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
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
greater enemy to the banished Lords And at this time the principall Lords that waited at Court were divided in opinions For the Earle of Morton Chancellor with the Earle of Marr and Secretary Lethington were on the one part and the Earles of Huntley and Bothwell on the other part so that a certain drynesse was amongst them neverthelesse by means of the Earle of Athole they were reconciled Now as there was preparation made by the Papists for Christmas the Queen being then at Masse the King came publikely and bare company and the Friers Preached the dayes following alwayes using another stile then they had done seven yeers before during which time they had not Preached publikely they were so little esteemed that they continued not long in Preaching At the same time convened in Edinburgh the generall Assembly of the Ministers and Commissioners of the Churches Reformed within this Realme There assisted them of the Nobility the Earles of Morton and Marr the Lord Lindsay and Secretary Lethington with others The chief things that were concluded in this Assembly were That for the avoyding of the plagues and scourges of God which appeared to come upon the people for their sins and ingratitude there should be proclaimed by the Ministers a publike Fast to be Universally observed thorowout all the Reformed Churches which manner of Fasting was soon after devised by Iohn Knox at the Command of the Church and put in Print wherefore needs not here to be recited in this place What followed upon the said Fast shall be plainly God willing declared The second thing that was ordained in this Assembly was concerning the Ministers who for want of payment of their stipends were like to perish or else to leave their Ministry wherefore it was found necessary That supplication should be made to the King and Queens Majesties And for the same purpose a certain uumber of the most able men were elected to go to their Majesties aforesaid to lament and bemone their case Which persons had Commission to propose some other things as shall be declared The names of them that past from the Church to the King and Queens Majesties were M. Iohn Spotswood Superintendent of Lowthian Iohn Winrame Superintendent of Fyfe M. Iohn Row Minister of Perth M. David Lyndsay Minister of Leith who easily obtained audience of the King and Queens Majesties And after their reverence done M. Iohn Row in name of the rest opened the matter lamenting bewailing the miserable state of the poor Ministers who by publike command had been reasonably satisfied three yeers or more by vertue of the Act made with advice of the honorable Privie Councell for the taking up of the Thirds of the Benefices which was especially made in their favours Neverthelesse the Laird of Tillibardin new Comptroller would answer them nothing Wherefore they besought their Majesties for relief Secondly seeing that in all Supplications made to the King and Queens Majesties by the Church at all times they desired most earnestly that all Idolatry and superstition and especially the Masse should be rooted out and abolished quite out of this Realme And that in the last generall Assembly of the Church by their Commissioners they had most earnestly desired the same And that their answer was then That they knew no impediment in the Masse therefore the Assembly desired That it might please their Highnesses to hear Disputation to the end that such as now pretend to Preach in the Chappell Royall and maintain such errours the Truth being tryed by disputation that they might be known to be abusers submitting themselves alwayes to the Word of God written in the Scriptures To this it was answered by the Queen That she was alwayes minded that the Ministers should be paid their Stipends and if there was any fault therein the same came by some of their own sort meaning the Comptroller Pittarow who had the handling of the Thirds Alwayes by the advice of her Councell she should cause such order to be taken therein that none should have occasion to complain As to the second She would not jeopard her Religion upon such as were there present for she knew well enough that the Protestants were more learned The Ministers and Commissioners of Churches perceiving nothing but delay and driving off time in the old manner went home every one to their own Churches waiting upon the good providence of God continually making Supplication unto Almighty God that it would please him of his mercy to remove the apparant plague And in the mean time the Queen was busied with Banqueting about with some of the Lords of the Session of Edinburgh and after with all men of Law having continually in her company David Rizio who sate at Table neer to her self sometimes more privately then became a man of his Condition for his over-great familiarity was already supected and it was thought That by his advice alone the Queens sharpnesse and extremity towards the Lords was maintained In the end of Ianuary arrived an Ambassadour from France named Monsieur Rambullet having with him about fourty Horse in Trayn who came thorow England