THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORY OF SCOTLAND THE HISTORIE Of the REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Containing five Books Together with some TREATISES conducing to the History Published by Authority JEREM. 5.1 Run ye to and fro thorow the streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can finde a man if there be any executeth Iudgement that seeketh the Truth and I will pardon it 2 COR. 13.8 For we can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth LONDON Printed by Iohn Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen and are to be sold at the signe of the Rose in Pauls Church-yard MDCXLIV To the Reader Christian Reader HEre I present unto thee a Piece I dare promise worthy of thy reading wherein thou hast a true and plain Relation without disguising of many memorable Passages happened in the Church of God and likewise some notable ones in the State of the Kingdom of Scotland from the very first setling of State and Church in that Countrey But namely and chiefly thou hast here related what principally passed in Church and State in this our Countrey during the great Work of purging the Church from the Superstitions and Idolatry and freeing both Church and State from the Tyranny and Slavery of Popery untill the coming of King James our late Soveraign to the Crown of Scotland Further beside the true and faithfull Relation of many Occurrences that fell out in these dayes in Scotland thou hast unfolded unto thee and made plain the strong Reasons and necessery Causes that moved these men who are here named although infirm and weake in themselves to undergo the great Work of Reformation With the solid Grounds upon which they went on with this weighty Businesse willingly and cheerfully notwithstanding the great rubs and difficulties they met withall through the help and assistance of God who by them mean Instruments brought things to passe in despight of the malice and stratagems of Sathan with his agents for the good of his People and the setling of his Church in Purity and Liberty All these things are set down plainly and simply in familiar and homely Language Yet so that they may be with ease apprehended and understood by any one From what thou hast here written in this Volume although there were no other Writings in this kinde extant thou mayest see easily by what means the great Mystery of Iniquity from the very first Rise hath been set afoot and constantly ever since hath been carried on to wit By cunning Devices impudent Lyes continued and crafty Plots under specious Pretexts and open Oppression Tyranny and Cruelties within Scotland till the yeer of Christ 1567. After which time the enemies of God and of his People have not been sleeping till this present more then formerly Wherefore for thy good Christian Reader I have thought fit in this place to point at some main Occurrences from that time till now First then the adversaries of Truth and Goodnesse under the specious Pretext of restoring Queen Mary to her Liberty and of re-establishing her in full Authority and sole Power did disquiet and trouble both Church and State in Scotland both with open Force and subtill Plots for some yeers that is to the 1573 yeer But finding that all their Undertakings under this pretext proved to be in vain and without successe and standing to their main Designe of undoing Religion and Liberty they bethought themselves of another way in appearance more plausible for compassing their wicked Intents it was To deal by way of entreaty and request with the chief Ministers of State and Church then To have the Mother set at liberty and to be joynt in Authority and Power with her Son And for the obtaining of this was employed the credit of the French Court for the time with all its skill and cunning but to small purpose For these rude fellows who managed the publike Affairs then of State and Church could not be corrupted with the French Complements In this way the enemies continued till the yeer 1577 and did not then give over notwithstanding their bad successe but according to their wonted and resolved custome they went on with their Designe betaking themselves to a new course wherein they had indeed more successe then in either of the former two It was this They did set awork certain men who with fair words and flattering tales so craftily dealt with the young King hardly yet twelve yeers of age that they made him cast off as a yoke the counsell and service of those who ever since his Birth-day had carefully laboured for the good of State and Church with the pereservation of his Authority and safety of his Person And so the inconsiderate young King although of most nimble wit and knowing above his yeers under the shew of freedom put himself in the power of those who wished no good to his Person and Authority and as little to the Church and State making no scruple to trouble both for their own ends according to the Instructions of the Masters who set them awork So in very short time they gave unto the young King such impressions which did stick too much to him that not onely he became averse from those who had been so usefull to the publike and so serviceable to him but also he suffered them to be persecuted yea some by death and others by banishment While the enemies were thus working businesse with us in Scotland they were not idle with our neighbours in England for they were contriving and plotting under colour of setting the imprisoned Queen at liberty And were gone so far on in this way in both Kingdoms that to stop the course and progresse of the enemies both Countries thought it necessary to enter into a mutuall League and Covenant one with another for the defence of the Reformed Religion and Liberties of both Kingdoms with the preservation of the Persons and Authorities of both Princes King James and Queen Elizabeth against the common enemy This was done by the consent of both Princes in the yeer 1686. After this the enemy seeing the warinesse of both Kingdoms to be such that in a short time he was not likely to advance the main Designe according to his minde by craft and cunning leaveth off for a time to act the part of the Fox and openly declares himself to be a ravishing Wolf So the yeer 1588 the Armado cometh against both Kingdoms which God in his mercy unto our fathers and us brought to nought About this time and some yeers before the agents of the enemy were very busie with King James to break with England and to revenge the hard usage and ill treatment of his Mother But God did direct him so for his own good that he did give no consent to their evil counsell Upon this refusall of the Kings the agents of the common enemy do bestir themselves to trouble both King and Kingdom which they did in a
Balfour seeing the Queen committed and Bothwell consequently defeated he capitulated with the Lords for the delivery of the Castle Bothwell finding himself thus in disorder sent a servant to Sir Iames Balfour to save a little silver Cabinet which the Queen had given him Sir Iames Balfour delivers the Cabinet to the messenger and under-hand giveth of it to the Lords In this Cabinet had Bothwell kept the Letters of privacy he had from the Queen Thus he kept her Letters to be an awe-bond â—pon her in case her affection should change By the taking of this Cabinet many particulars betwixt the Queen and Bothwell were cleerly discovered These Letters were after printed They were in French with some Sonnets of her own making Few dayes after the commitment of the Queen the Earle of Glencarne with his domesticks went to the Chappell of Halyrud-house where he brake down the Altars and the Images Which fact as it did content the zealous Protestants so it did highly offend the popishly affected The Nobles who had so proceeded against Bothwell and dealt so with the Queen hearing that the Hamiltons had a great number of men and had drawn the Earls of Argyle and Huntley to their side sent to Hamilton desiring those that were there to joyn with them for the redresse of the disorders of Church and State But the Hamiltons thinking now they had a fair occasion fallen unto them to have all again in their hands and to dispose of all according to their own minde did refuse audience to the Message sent by the Lords Upon this the Lords moved the generall Assembly then met in Edinburgh in the moneth of Iune to write to the Lords that either were actually declared for the Hamiltons or were neuters And so severall Letters were directed to the Earles of Argyle Huntley Cathnes Rothesse Crauford and Menteth to the Lords Boyd Drummens Grame Cathcart Yester Fleming Levinston Seaton Glamnis Uthiltrie Gray Olyphant Methven Inderneth and Somervile as also to divers other men of note Besides the Letters of the Assembly Commissioners were sent from the Assembly to the Lords above-named to wit Iohn Knox Iohn Dowglas Iohn Row and Iohn Craig who had instructions conforme to the tenour of the Letters to desire these Lords and others to come to Edinburgh and joyn with the Lords there for the setling of Gods true Worship in the Church and policy reformed according to Gods Word a maintenance for the Ministers and support for the poor But neither the Commissioners nor the Letters did prevail with these men they excused That they could not repair to Edinburgh with freedome where there was so many armed men and a Garrison so strong But for the Church-affairs they would not be any wayes wanting to do what lay in them The Lords at Edinburgh seeing this joyneth absolutely with the Assembly which had been prorogated to the 20 of Iuly upon the occasion of these Letters and Commissioners aforesaid and promiseth to make good all the Articles they thought fit to resolve upon in the Assembly But how they performed their promises God knows alwayes The Articles they agreed upon were these 1. THat the Acts of Parliament holden at Edinburgh the 24 of August 1560. touching Religion and abolishing the Popes Authority should have the force of a publicke Law and consequently this Parliament defended as a lawfull Parliament and confirmed by the first Parliament that should be kept next 2. That the Thirds of the Tythes or any more reasonable proportion of Benefices should be allowed towards the maintenance of the Ministery and that there should be a charitable course taken concerning the exacting of the Tythes of the poor Labourers 3. That none should be received in the Vniversities Colledges or Schools for instruction of the youth but after due tryall both of capacity and probitie 4. That all crimes and offences against God should be punished according to Gods Word and that there should be a Law made there-anent at the first Parliament to be holden 5. As for the horrible murther of the late King husband to the Queen which was so haynous before God and man all true professors in whatsoever rank or condition did promise to strive that all persons should be brought to condigne punishment who are found guilty of the same crime 6. They all promised to protect the young Prince against all violence lest he should be murthered as his father was And that the Prince should be committed to the care of four wise and godly men that by a good Education he might be fitted for that high Calling he was to execute one day 7. The Nobles Barons and others doth promise to beat down and abolish Popery Idolatry and Superstition with any thing that may contribute unto it As also to set up and further the true Worship of God his Government the Church and all that may concerne the purity of Religion and life And for this to convene and take Arms if need require 8. That all Princes and Kings hereafter in this Realm before their Coronation shall take Oath to maintain the true Religion now professed in the Church of Scotland and suppresse all things contrary to it and that are not agreeing with it To these Articles subscribed the Earles of Morton Glencarne and Marre the Lords Hume Ruthen Sanchar Lindsey Grame Inermeth and Uchiltrie with many other Barons besides the Commissioners of the Burroughs This being agreed upon the Assembly dissolved Thereafter the Lords Lindsey and Ruthuen were sent to Lochlevin to the Queen to present unto her two Writs the one contained a Renounciation of the Crowne and Royall Dignity in favour of the Prince her son with a Commission to invest him into the Kingdome according to the manner accustomed Which after some reluctancy with tears she subscribed by the advice of the Earle of Athole who had sent to her and of Secretary Lethington who had sent to her Robert Melvill for that purpose So there was a Procuration given to the Lords Lindsay and Ruthuen by the Queen to give up and resigne the Rule of the Realme in presence of the States The second Writ was To ordain the Earle of Murray Regent during the Princes minority if he would accept the Charge And in case he refused the Duke Chattellarault the Earles of Lenox Argyle Athole Morton Glencarne and Marre should governe conjoyntly These Writs were published the 29 of Iuly 1567. at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh Then at Sterlin was the Prince Crowned King where Iohn Knox made the Sermon The Earl Morton and the Lord Hume took the Oath for the King That he should constantly live in the Profession of the true Religion and maintain it And that he should governe the Kingdom according to Law thereof and do Justice equally to all In the beginning of August the Earle Murray being sent for cometh home in all haste he visites the Queen at Lochlevin strives to draw the Lords that had taken part with the Hamiltons or were neuters to
go into Edinburgh to settle things fully he sends Deputies thither and returns to London At his return the Scots Commissioners are imprisoned at London against their Safe-Conduct and the Agreement with the Scots is burnt publikely by the hand of the Hang-man and a new Expedition with more cunning and strength then the former is undertaken against the Scots Whereof the Scots duely advertised judging it not to be safe to play alwayes after-games settle their Countrey make sure the strong Holds which they had delivered in simplicity of heart unto the King at the late Agreement and come into England with such an Army that they made their enemies retire Upon this point of necessity the King assembled divers of the Nobles by whom he is advised to call a Parliament which is granted although with difficulty At the overture of the Parliament having gained all the party possible the King is made to demand assistance to repell the Scots from England and chastise them but to no purpose wherefore the Parliament must pay for it and to this purpose the English Army afoot must be brought to London under some pretext This Plot failing and discovered the Scots must be tempted under great offers no lesse then the plunder of London and the propriety of the adjacent Counties to their Countrey The Scots not onely refused these great offers but also give advice of them to the Parliament Then the Scots must be hastened home and the King must go into Scotland under pretext to settle things there but really to make a party viewing by the way the Scots Army and to make sure of some men dis-affected to the Designe of the Court These things not succeeding to smooth a little the shamefull businesse Titles of Honour and Pensions are given to many While the King is in Scotland the Rebellion riseth in Ireland having its influence from the Court whether by sealed Patents or otherwise I will not enquire now more then of the Spanish Navie but certain it is it had its rise from Court Some dayes after the Rebellion begun in Ireland the King must return in all speed to London under pretext to consult with the Parliament how to represse this odious Rebellion but really to be revenged of the Parliament for not assisting against the Scots and for punishing the main agents of the Scotish party witnesse the faction the Queen had made in the City during the Kings abode in Scotland to divide the City and Parliament and the demanding of the Members of the Houses against all Law upon accusation of Treason whereof the chief and main point was To have favourized the Scots Affairs in England against expresse Acts of Oblivion of both Parliaments of Scotland and England As for the repressing of the Rebellion in Ireland it is so little taken to heart that the King seldom goes to the House and being there speaks but little of the businesse After a while with much ado the Popish Irish in Arms are declared Rebells when they had ruined many families and killed many of the innocent Protestants But of the Kings Declaration there were but few Copies Printed and of the few hardly any dispersed when the Scots before they had gathered any Head were Prelatically excommunicated and cursed thorow all the Parishes of England and declared Rebells every where by printed Papers Who as they intended no ill so blessed be God never men of War in a Countrey did lesse harm then the Scots did Yea which is more all the good intentions of both Parliament and City with the ready offers of the Scots for the speedy help of the poor Protestants against the bloody Butchers in Ireland was delayed deluded yea almost put off by the Court and the corrupt Members of both Houses who since have shewed themselves openly what they are in publike Affairs But these Designes failing of apprehending the Members and of dividing the City and Parliament as was seen by the accompanying the Members to the Houses again the King must leave London Here before we proceed any further we shall go a little back When the first undertaking was against the Scots all things within these Dominions being disposed for the best furthering of the work the holy Conclave of Rome forecasting all chances and fearing that England would not altogether be so forward to contribute much unto the destruction of Scotland wherefore the King must be assured of some good friend abroad and not far off who may help in case of need None is thought so fit as the Prince of Orange being able to help with Moneys Arms and Men for command He must be gained by offering him for his Son one of the Kings Daughters who notwithstanding his high minde would have been glad of a lower Match Now at the first the Prince of Orange did onely look to have the second Daughter in due time But to engage him further he shall have the elder not staying for her till she be nubile and that presently although she did little more then then well discerne her right hand from her left But this is not all for the Mother must carry the Daughter to the Prince of Orange to gain him more speedily and make him more affectionate and sure to the Designes of our corrupted Court So the Kings Daughter is sold and made a Sacrifice for furtherance of the Catholike Cause as his Grand-mother was sold to France to the same Designe by the corrupt Court of Scotland for the time What mischief this Marriage and the Queens Voyage into Holland hath brought into this Countrey and what stain she hath brought upon her self by it we see all And so many evils fell upon Scotland after the sending the then young Queen into France Here you shall observe the jugling knavery of our corrupt Court who cry out against the Scots for taking Arms for the just defence of their Liberty and Religion without any by-respect as their whole proceedings to this instant do testifie as guilty of the most horrid crime of Rebellion against Higher Powers as they call it yet the same corrupt Court makes the King give his Daughter unto him who is not onely a chief man but a main Instrument to make War for the Liberty and Religion of the Countrey where he liveth against the unjust oppression of their Sovereign as his renowned Brother and most vertuous Father did before him and as he intends to make his Son after him witnesse the reversion of his Place he hath obtained unto him from the States If the King of Spain by necessity hath been constrained to acknowledge the United Provinces free it is nothing for the justice of their taking Arms to defend their Religion and Liberty And if he had power they would not be long free witnesse the secret Plots to divide them and over-reach them Farther he is very shie in his Writs to call them Free as every man knows The Queen of Bohemia must not onely be neglected and seen lose all that
she and hers can claim for their own but she and hers must be serviceable to those who have undone them To this end she must have People about her namely Court-Chaplains to disguise businesse unto her and so make her have a bad conception of those who are her best friends to wit the true Professors of the Truth and good Patriots in these Dominions Next her eldest son after a long and great neglect of yeelding him any help for the recovery of his own is betrayed at our corrupt Court when he is put in away to do somewhat for his own restoring c. And after this by the same Court he is sollicited to take Arms here against the onely men who really and constantly have expressed unto him and his true affection but they being stopped by the Court could not effectuate much by their good will He in wisdome refuseth to fight against his friends Since he will not his two next Brothers must be employed the eldest whereof is released from prison to that effect And so they hazard their lives and spend their blood to serve the party who hath undone their Fortunes and now strives to undo their persons The King having left London after he had been in severall places retires to Yorke where he begins to raise men against the Parliament The Scots seeing this send to him thither to intreat him to lay aside all such intentions and offer their service by way of Mediation betwixt him and the Parliament to take away all known mistakes The Scots Commissioners were not suffered to proceed any further then in the businesse and were sent back beyond the expectation of men After a long Pen-skirmishing on both sides Armies are leavied many men killed and taken at divers times on each side yea a set Battell fought where numbers of men are slain The Scots not being able any longer to see their Brethren in England destroyed and the Executioners of Ireland butchering man woman and childe the help that the innocents should have had from England being almost altogether diverted by the Intestine War and neither say nor do in the businesse under safe-Conduct send to the King and Parliament Commissioners to intercede for an Agreement But they being arrived at Court were neglected with their Commission and not suffered to repair unto the Parliament At last they are dismissed not without difficulty and having done nothing return Upon this the Scots convene the States to consult concerning their own safety and the help of their friends At this nick of time when they received many fair promises from the Court with a request to be quiet a Plot of the Papists set afoot by the Court for embroyling the Countrey is discovered by the means whereof they were incited to look more narrowly to themselves and their friends Then the Parliament of England sends to the Scots for help Upon this a Covenant is made betwixt the two Nations for the defence of the true Religion and Liberty of the Countreys with the Kings just Rights and after due preparation the Scots having setled their own Countrey enter into England with a strong Army to fight the Battells of the Lord having for scope of their Expedition The glory of God and the good of his People with the Honour of the King Here we shall observe in these our Countreys in these last yeers such Riddles of State and Church as have hardly been heard of A Protestant Prince makes one Protestant Nation fight against another for the Protestant Religion which have been thought to be of one and the same Doctrine for the main One Church thunders Curses against another Then a Prince misled with the ayd of Papists and Atheists spoyling and destroying the professors of the Truth because they professe it for the good and advancement of the Protestant Religion Next in a very short time a Prince to have all his subjects declared Rebells First he is made declare the Scots Then he is constrained to declare the Irish An Army gotten together in the Kings name declares all those that did oppose them Rebells The Parliament declares all those who in the Kings name oppose them Rebells and Traytors Farther under the Kings Authority the named Rebells in England by the King maintain a War against the declared Rebells in Ireland But the late carriage of things at Court and by the Court-Instruments at home and abroad hath solved the Riddle namely The Patent for the Rebellion in Ireland The detaining of help ordained for the repressing of it The Kings offer to go into Ireland The Cessation and bringing over of the Irish and The last-discovered Plot in Scotland all other things laid aside tell us cleerly howsoever the Proclamations and Protestations going in the Kings name be soft and smooth as the voyce of Jacob yet the hands are rough as of Esau destroying and seeking to destroy the true Religion grounded in Gods Word with the professors thereof as also the lawfull Liberty of the Countrey and bring all unto slavery Let Ireland and England say if this be not true and Scotland likewise according to its genius speak truth I shall close up all with two or three Instances of eminent men amongst the Papists Clergie to shew clearly how they stand affected to the Protestants Cardinall Pool in an Oration to Charles the fifth Emperour saith You must leave off the War against the Turks and hereafter make War against the Heretikes so names he the professors of the Truth He adds the reason Because the Turks are lesse to be feared then the Heretikes Paul Rodmek in a Book expresse tells us That the Heretikes must be put to death slain cut off burnt quartered c. Stapleton the Iesuite tells us That the Heretikes are worse then the Turks in an Oration he made at Doway Campian the Iesuite in a Book of his Printed in the yeer 1583 in Trevers declares thus in the name of his holy Order Our will is That it come to the knowledge of every one so far as it concerns our Society That we all dispersed in great numbers thorow the world have made a League and holy solemn Oath That as long as there are any of us alive that all our care and industry all our deliberations and counsells shall never cease to trouble your calm and safety That is to say We shall procure and pursue for ever your ruine the whole destruction of your Religion and of your Kingdom He speaks to the English Now it is long since we have taken this resolution with the hazard of our lives so that the businesse being already well begun and advanced it is impossible that the English can do any thing to stop our Designe or surmount it Let these few Passages satisfie for this time I wish that thou maist reap some benefit of what is written here for thy good So praying for your happinesse I rest Yours in the Lord D. B. The LIFE OF IOHN KNOX IOHN KNOX was borne in Gifford neer
our Countrey without our counsell knowledge and consent We dispute not so much whether the bringing in of moe French-men be violating of the appointment which the Queen and her faction cannot deny to be manifestly broken by them in moe causes then one as that we would know if that the heaping of strangers upon strangers above us without our counsell or consent be a thing that may stand with the Liberty of our Realme and with the profit of our Common-wealth It is not unknown to all men of judgement That the fruits of our Countrey in the most common yeers be no more then sufficient reasonable to nourish the born inhabitants of the same But now seeing we have been vexed with wars taken upon us at the pleasure of France by the which the most fruitfull portion of our Countrey in Corne hath been wasted What man is so blinde but that he may see That such bands of ungodly and idle Souldiers can be nothing else but an occasion to famish our poore brethren And in this point we refuse not which is the chiefe the judgement of all naturall Scottish-men The Queen Regent alleadged That although there was an hundred French-men for one that is in Scotland yet she is not minded to trouble any unjust possession Whereto we answer That we dispute not what she intended which neverthelesse by probable conjectures it is to be suspected but alwayes we affirm that such a multitude of French-men is a burden not onely unprofitable but also intolerable to this poor Realme especially being treated as they are by her and Monsieur Dosell For if their wages be paid out of France then are they both the Queen we say and Monsieur Dosell traytors to the King and Counsell for the poor Commons of this Realme have sustained them with the sweat of their brows since the contracting of the Peace and somewhat before What motherly affection she hath declared to this Realm and to the inhabitants of the same her works have evidently declared even since the first hour that she hath borne Authority And albeit men will not this day see what danger hangs over our heads yet fear we that ere it be long experience shall teach some that we have not feared without cause The cruell murther and oppression used by those whom now she fostereth is to us a sufficient argument what is to be looked for when her number is so multiplied that our force shall not be able to gainstand their tyranny Where she complaineth of our Preachers affirming that unreverently they speak of Princes in generall and of her in particular inducing the people thereby to defection from their duty c. And therefore that such a thing cannot be suffered Because this occasion is laid against Gods true Ministers we cannot but witnesse what course and order of Doctrine they have kept and yet keep in that point In publike prayers they recommend to God all Princes in generall and the Magistrates of this our native Realme in particular In open audience they declare the Authority of Princes and Magistrates to be of God and therefore they affirm that they ought to be honoured feared and obeyed even for conscience sake provided that they command nor require nothing expresly repugning to Gods Commandment and plain Will revealed in his holy Word Moreover they affirm That if wicked persons abusing the Authority established by God move Princes to command things manifestly wicked That such as can and do bridle those inordinate appetites of misled Princes cannot be accused as resistaries of the Authority which is Gods good Ordinance To bridle the rage and fury of misled Princes in free Kingdoms and Realms they affirm it appertaineth to the Nobility sworn and borne Councellors of the same and also to the Barons and people whose votes and consents are to be required in all great and weighty matters of the Common-wealth which if they do not they declare themselves criminall with their misled Princes and so subject to the same vengeance of God which they deserve for that they pollute the seat of Iustice and do as it were make God author of Iniquity They proclaim and cry That the same God who plagued Pharaoh repulsed Sennacherib struck Herod with worms and made the bellies of dogs the grave and sepulcher of the spitefull Jesabell will not spare misled Princes who authorize the murtherers of Christs members in this our time On this manner they speak of Princes in generall and of your Majesty in particular This onely we have heard one of our Preachers say rebuking the vain excuses of such as flatter themselves by reason of Authority Many now adayes said he will have no other Religion nor faith then the Queen and Authority had But is it not possible that the Queen be so far blinded that she will have no Religion nor no other faith then may content the Cardinall of Loraine And may it not likewise be true that the Cardinall is so corrupt that he will admit no Religion which doth not establish the Pope in his kingdome But plain it is That the Pope is Lieutenant to Sathan and enemy to Christ Iesus and to his perfect Religion Let men therefore consider what danger they stand in if their salvation shall depend upon the Queens faith and Religion Further we never heard any of our Preachers speak of the Queen Regent neither publikely nor privately Where her Majestie declareth It will not be suffered that our Prerchers meddle with Policy or speak of her or of other Princes but with reverence we answer That as we will justifie and defend nothing in our Preachers which we finde not God to have justified and allowed in his Messengers before them so we dare not forbid them openly to reprehend that which the Spirit of God speaking in the Prophets and Apostles hath reprehended before them Helias did personally reprove Achab and Jesabell of idolatry of avarice of murther and such like Esaias the Prophet called the Magistrates of Jerusalem in his time companions to thieves Princes of Sodome bribe-takers and murtherers he complained that their silver was turned into drosse That their wine was mingled with water and that Iustice was bought and sold. Jeremie saith That the bones of King Jehoiakim should wither with the Sun Christ Iesus called Herod a Fox and Paul calleth the high Priest a painted wall and prayeth unto God that he should strike him because that against justice he commanded him to be smitten Now if the like and greater corruptions be in the world this day Who dare enterprise to put to silence the Spirit of God which will not be subject to the appetites of misled Princes We have said before That the tenth of September was appointed for a convention to be holden at Sterlin to the which repaired the most part of the Lords of the Congregation At that same time arrived the Earle of Arran who after he had saluted his father came with the
of the Lord Jesus XXIV Of the Civill Magistrate VVE confesse and acknowledge Empires Kingdomes Dominions and Titles to be distincted and Ordained by God the powers and authorities in the same be it of Emperours in their Empires of Kings in their Realms Dukes and Princes in their Dominions or of other Magistrates in free Cities to be Gods holy Ordinance ordained for manifestation of his owne glory and for the singular profit and commoditie of mankinde So that whosoever goeth about to take away or to confound the holy state of Civill Policies now long established We affirm the same men not onely to be enemies to mankinde but also wickedly to fight against Gods expresse will We further confesse and acknowledge That such persons as are placed in authority are to be loved honoured feared and holden in most reverent estimation because they are the Lieutenants of God in whose Session God himself doth sit and judge yea even the Judges and Princes themselves to whom by God is given the sword to the praise and defence of good men and to revenge and punish all open malefactours To Kings moreover Princes Rulers and Magistrates to affirme that chiefly and most principally the reformation and purgation of Religion appertaineth so that not only they are appointed for civill policie but also for maintenance of the true Religion and for suppressing of Idolatry and Superstition whatsoever as in David Iosaphat Ezekias Iosias and others highly commended for their zeal in the cause may be espied And therefore we confesse and avow that such as resist the supreme Powers doing that which appertaineth to their charge do resist Gods Ordinance and therefore cannot be guiltlesse And further we affirme that whosoever deny unto them their aide counsell and comfort while the Princes and Rulers vigilantly travell in the executing of their Office that the same men denie their help support and counsell to God who by the presence of his Lieutenant craveth it of them XXV The gifts freely given to the Church ALbeit that the word of God truly preached the Sacraments rightly ministred and discipline executed according to the Word of God be the certain and infallible signes of the true Church yet doe we not so meane that every particular person joyned with such a company be an Elect Member of Christ Jesus for we acknowledge and confesse that Darnell Cockle and Chaffe may be sowne grow in great abundance lie in the middest of the Wheate that is the Reprobate may be joyned in the societie of the Elect and may externally use with them the benefits of the Words and Sacraments But such being but temporall professors in mouth but not in heart doe fall backe and continue to the end And therefore have they no fruit of Christs death resurrection and ascension But such as with heart unfained beleeve and with mouth boldly confesse the Lord Jesus as before we have said shall most assuredly receive these gifts first in this life remission of sinnes and by faith onely in Christs blood in so much that albeit sinne remain and continually abide in these mortall bodies yet it is not imputed unto us but is remitted and covered with Christs justice Secondly in the generall judgement there shall be given to every man and woman resurrection of the flesh For the Sea shall give her dead the earth those that therein be inclosed yea the Eternall our God shall stretch out his hand upon the dust and the dead shall arise incorruptible and that in the substance of the same flesh that every man now bears to receive according to their works glory and punishment for such as now delight in vanitie crueltie filthinesse superstition or idolatry shall be adjudged to the fire inextinguible in the which they shall be tormented for ever as well in their bodie as in their soules which now give to serve the devill in all abomination But such as continue in well doing to the end boldly professing the Lord Jesus to whose glorified Body all his Elect shall be like when he shall appear againe to Judgment and shall render up the Kingdom to God his Father who then shall be and ever shall remain All in All things God blessed for ever To whom with the Son and with the holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory now and for ever Amen Arise O Lord and let thine enemies be confounded let them flie from thy presence that hate thy holy Name Give thy servants strength to speake thy Word in boldnesse and let all Nations attain to thy true knowledge These Acts and Articles were read in face of Parliament and ratified by the three States of this Realm at Edinburgh the 17 day of Iuly in the yeer of our Lord 1560. This our Confession was publikely read first in audience of the Lords of the Articles and after in the audience of the whole Parliament where were present not onely such as professed Christ Jesus but also a great number of the adversaries of our Religion such as the forenamed Bishops and some other of the Temporall State who were commanded in Gods Name to object if they could say any thing against that Doctrine Some of our Ministers were present standing upon their feet ready to have answered in case any would have defended Papistry and impugned our affirmatives But while that no objection was made there was a day appointed for concurrence in that and other Heads Our Confession was read every Article by it self over again as they were written in order and the voice of every man was required accordingly Of the Temporall State onely gave their voice on the contrary the Earl of Athol the Lords Simmerwaile and Borthwicke And yet for their disassenting they produced no better reason but We will believe as our Fathers believed The Bishops Papisticall we mean spake nothing The rest of the whole three States by their publike Votes affirmed the Doctrine and the rather Because that fain the Bishops would but durst say nothing on the contrary for this was the Vote of the Earle Marshall It is long since I have had some favour unto the Truth and since that I have had a suspicion of the Papisticall Religion But I praise my God who this day hath fully resolved me in the one and the other For seeing that the Bishops who for their learning can and for their zeal that they should bear to the Verity would as I suppose have gainsaid any thing that directly repugneth to the Verity of God Seeing I say the Bishops here present speak nothing in the contrary of the Doctrine proposed I cannot but hold it for the very Truth of God and the contrary to be deceivable Doctrine And therefore so far as in me lieth I approve the one and condemne the other And do farther ask of God That not onely I but also all my posterity may enjoy the comfort of the Doctrine that this day our ears
is Madame that this crime so recently committed and that in the eyes of the whole Realm now publikely assembled is so hainous for who heretofore hath heard within the bowels of Edinburgh Gates and Doors under silence of night broken Houses ripped or searched and that with hostillity seeking a woman as appeareth to oppresse her Seeing we say that this crime is so hainous that all godly men fear not onely Gods dispeasure to fall upon you and your whole Realm but also that such licentiousnesse breed contempt and in the end sedition if remedie in time be not provided which in our judgement is possible if severe punishment be not executed for the crime committed Therefore we most humbly beseech your Majestie that all affection set aside you declare your self so upright in this case that ye may give evident demonstration to all your Subjects that the fear of God joyned with the love of common tranquility hath principall seat in your Majesties Heart This further Madame in conscience we speak That as your Majesty in Gods Name doth crave of us obedience which to render in all things lawfull we are most willing so in the same name doe we the whole Professors of Christs Evangell within this your Majesties Realme crave of you and of your Councell sharp punishment of this crime And for performance thereof that without delay the most principall Actors of this haynous crime and the perswaders of this publike Villany may be called before the Chief Justice of this Realm to suffer an Assise and to be punished according to the Laws of the same and your Majesties Answer most humbly we beseech These Supplications was presented by divers Gentlemen the Flatterers of the Court at first stormed and asked who durst avow it To whom the Master after Lord Lyndesay answered A thousand Gentlemen within Edinburgh others were ashamed to oppose themselves thereto in publike but they suborned the Queen to give a gentle answer untill such time as the Convention was dissolved and so she did and then after in fair words shee alleaged That her Uncle was a Stranger and that he had a young Company with him but she should put such order unto him and unto all others that hereafter they should have no occasion to complain And so deluded she the just Petition of her Subjects And no wonder for how shall she punish in Scotland that vice which in France she did see so free without punishment and which Kings and Cardinalls commonly use as the Mask and Dancing of Orleans can witnesse wherein virgins and mens wives were made common to King Harry Charles the Cardinall and to their Courtiers and Pages as common women in Bordells are unto their Companions The manner was thus At the entry of King Henry of France in the Town of Orleans the Matrons Virgins and mens wives were commanded to present themselves in the Kings Palace to dance And they obeyed for commonly the French Nation is not very hard to be entreated to vanity After Fidling and Flinging and when the Cardinall of Loraine had espied his prey he said to the King Sire le premiere est a vous fault queje soy le second that is Sir the first choyce is yours and I must be the second And so the King got the preeminence that he had his first Election But because Cardinalls are companions to Kings the Cardinall had the next And thereafter the Torches were put out and every man commanded to provide for himself the best he might What cry there was of husbands for their wives and wives for their husbands of ancient matrons for their daughters of virgins for their friends for some honest men to defend their pudicity Orleance will remember more Kings dayes then one This horrible villany a fruit of the Cardinalls good Catholike Religion we shortly touch to let the world understand what subjects may look for of such Magistrates for such Pastime to them is Jollity It had been good for our Queene that she had been brought up in better company both for her credit and for the course of her life And it may be that her excellent naturall enduements had been better employed for her reputation and happinesse then they were to her great misfortune and to the grief of those that wished her truely well But punishment of that enormity and fearfull attempt we could get none Yea more and more they presumed to do violence and frequented nightly Masking and began to bear the matter very heavily At length the Dukes friends began to assemble in the night time on the calsay or street The Abbot of Kylwinning who then was joyned to the Church and so as we understand yet abideth was principall man at the beginning To him repaired many faithfull and amongst others came Andrew Stewart Lord Uchiltrie a man rather borne to make peace then to brag upon the calsey he demanded the quarrell And being informed of the former enormity said Nay such impiety shall not be suffered so long as God shall assist us The Victory that God hath in his owne mercy given us we will by his grace maintaine And so he commanded his son Andrew Stewart then Master and his servants to put themselves in order and to bring forth their spears and long weapons and so did others The word came to the Earle Bothwell and his son that the Hamiltons were upon the street vows was made that the Hamiltons should be driven not onely out of the Town but also out of the Countrey Lord Iohn of Coldingham married the E. Bothwels sister a sufficient woman for such a man Alliance drew Lord Robert and so they joyned with the E. Bothwell But the stoutnes of the Marq. le Beuf d'Albuff they call him is most to be commended for in his Chalmer in the Abbey he start to an Halbert and ten men were scarce able to hold him that night and the danger was betwixt the Crosse and Tron and so he was a long quarter of a mile from the shot sklenting of Bolts The M. of Maxw after L. Herreis gave declaratiō to the Earle Bothwell That if he stirred forth of his Lodging he and all that assist him should resist him in the face Whose words did somewhat beat down that blast The Earles of Murray and Huntley being in the Abbey where the Marquesse was came with their company sent from the Queen to stay that tumult as they did for Bothwell and his were commanded under pain of Treason to keep their lodgings It was whispered by many That the Earle of Murray's displeasure was as much sought as any hatred that the Hamiltons did bear against the Earle of Bothwell or yet he against them And in very deed either had the Duke very false servants or else by Huntley and the Hamiltons the Earle of Murray's death was oftener conspired then once the suspition whereof burst forth so far that upon a day the said Earle being upon horse to have come to
they joyned with the Assembly and came unto it but they drew themselves like as they did before apart and entred into the inner Councell-House They were the Duke the Earls of Argyle Murray Mortoune Glencarne Mershall Lord Rosse the Master of Maxwell Secretary Lethington the Justice Clerk the Clerk of the Register and the Laird of Pittarrow Comptroller After a little consultation they directed a Messenger M. George Hay the Minister of the Court requiring the Superintendents and some of the learned Ministers to confer with them The Assembly answered They convened to deliberate upon the common affairs of the Church and therefore that they could not lack their Superintendents and chiefe Ministers whose judgements were so necessary that the rest should sit as it were idle without them And therefore willed them as oft before That if they acknowledged themselves Members of the Church that they would joyn with their Brethren and propose in publike such things as they pleased and so they should have the assistance of the whole in all things that might stand with Gods Commandment But to send from themselves a portion of their company they understood That thereof hurt and slander might arise rather then any profit or comfort to the Church for they feared that all men should not stand content with the conclusion where the conference and reasonings were heard but of a few This answer was not given without cause for no small travell was made to have drawn some Ministers to the faction of the Courtiers and to have sustained their Arguments and Opinions But when it was conceived by the most politick amongst them That they could not travell by that means they prepared the matter in other termes purging themselves That they never meant to divide themselves from the Society of their Brethren but because they had certain Heads to confer with certain Ministers But the Assembly did still reply That secret Conference would they not admit in those Heads that should be concluded by generall Voice The Lords promised That no Conclusion should be taken neither yet Vote required till that both the Propositions and the Reasons should be heard and considered by the whole Body and upon that condition were directed unto them with expresse charge To conclude nothing without the knowledge and advise of the Assembly The Laird of Dun Superintendent of Angus the Superintendents of Lothain and Fyfe Master Iohn Row Master Iohn Craig William Christieson Master David Lyndsay Ministers with the Rector of Saint Androes and Master George Hay the Superintendent of Glasgow Master Iohn Willock was Moderator and Iohn Knox waited upon the Scribe And so were they appointed to sit with the Brethren And yet because the principall complaint touched Iohn Knox he was also called for Secretary Lethington began the Harangue which contained these Heads first How much we are indebted unto God by whose providence we have liberty of Religion under the Queens Majestie albeit that she is not perswaded in the same Secondly How necessary a thing it is That the Queens Majestie by all good Offices of the part of the Church so spake he and of the Ministers principally should be retained in that constant opinion that they unfainedly favoured her advancement and procured her subjects to have a good opinion of her And last How dangerous a thing it is That the Ministers should be noted one to disagree from another in form of Prayer for her Majestie And in these two last Heads said he we desire you all to be circumspect But especially we most crave of you our Brother Iohn Knox to moderate your selfe as well in form of praying for the Queens Majesty as in Doctrine that you propose touching her State and Obedience Neither shall ye take this said he as spoken to your reproach quia mens pulchra interdum in corpore pulchro But because that others by your example may imitate the like liberty albeit not with the same discretion and foresight and what opinion that may engender in the peoples heads wise men may foresee The said Iohn prepared himself for answer as follows If such as fear God have occasion to praise him because that Idolatry is maintained the servants of God despised wicked men placed again in Honour and Authority Master Henry Sinclare was of short time before made President who before durst not have sitten in Judgement And finally if we ought to praise God because that vice and impiety over-floweth the whole Realm without punishment then we have occasion to rejoyce and praise God But if these and the like use to provoke Gods vengeance against Realms and Nations then in my judgement the godly within Scotland ought to lament and mourn and so to prevent Gods Judgements lest that he finding all in a like security strike in his hot indignation beginning perchance at such as think they offend not That is one Head said Lethington whereunto you and I never agreed for how are you able to prove That God ever struck or plagued any Nation or People for the iniquity of their Prince if that they themselves lived godlily I looked said he my Lord to have audience till that I had absolved the other two parts But seeing it pleaseth your Lordship to cut me off before the midst I will answer to your question The Scripture of God teacheth me That Ierusalem and Iuda were punished for the sins of Manasses And if you alleadge That they were punished because they were wicked and offended with their King and not because their King was wicked I answer That albeit the Spirit of God makes for me saying in expresse words For the sins of Manasses yet will I not be so obstinate as to lay the whole sin and plagues that thereof ensued upon the King and utterly absolve the people but I will grant withall That the whole people offended with their King but how and in what fashion I fear that ye and I shall not agree I doubt not but the great multitude accompanied him in all the abomination that he did for Idolatry and false Religion hath ever been and will be pleasing to the most part of men But to affirm That all Iudah committed really the acts of his impiety is but to affirm that which neither hath certainty nor yet appearance of any truth for who can think it to be possible That all those of Ierusalem should so shortly turn to Idolatry considering the notable Reformation lately before had in the dayes of Hezekias But yet sayes the Text Manasses made Iuda and all the inhabitants of Ierusalem to erre True it is the one part as I have said willingly followed him in his Idolatry the other suffered him to defile Ierusalem and the Temple of God with all abominations and so were they criminall of his sin the one by act and deed the other by suffering and permission even as Scotland is this day guilty of the Queens Idolatry and ye my Lords in speciall above others Well said
