction of France ever excepted that solemnely in the Abbey of Hallyrud-house was the Contract of Marriage made betwixt the persons aforesaid together with all the Clauses and Conditions requisite for the faithfull observation thereof read in publike audience subscribed sealed approoved and allowed of the Governour for his part Nobilitie and Lords for their parts and that nothing should lacke that might fortifie the matter was Christs Body sacred as Papists terme it broken betwixt the said Governour and M. Saidlar Ambassadour and received of them both as a signe and token of the unitie of their mindes immediately to keepe that contract in all points as they looked of Christ Jesus to be saved and after to be reputed men unworthy of credit before the world The Papists raged against the Governour and against the Lords that had consented and abode fast to the Contract and to confound all as after follows But upon the returning of the aforesaid Ambassadours from England pacification was made for that time for by the judgements of eight persons for either partie chosen to judge whether that any thing was done by the said Ambassadours in the Contracting of that Marriage which to do they had not sufficient power from the Counsell and Parliament It was found that all things were done according to their Commission and that so they should stand And so were the Seales of England and Scotland interchanged Master Iames Fowles then Clerke of the Register received the great Seale of England And Master Saidlare received the great Seale of Scotland The heads of the Contract we passe by These things newly ratified the Merchants made preparation to Saile and to their Traffique which by the troubles of Warres had some yeeres been hindered From Edinburgh were fraughted twelve Ships richly laden according to the wares in Scotland From other Townes and Ports departed other who all arrived upon the coasts of England toward the South to wit in Yarmouth and without any great necessity entred not onely Roads but also within Ports and places of commandment and where that Ships might be arrested And because of the late contracted amitie and gentle entertainement that they found at the first they made no great dispatch But being as they supposed in security in merrinesse they spent the time abiding upon the winde In this meane time arrived from France to Scotland the Abbot of Paislay called now of late Iohn Hamilton bastard brother to the Governour whom yet many esteemed sonne to the old Bishop of Dunikelden called Crichton and with him M. David Panter who after was made Bishop of Rosse The brute of the learning of these two and their honest life and of their fervencie and uprightnesse in Religion was such that great hope there was that their presence should be comfortable to the Church of God For it was constantly affirmed of some that without delay the one or the other would go to the Pulpit and truely Preach Jesus Christ. But few dayes disclosed their hypocrisie For what terrours what promises or what enchaunting boxes they brought from France the common people knew not But shortly after it was seene that Frier Guilliamâ— was inhibited to Preach and so departed into England Iohn Rough to Kylle a receptacle of Gods servants of old The men of counsell judgement and godlinesse that had travailed to promote the Governour and that gave him faithfull counsell in all doubtfull matters were either craftily conveyed from him or else by threatning to be hanged were compelled to leave him Of the one number was the Laird of Grange aforesaid M. Henry Balneves M. Thomas Ballenden and Sir David Lindesay of the Mount Men by whose labours he was promoted to honour and by whose councell he so used himselfe at the beginning that the obedience given to him was nothing inferiour to that obedience that any King of Scotland of many yeeres had before him yea in this it did surmount the common obedience in that it proceeded from love of those vertues that was supposed to have beene in him Of the number of these that were threatned were M. Michael Durham M. David Borthinke David Forresse and David Bothwell who counselled him to have in company with him men fearing God and not to nourish wicked men in their iniquity albeit they were called his friends and were of his surname This counsell understood by the aforesaid Abbot and by the Hamiltons who then repaired to the Court as Ravens to the Carrion in plaine words it was said My Lord Governour nor his friends will never be at quietnesse till a dozen of these knaves that abuse his Grace be hanged These words were spoken in his own presence and in the presence of some of them that had better deserved then to have beene so used the speaker was allowed for his plain and bold speaking And so the wicked counsell followed honest and godly men left the Court and him in the hands of such as by their wicked counsell led him so far from God that he falsified his promise dipt his hands in the blood of the Saints of God and brought this Common-wealth to the very point of utter ruine And these were the first fruits of the Abbot of Paislay his counterfeit Godlinesse and Learning But hereof we will heare more All honest and godly men banished from the Court the Abbot and his counsell beginneth to lay before the inconstant Governour the dangers that might ensue the alteration and change of Religion The power of the King of France the commodity that might come to him and his house by retaining the ancient League with France and the great danger that he brought upon himselfe if in one jote he suffereth the authority of the Pope to be violated or called in doubt within this Realme Considering that thereupon onely stood the security of his pretended right to the succession of the Crowne of this Realme For by Gods word could not be good the divorcement of his father from Eliz. Hume sister to the Lord Hume his lawfull wife and consequently his marriage with Beton Neece to Iames Beton Bishop of S. Andrews Elizabeth Hume being alive must be null and he declared Bastard Caiphas spake Prophesie and yet wist not what he spake For at that time there was hardly any man that truely feared God that minded any such thing but with their whole force would have fortified him in the place that God had given unto him and would never have called in question things done in time of darknesse But this head we passe by till God declare his will therein Another practise was used As for the Cardinall he being set at libertie as before we have heard ceased not to traffique with such of the Nobility as he might draw to his faction or corrupt by any meanes to raise a partie against the said Governour and against such as stood fast at the Contract of Marriage and Peace with England And so assembled at Lynlytquow
the said Cardinall the Earles Argyle Huntlie Bothwell the Bishops and their bands And thereafter they passed to Strevelin and took with them both the Queenes the mother and the daughter and threatned the deposition of the said Governour as Inobedient to their holy Mother the Church so terme they that harlot of Babylon Rome The inconstant man not thorowly grounded upon God left by his owne fault destitute of all good counsell and having the wicked ever blowing in his eare What will you do you will destroy your selfe and your house both for ever The unhappy man we say beaten with these temptations rendred himselfe to the appetites of the wicked for he quietly stole away from the Lords that were with him in the Palace of Halyrud-house past to Sterlin subjected himselfe to the Cardinall and to his Councell received absolution renounced the profession of Christ Jesus his holy Gospel and violated his Oath that before he had made for the observation of the Contract and League made with England At that time was our Queene crowned and a promise made to France The certainty hereof coming to King Henry our Scottish Ships were stayed the Sailes taken from the Rigs and the Merchants and Mariners were commanded to sure custody New Commission was sent to Master Radulph Saidler who then still remained in Scotland to demand the cause of that sudden alteration and to travell by all meanes possible that the Governour might be called back to his former godly purpose and that he would not do so foolishly and dishonestly yea so cruelly and unmercifully to the Realme of Scotland that he would not onely lose the commodities offered and that were presently to be received But that also that he would put it to the hazard of fire and sword and other inconveniences that might ensue the war that was to follow upon the violation of his Faith But nothing could availe The devil kept fast the grype that he got yea all the dayes of his government For the Cardinall got his eldest son in pledge whom he kept in the Castle of S. Andrews while the day that Gods hand punished his pride King Henry perceiving that all hope of the Governours repentance was lost called back his Ambassadours and that with fearfull threatnings as Edinburgh after felt Denounced War made our Ships prises and Merchants and Mariners lawfull prisoners which to the Broughes of Scotland was no small hership But thereat did the Cardinall and Priests laugh and jestingly he said When we shall conquer England the Merchants shall be recompensed The Summer and the Harvest passed over without any notable thing For the Cardinall and Abbot of Paislay parted the prey amongst them The abused Governour bare the name onely In the beginning of Winter came the Earle of Lenox to Scotland sent from France in hatred of the Governour whom the King by the Cardinals advice promised to pronounce Bastard and so to make the said Earle Governour First because he himselfe was borne by Betoâ— his fathers lawfull wife Elizabeth Humes being yet alive Next because his Grandfather was borne by Mary Stuart to Iames Hamilton when her lawfull husband Thomas Boâ—d was yet alive So the Earle of Lenox did not onely pretend to be lawfully next to the Crowne as the late King Iames the fifth did often declare That if he died without heire male he would settle the Crowne upon him but also lawfull heire of the Earledome of Arran as being descended from Margaret Hamilton borne to Mary Stuart and Iames Hamilton after the death of Thomas Boyd her former husband now by this time the inconstant Earle of Arran had given himselfe wholly to the Cardinall The Cardinall farther put the E. of Lenox in vain hope that the Queen Dowager should marry him He brought with him some money and more he after received at the hands of Labrosse But at length perceiving himselfe frustrate of all expectation that he had either by France or yet by the promise of the Cardinall he concludeth to leave France and to seek the favour of England And so began to draw a faction against the Governour and in hatred of the others inconstancy many favoured him in the beginning For there assembled at Christmas in the Town of Ayre the Earles of Angus Glencarne Cassilles The Lord Maxwell The Laird of Dumlanrig The Sheriffe of Ayre Campbell with all the force that they and the Lords that remained constant at the opinion of England might make and after Christmas they came to light The Governour and Cardinall with their forces kept Edinburgh for they were slackly pursued Men excused the Earle of Lenox in that behalfe and laid the blame upon some that had no will of the Stewards Regiment Howsoever it was such an appointment was made that the said Earle of Lenox was disappointed of his purpose and narrowly escaped and first gat him to Glasgow and after to Dumbartane Sir George Dowglas was delivered to be kept as pledge The Earle his brother was in the Lent after taken at the siege of Glasgow It was bruted that both the brethren and others with them had lost their heads if by the providence of God the English Armie had not arrived in time After that the Cardinall had gotten the Governour wholly addict to his devotion and had obtained his intent above a part of his enemies He began to practise how that such as he feared and therefore deadly hated should be set by the eares one against another for in that thought the carnall man put his greatest securitie The Lord Ruthwen he hated by reason of his knowledge of Gods Word The Lord Gray he feared because at that time he used the company of such as professed godlinesse and bare small favour to the Cardinall Now thus reasoned the worldly wise man If I can put enmity betwixt these two I shall be rid of a great number of unfriends For the most part of the Countrey will either assist the one or the other and so will they be otherwise occupied then to watch for my displeasure He finds the means without long processe for he labours with Iohn Chartarous a man of stout courage and many friends to accept the Provostrie of S. Iohnston which he purchased to him by donation of the Governour with a charge to the said Towne to obey him as their lawfull Provost Whereat not onely the said Lord Ruthwen but also the Towne being offended gave a negative answer alleadging that such intrusion of men to office was hurtfull to their priviledge and freedom which granted unto them free election of their Provost from yeere to yeere at a certain time appointed which they could not nor would not anticipate Hereat the said Iohn offended said That he would take that office by force if they would not grant it unto him of benevolence And so departed and communed the matter with the Lord Gray with Norman Leslie and with others his friends whom he easily perswaded to assist
