pestilent Generation of Antichrist And that they be removed from judgement in our Cause seeing that our accusation is not intended against any one particular person but against that whole kingdom which we doubt not to prove to be a power usurped against God against his Commandment and against the Ordinance of Christ Jesus established in his Church by his chief Apostles Yea we doubt not to prove the kingdom of the Pope to be the kingdom and power of Antichrist And therefore my Lords I cannot cease in the Name of Christ Jesus to require of you That the matter may come to examination and that ye the States of the Realme by your Authority compell such as will be called Bishops not onely to desist from their cruell murthering of such as do study to promote Gods glory in detecting and disclosing the damnable impiety of that Man of Sin the Romane Antichrist but also that ye compell them to answer to such crimes as shall be laid to their charge for not righteously instructing the Flock committed to their cares But here I know two things shall be doubted The former Whether that my Appellation is lawfull and to be admitted seeing that I am condemned as an heretick And secondly Whether your Honours are bound to defend such as call for your support in that case seeing that your Bishops who in matters of Religion claim all Authority to appertain to them have by their sentence already condemned me The one and the other I nothing doubt most cleerly to prove First That my Appellation is most lawfull and just And secondly That your Honours cannot refuse to defend me thus calling for your ayd for in refusing ye declare your selves rebellious to God maintainers of murtherers and shedders of innocent blood How just cause I have by the Civill Law as for their Canon it is accursed of God to appeal from their unjust sentence my purpose is not to make long discourse Onely I will touch the points which all men confesse to be the just causes of Appellation first Lawfully could I not be summoned by them being for that time absent from their Jurisdiction charged with the Preaching of Christs Evangell in a free City not subject to their Tyranny Secondly To me was no intimation made of their summons but so secret was their surmised malice that the Copie of summons being required was denyed Thirdly To the Realme of Scotland could I have had no free nor sure accesse being before compelled to quit the same by their unjust Tyranny And lastly To me they neither could nor can be competent and indifferent Judges for that before any summons were raised against me I had accused them by Letters published to the Queen Dowager and had intended against them all crimes offering my self with hazard of life to prove the same for the which they are not onely unworthy of Ecclesiasticall Authority but also of any sufferance within a Common-wealth professing Christ. This my accusation preceding their summons neither by the Law of God neither yet by the law of man can they be to me competent Judges till place be granted unto me openly to prove my accusation intended against them and they be compelled to make answer as criminalls For I will plainly prove That not onely Bishops but also Popes have been removed from all Authority and pronouncing of judgment till they have purged themselves of accusations laid against them Yea further I will prove That Bishops and Popes have most justly been deprived from all Honours and administration for smaller crimes then I have to charge the whole rabble of your Bishops But because this is not my chief ground I will stand content for this present to shew That it is lawfull to Gods Prophets and to Preachers of Christ Jesus to appeal from the sentence and judgement of the visible Church to the knowledge of the Temporall Magistrate who by Gods Law is bound to hear their causes and to defend them from Tyranny The Prophet Ieremy was commanded by God to stand in the court of the House of the Lord and to preach this Sermon in effect That Ierusalem should be destroyed and be exposed in opprobrie to all Nations of the earth And that also that famous Temple of God should be made desolate like unto Sylo because the Priests the Prophets and the people did not walk in the Law which God hath proposed unto them neither would they obey the voyces of the Prophets whom God sent to call them to repentance For this Sermon was Ieremy apprehended and a sentence of death pronounced against him and that by the Priests by the Prophets and by the People which things being bruted in the ears of the Princes of Iuda they passed up from the Kings House to the Temple of the Lord and sate downe in Judgement for further knowledge of the cause But the Priests and Prophets continued in their cruell sentence which before they had pronounced saying This man is worthy of death for he hath prophesied against this City as your ears have heard But Ieremy so moved by the holy Ghost began his defence against that their tyrannous sentence in these words The Lord saith he hath sent me to prophesie against this House and against this City all the words which you have read Now therefore make good your wayes and hear the voyce of the Lord your God and then shall he repent of the evil which he hath spoken against you And as for me behold I am in your hands so doth he speak to the Princes do to me as you think good and right Neverthelesse know you this most assuredly That if ye murther or slay me ye shall make your selves this City and the inhabitants of the same criminall and guilty of innocent blood for of a truth the Lord hath sent me to speak in your ears all these words Then the Princes and the people saith the Text said This man is not worthy of death for he hath spoken to us in the Name of the Lord our God And so after some contention was the Prophet delivered from that danger This fact and history manifestly proveth whatsoever before I have affirmed to wit That it is lawfull for the servants of God to call for the help of the Civill Magistrate against the sentence of death if it be unjust by whomsoever it is pronounced And also that the Civill Sword hath power to represse the fury of the Priests and to absolve whom they have condemned For the Prophet of God was condemned by those who then onely in earth were known to be the visible Church to wit the Priests and Prophets who were in Ierusalem the successors of Aaron to whom was given a charge to speak to the people in the Name of God and a Precept given to the people to hear the Law from their mouthes to the which if any should be rebellious or inobedient he should die the death without mercy These men
go into Edinburgh to settle things fully he sends Deputies thither and returns to London At his return the Scots Commissioners are imprisoned at London against their Safe-Conduct and the Agreement with the Scots is burnt publikely by the hand of the Hang-man and a new Expedition with more cunning and strength then the former is undertaken against the Scots Whereof the Scots duely advertised judging it not to be safe to play alwayes after-games settle their Countrey make sure the strong Holds which they had delivered in simplicity of heart unto the King at the late Agreement and come into England with such an Army that they made their enemies retire Upon this point of necessity the King assembled divers of the Nobles by whom he is advised to call a Parliament which is granted although with difficulty At the overture of the Parliament having gained all the party possible the King is made to demand assistance to repell the Scots from England and chastise them but to no purpose wherefore the Parliament must pay for it and to this purpose the English Army afoot must be brought to London under some pretext This Plot failing and discovered the Scots must be tempted under great offers no lesse then the plunder of London and the propriety of the adjacent Counties to their Countrey The Scots not onely refused these great offers but also give advice of them to the Parliament Then the Scots must be hastened home and the King must go into Scotland under pretext to settle things there but really to make a party viewing by the way the Scots Army and to make sure of some men dis-affected to the Designe of the Court These things not succeeding to smooth a little the shamefull businesse Titles of Honour and Pensions are given to many While the King is in Scotland the Rebellion riseth in Ireland having its influence from the Court whether by sealed Patents or otherwise I will not enquire now more then of the Spanish Navie but certain it is it had its rise from Court Some dayes after the Rebellion begun in Ireland the King must return in all speed to London under pretext to consult with the Parliament how to represse this odious Rebellion but really to be revenged of the Parliament for not assisting against the Scots and for punishing the main agents of the Scotish party witnesse the faction the Queen had made in the City during the Kings abode in Scotland to divide the City and Parliament and the demanding of the Members of the Houses against all Law upon accusation of Treason whereof the chief and main point was To have favourized the Scots Affairs in England against expresse Acts of Oblivion of both Parliaments of Scotland and England As for the repressing of the Rebellion in Ireland it is so little taken to heart that the King seldom goes to the House and being there speaks but little of the businesse After a while with much ado the Popish Irish in Arms are declared Rebells when they had ruined many families and killed many of the innocent Protestants But of the Kings Declaration there were but few Copies Printed and of the few hardly any dispersed when the Scots before they had gathered any Head were Prelatically excommunicated and cursed thorow all the Parishes of England and declared Rebells every where by printed Papers Who as they intended no ill so blessed be God never men of War in a Countrey did lesse harm then the Scots did Yea which is more all the good intentions of both Parliament and City with the ready offers of the Scots for the speedy help of the poor Protestants against the bloody Butchers in Ireland was delayed deluded yea almost put off by the Court and the corrupt Members of both Houses who since have shewed themselves openly what they are in publike Affairs But these Designes failing of apprehending the Members and of dividing the City and Parliament as was seen by the accompanying the Members to the Houses again the King must leave London Here before we proceed any further we shall go a little back When the first undertaking was against the Scots all things within these Dominions being disposed for the best furthering of the work the holy Conclave of Rome forecasting all chances and fearing that England would not altogether be so forward to contribute much unto the destruction of Scotland wherefore the King must be assured of some good friend abroad and not far off who may help in case of need None is thought so fit as the Prince of Orange being able to help with Moneys Arms and Men for command He must be gained by offering him for his Son one of the Kings Daughters who notwithstanding his high minde would have been glad of a lower Match Now at the first the Prince of Orange did onely look to have the second Daughter in due time But to engage him further he shall have the elder not staying for her till she be nubile and that presently although she did little more then then well discerne her right hand from her left But this is not all for the Mother must carry the Daughter to the Prince of Orange to gain him more speedily and make him more affectionate and sure to the Designes of our corrupted Court So the Kings Daughter is sold and made a Sacrifice for furtherance of the Catholike Cause as his Grand-mother was sold to France to the same Designe by the corrupt Court of Scotland for the time What mischief this Marriage and the Queens Voyage into Holland hath brought into this Countrey and what stain she hath brought upon her self by it we see all And so many evils fell upon Scotland after the sending the then young Queen into France Here you shall observe the jugling knavery of our corrupt Court who cry out against the Scots for taking Arms for the just defence of their Liberty and Religion without any by-respect as their whole proceedings to this instant do testifie as guilty of the most horrid crime of Rebellion against Higher Powers as they call it yet the same corrupt Court makes the King give his Daughter unto him who is not onely a chief man but a main Instrument to make War for the Liberty and Religion of the Countrey where he liveth against the unjust oppression of their Sovereign as his renowned Brother and most vertuous Father did before him and as he intends to make his Son after him witnesse the reversion of his Place he hath obtained unto him from the States If the King of Spain by necessity hath been constrained to acknowledge the United Provinces free it is nothing for the justice of their taking Arms to defend their Religion and Liberty And if he had power they would not be long free witnesse the secret Plots to divide them and over-reach them Farther he is very shie in his Writs to call them Free as every man knows The Queen of Bohemia must not onely be neglected and seen lose all that
before it is plain That after the Kings death and during the Cardinalls life whosoever guided the Court he gate his secret businesse sped of that gracious Lady either by day or by night Howsoever the tidings liked her she mended with as great expedition of that daughter as ever she did before of any son she bare The time of her Purification was sooner than the Leviticall Law appoints but she was no Jew and therefore in that she offended not The noyse of the death of King Iames divulgate who departed this life the 13 day of December in the yeere of God 1542 aforesaid the hearts of men began to be disclosed All men lamented that the Realme was left without a male to succeed Yet some rejoyced that such an enemy to Gods Truth was taken away He was called of some A good poore mans King of others he was termed A murtherer of the Nobility and one that had decreed their whole destruction Some praised him for the repressing of theft and oppression others dispraised him for being much given to women The Prelats and Clergie feared a change in the Kings minde as he had expressed himself some few yeers before And thus men spake even as their affection led them and yet none spake altogether besides the truth for part of these aforesaid were so manifest that as the vertues could not be denied so could not the vices by any craft be cloked Yet to speak truth of him his vices may justly be attributed to the times and his breeding and not any wickednesse in his nature for he gave many expressions of a good nature namely in his sobriety and justice c. The question of Government was thorow this Realme universally moved The Cardinall proclaimed the Kings last Will and therein were expressed four Protectors or Regents of whom himself was the first and principall and with him were joyned the Earls of Huntley Argyle and Murhay this was done on Munday at the Market Crosse of Edinburgh But the Munday following took the whole Regents remission for their usurpation for by the stout and wise counsell of the Laird of Grange did the Earle of Arran then so neer to the Crown cause assemble the Nobility of the Realme and required the equity of their judgements in that his just suit to the Government of this Realm during the minority of her to whom he pretended to succeed failing of her and of her lawfull succession His friends convened the Nobility assembled the day of decision is appointed the Cardinall and his faction opposes them and are against the Government of one man and especially of any called Hammilton For who knowes not said the Cardinall that the Hammiltons are cruell murtherers oppressors of innocents proud avaritious double and false and finally the pestilence in this Common-wealth Whereto the Earl answered Defraud me not of my right and call me what ye please whatsoever my friends have been yet unto this day hath no man cause to complain upon me neither yet am I minded to flatter any of my friends in their evill doing but by Gods grace shall be as forward to correct their enormities as any within the Realme can reasonably require of me And therefore yet again my Lords in Gods Name I crave that ye do me no wrong nor defraud me of my just Title before ye have experience of my Government At these words were all that feared God or loved honesty so moved that with one voyce they cryed That Petition is most just and unlesse ye will do against Gods Iustice and Equity it cannot be denied And so in despight of the Cardinall and his suborned Faction was he declared Governour and with publike Proclamation so denounced to the people The Kings Pallace Treasure Jewels Garments Horse and Plate was delivered unto him by the Officers that had the former charge and he honoured feared and obeyed more heartily than ever any King was before so long as he abode at God The cause of the great favour that was born unto him was That it was bruted that he favoured Gods Word and because it was well knowne that he was one appointed to have been persecuted as the Scroll found in the Kings pocket after his death did witnesse These two things together with an opinion that men had of his simplicity bowed the hears of many unto him in the beginning who after with dolour of hearts were compelled to change their opinions but hereof we will after speak The variety of matters that occurred we omit such as the order taken for keeping of the young Queen of the provision for the mother the calling home of the Douglas and other such as appertain to a Universal History of the time For as before we have said we minde onely to follow the progresse of the Religion and of the matters that cannot be severed from the same The Earle of Arran thus being established in the Government godly men repaired unto him exhorted him to call to minde for what end God had exalted him to be Governour out of what danger he had delivered him he being in the bloody Scroll as we saw before and what expectation all men of honesty had of him because they saw him a soft man they conceited goodnesse of him At their instant suit more than of his own motion was Thomas Guilliame a black Frier called to be Preacher The man was of sound judgement of reasonable letters as for that age and of a prompt and good utterance His Doctrine was wholsome without great vehemency against superstition Preached also sometime Iohn Rough who after for the verity of Christ Jesus suffered in England albeit not so learned yet more simple and more vehement against all impiety The Doctrine of these two provoked against them and against the Governour also the hatred of all such as more favoured darknesse than light and their own interest more than God The gray Friers and amongst the rest Frier Scot who before had given himself forth for the greatest Professor of Christ Jesus within Scotland and under that colour had disclosed and so endangered many These slaves of Sathan rowped as they had been Ravens yea rather they yelled and roared as devills in hell Heresie heresie Guilliame and Rough will carry the Governour to the devill The Towne of Edinburgh for the most part was devoured in superstition Edward Hope young William Adamson Sibilla Lyndsay Patrike Lyndsay Francis Aikman And in the Cannongate Iohn Mackaw and Nivian Browne with few others had the burit of knowledge in these dayes One Wilson servant to the Bishop of Dunckell who neither knew new Testament nor the old made a despightfull railing Ballad against the Preachers and against the Governour for the which he narrowly escaped hanging The Cardinall moved both heaven and hell to trouble the Governour to stay the Preaching but yet was the Battell stoutly fought for a season for he was taken and put first in Dalkeyt
rebuked in generall seldome it is that man descendeth within himself accusing and condemning in himself that which most displeaseth God but rather he doubteth that to be a cause which before God is no cause indeed For example The Israelites fighting against the Tribe of Benjamin were twice discomfited with the losse of 40000 men They lamented and bewailed both first and last but we finde not that they came to the knowledge of their offence and sin which was the cause that they fell by the edge of the sword but rather they doubted that to have been a cause of their misfortune which God had commanded for they asked Shall we go and fight any more against our brethren the sonnes of Benjamin By which question it is evident That they supposed that the cause of their overthrow and discomfite was Because they had lifted the sword against their brethren and naturall Countrey-men And yet the expresse Commandment of God that was given unto them did deliver them from all crime in that cause There is no doubt but that there was some cause in the Israelites that God gave them so over into the hands of these wicked men against whom he sent them by his own expresse Commandment to execute his Judgements Such as do well mark the History and the estate of that people may easily see the cause why God was offended All the whole people had declined from God Idolatry was maintained by the common consent of the multitude and as the Text saith Every man did that which appeared good in his own eyes In this mean time the Levite complained of the villany that was done unto himself and unto his wife which oppressed by the Benjamites of Gibeah died under their filthy lusts which horrible fact enflamed the hearts of the whole people to take vengeance upon that abomination and therein they offended but in this they failed That they go to execute judgement against the wicked without any repentance or remorse of conscience of their owne former offences and defection from God And farther Because they were a great multitude and the other were far inferiour unto them They trusted in their own strength and thought themselves able enough to do their purpose without any invocation of the Name of God But after that they had twice proved the vanity of their own strength they fasted and prayed and being humbled before God they received a more favourable answer and assured promise of the Victory The like may be amongst us albeit suddenly we do not espie it And to the end that every man may the better examine himself I will divide the whole company into two sorts of men The one are those that from the beginning of this trouble have sustained the common danger with their brethren The other be these which be joyned to our fellowship In the one and in the other I fear that just cause shall be found why God should thus have humbled us And albeit that this appear strange at the first hearing yet if every man shall examine himself I speak as that his conscience dyteth him I doubt not but he shall subscribe to my sentence Let us begin at our selves who longest hath continued in this Battell When we were a few number in comparison of our enemies when we had neither Earle nor Lord a few excepted to comfort us we called upon God and took him for our Protector Defence and onely Refuge Amongst us was heard no bragging of multitude nor of our strength nor policy we did onely sob to God to have respect to the equity of our Cause and to the cruell pursuit of the tyrannicall enemy But since that our number had been thus multiplied and chiefly since the Duke with his friends have been joyned with us there was nothing heard but This Lord will bring these many hundred Speares This man hath the credit to perswade this Countrey If this Earle be ours no man in such bounds will trouble us And thus the best of us all that before felt Gods potent hand to our defence hath of late dayes put Flesh to be our Arme. But wherein yet had the Duke and his friends offended It may be That as we have trusted in them so have they put too much confidence in their owne strength But granting it be not so I see a cause most just why the Duke and his friends should thus be confounded amongst the rest of their brethren I have not yet forgotten what was the dolour and anguish of my owne heart when at Saint Iohnston Cooper-Moure and Edinburgh Craigs those cruell murtherers that now hath put us to this dishonour threatned our present destruction The Duke and his friends at all three Journeys was to them a great comfort and unto us a great discouragement For his name and authority did more astonish us then did the force of the other yea without his assistance they could not have compelled us to appoint with the Queen upon so unequall Conditions I am certaine if the Duke hath unfainedly repented of that his assistance to those murtherers unjustly pursuing us yea I am certaine if he hath repented of the innocent blood of Christs blessed Martyrs which was shed by his fault But let it be that so he hath done as I hear that he hath confessed his offence before the Lords and Brethren of the Congregation yet I am assured That neither he neither yet his friends did feel before this time the anguish and grief of hearts which we felt when their blinde fury pursued us and therefore hath God justly permitted both them and us to fall into this confusion at once us for that we put our trust and confidence in man and them because that they should feel their owne hearts how bitter was the cup which they made others to drinke before them Resteth that both they and we turn to the Eternall our God who beateth down to death to the intent that he may raise up again to leave the remembrance of his wonderous deliverance to the praise of his owne Name which if we do unfainedly I no more doubt but that this our dolour confusion and fear shall be turned into joy honour and boldnesse then that I doubt that God gave Victory to the Israelites over the Benjamites after that twice with ignominy they were repulsed and driven back yea whatsoever shall become of us and our mortall carkasses I doubt not but that this Cause in despight of Sathan shall prevaile in this Realme of Scotland For as it is the eternall Trueth of the eternall God so shall it once prevaile howsoever for the time it be impugned It may be that God shall plague some for that they delight not in the Trueth albeit for worldly respects they seem to favour it Yea God may take some of his dearest children away before that their eyes see greater troubles But neither shall the one nor the other so hinder this action but in the end it shall
such firmitie as we desire it were And albeit some mocked yet others were godly moved who did assemble themselves together to consult what things were to be proposed to that present Parliament And after deliberation was this subsequent supplication offered The Barons Gentlemen Burgesses and other true Subjects of this Realm professing the Lord Iesus within the same To the Nobilitie and States of Parliament presently assembled within the said Realm desire Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ with the increase of his holy Spirit PLease your Honours to call to remembrance how divers and sundry times we with some of your selves most humbly Petitioned at the feet of the late Queen Regent for freedom and liberty of Conscience with a godly Reformation of abuses which by the malice of Satan and negligence of men are crept into the Religion of God and are maintained by such as take upon them the name of Clergie And albeit that our godly and most reasonable suit was then disdainfully rejected whereof no small troubles have ensued as your Honours well know yet seeing that the same necessity yet remaineth that then moved us And moreover that God of his mercy hath now put into your hands to take such order As God thereby may be glorified This Common-wealth quieted And the Policy thereof established We cannot cease to crave of your Honours the redresse of such enormities as manifestly are and of long time have been committed by the place-holders of the Ministerie and others of the Clergie within this Realm And first seeing that God of his great mercy hath by the light of his Word manifested to no small number of this Realme That the Doctrine of the Romane Church received by the said Clergie and maintained through their tyrannie by fire and sword contained in it selfe many pestiferous errours which cannot but bring damnation to the souls of such as therewith shall be infected such as are the Doctrine of Transubstantiation of the Adoration of Christs Body under the form of Bread as they terme it of the Merits of Works and Justification that they alleadge commeth thereby together with the Doctrine of the Papisticall Indulgences Purgatory Pilgrimage and Praying to Saints departed which all either repugne to the plain Scriptures or else have no ground in the Doctrine of our Master Jesus Christ his Prophets and Apostles 1. We humbly therefore crave of your Honours That such doctrine and Idolatry as by Gods Word are both condemned so may they be abolished by Act of this present Parliament and punishment appointed for the transgressors Secondarily seeing that the Sacraments of Jesus Christ are most shamefully abused and profaned by that Romane Harlot and her sworne vassals and also because that the true Discipline of the ancient Church is utterly now amongst that Sect extinguished For who within the Realme are more corrupt in life and manners then are they that are called the Clergie living in whoredom adultery deflouring Virgins corrupting Matrons and doing all abomination without fear of punishment We humbly therefore desire your Honors to finde remedy against the one and the other 3. Thirdly Because that man of sin falsly claimeth to himselfe the titles of The Vicar of Christ The Successor of Peter The Head of the Church That he cannot erre That all power is granted unto him c. By the which usurped Authority he taketh upon him the distribution and possession of the whole Patrimony of the Church whereby the true Ministry of the Word of God long time hath been altogether neglected the godly learning despised the Schools not provided and the poor not only frauded of their portion but also most tyrannously oppressed we likewise hereof desire remedy And lest that your Honors should doubt in any of these premises we offer our selves evidently to prove That in all the rabble of the Clergie there is not one lawfull Minister if Gods Word the practices of the Apostles the sincerity of the Primitive Church and their own ancient Laws shall judge of lawfull Election We further offer to prove them all thieves and murtherers yea rebels and traytors to the lawfull Authority of Emperors Kings and Princes and therfore unworthy to be suffred in any reformed Common-wealth How maliciously they murthered our brethren for no other cause but for that they offred to us the light of Gods Word your Honours cannot be ignorant and into what hazard their tyranny hath brought this whole Realm the Ages after will consider If ye look for other fruit in times to come then ye have seen in them whom we accuse we are assured ye shall be deceived Now hath God beyond all expectation of man made you who somtimes were suppliants with us for Reformation Judges as it were in the Cause of God At least he hath so subdued your enemies unto you that by violence they are not able to suppresse the Verity as heretofore they have done We therefore in the bowels of Jesus Christ crave of your Honors That either they may be compelled to answer to our former accusations and unto such others as justly we have to lay to their charges or else that all affection laid aside ye pronounce them such by censure of this Parliament and cause them to be so reputed as by us most justly they are accused Especially that they may be discerned unworthy of honour authority charge or cure in the Church of God and so from henceforth never to enjoy voice in Parliament Which if ye do not then in the fear of God and by assurance of his Word we forewarn you That as ye leave a grievous yoke a burden intolerable upon the Church of God in this realm so shall they be thorns in your eyes and pricks in your sides whom after when ye would ye shall have no power to remove God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ give you upright hearts seeking his glory and true understanding what this day he who hath delivered you from Bondage both Spirituall and Temporall craveth of you by his servants and your Honours answer most humbly require This our Supplication being read in audience of the whole Assembly divers men were of divers judgements for as some there were that uprightly favoured the Cause of God so were there many that for worldly respects abhorred a perfect Reformation for how many within Scotland who have the name of Nobility and are unjust possessors of the Patrimony of the Church and yet were the Barons and Ministers called and commandment given unto them to draw into plain and severall Heads the sum of that Doctrine which they would maintain and would desire the present Parliament to establish as wholesome true and onely necessary to be beleeved and to be received within the Realm Which they willingly accepted and within four dayes presented this Confession as it followeth without alteration of any one sentence The Confession of Faith professed and believed by the Protestants within the Realme of
