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
in humanitie In short processe of time the fame of his reasons and Doctrine troubled the Clergie and came to the ears of Bishop Iames Betonne of whom before we have made mention who being a conjured enemy to Christ Jesus and one that long hath had the whole regiment of this Realm bare impatiently that any trouble should be made to the Kingdom of darknesse whereof within this Realm he was the head And therefore he so travelled with the said Master Patrike that he gat him to Saint Andrews where after the conference of divers dayes he had his freedom and liberty The said Bishop and his bloody Butchers called Doctours seemed to approve his Doctrine and to grant that many things craved Reformation in the Ecclesiasticall regiment And amongst the rest there was one that secretly consented with him almost in all things named Frier Alexander Campbell a man of good wit and learning but yet corrupt by the world as after we will hear when the Bishops and Clergie had fully understood the minde and judgement of the said Master Patrick and fearing that by him their kingdom should be endamaged they travailed with the King who then was young and altogether addict to their commandment that he should passe in Pilgrimage to Saint Dothesse in Rosse to the end that no intercession should be made for the life of the innocent servant of God who suspecting no such cruelty as in their hearts was conceived remained still a lambe amongst the wolves till that upon a night he was intercepted in his chamber and by the Bishops Band was caried to the Castle where that night he was kept and upon the morrow after brought forth to Judgement he was condemned to die by fire for the testimony of Gods Truth The Articles for the which he suffered were but of Pilgrimage Purgatory prayer to Saints and for the dead and such trifles Albeit that matters of greater importance had been in question as his Treatise which in the end we have added may witnesse Now that the condemnation of the said M. Patrike should have greater Authority they caused the same to be subscribed by all those of any estimation that with them were present and to make their number great they took the subscription of children if they were of the Nobility for the Earle of Cassilles which last deceased in France then being but twelve or thirteene yeers of age was compelled to subscribe his death as himself did confesse Immediately after dinner the fire was prepared before the old Colledge and he led to the place of Execution and yet men supposed that all was done but to give nnto him terrour and to have caused him to have recanted and have become recreant to those bloodie beasts but God for his own glory for the comfort of his servant and for manifestation of their beastly tyrannie had otherwise decreed for he â—o strengthned his faithfull Witnesse that neither the love of life nor yet the fear of that cruell death could move him a jote to swerve from the truth once professed At the place of execution he gave to his servant who had been chamberlain to him of a long time his Gown his Coat Bonnet and such like garments saying These will not profit in the fire they will profit thee after this of me thou canst receive no commoditie except the example of my death which I pray thee bear in minde for albeit it be bitter to the flesh and fearfull before men yet is it the entrance unto eternall life which none shall possesse that denies Christ Jesus before this wicked generation The innocent servant of God being bound to the stake in the midst of some coales some timber and other matter appointed for the fire a traine of powder was made and set on fire which gave to the blessed Martyr of God a blaise and scorched his left hand and that side of his face but neither kindled the wood nor yet the coales and so remained the appointed to death in torment till that men ran to the Castle again for more Powder and fire wood more able to take fire which at last being kindled with loud voice cried Lord Iesus receive my spirit How long shall darknesse overwhelm this Realme And how long wilt thou suffer this tyrannie of men The fire was slow and therefore was his torment the more But most of all was he grieved by certain wicked men amongst whom Campbel the black Frier of whom we spake before was principall who continually cryed Convert Heretick Call upon our Lady say Salve Regina c. To whom he answered Depart and trouble me not thou messenger of Satan But while that the aforesaid Frier still roared one thing in great vehemence he said unto him Wicked man thou knowest the contrary and the contrary to me thou hast confessed I appeale thee before the tribunall seat of Christ Iesus After which and other words which well could not be understood nor marked because of the tumult and vehemencie of the fire The witnesse of Jesus Christ gate victory after long sufferance the last of February in the yeere of God 1527. The said Frier departed this life within few dayes after in what estate we referre to the manifestation of the generall Day But it was plainly known that he died in Glasgow in a phrenzie and as one despaired Now that all men may understand what was the singular erudition and godly knowledge of the said M. Patrike Hamilton we have inserted this his little pithie Work containing his Assertions and Determinations concerning