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
THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORY OF SCOTLAND THE HISTORIE Of the REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Containing five Books Together with some TREATISES conducing to the History Published by Authority JEREM. 5.1 Run ye to and fro thorow the streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can finde a man if there be any executeth Iudgement that seeketh the Truth and I will pardon it 2 COR. 13.8 For we can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth LONDON Printed by Iohn Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen and are to be sold at the signe of the Rose in Pauls Church-yard MDCXLIV To the Reader Christian Reader HEre I present unto thee a Piece I dare promise worthy of thy reading wherein thou hast a true and plain Relation without disguising of many memorable Passages happened in the Church of God and likewise some notable ones in the State of the Kingdom of Scotland from the very first setling of State and Church in that Countrey But namely and chiefly thou hast here related what principally passed in Church and State in this our Countrey during the great Work of purging the Church from the Superstitions and Idolatry and freeing both Church and State from the Tyranny and Slavery of Popery untill the coming of King James our late Soveraign to the Crown of Scotland Further beside the true and faithfull Relation of many Occurrences that fell out in these dayes in Scotland thou hast unfolded unto thee and made plain the strong Reasons and necessery Causes that moved these men who are here named although infirm and weake in themselves to undergo the great Work of Reformation With the solid Grounds upon which they went on with this weighty Businesse willingly and cheerfully notwithstanding the great rubs and difficulties they met withall through the help and assistance of God who by them mean Instruments brought things to passe in despight of the malice and stratagems of Sathan with his agents for the good of his People and the setling of his Church in Purity and Liberty All these things are set down plainly and simply in familiar and homely Language Yet so that they may be with ease apprehended and understood by any one From what thou hast here written in this Volume although there were no other Writings in this kinde extant thou mayest see easily by what means the great Mystery of Iniquity from the very first Rise hath been set afoot and constantly ever since hath been carried on to wit By cunning Devices impudent Lyes continued and crafty Plots under specious Pretexts and open Oppression Tyranny and Cruelties within Scotland till the yeer of Christ 1567. After which time the enemies of God and of his People have not been sleeping till this present more then formerly Wherefore for thy good Christian Reader I have thought fit in this place to point at some main Occurrences from that time till now First then the adversaries of Truth and Goodnesse under the specious Pretext of restoring Queen Mary to her Liberty and of re-establishing her in full Authority and sole Power did disquiet and trouble both Church and State in Scotland both with open Force and subtill Plots for some yeers that is to the 1573 yeer But finding that all their Undertakings under this pretext proved to be in vain and without successe and standing to their main Designe of undoing Religion and Liberty they bethought themselves of another way in appearance more plausible for compassing their wicked Intents it was To deal by way of entreaty and request with the chief Ministers of State and Church then To have the Mother set at liberty and to be joynt in Authority and Power with her Son And for the obtaining of this was employed the credit of the French Court for the time with all its skill and cunning but to small purpose For these rude fellows who managed the publike Affairs then of State and Church could not be corrupted with the French Complements In this way the enemies continued till the yeer 1577 and did not then give over notwithstanding their bad successe but according to their wonted and resolved custome they went on with their Designe betaking themselves to a new course wherein they had indeed more successe then in either of the former two It was this They did set awork certain men who with fair words and flattering tales so craftily dealt with the young King hardly yet twelve yeers of age that they made him cast off as a yoke the counsell and service of those who ever since his Birth-day had carefully laboured for the good of State and Church with the pereservation of his Authority and safety of his Person And so the inconsiderate young King although of most nimble wit and knowing above his yeers under the shew of freedom put himself in the power of those who wished no good to his Person and Authority and as little to the Church and State making no scruple to trouble both for their own ends according to the Instructions of the Masters who set them awork So in very short time they gave unto the young King such impressions which did stick too much to him that not onely he became averse from those who had been so usefull to the publike and so serviceable to him but also he suffered them to be persecuted yea some by death and others by banishment While the enemies were thus working businesse with us in Scotland they were not idle with our neighbours in England for they were contriving and plotting under colour of setting the imprisoned Queen at liberty And were gone so far on in this way in both Kingdoms that to stop the course and progresse of the enemies both Countries thought it necessary to enter into a mutuall League and Covenant one with another for the defence of the Reformed Religion and Liberties of both Kingdoms with the preservation of the Persons and Authorities of both Princes King James and Queen Elizabeth against the common enemy This was done by the consent of both Princes in the yeer 1686. After this the enemy seeing the warinesse of both Kingdoms to be such that in a short time he was not likely to advance the main Designe according to his minde by craft and cunning leaveth off for a time to act the part of the Fox and openly declares himself to be a ravishing Wolf So the yeer 1588 the Armado cometh against both Kingdoms which God in his mercy unto our fathers and us brought to nought About this time and some yeers before the agents of the enemy were very busie with King James to break with England and to revenge the hard usage and ill treatment of his Mother But God did direct him so for his own good that he did give no consent to their evil counsell Upon this refusall of the Kings the agents of the common enemy do bestir themselves to trouble both King and Kingdom which they did in a
and quiet all things speedily with wisedom to the good of the people with due obedience to our lawfull Sovereign under God as we are taught by the Law of God the Law of Nature the Law of Nations and the Municipall Laws of our severall Countreys But to return to the Church The Scots although they received amongst them the light of the Gospel with the very first of the Gentiles as we have said yet had they not the Evangel so universally professed thorow the whole Countrey till towards the first yeers of the third Age that is till Donald the first who not onely professed the Faith of Christ himself with his Family but did his best to cast out Idolatry wholly from his Dominions and to settle the Ministery of the Gospel in every corner thereof But this religious King could not bring to passe this his good Designe fully being diverted by continuall Wars against the Romans the whole course of his life After the death of Donald till toward the later end of the third age that is to the Reign of Crathilinth this work of totally putting down Idolatry and setling the Gospel every where in the Countrey by the negligence of the following Princes was at a stay In this King Crathilinth his dayes fell out the ninth persecution under Aurelius and the tenth under Dioclesian which gave occasion to many Christians from divers parts of the Empire but namely from the South parts of Britanie now another time to flie into Scotland for refuge as they had done before under Domitian Among those fugitives who did then repair into Scotland for shelter from the generall massacre were many excellent men in Piety and Learning whom the King Crathilinth not onely kindely received but also employed to ayd and help him and his Councell in the further setling of Christs Truth in his Kingdom and in the totall extirpation of Idolatry out of it which was so much the harder work because of the Druides the principall false Prophets and Idolatrous Priests in those dayes who not onely by their subtill hypocrisie and sense-pleasing Divine Service but also by a cunning forecast having drawn into their hands the hearing and determining of Civill affairs had so gained upon the spirits of the poor and simple people that they could not imagine how to be without them and live The resolute care and diligence of King Crathilinth and his Councell with the help of those pious and learned men surpasseth all difficulties and having put quite down the Groves and Altars under the Oaks and in a word all Idoll Service established the pure Worship of the true God in every place of his Dominions and filled up the rooms of those false Prophets with godly and learned Teachers of the people which was done every where thorow the Kingdom but particularly in the Islands which those pious men chose for their principall abode as being most fit for a retired life and namely in the Isle of Man the King Crathilinth caused to build a Church to the honour of our Saviour which in following times by corruptions was called Fanum Sodorense for Soterense the word originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hence the Town neer the Church was called Sodora as Minster in our vulgar language and Moustier in French signifying a Town in a secondary signification neer a Church Those godly men being setled as aforesaid and having withdrawn themselves from the sollicitude of worldly affairs did wholly give themselves to divine Service that is To instruct the ignorant comfort the weak administer the Sacraments to the people and to train up Novices and Disciples to do the same service in their due time These men for their single and retired life were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Monks by abbreviation and for their travelling altogether in Gods Worship and Service were called Colidei or Culdees These Culdees were so given to the exercise of devotion by the meditating the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven and by Prayers that the very Cells whereinto they had inclosed and separated themselves from the world after their death were reputed so many Temples or Chappels set aside for Divine Service hence to this day Cella is taken for a Church among the ancient Scots as you may see in these composed names Kelmarnoc Marnoc his Church Celpatric Patrick his Church The Culdees thus setled as we have seen did chose out of themselves some eminent men in piety knowledge and wisedom to oversee the rest and to keep them to the discharge of their duty towards the People and towards the Disciples with an orderly and discreet carriage of each one towards another in their severall societies and in their private These Overseers or Superintendents chosen of themselves and by themselves did discharge the Duties of their Function indifferently every where thorowout the whole Kingdom without restraining themselves to any certain place or Lording over their Brethren or any part of the Flock of Jesus Christ not attributing unto themselves any particular distinct holy order from the rest belonging onely to them and to be onely conferred by them This way of instructing the People and governing the Church by Culdees did continue for many yeers under Gods mercy the Ministery of Gods Church as yet not being become a businesse of gain and of worldly pomp and pride So these Culdees and Overseers of others had no other emulation but of weldoing nor striving but to advance true Pietie and godly Learning The Overseers of Superintendents of the Culdees were commonly called by the Writers who writ of those dayes Scotorum Episcopi without any definition of place or preeminence of one above another But to return to Crathilinth who till his dying day which was about the 312. yeer did constantly continue to advance the Kingdom of Christ as likewise his successor Fincormac under whose dayes the Gospel did flourish in Puritie and in Peace he died about the yeer 358. After the death of Fincormac both the Church and State of Scotland fell in great disorder and troubles by domestick dissensions and factions for some yeers The Roman Lievtenant Maximus seeing the intestine troubles of Scotland began to lay hold upon the occasion First he foments their divisions within them next not onely he withdraws under fair promises from the Scots their ancient Allies the Picts but also obtains help of the Picts to make Warre against the Scots and so to defeat them which he did effectuate indeed in a battell fought with much bloodshed on both sides at the Water of Dun in Carrick wherein the King Ewen was killed this defeat fell out about 380. in the yeer of Christ the most part of the Nobilitie and numbers of People of those that escaped some fled into the West Isles some into Ireland and others to the Northern parts of Germany or Scandia some submitted themselves to the will and discretion of the Conquerour with the poor people that had not taken arms Among those that fled
secretly out of the way Also Katherine Hamilton his sister was accused and being questioned upon Works she answered That none was saved by his works Then Iohn Spencer spake to her of the works of congruo and condigno to which she answered Work here work there what kinde of working is all this no works can save me but Christ's At this the King being present laughed and after conveyed her away secretly One Henry Forest a Monk of the Order of Benet and Collet as they spoke then was also accused of heresie but without sufficient proof Then he was sent to Walter Ange whom Buchanan in his Satyre against the Gray Friers called Langius to be confessed Langius having asked him by way of confession What he thought of Patrick Hamilton He answered That he was a good man and that his Articles were to be maintained Lange discovers this simple mans confession and this confession being taken for a sufficient proof the poor man was condemned to be burnt and so he was immediately after they had degraded him according to their Custom As they were leading him to the Execution-place he complained of the Fryer who had betrayed him and said Let no man trust the false Fryers after me they are despisers of God and deceivers of men They burnt him at the North Style of the Abbey Church in Saint Andrews that the Hereticks of Angus might see the fire 1558. One Andrew Oliphant accused with heat Walter Mill an ancient man and formerly a Priest and said to him being at his devotion Rise up Sir Walter He answered when he had ended his prayer My name is Walter I have been too long one of the Popes Knights for all Priests are Sirs Andrew Oliphant said to him Thou keepest my Lords too long here therefore haste He answered I must obey God before men Being questioned by Oliphant concerning Priests Marriage he answered It was Gods Ordinance That every man that had not the gift of chastity should marry but you abhor it vowing chastity which you cannot keep but take other mens wives and daughters Then being asked if there were not seven Sacraments he answered Let me have two take you the rest to your selves Being asked about the Masse he answered A Lord sendeth and calleth many to his dinner and when all is ready he causeth ring the Bell the guests come into the hall but he turning his back upon them eateth all himself And so do you Then he added The Scripture is not to be understood carnally Christ hath put an end to all carnall Sacrifices by offering once for all his body upon the Crosse. Many other Queries were put to him to which he answered stoutly Being desired to recant he told them That he was corn and not chaff I will said he neither be blown by the winde nor bruised with the Flail but I will abide both I will not recant the Truth Being commanded to go to the stake by Oliphant he answered By the Law of God I am forbidden to put hand on my self therefore put thou me to it with thy hands and then thou shalt see my resolution After he had said his Prayer he gat leave with difficulty to speak to the people standing by In his Speech he told them That although he was a great sinner yet it was for Gods Truth contained in his Word of the Old and New Testament that he suffered and that God in the abundance of his mercy towards him did honour him so far as to make him seal his Truth with his life among other of his Servants He added Dear friends as you would escape eternall death be no more seduced with lies of Arch-bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Priests Monks Friers and the rest of the Antichristian rabble but onely trust in God This was the last man that died for Religion in Scotland And by his death was given the very dead blow to Popery for by his death the people of all ranks and conditions were so moved that they made open profession of the Truth without any more dallying and presently was upon this occasion made a Covenant or Bond of mutuall defence To defend one another by Arms against the Tyranny of the Bishops and their Parties Errata THe Life Page 2. line 7. dele he P. 5. l. 38. r. ordinarily P. 6. l. 24. r. would Preface P. 4. l. 23. r. Author P. 37. l. 5. d. in P. 39. l. 12 13. r. the Kingdom was l. 25. r. ever P. 40. l. 20. r. any part P. 45. l. 8. r. grief The first Book P. 4. l. 43. r. he did p. 36. l. 3â— r. drowned p. 37. l. 7. r. used not p. 39. l. 6. r. inviolably l. 7. r. worthy p. 76. l. 47 d. from p 58. l. 33. d. not p. 73. l. 14. r. 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the people to spirituall and temporall Bondage which in all humane probability had not been difficile to effectuate then such was the sheeppish sillinesse and knavish basenesse of many men in these Dominions of all ranks conditions and professions as also the unpreparednesse of the wiser and better Patriots and Members of the Church to withstand this mischief if God in his mercy by the unexpected death of the Court-ruler and chief agent in the businesse had not put in a Remora and lett At which time if men had returned unto God amending their lives in private and had expressed their true zeal then to the good of the Church and Countrey whereof they are members according to their severall ranks and conditions the designe of the common enemy had been fully dasht But God in his wisedom hath been pleased to keep us yet a while longer under the rod of tryall to see if we will return unto him at last The Romish party although astonished and surprised at the death of their Engine and main Instrument here among us gives not over but continues the great Designe without intermission albeit not with such speed as formerly for those to whose care principally the businesse was committed and in whose hands the managing of matters had fallen by the death of the late Fac totum were not so powerfull to obtain without refusall what they pleased at the Kings hands neither were they in such opinion and reputation with inferiours to make them go on in the work so earnestly wherefore the Queen must be brought now of necessity to take upon her the main care and to obtain from the King whatsoever may conduce and further the businesse and take away all letts and stops which may hinder the proceedings Then to employ all her credit abroad for countenancing and advancing affairs And next by her authority to draw on inferiours to act their part with affection and ardour Now all things being thus cunningly and carefully by degrees in few yeers prepared and disposed for enslaving Church and State Prince and People to Rome again it was thought fit by the hottest of the party to wit the Iesuites to hasten the work openly and delay no more time the compassing of the Designe being conceived to be infallible By this means they thought to shorten the businesse and to make themselves so considerable as to share deeply in the Booty of which they looked for but little if things were still lingred and carryed on slowly But how and where to begin this new undertaking was consulted upon and after deliberation the Scots must be begun at the way is resolved on there must be a new Prayer-Book put upon these rude fellows that they may say their Prayers in modo figura a la Romaine and not so rudely and irregularly as they were wont to do in the Northern way Then they must have high-Commission Courts Canons and Etcetera's Which things if the Scots be so wise to accept as doubtlesse they will reasoned these men but he that reckons without this host reckons twice for their chief men of State are either actually at Court or provided to places in the Countrey from Court at least they can do no businesse of moment without the favour of the Court. At this time the devout and religious Prelats with the rest of their good Clergie are not onely in all earnestnesse bent for the work according to their severall places in the Church but also they over-sway all busines in State Wherefore without difficulty we will compasse our main Designe thorow all these Dominions said they And truely so they had in all likelihood as we may see by the wofull carriage of businesse and so ill managing so good a Cause in England since But God had in his mercy towards us all ordained otherwise And if the Scots say they should be so mad as to refuse the commands from the Court and think upon resistance they shall be made obey the holy Mandate with a Vengeance and say their prayers with a rod for we shall over-run their Countrey speedily and subdue them as poor silly ignorant fools destitute of all means for War to wit wisedom with resolution not having breeding and pressed down with poverty to undertake and undergo such a businesse as War and money and Arms to go on in it for the Sâ—yl being barren and the Havens bad they cannot have the advantages of a fertile Countrey furnished with good Harbours and Commanders or Leaders to manage a War their Military men being abroad who will not easily quit the honorable and beneficiall Employments they have in forreigne Countreys and come home to suffer want with losse of credit But God who laughs from above at the foolish Counsells of vain men in this particular hath made us see That he hath an â—ver-ruling power over the affairs of men making little and contemptible ones do great things and bring to nothing the undertakings of the mighty and wise of this world By this time the new Prayer-Book designed at Rome and perfected at London is sent down into Scotland After some little reluctancy it is received by the Councell there the major part whereof then were either Church-men or their addicted friends Then it is sent to the Churches to be put in use and practice But unexpected and unlooked for it is opposed by inferiour people from whence the opposition riseth to those of higher ranks whereupon Petitions are drawn up and sent to the King to supplicate His Majesty in all due respect to free the Church of Scotland from this new Prayer-Book with the High-Commission Courts Canons Etcetera's To these Demands of the Scots no answer is given but hot threatnings after which preparatives of War were made against the Scots and because the King did not shew himself propense enough to the undertaking of War nor the Queen forward enough to engage the King in this holy War the Queen-Mother who for her known faithfulnesse to her husband and for her care of her son both late Kings of France must come to her Son-in-law against his will to help him with her best advice and counsell and to better instruct her daughter how to carry her self with earnestnesse and addresse in the businesse Things being thus disposed there is an Expedition undertaken against the Scots and followed to the Borders by the King present in person but to small purpose for the Scots came to the Borders duly prepared notwithstanding their pre-conceived wants and indisposition to sell their Religion and Liberty at a dear rate which being perceived by the Court the Scots Demands formerly rejected are granted and a Peace concluded Then some of the chief men of the Scots were invited to go to Court for the time at Barwick who upon certain advice of a Plot against them were stopped by their friends to trust themselves to the faith of the Court. After things in a kinde calmed there the King not suffered by his Counsell to
