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
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
as before God I have a testimonie that I seek not for my selfe but the advancement of Christs Evangell and the comfort of such as whom I know afflicted so shall the godly understand that England in refusing me refuseth a friend how small that ever the power be The mighty Spirit of the Lord Jesus moove your heart deeply to consider your dutie unto God and the estate of that Realme in which by his appointment you now serve From Deepe the 10 of April 1559. Yours to command in godlinesse Iohn Knox. To this Letter was no answer made for shortly the said Iohn Knox made forward to Scotland by sea when he landed the third of May and had such successe as is in the second book declared The said Iohn being in S. Andrews after Cowper-Moore entred in deep discourse with the Laird of Grange the danger is very evident but the support was not easie to be seen After many words Iohn Knox burst forth as followeth If England would foresee their own commodity yea if they would consider the danger wherein themselves stand they would not suffer us to perish in this quarrell for France hath no lesse decreed the conquest of England then of Scotland After long reasoning it was concluded betwixt them two That support should be craved of England And for that purpose the said Laird of Grange first wrote to Sir Henry Percie and after rode from Edinburgh and spake with him to whom he made so plaine demonstration of the danger appearing to England that he tooke upon him to write to Secretarie Cecil who with expedition returned answer back again giving him to understand That our enterprise altogether misliked not the Councell albeit that they desired further resolution of the principall Lords Which thing understood it was concluded to write to him plainely our whole purpose The tenour of our Letter was this The first Letter to Sir William Cecill from the Lords of the Congregation THe contents of a Letter directed by you right Worshipfull to Sir Henry Percie was notified unto us by Master Kirkcaldie of Grange this Sunday the 26 of July By the which we perceive that the said Laird of Grange of zeale and faithfull heart which he beareth to the furtherance of this our great and before the world dangerous enterprise hath travelled with you as with an unfained favourer of Christs true Religion and of the libertie of our Countrey for knowledge of your mindes towards us in case that we be assaulted by any forraigne invasion or greater power then we be well able to resist Your comfortable answer to this question we have considered to our joy and comfort as also your motions and what you demand To wit What the Protestants within this Realme do purpose To what end we mean to direct our actions How we will and how we be able to accomplish the same What doubts we have of any adversary power And finally in case that support should be sent from you What manner of amity might ensue betwixt these two Realmes c. To the which in briefe we answer That our whole and onely purpose as God knoweth is to advance the glory of Christ Jesus the true Preaching of his Gospel within this Realme To remove superstition and all sort of externall Idolatry to bridle to our powers the fury of those that heretofore have cruelly shed the blood of our brethren and to our uttermost to maintaine the liberty of this our Countrey from the tyrannie and thraldome of strangers as God shall assist us How we be able to accomplish these premises is to us unknown onely our hope is good That he that hath begun this good worke in us and hath by his power to this houre confounded the faces of our adversaries will performe the same to his glory which chiefly we seek in this our enterprise Because we suppose That neither our present danger neither yet the warlike preparation which France maketh against us are hid from you nor from the counsell we omit that part As touching the assurance of a perpetuall amity to stand betwixt these two Realmes As no earthly thing of us is more desired so crave we of God to make us the instruments by which this unnaturall debate which long hath continued betwixt us may once be composed to the praise of Gods Name and to the comfort of the faithfull in both Realms And if your wisedoms can foresee and devise the means and assurances how the same may be brought to passe perswade your selves not onely of our consent and assistance but also of our constancy as men can promise unto our lives end Yea farther of charge and commandment by us to be left to our posterity That the Amity betwixt us in God contracted and begun may be by them kept inviolate for ever As for the revolting from you to France which ye seem to fear and suspect at their pleasure we utterly abhorre that infidelity for now doth the voyce of God continually sound in our ears That such as prophane the terrible and reverent Name of God shall not escape vengeance Our Confederacy Amity and League shall not be like the Pactions made by worldly men for worldly profit but as we require it for Gods Cause so will we call upon his Name for the observation of the same Moreover if we should lack any thing in Temporall commodity yet should we never have occasion to returne to them for we now perceive and feel the weight of their yoke and intend by Gods grace to cut away such instruments as by whom this Realme was before abused True it is That as yet we have made no mention of any change in Authority neither yet were we minded to do any such thing till extreme necessity compelleth us thereto But seeing it is now more then evident That France and the Queen Regent here with her Priests pretendeth nothing but the suppressing of Christs Gospel the ruine of us and the subversion of this poor Realme committing our innocency to God and unto the judgement of all godly and wise men we are determined to seek the next remedy in which we heartily require your counsell and assistance And thus farre we have enterprised to make you participant of our purpose because in the said Letters ye required the said Master Kirkcaldie some farther assurance then his owne word or writing which we doubt not but ye shall shortly receive from more then from us We dare not hastily make the Assembly neither of Nobles neither of Barons privie in this Cause for dangers that may ensue by policie and craft of the adversaries your wisdom we doubt not will communicate these onely with such as ye know favourers of such a godly Conjunction It should much help in our opinion if the Preachers both in perswasion and in publike Prayers as ours do here would commend the same unto the people And thus after our most humble commendations to the Queenes Majestie whose
have heard And yet more I must Vote as it were by way of Protestation That if any person Ecclesiasticall shall after this oppose themselves to this our Confession that they that have no place nor credit considering that they having long advertisement and full knowledge of this our Confession none is now found in lawfull free and quiet Parliament to oppose themselves to that which we professe And therefore if any of this Generation pretend to do it after this I protest he be reputed rather one that loveth his own commodity and the glory of the world then the Truth of God and the salvation of mens souls After the Voting and Ratification of this our Confession by the whole Body of the Parliament there were also pronounced two Acts the one against the Masse and the abuse of the Sacraments and the other against the Supremacy of the Pope The Tenour whereof followeth An Act against the Masse and the Sayers and Hearers thereof IN the Parliament holden at Edinburgh the tenth of Iuly the yeer of God 1560. The said Parliament being continued to the first of August next thereafter following with continuation of dayes upon the twenty fourth day of the said moneth of August the three States then being present The which day forsomuch as Almighty God by his most true and blessed Word hath declared the Reverence and Honour which should be given to him and by his Son Iesus Christ hath declared the true use of the Sacraments willing the same to be used according to his Will and Word By the which it is notorious and perfectly knowne That the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Body and Blood of Iesus Christ hath been this long time past corrupted by the Papisticall Church and by their Ministers And at this present time notwithstanding the Reformation already made according to Gods Word yet neverthelesse there is some of the same Popes Church that stubbornly persevereth in their wicked Idolatry saying Masse and Baptizing conform to the Popes Church profaning therethrough the Sacraments aforesaid in quiet secret places regarding therein neither God nor his Word Therefore it is Decreed and Ordained in this present Parliament That no manner of person or persons in any time coming administrate any of the Sacraments secretly in any manner of way but they that are admitted and having power to that effect Nor say Masse nor yet heare Masse nor be present thereat under the pain of confiscation of all their goods and punishing of their bodies at the discretion of the Magistrates within whose Iurisdiction such persons happeneth to be apprehended for the first fault banishing out of the Realme for the second fault and chastising by death for the third fault And Ordaineth all Sheriffs Stewards Baylies and their Deputies Provosts and Bayliffs of Burroughs and other Iudges within this Realm to make diligent sute and inquisition within their Bounds where any such usurped Ministry is used Masse-saying or they that be present at the doing thereof ratifying and approving the same and take and apprehend them to the effect that the pains above written may be executed upon them Extractum de Libro Parliamenti per me c. Sic Subscribitur Iacobus Magill The Act for the abolishing of the Pope and his usurped Authority in SCOTLAND IN the Parliament holden at Edinburgh the tenth of July the year of God 1560. And thereafter continued to the first day of August next thereafter following with continuation of dayes upon the 24 of the said Moneth of August the three States then being present understanding that the Iurisdiction and Authority of the Bishop of Rome called the Pope used in this Realm in times past hath been very hurtsome and prejudiciall to our Soveraigns Authority and Common-weale of this Realm Therefore hath decreed and ordained That the Bishop of Rome hath no Iurisdiction nor Authority in this Realm in times comming And that none of our said Soveraigns Subjects claim and desire in any time herafter title or right by the said Bishop of Rome or his sect to any thing within this Realm under the pains of Baratrie that is to say Proscription banishment and never to brook and enjoy honour office nor dignity within this Realm and the contraveners hereof to be called before the Iustice or his Deputies or before the Lords of the Session and punished therefore confirm to the Laws of this Realm and the furnishers of them with fynance of money and purchasers of their title of right or maintainers or defenders of them shall incur the same pains And that no Bishop nor other Prelat of this Realm use any Iurisdiction in times to come by the said Bishop of Romes Authority under the pain aforesaid Extractum de Libro Parliamenti per me Ut supra These and other things orderly done in lawfull and free Parliament we directed to France to our Soveraign Sir Iames Sandelandes Lord of Saint Iohn with the Acts of the said Parliament that by them they might be ratified according to the promises of their Majesties Commissioners made to us as by the Contract of Peace may evidently appear But how the said Lord of Saint Iohn was received and used we list not to rehearse But alwayes no ratification brought he unto us but that we little regarded or yet do regard for all that we did was rather to shew our dutifull obedience then to beg of them any strength to our Religion which from God hath full power and needed not the suffrage of man but in so far as man had need to beleeve it if that ever he shall have participation of the life everlasting But somewhat must we answer to such as since hath whispered that it was but a pretended Parliament a privie Convention and no lawfull Parliament Their reasons are The King and Queen were in France there was neither Scepter Sword nor Crown born c. And some Principall Lords were absent We answer That we rather wish the Papists to be quiet then too curiously to travell in that Point for it may be while they thinke to hurt us they give the Queene and her authority a great blow and yet amend themselves nothing For in whose default we pray you was the Queen absent from this Realm We think they will not be so shamelesse as that they will blame the Protestants thereof Her person was absent and that to no small grief of our hearts But were not the States of her Realm assembled in her name Yea had they not her full power and Commission yea the Commission and commandment of her head the King of France to convocate that Parliament and to do all things that may be done in lawfull Parliament Even as if our Soveraigns had been there in proper persons If they will limit the power of Princes to the places onely where their bodily presence is it will be thought strange for so not onely shall Kings be compelled to content them with one Realme but also with
up to the effects aforesaid and ordained Letters to be directed charging all and sundry Beneficed men on this side of the Water to produce their Rentalls before the foure and twentieth day of Ianuary last past And the tenth of February instant were prefixed by the said Letters for the bringing in all Rentalls of the Benefices beyond the water with certification That who produced not the said Rentalls at the dayes aforesaid respectively the Queens Majesty and her Councell would provide remedy according to the which Certification her Highnesse with advice of her Councell aforesaid hath Ordained That they who have not produced their Rentalls whole and full intromission shall be had of their fruits by them whom her Majesty shall direct thereto And who have not given their just Rentalls whatsoever part omitted forth of their said Rentall shall be intromitted in like manner And further having consulted rightly and diligently advised upon the common affairs and necessities concerning the Queens Majesty and charges to be borne for the Common-weale of the Realme and sustentation and maintenance of the Preachers and Readers conform to the said Ordinance made thereupon of before hath Ordained and Declared the whole third part of all Benefices of the which Rentalls are produced to be taken up by the person or persons to be nominated by her Majesty and to begin upon this last Crop of the yeer of God 1561. the same to be employed to the effect aforesaid Together with the whole Profits of the Benefices whereof the Rentalls are not produced And also all that is omitted out of the Rentalls produced And that order be directed by the Queens Majesty to the Lords of the Session That the old Possessors may be answered of the remnant fruits of the said Benefices providing That the third part aforesaid be full and whole taken up by the persons to be deputed to the taking thereof And this Order to continue and stand while further order be taken by the Queens Majesty with the advice of the States Moreover her Highnesse with the advice of the Councell aforesaid hath Statuted and Ordained That Annuells Marles and Duties within free Burroughs or other Townes of this Realme as well pertaining to Chaplanries Prebendaries as to Friers together with the Rents of the Friers Lands where-ever they be setting and disposing thereupon be intermedled with and taken by such as her Majesty shall depute thereto for employing of the same by her Highnesse to Hospitalls Schools and other godly uses as shall seeme best to her Highnesse with advice of her Councell And knowing that nothing is more commodious for the foresaid Hospitality then the places of Friers that are yet undemolished and also to the entertainment of Schools Colledges and other uses aforesaid ordains the Provests and Bayliffs of Aberdeine Elgmen Murray Inneresk Glasgow and other Burroughs of this Realme where the same are not demolished to entertain and uphold the said Friers places standing in the said Townes upon the Common goods thereof and to use the same to the Common weale and service of the said Townes untill the Queenes Majesty be further advised and take finall order in such things notwithstanding of any Gift Title or Entryes given to whatsoever persons of the said places with their Yards and Orchards and other Pertinents by our Soveraign Lady of before The Lords of secret Councell that were present at the Voting and making of the aforesaid Acts were Iames Duke of Chattellarault George Earle of Huntley Archibald Earle of Argyle William Earle Mershall Iohn Earle Atholl William Earle of Montrosse Iames Earle Morton Alexander Earle of Glencarne Iames Commendator of Saint Andrews Iohn Lord Erskin The Treasurer The Justice Clerke The Steward and Controller For the first Acts the Earle of Huntley said jestingly Good morrow my Lords of the two parts The whole Rentals being gathered the sum of the third according to their own calculation was found to extend to c. The Ministers even in the beginning of publike Sermons opposed themselves to such corruption for they foresaw the purposes of the Devill and clearly understood the Butt whereat the Queene and her flatterers Shot And so in the chaire of Edinburgh Iohn Knox said Well if the end of this Order pretended to be taken for sustentation of the Ministers be happy my judgement failes me for I am assured That the Spirit of God is not the Authour of it for first I see two parts freely given to the Devill and the third must be divided between God and the Devill Well said he beare witnesse to me that this day I said it Ere it be long the Devill shall have three parts of the third and judge you then what Gods portion will be This was an unsavory saying in the eares of many Some were not ashamed to affirme That the Ministers being sustained the Queen will not get at the yeers end to buy her a paire of new shoes And this was Secretary Lethington There were appointed to modifie the Ministers stipends The Earle of Argyle Murray and Morton Lethington Justice Clarke and Clerke of the Register The Laird of Pittaro was appointed to pay the Ministers Stipends according to their Modification Who would have thought that when Ioseph ruled Egypt that his brethren should have travelled for Victuals and have returned with empty Sacks unto their families men would rather have thought that Pharaohs Pose Treasure and Gilnells should rather have been diminished then that the houshold of Iacob should stand in danger to starve for hunger But so busie and circumspect were the Modificators because it was a new Office the terme must also be new that the Ministers should not be over-wanton That a hundred Marks was sufficient to a single man being a common Minister Three hundred Marks was the highest that was appointed to any except the Superintendents and a few others shortly Whether it was the ingratitude of their own hearts or the care that they had to enrich the Queene we know not But the poore Ministers Readers and Exhorters cryed out to the heaven as their complaints in all assemblies do witnesse That neither were they able to live upon the Stipends appointed neither could they get payment of that small thing that was appointed so faine would the Controllers have played the good Vallet and have satisfied the Queen or else their own profit The good Laird of Pittaro was an earnest Professour of Christ but the great Devill receive the Controller for he and his Collectours are become greedy factors To put an end to this unpleasing matter When the brethren complained of their poverty it was disdainfully answered of some There are many Lairds that have not so much to spend when men did reason that the Vocation of Ministers craved of them books quietnesse study and travell to edifie the Church of Christ Jesus when many Lairds were waiting upon their worldly businesse and therefore that the stipends of Ministers who had no other industry
whole Sermons he had taught before the whole Lent past adding That within Scotland there were no true Bishops if that Bishops should be known by such notes and vertues as S. Paul requires in Bishops This delation flew with wings to the Bishops ears who without further delay sent for the said Friar Alexander who began sharply to accuse that he had so â—landerously spoken of the dignitie of Bishops as to say That it behoved a Bishop to be a Preacher or else he were but a dumb dog and fed not the flock but fed his own bellie The man being witty and minding that which was his most assured defence said My Lord The reporters of such things are manifest liars Whereat the Bishop rejoyced and said Your answer pleaseth me well I never could think of you that ye would be so foolish as to affirm such things Where are the knaves that have brought me this tale Who comparing and affirming the same that they did before he still replyed That they were liers But while the witnesses were multiplied and men were brought to attention he turned him to the Bishop and said My Lord ye may hear and consider what ears these Asses have who cannot discern betwixt Paul Esay Zachary and Malachy and Frier Alexander Seton In very deed My Lord I said That Paul saith It behoveth a Bishop to be a Teacher Esay said That they that fed not the flock are dumb dogs and Zachary saith They are idle Pastors I of mine own head affirmed nothing but declared what the Spirit of God before pronounced At whom my Lord if ye be not offended justly ye cannot be offended at me And so yet again my Lord I say That they are manifest liars that reported unto you that I said That ye and others that preach not are no Bishops but belly-gods Albeit after that the Bishop was highly offended as well at the scoffe and bitter mock as at the bold liberty of that learned man yet durst he not hazard for that present to execute his malice conceived For nought only feareth he the learning and bold spirit of the man but also the favour that he had as well of the people as of the Prince King Iames the fifth with whom he had good credite for he was at that time his Confessor and had exhorted him to the fear of God to the meditation of Gods Law and unto purity of life But the said Bishop with his complices foreseeing what danger might come to their estate if such familiarity should continue betwixt the Prince and a man so learned and so repugning to their affections laboureth by all means to make the said Frier Alexander odious unto the King and easily found the means by the gray Friers who by their hypocrisie deceived many to traduce the innocent as an Heretick This accusation was easily believed of the young Prince who being much given to the lusts of the flesh abhorred all counsell that repugned thereto And because he did remember what a terrour the admonitions of the said Alexander was unto his blinded conscience without resistance he subscribed to their accusation affirming that he knew more then they did in that matter For he understood well enough that he smelled of the new Doctrine by such things as he had shewed to him under Confession And therefore he promised that he should follow the counsell of the Bishops in punishing of him and of all others of that Sect. These things understood by the said Alexander as well by the information of his friends and familiars as by the strange countenance of the King unto him provideth the next way to avoid the fury of a misled Prince and so in his habit he departeth the Realme and coming to Berwicke wrote back again to the King his Complaint and Admonition The very Tenour and Copy whereof followeth and is this MOst gracious Soveraigne Lord under the Lord and King of all of whom onely thy Highnesse and Majestie hast power and authority to exercise Justice within this thy Realme under God who is King and Lord of all Realms and thy Majestie and all mortall kings are but onely servants unto that onely immortall Prince Christ Jesus c. It is not I wot unknowne to thy gracious Highnesse how that thy Majesties sometime servant and Orator and ever shall be to my lives end is departed out of thy Realm unto the next adjacent of England neverthelesse I believe the cause of my departing is unknown to thy gracious Majesty Which onely is Because the Bishops and Church-men of thy Realm have had heretofore such authority upon thy subjects that apparently they were rather King and thou the subject which unjust Regiment is of it self false and contrary to holy Scripture and Gods Law Then thou art the King and Master and they thy subjects which is very true and testified expresly by the Word of God And also because they will give no man of any degree or state whom they often call Hereticks audience time nor place to speak and have defence which is against all Law both the old Law called the Law of Moses and the new Law of the Gospel So that if I might have had audience and place to speak and have shewed my just defence conformable to the Law of God I should never have fled to any other Realm suppose it should have cost me my life But because I believed that I should have no audience nor place to answer they are so great with thy Majestie I departed not doubting but moved of God unto a better time that God illuminate thy Majestie even to give every man audience is thou shouldst and mayst and is bound by the Law of God who are accused to the death And to certifie thy Highnesse that these are no vain words but of deed and effect here I offer me to thy Majestie to come in thy Realme again so that thy Majestie will give me audience and hear what I have for me of the Law of God and cause any Bishop or Abbot Friar or Secular which is most cunning some of them cannot reade their Mattins who are made Judges of Heresie to impugne me by the Law of God and if my part be found wrong thy Majestie being present and Judge I refuse no pain worthy or condigne for my fault And if that I convince them by the Law of God and that they have nothing to lay to my charge but the law of man and their own inventions to uphold their own glory and pridefull life and daily scourging of thy poor subjects I refer my self to thy Majestie as Judge Whether he hath the victory that holds him at the Law of God which cannot fail or be false or they that holds them at the Law of man which is very oft plain contrary and against the Law of God and therefore of necessity false and full of lies For all things that is contrary to the veritie which is Christ and his Law is of
necessity a lie And to witnesse that this comes of all my heart I shall remain at Berwike while I get thy Majesties answer and shall without fail return having thy hand write that I may have audience place to speak No more I desire of thee whereof if I had been sure I should never have departed and that thou mayst know the truth thereof if fear of the justnesse of my Cause or dread of persecution for the same had moved me to depart I could not so pleasantly revert onely distrust was the cause of my departing Pardon me to say that which lieth to thy Majesties charge Thou art bound by the Law of God suppose they falsly lie saying it pertaineth not to thy Majestie to intermeddle with such matters to cause every man in any case accused of his life to have their just defence their accusers produced conform to their own law They blinde thy Matie eyes that knows nothing of thy law but if I prove not this out of their own law I offer me to the death Thy Matie therefore by experience may daily learn seeing they neither fear the King of Heaven as their lives testifie neither thee their Naturall Prince as their usurped power in their actions shews why thy Highnes should be no longer blinded Thou maist consider that they pretend nothing else but onely the maintenance and upholding of their barded mules augmenting of their insatiable avarice and continuall overthrowing and swallowing up thy poore subjects neither preaching nor teaching out of the Law of God as they should the rude ignorant people but contend who may be most high most rich and neerest thy Majesty to put thy Temporal Lords and Lieges out of thy counsell and favour who should be and are most tender servants to thy Majesty in all time of need to the defence of thee and thy Crown And where they desire thy Majesty to to put out thy Temporal Lords and Lieges because they despise their vitious life What else intend they but onely thy death and destruction as thou maist easily perceive suppose they colour their false intent and minde with the pursuit of heresie for when thy Barons are put downe What art thou but the king of Land and not of men and then of necessity must be guided by them and there no doubt where a blinde man is guide must be a fall in the mire Therefore let thy Majesty take boldnes and authority which thou hast of God and suffer not their cruell persecution to proceed without audience given to him that is accused and just place of defence and then no doubt thou shalt have thy subjects hearts and all that they can or may do in time of need tranquility justice and policy and finally the Kingdom of the heavens May it please you to give one Copy of this to the Clergie and keep the Original and thy Majestie shall have experience if I go against one word that I have spoken I shall daily make my hearty devotion for thy Majestie and for the prosperity and welfare of thy body and soul. I doubt not but thy gracious Highnesse will give answer to this Letter unto the Presenter of it unto thy Highnesse At Berwike by thy Highnesse servant and Orator Sic subscribitur Alexander Seton This Letter was delivered to the Kings own hands and of many read but what could greatly avail where the pride and corruption of Prelats commanded what they pleased and the flattery of Courtiers fostered the unadvised Prince in all dissolutenesse by which means they made him obsequious unto them From the death of that constant Witnesse of Jesus Christ M. Patrike Hammilton God disclosing the wickednesse of the wicked as before we have heard There was one Forrest of Linlytquow taken who after long imprisonment in the said Tower of S. Andrews was adjudged to the fire by the â—aid Bishop Iames Betonne and his Doctors for no other crime but because he had a new Testament in English Further of that History we have not except that he died constantly and with great patience at S. Andrews After whose death thâ— flame of Persecution ceased till the death of M. Norman Gurlaw the space of ten yeeres or thereabout not that the bloody beasts ceased by all means to suppresse the lyght of God and to trouble such as in any sort were suspected to abhorre their corruption but because the Realme in these times was troubled with intestine and cruell warres in the which much blood was shed first at Melrosse betwixt the Dowglas and Balclench in the yeere of God 1526. the 24. day of July Next at Lynlythcow betwixt the Hamiltons and the Earle of Lenox who was sisters son to the Earle of Arran where the said Earle with many others lost his life the thirteenth day of September in the same yeere And last betwixt the King himself and the foresaid Dowglas whom he banished the Realme and held him in exile during his whole dayes By reason of these we say and of other troubles the Bishops and their bloody bands could not finde the time so favourable unto them as they required to execute their Tyrannie In this middle time so did the wisedome of God provide that Henry the eight King of England did abolish from his Realme the name and authority of the Pope of Rome commanded the Bible to be read in English suppressed the Abbeys and other places of Idolatry with their Idols which gave great hope to divers Realmes that some godly Reformation should thereof have ensued And therefore from this our Countrey did divers learned men and others that lived in feare of Persecution repaire to that Realme where albeit they found not such purity as they wished and therefore divers of them sought other countreys yet they escaped the tyrannie of mercilesse men and were reserved to better times that they might fructifie within his Church in divers places and parts and in divers vocations Alexander Setonne remained in England and publikely with great praise and comfort of many taught the Gospel in all sincerity certain yeers And albeit the craftinesse of Gardner Bishop of Winchester and of others circumvented the said Alexander so that they caused him at Pauls Crosse to affirme certaine things that repugned to his former Doctrine yet it is no doubt but that God potently had assisted him in all his life and that also in his death which shortly after followed he found the mercy of his God whereupon he ever exhorted all men to depend Alexander Alaesius Master Iohn Fyfe and that famous man Doctor Machabeus departed unto Dutchland where by Gods providence they were distributed to severall places Makdowell for his singular prudence besides his Learning and Godlinesse was elected borrow-Master in one of their steads Alaesius was appointed to the Universitie of Lipsia and so was Master Iohn Fyfe where for their honest behaviour and great erudition they were holden in admiration with all 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
something was purposed against him at that day by the Earle of Angus and his friends whom he mortally feared and whose destruction he sought but it failed and so returned he to his strength yea to his god and onely comfort as well in heaven as in earth and there he remained without all fear of death promising to himself no lesse pleasure then did the rich man of whom mention is made by our Master in the Gospel for he did not onely say Eat and be glad my soul for thou hast great riches laid up in store for many dayes but he said Tush a figge for the fooles and a button for the bragging of heretickes and their assistance in Scotland Is not my Lord Governour mine witnesse his eldest son in pledge at my table Have I not the Queen at my owne devotion he meant of the mother Mary that now 1566 raigns Is not France my friend and I am friend to France What danger should I feare And thus in vanity the carnall Cardinall delighted himself a little before his death But yet he had devised to have cut off such as he thought might trouble him For he had appointed the whole Gentlemen of Fyfe to have met him at Falkland the Munday but he was slain upon the Saturday before His treasonable purpose was not understood and it was this That Norman Lesley Sheriff of Fyfe and apparent heir to his Father the Earl of Rothes the foresaid Iohn Lesley Father brother to Norman the Lairds of Grange elder and younger Sir Iames Learmond of Darsie and Provost of Saint Andrewes and the faithfull Laird of Raith should either have been slain or else taken and after to have beene used at his pleasure This enterprise was disclosed after his slaughter partly by Letters and Memorialls found in his chamber but plainly affirmed by such as were of the counsell Many purposes were devised how that wicked man might have been taken away But all faileth till Friday the twenty eighth of May anno 1546. when the aforesaid Norman came at night to Saint Andrewes William Kirkaldie of Grange younger was in the Towne before waiting upon the purpose Last came Iohn Lesley as aforesaid who was most suspected What conclusion they took that night it was not knowne but by the issue that followed But early upon the Saturday in the morning the 29 of May were they in sundry Companies in the Abbey Church-yard not far distant from the Castle First the Gates being open and the draw-Bridge letten downe for receiving of Lime and Stones and other things necessary for building for Babilon was almost finished First we say assayed William Kirkcaldie of Grange younger and with him six persons and getting entry held purpose with the Porter If my Lord was walking who answered No and so it was indeed for he had been busie at his compts with Mistris Marion Ogilbie that night who was espied to depart from him by the privie Posterne that morning and therefore quietnesse after the rules of Physick and a morning sleep was requisite for my Lord. While the said William and the Porter talketh and his servants made them to look the work and workmen approached Norman Lesley with his company and because they were in great number they easily gat entrie They addresse to the midst of the Court and immediately came Iohn Lesley somewhat rudely and four persons with him The Porter fearing would have drawne the Bridge but the said Iohn being entred thereon stayed it and leapt in And while the Porter made him for defence his head waâ— broken the Keyes taken from him and he cast into the ditch and so the place was seized The shout ariseth the work-men to the number of more then a hundred ran off the walls and were without hurt put forth at the Wicket Gate The first thing that ever was done William Kirkaldie took the Guard of the privy Posterne fearing lest the Fox should have escaped Then go the rest of the Gentlemens Chambers and without violence done to any man they put more then fifty persons to the Gate The number that enterprised and did this was but sixteen persons The Cardinall wakened with the shouts asked from his window What meant that noyse It was answered That Norman Lesley had taken his Castle Which understood he ran to the Posterne but perceiving the passage to be kept without he returned quickly to his Chamber took his two handed sword and caused his Chamberlain to cast Chests and other impediments to the doore In this mean time came Iohn Lesley unto it and bids open The Cardinall asking Who calls he answered My name is Lesley He demanded Is that Norman The other saith Nay my name is Iohn I will have Norman saith the Cardinall for he is my friend Content your self with such as are here for other you shall have none There were with the said Iohn Iames Melvene a man familiarly acquainted with Master George Wischarde and Peter Carmichaelle a stout Gentleman In this mean time while they force at the door the Cardinall hides a box of gold under coales that were laid in a secret corner At length he asketh Will ye save my life The said Iohn answered It may be that we will Nay saith the Cardinall Swear unto me by Gods wounds and I will open you Then answered the said Iohn It that was said is unsaid and so cryed Fire fire for the doore was very strong and so was brought a chimley full of burning coales which perceived the Cardinall or his Chamberlain it is uncertain opened the doore and the Cardinall sat down in a chaire and cryed I am a Priest I am a Priest ye will not slay me The said Iohn Leslie according to his former Vows stroke him first once or twice and so did the said Peter But Iames Melvin a man of nature most gentle and most modest perceiving them both in choler withdrew them and said This work and judgement of God although it be secret ought to be done with greater gravity And presenting unto him the point of the sword said Repent thee of thy former wicked life but especially of the shedding of the blood of that notable instrument of God M. George Wischarde which albeit the flame of fire consumed before men yet cries it for vengeance upon thee and we from God are sent to revenge it For here before my God I protest That neither the hatred of thy person the love of thy riches nor the fear of any trouble thou couldst have done to me in particular moved or moveth me to strike thee But onely because thou hast been and remainest an obstinate enemy against Christ Iesus and his holy Gospel And so he stroke him twice or thrice thorow with a stog sword And so he fell never word heard out of his mouth but I am a Priest fie fie all is gone While they were thus busied with the Cardinall the fray rose in the Town the Provost assembles the
