that even in our eyes our dear brethren true members of our Common-wealth are most cruelly oppressed by strangers in so far as some are banished their owne houses some robbed and spoiled of their substance purchast by their just labours in the sweat of their brows some cruelly murthered at the pleasure of these inhumane souldiers and altogether have their lives in such fear and dread as if the enemy were in the midst of them so that nothing can seem pleasant unto them which they possesse in the bowells of their native Countrey so neer judged every man and not without just cause the practise used upon their brethren to approach next unto them their wives childrens houses and substances which altogether are cast at the feet of strangers men of War to be by them thus abused at their unbridled lusts desire Now if it be sedition dear brethren to complain lament and pour forth before God the sorrows and sobs of our dolorous hearts crying to him for redresse of those enormities which elsewhere is to be found which altogether do proceed of the unlawfull holding of strange Souldiers over the heads of our brethren If this to complain be sedition then indeed dear brethren can none of us be purged of that crime for as in very heart we condemne such inhumane cruelty with the wicked and crafty pretence thereof so can we not nor dare we neither by mouths speaking nor yet by keeping silence justifie the same Neither do we here aggravate the breaking of the Appointment made at Leith which alwayes hath manifestly been done but herein we remember what oath we have made to our Common-wealth and how the duty we ought to the same compelleth us to cry out That the Queen by wicked and ungodly counsell goeth most craftily about utterly to oppresse the same and the ancient Lawes and Liberties thereof As well against the King of France his promise her own duty in respect of the high promotions that she hath received thereby which justly should have caused her to have been in deed that which she would be called and is nothing lesse in verity to wit a carefull mother over this Common-wealth But what motherly care she hath used towards you ye cannot be ignorant of Have ye not been even from the first entrie of her Reigne ever smitten and oppressed with unaccustomed and more exorbitant Taxations then ever were used within this Realm Yea and how far was it sought here to have been brought in upon you and your posterity under colour to have been laid up in store for the wars The inquisition taken of all your goods moveable and unmoveable by way of Testament the seeking of the whole Câ—ale and Salt of this Realme to have been laid up in store and in garnell and she alone to have been Merchant thereof doth teach you by experience some of her motherly care Again What favour to our Common-wealth doth she at this instant bear when even now presently and of a long time by-gone by the Ministery of some who better deserve the Gallows then ever did Cochran she doth so corrupt the good money and hath brought it to such businesse and such a deale of strife that all men that had their eyes open may perceive an extream beggery to be brought there-through upon the whole Realme So that the whole exchange and traffique to be had with Forraigne nations a thing most necessary in all Common-wealths shall thereby be utterly extinguished and all the gaines received thereby is That she therewith entertaineth strangers upon our heads For brethren you know that her money hath served for no other purpose in our Common-wealth this long time bygone And the impunity of those wicked Ministers whom lately we spake of hath brought the matter to such a licentious enormitie and plaine contempt of the Common-weale that now they spare not plainely to break down and convert the good and weighty money Coined in our Soveraignes lesser age into this their corrupted skruife and baggages of Hard-heads and Non-sunts most like as she and they had conspired to destroy all the whole good Coine of this Realme and consequently that part of the Common-weale Besides all this their clipped and râ—nged Sols which had no passage these three yeers past in the Realme of France are commanded to have course in this Realme to gratifie thereby her new-come Souldiers and all these things together are done without the advice or consent of the Nobilitie and Counsell of thiâ— Realme and manifestly there-through against our ancient Laws and Liberties Thirdly her last and most weightie proceeding more fully declareth the motherly care her Majestie beareth to our Common-weale and us when in time of Peace without any occasion of Forraigne Wars thousands of Strangers are laid here and there upon the necks of our poore members of this Common-weale Their idle bellies fed upon the poore substance of the Commonaltie conquest by their just labours in the painfull sweat of their brows which to be true Dumbar North-Barwick Travent Presâ—on Panes Missilburgh Leith Cannongat Kinghorne Kirkcaldie Disert with the depauperate souls that this day dwell therein can testifie Whose oppression as doubtlesse it is entred in before the Justice-seat of God so ought it justly to move our hearts to have pity and compassion upon these our poore brethren and at our powers to provide remedie for the same And albeit her strangers had been garnished with money as you know well they were not yet can there here lying be no wayes but most hurtfull to our Common-wealth seeing that the fertility of this Realme had never been so plentifull that it was able of any continuance to sustain it selfe and inhabitants thereof without support of Forraigne Countreys far lesse able besides the same to sustain thousands of strangers wherewith it is burthened to the dearthing of all victuals as the murmure and complaint of Edinburgh this day doth testifie But to what effect the Common-weale is thus burdened the end doth declare For shortly were they brought to the fields against our Soveraigns true Lieges even us your brethren who God knoweth sought nothing else but peace of conscience under protection of our Soveraigne and Reformation of these enormities for no other cause but that we would not renounce the Gospel of Jesus Christ and subdue our necks under the tyranny of that wicked Man of sin the Romane Antichrist and his forsworn Shavelings who at that time most tyrannically oppressed our souls with hunger of Gods true Word and rest our goods and substances to waste the same upon their foule lusts and stinking harlots But O dear brethren this was not the chiefe pretence and finall scope of her proceedings as these dayes do well declare for had not God given in our hearts to withstand that oppression with weapons of most just defence thou O Saint Iohnston and Dundie had been in no better state then your sister of Leith is this day For though we in very deed God
abomiâ—ations were revolted then was the Boat in the midst of the Sea Two speciall Notes of this discourse The first Note Who ruled all by wit under K. Edward 6 John 13. Psalm 40. Godly Princes commonly have most uugodly Counsellors Note well 2 Reg. 17. Esa. 22. Matth. 26. John 12. Quest. Answ. The enemies of the verity many times appear to be most profitable for a Common-Wealth Mischief at the length will so utter it self that men may espie it Esa. 22.36 Esa. 22. If David and Hezekiah were deceived by traiterous Councellors how much more a young and innocent King The Author might fear this indeed Paulet is painted The Treasurers words against the authority of Mary Caiaphas prophesied Judge at the end The second Note Tyrants cannot cease to persecute Christs Members Gen. 21. Gen. 28. Exod. 5 6 7 8 c. John 5. 12. The power of Gods Word put the Papists to silence in England except it had been to brag in corners Princes are ready to persecute as malicious Papists will command Job 12. 2 Cor. 4. Ephes. 2. 1 Reg 16 18. John 13. John 8. Wily Winchester Dâ—eaming Duresme Bloody Bonner This is the cruse before omitted why the winde blew to trouble Christs disciples The prayer of the author Exhortation Isai. 48 51.54 62. The coming of Christ to his dâ—sâ—iplâ—s upon the Sâ—â—s is opâ—ned Christ is sute upon the mountain God never brought his people into trouble to the intent that they should perish therein Mark these words Christ came not to his disciples till the fourth watch The causes why Christs disciples misknew him What chanced to Christ that also in all ages chanceth to his holy Word The fear is greatest when deliverance is â—ost nâ—gh Exod. 5 6 c. 5 Reg. 7. Isai. 36 37. Note Why God suffereth tribulation to abound and continue Exod. 14. Note Exod. 10â— Iezabel Athalia and Iudas Gardâ—â—r Tunstal Bucherly Bonâ—r The praise of Winchester Durysme and oâ—â—dy Mary before these dayes 4. Reg. 11. Matth. 14. 3. Reg. 18 3. Reg. 18. A digression to the Papists of Qu. Maries chaste dealing A lively Picture of Mary the utter mischief of England What commodities the Spanish King shall bring to the Realm of England A true saying Under an English name she bâ—areth a Spanyards heart Spanyards sons of pride and superstition Why Winchester would have Spanyards to reigne over England To Winchester The Book of true obedience both in Latine and in English shall remain to thy perpetuall shame and condemnation of thy cankered Conscience The wicked must declare their selves Apocalip 13. Note Abraham Gen. 15. Isaac Gen. 16. Iacob Gen. 23 31.32.35 Moses Exod 5. Rom. 1. Psal. 119. The power and effâ—ctuall operation of Gods Word Exod. 4 Reg 9. Luke 24 Simile Math. John 〈◊〉 Note that Peter considâ—red not his own weaknesse The sherp at length know the voyce of their own Pastor The Elect. The Reprâ—bate 1 Reg 28. Saul 2 Reg. 18. Ahaz Isai. 7. God sometime sheweth mercy to an hypocrit for the cause of his Church Jerem. 