go into Edinburgh to settle things fully he sends Deputies thither and returns to London At his return the Scots Commissioners are imprisoned at London against their Safe-Conduct and the Agreement with the Scots is burnt publikely by the hand of the Hang-man and a new Expedition with more cunning and strength then the former is undertaken against the Scots Whereof the Scots duely advertised judging it not to be safe to play alwayes after-games settle their Countrey make sure the strong Holds which they had delivered in simplicity of heart unto the King at the late Agreement and come into England with such an Army that they made their enemies retire Upon this point of necessity the King assembled divers of the Nobles by whom he is advised to call a Parliament which is granted although with difficulty At the overture of the Parliament having gained all the party possible the King is made to demand assistance to repell the Scots from England and chastise them but to no purpose wherefore the Parliament must pay for it and to this purpose the English Army afoot must be brought to London under some pretext This Plot failing and discovered the Scots must be tempted under great offers no lesse then the plunder of London and the propriety of the adjacent Counties to their Countrey The Scots not onely refused these great offers but also give advice of them to the Parliament Then the Scots must be hastened home and the King must go into Scotland under pretext to settle things there but really to make a party viewing by the way the Scots Army and to make sure of some men dis-affected to the Designe of the Court These things not succeeding to smooth a little the shamefull businesse Titles of Honour and Pensions are given to many While the King is in Scotland the Rebellion riseth in Ireland having its influence from the Court whether by sealed Patents or otherwise I will not enquire now more then of the Spanish Navie but certain it is it had its rise from Court Some dayes after the Rebellion begun in Ireland the King must return in all speed to London under pretext to consult with the Parliament how to represse this odious Rebellion but really to be revenged of the Parliament for not assisting against the Scots and for punishing the main agents of the Scotish party witnesse the faction the Queen had made in the City during the Kings abode in Scotland to divide the City and Parliament and the demanding of the Members of the Houses against all Law upon accusation of Treason whereof the chief and main point was To have favourized the Scots Affairs in England against expresse Acts of Oblivion of both Parliaments of Scotland and England As for the repressing of the Rebellion in Ireland it is so little taken to heart that the King seldom goes to the House and being there speaks but little of the businesse After a while with much ado the Popish Irish in Arms are declared Rebells when they had ruined many families and killed many of the innocent Protestants But of the Kings Declaration there were but few Copies Printed and of the few hardly any dispersed when the Scots before they had gathered any Head were Prelatically excommunicated and cursed thorow all the Parishes of England and declared Rebells every where by printed Papers Who as they intended no ill so blessed be God never men of War in a Countrey did lesse harm then the Scots did Yea which is more all the good intentions of both Parliament and City with the ready offers of the Scots for the speedy help of the poor Protestants against the bloody Butchers in Ireland was delayed deluded yea almost put off by the Court and the corrupt Members of both Houses who since have shewed themselves openly what they are in publike Affairs But these Designes failing of apprehending the Members and of dividing the City and Parliament as was seen by the accompanying the Members to the Houses again the King must leave London Here before we proceed any further we shall go a little back When the first undertaking was against the Scots all things within these Dominions being disposed for the best furthering of the work the holy Conclave of Rome forecasting all chances and fearing that England would not altogether be so forward to contribute much unto the destruction of Scotland wherefore the King must be assured of some good friend abroad and not far off who may help in case of need None is thought so fit as the Prince of Orange being able to help with Moneys Arms and Men for command He must be gained by offering him for his Son one of the Kings Daughters who notwithstanding his high minde would have been glad of a lower Match Now at the first the Prince of Orange did onely look to have the second Daughter in due time But to engage him further he shall have the elder not staying for her till she be nubile and that presently although she did little more then then well discerne her right hand from her left But this is not all for the Mother must carry the Daughter to the Prince of Orange to gain him more speedily and make him more affectionate and sure to the Designes of our corrupted Court So the Kings Daughter is sold and made a Sacrifice for furtherance of the Catholike Cause as his Grand-mother was sold to France to the same Designe by the corrupt Court of Scotland for the time What mischief this Marriage and the Queens Voyage into Holland hath brought into this Countrey and what stain she hath brought upon her self by it we see all And so many evils fell upon Scotland after the sending the then young Queen into France Here you shall observe the jugling knavery of our corrupt Court who cry out against the Scots for taking Arms for the just defence of their Liberty and Religion without any by-respect as their whole proceedings to this instant do testifie as guilty of the most horrid crime of Rebellion against Higher Powers as they call it yet the same corrupt Court makes the King give his Daughter unto him who is not onely a chief man but a main Instrument to make War for the Liberty and Religion of the Countrey where he liveth against the unjust oppression of their Sovereign as his renowned Brother and most vertuous Father did before him and as he intends to make his Son after him witnesse the reversion of his Place he hath obtained unto him from the States If the King of Spain by necessity hath been constrained to acknowledge the United Provinces free it is nothing for the justice of their taking Arms to defend their Religion and Liberty And if he had power they would not be long free witnesse the secret Plots to divide them and over-reach them Farther he is very shie in his Writs to call them Free as every man knows The Queen of Bohemia must not onely be neglected and seen lose all that
she and hers can claim for their own but she and hers must be serviceable to those who have undone them To this end she must have People about her namely Court-Chaplains to disguise businesse unto her and so make her have a bad conception of those who are her best friends to wit the true Professors of the Truth and good Patriots in these Dominions Next her eldest son after a long and great neglect of yeelding him any help for the recovery of his own is betrayed at our corrupt Court when he is put in away to do somewhat for his own restoring c. And after this by the same Court he is sollicited to take Arms here against the onely men who really and constantly have expressed unto him and his true affection but they being stopped by the Court could not effectuate much by their good will He in wisdome refuseth to fight against his friends Since he will not his two next Brothers must be employed the eldest whereof is released from prison to that effect And so they hazard their lives and spend their blood to serve the party who hath undone their Fortunes and now strives to undo their persons The King having left London after he had been in severall places retires to Yorke where he begins to raise men against the Parliament The Scots seeing this send to him thither to intreat him to lay aside all such intentions and offer their service by way of Mediation betwixt him and the Parliament to take away all known mistakes The Scots Commissioners were not suffered to proceed any further then in the businesse and were sent back beyond the expectation of men After a long Pen-skirmishing on both sides Armies are leavied many men killed and taken at divers times on each side yea a set Battell fought where numbers of men are slain The Scots not being able any longer to see their Brethren in England destroyed and the Executioners of Ireland butchering man woman and childe the help that the innocents should have had from England being almost altogether diverted by the Intestine War and neither say nor do in the businesse under safe-Conduct send to the King and Parliament Commissioners to intercede for an Agreement But they being arrived at Court were neglected with their Commission and not suffered to repair unto the Parliament At last they are dismissed not without difficulty and having done nothing return Upon this the Scots convene the States to consult concerning their own safety and the help of their friends At this nick of time when they received many fair promises from the Court with a request to be quiet a Plot of the Papists set afoot by the Court for embroyling the Countrey is discovered by the means whereof they were incited to look more narrowly to themselves and their friends Then the Parliament of England sends to the Scots for help Upon this a Covenant is made betwixt the two Nations for the defence of the true Religion and Liberty of the Countreys with the Kings just Rights and after due preparation the Scots having setled their own Countrey enter into England with a strong Army to fight the Battells of the Lord having for scope of their Expedition The glory of God and the good of his People with the Honour of the King Here we shall observe in these our Countreys in these last yeers such Riddles of State and Church as have hardly been heard of A Protestant Prince makes one Protestant Nation fight against another for the Protestant Religion which have been thought to be of one and the same Doctrine for the main One Church thunders Curses against another Then a Prince misled with the ayd of Papists and Atheists spoyling and destroying the professors of the Truth because they professe it for the good and advancement of the Protestant Religion Next in a very short time a Prince to have all his subjects declared Rebells First he is made declare the Scots Then he is constrained to declare the Irish An Army gotten together in the Kings name declares all those that did oppose them Rebells The Parliament declares all those who in the Kings name oppose them Rebells and Traytors Farther under the Kings Authority the named Rebells in England by the King maintain a War against the declared Rebells in Ireland But the late carriage of things at Court and by the Court-Instruments at home and abroad hath solved the Riddle namely The Patent for the Rebellion in Ireland The detaining of help ordained for the repressing of it The Kings offer to go into Ireland The Cessation and bringing over of the Irish and The last-discovered Plot in Scotland all other things laid aside tell us cleerly howsoever the Proclamations and Protestations going in the Kings name be soft and smooth as the voyce of Jacob yet the hands are rough as of Esau destroying and seeking to destroy the true Religion grounded in Gods Word with the professors thereof as also the lawfull Liberty of the Countrey and bring all unto slavery Let Ireland and England say if this be not true and Scotland likewise according to its genius speak truth I shall close up all with two or three Instances of eminent men amongst the Papists Clergie to shew clearly how they stand affected to the Protestants Cardinall Pool in an Oration to Charles the fifth Emperour saith You must leave off the War against the Turks and hereafter make War against the Heretikes so names he the professors of the Truth He adds the reason Because the Turks are lesse to be feared then the Heretikes Paul Rodmek in a Book expresse tells us That the Heretikes must be put to death slain cut off burnt quartered c. Stapleton the Iesuite tells us That the Heretikes are worse then the Turks in an Oration he made at Doway Campian the Iesuite in a Book of his Printed in the yeer 1583 in Trevers declares thus in the name of his holy Order Our will is That it come to the knowledge of every one so far as it concerns our Society That we all dispersed in great numbers thorow the world have made a League and holy solemn Oath That as long as there are any of us alive that all our care and industry all our deliberations and counsells shall never cease to trouble your calm and safety That is to say We shall procure and pursue for ever your ruine the whole destruction of your Religion and of your Kingdom He speaks to the English Now it is long since we have taken this resolution with the hazard of our lives so that the businesse being already well begun and advanced it is impossible that the English can do any thing to stop our Designe or surmount it Let these few Passages satisfie for this time I wish that thou maist reap some benefit of what is written here for thy good So praying for your happinesse I rest Yours in the Lord D. B. The LIFE OF IOHN KNOX IOHN KNOX was borne in Gifford neer
them he was instant with the Counsell of the City to provide themselves of a worthy man to succeed in his Place Master James Lauson who at that time professed Philosophy in the Vniversity of Aberdene being commended for a good Preacher Commissioners were directed from the Body of the Church of Edinburgh and from Master John Knox in particular to desire him to accept of the Charge To the Letter that the Commissioners carried after that he had set his hand he added this Postscript Accelera mi frater alioqui sero venies Make haste Brother otherwise ye shall come too late Meaning That if he made any stay he should finde him dead and gone These last words moved M. Lauson to take journey the morrow thereafter When he was come to the Town and had preached two severall times to the good liking of the people order was taken by the Rulers of the Church for his admission and the day appointed at which day John Knox himself would not onely be present but also preach though he could scarce walk on foot to the Chayre which he did with such fervency of spirit that at no time before was he heard to speak with such great power and more content to the hearers And in the end of the Sermon calling God to witnesse That he had walked in a good conscience amongst them not seeking to please men nor serving either his own or other mens affections but in all sincerity and truth preached the Gospel of Christ With most grave and pithie words he exhorted them to stand fast in the Faith they had received And having conceived a zealous Prayer for the continuance of Gods blessing among them and the multiplying of his Spirit upon the Preacher who was then to be admitted he gave them his last fare-well The people did convey him to his lodging and could not be drawn from it so loath were they to depart from him and he the same day in the afternoon was forced to take bed During the time he lay which was not long he was much visited by all sorts of persons to whom he spake most comfortably Amongst others to the Earle of Morton who came to see him he was heard say My Lord God hath given you many blessings he hath given you Wisdom Honour high Birth Riches many good and great friends and is now to prefer you to the Government of the Realme the Earle of Marr late Regent being newly dead In his Name I charge you That ye will use these blessings better in times to come then you have done in times past In all your actions seek first the glory of God The furtherance of his Gospel The maintenance of his Church and Ministery and next Be carefull of the King to procure his good and the welfare of the Realme If you shall do this God will be with you and honour you If otherwise ye do it not he will deprive you of all these benefits and your end shall be shame and ignominy These speeches the Earle about nine yeers after at the time of his Execution called to minde saying That he had found them to be true and him therein a Prophet A day or two before his death he sent for Master David Lindsay Master James Lauson and the Elders and Deacons of the Church to whom he said The time is approaching for which I have long thirsted wherein I shall be relieved of all cares and be with my Saviour Christ for ever And now God is my witnesse whom I have served with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son That I have taught nothing but the true and solid Doctrine of the Gospel and that the end I proposed in all my Doctrine was To instruct the ignorant To confirm the weak To comfort the consciences of those that were humbled under the sense of their sins and born down with the threatnings of Gods Judgements Such as were proud and rebellious I am not ignorant that many have blamed and yet do blame my too great rigour and severity But God knoweth That in my heart I never hated the persons of those against whom I thundred Gods Judgements I did onely hate their sins and laboured according to my power to gain them to Christ That I did forbear none of whatsoever condition I did it out of the fear of my God who hath placed me in the Function of his Ministery and I know will bring me to an account Now brethren for your selves I have no more to say but to warn you That you take heed to the Flock over which God hath placed you Overseers which he hath redeemed by the Blood of his onely begotten Son And you Master Lauson fight a good fight do the Work of the Lord with courage and with a willing minde And God from above blesse you and the Church whereof you have charge Against it so long as it continueth in the Doctrine of the Truth the gates of hell shall not prevail This spoken and the Elders and the Deacons dimitted he called the two Preachers unto him and said There is one thing that grieveth me exceedingly You have sometimes seen the courage and constancy of the Laird of Grange in the cause of God and that most unhappy man hath cast himself away I will pray you two to take the pains to go unto him and say from me That unlesse he forsake that wicked course wherein he is entred neither shall the Rock in which he confideth defend him nor the carnall wisedom of that man whom he counteth half a god this was young Lethington yeeld him help but shamefully he shall be pulled out of that nest and his carkase hung before the Sun meaning the Castle he did keep against the Kings Authority And so it fell out the yeer next following for the Castle was taken and he was publikely hanged and his body hung before the Sun The soul of that man is dear unto me and if it be possible I could fain have him to be saved They went as he had desired and conferred a long space with Grange but with no perswasion could he be diverted from his course Which being reported he took most heavily Yet Grange at his death did expresse serious repentance for his sins The next day he gave order for making his Coffin wherein his body should be laid and was that day as thorow all the time of his sicknesse much in prayer crying Come Lord Jesu Sweet Jesu into thy hands I commend my Spirit Being asked by those that attended him if his pains were great he answered That he did not esteem that a pain which would be to him the end of all troubles and beginning of eternall Joyes Oftentimes after some deep meditations he burst forth in these words O serve the Lord in fear and death shall not be troublesome unto you Blessed is the death of those that have part in the death of Jesus In the evening which was the last of this wretched life having slept some hours together