had lately written to the Queens Majesty in Sâ—aton from the town of Edinburgh they desiring then to prorogate the day Finally when the said Advocates could by no means perswade them to come to Edinburgh they returned again to Edinburgh and declared to the Queens Majestie according as they had found In the mean time the Parliament was prorogated at the Queens Majesties command to the first of September next after following for it was thought That the least part and principall of the chiefe Nobility being absent there could no Parliament be holden at the same time the Queens Majestie perceiving that the matter was already come to a maturity and ripenesse so that the mindes and secrecy of mens hearts must needs be disclosed she wrote to a great number of Lords Barons Gentlmen and others that were nearest in Fife Angus Lowthian Mers Tevimdale Perth Lithgow Clidsdall and others to resort to her in this forme of words hereafter following The Queens Letter TRusty friend We greet you well we are grieved indeed by the evill bruite spread amongst our Lieges as that we should have molested any man in the using of his Religion and Conscience freely a thing which never entred into our minde yet since we perceive the too easie beleeving such reports hath made them carelesse and so we think it becomes us to be carefull for the safety and preservation of our state wherefore we pray you most affectionately That with all possible hast after the receipt of this our Letter you with your kindred friends and whole Force well furnished with Arms for Warre be provided for fifteen dayes after your coming addresse you to come to us to waite and attend upon us according to our expectation and trust in you as you will thereby declare the good affection you bear to the maintenance of our Authoritie and will doe us therein acceptable service Subscribed with Our Hand at Edinburgh the seventeenth day of July 1565. THere was likewise Proclamation made in Edinburgh That the Queen minded not the trouble nor alter the Religion and also Proclamations made in the Shires above mentioned for the same purpose That all Freeholders and other Gentlemen should resort in the aforesaid manner to Edinbronth where the Earle of Rosse was made Duke of Rothesay with great triumph the 23 day of Iuly The same afternoon the Queen complained grievously upon the Earle of Murray in open audience of all the Lords and Barons and the same day the Bans of the Earle of Rosse and Duke of Rothesay and the Queens Marriage were proclaimed About this time the Lord Arskin was made Earle of Marre In the mean time there were divers Messages sent from the Queens Majestie to the Lord of Murray first Master Robert Crichton to perswade him by all meanes possible to come and resort to the Queens Majestie his answer was That he would be glad to come to her self according to his bounden duty yet for as much as such persons as were most privie in her company were his capitall enemies who also had conspired his death he could no wayes come so long as they were in Court Soon after my Lord Erskin and the Master Maxwell past to him to S. Andrews rather suffered and permitted by the Queen then sent by her Highnesse after them the Laird of Dun who was sent by the means of the Earl of Mar but all this did not prevail with him and when all hope of his coming was past an Herald was sent to him charging him to come to the Queens Majesty and answer to such things as should be laid to his charge within eight and fourty hours next after the Charge under pain of Rebellion and because he appeared not the next day after the eight and forty hours he was denounced Rebell and put to the Horne The same order they used against the Earle of Argyle for the Queen said she would serve him and the rest with the same measure they had mete to others meaning the said Argyle In the mean while as the fire was well kindled and enflamed all means and wayes were sought to stir up enemies against the chief Protestants that had been lately at Sterlin for the Earle of Athole was ready bent against the Earle of Argyle the Lord Lindsay against the Earle Rothesse in Fyfe they being both Protestants for they had contended now a long time for the Heir-ship of Fyfe And that no such thing should be left undone the Lord Gordon who now had remained neer three yeers in prison in Dumbar was after some little travell of his friends received by the Queen and being thus received into favour was restored first to the Lordship of Gordon and soon after to the Earldom of Huntley and to all his Lands Honours and Dignities that he might be a bar and a party in the North to the Earle of Murray The 18 of Iuly late in the evening neer an hour after the Suns going down there was a Proclamation made at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh containing in effect THat forasmuch as at the will and pleasure of Almighty God the Queen had taken to her husband a right excellent and illustrious Prince Harry Duke of Rothesay Earle of Rosse Lord Darley Therefore it was her Will That he should be holden and obeyed and reverenced as King Commanding all Letters and Proclamations to be made in the Names of Henry and Mary in times coming The next day following at six hours in the morning they were marryed in the Chappell Royall of Halyrud-house by the Dean of Lestarrig the Queen being all clothed in Mourning But immediately as the Queen went to Masse the King went not with her but to his Pastime During the space of three or four dayes there was nothing but Balling and Dancing and Banqueting In the mean time the Earle Rothesse the Laird of Grange the Tutor Pitcur with some Gentlemen of Fyfe were put to the Horne for none appearance And immediately the Swash Tabron and Drums were stricken or beaten for men of War to serve the King and Queens Majestie and to take their Pay This sudden alteration and hasty creation of Kings moved the hearts of a great number Now amongst the people there were divers brutes for some alleadged That the cause of this alteration was not for Religion but rather for hatred envie of sudden promotion or dignity or such worldly causes But they that considered the progresse of the matter according as is heretofore declared thought the principall cause to be onely for Religion In this mean time the Lords past to Argyle taking apparantly little care of the trouble that was to come Howbeit they sent into England M. Nicolas Elphinston for support who brought some Moneys in this Countrey to the sum of ten thousand pounds sterlin There came one forth of England to the Queen who got Presence the seventh of August in Halyrud-house He was not well c. About the fifteenth of August the Lords met at Aire to wit the
Duke Hamilton the Earles Argile Murray Glencarne Rothesse the Lord Boyd and Ochiltrie with divers Barons and Gentlemen of Fife and Kyle where they concluded to be in readinesse with their whole Forces the four and twentieth day of August But the King and Queene with great cerity prevented them for their Majesties sent thorow Lowthian Fife Angus Stratherne Tividaile and Chiddisdaile and other Shires making their Proclamations in this manner That forasmuch as certaine Rebels who under colour of Religion intended nothing but the trouble and subversion of the Common-wealth were to convene with such as they might perswade to assist them therefore they charged all manner of men under pain of Life Lands and Goods to resort and meet their Majesties at Linlithgow the 24 day of August This Proclamation was made in Lowthian the third pay of the said moneth Upon Sunday the ninteenth of August the King came to the high Kirke of Edinburgh where Iohn Knox made the Sermon his Text was taken out of the six and twentieth Chapter of Esayas his Prophesie about the thirteenth Verse where in the words of the Prophet he said O Lord our God other Lords then thou have ruled over us Whereupon he tooke occasion to speake of the government of wicked Princes who for the sinnes of the people are sent as Tyrants and scourges to plague them And amongst other things he said That God sets in that room for the offences and ingratitude of the people Boyes and women And so other words which appeared bitter in the Kings ears as That God justly punished Ahab and his Posterity because he would not take order with that Harlot Iezabel And because he had tarried an hour and more longer then the time appointed the King sitting in a Throne made for that purpose was so moved at this Sermon that he would not Dine and being troubled with great fury he past in the afternoon to the Hawking Immediately Iohn Knox was commanded to come to the Councell where in the Secretaries Chamber were convened the Earle of Athole the Lord Ruthven the Secretary the Justice Clarke with the Advocate There passed along with the Minister a great number of the most apparent men of the Towne When he was called the Secretary declared That the Kings Majestie was offended with some words spoken in the Sermon especially such as are above rehearsed desiring him to abstaine from preaching for fifteen or twenty dayes and let Master Craig supply the place He answered That he had spoken nothing but according to his Text and if the Church would command him either to speake or abstain he would obey so far as the Word of God would permit him Within four dayes after the King and Queen sent to the Councell of Edinburgh commanding them to depose Archibald Dowglas and to receive the Laird Craigmiller for their Provest which was presently obeyed The five and twentieth of August the King and Queens Majesties past from Edinburgh to Linlithgow and from thence to Sterlin and from Sterlin to Glasgow At their first arrivall their whole people were not come The next day after their arrivall to Glasgow the Lords came to Paisley where they remained that night being in company about one thousand horses On the morrow they came to Hamilton keeping the high passage from Paisley hard by Glasgow where the King and Queen easily might behold them The night following which was the penult of August they remained in Hamilton with their Company but for divers respects moving them they thought it not expedient to tarry especially because the Earle of Argyle was not come for his Diet was not afore the second of September following to have been at Hamilton Finally they took purpose to come to Edinburgh the which they did the next day And albeit Alexander Areskin Captain under the Lord his brother caused to shoot forth of the Castle two Shot of Cannon they being neer the Towne And likewise that the Laird Craigmiller Provest did his endeavour to hold the Lords forth of the Towne in causing the common Bells to be rung for the convening of the Towne to the effect aforesaid yet they entred easily at the West Port or Gate without any molestation or impediment being in number as they esteemed themselves one thousand three hundred Horses Immediately they dispatched Messengers Southward and Northward to assist them but all in vain And immediately after they were in their Lodgings they caused to strike or beat the Drum desiring all such men as would receive Wages for the defence of the Glory of God That they should resort the day following to the Church where they should receive good Pay But they profited little that way neither could they in Edinburgh get any comfort or support for none or few resorted unto them yet they got more rest and sleep when they were at Edinburgh then they had done in five or six nights before The Noble-men of this Company were The Duke The Earles Murray Glencarne and Rothesse The Lords Boyd and Uchiltrie The Lairds of Grange Cunningham-head Balcomie and Lavers The Tâ—tor of Pitcur The Lairds of Barr Carmell and Dreghorn And the Laird of Pittarow Comptroller went with them Some said merrily That they were come to keepe the Parliament for the Parliament was continued till the first day of September Upon the which day they wrote to the King and Queens Majesties a Letter containing in effect That albeit they were persecuted most unjustly which they understood proceeded not of the King and Queens Majesties own Nature but onely by evil Counsell yet notwithstanding they were willing and content to suffer according to the Lawes of the Realm providing that the true Religion of God might be established and the dependants thereupon be likewise reformed Beseeching their Majesties most humbly to grant these things But otherwise if their enemies would seek their blood they should understand It should be dear bought They had written twice almost to the same effect to the King and Queens Majesties after their passing from Edinburgh for the Laird of Preston presented a Letter to the King and Queens Majestie and was therefore imprisoned but soon after released neverthelesse they got no answer The same day that they departed out of Hamilton the King and Queens Majesties issued out of Glasgow in the morning betimes And passing towards Hamilton the Army met their Majesties neer the Bridge of Cadder As they mustered the Master of Maxwell sate downe upon his knees and made a long Oration to the Queen declaring what pleasure she had done to them and ever laid the whole burden upon the Earle Murray Soon after they marched forward in Battell aray The Earle of Lenox took the Van-guard the Earle of Mortoun the middle Battell and the King and Queen the Reere The whole number were about five thousand men whereof the greatest part were in the Van-guard As the King and Queens Majesties were within three miles of Hamilton they were advertised that the Lords
Grace of God King and Queen of Scots To all and sundry Our Lieges and Subjects whom it may concerne and to whose knowledge these Letters shall come Greeting Forasmuch as in this Uprore lately raised up against us by certaine Rebels and their assistants the authors thereof to blinde the eyes of the simple people have given them to understand That the quarrell they have in hand is onely Religion thinking with that cloke to cover their ungodly designes and so under that plausible argument to draw after them a large train of ignorant persons easie to be seduced Now for the preservation of our good Subjects whose case were to be pitied if they blindely should suffer themselves to be induced and trapped in so dangerous a snare it hath pleased the goodnesse of God by the utterance of their own mouthes and writings to us to discover the poyson that before lay hid in their hearts albeit to all persons of cleer judgment the same was evident enough before For what other thing is this but to dissolve the whole Policy and in a manner to invert the very order might move the principal raisers of this tumult to put themselves in Arms against us so unnaturally upon whom we had bestowed so many benefits But that the great honor we did them they being thereof unworthy made them misknow themselves and their ambition could not be satisfied with heaping riches upon riches honor upon honor unlesse they retain in their hands us and our whole Realme to be led used and disposed at their pleasure But this could not the multitude have perceived if God for disclosing their Hypocrisie had not compelled them to utter their unreasonable desire to Governe for now by Letters sent from themselves to us which make plain profession that the establishing of Religion will not content them but we must be forced to govern by Councell such as it shall please them to appoint us a thing so farre beyond all measure that we thinke the onely mention of so unreasonable a demand is sufficient to make their nearest Kinsfolks their most mortall enemies and all men to run on them without further scruple that are zealous to have their native Countrey to remain still in the state of a Kingdome For what other thing is this but to dissolve the whole policie and in a manner to invert the very order of nature to make the Prince obey and Subjects command The like was never demanded by any of our most Noble Progenitors heretofore yea not of Governours and Regents but the Prince and such as have filled their place chose their Councell of such as they thought most fit for the purpose When we our selves were of lesse age and at our first returning into this our Realme we had free choice of our Councell at our pleasure and now when we are at our full maturity shall we be brought back to the state of Pupills and be put under Tutory So long as some of them bore the whole sway with us this matter was never called in question but now when they cannot be longer permitted to do and undoe all at their pleasure they will put a Bridle into our mouthes and give us a Councell chosen after their fantasie This is the quarrell of Religion they made you beleeve they had in hand This is the quarrell for which they would have you hazzard your Lands Lives and goods in the company of a certain number of Rebels against your naturall Prince To speak in good language they would be Kings themselves or at the least leaving to us the bare Name and Title and take to themselves the credit and whole administration of the Kingdome We have thought good to make publication hereof to shew that you suffer not your selves to be deceived under pretence of Religion to follow them who prefering their particular advancement to the publike tranquilitie and having no care of you in respect of themselves would if you would hearken to their voice draw you after them to your utter destruction Assuring you that you have heretofore good experience of our clemency and under our Wings enjoyed in peace the possession of your Goods and lived at liberty of your Conscience so may you be in full assurance of the like hereafter and have us alwayes your good and loving Princes to so many as shall continue your selves in due obedience and do the office of faithfull and naturall Subjects Given under our Signet at Saint Andrews the tenth of December and of our Reignes the first and twentie three years 1565. NOw the Lords desired next the establishing of Religion That the Queens Majesty in all the Affairs of the Realme and Common-wealth should use the counsell and advice of the Nobility and ancient blood of the same whereas in the mean time the Councell of David and Francisco the Italians with Fowler the Englishman and Master Iames Balfour Parson of Flisk was preferred before all others save onely the Earle of Athole who was thought to be a man of grosse judgement but neverthelesse in all things given to please the Queen It was now finally come to this point that in stead of Law Justice and equity onely Will ruled in all things there was thorow all the Countie set out a Proclamation in the King and Queens names commanding all persons to come and meet them at Sterlin the first day of October following with twenty dayes provision under pain of life lands and goods It was uncertain whether their Majesties intended to passe from Sterlin or not and I beleeve the principall men knew not well at that time for a report was That by reason the Castles of Hamilton and Draffen were kept Fortified and Victualled at the Dukes command that they would passe to siege the said houses give them some shot of a Canon others said They would passe towards my L. of Argile who had his people alwayes armed whereof his neighbours were afraid especially the Inhabitants of Athole and Lenox but at length it was concluded that they should passe to Dumfreis as shall be declared During this time there were Propositions made continually to the King and Queen by the Lords desiring alwayes their Majesties most humbly to receive them into their hands Their Articles tended continually to these two Heads viz. To abolish the Masse root out Idolatry and Establish the true Religion And that they and the affaires of the Realm should be governed by the advice and counsell of the true Nobility of the same offering themselves and their cause to be tried by the Lawes of the Countrey Yet nothing could be accepted nor taken in good part albeit the Master of Maxwell laboured by all meanes to redresse the matter who also entertained the Lords most honourably in Dumfreis for he had the government of all that Countrey But he himself incurred the Queens wrath so that he was summoned to present himself and appear before the King and Queens Majesties after the same form
obedient subject hereafter The same day they made Musters the next day the Army was dispersed being about 18000. men the King and Queen past to Lothinaben where the Master of Maxwell gave a Banquet and then forthwith marched to Tueddall so to Peblis and then to Edinburgh The best and chief part of the Nobility of this Realme who also were the principall Instruments of the Reformation of Religion and therefore were called the Lords of the Congregation in manner above rehearsed were banished and chased into England they were courteously received and entertained by the Earle of Bedford Lieutenant upon the Borders of England Soon after the Earle of Murray took Post towards London leaving the rest of the Lords at Newcastle every man supposed that the Earle of Murray should have been graciously received of the Queen of England and that he should have gotten support according to his hearts desire but farre beyond his expectation he could get no audience of the Queen of England But by means of the French Ambassadour called Monsieur de Four his true friend he obtained audience The Queen with a fair countenance demanded How he being a Rebell to her sister of Scotland durst take the boldnesse upon him to come within her Realm These and the like words got he instead of the good and courteous entertainment expected Finally after private discourse the Ambassadour being absent she refused to give the Lords any support denying plainly that ever she had promised any such thing as to support them saying She never meant any such thing in that way albeit her greatest familiars knew the contrary In the end the Earle of Murray said to her Madame whatsoever thing your Majestie meant in your heart we are thereof ignorant but thus much we know assuredly That we had lately faithfull promises of ayd and support by your Ambassadour and familiar servants in your name And further we have your owne hand-writing confirming the said promises And afterward he took his leave and came North-ward from London towards Newcastle After the Earle of Murray his departure from the Court the Queen sent them some ayd and writ unto the Queen of Scotland in their favour Whether she had promised it in private to the Earle of Murray or whether she repented her of the harsh reception of the Earle of Murray At this time David Rizio Italian began to be higher exalted insomuch as there was no matter or thing of importance done without his advice And during this time the faithfull within this Realme were in great fear looking for nothing but great trouble and persecution to be shortly Yet Supplications and Intercessions were made thorowout all the Congregations especially for such as were afficted and banished That it would please God to give them patience comfort and constancy and this especially was done at Edinburgh where Iohn Knox used to call them that were banished The best part of the Nobility Chiefe Members of the Congregation Whereof the Courtiers being advertised they took occasion to revile and bewray his sayings alleadging He prayed for the Rebels and desired the people to pray for them likewise The Laird of Lethington chief Secretary in presence of the King and Queens Majesties and Councell confessed that he heard the Sermons and said There was nothing at that time spoken by the Minister whereat any man need to be offended And further declared plainly That by the Scripture it was lawfull to pray for all men In the end of November the Lords with their complices were summoned to appear the fourth day of February for Treason and laese Majestie But in the mean time such of the Nobility as had professed the Evangell of Christ and had communicate with the Brethren at the Lords Table were ever longer the more suspected by the Queen who began to declare her self in the Months of November and December to be maintainer of the Papists for at her pleasure the Earles of Lenox Athole and Cassels with divers others without any dissimulation known went to the Masse openly in her Chappell Yet neverthelesse the Earles of Huntley and Bothwell went not to Masse albeit they were in great favour with the Queen As for the King he past his time in Hunting and Hawking and such other pleasures as were agreeable to his appetite having in his company Gentlemen willing to satisfie his will and affections About this time in the beginning of as the Court remained at Edinburgh the banished Lords by all means possible by writings and their friends made suit and means to the King and Queens Majesties to be received into favour At this time the Abbot of Kylwinning came from Newcastle to Edinburgh and after he had gotten audience of the King and Queen with great difficulty he got Pardon for the Duke and his friends and servants upon this Condition That he should passe into France which he did soon after The five and twentieth of December convened in Edinburgh the Commissioners of the Churches within this Realme for the generall assemblie There assisted to them the Earles of Morton and Marre the Lord Lindsay and Secretary Lethington with some Barons and Gentlemen The principall things that were agreed and concluded were That forasmuch as the Masse with such Idolatry and Papisticall Ceremonies were still maintained expresly against the Act of Parliament and the Proclamations made at the Queens Arrivall And that the Queen had promised that she would hear Conference and Disputation That the Church therefore offered to prove by the Word of God That the Doctrine preached within this Realme was according to the Scriptures and that the Masse with all the Papisticall Doctrine was but the invention of men and meer Idolatry Secondly That by reason of the change of the Comptroller who had put in new Collectors forbidding them to deliver any thing to the Ministry and by these means the Ministry was like to decay and fail contrary to the Ordinance made in the yeer of God 1562. in favour and support of the Ministery During this time as the Papists flocked to Edinburgh for making Court some of them that had been Friers as black Abercrommy and Roger presented supplication to the Queens Majesty desiring in effect That they might be permitted to preach which was easily granted The noyse was further That they offered Disputation For as the Court stood they thought they had a great advantage already by reason they knew the King to be of their Religion as well as the Queen with some part of the Nobility who with the King after declared themselves openly And especially the Queen was governed by the Earls of Lenox and Athole but in matters most weighty and of greatest importance by David Rizio the Italian afore mentioned who went under the name of the French Secretary by whose means all grave matters of what weight soever must passe providing always That his hands were anoynted In the mean time he was a manifest enemy to the Evangell and therefore a
So served Darius giving into the power of Daniel the Idol to be broken and his enemies to be cast to the Lions So served Nebuchad-nezzar by a terrible Law forbidding all that were in his Realme to blaspheme God Herein therefore do Kings serve the Lord in so farre as they are Kings when they do those things to serve him which none except Kings be able to doe He further proceedeth and concludeth That as when wicked Kings do raigne impiety cannot be bridled by Laws but rather is tyranny exercised under the title of the same So is it a thing without all reasons That Kings professing the knowledge and honour of God should not regard nor care who did defend nor who did oppugne the Church of God in their Dominions By these words of this ancient and godly Writer your Honours may perceive what I require of you to wit To represse the tyranny of your Bishops and to defend the innocents professing the Truth He did require of the Emperour and Kings in his dayes professing Christ and manifestly concludeth That they cannot serve Christ except that so they doe Let not your Bishops think that Augustine speaketh for them because he nameth the Church Let them reade and understand That Augustine writeth for that Church which professeth the Truth and doth suffer persecution for the defence of the same which your Bishops do not but rather with the Donatists and Arrians do cruelly persecute all such as boldly speak Christs Eternall Verity to manifest their impiety and abomination But thus much we have of Augustine That it appertaineth to the obedience and service which Kings owe to God as well now in the time of the Gospel as before under the Law to defend the afflicted for matters of Religion and to represse the fury of the persecuters by the rigour and severity of godly Laws For which cause no doubt Isaiah the Prophet saith That Kings should be nourishers of the Church of God that they should abase their heads and lovingly embrace the children of God And thus I say your Honours may evidently see That the same Obedience doth God require of Rulers and Princes in the time of the Gospel that he required in the time of the Law If you do think that the Reformation of Religion and defence of the afflicted doth not appertain to you because you are no Kings but Nobles and States of a Realme in two things you are deceived First In that you do not advert That David requireth as well that the Princes and Judges of the earth to be learned and that they serve and fear God as that he requireth that Kings repent If you therefore be Judges and Princes as no man can deny you to be then by the plain words of David you are charged to be learned to serve and fear God which ye cannot do if ye despise the Reformation of his Religion And this is your first errour The second is That ye neither know your duty which ye owe to God neither yet your Authority which of him ye have received if ye for pleasure or fear of any earthly man despise Gods true Religion and contemn your brethren that in his Name call for your support Your duty is to hear the voyce of the Eternall your God and unfainedly to studie to follow his Precepts who as is before said of speciall mercy hath promoted you to Honours and Dignity His chief and principall Precept is That with reverence ye receive and embrace his onely beloved Son Jesus That ye promote to the uttermost of your powers his true Religion and That ye defend your brethren and subjects whom he hath put under your charge and care Now if your King be a man ignorant of God enemy to his true Religion blinded by Superstition and a persecuter of Christs members Shall ye be execused if with silence ye passe over his iniquity Be not deceived my Lords ye are placed in Authority for another purpose then to flatter your King in his folly and blinde rage to wit That as with your bodies strength riches and wisedom ye are bound to assist and defend him in all things which by your advice he shall take in hand for Gods glory and for the preservation of his Common-wealth and subjects so by your authorities counsell and admonition ye are bound to correct and represse whatsoever ye know him to attempt expressely repugning to Gods Word Honour and glory or what ye shall espie him to do be it by ignorance or be it by malice against his subjects great or small Of which last part of your obedience if you defraud your King ye commit against him no lesse Treason then if ye did extract from him your due and promised support when by his enemies unjustly he were pursued But this part of their duty I fear do a small number of the Nobility of this age rightly consider neither yet will they understand that for that purpose hath God promoted them For now the common song of all men is We must obey our Kings be they good or bad For God hath commanded it But horrible shall the vengeance be that shall be poured forth upon such blasphemers of God his holy Name and Ordinance For it is no lesse blasphemy to say That God hath commanded Kings to be obeyed when they command impiety then to say That God by his Precept is author and maintainer of all iniquity True it is God hath commanded Kings to be obeyed but like true it is That in things which they commit against his glory or when cruelly without cause they rage against their brethren the members of Christs body he hath commanded no obedience but rather he hath approved yea and greatly rewarded such as have opposed themselves to their ungodly commandments and blinde rage as in the examples of the three Children of Daniel and Abdemelech it is evident The three Children would neither bow nor stoup before the golden Image at the commandment of the great King Nebuchadnezar Daniel did openly pray his windows being open against the established Law of Darius and of his Councell And Abdemelech feared not to enter in before the presence of Zedechias and boldly to defend the cause and innocency of Ieremy the Prophet whom the King and his Councell had condemned to death Every one of these facts should this day be judged foolish by such as will not understand what God doth require of his children when his Verity is oppugned or his glory called in doubt such men I say as prefer man to God and things present to the heavenly inheritance should have judged every one of these stubborn inobedience foolish presumption and singularity or else bold controlling of the King and his wise Councell But how acceptable in Gods presence was this resistance to the ungodly commandments and determinations of their King the end did witnesse for the three children were delivered from the Furnace of fire and Daniel
have done against the children of Reuben Gad and Manasses for their suspected Apostasie and defection from God And the whole Tribes did in very deed execute that sharp judgement against the Tribe of Benjamin for a lesse offence then for Idolatry And the same ought to be one wheresoever Christ Jesus and his Evangell is so received in any Realm Province or Citie that the Magistrates and people have solemnly avowed and promised to defend the same as under King Edward of late dayes was done in England In such places it is not onely lawfull to punish to the death such as labour to subvert the true Religion but the Magistrates and people are bound so to unlesse they will provoke the wrath of God against themselves And therefore I fear not to affirm That it had been the duty of the Nobilitie Judges Rulers and people of England to have resisted and gain-standed Mary their Queen with all the sort of her Idolatrous Priests together with all such as should have assisted her when that she and they openly began to suppresse Christs Evangell to shed the blood of the Saints of God and to erect that most devillish Idolatry the Papisticall abominations and his usurped tyranny which once most justly by common Oath was banished from that Realm But because I cannot at this present discusse this argument as it appertaineth I am compelled to omit it to better opportunity and so returning to your Honours I say That if ye confesse your selves baptized in the Lord Jesus as of necessity ye must confesse That the care of Religion doth appertain to your charge And if ye know that in your hands God hath put the sword for the causes above expressed then can ye not deny but that the punishment of obstinate and malapert Idolaters such as all your Bishops be doth appertain to your Office if after admonition they continue obstinate I am not ignorant what be the vain defences of your proud Prelats they claim first A prerogative and priviledge That they are exempted and that by consent of Councells and Emperouts from all Jurisdiction of the Temporalty And secondly when they are convinced of manifest impiety abuses and enormities as well in their manners as in Religion neither fear nor shame they to affirm That things so long established cannot suddenly be reformed although they be corrupted but with processe of time they promise to take order But in few words I answer That no priviledge granted against the Ordinance and Statutes of God is to be observed although all Councells and men on the earth have appointed the same But against Gods Ordinance it is That Idolaters murtherers false Teachers and Blasphemers shall be exempted from punishment as before is declared and therefore in vain it is that they claim for priviledge when God saith The murtherer shalt thou drive from my Altar that he may die the death And as to the Order and Reformation which they promise that is to be looked or hoped for when Satan whose children and slaves they are can change his nature This answer I doubt not shall suffice the sober and godly reader But yet to the end that they may further see their own confusion and that your Honours may the better understand what ye ought to do in so manifest a corruption and defection from God I ask of them What assurance they have of this their immunity exemption or priviledge Who is the author of it And what fruit it hath produced And first I say That of God they have no assurance neither yet can he be proved to be author of any such priviledge But the contrary is easie to be seen for God in establishing his Orders in Israel did so subject Aaron in his Priesthood being the figure of Christ to Moses that he feared not to call him in judgement and to constrain him to give accounts of his wicked deed in consenting to Idolatry as the History doth plainly witnesse for thus it is written Then Moses took the Calfe which they had made and burned it with fire and did grinde it to powder and scattering it in the water gave it to drink to the children of Israel declaring thereby the vanity of their Idol and the abomination of the same And thereafter Moses said to Aaron What hath this people done to thee that thou shouldest bring upon it so a great sin Thus I say doth Moses call Aaron and accuse him of the destruction of the whole people and yet he perfectly understood that God had appointed him to be the high Priest That he should bear upon his shoulders and upon his brest the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel for whom he was appointed to make sacrifice prayers and supplications He knew his dignitie was so great that onely he might enter within the most holy place but neither could his Office nor dignitie exempt him from judgement when he had offended If any object Aaron at that time was not anointed and therefore was he subject to Moses I have answered That Moses being taught by the mouth of God did perfectly understand to what dignitie Aaron was appointed and yet he feared not to call him in judgement and to compell him to make answer for his wicked fact But if this answer doth not suffice yet shall the Holy Ghost witnesse further in the matter Salomon removed from honour Abiathar being the High Priest and commanded him to cease from all function and to live as a private man Now if the Unction did exempt the Priest from Jurisdiction of the Civill Magistrate Solomon did offend and injured Abiathar for he was Anointed and had carried the Arke before David But God doth not reprove the fact of Solomon neither yet doth Abiathar claime any prerogative by the reason of his Office but rather doth the Holy Ghost approve the fact of Solomon saying Solomon ejected forth Abiathar that he should not be the Priest of the Lord that the word of the Lord might be performed which he spake upon the house of Eli. And Abiathar did thinke that hee obtained great favour in that hee did escape the present death which by his Conspiracie he had deserved If any yet reason That Abiathar was no otherwise subject to the judgement of the King but as he was appointed to be the executor of that sentence which GOD before had pronounced as I will not greatly denie that reason so require I that every man consider That the same God who pronounced sentence against Eli and his house hath pronounced also That Idolaters Whore-mongers Murtherers and Blasphemers shall neither have portion in the Kingdom of God neither ought to be permitted to bear any Rule in his Church and Congregation Now if the Unction and Office saved not Abiathar because that Gods sentence must needs be performed Can any priviledge granted by man be a Buckler to malefactors that they shall not be subject to the punishments pronounced by God I think no man
rich and potent in Israel If this equality was commanded by God for maintenance of that transitory tabernacle which was but a shadow of a better to come is not the same required of us who now have the verity which is Christ Jesus who being clad with our nature is made Immanuel that is God with us Whose naturall body albeit it be received into the Heavens where he must abide till all be compleat that is forespoken by the Prophets yet hath he promised to be present with us to the end of the world And for that purpose and for the more assurance of his Promise he hath erected amongst us here in earth the Signes of his own presence with us his spirituall Tabernacle the true preaching of his Word and right administration of his Sacraments to the maintenance whereof is no lesse bound the subject then the Prince the poor then the rich For as the Price which was given for mans redemption is one so God requireth of all that shall be partakers of the benefits of the same a like duty which is a plain confession That by Christ Jesus alone we have received whatsoever was lost in Adam Of the Prince doth God require That he refuse himself and that he follow Christ Jesus of the Subject he requireth the same Of the Kings and Judges it is required That they kisse the Son that is give honour subjection and obedience to him and from such reverence doth not God exempt the Subject that shall be saved and this is That equality which is betwixt the kings and subjects the most rich or noble and betwixt the poorest and men of lowest state to wit That as the one is obliged to beleeve in heart and with mouth to confesse the Lord Jesus to be the onely Saviour of the world so also is the other Neither is there any of Gods children who hath attained to the yeers of discretion so poor but that he hath thus much to bestow upon the Ornaments and maintenance of their spirituall Tabernacle when necessity requireth neither yet is there any so rich of whose hands God requireth any more For albeit that David gathered great substance for the building of the Temple that Solomon with earnest diligence and incredible expences erected and finished the same That Hezekiah and Iosiah purged the Religion which before was corrupted yet to them was God no further debter in that respect then he was to the most simple of the faithfull posterity of faithfull Abraham for their diligence zeal and works gave rather testimony and confession before men what honour they did bear to God what love to his Word what reverence to his Religion then that any work proceeding from them did either establish or yet encrease Gods favour towards them who freely did love them in Christ his Son before the foundation of the world was laid So that these forenamed by their notable works gave testimony of their unfained faith and the same doth the poorest that unfainedly and openly professeth Christ Jesus and doth embrace his glad tydings offered That doth abhor Superstition and flie from Idolatry The poorest I say and most simple that this day on earth in the dayes of this cruell persecution firmly believeth in Christ and boldly doth confesse him before this wicked generation is no lesse acceptable before God neither is judged in his presence to have done any lesse in promoting Christ his Cause then is the King that by his sword and power which he hath received of God rooteth out Idolatry and so advanceth Christs glory But to return to our former purpose It is no lesse required I say of the subject to believe in Christ and to professe his true Religion then of the Prince and King And therefore I affirm That in Gods presence it shall not excuse you to alleadge That yee were no chief Rulers and therefore that the care and reformation of Religion did not appertain unto you Yee dear brethren as before is said are the creatures of God created to his own Image and similitude to whom it is commanded To hear the voice of your heavenly Father To embrace his Son Christ Jesus To flie from all doctrine and Religion which he hath not approved by his own Will revealed to us in his most blessed Word To which Precepts and Charges if yee be found inobedient ye shall perish in your iniquity as rebells and stubborn servants that have no pleasure to obey the good Will of their Soveraign Lord who most lovingly doth call for your obedience And therefore brethren in this behalf it is your part to be carefull and diligent For the question is not of things temporall which although they be endangered yet by diligence and processe of time may after be redressed but it is of the damnation of your bodies and souls and of the losse of life everlasting which once lost can never be recovered And therefore I say That it behoveth you to be carefull and diligent in this so weighty a matter lest that ye contemning this occasion which God now offereth finde not the like although that after with groaning and sobs ye languish for the same And that ye be not ignorant of what occasion I mean in few words I shall expresse it Not onely I but with me also divers other godly and learned men do offer unto you our labours faithfully to instruct you in the wayes of the eternall our God and in the sincerity of Christs Evangell which this day by the pestilent Generation of Antichrist I mean by the Pope and by his most ungodly Clergy are almost hid from the eyes of men We offer to jeopard our lives for the salvation of your souls and by manifest Scriptures to prove that Religion that amongst you is maintained by fire and sword to be false vain and diabolicall We require nothing of you but that patiently ye will hear our Doctrine which is not ours but the Doctrine of salvation revealed to the world by the onely Son of God And that ye will examine our reasons by the which we offer to prove the Papisticall Religion to be abominable before God And last we require That by your power the tyranny of those cruell beasts I mean of Priests and Fryers may be bridled till we have uttered our mindes in all matters this day debatable in Religion If these things in the fear of God ye grant to me and unto others that unfainedly for your salvation and for Gods glory require the same I am assured That of God ye shall be blessed whatsoever Satan shall devise against you But and if ye contemn or refuse God who thus lovingly offereth unto you salvation and life ye shall neither escape plagues Temporall which shortly shall apprehend you neither yet the torment prepared for the devill and for his angels except by your speedy repentance ye return to the Lord whom now ye refuse if that ye refuse the Messengers of his
