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
very indigent and poor to whom God commands a sustentation to be provided of the Tenths they are so despised that it is a wonder that Sun giveth heat and light to the earth where Gods Name is so frequently called upon and no mercy according to his Commandment showne to his Creatures And also for the Ministers their Livings are so appointed that the most part shall live but a Beggers life And all cometh of that impiety that the idle bellies of Christs enemies must be fed in their former delicacy We dare not conceal from your Majestie and honours our conscience which is this That neither by the Law of God neither yet by any just Law of man is due unto them who now most cruelly do exact of the poor and rich the two parts of their Benefices as they call them And therefore we most humbly require That some other Order may be taken with them that they be not set up againe to empire above the people of God for we fear that such usurpation of their former state will be neither in the end pleasant to themselves nor profitable to them that would place them in that Tyranny If any think that a competent Living is to be assigned to them we repugne not provided that the Labourers of the ground be not oppressed the poor be not utterly neglected and the Ministers of the Word so hardly used as now they are And finally That those idle bellies who by Law can crave nothing shall confesse that they receive their sustentation and maintenance not of debt but of benevolence Our humble request is therefore That in every Parish some part of the Tythes may be assigned to the sustentation and maintenance of the poor within the same And likewise that some publike relief may be provided for the poor within Burroughs that Collectors may be appointed to gather And that strict Accounts may be taken as well for their Recepts as of the disbursements The further consideration to be had of our Ministers we in some part remit to your wisedoms and to their particular complaints Our fourth Petition is for the Mause-Yards and Gleebs justly appertaining to the Ministers without the which it is impossible unto them quietly to serve their Charges and therefore we desire that order be taken without delay Our fifth concerns the disobedience of certain wicked persons who not onely trouble and have troubled Ministers in their Functions but also disobey the Superintendents in their Visitation wherefore we humbly crave remedy which we doubt not so much for the feare that we and our Ministers have of the Papists but for the love that we bear to the common tranquility For this we cannot hide from your Majesty and Councell That if the Papists thinke to triumph where they may and to do what they list where there is not a party able to resist them that some will thinke That the godly must begin where they left who heretofore have borne all rhings patiently in hope that the Lawes should have bridled the wicked whereof if they be frustrate albeit that nothing is more odious to them then Tumults and domestick Discord yet will men attempt the uttermost before that in their owne eyes they behold the house of God demolished which with travell and danger God hath within this Realm erected by them Sixthly we desire That such as receive release of their Thirds be compelled to sustain the Ministers within their Bounds or else we forewarne your Majesty and Councell that we feare That the people shall retain the whole in their hands untill such time as their Ministers be sufficiently provided Seventhly we desire the Churches to be repayred according to an Act set forth by the Lords of the Secret Councell before your Majesties Arrivall into this Countrey That Jâ—dges be appointed to heare the causes of Divorcement for the Church can no longer sustain the burden especially because there is no punishment for the offenders That sayers and hearers of Masses prophaners of the Sacraments such as have entred into Benefices by the Popes Bulls and such other transgressors of the Law made at your Majesties Arrivall within this Realme may be severely punished for else men will think there is no truth meant in making of such Laws Eighthly We most humbly desire of your Majesty and your honourable Councell a resolute answer to every one of these Heads afore-written that the same being known we may somewhat satisfie such as be grievously offended at manifest iniquity now maintained at oppression under pretext of Law done against the poore and at the rebellious disobedience of many wicked persons against Gods Word and holy Ordinance God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ so rule your hearts and direct your Majesty and Councels judgements by the judgement and illumination of his holy Spirit that you may answer so as your offences may be absolved in the presence of that righteous Judge the Lord Jesus and then we doubt not but your selves shall finde felicity and this poor Realme that hath long been oppressed by wicked men shall enjoy tranquility and rest with the true knowledge of God These things read in publike Assembly as aforesaid were approved of all And some wished that more sharpnesse had been used because that the time so repuired But the Minions of the Court and Secretary Lethington above others could not abide such hard spoken words for whoever shall write said he to a Prince That God would strike the head and the tayle That if Papists do what they list men would begin where they left But above all others that was most offensive That the Queen was accused as that she would raise up Papists and Papistry again To put that in the people heads was no lesse then Treason yea Oathes was made That she never meaned such thing To whom it was answered That the Prophet Isaiah used such manner of speaking And it was no doubt but that he was acquainted in the Court for it was supposed that he was of the Kings Stock but howsoever it was his words make manifest that he spake to the Court and to the Courtiers to Judges Ladies Princes and Priests and yet saith he The Lord shall cut away the head and the tayle c. And so said the first writer I finde that such phrase was once used before us And if this offend you that we say Men must begin where they left in case the Papists do as they do we would desire you to teach us not so much how we shall speak but rather what we shall do when our Ministers are stricken our Superintendents disobeyed and a plain Rebellion decreed against all good Orders Complain said Lethington To whom said the other To the Queen said he How long shall we do so quoth the other Till that you get remedy said the Justice Clerke Give me their names and I shall give you Letters If the Sheep said one shall complain to the Wolfe That the Wolfs
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
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
Word from the whole Realme of England But be thou mindefull O Lord that it is thy Truth which we have professed and that thy enemies blasphemeth thy holy Name and our Profession without Cause Thy holy Gospel is called heresie and we are accused as traytors for professing the same Be mercifull therefore O Lord and be salvation unto us in this time of our anguish Albeit our sins accuse and condemne us yet do thou according to thine own Name We have offended against thee Our sins and iniquities are without number and yet art thou in the midst of us O Lord albeit that tyrants bear rule over our bodies yet thirsteth our souls for the comfort of thy Word Correct us therefore but not in thy hot displeasure spare thy people and permit not thine inheritance to bâ— in rebuke for ever Let such O Lord as now are most afflicted yet once againe praise thy holy Name before thy Congregation Represse the pride of those blood-thirsty Tyrants consume them in thine anger according to the reproach which they have laid against thy holy Name Pour forth thy vengeance upon them and let our eyes behold the blood of thy Saints required of their hands Delay not thy vengeance O Lord but let death devour them in haste Let the earth swallow them up and let them go downe quick to the hells For there is no hope of their amendment the feare and reverence of thy holy Name is quite banished from their hearts and therefore yet again O Lord consume them consume them in thine anger and let them never bring their wicked counsells to effect but according to the godly powers let them be taken in the snare which they have prepared for thine elect Look upon us O Lord with the eyes of thy mercy and shew pity upon us thy weak and sore oppressed Flock Gather