He brought with him the Order of the Cockle from the King of France to the King who received the same at the Masse in the Chappell of the Palace of Halyrud-house There assisted the Earles of Lenox Athole and Eglington with divers such other Papists as would please the Queen who three dayes after caused the Herald to convene in Councell and reasoned what Armes should be given to the King some thought he should have the Armes of Scotland some others said Seeing it was not concluded in Parliament that he should have the Crown Matrimoniall he could have Armes but onely as Duke of Rothesay Earle of Rosse c. The Queen bade give him onely his due whereby it was perceived her love waxed cold towards him Finally his Arms were left blank and the Queen caused put her own name before her husbands in all Wrets and thereafter she caused to leave out his name wholly And because formerly he had signed every thing of any moment she caused to make a Seale like the Kings and gave it to David Rizio who made use of it by the Queens Command alleadging That the King being at his Pastime could not alwayes be present About the same time the Earle of Glencarne came from Barwicke to his owne Countrey Soon after the Earle of Bothwell was married unto the Earle of Huntley his sister The Queene desired that the Marriage might be made in the Chappell at the Masse which the Earle Bothwell would in no wise grant Upon Sunday the third day of March began the Fasting at Edinburgh The seventh day of March the Queen came from the Pallace of Hallirud-house to the Town in wondrous gorgious apparell albeit the number of Lords and Train was not very great In the mean time the King accompanied with seven or eight horse went to the Leith to passe his time there for hee was not like
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
his Messenger Sir Adam Browne advertisement was given That if any farther displeasure chanced unto him he would that he should not blame them The Bishops servants that same night began to fortifie the place again and began to do violence to some that were carrying away such Baggage as they could come by The Bishops Girnall was kept the first night by the labours of Iohn Knox who by exhortation removed such as violently would make interruption The same night departed from S. Iohnston the Earl of Argyle and L. Iames as after shall be declared The morrow following some of the poor in hope of spoyl and some of Dundie to consider what was done passed up to the said Abbey of Scone whereat the Bishops servants offended began to threaten and speak proudly and as it was constantly affirmed one of the Bishops sons thrust thorow with a Rapier one of Dundie for because he was looking in at the Girnell door This brute noysed abroad the Town of Dundie was more enraged then before who putting themselves in Armour sent word to the inhabitants of S. Iohnston That unlesse they would support them to avenge that injury they should never after that day occure with them in any action The multitude easily enflamed gave the Alarm and so was that Abbey and Palace appointed to Saccage in doing whereof they took no long deliberation but committed the whole to the merciement of fire Whereat no small number of us were so offended that patiently we could not speak to any that were of Dundie or Saint Iohnston A poor aged matron seeing the flame of fire to passe up so mightily and perceiving that many were thereat offended in plain and sober manner of speaking said Now I see and understand that Gods judgements are just and that no man is able to save where he will punish since my remembrance this place hath been nothing else but a Den of Whore mongers It is incredible to believe how many wives have been adulterate and virgins deflowred by the filthy beasts which have been fostered in this den but especially by that wicked man who is called the Bishop If all men knew as much as I they would praise God and no man would be offended This woman dwelt in the Towne nigh to the Abbey At whose words were many pacified affirming with her That it was Gods just Judgement And assuredly if the labours or travell of any man could have saved that place it had not been at that time destroyed for men of greatest estimation laboured with all diligence for the safety of it While these things were done at Saint Iohnston the Queen fearing what should follow determined to send certain Bands of French Souldiers to Sterlin of purpose to stop the passage to us that then were upon the North side of Forth Which understood the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames departed secretly in the night and with great expedition preventing the French they took the Towne before whose coming the rascall multitude put hands on the thieves I should say Friers places and utterly destroyed them whereat the Queen and her Faction not a little afrayed with all diligence departed from Edinburgh to Dumbar And so we with reasonable diligence marched forward to Edinburgh for Reformation to be made there where we arrived the 29 of June The Provest for that time the Lord Seaton a man without God without honesty and oftentimes without reason had before greatly