simple Somerset most unjustly was bereft of his life what the Devill and his Members the pestilent Papists meant by his away-taking God compelled my tongue to speak in more places then one and specially before you and in Newcastle as sir Robert Bradling did not forget a long time after God grant that he may understand all other matters spoken before him then and at other times as righly as he did that mine interpretation of the Vineyard whose Hedges Ditches Towres and Winepresse God destroyed because it would bring forth no good fruit And that he may remember that what ever was spoken by my mouth that day is now compleate and come to passe except that finall destruction and vengeance is not yet fallen upon the greatest offenders as assuredly shortly it shall unlesse that he and some other of his sort that then were enemies to Gods truth will speedily repent and that earnestly their stubborne disobedience God compelled my tongue I say openly to declare That the Devill and his Ministers intended onely the subversion of Gods true Religion by that mortall hatred among those which ought to have beene most assuredly knit together by Christian charity and by benefits received and especially that the wicked and envious Papists by that ungodly breach of charity diligently minded the overthrow of him that to his own destruction procured the death of his innocent friend Thus I say I was comâ—elled of conscience oftner then once to affirm That such as saw and invented the means how the one should be taken away saw and should finde the means also to take away the other and that all that trouble was devised by the Devill and his Instruments to stop and let Christs Disciples and their poor Boat but that was not able because she was not yet come to the midst of the Sea Transubstansiation the Bird that the Devill hatched by Pope Nicholas and since that time fostered and nourished by all his Children Priests Friers Monks and other his conjured and sworn souldiers and in these last dayes chiefly by Stephen Gardner and his black brood in England Transustantiation I say was then clearly confuted and mightily overthrown and therefore God had put wisdom in the tongues of his Ministers and Messengers to utter that vain vanitie and specially gave such strength to that Reverend Father in God Thomas Granmer to cut the knots of Devillish Sophistry linked and knit by the Devils Gardener and his blinde Buzzards to hold the verity of the everliving God under bondage that rather I think they shall condemn his works which notwithstanding shall continue and remain to their confusion then they shall enterprize to answer the same And also God gave boldnesse and knowledge to the Court of Parliament to take away the round clipped God wherein standeth all the holinesse of Papists and to command common Bread to be used at the Lords Table and also to take away the most part of superstitions kneeling at the Lords Supper excepted which before prophaned Christs true Religion Then dear Brethren was the Boat in the midst of the Sea and suddenly ariseth the horrible tempest most fearfull and dolorous Our King is taken away from us and the Devill bloweth in such Organs as alway he had found obedient to his Precepts and by them he enflameth the heart of that wretched and unhappy man whom I judge more to be lamented then hated to covet the Imperiall Crown of England to be established to his Posterity and what thereupon hath succeeded it is not now necessary to be written Of this short discourse Beloved in the Lord you may consider and perceive two speciall Notes 1. That the whole malice of the Devill hath alwayes this end To vexe and overthrow Christs afflicted Church for what else intended the Devill and his servants the pestilent Papists by all these their crafty policies during the time that Christs Gospell was preached in England then the subversion of the same Gospell and that they might recover power to persecute the Saints of God as this day in the hour of darknesse they have obtained for a time to their own destruction Let no man wonder though I say That the crafty policies of pestilent Papists wrought all the mischiefe for who could more easier and better worke greater mischief then such as bare authority and rule And who I pray you ruled the roste in the Court all this time by stout courage and proudnesse of stomack but Northumberland But who I pray you under King Edward ruled all by counsell and wit Shall I name the man I will writ no more plainly now then my tongue spake the last Sermon That it pleased God that I should make before that Innocent and most godly King Edward the sixt and before his Councell at Westminster and even to the faces of such as of whom I meant Handling this place of Scripture Qui edit mecum panem sustulit adversus me calcaneum suum that is He that eateth bread with me hath lift up his heel against me I made this affirmation That commonly it was seen that the most godly Princes had Officers and chief Councellors most ungodly conjured enemies to Gods true Religion and Traitours to their Princes not that their wickednesse and ungodlinesse was speedily perceived and espied out of the said Princes and godly men but that for time those craftie colourers could so cloke their malice against God and his truth and their hollow hearts toward their loving Masters that by worldly wisdome and policie at length they attained to high promotions And for the proofe of this mine affirmation I recited the Histories of Achitophel Shebna and Iudas of whom the two former had high Offices and promotions with great authority under the most godly Princes David and Hezekiah and Iudas was Purse Master with Christ Jesus And when I had made some discourse in that matter I moved this Question Why permitted so godly Princes so wicked men to be of their Councell and to bear Office and Authority under them To the which I answered That either they so abounded in worldly wisdom foresight and experience touching the government of a Common-wealth that their counsell appeared to be so necessary that the Common-wealth could not lack them and so by the colour to preserve the tranquilitie and quietnesse in Realms they were maintained in Authority or else they kept their malice which they bare towards their Masters and Gods true Religion so secret in their breasts that no man could espie it till by Gods permission they waited for such occasion and opportunitie that they uttered all their mischief so plainly that all the world might perceive it And that was most evident by Achithophel and Sobna for of Achithophel it is written That he was Davids most secret Councellour and that because his counsell in those dayes was like the Oracle of God and Sobna was unto good King
Hezekiah sometime Comptroller sometime Secretary and last of all Treasurer to the which Offices he had never been promoted under so godly a Prince if the Treason and malice which he bare against the King and against Gods true Religion had been manifestly known No quoth I Sobna was a crafty Foxe and could shew such a fair countenance to the King that neithet he nor his Councell could espie his malicious Treason But the Prophet Isaiah was commanded by God to go to his presence and to declare his traiterous heart and miserable end Was David said I and Hezekiah Princes of great and godly gifts and experience abused by crafty Councellors and dissembling Hypocrites What wonder is it then that a young and innocent King be deceived by craftie covetous wicked and ungodly Counsellors I am greatly afraid that Achitophel is Counsellor that Iudas bears the Purse and that Sobna is Scribe Comptroller and Treasurer This and somewhat more I spake that day not in a corner as many yet can witnesse but even before those whom my conscience judged worthy of accusation And this day no more do I write albeit I may justly because they have declared themselves most manifestly but yet do I affirme That under that innocent King pestilent Papists had greatest Authority Oh! who was judged to be the soule and life to the Counsell in every matter of weighty importance who but Sobna who could best dispatch businesses that the rest of the Councell might Hawk and Hunt and take their pleasure None like unto Sobna Who was most frank and ready to destroy Sommerset and set up Northumberland was it not Shebna Who was most bold to crie Bastard Bastard Incestuous Bastard Mary shall never Reigne over us And who I pray you was most busie to say Fear not to Subscribe with my Lords of the Kings Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell Agree to his Majesties last Will and perfect Testament and let never that obstinate woman come to Authority she is an arrant Papist she will subvert the true Religion and will bring in strangers to the destruction of this Common-wealth Which of the Councell I say had these and greater perswasions against Mary to whom now he coucheth and kneeleth Sobna the Treasurer And what intended such Traytorous and dissembling Hypocrites by all these and such like crafty sleights and counterfeit conveyance Doubtlesse the overthrow of Christs true Religion which then began to flourish in England the liberty whereof fretted the Guttes of such pestilent Papists who now hath gotten the dayes which they long looked for but yet to their own destruction and shame for in the spite of their hearts the plagues of God shall strike them they shall be comprehended in the snare which they prepare for others for their owne counsels shall make themselves slaves to a proud mischievous unfaithfull and vile Nation Now to the second Note of our Discourse which is this Albeit the Tyrants of this earth have learned by long experience that they are never able to prevaile against Gods Truth yet because they are bound slaves to their Master the Devill they cannot cease to persecute the members of Christ when the Devill blowes his winde in the darknesse of the night that is When the light of Christs Gospel is taken away and the Devil raigneth by Idolatry superstition and Tyrannie This most evidently may be seene from the beginning of this world to the time of Christ and from thence till this day Ismael might have perceived that he could not prevail against Isaac because God had made his promise unto him as no doubt Abraham their father teached to his whole houshold Esau likewise understood the same of Iacob Pharaoh might plainly have seen by many Miracles that Israel was Gods people whom he could not utterly destroy and also the Scribes and Pharisees and Chief Priests were utterly convinced in their Conscience that Christs whole doctrine was of God and that to the profit and commodity of man his Miracles and works were wrought by the power of God and therefore that they could never prevaile against him And yet as the Devill stirred them none of those could refrain to persecute him whom they knew most certainly to be innocent This I write that you shall not wonder albeit now ye see the poysoned Papists wicked Winchester and dreaming Duresme with the rest of the Faction who sometimes were so confounded that neither they durst nor could speak nor write in the defence of their Heresies now so to rage and triumph against the eternall Truth of God as though they had never assayed the power of God speaking by his true Messengers Wonder not hereat I say beloved Brethren that the Tyrants of this world are so obedient and ready to follow the cruell counsels of such disguised Monsters For neither can the one nor the other refraine because both sorts are as subject to obey the Devill their Prince and Father as the unstable Sea is to lift up the waves when the vehement winde bloweth upon it It is fearfull to be heard that the Divell hath such power over any man but yet the Word of God hath so instructed us And therefore albeit it be contrary to our phantasie yet we must beleeve it For the Divell is called the prince and god of this world because he raigneth and is honoured by tyranny and idolatry in it He is called the Prince of Darknesse that hath power in the Ayr It is said That he worketh in the children of unbelief because he stirreth them to trouble Gods Elect as he invaded Saul and compelled him to persecute David and likewise he entred into the heart of Iudas and moved him to betray his Master He is called Prince over the sons of Pride and father of all those that are lyers and enemies to Gods Truth Over whom he hath no lesse power this day then sometimes he had over Annas and Caiaphas whom no man denieth to have been led and moved by the devil to persecute Christ Jesus and his most true Doctrine And therefore wonder not I say that now the devil rageth in his obedient servants wily Winchester dreaming Duresme and bloody Bonner with the rest of their bloody butcherly brood for this is their hour and power granted unto them they cannot cease nor asswage their furious fumes for the devil their Sire stirreth moveth and carrieth them even at his will But in this that I declare the power of the devil working in cruell tyrants Think you that I attribute or give to him or to them power at their pleasure No not so brethren not so for as the devil hath no power to trouble the Elements but as God shall suffer so hath worldly tyrants albeit the devill hath fully possessed their hearts no power at all to trouble the Saints of God but as their bridle shall be loosed by Gods hands And herein dear brethren
brake the ward or prison Note another wavering of the Hamiltons A new Covenant 1562. Note So was the Duke the Earls of Argyle Murray and Glencarne with all their Company after ter served The day of Correthie field Octob. 22. 1562 The Earle of Huntlies prayer Note Corriethieburne or Farabank Secretary Lethingtons Oration The Lady Forbesse her words Let others that yet live mark this Mens judgement of the Queens Marriage Note this The Preachers railed upon the Courtiers The Preachers Admonition after the Earle of Huntlies death Meaning of Huntley The end declared their words to be true The defence of the Courtiers The Queens practise The tryall of Pauls Meffanes fact Chattelet and the Queen The Queens desire concerning Chattelet The punishment of God for maintaining and erecting of the Masse death and famine Iohn Knox sent for by the Queen Reasoning between I. Knox and the Queen Note diligently The Queens judgement of the Bishop of Cathaes The Lady Argile was naturall Sister to the Queen as the Earle Murray was naturall Brother The Clergie did pretend to be free from all Jurisdiction save the Popes The judgment of some Huntley forfeited The pride of Women at that Parliament Note diligently And so was Religion and the Common-wealth both neglected Occasion painted with a bald Hind-head Variance betwixt the Earle of Murray and Iohn Knox. Iohn Knox discharge to the Earl of Murray God knowes if our times be better The Speaker was the Dean of Restaruk Iohn Knox his affirmation Let this serve for our times Let the Papists judge this day 1567. Note Women Lethingtons practice Note diligently The last commendation of Lord Iohn to the Queen M. Rob. Font stricken in the head with a weapon by Cap. Lawder Bond to a mutuall defence in the cause of Religion Note Pastors The Master of Maxwells discharge to Iohn Knox and their reasoning together Before they disdained not to come to his own house Iohn Knox his answer Note a wise Reply This was the first time the Earle Murray spake with Iohn Knox after the Parliament Iohn Knox called before the Queen and Counsell in Decemb. 156â— Note this diligently Note As the Irish Papists have done to Protestants in Ireland Let this be noted for this day Let the world judge what ensued Note Pastors Note diligently Note the craft of the Court. Note I. Knox falsly reported of his answer Remark false brethren Murther and Whoredome in the Court. Maries Regiment Great Wet and Frost in Ian. 1563. The Sea stood still neither ebbed â—or flowed for 24 houres Cucullus Note how this agrees with our time Lethingtons counteâ—â—nce at the threatnings of the preacher Let the world judge whether this hath come to passe or not what hath fallen since that time Lethington his Harangue at the Assembly Anno 1564. Iohn Knox his answer Note diligently â—nd see how the Bishops did forbid to pray for the conversion of the Queen that now is in Britain M. Maxwells words in the Assembly Iohn Knox his prayer for the Queen Note 2 Tim. 2. Note Note Let this be noâ—ed diligently Psal. 82. Note this 1 Sam. 22. Note this Discourse diligently God craves of us That we should oppose our selves to iniquity Let this be noted for our times Whether this hath come to passe or not let the world judge Note this diligently Noâ—â— â— Paral 25. When the Prince does serve God sincerely in private and publike and hath a care that the people do the same then assuredly they are faithfull to him but if he faile in these or in either of them he findes disobedience in his people beâ—ause he is not carefull to obey God and to see him obeyed Deut. 13. 2 Paral. 26. Let this be applyed to the late affairs of Scotland 2 Paral. 26. Note M. Iohn Dowglâ—s Rector his Vote Master Iohn Craig his Vote Note dilâ—gently Note deligently There be two Epigrams extant written by George Buchanan of a rich Diamond sent from Qu. Mary to Queen Elizabeth At this time an Italian named Davie entred in great familiarity with the Queen so that there was nothing done without him The Earl of Murray seeing the other Nobles consent gave his which before he refused The Dispensation being come from Rome for the Marriage Before which according to the Romish Law it was unlawful to marry being Cousin Germans brother and sisters children and so the degree of Consanguinity forbidden Note this for our time The King to make himself more popular and to take from the Lords of the Congregation the preteâ—t of Religion he went to the Kirk to hear Iohn Knox preach In answering he said more then he had preached for he added That as the King had to pleasure the Queen gone to Masse and dishonoured the Lord God so should God in his justice make her an Instrument of his ruine and so it fell out in a very short time but the Queen being incensed with these words fell out in Tears and to please her Iohn Knox must abstain from preaching for a time Note how this agrees with our times Let this be conferred with our times Note diligenly So was the Citie of London for warre against Scotland vexed for the leavie of mony Note diligently Note diligently Qâ— Elizabeth Here mark either deep dissimulation or a great inconstancy At the end of this Book you shall finde this See in what sense proud ambitious men takes the name of Bishop As is said before This inconstant yongman sometimes declared himself for the Protestant witnesse his last Band And now for the Papist And as he left God so he was left by him The Queen intending vengeance upon the poor King and being in love with the Earle Bothwell grants to the Protestants their Petitions that they may be quiet and not trouble her Plots As she had lately gratified the Protestants by granting their Petition so at this time she yeelds unto the Papists their demands also that she might be stopped by neither of them in her designe of vengeance and new love Note Note how God changeth things in a moment Heb. 10. 1 Cor. 3. Mat. 25. John 3. Rom 58. 2 Cor. 5. Rom. 6. Ephes. 4.5 Ephes. 2. Matth. 10. Vain Religion or Idolatry A Sentence pronounced Appellation from the same The request of Iohn Knox. The Petition of Protestants Deut. 17. The Pâ—tition of Iohn Knox. Note well Answer 1. To Objections Note The Appellation is just and lawfull Gods Messengers may appeal from unjust sentences and Civill powers are bound to admit them Jer. 26. Advert The Princes did absolve the Prophet whom the Priests had condemned Deut. 17. The meaning of these words I am in your hands c. Deut 17. Jerem 1. Deut 1 10. The causes of his Appellation and why he ought to have been defended Jerem. 38. Just cause of Appellation Act. 22 23 24 25. Act. 25. Why Paul would admit none of the Leuiticall order to judge in his cause Upon what reasons the Appellation of Paul was grounded
high measure in the yeer 1595. This gave occasion then both to Prince and people to enter into Covenant for the defence of the Truth and pure Doctrine of the Church with the Reformed Discipline and of the safety of the King and Kingdom by which means the proceedings of the enemies was stopped for a while Now the time drawing neer of the Kings coming to the Crown of England the watching enemy returns to work again in another manner then he had done hitherto which was this By the mouths of some timerous and worldly men he causeth to present unto the King the consideration of great difficulties that he was likely to finde in his succeeding to the Crown of England by two parties there who were given out to be the Strength of the Kingdom to wit the profest Papists and the Prelaticall men therefore to facilitate the businesse they must be in some sort contented For the satisfaction of the Prelates the King by degrees must endeavour to bring again into Scotland Prelacy with all its dependences for no neglecter or contemner of the holy Order could be kindely received to reigne in England and so this part of the advice was followed with all possible care and diligence To content the Papists they not onely must have given unto them under-hand hopes of connivence and over seeing their practice but also there must be a Letter written to the Pope to assure his Holinesse of the Kings affection to the Catholike Cause Thus both these parties were calmed so far that the King came to the Crown of England Anno 1602 without manifest opposition albeit not without the grumbling and grudging of some As for the stricter sort of Professors of the Reformed Religion going under the nick-name of Puritans no opposition or trouble to the Succession was feared from them because the Principles upon which they go on rising from the Word of God are far other then those of worldlings which flow from interest and consequently they needed not Atonement or Propitiatory Sacrifice to befriend the King But the holy Father not finding reall performance by the King of what he looked for remembers the King in good earnest of his promise not kept by the Gun-powder Plot Anno 1605. After which by Gods mercy failing men would have thought that the Popish party should leave off all undertakings hereafter But they follow their businesse more constantly then so for no sooner one Plot fails but incontinent they put another afoot yea they have severall Plots at one and the same time in hand whereof it is likely that either one or other will take Now this great Plot of the Gun-powder being come to nothing they as it were go back for a time to come forward in due season with another and leaving for a while the open and devouring ravishing of the Wolf they have recourse again to the cunning of the Fox The next care then after the calming in some measure the spirits of men after so horrid a Treason is to look about and to studie by whom he affairs of these Dominions were managed And finding by serious inspection That all affairs received great influence from the Court after mature deliberation they resolved to make friends there which they did by subtill insinuations fair words high promises and some reall performances of good Offices yea when money was absolutely necessary it was not spared Thus by degrees having gotten friends at Court in it they make a party next for whose subsistence and increase they employ all that they can Now having power and credit at Court more and clearly perceiving it to be the fountain from whence all preferment to Honour and benefit in Church and State did flow they judged it fit for their purpose to make sure of some prime men both in Church and State according to their minde which was done as they desired Thus having gained men chief in State and Church for their use then they went to the corrupting of the Universities being the Seminaries of all Liberall Education This likewise they did effectuate first by the Over-seers connivence to loosenesse of life in young people next by the bad example of the Seniors the Iuniors were invited to do mischief Then the Teachers by their bad instruction did corrupt namely in Theologie all sound Doctrine And for this purpose the earnest studie of the Old Testrment in the Originall Hebrew was cryed downe as beseeming rather men of the Synagogue then those of the Christian Schools Likewise the Greek of the New Testament must not be read with diligence for fear of spoyling the elegancy of the Greek Language which is to be found in profane Authors So they withdrew the Students from the studie of Scriptures in the Originall and recommended to them the reading of humane Writings particularly in Theologie the Books of the Ancients which are commonly called Fathers Likewise was recommended unto young men the studie of the Sophistry of the Monks as of Thomas and Scotus namely with their Expositors True it is That if young men were well instructed in Theologie from the Scriptures and taught the true Principles of Philosophie in a setled course by some judicious and diligent Professor they might reade all these Books and others in their kinde with pleasure and benefit But alas young men not knowing the rudiments of Theologie nor the first Elements of Philosophie are let loose unto themselves and so by reading these Books having no sure ground to stick to learn onely to doubt and put Queries yea of the very Principles of all sound knowledge both Divine and Humane Thus being brought to waver and doubt they are easily led what by interest what by weaknesse to embrace a bad Opinion or at least to hold all uncertain as the ancient Scepticks not being able to resolve Yea doubting is come to that height that in the opinion of many he is the bravest fellow and wittiest that can raise most Queries answer them who will or can And so Wit is hugely cryed up which is but meer froth and poor solid Wisedom is not so much as named or thought on Then those of the richer sort having spent some time idly and loosely at the Universities go beyond Sea particularly to Italy forsooth either upon their own trust or which is little better if not worse many of those who go along with young men to advise and direct them have as much need of one for their guide as the young men themselves having neither staidnesse discretion nor probity So that if there were a just account cast up of all those who either have been bred in the Universities or gone beyond Sea these many yeers I will speak within compasse That of twenty you shall hardly finde one who is improved in vertue by this Breeding for the good of the Church and State whereof they are members and perhaps considerable too if they were wise and good At this present both Church and State findes this to be true
by wofull experience namely in the Clergie Gentry and Nobility Now these evils have not been in England alone for Scotland according to its proportion in compasse of Bounds numbers of people provision of means and in its distance from Court hath its full share of all the evil For first the Schools of breeding young people at home were become very corrupt and many in their travelling abroad have either miscarried or little benefited themselves The fruit we have found namely in our corrupt Clergie yea and in some of our infatuated Gentry and Nobility but blessed be God things are now in a better posture and constitution there then they have been formerly God grant we may have occasion to say the like of England For Religion sound knowledge and true wisedome with probity have been so neglected and contemned there to the ignominy and reproach of Christianity that in these times there we have seen the dolefull effects of want of Religion and of these other vertues But to return to the Court. The Popish party although they had both power and credit at Court yet they were not assured to go on so smoothly and speedily with the great Designe so long as there were any of eminency there of whom they could not be certain So Prince Henry was first wished to be out of the way next by untimely death was taken away to the grief of many honest men This conceived Remora being laid aside they resolve to go on more freely in their Designe But although they had gained much upon the affection of the King yet they can suffer him to expresse the Notions of Religion and wisedom both by word and writing Yea they will yeeld him to follow so far his former Principles as to match his daughter to one of his Profession so he marries the Lady Elizabeth to the Prince Elector Palatine although it was not altogether so pleasing to some chief ones at Court then These things passed in the yeer 1613. who although they would not stop the Marriage to go on yet they managed the businesse so that they hindered the Prince Elector Palatine to receive the advantages which in reason he should have had by vertue of it as help and ayd at his need c. Here we must make a little step beyond Sea and presently return back Now then we must know That as the Popish party have been very busie in these our Dominions in carrying on the Work of the great Designe of subjecting all to the Pope directly or indirectly so in other places where Idolatry and Tyranny had been cast off they have not been sleeping nor idle namely in our neighbour Countreys where when they had made things up for a combustion of War by their crafty forecasting divisions and corruptions in life and Doctrine of men of place they kindled the fire witnesse the businesse of Barnevel in the Low Countreys in the yeer 1619. And not long thereafter the troubles raised in France against the Professors of the Truth then in Germany likewise having all things ready for a War as they were thinking that the two Houses of Saxe to wit the Weymerian and the now Electorall was most fit and easie to be embroyled by reason of the emulation of the Weymerian against the other for the Electorall Dignity taken from it and given to the other But conveniently for their purpose the Elector Palatine being made King of Bohemia the great agent of the Pope the House of Austria takes occasion to make War against him leaving the House of Saxe c. Now to come home again King James by this time is turned about and his affection so much cooled and turned from the Protestant party distressed that for all help or supply to the Protestants of France he sends complements by Embassadours with fair promises And for his son-in-Law with other Protestants his adherents in Germany he did little more so senselesse is he of the sufferings of Jacob and unmindefull of his own interest by suffering those in France and Germany to perish who not onely did so much honour him but they being preserved made him the most redoubted and considerable Prince in Christendom To speak nothing of his tye by nature unto his own children Then contradicting his own published Dictates he must seek after a Popish wife for his son and to hasten the businesse the young Prince must be sent into Spain where he had two men by whom he was then advised who although they did not love one another yet they did agree among themselves To betray their old Master with their Countrey and their young Master in their company whom they theu counselled to embrace Popery and by writing engage himself unto the Pope This is upon Record At last the Prince cometh home without the wife which was never really intended for him howsoever things were given out notwithstanding all the pains of the young Prince and the earnest sollicitude of the Father with the compliance of both If it had not been for the hatred to the Palatine House and fear of its advancement to the succession of those Dominions the Prince never had seen this Island again but in a Map Howsoever King James is glad to have his son safe returned And at length seeing clearly how he had been misled and gulled bethinks himself how to amend his former mistakes and errours but alas it was too late for as he was thus consulting with himself death takes him away An. 1625. not without suspition of wrong done unto him The new King must have a Popish wife according to the former intention she cometh from France and bringeth along with her her strange gods The Prelats had a main hand in this Popish Match by actuall furtherance thereof and by opening the way how the free exercise of Popery might be had in favour of the Queen and her adherents without breach of the Law of the Land The same yeer of the death of the late King and of the Marriage of our now Sovereign there was an Expedition made against the Spaniard without any reall intention to do harm as appears by the slack performance of the War and by the shamefull Peace made thereafter The main drift of this undertaking was first To try how ready the people would be to endure Souldiers in the Countrey which they had not seen for a long time and how willing they would be to undergo a War at the command of the corrupt Court and uphold it with Supplies of men and moneys Next There must be an Expedition against France under pretext to help the then distressed Protestants there which really was intended for the hastening of their ruine and encrease of their desolation and so it proved indeed although the main and chief undertaker was prevented by death to see the effect of his intents The other end of this undertaking was To have Forces at command both Horse and Foot by Land and a well-provided Navie at Sea for the enslaving of
the people to spirituall and temporall Bondage which in all humane probability had not been difficile to effectuate then such was the sheeppish sillinesse and knavish basenesse of many men in these Dominions of all ranks conditions and professions as also the unpreparednesse of the wiser and better Patriots and Members of the Church to withstand this mischief if God in his mercy by the unexpected death of the Court-ruler and chief agent in the businesse had not put in a Remora and lett At which time if men had returned unto God amending their lives in private and had expressed their true zeal then to the good of the Church and Countrey whereof they are members according to their severall ranks and conditions the designe of the common enemy had been fully dasht But God in his wisedom hath been pleased to keep us yet a while longer under the rod of tryall to see if we will return unto him at last The Romish party although astonished and surprised at the death of their Engine and main Instrument here among us gives not over but continues the great Designe without intermission albeit not with such speed as formerly for those to whose care principally the businesse was committed and in whose hands the managing of matters had fallen by the death of the late Fac totum were not so powerfull to obtain without refusall what they pleased at the Kings hands neither were they in such opinion and reputation with inferiours to make them go on in the work so earnestly wherefore the Queen must be brought now of necessity to take upon her the main care and to obtain from the King whatsoever may conduce and further the businesse and take away all letts and stops which may hinder the proceedings Then to employ all her credit abroad for countenancing and advancing affairs And next by her authority to draw on inferiours to act their part with affection and ardour Now all things being thus cunningly and carefully by degrees in few yeers prepared and disposed for enslaving Church and State Prince and People to Rome again it was thought fit by the hottest of the party to wit the Iesuites to hasten the work openly and delay no more time the compassing of the Designe being conceived to be infallible By this means they thought to shorten the businesse and to make themselves so considerable as to share deeply in the Booty of which they looked for but little if things were still lingred and carryed on slowly But how and where to begin this new undertaking was consulted upon and after deliberation the Scots must be begun at the way is resolved on there must be a new Prayer-Book put upon these rude fellows that they may say their Prayers in modo figura a la Romaine and not so rudely and irregularly as they were wont to do in the Northern way Then they must have high-Commission Courts Canons and Etcetera's Which things if the Scots be so wise to accept as doubtlesse they will reasoned these men but he that reckons without this host reckons twice for their chief men of State are either actually at Court or provided to places in the Countrey from Court at least they can do no businesse of moment without the favour of the Court. At this time the devout and religious Prelats with the rest of their good Clergie are not onely in all earnestnesse bent for the work according to their severall places in the Church but also they over-sway all busines in State Wherefore without difficulty we will compasse our main Designe thorow all these Dominions said they And truely so they had in all likelihood as we may see by the wofull carriage of businesse and so ill managing so good a Cause in England since But God had in his mercy towards us all ordained otherwise And if the Scots say they should be so mad as to refuse the commands from the Court and think upon resistance they shall be made obey the holy Mandate with a Vengeance and say their prayers with a rod for we shall over-run their Countrey speedily and subdue them as poor silly ignorant fools destitute of all means for War to wit wisedom with resolution not having breeding and pressed down with poverty to undertake and undergo such a businesse as War and money and Arms to go on in it for the Sâ—yl being barren and the Havens bad they cannot have the advantages of a fertile Countrey furnished with good Harbours and Commanders or Leaders to manage a War their Military men being abroad who will not easily quit the honorable and beneficiall Employments they have in forreigne Countreys and come home to suffer want with losse of credit But God who laughs from above at the foolish Counsells of vain men in this particular hath made us see That he hath an â—ver-ruling power over the affairs of men making little and contemptible ones do great things and bring to nothing the undertakings of the mighty and wise of this world By this time the new Prayer-Book designed at Rome and perfected at London is sent down into Scotland After some little reluctancy it is received by the Councell there the major part whereof then were either Church-men or their addicted friends Then it is sent to the Churches to be put in use and practice But unexpected and unlooked for it is opposed by inferiour people from whence the opposition riseth to those of higher ranks whereupon Petitions are drawn up and sent to the King to supplicate His Majesty in all due respect to free the Church of Scotland from this new Prayer-Book with the High-Commission Courts Canons Etcetera's To these Demands of the Scots no answer is given but hot threatnings after which preparatives of War were made against the Scots and because the King did not shew himself propense enough to the undertaking of War nor the Queen forward enough to engage the King in this holy War the Queen-Mother who for her known faithfulnesse to her husband and for her care of her son both late Kings of France must come to her Son-in-law against his will to help him with her best advice and counsell and to better instruct her daughter how to carry her self with earnestnesse and addresse in the businesse Things being thus disposed there is an Expedition undertaken against the Scots and followed to the Borders by the King present in person but to small purpose for the Scots came to the Borders duly prepared notwithstanding their pre-conceived wants and indisposition to sell their Religion and Liberty at a dear rate which being perceived by the Court the Scots Demands formerly rejected are granted and a Peace concluded Then some of the chief men of the Scots were invited to go to Court for the time at Barwick who upon certain advice of a Plot against them were stopped by their friends to trust themselves to the faith of the Court. After things in a kinde calmed there the King not suffered by his Counsell to
shall onely l. 47. r. is p. 316.35 r. might not p. 317. l 9. r. whither p. 319 l. 15. r. concurre l. 20 r. she p. 321. l 34. r. charge p. 324. l. 28. r. meats p. 326. l. 7. r. modified p. 327. l. 39. r. women p. 352. l 3. r. dearth l. 5. r. many p. 359. l. 1. r. her p. 366. l. 12. r. within l. 19. r. dayes p 369 l. 24. r. unlawfull p. 373. l. 36. r. if the p. 375. l. 32. r. all through l. 34. r. sins p. 386. l. 35. r. death p. 387. l. 1. r. which l. 45. r. what p. 392. l. 25. r. will say p. 393. l. 4. r. misknow p. 397. l. 5. r. this l. 10. r. the. The fifth Book P. 413. l. 39. r. best p. 414. l. 17. r. to p. 416. l. 5. â— celerity p. 421.36 r. as you p. 436. l. 26. r. foolish cagots p. 437. l. 7. r. to such p. 447. l. 5. dele was l. 23. r. saying Appendix P. 7. l. 43. r. ye p. 29. l. 6. r. result l. 10. world p. 60. l. 44. r. Mistresse p. 78. l. 15. r. time p. 79. l. 7. r. Iehu pag. 99. l. 1. r. whole l. 11. r. finall p. 102. l. 4â— r. punished p. 106. l. 1. r. all p. 111. l. 17. r. him p. 112. l. 24. r. perceived THE HISTORIE OF THE REFORMATION Within the Realme of SCOTLAND from the yeer 1422. Till the 20. day of August 1567. THE FIRST BOOK IN the Records of Glasgow is found mention of one whose name was Iames Resby an Englishman by Birth Scholler to Wickliff He was accused as an Heretike by one Lawrence Lindors in Scotland and burnt for having said That the Pope was not the Vicar of Christ and that a man of wicked life was not to be acknowledged for Pope This fell out Anno 1422. Farther our Chronicles make mention That in the dayes of King Iames the first about the yeer of God 1431. was deprehended in the University of Saint Andrewes one named Paul Craw a Boheme who was accused of Heresie before such as then were called Doctors of Theologie His accusation consisted principally That he followed Iohn Hâ—s and Wickliff in the opinion of the Sacrament Who denied that the substance of Bread and Wine were changed by vertue of any words Or that Confession should be made to Priests or yet Prayers to Saints departed While that God gave him grace to resist them and not to consent to their impiety He was committed to the secular Judge for our Bishops following Pilate who both did condemne and also wash his hands who condemned him to the fire in the which he was consumed in the said City of Saint Andrews about the time afore written And to declare themselves to be the generation of Satan who from the beginning hath been enemy to the Truth and he that desireth the same to be hid from the knowledge of men They put a ball of Brasse in his mouth to the end he should not give Confession of his Faith to the people neither yet that they should understand the defence which he had against their unjust accusation and condemnation Both these godly men Resby and Craw suffered Martyrdome for Christ his Truth by Henry Ward-Law Bishop of Saint Andrewes whom the Prelates place amongst their Worthies But that their wicked practise did not greatly advance their Kingdom of darknesse neither yet was it able utterly to extinguish the Trueth for albeit that in the dayes of King Iames the second and third we finde small question of Religion moved within this Realm yet in the time of King Iames the fourth in the sixth yeer of his Reign and in the twenty two yeer of his age which was in the yeer of God 1494. were summoned before the King and his great Counsell by Robert Blacater called Archbishop of Glasgow The number of thirty persons remaining some in Kyle Stâ—wart some in Kingstyle and some in Cunninghame Among whom were George Campbell of Cesnok Adam Reade of Barskyning Iohn Campbell of Newmyls Andrew Schaw of Polkemac Helene Chalmer Lady Pokellie Isabelle Chambers Lady Stairs These were called the Lollards of Kyle they were accused of the Articles following as we have received them out of the Register of Glasgow 1. First â—hat Images are not to be had in the Kyrk nor to be worshipped 2. That the Reliques of Saints are not to be worshipped 3. That Laws Ordinances of men vary from time to time and that by the Pope 4. That it is not lawfull to fight for the Faith nor to defend the Faith by the Sword if we be not driven to it by necessity which is above all Law 5. That Christ gave power to Peter as also to the other Apostles and not to the Pope his pretended Successour to binde and loose within the Kyrk 6. That Christ ordained no Priests to consecrate as they do in the Romish Church these many yeers 7. That after the Consecration in the Masse there remains Bread and that there is not the naturall Body of Christ. 8. That Tythes ought not to be given to Ecclesiasticall men as they were then called to wit wholly but a part to the poor widow or orphans other pious uses 9. That Christ at his coming hath taken away power from Kings to judge This Article we doubt not to be the venomous accusation of the enemies whose practise hath ever been to make the doctrine of Jesus Christ suspect to Kings and Rulers As if God thereby would deprive them of their Royall Seats While on the contrary nothing confirms the power of Magistrates more then doth Gods Truth But to the Articles 10. That every faithfull man and women is a Priest in that sence that they are called by the Apostle Saint Iohn Apoc. 1.6.5.10.20.6 11. That the Unction of Kings ceased at the coming of Christ and truely it was but late since Kings were anointed namely in Scotland for Edgar was the first anointed King in Scotland about the yeer 1100. 12. That the Pope is not the successour of Peter but where he said Go behinde me Satan 13. That the Pope deceives the people by his Buls and his Indulgences 14. That the Masse profiteth not the souls who in those dayes were said to be in Purgatory 15. That the Pope and the Bishops deceive the people by their Pardons 16. That Indulgences ought not to be granted to fight against the Saracens 17. That the Pope exalts himself against God and above God 18. That the Pope cannot remit the pains of Purgatory 19. That the blessings of the Bishops of dumb Dogs they should have been stiled are of no value 20. That the Excommunication of the Kyrk is not to be feared if there be no true cause for it 21. That in no case it is lawfull to swear to wit idly rashly and in vain 22. That Priests may have wives according to the constitution of the Law and
Commonalty and comes to the house side crying What have ye done with my Lord Cardinall Where is my Lord Cardinall Have ye slain my Lord Cardinall They that were within answered gentlely Best it were for you to return to your own houses for the man ye call the Cardinall hath received his reward and in his own person will trouble the world no more But then more inragedly they cry We shall never depart till that we see him And so was he brought to the East block-house head and shewed dead over the wall to the faithlesse multitude which would not beleeve before they saw and so they departed without Requiem aeternam requiescat in pace sung for his soule Now because the weather was hot for it was in May as ye have heard and his funerals could not suddenly be prepared it was thought best to keep him from stinking to give him great salt enough a cope of lead and a corner in the bottom of the sea Tower a place where many of Gods children had been imprisoned before to await what exequies his brethren the Bishops would prepare for him These things we write merrily but we would that the Reader should observe Gods just judgements and how that he can deprehend the worldly wise in their own wisdom make their table to be a snare to trap their own feet and their own purposed strength to be their own destruction These are the works of our God whereby he would admonish the tyrants of this earth that in the end he will be revenged of their crueltie what strength soever they make in the contrary But such is the blindnesse of man as David saith that the posterity doth ever follow the footsteps of their wicked fathers and principally in their impiety For how little differs the cruelty of that bastard that yet is called Bishop of S. Andrews from the cruelty of the former we will after heare The death of this aforesaid Tyrant as it was pleasing to some to wit to those who had received the Reformation of Religion for they were mightily afraid of him and also to sundry Romanists whom he kept under as slaves so on the other side it was dolorous to the Priests dolorous to the Governour dolorous to the Queene Dowager for in him perished faithfulnesse to France and the comfort to all Gentle-women and especially to wanton widows His death must be revenged To the Court again repaires the Earle of Angus and his brother Sir George labour is made for the Abbacie of Arbroth and a grant was once made of the same in memory whereof George Dowglas bastard sonne to the said Earle is yet called Postulant But it was more proper think the Hamiltons for the Governours itching then for reward to the Dowglasses And yet in hope thereof the said Earle and Sir George his brother were the first that voted that the Castle of S. Andrews should be besieged Divers Gentlemen of Fyfe went into the Castle and abode there with the Leslies during the first siege and Iohn Rough was Preacher to them The Bishop to declare the zeale that he had to revenge the death of him that was his predecessour and for his riches he would not have had him living againe still blew the coles And first he made summons then he denounced accursed at last rebels not onely the first enterprisers but all such also as after did accompany them And last of all a siege was concluded which began in the end of August for the 23 day thereof departed the Souldiers from Edinburgh and continued neer to the end of January At what time because they had no other hope of winning of it but by hunger and thereof also they despaired for they within had broken through the East wall and made a plaine passage by an iron gate to the sea which greatly relieved the besieged and abased the besiegers for then they saw that they could not stop them of victuals unlesse that they should be masters of the sea and that they clearly understood they could not be for the English Ships had once been there and had brought William Kirkcaldie from London and with much difficultie because the said gate was not then prepared and some losse of men had rendered him to the Castle againe and had taken with them to the Court of England Iohn Leslie and Master Henry Balnaves for perfecting of all Contracts betwixt them and the King Henry who promised to take them into his protection upon condition onely that they should keep the Governours son my Lord of Arrane and stand friends to the Contract of Marriage whereof before we have made mention These things clearly understood we say by the Governour and his Counsell the Priests and the shaven sort they concluded to make an appointment to the end that under Truce they might either get the Castle betrayed or else some principall men of the company taken at unawares In which dressing was the Abbot of Dunfermeling principall and for that purpose had the Laird of Monquhanie who was most familiar with those of the Castle laboured with foot and hand and proceeded so in his traffique that from entring in day light at his pleasure he gat licence to come in in the night whensoever it pleased him But God had not appointed so many to be betrayed albeit that he would that they should be punished and that justly as hereafter we shall heare The Heads of the coloured appointment were 1. That they should keep the Castle of S. Andrews still while that the Governour and the authority of Scotland should get unto them a sufficient absolution from the Pope Antichrist of Rome for the slaughter of the Cardinall aforesaid 2. That they should deliver pledges for the deliverie of that house as soone as the aforesaid absolution was delivered unto them 3. That they their friends familiars and servants and others to them pertaining should never be pursued in Law by authority for the slaughter aforesaid But that they should enjoy commodities spirituall or temporall whatsoever they possessed before the said slaughter even as if it had never beene committed That they of the Castle should keep the Earle of Arran so long as their Pledges were kept And such like Articles liberall enough for they never minded to keep word of them as the issue did declare Iohn Rough left the Castle seeing he could do little good upon those that were within so addicted were they to their evil wayes he went into England to Preach Gods Word there The appointment made all the godly were glad for some hope they had that thereby Gods Word should somewhat bud as indeed so it did For Iohn Rough who soon after the Cardinals slaughter entred within the Castle and had continued in it during the whole siege having left the Castle because he could do little good upon those that were with him so addicted were they to their evil wayes began to Preach in the city of S. Andrews