us yet once again to the wholesome treasures of thy most holy Word that openly we may confesse thy blessed Name within the Realme of England Grant this O heavenly Father for Christ Iesus thy sons sake Amen If on this manner or otherwise as God shall put in our hearts without hypocrisie in the presence of our God respecting more his glory then our private wealth continually we poure forth our complaint confession and prayers Then so assuredly as our God liveth and as we feel these present troubles shall our God himself rise to our defence he shall confound the counsels of our enemies and trouble the wits of such as most wrongfully troubleth us He shall send Jesu to execute his just judgments against Idolators and against such as obstinately defendeth them Yea the chiefe men of our times shall not escape the vengeance and plagues that are prepared for their portion The flatterers and maintainers of her abominations shall drink the cup of Gods wrath And in despite of the Devill shall yet the glory of Christ Jesus and the brightnesse of his countenance so shine in our hearts by the presence of his grace and before our eyes by the true preaching of his Gospel that altogether we shall fall before him and say O Lord thou art our God we shall extoll thee and shall confesse thy Name for thou â—ast brought wonderous things to passe according to thy counsels which albeit appear to be farre off yet are they true and most assured Thou hast brought to ruine the palaces of tyrants and therefore shall the afflicted magnifie thee and the City of tyrannicall Nations shall fear thee Thou hast been O Lord a strong defence to the poor a sure place of refuge to the afflicted in the time of his anguish This no doubt dear Brethren shall one day be the song of Gods Elect within the Realm of England after that God hath poured forth his vengeance upon these disobedient and blood-thirsty tyrants which now triumpheth in all abominations and therefore yet again beloved in the Lord Abide patiently the Lords deliverance avoyding and flying such offences as may separate and divide you from the blessed felloâ—ship of the Lord Jesus at his second comming Watch and pray resist the â—ivell and row against this vehement tempest and shortly shall the Lord come to the comfort of your hearts which now are oppressed with anguish and care but then shall ye so rejoyce that through gladnesse you shall say Behold this our God we have waited upon him and he hath saved us This is our Lord we have long thirsted for his comming now shall we rejoyce and be glad in his salvation Amen The great Bishop of our souls Jesus our Lord so strengthen and assist your troubled hearts with the mighty comfort of his Holy Ghost that earthly tyrants nor worldly torments have no power to drive you from the hope and expectation of that Kingdom which for the Elect was prepared from the beginning by our heavenly Father to whom be all praise and honour now and ever Amen Remember me dear Brethren in your daily prayers The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Yours with sorrowfull heart JOHN KNOX The Copie of A LETTER Delivered To Queen Mary Regent OF SCOTLAND FROM IOHN KNOX Minister of Gods Word in the yeer of our Lord 1556. and thereafter augmented and explained by the Author in the yeer of our Lord 1558. To the most Excellent Princesse MARY DOVVAGER Regent of Scotland MADAME THE cause which moved me to present this my Supplication unto your Majestie enlarged and in some places explained being in the Realm of Scotland in the Moneth of May 1556. I caused to be presented to your Majesty is the incredible rage of such as beare the Title of Bishops who against all justice and equitie have pronounced against me a most cruell sentence condemning my Bodie to Fire my Soul to Damnation and all Doctrine taught by me to be false deceivable and Hereticall If this injury did tend to me alone having the testimony of a good conscience with silence I could passe the matter being assured that such as they curse and expell their Synagogues for such causes shall God blesse and Christ Jesus receive in his eternall societie But considering that this their blasphemy is vomited forth against the eternall Truth of Christs Evangell whereof it hath pleased the great mercy of God to make me a Minister I cannot cease to notifie as well to your Majestie as to them That so little am I afraid of their Tyrannicall and surmised sentence that in place of the Picture if God impede not my purpose they shall have the Body to justice that Doctrine which they Members of Satan blasphemously do condemne Advertising your Majestie in the mean time That from them their sentence and tyrannie and from all those that lift to maintain them in the same I do appeal to a lawfull and generall Councel beseeching your Majesty to take in good part that I call you for witnesse that I have required the libertie of
shame to the Realm then hurt to their enemies The black book of Hamilton maketh mention of great vassallage done at that time by the Governour and the French but such as with their eyes saw the whole progresse knew that to be a lye and do repute it amongst the veniall sinnes of that race which is to speak the best of themselves they can That winter following so nurtured the French-men that they learned to eat yea to beg cakes which at their entrie they scorned without jesting they were so miserably used that few returned into France again with their lives The Cardinall then had almost fortified the Castle of S. Andrews which he made so strong in his opinion that he regarded neither England nor France The Earle of Lenox as is said disappointed of all things in Scotland passed into England where he was received of King Henry into protection who gave him to wife Lady Margaret Dowglas of whom was borne Henry sometime husband to our Queen and Mistresse While the inconstant Governour was sometimes dejected and sometimes raised up againe by the Abbot of Paislay who before was called Chaster then any maiden began to shew himselfe for after he had taken by craft the Castles of Edinburgh and Dumbar he took also possession of his enemies wife the Lady Stanehouse The woman is and hath been famous and is called Lady Gilton her Ladyship was holden alwayes in poverty But how many wives and virgins he hath had since and that in common the world knoweth albeit not all and his bastard birds bear some witnesse Such is the example of holinesse that the flock may receive of the Papisticall Bishops In the midst of all the calamities that came upon this Realme after the defection of the Governor from Christ Jesus came into Scotland that blessed Martyr of God M. George Wischarde in company of the Commissioners before mentioned in the yeere of our Lord 1544. a man of such graces as before him was never heard within this Realme yea and are rare to be found yet in any man notwithstanding this great light of God that since his dayes hath shined unto us he was not onely singularly learned as well in all Godly knowledge as in all honest humane Science but also he was so clearely illuminated with the spirit of Prophesie that he saw not onely things pertaining to himselfe but also such things as some Townes and the whole Realme afterward felt which he forespake not in secret but in the audience of many as in their own places shall be declared The beginning of his Doctrine was in Mount Rosse therefrom he departed to Dundie where with great admiration of all that heard him he taught the Epistle to the Romanes till that by procurement of the Cardinall Robert Myle then one of the principall men in Dundie and a man that of old had professed knowledge and for the same had suffered trouble gave in the Queenes and Governours name Inhibition to the said Master George that he should trouble their Towne no more for they would not suffer it And this was said to him being in the publike place which heard he mused a pretie space with his eyes bent unto the heaven And thereafter looking sorrowfully to the speaker and unto the people he sayd God is witnesse that I never minded your trouble but your comfort yea your trouble is more dolourous unto me then it is unto your selves But I am assured that to refuse Gods word and to chase from yoâ— his messenger shall not preserve you from trouble but it shall bring you into it For God shall send unto you messengers who will not be afraid of burning nor yet for banishment I have offered unto you the word of Salvation and with the hazard of my life I have remained amongst you Now ye your selves refuse me and therefore must I leave my Innocencie to be