suffered in body in respect of that wherewith sometimes she was troubled in spirit She answered A thousand yeere of this torment and ten times more joyned unto it is not to be compared in the quarter of an houre that I suffered in my spirit I thanke my God through Iesus Christ that hath delivered me from that fearfull pain and welcome be this even so long as it pleaseth his godly Majestie to exercise me therewith A little before her departure she desired her sisters and some others that were beside her to sing a Psalme and amongst others she appointed the 103. Psalme beginning My soule praise thou the Lord alwayes which ended she said At the Teaching of this Psalme began my troubled soule first effectually to taste of the mercy of my God which now to me is more sweet and precious then if all the kingdomes of the earth were given to me to possesse them a thousand yeeres The Priests urged her with their Ceremonies and Superstitions To whom she answered Depart from me ye Sergeants of Satan for I have refused and in your own presence doe refuse all your abominations That which you call your Sacrament and Christs body as ye have deceived us to beleeve in times past is nothing but an Idoll and hath nothing to do with the right Institution of Iesus Christ and therefore in Gods Name I command you not to trouble me They departed alleadging That she raved and wist not what she said And she shortly after slept in the Lord Jesus to no small comfort of those that saw her blessed departing This we could not omit of this worthy woman who gave so notable a Confession before that the great light of Gods Word did universally shine thorowout this Realme At the first coming of the said Iohn Knox he perceiving divers who had a zeale to godlinesse make small scruple to go to the Masse or to communicate with the abused Sacraments in the Papisticall manner began as well in privie Conference as in Preaching to shew the impietie of the Masse and how dangerous a thing it was to communicate in any sort with Idolatrie wherewith the conscience of some being affrighted the matter began to be agitate from man to man And so was the said Iohn called to Supper by the Laird of Dun for that same purpose where were assembled David Forresse Master Robert Lockart Iohn Willocke and William Maitland of Lethington younger a man of good Learning and of sharpe wit and reasoning The Question was Proposed and it was answered by the said Iohn That in no wise it was lawfull to a Christian to present himselfe to that Idoll Nothing was omitted that might serve for the purpose and yet was every head so fully answered and especially one whereunto they thought their great defence stood To wit That Paul at the commandment of Iames and of the Elders of Ierusalem passed to the Temple and fained himselfe to pay his vow with others This we say and other things were so fully answered that William Maitland concluded saying I see very perfectly that our shifts will serve nothing before God seeing that they stand us in so small stead before men The answer of Iohn Knox to the fact of Paul and to the commandment of Iames was That Pauls fact had nothing to do with their going to Masse For to pay Vowes was sometimes Gods Commandment as was never Idolatry But their Masse from the originall was and remained odious Idolatry Therefore the fact was most unlike Secondarily said he I greatly doubt whether either Iames his commandment or Pauls obedience proceeded of the holy Ghost We know their counsell tendeth to this That Paul would shew himselfe one that observed diligently the very small points of the Law to the end he might purchase to himself the favours of the Jews who were offended at him by reason of the bruites that were spread That he taught defection from Moses Now while he obeyed their counsell he fell into the most desperate danger that ever he sustained before whereby it was evident That God approved not that mean of reconciliation but rather that he plainely declareth That evil should not be done that good might come of it Evil it was for Paul to confirme those obstinate Jewes in their Superstition by his example worse it was to him to expose himselfe and the Doctrine which before he had taught to slander and mockage And therefore concluded the said Iohn That the fact of Paul and the sequell that thereof followed appeared rather to fight against them that would go to the Masse then to give unto them any assurance to follow his example unlesse that they would that the like trouble should instantly apprehend them that apprehended him for obeying worldly-wise councell After these and like reasonings the Masse began to be abhorred of such as before used it for the fashion and avoiding of slander as then they termed it Iohn Knox at request of the Laird of Dun followed him to his place of Dun where he remained a moneth daily exercised in Preaching whereunto resorted the principall men of that countrey After this returning his residence was most in Calder whither repaired unto him the Lord Erskin the Earle of Argyle then Lord of Lorne and Lord Iames then Priour of S. Andrews and after Earle of Murrey where they heard and so approved his Doctrine that they wished it to have been publike That same Winter he taught commonly in Edinburgh and after Christmas by the conduct of the Laird of Bar and Robert Campbell of Kingieancleuch he came to Kyle and taught in the Bar in the house of the Caâ—nell in the Kingieancleuch in the Town of Air and in the houses of Uchiltrie and Gathgirth and in some of them he ministred the Lords Table Before Easter the Earl of Glencarne sent for him to his place of Fynlaston where after Sermon he also ministred the Lords Table Whereof besides himself were partakers his Lady two of his sons and certain of his friends And so returned he to Calder where divers from Edinburgh and from the Countrey about assembled as well for the Doctrine as for the right use of the Lords Table which before they had never practised From thence he departed the second time to the Laird of Dun and teaching then in greater liberty the Gentlemen required That he should minister likewise unto them the Table of the Lord Jesus where were partakers the most part of the Gentlemen of the Mernes who God be praised to this day do constantly remain in the same doctrine which then they professed To wit That they refused all society with Idolatry and bent themselves to the uttermost of their powers to maintain the true Preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as God should offer unto them Preachers and opportunitie The bruite hereof spread for the Friers from all quarters flocked to the Bishops the said Iohn Knox was summoned to appear in the Church of the blacke
Church the Queene our Soveraigne her honourable and gracious Husband the abilitie of their succession your Majestie Regent the Nobilitie and whole State of this Realme Secondly If it shall happen in our said meetings any hard place of Scripture to be read of which without explanation hardly can arise any profit to the hearers that it shall be lawfull to any qualified persons in knowledge being present to interpret and open up the said hard places to Gods glory and to the profit of the Auditory And if any thinke that this libertie should be occasion of Confusion Debate or Heresie we are content that it be provided that the said Interpretation shall underly the judgement of the godly and most learned within the Realme at this time Thirdly That the holy Sacrament of Baptisme may be used in the Vulgar Tongue that the God-fathers and Witnesses may not onely understand the points of the League and Contract made betwixt God and the Infant but also that the Church then assembled more gravely may be informed and instructed of their duties which at all times they owe to God according to that promise made unto him when they were received into his houshold by the lavacre of spirituall regeneration Fourthly We desire that the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper or of his blessed Body and Blood may likewise be ministred unto us in the Vulgar Tongue and in both kindes according to the plaine Institution of our Saviour Christ Iesus And lastly We most humbly require That the wicked slanderous and detestable life of Prelats and of the state Ecclesiasticall may be reformed that the people by them have not occasion as of many dayes they have had to contemne their Ministerie and the Preaching whereof they should be Messengers And if they suspect that we rather envying their honours or coveting their riches and possessions then Zealously desiring their amendment and salvation do travell and labour for this Reformation We are content that not onely the Rules and Precepts of the New Testament but also the Writings of the ancient Fathers and the godly and approved Lawes of Justinian the Emperour decide the controversie betwixt us and them And if it shall be found that either malevolently or ignorantly we aske more then these three forenamed have required and continually do require of able and true Ministers in Christs Church we refuse not correction as your Majestie with right judgement shall think meet But if all the forenamed shall condemne that which we condemne and approve that which we require Then we most earnestly beseech your Majestie that notwithstanding the long custome which they have had to live at their lust that they be compelled either to desist from Ecclesiasticall administration or to discharge their duties as becometh true Ministers So that the grave and godly face of the Primitive Church reduced Ignorance may be expelled True Doctrine and good Manners may once againe appeare in the Church in this Realme These things we as most obedient Subjects require of your Majestie in the Name of the eternall God and of his Son Christ Iesus in presence of whose Throne judiciall ye and all other that heere in earth beareth authority shall give account of your temporall regiment The spirit of the Lord Iesus move your Majesties heart to Iustice and Equity These our Demands being proposed the State Ecclesiasticall began to storme and to devise all manner of lies to deface the equitie of our cause They bragged as that they would have publike Disputation which also we most earnestly required two things being provided First That the plaine and written Scriptures of God should decide all Controversies Secondly That our brethren of whom some were then exiled and by them unjustly condemned might have free accesse to the said Disputation and safe-conduct to return to their dwelling places notwithstanding any Processe which before had been laid against them in matters concerning Religion But these being by them utterly denied for no Judge would they admit but themselves their Counsels and Canon Law They and their faction began to draw certain Articles of reconciliation promising unto us If we would admit the Masse to stand in its former reverence and estimation Grant Purgatory after this life Confesse prayer to Saints and for the dead and suffer them to enjoy their accustomed Rents Possession and Honour That then they would grant us to pray and baptize in the Vulgar Tongue so that it were done secretly and not in the open assembly But the grosenesse of these Articles was such that with one voice we refused them and constantly craved justice of the Queene Regent and a reasonable answer of our former Petitions The Queene then Regent a woman crafty dissimulate and false-thinking to make her profit of both parties gave to us permission to use our selves godly according to our desires provided that we should not make publike assemblies in Edinburgh nor Lieth and did promise her assistance to our Preachers untill some uniform order might be established by a Parliament To them we mean the Clergie she quietly gave signification of her minde promising that how soon any opportunity should serve she should so put order to these matters that after they should not be troubled for some say they gave her a large purse 40000. l. Turn or Scots gathered by the Laird of Earleshale We nothing suspecting her doublenesse nor falshood departed fully contented with her answer and did use our selves so quietly that for her pleasure we put silence to Iohn Dowglas who publikely would have preached in the Town of Lieth for in all things we sought the contentment of her minde so far as God should not be offended against us for obeying her in things as we thought unlawfull Shortly after these things that cruell Tyrant and unmercifull hypocrite falsly called Bishop of S. Andrews apprehended that blessed Martyr of Christ Jesus Walter Mill a man of decrepite age whom most cruelly and most unjustly he put to death by fire in Saint Andrews the twenty eighth day of April in the yeere of God 1558. Which thing did so highly offend the hearts of all godly that immediatly after his death began a new fervencie among the whole people yea even in the Towne of Saint Andrews began the people plainely to condemne such unjust crueltie And in testification that they would his death should abide in recent memory there was cast together a great heap of stones in the place where he was burnt The Bishop and Priests thereat offended caused once or twice to remove the same with denunciation of cursing if any man should there lay any stones But in vaine was that winde blowne for still was the heape made till that the Priests and Papists did steale away by night the stones to build their walls and to other their private uses We suspecting nothing that the Queene Regent was consenting to the forenamed murther most humbly did complain of such unjust crueltie
requiring that justice in such cases should be ministred with greater indifferencie She as a woman born to dissemble and deceive began with us to lament the cruelty of the Bishop excusing her selfe as innocent in that cause for that the sentence was given without her knowledge Because the man sometimes had been a Priest therefore the Bishops Officiall did proceed upon him without any commission of the Civill authority ex officio as they terme it We yet nothing suspecting her falshood required some order to be taken against such enormities which she promised as oft before But because shortly after there was a Parliament to be holden for certain affaires pertaining rather to the Queens profit particular then to the commodity of the Common-wealth we thought good to expose our matter unto the whole Parliament and by them to seek some redresse we therefore with one consent did offer to the Queen and Parliament a Letter in this Tenor The Forme of the Letter given in Parliament UNto your Majesty and unto your Right honorable Lords Barons and Burgesses of this present Parl. Humbly means and sheweth your Majesties faithfull and obedient subjects That where we are daily molested slandered and injured by wicked and ignorant persons place-holders of the Ministers of the Church who most untruely cease not to infame us as hereticks under that name they most cruelly have persecuted divers of our brethren and farther intend to execute their malice against us unlesse by some godly order their fury and rage be bridled and stayed And yet in us they are able to prove no crime worthy of punishment unlesse that to reade the holy Scriptures in our Assemblies to invocate the Name of God in publike Prayers with all sobriety to interpret and open the places of Scripture that be read to the further edification of the brethren assembled and truely according to Christ Jesus his holy Institution to minister the Sacraments be crimes worthy of punishment other crimes we say in us they are not able to convince And to the premises we are compelled for that the said Place-holders discharge no part of their duties rightly to us neither yet to the people subject to us and therefore unlesse we should declare our selves altogether unmindfull of our own salvation we are compelled in very conscience to seek how that we and our brethren may be delivered from the thraldom of Sathan For now it hath pleased God to open our eyes and manifestly we see That without extreme danger of our souls we may in no wayes communicate with the damnable Idolatry and intolerable abuses of the Papisticall Church And therefore most humbly require we of your Majesty and of your Right Honorable Lords Barons and Burgesses assembled in this present Parliament prudently to weigh and as it becometh just Judges to grant these our most just and reasonable Petitions First Seeing that the controversie in Religion which hath long continued betwixt the Protestants of Almany Helvetia and other Provinces and the papisticall Church is not yet decided by a lawfull and generall Counsell And seeing that our consciences are likewise touched with the fear of God as was theirs in the beginning of their controversie we most humbly desire That all such Acts of Parliament as in the time of darknesse gave power to the Church-men to execute their tyrannie against us by reason that we to them were delated as hereticks may be suspended and abrogated till a Generall Councell lawfully assembled have decided all controversies in Religion And lest that this mutation should seem to set all men at liberty to live as they list we secondarily require that it be Enacted by this present Parliament That the Prelats and their Officers be removed from place of Iudgement onely granting unto them neverthelesse the place of accusators in the presence of a Temporall Iudge before whom the Church men accusators shall be bounden to call any by them accused of heresie To whom also they shall be bounden to deliver an authenticke Copy of all Depositions Accusations and Processe laid against any person accused The Iudge likewise delivering the same to the partie accused assigning unto him a competent terme to answer to the same after he hath taken sufficient caution De judicio sisti Thirdly We require That all lawfull defences be granted to the person accused as If he be able to prove that the witnesses be persons unable by Law to testifie against him that then their Accusations and Depositions be null according to justice Item That place be granted to the party accused to explaine and interpret his owne minde and meaning which confession we require be inserted in publike Acts and be preferred to the deposition of any witnesse seeing that none ought to suffer for Religion that is not found obstinate in his damnable opinion Last We require that our brethren be not condemned for heretickes unlesse by the manifest Word of God they be convinced to have erred from that faith which the holy Spirit witnesseth to be necesiary to Salvation And if so they be we refuse not but that they be punished according to justice Unlesse by wholesome admonition they can be reduced to a better minde These things require we to be considered of by you who are in the Place of the Eternall God who is God of Order and Truth even in such sort as ye will answer in presence of his Throne judiciall Requiring further That favourably you would have respect to the tendernesse of our consciences and to the trouble which appeareth to follow in this Common-wealth if the tyranny of the Prelates and of their adherents be not bridled by God and just Lawes God move your hearts deeply to consider your owne duties and our present troubles These our Demands did we first present to the Queen Regent because that we were determined to enterprise nothing without her knowledge most humbly requiring her favourably to assist us in our just action She spared not amiable looks and good words in abundance But alwayes she kept our Petition close in her pocket When we required secretly of her Majesty that our Petition should be proposed to the whole Assembly She answered That she thought not that expedient for then would the whole Ecclesiasticall Estate be contrary to her proceedings which at that time was great For the Matrimoniall Crowne was asked and in that Parliament granted But said she how soon order can be taken with these things which now may be hindred by the Church-men ye shall know my good minde And in the meane time whatsoever I can grant unto you shall gladly be granted We yet nothing suspecting her falshood were content to give place for a time to her pleasure and pretended reason And yet thought we expedient somewhat to protest before the dissolution of the Parliament For our Petition was manifestly knowne to the whole Assembly as also how that for the Queens pleasure we had ceased to pursue the uttermost Our Protestation was
Declaration of our minds which we did in this forme following To the generation of Antichrist the pestilent Prelats and their Shavelings within Scotland the Congregation of Christ Iesus within the some saith TO the end that ye shall not be abused thinking to escape just punishment after that ye in your blinde furie have caused the blood of many to be shed This we notifie and declare unto you That if ye proceed in this your malicious crueltie ye shall be dealt withall wheresoever ye shall be apprehended as murtherers and open enemies to God and unto mankinde And therefore betimes cease from this blinde rage Remove first from your selves your bands of bloodie men of war and reform your selves to a more quiet life and hereafter mitigate ye the authority which without crime committed on our part ye have inflamed against us or else be ye assured That with the same measure that ye have measured against us and yet intend to measure to others it shall be measured unto you that is As ye by tyrannie intend not onely to destroy our bodies but also by the same to hold our souls in bondage of the Devil subject to Idolatry So shall we with all force and power which God shall grant unto us execute just vengeance and punishment upon you yea we shall begin that same war which God commandeth Israel to execute against the Canaanites that is contract of peace shall never be made till that ye desist from your open Idolatry and cruell persecution of Gods children And this we signifie unto you in the name of the eternall God and of his Son Christ Jesus whose Verity we professe and Gospel we have Preached and holy Sacraments rightly ministred so long as God will assist us to gain stand your Idolatry Take this for advertisement and be not deceived Notwithstanding these our Requests and Advertisements Monsieur Dosell and his French men with the Priests and their bands marched forward against S. Iohnston and approached within ten miles of the Town then repaired the brethren from all quarters for our reliefe The Gentlemen of Fyfe Angus Mernes with the Town of Dundie were there they that first hazarded to resist the enemy and for that purpose was chosen a place of ground a mile and more distant from the Town In this mean time the Lord Ruthuen Provest of the Town of S. Iohnston and a man whom many judged godly and stout in that action as in very deed he was even unto his last breath left the Town and departed first to his own place and after to the Queen whose defection and revolt was a great discouragement to the hearts of many and yet did God so comfort them that within the space of twelve houres after the hearts of all men were set up againe For those that were then assembled did not so much hope of victory by their own strength as by the power of him whose Verity they professed and began one to comfort another till the whole multitude was erected in a reasonable hope The day after that the Lord Ruthuen departed which was the foure and twentieth of May came the Earle of Argyle Lord Iames Prior of S. Andrews and the Lord Semple directed from the Queen Regent to enquire the cause of that Convocation of Lieges there To whom when it was answered That it was onely to resist the cruell tyrannie devised against that poore Towne and the inhabitants of the same They asked if we minded not to hold that Towne against the authority and against the Regent To the which Question answered the Lairds of Dâ—n and Pitarro with the Congregation of Angus and Mernes the Master of Lindsay the Lairds of Londy Balvarde and others Barons of Fyfe That if the Queenes Majestie would suffer the Religion there begun to proceed and not trouble their brethren and sisters that had professed Christ Jesus with them That the Towne they themselves and whatsoever to them pertained should be at the Queens commandment Which answer understood the Earle of Argyle and the Prior who both were then Protestants began to muse and said plainly That they were far otherwise informed by the Queen to wit That we meant no Religion but a plaine Rebellion To the which when he had answered simply and as the trueth was to wit That we Convened for none other purpose but onely to assist our brethren who then were most unjustly persecuted and therefore we desired them faithfully to report our answer and to be intercessors to the Queen Regent That such cruelty should not be used against us considering that we had offered in our former Letters as well to the Queens Majesty as to the Nobility our matter to be tried in lawfull judgement They promised fidelity in that behalfe which also they kept The day after which was the five and twentieth of May before that the said Lords departed in the morning Iohn Knox desired to speak with the same Lords which granted unto him he was conveyed to their Lodging by the Laird of Balvarde and thus began The Oration of Iohn Knox to the Lords THe present troubles honourable Lords ought to move the hearts not onely of the true servants of God but also of all such as beare any favour unto our Countrey and naturall Countrey-men to descend within themselves and deepely to consider what shall be the end of this pretended tyrannie The rage of Satan seeketh the destruction of all those that within this Realme professe Christ Iesus and they that inflame the Queene and you the Nobles against us regard not who prevaile provided that they may abuse the world and live at their pleasure as heretofore they have done yea I feare that some seek nothing more then the effusion of Scottish blood to the end that their possessions may be more patent to others But because that this is not the principall which I have to speak omitting the same to be considered by the wisdome of those to whom the care of the Common-wealth appertaineth 1. I most humbly require of you my Lords in my name to say to the Queene Regent That we in whom she in her blinde rage doth persecute are Gods servants faithfull and obedient Subjects to the authoritie of this Realme That that Religion which she pretendeth to maintaine by fire and sword is not the true Religion of Christ Iesus but is expresse contrary to the same a superstition devised by the braine of man which I offer my selfe to prove against all that within Scotland will maintaine the contrary liberty of tongue being granted unto me and Gods written Word being admitted for judge 2. I further require your honours in my name to say unto the Queen That as oft before I have written so now I say That this her enterprise shall not prosperously succeed in the end and albeit for a time she trouble the Saints of God for she fights not against man only but against the eternall God and his invincible Verity and
came to the Towne upon the Saturday at night accompanied with a hundred Spears of minde to have stopped Iohn Knox from Preaching The two Lords and Gentlemen aforesaid were onely accompanied with their quiet housholds and therefore was the sudden coming of the Bishop the more fearfull for then was the Queen and her French-men departed from Saint Iohnston and were lying in Falkland within twelve miles of S. Andrews and the Town at that time had not given profession of Christ and therefore could not the Lords be assured of their friendship Consultation being had many were of minde that the Preaching should be delayed for that day and especially that Io. Knox should not preach for that did the Bishop affirme that he would not suffer considering that by his Commandment the Picture of the said Iohn was before burnt He willed therefore an honest Gentleman Robert Colwill of Cleisse to say to the Lords That in case Iohn Knox presented himselfe to the Preaching-place in his Towne and principall Church he should make him be saulted with a Dozen of Culverings whereof the most part should light upon his nose After long deliberation had the said Iohn was called that his owne judgement might be had When many perswasions were made that he should delay for that time and great terrours given in case he should enterprise such a thing as it were in contempt of the Bishop he answered God is witnesse that I never preached Christ Iesus in contempt of any man neither minde I at any time to present my selfe to that place having either respect to my owne private commodity either yet to the worldly hurt of any creature But to delay to preach to morrow unlesse the body be violently with-holden I cannot in conscience For in this Towne and Church began God first to call me to the dignity of a Preacher from the which I was reâ—t by the tyranny of France and procurement of the Bishops as ye well enough know how long I continued prisoner what torment I sustained in the Gallies and what were the sobs of my heart is now no time to recite This onely I cannot conceale which more then one have heard me say when my body was absent from Scotland That my assured hope was in open audience to preach in Saint Andrewes before I departed this life And therefore said he my Lords seeing that God above the expectation of many hath brought my bodie to the same place where first I was called to the Office of a Preacher and from the which most unjustly I was removed I beseech your Honours not to stop me from presenting my selfe unto my Brethren And as for the feare of danger that may come to me let no man be solicite for my life is in the custody of him whose glory I seek and therefore I cannot so feare their boast nor tyrannie that I will cease from doing my duty when of his mercy he offereth the occasion I desire the hand and weapon of no man to defend me onely do I crave audience which if it be denied here unto me at this time I must seek further where I may have it At these words the Lords were fully content that he should occupy the place which he did upon Sunday the tenth of June and did treat of the ejection of the buyers and the sellers forth of the Temple of Jâ—rusalem as it is written in the Evangelists Matthew and Iohn and so he applied the corruption that was then to the corruption that is in Papistry and Christs fact to the duty of those to whom God giveth power and zeale thereto that aswell the Magistâ—ates the Provest and Baylies as the communalty for the most part within the Towne did agree to remove all Monuments of Idolatry which also they did with expedition The Bishop advertised hâ—reof departed that same day to the Queen who lay with her French-men as is said in Falkland The hot fury of the Bishop did so kindle her choler and yet the love was very cold betwixt them that without farther delay conclusion was taken to invade Saint Andrewes and the two young Lords aforesaid who then were very slenderly accompanied Posts were sent from the Queen with all diligence to Cowper distant onely six miles from Saint Andrewes to prepare Lodgings and Victualls for the Queen and her French-men Lodgings were assigned and Fâ—rriers were sent before Which thing understood counsell was given to the Lords to march forward and to prevent them before they came to Cowper which they did giving advertisement to all brethren with all possible expedition to repair towards them which they also did with such diligence that in their Assemblie the wonderous Worke of God might have been espied For when at night the Lords came to Cowper they were not an hundred Horse and some few Foot-men whom the Lord Iames brought from the Coast â—ide and yet before the next day at noon which was Tuesday the thirteenth of June their number passed three thousand men which by Gods providence came unto the Lords from Lowthiane the Lairds of Ormeston Calder Hatton Lestarrig and Colston who albeit they understood at their departing from their owne houses no such trouble yet were they by their good counsell very comfortable that day The Lord Ruthuen came from Saint Iohnston with some Horse-men with him The Earle of Rothesse Sheriff of Fyfe came with an honest Company The Townes of Dundie and S. Andrews declared themselves both stout and faithfull Cowper because it stood in greatest danger was assisted with the whole Force Finally God did so multiply our number That it appeared as men had rained from the clouds The enemy understanding nothing of our Force assured themselves of Victory Who had beene in Falkland the night before might have seen embracing and kissing betwixt the Queen the Duke and the Bishop But Master Gawin Hamilton gaper for the Bishoprick of S. Andrews above all others was lovingly embraced of the Queen For he made his solemne Vow That he would fight and that he would never return till he brought those Traitours to her Majestie either quick or dead And thus before midnight did they send forward their Ordnance themselves did follow before three of the clock in the morning The Lords hereof advertised assembled their company early in the morning upon Cowper-moore where by the advice of M. Iames Haliburtoun Provest of Dundie was chosen a place of ground convenient for our defence For it was so chosen That upon all sides our Ordnance might have beaten the enemy and yet we have stood in safety if we had been pursued till we had come to hand strokes The Lord Ruthuen took the charge of the horsemen and ordered them so That the enemy was never permitted to espie our number the day was dark which helped thereto The enemy as before is said thinking to have found no resistance after that they had twice or thrice made shew unto us as that they would
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
of the said Congregation or yet being presently within Our said Borough other then the inhabitants thereof that they within six hours next after Our said Charge depart forth of the same under the pain of Treason And as that ye command all and sundry persons to leave their company and to adhere to Our Authority with Certification That such as do the contrary shall be reputed and holden as manifest Traytors to Our Crowne These Letters did not a little grieve us who most unjustly were accused for never a sentence of the Narrative true except That we stayed the Irons and that for just cause to wit Because that daily there was such number of hard-heads printed that the basenesse thereof made all things exceeding dear And therefore we were counselled by the wisest to stay the Irons while further order might be taken The Queen Regent with all possible diligence posted for her Faction Master Iames Balfour was not idle in the mean time The Lords to purge themselves of these odious crimes wrote to her a Letter in form as after followeth PLease your Majestie to be advertised That it is come to our knowledge that your Majestie hath set forth by your Letters openly proclaimed That we called by name The Congregation under pretence and colour of Religion convene together to no other purpose but to usurp our Soveraignes Authirity and to invade your person representing theirs at this present Which things appeare to have proceeded of sinister information made to your Majestie by our enemies considering that we never minded such thing but onely our minde and purpose was and is To promote and set forth the glory of God Maintain and defend the true Preachers of his Word And according to the same abolish and put away Idolatry and false abuses which may not stand with the said Word of God Beseeching your Majestie to beare patiently therewith and interpose your Authority to the furtherance of the same as is the duty of every Christian Prince and good Magistrate For as to the obedience of our Soveraignes Authority in all Civill and Politick matters we are and shall be as obedient as any other your Majesties subjects within the Realme And that our convention is for no other purpose but to save our Preachers and their auditors from the injury and violence of our enemies Which should be more amply declared by some of us in your Majesties presence if ye were not accompanied with such as have pursued our lives and sought our blood Thus we pray Almighty God to save your Highnesse in his eternall tuition At Edinburgh the 2 of Iuly 1559. And for further purgation hereof it was thought necessary that we should simply expose as well to her Majesty as to the whole people what were our requests and just petitions And for that purpose after that safe-Conduct was purchased and granted we directed unto her two grave men of counsell to wit the Lairds of Pittarrow and Cuninghamehead to whom we gave commission and power first to expose our whole purpose and intent which was no other then before at all times we had required to wit First That we might enjoy the liberty of conscience Secondly That Christ Jesus might be truely preached and his holy Sacraments rightly ministred unto us Thirdly That unable Ministers might be removed from Ecclesiasticall Administration And that our Preachers might be relaxed from the Horne and permitted to execute their charges without molestation unto such as either by a generall Councell lawfully convened or by a Parliament within the Realme the controversies in Religion were decided And for declaration that her Majestie was hereto willing that the Bands of French-men who then were a burden intolerable to the Countrey and to us so fearfull that we durst not in peaceable and quiet manner haunt the places where they did lie should be sent to France their native Countrey Which things granted Her Majestie should have experience of our accustomed obedience To these Heads she did answer at the first so pleasantly that she put both our Commissioners in full esperance that all should be granted and for that purpose she desired to speak with some of greater Authority promising That if they would assure her of their dutifull obedience that she would deny nothing of that which was required For satisfaction of her minde we sent again the Earle of Glencarne the Lord Ruthwen the Lord Uchiltrie and the said Laird of Pittarrow with the same Commission as before But then she began to handle the matter more craftily complaining that she was not sought in a gentle manner And that they in whom she had put most singular confidence had left her in her greatest need And such other things pertaining nothing to the Commission she proposed to spend and drive the time They answered That by unjust tyrannie devised against them and their brethren as her Majestie did well know they were compelled to seek the extreame remedie and therefore that her Majestie ought not to wonder though godly men left the company where they neither found fidelity nor trueth In the end of this communing which was the twelfth day of July 1559. She desired to have talked privately with the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames Prior of S. Andrews for else as she alleadged she could not but suspect that they pretended to some other higher purpose then Religion She and her crafty Counsell had abused Duke Hamilton perswading him and his friends That the said Earle and Lord Iames had conspired first to deprive our Soveraigne her daughter of her authority and thereafter the Duke and his Successors of their pretended Title to the Crowne of Scotland By these invented lyes she inflamed the hearts of many against us insomuch that some of our own number began to murmure Which perceived as well the Preachers in their publike Sermons as we our selves by our publike Proclamation gave purgation and satisfaction to the people plainely and simply declaring what was our purpose taking God to witnesse That no such crimes were ever entred into our hearts as most unjustly was laid to our charge The Counsell after consultation thought not expedient that the said Earle and Lord Iames should talke with the Queen in any sort for her former practises put all men in suspition That some deceit lurked under such coloured communing She had before said That if she could by any meane sunder these two from the rest she was assured shortly to come by her whole purpose And one of her chiefe Counsell in those dayes and we feare but too inward with her yet said That ere Michaelmas day they two should lose their heads and therefore all men feared to commit two such young plants to her mercy and fidelity It was therefore finally denied that they should talk with the Queen or any appertaining to her but in places void of all suspicion where they should be equall in number with those that should talk with them The Queen