the Law the Office of the same concerning Faith and the true Fruits thereof first by the said Master Patrike collected in Latine and after translated into vulgar Language Of the Law THe Law is a Doctrine that biddeth good and forbiddeth evill as the Commandments here contained do specifie The ten Commandments THou shalt worship but one God 2. Thou shalt make thee no Image to worship it 3. Thou shalt not swear by his Name in vain 4. Hold the Sabbath day holy 5. Honour thy father and thy mother 6. Thou shalt not kill 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery 8. Thou shalt not steal 9. Thou shalt bear no false witnesse 10. Thou shalt not desire ought that belongeth to thy neighbour He that loveth God and his neighbour keepeth all the Commandments of God Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart with all thy soul and with all thy minde this is the first and great Commandment The second is like unto this Love thy neighbour as thy self in these two Commandments hang all the Law and Prophets He that loveth God loveth his neighbour If any man say I love God and yet hateth his neighbour he is a lyer He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen He that loveth his neighbour as himselfe keepeth the whole Commandments of God Whatsoever ye wovld that men should do
and reconciliation then destruction and hatred They committed his house to the custodie of a Captain to wit Captain Forbesse To whom and to all Souldiers there left was given a sharpe commandment That all things found within the said house of Crychton which were put in inventory in presence of the Lords should be kept till that the Earle Bothwell should give answer Whether he would make restitution or not time of advertisment was granted unto him the whole day subsequent till going down of the sun In absence of the said Lords and horsemen we meane the same day that they departed which was the last of October the Provest and Town of Dundie together with some Souldiers passed forth of the Town of Edinburgh and carried with them some great Ordnance to shoot at Leith The Duke the Earle of Glencarne and the rest of the Noble-men were gone to the Preaching where they continued almost till noone The French being advertised by one named Clerk who after was apprehended that our horsemen were absent and that the whole company were at dinner issued and with great expedition came to the place where our Ordnance was laid The Town of Dundie with a few other resisted a while as well with the Ordnance as hakbuts but being left by our ungodly and feeble Souldiers who fled without stroke offered or given they were compelled to give back and so to leave the Ordnance to the enemies who further pursued the fugitives to wit to the midst of the Canongate and to the foot of Leith winde Their cruelty began then to discover it selfe for the maimed the aged the women and children found no greater favour in their fury then did the strong man who made resistance It was very apparant that among our selves there was some treason For when upon the first alarme all men made haste for reliefe of their brethren whom in very deed we might have saved and at least we might have saved the Ordnance and have kept the Cannongate from danger For we were once marched forward with bold courage but then we say was a shout raised amongst our selves God will disclose the traitours one day affirming That the whole French Company were entred in at Leith-winde upon our backs What clamour and disorder did then suddenly arise we list not to expresse with multiplication of words The horsmen and some of those that ought to have put order to others over-rode their poor brethren at the entry of the nether Bow The cry of discomfort arose in the Towne the wicked and malignant blasphemed The feeble amongst whom the Justice Clerk Sir Iohn Ballenden was fled without delay With great difficulty could they be kept in at the West Port. M. Gawan Hamilton cryed with a loud voice Drinke now as ye have brewed The French perceiving by the clamour of our fray followed as said is to the midst of the Cannon-gate to no great number but a twenty or thirty of their foot losse for in the mean time the rest retired themselves with our Ordinance The Earle of Argyle and his men were the first that stopped the flying of our men and compelled the Port to be opened after that it was shut But in very deed Lord Robert Stewart Abbot of Halyrud-house was the first that issued forth after him followed many upon the backs of the French At last came the Duke and then was no man more busie then was M. Gawan Hamilton aforesaid The French burnt a Back-house and took some spoile from the poor of the Cannon-gate They slue a Papist and a drunken Priest named Sir Thomas Sklaitter an aged man a woman giving suck and her childe and of our Souldiers to the number of ten Certain were taken amongst whom Captain Mowet was one M. Charles Geddes domestick to the Master of Maxwell The Capt. of the Castle that day shot a Shot at the French declaring them thereby friends to us and enemy to them but he suddenly repented of well-doing The Queen glad of Victory sate upon the Rampart to salute and welcome her victorious souldiers one brought a Kirtle another a Petticoat the third a Pot or Pan and of envy more then womanly laughter she asked Where bought ye your ware Ie pense que vous l'aues