declared by my God if it be long prosperous with you I am not led with the Spirit of Truth But if trouble unlooked for apprehend you acknowledge the cause and turne to God For he is mercifull but if ye turne not at the first he will visit you with fire and sword These words pronounced he came downe from the Preaching place In the Church present was the Lord Marshall and divers noble men who would have had the said M. George to have remained or else to have gone with them into the Countrey But for no request would he either tarry in the towne or on that side of Tay any longer But with possible expedition past to the West-land where he began to offer Gods word which was of many gladly received till that the Bishop of Glasgow Dumbar by instigation of the Cardinall came with his gatherings to the Towne of Ayre to make resistance to the said M. George and did first take the Church The Earle of Glencarne being thereof advertised repaired with his friends to the Towne with diligence and so did divers Gentlemen of Kyle amongst whom was the Laird of Lefnoreise a man far different from him that now liveth in the yeere of our Lord 1566. in manners and Religion of whom to this day yet many live and have declared themselves alwayes zealous and bold in the cause of God as after will be heard When all were assembled conclusion was taken that they would have the Church Whereto the said M. George utterly repugnedâ— saying Let him alone his Sermon will not much hurt Let us go to the Market Crosse And so they did where he made so notable a Sermon that the very enemies themselves were confounded The Bishop Preached to his Jackmen and to some old Bosses of the Towne The sum of all his Sermon was They say we should Preach Why not Better late thrive then never thrive Hold us still for your Bishop and we shall provide better the next time This was the beginning and the end of the Bishops Sermon Who with haste departed the Towne but returned not to fulfill his promise The said M. George remained with the Gentlemen in Kyle till that he gat sure knowledge of the estate of Dundie He Preached commonly at the Church of Gastonne and used much in the Barrie He was required to come to the Church of Machlyne and so he did But the Sheriffe of Ayre caused to man the Church for preservation of a Tabernacle that was there beautifull to the eye The persons that held the Church was George Campbell of Mongarswood that yet liveth Anno 1566. Mungâ— Campbell of Broâ—â—syde George Rid in Dandilling the Laird of Tempilland Some zealous of the Parish amongst whom was Hugh Campbell of Kingarcleuch offended that they should be debarred their Parish Church concluded by force to enter But the said M. George withdrew the said Hugh and said unto him Brother Christ Iesus is as mighty upon the fields as in the Church And I finde that â—e himselfe after Preached in the Desert at the sea side and
knowing that Calder Younger and Brunston were with Iohan Cocburne Laird of Ormeston sent back with expedition to apprehend them also The noyse of Horse-men being heard the servants gave advertisement That more then departed or was there before were returned And while that they dispute what should be the motive the Cardinalls Garrison had seized both the outer and inner Close They called for the Laird and for the Laird of Calder who presenting themselves demanded what their COMMISSION was To bring you two and the Laird of Brouneston to my Lord GOVERNOUR They were nothing content as they had no cause and yet they made faire countenance and intreated the Gentlemen to drinke and to baite their horses till that they might put themselves in readinesse to ride with them In this meane time Brounston conveyed himselfe first secretly and then by speed of foot to Ormiston wood and from thence to Dundallon and so escaped that danger the other two were put into the Castle of Edinburgh where the one to wit Calder Zounger remained untill his baud of Manred to the Cardinall was the meanes of his deliverance And the other to wit Ormiston freed himselfe by leaping off the wall of the Castle betwixt ten of the clock and eleven before noon And so breaking Ward he escaped prison which he unjustly suffered The servant of God M. George Wischarde was carried first to Edinburgh thereafter brought backe for fashion sake to the house of Hailles againe which was the principall place that then the Earle Bothwell had in Lothiane But as gold and women have corrupted all worldly and fleshly men from the beginning so did they him For the Cardinall gave gold and that largely and the Queen with whom the said Earle was then in the Glunders promised him favour in all his lawfull suites to women if he would deliver the said M. George to be kept in the Castle of Edinburgh He made some resistance at the first by reason of his promise But an effeminate man cannot long withstand the assaults of a gracious Queene and so was the servant of God transported to Edinburgh where the Cardinall then had a convention of Prelats wherein somewhat was said of redressing the abuses of the Church and reforming the lives of the Clergie but it tooke no effect M. Wischarde remained but few dayes in Edinburgh For that bloodie woolfe the Cardinall ever thirsting after the blood of the servant of God so travelled with the abused Governour that he was content that Gods servant should be delivered to the power of that Tyrannie And so small inversion being made Pilate obeyed the petition of Caiaphas and of his fellows and adjudged Christ to be crucified The Cardinall seeing it was forbidden by the Canon Law to Priests to sit as Judges upon life and death although the crime were Heresie sent to the Governour desiring him to name some Lay-Judge to pronounce Sentence against M. Wischarde The Governour had freely condescended to the Cardinalls request without delay if David Hamilton of Preston a godly and wise man had not remonstrated unto him That he could expect no better end then Saul since he persecuted the Saints of God for that Truth which he professed once with such a shew of earnestnesse the profession thereof being the onely cause of his advancement to that high degree wherein he was The Governour moved at this Speech of David Hamiltons answered the Cardinall That he would not meddle with the blood of that good man and told him That his blood should be on him for he himselfe would be free of it At this the Cardinall was angry and said he would proceed and that he had sent to the Governour of meere civility without any need And so the servant of God delivered to the hand of that proud and mercilesse Tyrannie triumph was made by the Priests The godly lamented and accused the foolishnesse of the Governour For by the retaining of the said M. George he might have caused Protestants and Papists rather proud Romanists to have served The one to the end the life of their Preacher might have been saved The other for feare that he should have set him at liberty again to the confusion of the Bishops But where God is left as he had plainely renounced him before what can counsell or judgement availe How the servant of God was dealt withall and what he did from the day that he entred within the sea Tower of S. Andrews which was in the end of January in the yeere of God 1546. unto the first of March the same yeere when he suffered we cannot certainly tell except we understand he wrote somewhat in prison but that was suppressed by the enemies The Cardinall delayed no time but caused all Bishops yea all the Clergie that had any preheminence to be called to S. Andrews against the seven and twentieth day of February that consultation might be had in that question which in his minde was no lesse resolved then Christs death was in the minde of Caiaphas But that the rest should bear the like burden with him he would that they should before the world subscribe whatsoever he did In that day was wrought a wonder not unlike that which was at the accusation and death of Jesus Christ when Pilate and Herod who before were enemies were made friends by consenting of them both to Christs condemnation differs nothing except that Pilate and Herod were brethren under their father the Devill in the estate called Temporall And these two of whom we are about to speake were brethren sons of the same father the Devill in the estate Ecclesiasticall If we interlace merrynesse with earnest matters pardon us good Reader for the fact is so notable that it deserveth long remembrance The Cardinall was knowne proud and Dumbar Archbishop of Glasgow was knowne a glorious foole And yet because sometimes he was called the Kings Master he was Chancellour of Scotland The Cardinall cometh even the same yeere in the end of harvest before to Glasgow upon what purpose we omit But while they remaine together the one in the Towne the other in the Castle Question riseth for bearing of their Crosses The Cardinall alleadged That by reason of his Cardinalship and that he was Legatus natus and Primate within Scotland in the kingdome of Antichrist That he should have the preheminence and that his Crosse should not onely go before but that also it should onely be borne wheresoever he was Good Gukstone Glakstone the aforesaid Archbishop lacked no reasons as he thought for maintenance of his glory He was an Archbishop in his owne Diocesse and in his owne Cathedrall Seat and Church and therefore ought to give place to no man The power of the Cardinall was but begged from Rome and appertaineth but to his own person and not to his Bishoprick for it might be that his successour should not be Cardinall but his dignity was annexed with his office and did appertaine to all