but so would he not relieve them But some would he deliver by one means and at one time and others must abide for a season upon his good pleasure This counsell in the end was embraced upon the Kings even when French men commonly use to drinke liberally The aforesaid four persons having the help and conducting of a boy of the house bound all that were in the Castle put them in sundry houses locked the doors upon them took the Keys from the Captain and departed without harm done to the person of any or without touching of any thing that appertained to the King Captain or the house Great search was made thorow the whole Countrey for them But it was Gods good pleasure so to conduct them that they escaped the hands of the faithlesse albeit it was with long travell and great pain and poverty sustained for the French boy left them and took with him the small money that they had And so neither having money nor knowledge of the Countrey And farther fearing that the boy should discover them as that in very deed he did they purposed to divide themselves to change their garments and to go in sundry parts The two brethren Will. and Rob. Leslie who now are become the said Robert especially enemies to Christ Jesus and unto all vertue came to Roan Will. Kirkcaldie and Peter Carmichell in beggars garment came to Conquet and by the space of 12 or 13 weeks they travelled as poor Mariners from Port to Port till at length they gat a French Ship landed in the West of Scotland and from thence came to England where they met before them the said Io. Knox who that same Winter was delivered and Alexander Clerk in his company The said Iohn was first appointed Preacher to Barwick then to Newcastle last he was called to London and to the South part of England where he remained till the death of King Edward the sixt When he left England he then passed to Geneva and there remained at his privy studie till that he was called by the Congregation that then was assembled at Franckford to be Preacher to them which Vocation he obeyed albeit unwillingly at the commandment of that notable servant of God Iohn Calvin At Franckford he remained till that some of the learned whose names we suppresse more given to unprofitable Ceremonies then to sincerity of Religion began to quarrell with the said Iohn and because they despaired to prevail before the Magistrate there for the establishing of their corruptions they accused him of treason committed against the Emperour and against their Soveraigne Queen Mary That in his Admonition to England he called the one little inferiour to Nero and the other more cruell then Iesabell The Magistrate perceiving their malice and fearing that the said Iohn should fall in the hands of his accusators by one mean or by other gave advertisement secretly to him to depart their City for they could not save him if he were required by the Emperour or by the Queen of England in the Emperours name And so the said Iohn returned to Geneva from thence to Diep and thereafter to Scotland as we shall after hear The time and that Winter that the Gallies remained in Scotland were delivered M. Iames Balfour his two brethren David and Gilbert Iohn Anchinlek Iohn Sibald Iohn Gray William Gutrie and Stevin Bell. The Gentlemen that remained in prisons were by the procurement of the Queen Dowager to the Cardinall of Loraine and to the King of France set at liberty in the month of Iuly anno 1550. who shortly thereafter were called to Scotland their peace proclaimed and they themselves restored to their lands in despight of their enemies And that was done in hatred of Duke Hamilton because that then France began to have the Regiment of Scotland in their own hands Howsoever it was God made the hearts of their enemies to set them at liberty and freedom There rested a number of common servants yet in the Gallies who were all delivered upon the Contract of peace that was made betwixt France and England after the taking of Bullen and so was the whole company set at liberty none perishing no not before the world except Iames Melvin who departed from the misery of this life in the Castle of Brest in Britaigne This we write to let the posteritie to come to understand how potently God wrought in preserving and delivering of those that had but a small knowledge of his truth and for the love of the same hazarded all That if either we now in our dayes having greater light or our posteritie that shall follow us shall see a fearfull dispersion of such as oppose themselves to impiety or take upon them to punish the same otherwise then laws of men will permit If we say we or they shall see such left of men yea as it were despised and punished of God yet let us not damne the persons that punish vice and that for just cause nor yet despair but that the same God that dejects for causes unknown to us will raise up again the persons dejected to his glory their comfort And to let the world understand in plain terms what we mean that great abuser of this Common-wealth that pultron and vile knave Davie was justly punished the ninth of March in the yeer of our Lord 1565. for abusing of the Common-wealth and for his other villanies which we lift not to expresse by the counsell and hands of Iames Dowglas Earl of Mortoun Patrick Lord Lindsay and the Lord Ruthwen with other assisters in the company who all for their just act and most worthy of all praise are now unworthily left of all their brethren and suffer the bitternes of banishment exile But this is our hope in the mercies of our God That this same blinde Generation whether it will or not shall be compelled to see That he will have respect to them that are injustly pursued That he will pardon their former offences That he will restore them to the liberty of their Country and Common-wealth again And that he will punish in despight of man the head and the taile that now troubles the just and maintaineth impiety The head is known the tail hath two branches The temporall Lords that maintain such abominations as we see flattering counsellors of State blasphemous Balfour now called clerk of Register Sinclare Dean of Lestarrig and Bp. of Brechen blinde of one eye in the body but of both of his soul upon whom God shortly after took vengeance Leslie Preistesgate Abbot of Londrosse and Bishop of Rosse Simon Preston of Cragmillar a right Epicurian Whose end will be ere it be long according to their works But now to return to our History Hadington being kept and much hearship done about in the Countrey for what the English-men destroyed not that was consumed by the French God begins to fight for Scotland For in the Town he sent
commends to the poore Cardinall of Loraine The freedomes of Scottish Merchants were restrained in Roane and they compelled to pay Tole and Taxations others then their ancient Liberties did beare To bring this head to passe to wit to the Matrimoniall Crown the Queen Regent left no point of the Compasse unsailed with the Bishops and Priests She practised on this manner Ye may clearely see that I cannot do what I would within this Realme for these Hereticks and Confederates of England are so banded together that they stop all good order But will ye be favourable unto me in this suit of the Matrimoniall Crowne to be granted to my daughters husband Then shall we see how I shall handle these Heretickes and Traitours ere it be long And in very deed in these her promises she meant no deceit in that behalfe Unto the Protestants she said I am not unmindfull how oft ye have solicited me for Reformation in Religion and gladly would I consent thereunto but ye see the power and craft of the Bishop of S. Andrews together with the power of Duke Hamilton and of Church-men ever to be bent against me in all my proceedings so that I may do nothing unlesse the full authority of this Realme be delivered to the King of France which cannot be but by donation of the Crowne Matrimoniall which thing if ye will bring to passe then devise ye what ye please in matters of Religion and they shall be granted With this Commission and Credit was Lord Iames then Prior of S. Andrews directed to the Earle of Argyle with moe other promises then we list to rehearse By such dissimulation to those that were simple and true of heart inflamed she them to be more fervent in her Petition then her selfe appeared to be And so at the Parliament holden at Edinburgh in the moneth of October in the yeere of God 1558. it was clearely voed no man reclaiming except the Duke for his interest and yet for it there was no better Law produced except that there was a solemne Masse appointed for that purpose in the Pontificall This head obtained whereat France and she principally shot what faith she kept to the Protestants in this our second Book shall be declared In the beginning whereof we may more amply rehearse some things that in this our first are summarily touched The end of the first Booke The Second Booke OF THE HISTORY OF Things done in SCOTLAND in the Reformation of Religion Beginning in the yeere of our Lord God 1558. OUr purpose was to have made the beginning of our History from the things that were done from the yeere of God 1558. till The Reformation of Religion which of Gods mercy we once possessed and yet in Doctrine and in the right use of administration of Sacraments do possesse But because divers of the godly as before is said earnestly required That such persons as God raised up in the midst of darkenesse to oppose themselves to the same should not be omitted We obeyed their Request and have made a short Rehearsall of all such matters as concerne Religion from the death of that notable Servant of God Master Patricke Hamilton unto the aforesaid yeere when that it pleased God to looke upon us more mercifully then we deserve and to give unto us greater boldnesse and better albeit not without hazard and trouble successe in all our enterprizes then we looked for as the true Narration of this second Booke shall witnesse The PREFACE whereof followeth The Preface LEst that Sathan by our silence shall take occasion to blaspheme and to slander us the Protestants of the Realme of Scotland as that our fact tended rather to Sedition and Rebellion then to Reformation of Manners and abuses in Religion We have thought expedient so truely and briefly as we can to commit to writing the causes moving us as we say and great part of the Nobility and Barons of the Realme to take the sword of just Defence against those that most unjustly seek our destruction And in this our confession we shall faithfully declare What moved us to put our hands to the Reformation of Religion How we have proceeded in the same What we have asked and what presently we require of the sacred Authority To the end that our Cause being knowne as well our enemies as our brethren in all Realmes may understand how falsly we are accused of tumult and Rebellion and how unjustly we are persecuted by France and by their Faction And also that our brethren naturall Scotish-men of whatsoever Religion they be may have occasion to examine themselves If they can with safe conscience oppose themselves to us who seek nothing but Christ Iesus his glorious Gospel to be preached his holy Sacraments to be truely ministred Superstition Tyranny and Idolatry to be suppressed in this Realme And finally This our native Countrey to remaine free from the Bondage and Tyranny of Strangers While that the Queen Regent practised with the Prelats how that Christ Jesus blessed Gospel might utterly be suppressed within Scotland God so blessed the labours of his weak servants that no small part of the Barons of this Realme began to abhorre the Tyranny of the Bishops God did so open their eyes by the light of his Word that they could cleerly discerne betwixt Idolatry and the true honouring of God Yea men almost universally began to doubt whether they could God not offended give their bodily presence to the Masse or yet offer their children to the Papisticall Baptisme The doubts when the most godly and the most learned in Europe had answered both by word and writing affirming That neither of both we might do without perill of our souls we began to be more troubled For then also began men of estimation and those that bare rule amongst us to examine themselves concerning their duties as well towards Reformation of Religion as towards the just defence of their brethren most cruelly persecuted And so began divers questions to be moved to wit If that with safe conscience such as were Iudges Lords and Rulers of the People might serve the higher Powers in maintaining of Idolatry in persecuting their Brethren and in suppressing Christs Truth Or Whether they to whom God in some case hath committed the Sword of Iustice might suffer the blood of their Brethren to be shed in their presence without any declaration that such Tyranny displeased them By the plain Scriptures it was found That a lively faith required a plaine Confâ—ssion when Christs Truth is oppugned That not onely are they guilty that do evil but also they that consent to evil And plain it is That they consent to evil who seeing iniquity openly committed by their silence seem to justifie and avow whatsoever is done These things being resolved and sufficiently proved by evident Scriptures of God we began every man to look more diligently to his Salvation For the Idolatry and Tyranny of the Clergy called
Declaration of our minds which we did in this forme following To the generation of Antichrist the pestilent Prelats and their Shavelings within Scotland the Congregation of Christ Iesus within the some saith TO the end that ye shall not be abused thinking to escape just punishment after that ye in your blinde furie have caused the blood of many to be shed This we notifie and declare unto you That if ye proceed in this your malicious crueltie ye shall be dealt withall wheresoever ye shall be apprehended as murtherers and open enemies to God and unto mankinde And therefore betimes cease from this blinde rage Remove first from your selves your bands of bloodie men of war and reform your selves to a more quiet life and hereafter mitigate ye the authority which without crime committed on our part ye have inflamed against us or else be ye assured That with the same measure that ye have measured against us and yet intend to measure to others it shall be measured unto you that is As ye by tyrannie intend not onely to destroy our bodies but also by the same to hold our souls in bondage of the Devil subject to Idolatry So shall we with all force and power which God shall grant unto us execute just vengeance and punishment upon you yea we shall begin that same war which God commandeth Israel to execute against the Canaanites that is contract of peace shall never be made till that ye desist from your open Idolatry and cruell persecution of Gods children And this we signifie unto you in the name of the eternall God and of his Son Christ Jesus whose Verity we professe and Gospel we have Preached and holy Sacraments rightly ministred so long as God will assist us to gain stand your Idolatry Take this for advertisement and be not deceived Notwithstanding these our Requests and Advertisements Monsieur Dosell and his French men with the Priests and their bands marched forward against S. Iohnston and approached within ten miles of the Town then repaired the brethren from all quarters for our reliefe The Gentlemen of Fyfe Angus Mernes with the Town of Dundie were there they that first hazarded to resist the enemy and for that purpose was chosen a place of ground a mile and more distant from the Town In this mean time the Lord Ruthuen Provest of the Town of S. Iohnston and a man whom many judged godly and stout in that action as in very deed he was even unto his last breath left the Town and departed first to his own place and after to the Queen whose defection and revolt was a great discouragement to the hearts of many and yet did God so comfort them that within the space of twelve houres after the hearts of all men were set up againe For those that were then assembled did not so much hope of victory by their own strength as by the power of him whose Verity they professed and began one to comfort another till the whole multitude was erected in a reasonable hope The day after that the Lord Ruthuen departed which was the foure and twentieth of May came the Earle of Argyle Lord Iames Prior of S. Andrews and the Lord Semple directed from the Queen Regent to enquire the cause of that Convocation of Lieges there To whom when it was answered That it was onely to resist the cruell tyrannie devised against that poore Towne and the inhabitants of the same They asked if we minded not to hold that Towne against the authority and against the Regent To the which Question answered the Lairds of Dâ—n and Pitarro with the Congregation of Angus and Mernes the Master of Lindsay the Lairds of Londy Balvarde and others Barons of Fyfe That if the Queenes Majestie would suffer the Religion there begun to proceed and not trouble their brethren and sisters that had professed Christ Jesus with them That the Towne they themselves and whatsoever to them pertained should be at the Queens commandment Which answer understood the Earle of Argyle and the Prior who both were then Protestants began to muse and said plainly That they were far otherwise informed by the Queen to wit That we meant no Religion but a plaine Rebellion To the which when he had answered simply and as the trueth was to wit That we Convened for none other purpose but onely to assist our brethren who then were most unjustly persecuted and therefore we desired them faithfully to report our answer and to be intercessors to the Queen Regent That such cruelty should not be used against us considering that we had offered in our former Letters as well to the Queens Majesty as to the Nobility our matter to be tried in lawfull judgement They promised fidelity in that behalfe which also they kept The day after which was the five and twentieth of May before that the said Lords departed in the morning Iohn Knox desired to speak with the same Lords which granted unto him he was conveyed to their Lodging by the Laird of Balvarde and thus began The Oration of Iohn Knox to the Lords THe present troubles honourable Lords ought to move the hearts not onely of the true servants of God but also of all such as beare any favour unto our Countrey and naturall Countrey-men to descend within themselves and deepely to consider what shall be the end of this pretended tyrannie The rage of Satan seeketh the destruction of all those that within this Realme professe Christ Iesus and they that inflame the Queene and you the Nobles against us regard not who prevaile provided that they may abuse the world and live at their pleasure as heretofore they have done yea I feare that some seek nothing more then the effusion of Scottish blood to the end that their possessions may be more patent to others But because that this is not the principall which I have to speak omitting the same to be considered by the wisdome of those to whom the care of the Common-wealth appertaineth 1. I most humbly require of you my Lords in my name to say to the Queene Regent That we in whom she in her blinde rage doth persecute are Gods servants faithfull and obedient Subjects to the authoritie of this Realme That that Religion which she pretendeth to maintaine by fire and sword is not the true Religion of Christ Iesus but is expresse contrary to the same a superstition devised by the braine of man which I offer my selfe to prove against all that within Scotland will maintaine the contrary liberty of tongue being granted unto me and Gods written Word being admitted for judge 2. I further require your honours in my name to say unto the Queen That as oft before I have written so now I say That this her enterprise shall not prosperously succeed in the end and albeit for a time she trouble the Saints of God for she fights not against man only but against the eternall God and his invincible Verity and
therefore the end shall be her confusion unlesse betimes she repent and desist These things I require of you in the Name of the eternall God as from my mouth to say unto her Majestie adding That I have been and am a more assured friend to her Majestie then they that either flattering her as servants to her corrupt appetites or else inflame her against us who seek nothing but Gods glory to be advanced Vice to be suppressed and Veritie to be maintained in this poore Realme They all three did promise to report his words so far as they could which afterwards we understood they did yea the Lord Sempill himselfe a man sold unto sin enemie to God and all godlinesse did yet make such report That the Queen was somewhat offended that any man should use such libertie in her presence She still proceeded in her malice for immediately thereafter she sent her Lion Herald with Letters straitly charging all men to avoid the Towne under the paine of Treason Which Letters after he had declared them to the chiefe men of the Congregation he publikely proclaimed the same upon Sunday the 27 of May. In this meane time came sure knowledge to the Queen to Duke Hamilton and to Monsieur Dosell That the Earle of Glencarne the Lords Uchiltrie and Boyde the young Sheriffe of Air the Lairds of Craggy Wallace Sesnock Carnell Bar Gairgirth and the whole congregation of Kyle and Cuninghame approached for our reliefe and in very deed they came in such diligence and such a number That as the enemy had just cause to fear so have all that professe Christ Jesus just matter to praise God for their fidelity and stout courage in that need For by their presence was the tyrannie of the enemy bridled Their diligence was such that albeit the passage by Sterlin and six miles above was stopped for there lay the Queen with her bands and caused the Bridges to be cut upon the waters of Forth Gudy and Teith above Sterlin yet made they such expedition through desert and mountaine that they prevented the enemy and approached within sixe miles of our Campe which then lay without the Towne awaiting upon the enemy before that any assured knowledge came to us of their coming Their number was judged to twentie five hundred men whereof there was twelve hundred Horsemen The Queene understanding how the said Earle and Lords with their company approached caused to beset all wayes that no advertisement should come to us To the end That we despairing of support might condiscend to such appointment as she required And sent first to require that some discreet men of our number would come and speak to Duke Hamilton and Monsieur Dosell who then with their Army lay at Achtererdoch ten miles from S. Iohnston to the end that some reasonable appointment might be had She had perswaded the Earle of Argyle and all others That we meant nothing but Rebellion and therefore had he promised unto her That in case we would not stand content with a reasonable appointment he would declare himselfe open enemy unto us notwithstanding that he professed the same Religion with us From us were sent the Laird of Dun the Laird of Inuerquhartye and Thomas Scot of Abbotshall to hear what appointment the Queene would offer The Duke and Monsieur Dosell required That the Towne should be made patent and that all things should be referred to the Queenes pleasure To the which they answered That neither they had commission so to promise neither durst they in conscience so perswade their brethren But if the Queene would promise That no inhabitant of the Town should be troubled for any such crimes as might be alleadged against them for the late mutation of Religion and abolishment of Idolatrie and for down-casting the places of the same If she would suffer the Religion begun to go forward and leave the Towne at her departing free from the Garrisons of French Souldiers That they would labour at the hands of their brethren that the Queene should be obeyed in all things Monsieur Dosell perceiving the danger to be great if that a sudden appointment should be made and that they were not able to execute their tyrannie against us after that the Congregation of Kyle of whose comming we had no advertisement should be joyned with us with good words dismissed the said Lairds to perswade the brethren to quiet concord To the which we were all so well minded that with one voice they cried Cursed be they that seek effusion of blood Let us possesse Christ Iesus and the benefit of his Gospel and none within Scotland shall be more obedient Subjects then we shall be With all expedition were sent from Sterlin againe after that the coming of the Earle of Glencarne was knowne for the enemie for feare quaked the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames aforesaid And in their company a crafty man Master Gauin Hamilton Abbot of Kilwinning who were sent by the Queen to finish the appointment aforesaid But before that they came was the Earle of Glencarne and his honourable company arrived in the Towne and then began all men to praise God for that he had so mercifully heard them in their most extreame necessitie and had sent unto them such reliefe as was able without effusion of blood to stay the rage of the enemie The Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames did earnestly perswade the agreement to the which all men were willing but some did smell the craft of the adversary to wit That they were minded to keep no point of the promise longer then they had obtained their intent With the Earle of Glencarne came our loving brother Iohn Willock Iohn Knox was in the Town before These two went to the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames accusing them of infidelity in so far as they had defrauded their brethren of their dutifull support and comfort in their greatest necessity They answered both That their heart was constant with their brethren and that they would defend that Cause to the uttermost of their power But because they had promised to labour concord and to assist the Queen in case we refused reasonable offers in conscience and honour they could do no lesse then be faithfull in their promise made And therefore they required that the brethren might be perswaded to consent to that reasonable appointment promising in Gods presence That if the Queen did break in any jot thereof that they with their whole powers would assist and concurre with the brethren in all times to come This promise made the Preachers appeased the multitude and obtained in the end that all men did consent to the appointment foresaid which they obtained not without great labours and no wonder for many foresaw the danger to follow yea the Preachers themselves in open Sermon did affirme plainly That they were assuredly perswaded that the Queen meant no truth But to stop the mouth of the adversary who unjustly did burthen
us with Rebellion they most earnestly required all men to approve the appointment and so to suffer hypocrisie to disclose it self This appointment was concluded the 28 of May and the day following at two in the after noon departed the Congregation from Saint Iohnston after that Iohn Knox had in his Sermon exhorted all men to constancy and unfainedly to thanke God for that it had pleased his mercy to stay the rage of the enemy without effusion of blood Also that no brother should be weary nor faint to support such as should after be likewise persecuted for said he I am assured that no part of this promise made shall be longer kept then till the Queen and her French-men to have the upper hand Many of the enemies were at the same Sermon For after that the appointment was made they had free entry in the Towne to provide Lodgings Before the Lords departed was this Bond whose Tenour followeth as it was written and subscribed The second Covenant at Perth AT Perth the last of May the yeere of God 1559 yeers the Congregations of the West Countrey with the Congregations of Fyfe Perth Dundie Angus Mernes and Monrosse being convened in the Towne of Perth in the Name of Iesus Christ for setting forth of his glory understanding nothing more necessary for the same then to keepe a constant amity unity and fellowship together according as they are commanded by God are confederate and become bounden and obliged in the presence of God to concurre and assist together in doing all things required of God in his Scripture that may be to his glory And at their whole powers to destroy and put away all things that doth dishonour to his Name so that God may be truely and purely worshipped And in case that any trouble be intended against the said Congregation or any part or member thereof the whole Congregation shall concurre assist and convene together to the defence of the same Congregation or person troubled And shall not spare Labours Goods Substance Bodies and Lives in maintaining the liberty of the whole Congregation and every member thereof against whatsoever person shall intend the said trouble for cause of Religion or any other cause depending thereupon or lay to their charge under pretence therof although it happen to be coloured with any other outward cause In witnessing and testimony of the which the whole Congregation aforesaid have ordained and appointed the Noble-men and persons under-written to subscribe these Presents Sic subscribitur Arch Argyle Iames Steward Glencarne R. Lord Boid Lord Wchiltrie Matthew Campbell of Tarmganart The 29 of May entred the Queen the Duke Monsieur d'Osell and the French-men who in discharging their Volley of Hacquebutes did well mark the house of Patrike Murray a man fervent in Religion and that boldly had sustained all danger in that trouble against whose stayr they directed six or seven Shot even against the faces of those that were there lying all men escaped except the son of the foresaid Patrike a boy of ten or twelve yeers of age who being slain was had to the Queens presence but she understanding whose son he was said in mockage It is pity it chanced on the son and not on the father but seeing that so it is chanced we cannot be against fortune This was her happy entry in Saint Iohnston and the great zeal she beareth to Justice The swarme of Papists that entred with her began straight to make provision for their Masse and because the Altars were not so easie to be repaired again they provided Tables whereof some before used to serve for Drunkards Dicers and Carders but they were holy enough for the Priest and his Pageant The Queen began to rage against all godly and honest men their houses were oppressed by the French the lawfull Magistrates as well Provest as Baylies were unjustly and without all order deposed from their Authority a wicked man void of Gods fear and destitute of all vertue the Laird of Kilfans was intrusted by her Provest of the Towne Whereat all honest men offended left their owne houses and with their wives and children sought amongst their brethren some resting place for a time She took order that four Colours of the Souldiers should abide in the Town to maintain Idolatry and to resist the Congregation Honest and indifferent men asked why she did so manifestly violate her promise She answered That she was bound to keep no promise to hereticks And moreover That she promised onely to leave the Towne free of French Souldiers which said she she did because that these that therein were left were Scotishmen But when it was reasoned in her contrary That all those that took wages of France were counted French Souldiers she answered Princes must not be straitly bounden to keep their promises My selfe said she would make little conscience to take from all that sort their lives and inheritance if I might do it with as honest an excuse And then she left the Towne in extreme Bondage After that her ungodly French-men had most cruelly used the most part of those that remained in the â—ame the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames foresaid perceiving in the Queen nothing but meer tyranny and falshood mindefull of their former promises made to their brethren did secretly convey themselves and their Companies of the Town and with them departed the Lord Ruthuen of whom before mention is made then the Earle of Menteth and the Laird of Tullybardin who in Gods presence did confederate and binde themselves together faithfully promising one to assist and defend another against all persons that would pursue them for Religion sake and also that they with their whole force and power would defend the brethren persecuted for the same Cause The Queen highly offended at the sudden departure of the persons aforesaid sent charges to them to return under the highest pain of her displeasure But they answered That with safe conscience they could not be partakers of so manifest tyranny as was by her committed and of so great iniquity as they perceived devised by her and her ungodly counsell the Prelats This answer was given to her the first day of Iune and immediately the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames repaired toward S. Andrewes and in their Journey gave advertisement by writing to the Laird of Dun to the Laird of Petarrow to the Provest of Dundie and others professors in Angus to visite them in S. Andrewes the fourth of Iune for Reformation to be made there which day they kept and brought in their company Iohn Knox who the first day after his coming to Fyfe did preach in Carreal the next day in Anstruther minding the third day which was the Sunday to preach in S. Andrews The Bishop hearing of Reformation to be made in his Cathedrall Church thought time to stirre or else never and therefore assembled his colleagues and confederate fellows besides his other friends and
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
use and chuse what Religion and manner thereof they please to the said day so that every man may have freedom to use his owne conscience to the day aforesaid Item The Queen shall not interpose her Authority to molest or trouble the Preachers of the Congregation nor their Ministry to them that please to use the same nor no other of the said Congregation in their bodies lands goods or possessions Pensions or whatsoever other kinde of goods they possesse nor yet suffer the Clergie or any other either Spirituall or Temporall Iurisdiction to trouble them in any manner of sort privately or openly for the cause of Religion or any other action depending thereupon to the said tenth day of Ianuary within written and that every man in particular live in the mean time according to his own conscience Item That no men of War French nor Scots be laid in daily Garrison within the Town of Edinburgh but to repair thereto to do thsir lawfull businesse and thereafter to retire them to their Garrisons This alteration in words and Order was made without knowledge and consent of those whose counsell we had used in all such causes before For some of them perceiving we began to faint and that we would appoint with unequall conditions said God hath wonderously assisted us in our greatest dangers He hath stricken fear in the hearts of our enemies when they supposed themselves most assured of Victory Our case is not yet so desperate that we need to grant to things unreasonable and ungodly which if we do it is to be feared That things shall not so prosperously succeed as they have done heretofore When all things were communed and agreed upon by mid persons the Duke and the Earle of Huntlie who that day were against us desired to speake with the Earles of Argyle and Glencarne the Lord Iames and others of our party who obeying their requests met with them at the Quarrell holes betwixt Leith and Edinburgh who in conclusion promised to our Lords That if the Queen brake to us any one jot of the Appointment then made that they should declare themselves plain enemies to her and friends to us As much promised the Duke that he would do in case that she would not remove her French-men at a reasonable day for the oppression which they did was manifest to all men This Appointment made and subscribed by the Duke Monsieur Dosell and the Earle of Huntlie the 25 of July we returned to the Towne of Edinburgh where we remained till the next day at noon when after Sermon dinner and Proclamation made at the Market Crosse in forme as followeth we departed Forme of the Proclamations FORASMUCH as it hath pleased God that Appointment is made betwixt the Queen Regent and us the Lords Protestants of this Realme We have thought good to signifie unto the chief Heads of the Appointment which be these First That no member of the Congregation shall be troubled in life lands goods or possessions by the Queene by her Authority nor by any other justice within this Realme for any thing done in this late Innovation till that a Parliament hath decided things that be in controversie Secondly That Idolatry shall not be erected where it is now at this day suppressed Thirdly That the Preachers and Ministers shall not be troubled in the ministration where they are already established neither yet stopped to Preach wheresoever they shall happen to travell within this Realme Fourthly That no Bands of men of War shall be laid in Garrison within the Town of Edinburgh The chief Heads of appointment concerning the liberty of Religion and conservation of our brethren we thought good to notifie unto you by this Proclamation that in case wrong or injury be done by any of the contrary faction to any member of our Body complaint may be made unto us to whom we promise as we will answer to our God our faithfull support to the uttermost of our powers At this Proclamation made with sound of Trumpet were offended all the Papists for first they alleadged It was done in contempt of Authority Secondarily That we had proclaimed more then was contained in the Appointment And last That we in our Proclamation had made no mention of any thing promised unto them To such murmures we answered That no just Anthority could think it self contemned because that the truth was by us made manifest unto all who otherwise might have pretended ignorance Secondly That we had proclaimed nothing which was not finally agreed upon in word and promise betwixt us and those with whom the Appointment was made whatsoever the Scribes had after written who in very deed had altered both in words and sentences our Articles as they were first conceived And yet if their owne writings were diligeutly examined the self-same thing shall be found in substance And last To proclaim any thing in their favours we thought it not necessary knowing that in that behalf they themselves would be diligent enough And in this we were nothing deceived for within fifteen days after there was not a Shaveling in Scotland to whom Tenths or any other Rents pertaineth but he had that Article of the Appointment by heart That the Church-men should be answered of Tenths Rents and all other duties and that no man should trouble or molest them We departing from Edinburgh the 26 of July came first to Linlithqow and after to Sterlin where after consultation the Band of defence and maintenance of Religion and for mutuall defence every one of the other was subscribed of all that were there present The tenour of the Bond was thus WE foreseeing the craft and sleight of our Adversaries who trie all manner of wayes to circumvient us and by privy means intend to assayle every one of us particularly by fair heights and promises therethrough to separate one of us from another to our utter ruine and destruction For remedy thereof we faithfully and truely binde us in the presence of God and as we tender the maintenance of true Religion That none of us shall in time coming passe to the Queen Dowager to talk or commune with her for any Letter or Message sent by her unto us or yet to be sent with consent of the rest or common consultation thereupon and how soon that either Message or Writing should come from her unto us with all diligence we shall notifie the same one to another so that nothing shall proceed therein without common consent of us all At Sterlin the first day of August 1559. This Band subscribed and we foreseeing that the Queen and Bishops meant nothing but deceit thought good to seek ayd and support of all Christian Princes against her tyranny in case we should be more sharply pursued And because that England was of the same Religion and lay next unto us it was judged expedient first to prove them which we did by one or two Messengers as hereafter in its owne place
your Majestie did know the same and the truth thereof as we were perswaded in our consciences and all them that are truly instructed in the eternall Word of our God upon whom we cast our care from all dangers that may follow the accomplishment of his eternall will and to whom we commend your Majestie beseeching him to illuminate your heart with the Gospel of his eternall Truth to know your Majesties duty towards your poore Subjects Gods chosen people and what you ought to crave justly of them againe for then we should have no occasion to feare your Majesties wrath and indignation nor your Majesties suspition in our inobedience The same God have your Majestie in his eternall saveguard At Dunbartane the 12 of August 1559. This answer directed to the Queen our Soveraigne and Francis her husband the Queen Dowager received and was bold upon it as she might well enough for it was supposed That the former Letters were forged here at home in Scotland The answer read by her she said That so proud an answer was never given to King Prince nor Princesse And yet indifferent men thought that he might have answered more sharply and not have transgressed modesty nor trueth For where they burden him with the great benefits which of them he had received if in plain words he had purged himselfe affirming That the greatest benefit that ever he received of them was to spend in their service that which God by others had provided for him no honest man would have accused him and no man could have been able to have convinced him of a lye But Princes must be pardoned to speak what they please For the comfort of the brethren and continuance of the Church in Edinburgh was left there our deare brother Iohn Willock who for his faithfull labours and bold courage in that battell deserves immortall praise For when it was found dangerous that Iohn Knox who before was elected Minister to the Church should continue there the brethren requested the said Iohn Willock to abide with them lest that for lack of Ministers Idolatry should be erected up again To the which he so gladly consented That it might evidently appeare that he preferred the comfort of his brethren and the continuance of the Church there to his own life One part of the French-men were appointed to lye in Garison at Leith that was the first benefit which they gate for their confederacie with them the other part were appointed to lye in the Canon-gate the Queen and her train abiding in the Abbey Our brother Iohn Willock the day after our departure preached in S. Giles Church and fervently exhorted the brethren to stand constant to the Truth which they had professed At this and some other Sermons was the Duke and divers other of the Queens faction This liberty of Preaching and resort of all people thereto did highly offend the Queen and the other Papists And first they began to give terrours to the Duke affirming That he would be reputed as one of the Congregation if he gave his presence to the Sermons Thereafter they began to require That Masse might be set up again in S. Giles Church and that the people should be set at liberty to chuse what Religion they would For that said they was contained in the appointment That the Town of Edinburgh should chuse what Religion they listed For obtaining hereof were sent to the Town the Duke the Earle of Huntly and the Lord Seaton to solicite all men to condiscend to the Queens minde wherein the two last did labour what they could the Duke not so but as a beholder of whom the brethren had good hope and after many perswasions and threatnings made by the said Earle and Lord the brethren stoutly and valiantly in the Lord Jesus gain-said their most unjust Petitions Reasoning That as in conscience they might not suffer Idolatry to be erected where Christ Jesus was truely Preached so could not the Queen nor they require any such thing unlesse she and they would plainely violate their Faith and chiefe Article of the appointment For it is plainely appointed That no member of the Congregation shall be molested in any thing That at the day of the appointment they peaceably possessed But so it was That we the brethren and Protestants of the Town of Edinburgh with our Ministers the day of the appointment did peaceably enjoy Saint Giles Church appointed us for Preaching of Christs true Gospel and right ministration of his holy Sacraments Therefore without manifest violation of the appointment you cannot remove us therefrom untill a Parliament have decided the Controversie This answer given the whole brethren departed and left the foresaid Earle and Lord Seaton then Provest of Edinburgh still in the Tolbuith Who perceiving that they could not prevaile in that manner began to entreat that they would be quiet and that they would so far condiscend to the Queens-pleasure as that they would chuse them another within the Town or at the least be content that Masse should be said either after or before their Sermon To the which answer was given That to give place to the devil who was the chiefe Inventer of the Masse for the pleasure of any creature they could not They were in possession of that Church which they could not abandon neither yet could they suffer Idolatry to be erected in the same unlesse by violence they should be constrained so to do And then they were determined to seek the next remedy Which answer received the Earle of Huntly did lovingly intreat them to quietnesse faithfully promising That in no sort they should be molested so that they would be quiet and make no farther uproare To the which they were most willing for they sought onely to serve God as he had commanded and to keep their possession according to the appointment which by Gods grace they did till the moneth of November notwithstanding the great boasting of the enemy For they did not onely convene to the Preaching daily supplâ—cations and administration of Baptisme but also the Lords Table was ministred even in the eyes of the very enemy to the great comfort of many afflicted consciences and as God did strongly work with his true Ministers and with his troubled Church so did not the devil cease to inflame the malice of the Queen and of the Papists with her For that after her coming to the Abbey of Halyrud-house she caused Masse to be said first in her own Chappell and after in the Abbey where the Altars before were cast down She discharged the Common-Prayers and forbade to give any portion to such as were the principall young men who read them Her malice extended in like manner to Cambuâ—kenneth for there she discharged the portions of as many of the Canons as had forsaken Papistry She gave commandment and inhibition that the Abbot of Lyndors should be answered of any part of his living in the North because he had submitted
himselfe to the Congregation and had put some Reformation to his place By her consent and procurement was the Preachers Chaire broken in the Church of Leith and Idolatry was erected in the same where it was before suppressed Her French Captains with their Souldiers in great companies in time of Preaching and Prayers resorted to Saint Giles Church in Edinburgh and made their common deambulation therein with such loud talking as no perfect audience could be had And although the Minister was there-through oft times compelled to cry out on them Praying to God to rid them of such Locusts they neverthelesse continued still in their wicked purpose devised and ordained by the Queen to have drawn our brethren of Edinburgh and them in cumber so that she might have had any coloured occasion to have broken the League with them Yet by Gods grace they behaved themselves so that she could finde no fault in them albeit in all these things before-named and in every one of them she is justly accounted to have gaine-said the said appointment We passe over the oppressing of our brethren in particular which had been sufficient to have proved the appointment to have been plainly violated For the Lord Seaton without any occasion offered unto him brake a chase upon Alexander Whitlam as he came from Preston accompanied with M. William Knox towards Edinburgh and ceased not to pursue him till he came to the Towne of Ormeston And this he did supposing that the said Alexander had been Iohn Knox. In all this mean time and while that moe French-men arived they are not able to prove that we brake the appointment in any jote except that a horned Cap was taken off a proud Priests head and cut in four quarters because he said He would wear it in despight of the Congregation In this mean time the Queen then Regent knowing assuredly what force was shortly to come unto her ceased not by all meanes possible to cloke the in-coming of the French and to inflame the hearts of our Countrey-men against us And for that purpose she first wrote unto Duke Hamilton in forme as followeth The Queen Regents false flattering Letter to Duke Hamilton MY Lord and Cousin after hearty commendations We are informed that the Lords of the West-land Congregation intend to make a Convention and assembly of your kin and friends upon Gowan Moore besides Glasgow on Munday come eight dayes the 28 day of August instant for some high purpose against us which we can scantly believe considering they have no occasion on Our part so to do And albeit we know the Appointment was made against and without Our advise yet we accepted the same at your desire and have since made no cause whereby they might be moved to come in the contrary thereof Like as we are yet minded to keep firme and stable all things promised by you in Our behalfe We thinke on the other part it is your duty to require them that they violate not their part thereof in no wise And in case they mean any evil towards Us and so will break their promise We believe ye will at the uttermost of your power convene with us and compell them to do that thing which they ought if they will not praying you to have your self your kin and friends in readinesse to come to us as ye shall be advertised by Proclamation in case the Congregation assemble themselves for any purpose against Us or the Tenour of the said Appointment Assuring you without they gather and give first occasion We shall not put you to any pains in that behalf And that you advertise Us by writ what we may trust to herein by this Bearer who will shew you the fervent minde we bear to have good concord with the said Congregation what offers We have made them and how desirous we are to draw them to the obedience of Our Soveraignes Authority to whom you shall give credit and God keep you At Edinburgh the tenth of August 1559. The like Letter she wrote to every Lord Baron and Gentleman of this Tenour The Queen Regents Letter to the Barons TRusty friend after hearty commendations We doubt not but you have heard of the Appointment made beside Leith betwixt the Duke the Earle of Huntlie and Monsieur Dosell on the one part And the Lords of the Congregation on the other part Which Appointment We have approved in all points albeit it was taken without Our advise and is minded to observe and keep all the contents thereof for Our part Neverthelesse as We are informed the Lords of the Congregation intend shortly to convene all such persons as will assist them for enterprising of some high purpose against Us Our Authority and Tenour of the said Appointment which we cannot believe seeing they neither have nor shall have any occasion given thereto on Our part But in case against all reason they should mean any such thing We have thought it good to give warning to Our speciall friends of the advertisement We have gotten and amongst the rest to you whom We esteem of that number praying you to have your self your kin and folks in readinesse to come to Us and so forth as in the other Letter above sent to the Duke word by word After that by these Letters and by the decitfull surmising of her soliciters she had somewhat stirred up the hearts of the people against us then she began openly to complain That we were of minde to invade her Person That we would keep no part of the Appointment and therefore she was compelled to crave assistance of all men against our unjust pursuit And this practise she used as before is said to abuse the simplicity of the people that they should not suddenly espie for what purpose she brought in her new bands of men of War who did arrive about the midst of August to the number of 1000 men The rest were appointed to come after with Monsieur de la Brosse and with the Bishop of Ammians who arrived the nineteenth day of September following as if they had been Ambassadours But what was their Negotiation the effect did declare and they themselves could not long conceal for by both tongue and pen they uttered That they were sent for the extermination of all those that would not professe the Papist call Religion in all points The Queens practise and craft could not blinde the eyes of all men neither yet could her subtilty hide her owne shame but that many did espy her deceit and some spared not to speak their judgements liberally who foreseeing the danger gave advertisement requiring that provision might be found before that the evil should exceed our wisedome and strength to put fit remedy to it For prudent men foresaw That she pretended a plain conquest but to the end that the people should not suddenly stir she would not bring in her full force at once as before is said but by continuall traffique purposed to augment