troubled and molested the brethren for he had taken upon him the protection and defence of the Black and Gray Friers and for that purpose did not onely lie himself in one of the Colledges every night but also constrained the most honest of the Towne to watch those monsters to their great grief and trouble But hearing of our sudden coming he abandoned his charge and left the spoyl to the poor who had made havock of all such things as was moveable in those places before our coming and left nothing but bare walls yea not so much as door or window whereby we were the lesser troubled in putting order to such places After that we had deliberate certain dayes what was best to be done and what order was to be taken for suppressing all Monuments of Idolatry within that Towne and the places next adjacent determination was taken to send some Message to the Queen then Regent For she had bruted as her accustomed manner was by advice of her counsell ever to forge lies that we sought nothing but her life and a plain revoltment from the lawfull obedience due to our Soveraigne her Authority as by the Tenour of these Letters may be seen FRANCIS and MARIE By the Grace of God King and Qneen of Scots Doulphin and Doulphinesse of Viennois To Our loved Lyon King of Armes c. Our Sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute greeting Forasmuch as our dearest Mother Marie Queen Dowager Regent of Our Realme and Lords of our Secret Councell perceiving the seditious tumult raised by one part of our Lieges naming themselves The Congregation who under pretence of Religion have put themselves in Armes And that Our Mother for satisfying of every mans conscience and pacifying of the said troubles had offered unto them to appoint a Parliament to be holden in January next to come this was a manifest lie for this was neither offered nor by her once thought upon till we required it or sooner if they had pleased for establishing of a Universall order in matters of Religion by Our advice and States of Our Religion and in the meane time to suffer every man to live at liberty of Conscience without trouble unto the time that the said order were taken by advise of Our foresaid States And at last because it appeareth much to stand upon Our Burrough of Edinburgh offered in like manner to let the inhabitants thereof chuse what manner of Religion they would set up and use for that time so that no man might alleadge that he was forced to do against his conscience Which offer the Queen Our said dearest Mother was at all times and yet is ready to fulfill Neverthelesse the said Congregation being of minde to receive no reasonable offers hath since by open deed declared That it is no Religion nor any thing thereto pertaining that they seek but onely the subversion of Our Authority and usurpation of Our Crowne In manifest witnessing whereof they daily receive English-men with Messages unto them and sendeth such like into England And last of all have violently intermitted withtaken and yet with-holds the Irons of Our Coyning-House which is one of the chiefe Points that concerneth Our Crowne And such like have intromitted with our Pallace of Halyrud-house Our Will is therefore c. That ye passe to the Market Crosse of Our said Burrough of Edinburgh or any other place within the same and there by open Proclamation in Our Name and Authority command and charge all and sundry persons
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
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
to the Church and triall taken That he was not married with the second woman neither that he was able to prove that he was divorced by any order of the Law from the first he was committed to the hands of the Magistrates who according to the Laws commanded him to be Carted But the rascall multitude enflamed by some ungodly Crafts-men made insurrection brake the Cart boasted and threatned the Officers and took away the malefactor This was the beginning of farther evils as we shall after hear In this mean time while Lord Iames we say was in France there came an Ambassadour from France suborned no doubt with all craft that might to trouble the state of Religion His Demands were first That the League betwixt us and England should be broken Secondly That the ancient League betwixt France and Scotland should be renewed Thirdly And that the Bishops and Church-men should be restored in their former places and be suffered to intermit with their Livings The Councell delayed answer untill the Parliament appointed in May. In the mean time the Papists of Scotland practised with him The Earls of Huntlie Atholl Bothwell and others intended to have taken Edinburgh before the said Parliament The whole Bishops assembled and held Councell in Sterlin Some whispering there was that the Duke and the Bishop of Saint Andrews were too familiar and some feared that the Authority of the Queen should have been usurped by reason of her absence and that the Duke was the second Person for thereat had some of his pressed immediately after the death of the King of France The Protestants thereof advertised prevented them and came to Edinburgh The Earle of Arran stood constant with his