and hit him so spitefully with the Popes thunder that the ignorant people dreaded lest the earth then would have swallowed him up quick Notwithstanding he stood still with great patience hearing their sayings not once moving or changing his countenance When that this fat sow had read thorowout all his lying menaces his face running down with sweat and froathing at the mouth like a boare He spate at M. Georges face saying What answers thou to these sayings Thou runagate traitour theefe which we have duely proved by sufficient witnesse against thee Master George hearing this sate downe upon his knees in the Pulpit making his prayer to God When he had ended his Prayer sweetly and Christianly he answered unto them all in this manner Master George his ORATION MAny and horrible sayings unto me a Christian man many words abominable for to heare have ye spoken here this day which not onely to teach but also to thinke I thought it ever great abomination Wherefore I pray your discretions quietly to heare me that ye may know what were my Sayings and the manner of my Doctrine This my Petition my Lords I desire to be heard for three causes The first is Because through preaching of the Word of God his glory is made manifest It is reasonable therefore for the advancing of the glory of God that ye heare me teaching truely the pure and sincere Word of God without any dissimulation The second reason is Because that your health springeth of the Word of God for he worketh all things by his Word It were therefore an unrighteous thing if ye should stop your eares from me teaching truely the Word of God The third reason is Because your Doctrine speaketh forth many pestilentious blasphemous and abominable words not coming by the inspiration of God but of the devill on no lesse perill than my life It is just therefore and reasonable for your discretions to know what my words and Doctrine are and what I have ever taught in my time in this Realme that I perish not unjustly to the great perils of your selves Wherefore both for the glory of God your owne health and safeguard of my life I beseech your discretions to heare me and in the meane time I shall recite my Doctrine without any colour First and chiefly since the time that I came into this Realme I taught nothing but the ten Commandments of God the twelve Articles of the Faith and the Prayer of the Lord in the mother Tongue Moreover in Dundie I taught the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romanes And I shall shew your discretions faithfully what fashion and-manner I used when I taught without any humane dread So that your discretions give me your eares benevolent and attentive Suddenly then with a loud voyce cryed the accuser the fat sow Thou Hereticke Runnagate Traytor and Thief It was not lawfull for thee to preach thou hast taken the power at thine owne hand without any authority of the Church We forthinke that thou hast been a Preacher so long Then said the whole Congregation of the Prelats with their complices these words If we give him license to Preach he is so crafty and in holy Scriptures so exercised that he will perswade the people to his opinion and raise them against us M. George seeing their malicious and wicked intent appealed to an indifferent and equall Judge To whom the accuser Iohn Lawder aforesaid with hoggish voyce answered Is not my Lord Cardinall the second person within this Realme Chancellor of Scotland Archbishop of Saint Andrewes Bishop of Merepose Commendator of Arbroth Legatus natus Legatus a Latere And so reciting as many Titles of his unworthy Honours as would have laden a Ship much sooner an Asse Is not he quoth Iohn Lawder an equall JUDGE apparently to thee Whom other desirest thou to be thy JUDGE To whom this humble man answered saying I refuse not my Lord Cardinall but I desire the Word of God to be my Iudge the Temporall estate with some of your Lordships mine auditors because I am here my Lord Governours prisoner Whereupon the pridefull and scornfull people that stood by mocked him saying Such man such Iudge speaking seditious and reproachfull words against the Governour and other of the Nobles meaning them also to be hereticks And incontinent without all delay they would have given sentence upon M. George and that without further Processe had not certain men there councelled my Lord Cardinall to reade againe the Articles and to heare his answers thereupon that the people might not complaine of his wrongfull condemnation And shortly for to declare These were the Articles following with his Answers as far they would give him leave to speak For when he intended to mitigate their leasings and shew the manner of his Doctrine by and by they stopped his mouth with another Article The first Article Thou false Hereticke Runnagate Traytor and Thief Deceiver of the people despisest the Church and in like case contemnes my Lord Governours Authority And this we know of surety That when thou preachedst in Dundie and was charged by my Lord Governours Authority to desist neverthelesse thou wouldest not obey but persevered in the same And therefore the Bishop of Breachen cursed thee and delivered thee into the Devils hand and gave thee then Commandment That thou shouldest preach no more yet notwithstanding thou didst continue obstinately The Answer My Lords I have read in the Acts of the Apostles That it is not lawfull for the threats and menaces of men to desist from the preaching of the Gospel Therefore it is written We shall rather obey God than men I have also read the Prophet Malachie I shall curse your blessings and blesse your cursings saith the Lord. Believing firmly That he would turn your cursings into blessings The second Article Thou false heretick didst say That a Priest standing at the Altar saying Masse was like a Fox wagging his taile in July The Answer My Lords I said not so These were my sayings The moving of the body outward without inward moving of the heart is nought else but the playing of an Ape and not the true serving of God For God is a secret searcher of mens hearts Therefore who will truely adore and honour God he must in spirit and verity honour him Then the accuser stopped his mouth with another Article The third Article Thou false hereticke Preachest against the Sacraments saying That there are not seven Sacraments The Answer My Lords It is not so by your pleasures I taught never of the number of the Sacraments whether there were seven or eleven so many as are instituted by Christ and are showne to us by the Gospel I professe openly Except it be the Word of God I dare affirme nothing The fourth Article Thou false hereticke hast openly taught That Auricular Confession is not a blessed Sacrament and thou saist That we should onely confesse us to God and to no Priest The Answer My Lords I say
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