me and yet suffered me to perish that in so doing ye should be criminall and guilty of my blood Prove that and win the play said Lethington Well my Lord said the other remember your promise and I will be short in my probation The Prophet Ieremy was apprehended by the Priests and Prophets who were a part of the Authority within Ierusalem and by the multitude of the people and this sentence was pronounced against him Thou shalt die the death for thou hast said This house shall be like Siloh and this City shall be desolate without any Inhabitant c. The Princes hearing the uprore came from the Kings house and sate down in Judgement in the entry of the new Gate of the Lords House And there the Priests and Prophets before the Princes and before all the people intented their Accusation in these words This man is worthy to die for he hath prophesied against this City and your eares have heard Ieremiah answered That whatsoever he had spoken proceeded from God and therefore said he As for me behold I am in your hands do with me as ye thinke good and right But know ye for certaine That if ye put me to death ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon your soules and upon this Citie and upon the inhabitants thereof For of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speake all these words Now my Lord if the Princes and the whole people should have been guilty of the Prophets blood How shall ye or others be judged innocent before God if ye shall suffer the blood of such as have not deserved their blood to be shed when ye may save it The causes were nothing alike said Lethington And I would learn said the other wherein the dissimilitude stands First said Lethington the King had not condemned him to death And next The false Prophets the Priests and the People accused him without a cause and therefore they could not be guilty of his blood Neither of these said Iohn Knox fights against my argument For albeit the King was neither present nor yet had condemned him yet were the Princes and chiefe Councellors there sitting in Judgement who represented the Kings Authority hearing the accusation laid unto the charge of the Prophet And therefore he forewarns them of the danger as before is said to wit That in case he should be condemned and so put to death That the King the Councell and the whole City of Ierusalem should be guilty of his blood because that he had committed no crime worthy of death And if ye thinke that they all should have been criminall onely because that they all accused him the plain Text witnesseth the contrary for the Princes defended him and so no doubt did a great part of the People and yet he boldly affirmed That they should be all guilty of his blood if he should be put to death And the Prophet Ezekiel gives a reason Why all are guilty of common corruption Because saith he I sought a man amongst them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the Land that I should not destroy it but I found none Therefore have I poured forth my indignation upon them Hereof my Lord said he it is plain That God craves not onely that man should do no iniquity in his owne person but also that he oppose himself to all iniquity so farre as in him lieth Then will ye said Lethington make subjects to controll their Princes and Rulers And what harme said the other should the Common-wealth receive if the corrupt affections of ignorant Rulers were moderated and so bridled by the wisedome and discretion of godly subjects that they should do no wrong nor no violence to any man All this reasoning said Lethington is out of the purpose For we reason as if the Queen should become such an enemy to our Religion that she should persecute it and put innocent men to death while I am assured she never thought nor never will do For if I should see her begin at that end yea if I should suspect any such thing in her I should be as farre forward in that argument as ye or any other within the Realme But there is no such thing Our Question is Whether that ye may suppresse the Queens Masse or Whether that her Idolatry shall be laid to our charge What ye may said Iohn Knox by force I dispute not But what ye may and ought to do by Gods expresse Commandment that I can tell Idolatry ought not onely to be suppressed but the Idolater also ought to die the death But by whom By the people of God said the other for the Commandment was given to Israel as ye may reade Heare Israel sayes the Lord the Statutes and the Ordinances of the Lord thy God c. Yea a Commandment is given that if it be heard that Idolatry is committed in any one City inquisition shall be taken and if it be found true That then the whole Body of the People arise and destroy that City sparing in it neither man woman nor childe But there is no Commandment said the Secretary given to punish their King If he be an Idolater I finde no priviledge granted unto Kings said the other by God more then unto the people to offend Gods Majestie I grant said Lethington but yet the people may not be judges to their King to punish him albeit he be an Idoter God said the other is the Universall Judge as well unto the King as to the People So that what his Word commands to be punished in the one is not to be absolved in the other We agree in that said Lethington But the people may not execute Gods Judgements but mst leave it unto himselfe who will either punish it by Death by Warre by Imprisonment or by some other kinde of his Plagues I know said Iohn Knox the last part of the reason to be true But for the first That the people yea or a part of the people may not execute Gods Judgements against their King being an offendor I am assured ye have no other Warrant except your own imaginations and the opinion of such as more fear to offend their Princes then God Why say ye so said Lethington I have the judgement of the most famous men in Europe and of such as ye your selfe will confesse both godly and learned And with that he called for his Papers which produced by Master Maitland he bagan to reade with great gravity the Judgements of Luther Melancthon the mindes of Bucer Musculus and Calvin how Christians should behave themselves in time of Persecution yea the Book of Baruc was not omitted with this conclusion The gathering of those things said he hath cost me more travell then I thinke this seven yeers in reading Commentaries The more pity said the other and yet what you have profited your own cause let others judge But as for my argument I am assured you have infirmed
it in nothing for your first two witnesses speak against the Anabaptists who deny that Christians should be subject to Magistrates or yet that it is lawfull for a Christian to be a Magistrate whose opinion I no lesse abhor then ye do or any other that liveth The others speak of Christians subject to Tyrants and Infidels so dispersed that they have no other force but onely to sob unto God for deliverance that such indeed should hazard any further then these godly men wills them I cannot hastily be of counsell But my argument hath another ground for I speak of a people assembled in one Body of a Common-wealth unto whom God hath given sufficient force not onely to resist but also to suppresse all kinde of open Idolatry And such a people yet again I affirme are bound to keep their Land clean and unpolluted And that this my division shall not appear strange unto you ye shall understand that God required one thing of Abraham and of his Seed when he and they were strangers and Pilgrims in Egypt and Canaan and another thing required he of them when they were delivered from the Bondage of Egypt and the possession of the Land of Canaan granted unto them The first and during the time of their Bondage God craved no more but that Abraham should not defile himselfe with their Idolatry neither was he nor his Posterity commanded to destroy the Idolls that were in Canaan or in Egypt But when God gave unto them possession of the Land he gave unto them this strait Commandment Beware that thou make not League or Confederacie with the inhabitants of this Land give not thy sonnes unto their daughters nor yet give thy daughters unto their sonnes c. But this ye shall do unto them Cut down their Groves destroy their Images breake downe their Altars and leave thou no kinde of remembrance of these Abominations which the Inhabitants of the Land used before for thou art a holy People unto the Lord thy God defile not thy selfe therefore with their gods c. To this Commandment I say are ye my Lords and all such as have professed the Lord within this Realme bound for God hath wrought no lesse miraculously upon you both Spiritually and Corporally then he did unto the Carnall Seed of Abraham For in what state your Bodies and this poor Realme were within these seven yeers your selves cannot be ignorant you and it were both in the Bondage of a strange Nation and what Tyrants did raigne over your consciences God perchance may yet again let you feel because that ye do not rightly acknowledge and esteeme the benefits received when our poore Brethren that were before us gave up their bodies to the flames of fire for the Testimony of Gods Truth And when scarcely could be found ten in a Country that rightly knew God it had been foolishnesse to have craved either of the Nobility or of the mean Subjects the suppressing of Idolatry for that had been nothing but to have exposed the simple Sheep in a prey to the Wolves But since that God hath multiplyed knowledge yea and hath given the victory to his Truth even in the hands of his servants if yee suffer the Land again to be defiled yee and your Princes shall both drinke the cup of Gods indignation The Queen for her obstinate abiding in manifest Idolatry in this great light of the Evangell of Jesus Christ And ye for your permission and maintaining her in the same Lethington said In that point we will never agree And where finde ye I pray you that ever any of the Prophets or of the Apostles taught such Doctrine That the people should be plagued for the Idolatry of the Prince or yet That the Subjects might suppresse the Idolatry of the Rulers or them for the same What was the Commission given unto the Apostles My Lord said he we know it was to preach and plant the Evangell of Jesus Christ where darknesse before had Dominion And therefore it behoved them to let them see the light before that they should will them to put their hands to suppresse Idolatry What precepts the Apostles gave unto the faithfull in particular other then that they commanded all to fly from Idolatry I will not affirme But I finde two things which the faithfull did The one was They assisted their Preachers even against the Rulers and Magistrates The other was They suppressed Idolatry wheresoever God gave unto them force asking no leave of the Emperour nor of his Deputies Read the Ecclesiasticall Histories and ye shall finde examples sufficient And as to the Doctrine of the Prophets we know they were Interpreters of the Law of God and we know They spake as well unto the Kings as unto the People I read that neither of both would heare them and therefore came the plague of God upon both but that they flattered the Kings more then they did the people I cannot be perswaded Now Gods Law pronounces death as before I have said to Idolaters without exception of persons Now how the Prophets could rightly interpret the Law and shew the cause of Gods Judgements which ever they threatned should fall for Idolatry and for the rest of the abhominations that did accompany it for it is never alone but still corrupt Religion brings with it a filthy and corrupt life How I say the Prophets could reprove the Vice and not shew the people their duty I understand not And therefore I constantly beleeve That the Doctrine of the Prophets was so sensible That the Kings understood their own abhominations and the people understood what they ought to have done in punishing and repressing them But because that the most part of the People was no lesse Rebellious unto God then were their Princes Therefore the one and the other conjured against God and against his servants And yet my Lord The facts of some Prophets are so evident That thereby we may collect what Doctrine they taught For it were no small absurdity to affirme that their facts did repugne to their Doctrine I think said Lethington ye meane of the History of Iehu What will yee prove thereby The chief head said Iohn Knox that ye deny to wit That the Prophets never taught that it appertained to the people to punish the Idolatry of their Kings The contrary whereof I affirme and for the probation I am ready to produce the fact of a Prophet For ye know my Lord said he that Elizeus sent one of the children of the Prophets to annoint Iehu who gave him a commandment to destroy the house of his Master Achab for the Idolatry committed by him and for the innocent blood that Iezabell his wicked Wife had shed While he obeyed and put in full execution for the which God promised unto him the stability of the Kingdome unto the fourth Generation Now said he here is the fact of a Prophet that proves that Subjects were commanded to execute Gods judgements upon
had lately written to the Queens Majesty in Sâ—aton from the town of Edinburgh they desiring then to prorogate the day Finally when the said Advocates could by no means perswade them to come to Edinburgh they returned again to Edinburgh and declared to the Queens Majestie according as they had found In the mean time the Parliament was prorogated at the Queens Majesties command to the first of September next after following for it was thought That the least part and principall of the chiefe Nobility being absent there could no Parliament be holden at the same time the Queens Majestie perceiving that the matter was already come to a maturity and ripenesse so that the mindes and secrecy of mens hearts must needs be disclosed she wrote to a great number of Lords Barons Gentlmen and others that were nearest in Fife Angus Lowthian Mers Tevimdale Perth Lithgow Clidsdall and others to resort to her in this forme of words hereafter following The Queens Letter TRusty friend We greet you well we are grieved indeed by the evill bruite spread amongst our Lieges as that we should have molested any man in the using of his Religion and Conscience freely a thing which never entred into our minde yet since we perceive the too easie beleeving such reports hath made them carelesse and so we think it becomes us to be carefull for the safety and preservation of our state wherefore we pray you most affectionately That with all possible hast after the receipt of this our Letter you with your kindred friends and whole Force well furnished with Arms for Warre be provided for fifteen dayes after your coming addresse you to come to us to waite and attend upon us according to our expectation and trust in you as you will thereby declare the good affection you bear to the maintenance of our Authoritie and will doe us therein acceptable service Subscribed with Our Hand at Edinburgh the seventeenth day of July 1565. THere was likewise Proclamation made in Edinburgh That the Queen minded not the trouble nor alter the Religion and also Proclamations made in the Shires above mentioned for the same purpose That all Freeholders and other Gentlemen should resort in the aforesaid manner to Edinbronth where the Earle of Rosse was made Duke of Rothesay with great triumph the 23 day of Iuly The same afternoon the Queen complained grievously upon the Earle of Murray in open audience of all the Lords and Barons and the same day the Bans of the Earle of Rosse and Duke of Rothesay and the Queens Marriage were proclaimed About this time the Lord Arskin was made Earle of Marre In the mean time there were divers Messages sent from the Queens Majestie to the Lord of Murray first Master Robert Crichton to perswade him by all meanes possible to come and resort to the Queens Majestie his answer was That he would be glad to come to her self according to his bounden duty yet for as much as such persons as were most privie in her company were his capitall enemies who also had conspired his death he could no wayes come so long as they were in Court Soon after my Lord Erskin and the Master Maxwell past to him to S. Andrews rather suffered and permitted by the Queen then sent by her Highnesse after them the Laird of Dun who was sent by the means of the Earl of Mar but all this did not prevail with him and when all hope of his coming was past an Herald was sent to him charging him to come to the Queens Majesty and answer to such things as should be laid to his charge within eight and fourty hours next after the Charge under pain of Rebellion and because he appeared not the next day after the eight and forty hours he was denounced Rebell and put to the Horne The same order they used against the Earle of Argyle for the Queen said she would serve him and the rest with the same measure they had mete to others meaning the said Argyle In the mean while as the fire was well kindled and enflamed all means and wayes were sought to stir up enemies against the chief Protestants that had been lately at Sterlin for the Earle of Athole was ready bent against the Earle of Argyle the Lord Lindsay against the Earle Rothesse in Fyfe they being both Protestants for they had contended now a long time for the Heir-ship of Fyfe And that no such thing should be left undone the Lord Gordon who now had remained neer three yeers in prison in Dumbar was after some little travell of his friends received by the Queen and being thus received into favour was restored first to the Lordship of Gordon and soon after to the Earldom of Huntley and to all his Lands Honours and Dignities that he might be a bar and a party in the North to the Earle of Murray The 18 of Iuly late in the evening neer an hour after the Suns going down there was a Proclamation made at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh containing in effect THat forasmuch as at the will and pleasure of Almighty God the Queen had taken to her husband a right excellent and illustrious Prince Harry Duke of Rothesay Earle of Rosse Lord Darley Therefore it was her Will That he should be holden and obeyed and reverenced as King Commanding all Letters and Proclamations to be made in the Names of Henry and Mary in times coming The next day following at six hours in the morning they were marryed in the Chappell Royall of Halyrud-house by the Dean of Lestarrig the Queen being all clothed in Mourning But immediately as the Queen went to Masse the King went not with her but to his Pastime During the space of three or four dayes there was nothing but Balling and Dancing and Banqueting In the mean time the Earle Rothesse the Laird of Grange the Tutor Pitcur with some Gentlemen of Fyfe were put to the Horne for none appearance And immediately the Swash Tabron and Drums were stricken or beaten for men of War to serve the King and Queens Majestie and to take their Pay This sudden alteration and hasty creation of Kings moved the hearts of a great number Now amongst the people there were divers brutes for some alleadged That the cause of this alteration was not for Religion but rather for hatred envie of sudden promotion or dignity or such worldly causes But they that considered the progresse of the matter according as is heretofore declared thought the principall cause to be onely for Religion In this mean time the Lords past to Argyle taking apparantly little care of the trouble that was to come Howbeit they sent into England M. Nicolas Elphinston for support who brought some Moneys in this Countrey to the sum of ten thousand pounds sterlin There came one forth of England to the Queen who got Presence the seventh of August in Halyrud-house He was not well c. About the fifteenth of August the Lords met at Aire to wit the
So served Darius giving into the power of Daniel the Idol to be broken and his enemies to be cast to the Lions So served Nebuchad-nezzar by a terrible Law forbidding all that were in his Realme to blaspheme God Herein therefore do Kings serve the Lord in so farre as they are Kings when they do those things to serve him which none except Kings be able to doe He further proceedeth and concludeth That as when wicked Kings do raigne impiety cannot be bridled by Laws but rather is tyranny exercised under the title of the same So is it a thing without all reasons That Kings professing the knowledge and honour of God should not regard nor care who did defend nor who did oppugne the Church of God in their Dominions By these words of this ancient and godly Writer your Honours may perceive what I require of you to wit To represse the tyranny of your Bishops and to defend the innocents professing the Truth He did require of the Emperour and Kings in his dayes professing Christ and manifestly concludeth That they cannot serve Christ except that so they doe Let not your Bishops think that Augustine speaketh for them because he nameth the Church Let them reade and understand That Augustine writeth for that Church which professeth the Truth and doth suffer persecution for the defence of the same which your Bishops do not but rather with the Donatists and Arrians do cruelly persecute all such as boldly speak Christs Eternall Verity to manifest their impiety and abomination But thus much we have of Augustine That it appertaineth to the obedience and service which Kings owe to God as well now in the time of the Gospel as before under the Law to defend the afflicted for matters of Religion and to represse the fury of the persecuters by the rigour and severity of godly Laws For which cause no doubt Isaiah the Prophet saith That Kings should be nourishers of the Church of God that they should abase their heads and lovingly embrace the children of God And thus I say your Honours may evidently see That the same Obedience doth God require of Rulers and Princes in the time of the Gospel that he required in the time of the Law If you do think that the Reformation of Religion and defence of the afflicted doth not appertain to you because you are no Kings but Nobles and States of a Realme in two things you are deceived First In that you do not advert That David requireth as well that the Princes and Judges of the earth to be learned and that they serve and fear God as that he requireth that Kings repent If you therefore be Judges and Princes as no man can deny you to be then by the plain words of David you are charged to be learned to serve and fear God which ye cannot do if ye despise the Reformation of his Religion And this is your first errour The second is That ye neither know your duty which ye owe to God neither yet your Authority which of him ye have received if ye for pleasure or fear of any earthly man despise Gods true Religion and contemn your brethren that in his Name call for your support Your duty is to hear the voyce of the Eternall your God and unfainedly to studie to follow his Precepts who as is before said of speciall mercy hath promoted you to Honours and Dignity His chief and principall Precept is That with reverence ye receive and embrace his onely beloved Son Jesus That ye promote to the uttermost of your powers his true Religion and That ye defend your brethren and subjects whom he hath put under your charge and care Now if your King be a man ignorant of God enemy to his true Religion blinded by Superstition and a persecuter of Christs members Shall ye be execused if with silence ye passe over his iniquity Be not deceived my Lords ye are placed in Authority for another purpose then to flatter your King in his folly and blinde rage to wit That as with your bodies strength riches and wisedom ye are bound to assist and defend him in all things which by your advice he shall take in hand for Gods glory and for the preservation of his Common-wealth and subjects so by your authorities counsell and admonition ye are bound to correct and represse whatsoever ye know him to attempt expressely repugning to Gods Word Honour and glory or what ye shall espie him to do be it by ignorance or be it by malice against his subjects great or small Of which last part of your obedience if you defraud your King ye commit against him no lesse Treason then if ye did extract from him your due and promised support when by his enemies unjustly he were pursued But this part of their duty I fear do a small number of the Nobility of this age rightly consider neither yet will they understand that for that purpose hath God promoted them For now the common song of all men is We must obey our Kings be they good or bad For God hath commanded it But horrible shall the vengeance be that shall be poured forth upon such blasphemers of God his holy Name and Ordinance For it is no lesse blasphemy to say That God hath commanded Kings to be obeyed when they command impiety then to say That God by his Precept is author and maintainer of all iniquity True it is God hath commanded Kings to be obeyed but like true it is That in things which they commit against his glory or when cruelly without cause they rage against their brethren the members of Christs body he hath commanded no obedience but rather he hath approved yea and greatly rewarded such as have opposed themselves to their ungodly commandments and blinde rage as in the examples of the three Children of Daniel and Abdemelech it is evident The three Children would neither bow nor stoup before the golden Image at the commandment of the great King Nebuchadnezar Daniel did openly pray his windows being open against the established Law of Darius and of his Councell And Abdemelech feared not to enter in before the presence of Zedechias and boldly to defend the cause and innocency of Ieremy the Prophet whom the King and his Councell had condemned to death Every one of these facts should this day be judged foolish by such as will not understand what God doth require of his children when his Verity is oppugned or his glory called in doubt such men I say as prefer man to God and things present to the heavenly inheritance should have judged every one of these stubborn inobedience foolish presumption and singularity or else bold controlling of the King and his wise Councell But how acceptable in Gods presence was this resistance to the ungodly commandments and determinations of their King the end did witnesse for the three children were delivered from the Furnace of fire and Daniel
THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORY OF SCOTLAND THE HISTORIE Of the REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Containing five Books Together with some TREATISES conducing to the History Published by Authority JEREM. 5.1 Run ye to and fro thorow the streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can finde a man if there be any executeth Iudgement that seeketh the Truth and I will pardon it 2 COR. 13.8 For we can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth LONDON Printed by Iohn Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen and are to be sold at the signe of the Rose in Pauls Church-yard MDCXLIV To the Reader Christian Reader HEre I present unto thee a Piece I dare promise worthy of thy reading wherein thou hast a true and plain Relation without disguising of many memorable Passages happened in the Church of God and likewise some notable ones in the State of the Kingdom of Scotland from the very first setling of State and Church in that Countrey But namely and chiefly thou hast here related what principally passed in Church and State in this our Countrey during the great Work of purging the Church from the Superstitions and Idolatry and freeing both Church and State from the Tyranny and Slavery of Popery untill the coming of King James our late Soveraign to the Crown of Scotland Further beside the true and faithfull Relation of many Occurrences that fell out in these dayes in Scotland thou hast unfolded unto thee and made plain the strong Reasons and necessery Causes that moved these men who are here named although infirm and weake in themselves to undergo the great Work of Reformation With the solid Grounds upon which they went on with this weighty Businesse willingly and cheerfully notwithstanding the great rubs and difficulties they met withall through the help and assistance of God who by them mean Instruments brought things to passe in despight of the malice and stratagems of Sathan with his agents for the good of his People and the setling of his Church in Purity and Liberty All these things are set down plainly and simply in familiar and homely Language Yet so that they may be with ease apprehended and understood by any one From what thou hast here written in this Volume although there were no other Writings in this kinde extant thou mayest see easily by what means the great Mystery of Iniquity from the very first Rise hath been set afoot and constantly ever since hath been carried on to wit By cunning Devices impudent Lyes continued and crafty Plots under specious Pretexts and open Oppression Tyranny and Cruelties within Scotland till the yeer of Christ 1567. After which time the enemies of God and of his People have not been sleeping till this present more then formerly Wherefore for thy good Christian Reader I have thought fit in this place to point at some main Occurrences from that time till now First then the adversaries of Truth and Goodnesse under the specious Pretext of restoring Queen Mary to her Liberty and of re-establishing her in full Authority and sole Power did disquiet and trouble both Church and State in Scotland both with open Force and subtill Plots for some yeers that is to the 1573 yeer But finding that all their Undertakings under this pretext proved to be in vain and without successe and standing to their main Designe of undoing Religion and Liberty they bethought themselves of another way in appearance more plausible for compassing their wicked Intents it was To deal by way of entreaty and request with the chief Ministers of State and Church then To have the Mother set at liberty and to be joynt in Authority and Power with her Son And for the obtaining of this was employed the credit of the French Court for the time with all its skill and cunning but to small purpose For these rude fellows who managed the publike Affairs then of State and Church could not be corrupted with the French Complements In this way the enemies continued till the yeer 1577 and did not then give over notwithstanding their bad successe but according to their wonted and resolved custome they went on with their Designe betaking themselves to a new course wherein they had indeed more successe then in either of the former two It was this They did set awork certain men who with fair words and flattering tales so craftily dealt with the young King hardly yet twelve yeers of age that they made him cast off as a yoke the counsell and service of those who ever since his Birth-day had carefully laboured for the good of State and Church with the pereservation of his Authority and safety of his Person And so the inconsiderate young King although of most nimble wit and knowing above his yeers under the shew of freedom put himself in the power of those who wished no good to his Person and Authority and as little to the Church and State making no scruple to trouble both for their own ends according to the Instructions of the Masters who set them awork So in very short time they gave unto the young King such impressions which did stick too much to him that not onely he became averse from those who had been so usefull to the publike and so serviceable to him but also he suffered them to be persecuted yea some by death and others by banishment While the enemies were thus working businesse with us in Scotland they were not idle with our neighbours in England for they were contriving and plotting under colour of setting the imprisoned Queen at liberty And were gone so far on in this way in both Kingdoms that to stop the course and progresse of the enemies both Countries thought it necessary to enter into a mutuall League and Covenant one with another for the defence of the Reformed Religion and Liberties of both Kingdoms with the preservation of the Persons and Authorities of both Princes King James and Queen Elizabeth against the common enemy This was done by the consent of both Princes in the yeer 1686. After this the enemy seeing the warinesse of both Kingdoms to be such that in a short time he was not likely to advance the main Designe according to his minde by craft and cunning leaveth off for a time to act the part of the Fox and openly declares himself to be a ravishing Wolf So the yeer 1588 the Armado cometh against both Kingdoms which God in his mercy unto our fathers and us brought to nought About this time and some yeers before the agents of the enemy were very busie with King James to break with England and to revenge the hard usage and ill treatment of his Mother But God did direct him so for his own good that he did give no consent to their evil counsell Upon this refusall of the Kings the agents of the common enemy do bestir themselves to trouble both King and Kingdom which they did in a