we could have our company which then was dispersed for new furnishing assembled again The certaintie hereof coming to our knowledge the Saturday at night being the 25 of July we did what in us lay to give advertisement to our brethren but impossible it was that the Wast Angus Mernes Straitherne or Fyfe in any number could come to us For the enemie Marched from Dumbar upon the Sunday and approached within two miles of us before Sun-rising upon Munday For they verily supposed to have found no resistance being assured that the Lords onely with certain Gentlemen remained with their private houses calling upon God for counsell in that straight we sought what was the next defence We might have left the Town and might have retired our selves without any danger but then we should have abandoned our brethren of Edinburgh and suffered the Ministery thereof to have decayed which to our hearts was so dolorous that we thought better to hazard the extremitie then so to do For then the most part of the Town appeared rather to favour us then the Queens faction and did offer unto us the uttermost of their support which for the most part they did faithfully keep The same did the Town of Leith but they kept not the like fidelity For when we were upon the field marching forward for their support for the French marched nigh to them they rendred themselves without further resistance And this they did as is supposed by the treason of some within themselves and by perswasion of the Laird of Lestarrig who before declared himselfe to be one of us and notwithstanding that same day rendred himselfe undesired to Monsieur Dosell Their unprovided and sudden defection astonished many and yet we retired quietly to the side of Cragingate which place we took for resisting the enemy In the mean time divers mediatours passed betwixt us amongst whom the Lord Ruthuen for our part was principall Alexander Erskin did much travell to stay us and our Souldiers that we should not joyne with them of Leith till that they as is said had rendred themselves to the French The said Alexander did oft promise that the French would stay provided That we would not joyne with those of Leith But after that they were rendred we heard nothing of him but threatning and discomfortable words Before it was eight of the clock in the morning God had given unto us both courage and a reasonable number to withstand their furie The Towne of Edinburgh so many as had subject themselves to discipline and divers others besides them behaved themselves both faithfully and stoutly The Gentlemen of Lowthiane especially Calder Hatton and Ormeston were very comfortable as well for their counsell as for their whole assistance Some Gentlemen of Fyfe prevented the French-men other were stopped by reason that the French had passed Leith Alwayes the enemy took such a fear That they determined not to invade us where we stood but took purpose to have passed to Edinburgh by the other side of the water of Leith and that because they had the Castle to their friend which was to us unknown for we supposed the Lord Erskin Captain of the same either to have been our friend or at least to have been indifferent But when we had determined to fight he sent word to the Earle of Argyle to Lord Iames his sisters son and to the other Noble-men That he would declare himselfe both enemy to them and to the Town and would shoot at both if they made any resistance to the French-men to enter into the Town This his treasonable defiance sent us by the Laird of Ricarton did abate the courage of many for we could not fight nor stop the enemy but under the mercy of the Castle and whole Ordnance thereof Hereupon was consultation taken and in conclusion it was found lesse damage to take an appointment albert the Conditions were not such as we desired then to hazard battell betwixt two such enemies After long talking certaine heads were drawn by us which we desired to be granted First That no member of the Congregation should be troubled in life lands goods or possessions by the Queen her Authority nor any other justice within the Realm for any thing done in the late Innovation till a Parliament which should begin the tenth of Ianuary had decreed things in controversie 2. That Idolatry should not be erected where it was at that day suppressed 3. That the Preachers and Ministers should not be troubled in their Ministery where they are already established neither yet stopped to preach wheresoever they should chance to come 4. That no Bands of men of War should be laid in Garrison within the Town of Edinburgh 5. That the French-men should be sent away at a reasonable day and that none other should be brought into the Countrey without consent of the whole Nobility and Parliament But these our Articles were altered and another forme disposed as followeth At the Linkes of Leith the 24 of July 1559. It is appointed in manner following IN the first Congregation and their company others then the inhabitants of the said Towne shall remove themselves forth of the said Town the morrow at ten hours before noon the 25 of Iuly and leave the same void and rid of them and their said company conform to the Queens Majesties pleasure and desire Item The said Congregation shall cause the Irons of the Coyning-house taken away by them be rendred and delivered to Master Robert Richeson And likewise the Queens Majesties Palace of Halyrud-house to be left and rendred again to M. John Balfour or any other having her Majesties sufficient power in the same matter as it was resolved and that betwixt the making of these Articles and the morn at ten of the clock For observing and keeping of these two Articles above written the Lord Ruthuen and the Laird of Pittarrow have entred themselves pledges Item The said Lords of the Congregation and all the members thereof shall remain obedient subjects to our Lord and Ladies Authority and to the Queen Regent in their place And shall obey all Laws and laudable Customs of this Realme as they were used before the moving of this tumult and controversie excepting the cause of Religion which shall be hereafter specified Item The Congregation nor any of them shall not trouble or molest a Church-man by way of deed nor yet shall make them any impediment in the peaceable brooking enjoying and uptaking of their Rents Profits and Duties of their Benefices but that they may freely use and dispose upon the same according to the Laws and Custome of this Realme to the tenth of Ianuary next to come Item The said Congregation nor none of them shall use in no wayes from thenceforth any force or violence in casting downe of Churches Religious places or apparell thereof but the same shall stand harmlesse of them unto the tenth day of January Item The Town of Edinburgh shall without compulsion
himselfe to the Congregation and had put some Reformation to his place By her consent and procurement was the Preachers Chaire broken in the Church of Leith and Idolatry was erected in the same where it was before suppressed Her French Captains with their Souldiers in great companies in time of Preaching and Prayers resorted to Saint Giles Church in Edinburgh and made their common deambulation therein with such loud talking as no perfect audience could be had And although the Minister was there-through oft times compelled to cry out on them Praying to God to rid them of such Locusts they neverthelesse continued still in their wicked purpose devised and ordained by the Queen to have drawn our brethren of Edinburgh and them in cumber so that she might have had any coloured occasion to have broken the League with them Yet by Gods grace they behaved themselves so that she could finde no fault in them albeit in all these things before-named and in every one of them she is justly accounted to have gaine-said the said appointment We passe over the oppressing of our brethren in particular which had been sufficient to have proved the appointment to have been plainly violated For the Lord Seaton without any occasion offered unto him brake a chase upon Alexander Whitlam as he came from Preston accompanied with M. William Knox towards Edinburgh and ceased not to pursue him till he came to the Towne of Ormeston And this he did supposing that the said Alexander had been Iohn Knox. In all this mean time and while that moe French-men arived they are not able to prove that we brake the appointment in any jote except that a horned Cap was taken off a proud Priests head and cut in four quarters because he said He would wear it in despight of the Congregation In this mean time the Queen then Regent knowing assuredly what force was shortly to come unto her ceased not by all meanes possible to cloke the in-coming of the French and to inflame the hearts of our Countrey-men against us And for that purpose she first wrote unto Duke Hamilton in forme as followeth The Queen Regents false flattering Letter to Duke Hamilton MY Lord and Cousin after hearty commendations We are informed that the Lords of the West-land Congregation intend to make a Convention and assembly of your kin and friends upon Gowan Moore besides Glasgow on Munday come eight dayes the 28 day of August instant for some high purpose against us which we can scantly believe considering they have no occasion on Our part so to do And albeit we know the Appointment was made against and without Our advise yet we accepted the same at your desire and have since made no cause whereby they might be moved to come in the contrary thereof Like as we are yet minded to keep firme and stable all things promised by you in Our behalfe We thinke on the other part it is your duty to require them that they violate not their part thereof in no wise And in case they mean any evil towards Us and so will break their promise We believe ye will at the uttermost of your power convene with us and compell them to do that thing which they ought if they will not praying you to have your self your kin and friends in readinesse to come to us as ye shall be advertised by Proclamation in case the Congregation assemble themselves for any purpose against Us or the Tenour of the said Appointment Assuring you without they gather and give first occasion We shall not put you to any pains in that behalf And that you advertise Us by writ what we may trust to herein by this Bearer who will shew you the fervent minde we bear to have good concord with the said Congregation what offers We have made them and how desirous we are to draw them to the obedience of Our Soveraignes Authority to whom you shall give credit and God keep you At Edinburgh the tenth of August 1559. The like Letter she wrote to every Lord Baron and Gentleman of this Tenour The Queen Regents Letter to the Barons TRusty friend after hearty commendations We doubt not but you have heard of the Appointment made beside Leith betwixt the Duke the Earle of Huntlie and Monsieur Dosell on the one part And the Lords of the Congregation on the other part Which Appointment We have approved in all points albeit it was taken without Our advise and is minded to observe and keep all the contents thereof for Our part Neverthelesse as We are informed the Lords of the Congregation intend shortly to convene all such persons as will assist them for enterprising of some high purpose against Us Our Authority and Tenour of the said Appointment which we cannot believe seeing they neither have nor shall have any occasion given thereto on Our part But in case against all reason they should mean any such thing We have thought it good to give warning to Our speciall friends of the advertisement We have gotten and amongst the rest to you whom We esteem of that number praying you to have your self your kin and folks in readinesse to come to Us and so forth as in the other Letter above sent to the Duke word by word After that by these Letters and by the decitfull surmising of her soliciters she had somewhat stirred up the hearts of the people against us then she began openly to complain That we were of minde to invade her Person That we would keep no part of the Appointment and therefore she was compelled to crave assistance of all men against our unjust pursuit And this practise she used as before is said to abuse the simplicity of the people that they should not suddenly espie for what purpose she brought in her new bands of men of War who did arrive about the midst of August to the number of 1000 men The rest were appointed to come after with Monsieur de la Brosse and with the Bishop of Ammians who arrived the nineteenth day of September following as if they had been Ambassadours But what was their Negotiation the effect did declare and they themselves could not long conceal for by both tongue and pen they uttered That they were sent for the extermination of all those that would not professe the Papist call Religion in all points The Queens practise and craft could not blinde the eyes of all men neither yet could her subtilty hide her owne shame but that many did espy her deceit and some spared not to speak their judgements liberally who foreseeing the danger gave advertisement requiring that provision might be found before that the evil should exceed our wisedome and strength to put fit remedy to it For prudent men foresaw That she pretended a plain conquest but to the end that the people should not suddenly stir she would not bring in her full force at once as before is said but by continuall traffique purposed to augment
Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames to Sterlin to the said convention in which divers godly men complained of the tyrannie used against their brethren And especially that more French-men were brought in to oppresse their Country After the consultation of certain dayes the principall Lords with my Lord Arran and the Earle of Argyle past to Hammilton for consultation to be taken with the Duke And in this mean time came assured word that the French-men had begun to fortifie Leith which thing as it did more evidently discover the Queens craft so did it deeply grieve the hearts of all the Nobility there who with one consent agreed to write unto the Queen in form as followeth At Hammilton the 29 day of September MAdame we are credibly informed that your Army of French-men should instantly begin to plant in Leith and to fortifie the same of minde to expell the ancient inhabitants thereof our brethren of the Congregation whereof we marvell not a little that your Majestie should so manifestly breake the Appointment made at Leith without any provocation made by us and our brethren And seeing the same is done without any manner of consent of the Nobilitie and counsell of this Realme we esteem the same not onely oppression of our poore brethren and in-dwellers of the said Towne but also very prejudiciall to the Common-wealth and plain contrary to our ancient Laws and Liberties We therefore desire your Majestie to cause the same work enterprised to be stayed and not to attempt so rashly and so manifestly against your Majesties promise against the Common-wealth â—he ancient Laws and Liberties thereof which things besides the glory of God are most dear and tender to us and onely our pretence otherwise assuring your Majestie we will complain to the whole Nobility and Commonalty of this Realme and most earnestly seek for redresse thereof And thus recommending our humble service unto your Highnesse whom we commit to the Eternall Protection of God expecting earnestly your answer At Hammilton the day and yeer aforesaid By your Majesties humble and obedient servitours This Letter was subscribed with the hands of the Duke the Earles of Arran Argyle Glencarne and Menteth by the Lords Ruthwen Uchiltrie Boyd and by divers others Barons and Gentlemen To this request she would not answer by wret but with a Letter of credit she sent Sir Robert Carnegie and Master Danid Borthwike two whom amongst many others she abused and by whom she corrupted the hearts of the simple They travelled with the Duke to bring him again to the Queens Faction Labrosse and the Bishop of Amians were shortly before arrived and as it was bruted were directed as Ambassadours but they kept close their whole Commission they onely made large promises to them that would be theirs and leave the Congregation The Queen did grievously complain That we had intelligence with England and the conclusion of their Commission was to solicite the Duke to put in all in the Queens Will and then she would be gracious enough It was answered That no honest men durst commit themselves to the mercy of such throat-cutters as she had about her whom if she would remove and joyn to her a Councell of naturall Scotish-men permitting the Religion to have free passage then should none in Scotland be more willing to serve her Majesty then should the Lords and Brethren of the Congregation be At the same time the Duke and the Lords wrote to my Lord Erskin Captain of the Castle of Edinburgh in form as followeth Letter to the Lord Erskin MY Lord and Cousin after our hearty commendations this present is to advertise you That we are credibly informed that the Army of French-men now in this Realme without any advice of the Councell or Nobility are fortifying or else shortly intendeth to fortifie the Towne of Leith and expell the ancient inhabitants thereof whereby they proclaim to all that will open their ears to hear or eyes to see what is their pretence And seeing the faithfulnesse of your antecessors and especially of your Father of honourable memory who was so recommended and dear to the Estates and Councellors of this Realme through affection they perceived in him towards the Common-wealth thereof that they doubted not to give in his keeping the key as it were of the Councell of the Iustice and Policy of this Realme the Castles of Edinburgh and Sterlin we cannot but believe ye will rather augment the honourable favour of your House by stedfast favour and loyalty to our Common wealth then through the subtill perswasions of some which care not what after shall come to you and your House at the present would abuse you to the performance of their wicked enterprises and pretences against our Common-wealth utterly destroy the same And herefore seeing we have written to the Queen to desist from the enterprise otherwise that we will complain to the Nobility and Commonalty of the Realm and seek redresse thereof We likewise beseech you as our tender friend brother and member of the same Common-wealth with us that in no wise you meddle with or assent to that ungodly enterprise against the Common-wealth And likewise that ye would save your body and the jewels of this Countrey committed to yours and your predecessors loyalty and fidelity towards your native Countrey and Common-wealth if ye thinki to be reputed hereafter one of the same And that ye would rather be brother to us then to strangers for we do gather by the effects the secrets of mens hearts otherwise unsearchable unto us Thus we write not that we are in doubt of you but rather to warne you of the danger in case ye suffer your selfe to be inchanted with fair promises and crafty Councellors For let no man flatter himself we desire all men to know That though he were our father seeing God hath opened our eyes to see his Will if he be enemy to the Common wealth which is now assailed and we with it and all true members thereof he shall be knowne and as he is indeed enemy to us to our lives our houses babes heritages and whatsoever is contained within the same For as the Ship perishing What can be safe that is within So the Common wealth being betrayed What particular member can live in quietnesse And therefore in so far as the said Castles are committed to your credite we desire you to shew your faithfulnesse and stoutnesse as ye tender us and whatsoever appertaineth to us And seeing we are assured ye will be assayled both with craft and force as now by warning we help you against the first so against the last ye shall not misse in all possible haste to have our assistance onely to shew your selfe a man Save your person by wisedome strengthen your self against force And the Almighty God assist you in both that one ayd the other and open the eyes of your understanding to see and perceive the craft of Sathan and his supposts At Hamilton
triumph This Sermon ended in the which he did vehemently exhort all men to amendment of life to Prayers and to the Works of Charity the mindes of men began wonderously to be erected and immediately after dinner the Lords passed to counsell unto the which the said Iohn Knox was called to make invocation of the Name of God for other Preachers were none with us at that time in the end it was concluded That William Maitland aforesaid should passe to London to expose our estate and condition to the Queen and Counsell and that the Noble-men should depart to their home and quiet to the 16 day of December Which time was appointed to the next Convention in Sterlin as in this our third Booke following shall be more amply declared With this we end the second Book of the History of the progresse of Religion within Scotland Look upon us O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies for we are brought even to the deep of the dungeon The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOK OF The Progresse of true Religion WITHIN The Realme of SCOTLAND AFter this our dolorous departing from Edinburgh the fury and rage of the French increased for then durst neither man nor woman that professed Christ Jesus within the Town be seen The houses of the most honest men were given by the Queen to Frenchmen for a part of their reward The Earle Bothwell by sound of Trumpet Proclaimed the Earle of Arrane Traitour with other despightfull words which all was done for the pleasure and by the suggestion of the Queene Regent who then thought the battell was wonne without further resistance Great practising she made for obtaining of the Castle of Edinburgh The French made their fagots with other preparations to assault the said Castle either by force or else by Treason But God wrought so mightily with the Captain the Lord Erskin at that time that neither the Queen by flattery nor the French by treason prevailed Advertisement with all diligence past to the Duke of Guise who then was King of France as concerning power to command requiring him to make expedition if he desired the full conquest of Scotland Who delayed no time but with a new Armie sent away his brother Marquis Dalbuif and in his company Marticks promising that he himselfe should follow But the righteous God who in mercy looketh upon the affliction of those that unfainedly sob unto him fought for us by his own out-stretched arm For upon one night upon the coast of Holland were drowned of them eighteen Ensignes so that onely rested the Ship in the which were two principals aforesaid with their Ladies who violently driven back to Deepe were compelled to confesse That God fought for the defence of Scotland From England returned Robert Melvin who past in company to London with the Secretary a little before Christmas and brought unto us certain Articles to be answered as by the contract that after was made more plainely shall appeare Whereupon the Nobility assembled at Sterlin and returned answer with diligence Whereof the French advertised they marched to Linlithquow spoiled the Dukes house and wasted his lands of Kinneill and after came to Sterlin where they remained certaine dayes the Duke the Earles of Argyle and Glencarn with their friends passed to Glasgow The Earle of Arrane and Lord Iames passed to Saint Andrews For charge was given to the whole Nobility Protestants to keepe their owne bodies till that God should send them further support The French tooke purpose first to assault Fyfe for as it was their great indignation Their purpose was to have taken and fortified the Towne and Abbey with the Castle of Saint Andrews and so they came to Culrosse after to Dunfermeling and then to Brunteiland where they began to fortifie but desisted there from and marched to Kinghorn upon the occasion as followeth When certaine knowledge came to the Earl of Arrane and to Lord Iames That the French were departed from Sterlin they departed also from S. Andrews and began to assemble their Forces at Cowper and sent their men of War to Kinghorne unto whom there resorted divers of the coast side of minde to resist rather at the beginning then when they had destroyed a part of their Townes But the Lords had given an expresse commandment That they should hazard nothing till that they themselves were present And for that purpose was sent unto them the Lord Ruthuen a man of great experience and inferiour to few in stoutnesse In his company was the Earle of Sudderland sent from the Earle of Huntly as he alleadged to comfort the Lord in their affliction But others whispered That his principall Commission was unto the Queen Regent Howsoever it was he was hurt in the arme by the shot of an Haquebut for the men of War and the rascall multitude perceiving certaine Boats of French-men landing which came from Leith purposed to stop their landing and so not considering the enemies that approached from Brunteiland unadvisedly they rushed downe to the Pretticure so is that Bay by West Kinghorne called and at the sea coast began the skirmishing But they never took heed to the enemy that approached by land till that the horsemen charged them upon the backe and the whole bands came directly in their faces and so were they compelled to give back with the losse of six or seven of their men and with the taking of some amongst whom were two that professed Christ Jesus one named Paul Lambert a Dutch man and a French boy fervent in Religion and clean of life whom in despight they hanged over the Steeple of Kinghorne Thou shalt revenge O Lord in thy appointed time The cause that in so great a danger there was so small a losse next unto the mercifull providence of God was the sudden coming of my Lord Ruthuen for even as our men had given back he and his Company came to the head of the Bray and did not onely stay the French-men but also some of ours brake upon their Horse-men and so repulsed them that they did no further hurt to our Foot-men In that recounter was the Earle of Sudderland foresaid shot in the arme and was carried back to Cowper The French-men took Kinghorne where they lay and wasted the Country about as well Papists as Protestants yea even those that were confederate with them such as Seafield Weames Balmowto Balwearie and others enemies to God and traytors to their Countrey of those we say they spared not the Sheep the Oxen the Kine and Horses and some say that their wives and daughters gat favour of the French Souldiers and so did recompence the Papists in their own bosoms for besides the defiling of their houses as said is two of them received more damage then did all the Gentlemen that professed the Gospel within Fyfe the Laird of Grange onely excepted whose house of the Grange the French-men overthrew with Gun-Powder The Queen Regent proud of this Victory
burst forth into her blasphemous railing and said Where is now John Knox his God my God is now stronger then his yea even in Fyfe She posted to her friends in France newes that thousands of the hereticks were slain and the rest were fled and therefore required that some Noble-man of her friends would come and take the glory of that Victory Upon that information was Marticks with two Ships and some Captains and Horses directed to come into Scotland but little to their own advantage as we shall after hear The Lords of the Congregation offended at the foolishnesse of the rascall multitude called to themselves the men of War and remained certaine dayes at Cowper unto whom repaired Iohn Knox and in our greatest desperation Preached unto us a most comfortable Sermon his Text was The danger wherein the Disciples of Christ Iesus stood when they were in the midst of the Sea and Iesus was upon the mountain His Exhortation was That we should not faint but that we should still row against the contrarious blasts till that Jesus Christ should come for said he I am assuredly perswaded that God will deliver us from this extreme trouble as that I am assured That this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which I preach unto you this day The fourth watch is not yet come abide a little the Boat shall be saved and Peter which hath left the Boat shal not drown I am assured That albeit I cannot assure you by reason of this present rage God grant that ye may acknowledge his hand after that your eyes have seen his deliverance In that Sermon he comforted many yet he offended the Earl of Arran for in his discourse upon the manifold assaults the Church of God sustained he brought for example the multitude of strangers that pursued Iehosaphat after he had reformed Religion He spake of the fear of the people yea and of the King himself at the first But after he affirmed that Iehosaphat was stout and to declare his courage in his God he comforted his people and his Souldiers he came forth in the midst of them he spake lovingly unto them He kept not himselfe said he enclosed in his chamber but frequented the multitude and rejoyced them with his presence and godly comfort These and the like sentences took the said Earle to be spoken in reproach of him because he kept himself more close and solitary then many men would have wished After these things determination was taken That the Earle of Arrane and Lord Iames with men of War and some Companies of Horse-men should go to Disert and there lie to wait upon the French to stop them from destroying the Sea-coast as they intended utterly to have done The said Earle and Lord Iames did as they were appointed albeit their Company was very small and yet they did so valiantly that it passed almost credit for twenty and one dayes they lay in their clothes their Boots came never off They had skirmishing almost every day yea some days from morning to night The French were four thousand Souldiers besides their favourers and faction of the Countrey The Lords were never together five hundred Horse-men with an hundred Souldiers and yet they held the French so busie that for every horse was slain to the Congregation they lost four French Souldiers William Kirkcaldie of Grainge the day after that his house was cast down sent his defiance to Monsieur Dosell and unto the rest declaring that to this hour he had used the French favourably yea he had saved their lives when that he might have suffered their throats to have been cut but seeing they had used him with that rigour let them not look for the like favours in time to come And unto Monsieur Dosell he said He knew that he should not get him in skirmishing because he knew he was a very coward but it might that he should quite him a common either in Scotland or else in France The said William Kirkcaldie and the Master of Lindsay escaped many dangers The Master had his horse slain under him and William was almost betrayed in his house at Halyards But yet they never ceased for night and day they waited upon the French They laid themselves in a secret place with some Gentlemen before the day to wait upon the French who used commonly to issue in Companies to seelâ— their prey And so came forth one Captain Batu with his hundred and began to spoyle whom the Master after Lord Lindsay and William suffered without declaration of themselves or of their Company till that they had them more then a mile from Kinghorne and then began the horse-men to break which perceived the French altogether drew to a place called Glames house and made for debate some took the house other defended the Court and Yards The hazard appeared very unlikely for our men had nothing but Spears and were compelled to light upon their feet The other were within ditches and every man had a Culverin the shot was fearfull to many and divers were hurt amongst whom was Robert Hamilton and David Kirkcaldie brother to the said Laird who both were supposed to have been slain the said Laird perceiving men to faint and begin to recule said Fie let us never live after this day that we shall recule for French scybalds and rascals And so the Master of Lindsay and he burst in at the gate and others followed The Master struck with his Spear at la Bartu and glasing upon his harnesse for fear stumbled upon his knees but recovering suddenly he fastned his Spear and bare the said Captain backward who because he would not be taken was slain and fifty of his Company with him Those that were in the house with some others were saved and sent to Dundie to be kept This mischance to the French-men made them to be more circumspect in straying and wandring abroad into the Countrey and so the poor people gat some relief To furnish the French with Victualls was appointed Capt. Culan with two ships who travelled betwixt the South shore and Kinghorne for that purpose For his wages he spoyled Kinghorne Kirkcaldie and so much of Disert as he might For remedy whereof were appointed two Ships from Dundie Andrew Sands a very stout and fervent man in the Cause of Religion was the principall This same time arrived Martickes who without delay landed himself the Coffers and the principall Gentlemen that were with him at Leith leaving the rest in the Ships till better opportunity But the said Andrew and his company striking Sayl and making as they would cast Ankor hard beside them boarded them both and carried them to Dundie in them were gotten some horses and much harnesse with some other trifles but of money we heard nought Hereat the French offended avowed the destruction of Saint Andrews and Dundie and so upon a Munday in the morning the thirteenth of Ianuary they marched from Disert and
Gods grace whereof God send you plentie And so I end Sic subscribitur Yours as a member of the same body in Christ M. Cecill From Oxford the 28 of Iuly 1559. Albeit the said Iohn received this Letter at Barwick yet would he answer nothing till that he had spoken with the Lords whom he found in Sterlin and unto whom he delivered the answer sent from the Councell of England for Alexander Whitlaw took sicknesse betwixt Barwick and Edinburgh and was troubled by the Lord Seaton as in the former Booke is declared the answer sent by Master Cecill was so generall that many amongst us despaired of any comfort to come from that Countrey And therefore were determined that they would request no further Iohn Knox laboured in the contrary but he could prevaile no further but that he should have licence and libertie to write as he thought best And so took he upon him to answer for all in forme as followeth Answer to Master Cecils writing TWo causes hindred me Right Worshipfull to visit you in any part in England Before this no signification of your minde and pleasure was made unto me for onely did Sir Henry Percie will me to come and speake with him which conveniently at that time I could not do by reason that the French-men which was the second cause of my stay did then most furiously pursue us while our company was dispersed and then durst I not be absent for divers inconveniences neither did I thinke my presence with you greatly necessary considering that the matter which I most desired was opened and proposed To the which I would have wished That a more plaine and especiall answer should have been made For albeit Master Whitlaw by his Credit Master Kirkcaldie by his Letter and I both by Letters and by that which I had received from Sir Iames Crofts did perswade your good mindes yet could not the councell be otherwise perswaded but that this alteration in France had altered your former purpose It is not unknown what good will we three do beare to England And therefore I wish That rather your Pen then our Credit or any thing written to any of us should assure the Lords and others of your good mindes who are now in number but five hundred Unlesse that money be furnished without delay to pay the Souldiers for their service past and to retaine another thousand foot-men with three hundred horse-men till some stay be had in this danger these Gentle-men will be compelled to leave the fields I am assured as flesh may be of flesh That some of them will take a very hard life before that ever they compose either with the Queen Regent or with France but this I dare not promise at all unlesse in they see greater forwardnesse To support us will appear excessive and to break promise with France will appear dangerous But the losse of expences in mine opinion ought not to be esteemed from the first payment neither yet the danger from the first appearance France is most fervent to conquer us and avoweth That against us they will spend the Crown so did mine own ears hear Butten Court bragge But most assuredly I know That unlesse by us they thought to make an entrie to you that they would not buy our poverty at that price They labour to corrupt some of our great men by money and some of our number are poore as before I wrote and cannot serve without support some they threatned and against others they have up one party in their owne Countrey In this mean time if ye lie by as neutralls what will be the end you may easily conjecture And therefore Sir in the bowells of Christ Jesus I require you to make plain answer What the Gentlemen here may trust to and what the Queens Majestie will do may without long delay be put in execution I rest in Christ Jesus Of Saint Iohnston the day of c. Answer with great expedition was returned to this Letter desiring some men of credit to be sent to the Lords to Barwicke for the receiving of the money for the first support with promise That if the Lords of the Congregation meant no otherwise then before they had written and if they would enter into League with honest Conditions they should neither lack men nor money to their just Causes Upon this answer was directed from the Lords to Barwicke Master Henry Balnaves a man of good credit in both the Realmes who suddenly returned with such a sum of money as served all the publike affairs till November next when Iohn Cockburne of Ormeston sent for the second support and receiving the same unhappily fell into the hands of the Earle Bothwell was wounded taken and spoyled of a great Sum upon which mischance followed all the rest of the troubles before rehearsed In the second Book preceding we have declared how Secretary Leehington was directed to England But one thing before we have passed by In that our greatest dejection this order was taken That the Duke the Earle of Glencarne Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie and their friends should remaine together at Glasgow for comfort of the Countrey and for giving of answers as occasion should require and that the Earle of Arrane the Lord Iames the Earle of Rothesse the Master of Lindsay and their adherents should continue together within Fyfe for the same causes that advertisements might go from the one to the other as need required In the Negotiation of the Secretary Lethington with the Queen and Councell of England in the which he travelled with no lesse wisedom and faithfulnesse then happy successe many things occurred that required the resolution of the whole Lords After that the Queen and Councell of England had concluded to send their Army to Scotland for expelling of the French the Duke of Norfolke was sent to Barwick with full instructions power and Commission to do in all things concerning the present affaires of Scotland as the Queen and Councell in their own persons had power to do Hereupon the said Duke required such a part of the Lords of Scotland as had power and Commission from the whole to meet him at such a day and place as pleased them to appoint This advertisement came first to Glasgow by the meanes of the Master of Maxwell Which read and considered by the Lords conclusion was taken that they would meet at Carleil and that was the procurement of the said Master of Maxwell for his ease Hereupon were Letters directed from the Lords being in Glasgow to Lord Iames requiring him with all possible expedition to repaire towards them for the purpose aforesaid Which Letters read and advised upon commandment was given to Iohn Knox to make the answer For so it was appointed at division of the Lords that he should answer for the part of those that were in Fyfe and M. Henry Balnaves for the part of them that abode at Glasgow The said Iohn answered as followeth To the Duke
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
the Councell of the Realme he shall present his Complaint to their Majesties and generally they shall oblige them under the said pains to do the things which pertaineth to good and faithfull Subjects for the quietnesse and tranquility of the Realme and Rights of their Soveraigne Item It is Agreed That if any Bishops Abbots or other Church-men shall finde or alleadge them to have received any injuries either in their persons or goods the Complaints shall be seen and considered by the States of the said Convention and Parliament and there shall be made redresse as they shall finde according to reason and in the meane time no man shall stop them but they shall brook and enjoy their goods nor shall do any hurt injury or violence to them And if any doth contravene to this Article he shall be pursued by the Lords as a perturber of a good Common-wealc Item It is Accorded c. That the said Lords shall binde them to observe and cause to be observed all and sundry Points and Articles agreed in this Treaty And if it happen that any of them or any other should gainsay the same the remnant Lords and residue of the whole people shall be enemies to him and shall pursue him till he be chastned and punished according to his demerits Item It is Concluded c. That all the whole Realm may know that the King and Queen are not willing to keep any remembrance of the troubles and differences past and so far as concerns the Nobility and other subjects of this Realme That their Majesties desire is to use them humanely and to be favourable unto them the said Deputies have promised and accorded That the Duke of Chattellarault and all other Noble-men of Scotland shall be restaured and setled again in all their goods and benefices which they had enjoyed in France That they may brook and enjoy the same in the same manner as they did before those debates the said sixth day of March and yeere aforesaid even as the said controversies had never chanced And also that all Capitulations and Articles agreed upon in times past and especially those that were appointed in the King and Queens Contract shall be observed and kept as well for the part of their Majesties as for the part of the Nobility and people of Scotland And as concerning David son to the Duke of Chattellarault now being in Bois de Vincennes liberty shall be granted unto him to returne into Scotland and to do as he pleaseth Moreover when the said Deputies exposed that some time it might chance That the King might have need and use of his great Guns and Artillery in France the said Lords having consideration thereof accorded That no other Artillery be translated out of this Realme but those which were sent and brought in from the said day of the decease of Francis King of France of good memory to these parts And that all other Artillery aud Munition be reposed into the places whence they were taken forth and in speciall they that have the Arms of Scotland shall be put into the places whence they were taken forth of And there shall be Noble-men of Scotland appointed therefore and two for the part of the Kings Majesty are to be deputed to agnosce and view the same afore the Shipping thereof And moreover That whereas in the names of the Nobility and people of Scotland certain Articles concerning Religion and other Points have been presented which the said Deputies will not touch and considering the weight and importance of them has remitted the same to be cognosced and decided by their Majesties The said Lords and Nobility do promise That a certain number of Noble-men should be chosen in the next Convention and Parliament to be sent to their Majesties which shall expose to their Highnesses those things that shall be thought needfull for the state of their busines and for the forementioned and other Articles and Points undecided by the Deputies to the effect they may know their Majesties intention good wil concerning those things which shal be exposed from the Country the which also shall have with them a confirmation ratification by the states of the Realm of those articles which are concorded c. by the Deputies to whom also the same time or before shal be given and delivered and like Confirmation and Ratification made by their Majesties so being that the said States send their Ratification aforesaid The Proclamation of the things above-written made the 8 of Iuly in the yeere of God 1560. TO the glory of the Almighty Lord God and to the comfort of all Christians the most puissant Prince and Princesse and most Christian King and Queen Francis and Mary by the grace of God King and Queen of France and Scotland and by the most puissant Princesse Elizabeth by the same Grace Queen of England France and Ireland c. It is accorded and Reconciliation of Peace and Amitie made which is to be observed inviolably amongst them their Subjects Realms and Countries For as much as in name of the said Prince and Princesse it is commanded and straitly charged to all manner of persons under their obedience or being in their service from henceforth to desist from all hostility both by Sea and Land and to keep a good Peace the one with the other and with charge that none shall break the same under perill of c. These things transacted and the Peace Proclaimed as is said sudden provision was made for transporting of the French to France of whom the most part were put in the English Ships who also carried with them the whole spoile of Leith and that was the second benefit which they received of their late promised liberty the end whereof is not yet The English Army departed by land the 16 day of July in the yeere of God 1560. The most part of our Nobility Protestants honourably conveyed them as in very deed they had well deserved But Lord Iames would not leave the Lord Gray with the other Noble-men of England till that they entred into Barwick After whose returning the Councell began to look as well upon the affaires of the Common-wealth as upon the matters that might concern the stability of Religion As before we have heard the Parliament was concluded to begin the tenth of July and to be continued till the first of August next and therefore the Lords made the greater haste and diligence that all things should be put in convenient order But before all things the Preachers exhorted them for then in Edinburgh were the most part of the chief Ministers of the Realme to be thankfull unto God and next to provide that the Ministers should be distributed as the necessity of the Countrey required A day was appointed when that the whole Nobility and the greatest part of the Congregation assembled in S. Giles Church in Edinburgh where after the Sermon made for that purpose publike thanks were given unto God for
