but with great unquietnesse for he was heard to send forth many sighs and groans one Campbell and one John Johnston which two waited very diligently upon him asked after he awaked How he did finde himselfe and what it was that made him to mourn so heavily in his sleep To whom he answered In my life time I have oft been assaulted with Satan and many times he hath cast in my teeth my sins to bring me to despair yet God gave me strength to overcome all his tentations And now that subtill Serpent who never ceases to tempt hath taken another course and seeks to perswade me That all my labours in the Ministery and the fidelity that I have shewn in that Service hath merited heaven and immortality But blessed be God that brought to my minde these Scriptures What hast thou that thou hast not received And Not I but the grace of God in me With which he is gone away ashamed and shall no more returne And now I am sure my Battell is at an end and that without pain of body or trouble of spirit I shall shortly change this mortall and miserable life with that happy and immortall which shall never have an end After which discourse a Prayer was said neer his bed where he lay which being ended it was asked If he heard the Prayer He answered Would to God that ye had heard it with such an ear and heart as I have done Adding Lord Jesu receive my Spirit With which words without any motion of hands or feet as one falling a sleep rather then dying he ended his life He was a man endued with many excellent gifts and with a very great measure of the Spirit God raised him up to be a chief Instrument of the glorious Work of Reformation The Court claw-backs and parasites have been and are displeased with his Doctrine touching the Authority of Princes and Civill Magistrates although there was never man born who did more heartily reverence Civill Authority nor obey more willingly the lawfull commands thereof then he All his Doctrine concerning the Civill Authority was To correct the corruption brought in by the slavish flatterers who abusing the simplicity and debonaritie of those whom God has placed in Authority maketh them inconsiderately to rebell wilfully and openly against God and his Son and turn all things up-side down and undo the poor people of God for whose good and safety they are placed so high Likewise were and are to this day the proud Prelats and idle belly-gods highly offended with his Doctrine concerning Church-Government although he intended no other thing but the pulling down of Antichristianisme fully and casting all tyranny and Idlenesse out of the House of God Never was a man more observant of the true and just Authority of the Church-Rulers according to the Word of God and practice of the purest Primitive times He alwayes urged pressingly due Obedience by the people to the faithfull Pastors and Elders of the Church Although he was both learned and eloquent yet did he not much apply his minde to compose Books for Posterity for he was wont to say That God had called him rather to instruct the ignorant comfort the sorrowfull rebuke the sinners and confirm the weak living in his time then to make Books for ages to come Neverthelesse he wrote severall good Pieces for besides what we have spoken of already namely he left these A learned Treatise against the blasphemous Anabaptists Two Treatises against the Masse One of the Eucharist Some Sermons upon Genesis Some also upon the Psalms An Exhortation to all afflicted Churches An Advice in time of trouble The first blast of the Trumpet c. He died Anno Dom. 1572 and of his age 62. His body was interred at S. Giles without the Church To his Buriall assisted many men of all Ranks among others the Earle of Morton who being neer to the grave as the Corps was put in said by way of Epitaph Here lies the body of him who in his life time never feared the face of man THE PREFACE THe SCOTS by the most judicious Writers and by those who have most diligently studied their Antiquities are acknowledged to be among the first who embraced the Faith of Christ yea they are said to be by some of the very first-fruits of the Gentiles For in few yeers after the Ascension of our Saviour Jesus Christ the Apostles and Disciples being constrained to leave Ierusalem and Iudea by reason of the Persecutions raised against them by the Jews according to the dispensation of the All-wise God went up and down the world and speaking to every People in their own Language declared unto them the glad Tydings of Salvation in Christ Jesus Those who came into our Northern Parts to wit into Scotland and first made known unto our Fathers the Mysteries of Heaven were of the disciples of Iohn the Apostle Some yeers thereafter to wit in the second Persecution raised against the Christians many Britons Provincials of the Empire professing the Name of Christ left their own countrey and went into Scotland for shelter from the generall Massacre then executed thorowout the whole Empire by that bloody Butcher Domitian and to enjoy the freedom of the Gospel which they knew to be received then