have the like in our neighbour Countrey of old called Gaule now France where the ancient name of Gaule among the vulgar is onely conserved in a little Countrey lying about Sens of old Senones this little Countrey is called Pays Gaulois and is divided in Haute basse Gaule So it was judiciously said by the Historiographer The name of the Isle Albion is derived from Albe and remains in Scotland as it were in its Native Soyl. Of Alpe or Albe signifying hill or high place you have the in-dwellers thereof sometimes named Albani as in Asia Dalmatia Italy and North Britannia and their Countrey Albania sometimes Albici Albigois in Languedock and their Countrey Albium or Albi in vulgar language sometimes Albini or Alpini and Albienses as the in-dwellers of our Albion who to this day call themselves as they have done of old c. which name is one and the same with Brigantes Here let us remark That as the Provincialls or In-dwellers of Britannia superiour subject to the Romans are ordinarily called by the Writers Britones so the others benorth the Empire have been called by the Writers Britanni peregrini transmarini strangers and beyond-Sea-men as if they had been of another Island And truely if it were not for the Strait betwixt the Rivers afore-named which did serve for Border unto them they were in another Island Hence England is said to be inter quatuor maria Ptolomeis Tacitus and Seneca tell us That the Brigantes inhabited Albion which when they writ was that part of the Island beyond the Roman Empire Therefore the Brigantes were then Albini or Albani Moreover the Brigantes about Eboracum now Yorke were of the Scots who came from Ireland a great and mighty People Iohn Fordon in his Scoti Chronicon writes That the Scots came so far South as Humber and possessed Lands there Also the Isle of Man was for a long time under the Crown of Scotland which Isle is as far South as the Countrey about Yorke although it be Westward and in the Sea And these were the Brigantes we now have spoken of The Brigantes at their first coming into Albion came as we have said without any certain or setled way of Government but being grown to a considerable number or Body they sent into Ireland for Fergus the first to be their King whose with a new Colonie coming into Albion is reckoned to be about Alexander the Great his time that is about three hundred yeers before the Birth of Christ. The Brigantes alias Albini for a certain time by some have been called Dalreudini although this name did not last long from the King Reuda who brought into Albion the second remarkable Colony from Ireland after Fergus about 180 yeers before Christ that is about 220 yeers after Fergus And Dale which signifieth Countrey and Province as is known to this day There is a certain place in the West of Scotland called to this very day Ridsdale We have heard That the people benorth the Roman Province upon the East side were originally Britains whence they were called Britanni Picti and somtimes Britanni Caledonii from one of the chief people sometimes simply Picti or Caledonii Also we have heard That the people benorth the Province on the West side were come from Ireland and called Brigantes or Album yea for a time Dalreudini Likewise we have heard That all the people benorth the Empire by a generall Appellation were called Scoti where they were all spoken of together but when they were spoken of apart those of the East were called Scoto-britanni Those of the West were called Scoto-brigantes as we have heard out of Seneca Moreover by progresse of time the Irish came to go under the name of Scots with those of Britannia minor or Albion who from them had help supply and recruites in their War against the Romans and Britans Provincialls Thus naming the Irish by the name of Scots began some hundred yeers after Christ that is towards the middle Ages And about that time Ireland was called by the name of Scotia as Abrahamus Ortelius hath remarked in these words I have observed Ireland to be named Scotia by the Writers of the middle Age. And so it hath been observed by the learned That ancient Authors did never name Ireland Scotia as you may see by those who have exactly reckoned up the old names of Ireland out of the ancient and Classick Authors So it was not said much amisse by one That this naming of Ireland by the name of Scotland was first about Beda his time who lived in the beginning of the eighth Age. Scaliger tells us That the word Scot is no Irish word but British that is not used in Ireland but in Britannia what is the origine and signification of the word we have heard before As the Irish began to be called Scots so the Picts left off to be so named now withdrawing themselves from the Brigantes or Albini and striking in with their enemies the Irish by the Writers were called Scoti Hibernienses and the Albins were called Scoti Albienses And Ireland was called Scotia major because Albania or Albion in those dayes which they called Scotia minor was of lesse extent But this name of Scots was not for any long time given to the Irish So that at length the name of Scots became peculiar to the Albins or Brigantes alone Lastly the Albins having subdued the Picts and made them no more a People communicated into the Countrey newly conquered by them the name of Scotia as one Countrey with Albinia and so all the in-dwellers there were called Scots with the Albins as one people with them and so they are to this day Now the Albins or Brigantes being the onely Masters of Britannia minor came to be called Scoto-Britanni as the Picts had been of old and are upon occasion called so to this day to distinguish them from the South Britons of whom some are called Cambro-britanni the rest Anglo-britanni Although the ancient Brigantes were called by forreigners Scoti namely by the Britons Provincialls and the Romans yet they did never name themselves so by this name Scoti neither do the High-landers to this day in their own language call themselves Scots but Albins So Scaliger had just reason to say That Scoti was not an Irish name As the Hellenes did never name themselves Greeks although they were so commonly called by the forreigners And the Misraims did not call themselves Egyptians although forreigners named them so The Scots now adayes are divided in Highland-men and Lowland-men The Highlanders are the true Progenie of the ancient Brigantes or Albins for the most part I say because some are come in later times from other Countreys And to this day our Highlanders as the Brigantes of old makes main use of their Bowes and Arrows in their war namely when they are among the hills so when they praise one for a Military man they say He is a good Bowe-man and Bray-man which two
away was Ethod the Kings Brother who went with sundry of the Nobilitie unto Scandia where he and they stayed divers yeers and from whence now and then they made secret attempts upon Scotland with the help of their Brethren retired into the Islands and Ireland but to small effect Now as the face of the politique State of the Countrey was quite altered and undone so the condition of the Church also was much disordered and the Culdees were constrained to withdraw and seek shelter up and down where they could finde any namely they returned into the Isles and into Ireland At last the Picts perceiving by severall attempts made by the exiled Scots to return home and re-establish their State although with little successe as we have said that the Scots were fully resolved to bestirre themselves continually till they were restored and re-established in their ancient Inheritances the Picts themselves being moved with the groaning miseries of their neighbour poor people of Scotland now under the Roman yoak chiefly by their means and taking to their consideration how foolishly they had suffered themselves be so farre circumvented and deluded by the Romans as to contribute to the ruine of their old friends by whom mainly in former times they had withstood the common enemy did not onely comfort the poor oppressed remainers of the Scots at home but also did invite these that were in exile to return promising unto them the Lands which they had of theirs and to help them with all their strength and counsell in the recovery of their whole State from the Roman Tyrants The exiled Scots under the conduct of Fergus the second son to Ethod beyond Sea gathered all they could both of their own people and of their friends from the places of their exile namely from Scandie and from Ireland likewise and came into Scotland from whence they chased away the Romans by strong hand with the help of the Picts who made good their promise unto them both in assisting them in the action of Warre and in restoring unto them the Land that they had been possessed with by the Romans The Auxiliaries from Ireland stayed still in Scotland and had allowed unto them the Countrey of Galloway for their reward and because they were of the ancient Brigants of Ireland some of the late Writers have said That the Brigantes of Albion had their abode in Galloway No sooner is Fergus Crowned in the fatall Chair and setled in his Kingdom but he takes to his first care to restore the puritie of Divine Service which had been eclipsed in these bounds for severall yeers and to this effect he calls some of the dispersed Culdees of his Country whom he settles in their ancient abodes namely in the Isle of Iona where he furnished them with a Library of Books which he had gathered beyond Sea as the Story tells us This return of Fergus into Scotland son of Ethod Brother to late Ewen fell out about the yeer 420. The regaining by the Scots of their native Countrey under the command of Fergus the second will not seem strange unto them who have read what they did under the commands of William Wallace and how under the conduct of Robert Bruce they recovered their liberty from the thraldom wherewith they were then oppressed Ewen son to Fergus the second by the counsell and ayd of his Grand-father by his Mother Grame did not onely keep his Fathers ancient Kingdom but also did enlarge the Limits thereof having passed the next Wall of the Romans which by Grame was pulled down in many places hence it is called Grames Dyke and he possessed himself and the Picts with all the Lands lying an hundred miles Southward that is unto Tyne and kept them till the entry of the Saxons into the Island Next he took unto his care not onely to seek out the Culdees fugitives which had not yet returned under his Father but also he sent for others into the neighbour Countrey of Britaine and assigned unto them convenient places for their abode with a moderate competency of means for their maintenance that they should be in no wayes burdensome to the people now looking to have some respite from their pressures and grievances And such was the happinesse of these dayes that a very small proportion did content the Church-men setting wholly their mindes to the conscionable discharge of their calling which they did Preaching Gods Word carefully truely and simply instructing the people in the fear of God and so gaining their souls to their Maker and Redeemer By this their carriage they gained very much respect among the people who honoured them as Fathers Instructers and Guiders to Heaven under God the vertuous civill Magistrate was the secondary cause of this good behaviour of Church-men who by his authority kept them in order and by his own example taught them to discharge their duty faithfully and live discretly But so soon as the civill Magistrate left them to themselves then they neglecting their calling set their minde upon ambition and avarice and consequently upon all evill thinking of nothing lesse then of that they were called to Here we are to observe That as the Scots did constantly withstand the ancient Romans and kept themselves so free of their yoak that they neither acknowledged their Authority nor received any Law from them although it was not without great struggling and hazard yea almost to their utter ruine as it fell out under Ewen the first but after some few yeers the Scots under the conduct of Fergus the second and Ewen the second not onely regained what they had lost by the Romans and Picts but also conquered a great deal of ground beyond their last Limits as we have newly said So the Scots in Church affairs for many yeers together had nothing to do with the Bishop of Rome neither made they acknowledgement unto him in any way neither did they receive any Laws from him for as they had the Gospel planted among them without his help to wit by the Disciples of Saint Iohn the Apostle so they kept themselves unto the Constitutions and Canons setled by the same first Planters of the Gospel amongst them but by successe of time they became to be infected by their neighbour Nations with the poyson of the Pelagian Heresie Celestine then Bishop of Rome takeâ— occasion to send unto the Britons a learned man called Palladius to help the Orthodox Britons to convince the Heresie of Pelagius then spreading it self amongst them which was done accordingly Ewen the second King of Scots hearing how the Britons by the help of Palladius had repressed the Pelagianisme being most desirous to purge the Church of his Kingdom also where this Pelagian errour had crept in sends for Palladius who with small difficulty assisted the Orthodox to disabuse those who had been carryed away by Pelagianisme and thereafter in a very short time by subtill inâ—inuations gained so far upon the well-meaning Scots that they consented to take
obedience unto Rome and conformitie by name there was one Boniface sent from Rome to Scotland a main Agent for Rome in these affairs but he was opposed openly by severall of the Scots Culdees or Divines namely by Clemens and Samson who told him freely That he and those of his Party studied to bring men to the subjection of the Pope and slavery of Rome withdrawing them from obedience to Christ and so in plain termes they reproached to him and to his assistants That they were corrupters of Christs Doctrine establishing a Sovereignty in the Bishop of Rome as the onely successour of the Apostles excluding other Bishops That they used and commanded Clericall tonsure That they forbad Priests Marriage extolling Celibat That they caused Prayers to be made for the dead and erected Images in the Churches to be short That they had introduced in the Church many Tenets Rites and Ceremonies unknown to the ancient and pure times yea contrary to them For the which and the like the said Clemens and those that were constant to the Truth with him were excommunicated at Rome as Hereticks as you have in the third Volume of the Concels although the true reasons of their excommunication be not there set down In the eighth Age the poor people were so blindly inslaved and intoxicat with the Cup of Rome that they thought it a truely holy Martyrdome to suffer for the interest of Rome yet although most men had left God to worship the Beast in these dayes God raised up sundry great Lights in our Church as Alcuin Rabanus Maurus his Disciple Iohn Scot and Claudius Clemens In this we shall remarke the constant goodnesse of God towards his people who made his Light shine in some measure thorow the greatest and thickest darknesse by raising up these men who did bear witnesse to the Truth both by word and writing so that God did not altogether leave off his people The Bishop of Rome caused to declare Alcuin for his Book of the Eucharist many yeers after his death an Heretike So Rome persecutes the Saints of God even after their death In the ninth Age both Prince and People by dolefull experience did finde the idlenesse pride ambition avarice and ryot of Church-men occasioned by the indulgence of Prince and People wherefore at Scone under King Constantine the second there was had a convention of States for reforming the disorders in the Church In this Assembly it was ordained That Church-men should reside upon their charge have no medling with secular affairs that they should instruct the people diligently and be good examples in their conversations that they should not keep Hawks Hounds and Horses for their pleasure that they should carry no Weapons nor be pleaders of civill Causes but live contented with their own provisions in case of failing in the observance of these points For the 1 time they were to pay a pecuniary mulct or fine for the 2 they were to be deprived from Officio and Beneficio Thus you see in these most blinde and confused times That resolute Princes and People did oppose manifestly the Popes omnipotency and highest Sovereignty In the later part of the same Age King Gregory was most indulgent to Church-men he was so farre from curbing and keeping them under that he granted them many things they had not had before Then in a convention of States holden at Forsane it was ordained That all Church-men should be free of paying Taxes and Impost from keeping watch and going to warfare Item They should be exempt from all Temporall judicature Item All Matrimoniall Causes were given over to be judgement of Church-men as also Testaments Legative Actions and all things depending upon simple faith and promise Likewise the right of Tithes with liberty to make Lawes Canons and Constitutions to try without the assistance of the temporall Judge Heretikes Blasphemers Perjured Persons Magicians c. Lastly it was ordained That all Kings following at their Coronation should swear to maintain Church-men in these their Liberties and Priviledges In these dayes lived a Learned man called Iohn Scot sirnamed Aerigiena because he was born in the Town of Aire he published a Treatise De corpore sanguine Domini in Sacramento wherein he maintained the opinion and doctrine of Bertram whereby he offended highly the Sea of Rome In the tenth Age things grew worse and worse The Church-men did so blinde the King Constantine the third That they perswaded him to quit the Royall Crown and take the Clericall Tonsure of a Monk which he did at Saint Andrews There were some Priests in these dayes who did strive to have liberty to take lawfull Wives but in vain A little thereafter there were new disputes for Priests marriage one Bernet a Scots Bishop stood much for that cause in a nationall Councell In this Age although that avarice and ambition had corrupted and perverted Religion generally yet there were constantly some godly men who albeit they could not openly stop and oppose the torrent of these times given to Idolatry and Superstition did instruct and teach the people That Christ was the onely propitiation for sin and that Christs blood onely did wash us from the guilt of sin In the eleventh Age Malcome gave away a part of the Crown Lands among his Nobles for their good service against the Danes the Nobles in recompence thereof did grant unto the Crown the ward of these Lands with the benefit that was to arise by the marriage of the Heir Untill the later part of this Age the Bishops of Scotland although they had raised their Order unto a great power and riches yet they were not distinguished in Diocesses so till then indifferently wheresoever they came they did Ministrate their Function without lording over one particular place or calling themselves Lords of any place The Diocesses wherein Scotland was divided at first were these Saint Andrews Glasgo Murray Catnes Murthlac or Aberdene The Bishops of Rome taking upon them in these dayes to be above Kings and to conferre in matters of Honour upon Kings how and where they pleased and so by this means to put a farther tye of Vassalage and subjection upon Princes To this effect in the yeer 1098. ordained King Edgar to be anointed with externall Oyl by the Bishop of Saint Andrews a rite which till that day had not been in use among our Kings yet they were as much the anointed of the Lord before as they have been since and as any other Princes who before them had this externall anointing from the Sea of Rome although the Romish Writers do make a greater esteem of these Kings anointed by them then of others because they conceive them to be more their own Here note by the way That all Princes whatsoever in Scripture-Language are said to be the Anointed of the Lord and so Cyrus was named although he was never anointed with externall Oyl Next although the first Kings of Israel were anointed as Saul David and Solomon with
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
because their Gownes were Red. In this fourteenth age did flourish the great Scholastick Iohannes called Scotus from his Nation and Duns from the place of his Birth for he was born in the Town of Duns in the Mers he was a great Opposer of Thomas of Aquin his Doctrine his Sectaries were called Scotists his Epitaph was thus Scotia me genuit Anglia suscepit Gallia edocuit Germania tenet In the beginning of the fifteenth age there was a great Schisme in the Romish Church Pope against Pope yea sometimes there were three Popes at one time fighting one against another and excommunicating one another this Schisme lasted about thirty yeers and by the Councell of Constance Martin the fift was made Pope and the rest defeated There was one Iohn Fogo a Monke of Milros who in Scotland defended the Election of Martin by the Councell against Benedict alias Peter de Lune During this forenamed Schisme many taking occasion of the opennesse of the times began boldly and freely to speak against the bad Doctrine Government and Lives of the Church-men and that not only in private discourse but they also preached it publikely as Iohn Wickliffe in England Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prague in Bohemia who spoke before the people freely of the Tyrannie of the Government of the Clergie the corruption of their Doctrine and wickednesse of their lives In those dayes also there were some in Scotland who feared not to make known to the people the Truth of God as namely Iames Resby and Paul Craw among others who suffered Martyrdom for the Truth About this time the Carthusians were brought from England into Scotland and had built unto them a Monasterie at Perth In this Age the Universitie of Saint Andrews was set up chiefly by the means of Henry Wardlaw Bishop of the place that in some kinde the Schools of Learning might not bee altogether wanting which formerly had flourished for so long a time among the Culdees and of later yeers had quite decayed this good did Wardlaw As his Predecessor William Trail had built the Castle of the same City So his Successour Iames Kenedy built the old Colledge likewise called Saint Salvator his Colledge Patrick Grahame that came after him was the man that brought into Scotland the Title of Primate Metropolitane and Archbishop by Bull of Sextus quartus From the first Preaching of the Gospel till Palladius the Church of Scotland was happy without Bishops From Palladius to King Malcolme his days the Bishops had no distinct Diocesses or Parishes from King Malcolme till Patricke Grahame they were without Archbishops this Title and higher rank of Authoritie did not succeed well with Grahame for the other Bishops could suffer no Superiour under the Pope namely so neer them hitherto having rejected all the pretentions of the Archbishop of York The inferior Clergie also were afraid of the increase of the Authority of the Man whom they conceived austere and rigid and so by the Faction of the corrupt Court and disordered Clergy poor Grahame lost the Title he had procured with the Benefice and one Shevez got his spoyl and what a sweet Bird Shevez was the Stories of that time doe sufficiently manifest Robert Blacater seeing the Bishop of Saint Andrews now a Metropolitane and Archbishop obtains from Alexander the sixt a Bull whereby he is made Archbishop also and hee had under him the Bishops of Galloway Argyle and Isles which new dignitie angred the Archbishop of Saint Andrews above the losse of his Vassals for to have a Companion in equall dignity set up beside him was hard but he must digest the Pill since the Pope will have it so Lastly David Beaton brought in the Title of Cardinall into Scotland who hath beene the onely man that hath born that Title in this Countrey and how it did speed with him the following Historie will tell you As in the beginning of the fifteenth age the Schisme for the Papacie opened thorow Christendom many mens mouthes and busied their Pennes to set forth the corruption of the Church and the Vices of the Clergie even so in the beginning of the sixteenth age those that fought for the Bishoprick of Saint Andrews by their dissention gave occasion to many in Scotland to speak in publike and private of the corruption of Church-mens Lives Government and Doctrine in Scotland which coming to the Popes ears presently he sent unto the King Iames the fourth a Sword with the Title of Protector of the Faith as if all Christian Princes were not in dutie bound to protect the Faith in Christ but the Faith whiâ—h the Pope would have the King to protect was his erroneous Doctrine and Tyrannicall Authoritie Some few yeers after this Henry the eighth was declared by the Pope Defender of the Faith and had the Sword likewise Iames the 4 of Scotland being dead now by the corrupt Courtiers the yong inconsiderate King Iames was made beleeve That the conferring of this new Title by the Pope did bring unto him a great preheminence yea the Court Sycophants did not stick to call it A new Royaltie when in effect it was nothing else but a new note of his Vasâ—allage to Rome and by the accepting of the Sword he did engage himself to make warre for Rome and so he did indeed for sundry men after this during his short Reign were persecuted and suffered death for the Truth of Christ. This is the second remarkable Badge of slavery put upon our Princes by the Pope the former was their Anointing by him as wee have seen before Here be pleased with me to remark That of all the Bishops of Scotland before the Reformation namely since they were made Lords of certain places and had particular Diocesses you cannot finde one who had any care of the true Charge of Pastor for their whole studie was to raise their power and to encrease their means for the upholding of their power and to effectuate this more easily and fully they kept both Prince and people in dark ignorance of Gods Will and Word But because they must seem to do somwhat for the name sake of Bishops they caused to build walls of Temples and Chappels set up images and pictures richly dressed to content the eyes and brought into the Church Instruments of Musick and artificiall Singing with great skill to content the ear Also they brought in sweet perfume and incense for the smell so the most subtill senses were thus satisfied And to make a shew to keep under the senses which are more grosse there must be some kinde of Fasting enjoyned to the people and chastenesse to the Church-men But how and to what purpose these two last have been kept all men know But kept or not all is one all these Ordinances which the Bishops set up for Religion have been discovered by Gods mercy to be not onely without Warant in Gods Word but plainly contrary to the same Of all the Bishops of Scotland in time of Reformation there was