37 38. Jerem. 42. Reade the Text Jer 42. Jerem. 43. Great blindnes Jer. 44. As Papists would have League with the Emperor What was said in Hammeâ—sham when uproar was for establishing of Mary in authority A Common-wealth compared to a Ship sayling on the Sea The end shall declare Enemies to the Truth receive no comfort of Gods Messengers The godly and chosen of God Gen. 12. Gen. 15. Gen. 22. Exod. 5.7.10 1 Reg. 16. 3 Reg 21. Object Answer Exod. 32. Gods Word sometimes moveth great multitudes Why Moses caused the Israelites do drink the powder of the golden calf Exod. 32. A sharp sentence against Idolaters Gen. 34. Gen. 49. Jerem. 21.38 Jerem. 21. Jerem. 38 Jerem. 38. Jon. 3. Act. 2. Jerem. 32. The cause of fear Gen. 12. Exod. 34. Isa. 36 37. Matth. 11. Apoc. 18. Note Lively faith maketh a man bold 3. Reg. 18. 3. Reg. 19. The creature can never dispute wâ—th God without sin Quest. Answ. Gods works by them self are a sufficient reason Peters vertue The vice that long rested with Peter Matth. 16. Note Matth. 26. Why Peter was suffered to sink Luke 22. What resteth with Gods Elect in their greatest danger The nature of faith Peter knew the power and good will of God Psal. 144. How nigh God is in extream perill to deliver his Elect that syithfully call upon him Exod 14. Hester 7.8 â— Daniel 6. John 3. Act 12. Psalm 18. God flattereth not his Elect. Peter was not faithlesse Matth 10. 2 Tim 2. Such as have stood long may yet fall Luke 17. Note We have lesse pretence of excuse then Peter had Note Consolation Matth. 28. Worldly Princes are conjured against God Psal. 2. The sheep of Christ cannot be rent from his hand Joh. 10. Joh. 7. The temptations of Gods elect now in England Good counsell to thee in faith Rom. 11. 1 Reg 2. Note To whom appertaineth the former counsel Matth. 28. Note Objection Answer The root of faith remaineth with Gods elect in greatest danger 3 Reg. 19. The root of faith is not idle A tryall of faith in trouble It appertaineth not to man to know not to enquire how God will deliver Note Divers wayes of deliverance Note The means offered by God to avoid Idolatry are not to be refused Repetition Isai. 78. Psal. 74. Apocal. 17. Psal 74 87. Prayer and Confession Appealing to mercy Isai. 33. Jerem. 4. Psal. 74. Psal. 59. Psal. 79. Jerem. 10 11 12. Psal. 95. Against the enemies of God Esay 25. Of Gods Elect Exhortation Esa 26. Gen. 3. Mattâ— 10. Act. 4. Matth. 5. Joh. 14 16. Esay 9. In the Crosse of Christ iâ— victory hid Esay 40.41.51 Exod. 2. 4 Reg. 25. Jerem 52. Esd. 1. Note â—phes 2. The causes why the Saints of God bâ— this day persecuted 1 Joh. 1.2 Heb. 6. 10. Ephes. 5. Matth. 23. Whosoever sheddeth the Blood of one of Christs members for his Names sake consenteth to the blood of all that have suffered since the beginning Note Gen. 4. Matth. 15. Answer to an Objection Gen. 19. Exod. 14. Iosephus The Petition of such as be persecuted Matth. 5. Matth. 10. â— Cor. 2. Matth 10. Exod. 20. Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. The first proportion The second proposition John 4. Apo. 14. 17. Note Take heed of unlawfull obedience Dan. 3. Dan. 6. Answ. Matth. 10. Act. 14. Note The Papisticall Religion a mortall Pestilence The Admonition Answer to an Objection Gen. 6. Psâ—l 14. Psal 2. Act. 4. Luk. 18. Hosea 4. Matth 20 Matth. 7. 2 Thess 2. Note Deu 4 and 12 Matth. 15. 1 Reg. 13 15 2 Par. 26. Levit. 10. Matt. 17 Act. 1 2 3. 1 Cor. 11. Col. 2. Deâ—â— 4. 12. Apoc. 2. The craft of Sathan The ground of â—â—â—â—â—ticall Religion Note Tertul. in Apol. The chief Preposition Nâ—cen 1. The dutie of Magistrates The Spirit of God abideth not with Idolaters 3. Reg. â— 5. 2 â—ar 17. 4 Reg 22. 2 Paâ— 34. 4 Reg 18. 2 Par. 29 30 c. 31. The second proposition Stob. ser. 12. Niceph. Calist. Histor. Ecclâ—s Lib 10. cap. 42. Note Mich. 3. Note Flatterers contagious stilence Ezek. 22. Note Idolatry is mother to all â—ice Matth 6. Rom. 8. â— Reg. 18. John 17. Ezek. 34. Note this for our time Daniel 2. 1 Reg. 2. Job 12. Psal. 107. Daniel 2. Note Note Note 1 Reg. 14. 1 Reg. 16. 2 Reg. 10. 2 Reg. 17. The offer of Iohn Knox. Advert Prosperity for a time proveth not Religion good No Realme England except so grievously plagued at Scotland Isai. 30. Isai. 14. Isai 6. Exhortation Josh. 1. 2 Par 34. 2 Par. 1. Jerem. 36. Amos 2. Zach 15 James 5. 1 Reg 17. 1 Reg. 18. 1 Reg. 19. 2 Reg 9. 1 Reg 19. Mat 10. The disposition Note Verse 23. From whencâ— all Authority floweth Psal. 82. 2. Point Rom. 13. Note Note Josh. 1. What is required of a King or Prince The Authority and Power of Kings is limited Note Usc. The duty of Gods people Ezek 20. 2 Reg. 17. Isai. Jere. 9. Eccles 3. Isa. 3. Verse 14. Verse 15. Ezel 8. Note Apoc. Vers. 15. Vers. 16. Josh 24. Rom 9. Dan. 1. Dan. 2. Dan. 3. Dan. 6. 1 Esd 2. 1 Esd 6. A Prayer Vers. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 1 Reg. 22. 2 Reg. 9. Verse 17. Verse 18. John 16. Vers. 19.20 Verse 19. Gal. 2. 1 Pet. 1. Ezek. 37 Psal. 14. 1 John 5. Eccles. histor Sozomoni lib. 5. cap. 5. A terrible but must true sentence The Castle of Edinburgh was shooting against the exiled for Christ Jesus sake
knowing that Calder Younger and Brunston were with Iohan Cocburne Laird of Ormeston sent back with expedition to apprehend them also The noyse of Horse-men being heard the servants gave advertisement That more then departed or was there before were returned And while that they dispute what should be the motive the Cardinalls Garrison had seized both the outer and inner Close They called for the Laird and for the Laird of Calder who presenting themselves demanded what their COMMISSION was To bring you two and the Laird of Brouneston to my Lord GOVERNOUR They were nothing content as they had no cause and yet they made faire countenance and intreated the Gentlemen to drinke and to baite their horses till that they might put themselves in readinesse to ride with them In this meane time Brounston conveyed himselfe first secretly and then by speed of foot to Ormiston wood and from thence to Dundallon and so escaped that danger the other two were put into the Castle of Edinburgh where the one to wit Calder Zounger remained untill his baud of Manred to the Cardinall was the meanes of his deliverance And the other to wit Ormiston freed himselfe by leaping off the wall of the Castle betwixt ten of the clock and eleven before noon And so breaking Ward he escaped prison which he unjustly suffered The servant of God M. George Wischarde was carried first to Edinburgh thereafter brought backe for fashion sake to the house of Hailles againe which was the principall place that then the Earle Bothwell had in Lothiane But as gold and women have corrupted all worldly and fleshly men from the beginning so did they him For the Cardinall gave gold and that largely and the Queen with whom the said Earle was then in the Glunders promised him favour in all his lawfull suites to women if he would deliver the said M. George to be kept in the Castle of Edinburgh He made some resistance at the first by reason of his promise But an effeminate man cannot long withstand the assaults of a gracious Queene and so was the servant of God transported to Edinburgh where the Cardinall then had a convention of Prelats wherein somewhat was said of redressing the abuses of the Church and reforming the lives of the Clergie but it tooke no effect M. Wischarde remained but few dayes in Edinburgh For that bloodie woolfe the Cardinall ever thirsting after the blood of the servant of God so travelled with the abused Governour that he was content that Gods servant should be delivered to the power of that Tyrannie And so small inversion being made Pilate obeyed the petition of Caiaphas and of his fellows and adjudged Christ to be crucified The Cardinall seeing it was forbidden by the Canon Law to Priests to sit as Judges upon life and death although the crime were Heresie sent to the Governour desiring him to name some Lay-Judge to pronounce Sentence against M. Wischarde The Governour had freely condescended to the Cardinalls request without delay if David Hamilton of Preston a godly and wise man had not remonstrated unto him That he could expect no better end then Saul since he persecuted the Saints of God for that Truth which he professed once with such a shew of earnestnesse the profession thereof being the onely cause of his advancement to that high degree wherein he was The Governour moved at this Speech of David Hamiltons answered the Cardinall That he would not meddle with the blood of that good man and told him That his blood should be on him for he himselfe would be free of it At this the Cardinall was angry and said he would proceed and that he had sent to the Governour of meere civility without any need And so the servant of God delivered to the hand of that proud and mercilesse Tyrannie triumph was made by the Priests The godly lamented and accused the foolishnesse of the Governour For by the retaining of