in Scotland Among these fugitive Britons there were sundry learned and pious men who stayed in Scotland the Persecution ended propagating the Faith of Christ there by their Preaching This we have related unto us by the Historians of best trust We have not then from the Sea of Rome our first Institution in the Christian Faith yea we are so far from it that for many yeers together we hardly had any communication with Rome at all Palladius was the first some yeers after the beginning of the fifth Age who made our acquaintance with Rome although the generall current of the Romish Writers give out That the Gospel was first planted amongst us in Scotland by the means of Victor Bishop of Rome Yet Baronius that renowned Chronologer albeit he would fain have the Scots owe this Obligation unto Rome disclaimeth this opinion of his Party as untrue and disagreeing with the best Antiquity Tertullian who lived in the second Age and wrote Books divers yeers before the end thereof and so was so neer the planting of the Christian Faith amongst the Nations that in a manner he may be said to have been an eye-witnesse unto it in his Book against the Jews speaking how the Light of the Gospel was spread thorow the whole world saith thus The Euangel was diffused into all the parts of the world yea into Britanie and into that part of the Island whereunto the Roman Forces did never pierce By these last words of Tertullian are meant the inhabitants of that part of the Island which lieth benorth the walls first built by Adrian then by Antoninus Pius thirdly by Severus and these were the Scots by name For the Romans put walls betwixt them and the Scots
carnall wisdome and worldly policie to the which both you are bruted too much inclined give place to Gods simple and naked Trueth very love compells me to say That except the Spirit of God purge your heart from that venome which your eyes have seen to have been destruction to others that you shall not long escape the reward of dissemblers Call to minde what your eares heard Proclaimed in the Chappell of S. Iames when this Verse of the first Psalme was handled Not so O wicked not so but as the dust which the winde tosseth c. And consider that now you travell in the same way which then they did occupie to speak plainely now you are in that estate and credit in the which you shall either comfort the sorrowfull and afflicted for righteousnesse sake or else you shall molest or oppugne the Spirit of God speaking in his Messengers the Comforters of the afflicted for godlinesse hath promise of comfort in their greatest necessities but the troubles of Gods servants how contemned that ever they appeare before the world are threatned to have their Names in execration to the posterities following The examples of the one and of the other are not onely evident in Scriptures but also have been lately manifested in England And this is the conclusion of that which to your self I say except that in the cause of Christs Evangell you be found simple sincere fervent and unfained you shall taste of the same cup which politick heads have drank in before you The other Point concerning my self and that poore flock now dispersed and as I heare say rudely used is this By divers Messengers I have requested such Priviledges as Turkes commonly do grant to men of every Nation to wit That liberty should be granted to me freely to passe through England to the end that with greater expedition I might repaire towards my owne Countrey which now beginneth to thirst for Christs Trueth This request I thought so reasonable that almost I had entered the Realme without license demanded and yet I understand that it hath been so rejected that the soliciters thereof did hardly escape imprisonment and some of that poore flocke I heare to be so extreamely handled That those who most rudely have shed the blood of Gods most deare Children findes this day amongst you greater favours then they do Alas this appeareth much to repugne to Christian Charity for whatsoever hath been mine offence this I fear not to affirme in their cause That if any that hath suffered exile in those most dolorous dayes of persecution deserve praise and commendation for Peace Concord sober and quiet living it is they And as for me how criminall that ever I be in Gods presence for the multitude of my sins yet before his Justice-seat I have a testimonie of a cleare Conscience That since my first acquaintance with England willingly I never offended person within it except in open Chaire to reprove that which God condemneth can be judged offence but I have say you written a Treasonable Book against the regiment and Empire of women If that be my offence the poore flock is innocent except such as this day do fastest cry Treason For Sir in Gods presence I do write with none in that company did I consult before the finishing of the same Therefore in Christs Name I require That the blame may be upon me alone The writing of that Book I will not deny but to prove it Treasonable I think it shall be hard for Sir No more do I doubt of the