shall onely l. 47. r. is p. 316.35 r. might not p. 317. l 9. r. whither p. 319 l. 15. r. concurre l. 20 r. she p. 321. l 34. r. charge p. 324. l. 28. r. meats p. 326. l. 7. r. modified p. 327. l. 39. r. women p. 352. l 3. r. dearth l. 5. r. many p. 359. l. 1. r. her p. 366. l. 12. r. within l. 19. r. dayes p 369 l. 24. r. unlawfull p. 373. l. 36. r. if the p. 375. l. 32. r. all through l. 34. r. sins p. 386. l. 35. r. death p. 387. l. 1. r. which l. 45. r. what p. 392. l. 25. r. will say p. 393. l. 4. r. misknow p. 397. l. 5. r. this l. 10. r. the. The fifth Book P. 413. l. 39. r. best p. 414. l. 17. r. to p. 416. l. 5. â— celerity p. 421.36 r. as you p. 436. l. 26. r. foolish cagots p. 437. l. 7. r. to such p. 447. l. 5. dele was l. 23. r. saying Appendix P. 7. l. 43. r. ye p. 29. l. 6. r. result l. 10. world p. 60. l. 44. r. Mistresse p. 78. l. 15. r. time p. 79. l. 7. r. Iehu pag. 99. l. 1. r. whole l. 11. r. finall p. 102. l. 4â— r. punished p. 106. l. 1. r. all p. 111. l. 17. r. him p. 112. l. 24. r. perceived THE HISTORIE OF THE REFORMATION Within the Realme of SCOTLAND from the yeer 1422. Till the 20. day of August 1567. THE FIRST BOOK IN the Records of Glasgow is found mention of one whose name was Iames Resby an Englishman by Birth Scholler to Wickliff He was accused as an Heretike by one Lawrence Lindors in Scotland and burnt for having said That the Pope was not the Vicar of Christ and that a man of wicked life was not to be acknowledged for Pope This fell out Anno 1422. Farther our Chronicles make mention That in the dayes of King Iames the first about the yeer of God 1431. was deprehended in the University of Saint Andrewes one named Paul Craw a Boheme who was accused of Heresie before such as then were called Doctors of Theologie His accusation consisted principally That he followed Iohn Hâ—s and Wickliff in the opinion of the Sacrament Who denied that the substance of Bread and Wine were changed by vertue of any words Or that Confession should be made to Priests or yet Prayers to Saints departed While that God gave him grace to resist them and not to consent to their impiety He was committed to the secular Judge for our Bishops following Pilate who both did condemne and also wash his hands who condemned him to the fire in the which he was consumed in the said City of Saint Andrews about the time afore written And to declare themselves to be the generation of Satan who from the beginning hath been enemy to the Truth and he that desireth the same to be hid from the knowledge of men They put a ball of Brasse in his mouth to the end he should not give Confession of his Faith to the people neither yet that they should understand the defence which he had against their unjust accusation and condemnation Both these godly men Resby and Craw suffered Martyrdome for Christ his Truth by Henry Ward-Law Bishop of Saint Andrewes whom the Prelates place amongst their Worthies But that their wicked practise did not greatly advance their Kingdom of darknesse neither yet was it able utterly to extinguish the Trueth for albeit that in the dayes of King Iames the second and third we finde small question of Religion moved within this Realm yet in the time of King Iames the fourth in the sixth yeer of his Reign and in the twenty two yeer of his age which was in the yeer of God 1494. were summoned before the King and his great Counsell by Robert Blacater called Archbishop of Glasgow The number of thirty persons remaining some in Kyle Stâ—wart some in Kingstyle and some in Cunninghame Among whom were George Campbell of Cesnok Adam Reade of Barskyning Iohn Campbell of Newmyls Andrew Schaw of Polkemac Helene Chalmer Lady Pokellie Isabelle Chambers Lady Stairs These were called the Lollards of Kyle they were accused of the Articles following as we have received them out of the Register of Glasgow 1. First â—hat Images are not to be had in the Kyrk nor to be worshipped 2. That the Reliques of Saints are not to be worshipped 3. That Laws Ordinances of men vary from time to time and that by the Pope 4. That it is not lawfull to fight for the Faith nor to defend the Faith by the Sword if we be not driven to it by necessity which is above all Law 5. That Christ gave power to Peter as also to the other Apostles and not to the Pope his pretended Successour to binde and loose within the Kyrk 6. That Christ ordained no Priests to consecrate as they do in the Romish Church these many yeers 7. That after the Consecration in the Masse there remains Bread and that there is not the naturall Body of Christ. 8. That Tythes ought not to be given to Ecclesiasticall men as they were then called to wit wholly but a part to the poor widow or orphans other pious uses 9. That Christ at his coming hath taken away power from Kings to judge This Article we doubt not to be the venomous accusation of the enemies whose practise hath ever been to make the doctrine of Jesus Christ suspect to Kings and Rulers As if God thereby would deprive them of their Royall Seats While on the contrary nothing confirms the power of Magistrates more then doth Gods Truth But to the Articles 10. That every faithfull man and women is a Priest in that sence that they are called by the Apostle Saint Iohn Apoc. 1.6.5.10.20.6 11. That the Unction of Kings ceased at the coming of Christ and truely it was but late since Kings were anointed namely in Scotland for Edgar was the first anointed King in Scotland about the yeer 1100. 12. That the Pope is not the successour of Peter but where he said Go behinde me Satan 13. That the Pope deceives the people by his Buls and his Indulgences 14. That the Masse profiteth not the souls who in those dayes were said to be in Purgatory 15. That the Pope and the Bishops deceive the people by their Pardons 16. That Indulgences ought not to be granted to fight against the Saracens 17. That the Pope exalts himself against God and above God 18. That the Pope cannot remit the pains of Purgatory 19. That the blessings of the Bishops of dumb Dogs they should have been stiled are of no value 20. That the Excommunication of the Kyrk is not to be feared if there be no true cause for it 21. That in no case it is lawfull to swear to wit idly rashly and in vain 22. That Priests may have wives according to the constitution of the Law and
of the Primitive Christian Church 23. That true Christians receive the body of Iesus Christ every day by Faith 24. That after Matrimony be contracted and consummate the Kyrk may make no Divorcement 25. That Excommunication bindes not if unjust 26. That the Pope forgives not sins but onely God 27. That Faith should not be given to Miracles to such namely as the Romish were then and are to this day 28. That we should not pray to the glorious Virgin Mary but to God onely since he onely hears us and can help us 29. That we are no more bound to pray in the Kyrk then in other places 30. That we are not bound to beleeve all that Doctors of the Kirk have written 31. That such as worship the Sacrament in the Kyrk we suppose the Sacrament of the Altar commits Idolatry 32. That the Pope is the head of the Kirk of Antichrist 33. That the Pope and his Ministers are murtherers of souls 34. That they which are called Princes and Prelates in the Church are Theeves and Robbers By these Articles which God of his mercifull providence caused the enemies of his truth to keep in their registers may appear how mercifully God hath looked upon this Realm retaining within it some spark of his lyght even in the time of greatest darknesse Neither ought any man to wonder albeit that some things be obscurely and some things doubtfully spoken But rather ought all faithfull to magnifie Gods mercy who without publike Doctrine gave so great light And further we ought to consider that seeing that the enemies of Jesus Christ gathered the foresaid Articles thereupon to accuse the persons aforesaid that they would deprave the meaning of Gods servants so far as they could as we doubt not but they have done in the heads of Excommunication Swearing and of Matrimony In the which it is no doubt but the servants of God did damne the abuse only and not the right Ordinance of God for who knows not that the Excommunication in these dayes was altogether abused That Swearing aboundeth without punishment or remorse of conscience And that Divorcements was made for such causes as worldly men had invented But to our History Albeit that the accusation of the Bishop and of his Complices was very grievous yet God so assisted his servants partly by inclining the Kings heart to gentlenesse for divers of them were his great familiars and partly by giving bold and godly answers to their Accusators that the enemies in the end weâ—e frustrate of their purpose For while the Bishop in mockage said to Adâ—m Reade of Barskeiming Reade beleeve ye that God is in heaven He answered Not as I do the Sacraments seven Whereat the Bishop thinking to have triumphed said Sir lo he denies that God is in heaven Whereat the King wondring said Adam Reade What say ye The other answered Pleaseth your Majesty to hear the end betwixt the churle and me and therewith he turned to the Bishop and said I neither think nor beleeve as thou thinkest that God is in heaven but I am most assured that he is not onely in heaven but also in the earth But thou and thy faction declare by your works that either ye think there is no God at all or else that he is so set up in heaven that he regards not what is done upon the earth for if thou firmly beleevedst that God were in the heaven thou shouldest not make thy self check-mate to the King and altogether forget the charge that Jesus Christ the Son of God gave to his Apostles which was To Preach his Gospel and not to play the proud Prelates as all the rabble of you do this day And now Sir said he to the King judge ye whether the Bishop or I beleeve best that God is in heaven While the Bishop and his band could not well revenge themselves and while many taunts were given them in their teeth The King willing to put an end to further reasoning said to the said Adam Reade Wilt thou burn thy bill He answered Sir the Bishop and ye will With these and the like scoffs the Bishop and his band were so dashed out of countenance that the greatest part of accusation was turned to laughter After that Diet we finde almost no question for matters of Religion the space neer of thirty yeers for not long after to wit in the yeer of God 1500. the said Bishop Blaktar departed this life going in his superstitious devotion to Ierusalem Unto whom succeeded Master Iames Betone son to the Laird of Balfor in Fife who was more carefull of the world then he was to Preach Christ or yet to advance any Religion but for the fashion onely and as he sought the world it fled him not For it was well known that at once he was Archbishop of Saint Andrews Abbot of Dunfermeling Aberbrothe Kylwinning and Chancellour of Scotland For after the unhappy field of Flowdonne in the which perished King Iames the fourth with the greatest part of the Nobility of the Realm the said Betonne with the rest of the Prelates had the whole Regiment of the Realm And by reason thereof held and travelled to hold the truth of God in thraldome and bondage till that it pleased God of his great mercy in the yeer of God 1527. to raise up his servant Master Patrick Hammilton at whom our History doth begin Of whose progenie life and erudition because men of fame and renown have in divers works written we omit all curious repetition sending such as would know further of him then we write to Francis Lambert Iohn Frith and to that notable work lately set forth by Iohn Fox English man of the lives and deaths of Martyrs within this Isle in this our age This servant of God Master Patrick Hamilton being in his youth provided to reasonable honours and living he was intituled Abbot of Fern as one hating the world and the vanitie thereof left Scotland and passed to the Schools in Germany for then the fame of the Universitie of Wittenberg was greatly divulgate in all Countreys where by Gods providence he became familar with those lights and notable servants of Christ Jesus of that time Martin Luther Philip Melancthon and the said Francis Lambert did so grow and advance in godly knowledge joyned with fervencie and integrity of life that he was in admiration with many The zeal of Gods glory did so eat him up that he could not long continue to remain there but returned to his countrey where the bright beams of the true light which by Gods grace was planted in his heart began most abundantly to burst forth as well in publike as in secret for he was besides his godly knowledge well learned in Phylosophie he abhorred Sophistrie and would that the Text of Aristotle should have been better understood and more used in the Schools than then it was for Sophistrie had corrupted all as well in Divinitie as
or at least a Prelats Peere a true servant to the King of Love who upon a night after Supper asked of his Gentlemen by the faith that they ought to the king of Love that they truely declare how many sundry women every one of them had and how many of them were mens wives One answered He had lien with five and two of them were married The other answered I have had seven and three of them are married It came last to my Lord Abbot himself who making it very nice for a little space gave in the end a plain confession and said I am the youngest man and yet have I had the round dozen and seven of them are mens wives Now said the Frier This god and king of Love to whom our Prelates do homage is the master devill of hell from whom such fruits and works do proceed This Frier was known by his proper tokens to have been Prior Patrike Hepburne now Bishop of Murray who to this day hath continued in the profession that he hath made to his god and king of love It was supposed notwithstanding this kinde of preaching that this Frier remained Papist in his heart For the other Friers fearing to lose the Benediction of the Bishops to wit Their Malt and their Meale and their other appointed Pensions caused the said Frier to flie to England where for defence of the people and Papistry he was cast into prison at King Henries commandment But so it pleased God to open the mouth of Balaams own Asse to cry out against the vitious lives of the Clergie of that age Shortly after this new consultation was taken there that some should be burnt for men began liberally to speak A merry Gentleman named Iohn Lindsey familiar to Bishop Iames Betonne standing by when consultation was had said My Lord If ye burne any more except ye follow my counsell ye will utterly destroy your selves if ye will burne them let them be burnt in hollow Cellars for the smoke of Master Patrike Hammilton hath infected as many as it blew upon Thus it pleased God that they should be tanted in their own face But here followeth the most merry of all One Alexander Furrour who had been imprisoned seven yeers in the Tower of London Sir Iohn Dungwaill according to the charity of Church-men entertained his wife and wasted the poor mans substance for the which cause at his returning he spake more liberally of Priests then they could bear And so was he declared to be accused for heresie and called to his answer to Saint Andrewes he leapt up merrily upon the Scaffold and casting a gambade said Where are the rest of the Players Master Andrew Olyphant offended therewith said It shall be no Play to you Sir before ye depart and so began to reade his Accusation the first Article whereof was That he despised the Masse His answer was I heare more Maffes in eight dayes than three Bishops there sitting say in a yeare Accused secondly of the contempt of the Sacraments The Priests said he were the most common contemners of Sacraments and specially of Matrimony And that he witnessed by many of the Priests there present and named the mans wife with whom they had medled and especially Sir Iohn Dungwaill who had seven yeers together abused his own wife and consumed his substance and said because I complain of such injuries I am here summoned and accused as one that is worthy to be burnt For Gods sake said he will ye take wives of your own that I and others whom ye have abused may be revenged upon you Then Bishop Gawin Dumbar named the old Bishop of Aberdein thinking to justifie himself before the people said Carle thou shalt not know my wife The said Alexander answered My Lord ye are too old but with the grace of God I shall drink with your daughter or I depart and thereat was smiling of the best and loud laughter of some for the Bishop had a daughter married with Andrew Balfour in that Town Then the Bishop bade away with the carle But he answered Nay I will not depart this hour for I have more to speak against the vices of Priests than I can expresse this whole day And so after divers purposes they commanded him to burn his Bill And he demanding the cause they said Because ye have spoken these Articles whereof ye are accused His answer was The great devill beare them away that first and last said them and so he took the Bill and chawing it he spat it in Master Andrew Olyphants face saying Now burn it or drown it whether ye wil ye hear no more of me But I must have somewhat of every one of you to begin my pack againe which a Priest and my wife a Priests whore have spent And so every Prelat and rich Priest glad to be quit of his evill gave him somewhat and so departed he for he understood nothing of Religion But so fearfull it was then to speak any thing against Priests that the least word spoken against them yea albeit it was spoken in a mans sleep was judged Heresie and that was practised upon Richard Carmichell yet living in Fyfe who being young and Singer in the Chappel Royal of Sterelin happened in his sleep to say The devill take away the Priests for they are a greedy pack He therefore accused by Sir George Clapperton Dean of the said Chappel was compelled forthwith to burne his Bill But God shortly after raised up against them stronger Champions For Alexander Seton a black Frier of good learning and estimation began to blame the corrupt doctrine of Papistry For the space of a whole Lent he taught the Commandment onely ever beating in the ears of his auditors That the Law of God had of many yeers not been truely taught for mens Tradition had obscured the purity of it These were his accustomed Propositions 1. Christ Jesus is the end and perfection of the Law 2. There is no sin where Gods Law is not violated 3. To satisfie for sins lies not in mans power but the remission thereof cometh by unfained Repentance and by faith apprehending God the Father mercifull in Jesus Christ his Son While oftentimes he puts his auditors in minde of this and the like Heads he maketh no mention of Purgatory Pardons Pilgrimage prayer to Saints nor of such trifles The dumb Doctors and the rest of that forsworne rabble began to suspect him and yet said they nothing publikely till Lent was ended And he passed to Dundie And then one in his absence hired to that purpose openly condemned the whole Doctrine that before he had taught Which coming to the ears of the said Frier Alexander then being in Dundie without delay he returned to Saint Andrewes caused immediately to toll the Bell and to give signification that he would preach as that he did indeed in the which Sermon he affirmeth and that more plainly than at any other time whatsoever in all his
godly And in what honour credit and estimation Doctour Machabeus was with Christian king of Denmark Cawpmanhowen and famous men of divers nations can testifie This did God provide for his servants and did frustrate the expectation of these bloody beasts who by the death of one he meanes M. Patrick Hamilton in whom the lyght of God did clearly shine intended to have suppressed Christs Trueth for ever within this Realme but the contrary had God decreed for his death was the cause as is said that many did awake from the deadly sleep of ignorance and so did Jesus Christ the onely true Lyght shine unto many for the way taken of one And albeit that these notable men did never after M. Iohn Fyfe onely excepted comfort their countrey with their bodily presence yet made he them fructifie in his Church and raised them up Lyghts out of darknesse to the praise of his own mercy and to the just condemnation of them that then ruled To wit of the King Counsell and Nobility yea of the whole people who suffered such notable personages without crimes counted to be unjustly persecuted and so exiled others were after even so dealt withall but of them we shall speak in their own place No sooner gate the Bishops opportunity which alwayes they sought but so soon renewed they the battell against Jesus Christ. For the aforesaid leprous Bishop in the yeere of God 1534. caused to be summoned Sir William Kyrk Adam Dayis Henry Kernes Iohn Stewart of Leyth with divers others such as Master William Iohnston Advocate Master Henry Henderson Schoole-master of Edenburgh of whom some compeered in the Abbey Kyrk of Halyrud-house and so abjured and publikely burnt their Bills others compeered not and therefore was exiled But in judgement were produced two to wit David Straton a Gentleman and Master Norman Gowrlay a man of reasonable erudition of whom we may shortly speak In Master Norman appeared knowledge albeit joyned with weaknesse But in David Straton could onely be espied for the first a hatred against the pride and avaritiousnesse of Priests for the cause of his delation was he had made to himselfe one Fish-boat to go to the sea The Bishop of Murray then being Prior of Saint Andrews and his agents urged him for the tythe thereof His answer was If they would have tythe of that which his servants wan in the sea it were but reason that they should come and receive it where they got the stocke and so as it was constantly affirmed he caused his servants to cast the tenth fish in the sea again Processe of cursing was laid against him for not paying such tythes which when he contemned he was summoned to answer for Heresie It troubled him vehemently and therefore he began to frequent the company of such as were godly for before he had been a man very stubborne and one that despised all reading chiefly of those things that were godly but miraculously as it were he appeareth to be changed for he delighteth in nothing but in hearing of reading for himselfe could not reade and was a vehement exhorter of all men to concord and quietnesse and the contempt of the world He frequented much the company of the Laird of Dun Areskin whom God in those daies had marvellously illuminated upon a day as the Laird of Lawriston that yet liveth then being a young man was reading unto him in the New Testament in a certain quiet place in the fields as God had appointed he chanced to read these Sentences of our Master Jesus Christ He that denieth me before men or is ashamed of me in the midst of this wicked generation I will deny him in the presence of my Father and before his Angels At which words he suddenly being as one revived cast himselfe upon his knees and extending both hand and visage constantly to the heaven a reasonable time at length he burst forth in these words O Lord I have been wicked and justly mayest thou withdraw thy grace from me but Lord for thy mercies sake let me never deny thee nor thy Trueth for fear of death or corporall paine The issue declared that his prayer was not vain for when he with the aforesaid Master Norman was produced in judgement in the Abbey of Halyrud-House the King himselfe all clad in red being present great labour was made that the said David Straton should have recanted and burnt his Bill But he ever standing at his defence alleadging that he had not offended in the end was adjudged to the fire and then when he perceived the danger asked grace at the King which he would willingly have granted unto him the Bishops proudly answered That the Kings hands were bound in that case and that he had no grace to give to such as by their Law were condemned And so was he with the said Master Norman after dinner upon the seven and twentieth day of August in the yeere of our Lord 1534. aforesaid led to a place besides the roode of greene side and there they two were both hanged and burnt according to the mercy of the Papisticall Church To that same diet were summoned as before we have said others of whom some escaped into England and so for that present escaped the death This their tyranny notwithstanding the knowledge of God did wonderfully increase within this Realme partly by reading partly by brotherly conference which in those dangerous dayes was used to the comfort of many but chiefly by Merchants and Mariners who frequenting other countreys heard the true Doctrine affirmed and the vanity of the Papisticall Religion openly rebuked Amongst whom were those of Dondie and Lieth principals against whom was made a very strait inquisition by David Beton cruell Cardinall And divers were compelled to abjure and burne their Bills some in Saint Andrews and some at Edinburgh About the same time Captaine Iohn Berthwick Provost of Lithcow was burnt in figure but by Gods providence escaped their furie And this was done for a spectacle and triumph to Mary of Lorraine lately arrived from France as wife to Iames the fifth King of Scots what plagues she brought with her and how they yet continue such as are not blinde may manifestly see The rage of these bloody beasts proceeded so farre that the Kings Court it selfe escaped not that danger for in it divers were suspected and some accused And yet ever did some lyght burst out in the midst of darknesse for the trueth of Christ Jesus entred even into the Cloisters as well of Friars and Monks as of Channons Iohn Lyn a gray Frier left his hypocriticall habit and the den of those murtherers the gray Friers A black Frier called Frier Killor set forth the History of Christs passion in forme of a Play which he both Preached and practised openly in Sterlin the King himselfe being present upon a Good-Friday in the Morning in the which all things were so lively expressed that the