high measure in the yeer 1595. This gave occasion then both to Prince and people to enter into Covenant for the defence of the Truth and pure Doctrine of the Church with the Reformed Discipline and of the safety of the King and Kingdom by which means the proceedings of the enemies was stopped for a while Now the time drawing neer of the Kings coming to the Crown of England the watching enemy returns to work again in another manner then he had done hitherto which was this By the mouths of some timerous and worldly men he causeth to present unto the King the consideration of great difficulties that he was likely to finde in his succeeding to the Crown of England by two parties there who were given out to be the Strength of the Kingdom to wit the profest Papists and the Prelaticall men therefore to facilitate the businesse they must be in some sort contented For the satisfaction of the Prelates the King by degrees must endeavour to bring again into Scotland Prelacy with all its dependences for no neglecter or contemner of the holy Order could be kindely received to reigne in England and so this part of the advice was followed with all possible care and diligence To content the Papists they not onely must have given unto them under-hand hopes of connivence and over seeing their practice but also there must be a Letter written to the Pope to assure his Holinesse of the Kings affection to the Catholike Cause Thus both these parties were calmed so far that the King came to the Crown of England Anno 1602 without manifest opposition albeit not without the grumbling and grudging of some As for the stricter sort of Professors of the Reformed Religion going under the nick-name of Puritans no opposition or trouble to the Succession was feared from them because the Principles upon which they go on rising from the Word of God are far other then those of worldlings which flow from interest and consequently they needed not Atonement or Propitiatory Sacrifice to befriend the King But the holy Father not finding reall performance by the King of what he looked for remembers the King in good earnest of his promise not kept by the Gun-powder Plot Anno 1605. After which by Gods mercy failing men would have thought that the Popish party should leave off all undertakings hereafter But they follow their businesse more constantly then so for no sooner one Plot fails but incontinent they put another afoot yea they have severall Plots at one and the same time in hand whereof it is likely that either one or other will take Now this great Plot of the Gun-powder being come to nothing they as it were go back for a time to come forward in due season with another and leaving for a while the open and devouring ravishing of the Wolf they have recourse again to the cunning of the Fox The next care then after the calming in some measure the spirits of men after so horrid a Treason is to look about and to studie by whom he affairs of these Dominions were managed And finding by serious inspection That all affairs received great influence from the Court after mature deliberation they resolved to make friends there which they did by subtill insinuations fair words high promises and some reall performances of good Offices yea when money was absolutely necessary it was not spared Thus by degrees having gotten friends at Court in it they make a party next for whose subsistence and increase they employ all that they can Now having power and credit at Court more and clearly perceiving it to be the fountain from whence all preferment to Honour and benefit in Church and State did flow they judged it fit for their purpose to make sure of some prime men both in Church and State according to their minde which was done as they desired Thus having gained men chief in State and Church for their use then they went to the corrupting of the Universities being the Seminaries of all Liberall Education This likewise they did effectuate first by the Over-seers connivence to loosenesse of life in young people next by the bad example of the Seniors the Iuniors were invited to do mischief Then the Teachers by their bad instruction did corrupt namely in Theologie all sound Doctrine And for this purpose the earnest studie of the Old Testrment in the Originall Hebrew was cryed downe as beseeming rather men of the Synagogue then those of the Christian Schools Likewise the Greek of the New Testament must not be read with diligence for fear of spoyling the elegancy of the Greek Language which is to be found in profane Authors So they withdrew the Students from the studie of Scriptures in the Originall and recommended to them the reading of humane Writings particularly in Theologie the Books of the Ancients which are commonly called Fathers Likewise was recommended unto young men the studie of the Sophistry of the Monks as of Thomas and Scotus namely with their Expositors True it is That if young men were well instructed in Theologie from the Scriptures and taught the true Principles of Philosophie in a setled course by some judicious and diligent Professor they might reade all these Books and others in their kinde with pleasure and benefit But alas young men not knowing the rudiments of Theologie nor the first Elements of Philosophie are let loose unto themselves and so by reading these Books having no sure ground to stick to learn onely to doubt and put Queries yea of the very Principles of all sound knowledge both Divine and Humane Thus being brought to waver and doubt they are easily led what by interest what by weaknesse to embrace a bad Opinion or at least to hold all uncertain as the ancient Scepticks not being able to resolve Yea doubting is come to that height that in the opinion of many he is the bravest fellow and wittiest that can raise most Queries answer them who will or can And so Wit is hugely cryed up which is but meer froth and poor solid Wisedom is not so much as named or thought on Then those of the richer sort having spent some time idly and loosely at the Universities go beyond Sea particularly to Italy forsooth either upon their own trust or which is little better if not worse many of those who go along with young men to advise and direct them have as much need of one for their guide as the young men themselves having neither staidnesse discretion nor probity So that if there were a just account cast up of all those who either have been bred in the Universities or gone beyond Sea these many yeers I will speak within compasse That of twenty you shall hardly finde one who is improved in vertue by this Breeding for the good of the Church and State whereof they are members and perhaps considerable too if they were wise and good At this present both Church and State findes this to be true
Hadington in Lothian the yeer of Christ 1505. of honest Parentage His father was a brothers son of the House of Ranferlie which is an ancient Family of Gentlemen in the West When he left the Grammar Schoole in the Countrey he was sent to the Vniversity of Saint Andrews to studie under M. John Mair who in those dayes was very famous for his Learning which particularly did consist in the ergotie or disputative part of Philosophy and in School-Divinity wherein formerly for many yeers together almost all Learning was placed In a very short time John Knox became such a Proficient that in this kinde of knowledge wherein his Master most excelled he surpassed him and being yet very young was thought worthy of Degrees in the School Moreover before the time ordinarily allowed by the Canons he entred in Church Orders Thereafter laying aside the idle Disputes and Sophistry of the School he betook himself to the reading of the Ancients namely of Augustine with whose Writings he was much taken by reason of their plainnesse and solidity Last of all he betook himself to the earnest study of the holy Scriptures wherein having found the Truth of God concerning the salvation of Mankinde fully revealed he in good earnest did embrace it and freely professed it yea made it his main work to make it known to all men and believed by them in which work he was very active and vigilant at home and abroad namely at home For the Cause of the Truth he suffered very much by Sea and by Land in minde and in body among forraigners and amongst his own Countreymen as ye may see in this History of the Church which now here we present unto you Which History namely so much of it I mean as formerly was published hath gone commonly under his name because he is the man of whom most is spoken thorowout the whole History as being a most earnest and diligent agent in the businesse of Reformation in the Church Next because he hath penned with his own hand or spoken by word of mouth the most part of the most remarkable and most usefull things for Posterity in the History Thirdly the whole History is gathered out of his Papers and Manuscripts And so ye see why it is generally received to be of John Knox. But to return to his Life He being constrained for a time to leave his Countrey by reason of the Persecution raised in Scotland by the then Bishops against the professors of the Truth he came into England where for some yeers he was busied in preaching the Evangell of Christ with a great deal of content and benefit to those that had the happinesse to hear him His chief abode was in Berwick Newcastle and London This was in the dayes of King Edward the sixth with whom he was in great favour and esteem By whom being offered a Bishopricke he not onely refused and rejected it but with a grave and severe speech declared That the proud Title of Lordship and that great State was not to be suffered to be in the Church of God as having quid commune cum Antichristo that is somewhat common with Antichrist King Edward being dead the persecution of Mary made him leave England with many other godly Ministers who went beyond Seas First John Knox went to Frankford where for a time he preached the Gospel to the English Congregation there From whence he wrote the Admonition to England But being molested there partly by open Papists and partly by false Brethren was constrained to retire And from thence he went to Geneva from whence he wrote his Letter to Mary Regent of Scotland his Appeal to the Nobility of Scotland and Admonition to the Commons of Scotland From Geneva after some yeers abode there he was called home to his own Countrey the yeer of Christ 1559. which was the 54 of his age by the Noble-men and others who had taken upon them the generall Reformation of the Church of Scotland where how soon that the reformed Church had any liberty he was setled Minister at Edinburgh where he continued exercising his Ministery to his dying day but not without interruption by reason of the Civill disorders that fell out in those dayes During this his being at Edinburgh he Preached many excellent Sermons whereof there be but few that were printed and conserved to Posterity he not being willing to busie himself with the Presse Yet some of them we have as this namely which he Preached Aug. 19 An. 1564. and for which he was forbidden to Preach for a time He to make known to the world what ground there was to deal so with him took the care to have this Sermon printed as you will finde it at the end of this History Here I cannot let slip a remarkable passage which was this Anno 1566. the Earle of Murray was slain upon the Saturday The morrow after John Knox preached in Edinburgh where as he was reading the Papers wherein was written the names of those that desired the Prayers of the Church he findes a paper with these words Take up the man whom ye accounted another god which he passed without expressing any commotion and went on with his Prayer and Sermon At the end of the Sermon he made moan for the losse that the Church and State of Scotland had by the death of that vertuous man and said That as God in his mercy giveth good and wise Rulers so taketh he them away from a people in his wrath Then he added There is one in this company that maketh the subject of his mirth this horrible murther whereat all good men have occasion to be sorry I tell him That he shall die where there shall be none to lament him He who had written the aforesaid words in the paper was Thomas Metellan a young Gentlemen of most rare parts but youthfull and bearing small affection to the Earle of Murray who when he heard this Commination of John Knox went home to his lodging and said to his sister That John Knox was raving to speak of he knew not whom His sister replyed with tears in her eyes If you had followed my advice ye had not written these words and withall told him That none of John Knox his threatnings fell to the ground without effect And so it fell out in this particular For shortly thereafter the young Gentleman went beyond Seas to travell and died in Italy having no known man to assist him much lesse to lament him Towards the latter dayes of his age his body became very infirm and his voice so weake that the people could not hear him Preaching in the ordiplace wherfore he made choice of another more commodious within the Town reading to his auditors the history of the Passion in which he said it was his desire to finish and close his Ministery Thus he continued Preaching though with much weaknesse two moneths and more after this retiring And foreseeing that he was not to remain long with
obedience unto Rome and conformitie by name there was one Boniface sent from Rome to Scotland a main Agent for Rome in these affairs but he was opposed openly by severall of the Scots Culdees or Divines namely by Clemens and Samson who told him freely That he and those of his Party studied to bring men to the subjection of the Pope and slavery of Rome withdrawing them from obedience to Christ and so in plain termes they reproached to him and to his assistants That they were corrupters of Christs Doctrine establishing a Sovereignty in the Bishop of Rome as the onely successour of the Apostles excluding other Bishops That they used and commanded Clericall tonsure That they forbad Priests Marriage extolling Celibat That they caused Prayers to be made for the dead and erected Images in the Churches to be short That they had introduced in the Church many Tenets Rites and Ceremonies unknown to the ancient and pure times yea contrary to them For the which and the like the said Clemens and those that were constant to the Truth with him were excommunicated at Rome as Hereticks as you have in the third Volume of the Concels although the true reasons of their excommunication be not there set down In the eighth Age the poor people were so blindly inslaved and intoxicat with the Cup of Rome that they thought it a truely holy Martyrdome to suffer for the interest of Rome yet although most men had left God to worship the Beast in these dayes God raised up sundry great Lights in our Church as Alcuin Rabanus Maurus his Disciple Iohn Scot and Claudius Clemens In this we shall remarke the constant goodnesse of God towards his people who made his Light shine in some measure thorow the greatest and thickest darknesse by raising up these men who did bear witnesse to the Truth both by word and writing so that God did not altogether leave off his people The Bishop of Rome caused to declare Alcuin for his Book of the Eucharist many yeers after his death an Heretike So Rome persecutes the Saints of God even after their death In the ninth Age both Prince and People by dolefull experience did finde the idlenesse pride ambition avarice and ryot of Church-men occasioned by the indulgence of Prince and People wherefore at Scone under King Constantine the second there was had a convention of States for reforming the disorders in the Church In this Assembly it was ordained That Church-men should reside upon their charge have no medling with secular affairs that they should instruct the people diligently and be good examples in their conversations that they should not keep Hawks Hounds and Horses for their pleasure that they should carry no Weapons nor be pleaders of civill Causes but live contented with their own provisions in case of failing in the observance of these points For the 1 time they were to pay a pecuniary mulct or fine for the 2 they were to be deprived from Officio and Beneficio Thus you see in these most blinde and confused times That resolute Princes and People did oppose manifestly the Popes omnipotency and highest Sovereignty In the later part of the same Age King Gregory was most indulgent to Church-men he was so farre from curbing and keeping them under that he granted them many things they had not had before Then in a convention of States holden at Forsane it was ordained That all Church-men should be free of paying Taxes and Impost from keeping watch and going to warfare Item They should be exempt from all Temporall judicature Item All Matrimoniall Causes were given over to be judgement of Church-men as also Testaments Legative Actions and all things depending upon simple faith and promise Likewise the right of Tithes with liberty to make Lawes Canons and Constitutions to try without the assistance of the temporall Judge Heretikes Blasphemers Perjured Persons Magicians c. Lastly it was ordained That all Kings following at their Coronation should swear to maintain Church-men in these their Liberties and Priviledges In these dayes lived a Learned man called Iohn Scot sirnamed Aerigiena because he was born in the Town of Aire he published a Treatise De corpore sanguine Domini in Sacramento wherein he maintained the opinion and doctrine of Bertram whereby he offended highly the Sea of Rome In the tenth Age things grew worse and worse The Church-men did so blinde the King Constantine the third That they perswaded him to quit the Royall Crown and take the Clericall Tonsure of a Monk which he did at Saint Andrews There were some Priests in these dayes who did strive to have liberty to take lawfull Wives but in vain A little thereafter there were new disputes for Priests marriage one Bernet a Scots Bishop stood much for that cause in a nationall Councell In this Age although that avarice and ambition had corrupted and perverted Religion generally yet there were constantly some godly men who albeit they could not openly stop and oppose the torrent of these times given to Idolatry and Superstition did instruct and teach the people That Christ was the onely propitiation for sin and that Christs blood onely did wash us from the guilt of sin In the eleventh Age Malcome gave away a part of the Crown Lands among his Nobles for their good service against the Danes the Nobles in recompence thereof did grant unto the Crown the ward of these Lands with the benefit that was to arise by the marriage of the Heir Untill the later part of this Age the Bishops of Scotland although they had raised their Order unto a great power and riches yet they were not distinguished in Diocesses so till then indifferently wheresoever they came they did Ministrate their Function without lording over one particular place or calling themselves Lords of any place The Diocesses wherein Scotland was divided at first were these Saint Andrews Glasgo Murray Catnes Murthlac or Aberdene The Bishops of Rome taking upon them in these dayes to be above Kings and to conferre in matters of Honour upon Kings how and where they pleased and so by this means to put a farther tye of Vassalage and subjection upon Princes To this effect in the yeer 1098. ordained King Edgar to be anointed with externall Oyl by the Bishop of Saint Andrews a rite which till that day had not been in use among our Kings yet they were as much the anointed of the Lord before as they have been since and as any other Princes who before them had this externall anointing from the Sea of Rome although the Romish Writers do make a greater esteem of these Kings anointed by them then of others because they conceive them to be more their own Here note by the way That all Princes whatsoever in Scripture-Language are said to be the Anointed of the Lord and so Cyrus was named although he was never anointed with externall Oyl Next although the first Kings of Israel were anointed as Saul David and Solomon with
onely one or two who embraced the Truth all the rest were either professed persecutors of Gods Children and open enemies of the Truth or else they were given altogether so to satisfie their bellies and lusts that they had no care of Religion witnesse George Creichton in the name of all the rest Bishop of Dunkell who confessed truly That he had lived a long time Bishop and never knew any thing of the Old or New Testament Impietie Ignorance and Wickednesse came to such height among the Church-men of all ranks degrees and professions that God being after so long patience in a manner vexed with them did stirre up the people to chase them from the service of his House and to put others in their places as you will see in this following Historie whereunto I referre you And I shall close up this discourse with one or two passages worthy to be known whereby you may see the learning of the Church-Doctors in those dayes and how they did imploy the knowledge they had to abuse the poor people The first Passage is this One Richard Marshall Prior of the Blackefriers at Newcastle in England preached in Saint Andrews That the Pater-noster should be said to God onely and not to the Saints The Doctors of Saint Andrews offended at it made a Gray frier called Tottis preach against Marshall his Tenet which hee did thus taking his Text out of the fift of Saint Matthew Blessed are the poore in spirit Seeing we say Good day Father to any old man in the Street we may call a Saint Pater who is older then any alive And seeing they are in Heaven we may say to any of them Our Father which art in heaven And seeing they are holy we may say to any of them Hallowed be thy name And since they are in the Kingdom of Heaven we may say Thy kingdom come And seeing their will is Gods Will we may say to any of them Thy will be done But when the Gray Fryer preaching came to the fourth Petition Give us this day our dayly bread he was hissed at and so was constrained not onely to leave off Preaching but also to leave the City for shame Yet among the Doctors then assembled the Dispute continued about the Pater for some would have it said to God formaliter and to the Saints materialiter others to God principaliter to the Saints minus principaliter others primariò to God secundariò to the Saints others would have it said to God taking it strictè and to the Saints taking it latè Notwithstanding all these Distinctions the Doctors could not agree upon the businesse A fellow called Tom servant to the Sub-Prior of Saint Andrews one day perceiving his Master much troubled with some businesse and as he conceived weighty said to him Sir what is the matter of this your trouble The Master answered We cannot agree about the saying of the Pater The fellow replied To whom should it be said but to God alone The Master answers again What shall we do then with the Saints The fellow duplies Give them Ave's and Credo's enough that may suffice them and too well too If this was good Divinity God knows The second passage likewise is very well worth the knowing and to this purpose very fit which fell out about the same time with the former that is about the first beginning of the Reformation A little before the death of George Wischard there came home from Rome a fellow charged with very many holy Reliques and new things of great vertue as he gave out but the things were not to be had nor any benefit by the sight or touching of them without moneys Now upon a holy day in a village neer Hadington this Romish Pedler did open his pack to try if he could vent any of his Wares among the Countrey people Among other commodities the good Merchant did shew unto the people there was a Bell of much value by reason of its great vertue which he gave out to be this That if any two parties had any difference which could not be otherwise decided but by Oath the truth of the Oath was to be made known by this Bell for said he when any one sweareth laying his hand on this Bell if he swear true he shall after the Oath sworn remove his hand easily from from the Bell without any change to the Bell But if he that sweareth having his hand upon the Bell sweareth falsly his hand will stick to the Bell and the Bell will rive asunder Now we must tell you That already there was a rift in the Bell which this Romipete did affirm had happened by a false Oath of one that had sworn having his hand upon the Bell. At this tale the poor simple people were astonished and fell in admiration But among them was one Fermer who had some light of the Truth of God he drawing neer the Romish Merchant desired to have the Bell in his hand to see it neerly This desire was granted unto him Then he takes the Bell and looks on it expressing great admiration at first but immediately thereafter he asked at the Romipete if he would suffer him to swear in presence of the company having his hand upon the Bell for he had minde to take an Oath upon a weighty businesse The man could not refuse him Then said the Farmer to the company Friends before I swear you see the rift that is already in the Bell and how big it is and that I have nothing upon my fingers to make them stick to the Bell. With this he sheweth them his hand open then laying his hand upon the Bell he did swear this I swear in the presence of the living God and before these good people That the Pope of Rome is Antichrist and that all the rabble of his Clergie Cardinalls Archbishops Bishops Priests Monks with the rest of the crew are Locusts come from hell to delude the people and to withdraw them from God Moreover I promise They will return to hell Incontinent he lifted up his hand from the Bell before them all and said See friends that I have lifted up my hand freely from the Bell and look unto the rift in the Bell it is one and the same without change this sheweth according to the saying of this Merchant That I have sworn truth Then this poor fellow went away and never was more seen in Scotland nor any other of his kinde who brought Reliques or other like toyes from Rome Many more of this kinde might be alleadged but let these suffice to demonstrate the miserable ignorance from which God in his mercy hath delivered us To whom be praise and glory for this and all other benefits With this I end the Preface that you may come to the History it self 1553. PAtrick Hamilton was three and twenty yeers of Age when he suffered After his death his brother German Iames Hamilton of Levinston was accused likewise but the King did cause to convey him
so without judgement all men fled The Sea was filling and so the water made great stop but the fear was such as happy was he that might get a taker Such as passed the water and escaped that danger not well acquainted with the ground fell into the slimy mosse the entry thereof was pleasing enough but as they proceeded all that took that way either lost their horse or else themselves and horse both To be short a greater fear and discomfiture without cause hath seldome beene seen for it is said That where the men were not sufficient to take the Bands of prisoners Some ran to houses and rendered themselves to women Stout Oliver was without stroke taken fleeing full manfully And so was his glory stinking and foolish proudnesse we should call it suddenly turned to confusion and shame In that discomfiture were taken the two Earls aforesaid the Lords Fleming Somerwell and Olyphant and many other Barons and Gentlemen besides the great multitude of servants Worldly men say That all this come but by misorder and fortune as they term it But whosoever hath the least spark of the knowledge of God may as evidently see the work of his hand in this discomfiture as ever was seen in any of the Battells left to us in Register by the holy Ghost For what more evident Declaration have we that God fought against Benhadad King of Aram when he was discomfited at Samaria than now we have that God fought with his own Arm against Scotland in this former discomfiture There did two hundred and thirty persons in the Skirmish with seven thousand following them in the great Battell put to flight the said Benhadad with thirty Kings in his Company But here there is in this shamefull discomfiture of Scotland very few more than three hundreth men without knowledge of any Backe or Battell to follow put to flight ten thousand men without resistance made There did every man recounter his marrow till that the two hundred and thirty slew such as matched them But here without slaughter the multitude fled There had those of Samaria the Prophet of God to comfort to instruct and to promise Victory unto them But England in that pursuit had nothing but as God secretly wrought by his providence in the men that knew nothing of his working neither yet of the cause thereof more then the wall that fell upon the rest of Benhadads Army knew what it did And therefore yet again we say That such as in that sudden dejection beholds not the hand of God fighting against pride for freedome of his own little Flock injustly persecuted doth willingly and maliciously obscure the glory of God but the end thereof is yet more notable The certain knowledge of the discomfiture coming to the Kings ears who waited upon news at Lochmaban he was stricken with a sudden fear and astonishment so that scarcely could he speak or had purpose with any man The night constrained him to remain where he was and so went to bed but rose without rest or quiet sleep His continuall complaint was O fled Oliver is Oliver taken O fled Oliver And these words in his melancholly and as it were carried in a Trance repeated he from time to time to the very hour of death Upon the morn which was Saint Katherines day returned he to Edinburgh and so did the Cardinall from Hadington But the one being ashamed of the other the brute of their communication came not to publike audience The King made Inventory of his Treasure of all his Jewels and other substance And thereafter ashamed to look any man in the face secretly departed to Fife and coming to Hallzairdes was humanely received of the Lady of Grange an ancient and godly Matron the Laird at his coming was absent In his company was onely with him William Kirkâ—ldy now Laird of Grange and some other that waited upon his Chamber The Lady at Supper perceiving him pensive beganne to comfort him and willeth him to take the Work of GOD in good part My portion said he of this world is short for I will not be with you fifteen dayes His servants repairing unto him asked where he would have provision made for Christmas which then approached he answered with a disdainfull countenance I cannot tell chuse you the place but this I can tell you Or Christmas day you will be masterlesse and the Realme without a King Because of his displeasure no man durst make contradiction unto him So after that he had visited the Castle of Carny pertaining to the Earle of Crawfurde where the said Earles daughter one of his Mistresses was he returned to Falkland and took bed And albeit there appeared unto him no signes of death yet he constantly affirmed Before such a day I shall be dead In this mean time was the Queen upon the point of her delivery in Lynlitquow who was delivered the 8 of December in the yeere of God 1542 yeeres of Mary that then was born and now doth raigne for a scourge to this Realme as the progresse of her whole life has to this day declared The certainty that a daughter was born unto him coming to his ears he turned from such as spake with him and said The devill go with it it will end as it began it came from a woman and it will end with a woman From Mary daughter to Robert Bruse married to Walter Stuart he feared that his daughter should be married to one of another Name and Family but you see by Gods providence the Crown remains in one and the same Family and Name to this day notwithstanding the many Plots of the pretenders to the Crowne both at home and abroad After that he spake not many words that were sensible but ever harped on his old song Fie fled Oliver is Oliver taken all is lost In this mean time in his great extremity comes the Cardinall a fit comforter for a desperate man he cries in his eare Take order Sir with your Realme who shall rule during the minority of your daughter ye have knowne my service What will ye have done Shall there not be four Regents chosen And shall not I be principall of them Whatsoever the King answered Documents were taken That so it should be as my Lord Cardinall thought expedient As many affirme a dead mans hand was made to subscribe one blank that they might write above what it pleased them best the Cardinall having hired one Henry Balfour a Priest to make a false Testament which was done accordingly but in vain This finished the Cardinall posted to the Queen lately before delivered as is said At the first sight of the Cardinall she said Welcome my Lord is not the King dead What moved her so to conjecture divers men are of divers judgements Many whisper that of old his patte was in the pot and that the suspition thereof caused him to be inhibite the Queens company Howsoever it was