Trueth of my Proposition then that I doubt that this was the voice of God which first did pronounce this penaltie against women In dolour shalt thou beare thy children It is bruited That my book is or shall be written against or answered If so be Sir I greatly feare That flatterers shall more hurt then helpe the matter which they would seem to maintaine for except my errour be plainly shewne and confuted by better authority then by such Lawes as from yeere to yeere may and do change I dare not promise silence in so weighty a businesse lest that in so doing I shall appeare to betray the Verity which is not subject to the mutabilitie of time And if any thinke me either enemy to the person or yet to the Regiment of her whom God hath now promoted they are utterly deceived in me for the miraculous Work of God comforting his afflicted by an infirme vessell I do acknowledge and I will obey the power of his most potent hand raising up whom best pleaseth his Mercy to suppresse such as fight against his glory albeit that both nature and Gods most perfect Ordinance repugne to such Regiment More plainly to speak If Queen Elizabeth shall confesse That the extraordinary dispensation of Gods great mercy makes that lawfull unto her which both nature and Gods Lawes do deny unto all women then shall none in England be more willing to maintaine her lawfull authority then I shall be But if Gods wondrous worke set aside she ground as God forbid the justnesse of her Title upon consuetude Lawes and Ordinances of men Then I am assured That as such foolish presumption doth highly offend Gods supreame Majestie so do I greatly feare That her ingratitude shall not long lacke punishment And this in the name of the eternall God and of his Son Jesus Christ before whom both you and I shall stand to make an account of all counsell we give I require you to signifie unto her Majestie in my name Adding That onely humility and desertion of her selfe before God shall be the firmenesse and stability of the Throne which I know shall be assaulted mo wayes then one If this you conceale from her Majestie I will make it patent to the world That thus farre I have communicated with you having also further to speak if my judgement may be heard Alas Sir is my offence although in that time and in that matter I had written ten Bookes so hainous that I cannot have Licence by Preaching of Christ Jesus to refresh those thirsty soules which long have lacked the Water of Life No man will I presently accuse but I greatly feare That the Leprous have no greâ—t pleasure to behold faire faces in cleare glasse Let none be afraid that I require to frequent the Court or yet to remaine any long time in England but onely thirsts in passing thorow to my native Countrey to communicate with you and some others such things as willingly I list not to commit to Paper neither to the Credit and knowledge of many And then in the North parts to offer Gods favours to such as I suppose do mourne for their desertion And this I trust shall be no lesse profitable to the Queen and to all godly within England then it should be pleasing to me in the flesh This is the third time that I have begged Licence to visite the hungry and thirstie amongst you which if now be denied
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
away was Ethod the Kings Brother who went with sundry of the Nobilitie unto Scandia where he and they stayed divers yeers and from whence now and then they made secret attempts upon Scotland with the help of their Brethren retired into the Islands and Ireland but to small effect Now as the face of the politique State of the Countrey was quite altered and undone so the condition of the Church also was much disordered and the Culdees were constrained to withdraw and seek shelter up and down where they could finde any namely they returned into the Isles and into Ireland At last the Picts perceiving by severall attempts made by the exiled Scots to return home and re-establish their State although with little successe as we have said that the Scots were fully resolved to bestirre themselves continually till they were restored and re-established in their ancient Inheritances the Picts themselves being moved with the groaning miseries of their neighbour poor people of Scotland now under the Roman yoak chiefly by their means and taking to their consideration how foolishly they had suffered themselves be so farre circumvented and deluded by the Romans as to contribute to the ruine of their old friends by whom mainly in former times they had withstood the common enemy did not onely comfort the poor oppressed remainers of the Scots at home but also did invite these that were in exile to return promising unto them the Lands which they had of theirs and to help them with all their strength and counsell in the recovery of their whole State from the Roman Tyrants The exiled Scots under the conduct of Fergus the second son to Ethod beyond Sea gathered all they could both of their own people and of their friends from the places of their exile namely