achete sans argent This was the great and motherly care which she took for the trouble of the poor subjects of this Realme The Earle Bothwell lifted up in his owne conceit by reason of this our repulse and discomfiture utterly refused any restitution and so within two dayes after was his house spoyled in which were no things of great importance his Evidences and certain Clothing excepted From that day back the carriage of money was dejected with great difficulty could men be retained in the Towne yea some of the greatest estimation determined with themselves to leave the enterprise many fled away secretly and those that did abide a very few excepted appeared destitute of counsell and manhood The Master of Maxwell a man stout and witty foreseeing the danger desired most gravely either to take such order that they might remaine to the terrour of the enemy or else that they should retire themselves with their Ordnance and Banners displayed in order But the wits of men being dashed no counsell could prevaile We continued from Wednesday the last of October till Munday the fifth of November never two or three abiding firme in one opinion the space of four and twenty houres The pestilent wits of the Queens practisers did then exercise themselves God shall recompence their malicious craft in their owne bosome we doubt not for they caused two godly and forward young men the Lairds of Farnihaste and Cesfurd who once had gladly joyned themselves with us to with-draw themselves and their friends The same they did to the Earle Morton who promised to be ours but did not plainly joyn They enticed the Captain of the Castle to deny us support in case we were pursued And finally the counsell of some was no lesse pestiferous against us then was the counsell of Achitophel against David and his discomfited souldiers Render Lord to the wicked according to their malice Upon Munday the fifth of November did the French issue out of Leith betimes in the morning for keeping of the Victualls which should have come to us we being troubled among our selves and as said is divided in opinions were neither circumspect when they did issue neither yet did we follow with such expedition as had been meet for them that would have sought our advantage Our souldiers could scarcely be driven forth of the Towne The Earle of Arran Lord Iames and certain with them made haste many honest men then followed and made such diligence that they caused the French once to retire somewhat affrayedly The rest that were in Leith perceiving the danger of their fellows issued out for their succour The Earle of Arran and Lord Iames aforesaid being more forward then
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
Charter-house was permitted to take with him even as much gold and silver as he was able to carry So were mens consciences beaten with the Word that they had no respect to their own particular profit but onely to abolish Idolatry the places and Monuments thereof in which they were so busie and so laborious that within two dayes these three great places Monuments of Idolatry to wit the Black and Gray Theeves and Charter-house Monks a building of wonderous cost and greatnesse was so destroyed that the walls onely did remain of all those great edifices Which reported to the Queen she was so inraged That she did vow utterly to destroy S. Iohnston man woman and childe and to consume the same by fire and thereafter to salt it in signe of a perpetuall desolation We suspecting nothing such cruelty but thinking that such words might escape her in choler without purpose determined because she was a woman set on fire by the complaints of those hypocrites who flocked unto her as Ravens to a carion We we say suspecting nothing such beastly cruelty returned to our own houses leaving in S. Iohnston Iohn Knox to instruct the people because they were yong and rude in Christ. But she set on fire partly by her own malice partly by commandment of her friends in France and not a little by bribes which she and Monsieur Dosell received from the Bishops and the Priests here at home did continue still in her rage And first she sent for all the Nobility to whom she complained That we meaned nothing but Rebellion She did grievously lament the destruction of the Charter-house because it was a Kings foundation and there was the tombe of King Iames the first and by such other perswasions she made the most part of them grant to pursue us And then incontinent sent she for her French men For that was and ever hath been her joy to see Scottish men dip one with anothers blood No man was at that time more franke against us then was Duke Hamilton led by that cruell beast the Bishop of Saint Andrews and by those that yet abuse him the Abbot of Kilvinning and Matthew Hamilton of Milburne two chiefe enemies to the Duke and to his whole house but in so far as thereby they may procure their own particular profit These and such other pestilent Papists ceased not to cast fagots on the fire continually crying Forward upon these Hereticks we shall once rid this Realme of them The certaintie hereof coming to our knowledge some of us repaired to the Towne againe about the two and twentieth day of May and there did abide for the comfort of our brethren Where after Invocation of the Name of God we began to put the Town and our selves in such strength as we thought might