is witnesse meant then nothing but in the simplicity of our hearts the maintenance of true Religion and safetie of our brethren Professours of the same yet lay there another serpent lurking in the brest of our adversaries as this day praise to God is plainely opened to all that list to behold to wit To bring you and us both under the perpetuall servitude of strangers For we being appointed as ye know touching Religion to be reasoned with all in the Councell at the day affixed and no occasion made to break the same on our side as is well known yet come there forth writings and complaints That this day and that day we were prepared to invade the Queens person when in very truth there was never such thing thought as the very deed hath declared But because she was before deliberate to bring in French-men to both our destructions that you should not stir therewith she made you to understand That those Bands came onely for safety of her own person O craft brethren O subtilty But behold the end They are come yet not so many no not the sixth part that she desired and looked for and how not onely with weapons to defend her person but with wives and children to plant in your native rooms as they have already begun in the Town of Leith the principall Port and Staple of this Realm The gernall and furniture of the Councell and seat of Justice And here will they dwell till they may reinforce themselves with greater number of their fellow-Souldiers to subdue then the rest if God withstand not And yet her Majestie feared nor shamed not to write if they were a hundred French-men for every one of them that is in Scotland yet they should harme no man Tell thou now Leith if that be true If this be not a craftie entrie to a manifest conquest fore-thought of old judge you deare brethren Thus to fortifie our Towns and even the principall Port of our Realm and to lay so strong Garisons of strangers therein not onely without any consent of the Nobility and Councell of this Realm but also expresse against their minde as our Writ sent to her Majestie beareth record if this be not to oppresse the ancient Lawes and Liberties of our Realme let all wise men say to it And further to take the Barne-yards new gathered the Gernalls replenished and to sit down therein and by force to put the just possessours and ancient inhabitants there-from with their wives children and servants to shift for themselves in begging if they have no other means they being true Scottish-men members of our Common-wealth and our deare brethren and sisters borne fostred and brought up in the bowels of our common and native Countrey if this be not the manifest declaration of their old pretence and minde towards the whole Scottish Nation let your owne conscience brethren be judge herein Was all Leith of the Congregation No I think not yet were all alike served Let this motherly care then be tried by the fruits thereof First by the great and exorbitant Taxations used upon you and yet ten times greater pressed at as ye know Secondly the utter depravation of our Coine to purchase thereby money to entertaine strangers French Souldiers upon you and to make them strong holds lest you should sometime expell them out of your native roomes Thirdly by the daily re-inforcing of the said French Souldiers in strength and number with wives and children planting in your brethrens houses and possessions Indeed her Majestie is and hath been at all times carefull to procure by her craft of fair words of fair promises and sometimes of buds to allure your simplicity to that point to joyn your selves to her Souldiers to daunt and oppresse us that you the remnant we being cut off may be an easie prey to her sleights Which God of his infinite goodnesse hath now discovered to the eyes of all that list to behold But credit the works deare brethren if ye will not credit us and lay the example of Forreign nations yea even of our brethren before your eyes and procure not your own ruine willingly If you tender true Religion you see how her Majestie beareth her selfe plaine enemy thereto and maintaineth the tyrannie of those idle bellies the Bishops against Gods Church If Religion be not perswaded unto you yet cast you not away the care you ought to have over your Common-wealth which you see manifestly and violently ruined before your eyes If this will not move you remember your deare wives children and posterity your ancient heritages and houses and think well these strangers will regard no more your right thereunto then they have done your brethren of Leith when ever occasion shall serve But if you purpose as we doubt not but that all those that either have wit or manhood will declare and prove indeed to brook your ancient roomes and heritages conquered most valiantly and defended by your most noble Progenitors against all strangers invaders of the same as the French pretendeth plainly this day if ye will not be slaves unto them and to have your lives your wives your children your substance and whatsoever is dear unto you cast at their feet to be used and abused at the pleasure of strange Souldiers as you see your brethrens at this day before your eyes If you will not have experience some day hereof in your own persons as we suppose the least of you all would not gladly have but rather would chuse with honour to die in defence of his own native roome then live and serve so shamefull a servitude then brethren let us joyn our forces and both with wit and manhood resist their beginnings or else our liberties hereafter shall be dearer bought Let us surely be perswaded when our neighbours houses be on fire that we dwell not without danger Let no man withdraw himselfe herefrom and if any will be so unhappy and mischievous as we suppose none to be let us altogether repute hold and use him as he is in deed for an enemie to us and to himselfe and to his Common-weale The eternall and omnipotent God the true and onely revenger of the oppressed be our comfort and Protectour against the furie and rage of the Tyrants of this world And especially from the insatiable covetousnesse of the Cardinall of Guyse and the Hamiltons Amen Besides this our publike Letter some men answered certaine heads of the Queens said Proclamation on this manner If it be sedition to speak the trueth in all sobriety and to complaine when they are wounded or to call for help against unjust tyrannie before that their throats be cut then can we not denie but we are criminall and guilty of tumult and sedition For we have said That our Common-weale is oppressed that we and our brethren are hurt by the tyrannie of strangers and that we fear bondage and slaverie seeing that multitudes of cruell murtherers are daily brought into
made patent and what have been her proceedings since the appointment last made on the Linkes beside Leith To the effect that the trueth of all things being made manifest every man may understand how unjustly that a desire to suppresse the liberty of this Realm is laid to her charge we have thought expedient to make this discourse following First although after the said appointment divers of the said Congregation and that not of the meanest sort hath violently broken the points thereof and made sundry occasions of new cumber The same was in a part winked at and over-looked in hope that they in time would remember their duty and abstaine from such evil behaviour which conversion her Majestie ever sought rather then any punishment with such care and solicitude by all means and in the mean time nothing was provided for her own security But at last by their frequent Messages to and from England their intelligence then was perceived yet her Majestie trusted the Queen of England let them seek as they please will do the office of a Christian Princesse in time of a sworne Peace through which force was to her Majestie seeing so great defection of great personages to have recourse to the Law of Nature And like as a small Bird being pursued will provide some nest so her Majestie could do no lesse in cases of pursuit but provide some sure retract for her selfe and her company and to that effect chose the Town of Leith as a place convenient therefore because it was her dearest daughters property and no other person could claime Title or Interesse thereto and also because in former times it had been fortified About the same time that the seeking support of England was made manifest arrived the Earle of Arrane and adjoyned himselfe to the Congregation upon further promise then the pretended quarrell or Religion that was to be set up by them in authority and so to pervert the whole obedience and as some of the Congregation at the same time had put into their hands and taken the Castle of Brochtie put forth the keepers thereof Immediately came from the said Duke to her Majestie unlooked for a Writ beside many others complaining of the fortification of the said Town of Leith in hurt of the ancient inhabitants thereof brethren of the said Congregation whereof he then professed himselfe a Member And albeit that the Bearer of the said Writ was an unmeet Messenger in a matter of such consequence yet her Majestie directed to him two persons of good credit and reputation with answer Offering If he would cause amends to be made for that which was committed against the Lawes of the Realme to do further then could be craved of reason And to that effect to draw some conference which by his fault and his Colleagues took no end neverthelesse they continually since continue in their doings usurping the authority commanding and charging free Boroughs to chuse Provests and officers of their naming and to assist to them in the purpose they would be at and that they will not suffer provision to be brought for sustentation of her Majesties houses A great part have so plainely set aside all reverence and humanitie whereby every man may know That it is no matter of Religion but a plaine usurpation of the authority and no doubt but simple men of good Zeale in former times therewith falsly have been deceived But as to the Queens part God who knoweth the secrets of all hearts well knoweth and the world shall see by experience that the fortification of Leith was devised for no other purpose but for recourse to her highnesse and her company in case they were pursued Wherefore as good Subjects that have the feare of God in their hearts will not suffer themselves by such vaine perswasions to be led away from their due obedience but will assist in defence of their Soveraigns quarrell against all such as shall pursue the same wrongfully Therefore her Majestie ordaineth the officers of Arms to passe to the Market-Crosses of all the head Burroughs of this Realme and there by open Proclamation command and charge all and sundry the Lieges thereof that none of them take in hand to put themselves in arms nor take part with the said Duke or his assistaries under the paine of Treason These Letters being divulgate the hearts of many were stirred for they judged the Narration of the Queen Regent to have been true others understood the same to be utterly false But because the Lords desired that all men should judge in their cause they set out the Declaration subsequent The DECLARATION of the Lords against the former PROCLAMATION WE are compelled unwillingly to answer the grievous accusations most unjustly laid to our charges by the Queen Regent and her perverse Counsell who cease not by all craft and malice to make us odious to our dearest brethren naturall Scottish-men as that we pretended no other thing but the subversion and overthrow of all just authoritie when God knoweth we sought nothing but That such authoritie as God approveth by his Word be established honoured and obeyed amongst us True it is that we have complained and continually must complaine till God send redresse That our common Countrey is oppressed with strangers That this inbringing of Souldiers with their wives and children and planting of men of War in our free Townes appeareth to us a ready way to conquest And we most earnestly require all indifferent persons to be judge betwixt us and the Queen Regent in this cause to wit Whether our complaint be just or not For for what other purpose should she thus multiply strangers upon us but onely in respect of conquest Which is a thing of late divised by her and her avaritious house We are not ignorant that six yeers ago the question was demanded of a man of honest reputation What number of men was able to daunt Scotland and to bring it to the full obedience of France She alleadged That to say that the fortification of Leith was of purpose devised in France and that for that purpose were Monsieur de la Brosse and the Bishop of Amiens sent to this Countrey Is a thing so vaine and untrue that the contrary thereof is notorious to all men of free judgement But evident it is whatsoever she alleadged That since their arrivall Leith was begun to be fortified She alleadged That she seeing the defection of great Personages was compelled to have recourse to the Law of Nature and like a small bird pursued to provide for some sure retract to her self and her company But why doth she not answer for what purpose did she bring in her new Bands of men of War Was there any defection espied before their arrivall was not the Congregation under Appointment with her Which whatsoever she alleadged she is not able to prove that we have violated in any chiefe point before that her new throat-cutters arrived yea before that
his Religion But to enter in the managing of such affaires not so fit as godly and wise men would require he travelleth not the lesse earnestly in the Queen Regents affairs and could not be perswaded but that she meant sincerely and that she would promote the Religion to the uttermost of her power He promised in her name That she would put away her French-men and would be ruled by the counsell of naturall Scottish-men when it was reasoned in his contrary That if she were so minded to do she could have found Mediatours a great deale more fit for that purpose He feared not to affirme That he knew more of her minde then all the French or Scots that were in Scotland yea more then her own brethren that were in France He travelled with the Earle of Glencarne the Lords of Uchiltrie and Boyd with the Laird of Dun and with the Preachers to whom he had certaine secret Letters which he would not deliver unlesse that they would make a faithfull promise That they should never reveale the thing contained in the same To the which it was answered That in no wayes they could make such a promise by reason that they were sworne one to another and altogether in one body That they should have no secret intelligence nor deale with the Queen Regent but that they should communicate with the great Counsell whatsoever she proposed unto them so they did answer unto her as by this answer written by Iohn Knox to the Queen Regent may be understood The tenour whereof followeth To the Queen Regent MADAME MY duty humbly premised Your Majesties servant Master Robert Lockard most instantly hath required me and others to whom your Majesties Letters as he alleadged were directed to receive the same in a secret manner and to give him answer accordingly but because some of the number that he required were and are of the great Counsell of this Realme and therefore are solemnely sworne to have nothing to do in a secret manner neither with your Majestie nor with any that cometh from you or from your Counsell And so they could not receive your Majesties Letters with such conditions as the said Master Robert required therefore thought he good to take backe to your Majestie againe the said Letters close And yet because as he reporteth he hath made to your Majestie some promise in my name at his request I am content to testifie by my Letter and Subscription the sum of that which I did communicate with him In Dondie after many words betwixt him and me I said That albeit divers sinister reports had been made of me yet did I never declare any evident token of hatred nor enmity against your Majestie For if it be the office of a true friend to give true and faithfull counsell to them whom he seeth run to destruction for lack of the same I could not be proved enemy to your Majestie but rather a friend unfeigned For what counsell I had given to your Majestie my Writings as well my Letter and Addition to the same now Printed as divers others which I wrote from S. Johnston may testifie I further added That such an enemy was I unto you that my tongue did both perswade and obtaine That your authority and Regiment should be obeyed of us in all things lawfull till you declare your selfe open enemy to this Common-wealth as now alas ye have done This I willed him moreover to say to your Majestie That if ye following the counsell of flattering men having no God but this world and their belly did proceed in your malice against Christ Iesus his Religion and true Ministers that ye should do nothing else but accelerate and hasten Gods plague and vengeance upon your selfe and those that followeth you And that ye if ye did not change your purpose hastily should bring your selfe in such extreame danger that when ye would seek remedy it should not be so easie to be found as it had been before This is the effect and sum of all that I said at that time and willed him if he pleased to communicate the same to your Majestie And the same yet againe I notifie unto your Majestie by this my Letter written and subscribed at Edinburgh the 26 day of October 1559. Sic subscribitur Your Majesties to command in all godlinesse John Knox. Postscriptum God move your heart yet in time to consider That ye fight not against men but against the eternall God and against his Son Iesus Christ the onely Prince of the Kings of the earth At which answer the said M. Robert was so offended that he would not deliver his Letters saying That we were ungodly and injurious to the Queen Regent if we suspected any craft in her To the which it was answered by one of the Preachers That time should declare whether he or they were deceived if she should not declare her selfe enemy to the true Religion which they professed if ever she had the upper hand then they would be content to confesse That they had suspected her sincerity without just cause But if she should declare her malice no lesse in times comming then she had done before they required that he should be more moderate then to condemne them whose conscience he knoweth not and this was the end of his travell for that time After that he had troubled the conscience of many godly and quiet persons For he and others who were her hired postes ceased not to blow in the eares of all men That the Queen was heavily dealt with That she required nothing but obedience to her daughter That she was content that the true Religion should go forward and that all abuses should be abolished and by this mean they brought a grudge and division among our selves For many and our brethren of Lowthian especially began to murmure That we sought another thing then Religion and so ceased to assist us certain dayes after that we were come to Edinburgh which we did according to the former Diet the 16 day of October This grudge and trouble amongst our selves was not raised by the aforesaid M. Robert onely but by those pestilents whom before we have expressed and M. Iames Balfoure especially whose venemous tongues against God and his true Religion as they deserve punishment of men so shall they not escape Gods vengeance unlesse that speedily they repent After our coming to Edinburgh the day forenamed we assembled in Counsell and determined to give new advertisement to the Queen Regent of our convention and in such sort and so with common consent we sent unto her our Request as followeth The second Admonition to the Queen Regent MAdame Your Majestie may call to minde how at our last Convention at Hamilton we required your Highnesse in most humble manner to desist from the fortifying of the Town of Lieth then enterprised and begun which appeared to us and yet doth an entrie to a conquest and overthrow of our Liberties and altogether against the Lawes
used By Iehu he destroyed Ioram and the whole posterity of Achab. And by divers others he hath deposed from Authority those whom before he had established by his own Word And hereupon concluded he That sith the Queen Regent denied her chief duty to the subjects of this Realme which was To minister Justice to them indifferently to preserve their Liberties from invasion of strangers and to suffer them to have Gods Word freely and openly preached amongst them Seeing moreover that the Queen Regent was an open and obstinate Idolatresse a vehement maintainer of all Superstition and Idolatry as also she openly declares the Countrie to be conquest and no more free And finally That she utterly despiseth the counsell and requests of the Nobility he could see no reason why they the borne Counsellors Nobility and Barons of the Realme might not justly deprive her from all Regiment and Authority amongst them Hereafter was the judgement of Iohn Knox required who approving the sentence of his brother added first That the iniquity of the Queen Regent and disorder ought in no wise to withdraw neither our hearts neither yet the hearts of other subjects from the obedience due unto our Soveraigne Secondly That if we deposed the said Queen Regent rather of malice and private envie then for the preservation of the Common-wealth and for that her sins appeared incurable That we should not escape Gods just punishment howsoever that she had deserved rejection from honors And thirdly he required That no such sentence should be pronounced against her but that upon known and open repentance and upon her conversion to the Common-wealth and submission to the Nobility place should be granted unto her of regresse to the same honours from the which for just causes she justly might be deprived The Votes of every man particularly by himself required and every man commanded to speak as he would answer to God what his conscience judged in that matter there was none found amongst the whole number who did not by his tongue consent to her deprivation Thereafter was her Processe committed to Writing and registred as followeth Articles against the Queen Regent AT Edinburgh the one and twentieth day of October 1556. the Nobility Barons and Burgesses convened to advise upon the affairs of the Common-wealth and to ayd support and succour the same perceiving and lamenting the enterprised destruction of their said Common-wealth and overthrow of the liberties of their native Countrey by the means of the Queen Regent and certain strangers her privie Counsellors plain contrary to our Soveraign Lord and Ladies mind and direct against the counsell of the Nobility to proceed by little and little even unto the uttermost ruine So that the urgent necessity of the Common-wealth may no longer suffer delay and earnestly craveth our support Seeing therefore that the said Q. Regent abusing and overpassing our Soveraigne Lord and Ladies Commission given and granted to her hath in all her proceedings pursued the Barons and Burgesses within this Realme with Weapons and Armour of strangers without any Processe and order of Law they being our Soveraigne Lord and Ladies true Lieges and never called nor convinced of any crime by any judgement lawfull As first at S. Iohnston in the moneth of May she assembled her Army against the Towne and the Inhabitants thereof never called nor convinced of any crime onely because they professed the true Worship of God conform to his most sacred Word 2. And likewise in the moneth of June last without any order or calling going before invaded the persons of sundry Noble-men and Barons with force of Armes convened at S. Andrews onely for Cause of Religion as is notoriously known they never being called nor convinced of any crime 3. Again laid Garrisons the same moneth upon the Inhabitants of the said Town oppressing the liberties of the Queens true Lieges For fear of which her Garrisons a great part of the Inhabitants thereof fled from the Towne and durst not resort again unto their houses and heritages untill they were restored by Arms they notwithstanding never being called nor convinced of any crime 4. Further at that same time did thrust in upon the heads of the Inhabitants of the said Towne Provest and Bayliffs against all order of Election as lately in this month of September she had done in other Towns of Edinburgh and Iedburgh and divers other places in manifest oppression of our Liberties 5. declaring her evill minde towards the Nobility Commonalty and whole Nation she hath brought in strangers and daily pretends to bring in greater force of the same pretending a manifest Conquest of our native rooms and Countrey as the deed it self declareth in so far as she having brought in the said strangers without any advise of Councell and Nobility and contrary to their expresse minde sent to her in Writing hath placed and planted her said strangers in one of the principall Towns and parts of the Realm sending continually for greater Forces willing thereby to suppresse the Common-weale and liberty of our native Countrey to make us and our posterity slaves to strangers for ever which as it is intolerable to Common-wealths and free Countreys so it is very prejudiciall to our Soveraign Lady and her Heirs whatsoever in case our Soveraigne Lady decease without Heirs of her Person And to performe these her wicked enterprises conceived as appeareth of inveterate malice against our whole Countrey and Nation caused without any consent or advise of the Councell and Nobility to coyn lead Money so base and of such quantity that the whole Realme shall be depauperate and all Traffique with forraigne Nations everted thereby 6. Again she so placeth and maintaineth against the pleasure of the Councell of this Realme a stranger in one of the greatest Offices of credit in this Realme that is in keeping of the Great Seal thereof wherein great perills may be ingendred to the Common-weale and Liberty thereof 7. Further lately sent the Great Seal forth of this Realme by the said stranger against the advice of the said Councell to what effect God knoweth 8. And hath also by this means altered the old Law and Custome of this our Realme ever obser-served in the Graces and Pardons granted bo our Soveraigns to all their Lieges being repentant of their offences committed against their Majesties or the Lieges of the Realme And hath introduced a new captious stile and form of the said Pardons and Remissions conform to the practices of France tending thereby to draw the said Lieges of this Realm by processe of time into a deceivable snare and further shall creep in the whole subversion and alteration of the remanent Laws of this Realme contrary to the Contents of the Appointment of Marriage 9. And also Peace being accorded amongst the Princes retaineth the great Army of strangers after commandment sent by the King of France to retire the same making excuse that they were retained for the suppressing the
triumph This Sermon ended in the which he did vehemently exhort all men to amendment of life to Prayers and to the Works of Charity the mindes of men began wonderously to be erected and immediately after dinner the Lords passed to counsell unto the which the said Iohn Knox was called to make invocation of the Name of God for other Preachers were none with us at that time in the end it was concluded That William Maitland aforesaid should passe to London to expose our estate and condition to the Queen and Counsell and that the Noble-men should depart to their home and quiet to the 16 day of December Which time was appointed to the next Convention in Sterlin as in this our third Booke following shall be more amply declared With this we end the second Book of the History of the progresse of Religion within Scotland Look upon us O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies for we are brought even to the deep of the dungeon The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOK OF The Progresse of true Religion WITHIN The Realme of SCOTLAND AFter this our dolorous departing from Edinburgh the fury and rage of the French increased for then durst neither man nor woman that professed Christ Jesus within the Town be seen The houses of the most honest men were given by the Queen to Frenchmen for a part of their reward The Earle Bothwell by sound of Trumpet Proclaimed the Earle of Arrane Traitour with other despightfull words which all was done for the pleasure and by the suggestion of the Queene Regent who then thought the battell was wonne without further resistance Great practising she made for obtaining of the Castle of Edinburgh The French made their fagots with other preparations to assault the said Castle either by force or else by Treason But God wrought so mightily with the Captain the Lord Erskin at that time that neither the Queen by flattery nor the French by treason prevailed Advertisement with all diligence past to the Duke of Guise who then was King of France as concerning power to command requiring him to make expedition if he desired the full conquest of Scotland Who delayed no time but with a new Armie sent away his brother Marquis Dalbuif and in his company Marticks promising that he himselfe should follow But the righteous God who in mercy looketh upon the affliction of those that unfainedly sob unto him fought for us by his own out-stretched arm For upon one night upon the coast of Holland were drowned of them eighteen Ensignes so that onely rested the Ship in the which were two principals aforesaid with their Ladies who violently driven back to Deepe were compelled to confesse That God fought for the defence of Scotland From England returned Robert Melvin who past in company to London with the Secretary a little before Christmas and brought unto us certain Articles to be answered as by the contract that after was made more plainely shall appeare Whereupon the Nobility assembled at Sterlin and returned answer with diligence Whereof the French advertised they marched to Linlithquow spoiled the Dukes house and wasted his lands of Kinneill and after came to Sterlin where they remained certaine dayes the Duke the Earles of Argyle and Glencarn with their friends passed to Glasgow The Earle of Arrane and Lord Iames passed to Saint Andrews For charge was given to the whole Nobility Protestants to keepe their owne bodies till that God should send them further support The French tooke purpose first to assault Fyfe for as it was their great indignation Their purpose was to have taken and fortified the Towne and Abbey with the Castle of Saint Andrews and so they came to Culrosse after to Dunfermeling and then to Brunteiland where they began to fortifie but desisted there from and marched to Kinghorn upon the occasion as followeth When certaine knowledge came to the Earl of Arrane and to Lord Iames That the French were departed from Sterlin they departed also from S. Andrews and began to assemble their Forces at Cowper and sent their men of War to Kinghorne unto whom there resorted divers of the coast side of minde to resist rather at the beginning then when they had destroyed a part of their Townes But the Lords had given an expresse commandment That they should hazard nothing till that they themselves were present And for that purpose was sent unto them the Lord Ruthuen a man of great experience and inferiour to few in stoutnesse In his company was the Earle of Sudderland sent from the Earle of Huntly as he alleadged to comfort the Lord in their affliction But others whispered That his principall Commission was unto the Queen Regent Howsoever it was he was hurt in the arme by the shot of an Haquebut for the men of War and the rascall multitude perceiving certaine Boats of French-men landing which came from Leith purposed to stop their landing and so not considering the enemies that approached from Brunteiland unadvisedly they rushed downe to the Pretticure so is that Bay by West Kinghorne called and at the sea coast began the skirmishing But they never took heed to the enemy that approached by land till that the horsemen charged them upon the backe and the whole bands came directly in their faces and so were they compelled to give back with the losse of six or seven of their men and with the taking of some amongst whom were two that professed Christ Jesus one named Paul Lambert a Dutch man and a French boy fervent in Religion and clean of life whom in despight they hanged over the Steeple of Kinghorne Thou shalt revenge O Lord in thy appointed time The cause that in so great a danger there was so small a losse next unto the mercifull providence of God was the sudden coming of my Lord Ruthuen for even as our men had given back he and his Company came to the head of the Bray and did not onely stay the French-men but also some of ours brake upon their Horse-men and so repulsed them that they did no further hurt to our Foot-men In that recounter was the Earle of Sudderland foresaid shot in the arme and was carried back to Cowper The French-men took Kinghorne where they lay and wasted the Country about as well Papists as Protestants yea even those that were confederate with them such as Seafield Weames Balmowto Balwearie and others enemies to God and traytors to their Countrey of those we say they spared not the Sheep the Oxen the Kine and Horses and some say that their wives and daughters gat favour of the French Souldiers and so did recompence the Papists in their own bosoms for besides the defiling of their houses as said is two of them received more damage then did all the Gentlemen that professed the Gospel within Fyfe the Laird of Grange onely excepted whose house of the Grange the French-men overthrew with Gun-Powder The Queen Regent proud of this Victory
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
and States of my Realm too and therefore it shall be meet that I use their advises therein Heretofore they have seemed to be grieved that I should do any thing without them And now they would be more offended if I should proceed in this matter of my selfe without their advises I do intend quoth she to send Monsieur Dosell to the Queen your Mistresse my good sister who shall declare that unto her from me that I trust shall suffice her By whom I will give her to understand of my journey into Scotland I mean to embarke at Calice The King of France hath lent me certain Galleyes and Ships to convey me home and I intend to require of my good Sister those favours that Princes use to do in those cases And though the termes wherein we have stood heretofore have been somewhat hard yet I trust that from henceforth we shall accord together as Cosins and good Neighbours I mean quoth she to retire all the French men forth of Scotland who had given jealousie to the Queen my Sister and discontent to my Subjects so as I will leave nothing undone to satisfie all parties trusting the Queen my good Sister will do the like and that from henceforth none of my disobedient Subjects if there be any such shall finde ayd or support at her hands I answered That I was not desirous to fall into the discourse how those hard termes first began nor by what means they were nourished because therein I must charge some party with injury and perill offered to the Queen my Mistresse which was the very ground of those matters But I was well assured there could be no better occasion offered to put the former unkindnesse in forgetfulnesse then by ratifying the Treatie of Peace for that should repay all injuries past And Madame quoth I where it pleased you to suspend and delay the ratification untill you have the advices of the Nobles and States of your Realm the Queen my Mistresse doth nothing doubt of their conformitie in this matter because the Treatie was made by their consents The Queen answered yea by some of them but not by all it will appeare when I come amongst them whether they be of the same minde that you say they were then of But of this I assure you Monsieur Lambassadour quoth she I for my part am very desirous to have the perfect and the assured amity of the Queen my good sister and will use all the means I can to give her occasion to think that I mean it indeed I answered Madame the Queen my Mistresse you may be assured will use the like towards you to move you to be of the same opinion towards her Then said she I trust the Queen your Mistresse will not support nor encourage none of my Subjects to continue in their disobedience nor to take upon them things that appertain not to Subjects this we may answer here It appertaineth to Subjects to worship God as he hath commanded and to suppresse Idolatry by whom so ever it be erected or maintained You know quoth she there is much adoe in my Realme about matters of Religion And though there be a greater number of a contrary Religion unto me then I would there were yet there is no reason that Subjects should give a Law to their Soveraigne and specially in matters of Religion which I feare quoth she my Subjects shall take in hand answer for the part of Scotland and if so they had done they had escaped Gods heavie indignation which hath been felt and still hangeth over this Realm for the Idolatry and other abominations committed in the same which shall not cease till that it be suppressed I answered Madame your Realme is in none other case at this day then all other Realms through Christendome are The proofe whereof you see verified in this Realm And you see what great difficultie it is to give order in this matter though the King of France and all his Councell be very desirous thereunto Religion is of the greatest force that may be you have been long out of your own Realm so as the contrary Religion to yours had won tbe upper hand and the greatest part of your Realme Your mother was a woman of great experience of deep dissimulation and policy as they terme it now adayes and kept that Realme in quietnesse till she began to constrain mens consciences and as you think it unmeet to be constrained by your subjects so it may please you to consider The matter is as intolerable to them to be constrained by you in matters of conscience for the duty due to God cannot be given to any other without offence of his Majesty Why said she God doth command subjects to be obedient to their Princes and commandeth Princes to read his Law and governe thereby themselves and the people committed to their charges Answer Yea Madame quoth I in those things that be not against his Commandments Well quoth she I will be plain with you The Religion that I professe I take to be most acceptable to God and indeed neither do I know nor desire to know any other Constancy doth become all folks well but none better then Princes and such as have rule over Realmes and specially in matters of Religion the Turke is as constant in his Alcoran as the Pope and his Sect are in his Constitutions I have been brought up quoth she in this Religion and who might credit me in any thing if I should shew my selfe light in this case And though I be young and not well learned yet I have heard this matter oft disputed by my Uncle the Cardinall with some that thought they could say somewhat in the matter and I found therein no great reason to change my opinion neither yet did the high Priest when Christ Jesus did reason in his presence But what was the Cardinall compelled to confesse at Poysie Madame quoth I if you will judge well in that matter you must be conversant in the Scriptures which are the Touch-stone to try the right from the wrong Peradventure you are so partially affected to your Uncles arguments that you could not indifferently consider the other party Yet this I assure you Madam quoth I your Uncle the Cardinall in conference with me about these matters hath confessed That there be great errours and abuses come into the Church and great disorder in the Priests and Clergie in so much that he desired and wished that there might be a Reformation of the one and of the other I have oftentimes heard him say the like quoth she Then I said Well I trust God will inspire all you that be Princes that there may be some good order taken in this matter so as there may be one Unity in Religion thorow all Christendom God grant quoth she but for my part you may perceive I am none of those that will change my Religion every yeer And
of Papistry But we all praise to God alone have nothing within our Churches that ever flowed from that man of Sin And this we acknowledge to be the strength given to us of God because we esteemed not our selves wise in our owne eyes but understanding our own wisedome to be but meer foolishnesse before our God laid it aside and followed onely that which we found approved by himselfe In this point could never our enemies cause us to faint for our first Petition was That the Reverend face of the first Primitive and Apostolike Church should be reduced again to the eyes and knowledge of men And in that point we say our God hath strengthned us till that the Work was finished as the world may see And as concerning the suppressing of vice yea and of the abolishing of all such things as might nourish Impiety within the Realm the Acts and Statutes of the principall Towns reformed will yet testifie For what Adulterer what Fornicator what known Masse-monger or pestilent Papist durst have been seen in publike within any Reformed Town within this Realme before that the Queen arrived And this Victory to his Word and terrour to all filthy livers did God work by such as yet live and remaine witnesses whether they will or not of the aforesaid works of God We say our God suffered none of these whom he first called to the Battell to perish or to fall the while that he made them Victors of their enemies For even as God suffered none of those whom he called from Egypt to perish in the Red Sea how fearfull that ever the danger appeared so suffered he none of us to be approved nor yet to be taken from this life till that now the Pharaohs then one was drowned and we set at freedom without all danger of our enemies to let both us and our Posterity understand That such as follow the conducting of God cannot perish albeit they walked in the very shadow of death But from whence alas cometh this miserable dispersion of Gods people within this Realme this day in May 1561 And what is the cause that now the just is compelled to keep silence good men are banished Murtherers and such as are knowne unworthy of common Society if Justice were put in execution bear the whole Regiment and sway within this Realme We answer Because that suddenly the most part of us declined from the purity of Gods Word and began to follow the world and so againe shake hands with the devill and with Idolatry as in the fourth Book we will heare For while that Papists were so confounded that none within the Realme durst more avow the hearing or saying of Masse then the theeves of Tiddisdale durst avow their stouth or stealing in the presence of any upright Judge No ware Protestants found who are not ashamed at Tables and other open places to aske Why may not these men have their Masse and the forme of their Religion What can that hurt us or our Religion And from these two Why and What at last sprang out this Affirmative The Queens Masse and her Priests will we maintain This hand and this Rapier shall fight in their defence c. The Inconveniences were shown both by Tongue and Pen but the advertisers were judged to be men of unequall Spirits Their Credit was defaced at the hands of such as before were not ashamed to have used their Counsell in matters of greater importance to have refused the Masse But then my Lord my Master may not be thus used he hath that Honour to be the Queens Brother And therefore we will that all men shall understand That he must tender her as his Sister And whosoever will counsell him to displease her or the least that pertains unto her shall not finde him their friend yea they are worthy to be hanged that would so counsell him c. These and the like reasons took such deep root in flesh and blood and was as yet alas they are preferred to God and to his Messengers rebuking vice and vanity that from thence hath all our misery proceeded For as before so even yet although the Ministers be set to beg the Guard and the men of Warre must be served Though the blood of the Ministers must be spilt yet it is the Queens Servants that did it Although Masse be multiplied in all Quarters of the Realme Who can stop the Queens Subjects to live of the Queens Religion Although Innocent men be Imprisoned it is the Queens pleasure So she is offended at such men although under pretence of Justice Innocents be murthered The Lords shall weep but the Queenes minde must be satisfied Nobles of the Realme Barons and Councellors are banished their Escheats disposed of and their lives most unjustly pursued The Queen hath lost her trusty Servant David he was deare unto her and therefore for her Honour sake she must show rigour to revenge his death And yet farther albeit that some knew that she hath plainly purposed to wrack and undo the Religion within this Realme That to that Romane Antichrist she hath made her promise And that from him she hath taken money to uphold his pomp within this Realme yet will they let the people understand That the Queen will establish Religion and provide all things orderly if she were once delivered If such dealing which is too common amongst Protestants be not to prefer flesh and blood to God to his Truth to Religion and to the oppressed Liberty of the Realme let the world judge The plagues have been and in some places are present that were before threatned the rest approaches And yet who from the heart cryeth I haue offended Now thou Lord knowes in thee onely is the trust of the opprâ—ssed for vain is the help of man But now to returne we to our History The 19 day of August 1561. betwixt seven and eight hours before noon arrived Mary Queen of Scotland then widow with two Gallies out of France In her company besides her Gentlewomen called the Maries were her Uncles the Duke Aumale the grand Prior the Marquesse d'Albuff There accompanied her also d'Anville son to the Constable of France with other Gentlemen of inferiour Condition besides servants and Officers The very face of the Heaven at the time of her Arrivall did manifestly speak what comfort was brought into this Countrey with her to wit Sorrow Dolour Darknesse and all Impiety For in the memory of man that day of the yeer was never seen a more dolorous face of the Heaven then was at her Arrivall which two dayes after did so continue For besides the Surface Wet and Corruption of the Ayre the Mist was so thick and dark that scarce might any man espie another the length of two payre of Butts the Sun was not seen to shine two dayes before nor two dayes after That forewarning gave God unto us but alas the most part were blinde At the sound of