the said M. George he might have caused Protestants and Papists rather proud Romanists to have served The one to the end the life of their Preacher might have been saved The other for feare that he should have set him at liberty again to the confusion of the Bishops But where God is left as he had plainely renounced him before what can counsell or judgement availe How the servant of God was dealt withall and what he did from the day that he entred within the sea Tower of S. Andrews which was in the end of January in the yeere of God 1546. unto the first of March the same yeere when he suffered we cannot certainly tell except we understand he wrote somewhat in prison but that was suppressed by the enemies The Cardinall delayed no time but caused all Bishops yea all the Clergie that had any preheminence to be called to S. Andrews against the seven and twentieth day of February that consultation might be had in that question which in his minde was no lesse resolved then Christs death was in the minde of Caiaphas But that the rest should bear the like burden with him he would that they should before the world subscribe whatsoever he did In that day was wrought a wonder not unlike that which was at the accusation and death of Jesus Christ when Pilate and Herod who before were enemies were made friends by consenting of them both to Christs condemnation differs nothing except that Pilate and Herod were brethren under their father the Devill in the estate called Temporall And these two of whom we are about to speake were brethren sons of the same father the Devill in the estate Ecclesiasticall If we interlace merrynesse with earnest matters pardon us good Reader for the fact is so notable that it deserveth long remembrance The Cardinall was knowne proud and Dumbar Archbishop of Glasgow was knowne a glorious foole And yet because sometimes he was called the Kings Master he was Chancellour of Scotland The Cardinall cometh even the same yeere in the end of harvest before to Glasgow upon what purpose we omit But while they remaine together the one in the Towne the other in the Castle Question riseth for bearing of their Crosses The Cardinall alleadged That by reason of his Cardinalship and that he was Legatus natus and Primate within Scotland in the kingdome of Antichrist That he should have the preheminence and that his Crosse should not onely go before but that also it should onely be borne wheresoever he was Good Gukstone Glakstone the aforesaid Archbishop lacked no reasons as he thought for maintenance of his glory He was an Archbishop in his owne Diocesse and in his owne Cathedrall Seat and Church and therefore ought to give place to no man The power of the Cardinall was but begged from Rome and appertaineth but to his own person and not to his Bishoprick for it might be that his successour should not be Cardinall but his dignity was annexed with his office and did appertaine to all
of Hosts turne us againe make thy face to shine and we shall be saved c. This Psalme had the said Iohn begun in Edinburgh as it were foreseeing our calamity of which in very deed he did not obscurely speak but he plainly did admonish us That he was assured of troubles suddenly to come and therefore he exhorted all men to prayers He treated the first three Verses in Edinburgh to the comfort of many The Argument of the 80 Psalme He declared the Argument of the Psalme affirming for his judgement That it was made by David himself who in the Spirit of Prophesie foresaw the miserable estate of Gods people especially after the ten Tribes were divided and departed from the obedience of Iuda for it was not said he without cause that Ioseph Ephraim Benjamin and Manasse was especially named and not Iuda to wit Because that they came first to calamity and were translated from their own Inheritance while that Iuda yet possessed the Kingdome He confessed that justly they were punished for Idolatry committed but he affirmed That amongst them there remained some true worshippers of God for whose comfort were the Prophets sent as well to call them to repentance as to assure them of deliverance and of the promises of God to be performed unto them The Division He divided the Psalme into three parts to wit 1. In a Prayer 2. In the ground whereupon their Prayer was founded 3. And in the lamentable complaints and the Vow they made unto God Their Prayer was That God should convert and turne them That he should make his face to shine upon them And that he should restore them to their former dignity The Grounds and Foundations of their Prayers were 1. That God himself had become Pastor and Governour unto them 2. That he had taken the protection of them into his own hand 3. That he had chosen his habitation amongst them 4. That he had delivered them from Bondage and Thraldome 5. That he had multiplied and blessed them with many notable Benedictions Upon those two parts he gave these Notes First That the felicity of Gods people may not be measured by any externall appearance for often it is That the same people to whom God becometh not onely Creator but Pastor and Protector is more severely dealt with then those Nations where very ignorance and contempt of God raigneth Secondly That God never made his acquaintance and league with one people by his Word but that there he had some of his elect who albeit they suffered for a time in the midst of the wicked yet in the end they found comfort and felt in very experience that Gods promises are not vaine Thirdly That those prayers were dyted unto the people by the holy Ghost before they came to the uttermost of trouble to assure them that God by whose Spirit the Prayer was dyted would not contemne the same in the midst of their calamities The third part containing the lamenable complaint he treated on in Sterlin in presence of the Duke and of the whole Councell In the exposition thereof he declared wherfore God in wisedom sometimes suffered his chosen Flock to be exposed to mockage and dangers and to appearing destruction to wit That they may feel the vehemency of Gods indignation That they may know how little strength is in themselves That they may leave a testimony to the Generations following as well of the malice of the Devill against Gods people as of the marvellous work of God in preserving his little flock by farre other means than man can espie In explaning these words How long shalt thou be angry O Lord against the prayer of thy people he declared how dolorous and fearfull it was to fight against that temptation that God turned away his face from our prayers for that was nothing else than to comprehend and conceive God to bee armed to our destruction which temptation no flesh can abide nor overcome unlesse the mighty Spirit of God interpose himself suddenly The example he gave The impaciency of Saul when God would not hear his prayers The difference betwixt the Elect and Reprobate in that Temptation he plainly declared to be that the Elect sustained by the secret power of Gods Spirit did still call upon God albeit he appeared to contemne their prayers which said he is the sacrifice most acceptable to God and is in a manner even to fight with God and to overcome him as Iacob did in wrastling with his Angell But the Reprobate said he being denyed of their requests at Gods hand do either cease to pray and contemne God who straightlie commandeth us to call upon him in the day of adversitie or else they seek at the Devill that which they see they cannot obtain by God 2. In the second part he declared how hard it was to this corrupt nature of ours not to rejoyce and put confidence in our selves when God giveth victory and therefore how necessary it was that man by affliction should be brought to the knowledge of his own infirmitie least that he being puffed up with vain confidence he make an Idoll of his owne strength as did King Nebuchadnezzar He did gravely dispute upon the nature of the blinde world which in all ages had insolently rejoyced when God did chasten his own children whose glory and honour because the Reprobate can never see therefore they despiâ—e them and the wondrous works of God in them And yet said he the joy and rejoycing of the world is but meer sorrow because the end of it tendeth to sudden destructon as the riotous banquetting of Baltasar declareth applying these heads to the time and persons he said if none of Gods children had suffered before us the same injuries that presently we sustaine these our troubles would appear intollerable such is our tender delicacie and selfe-love of our owne flesh That these things which we lightly passe over in others we can greatlie complaine of if they touch our selves I doubt not but that some of us have ofter then once read this Psalme as also that we have read and heard the travell and troubles of our ancient Fathers But which of us either in reading or hearing their dolours and temptations did so discend into our selves that we felt the bitternesse of their passions I think none And therefore hath God brought us to some experience in our own persons But yet because the matter may appear obscure unlesse it be more properly applyed I cannot in conscience but use such plainnesse as God shall grant unto me Our faces are this day confounded our enemies triumph our hearts have quaked for fear and yet they remain oppressed with sorrow and shame But what shall we think to be the very cause that God hath thus dejected us if I shall say Our sins and former unthankfulnesse unto God I speak the truth but yet I speak more generally then the present necessity requireth For when the sins of men are