one Citie For the bodily presence of Kings can no more be in divers cities at one instant then that they can be in divers Realms Hitherto we have understood that wheresoever the great Councellers of the King with his power and Commission are assembled to do any thing at his just commandment That there is the Kings sufficient presence and authority wheresoever his own body be living at freedome and liberty which if the Papists deny we will finde faults with them and with the Princes whom they have abused that more will annoy them then any thing that we can lose by the insufficiencie of that Parliament Which neverthelesse we are bold to affirme to have been more lawfull and more free then any Parliament that they are able to produce this hundred yeeres before it or yet any that hath ensued since it was he meanes untill 1566. when this Book was written for in it the voices of men were free and given in conscience in others they were bought or given at the devotion of the misled Prince All things in it concluded are able to abide the triall and not to be consumed at the proofe of the fire of others the godly may justly call in doubt things determined To the Sword and Scepter nor yet to the absence of some Lords we answer nothing For our adversaries know well enough that the one is rather a pompe and vaine-glorious ceremonie then a substantiall point of necessitie required to a lawfull Parliament And the absence of some prejudges not the powers of the present duely assembled Providing that due advertisement be made unto them But now we return to our History The Parliament dissolved consultation was had how the Church might be established in a good and godly policie which by the Papists was altogether defaced Commission and charge was given to Master Iohn Winram Sub-priour of S. Andrews Master Iohn Spottiswood Iohn Willock Master Iohn Dowglas Rectour of S. Andrews Master Iohn Row and Iohn Knox to draw in a Volume the Policie and Discipline of the Church as well as they had done the Doctrine which they did and presented it to the Nobility who did peruse it many dayes Some approved it and willed the same to have been set forth by a Law others perceiving their carnall liberty and worldly commodity somewhat to be impared thereby grudged in so much that the name of the Book of Discipline became odious unto them Every thing that repugned to their corrupt imaginations was termed in their mockage Devout imaginations The cause we have before declared some was licentious some had greedily griped the possessions of the Church and others thought that they would not lack their part of Christs Coat yea and that before that ever he was Crucified as by the Preachers they were oft rebuked The chief great man that had professed Christ Jesus and refused to subscribe the Book of Discipline was the Lord Erskin And no wonder for besides that he had a very evill woman to his wife if the Poore the Schooles and the Ministerie of the Church had their owne his Kitchin would lack two parts and more of that which he unjustly now possesseth Assuredly some of us hath wondered how men that professe godlinesse could of so long continuance hear the threatnings of God against theeves and against their houses and knowing themselves guilty in such things as were openly rebuked and that they never had remorse of conscience neither yet intended to restore any thing of that which long they had stollen and reft There were none within the Realme more unmercifull to the poore Ministers then were they which had greatest rents of the Churches But in that we have perceived the old Proverb to be true Nothing can suffice a wretch And again The belly hath no eares Yet the same Book of Discipline was subscribed by a great part of the Nobility To wit The Duke the Earle of Arrane the Earles Argyle Glencarn Mershell Menteth Morton Rothesse Lord Iames after Earle of Murray Lords Yeaster Boyd Uchiltrie Master of Maxwell Lord Lindsay elder and the Master after Lord Barrons Drunlaurige Lothingwar Garleisse Bargany Master Alexander Gordon Bishop of Galloway this Bishop of Galloway as he renounced Popery so did he Prelacie witnesse his subscription of the Book of Discipline as the rest of the Prelats did who did joyne to the Reformation Alexander Campbell Deane of Marray with a great number moe subscribed and approved the said Book of Discipline in the Town-Buith of Edinburgh the 27 day of January the yeere of our Lord God 1560. by their approbation In these words WE which have subscribed these presents having advised with the Articles herein specified and as is above-mentioned from the beginning of this Book thinks the same good and conforme to Gods Word in all points conforme to the Notes and Additions thereto asked and promise to set the same forward at the uttermost of our powers Providing that the Bishops Abbots Priors and other Prelates and Beneficed men which else have adjoyned themselves to us brooke the revenues of their Benefices during their life times they sustaining and upholding the Ministerie and Ministers as is heerein specified for Preaching of the Word and Ministring of the Sacraments What be the contents of the whole Book and how that this promise was illuded from time to time we shall after heare Shortly after the said Parliament were sent from the Councell Ambassadours to England the Earles Morton and Glencarne together with William Maitland of Lethington yonger The chief point of their Commission was earnestly to crave the constant assistance of the Queens Majestie of England against all forraigne invasion and common enemies That same time was the Castle of Semple hard besieged and taken Because the Lord thereof disobeyed the Lawes and Ordinances of the Councell in many things and especially in that that he would maintain the Idolatrie of the Masse and also that he beset the way to the Earle of Arrane with a great gathering as he was riding with his accustomed company The Papists were proud for they looked for a new Armie from France at the next Spring and thereof was no small appearance if God had not otherwise provided For France utterly refused the confirmation of the Peace contracted at Leith would ratifie no part of our Parliament dismissed the Lord of Saint Iohn without a resolute answer began to gather new Bands of throat-cutters and to make great preparation for Ships They further sent before them certain practisers amongst whom the Lord Seaton who had departed with the French out of Leith was one to raise up new troubles within this Realme And all this came partly of the malice of the house of Guise who had avowed to revenge the displeasure of their sister both upon England and Scotland and partly by instigation of proud Beton falsly called Bishop of Glasgow of Dury Abbot of Dunfermeling and Saulles Seaton and Master Iohn Sinclair Deane of Restalrige
Satan the second fall after that he had begun to trouble the state of Religion once established by Law His first assault was by the rascall multitude opposing themselves to the punishment of vice The second was by the Bishops and their bands in which he thought utterly to have triumphed And yet he in the end prospered worse then ye have heard In this meane time returned from France the Lord Iames who beside his great expences and the losse of a box wherein was his secret purse escaped a desperate danger in Paris for his returning from our Soveraigne who then was with the Cardinall of Loraine her Uncle in Rhemes understood of the Papists in Paris they had conspired some treasonable act against him for they intended either to have beset his house by night or else to have assaulted him and his company as they walked in the streets Whereof the said Lord Iames advertised by the Rinegrave by reason of old familiaritie which was betwixt them in Scotland he took purpose suddenly and in good order to depart from Paris as he did the second day after that he arrived there And yet could not he depart so secretly but that the Papists had their privie ambushes For upon the new decayed pont of change they had prepared a Procession which met the said Lord and his Company even in the teeth and knowing that they would not do the accustomed reverence to them and their Idols they thought thereupon to have picked a Quarrell And so as one part passed by without moving of hat to any thing that was there they had suborned some to cry Hugonots and so cast stones But God disappointed their enterprise for the said Rinegrave with other Gentlemen being with the Lord Iames rebuked the foolish multitude and over-rode some of the formost and so the rest were dispersed and he and his companie safely escaped and came with expedition to Edinburgh while that yet the Lords and assembly were together to the great comfort of many godly hearts and to no little astonishment of the wicked for from the Queen our Soveraigne he brought Letters to the Lords praying them to entertain quietnesse and to suffer nothing to be attempted against the contract of Peace which was made at Leith till her own home coming and to suffer the Religion publikely established to go forward c. Whereupon the said Lords gave answer to the French Ambassadour a Negaâ—ive to every one of his Petitions The Lords Answer to the French Ambassadour 1. And first That France had not deserved at their hands that either they or their posteritie should enter with them againe in any League or Confederacie offensive or defensive seeing that so traiterously and cruelly they had persecuted them their Realme and Liberties under pretence of amitie and Marriage 2. Secondly That besides their conscience they could not take such a worldly shame as without offence committed to break the League which in Gods Name they had made with them whom he hath made instruments to set Scotland at freedome from the tyrannie of the French at least of the Guisians and of their faction 3. And last That such as they called Bishops and Church-men they knew neither for Pastours of the Church neither yet for any just possessours of the patrimony thereof But understand them perfectly to be Wolves Theeves Murtherers and idle Bellies and therefore as Scotland hath forsaken the Pope and Papistry so could not they be debters to his forsworn Vassals With these answers departed the said Ambassador and the Lords of secret Counsell made an Act that all places and Monuments of Idolatry should be destroyed And for that purpose was directed to the West the Earl of Arrane having joyned with him the Earls of Argile and Glencarne together with the Protestants of the West who burnt Paslay the Bishop of Saint Andrews who was Abbey thereof narrowly escaped cast down Failfurd Kylwinning and a part of Cosraguell The Lord Iames was appointed to the North where he made such Reformation as nothing contented the Earle of Huntly and yet seemed he to approve all things And thus God so potently wrought with us so long as we depended upon him that all the World might see his potent hand to maintain us and to fight against our enemies yea most to confound them when that they promised to themselves victory without resistance Oh that we would rightly consider the wondrous works of the Lord our God In the Treatie of Peace contracted at Leith there were contained certain Heads that required the Ratification of both Queens The Queen of England according to her Promise Subscription and Seale without any delay performed the same and sent it to our Soveraigne by her appointed Officers But our Soveraigne whether because her own craftie nature thereto moved her or that her Uncles chiefe Counsellers so would we know not with many delayes frustrated the expectation of the Queen of England as by the Copie of a Letter sent from the Ambassadour of England to his Soveraigne we may understand The Ambassadours Letter MADAME I Sent Sommer to the Queen of Scots for audience who appointed me to come to her the same day after dinner which I did To her I did remember your Majesties hearty commendations and declared unto her your Majesties like gladsomnesse of her recoverie from her late sicknesse whose want of health as it was grievous unto your Majestie so I told her did you congratulate and greatly rejoyce of the good termes of health she was in for the present After these offices of civilitie I put her in remembrance againe what had passed from the beginning in the matter of your Majesties demand of Ratification according to the Tenour of the said Treatie as well by me at the first as afterward by my Lord of Bedford at his being here and also followed sithence again by me in open audience and by my Letter to her being in Loraine adding hereto your Majesties further commandment and re-charge to me again presently to renue the same demand as before had been done At Paris the 23 of June 1561. The said Queen made answer as followeth Monsieur L'Ambassadour I Thank the Queen my good sister for this gentle visitation and congratulation of this my recoverie and though I be not yet in perfect health yet I thank God I feele my selfe in a very good case and in way of a full recoverie And for answer to your demand quoth she of my Ratification I do remember all these things that you have recited unto me And I would the Queen my good sister should think that I do deferre the resolute answer in this matter and performing thereof untill such time as I might have the advises of the Nobles and States of mine own Realme which I trust shall not be long a doing for I intend to make my voyage thither shortly And though this matter quoth she doth touch me principally yet doeth it also touch the Nobles
the Cannons which the Galleyes shot the multitude being advertised happy was he or she that first must have the presence of the Queen the Protestants were not the slowest And therein they were not to be blamed Because the Palace of Halyrud-house was not thorowly put in order for her coming was more sudden then many looked for she remained in Leith till towards the evening and then repaired thither In the way betwixt Leith and the Abbey met her the Rebells the Crafts-men of whom we spake before to wit Those that had violated the Acts of the Magistrates and had besieged the Proveist But because she was sufficiently instructed that all they did was done in spight of their Religion they were easily pardoned Fiâ—es of joy were set forth at night and a Company of most honest men with Instruments of Musick and with Musiâ—ians gave their Salutations at her Chamber Window The Mâ—lody as she alleadged liked her well and she willed the same to be continued some nights after with great diligence The Lords repaired to her from all Quarters and so was nothing understood but mirth and quietnesse till the next Sunday which was the 24 of August When that preparations began to be made for that Idoll of the Masse to be said in the Chappell Which perceived the hearts of all the godly began to be emboldened and men began openly to speak Shall that Idoll be suffered again to take place within this Realme It shall not The Lord Lindsay then but Master with the Gentlemen of Fyfe and others plainly cryed in the Close or Yard The Idolatrous Priests should die the death according to Gods Law One that carried in the Candle was evill affrayed but then began flesh and blood fully to shew it self There durst no Papist neither yet any that came out of France whisper But the Lord Iames the man whom all the godly did most reverence took upon him to keep the Chappell door his best excuse was That he would stop all Scotish-men to enter in to the Masse But it was and is sufficiently known That the doore was kept that none should have entry to trouble the Priest who after the Mâ—sse was ended was committed to the protection of the Lord Iohn of Coldingham and Lord Robert of Halyrud-house who then were both Protestants and had Communicate at the Table of the Lord Betwixt them two was the Priest conveyed to his Chamber And so the godly departed with grief of heart and after noon repaired to the Abbey in great companies and gave plain signification That they could not abide that the Land which God by his power had purged from Idolatry should in their eyes be polluted again Which understood there began complaint upon complaint The old Duntebors and others that had long served in the Court and hoped to have no remission of sins but by vertue of the Masse cryed They would away to France without delay They could not live without the Masse the same affirmed the Queens Uncles And would to God that they all together with the Masse had taken goodnight at the Realme for ever for so had Scotland been rid of an unprofitable burthen of devouring strangers and of the malediction of God that hath stricken and yet will strike for Idolatry The Councell assembled disputation was had of the next remedy Politicke heads were sent unto the Gentlemen with these and the like perswasions Why alas Will you chase our Soveraigne from us She will incontinently returne to her Galleyes and what then shall all Realmes say of us May we not suffer her a little while I doubt not but she will leave it If we were not assured that she might be won we should be also as great enemies to her Masse as ye can be Her Uncles will depart and then shall we rule all at our pleasure Would not we be also sorry to hurt the Religion as any of you would be With these and the like perswasions we say was the fervency of the Brethren quenched And an Act was framed the Tenour whereof followeth Apud Edinburgh 25 Aagustii 1561. FOrasmuch as the Queens Majestie hath understood the great inconveniences through the divisiâ—n pâ—esently standing in this Realme for the difference in mattâ—rs of Religion which her Majestie is most desirous to see pacified by any good order To the Honour of God and Tranquility of her Realm and means to take the same by Advice of her States so soon as conveniently may be to their serious Consideration And lest that her Majesties godly Resolutions therein may be greatly hindered in case any Tumult and Sedition be raised amongst the Lieges if any Alteration or Innovation be Pressed or Attempted before that good Order may be Established Wherefore for the eschewing of the said Inconveniences her Majestie Ordains Letters to be Directed to Charge all and sundry her Lieges by open Proclamation at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh and other Places needfull That they and every one of them contain themselves in all Quietnesse keep Peace and Civill Society amongst themselves in the mean time while the States of the Realm may be Assembled and then her Majestie have taken a finall Order by their Advice and publike Consent which her Majestie hopes shall be to the Contentment of all the Law bidding That none of them should take in hand privately or openly any Alteration or Innovation of the state of Religion or attempt any thing against the same which her Majestie found Publikely and Universally standing at her Majesties Arrivall in this her Realme under Pain of Death With Certification That if any Subject of the Realme shall come in the contrary Thereof â—e shall be esteemed and holden a Seditious Person and Raiser of Tumult and the same Pain shall be executed upon him with all Rigour To the Example of others And her Majestie with the Advice of the Lords of the Secret Councell Commands and Charges all her Liâ—ges That none of them take in hand to Molâ—st or Trouble any of her Majesties Domesticke Servants or Persons whatsoever come forth of France in her Company at this time in Word Deed or Countenance for any Cause whatsoever either within her Palace or without or make any assault or invasion upon any of them under whatsoever Colour or Pretence under the said Pain of Death Albeit that her Majestie be sufficiently perswaded That her Good and Loving Subjects would do the same for the Reverence they bear to her Person and Acts notwithstanding no such Commandment were published This Act and Proclamation Penned and put in Forme by such as before professed Christ Jesus for in the Councell then had Papists neither power nor voyce It was publikely Proclaimed at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh upon Munday the day aforesaid No man reclaimed nor made repugnance to it except the Earle of Arrane onely who in open audience of the Herald protested That he disassented that any Protection or Defence should be made to the Queens
if that she stood in suspition of any thing that was to be handled in their assemblies that it would please her Majestie to send such as he would appoint to hear whatsoever was propounded or reasoned Hereafter was the Book of Discipline proposed and desired to have been ratified by the Queens Majestie but it was stopped and the Question demanded How many of those that subscribed to that Book would be subject unto it It was answered All the godly Will the Duke said Lethington If he will not answered the Lord Uchiltrie I would that he were scraped out not onely of that Book but also out of our number and company for what purpose shall labour be taken to put the Church in order and to what end shall men subscribe and then never mean to keep a word of that which they promise Lethington answered Many subscribe there in fide Parentum as Children are baptized One to wit Iohn Knox answered Albeit ye think that scoffe proper yet as it is most untrue so it is most improper That Book was read in publike audience and by the space of divers dayes the hearers thereof were resolved as all that here sit know well enough and you your selves cannot deny So that no man was required to subscribe that which he understood not Stand content said one that Booke will not be obtained Let God said the other require the lack and want which this poor Common-wealth shall have of the things therein contained from the hands of such as stop the same Thomas Borrows perceiving that the Book of discipline was refused presented unto the Councill certain Articles requiring Idolatry to be suppressed their Churches to be planted with true Ministers and some certain propositions to be made for them according to equitie and Conscience for unto that time the most part of the Ministers had lived upon the benevolence of men for many had into their owne hands the profits that the Bishops and others of that Sect had before abused and so some part was bestowed upon the Ministers But when the Bishops began to gripe again to that which most unjustly they called their own for the Earle of Arrane was discharged of Saint Andrews and Dumfermling wherewith before by vertue of a Factory and Commission he had intromitted and medled And so were many others Therefore the Barons required That order might be taken for the Ministers or else they would no more cause Rents to be paid unto any that formerly belonged to the Church-men nor suffer any thing to be collected for the use of any whosoever after the Queenes arrivall then that they did before for they verily supposed that the Queens Majestie would keep promise made to them which was Not to alter their Religion which could not remain without Ministers and Ministers could not live without provision And therefore they heartily desired the Councell to provide some convenient order in that behalf This somewhat moved the Queens flatterers for the Rod of impiety was not then strengthened in her and their hands And so began they to practise how they might please the Queen and yet seem somewhat to satisfie the faithfull And so devised they That the Church-men should have intromission and medling with the two parts of their Benefices and that the third part should be gathered by such men as thereto should be appointed for such uses As in these subsequent Acts are more fully expressed Apud Edinburgh vicesimo Decemb. Anno 1561. THe which day Forasmuch as the Queens Majestie by the advice of the Lords of her secret Councell foreseeing the imminent troubles which apparantly threaten to arise amongst the Lieges of this Realme for matters of Religion to stay the same and shun all incommodities that might thereupon ensue having intercommuned and spoken with a part of the Clergie or State Ecclesiasticall with whom then reasoning being had It was thought good and expedient by her Highnesse That a generall Assembly should be appointed the 15 day of December instant whereto the rest of the States might have appeared and by the advice of Lawyers one reasonable overture be made and order taken for staying of the approaching trouble and quieting of all the Countrey which Assembly being by her Majestie appointed and sundry dayes of Counsell kept and the said Ecclesiasticall State oft-times required That the said Order might be taken and overture made for staying of the trouble and quieting of the Countrey Last of all in presence of the Queens Majesty and Lords of the Councell aforesaid and others of the Nobility of this Realm compeired Iohn Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews Patrick Bishop of Murray Henry Bishop of Rosse and Robert Bishop of Dunkeld And for themselves respectively offered unto the Queens Majestie to be content with the two parts of the Rents of their Benefices and the third part to be imployed as her Majestie thought expedient And because the certaintie thereof was not knowne not yet what summes of Money would sustaine the Ministery and Ministers of Gods Word within this Realme neither yet how much was necessary to support the Queenes Majesty above her own Rents for the common affairs of the Countrey Therefore it is Ordained Concluded and Determined by the Queens Majesty and the Lords of the Councell aforesaid and others of the Nobility present That if the fourth part of the whole Benefices within this Realm may be sufficient to sustain the Ministers thorowout this whole Realme and support the Queens Majesty to maintain and set forwards the common affairs of the Countrey failing thereof the third part of the said Profits and more if it be found sufficient for the effect aforeâ—aid to be taken up yeerly in time coming that a generall order may be taken therewith and so much thereof to be employed to the Queens Majesties use for entertaining and setting forward of the common affairs of the Countrey and so much thereof to the Ministers and sustentation of the Ministry as may reasonably sustain the same at the sight and discretion of the Queens Majesty and Councell aforesaid and the excrescens and superplus to be assigned to the old Possessors And to the effect that the Rents and yeerly Profits of the whole Benefices within this Realme may be cleerly known to the Queens Majesty and Councell aforesaid It is Statuted and Ordained That the whole Rentals of the Benefices of this Realm be produced before her Majesty and Lords aforesaid at the time under-written that is to say The Rentalls of the Benefices on this side of the Water before the 24 of Ianuary next coming And those beyond the water the 10 of February next thereafter and ordains Letters to be directed to the Sheriffs in that part to passe charge and require all and sundry Archbishops Bishops Commendators Abbots Priors on this side of the Water personally to be apprehended and failing thereof at their dwelling places or at the Parish Churches where they should remain Cathedrall Churches or Abbeyes And all Archdeacons Deans
Chanters sub-Chanters Provests Parsons and Vicars and other Beneficed men whatsoever their Chamberlains and Factors personally or at their dwelling places or at the Parish Churches where they should remain To exhibite and produce before the Queens Majesty and Lords aforesaid before the said 24 day of Ianuary next coming the just and true Rentals of the values and rents of their Benefices to the effect aforesaid And to chare the Prelats and the other Beneficed men on the other side of the Water in manner aforesaid to exhibite and produce the just and true Rentals of their Benefices before the Queens Majesty and Lords aforesaid the said 10 of February to the effect aforesaid with certification to them That if any fails to appeare the Queens Majesties and Councels wills are That they should be proceeded against here as the matter requires And likewise to charge the whole Superintendents Ministers Elders and Deacons of the principall Towns and Shires of this Realm to give in before the Queens Majesty and Lords of the Councell aforesaid before the said 24 of Ianuary next coming a formall and sufficient Roll and Memoriall what may be sufficient and reasonable to sustain Ministry and whole Ministers of this Realme that her Majesty and Lords of the Councell aforesaid may rightly and diligently weigh and consider what necessary support is required to be taken yeerly of the fruits of the said Benefices by her Majesties own yearly Rent to entertain and set forward the common affairs of this Realme against the said 24 day of Ianuary next coming that it may be proceeded in the said matter all parties satisfied and the whole Countrey and Lieges thereof set in quietnesse Apud Linlithgow 24 Ianuarii c. FOrasmuch as the Queens Majesty with the advice of the Lords of her Secret Councell directed her Letters commanding all and sundry Arch-bishops Bishops Abbots c. and all other Beneficed men their Factors Farmors Takesmen to appear before her Highnesse and Lords aforesaid at Edinburgh or where it should happen them to be for the time so many as dwells upon this side of the water before the 24 day of Ianuary instant and them that dwells beyond the water the 10 of February next coming that the just value of their Benefices might be knowne so that hereafter her Highnesse may take order for the Sustentation of the Ministry of the Church and the publike businesse of the Realme And because the Queens Majesty is presently busied with other affairs and may not her self attend upon the receipt of the said Rent therefore her Highnesse hath given and granted and by these Presents gives and grants full power and Commission to Master Iames Mackgill of Rankellor nether Clerk of the Register Sir Iohn Ballenden of Archnenell Knight Justice Clerk to the Treasurer Secretary of State Advocate of the Crowne and Laird of Pittarrow to call before them within the City of Edinburgh all and sundry Prelates and Beneficed men which are charged by vertue of the said Letters now presently being in Edinburgh or shall happen hereafter to repair thereto their Factors or Farmers and there enquire of them the Rentalls of their Benefices and receive the same from them to the effect aforesaid And likewise that the said Commissioners cause warne all Seperintendents Over-seers Ministers Elders and Deacons to give unto them the names of all the Ministers of this Realme that the just Calculation being made and considered by the said Commissioners of the value of the said Benefices they may report the same unto the Queens Majesty that her Highnesse may take order herein according to the just Tenour of the first Ordinance made thereupon Apud Edinburgh 12 February 1561. FOrasmuch as by Statute and Ordinance made by the Queens Majesty and Lords of the Secret Councell and her Highnesse Letters directed thereupon all and sundry Archbishops Bishops Abbots c. and other Beneficed men were charged to produce the Rentalls of their Benefices before her Majesty and Lords aforesaid in manner following that is to say The said Beneficed men dwelling on this side of the Water before the four and twentieth of Ianuary last past And on the other side of the Water before the tenth of February instant to the effect that order might be taken therin to conform to the Ordinance With certification to them that if they fayled the Queens Majestie and Counsell aforesaid would take order therein as the same Ordinance bears Notwithstanding of the which the Queens Majestie and Counsell and others appointed for receiving of the said Rentalls have continually since the said 24 of Ianuary aforesaid waited upon the receiving of them yet a very small number of them have produced their Rentalls thereby not onely contemning her Majesties Ordinance and Proclamation aforesaid but also her selfe and her Authoritie as they were Princes and not Subjects expresse against Equitie Reason and Justice For remedy whereof the Queene Majestie ordains with advice of the Lords of her secret Councill That Factors Chamerlains or Stewards bee appointed to intromett gather uplist and receive to our Soveraign Ladies use all and sundry mailles tythes or tiends farmes rents provents emoluments fruits profits and due tyes of whatsoever benefices whereof the Rentalls are not produced conforme to the said Ordinance And if any Retalls already produced bears not the just value but is Fraudulently made to intromet and uptake as much of the profits and fruits of the said benefices as are omitted forth of the said Rentalls and the In-givers of the Rentalls and Professors of the Benefices thereof shall never have action to claime crave or receive from the Tenants and Occupiers further then is contained in the same Rentals already produced by them and the Tenants and Possessors shall be holden to pay no more than is contained in the same Rentalls already produced as aforesaid And the said Chamerlains and Factors to be appointed by the Queenes Majestie shall have sufficient power to intromitt and uptake the fruits and profits aforesaid in such fulnesse as if speciall Letters of Factory and Chamerlancie were granted to them thereupon and ordains the Lords of the Session to direct forth Letters at the said Factors and Chamerlaines instancies either of horning or poynding as shall be thought expedient for causing of them to bee answered of fruits of the said Benefices to be forth-commanded to the Queenes Majesties behalf and use while further order be taken therein Apud Edinburge 15. February 1561. FOr as much as the Queenes Majestie by the advice of the Lords of her secret Councell and others divers of the Nobility had of before the two and twentieth day of December last past ordained that if the fourth part of the fruits and Rents of all the Benefices within this Realme were not sufficient for the Supporting of her Majesties present wants and the particular Charges under-written necessary to be borne for the weale of the Countrey than the third of the said fruits more or lesse should be taken
is Madame that this crime so recently committed and that in the eyes of the whole Realm now publikely assembled is so hainous for who heretofore hath heard within the bowels of Edinburgh Gates and Doors under silence of night broken Houses ripped or searched and that with hostillity seeking a woman as appeareth to oppresse her Seeing we say that this crime is so hainous that all godly men fear not onely Gods dispeasure to fall upon you and your whole Realm but also that such licentiousnesse breed contempt and in the end sedition if remedie in time be not provided which in our judgement is possible if severe punishment be not executed for the crime committed Therefore we most humbly beseech your Majestie that all affection set aside you declare your self so upright in this case that ye may give evident demonstration to all your Subjects that the fear of God joyned with the love of common tranquility hath principall seat in your Majesties Heart This further Madame in conscience we speak That as your Majesty in Gods Name doth crave of us obedience which to render in all things lawfull we are most willing so in the same name doe we the whole Professors of Christs Evangell within this your Majesties Realme crave of you and of your Councell sharp punishment of this crime And for performance thereof that without delay the most principall Actors of this haynous crime and the perswaders of this publike Villany may be called before the Chief Justice of this Realm to suffer an Assise and to be punished according to the Laws of the same and your Majesties Answer most humbly we beseech These Supplications was presented by divers Gentlemen the Flatterers of the Court at first stormed and asked who durst avow it To whom the Master after Lord Lyndesay answered A thousand Gentlemen within Edinburgh others were ashamed to oppose themselves thereto in publike but they suborned the Queen to give a gentle answer untill such time as the Convention was dissolved and so she did and then after in fair words shee alleaged That her Uncle was a Stranger and that he had a young Company with him but she should put such order unto him and unto all others that hereafter they should have no occasion to complain And so deluded she the just Petition of her Subjects And no wonder for how shall she punish in Scotland that vice which in France she did see so free without punishment and which Kings and Cardinalls commonly use as the Mask and Dancing of Orleans can witnesse wherein virgins and mens wives were made common to King Harry Charles the Cardinall and to their Courtiers and Pages as common women in Bordells are unto their Companions The manner was thus At the entry of King Henry of France in the Town of Orleans the Matrons Virgins and mens wives were commanded to present themselves in the Kings Palace to dance And they obeyed for commonly the French Nation is not very hard to be entreated to vanity After Fidling and Flinging and when the Cardinall of Loraine had espied his prey he said to the King Sire le premiere est a vous fault queje soy le second that is Sir the first choyce is yours and I must be the second And so the King got the preeminence that he had his first Election But because Cardinalls are companions to Kings the Cardinall had the next And thereafter the Torches were put out and every man commanded to provide for himself the best he might What cry there was of husbands for their wives and wives for their husbands of ancient matrons for their daughters of virgins for their friends for some honest men to defend their pudicity Orleance will remember more Kings dayes then one This horrible villany a fruit of the Cardinalls good Catholike Religion we shortly touch to let the world understand what subjects may look for of such Magistrates for such Pastime to them is Jollity It had been good for our Queene that she had been brought up in better company both for her credit and for the course of her life And it may be that her excellent naturall enduements had been better employed for her reputation and happinesse then they were to her great misfortune and to the grief of those that wished her truely well But punishment of that enormity and fearfull attempt we could get none Yea more and more they presumed to do violence and frequented nightly Masking and began to bear the matter very heavily At length the Dukes friends began to assemble in the night time on the calsay or street The Abbot of Kylwinning who then was joyned to the Church and so as we understand yet abideth was principall man at the beginning To him repaired many faithfull and amongst others came Andrew Stewart Lord Uchiltrie a man rather borne to make peace then to brag upon the calsey he demanded the quarrell And being informed of the former enormity said Nay such impiety shall not be suffered so long as God shall assist us The Victory that God hath in his owne mercy given us we will by his grace maintaine And so he commanded his son Andrew Stewart then Master and his servants to put themselves in order and to bring forth their spears and long weapons and so did others The word came to the Earle Bothwell and his son that the Hamiltons were upon the street vows was made that the Hamiltons should be driven not onely out of the Town but also out of the Countrey Lord Iohn of Coldingham married the E. Bothwels sister a sufficient woman for such a man Alliance drew Lord Robert and so they joyned with the E. Bothwell But the stoutnes of the Marq. le Beuf d'Albuff they call him is most to be commended for in his Chalmer in the Abbey he start to an Halbert and ten men were scarce able to hold him that night and the danger was betwixt the Crosse and Tron and so he was a long quarter of a mile from the shot sklenting of Bolts The M. of Maxw after L. Herreis gave declaratiō to the Earle Bothwell That if he stirred forth of his Lodging he and all that assist him should resist him in the face Whose words did somewhat beat down that blast The Earles of Murray and Huntley being in the Abbey where the Marquesse was came with their company sent from the Queen to stay that tumult as they did for Bothwell and his were commanded under pain of Treason to keep their lodgings It was whispered by many That the Earle of Murray's displeasure was as much sought as any hatred that the Hamiltons did bear against the Earle of Bothwell or yet he against them And in very deed either had the Duke very false servants or else by Huntley and the Hamiltons the Earle of Murray's death was oftener conspired then once the suspition whereof burst forth so far that upon a day the said Earle being upon horse to have come to