from Scandie and from Ireland likewise and came into Scotland from whence they chased away the Romans by strong hand with the help of the Picts who made good their promise unto them both in assisting them in the action of Warre and in restoring unto them the Land that they had been possessed with by the Romans The Auxiliaries from Ireland stayed still in Scotland and had allowed unto them the Countrey of Galloway for their reward and because they were of the ancient Brigants of Ireland some of the late Writers have said That the Brigantes of Albion had their abode in Galloway No sooner is Fergus Crowned in the fatall Chair and setled in his Kingdom but he takes to his first care to restore the puritie of Divine Service which had been eclipsed in these bounds for severall yeers and to this effect he calls some of the dispersed Culdees of his Country whom he settles in their ancient abodes namely in the Isle of Iona where he furnished them with a Library of Books which he had gathered beyond Sea as the Story tells us This return of Fergus into Scotland son of Ethod Brother to late Ewen fell out about the yeer 420. The regaining by the Scots of their native Countrey under the command of Fergus the second will not seem strange unto them who have read what they did under the commands of William Wallace and how under the conduct of Robert Bruce they recovered their liberty from the thraldom wherewith they were then oppressed Ewen son to Fergus the second by the counsell and ayd of his Grand-father by his Mother Grame did not onely keep his Fathers ancient Kingdom but also did enlarge the Limits thereof having passed the next Wall of the Romans which by Grame was pulled down in many places hence it is called Grames Dyke and he possessed himself and the Picts with all the Lands lying an hundred miles Southward that is unto Tyne and kept them till the entry of the Saxons into the Island Next he took unto his care not onely to seek out the Culdees fugitives which had not yet returned under his Father but also he sent for others into the neighbour Countrey of Britaine and assigned unto them convenient places for their abode with a moderate competency of means for their maintenance that they should be in no wayes burdensome to the people now looking to have some respite from their pressures and grievances And such was the happinesse of these dayes that a very small proportion did content the Church-men setting wholly their mindes to the conscionable discharge of their calling which they did Preaching Gods Word carefully truely and simply instructing the people in the fear of God and so gaining their souls to their Maker and Redeemer By this their carriage they gained very much respect among the people who honoured them as Fathers Instructers and Guiders to Heaven under God the vertuous civill Magistrate was the secondary cause of this good behaviour of Church-men who by his authority kept them in order and by his own example taught them to discharge their duty faithfully and live discretly But so soon as the civill Magistrate left them to themselves then they neglecting their calling set their minde upon ambition and avarice and consequently upon all evill thinking of nothing lesse then of that they were called to Here we are to observe That as the Scots did constantly withstand the ancient Romans and kept themselves so free of their yoak that they neither acknowledged their Authority nor received any Law from them although it was not without great struggling and hazard yea almost to their utter ruine as it fell out under Ewen the first but after some few yeers the Scots under the conduct of Fergus the second and Ewen the second not onely regained what they had lost by the Romans and Picts but also conquered a great deal of ground beyond their last Limits as we have newly said So the Scots in Church affairs for many yeers together had nothing to do with the Bishop of Rome neither made they acknowledgement unto him in any way neither did they receive any Laws from him for as they had the Gospel planted among them without his help to wit by the Disciples of Saint Iohn the Apostle so they kept themselves unto the Constitutions and Canons setled by the same first Planters of the Gospel amongst them but by successe of time they became to be infected by their neighbour Nations with the poyson of the Pelagian Heresie Celestine then Bishop of Rome takeâ— occasion to send unto the Britons a learned man called Palladius to help the Orthodox Britons to convince the Heresie of Pelagius then spreading it self amongst them which was done accordingly Ewen the second King of Scots hearing how the Britons by the help of Palladius had repressed the Pelagianisme being most desirous to purge the Church of his Kingdom also where this Pelagian errour had crept in sends for Palladius who with small difficulty assisted the Orthodox to disabuse those who had been carryed away by Pelagianisme and thereafter in a very short time by subtill inâ—inuations gained so far upon the well-meaning Scots that they consented to take