the Cannons which the Galleyes shot the multitude being advertised happy was he or she that first must have the presence of the Queen the Protestants were not the slowest And therein they were not to be blamed Because the Palace of Halyrud-house was not thorowly put in order for her coming was more sudden then many looked for she remained in Leith till towards the evening and then repaired thither In the way betwixt Leith and the Abbey met her the Rebells the Crafts-men of whom we spake before to wit Those that had violated the Acts of the Magistrates and had besieged the Proveist But because she was sufficiently instructed that all they did was done in spight of their Religion they were easily pardoned Fiâ—es of joy were set forth at night and a Company of most honest men with Instruments of Musick and with Musiâ—ians gave their Salutations at her Chamber Window The Mâ—lody as she alleadged liked her well and she willed the same to be continued some nights after with great diligence The Lords repaired to her from all Quarters and so was nothing understood but mirth and quietnesse till the next Sunday which was the 24 of August When that preparations began to be made for that Idoll of the Masse to be said in the Chappell Which perceived the hearts of all the godly began to be emboldened and men began openly to speak Shall that Idoll be suffered again to take place within this Realme It shall not The Lord Lindsay then but Master with the Gentlemen of Fyfe and others plainly cryed in the Close or Yard The Idolatrous Priests should die the death according to Gods Law One that carried in the Candle was evill affrayed but then began flesh and blood fully to shew it self There durst no Papist neither yet any that came out of France whisper But the Lord Iames the man whom all the godly did most reverence took upon him to keep the Chappell door his best excuse was That he would stop all Scotish-men to enter in to the Masse But it was and is sufficiently known That the doore was kept that none should have entry to trouble the Priest who after the Mâ—sse was ended was committed to the protection of the Lord Iohn of Coldingham and Lord Robert of Halyrud-house who then were both Protestants and had Communicate at the Table of the Lord Betwixt them two was the Priest conveyed to his Chamber And so the godly departed with grief of heart and after noon repaired to the Abbey in great companies and gave plain signification That they could not abide that the Land which God by his power had purged from Idolatry should in their eyes be polluted again Which understood there began complaint upon complaint The old Duntebors and others that had long served in the Court and hoped to have no remission of sins but by vertue of the Masse cryed They would away to France without delay They could not live without the Masse the same affirmed the Queens Uncles And would to God that they all together with the Masse had taken goodnight at the Realme for ever for so had Scotland been rid of an unprofitable burthen of devouring strangers and of the malediction of God that hath stricken and yet will strike for Idolatry The Councell assembled disputation was had of the next remedy Politicke heads were sent unto the Gentlemen with these and the like perswasions Why alas Will you chase our Soveraigne from us She will incontinently returne to her Galleyes and what then shall all Realmes say of us May we not suffer her a little while I doubt not but she will leave it If we were not assured that she might be won we should be also as great enemies to her Masse as ye can be Her Uncles will depart and then shall we rule all at our pleasure Would not we be also sorry to hurt the Religion as any of you would be With these and the like perswasions we say was the fervency of the Brethren quenched And an Act was framed the Tenour whereof followeth Apud Edinburgh 25 Aagustii 1561. FOrasmuch as the Queens Majestie hath understood the great inconveniences through the divisiâ—n pâ—esently standing in this Realme for the difference in mattâ—rs of Religion which her Majestie is most desirous to see pacified by any good order To the Honour of God and Tranquility of her Realm and means to take the same by Advice of her States so soon as conveniently may be to their serious Consideration And lest that her Majesties godly Resolutions therein may be greatly hindered in case any Tumult and Sedition be raised amongst the Lieges if any Alteration or Innovation be Pressed or Attempted before that good Order may be Established Wherefore for the eschewing of the said Inconveniences her Majestie Ordains Letters to be Directed to Charge all and sundry her Lieges by open Proclamation at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh and other Places needfull That they and every one of them contain themselves in all Quietnesse keep Peace and Civill Society amongst themselves in the mean time while the States of the Realm may be Assembled and then her Majestie have taken a finall Order by their Advice and publike Consent which her Majestie hopes shall be to the Contentment of all the Law bidding That none of them should take in hand privately or openly any Alteration or Innovation of the state of Religion or attempt any thing against the same which her Majestie found Publikely and Universally standing at her Majesties Arrivall in this her Realme under Pain of Death With Certification That if any Subject of the Realme shall come in the contrary Thereof â—e shall be esteemed and holden a Seditious Person and Raiser of Tumult and the same Pain shall be executed upon him with all Rigour To the Example of others And her Majestie with the Advice of the Lords of the Secret Councell Commands and Charges all her Liâ—ges That none of them take in hand to Molâ—st or Trouble any of her Majesties Domesticke Servants or Persons whatsoever come forth of France in her Company at this time in Word Deed or Countenance for any Cause whatsoever either within her Palace or without or make any assault or invasion upon any of them under whatsoever Colour or Pretence under the said Pain of Death Albeit that her Majestie be sufficiently perswaded That her Good and Loving Subjects would do the same for the Reverence they bear to her Person and Acts notwithstanding no such Commandment were published This Act and Proclamation Penned and put in Forme by such as before professed Christ Jesus for in the Councell then had Papists neither power nor voyce It was publikely Proclaimed at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh upon Munday the day aforesaid No man reclaimed nor made repugnance to it except the Earle of Arrane onely who in open audience of the Herald protested That he disassented that any Protection or Defence should be made to the Queens
should have beene of the Religion of the Romane Emperours What Religion should have been upon the face of the earth Daniel and his fellows were subjects to Nebuchad-nezzar and unto Darius and yet Madame they would not be of their Religion neither of the one nor of the other For the three Children said We make it knowne to thee O King That we will not worship thy Gods And Daniel did pray publikely unto his God against the expresse Commandment of the King And so Madame ye may perceive that Subjects are not bound to the Religion of their Princes albeit they are commanded to give them obedience Yea quoth she none of these men raised their Sword against their Princes Yet Madame quoth he ye cannot deny but they resisted For those that obey not the Commandments given in some sort resist But yet said she they resisted not by the Sword God said she Madame had not given them the power and the meanes Thinke you said she That Subjects having power may resist their Princes If Princes do exceed their Bounds quoth he Madame and doe against that wherefore they should be obeyed there is no doubt but they may be resisted even by Power For there is neither greater Honour nor greater Obedience to be given to Kings and Princes then God hath commadned to be given to Father and Mother But so it is That the Father may be stricken with a Phrenzie in the which he would slay his owne Children Now Madame if the children arise joyn themselves together apprehend the Father take the Sword or other Weapon from him and finally binde his hands and keepe him in Prison till that his Phrensie be over-past Thinke ye Madame that the children do any wrong Or thinke ye Madame that God will be offended with them that have stayed their Father from committing wickednesse It is even so said he Madame with Princes that would murther the children of God that are subject unto them Their blinde zeale is nothing but a very mad phrenzie and therefore to take the sword from them to binde their hands and to cast them into prison till that they be brought to a more sober minde is no disobedience against Princes but just obedience because that it agreeth with the Word of God At these words the Queene stood as it were amazed more then a quarter of an houre her countenance altered so that the Lord Iames began to entreat her and to demand What hath offended you Madame At length she said Well then I perceive that my Subjects shall not onely obey you and not me And shall do what they list and not what I command and so must I be subject unto them and not they to me God forbid answered he that ever I take upon me to command any to obey me or yet to set Subjects at liberty to do whatsoever please them but my travell is That both Princes and Subjects obey GOD. And thinke not said he Madame that wrong was done unto you when you are willed to be subject unto GOD for it is he that subjects the people under Princes and causes obedience to be given unto them yea God craves of Kings That they be as it were Foster-Fathers to the Church and commands Queens to be Nourishers unto his People And this subjection Madame unto God and to his troubled Church is the greatest dignity that flesh can get upon the face of the earth for it shall carry them to everlasting glory Yea quoth she but ye are not the Church that I will nourish I will defend the Church of Rome for I think it is the true Church of God Your will quoth he Madame is no reason neither doth your thought make that Romane Harlot to be the Immaculate Spouse of Jesus Christ. And wonder not Madame that I call Rome an Harlot for that Church is altogether polluted with all kinde of Spirituall Fornication as well in Doctrine as in Manners yea Madam I offer my selfe further to prove That the Church of the Jewes who crucified Jesus Christ when that they manifestly denied the Sonne of God was not so farre degenerated from the Ordinances and Statutes which God gave by Moses and Aaron unto his People as the Church of Rome is declined and more then five hundred yeers hath declined from the Purity of Religion which the Apostles taught and planted My conscience said she is not so Conscience Madame said he requires knowledge and I fear that of right knowledge you have but little But said she I have both heard and read So Madame said he did the Jewes that crucified Christ Jesus reade both the Law and the Prophets and heard the same interpreted after their manner Have ye heard said he any teach but such as the Pope and his Cardinalls have allowed And you may be assured That such will speak nothing to offend their owne state Ye interpret the Scriptures said she in one manner and they in another Whom shall I believe and who shall be Judge Believe said he God that plainly speaketh in his Word And further then the Word teacheth you ye shall neither believe the one nor the other The Word of God is plain in it self And if there appear any obscurity in one place the holy Ghost which is never contrarious to himself explains the same more clearly in other places So that there can remaine no doubt but unto such as obstinately will remaine ignorant And now Madame said he to take one of the chief Points which this day is in controversie betwixt the Papists and us for example The Papists alleadge and boldly have affirmed That the Masse is the Ordinance of God and the Institution of Jesus Christ and a Sacrifice for the quick and the dead We deny both the one and the other and affirme That the Masse as it is now used is nothing but the Invention of man and therefore it is an Abomination before God and no Sacrifice that ever God commanded Now Madame who shall judge betwixt us two thus contending It is not reason that either of the persons be further believed then they are able to prove by insuspect witnessing Let them lay downe the Book of God and by the plain words prove their affirmatives and we shall give unto them the play granted But so long as they are bold to affirme and yet do prove nothing we must say That albeit all the world believe them yet believe they not God but do receive the lyes of men for the Truth of God What our Master Christ Jesus did we know by his Evangelists What the Priests do at the Masse the world seeth Now doth not the Word of God plainly assure us That Christ Jesus neither said nor yet commanded Masse to be said at his last Supper seeing that no such thing as the Masse is made mention of within the whole Scriptures You are over-hard for me said the Queen but if they were here whom I have heard they would answer you
Madame said the other would to God that the learnedest Papist in Europe and he that you would best believe were present with your Majestie to sustain the argument and that ye would abide patiently to hear the matter reasoned to the end for then I doubt not Madame but that you should hear the vanity of the Papisticall Religion and what small ground it hath within the Word of God Well said she ye may perchance get that sooner then you believe Assuredly said the other if ever I get that in my self I get it sooner then I believe for the ignorant Papist cannot patiently reason and the learned and crafty Papist will never come in your audience Madame to have the ground of their Religion searched out for they know they are not able to maintain any argument except by fire and sword and their own Laws be judges So say you quoth the Queen and I believe it hath been to this day Quoth he for how oft have the Papists in this and in other Realmes been required to come to conference and yet could it never be obtained unlesse themselves were admitted for Judges and therefore I must yet say again That they dare never dispute but where themselves are both judges and party And when you shall let me see the contrary I shall grant my self to be deceived in that Point And with this the Queen was called unto dinner for it was afternoon At departing Iohn Knox said unto her I pray God Madame that you may be also blessed within the Common-wealth of Scotland if it be the pleasure of God as ever Deborah was in the Common-wealth of Israel Of this long conference whereof we onely touch a part were divers opinions The Papists grudged and feared that which they needed not the godly thinking at least That she would have heard the preaching rejoyceed but they were utterly deceived for she continued in her Massing and despised and quickly mocked all exhortation Iohn Knox his owne judgement being by some of his familiars demanded what he thought of the Queen said If there be not in her a proud mind a crafty wit and an indurate heart against God and his Truth my judgement faileth me and this I say with a grieved heart for the good I wish unto her and by her to the Church and State When the whole Nobility were convened the Lords of Privie Councell were chosen where were appointed the Duke the Earles of Huntley Argyle Atholl Mortoun Glencarne Mershell Bothwell Lords Arskeme and Lord Iames after Earle Murray and these were appointed as certain to wait upon the Court by course But that Order continued not long Duke d'Anville returned with the Galleyes to France The Queen entred in her Progresse and in the Moneth of September travelled from Edinburgh Linlithgow Sterlin S. Iohnston Dundie S. Androes all these parts she polluted with the Idolatrous Masse Fire followed the Court very commonly in that Journey the Towns propined the Queen liberally thereof were the French enriched About the beginning of October they returned to Edinburgh and at the day appointed the Q. was received in the Castle whereat preparations were made for her entry into the Town in Farces in Masking and other Prodigalities fain would our fools have counterfeited France Whatsoever might set forth her glory that she heard and gladly beheld The Keyes were delivered unto her by a pretty Boy descending as it were from a Cloud The Verses of her own Praise she heard and smiled But when the Bible was presented and the Praise thereof declared she began to frowne for shame she could not refuse it but she did no better for she gave it to the most pestilent Papist within the Realme to wit To Arthur Arskeme Edinburgh since that day have reaped as they sowed They gave her some taste of their Prodigality And because the Liquor was sweet she hath licked oft of that Bust or Box oftner then twice since All men know what we mean The Queen cannot lack and the Subjects have In Edinburgh it hath been an ancient and laudable Custome That the Provests Bayliffs and Councell after their Election which used to be at Michaelmas caused publikely proclaim the Statutes and Ordinances of the Town And therefore Archbald Dowglas Provest Ed. Hope Adam Fullartoun c. Bayliffs caused proclaim according to the former Statutes of the Town That no Adulterer nor Fornicator no noted Drunkard no Masse-monger no obstinate Papist that corrupted the people such as Priests Friers and others of that sort should be found within 41 hours thereafter under the Pains contained in the Statutes Which blowne in the Queens ears there began pride and maliciousnesse to shew it selfe for without further cogitation of the cause was the Provest and Bayliffes charged to Ward in the Castle and immediately was Commandment given That other Provests and Bayliffs should be elected Some gainstood for a while The new Election alleadged That the Provest and Bayliffs whom they had chosen and to whom they had given their Oath had committed no offence therefore that justly they might be deprived But while Charge was doubled upon Charge and no man found to oppose himself to impiety the misled Queens Letter and wicked will is obeyed as just Law And so was M. Thomas Makalan chosen Provest for the other The man no doubt was both discreet and sufficient for that Charge but the deposition of the other was against all Law God be mercifull to some of our owne for they were not all blamelesse that the Queens unreasonable will was so far obeyed A contrary Proclamation was publikely made That the Town should be patent to all the Queens Lieges And so Murtherers Adulterers Theeves Whores Drunkards Idolaters and all Malefactors got protection under the Queens wings under colour that they were of her Religion And so got the devill freedome againe where that before he durst not have been seen in day light upon the common streets Lord deliver us from this Bondage of sin The Devil finding his raines loose ran forward in his course and the Queen evil men abusing her name and authority took upon her greater boldnesse then she and Balaams bleating Priests durst have attempted before for upon All-Hallow day they bended up their Masse with all mischievous solemnitie The Ministers thereat offended in plaine and publike place declared the inconvenience that thereupon would ensue The Nobility were sufficiently admonished of their duties but affection caused men to call that in doubt wherein oft before they seemed most resolute to wit Where that the Subjects might have hand to suppresse the Idolatry of their Prince And upon this Question conveaned in the house of Master Iames Mackgill the Lord Iames Earle of Morton the Earle of Marshall Secretary Lethington the Justice Clarke and the foresaid Master Iames Clarke of the Register who all reasoned for the part of the Queen affirming That the Subjects might not take her Masse lawfully from her
if that she stood in suspition of any thing that was to be handled in their assemblies that it would please her Majestie to send such as he would appoint to hear whatsoever was propounded or reasoned Hereafter was the Book of Discipline proposed and desired to have been ratified by the Queens Majestie but it was stopped and the Question demanded How many of those that subscribed to that Book would be subject unto it It was answered All the godly Will the Duke said Lethington If he will not answered the Lord Uchiltrie I would that he were scraped out not onely of that Book but also out of our number and company for what purpose shall labour be taken to put the Church in order and to what end shall men subscribe and then never mean to keep a word of that which they promise Lethington answered Many subscribe there in fide Parentum as Children are baptized One to wit Iohn Knox answered Albeit ye think that scoffe proper yet as it is most untrue so it is most improper That Book was read in publike audience and by the space of divers dayes the hearers thereof were resolved as all that here sit know well enough and you your selves cannot deny So that no man was required to subscribe that which he understood not Stand content said one that Booke will not be obtained Let God said the other require the lack and want which this poor Common-wealth shall have of the things therein contained from the hands of such as stop the same Thomas Borrows perceiving that the Book of discipline was refused presented unto the Councill certain Articles requiring Idolatry to be suppressed their Churches to be planted with true Ministers and some certain propositions to be made for them according to equitie and Conscience for unto that time the most part of the Ministers had lived upon the benevolence of men for many had into their owne hands the profits that the Bishops and others of that Sect had before abused and so some part was bestowed upon the Ministers But when the Bishops began to gripe again to that which most unjustly they called their own for the Earle of Arrane was discharged of Saint Andrews and Dumfermling wherewith before by vertue of a Factory and Commission he had intromitted and medled And so were many others Therefore the Barons required That order might be taken for the Ministers or else they would no more cause Rents to be paid unto any that formerly belonged to the Church-men nor suffer any thing to be collected for the use of any whosoever after the Queenes arrivall then that they did before for they verily supposed that the Queens Majestie would keep promise made to them which was Not to alter their Religion which could not remain without Ministers and Ministers could not live without provision And therefore they heartily desired the Councell to provide some convenient order in that behalf This somewhat moved the Queens flatterers for the Rod of impiety was not then strengthened in her and their hands And so began they to practise how they might please the Queen and yet seem somewhat to satisfie the faithfull And so devised they That the Church-men should have intromission and medling with the two parts of their Benefices and that the third part should be gathered by such men as thereto should be appointed for such uses As in these subsequent Acts are more fully expressed Apud Edinburgh vicesimo Decemb. Anno 1561. THe which day Forasmuch as the Queens Majestie by the advice of the Lords of her secret Councell foreseeing the imminent troubles which apparantly threaten to arise amongst the Lieges of this Realme for matters of Religion to stay the same and shun all incommodities that might thereupon ensue having intercommuned and spoken with a part of the Clergie or State Ecclesiasticall with whom then reasoning being had It was thought good and expedient by her Highnesse That a generall Assembly should be appointed the 15 day of December instant whereto the rest of the States might have appeared and by the advice of Lawyers one reasonable overture be made and order taken for staying of the approaching trouble and quieting of all the Countrey which Assembly being by her Majestie appointed and sundry dayes of Counsell kept and the said Ecclesiasticall State oft-times required That the said Order might be taken and overture made for staying of the trouble and quieting of the Countrey Last of all in presence of the Queens Majesty and Lords of the Councell aforesaid and others of the Nobility of this Realm compeired Iohn Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews Patrick Bishop of Murray Henry Bishop of Rosse and Robert Bishop of Dunkeld And for themselves respectively offered unto the Queens Majestie to be content with the two parts of the Rents of their Benefices and the third part to be imployed as her Majestie thought expedient And because the certaintie thereof was not knowne not yet what summes of Money would sustaine the Ministery and Ministers of Gods Word within this Realme neither yet how much was necessary to support the Queenes Majesty above her own Rents for the common affairs of the Countrey Therefore it is Ordained Concluded and Determined by the Queens Majesty and the Lords of the Councell aforesaid and others of the Nobility present That if the fourth part of the whole Benefices within this Realm may be sufficient to sustain the Ministers thorowout this whole Realme and support the Queens Majesty to maintain and set forwards the common affairs of the Countrey failing thereof the third part of the said Profits and more if it be found sufficient for the effect aforeâ—aid to be taken up yeerly in time coming that a generall order may be taken therewith and so much thereof to be employed to the Queens Majesties use for entertaining and setting forward of the common affairs of the Countrey and so much thereof to the Ministers and sustentation of the Ministry as may reasonably sustain the same at the sight and discretion of the Queens Majesty and Councell aforesaid and the excrescens and superplus to be assigned to the old Possessors And to the effect that the Rents and yeerly Profits of the whole Benefices within this Realme may be cleerly known to the Queens Majesty and Councell aforesaid It is Statuted and Ordained That the whole Rentals of the Benefices of this Realm be produced before her Majesty and Lords aforesaid at the time under-written that is to say The Rentalls of the Benefices on this side of the Water before the 24 of Ianuary next coming And those beyond the water the 10 of February next thereafter and ordains Letters to be directed to the Sheriffs in that part to passe charge and require all and sundry Archbishops Bishops Commendators Abbots Priors on this side of the Water personally to be apprehended and failing thereof at their dwelling places or at the Parish Churches where they should remain Cathedrall Churches or Abbeyes And all Archdeacons Deans
said the other Madame that is put in Election If ye knew him said she as well as I do ye would never promote him to that Office nor yet to any other within your Kirk What he hath been said he Madame I never knew nor yet will I enquire for in time of darknesse What could we do but gâ—ope and go wrong even as darknesse carryed us but if he feare not GOD now he deceives many more then me And yet said he Madame I am assured GOD will not suffer his CHURCH to be so farre deceived As that an unworthy man shall be Elected where free Election is and the Spirit of GOD is earnestly called upon to decide betwixt the two Well said she do as ye will But that man is a dangerous man and therein was not the Queen deceived For he had corrupted the most part of the Gentlemen not onely to nominate him but also to Elect him which perceived by the said Iohn Commissioner delayed the Election and left it with the Master of Maxwell Master Robert Pont who was put in Election with the foresaid Bishop to the end that his Doctrine and Conversation might be the better tryed of these that had not known him before and so was this Bishop frustrate of his purpose for that present and yet was he at that time the man that was most familiar with the said Iohn in his house and at Table But now to the former conference When the Queen had long talked with Iohn Knox and he being oft willing to take his leave she said I have one of the greatest matters that have touched me since I came in this Realm to open unto you and I must have your help into it And she began to make a long discourse of her Sister the Lady Argile how that she was not so circumspect in all things as she wished her to be and yet said she my Lord her husband whom I love useth her not in many things so honestly and so godlily as I thinke ye your self would require Madam said he I have been troubled with that matter before and once I put an end to it and that was before your Majesties arrivall that both she and her friends seemed fully to stand content and she her self promised before her friends That she would never complain to any Creature till that I should first understand the controversie by her own mouth or else by one assured Messenger I now have heard nothing of her part and therefore I think there is nothing but concord Well said the Queen it is worse then ye beleeve but do this much for my sake as once again to put them at Unitie and if she behave not her self so as she ought to do she shall finde no favour of me but in any wise said she let my Lord know That I have requested you in this matter For I would be very sorry to offend him in that or in any other thing And now said she as touching our reasoning yesternight I promise to do as ye required I shall cause to summon all offenders and yee shall know that I shall minister Justice I am assured then said he That ye shall please God and enjoy rest and tranquilitie within your Realm which to your Majesty is more profitable then all the Popes power can be And thus they departed This Conference we have inserted to let the World see how deeply Mary Queen of Scotland can dissemble and how that she could cause men to thinke That she bare no indignation for any controversie in Religion which that yet in her heart was nothing but venome and destruction as shortly after did appeare Iohn Knox departed and prepared himself for his journey appointed to Dunfreis And from Glasgow according to the Queens Commandment he wrote this Letter to the Earle of Argyle the Tenour whereof follows My Lord THe Lord cometh and shall not tarry After commendation of my service unto your Lordship If I had known of your Lordships sudden departing the last time it chanced me to see and speak with you I had opened unto you some of my grief But supposing that your Lordship should have remained still with the Queen I delayed at that time to utter any part of that which now my conscience compelleth me to do Your behaviour towards your wife is very offensive unto many godly Her complaint is grievous That ye altogether withdraw your conversation from her If so ye have great need to look well to your own state for albeit that ye within your self felt no more repugnancie then any flesh this day on the earth yet by promise made before God are ye debtour unto her in all due benevolence But if that ye burne on the one side albeit ye do no worse and she in your default on the other ye are not onely men sworn before God but also doth what in you lieth to kindle against your self his wrath and heavie displeasure The words are sharp and God is witnesse in dolour of heart I write them But because they are true and pronounced by God himself I dare not but admonish you perceiving you as it were sleeping in sin The proud stubbornnesse whereof your Lordship oft complained will nothing excuse you before God for if ye be not able to convince her of any fault ye ought to bear with her imperfections as that ye would she should bear with you likewise In the bowells of Christ Jesus I exhort you my Lord to have respect of your own salvation and not to abuse the lenity and long-suffering of God for that is a fearfull treasure that ye heap up upon your own head while that he calleth you to repentance and ye obstinately continue in your own impiety for impiety it is that ye abstract your comfort and company from your lawfull wife I write nothing in defence of her misbehaviour towards your Lordship in any sort but I say If ye be not able to convince her of any fault committed since your last reconciliation which was in my presence that ye can never be excused before God of this rude and strange usage of your wife And if by you such impiety be committed as is bruted then before God and unto your owne conscience I say That every moment of that filthy pleasure shall turne to you in a yeers displeasure yea it shall be the occasion and cause of everlasting damnation unlesse speedily ye repent and repent ye cannot except ye desist from that impiety Call to minde my Lord That the servant knowing his masters will and doing the contrary shall be plagued with many plagues Sin my Lord is sweet in drinking but in digesting more bitter then the gall The Eternall move your heart earnestly to consider how fearfull a thing it is ever to have God to be enemy In the end I pray your Lordship not to be absent from Edinburgh the 19 of this instant for such causes as I will not write Thus much onely I warne your
Lordship that it will not be profitable for the common quietnesse of this Realme that the Papists brag and Justice be mocked that day And thus I cease further to trouble your Lordship whom God assist In haste from Glasgow the 7 of May 1563. Your Lordships to command in godlinesse Sic subscribitur JOHN KNOX THis Letter was not well accepted of the said Earle and yet did he utter no part of his displeasure in publike but contrarily shewed himself most familiar with the said Iohn Knox He kept the Diet and sate in Judgement himself where the Bishop and the rest of the Papists were accused as after follows The Summons were directed against the Masse-mongers with expedition and in the straitest forme The day was appointed the 19 of May a day onely before the Parliament of Popes Knights appeared The Bishop of Saint Androes the Prior of Quinthorne the Parson of Sanguhair William Hamilton of Camskeneth Iohn Gordon of Barskuch with divers others The Protestants convened whole to crave for Justice The Queen asked counsell of the Bishop of Rosse and of the old Laird of Lethington for the younger was absent and so the Protestants had fewer friends who affirmed That she must see her Laws kept or else she would get no obedience and so was preparations made for their accusations The Bishop and his band of the exempted sort made nice to enter before the Earle of Argyle who sate in Judgement but at last he was compelled to enter within the Barre A merry man who now sleeps with the Lord Robert Horwell instead of the Bishops Crosse bore before him a Steel Hammer Whereat the Bishop and his Band were not a little offended because the Bishops priviledges were not then currant in Scotland which day God grant our posterity may see of longer continuance then we possessed it The Bishop and his fellows after much ado and long drift of time came in the Queens will and were committed to Ward some to one place and some to another The Lady Arskine got the Bishops for her part All this was done of a most deep craft to abuse the simplicity of the Protestants that they should not presse the Queen with any other thing concerning the matters of Religion At that Parliament which began within two dayes thereafter she obtained of the Protestants whatsoever she desired for this was the reason of many We see what the Queen hath done the like of this was never heard within this Realme we will bear with the Queen we doubt not but all shall be well Others were of contrary judgement and forespake things as after they came to passe to wit That nothing was meant but deceit and that the Queen how soon that ever the Parliament was past should set the Papists at freedome And therefore willed the Nobility not to be abused But because many had their private businesse to be handled at that Parliament the common Cause was the lesse regarded The Earle of Huntley whose Corps had been unburied till the time it was brought to the Tolbuith he was accused his Arms rent off himself the Earle of Sutherland and eleven Barons and Earles bearing the surname of Gordon were that day forfeited the Lady Huntley craftily protested and asked the support of a man of Law or Counsellor Such stinking pride of women as was seen at that Parliament was never seen before in Scotland Three sundry dayes the Queen rode to the Tolbuith The first day she made a painted Oration and there might have been heard amongst her flatteries Vox Dianae The voyce of a goddesse for it could not be Dei and not of a Woman God save that sweet face Was there ever Orator spake so properly and so sweetly c. All things misliked the Preachers They spake boldly against the superfluities of their Cloathes and against the rest of their vanitie which they affirmed should provoke Gods vengeance not onely against these foolish Women but against the whole Realme and especially against those that maintained them in that odious abusing of things that might have been better bestowed Articles were presented for orders to be taken for Apparrell and for Reformation of other Enormities but all was winked at The Earledome of Murray needed confirmation and many things were to be ratified that concerned the helpe of friends and servants and therefore they might not urge the Queene For if they so did she would hold no Parliament and what then should become of them that had medled with the slaughter of the Earle of Huntley let that Parliament passe over and when the Queene shall aske any thing of the Nobilitie as she must do before her marriage then shall Religion be the first thing that shall be established It was answered That the Poets and Painters erred not altogether that fained and painted Occasion with a bald Hind-head For the first when it is offered being lost is hard to be recovered againe The matter fell so hot betwixt the Earl of Murray and some others of the Court and Iohn Knox That familiarly after that time they spake not together more then a yeer and a half For the said Iohn by his Letter gave a discharge to the said Earle of all further intromission or care with his affaires He made unto him a discourse of their first acquaintance in what estate he was when that first they spake together in London how God had promoted him and that above mans judgement and in the end made this conclusion But seeing that I perceive my self frustrate of my expectation which was That ye should ever have preferred God to your own affection and the advancement of his Truth to your owne commoditie I commit you to your wit and to the conducting of those which can better please you I praise my God I leave you this day victor of your enemies promoted to great honour and in credite and authority with your Soveraigne If so yee long to continue none shall be more glad then I shall be But that after this ye decay as I feare ye shall then call to minde by what means God exalted you which was neither by plying with impiety neither yet by maintaining of pestilent Papists This Letter and discharge was so pleasing to the Flatterers of the said Earle that they triumphed of it and were glad to have gotten their occasion for some envyed that so great familiaritie was betwixt them and therefore from the time they got once that occasion to separate they ceased not to cast Oyle in the burning Flame which ceased not to burne till that God by water of affliction began to slacken it as we shall after heare But least that they should altogether have been seen to have forsaken God as in very deed both God and his Word was vey farre from the hearts of the most part of the Courtiers of that Age a few excepted they began a new Schift to wit To speak of the punishment
Lethington that is the chief Head wherein we never agreed but of that we shall speak hereafter What will ye say as touching the moving of the people to have a good opinion of the Queens Majesty and as concerning obedience to be given to her Authority as also of the form of Prayer which ye commonly use My Lord saith he more earnestly to move the people or yet otherwise to pray then heretofore I have done a good conscience will not suffer me for he who knows the secrets of hearts knows That privately and publikely I have called to God for her conversion and have willed the people to do the same shewing unto them the dangerous state wherein not onely she her self stands but also the whole Realm by reason of her indurate blindnesse That is said Lethington wherein we finde the greatest fault your extremity against her Masse in particular passeth measure ye call her a slave to Sathan ye affirm that Gods vengeance hangs over the Realm by reason of her impiety And what is this else but to raise up the hearts of the poeple against her Majesty and against them that serve her Then there was heard an acclamation of the rest of the flatterers that such extremity could not profit The Master of Maxwell said in plain words If I were in the Queens Majesties place I would not suffer such things as I hear If the words of Preachers said Iohn Knox shall be alwayes wrested in the worst part then will it be hard to speak any thing so circumspectly providing that the truth be spoken which shall not escape the censure of the calumniator The most vehement as ye speak and most excessive manner of Prayer that I use in publike is this O Lord if thy good pleasure be purge the heart of the Queens Majestie from the venome of Idolatry and deliver her from the bondage and thraldom of Satan into the which she hath been brought up and yet remains for the lack of true Doctrine and let her see by the illumination of thy holy Spirit That there is no means to please thee but by Iesus Christ thy only Son and that Iesus Christ cannot be found but in thy holy Word nor yet received but as it prescribes which is To renounce our own wisedom and preconceived opinion and worship thee as it commands that in so doing she may avoid the eternall damnation which is ordained for all obstinate and impenitent to thee and that this poor Realm may also escape that plague and vengeance which inevitably followeth Idolatry maintained against thy manifest Word and the light thereof This said he is the form of common Prayer as your selves can witnesse Now what is worthy of reprehension in it I would hear There are three things in it said Lethington that never liked me and the first is Ye pray for the Queens Majesty with a condition saying Illuminate her heart if thy good pleasure be Wherein it may appear That ye doubt of her conversion Where have ye the example of such Prayer Wheresoever the examples are said the other I am assured of the Rule which is this If we shall ask any thing according to his Will he shall grant us And our Master Christ Jesus commands us to pray unto our Father Thy will be done But said Lethington Where ever finde ye any of the Prophets so to have prayed It sufficeth me said the other my Lord that the Master and Teacher both of Prophets and Apostles hath taught me so to pray But in so doing said Lethington ye put a doubt in the peoples heads of her conversion Not I said the other but her own obstinate rebellion causeth more then me to doubt of her conversion Wherein said he rebells she against God In all the actions of her life said M. Knox but in these two Heads especially The former is That she will not hear the Preaching of the blessed Evangel of Jesus Christ. 2. That she maintaineth that Idol the Masse She thinks not that rebellion said Lethington So thought they said the other that sometimes offered their children unto Molech and yet the Spirit of God affirms That they offered them unto devils and not unto God And this day the Turks think they have a better Religion then the Papists have and yet I think ye will excuse neither of both from committing rebellion against God neither yet can ye do the Queen unlesse ye will make God to be partiall But said Lethington Why pray ye not for her without moving any doubt Because said the other I have learned to pray in faith now faith ye know depends upon the Word of God and so it is that the Word teacheth me That prayer profiteth the sons and daughters of Gods Election of which number if she be one or not I have just cause to doubt and therefore I pray that God would illuminate her heart if his good pleasure be so to do But yet said Lethington ye can produce the example of none that so hath prayed before you Thereto I have already answered said Iohn Knox But yet for further declaration I will demand a question which is this Whether ye think that the Apostles prayed themselves as they commanded others to pray or not who doubts of that said the company that were present Well then said Iohn Knox I am assured that Peter said these words to Simon Magus Repent therefore of this thy wickednesse and pray God That if it be possible the thoughts of thy heart may be forgiven thee Here we may cleerly see That Peter joynes a condition with his Commandment That Simon should repent and pray to wit If it were possible that his sin might be forgiven for he was not ignorant that some sinnes are unto death and so without all hope of repentance or remission And think ye not my Lord Secretary said he but that same doubt may touch my heart as touching the Queens conversion that then touched the heart of the Apostle I would never said Lethington heare you or any other call that in doubt But your will said the other is no assurance to my conscience And to speak freely My Lord I wonder if yee your self doubt not of the Queens conversion for more evident signes of Induration have appeared and do appear in her then Peter outwardly could have espyed in Simon Magus for albeit sometimes he was a Sorcerer yet joyned he with the Apostles beleeved and was baptized And albeit That the venome of Avarice remained in his heart and that he would have bought the holy Ghost yet when he heard the fearfull threatnings of God pronounced against him he trembled desired the assistance of the Prayers of the Apostles and so humbled himself so farre as the judgement of man could peirce like a true penitent and yet we see that Peter doubts of his conversion Why then may not all the godly justly doubt of the conversion of the Queen who hath used Idolatry which is also most odious
as they could And as the preasse of people encreased about the Crosse there appeared to have beene some tumult The Provest Archibald Dowglas came with some Halberdiers and carried the Priest safe againe to the Tolbuith The Queen being advertised and having received sinister information that the Priest was dead suddenly thought to have used and inflicted some extreme punishment for she thought that all this was done in contempt of her and of her Religion and it was affirmed That the Towne should have beene sacked and a great number executed to death she sent to such as she pleased commanding them to come to her at Edinburgh suddenly with their whole Forces and in the mean time she sent her Advocate Master Spence of Condie to Edinburgh to take a sure triall of the matter The Provest and Councell wrote to the Queen the truth of the matter as it was desiring her Majestie to take the same in good part and not to give credit to false reports and therewith sent to her Majestie the Processe and enrolment of the Court of the Priest Conviet Thus the Queens Majesty being informed of the truth by her said Advocate sent againe and stayed the said meeting of men and sent to the Town a grave Letter whereof the Copie followeth ⧠The Queens Letter to the Provest Bailiffe and Councell of Edinburgh PRrovest Bayliffe and Councell of our Citie of Edinburgh We received your Letter from our Advocate and understand by this report what diligence you took to stay the Tumult in the late disorder attempted at Edinburgh wherein as you did your duty in suppressing the Tumult so can we not take in good part nor thinke our self satisfied of so notorious a thing without certain seditious persons who were pleased to do justice perforce and without the Magistrates Authoritie be condignly and really punished for their rashnesse and misbehaviour for if all private Persons should usurpe to take vengeance at their owne hands What lies in ours And to what purpose hath good Laws and Statutes been established Since therefore we have never been obstinate to the due punishment of any offendors prescribed by the Lawes but have alwayes maintained Iustice in that case without respect of persons It is Our will and We command you as you will answer to Us upon your obedience and allegiance That you will take before you certaine of the most responsall persons which are declared Authors of the said Sedition and usurpers of our Authority and to administer Iustice upon them in such sort as We may know a sinceritie on your parts and Our Authority no wayes slighted But if you faile perswade your selves and that shortly we will not oversee it but will account this Contempt not onely to be in the Committers thereof but in your selves who ought to punish it and relieve us on our part remitting the rest to your diligence and execution which we look for so soon as reason will permit Subscribed with Our Hand at STERLIN this 24 of April Anno 1565. BY this manner of writing and high threatning may be perceived how grievously the Queens Majestie would have been offended if the said Tarbot and Masse-monger had been handled according to his demerite being not onely a Papist Idolater but a manifest Whoremaster and a common Fighter and blasphemer neverthelesse within few dayes the Queen charged the Provest and Bailiffs to set him at libertie commanding them further That no man should trouble nor molest him in any sort for whatsoever cause and soon after rewarded him with a Benefice and likewise his Assisters Iohn Low and Iohn Kennedie set at libertie in the same manner At this Easter-Tyde in Sterlin the Queen made her domestick servants use Papisticall Rites and Ceremonies and more she perswaded others by faire means to do the same and threatned those that were most constant at the Earle of Cassels House Upon the second day of May 1565. conveened at Edinburgh the Earle of Murray with his friends in great numbers to keepe the day of Law against the Earle Bothwell who being called appeared not onely the Laird of Rickerton protested That the personall absence of the Earle Bothwell should not be prejudiciall to him by reason that for just fear which might happen in the heart of any man since he had so potent an enemy as the Lord of Murray who next the Queens Majesty was of greatest estimation and Authority of any man within this Realm to whom assisted at this present day of Law seven or eight hundred men which Force he could not resist and therefore had absented himself which Protestation being made those that had been Sureties for his appearance were Outlawed The said Earle Bothwell a few dayes after past into France after he had been in Liddesdale where suspecting almost every man he was not in great assurance of his life notwithstanding he was not put to the Horne for the Queen continually bore a great favour towards him and kept him to be a Souldier as appeared within lesse then half a year for she would not suffer the Lord Morton nor my Lord Ariskin my Lord of Murrayes great friends to keep the day There assisted my Lord of Murray the Earles of Argyle Glencarne and Crawford with great numbers and many Lords and Barons who for the most part conveened the same Afternoon to Treat and Consult for the maintaining of Religion where some Articles were devised and delivered to the Lord of Murray to be presented to the Queens Majestie and privie Councell which Articles were enlarged at the generall assembly following as shall be declared In the meane time as they were informed in Court of this great Assembly of people in Edinburgh they were affraid for naturally the Queen-hated and suspected all such Conventions as were not in her own presence and devised by her self The chief Counsellors in the Court were the Earls of Lenox and Athole The Queen writ incontinent for all the Lords to come to Sterlin so soone as she was advertised that they had Treated in Edinburgh of Religion She Writ likewise for the superintendants and other learned men who went thither and being there they caused to keep the Ports or Gates and make good Watch about the Towne The speciall cause of this Convention was to give to the Lord Darley Title of Honour openly and solemnly with consent of the Nobles before the marriage The fourth day of May the Earle of Murray came to Sterlin where he was well received by the Queens Majestie as appeared and immediately as he past with her to my Lord Darleys Chamber they presented to him a Contract containing in effect That forasmuch as or since the Queen had contracted Marriage with the Lord Darley and that therefore sundry Lords of the Nobilitie had under-written ratified and approved the same and obliged themselves to grant unto him in full Parliament the Crowne Matrimoniall by a new Court Solecisme in Policie the Crowne for the second time is sirnamed Matrimoniall before when