unto you and I write it unto the Queen An act of Treason is laid to my Charge The Earle Bothwell hath showne to me in Councell That he shall take the Queen and put her in my hands in the Castle of Dumbartane And that he shall slay the Earle of Murray Lethinton and others that now misguide her and so shall he and I rule all But I know this is devised to accuse me of Treason for I know he will informe the Queen of it But I take you to witnesse That I open it here unto you And I will passe incontinent and write to the Queens Majesty and unto my Brother the Earle of Murray Iohn Knox demanded Did you consent my Lord to any part of that Treason He answered No. Then said he in my judgement his words although they were spoken can never be Treason to you for the performance of the Fact depends upon your will whereunto ye say ye have disassented and so shall that purpose vanish and die of it selfe unlesse that you waken it For it is not to be supposed That he will accuse you of that which he himselfe hath devised and whereunto you would not consent Oh said he you understand not what craft is used against me It is Treason to conceale Treason My Lord said he Treason must import consent and determination which I hear on neither of your parts And therefore my Lord in my judgement it will be more sure and more Honourable unto you to depend upon your your Innocency and to abide the unjust accusation of any other if any follow thereof as I thinke there shall not then to accuse especially after so late reconciliation I know said he That he will offer the Combate unto me but that would not be suffered in France But I will do that which I have purposed And so he departed and took with him to his Lodging the said Master Alexander Guthrie and Master Richard Strange from whence was written and endited a Letter to the Queens Majestie according to the former purpose which Letter was directed with all diligence unto her Majesty who then was in Falkland The Earle himselfe rode after to Kinneill to his Father the Duke but how he was used we have but the common bruit But from thence he wrote a Letter with his owne hand in Cyphers to the Earle of Murry complaining of his rigorous handling and entertainment by his owne father and friends And assured further That he feared his life in case he got not sudden rescue But thereupon he remained not but broke the Chamber wherein he was put and with great pain passed to Sterling and from thence was conveyed to the Haly-yards where he was kept till that the Earle of Murray came unto him and conveyed him to the Queen then being in Falkland who then was sufficiently instructed in the whole matter and upon suspition conceived had caused to apprehend Master Gawan Hamilton and the Earle Bothwell aforesaid who knowing nothing of the former advertisements came to Falkland which augmented the former suspition But yet the Letters of Iohn Knox made all things to be used more circumspectly for he did plainly forewarne the Earle of Murray that he espyed the Earle of Arran to be stricken with phrensie and therefore willed not over great credit to be given unto his words and inventions And as he advertised so it came to passe forthwith in few dayes his sicknesse increased he talked of wondrous signes that he saw in heaven he alleaged that he was bewitched he would have been in the Queens Bed and affirmed that he was her husband and finally in all things he behaved himself so foolishly that his phrensie could not be hid And yet were the Earl Bothwell and Master Gawan Abbot of Kilming kept in the Castle of Saint Andrews and convent before the Councill with the Earl Arran who ever stood firm that the Earl of Bothwell proposed to him such things as he advertised the Queens Majestie of but stiffely denyed that his father the said Abbot or his friends knew any thing therof either yet that they intended any violence against him but alleaged that he was inchanted so to think and write Whereat the Queen highly offended committed him to prison with the other two first in the Castle of Saint Andrews and thereafter caused them to be conveyed to the Castle of Edinburgh Iames Stewart of Cardonhall called Captain Iames was evill bruited for the rigorous entertainment that he shewed to the said Earle in his sicknesse being appointed Keeper unto him To consult upon these occasions the whole Counsell was assembled at Saint Andewes the eighteenth of April 1562. years in which it was concluded that in consideration of the former suspition the Duke should render to the Queen the Castle of Dunbartan the custody thereof was granted unto him by appointment till that lawfull succession should be seene of the Queens body But Will prevailed against Reason and promise and so was the Castle delivered to Captain Anstruther as having power from the Queen and Councill to receive it Things ordered in Fyfe the Queen returned to Edinburgh and then began mirth to grow hot for her friends began to triumph in France The certainty hereof came to the ears of Iohn Knox for there were some that then told him from time to time the state of things and amongst others he was assured That the Queen had been merry excessively dancing till after midnight because that she had received Letters that pacification was begun again in France and that her Uncles were beginning to stirre their taile and to trouble the whole Realme of France upon occasion of this Text And now understand O ye Kings and be learned ye that judge the Earth he bagan to taxe the ignorance the vanity and despite of Princes against all vertue and against all those in whom hatred of vice and love of vertue appeared the report hereof made unto the Queen the said Iohn Knox was sent for Master Alexander Cokburne who before had been his Schollar and was very familiar with him was the messenger who gave him some knowledge both of the report and of the reporters The Queen was in her Bed-Chamber and with her besides the Ladies and common servants were the Lord Iames the Earle Morton Secretary Lethington and some of the Guard that had made the report he was accused as one that had irreverently spoken of the Queene and that travelled to bring her into hatred and contempt of the people and that he had exceeded the bounds of his Text and upon these three heads made the Queene a long Oration whereto the said Iohn answered as followeth Madame this is oftentimes the just recompence which God gives the stubborn of the world that because they will not hear God speaking to the comfort of the penitent and for amendment of the wicked they are oft compelled to hear the false report of others to their great displeasure I doubt not but
avoyding of Inconveniences This Summer there came an Embassadour from the King of Sweden requiring marriage of our Soveraigne to his Master the King His entertainment was Honourable but his Petitions liked not our Queene one whit for as yet she could not resolve to be Wife to the King of Sweden having been lately Queen of France And yet she refused not one much inferiour to a Soveraigne King The Earle of Lennox and his Wife were committed to the Tower of London for traffiquing with Papists the young Laird of Barre was a stickler in that businesse and was apprehended with some Letters which was the cause of his and their trouble The Earle of Murray made a private journey to Hawicke upon the Fayre day thereof and apprehended fifty Theeves of which number were seventeen drowned others were executed in Iâ—dburgh the principall were brought to Edinburgh and there suffered according to their merits upon the Burrow Mure. The Queene was no whit content of the prosperitie and good successe that God gave to the Earle of Murray in all his enterprises for she hated his upright dealing and the Image of God that evidently did appear in him but at that time she could not well have been served without him The assembly of the Church at Midsommer the four and twentieth day of Iune 1562. approached in the which were many notable heads handled concerning good Order to be kept in the Church and for the Papists and for the Idolatry of the Queen which troubleth the former good order Some Ministers such as Master Iohn Sharpe had left their charges and entered into other Vocations more profitable for the belly against whom were Acts made although this day they have not put them in execution The tenour of the Supplication read in open audience and approved by the whole Assembly to be presented to the Queens Majesty was this To the Queens Majesty and her most honorable Privy Councell The Superintendents and Ministers of the Evangell of Christ Iesus within this Realme together with the Commissioners of the whole Churches desire Grace and Peace from the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ with the Spirit of righteous Iudgement HAving in minde that the fearfull sentence pronounced against the Watch-men that see the Sword of Gods punishment approach and do not in plain words forewarn the people yea the Princes and Rulers that they repent we cannot but signifie unto your Highnesse and to your Councell That the state of this Realme is such for this present that unlesse redresse and remedy be shortly provided Gods hands cannot long spare in his anger to strike the Head and the Tayle the inobedient Prince and sinfull People For as God is unchangeable and true so must he punish in these our dayes the grievous sins which before we reade he hath punished in all Ages after that he hath long called for repentance and none is showne And that your Majesty and Councell may understand what are the things we desire to be reformed we will begin at that which we know assuredly to be the Fountain and Spring of all other evils that now abound in this Realme To wit That Idoll and base service of God the Masse the fountain we call of all Impiety not onely because many take boldnesse to sin by reason of that opinion which they have conceived of that Idoll to wit That by vertue of it they get remission of their sins But also because that under this colour of the Masse are Whores Adulterers Drunkards Blasphemers of God of his holy Sacraments and such other manifest Malefactors maintained and defended For let any Masse-sayer or earnest maintainer thereof be deprehended in any of the fore-named crimes no execution can be had for all is done in hatred of his Religion And so are wicked men permitted to live wickedly cloked and defended by that wicked Idoll But supposing that the Masse was occasion of no such evils yet in it self it is so odious in Gods presence that we cannot cease with all instance to desire the removing of the same as well from your selfe as from all others within this Realm Taking Heaven and earth yea your own Consciences to record That the obstinate maintenance of that Idol shall in the end be to you destruction of soul and body if you do not repent If your Majesty demand Why that now we are more earnest then we have been heretofore We answer our former silence no wayes excused Because we finde our selves frustrate of our hope and expectation which was That in processe of time your Majesties heart should have been mollified so farre as ye would have heard the publike Doctrine taught within this Realme by the which our further hope was That Gods holy Spirit should so have moved your heart that you would have suffered your Religion which before God is nothing but abomination and vanity to be tryed by the true Touch-stone the written Word of God And that your Majesty finding it to have no ground nor foundation in the same should have given that glory unto God that you would have preferred his Truth to your own preconceived vain opinion of what antiquity that ever it hath been whereof we in part now discharged can no longer keep silence unlesse we would make our selves criminall before God of your blood perishing in your own iniquity for we plainly admonish you of the danger to come The second thing that we require is Punishment of horrible vices such as are Adultery Fornication open Whoredome Blasphemy Contempt of God of his Word and Sacraments Which in this Realme do even so abound that sin is reputed to be no sin And therefore as we see the present signes of Gods wrath now manifestly appear so do we forewarn that he will strike ere it be long if his Law without punishment be permitted thus manifestly to be contemned If any object That punishment cannot be commanded to be executed without a Parliament we answer That the Eternall God in his Parliament hath pronounced death to be the punishment of Adultery and for Blaspheming whose Act if we put not in execution seeing that Kings are but his Lievtenants having no power to give life where he commands death as that he will repute you and all others that foster vice patrons of Impiety so will he not fail to punish you for neglecting the execution of his judgements Our third request concerning the poor who be of three sorts The poor labourers of the ground the poor desolate Beggers Orphans Widows and Strangers and the poor Ministers of Christ Jesus his holy Evangel which are so cruelly used by this last pretended Order taken for sustentation of Ministers that their latter misery farre surmounteth the former for now the poore labourers of the ground are so oppressed by the cruelty of those that pay their hire that they for the most part encroach upon the poore in whatsoever they pay unto the Qâ—een or to any other As for the
very indigent and poor to whom God commands a sustentation to be provided of the Tenths they are so despised that it is a wonder that Sun giveth heat and light to the earth where Gods Name is so frequently called upon and no mercy according to his Commandment showne to his Creatures And also for the Ministers their Livings are so appointed that the most part shall live but a Beggers life And all cometh of that impiety that the idle bellies of Christs enemies must be fed in their former delicacy We dare not conceal from your Majestie and honours our conscience which is this That neither by the Law of God neither yet by any just Law of man is due unto them who now most cruelly do exact of the poor and rich the two parts of their Benefices as they call them And therefore we most humbly require That some other Order may be taken with them that they be not set up againe to empire above the people of God for we fear that such usurpation of their former state will be neither in the end pleasant to themselves nor profitable to them that would place them in that Tyranny If any think that a competent Living is to be assigned to them we repugne not provided that the Labourers of the ground be not oppressed the poor be not utterly neglected and the Ministers of the Word so hardly used as now they are And finally That those idle bellies who by Law can crave nothing shall confesse that they receive their sustentation and maintenance not of debt but of benevolence Our humble request is therefore That in every Parish some part of the Tythes may be assigned to the sustentation and maintenance of the poor within the same And likewise that some publike relief may be provided for the poor within Burroughs that Collectors may be appointed to gather And that strict Accounts may be taken as well for their Recepts as of the disbursements The further consideration to be had of our Ministers we in some part remit to your wisedoms and to their particular complaints Our fourth Petition is for the Mause-Yards and Gleebs justly appertaining to the Ministers without the which it is impossible unto them quietly to serve their Charges and therefore we desire that order be taken without delay Our fifth concerns the disobedience of certain wicked persons who not onely trouble and have troubled Ministers in their Functions but also disobey the Superintendents in their Visitation wherefore we humbly crave remedy which we doubt not so much for the feare that we and our Ministers have of the Papists but for the love that we bear to the common tranquility For this we cannot hide from your Majesty and Councell That if the Papists thinke to triumph where they may and to do what they list where there is not a party able to resist them that some will thinke That the godly must begin where they left who heretofore have borne all rhings patiently in hope that the Lawes should have bridled the wicked whereof if they be frustrate albeit that nothing is more odious to them then Tumults and domestick Discord yet will men attempt the uttermost before that in their owne eyes they behold the house of God demolished which with travell and danger God hath within this Realm erected by them Sixthly we desire That such as receive release of their Thirds be compelled to sustain the Ministers within their Bounds or else we forewarne your Majesty and Councell that we feare That the people shall retain the whole in their hands untill such time as their Ministers be sufficiently provided Seventhly we desire the Churches to be repayred according to an Act set forth by the Lords of the Secret Councell before your Majesties Arrivall into this Countrey That Jâ—dges be appointed to heare the causes of Divorcement for the Church can no longer sustain the burden especially because there is no punishment for the offenders That sayers and hearers of Masses prophaners of the Sacraments such as have entred into Benefices by the Popes Bulls and such other transgressors of the Law made at your Majesties Arrivall within this Realme may be severely punished for else men will think there is no truth meant in making of such Laws Eighthly We most humbly desire of your Majesty and your honourable Councell a resolute answer to every one of these Heads afore-written that the same being known we may somewhat satisfie such as be grievously offended at manifest iniquity now maintained at oppression under pretext of Law done against the poore and at the rebellious disobedience of many wicked persons against Gods Word and holy Ordinance God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ so rule your hearts and direct your Majesty and Councels judgements by the judgement and illumination of his holy Spirit that you may answer so as your offences may be absolved in the presence of that righteous Judge the Lord Jesus and then we doubt not but your selves shall finde felicity and this poor Realme that hath long been oppressed by wicked men shall enjoy tranquility and rest with the true knowledge of God These things read in publike Assembly as aforesaid were approved of all And some wished that more sharpnesse had been used because that the time so repuired But the Minions of the Court and Secretary Lethington above others could not abide such hard spoken words for whoever shall write said he to a Prince That God would strike the head and the tayle That if Papists do what they list men would begin where they left But above all others that was most offensive That the Queen was accused as that she would raise up Papists and Papistry again To put that in the people heads was no lesse then Treason yea Oathes was made That she never meaned such thing To whom it was answered That the Prophet Isaiah used such manner of speaking And it was no doubt but that he was acquainted in the Court for it was supposed that he was of the Kings Stock but howsoever it was his words make manifest that he spake to the Court and to the Courtiers to Judges Ladies Princes and Priests and yet saith he The Lord shall cut away the head and the tayle c. And so said the first writer I finde that such phrase was once used before us And if this offend you that we say Men must begin where they left in case the Papists do as they do we would desire you to teach us not so much how we shall speak but rather what we shall do when our Ministers are stricken our Superintendents disobeyed and a plain Rebellion decreed against all good Orders Complain said Lethington To whom said the other To the Queen said he How long shall we do so quoth the other Till that you get remedy said the Justice Clerke Give me their names and I shall give you Letters If the Sheep said one shall complain to the Wolfe That the Wolfs
trouve en lien trop suspect that is Because I was found in a place too much suspected At the place of Execution when he saw that there was no remedie but death he made a godly confession and granted that his declining from the truth of God and following of vanitie and impietie was justly repayed unto him But in the end he concluded looking unto the Heavens with these words O cruelle Dame What that complaint imported I leave it to conjecture and so received Chattelet the reward of his dancing for he lost his Head that his Tongue should not utter the secrets of our Queen deliver us O Lord from the rage of so inordinate a Court. The year of God 1563. there was a universall death in all Scotland but in the North where the Harvest before the Queene had been there was a great Famine of which may died in that Countrey the dearth was great over all but the Famine in the Wheat the Beare or Barley the Meale the Oates Beefe Mutton c were exceeding dear and scant yea all things appertaining to the sustentation of man in triple and more exceeded their accustomed prices And so did God according to the threatning of the Law punish the Idolatry of our wicked Rulers and our ingratitude that suffered them to defile the Land with that abomination again that God so potently had purged by the power of his Word for the riotous Feasting and excessive Banquetting used in City and Countrey wheresoever that the prophane Court repaired provoked God to strike the Staffe of Bread and to give his maledictions upon the fruits of the earth But alas who looked or yet looks to the true cause of our Calamitie Lethington was absent as before we have heard in the Queens affairs the Papists at that Pasch. Ann. 1563. in divers parts of the Realm had erected that Idoll the Masse amongst whom the Bish. of S. Andrews the Prior of Quihithorn with divers others of that faction would avow it Besides the first Proclamation there had Letters past in the contrary with certification of death to the contraveiner The Brethren universally offended and espying that the Queene by Proclamation did but delude them determined to put to their own hands and to punish for example of others and so some Priests in the West-Land were apprehended Intimation made unto others as to the Abbot of Cosragnell the Parson of Sangohar and such that they should neither complaine to the Queene nor Counsell but should execute the punishment that God has appointed to Idolaters in his Law by such means as they might where ever they should be apprehended The Queen stormed at such freedom of speaking but she could not amend it for the Spirit of God of boldnesse and of wisdome had not left the most part of such as God had made Instruments in the beginning they were of one minde to maintaine the truth and to suppresse Idolatry particularities had not divided them and therefore could not the Devill working in the Court and in Papists do then what they would and therefore the Court began to invent a new craft The Queen advised to send for Iohn Knox to come to her where she lay at Lochlevin She dealt with him earnestly two houres before supper that he would be the Instrument to perswade the people and principally the Gentlemen of the West not to put hand to punish any man for the using of themselves in their religions as pleased them The other perceiving her craft willed her Majestie to punish Malefactors according to the Laws and he durst promise quietnesse upon the parâ— of all them that professed the Lord Jesus within Scotland But if her Majestie thought to delude the Laws he said he feared some would let the Papists understand that without punishment they should no be suffered so manifestly to offend Gods Majestie Will ye quoth she allow that they shall take my Sword in their hand The Sword of Justice quoth he Madame is Gods and is given to Princes and Rulers for one end which if they transgresse sparing the wicked and oppressing the Innocents They that in the fear of God execute Judgement where God hath commanded offend not God although Kings do it not neither yet sin they that bridle Kings to strike innocent men in their rage The examples are evident for Samuel spared not to slay Agag the fat and delicate King of Amelek whom King Saul had saved Neither spared Elias Iezabels false Prophets and Baals Priests albeit that King Achab was present Phineas was no Magistrate and yet feared he not to strike Zimri and Cozbi in the very act of filthy Fornication And so Madame your Majesty may see that others then chief Magistrates may lawfully punish and have punished the vice and crimes that God commands to be punished For Power by Act of Parliament is given to all Judges within their own bounds to search the Masse-mongers or hearers of the same and to punish them according to the Law And therefore it shall be profitable to your Majesty to consider what is the thing your Majesties subjects look to receive of your Majesty and what it is you ought to do unto them by mutuall Contract They are bound to obey you and that not but in God ye are bound to keep Laws unto them Ye crave of them service They crave of you Protection and Defence against wicked doers Now Madame if ye shall deny your Duty unto them who especially crave that ye punish Malefactors Think ye to receive full Obedience of them I fear Madame ye shall not Herewith she being somewhat offended past to her Supper The said Iohn left her and informed the Earle of Murray of the whole reasoning and so departed of finall purpose to have returned to Edinburgh without any further communication with the Queen But before the Sun rising on the morne were two directed Wat Melvill was the one to him commanding him not to depart whilst he had spoken with the Queens Majesty which he did and met her at the Hawking by West Kinros Whether it was the nights sleepe or a deep dissimulation locked in her brest that made her to forget the former anger wise men may doubt But thereof she never moved word but began divers other purposes such as the offering of a Ring to her by the Lord Ruthuen whom said she I cannot love for I know him to use Enchantment and yet he is one of my Privy Councell Whom blameth your Majesty said the other thereof Lethington said she was the whole cause That man is absent for this present said he Madame and therefore I will speak nothing in that behalfe I understand said the Queen That ye are appointed to go to Dumfreis for the Election of a Superintendent to be established in those Countreyes Yes said he those Quarters have great need and some of the Gentlemen so require But I heare said she That the Bishop of Caithnes would be Superintendent He is one
know wherein they offend But so it is that the most part of your Nobilitie are so addicted to your affections that neither Gods Word nor yet their Common-wealth are rightly regarded and therefore it becometh me to speake that they may know their dutie What have you to do said she with my marriage or what are you within the Common-wealth A subject borne within the same said hee Madame and albeit I be neither Earle Lord nor Barron within it yet hath God made me how abject that ever I be in your eyes a profitable and usefull Member within the same Yea Madame to me it appertaineth no lesse to forewarne of such things as may hurt it if I foresee them then it doth to any one of the Nobility for both my Vocation and Office craveth plainnesse of me and therefore Madame to your selfe I say that which I spake in publick Whensoever the Nobilitie of this Realme shall be content and consent that you be subject to an unlawfull husband they doe as much as in them lieth to renounce Christ to banish the truth to betray the freedome of this Realme and perchance shall in the end doe small comfort to your selfe At these words howling was heard and teares might have beene seene in greater abundance then the matter required Iohn Arskin of Dun a man of meeke and gentle spirit stood beside and did what he could to mittigate the anger and gave unto her many pleasant words Of her Bounty of her Excellencie and how that all the Princes in Europe would be glad to seek her favours but all that was to cast Oyl into the flaming fire The said Iohn stood still without any alteration of countenance for a long time while that the Queen gave place to her in ordinate passions and in the end he said Madame in Gods presence I speak I never delighted in the weeping of any of Gods Creatures yea I can scarcely well abide the teares of mine own Boyes when my own hands corrects them much lesse can I rejoyce in your Majesties weeping but seeing I have offered unto you no just occasion to be offended but have spoken the truth as my Vocation craves of me I must sustaine your Majesties teares rather then I dare hurt my conscience or betray the Common-wealth by silence Herewith was the Queene more offended and commanded the said Iohn to passe forth of the Cabinet and to abide further of her pleasure in the Chamber The Laird of Dun tarried and Lord Iohn of Coldinghame came into the Cabinet and so they remained with her neere the space of one houre The said Iohn stood in the Chamber as one whom men had never seene so were all afraid except that the Lord Uchiltrie bare him company And therefore began he to make discourse with the Ladies who were there sitting in all their gorgeous apparell Which when he espied he merrily said Fair Ladies How pleasant were this life of yours if it should ever abide and then in the end that we might passe to Heaven with this geare But fie upon that knave Death that will come whether we will or not and when he hath laid on the Arrest then foule wormes will be busie with this flesh be it never so faire and so tender And the silly soule I fear shall be so feeble that it can neither carry with it Gold Garnishing Targating Pearle nor precious Stones And by such and the like discourse entertained he the Ladies and past the time till that the Laird of Dun willed him to depart to his house till new advertisement The Queen would have had the sentiment of the Lords of the Articles if that such manner of speaking deserved not punishment But shee was counselled to desist And so that storme quieted in appearance but never in the heart Short after the Parliament Lethington returned from his Negotiation in England and France GOD in the February before had stricken that bloodie Tyrant the Duke of Guise which somewhat brake the heat of our Queene for a season But short after the returning of Lethington Pride and Malice began to shew themselves againe The Queene set at liberty the Bishop of Saint Andrewes and the rest of the Papists that before were put in prison for violating of the Laws Lethington at his returning shewed himselfe not a little offended that any brute should have beene raised of the Queenes Marriage with the King of Spaine for he took upon him to affirme That any such thing had never entered into her heart But how true that was we shall hereafter heare The end of his acquaintance and complaint was To discredit Iohn Knox who had affirmed That such a Marriage was both proposed and upon the part of the Queen by the Cardinall accepted Lethington in his absence had run into a very evil brute among the Nobility for too much serving the Queens affections against the Common-wealth And therefore had he as one that lacked not worldly wisedome made provision both in England and Scotland for in England he travelled for the Freedome of the Earle Bothwell and by that means obtained promise of his favour He had there also taken order for the home coming of the Earle of Lenox as we shall after hear In Scotland he joyned with the Earle of Atholl him he promoted and set forward in Court and so began the Earle of Murray to be defaced And yet to the said Earle Lethington at all times shewed a fair countenance The rest of that Summer the Queen spent in her Progresse thorow the West Countrey where in all Towns and Gentlemens places she had her Masse which coming to the ears of Iohn Knox he began that forme of prayer which ordinarily he saith after thanks-giving at his Table 1. Deliver us O Lord from the bondage of Idolatry 2. Preserve and keep us from the tyranny of strangers 3. Continue us in Peace and Concord amongst our selves if they good pleasure be O Lord for a season Whilst that divers of the familiars of the said Iohn asked of him Why he prayed for quietnesse to continue for a season and not rather absolutely that we should continue in quietnesse His answer was That he durst not pray but in faith and faith in Gods Word assured him That constant quietnesse would not continue in that Realme wherein Idolatry had been suppressed and then was permitted to be erected againe From the West Countrey the Queen past into Argyle to the Hunting and after returned to Sterlin The Earle of Murray the Lord Robert of Halyrud-house and Lord Iohn of Coldingham past to the Northlands where Justice Courts were holden Theeves and Murtherers were punished Two Witches were burnt the eldest was so blinded with the devill that she affirmed That no Judge had power over her The same time Lord Iohn of Coldingham departed this life in Innernes It was affirmed That he commanded such as were beside him to say to the Queen That unlesse she left her Idolatry God would
such Vocation as sometimes we have had Iohn Knox answered The time that hath been is even now before my eyes for I see the poor Flock in no lesse danger then it hath been at any time before except that the devill hath gotten a Vizard upon his face Before he came in with his own face discovered by open Tyranny seeking the destruction of all that refused Idolatry and then I think you will confesse the Brethren lawfully assembled themselves for defence of their lives And now the devill comes under the cloke of Justice to do that which God would not suffer him to do by strength What is this said the Queen methinks you trifle with him Who gave you Authority to make Convocation of my Lieges Is not that Treason No Madame said the Lord Rnthuen for he makes Convocation of the people to hear Prayer and Sermon almost dayly And what ever your Majestie or others thinke thereof we think it no Treason Hold your peace said the Queen let him answer for himself I began Madame said Iohn Knox to reason with the Secretary whom I take to be a better Dialectationer then your Majestie is That all Convocation is not lawfull And now my Lord Ruthuen hath given the instance which if your Majestie will deny I shall make my selfe ready for the proof I will say nothing said the Queen against your Religion nor against your convening to your Sermons But what Authority have you to Convocate my subjects when you will without any Commandment I have no pleasure said Iohn Knox to decline from my former purpose And yet Madame to satisfie your Majesties two questions I answer That at my will I never convened four persons in Scotland but at the Order that the Brethren hath appointed I have given divers Advertisements and great multitudes have assembled thereupon And if your Majestie complaineth That this was done without your Majesties Commandment I answer So hath all that God hath blessed within this Realme from the beginning of this action And therefore Madame I must be convinced by a just Law that I have done against the Duty of Gods Messenger in writing of this Letter before that I either be sorry or yet repent for the doing of it as my Lord Secretary would perswade me for what I have done I have done at the Commandment of the Generall Church of this Realme And therefore I thinke I have done no wrong You shall not escape so said the Queene Is it not Treason my Lords to accuse a Prince of cruelty I thinke there are Acts of Parliament to be found against such Whisperers This was granted to be true of many But wherein said Master Iohn Knox can I be accused Reade this part of your Letter said the Queene which began This fearfull Summons is directed against them to wit the Brethren aforesaid to make no doubt a preparation upon a few that a door may be opened to execute cruelty upon a greater multitude Lord said the Queen What say you to that While many doubted what the said Iohn should answer he said unto the Queen Is it lawfull for me Madame to answer for my self Or shall I be condemned before I be heard Say what you can said she for I thinke you have enough ado I will first then desire said he of your Majestie Madame and of this Honourable audience Whether if your Majestie knows not that the obstinate Papists are deadly enemies to all that professe the Evangel of Jesus Christ And that they most earnestly desire the extirpation of all them and of the true Doctrine that is taught within this Realme The Queen held her peace but all the Lords with common consent and voyce said God forbid that either the life of the faithfull or yet the staying of the Doctrine stood in the power of the Papists for just experience hath taught us what cruelty is in their hearts I must proceed then said Iohn Knox seeing that I perceive that all will grant That it were a barbarous cruelty to destroy such a multitude as professed the Evangell of Jesus Christ within this Realme which oftner then once or twice they attempted to do by force as things done of late dayes do testifie Whereof they being by Gods providence disappointed have invented more crafty and dangerous practices to wit To make the Prince party under colour of Law and so what they could not do by open force they shall performe by crafty deceit For who thinks my Lords That the insatiable cruelty of the Papists within this Realme I mean shall end in the murthering of those two now unjustly summoned and more unjustly to be accused I thinke no man of judgement can so esteem but rather the direct contrary that is By this few number they intend to prepare a way to their bloody enterprise against the whole And therefore Madame cast up when you list the Acts of your Parliaments I have offended nothing against them For I accuse not in my Letter your Majestie nor yet your nature of cruelty But I affirm yet again That the pestilent Papists who have enflamed your Majestie without cause against these poore men at this present are the sons of the devill and therefore must obey the desires of their father who hath beene a Murtherer from the beginning You forget your selfe said one you are not in the Pulpit I am in the place said the other where I am commanded in my conscience to speak the truth and therefore the truth I speak impugne it who so lists And hereunto I adde Madame that honest meeke and gentle natures in appearance by wicked and corrupt Councellors may be changed and altered to the direct contrary Example we have of Nero whom in the beginning of his Empire we finde having some naturall shame but after that his flatterers had encouraged him in all impiety alleadging that nothing was either unhonest or yet unlawfull in his Person who was Emperour above others When he had drunken of this Cup I say to what enormies he fell the Histories beare witnesse And now Madame to speak plain Papists have your Majesties ear patent at all times assure your Majestie they are dangerous Councellors and that your Mother found As this was said Lethington singled and spake secretly to the Queene in her eare What it was that the Table heard not But immediately she addressed her visage and speech to Iohn Knox and said Well you speak fair enough here before my Lords but the last time I spake with you secretly you caused me to weep many tears and said to me stubbornly Ye cared not for my weeping Madame said the other because now the second time your Majesty hath burthened me with that crime I must answer lest for my silence I be holden guilty If your Majestie be ripely remembred the Laird of Dun yet living to testifie the truth was present at that time whereof your Majesty complaineth Your Majesty accused me That I had irreverently spoken