best serve for our just defence And because we did not utter despaire of the Queens favour we caused to forme a Letter to her Majestie as followeth To the Queenes Majestie Regent all humble obedience and dutie premised AS heretofore with jeopard of our lives and yet with willing hearts we have served the authoritie of Scotland and your Majestie now Regent in this Realme in service to our bodies dangerous and painefull so now with most dolorous mindes we are constrained by unjust tyrannie purposed against us to declare unto your Majestie That except this crueltie be stayed by your wisdome we shall be compelled to take the sword of just defence against all that shall pursue us for the matter of Religion and for our conscience sake which ought not nor may not be subject to mortall creatures further then by Gods Word man is able to prove that he hath power to command us We signifie moreover unto your Majestie That if by rigour we be compelled to seek the extreame defence that we will not onely notifie our innocencie and Petition to the King of France to our Mistresse and to her husband but also to the Princes and Counsell of every Christian Realme declaring unto them That this cruell unjust and most tyrannicall murther intended against Townes and multitudes was and is the onely cause of our revolt from our accustomed obedience which in Gods presence we faithfully promise to our Soveraigne Mistresse to her husband and unto your Majestie Regent Provided that our consciences may live in that Peace and Libertie which Christ Iesus hath purchased to us by his blood and that we may have his Word truely Preached and holy Sacraments rightly ministred unto us without which we firmely purpose never to be subject to mortall man For better we think to expose our bodies to a thousand deaths then to hazard our souls to perpetuall damnation by denying Christ Iesus and his manifest Veritie which thing not onely do they who commit open Idolatry but also all such as seeing their brethren pursued for the cause of Religion and having sufficient means to comfort and assist them do neverthelesse withdraw from them their dutifull support We would not your Majestie should be deceived by the false perswasions of those cruell beasts the Church-men who affirme That your Majestie needeth not greatly to regard the losse of us that professe Christ Iesus in this Realme If as God forbid ye give ear to their pestilent counsell and so use against us this extremity pretended it is to be feared That neither ye neither yet your posteritie shall at any time after this finde that obedience and faithfull service within this Realme which as all times you have found in us We declare our judgements freely as true and faithfull Subjects God move your Princely heart favourably to interpret our faithfull meaning Further advertising your Majestie That the selfe same thing together with all things that we have done or yet intend to do we will notifie by our Letters to the King of France Asking of you in the Name of the eternall God and as your Majestie tenders the peace and quietnesse of this Realme That ye invade us not with any violence till we receive answer from our Mistresse and her husbâ—nd and from their advised Counsell there And thus we commit your Majestie to the protection of the omnipotent From Saint Johnston the 22 of May 1559. Sic subscribitur Your Majesties obedient Subjects in all things not repugnant to God The faithfull congregation of Christ Iesus in Scotland To the same purpose we wrote to Monsieur Dosell in French requiring of him That by his wisdome he would mitigate the Queenes rage and the rage of the Priests otherwise that flame which then began to burn would so kindle that when some men would it could not be slackned Adding further That he declared himself no faithfull servant unto his Master the King of France if for the pleasure of the Priests he would persecute us and so compell us to take the sword of just defence In like manner we wrote to Captain Serre la Bourse and to all other Captains and French
Souldiers in generall admonishing them that their Vocation was not to fight against us naturall Scotish-men nor yet that they had any such Commandment of their Master We besought them therefore not to provoke us to enmity against them and to consider that they had found us favourable in their most great extremities We declared farther unto them That if they entred in hostility and bloody War against us that the same should remain longer then their owne lives to wit even in all posteritie to come so long as naturall Scotish-men should have power to revenge such cruelty and most horrible ingratitude These Letters were caused to be spread abroad in great abundance to the end that some might come to the knowledge of men The Queen Regent her Letter was laid upon her Cushion in the Chappel Royall at Sterlin where she was accustomed to sit at Masse she looked upon it and put in the pocket of her Gown Monsieur d' Osel and the Captains received theirs delivered even by their own souldiers for some amongst them were favourers of the Truth who after the reading of them began to pull their own beards for that was the modest behaviour of Monsieur d' Osell when truth was told unto him so that it repugned to his fantasie These our Letters were suppressed to the utmost of their power and yet they came to the