the Queen was first married it was so called also to serve and obey him and her as their Lawfull Soveraignes The Queen desired my Lord Murray to subscribe as many others had done before which hee refused to do Because said he it is required necessarily that the whole Nobility be present at least the principall and such as he himself was posteriour unto before that so grave a matter should be advised and concluded The Queens Majesty no wayes content with this Answer insisted still upon him saying The greatest part of the Nobilitie were there present and content with the matter wished him to be so much a Stewart as to consent to the keeping of the Crown in the Family and the sirname according to their Fathers Will and desire as was said of him a little before his death But he still refused for the causes above written Now as the Lords were assembled an Ambassadour from England named sir Nicholas Throckmorton arrived at Sterlin and in his company the Laird of Lethington the Ambassadour was at the Castle Gate or ever they were aware and as he stood there in the Entry he was desired to passe to his Lodgings The next day he had audience of the Queen and was graciously received according to the dignity of his Message The whole summe of this his Message was to shew and declare to the Queene how highly the Queene his Mistris was offended with this precipitated Marriage and wondred what had moved her to take a man of inferiour rank and condition to her selfe And therefore disswaded her therefrom And specially desiring her most earnestly to send home her Subjects the Earle of Lennox and the Lord Darley But all in vaine for the matter was well farre proceeded In her heart Queen Elizabeth was not angry at this marriage first because if Q. Mary had married a forraigne Prince it had been an accesse to her Greatnesse and consequently she had been more redoubted by the other next both Harry and Mary were alike and in equall degree of Consanguinitie unto her the father of Mary and the mother of Harry being Children to her fathers sister With many fair words the Queen let the Ambassadour depart promising to do all she could to satisfie the Queen of England and for the same purpose she would send an Ambassador to her In the meane time the Queens marriage with the Lord Darley was prepared and propounded in Councell and the chief of the Nobilitie such as the Duke the Earles of Argyle Murray Glencarne with the rest granted freely to the same providing that they might have the Religion established in Parliament by the Queene and the Idolatrous Masse and Superstition abolished shortly it was concluded That they should convene again to Saint Iohnstoun where the Queen promised to take a finall order for Religion The day was appointed to wit the last of May at Perth my Lord of Argile came too late The Queens Majestie communed with the Lords who were very plain with her saying Except the Masse were abolished there should be no quietnesse in the Countrey The twelfth day of May the Lord Darley was Belted that is Created Earle of Rosse with great solemnity a Belt or Girdle being tyed about his waste or middle and albeit all kinde of provision was made to make him Duke of Rothesay yet at that time it came not to effect albeit the Crown and Robe-Royall were prepared to him for the same For the entertainment of this Triumph there were many Knights made to the number of 14. The next day which was the 13 of May the Queen called for the Super-intendants by name Iohn Willock Iohn Winram and Iohn Spotswood whom she cherished with fair words assuring them that she desired nothing more earnestly then the glory of God and satisfying of mens consciences and the good of the Common-wealth and albeit she was not perswaded in any Religion but in that wherein she was brought up yet she promised to them that she would hear Conference and Disputation in the Scriptures And likewise she would be content to hear publike preaching but alwayes out of the mouth of such as pleased her Majestie and above all others she said she would gladly hear the Superintendant of Angus for he was a milde and sweet natur'd man with true honesty and uprightnesse Sir Ariskin of Dun. Soon after the Queen past to Saint Iohnstons after that she had directed Master Iohn Hay Prior of Monimusk to passe to England who sped at the Queen of Englands hand even as sir Nicholas Throckmorton did in Scotland Before the day which was appointed for the meeting at Saint Iohnston my Lord of Murray most carefull of the maintenance of Religion sent to all the principall Churches advertising them of the matter and desiring them to advise and send the most able men in Learning and Reputation to keep the day but their craft and dissimulation appeared for the Dean of Restalrigge who lately arrived out of France with others such as Mr. Iohn Lesley Parson of Vure afterward Bishop of Rosse caused the Queen to understand that thing whereof she was easily perswaded to wit That there ought to be given to all men libertie of conscience and for this purpose to shun or put off the first day appointed The Queen writ to the Nobility that because she was informed that there was great meetings out of every Shire and Town in great number and then the other partie so termed she the Papists were minded together to the said Convention which should apparently make trouble or sedition rather then any other thing therefore she thought it expedient and willed them to stay the said meetings and to deferre the same till such a day that she should appoint with advice of her Councell At this time there was a Parliament proclaimed to be held at Edinburgh the twentieth day of Iuly By this Letter some of the Protestants having best judgement thought themselves sufficiently warned of the Inconveniences and troubles to come Now her Councell at this time was onely the Earles of Lenox and Athole the Lord Ruthen but chiefely David Rizio the Italian ruled all yet the Earle of Rosse already in greatest credit and familiarity These Letters were sent out to the Lords about the eight and twentieth day of May and within twelve dayes thereafter she directed new Missives to the chief of the Nobility desiring or commanding them to come to Saint Iohnston the three and twentieth day of Iune following to consult upon such things as concerned Religion and other things as her Majesty should propose Which day was even the day before that the generall Assembly should have been held in Edinburgh This last Letter uttered the effect of the former so that the Protestants thought themselues sufficiently warned Always as the Earle of Murray was passing to Saint Iohnston to have kept the said day he chanced to fall sick of the Fluxes in Lochlevin where he remained till the Queen came forth of Saint
Iohnston to Edinburgh where the generall Assembly of the whole Church of Scotland was held the four and twentieth day of Iuly The Earls of Argyle and Glencarne assisted the Church with a great company of Lords Barons and others It was there ordered and concluded That certain Gentlemen as Commissioners from the Church National should passe to the Queens Majesty with certain Articles to the number of six desiring her most humbly to ratifie and approve the same in Parliament And because the said Articles are of great weight and worthy of memory I thought good to insert the same word by word IMprimis That the Papisticall and Blaspemous Masse with all Papisticall Idolatry and Papall Iurisdiction be universally supprest and abolisht thorowout this Realme not onely in the Subjects but also in the Queens own Person with punishment against all persons that should be deprehended to transgresse and offend in the same And that the sincere Word of God and Christs true Religion now at this present received be published approved and ratified thorowout the whole Realm as well in the Queens owne Person as in the subjects And that the people be to resort upon the Sundayes at the least to the Prayers and Preaching of Gods Word even as they were before to the Idolatrous Masse And these Heads to be provided by Act of Parliament and ratified by the Queens Majesty Secondly That provision be made for sustentation of the Ministry as well for the time present as the time to come And that such persons as are presently admitted to the Ministery may have their Livings assigned unto them in places where they travell in their Calling or at least next adjacent thereto And that the Benefices now vacant or hath been vacant since the Moneth of March 1558. or that hereafter shall happen to be vacant be disposed to qualified and learned persons able to preach Gods Word and discharge the Vocation concerning the Ministery by Tryall and Admission of the Superintendents and Overseers And that no Benefice or Living having many Churches annexed thereunto be disposed altogether in any time to come to any man but at the least the Churches thereof be severally disposed and that to severall persons So that every man having Charge may serve at his owne Church according to his Vocation And to that effect likewise the Gleebs and the Manses be given to the Ministers that they may make residency at their Churches whereby they may discharge their consciences according to their Vocation and also that the Kirks may be repaired accordingly And that a Law be made and established hereupon by Act of Parliament as said is Thirdly That none be permitted to have charge of Souls Colledges or Universities neither privately or publikely teach instruct the youth but such as shall be tried by the Superintendents or Visitors of Churches and found sound and able in Doctrine and admitted by them to their Charges Fourthly For the sustentation of the poor That all Lands founded for Hospitality of old be restored again to the same use And that all Lands Annals Rents or any other Emoluments pertaining any wayes sometimes to the Friers of whatsoever Order they had been of As likewise the Annuities Alterages Obits and the other Duties pertaining to Priests to be applied to the sustentation of the poor and uphold of the Town-Schools in Towns and other places where they be Fifthly That such horrible crimes as now abound within this Realme without any correction To the great contempt of God and his Word such as Idolatry Blasphemie of Gods Name manifest breaking of the Sabbath day Witchcraft Sorcery Inchantment Adultery manifest Whoredome maintenance of Bordals Murther Slaughter Oppression with many other detestable Crimes may be severely punished and Iudges appointed in every Province and Diocesse for execution thereof with power to do the same and that by Act of Parliament Lastly That some order be devised and established for ease of the poor Labourers of the Ground concerning the reasonable payment of the Tythes who are oppressed by the Leasers of the Tythes set over their heads without their own con-consent and advise The persons who were appointed by the Church to carry these Articles and present them to the Queens Majestie were the Lairds of â—unningham-Head Lundie Spot and Grange of Angus and Iames Baron for the Broughs These five past from Edinburgh to Saint Iohnston where they presented the said Articles to the Queens Majestie desiring and requiring her Highnesse most humbly to advise therewith and to give them answer The next day ere they were aware the Queen departed to Dunkeld and immediately they followed And after they had gotten audience they desired the Queens Majestie most humbly to give their dispatch She answered That her Councell was not there present but she intended to be in Edinburgh within eight dayes and there they should receive their answer At the same time as the generall Assembly was holden in Edinburgh the Brethren perceiving the Papists to brag and trouble like to be they assembled themselves at Saint Leonard Cragg where they concluded they would defend themselves and for the same purpose elected eight persons of the most able two of every Quarter to see that the Brethren should be ready armed And when the five Commissioners above named had waited upon the Court four or five dayes after her Majesties coming to Edinburgh there the matter was proposed in Councell And after long and earnest reasoning upon these Articles at length it was answered to the Commissioners by the Secretary That the Queens Majesties command was That the matter should be reasoned in her presence which for the gravity of the same there could nothing be concluded at that time albeit the Queens Majestie had heard more in that matter then ever she did before But within eight dayes thereafter she understood that a great part of the Nobility should be present in Edinburgh where they should have a finall answer At length the one and twentieth of August they received the answer in Writing in her presence according to the Tenour hereof as followeth The Queens Majesties Answer to the Articles presented to Her Highnesse by certain Gentlemen in the Name of the whole Assemblie of the Church TO the first Desiring the Masse to be suppressed and abolished as well in the Head as in the Members with punishment against the Contraveners As also the Religion professed to be established by Act of Parliament it was answered first for her Majesties part That her Highnesse is no way yet perswaded in the said Religion nor yet that any impiety is in the Masse and therefore believeth That her loving subjects will not presse her to receive any Religion against her conscience which should be unto her a continuall trouble by remorse of conscience and therewith a perpetuall unquietnesse And to deale plainly with her Subjects her Majesty neither will nor may leave the Religion wherein she hath been nourished and brought up and believeth the same to be
well grounded Knowing besides the grudge of conscience that she should receive upon the change of her owne Religion That she should lose the friendship of the King of France the married Allia of this Realme and of other great Princes her Friends and Confederates who would take the same in evil part and of whom she may look for their great support in all her necessities And having no assured consideration that may countervaile the same she will be loth to put in hazard all her friends at an instant praying all her loving subjects seeing they have had experience of her goodnesse that she hath neither in times past nor yet intends hereafter to presse the conscience of any but that they may worship God in such sort as they are perswaded in their conscience to be best That they will also not presse her conscience As to the establishing of Religion in the Body of the Realme they themselves know as appears by their Articles That the same cannot be done onely by consent of her Majestie but requires necessarily the consent of the States in Parliament and therefore so soon as the Parliament holds those things which the States agree upon amongst themselves her Majestie shall consent unto the same and in the mean time shall make sure That no man be troubled for â—sing Religion according to conscience So that no man shall have cause to doubt That for Religions sake mens Lives and Heritage shall be in any hazard To the second Article it is answered That her Majestie thinks it no wayes reasonable that she should defraud her self of so great a part of the Patrimony of the Crowne as to put the Patronage of Benefices forth of her own hands for her owne necessity in bearing of her Port and common Charges will require the retention thereof and that in a good part in her owne hands Neverthelesse her Majestie is well pleased That consideration being had of her owne necessity And what may be sufficient for the reasonable sustentation of the Ministers a speciall Assignation be made to them in places most commodious and meet With which her Majesty shall not meddle but suffer the same to come to them To the third Article it is answered That her Majestie shall do therein as shall be agreed by the States in Parliament To the fourth Article Her Majesties liberality towards the poore shall alwayes be so far extended as can be reasonably required at her hands To the fifth and sixth Articles Her Majesty will refer the taking order therein unto the States assembled in Parliament As the Queens Majestie came from Saint Iohnston over Forth to the Callender she was conveyed to the Water side of Forth with two hundred Spears For at that time it was bruted That there was some lying in wait at the Path of Dron In the mean time the Earle of Murray was in Locklevin and the Earle of Argyle with him Now in the Callender the Lord Levingston had desired the Queens Majestie to be Witnesse to the Christning of a childe For his Lady was lately delivered and brought to Bed And when the Minister made the Sermon and Exhortation concerning Baptisme the Queens Majestie came in the end and said to the Lord Levingston That she would shew him that favour that she had not done to any other before that is That she would give her presence to the Protestant Sermon which was reckoned a great matter The Queen being in the Callender was informed both by word and Letters by false Brethren That a great part of the Protestants of Edinburgh had lately convened upon Saint Leonards Craigs and there made a Conspiration against her And had chosen for the same purpose certain Captains to governe the rest And without any Tryall or perfect notice taken in the Case she sent to the Provest and Bayliffs of Edinburgh commanding them to take and apprehend Alexander Guthrie Alexander Clerke Gilbert Lawder and Andrew Slater and put them in prison in the Castle This new and unaccustomed fashion of proceeding seemed to be very strange And because the said four persons were not apprehended she sent the next day a Charge to the Provest and Bayliffs and to her owne great Treasurer to passe to the houses of the said foure men and likewise to their Booths or Shops and there to take Inventory of all their Goods and Chattells And commanded the said Treasurer to take the Keyes of the said Houses and Booths together with the said Inventory which was executed in effect especially upon the said Alexander Guthrie his wife he being then common Clerke and one of the greatest in estimation within the Towne his wife and children were shut out of their house and compelled to seek some other lodging in the Town By this manner of proceeding the hearts of all men of spirit and judgement were wonderfully abashed and wounded seeing and perceiving these things so furiously handled upon sinister and wrong Information men never called to their answer nor heard nor any triall taken therein Immediatly thereafter as she came to Edinburgh she called to counsell such as pleased her Majestie and there complains of the said matter alleadging it to be a Conspiracy and manifest Treason And another matter likewise was complained upon That the Earle of Argile as the Queen was surely informed was riding with a great Army to invade the Earle of Athole and his Lands For the first matter it was concluded by the Councell That diligent inquisition should be made in the matter and to that purpose appointed the Queens Advocates M. Iohn Spence of Condie and M. Robert Crichton to examine such as they would and when the said Advocates had called before them and examined a sufficient number and their depositions subscribed and delivered to the Queen there was nothing found worthy of death nor Treason at length the said four persons were summoned to answer at Law For the matter That the Queens Majesty should send to the Earles of Argyle and Athole some of her Councell or familiar servants to take order touching it And when the Secretary the Justice Clarke and Lord of Saint Colme had past to the said Earle of Argyle they found no such thing but in Athole there was great fear come of a sudden fray for after many Proclamations the Fire-Crosse which they made use of in lieu of Beacons was raised in Athole Now as the day of the Parliament approached the Lords pretending to consult before what should be done as well in Religion as for the Commonwealth the fifteenth day of Iuly there conveened at Sterlin the Duke the Earles of Argyle and Murray Rothes and other Lords and Barons and as they were devising and consulting the Queens Majesty taking their meeting in evill part sent her Advocates Master Iohn Spence and Master Crichton to them at Sterlin requiring the cause of their meeting they answered That the speciall occasion of their meeting was for the cause of Religion and the assurance thereof according as they
that the rest of the Lords were charged with and also commanded to give over the House of Lochmabben and the Castle which he had in keeping for the Queen And albeit he obeyed not yet was he not put to the Horne as the rest Neverthelesse there was no man that doubted of his good will and partaking with the Lords who in the mean time sent Robert Melvin to the Queen of England and declared their state to her Majesty desiring support Now the chief care and solicitude that was in the Court was By what means they might come to have money for notwithstanding this great preparation for warre and eminent appearance of trouble yet were they destitute of the sinewes of Warre albeit the Treasurers and now Comptroller to wit the Laird of Tilbardin had disbursed many thousands yet there was no appearance of payment of souldiers nor scarcely how the King and Queens Houses and pompous Trains should be upholden there was about 600. Horsmen besides the Guard and 3. Ensignes of footmen The charge of the whole would amount to 1000. l. ster every moneth a thing surpassing the usuall manner of Scotland At this time arrived the Earl of Bothwell who was welcome and graciously received by the Queen and immediately placed in Councell and made Lieutenant of the West and middle Marches Now as every one of the Barons compounded to be exempted from this meeting the E. of Athole demanded of Edinburgh 200. l. ster but they refused to pay it notwithstanding Octo. 27. there was a certain number of the principall and rich persons of the Town warned by a Macer to passe to the Palace of Hallyrudhouse to the King and Queen who declared to them by their own mouthes speaking that they had use for money and therefore knowing them to be honest men and the inhabitants of the best Citie in their Countrey they must needs charge them and for security they should have other men bound for pledges or any Hand therefore The sum that they desired was 1000 l. sterl and no lesse They being astonished made no answer but Parson Flisk standing by said That seeing the King and Queens Majesties desired them so civilly in a thing most lawfull in their necessitie they did shew themselves not honest to keepe silence and give no answer to their Majesties for that must needs be had of them which was required and if they would not they should be constrained by the Laws which they would not abide for some of them had deserved hanging said he because they had lent large summs of money to the King and Queens enemies and Rebels and therefore they must shortly suffer great punishment Soon after they were called in one by one and demanded how much they would lend some made this excuse and some that by reason there were that offered to lend money amongst whom there was one offered to lend 20 l. To him the Earle of Athole said Thou art worthy to be hanged that speakest of 20 l. seeing the Princes charge thee so easily Finally they were all imprisoned and souldiers set over them having their Muskets ready charged and their Match lighted even in the house with them where they remained all that night and the next day till night and then being changed from one prison to another there were six chosen out and sent in the night to the Castle of Edinburgh convoyed with Musketteers round about them as if they had been Murtherers or most vile persons At length the third day by means of the Laird of Craigmiller Provest and some others the summe was made more easie to wit a 1000 Marks sterling to be paid immediately and to have the superioritie of Leithin in Pledge to wit upon condition of Redemption And besides the said summe of 1000 Marks sterlin they paid 1000 l. sterl For the meeting at Dumfreis at the day appointed for electing the officers the Queen sent in a Ticket such as she would have them to chuse for Provest Bailiffs and Councell whereof there was a number of Papists the rest not worthy Of the number given in by the Queen they named such as should rule for that year Notwithstanding without free Election the Laird Craigmiller remained Provest who shewed himself most willing to set forward Religion to punish vice and to maintain the Common-wealth All this time the Ministers cried out against the Masse and such Idolatry for it was more advanced by the Queen then before The first day of October met in Edinburgh the Superintendant of Lothian with all the Ministers under his charge according to their ordinary custome for every Superintendant used to convene the whole Ministery and there it was complained on That they could get no payment of their stipends not only about the City but thorow the whole Realm Therefore after reasoning and consultation taken they framed a supplication directed to the King and Queen and immediately presented the same to their Majesties by M. Iohn Spottswood Superintendant of Lothian and Master David Lindsey Minister of Leith it contained in effect That forasmuch as it had pleased the King and Queens Majesties with advice of the Privie Councell to grant unto the Ministers of the Word their stipends to be taken of the Thirds of the Benefices which Stipends are now detained from the said Ministers by reason of the troubles and changing of the Comptroller whereby they are not able to live and therefore most humbly craved the King and Queens Majesty to cause them to be paid Their answer was That they would cause order to be taken therin to their contentment Soon after the Lord Gordion came to Edinburgh and left the most part of his people at Sterlin with his carriage the King and Queen for hope of his good service to be done restored him to his Fathers place to the Earledome of Hintley the Lands and Heritage thereof October 8. the King and Queene marched forth of Edinburgh towards Dumfreis and as they passed from the Pallace of Hallyrud-house all men were warned with Jack and Spear The first night they came to Sterlin and the next to Craford the day after the Lairds of Drunlaurick and Lochinvar met the Queen albeit they had been with the Lords familiar enough The Lords perceiving that all hope of reconciliation was past they rode to Ednam where they remained till the Queen came to Dumfreis and then they past to Carlile Now the Master of Maxwell who had entertained the Lords familiarly and subscribed with them and had spoken as highly against their enemies as any of themselves and had received large mony by that means to wit 1000. l. to raise a Band or Troup of Horsmen and that the same day the King and Queen came to Dumfreis the third day after their coming he came to them conveyed by the Earle Bothwell with divers other Noblemen At length the Earles of Athole and Hintley were Sureties for him and all things past remitted upon condition that he should be a faithfull and
to get the Crown Matrimoniall In the Tolbooth was devised and named the Heads of the Articles that were drawn against the banished Lords Upon the morrow and Saturday following there was great reasoning concerning the Attainder some alleadged That the Summons was was not well Libelled or Dressed others thought the matter of Treason was not sufficiently proved and indeed they were still seeking proof for there was no other way but the Queen would have them all attainted albeit the time was very short the twelfth day of March should have been the day which was the Tuesday following Now the matter was stayed by a marvellous Tragedy for by the Lords upon the Saturday before which was the ninth of March about Supper-time David Rizio the Italian named the French Secretary was slain in the Gallery below Stairs the King staying in the room with the Queen told her That the Designe was onely to take order with that Villain after that he had been taken violently from the Queens presence who requested most earnestly for the saving of his life which act was done by the Earle of Morton the Lord Ruthven the Lord Lindsay the Master of Ruthven with divers other Gentlemen They first purposed to have hanged him and had provided Cords for the same purpose but the great haste which they had moved them to dispatch him with Whingers or Daggers wherewith they gave him three and fifty strokes They sent away and put forth all such persons as they suspected The Earles Bothwell and Hnntley hearing the noise and clamour came suddenly to the Close intending to have made work if they had had a partie strong enough but the Earle Morton commanded them to passe to their Chamber or else they should doe worse At the which words they retyred immediately and so past forth at a back Window they two alone and with great fear came forth of the Towne to Edmistone on foot and from thence to Crichton This David Rizio was so foolish that not onely he had drawne unto him the managing of all Affaires the King set aside but also his Equipage and Train did surpasse the Kings and at the Parliament that was to be he was ordained to be Chancellour which made the Lords conspire against him They made a Bond to stand to the Religion and Liberties of the Countreys and to free themselves of the slavery of the Villain David Rizio The King and his father subscribed to the Bond for they durst not trust the Kings word without his Signet There was a French Priest called Iohn Daniot who advised David Rizio to make his fortune and be gone for the Scots would not suffer him long His answer was That the Scots would bragg but not fight then he advised him to beware of the Bastard To this he answered That the Bastard should never live in Scotland in his time he meant the Earle Murray but it happened that one George Dowlas Bastard son to the Earle of Angus gave him the first stroke The Queen when she heard he was dead left weeping and declared she would study revenge which she did Immediatly it was noised in the Town of Edinburgh that there was murther committed within the Kings Palace wherefore the Provest caused to Ring the common Bell or Sonner le toksain as the French speaks and straightway past to the Palace having about four or five hundred men in warlike manner and as they stood in the utter Court the King called to the Provest commanding him to passe home with his company saying The Queen and he were merry But the Provest desired to hear the Queen speak her self Whereunto it was answered by the King Provest know you not that I am King I command you to passe home to your houses and immediately they retired The next day which was the second Sunday of our Fast in Edinburgh there was a Proclamation made in the Kings Name subscribed with his hand That all Bishops Abbots and other Papists should avoid and depart the Town which Proclamation was indeed observed for they had a Flea in their Hose There were Letters sent forth in the Kings Name and subscribed with his hand to the Provest and Bailiffs of Edinburgh the Bailiffs of Leith and Cannogate commanding them to be ready in Armour to assist the King and his Company and likewise other private writings directed to divers Lords and Gentlemen to come with all expedition In the mean time the Queen being above measure enraged offended and troubled as the issue of the matter declared sometime railing upon the King and sometime crying out at the Windows desired her servants to set her at libertie for she was highly offended and troubled This same tenth of March the Earle of Murray with the rest of the Lords and Noblemen that were with him having received the Kings Letter for after the Bond above named was Subscribed the King Wrote unto the banished Lords to return into their Countrey being one of the Articles of the said Bond came at night to the Abbey being also convoyed by the Lord Hume and a great company of the borderers to the nâ—mber of 1000 horses And first after he had presented himself to the King the Queen was informed of his sudden coming and therefore sent unto him commanding him to come to her and he obeying went to her who with a singular gravitie received him after that he had made his purgation and declared the over-great affection which he bore continually to her Majestie The Earles of Athole Cathnes and Sutherland departed out of the Town with the Bishops upon the Munday the third day after the slaughter of David Rizio The Earles of Lenox Murray Morton and Rothes Lords Ruthven Lindsay Boyd and Ocheltrie sitting in Councell desired the Queen That forasmuch as the thing which was done could not be undone that she would for avoiding of greater inconveniences forget the same and take it as good service seeing there were so many Noblemen restored The Queen dissembling her displeasure and indignation gave good words neverthelesse she desired That all persons armed or otherwise being within the Palace at that time should remove leaving the Palace void of all saving onely her domestick servants The Lords being perswaded by the uxorious King and and the facile Earle of Murray condescended to her desire who finally the next morning two hours before day past to Seaton and then to Dumbar having in her company the simple King who was allured by her sugred words from Dumbar immediately were sent Pursuivants with Letters thorowout the Countrey and especially Letters to the Noble-men and Barons commanding them to come to Dumbar to assist the King and Queen within five dayes In the mean time the Lords being informed of the sudden departure they were astonished and knew not what were best for them to do But because it was the self-same day to wit the twelfth day of March that they were summoned unto therefore having good opportunity they past to the Tolbooth which was
richly hung with Tapistry and orned but not for them and set themselves making Protestations the Earle of Glencarne and some others being present The Earle of Argyle who was written for by the King came to Lithgow and being informed of the matter he remained there After this manner above specified to wit by the death of David Rizio the Noble-men were relieved of their trouble and restored to their places and rooms And likewise the Church Reformed and all that professed the Evangell within this Realm after Fasting and Prayer was delivered and freed from the apparant dangers which were like to have fallen upon them For if the Parliament had taken effect and proceeded it was thought by all men of the best judgement That the true Protestant Religion should have been wrackt and Popery erected and for the same purpose there were certain Woodden Altars made to the number of twelve found ready in the Chappell of the Palace of Halyrud-house which should have been erected in Saint Gyles his Church The Earles Bothwell and Huntley being informed of the King and Queenes sudden departure forth of Edinburgh came to Dumbar where they were most graciously received by the Queens Majesty who consulting with them and the Master of Maxwell together with Parson Owin and Parson Fliske chief Councellors what was best to be done and how she should be revenged upon the murtherers At first they did intend to go forward and leaving no manner of cruelty unpractised putting to death all such as were suspected This was the opinion of such as would obey their Queens rage and fury for their own advantage But in the end they concluded That she should come to Edinburgh with all the force and power she could make and there proceed to Justice And for the same purpose she caused to summon by open Proclamation all persons of defence and all Noble-men and Gentlemen to come to her in Dumbar incontinent In the mean time the Captains laboured by all means to take up and enroll men and women The Earles of Morton Murray Glencarne Rothesse with the rest that were in Edinburgh being informed of the Queens fury and anger towards the committers of the slaughter and perceiving they were not able to make any Party thought it best to give place to her fury for a time for they were divided in opinions and finally departed out of Edinburgh upon Sunday the seventeenth of March every one a severall way for the Queens Majesty was now bent onely against the slayers of David Rizio and to the purpose she might be the better revenged upon them she intended to give pardon to all such as before had been attainted for whatsoever crime The eighteenth day of March the King and Queen came to Edinburgh having in their company horse and foot to the number of 8000 men whereof there were four Companies of Foot-men of War The Town of Edinburgh went out to meet them for fear of War And finally coming within the Town in most awfull manner they caused to place their men of War within the Town and likewise certain Field-Pieces against their Lodging which was in the middle of the Town over against the Salt Trove Now a little before the Queenes entrance into the Towne all that knew of her cruell pretence and hatred towards them fled here and there And amongst others Master Iames Magill the Clerk Register the Justice Clerk and the common Clerk of the Towne The chief Secretary Lethington was gone before likewise Iohn Knox past West to Kyle The men of War likewise kept the Ports or Gates Within five days after their entry there was a Proclamation made at the Market-Crosse for the purgation of the King from the aforesaid slaughter which made all understanding men laugh at the passages of things since the King not onely had given his consent but also had subscribed the Bond afore-named and the businesse was done in his name and for his Honour if he had had wisedome to know it After this Proclamation the King lost his credit among all men and so his friends by this his inconstancy and weaknesse And in the mean time the men of War committed great outrages in breaking up doors thrusting themselves into every house And albeit the number of them were not great yet the whole Town was too little for them Soon after the King and Queen past to the Castle and caused to warne all such as had absented themselves by open Proclamation to appear before their Majesties and the Privy Councell within six dayes under pain of Rebellion which practice was devised in the Earle of Huntleys case before the Battell of Corrichy And because they appeared not they were denounced Rebells and put to the Horne and immediately thereafter their Escheats given or taken up by the Treasurer There was a certain number of the Towns-men charged to enter themselves prisoners in the Tolbooth and with them were put in certain Gentlemen Where after they had remained eight dayes they were convoyed down to the Palace by the men of War and then kept by them eight dayes more And of that number was Thomas Scot Sheriff deputâ— of S. Iohnston who was condemned to death and executed cruelly to wit hanged and quartered for keeping the Queen in prison as was alleadged although it was by the Kings command And two men likewise were condemned to death and carried likewise to the Ladder foot But the E. Bothwell presented the Queens Ring to the Provest which then was Justice for safety of their life The names of those two were Io. Mobray Merchant and Will. Harlow Sadler About the same time notwithstanding all this hurliburly the Ministers of the Church and professors of Religion ceased not for the people they convened to publike prayers preaching with boldnesse yea a great number of Noble-men assisted likewise The E. Bothwell had now of all men greatest accesse and familiarity with the Queen so that nothing of any great importance was done without him for he shewed favour to such as liked him and amongst others to the Lairds of Ormeston Hawton and Calder who was so reconciled unto him that by his favour they were relieved of great trouble The Earles of Argyle and Murray at the Queens Command past to Argyle where after they had remained about a Moneth they were sent for by the Queene and coming to Edinburgh they were received by the Queene into the Castle and banquetted the Earles of Huntley and Bothwell being present At this time the King grew to be contemned and disesteemed so that scarcely any Honour was done to him and his Father likewise About Easter the King past to Sterlin where he was Shriven after the Papist manner And in the meane time at the Palace of Halyrud-house in the Chappell there resorted a great number to the Masse albeit the Queen remained still in the Castle with her Priests of the Chappell Royall where they used Ceremonies after the Popish manner At the same time departed this life
Master Iohn Sinclar Bishop of Rosse and Dean of Lestarrig of whom hath been oft mention President of the Colledge of Justice called the Session who also succeeded in the said Office and Dignity after the decease of his brother Master Iohn Sinclar Bishop of Rosse Dean of Glasgow who departed this life at Paris about a yeer before They were both learned in the Laws and given to maintain the Popish Religion and therefore great enemies to the Protestants A little before died Master Abrabam Crithton who had been President likewise now in their rooms The Queen placed such as she pleased and had done her service alwayes very unfit The Patrimony of the Kirk Bishopricks Abbeyes and such other Benefices were disposed by the Queen to Courtiers Dancers and Flatterers The Earle Bothwell whom the Queen preferred above all others after the decease of David Rizio had for his part Melrosse Hadington and New Bottell likewise the Castle of Dumbar was given to him with the principall Lands of the Earldome of Merche which were of the Patrimony of the Crown At the same time the Superintendents with the other Ministers of the Churches perceiving the Ministery like to decay for lack of payment of Stipends to Ministers they gave this Supplication at Edinburgh The Supplication of the Ministers to the Queene UNto your Majesty and your most honourable Councel most humbly and lamentably complains your Highnesse poor Orators the Superintendents and other Ministers of the Reformed Church of God travelling thorowout all your Highnesse Realme in teaching and instructing your Lieges in all Quarters in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus his Son That where your Majestie with the advice of the Councell and Nobility aforesaid moved by godly zeal concluded and determined That the travelling Ministery thorowout this Realme should be maintained upon the Rents of the Benefices of this Realme of Scotland and for that cause your Majesty with the advice of the Councell and Nobility aforesaid upon the 15 day of December 1562. in like manner concluded and determined That if the said part of the Rents of the whole Benefices Ecclesiasticall within this Realme would be sufficient to maintain the Ministers thorowout the whole Realm and to support your Majestie in the setting forward of your common affairs should be employed accordingly Failing thereof the third part of the said fruits or more to be taken up yeerly in time coming untill a generall Order be taken therein as the Act made thereupon at more length bears Which being afterward considered by your Majesty the whole Thirds of the fruits aforesaid were propounded to the uses aforesaid by Act of Councell And we your Majesties poor Orators put in peaceable possession of the part assigned by your Majestie to us by the space of three yeers or thereabouts which we did enjoy without interruption notwithstanding all this now of late we your Majesties poor Orators aforesaid are put wrongfully and unjustly from their aforesaid part of the above specified Thirds by your Majesties Officers and thereby brought to such extreme penury and extreme distresse as we are not able any longer to maintain our selves And albeit we have given in divers and sundry complaints to your Majestie herein and have received divers promises of redresse yet have we found no relief Therefore we most humbly beseech your Majesty to consider our most grievous complaint together with the right above specified whereon the same is grounded And if your Majestie with the advice of your Councell aforesaid findes our right sufficient to continue us in possession of our part assigned to us while and untill a generall Order be taken which possession was ratified by the yeerly allowance of your Majesties Exchequers accompt That your Majesty would grant us Letters upon the aforesaid Act and Ordinance past thereupon against all intromettors and medlers with the aforesaid Thirds to answer and obey according to the aforesaid Act and Ordinance of our possession proceeding thereupon And likewise that we may have Letters if need be to arrest and stay the aforesaid Thirds in the possessors hands while and untill sufficient caution be found to us for our part aforesaid And your answer most humbly we beseech This Supplication being presented by the Superintendent of Lowthian and M. Iohn Craig in the Castle of Edinburgh was graciously received by the Queen who promised that she would take sufficient order therein so soon as the Nobility and Councell might convene The 19 of Iune the Queen was delivered of a man-childe the Prince in the aforesaid Castle and immediately sent into France and England her Posts to advertise the neighbour Princes and to desire them to send Gossips or Wintesses of the Princes Baptisme In the mean time there was joy and triumph made in Edinburgh and such other places where it was known after thanks and praises given unto God with Supplications for the godly Education of the Prince and principally wishing that he should be Baptized according to the manner and forme observed in the Reformed Churches within this Realme About the same time to wit the 25 of Iune the generall Assembly of the whole Church convened at Edinburgh The Earles of Argyle and Murray assisted at the Assembly Paul Methvin who before as we heard was excommunicate gave in his Supplication and desired to be heard as he had done divers times for the said Paul had written oft times out of England to the Laird of Dun and to divers others most earnestly desiring to be received again into the Fellowship of the Church After reasoning of the matter it was finally granted That he should be heard And so being before the Assembly and falling upon his knees burst out with tears and said He was not worthy to appear in their presence alwayes he desired them for the love of God to receive him to the open expression of his repentance Shortly after they appointed certain of the Ministers to prescribe to him the form of his declaration of Repentance which was thus in effect first That he should present himself barefoot and bare-head arayed in Sack-cloth at the principall entry of Saint Gyles Kirk in Edinburgh at seven hours in the morning upon the next Wednesday and there to remain the space of an hour the whole people beholding him till the Prayer was made Psalmes sung and Text of Scripture was read and then to come into into the place appointed for expression of repentance and tarry the time of Sermon and to do so likewise the next Friday following and also upon the Sunday and then in the face of the whole Church to declare his repentance with his owne mouth The same form and manner he should use in Iedwart and Dundie And that being done to present himself again at the next generall Assembly following in Winter where he should be received to the Communion of the Church When the said Paul had received the said Ordinance he took it very grievously alleadging They had used over-great severity Neverthelesse