obedience unto Rome and conformitie by name there was one Boniface sent from Rome to Scotland a main Agent for Rome in these affairs but he was opposed openly by severall of the Scots Culdees or Divines namely by Clemens and Samson who told him freely That he and those of his Party studied to bring men to the subjection of the Pope and slavery of Rome withdrawing them from obedience to Christ and so in plain termes they reproached to him and to his assistants That they were corrupters of Christs Doctrine establishing a Sovereignty in the Bishop of Rome as the onely successour of the Apostles excluding other Bishops That they used and commanded Clericall tonsure That they forbad Priests Marriage extolling Celibat That they caused Prayers to be made for the dead and erected Images in the Churches to be short That they had introduced in the Church many Tenets Rites and Ceremonies unknown to the ancient and pure times yea contrary to them For the which and the like the said Clemens and those that were constant to the Truth with him were excommunicated at Rome as Hereticks as you have in the third Volume of the Concels although the true reasons of their excommunication be not there set down In the eighth Age the poor people were so blindly inslaved and intoxicat with the Cup of Rome that they thought it a truely holy Martyrdome to suffer for the interest of Rome yet although most men had left God to worship the Beast in these dayes God raised up sundry great Lights in our Church as Alcuin Rabanus Maurus his Disciple Iohn Scot and Claudius Clemens In this we shall remarke the constant goodnesse of God towards his people who made his Light shine in some measure thorow the greatest and thickest darknesse by raising up these men who did bear witnesse to the Truth both by word and writing so that God did not altogether leave off his people The Bishop of Rome caused to declare Alcuin for his Book of the Eucharist many yeers after his death an Heretike So Rome persecutes the Saints of God even after their death In the ninth Age both Prince and People by dolefull experience did finde the idlenesse pride ambition avarice and ryot of Church-men occasioned by the indulgence of Prince and People wherefore at Scone under King Constantine the second there was had a convention of States for reforming the disorders in the Church In this Assembly it was ordained That Church-men should reside upon their charge have no medling with secular affairs that they should instruct the people diligently and be good examples in their conversations that they should not keep Hawks Hounds and Horses for their pleasure that they should carry no Weapons nor be pleaders of civill Causes but live contented with their own provisions in case of failing in the observance of these points For the 1 time they were to pay a pecuniary mulct or fine for the 2 they were to be deprived from Officio and Beneficio Thus you see in these most blinde and confused times That resolute Princes and People did oppose manifestly the Popes omnipotency and highest Sovereignty In the later part of the same Age King Gregory was most indulgent to Church-men he was so farre from curbing and keeping them under that he granted them many things they had not had before Then in a convention of States holden at Forsane it was ordained That all Church-men should be free of paying Taxes and Impost from keeping watch and going to warfare Item They should be exempt from all Temporall judicature Item All Matrimoniall Causes were given over to be judgement of Church-men as also Testaments Legative Actions and all things depending upon simple faith and promise Likewise the right of Tithes with liberty to make Lawes Canons and Constitutions to try without the assistance of the temporall Judge Heretikes Blasphemers Perjured Persons Magicians c. Lastly it was ordained That all Kings following at their Coronation should swear to maintain Church-men in these their Liberties and Priviledges In these dayes lived a Learned man called Iohn Scot sirnamed Aerigiena because he was born in the Town of Aire he published a Treatise De corpore sanguine Domini in Sacramento wherein he maintained the opinion and doctrine of Bertram whereby he offended highly the Sea of Rome In the tenth Age things grew worse and worse The Church-men did so blinde the King Constantine the third That they perswaded him to quit the Royall Crown and take the Clericall Tonsure of a Monk which he did at Saint Andrews There were some Priests in these dayes who did strive to have liberty to take lawfull Wives but in vain A little thereafter there were new disputes for Priests marriage one Bernet a Scots Bishop stood much for that cause in a nationall Councell In this Age although that avarice and ambition had corrupted and perverted Religion generally yet there were constantly some godly men who albeit they could not openly stop and oppose the torrent of these times given to Idolatry and Superstition did instruct and teach the people That Christ was the onely propitiation for