Church the Queene our Soveraigne her honourable and gracious Husband the abilitie of their succession your Majestie Regent the Nobilitie and whole State of this Realme Secondly If it shall happen in our said meetings any hard place of Scripture to be read of which without explanation hardly can arise any profit to the hearers that it shall be lawfull to any qualified persons in knowledge being present to interpret and open up the said hard places to Gods glory and to the profit of the Auditory And if any thinke that this libertie should be occasion of Confusion Debate or Heresie we are content that it be provided that the said Interpretation shall underly the judgement of the godly and most learned within the Realme at this time Thirdly That the holy Sacrament of Baptisme may be used in the Vulgar Tongue that the God-fathers and Witnesses may not onely understand the points of the League and Contract made betwixt God and the Infant but also that the Church then assembled more gravely may be informed and instructed of their duties which at all times they owe to God according to that promise made unto him when they were received into his houshold by the lavacre of spirituall regeneration Fourthly We desire that the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper or of his blessed Body and Blood may likewise be ministred unto us in the Vulgar Tongue and in both kindes according to the plaine Institution of our Saviour Christ Iesus And lastly We most humbly require That the wicked slanderous and detestable life of Prelats and of the state Ecclesiasticall may be reformed that the people by them have not occasion as of many dayes they have had to contemne their Ministerie and the Preaching whereof they should be Messengers And if they suspect that we rather envying their honours or coveting their riches and possessions then Zealously desiring their amendment and salvation do travell and labour for this Reformation We are content that not onely the Rules and Precepts of the New Testament but also the Writings of the ancient Fathers and the godly and approved Lawes of Justinian the Emperour decide the controversie betwixt us and them And if it shall be found that either malevolently or ignorantly we aske more then these three forenamed have required and continually do require of able and true Ministers in Christs Church we refuse not correction as your Majestie with right judgement shall think meet But if all the forenamed shall condemne that which we condemne and approve that which we require Then we most earnestly beseech your Majestie that notwithstanding the long custome which they have had to live at their lust that they be compelled either to desist from Ecclesiasticall administration or to discharge their duties as becometh true Ministers So that the grave and godly face of the Primitive Church reduced Ignorance may be expelled True Doctrine and good Manners may once againe appeare in the Church in this Realme These things we as most obedient Subjects require of your Majestie in the Name of the eternall God and of his Son Christ Iesus in presence of whose Throne judiciall ye and all other that heere in earth beareth authority shall give account of your temporall regiment The spirit of the Lord Iesus move your Majesties heart to Iustice and Equity These our Demands being proposed the State Ecclesiasticall began to storme and to devise all manner of lies to deface the equitie of our cause They bragged as that they would have publike Disputation which also we most earnestly required two things being provided First That the plaine and written Scriptures of God should decide all Controversies Secondly That our brethren of whom some were then exiled and by them unjustly condemned might have free accesse to the said Disputation and safe-conduct to return to their dwelling places notwithstanding any Processe which before had been laid against them in matters concerning Religion But these being by them utterly denied for no Judge would they admit but themselves their Counsels and Canon Law They and their faction began to draw certain Articles of reconciliation promising unto us If we would admit the Masse to stand in its former reverence and estimation Grant Purgatory after this life Confesse prayer to Saints and for the dead and suffer them to enjoy their accustomed Rents Possession and Honour That then they would grant us to pray and baptize in the Vulgar Tongue so that it were done secretly and not in the open assembly But the grosenesse of these Articles was such that with one voice we refused them and constantly craved justice of the Queene Regent and a reasonable answer of our former Petitions The Queene then Regent a woman crafty dissimulate and false-thinking to make her profit of both parties gave to us permission to use our selves godly according to our desires provided that we should not make publike assemblies in Edinburgh nor Lieth and did promise her assistance to our Preachers untill some uniform order might be established by a Parliament To them we mean the Clergie she quietly gave signification of her minde promising that how soon any opportunity should serve she should so put order to these matters that after they should not be troubled for some say they gave her a large purse 40000. l. Turn or Scots gathered by the Laird of Earleshale We nothing suspecting her doublenesse nor falshood departed fully contented with her answer and did use our selves so quietly that for her pleasure we put silence to Iohn Dowglas who publikely would have preached in the Town of Lieth for in all things we sought the contentment of her minde so far as God should not be offended against us for obeying her in things as we thought unlawfull Shortly after these things that cruell Tyrant and unmercifull hypocrite falsly called Bishop of S. Andrews apprehended that blessed Martyr of Christ Jesus Walter Mill a man of decrepite age whom most cruelly and most unjustly he put to death by fire in Saint Andrews the twenty eighth day of April in the yeere of God 1558. Which thing did so highly offend the hearts of all godly that immediatly after his death began a new fervencie among the whole people yea even in the Towne of Saint Andrews began the people plainely to condemne such unjust crueltie And in testification that they would his death should abide in recent memory there was cast together a great heap of stones in the place where he was burnt The Bishop and Priests thereat offended caused once or twice to remove the same with denunciation of cursing if any man should there lay any stones But in vaine was that winde blowne for still was the heape made till that the Priests and Papists did steale away by night the stones to build their walls and to other their private uses We suspecting nothing that the Queene Regent was consenting to the forenamed murther most humbly did complain of such unjust crueltie
Declaration of our minds which we did in this forme following To the generation of Antichrist the pestilent Prelats and their Shavelings within Scotland the Congregation of Christ Iesus within the some saith TO the end that ye shall not be abused thinking to escape just punishment after that ye in your blinde furie have caused the blood of many to be shed This we notifie and declare unto you That if ye proceed in this your malicious crueltie ye shall be dealt withall wheresoever ye shall be apprehended as murtherers and open enemies to God and unto mankinde And therefore betimes cease from this blinde rage Remove first from your selves your bands of bloodie men of war and reform your selves to a more quiet life and hereafter mitigate ye the authority which without crime committed on our part ye have inflamed against us or else be ye assured That with the same measure that ye have measured against us and yet intend to measure to others it shall be measured unto you that is As ye by tyrannie intend not onely to destroy our bodies but also by the same to hold our souls in bondage of the Devil subject to Idolatry So shall we with all force and power which God shall grant unto us execute just vengeance and punishment upon you yea we shall begin that same war which God commandeth Israel to execute against the Canaanites that is contract of peace shall never be made till that ye desist from your open Idolatry and cruell persecution of Gods children And this we signifie unto you in the name of the eternall God and of his Son Christ Jesus whose Verity we professe and Gospel we have Preached and holy Sacraments rightly ministred so long as God will assist us to gain stand your Idolatry Take this for advertisement and be not deceived Notwithstanding these our Requests and Advertisements Monsieur Dosell and his French men with the Priests and their bands marched forward against S. Iohnston and approached within ten miles of the Town then repaired the brethren from all quarters for our reliefe The Gentlemen of Fyfe Angus Mernes with the Town of Dundie were there they that first hazarded to resist the enemy and for that purpose was chosen a place of ground a mile and more distant from the Town In this mean time the Lord Ruthuen Provest of the Town of S. Iohnston and a man whom many judged godly and stout in that action as in very deed he was even unto