the said Cardinall the Earles Argyle Huntlie Bothwell the Bishops and their bands And thereafter they passed to Strevelin and took with them both the Queenes the mother and the daughter and threatned the deposition of the said Governour as Inobedient to their holy Mother the Church so terme they that harlot of Babylon Rome The inconstant man not thorowly grounded upon God left by his owne fault destitute of all good counsell and having the wicked ever blowing in his eare What will you do you will destroy your selfe and your house both for ever The unhappy man we say beaten with these temptations rendred himselfe to the appetites of the wicked for he quietly stole away from the Lords that were with him in the Palace of Halyrud-house past to Sterlin subjected himselfe to the Cardinall and to his Councell received absolution renounced the profession of Christ Jesus his holy Gospel and violated his Oath that before he had made for the observation of the Contract and League made with England At that time was our Queene crowned and a promise made to France The certainty hereof coming to King Henry our Scottish Ships were stayed the Sailes taken from the Rigs and the Merchants and Mariners were commanded to sure custody New Commission was sent to Master Radulph Saidler who then still remained in Scotland to demand the cause of that sudden alteration and to travell by all meanes possible that the Governour might be called back to his former godly purpose and that he would not do so foolishly and dishonestly yea so cruelly and unmercifully to the Realme of Scotland that he would not onely lose the commodities offered and that were presently to be received But that also that he would put it to the hazard of fire and sword and other inconveniences that might ensue the war that was to follow upon the violation of his Faith But nothing could availe The devil kept fast the grype that he got yea all the dayes of his government For the Cardinall got his eldest son in pledge whom he kept in the Castle of S. Andrews while the day that Gods hand punished his pride King Henry perceiving that all hope of the Governours repentance was lost called back his Ambassadours and that with fearfull threatnings as Edinburgh after felt Denounced War made our Ships prises and Merchants and Mariners lawfull prisoners which to the Broughes of Scotland was no small hership But thereat did the Cardinall and Priests laugh and jestingly he said When we shall conquer England the Merchants shall be recompensed The Summer and the Harvest passed over without any notable thing For the Cardinall and Abbot of Paislay parted the prey amongst them The abused Governour bare the name onely In the beginning of Winter came the Earle of Lenox to Scotland sent from France in hatred of the Governour whom the King by the Cardinals advice promised to pronounce Bastard and so to make the said Earle Governour First because he himselfe was borne by Betoâ— his fathers lawfull wife Elizabeth Humes being yet alive Next because his Grandfather was borne by Mary Stuart to Iames Hamilton when her lawfull husband Thomas Boâ—d was yet alive So the Earle of Lenox did not onely pretend to be lawfully next to the Crowne as the late King Iames the fifth did often declare That if he died without heire male he would settle the Crowne upon him but also lawfull heire of the Earledome of Arran as being descended from Margaret Hamilton borne to Mary Stuart and Iames Hamilton after the death of Thomas Boyd her former husband now by this time the inconstant Earle of Arran had given himselfe wholly to the Cardinall The Cardinall farther put the E. of Lenox in vain hope that the Queen Dowager should marry him He brought with him some money and more he after received at the hands of Labrosse But at length perceiving himselfe frustrate of all expectation that he had either by France or yet by the promise of the Cardinall he concludeth to leave France and to seek the favour of England And so began to draw a faction against the Governour and in hatred of the others inconstancy many favoured him in the beginning For there assembled at Christmas in the Town of Ayre the Earles of Angus Glencarne Cassilles The Lord Maxwell The Laird of Dumlanrig The Sheriffe of Ayre Campbell with all the force that they and the Lords that remained constant at the opinion of England might make and after Christmas they came to light The Governour and Cardinall with their forces kept Edinburgh for they were slackly pursued Men excused the Earle of Lenox in that behalfe and laid the blame upon some that had no will of the Stewards Regiment Howsoever it was such an appointment was made that the said Earle of Lenox was disappointed of his purpose and narrowly escaped and first gat him to Glasgow and after to Dumbartane Sir George Dowglas was delivered to be kept as pledge The Earle his brother was in the Lent after taken at the siege of Glasgow It was bruted that both the brethren and others with them had lost their heads if by the providence of God the English Armie had not arrived in time After that the Cardinall had gotten the Governour wholly addict to his devotion and had obtained his intent above a part of his enemies He began to practise how that such as he feared and therefore deadly hated should be set by the eares one against another for in that thought the carnall man put his greatest securitie The Lord Ruthwen he hated by reason of his knowledge of Gods Word The Lord Gray he feared because at that time he used the company of such as professed godlinesse and bare small favour to the Cardinall Now thus reasoned the worldly wise man If I can put enmity betwixt these two I shall be rid of a great number of unfriends For the most part of the Countrey will either assist the one or the other and so will they be otherwise occupied then to watch for my displeasure He finds the means without long processe for he labours with Iohn Chartarous a man of stout courage and many friends to accept the Provostrie of S. Iohnston which he purchased to him by donation of the Governour with a charge to the said Towne to obey him as their lawfull Provost Whereat not onely the said Lord Ruthwen but also the Towne being offended gave a negative answer alleadging that such intrusion of men to office was hurtfull to their priviledge and freedom which granted unto them free election of their Provost from yeere to yeere at a certain time appointed which they could not nor would not anticipate Hereat the said Iohn offended said That he would take that office by force if they would not grant it unto him of benevolence And so departed and communed the matter with the Lord Gray with Norman Leslie and with others his friends whom he easily perswaded to assist
That Auricular Confession seeing that it hath no promise of the Gospel truely it cannot be a Sacrament Of the Confession to be made to God there are many testimonies in Scripture as when David saith I thought that I would acknowledge mine iniquity against my self unto the Lord and he forgave the trespasses of my sins Here confessing signifieth the secret knowledge of our sins before God When I exhorted the people on this manner I reproved no manner of Confession And farther Saint Iames saith Acknowledge your sins one to another and so let you have peace among your selves Here the Apostle meaneth nothing of Auricular Confession but that we should acknowledge and confesse our selves to be sinners before our brethren and before the world and not to esteeme our selves as the Gray Friers do thinking themselves already purged When that he had said these words the horned Bishops and their complices cryed and gyrned with their teeth saying See ye not what colours he hath in his speech that he may beguile us and seduce us to his opinion The fifth Article Thou false heretick didst say openly That it was necessary for every man to know and understand his Baptisme which is contrary to Generall Councels and the Estates of holy Church The Answer My Lords I believe there be none so unwise here that will make Merchandise with any French-men or any other unknowne stranger except he know and understand first the condition or promise made by the French-man or stranger So likewise I would that we understood what thing we promise in the name of the Infant unto God in Baptisme Then said M. Peter Chaplin That he had the devill within him and the spirit of terrour Then answered him a childe saying The devil cannot speak such words as yonder man doth speake The sixth Article Thou false Hereticke Traytor and Thiefe thou said That the Sacrament of the Altar was but a piece of bread baken upon the ashes and no other thing else and all that is there done is but a superstitious Rite against the Commandment of God The Answer Oh Lord God! so manifest lyes and blasphemies the Scripture doth not teach you As concerning the Sacrament of the Altar my Lords I never taught any thing against the Scripture the which I shall by Gods grace make manifest this day I being ready therefore to suffer death The lawfull use of the Sacrament is most acceptable unto God But the great abuse of it is very detestable unto him But what occasion they have to say such words of me I shall shortly shew your Lordships I once chanced to meet with a Iew when I was sayling upon the water of Rhene I did enquire of him What was the cause of his pertinacie that he did not believe that the true Messias was come considering that they had seen all the Prophesies which were spoken of him to be fulfilled Moreover the Prophesies taken away and the Scepter of Iuda By many other testimonies of the Scripture I witnessed to him and proved that the Messias was come the which they called Iesus of Nazareth This Iew answered again unto me When Messias cometh he shall restore all things and he shall not abrogate the Law which was given unto our Fathers as ye do for why We see the poor almost perish through hunger amongst you yet you are not moved with pity towards them But amongst us Iewes though we be poor there are no beggers found Secondarily It is forbidden by the Law to fain any kinde of Imagery of things in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the Sea under the earth but one God onely to honour But your Sanctuaries and Churches are full of Idolls Thirdly a piece of bread baked upon the ashes ye adore and worship and say that it is your God I have rehearsed here but the sayings of a Iew which I never affirmed to be true Then the Bishops shook their heads and spitted on the ground and what he meaned in this matter further they would not hear The seventh Article Thou false hereticke didst say That extreme Unction was not a Sacrament The Answer My Lords forsooth I never taught of extreme Unction in my Doctrine whether it was a Sacrament or no. The eighth Article Thou false hereticke didst say That holy water is not so good as Wash and such like Thou contemnest conjuring and sayest That holy Churches cursing availeth not The Answer My Lords as for holy water what strength it is of I taught never in my Doctrine Conjurings and Exorcisms if they were conformable to the Word of God I would commend them but in as much as they are not conformable to the Commandment and Word of God I reprove them The ninth Article Thou false Hereticke and runagate hast said That every man is a Priest and likewise thou sayest That the Pope hath no more power then another man The Answer My Lords I taught nothing but the Word of God I remember that I have read in some places of S. Iohn and S. Peter of the which one saith He hath made us kings and priests The other saith He hath made us the kingly Priesthood Wherefore I have affirmed Any man understanding and perfit in the Word of God and the true faith of Jesus Christ to have his power given him from God and not by the power or violence of men but by the vertue of the Word of God the which word is called The power of God as witnesseth S. Paul evidently enough And againe I say Any unlearned man and not exercised in the Word of God nor yet constant in his Faith whatsoever estate or order he be of I say he hath no power to binde or to loose seeing he wanteth the instrument by the which he bindeth and looseth that is to say The Word of God After that he had said these words all the Bishops laughed and mocked him When that he beheld their laughing Laugh ye said he my Lords Though that these my sayings do seem scornfull and worthy of derision to your Lordships neverthelesse they are very weighty to me and of a great value because that they stand not onely upon my life but also upon the honour and glory of God In the meane time many godly men beholding the woodnesse and great cruelty of the Bishops and the invincible patience of the said M. George did greatly mourne and lament The tenth Article Thou false Hereticke saidst That a man had no free-will but is like to the Stoicks which say That it is not in mans will to do anything but that all desire and concupiscence cometh of God of whatsoever kinde it be of The Answer My Lords I said not so truely I say That as many as beleeve in Christ firmely unto them is given liberty conformable to the saying of S. Iohn If the Sonne make you free then shall you verily be free Of the contrary as many as beleeve not in Christ Jesus they are bond-servants of sin
sat downe upon his knees and rose againe And thrice he said these words O thou Saviour of the world have mercy on me Father of heaven I commend my spirit into thy holy hands When he had made this Prayer he turned him to the people and said these words having obtained leave to speak a little I beseech you Christian brethren and sisters that ye be not offended at the Word of God for the affliction and torments which ye see already prepared for me But I exhort you that ye love the Word of God for your salvation and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort Moreover I pray you shew my brethren and sisters which have heard me oft before that they cease not nor leave off to learne the word of God which I taught them after the grace given unto me for no persecutions nor troubles in this world which last not And shew unto them that my Doctrine was no wives fables after the constitutions made by men And if I had taught mens doctrine I had gotten greater thanks by men But for the Words sake and true Gospel which was given to me by the grace of God I suffer this day by men not sorrowfully but with a glad heart and minde For this cause I was sent That I should suffer this fire for Christs sake Consider and behold my visage ye shall not see me change my colour This grim fire I fear not and so I pray you for to do if that any persecution come unto you for the Words â—ake and not to fear them that slay the body and have no power afterward to slay the soul. Some have said of me That I taught that the soul of man should sleep untill the last day But I know surely and my faith is such That my soul shall sup with my Saviour this night ere it be six hours for whom I suffer this Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech the Father of heaven to forgive them that have of any ignorance or else of any evil minde forged lies upon me I forgive them with all my heart I beseech Christ forgive them that have condemned me to death this day ignorantly And last of all he said to the people on this manner I beseech you brethren and sisters to exhort your Prelats to the learning of the Word of God that they may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good And if they will not convert themselves from their wicked errour there shall hastily come upon them the wrath of God which they shall not eschew Many faithfull words said he in the meane time taking no heed or care of the cruell torments which were then prepared for him Then the Executioner that was his tormentor sate down upon his knees and said Sir I pray you forgive me for I am not guilty of your death To whom he answered Come hither to me When he was come to him he kissed his cheek and said Lo here is a token that I forgive thee my heart do thy Office And then by and by the Trumpet sounding he was tyed to the stake and the fire kindled The Captain of the Castle for the love he bore to M. Wischarde drew so neer to the fire that the flame thereof did him harme he wished M. Wischarde to be of good courage and to beg from God the forgivenesse of his sins to whom M. Wischarde answered thus This fire torments my body but no wayes abates my spirit Then M. Wischarde looking towards the Cardinall said He who in such state from that high place feedeth his eyes with my torments within few dayes shall be hanged out at the same window to be seen with us much ignominy as he now leaneth there in pride Then with this the Executioner drawing the Cord stopt his breath presently after the fire being great he was consumed to powder The Prelats would not suffer any prayers to be made for him according to their Custome After the death of Master Wischarde the Cardinall was cryed up by his flatterers and all the rabble of the corrupt Clergie as the onely Defender of the Catholike Church and punisher of hereticks neglecting the authority of the sluggish Governour And it was said by them That if the great Prelates of latter dayes both at home and abroad had been so stout and zealous of the credit of the Catholike Church they had not onely suppressed all hereticks but also kept under the Lay-men who were so froward and stubborne On the other side when that the people beheld the great tormenting of that innocent they could not withhold from piteous mourning and complaining of the innocent lambs slaughter After the death of this blessed Martyr of God began the people in plaine speaking to damne and detest the cruelty that was used yea men of great birth and estimation and honour at open tables avowed That the blood of the said Master George should be revenged or else it should cost life for life and that in a short time they should be like hogs kept for slaughter by this vitious Priest and wicked Monster which neither minded God nor cared for man Amongst those that spake against the Cardinalls cruelty Iohn Lesley brother to the Earle of Rothes was chief with his Cozen Norman Lesley who had been a great follower of the Cardinall and very active for him but a little before fell so foule with him that they came to high reproaches one with another The occasion of their falling out was a private businesse wherein Norman Lesley said he was wronged by the Cardinall On the other side the Cardinall said he was not with respect used by Norman Lesley his inferiour The said Iohn Lesley in all companies spared not to say That that same dagger shewing forth his dagger and that same hand should be put in the Cardinalls brest These brutes came to the Cardinalls ears but he thought himselfe stout enough for all Scotland For in Babylon that is in his new Block-House he was sure as he thought and upon the fields he was able to match all his enemies And to speak the truth the most part of the Nobility of Scotland had either given unto him their Bands of Manred or else were in confederacy and promised amity with him and so he gave his bastard eldest daughter in Marriage to the Earl of Crawford his eldest son and heir and caused the Wedding to be celebrate with such State as if she had been a Princes lawfull daughter He onely feared them in whose hands God did deliver him and for them he laid his nets so secretly as that he made a full compt that their feet could not escape as we shall after hear And something of his former practices we may recompt After Easter he came to Edinburgh to hold the Seingnye as the Papists termed then their unhappy Assembly of Baals shaven sort It was bruted that
it betwixt them for that day The feare riseth and at an instant they which before were victors and were not yet assaulted with any force except with ordnance as is said cast from them their spears and fled So that Gods power was so evidently seen that in one moment yea at one instant time both the armies were fleeing The shout came from the hill from those that hoped no victory upon the English part The shout rises we say They flee they flee but at the first it could not be beleeved till at the last it was clearly seene that all had given back and still began the cruell slaughter which was the greater by reason of the late displeasure of the men of arms the chase and slaughter lasted till neer Edinburgh upon the one part and toward Dalketh upon the other The number of the slain upon the Scottish side were judged nigh ten thousand men The Earle of Huntly was taken and carried to London But he relieved himselfe being surety for many reasons Honesty or unhonesty we know not but as the bruite was he used policie with England In that same time was slain the Master of Erskin dearly beloved of the Queene for whom she made great lamentation and bare his death many dayes in minde When the certaintie of the discomfiture came she was in Edinburgh abiding upon tidings But with expedition she posted that same night to Sterlin with Monsieur Dosell who was as fearfull as a Fox when his hole is smoaked And thus did God take the second revenge upon the perjured Governour with such as assisted him to defend an unjust quarrell Albeit that many innocents fell amongst the middest of the wicked The English armie came to Leyth and their taking order with their prisoners and spoile they returned with this victory which they looked not for to England That Winter following was great hearships made upon all the borders of Scotland Broughtie mountain was taken by the Englishmen and besieged by the Governor but still kept And at it was slain Gawine the best of the Hamiltons and the ordnance left Whereupon the Englishmen encouraged began to fortifie upon the hill above Broughty house which was called The fort of Broughty and was very noisome to Dundie which it burnt and laid waste and so did it the most part of Angus which was not assured and under friendship with them The Lent following was Hadington fortified by the English men The most part of Lothian from Edinburgh East was either assured or laid waste This did God plague in every quarter But men were blinde and would not nor could not consider the cause The Lairdes Ormeston and Brunstone were banished and after sore assaulted and so were all those of the Castle of S. Andrews The sure knowledge of the troubles of Scotland coming to France there was prepared a Navie and Army The Navie was such as never was seen to come from France for the support of Scotland for besides the Gallies being twenty two in number they had threescore great Ships besides Victuallers How soon so ever they took the plain seas the red Lion of Scotland was displayed and they holden as rebels unto France such policie is no falshood in Princes for good peace stood betwixt France and England And the King of France approved nothing that they did The chiefe men to whom the conducting of the Army was appointed were Monsieur Dandelott Monsieur de Termes and Peter Strozi In their journey they made some harship upon the coast of England but it was not great They arrived in Scotland in May in the yeere of our Lord 1549. The Gallies did visit the Fort of Broughtie but did no more at that time Preparations were made for the siege of Hadington but it was another thing that they meant as the issue declared The whole body of the Realm assembled the form of a Parliament was set to be holden there to wit in the Abbey of Hadington The principall head was the Marriage of the Princesse by the State before contracted to King Edward to the King of France and of her present deliverie by reason of the danger she stood in by the invasion of the old enemies of England Some were corrupted with buds some deceived by flattering promise and some for fear were compelled to consent for the French Souldiers were the officers of Arms in that Parliament The Laird of Balcleuch a bloody man with many Gods-wounds swore They that would not consent should do worse The Governour got the Title of Duke of Chattelherauld with the order of the Cockle and a Pension of 12000. lib. turn with a full discharge of all intermissions with King Iames the fift his treasure and substance whatsoever with possession of the Castle of Dumbartane till that issue should be seen of the Queenes body With these and other conditions stood he content to sell his Soveraigne out of his own hands which in the end will be his destruction God thereby punishing his former wickednesse if speedie repentance prevent not Gods judgements which we heartily wish Huntly Argyle and Angus were likewise made Knights of the Cockle and for that and other good deeds received they sold also their part Shortly none was found to resist that unjust demand And so was she sold to go to France To the end that in her youth she should drink of that liquor that should remain with her all her life time for a plague to this Realm and for her own ruine And therefore albeit that now a fire cometh out of her that consumes many let no man wonder she is Gods hand in his displeasure punishing our former ingratitude Let men patiently abide Gods appointed time and turn unto him with hearty repentance then God will surely stop the fire that now comes from her by sudden changing her heart to deal favourably with his people or else by taking her away or by stopping her to go on in her couâ—se by such meanes as he shall think meet in his wisdom for he having all in his hand disposeth of all and doth with all according to his own will unto which we must not onely yeeld but also be heartily pleased with it since it is absolutely good and both by Sacred and Prophane History we are taught to do so for in them we finde That Princes have been raised up by his hands to punish his people But when they turned unto him with hearty repentance he either turned the heart of the Prince to deal kindly with his people or else did take him away or at least did stop his violent course against his people Of this the examples are so frequent that we spare to name them heere But to returne to our Historie This conclusion That our Queene without further delay should be delivered to France The siege continued great shooting but no assaulting and yet they had fair occasion offered unto them For the English-men approaching to
troubles and adversities which man sustaineth for accomplishment of Gods will revealed by his word For how terrible soever they appeare to the judgement of the naturall man yet are they never able to devour nor utterly to consume the sufferers For the invisible and invincible power of God sustaineth and preserveth according to his promise all such as with simplicity do obey him The subtill craft of Pharaoh many yeers joyned with his bloody cruelty was not able to destroy the male children of Israel neither were the waters of the Red Sea much lesse the rage of Pharaoh able to confound Moses and the company which he conducted and that because the one had Gods Promise that they should multiply and the other had his Commandment to enter into such dangers I would your wisedoms should consider that our God remaineth one and is immutable and that the Church of Christ Jesus hath the same promise of protection and defence that Israel had of multiplication And farther That no lesse cause have ye to enter into your former enterprise then Moses had to go to the presence of Pharaoh for your vassalls yea your brethren are oppressed their bodies and souls holden in bondage and God speaketh to your consciences unlesse ye be dead with the blinde world that ye ought to hazard your owne lives be it against Kings or Emperours for their deliverance For onely for that cause are ye called Princes of the people And ye receive of your Brethren Honour Tribute and Homage at Gods Commandment not by reason of your Birth and Progenie as the most part of men do falsly suppose but by reason of your Office and Duty which is to vindicate and deliver your subjects and brethren from all violence and oppression to the uttermost of your power Advise diligently I beseech you with the points of that Letter which I directed to the whole Nobility and let every man apply the matter and case to himself for your conscience shall one day be compelled to acknowledge That the Reformation of Religion and of publike enormities doth appertaine to more then to the Clergie or chief Rulers called Kings The mighty Spirit of the Lord Jesus rule and guide your counsells to your eternall glory your eternall comfort and to the consolation of your brethren Amen From Deape the 27 of October 1557. These Letters received and read together with others directed to the whole Nobility and some to particular Gentlemen as to the Lairds of Dun and Petarrow new consultation was had what was best to be done and in the end it was concluded That they would follow forward their purpose once intended and would commit themselves and whatsoever God had given them into his hands rather then they would suffer Idolatry so manifestly to raigne and the Subjects of that Realme so to be defrauded as long as they had been of the onely food of their souls the true Preaching of Christs Gospel And that every one should be the more assured of other a common Bond was made and by some subscribed The tenor thereof followeth WE perceiving how Sathan in his members the Antichrists of our time cruelly do rage seeking to overthrow and destroy the Gospel of Christ and his Congregation ought according to our bounden duty to strive in our Masters Cause even unto the death being certaine of the Victory in him The which our duty being well considered We do promise before the Majestie of God and his Congregation That we by his grace shall with all diligence continually apply our whole power substance and our very lives to maintain set forward and establish the most blessed Word of God and his Congregation And shall labour according to our power to have faithfull Ministers truely and purely to minister Christs Gospel and Sacraments to his people We shall maintain them nourish them and defend them the whole Congregation of Christ and every Member thereof according to our whole powers and waging of our lives against Sathan and all wicked power that doth intend Tyranny or trouble against the foresaid Congregation Unto the which holy Word and Congregation we do joyne us and so do forsake and renounce the Congregation of Sathan with all the superstitious abomination and idolatry thereof And moreover shall declare our selves manifestly enemies thereto By this our faithfull Promise before God testified to this Congregation by our Subscription at these Presents At Edinburgh the third of December anno 1557. God called to witnesse Sic subscribitur A. Earle of Argyle Glencarne Mortoun Archibald Lord of Lorne Iohn Erskin of Dun Et caetera A little before that this Bond was subscribed by the fore-written and many other Letters were directed again to Io. Knox from the said Lords together with their Letters to M. Calvin craving of him That by his authority he would command the said Iohn once again to visite them These Letters were delivered by the hands of M. Iohn Gray in the Moneth of November anno 1558. who at that same time past to Rome for expedition of the Bowes of the Bp. of Rosse to M. Henry Sinclar Immediately after the subscription of this foresaid Bond the Lords and Barons professing Christ Jesus convened frequently in counsell in the which these Heads were concluded First It is thought expedient advised and ordained That in all Parishes of this Realm the Common-Prayer be read weekly on Sunday and other Festivall dayes publikely in the Parish Churches with the Lessons of the Old and New Testament conformed to the order of the Book of Common Prayers And if the Curats of the Parishes be qualified to cause them to read the same And if they be not or if they refuse that the most qualified in the Parish use and reade the same Secondly It is thought necessary that Doctrine Preaching and Interpretation of Scriptures be had and used privately in quiet houses without great conventions of the people thereto while afterward that God move the Prince to grant publike Preaching by faithfull and true Ministers These two heads concerning the Religion and some others concerning the policie being concluded the old Earle of Argyle took the maintenance of Iohn Dowglas caused him to Preach publikely in his house and reformed many things according to his counsell The same boldnesse tooke divers others as well within Towns as in the country which did not a little trouble the Bishops and Queen Regent As by this Letter and Credit committed to Sir David Hamilton from the Bishop of S. Andrews to the said Earle of Argyle may be clearly understood The Bishops Letter to the old Earle of Argyle MY Lord after most hearty commendations this is to advertise your Lordship that we have directed this Bearer our Cousin towards your Lordship in such businesse and affaires as concerneth your Lordships honour profit and great well-being as the said Bearer will declare to your Lordship at more length I pray your Lordship effectuously to