Gods just Judgement He was most oppressed for thâ— delation and false accusation of such as professed Christs Evangel as M. Thomas Mairioribanckes and M. Heus Rig then advocates did confesse to M. Henry Balnaves who from the said Thomas Scot came to him as he and M. Thomas Ballenden were sitting in Saint Giles Church and asked him forgivenesse of the said Thomas None of these terrible forewarnings could either change or alter the heart of the infortunate and misled Prince but still he did proceed in his accustomed wayes For in the midst of these evils he caused to put hands on that notable man M. George Buchanan to whom for his singular erudition and honest behaviour was committed the charge to instruct some of his naturall children But by the mercifull providence of God he escaped albeit with great difficulty the rage of those that sought his life and remaines alive to this day in the yeere of God 1566. to the glory of God to the great honour of this nation and to the comfort of those that delight in letters and vertue That singular Worke of Davids Psalms in Latin Meeter and Poesie besides many others can witnesse the rare graces of God given to that man which that Prince by instigation of the gray-Friers and of his other flatterers would altogether have devoured if God had not provided remedy to his servant by escaping the keepers being asleep he went out at the window This cruelty and persecution notwithstanding the monsters and hypocrites the gray-Friers day by day came farther in contempt for not onely did the learned espie and detest their abominable hypocrisie but also men in whom no such graces or gifts were thought to have been began plainly to paint the same forth to the people As this Ryme which here we have inserted for the same purpose made by Alexander Earle of Glevearne to this day 1566 alive can witnesse intituled An Epistle directed from the holy Hermite of Larites to his Brethren the gray-Friers I Thomas Hermite in Larite Saint Francis brother heartily greete Beseeching you with firme intent To be watchfull and diligent For thir Lutherans rissen of new Our ordour dayly doth pursew These smacks do set their whole intent To read this Engls ' new Testament And sayth we have them cleane desceivd Therefore in haste they must be stopped Our stately hypocrisie they pryse And do blaspheme us on this wise Saying that we are heretiks And false loud lying Matin tykes Cummerers and quellers of Christs Kyrk Such lasie scemlers that will not wirk But idlely our living winnes Devouring Wolfs into Sheepe-skinnes Hurkland with huids into our neck With Judas minde to Jowcke and Bek Seeking Gods people to devore The overthrowers of Gods glore Professors of hypocrisie Doctors in Idolatrie Fishears with the feynds nette The upclosers of heaven gate Cancard corrupters of the Creede Hemlock sowers among good seed To throw in brambles that do men twist The hye way kennand them from Christ Monsters with the Beasts marke Dogs that never stintes to barke Church men that are to Christ unkend A sect that Sathans selfe has send Lurking in holes lyke trator todes Maintainers of Idolles and false godes Fantastike fooles and frenzie flatterers To turne from the trueth the very teachers For to declare their whole sentence Would much cumber your conscience To say your fayth it is so stark Your cord and loosie cote and sark Ye lippin may you bring to salvation And quyte excludes Christ his passion I dread this doctrine and it last Shall either gar us worke or fast Therefore with speede we must provide And not our profit overslide I schaip my selfe within short while To curse our Ladie in Argyle And there some craftie wyse to worke Till that we builded have one Kyrk Since miracles made by your advice The kitterells thought they had but lyce The two parts to us they will bring But orderly to dresse this thing Aghaist I purpose for to cause gang By counsayll of Frear Walter Lang Which shall make certaine demonstrations To help us in our procurations Your holy ordor to decore That practise he provd once before Betwâ—xt Kyrkcadie and Kinggorne But Lymmers made thereat such skorne And to his fame made such digression Since syn he heard not the Kings confession Though at that time he came with speede I pray you take good will as deede And some among your selves receave As one worth many of the leave What I obtaine you through his art Reason wold ye had your part Your order handles no money But for other casualtie As beefe meale butter and cheese Or what else you have that you please Send your brethren and habete As now not els but valete Be Thomas your brother at command A Culrune kethed through many a land After God had given unto that mis-informed Prince sufficient documents that his warring against his blessed Gospel should not prosperously succeed He raised up against him Warres as he did of old against divers Princes that would not hear his voice in the which he lost himself as we shall hereafter heare The occasion of the Warre was this HENRY the eighth King of England had a great desire to have spoken with our King and in that point travelled so long till that he gat a full promise made to his Ambassadour Lord William Howard The place of meeting was appointed Yorke which the King of England kept with such solemnitie and preparations as never for such a purpose was seene in England before Great brute of that journey and some preparation for the same was made in Scotland But in the end by perswasion of the Cardinall David Beton and by others of his faction that journey was stayed and the Kings promise falsified Whereupon were sharp Letters of reproach sent unto the King and also unto his counsell King Henry frustrate returneth to London and after his indignation declared began to fortifie with men his frontiers toward Scotland There was sent to the borders Sir Robert Bowes the Earle of Angus and his brother Sir George Dowglas Upon what other trifling questions as for the debetable land and such the Warre brake up we omit to write The principall occasion was the falsifying of the promises before made Our King perceiving that Warre would rise asked the Prelats and Churchmen what support they would make to the sustaining of the same for rather would he yet satisfie the desire of his Uncle then he would hazard warre where he saw not his force able to resist They promised mountains of gold as Satan their father did to Christ Jesus if he would worship him for rather would they have gone to hell then he should have met with King Henry for then thought they Farewell our Kingdom of Abbots Monks c. And farewell thought the Cardinall his credit and glory in France In the end they promised fifty thousand crowns by yeere to be well paid so long as the Warre lasted and further That
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
so without judgement all men fled The Sea was filling and so the water made great stop but the fear was such as happy was he that might get a taker Such as passed the water and escaped that danger not well acquainted with the ground fell into the slimy mosse the entry thereof was pleasing enough but as they proceeded all that took that way either lost their horse or else themselves and horse both To be short a greater fear and discomfiture without cause hath seldome beene seen for it is said That where the men were not sufficient to take the Bands of prisoners Some ran to houses and rendered themselves to women Stout Oliver was without stroke taken fleeing full manfully And so was his glory stinking and foolish proudnesse we should call it suddenly turned to confusion and shame In that discomfiture were taken the two Earls aforesaid the Lords Fleming Somerwell and Olyphant and many other Barons and Gentlemen besides the great multitude of servants Worldly men say That all this come but by misorder and fortune as they term it But whosoever hath the least spark of the knowledge of God may as evidently see the work of his hand in this discomfiture as ever was seen in any of the Battells left to us in Register by the holy Ghost For what more evident Declaration have we that God fought against Benhadad King of Aram when he was discomfited at Samaria than now we have that God fought with his own Arm against Scotland in this former discomfiture There did two hundred and thirty persons in the Skirmish with seven thousand following them in the great Battell put to flight the said Benhadad with thirty Kings in his Company But here there is in this shamefull discomfiture of Scotland very few more than three hundreth men without knowledge of any Backe or Battell to follow put to flight ten thousand men without resistance made There did every man recounter his marrow till that the two hundred and thirty slew such as matched them But here without slaughter the multitude fled There had those of Samaria the Prophet of God to comfort to instruct and to promise Victory unto them But England in that pursuit had nothing but as God secretly wrought by his providence in the men that knew nothing of his working neither yet of the cause thereof more then the wall that fell upon the rest of Benhadads Army knew what it did And therefore yet again we say That such as in that sudden dejection beholds not the hand of God fighting against pride for freedome of his own little Flock injustly persecuted doth willingly and maliciously obscure the glory of God but the end thereof is yet more notable The certain knowledge of the discomfiture coming to the Kings ears who waited upon news at Lochmaban he was stricken with a sudden fear and astonishment so that scarcely could he speak or had purpose with any man The night constrained him to remain where he was and so went to bed but rose without rest or quiet sleep His continuall complaint was O fled Oliver is Oliver taken O fled Oliver And these words in his melancholly and as it were carried in a Trance repeated he from time to time to the very hour of death Upon the morn which was Saint Katherines day returned he to Edinburgh and so did the Cardinall from Hadington But the one being ashamed of the other the brute of their communication came not to publike audience The King made Inventory of his Treasure of all his Jewels and other substance And thereafter ashamed to look any man in the face secretly departed to Fife and coming to Hallzairdes was humanely received of the Lady of Grange an ancient and godly Matron the Laird at his coming was absent In his company was onely with him William Kirkâ—ldy now Laird of Grange and some other that waited upon his Chamber The Lady at Supper perceiving him pensive beganne to comfort him and willeth him to take the Work of GOD in good part My portion said he of this world is short for I will not be with you fifteen dayes His servants repairing unto him asked where he would have provision made for Christmas which then approached he answered with a disdainfull countenance I cannot tell chuse you the place but this I can tell you Or Christmas day you will be masterlesse and the Realme without a King Because of his displeasure no man durst make contradiction unto him So after that he had visited the Castle of Carny pertaining to the Earle of Crawfurde where the said Earles daughter one of his Mistresses was he returned to Falkland and took bed And albeit there appeared unto him no signes of death yet he constantly affirmed Before such a day I shall be dead In this mean time was the Queen upon the point of her delivery in Lynlitquow who was delivered the 8 of December in the yeere of God 1542 yeeres of Mary that then was born and now doth raigne for a scourge to this Realme as the progresse of her whole life has to this day declared The certainty that a daughter was born unto him coming to his ears he turned from such as spake with him and said The devill go with it it will end as it began it came from a woman and it will end with a woman From Mary daughter to Robert Bruse married to Walter Stuart he feared that his daughter should be married to one of another Name and Family but you see by Gods providence the Crown remains in one and the same Family and Name to this day notwithstanding the many Plots of the pretenders to the Crowne both at home and abroad After that he spake not many words that were sensible but ever harped on his old song Fie fled Oliver is Oliver taken all is lost In this mean time in his great extremity comes the Cardinall a fit comforter for a desperate man he cries in his eare Take order Sir with your Realme who shall rule during the minority of your daughter ye have knowne my service What will ye have done Shall there not be four Regents chosen And shall not I be principall of them Whatsoever the King answered Documents were taken That so it should be as my Lord Cardinall thought expedient As many affirme a dead mans hand was made to subscribe one blank that they might write above what it pleased them best the Cardinall having hired one Henry Balfour a Priest to make a false Testament which was done accordingly but in vain This finished the Cardinall posted to the Queen lately before delivered as is said At the first sight of the Cardinall she said Welcome my Lord is not the King dead What moved her so to conjecture divers men are of divers judgements Many whisper that of old his patte was in the pot and that the suspition thereof caused him to be inhibite the Queens company Howsoever it was
before it is plain That after the Kings death and during the Cardinalls life whosoever guided the Court he gate his secret businesse sped of that gracious Lady either by day or by night Howsoever the tidings liked her she mended with as great expedition of that daughter as ever she did before of any son she bare The time of her Purification was sooner than the Leviticall Law appoints but she was no Jew and therefore in that she offended not The noyse of the death of King Iames divulgate who departed this life the 13 day of December in the yeere of God 1542 aforesaid the hearts of men began to be disclosed All men lamented that the Realme was left without a male to succeed Yet some rejoyced that such an enemy to Gods Truth was taken away He was called of some A good poore mans King of others he was termed A murtherer of the Nobility and one that had decreed their whole destruction Some praised him for the repressing of theft and oppression others dispraised him for being much given to women The Prelats and Clergie feared a change in the Kings minde as he had expressed himself some few yeers before And thus men spake even as their affection led them and yet none spake altogether besides the truth for part of these aforesaid were so manifest that as the vertues could not be denied so could not the vices by any craft be cloked Yet to speak truth of him his vices may justly be attributed to the times and his breeding and not any wickednesse in his nature for he gave many expressions of a good nature namely in his sobriety and justice c. The question of Government was thorow this Realme universally moved The Cardinall proclaimed the Kings last Will and therein were expressed four Protectors or Regents of whom himself was the first and principall and with him were joyned the Earls of Huntley Argyle and Murhay this was done on Munday at the Market Crosse of Edinburgh But the Munday following took the whole Regents remission for their usurpation for by the stout and wise counsell of the Laird of Grange did the Earle of Arran then so neer to the Crown cause assemble the Nobility of the Realme and required the equity of their judgements in that his just suit to the Government of this Realm during the minority of her to whom he pretended to succeed failing of her and of her lawfull succession His friends convened the Nobility assembled the day of decision is appointed the Cardinall and his faction opposes them and are against the Government of one man and especially of any called Hammilton For who knowes not said the Cardinall that the Hammiltons are cruell murtherers oppressors of innocents proud avaritious double and false and finally the pestilence in this Common-wealth Whereto the Earl answered Defraud me not of my right and call me what ye please whatsoever my friends have been yet unto this day hath no man cause to complain upon me neither yet am I minded to flatter any of my friends in their evill doing but by Gods grace shall be as forward to correct their enormities as any within the Realme can reasonably require of me And therefore yet again my Lords in Gods Name I crave that ye do me no wrong nor defraud me of my just Title before ye have experience of my Government At these words were all that feared God or loved honesty so moved that with one voyce they cryed That Petition is most just and unlesse ye will do against Gods Iustice and Equity it cannot be denied And so in despight of the Cardinall and his suborned Faction was he declared Governour and with publike Proclamation so denounced to the people The Kings Pallace Treasure Jewels Garments Horse and Plate was delivered unto him by the Officers that had the former charge and he honoured feared and obeyed more heartily than ever any King was before so long as he abode at God The cause of the great favour that was born unto him was That it was bruted that he favoured Gods Word and because it was well knowne that he was one appointed to have been persecuted as the Scroll found in the Kings pocket after his death did witnesse These two things together with an opinion that men had of his simplicity bowed the hears of many unto him in the beginning who after with dolour of hearts were compelled to change their opinions but hereof we will after speak The variety of matters that occurred we omit such as the order taken for keeping of the young Queen of the provision for the mother the calling home of the Douglas and other such as appertain to a Universal History of the time For as before we have said we minde onely to follow the progresse of the Religion and of the matters that cannot be severed from the same The Earle of Arran thus being established in the Government godly men repaired unto him exhorted him to call to minde for what end God had exalted him to be Governour out of what danger he had delivered him he being in the bloody Scroll as we saw before and what expectation all men of honesty had of him because they saw him a soft man they conceited goodnesse of him At their instant suit more than of his own motion was Thomas Guilliame a black Frier called to be Preacher The man was of sound judgement of reasonable letters as for that age and of a prompt and good utterance His Doctrine was wholsome without great vehemency against superstition Preached also sometime Iohn Rough who after for the verity of Christ Jesus suffered in England albeit not so learned yet more simple and more vehement against all impiety The Doctrine of these two provoked against them and against the Governour also the hatred of all such as more favoured darknesse than light and their own interest more than God The gray Friers and amongst the rest Frier Scot who before had given himself forth for the greatest Professor of Christ Jesus within Scotland and under that colour had disclosed and so endangered many These slaves of Sathan rowped as they had been Ravens yea rather they yelled and roared as devills in hell Heresie heresie Guilliame and Rough will carry the Governour to the devill The Towne of Edinburgh for the most part was devoured in superstition Edward Hope young William Adamson Sibilla Lyndsay Patrike Lyndsay Francis Aikman And in the Cannongate Iohn Mackaw and Nivian Browne with few others had the burit of knowledge in these dayes One Wilson servant to the Bishop of Dunckell who neither knew new Testament nor the old made a despightfull railing Ballad against the Preachers and against the Governour for the which he narrowly escaped hanging The Cardinall moved both heaven and hell to trouble the Governour to stay the Preaching but yet was the Battell stoutly fought for a season for he was taken and put first in Dalkeyt