rebuked in generall seldome it is that man descendeth within himself accusing and condemning in himself that which most displeaseth God but rather he doubteth that to be a cause which before God is no cause indeed For example The Israelites fighting against the Tribe of Benjamin were twice discomfited with the losse of 40000 men They lamented and bewailed both first and last but we finde not that they came to the knowledge of their offence and sin which was the cause that they fell by the edge of the sword but rather they doubted that to have been a cause of their misfortune which God had commanded for they asked Shall we go and fight any more against our brethren the sonnes of Benjamin By which question it is evident That they supposed that the cause of their overthrow and discomfite was Because they had lifted the sword against their brethren and naturall Countrey-men And yet the expresse Commandment of God that was given unto them did deliver them from all crime in that cause There is no doubt but that there was some cause in the Israelites that God gave them so over into the hands of these wicked men against whom he sent them by his own expresse Commandment to execute his Judgements Such as do well mark the History and the estate of that people may easily see the cause why God was offended All the whole people had declined from God Idolatry was maintained by the common consent of the multitude and as the Text saith Every man did that which appeared good in his own eyes In this mean time the Levite complained of the villany that was done unto himself and unto his wife which oppressed by the Benjamites of Gibeah died under their filthy lusts which horrible fact enflamed the hearts of the whole people to take vengeance upon that abomination and therein they offended but in this they failed That they go to execute judgement against the wicked without any repentance or remorse of conscience of their owne former offences and defection from God And farther Because they were a great multitude and the other were far inferiour unto them They trusted in their own strength and thought themselves able enough to do their purpose without any invocation of the Name of God But after that they had twice proved the vanity of their own strength they fasted and prayed and being humbled before God they received a more favourable answer and assured promise of the Victory The like may be amongst us albeit suddenly we do not espie it And to the end that every man may the better examine himself I will divide the whole company into two sorts of men The one are those that from the beginning of this trouble have sustained the common danger with their brethren The other be these which be joyned to our fellowship In the one and in the other I fear that just cause shall be found why God should thus have humbled us And albeit that this appear strange at the first hearing yet if every man shall examine himself I speak as that his conscience dyteth him I doubt not but he shall subscribe to my sentence Let us begin at our selves who longest hath continued in this Battell When we were a few number in comparison of our enemies when we had neither Earle nor Lord a few excepted to comfort us we called upon God and took him for our Protector Defence and onely Refuge Amongst us was heard no bragging of multitude nor of our strength nor policy we did onely sob to God to have respect to the equity of our Cause and to the cruell pursuit of the tyrannicall enemy But since that our number had been thus multiplied and chiefly since the Duke with his friends have been joyned with us there was nothing heard but This Lord will bring these many hundred Speares This man hath the credit to perswade this Countrey If this Earle be ours no man in such bounds will trouble us And thus the best of us all that before felt Gods potent hand to our defence hath of late dayes put Flesh to be our Arme. But wherein yet had the Duke and his friends offended It may be That as we have trusted in them so have they put too much confidence in their owne strength But granting it be not so I see a cause most just why the Duke and his friends should thus be confounded amongst the rest of their brethren I have not yet forgotten what was the dolour and anguish of my owne heart when at Saint Iohnston Cooper-Moure and Edinburgh Craigs those cruell murtherers that now hath put us to this dishonour threatned our present destruction The Duke and his friends at all three Journeys was to them a great comfort and unto us a great discouragement For his name and authority did more astonish us then did the force of the other yea without his assistance they could not have compelled us to appoint with the Queen upon so unequall Conditions I am certaine if the Duke hath unfainedly repented of that his assistance to those murtherers unjustly pursuing us yea I am certaine if he hath repented of the innocent blood of Christs blessed Martyrs which was shed by his fault But let it be that so he hath done as I hear that he hath confessed his offence before the Lords and Brethren of the Congregation yet I am assured That neither he neither yet his friends did feel before this time the anguish and grief of hearts which we felt when their blinde fury pursued us and therefore hath God justly permitted both them and us to fall into this confusion at once us for that we put our trust and confidence in man and them because that they should feel their owne hearts how bitter was the cup which they made others to drinke before them Resteth that both they and we turn to the Eternall our God who beateth down to death to the intent that he may raise up again to leave the remembrance of his wonderous deliverance to the praise of his owne Name which if we do unfainedly I no more doubt but that this our dolour confusion and fear shall be turned into joy honour and boldnesse then that I doubt that God gave Victory to the Israelites over the Benjamites after that twice with ignominy they were repulsed and driven back yea whatsoever shall become of us and our mortall carkasses I doubt not but that this Cause in despight of Sathan shall prevaile in this Realme of Scotland For as it is the eternall Trueth of the eternall God so shall it once prevaile howsoever for the time it be impugned It may be that God shall plague some for that they delight not in the Trueth albeit for worldly respects they seem to favour it Yea God may take some of his dearest children away before that their eyes see greater troubles But neither shall the one nor the other so hinder this action but in the end it shall
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
second Booke of the Historie Commissions and charge was given unto Iohn Knox Minister of Edinburgh and unto certain of the Elders of the Church of Edinburgh to passe to the Town of Iedwart where the slander was raised and to be found there the third of Ianuary next was the tryall to be taken of the slander raised and to hear the Articles and complaint of the said Paul and after the tryall to report the truth to the Session of the Church of Edinburgh To whom with the assistance of the superintendent of Lowthian Commission was given to discerne therein The tryall and examination of that crime was difficile the slander was universall in that Towne and Country the servant woman of the said Paul had betwixt that and Christmas left his House she had borne a child no father to it could she finde but alleaged her self to have been suppressed late in an Evening the said Paul constantly affirmed himself innocent and would have given his publike purgation but because his Accusators had taken on them to prove ther accusation that was denyed many witnesses were produced of whom some deposed so clearly that the Commissioners suspected that they had been suborned and therefore they required to have inspection of the places where some said they saw and some said they heard them in the very act of iniquitie The sight and consideration of the place augmented greatly the suspition but one thing was most suspitious of all other for the Wife of the sad Paul an ancient Matron was absent from him the space of eight or nine weeks in Dundie which time or at least a great part thereof they suspected and he lay nightly in one house without other company then a Childe of seven or eight yeers of age The Judges notwithstanding these suspitions having a good opinion of the honestie and godlinesse of the man travelled what they could conscience not hurt to purge him of the slander But God who would not that such a Villanie should be cloaked and concealed within his Kirk otherwayes had decreed for he brought the brother of the guilty woman to the Towne having no minde of such matters who being produced by the Accusators as one that was privy to the fact and knew the veritie of all circumstances this witnesse we say which could not be suspected being produced made the matter so plain and clear that all suspition was removed for he it was that conveyde the woman away he it was that caused the Childe to be baptised alleaging it to be his own he it was that carried