his last breath left the Town and departed first to his own place and after to the Queen whose defection and revolt was a great discouragement to the hearts of many and yet did God so comfort them that within the space of twelve houres after the hearts of all men were set up againe For those that were then assembled did not so much hope of victory by their own strength as by the power of him whose Verity they professed and began one to comfort another till the whole multitude was erected in a reasonable hope The day after that the Lord Ruthuen departed which was the foure and twentieth of May came the Earle of Argyle Lord Iames Prior of S. Andrews and the Lord Semple directed from the Queen Regent to enquire the cause of that Convocation of Lieges there To whom when it was answered That it was onely to resist the cruell tyrannie devised against that poore Towne and the inhabitants of the same They asked if we minded not to hold that Towne against the authority and against the Regent To the which Question answered the Lairds of Dâ—n and Pitarro with the Congregation of Angus and Mernes the Master of Lindsay the Lairds of Londy Balvarde and others Barons of Fyfe That if the Queenes Majestie would suffer the Religion there begun to proceed and not trouble their brethren and sisters that had professed Christ Jesus with them That the Towne they themselves and whatsoever to them pertained should be at the Queens commandment Which answer understood the Earle of Argyle and the Prior who both were then Protestants began to muse and said plainly That they were far otherwise informed by the Queen to wit That we meant no Religion but a plaine Rebellion To the which when he had answered simply and as the trueth was to wit That we Convened for none other purpose but onely to assist our brethren who then were most unjustly persecuted and therefore we desired them faithfully to report our answer and to be intercessors to the Queen Regent That such cruelty should not be used against us considering that we had offered in our former Letters as well to the Queens Majesty as to the Nobility our matter to be tried in lawfull judgement They promised fidelity in that behalfe which also they kept The day after which was the five and twentieth of May before that the said Lords departed in the morning Iohn Knox desired to speak with the same Lords which granted unto him he was conveyed to their Lodging by the Laird of Balvarde and thus began The Oration of Iohn Knox to the Lords THe present troubles honourable Lords ought to move the hearts not onely of the true servants of God but also of all such as beare any favour unto our Countrey and naturall Countrey-men to descend within themselves and deepely to consider what shall be the end of this pretended tyrannie The rage of Satan seeketh the destruction of all those that within this Realme professe Christ Iesus and they that inflame the Queene and you the Nobles against us regard not who prevaile provided that they may abuse the world and live at their pleasure as heretofore they have done yea I feare that some seek nothing more then the effusion of Scottish blood to the end that their possessions may be more patent to others But because that this is not the principall which I have to speak omitting the same to be considered by the wisdome of those to whom the care of the Common-wealth appertaineth 1. I most humbly require of you my Lords in my name to say to the Queene Regent That we in whom she in her blinde rage doth persecute are Gods servants faithfull and obedient Subjects to the authoritie of this Realme That that Religion which she pretendeth to maintaine by fire and sword is not the true Religion of Christ Iesus but is expresse contrary to the same a superstition devised by the braine of man which I offer my selfe to prove against all that within Scotland will maintaine the contrary liberty of tongue being granted unto me and Gods written Word being admitted for judge 2. I further require your honours in my name to say unto the Queen That as oft before I have written so now I say That this her enterprise shall not prosperously succeed in the end and albeit for a time she trouble the Saints of God for she fights not against man only but against the eternall God and his invincible Verity and
therefore the end shall be her confusion unlesse betimes she repent and desist These things I require of you in the Name of the eternall God as from my mouth to say unto her Majestie adding That I have been and am a more assured friend to her Majestie then they that either flattering her as servants to her corrupt appetites or else inflame her against us who seek nothing but Gods glory to be advanced Vice to be suppressed and Veritie to be maintained in this poore Realme They all three did promise to report his words so far as they could which afterwards we understood they did yea the Lord Sempill himselfe a man sold unto sin enemie to God and all godlinesse did yet make such report That the Queen was somewhat offended that any man should use such libertie in her presence She still proceeded in her malice for immediately thereafter she sent her Lion Herald with Letters straitly charging all men to avoid the Towne under the paine of Treason Which Letters after he had declared them to the chiefe men of the Congregation he publikely proclaimed the same upon Sunday the 27 of May. In this meane time came sure knowledge to the Queen to Duke Hamilton and to Monsieur Dosell That the Earle of Glencarne the Lords Uchiltrie and Boyde the young Sheriffe of Air the Lairds of Craggy Wallace Sesnock Carnell Bar Gairgirth and the whole congregation of Kyle and Cuninghame approached for our reliefe and in very deed they came in such diligence and such a number That as the enemy had just cause to fear so have all that professe Christ Jesus just matter to praise God for their fidelity and stout courage in that need For by their presence was the tyrannie of the enemy bridled Their diligence was such that albeit the passage by Sterlin and six miles above was stopped for there lay the Queen with her bands and caused the Bridges to be cut upon the waters of Forth Gudy and Teith above Sterlin yet made they such expedition through desert and mountaine that they prevented the enemy and approached within sixe miles of our Campe which then lay without the Towne awaiting upon the enemy before that any assured knowledge came to us of their coming Their number was judged to twentie five hundred men whereof there was twelve hundred Horsemen The Queene understanding how the said Earle and Lords with their company approached caused to beset all wayes that no advertisement should come to us To the end That we despairing of support might condiscend to such appointment as she required And sent first to require that some discreet men of our number would come and speak to Duke Hamilton and Monsieur Dosell who then with their Army lay at Achtererdoch ten miles from S. Iohnston to the end that some reasonable appointment might be had She had perswaded the Earle of Argyle and all others That we meant nothing but Rebellion and therefore had he promised unto her That in case we would not stand content with a reasonable appointment he would declare himselfe open enemy unto us notwithstanding that he professed the same Religion with us From us were sent the Laird of Dun the Laird of Inuerquhartye and Thomas Scot of Abbotshall to hear what appointment the Queene would offer The Duke and Monsieur Dosell required That the Towne should be made patent and that all things should be referred to the Queenes pleasure To the which they answered That neither they had commission so to promise neither durst they in conscience so perswade their brethren But if the Queene would promise That no inhabitant of the Town should be troubled for any such crimes as might be alleadged against them for the late mutation of Religion and abolishment of Idolatrie and for down-casting the places of the same If she would suffer the Religion begun to go forward and leave the Towne at her departing free from the Garrisons of French Souldiers That they would labour at the hands of their brethren that the Queene should be obeyed in all things Monsieur Dosell perceiving the danger to be great if that a sudden appointment should be made and that they were not able to execute their tyrannie against us after that the Congregation of Kyle of whose comming we had no advertisement should be joyned with us with good words dismissed the said Lairds to perswade the brethren to quiet concord To the which we were all so