that were criminall of their blood But the day approacheth when that the punishment of that cruelty and of others will evidently appears The names of the men that were hanged were Iames Hunter William Lambe William Anderson Iames Ruvals Burgesse of Saint Iohnston At that same time were banished Sir Henry Eldar Iohn Eldar Walter Piper Laurence Pullar with divers others whose names come not to our knowledge That sworn enemy to Christ Jesus and unto all in whom any spark of knowledge appeared had about that time in prison divers amongst whom was Iohn Roger a black Frier godly and learned one that had fruitfully preached Christ Jesus to the comfort of many in Angus and Mearnes whom that bloody man caused to murther in the ground of the Sea Tower in S. Andrews and then caused to cast him over the wall spreading a false brute That the said Iohn seeking to flie had broken his own neck This ceased not Sathan by all means to maintaine his kingdome of Darknesse and to suppresse the light of Christs Gospel But mighty is he against whom they â—â—ght for when the wicked were in greatest security then began God to show his anger For the third day of May in the yeer of our Lord 1544 yeers without knowledge of any man in Scotland we mean of such as should have had the care of the Realme was seen a great Navy of Ships arriving towards the Fyrth The Posts came to the Governour and Cardinall who both were in Edinburgh what multitude of Ships were seen and what course they took This was on the Saturday before noon Question was had What should they mean Some said It is no doubt but they are English-men and we fear that they will land The Cardinall skipped and said It is the Island flote they are come to make a shew and to put us in fear I shall lodge all the men of Warre in mine eye that shall land in Scotland Still sitteth the Cardinall at his dinner eating as though there had been no danger appearing Men assembled to gaze upon the Ships some to the Castle hill some to the mountains and other places eminent But there was no question With what Forces shall we resist if we be invaded Soon after six of the clock at night were arrived and had cast Ankor in the Road of Leith more than two hundred Sail. Shortly after the Admirall shot a flott Boat which from Granton hills till by East Leith sounded the deep and so returned to her Ship Hereof were divers opinions men of judgement foresaw what it meant but no credit was given to any that would say They minded to land and so passed every man to his rest as if the Ships had been a guard for their defence Upon the point of day upon Sunday the fourth of May addresse they for landing and they ordered the Ships so that a Galley or two laid their snouts to the hills the small Ships called Pinnaces and light Horse-men approached as neer as they could The great Ships discharged their Souldiers into the smaller Vessels and they by Boats set upon dry Land before ten of the clock 10000 men as was judged and more The Governour and Cardinall seeing then the thing that they could not or at least they would not believe before after they had made a brag to fight fled as fast as horse could carry them so that after they approached not within twenty miles of the danger The Earle of Angus and Sir George Dowglas were that night freed of Ward they were in Blacknesse The said Sir George in merrinesse said I thanke King Henry and my gentle Masters of England The English Army betwixt one and two of the clock entered into Leith found the Tables covered the dinners prepared such abundance of wine and victualls besides the other substance that the like riches within the like bounds was not to be found neither in Scotland nor England Upon Munday the fifth of May came to them from Barwick and the borders two thousand Horse-men who being somewhat reposed the Army upon the Wednesday marched toward the Town of Edinburgh spoiled and burnt the same and so did they the Palace of Halyrud-house The Horse-men took the House of Craigmiller and gat great spoils therein for it being judged the strongest House neer the Towne after the Castle of Edinburgh and all men sought to save their moveables therein But the stoutnesse of the Laird gave it over without shot of Hacke but and for his reward was caused to march upon his feet to London He is now Captain of Dumbar and Provost of Edinburgh The English-men seeing no resistance hurled by force of men Cannons upon the street to the Butter trone and above and hazarded a shot against the fore-entry of the Castle but that was to their own pains For they lying without Trench or Gabion were exposed to the force of the whole Ordnance of the said Castle which shot and that not all in vain for the Wheel and Axletree of one of the English Cannons was broken and some of their men slain and so they left with small honour that enterprise taken rather of rashnesse than of any advised counsell When the most part of the day they had spoiled and burnt towards the night they returned to Leith and upon the morrow returned to Edinburgh and executed the rest of Gods judgements for that time And so when they had consumed both the Towns they laded the Ships with the spoiles thereof and they by Land returned to Barwick using the Countrey for the most part at their own pleasure This was a part of the punishment which God took upon the Realm for the infidelity of the Governour and for the violation of his solemne Oath But this was not the end for the Realme was divided into two factions the one favoured France the other the League lately contracted with England The one did in no things credit thorowly the other so that the Countrey was in extreme calamity for to the English-men were delivered divers Strengths such as Carelaverock Lochmaben and Langham the most part of the Borderers were confederate with England And albeit at Ancrome mure in February in the yeer of God 1544. was Sir Rafe Ewers with many other English-men slain and the yeere after were some of the said strengths recovered yet was it not without great losse and detriment of the Common-wealth For in the month of Ianuary in the yeer of God 1545. Monsieur de Lorge with Bands of men of War came from France for a destruction to Scotland For upon their brag was an Army raised forwards they go towards Warke even in the midst of harvest The Cardinalls Banner was that day displayed and all his Files were charged to be under it many had before promised but at the point it was left so bare that with shame it was shut up into the pock againe and they after a shew returned with more
shame to the Realm then hurt to their enemies The black book of Hamilton maketh mention of great vassallage done at that time by the Governour and the French but such as with their eyes saw the whole progresse knew that to be a lye and do repute it amongst the veniall sinnes of that race which is to speak the best of themselves they can That winter following so nurtured the French-men that they learned to eat yea to beg cakes which at their entrie they scorned without jesting they were so miserably used that few returned into France again with their lives The Cardinall then had almost fortified the Castle of S. Andrews which he made so strong in his opinion that he regarded neither England nor France The Earle of Lenox as is said disappointed of all things in Scotland passed into England where he was received of King Henry into protection who gave him to wife Lady Margaret Dowglas of whom was borne Henry sometime husband to our Queen and Mistresse While the inconstant Governour was sometimes dejected and sometimes raised up againe by the Abbot of Paislay who before was called Chaster then any maiden began to shew himselfe for after he had taken by craft the Castles of Edinburgh and Dumbar he took also possession of his enemies wife the Lady Stanehouse The woman is and hath been famous and is called Lady Gilton her Ladyship was holden alwayes in poverty But how many wives and virgins he hath had since and that in common the world knoweth albeit not all and his bastard birds bear some witnesse Such is the example of holinesse that the flock may receive of the Papisticall Bishops In the midst of all the calamities that came upon this Realme after the defection of the Governor from Christ Jesus came into Scotland that blessed Martyr of God M. George Wischarde in company of the Commissioners before mentioned in the yeere of our Lord 1544. a man of such graces as before him was never heard within this Realme yea and are rare to be found yet in any man notwithstanding this great light of God that since his dayes hath shined unto us he was not onely singularly learned as well in all Godly knowledge as in all honest humane Science but also he was so clearely illuminated with the spirit of Prophesie that he saw not onely things pertaining to himselfe but also such things as some Townes and the whole Realme afterward felt which he forespake not in secret but in the audience of many as in their own places shall be declared The beginning of his Doctrine was in Mount Rosse therefrom he departed to Dundie where with great admiration of all that heard him he taught the Epistle to the Romanes till that by procurement of the Cardinall Robert Myle then one of the principall men in Dundie and a man that of old had professed knowledge and for the same had suffered trouble gave in the Queenes and Governours name Inhibition to the said Master George that he should trouble their Towne no more for they would not suffer it And this was said to him being in the publike place which heard he mused a pretie space with his eyes bent unto the heaven And thereafter looking sorrowfully to the speaker and unto the people he sayd God is witnesse that I never minded your trouble but your comfort yea your trouble is more dolourous unto me then it is unto your selves But I am assured that to refuse Gods word and to chase from yoâ— his messenger shall not preserve you from trouble but it shall bring you into it For God shall send unto you messengers who will not be afraid of burning nor yet for banishment I have offered unto you the word of Salvation and with the hazard of my life I have remained amongst you Now ye your selves refuse me and therefore must I leave my Innocencie to be declared by my God if it be long prosperous with you I am not led with the Spirit of Truth But if trouble unlooked for apprehend you acknowledge the cause and turne to God For he is mercifull but if ye turne not at the first he will visit you with fire and sword These words pronounced he came downe from the Preaching place In the Church present was the Lord Marshall and divers noble men who would have had the said M. George to have remained or else to have gone with them into the Countrey But for no request would he either tarry in the towne or on that side of Tay any longer But with possible expedition past to the West-land where he began to offer Gods word which was of many gladly received till that the Bishop of Glasgow Dumbar by instigation of the Cardinall came with his gatherings to the Towne of Ayre to make resistance to the said M. George and did first take the Church The Earle of Glencarne being thereof advertised repaired with his friends to the Towne with diligence and so did divers Gentlemen of Kyle amongst whom was the Laird of Lefnoreise a man far different from him that now liveth in the yeere of our Lord 1566. in manners and Religion of whom to this day yet many live and have declared themselves alwayes zealous and bold in the cause of God as after will be heard When all were assembled conclusion was taken that they would have the Church Whereto the said M. George utterly repugnedâ— saying Let him alone his Sermon will not much hurt Let us go to the Market Crosse And so they did where he made so notable a Sermon that the very enemies themselves were confounded The Bishop Preached to his Jackmen and to some old Bosses of the Towne The sum of all his Sermon was They say we should Preach Why not Better late thrive then never thrive Hold us still for your Bishop and we shall provide better the next time This was the beginning and the end of the Bishops Sermon Who with haste departed the Towne but returned not to fulfill his promise The said M. George remained with the Gentlemen in Kyle till that he gat sure knowledge of the estate of Dundie He Preached commonly at the Church of Gastonne and used much in the Barrie He was required to come to the Church of Machlyne and so he did But the Sheriffe of Ayre caused to man the Church for preservation of a Tabernacle that was there beautifull to the eye The persons that held the Church was George Campbell of Mongarswood that yet liveth Anno 1566. Mungâ— Campbell of Broâ—â—syde George Rid in Dandilling the Laird of Tempilland Some zealous of the Parish amongst whom was Hugh Campbell of Kingarcleuch offended that they should be debarred their Parish Church concluded by force to enter But the said M. George withdrew the said Hugh and said unto him Brother Christ Iesus is as mighty upon the fields as in the Church And I finde that â—e himselfe after Preached in the Desert at the sea side and
but so would he not relieve them But some would he deliver by one means and at one time and others must abide for a season upon his good pleasure This counsell in the end was embraced upon the Kings even when French men commonly use to drinke liberally The aforesaid four persons having the help and conducting of a boy of the house bound all that were in the Castle put them in sundry houses locked the doors upon them took the Keys from the Captain and departed without harm done to the person of any or without touching of any thing that appertained to the King Captain or the house Great search was made thorow the whole Countrey for them But it was Gods good pleasure so to conduct them that they escaped the hands of the faithlesse albeit it was with long travell and great pain and poverty sustained for the French boy left them and took with him the small money that they had And so neither having money nor knowledge of the Countrey And farther fearing that the boy should discover them as that in very deed he did they purposed to divide themselves to change their garments and to go in sundry parts The two brethren Will. and Rob. Leslie who now are become the said Robert especially enemies to Christ Jesus and unto all vertue came to Roan Will. Kirkcaldie and Peter Carmichell in beggars garment came to Conquet and by the space of 12 or 13 weeks they travelled as poor Mariners from Port to Port till at length they gat a French Ship landed in the West of Scotland and from thence came to England where they met before them the said Io. Knox who that same Winter was delivered and Alexander Clerk in his company The said Iohn was first appointed Preacher to Barwick then to Newcastle last he was called to London and to the South part of England where he remained till the death of King Edward the sixt When he left England he then passed to Geneva and there remained at his privy studie till that he was called by the Congregation that then was assembled at Franckford to be Preacher to them which Vocation he obeyed albeit unwillingly at the commandment of that notable servant of God Iohn Calvin At Franckford he remained till that some of the learned whose names we suppresse more given to unprofitable Ceremonies then to sincerity of Religion began to quarrell with the said Iohn and because they despaired to prevail before the Magistrate there for the establishing of their corruptions they accused him of treason committed against the Emperour and against their Soveraigne Queen Mary That in his Admonition to England he called the one little inferiour to Nero and the other more cruell then Iesabell The Magistrate perceiving their malice and fearing that the said Iohn should fall in the hands of his accusators by one mean or by other gave advertisement secretly to him to depart their City for they could not save him if he were required by the Emperour or by the Queen of England in the Emperours name And so the said Iohn returned to Geneva from thence to Diep and thereafter to Scotland as we shall after hear The time and that Winter that the Gallies remained in Scotland were delivered M. Iames Balfour his two brethren David and Gilbert Iohn Anchinlek Iohn Sibald Iohn Gray William Gutrie and Stevin Bell. The Gentlemen that remained in prisons were by the procurement of the Queen Dowager to the Cardinall of Loraine and to the King of France set at liberty in the month of Iuly anno 1550. who shortly thereafter were called to Scotland their peace proclaimed and they themselves restored to their lands