frequent message betwixt them and from Paul carryed money and clothes divers times How soon that ever the said Paul saw that man produced as Witnesse he withdrew himselfe and left the Town by that means plainly taking upon him the Crime And so the Commissioners with full information returned to Dundie and notified the same unto the Kirke who caused publikely to summon the said Paul to hear the sentence pronounced who not appearing in the end for his odious Crime and contumacy was publikely excommunicated and was deprived of all functions within the Kirke of Scotland and so left the Realme For two causes we insert this horrible fact and the order kept in punishing of the same the former to forewarn such as travell in that Vocation that according to the admonition of the Apostle Such as stand take heed lest they fall No man in the beginning of the Evangell was judged more fervent and more upright and yet we have heard how far Sathan has prevailed against him God grant that we may hear of his repentance neither yet should this fall do any thing to prejudice the Authoritie of the Doctrine which he taught for the Doctrine of God hath its authority of no creature but hath the assurance of God himselfe how weak or imperfect soever the Instruments be by whom it pleaseth God to publish the same The treason of Iudas the Adultery of David and abnegation of Peter did derogate nothing from the glory of Christs Evangell nor yet the Doctrine which before they had taught but declared the one to be a Reprobate and the other to be Instruments in whom mercy must surmount judgement The other cause is that the World may see what difference there is betwixt the uprightnesse of the Kirke of God and the corruption that reignes in the Synagogue of Sathan the Papisticall rabble for how many of that sort hath been and still remaine openly knowne Whoremongers Adulterers Violators of Virgines yea and committers of such abominations as we will not name and yet are they called and permitted to be Bishops Archbishops Cardinalls and Popes themselves For what sinnes can unable the sworne servants of Symonie and of their Father the Devill For bragg what they list of Christ of Peter and of Paul their lives and conversation bear witnesse to whom they belong But we return to our History of things done in Court Amongst the Menizoons of the Court there was one named Monsieur Chattelet a Frenchman that at that time passed all others in credit with the Queene In dancing of the purpose so terme they that dance in the which man and woman talketh secretly wise men would judge such fashions not agreeable to the gravity of honest women In this dance the Queen choose Chattelet and Chattelet took the Queen for he had the best dresse All this winter Chattelet was so familiar with the Queen that the Nobilitie being by this means stopped to have so free accesse as they thought fit and due unto them were highly offended at length Chattelet having conveyed himselfe privately under the Queens Bed but being espied was commanded away The Bruit arising the Queene called the Earle of Murray and bursting in a womanly affection charged him that as he loved her he should slay Chatelet and let him never speak word The other at the first made promise so to doe but after calling to minde the judgement of GOD pronounced against the shedders of innocent blood and also that none should die without the testimonie of two or three witnesses returned and fell upon his knees before the Queen and said Madame I beseech your Majestie cause not me to take the blood of this man upon me Your Majestie hath used him so familiarlie before that you have offended all your Nobilitie and now if he shall be secretly slain at your owne commandment what shall the world judge of it I shall bring him to the presence of Justice and let him suffer by Law according to his deserving Oh said the Queene you shall not let him speake I shall doe said he Madame what in me lyeth to give your Majestie content Poor Chattelet was brought back from Kingorne to Saint Andrews examined put to an Assize and so beheaded the two and twentieth day of February Anno Dom. 1562. He begged license to write to France the cause of his death which said he in his Tongue was Pour estre
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
cured within England which alas for pitie must now be brought into bondage and thraldome that pestilent Papists may reigne without punishment But O thou Beast I speak to thee Winchester more cruell then any Tygre Shall neither shame nor fear nor benefits received bridle thy Tyrannous cruelty Art thou not ashamed thou bloody Beast to betray thy native Countrey and the liberties of the same Fearest thou not to open such a door to all iniquitie that whole England should be made a common Stewes to Spanyards Wilt thou recompence the benefits which thou hast received of that Noble Realm with that ingratitude Remembrest thou not that England hath brought thee forth that England nourished thee that England hath promoted thee to riches honour and high dignitie And wilt thou now O wretched Captive for all these manifold benefits received be the cause that England shall not be England Yea verily for so wilt thou gratifie thy Father the Devill and his Lieutenant the Pope whom with all his baggage thou labourest now with tooth and naile to make florish again in England albeit like a dissembling Hypocrite and double faced wretch thou being thereto compelled by the invincible verity of Gods Holy Word wrotest long ago thy book intituled True Obedience against that Monstrous Whore of Babylon and her falsly usurped power and authority but now to thy pepetuall shame thou returnest to thy Vomit and art become an open Arch-Papist again Furthermore why seekedst thou the blood of Thomas Cranmer of good father Hugh Latimer and of that most learned and discreet man Doctor Ridley Doest thou not consider that the lenitie sincere Doctrine pure life godly conversation and discreet counsell of these three is notably known in more Realms then England Art thou not ashamed to seek the destruction of those who laboured for the safeguard of thy life and obtained the same when thou justly deservedst death But O thou sonne of Belial well declarest thou that nothing can mollifie the cruell malice nor purge the deadly venome of him in whose heart wickednesse beareth the dominion thou are like to Cain and fellow to Iudas the Traitour and therefore canst thou do nothing but thirst for the blood of Abel and betray Christ Jesus and his eternall verity Thus dear brethren must the sons of the Devill declare their own impietie and ungodlinesse that when Gods vengeance which shall not sleep shall be poured forth upon them all Tongues shall confesse acknowledge and say That God is righteous in all his judgements And to this end are cruell Tyrants permitted and suffered for a space and time not onely to live in wealth and prosperity but also to prevaile and obtain victory as touching the flesh over the very Saints of God and over such as enterpriseth to resist their fury at Gods commandment But now to the subsequent and that which followeth The Instrument and means wherewith Christ Jesus used to remove and put away the horrible fear and anguish of his Disciples is his onely word for so it is written But by and by Iesus spake unto them saying Be of good comfort it is I be not afraid The naturall man that cannot understand the power of God would have desired some other present comfort in so great a danger as Either to have had the heavens to have opened and to have shewed unto them such light in that darknesse that Christ might have been fully known by his own face or else That the Winds and raging Waves of the Seas suddenly should have ceased or some other Miracle that had been subject to all their sences whereby they might have perfectly known that they were delivered from all danger And truely equall it had been to Christ Jesus to have done any of these or any work greater as to have said It is I be not afraid But willing to teach us the dignitie and effectuall power of his most Holy Word he useth no other Instrument to pacifie the great and horrible fear of his Disciples but the same his comfortable Word and lively Voice and this is not done onely at one time but whensoever his Church is in such straight perplexity that nothing appeareth but extreme calamity desolation and ruine then the first comfort that ever it receiveth is by the meanes of his Word and Promise As in the troubles and temptations of Abraham Isaac Iacob Moses David and Paul may appear To Abraham was given no other defence after that he had discomfited four Kings whose posterity and linage no doubt he being a stranger greatly feared but onely this promise of God made to him by his holy Word Feare not Abraham I am thy Buckler that is Thy protection and defence The same we finde of Isaac who flying from the place of his accustomed habitation compelled thereto by hunger gat no other comfort nor conduct but this promise onely I will be with thee In all the journeyes and temptations of Iacob the same is to be espied As when he fled from his fathers house for fear of his brother Esau when he returned from Laban And when he feared the inhabitants of the Region of the Canaanites and Peresites for the slaughter of the Sichemites committed by his sons he receiveth