sayes the Queen I would be glad to understand If her right succession to England shall be made over in our Soveraigns person said he Papists will have no more hope and this I think the Queen his mother will dimit and resign to him But she hath no right said the Queen for she is declared incapable of succession And if she have no right said the Master the hope of Papists ceaseth and it is not to be feared that they will enterprise for her But the Papists said the Queen do not allow our Declaration Then let it fall said he in the Kings person by her resignation The Earl of Leicester obâ—ecting that she was a prisoner and could not dimit the Master answered That the dimission being made to her son with the advice of all the friends in Europe in case as God forbid the Queen by any attempt should be cut off she would have none to partake with her against her son all the princes her friends standing obliged for her resignation that it should be valid and effectual to her son The Queen making as though she did not understand him the Earl of Leicester said that the Ambassadours meaning was that the king should be in his Mothers place Is it so sayes the Queen then I put my self in worse case before By Gods passion this was her oath that were to cut mine own throat he shall never come in that place and be party to me The Master answered that he would be more party if he should come in his Mothers place through her death Well said the Queen tell your King what I have done for him to keep the Crown on his head since he was born and that for my part I mind to keep the league that stands betwixt us which if he break it shall be a double fault And with these words she made away Sir Robert Melvil following her requested for some eight days continuance of the execution whereunto she answered Not an hour The King advertised of this conference and that nothing but extremity was to be expected wrote with his own hand to the Master of Gray as followeth Reserve your self no longer in your dealing for my mother for you have done it too long and think not that any thing will do good if her life be lost for then adicu with further dealing with that State Therefore if you look for the continuance of my favour spare no pains nor plainnesse in this case but read my letter written to William Keith and conform your self wholly to the contents thereof and in this let me reap the fruits of your great credit there either now or never Farewell But before this letter came unto the Master he was drawn upon another course and made more cold in the businesse and as the fame went had taken upon him to pacify the King though the execution proceeded Mean while the Earl of Leicester wrote to the King a letter wherein not obscurely shewing what was resolved he advised him to deal more moderately in that matter of his mother her cause not being worth the losing of such a friend as the Queen his Soveraign was For albeit no man said he can blame your Majesty to speak for the safety of your mothers life yet under your favour your Majesty being a Prince and a King you ought to weigh without partiality the case of other Kings and Princes as if it might be your own Iustice should in the bosome of all Princes have such place that whatsoever affection may draw them if the thing which any of them doth for the preservation of their own life and estate be warranted it ought to be borne withall by others And proceeding in this manner he said Let the case of the Queen my Soveraign be made your Majesties and that any King or Prince being in your hands claiming title to your Crown would raise warre within your Realm against you or conspire with traitors within your Court or countrey to kill you in that case I would fain know what would be thought fit by any faithful or good subject of yours that you should do to such a one Nay give me leave I humbly beseech you to ask even of your self what you would think fit in such a case there is no other difference but that this offence is done to the Queen Majesty by your mother And after that a little for the letter is long If my plain speech may be without offence to your Majesty I would wish you to think well of this case remember how near it is to you and how much nearer it may be to you it is seen to all the world wherefore the life of our Mistris is sought whose death may be as farre out of your way as your mothers liberty hath heretofore been dangerous to your estate And if it be true which I have heard your Majesties self by her will had as well been dispossessed of the possession of that you have as defeated of any remainder you thought to have interest in And therefore as Kings be and ought to be jealous of their own estate so I doubt not but your Majesty will deeply consider of this case of your mothers wherein you may perform both the Office of a Son and of a King And as I have always advised you so do I still except for a just cause which I am perswaded you shall never have give not her Majesty any cause to conceive a breach of love and friendship on your part She is the person and Prince in the world that may do you most good or most harm let no perswasion or device make you think otherwise the world is full of practise and the worst heads most busy c. At the same time Secretary Walsingham writing to the Lord Thirlstan the Kings Secretary with whom he kept intelligence declared that it was wondred by all wise and religious men in England that the King should be so earnest in the cause of his mother seeing all the Papists in Europe that affected the change of Religion in both Realms did build their hopes altogether upon her and that she had shewed her self so passionate in point of Religion as she had transferred her pretended right to both the Crowns untothe King of Spain in case the King her son should persist in his profession It is true that such informations were given out amongst the Papists to divert the King from constancy in his profession but that any such tranflation was made by her it is not probable and a thing not to be believed her Declaration at the time of her death being far other as we shall hear Albeit a Popish Abbot descriving the life of Laurens the Cardinal who was at that time Protector of the Scottish Nation affirmeth the foresaid translation to have been in his hands and to have been delivered to him by Count Olivarez the Spanish Ambassadour at Rome But that doth merit little credit such forged titles would
and that people were terrified by this means from falling into these odious crimes Others reasoned That the principall end of all Church censures especially of Excommunication was the reclaiming of offenders and the bringing of them to the acknowledgment of their sin and that where the principall use had no place that other secondary ends ought not to be respected and so in case of Fugitives what could any Censure avail to their reclaiming they not being in place to answer or to receive any admonition yea and might it not fall that by proceeding against men in such case men truly sorrowfull for their sin should be sentenced and so the persons bound by the Church whom God hath loosed They did therefore judge it more safe in these cases to advertise people of the hainousness of the fact committed warning them to make their own profit thereof and to forbear all proceeding against the fugitive person till his condition should be made known This turned to be the resolution of the whole number and thereupon direction was given to the Ministers not to intend or follow any processe against fugitives in time coming This year the Earl of Eglington departed this life who having no childe nor heir male to succeed made a disposition of his lands and honours to Sir Alexander Seaton his Cousin germane with a proviso That he and his children should take the name and use the arms of the house of Montgomery The king who was alwaies most tender in the conveyance of honours being informed of the disposition made by the deceased Earl did by a Letter written to the Councell witness his displeasure at such alienations shewing that howsoever he could not stay Noblemen to dispose of their lands he being the fountain of all honour within his Kingdoms would not permit the same to be sold or alienated without his consent and thereupon did inhibit the said Sir Alexander to use the title of Lord or Earl notwithstanding the disposition made to him Some two years after his Majesty was pleased to bestow the honour upon him and so was he received into the place and honour formerly belonging to the house of Eglington In the month of october a Parliament was kept at Edinburgh the Chancellor being Commissioner for the King wherein the conclusions taken in the Assembly at Glasgow were ratified and all Acts and constitutions especially the Act made in the Parliament 1592 rescinded and annulled in so farre as they or any of them or any part of the same were derogatory to the Articles there concluded In this Parliament a subsidy was urged and a great contest made for the quantity which was required in a more large measure then in former times because of his Majesties affairs especially for the marriage of Lady Elizabeth with the Palsgrave who in the same moneth arrived in England The poverty of the Countrey with a fear that what was then granted should be made a Precedent for after times was pretended by those that withstood the motion albeit the true cause was known to be the dislike that the Popish faction had of the Match which by all means they laboured to crosse nor was any more busie then the Lord Burleigh to impede the subsidy he being a little before come from Court did affirm that the King in a private speech with him touching the same had said That he required no more then was granted in the Parliament 1606 and thereby made the opposition greater then otherwise it would have been yet in the end after long debating it was concluded that the supply should be more liberall in regard of the present occasion then at any time before The King upon advertisement of the Lord Burleighs business gave order to remove him from the Councel and to inhibit him from coming any more at Court which he apprehending to be the Lord Scones doing and that he had informed against him took so ill as he did send him a challenge and appeal him to the combat Hereupon he was committed in the Castle of Edinburgh where he remained some two moneths thereafter upon the acknowledgment of his offence and being reconciled with the Lord Scone he was put to liberty In Court at this time was great rejoicing and the marriage of the Lady Elizabeth with Prince Palatine daily expected when on the suddain all was turned to mourning by the death of Prince Henry who departed this life at S. Iames in the beginning of November A Prince of excellent virtues and all the perfections that can be wished for in youth He died at the age of 18 years and 8 moneths greatly lamented both at home and abroad The Councell esteeming it their duty to express their doleance for that accident made choice of the Chancellor and the Archbishop of Glasgow for that business But the King having received an hard information of the Chancellors carriage in the late Parliament sent his servant William Shaw to discharge him from coming to Court who encountring him at Morpet caused him to return The Archbishop who was no further advanced then Berwick accompanied the Chancellor to Edinburgh and after a short stay there as he was willed went to his journey again towards Court whither he came a little before Christmas The Nuptials in regard of the Princes death were put off to the February following at which time the sorrow being a little worn out the same were performed with great solemnity It was shewed before concerning the oppressions of the people of Orkney that the Acts made by the Earl in his Courts were judged unlawfull and he discharged to put the same thereafter in execution Notthelesse going on in his wonted course he sent his base son called Robert into the Countrey in shew to uplift his rents and duties but in effect to trie and punish the transgressours of these Acts whereupon new complaints being preferred to the Councell the King was advised to make purchase of Sir Iohn Arnots right to whom the Earl had impignorated his estate as being the only means to relieve that distressed people from his oppressions the bargain shortly was made and the King possessed in the lands Sir Iames Stewart Captain Iames his sonne being made Chamberlain and the Sheriffe of the Countrey The Earl himself was transported from Edinburgh to the Castle of Dunbarton and had allowed to him six shillings eight pence sterling a day for his entertainment where he had not long remained when as he received advertisement that the Castles of Kirkwall Birsay and other his Houses in these Isles were all rendered to the Sheriffe This put him in a great passion and many waies he essayed to make an escape but finding no possibility he sent his base son who was lately returned with an expresse command to take back the houses and expulse the Deputy Mr. Iohn Finlason whom the Chamberlain had left there The young man at his coming to Orkney being assisted with some loose people made
Scripturis Primaeva Antiquitale adstruuntur contra sentenliam D. Blondelli aliorum Authore Henrico Hammond in 4o. 4. A Letter of Resolution of six Quaere's in 12o. 5. Of Schisme A Dâ—fence of the Church of England against the Exceptions of the Romanists in 13o. 6. Of Fundamentals in a notion referring to Practise by H. Hammond D. D. in 12o. 7. An Answer to the Animadversions on the Dissertations touching Ignatius Epistles and the Episcopacy in them asserted subscribed by Iohn Owen servant of Jesus Christ in 40. 8. A Vindication of the Dissertations concerining Episcopacy from the Exceptions offered against them by the London Ministers in their Ius Divinum ministerii Evangelici in 4o. 9. A Reply to the Cathol Gent Answer to the most materiall part of the Book of Schisme together with an Account of H. T. His Appendix to his Manuall of Controversies c. 4o. The names of several Treatises and Sermons written by Ier Taylor D. D. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Course of Sermons for all the Sundayes of the Year Together with a Discourse of the Divine Institution Necessity Sacredness and Separation of the Office Ministerial in fol. 2. Episcopacy asserted in 4o. 3. The History of the Life and Death of the Ever-blâ—ssed Jesus Christ 2d Edit in fol. 4. The Liberty of Prophesying in 4o. 5. An Apology for authorized and Set-forms of Liturgie in 4o. 6. A Discourse of Baptisme its institution and efficacy upon all Believers in 4o. 7. The Rule and Exercises of holy living in 12o. 8. The Rule and Exercises of holy dying in 12o. 9. A Short Catechisme for institution of yong persons in the Christian Religion in 12o. 10. A Short Institution of Grammar composed for Yong Scholars in 8o. 11. The Reall Presence and Spirituall of CHRIST in the Blessed Sacrament proved against the Doct. ine of Transubstantiation in 8o. 12. A Manuall of daily Prayers fitted to the daies of the week together with a Short Method of Peace and Holyness Certamen Religiosum or a Conference between the late King of England and the late Lord Marquiss of Worcester concerning Religion at Ragland Castle Together with a Vindication of the Protestant Cause by Chr. Cartwright in 4o. The Psalter of David with Titles and Collects according to the mâ—tter of each Psalm by the Right honourable Chr. Hatton in 12º the 5. Edition with Additionals Boanerges and Barnabas or Judgement and Mercy for wounded and â—fflicted souls in several Soliloquies by Francis Quarles in 12o. The life of Faith in Dead Times by CBr Hudson Preacher at Putney in 12o. The Guide unto True Blessedness or a Body of the Doctrine of the Scriptures dirâ—cting a man to the saving knowledge of God by Sam. Crook in 12o. Six excellent Sermons upon several occasions preached by Edward Willan Vicar of Hoxne in 4o. The Dipper dipt or the Anabaptists duck'd and plung'd over head and ears by Daniel Featly D. D. in 4o. Hermes Theologus or a Divine Mercury new descants upon old Records by Theoph. Wodnote in 12o. Philosophical Elements concerning Government and Civil society by Thomas Hobbs of Malmesbury in 12º An Essay upon Statius or the five first books of Publ. Papinius Statius his Thebais by Tho. Stephens Schoolmaster in S. Edmonds-bury in 80. Nomenclatura Brevis Anglo-Latino-Graeca in usum Scholae Westmonasteriensis per F. Gregory in 8o. Etymologicum Parvum in usum Scholae publica Westmonasterieusis opera studio Francisci Gregorii in 8o. Grammatices Graecae Enchtridion in usum Scholae Collegialis Wigornae in 8o. A Discourse of Holy Love by Sir Geo Strode Knight in 12o. The Saints Honey-comb full of Divine Truths by R. Gove Preacher of Henton S. George in Somersetshire in 8o. The Communicants Guide directing the yonger sort which have never yet received and the elder and ignorant sort which have hitherto received unworthily how they may receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper with comfort by R. Gove in 8o. A Contemplation of Heaven with an Exercise of Love and a Descant on the Prayer in the Garden by a Catholick Gent. in 12o. A Full Answer to a Declaration of the House of Commons concerning no more addresses to the King printed at Oxford 1648 in 4o. The Royallists Defence Printed at Oxford 1648 in 4o. Mercurius Rusticus or the Conntreymans complaint Printed at Oxford 1648 in 8o. A Relation of the Conference between Will Laud Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and Mr. Fisher the Jesuit by command of K. Iames fol. Church Lands not to be sold 1647. in 8o. The Countreymans Catechisme or the Churches plea for Tithes by R. Boreman B. D. in 4o. The Regall Apology Printed at Oxford in 4o. A Fair Warning to take heed of the Scottish Discipline by Bishop Bramhall in 4o. Sacrosancta Regia Majestas in 4o. Printed at Oxford and written by the Archbishop of Tuum The Christians Directory in 12o. The Royall slave a Play in 4º acted at Christ Church in Oxford Devotion digested into several Discourses and Meditations upon the Lords most holy Prayer Together with additional Exercitations upon Baptism The Lords Supper Heresies Blasphemy The Creatures The souls pantings after God The Mercies of God The souls complaint of its absence from God by Peter Samwaies Fellow lately resident in Trinity College Cambridge in 12o. Of the Division between the English and Romish Church upon Reformation by Hen Fern D. D. in 12º the 2. Edition with many Additionals Directions for the profitable reading of the Scriptures by Iohn White M. A. in 8o. The Exemplary lives and Memorable Acts of 9 the most worthy women of the world 3 Jewes 3 Gentiles 3 Christians by Tho. Heywood in 4o. The Saints Legacies or a Collection of promises out of the Word of God in 12o. Iudicium Universitatis Oxoniensis de Solemni Lega Foedere Iuramento Negativo c. in 8o. Certain Sermons and Letters of Defence and Resolution to some of the late Controversaries of our times by Iasper Mayn D. D. in 4o. New Ianna Linguarum Reserata sive omnium Scientiarum Linguarum seminarium Auctore Cl. Viro I. A. Comenio in 12o. A Treatise concerning Divine providence very seasonable for all ages by Tho. Morton Bishop of Duresme in 8o. Observations upon Mr. Hobbs his Leviathan with some Observations upon Sir Walte Raleighs History of the World by Alex. Rosse in 12o. Fifty Sermons preached by that learned and reverend Divine Iohn Donne in fol. Wits-Common-Wealth in 12o. The Banquet of Jests new and old in 12o. Balzac's Letters the fourth part in 8o. Quarles Virgin Widow a Play in 4o. Solomons Recantation in 4o. by Francis Quarles Amesii antisynodalia in 12o. Christs Commination against Scandalizers by Iohn Tombes in 12o. New Dr. Stuart's Answer to Fountains Letter in 4o. A Tract of Fortifications with 22 brasse cuts in 4o. Dr. Griffiths Sermon preached at S. Pauls in 4o. Blessed birth-day printed at Oxford in 8o. A Discourse of the state Ecclesiastical in 4o. An Account of the
Countreymen Richardus de sancto Victore a Channon regular of the order of S. Angustine and David a Presbyter This David lived in Germany and was chosen by the Emperour Henry the fifth to accompany him in that expedition which he made to Italy against Pope Paschal the Story whereof he wrote as likewise a Treatise de regno Scotorum both which are perished Richardus was a professor of Divinity at Paris in the Abbey of S. Victor a great Philosopher and left many books that witnesse his learning the Titles whereof you may read in Baleus He died in the same Abbey and was buried with this Epitaph Moribus ingenio doctrina clarus arte Pulvereo hîc tegeris docte Richarde situ Quem tellus genuit foelici Scotica partu Te fovet in gremio Gallica terra suo Nil tibi Parca ferox nocuit quae stamina parco Tempore tracta gravirupit acerba manu Plurima namque tui super ant monumenta laboris Qua tibi perpetuam sunt paritura decus Segnior ut lento sceler atas mors pelit aedes Sic propero nimis it sub piatecta gradu 16. Bishop Robert deceasing Walthemius Abbot of Melrosse was earnestly entreated to accept the Charge but would not forsake the Monastery saying That he had washed his feet and could not contaminate them again with the dust of earthly cares Whereupon Arnold Abbot of Kelso was elected and in presence of King Malcolm the fourth consecrated by William Bishop of Murray This Bishop had been the year preceding directed to Rome with one Nicholaus the Kings Secretary to complain of the Archbishop of York his usurpation upon the Church of Scotland and being then returned carried himself as Legate to the Pope which power he resigned to Arnold after his Consecration as he was enjoyned by Engenius the third who then held the Chair In a Convention of the Estates kept the same year Arnold did earnestly insist with the King to make choice of a wise for assuring the royall succession and to that effect made a long speech in the hearing of the Estates but the King had taken a resolution to live single and would not be diverted Edward Bishop of Aberdene was much blamed for confirming him in that course and for that cause hated of many The Cathedrall of S. Andrews a fair and stately Church whilest it stood was founded by this Arnold but before the work was raised to any height he died having sate Bishop one year ten moneths and seventeen days onely 17. Upon Arnold his death the King did recommend his Chaplain Richard to the place who was immediately elected by the Convent but not consecrated for the space of two years after because of the Archbishop of York his pretensions One Roger held at that time the See of York a man ambitious beyond all measure who from being Archdeacon of Canterbury was by the means of the Archbishop Thomas Becket preferred to that place no sooner was he advanced but he procured of Pope Anastasius the fourth a Bull whereby he was designed Metropolitane of Scotland but the King and the Clergy notwithstanding the Popes authority was in those days greatly respected refused to acknowledge him Anastasius dying by whom the Archbishop Roger was maintained the Prelates of Scotland did convene and by themselves performed the Consecration Roger incensed herewith sent to Rome and complaining of this contempt found the favour to be made Legate of Scotland by vertue whereof he caused cite all the Scottish Clergy to appear before him at Norham in England whither he came in great pomp Angelramus Archdeacon of Glasgow accompanied with Walter Prior of Kelso Solomon Dean of Glasgow and some others of the Clergy went and kept the Diet and in the name of the Church of Scotland appealing to the Pope took journey to Rome Where the business being debated before Pope Alexander the third sentence was given against Roger his pretended Legation and the Church of Scotland declared to be exempted from all spirituall Jurisdiction the Apostolique See only excepted This exemption Angelramus who in the mean time was promoted to the See of Glasgow by the death of Bishop Herbert and consecrated at Rome brought back and presented to the King The Bull is yet extant and begins thus Alexander P. servus servorum Dei Malcolmo Regi c. A few days after the Bishops return King Malcolm died at Iedbrough in the 25. year of his age and 12. of his reign a sweet and meek Prince uncourteously used by King Henry the second King of England but more rudely by his own Subjects This Henry by nature ambitious and one that could not keep himself within bounds took many ways to wrong this good King and make him despised of his own people yet for that he had sworn to King David Malcolms Grandfather that he should never molest him nor any of his posterity in the possession of the lands they held in England and could not for shame go against his oath he stirred up the Bishop of York to place a Bishop at Carlile thinking the King of Scots would not endure that wrong Iohn Bishop of Glasgow under whose charge the Countrey of Cumberland then was did exceedingly offend with this and finding that the King would not break with Henry for so little a cause nor seeing a way to repair himself abandoned his charge and went unto the Monastery of Tours in France where he abode till he was forced by the Popes authority to return King Henry finding this injury dissembled went afterwards more plainly to work for having desired Malcolm to come to London to do homage for the lands he held in England he compelled him to follow him in the Warre he made upon France thinking thereby to alienate the minde of the French King from the Scots Again when he had returned home inviting him of new to a Parliament kept at York upon a forged quarrell as if he had crossed King Henry his affairs in France he was declared to have lost all his lands in England And not content to have wronged him in this sort to stir up his own Subjects against him made the report goe that King Malcolm had voluntarily resigned all those lands Which did so irritate the Nobles as presently after his return putting themselves in Arms they did besiege the Town of Bertha where the King remained and had not failed to use violence but that by the intercession of some wise Prelates matters were composed The Nobility being grieved to see the King so abused did urge him to denounce warre but he loving rather to have matters peaceably agreed was content to accept Cumberland and Huntington and suffer Northumberland to goe to King Henry This displeased the Subjects and diminished much of the regard that was formerly carried to him which he took greatly to heart and shortly after died as was thought of displeasure The good King being thus taken away
the Church is not to be feared 19. That in no case it is lawful to swear 20. That Priests may have wives according to the Ordinance of the old Law and that true Christians receive the body of Christ every day The maintainers of these Articles were by an opprobrious title called Lollards but whether or not they did hold all these opinions may well be doubted seeing we have them onely from the report of adversaries whose chief study was to make them and their doctrine odious and granting that they held the same we are not to wonder that in the first breaking up of the light men saw not the truth in every point considering the darknesse and grosse ignorance of preceding times For dispersing these Articles some thirty persons were cited before the Councel of whom the principals were George Campbel of Sesnock Adam Read of Barskining Iohn Campbel of Newmilus and Andrew Shaw of Polkennet The Archbishiop of Glasgow laying these things to their charge they answered all with such confidence as it was thought safest to dimit them with admonition to take heed of new doctrines and content themselves with the faith of the Church Of Shevez I find nothing said all this time onely that he departed this life at S. Andrews in the year 1496. and was buried in the Cathedral Church before the high Altar 36. Iames Stewart brother to King Iames the fourth was provided after Shevez to the See being yet very young and lived but a short space for he died at S. Andrews in the year 1503. his body was interred in the Cathedral Church amongst the Bishops his predecessors In an old Charter produced by one of the vassals I have seen him thus styled Iacobus sancti Andreae Archiepiscopus Dux Rossiae Marchio de Ormond Comes de Ardmannach Dominus de Brichen Never Commendatorius perpetuus Monasterii de Dunfermline ac Regni Scotiae Canâ—ellarius The Charter is dated in this manner Apud Ecclesiam nostram Metropolitanam sancti Andreâ— 7º die Mensis Februarii An. Dom. 1502. nostrarum administrationum quinto 37. To him succeeded Alexander Stewart base son to King Iames the fourth a youth of great hopes he died with his father in the unfortunate battle of Flowdon Anno 1513. and was much lamented by Erasmus Roterodamus under whom he had studied some yeares I finde him styled Chancellour of the Kingdome in one of the vassals Characters which is dated in the year 1512. 38. Three strong competitours fell then at strife for the place Gawane Dowglas Bishop of Dunkeld Iohn Hepburn Prior of S. Andrews and Andrew Forman Bishop of Murray Gawane Dowglas was nobly born for he was brother to the Earl of Angus and greatly esteemed for his vertue and learning He upon the Queens presentation who at that time governed all publick affairs possessed himselfe with the Castle of S. Andrews Hepburne a factious man and of great power procured the Chanons to elect him and under this colour expulsed Dowglas his servants fortifying the house with a Garison of souldiers Forman was provided by the gift of Pope Iulius the second and made Legatus à latere for by his many employments in France and at the Court of Rome he had gained to himself much credit But the Power of Hepburn was such as for a while no man could be found to publish Formans Bulls Alexander Lord Home who some write was Formans Uncle was at last moved by the dimission of Coldingham in favour of his brother David to take his part and coming to Edinburgh proclaimed the Popes gift and Formans Legation with great solemnity This Act divided the Homes and the Hepburnes who after that time were never in sound friendship Dowglas not willing to be seen more in that contention did quit his interesse leaving the quarrel to the other two who did pursue it both Hepburn posting to Rome laboured to have his election confirmed but prevailed not Forman because of his Legation was followed of the Churchmen for the most part and acknowledged by all the vassals of the See yet the jarring still continued untill the Duke of Albany his coming into the countrey who at his acceptation of the Regencyâ— brought them to a submission and pacified all these strifes distributing the Benefices in this manner To Forman he left the Archbishoprick of S. Andrews and Abbacy of Dunfermlin which was given him by the Pope in Commendam The Abbacy of Aberbrothock which Forman likewise possessed he gave to Iames Beaton Archbishop of Glasgow and Chancellour for the time The Prior Iohn Hepburn was contented with a pension of three thousand Crows which Forman was ordained to pay him during life and upon his brother Master Iames Hepburn was the Bishoprick of Murray bestowed Alexander Gordon Cousen to the Earl of Huntley was made Bishop of Aberdene Iames Ogilvy a brother of the house of Ogilvy Abbot of Drybrugh and George Dundass of the house of Dundass Commendator of the preceptory of Torphichen This partition did satisfie them all and so they were fully reconciled Some few years after Forman died at Dunfermlin where he was also buried A plain and open man but said to be profuse besides the Benefices he possessed in Scotland he was Archbishop of Burges in France by the gift of King Lewis the twelfth which did greatly increase his means 39. Upon the death of Forman Iames Beaton Archbishop of Glasgow and Chancellour of the Kingdome was translated to S. Andrews Master Gawane Dumbar to whose instruction the young King was committed was preferred to this place The troubles of the time were great because of the minority of the King and therein this Bishop had not the least part being chased from the Court and from his own dwellings glad to lurk and shift himself a long time from place to place amongst friends to eschew the violence of the Dowglasses who had setled themselves about the King and swayed all affaires at their pleasures But it was not long ere he made even with them The Queen-mother who had taken the Earl of Angus to her husband falling into dislike of him and pursuing a divorce in the Bishops Court which she easily obtained Thereupon the young King his escape from the Dowglasses and their exile in England at which time the Bishop was reponed to his office and place seventeen years he lived Bishop of this See and was herein most unfortunate that under the shadow of his authority many good men were put to death for the cause of Religion though he himself was neither violently set nor much solicitous as it was thought how matters went in the Church The first that was called in question was Master Patrick Hamilton Abbot of Ferm a man nobly descended for he was Nephew to the Earl of Arrane by his father and to the Duke of Albany by the Mother and not much past twenty three yeares of age This young
and breed an occasion of some disorder so as the breach of the peace should proceed from them The insolence was great they committed in this kind for they did laugh and talk so loud all the time as the Preacher could not be heard yet was it patiently digested knowing that an occasion of trouble was only sought In other places their behaviour was no better for at Leth they did cut in pieces the Pulpit erected for the Preachers and set up the Masse which had been suppressed before in that town The like did they in the Abbey Church forcibly abolishing the service of Common Prayers which there was ordinarily used And in what place soever they came some one disturbance or other they wrought to the professors of the turth Herewith a rumour was dispersed amongst the vulgar That it was not Religion as the Congregation pretended but an open rebellion they went about and that their purpose was to disinherit their lawful Queen and set up Lord James her base brother in her place which by divers was apprehended as truth and wrought a great alienation of mindes from the cause About the same time came Monsieur Crook a French Gentleman with letters from the Queen and King Francis her husband to Lord Iames full of exprobrations and menacings as appeareth by the Copies here insert Francis King of France to Iames Prior of S. Andrewes COusin when I understood as well by letters as common report the tumults raised at this time in Scotland I was much commoved especially when it was said that you to whom my dear wife my father deceased and my self have given so many benefices should be the head and principall fosterer of the same That you should be so forgetfull of our love and of the duty you have at all times professed unto the Queen I would not believe or if it was so as the same commonly reporteth I did think that you were induced by the promises and flattering perswasions of others to take the fault upon you whereof they were the cause supposing the offence would be esteemed either none or very small in your person This my conceit of you if it be true shall be as joyfull to me as that which should be most joyfull for I should with by this mean some part of my displeasure mitigated into which you are worthily fallen having deceived the hope which I had of your piety towards God and your faithfull service towards my self Therefore since nothing can be more acceptable to me then to hear that controversies are composed and all things compacted without tumult according to law and good order and since I am perswaded this may be easily done by your credit I thought meet to advertise you by these letters and for the good will I bear you I do earnestly request that you will return to the obedience from which you have foully fallen that so I may see you carry another minde then that which your foolish actions have manifested This will appear to be so if that you apply your diligence to bring those things which now are out of order in those parts back again to the ancient and sound form of obedience which you know is due to God and me Otherwise I would have you and all those that adhere unto you perswaded that ere it be long I shall take such punishment of you and them as your wickedness deserveth which I have given the bearer charge to make known unto you at more length whom I will you to credit as my self praying God my Cousin to have you in his protection Paris the 17. day of Iuly 1559. The Letter sent by the Queen was of the tenor following MARY Queen of Scotland and France to Iames Prior of the Monasterie of S. Andrewes I Cannot my Cousin wonder enough how you that are nighest us in bloud and greatly benefitted by our liberality as your self knoweth should be so presumptuous and wickedly disposed as by one and the same fact to violate the Majesty of God and the authority belonging to me and my husband for to me it is a wonder that you who being with me did complain of the Duke of Chattellerault and divers others for dismissing my authority should now be the leader of a faction in matters of greatest weight wherein not onley the honour of God is touched but my authority all utterly taken away which I would have more easily believed of any other of my subjects then of you for I had a special hope of your sidelity and am not a little grieved that you should have deceived me Though yet I can scarse be perswaded that you are gone so far from truth and reason as to be carried away with such blinde errours which I wish were not as any in the world else beseeching God to illuminate you with his light that returning into the right way you may shew your self by doing things contrary to that you have already performed a good man and obedient to our lawes whereof by these letters I thought good to admonish you and withall earnestly to intreat you to amend your by gone faults with better deeds in time coming that the anger which I and my husband have conceived against you may by that means be mitigated Otherwise I would have you understand that we will take such punishment of you that you shall ever remember us which shall be to me a most grievous thing God I beseech to keep you from all danger Paris the 24. of Iuly 1559. Lord Iames having perused the Letters and conferred a space with the Gentleman who was commanded to say unto him That the King would rather spend the Crown of France then not be revenged of the seditious tumults raised in Scotland made answer in writing as followeth That he was no way conscious to himself of any undâ—tisulness either in word or deed a gainst his Soveraignes lawes That it was true he had joyned himself with these of the Nobility who went about the reforming of Religion and would not deny it but this he did not esteem a fault against the King or Queen For thereby nothing is sought but the advancement of Gods honour and the Gospel of Iesus Christ from which if he should desist it were in effect to renounce his Lord and Saviour Then this cause onely excepted he and the rest who were charged with the crime of Rebellion should in all other things be most obsequent This writing he delivered to Monsieur Crooke who gave it Queen Regent she opening the same and reading it said that such a proud and rebellious answer was never given to a King and Queen Some few dayes after this arrived a French Captain called Octavian with a Regiment of souldiers who brought with him great summes of money and other necessary provisions for warre But the Queen did incontinent send him back to intreat the French King for other four companies to make up the number of twenty Ensignes with an hundred