advert thereto and to have care to use your Lordships friends that alwayes hath wished the honour profit and prosperity of your Lordships house as of our own I pray you give credit to the Bearer Iesu have your Lordship in everlasting keeping Of Edinburgh the five and twentieth day of March Anno 1558. Sic subscribitur Your Lordships at all power Saint Andrews Followes the Credit MEmorandum To Sir David Hamilton to my Lord Earle of Argyle in my behalfe and let him see and heare every Article 1. Imprimis To repeat the ancient blood of his house how long it hath stood how notable it hath been and so many Noble-men hath been Earles Lords and Knights thereof How long they have reigned in their parts true and obedient both to God and the Prince without any spot in their dayes in any manner of sort And to remember how many notable men are come of his house 2. Secondly To shew him the great affection I beare towards him his blood house and friends and of the ardent desire I have of the perpetuall standing of it in honour and fame with all them that are come of it Which is my part for many and divers causes as you shall see 3. Thirdly To shew my Lord how heavy and displeasing it is to me now to heare That he who is and hath been so Noble a man should be seduced and abused by the flattery of such an infamed person of the Law and men sworne Apostate that under the pretence that he giveth himself forth as a Preacher of the Gospel and Veritie under that colour setteth forth Schismes and Divisions in the holy Church of God with Hereticall Propositions thinking that under his maintenance and defence to infect this Countrey with Heresie perswading my said Lord and others his children and friends that all that he speaketh is Scripture and conform thereunto albeit that many of his Propositions are many yeers past condemned by generall Councels and the whole state of Christian people 4. Fourthly To shew to my Lord how perillous this is to his Lordship and his house and decay thereof in case that authority should be sharp and should use rigour conform both to Civill and Canon and also your own Municipall law of this Realm 5. Fifthly to shew his Lordship how woe I would be either to heare see or know any displeasure that might come to him his son or any of his house or friends and especially in his own time and dayes And as how great displeasure I have now to hear great and evil bruites of him that should in his old age in a manner vary from his faith and to be altered therin when the time is that he should be most sure and firme therein 6. Sixthly To shew his Lordship that there is delation of that man called Dowglas or Grant of sundry Articles of Heresie which lieth to my charge and conscience to put remedie to or else all the pestilentious Doctrine he sowes and such like all that are corrupt by his Doctrine and all that he draweth from our Faith and Christian Religion will lie to my charge before God and I to be accused before God for overseeing of him if I put not remedy thereto and correct him for such things he is delated of And therefore that my Lord consider and weigh it well how highly it lieth both to my honour and conscience for if I favour him I shall be accused for all them that he infects and corrupts in Heresie 7. Seventhly Therefore I pray my Lord in most hearty maner to take this matter in the best part for his own conscience honour and weale of himselfe house friends and servants and sik like for my part and for my conscience and honour Then considering that there are divers Articles of Heresie to be laid to him that he is dilated of and that he is presently in my Lords company That my Lord would by some honest way part with this man and put him from him and from his sons company For I would be right sorry that any being in any of their companies should be called for such causes or that any of them should be bruited to hold any sik man And this I would advertise my Lord and have his Lordships Answer and Resolution before any Summons passed upon him 8. Eighthly Item If my Lord would have a man to instruct him truely in the Faith and Preach to him I would provide a learned man to him and I shall answer for his true Doctrine and shall Pand my soule that he shall teach nothing but truly according to our Catholike Faith Of Edinburgh this last of March 1558. Sic subscribiter Saint Andrews Moreover I hope your Lordship will call to good remembrance and weigh the great and heavie murmure against me both by the Queene the Church-men Spirituall and Temporall estates and well given people moaning crying and murmuring at me greatly That I do not my Office To those such infamous persons with such perversed Doctrine within my Diocesses and this Realme by reason of my Legacie and Primacie which I have the rather sustained and long suffered for the great love that I had to your Lordship and posterity and your friends and your house As beleeving surely your Lordships wisedome should not have maintained and medled with such things that might do me dishonour or displeasure considering that I have bin ready to put good order thereto alwayes but have modestly abstained for the love of your Lordship and house aforesaid that I beare truely knowing and seeing the great harm and dishonour and lack apparantly that might come there through in case your Lordship remedie not the same hastily whereby we might both be quiet of all danger which doubtlesse will come upon us both if I use not my Office or that he be called while that he is now with your Lordship and under your Lordships protection Subscribed againe Saint Andrews By these former Instructions thou mayest perceive Gentle Reader what was the care that this Pastour or rather Impostour with his Complices took to feed the flock committed to their charge as they alleadge and to gain-stand false Teachers Here is oft mention of conscience of Heresie such other terms that might fray the ignorant and deceive the simple But we hear no crime in particular laid to the charge of the accused and yet is he condemned as a forsworn Apostata This was my Lords conscience which he learned of his fathers the Pharisees old enemies to Christ Jesus who condemned him before they heard him But who ruled my Lords conscience when he took his cousins wife the Lady Gilton Consider thou the rest of his perswasions thou shalt clearly see That honour estimation love to house and friends is the best ground that my Lord Bishop hath why he should persecute Jesus Christ in his members We thought good to insert the answers of the said Earle which follow Memorandum This present Writ is to make answer
Charter-house was permitted to take with him even as much gold and silver as he was able to carry So were mens consciences beaten with the Word that they had no respect to their own particular profit but onely to abolish Idolatry the places and Monuments thereof in which they were so busie and so laborious that within two dayes these three great places Monuments of Idolatry to wit the Black and Gray Theeves and Charter-house Monks a building of wonderous cost and greatnesse was so destroyed that the walls onely did remain of all those great edifices Which reported to the Queen she was so inraged That she did vow utterly to destroy S. Iohnston man woman and childe and to consume the same by fire and thereafter to salt it in signe of a perpetuall desolation We suspecting nothing such cruelty but thinking that such words might escape her in choler without purpose determined because she was a woman set on fire by the complaints of those hypocrites who flocked unto her as Ravens to a carion We we say suspecting nothing such beastly cruelty returned to our own houses leaving in S. Iohnston Iohn Knox to instruct the people because they were yong and rude in Christ. But she set on fire partly by her own malice partly by commandment of her friends in France and not a little by bribes which she and Monsieur Dosell received from the Bishops and the Priests here at home did continue still in her rage And first she sent for all the Nobility to whom she complained That we meaned nothing but Rebellion She did grievously lament the destruction of the Charter-house because it was a Kings foundation and there was the tombe of King Iames the first and by such other perswasions she made the most part of them grant to pursue us And then incontinent sent she for her French men For that was and ever hath been her joy to see Scottish men dip one with anothers blood No man was at that time more franke against us then was Duke Hamilton led by that cruell beast the Bishop of Saint Andrews and by those that yet abuse him the Abbot of Kilvinning and Matthew Hamilton of Milburne two chiefe enemies to the Duke and to his whole house but in so far as thereby they may procure their own particular profit These and such other pestilent Papists ceased not to cast fagots on the fire continually crying Forward upon these Hereticks we shall once rid this Realme of them The certaintie hereof coming to our knowledge some of us repaired to the Towne againe about the two and twentieth day of May and there did abide for the comfort of our brethren Where after Invocation of the Name of God we began to put the Town and our selves in such strength as we thought might best serve for our just defence And because we did not utter despaire of the Queens favour we caused to forme a Letter to her Majestie as followeth To the Queenes Majestie Regent all humble obedience and dutie premised AS heretofore with jeopard of our lives and yet with willing hearts we have served the authoritie of Scotland and your Majestie now Regent in this Realme in service to our bodies dangerous and painefull so now with most dolorous mindes we are constrained by unjust tyrannie purposed against us to declare unto your Majestie That except this crueltie be stayed by your wisdome we shall be compelled to take the sword of just defence against all that shall pursue us for the matter of Religion and for our conscience sake which ought not nor may not be subject to mortall creatures further then by Gods Word man is able to prove that he hath power to command us We signifie moreover unto your Majestie That if by rigour we be compelled to seek the extreame defence that we will not onely notifie our innocencie and Petition to the King of France to our Mistresse and to her husband but also to the Princes and Counsell of every Christian Realme declaring unto them That this cruell unjust and most tyrannicall murther intended against Townes and multitudes was and is the onely cause of our revolt from our accustomed obedience which in Gods presence we faithfully promise to our Soveraigne Mistresse to her husband and unto your Majestie Regent Provided that our consciences may live in that Peace and Libertie which Christ Iesus hath purchased to us by his blood and that we may have his Word truely Preached and holy Sacraments rightly ministred unto us without which we firmely purpose never to be subject to mortall man For better we think to expose our bodies to a thousand deaths then to hazard our souls to perpetuall damnation by denying Christ Iesus and his manifest Veritie which thing not onely do they who commit open Idolatry but also all such as seeing their brethren pursued for the cause of Religion and having sufficient means to comfort and assist them do neverthelesse withdraw from them their dutifull support We would not your Majestie should be deceived by the false perswasions of those cruell beasts the Church-men who affirme That your Majestie needeth not greatly to regard the losse of us that professe Christ Iesus in this Realme If as God forbid ye give ear to their pestilent counsell and so use against us this extremity pretended it is to be feared That neither ye neither yet your posteritie shall at any time after this finde that obedience and faithfull service within this Realme which as all times you have found in us We declare our judgements freely as true and faithfull Subjects God move your Princely heart favourably to interpret our faithfull meaning Further advertising your Majestie That the selfe same thing together with all things that we have done or yet intend to do we will notifie by our Letters to the King of France Asking of you in the Name of the eternall God and as your Majestie tenders the peace and quietnesse of this Realme That ye invade us not with any violence till we receive answer from our Mistresse and her husbâ—nd and from their advised Counsell there And thus we commit your Majestie to the protection of the omnipotent From Saint Johnston the 22 of May 1559. Sic subscribitur Your Majesties obedient Subjects in all things not repugnant to God The faithfull congregation of Christ Iesus in Scotland To the same purpose we wrote to Monsieur Dosell in French requiring of him That by his wisdome he would mitigate the Queenes rage and the rage of the Priests otherwise that flame which then began to burn would so kindle that when some men would it could not be slackned Adding further That he declared himself no faithfull servant unto his Master the King of France if for the pleasure of the Priests he would persecute us and so compell us to take the sword of just defence In like manner we wrote to Captain Serre la Bourse and to all other Captains and French
used By Iehu he destroyed Ioram and the whole posterity of Achab. And by divers others he hath deposed from Authority those whom before he had established by his own Word And hereupon concluded he That sith the Queen Regent denied her chief duty to the subjects of this Realme which was To minister Justice to them indifferently to preserve their Liberties from invasion of strangers and to suffer them to have Gods Word freely and openly preached amongst them Seeing moreover that the Queen Regent was an open and obstinate Idolatresse a vehement maintainer of all Superstition and Idolatry as also she openly declares the Countrie to be conquest and no more free And finally That she utterly despiseth the counsell and requests of the Nobility he could see no reason why they the borne Counsellors Nobility and Barons of the Realme might not justly deprive her from all Regiment and Authority amongst them Hereafter was the judgement of Iohn Knox required who approving the sentence of his brother added first That the iniquity of the Queen Regent and disorder ought in no wise to withdraw neither our hearts neither yet the hearts of other subjects from the obedience due unto our Soveraigne Secondly That if we deposed the said Queen Regent rather of malice and private envie then for the preservation of the Common-wealth and for that her sins appeared incurable That we should not escape Gods just punishment howsoever that she had deserved rejection from honors And thirdly he required That no such sentence should be pronounced against her but that upon known and open repentance and upon her conversion to the Common-wealth and submission to the Nobility place should be granted unto her of regresse to the same honours from the which for just causes she justly might be deprived The Votes of every man particularly by himself required and every man commanded to speak as he would answer to God what his conscience judged in that matter there was none found amongst the whole number who did not by his tongue consent to her deprivation Thereafter was her Processe committed to Writing and registred as followeth Articles against the Queen Regent AT Edinburgh the one and twentieth day of October 1556. the Nobility Barons and Burgesses convened to advise upon the affairs of the Common-wealth and to ayd support and succour the same perceiving and lamenting the enterprised destruction of their said Common-wealth and overthrow of the liberties of their native Countrey by the means of the Queen Regent and certain strangers her privie Counsellors plain contrary to our Soveraign Lord and Ladies mind and direct against the counsell of the Nobility to proceed by little and little even unto the uttermost ruine So that the urgent necessity of the Common-wealth may no longer suffer delay and earnestly craveth our support Seeing therefore that the said Q. Regent abusing and overpassing our Soveraigne Lord and Ladies Commission given and granted to her hath in all her proceedings pursued the Barons and Burgesses within this Realme with Weapons and Armour of strangers without any Processe and order of Law they being our Soveraigne Lord and Ladies true Lieges and never called nor convinced of any crime by any judgement lawfull As first at S. Iohnston in the moneth of May she assembled her Army against the Towne and the Inhabitants thereof never called nor convinced of any crime onely because they professed the true Worship of God conform to his most sacred Word 2. And likewise in the moneth of June last without any order or calling going before invaded the persons of sundry Noble-men and Barons with force of Armes convened at S. Andrews onely for Cause of Religion as is notoriously known they never being called nor convinced of any crime 3. Again laid Garrisons the same moneth upon the Inhabitants of the said Town oppressing the liberties of the Queens true Lieges For fear of which her Garrisons a great part of the Inhabitants thereof fled from the Towne and durst not resort again unto their houses and heritages untill they were restored by Arms they notwithstanding never being called nor convinced of any crime 4. Further at that same time did thrust in upon the heads of the Inhabitants of the said Towne Provest and Bayliffs against all order of Election as lately in this month of September she had done in other Towns of Edinburgh and Iedburgh and divers other places in manifest oppression of our Liberties 5. declaring her evill minde towards the Nobility Commonalty and whole Nation she hath brought in strangers and daily pretends to bring in greater force of the same pretending a manifest Conquest of our native rooms and Countrey as the deed it self declareth in so far as she having brought in the said strangers without any advise of Councell and Nobility and contrary to their expresse minde sent to her in Writing hath placed and planted her said strangers in one of the principall Towns and parts of the Realm sending continually for greater Forces willing thereby to suppresse the Common-weale and liberty of our native Countrey to make us and our posterity slaves to strangers for ever which as it is intolerable to Common-wealths and free Countreys so it is very prejudiciall to our Soveraign Lady and her Heirs whatsoever in case our Soveraigne Lady decease without Heirs of her Person And to performe these her wicked enterprises conceived as appeareth of inveterate malice against our whole Countrey and Nation caused without any consent or advise of the Councell and Nobility to coyn lead Money so base and of such quantity that the whole Realme shall be depauperate and all Traffique with forraigne Nations everted thereby 6. Again she so placeth and maintaineth against the pleasure of the Councell of this Realme a stranger in one of the greatest Offices of credit in this Realme that is in keeping of the Great Seal thereof wherein great perills may be ingendred to the Common-weale and Liberty thereof 7. Further lately sent the Great Seal forth of this Realme by the said stranger against the advice of the said Councell to what effect God knoweth 8. And hath also by this means altered the old Law and Custome of this our Realme ever obser-served in the Graces and Pardons granted bo our Soveraigns to all their Lieges being repentant of their offences committed against their Majesties or the Lieges of the Realme And hath introduced a new captious stile and form of the said Pardons and Remissions conform to the practices of France tending thereby to draw the said Lieges of this Realm by processe of time into a deceivable snare and further shall creep in the whole subversion and alteration of the remanent Laws of this Realme contrary to the Contents of the Appointment of Marriage 9. And also Peace being accorded amongst the Princes retaineth the great Army of strangers after commandment sent by the King of France to retire the same making excuse that they were retained for the suppressing the
and short God is witnesse That unfainedly I both love and reverence you Majestie yea I pray that your Raigne may be both prosperous and quiet and that for the quietnesse which Christs Members before persecuted have received under you But yet if I should flatter your Majesty I were no friend but a deceivable traytor and therefore in conscience I am compelled to say That neither the consent of the people the processe of time nor multitude of men can establish a Law which God shall approve but whatsoever he approveth by his Eternall Word that shall be approved and stay constantly firme and whatsoever he condemneth shall be condemned though all men on earth should travell for the justification of the same And therefore Madame the onely way to retain and keep the benefits of God abundantly of late dayes poured upon you and your Realme is unfainedly to render unto God to his mercy and undeserved grace the whole glory of this your exaltation forget your Birth and all Title which hereupon doth hang and consider deeply How for fear of your life you did decline from God and bow to Idolatry going to Masse under your sister Mary her persecution of Gods Saints Let it not appear a small offence in your eyes That you have declined from Christ Jesus in the day of your Battel Neither yet would I that you should esteem that mercy to be vulgar and common which you have received viz. That God hath covered your offence Hath preserved your Person when you were most unthankfull And in the end has exalted and raised you up not onely from the dust but also from the ports of death to rule above his people for comfort of his Kirk It appertaineth to you therefore to ground the justice of your Authority not on that Law which from yeer to yeer doth change but upon the eternall providence of him who contrary to the ordinary course of Nature and without your deserving hath exalted your head If thus in Gods presence you humble your self as in my heart I glorifie God for that rest granted to his afflicted Flock within England under you a weak Instrument so will I with tongue and pen justifie your Authority and Regiment as the holy Ghost hath justified the same in Deborah that blessed Mother in Israel But if you neglect as God forbid these things and shall begin to brag of your Birth and to build your Authority and your Regiment upon your own Law flatter you who so listeth your felicity shall be short Interpret my words in the best part as written by him who is no enemy to your Majestie By divers Letters I have required to visite your Realme not to seek my self neither yet my own ease and benefit which if you now refuse and deny me I must remit my cause to God adding this for conclusion that commonly it is seen That such as refuse the counsel of the faithfull appear it never so sharp are compelled to follow the deceit of flatterers to their own perdition The mighty Spirit of the Lord Jesus move your heart to understand what is said and give unto you the direction of his Spirit and so rule you in all your actions and enterprises that in you God may be glorified his Kirk edified and you your self as a lively Member of the same may be an example of vertue godlinesse of life to all others So be it Of Edinb 28 Iuly 1559. These Letters were directed by Alexander Whitlaw a man that oft had hazarded himself and all that he had for the Cause of God and for his friends being in danger for the same Cause Within a day or two after the departing of the said Alexander there came a Letter from Sir Henry Percie to Iohn Knox requiring him to meet him at Annick the third day of August for such affaires as he would not write nor yet communicate with any but with the said Iohn himselfe while he was preparing himselfe for the journey for Secretary Cecill had appointed to have met him at Stampford the French-men furiously came forth of Dumbar of purpose to have surprised the Lords being in Edinburgh as in the second Book before is declared which stayed the journey of the said Iohn till that God had delivered the innocents from that great danger and then was he sent having in his company M. Robert Hamilton Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ directed from the Lords with full Commission and Instructions to decline their whole case and estate wherein they stood Their passage was from Pittenweame by sea they arrived at Holy-Iland and being advertised that Sir Henry Percie was absent from the North They addressed themselves to Sir Iames Crofts then Captain of Barwick and Warden of the East Marches of England They shewed unto him their Credit and Commission He received them courteously and comforted them with his faithfull Counsell which was That they should travell no further neither yet should they be seen in publike and that for divers considerations First The Queen Regent had her spies in England Secondly The Queen and the Councell that favoured our faction would that all things should be secret so long as they might And last said he I think it not expedient that in such rarity of Preachers ye two be any long time absent from the Lords of the Congregation And therefore said he ye shall do best to commit to writing your whole minde and Credit and I shall promise to you upon my honour to have answer at you and at the Lords again before that ye your selves can be at London And where that your Letters cannot expresse all things so fully as your presence could I shall supply the same not onely by my pen but also by my own presence to such as will informe the Councell sufficiently of all things The said Iohn and M. Robert followed his Councell for it was faithfull and proceeded of love at that time they tarried with him very secretly within the Castle of Barwick two dayes In the which time returned Alexander Whitlaw aforesaid with answer to the Lords and unto Iohn Knox. The tenour of whose Letter was this Master Cecils Letter to Iohn Knox. Master Knox NOn est masculus neque fâ—minâ— omnes enim ut ait Paulus unum sumus in Christo Iesu benedictus vir qui confidit in Domino erit Dominus fiducia ejus I have received you Letters at the same time that I thought to have seen your selfe at Stamford What is now hitherto the cause of your let I know not I forbeare to descend to the bottom of things untill I may conferre with such one as ye are And therefore if your chance shall be hereafter to come hither I wish you furnished with good Credit and power to make good resolution Although my answer to the Lords of the Congregation be somewhat obscure yet upon further understanding ye shall finde the matter plaine I need to wish you no more prudencie then
Majesties most gentle clemency and liberall support the said Nobility as well such as be joyned as such as shall hereafter joyn with them already joyned for the defence of the liberty of that Realme shall to the uttermost of their power ayd and support her Majesties Army against the French and their partakers with Horse-men and Foot-men and with Victualls by Land and Sea with all manner of other ayd to the best of their power and so shall continue during the time that her Majesties Army shall remain in Scotland Item They shall be enemies to all such Scotish men and French as shall in any wise shew themselves enemies to the Realm of England for the ayding and supporting of the said Nobility in the delivery of the Realme of Scotland from Conquest Item They shall never assent nor permit that the Realme of Scotland shall be conquered or otherwise knit to the Crown of France then it is at this present onely by Marriage of the Queen their Soveraign to the French King and it be ruled by the Laws and Liberties of the Realme as it ought to be Item In case the French-men shall at any time hereafter invade or cause to be invaded the Realme of England they shall furnish the number of two thousand Horse-men and one thousand Foot-men at the least or such part of either of them at the charge of the Queen of England and shall conduct the same to passe from the borders of Scotland next England upon her Majesties charges to any part of the Realme of England for defence of the same And in case the invasion be on the North parts of England on the North side of the water of Tyne towards Scotland or against Barwick on the North side of the water of Tweid They shall convene and gather their whole Forces upon their owne charges and shall joyne with the English power and shall continue in good and earnest pursuite of the Quarrell of England during the space of thirty dayes or so much longer as they were accustomed to tarry in the fields for defence of Scotland At the commandment of their Soveraignes at any time by past and also the Earle of Argyle Lord Justice of Scotland being presently joyned with the rest shall imploy his force and good will where he shall be required by the Queens Majestie to reduce the North parts of Ireland to the perfect obedience of England conforme to a mutuall and reciproque contract to be made betwixt her Majesties Lieutenant or Deputie of Ireland being for the time and the said Earle wherein shall be contained what he shall do for his part and what the said Lieutenant or Deputie shall do for his support in case he shall have to do with Iames Mackconell or any others of the Isles of Scotland or Realme of Ireland For performance and sure keeping whereof they shall for their part come to the said Duke of Norfolk the pledges presently named by him before the entry of her Majesties Armie in Scottish ground to remain in England for the space of six moneths and to be there exchanged upon deliverance of new hostages of like or as good condition as the former or being the lawfull sons brethren or heires of any of the Peers or Barons of Parliament that have or hereafter shall shew themselves and persist open enemies to the French in this quarrell and so forth from six moneths to six moneths or foure moneths to foure moneths as shall best please the partie of Scotland And the time of continuance of the hostages shall be during the marriage of the Queen of Scots to the French King and a yeere after the dissolution of the said Marriage untill further order may be had betwixt both the Realmes for Peace and Concord And furthermore the said Nobility being Peers and Barons of Parliament joyned together shall subscribe and seale these Articles and agreement within the space of twenty or thirty dayes at the uttermost next following the day of the delivering of the said hostages and shall also procure and perswade all others of the Nobility that shall joyne themselves heereafter with the said Lords for the cause above-specified likewise to subscribe and seale those Articles at any time after the space of twenty dayes after their conjunction upon requisition made by them on the partie of the Queens Majestie of England And finally the said Nobility joyned together certainly perceiving that the Queens Majestie of England is thereunto moved onely upon respect of Princely honour and neighbourhood for defence of the freedom of Scotland from Conquest and not of any other sinister intent doth by these presents testifie and declare That they nor any of them mean by this agreement to withdraw any due obedience to the Soveraign Lady the Queen nor in any lawfull thing to withstand the French King her husband and head that during the marriage shall not tend to the subversion and oppression of the just and ancient Liberties of the said Kingdom of Scotland For preservation whereof both for their Soveraigns honour and for the continuance of the Kingdom in its ancient state they acknowledge themselves bound to spend their Goods Lands and Lives And for performance of this present Contract for the part of England the Queens Majestie shall confirm the same and all Clauses therein contained by her Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England to be delivered to the Nobility of Scotland upon the entrie of the Pledges aforesaid within the ground of England In Witnesse whereof the said Duke of Norfolke hath subscribed these Points and thereunto affixed his Seal the day yeer and place aforesaid Which Contract we finde honest and reasonable and that our said Commissioners therein hath considerately respected the Common-weale of this Realme of us and our posterity And therefore do ratifie allow confirme and approve the same with all Clauses and Articles therein contained by these Presents In Witnesse hereof we have subscribed the same with our Hands and sealed with our Seals of Arms in such causes accustomed are appended At the Camp before Leith the tenth day of May the year of God 1560 yeers Follow the Subscriptions The Subscriptions The Duke of Chattellarault Earle of Arrane Earle of Glencarne Earle of Rothesse Earl of Argyle Earle of Huntlie Earle of Morton Earle of Menteth Lord Ogilbye Lord Iames Steward Alexander Gordon Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie Gawin Hamilton of Kilwinning Abbot of Culrosse Lord Bothwike Lord of Saint Iohn Lord Iohn Abirbrâ—thok Lord Simmerwaile Lord Robert Steward Abbot of Kynlosse Iames Stewart of Saint Colmes Inche The Instructions given subscribed to the said Commissioners following 1. IN the first place if it shall be asked of you by the Duke of Norfolk and by other the Queens Majesties appointed Commissioners If your Pledges be in readinesse ye shall answer That they are and in Saint Andrews the 25 of this instant and shal be ready to be delivered in Hostage for security of our promises and part
past to the Castle of Edinburgh and some others of her faction At Preston met them the Duke the Earle of Argyle Huntlie came not till that the siege was confirmed Lord Iames the Earle of Glencarne and Menteth Lords Ruthuen Boyd Uchiltrie with all the Protestants Gentlemen of the West Fyfe Angus and Mearnes so that in few dayes the Army was great After the deliberation of two dayes had at Inneresk the whole Camp marched forward with Ordnance and all preparations necessary for the siege and came to Lestarrig the Palme Sunday Even The French had put themselves in Battell Aray upon the Linkes without Leith and sent forth their skirmishers who beginning before ten of the clock continued skirmishing till after four of the clock at afternoon when there was given upon them a charge by some Horse-men of Scotland and some of England But because the principall Captaine of the Horse-men of England was not present the whole Troops durst not charge and so was not the overthrow and slaughter of the French so great as it once appeared to have been for the great Battell was once at the trot but when it perceived that the great Force of Horse-men stood still and charged not they returned and gave some rescue to their fellows that fled and so there fell onely in that defeat about three hundred French-men God would not give the Victory so suddenly lest that man should glory in his owne strength The small Victory that was gotten put both the English and Scotish in over-great security as the issue declared The French enclosed within the Towne the English Army began to plant their Pavilions betwixt Leith and Lestarrig The Ordnance of the Towne and especially that which lay upon Saint Anthonies Steeple did them great annoyance against which place were bent eight Cannons which shot so continually and so just that within few dayes that the Steeple was condemned and all the Ordnance that was on it discomfited which made the English-men somewhat more negligent then it became good men of War to have been For perceiving that the French made no pursuit without their Walls they tooke an opinion that they should never issue more and that made some of the Captaines for pastime go to the Towne The Souldiers for their ease laid their Armour beside them and as men without danger fell to the Dice and Cards and so upon the Easter Munday at the very houre of noon the French issued both upon Horse and Foot and with great violence entred within the English Trenches slue and put to flight all that was found therein The Watch was negligently kept and so were the Succours slow and long in coming For the French before that any resistance was made unto them approached hard to the great Ordnance But then the Horse-men trooped together and the Foot-men gat themselves in Aray and so repulsed the French back again to the Town but the slaughter was great some say it double exceeded that which the French received the first day And this was the fruit of their security and ours which after was remedied For the English men most wisely considering themselves not able to besiege the Town round about devised to make Mounts at divers quarters of it in the which they and their Ordnance lay in as good strength as they did within the Town The common souldiers kept the Trenches and had the said mountains for their saveguard and refuge in case of any greater pursuit then they were able to sustain The patience and stout courage of the English men but principally of the Horse-men is worthy of all praise For where was it ever heard That eight thousand they never exceeded that number that lay in Camp should besiege four thousand of the most desperate throat-cutters that were to be found in Europe and to lie nigh unto them in daily skirmishing the space of three moneths and more The Horse-men night and day kept Watch and did so valiantly behave themselves that the French gat no advantage from that day back to the day of the assault whereof we shall shortly hear In this mean time was this other Band made of all the Nobility Barons and Gentlemen professing Christ Jesus in Scotland and of divers others that joyned with us for expelling of the French amongst whom the Earle of Huntlie was a prime man The Band followeth The last Band at Leith AT Edinburgh the seven and twentieth of April the yeer of our Lord 1560 yeers We whose names are under-written have promised and obliged our selves faithfully in the presence of God and by these Presents do promise That we together in generall and every one of us in speciall by himself with our bodies goods friends and all that we can do shall set forward the Reformation of Religion according to Gods Word and procure by all means possible that the Truth of Gods Word may have free passage within this Realme with due Administration of the Sacraments and all things depending upon the said Word and such like deeply weighing with our selves the misbehaviour of the French Ministers here the intolerable oppression committed by the French men of War upon the poor subjects of this Realme by maintenance of the Queen Dowager under colour and pretence of Authority The tyranny of their Captains and Leaders and manifest danger of Conquest in which this Countrey at this present standeth by reason of divers Fortifications upon the Sea-coast and other novelties of late attempted by them promising That we shall each one with another all of us together with the Queen of Englands Army presently come in for our deliverance effectually concurre joyn in one take and hold one plain part for expulsion of the said strangers oppressors of our Liberty forth out of this Realme and recovery of our ancient Freedoms and Liberties to the end that in time coming we may under the obedience of the King and Queen our Soveraigns be onely ruled by the Laws and Customs of the Countrey and borne men of the Land And that never one of us shall have privy intelligence by writing message or communication with any of our enemies or adversaries in this Cause but by advice of the rest at least of five of the counsell Again That we shall tender the common Cause as if it were the cause of every one of us in particular And that the causes of every one of us now joyned together being lawfull and honest shall be all our causes in generall And that he that is enemy to the Cause aforesaid shall be enemy to us all in so far That what person soever will plainly resist these our godly enterprises and will not concur as a good and true member of this our Common-wealth we shall fortifie the said Authority of the Councell to reduce them to their duty like as we shall fortifie the said Authority of the Councell in all things tending to the furtherance of the said Causes And if any particular debate quarrell