well minded that with one voice they cried Cursed be they that seek effusion of blood Let us possesse Christ Iesus and the benefit of his Gospel and none within Scotland shall be more obedient Subjects then we shall be With all expedition were sent from Sterlin againe after that the coming of the Earle of Glencarne was knowne for the enemie for feare quaked the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames aforesaid And in their company a crafty man Master Gauin Hamilton Abbot of Kilwinning who were sent by the Queen to finish the appointment aforesaid But before that they came was the Earle of Glencarne and his honourable company arrived in the Towne and then began all men to praise God for that he had so mercifully heard them in their most extreame necessitie and had sent unto them such reliefe as was able without effusion of blood to stay the rage of the enemie The Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames did earnestly perswade the agreement to the which all men were willing but some did smell the craft of the adversary to wit That they were minded to keep no point of the promise longer then they had obtained their intent With the Earle of Glencarne came our loving brother Iohn Willock Iohn Knox was in the Town before These two went to the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames accusing them of infidelity in so far as they had defrauded their brethren of their dutifull support and comfort in their greatest necessity They answered both That their heart was constant with their brethren and that they would defend that Cause to the uttermost of their power But because they had promised to labour concord and to assist the Queen in case we refused reasonable offers in conscience and honour they could do no lesse then be faithfull in their promise made And therefore they required that the brethren might be perswaded to consent to that reasonable appointment promising in Gods presence That if the Queen did break in any jot thereof that they with their whole powers would assist and concurre with the brethren in all times to come This promise made the Preachers appeased the multitude and obtained in the end that all men did consent to the appointment foresaid which they obtained not without great labours and no wonder for many foresaw the danger to follow yea the Preachers themselves in open Sermon did affirme plainly That they were assuredly perswaded that the Queen meant no truth But to stop the mouth of the adversary who unjustly did burthen
we could have our company which then was dispersed for new furnishing assembled again The certaintie hereof coming to our knowledge the Saturday at night being the 25 of July we did what in us lay to give advertisement to our brethren but impossible it was that the Wast Angus Mernes Straitherne or Fyfe in any number could come to us For the enemie Marched from Dumbar upon the Sunday and approached within two miles of us before Sun-rising upon Munday For they verily supposed to have found no resistance being assured that the Lords onely with certain Gentlemen remained with their private houses calling upon God for counsell in that straight we sought what was the next defence We might have left the Town and might have retired our selves without any danger but then we should have abandoned our brethren of Edinburgh and suffered the Ministery thereof to have decayed which to our hearts was so dolorous that we thought better to hazard the extremitie then so to do For then the most part of the Town appeared rather to favour us then the Queens faction and did offer unto us the uttermost of their support which for the most part they did faithfully keep The same did the Town of Leith but they kept not the like fidelity For when we were upon the field marching forward for their support for the French marched nigh to them they rendred themselves without further resistance And this they did as is supposed by the treason of some within themselves and by perswasion of the Laird of Lestarrig who before declared himselfe to be one of us and notwithstanding that same day rendred himselfe undesired to Monsieur Dosell Their unprovided and sudden defection astonished many and yet we retired quietly to the side of Cragingate which place we took for resisting the enemy In the mean time divers mediatours passed betwixt us amongst whom the Lord Ruthuen for our part was principall Alexander Erskin did much travell to stay us and our Souldiers that we should not joyne with them of Leith till that they as is said had rendred themselves to the French The said Alexander did oft promise that the French would stay provided That we would not joyne with those of Leith But after that they were rendred we heard nothing of him but threatning and discomfortable words Before it was eight of the clock in the morning God had given unto us both courage and a reasonable number to withstand their furie The Towne of Edinburgh so many as had subject themselves to discipline and divers others besides them behaved themselves both faithfully and stoutly The Gentlemen of Lowthiane especially Calder Hatton and Ormeston were very comfortable as well for their counsell as for their whole assistance Some Gentlemen of Fyfe prevented the French-men other were stopped by reason that the French had passed Leith Alwayes the enemy took such a fear That they determined not to invade us where we stood but took purpose to have passed to Edinburgh by the other side of the water of Leith and that because they had the Castle to their friend which was to us unknown for we supposed the Lord Erskin Captain of the same either to have been our friend or at least to have been indifferent But when we had determined to fight he sent word to the Earle of Argyle to Lord Iames his sisters son and to the other Noble-men That he would declare himselfe both enemy to them and to the Town and would shoot at both if they made any resistance to the French-men to enter into the Town This his treasonable defiance sent us by the Laird of Ricarton did abate the courage of many for we could not fight nor stop the enemy but under the mercy of the Castle and whole Ordnance thereof Hereupon was consultation taken and in conclusion it was found lesse damage to take an appointment albert the Conditions were not such as we desired then to hazard battell betwixt two such enemies After long talking certaine heads were drawn by us which we desired to be granted First That no member of the Congregation should be troubled in life lands goods or possessions by the Queen her Authority nor any other justice within the Realm for any thing done in the late Innovation till a Parliament which should begin the tenth of Ianuary had decreed things in controversie 2. That Idolatry should not be erected where it was at that day suppressed 3. That the Preachers and Ministers should not be troubled in their Ministery where they are already established neither yet stopped to preach wheresoever they should chance to come 4. That no Bands of men of War should be laid in Garrison within the Town of Edinburgh 5. That the French-men should be sent away at a reasonable day and that none other should be brought into the Countrey without consent of the whole Nobility and Parliament But these our Articles were altered and another forme disposed as followeth At the Linkes of Leith the 24 of July 1559. It is appointed in manner following IN the first Congregation and their company others then the inhabitants of the said Towne shall remove themselves forth of the said Town the morrow at ten hours before noon the 25 of Iuly and leave the same void and rid of them and their said company conform to the Queens Majesties pleasure and desire Item The said Congregation shall cause the Irons of the Coyning-house taken away by them be rendred and delivered to Master Robert Richeson And likewise the Queens Majesties Palace of Halyrud-house to be left and rendred again to M. John Balfour or any other having her Majesties sufficient power in the same matter as it was resolved and that betwixt the making of these Articles and the morn at ten of the clock For observing and keeping of these two Articles above written the Lord Ruthuen and the Laird of Pittarrow have entred themselves pledges Item The said Lords of the Congregation and all the members thereof shall remain obedient subjects to our Lord and Ladies Authority and to the Queen Regent in their place And shall obey all Laws and laudable Customs of this Realme as they were used before the moving of this tumult and controversie excepting the cause of Religion which shall be hereafter specified Item The Congregation nor any of them shall not trouble or molest a Church-man by way of deed nor yet shall make them any impediment in the peaceable brooking enjoying and uptaking of their Rents Profits and Duties of their Benefices but that they may freely use and dispose upon the same according to the Laws and Custome of this Realme to the tenth of Ianuary next to come Item The said Congregation nor none of them shall use in no wayes from thenceforth any force or violence in casting downe of Churches Religious places or apparell thereof but the same shall stand harmlesse of them unto the tenth day of January Item The Town of Edinburgh shall without compulsion