with the Citizens of Glasgow the Harquebusiers were planted in the Village beneath and within the hedges upon the high-way Before the joyning both sides played with their Ordinance upon others but the advantage was on the Regents part the Queens Canoniers being forced to quit their munition His Cavalrie on the other side being much inferiour to the Queens was compelled to give ground but when they entered upon the foot thinking to put them in disorder the Archers from the Regents side rained such a shower of arrowes upon them as they could not hold up their faces and were forced to turn back The left wing of the Queens Army advancing it self in the mean while howbeit greatly annoyed by the Harquebusiers that beat them in the strait on both sides got into the plain and displayed it self Then did the Armies joyn and enter into a hot fight striving in thick ranks to maintain their places and by force of spears to break and bear down one another for the space of half an hour and more the fight continued doubtful and so eagerly they strove that they whose spears were broke stood throwing their poynards stones and what came readiest to their hands in the faces of their adversaries The Regents second battel perceiving that none came against them and fearing the other should be overlaid for they saw some in the last ranks recoiling went unto their aid whereupon the Queens Army gave back and so were put to rout The Regent and those on his side shewed great manhood all their hopes consisting in the victory nor were his enemies any lesse couragious but the advantage of the ground were to those of his part no small help There were not many slain on the place most of the slaughter being made in the chace and unlesse the Regent had with his presence wheresoever he came and by sending horse into all parts stayed the fury of those that pursued the victory had been much more bloody The Queen who stood a mile off from the battel on a litle height perceiving the field lost made towards the borders The rest that escaped fled the readiest way they could find every man to his own home The number of the slain was about 300. many were taken prisoners amongst whom the most eminent the Lords of Seaton and Ross the Masters of Cassils and Eglington Sir Iames Hamilton of Avendale and the Sheriffes of Aire and Linlithgow Of the Regents side one only was slain the Lords Home and Ochiltrie wounded All the rest a few excepted that followed the chace too farre returned with him to Glasgow where they went first to Church and gave thanks to God for the victory they had obtained almost without any effusion of blood This conflict happened upon the 13th of May. the eleventh day after her escape from Lochlevin The French Ambassadour who had conceived an assured hope of her prevailing perceiving things fall out otherwise took horse and made away to England not once saluting the Regent to whom as he pretended he was sent By the way he fell in the hands of some robbers that rifled all his baggage which the Laird of Drumlanrig for the respects he carried to the title of an Ambassadour caused to be restored The rest of that day the Regent bestowed in taking order with the prisoners some he freely dimitted others upon surety but the Principals were detained they especially of the Surname of Hamilton and committed to several prisons The next day taking with him 500. horse he rode unto Hamilton and had the Castle thereof with the house of Draffan another strong hold belonging to the Duke rendered in his hands Such a terrour this defeat wrought that the whole inhabitants of Cluid did relinquish and forsake their houses upon the like fear did the Queen against the counsel of her best friends take Sea at Kirkcadbright and sail into England landing at Wirkinton in Cumberland near to the mouth of the river Derwent from which place she sent a letter to Queen Elizabeth declaring that she was come into her Kingdome upon hope of aid and assistance from her requesting she might be conducted to her with all speed because of her present distresse Iohn Beaton one of her domesticks was some days before sent with the Diamond she had received from the Queen of England for a token of kindnesse to signify her purpose of coming into England if she should be further pursued by her subjects who did shortly return with large promises of love and kindnesse if she should happen to come But as soon as her coming was known the directions sent by Sir Francis Knowles were not so loving for by him she was desired to go unto Carlile as a place of more safety whither the Lieutenant of the countrey should conduct her and stay there till the Queen was informed of the equity of her cause This direction did much displease her and then began she to see her errour but seeming to take all in good part she sent the Lord Hereis to intreat the Queen for an hearing in her own presence where she might both clear her self and shew how injuriously she had been dealt with by those whom at her intercession she had recalled from exile or if that could not be obtained to crave that she might be permitted to depart forth of England and not detained as a prisoner seeing she came willingly thither in confidence of her kindnesse often promised and confirmed as well by letters as messages Queen Elizabeth moved with these speeches said that she would send to the Regent and desire him to stay all proceeding against the subjects that stood in her defence till matters were brought to an hearing For the Regent at the same time had called a Parliament to the 25. of Iune for proceeding against those that had accompanied the Queen in the fields by course of law They of the Queens faction were in the mean time preparing to hinder the meeting and when as the Diet drew near the Earl of Argile with his forces met Lord Claude Hamilton at Glasgow the Earl of Huntley brought from the North 1000. foot with as many horsemen almost and came as farre as Perth but was not permitted to crosse the river of â—ay the channels and passages being all guarded by the Lord Ruthven and such in those quarters as maintained the Kings authority So being forced to return home the Earl of Argile and other Lords not seeing how they could hinder the meeting of the Parliament dissolved their companies and returned to their own countrey At this time came the letters promised by the Queen of England whereby the Regent was desired to delay the Parliament and not to precipitate the giving of sentence in these matters till she was rightly informed of the whole cause But the Regent considering that the delay of the Parliament would be constructed to proceed of fear resolved to keep the Diet. At the meeting it was long disputed
particulars it was desired That the persons nominated in Parliament for the matter of policy or juridiction of the Church should be ordained to meet at a certain day and place for concluding the same This was promised and the eighth of August appointed to that effect but the Diet did not hold and so these matters continued unresolved as before In the end of the Assembly the Bishop of Orkney who had been deposed from all function in the Church for the marriage of Bothwel with the Queen was upon his submission reponed to his place and for removing the scandal he was injoyned in his first Sermon to make publick acknowledgement of his fault and crave forgivenesse of God the Church and Estate which he had offended About the end of September the Regent and those that were joyned with him in commission took their journey into England and came to York the fifth of October the same day and almost the same hour came Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Thomas Earl of Suffex and Sir Ralph Sadler Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster having Commission from the Queen of England to hear and determine all questions controversies debates and contentions betwixt her sister the Queen of Scots and the subjects adhering unto her on the one part and the Earl of Murray and others refusing to acknowledge her authority and adhering to the Prince her son on the other as likewise to decide all matters depending betwixt them two to confirm the peace before that time contracted or establish a new confederation betwixt them their people and subjects as they should think most convenient Some two days after Iohn Lesley Bishop of Ross William Lord Levingston Robert Lord Boyd Gawan Commendator of Kilwining and Iames Cockburn of Skirling Commissioners for the Scottish Queen came to the City where being all convened and the Commissions exhibited an oath was presented to both parties by the Commissioners of England by which they were required to swear That they should proceed sincerely in that conference and treaty and neither for affection malice or any other worldly respect propone any thing before the Commissioners which in their consciences they did not hold to be true just and godly and reasonable as also not to withdraw hide or conceal any matter fit to be opened and declared for the better knowledge of the truth in the controversies standing amongst them The Commissioners of the Queen of Scotland before they took the oath protested That although the Queen their Mistresse was pleased to have the differences betwixt her and her disobedient subjects considered and dressed by her dearest sister and cousen the Queen of England or by the Commissioners authorized by her yet she did not acknowledge her self subject to any Judge on earth she being a free Princesse and holding her imperial Crown of God alone This their protestation they desired to be put in record left the Queen or her posterity should be prejudiced in their Soveraignty by the present proceedings The Commissioners of England did contrariwise protest that they did neither admit nor allow that protestation in any sort to the hurt or prejudice of that right which the Kings of England have claimed had and enjoyed as superiours over the Realm of Scotland which Superiority they protested should belong and appertain to the Queen their Mistresse in the right of the Crown of England These protestations made both parties took the oath in manner as was required and this was the Act of the first meeting The next day the Commissioners of the Queen of Scotland presented a Declaration in writing bearing that Iames Earl of Morton Iohn Earl of Marre Alexander Earl of Glencâ—rne the Lords Homes Lindesay Ruthven Simple Cathcart Ochiltrie and other their assistants had levied an Army in the Queens name against the Queen taking her most noble peron used her in vile manner and thrust into prison in Lochlevin and forcibly broken her Mint-house taken away the printing Irons with all the silver and gold coyned and uncoyned which was in the house for the time And going to the Castle of Striveling and made a fashion to crown her sonne the Prince being then but thirteen moneths old That Iames Earl of Murray taking upon him the name of Regent had usurped the Royal authority and possessed himself with the whole forts Castles Munition Jewels and Revenues of the Kingdom And when it had pleased God to relieve her out of that prison wherein she was so straitly detained by the space of eleven moneths as none of her friends and true subjects could once be permitted to see or speak with her and that she had publickly declared by a solemn oath in the presence of divers of the Nobility at Hamilton that whatsoever was done by her in prison was extorted by force threats and fear of death she out of that natural affection which she carried to her realm and subjects did appoint the Earls of Argile Eglington Cassils and Rothes to agree and make a pacification with the said Regent and his partakers but they were so farre from admitting any peaceable Treaty as they did invade her in her passing to Dumbritton with the men of Warre whom she had hired with her own moneys killed divers of her faithful subjects led others away prisoners and banished some of good note for no other cause but for serving faithfully their lawful Princesse and so after a great many injuries had forced her to flye into England to request the help of Queen Elizabeth her dearest sister and in blood the nearest Cousen she had in the world for restoring her in her former estate and compelling her rebellious subjects to acknowledge their due obedience unto her Majesty which they in her Highnesse name did most instantly intreat The day following which was the ninth of October the Regent and rest of the Commissioners for the young King appearing before they would give any answer to the preceding writ craved first to be resolved Whether the Duke and those that were appointed with him for hearing their controversies bad power to pronounce in the cause of the Kings Mother guilty or not guilty and if according to the same they meant to give sentence without delay As likewise if it should appear by the Declaration they were to make that the Queen of Scots was guilty whether she should be delivered in their hands or detained in England and if the Queen of England would from thenceforth maintain the authority of the King and the Regency established in the person of the Earle of Murray Which points they desired to have cleared before they could enter into the accusation intended The Duke of Norfolk replied that they would proceed according to the Commission given unto them and render an account to her who had trusted them therewith Lethington upon this turning himself to the Regent said That it seemed the English haâ— no other purpose but to defame and disgrace the reputation of
is apparent that wickedness did never reign more and with lesse controlment in the Realm murther bloodshed with theft and robbery every where abounding policy destroyed Churches thrown down honourable families ruinated and true men bereft of their goods for satisfying the souldiers hired by them to maintain the Regents usurped government the like whereof hath not been seen nor heard for many ages before In regard whereof they in behalf of the Queen of Scotland their Mistresse did earnestly request the support and assistance of the Queen of England her cousin for restoring her to her Crown and suppressing the rebels that had attempted against her The English Commmissioners having perused the writings of both sides declared that as yet they were not satisfied with any thing the Regent had shewed requiring him to produce some better and more sound reasons for the severity they had used against their Soveraign otherwise they could not but think she had been too hardly dealt with and report so much to the Queen their Mistresse The Regent who disliked nothing more then to be drawn into the accusation of the Queen his sister answered that he could not be more particular till he should be assured that the Queen of England would undertake the protection of the young King and relinquish the cause of his Mother The Commissioners replying that they had no warrant to promise any such thing he besought them to try the Queens mind that her pleasure being known he might sooner resolve what to do Letters hereupon was sent to the Queen who willed the Regent to direct some one or moe of his side to Court for her better information To this effect Secretary Lethington and Mr. Iames Macgill Clerk of the Rolls were sent thither with whom the Queen having conferred a little time she gave order to recall her Commissioners and advertise the Regent himself to come unto her At his coming the Queen laid to his charge the proceeding against his sister the Queen of Scots saying that she did not see how he and the rest of his faction could well be excused and that unlesse matters were better cleard on their parts she could not deny the help and assistance that was required at her hands The Regent according to the condition proposed at York answered That if she would take upon her the defence of the King they should be more particular in their reasons for rejecting the Queens authority and clear every thing they should speak sufficiently otherwise to accuse his sister and Queen would be held odious in the judgement of all men Whilest these things were a doing in England the Queens faction at home sought all occasions to make trouble abusing the popular sort with rumours they dispersed Sometimes giving out that the Regent was made prisoner in the Tower At other times that he had promised to subject the Kingdom of Scotland to the English to deliver the young King to be brought up in England and put all the forts and strong holds in the Realm in their hands Nor was any man more busied in dispersing such lies and using all means else for stirring up tumult then Sir Iames Balfour instigated thereto by advertisement from the Secretary as was commonly thought For by his advise it was that the Scottish Queen at the same time sent Commissions of Lieutenandrie to divers Noblemen for erecting again her authority like as all the while he remained in England he did ever keep intelligence with the Bishop of Rosse and others the Queens agents and was one of the chief plotters of the match intended betwixt her and the Duke of Norfolk which came shortly after to be detected The Regent who was not ignorant of these secret workings did finde there was a necessity of his returning home to prevent the commotions that were breeding before they grew into a greater ripeness and fearing to offend the Queen of England if he should depart without giving her satisfaction in the particulars she desired to be informed of touching the Queen of Scots resolved to do it but with a protestation which he presented in writing to the Councell at Westminster the 28. of November in this form Albeit our whole proceedings from the beginning of our interprise directed onely for the punishment of the King murther and the purging of our Nation from the scandall of that abominable fact may let the world see how unwilling we have been to touch the Queen our Soveraign Lords Mother in honour or to publish unto strangers matters tending to her infamy yet shall it not be amisse upon the present occasion to shew briefly what hath been and still is our meaning therein Such and so great was our devotion toward her as well for private affection whereby every one of us was led to wish her well as for publick respects that rather then we would blemish her honour with the foreknowledge of that detestable murther we choosed to wink at the shrewd reports of the world and let our selves to be blasoned as rebels and traitours to our native Prince which had been easie for us to have wiped away with the uttering of a few words if the desire we had to save her reputation bad not made us content that the world should still live in doubt of the justice of our quarrell and speak every one as their affections were inclined So when we were urged by the Queens Majesty of England and the French Kings Ambassadours to give a reason why we detained our Queen at Lochleven we gave no other answer but that her affection was so excessively towards Bothwell the committer of that odious murther that she being at liberty it would not be possible to punish him and that it behooved us for a season to sequestrate her person till he might be apprehendâ—d and punished In what danger this dealing brought us we have no need to shew From France we had nothing to expect but open Hostility and by keeping up the chief causes of her rejection we had reason to fear that the Queen of England should call our proceeding in doubt and so leave us destitute of her Majesties aid at whose hands we look principally to receive comfort in time of danger This course nottheless we should still have kept if the importunity of our adversaries had not forced us to take another way For remembring what a person she is whom we are brought to accuse the Mother of our King and soveraign Lord a Lady to whom in particular the greatest part of us are so farre obliged for benefits received that if with the perpetuall exile of any one or of a number of us forth of our Native Countrey we could redeem her honour without the danger of the King and whole Estate we would willingly banish our selves to that end And therefore ere we dip further in the matter which to this boure we have shunned we solemnly protest that it is not any delight we take in accusing her but a necessity
punish the committers of that insolence The Councel returning many thanks to the Queen for her kind Ambassage excused themselves by the present troubles that no determinate answer could as then be given to his propositions and therefore besought him to have patience unto the first of May at which time the Estates of the Realm were to meet by whom her Majesty should receive all satisfaction The Estates convening at the day William Douglas of Lochlevin brother uterine to the late Regent preferred a Petition to the Councel for some course to be taken in the revenge of his brothers murther considering he was taken away in the defence of the common cause of the Realm and not upon any private quarrel The Petition was held reasonable by all that were present every one consenting to the pursuit and punishment of the murtherer and his complices But in the manner they agreed not some advising that not the murtherer only but all who were suspected to have had a hand in the treachery should be called to underlie the ordinary trial of law at a certain day Others esteeming such a form of processe unnecessary with them who had already taken Arms to maintain the fact and that the best course were to pursue with all hostility both these that were delated of the recent crime and such as had been forfeited in the Parliament preceding Many inclined to the last course yet because it was opposed by divers of special note there was nothing concluded in the businesse which was generally ill taken of the people who construed the delay to proceed of some private favour carried to the enemies and to be done of purpose that either with time the hatred of the murther might be lessened or the adversaries might have leisure to make themselves more strong The Assembly of the Church in the mean while which was then convened at Edenburgh to declare in what detestation they had the murther committed did ordain the murtherer to be excommunicated in all the chief Burghs of the Realm and whosoever afterwards happened to be convicted thereof to be used in the same manner In this Assembly divers constitutions were made for discipline and amongst others an Act for the publick inauguration of Ministers at their entry whereunto the revolt of some Preachers gave occasion that forsaking the Pulpit took them to the pleading of causes before the Lords of Session It was then also condescended that forth of the thirds five thousand merks should be yearly paid for the furnishing of the Kings house and the Church burthened with no further duty Some few days after the principals of the Queens faction being convened at Glasgow the Earl of Argile and Lord Boyd did write to the Earl of Morton and offer to joyn with the rest of the Nobility in the trial and punishment of the Regents murther so as the meeting were appointed at Striveling Falkirk or Linlithgow for to Edenburgh they would not come This letter as he was desired he communicated with the Secretary who was after the Regents death come forth of the Castle and by the Earl of Atholl brought again unto the Councell having first purged himself of the accusation laid against him and promised to submit himself unto the most severe triall that could be taken his advice to the Earl Morton was that the Noblemen should all be brought to Edenburgh which for those of the Queens party he undertook to do and to that effect he sent letters unto the principalls of that faction shewing that they had no cause to fear being in forces superiour to the others and having the Lord of Grange on their side for he had then plainly declared himself for the Queen who was both Provost of the Town and commanded the Castle Thus about the midst of March the Earls of Huntley Atholl and Crawford with the Lords Ogilvy Home and Seaâ—on did meet at Edenburgh The Earl of Argile the Hamiltons and the Lord Boyde came as far as unto Linlithgow but by occasioned of a tumult raised amongst some souldiers they were forced to disperse their companies and return home to their dwellings Within a few dayes the Earls of Marre and Glencarne came likewise to Edenburgh after whose coming the Lords of both factions meeting to confer did think fit to continue all things till the Earl of Argile was advertised whose authority was great in those times And when it was known that he was gone back from Linlithgow the Earl of Huntley followed to perswade his return but he would not consent They write the Secretary should have privily disswaded him as one who loved to keep all things loose but I do not see what advantage he could expect that way and think rather that as his estate then stood he did earnestly desire to have matters accorded The true cause of Argiles declining that conference seems to have been the averseness of his brother and others of his friendship who refused to follow him in that quarrel and carried a constant affection to the maintaining of the Kings authority When as the other Noblemen perceived that Argile would not come they began to treat of the choice of a Regent in place of him who was taken away Here first they fell to question their own power and authority which some maintained to be sufficient because of the Patent the Queen had given at first for the administration of affairs in her sons minority in which seven Noblemen were named besides the late Regent and that of this number they might choose as they said any one Others reasoned that no respect ought to be had to that Patent the same being expired by the creation of the last Regent for which only at the time it was granted The more moderate gave their opinon that all proceeding in that businesse should be delayed till the convention of the Estates in May next This was likewise opposed by a number that esteemed the protracting of time dangerous and thought that it concerned the Noblemen who had first assisted the Coronation of the King and continued firm in his obedience to nominate a Regent that would be careful of the young King his preservation and of the quiet and tranquillity of the Realm But this opinion as tending to the fostering of discord was rejected So that meeting dissolved without any certain conclusion At the same time one Monsieur Verack Cubiculare to the French King landed at Dumbarton bringing letters to the Noblemen of the Queens faction full of thanks for the constant affection they had shewed in maintaining the cause and promises of present succours This did so animate them as in a frequent meeting kept the first of April at Linlithgow they began to discover the intention which before they had concealed of making war upon England for this as they judged would serve to oblierate the late Regents murther And to give the more authority to their proceedings they took purpose to remove to
do and to put them off the fields whereas if supply were not sent in time and that matters should happen to be put to a day amongst themselves the issue might prove dangerous Answer was made that the forces should be sent upon sufficient hostages for their surety during their remaining in Scotland Withall he craved that the English Rebels whom the Lords had in their hands and such others as should happen to be apprehended might be delivered to him as the Queens Lieutenant and left to her Majesties disposition For the hastages it was condescended that the chief Noblemen should deliver some of their friends to remain in England during the abode of the English forces and their safe return assured the chance and fortune of Warre only excepted which should be common and alike both to the Scots and them But touching the delivery of the English Rebells the Lords intreated that the same might be continued unto the return of her Majesties answer to the instructions sent by the Abbot of Dunfermlin who was upon his journey and had warrant from them to satisfie her Majesty in that point To this the Earl consented providing the Noblemen would give their bonds for the safe custody of the Rebels and the performance of that which her Majesty and the Ambassadour should agree unto The Laird of Grange and Secretary Lethington who as yet made a show to desire peace laboured by their letters to keep back the English forces offering what satisfaction the Earl of Sussex in name of her Majesty would require That the Earl answered that if the Lords of Linlithgow would disannull the Proclamation of the Queen of Scots authority and discharge all capitulations for aid out of France and all other parts beyond the Sea remitting the present dissension to the hearing and ordering of the Queen his Mistress and oblieging themselves by their subscriptions to stand at her Majesties determination he should stay his forces and detain them with himself till he received new direction from her Majesty Though these answers did in no wayes please them yet to gain some time they gave hopes that after conference with the Lords at Linlithgow he should receive all satisfaction But he smelling their intentions after he had received the bonds and pledges from the Noblemen of the Kings party sent Sir William Drury Governour of Berwick with a thousand foot and three hundreth horsmen into Scotland How soon the Lords that were convened at Linlithgow heard of their coming and that the Earl of Lennox was in their company they departed towards Glasgow and besieged the Castle purposing to raze it lest it should be usefull to the Earl of Lennox who was now returned from England But the house was so well defended by a few young men they passed not 24. in all that the siege after it had continued the space of five or six dayes brake up upon the rumour of the Noblemen and the English forces their approaching The Duke of Chattellerault went with the Earl of Argile into his Countrey the Earl of Huntley and the rest into the North. The Noblemen assisted with the English forces coming to Glasgow after a short stay marched to Hamilton and laid siege to the Castle which at the sight of the Ordinance that was brought thither for the battery was yielded to the English by Andrew Hamilton of Meryton Captain upon promise to have their lives spared The Castle was set on fire and pitifully defaced as also the Dukes palace within the town of Hamilton and divers other houses in Cliddisdale In their return to Edinburgh they destroyed the houses and lands pertaining to the Lords Flemyn and Levingston with the Dukes lodging in the town of Linlithgow the houses of Kinneill Powdowy Peill of Levingston and others that appertained to the Hamiltons in that shire This done the English forces returned to Berwick and were accompanied thither by the Earl of Morton who received again the hostages that were delivered in England Whilest these things were a doing at home the Abbot of Dunfermlin was following his legation in England His instructions from the Noblemen of the Kings party were First to shew the Queen that by the delay of her Majesties Declaration in the cause of the Kings Mother all these commotions had been raised and therefore to intreat her Majesty plainly to declare her self and take upon her the protection of the young King Secondly to inform her of the difficulties they had in electing of a Regent and crave her opinion therein Thirdly to shew what a necessity there was of intreating some forces of foot and horse till the present troubles were pacified and in regard of the publick burthens to request her for moneys to maintain 300 horse and 700. foot which was esteemed sufficient for repressing the adversaries power Lastly concerning the Rebells of England who were in hands to give her Majesty assurance that they should be safely kept and to beseech her Highnes if she would have them delivered that some respect might be had to their credit and mercy shewed so far as could stand with her Majesties safety and the quiet of the Realm For the other Rebells that were as yet in the Countrey he was desired to promise in their name all diligence for their apprehension and if it should happen them to be taken that they should be committed in sure custody till her Majesties pleasure was known These things proponed to the Queen she answered That having heard nothing from the Lords since the late Regents death and being dayly importuned by forain Ambassadours she had yielded to a new hearing of the controversies betwixt them and their Queen and that she intended to have a meeting of the Commissioners of both parties ere it was long Therefore desired them to cease from using further hostility and not to precipitate the Election of a Regent the delay whereof would work them no prejudice This answer reported to the Lords did trouble them exceedingly from the one part they saw a necessity of accommodating themselves and their proceedings to the Queen of Englands pleasure and on the other they did find a great hurt by the want of a Regent That adverse faction having thereby taken occasion to erect another Authority and divers of their own partakers falling back from their wonted forwardness as not knowing on whom they should depend After long consultation this expedient was taken That a Lieutenant should be appointed for certain time with full authority to administrate all affairs and notice sent to the Queen of England of the necessity they stood in of a Regent and that there was no other way to keep the subjects in obedience Choice accordingly was made of the Earl of Lennox grandfather to the King and a Commission of Lieutenandry given him to indure to the 11. of Iuly next at which time the Estates were warned to meet for the election of a Regent Letters were also directed to the
the power of those whom the Queen and Regent should send in Commission to change diminish or augment the Articles at their pleasures Therefore did he advise the Regent to send a Nobleman with some other well learned and practised in the affairs of the countrey to deal in these matters taking care that the persons he choosed were constant and firm and such as would not be wonne from him nor from the cause This Letter of the date the thirteenth of October 1570. written in so friendly and familiar a manner for therein he named some whom the Regent had lately imployed of whom he willed him to beware gave him to understand that matters were not so farre gone as his adversary did bragge After a few dayes the Earl of Sussex advertised the Regent that the Lords of the other faction had made choice of certain Commissioners to attend the treaty begun betwixt their Queen and the Queen of England desiring that no trouble nor molestation should be made to them and their train in that journey as also to send some speciall persons instructed with Commission from the King and the Nobility of his side to give their best advice for the surety of the King and his dependants if matters should happen to be accorded And if it fell out otherwise to consider what should be the most sure course for continuance of amity betwixt the two Realms the preservation of the young King the reducing of the subjects to his obedience and the defence of the Isle against forain invasions These Commissioners he desired to be sent with expedition for that her Majesty longed to have an end of the business and could not grow to any resolution till she had conferred with them and understood their minds This he did by direction from the Queen his Mistris as he wrote howbeit he himself had thought of some particulars that he held convenient to be thought upon but for the Kings security and theirs if his mother should be set at liberty wherein he prayed him familiarly to shew what was his opinion As first if she should happen to be restored to her Crown and the King to be made to dimit the authority it might be upon condition that in case of her death or the breach of the present agreement he might reenter to the kingdome without any Solemnities to be used Next that a Councell of both parties might be provided to her by the Queen of England for avoyding all sorts of practises Thirdly that the young King should be educated in the Realm of England under the custody of such persons as the Nobility of his party should appoint which would be the greatest sureâ—y for those that depended on him and tie his mother to the performance of the Articles Fourthly that a new Act of Parliament should be made for the establishing of true Religion and oblivion of all injuries committed on either side Fifthly that the Queen should give some principall men of her side Hostages to remain in England for fulfilling the heads of the agreement Lastly he advised the Regent to send with the Commissioners that should be imployed in that errand a writing signed and scaled by all the Noblemen of the Kings party to shâ—w who they were that stood on that side Because besides the credit it would bring to the cause the same would be to good purpose howsoever matters went For if the Treaty should break off it would be seen who would maintain and defend the King Or if otherwise an accord were made it would be known for what persons the Queen of England was to provide a surety Whether these Propositions were made as he gave out of his own head or which would rather appear that he was set on by the Queen of England to try the Regent and Nobilities mind he answered very advisedly and beginning at the last he said That he held his opinion good touching the sealing of a writing by the Nobility of the Kings party whose number would not be found so great as he wished because there were divers Neuters that adhered to no side and many that desired to keep things loose some for impunity of crimes whereof they were suspected and others hoping to better their condition in an unquiet time yet he trusted to obtain the subscriptions of a sufficient number who had sincerely continued in the profession of true Religion and his Majesties obedience and from their hearts abhorred the murtherers of the King his sonne and the late Regent For the other points he said that he could not give his private opinion in matters so important by reason of his oath made at the acceptation of the government to have no dealing in matters of that kind without the knowledge of the Nobility and Councell And touching the Commissioners which the Queen required to be sent there should be diligence used therein how soon they understood of what quality the others were that the Lords of the Queens party did choose Neither should any molestation be made to them in their journy so as their names the number of their train and the way they minded to take were notified For otherwise as he said the King and Estate might receive hurt and some that were culpable of those odious murthers steal away privately in their company Mean while he shewed that till Commissioners might be chosen by the advice of the Noblemen then absent the Councell had appointed the Abbot of Dunfermlin Ambassadour to the Queen of England and given him such instructions as they held needfull for the time by whom she should be more fully advertised of their minds in all matters About the midst of November the Abbot of Dunfermlin then made Secretary went into England He was desired to shew the Queen How it was the expectation of all the good subjects in Scotland that she would never forget the motherly care she had professed to have of the innocent person of their young King nor yet be unmindfull of the Noblemen and others professing his obedience who had studied to maintain peace betwixt the two Realms ever since her Majesties entry to the Crown and that they being required as well by letters from her Lieutenant in the North as by her Ambassadour resident amongst them to direct some speciall persons towards her for communicating such things as they thought requisite for the surely of their King and themselves although they had resolved upon a number sufficient for that Legation yet they deferred to send away till they should understand who were nominated for the Lords of the other party to the end they might equall them in birth and quality That in the mean time lest they should be thought more negligent then became them in matter of such importance they had laid upon him the charge to come and signifie to her Majesty the opinion that was held in Scotland of the Articles framed at Chattesworth which the adversaries gave out to have been craved by her
and for this Sir William proponed that he should stand between the companies and upon a sign to be given by him both should turn at one instant The Earl of Morton accepted the condition lest he should offend the Gentleman who had taken such pains amongst them the others refused giving forth great brags that they should make them leave the fields with shame if they did it not willingly How soon Morton was advertised of the difficulty they made he cried aloud On on we shall see who keeps the fields last and therewith gave so hard a charge upon them as they disordered both the horse and foot The Chase held towards the Watergate where by reason of the skant and narrow passage many were killed and trod to death but the number of prisoner were greater for there were 150. taken amongst whom were the Lord Home and Capt. Iames Cullen the Abbot of Kilwining was killed a Gentleman of good worth and greatly lamented for he was of all that faction esteemed most moderate There died some 50. in all most of them common souldiers and of mean accompt On Mortons side Captain Weymis with one only souldier was slain this conflict happened on Satturday the 28. of Iune 1571. Advertisement hereof sent to the Regent he came the next day to Leth where first order was taken with the prisoners and the Lord Home sent to Tantallan But he stayed not long there for the Lord of Drumlanrig being intercepted by Sir David Spence of Wormston as he was making homewards an exchange was made of the Lord Home with him Captain Cullen a man infamous and who in the last wars had used great cruelty was hanged on a Gibbet The rest upon promise not to serve against the King were dimitted Resolution then was taken for the Regents abode at Leth and the countreys attendance upon him by quarters to keep the adversaries busied and hinder the victualling of the town During which time no day passed without one conflict or other wherein sometimes the Regent and sometimes the Queens party had the better at this time upon a report carried to the Laird of Grange that he was commonly called by those of Leth the Traytor he sent a Trumpet to appeal any one of their side to combat that should dare to affirm so much The Laird of Garleys offering to maintain it time and place were appointed for the sight and when all were expecting the issue of it Grange excused himself by the publick charge he bare saying that it was not thought convenient he should hazard the cause in his own person Notwithstanding of this great heat amongst the parties the Queen of England ceased not to mediate an accord and by a letter to the Marshal dated the 19th of Iuly willed him to move them of new for an abstinence offering to send persons of authority and credit to the borders who should travel to agree them and remove all differences as well concerning the title of the Crown as other private matters and because it was given her to understand that both parties had indicted Parliaments to August next she desired that no proceeding should be made therein either by making of lawes or by denouncing any persons forfeited and that only they should authorize certain persons to meet with her Commissioners for consulting upon the best means to conclude a solid peace There was also a letter of safe conduct sent for any one that Grange would direct unto England for this he had desired Lethington excepted and those that were suspected of the late Kings murther But whether this exception gave the cause or the daily incouragements sent by the French none was directed thither The Regent by his answer of the 27. excused the not yielding to the abstinence which he said without evident prejudice to the Kings cause could not be granted so long as Edinburgh was detained For other points he answered That by himself without the consent of the Nobility and Estates he could say nothing but at their meeting in August her Majesty should receive all reasonable satisfaction The adversary party in the mean time nothing relenting of their course did keep a form of Parliament at Edinburgh the 22. August and though they were but five persons in all present that had any voice in the State to wit two Bishops and three Noblemen they pronounced above 200. persons forfeited The Regent advertising the Queen of England how they had proceeded and what disorder did shew the necessity whereunto they that lived in the Kings obedience were brought and how it concerned him and the rest to prosecute what they had justly intended in regard of their enemies precipitation So in the Parliament kept at Striveling the 28. of the same moneth sentence of forfeiture was pronounced against the Duke of Chatteller ault and his two sons the Abbot of Aberbrothock and Lord Claud the Earl of Huntley the Laird of Grange and some others And for satisfying the Queen of Englands desire the Earl of Morton Marre and Glencarn the Lords Semple Ruthven and Glamis with the Bishop of Orkney the Abbots of Dunfermlin and S. Colmes Inche Sir Iohn Ballendine Justice Clerk and Mr. Iames Mr. Gill Clerk of Register were nominated by the Estates and Commission given or to any four three or two of that number to treat with such as the Queen of England should appoint upon the differences arisen amongst the subjects by occasion of the late troubles and for contracting a League offensive and defensive betwixt the two Realms Of all that did the Regent give notice to the Queen beseeching her not to presse them with any thing that might seem to call the Kings authority in question But before these letters came to her hands he was killed as ye shall hear Lord Claud Hamilton having intelligence given him of the security wherein the Regent and Nobility lived at Striveling and how as in a time of setled peace they did not so much as keep a watch by night took resolution to invade them and was therein greatly incouraged by Cap. George Bell a man born in Striveling one that knew all the passages streets who made offerto put him the company he should bring with him safely in the town This he communicated to the Earl of Huntley Walter Scot of Bacleugh and David Spence of Wormeston who were all content to joyn in the enterprise The second of September they went from Edinburgh a little before Sun-setting accompanied with 200. horse and 300. foot and lest their journey should be suspected they made the rumour go that they went towards Iedburgh to compose a discord fallen out betwixt the town and the Laird of Fernherst To ease the footmen they had taken all the horses which came the day before to the Market and as many as they could otherwise purchase by the way and so marching with a wonderful confidence for by the wayall their discourse