in despight of their enemies And that was done in hatred of Duke Hamilton because that then France began to have the Regiment of Scotland in their own hands Howsoever it was God made the hearts of their enemies to set them at liberty and freedom There rested a number of common servants yet in the Gallies who were all delivered upon the Contract of peace that was made betwixt France and England after the taking of Bullen and so was the whole company set at liberty none perishing no not before the world except Iames Melvin who departed from the misery of this life in the Castle of Brest in Britaigne This we write to let the posteritie to come to understand how potently God wrought in preserving and delivering of those that had but a small knowledge of his truth and for the love of the same hazarded all That if either we now in our dayes having greater light or our posteritie that shall follow us shall see a fearfull dispersion of such as oppose themselves to impiety or take upon them to punish the same otherwise then laws of men will permit If we say we or they shall see such left of men yea as it were despised and punished of God yet let us not damne the persons that punish vice and that for just cause nor yet despair but that the same God that dejects for causes unknown to us will raise up again the persons dejected to his glory their comfort And to let the world understand in plain terms what we mean that great abuser of this Common-wealth that pultron and vile knave Davie was justly punished the ninth of March in the yeer of our Lord 1565. for abusing of the Common-wealth and for his other villanies which we lift not to expresse by the counsell and hands of Iames Dowglas Earl of Mortoun Patrick Lord Lindsay and the Lord Ruthwen with other assisters in the company who all for their just act and most worthy of all praise are now unworthily left of all their brethren and suffer the bitternes of banishment exile But this is our hope in the mercies of our God That this same blinde Generation whether it will or not shall be compelled to see That he will have respect to them that are injustly pursued That he will pardon their former offences That he will restore them to the liberty of their Country and Common-wealth again And that he will punish in despight of man the head and the taile that now troubles the just and maintaineth impiety The head is known the tail hath two branches The temporall Lords that maintain such abominations as we see flattering counsellors of State blasphemous Balfour now called clerk of Register Sinclare Dean of Lestarrig and Bp. of Brechen blinde of one eye in the body but of both of his soul upon whom God shortly after took vengeance Leslie Preistesgate Abbot of Londrosse and Bishop of Rosse Simon Preston of Cragmillar a right Epicurian Whose end will be ere it be long according to their works But now to return to our History Hadington being kept and much hearship done about in the Countrey for what the English-men destroyed not that was consumed by the French God begins to fight for Scotland For in the Town he sent
a Plague so contagious that with great difficultie could they have their dead buried They were oft refreshed with new men but all was in vain Hunger and plague within and the pursuit of the enemy with a campe volant lay about them and intercepted all victuals except when they were brought by a Convoy from Barwick so constrained them that the Councel of England was conpelled in the spring time to call their Forces from that place And so spoiling and burning some part of the Town they left it to be occupied to such as first should take possession and those were the French-men with a meane number of the ancient inhabitants and so did God performe the words and threatnings of M. George Wischard who said That for that contempt of Gods Messenger they should be visited with sword and fire with pestilence strangers and famine All which they found in such perfection that to this day yet that Town hath neither recovered the former beauty nor yet men of such wisdom and ability as then did inhabit it Hereafter was Peace contracted betwixt France England and Scotland yea a severall Peace was contracted betwixt Scotland and Flanders together with all the Easterlings So that Scotland had peace with the world But yet would their Bishops make War against God For as soone as ever they got any quietnesse they apprehended Adam Wallace alias Fian a simple man without great learning but one that was zealous in godlinesse and of an upright life He with his wife Beatrice Levingstonne frequented the company of the Lady Ormeston for instruction of her children during the trouble of her husband who then was banished This Bastard called Bishop of S. Andrews took the said Adam forth of the place of Wynton men supposed that they thought to have apprehended the Lairde and carried him to Edinburgh where after certain dayes he was presented to judgement in the Church of the Blacke Theeves alias Friers before Duke Hamilton the Earle of Huntly and divers others besides The Bishops and their rabble they began to accuse him Master Iohn Lawder was his accusator That he took upon him to Preach He answered That he never judged himselfe worthy of so excellent a vocation and therefore he never took upon him to Preach but he would not deny that sometimes at Table and sometimes in some other privie places he would reade and had read the Scriptures and had given such exhortation as God pleased to give to him to such as pleased to heare him Knave quoth one What have you to do to meddle with the Scripture I think said he it is the dutie of every Christian to seek the will of his God and the assurance of his salvation where it is to be found and that is within the Old and New Testament What then said another shall we leave to the Bishops and Church-men for to do if every man shall be a babler upon the Bible It becometh you said he to speak more reverently of God and of his blessed Word if the Judge were uncorrupted he would punish you for your blasphemie But to your Question I answer That albeit ye and I and other five thousand within this Realm should read the Bible and speak of it what God should give us to speak yet left we more to the Bishops to do then either they will do or can do For we leave to them publikeâ—y to Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to feed the flock which he hath redeemed by his own blood and hath commanded the same to all true Pastors And when we leave this unto them me thinks we leave to them a heavie burden And that we do unto them no wrong although we search our own salvation where it is to be found considering that they are but dumb Dogs and unsavory Salt that hath altogether lost the season The Bishops hereat offended said What prating is this Let his accusation be read And then was begun False Traitour Hereticke Thou Baptizedst thine own Childe Thou saidst There is no Purgatory Thou saidst That to pray to Saints and for the dead is Idolatry and a vaine Superstition c. What sayest thou to these things He answered If I should be bound to answer I would require an upright and an indifferent Judge The Earle of Huntly disdainefully said Foolish man Wilt thou desire any other Judge then my Lord Dukes Grace great Governour of Scotland and my Lords the Bishops and the Clergie here present Whereto he answered The Bishops can be no Judges to me for they are open enemies to the Doctrine that I professe And as for my Lord Duke I cannot tell whether he hath the knowledge that should be in him that should judge and discern betwixt Lies and the Trueth the Inventions of men and the true worshipping of God I desire Gods Word and with that he produced the Bible to be judge betwixt the Bishops and me and I am content that ye all hear and if by this Booke I shall be convinced to have taught spoken or done in matters of Religion any thing that repugneth to Gods will I refuse not to die But if I cannot be convinced as I am assured by Gods Word I shall not then I in Gods name desire your assistance That malicious men execute not upon me unjust Tyrannie The Earle of Huntley said What a babling foole is this Thou shalt get none other Judges then these that sit here Whereunto the said Adam answered The good will of God be done But be ye assured my Lord with such measure as ye mete to others with the same measure it shall be met to you againe I know that I shall die but be ye assured that my blood shall be required at your hands Alexander Earle of Glencarne yet alive said to the Bishop of Orknay and others that sate nigh him Take heed all you my Lords of the Clergie for here I protest for my part that I consent not to his death And so without feare prepared the said Adam to answer And first to the Baptizing of his own Childe he said It was and is as lawfull to me for lacke of a true Minister to Baptize my owne Childe as that it was to Abraham to Circumcise his son Ismael and his family And as for Purgatory Praying to Saints and for the dead I have oft read said he both the New and Old Testaments but I neither could finde mention nor assurance of them And therefore I beleeve that they are but meere inventions of men devised for covetousnesse sake Well quoth the Bishop ye hear this my Lords What sayest thou of the Masse speires the Earle of Huntly He answered I say my Lord as my Lord Jesus Christ saith That which is in greatest estimation before men is abhomination before God Then all cried out Heresie Heresie And so was the simple servant of God adjudged to the fire which he patiently sustained that same day at after-noon upon
the Castle-hill And so began they again to pollute the land which God had lately plagued for yet their iniquity was not come to full ripenesse as that God would that they should be manifested to this whole Realme as this day they are to be Fagots prepared for everlasting fire and to be men whom neither Plagues may correct nor the light of Gods Word convert from their darknesse and impiety The Peace as is said is contracted The Queen Dowager past by sea to France with Gallies that for that purpose were prepared and took with her divers of the Nobility of Scotland The Earles Huntley Glencarne Mershell Cassiles The Lords Maxwell Fleiming Sir George Dowglas together with all the late Kings naturall sons and divers Barons and Gentlemen of Ecclesiasticall estate the Bishop of Galloway and many others with promise that they should be richly rewarded for their good service What they received we cannot tell but few were made rich at their returning The Dowager had to practise somewhat with her brethren the Duke of Gwise and the Cardinall of Loraine The weight whereof the Governour after felt for shortly after her returne was the Governour deposed of the government justly by God but most unjustly by man and she made Regent in the yeer of our Lord 1554. and a Crown put upon her head as seemly a sight if men had eyes as to put a Saddle upon the backe of an unruly Cow And so began she to practise practise upon practise How France might be advanced her friends made rich and she brought to immortall glory For that was her common talk So that I may procure the wealth and honour of my Friends and a good fame unto my selfe I regard not what God do after with me And in very deed in deep dissimulation to bring her owne purpose to effect she passed the common sort of women as we will after heare But yet God to whose Gospel she declared her selfe enemie in the end frustrated her of all her devices Thus did light and darknesse strive within the Realme of Scotland The darknesse ever before the World suppressing the light from the death of that notable servant of God Master Patricke Hamilton untill the death of Edward the sixth the most godly and most vertuous King that had been known to have reigned in England or elsewhere these many yeeres by past who departed the miseries of this life the sixth of July Anno 1553. The death of this Prince was lamented of all the godly within Europe for the graces given unto him of God as well of nature as of erudition and godlinesse passed the measure that accustomably is used to be given to other princes in their greatest perfection and yet exceeded he not 16 yeers of age What Gravity above age What Wisdom wherein he passed all understanding or expectation of man And what Dexterity in answering in all things proposed were in that excellent Prince The Ambassadours of all Countries yea some that were mortall enemies to him and to his Realme amongst whom the Queen Dowager of Scotland was not the least could and did testifie For the said Queen Dowager returning from France through England communed with him at length and gave record when she came to this Realme That she found more wisdome and solide judgement in young King Edward then she would have looked for in any three Princes that were then in Europe His liberality towards the godly and learned that were in other Realms persecuted was such as Germans French-men Italians Scots Spaniards Polonians Grecians and Hebrews born can yet give sufficient document For how honourably was Martin Bucer Peter Martyr Iohn Alasco Emanuel Gualterus and many others upon his publike stipends entertained their parents can witnesse and they themselves during their lives would never have denied After the death of this most vertuous Prince of whom the godlesse people of England for the most part were not worthy Satan intended nothing lesse then the light of Jesus Christ utterly to have been extinguished within the whole Isle of Britain For after him was raised up in Gods hot displeasure that Idolatresse and mischievous Mary of the Spaniards blood a cruell persecutrix of Gods people as the acts of her unhappy reigne can sufficiently witnesse And in Scotland that same time as we have heard reigned that crafty practiser Mary of Loraine then named Regent of Scotland who bound to the devotion of her two brethren the Duke of Guise and Cardinall of Loraine did onely abide the opportunity to cut the throat of all those in whom she suspected any knowledge of God to be within the Realme of Scotland And so thought Satan that his kingdome of darknesse was in quietnesse and rest as well in the one Realme as in the other But that provident eye of our eternall God who continually watches for preservation of his Church did so order all things that Satan shortly after found himselfe farre disappointed of his conclusion taken For in that cruell persecution used by Queen Mary of England were godly men dispersed into divers nations of whom it pleased the goodnesse of God to send some unto us for our comfort and instruction And first came a simple man William Harlaw whose erudition although it excell not yet for his whole and diligent plainnesse in Doctrine is he to this day worthy of praise and remaines a fruitfull member within the Church of Scotland After him came that notable man Iohn Willocke as one that had some Commission to the Queen Regent from the Dutchesse of Emden But his principall purpose was to essay what God would worke by him in his native countrey These two did sometimes in severall companies assemble the brethren who by their exhortations began greatly to be encouraged and did shew that they had an earnest thirst of godlinesse And last came Iohn Knox in the end of the harvest Anno 1555. who first being lodged in the house of that notable man of God Iames Sime began to exhort secretly in that same house whereunto repaired the Laird of Dun David Forresse and some certain personages of the Town amongst whom was Elizabeth Adamson then spouse to Iames Barrone Burgesse of Edinburgh who by reason that she had a troubled conscience delighted much in the company of the said Iohn because that he according to the grace given unto him opened more fully the Fountaine of Gods Mercies then did the common sort of Teachers that she had heard before for she had heard none except Friers and did with such greedinesse drinke thereof that at her death she did expresse the fruit of her hearing to the great comfort it of all those that repaired unto her For albeit she suffered most grievous torment in her body yet out of her mouth was heard nothing but praising of God except that sometimes she lamented the troubles of those that were troubled by her Being sometimes demanded by her sisters What she thought of that pain which she then