of you in the Pulpit That I denied You said What had I to do to speak of your Marriage What was I that I should meddle with such matters I answered As touching Nature I was a worm of this earth and yet a subject to this Common-wealth But as touching the Office wherein it hath pleased God to place me I was a Watch-men both over the Realme and over the Church of God gathered within the same by reason whereof I was bound in conscience to blow the Trumpet publikely so oft as ever I saw any appearance of danger either of the one or of the other But so it was that a certaine brute affirmed That a Traffique of Marriage was betwixt your Majestie and the Spanish Allia Whereunto I said That if your Nobility and State did agree unlesse that both you and your husband should be straitly bound that neither of you might hurt the Common-wealth nor yet the poor Church of God within the same in that case I should pronounce That the consenters were troublers of the Common-wealth and enemies unto God and unto his Truth planted within the same At these words I grant your Majestie stormed and burst forth in an unreasonable weeping what mitigation the Laird of Dun would have made I suppose your Majesty hath not forgot But while that nothing was able to stay your weeping I was compelled to say I take God to witnesse I never took pleasure to see your Majestie make such regret But seeing I have offered to your Majestie no such occasion I must rather suffer your Majestie to take your own pleasure then I dare conceale the truth and so both betray the Church and the Common-wealth These were the most extreme words I spake that day After that the Secretary had conferred with the Queen he said Master Knox you may returne to your house for this night I thank God and the Queens Majesty said the other And Madame I pray God to purge your heart from Papistry and to preserve you from the counsell of flatterers for how pleasant that ere they appear to your ear and corrupt affections for the time experience hath taught us in what perplexity they have brought famous Princes Lethington and the Master of Maxwell were that night the two stoups of her Chayre Iohn Knox being departed the Tables of the Lords and others that were present were demanded every one their voyce If Iohn Knox had not offended the Queens Majestie The Lords voted uniformly That they could finde no offence the Queen was past to her Cabinet The flatterers of the Court and principally Lethington raged The Queen was brought again and placed in the Chayre And they commanded to vote over again Which thing highly offended the whole Nobility and began to speak in open audience What shall the Laird of Lethington have power to controll us Or shall the presence of a woman cause us to offend God and to condemne an innocent against our consciences for the pleasure of any creature And so the whole Nobility absolved Iohn Knox againe and praised God for his modestie and for his plain and sensible answers Yet before the end one thing is to be noted to wit That amongst so many Placeboes we mean the flatterers of the Court there was not one that plainly durst condemne the said poore man that was accused God ruling their tongues that sometimes ruled the tongue of Balaam when gladly he would have cursed Gods people This perceived the Queen began to upbraid Master Henry Sinclare then Bishop of Rosse and said hearing his vote to agree with the rest Trouble not the barne I pray you trouble him not for he is newly wakened out of his sleep Why should not the old fool follow them that past before him The Bishop answered coldly Your Majesty may consider That it is neither affection to the man nor love to his Profession that moved me to absolve him but the simple truth which plainly appears in his defence drawes me hereunto albeit that others would have condemned him and it This being said the Lords and whole Assistants arose and departed That night was neither dancing nor fidling in the Court for our Soveraigne was disappointed of her purpose which was To have had Iohn Knox in her will by voice of her Nobility Iohn Knox absolved by the greatest part of the Nobility from the crime intended against him even in the presence of the Queen she raged and her Placeboes stormed And so began new assaults to be made at the hands of the said Iohn Knox to confesse an offence and to put him in the Queens will and she should promise That his greatest punishment should be But to go within the Castle of Edinburgh and immediately to returne to his own house He answered God forbid that my confession should condemne these Noble-men who in their conscience and in displeasure of the Queen have absolved me And further I am assured ye will not in earnest desire me to confesse an offence unlesse that therewith you would desire me to cease from Preaching For how can I exhort others to Peace and Christian quietnesse if I confesse my self an author and mover of sedition The generall Assembly of the Church approached which began the five and twentieth of December 1563. But the just Petitions of the Ministers and Commissioners of Churches werâ— despised at the first and that with these words As Ministers will not follow our counsell so will we suffer Ministers to labour for themselves and see what speed they come But then the whole Assembly said If the Queen will not we must for both third and two parts are rigorously taken from us and from our Tenants If others said one will follow my counsell the Guard and the Papists shall complaine as long as our Ministers have done At these words the former sharpnesse was coloured and the Speaker alleadged That hee meant not of all Ministers Christopher Goodman answered My Lord Secretary if you can shew me what just Title either the Queene hath to the Third or the Papists to the two parts then I think I should resolve you whether she were Debtor to Ministers within Burgh or not But thereto he received this check for answer Ne sit Peregrinus curiosus in aliena Republica that is Let not a Stranger be curious in a strange Common-wealth The man of God answered Albeit I be a Stranger in your policy yet so am I not in the Church of God and therefore the care doth no lesse appertain to me in Scotland then if I were in the middest of England Many wondred at the silence of Iohn Knox for in all these quick reasonings he opened not his mouth the cause thereof he himself expressed in these words I have travelled Right Honourable and beloved Brethren since my last arrivall within this Realme in an upright conscience before my God seeking nothing more as he is witnesse than the advancement of his glory and the stability of his Church
Lethington that is the chief Head wherein we never agreed but of that we shall speak hereafter What will ye say as touching the moving of the people to have a good opinion of the Queens Majesty and as concerning obedience to be given to her Authority as also of the form of Prayer which ye commonly use My Lord saith he more earnestly to move the people or yet otherwise to pray then heretofore I have done a good conscience will not suffer me for he who knows the secrets of hearts knows That privately and publikely I have called to God for her conversion and have willed the people to do the same shewing unto them the dangerous state wherein not onely she her self stands but also the whole Realm by reason of her indurate blindnesse That is said Lethington wherein we finde the greatest fault your extremity against her Masse in particular passeth measure ye call her a slave to Sathan ye affirm that Gods vengeance hangs over the Realm by reason of her impiety And what is this else but to raise up the hearts of the poeple against her Majesty and against them that serve her Then there was heard an acclamation of the rest of the flatterers that such extremity could not profit The Master of Maxwell said in plain words If I were in the Queens Majesties place I would not suffer such things as I hear If the words of Preachers said Iohn Knox shall be alwayes wrested in the worst part then will it be hard to speak any thing so circumspectly providing that the truth be spoken which shall not escape the censure of the calumniator The most vehement as ye speak and most excessive manner of Prayer that I use in publike is this O Lord if thy good pleasure be purge the heart of the Queens Majestie from the venome of Idolatry and deliver her from the bondage and thraldom of Satan into the which she hath been brought up and yet remains for the lack of true Doctrine and let her see by the illumination of thy holy Spirit That there is no means to please thee but by Iesus Christ thy only Son and that Iesus Christ cannot be found but in thy holy Word nor yet received but as it prescribes which is To renounce our own wisedom and preconceived opinion and worship thee as it commands that in so doing she may avoid the eternall damnation which is ordained for all obstinate and impenitent to thee and that this poor Realm may also escape that plague and vengeance which inevitably followeth Idolatry maintained against thy manifest Word and the light thereof This said he is the form of common Prayer as your selves can witnesse Now what is worthy of reprehension in it I would hear There are three things in it said Lethington that never liked me and the first is Ye pray for the Queens Majesty with a condition saying Illuminate her heart if thy good pleasure be Wherein it may appear That ye doubt of her conversion Where have ye the example of such Prayer Wheresoever the examples are said the other I am assured of the Rule which is this If we shall ask any thing according to his Will he shall grant us And our Master Christ Jesus commands us to pray unto our Father Thy will be done But said Lethington Where ever finde ye any of the Prophets so to have prayed It sufficeth me said the other my Lord that the Master and Teacher both of Prophets and Apostles hath taught me so to pray But in so doing said Lethington ye put a doubt in the peoples heads of her conversion Not I said the other but her own obstinate rebellion causeth more then me to doubt of her conversion Wherein said he rebells she against God In all the actions of her life said M. Knox but in these two Heads especially The former is That she will not hear the Preaching of the blessed Evangel of Jesus Christ. 2. That she maintaineth that Idol the Masse She thinks not that rebellion said Lethington So thought they said the other that sometimes offered their children unto Molech and yet the Spirit of God affirms That they offered them unto devils and not unto God And this day the Turks think they have a better Religion then the Papists have and yet I think ye will excuse neither of both from committing rebellion against God neither yet can ye do the Queen unlesse ye will make God to be partiall But said Lethington Why pray ye not for her without moving any doubt Because said the other I have learned to pray in faith now faith ye know depends upon the Word of God and so it is that the Word teacheth me That prayer profiteth the sons and daughters of Gods Election of which number if she be one or not I have just cause to doubt and therefore I pray that God would illuminate her heart if his good pleasure be so to do But yet said Lethington ye can produce the example of none that so hath prayed before you Thereto I have already answered said Iohn Knox But yet for further declaration I will demand a question which is this Whether ye think that the Apostles prayed themselves as they commanded others to pray or not who doubts of that said the company that were present Well then said Iohn Knox I am assured that Peter said these words to Simon Magus Repent therefore of this thy wickednesse and pray God That if it be possible the thoughts of thy heart may be forgiven thee Here we may cleerly see That Peter joynes a condition with his Commandment That Simon should repent and pray to wit If it were possible that his sin might be forgiven for he was not ignorant that some sinnes are unto death and so without all hope of repentance or remission And think ye not my Lord Secretary said he but that same doubt may touch my heart as touching the Queens conversion that then touched the heart of the Apostle I would never said Lethington heare you or any other call that in doubt But your will said the other is no assurance to my conscience And to speak freely My Lord I wonder if yee your self doubt not of the Queens conversion for more evident signes of Induration have appeared and do appear in her then Peter outwardly could have espyed in Simon Magus for albeit sometimes he was a Sorcerer yet joyned he with the Apostles beleeved and was baptized And albeit That the venome of Avarice remained in his heart and that he would have bought the holy Ghost yet when he heard the fearfull threatnings of God pronounced against him he trembled desired the assistance of the Prayers of the Apostles and so humbled himself so farre as the judgement of man could peirce like a true penitent and yet we see that Peter doubts of his conversion Why then may not all the godly justly doubt of the conversion of the Queen who hath used Idolatry which is also most odious
the figures of Christ. And whereas you say we have no such priests this day I might answer That neither have we such Kings this day as then were annointed by Gods commandment and sate upon the seate of David and were no lesse the figure of Christ Jesus in their just administration then were the Priests in their appointed Office and such kings I am assured we have not now no more then wee have such Priests for Christ Jesus being annointed in our nature of God his Father both King Priest and Prophet hath put end to all externall unction And yet I thinke you will not say that God hath now diminished his graces from those whom he appoints Ambassadours betwixt him and his people then he doth from Kings and Princes and therefore why the servants of Jesus Christ may not also justly withstand Kings and Princes that this day no lesse offend Gods Majestie then Uzziah did I see not unlesse that ye will not say that we in the brightnesse of the Evangell are not so straitly bound to regard Gods glory nor his Commandments as were the Fathers who lived under the dark shadows of the Law Well said Lethington I will dip no farther in that Head but how resisted the Priests the King they onely spake unto him without further violence intended That they withstood him said the other the Text assures me but that they did nothing but speak I cannot understand for the plain Text affirms the contrary to wit That they caused him hastily to depart from the sanctuary yea and that he was compelled to depart which manner of speaking I am assured in the Hebrew Tongue importeth more then exhorting or commanding by word They did that said Lethington after he was espyed to be leprous They withstood him before said the other but yet their last fact confirms my proposition so evidently that such as will oppose themselves unto it must needs oppose themselves unto God for my assertion is That Kings have no priviledge more then hath the people to offend Gods Majestie and if so they do they are no more exempted from the punishment of the Law then is any other subject yea and that subjects may not onely lawfully oppose themselves to their Kings whensoever they do any thing that expresly oppugnes Gods Commandment but also that they may execute judgement upon them according to Gods Law so that if the King be a Murtherer Adulterer or an Idolater he should suffer according to Gods Law not as a King but as an offender And that the people may put Gods Law in execution this History cleerly proveth for how soon that the Leprosie appeared in his forehead he was not onely compelled to depart out of the Sanctuary but also he was removed from all publike society and administration of the Kingdom and was compelled to dwell in a house apart even as the Law commanded and gat no greater priviledge in that case then any other of the people should have done And this was executed by the people for it was no doubt but more were witnesses of his Leprosie then the Priests alone but we finde none oppose themselves to the sentence of God pronounced in his Law against the Leprosie And therefore yet again I say That the people ought to execute Gods Law even against their Princes when that their open crimes by Gods Laws deserve punishment but especially when they are such as may infect the rest of the multitude And now my Lords said he I will reason no longer for I have spoken longer then I intended And yet said Lethington I cannot tell what shall be the conclusion Albeit ye cannot said the other yet I am assured what I have proved to wit 1. That subjects have delivered an innocent from the hands of their King and therefore offended not God 2. That subjects have refused to strike innocents when a King commanded and in so doing denied no just Obedience 2. That such as strook at the commandment of the King were before God reputed mutherers 4. That God hath not onely of a subject made a King but also he armed subjects against their naturall King and commanded them to take vengeance upon them according to his Law 5. And lastly That Gods people hath executed Gods Law against their King having no further regard to him in that behalf then if he had been the most simple subject within the Realme And therefore albeit ye will not understand what should be concluded yet I am assured That not onely may Gods people but also That they are bound to do the same where the like crimes are committed and when he gives to them the like power Well said Lethington I think ye shall not have many learned men of your opinion My Lord said the other the Truth ceaseth not to be Truth howsoever it be That men must either know it or gainstand it And yet said he I praise God I lack not the consent and approbation of Gods servants in that Head And with that he presented unto the Secretary the Apologie of Magdeburgh and willed him to reade the names of the Ministers who had subscribed the defence of the Town to be a most just defence and therewith added That to resist a misled King is not to resist God nor yet his Ordinance c. Who when he had read he stouped and said Homines obscuri The other answered Dei tamen servi And Lethington arose and said My Lords ye have heard the reasons upon both parts it becomes you now to decide and to put an order unto Preachers that they be uniform in Doctrine May we think ye take the Queens Masse from her While that some began to give as it were their Votes for some were appointed as it were leaders of the rest Iohn Knox said My Lords I suppose you will not do contrary to your Lordships promise made to the whole Assembly which was That nothing should be voted in secret till that first all matters should be debated in publike and that then the Votes of the whole Assembly should put end to the controversie Now have I onely sustained the argument and have rather shewn my conscience in most simple manner then that I have insisted upon the force and vehemency of any one argument And therefore I for my part utterly disassent from all voting untill the whole Assembly have heard the Propositions and the Reasons of both parties for I unfainedly acknowledge That many in that company are more able to sustain the argument then I am Think ye it reasonable said Lethington That such a multitude as are now convened should reason and vote in such heads and matters that concerns the Queens Majesties own Person and Affairs I think said the other That whatsoever should binde the multitude the multitude should hear it unlesse they have resigned their power to Commissioners which they have not done so far as I understand for my Lord Justice Clerk heard them with one voyce say That in no wise
as they could And as the preasse of people encreased about the Crosse there appeared to have beene some tumult The Provest Archibald Dowglas came with some Halberdiers and carried the Priest safe againe to the Tolbuith The Queen being advertised and having received sinister information that the Priest was dead suddenly thought to have used and inflicted some extreme punishment for she thought that all this was done in contempt of her and of her Religion and it was affirmed That the Towne should have beene sacked and a great number executed to death she sent to such as she pleased commanding them to come to her at Edinburgh suddenly with their whole Forces and in the mean time she sent her Advocate Master Spence of Condie to Edinburgh to take a sure triall of the matter The Provest and Councell wrote to the Queen the truth of the matter as it was desiring her Majestie to take the same in good part and not to give credit to false reports and therewith sent to her Majestie the Processe and enrolment of the Court of the Priest Conviet Thus the Queens Majesty being informed of the truth by her said Advocate sent againe and stayed the said meeting of men and sent to the Town a grave Letter whereof the Copie followeth ⧠The Queens Letter to the Provest Bailiffe and Councell of Edinburgh PRrovest Bayliffe and Councell of our Citie of Edinburgh We received your Letter from our Advocate and understand by this report what diligence you took to stay the Tumult in the late disorder attempted at Edinburgh wherein as you did your duty in suppressing the Tumult so can we not take in good part nor thinke our self satisfied of so notorious a thing without certain seditious persons who were pleased to do justice perforce and without the Magistrates Authoritie be condignly and really punished for their rashnesse and misbehaviour for if all private Persons should usurpe to take vengeance at their owne hands What lies in ours And to what purpose hath good Laws and Statutes been established Since therefore we have never been obstinate to the due punishment of any offendors prescribed by the Lawes but have alwayes maintained Iustice in that case without respect of persons It is Our will and We command you as you will answer to Us upon your obedience and allegiance That you will take before you certaine of the most responsall persons which are declared Authors of the said Sedition and usurpers of our Authority and to administer Iustice upon them in such sort as We may know a sinceritie on your parts and Our Authority no wayes slighted But if you faile perswade your selves and that shortly we will not oversee it but will account this Contempt not onely to be in the Committers thereof but in your selves who ought to punish it and relieve us on our part remitting the rest to your diligence and execution which we look for so soon as reason will permit Subscribed with Our Hand at STERLIN this 24 of April Anno 1565. BY this manner of writing and high threatning may be perceived how grievously the Queens Majestie would have been offended if the said Tarbot and Masse-monger had been handled according to his demerite being not onely a Papist Idolater but a manifest Whoremaster and a common Fighter and blasphemer neverthelesse within few dayes the Queen charged the Provest and Bailiffs to set him at libertie commanding them further That no man should trouble nor molest him in any sort for whatsoever cause and soon after rewarded him with a Benefice and likewise his Assisters Iohn Low and Iohn Kennedie set at libertie in the same manner At this Easter-Tyde in Sterlin the Queen made her domestick servants use Papisticall Rites and Ceremonies and more she perswaded others by faire means to do the same and threatned those that were most constant at the Earle of Cassels House Upon the second day of May 1565. conveened at Edinburgh the Earle of Murray with his friends in great numbers to keepe the day of Law against the Earle Bothwell who being called appeared not onely the Laird of Rickerton protested That the personall absence of the Earle Bothwell should not be prejudiciall to him by reason that for just fear which might happen in the heart of any man since he had so potent an enemy as the Lord of Murray who next the Queens Majesty was of greatest estimation and Authority of any man within this Realm to whom assisted at this present day of Law seven or eight hundred men which Force he could not resist and therefore had absented himself which Protestation being made those that had been Sureties for his appearance were Outlawed The said Earle Bothwell a few dayes after past into France after he had been in Liddesdale where suspecting almost every man he was not in great assurance of his life notwithstanding he was not put to the Horne for the Queen continually bore a great favour towards him and kept him to be a Souldier as appeared within lesse then half a year for she would not suffer the Lord Morton nor my Lord Ariskin my Lord of Murrayes great friends to keep the day There assisted my Lord of Murray the Earles of Argyle Glencarne and Crawford with great numbers and many Lords and Barons who for the most part conveened the same Afternoon to Treat and Consult for the maintaining of Religion where some Articles were devised and delivered to the Lord of Murray to be presented to the Queens Majestie and privie Councell which Articles were enlarged at the generall assembly following as shall be declared In the meane time as they were informed in Court of this great Assembly of people in Edinburgh they were affraid for naturally the Queen-hated and suspected all such Conventions as were not in her own presence and devised by her self The chief Counsellors in the Court were the Earls of Lenox and Athole The Queen writ incontinent for all the Lords to come to Sterlin so soone as she was advertised that they had Treated in Edinburgh of Religion She Writ likewise for the superintendants and other learned men who went thither and being there they caused to keep the Ports or Gates and make good Watch about the Towne The speciall cause of this Convention was to give to the Lord Darley Title of Honour openly and solemnly with consent of the Nobles before the marriage The fourth day of May the Earle of Murray came to Sterlin where he was well received by the Queens Majestie as appeared and immediately as he past with her to my Lord Darleys Chamber they presented to him a Contract containing in effect That forasmuch as or since the Queen had contracted Marriage with the Lord Darley and that therefore sundry Lords of the Nobilitie had under-written ratified and approved the same and obliged themselves to grant unto him in full Parliament the Crowne Matrimoniall by a new Court Solecisme in Policie the Crowne for the second time is sirnamed Matrimoniall before when
the Queen was first married it was so called also to serve and obey him and her as their Lawfull Soveraignes The Queen desired my Lord Murray to subscribe as many others had done before which hee refused to do Because said he it is required necessarily that the whole Nobility be present at least the principall and such as he himself was posteriour unto before that so grave a matter should be advised and concluded The Queens Majesty no wayes content with this Answer insisted still upon him saying The greatest part of the Nobilitie were there present and content with the matter wished him to be so much a Stewart as to consent to the keeping of the Crown in the Family and the sirname according to their Fathers Will and desire as was said of him a little before his death But he still refused for the causes above written Now as the Lords were assembled an Ambassadour from England named sir Nicholas Throckmorton arrived at Sterlin and in his company the Laird of Lethington the Ambassadour was at the Castle Gate or ever they were aware and as he stood there in the Entry he was desired to passe to his Lodgings The next day he had audience of the Queen and was graciously received according to the dignity of his Message The whole summe of this his Message was to shew and declare to the Queene how highly the Queene his Mistris was offended with this precipitated Marriage and wondred what had moved her to take a man of inferiour rank and condition to her selfe And therefore disswaded her therefrom And specially desiring her most earnestly to send home her Subjects the Earle of Lennox and the Lord Darley But all in vaine for the matter was well farre proceeded In her heart Queen Elizabeth was not angry at this marriage first because if Q. Mary had married a forraigne Prince it had been an accesse to her Greatnesse and consequently she had been more redoubted by the other next both Harry and Mary were alike and in equall degree of Consanguinitie unto her the father of Mary and the mother of Harry being Children to her fathers sister With many fair words the Queen let the Ambassadour depart promising to do all she could to satisfie the Queen of England and for the same purpose she would send an Ambassador to her In the meane time the Queens marriage with the Lord Darley was prepared and propounded in Councell and the chief of the Nobilitie such as the Duke the Earles of Argyle Murray Glencarne with the rest granted freely to the same providing that they might have the Religion established in Parliament by the Queene and the Idolatrous Masse and Superstition abolished shortly it was concluded That they should convene again to Saint Iohnstoun where the Queen promised to take a finall order for Religion The day was appointed to wit the last of May at Perth my Lord of Argile came too late The Queens Majestie communed with the Lords who were very plain with her saying Except the Masse were abolished there should be no quietnesse in the Countrey The twelfth day of May the Lord Darley was Belted that is Created Earle of Rosse with great solemnity a Belt or Girdle being tyed about his waste or middle and albeit all kinde of provision was made to make him Duke of Rothesay yet at that time it came not to effect albeit the Crown and Robe-Royall were prepared to him for the same For the entertainment of this Triumph there were many Knights made to the number of 14. The next day which was the 13 of May the Queen called for the Super-intendants by name Iohn Willock Iohn Winram and Iohn Spotswood whom she cherished with fair words assuring them that she desired nothing more earnestly then the glory of God and satisfying of mens consciences and the good of the Common-wealth and albeit she was not perswaded in any Religion but in that wherein she was brought up yet she promised to them that she would hear Conference and Disputation in the Scriptures And likewise she would be content to hear publike preaching but alwayes out of the mouth of such as pleased her Majestie and above all others she said she would gladly hear the Superintendant of Angus for he was a milde and sweet natur'd man with true honesty and uprightnesse Sir Ariskin of Dun. Soon after the Queen past to Saint Iohnstons after that she had directed Master Iohn Hay Prior of Monimusk to passe to England who sped at the Queen of Englands hand even as sir Nicholas Throckmorton did in Scotland Before the day which was appointed for the meeting at Saint Iohnston my Lord of Murray most carefull of the maintenance of Religion sent to all the principall Churches advertising them of the matter and desiring them to advise and send the most able men in Learning and Reputation to keep the day but their craft and dissimulation appeared for the Dean of Restalrigge who lately arrived out of France with others such as Mr. Iohn Lesley Parson of Vure afterward Bishop of Rosse caused the Queen to understand that thing whereof she was easily perswaded to wit That there ought to be given to all men libertie of conscience and for this purpose to shun or put off the first day appointed The Queen writ to the Nobility that because she was informed that there was great meetings out of every Shire and Town in great number and then the other partie so termed she the Papists were minded together to the said Convention which should apparently make trouble or sedition rather then any other thing therefore she thought it expedient and willed them to stay the said meetings and to deferre the same till such a day that she should appoint with advice of her Councell At this time there was a Parliament proclaimed to be held at Edinburgh the twentieth day of Iuly By this Letter some of the Protestants having best judgement thought themselves sufficiently warned of the Inconveniences and troubles to come Now her Councell at this time was onely the Earles of Lenox and Athole the Lord Ruthen but chiefely David Rizio the Italian ruled all yet the Earle of Rosse already in greatest credit and familiarity These Letters were sent out to the Lords about the eight and twentieth day of May and within twelve dayes thereafter she directed new Missives to the chief of the Nobility desiring or commanding them to come to Saint Iohnston the three and twentieth day of Iune following to consult upon such things as concerned Religion and other things as her Majesty should propose Which day was even the day before that the generall Assembly should have been held in Edinburgh This last Letter uttered the effect of the former so that the Protestants thought themselues sufficiently warned Always as the Earle of Murray was passing to Saint Iohnston to have kept the said day he chanced to fall sick of the Fluxes in Lochlevin where he remained till the Queen came forth of Saint
well grounded Knowing besides the grudge of conscience that she should receive upon the change of her owne Religion That she should lose the friendship of the King of France the married Allia of this Realme and of other great Princes her Friends and Confederates who would take the same in evil part and of whom she may look for their great support in all her necessities And having no assured consideration that may countervaile the same she will be loth to put in hazard all her friends at an instant praying all her loving subjects seeing they have had experience of her goodnesse that she hath neither in times past nor yet intends hereafter to presse the conscience of any but that they may worship God in such sort as they are perswaded in their conscience to be best That they will also not presse her conscience As to the establishing of Religion in the Body of the Realme they themselves know as appears by their Articles That the same cannot be done onely by consent of her Majestie but requires necessarily the consent of the States in Parliament and therefore so soon as the Parliament holds those things which the States agree upon amongst themselves her Majestie shall consent unto the same and in the mean time shall make sure That no man be troubled for â—sing Religion according to conscience So that no man shall have cause to doubt That for Religions sake mens Lives and Heritage shall be in any hazard To the second Article it is answered That her Majestie thinks it no wayes reasonable that she should defraud her self of so great a part of the Patrimony of the Crowne as to put the Patronage of Benefices forth of her own hands for her owne necessity in bearing of her Port and common Charges will require the retention thereof and that in a good part in her owne hands Neverthelesse her Majestie is well pleased That consideration being had of her owne necessity And what may be sufficient for the reasonable sustentation of the Ministers a speciall Assignation be made to them in places most commodious and meet With which her Majesty shall not meddle but suffer the same to come to them To the third Article it is answered That her Majestie shall do therein as shall be agreed by the States in Parliament To the fourth Article Her Majesties liberality towards the poore shall alwayes be so far extended as can be reasonably required at her hands To the fifth and sixth Articles Her Majesty will refer the taking order therein unto the States assembled in Parliament As the Queens Majestie came from Saint Iohnston over Forth to the Callender she was conveyed to the Water side of Forth with two hundred Spears For at that time it was bruted That there was some lying in wait at the Path of Dron In the mean time the Earle of Murray was in Locklevin and the Earle of Argyle with him Now in the Callender the Lord Levingston had desired the Queens Majestie to be Witnesse to the Christning of a childe For his Lady was lately delivered and brought to Bed And when the Minister made the Sermon and Exhortation concerning Baptisme the Queens Majestie came in the end and said to the Lord Levingston That she would shew him that favour that she had not done to any other before that is That she would give her presence to the Protestant Sermon which was reckoned a great matter The Queen being in the Callender was informed both by word and Letters by false Brethren That a great part of the Protestants of Edinburgh had lately convened upon Saint Leonards Craigs and there made a Conspiration against her And had chosen for the same purpose certain Captains to governe the rest And without any Tryall or perfect notice taken in the Case she sent to the Provest and Bayliffs of Edinburgh commanding them to take and apprehend Alexander Guthrie Alexander Clerke Gilbert Lawder and Andrew Slater and put them in prison in the Castle This new and unaccustomed fashion of proceeding seemed to be very strange And because the said four persons were not apprehended she sent the next day a Charge to the Provest and Bayliffs and to her owne great Treasurer to passe to the houses of the said foure men and likewise to their Booths or Shops and there to take Inventory of all their Goods and Chattells And commanded the said Treasurer to take the Keyes of the said Houses and Booths together with the said Inventory which was executed in effect especially upon the said Alexander Guthrie his wife he being then common Clerke and one of the greatest in estimation within the Towne his wife and children were shut out of their house and compelled to seek some other lodging in the Town By this manner of proceeding the hearts of all men of spirit and judgement were wonderfully abashed and wounded seeing and perceiving these things so furiously handled upon sinister and wrong Information men never called to their answer nor heard nor any triall taken therein Immediatly thereafter as she came to Edinburgh she called to counsell such as pleased her Majestie and there complains of the said matter alleadging it to be a Conspiracy and manifest Treason And another matter likewise was complained upon That the Earle of Argile as the Queen was surely informed was riding with a great Army to invade the Earle of Athole and his Lands For the first matter it was concluded by the Councell That diligent inquisition should be made in the matter and to that purpose appointed the Queens Advocates M. Iohn Spence of Condie and M. Robert Crichton to examine such as they would and when the said Advocates had called before them and examined a sufficient number and their depositions subscribed and delivered to the Queen there was nothing found worthy of death nor Treason at length the said four persons were summoned to answer at Law For the matter That the Queens Majesty should send to the Earles of Argyle and Athole some of her Councell or familiar servants to take order touching it And when the Secretary the Justice Clarke and Lord of Saint Colme had past to the said Earle of Argyle they found no such thing but in Athole there was great fear come of a sudden fray for after many Proclamations the Fire-Crosse which they made use of in lieu of Beacons was raised in Athole Now as the day of the Parliament approached the Lords pretending to consult before what should be done as well in Religion as for the Commonwealth the fifteenth day of Iuly there conveened at Sterlin the Duke the Earles of Argyle and Murray Rothes and other Lords and Barons and as they were devising and consulting the Queens Majesty taking their meeting in evill part sent her Advocates Master Iohn Spence and Master Crichton to them at Sterlin requiring the cause of their meeting they answered That the speciall occasion of their meeting was for the cause of Religion and the assurance thereof according as they