came in end to desire the Assemblies approbation of their proceedings as that which would incourage them much and dishearten the common adversary This proposition made first it was voyced whether the dangers of the Church and disorders of State were such as in their hearing were related which being affirmatively answered by the whole Assembly Mr. Iames Lawson Mr. David Lindesay and Mr. Iohn Craig were appointed to signifie unto the King what the Assembly had found and to require his own judgement therein The King esteeming it most sure for himself to temporize said That he believed Religion was in hazard and indirect courses taken to overturn the same wherewith he acknowledged his own danger to be conjoyned and for abuses crept into the Commonwealth as they were too many so he expected that all good subjects and they for their own parts would help to remove the same This answer returned to the Assembly they concluded an Act in this form For as much as the Noblemen and others joyned with them in the late action of reformation out of a desire to have the Church and whole professors of the true Religion understand the grounds and occasions moving them to repair towards the Kings Majesty to seek redress of the disorders fallen out in the Commonwealth have made publick attestation to the whole Assembly that the motions and grounds of their enterprise were and are to deliver the Church of God within this Realm and the true Religion therein professed from the evident peril and danger wherein all men perceived the same to stand as likewise to guard and preserve the innocent person of the King his Majesty and Estate being in no less hazard then the other and to remove the corruptions and confusion entered into the body of the Commonwealth wherein as they are well perswaded themselves to have done good service to God and to have performed their duty to their Soveraign and countrey so they wished all that feared God should judge and esteem well of their action especially that the brethren of this Assembly should declare their good liking and approbation thereof and ordain all the Pastors and Ministers within the Realm to publish in their particular Churches the causes and grounds moving them to the said enterprise exhorting all Noblemen Barons and other faithful subjects to give their best concurrence and assistance thereto The Assembly having weighed the said desire with the whole circumstances thereof have in the fear of God after mature deliberation resolved found and voted no man gainsaying That not only the Church of God within this Realm and true Religion professed in the same but also the King his most noble person and royal estate were and stood in extreme danger and hazard besides the manifold grosse abuses that had invaded the Commonwealth before the late enterprise which his Majesty had acknowledged and professed to the Commissioners of the present Assembly And that therefore the said brethren could not but think their Honours imploying themselves hereafter for averting the like dangers to have done good and acceptable service to God their Soveraign and native countrey And the prosecution thereof all partiality aside will be acceptable to all that fear God and tender the preservation of the Kings person and prosperous estate of the Realm And to the effect the same may be made the more manfest and notorious it is thought expedient that all the Ministers within the Realm upon the first occasion shall publickly declare unto their particular flocks the peril wherein the Church of God and true Religion the King his most noble person and estate stood with the grounds that moved the said Noblemen unto the late action recommending the same to the consideration of all good subjects exhorting them as they tender the glory of God and love the preservation of the King and countrey faithfully to concurre and joyne with the said Noblemen in prosecuting the said grounds to the full deliverance of the Church and perfect reformation of the Commonwealth And if any should be found either by word maliciously or violently by way of deed to oppose to that good cause they shall be called before the particular Elderships and order put unto them by the censures of the Church and in case of their wilful and obstinate continuing therein be delated to the King and Councel to be punished for their offence civilly This Act of the date the thirteenth of October 1582. was published in all the Churches of the Realm to the offence of many good men who were grieved to see had cause thus coloured and defended But the Lords knowing that this approbation could not secure them had laboured the King to convocate the Estates for the same purpose The eighteenth of the same moneth being appointed for their meeting there came to the convention for the Church estate the Archbishop of S. Andrews the Bishops of Dunkeld and Orkney the Abbots of Dunfermlin Newbottle Paisley Driburgh Cambuskenneth Culrosse Inchaffray Coldingham and Pittinweyme of the Nobility there were present the Earls of Marche Arrol Marshal Bothwel who some few moneths before returned from beyond Sea Marre Rothes Glencarn Eglinton Gowrie and Morton the Lords Lindesay Home Ogilvy Hereis Boyd ... and Sinclare But from the Burghes there came not any Commissioners nor could they be moved to countenance this action in any sort conceiving as it fell out that how soon the King obtained his liberty he would censure and condemn the fact as treasonable To these alwayes that convened the King had a speech much to this effect That of all the vexations he had tried since his acceptation of the government in his own person the distraction of the Nobility was the greatest and at the present did grieve him most for the removing whereof he had called them together and expected their best counsel and help In other things he said that needed reformation he would be willing to follow their advice One of the Lords I find him not named made answer that the dissensions of the Nobility were caused chiefly by some that having his Majesties ear did abuse his favours ruling all things at their pleasure and disdaining the advice of other fellow counsellors Then falling into particulars he said that the Duke of Lennox and Earl of Arran had misgoverned all affaires and brought divers abuses into the State which unlesse some Noblemen had taken a course to remedy by their repairing to his Majesty both Religion and State in a short time had been subverted After this the Earl of Marre Gowry and Glencarne who had been the chief actors in that attempt rose up and having declared the cause which moved them to take that action in hand did humbly offer to submit themselves to the censure of his Majesty and the Estates and thereupon removing themselves forth of the Convention it was found and declared That in their repairing to the King upon the 22. of August last and abiding with him since
thereof sent his natural brother Robert Maxwel to intercept the two Captains ere they should joyn with Iohnston They encountering in the Moore of Crawford after a sharp conflict the Captains were defeated Lamby and most of his company killed and Cranston with divers others taken prisoners Iohnston left he should be thought to do nothing did then make incursions upon Maxwels lands raising fire and carrying away great spoyle which Maxwel repayed with the burning of the house of Lockwood and the slaughter of some of Iohnstons in Annandale And thus did they make warre one against another till it happened that Iohnston in a certain conflict was taken by Maxwel and made prisoner The grief of this overthrow gave Iohnston shortly after he was liberated his death but the wrath of the Court still continuing a convention of the Estates was called to suppresse Maxwel and a Subsidy granted of 20000. pounds for levying of souldiers to pursue him Thereafter all that could bear Armes dwelling on the South of Forth were commanded to be in readinesse for attending the King in an expedition that he intended towards these parts But the plague breaking out in Edinburgh did rage so vehemently all that summer as nothing could be done so the expedition was put off for certain moneths Mean while there fell out an accident which did quite alienate the Queen of Englands favour from Arran Sir Iohn Forrester and Thomas Kar of Farnherst Wardens of the middle Marches being met for restoring some goods taken from the English a tumult fell out wherein Sir Francis Russel sonne to the Earl of Bedford was killed this was laid upon Farnherst and he said to have done it by Arrans instigation for they two were at that time in great friendship And when the Queen did require Farnherst to be delivered Arran did strongly oppose it yet the King for her satisfaction did confine them both the one in S. Andrews and the other in Aberdene Arran after a little time was relieved to his house at Kinneil the other contracting sickness kept bed a long space and as was thought died of displeasure at Aberdene A man he was of an haughty spirit and had endured much trouble in the service of the Kings mother which he esteemed should have made him better respected then as he conceived he was Shortly after this accident Sir Edward Wotton was imployed in an Ambassage from England for contracting a league offensive and defensive with the King in the cause of Religion For then came that holy league as they called it to be discovered which the Pope the Spanish King the Guises and others had made to extirpate the Reformed Religion The Queen of England understanding her self to be principally aimed at found nothing better then to make a counter-league with the Princes reformed and to that effect sent Sir Thomas Bodley to treat with the King of Denmark and the Protestant princes in Germany and at the same time imployed Sir Edward Wotton towards the King The motion did so please him as presently he called the Estates at S. Andrews and having in a long and pithy speech expressed the dangers threatened to Religion with the necessity that the reformed Princes had to unite themselves strongly together procured the act following to be concluded We the Nobility and Estates presently convened understanding that divers Princes and Potentates who term themselves Catholicks have joyned under the Popes authority in a most unchristian confederacy against the true Religion and Professors thereof with full intent to prosecute their wicked resolution not only within their own estates and dominions but likewise in other Kingdomes where they can pretend no lawful power nor authority A purpose long since projected and hitherto cunningly carried but now openly manifested and in divers parts begun to be executed with hard and cruel effects And considering withall how it hath pleased God to blesse this Realm with the sincerity of the Gospel the defence whereof is the most just and lawful cause that Christians can maintain we have thought it requisite not only to unite our selves and joyn the whole forces which God hath granted us under our most religious and Christian Soveraign for the better assurance of our own estates and the more peaceable enjoying of so great a benefit but aâ—so for withstanding the dangerous course intended against all the professors of the truth we have judged it needful that a general League and Christian confederacy of Princes and States professing the true Religion should be opposed to the ungodly confederacy of the enemies thereof especially that the two Crowns of Scotland and England which nature blood habitation and the profession of one Religion hath joyned may be unseparably united by a more firm and strict League then hath been betwixt any Princes their Progenitors in times past for which effect we under subscribing for our selves and in name and behalf of the whole Estates of this Realm whose body in this convention we represent have given and granted like as we by the tenour hereof do give and grant to our Soveraign Lord King James the sixth his Council or such of them as his Majesty shall please to nominate our full power priviledge assent and authority whatsoever competent to us and to the three Estates of this Realm to treat or cause to treat conferre transact and conclude a Christian league betwixt his Majesty and his Highness dearest sister and Cousen the Queen of England and to nominate and appoint Commissioners for that purpose who shall meet at such time and place as his Highness shall agree upon with the Commissioners to be directed from his said dearest sister the nomination and election of whom we have remitted and do humbly remit to our dread Soveraign Lord faithfully promising for us and in behalf foresaid to ratify approve and confirm in the first Parliament whatsoever thing his Majesty shall agree unto or his Highnesse Commissioners in his name shall contract indent subscribe or seal concerning the said league with all heads clauses and Articles thereof which we do and have the more willingly done because of the trust we repose in his Majesties wisdom circumspection earnest zeal to maintain the truth of God against all that shall happen to attempt anything to the contrary providing alwayes that the league do not infringe or prejudge in any sort any former alliances and leagues betwixt this Realm and any other ancient friends and confederates thereof except only in matter of Religion concerning which we do fully consent that the said league be made offensive and defensive avowing and by our solemn oaths swearing neither to spare life lands houses goods nor whatsoever it hath pleased God to grant unto us in defence and maintenance thereof This Act was past on the last of Iuly with a great consent and was subscribed by the Archbishops of S. Andrews and Glasgow the Bishop of Dunkeld the Commendators of Culross Balmerinoch Driburgh
in most serious manner all his good subjects to beware of these Iesuits traitors to their native Countrey and in their prayers to implore the mercy of God for preservation of themselves their wives and children from the conspiracy intended The Ministers of Edinburgh esteeming it their duty to make the Churches of the Countrey foreseen of the conspiracy that was detected gave notice thereof by their letters to such as were most nigh at hand desiring them to meet at Edinburgh the 8. of Ianuary for giving their advice touching these dangers and how the same might best be prevented The meeting was frequent for the report of the discovery drew many thither Mr. Robert Bruce in a short speech having related the perill wherein the Countrey and Church were brought by these practises it was thought meet by some Commissioners to entreat of his Majesty the execution of the lawes against Jesuits and their ressetters with the punishment of such as should be found guilty of the present conspiracy The King accepting graciously those that were sent unto him and giving the whole Assembly thanks for the readinesse they shewed to assist him in the prosecution of that triall wished them to consider of what importance the businesse was and not onely to give their advice for the course that should be taken but also to let him know what help they would contribute for strengthening him in his proceeding against the unnaturall Subjects His Majesties desire being reported to the Meeting their advice was that a Parliament should be indicted and the subscrivers of the blanks cited thereto and because it was not expected that they would appear so as his Majesty should be compelled to pursue them by force of Armes they did humbly offer their attendance upon his Majesties person till they should be apprehended or expulsed the Countrey as likewise to entertain a guard to his Majesty of three hundreth horsemen and an hundreth foot so long as any necessity was and till the laws of the Countrey had taken effect against the rebells providing it should not be drawn into a custome nor prejudge the liberty of the Realm in time coming The offer was thankfully accepted and a Proclamation made to meet the King at Aberdene the 20 of February for settling the North parts and for a beginning of Justice David Graham of Fintrie was arraigned and being found guilty beheaded in the publick street of Edinburgh the 16. of February Some two dayes before his execution Mr. Iohn Graham one of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice being charged because of the businesse he made in behalf of Fintrie to depart forth of the Town and keep ward in Strathern was killed as he was going to the tide at Leith There had been a question long depending betwixt Sir Iames Sanderlands and him for the lands of Halyards and by reason thereof a professed enmity amongst them and it falling out at the same time when he was going to Leith that the Duke of Lennox accompanied with Sir Iames and divers others was making towards their sport in the sands Mr. Iohn Graham apprehending that they did pursue him made a turn upon that ascent which is without the gate of the town as if he would stand there to his defence which S. Iames taking for a sort of provocation he made towards him and entering in conflict Sir Alexander Stewart a grave Gentleman servant to the Duke of Lennox was killed by the shot of a pistoll presently after M. Iohn Graham by another shot was stricken in the breast and fell to the ground they who did give him the convoy seeing him fall did all flie and the companies separating he was led to a poor Cottage near unto the place and as he lay in bed killed by the said Sir Alexander his Page in revenge of his Masters death A man he was but meanly born and descended of that unhappy race which had an hand in the murther of King Iames the first a long time he served as Deputy to the Earl of Argile in the Justice Courts and after his death waited on Captain Iames Stewart by whose means he was preferred to be one of the Senatours of the Colledge of Justice in the place of Mr. Robert Pont of a quick wit and a good and ready utterance but was excessively proud covetous and unhonest in his dealings as appeared in suborning of the Notary of whom we spake and the fraud which he used to Mr. Andrew Polwart subdean of Glasgow a man of great learning who being forced to fly into England in the year 1584. with the other Ministers that took their refuge thither had intrusted him with his living and rent upon assurance to be repossessed when the time should change yet being returned and having obtained his peace could he never bring him to fulfill his promise whereupon after a long plea at law not finding an outgate the honest man conceived a displeasure and died The Earl of Angus the same day that he was killed made an escape out of the Castle of Edinburgh by the connivence of the keepers and flying to the North joyned with Huntley and Arroll They upon the report of the Kings coming to Aberdene left their houses and betook themselves to the mountains sending their Ladies to intercede for them and make offer of the keyes of their houses which they had been charged to render The King receiving the Ladies courteously told them that if their husbands would enter and abide triall they should receive no wrong otherwise the crime laid to their charge did so highly touch the Estate as he could not stay the course of Justice In the mean time for preserving the Countrey in peace the Earl of Atholl was made Lieutenant within the bounds of Elgin Forres Narne Innernesse and Cromartie and the like Commission given to the Earl of Marshall of the Sherifdoms of Kincardin Bamffe and Aberdene This done the King returned to Edinburgh where the Lord Burgh did meet him He was sent from the Queen of England to congratulate the discoveries of these treacherous practices and make offer of her assistance in pursuing and punishing those that should trie culpable wherein she wished him to doe as a King ought in such a case and if he could not apprehend their persons to confiscate their lands and rents whereby he should undoe them and better the Estate of his Crown And seeing the cause was common and touched all Princes professing the same Religion she desired to be certified what his resolution was that she might assure other Princes her confederates of the course taken in both their dominions for resisting the attempts of Spain The King thanking the Queen for her friendly offer and advice said That he knew Sir Robert Bowes her resident Ambassadour had advertised her of the whole particulars and of the blanks and letters intercepted that he had made a beginning and was fully resolved to prosecute the
countenance and that she was a Papist they might blame themselves who had never taken care to enform her of the truth Lastly for his Daughter the Princesse he had trusted her to the Lord Levingston a Nobleman known to be of good Religion and not to his Lady who should not be suffered to take any care of her unlesse she conformed in point of Religion Whilst things thus past betwixt the King and the Church a new occasion of trouble was presented by M. David Blake one of the Ministers of S. Andrews who had in one of his Sermons cast forth divers speeches full of spight against the King the Queen the Lords of Councell and Session and amongst the rest had called the Queen of England an Atheist a woman of no Religion This being dilated to the English Ambassadour he complained to the King and thereupon was Mr. David Blake cited to appear before the Councell the 10 of November Mr. Andrew Melvill accompanying him to Edinburgh did labour to make this a common cause giving out that the same was done onely for a preparative against the Ministers to bring theâ—r Doctrine under the censure and controlement of the King and Councell and so farre he prevailed with the Commissioners of the Church as they sent certain of their number to intreat the deserting of the Diet saying It would be ill taken to draw Ministers in question upon trifling delations when as the enemies of the truth were spared and overseen The King some daies before had published the Conditions upon which he was to grant a Protection to Huntley and asking those Commissioners if they had seen the Conditions said That both he and the rest should either satisfie the Church in every point or be pursued with all extremity so as they should have no reason to complain of the oversight of Papists For Master Blake he said he did not think much of that matter onely they should cause him appear and take some course for pacifying the English Ambassadour But take heed said the King that you doe not decline the judicatory for if you doe it will be worse then any thing yet fallen out Now the Conditions proponed to Huntley were as followeth That he should give sufficient and reasonable caution of Inland-men and landed Barons to the number of sixteen at least who should be acted in the Books of Councell under the pain of forty thousand pounds each two of the Cautioners conjunctly and severally for five thousand pounds of the said summe that he should faithfully observe and fulfill the whole Articles undermentioned and every one of them as first that betwixt and the first day of April next to come he should either satisfie the Church for his Apostasie and return to the bosome thereof in uniformity of Religion or before the expiring of the said time depart again forth of the Countrey and not return again without his Majesties license 2 Next that during the said space he should not receive in his company any Jesuit Masse-priests or excommunicate Papists nor have any dealing communication or intelligence with them especially with his Uncle Mr. Iames Gordon nor suffer his Children in case any be brought forth in the mean time to be baptized by another then a Minister 3 That so long as he remained in the Countrey as likewise in case of his departing at the time aforesaid he should not traffick with any stranger or others whomsoever for alteration of the true Religion or disquieting the state of the Countrey in any sort 4 That his former Cautioners should remain obliged in case after lawfull triall it should be found that since his last departing he had trafficked with strangers for subversion of Religion or the alteration of the State in the summes for which they were bound 5 That he should presently enter his person in ward within such a place as his Majesty should appoint 6 That within fifteen daies next he should enter his eldest Son and apparent Heir as a Hostage to his Majesty for observing the Articles before and after mentioned and that his said Son should abide in such company ward or Castle as his Majesty should appoint where most conveniently he might be instructed in the true Religion and not escape by his Fathers knowledge or assistance Lastly that he should compeir personally before the Councell whensoever he should be called upon fifteen daies warning for trying the contravention of any of the Articles above expressed providing the cause for which he should be charged were expressed in the Letters and warrant given himâ— that he should not be challenged for any other fact done before his last passing forth of Scotland These Articles the King caused to be imprinted that all men might see he meant not to bestow any favour either upon him or the rest unlesse they joyned themselves to the Religion publickly professed yet this served not to stop the mouths of people nor did it remove the jealousie of the Preachers who were daily complaining That Papists were favoured the Ministers troubled for the free rebuke of sin and the scepter of Christs kingdome sought to be overthrown The processe they said intended against Mr. Blake was but a policy to divert the Ministers from prosecuting their suite against the Popish Earls and if he should submit his Doctrine to the triall of the Councell the liberties of the Church and spirituall government of the house of God would be quite subverted In any case therefore they concluded that a Declinator should be used and protestation made against these proceedings This was held a dangerous course and earnestly disswaded by some few but they were cried down by the greater number that said it was the cause of God whereunto it concerned them to stand at all hazard So a Declinator was formed and given Mr. Blake to present bearing this in substance That howbeit the conscience of his innocency did uphold him sufficiently against the calumnies of whomsoever and that he was ready to defend the doctrine uttered by him whether in opening the words or in application yet seeing he was brought thither to be judged by his Majesty and Councell for his doctrine and that his answering to the pretended accusation might import a prejudice to the liberties of the Church and be taken for an acknowledgement of his Majesties jurisdiction in matters meerly spiritual he was constrained in all humility to decline that Judicatory for the reasons following First because the Lord Iesus of whom he had the grace of his calling had given him albeit unworthy of the honour to bear his name his Word for a rule to his preaching and that he could not fall in the reverence of any Civill law but in so farre as he should be tried to have passed his instructions which trial belonged onely to the Prophets and Pastors the spirits of the Prophets being subject to them alone for as first it must be declared whether he had kept his instruction or
will answer that it is not their purpose presently and out of hand to enforce obedience but by fatherly admonitions and conferences to induce such as are disaffected But if any be of an opposite and turbulent spirit I will have them inforced to a conformity Neither tell me that the wearing of a surplice or using the Crosse in Baptism will diminish the credit of Ministers that have formerly dissallowed the same for that is just the Scotish Argument when any thing was concluded that sorted not with their humour the only reason why they would not obey was that it stood not with their credit to yield having been so long of a contrary opinion I will none of that but that a time be limited by the Bishops of every Diocese to such and they that will not yield whatsoever they are let them be removed for we must not preferre the credit of a few private men to the generall peace of the Church Throughout all this conference in every point that was moved or came to be talked of the King did shew such knowledge and readiness as bred not a small admiration in the hearers Chancellour Egerton wondering to see him so expedite and perfect in all sort of Divinity said That he had often heard and read that Rex est mixta persona cum Sacerdote but that he saw never the truth of it untill that day Let me adde that which I was afterward told by Richard Bancroft Archbishop of Canterbury for Whitgift died the next moneth after the conference one of the great glories of the English Church that when the Rolles were brought in of those that stood out and were deposed which was some years after they were found to be fourty nine in all England when as the Ministers of that Kingdome are reckoned nine thousand and above such a noise will a few disturbers cause in any society where they are tolerated In the March thereafter a Parliament was kept in England where the King after he had given thanks to the State for the generall applause they shewed in receiving him to the place which God by birthright and lineall descent had provided for him did earnestly move the union of the two Kingdomes that as they were made one in the head so among themselves they might be inseparably conjoyned and all memory of by-past divisions extinguished A motion that took well at first and seemed to be generally desired of both Nations but did not succeed as was wished The Parliament alwaies at his Majesties desire and for a demonstration of their obedience did nominate Thomas Ellesmore Lord Chancellor of England Thomas Earl of Dorset Thesaurer Charles Earl of Nottingham Lord high Admirall Henry Earl of Southampton William Earl of Pembroke Henry Earl of Northampton Richard Bishop of London Toby Bishop of Durham Anthony Bishop of St Davids Robert Lord Cecill principall Secretary to his Majesty Edward Lord Souch Lord President of Wales William Lord Monteagle Ralph Lord Eure Edmond Lord Sheffeild Lord President of the Councell of the North Lords of the higher House And Thomas Lord Clinton Robert Lord Buckhurst Sir Francis Hastings knight Sir Iohn Stanhop knight Vice-chamberlain to the Kings Majesty Sir George Carew knight Vice-chamberlain to the Queens Majesty Sir Iohn Herbert knight second Secretary to his Majesty Sir Thomas Strickland knight Sir Edward Stafford knight Sir Henry Nevill of Barkshire knight Sir Richard Buckly knight Sir Henry Billingsly knight Sir Daniell Dunne knight Dean of the Arches Sir Edward Hobby knight Sir Iohn Savile knight Sir Robert Wroth knight Sir Thomas Challoner knight Sir Robert Mansell knight Sir Thomas Ridgway knight Sir Thomas Holcraft knight Sir Thomas Hasketh knight his Majesties Attorney of the Court of Wards and Liveries Sir Francis Bacon knight Sir Lawrence Cawfield knight Serjeant at Law Sir Henry Hubbard knight Serjeant at Law Sir Iohn Bennet knight Doctor of the Lawes Sir Henry VVitherington Sir Ralph Grey and Sir Thomas Lake knights Robert Ashwith Thomas Iames and Henry Chapman Merchants Knights and Burgesses of the house of Commons Giving them or any eight or more of the said Lords of the higher house and any twenty of the said Knights and Burgesses of the said house of Commons full power liberty and Commission to assemble and meet at any time or times before the next Session of Parliament â—or treating and consulting with certain selected Commissioners to be nominated and authorized by authority of the Parliament of the realm of Scotland of and concerning such an union of the said realms of England and Scotland and of and concerning such other matters causes and things whatsoever as upon mature deliberation and consideration the greatest part of the said Lords Knights Citizens and Burgesses being assembled with the Commissioners to be nominated by the Parliament of Scotland shall in their wisdome think and deem convenient and necessary for the honour of his Majesty and the weal and commmon good of both the said realms during his Majesties life and under all his progenie and royall posterity for ever which Commissioners of both the said realms shall according to the tenor of their said Commissions reduce their doings and proceedings into writings or instruments tripartite every part to be subscribed and sealed by them to the end that one part thereof may in all humility be presented to his most excellent Majesty the second part to be offered to the consideration of the next Session of Parliament for the realm of England and the third to be offered to the consideration of the next Parliament for the realm of Scotland that thereupon such further proceeding may be had as by both the said Parliaments may be thought fit and necessary for the weal and common good of both the said realms A Parliament in Scotland for the same purpose was indicted to the tenth of Aprill and thereafter prorogated to the eleventh of Iuly at which time the Lords Spirituall and Temporall assembled by virtue of his Majesties Commission did ordain the persons following they are to say Iohn Earl of Montrosse Chancellor of Scotland Francis Earl of Arroll high Constable of Scotland Iames Earl of Glencarn Alexander Earl of Linlithgow Iohn Archbishop of Glasgow David Bishop of Rosse George Bishop of Cathnes Walter Prior of Blantire Patrick Lord Glammis Alexander Lord Elphingston Alexander Lord Fyvie President of the Session of Scotland Robert Lord Roxbrugh Iames Lord Abircorn Iames Lord Balmerinoth Principall Secretary of Scotland David Lord of Scone Sir Iames Scrimgeour of Dudop knight Sir Iohn Cockburn of Ormston knight Sir Iohn Hume of Couldenknowes knight Sir David Carnegie of Kinnard knight Sir Robert Melvill elder of Murdocarmie knight Sir Thomas Hamilton of Binnie knight Sir Iohn Lermouth of Balcony knight Sir Alexander Straton of Lawriston knight Sir Iohn Sheen of Curry-hill knight Mr. Iohn Sharp of Howston Lawyer Mr. Thomas Craig Lawyer Henry Nisbit George Bruce Alexander Rutherford and Mr. Alexander
their right In August they took journey thither and by the assistance of Mackey Mackenzie and Donold Gorum forced the Inhabitants to remove forth of the Isle and give surety not to return Ardrie and his Copartners thinking all made sure and that there was no more danger returned South about Martinmas leaving some Companies to maintain their possession which they made good all that Winter though now and then they were assaulted by the Isles-men In the Spring Ardrie went back taking with him fresh provision and fell to build and manure the lands But this continued not long for moneys failing the workmen went away and the Companies diminishing daily the Natives having associated a number of Isles-men made a new invasion about the end of harvest and by continuall incursions so outwearied the new possessors as they gave over the enterprise and were contented for a little summe of money to make away their rights to the Laird of Mackenzie This turned to the ruine of divers of the undertakers who were exhausted in means before they took the enterprise in hand and had not the power which was required in a business of that importance In the end of the year a horrible Conspiracy was detected against the King and the whole body of the State of England the names of the Conspirators were Robert Catesby Thomas Percy Thomas VVinter Iohn VVright and Guido Faulks English men all and Papists by profession These five meeting together and consulting by what mean they might best relieve the Catholick Cause so they spake Thomas Percy proponed the killing of the King and at his own perill made offer to perform the same Catesby who had another plot in his head answered That they would not hazard him so and that albeit it should succeed the case of the Catholick cause would be no better the Prince and Duke of Yorke being left alive yea if both these were cast away yet the Counsellors Nobility Judges Knights and a great many others addicted to Religion would be remaining who should be able enough to restore the estate and crosse all their purposes That therefore he had bethought himself of a better and more safe way which was at one time and with one blow to cut off all their enemies This he said was by blowing up the Parliament house with gunpowder at the time when the King and Estates were assembled The advice pleased them all but first it was thought meet to ask the opinion of their ghostly Fathers and be informed of the lawfulness of the fact as of Henry Garnet Oswould Tesmond aliàs Greenwall and Iohn Gerard Jesuits who being consulted commended the enterprise assuring them they might go on with a good conscience and perform the deed seeing they were Hereticks and persons ipso jure excommunicated against whom they were set This resolution satisfying their consciences for their greater security they took an Oath of Secrecy swearing each to other by the sacred Trinity and the blessed Sacrament they were at that time to receive that neither directly nor indirectly by word or circumstances they should discover the purpose they had taken to any whomsoever nor should desert from performing the same without licence of their associates This Oath was given upon a Primer in the presence of Gerard the Jesuit and having heard Masse and received the Sacrament Thomas Percy was appointed to hire a house nigh adjoyning to the Parliament for the more safe and secret working of the myne This being obtained yet with difficulty enough they entred to work and after divers intermissions because of proroguing the Parliament when they had brought the myne to the midst of the wall they found the opportunity of a Cellar under the Parliament house to be let and leaving the myne for that the wall was hard to be digged through they hired the cellar and put in it 36 barrels of powder a number of billets faggots and a great quantity of coles wherewith they covered the barrels They had called in Christopher Wright Robert Winter Iohn Graunt and Catesby's servant and communicated the matter to them This last was troubled at first with the cruelty of the plot and had forsaken them if he had not been confirmed and encouraged by Tesmond the Jesuit to go with the rest After these Ambrose Rockwood and Robert Keyes were made of the Councell all taking the Oath of Secrecy and receiving the sacrament upon the same And because the charge in buying powder billets and hiring of houses had been a burthen heavy for Thomas Percy it was thought meet to bring in some mo whereupon Sir Edward Digby and Francis Tresham were assumed All things being now as they judged made sure they began to think what course was fittest to take after the deed was performed The first doubt was made touching the Prince and surprise of his person or if he should accompany his Father to the Parliament how they might seise upon the Duke of Yorke his brother But this Piercy undertook to doe by reason of his acquaintance in the house into which he could enter without suspicion and how soon the blow was given carry him away by the help of such as he should have in a readinesse to assist Of the Lady Elizabeth they made small question for that she was kept in the Countrey by the Lady Harrington near to Catesby's dwelling house The next doubt they proponed where they should have money and horses and for this Digby made offer of fifteen hundred pounds English Tresham two hundred and Piercy promised to bring all he could gather of Northumberland Rents which he thought would extend to four thousand pounds and to provide ten horses for his part Neither doubted they but having the Heir apparent in their hands they should finde means sufficient A third question they made what Lords they should save from going to the Parliament which they agreed to be as many Catholicks as conveniently they might Fourthly it was moved among them what forain Princes they should acquaint with the purpose and whose aid they should seek Concerning which it was agreed that none of them should be made privie to the plot fearing they could not enjoyn secrecy to Princes and for ayd after the deed performed there would be time enough to intreat the same either of Spaine or France or the Countrey of Flanders Lastly because they saw no way to assure the Duke of Yorke his person for Piercy his undertaking they held unsure they resolved to serve their turn with the Lady Elizabeth and to proclaim her Queen to which purpose they had a Proclamation formed wherein no mention was made of altering Religion because they had no forces sufficient and till they might make good their party they would not avow the deed to be theirs but lay it so farre as they could upon the Puritans Now there remained nothing all dangers being foreseen and every thing provided but the last act of