as before God I have a testimonie that I seek not for my selfe but the advancement of Christs Evangell and the comfort of such as whom I know afflicted so shall the godly understand that England in refusing me refuseth a friend how small that ever the power be The mighty Spirit of the Lord Jesus moove your heart deeply to consider your dutie unto God and the estate of that Realme in which by his appointment you now serve From Deepe the 10 of April 1559. Yours to command in godlinesse Iohn Knox. To this Letter was no answer made for shortly the said Iohn Knox made forward to Scotland by sea when he landed the third of May and had such successe as is in the second book declared The said Iohn being in S. Andrews after Cowper-Moore entred in deep discourse with the Laird of Grange the danger is very evident but the support was not easie to be seen After many words Iohn Knox burst forth as followeth If England would foresee their own commodity yea if they would consider the danger wherein themselves stand they would not suffer us to perish in this quarrell for France hath no lesse decreed the conquest of England then of Scotland After long reasoning it was concluded betwixt them two That support should be craved of England And for that purpose the said Laird of Grange first wrote to Sir Henry Percie and after rode from Edinburgh and spake with him to whom he made so plaine demonstration of the danger appearing to England that he tooke upon him to write to Secretarie Cecil who with expedition returned answer back again giving him to understand That our enterprise altogether misliked not the Councell albeit that they desired further resolution of the principall Lords Which thing understood it was concluded to write to him plainely our whole purpose The tenour of our Letter was this The first Letter to Sir William Cecill from the Lords of the Congregation THe contents of a Letter directed by you right Worshipfull to Sir Henry Percie was notified unto us by Master Kirkcaldie of Grange this Sunday the 26 of July By the which we perceive that the said Laird of Grange of zeale and faithfull heart which he beareth to the furtherance of this our great and before the world dangerous enterprise hath travelled with you as with an unfained favourer of Christs true Religion and of the libertie of our Countrey for knowledge of your mindes towards us in case that we be assaulted by any forraigne invasion or greater power then we be well able to resist Your comfortable answer to this question we have considered to our joy and comfort as also your motions and what you demand To wit What the Protestants within this Realme do purpose To what end we mean to direct our actions How we will and how we be able to accomplish the same What doubts we have of any adversary power And finally in case that support should be sent from you What manner of amity might ensue betwixt these two Realmes c. To the which in briefe we answer That our whole and onely purpose as God knoweth is to advance the glory of Christ Jesus the true Preaching of his Gospel within this Realme To remove superstition and all sort of externall Idolatry to bridle to our powers the fury of those that heretofore have cruelly shed the blood of our brethren and to our uttermost to maintaine the liberty of this our Countrey from the tyrannie and thraldome of strangers as God shall assist us How we be able to accomplish these premises is to us unknown onely our hope is good That he that hath begun this good worke in us and hath by his power to this houre confounded the faces of our adversaries will performe the same to his glory which chiefly we seek in this our enterprise Because we suppose That neither our present danger neither yet the warlike preparation which France maketh against us are hid from you nor from the counsell we omit that part As touching the assurance of a perpetuall amity to stand betwixt these two Realmes As no earthly thing of us is more desired so crave we of God to make us the instruments by which this unnaturall debate which long hath continued betwixt us may once be composed to the praise of Gods Name and to the comfort of the faithfull in both Realms And if your wisedoms can foresee and devise the means and assurances how the same may be brought to passe perswade your selves not onely of our consent and assistance but also of our constancy as men can promise unto our lives end Yea farther of charge and commandment by us to be left to our posterity That the Amity betwixt us in God contracted and begun may be by them kept inviolate for ever As for the revolting from you to France which ye seem to fear and suspect at their pleasure we utterly abhorre that infidelity for now doth the voyce of God continually sound in our ears That such as prophane the terrible and reverent Name of God shall not escape vengeance Our Confederacy Amity and League shall not be like the Pactions made by worldly men for worldly profit but as we require it for Gods Cause so will we call upon his Name for the observation of the same Moreover if we should lack any thing in Temporall commodity yet should we never have occasion to returne to them for we now perceive and feel the weight of their yoke and intend by Gods grace to cut away such instruments as by whom this Realme was before abused True it is That as yet we have made no mention of any change in Authority neither yet were we minded to do any such thing till extreme necessity compelleth us thereto But seeing it is now more then evident That France and the Queen Regent here with her Priests pretendeth nothing but the suppressing of Christs Gospel the ruine of us and the subversion of this poor Realme committing our innocency to God and unto the judgement of all godly and wise men we are determined to seek the next remedy in which we heartily require your counsell and assistance And thus farre we have enterprised to make you participant of our purpose because in the said Letters ye required the said Master Kirkcaldie some farther assurance then his owne word or writing which we doubt not but ye shall shortly receive from more then from us We dare not hastily make the Assembly neither of Nobles neither of Barons privie in this Cause for dangers that may ensue by policie and craft of the adversaries your wisdom we doubt not will communicate these onely with such as ye know favourers of such a godly Conjunction It should much help in our opinion if the Preachers both in perswasion and in publike Prayers as ours do here would commend the same unto the people And thus after our most humble commendations to the Queenes Majestie whose
Gods grace whereof God send you plentie And so I end Sic subscribitur Yours as a member of the same body in Christ M. Cecill From Oxford the 28 of Iuly 1559. Albeit the said Iohn received this Letter at Barwick yet would he answer nothing till that he had spoken with the Lords whom he found in Sterlin and unto whom he delivered the answer sent from the Councell of England for Alexander Whitlaw took sicknesse betwixt Barwick and Edinburgh and was troubled by the Lord Seaton as in the former Booke is declared the answer sent by Master Cecill was so generall that many amongst us despaired of any comfort to come from that Countrey And therefore were determined that they would request no further Iohn Knox laboured in the contrary but he could prevaile no further but that he should have licence and libertie to write as he thought best And so took he upon him to answer for all in forme as followeth Answer to Master Cecils writing TWo causes hindred me Right Worshipfull to visit you in any part in England Before this no signification of your minde and pleasure was made unto me for onely did Sir Henry Percie will me to come and speake with him which conveniently at that time I could not do by reason that the French-men which was the second cause of my stay did then most furiously pursue us while our company was dispersed and then durst I not be absent for divers inconveniences neither did I thinke my presence with you greatly necessary considering that the matter which I most desired was opened and proposed To the which I would have wished That a more plaine and especiall answer should have been made For albeit Master Whitlaw by his Credit Master Kirkcaldie by his Letter and I both by Letters and by that which I had received from Sir Iames Crofts did perswade your good mindes yet could not the councell be otherwise perswaded but that this alteration in France had altered your former purpose It is not unknown what good will we three do beare to England And therefore I wish That rather your Pen then our Credit or any thing written to any of us should assure the Lords and others of your good mindes who are now in number but five hundred Unlesse that money be furnished without delay to pay the Souldiers for their service past and to retaine another thousand foot-men with three hundred horse-men till some stay be had in this danger these Gentle-men will be compelled to leave the fields I am assured as flesh may be of flesh That some of them will take a very hard life before that ever they compose either with the Queen Regent or with France but this I dare not promise at all unlesse in they see greater forwardnesse To support us will appear excessive and to break promise with France will appear dangerous But the losse of expences in mine opinion ought not to be esteemed from the first payment neither yet the danger from the first appearance France is most fervent to conquer us and avoweth That against us they will spend the Crown so did mine own ears hear Butten Court bragge But most assuredly I know That unlesse by us they thought to make an entrie to you that they would not buy our poverty at that price They labour to corrupt some of our great men by money and some of our number are poore as before I wrote and cannot serve without support some they threatned and against others they have up one party in their owne Countrey In this mean time if ye lie by as neutralls what will be the end you may easily conjecture And therefore Sir in the bowells of Christ Jesus I require you to make plain answer What the Gentlemen here may trust to and what the Queens Majestie will do may without long delay be put in execution I rest in Christ Jesus Of Saint Iohnston the day of c. Answer with great expedition was returned to this Letter desiring some men of credit to be sent to the Lords to Barwicke for the receiving of the money for the first support with promise That if the Lords of the Congregation meant no otherwise then before they had written and if they would enter into League with honest Conditions they should neither lack men nor money to their just Causes Upon this answer was directed from the Lords to Barwicke Master Henry Balnaves a man of good credit in both the Realmes who suddenly returned with such a sum of money as served all the publike affairs till November next when Iohn Cockburne of Ormeston sent for the second support and receiving the same unhappily fell into the hands of the Earle Bothwell was wounded taken and spoyled of a great Sum upon which mischance followed all the rest of the troubles before rehearsed In the second Book preceding we have declared how Secretary Leehington was directed to England But one thing before we have passed by In that our greatest dejection this order was taken That the Duke the Earle of Glencarne Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie and their friends should remaine together at Glasgow for comfort of the Countrey and for giving of answers as occasion should require and that the Earle of Arrane the Lord Iames the Earle of Rothesse the Master of Lindsay and their adherents should continue together within Fyfe for the same causes that advertisements might go from the one to the other as need required In the Negotiation of the Secretary Lethington with the Queen and Councell of England in the which he travelled with no lesse wisedom and faithfulnesse then happy successe many things occurred that required the resolution of the whole Lords After that the Queen and Councell of England had concluded to send their Army to Scotland for expelling of the French the Duke of Norfolke was sent to Barwick with full instructions power and Commission to do in all things concerning the present affaires of Scotland as the Queen and Councell in their own persons had power to do Hereupon the said Duke required such a part of the Lords of Scotland as had power and Commission from the whole to meet him at such a day and place as pleased them to appoint This advertisement came first to Glasgow by the meanes of the Master of Maxwell Which read and considered by the Lords conclusion was taken that they would meet at Carleil and that was the procurement of the said Master of Maxwell for his ease Hereupon were Letters directed from the Lords being in Glasgow to Lord Iames requiring him with all possible expedition to repaire towards them for the purpose aforesaid Which Letters read and advised upon commandment was given to Iohn Knox to make the answer For so it was appointed at division of the Lords that he should answer for the part of those that were in Fyfe and M. Henry Balnaves for the part of them that abode at Glasgow The said Iohn answered as followeth To the Duke