had lately written to the Queens Majesty in Sâ—aton from the town of Edinburgh they desiring then to prorogate the day Finally when the said Advocates could by no means perswade them to come to Edinburgh they returned again to Edinburgh and declared to the Queens Majestie according as they had found In the mean time the Parliament was prorogated at the Queens Majesties command to the first of September next after following for it was thought That the least part and principall of the chiefe Nobility being absent there could no Parliament be holden at the same time the Queens Majestie perceiving that the matter was already come to a maturity and ripenesse so that the mindes and secrecy of mens hearts must needs be disclosed she wrote to a great number of Lords Barons Gentlmen and others that were nearest in Fife Angus Lowthian Mers Tevimdale Perth Lithgow Clidsdall and others to resort to her in this forme of words hereafter following The Queens Letter TRusty friend We greet you well we are grieved indeed by the evill bruite spread amongst our Lieges as that we should have molested any man in the using of his Religion and Conscience freely a thing which never entred into our minde yet since we perceive the too easie beleeving such reports hath made them carelesse and so we think it becomes us to be carefull for the safety and preservation of our state wherefore we pray you most affectionately That with all possible hast after the receipt of this our Letter you with your kindred friends and whole Force well furnished with Arms for Warre be provided for fifteen dayes after your coming addresse you to come to us to waite and attend upon us according to our expectation and trust in you as you will thereby declare the good affection you bear to the maintenance of our Authoritie and will doe us therein acceptable service Subscribed with Our Hand at Edinburgh the seventeenth day of July 1565. THere was likewise Proclamation made in Edinburgh That the Queen minded not the trouble nor alter the Religion and also Proclamations made in the Shires above mentioned for the same purpose That all Freeholders and other Gentlemen should resort in the aforesaid manner to Edinbronth where the Earle of Rosse was made Duke of Rothesay with great triumph the 23 day of Iuly The same afternoon the Queen complained grievously upon the Earle of Murray in open audience of all the Lords and Barons and the same day the Bans of the Earle of Rosse and Duke of Rothesay and the Queens Marriage were proclaimed About this time the Lord Arskin was made Earle of Marre In the mean time there were divers Messages sent from the Queens Majestie to the Lord of Murray first Master Robert Crichton to perswade him by all meanes possible to come and resort to the Queens Majestie his answer was That he would be glad to come to her self according to his bounden duty yet for as much as such persons as were most privie in her company were his capitall enemies who also had conspired his death he could no wayes come so long as they were in Court Soon after my Lord Erskin and the Master Maxwell past to him to S. Andrews rather suffered and permitted by the Queen then sent by her Highnesse after them the Laird of Dun who was sent by the means of the Earl of Mar but all this did not prevail with him and when all hope of his coming was past an Herald was sent to him charging him to come to the Queens Majesty and answer to such things as should be laid to his charge within eight and fourty hours next after the Charge under pain of Rebellion and because he appeared not the next day after the eight and forty hours he was denounced Rebell and put to the Horne The same order they used against the Earle of Argyle for the Queen said she would serve him and the rest with the same measure they had mete to others meaning the said Argyle In the mean while as the fire was well kindled and enflamed all means and wayes were sought to stir up enemies against the chief Protestants that had been lately at Sterlin for the Earle of Athole was ready bent against the Earle of Argyle the Lord Lindsay against the Earle Rothesse in Fyfe they being both Protestants for they had contended now a long time for the Heir-ship of Fyfe And that no such thing should be left undone the Lord Gordon who now had remained neer three yeers in prison in Dumbar was after some little travell of his friends received by the Queen and being thus received into favour was restored first to the Lordship of Gordon and soon after to the Earldom of Huntley and to all his Lands Honours and Dignities that he might be a bar and a party in the North to the Earle of Murray The 18 of Iuly late in the evening neer an hour after the Suns going down there was a Proclamation made at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh containing in effect THat forasmuch as at the will and pleasure of Almighty God the Queen had taken to her husband a right excellent and illustrious Prince Harry Duke of Rothesay Earle of Rosse Lord Darley Therefore it was her Will That he should be holden and obeyed and reverenced as King Commanding all Letters and Proclamations to be made in the Names of Henry and Mary in times coming The next day following at six hours in the morning they were marryed in the Chappell Royall of Halyrud-house by the Dean of Lestarrig the Queen being all clothed in Mourning But immediately as the Queen went to Masse the King went not with her but to his Pastime During the space of three or four dayes there was nothing but Balling and Dancing and Banqueting In the mean time the Earle Rothesse the Laird of Grange the Tutor Pitcur with some Gentlemen of Fyfe were put to the Horne for none appearance And immediately the Swash Tabron and Drums were stricken or beaten for men of War to serve the King and Queens Majestie and to take their Pay This sudden alteration and hasty creation of Kings moved the hearts of a great number Now amongst the people there were divers brutes for some alleadged That the cause of this alteration was not for Religion but rather for hatred envie of sudden promotion or dignity or such worldly causes But they that considered the progresse of the matter according as is heretofore declared thought the principall cause to be onely for Religion In this mean time the Lords past to Argyle taking apparantly little care of the trouble that was to come Howbeit they sent into England M. Nicolas Elphinston for support who brought some Moneys in this Countrey to the sum of ten thousand pounds sterlin There came one forth of England to the Queen who got Presence the seventh of August in Halyrud-house He was not well c. About the fifteenth of August the Lords met at Aire to wit the
Duke Hamilton the Earles Argile Murray Glencarne Rothesse the Lord Boyd and Ochiltrie with divers Barons and Gentlemen of Fife and Kyle where they concluded to be in readinesse with their whole Forces the four and twentieth day of August But the King and Queene with great cerity prevented them for their Majesties sent thorow Lowthian Fife Angus Stratherne Tividaile and Chiddisdaile and other Shires making their Proclamations in this manner That forasmuch as certaine Rebels who under colour of Religion intended nothing but the trouble and subversion of the Common-wealth were to convene with such as they might perswade to assist them therefore they charged all manner of men under pain of Life Lands and Goods to resort and meet their Majesties at Linlithgow the 24 day of August This Proclamation was made in Lowthian the third pay of the said moneth Upon Sunday the ninteenth of August the King came to the high Kirke of Edinburgh where Iohn Knox made the Sermon his Text was taken out of the six and twentieth Chapter of Esayas his Prophesie about the thirteenth Verse where in the words of the Prophet he said O Lord our God other Lords then thou have ruled over us Whereupon he tooke occasion to speake of the government of wicked Princes who for the sinnes of the people are sent as Tyrants and scourges to plague them And amongst other things he said That God sets in that room for the offences and ingratitude of the people Boyes and women And so other words which appeared bitter in the Kings ears as That God justly punished Ahab and his Posterity because he would not take order with that Harlot Iezabel And because he had tarried an hour and more longer then the time appointed the King sitting in a Throne made for that purpose was so moved at this Sermon that he would not Dine and being troubled with great fury he past in the afternoon to the Hawking Immediately Iohn Knox was commanded to come to the Councell where in the Secretaries Chamber were convened the Earle of Athole the Lord Ruthven the Secretary the Justice Clarke with the Advocate There passed along with the Minister a great number of the most apparent men of the Towne When he was called the Secretary declared That the Kings Majestie was offended with some words spoken in the Sermon especially such as are above rehearsed desiring him to abstaine from preaching for fifteen or twenty dayes and let Master Craig supply the place He answered That he had spoken nothing but according to his Text and if the Church would command him either to speake or abstain he would obey so far as the Word of God would permit him Within four dayes after the King and Queen sent to the Councell of Edinburgh commanding them to depose Archibald Dowglas and to receive the Laird Craigmiller for their Provest which was presently obeyed The five and twentieth of August the King and Queens Majesties past from Edinburgh to Linlithgow and from thence to Sterlin and from Sterlin to Glasgow At their first arrivall their whole people were not come The next day after their arrivall to Glasgow the Lords came to Paisley where they remained that night being in company about one thousand horses On the morrow they came to Hamilton keeping the high passage from Paisley hard by Glasgow where the King and Queen easily might behold them The night following which was the penult of August they remained in Hamilton with their Company but for divers respects moving them they thought it not expedient to tarry especially because the Earle of Argyle was not come for his Diet was not afore the second of September following to have been at Hamilton Finally they took purpose to come to Edinburgh the which they did the next day And albeit Alexander Areskin Captain under the Lord his brother caused to shoot forth of the Castle two Shot of Cannon they being neer the Towne And likewise that the Laird Craigmiller Provest did his endeavour to hold the Lords forth of the Towne in causing the common Bells to be rung for the convening of the Towne to the effect aforesaid yet they entred easily at the West Port or Gate without any molestation or impediment being in number as they esteemed themselves one thousand three hundred Horses Immediately they dispatched Messengers Southward and Northward to assist them but all in vain And immediately after they were in their Lodgings they caused to strike or beat the Drum desiring all such men as would receive Wages for the defence of the Glory of God That they should resort the day following to the Church where they should receive good Pay But they profited little that way neither could they in Edinburgh get any comfort or support for none or few resorted unto them yet they got more rest and sleep when they were at Edinburgh then they had done in five or six nights before The Noble-men of this Company were The Duke The Earles Murray Glencarne and Rothesse The Lords Boyd and Uchiltrie The Lairds of Grange Cunningham-head Balcomie and Lavers The Tâ—tor of Pitcur The Lairds of Barr Carmell and Dreghorn And the Laird of Pittarow Comptroller went with them Some said merrily That they were come to keepe the Parliament for the Parliament was continued till the first day of September Upon the which day they wrote to the King and Queens Majesties a Letter containing in effect That albeit they were persecuted most unjustly which they understood proceeded not of the King and Queens Majesties own Nature but onely by evil Counsell yet notwithstanding they were willing and content to suffer according to the Lawes of the Realm providing that the true Religion of God might be established and the dependants thereupon be likewise reformed Beseeching their Majesties most humbly to grant these things But otherwise if their enemies would seek their blood they should understand It should be dear bought They had written twice almost to the same effect to the King and Queens Majesties after their passing from Edinburgh for the Laird of Preston presented a Letter to the King and Queens Majestie and was therefore imprisoned but soon after released neverthelesse they got no answer The same day that they departed out of Hamilton the King and Queens Majesties issued out of Glasgow in the morning betimes And passing towards Hamilton the Army met their Majesties neer the Bridge of Cadder As they mustered the Master of Maxwell sate downe upon his knees and made a long Oration to the Queen declaring what pleasure she had done to them and ever laid the whole burden upon the Earle Murray Soon after they marched forward in Battell aray The Earle of Lenox took the Van-guard the Earle of Mortoun the middle Battell and the King and Queen the Reere The whole number were about five thousand men whereof the greatest part were in the Van-guard As the King and Queens Majesties were within three miles of Hamilton they were advertised that the Lords
were departed in the morning but where they pretended to be that night it was uncertain Alwayes soon after their returne to Glasgow the King and Queen were certainly advertised That they were past to Edinburgh and therefore caused immediately to warne the whole Army to passe with them to Edinburgh the next day who early in the morning long before the Sun was risen began to march But there arose such a vehement Tempest of winde and raine from the West as the like had not been seen before in a long time so that a little brook turned incontinent into a great River and the raging storme being in their face with great difficulty went they forward And albeit the most part waxed weary yet the Queens courage encreased man-like so much that she was ever with the foremost There was divers persons drowned that day in the water of Carren and amongst others the Kings Master a notable Papist who for the zeal he bare to the Masse carried about his neck a round god of bread well closed in a Case which alwayes could not serve him Before the end of August there came a post to the Queens Majestie sent by Alexander Areskin who declared That the Lords were in the Town of Edinburgh where there was a multitude of innocent persons and therefore desired to know if he should shoot She commanded incontinent that he should return again to the said Alexander and command him in her name That he should shoot so long as he had either Powder or Bullet and not spare for any body At night the King and Queen came well wet to the Callender where they remained that night and about eight hours at night the first of September the Post came again to the Castle and reported the Queenes Command to Alexander Areskin who incontinently caused to shoot six or seven shot of Cannon whereof the marks appeared having respect to no reason but onely to the Queens Command The Lords perceiving that they could get no support in Edinburgh nor Souldiers for money albeit they had travelled all that they could and being advertised of the Queens returning with her whole Company they took purpose to depart And so the next day betimes long before day they departed with their whole Company and came to Lanrik and from thence to Hamilton where the Master of Maxwell came to them with his Uncle the Laâ—rd of Dumlanrick And after consultation the said Master wrote to the Queens Majesty That being required by the Lords as he was passing homeward he could not refuse to come to them and after that he had given them counsell to disperse their Army they thought it expedient to passe to Dumfreis to repose them where they would consult and make their Officers and send to their Majesties And thus beseeching their Majesties to take this in good part The Town of Edinburgh sent two of the Councell of the Town to make their excuse The next day the King and Queen past to Sterlin and sent to Edinburgh and caused a Proclamation to be made commanding all men to returne to Glasgow where having remained three or four dayes And understanding that the Lords were past to Dumfreis they returned to Sterlin and from thence to Fyfe And in their passage caused to take in Castle Campbell which was delivered without impediment to the Lord of Sanquhar Before the King and Queen went out of Sterlin there came from Edinburgh two Ensignes of Foot-men to convey them into Fyfe In the mean time the Burroughs were taxed in great Sums unaccustomed for the payment of these Souldiers Farther there was raised divers Troops of Horse-men to the number of five or six hundred Horse The Souldiers had taken two poor men that had received the Lords wages which two men being accused and convinced of at the Queens Command were hanged at Edinburgh the third day after the Lords departing At this time M. Iames Balfour Parson of Flesk had gotten all the guiding in the Court The third day after the Queens coming to Fyfe the whole Barons and Lairds of Fyfe convoyed her Majestie till she came to S. Andrewes where the said Lairds and Barons especially the Protestants were commanded to subscribe to a Band containing in effect That they obliged themselves to defend the King and Queens Persons against Englishmen and Rebells And in case they should come to Fyfe they should resist them to their utmost power Which Charge every man obeyed The second night after the Queens coming to S. Andrews she sent a Band or Troop of Horse-men and another of Foot to Lundie and at midnight took out the Laird being a man of 80 yeers old Then they past to Fawside and took likewise Thomas Scot and brought him to Saint Andrewes where they with the Laird of Bavard and some others were commanded to prison This manner of handling and usage being oâ—kend and strange were heavily spoken of and a great terrour to others who thought themselves warned of greater severity to come In the mean time the houses of the Earles of Murray Rothesse and the houses of divers Gentlemen were given in keeping to such as the Queen pleased after that their children and servants had been cast out At the same time the Duke the Earls of Glencarne and Argyle the Lords Boyd and Uchiltrie with the Lord of Cunningham-head and the rest were charged to come and present themselves in S. Andrews before the King and Queens Majesties to answer to such things as should be laid to their charge within six dayes under the pain of Rebellion And the day being expired and they not appearing were denounced Rebells and put to the Horne As the Queen remained in Saint Andrews the inhabitants of Dundie being sore afraid because of some evil report made of them to the Queen as if they had troubled the Queen in seeking men of War and suffered some to be raised in their Town for the Lords for there was nothing done in Dundie but it was revealed to the Queen especially that the Minister had received a Letter from the Lords and delivered the same to the Brethren perswading them to assist the Lords which being granted by the Minister the Queen remitted it After great travell and supplication made by some Noble-men at length the King and Queen being in the Town they agreed for two thousand marks five or six of the principall left out with some others that were put to their shift After the King and Queen had remained two nights in the Towne of Dundie they came to S. Andrews and soon after they came over Forth and so to Edinburgh During this time the Master of Maxwell wrote to the King and Queen making offers for and in the name of the Lords The next day after the King and Queens coming to Edinburgh there was a Proclamation made at the Market-Crosse And because the same is very notable I thought good to insert it here word by word albeit it be somewhat long HEnry and Mary By the
that the rest of the Lords were charged with and also commanded to give over the House of Lochmabben and the Castle which he had in keeping for the Queen And albeit he obeyed not yet was he not put to the Horne as the rest Neverthelesse there was no man that doubted of his good will and partaking with the Lords who in the mean time sent Robert Melvin to the Queen of England and declared their state to her Majesty desiring support Now the chief care and solicitude that was in the Court was By what means they might come to have money for notwithstanding this great preparation for warre and eminent appearance of trouble yet were they destitute of the sinewes of Warre albeit the Treasurers and now Comptroller to wit the Laird of Tilbardin had disbursed many thousands yet there was no appearance of payment of souldiers nor scarcely how the King and Queens Houses and pompous Trains should be upholden there was about 600. Horsmen besides the Guard and 3. Ensignes of footmen The charge of the whole would amount to 1000. l. ster every moneth a thing surpassing the usuall manner of Scotland At this time arrived the Earl of Bothwell who was welcome and graciously received by the Queen and immediately placed in Councell and made Lieutenant of the West and middle Marches Now as every one of the Barons compounded to be exempted from this meeting the E. of Athole demanded of Edinburgh 200. l. ster but they refused to pay it notwithstanding Octo. 27. there was a certain number of the principall and rich persons of the Town warned by a Macer to passe to the Palace of Hallyrudhouse to the King and Queen who declared to them by their own mouthes speaking that they had use for money and therefore knowing them to be honest men and the inhabitants of the best Citie in their Countrey they must needs charge them and for security they should have other men bound for pledges or any Hand therefore The sum that they desired was 1000 l. sterl and no lesse They being astonished made no answer but Parson Flisk standing by said That seeing the King and Queens Majesties desired them so civilly in a thing most lawfull in their necessitie they did shew themselves not honest to keepe silence and give no answer to their Majesties for that must needs be had of them which was required and if they would not they should be constrained by the Laws which they would not abide for some of them had deserved hanging said he because they had lent large summs of money to the King and Queens enemies and Rebels and therefore they must shortly suffer great punishment Soon after they were called in one by one and demanded how much they would lend some made this excuse and some that by reason there were that offered to lend money amongst whom there was one offered to lend 20 l. To him the Earle of Athole said Thou art worthy to be hanged that speakest of 20 l. seeing the Princes charge thee so easily Finally they were all imprisoned and souldiers set over them having their Muskets ready charged and their Match lighted even in the house with them where they remained all that night and the next day till night and then being changed from one prison to another there were six chosen out and sent in the night to the Castle of Edinburgh convoyed with Musketteers round about them as if they had been Murtherers or most vile persons At length the third day by means of the Laird of Craigmiller Provest and some others the summe was made more easie to wit a 1000 Marks sterling to be paid immediately and to have the superioritie of Leithin in Pledge to wit upon condition of Redemption And besides the said summe of 1000 Marks sterlin they paid 1000 l. sterl For the meeting at Dumfreis at the day appointed for electing the officers the Queen sent in a Ticket such as she would have them to chuse for Provest Bailiffs and Councell whereof there was a number of Papists the rest not worthy Of the number given in by the Queen they named such as should rule for that year Notwithstanding without free Election the Laird Craigmiller remained Provest who shewed himself most willing to set forward Religion to punish vice and to maintain the Common-wealth All this time the Ministers cried out against the Masse and such Idolatry for it was more advanced by the Queen then before The first day of October met in Edinburgh the Superintendant of Lothian with all the Ministers under his charge according to their ordinary custome for every Superintendant used to convene the whole Ministery and there it was complained on That they could get no payment of their stipends not only about the City but thorow the whole Realm Therefore after reasoning and consultation taken they framed a supplication directed to the King and Queen and immediately presented the same to their Majesties by M. Iohn Spottswood Superintendant of Lothian and Master David Lindsey Minister of Leith it contained in effect That forasmuch as it had pleased the King and Queens Majesties with advice of the Privie Councell to grant unto the Ministers of the Word their stipends to be taken of the Thirds of the Benefices which Stipends are now detained from the said Ministers by reason of the troubles and changing of the Comptroller whereby they are not able to live and therefore most humbly craved the King and Queens Majesty to cause them to be paid Their answer was That they would cause order to be taken therin to their contentment Soon after the Lord Gordion came to Edinburgh and left the most part of his people at Sterlin with his carriage the King and Queen for hope of his good service to be done restored him to his Fathers place to the Earledome of Hintley the Lands and Heritage thereof October 8. the King and Queene marched forth of Edinburgh towards Dumfreis and as they passed from the Pallace of Hallyrud-house all men were warned with Jack and Spear The first night they came to Sterlin and the next to Craford the day after the Lairds of Drunlaurick and Lochinvar met the Queen albeit they had been with the Lords familiar enough The Lords perceiving that all hope of reconciliation was past they rode to Ednam where they remained till the Queen came to Dumfreis and then they past to Carlile Now the Master of Maxwell who had entertained the Lords familiarly and subscribed with them and had spoken as highly against their enemies as any of themselves and had received large mony by that means to wit 1000. l. to raise a Band or Troup of Horsmen and that the same day the King and Queen came to Dumfreis the third day after their coming he came to them conveyed by the Earle Bothwell with divers other Noblemen At length the Earles of Athole and Hintley were Sureties for him and all things past remitted upon condition that he should be a faithfull and
obedient subject hereafter The same day they made Musters the next day the Army was dispersed being about 18000. men the King and Queen past to Lothinaben where the Master of Maxwell gave a Banquet and then forthwith marched to Tueddall so to Peblis and then to Edinburgh The best and chief part of the Nobility of this Realme who also were the principall Instruments of the Reformation of Religion and therefore were called the Lords of the Congregation in manner above rehearsed were banished and chased into England they were courteously received and entertained by the Earle of Bedford Lieutenant upon the Borders of England Soon after the Earle of Murray took Post towards London leaving the rest of the Lords at Newcastle every man supposed that the Earle of Murray should have been graciously received of the Queen of England and that he should have gotten support according to his hearts desire but farre beyond his expectation he could get no audience of the Queen of England But by means of the French Ambassadour called Monsieur de Four his true friend he obtained audience The Queen with a fair countenance demanded How he being a Rebell to her sister of Scotland durst take the boldnesse upon him to come within her Realm These and the like words got he instead of the good and courteous entertainment expected Finally after private discourse the Ambassadour being absent she refused to give the Lords any support denying plainly that ever she had promised any such thing as to support them saying She never meant any such thing in that way albeit her greatest familiars knew the contrary In the end the Earle of Murray said to her Madame whatsoever thing your Majestie meant in your heart we are thereof ignorant but thus much we know assuredly That we had lately faithfull promises of ayd and support by your Ambassadour and familiar servants in your name And further we have your owne hand-writing confirming the said promises And afterward he took his leave and came North-ward from London towards Newcastle After the Earle of Murray his departure from the Court the Queen sent them some ayd and writ unto the Queen of Scotland in their favour Whether she had promised it in private to the Earle of Murray or whether she repented her of the harsh reception of the Earle of Murray At this time David Rizio Italian began to be higher exalted insomuch as there was no matter or thing of importance done without his advice And during this time the faithfull within this Realme were in great fear looking for nothing but great trouble and persecution to be shortly Yet Supplications and Intercessions were made thorowout all the Congregations especially for such as were afficted and banished That it would please God to give them patience comfort and constancy and this especially was done at Edinburgh where Iohn Knox used to call them that were banished The best part of the Nobility Chiefe Members of the Congregation Whereof the Courtiers being advertised they took occasion to revile and bewray his sayings alleadging He prayed for the Rebels and desired the people to pray for them likewise The Laird of Lethington chief Secretary in presence of the King and Queens Majesties and Councell confessed that he heard the Sermons and said There was nothing at that time spoken by the Minister whereat any man need to be offended And further declared plainly That by the Scripture it was lawfull to pray for all men In the end of November the Lords with their complices were summoned to appear the fourth day of February for Treason and laese Majestie But in the mean time such of the Nobility as had professed the Evangell of Christ and had communicate with the Brethren at the Lords Table were ever longer the more suspected by the Queen who began to declare her self in the Months of November and December to be maintainer of the Papists for at her pleasure the Earles of Lenox Athole and Cassels with divers others without any dissimulation known went to the Masse openly in her Chappell Yet neverthelesse the Earles of Huntley and Bothwell went not to Masse albeit they were in great favour with the Queen As for the King he past his time in Hunting and Hawking and such other pleasures as were agreeable to his appetite having in his company Gentlemen willing to satisfie his will and affections About this time in the beginning of as the Court remained at Edinburgh the banished Lords by all means possible by writings and their friends made suit and means to the King and Queens Majesties to be received into favour At this time the Abbot of Kylwinning came from Newcastle to Edinburgh and after he had gotten audience of the King and Queen with great difficulty he got Pardon for the Duke and his friends and servants upon this Condition That he should passe into France which he did soon after The five and twentieth of December convened in Edinburgh the Commissioners of the Churches within this Realme for the generall assemblie There assisted to them the Earles of Morton and Marre the Lord Lindsay and Secretary Lethington with some Barons and Gentlemen The principall things that were agreed and concluded were That forasmuch as the Masse with such Idolatry and Papisticall Ceremonies were still maintained expresly against the Act of Parliament and the Proclamations made at the Queens Arrivall And that the Queen had promised that she would hear Conference and Disputation That the Church therefore offered to prove by the Word of God That the Doctrine preached within this Realme was according to the Scriptures and that the Masse with all the Papisticall Doctrine was but the invention of men and meer Idolatry Secondly That by reason of the change of the Comptroller who had put in new Collectors forbidding them to deliver any thing to the Ministry and by these means the Ministry was like to decay and fail contrary to the Ordinance made in the yeer of God 1562. in favour and support of the Ministery During this time as the Papists flocked to Edinburgh for making Court some of them that had been Friers as black Abercrommy and Roger presented supplication to the Queens Majesty desiring in effect That they might be permitted to preach which was easily granted The noyse was further That they offered Disputation For as the Court stood they thought they had a great advantage already by reason they knew the King to be of their Religion as well as the Queen with some part of the Nobility who with the King after declared themselves openly And especially the Queen was governed by the Earls of Lenox and Athole but in matters most weighty and of greatest importance by David Rizio the Italian afore mentioned who went under the name of the French Secretary by whose means all grave matters of what weight soever must passe providing always That his hands were anoynted In the mean time he was a manifest enemy to the Evangell and therefore a
to get the Crown Matrimoniall In the Tolbooth was devised and named the Heads of the Articles that were drawn against the banished Lords Upon the morrow and Saturday following there was great reasoning concerning the Attainder some alleadged That the Summons was was not well Libelled or Dressed others thought the matter of Treason was not sufficiently proved and indeed they were still seeking proof for there was no other way but the Queen would have them all attainted albeit the time was very short the twelfth day of March should have been the day which was the Tuesday following Now the matter was stayed by a marvellous Tragedy for by the Lords upon the Saturday before which was the ninth of March about Supper-time David Rizio the Italian named the French Secretary was slain in the Gallery below Stairs the King staying in the room with the Queen told her That the Designe was onely to take order with that Villain after that he had been taken violently from the Queens presence who requested most earnestly for the saving of his life which act was done by the Earle of Morton the Lord Ruthven the Lord Lindsay the Master of Ruthven with divers other Gentlemen They first purposed to have hanged him and had provided Cords for the same purpose but the great haste which they had moved them to dispatch him with Whingers or Daggers wherewith they gave him three and fifty strokes They sent away and put forth all such persons as they suspected The Earles Bothwell and Hnntley hearing the noise and clamour came suddenly to the Close intending to have made work if they had had a partie strong enough but the Earle Morton commanded them to passe to their Chamber or else they should doe worse At the which words they retyred immediately and so past forth at a back Window they two alone and with great fear came forth of the Towne to Edmistone on foot and from thence to Crichton This David Rizio was so foolish that not onely he had drawne unto him the managing of all Affaires the King set aside but also his Equipage and Train did surpasse the Kings and at the Parliament that was to be he was ordained to be Chancellour which made the Lords conspire against him They made a Bond to stand to the Religion and Liberties of the Countreys and to free themselves of the slavery of the Villain David Rizio The King and his father subscribed to the Bond for they durst not trust the Kings word without his Signet There was a French Priest called Iohn Daniot who advised David Rizio to make his fortune and be gone for the Scots would not suffer him long His answer was That the Scots would bragg but not fight then he advised him to beware of the Bastard To this he answered That the Bastard should never live in Scotland in his time he meant the Earle Murray but it happened that one George Dowlas Bastard son to the Earle of Angus gave him the first stroke The Queen when she heard he was dead left weeping and declared she would study revenge which she did Immediatly it was noised in the Town of Edinburgh that there was murther committed within the Kings Palace wherefore the Provest caused to Ring the common Bell or Sonner le toksain as the French speaks and straightway past to the Palace having about four or five hundred men in warlike manner and as they stood in the utter Court the King called to the Provest commanding him to passe home with his company saying The Queen and he were merry But the Provest desired to hear the Queen speak her self Whereunto it was answered by the King Provest know you not that I am King I command you to passe home to your houses and immediately they retired The next day which was the second Sunday of our Fast in Edinburgh there was a Proclamation made in the Kings Name subscribed with his hand That all Bishops Abbots and other Papists should avoid and depart the Town which Proclamation was indeed observed for they had a Flea in their Hose There were Letters sent forth in the Kings Name and subscribed with his hand to the Provest and Bailiffs of Edinburgh the Bailiffs of Leith and Cannogate commanding them to be ready in Armour to assist the King and his Company and likewise other private writings directed to divers Lords and Gentlemen to come with all expedition In the mean time the Queen being above measure enraged offended and troubled as the issue of the matter declared sometime railing upon the King and sometime crying out at the Windows desired her servants to set her at libertie for she was highly offended and troubled This same tenth of March the Earle of Murray with the rest of the Lords and Noblemen that were with him having received the Kings Letter for after the Bond above named was Subscribed the King Wrote unto the banished Lords to return into their Countrey being one of the Articles of the said Bond came at night to the Abbey being also convoyed by the Lord Hume and a great company of the borderers to the nâ—mber of 1000 horses And first after he had presented himself to the King the Queen was informed of his sudden coming and therefore sent unto him commanding him to come to her and he obeying went to her who with a singular gravitie received him after that he had made his purgation and declared the over-great affection which he bore continually to her Majestie The Earles of Athole Cathnes and Sutherland departed out of the Town with the Bishops upon the Munday the third day after the slaughter of David Rizio The Earles of Lenox Murray Morton and Rothes Lords Ruthven Lindsay Boyd and Ocheltrie sitting in Councell desired the Queen That forasmuch as the thing which was done could not be undone that she would for avoiding of greater inconveniences forget the same and take it as good service seeing there were so many Noblemen restored The Queen dissembling her displeasure and indignation gave good words neverthelesse she desired That all persons armed or otherwise being within the Palace at that time should remove leaving the Palace void of all saving onely her domestick servants The Lords being perswaded by the uxorious King and and the facile Earle of Murray condescended to her desire who finally the next morning two hours before day past to Seaton and then to Dumbar having in her company the simple King who was allured by her sugred words from Dumbar immediately were sent Pursuivants with Letters thorowout the Countrey and especially Letters to the Noble-men and Barons commanding them to come to Dumbar to assist the King and Queen within five dayes In the mean time the Lords being informed of the sudden departure they were astonished and knew not what were best for them to do But because it was the self-same day to wit the twelfth day of March that they were summoned unto therefore having good opportunity they past to the Tolbooth which was
being counselled and perswaded by divers notable Personages he began well in Edinburgh to proceed whereby a great number were moved with compassion of his state and likewise in Iedwart but he left his duty in Dundie and passing again into England the matter not without offence to many ceased The Ministers complaining that they could not be paid their Stipends were licensed by the Assembly to passe to other Churches to Preach but in no wise to leave the Ministery And because that the Queens Majesty had promised often before to provide remedy it was thought expedient that Supplication should be yet made as before That the Queens Majesty should cause such order to be taken that the poor Ministers might be paid their Stipends The Bishop of Galloway who was brother to the Earle of Huntley and now a great man in the Court travelled much with the Queens Majesty in that matter and got of her a good answer and fair promises A few yeers before the said Bishop of Galloway desired of the generall Assembly to be made Superintendent of Galloway but now being promoted to great Dignity as to be of the number of the Lords of the Privy Councell and likewise one of the Session he would no more be called Over-looker or Over-seer of Golloway but Bishop Alwayes truth it is That he laboured much for his Nephew the Earle of Huntley that he might be restored to his Lands and Honours for the said Earle was new Chancellor since the slaughter of David Rizio and had for his clawback the Bishop of Rosse Master Iohn Lesley one of the chief Councellors to the Qâ—een But of all men the Earle Bothwell was most in the Queens favour so far that all things past by him yea by his means the most part of all those that were partakers in the slaughter of David Rizio got remission and relief But from that day he was not present at any Sermon albeit before he professed the Evangell by outward speaking yet he never joyned to the Congregation But this time the Earle of Cassells was contracted with the Lord of Glanes sister by whose perswasion he became a Protestant and caused in the Moneth of August to reâ—orm his Churches in Carrick and promised to maintain the Doctrine of the Evangell The Queen not yet satisfied with the death of her man David caused in August to be apprehended a man called Hary who sometime had been of her Chappell Royall but afterward became an exhorter in a Reformed Church and for want of stipend or other necessaries past in service to my Lord Ruthuen and chanced that night to be present when the said David was slaine and so finally he was condemned and hanged and quartered The King being now contemned of all men because the Queen cared not for him he went sometime to the Lenox to his father and sometime to Sterlin whither the Prince was carried a little before Alwayes he was destitute of such things as were necessary for him having scarcely six horses in Trayn And being thus desolate and half desperate he sought means to go out of the Countrey And about the same time by the advice of Forlish Cagets he wrote to the Pope to the King of Spain and to the King of France complaining of the state of the Countrey which was all out of order all because that Masse and Popery were not againe erected giving the whole blame thereof to the Queen as not managing the Catholike Cause aright By some knave this poor Prince was betrayed and the Queen got a Copie of these Letters into her hands and therefore threatned him sore and there was never after that any appearance of love betwixt them The Churches of Geneva Berne and Basill with other Reformed Churches of Germany and France sent to the whole Church of Scotland the sum of the Confession of their Faith desiring to know if they agreed in Uniformity of Doctrine alleadging That the Church of Scotland was dissonant in some Articles from them Wherefore the Superintendents with a great part of the other most qualified Ministers convened in September in S. Andrews and reading the said Letters made answer and sent word again That they agreed in all points with those Churches and differed in nothing from them Albeit in the keeping of some Festivall days our Church assented not for onely the Sabbath day was kept in Scotland In the end of this Month the Earl Bothwell riding in pursuit of the theeves in Liddisdale was ill hurt and worse terrified by a thief for he believed surely to have departed forth of this life and sent word thereof to the Queens Majesty who soon after past forth of Iedwart to the Hermitage to visite him and give him comfort And within a few dayes after she took sicknesse in a most extreme manner for she lay two houres long cold dead as it were without breath or any signe of life at length she revived by reason they had bound small Cords about her shackle bones her knees and great toes and speaking very softly she desired the Lords to pray for her to God she said the Creed in English and desired my Lord of Murray if she should chance to depart that he would not be over extreme such as was of her Religion the Duke and he should have been Regents The bruit went from Iedwart in the month of October 1565. that the Queen was departed this life or at least she could not live any time wherefore there was continually prayers publikely made at the Church of Edinburgh and divers other places for her conversion towards God and amendment Many were of opinion That she should come to the Preaching and renounce Popery But all in vain for God had some other thing to doe by her The King being advertised rid Post from Sterlin to Iedburgh where he found the Queen somewhat convalesced but she would scarce speak to him and hardly give him presence or a good word wherfore he returned immediately to Sterlin where the Prince was and after to Glascow to his Father There appeared great trouble over the whole Realm and especially in the Countreys neer the borders if the Queen had departed at that time as she began to recover the Earle Bothwell was brought in a Charriot from the Hermitage to Iedburgh where he was cured of his wounds in whose presence the Queen took more pleasure then in all the rest of the world alwayes by his meanes most part of all that were out-lawed for the slaughter of David Rizio got reliefe for there was no other meanes but all things must needs passe by him wherefore every man sought to him where immediately favour was to be had as before to David Rizio Soon after the Queen passing along the borders she came within the bounds of Barwick where she viewed the Town at her pleasure a far off being within half a Mile and lesse all the Ordnance within Barwick were Discharged The Captain came forth with fourscore Horses bravely