with matters exceeding the capacities of people The King offending with these rumours which he heard were dispersed in both Kingdoms took occasion in a Parliament assembled about that time in England to speak to them and say I understand that I am blamed for not executing the laws made against Papists but ye should know that a King and his laws are not unfitly compared to a rider and his horse the spurre is sometime to be used but not alwaies the bridle is sometimes to be held in at other times to be let loose as the rider finds cause just so a King is not at all times to put in execution the rigour of his laws but he must for a time and upon just grounds dispense with the same as I protest to have done in the present case and to have connived only for a time upon just cause howbeit not known to all If any man for the favour shewed to a Priest or Papist will judge me to be inclining that way he wrongs me exceedingly My words and writings and actions have sufficiently demonstrated what my resolution is in all matters of Religion Some mo words to this purpose he uttered in that meeting but in a Letter directed to the Councel of Scotland he was somewhat more rough finding fault with those that presumed to censure his proceedings and commanding them to take an exact triall of such as had broken out into any such insolencies either in word or deed and to punish them severely according to the laws This was not well published when the news of the Princes journey to Spain made all good men amazed for hearing that he was gone accompanied only with the Duke of Buckingham and another servant the fear of inconveniences that might befall his person did mightily trouble them But it pleased God both in his going and returning safely to conduct and protect him The occasion and successe of that journey I shall shortly relate A match had been treating of a long time betwixt the Prince and a Daughter of Spain which received many hinderances both at home and in that Court but it being thought that the delaies made in these parts would be easily removed by the presence of the Prince himself whereof great hopes were given by Gundamar the Spanish Ambassadour the King gave way to the journey as hoping by this mean to have the Palatinate freed from the vexations of warre and a generall peace established throughout Christendome Thus the Prince accompanied in manner aforesaid departly secretly from Court and landing at Callais went through France undiscovered and after a few daies came safely to the Court of Spain At his coming he was kindly received and welcomed with divers courtly Complements but found a greater strangeness then he expected for although he was still kept in hope of the Match yet he was not permitted to visit the Lady but upon condition to speak in such and such terms and no otherwise Afterward they began to move him touching his Religion desiring he should conferre with some Divines for that he could not have the Infanta to wife unlesse he was converted and became a Roman Catholick The Prince replying That he would not change his Religion for such a worldly respect nor would he enter in conference with any Divines to that purpose for if they did not prevaile with him it would breed a greater discontent It was then told him that he must attend till a dispensation was procured from Rome and that in the mean time be should be entertained as a Prince but not as a Sutor This Dispensation being returned which had in it a condition that the King of Spain should take oath to obtain the King of Britains consent unto certain demands concerning Religion there was a letter therewith sent from Pope Gregory the 15th to the Prince wherein after many fair and plausible words he said that as Pope Gregory was the first that induced the people of England to submit themselves to the See Apostolick so he bearing the same name and being his equall in the height of dignity though inferiour to him in vertue and holiness desired nothing more then to follow his pattern and promove the health and happiness of that Kingdome the rather because his peregrination at that time had given such hopes of an happy success for since he was arrived in Spain and at the Court of the Catholick King with a desire to joyn in mariage with the house of Austria which intention he greatly commended he could not believe that he did really desire the Match and in heart abhorre the Catholick Religion and seek to ruine the holy See of Rome Then falling to a prayer he besought God the Father of lights to advance him the most fair flower of the Christian world and the only hope of Great Britain to that noble inheritance which his illustrious progenitours had gained by the defence of the Apostolick authority and the suppression of the monsters of all heresies Towards the end of the Letter willing him to call to minde the antient times â—nd make his prayers to his ancestors that they would vouchsafe to teach him the way by which they went to heaven he askt how he could with patience hear the hereticks call them damned whom the Catholick faith doth testifie to reign in heaven and to dwell exalted above all the Princes of the earth In end returning to his supplications he said that the Catholick Church Roman stretching forth her armes to embrace him with all affection as her most desired son he could not perform any thing of greater comfort to the Nations of Christendome then to bring again the profession of that most noble Island to the Prince of the Apostles whereof he could not despaire his hopes being set on God in whose hands are the hearts of Kings c. This Letter given at Rome in the Palace of S. Peter the 20 of April 1623 and in the third year of his Apostolate was delivered to the Prince about the midst of May which he received courteously thanking the Pope for his good affection Thereafter understanding that the Dispensation was granted he pressed the performance of the Marriage but was answered That the Conditions must first be fulfilled and the Articles concerning the Infanta her liberty of profession when she came into England and the education of her Children if God should grant her any by him drawn up in form These Articles being advised by a Commission of Divines were sent into England and shortly after returned signed with his Majesties hand and approved by the Councell And now it was thought there should be no more delaies used but other excuses were forged as that it was not fitting the Infanta should go to England before the business of the Parliament was setled and that these Articles must be sent to Rome and allowed by the Pope The Prince perceiving that there was nothing really intended on the King of Spain his
A Councell appointed for the University The Doctors Professors and Regents exempted for the Church-meetings A discovery of Witches A discharge of proceedings against Witches except in case of voluntary confession Troubles in the Borders A Parliament at Edinburgh Articles presented in the name of the Church Voice in Parliament granted to such Ministers as shâ—uâ—d be provided to the places as Bishops Abbots or other Prelates The office for the spirituall government remitted to the Assembly An. 1598. A General Assembly at Dundie Ministers might give voice in Parliament The number to be aâ—se many as of old in the Papisticall Church The election of those that should give voice to be made by the King and Church Commission for discussing the rest of the points Ministers of Edinburgh permitted to preach upon condition Four others named to be joyned with the Edinburgh Minâ—sters Exception taken at two of the number The providing of the Commissioners in the planting of Edinburgh allowed Anact desining the number of Commissioners from Presbyteries to Assemblies His Majesty pleaseth to remit all offences past of the Ministers Mr. Iohn Dividson protesteth against the conclusions of the Assembly Question moved for Mr. Robert Bruce who refused the imposition of hands A declaration made for his satisfaction A tumult in the Church as his admission Mr. Robert Bruce cited before the Commissioners purgeth himself of the tumult He is admitted and receives imposition of hands Commissioners directed to Synod of Fife A meeting at Falkland for determining the vote of Parliament Caveats for eschewing of corruption His Majesties purpose in giving way to these conclusions Ambassadors directed to the Princes of Germany The success of that Ambassage The Queen brought to bed of a daughter Hamilton and Huntley created Marquesses Mr. Iohn Lindesay Secretary dieth The Lord of Colluthy his death Mr. Thomas Buchannan his death David Ferguson his death The death of Mr. Robert Rollock most lamented His behaviour in the time of his sicknâ—ss and at his dying An. 1599. Alteration of some officers of State The Earl of Cassills made Treasurer Lord Elphingston succeeded Treasurer Sr. William Bowes Ambassadour from England One Ashfield conveighed privately to Berwick by two of the Ambassadours servants A visitation of the University of S. Andrewes Discourse of his Majesties Title to the Crown of England The King publisheth his Basilicon Doron by occasion of a libell Mr. Iohn Dikes fugitive for the libell The book well received in England A trouble for receiving some English Comedians A generall Assembly of the Church The voice in Parliament determined Two Cavears more added The state of Bishopricks at that time Bishops appointed for Rosse and Cathnes An. 1600. Iohn Dury Minister at Montrosse his death with a short description of his life The conspiracy of the Earl of Gowry The Kings kindness to his brethren and sister The plot contrived for entrapping the King The King goeth to Perth Gowry meeting the King was much troubled Mr. Alexander did move the King to goe with him Mr. Alexander professeth what he was about The Kings voice heard and is discerned Sir Thomas Areskin challengeth Gowrie Iohn Ramsey doth first relieve the King The Kings servants prepare to defend Gowrie entereth and after a little space is killed The Lords come to the King The danger by the people of the Town The Caracters found at the Earls girdle Some servants of Gowrie executed Andrew Henderson his confession The Ministers of Edinburgh required by the Councell to give thanks for his Majesties deliverance Their excuse and refusing to obey The Bishop of Rosse giveth thanks at the Market-cross The King cometh to Edinburgh Master Patrick Galloway his preaching at the Crosse. 1000 l mortified to the poor at Scone A solemne thanksgiving appointed for the Kings deliverance The Ministers of Edinburgh removed from their places Three of the number acknowledging their fault are pardoned Mr. Iames Balfoure remitted Master Robert Bruce banished A Parliament wherein Gowrie and his brother are forfeited The fifth of August to be kept yearly in remembrance of his Majesties delivery Acts concluded in this Parliament The King goeth to Dunfermlin to visit the Queen Prince Charles born at Dunfermlin The death of M. Iohn Craig with a description of his life Accidents that befell M. Craig in his flight A strange accident and singular testimony of Gods care over him He preacheth to Maximilian the Emperour but is forced to leave those parts He cometh to Scotland and is appointed Minister at Halirudhouse An. 1601. A trouble in the Court of England The Earl of Marre sent Ambassadour to England Pope Clement sends his Breves to England for excluding the King A Proclamation against some Jesuits An Assembly at Brunt-island Mr. Iohn Hall elected Modederator The defection in Religion complained of and the causes searched The remedy of the evils Mr. Iohn Davidson his letter to the Assembly The letter offended greatly the wiser sort A combustion touching the Ministers of Edinburgh A Proposition was made for a new Translation of the Bible and correcting the Psalmes The liberty of Application restrained The Ministers of Edinburgâ— received in favour New troubles by the Lord Maâ—well The Duke of Leâ—nox directed Ambassador to France The Queen of France lying of her first born The Duke returneth to Edinburgh An. 1602. Certain undertakers conqueâ— the Isles The Laird of Balcomy taken prisoner and dieth in Oikeney Neill betrayeth his brother Murdach The Lewis lost by the undertakers security Mr. Robâ— Bruce licenced to return upon promise of satisfaction Mr. Rob Bruce his inconstancy A Generall Assembly in the Chappell of Halirudhouse Petitions to his Majesty in name of the Church Overtures for provision of the Ministers The overtures deferred to another time Grievances of the Synod of Fife An answer to the grievances Acts concluded in the Assembly The businesse of Jesuits in England The story of Francis Mowbray and an Italian The Queen of England groweth sick A Conference betwixt the French Ambassadour Secretariâ— Cicill The King advertised of this conference His Majesties letter to the Secretary A letter from the King to the Earle of Northumberland An. 1603. The Queen of England her death The King advised of the Queens death A letter from the Councell and Nobility of England to the King The contents of the letter published The Borders make incursions upon the report of the Queens death The King giveth order for his journey The persons chused to attend the King in his journey He goeth to S. Giles to hear sermon The King makes a speech to the People which is followed with a great lamentation of the hearers The King cometh to Berwick The Councellors meet him at York The death of Mr. Iames Beaton Archbishop of Glasgow The Queen falleth sick at Striveling The Prince delivered to the Queen The King and Queen inaugurated at Westminster A conspiracy detected a-against the King George Brook and two Priests executed The Noble-men and others spared Ann. 1604. The
Of the Bishops of the Isles I have lesse to say onely that the Isle of Man was at first the Cathedral seat as by occasion we touched before and that by the invasions of the Norvegians and English the same was translated unto Ilcolmkill In Man Amphibalus was the first Bishop I read of one Machilla likewise that was there Bishop and confirmed the holy Brigida in her purpose of single life After the translation of the seat to Ilcolmkill I find onely one Onacus mentioned about the year 1289. who is reported to have been a good and godly man with another called Mauricius whom King Edward the first of England sent prisoner to London And thus farre of the succession of Bishops unto the time of the Reformation THE HISTORY of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND THE THIRD BOOK The Contents The History of the Reformation of the Church and how it was wrought THE Petitions put up to Queen Regent for reformation of the Church taking no effect some Noblemen and Barons joyning in Councel did bind themselves by oâ—thes and subscriptions to assist one another and hazard their lives and substance in advancing the cause of Religion The principals were Archibald Earl of Argyle Alexander Earl of Glencarne James Earl of Morton Archibald Lord of Lorne Sir Iames Sandelands of Calder Iohn Erskin of Dun and William Maitland of Lethington younger They meeting together after deliberation what should be fittest first to do concluded That in all Parishes the Curates should be caused read the Prayers and Lessons of the Old and New Testament on Sundayes and other Festival dayes according to the form set forth in the Book of Common Prayers and if they should refuse that the most qualified in every Parish should do the same But for preaching and interpretation of Scripture the same should be used only in private houses after a quiet manner till God should move the Queen to grant further liberty This accordingly was performed in the parts where they had Commandment and by their example in divers Townes and Parishes of the countrey the like was done to the great offence of the Clergy who complaining of that boldnesse to the Queen Regent were answered that it was no fit time to enter into those matters and that she should find occasion ere it were long to put order unto them But the Clergy fearing delayes did forthwith call a Provincial Councel at Edinburgh where professing to make reformation of abuses they renewed some old Popish constitutions which they made to be imprinted and affixed upon the doors of all the Parish Churches The Bishop of S. Andrewes advertised of the Reformation begun in Argyle sent to the Earl Sir David Hamilton his Cousen with a letter wherein after he had shewed the perill in which he did cast both himself and his house by that open defection from the Church he desired him in some honest fashion to rid himself of that defamed and perjured Apostate who had seduced him This was one Mr. Iohn Douglas whom the Earl had taken to be his Minister offering to provide him of a learned and wise Preacher for whom he would lay his soul in pawn that he should teach no other but true doctrine and agreeable to the Catholick faith The Earle answered That for peril he feared none either to himself or to his house having resolved to live in obedience to his Prince and to serve God as well as he could according to his written word and for the defection alledged seeing it had pleased God to open his eyes and give him the knowledge of his truth which he took for a great argument of his favour he would not relinquish or forsake it for fear of any inconveniences As to the man he wrote of he said that he heard him teach the doctrine of Christ condemne idolatry adultery fornication and such like wickednesse and that he should make him give an accompt thereof whensoever he should be cited But to call him defamed and perjured there was no reason seeing he was not declared to be such by any sentence and if he had in former times made any unlawful oath he had done much better in violating the same then if he had observed it Further whereas he made offer to provide him of some learned man he gave him thanks considering the necessity there was of labourers in the Lords harvest but he understood what his meaning in that was and minded not to be led with any such teachers In end he wished him not to begin the battel with him whereof the event would be doubtful for as to himself he knew God was God and should be God still whatsoever mans crast could work or devise The Bishop receiving this answer did communicate the same with the chief of the Clergy who thereby conceiving that there was some businesse in hand began to think of other defences And the feast day of S. Giles or Sanctus Egidius falling out about that time to be kept at Edinburgh they entreated Queen Regent to honour the solemnity with her presence The custome was in that time of the year to carry the image of the Saint in procession through the town for they had S. Giles to their Patron with Drummes Trumpets and all sort of musical instruments neither was there any day kept more superstitiously then this The Queen agreed the rather to accompany the procession for that some cumult was feared which she thought her presence would represse But when the time of the solemnity was come the Saint was missing for some had stolne the image out of the place where it was kept This made a stay till another little image was borrowed from the Gray Friers which the vulgar in mockery called young Saint Giles Herewith they set forward the Regent accompanying the people till the procession was nigh ended then withdrawing her self to the lodging where she was to dine she was no sooner gone then some youths provided for the purpose drawing near unto the Fertor and making a shew to carry it upon their shoulders after they had walked some few paces and perceived by the motion they made the image was fixed to the Fertor they threw all to the ground and taking the image by the heels dashed the same against the stones so as head and hands were beaten off and the idol wholly defaced The people hereupon fell a crying the Priests and Churchmen betook them to flight and a great stirre was in the streets Some houres the Fray continued and being in end setled by the authority of the Magistrates the whole Clergy that were in town assembled themselves and making the best countenance they could indicted a solemn meeting in the beginning of November next To this diet Paul Methven was summoned and not appearing was decerned for his contumacie to be banished the Realme a prohibition likewise was given to all the subjects that none of them should entertain or receive
horsemen and four ships well appointed to keep the Haven of Leth trusting therewith as she said and with the assistance she promised her self in the Countrey to daunt all the rebells and bring them to obedience Meane while she began to fortifie the towne of Leth as being a Port fit to receive fresh supplies and a place that might serve the French companies for a refuge if they should happen to be redacted to any necessitie The Lords of the Congregation kept at that time a Convention in Striveling and thither came the Earle of Arrane the Duke his eldest son having left France upon this occasion Being one day in conference with the Duke of Guise who then ruled all things in the French Court and falling in speech of those that professed the reformed Religion he did utter his minde too freely in their favours which was so ill taken as it was resolved to call him in question Of this and other speeches that had escaped the Cardinall of Lorraine in the Court of Parliament he was advertised and thereupon retired quickly from Court and went to Geneva there he became acquainted with Mr. Randolph an English man who was afterwards imployed in many honourable Legations to Scotland and came with him into England where he was much graced by Queen Elizabeth and by her perswasions induced to promise that at his return he should joyn himself with those that sought to expell the French forth of Scotland and move his father so far as in him lay to take part in that cause Both which he truly performed for immediately upon his return he came to the Noblemen at Sriveling and made offer of his assistance in the common quarrell both of Religion and the liberty of the Countrey Then going to visit his Father at Hamilton he won him to their side and reconciling some old grudges betwixt his father and certain Noblemen brought them all to meet together at Hamilton and to write a common Letter to Queen Regent which was to this effect That it was to them a marvell ho she not provoked by any injury could go so soon from the late appointment as to expulse the ancient inhabitants of the town of Leth place therein a Colonie of strangers as minding to keep the Countrey under a Tyrannicall subjection This they said was against her promise against the publick weale and against the lawes and liberties of the Kingdome wherefore they intreated her to desist from that course and not to drive them into a necessity of seeking the concurrence of the Subjects for resisting the mischief intended against the whole This letter dated at Hamilton the 29. of September was subserived by the Duke of Chattellerault the Earles of Arrane Argile Glencarn and Mentieth the Lords Ruthven Boyd and Ochiltrie and divers other Barons and Gentlemen They wrote also to the Lord Ereskin keeper of the Castles of Edinburgh and Striveling Desiring him as a Nobleman and a Member with them of the same Common-wealth to look circumspectly to his own person and to the strengths committed to his trust and not to suffer himself to be abused with the promises and policies which they knew would be used Hereof they did think it needfull as they said to give him warning not that they stood in doubt of his sidelity but that they esteemed it their duty to advertise him of the common danger and to assure him if by violence any should go about to bereave him of those sorts their assistance should not be lacking Queen Regent not liking to make an answer to the Lords in writing sent Sir Robert Carnagie and Mr. David Borthuick with a letter of credit to the Duke That which they had in credit to say was that she wondred much at his joyning with the Lords or that he should have permitted the Earle of Arrane his son take that course and to advise him to come and stay with her at Court or if they could not obtain that point that they should disswade him from taking part with them The Duke asking what the Queen meant to do concerning the fortification at Leth and dispatch of the French men they said If all things were put in the Queen will she would be gracious enough Whereunto he replayed That both he and the rest of the Lords would most willingly serve her so as she would be ruled by the counsell of naturall Scottish men but so long as she kept about her strangers who were a trouble and great to the Countrey he beleeved no wise man would give either him or them advise to put themselves in her hands This answer reported to the Queen because she perceived the arriving of the French souldiers to be generally ill taken she gave forth a Proclamation Wherein complaining of the calumnies dispersed against her by wicked people especially that she had broken the appointment made with the Congregation at Leth which she said was onely to entertain division in the Realm by receiving of French forces which they aggredged so far against all reason it not being an Article of the appointment that albeit for every Frenchman that was in Scotland there were a hundreth at her command there should not a jot that was promised be broken nor the least alteration be made in any thing if the Congregation did in like manner faithfully keep their part Therefore willed all good subjects not to give eare to such informations nor suffer themselves to be led thereby from their due obedience assuring them that they should ever finde with her truth in promise and a motherly love towards all loyall subjects Besides the Proclamation she imployed in the Countrey some whom she especially trusted to inform the Subjects of her good meaning the principalls were Mr. Iames Balfoure Officiall of Lothian Mr. Thomas and Mr. William Scots sons to the Laird of Balwery Sir Robert Carnagy and some others Neither did she omit to deal with the specials of the Congregation sending Sir Iohn Bannatyne Justice Clerk to the Lord Ruthven with many liberall promises if he would leave the faction and Mr. Iohn Spence of Condy to Lord Iames with a letter bearing this effect That having understood the cause of his departing from her to be the love he bare to Religion Albeit she did mislike the same yet knowing his minde and the mindes of other Noble men to be so far bent that way as there was no possiblity to reclaim them she had now resolved to tolerate their profession and at their own sights to grant such liberty as might stand with the common policy of the Realm and their Soveraigns honour As for the men of Warre and fortification at Leth so much complained of she said that some had given her to understand that it was not the advancement of Religion which was sought but that the same was made a pretext to overthrow the authority of his sister whereof she beleeved he would never be participant and this was the
the Firth which they did apprehend to be a supply sent unto them but when they saw them fall upon the ships that carried their victuals they became doubtful and shortly after were assured by a boat which had spoken them that it was an English Navy sent to the support of the Congregation and that a land Army was also prepared to come into Scotland These newes troubled them not a little and made them doubtful what course to take for to return by Striveling was a long way and to transport the souldiers to the other coast there were no vessels so as they feared to be kept from joyning with their fellows at Leth. Their resolution therefore was to make the longer journeys as they did and setting to the way the same night they came on the third day to Leth having lost divers of their company by the way Fife thus delivered from their oppressions publick thanks were given to God in the Church of S. Andrews This done the Lords took purpose to besiege the houses of Weimes Seafield Bagome and Dury which were taken without resistance and the Lords thereof made prisoners but shortly after they were dimitted and the houses restored upon condition not to assist the French any more The Earl of Huntley at the same time being advertised that the Barons of Mernis were come to Aberdene to make reformation in that City hastened thither to withstand their proceedings and by his coming saved the Cathedral Church the houses of the Dominicans Carmelites and other Religions being already demolished and cast down Yet when he heard that the English forces were advancing he sent to the Lords and made offer to joyn with them A meeting to this effect was appointed at Perth whither he came and staying some three dayes departed homewards upon promise to return unto the Army in the beginning of April for Proclamatinos were gone through the countrey charging all the subjects to meet in Armes at Linlithgow the last of March and from thence to passe forwards in pursuit of the French that had fortified at Leth. For fulfilling the Article whereby the Lords were tied to send pledges unto England Colin Campbel Cousen to the Earl of Argyle Robert Douglas brother to the Laird of Lochleven and ... Ruthven son to the Lord Ruthven were delivered to the Englâ—sh Admiral and by sea conveyed to the Town of Newcastle After which the English forces consisting of 2000. horse and six thousand foot entered into Scotland conducted by the Lord Gray under whom commanded the Lord Scroop Sir Iames Crofts Sir Henry Percie and Sir Francis Lake The Scottish Army joyned with them at Preston the fourth of April whereof the principal leaders were the Duke of Chattellerault the Earles of Argyle Glencarn and Menteith Lord Iames. the Lords Ruthven Boyd and Ochiltrie who were assisted by all the Barons and Gentlemen professing Religion in Lothian Fife Angus Mernis and the West countries The same day the Queen Regent removed her family to the Castle of Edinburgh and was received by the Lord Aresken a Nobleman of approved honesty and wisdom he was not ignorant of the Queens intentions and the desire she had to have the French Masters of that strength yet he would not at that time deny her entrie but used such circumspection as she and the house both were still in his power The Noblemen resolving to fall presently to work did yet think to move the Queen of new for dismissing the French companies and to that effect they directed a letter of this tenor Madame We have often before this time by letters and messages been instant with you to remove the French souldiers out of the Realm who now the space of a year and more have oppressed the poor people with evils intolerable and threaten to bring this Kingdom under a miserable servitude But seeing we could not prevaile by our lawful requests we were forced to mean our estate to the Queen of England our nearest neighbour and intreat her support for expulsing these strangers by Armes if otherwise we cannot obtain it And now albeit she pitying our distresses hath taken us and our cause in her protection yet for the duty we owe unto you as the Mother of our Queen and the desire we have to eschew the shedding of Christian blood we have advised once again to intreat the dismission of these French men with their Captains and Commanders for whose commodious transport the Queen of England will be pleased to lend her Navy and give to others of them a safe passage by land If this condition shall be rejected we take God and men to record that it is not malice nor hatred which moveth us to take Armes but that we are driven by necessity to use extreme remedies for preserving the commonwealth and saving our selves our estates and posterities from utter ruine neither shall we for any peril that can happen howsoever we suffer many wrongs and indignities and are daily in expectation of worse forsake that dutiful obedience which we owe to our Queen or yet resist the King her husband in any thing that shall not tend to the subversion of the ancient liberties of this Kingdome Therefore most gracious Queen we beseech you again and again to weigh the equity of our Petition the inconveniences of warre and to consider how needful it is that thus your daughters afflicted Kingdom should be put to some rest and quietnesse If so you do you shall give to all nations a testimony of your moderation and procure the peace of the greatest part of Christendome This letter dated at Dalkeith the fifth of April was subscrived by all the Noblemen that were present The English General did in like manner direct Sir George Howard and Sir Iames Crofâ—s to make offer that if the French would peacably depart forth of Scotland they likewise should return into their countrey without molesting any person Her answer was that she would think of what was propounded and give answer the next day But the Army not liking to admit these delayes advanced the next day which was Saterday towards Leth keeping along the sea coast till they came to Restalrig The French issuing forth of Leth to the number of 1300. or thereby and planting themselves upon a little hill called the Hawkhill where they knew the English Army would encamp for the space of five houres continued in fight the one striving to make good the place the other to carry it At last the Scottish horsemen did charge the French with suh a fury that they not able to maintain it any longer took the flight and retired to the Town from which they had been quite cut off if the English horse had seconded the Scots as was appointed In this conflict three hundred of the French were killed and some few of the English Then begun the Army of England to place their Pavilions betwixt the Town of Leth and Restalrig
of the councel in Civil affairs be he never judged so apt for the purpose but either must he cease from the Ministery which at his own pleasure he may not do or else in bearing charge in Civil affairs except it be to assist the Parliament when the same is called The ninth head concerning the Policie of the Church WE call the Policy of the Church the exercise of Religion in such things as may help to bring the ignorant to knowledge or else promove in them that are more learned a further growth of grace or otherwise such things as are appointed for keeping things in good order within the Church whereof there be two sorts the one utterly necessary as that the Word may be truly preached the Sacraments rightly administrtd common Prayers publickly made children and simple persons instructed in the chief points of Religion and offences corrected and punished These things we say are so necessary that without the same there cannot be any face of a visible Church The other sort is profitable but not meerly necessary as that Psalmes be sung and certain places of Scripture read when there is no Sermon or that the Church should convene this or that day in the week to hear Sermons Of these and the like we see not how a certain Order can be established For in some Churches the Psalmes may be conveniently sung in other perhaps they cannot some Churches may convene every day some twice or thrice in the week and some it may be but once In these and the like every particular Church may appoint their own policy themselves Yet in great towns we think expedient that every day there be either Sermon or Common Prayer with some exercise of reading the Scriptures The day of publick Sermon we do not think the Common-Prayers needfull to be used lest we should foster the people in superstition who come to the Prayers as they come to the Mass or give them occasion to think that those are no Prayers which are conceived before and after Sermon In every famous town we require that one day besides the Sunday be appointed for Sermon during the time whereof men must abstain from all exercise of trade and labour the servant as well as the master In smaller towns such order must be kept as the Churches within the same shall appoint but the Sunday in all towns must precisely be observed before and after noon Before noon the Word must be preached Sacraments administred and mariage solemnized when occasion doth offer After noon the Catechisme must be taught and the young children examimined thereupon in audience of all the people In doing whereof the Minister must have care to cause the people understand the questions propounded with the answers and doctrine that may be collected thereof What order shall be kept in teaching the Catechisme and how much thereof every Sunday shall be handled the distinctions of the Catechisme it self which is the most perfect that ever was yet used in any Church do shew Where there is neither Preaching nor Catechisme upon Sundayes at afternoon the Common-Prayers ought to be used It appertaineth to every Church to appoint the times when the Sacraments should be ministred Baptisme may be ministred whensoever the Word is preached but we think it more expedient that the same be ministred upon Sunday and when occasion is offered of great travell before noon the same may be ministred in the afternoon upon the week dayes onely after the Sermon partly to remove that gross errour which may hold that children dying without Baptisme are damned partly that the people may assist the ministration of the Sacrament with greater reverence then commonly they do Four times in the year we think sufficient for Administration of the Lords Table which we desire to be so distinguished that the superstitious observation of times may be avoyded so far as may be for it is known how superstitiously people run unto that action upon Easter as if time gave virtue to the Sacraments when as the rest of the whole year they are careless and negligent as though it belonged not unto them but at that time only Therefore we think it expedient that the first Sunday of March yearly be kept for one day to that service The first Sunday of Iune for another The first Sunday of September for the third and the first Sunday of December for the fourth Albeit we deny not but every Church for reasonable causes may change the time and minister the same oftner yet we think the Sacrament of the supper ought never to be ministred without examination preceding chiefly of those who are known or suspect to be ignorant and that none ought to be admitted to that holy mystery who cannot formally say the Lords Prayer the Articles of the Belief declare the summe of the Law and understandeth the use and vertue of that holy Sacrament We also think necessary that every Church have a Bible in English and that the people convene to hear the Scriptures read and interpreted that by frequent reading and hearing the gross ignorance of the people may be removed And we judge it most expedient that the Scriptures be read in order That is that some one Book of the New and Old Testament be begun and followed forth to the end The like we esteem of preaching if the Minister remain for the most part at one place For the divagation from one place of Scripture to another whether it be in reading or preaching we account not so profitable for the Church as the continuall following of one Text. The Masters of Families must be commanded to instruct or cause to be instructed their children and servants in the Principles of Christian Religion without the knowledge whereof they may not be admitted to the Table of the Lord wherefore we think it needfull that every year at least the Ministers take triall by publick examination of the knowledge of every person within the Church and that every master and mistress present themselves and so many of their family as are come to mature age before the Minister and Elders to give confession of their Faith rehearse the Commandements of the Law with the Lords Prayer and declare what is their understanding in those things If any shall suffer their children or servants to remain in wilfull ignorance the censures of the Church must be used against them unto excommunication and then the person referred to the Civil Magistrate For seeing the just man liveth by his own faith and that Christ Iesus justifieth by knowledge of himself it is intolerable that any should be permitted to live as Members of the Church of God and yet to continue in ignorance Moreover all persons would be exhorted to exercise themselves in the Psalmes that when the Church conveneth and the Psalmes be sung they may be the more able with common heart and voice to praise God In private houses it were expedient that the most grave and discreet person of
state very uncertain whilest I say they called to mind these variable fortunes and theâ—ewith considered the excellencies that nature had bestowed upon her as the beauty and comelinesse of her person her mild inclination and gracious demeanour toward all sorts of people it cannot be told what a joy and love this begat in the hearts of all the subjects The beginning of her government was likewise very gracious for some few dayes after her arriving in a Councel kept with the Nobility to remove the occasions of trouble she condescended that no change nor alteration should be made in the present state of Religion only she would use her own service as she said apart with her family and have a Masse in private This was thought by many a thing not intolerable considering she was the Soveraign Princesse of the Realm and educated from her youth in the Romane faith from which there was hope by better instruction and humble and courteous behaviour she might be reclaimed yet the Preachers in their Sermons did publickly condemn that toleration as unlawful And amongst the Nobility the Earl of Arrane did oppose it taking protestation that he did neither agree to private nor publick Masse which highly displeased the Queen and was thought to have alienated her affection that before seemed much inclining towards him There fell out upon this an Accident which was like to have caused great trouble The Queen purposing to hear Masse the next day in her Chappel of Halirudhouse whilest the tapers and other things required to that service were carried through the Court one of the common sort invading him that bore the waxe lights brake them all in pieces and if by the intervention of some more moderate spirits the tumult had not been repressed the rest of the furniture had been wholly spoiled and that day Masse disappointed It was held a proud and insolent fact and condemned by many others said that the patience of men was too farre tempted and some maintained that if right were done the Priest according to Gods law made against idolaters ought to suffer death But this stirre was quickly appeased by Lord Iames much against the Earl of Huntley his mind who by this occasion thought to win credit with the Queen and in conference with her Uncles bragged that if the Queen pleased to use his service he would reduce all the North countries to the Romane profession But his courses being suspected and the Quen misliking all counsels that tended unto trouble no heed was given to his offers The moneth following was spent in the entertainment of the French that had accompanied the Queen homewards they made but short stay in the countrey For about the middest of September Duke d' Aumarll returned unto France by Sea the grand Prior and Monsieur d' Anvile took their journey through England the Marquesse d' Elbeuf of all that company only remained and abode all the Winter with the Queen In this mean time was William Maitland of Lethington directed to the Queen of England with letters both from the Queen and from the Nobility The Queens letters were full of kindnesse tending all to expresse the love and affection she bare unto her as to her dearest sister and kinswoman and the desire she had to continue in true and sincere friendship with her The letters sent by the Nobility were to the same effect but containing this more That the surest way to preserve friendship 〈◊〉 true amtty amongst them two was to declare the Queen of Scots her nearest and lawful heir to the Crown of England in case she should have no issue Lethington urging this last point strongly as he was commanded after he had used his best perswasions to that effect was answered by the Queen of England as followeth I did expect another message from your Queen then this is which you have brought me and do marvel that she should forget the promise made before her coming out of France touching the ratification of the treaty of Leth which was that how soon she returned to her own countrey she should give me a full and resolute answer I have long enough said she suffered my self to be abused with fair speeches and now it had been time if she had regarded her own honour to have made good her promises Lethington replied that within a few days after the Queen took land he was imployed in this legation and that she had no leasure to deal in any publick matters being taken up with admitting the Noblemen that came to welcome her into the Realm and with the fetling of the estate of Religion which her Majesty understood to be a work of no small weight neither were all the Noblemen whose advice she must take in matters of that importance come into the Court before his parting from it Here the Queen interrupting his speech said What need is there of advice or counsel to do that which by her subscription and seal she is bound to perform He answered that no commission was given him in that matter nor did his Mistresse think that any accompt thereof would have been required of him but that she might justly excuse her self by the occasions he haâ— mentioned Then after a few more speeches of that purpose the Queen returning to the chief point of his legation said I have observed that you have often in your discourse said that your Queen is descended of the blood Royal of England and that I am obliged to love her as being nearest to me in blood of any other which I neither will or can deny Neither have I in any of my actions as the world knoweth attempted ought against the safety and tranquillity of her and her kingdom yea they that â—e most inward with me can witness that even when I had just cause of offence given me by her usurpation of the Titles and Armes of England I could never be induced to think other then that thâ— was the politick device of some enemies to breed dissension amongst us But howsoever that be I hope so long as I live she shall not bereave me of my Kingdom nor yet be able if God shall bless me with children to impede their succession And if it shall happen otherwise that I be taken away she shall never find that I have prejudged the Right which she claimeth to the Kingdom of England What a right it is I have never been curious to know nor do I purpose to search and examine it but will leave the same to the cognition of those whom it concerneth This your Queen may assuredly expect at my hands that I shall never wrong her nor her cause if it be just in the least point And God I take to witness who heareth this our conference that next my self I know not any whom I would preferre to her or who if the tâ—tle should fall to be controverted might exclude her You know saith she who the compeâ—itors be but alas