Majesties most gentle clemency and liberall support the said Nobility as well such as be joyned as such as shall hereafter joyn with them already joyned for the defence of the liberty of that Realme shall to the uttermost of their power ayd and support her Majesties Army against the French and their partakers with Horse-men and Foot-men and with Victualls by Land and Sea with all manner of other ayd to the best of their power and so shall continue during the time that her Majesties Army shall remain in Scotland Item They shall be enemies to all such Scotish men and French as shall in any wise shew themselves enemies to the Realm of England for the ayding and supporting of the said Nobility in the delivery of the Realme of Scotland from Conquest Item They shall never assent nor permit that the Realme of Scotland shall be conquered or otherwise knit to the Crown of France then it is at this present onely by Marriage of the Queen their Soveraign to the French King and it be ruled by the Laws and Liberties of the Realme as it ought to be Item In case the French-men shall at any time hereafter invade or cause to be invaded the Realme of England they shall furnish the number of two thousand Horse-men and one thousand Foot-men at the least or such part of either of them at the charge of the Queen of England and shall conduct the same to passe from the borders of Scotland next England upon her Majesties charges to any part of the Realme of England for defence of the same And in case the invasion be on the North parts of England on the North side of the water of Tyne towards Scotland or against Barwick on the North side of the water of Tweid They shall convene and gather their whole Forces upon their owne charges and shall joyne with the English power and shall continue in good and earnest pursuite of the Quarrell of England during the space of thirty dayes or so much longer as they were accustomed to tarry in the fields for defence of Scotland At the commandment of their Soveraignes at any time by past and also the Earle of Argyle Lord Justice of Scotland being presently joyned with the rest shall imploy his force and good will where he shall be required by the Queens Majestie to reduce the North parts of Ireland to the perfect obedience of England conforme to a mutuall and reciproque contract to be made betwixt her Majesties Lieutenant or Deputie of Ireland being for the time and the said Earle wherein shall be contained what he shall do for his part and what the said Lieutenant or Deputie shall do for his support in case he shall have to do with Iames Mackconell or any others of the Isles of Scotland or Realme of Ireland For performance and sure keeping whereof they shall for their part come to the said Duke of Norfolk the pledges presently named by him before the entry of her Majesties Armie in Scottish ground to remain in England for the space of six moneths and to be there exchanged upon deliverance of new hostages of like or as good condition as the former or being the lawfull sons brethren or heires of any of the Peers or Barons of Parliament that have or hereafter shall shew themselves and persist open enemies to the French in this quarrell and so forth from six moneths to six moneths or foure moneths to foure moneths as shall best please the partie of Scotland And the time of continuance of the hostages shall be during the marriage of the Queen of Scots to the French King and a yeere after the dissolution of the said Marriage untill further order may be had betwixt both the Realmes for Peace and Concord And furthermore the said Nobility being Peers and Barons of Parliament joyned together shall subscribe and seale these Articles and agreement within the space of twenty or thirty dayes at the uttermost next following the day of the delivering of the said hostages and shall also procure and perswade all others of the Nobility that shall joyne themselves heereafter with the said Lords for the cause above-specified likewise to subscribe and seale those Articles at any time after the space of twenty dayes after their conjunction upon requisition made by them on the partie of the Queens Majestie of England And finally the said Nobility joyned together certainly perceiving that the Queens Majestie of England is thereunto moved onely upon respect of Princely honour and neighbourhood for defence of the freedom of Scotland from Conquest and not of any other sinister intent doth by these presents testifie and declare That they nor any of them mean by this agreement to withdraw any due obedience to the Soveraign Lady the Queen nor in any lawfull thing to withstand the French King her husband and head that during the marriage shall not tend to the subversion and oppression of the just and ancient Liberties of the said Kingdom of Scotland For preservation whereof both for their Soveraigns honour and for the continuance of the Kingdom in its ancient state they acknowledge themselves bound to spend their Goods Lands and Lives And for performance of this present Contract for the part of England the Queens Majestie shall confirm the same and all Clauses therein contained by her Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England to be delivered to the Nobility of Scotland upon the entrie of the Pledges aforesaid within the ground of England In Witnesse whereof the said Duke of Norfolke hath subscribed these Points and thereunto affixed his Seal the day yeer and place aforesaid Which Contract we finde honest and reasonable and that our said Commissioners therein hath considerately respected the Common-weale of this Realme of us and our posterity And therefore do ratifie allow confirme and approve the same with all Clauses and Articles therein contained by these Presents In Witnesse hereof we have subscribed the same with our Hands and sealed with our Seals of Arms in such causes accustomed are appended At the Camp before Leith the tenth day of May the year of God 1560 yeers Follow the Subscriptions The Subscriptions The Duke of Chattellarault Earle of Arrane Earle of Glencarne Earle of Rothesse Earl of Argyle Earle of Huntlie Earle of Morton Earle of Menteth Lord Ogilbye Lord Iames Steward Alexander Gordon Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie Gawin Hamilton of Kilwinning Abbot of Culrosse Lord Bothwike Lord of Saint Iohn Lord Iohn Abirbrâ—thok Lord Simmerwaile Lord Robert Steward Abbot of Kynlosse Iames Stewart of Saint Colmes Inche The Instructions given subscribed to the said Commissioners following 1. IN the first place if it shall be asked of you by the Duke of Norfolk and by other the Queens Majesties appointed Commissioners If your Pledges be in readinesse ye shall answer That they are and in Saint Andrews the 25 of this instant and shal be ready to be delivered in Hostage for security of our promises and part
was misliked of many Against the which Iohn Kâ—ox spake openly in Pulpit and boldly affirmed That God should revenge that contumelie done to his Image which not onely in the furious and godlesse Souldiers but even in such as rejoyced thereat And the very experience declared That he was not deceived For within few dayes after yea some say that same day began her belly and loathsome legs to swell and so continued till that God did in his wisdome take her away from this world as after we shall heare After the Defeat received the Queen Regent and her faction were fully perswaded that the Siege would rise and that the English Armie would depart And so began the Papists wonderously to brag and yet God did frustrate their expectation for the Armie concluded to remaine till new advertisement came from the Queen and Counsell The Duke of Norfolk who then lay at Barwick commanded the Lord Gray to continue the Siege and promised That he should not lack men so long as any were to be had betwixt Trent and Twead for so far was he Lieutenant he further promised his own presence in case he should be required and for assurance thereof he sent his own Tents such as seldome before had been seen in Scotland with his Officers and provision And with expedition were sent two thousand fresh men whereby the Camp greatly comforted began to forget the former discomfiture and to sustain the daily skirmishing as they did before In the which the French after the day of the assault did ever receive the hurt and the repulse as the slaughter of many that came to the Cole-rake did witnesse The greatest damage that either English or Scotish received after that day was the slaughter of two Gentlemen the one master of houshold to my Lord Iames Robert Colwin of Clesch a man stout modest and wise who was shot in the thigh with a Falcon or Harquebute of Croke and so departed the misery of this life within two houres after The other was Alexander Lockart brother to the Laird of Bar who rashly discovering himselfe in the Trenches was shot in the head and immediately thereafter departed this life While the Siege thus continued a sudden fire chanced in Leith which devoured many houses and much Victuall and so began God to fight for us as the Lord Erskin in plaine words said to the Queen Regent Madame quoth he I can see no more but seeing that men may not expell unjust possessours forth of this land God himselfe would do it For your fire is not kindled by man Which words offended the Queen Regent not a little whose sicknesse daily increasing great craft she used That Monsieur Dosell might have been permitted to have spoken with her belike she would have bidden him fare-well for their old familiaritie was great but that denied she Writ as it had been to her Chyrurgeon and Apothecarie shewing her sicknesse and requiring some Drogs The Letter being presented to the Lord Gray he espied the craft for few Lines being written above and so much White-Paper left he said Drogs are abundant and fresher in Edinburgh then they can be in Leith There lurketh here some other mysterie and so he began to try and by holding the Paper to the fire he perceiveth some writing appear and so began he to read but what it was no other man can tell for immediately he burnt the Bill and said to the Messenger Albeit I have been her Secretary yet tell her I shall keep her councell But say to her Such Wares will not sell till a new Market The answer received she was nothing content and then travelled she earnestly That she might speak with the Earles Argyle Glencarne Mershall and with the Lord Iames. After deliberation it was thought expedient that they should speak with her but not all together lest that some part of the Guisians practice had lurked under the colour of such friendship Her regrate was unto them all That she had behaved her selfe so foolishly as that she had compelled them to seek the support of others then of their own Soveraigne and said That she sore repented that ever it came to that extremitie but she was not the wight but the wicked counsell of her friends on the one part and the Earle of Huntley on the other for if he had not been she would have fully agreed with them at their Commoning at Preston They gave unto her both the Councell and the Comfort which they could in that extremitie and willed her to send for some godly learned man of whom she might receive instruction for these ignorant Papists that were about her understood nothing of the Mysterie of our redemption Upon their motion was Iohn Willock sent for with whom she talked a reasonable space and who did plainely shew unto her as well the vertue and strength of the death of Jesus Christ as the vanity and abomination of that Idoll the Masse She did openly confesse That there was no salvation but in and by the death of Iesus Christ but of the Masse we heard not her Confession Some say she was anointed with extreame Unction after the Papisticall manner which was a signe of small knowledge of the Trueth and of lesse Repentance of her former Superstition Yet howsoever it was Christ Jesus gate no small Victorie over such an enemie For albeit before she had Vowed That in despight of all Scotland the Preachers of Jesus Christ should either die or be banished the Realme yet was she compelled not onely to heare That Christ Jesus was Preached and all Idolatry openly rebuked and in many places suppressed but also she was constrained to heare one of the principall Ministers within the Realme and to approve the chiefe head of our Religion wherein we dissent from all Papists and Papistrie Shortly thereafter she finished her life unhappy to Scotland from the first day she entred into it unto the day that she departed this life which was the ninth day of June in yeere of God 1560. The Guisian Councells as they were wicked and cruell to the people so they proved mischievous to themselves and to them that followed them to this day Upon the sixteenth day of June after the death of the Queen Regent came to Scotland Monsieur Randam and with him the Bishop of Valance in Commission from France to negotiate a Peace From England there came Sir William Cecill chiefe Secretary and Doctor Whitton Their negotiation was longsome for both England and we fearing deceit sought by all meanes that the contract should be sure And they on the other part meaning to gratifie such as had sent them who meant nothing but meere falshood protracted time to the uttermost yea while that those of Leith were very scarce of victuals and those of the Inch had perished had not been that by policie they gat a ship with Victuals and some Munition which was upon Midsommer Even whereof they made no small