or controversie shall arise for whatsoever cause that is past present or to come betwixt any of us as God forbid in that case we shall submit our selves and our said questions to the decision of the Councell or to Arbitrators to be named by them c. Providing always That this be not prejudiciall to the ordinary Jurisdiction of Judges but that men may pursue their Actions by order of Law Civilly or Criminally as it pleaseth them This Contract and Band came not onely to the ears but also to the sight of the Queen Dowager whereat she stormed not a little and said The malediction of God I give unto them that counselled me to persecute the Preachers and to refuse the Petitions of the best part of the true subjects of this Realm It was said to me That the English Army could not continue in Scotland ten dayes but now they have lien neer a moneth and are more like to remain then they were at the first day that they came They that gave information to the Queen spake as worldly wise men and as things appeared to have been for the Countrey being almost in all the parts thereof wasted the Victuals next adjacent to Leith either brought into their Provision or else destroyed the Mills and other places as before is said being cast down it appeared that the Camp could not have been furnished except it had been by their own Ships and as that could not have been of any long continuance so should it have been little comfortable But God confounded all worldly wisedom and made his own Benediction as evidently to appear as if in a manner he had fed the Army from above For all kinde of Victuall there was more aboundant and at more easie prices in the Camp all the time that it lay after that eight dayes were past then either they have been in Edinburgh any of two yeers before or it hath been in this Towne to this day the 20 of May Anno 1566. The people of Scotland so much abhorred the tyranny of the French that they would have given the substance that they had to have been rid of that chargeable burthen which our sinnes had provoked God to lay upon us in delivering and giving into the hands of a woman whom our Nobility in their foolishnesse sold unto strangers and with her the Liberty of this Realme God for his great mercy sake preserve us yet from further Bondage in which we are like to fall if he provide not remedy for our Nobility will yet remain blinde still and will follow their affection come after what so may But to returne to our History The Camp abounding in all necessary Provision order was taken for continuation of the Siege and so the Trenches were drawn as neer the Town as possibly they might The great Camp removed from Lestarrig to the West side of the water of Leith and so were the Cannons planted for the Battery and did shoot at the Southwest wall But by reason all was earth the Breach was not made so great upon the day but that it was sufficiently repaired upon the night whereof the English-men beginning to be weary determined to give the Breach an Assault as that they did upon the seventh day of May beginning before the day light and continued till it was nigh seven a clock And albeit that the English and Scottish with great slaughter of the Souldiers of both were repulsed yet was there never a sharper assault given by so few hands for they exceeded not a thousand men that assaulted the whole two quarters of the Town and yet they damned the whole Block-house yea they once put the French clean off their Walls and were upon both the East and West Block-house but they lacked backing for their Scales lacked six quarters of the just height And so while the former were compelled to fight upon the top of the wall their fellows could not joyn to support them and so were they by multitude driven back again when it was once thought that the Town was won Sir Iames Crofts was blamed of many for not doing his duty that day for he was appointed with a sufficient number of the most able men to have assaulted the Northwest quarter upon the Sea side where at a low water as at the time of the assault it was the passage was easie But neither he nor his approached to their quarter appointed He had before at the first coming in spoken with the Queen Regent at the fair Block-house of the Castle of Edinburgh Whether she had enchanted him or not we know not but by suspition of that day in which he deceived the expectation of many and so farre as man could judge was the cause of that great repulse some ascribed the shortnesse of the Ladders to him but that omitted which might have proceeded of negligence his absence from the pursuit of his Quarter was the cause that such French as were appointed there to defend seeing no pursuer came to the relief of their fellowes and so they two joyning together with great slaughter gave the repulse to our Company The French-mens harlots of whom the most part were Scotish whores did no lesse cruelty then did the Souldiers For besides that they charged their Pieces and ministred unto them other weapons some continually cast stones some carried Chimneyes of burning fire some brought Timber and other impediments of weight which with great violence they threw over the wall upon our men but especially when they began to turn back Now albeit in all this we acknowledge to be the secret work of God who by such means would beat down as well the pride of England as of Scotland yet neither ought the feeblenesse nor falshood of man be excused neither yet the crueltie of the adversaries concealed The Queen Regent sat all the time of the assault which was both terrible and long upon the fore-Wall of the Castle of Edinburgh and when she perceived the overthrow of us and that the Ensignes of the French were again displayed upon the Walls she gave a gawfe of laughter and said Now will I go to the Masse and praise God for that which mine eyes have seen And so was Frier Black ready for that purpose whom she her selfe a little before had deprehended with his Harlot in the Chappell But Whoredom and Idolatry agree well together and that our Court can witnesse this day the 16 of May 1566. The French proud of the Victory stripped naked all the slain and laid their dead carkases before the hot Sun along the wall where they suffered them to lie more dayes then one Unto the which when the Queen Regent looked for mirth she leapt and said Yonder is the fairest tapistrie that ever I saw I would that the whole fields that is betwixt this place and you were strowed with the same stuffe This fact was seen of all and her words were heard of some and it
triumph which also for a season stayed the appointment yet in the end Peace was concluded in forme as followeth The Articles Translated and agreed by John Bishop of Valance and Monsieur Randam Deputies to the King and Queen of Scotland upon the matters presented to them by way of Petition for the part of Nobilitie and people of Scotland IN the first Upon the Complaint and Petition of the said Nobility and the people of this Countrey and the number of men of War sustained by their Majesties in these parts in the time of Peace It is humbly remonstrated to the said Deputies that they would provide convenient remedie thereunto for the comfort and reliefe of the Countrey The said Deputies considering the said desires to be just and conformable to reason condescended agreed and assured That the King and Queen should procure no French Men of Warre nor no other nation to come to these parts in time comming But if strangers would pretend to enter into this Realme with a Navie or Armie to occupie the same In the which cause provision shall be made by their Majesties the judgement and counsell of the States of the Realme being had thereto and that the French Men of Warre being now in the Town of Leith shall be sent to France the same time that the Navie and Armie of English-men and Scottish-men be scattered and departed both by sea and land the which shall be done in the best manner may be as at more large consideration shall be had thereupon and as to the bands of Scottish men of warre being at the said place they shall be broken and the men of war licensed to depart Moreover as to the Forts of Dumbar and Incheketh that there shall remain in them an 120. Frenchmen of war onely which shall be parted and distributed in these two places and there shall remain no more in Dumbar but threescore men of warre so it be affirmed by the Captains chosen to that effect by both the parties that for the keeping of the same a greater number is not need full also to depart when the States of the Realm can finde any good and sure remedie upon the expences made in the said places to keep the same from perill of invasion or ruine thereof from them that would pretend to occupie the same they shall immediatly shew the same unto their Majesties as hastily as may be done and in the mean time the number of the said men of war shall not be augmented And in like manner it shall not be lawfull to the said men of warre to do any injuries to any persons nor yet to maintain and defend any Scottish men of what qualitie soever they be of against the will and authoritie of the Magistrates of the Realm nor to receive them in the said places that the Minister of Justice may not put hands on them nor yet shall intromit in any manner of way with the quarrels and discords of the Lords and other particular men of this Realm But they themselves shall be bound in cases of any quarrell to be punished after the Laws and constitutions of this Realm and to answer for themselves before the Judges Ordinaries of the same Last of all that from henceforth they be not compelled to take on credite they shall be every moneth satisfied of their wages so that two Scottish Lords chosen by the Councell may present it at the Wapon shawing and musters of the said men of warre and also to visit the said Forts to see if the number of them be liked and it shall not be lawfull to the said men of war to take any victuals for their sustentation or for munition of the said places but by paiment of readie money numerate and with the pleasures of them that delivereth the same unto them And therefore the said Lords obliges themselves to give them so much as is needfull unto them they having to pay therefore Item upon the petition preâ—ented unto the said Lords Deputies anenst the demolition of the fortifications the said Deputies consent agree and assureth that the fortification of Leith shall be demolished and that two three or four Captains shall be chosen by both the parties to view the Castle of Dumbar and if it be found by them that the reparation amplification and fortifying made thereof now after the peace greater number of men to the keeping thereof be required the reparation and fortification thereof shall be abolished so soon as may be done and shall remaine onely untouched that thing while we may make the said Castell more sure and in lesse danger from invasion Providing not the lesse that no greater number of men therein be required for keeping of the same Moreover in times comming the King and Queene shall make no moâ— new Forts within this Realm and shall not augment them that are else made nor shall repair them that are demolished without counsell and consent of the Estates nor yet shall transport to these parts any Artillery Munition of Warre Powder or Victuals but so much as may serve for keeping of the said places by the space of six moneths or a yeer Item Anenst the Demand made about the debts contracted by the French men of War in this Countrey The saids Deputies consenteth That the King and Queen shall cause to be restored all that which happeneth to be found given and granted to the Kings Lieutenant and his Captains and other Officers for the nourishment sustentation and maintenance of the said French-men or that which is found owing by the Lieutenants for service of their Majesties that may appear by writ or confession of parties Item Upon the Petition made anenst the Convention of States of this Realm the said Deputies Consented and Accorded c. That the States of the Realme may convene and hold a Parliament the twentieth day of the moneth of Iuly next to come upon the which day the Parliament shall be continued as the use is unto the first day of the moneth of August following Providing alwayes That before they begin to handle any thing in the said Parliament all tumult of War be discharged and cease that they who are present may be free without fear of men of War or others and that in this mean time a Messenger be sent by the said Deputies to the King and Queen to certifie them of the things agreed treated and accorded requesting their Majesties humbly to be contented with the same And the said Convention shall be as lawfull in all respects as the same had been ordained and done by expresse Commandment of their Majesties Providing that no matter be treated therein before the said first day of August Item Upon the Article presented concerning War and Peace the said Deputies Consented Accorded c. That the King and Queen neither make Peace nor War on their parts but by the Counsell Judgement and consent of the States according to the Ordinance of the Countrey and as was observed by their
avoyding of Inconveniences This Summer there came an Embassadour from the King of Sweden requiring marriage of our Soveraigne to his Master the King His entertainment was Honourable but his Petitions liked not our Queene one whit for as yet she could not resolve to be Wife to the King of Sweden having been lately Queen of France And yet she refused not one much inferiour to a Soveraigne King The Earle of Lennox and his Wife were committed to the Tower of London for traffiquing with Papists the young Laird of Barre was a stickler in that businesse and was apprehended with some Letters which was the cause of his and their trouble The Earle of Murray made a private journey to Hawicke upon the Fayre day thereof and apprehended fifty Theeves of which number were seventeen drowned others were executed in Iâ—dburgh the principall were brought to Edinburgh and there suffered according to their merits upon the Burrow Mure. The Queene was no whit content of the prosperitie and good successe that God gave to the Earle of Murray in all his enterprises for she hated his upright dealing and the Image of God that evidently did appear in him but at that time she could not well have been served without him The assembly of the Church at Midsommer the four and twentieth day of Iune 1562. approached in the which were many notable heads handled concerning good Order to be kept in the Church and for the Papists and for the Idolatry of the Queen which troubleth the former good order Some Ministers such as Master Iohn Sharpe had left their charges and entered into other Vocations more profitable for the belly against whom were Acts made although this day they have not put them in execution The tenour of the Supplication read in open audience and approved by the whole Assembly to be presented to the Queens Majesty was this To the Queens Majesty and her most honorable Privy Councell The Superintendents and Ministers of the Evangell of Christ Iesus within this Realme together with the Commissioners of the whole Churches desire Grace and Peace from the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ with the Spirit of righteous Iudgement HAving in minde that the fearfull sentence pronounced against the Watch-men that see the Sword of Gods punishment approach and do not in plain words forewarn the people yea the Princes and Rulers that they repent we cannot but signifie unto your Highnesse and to your Councell That the state of this Realme is such for this present that unlesse redresse and remedy be shortly provided Gods hands cannot long spare in his anger to strike the Head and the Tayle the inobedient Prince and sinfull People For as God is unchangeable and true so must he punish in these our dayes the grievous sins which before we reade he hath punished in all Ages after that he hath long called for repentance and none is showne And that your Majesty and Councell may understand what are the things we desire to be reformed we will begin at that which we know assuredly to be the Fountain and Spring of all other evils that now abound in this Realme To wit That Idoll and base service of God the Masse the fountain we call of all Impiety not onely because many take boldnesse to sin by reason of that opinion which they have conceived of that Idoll to wit That by vertue of it they get remission of their sins But also because that under this colour of the Masse are Whores Adulterers Drunkards Blasphemers of God of his holy Sacraments and such other manifest Malefactors maintained and defended For let any Masse-sayer or earnest maintainer thereof be deprehended in any of the fore-named crimes no execution can be had for all is done in hatred of his Religion And so are wicked men permitted to live wickedly cloked and defended by that wicked Idoll But supposing that the Masse was occasion of no such evils yet in it self it is so odious in Gods presence that we cannot cease with all instance to desire the removing of the same as well from your selfe as from all others within this Realm Taking Heaven and earth yea your own Consciences to record That the obstinate maintenance of that Idol shall in the end be to you destruction of soul and body if you do not repent If your Majesty demand Why that now we are more earnest then we have been heretofore We answer our former silence no wayes excused Because we finde our selves frustrate of our hope and expectation which was That in processe of time your Majesties heart should have been mollified so farre as ye would have heard the publike Doctrine taught within this Realme by the which our further hope was That Gods holy Spirit should so have moved your heart that you would have suffered your Religion which before God is nothing but abomination and vanity to be tryed by the true Touch-stone the written Word of God And that your Majesty finding it to have no ground nor foundation in the same should have given that glory unto God that you would have preferred his Truth to your own preconceived vain opinion of what antiquity that ever it hath been whereof we in part now discharged can no longer keep silence unlesse we would make our selves criminall before God of your blood perishing in your own iniquity for we plainly admonish you of the danger to come The second thing that we require is Punishment of horrible vices such as are Adultery Fornication open Whoredome Blasphemy Contempt of God of his Word and Sacraments Which in this Realme do even so abound that sin is reputed to be no sin And therefore as we see the present signes of Gods wrath now manifestly appear so do we forewarn that he will strike ere it be long if his Law without punishment be permitted thus manifestly to be contemned If any object That punishment cannot be commanded to be executed without a Parliament we answer That the Eternall God in his Parliament hath pronounced death to be the punishment of Adultery and for Blaspheming whose Act if we put not in execution seeing that Kings are but his Lievtenants having no power to give life where he commands death as that he will repute you and all others that foster vice patrons of Impiety so will he not fail to punish you for neglecting the execution of his judgements Our third request concerning the poor who be of three sorts The poor labourers of the ground the poor desolate Beggers Orphans Widows and Strangers and the poor Ministers of Christ Jesus his holy Evangel which are so cruelly used by this last pretended Order taken for sustentation of Ministers that their latter misery farre surmounteth the former for now the poore labourers of the ground are so oppressed by the cruelty of those that pay their hire that they for the most part encroach upon the poore in whatsoever they pay unto the Qâ—een or to any other As for the
second Booke of the Historie Commissions and charge was given unto Iohn Knox Minister of Edinburgh and unto certain of the Elders of the Church of Edinburgh to passe to the Town of Iedwart where the slander was raised and to be found there the third of Ianuary next was the tryall to be taken of the slander raised and to hear the Articles and complaint of the said Paul and after the tryall to report the truth to the Session of the Church of Edinburgh To whom with the assistance of the superintendent of Lowthian Commission was given to discerne therein The tryall and examination of that crime was difficile the slander was universall in that Towne and Country the servant woman of the said Paul had betwixt that and Christmas left his House she had borne a child no father to it could she finde but alleaged her self to have been suppressed late in an Evening the said Paul constantly affirmed himself innocent and would have given his publike purgation but because his Accusators had taken on them to prove ther accusation that was denyed many witnesses were produced of whom some deposed so clearly that the Commissioners suspected that they had been suborned and therefore they required to have inspection of the places where some said they saw and some said they heard them in the very act of iniquitie The sight and consideration of the place augmented greatly the suspition but one thing was most suspitious of all other for the Wife of the sad Paul an ancient Matron was absent from him the space of eight or nine weeks in Dundie which time or at least a great part thereof they suspected and he lay nightly in one house without other company then a Childe of seven or eight yeers of age The Judges notwithstanding these suspitions having a good opinion of the honestie and godlinesse of the man travelled what they could conscience not hurt to purge him of the slander But God who would not that such a Villanie should be cloaked and concealed within his Kirk otherwayes had decreed for he brought the brother of the guilty woman to the Towne having no minde of such matters who being produced by the Accusators as one that was privy to the fact and knew the veritie of all circumstances this witnesse we say which could not be suspected being produced made the matter so plain and clear that all suspition was removed for he it was that conveyde the woman away he it was that caused the Childe to be baptised alleaging it to be his own he it was that carried frequent message betwixt them and from Paul carryed money and clothes divers times How soon that ever the said Paul saw that man produced as Witnesse he withdrew himselfe and left the Town by that means plainly taking upon him the Crime And so the Commissioners with full information returned to Dundie and notified the same unto the Kirke who caused publikely to summon the said Paul to hear the sentence pronounced who not appearing in the end for his odious Crime and contumacy was publikely excommunicated and was deprived of all functions within the Kirke of Scotland and so left the Realme For two causes we insert this horrible fact and the order kept in punishing of the same the former to forewarn such as travell in that Vocation that according to the admonition of the Apostle Such as stand take heed lest they fall No man in the beginning of the Evangell was judged more fervent and more upright and yet we have heard how far Sathan has prevailed against him God grant that we may hear of his repentance neither yet should this fall do any thing to prejudice the Authoritie of the Doctrine which he taught for the Doctrine of God hath its authority of no creature but hath the assurance of God himselfe how weak or imperfect soever the Instruments be by whom it pleaseth God to publish the same The treason of Iudas the Adultery of David and abnegation of Peter did derogate nothing from the glory of Christs Evangell nor yet the Doctrine which before they had taught but declared the one to be a Reprobate and the other to be Instruments in whom mercy must surmount judgement The other cause is that the World may see what difference there is betwixt the uprightnesse of the Kirke of God and the corruption that reignes in the Synagogue of Sathan the Papisticall rabble for how many of that sort hath been and still remaine openly knowne Whoremongers Adulterers Violators of Virgines yea and committers of such abominations as we will not name and yet are they called and permitted to be Bishops Archbishops Cardinalls and Popes themselves For what sinnes can unable the sworne servants of Symonie and of their Father the Devill For bragg what they list of Christ of Peter and of Paul their lives and conversation bear witnesse to whom they belong But we return to our History of things done in Court Amongst the Menizoons of the Court there was one named Monsieur Chattelet a Frenchman that at that time passed all others in credit with the Queene In dancing of the purpose so terme they that dance in the which man and woman talketh secretly wise men would judge such fashions not agreeable to the gravity of honest women In this dance the Queen choose Chattelet and Chattelet took the Queen for he had the best dresse All this winter Chattelet was so familiar with the Queen that the Nobilitie being by this means stopped to have so free accesse as they thought fit and due unto them were highly offended at length Chattelet having conveyed himselfe privately under the Queens Bed but being espied was commanded away The Bruit arising the Queene called the Earle of Murray and bursting in a womanly affection charged him that as he loved her he should slay Chatelet and let him never speak word The other at the first made promise so to doe but after calling to minde the judgement of GOD pronounced against the shedders of innocent blood and also that none should die without the testimonie of two or three witnesses returned and fell upon his knees before the Queen and said Madame I beseech your Majestie cause not me to take the blood of this man upon me Your Majestie hath used him so familiarlie before that you have offended all your Nobilitie and now if he shall be secretly slain at your owne commandment what shall the world judge of it I shall bring him to the presence of Justice and let him suffer by Law according to his deserving Oh said the Queene you shall not let him speake I shall doe said he Madame what in me lyeth to give your Majestie content Poor Chattelet was brought back from Kingorne to Saint Andrews examined put to an Assize and so beheaded the two and twentieth day of February Anno Dom. 1562. He begged license to write to France the cause of his death which said he in his Tongue was Pour estre
being counselled and perswaded by divers notable Personages he began well in Edinburgh to proceed whereby a great number were moved with compassion of his state and likewise in Iedwart but he left his duty in Dundie and passing again into England the matter not without offence to many ceased The Ministers complaining that they could not be paid their Stipends were licensed by the Assembly to passe to other Churches to Preach but in no wise to leave the Ministery And because that the Queens Majesty had promised often before to provide remedy it was thought expedient that Supplication should be yet made as before That the Queens Majesty should cause such order to be taken that the poor Ministers might be paid their Stipends The Bishop of Galloway who was brother to the Earle of Huntley and now a great man in the Court travelled much with the Queens Majesty in that matter and got of her a good answer and fair promises A few yeers before the said Bishop of Galloway desired of the generall Assembly to be made Superintendent of Galloway but now being promoted to great Dignity as to be of the number of the Lords of the Privy Councell and likewise one of the Session he would no more be called Over-looker or Over-seer of Golloway but Bishop Alwayes truth it is That he laboured much for his Nephew the Earle of Huntley that he might be restored to his Lands and Honours for the said Earle was new Chancellor since the slaughter of David Rizio and had for his clawback the Bishop of Rosse Master Iohn Lesley one of the chief Councellors to the Qâ—een But of all men the Earle Bothwell was most in the Queens favour so far that all things past by him yea by his means the most part of all those that were partakers in the slaughter of David Rizio got remission and relief But from that day he was not present at any Sermon albeit before he professed the Evangell by outward speaking yet he never joyned to the Congregation But this time the Earle of Cassells was contracted with the Lord of Glanes sister by whose perswasion he became a Protestant and caused in the Moneth of August to reâ—orm his Churches in Carrick and promised to maintain the Doctrine of the Evangell The Queen not yet satisfied with the death of her man David caused in August to be apprehended a man called Hary who sometime had been of her Chappell Royall but afterward became an exhorter in a Reformed Church and for want of stipend or other necessaries past in service to my Lord Ruthuen and chanced that night to be present when the said David was slaine and so finally he was condemned and hanged and quartered The King being now contemned of all men because the Queen cared not for him he went sometime to the Lenox to his father and sometime to Sterlin whither the Prince was carried a little before Alwayes he was destitute of such things as were necessary for him having scarcely six horses in Trayn And being thus desolate and half desperate he sought means to go out of the Countrey And about the same time by the advice of Forlish Cagets he wrote to the Pope to the King of Spain and to the King of France complaining of the state of the Countrey which was all out of order all because that Masse and Popery were not againe erected giving the whole blame thereof to the Queen as not managing the Catholike Cause aright By some knave this poor Prince was betrayed and the Queen got a Copie of these Letters into her hands and therefore threatned him sore and there was never after that any appearance of love betwixt them The Churches of Geneva Berne and Basill with other Reformed Churches of Germany and France sent to the whole Church of Scotland the sum of the Confession of their Faith desiring to know if they agreed in Uniformity of Doctrine alleadging That the Church of Scotland was dissonant in some Articles from them Wherefore the Superintendents with a great part of the other most qualified Ministers convened in September in S. Andrews and reading the said Letters made answer and sent word again That they agreed in all points with those Churches and differed in nothing from them Albeit in the keeping of some Festivall days our Church assented not for onely the Sabbath day was kept in Scotland In the end of this Month the Earl Bothwell riding in pursuit of the theeves in Liddisdale was ill hurt and worse terrified by a thief for he believed surely to have departed forth of this life and sent word thereof to the Queens Majesty who soon after past forth of Iedwart to the Hermitage to visite him and give him comfort And within a few dayes after she took sicknesse in a most extreme manner for she lay two houres long cold dead as it were without breath or any signe of life at length she revived by reason they had bound small Cords about her shackle bones her knees and great toes and speaking very softly she desired the Lords to pray for her to God she said the Creed in English and desired my Lord of Murray if she should chance to depart that he would not be over extreme such as was of her Religion the Duke and he should have been Regents The bruit went from Iedwart in the month of October 1565. that the Queen was departed this life or at least she could not live any time wherefore there was continually prayers publikely made at the Church of Edinburgh and divers other places for her conversion towards God and amendment Many were of opinion That she should come to the Preaching and renounce Popery But all in vain for God had some other thing to doe by her The King being advertised rid Post from Sterlin to Iedburgh where he found the Queen somewhat convalesced but she would scarce speak to him and hardly give him presence or a good word wherfore he returned immediately to Sterlin where the Prince was and after to Glascow to his Father There appeared great trouble over the whole Realm and especially in the Countreys neer the borders if the Queen had departed at that time as she began to recover the Earle Bothwell was brought in a Charriot from the Hermitage to Iedburgh where he was cured of his wounds in whose presence the Queen took more pleasure then in all the rest of the world alwayes by his meanes most part of all that were out-lawed for the slaughter of David Rizio got reliefe for there was no other meanes but all things must needs passe by him wherefore every man sought to him where immediately favour was to be had as before to David Rizio Soon after the Queen passing along the borders she came within the bounds of Barwick where she viewed the Town at her pleasure a far off being within half a Mile and lesse all the Ordnance within Barwick were Discharged The Captain came forth with fourscore Horses bravely