right and reason surely I my self would never think my estate assured if once my successor were known to the world This is the summe of that which passed at this second audience Not many days after getting accesse he askt the Queen what answer she would give to the Nobility she said At this time I have no answer to give but that I approve the affection and sedulous care they have of their Soveraigns good estate but the matter is of such weight as I cannot on a suddain or directly answer it When your Queen shall perform her promise concerning the treaty of Leth it will be time to require a proof of my affection towards her till then I cannot with safety of mine honour gratify her in any thing Lethington replied as before that he had no Commission in that businesse and that in the matter of succession he had shewed more his own judgement then the mind of the Queen his Mistresse for he could never think the confirmation of the treaty of Leth to be a thing of that importance as for the delay or refusal of that the Queen of Scots and her posterity should be excluded from the succession of the Crown of England Neither will I now saith he enquire by whom that treaty was concluded at what time in what manner by what authority and for what cause it was done for I have no warrant to speak of these things but this I dare affirm that albeit the Queen following her husbands direction had ratified the treaty she should have found her self thereby so farre interessed as she would doubtless used all means to free her self of the same And this I say not in the Queens name but only to make it seem that our Noblemen have reason to travel that all debates and controversies may cease and a firm and perpetual peace may be established This and some other speeches interchanged amongst them touching the treaty moved the Queen of England to agree that the same should be revised by some Commissioners and corrected after this form That the Queen of Scots should thenceforth abstain from using the English Armes and from the titles of the Crown of England and Ireland during the life of Queen Elizabeth and her posteriy That on the other part the Queen of England should oblige her self and the children begotten of her to do nothing in prejudice of the Queen of Scots her succession These were the things acted in this legation Now at home the Queen keeping a progresse in the countrey went from Edinburgh to Striveling from thence to Perth Dundy and S. Andrews and other special Burghs where she was received with much honour and triumph returning to Edinburgh a little before the feast of Michaelmas at which time the Burgesses are wont to elect their annual Magistrates and to set down statutes for the good of the town amongst other acts one was published inhibiting that any adulterer fornicator drunkard Masse Priest or obstinate Papist should be received in the town under such pains as the law did prescribe The Queen interpreting that to be an usurpation of royal power did commit Archibald Douglas Provost to the Castle of Edinburgh charging the Councel of the Town to make a new election which they obeyed chusing Mr. Thomas ... in his place A Proclamation was likewise made granting liberty to all good and faithfull subjects to repair and remain within the Burgh at their pleasure for doing their lawfull and ordinary business These things ministred great offence who seeing the Queen take more liberty then she did in the beginning keeping her Masses more publick and causing them to be celebrated with a greater pomp did mightily complain thereof in their Sermons but profited little for some of the Noblemen who had in former times shewed themselves most jealous against the toleration of idolatrie were grown a little more cold by the flatteries of Court and all of them emulous of others greatness were striving who should be in most favour with the Queen She had some while before this taken to be of her privy Councell the Duke of Chattellerault the Earls of Huntly Argile Atholl Morton Marshall Glencarn Montrosse and Arroll Lord Iames her brother the Lord Ereskin and Mr. Iohn Lesly Bishop of Rosse Huntly was created Chancellor one that in matters of religion had behaved himself very unconstantly and to win the Queens favour was now become altogether Popish This animated the Priests and others of that faction which before were quiet and put them in some heart One Ninian Winyet Schoolmaster at Linlithgow a man of reasonable learning set forth a Book of questions against the confession of Faith which went currant in the Court and was much esteemed by them of his Profession Being cited and divers conferences kept with him to make him acknowledge his errors he continued obstinate and was therefore sentenced by the Church wherefore he forsook the Countrey and flying to Germany was preferred to be Abbot of the Scottish Monastery at Ratisbone where he lived many years The Abbot of Corsragnell in the West published about the same time another Faith Whereunto Iohn Knox having made a reply and the Author in regard of his age and quality of birth for he was of the house of Cassils was thought fit to be overseen Mean while the Court was busied in a consultation how to supply the charge of the Queens house which the ordinary revenues of the Crown could not so honourably maintain as was required Divers being thought upon the readiest seemed to fall upon the Church rents and draw somewhat from the Prelates and beneficed Persons To this purpose they were convened before the Councell and after a long Treaty and many perswasions used considering with themselves how they subsisted merely by the Queens favour and that by refusing a part they might endanger the whole they were induced to yield the third part of their benefices to be disposed of at the Queens pleasure and assumed forth of what places her Collectors should choose her Majesty securing them of the two parts during their lives and liberating them of the Ministers with whose maintenance they were continually boasted It carried some shew of commodity this at first but turned to little or nothing the Prelates and beneficed men undervaluing their rents and making up a third which did afterwards when the number of Ministers increased scarce suffice to their provisions Much about this time a rumour was raised in the Court and went a while uncontrolled that the Earl of Arran intended to ravish the Queen whom he was known to love most passionately She whether counterfeiting a fear or that there was any cause given that way it is not known did leavy a guard of horse and foot to attend her person which put divers in fear and opened the mouths of discontented people as if some grounds of tyranny had been thereby laid But she not regarding these surmises and
tried to provide for afterwards against the like by a new edict it was made capital to disperse libels for defaming any person in that sort and to have keep or read any such that should happen to be affixed or cast into the streets The Earl of Lenox whilest these things were a doing ceased not to solicit the Queen by his letters for taking trial of the murther without delaying the same unto the time of Parliament as she had purposed Particularly he desired the Earl of Bothwell and others named in the libells and placard affixed on the door of the Senate-house to be apprehended and the Nobility assembled for their examination Bothwell perceiving that he was now openly attached did offer himself to triall for which the 12. of Aprill was assigned and the Earl of Lenox cited by the Justice to pursue according to the delation he had made In the mean time to fortifie himself he got the Castle of Edinburgh in his custody upon the Earl of Marre his resignation placing therein Sir Iames Balfour whom he especially trusted The Earl of Marre for his satisfaction had the Prince delivered in his keeping and caried unto Striveling where the Earl then lay heavily sick The Diet appointed for the triall being come and the Court fenced as use is Bothwell was empannelled The Earl of Lenox being called compeired Robert Cuningham one of his domesticks who presented in writing the Protestation following My Lords I am come hither sent by my master my Lord of Lenox to declare the cause of his absence this day and with his power as my Commission beareth The cause of his absence is the shortness of time and that he could not have his friends and servants to accompany him to his honour and for the security of life as was needfull in respect of the greatness of his partie Therefore his Lordship hath commanded me to desire a competent day such as he may keep and the weight of the cause requireth otherwise if your Lordships will proceed at this present I protest that I may use the charge committed to me by my Lord my master without the offence of any man This is that if the persons who pass upon the Assise and enquest of these that are entered on pannell this day shall cleanse the said persons of the murther of the King that it shall be wilfull errour and not ignorance by reason it is notoriously known that these persons did commit that odious murther as my Lord my master alledgeth And upon this my protestation I require an instrument The Justice by the advice of the Noblemen and Barons appointed to assist in that judgement did notwithstanding the said protestation grant process whereupon the Noblemen chosen for the Jury were called These were Andrew Earl of Rothes George Earl of Cathnes Gilbert Earl of Cassils Lord Iohn Hamilton Commendator of Aberbrothock Iames Lord Ross Robert Lord Semple Robert Lord Boyd Iohn Lord Hereis Laurence Lord Oliphant Iohn Master of Forbes with the Lairds of Lochinvar Langton Cambusnetham Barnbowgall and Boyne the Earl of Cassills excused himself offering the penalty which by the Law they pay that refuse to pass upon Assise but could not obtain himself freed the Queen threatning to commit him in prison and when he seemed nothing terrified therewith commanding him under pain of treason to enter and give his judgement with the rest Thus were they all sworn and admitted as the manner is After which Bothwell being charged with the inditement and the same denied by him they removed forth of the Court to consult together and after a little time returning by the mouth of the Earl of Cathnes their Chancellour declared him acquit of the murther of the King and of all the points contained in the inditement with a protestation That seeing neither her Majesties advocate had insisted in the pursuit nor did Robert Cuningham Commissioner for the Earl of Lenox bring any evidence of Bothwells guiltiness neither yet was the inditement sworn by any person and that they had pronounced according to their knowledge it should not be imputed to them as wilfull errour which they had delivered Mr. David Borthwiâ—â— and Mr. Edmund Hay who in the entry of the Court were admitted as his prolocutours askt instruments upon the Juries declaration so he went from that Court absolved yet the suspicions of the people were nothing diminished And some indeed were of opinion that the Judges could give no other deliverance nor find him guilty of the inditement as they had formed it seeing he was accused of a murther committed on the 9. day of February whereas the King was slain upon the 10. of that moneth But he for a further clearing of himself set up a paper in the most conspicuous place of the market bearing That albeit he had been acquited in a lawfull Justice court of that odious crime laid unto his charge yet to make his innocency the more manifest he was ready to give triall of the same in single combate with any man of honourable birth and quality that would accuse him of the murther of the King The next day in the same place by another writing answer was made that the combat should be accepted so as a place were designed wherein without danger the undertaker might professe his name The 13. of April a Parliament was kept for restoring the Earl of Huntley and others to their estates and honours which was not as yet done with the solemnity requisite In this Parliament the Commissioners of the Church made great instance for ratifying the Acts concluded in favour of the true Religion yet nothing was obtained The Queen answering that the Parliament was called for that onely business and that they should have satisfaction given them at some other time The Parliament being broke up Bothwell inviting the Noblemen to supper did liberally feast them and after many thanks for their kindness fell in some speeches for the Queens marriage shewing the hopes he had to compass it so as he might obtain their consents Some few to whom he had imparted the business before-hand made offer of their furtherance the rest fearing to refuse and suspecting one another set all their hands to a bond which he had ready formed to that purpose A few dayes after faigning an expedition into Liddisdale he gathered some forces and meeting the Queen on the way as he returned from Striveling whither she had gone to visit her son he took her by way of rape and led her to the Castle of Dumbar No men doubted but this was done by her own liking and consent yet a number of Noblemen convening at Striveling lest they should seem deficient in any sort of their duties sent to ask whether or not she was there willingly detained for if she was kept against her will they would come with an Army and set her at liberty She answered That it was against her will that she was
was that they should be hanged their heads cut off their bodies quartered and cast into the fire A manifold execution which the treacherous Parricide they had committed did well deserve At the opening of the spring the Regent purposing to hold justice Courts through the whole Kingdom made his beginning in the West parts because of some broken people in the Lenox and Highlands adjoyning whilest he remained at Glasgow for the first Court was there affixed the Queen made an escape from Lochlevin to the great contentment of many who stood in fear of the Regents severity or as the vulgar called it cruelty And even some that were the principal workers of her imprisonment having changed their minds did earnestly wish her liberty Lethington who hating Bothwel to the death was enemy to the Queen for his respect as soon as he understood of his arresting in Denmark and saw that he was no more to be feared desired greatly to have her restored as thinking his credit and safety should that way be most assured Sir Iames Balfour followed alwayes his course William Murray of Tulibardin though he had shewed great forwardnesse at the hill of Carberry where the Queen was taken yet being Popishly set upon some private discontents forsook the Regent and carried with him divers of his friendship The Hamiltons were known to desire nothing more then her freedom The Earls of Argile and Huntley howbeit they had been present at the late Parliament and given their assistance for establishing the Kings authority turned their Coats and joyned with the rest for repossessing the Queen and besides these many others some led with hopes of advancement and some trusting to have their distressed estates bettered by a change longed much to have her relieved which by this means came to passe George Douglas the Regents youngest brother a Gentleman of good spirit who remained with her in the Castle of Lochlevin allured by her courtesies and fair promises having corrupted the Keepers although he himselfe upon suspicion was some days before sent forth of the Isle got her transported whilest the rest were at dinner in a little vessel to the side of the lake where he with the Lord Seaton and some horsemen were attending The first night she lodged at Nudrie in West Lothian and the next day was conveighed to Hamilton whither repaired unto her the Earls of Argile Cassils Eglington and Rothes the Lords Sommervil Yester Borthwick Levingston Hereis Maxwell Sanqhuar and Ross with many other Barons and Gentlemen The Lords meeting in Councel the Queen declared that the resignation she had made of the Crown was extorted by fear as likewise the Commission granted for inaugurating the Prince her son qualifying the same by the testimony of Robert Melvile there present and others Thereupon was the resignation decerned void and null and Proclamations made in her Majesties name commanding all the Lieges to meet in Armes at Hamilton for pursuing the rebels that had usurped the Royal authority The news hereof brought unto Glasgow which is only eight miles distant where the Regent then abode were scarce at first believed but within two houres or less being assured a strong alteration might have been observed in the mindes of most that were there attending The report of the Queens forces made divers to slide away others sent quietly to beg pardon for what they had done resolving not to enter in the cause any further but to govern themselves as the event should lead and direct them And there were that made open defection not a few nor of the meaner sort Amongst whom the Lord Boyd was especially noted and in the mouthes of all men for that being very inward with the Regent and admitted to his most secret counsels when he saw matters like to turn he withdrew himself and went to the Queen Yet the Regent nothing discouraged and esteeming his life could not be more honourably bestowed then in the defence of the King albeit many did advise him to retire unto Striveling would not condescend to stirre saying That his retreat would be interpreted a flight and the adversaries thereby animated and his friends disheartened In the mean season he sent advertisement to his friends in Mers Lothian and Strivelingshire The Earl of Glencarn and Lord Semple with the men of Lenox and others well affected to the cause that lay near to the City made haste unto his succourse so as in a day or two his company increased to 4000. and above There was with the Queen a French Ambassadour who had arrived a few days before and moved the Regent for accesse to the Queen before the escape she made he was still posting between Hamilton and Glasgow rather to espie and observe things then to make the peace he pretended for when he saw the Regents forces to be few as at first they were and that the Queens power was much greater he did perswade her to take the fields and put it to the trial of a day which she resolved to do Thereupon warning given to make ready against the next morning the Earl of Argile was proclaimed Lieutenant and conclusion taken to march with the Army by Glasgow towards the Castle of Dumbarton where they pruposed to place the Queen and either to give battel or draw the warre at length as they pleased or if the Regent which they did not expect should meet them in the way to fight him accounting the victory certain because of their numbers The Regent advertised of the Queens intentions took the fields the next day early and stood with his companies some houres in battel array upon the Moore of Glasgow where it was believed the Queens Army should passe but when he saw them keep the other side of the River he directed the horsemen to passe the Foords the water being then ebbed and leading the foot along the bridge went towards Landside which lay in the way to Dumbarton This is a little Village upon the water of Carthe situated at the foot of a hill towards the West on the East and North the ascent unto it is somewhat steep the other parts of the hill are more even and plain both Armies contending who should first possesse it that of the Regents prevented the other by occasion of Argiles sicknesse who was on the suddain taken with a fit of the Epilepsie and so retarded the march of the Queens Army When they approached near and saw themselves prevented they went to a little opposite hill and there ranged themselves in two battels placing in the first their whole strength almost for if they should at the first encounter repulse their enemies the rest they made account would soon disband and take the chace The Regent had likewise put his troops in two battels on the right hand were placed the Earl of Morton the Lords Home Semple and Lindesay with their clients and vassals on the left the Earls of Marre Glencarn and Menteith
whether all they that had taken Armes against the King and not sued for pardon should be forfeited or if sentence should be given against a few only to terrify the rest and hope of favour left unto others upon their obedience Secretary Lethington who did secretly favour the other faction maintained the calmest course to be the best and by the perswasions he used wrought so as the processe against the better sort was continued and some of meaner note only proscribed which was interpreted even as the Regent conceived to proceed of fear and not of a mind to reclaim them The Earl of Rothes only of all the Noblemen of that side reconciled himself accepting three years exile for his punishment Some others of meaner sort the Regent received into favour and such as stood out he pursued by force of Armes making an expedition into the countries of Nidisdale Annandale and the lower parts of Galloway where he put Garisons in the Castles and strong Forts that were judged necessary to be kept others he demolished threw to the ground and had in a short space as it was thought reduced the whole countrey to his obedience if he had not been stayed by other letters by the Queen of England for the offending that he should have gone on in that manner whereas she had willed him to deferre all things till she was informed of the whole cause sent by one of her servants called Middlemore a sharp letter unto him declaring that she would not endure the sacred authority of Kings to be in that sort abused at the appetite of factious subjects and howsoever they had forgot their duties to their Soveraign she would not neglect her sister and neighbour Queen Therefore willed him to direct certain Commissioners to enform her how matters had passed men that could answer the complaints made by the Queen of Scotland against him and his complices which if he failed to do she would restore her to her Kingdome with all the power she could make The Regent took it grievously that matters determined in Parliament should be brought again in question and to plead before forain Judges he held it dishonourable yet considering the adversaries he had the Cardinal of Lorain abroad who swayed all things in the French Court and at home many of the Nobility and that if he did offend the Queen of England his difficulties should be every way great he was glad to yield to the conditions required though against his will Thus it being condescended the Commissioners should be sent when as they could not agree upon the persons the principal Noblemen refusing the imployment the Regent himself offered to undertake the journey and to accompany him choice was made of the Bishop of Orkney and Abbot of Dunfermlin for the spiritual estate of the Earl of Morton and Lord Lindesay for the temporal and of Mr. Iames Macgill and Mr. Henry Balnaves Senators of the Colledge of Justice besides these there went with him Secretary Lethington and Mr. George Buchannan The Secretary had long withstood the sending of any Commissioners thither and simply refused to go in that journey yet the Regent not holding it safe to leave him at home whom he knew to be a busie man and a practiser under-hand with the other party did insist so with him as in end he consented The Commission was given in the Kings name under the Great Seal to the Regent the Earl of Morton the Bishop of Orkney the Abbot of Dunfermlin and Lord Lindesay or to any three of them for convening with the deputies of the Queen of England at York or any other place or places they should think expedient there to make plain and ample declarations to them I keep the very words of the Commission for informing his good sister of the true causes whereupon divers of the Nobility and good subjects during the time that the Queen his Mother was yet possessor of the Crown took occasion to put on Armes to take detain and sequestrate her person for a time with all causes actions circumstances and other their proceedings whatsoever towards her or any other subjects of the Realm since that time unto the day and date of the said Commission or that should fall out untill the return of the said Commissioners whereby the Justice of their cause and honourable dealing might be manifested to the world As likewise to commune treat determine and conclude with his said sister or her Commissioners having sufficient authority upon all differences causes or matters depending betwixt the subjects of either Realm or for further confirmation or augmentation of any treaty of peace heretofore made and concluded betwixt the Realms or for contracting and perfecting any other treaty or confederation as well maintenance of the true Religion publickly professed by the inhabitants of both the Realms as for resisting any forain or intestine power that might be stirred up within the same to disturb the present quietnesse that it hath pleased the Almighty God to grant unto both the Kingdomes in the unity of the said Religion and for increase of amity peace and concord betwixt him and his said sister their Realms dominions people and subjects And generally to do and conclude all things which by them or any three of them should seem convenient and necessary for the premises or any part thereof promising to hold firm and stable c. This Commission is of the date aâ— Edinburgh the 18th of September 1568. In Iuly preceding there was an Assembly of the Church kept at Edinburgh wherein Mr. Iohn Willock Superintendent of the west being elected to moderate the meeting made difficulty to accept the place unlesse some better order was observed then had been in former times for even then the multitudes that convened and indiscreet behaviour of some who loved to seem more zealous then others did cause a great confusion Obedience being promised by the whole number he assumed the Charge And there it was enacted That none should be admitted to have voice in these Assemblies but Superintendents Visiters of Churches Commissioners of Shires and Universities and such Ministers as the Superintendents should chuse in their Diocesan Synods and bring with them being men of knowledge and able to reasâ—n and judge of matters that should happen to be proponed And that the Assembly should not be troubled with unnecessary businesse it was ordained That no matters should be moved which the Superintendents might and ought to determine in their Synods Some Acts of discipline were also concluded as that Papists continuing obstinate after lawful admonitions should be excommunicated and that the committers of murther incest adultery and other such hainous crimes should not be admitted to make satisfaction by any particular Church till they did first appear in the habit of penitents before the general assembly and there receive their injunctions A supplication also was put up to the Regent and Councel wherein amongst other
passe out of the fields as suspected of the Kings murther till the same might be tried and that she would go with them and follow the counsell of the Nobility which if she would do they would honour serve and obey her as their Princess and Soveraign whereunto her Majesty for the love she bare unto her subjects and to avoid the effusion of Christian blood did willingly assent In verification whereof the said Laird of Grange took the Earl of Bothwell at the same time by the hand and willed him to depart giving his word that no man should pursue him So as nothing is more clear then that he passed away by their own consents for if they had been minded against him only would they not have pursued him so long as he was in the Countrey for he remained a great space after that in his own house and might more easily have been taken there then upon the Seas where they in a coloured manner did pursue him Hereby said they may all men of found judgement perceive that they cared not what became of him if so they might advance their own ambitious purposes and designes Thirdly where she is charged to have used them with threats and menacings that they said was not to be thought strange considering their undutiful behaviour and the rude and vile usage her Majesty suffered by them For when the Earl of Morton at her highnesse first coming to them had reverently as it became him said Madame here is the place where your grace should be and we will honour and serve you as truly as ever the Nobility of the Realm did any of your progenitors in former times ratifying thereby the promise made by the Laird Grange in their names to her Majesty and that she trusting their speeches had gone with him to Edinburgh they first lodging her in a simple Burgesse house and contrary to their promises did most rudely intreat her whereupon she sent Lethington her Secretary and made offer unto them that for any thing wherewith they or any of the subjects were offended she was content the same should be reformed by the Nobility and the Estates of the Realm her Highnesse being present and permitted to answer for her self yet would they not hearken once to the motion but in the night secretly and against her will carried her to Lochivin and put her in prison As to that they say that she wearied with the molestations of government did make a voluntary resignation of the Kingdom in favours of the Prince her sonne appointing the Earl of Murray his Regent during his minority The falshood thereof did as they said many ways appear For first her Majesty is neither decayed by age nor weakned by sicknesse but praised be God both in mind and body able to discharge the most weighty affairs As also the truth is that the Earl of Athol the Lairds of Tullibardin and Lethington who were of their Councel sent Robert Melvil with a ring and some other tokens to her Majesty advising her to subscrive the letters of resignation and what else should be presented unto her to save her own life and avoid the death which was assuredly prepared for her if she should happen to refuse the same and at the same time the said Gentleman did bring unto her Majesty a letter written by Sir Nicholas Throgmorton Ambassadour of England requesting her Highnesse to set her hand to whatsoever they should desire of her To whom her Majesty answered that she would follow his counsel praying him to declare to her dearest sister the Queen of England how she was used by her subjects and that the resignation of the Crown made by her was extorted by fear which her Highnesse doubted not but the said Nicholas performed Further it is notorious that the Lord Lindesay at the presenting of the letters of resignation unto her Majesty did menace to put her in close prison if she refused to put her hand to the same adding that in that case worse would shortly follow and that her Highnesse never looked what was in the writings presented but signed the same with many tears protesting that if ever she should recover her liberty she would disavow that which he compelled her at that time to do And to testify that the said resignation was made against her will the Laird of Lochlevin who was then her Keeper refused to subscrive it as witnesse and did obtain a Testificat under her Majesties own hand declaring that he refused to be present at the said resignation Neither can that renuciation be sustained by any reason considering that no portion of Revenue was reserved for her to live upon neither was her liberty granted or any security given her of her life All which weighed in the ballance of reason will to men of indifferent judgement make manifest that the alledged dimission so unlawfully procured can never prejudge her Majesty in her Royal estate especially considering that at her first escape out of prison she did revoke the same and in the presence of a great part of the Nobility at Hamilton by a solemn oath declared that what she had done was by compulsion and upon just cause of her life For the Coronation of her Highnesse son they said that the same was most unorderly done because there being in the Realm above an hundred Earls Bishops and Lords having voice in Parliament of whom the greatest part at least ought to have consented thereto it being an Action of such consequence four Earls and six Lords the same that were present at her apprehension with one Bishop and two or three Abbots and Priors were only assisting and of the same number some did put in a protestation that nothing then done should prejudge the Queen or her successor by reason she was at that time a captive Nor can any man think that if the dimission had been willingly made her Highnesse she would ever have nominated the Earl of Murray Regent there being many others more lawful and that have better right thereto then he of whom some have been governours of the Realm in former times and during her Majesties minority had worthily exerced that place It is to as little purpose that they object of the Parliament and the ratification made therein Seeing the principalls of the Nobility disassented and put in their protestations both to the Lords of the Articles and in the open Parliament against their proceedings affirming that they would never agree to any thing that might hurt the Queens Majesties person her Crown and Royall estate further then her Highnesse self being at liberty would freely approve Lastly where they would have it seen that the authority established by them was universally obeyed in the Realm and all things well and justly administred both these are alike untrue for a great part of the Nobility have never acknowledged another authority then that of the Queen keeping and holding their Courts in her Majesties name And for the administration of affairs it
for he had warrant so to do and seeing them full of vain and idle brags for to shew the strength of the faction they had set down a Roll of all the Noblemen of their party inserting there in both some of their opposites and some that had carried themselves newters in all these broyls returned answer by the messenger that he would do as he was directed and not grant any truce nor keep the Army at their pleasure without imployment The time of the Convention approaching they who favoured the King his authority came in great numbers to Edinburgh At their first meeting it was thought convenient seeing the adverse party professed a desire of peace to make trial of their disposition and thereupon a Gentleman was sent with this message that if they would joyn for revenge of the murther of the Kings Father and Regent and would acknowledge the King for their Soveraign whatsoever else in reason they could crave should be granted unto them The answer was short and peremptory on their part That they acknowledge none for their Soveraign but the Queen and that she having committed the Government of affairs to the Earls of Arrane Argile and Huntley they would follow and obey them in her service Then they caused proclaim the Queens authority with the several Commissions of their Lieutenandries and in the Queens name indicted a Parliament to be kept at Linlithgow in August ensuing The Estates perceiving there would be no agreement gave forth a Proclamation to this effect First they said that it was not unknown to all the subjects in what a happy state the Realm stood under the government of the late Regent and what calamities it was fallen into by his death divers Lords and other subjects conspiring with them having presumed to erect another authority under the name of the Queen his Majesties mother But as such treasonable attempts had been often taken in hand and as often through Gods favour disappointed to the shame and ignominy of the enterprisers so they wished all men should understand what sort of people they were that had massed themselves together in the present conspiracy The Conspirators they ranked in three orders the principles they said were the authours of the cruel murthers of the King his father and Regent Others were manifestly purjured as having bound themselves by their oathes and subscriptions to defend the King his authority which now they impugned A third sort were such as had servile minos and without regard to conscience or honour did follow those to whom they had addicted themselves All which did pretend the maintenance of true Religion the liberty of the Countrie and the preservation of peace both abroad and at home But with what probability any man of judgement might consider for neither could he who was known to have been a persecutor of the truth and now carried the chief sway amongst them meaning the Archbishop of St. Andrews be thought a maintainer of Religion nor could they be esteemed favourers of their Country and the quietness thereof who without any just provocation had invaded the neighbour Realm of England and publickly entertained the Queens Rebells professing enemies to God and Religion As to the care they professed of the Kings preservation any man might conjecture how he should be preserved by them who exiled his Grandfather murthered his father did wickedly counsell his mother led her on courses that had brought her to shame and dishonour and now at last had unworthily cut off his Uncle and Regent by suborning a mischant to kill him treacherously It is like said they that they will be content to live subjects to a King discended of that house which they have so long a time persecuted and will they not fear if God shall bring him to perfection of years that he will be avenged of his fathers and uncles murther Neither can any be ignorant what the hope of a Kingdome will work in ambitious spirits especially when they finde themselves in a possibility to succeed unto the present possession And these are the men said they who seek to rule and command under the name of her whom they have undone by their wicked practices Of this they thought fit to advertise the subjects and to inhibit them from giving any assistance to the said conspirators under pain of death Such as of simplicity or ignorance had joyned with them they commanded to separate and return to their houses within the space of 24. houres promising in that case impunity and pardon for their by-past defection those onely excepted who were suspect of the foresaid murthers and had resset the Queen of Englands Rebells and violated the publick peace betwixt the two Realms This Proclamation was indited with much passion and matters now reduced to these termes that each side prepared to maintain their quarrell with the destruction of their adversaries The Queens faction dispatched Veraâ— to France to inform how matters went and to further the supply promised The Lord Seaton was sent to Flanders to intreat the Duke of Alva at that time Governour of the Neatherlands for the King of Spain for some aid of moneys and men and to impede the traffique of the Scottish rebells so they termed them that acknowledged the Kings authority in those parts For the point of traffick the Duke excused himself saying That he could not inhibit the same it being against the liberty of the Low-countreys but in other things he would do his best to further the Queen of Scots cause Like as shortly after he sent Mr. Iohn Hamilton Parson of Dumbar who lay Agent with him for the Scottish Queen to the Earl of Huntley with great store of Armor and gunpowder and the summe of ten thousand Crowns to levie Souldiers The Lord Seaton in the mean while who could not be idle wheresoever he was and had a great desire to approve himself by some service to the King of Spain dissembling his habit went into the United Provinces and dealt with Scottish Captains and Under officers to make them leave the service of the Estates and follow the King of Spain which being detected he was apprehended and by sentence of the Councell of Warre condemned to ride the Canon yet by some help he escaped and fled to the Duke of Alva who sent him home loaden with promises and rewarded with some little present for himselfe because of his good affection The Lords on the other side who stood for the Kings authority sent to the Earl of Sussex intreating the assistance of his forces or some part thereof because of the common danger and to move him the more they advertised that the Earl of Westmerland and other English Rebels were with the Lords convened at Linlithgow in Armes with intention as it seemed to work some mischief which had need for the good of both Realms to be prevented which they doubted not so the letters bear having his assistance to