being counselled and perswaded by divers notable Personages he began well in Edinburgh to proceed whereby a great number were moved with compassion of his state and likewise in Iedwart but he left his duty in Dundie and passing again into England the matter not without offence to many ceased The Ministers complaining that they could not be paid their Stipends were licensed by the Assembly to passe to other Churches to Preach but in no wise to leave the Ministery And because that the Queens Majesty had promised often before to provide remedy it was thought expedient that Supplication should be yet made as before That the Queens Majesty should cause such order to be taken that the poor Ministers might be paid their Stipends The Bishop of Galloway who was brother to the Earle of Huntley and now a great man in the Court travelled much with the Queens Majesty in that matter and got of her a good answer and fair promises A few yeers before the said Bishop of Galloway desired of the generall Assembly to be made Superintendent of Galloway but now being promoted to great Dignity as to be of the number of the Lords of the Privy Councell and likewise one of the Session he would no more be called Over-looker or Over-seer of Golloway but Bishop Alwayes truth it is That he laboured much for his Nephew the Earle of Huntley that he might be restored to his Lands and Honours for the said Earle was new Chancellor since the slaughter of David Rizio and had for his clawback the Bishop of Rosse Master Iohn Lesley one of the chief Councellors to the Qâ—een But of all men the Earle Bothwell was most in the Queens favour so far that all things past by him yea by his means the most part of all those that were partakers in the slaughter of David Rizio got remission and relief But from that day he was not present at any Sermon albeit before he professed the Evangell by outward speaking yet he never joyned to the Congregation But this time the Earle of Cassells was contracted with the Lord of Glanes sister by whose perswasion he became a Protestant and caused in the Moneth of August to reâ—orm his Churches in Carrick and promised to maintain the Doctrine of the Evangell The Queen not yet satisfied with the death of her man David caused in August to be apprehended a man called Hary who sometime had been of her Chappell Royall but afterward became an exhorter in a Reformed Church and for want of stipend or other necessaries past in service to my Lord Ruthuen and chanced that night to be present when the said David was slaine and so finally he was condemned and hanged and quartered The King being now contemned of all men because the Queen cared not for him he went sometime to the Lenox to his father and sometime to Sterlin whither the Prince was carried a little before Alwayes he was destitute of such things as were necessary for him having scarcely six horses in Trayn And being thus desolate and half desperate he sought means to go out of the Countrey And about the same time by the advice of Forlish Cagets he wrote to the Pope to the King of Spain and to the King of France complaining of the state of the Countrey which was all out of order all because that Masse and Popery were not againe erected giving the whole blame thereof to the Queen as not managing the Catholike Cause aright By some knave this poor Prince was betrayed and the Queen got a Copie of these Letters into her hands and therefore threatned him sore and there was never after that any appearance of love betwixt them The Churches of Geneva Berne and Basill with other Reformed Churches of Germany and France sent to the whole Church of Scotland the sum of the Confession of their Faith desiring to know if they agreed in Uniformity of Doctrine alleadging That the Church of Scotland was dissonant in some Articles from them Wherefore the Superintendents with a great part of the other most qualified Ministers convened in September in S. Andrews and reading the said Letters made answer and sent word again That they agreed in all points with those Churches and differed in nothing from them Albeit in the keeping of some Festivall days our Church assented not for onely the Sabbath day was kept in Scotland In the end of this Month the Earl Bothwell riding in pursuit of the theeves in Liddisdale was ill hurt and worse terrified by a thief for he believed surely to have departed forth of this life and sent word thereof to the Queens Majesty who soon after past forth of Iedwart to the Hermitage to visite him and give him comfort And within a few dayes after she took sicknesse in a most extreme manner for she lay two houres long cold dead as it were without breath or any signe of life at length she revived by reason they had bound small Cords about her shackle bones her knees and great toes and speaking very softly she desired the Lords to pray for her to God she said the Creed in English and desired my Lord of Murray if she should chance to depart that he would not be over extreme such as was of her Religion the Duke and he should have been Regents The bruit went from Iedwart in the month of October 1565. that the Queen was departed this life or at least she could not live any time wherefore there was continually prayers publikely made at the Church of Edinburgh and divers other places for her conversion towards God and amendment Many were of opinion That she should come to the Preaching and renounce Popery But all in vain for God had some other thing to doe by her The King being advertised rid Post from Sterlin to Iedburgh where he found the Queen somewhat convalesced but she would scarce speak to him and hardly give him presence or a good word wherfore he returned immediately to Sterlin where the Prince was and after to Glascow to his Father There appeared great trouble over the whole Realm and especially in the Countreys neer the borders if the Queen had departed at that time as she began to recover the Earle Bothwell was brought in a Charriot from the Hermitage to Iedburgh where he was cured of his wounds in whose presence the Queen took more pleasure then in all the rest of the world alwayes by his meanes most part of all that were out-lawed for the slaughter of David Rizio got reliefe for there was no other meanes but all things must needs passe by him wherefore every man sought to him where immediately favour was to be had as before to David Rizio Soon after the Queen passing along the borders she came within the bounds of Barwick where she viewed the Town at her pleasure a far off being within half a Mile and lesse all the Ordnance within Barwick were Discharged The Captain came forth with fourscore Horses bravely
him who had been also in the chamber with him The people ran to behold this spectacle and wondring thereat some judged one thing some another Shortly thereafter Bothwell came from the Abbey with a company of men of War and caused the body of the King to be carryed to the next house where after a little the Chirurgions being convened at the Queens command to view and consider the manner of his death most part gave out to please the Queen That he was blown in the Ayre albeit he had no mark of fire and truely he was strangled Soon after he was carryed to the Abbey and there buryed This tragicall end had Henry Steward after he had been King eighteen moneths A Prince of great Linage both by mother and father He was of a comely stature and none was like unto him within this Island he died under the age of one and twenty yeers prompt and ready for all Games and Sports much given to Hawking and Hunting and running of horses and likewise to playing on the Lute and also to Venus Chamber he was liberall enough He could write and dictate well but he was somewhat given to wine and much feeding and likewise to inconstancy and proud beyond measure and therefore contemned all others He had learned to dissemble well enough being from his youth misled up in Popery Thus within two yeers after his arriving in this Realme he was highly by the Queen alone extolled and finally had this infortunate end by her procurement and consent To lay all other proofs aside her Marriage with Bothwell who was the main executioner of the King notwithstanding all the advices and counsells that the King of France and Queene of England did earnestly carefully give her as other friends did likewise witnesse anent their guilt Those that laid hands on the King to kill him by Bothwels direction was Sir Iames Balfour Gilbert Balfour David Chalmers black Iohn Spense Francis Sebastien Io. de Bourdean and Ioseph the brother of David Rizio These last four were the Queens domesticks and strangers The reason why the Kings death was so hastened because the affection or passion of the Earl Bothwell could not bear so long a delay as the procurement of a Bill of Divorce required although the Romish Clergie offered their service willingly to the businesse namely Bishop Hamilton and so he came great again at Court and he for the advancement of the businesse did good Offices to increase the hatred betwixt the King and Queen yea some that had been the chief instruments of the Marriage of the King and Queen offered the service for the Divorce seeing how the Queens inclination lay So unhappy are Princes that men for their own ends further them in all their inclinations and undertakings be they never so bad or destructive to themselves The Earle of Lenox in the mean time wrote to the Queen to cause to punish Bothwell with his other complices for murthering the King The Queen not daring openly to reject the Earle of Lenox his solicitation did appoint a day for the Triall of Bothwell by an Assize the members whereof was the Earle of Cathnes President the Earle of Cassels who at the first refused but thereafter being threatned to be put in prison and under the pain of Treason was present by the Queens command Iohn Hamilton Commendator of Aberbrothok Lord Rosse Lord Semple Lord Boyd Lord Hereis Lord Olyphant the Master of Forbes the Lairds of Lochinuar Langton Cambusidentham Barnbougel and Boyne They to please the Queen and for fear did pronounce Bothwell not guilty notwithstanding the manifest evidences of the cruell fact committed by Bothwell who before the Tryall did make himself strong by divers means namely by the possession of the Castle of Edinburgh so that the accusers durst not appear not being strong enough The Earle of Marre did retire to Sterlin and had committed to his charge the young Prince All this was done in February In April Bothwell called together sundry of the Lords who had come to Edinburgh to a meeting that was there and having gained some before made them all what by fear what by fair promises first of their private State and then of advancing the Papists Religion to consent by their subscriptions to the Marriage with the Queen Then the Queen goes to Sterlin to see her son Bothwell makes a shew as if he were going to the Borders to suppresse Robbers and so he raiseth some men of War which when he had done he turneth towards the way to Sterlin where he meets the Queen according to appointment betwixt them and carrieth her to Dumbar as it had been by force although every one knew it was with the Queens liking The prime Nobility convened at Sterlin and from thence sent to her to know whether or not she was taken against her will She answered That it was true she was taken against her will but since her taking she had no occasion to complain yea the courteous entertainment she had made her forget and forgive all former offences These expressions were used by way of preface to the Pardon which was granted immediately thereafter to Bothwell for by Letters Patents he was pardoned by the Queen for laying violently hands upon her Majestie and for all other crimes So by this c. the murther of the King was pardoned During the Queens abode in Dumbar there was Letters of Divorce demanded and granted unto Bothwell from his Lady who afterward was married to the Earle Sutherland she was sister to the Earle of Huntley The ground of the Divorce was The parties being within the degrees prohibited could not be lawfully joyned Next because Bothwell was an Adulterer the Marriage was voyd The Bill of Divorce was granted by the Papisticall Court of the Archbishop of Saint Androes And here mark how they juggle in sacred things for when it pleaseth them they untie the Bond of Marriage as now and as we have seen in the first Book of this History When the Queen fell in distaste of the late King her husband it was proposed unto her to have Divorce upon the same ground from the King To which first ear was given but after second thoughts a Bill of Divorce was too tedious as we have now said and could not be stayed for therefore the King must be dispatched The Queen when Bothwell had obtained by the Archbishop a Letter of Divorce from his lawfull wife sent a Letter signed with her own hand to M. Io. Craig Minister of Edinburgh commanding him to publish the Band of Matrimony betwixt her and Bothwell M. Io. Craig the next Sermon day thereafter declared in full Congregation That he had received such a Command but in conscience he could not obey it the Marriage was altogether unlawfull and of that he would declare the reasons to the parties if he had audience of them otherwise he would make known his just reasons in the hearing of the people Immediately thereafter Bothwell sends
joyne with those that had bound themselves to stand for the Kings Authority He was very earnest with divers by reason of their old friendship but to little purpose The twentinth of August he received the Regencie after mature and ripe deliberation at the desire of the Queen and Lords that were for the King and so was publikely proclaimed Regent and Obedience shewed unto him by all that stood for the young King The end of the History of the Church of Scotland till the yeer 1567. and Moneth of August THE APPELLATION OF IOHN KNOX From the cruell and most unjust Sentence pronounced against him by the false Bishops and Clergie of Scotland With his Supplication and Exhortation to the Nobility States and Communalty of the same Realme To the Nobility and States of SCOTLAND JOHN KNOX wisheth Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ with the Spirit of righteous Iudgement IT is not onely the love of this Temporall life Right Honourable neither yet the fear of Corporal death that moveth me at this present to expose unto you the injuries done against me and to crave of you as of lawfull Powers by God appointed redresse of the same But partly it proceedeth from that reverence which every man oweth to Gods Eeternall Truth And partly from a love which I bear to your Salvation and to the Salvation of my Brethren abused in that Realme by such as have no fear of God before their eyes It hath pleased God of his infinite mercy not onely to illuminate the eyes of my minde and so to touch my dull heart that cleerly I see and by his grace unfainedly believe That there is no other name given to men under the heaven in which Salvation consisteth save the Name of JESUS alone Who by that Sacrifice which he did once offer upon the Crosse hath sanctified for ever all those that shall inherite the Kingdom promised But also it hath pleased him of his superaboundant grace to make and appoint me most wretched of many thousands a Witnesse Minister and Preacher of the same Doctrine the sum whereof I did not spare to communicate with my Brethren being with them in the Realme of Scotland in the yeer 1556 because I know my self to be a Steward and that accounts of the Talent committed to my charge shall be required of me by him who will admit no vain excuse which fearfull men pretend I did therefore as God his minister during the time I was conversant with them God is record and witnesse truely and sincerely according to the gift granted unto me divide the Word of Salvation teaching all men to hate sin which before God was and is so odious that none other Sacrifice would satisfie his Justice except the death of his onely Son and to magnifie the mercies of our heavenly Father who did not spare the substance of his own glory but did give him to the world to suffer the ignominious and cruell death of the Crosse by that means to reconcile his chosen children to himself teaching further what is the duty of such as do believe themselves purged by such a Price from their former filthinesse to wit That they are bound to walk in the newnesse of life fighting against the lusts of the flesh and studying at all times to glorifie God by such good works as he hath prepared his people to walk in In Doctrine I did further affirm so taught by my Master Christ Jesus That whosoever denieth him yea or is ashamed of him before this wicked Generation him shall Christ Jesus deny and of him shall he be ashamed when he shall appear in his Majesty And therefore I feared not to affirm That of necessity it is that such as hope for life everlasting avoid all Superstition vain Religion and Idolatry Vain Religion and Idolatry I call whatsoever is done in Gods Service or Honour without the expresse Commandment of his own Word This Doctrine I did believe to be so conformable to Gods holy Scriptures that I thought no creature could have been so impudent as to have condemned any Point or Article of the same Yet neverthelesse me as an heretick and this Doctrine as hereticall have your false Bishops and ungodly Clergie condemned pronouncing against me a Sentence of death in testification whereof they have burned a Picture From which false and cruell Sentence and from all judgement of that wicked Generation I make it known unto your Honours That I appeal to a Lawfull and Generall Councell to such I mean as the most ancient Laws and Cannons do approve to be holden by such as whose manifest impiety is not to be reformed in the same Most humbly requiring of your Honours That as God hath appointed you Princes in that People and by reason thereof requireth of your hands the defence of Innocents troubled in your Dominion in the mean time and till the controversies that this day be in Religion be lawfully decided ye receive me and such others as most unjustly by those cruell Beasts are persecuted in your defence and Protection Your Honours are not ignorant That it is not I alone who doth sustain this Cause against the pestilent Generation of Papists but that the most part of Germany the Countrey of Helvetia the King of Denmarke the Nobility of Polonia together with many other Cities and Churches Reformed appeal from the Tyrannie of that Antichrist and most earnestly call for a Lawfull and Generall Councell wherein may all Controversies in Religion be decided by the Authority of Gods most sacred Word And unto this same as said is do I appeal yet once again requiring of your Honours to hold my simple and plain Appellation of no lesse value nor effect then if it had been made with greater circumstance solemnity and ceremony and that you receive me calling unto you as to the Powers of God ordained in your protection and defence against the rage of Tyrants not to maintain me in any iniquity errour or false opinion but to let me have such equity as God by his Word ancient Laws and Determinations of most godly Councells grant to men accused or infamed The Word of God wills That no man shall die except he be found criminall and worthy of death for offence committed of which he must be manifestly convinced by two or three witnesses Ancient Law do permit just defences to snch as be accused be their crimes never so horrible And godly Councells wills That neither Bishop nor person Ecclesiasticall whatsoever accused of any crime shall sit in Judgement Consultation or Councell where the cause of such men as do accuse them is to be tried These things require I of your Honours to be granted unto me to wit That the Doctrine which our adversaries condemn for heresie may be tried by the simple and plain Word of God That just Defences be admitted to us that sustain the Battell against this
Office And seeing also that Moses was so far preferred to Aaron that the one commanded and the other did obey Who dare esteem that the Civill power is now become so profane in Gods eyes that it is sequestred from all intromission with the matters of Religion The holy Ghost in divers places declareth the contrary For one of the chief Precepts commanded to the King when that he should be placed in his Throne was to write the example of the Book of the Lords Law that it should be with him that he might reade in it all the dayes of his life that he might learn to fear the Lord his God and to keep all the words of his Law and his Statutes to do them This Precept he requireth not onely that the King should himself fear God keep his Law and Statutes but that also he as the chief Ruler should provide that Gods true Religion should be kept inviolated of the people and flock which by God was committed to his charge And this did not onely David and Solomon perfectly understand but also some godly Kings in Iuda after the apostasie and idolatry that infected Israel by the means of Ieroboam did employ their understanding and execute their power in some notable Reformations For Asa and Iosaphat Kings in Iuda finding the Religion altogether corrupt did apply their hearts saith the holy Ghost to serve the Lord and to walk in his wayes And thereafter doth witnesse That Asa removed from Honours his mother some say grand-mother because she had committed and laboured to maintain Idolatry And Iosaphat did not onely refuse strange gods himself but also destroying the chief Monuments of Idolatry did send forth the Levites to instruct the people Whereof it is plain That the one and the other did understand such Reformations to appertain to their duties But the facts of Ezechias and of Iosias do more cleerly prove the power and duty of the Civill Magistrate in Reformation of Religion Before the Raign of Ezechias Religion was so corrupt that the doors of the House of the Lord were shut up the Lamps were extinguished no Sacrifice was orderly made But in the first yeer of his Raigne in the first moneth of the same did the King open the doors of the Temple bring in the Priests and Levites and assembling them together did speak unto them as followeth Hear me O ye Levites and be ye sanctified now and sanctifie also the House of the Lord God of your fathers and carry forth all filthinesse he meaneth All monuments and vessels of Idolatry for our fathers have transgressed and have committed wickednesse in the eyes of the Eternall our God they have left him and turned their faces from the Tabernacle of the Lord and therefore is the wrath of the Lord come upon Juda and Jerusalem Behold our fathers have fallen by the sword our sons daughters and wives are led into Captivity But now have I purposed in my heart to make a Covenant with the Lord God of Israel that he may turne the wrath of his fury from us And therefore my sons he sweetly exhorteth be not faint for the Lord hath chosen you to stand in his presence and to serve him Such as be not more then blinde cleerly may perceive that the King doth acknowledge That it appertained to his charge To reforme the Religion To appoint the Levites to their charges and To admonish them of their Duty and Office Which thing he most evidently declareth writing his Letters to all Israel to Ephraim and Manasses and sent the same by the hands of Messengers having this tenour You sons of Israel return to the Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel and he shall turn to the residue that resteth from the hands of Assur Be not as your fathers and as your brethren were who have transgressed against the Lord God of their fathers who hath made them desolate as you see Hold not your heart therefore but give your hand unto the Lord return unto his Sanctuary serve him and he shall shew mercy unto you to your sons and daughters that be in Bondage for he is pitifull and easie to be intreated Thus far did Ezechias by Letters and Messengers provoke the people declined from God to repentance not onely in Iuda where he raigned lawfull King but also in Israel subject then to another King And albeit that by some wicked men his Messengers were mocked yet as they lacked not their just punishment for within six dayes after Samaria was destroyed and Israel led captive by Salmanazar so did not the zealous King Ezechias desist to prosecute his duty in restoring the Religion to Gods perfect Ordinance removing all abominations The same is to be read of Iosias who did not onely restore the Religion but did further destroy all Monuments of Idolatry which of long time had remained For it is written of him That after that the Book of the Law was found and that he asked counsell at the Prophetesse Hulda he sent and gathered all the Elders of Iuda and Ierusalem and standing in the Temple of the Lord he made a Covenant That all the people from the great to the small should walk after the Lord should observe his Law Statutes and Testimonies with all their heart and with all their soul and that they should ratifie and confirm whatsoever was written in the Booke of God He further commanded Hilkias the high Priest and the Priests of the inferiour Order That they should carry forth of the Temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made to Baal which he burnt and did carry their powder to Bethel He did further destroy all Monuments of Idolatry yea even those that had remained from the dayes of Solomon he did burn them stamp them to Powder whereof one part he scattered in the brook Kidron and the other part upon the Sepulchres and Graves of the Idolaters whose bones he did burn upon the Altars where before they made Sacrifice not onely in Iuda but also in Bethel where Ieroboam had erected his Idolatry yea he further proceeded and did kill the Priests of the high places who were Idolaters and had deceived the people he did kill them I say and burnt their bones upon their own Altars and so returned to Ierusalem This Reformation made Iosias and for the same obtained this Testimony of the holy Ghost That neither before him nor after him was there any such King who returned to God with his whole soul and with all his strength according to all the Law of Moses Of which Histories it is evident That the Reformation of Religion in all points together with the punishment of false Teachers doth appertain to the power of the Civill Magistrate For what God required of them his justice must require of others having the like charge and Authority what he did approve in them he cannot but approve in all others who with like zeal and sincerity
do enterprise to purge the Lords Temple and Sanctuary What God required of them it is before declared to wit That most diligently they should observe his Law Statutes and Ceremonies And how acceptable were their facts to God doth he himself witnesse For to some he gave most notable Victories without the hand of man and in their most desperate dangers did declare his especiall favour towards them by signes supernaturall To other he so established the Kingdom that their enemies were compelled to stoup under their feet And the names of all he hath registred not onely in the Book of life but also in the blessed remembrance of all posterities since their dayes which also shall continue till the coming of the Lord Jesus who shall reward with the Crown of Immortality not onely them but also such as unfainedly study to do the will and to promote the glory of his heavenly father in the midst of this corrupted Generation In consideration whereof ought you my Lords all delay set apart to provide for the Reformation of Religion in your Dominions and Bounds which now is so corrupt that no part of Christs Institution remaineth in the Originall purity and therefore of necessity it is That speedily ye provide for Reformation or else ye declare your selves not onely voyd of love towards your subjects but also to live without care of your own salvation yea without all fear and true reverence of God Two things perchance may move you to esteem these histories before briefly touched to appertain nothing to you First Because you are no Jews but Gentiles And secondly Because you are no Kings but Nobles in your Realm But be not deceived for neither of both can excuse you in Gods presence from doing his duty for it is a thing more then certain That whatsoever God required of the Civill Magistrate in Israel or Iuda concerning the observation of true Religion during the time of the Law the same doth he require of lawfull Magistrates professing Christ Jesus in the time of the Gospel as the holy Ghost hath taught us by the mouth of David Psal. 2. saying Be learned you that judge the earth kisse the Son lest that the Lord wax angry and that ye perish away This Admonition doth not extend to the Judges under the Law onely but doth also include all such as be promoted to Honours in the time of the Gospel when Christ Jesus doth raigne and fight in his Spirituall Kingdom whose enemies in that Psalme be first most sharply taxed their fury expressed and vanity mocked and then are Kings and Judges who think themselves free from all Law and Obedience commanded to repent their former blinde rage and Judges are charged to be learned and last are commanded to serve the Eternall God in feare to rejoyce before him in trembling to kisse the Son that is To give him most humble Obedience Whereof it is evident That the Rulers Magistrates and Judges now in Christs Kingdom are no lesse bound to Obedience unto God then were those under the Law And how is it possible that any should be obedient who despiseth his Religion in which standeth the chief glory that man can give to God and is a service which God especially requireth of Kings and Rulers Which thing Saint Augustine plainly did note writing to one Bonifacius a man of Warre according to the same argument and purpose which I labour to perswade your Honours For after that he hath in that his Epistle declared the difference betwixt the heresie of the Donatists and Arrians and hath somewhat spoken of their cruelty he sheweth the way how their fury should and ought to be repressed and that it is lawfull for the unjustly afflicted to seek support and defence at godly Magistrates for thus he writeth Either must the Verity be kept close or else must their cruelty be sustained But if the Verity should be concealed not onely should none be saved but also should many be lost through their deceit But if by Preaching of the Verity their fury should be provoked more to rage and by that means yet some were delivered and made strong yet should fear hinder many weaklings to follow the Verity if their rage be not stayed In these first words Augustine sheweth three reasons why the afflicted Church in those dayes called for the help of the Emperour and of godly Magistrates against the fury of the persecuters The first The Verity must be spoken or else mankinde shall perish in errour The second The Verity being plainly spoken provoketh the adversaries to rage And because that some did alleadge That rather we ought to suffer all injury then to seek support by man he addeth the third reason to wit That many weak ones be not able to suffer persecution and death for the Truths sake to whom not the lesse respect ought to be had that they may be won from their errour and so be brought to greater strength Oh that the Rulers of this age would ponder and weigh the reasons of this godly Writer and provide the remedy which he requireth in these words following Now when the Church was thus afflicted if any thinke That rather they should have sustained all calamity then that help should have been asked of Christian Emperours by the godly he doth not well to advert That of such negligence no good counts nor reason could be given For where such as would that no just Laws should be made against their impiety alleadge That the Apostles sought no such things of the Kings of the earth they do not consider That the time was other then it is now and that all things are done in their owne time What Emperour then believed in Christ that he should serve him in making Laws for godlinesse against impiety While that saying of the Prophet was compleat Why hath Nations raged and people have imagined vanity The Kings of the earth have stood up and Princes have convened together against the Lord and against his Anoynted That which is after in the same Psalme was not yet come to passe And now understand O ye Kings be learned you that judge the earth serve the Lord in fear and rejoyce to him with trembling How do Kings serve the Lord in feare but in punishing and by a godly severity forbidding those things which are done against the Commandment of the Lord For otherwise doth he serve the Lord in so farre as he is man otherwise in so farre as he is King In so farre as he is a man he serveth him by living faithfully but because he is also King he serveth establishing Laws that command the things that be just and that with a convenient rigour forbid things contrary As Ezechias served destroying the Groves the Temples of Idolls and the places which were builded against Gods Commandment So served also Josias doing the same So the King of the Ninivites compelling the whole City to mitigate the fury of the Lord.
from the Den of Lions To the confusion of their enemies To the better instruction of the ignorant Kings and To the perpetuall comfort of Gods afflicted children And Abdemelech in the day of the Lords Visitation when the King and his Councell did drink the bitter cup of Gods Vengeance did finde his life for a prey and did not fall by the edge of the sword when many thousands did perish And this was signified unto them by the Prophet himself at the commandment of God before that Ierusalem was destroyed This promise and cause were recited unto him in these words I will bring my words upon this City unto evil and not unto good but most assuredly I shall deliver thee because thou hast trusted in me saith the Lord. The trust and hope which Abdemelech had in God made himself bold to oppose himself being but one to the King and to his whole Councell who had condemned to death the Prophet whom his conscience did acknowledge to be innocent for thus did he speak in presence of the King sitting in the Port of Benjamin My Lord the King saith Abdemelech these men do wickedly in all things that they have done to Jeremy the Prophet Advert and take heed my Lords that the men who had condemned the Prophet were the King his Princes and Councell and yet did one man accuse them all of iniquity and did boldly speak in the defence of him of whose innocency he was perswaded And the same I say is the duty of every man in his Vocation but chiefly of the Nobility which is joyned with their kings to bridle and represse their folly and blinde rage Which thing if the Nobility do not neither yet labour to doe as they are Traitours to their Kings so do they provoke the wrath of God against themselves and against the Realme in which they abuse the Authoritie which they have received of God to maintaine Vertue and to suppresse Vice And hereof I would your Honours were most certainly perswaded That God will neither excuse Nobilitie nor people but the Nobility least of all that obey and follow their Kings in manifest iniquity but with the same vengeance will God punish the Prince People and Nobility conspiring together against him and his Holy Ordinances as in the punishment upon Pharaoh Israel Iuda and Babylon is evidently to be seene for Pharaoh was not drowned alone but his Captains Charets and great Army drank the same Cup with him The Kings of Israel and Iudah were not punished without company but with them were murthered the Counsellors their Princes imprisoned and their people led Captive And why because none was found so faithfull to God that he durst enterprise to resist nor gainstand the manifest impietie of their Princes And therefore was Gods wrath powred forth upon the one and the other But the more ample discourse of this argument I deferre to better opportunity onely at this time I thought expedient to admonish you That before God it shall not excuse you to alleadge We are no Kings and therefore neither can we reforme Religion nor yet defend such as be persecuted Consider my Lords that ye are powers ordained of God as before is declared and therefore doth the Reformation of Religion and the defence of such as unjustly are oppressed appertaine to your charge and care which thing shall the Law of God universally given to be kept of all men most evidently declare which is my last and most assured reason why I say ye ought to remove from your Honours and to punish with death such as God hath condemned by his own mouth After that Moses had declared what was true Religion to wit To honour God as he commanded adding nothing to his Word neither yet diminishing any thing from it and after also that vehemently he had exhort-the same Law to be observed he denounced the punishment against the Transgressors in these words If thy brother sonne daughter wife or neighbour whom thou lovest as thine own life solicitate thee secretly saying Let us go serve other gods whom neither thou nor thy fathers have knowne consent not to him hear him not let not thine eye spare him shew him no indulgency or favour hide him not but utterly kill him let thy hand be the first upon him that he may be slaine and after the hand of the whole people Of these words of Moses are two things appertaining to our purpose to be noted The first is that such as solicitate only to Idolatry ought to be punished to death without favour or respect of person For he that will not suffer man to spare his sonne his daughter nor his wife but straitly commandeth punishment to be taken upon the idolatours have they never so nigh conjunction with us will not wink at the Idolatry of others of what state or condition soever they be It is not unknown That the Prophets had Revelations of God which were not common to the people as Samuel had the Revelation that Eli and his posterity should be destroyed That Saul should first be King and thereafter That he should be rejected That David should raign for him Michaiah understood by Vision That Achab should be killed in the Battell against the Syrians Elias saw that dogs should eat Iezabel in the Forts of Iezreel Elisha did see hunger come upon Israel by the space of seven yeers Ieremiah did foresee the destruction of Ierusalem and the time of their Captivity And so divers other Prophets had divers Revelations of God which the people did not otherwise understand but by their affirmation and therefore in those dayes were the Prophets named Seers because that God did open unto them that which was hid from the multitude Now if any man might have claimed any priviledge from the rigour of the Law or might have justified his fact it should have been the Prophet For he might have alleadged for himself his singular Prerogative that he had above other men to have Gods Will revealed unto him by Vision or by Dream or That God had declared particularly unto him that his pleasure was To be honoured in that manner in such a place and by such means But all such excuses doth God remove commanding That the Prophet that shall so solicitate the people to serve strange Gods shall die the death notwithstanding that he alleadge for himself Dream Vision or Revelation yea although he promise miracles and although that such things as he promised should come to passe yet I say commandeth God that no credit be given to him but that he die the death because he teacheth apostasie and defection from God Hereby your Honours may easily see That none provoking the people to Idolatry ought to be exempted from the punishment of death For if neither that inseparable Conjunction which God himself hath sanctified betwixt man and wife neither that unspeakable love grafted in nature which is betwixt the father and the son neither yet that
of the flesh or the pride of life Now seeing that these are not of the Father but of the world how can it be that our souls can feed upon chastitie temperance and humility so long as that our stomacks are replenished with the corruption of these vices Now so it is that willingly flesh can never refuse these forenamed but rather still delighteth it self in every one of them yea in them all as the examples are but too evident It behoveth therefore that God himself shall violently pull his children from these venemous breasts that when they lack the liquor and poyson of the one they may visite him and learn to be nourished of him Oh if the eyes of worldly Princes should be opened that they might see with what humour and liquor their souls are fed while that their whole delight consisteth in pride ambition and lusts of the stinking flesh We understand then how God doth visite men as well by his severe judgements as by his mercifull visitation of deliverance from trouble or by bringing trouble upon his chosen for their humiliation And now it resteth to understand how man visiteth God Man doth visite God when he appeareth in his presence be it to the hearing of his Word or to the participation of his Sacraments as the people of Israel besides the observation of their Sabbaths and daily oblations were commanded thrice a yeer to present themselves before the presence of the Tabernacle and as we do and as often as we present our selves to the hearing of the Word for there is the footstool yea there is the face and throne of God himself wheresoever the Gospel of Jesus Christ is truely Preached and his Sacraments rightly ministred But men may on this sort visite God hypocritically for they may come for the fashion they may hear with deaf ears yea they may understand and yet never determine with themselves to obey that which God requireth And let such men be assured That he who searcheth the secrets of hearts will be avenged of all such For nothing can be to God more odious then to mock him in his own presence Let every man therefore examine himself with what minde and what purpose he cometh to hear the Word of God yea with what ear he heareth it and what testimony his heart giveth unto him when that God commandeth vertue and forbiddeth impiety Repinest thou when God requireth obedience Thou hearest to thine own condemnation Mockest thou at Gods threatnings Thou shalt feel the weight and truth of them albeit too late when flesh and blood cannot deliver thee from his hand But the visitation whereof our Prophet speaketh is onely proper to the sons of God who in the time when God taketh from them the pleasures of the world or sheweth his angry countenance unto them have their recourse unto him and confessing their former negligence with troubled hearts cry for his mercy This visitation is not proper to all afflicted but appertaineth onely to Gods children For the reprobates can never have accesse to Gods mercy in time of their tribulation and that because they abuse as well his long patience as the manifold benefits they receive from his hands For as the same Prophet heretofore saith Let the wicked obtain mercy yet shall he never learn wisdome but in the land of righteousnesse that is Where the very knowledge of God aboundeth he will do wickedly which is a crime above all others abominable for to what end is it that God erecteth his Throne among us but that we should fear him Why doth he reaveal his holy will unto us but that we should obey it Why doth he deliver us from trouble but that we should be witnesses unto the world that he is gracious and mercifull Now when that men hearing their duty and knowing what God requireth of them do malapertly fight against all equity and justice what I pray you do they else but make manifest warre against God yea when they have received from God such deliverance that they cannot deny but that God himself hath in his great mercy visited them and yet that they continue wicked as before what deserve they but effectually to bee given over unto a reprobate sense that headlong they may runne to ruine both of body and soul It is almost incredible that a man should be so enraged against God that neither his plagues nor yet his mercy shewed should move them to repentance but because the Scriptures beareth witnesse of the one and the other let us cease to marvell and let us firmly beleeve that such things as have beene are even presently before our eyes albeit many blinded by affection cannot see them Ahab as in the book of the Kings it is written received many notable benefits of the hand of God who did visit him in divers sorts sometimes by his plagues sometimes by his word and sometimes by his mercifull deliverance He made him king and for the Idolatry used by him and his wife he plagued whole Israel by Famine He revealed to him his Will and true Religion by the Prophet Elijah he gave unto him sundry deliverances but one most speciall when proud Benhadad came to besiege Samaria and was not content to receive Ahabs gold silver sons daughters and wives but also required that his servants should have at their pleasure whatsoever was delectable in Samaria True it is that his Elders and people willed him not to hear the proud Tyrant But who made unto him the promise of deliverance and who appointed and put his Army in order who assured him of victory The Prophet of God onely who assured him That by the servants of the Princes of the Provinces who in number were onely two hundred thirty and two hee should deface that great Army in the which there were two and thirty Kings with all their Forces and as the Prophet of God promised so it came to passe victory was obtained not once onely but twice and that by the mercifull visitation of the Lord. But how did Ahab visite God again for his great benefit received Did he remove his Idolatry did he correct his Idolatrous wife Iezabel No we finde no such thing but the one and the other wee finde to have continued and increased in former impiety But what was the end hereof The last visitation of God was That dogs licked the blood of the one and did eate the flesh of the other In few words then wee understand what difference there is betwixt the visitation of God upon the Reprobate and his visitation upon his Chosen the Reprobate are visited but never truly humbled nor yet amended the Chosen being visited they sob and they cry unto God for mercy which obtained they magnifie Gods Name and after declare the fruits of repentance Let us therefore that hear these judgements of our God call for the assistance of his holy Spirit that howsoever it pleaseth him to visit us that we may stoop under his mercifull hands and
Chron. 34 35. chap. Mat. 13.24 25 26 c. Mat. 13 20 21 Rom. 10.9 13. Rom. 7 c. 2 Cor. 5.21 John 5.28 29. Apoc 20.28 Heb 19 25 26 27. Mat 25 31. Apoc. 14.10 Rom. 26.7 8 9 10. Phil. 3 21. 1 Cor 15.28 This we confirmed 1567. in the first Parliament of Iames 6 held by the Earle Murray and all Acts in any Parliament before whatsoever against the truth abolished The Lord of the Articles are a Committee of 24. whereof in former times there was eight Lords eight Church-men who were called Lords and eight Commons So from the greater part they were named Lords and of the Articles Because all Articles and Heads that are to passe in Parliament are first brought to them who having discussed them sends them to the House of Parlâ—ament The latin Histories calls their Lords of the Articles Apolecti The Earle Marshall his pious voyce in Parliament This Act is particularly confirmed 1567. in the Parliament under Iames 6. holden by the Earl Murrâ—y This also was confirmed by one particular Act 1567. by the Parliament holden by the Earle Murray Note this diligently Quest. Answ. Note this I pray you for these dayes sake See how this agreeâ— with the worldlings now adayes What blessings hath been since in the house of Erskin they know best Note how although the Prelats being convinced of the truth did subscribe unto it yet it was with this Proâ—iso That they should enjoy their rents for their lives Note men to their owne countrey Note this for our dayes Let this teach us to seek God The death of the yong King of France husband to our Queen 15. December 1560. Note this well Note Note Lesley his answer * That is An. 1566 when this book was written Note the liberality of the Earle Murray Note this diligently Where then are Pluralities and fatnesse of Livings in our dayes Let the Church-men now adayes look to this Wâ—at can the Pâ—elats say to this Ambassadour from France and his demands See the study of France to divide the two Kingdoms newly bound for mantenance of Religion against the common enemies Note The Protestants faithfulnesse ill rewarded A foolish play used in time of darknes Hence we say any foolish thing to be like a play of Robin-Hood Some say his name is Killone Of the Queen Regents death Note Note Note diligently Let this also be considered and referred to our times Note Note Reader remark the advantages that Scotland hath from France A good Character of Bishops Let us stick to God and he will not leave us Faire words to no purpose That was a secret Lardon She meant she would seek a safe conduct * Ever till that she may shew her evill will If France would have sustained rhem they had not yet departed The second secret Lardon The Arms of England were usurped Your Papists and ours have practised and still practise division So that she might have England to the Popes Religion I think she said not amisse The feare of God in the heart of Elias 〈◊〉 disobediâ—â—â— to cursed 〈◊〉 Nâ—te 〈…〉 his 〈…〉 well to 〈…〉 as 〈◊〉 the subjects Note The third Lardon of accusing England of inconstancy in Religion Notwithstanding his own disorder Note this false lye and see how it answers to the calumnies of these dayes The Peace and Contract at Leith Many Princes little regarded that All power is not then in the Prince if the States have any as they have Note this Note Note the Scots acknowledgement Isaiah 40 31. A true acknowledgment oâ— mans weaknesse to the glory of God and as it was then so hath it been in this last Reformation As it was then so it is now by Gods mercies â—o that Nation The first Petition of the Protestants of Scotland Let this be noted for example The cause of the trouble within Scotland flowed from the Courtiers who seemed to professe the Evangell He means the Loâ—d Iames Earle Murray The corruption that entred the Queens Court. The Theologie of the Court and their reasonâ— Wicked Councellors â—athers all thâ—ir mischievâ—us plots upon misled Princes and causeth them to take all things upon them This was written when the secoâ—d rank of the Lordâ— was banished Anno 1560 after Danâ—â—s sâ—aughter The Queens Arrivaâ—l from France 156â— Tâ—â—â—le lugubre Coelum The Queens first â—â—ace in despight of Religion The Queens first Masse Lord Iames notwithstanding his sonner zeal to tâ—e Truth complying with Court favoureth Idolatry â— godly resoâ—â—â—â—on The end is not yet seen The perswâ—sâ—ons of the Courtiers The Lord Arrans stout and godly Protestatiâ—n against the Quâ—ens Masse Good resolution if followed Robert Campbell to the Lord Vchiltrie The Queens practise at the first The iudgment of Iohn Knox upon the suffering of the Masse The Courtier making Note diligently how wise and godly mâ—n are so mistaken oft as to play after games And this M. Knox doth acknowledge here The first reasoning betwixt the Queen and Iohn Knox. Note how that Princâ—s are informed against Godâ— servant Let this be noted diligently Let the Prince note this Let this wiâ—e reply be noted Note this undertaking The Queens second Objection Answer Note this comparison Blinde zeal what it is When this was written there was no appearance of Maries imprisonment The Queens Church Strong Imagination called conscience Question Note this Iohn Knox his judgement of the Queen at the first and ever since The Queens first Progresse Note the disposition of a misled soul. Boâ—fours doctrine Note this diligently Yet in the Parliament holden 1563. there is an expresse Act for punishing of Adultery by death It is the Act 74. The devil getting entry to his little finger will screw in his whole arm Note this The Queenes first fray in Hallyrud-house Division between the Lords and the Ministers The Queen fain would have had all Assemblies discharged Note this diliâ—gently Note this dilâ—gently Note this passage Iohn Knox his judgement of the thirds Let this be noted * That is five old pieces A proverb upon Pittaro Controller The right that Princes have to the Patrimony of the Church Note The marriage of the Earl of Murray Note this diligently Note this diligently The Mask of Orleance The Hamiltons against Bothwell and the Marquesse The Earle of Bothwells communication with Iohn Knox 1562. Note the complement Note diligently Reconciliation betwixt the Earle of Arrane and Earle of Bothwell Note diligently Psal. 2. The second communing of Iohn Knox with the Queen Note diligently Note Note Note diligently Note Let Princes note this Let Court-Chaplains and unthrifts of the time note this The Earle of Lennox and his Lady imprisoned in the Tower of London for traffiquing with Papists Sharp left preaching and took him to the Laws Note This causeth the Quâ—ens Râ—ligion to have many â—avourers Note Note Note dâ—ligently Note Note this for our times Note this for our times An answer to Lethington Note this diligently Iohn Gordonne and Ogilvie Bothwell