to the Church and triall taken That he was not married with the second woman neither that he was able to prove that he was divorced by any order of the Law from the first he was committed to the hands of the Magistrates who according to the Laws commanded him to be Carted But the rascall multitude enflamed by some ungodly Crafts-men made insurrection brake the Cart boasted and threatned the Officers and took away the malefactor This was the beginning of farther evils as we shall after hear In this mean time while Lord Iames we say was in France there came an Ambassadour from France suborned no doubt with all craft that might to trouble the state of Religion His Demands were first That the League betwixt us and England should be broken Secondly That the ancient League betwixt France and Scotland should be renewed Thirdly And that the Bishops and Church-men should be restored in their former places and be suffered to intermit with their Livings The Councell delayed answer untill the Parliament appointed in May. In the mean time the Papists of Scotland practised with him The Earls of Huntlie Atholl Bothwell and others intended to have taken Edinburgh before the said Parliament The whole Bishops assembled and held Councell in Sterlin Some whispering there was that the Duke and the Bishop of Saint Andrews were too familiar and some feared that the Authority of the Queen should have been usurped by reason of her absence and that the Duke was the second Person for thereat had some of his pressed immediately after the death of the King of France The Protestants thereof advertised prevented them and came to Edinburgh The Earle of Arran stood constant with his brethren there were some that carefully and painfully travelled that nothing prejudiciall to the Queens Authority should be done in the absence of the Lord Iames to whom the Queen hath recompenced evil for good service Master Iames Magill in that point did both stoutly and truely for Iohn Knox and he were then fallen in familiarity in which they yet continue 20 Octobris 1567. by reason that the said Master Iames had embraced the Religion and professed it publikely The Papists and Bishops disappointed of their principall enterprise did yet make broyle for trouble For the rascall multitude were stirred up to make a Robin-Hood which enormity was of many yeers left off and condemned by Stature and Act of Parliament yet would they not be forbidden but would disobey and trouble the Town especially upon the night Whereat the Bayliffs offended took from them some Swords and Ensigne which was occasion that they that same night made a mutiny kept the Gates of the Towne and intended to have pursued some men within their owne houses But that upon the restitution of their Swords and Ensigne was stayed And yet they ceased not to molest as well the Inhabitants of Edinburgh as divers Countrey-men taking from them money and threatning some with farther injuries Wherewith the Magistrates of the Town highly offended took more diligent heed to such as resorted to the Town and so apprehended one of the principall of that disorder named Balon a Shoo-maker whom they put to an Assizes and being convinced he could not be absolved for he was the chief man that spoyled Iohn Mubray of ten Crowns of the Sun they thought to have executed Judgement upon him and so erected a Gibbet beneath the Crosse. Whether it came by Paction with the Provest and some other or by instigation of the Crafts-men who ever have been bent too much to maintain such vanity and riotousnesse we fully know not but suddenly there did arise a tumult the Tolbuith was broken up and not onely the said Balon who before was condemned was violently taken forth but also all other malefactors were set at freedome the Gibbet was pulled downe and despightfully broken And thereafter as the Provest and some of the Councell assembled to the Clerks Chamber for consultation The whole rascall banded together with some knowne and honest Crafts-men and intended invasion on the said Chamber which perceived the Provest and such as were in his company past to the Tolbuith suspecting nothing that they would have been so enraged to make new pursuit after that they had obtained their intent But they were suddenly deceived for from the Castle hill they came with violence and with stones Guns and such other Weapons as they had and began to assault the said Tolbuith ran at the door of it till that partly by stones cast from above and partly by a Pistoll shot by Robert Norwell which hurt one Tuedy they were repulsed from the door But yet ceased they not to cast and shoot in at the windows threatning death to all that were within And in very deed the malice of the Crafts-men who were suspected to be the occasion of that tumult bare no good will to divers of those that were with the Provest The Arguments that the Crafts-men were the causes of that uprore besides their first disorder that they had used before in taking Sandersone from the execution of punishment are two The former Archibald Deware Patricke Shaugzie with other six Deacons came to Iohn Knox and willed him to solicite the Provest and the Towne to delay the execution Who did answer That he had so oft solicited in their favours that his own conscience accused him That they used his labours for no other end but to be a Patron to their impiety for he had before made intercession for William Harlaw Iohn Frissell and others that were convinced of the former tumult They proudly said That if it was not stayed both he and the Bayliffs should repent it Who answered He would not hurt his conscience for the fear of any man And so they departed and the tumult as said is immediately thereafter did arise The second Argument is The tumult continued from two at afternoon till after eight at night The Crafts-men were required to assemble themselves together for deliverance of the Provest but they past to their four hours penie or afternoons Pinte and in their jesting said They will be Magistrates alone let them rule the multitude alone And so contrary to the Oath which they had made they denied their assistance counsell comfort to the Provest and Bayliffs which are arguments very probable that the said tumult rose by their procurement The end thereof was That the Provest and Bayliffs were compelled to give their hands writs that they should never pursue any of those that were of that tumult for any crime that was done in that behalf And this was proclaimed at the Crosse after nine of the clock at night and so was that trouble quieted But the Nobility vowed That they would not spare it nor forget it and so a great number of that faction were absent from the Towne till the arrivall of the Queen The whole multitude were holden excommunicate and were admitted to no participation of the
that it came to the Ears of Herod that our Master Jesus Christ called him a Fox but they told him not how odious a thing it was before God to murther an Innocent as he had lately done before causing to behead Iohn the Baptist to reward the dancing of an Harlots daughter Madame if the reporters of my words had been honest men they would have reported my words and the circumstances of the same but because they would have credit in Court and wanting vertue worthy thereof they must have somewhat to please your Majestie if it were but flatteries and lies But such pleasure if any your Majestie take in such persons will returne to your everlasting displeasure for Madame if your own Ears had heard the whole matter that I treated if there be in you any spark of the Spirit of God yea of honestie and wisedome you would not justly have been offended with any thing that I spake And because you have heard their report please your Majesty to hear my self rehearse the same so near as memory will serve it was even upon the next day after that the Sermon was made My Text said he Madame was this And now O Kings understand be learned ye Iudges of the Earth After Madame said he that I had declared the dignity of Kings and Rulers the honour wherein God hath placed them the obedience that is due unto them being Gods Lieutenants I demanded this question But oh alas what account shall the most part of Princes make before that Supreme Judge whose Throne and Authoritie so manifestly and shamefully they abuse the complaint of Solomon is this day most true to wit That violence and oppression do occupie the Throne of God here in this Earth for whilest that murtherers blood-thirsty men oppressors and Malefactors dare be bold to present themselves before Kings and Princes and that the poor Saints of God are banished and exiled what shall we say but that the Devill hath taken possession in the Throne of God which ought to be fearfull to all wicked doers and a refuge to the innocent oppressed and how can it otherwise be for Princes will not understand they will not be learned as God commands them but Gods Law they despise his Statutes and Holy Ordinances they will not understand for in fidling and flinging they are more exercised than in reading or hearing Gods most blessed Word and Fidlers and Flatterers which commonly corrupt the Youth are more precious in their eyes then men of wisedome and gravitie who by wholesome admonitions may beat down in them some part of that vanity and pride wherein we all are born but in Princes take deep root and strength by evill education And of dancing Madame I said That albeit in Scriptures I found no praise of it and in prophane Writers that it is termed the gesture rather of those that are Mad and in phrensie then of sober men yet do I not utterly condemn it providing that two vices be avoyded the former That the principall Vocation of those that use that exercise be not neglected for the pleasure of Dancing Secondly That they dance not as the Philistins their Fathers for the pleasure that they take in the displeasure of Gods people for if they do these or either of them they shall receive the reward of Dancers and that will be to drink in Hell unlesse they speedily repent so shall God turne their mirth into sudden sorrow For God will not alwayes afflict his people neither will he alwayes wink at the Tyranny of Tyrants If any Madame said he will say that I spake more let him publikely accuse me for I think I have not onely touched the summe but the very words as I spake them Many that stood by did bear witnesse with him that he had recited the very words that publikely he spake The Queen looked about to some of the Reporters and said Your words are sharpe enough as you have spoken them but yet they were told me in another manner I know said she that my Uncles and you are not of one Religion and therefore I cannot blame you to have no good opinion of them but if you hear any thing of my self that mislikes you come to my self and tell me and I shall hear you Madame quoth he I am assured that your Uncles are enemies to God and unto his Son Jesus Christ and for maintenance of their own pompe and worldly glory that they spare not to spill the blood of many Innocents and therefore I am assured that these enterprises shall have no better successe than others have had that before them have done as they doe now But as to your own person Madame I would be glad to doe all that I could to your Majesties contentment providing that I exceed not the bounds of my Vocation I am called Madame to a publike function within the Church of God and appointed by God to rebuke the vices and sins of all I am not appointed to come to every man in particular to shew him his offence for that labour were infinite if your Majestie pleaseth to frequent the publike Sermons then I doubt not but that you shall fully understand both what I like and mislike as well in your Majesty as in all others Or if your Majesty will assigne unto me a certaine day and houre when it will please you to hear the form and substance of Doctrine which is proposed in publike to the Churches of this Realm I will most gladly wait upon your Majesties pleasure time and place but to come to wait upon your chamber door or elswhere and then to have no further liberty but to whisper my minde in your Majesties eare or to tell you what others think and speak of you neither will my conscience nor the vocation whereto God hath called me suffer it for albeit at your Majesties commandment I am here now yet I cannot tell what other men will judge of me that at this time of the day I am absent from my book and waiting at the Court You will not alwayes said she be at your Booke and so turned her back And the said Iohn departed with a reasonable merry countenance whereat some Papists offended said He is not afraid which heard by him he answered Why should the pleasant face of a Lady afray me I have looked in the faces of many angry men and yet have not been afraid above measure and so left he the Queen and the Court for that time In this mean time the negotiation was great betwixt the Queen of England and our Soveraigne Letters Curriours and Posts ran frequent great bruit there was of the interviewe and meeting at Yorke and some preparation was made therefore in both the Realmes but that failed upon the part of England and that by occasion of the troubles moved in France as was alleaged which caused the Queene of England and the Councill attend upon the South parts of England for
carryed about in a Boat and laid without Buriall in the Abbey of Halyrud-house till the day of his Forefaltor as after shall be declared The Duke apprehended the Lord Gordon his son in Law because that the Queen had straitly commanded him so to do if that he repaired within his bounds Before that he delivered him the Earle of Murray laboured at the Queens hands for the safety of his life which hardly was granted and so was he delivered within the Castle of Edinburgh the eight and twentieth day of November 1562. where he remained till the eighth day of February when he was put to an Assise accused and convinced of Treason but was restored againe first to the Castle aforesaid and thereafter was transported to Dumbar where he remained prisoner till the moneth of August in the yeer of God 1565. as we will after hear In the mean time the troubles were hot in France and the intelligence and outward familiarity betwixt the two Queens was great Lethington was directed with large Commission both to the Queene of England and to the Guisians The Marriage of our Queen was in all mens mouthes some would have the Infant of Spaine some the Emperours Brother some Duke Denemours and some truely guessed at the Lord Darley What Lethingtons Credit was we know not but shortly after there began much to be talked of the Earle of Lenox and of his son the Lord Darley It was said that Lethington spake to the Lady Margaret Dowglas And that Robert Melvill received a horse to the Secretaries use from the Earle of Lenox or from his wife Howsoever it was Master Fouller servant to the said Earle came with Letters to the Queene by which License was permitted to the Earle of Lenox to come to Scotland to travell in his lawfull businesse That same day the Queens License was granted the Secretary said This day I have taken upon me the deadly hatred of all the Hamiltons within Scotland and have done unto them no lesse displeasure then if I had cut their throats The Earle Bothwell who before had broken Ward fearing apprehension or taking prepared to passe to France but by storm of Weather was driven into England where he was stayed and was offered to have been rendred by the Queen of England But our Queens answer was That he was no Rebell and therefore she requested that he should have liberty to passe whither he pleased And thereto Lethington helped not a little for he travelled to have friends in every faction of the Court. And so obtained the said Earle Lincense to passe to France The Winter after the death of the Earle of Huntley the Court remained for the most part at Edinburgh The Preachers were wondrous vehement in reprehension of all manner of Vice which then began to abound and especially Avarice Oppression of the poore Excesse Ryotous Cheer Banquetting immoderate Dancing and Whoredome that thereof ensues Whereat the Courtiers began to storme and to pick quarrells against the Preachers alleadging that all their Preaching was turned to Rayling whereunto one of them gave answer as followeth It comes to our eares that we are called Raylers whereof albeit we wonder yet we are not ashamed seeing that the most worthy servants of God that before us have travelled in this Vocation have so been stiled But unto you do I say That the same God who from the beginning hath punished the Contempt of his Word and hath poured forth his Vengeance upon such proud mockers shall not spare you yea he shall not spare you before the eyes of this same wicked Generation for the pleasure whereof ye despise all wholesome Admonitions Have you not seen greater then any of you sitting where presently ye sit pick his nayles and pull down his Bonnet over his eyes when Idolatry Witchcraft Murther Oppression and such Vices were rebuked Was not this his common talke When these Knaves have rayled their fill then will they hold their peace Have ye not heard