none other defence but onely Gods Word and Promise And this in Moses and in the afflicted Church under him is most evident For when Moses himself was in such despair that he was bold to chide with God saying Why hast thou sent me for since that time I have come to Pharaoh to speak in thy Name he hath oppressed this people Neither yet hast thou delivered thy people This same expostulation of Moses declareth how sore he was tempted yea and what opinion he had conceived of God that is That God was either impotent and could not deliver his people from such a tyrants hands or else That he was mutable and unjust of his promises And this same and sorer temptations assaulted the people For in anguish of heart they both refused God and Moses as we before have partly touched And what meanes used God to comfort them in that great extremity Did he straightway suddenly kill Pharaoh the great Tyrant No. Did he send them a legion of Angels to defend and deliver them No such thing But he onely reciteth and beateth into their ears his former promises to them which oftentimes they had before And yet the rehearsall of the same wrought so mightily in the heart of Moses that not onely was bitternesse and despair removed away but also he was enflamed with such boldnesse that without fear he went again to the presence of the King after he had been threatned and repulsed by him This I write beloved in the Lord that ye knowing the Word of God not onely to be that whereby were created heaven and earth but also to be the power of God to salvation to all that believe the bright lantern
Word from the whole Realme of England But be thou mindefull O Lord that it is thy Truth which we have professed and that thy enemies blasphemeth thy holy Name and our Profession without Cause Thy holy Gospel is called heresie and we are accused as traytors for professing the same Be mercifull therefore O Lord and be salvation unto us in this time of our anguish Albeit our sins accuse and condemne us yet do thou according to thine own Name We have offended against thee Our sins and iniquities are without number and yet art thou in the midst of us O Lord albeit that tyrants bear rule over our bodies yet thirsteth our souls for the comfort of thy Word Correct us therefore but not in thy hot displeasure spare thy people and permit not thine inheritance to bâ— in rebuke for ever Let such O Lord as now are most afflicted yet once againe praise thy holy Name before thy Congregation Represse the pride of those blood-thirsty Tyrants consume them in thine anger according to the reproach which they have laid against thy holy Name Pour forth thy vengeance upon them and let our eyes behold the blood of thy Saints required of their hands Delay not thy vengeance O Lord but let death devour them in haste Let the earth swallow them up and let them go downe quick to the hells For there is no hope of their amendment the feare and reverence of thy holy Name is quite banished from their hearts and therefore yet again O Lord consume them consume them in thine anger and let them never bring their wicked counsells to effect but according to the godly powers let them be taken in the snare which they have prepared for thine elect Look upon us O Lord with the eyes of thy mercy and shew pity upon us thy weak and sore oppressed Flock Gather us yet once again to the wholesome treasures of thy most holy Word that openly we may confesse thy blessed Name within the Realme of England Grant this O heavenly Father for Christ Iesus thy sons sake Amen If on this manner or otherwise as God shall put in our hearts without hypocrisie in the presence of our God respecting more his glory then our private wealth continually we poure forth our complaint confession and prayers Then so assuredly as our God liveth and as we feel these present troubles shall our God himself rise to our defence he shall confound the counsels of our enemies and trouble the wits of such as most wrongfully troubleth us He shall send Jesu to execute his just judgments against Idolators and against such as obstinately defendeth them Yea the chiefe men of our times shall not escape the vengeance and plagues that are prepared for their portion The flatterers and maintainers of her abominations shall drink the cup of Gods wrath And in despite of the Devill shall yet the glory of Christ Jesus and the brightnesse of his countenance so shine in our hearts by the presence of his grace and before our eyes by the true preaching of his Gospel that altogether we shall fall before him and say O Lord thou art our God we shall extoll thee and shall confesse thy Name for thou â—ast brought wonderous things to passe according to thy counsels which albeit appear to be farre off yet are they true and most assured Thou hast brought to ruine the palaces of tyrants and therefore shall the afflicted magnifie thee and the City of tyrannicall Nations shall fear thee Thou hast been O Lord a strong defence to the poor a sure place of refuge to the afflicted in the time of his anguish This no doubt dear Brethren shall one day be the song of Gods Elect within the Realm of England after that God hath poured forth his vengeance upon these disobedient and blood-thirsty tyrants which now triumpheth in all abominations and therefore yet again beloved in the Lord Abide patiently the Lords deliverance avoyding and flying such offences as may separate and divide you from the blessed felloâ—ship of the Lord Jesus at his second comming Watch and pray resist the â—ivell and row against this vehement tempest and shortly shall the Lord come to the comfort of your hearts which now are oppressed with anguish and care but then shall ye so rejoyce that through gladnesse you shall say Behold this our God we have waited upon him and he hath saved us This is our Lord we have long thirsted for his comming now shall we rejoyce and be glad in his salvation Amen The great Bishop of our souls Jesus our Lord so strengthen and assist your troubled hearts with the mighty comfort of his Holy Ghost that earthly tyrants nor worldly torments have no power to drive you from the hope and expectation of that Kingdom which for the Elect was prepared from the beginning by our heavenly Father to whom be all praise and honour now and ever Amen Remember me dear Brethren in your daily prayers The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Yours with sorrowfull heart JOHN KNOX The Copie of A LETTER Delivered To Queen Mary Regent OF SCOTLAND FROM IOHN KNOX Minister of Gods Word in the yeer of our Lord 1556. and thereafter augmented and explained by the Author in the yeer of our Lord 1558. To the most Excellent Princesse MARY DOVVAGER Regent of Scotland MADAME THE cause which moved me to present this my Supplication unto your Majestie enlarged and in some places explained being in the Realm of Scotland in the Moneth of May 1556. I caused to be presented to your Majesty is the incredible rage of such as beare the Title of Bishops who against all justice and equitie have pronounced against me a most cruell sentence condemning my Bodie to Fire my Soul to Damnation and all Doctrine taught by me to be false deceivable and Hereticall If this injury did tend to me alone having the testimony of a good conscience with silence I could passe the matter being assured that such as they curse and expell their Synagogues for such causes shall God blesse and Christ Jesus receive in his eternall societie But considering that this their blasphemy is vomited forth against the eternall Truth of Christs Evangell whereof it hath pleased the great mercy of God to make me a Minister I cannot cease to notifie as well to your Majestie as to them That so little am I afraid of their Tyrannicall and surmised sentence that in place of the Picture if God impede not my purpose they shall have the Body to justice that Doctrine which they Members of Satan blasphemously do condemne Advertising your Majestie in the mean time That from them their sentence and tyrannie and from all those that lift to maintain them in the same I do appeal to a lawfull and generall Councel beseeching your Majesty to take in good part that I call you for witnesse that I have required the libertie of