hath put and ordained distinction and difference betwixt the King and Subjects betwixt the Rulers and the Common-people in the Regiment and Administration of Civill Policies yet in the hope of the life to come he hath made all equall for as in Christ Jesus the Iew hath no greater Prerogative then hath the Gentile the man then hath the woman the learned then the unlearned the Lord then the servant but all are one in him so is there but one way and means to attain to the participation of his benefits and spirituall graces which is a lively faith working by charitie and therefore I say that it doth no lesse appertain to you beloved Brethren to bee assured that your faith and Religion be grounded and established upon the true and undoubted Word of God then to your Princes or Rulers For as your bodies cannot escape corporall death if with your Princes ye eate or drink deadly poyson although it be by ignorance or negligence so shall ye not escape the everlasting if with them ye professe a corrupt Religion yea except in heart ye beleeve and with mouth ye confesse the Lord Jesus to be the onely Saviour of the world which ye cannot doe except ye embrace his Evangell offered ye cannot escape death and damnation For as the just liveth by his own faith so doth the unfaithfull perish by his infidelitie And as true faith is ingendred nourished and maintained in the hearts of Gods Elect by Christs Evangell truely preached so is infidelity and unbelief fostered by concealing and repressing the same And thus if ye look for the life everlasting ye must trie if ye stand in faith and if ye would be assured of a true and lively faith ye must needs have Christ Jesus truly preached unto you And this is the cause dear Brethren that so oft I repeat and so constantly I affirme That to you it doth not lesse appertain then to you King or Princes to provide that Christ Jesus be truely preached amongst you seeing that without his true knowledge can neither of you both attain to Salvation And this is the point wherein I say all men are equall That all are descended from Adam by whose sin and inobedience did death enter into the world so it behoved all that shall obtain life to be ingrafted in one that is in the Lord Iesus who being the just servant doth by his knowledge justifie many to wit all that unfainedly beleeve in him Of this equalitie and that God requireth no lesse of the subject be he never so poor then of the Prince and rich man in matters of Religion he hath given an evident declaration in the Law of Moses for when the Tabernacle was builded erected and set in order God did provide how it and the things pertaining to the same should be sustained so that they should not fall in decay And this provision albeit heaven and earth obey his Empire would he not take from the secret and hid Treasures which lie dispersed in the veines of the earth neither yet would he take it from the rich and potent of the people but he did command That every one of the sons of Israel were he rich or were he poor that came in count from 20 yeers and upward should yeerly pay halfe a Sickle for an oblation to the Lord in the remembrance of their Redemption and for an expiation or cleansing of their souls which money God commanded should be bestowed upon the Ornaments and necessaries of the Tabernacle of Testimony He furthermore added a Precept That the rich should give no more for that use and in that behalf then should the poor neither yet that the poor should give any lesse then should the rich in that consideration This law to mans reason and judgement may appear very unreasonable for some rich man might have given a thousand sickles with lesse hurt of his substance then some poor man might have payed the half Sickle And yet God maketh all equall and will that the one shall pay no more then the other neither yet the poor lesse then the rich This Law I say may appear very unequall But if the cause which God addeth be observed we shall finde in the same the great mercy and inestimable wisdom of God to appear which cause is expressed in these words This money received from the children of Israel thou shalt give in for the service of the Tabernacle that it may be to the clildren of Israel for a remembrance before the Lord that he may be mercifull to your souls This cause I say doth evidently declare That as the whole multitude was delivered from the bondage of Egypt by the mighty power of God alone so was every member of the same without respect of persons sanctified by his grace the richest in that behalfe nothing preferred before the poorest For by no merit and worthinesse of man was he moved to choose and to establish his habitation and dwelling amongst them but their felicity prerogative and honour which they had above all other Nations proceeded onely from the fountaine of his eternall goodnesse who loved them freely as he freely had chosen them to be a priestly kingdome and holy people from all Nations of the earth Thus to honour them that hee would dwell in the midst of them he neither was moved I say by the wisdome of the wise by the riches of the potent neither yet by the vertue and holinesse of any state amongst them but of meer goodnesse did he love them and with his presence did he honour the whole people and therefore to paint out the same his common love to the whole multitude and to cut off occasions of contention and doubts of conscience he would receive no more from the rich then from the poor for the maintenance of that his tabernacle by the which was represented his presence and habitation amongst them If the rich had been preferred to the poor then as the one should have been puffed up with pride as that he had been more acceptable to God by reason of his greater gift so should the conscience of the other have been troubled and wounded thinking that his poverty was an impediment that he could not stand in so perfect favour with God as did the other because he was not able to give so much as did the rich to the maintenance of his Tabernacle But he who of mercy as is said did choose his habitation amongst them and also that best knoweth what lyeth within man did provide the remedie for the one and for the other making them equall in that behalf who in other things were most unequall If the poor should have found himself grieved by reason of that taxe and that asmuch was imposed upon him as upon the Rich yet had he no small cause of joy that God himself would please to compare him and to make him equall in the maintenance of his Tabernacle to the most
Word But yet I think ye doubt what ye ought and may do in this so weighty a matter In few words I will declare my conscience in the one and in the other Ye ought to prefer the glory of God and the promoting of Christ his Evangell and the salvation of your souls to all things that be in the earth And ye although ye be but subjects may lawfully require of your Superiours be it of your King be it of your Lords Rulers and Powers That they provide for you true Preachers and that they expell such as under the name of Pastors devour and destroy the Flock not feeding the same as Christ Jesus hath commanded And if in this point your Superiours be negligent or yet pretend to maintain tyrants in their tyranny most justly ye may provide true Teachers for your selves Pastors according to the minde and heart of God by whom you may be fed with that most comfortable food of your souls Christs Evangell truly preached Ye may moreover in a peaceable manner without sedition with-hold the fruits and profits which your false Bishops and Clergy most unjustly receive of you unto such time as they shall faithfully do their charge and duties which is To preach unto you Christ Jesus truely rightly to minister the Sacraments according to his own Institution and so to watch for the salvation of your souls as is commanded by Christ Jesus himself and by his Apostles Paul and Peter If God shall move your hearts in his true fear to begin to practice these things and to demanded and crave the same of your Superiours which most lawfully ye may do then I doubt not but of his great mercy and free grace he will illuminate the eyes of your mindes that his undoubted Verity will be a Lantern to your feet to guide and lead you in all the wayes which godly wisedom doth approve he will make your enemies tremble before your faces he will establish his Evangell amongst you to the salvation and perpetuall comfort of your selves and of your posterity after you But and if as God forbid the love of friends the fear of your Princes and the wisedom of the world draw you back from God and from his Son Christ Jesus be ye certainly perswaded That ye shall drink the cup of his Vengeance so many I mean as shall contemn and despise this loving calling of your heavenly Father It will not excuse you dear brethren in the presence of God neither yet will it avail you in the day of his visitation to say We were but simple subjects we could not redresse the faults and crimes of our Rulers Bishops and Clergy We called for Reformation and wished for the same but Lords brethren were Bishops their sons were Abbots and the friends of great men had the possession of the Church and so were we compelled to give obedience to all that they demanded These vain excuses I say will nothing avail you in the presence of God who requireth no lesse of the subjects then of their Rulers That they decline from evil and that they do good that they abstain from Idolatry Superstition Blasphemy Murther and other such like horrible crimes which his Law forbiddeth and yet neverthelesse are openly committed and maliciously defended in that miserable Realm And if ye think that ye are innocent because ye are not the chief actors of such iniquity ye are utterly deceived for God doth not onely punish the chief offenders but with them doth he condemn the consenters to such iniquity and all are judged to consent that knowing impiety committed give no testimony that the same displeaseth them To speak this matter more plain As your Princes and Rulers are criminall with your Bishops of all Idolatry committed and of all the innocent blood that is shed for the testimony of Christs Truth and that because they maintain them in their tyranny so are you I mean so many of you as give no plain confession to the contrary criminall and guilty with your Princes and Rulers in the same crimes because ye assist and maintain your Princes in their blinde rage and give no declaration that their tyranny displeaseth you This Doctrine I know is strange to the blinde world but the verity of it hath been declared in all notable punishments from the beginning When the originall world perished by water when Sodome and Gomorra were consumed by fire and finally when Ierusalem was horribly destroyed Doth any man think that all were alike wicked before the world Evident it is that they were not if they be judged according to their externall facts for some were young and could not be oppressors neither yet could defile themselves with unnaturall and beastly lusts Some were pitifull and gentle of nature and did not thirst for the blood of Christ nor of his Apostles But did any escape the plagues and vengeance which did apprehend the multitude Let the Scriptures witnesse and the Histories be considered which plainly do testifie That by the waters all flesh in earth at that time did perish Noah and his family reserved That none escaped in Sodome and in the other Cities adjacent except Lot and his two daughters And evident it is That in that famous City Ierusalem in that last and horrible destruction of the same none escaped Gods vengeance except so many as before were dispersed And what is the cause of this severity seeing that all were not alike offenders let the flesh cease to dispute with God and let all men by these examples learn betimes to fly and avoid the society and company of the proud contemners of God if that they list not to be partakers of their plagues The cause is evident if we can be subject without grudging to Gods judgements which in themselves are most holy and just For in the originall world none was found that either did resist tyranny and oppression that universally was used nor yet that earnestly reprehended the same In Sodome was none found that did gain stand that furious and beastly multitude that did compasse about and besiege the house of Lot None would believe Lot that the City should be destroyed And finally in Ierusalem was found none that studied to represse the tyranny of the Priests who were conjured against Christ and his Evangell but all fainted I except ever such as gave witnesse with their blood or their flying That such impiety displeased them all kept silence by the which all approved iniquity and joyned hands with the tyrannts and so were all arayed and set as it had been in one Battell against the Omnipotent and against his Son Christ Jesus For whosoever gathereth not with Christ in the day of his Harvest is judged to scatter And therefore of one vengeance temporall were they all partakers Which thing as before I have touched ought to move you to the deep consideration of your duties in these last and most perillous times The iniquity
to record in my conscience That I delivered the same bread that I received of Christs hands and that I mixed no poyson with the same that is I teached Christs Gospel without any mixture of mens dreames devises or phantasies But alas I did it not with such fervency with such indifferency and with such diligency as this day I know my duty was to have done Some complained in those dayes That the Preachers were undiscreet persons yea some called them raylers and worse because they spake against the manifest iniquity of men and especially of those that then were placed in Authority as well in Court as in other Offices universally thorowout the Realme both in Cities Towns and Villages And among others peradventure my rude plainnesse displeased some who did complain That rashly I did speak of mens faults so that all men might know and perceive of whom I meant But alas this day my conscience accuseth me That I spake not so plainly as my duty was to have done For I ought to have said to the wicked man expressely by his name Thou shalt die the death For I finde Ieremiah the Prophet to have done so to Pashur the high Priest and to Zedechiah the King And not onely he but also Elijah Elisha Michah Amos Daniel Christ Jesus himself and after him his Apostles expressely to have named the blood-thirsty tyrants abominable Idolaters and dissembling hypocrites of their dayes If that we the Preachers within the Realme of England were appointed by God to be the Salt of the earth as his other Messengers were before us Alas Why with-held we the Salt where manifest compunction did appear I accuse none but my selfe The blinde love that I did bear to this my wicked carkase was the chiefe cause that I was not fervent and faithfull enough in that behalfe For I had no will to provoke the hatred of all men against me And therefore so touched I the vices of men in the presence of the greatest that they might see themselves to be offenders I dare not say that I was the greatest flatterer But yet neverthelesse I would not be seen to proclaim manifest Warre against the manifest wicked Whereof unfainedly I ask my God mercy As I was not so fervent in rebuking manifest iniquity as it became me to have been So was I not so indifferent a feeder as is required of Christs Steward For in preaching Christs Gospel albeit mine eye as knoweth God was not much upon worldly promotion yet the love of friends and carnall affection of some men with whom I was most familiar allured me to make more residence in one place then in another having more respect to the pleasure of a few then to the necessity of many That day I thought I had not sinned if I had not been idle But this day I know it was my duty to have had consideration how long I had remained in one place and how many hungry souls were in other places to whom alas none took pain to break and distribute the bread of Life Moreover remaining in one place I was not so diligent as mine Office required but sometime by counsell of carnall friends I spared the body sometime I spent in worldly businesse of particular friends and sometime in taking recreation and pastime by exercise of the body And albeit men may judge these to be light and small offences yet I acknowledge and confesse That unlesse pardon should be granted to me in Christs blood that every one of these three offences aforenamed that is to say Lack of fervency in reproving sin The lack of indifferency in feeding those that were hungry And the lack of diligence in the execution of mine Office deserved damation And beside these I was assaulted yea infected and corrupted with more grosse sins that is My wicked nature desired the favours the estimation and praise of men against which albeit that sometime the Spirit of God did move me to fight and earnestly did stir me God knoweth I lye not to sob and lament for those imperfections yet never ceased they to trouble me when any occasion was offred And so privily and craftily did they enter into my brest that I could not perceive my self to be wounded till vain-glory had almost gotten the upper hand O Lord be mercifull to my great offence and deal not with me according to my great iniquity but according to the multitude of thy mercies remove from me the burthen of my sin for of purpose and minde to have avoided the vain displeasure of man I spared little to offend thy Majestie Think not beloved in the Lord That thus I accuse my selfe without just cause as though in so doing I might appear more holy or that yet I do it of purpose and intent by occasion thereof to accuse others of my brethren the true Preachers of Christ of like or greater offences No God is Judge to my conscience That I do it even from an unfained and sore troubled heart as I that know my selfe grievously to have offended the Majesty of my God during the time that Christs Gospel had free passage in England And this I do let you understand That the taking away of the heavenly Bread and this great tempest that now bloweth against the poor disciples of Christ within the Realme of England as touching our part cometh from the great mercy of our heavenly Father to provoke us to unfained repentance for that neither Preacher nor Professor did rightly consider the time of our mercifull Visitation But altogether so we spent the time as though Gods Word had been Preached rather to satisfie our fantasies then to reforme our evill manners Which thing if we earnestly repent then shall Jesus Christ appear to our comfort be the storm never so great Haste O Lord for thy Names sake The second thing that I finde to be noted is The vehemency of the fear which the disciples endured in that great danger being of longer continuance then ever they had at any time before In Saint Matthewes Gospel it appeareth That another time there arose a great stormy Tempest and sore tossed the Boat wherein Christs disciples were labouring But that was nigh the day light and then they had Christ with them in the Ship whom they awaked and cryed for help unto him for at that time he slept in the Boat and so were shortly delivered from their sudden fear But now were they in the midst of the raging Sea and it was night and Christ their Comforter absent from them and cometh not to them neither in the first second nor third Watch What fear think ye were they in And what thoughts arose out of their so troubled hearts during that storm Such as this day be in like danger within the Realme of England doth by this storm better understand then my pen can expresse But of one thing I am well assured That Christs presence would in that great
standeth my singular comfort this day when I hear that those bloody tyrants within the Realme of England doth kill murther destroy and devour man and woman as ravennous Lions now loosed from bonds I lift up therefore the eyes of mine heart as my iniquity and present dolour will suffer and to my heavenly Father will I say O Lord those cruell tyrants are loosed by thy hand to punish our former ingratitude whom we trust thou wilt not suffer to prevail for ever but when thou hast corrected us a little and hast declared unto the world the tyranny that lurked in their boldned brests then wilt thou break their jaw-bones and wilâ— shut them up in their caves again that the generation and posterity following may praise thy holy Name before thy Congregation Amen When I feel any taste or motion of these promises then think I my self most happy and that I have received a just compensation albeit I and all that to me in earth belongeth should suffer present death knowing that God shall yet shew mercy to his afflicted Church within England and that he shall represse the pride of these present tyrants like as he hath done of those that were before our dayes And therefore beloved brethren in our Saviour Jesus Christ hold up to God your hands that are fainted through fear and let your hearts that have in these dolorous dayes sleeped in sorrow awake and hear the voyce of your God who sweareth by himself That he will not suffer his Church to be oppressed for ever neither that he will despise our sobâ— to the end if we will row and strive against this vehement winde I mean if that ye will not run back headlong to Idolatry then shall this storm be asswaged in despight of the devill Christ Jesus shall come with speed to your deliverance he shall pierce thorow the winde and the raging Seas shall obey and bear his feet and body as the massie stable and dry land Be not moved from the sure foundation of your faith For albeit that Christ Jesus be absent from you as he was from his disciples in that great storme by his bodily presence yet is he present by his mighty power and grace He standeth upon the mountain in security and rest that is his flesh and whole humanity is now in heaven and can suffer no such trouble as sometimes he did And yet he is full of pity and compassion and doth consider all our travell anguish and labours wherefore it is not to be doubted but that he will suddenly appear to our great comfort The tyranny of this world cannot keep back his coming more then the blustering winde and raging Seas lett Christ to come to his disciples when they looked for nothing but present death And therefore yet again I say beloved in the Lord Let your hearts attend to the promises that God hath made unto true repentant sinners and be fully perswaded with a constant faith That God is alwayes true and just in his performance of his promises You have heard these dayes spoken of very plainly when your hearts could fear no danger because you were nigh the land and the storm was not yet risen that is Ye were young Scholars of Christ when no persecution was felt or seen But now ye are come into the midst of the Sea for what part of England heard not of your profession and the vehement storm whereof we then almost in every Exhortation spake of is now suddenly risen up But what Hath God brought you so far forth that you shall both in souls and bodies every one perish Nay my whole trust in Gods mercy and truth is to the contrary For God brought not his people into Egypt and from thence thorow the Red Sea to the intent they should perish but that he in them should shew a most glorious deliverance Neither sent Christ his Apostles into the middest of the Sea and suffering the storm to assault them and their Ship to the intent they should there perish but because he would the more have his great goodnesse towards them felt and perceived in so mightily delivering them out of the fear of perishing giving us thereby an example that he would do the like to us if we abide constant in our profession and saith with-drawing our selves from superstition and idolatry We gave you warning of these dayes long ago For the reverence of Christs Blood let these words be noted The same Truth that spake before of these dolorous dayes forespake also the everlasting joy prepared for such as should continue to the end The trouble is come O dear brethren look for the comfort and after the example of the Apostle abide in resisting this vehement storm a little space The third Watch is not yet ended remember that Christ Jesus came not to his disciples till it was the fourth Watch and they were then in no lesse danger then you be now for their faith fainted and their bodies were in danger But Christ Jesus came when they looked not for him and so shall he do to you if you will continue in the profession that you have made This dare I be bold to promise in the Name of him whose Eternall Verity and glorious Gospel ye have heard and received who also putteth into my heart an earnest thirst God knoweth I lie not of your salvation and some care also for your bodies which now I will not expresse Thus shortly have I passed thorow the outragious tempest wherein the disciples of Christ were tempted after that the great multitude were by Christ fed in the desert omitting many profitable Notes which might well have been marked in the Text because my purpose is at this present not to be tedious nor yet curious but only to note such things as be agreeable to these most dolorous dayes And so let us now speak of the end of this storm and trouble in which I finde four things chiefly to be noted First That the disciples at the presence of Christ were more afraid then they were before Secondly That Christ useth no other instrument but his Word to pacific their hearts Thirdly That Peter in a fervency first left his Ship and yet after feared Fourthly and lastly That Christ permitted neither Peter nor the rest of his disciples to perish in that fear but gloriously delivered all and pacified the Tempest Their great fear and the cause thereof are expressed in the Text in these words When the disciples saw him walking upon the Sea they were afraid saying It is a Spirit and they cryed through fear It is not my purpose in this Treatise to speak of spirits nor yet to dispute Whether spirits good or bad may appear and trouble men Neither yet to enquire Why mans nature is afraid of spirits and so vehemently abhorreth their presence and company But my purpose is onely to speak of things necessary for this time And first let us consider
that there was three causes why the disciples knew not Christ but judged him to be a spirit The first cause was The darknesse of the night The second was The unaccustomed vision that appeared And the third was The danger and the tempest in which they so earnestly laboured for the safeguard of their selves The darknesse I say of the night letted their eyes to see him And it was above nature that a massie heavy and weighty body of a man such as they understood their Master Christ to have should walk go upon or be born up of the water of the raging Sea and not sink And finally the horrour of the tempest and great danger that they were in perswaded them to look for none other but certainly to be drowned And so all these three things concurring together confirmed in them this imagination That Christ Iesus who came to their great comfort and deliverance was a fearfull and wicked spirit appearing to their destruction What here happened to Christ Jesus himself that I might prove to have chanced and daily to happen to the verity of his blessed Word in all ages from the beginning For as Christ himself in this their trouble was judged and esteemed by his disciples at the first sight a spirit or phantasticall body so is the Truth and sincere Preaching of his glorious Gospel sent by God for mans comfort deliverance from sin and quietnesse of conscience when it is first offered and truely preached it is I say no lesse but judged to be heresie and deceivable doctrine sent by the devill to mans destruction The cause hereof is the dark ignorance of God which in every age since the beginning so overwhelmed the world that sometimes Gods very Elect were in like blindenesse and errour with the reprobate As Abraham was an Idolater Moses was instructed in all the wayes of the Egyptians Paul a proud Pharisee conjured against Christ and his Doctrine And many in this same our age when the Truth of God was offered unto them were sore afraid and cryed against it onely because the dark clouds of ignorance had troubled them before But this matter I omit and let passe till more opportunity The chief Note that I would have you well observe and mark in this preposterous fear of the disciples is this The more nigh deliverance and salvation approacheth the more strong and vehement is the temptation of the Church of God And the more nigh that Gods vengeance approacheth to the wicked the more proud cruell and arrogant are they Whereby it commonly cometh to passe That the very messengers of life are judged and deemed to be the authors of all mischief And this in many histories is evident When God had appointed to deliver the afflicted Israelites by the hand of Moses from the tyranny of the Egyptians and Moses was sent to the presence of Pharaoh for the same purpose such was their affliction and anguish by the cruelty which newly was exercised over them that with open mouthes they cursed Moses and no doubt in their hearts they hated God who sent him alleadging That Moses and Aaron was the whole cause of their last extreme trouble The like is to be seen in the Book of the Kings both under Elisha and Isaiah the Prophets For in the dayes of Ioram sonne of Achab was Samaria besieged by the King of Syria In which Samaria no doubt albeit the King and the most multitude were wicked there was yet some members of Gods Elect Church which were brought to such extreme famine that not onely things of small price were sold beyond all measure but also women against nature were compelled to eat their own children In this same City Elisha the Prophet most commonly was most conversant and dwelt by whose counsell and commandment no doubt the City was kept For it appeareth the King to lay that to his charge when he hearing of the piteous complaint of the woman who for hunger had eaten her own son rent his clothes with a solemne Oath and vow That the head of Elisha should not stand upon his shoulders that day If Elisha had not been of counsel That the city should have been kept Why should the King have more fumed against him then against others But whether he was the author of the defending the City or not all is one to my purpose for before the deliverance was the Church in such extremity that the chief Pastor of that time was sought to be killed by such as should have defended him The like is read of Hezekiah who defending his City Ierusalem and resisting proud Sennacherib no doubt obeying the counsell of Isaiah at length was so oppressed with sorrow and shame by the blasphemous words of Rabshakeh that he had no other refuge but in the Temple of the Lord as a man desperate and without comfort to open the disdainfull letters sent unto him by that hauty and proud tyrant By these and many Histories mo it is most evident that the more nigh salvation and deliverance approacheth the more vehement is the temptation and trouble This I writ to admonish you that albeit yet you shall see tribulation so abound that nothing shall appear but extreme misery without all hope of comfort that yet you decline not from God And that albeit somtimes ye be moved to hate the messengers of life that therefore ye shall not judge that God will never shew mercy after No deare Brethren as he hath dealt with others before you so will he deal with you God will suffer tribulation and dolour abound that no manner of comfort shall be seen in man to the intent that when deliverance commeth the glory may be his whose onely word may pacifie the tempest most vehement He drowned Pharaoh and his Army He scattered the great multitude of Benadad And by his Angel killed the hoste of Sennacharib And so delivered his afflicted when nothing appeared to them but utter destruction So shall he do to you beloved Brethren if patiently ye will abide his consolation and counsell God open your eyes that ye may rightly understand the meaning of my writing Amen But yet peradventure you wonder not a little why God permitteth such blood thirsty tyrants to molest and grieve his chosen Church I have recited some causes before and yet more I could recite but at this time I will hold me content with one The justice of God is such that he will not poure forth his extreme vengeance upon the wicked unto such time as their iniquity be so manifest that their very flatterers cannot excuse it Pharaoh was not destroyed till his own houshold servants and subjects abhorred and condemned his stubborn disobedience Iesabel and Athalia were not thrust from this life into death till all Israel and Juda were witnesses of their cruelty and abominations Iudas was not hanged till the Princes of the Priests bare witnesse of his Traiterous Act and iniquitie To