after in Seaton But at length by Bribes given to the said Lord Seaton and to the old Laird of Lethington he was restored to Saint Andrewes from whence he wrought all mischief as we shall after heare The PARLIAMENT approached which was before EASTER there began question of the abolishing of certaine Tyrannicall ACTS made before at the Devotion of the Prelates for the maintaining of their Kingdome of Darkenesse To wit That under paine of Heresie no man should reade any part of the Scriptures in the Vulgar Tongue neither yet any Tractate or Exposition of any place of Scripture Such Articles began to come in question we say And men began to enquire If it were not lawfull to men that understood no Latine to use the word of their Salvation in the Tongue they understood as it was for the Latine men to have it in Latine Grecians or Hebrews to have it in their Tongues It was answered That the Church he means the Prelats first had forbidden all Tongues but the three viz. Hebrew Greek and Latine But men demanded when that Inhibition was given and what Counsell had ordained it considering that in the dayes of Chrysostome he complained That the people used the Psalmes and other holy Books in their owne Tongues And if ye will say they were Greeks and understood the Greek Tongue We answere That Christ Jesus commanded his word to be Preached to all Nations now if it ought to be Preached to all Nations it must be Preached in the Tongue they understand Then if it be lawfull to Preach and heare it Preached in all Tongues Why should it not be lawfull to reade it and hear it read in all Tongues to the end that the people may try the spirits according to the commandment of the Apostle Beaten with these and other Reasons they denied not but it might be read in the Uulgar Tongue provided if the Translation were true It was demanded What could be reprehended in it And when much searching was made nothing could be found But that Love say they was put in the place of Charity When the Question was asked What difference was betwixt the one and the other and if they understood the nature of the Greek term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were dumb Reasoned for the party of the seculars The L. Ruthwen father to him that prudently gave counsell to take just punishment upon that knave David for that he abused the unhappy K. Henry Stuart in mo cases then one a stout and a discreet man in the cause of God and M. Henry Balneves an old professour For the part of the Clergy one Hay Dean of Lastarrik and certain old Bishops with him The conclusion was the Commissioners of Broughes and a part of the Nobility required of the Parliament that it might be Enacted That it should be lawfull to every man to use the benefit of the Translation which then they had of the Old and New Testament together with the benefit of other Treatises containing wholsome Doctrine untill such time as the Prelats and other Church-men should give and set forth unto them a Translation more correct The Clergie hereto long repugned But in the end convinced by Reasons and by multitude of voyces in their contrary they also condescended And so by Act of Parliament it was made free to all men and women to read the Scriptures in their owne Uulgar Tongue and so were all Acts made to the contrary abolished This was no small Victorie of CHRIST JESUS fighting against the conjured enemies of his Veritie No small comfort to such as before were holden in such bondage that they durst not have read The Lords Prayer The ten Commandments nor The Articles of their Faith in the Uulgar Tongue but they should have been accused of Heresie Then might have beene seene the Bible lying almost upon every Gentlemans Table The New Testament was borne about in many mens hands We grant that some alas prophaned that blessed Word for some that perchance had never read ten Sentences in it had it most common in their hand they would chop their familiars on the cheeke with it and say This hath lyne under my beds feet these ten yeers Others would glory O how oft have I been in danger for this Booke how secretly have I stollen from my wife at midnight to reade upon it And this was done we say of many to make cowrt and curry favour thereby For all men esteemed the Governour to have been one of the most fervent Protestants that was in Europe Albeit we say that many abused that libertie granted of God miraculously yet thereby did the knowledge of God wonderously increase and God gave his holy spirit to simple men in great abundance Then were set forth works in our owne Tongue besides those that came from England that did disclose the pride the craft the tyrannie and abuses of that Romane Antichrist The fame of our Governour was spread in divers countreys and many praised God for him King Henry the eight sent unto him his Ambassadour M. Radulph Saidlair who lay in Edinburgh a great part of the Summer his Commission and Negotiation was to contract a perpetuall amitie betwixt England and Scotland The occasion whereof God had so offered that to many men it appeared that from heaven he had declared his good pleasure in that behalfe For to King Henry of Iane Seymer after the death of Queene Katherine and of all others that might have made his Marriage suspect was given a sonne Edward the sixth of blessed memory elder some yeeres then our Mistresse and unto us was left a Queene as before we have heard This wonderfull providence of God caused men of greatest judgement to enter into disputation with themselves Whether that with good conscience any man might repugne to the desires of the King of England considering that thereby all occasion of Warre might be cut off and great commodity might ensue to this Realme The offers of King Henry was so large and his demands so reasonable that all that loved quietnesse were content therewith There were sent from the Parliament to King Henry in Commission Sir Iames Lermont and M. Henry Balnevis who long remaining in England so travailed that all things concerning the Marriage betwixt Edward the sixth and Mary Queen of Scots was agreed upon except the time of her deliverance to the custody of English-men Upon the finall conclusion of the which head were added to the former Commissioners William Earle of Glencarne and Sir George Dowglas to whom was given ample Commission and good Instructions In Scotland remained M. Radulph Saidlaire advertisements past so frequently betwixt yea the hands of our Lords liberally were anointed besides other commodities promised and of some received for divers Prisoners taken at Solway mosse were sent home free upon promise of their fidelity which as it was kept the issue will witnesse But in the end so well were all once content the Cardinall the
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
knowing that Calder Younger and Brunston were with Iohan Cocburne Laird of Ormeston sent back with expedition to apprehend them also The noyse of Horse-men being heard the servants gave advertisement That more then departed or was there before were returned And while that they dispute what should be the motive the Cardinalls Garrison had seized both the outer and inner Close They called for the Laird and for the Laird of Calder who presenting themselves demanded what their COMMISSION was To bring you two and the Laird of Brouneston to my Lord GOVERNOUR They were nothing content as they had no cause and yet they made faire countenance and intreated the Gentlemen to drinke and to baite their horses till that they might put themselves in readinesse to ride with them In this meane time Brounston conveyed himselfe first secretly and then by speed of foot to Ormiston wood and from thence to Dundallon and so escaped that danger the other two were put into the Castle of Edinburgh where the one to wit Calder Zounger remained untill his baud of Manred to the Cardinall was the meanes of his deliverance And the other to wit Ormiston freed himselfe by leaping off the wall of the Castle betwixt ten of the clock and eleven before noon And so breaking Ward he escaped prison which he unjustly suffered The servant of God M. George Wischarde was carried first to Edinburgh thereafter brought backe for fashion sake to the house of Hailles againe which was the principall place that then the Earle Bothwell had in Lothiane But as gold and women have corrupted all worldly and fleshly men from the beginning so did they him For the Cardinall gave gold and that largely and the Queen with whom the said Earle was then in the Glunders promised him favour in all his lawfull suites to women if he would deliver the said M. George to be kept in the Castle of Edinburgh He made some resistance at the first by reason of his promise But an effeminate man cannot long withstand the assaults of a gracious Queene and so was the servant of God transported to Edinburgh where the Cardinall then had a convention of Prelats wherein somewhat was said of redressing the abuses of the Church and reforming the lives of the Clergie but it tooke no effect M. Wischarde remained but few dayes in Edinburgh For that bloodie woolfe the Cardinall ever thirsting after the blood of the servant of God so travelled with the abused Governour that he was content that Gods servant should be delivered to the power of that Tyrannie And so small inversion being made Pilate obeyed the petition of Caiaphas and of his fellows and adjudged Christ to be crucified The Cardinall seeing it was forbidden by the Canon Law to Priests to sit as Judges upon life and death although the crime were Heresie sent to the Governour desiring him to name some Lay-Judge to pronounce Sentence against M. Wischarde The Governour had freely condescended to the Cardinalls request without delay if David Hamilton of Preston a godly and wise man had not remonstrated unto him That he could expect no better end then Saul since he persecuted the Saints of God for that Truth which he professed once with such a shew of earnestnesse the profession thereof being the onely cause of his advancement to that high degree wherein he was The Governour moved at this Speech of David Hamiltons answered the Cardinall That he would not meddle with the blood of that good man and told him That his blood should be on him for he himselfe would be free of it At this the Cardinall was angry and said he would proceed and that he had sent to the Governour of meere civility without any need And so the servant of God delivered to the hand of that proud and mercilesse Tyrannie triumph was made by the Priests The godly lamented and accused the foolishnesse of the Governour For by the retaining of the said M. George he might have caused Protestants and Papists rather proud Romanists to have served The one to the end the life of their Preacher might have been saved The other for feare that he should have set him at liberty again to the confusion of the Bishops But where God is left as he had plainely renounced him before what can counsell or judgement availe How the servant of God was dealt withall and what he did from the day that he entred within the sea Tower of S. Andrews which was in the end of January in the yeere of God 1546. unto the first of March the same yeere when he suffered we cannot certainly tell except we understand he wrote somewhat in prison but that was suppressed by the enemies The Cardinall delayed no time but caused all Bishops yea all the Clergie that had any preheminence to be called to S. Andrews against the seven and twentieth day of February that consultation might be had in that question which in his minde was no lesse resolved then Christs death was in the minde of Caiaphas But that the rest should bear the like burden with him he would that they should before the world subscribe whatsoever he did In that day was wrought a wonder not unlike that which was at the accusation and death of Jesus Christ when Pilate and Herod who before were enemies were made friends by consenting of them both to Christs condemnation differs nothing except that Pilate and Herod were brethren under their father the Devill in the estate called Temporall And these two of whom we are about to speake were brethren sons of the same father the Devill in the estate Ecclesiasticall If we interlace merrynesse with earnest matters pardon us good Reader for the fact is so notable that it deserveth long remembrance The Cardinall was knowne proud and Dumbar Archbishop of Glasgow was knowne a glorious foole And yet because sometimes he was called the Kings Master he was Chancellour of Scotland The Cardinall cometh even the same yeere in the end of harvest before to Glasgow upon what purpose we omit But while they remaine together the one in the Towne the other in the Castle Question riseth for bearing of their Crosses The Cardinall alleadged That by reason of his Cardinalship and that he was Legatus natus and Primate within Scotland in the kingdome of Antichrist That he should have the preheminence and that his Crosse should not onely go before but that also it should onely be borne wheresoever he was Good Gukstone Glakstone the aforesaid Archbishop lacked no reasons as he thought for maintenance of his glory He was an Archbishop in his owne Diocesse and in his owne Cathedrall Seat and Church and therefore ought to give place to no man The power of the Cardinall was but begged from Rome and appertaineth but to his own person and not to his Bishoprick for it might be that his successour should not be Cardinall but his dignity was annexed with his office and did appertaine to all
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
that matter to your Majesties contentment it will please your Majestie of your goodnesse to remove the Souldiers and their Captains with others that have gotten charge of the Town That the same may be guided and ruled freely as it was before by the Ballyes and Counsell conforme to their infeoffments given to them by the ancient and most excellent Kings of this Realme to elect and chuse their officers at Michaelmas and they to endure for the space of one yeere conforme to the old Rite and Custome of this Realme which being done by your Majestie we trust the better successe shall follow thereupou to your Majesties content as the bearer will declare at more length to your Majestie Whom God preserve To Saint Iohnston with the Gentlemen before expressed did Convene the Earle of Monteith the Laird of Glaneurquhair and divers others who before had not presented themselves for defence of their brethren When the whole multitude was Convened a Trumpet was sent by the Lords commanding the Captains and their Bands To avoid the Towne and to leave it to the ancient Libertie and just Inhabitants of the same Also commanding the Laird of Kilfawnes put in Provest by the Queen with the Captains aforesaid To open the gates of the Town and make the same patent to all our Soveraigns lieges to the effect That as well true Religion now once begun therein may be maintained and Idolatry utterly suppressed as also the said Town might enjoy and brook their ancient Laws and Liberties unoppressed by men of War according to their old Priviledges granted to them by the ancient Princes of this Realme and conforme to the provision contained in the Contract of Marriage made by the Nobility and Parliament of this Realme with the King of France bearing namely That our old Laws or Liberties should not be altered Adding thereto If they foolishly resisted and therein happened to commit murther That they should be treated as murtherers To the which they answered proudly That they would keep and defend that Towne according to their promise made to the Queen Regent This answer received preparation was made for the Siege and assault For amongst all it was concluded that the Towne should be set at liberty to what danger soever their bodies should be exposed While preparation was in making came the Earle of Huntly the Lord Erskin Master Iohn Ballenden Justice Clerk requiring that the pursuit of the Town should be delayed To speake to them were appointed the Earle of Argyle Lord Iames and Lord Ruthuen who perceiving in them nothing but a drift of time without any assurance that the former wrongs should be redressed gave unto them a short and plaine answer That they would not delay their purpose an houre and therefore willed them to certifie the Captains in the Town That if by pride and foolishnesse they would keep the Town and in so doing slay any of their brethren that they should every one die as murtherers The Earle of Huntly displeased at this answer departed and was highly offended that he could not dresse such an appointment as should have contented the Queen and the Priests After their departing the Town was again summoned but the Captaines supposing that no sudden pursuit should be made and looking for reliefe to have been sent from the Queen abode in their former opinion And so upon Saterday the nine and twentieth of June at ten of the clock at night commanded the Lord Ruthuen who besieged the west Quarter to shoot the first Volley which being done the Town of Dundie did the like whose Ordnance lay on the east side of the Bridge The Captaines and Souldiers within the Town perceiving that they were unable long to resist required assurance till twelve houres upon the morrow promising That if before that houre there came unto them no relief from the Queen Regent that they would render the Town Provided that they should be suffered to depart the Town with Ensigne displayed We thirsting the blood of no man and seeking onely the liberty of our brethren condescended to their desires albeit that we might have executed against them judgement without mercy for that they had refused our former favours and had slain one of our brethren and hurt two in their resistance and yet we suffered them freely to depart without any further molestation The Town being delivered from their thraldom upon Sunday the six and twentieth of June thanks was given to God for this great benefit received and consultation was taken what was further to be done In this meane time zealous men considering how obstinate proud and despightfull the Bishop of Murray had been before how he had threatned the Town by his Souldiers and friends who lay in Scone thought good that some order should be taken with him and with that place which lay neer to the Towns end The Lords wrote unto him for he lay within two miles of S. Iohnston That unlesse he would come and assist them they neither could spare nor save his place He answered by his writing That he would come and would do as they thought expedient that he would assist them with his Force and would consent with them against the rest of the Clergie in Parliament But because this answer was slow in coming the Town of Dundie partly offended for the slaughter of their men and especially bearing no good favour to the said Bishop for that he was and is chief enemy to Christ Jesus and that by his counsell alone was Walter Mile our brother put to death they marched forward To stay them was first sent the Provest of Dundie and his brother Alexander Halyburtoun Captaine who little prevailing was sent unto them Iohn Knox but before his coming they were entred to the pulling downe of the Idols and dortoir And albeit the said Master Iames Halyburtoun Alexander his brother and the said Iohn did what in them lay to have stayed the fury of the multitude yet were they not able to put order universally and therefore they sent for the Lords Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames who coming with all diligence laboured to have saved the place and the place and the Church But because the multitude had found buried in the Church a great number of hid goods of purpose to have preserved them to a better day as the papists speak the Towns of Dundie and S. Iohnston could not be satisfied till that the whole reparation and Ornaments of the Church as they terme it were destroyed And yet did the Lords so travell that they saved the Bishops Palace with the Church and place for that night For the two Lords did not depart till they brought with them the whole number of those that most sought the Bishops displeasure The Bishop greatly offended that any thing should have been enterprised in reformation of his place asked of the Lords his Band and hand-writing which not two hours before he had sent unto them which delivered to
shall be more amply declared After we had abided certaine dayes in Sterlin the Earle of Argyle departed to Glasgow and because he was to depart to his owne Countrey with whom also passed the Lord Iames to pacifie some trouble which by the craft of the Queen was raised in his absence he required the Earle of Glencarne Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie and others of Kyle to meet there for some order to be taken that the brethren should not be oppressed which with one consent they did and appointed the tenth of September for the next convention at Sterlin While these things were in doing at Glasgow Letters and a servant came from the Earle of Arran to the Duke his father signifying unto him That by the providence of God he had escaped the French Kings hands who most treasonably and most cruelly had sought his life or at the least to have committed him to perpetuall prison For the same time the said French King seeing he could not have the Earle himself caused put his younger brother a childe of such age as could not offend in strait prison where he yet remained to wit in the Month of October the yeer of our Lord 1559. Which things were done by the power and craft of the Queen Dowager at the time that the Duke and his friends were most ready to set forth her cause These Letters received and the estate of her two sons knowne of whom one was escaped and the other cast in vile prison the Duke desired communing with the said Earle of Argyle who partly against the will of some that loved him rid unto the Duke from Glasgow to Hammilton where abiding a night he declared his judgement to the Duke and to his friends especially to Master Gawane Hammilton The Duke required him and the Lord Iames to write their friendly and comfortable Letters to his son which they most willingly did and thereafter addressed them to their journey But the very day of their departing came one Boutancourt from the Queen Regent with Letters as was alleadged from the King and Queen of France to the Lord Iames which he delivered with a bragging countenance and many threatning words the Tenour of his Letter was this The King his Letter to the Lord Iames. MY Cousin I have greatly marvelled when I understood the troubles that are happened in these parts And yet I more marvell That ye in whom I had whole confidence and who has the Honour to be so neer the Queen my wife and has received from the late King my Father from the Queen my wife and from me such graces and favours that ye should be so forgetfull as to make your selfe the Head and one of the principall beginners and nourishers of the tumults and seditions that are seen there The which because it is so strange to me and so farre against the profession that ye at all times have made I cannot well beleeve it But if it be so I cannot think but ye have been entised and led thereto by some persons that have seduced you and caused you commit such a fault as I am assured you repent of already which will be a great pleasure to me to the effect I may lose a part of the occasion I have to be miscontent with you as I will you to understand I am Seeing you have so far deceived the esperance I had of you and your affection toward God and the weale of our service unto the which ye know ye are as much and more obliged then any other of the Lords there For this cause desiring that the matters may be duely amended and knowing what ye can therein I thought good on this manner to write unto you and pray you to take heed to return to the good way from which ye have declined and cause me know the same by the effects That you have another intention then this which the follies by-past maketh me now to beleeve doing all that ever ye can to reduce all things to their first estate and put the same to the right and good obedience that you know to be due unto God and unto me Otherwise ye may be well assured that I will put to my hand and that in good earnest that you and all they who have done and do as ye do shall feele through your own fault that which ye have deserved and merited Even as I have given charge to this Gentle-man present bearer to make you know more largely of my part for which cause I pray you credit him even as ye would do my selfe Praying God my cousin to have you in his holy and worthy protection Written at Paris the 17 day of July 1559. The same Messenger brought also Letters from the Queen our Soveraigne more sharp and threatning then the former For her conclusion was Vous en sentires la poincture a iamais His credit was That the King would spend the Crown of France if that he were not revenged upon such seditious persons That he would never have suspected such inobedience and such defection from his own sister in him To the which the said Lord Iames answered first by word and then by writing as followeth The Lord Iames his Letter to the King Sir MY most humble duty remembred Your Majesties Letters I received from Paris the 17 of Iuly last importing in effect That your Majestie doth marvell that I being forgetfull of the graces and favours shewed me by the King of blessed memorie your Majesties father and the Queen my Soveraigne should declare my selfe head and one of the principall beginners of these alleadged Tumults and Seditions in these parts deceiving thereby your Majesties expectation in all times had of me with assurance That if I did not declare by contrary effects my repentance I with the rest that had put or yet putteth hand to this Work should receive that reward which we had deserved and merited SIR It grieves me very heavily that the crime of ingratitude should bâ— laid to my charge by your Majestie and the rather Thâ—t I perceive the same to have proceeded of sinister information of them whose part it was not to have reported so if true service past had been regarded And as touching the repentance and declaration of the same by certaine effects That your Majesty desires I shew My conscience perswades me in these proceedings to have done nothing against God not the dutifull obedience towards your Majesty and the Queen my Soveraigne Otherwise it should not have been to be repented and also amended already accordâ—ng to your Majesties expectation of me But your Majestie being truely informed and perswaded That the thing which we have done maketh for the advancement of Gods glory without any manner of derogation to your Majesties due obedience We doubt not but your Majestie shall be well contented with our proceedings which being grounded upon the commandment of the eternall God we dare not leave the same unaccomplished onely wishing and desiring