brethren there were some that carefully and painfully travelled that nothing prejudiciall to the Queens Authority should be done in the absence of the Lord Iames to whom the Queen hath recompenced evil for good service Master Iames Magill in that point did both stoutly and truely for Iohn Knox and he were then fallen in familiarity in which they yet continue 20 Octobris 1567. by reason that the said Master Iames had embraced the Religion and professed it publikely The Papists and Bishops disappointed of their principall enterprise did yet make broyle for trouble For the rascall multitude were stirred up to make a Robin-Hood which enormity was of many yeers left off and condemned by Stature and Act of Parliament yet would they not be forbidden but would disobey and trouble the Town especially upon the night Whereat the Bayliffs offended took from them some Swords and Ensigne which was occasion that they that same night made a mutiny kept the Gates of the Towne and intended to have pursued some men within their owne houses But that upon the restitution of their Swords and Ensigne was stayed And yet they ceased not to molest as well the Inhabitants of Edinburgh as divers Countrey-men taking from them money and threatning some with farther injuries Wherewith the Magistrates of the Town highly offended took more diligent heed to such as resorted to the Town and so apprehended one of the principall of that disorder named Balon a Shoo-maker whom they put to an Assizes and being convinced he could not be absolved for he was the chief man that spoyled Iohn Mubray of ten Crowns of the Sun they thought to have executed Judgement upon him and so erected a Gibbet beneath the Crosse. Whether it came by Paction with the Provest and some other or by instigation of the Crafts-men who ever have been bent too much to maintain such vanity and riotousnesse we fully know not but suddenly there did arise a tumult the Tolbuith was broken up and not onely the said Balon who before was condemned was violently taken forth but also all other malefactors were set at freedome the Gibbet was pulled downe and despightfully broken And thereafter as the Provest and some of the Councell assembled to the Clerks Chamber for consultation The whole rascall banded together with some knowne and honest Crafts-men and intended invasion on the said Chamber which perceived the Provest and such as were in his company past to the Tolbuith suspecting nothing that they would have been so enraged to make new pursuit after that they had obtained their intent But they were suddenly deceived for from the Castle hill they came with violence and with stones Guns and such other Weapons as they had and began to assault the said Tolbuith ran at the door of it till that partly by stones cast from above and partly by a Pistoll shot by Robert Norwell which hurt one Tuedy they were repulsed from the door But yet ceased they not to cast and shoot in at the windows threatning death to all that were within And in very deed the malice of the Crafts-men who were suspected to be the occasion of that tumult bare no good will to divers of those that were with the Provest The Arguments that the Crafts-men were the causes of that uprore besides their first disorder that they had used before in taking Sandersone from the execution of punishment are two The former Archibald Deware Patricke Shaugzie with other six Deacons came to Iohn Knox and willed him to solicite the Provest and the Towne to delay the execution Who did answer That he had so oft solicited in their favours that his own conscience accused him That they used his labours for no other end but to be a Patron to their impiety for he had before made intercession for William Harlaw Iohn Frissell and others that were convinced of the former tumult They proudly said That if it was not stayed both he and the Bayliffs should repent it Who answered He would not hurt his conscience for the fear of any man And so they departed and the tumult as said is immediately thereafter did arise The second Argument is The tumult continued from two at afternoon till after eight at night The Crafts-men were required to assemble themselves together for deliverance of the Provest but they past to their four hours penie or afternoons Pinte and in their jesting said They will be Magistrates alone let them rule the multitude alone And so contrary to the Oath which they had made they denied their assistance counsell comfort to the Provest and Bayliffs which are arguments very probable that the said tumult rose by their procurement The end thereof was That the Provest and Bayliffs were compelled to give their hands writs that they should never pursue any of those that were of that tumult for any crime that was done in that behalf And this was proclaimed at the Crosse after nine of the clock at night and so was that trouble quieted But the Nobility vowed That they would not spare it nor forget it and so a great number of that faction were absent from the Towne till the arrivall of the Queen The whole multitude were holden excommunicate and were admitted to no participation of the
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