it affirmed to his owne face That God should revenge that his Blasphemie even in the eyes of such as were witnesse to his iniquity Then was the Earle of Huntley accused by you as the maintainer of Idolatry and onely hinderer of all good Orders him hath God punished even according to the threatnings that his and your ears heard and by your hands hath God executed his Judgements But what amendment can be espied in you Idolatry was never in greater quiet Vertue and vertuous men were never in more contempt Vice was never more bold nor punishment lesse feared And yet who guides the Queene and Court who but the Protestants O horrible slanderers of God and of his holy Evangell Better it were unto you plainely to renounce Christ Jesus then thus to expose his blessed Evangell to Mockage if God punisheth not you That this same age shall see and behold your punishment the spirit of righteous judgement guides me not This vehemency provoked the hatred not onely of the Courtiers but also of divers others against the Speaker which was Iohn Knox for such as be in credit never lack flatterers Their Brethren of the Court were irreverendly handled What was that but to raise the hearts of the people against them They did what they could Such speaking would cause them to do lesse And this was the fruit that the Preachers gathered of their just reprehensions The generall Assembly of the Church held on the 25 of December 1562. approached In the which great complaints were made That Churches lacked Ministers That Ministers lacked their Stipends That wicked men were permitted to be Schoole-Masters and so to infect the youth amongst them whom one Master Robert Cunning Schoole-master in Aberbrothoke was complained upon by the Laird of Dun and sentence pronounced against him It was further complained That Idolatry was erected in divers parts of the Realm For redresse hereof some thought best That a new supplication should be presented to the Queen others demanded what answer was received of the former The superintendent of Lowthian confessed the delivery of it but said he I received no answer It was answered for the part of the Queene for her supposts were ever there that it was well known to the whole Realm what troubles had occurred since the last Assembly and therefore That they should not wonder albeit that the Queen had not answered but betwixt that and the Parliament which was appointed to be in May they doubted not but such order should be taken as all men should have occasion to stand content This satisfied for that time the whole Assembly And this was the practice of the Queene and of her Councell with faire words to drive time as before we have said The Assembly notwithstanding proceeded forward in establishing of such orders as whereby vice might be punished and vertue might be maintained And because there was a great slander risen upon Paul Meffane of whom mention is made in the
greater enemy to the banished Lords And at this time the principall Lords that waited at Court were divided in opinions For the Earle of Morton Chancellor with the Earle of Marr and Secretary Lethington were on the one part and the Earles of Huntley and Bothwell on the other part so that a certain drynesse was amongst them neverthelesse by means of the Earle of Athole they were reconciled Now as there was preparation made by the Papists for Christmas the Queen being then at Masse the King came publikely and bare company and the Friers Preached the dayes following alwayes using another stile then they had done seven yeers before during which time they had not Preached publikely they were so little esteemed that they continued not long in Preaching At the same time convened in Edinburgh the generall Assembly of the Ministers and Commissioners of the Churches Reformed within this Realme There assisted them of the Nobility the Earles of Morton and Marr the Lord Lindsay and Secretary Lethington with others The chief things that were concluded in this Assembly were That for the avoyding of the plagues and scourges of God which appeared to come upon the people for their sins and ingratitude there should be proclaimed by the Ministers a publike Fast to be Universally observed thorowout all the Reformed Churches which manner of Fasting was soon after devised by Iohn Knox at the Command of the Church and put in Print wherefore needs not here to be recited in this place What followed upon the said Fast shall be plainly God willing declared The second thing that was ordained in this Assembly was concerning the Ministers who for want of payment of their stipends were like to perish or else to leave their Ministry wherefore it was found necessary That supplication should be made to the King and Queens Majesties And for the same purpose a certain uumber of the most able men were elected to go to their Majesties aforesaid to lament and bemone their case Which persons had Commission to propose some other things as shall be declared The names of them that past from the Church to the King and Queens Majesties were M. Iohn Spotswood Superintendent of Lowthian Iohn Winrame Superintendent of Fyfe M. Iohn Row Minister of Perth M. David Lyndsay Minister of Leith who easily obtained audience of the King and Queens Majesties And after their reverence done M. Iohn Row in name of the rest opened the matter lamenting bewailing the miserable state of the poor Ministers who by publike command had been reasonably satisfied three yeers or more by vertue of the Act made with advice of the honorable Privie Councell for the taking up of the Thirds of the Benefices which was especially made in their favours Neverthelesse the Laird of Tillibardin new Comptroller would answer them nothing Wherefore they besought their Majesties for relief Secondly seeing that in all Supplications made to the King and Queens Majesties by the Church at all times they desired most earnestly that all Idolatry and superstition and especially the Masse should be rooted out and abolished quite out of this Realme And that in the last generall Assembly of the Church by their Commissioners they had most earnestly desired the same And that their answer was then That they knew no impediment in the Masse therefore the Assembly desired That it might please their Highnesses to hear Disputation to the end that such as now pretend to Preach in the Chappell Royall and maintain such errours the Truth being tryed by disputation that they might be known to be abusers submitting themselves alwayes to the Word of God written in the Scriptures To this it was answered by the Queen That she was alwayes minded that the Ministers should be paid their Stipends and if there was any fault therein the same came by some of their own sort meaning the Comptroller Pittarow who had the handling of the Thirds Alwayes by the advice of her Councell she should cause such order to be taken therein that none should have occasion to complain As to the second She would not jeopard her Religion upon such as were there present for she knew well enough that the Protestants were more learned The Ministers and Commissioners of Churches perceiving nothing but delay and driving off time in the old manner went home every one to their own Churches waiting upon the good providence of God continually making Supplication unto Almighty God that it would please him of his mercy to remove the apparant plague And in the mean time the Queen was busied with Banqueting about with some of the Lords of the Session of Edinburgh and after with all men of Law having continually in her company David Rizio who sate at Table neer to her self sometimes more privately then became a man of his Condition for his over-great familiarity was already supected and it was thought That by his advice alone the Queens sharpnesse and extremity towards the Lords was maintained In the end of Ianuary arrived an Ambassadour from France named Monsieur Rambullet having with him about fourty Horse in Trayn who came thorow England He brought with him the Order of the Cockle from the King of France to the King who received the same at the Masse in the Chappell of the Palace of Halyrud-house There assisted the Earles of Lenox Athole and Eglington with divers such other Papists as would please the Queen who three dayes after caused the Herald to convene in Councell and reasoned what Armes should be given to the King some thought he should have the Armes of Scotland some others said Seeing it was not concluded in Parliament that he should have the Crown Matrimoniall he could have Armes but onely as Duke of Rothesay Earle of Rosse c. The Queen bade give him onely his due whereby it was perceived her love waxed cold towards him Finally his Arms were left blank and the Queen caused put her own name before her husbands in all Wrets and thereafter she caused to leave out his name wholly And because formerly he had signed every thing of any moment she caused to make a Seale like the Kings and gave it to David Rizio who made use of it by the Queens Command alleadging That the King being at his Pastime could not alwayes be present About the same time the Earle of Glencarne came from Barwicke to his owne Countrey Soon after the Earle of Bothwell was married unto the Earle of Huntley his sister The Queene desired that the Marriage might be made in the Chappell at the Masse which the Earle Bothwell would in no wise grant Upon Sunday the third day of March began the Fasting at Edinburgh The seventh day of March the Queen came from the Pallace of Hallirud-house to the Town in wondrous gorgious apparell albeit the number of Lords and Train was not very great In the mean time the King accompanied with seven or eight horse went to the Leith to passe his time there for hee was not like
Master Iohn Sinclar Bishop of Rosse and Dean of Lestarrig of whom hath been oft mention President of the Colledge of Justice called the Session who also succeeded in the said Office and Dignity after the decease of his brother Master Iohn Sinclar Bishop of Rosse Dean of Glasgow who departed this life at Paris about a yeer before They were both learned in the Laws and given to maintain the Popish Religion and therefore great enemies to the Protestants A little before died Master Abrabam Crithton who had been President likewise now in their rooms The Queen placed such as she pleased and had done her service alwayes very unfit The Patrimony of the Kirk Bishopricks Abbeyes and such other Benefices were disposed by the Queen to Courtiers Dancers and Flatterers The Earle Bothwell whom the Queen preferred above all others after the decease of David Rizio had for his part Melrosse Hadington and New Bottell likewise the Castle of Dumbar was given to him with the principall Lands of the Earldome of Merche which were of the Patrimony of the Crown At the same time the Superintendents with the other Ministers of the Churches perceiving the Ministery like to decay for lack of payment of Stipends to Ministers they gave this Supplication at Edinburgh The Supplication of the Ministers to the Queene UNto your Majesty and your most honourable Councel most humbly and lamentably complains your Highnesse poor Orators the Superintendents and other Ministers of the Reformed Church of God travelling thorowout all your Highnesse Realme in teaching and instructing your Lieges in all Quarters in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus his Son That where your Majestie with the advice of the Councell and Nobility aforesaid moved by godly zeal concluded and determined That the travelling Ministery thorowout this Realme should be maintained upon the Rents of the Benefices of this Realme of Scotland and for that cause your Majesty with the advice of the Councell and Nobility aforesaid upon the 15 day of December 1562. in like manner concluded and determined That if the said part of the Rents of the whole Benefices Ecclesiasticall within this Realme would be sufficient to maintain the Ministers thorowout the whole Realm and to support your Majestie in the setting forward of your common affairs should be employed accordingly Failing thereof the third part of the said fruits or more to be taken up yeerly in time coming untill a generall Order be taken therein as the Act made thereupon at more length bears Which being afterward considered by your Majesty the whole Thirds of the fruits aforesaid were propounded to the uses aforesaid by Act of Councell And we your Majesties poor Orators put in peaceable possession of the part assigned by your Majestie to us by the space of three yeers or thereabouts which we did enjoy without interruption notwithstanding all this now of late we your Majesties poor Orators aforesaid are put wrongfully and unjustly from their aforesaid part of the above specified Thirds by your Majesties Officers and thereby brought to such extreme penury and extreme distresse as we are not able any longer to maintain our selves And albeit we have given in divers and sundry complaints to your Majestie herein and have received divers promises of redresse yet have we found no relief Therefore we most humbly beseech your Majesty to consider our most grievous complaint together with the right above specified whereon the same is grounded And if your Majestie with the advice of your Councell aforesaid findes our right sufficient to continue us in possession of our part assigned to us while and untill a generall Order be taken which possession was ratified by the yeerly allowance of your Majesties Exchequers accompt That your Majesty would grant us Letters upon the aforesaid Act and Ordinance past thereupon against all intromettors and medlers with the aforesaid Thirds to answer and obey according to the aforesaid Act and Ordinance of our possession proceeding thereupon And likewise that we may have Letters if need be to arrest and stay the aforesaid Thirds in the possessors hands while and untill sufficient caution be found to us for our part aforesaid And your answer most humbly we beseech This Supplication being presented by the Superintendent of Lowthian and M. Iohn Craig in the Castle of Edinburgh was graciously received by the Queen who promised that she would take sufficient order therein so soon as the Nobility and Councell might convene The 19 of Iune the Queen was delivered of a man-childe the Prince in the aforesaid Castle and immediately sent into France and England her Posts to advertise the neighbour Princes and to desire them to send Gossips or Wintesses of the Princes Baptisme In the mean time there was joy and triumph made in Edinburgh and such other places where it was known after thanks and praises given unto God with Supplications for the godly Education of the Prince and principally wishing that he should be Baptized according to the manner and forme observed in the Reformed Churches within this Realme About the same time to wit the 25 of Iune the generall Assembly of the whole Church convened at Edinburgh The Earles of Argyle and Murray assisted at the Assembly Paul Methvin who before as we heard was excommunicate gave in his Supplication and desired to be heard as he had done divers times for the said Paul had written oft times out of England to the Laird of Dun and to divers others most earnestly desiring to be received again into the Fellowship of the Church After reasoning of the matter it was finally granted That he should be heard And so being before the Assembly and falling upon his knees burst out with tears and said He was not worthy to appear in their presence alwayes he desired them for the love of God to receive him to the open expression of his repentance Shortly after they appointed certain of the Ministers to prescribe to him the form of his declaration of Repentance which was thus in effect first That he should present himself barefoot and bare-head arayed in Sack-cloth at the principall entry of Saint Gyles Kirk in Edinburgh at seven hours in the morning upon the next Wednesday and there to remain the space of an hour the whole people beholding him till the Prayer was made Psalmes sung and Text of Scripture was read and then to come into into the place appointed for expression of repentance and tarry the time of Sermon and to do so likewise the next Friday following and also upon the Sunday and then in the face of the whole Church to declare his repentance with his owne mouth The same form and manner he should use in Iedwart and Dundie And that being done to present himself again at the next generall Assembly following in Winter where he should be received to the Communion of the Church When the said Paul had received the said Ordinance he took it very grievously alleadging They had used over-great severity Neverthelesse