and then rendered at discretion Cap. Cowts with 30. of his souldiers were executed because they had once served and made defection The rest were pardoned upon surety not to carry arms against the present authority This expedition ended the Regent returned to Edinburgh In the the Moneth of August by letters from Denmark it was advertised that Colonel Iohn Clerk who had served the King there in his warres with Sweden was imprisoned by the suggestion of some countreymen that laboured for Bothwels liberty Whereupon Mr. Thomas Buchannan brother to Mr. George Buchannan the Kings Tutor was sent in Ambassage to Denmark to require that Bothwel might be delivered and sent into Scotland to the effect justice might be done upon him or then that he might be judged there for the detestable murther committed upon the person of the Kings father and receive his due punishment This had before that time been often desired but was delayed by divers occasions and now the report of Bothwels greater liberty and that he had been permitted to accuse colonel Clerk a Gentleman well esteemed of good reputation for his service done both at home and in parts abroad the Regent and Councel took occasion to put that King in remembrance of their former requests and if any doubt was made in those parts of Bothwels guiltiness they offered to clear the same by evident probation thereupon intreated him by the communion of blood and nigh kindred betwixt him and the King of Scotland that he would not suffer such a nefarious person to escape In the same letters they requested that the Colonel might be set at liberty and restored to the Kings wonted favour or then be licenced to return into Scotland where there was present use for his service This Ambassage was not without fruit and put Bothwel out of all credit so as desperate of liberty he turned mad and ended his wicked life some years after as before was touched most miserably All things now went ill with the Queens saction neither saw they a way to subsist but by labouring an Abstinence which the Secretary earnestly went about and prevailed so farre with the two Liegers of France and Spain as they brought the Queen of England to a new Treaty with the Scots Queen and to hearken unto some overtures which she did make both for the Queens assurance and for the setling of a perfect peace betwixt her and her son and those that stood in his obedience This moved the Regent he did greatly oppose it yet the Queen of England would needs have him agree to the Abstinence for the space of two moneths in which it was thought the Treaty should take an end Great dispute there was about the tenour and form of the Abstinence which at last was accorded in these terms That the Regent should oblige himself and his partakers to cease from Arms and not to molest any that pretended obedience to the Kings mother during the space of two moneths which should be understood to begin the third day of September providing that no innovation should be made in the government and all things continue in the same estate wherein they were at the death of the late Regent As also that the ordinary administration of the Law and Justice in Parliament Session and other Courts with the punishment of thieves and trespassers might proceed in the mean time by law or force in the Kings name and under his authority without any opposition This granted by a second letter the Queen of England signified That she had appointed Sir William Cecill her principal Secretary and Sir Walter Mildmay Chancellour of the Exchequer to repair to the Queen of Scots and learn what offers she would make for her Majesties surety and the not disturbing the Realms if she should be put to liberty In which treaty she minded not to neglect the surety of the young King and the estate of the Nobility adhering to him whereof she would be no lesse careful then of what concerned her self most But in regard that treaty could take no good effect if the Regent and the Nobility on his side should do any thing to the prejudice of the Queen of Scots and her party she desired that no Parliament should be kept during the time of the treaty or if it had taken beginning before the receipt of the letter that nothing should passe therein which might give her cause to complain And for the Abstinence taken unto the third of November seeing there was no likelihood the treaty should take an end in so short a time he was further desired to prorogue the same for other two moneths The letter dated at Windsor the seventh of October was brought to the Regent the thirteenth some two days after the Parliament was begun This treaty did much perplex the Regent for albeit he was advertised before of the Queen of Englands condescending to hear what the Scottish Queen would say in her own cause yet he did not expect any such suddain dealing or that it should have begun without his knowledge But making the best construction of all things he answered That the Parliament had taken a beginning before her Majesties letters came to his hand and for the reverence he did carry to her he had abstained from all proceeding in any matters only his office of Regiment was confirmed and the Parliament adjourned unto the moneth of January before which time he hoped the fruit of that treaty would appear For the prorogation of the Abstinence he had declared at the first how hurtful the same was to the King his affairs and that there was no true meaning in the adverse party ad did manifestly appear by the arresting of the ships and goods of the Scottish Merchants professing the King his obedience in the Kingdome of France and other divers insolencies practised at home since the granting thereof That howsoever he was perswaded her Majesty had not a mind under colour of the Abstinence to ruine the young King and those that stood in defence of his authority yet they had received more hurt thereby then they could have done if open hostility had been professed Therefore he desired that before he was urged with a further cessation the ships and goods stayed in France might be set free the injuries committed at home repaired and all things innovated in the Government since the late Regents death disannulled by Proclamation which things performed he should willingly obey her Majesties desire Upon this last part of the letter many debates arose amongst the parties and divers particulars on either side were exhibited in writing to the Earl of Sussex for verifying a breach of the Abstinence against others That which I find most insisted upon was the denouncing of Secretary Lethington Rebell who being cited to appear at a certain day before the Regent and Councel was for his contumacy sentenced to lose his office and have his goods consiscated The Regent challenged of
Majesty and esteemed a sufficient security for the Queen of Scots And if he did find her Majesty inclining thereto then to remember her with what a person she had to do a Princess by birth in Religion Popish one that professed her self a captive and as joyned with an husband suppose in a most unlawfull conjunction and that any one of these would serve for a colour to undo whatsoever thing she agreed unto at the present for her Majesty could not be ignorant how after her escape out of Lochleven she revoked the dimission of the Crown made in favours of her son though the same was done for good respects upon a pretext of fearâ— and that she did the same being a Captive As likewise she knew the Papists Maxime of not keeping faith to Hereticks which would serve her for a subterfuge to break all Covenants when she saw her time and that to dimit her upon any surety would prove no less dangerous to her Majesties own estate then to Scotland considering the claim she had made in former times to the Crown of England and the attempts of her Rebels at home not yet well extinct upon the same grounds In regard whereof there was nothing could assure the quiet of both Realmes in their opinions but her detention under safe custody which could not be esteemed dishonourable the just causes and occasions being published and made manifest to the world As to the power of forain Princes whereof they boasted the same was not much to be feared so long as her person was kept sure And if war for that cause should be denounced the perill should be less then if she were set at liberty and restored to the Crown for so she should have her forces and friendship ready to joyne with other Princes in all their quarrells against which no Hostages could serve for assurance This was the summe of his instructions He had presence of the Queen the penult of November and perceiving that none of these Articles were concluded he did communicate all his instructions unto her as he was desired she having perused them and reasoned thereupon with her Councell returned this Answer That she found in his instructions divers things worthy of consideration which behoved to be further debated and gravely weighed because of their importance Therefore desired some men of credit to be directed unto England that an end might be put to that business for as to the restitution of the Queen seeing it appeared they had reason to oppose it she would not have the Regent or those of his party to think that she intended to wrong them in any sort for if they should make it appear that nothing was done by them but according to justice she would side with them and maintain their quarrell And otherwise if they were not able to justifie their cause by such evident reasons as might satisfie her Majesty in conscience and make her answer the world in honour she would nevertheless for that naturall love she bare to the King her near kinsman and the good will she carried to the Noblemen that stood for his authority leave no means unprovided for their safeties But in regard a great part of the time appointed in the last prorogation of the Abstinence was already spent she desired the same to be prorogated unto March next and would desire them to agree thereto in regard they that stood for the Queen had condescended to the same and as much more time as she should think fitting This answer of the date at Hampton Court the â— of December came unto the Regent the 15. who thereupon advertised the Noblemen to meet at Edinburgh with all diligence for taking deliberation of things desired The Laird of Grange whether to impede the meeting or to divert the Councell from trying a conspiracy which was then discovered and said to have been devised in the Castle against the Regents life it is uncertain raised a great trouble in the town of Edinburgh about the same time One of his servants called Iames Fleming being imprisoned by the Magistrates for a slaughter committed by his direction he in the evening whilest all men were at supper made the Garrison of the Castle to issue forth and break open the prison doors playing all the while upon the town with the Canon to tertifie the inhabitants from making resistance This being complained of to the Regent he was called to answer for the riot but refused to appear and presently brake out in open rebellion fortifying the Castle and conducing a number of souldiers who did afterwards greatly annoy the Citizens The Nobility notwithstanding did keep the meeting and made choice of the Earl of Morton the Abbot of Dunfermlin and Mr. Iames Mr. Gill to goe unto England withall they agreed to the Abstinence required adjourning the Parliament to May thereafter How soon these Commissioners were come to London The Earl of Leicester and Sussex the Lord Keeper the Chamberlain Sir William Cecill Secretary then made Lord Burleigh Sir Walter Mildmay and Sir Francis Knolls were appointed to confer with them These meeting in the Secretaries chamber at Court after salutations and some generall speeches the Lord Burleigh said That they were desired to come into England upon occasion of a Treaty begun betwixt the two Queens and that her Majesty did now expect to receive from them such evident reasons for their proceedings against their Queen as wherewith she might both satisfie her self and with honour answer to the world for that which she did Or if they could not be able so to do that matters might be composed in the best sort for their safeties which her Majesty would by all means procure The Commissioners answered that they had before that time imparted the truth of all things to her Majesty which they thought might satisfie to clear them from the crimes objected yet if she stood doubtfull in any point the same should be cleared and their doings justified by most evident reasons Nothing further was said at that time but all continued to the next day And then having again met the Earl of Morton made a long discourse of the reasons and grounds of their proceedings answering the objections which he thought could be made against what he had spoken His discourse ended they were desired to put their reasons in writing which was with some difficulty yielded unto and under condition that if the reasons proponed by them did not content her Majesty the writing should be redelivered and no Copy taken thereof Otherwise if her Majesty did like and allow them they were content the same should be put in Record if so it pleased her Higness The last of February for albeit the 20. of that moneth they came to London they presented a number of Reasons for justifying the deposition of their Queen and cited many Lawes both Civill Canon and Municipall which they backt with examples drawn forth of Scottish Histories and with the
sorted to no effect by the contrary courses the two Commissioners took after their coming to the Court of England The King foreseeing the same when they were first imployed had moved Mr. David Lindesay Preacher at Leth a man wise and moderate to accompany them and pacify the contentions which possibly might arise amongst them but their emulations were so great as all he could do scarce served to keep them from open discord Before I enter upon the accidents of the next year the death of Mr. George Buchannan which happened in the end of September must not be passed a man so well deserving of his countrey as none more he was of an excellent wit and learning incomparable born nigh to the Highlands within the Parish of Killern and of the house of Drunmakill his Uncle by the mother called Herriot took care to have him trained up in letters perceiving his inclination to be set that way wherein he profited so much as he went beyond all his instructors Nature it seems having formed him thereunto In the year 1539 being called in question by the Franciscan Friers upon the malice they bare him for some bitter verses written against them and their profession which he did to please King Iames the fifth whom they had in some things offended he was committed as suspected of Lutheranisme but made an escape to France where he lived a long time and became acquainted with many learned men with which that countrey did then abound His paraphrase of the Psalmes a rare work and other Poems he wrote for most part whilest he stayed abroad and for his learning and quick ingenie was admired of all men Returning into Scotland about the year 1560. after he had professed Philosophy some yeares in S. Leonards College within the University of S. Andrews he was chosen to attend the King and bring him up in letters In his age he applied himself to write the Scottish History which he penned with such judgement and eloquence as no countrey can shew a better Only in this is he justly blamed that with the factions of the time and to justify the proceedings of the Noblemen against the Queen he went too farre in depressing the Royal authority of Princes and allowing their controllment by subjects his bitternesse also in writing of the Queen and troubles of the time all wise men have disliked But otherwise no man did merit better of his nation for learning nor thereby did bring to it more glory He died in a great age at Edinburgh and was buried in the common place though worthy to have been laid in marble and have had some Statue erected for his memory But such pompous monuments in his life he was wont to scorne and despise esteeming it a greater credit as it was said of the Roman Cato to have it asked why he doth lack a Statue then to have had one though never so glorious erected The summer following the King found the occasion to free himself of his attenders For being at Falkland and pretending to visit his Uncle the Earl of March who did then reside in the Abbey of S. Andrewes after he had taken some little refreshment he went to take a view of the Castle accompanied with Colonel Stewart Captain of the Guard to whom he had communicated his purpose and having entered into the Castle commanded the gates to be shut and these that followed to be excluded The Earls of Argile Marshal Montross and Rothes came thither the next morning and were all welcomed by the King Of the Noblemen that had waited on him since his restraint at Ruthven only the Earl of Gowry was admitted into the Castle by the Colonels means for he had sometimes followed him as a servant The Earl how soon he came in presence fell on his knees and craving pardon for the fact of Ruthven did humbly submit himself to the Kings mercy who after he had checked him in some few but grave speeches for his ingratitude to the Duke of Lennox accepted him in favour upon condition of a more loyal behaviour in time coming Some few days the King abode in the Castle and in a Councel keptthere the second of Iuly made choice of the Earls of March Argile Gowry Marshal Montrosse and Rothes to remain with him as Noblemen that he held of best judgement most indifferent and freest of faction the rest he commanded to retire to their houses till he should take further order In the same meeting was Colonel Stewarts service approved and a Proclamation ordained to be made charging all the subjects to contain themselves in quietnesse and prohibiting any to come towards Court accompanied with a greater number then was appointed to wit 15. with an Earl as many with a Bishop ten with a Lord and as many with an Abbot or Prior with a Baron six and all these commanded to come in a peaceable manner under great penalties Then the King to shew himself at liberty went to Edinburgh and from thence he went to Falkland then to Perth where he remained some weeks Being there the Earl of Arran by Gowries procurement was brought again to Court after whose coming a Declaration was published by the King to this effect We with advice of the Lords of our Privy Councel having thought expedient to notify unto the world but especially to all our good and loyal subjects our true mind touching the things that fell out in the year past declare the same to be as followeth That is howsoever for preserving of publick quietnesse we did patiently endure the restraint of our person at Ruthven with the secluding of our Counsellors from us and all that ensued thereupon yet did we take it deeply to heart and did account no otherwise of it then a fact most treasonable attending till it should please God to restore us to our former estate and liberty which having now by his goodness obtained to make known our indifferent disposition towards all our good subjects and that we do not seek the harm and ruine of any one whomsoever we have resolved to forgive and forget all offences bygone especially that which was committed in August last and hath been since that time strongly maintained providing the Actors and assisters do shew themselves penitent for the same ask pardon in due time and do not provoke us by their unlawful actions hereafter to remember that attempt Willing all our subjects by the example of this our clemency whereof some already have made proof to discharge all quarrels amongst themselves and not to malice one another for whatsoever cause by gone all which we will have buried in oblivion and to this have ordained publication to be made hereof in all the principal Burghs c. The discontented Lords notwithstanding of this declaration were still convening and making the best provision they could for their own surety For at Arrans hand who had now the disposing of all things they expected no good The
Kinloss Lindors Blanire and Pettin Weyme representing the spiritual estate by the Earls of Arran March Athol Montrosse Marshall and Rothes the Lords Oliphant Thirlstane Gray Sinclare Down and Fleming for the Nobility and by the Commissioners of Burghs and all the Officers of Estate amongst the rest by the Master of Gray who though he did professe himâ— himself a Romane Catholick would in nothing that the King affected be thought refractary It was thought that the Ambassadour did rest well satisfied with the Kings forwardnesse towards the league and that he should have presently returned But he had some other businesse in trust which was carried more closely This was to make friends to the exiled Lords and labour their restitution as had been concluded in England To this effect he kept divers private meetings with the Master of Gray the Secretary and Justice Clerk giving the Lords intelligence from time to time of his proceedings among other means he thought expedient that they should reconcile their private quarrels with the Lord Hamilton and his brother Claud who were likewise exiled and lived then in England he wrought so as they were brought as it seemed to a perfect accord promising to take one course and joyn all in the same cause But Claud fearing either the event of the enterprise or not having buried his former grudges did afterwards separate and by discovering their purpose procured to himself liberty to return yet did he not find that acceptance which he expected being shortly after his coming confined in Aberdene and within a little while commanded to leave the countrey and goe into France There came this Summer from Denmark certain Ambassadours to redeem as they pretended the Isles of Orkney and Shetland alienated of old from that Crown yet the true errand was to propone that marriage unto the King which was some four years after happily perfected The King receiving them kindly and excusing himsel for the matter of Orkney because of the Pestilence which raged as then in Edinburgh Where the Registers of the Kingdom were kept promised how soon commodity served to give all reasonable satisfaction and to send some in Commission to treat of those matters How soon they were dimitted the King went into Striveling and from thence to Hamilton to recreate himself as he was accustomed where he received advertisement that the banished Lords were come down to the borders and that Maxwel was to joyn his forces with them Hereupon he returneth to Striveling and sending for Arran made Proclamations to go through the countrey commanding all the subjects to meet him at the Castle of Crawford the 22. of October for resisting the attempts of the Rebels But things were so prepared at Court by the English Ambassadour as the Lords did prevent the King in his expedition They had appointed their rendezvous at Linton in Tweddale and meeting there did solemnly swear not to separate nor give over the profecution of their enterprise till the King should be moved to accept them in favour and put Arran forth of his company Maxwel brough with him 300 souldiers that had served against Iohnston and about 700 horsemen all the others did scarce equall that number though Bothwel Home Yester Cesford and Drumlanrig had joyned with them To justify their proceedings they gave forth a Proclamation in all the places they came unto declaring the causes of their enterprise to be the defence of the truth the deliverance of the King from corrupt Counsellors and the preserving of amity with England In this Proclamation nothing was left unsaid that might make Arran odious and hateful amongst other things he was charged to have bragged of his descent from Duck Mordoch who was beheaded in the time of King Iames the first and to lay claim to the Crown by that title calling himself King Iames the seventh It is true that in the Parliament held the year preceding he took protestation in open Court that he renounced any title that he might pretend to the Crown that way which I suppose he did to purge himself of that aspersion but the protestation was laughed at in the time by the wiser sort and gave them to think that such a folly had once possessed his mind The Proclamation did often mention him and Col. Stewart as abusers of the King Of the rest of the Counsellours there was no speech which increased Arrans jealousy of them Now how soon the Ambassadour heard that the Lords were entred in the countrey fearing that some notice should be taken of his dealing he left Striveling and went in haste to Berwick without saluting any man They sent a Post after him with a letter desiring to know the cause of his suddain departure and whether he was directed by the Queen his Soveraign to go away in such sort Being overtaken at Anwick he answered that he had no such direction from the Queen when he was first imployed but that of late he had received a command to retire because she saw no hope of the delivery of that wretched Farnherst This he made the pretext of his departure yet in reason he could not alledge it Farnherst lying bedfast at the time in Aberdene where he was committed which was notified to him and he knew to be a truth In the conclusion of his letter he said that he could not grant that he had departed insalutato hospite seeing he performed that office both with his heart and hand and that he should by all possible means endevour that his departure should rather help to maintain then dissolve the amity betwixt his Soveraign and him That which he speaketh of his hand was a letter that he left to be given to the King the day after he was gone in which he laid the cause upon Arrans credit without whom he saw nothing could be obtained Arran seeing the letter that he left to be given to the King began to think that all was not sound and accused the Master of Gray as being privy to the Ambassadors departure which he denied yet all that time nothing was done that was sitting either for the Kings safety or reputation and not so much as the Castle furnished with victuals which might have easily been provided Neither were the Lords ignorant of this which made them use the greater speed marching directly to Falkirk and the next day which was the last of October to Striveling At the Church called Sanct Nineans a half mile or lesse from the Town they put themselves in order of battel and stood so till night fell at which time upon warning given them by their friends within the Town they advanced and knowing all the passages entred by a certain back way without any resistance Arran had taken upon him to watch that night and was keeping the Town gate when a cry was raised that the Town was taken The Earl of Crawford who watched with him fled to the Castle but he escaped by the
conflict perished the Gallion of Biskay and two other great ships Two Gallions of Portugal the one called S. Philip the other S. Matthew having lost their tackling and being torn with shot made towards the coast of Flanders and were taken by the Zelanders Once as it seemed the General with the rest of the Navy bent their course towards Scotland but not knowing what favour they should find there and the wind blowing fair they resolved to make home by the North Isles The General himself with the best provided vessels took the main Ocean towards Biscay and arrived safely in Spain The rest seeking to take in fresh water partly in the Isles and partly in Ireland were so tossed with tempests and contrary winds that 40. and above were cast away in those Seas A ship of Florence driven upon the West coast of Scotland was spoiled and set on fire by certain Highlanders Shortly the destruction was so great as of the 134. Ships that set fail from Lisbone 53. onely returned to Spain of the souldiers besides the mariners 13500. were lost by one way or other And as they write not a family in Spain of any note there was which suffered not in this expedition having lost either a son or a brother or some nigh kinsman Such was the successe of the Spanish Navy which had been four years in preparing with no small cost and in a few days was thus overthrown one English ship onely being lost and about 100. men in all The King caused solemn thanksgiving for this deliverance to be given to God in all Churches of the Kingdome beginning in his own Court for an ensample to others This was the marvellous year talked of so long before by the Astrologues which this defeat and the accidents that fell forth in France about the end of the same year did in a part make good In this kingdom which we ought ever to remember with thankfulnesse to Almighty God happened no dysaster for which we had cause to be grieved the death of Archibald Earl of Angus excepted who deceased in the moneth of Iuly a Nobleman as in place and rank so in worth and virtue above other subjects of a comely personage affable and full of grace a lover of Justice peaceable sober and given to all goodnesse and which crowned all his virtues truly pious A long time he lived in exile in England not through his own fault but the misfortune of his friends whom he could not forsake After he was restored to the Kings favour no man did carry himself in better sort and in that time which was full of factions he kept himself free of all partakings being imployed in the Lieftenandry of the Borders he discharged himself to his Majesties great content and to the liking of all the subjects and not long after fell into that disease whereof he died leaving no heir male and one only daughter by his second marriage who did not long survive him Never died any Nobleman with greater regrate and so much the more was his death lamented that as it was then thought and afterwards confessed that he was taken away by forcery and incantation In the time of his sicknesse when the Physicians found his disease not to proceed of any natural cause one Richard Graham who was executed some years after for witchcraft being brought to give his opinion of it made offer to cure him saying as the manner of these Wizards is that he had received wrong But when he heard that the man was suspected to use unlawful arts he would by no means admit him saying That his life was not so dear unto him as for the continuance of it some years he would be beholden to any of the Devils instruments That he held his life of God and was willing to render the same at his good pleasure knowing he should change it for a better Thus after a long and languishing disease he died in Smeton near to Dalkeith and was buried in Abernethy in the sepulchre of his progenitors The houses of Angus and Morton which within his person were conjoyned went by provision of Taile to the Lairds of Glenbervy and Lochlevin The hopes that our Catholicks conceived of the Spanish Navy being now frustrated they had lost heart quite but that the Prince of Parma did of new encourage them by his letters shewing that the losse was nothing so great as it was given out to be and giving them hopes of another Army that set out more timely and to be with them the next spring These letters were sent by one Mr. Robert Bruce and delivered to Huntley to be communicated with the rest of that faction Shortly after came one Iohn Chesholme bringing with him ten thousand Crowns which were delivered to Bruce to be used as he thought most fit for advancing the cause The Earl of Huntley made instance to have the third part of the summe Lord Claud Hamilton pleaded for as much and Maxwel lying then in prison held no lesse to be due to him But Bruce excused himself by the charge he had to dispone the mony by the advice of David Graham of Fintrey who was warded at the same time in Dundey and payed them all with one answer The Lord Claud more covetous then the rest because he could not come by any part of the money grew more cold in the business Maxwel had some sent him for his consolation in the prison But Huntley having at the Kings desire subscrived the confession of faith and reconciled himself to the Church was wholly neglected This he excused afterwards by a letter to the Prince of Parma professing That after the escape of Colonel Semple he found himself so busied on all hands and in such sort pressed by the King as it behoved him either to yeild or depart out of the countrey or then to have taken the fields which well he could not do all hope of help being taken from him by the return of the Navy of Spain but in what he had failed he should endevour to amend by some good service tending to the advancement of the cause of God who had put him he said in such credit with the King as he had broken his former guards and made him establish others about his person by whom at all occasions he might assure himself and be Master of the King and so when the support promised should arrive spoile the hereticks of his authority and make sure the Catholicks enterprises Therefore besought him to be perswaded of his unchangeable affection albeit in outward action he was forced to accommodate himself to the necessity of the time This letter was dated at Edinburgh the 24. of Ianuary 1589. Another of the same date was sent by the Earl of Arrol whom Mr. Edmond Hay the Jesuit had seduced and brought on that course to Parma bearing That since his conversion to the Catholick faith he did ever think himself obliged to procure the
sick And being askt what words she used when she called the spirit she said her words was Holla Master and that he had learned her so to do She further confessed That the Earl Bothwel had moved her to enquire what should become of the King how long he should reign and what should happen after his death and that the spirit having undertaken to make away the King after he had failed in performing and was challenged by her confessed it was not in his power speaking words she understood not but as she did take them the words were I l ' est homme de dieu Richard Graham another notorious Sorcerer being apprehended at the same time made the like confession of Bothwel which was the cause of his committing in April following for such curiosities are not thought to possesse the mindes of those that wish well to their Princes and hath proved the cause of many mens ruine In the end of the year died Iohn Ereskin of Dun Superintendent of Angus and Mernis a man famous for the services performed to his Prince and Countrey and worthy to be remembred for his travels in the Church which out of zeal to the truth he undertook preaching and advancing it by all means Before the Reformation his house was to those who in that time were called Hereticks a special place of refuge afterwards such was the scarcity of Ministers that he took upon him the charge and was chosen with the first to have the oversight of the Churches in these North parts which he governed to his death most wisely and with great authority giving no way to the Novations introduced nor suffering them to take place within the bounds of his charge whilest he lived A Baron he was of good rank wise learned liberal of singular courage who for divers resemblances may well be said to have been another Ambrose he died the 12. of March in the 82. year of his Age leaving behind him a numerous posterity and of himself and his vertues a memory that shall never be forgotten Bothwel had not stayed above a moneth in Ward when seducing his keeper he made an escape and thereby increased the suspicion of his guiltinesse whereupon the King gave order to pronounce the doom of forfeiture against him according to the conviction passed in May 1589. and causing denounce him Traitor did inhibit by Proclamation all the subjects to intercommune or keep intelligence with him And lest the proceeding should have been thought too rigorous it was declared in the Proclamation that he being tender in blood to his Majesty and advanced by him to sundry honours and offices had out of his ungodly and unnatural humour after divers slaughters committed by him and overseen taken Armes against the King and practised with strangers for subversion of Religion and endangering his Majesties Crown whereof being convicted in a Justice Court holden in Edinburgh the 24. of May 1589. the doom and sentence was superseded in hope of his amendment And that notwithstanding all these favours he continued in his wicked course and heaping treason upon treason had now at last consulted with Witches and Negromancers for bereaving his Majesty of his life as was manifest by the confession of some that had already suffered and others yet alive who were shortly to be executed and for the same being committed in the Castle of Edinburgh he had broken Ward and thereby taken the crime upon him whereupon the doom which at that time was delayed being now pronounced his Majesty did will all his subjects to acknowledge him for no other but a Rebel and Traitor Bothwell taking the course of all Rebels which is to turn their malice against some about the King laid the blame of all upon the Chancellor and drew together some companies of men as intending to be revenged to him With him the Lord Hume and divers others did joyn but to little purpose for Hume upon better advice forsook him and submitted himself to the King and others following his example used their best means to obtain pardon so as Bothwell was compelled to flee into England with some few that went with him In the Assembly of the Church that convened this summer at Edinburgh fell out a great contest betwixt them and the Lords of Session upon this occasion Mr. Iohn Graham one of the Senators had intended in right of his wife an Action of removing against certain fewars of Halyeards within the Parish of Kirkliston and to bear out the plea suborned a Notary in Striveling called Robert Ramsay to give him forth an instrument that made for his purpose The defendants having offered to improve the instrument did in the mean time upon a private Warrant obtained from his Majesty apprehend the Notary who confessed that the Instrument which he subscribed was brought formed to him by William Graham brother to Mr. Iohn and that he knew nothing of the businesse and being pursued criminally was upon his confession condemned of falshood and executed to the death The pursuer as he was a man bold and impudent to maintain the truth of the instrument did intend Action against Mr. Patrick Simpson Minister at Striveling who had dealt with the Notary to bring him to a confession alledging that he had seduced the man and made him deny the instrument The Minister complaineth to the Assembly and thereupon Mr. Iohn Graham was summoned to answer for the scandal raised upon one of their members He compeiring answered That he would prove what he had alledged before the Iudge competent The Assembly replied That he must qualifie it before them otherwise they would censure him as a slanderer Hereupon was the Lord Provant President with the Lords of Culros and Barnbarrogh two of the Senators sent to desire the Assembly not to meddle in causes proper to their cognition especially in the cause depending before them at the instance of the Lord Halyeards so they styled him against Mr. Patrick Simpson The Assembly answered That what they did was no way hurtfull to the priviledges of Session nor were they minded to meddle in any Civill matter but in the purging of one of their own members they might proceed without the prejudice of the Civill judicatory therefore wished them not to take ill the Churches dealing in the triall of one of their own number The Lords dimitted with this answer Mr. Iohn Graham was called who excepted against the Judgement affirming the cause to be Civil and that the judgement thereof belonged to the Lords of Session primariò in regard the same was depending before them The Assembly repelling the declinatour found themselves Iudges in the cause therefore willed him to say what he could in his own defence otherwise they would give processe and minister Iustice. But he taking documents of their Interloquutor and protesting for remedy of law departed The Lords esteeming this an encroaching upon their priviledges and that upon such grounds all actions that