they are altogether against Christ Jesus and against his eternall Verity every one serving Sathan the Prince of this world in their rank age degree and estate The murtherers of their brethren which this day live are guilty with Cain of the blood of Abel The Kings and Princes which by power oppresse the people of God and will not suffer that the people truely worship God as he hath commanded but will retain them in Egypt are brethren and companions to Pharaoh The Prelats and Priests whose horrible iniquities and insolent life have infected all Realmes where they raigne have with their fathers the old Pharisces taken away the key of knowledge and have shut up the Kingdom of heaven before men so that neither they themselves will enter neither yet will they suffer others to enter into the same And the multitude blinded some by ignorance some by fear and by insatiable appetite of their part of the spoyl for Christ being crucified the souldiers parted amongst them his garments are conjured to defend those murtherers proud pestilent Prelats against Christ Jesus and against his poor Flock And therefore because of one crime they are all guilty which is of treason and rebellion against Christ of one torment they shall all taste which is Of the fire that never shall be quenched And herein ought you Madame be circumspect and carefull if that ye hope for the life to come For if the consent which proceedeth of ignorance and blindenesse bringeth destruction and death as Christ our Master doth witnesse saying If the blinde lead the blinde they shall both fall into the ditch What shall become of the proud and malicious contemners of Gods Verity offered But our Doctrine perchance shall be denyed to be the Verity Whereunto I answer That so was the Doctrine of Noah of Moses of the Prophets of Christ Jesus and of his Apostles and yet the originall world perished by water Sodome and Gomorra by fire descending from heaven Pharaoh and his adherents in the Red Sea the City of Ierusalem and the whole Nation of the Jews by punishments and plagues notwithstanding that the whole multitude cryed This is a new doctrine this is heresie and tendeth to sedition Our Petition is That our Doctrine may be tryed by the plain Word of God That liberty be granted to utter and declare our mindes at large in every Article and Point which now are in controversie Which if ye deny giving ear to Christs enemies who condemne his doctrine for heresie ye shall drink the Cup of Gods wrath with them But now to the former Letter Letter I doubt not but the rumors which have come to your Majesties ears of me have been such that if all reports were true I were unworthy to live upon the earth And wonder it is That the voices of the multitude should not so have enflamed your Majesties heart with just hatred of such a one as I am accused to be that all accesse to pity should have been shut up I am traduced as an heretick accused as a false teacher and seducer of the people besides other opprobries which affirmed by men of worldly honour and estimation may easily kindle the wrath of Magistrates where innonocence is not known But blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who by the dew of his heavenly grace hath so quenched the fire of displeasure as yet in your Majesties heart which of late dayes I have understood that Sathan is frustrate of his enterprise and purpose which is to my heart no small comfort Not so much God is my witnesse for any benefit that I can receive in this miserable life by protection of any earthly creature for the cup which it behoveth me to drink is appointed by the wisedom of him whose counsels are not changeable as that I am for that benefit which I am assured your Majestie shall receive if that ye continue in like moderation and clemency towards others that most unjustly are and shall be accused as that your Majestie hath begun towards me and my most desperate Cause that is If that by godly wisedome ye shall studie to bridle the fury and rage of them who for the maintenance of their worldly pomp regard nothing the cruell murthering of simple innocents Then shall he who doth pronounce mercy to appertain to the mercifull and promiseth that a cup of cold water given for his Names sake shall not lack reward first cause your happy Government to be praised in this present age and in posterities to come and last recompence your godly pains and study with that joy and glory which eye hath not seen nor yet can enter into the heart of mortall creature Addition IF Christs words were esteemed true That of every idle word an accompt shall be given and that nothing is so secretly done which shall not come to knowledge and light I suppose that the tongues of men should be better bridled then impudently to speak their pleasure in matters unknown For albeit that the true fear of God should not move them to speak truth yet would I think if any spark of humanity remained that worldly shame should impede them to lye When reasoning was before your Majesty what man it was that preached in Aire and divers men were of divers opinions some affirming that it was an Englishman and some supposing the contrary a Prelate not of the least pride said Nay no Englishman but it is Knox that Knave It was my Lords pleasure so to Baptize a poor man The reason whereof if it should be required his Rochet and Miter must stand for Authority What further liberty he used in defining things like uncertain to him to wit of my learning and doctrine at this present I omit Lamenting more that such pestilent tongues have liberty to speak in the presence of Princes then that I am sorry for any hurt that their venome can do to me in body or fame For what hath my life and conversation been since it hath pleased God to call me from the puddle of Papistry let my very enemies speak And what learning I have they may prove when they please The report of your Majesties moderation as well at that time as after when suite was made for my taking moved me to write this my other Letter in which albeit I have not played the Orator trimming and decking the matter for the pleasure of itching and delicate ears yet doth my conscience bear me record That with simplicity I have advertised you of a mortall danger As this portion subsequent shall prove Letter SUperfluous and foolish it shall appear to many That I a man of low estate and condition dare enterprise to admonish a Princesse so honourable indued with wisedom and graces singular But when I consider the honour which God commandeth to be given to Magistrates which no doubt if it be true honour containeth in it self in lawfull things obedience and in
who so mercifully ruled in the midst of them The temptation no doubt of the Israelites was great in those dayes They were carried captives from the Land of Canaan which was to them the gage and pledge of Gods favour towards them for it was the inheritance that God promised to Abraham and to his seed for ever The League and Covenant of Gods Protection appeared to have been broken They lamentably complain That they saw not their accustomed signes of Gods mercifull presence The true Prophets were few and the abominations used in Babylon were exceeding many And so it might have appeared to them That in vain it was that they were called the Posterity of Abraham or that ever they had received the Law or Forme of right Religion from God That we may the better feel it in our selves the temptation I say was even such as if God should utterly destroy all Order and Policie that this day is within his Church that the true preaching of the Word should be suppressed The right use of Sacraments abolished Idolatry and Papisticall abomination erected up again And therewith That our bodies should be taken prisoners by Turks or other manifest enemies of God and of all godlinesse Such I say was their temptation How notable then is this their confession that in bondage they make to wit That they will remember God onely albeit he hath appeared to turn his face from them They will remember his name and will call to minde the deliverance promised Hereof have we to consider what is our duty If God bring us as for our offences and unthankfulnesse justly he may to the like extremity This confession is not the fair flattering words of hypocrites lying and bathing in their pleasures but it is the mighty operation of the Spirit of God who leaveth not his own destitute of some comfort in their most desperate calamities This is then our duty not onely to confesse our God in time of peace and quietnesse but he chiefly craveth that we avow him in the midst of his and our enemies And this is not in us to do but it behoveth That the Spirit of God work in us above all power of nature And thus we ought earnestly to meditate before the battell rise more vehement which appeareth not to be far off But now must we enter in somewhat more deeply to consider these judgements of God This people dealt with all as we have heard was the onely people upon the face of the Earth to whom God was rightly known among them onely were his Laws Statutes Ordinances and Sacrifices used and put in practise They onely invocated his Name and to them alone had he promised his protection and assistance What then should be the cause that he should give them over into this great reproach and bring them into such extremity as his own name in them should be blasphemed The Prophet Ezekiel that saw this horrible destruction forespoken by Isaiah put in just execution giveth an answer in these words I gave unto them Laws that were good in the which Whosoever should walk should live in them But they would not walk in my wayes but rebelled against me And therefore I have given unto them Laws that are not good and Iudgements in the which they shall not live The Writers of the Books of Kings and Chronicles declare this in more plain words saying The Lord sent unto them his Prophets rising early desiring of them to return unto the Lord and to amend their wicked wayes for he would have spared his people and his Tabernacle but they mocked his servants and would not return unto the Lord their God to walk in his wayes Yea Iudah it self kept not the precepts of the Lord God but walked in the Manners and Ordinances of Israel That is Of such as then had declined to Idolatry from the dayes of Ieroboam And therefore the Lord God abhorred the whole seed of Israel that is The whole body of the people he promised them and gave them into the hands of those that spoiled them and so he cast them out from his presence Hereof it is evident That their disobedience unto God and unto the voices of his Prophets was the cause of their destruction Now have we to take heed how we should use the good Laws of God that is his Will revealed unto us in his Word and that Order of Justice that by him for the comfort of man is established amongst men It is no doubt but that obedience is the most acceptable sacrifice unto God and that which above all things he requireth That when he manifesteth himselfe by his word that men follow according to their vocation and commandment Now so it is that God by that great Pastor our Lord Jesus now manifestly in his word calleth us from all impiety as well of body as of mind to holinesse of life and to his spirituall service And for this purpose he hath erected the throne of his mercy among us the true preaching of his word together with the right administration of his Sacraments But what is our obedience let every man examine his own conscience and consider what statutes and lawes we would have to be given unto us Wouldst thou O Scotland have a King to raign over thee in justice equity and mercy subject thou thy selfe to the Lord thy God obey his commandments and magnifie thou that word that calleth unto thee This is the way walke into it and if thou wilt not flatter not thy self the same justice remaineth this day in God to punish thee Scotland and thee Edinburgh in especiall that before punished the land of Iuda and the City of Ierusalem Every Realm or Nation saith the Prophet Ieremy that likewise offendeth shall be likewise punished But if thou shalt see impiety placed in the seat of justice above thee so that in the Throne of God as Salomon doth complain raigneth nothing but fraud violence accuse thy own ingratitude and rebellion against God for that is the only cause why God taketh away as the same Prophet in another place doth speak the strong man and the man of war the Judge and the Prophet the prudent and the aged the Captain and the honourable the Counsellor and the cunning Artificer And I will appoint saith the Lord children to be their Princes and babes shall rule over them Children are extortioners of my people and women have rule over them If these calamities I say apprehend us so that we see nothing but the oppression of good men and of all godlinesse and wicked men without God to reigne above us Let us accuse and condemn our selves as the onely cause of our own miseries For if we had heard the voyce of the Lord our God given upright obedience unto the same God should have multiplyed our peace should have rewarded our obedience before the eyes of the world But now let us hear what the Prophet saith further
now O would God that the Nobility should yet consider The first of the Nobility The constant request of the Protestants of Scotland Note the duty of Noblemen Note Probation against the Papists Against such as under colour of authority persecute their brethren Difference betwixt the person and the Authority Note Note diligently Pharaoh his fact Note The fact of King Saul The second sort of the Nobility Note Let both the one part and the other judge if God have not justified the cause of the innocents From whence this courage did proceed the issue did declare Note The Earle of Glencarne his resolution Speakers sent by the Queene to S. Iohnston Note the answer The false suggestion of the Queen Regent Let the Papists rather ambitious Romanists judge The diligence of the Earle of Glencarne and of the brethren of the wast for the relief of S. Iohnston The Petition of the Protestants for the rendering of S Iohnston The answer of the Earle of Argyle and L. Iames Prior of S. Andrews The promise of the foresaid Note 1559 The first slaughter at the entry of the French-men Idolatry erected against the appointment Against the appointment the second time Second answer of the Queen Regent The third anâ—wer The departure of the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames from the Queen Regent The answer the Earle of Argyle The Bishops good minde towards Iohn Knox. Iohn Knox his answer to the Lords and the rest of the brethren The Reformation of S. Audrews For the old Earle of Argyle was dead Cowper-Moore M. Gawin Hamiltons Vow First answer at Cowper-moore The second answer The delivery of S. Iohnston The summoning of S. Iohnston Communing at S. Iohnston Huntly The Bishop of Murray The destruction of Scone The cause of the burning of Scone Speaking of an ancient matron when Scone was burning The taking of Stirlin Lord Shaton The coming of the Congregaon to Edinburg Let the Reader marke how this agrees with our time The third Letter to the Queen Regent The craftines of the Queen Regent may yet be espied 1559. Accusations Mark the craftie calumnies The communing at Preston The demand of the Queen Regent and answer of the Protestants The last offers of the Protestants to the Q. Regent The scoffing of the Queen Regent Note The death of Henry King of France Note how this agrees with our times Answer to the calumnie Note Nobles Leith left us the congregation The Lord Erskin and his fact In contemplation of these Articles arose this proverb Good day Sir John till Ianury Welcome Sir John till Ianuary Note The promise of the Duke and Earle of Huntly Answer to thâ— complaint of the Papists The third Bond of mutuall defence at Sterlin Note â—he first knowledge of the escaping of the Eâ—rle of Arran out of France Let this be noted The just reward of the Duâ—e for leaving God Brags â—now Note Note Note The residence of Iohn Willock in Edinburg Note The Queen Regents malice against poore men Note The practise of the Queen Regent See how this agreeth with our times The arrivall of th French Note The division of the Lords lands by the French How like to the Proclâ—mations of our times this is let the Reader judge Let the Bishop of Amians Letters and Monsieur de la Brosse Letters written to France witnesse that Confer this with our times Few dayes after declareth the truth of this Confer this with our times Let the Nobility judge hereof Let Sir Robert Richardson and others answer to this See how this agrees with our times The cause of the Frenchmens coming with wives and children Note A proverbe Note The doctrine of our Preachers concerning obedience to be given to Magistrates Let such as this day live witnesse what God hath wrought since the writing and publication hereof Note The Prophets have medled with policy and have reproved the corruptions thereof The coming of the Earle of Arran to Scotland and his joyning with the Congregation Letters to the Queen Regent The Petition of la Brosse The answer Note The tyranny of the French Note how this agrees with our times Note Let this be noted O craâ—ty flatterâ—r Note Elizabeth was come to the crown of England the yeere before by the death of Mary False lying tongue God hath confounded thee God hath purged his people of that false accusation Note The avarice of those of Loraine and Guise Note The title that the Queen hath or had to Leith The Laird of Lestarrig sup riour to Leith Note Note diligently The wickednesse of the Bishops The cause that Broughtie Craig was taken Let all men judge The Dukes answer Note Note Note The quarrell betwixt Frauce and the Congregation of Scotland The Lord Seaton unworthy of Regiment Optimâ— collatio Let the Papists judge if God hath not given judgement to the displeasure of their hearts Note The causes that moved the Nobility of this Realme to oppose the Q. Regent The sâ—me minde remaineth to this day This promise was forgot and therefore God plagued Wha spirit could have hoped for victory in so desperate dangers Note Note how calumnies prevail upon the world for a time Now the Duke seeing the Queens partie decline and the Protestant party grow strong he once more changeth the profession of his Religion and joyneth with the Protestants as strongest How true this is the whole and constant course of the family can tell Let this be noted and let all men judge of the purpose of the French and how good and wise Patriots they wâ—re who sold our Soveraign to France for their private profit and they by name were 〈◊〉 Hamiltons The order of the suspension of the Queen Regent from Authority within Scotland The discourse of Iohn Willock The causes The judgment of Iohn Knox in the deposition of the Queen Regent Let no man then for privat ends and by-wayes do any thing against their Prince â—nder preâ—ence of the publike 1559 The enormities committed by the Queen Regent Her daughter followed the same for to Davie was delivered the Great Seal Note Note Note Note All done in the Soveraignâ— Name as they do now a-dayâ— Note Treason among the counsell The Duke and his friends fearfull The ungodly Souldiers The Queenâ— Regents practises The fact of the councell The treason of Iohn 〈◊〉 Note the kindnesse of the English in need The E. Bothweâ—l false in promise and his treasonable fact Note The first departing of the Congregation The cruelty of the French Note this diligently The Earle of Argyle Lord Robert Stewart The Castle shot one Shot The Queen Regents rejoycing and unwomanly behaviour The counsel of the Master of Maxwell The last discâ—mâ—â—tuâ—e upon Munday The death of Alexander Haliburnton Captaine How and why William Maitland left Leith The Lord Erskin declared himself enemy to the Congregation The despight of the Papists of Edinburgh The worst is not yet come upon our enemies Note Note Note diligently Note Specialiâ— Applicatio Let Scotland
yet take heed Let janglers and inconstant mâ—n note Le the House of Hamilton remember this Conclusio Let the Papists and greatest enemies witnesse Proclamation against the Earl of Arranâ— Re 〈…〉 The drowning of the French Dominus pro nobis The Earle of Sudderland shot Note the French favour to their friendâ— John 6. Exhortation of Iohn Knox. Note The slaughter of a French Captain with his Band. Note The arrivall of the English Ships Note The Bridge of Tullibody Note the death of a plunderer Remark the Scots acknowledgement of the English help Iohn Knox his first Letter to Sir William Cecile Note Note Note As England had interest then not to suffer Scotland to perish so likewise Scotland hath interest now not to see Engâ—and undonâ— 1559. Note the Quaeres And Answers Let the enemies say if their hope be not frustrate Note diligently Note Note Note Sir Iames Crofts counsell Note a braggadoshie Note Note Note Note Note Note Note Let us mark our advantage from France Note Note Note Note a cruell â—act 1560 Note Note 1560. The fourth Covenant Now hereupon came the pursuit Let the Princes now adayes make use of this So now the worldlings speak unto the King concerning the Scots into England Note The Hamiltonsâ—amâ—ly â—amâ—ly Note this diligently We must go to the fiâ—st cause in all things The inhumanity of the mercâ—lâ—ss French The Quâ—en Regents cruell heart The comfortable Letter of the Duke of Norfolk Note Let the Princes now make use of these words of this dying Queen Note The death of the Queene Regent Note a Character of Popishly addicted French officers of State Note how they limit the Prince Note how the Prince is limitated and his will is not a Law Note The profit thâ—â— Leith got of their promise liberty Note a Covenant betwixt England and Scotland 1560. Some Prelats left Antichrist and did adherâ— unto Christ. William Mâ—itlands mockage of God See how this agrees with our timâ—s Deut. 14. 1 Cor. â— 8. Isai 44.4 5. 1 Tim. 1 27. 1 King 8.17 2 Chron. 8 18. Psal 139 78. Gâ—n 17 1. 1 Tim. 6.15 16 Exod 3.14 15. Matt. 28.19 1 Joh 57. Gen 1.1 Heb. 1. â—3 Act. 17.28 Prov 16.4 Gen 1.26 27 c. Col. 3.10 Ephes 4 24 Gen. 3.6 Gen. 2. â—7 Psal 51.5 Rom. 5 10. Rom. 7.5 2 Tit. 2.6 Eph. 2 23. Rom. 5.14 12. Rom. 6.23 John 3 5. Rom. 5.1 Phil. 1.29 Gen. 3.15 Gen. 3.9 Gen. 12 3. Gen. 15 5 6. 2 Sam. 7.14 Isai 7.14 Isai 9 6 Hag 2.6 John 8.38 Ezek. 6.5 6.7 8 9 c. Gen. 1 12. Gen. 13.1 Exod. 1.1 Exod. 1.20 Josh 3. 23 4 1 Sam. 10.1 1 Sam 16 13 2 Sam 7 12 2 Kingâ— 17.15 16 c. 2 King 24. 34 c. Deu. 28.36 38 c. 2 Kin. 25. â— Dan. 9 2. Ezr. 1 c. Hag. 1 14. Zach. 3.1 Gal 4 4. Luke 1.31 Matth. 1.18 Matth. 2.1 Rom. 1.3 Matth. 1.23 John 1.2.45 2 Tim. 2 5. Ephes. 1.3.4 15 6. Ephes. 1.11 Matth 25 34. Ephes. 1 21 22. Heb 27 8. Psal. 22.11 Heb 13.26 1 Pet. 2.24 5. Psal. 130.3 Psal. 143.3 1 Tim. 2.5 John 1.12 John 20.17 Rom. 5.17 18.19 Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4 36. Act. 17.26 Heb. 2.11 12. 1 Pet. 3 18. Isa. 53.8 Act. 2.4 1 John 1 2. Act. 20 28. 1 Tim 3.16 John 3.16 Heb. 10.1 12. Isa 53.5 Heb. 1 2.3 John 1.29 Matth. 26.11 Deut. 20.23 Matth. 15.1 2. Gal 3.13 Luke 23.1 2. Matth. 26.38 2 Cor 5. Heb 9 12. Heb. 10.5 Act. 2.23 Act. 3.26 Rom. 6.5 11. Act. 2.24 Rom. 4 25. Heb. 2.14 15. Matth. 28 John 20.27 21.7 Luke 24.41 42 43. Joh. 21.12 13. Luke 24.51 Act. 1.6 Matth. 28.6 Matth. 16.9 Luke 24 6. John 20.9 Matth. 28 18. 1 John 2.1 1 Tim. 2.5 Psal. 110 1. Matth. 22 44. Matth. 12 36. Luke 20.42.43 Acts 1.1 Acts 3.19 1 Thess. 1.4 5 6 7 8. Matth. 25.34 Revel 21.27 Esay 66.24 Matth 25.41 Matth 9.44 46 48 Matth. 22.13 2 Pet. 3 11. 2 Cor. 5.11 Luke 21.28 John 15.4 c. Esay 7.14 Ephes. 1.22 Col. 1.18 Heb. 1.11 15. Heb. 10.21 1 John 2.1 1 Tim. 2.5 Matth. 16.17 John 14 26. John 14.11 Acts 5.4 John 10.13 Col. 2.13 Ephes. 2. â— John 9.39 Revel 3.13 Matth. 17.17 Matth 9.19 Luke 9 41. John 6 63. Mic 7.8 1 King 8.8 Psal. 10.3 Rom. 5.10 John 3.5 Tit. 5.5 Rom. 5 8. Psal. 3.9 Psal. 1.6 2 Cor. 3.5 Ephes 1 6. Ephes. 2.10 Phil. 3.13 John 15.5 Rom. 8.9 Rom. 7.15 16 17. Gal. 5.17 Rom. 8 16. Rom. 7.24 Som. 8 22. Ephes 4.17 18 19. 2 Tim. 2.26 John 15 5. Exod. 20.3 c. Deut. 4.7 c. Luke 21.75 Mica 6.7 Ephes 6.17 Ezech. 22.104 1 Cor 6.19 20 1 The 4.4 5 6 Jer. 22.3 9 9 c. Esay 50.1 c. 1 Thess. 4 6. Rom 13.2 Ezek. 22.13 1 John 3 4. Rom. 14.23 Heb. 1 16. 1 Sam. 15.22 1 Cor. 10.31 1 John 3.4 Esay 29.19 Matth. 15.9 Mar. 7.7 Levit. 18.5 Gal. 3.12 1 Tim. 1.18 Rom. 7.12 Psal. 19.7 8 9. Deut. 5.29 Rom. 10.3 1 Kin. 8.4 6. Chron. 6.36 Eccles. 7.22 Prov. 20.9 1 â—oh 1.18 Iohn 1.18 Rom. 10.4 Gal. 3 13. Deut. 27.26 Phil. 2.15 Isai. 64.6 Luk. 17.10 Mat. 28.20 Ephes. 1.4 Col. 1.18 Ephes. 5.23 24 25 26. Apoc. 7.8 Ephes. 2.19 Iohn 5.24 Iohn 17.6 1 Tim. 2.19 Iohn 13.14 Ephes. 1.10 Col. 1.10 Heb. 12.4 Apoc. 14.13 Isai. 25 8. Apoc 7.16 17 Apoc. 21.4 Apoc. 16.10 11 Isai. 66.24 Mark 9.44 36 48. Luke 23.43 Luke â—6 24 25. Apoc. 6.9 10. Gen. 4.8 Gen. 21. â— Gen. 27.41 Mar. 23.34 Ioh. 15.18 19. Iohn 11 35. Ioh. 15.20 24. Act. 4.1 c. Act 5.17 c. Gen. 4 1. Psal. 48.1 2. Mat 5.35 Iohn 12.42 Ephes. 2.20 Act. 2.42 Iohn 10 27. Iohn 18.37 1 Cor. 1 13. 1 Cor. 11.20 23. Mat. 28 19 20 Mark 16.15 Rom 4 11. Matth 18 20. 1 Cor 1.2 2 Cor. 1.1 Gal. 1 2. Ephes. 1 1. Acts 16.9 10.18 1 Cor. 1. c. A 20 17 c. John 20.31 2 Tim 3 16 17 2 Pet. 1 20 21. John 5 29. Ephes 4 4 1 Tim. 3.16 17 Genes 27. Gal 2.11 12 13 14. 1 Tim. 4.1.23 Col. 2.18 19 20 21 22 23. Act. 15.1 c. 1 Tim. 3.15 Heb. 3.2 1 Cor. 14.40 Gen. 17.10 Exod. 12.32 Gen. 17.4 Num. 9.13 Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.17 Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 Luke 22.19 1 Cor. 11.24 10.16 Rom. 6.3 4 5. Gal. 3.27 Mar. 16.19 Luke 24.51 Act. 1.11 Act. 3.21 1 Cor. 10 c. Ephes. 5.30 Matth. 27.50 Mar. 15.31 Luke 23.46 John 14.30 6.51 53 54 55 56 57 58. 1 Cor. 11.28 28. Mat. 26.26 c Mar. 14.22 c Luk. 22.19 c 1 Cor. 11.24 Note 1 Cor. 11.25 26 Heb. 9.27 28 Col. 2.11 12 Rom. 4.11 Gen. 17.10 Mat. 28.19 1 Cor. 28.29 Rom. 13.1 Titus 3.1 1 Peter 13.2 Rom. 13.2 Rom. 13.7 1 Pet 2.17 Psal 82.1 1 Chron. 22.23 24 25. Chap. 26. 2 Chron. 29.30 31 chap. 2
trouve en lien trop suspect that is Because I was found in a place too much suspected At the place of Execution when he saw that there was no remedie but death he made a godly confession and granted that his declining from the truth of God and following of vanitie and impietie was justly repayed unto him But in the end he concluded looking unto the Heavens with these words O cruelle Dame What that complaint imported I leave it to conjecture and so received Chattelet the reward of his dancing for he lost his Head that his Tongue should not utter the secrets of our Queen deliver us O Lord from the rage of so inordinate a Court. The year of God 1563. there was a universall death in all Scotland but in the North where the Harvest before the Queene had been there was a great Famine of which may died in that Countrey the dearth was great over all but the Famine in the Wheat the Beare or Barley the Meale the Oates Beefe Mutton c were exceeding dear and scant yea all things appertaining to the sustentation of man in triple and more exceeded their accustomed prices And so did God according to the threatning of the Law punish the Idolatry of our wicked Rulers and our ingratitude that suffered them to defile the Land with that abomination again that God so potently had purged by the power of his Word for the riotous Feasting and excessive Banquetting used in City and Countrey wheresoever that the prophane Court repaired provoked God to strike the Staffe of Bread and to give his maledictions upon the fruits of the earth But alas who looked or yet looks to the true cause of our Calamitie Lethington was absent as before we have heard in the Queens affairs the Papists at that Pasch. Ann. 1563. in divers parts of the Realm had erected that Idoll the Masse amongst whom the Bish. of S. Andrews the Prior of Quihithorn with divers others of that faction would avow it Besides the first Proclamation there had Letters past in the contrary with certification of death to the contraveiner The Brethren universally offended and espying that the Queene by Proclamation did but delude them determined to put to their own hands and to punish for example of others and so some Priests in the West-Land were apprehended Intimation made unto others as to the Abbot of Cosragnell the Parson of Sangohar and such that they should neither complaine to the Queene nor Counsell but should execute the punishment that God has appointed to Idolaters in his Law by such means as they might where ever they should be apprehended The Queen stormed at such freedom of speaking but she could not amend it for the Spirit of God of boldnesse and of wisdome had not left the most part of such as God had made Instruments in the beginning they were of one minde to maintaine the truth and to suppresse Idolatry particularities had not divided them and therefore could not the Devill working in the Court and in Papists do then what they would and therefore the Court began to invent a new craft The Queen advised to send for Iohn Knox to come to her where she lay at Lochlevin She dealt with him earnestly two houres before supper that he would be the Instrument to perswade the people and principally the Gentlemen of the West not to put hand to punish any man for the using of themselves in their religions as pleased them The other perceiving her craft willed her Majestie to punish Malefactors according to the Laws and he durst promise quietnesse upon the parâ— of all them that professed the Lord Jesus within Scotland But if her Majestie thought to delude the Laws he said he feared some would let the Papists understand that without punishment they should no be suffered so manifestly to offend Gods Majestie Will ye quoth she allow that they shall take my Sword in their hand The Sword of Justice quoth he Madame is Gods and is given to Princes and Rulers for one end which if they transgresse sparing the wicked and oppressing the Innocents They that in the fear of God execute Judgement where God hath commanded offend not God although Kings do it not neither yet sin they that bridle Kings to strike innocent men in their rage The examples are evident for Samuel spared not to slay Agag the fat and delicate King of Amelek whom King Saul had saved Neither spared Elias Iezabels false Prophets and Baals Priests albeit that King Achab was present Phineas was no Magistrate and yet feared he not to strike Zimri and Cozbi in the very act of filthy Fornication And so Madame your Majesty may see that others then chief Magistrates may lawfully punish and have punished the vice and crimes that God commands to be punished For Power by Act of Parliament is given to all Judges within their own bounds to search the Masse-mongers or hearers of the same and to punish them according to the Law And therefore it shall be profitable to your Majesty to consider what is the thing your Majesties subjects look to receive of your Majesty and what it is you ought to do unto them by mutuall Contract They are bound to obey you and that not but in God ye are bound to keep Laws unto them Ye crave of them service They crave of you Protection and Defence against wicked doers Now Madame if ye shall deny your Duty unto them who especially crave that ye punish Malefactors Think ye to receive full Obedience of them I fear Madame ye shall not Herewith she being somewhat offended past to her Supper The said Iohn left her and informed the Earle of Murray of the whole reasoning and so departed of finall purpose to have returned to Edinburgh without any further communication with the Queen But before the Sun rising on the morne were two directed Wat Melvill was the one to him commanding him not to depart whilst he had spoken with the Queens Majesty which he did and met her at the Hawking by West Kinros Whether it was the nights sleepe or a deep dissimulation locked in her brest that made her to forget the former anger wise men may doubt But thereof she never moved word but began divers other purposes such as the offering of a Ring to her by the Lord Ruthuen whom said she I cannot love for I know him to use Enchantment and yet he is one of my Privy Councell Whom blameth your Majesty said the other thereof Lethington said she was the whole cause That man is absent for this present said he Madame and therefore I will speak nothing in that behalfe I understand said the Queen That ye are appointed to go to Dumfreis for the Election of a Superintendent to be established in those Countreyes Yes said he those Quarters have great need and some of the Gentlemen so require But I heare said she That the Bishop of Caithnes would be Superintendent He is one