tongue and my Cause to be heard before your Majestie and the Body of the Realm before that any such Processe was laid against me as this my Letter directed to your Majesty doth testifie The beginning of the Letter THE Eternall Providence of the same God who hath appointed his chosen Children to fight in this transistory and wretched life a battell strong and difficile hath also appointed their finall victory by a marvellous fashion and the manner of their preservation in their battell more marvellous their victory standeth not in resisting but in suffering as our Soveraign Master pronounceth to his Disciples that in patience they should possesse their soules And the same foresaw the Prophet Esay when that he painteth forth all other battell to be with violence tumult and blood-shedding but the victory of Gods people to be in quietnesse silence and hope meaning that all others that obtain victorie do enforce themselves to resist their adversaries to shed bloood and to murther But so do not the Elect of God but all things they sustain at the commandment of him who hath appointed them to suffer being most assuredly perswaded that then onely they triumph when all wen judge them oppressed For in the Crosse of Christ alwayes is included a secret and hid victory never well known till the sufferer appear all together to be as it were exterminate for then onely did the blood of Abel crie to God when proud Cain judged all memory of his brother to have been extinguished and so I say their victory is marvellous and how that they can be preserved and not brought to utter confusion the eye of man perceiveth not But he whose power is infinite by secret and hid motions toucheth the hearts of such as to mans judgment hath power to destroy them with very pietie and compassion to save his people as in times past he did the hearts of the Egyptian Midwives to preserve the men-children of the Israelites when command was given of Pharoah for their destruction The heart of Pharaohs daughter likewise to pitty Moses in his young infancy exposed to the danger of the waters The heart of Nabuchadnezzar to preserve the Captives alive and liberally to nourish the Children that were found apt to Letters And finally The heart of Cyrus to set at liberty the people of God after long bondage and thraldome And thus doth the invisible power and love of God manifest it self towards his Elect from time to time for two causes specially First to comfort his weake warriers in their manifold temptations letting them understand That he is able to compell such as sometimes were enemies to his people to fight their Cause and to promote their deliverance And secondarily to give a testimony of his favour to them that by all appearance did lâ—ve before as Saint Paul speaketh wanting God in the world as strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel and without the league of his mercifull promise and free grace mâ—de to his Church For who would have affirmed That any of these persons aforenamed had been of that nature and clemency before occasions were offered unto them But the works of mercie shewed to the afflicted have left to as assurance That God used them as vessels of his honour For pitie and mercie shewed to Christs afflicted flock as they never lacked reward temporall so if they be continued and be not changed into crueltie are assured signes and seales of everlasting mercy to be received from God who by his Holy Spirit moveth their heats to shew mercy to the people of God oppressed and afflicted Addition THis Preface I used to give your Majestie occasion more deeply to consider what hath been the condition of Christs Members from the beginning that in so doing ye might see That it is no new thing that the Saints of God be oppressed in the word that ye moved by earnest contemplation of the same might also study rather to save them from murder although by the wicked councels of many ye were provoked to the contrary then to engage your self to the corrupt Clergie who are servants to sinne and Sathan whose fury is bent against God and his verity But this after followeth in our Let-which thus proceedeth Letter YOur Majestie perchance doth wonder to what purpose these things be recited and I in very deed cannot wonder enough that occasion is offered to me a worme most wretched to recite the same at this present for I have looked rather for the sentence of death then to have written to your Majestie in these last and most wicked dayes in which Sathan so blindeth the hearts of many that innocents are condemned their Cause never tried Addition HEreof ye cannot be ignorant For besides these whom ye hear from time to time most cruelly to be murthered in France Italy Spaine Flanders and now of late yeers besides you in England for no other cause but that they professe Christ Jesus to be the onely Saviour of the world The onely Mediator betwixt God and man The onely Sacrifice acceptable for the sins of all faithfull and finally The onely Head to his Church Besides these I say of whom ye hear the brute ye have been witnesse That some within the Realm of Scotland for the same cause most cruelly have been murthered whose cause was never heard with indifferency But murtherers sitting in the Seat of Justice have shed the blood of Christs true Witnesses which albeit did then appear to be consumed away with fire yet it is resent in the presence of him for whose cause they did suffer and ceaseth not to call for vengeance with the blood of Abel to fall upon not onely such as were immediate and next authors of that murther but also upon all those that maintain those tyrants in their tyranny or that do consent to their beastly cruelty or that do not stop having the power in hand Take not this as the affirmation of any man but hear and consider the voice of the Son of God Fulfill saith he the measure of your fathers that all the blood which hath been shed since the blood of Abel the just till the blood of Zachariah c. may come upon this generation Hereby it is evident That the murtherers of our time as well as in the time of Christ are guilty of all the blood that hath been shed from the beginning Fearfull I grant is the sentence yet it is most equall and just For whosoever sheddeth the blood of any one of Christ Jesus his members for professing of his Truth consenteth to all the murther which hath been made since the beginning for that cause So that as there is one communion of all Gods Elect of whom every member is participant of the holy Justice of Christ so is there a communion among the reprobate by which every one of the Serpents seed are criminall and guilty of all iniquity which the whole Body committeth because
Chron. 34 35. chap. Mat. 13.24 25 26 c. Mat. 13 20 21 Rom. 10.9 13. Rom. 7 c. 2 Cor. 5.21 John 5.28 29. Apoc 20.28 Heb 19 25 26 27. Mat 25 31. Apoc. 14.10 Rom. 26.7 8 9 10. Phil. 3 21. 1 Cor 15.28 This we confirmed 1567. in the first Parliament of Iames 6 held by the Earle Murray and all Acts in any Parliament before whatsoever against the truth abolished The Lord of the Articles are a Committee of 24. whereof in former times there was eight Lords eight Church-men who were called Lords and eight Commons So from the greater part they were named Lords and of the Articles Because all Articles and Heads that are to passe in Parliament are first brought to them who having discussed them sends them to the House of Parlâ—ament The latin Histories calls their Lords of the Articles Apolecti The Earle Marshall his pious voyce in Parliament This Act is particularly confirmed 1567. in the Parliament under Iames 6. holden by the Earl Murrâ—y This also was confirmed by one particular Act 1567. by the Parliament holden by the Earle Murray Note this diligently Quest. Answ. Note this I pray you for these dayes sake See how this agreeâ— with the worldlings now adayes What blessings hath been since in the house of Erskin they know best Note how although the Prelats being convinced of the truth did subscribe unto it yet it was with this Proâ—iso That they should enjoy their rents for their lives Note men to their owne countrey Note this for our dayes Let this teach us to seek God The death of the yong King of France husband to our Queen 15. December 1560. Note this well Note Note Lesley his answer * That is An. 1566 when this book was written Note the liberality of the Earle Murray Note this diligently Where then are Pluralities and fatnesse of Livings in our dayes Let the Church-men now adayes look to this Wâ—at can the Pâ—elats say to this Ambassadour from France and his demands See the study of France to divide the two Kingdoms newly bound for mantenance of Religion against the common enemies Note The Protestants faithfulnesse ill rewarded A foolish play used in time of darknes Hence we say any foolish thing to be like a play of Robin-Hood Some say his name is Killone Of the Queen Regents death Note Note Note diligently Let this also be considered and referred to our times Note Note Reader remark the advantages that Scotland hath from France A good Character of Bishops Let us stick to God and he will not leave us Faire words to no purpose That was a secret Lardon She meant she would seek a safe conduct * Ever till that she may shew her evill will If France would have sustained rhem they had not yet departed The second secret Lardon The Arms of England were usurped Your Papists and ours have practised and still practise division So that she might have England to the Popes Religion I think she said not amisse The feare of God in the heart of Elias 〈◊〉 disobediâ—â—â— to cursed 〈◊〉 Nâ—te 〈…〉 his 〈…〉 well to 〈…〉 as 〈◊〉 the subjects Note The third Lardon of accusing England of inconstancy in Religion Notwithstanding his own disorder Note this false lye and see how it answers to the calumnies of these dayes The Peace and Contract at Leith Many Princes little regarded that All power is not then in the Prince if the States have any as they have Note this Note Note the Scots acknowledgement Isaiah 40 31. A true acknowledgment oâ— mans weaknesse to the glory of God and as it was then so hath it been in this last Reformation As it was then so it is now by Gods mercies â—o that Nation The first Petition of the Protestants of Scotland Let this be noted for example The cause of the trouble within Scotland flowed from the Courtiers who seemed to professe the Evangell He means the Loâ—d Iames Earle Murray The corruption that entred the Queens Court. The Theologie of the Court and their reasonâ— Wicked Councellors â—athers all thâ—ir mischievâ—us plots upon misled Princes and causeth them to take all things upon them This was written when the secoâ—d rank of the Lordâ— was banished Anno 1560 after Danâ—â—s sâ—aughter The Queens Arrivaâ—l from France 156â— Tâ—â—â—le lugubre Coelum The Queens first â—â—ace in despight of Religion The Queens first Masse Lord Iames notwithstanding his sonner zeal to tâ—e Truth complying with Court favoureth Idolatry â— godly resoâ—â—â—â—on The end is not yet seen The perswâ—sâ—ons of the Courtiers The Lord Arrans stout and godly Protestatiâ—n against the Quâ—ens Masse Good resolution if followed Robert Campbell to the Lord Vchiltrie The Queens practise at the first The iudgment of Iohn Knox upon the suffering of the Masse The Courtier making Note diligently how wise and godly mâ—n are so mistaken oft as to play after games And this M. Knox doth acknowledge here The first reasoning betwixt the Queen and Iohn Knox. Note how that Princâ—s are informed against Godâ— servant Let this be noted diligently Let the Prince note this Let this wiâ—e reply be noted Note this undertaking The Queens second Objection Answer Note this comparison Blinde zeal what it is When this was written there was no appearance of Maries imprisonment The Queens Church Strong Imagination called conscience Question Note this Iohn Knox his judgement of the Queen at the first and ever since The Queens first Progresse Note the disposition of a misled soul. Boâ—fours doctrine Note this diligently Yet in the Parliament holden 1563. there is an expresse Act for punishing of Adultery by death It is the Act 74. The devil getting entry to his little finger will screw in his whole arm Note this The Queenes first fray in Hallyrud-house Division between the Lords and the Ministers The Queen fain would have had all Assemblies discharged Note this diliâ—gently Note this dilâ—gently Note this passage Iohn Knox his judgement of the thirds Let this be noted * That is five old pieces A proverb upon Pittaro Controller The right that Princes have to the Patrimony of the Church Note The marriage of the Earl of Murray Note this diligently Note this diligently The Mask of Orleance The Hamiltons against Bothwell and the Marquesse The Earle of Bothwells communication with Iohn Knox 1562. Note the complement Note diligently Reconciliation betwixt the Earle of Arrane and Earle of Bothwell Note diligently Psal. 2. The second communing of Iohn Knox with the Queen Note diligently Note Note Note diligently Note Let Princes note this Let Court-Chaplains and unthrifts of the time note this The Earle of Lennox and his Lady imprisoned in the Tower of London for traffiquing with Papists Sharp left preaching and took him to the Laws Note This causeth the Quâ—ens Râ—ligion to have many â—avourers Note Note Note dâ—ligently Note Note this for our times Note this for our times An answer to Lethington Note this diligently Iohn Gordonne and Ogilvie Bothwell