which purpose some was left at Edinburgh to make timely warning to the rest The King being informed of this conclusion at his return to Edinburgh called the speciall Ministers that were in town and shewed that it was an undutifull part in them to convocate the subjects and cause them take armes without his warrant prohibiting any such advertisement to be given as was appointed They excusing themselves said That it was the cause of God and in defence thereof they could not be deficient Hereupon a Proclamation was made Declaring the course that his Majesty had taken to try the Conspiracy of the Popish Lords and how after some pâ—ins taken in that businesse he had indicted a Parliament in Iuly last for that cause at which time nothing being done albeit not in his default and he impeshed a long time after by the practises of Bothwell and other troubles in the Countrey was no sooner received forth of his hands then he fell again upon the same thoughts and that now he had appointed a Convention of Estates at Linlithgow for taking their advice touching the surety of his own person the relief of the subjects oppression and the ordering of all that businesse especially since the said Lords had by their letters and otherwise most humbly desired a triall which he doubted not the Estates would consider and so proceed therein as might best serve to the preserving of Religion and the quietnesse of the Countrey his own intention being no other but to have them satisfie the Church or if they refused to cause them to be expulsed and banished the Countrey And for that end he had commanded them to remain at Perth and attend the resolution of the Estates dissolving their forces if any they had assembled Whereof his Majesty did think meet to give all his subjects notice that they might know his care for the maintenance of true Religion against all the enemies thereof And therefore inhibited the subjects to make any Convocations or if any were already made by the sinistrous informations of ill disposed people they were commanded to dissolve and turn to their houses till they should be advertised either by missive Letters or Proclamations and not otherwise under the pains appointed for seditious persons and disturbers of the publick peace Notwithstanding of this discharge there came great companies to Edinburgh and in all parts of the Countrey were people stirring so that the Convention which was called to meet at the same time being not very frequent kept a short while together The offers and Petitions of the Popish Lords being onely read the consideration thereof was remitted to certain chosen by the Estates These were the Lord Thirlestane Chancellour the Earls Marshall Marre Montrosse and Rothes the Lord Levingston Scot of Balwery Iohn Murray of Tullibarden Alexander Bruce of Airth Mr. George Lowder of Basse William Scot of Abbotshall Mr. David Carnagie of Colluthie Sir Alexander Hume of North-Berwick Provost of Edinburgh Clement Core Baily with the Commissioners of the towns of Dundie Couper Striveling and Linlithgow to these or any four of every estate together with his Majesties Officers power was given to consider the Petitions and offers of the said Lords to try their accusations purgations and the truth thereof and to conclude therein as they should think most expedient for the surety of Religion and redressing of disorders within the Realm ordaining their determination to be as valid and effectuall as if the same had been concluded in Parliament or Convention It was likewise ordained that Mr. Robert Lindesay Mr. Robert Bruce Mr. Robert Rollock Mr. Patrick Calloway and Mr. Iames Carmichael and Iohn Duncauson should be admitted to the said conference if they should desire And that in the absence of any of the Estates nominated such as were present should appoint others at their pleasure The Commissioners nominated having conveened at Edinburgh the 12. of November after many dayes reasoning grew to this conclusion That the King for the publick peace of the Realm and to remove all troubles and the occasion thereof after mature deliberation and conference kept with the Ministers had by the advice of the Commissioners elected by the Estates declared and by irrevocable Edict ordained That the true Religion established in the first year of his Majesties reign should be onely professed and exercised in all time coming within the Realm and that none should supply or resset any Iesuits Priests and other adversaries of Religion under the pains contained in the Acts of Parliament That such as have not embraced Religion or made defection from the same should conform themselves before the â— of February next satisfie the Church and obey such things as shall be prescribed to them by the King and the Church or if any of them did think it difficile so to do for any scruple of Conscience that they should depart forth of the Realm to such parts beyond Sea as his Majesty should appoint betwixt and the said day and not return till they were resolved to imbrace the truth and satisfie the Church they alwaies and their heirs enjoying their lands and livings and their procurators being licensed to appear before the ordinary Iudges for debating their actions notwithstanding of any prâ—cesse laid against them That the Earls of Angus Huntley and Arroll the Laird of Achindowne and Sir James Chisholme should be unaccusable of the crimes contained in the summons executed against them by occasion of blanks and letters intercepted and concerning their traficking with strangers to the prejudice of Religion and the said processe extinct for ever discharging the Iustice Advocate and other Officers present and to come of all calling and proceeding against them and their heires therefore in time coming But in case they have sent or after this time shall send any pledges forth of the Realm for fulfilling of Conditions tending to the overthrow of Religion in that case the said abolition should be null neither should it be further extended then to the crimes contained in the summons and no way comprehend any murders fire-raisings or other crimes committed by them That such of the said Earls and others as should resolve to obey his Highnesse Lawes in professing the true Religion before the 1 of February should remain in the places and bounds to be appointed for them and forbeare all practising or intelligence with the Iesuits Priests and other Papists debarring them from and forth of their company That they should neither dispute nor permit disputing at their Tables against the truth or in favour of Popery and entertain in their houses a Minister and be ready to hear conference and resolve themselves of doubts that they may be the better prepared to subscribe the Confession of Faith at the day appointed unlesse it please the Chrrch to prorogate their subscription for some longer space That the Earls of Huntley and Arroll should before the 1 of February remove out of their company Mr. James
slow pursuit of the Popish Lords and the favour shewed to them promised that from thenceforth he should find no more resset in her Countrey and for pursuing the Popish Earls the King should lack no supply that was in her power to give With this answer did Mr. Edward Bruce return for the Lord Colvill went from that into France to congratulate the victorious and happy successe of the French King against those of the League and invite him to assist the Baptisme of the Prince which was to be in Iuly next The Queen of England immediately upon the Ambassadours return by a Proclamation in all the Borders did inhibit the resset and harbouring of Bothwell and the aiding of him in any sort which the king did so kindly accept as rendring her many thanks for the same he did therewith intreat her to assist the Baptisme of the Prince his son The like imployment Peter Young his Majesties Elemosynar received for Denmark the Dukes of Brunswick and Megleburgh and to the generall Estates Sir William Keith and Captain William Murray the Provost of Saint Andrewes were directed The Parliament being in the mean time indicted to the 27. of May the Assembly of the Church conveened at Edinburgh the seventh of the same moneth where the Excommunication of the Popish Lords was ratified and ordained to be published in all the Churches of the Kingdome The King did reside then at Striveling and thither were Mr. Patrick Galloway Mr. Robert Rollock Mr. Patrick Simson Mr. Iames Melvill and Mr. Iames Nicholson directed by the Assembly to represent the dangers wherein his Majesties Person Crown and Liberty of the Countrey stood and to propone such remedies as in their judgement were fittest for preventing the same Both the one and the other were conceived in this form The perills which oft before were threatned by the pernicious practices of Jesuits and the malicious unnaturall and treasonable conspiracies of the Earl of Huntley Arroll and Angus and their complices in betraying their native Countrey to the cruell and mercilesse Spaniard are no lesse urgent and now more to be feared then when the danger seemed to be greatest as may appear by the reasons following 1. It is certain that the Spaniard who with so great preparations in the year 1588. enterprised the Conquest of the whole Isle retaineth the same intention wanting an occasion onely to accomplish his promise as is manifest by the intelligence he hath kept with the Popish Lords ever since the disputation of that Navie 2. The open rebellion of the said Lords at the bridge of De Falkland c. with their continuance in the like treasonable attempts notwithstanding his Majesties clemency in pardoning the same doth evidence their obstinacy in prosecuting the same conspiracies 3. Whereas the Church hath not ceased at all occasions to lay open these dangers and humbly intreated that some remedy should be provided nothing hath been obtained to the emboldening of the enemies in their practices and attempts 4. Notwithstanding that it was enacted in Councell that none should presume to request for the said Popish Lords under the pain of losing their places and Offices yet none are in such credit as their favourers who contrary to their promises labour still to procure them oversight and immunitie 5. The Masses openly celebrated in the house of Balgawy pertaining to Mr. Walter Lindesay the house of Birnes appertaining to the young Laird of Bonyton the houses of Douglas Strathbolgy Logyamont and Slams pertaining to the said Earles do shew that either they think themselves assured of favour in the Court or of such assistance in the Countrey as may maintain their cause or then that they are perswaded to be supplyed by strangers 6. The Act of oblivion offered to them with the great discontent of all good subjects would not have been rejected except they had looked for greater favour and better conditions 7. The disobedience they have shewed in entering to their wards when they were charged doth prove that they think themselves assured of the aid and concurrence of others 8. The arriving of the Spanish Bark lately at Montrosse declareth that they have some practice to be put in execution presently if the same shall not be timely prevented 9. The open conventions they keep since the arriving of the said Bark do shew that they esteem their plots so substantially laid as they regard not what can be done for resisting the same 10. The diligence they use in preparing and putting their friends and followers in armes specially in the North parts is an argument of some interprise they go about 11. And last whereas his Majesty and Estates did upon the first discovery of their plots and practices apprehend a great danger to Religion the Kings Estate and liberty of the Countrey notwithstanding that the cause is not removed there is no care taken to withstand their courses which declareth that there is either a purpose to cover extenuate and bear forth their wickednesse or that the Lord hath in his judgement blinded and hardened the hearts of all Estates that while the danger is greatest they can neither see nor apprehend the same The remedies of the foresaid dangers were proponed as followeth 1. That the Parliament indicted to the 27. of the same moneth should not be prorogated but the time thereof precisely kept and the Popish Lords forfeited and to that effect the Advocate sufficiently instructed for maintaining the relievancy of the summons and probation in due time provided 2. That none suspected in Religion be chosen upon the Articles 3. That after the forfeiture they be pursued with all extremity their Lands and Rents annexed to the Crown and no part thereof disponed in favours of the persons forfeited 4. That the Guard be imployed for apprehending Mr. Walter Lindesay the Abbot of New-Abbey Iames Wood of Bonyton younger Mr. George Ker who had made an escape out of the Castle the year before Mr. Alexander Lesley Thomas Tyrie and other Traffiquers and Jesuits 5. That the houses of the Rebells be possessed and their livings intrometted with to his Majesties use 6. That all persons be inhibited to resset supply or entertain any intelligence with the said Lords especially their vassals and dependers and that none under whatsoever pretext contravene the same 7. That the subjects be charged to put themselves in armes by all good means and be in readinesse to pursue and defend as they shall be warned by his Majesty or otherwise upon urgent occasions 8. That the Bark arrived at Montrosse be apprehended and the persons that were within her with such others as have had any dealing with them and that they be examined diligently for the discovery of the practice they have presently in hand Somewhat was adjected concerning the Lord Hume but he compeiring in the same Assembly gave satisfaction to the Church and was absolved from the sentence of Excommunication All the remedies the King allowed
State considering their continuance in the same disposition to work mischief as before of these things they were desired to inform their flocks and both in publick doctrine and private conference to stirre up the Countrey-people to apprehend the danger and to be in readiness to resist the same so farre as lawfully they might It was further thought meet that publick humiliation should be indicted through the whole Countrey the first Sunday of December and the cause thereof declared to be the return of the excommunicated Lords and dangers thereby threatned to Religion which the Ministers should enlarge according to their discretions as also that the Presbyteries should call before them their Entertainers Reffetters and such as kept company with them and proceed summarily with the Censures of the Church una citatione quia periclitatur salus Ecclesiae Reipublicae Lastly they concluded that a number of Commissioners selected out of all the Quarters of the Countrey should reside at Edinburgh and convene every day with some of the Presbyterie of Edinburgh to receive Advertisements as should be sent from other places and take counsell upon the most expedient in every case The Brethren nominated to this purpose were Mr. Alexander Douglas M. Peter Blaickborure M. George Gladstaves and M. Iames Nicholson for the North parts Mr. Iames Melvill Mr. Thomas Buchannan Mr. Alexander Lindesey and Mr. William Striveling for the middle part of the Countrey Mr. Iohn Clapperton Mr. Iohn Knox Mr. George Ramsey and Mr. Iames Carmichaell for the South and for the West Mr. Iohn Howson Mr. Andrew Knox Iohn Porterfield and Mr. Robert Wilkie Their attendance was ordained to be monethly and to begin in November At which time Mr. Iames Nicholson Mr. Iames Melvill Mr. Andrew Knox Mr. Iohn Howson and Mr. George Ramsey were appointed to wait Mr. Robert Bruce Mr. Robert Pont Mr. David Lindesey Mr. Iames Balfour Mr. Patrick Gallaway and Mr. Walter Balcanquell observing ordinarily all the meeting These Conventions were by a new name called the Councell of the Church and appointed to be kept once every day at least for taking advice in every business that occurred by direction of this Councell Lord Alexander Seaton President of the Session was called before the Synod of Lothian for keeping intelligence with the Earl of Huntley and by them remitted back to that Councell before whom with many attestations he purged himself of any dealing with Huntley or any of the Papist Lords and upon promise not imploy his credit that way was dimitted The King suspecting their beginnings should end in some trouble but not like to fall in contrary terms with the Church if by any means the same could be eschewed commanded the President Secretary Advocate and Laird of Colluthle to conferre with the most moderate of the Ministery and use their best means for satisfying them touching the return of the forfeited Lords Mr. David Lindesey Mr. Patrick Gallaway Mr. Iames Nicholson and Mr. Iames Melvill being sent for to this Conference were desired to give their opinions Whether or not due satisfaction being made to the Church by the Lords for otherwise the King did not mean to shew them any favour they might be pardoned and restored to their estates The Ministers answered They came only to hear what was proponed and in a matter of that importance could say nothing unacquainting their brethren The Conference was delayed till afternoon At which time returning they said That the brethren were glad of the respect carried by his Majesty to the Church and that his resolution was to give no favour to those Rebels till the Church was first satisfied But in their judgments they having by Gods law deserved death and being by the most soveraign Court of the Kingdome sentenced to have lost their estates they could not be lawfully pardoned nor restored And if the King and his Councell would take on them to doe it they had God and the Countrey to answer unto but for them they would give no assent but protest to the contrary that they were free thereof before God and man This answer seeming rather to proceed of passion then any good zeal it was next urged Whether upon their humble and submisse suite to be reconciled the Church could not deny to receive them it being commonly held thâ—t the bosome of the Church should ever be patent to repenting sinners They answered That the Church indeed could not refuse their satisfaction if it were truly offered neverthelesse the King stood obliged to doe justice When by no reasoning they could be wrought from these extremities the Conference brake off and the effects thereof being reported to the King he was greatly commoved inveighing against Ministers at his table in Councell and every where The wiser sort that foresaw the ill effects this rancour would breed advised the Ministers to send some of their number to understand what it was that did offend the King and offer all satisfaction on their parts withall to lay open their grievances and in humble manner entreat a redress of the things which they esteemed hurtfull Herein the same Brethren being employed they found the Kings answers more biting and peremptory then they expected for being desired to shew what it was that made his majesty so offended wth the Church and professing to amend it so farre as lay in them he said There could be no agreement so long as the marches of the two Iurisdictions were not distinguished that in their preachings they did censure the affaires â—f the Estate and Councell convocate Generall Assemblies without his license conclude what they thought good not once desiring his allowance and approbation and is their Synods Presbyteries and particular Sessions meddle with every thing upon colour of scandall besides divers other disorders which at another time he would propound and have reformed otheâ—wise it was vain to think of any agreement or that the same being made could stand and continue any while The Ministers not willing to dip in these matters after they had in sober manner replied to each of these points fell to speak of their own grievances as first the favour granted to the Popish Lords in the late Conventions at Falkland and Dunfermlin the countenance given to the Lady Huntley and her invitation to the Baptisme of the Princesse the putting her in the hands of the Lady Levingston an avowed and obstinate Papist and which grieved them more then any thing else the alienation of his Majesties heart from the Ministers as appeared by all his speeches publick and private To this last the King did first reply saying That they had given him too just cause by their railing against him and his proceedings in their Sermons for the Popish Lords he had granted nothing to them but what the Estate had found needfull for the peace and quiet of the Realm As to the Lady Huntley he esteemed her a good discreet Lady and worthy of his
also pass from the summons and cease his pursuit This yeelding offer of the King was by the advice of the wiser sort thought good to be accepted that there might be an end of contention For if said they we go to try our strength with the King we shall be found too weak as yet the Court stands in some awe of the Church and whilest they are in this conceit it shall be meet to take the best conditions we can have for if by our strictness matters go to the worst our weakness shall soon appear and thereafter shall the Church be no more feared nor regarded too great stiffness doth seldom succeed well and it is often seen that they who will have all their wills do lose all in the end This was the reasoning of the wise and more moderate sort Others flattering themselves in their preciseness held That the onely way to prevail was to stand by their grounds the cause was Gods which he would maintain that worldly powers were not to be feared and that God had in his hand the hearts of Princes to turn them whither he pleased whereof in the present business they had seen a proof The debate held long and in end by most voices it was concluded that they should stand to the Declinator unless the King would pass from the summons and remitting the pursuite to the ecclesiasticall Judge make an Act of Councell that no Minister should be charged for his preaching at lest before the meeting of the generall Assembly The King perceiving this offer neglected was in great wrath and told them who were sent unto him that he would hearken to no agreement unless they would pass simply from the declinator and cause M. Blake compeir and acknowledge the Judicatory Which being refused the Proclamation was published the Commissioners charged to depart forth of the Town and M. Blake by a new summons cited to the last of November The next day being Sunday and the day of the Princes Christening the same was kept in the Palace of Halyrudhouse with great joy and feasting The English Ambassador did name the Princess Elizabeth after the Queen his Mistresse the Town of Edinburgh by the Magistrates assisting as witnesses such honor did the King unto them But all that day in the Town Churches were bitter invectives made against the two Proclamations for besides the charge given the Commissioners to leave the Town by another Proclamation the Barons Gentlemen and all other subjects were discharged to convene with the Ministry either in Presbyteries or Synods or any other Ecclesiasticall meetings under whatsoever colour or pretence without his Majesties licence These things were mightily aggravated by the preachers and the people exceedingly stirred at which the King more and more offending he resolved to keep the Diet assigned for M. Blakes appearing in the Councell house of Edinburgh accompanied with his Nobles that were present at the Baptism The Commissioners advertised of this for all that time some Gentlemen of the Chamber in hatred of the Octavians gave intelligence of every thing that was intended did form a Petition to be presented to his Majesty and the Noblemen consisting of three heads First they entreated the King that seeing the decision of such thorny and intricate questions as was moved at that time to the trouble of the Church could work no good and was subtilly urged onely to ingender a dissension between his Majesty and the Ministers he would be pleased to remit the determination thereof to a lawfull Assembly and not to incroach upon the limits of Christs Kingdom upon any pretence bending his actions according to the present necessity against the common enemies of Religion and State Next they exhorted the Noblemen to give his Majesty a free and faithfull counsell in that business and as to the honour of God and their own just praise they had kept themselves free both in counsell and action from working any prejudice to the liberty of the Gospell so they would not suffer themselves to be drawn at that time under the guiltiness of so great a sin by the craft of those who were subtilly seeking the thraldom of the Gospell and thought to make their honors the executors of their malicious devices And thereby that by their credit they would procure a continuation of all controversies unto a free and lawfull Assembly where the same might be gravely reasoned and concluded This Petition was given to M. David Lindesay M. Robert Bruce and M. Robert Rollock to be presented and if the same was refused they were enjoyned to protest against the proceeding of the Councell The King receiving this Petition after he had overviewed it did reject the same as not worthy of answer commanding to call M. Blake and read the summons Therein he was charged First to have affirmed in Pulpit that the Popish Lords were returned into the Countrey with his Majesties knowledge and upon his assurance and said that in so doing he had detected the treachery of his heart Secondly that he had called all Kings the Divels Barns adding that the Divell was in the Court and in the guiders of it Thirdly in his prayer for the Queen he had used these words We must pray for her for the fashion but we have no cause she will never do us good Fourthly that he had called the Queen of England an Atheist Fifthly that he had discussed a suspension granted by the Lords of Session in Pulpit and called them miscreants and bribers Sixthly that speaking of the Nobility he said they were degenerated Godless dissemblers and enemies to the Church likewise speaking of the Councell that he had called them Holliglasses Cormorants men of no Religion Lastly that he had convocated divers Noblemen Barons others within S. Andrews in the month of Iune 1594 caused them take arms divide themselves in Troops of horse foot had thereby usurped the power of the King and Civill Magistrate After reading of the summons Mr. Robert Pont protested that the processe in hand and whatsoever followed thereof should not prejudge the libertie of the Church in matters of Doctrine The king answered That he was not to meddle with any matter of doctrine but to censure the treasonable speeches of a Minister in sermon which he and his Councell would judge except by clear scripture it should be proved That Ministers were not subject in these cases to his Iudicatory Thereafter Mr. Blake being commanded to answer said that all these accusations were false untrue calumnies producing two testimonials one of the Provost Baylies and councell of St. Andrews the other of the Rector Dean of facultie Professors and Regents of the Universitie which he alledged should be preferred to any report whatsoever Next he said for the first six points the Lords of the Councell were not competent Judges the speeches alledged being uttered in pulpit but the same ought to be censured by the Presbytery where
Wedderburne Merchants or any twelve of them to assemble and convene themselves after the ending of the present Session of Parliament and before the next Session thereof at such time and in such place as it should please his Majesties to appoint with certain selected Commissioners nominated and authorized by the Parliament of England according to the tenour of their Commissions in that behalf to conferre treat and consult upon a perfect union of the realms of Scotland and England and concerning such other matters things and causes whatsoever tending to his Majesties honor and contentment and to the weal and tranquillity of both the Kingdomes during his Majesties life and his royall posterity for ever as upon mature deliberation the greater part of the said Commissioners assembled as is aforesaid with the Commissioners authorized by the Parliament of England shall in their wisdome think most expedient and necessary not derogating from any fundamentall Lawes ancient priviledges and rights offices dignities and liberties of the Kingdome This last clause was added because of the narrative of the English Act wherein it was said That it was not his Majesties mind to alter or innovate the fundamentall lawes priviledges and good customes of the Kingdome of England by the abolishing or alteration whereof it was impossible but that a present confusion should fall upon the whole state and frame of that Kingdome In all other things the Statute in substance was the same with the English Soon after this the King resolving to have Westminster at London the place of the meeting letters were directed to the Noblemen and others nominated for Scotland willing them to addresse themselves to the journey and to be ready to meet with the other Commissioners the 20 of October and lest any disorder should fall out in the absence of the Chancellor and others of the Councell the Lord Newbottle was appointed to attend and reside in Councell unto their return The day and place of meeting was precisely observed by the Commissioners of both Kingdomes who after many dayes conferences agreed unto certain Articles to be presented to his Majesty and to the Courts of Parliament of both Kingdomes there to receive such strength and approbation as in their wisdomes should seem expedient the Articles were as followeth It is agreed by the Commissioners of England and Scotland to be mutually proponed to the Parliament of both realms at the next Sessions That all hostile lawes made and conceived expressely either by England against Scotland or Scotland against England shall in the next Sessions be abrogated and utterly extinguished It is also agreed that all Lawes Customes and Treaties of the Borders betwixt England and Scotland shall be declared by a generall Act to be abrogated and abolished and that the subjects on either part shall be governed by the Lawes and statutes of the Kingdomes where they dwell and the name of the Borders extinguished And because by abolishing the Border Lawes and Customes it may be doubted that the executions shall cease upon those sentences that have heretofore been given by the opposite Officers of those Borders upon wrongs committed before the death of the late Queen of happy memory It is thought fit that in case the Commissioners or Officers to be appointed by his Majesty before the time of the next Sessions of Parliament shall not procure sufficient redresse of such filed Bills and Sentences that then the said Parliaments may be moved to take such order as to their wisdomes shall seem convenient for satisfaction of that which hath been decerned by some Officers as also how disorders and insolencies may be hereafter repressed and the countrey which was lately of the Borders kept in peace and quietnesse in time to come As likewise to prescribe some order how the pursuits of former wrongs preceding the death of the late Queen and since the last treatise of the Borders in the years 1596 and 1597. which have never as yet been moved may be continued and prosecuted to a definitive sentence And forasmuch as the next degree to the abolition of all memory of hostility is the participation of mutuall commodities and commerce It is agreed first concerning importation of Merchandise into either realm from forein parts that whereas certain commodities are wholly prohibited by the severall lawes of both realms to be brought into either of them by the natives themselves or by any other the said prohibitions shall now be made mutuall to both and neither an English man bring into Scotland nor a Scotch man into England any of these prohibited Wares and Commodities Neverthelesse if the said Commodities be made in Scotland it shall be lawfull to bring them out of Scotland to England and so reciprocally of the Commodities made in England and carried to Scotland Whereas a doubt hath been conceived against the equall communication of trade betwixt English and Scottish subjects in matter of importation grounded upon some inequality of priviledges which the Scots are reported to have in forain parts and namely in France above the English whereby the English might be prejudged And that after a very deliberate consideration had of the said supposed inequalities both private and publick examination of divers Merchants of either side touching all liberties immunities priviledges imposts and paiments on the part of the English and on the part of the Scottish either at Burdeaux for their trade of wines or in Normandy or any other part of France for other Commodities it appeared that in the Trade of Burdeaux there was and is so little difference in any advantage of priviledges or immunities or in the imposts and paiments all being reckoned and well weighed on either side as it could not justly hinder the communication of trade In the trade of Normandy likewise or any other parts of France the advantage that the Scottish subjects by their priviledge is acknowledged to have is such as without much difficulty may be reconciled and reduced to an equality with the English by such means as is hereafter declared It is agreed that the Scottish men shall be free for the transporting of wine from Burdeaux into England paying the same customes and duties that the English men doe pay and the English men shall be likewise free for transporting of wine or other commodities from Burdeaux into Scotland paying the same Customes and duties that the Scottish men doe pay there And likewise for clearing and resolving the doubts touching the advantage that the Scots are supposed to have above the English in buying and transporting the commodities of Normandy and of other parts of the Kingdome of France excepting the buying of wine in Burdeaux which is already determined It is agreed that there shall be sent some meet and discreet persons into France two for either side to take perfect notice of any such advantage as either the English have above the Scots or the Scots above the English in the buying or
work should more easily be effected if a beginning was made in Scotland did call a Parliament in August which was kept by Lodowick Duke of Lennox as Commissioner for his Majesty the Earl of Montrose being then deceased The Estates to satisfie the Kings desire did allow all the Articles concluded in the Treaty with a provision That the same should be in like manner ratified by the Parliament of England otherwise the conclusions taken should not have the strength of a law It was also declared that if the union should happen to take effect the Kingdome notwithstanding should remain an absolute and free Monarchy and the fundamentall laws receive no alteration But the Parliament of England either disliking the union as fearing some prejudice by it to their Estate or upon some other hidden cause did touch no more the business and so that good work tending to the advantage of both Kingdomes was left and quite deserted In the Church a new trouble was moved by the revolt that Huntley and the two Earls of Angus and Arroll made divers especially in the North parts falling away by their example This being represented to the King he gave order for calling an Assembly which convened at Linlithgow in the end of Iuly Therein the Earls of Dunbar Winton and Lothian sate Commissioners for the King The Bishop of Orkney elected to preside having shewed the occasion of the present meeting to be the growth and increase of Papists in all the quarters of the Kingdome it was thought meet to take up the names of those that made open profession of Popery and likewise of those that were suspected to favour the course that their number and forces being known the remedies might be the better advised and provided The number was found to very great chiefly in the North and the Marquis of Huntley delated by all as the only cause of the defection in those bounds he being cited to appear before the Assembly under the pain of excommunication and neither compeiring nor sending any excuse was ordained to be excommunicated and the sentence accordingly pronounced in the hearing of the whole Assembly This was appointed to be intimated in all the Churches and no absolution given upon whatsoever offers in regard of his manifold apostasies without the advice of the general Church The like course was concluded to be kept with Angus Arroll and the Lord Semple how soon the processes intended against them were brought to an end This done the Assembly began to rip up the causes of the defection more narrowly which they found to proceed from the Ministers in a part their negligence in teaching and catechising of people the too suddain admission of young men into the Ministery and the distraction of mindes among those that are admitted for remedy whereof it was ordained as followeth First that they should apply themselves to the exercise of their function with greater diligence then they were accustomed and take a speciall care of young children to see them instructed in the Belief the Lords prayer and ten Commandements whereof they should examine every childe at the age of six years and yearly enquire of their profiting and increase in knowledge 2 That some longer time should be prescrived for the admission of men to the Ministery and the exceptions contained in the Act of the age of Ministers to be admitted reserved to the cognition of the Generall Assembly 3 That they use a greater diligence in the processing of Papists and that none out of corrupt favour should grant them any oversight under the pain of deposition 4 That all who carried office in the Church should be carefull to eschew offences and endevour to keep love and peace among themselves 5 And for the present distractions in the Church seeing the same did arise partly from a diversity of opinions touching the externall government of the Church and partly from divided affections the last of these two being the most dangerous as not suffering the brethren to unite themselves against the common enemy they were all in the fear of God exhorted to lay down whatsoever grudge or rancour they had conceived and to be reconciled in heart and affection one to another Which all that were present did faithfully promise by the holding up their hands But the fault not being in the Ministers alone and seen to proceed from other causes also as from the oversight of Jesuits and Priests and their entertainment in the Countrey the preferment of men to publick offices that were suspected in Religion the favour shewed to Papists by them in places of chief authority Masie Priests admitted without his Majesties warrant and no security taken for their not returning Licences granted to Noblemens sons for going abroad and their education trusted to men of contrary profession advocation to the Councell of matters properly belonging to the Ecclesiasticall Judicatories and the lack of Preachers in many parts of the land It was concluded that certain Petitions should be formed and presented to his Majesty by some selected Commissioners for remedying these evils which were formed in this manner First that an humble supplication should be made by the whole Assembly intreating his Majesty not to permit any Papist or suspected of Popery to bear charge in Councell Session or in any Burgh or City and where his Majesty did know any such to occupie these places humbly to crave that order might be taken for their removing 2 That the laws made against Papists should receive execution and no favour be granted unto them by the Officers of State with a prohibition to the Councell to meddle in affairs Ecclesiasticall or to discharge the processes led by Ministers against Papists and others contemners of Church discipline 3 That Papists abjuring their Religion in hope of preferment to Offices of State should not be admitted thereto till they had given five years probation at least 4 That the sons of Noblemen professing Popery should be committed to the custody of such of their friends as are sound in Religion 5 That a Commission should be granted to every Bishop within his Dioces and to such well affected Noblemen Barons and Gentlemen as the Commissioners of the Assembly should nominate for apprehending of Jesuits Seminary Priests excommunicated Papists and traffiquers against Religion 6 That the Searchers of ships should seise upon all Books that are brought unto the Countrey and present them to the Ministers of the Town where the ships shall happen to arrive 7 That excommunicate Papists be put in close prison and none have accesse unto them but such as are known to be of sound Religion 8 That the Deputies of excommunicates be not suffered to enjoy any office under them and that some others be appointed by his Majesty to serve in their places 9 Finally that his Majesty should be humbly intreated to plant the unprovided Churches especially the Churches of the Chappel Royall with competent Stipends The
The Scottish Preachers that lived in the Province of York chose rather to forsake their Benefices then admit the rites of Rome 18 Reformation the first proposals made 119 First artempted at Perth 121 The death of Lodowick Duke of Richmond 546 S SCotland converted before Pope Victor 2 Patrick a Scot converted Ireland 8 The Universities of Pavia and Paris founded by Scottish men 22 Scotus the Schoolman Claudius Clemens Rabanus Maurus Flaccus Albinus al. Alcuinus born in Scotland 22 Invaded and subdued by Edward I. of England 49 The King of Scotland refuseth to stand to the Popes arbitration concerning his incursions upon England and the title that the King of England had to Scotland 52 Edward III of England promiseth by Charter to release the Scots from all duties of subjection and homage 53 Divers prodigies in Scotland 94 The Articles of contract between England and Scotland 142 English Ambassadors sent to mediate a peace in Scotland 146 A Scottish prisoner rescued out of the Castle of Carlisle by a strange attempt 414 The Archbishop of Canterbury in a Letter acknowledgeth the independent Jurisdiction of the Church of Scotland 527 The King of Northumberland obtaineth of the King of Scots the assistance of some learned Bishops 13 Scottish Bishops preach the Christian faith and convert many in England 15 Pope Sixtus IV. giveth sentence in favour of the Church of Scotland that the Scots should have a Primate of their own 58 Celius Sedulius proved that he was a native of Scotland and not of Ireland 8 Iohn D. Scotus proved that he was born in Scotland and not in England 55 Subjects rebellion of the Subjects if it succeed not advance the Soveraignty 432 The history of the Spanish Armada 370 Schisme in the Presbytery of S. Andrewes 386 A great one in the See of Rome 56 Mary Stewart sent into France 90 Returneth into Scotland 178 Queen Elizabeth acknowledgeth her to be next heir to the crown of England 180 But refuseth to declare it openly 181 She marrieth Henry son to the Earl of Lennox 191 Discontents arise between them 193 She putteth her husbands name after her own ibid. Married to Bothwell after the manner of the reformed Church 203 Surrendereth her self to the Lords and is received and kept as a Prisoner 207 The Scots cannot resolve to arraigne her 214 She escapeth out of prison 215 Her army overcome at Glasgow 216 She seeketh refuge in England 217 Loseth her expectation ibid. Consultations in England about putting her to death 350 The Queen of England signeth a warrant for her execution 355 The circumstances of her death 356 King Iames her son interposeth for her exemption from tryall 351 He offereth pledges of the chief of his nobility to be given for his mothers faithfulness toward the Queen of England 352 The King commandeth the Ministers to make publick intercession in their Prayers for his Mother and they refuse 354 The Queen of England taketh cognisance by her Commissioners of the dealing of the Regent of Scotland toward the Queen-mother of Scotland 219 Queen Elizabeth in her Patent to the Commissioners is so much a friend to the right and cause of Mary that she giveth not the title of Regent to the Earl of Murray 219 T TEmplars The dissolution of them 51 They were condemned and suffered unjust torments partly for their great riches partly for their freedome of taxing the vices of the Court of Rome ibid. U UNion The Articles of Union between both Kingdomes of England and Scotland 481 They are not passed in the English Parliament 505 Objections made against the Ceremony of Vnction in the solemnity of Coronation answered 381 W WItches Agnes Sampson a Witch apprehended 383 Her familiar Spirit had no power to kill the King ibid. Y YEar The account thereof changed from March to Ianuary in Scotland 456 THE KINGS Of SCOTLAND From the first Plantation of Christian Religion there mentioned in this History DOnald I. Converted and Baptized Page 2 Ethodius 3 Cratilinth ibid. Fincormachus 4 Eugenius ibid. Hergustus ibid. Ethodius alià s Echadius 5 Erthus ibid. Fergus ibid. Eugenius II. Greem Regent 6 Congallus II. 9 Kinnatellus ibid. Aidanus 10 Eugenius IV. 14 Donald IV ibid. Ferqhard 18 Eugenius VI. ibid. Eugenius VII ibid. Achaius An. D. 800. 23 Alpin ibid. Kenneth 24 Constantine II. 25 Gregory the Great 26 Constantine III. ibid. Kenneth III. 27 Malcolm II. 28 Duncan I. ibid. Mackbeth an Usuper ibid. Malcolm III. 29 Edgar 31 32 Alexander the Fierce ibid. David ibid. 36 Malcolm IV. 36 William 37 Alexander II. 42 Alexander III. 44 Iohn Baliol 48 Robert Bruce 52 David Bruce 55 Edward Baliol ibid. Robert Stewart ibid. Iames I. 57 Iames II. ibid. Iames III. 58 Iames IV. 61 Duke of Albany Regent of Scotland 62 Iames V. 70 Earl of Arran Governour during the minority of Mary Stewart 71 He resigneth the Regency to the Queen-mother 92 Mary Stewart Queen taketh into her hands the Government 178 She resigneth the Government 211 Iames VI. Crowned ibid. Earl of Murray Regent 212 Earl of Lennox Grandfather to the young King chosen Regent 241 Iohn Earl of Marre Regent 258 Earl of Moreton Regent 267 The King himself accepteth of the Government 280 Bishops that lived in Scotland or the adjacent Isles before the distribution of the Kingdome into DIOCESES AMphibalus Bishop in the Isle of Man 4 Regulus 5 Ninian 6 Palladius 7 Hildebert 8 Columba 9 Servanus 11 Colman 15 Adamannus or Adamnamus 18 19 Wiro and Plechelmus consecratâ—d at Rome by Pope Honorius 19 Bonifacius an Italian 20 Mocharius Glacianus and Gervadius 23 Archbishops and Bishops of the See of S. Andrews 1 Adrian 25 2 Kellach 26 3 Malisius ibid. 4 Kellach II 26 5 Malmore 26 6 Malisius II 26 7 Alwinus 26 8 Muldwin 26 9 Tuthaldus 26 10 Fothadus 27 11 Gregorius 28 12 Turgot 30 13 Godricus 32 14 Eâ—dmerus a Monk of Canterbury 33 15 Robert Prior of Scone 34 16 Arnold Abbot of Kelso 36 17 Richard ibid. 18 Hugo by the Kings mandate 39 Iohn Scot by the Pope in opposition to the King ibid. 19 Roger son to the Earl of Leicester succeedeth Hugo 41 20 William Malvoisin a Frenchman ibid. 21 David Benham 43 22 Abel 44 23 Gamelinus 45 24 William Wishart 46 25 William Fraser 47 26 William Lamberton 51 27 Iames Bane 55 The See vacant nine years ib. 28 William Landells 55 29 Stephen ibid. 30 Walter Traill ibid. 31 Thomas Steward son of Robert II chosen but refuseth it The See vacant during his life 56 32 Henry Wardlaw ibid. 33 Iames Kennedy ibid. 34 Patrick Graham first Archbishop of S. Andrews 58 35 William Shevez 59 36 Iames Stewart 61 37 Alexander Steward ibid. 38 Andrew Forman 62 39 Iames Beaton ibid. 40 Beaton Nephew of the former Archbishop and Cardinall 67 69 41 The base brother of the Earl of Arran Governor of Scotland made Archbishop 84 42 Iohn Dowglas 261 43 Patrick Adamson 276 44 George Gladstaves