sin and that Christs blood onely did wash us from the guilt of sin In the eleventh Age Malcome gave away a part of the Crown Lands among his Nobles for their good service against the Danes the Nobles in recompence thereof did grant unto the Crown the ward of these Lands with the benefit that was to arise by the marriage of the Heir Untill the later part of this Age the Bishops of Scotland although they had raised their Order unto a great power and riches yet they were not distinguished in Diocesses so till then indifferently wheresoever they came they did Ministrate their Function without lording over one particular place or calling themselves Lords of any place The Diocesses wherein Scotland was divided at first were these Saint Andrews Glasgo Murray Catnes Murthlac or Aberdene The Bishops of Rome taking upon them in these dayes to be above Kings and to conferre in matters of Honour upon Kings how and where they pleased and so by this means to put a farther tye of Vassalage and subjection upon Princes To this effect in the yeer 1098. ordained King Edgar to be anointed with externall Oyl by the Bishop of Saint Andrews a rite which till that day had not been in use among our Kings yet they were as much the anointed of the Lord before as they have been since and as any other Princes who before them had this externall anointing from the Sea of Rome although the Romish Writers do make a greater esteem of these Kings anointed by them then of others because they conceive them to be more their own Here note by the way That all Princes whatsoever in Scripture-Language are said to be the Anointed of the Lord and so Cyrus was named although he was never anointed with externall Oyl Next although the first Kings of Israel were anointed as Saul David and Solomon with
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
one Citie For the bodily presence of Kings can no more be in divers cities at one instant then that they can be in divers Realms Hitherto we have understood that wheresoever the great Councellers of the King with his power and Commission are assembled to do any thing at his just commandment That there is the Kings sufficient presence and authority wheresoever his own body be living at freedome and liberty which if the Papists deny we will finde faults with them and with the Princes whom they have abused that more will annoy them then any thing that we can lose by the insufficiencie of that Parliament Which neverthelesse we are bold to affirme to have been more lawfull and more free then any Parliament that they are able to produce this hundred yeeres before it or yet any that hath ensued since it was he meanes untill 1566. when this Book was written for in it the voices of men were free and given in conscience in others they were bought or given at the devotion of the misled Prince All things in it concluded are able to abide the triall and not to be consumed at the proofe of the fire of others the godly may justly call in doubt things determined To the Sword and Scepter nor yet to the absence of some Lords we answer nothing For our adversaries know well enough that the one is rather a pompe and vaine-glorious ceremonie then a substantiall point of necessitie required to a lawfull Parliament And the absence of some prejudges not the powers of the present duely assembled Providing that due advertisement be made unto them But now we return to our History The Parliament dissolved consultation was had how the Church might be established in a good and godly policie which by the Papists was altogether defaced Commission and charge was given to Master Iohn Winram Sub-priour of S. Andrews Master Iohn Spottiswood Iohn Willock Master Iohn Dowglas Rectour of S. Andrews Master Iohn Row and Iohn Knox to draw in a Volume the Policie and Discipline of the Church as well as they had done the Doctrine which they did and presented it to the Nobility who did peruse it many dayes Some approved it and willed the same to have been set forth by a Law others perceiving their carnall liberty and worldly commodity somewhat to be impared thereby grudged in so much that the name of the Book of Discipline became odious unto them Every thing that repugned to their corrupt imaginations was termed in their mockage Devout imaginations The cause we have before declared some was licentious some had greedily griped the possessions of the Church and others thought that they would not lack their part of Christs Coat yea and that before that ever he was Crucified as by the Preachers they were oft rebuked The chief great man that had professed Christ Jesus and refused to subscribe the Book of Discipline was the Lord Erskin And no wonder for besides that he had a very evill woman to his wife if the Poore the Schooles and the Ministerie of the Church had their owne his Kitchin would lack two parts and more of that which he unjustly now possesseth Assuredly some of us hath wondered how men that professe godlinesse could of so long continuance hear the threatnings of God against theeves and against their houses