execute their tyranny upon the parts of Lowthiane that lay nigh to Edinburgh Let M. David Borthwicke witnesse what favour his wife and place of Adeston found of the French for all the service that he did to the Queen Regent In the midst of February were directed to England from the Duke and the Congregation the Lord Iames Lord Ruthuen the Mast of Maxwell the Master of Lindsay Master Henry Balnaves and the Laird of Pittarrow who with their honest companies and Commission departed by Sea all except the Master of Maxwell to Barwicke Where there met them the Duke of Norfolke Lieutenant to the Queen of England and with him a great company of the Gentlemen of the North with some also of the South having full power to contract with the Nobility of Scotland as they did upon such Conditions as are in the same Contract specified and because we have heard the malicious tongues of wicked men make false report of that our fact we have faithfully and truely inserted in this our History the said Contract as well that which was made at Leith during the siege as that which was first made at Barwicke that the memory thereof may abide to our Posterity to the end that they may judge with indifferency Whether that we have done any thing prejudiciall to our Common-wealth or yet contrarious unto the dutifull obedience which true subjects owe to their Superiours whose Authority ought to defend and maintain the Liberty and Freedom of the Realms committed to their Charge and not to oppresse and betray the same to stranger The Tenour of our Contract followeth The Contract at Barwick JAMES Duke of Chattellarault Earle of Arrane Lord Hamilton and others of the Councell Nobility and principall States of Scotland To all and sundry whose knowledge these presents shall come Greeting We have well considered and are fully perswaded in what danger desolation and misery the long enmity with the Kingdom of England hath brought our Countrey heretofore how wealthie and flourishing it shall become if those two Kingdoms as they are joyned in one Island by Creation of the World so they may be knit in a constant and assured friendship The considerations grounded upon a most infallible Trueth ought no lesse to have moved our Progenitours and for fathers then us But the present danger hanging over our heads by the unjust dealing of those of whom we have alwayes best deserved hath caused us to weigh them more earnestly then they did The misbehaviour of the French Monsieurs I had almost said Monsters here hath of late yeers been so great The oppressions and crueltie of the Souldiers the tyrannie and ambition of their Superiours and Rulers so grievous to the people the violent subversion of our liberty and conquest of the land whereat they have by most crafty and subtill means continually pressed hath been I say so intollerable to us all that at last when we could not obtain redresse by humble suits and earnest supplications presented to the Queen Dowager who both for duties sake and place she doth occupie ought to have been most carefull of our state we have been by very necessitie constrained not onely to assay our own Forces but also to implore the Queens Majestie of Englands aide and support which her Majestie hath most willingly granted upon certain conditions specified in a Treaty past at Barwick betwixt the Duke of Norfolk Lieutenant to her Majestie on the one part and certain our Commissioners on the other part whereof the Tenour followeth At Barwick the 27 day of February the yeer of our Lord God 1559 yeers It is appointed and finally Contracted betwixt the noble and mighty Thomas Duke of Norfolk Earle Marshall of England and Lieutenant to the Queens Majestie of the said Realm in the Name and behalf of her Highnesse on the one part and the Right Honourable Lord Iames Stewart Patrick Lord Ruthuen Sir Iohn Maxwell of Terregles Knight William Maitland of Lethington younger Iohn Wischarde of Pittarrow and Master Henry Balnaves of Halhill in name and behalf of the Noble and Mighty Iames Duke of Chattellarault of Scotland and the Lords of the Congregation joyned together in this Cause for maintenance and defence of the ancient Rights and Liberties of their Countrey on the other part in forme as after followeth That is to say That the Queen having sufficiently understood as well by information sent from the Nobility of Scotland as by the proceedings of the French that they intend to conquer the Realm of Scotland suppresse the liberty thereof and unite the same unto the Crown of France perpetually contrary to the Laws of the said Realm and the Pacts Oathes and Promises of France And being thereto most humbly and earnestly required by the said Nobility for and in the name of the whole Realm shall accept the said Realm of Scotland the said Nobility and subjects thereof into her Majesties protection and maintenance onely for preservation of the same in their own freedoms and liberties and from conquest during the time that the Marriage shall continue betwixt the Queen of Scots and the French King and a yeer after And for expelling out of the same Realme of such as presently and apparently goeth about to practice the said Conquest her Majesty shall with all speed send into Scotland a convenient aide of men of War both Horse and Foot to joyn with the power of Scotish men with Artillery Munition and all other Instruments of War meet for that purpose as well by Sea as by Land not onely to expell the present Power of the French within that Realme oppressing the same but also to stop as far as conveniently may be all greater Forces of French to enter therein for the like purpose and shall continue her Majesties ayd to the said Realme Nobility and subjects of the same unto the time the French being enemies to the said Realme be utterly expelled hence and shall never transact compose nor agree with the French nor conclude any League with them except the Scots and the French shall be agreed that the Realme of Scotland may be left in a due freedom by the French nor shall leave the maintenance of the said Nobility and subjects whereby they might fall as a prey into their enemies hands as long as they shall acknowledge their Soveraigne Lady the Queen and shall endeavour their selves to maintain the liberty of their Countrey and the State of the Crowne of Scotland And if in case any Forts or Strengths within the Realme be won out of the hands of the French at this present or at any time hereafter by her Majesties ayd the same shall be immediately demolished by the Scotish-men or delivered to the said Nobility aforesaid at their option and choice neither shall the power of England fortifie within the ground of Scotland being out of the bounds of England but by the advice of the Duke Nobility and States of Scotland For the which causes and in respect of her
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
Predecessors Item Upon the Petition presented to the said Deputies concerning the Government and Regiment of the Policy they have Consented c. That four and twenty worthy men of this Realme be chosen by the States of the which the King and the Queen shall chuse seven and the States five which in their Majesties absence shall take order and make one ordinary Councell for the administration aforesaid so that no man of whatsoever quality he be shall have the power to order any thing to be done touching the said businesse without the mediation authority and consent of them and the said Councellors shall convene together as oft as they can conveniently but shall convene no lesse nor fix together And when any matter of importance occurreth they shall all be called to consult and order to be taken by them or the most part of them if need be And if it happen any of the said seven chosen by the King and Queen to decease their Majesties shall chuse another forth of the said number of four and twenty in the place of him that deceased And if any of the said five chosen by the States dieth the remnant forechosen by them shall name another of the number of 24. Moreover if it be thought expedient to the said States that other two be augmented to the said number of 12. then and in that cause the King and Queen shall chuse one and the States another and so was this Article agreed under condition that is to say That the same be no prejudice in times coming to the King and Queen and Rights of the Crown And the said Deputies offered their labours to make mediation to the King and Queen for maintaining Pensions and Expenses of the said Councellors and ordinary Officers of the said Councell to be provided of the Rents and Revenues of the Crown Item Upon the Petition made to the said Depuâ—ies anenst the Officers of this Realm they consented and accorded c. That in time to come the King and Queen shall not depute any stranger in the administration of the Civill and Common Justice and likewise in the Office of Chancery Keeper of the Seale the Treasurer Controller and every like Offices and shall not use them but shall be content with their owne subjects borne in the Realm Moreover It shall not be lawfull to put the Office of Treasury Controller into the hands of any Church-man or other which are not able to exercise the said Offices the which Treasurer and Controller shall be provided of sufficient Commission to use the said Offices But it shall be lawfull to them to dispose or sell Wards of Marriages or other casualties or any other things whatsoever they be pertaining to their Offices without advice and consent of the said Councell to the effect that the Councell may know that all things be done to the profit of the King and Queen And yet they will not binde or astraint the King or Queen to this Article that they may not give when they think expedient Item They accorded That in the first Convention and Parliament of the States of this Realme there shall be Constituted Ordained and Established an Act of Oblivion which afterwards shall be confirmed by the Kings and Queens Majesties by the which the remembrance of bearing Armour and other things which have been done shall be buried and forgotten from the sixth day of the moneth of March in the yeer of our Lord God 1558 yeers And by the same Act they which have contravened the Laws of the Realme shall be excused and free of all pains contained therein even so as if it had never been contravened Providing That the Priviledge of the said Act be not extended to them which the States of the Realme shall judge unworthy thereof Item It is agreed and concluded That in the said Convention or Parliament the States of the Realme as the Custome is and ordinarily is required shall be called in the which all they that have used to convene and to be present may come without all fear or force done or to be done to them by any person so that the said States shall oblige them That where in time coming any Sedition or gathering of men of War shall happen to be without command of the Councell being of the number of twelve the Realme and Countrey shall repute the causers thereof and they that convene as Rebells and shall pursue them as such like that they may be punished by the Laws of the Realm so that the K. and Q. shall not be compelled in time coming to send any men of War strangers in these parts for obtaining due obedience of their subjects Item They Offered Accorded and Agreed That there shall be a generall peace and reconciliation amongst all Lords and subjects of this Realm so that they that are called of the Congregation and they which are not of the same shall lay no reproach to others for the things which are done from the said sixth day of March 1558. Item They Offered Accorded and Affirmed That the King and Queen shall not pursue revenge nor make any persecution for the things that have been done nor yet shall they suffer the same to be done by their subjects French-men but shall have all things in Oblivion as if the same had never been done And such like the Lords of this Realm of Scotland shall do in all businesse betwixt them and the French-men on their And if by sinister information or any other occasion their Majesties have conceived evill opinion against their subjects they shall utterly forget and change the same Nor shall they deprive any of them nor take from them any of them their Subjects the Offices Benefices or Estates which they have brooked and enjoyed in the said Realm before by reason of any things they have medled with from the said sixth day of March 1558. And further shall make no occasion of deprivation nor deposing of them by any other colour without just cause but rather they shall esteem and use them in time coming as good and obedient subjects Providing That the said Lords and other subjects on their part make to their Majesties all obedience such like as other faithfull and naturall subjects owe to their Soveraigns Item It is Accorded and Agreed That it shall be lawfull to none of the Lords and Nobility of Scotland or any other to make Convocation of men of War but in the ordinary cause approved by the Laws and Custome of the Realme And none of them shall cause any men of War strangers to come to their parts and much lesse shall attempt to do any thing against the King and Queen or against the Authority of the Councell and other Magistrates of the Realme and they which have presented the Petition shall be bound thereunto And in case any of them or others finde occasion to invade or take Armour against any man as he pretendeth after that he hath communicated the matter with
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
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
for Master Craig to the Councell where M. Craig told first That by an Act of the Assembly it was forbidden to allow the Marriage of any divorced for adultery The Divorce of Bothwell from his lawfull wife was by collusion witnesse the quick dispatch thereof for it was sought and had within ten dayes and his contracting with the Queen instantly thereafter then his rapt of the Queen and the guilt of the Kings death which was confirmed by this Marriage Withall he desired the Lords to stop the Queen from that infamous Marriage The Sunday after he told publikely to the people what he had said to the Councell and he took heaven and earth to witnesse That he detested that scandalous and infamous Marriage and that he discharged his conscience unto the Lords who seemed unto him as so many slaves what by flattery what by silence to give way to that abomination Upon this he was called to the Councel again and was reproved as if he had exceeded the bounds of his Calling Whereunto he answered That the bounds of his Commission was the Word of God right reason and good Laws against which he had said nothing and by all these offered to prove this Marriage to be scandalous and infamous At this he was stopped by Bothwell and sent from the Councell Notwithstanding all this done and said by M. Craig and the opposition of many that wished well to the Queen and were jealous of her Honour the Marriage went on and they were married the 15 of May. This makes good the Latine Proverb Mala nubunt mense Maio and a Bishop must blesse the Marriage The good Prelat was Bishop of Orkney If there be a good work to be done a Bishop must do it Here mark the difference betwixt this worthy Minister Master Craig and this base Bishop The Earle of Athole immediately after the murther of the King had tetired home waiting for the occasion to revenge the Kings death But seeing this abominable Marriage he went to Sterlin where other honest Lords with him had a Meeting and made a Bond To defend the young Prince from the murtherers of his father As already they had had one Plot to cut him off which God in his mercy did prevent The Nobles that entred in this Bond were the Earles of Argyle Athole Morton Marr and Glencarne the Lords Lindsey and Boyd Argyle thereafter seduced by some fair words fell off and Boyd became a great Factionary for Bothwell in all things The Queen soon after the Marriage was advised to send abroad an Ambassadour to acquaint her forraigne friends and kindred And this must be a Bishop It is pity that any good work should be done without a Bishop Was not this a worthy employment for a Pastor in Gods Church Bothwell seeing the Bond made at Sterlin causeth the Queen to write to sundry of the Nobility Divers repaired unto her where they found a Bond tendred unto them by which they were to binde themselves to defend the Queen and Bothwell Some that were corrupt did willingly subscribe others for fear did the same And there was not one that went to Court that did refuse but the Earle of Murray who refusing absolutely to enter into a Bond with Bothwell said It was not the part of a good subject Yet since he had been made friends with him some time before he would keep his promise unto the Queen And to enter into a Bond with the Queen it was needlesse and unfit since he was to obey her in all lawfull and just things Upon this he gat leave although with great difficulty to go into France The Queen receives now Hamilton Archbishop of S. Androes into favour since these changes who was no lesse a faithfull Councellor to her then he was a good Pastor of Christs Flock that is He betrayed her and disobeyed God With this a Proclamation comes out in favour of the poor Protestants whereby the Queen declares That she will keep and confirm all that she had promised at her Arrivall into Scotland This was done to stop the peoples mouthes but all in vain for the people were universally against the abomination of the Court. Within few dayes Bothwell and the Queen were raising men under pretext to go to the Borders to represse the Robbers there but in effect to go to Sterlin to have the Prince in their custody that they might dispose of him according to their minde Then a new Proclamation came out That the Queen hereafter would rule onely by the advice of the Nobles of the Land as her best Predecessors had done The Lords at Sterlin hearing of this plot strives to prevent it and to this purpose they appointed with the Lord Humes to besiege the Castle of Borthwike where the Queen and Bothwell was But because the Earl of Athole did not come at the hour appointed they had not men enough to environ and compasse the Castle so that Bothwel having notice given him of the businesse escaped to Dumbar and the Queen after him in mans clothes The Lords failing of their designe at Borthwike Castle went to Edinburgh whereof they made themselves Masters easily having the affections of the people notwithstanding the Earle Huntley and the Archbishop of S. Androes perswasion to the contrary These two with their associates were constrained to retire to the Castle where they were received by Sir Iam. Balfour left there by Bothwel The twelfth of Iune which was the next day following the Lords at Edinburgh caused to publish a Proclamation whereby they declared That the Earl Bothwell who had been the principall author deviser and actor of the cruell murther of the late King had since laid hand upon the Queens person and had her for the present in Dumbar in his power and finding her utterly destitute of all good counsell had seduced her to a dishonest and unlawfull marriage with himself yea that now he was gathering Forces and stirring himself to get the young Prince in his hands that he might murther the Childe as he had murthered the Father This wicked man the Nobles of the Land resolved to withstand and deliver the Queen out of his bondage wherefore they did charge all Lieges within the Kingdom that could come to them to be in readinesse at 3 hours warning to assist them the Nobles for the freeing of the Queen from captivity and bringing the said Earle Bothwell to a Legall Triall and condigne punishment for the aforesaid murther and other Crimes All such that would not syde with the Lords were by this Proclamation commanded to depart from Edinburgh within four hours under the pain of being accounted enemies c. Notwithstanding this Proclamation the people did not joyn unto these Lords as was expected for sundry of the Nobles were adversaries to the businesse other stood as Neuters and withall those that were convened together were not well provided of Armes and Munition for exploits of warre so that they were even thinking to dissolve and leave