tongue and my Cause to be heard before your Majestie and the Body of the Realm before that any such Processe was laid against me as this my Letter directed to your Majesty doth testifie The beginning of the Letter THE Eternall Providence of the same God who hath appointed his chosen Children to fight in this transistory and wretched life a battell strong and difficile hath also appointed their finall victory by a marvellous fashion and the manner of their preservation in their battell more marvellous their victory standeth not in resisting but in suffering as our Soveraign Master pronounceth to his Disciples that in patience they should possesse their soules And the same foresaw the Prophet Esay when that he painteth forth all other battell to be with violence tumult and blood-shedding but the victory of Gods people to be in quietnesse silence and hope meaning that all others that obtain victorie do enforce themselves to resist their adversaries to shed bloood and to murther But so do not the Elect of God but all things they sustain at the commandment of him who hath appointed them to suffer being most assuredly perswaded that then onely they triumph when all wen judge them oppressed For in the Crosse of Christ alwayes is included a secret and hid victory never well known till the sufferer appear all together to be as it were exterminate for then onely did the blood of Abel crie to God when proud Cain judged all memory of his brother to have been extinguished and so I say their victory is marvellous and how that they can be preserved and not brought to utter confusion the eye of man perceiveth not But he whose power is infinite by secret and hid motions toucheth the hearts of such as to mans judgment hath power to destroy them with very pietie and compassion to save his people as in times past he did the hearts of the Egyptian Midwives to preserve the men-children of the Israelites when command was given of Pharoah for their destruction The heart of Pharaohs daughter likewise to pitty Moses in his young infancy exposed to the danger of the waters The heart of Nabuchadnezzar to preserve the Captives alive and liberally to nourish the Children that were found apt to Letters And finally The heart of Cyrus to set at liberty the people of God after long bondage and thraldome And thus doth the invisible power and love of God manifest it self towards his Elect from time to time for two causes specially First to comfort his weake warriers in their manifold temptations letting them understand That he is able to compell such as sometimes were enemies to his people to fight their Cause and to promote their deliverance And secondarily to give a testimony of his favour to them that by all appearance did lâ—ve before as Saint Paul speaketh wanting God in the world as strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel and without the league of his mercifull promise and free grace mâ—de to his Church For who would have affirmed That any of these persons aforenamed had been of that nature and clemency before occasions were offered unto them But the works of mercie shewed to the afflicted have left to as assurance That God used them as vessels of his honour For pitie and mercie shewed to Christs afflicted flock as they never lacked reward temporall so if they be continued and be not changed into crueltie are assured signes and seales of everlasting mercy to be received from God who by his Holy Spirit moveth their heats to shew mercy to the people of God oppressed and afflicted Addition THis Preface I used to give your Majestie occasion more deeply to consider what hath been the condition of Christs Members from the beginning that in so doing ye might see That it is no new thing that the Saints of God be oppressed in the word that ye moved by earnest contemplation of the same might also study rather to save them from murder although by the wicked councels of many ye were provoked to the contrary then to engage your self to the corrupt Clergie who are servants to sinne and Sathan whose fury is bent against God and his verity But this after followeth in our Let-which thus proceedeth Letter YOur Majestie perchance doth wonder to what purpose these things be recited and I in very deed cannot wonder enough that occasion is offered to me a worme most wretched to recite the same at this present for I have looked rather for the sentence of death then to have written to your Majestie in these last and most wicked dayes in which Sathan so blindeth the hearts of many that innocents are condemned their Cause never tried Addition HEreof ye cannot be ignorant For besides these whom ye hear from time to time most cruelly to be murthered in France Italy Spaine Flanders and now of late yeers besides you in England for no other cause but that they professe Christ Jesus to be the onely Saviour of the world The onely Mediator betwixt God and man The onely Sacrifice acceptable for the sins of all faithfull and finally The onely Head to his Church Besides these I say of whom ye hear the brute ye have been witnesse That some within the Realm of Scotland for the same cause most cruelly have been murthered whose cause was never heard with indifferency But murtherers sitting in the Seat of Justice have shed the blood of Christs true Witnesses which albeit did then appear to be consumed away with fire yet it is resent in the presence of him for whose cause they did suffer and ceaseth not to call for vengeance with the blood of Abel to fall upon not onely such as were immediate and next authors of that murther but also upon all those that maintain those tyrants in their tyranny or that do consent to their beastly cruelty or that do not stop having the power in hand Take not this as the affirmation of any man but hear and consider the voice of the Son of God Fulfill saith he the measure of your fathers that all the blood which hath been shed since the blood of Abel the just till the blood of Zachariah c. may come upon this generation Hereby it is evident That the murtherers of our time as well as in the time of Christ are guilty of all the blood that hath been shed from the beginning Fearfull I grant is the sentence yet it is most equall and just For whosoever sheddeth the blood of any one of Christ Jesus his members for professing of his Truth consenteth to all the murther which hath been made since the beginning for that cause So that as there is one communion of all Gods Elect of whom every member is participant of the holy Justice of Christ so is there a communion among the reprobate by which every one of the Serpents seed are criminall and guilty of all iniquity which the whole Body committeth because
their greatest prosperity For the better understanding of this complaint and of the minde of the Prophet we must first observe from whence all Authority floweth and secondly To what end Powers are appointed by God The which two points being discussed we shall the better understand what lords and what authority rules beside God and who they are in whom God and his mercifull presence rules The first is resolved to us by the words of the Apostle saying There is no Power but of God David bringeth in the Eternall God speaking to Judges and Rulers saying I have said Ye are gods and Sons of the Most High And Solomon in the person of God affirmeth the same saying By me Kings raigne and Princes discern the things that are just Of which place it is evident That it is neither Birth influence of Stars election of people force of Arms nor finally whatsoever can be comprehended under the power of nature that maketh the distinction betwixt the superiour power and the inferiour or that doth establish the Royall Throne of Kings but it is the onely and perfect Ordinance of God who willeth his Terrour Power and Majestie in a part to shine in the Thrones of Kings and in the faces of Judges and that for the profit and comfort of man So that whosoever would studie to deface that order of Regiment that God hath established and by his holy Word allowed and bring in such a confusion as no difference should be betwixt the upper Powers and the subjects doth nothing but evert and turne upside downe the very Throne of God which he will to be fixed here upon earth as in the end and cause of this Ordinance more plainly shall appear which is the second Point we have to observe for the better understanding of the Prophets words and minde The end and cause then why God printeth in the weak and feeble flesh of man this Image of his own Power and Majestie is not to puff up flesh in opinion of it self neither yet that the heart of him that is exalted above others shâ—ll be lifted up by presumption and pride and so despise others but that he shall consider that he is appointed Lieutenant to one whose eyes continually watch upon him to see and examine how he behaveth himself in his Office Saint Paul in few words declareth the end wherefore the sword is committed to the powers saying It is to the punishment of the wicked doers and unto the praise of such as do well Of which words it is evident That the sword of God is not committed to the hand of man to use as it pleaseth him but onely to punish vice and maintain vertue that men may live in such society as before God is acceptable And this is the very and onely cause why God hath appointed powers in this Earth For such is the furious rage of mans corrupt nature That unlesse severe punishment were appointed and put in execution upon malefactors Better it were that man should live among brute and wilde Beasts then among men But at this present I dare not enter into the description of this common place for so should I not satisfie the Text which by Gods grace I purpose to absolve This onely by the way I would that such as are placed in Authority should consider Whether they raign and rule by God so that God ruleth them or if they rule without besides and against God of whom our Prophet here doth complain If any list to take tryall of this point it is not hard For Moses in the election of Judges and of a King describeth not onely what persons shall be chosen to that honour but doth also give to him that is elected and chosen the rule by the which he shall try himself whether God raign in him or not saying When he shall sit upon the throne of his Kingdom he shall write to himself an examplar of this Law in a Book by the Priests and Levites it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life That he may learn to fear the Lord his God and