An. 1561. The Queen prepareth to return from France Her conference with the Earle of Bedford Monsicâ—r d' Oyfell sent into England The Queen of Englandâ— answer The Queen of Scots offended with it Her conference with Nicoolas Throgmorâ—on The Queen of Scots reasons for delaying the ratification Throgmorton his answer The Queen of Englands letter to thâ— Noâ—ility The Councels answer He◠〈◊〉 with the English Ambassadour at 〈◊〉 The Qâ—een 〈◊〉 at Leâ—h The Nobility assembles to congratuâ—ate her return No change to be made in religion and a private Masse pâ—rmitted to the Queen The Earl of Arran opposeth A tumult in the Abbey The Nobles that came from France with the Queen return home William Maitland directed to England The Queen of Englands answer A second conference with Lethington The Queen of Englands reply The Queen of Englandsâ—easons â—easons for her refuse Lethingtons third audience The conclusion taken by the Queen of England The Queen of Scots her progresse in the countrey Aâ—chibald Douglas Provost of Edinburgh committed The Preachers are displeased The Queen maketh choice of a Councell Ninian Winyet a Priest exiled The thirds of Benefices granted to the Queen A guard of horse and foot levied to attend the Queen Lord Iames sent to the borders is at his return made Earl of Marrâ— He is preferred to the Earldome of Murray and the Lord Ereskiâ— made Earl of Marre Huntly offendeth with thesâ— prefermenâ—s He chargeth Murray with the affectation of the Crown Bothwell stirreth up the Earl of Murray against the Hamiltons Practice against the Earl of Murray The practice discovered by the Earl of Arrane Arrane becometh distracted New devices for cutting oft Murray An. 1562. Letters sent from beyond sea in favour of Huntly An interview of the two Queens moved The interview stayed Petitions of the Church to the Queen The Queen goâ—th to Aberdâ—ne The Lady Huntley intercedes for her son The Queen taketh journey to Innernesse The Castle of Innâ—â—nâ—sse denied to the Queen The Castle beiseged and rendered Huntley resolves to invade the Queen The battel of Corrichie The Earl of Huntlâ—y taken prisoner and dieth Thanksgiving for the victory Iohn Gordon beheaded at Abâ—rdene The Lord Gordon forfeited and commitâ—ed The Archbishop of Saint Andrews committed An. 1563. A Parliament at Edinburgh A trouble at Halirudhouse Iohn Knox called before the Councel The Earl of Lenox restored Henry Lord Darnely son to Lenox cometh into Scotland The Queen intendeth to take him to husband An. 1564. Enemies raised up against the Queen The Lord Gordon restored Signeur Davie an atâ—endant on the Queen favoureth the mariage Secretary Lâ—thington sent into England A Convocâ—tion of the Estates at Striveling The Lord of Darnely created Duke of Rothâ—say A mutiny at Edinburgh The Queen cometh to Edinburgh and the mutiners fly An Assembly at Edinburgh Petittions of the Church The Queens answer to the Petitions The Queen married to the Lord Darnly The complaints of the discontented Lords The king heareth a Sermon at St. Giles Iohn Knox cited before the Councell The Lords pursued by the King and Queen The Lords flie into England The Queen of England intercedeth for the Lords The Duke received in favor A generall Assembly of the Church A reply to the answer of their last Petitions An. 1565. The slaughter of Signeur Davie conspired A Parliament at Edinburgh deserted The slaughter of Davie Damiott a French Priest willed him to be gone The Queens behaviour after Davies murther The exiled Lords return The King protesteth his innocency The Conspirators flye into England Inquisition of the murtherers An. 1566. The Castle of Edinburgh made choice of for the Queen her lying in The Queen feasts the Noblemen The Queen delivered of a son Sir Henry Killigrew sent from England The desire of the Church for the Baptisme of the Prince The Queen goeth to Alloway Secretary Lethington soffereth her Majesties anger against the King The Queen goeth to Iedburgh Lethington renueth the purpose of divers Preparation for the Princes Baptisme The King withheld from the solemnity The King falleth sick in the way to Glasgow The Archbishop of S. Andrewes restored to his priviledges The Churches complaint for the same Master Knox goeth into England A letter from the Assembly of the Church to the Bishops of England Assignation of Ministers stipends The Queen visiteth the King at Glasgow He cometh to Edinburgh and there is murthered by Bothwel A rumour dispersed by Bothwel that Murray and Morton had murthered the King The names of the murtherers cast forth in the street The Earl of Lenox soliciteth the Queen to take trial of the murther An. 1567. The Castle of Edinburgh delivered to Bothwell and the Prince delivered to the Earl of Marre Bothwell put to a triall Robert Cuningham protesteth against the proceedings in the name of the Earl of Lenox The persons chused upon the Jury Bothwell acquited with a protestation of the Jury Bothwell offereth to try his innocency by combat The offer accepted upon security of the place A Parliament at Edinburgh Bothwell seeketh the consent of the Lords to the Queens marriage He ravisheth the Queen in her return from Striveling His design in committing this rape Bothwell his divorce from his wife The Queen cometh to the Castle of Edinburgh The banes of Bothwell with the Queen asked Mr. Iohn Craig protested Mr. Craig called before the Councell with the reasons of his opposition His publication thereof to the people The marriage of the Queen with Bothwell celebrated The Noblemens bond for preservation of the young Prince The Bishop of Dumblane sent to France Noblemen solicited to enter in bond with the Queen and Bothwell The Earl of Murray refused and is licensed to goe into France The Queen maketh choice of a Councell The order of their attendance A Proclamation to accompany the Queen to the borders The Castle of Borthwick invironed The Queen Bothwell escape The Lords retire to Edinburgh A Proclamation given out by the Lords The Queen gathereth forces Difficulties amongst the Lords The Queen giveth thâ—m the opportuniy they wished for The Proclamation of Glaidsmore The Lords cast themselves in the Queens way The order of the Lords Aâ—my The meeting at Carberry hill The French Ambassadour laboureth to compose matters Bothwel offereth to try the cause in combat It is accepted and the Queen inhibiteth the fight The Queens Army unwilling to fight Bothwel flyeth and the Queen rendereth herself to the Lords The Queen sent prisoner to Lochlevin Sir Iames Balfour betrayeth his trust to Bothwel The Earl of Glencarn demolisheth the Altar The Lords write to the Noblemen of the Queens party The Noblemen made a motion to the Assembly and the Assemblies Commission to the Lords Instructions given to those that were sent from the Assembly The Earl of Argile his answer The Lord Boyd his answer Articles agreed in the Assembly of the Church The Articles subscribed The Queen moved to make resignation of the Crown The King crowned at Striveling
the Church at Edinburgh The Bishop of S. Andrews deprived for the marriage of Huntley The course taken with the imprisoned Lords Advertisement to the King of the marriage with the Queen The King intendeth a journey to Norway * 22. October He leaveth a Declaration under his hand Directions to the Councel The marriage solemnized at vpslo The Earl of Marshals proceedings ratâ—fied The Kings journey from Norway to Denmark An. 1590. Colonel Stewart sent with ships to the King Penult Martii The King and Queen return to Scotland Bothwel his satisfaction to the Church A difference among the Clergy for anointing the Queen The ceremony of Unction not Jewish The Queens Coronation at Halyrudhouse The Queens entry into Edinburgh The Ministers challenged for permitting Iames Gibson to preach The King offended with the alliance of Morton with Arrol An Assembly of the Church The King Commended to the Assembly the removing of the deadly feuds A trouble betwixt the Earl of Huntley and the Earl of Murray An. 1591. A sorceresse Agnes Samson apprehended Bothwell committed for consulting with witches The Laird of Dun his death Bothwell breaketh his Ward The doom of forfeiture pronounced against him His Majesties Declaration concerning Bothwell Bothwell layeth the blame of his rebellion upon the Chancellor A contest between the Church and Lords of Session Mr. Iohn Graham questioned by the Church The Archbishop of S Andrews his recantation A revocation made in name of the Church A Schisme in the Presbytery of S. Andrews Bothwells attempt upon Halyrudhouse The success of the attempt The Earl of Murray slain at Dunybâ—issell 7 Feb. 1692. The murther universally ill taken The Lord Ochiltrie maketh defection to Bothwell An. 1592. Petitions in behalf of the Church The first Petition granted and in what manner Bothwells attempt at Falkland Arroll and Collonell Stewart committed Bothwell and his company flyeth The King pursueth and cometh to Edinburgh Nidry taken by the Lord Hamilton and dimitted by his Lady Pardon granted to those that would forsake Bothwell The Lord Spinie delated for practising with the Lord Bothwell Iohn Weymis of Logie committed for his practises with Bothwell escaped A faction made against the Chancellor Troubles in the North betwixt Huntley and the Clanhattan The Earl of Angus imployed in a Commission to the North in November The Earl of Angus imprisoned in the Castle Mr. George Ker his Confession The Earl of Angus denieth the blanks The Kings resolution published for punishing that conspiracy A Meeting of the Mininistery The King his desire proponed to the Meeting An offer made by the Meeting Fintry beheaded An. 1593. The disposition and qualities of Mr. Iohn Graham The Earl of Angus escapeth The houses of the rebels rendered Atholl and Marshall made Lieutenants of the North. * 26. March A message from the Queen of England The Ambassador intercedeth for Bothwell An. 1592. Midst of April An Assembly of the Church at Dundiâ— Articles sent by his Majesty to the Church The Assemblies Answer A change of the Mondayes Mercat urged at Edinburgh An. 1593. Sir Robert Melvill sent into England The King surprised by Bothwell The manner of the surprise The Citie in armes Conditions granted to Bothwell by the Ambassadors mediation Articles subscribed by the witnesses The King goeth to Falkland A Convention at Striveling 7. Sept. The Estates finde the Conditions given to Bothwell dishonorable The Prior of Blantyre and sir Robert Melvill directed to Bothwell Bothwell falleth to his wonted forms Atholl coming to Striveling is charged to return home in the beginning of October Montrosse taken by the Lord Home Bothwell denounced Rebell The Popish Lords excommicated by the Synod of Fiâ—e The King dealeth with with M Robert Bruce to stay the publication of the sentence The Popish Lords meeâ—ing the King at Falaw desire a triall They are commanded to enter themselves in Perth Petitions of the Church sent to the King at Iedburgh The Conference betwixt his Majesty and the Commissioners of the Church The assembly resolved to keep the Diet appointed for the Lords trial A Proclamation inhibiting all convocations A Convocation of the Estates Certain of the Estates selected to judge of the Lords offers Conclusion taken touching the Popish Lords Troubles betwixt the Maxwells and the Iohnstons Iohnston preventeth the Lord Maxwell and killeth Captain Oliphant Maxwell invadeth Annandale The Lord Maxwell killed 6. December The Lord Here is and Barons of the Countrey appointed to remain at Drumfreis A Convention of the Estates The Popish Lords declared to have lost the benefit of Abolition An. 1594. The Queen delivered of a son at Striveling The Lord Souche Ambassadour from England Mr. Andrew Hunter Minister waiteth upon Bothwell as his Chaplain Bothwell prepareth of new to invade the King The Ambassadours dealing with Bothwell discovered The Roade of Leith The King Commanded the people to Arm. Bothwell removeth from Leith The Conflict betwixt Bothwell and Hume The Lord Colvill and Mr. Edward Bruce directed to England The Kings letter to the Queen of England The Commission given to the Ambassadours The Queen of Englands answer The Queen dischargeth Bothwell his resset in England An Assembly of the Church Petitions directed from the Church to the King A Remonstrance of the perills threatned to Religion The remedies of the dangers The Lord Hume reconciled to the Church Instructions sent from the King to the Church and Assembly A Parliament wherein the Lords are forfeited An. 1595. The bond betwixt the Popish Lords and Balwery exhibited Sir Iames Duglas of Spot excommunicated An. 1695. An assembly of the Church at Montrose Articles sent from the King to the Assembly An. 1595. The Assemblies answer The Queen seeketh to have the Prince in custody The King diverteth her from that course The Kings letter to the Earl of Marre for receiving the Prince The Chancellor contracteth sickness and dieth The Kings letter to the Chancellor The Chancellor his qualities His Epitaph written by the King Great death of Corns and great bloodshed in the Countrey David Forester Citizen of Striveling treacherously betrayed A Commission to eight of the Councel to rule the Exchequer The tenor of the Commission The King his promise to the Commissioners The Commissioners make faith Exception taken at the ampleness of the Commissioners The Commissioners possesse themselves with offices of Estate An. 1596. William Armstrong called Will of Kinmouth taken Prisoner The Laird of Baclugh complaineth of the breach of truce No satisfaction made Baclugh sets the Prisoner at liberty The Castle of Carlile surprised and the Prisoner freed The Queen of England greatly offended with the enterprise This matter debated in Councell The trouble quieted by Baclugh in England Col. Stewart design'd Lieutenant for the Isles An Assembly of the Church at Edinburgh A search of the causes of the present fear of invasion A new Covenant made by the Ministers for abiding to the profession of the truth and living according to the same Advice for resisting the enemies of
Religion The King desireth to have the Noblemen reclaimed He communicated his mind with M. Robert Bruce M. Robert Bruce his answer and advice The King reasoneth with him to the contrary of his advise Mr. Robert's saucy Reply to the King Shortly after the Lords exiled return The Earle of Arroll intercepted in the Low Countreys escapeth A Convention at Falkland The King's judgment of Huntley's supplication A Convention at Dunfermling The Commissioners for the Church upon the report of the Lords meet at Edinburgh A publick humiliation indicted Persons nominated to attend at Edinburgh for the Church The Lord Seaton President of the Session cited to appear before the Synod of Lothian A Conference betwixt certain of the Councell and some moderate men of the Ministery The King offended wâ—th the pertinacy of the Ministers Commissioners directed to his Majesty His Majesties peremptory answer to the Commissioners The grievances of the Church proponed The King his answer A new trouble by Mr. David Blake a Minister at S. Andrews Mr. Andrew Melvill labourreth to make it a common cause The Conditions proponed to Huntley The Conditions give no content A Declinatour advised to be droponed M. David Blake his Declinator M. Blakes answer to the Diet. The Declinatour sent to the Presbyteries to be subserived A Proclamation discharing the meeting of the Commissioners The Commissioners of the Church upon this discharge enter into a new consultation They sent a Commission to the Octavians Commissioners sent to his Majesty for surceasing M. Blakes proeess His Majesties offer to the Commissioners The wiser sort of the Ministers advise to accept of the offer but they are over-ruled M. Blake cited to the last of November The Baptisme of the Princess Elizabeth A Petition presented by the Commissioners to his Majesty and Councell The Petition rejected The points laid to M. Blaks charge Mr. Robert Pont protesteth for the liberties of the Church Mr. Blake declineth the Councell of new The Councell write the Declinatour The Kings care to keep peace with the Church The King conferreth with some Ministers touching Mr. Blakes businesse The Ministers desire a declaration to be made in favour of Church Assemblies His Majestie consenteth to the Declaration Mr. Blake refuseth to acknowledg his offence to the Queen The witnesses examined and Mr. Blake found guilty A new treaty for making an accord Conditions craved by his Majesty The Commissioners refuse to agree to any censure of M. Blake The Ministers indict a fast and complain of wrong done to the kingdom of Christ. His Majesties Declaration published A Bond of obedience subscrived by the Ministers Master Blake charged to go to his ward and the Commissioners to leave the Town A new motion of agreement overthrown by the practise of some of his Majesties Chamber The Ministers deluded by a counterfeit Letter M. Walter Balcanquall in his Sermon inveigheth against the Counsellors He exhorteth the Noblemen and Bâ—rons to a meeting A Petition directed to the King from the meeting Mr. R. Bruce his Speech to those that convened The King offended with the meeting The L d Lindesey his insolent words to the King Atumult raised in the Church and City A Deacon of the Crafts appeaseth the fury of the people Noble men directed from the King to inquire the cause of the tumult The Ministers purge themselves A new Petition moved to the King The Kings answer to the Petions proponed Articles condescended upon to be proponed to his Majesty The Commissioners chused to present the Articles Bargenny declineth the charge the business ceaseth The King with the Councell departeth to Linlithgow A Proclamation discharging all Judicatories to sit in Edinburgh A great alteration in the mindes of people A Bond for mutuall concurrence The excommunication of the President deferred A Fast in the City M. Welch and his Sermon A rumour dispersed that Arroll had some forces assembled The copie of the Letter sent to the Lord Hamilton shewed to the King This Letter did offend many of the better sort A charge for apprehending the Ministers The King refuseth the purgation offered by the Town The tumult declared treason by act of Counsell The Town employed others towards the King The Proposition made by those that were sent by the Town His Majesties answer The King cometh to Leth and the next day to Edinburgh Offers made by the Town for pacifying his Majesties anger The effects of the mutiny contrary to that which was intended Advice given to raze the Town The Queen of Englands letter to the King The letter pleased the King well The tumult declared Treason in the Convention of Estates The Town of Edinburgh charged to appear at Perth The Octavians quit their Commission of the Exchequer Captain Iames Stewart killed A Nationall Assembly indicted at Perth Articles published in print for the better preparation to the Assembly The Ministers greatly perplexed with these Questions Sir Patrick Murray directed to the North to deal with the Ministers The Ministers Answer His Majesties Letter to the Earl of Huntley Letters directed to the Presbyteries for keeping the Assembly The Assembly declared to be a lawfull Generall Assembly Articles presented by his Commissioners to the Assembly The advice of certain Brethren set apart to consider the Articles The Assembly required to meet with the Estates Protestation made by Mr. Tho Buchannan in name of the Church The answers of the Articles reformed Persons nominated to reason the questions Commission given for absolving the Popish Lords The conditions required of the Earl of Huntley The like condition prescrived to Angus and Arroll The King taketh the Ministers in his protection The Assembly intercedes for the Ministery of Edunburgh and others charged with the tumuls The Kings answer The death of Mr. Iohn Lesly Bishop of Rosse The Town of Edinburgh denounced Rebels An. 1597. The Town received into favour at the intercession of Noblemen Articles injoyned to be performed by the Town The Ministers of Edinburgh suffered to return but inhibited to preach An Assembly at Dundy Mr. Robert Rollock elected to preside Order given for absolution of the Popish Lords Proceedings of the Assembly The rest of the questions determined A generall commission foâ— Church affairs Sir Patrick Murray directed to the North. A Proclamation against Mr. Iames Gourdon The Laird of Lady-land having surprized the rock Elsa is drowned The Kings care for removing of deadly fewds A meeting of the Commissioners of the Assembly at Falkland The Secretary complaineth of Mr. Robert Wallace Minister at S. Andrews Mr. Wallace declineth the Commissioners Mr. Nicoll Dalgleish protesteth against the Commissioners proceedings The declination and protestation declared invalid The Witnesses examined doe verifie the complaint Mr. Wallace his obstinacy A visitation of the Church of S. Andrews Sentence given for removing Mr. Blake and Mr. Wallace from the Ministery of S. Andrews Master George Gladstaves admitted Minister of S. Andrews Abuses in the University reformed In the new Colledge all things found out of order
when the Ambassadour understood that they had lost the benefit of that grant in their own default and that the King had proceeded so farre as to make publick Declaration thereof he was satisfied and insisted to have the sentence of forfeiture pronounced against them This not proceeding with such haste as he desired he fell to treat secretly with Bothwell who was making new stirrs and had drawn numbers of all sorts to follow him yea with some specialls of the Ministery he found such credit as both in their publick Sermons and otherwise by their private dealings they did incourage people to joyn with them and which did most offence the King sent one Mr. Andrew Hunter a Minister to be his Preacher and attend him as a Chaplain nor did their folly or madnesse rather subsist here but even the moneys which had been collected in the Churches for the supply of Geneva which was then in trouble and deposed in the hands of Mr. Iames Melvill Minister of Anstruther were given to Robert Melvill and George Strong two Captains for leavying Souldiers to assist him Bothwell was then gathering new forces and had appointed with the Earls of Argile and Atholl to meet at Leith for the banishing of the Popish Lords and revenge of the Earle of Murray his slaughter that was the pretext and with them did the English Ambassadour keep intelligence This being discovered to the King one of his servants who had been spied in Bothwells company was committed in the Castle of Edinburgh Being examined he confessed that by direction of his Master he had spoken with Bothwell and Mr. Iohn Colvill and that he believed they had some enterprise in hand but what it was he knew not The King perceiving by his Confession that the Ambassadour had a secret dealing with Bothwell was greatly offended yet because he would not seem to infringe the priviledges of Ambassadors after he had checkt him with some sharp words he dimitted his servant and the Ambassador departed the King not vouchsafing him a farewell Bothwell in the mean time with the forces that he had gathered in the Borders being about 400 horsemen or thereby advanced and came to Leith the 2. of April at 3 of the clock in the morning The King remained at the time in Edinburgh not well accompanied yet hearing that Bothwell was come so high he commanded the Citizens and those that were with him to arm He himself going to Church made a speech at the end of the Sermon to the people for the removing the suspicions conceived of his favouring the Popish Lords and recounting Bothwells treacherous attempts desired them to remember that he was their King to whom they owed all fidelity and to consider in what case they themselves should be if Bothwell with his Borderers men given to theft and robbery should get the upper hand The hearers moved with his speeches shewed great forwardnesse and went incontinent to armes The Lord Hume was commanded to take the fields and lead the horsemen that were in town The King stayed with the foot and before them marched the Canon which was brought forth of the Castle and making directly towards Leith How soon Bothwell understood that the Kings forces were marching considering he could not equall them in number he removed from Leith and dividing his men in three troops took the way by Restalrig towards Dalkeith The Lord Hume with the horsemen followed to observe what course he held and the King with the foot removing to the other side of the town made his stand in the field called the Borrow moore Hume with his company being advanced so far as Muddry edge Bothwell turned upon him and being far superiour in horsemen gave him the chase which they that stood by the King perceiving advised him to return into the town but he refusing to stir answered That he would never quit the fields to a Traytor yet the danger was great and in the opinion of many if Bothwell had taken his course directly to the King and not pursued the chase so hotly he might have carried the day but in following it happened his horse to stumble and fall to the ground and he bruised with the fall was forced to retire That night he went to Dalkeith and on the morrow dissolved all his troops which when Atholl heard he also went back into his Countrey The Fiffe Captains with their souldiers arriving at Leith about midnight when they understood how things had passed turned saile and went sundry wayes This purpose so defeated the King sent the Lord Colvill and M. Edward Bruce to the Queen of England to complain of the misdemeanor of her Ambassador and the resset that Bothwell found in her kingdome In his letter to the Queen using a round plainness he said That although it had pleased her to commend the Ambassador she had imployed for a wise religious and honest man yet he had in his opinion been fitter to carry the message of an Herauld then a friendly Commission betwixt two neighbour Princes That he had seen nothing in him but pride and wilfulness and that therefore denying to give him any answer he chused to send the same by his own messengers whom he desired her to credit as himself in all that they had in charge to deliver For Bothwell he said That he wondred how notwithstanding of the many solemn promises made as well by her Ambassadors as by letters of her own hand that he should have no harbor within her Countrey yet was he not only resset by her people but suffered to reside in some of her proper houses and had received a good summe of English monie wherewith he waged both Scots and English in this late treacherous attempt To think this was by her direction or privity he would not so farre it was against all princely honour on the other part that she being so wise and prudent a Prince and having so long and so happily governed her kingdoms should be so slighted and contemned by a number of her subjects as that such things should be done without her knowledge it could hardly be believed wherefore leaving it to her self to solve these doubts he would onely remember her of the promise made at the delivery of Ororick an Irish rebell and desire her not to put him in ballance with such a traiterous counterpoise lest he should be constrained to say with the Poet Flectere si nequeo superos c. This was the substance of the letter the credit committed to them was to assure the Queen That seeing the Popish Lords had not imbraced the conditions offered he should prosecute the Lawes against them proscribe their persons and confiscate their lands and to crave of her as one whom that cause equally touched a supply of moneys till either they were expulsed the Realm or their persons apprehended and presented to justice The Queen excusing the oversight given to Bothwell by the
Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses and Ministers this day by the mercy of God convened do beseech your Majesty to apprehend the great danger wherein the state of Religion Common-wealth and your Majesties own honour and person are brought by the means of crafty and deceitfull Counsellours who respecting onely their own preferment and standing labour to file your Majesties eyes that you should not perceive their courses for albeit it hath pleased God to endue your Majesty with knowledge wisdome and graces beyond all Princes that have ruled this kingdome at any time yet it is no strange thing to behold good Kings brought upon ill courses by the devices of such as pretend love but in very deed hate them maliciously That such courses are now in hand please your Majesty to consider what a division is made and entertained between your Majesty and the Church who was ever to this time inseparably joyned and how under colorable pretexts the liberty of preaching and faithfull applying of the word is sought to be restrained and taken away which cannot but bring many evils and inconveniencies with it as this days tumult may partly teach And now seeing blessed be God the same is setled without the harm of any person for preventing the like or worse we humbly desire the Articles following to be weighed and considered by your Majesty 1 That professed Papists processed by the Church be not suffered to reside at Court and that the Lady Huntley and Lord Sauwhar be removed and sent home 2 That Alexander Seaton President Mr. Thomas Hamilton Advocate and Mr. Iames Elphingston be not admitted to sit in Councell at least when the cause of Religion and matters of the Church are treated seeing they are enemies to the quietness thereof and have by their devices raised the troubles that presently do vex the same 3 That the Acts of Councel Proclamations Decrees and Interloquutors passed in prejudice of the Church and Ministers these last five weeks be rescinded and annulled 4 That the Commissioners of the Church be recalled by Proclamation and the Burgesses of the Town permitted to remain and attend their callings 5 That the bond advised by the foresaid enemies to be subscrived by all the Ministers under the pain of losing their Benefices and stipends be discharged seeing the same is prejudiciall to the Gospel and that Commission as use is to modifie stipends for the present year Lastly that an Act of Councell be made allowing the proceedings of the Church and the concurrencie given them by the Noblemen Barons and others in the present action It was late and the night fallen before these Articles were put in form the day being then at the shortest the persons chosen to present them were the Lairds of Bargenny Pâ—tarrow Faudonside Mr. David Lindesay and Mr. Robert Rollock Before their coming the Councell had concluded not to receive the Petitions as was promised and to commit those that did present them yet doubtfull what might be the event thereof it was thought fitter to terrifie them from presenting the same for this effect the Lord Ochiltry was appointed to meet them at the utter gate who drawing Bargenny aside advised him to go back because of the anger which the King had conceived and to meddle no more in that business for the King he said knew he was brought upon it unwillingly and would excuse his part if he went no further Bargenny forthinking his imployment and not knowing how to colour it to his associates the Lord Ochiltry drew them aside and said that he had brought the Laird of Bargenny to the Town for affairs that did neerly touch him and that he did not think to meet with such business at his coming therefore desired them to have his friend excused for that time and seeing they were a number sufficient to doe the errand they might goe to it or if they pleased to delay the same to the next morrow he should be with them They answered that they were alse little foreseen at their coming of those matters as he was and seeing they were all joyned in one Commission if he was the principall did decline it they could doe nothing by themselves and so the businese was left for that night In the morning early the King and Councell departed to Linlithgow leaving a Proclamation which was presently published at the Market Cross of Edinbough of this Tenor. That the King considering the late treasonable uproar moved by certain factious persons of the Ministery of Edinburgh who after they had uttered most seditious speeches in Pulpit did convene a number of Noblemen Barons and others in the little Church and sent some of their number to his Majesty being then in the upper house of Session using him in a most irreverent manner and with speeches ill-beseeming any subject And that a multitude of the Townsmen by perswasion of the said Ministery had treasonably put themselves in Armes intending to bereave his Majesty and his Councell of their lives did think the said Town an unfit place for the ministration of justice and had therefore ordained the Lords of Session the Sheriffs Commissioners and Justice with their severall members and Deputies to remove themselves forth of the Town of Edinburgh and be in readiness to repair unto such places as should be appointed commanding in like sort all Noblemen and Barons to dispatch unto their houses and not to presume to convene either in that or any other place without his Majesties licence under the pain of his Highness displeasure This Proclamation with the Kings suddain departing wrought a great alteration in the mindes of the people They began then to see their errour and lookt heavy one upon another the better sort being in a great perplexity what they should doe called their Councel together but could not resolve what course to take To follow the King and plead for the Town they could not think any of them would be accepted and it being the last day of the week hardly would any others undertake the imployment so as they saw no way but to be quiet till they heard what the King and Councell concluded to doe But the Ministers persisting in their first resolution laboured to have the Noblemen and Barons remain together and to send for others well-affected in Religion who as they thought would joyn in the cause A Bond to this effect was drawn up and subscrived by some few The Councell of the Town excused themselves saying Their good will was known and that they were not to leave their dwellings which made divers keep back their hands Alwaies it was thought meet that the Ministers should write to the Lord Hamilton and the Laird of Bacleugh of whose assistance they held themselves assured intreating them to repair to the Town and countenance the cause as likewise that the rest of the Ministers in the Countrey should be convened as unto a Generall Assembly and desired to bring with them the best
affected Gentlemen within their Parishes They were at the same time in a long deliberation whether or not they should excommunicate the Lord President and Advocate which divers urged The Controller was in some better opinion with them by reason of a Message sent quietly to M. Rob Bruce But in end they resolved to continue that business to the meeting of the Assembly when the Sentence might be pronounced with greater authority Mean while to keep the people in a good disposition a Fast was proclaimed through the City and Sermons of preparation ordained to be made that afternoon in all the Churches A Minister named Mr. Iohn Welch making offer to supply the place in the high Church was allowed to preach who taking for his theam the Epistle sent to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus did rail pitifully against the King saying He was possessed with a Devil and one Devil being put out seven worse were entred in place And that the subjects might lawfully rise and take the sword out of his hand which he confirmed by the example of a Father that falling in a phrensie might be taken by the Children and servants of the family and tied hand and foot from doing violence A most execrable Doctrine and directly repugnant to holy Scriptures which yet was taken by many of the hearers as a sound and free application so ready are men to flatter themselves in wickedness and even to justifie impiety it self A rumour was then also dispersed about the Town that in the day of tumult the Earl of Arroll did come to the Queens ferry with 500 horse and was gone back upon report of the stirre This upon the Sunday took up a great part of the Ministers Sermons and was brought to justifie the multitudes proceedings as though they had been directed by a secret providence to disappoint the wicked practises that were in hand A manifest forgery it was yet believed at the same time by foolish and credulous people The Messenger sent to the Lord Hamilton was at his coming well received at first the Nobleman made a shew that he would go for Edinburgh but upon better advice he turned to Linlithgow and taking the copie of the Letter that was sent unto him for he rendred the principall to the bearer he shewed the King what an invitation he had from those at Edinburgh The King at sight of the Letter grew exceeding angry for therein after a short narrative of the injuries the Church had received by the malice of some Counsellors it was said That the people animated by the word and motion of Gods Spirit had gone to Armes and that the godly Barons and other Gentlemen that were in Town had convened themselves and taken on them the patrocinie of the Church and her cause only they lacked a Head and speciall Noblemen to countenance the matter and since with one consent they had made choice of his Lordship their desire was that he should come to Edinburgh with all convenient diligence and utter his affection to the good cause accepting the honour which was offered unto him This Letter endited by Mr. Robert Bruce and subscrived by him and Mr. Walter Balcanquell was of all that yet had happened the worst nor could it receive any good construction for albeit in an apologie afterwards set forth it was said to be penned only to please the Nobleman who was of an ambitious humour yet put the case he had accepted and taken before him to be their Head as he was desired who can tell what mischief might have ensued and if it might not have turned to the wrack and ruine of many innocents But faults follow one upon another and when men have once passed bounds they run easily into errour On Munday early a Charge was directed to the Provost and Bailiffs for imprisoning the Ministers but they upon some advertisement fled and went to Newcastle in England The Town the same day sent Iohn Arnot Hugh Brown George Heriot and Iohn VVat to purge themselves of the Tumult and offer their obedience in every thing his Majesty and Councell should be pleased to enjoyn for repairing the indignity and dishonour done to his Highness providing they should not be thought guilty of the crime which from their hearts they detested But the King would receive no purgation saying That fair and humble words could not excuse such a fault and that he should come ere it were long and let them know he was their King The next day in Councell the Tumult was declared to be treason and the Devisers Executors and Partakers to be Traitors as likewise all that should thereafter partake and assist the committers thereof This put the Town in a great fear neither did they expect any other then an utter ruine All the Judicatories were removed to Leth the Session ordained to sit at Perth after the first of February their Ministers were fled the Magistrates not regarded and those of greatest power about the King their enemies what they should doe they were doubtfull after divers opinions given they are resolved that some should be sent who would be more acceptable to supplicate the King and excuse the Towns part for that perhaps would be taken better at other mens hands then any of their own To this errand none was held so sit as Mr. David Lindesey Mr. Iohn Preston and Mr. Iohn Sharpe men in favour with the King and free of all faction These coming to the King at Linlithgow after they had shewed the miserable estate of the Town and how grieved all honest men were for the displeasure he had conceived against them did beseech him not to use the extremity of rigour but to put a difference between the innocent and guilty In great Towns such as that was they said there would ever be some bad spirits and if the insolencies of a rascall multitude should be imputed to the Town it would be thought hard specially since the Magistrates had done their duties and repressed the Tumult If on their part there had been any connivence or the smallest appearance that they did favour the sedition they protested that they would not have opened their mouths in their favour but since it was known that none were more offended with the Tumult then they and that they were carefull to finde out the authors and present them to punishment they could not but humbly entreat his Majesty to relent his wrath and to be mitigated towards the Town The King after a little pause answered That he could not think the Town to be free for if some of the Principalls had not approved the Multitude in their doings the Tumult could not have been so great but howsoever the Magistrates negligence could not be excused in so farre as they did not prevent the disorder alwaies his resolution was to proceed by form of law and not to use any violent course but he had appoynted the Estates to