knowledge of many But the rage of the Queen and the Priests could not be stayed but forward they move against us who then were but a very few and mean number of Gentlemen in S. Iohnston we perceiving the extremity to approach did write to all brethren to repair towards us for our relief to the which we found all men so ready bent that the Work of God was evidently to be espied the Tenour whereof followeth And because that we would omit no diligence to declare our innocency to all men we formed a Letter to those of the Nobility who then persecuted us as after followeth To the Nobility of Scotland The Congregation of Christ Iesus within the same desire the spirit of righteous Iudgement BEcause we are not ignorant that ye the Nobility of this Realme who now persecute us employing your whole study and force to maintain the kingdom of Sathan of superstition and Idolatry are yet neverthelesse divided in opinion We the Congregation of Christ Jesus by you unjustly persecuted have thought good in one Letter to write unto you severally Ye are divided we say in opinion for some of you think that we who have taken this enterprise to remove Idolatry and the Monuments of the same to erect the true Preaching of Christ Jesus in the bounds committed to our Charges are hereticks seditious men and troublers of this Commonwealth and therefore no punishment is sufficient for us and so blinded with this rage and under pretence to serve the Authority ye proclaim War and destruction without all order of Law against us To you we say that neither your blinde zeal neither yet the colour of Authority shall excuse you in Gods presence who commandeth none to suffer death till that he be openly convinced in judgement to have offended against God and against his Law written which no mortall creature is able to prove against us for whatsoever we have done the same we have done at Gods commandment who plainly commands Idolatry and all Monuments of the same to be destroyed and abolished Our earnest and long request hath been and is That in open Assembly it may be disputed in presence of indifferent auditors Whether that these abominations named by the pestilent Papists Religion which they by fire and sword defend be the true Religion of Jesus Christ or not Now this humble request denied unto us our lives are sought in most cruell manner And the Nobility whose duty is to defend innocents and to bridle the fury and rage of wicked men were it of Princes or Emperors do notwithstanding follow their appetites and arme your selves against us your brethren and naturall Countrey-men yea against us that be innocent and just as concerning all such crimes as be laid to our charges If ye think that we be criminall because that we dissent from your opinion consider we beseech you that the Prophets under the Law the Apostles of Christ Jesus after his Ascension his Primitive Church and holy Martyrs did disagree from the whole world in their dayes And will ye deny but that their action was just and that all those that persecuted them were murtherers before God May not the like be true this day What assurance have ye this day of your Religion which the world that day had not of theirs ye have a multitude that agree with you and so had they ye have antiquity of time and that they lacked not ye have Counsells Laws and men of reputation that have established all things as ye suppose but none of all these can make any Religion acceptable unto God which onely depended upon his owne will revealed to man in his most sacred Word It is not then a wonder that ye sleep in so deadly a security in the matter of your owne salvation considering that God giveth unto you so manifest tokens that ye and your leaders are both declined from God For if the tree shall be judged by the fruit as Christ Jesus affirmeth that it must needs be then of necessity it is That your Prelats and the whole rabble of their Clergie be evill trees For if Adultery Pride Ambition Drunkennesse Covetousnesse Incest Unthankfulnesse Oppression Murther Idolatry and Blasphemy be evill fruits there can none of that Generation which claim to themselves the title of Churchmen be judged to be good trees For all these pestilent and wicked fruits do they bring forth in greatest abundance And if they be evil trees as ye your selves must be compelled to confesse they are advise prudently with what consciences ye can maintain them to occupy the room and place in the Lords Vine-yard Do ye not consider that in so doing ye labour to maintain the servants of sin in their filthy corruption and so consequently ye labour that the devill may raigne and still abuse this Realme by all iniquity and tyranny and that Christ Jesus and his blessed Gospel be suppressed and extinguished The name and the cloke of the authority which ye pretend will nothing excuse you in Gods presence but rather shall ye bear double condemnation for that ye burden God as that his good Ordinances were the cause of your iniquity All Authority which God hath established is good and perfect and is to be obeyed of all men yea under pain of damnation But do ye not understand That there is a great difference betwixt the Authority which is Gods Ordinance and the persons of those which are placed in Authority the Authority and Gods Ordinances can never do wrong for it commandeth that vice and wicked men be punished and vertue with