to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes that he may do them that his heart be not lifted up above his Brethren and that he turn not from the commandment to the right hand or to the left The same is repeated to Ioshuah in his inanguration to the Regiment of the people by God himself saying Let not the Book of this Law depart from thy mouth but meditate in it day and night that thou mayst keep it and do according to all that which is written in it For then shall thy way be prosperous and thou shalt do prudently The first thing then that God craveth of him that is called to the Honour of a King is The knowledge of his Will revealed in his Word The second is An upright and willing minde to put in execution such things as God commandeth in his Law without declining to the right or to the left hand Kings then have not an absolute Power to do in their Regiment what pleaseth them but their Power is limited by Gods Word So that if they strike where GOD hath not commanded they are but murtherers and if they spare where GOD hath commanded to strike they and their Throne are criminall and guilty of the wickednesse that aboundeth upon the face of the earth for lack of punishment O that Kings and Princes would consider what account shall be craved of them as well of their ignorance and misknowledge of Gods Will as for the neglecting of their Office But now to returne to the words of the Prophet In the person of the whole people he doth complain unto God That the Babilonians whom he calleth Other lords besides God both because of their ignorance of God and by reason of their cruelty and inhumanity had long ruled over them in great rigour without pity or compassion had upon the ancient men and famous matrons For they being mortall enemies to the people of God fought by all meanes to aggravate their yoke yea utterly to have exterminate the memory of them and of their Religion from the face of the earth After the first part of this dolorous complaint the Prophet declareth the Protestation of the people saying Neverthelesse in thee shall we remember thy Name others reade it But we will remember thee onely and thy Name But in the Hebrew there is no Conjunction Copulative in that sentence The minde of the Prophet is plaine to wit That notwithstanding the long sustained affliction the people of God declined not to a false and vain Religion but remembred God that sometime appeared to them in his mercifull presence which albeit then they saw not yet would they still remember his Name that is They would call to minde the Doctrine and Promise which at sometimes they heard albeit in their prosperity they did not sufficiently glorifie God
to think that our God beareth lesse love to his Church this day then that he hath done from the beginning For as our God in his own nature is immutable so remaineth his love towards his elect alwayes unchangeable For as in CHRIST JESUS he hath chosen his Church before the beginning of all ages so by him will he maintain and preserve the same unto the end Yea he will quiet the storms and cause the earth to open her mouth and receive those raging flouds of violent waters cast out by the Dragon to drown and carry away the woman which is the spouse of Jesus Christ unto whom God for his own Names â—ake will be the perpetuall Protector This saw that notable servant of Jesus Christ Athanasius who being exiled from Alexandria by that blasphemous Apostata Iulian the Emperour said unto his flock who bitterly wept for his envious banishment Weep not but be of good comfort said he For this little cloud will suddainly vanish A little cloud he called both the Emperour himself and his cruell tyranny And albeit That small appearance there was of any deliverance to the Church of God or yet of any punishment to have apprehended the proud tyrants when the man of God pronounced these words Yet shortly after God did give witnesse That those words did not proceed from flesh nor blood but from Gods very spirit For not long after being in warfare he received a deadly wound whether by his own hand or by one of his own souldiers the Writers cleerly conclude not But casting his own blood against the Heaven he said Vicisti tandem Galilee That is At last thou hast overcome thou Galilean So in despite he termed the Lord Jesus and so perished that tyrant in his own iniquity The storm ceased and the Church of God received now comfort Such shall be the end of all cruell persecuters Their raign shall be short their end miserable and their name shall be left in execrations to Gods people and yet shall the Church of God remain to Gods glory after all storms But now shortly let us come to the last point For behold saith the Prophet the Lord will come out of his place to visit the iniquitie of the Inhabitants of the earth upon them and the earth shall disclose her blood and shall no more hide her slain because that the finall end of the troubles of Gods Chosen shall not be before that the Lord Iesus shall return to restore all things to their full perfection The Prophet bringeth forth the Etenall God as it were from his owne place and habitation and therewith sheweth the cause of his coming to bee That hee might take account of all such as have wrought wickedly for that he meaneth where he saith Hee will visit the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth upon them And lest that any should thinke That the wrong doers are so many that they cannot bee called to an account he giveth unto the earth as it were an Office and charge to beare witnesse against all those that have wrought wickedly and chiefly against those that have shed innocent blood from the beginning and saith That the earth shall disclose her blood and shall no more hide her slain men If Tyrants of the earth and such as delight in the shedding of blood should be perswaded that this sentence is true they would not so furiously come to their own destruction for what man can be so enraged that he would willingly do even before the eyes of God that which might provoke his Majestie to anger yea provoke him to become his enemy for ever if that he understood how fearfull a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God The cause then of this blinde fury of the world is the ignorance of God and that men think that God is but an Idoll and that there is no knowledge above that beholdeth their Tyranny neither yet Justice that will nor power that can represse their impiety but yet the Spirit of truth doth witnesse the contrary affirming That as the eyes of the Lord are upon the just and as his ears are ready to receive their sobbing and prayers so is his angry visage against such as work iniquitie he hateth and holdeth in abomination every deceitfull and blood-thirsty man whereof he hath given sufficient document from age to age in preserving the one or at least in revenging of their cause and in punishing of the other Where it is said That the Lord will come from his place and that he will visit the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth upon them and that the earth shall disclose her blood we have to consider what most commonly hath been and what shall be the condition of the Church of God to wit That it is not onely hated mocked and despised but that it is exposed as it were in a prey unto the fury of the wicked so that the blood of the Children of God is spilt like unto water upon the face of the earth The understanding whereof albeit it be unpleasant to the flesh yet to us it is most profitable lest that we seeing the cruell entreatings of Gods servants begin to forsake the Spouse of Jesus Christ because that she is not so dealt withall in this unthankfull world as the just and upright dealing of Gods Children do deserve But contrariwise for mercy they receive crueltie for doing good to many of all the reprobate they receive evill And this is decreed in Gods eternall Councell that the members may follow the trace of the head to the end that God in his just judgement should finally condemne the wicked for how should he punish the inhabitants of the earth if their iniquitie deserved it not How should the earth disclose our blood if it should not bee unjustly spilt Wee must then commit our selves into the hands of our God and lay downe our neckes yea and patiently suffer our blood to bee shed that the righteous Judge may require account as most assuredly hee shall of all the blood that hath been shed from the blood of Abel the just till the day that the earth shall disclose the same I say every one that sheddeth or consenteth to shed the blood of Gods Children shall be guilty of the whole So that all the blood of Gods children shall crie vengeance not onely in generall but also in particular upon every one that hath shed the blood of any that unjustly suffered And if any thinke it strange that such as live this day can be guilty of the blood that was shed in the dayes of the Apostles let them consider that the verity it selfe pronounced That all the blood that was shed from the dayes of Abel unto the dayes of Zacharie should come upon that unthankfull generation that heard his Doctrine and refused it The reason is evident for as there is two heads and captains that rule over the whole world to wit Jesus Christ the Prince of
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
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