and knowing themselves guilty in such things as were openly rebuked and that they never had remorse of conscience neither yet intended to restore any thing of that which long they had stollen and reft There were none within the Realme more unmercifull to the poore Ministers then were they which had greatest rents of the Churches But in that we have perceived the old Proverb to be true Nothing can suffice a wretch And again The belly hath no eares Yet the same Book of Discipline was subscribed by a great part of the Nobility To wit The Duke the Earle of Arrane the Earles Argyle Glencarn Mershell Menteth Morton Rothesse Lord Iames after Earle of Murray Lords Yeaster Boyd Uchiltrie Master of Maxwell Lord Lindsay elder and the Master after Lord Barrons Drunlaurige Lothingwar Garleisse Bargany Master Alexander Gordon Bishop of Galloway this Bishop of Galloway as he renounced Popery so did he Prelacie witnesse his subscription of the Book of Discipline as the rest of the Prelats did who did joyne to the Reformation Alexander Campbell Deane of Marray with a great number moe subscribed and approved the said Book of Discipline in the Town-Buith of Edinburgh the 27 day of January the yeere of our Lord God 1560. by their approbation In these words WE which have subscribed these presents having advised with the Articles herein specified and as is above-mentioned from the beginning of this Book thinks the same good and conforme to Gods Word in all points conforme to the Notes and Additions thereto asked and promise to set the same forward at the uttermost of our powers Providing that the Bishops Abbots Priors and other Prelates and Beneficed men which else have adjoyned themselves to us brooke the revenues of their Benefices during their life times they sustaining and upholding the Ministerie and Ministers as is heerein specified for Preaching of the Word and Ministring of the Sacraments What be the contents of the whole Book and how that this promise was illuded from time to time we shall after heare Shortly after the said Parliament were sent from the Councell Ambassadours to England the Earles Morton and Glencarne together with William Maitland of Lethington yonger The chief point of their Commission was earnestly to crave the constant assistance of the Queens Majestie of England against all forraigne invasion and common enemies That same time was the Castle of Semple hard besieged and taken Because the Lord thereof disobeyed the Lawes and Ordinances of the Councell in many things and especially in that that he would maintain the Idolatrie of the Masse and also that he beset the way to the Earle of Arrane with a great gathering as he was riding with his accustomed company The Papists were proud for they looked for a new Armie from France at the next Spring and thereof was no small appearance if God had not otherwise provided For France utterly refused the confirmation of the Peace contracted at Leith would ratifie no part of our Parliament dismissed the Lord of Saint Iohn without a resolute answer began to gather new Bands of throat-cutters and to make great preparation for Ships They further sent before them certain practisers amongst whom the Lord Seaton who had departed with the French out of Leith was one to raise up new troubles within this Realme And all this came partly of the malice of the house of Guise who had avowed to revenge the displeasure of their sister both upon England and Scotland and partly by instigation of proud Beton falsly called Bishop of Glasgow of Dury Abbot of Dunfermeling and Saulles Seaton and Master Iohn Sinclair Deane of Restalrige
me and yet suffered me to perish that in so doing ye should be criminall and guilty of my blood Prove that and win the play said Lethington Well my Lord said the other remember your promise and I will be short in my probation The Prophet Ieremy was apprehended by the Priests and Prophets who were a part of the Authority within Ierusalem and by the multitude of the people and this sentence was pronounced against him Thou shalt die the death for thou hast said This house shall be like Siloh and this City shall be desolate without any Inhabitant c. The Princes hearing the uprore came from the Kings house and sate down in Judgement in the entry of the new Gate of the Lords House And there the Priests and Prophets before the Princes and before all the people intented their Accusation in these words This man is worthy to die for he hath prophesied against this City and your eares have heard Ieremiah answered That whatsoever he had spoken proceeded from God and therefore said he As for me behold I am in your hands do with me as ye thinke good and right But know ye for certaine That if ye put me to death ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon your soules and upon this Citie and upon the inhabitants thereof For of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speake all these words Now my Lord if the Princes and the whole people should have been guilty of the Prophets blood How shall ye or others be judged