joyne with those that had bound themselves to stand for the Kings Authority He was very earnest with divers by reason of their old friendship but to little purpose The twentinth of August he received the Regencie after mature and ripe deliberation at the desire of the Queen and Lords that were for the King and so was publikely proclaimed Regent and Obedience shewed unto him by all that stood for the young King The end of the History of the Church of Scotland till the yeer 1567. and Moneth of August THE APPELLATION OF IOHN KNOX From the cruell and most unjust Sentence pronounced against him by the false Bishops and Clergie of Scotland With his Supplication and Exhortation to the Nobility States and Communalty of the same Realme To the Nobility and States of SCOTLAND JOHN KNOX wisheth Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ with the Spirit of righteous Iudgement IT is not onely the love of this Temporall life Right Honourable neither yet the fear of Corporal death that moveth me at this present to expose unto you the injuries done against me and to crave of you as of lawfull Powers by God appointed redresse of the same But partly it proceedeth from that reverence which every man oweth to Gods Eeternall Truth And partly from a love which I bear to your Salvation and to the Salvation of my Brethren abused in that Realme by such as have no fear of God before their eyes It hath pleased God of his infinite mercy not onely to illuminate the eyes of my minde and so to touch my dull heart that cleerly I see and by his grace unfainedly believe That there is no other name given to men under the heaven in which Salvation consisteth save the Name of JESUS alone Who by that Sacrifice which he did once offer upon the Crosse hath sanctified for ever all those that shall inherite the Kingdom promised But also it hath pleased him of his superaboundant grace to make and appoint me most wretched of many thousands a Witnesse Minister and Preacher of the same Doctrine the sum whereof I did not spare to communicate with my Brethren being with them in the Realme of Scotland in the yeer 1556 because I know my self to be a Steward and that accounts of the Talent committed to my charge shall be required of me by him who will admit no vain excuse which fearfull men pretend I did therefore as God his minister during the time I was conversant with them God is record and witnesse truely and sincerely according to the gift granted unto me divide the Word of Salvation teaching all men to hate sin which before God was and is so odious that none other Sacrifice would satisfie his Justice except the death of his onely Son and to magnifie the mercies of our heavenly Father who did not spare the substance of his own glory but did give him to the world to suffer the ignominious and cruell death of the Crosse by that means to reconcile his chosen children to himself teaching further what is the duty of such as do believe themselves purged by such a Price from their former filthinesse to wit That they are bound to walk in the newnesse of life fighting against the lusts of the flesh and studying at all times to glorifie God by such good works as he hath prepared his people to walk in In Doctrine I did further affirm so taught by my Master Christ Jesus That whosoever denieth him yea or is ashamed of him before this wicked Generation him shall Christ Jesus deny and of him shall he be ashamed when he shall appear in his Majesty And therefore I feared not to affirm That of necessity it is that such as hope for life everlasting avoid all Superstition vain Religion and Idolatry Vain Religion and Idolatry I call whatsoever is done in Gods Service or Honour without the expresse Commandment of his own Word This Doctrine I did believe to be so conformable to Gods holy Scriptures that I thought no creature could have been so impudent as to have condemned any Point or Article of the same Yet neverthelesse me as an heretick and this Doctrine as hereticall have your false Bishops and ungodly Clergie condemned pronouncing against me a Sentence of death in testification whereof they have burned a Picture From which false and cruell Sentence and from all judgement of that wicked Generation I make it known unto your Honours That I appeal to a Lawfull and Generall Councell to such I mean as the most ancient Laws and Cannons do approve to be holden by such as whose manifest impiety is not to be reformed in the same Most humbly requiring of your Honours That as God hath appointed you Princes in that People and by reason thereof requireth of your hands the defence of Innocents troubled in your Dominion in the mean time and till the controversies that this day be in Religion be lawfully decided ye receive me and such others as most unjustly by those cruell Beasts are persecuted in your defence and Protection Your Honours are not ignorant That it is not I alone who doth sustain this Cause against the pestilent Generation of Papists but that the most part of Germany the Countrey of Helvetia the King of Denmarke the Nobility of Polonia together with many other Cities and Churches Reformed appeal from the Tyrannie of that Antichrist and most earnestly call for a Lawfull and Generall Councell wherein may all Controversies in Religion be decided by the Authority of Gods most sacred Word And unto this same as said is do I appeal yet once again requiring of your Honours to hold my simple and plain Appellation of no lesse value nor effect then if it had been made with greater circumstance solemnity and ceremony and that you receive me calling unto you as to the Powers of God ordained in your protection and defence against the rage of Tyrants not to maintain me in any iniquity errour or false opinion but to let me have such equity as God by his Word ancient Laws and Determinations of most godly Councells grant to men accused or infamed The Word of God wills That no man shall die except he be found criminall and worthy of death for offence committed of which he must be manifestly convinced by two or three witnesses Ancient Law do permit just defences to snch as be accused be their crimes never so horrible And godly Councells wills That neither Bishop nor person Ecclesiasticall whatsoever accused of any crime shall sit in Judgement Consultation or Councell where the cause of such men as do accuse them is to be tried These things require I of your Honours to be granted unto me to wit That the Doctrine which our adversaries condemn for heresie may be tried by the simple and plain Word of God That just Defences be admitted to us that sustain the Battell against this
contained in the promise of the multiplication of his Seed and the benediction promised thereto First God revealed himself to Abraham and that by the means of his Word to let all flesh after understand That God first called man and revealed himself unto him that flesh can do nothing but rebell against God for Abraham no doubt was an Idolater before that God called him from Ur of the Caldees The Promise was made That the Seed of Abraham should be multiplyed as the Stars of heaven and as the sand of the sea which is not simply to be understood of his naturall Seed as though it was sometimes greatly increased but rather of such as should become the spirituall Seed of Abraham as the Apostle speaketh Now if we be able to prove That the right knowledge of God his Wisdom Justice Mercy and Power was more amply declared in their captivity then ever it was at any time before then can we not deny but that God even when to mans judgement he had utterly rased them from the face of the earth did increase the Nation of the Iews so that he was glorified in them and did extend the Coasts of the earth for their habitation And for the better undestanding hereof let us shortly trie the Histories from their Captivitie to their deliverance and after the same to the comming of the Messias It is no doubt but that Sathan intended by the dispersion of the Iewes so to have prophaned the whole Seed of Abraham that among them should neither have remained the true knowledge of God nor yet the Spirit of Sanctification but that all should have come to a like contempt of God For I pray you for what purpose was it that Daniel and his fellows were taken into the Kings Court were commanded to be fed at the Kings Table and were put to the Schools of their Divines Southsayers and Astrologians It may be thought that it proceeded of the Kings humanity and of a zeal that he had that they should be brought up in vertue and good learning and I doubt not but it was so understood of a great number of the Iews but the secret practise of the Devill was understood of Daniel when he refused to defile himself with the Kings meat which was forbidden to the Seed of Abraham in the Law of their GOD. Well God beginneth shortly after to shew himself mindefull of his promise made by his Prophet and to trouble Nebuchadnezzar himselfe by shewing to him a vision in his dream which did the more trouble him because he could not forget the terror of it neither yet could he remember what the Vision and the parcels thereof were Whereupon were called all Divines Interpreters of dreams and Southsayers of whom the King demanded If they could let him understand what he had dreamed But while that they answer That such a question used not to be demanded of any Southsayer or Magician for the resolution thereof onely appertained to the gods whose habitation was not with men the charge was given That they all should be slain and amongst the rest Daniel was sought whose innocency the Devill envyed to have suffered the same judgement He reclaimeth and asketh time to disclose that secret I onely touch the History to let you see by what means God increaseth his knowledge which being granted the vision is revealed unto him he sheweth the same unto the King with the true interpretation of it adding That the knowledge thereof came not from the Stars but onely from the God of Abraham who onely was and is the true God which thing understood the King burst forth in his confession saying Of a truth your God is the most excellent of all gods and he is Lord of Kings and onely he that revealeth the secrets seeing that thou couldest open this secret And when Nebuchadnezzar after that puffed up in pride by the counsell of his wicked Nobilitie would make an Image before the which he would that all Tongues and Nations subject to him should make adoration and that Sydrack Meshack and Abednago would not obey his unjust commandment and so were cast in the flaming furnace of fire and yet by Gods Angels were so preserved that no smell of fire remained in their persons nor garments This same King giveth a more notable confession saying The Lord God of Sydrack Misack and Abednago is to be praised who hath sent his Angels and delivered his worshippers that put trust in him who have done against the Kings commandment who have rather given their own bodies to torment then that they would worship another God except their own God By me therefore is there made a decree That whosoever shall blaspheme the God of Sydrack Misack and Abednago that he shall be cut in pieces and his house shall be made detestable Thus we see how God began even almost in the beginning of their Captivity to notifie his name to multiply his knowledge and set forth as well his power as his wisedom and true worshipping by those that were taken prisoners yea that were despised and of all men contemned So that the name and fear of the God of Abraham was never before notified to so many Realmes and Nations This wondrous work of God proceeded from one Empire to another For Daniel being promoted to great honour by Darius King of Persians and Medes falleth into a desperate danger For he was committed to prison among Lyons because that he was deprehended breaking the Kings Injunction not that the King desired the destruction of Gods servants but because the corrupt Idolaters that in hatred of Daniel had procured that Law to be made urged the King against his Nature but God by his Angel did stop the Lyons mouths and so preserved his servant Which considered with the sudden destruction of Daniels enemies by the same Lyons King Darius besides his own confession wrote to all people tongues and nations after this form It is decreed by me That in all the dominions of my Kingdom men shall fear and reverence the God of Daniel because he is the living God abiding for ever whose Kingdom shall not be destroyed and his dominion remaineth who saveth and delivereth and sheweth signes and wonders in Heaven and in Earth who hath delivered Daniel from the Lyons This knowledge was yet further increased in the dayes of Cyrus who giving freedom to the Captives to return to their own Native Country giveth this confession Thus saith Cyrus the King of Persians All the Kingdoms of the Earth hath the Lord God of Heaven given unto me and hath commanded me that a house be built to him in Ierusalem which is in Iuda Whosoever therefore of you that are of his people Let the Lord his God be with him and let him passe up to Ierusalem and let him build the house of the Lord God of Israel for he onely is God that is in Ierusalem Time will not suffer me to intreat the points of this
confession neither yet did I for that purpose adduce the History But onely to let us see how constantly God kept his promise in increasing of his people and in augmenting of his true knowledge when that both they that were the seed of Abraham and that Religion which they professed appeared utterly to have been extinguished above mens expectation I say he brought freedom out of bondage light out of darknesse and life out of death I am not ignorant that the building of the Temple and reparation of the Walls of Ierusalem were long stayed so that the work had many enemies But so did the hand of God prevail in the end That a decree was made by Darius by him I suppose that succeeded to Cambises not onely that all things necessary for the building of the Temple and for the Sacrifices that were to be there brent should be ministred upon the Kings charges but also That whosoever should hinder that work or change that decree that a balk should be taken out of his house and that he should be hanged thereupon yea that his house should be made a dunghill and thereto he addeth a Prayer saying The God of Heaven who hath placed his Name there root out every King and People O that Kings and Nations should understand that shall put his hand either to change or to hurt this house of God that is in Ierusalem And so in despight of Sathan was the Temple builded the walls repaired and the City inhabited and in the most desperate dangers it was preserved till that the Messias promised the glory of the second Temple came manifested himself to the world suffered and rose againe according to the Scriptures And so by sending forth his Gospel from Ierusalem did replenish the earth with the true knowledge of God and so did God in perfection encrease the Nation and the spirituall Seed of Abraham Wherefore dear brethren we have no small consolation if the state of all things be this day rightly considered we see in what fury and rage the world for the most part is now raised against the poor Church of Jesus Christ unto the which he hath proclaimed liberty after the fearfull bondage of that Spirituall Babylon in the which we have been holden captives longer space then Israel was prisoner in Babylon it self For if we shall consider upon the one part the multitude of those that live wholly without Christ and upon the other part the blinde rage of the pestilent Papists What shall we think of the small number of them that do professe Christ Jesus but that they are as a poor sheep already seized in the claws of the Lyon yea that they and the true Religion which they professe shall in a moment utterly be consumed But against this fearfull temptation let us be armed with the Promise of God to wit That he will be the Protector of his Church yea That he will multiply it even when to mans judgement it appeareth utterly to be exterminate This Promise hath our God performed in the multiplication of Abrahams Seed in preservation of it when Sathan laboured utterly to have destroyed it in deliverance of the same as we have heard from Babylon He hath sent his son Christ Jesus clad in our flesh who hath tasted of all our infirmities sin except who hath promised to be with us to the end of the world He hath further kept Promise in publication yea in the restitution of his glorious Gospel Shall we then think that he will leave his Church destitute in this most dangerous age Onely let us stick to his Truth and study to conform our lives to the same and he shall multiply his knowledge and encrease his people But now let us hear what the Prophet saith more Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastning was upon them The Prophet meaneth that such as in the time of quietnesse did not rightly regard God nor his judgements were compelled by sharp corrections to seek God yea by cryes and dolorous complaints to visite him True it is That such obedience deserveth small praise before men for who can praise or accept that in good part which cometh as it were of meer compulsion and yet rare it is that any of Gods children do give unfained obedience untill the hand of God turn them For if quietnesse and prosperity make them not utterly to forget their duty both towards God and man as David for a season yet it maketh them carelesse insolent and in many things unmindefull of those things that God chiefly craveth of them which imperfection espied and the danger that thereof might ensue our heavenly Father visiteth the sins of his children but in the rod of his mercy by the which they are moved to return to their God to accuse their former negligence and to promise better obedience in all times hereafter as David confesseth saying Before I fell in affliction I went astray but now will I keep thy Statutes But yet for the better understanding of the Prophets minde we may consider how God doth visite man and how man doth visite God and what difference there is betwixt the visitation of God upon the reprobate and his visitation upon the chosen God sometimes visiteth the reprobate in his hot displeasure pouring upon them his plagues for their long rebellion as we have heard before that he visited the proud and destroyed their memory Other times God is said to visite his people being in affliction to whom he sendeth comfort or promise of deliverance as he did visite the seed of Abraham being oppressed in Egypt and Zachary saith That God had visited his people and sent unto them hope of deliverance when Iohn the Baptist was borne But of none of these visitations speaketh our Prophet here but of that onely which we have already touched to wit when that God layeth his correction upon his own children to call them from the venemous Breasts of this corrupt world that they suck not in over-great aboundance the poyson thereof and doth as it were wean them from their mothers Paps that they may learn to receive other nourishment True it is That this weaning or spaning as we terme it from worldly pleasure is a thing strange to the flesh and yet it is a thing so necessary to Gods children that unlesse they be weaned from the pleasures of the world they can never feed upon that delectable Milk of Gods eternall verity For the corruption of the one doth either hinder the other to be received or else so troubleth the whole powers of man that the soul can never so digest the truth of God as that he ought to do Albeit this appeareth hard yet it is most evident For what liquor can we receive from the Breasts of the world but that which is in the world what that is the Apostle Iohn teacheth saying Whatsoever is in the world is either the lusts of the eyes the lusts
high measure in the yeer 1595. This gave occasion then both to Prince and people to enter into Covenant for the defence of the Truth and pure Doctrine of the Church with the Reformed Discipline and of the safety of the King and Kingdom by which means the proceedings of the enemies was stopped for a while Now the time drawing neer of the Kings coming to the Crown of England the watching enemy returns to work again in another manner then he had done hitherto which was this By the mouths of some timerous and worldly men he causeth to present unto the King the consideration of great difficulties that he was likely to finde in his succeeding to the Crown of England by two parties there who were given out to be the Strength of the Kingdom to wit the profest Papists and the Prelaticall men therefore to facilitate the businesse they must be in some sort contented For the satisfaction of the Prelates the King by degrees must endeavour to bring again into Scotland Prelacy with all its dependences for no neglecter or contemner of the holy Order could be kindely received to reigne in England and so this part of the advice was followed with all possible care and diligence To content the Papists they not onely must have given unto them under-hand hopes of connivence and over seeing their practice but also there must be a Letter written to the Pope to assure his Holinesse of the Kings affection to the Catholike Cause Thus both these parties were calmed so far that the King came to the Crown of England Anno 1602 without manifest opposition albeit not without the grumbling and grudging of some As for the stricter sort of Professors of the Reformed Religion going under the nick-name of Puritans no opposition or trouble to the Succession was feared from them because the Principles upon which they go on rising from the Word of God are far other then those of worldlings which flow from interest and consequently they needed not Atonement or Propitiatory Sacrifice to befriend the King But the holy Father not finding reall performance by the King of what he looked for remembers the King in good earnest of his promise not kept by the Gun-powder Plot Anno 1605. After which by Gods mercy failing men would have thought that the Popish party should leave off all undertakings hereafter But they follow their businesse more constantly then so for no sooner one Plot fails but incontinent they put another afoot yea they have severall Plots at one and the same time in hand whereof it is likely that either one or other will take Now this great Plot of the Gun-powder being come to nothing they as it were go back for a time to come forward in due season with another and leaving for a while the open and devouring ravishing of the Wolf they have recourse again to the cunning of the Fox The next care then after the calming in some measure the spirits of men after so horrid a Treason is to look about and to studie by whom he affairs of these Dominions were managed And finding by serious inspection That all affairs received great influence from the Court after mature deliberation they resolved to make friends there which they did by subtill insinuations fair words high promises and some reall performances of good Offices yea when money was absolutely necessary it was not spared Thus by degrees having gotten friends at Court in it they make a party next for whose subsistence and increase they employ all that they can Now having power and credit at Court more and clearly perceiving it to be the fountain from whence all preferment to Honour and benefit in Church and State did flow they judged it fit for their purpose to make sure of some prime men both in Church and State according to their minde which was done as they desired Thus having gained men chief in State and Church for their use then they went to the corrupting of the Universities being the Seminaries of all Liberall Education This likewise they did effectuate first by the Over-seers connivence to loosenesse of life in young people next by the bad example of the Seniors the Iuniors were invited to do mischief Then the Teachers by their bad instruction did corrupt namely in Theologie all sound Doctrine And for this purpose the earnest studie of the Old Testrment in the Originall Hebrew was cryed downe as beseeming rather men of the Synagogue then those of the Christian Schools Likewise the Greek of the New Testament must not be read with diligence for fear of spoyling the elegancy of the Greek Language which is to be found in profane Authors So they withdrew the Students from the studie of Scriptures in the Originall and recommended to them the reading of humane Writings particularly in Theologie the Books of the Ancients which are commonly called Fathers Likewise was recommended unto young men the studie of the Sophistry of the Monks as of Thomas and Scotus namely with their Expositors True it is That if young men were well instructed in Theologie from the Scriptures and taught the true Principles of Philosophie in a setled course by some judicious and diligent Professor they might reade all these Books and others in their kinde with pleasure and benefit But alas young men not knowing the rudiments of Theologie nor the first Elements of Philosophie are let loose unto themselves and so by reading these Books having no sure ground to stick to learn onely to doubt and put Queries yea of the very Principles of all sound knowledge both Divine and Humane Thus being brought to waver and doubt they are easily led what by interest what by weaknesse to embrace a bad Opinion or at least to hold all uncertain as the ancient Scepticks not being able to resolve Yea doubting is come to that height that in the opinion of many he is the bravest fellow and wittiest that can raise most Queries answer them who will or can And so Wit is hugely cryed up which is but meer froth and poor solid Wisedom is not so much as named or thought on Then those of the richer sort having spent some time idly and loosely at the Universities go beyond Sea particularly to Italy forsooth either upon their own trust or which is little better if not worse many of those who go along with young men to advise and direct them have as much need of one for their guide as the young men themselves having neither staidnesse discretion nor probity So that if there were a just account cast up of all those who either have been bred in the Universities or gone beyond Sea these many yeers I will speak within compasse That of twenty you shall hardly finde one who is improved in vertue by this Breeding for the good of the Church and State whereof they are members and perhaps considerable too if they were wise and good At this present both Church and State findes this to be true