to record in my conscience That I delivered the same bread that I received of Christs hands and that I mixed no poyson with the same that is I teached Christs Gospel without any mixture of mens dreames devises or phantasies But alas I did it not with such fervency with such indifferency and with such diligency as this day I know my duty was to have done Some complained in those dayes That the Preachers were undiscreet persons yea some called them raylers and worse because they spake against the manifest iniquity of men and especially of those that then were placed in Authority as well in Court as in other Offices universally thorowout the Realme both in Cities Towns and Villages And among others peradventure my rude plainnesse displeased some who did complain That rashly I did speak of mens faults so that all men might know and perceive of whom I meant But alas this day my conscience accuseth me That I spake not so plainly as my duty was to have done For I ought to have said to the wicked man expressely by his name Thou shalt die the death For I finde Ieremiah the Prophet to have done so to Pashur the high Priest and to Zedechiah the King And not onely he but also Elijah Elisha Michah Amos Daniel Christ Jesus himself and after him his Apostles expressely to have named the blood-thirsty tyrants abominable Idolaters and dissembling hypocrites of their dayes If that we the Preachers within the Realme of England were appointed by God to be the Salt of the earth as his other Messengers were before us Alas Why with-held we the Salt where manifest compunction did appear I accuse none but my selfe The blinde love that I did bear to this my wicked carkase was the chiefe cause that I was not fervent and faithfull enough in that behalfe For I had no will to provoke the hatred of all men against me And therefore so touched I the vices of men in the presence of the greatest that they might see themselves to be offenders I dare not say that I was the greatest flatterer But yet neverthelesse I would not be seen to proclaim manifest Warre against the manifest wicked Whereof unfainedly I ask my God mercy As I was not so fervent in rebuking manifest iniquity as it became me to have been So was I not so indifferent a feeder as is required of Christs Steward For in preaching Christs Gospel albeit mine eye as knoweth God was not much upon worldly promotion yet the love of friends and carnall affection of some men with whom I was most familiar allured me to make more residence in one place then in another having more respect to the pleasure of a few then to the necessity of many That day I thought I had not sinned if I had not been idle But this day I know it was my duty to have had consideration how long I had remained in one place and how many hungry souls were in other places to whom alas none took pain to break and distribute the bread of Life Moreover remaining in one place I was not so diligent as mine Office required but sometime by counsell of carnall friends I spared the body sometime I spent in worldly businesse of particular friends and sometime in taking recreation and pastime by exercise of the body And albeit men may judge these to be light and small offences yet I acknowledge and confesse That unlesse pardon should be granted to me in Christs blood that every one of these three offences aforenamed that is to say Lack of fervency in reproving sin The lack of indifferency in feeding those that were hungry And the lack of diligence in the execution of mine Office deserved damation And beside these I was assaulted yea infected and corrupted with more grosse sins that is My wicked nature desired the favours the estimation and praise of men against which albeit that sometime the Spirit of God did move me to fight and earnestly did stir me God knoweth I lye not to sob and lament for those imperfections yet never ceased they to trouble me when any occasion was offred And so privily and craftily did they enter into my brest that I could not perceive my self to be wounded till vain-glory had almost gotten the upper hand O Lord be mercifull to my great offence and deal not with me according to my great iniquity but according to the multitude of thy mercies remove from me the burthen of my sin for of purpose and minde to have avoided the vain displeasure of man I spared little to offend thy Majestie Think not beloved in the Lord That thus I accuse my selfe without just cause as though in so doing I might appear more holy or that yet I do it of purpose and intent by occasion thereof to accuse others of my brethren the true Preachers of Christ of like or greater offences No God is Judge to my conscience That I do it even from an unfained and sore troubled heart as I that know my selfe grievously to have offended the Majesty of my God during the time that Christs Gospel had free passage in England And this I do let you understand That the taking away of the heavenly Bread and this great tempest that now bloweth against the poor disciples of Christ within the Realme of England as touching our part cometh from the great mercy of our heavenly Father to provoke us to unfained repentance for that neither Preacher nor Professor did rightly consider the time of our mercifull Visitation But altogether so we spent the time as though Gods Word had been Preached rather to satisfie our fantasies then to reforme our evill manners Which thing if we earnestly repent then shall Jesus Christ appear to our comfort be the storm never so great Haste O Lord for thy Names sake The second thing that I finde to be noted is The vehemency of the fear which the disciples endured in that great danger being of longer continuance then ever they had at any time before In Saint Matthewes Gospel it appeareth That another time there arose a great stormy Tempest and sore tossed the Boat wherein Christs disciples were labouring But that was nigh the day light and then they had Christ with them in the Ship whom they awaked and cryed for help unto him for at that time he slept in the Boat and so were shortly delivered from their sudden fear But now were they in the midst of the raging Sea and it was night and Christ their Comforter absent from them and cometh not to them neither in the first second nor third Watch What fear think ye were they in And what thoughts arose out of their so troubled hearts during that storm Such as this day be in like danger within the Realme of England doth by this storm better understand then my pen can expresse But of one thing I am well assured That Christs presence would in that great
gave to Peter teacheth us That God doth not flatter nor conceal the faults of his Elect but maketh them manifest to the end that the Offendors may repent and that others may avoid the like offences That Christ called Peter of little faith argueth and declareth as we before have noted That Peter was not altogether faithlesse but that hee fainted or was uncertain in his faith for so soundeth the Greek terme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof we ought to be admonished That in passing to Christ thorow the storms of this world is not onely required a fervent faith in the beginning but also a constancy to the end as Christ saith He that continueth to the end shall be saved and Saint Paul Unlesse a man shall strive lawfully he shall not be crowned The remembrance of this ought to put us in minde That the most fervent man and such as have long continued in profession of Christ is not yet sure to stand at all hours but that he is subject to many dangers and that he ought to fear his own frailty as the Apostle teacheth us saying Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall for if Peter that began so fervently yet fainted ere he came to Christ what ought we to fear in whom such fervency was never found No doubt we ought to tremble and fear the worst and by the knowledge of our own weaknesse with the Apostles incessantly to pray O Lord increase our faith Christs demand and question asking Peter Why doubtest thou containeth in it self a vehemency as if he should have said Whether doubtest thou of my power or of my promises or of my good will If my power had not been sufficient to have saved thee then could I neither have come to thee thorow the stormy Sea neither have made the waters obey thee when thou beganst to come to me and if my good will had not been to have delivered thee and thy Brethren then had I not appeared unto you neither had I called upon thee but had permitted the Tempest to devour and swallow you up but considering that your eye saw me present your ears heard my voice and thou Peter especially knewest the same and obeyedst my commandment why then doubtest thou Beloved brethren If this same demand and question were laid to our charge we should have lesse pretence of excuse then had Peter for he might have alleadged That he was not advertised that any great Storme should have risen betwixt him and Christ which justly we cannot alleadge for since that time that Christ hath appeared unto us by the brightnes of his Word and called upon us by his lively voyce he hath continually blown in our ears That persecution and trouble should follow the Word that we professed which dayes are now present Alas then why doubt we thorow this storme to go to Christ Support O Lord and let us sink no further Albeit that Peter fainted in faith and therefore was worthy most sharply to be rebuked yet doth not Christ leave him in the Sea neither long permitted he that fear and tempest to continue but first they entred both into the Ship and thereafter the winde ceased and last their Ship arrived without longer delay at the place for which they long had laboured O blessed and happy are those that patiently abides this deliverance of the Lord The raging Sea shall not devour them Albeit they have fainted yet shall not Christ Jesus leave them behinde in the stormy Sea but suddenly he shall stretch forth his mighty hand and shall place them in the Ship amongst their brethren that is He shall conduct them to the number of his elect and afflicted Church with whom he will continue to the end of the world The Majestie of his presence shall put to silence this boysterous winde the malice and envy of the devill which so bloweth in the hearts of Princes Prelates Kings and of earthly men that altogether they are conjured against the Lord and against his Anoyned Christ in despight of whom he safely shall conduct convey and carry his sore troubled Flock to the life and rest for which they travell Albeit I say that sometimes they have fainted in their journey albeit that weaknesse in faith permitted them to sink yet from the hand of Christ can they not be rent he may not suffer them to drown nor the deep to devour them But for the glory of his own Name he must deliver for they are committed to his charge protection and keeping and therefore must he keep and defend such as he hath received at his father from sin from death from devil and hell The remembrance of these promises is to mine own heart such occasion of comfort as neither can any tongue nor pen expresse but yet peradventure some there is of Gods elect that cannot be comforted in this tempest by any meditations of Gods election or defence but rather beholding such as sometimes boldly have professed Christs Verity now to be returned to their accustomed abominations And also themselves to be overcome with fear that against their knowledge and conscience they stoup to an Idol and with their presence maintaineth the same and being at this point they begin to reason Whether it be possible that the members of Christs body may be permitted so horribly to fall to the denyall of their Head and in the same to remain of long continuance And from this reasoning they enter in dolour and from dolour they begin to sink to the gates of hell and Ports of despair The dolour and fear of such I grant to be most just For oh how fearfull is it for the love of this transitory life in the presence of man to deny Christ Jesus and his known and undoubted Verity But yet to such as be not obstinate contemners of God and of all godlinesse I would give this my weak counsell That rather they should appeal to mercy then by the severe judgements of God to pronounce against themselves the fearfull sentence of condemnation and to consider that God includeth all under unbelief that he may have mercy upon all That the Lord filleth and giveth life he leadeth down to hell and yet lifteth up again But I will not that any man think That by this my counsell I either justifie such as horribly are returned back to their vomit either yet that I flatter such as maintaineth that abominable Idoll with their dayly presence God forbid For then were I but a blinde guide leading the blinde headlong to perdition Onely God knoweth the dolour and sobs of my heart for such as I hear dayly do turn back But the cause of my counsell is That I know the conscience of some to be so tender that whensoever they feel themselves troubled with fear wounded with anguish or to have sliden back in any point that then they judge their faith to be quenched
they are altogether against Christ Jesus and against his eternall Verity every one serving Sathan the Prince of this world in their rank age degree and estate The murtherers of their brethren which this day live are guilty with Cain of the blood of Abel The Kings and Princes which by power oppresse the people of God and will not suffer that the people truely worship God as he hath commanded but will retain them in Egypt are brethren and companions to Pharaoh The Prelats and Priests whose horrible iniquities and insolent life have infected all Realmes where they raigne have with their fathers the old Pharisces taken away the key of knowledge and have shut up the Kingdom of heaven before men so that neither they themselves will enter neither yet will they suffer others to enter into the same And the multitude blinded some by ignorance some by fear and by insatiable appetite of their part of the spoyl for Christ being crucified the souldiers parted amongst them his garments are conjured to defend those murtherers proud pestilent Prelats against Christ Jesus and against his poor Flock And therefore because of one crime they are all guilty which is of treason and rebellion against Christ of one torment they shall all taste which is Of the fire that never shall be quenched And herein ought you Madame be circumspect and carefull if that ye hope for the life to come For if the consent which proceedeth of ignorance and blindenesse bringeth destruction and death as Christ our Master doth witnesse saying If the blinde lead the blinde they shall both fall into the ditch What shall become of the proud and malicious contemners of Gods Verity offered But our Doctrine perchance shall be denyed to be the Verity Whereunto I answer That so was the Doctrine of Noah of Moses of the Prophets of Christ Jesus and of his Apostles and yet the originall world perished by water Sodome and Gomorra by fire descending from heaven Pharaoh and his adherents in the Red Sea the City of Ierusalem and the whole Nation of the Jews by punishments and plagues notwithstanding that the whole multitude cryed This is a new doctrine this is heresie and tendeth to sedition Our Petition is That our Doctrine may be tryed by the plain Word of God That liberty be granted to utter and declare our mindes at large in every Article and Point which now are in controversie Which if ye deny giving ear to Christs enemies who condemne his doctrine for heresie ye shall drink the Cup of Gods wrath with them But now to the former Letter Letter I doubt not but the rumors which have come to your Majesties ears of me have been such that if all reports were true I were unworthy to live upon the earth And wonder it is That the voices of the multitude should not so have enflamed your Majesties heart with just hatred of such a one as I am accused to be that all accesse to pity should have been shut up I am traduced as an heretick accused as a false teacher and seducer of the people besides other opprobries which affirmed by men of worldly honour and estimation may easily kindle the wrath of Magistrates where innonocence is not known But blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who by the dew of his heavenly grace hath so quenched the fire of displeasure as yet in your Majesties heart which of late dayes I have understood that Sathan is frustrate of his enterprise and purpose which is to my heart no small comfort Not so much God is my witnesse for any benefit that I can receive in this miserable life by protection of any earthly creature for the cup which it behoveth me to drink is appointed by the wisedom of him whose counsels are not changeable as that I am for that benefit which I am assured your Majestie shall receive if that ye continue in like moderation and clemency towards others that most unjustly are and shall be accused as that your Majestie hath begun towards me and my most desperate Cause that is If that by godly wisedome ye shall studie to bridle the fury and rage of them who for the maintenance of their worldly pomp regard nothing the cruell murthering of simple innocents Then shall he who doth pronounce mercy to appertain to the mercifull and promiseth that a cup of cold water given for his Names sake shall not lack reward first cause your happy Government to be praised in this present age and in posterities to come and last recompence your godly pains and study with that joy and glory which eye hath not seen nor yet can enter into the heart of mortall creature Addition IF Christs words were esteemed true That of every idle word an accompt shall be given and that nothing is so secretly done which shall not come to knowledge and light I suppose that the tongues of men should be better bridled then impudently to speak their pleasure in matters unknown For albeit that the true fear of God should not move them to speak truth yet would I think if any spark of humanity remained that worldly shame should impede them to lye When reasoning was before your Majesty what man it was that preached in Aire and divers men were of divers opinions some affirming that it was an Englishman and some supposing the contrary a Prelate not of the least pride said Nay no Englishman but it is Knox that Knave It was my Lords pleasure so to Baptize a poor man The reason whereof if it should be required his Rochet and Miter must stand for Authority What further liberty he used in defining things like uncertain to him to wit of my learning and doctrine at this present I omit Lamenting more that such pestilent tongues have liberty to speak in the presence of Princes then that I am sorry for any hurt that their venome can do to me in body or fame For what hath my life and conversation been since it hath pleased God to call me from the puddle of Papistry let my very enemies speak And what learning I have they may prove when they please The report of your Majesties moderation as well at that time as after when suite was made for my taking moved me to write this my other Letter in which albeit I have not played the Orator trimming and decking the matter for the pleasure of itching and delicate ears yet doth my conscience bear me record That with simplicity I have advertised you of a mortall danger As this portion subsequent shall prove Letter SUperfluous and foolish it shall appear to many That I a man of low estate and condition dare enterprise to admonish a Princesse so honourable indued with wisedom and graces singular But when I consider the honour which God commandeth to be given to Magistrates which no doubt if it be true honour containeth in it self in lawfull things obedience and in
the Prophets to defend the wicked deceit fraud and violence in the common people and finally an universall silence of all men none being found to reprehend these enormities Would to God that I might with safetie of conscience excuse you your Counsell and the Idolaters of that Realm from any of these crimes aforenamed The Idolatry which is committed is more evident then that it can be denyed the avarice and crueltie as well of your self as of such as be in authority may be known by the facts For fame carrieth the voices of the poor oppressed by intolerable taxes not onely to us here in a strange Country but I am assured to the ears of the God of hostes The conspiracy and conjuration of your false Prophets is known to the world and yet is none found so faithfull to God nor mercifull to your Majestie that freely will and dare admonish you to repent before that God rise himself in judgement When I name repentance I mean no outward shew of holinesse which commonly is found in Hypocrites but I mean a true conversion to the Lord God from your whole heart with a damning of all superstition and idolatry In which ye have been nourished which with your presence ye have decored and to your power maintained and defended Unlesse I say that this poyson be purged from your heart be your outward life never so glistering before the world yet in the presence of God it is but abominable Yea further I say that where this venome of the Serpent idolatry I mean lurketh in the heart it is impossible but that at one time or other it shall produce pestilent fruits albeit peradventure not openly before men yet before God no lesse odious then the facts of Murtherers Publicanes and Harlots and therefore in my former Letter I said that superfluous it was to require Reformation of manners where the Religion is corrupted Which yet again I repeat to the end that your Majestie more deeply may weigh the matter But now to the rest of the same my former Letter Letter I Am not ignorant how dangerous a thing it appeareth to the naturall man to innovate any thing in matters of Religion and partly I consider That your power Madam is not so free as a publike Reformation perchance would require But if your Majestie shall consider the danger and damnation perpetuall which inevitable hangeth upon all maintainers of a false Religion then shall the greatest danger easily devour and swallow up the smaller If you shall consider That either ye must serve God to life everlasting or else serve the World to death and damnation then albeit that man and angel should disswade you ye will chose life and refuse death And if further ye shall consider that the very life consisteth in the knowledge of the onely true God and of his Son Christ Iesus and that true knowledge hath annexed with it Gods true worship and honour which requireth a testimony of his own Will expressed by his Word That such honour doth please him if you do earnestly meditate these things aforesaid then albeit ye cannot do saddenly what ye would yet shall ye not cease to do what ye may Your Majestie cannot hastily abolish Superstition and remove from offices unprofitable Pastours of whom speaketh Ezekiel the Prophet which to a publike Reformation is requisite and necessary But if the zeal of Gods glory be fervent in your Majesties heart ye will not by wicked Laws maintain Idolatry neither will ye suffer the fury of Bishops to murther and devour the poor Members of Christs body as in times past they have been accustomed which thing if either by blind ignorance ye do or yet for pleasure of others within this Realm permit to be done then except you speedily repent ye and your posteritie shall suddenly feel the depressing hand of him who hath exalted you Ye shall be compelled will ye or not to know that he is eternall against whom ye addresse the Battell and that it is he that moderateth the times and disposeth Kingdoms ejecting from authoritie such as be inobedient and placing others according to his good pleasure That it is he that glorifieth them that do glorifie him and powreth forth contempt upon Princes that rebell against his graces offered Addition IN writing of this parcell as I remembred the impediments which might call you back from God and from his true obedience so did I consider what occasion you had to tremble and to fear before his Majestie and to undergo the losse of all the worldly glory for the promoting of the glory of God I do consider that your power is but borrowed extraordinary and unstable for you have it but by permission of others And seldom it is that women do long raign with felicitie and joy Your most especiall friends moreover blinded by the vanitie of this World yea being drunken with the Cup of that Roman Harlot are mortall enemies to Christ Jesus and to his true Religion These things may easily abash the minde of a Woman not confirmed by grace But yet if you will a little consider with me the causes why that ye ought to hazard all for the glory of God in this behalf the former terrours shall suddenly vanish I do not esteem that thing greatest which peradventure some others do to wit That if ye shall enterprise to innovate any thing in matters of Religion that then ye shall lose your Authoritie and also the favours of your carnall friends I look further to wit To the judgements of God who hath begun already to declare himself angry with you with your Seed and Posteritie yea with the whole Realm above which it should have ruled Impute not to fortune that first your two sons were suddenly taken from you within the space of six houres and after your Husband raft as it were by violence from life and honour the memoriall of his name succession and royall dignitie perishing with himself For albeit the usurped abuse or rather tyranny of some REALMS have permitted Women to succeed to the honour of their Fathers yet must their glory be transferred to the house of a stranger And so I say That with himself was buried his name succession and royall dignitie as he himself did apprehend in dying And in this If ye espy not the anger and hot displeasure of GOD threatning you and the rest of your Posteritie with the same plague ye are more obstinate then I would wish you to be I would ye should ponder and consider deeply with your self That God useth not to punish Realms and Nations with such rare plagues without great cause neither useth he to restore to honours and glory the house which he beginneth once to deject till repentance of the former crimes be found you may perchance doubt what crimes should have been in your Husband you or the Realm for the which God should so grievously have punished you I answer The
now O would God that the Nobility should yet consider The first of the Nobility The constant request of the Protestants of Scotland Note the duty of Noblemen Note Probation against the Papists Against such as under colour of authority persecute their brethren Difference betwixt the person and the Authority Note Note diligently Pharaoh his fact Note The fact of King Saul The second sort of the Nobility Note Let both the one part and the other judge if God have not justified the cause of the innocents From whence this courage did proceed the issue did declare Note The Earle of Glencarne his resolution Speakers sent by the Queene to S. Iohnston Note the answer The false suggestion of the Queen Regent Let the Papists rather ambitious Romanists judge The diligence of the Earle of Glencarne and of the brethren of the wast for the relief of S. Iohnston The Petition of the Protestants for the rendering of S Iohnston The answer of the Earle of Argyle and L. Iames Prior of S. Andrews The promise of the foresaid Note 1559 The first slaughter at the entry of the French-men Idolatry erected against the appointment Against the appointment the second time Second answer of the Queen Regent The third anâ—wer The departure of the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames from the Queen Regent The answer the Earle of Argyle The Bishops good minde towards Iohn Knox. Iohn Knox his answer to the Lords and the rest of the brethren The Reformation of S. Audrews For the old Earle of Argyle was dead Cowper-Moore M. Gawin Hamiltons Vow First answer at Cowper-moore The second answer The delivery of S. Iohnston The summoning of S. Iohnston Communing at S. Iohnston Huntly The Bishop of Murray The destruction of Scone The cause of the burning of Scone Speaking of an ancient matron when Scone was burning The taking of Stirlin Lord Shaton The coming of the Congregaon to Edinburg Let the Reader marke how this agrees with our time The third Letter to the Queen Regent The craftines of the Queen Regent may yet be espied 1559. Accusations Mark the craftie calumnies The communing at Preston The demand of the Queen Regent and answer of the Protestants The last offers of the Protestants to the Q. Regent The scoffing of the Queen Regent Note The death of Henry King of France Note how this agrees with our times Answer to the calumnie Note Nobles Leith left us the congregation The Lord Erskin and his fact In contemplation of these Articles arose this proverb Good day Sir John till Ianury Welcome Sir John till Ianuary Note The promise of the Duke and Earle of Huntly Answer to thâ— complaint of the Papists The third Bond of mutuall defence at Sterlin Note â—he first knowledge of the escaping of the Eâ—rle of Arran out of France Let this be noted The just reward of the Duâ—e for leaving God Brags â—now Note Note Note The residence of Iohn Willock in Edinburg Note The Queen Regents malice against poore men Note The practise of the Queen Regent See how this agreeth with our times The arrivall of th French Note The division of the Lords lands by the French How like to the Proclâ—mations of our times this is let the Reader judge Let the Bishop of Amians Letters and Monsieur de la Brosse Letters written to France witnesse that Confer this with our times Few dayes after declareth the truth of this Confer this with our times Let the Nobility judge hereof Let Sir Robert Richardson and others answer to this See how this agrees with our times The cause of the Frenchmens coming with wives and children Note A proverbe Note The doctrine of our Preachers concerning obedience to be given to Magistrates Let such as this day live witnesse what God hath wrought since the writing and publication hereof Note The Prophets have medled with policy and have reproved the corruptions thereof The coming of the Earle of Arran to Scotland and his joyning with the Congregation Letters to the Queen Regent The Petition of la Brosse The answer Note The tyranny of the French Note how this agrees with our times Note Let this be noted O craâ—ty flatterâ—r Note Elizabeth was come to the crown of England the yeere before by the death of Mary False lying tongue God hath confounded thee God hath purged his people of that false accusation Note The avarice of those of Loraine and Guise Note The title that the Queen hath or had to Leith The Laird of Lestarrig sup riour to Leith Note Note diligently The wickednesse of the Bishops The cause that Broughtie Craig was taken Let all men judge The Dukes answer Note Note Note The quarrell betwixt Frauce and the Congregation of Scotland The Lord Seaton unworthy of Regiment Optimâ— collatio Let the Papists judge if God hath not given judgement to the displeasure of their hearts Note The causes that moved the Nobility of this Realme to oppose the Q. Regent The sâ—me minde remaineth to this day This promise was forgot and therefore God plagued Wha spirit could have hoped for victory in so desperate dangers Note Note how calumnies prevail upon the world for a time Now the Duke seeing the Queens partie decline and the Protestant party grow strong he once more changeth the profession of his Religion and joyneth with the Protestants as strongest How true this is the whole and constant course of the family can tell Let this be noted and let all men judge of the purpose of the French and how good and wise Patriots they wâ—re who sold our Soveraign to France for their private profit and they by name were 〈◊〉 Hamiltons The order of the suspension of the Queen Regent from Authority within Scotland The discourse of Iohn Willock The causes The judgment of Iohn Knox in the deposition of the Queen Regent Let no man then for privat ends and by-wayes do any thing against their Prince â—nder preâ—ence of the publike 1559 The enormities committed by the Queen Regent Her daughter followed the same for to Davie was delivered the Great Seal Note Note Note Note All done in the Soveraignâ— Name as they do now a-dayâ— Note Treason among the counsell The Duke and his friends fearfull The ungodly Souldiers The Queenâ— Regents practises The fact of the councell The treason of Iohn 〈◊〉 Note the kindnesse of the English in need The E. Bothweâ—l false in promise and his treasonable fact Note The first departing of the Congregation The cruelty of the French Note this diligently The Earle of Argyle Lord Robert Stewart The Castle shot one Shot The Queen Regents rejoycing and unwomanly behaviour The counsel of the Master of Maxwell The last discâ—mâ—â—tuâ—e upon Munday The death of Alexander Haliburnton Captaine How and why William Maitland left Leith The Lord Erskin declared himself enemy to the Congregation The despight of the Papists of Edinburgh The worst is not yet come upon our enemies Note Note Note diligently Note Specialiâ— Applicatio Let Scotland
Grace of God King and Queen of Scots To all and sundry Our Lieges and Subjects whom it may concerne and to whose knowledge these Letters shall come Greeting Forasmuch as in this Uprore lately raised up against us by certaine Rebels and their assistants the authors thereof to blinde the eyes of the simple people have given them to understand That the quarrell they have in hand is onely Religion thinking with that cloke to cover their ungodly designes and so under that plausible argument to draw after them a large train of ignorant persons easie to be seduced Now for the preservation of our good Subjects whose case were to be pitied if they blindely should suffer themselves to be induced and trapped in so dangerous a snare it hath pleased the goodnesse of God by the utterance of their own mouthes and writings to us to discover the poyson that before lay hid in their hearts albeit to all persons of cleer judgment the same was evident enough before For what other thing is this but to dissolve the whole Policy and in a manner to invert the very order might move the principal raisers of this tumult to put themselves in Arms against us so unnaturally upon whom we had bestowed so many benefits But that the great honor we did them they being thereof unworthy made them misknow themselves and their ambition could not be satisfied with heaping riches upon riches honor upon honor unlesse they retain in their hands us and our whole Realme to be led used and disposed at their pleasure But this could not the multitude have perceived if God for disclosing their Hypocrisie had not compelled them to utter their unreasonable desire to Governe for now by Letters sent from themselves to us which make plain profession that the establishing of Religion will not content them but we must be forced to govern by Councell such as it shall please them to appoint us a thing so farre beyond all measure that we thinke the onely mention of so unreasonable a demand is sufficient to make their nearest Kinsfolks their most mortall enemies and all men to run on them without further scruple that are zealous to have their native Countrey to remain still in the state of a Kingdome For what other thing is this but to dissolve the whole policie and in a manner to invert the very order of nature to make the Prince obey and Subjects command The like was never demanded by any of our most Noble Progenitors heretofore yea not of Governours and Regents but the Prince and such as have filled their place chose their Councell of such as they thought most fit for the purpose When we our selves were of lesse age and at our first returning into this our Realme we had free choice of our Councell at our pleasure and now when we are at our full maturity shall we be brought back to the state of Pupills and be put under Tutory So long as some of them bore the whole sway with us this matter was never called in question but now when they cannot be longer permitted to do and undoe all at their pleasure they will put a Bridle into our mouthes and give us a Councell chosen after their fantasie This is the quarrell of Religion they made you beleeve they had in hand This is the quarrell for which they would have you hazzard your Lands Lives and goods in the company of a certain number of Rebels against your naturall Prince To speak in good language they would be Kings themselves or at the least leaving to us the bare Name and Title and take to themselves the credit and whole administration of the Kingdome We have thought good to make publication hereof to shew that you suffer not your selves to be deceived under pretence of Religion to follow them who prefering their particular advancement to the publike tranquilitie and having no care of you in respect of themselves would if you would hearken to their voice draw you after them to your utter destruction Assuring you that you have heretofore good experience of our clemency and under our Wings enjoyed in peace the possession of your Goods and lived at liberty of your Conscience so may you be in full assurance of the like hereafter and have us alwayes your good and loving Princes to so many as shall continue your selves in due obedience and do the office of faithfull and naturall Subjects Given under our Signet at Saint Andrews the tenth of December and of our Reignes the first and twentie three years 1565. NOw the Lords desired next the establishing of Religion That the Queens Majesty in all the Affairs of the Realme and Common-wealth should use the counsell and advice of the Nobility and ancient blood of the same whereas in the mean time the Councell of David and Francisco the Italians with Fowler the Englishman and Master Iames Balfour Parson of Flisk was preferred before all others save onely the Earle of Athole who was thought to be a man of grosse judgement but neverthelesse in all things given to please the Queen It was now finally come to this point that in stead of Law Justice and equity onely Will ruled in all things there was thorow all the Countie set out a Proclamation in the King and Queens names commanding all persons to come and meet them at Sterlin the first day of October following with twenty dayes provision under pain of life lands and goods It was uncertain whether their Majesties intended to passe from Sterlin or not and I beleeve the principall men knew not well at that time for a report was That by reason the Castles of Hamilton and Draffen were kept Fortified and Victualled at the Dukes command that they would passe to siege the said houses give them some shot of a Canon others said They would passe towards my L. of Argile who had his people alwayes armed whereof his neighbours were afraid especially the Inhabitants of Athole and Lenox but at length it was concluded that they should passe to Dumfreis as shall be declared During this time there were Propositions made continually to the King and Queen by the Lords desiring alwayes their Majesties most humbly to receive them into their hands Their Articles tended continually to these two Heads viz. To abolish the Masse root out Idolatry and Establish the true Religion And that they and the affaires of the Realm should be governed by the advice and counsell of the true Nobility of the same offering themselves and their cause to be tried by the Lawes of the Countrey Yet nothing could be accepted nor taken in good part albeit the Master of Maxwell laboured by all meanes to redresse the matter who also entertained the Lords most honourably in Dumfreis for he had the government of all that Countrey But he himself incurred the Queens wrath so that he was summoned to present himself and appear before the King and Queens Majesties after the same form