innocent before God if ye shall suffer the blood of such as have not deserved their blood to be shed when ye may save it The causes were nothing alike said Lethington And I would learn said the other wherein the dissimilitude stands First said Lethington the King had not condemned him to death And next The false Prophets the Priests and the People accused him without a cause and therefore they could not be guilty of his blood Neither of these said Iohn Knox fights against my argument For albeit the King was neither present nor yet had condemned him yet were the Princes and chiefe Councellors there sitting in Judgement who represented the Kings Authority hearing the accusation laid unto the charge of the Prophet And therefore he forewarns them of the danger as before is said to wit That in case he should be condemned and so put to death That the King the Councell and the whole City of Ierusalem should be guilty of his blood because that he had committed no crime worthy of death And if ye thinke that they all should have been criminall onely because that they all accused him the plain Text witnesseth the contrary for the Princes defended him and so no doubt did a great part of the People and yet he boldly affirmed That they should be all guilty of his blood if he should be put to death And the Prophet Ezekiel gives a reason Why all are guilty of common corruption Because saith he I sought a man amongst them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the Land that I should not destroy it but I found none Therefore have I poured forth my indignation upon them Hereof my Lord said he it is plain That God craves not onely that man should do no iniquity in his owne person but also that he oppose himself to all iniquity so farre as in him lieth Then will ye said Lethington make subjects to controll their Princes and Rulers And what harme said the other should the Common-wealth receive if the corrupt affections of ignorant Rulers were moderated and so bridled by the wisedome and discretion of godly subjects that they should do no wrong nor no violence to any man All this reasoning said Lethington is out of the purpose For we reason as if the Queen should become such an enemy to our Religion that she should persecute it and put innocent men to death while I am assured she never thought nor never will do For if I should see her begin at that end yea if I should suspect any such thing in her I should be as farre forward in that argument as ye or any other within the Realme But there is no such thing Our Question is Whether that ye may suppresse the Queens Masse or Whether that her Idolatry shall be laid to our charge What ye may said Iohn Knox by force I dispute not But what ye may and ought to do by Gods expresse Commandment that I can tell Idolatry ought not onely to be suppressed but the Idolater also ought to die the death But by whom By the people of God said the other for the Commandment was given to Israel as ye may reade Heare Israel sayes the Lord the Statutes and the Ordinances of the Lord thy God c. Yea a Commandment is given that if it be heard that Idolatry is committed in any one City inquisition shall be taken and if it be found true That then the whole Body of the People arise and destroy that City sparing in it neither man woman nor childe But there is no Commandment said the Secretary given to punish their King If he be an Idolater I finde no priviledge granted unto Kings said the other by God more then unto the people to offend Gods Majestie I grant said Lethington but yet the people may not be judges to their King to punish him albeit he be an Idoter God said the other is the Universall Judge as well unto the King as to the People So that what his Word commands to be punished in the one is not to be absolved in the other We agree in that said Lethington But the people may not execute Gods Judgements but mst leave it unto himselfe who will either punish it by Death by Warre by Imprisonment or by some other kinde of his Plagues I know said Iohn Knox the last part of the reason to be true But for the first That the people yea or a part of the people may not execute Gods Judgements against their King being an offendor I am assured ye have no other Warrant except your own imaginations and the opinion of such as more fear to offend their Princes then God Why say ye so said Lethington I have the judgement of the most famous men in Europe and of such as ye your selfe will confesse both godly and learned And with that he called for his Papers which produced by Master Maitland he bagan to reade with great gravity the Judgements of Luther Melancthon the mindes of Bucer Musculus and Calvin how Christians should behave themselves in time of Persecution yea the Book of Baruc was not omitted with this conclusion The gathering of those things said he hath cost me more travell then I thinke this seven yeers in reading Commentaries The more pity said the other and yet what you have profited your own cause let others judge But as for my argument I am assured you have infirmed