shall be more amply declared After we had abided certaine dayes in Sterlin the Earle of Argyle departed to Glasgow and because he was to depart to his owne Countrey with whom also passed the Lord Iames to pacifie some trouble which by the craft of the Queen was raised in his absence he required the Earle of Glencarne Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie and others of Kyle to meet there for some order to be taken that the brethren should not be oppressed which with one consent they did and appointed the tenth of September for the next convention at Sterlin While these things were in doing at Glasgow Letters and a servant came from the Earle of Arran to the Duke his father signifying unto him That by the providence of God he had escaped the French Kings hands who most treasonably and most cruelly had sought his life or at the least to have committed him to perpetuall prison For the same time the said French King seeing he could not have the Earle himself caused put his younger brother a childe of such age as could not offend in strait prison where he yet remained to wit in the Month of October the yeer of our Lord 1559. Which things were done by the power and craft of the Queen Dowager at the time that the Duke and his friends were most ready to set forth her cause These Letters received and the estate of her two sons knowne of whom one was escaped and the other cast in vile prison the Duke desired communing with the said Earle of Argyle who partly against the will of some that loved him rid unto the Duke from Glasgow to Hammilton where abiding a night he declared his judgement to the Duke and to his friends especially to Master Gawane Hammilton The Duke required him and the Lord Iames to write their friendly and comfortable Letters to his son which they most willingly did and thereafter addressed them to their journey But the very day of their departing came one Boutancourt from the Queen Regent with Letters as was alleadged from the King and Queen of France to the Lord Iames which he delivered with a bragging countenance and many threatning words the Tenour of his Letter was this The King his Letter to the Lord Iames. MY Cousin I have greatly marvelled when I understood the troubles that are happened in these parts And yet I more marvell That ye in whom I had whole confidence and who has the Honour to be so neer the Queen my wife and has received from the late King my Father from the Queen my wife and from me such graces and favours that ye should be so forgetfull as to make your selfe the Head and one of the principall beginners and nourishers of the tumults and seditions that are seen there The which because it is so strange to me and so farre against the profession that ye at all times have made I cannot well beleeve it But if it be so I cannot think but ye have been entised and led thereto by some persons that have seduced you and caused you commit such a fault as I am assured you repent of already which will be a great pleasure to me to the effect I may lose a part of the occasion I have to be miscontent with you as I will you to understand I am Seeing you have so far deceived the esperance I had of you and your affection toward God and the weale of our service unto the which ye know ye are as much and more obliged then any other of the Lords there For this cause desiring that the matters may be duely amended and knowing what ye can therein I thought good on this manner to write unto you and pray you to take heed to return to the good way from which ye have declined and cause me know the same by the effects That you have another intention then this which the follies by-past maketh me now to beleeve doing all that ever ye can to reduce all things to their first estate and put the same to the right and good obedience that you know to be due unto God and unto me Otherwise ye may be well assured that I will put to my hand and that in good earnest that you and all they who have done and do as ye do shall feele through your own fault that which ye have deserved and merited Even as I have given charge to this Gentle-man present bearer to make you know more largely of my part for which cause I pray you credit him even as ye would do my selfe Praying God my cousin to have you in his holy and worthy protection Written at Paris the 17 day of July 1559. The same Messenger brought also Letters from the Queen our Soveraigne more sharp and threatning then the former For her conclusion was Vous en sentires la poincture a iamais His credit was That the King would spend the Crown of France if that he were not revenged upon such seditious persons That he would never have suspected such inobedience and such defection from his own sister in him To the which the said Lord Iames answered first by word and then by writing as followeth The Lord Iames his Letter to the King Sir MY most humble duty remembred Your Majesties Letters I received from Paris the 17 of Iuly last importing in effect That your Majestie doth marvell that I being forgetfull of the graces and favours shewed me by the King of blessed memorie your Majesties father and the Queen my Soveraigne should declare my selfe head and one of the principall beginners of these alleadged Tumults and Seditions in these parts deceiving thereby your Majesties expectation in all times had of me with assurance That if I did not declare by contrary effects my repentance I with the rest that had put or yet putteth hand to this Work should receive that reward which we had deserved and merited SIR It grieves me very heavily that the crime of ingratitude should bâ— laid to my charge by your Majestie and the rather Thâ—t I perceive the same to have proceeded of sinister information of them whose part it was not to have reported so if true service past had been regarded And as touching the repentance and declaration of the same by certaine effects That your Majesty desires I shew My conscience perswades me in these proceedings to have done nothing against God not the dutifull obedience towards your Majesty and the Queen my Soveraigne Otherwise it should not have been to be repented and also amended already accordâ—ng to your Majesties expectation of me But your Majestie being truely informed and perswaded That the thing which we have done maketh for the advancement of Gods glory without any manner of derogation to your Majesties due obedience We doubt not but your Majestie shall be well contented with our proceedings which being grounded upon the commandment of the eternall God we dare not leave the same unaccomplished onely wishing and desiring
that even in our eyes our dear brethren true members of our Common-wealth are most cruelly oppressed by strangers in so far as some are banished their owne houses some robbed and spoiled of their substance purchast by their just labours in the sweat of their brows some cruelly murthered at the pleasure of these inhumane souldiers and altogether have their lives in such fear and dread as if the enemy were in the midst of them so that nothing can seem pleasant unto them which they possesse in the bowells of their native Countrey so neer judged every man and not without just cause the practise used upon their brethren to approach next unto them their wives childrens houses and substances which altogether are cast at the feet of strangers men of War to be by them thus abused at their unbridled lusts desire Now if it be sedition dear brethren to complain lament and pour forth before God the sorrows and sobs of our dolorous hearts crying to him for redresse of those enormities which elsewhere is to be found which altogether do proceed of the unlawfull holding of strange Souldiers over the heads of our brethren If this to complain be sedition then indeed dear brethren can none of us be purged of that crime for as in very heart we condemne such inhumane cruelty with the wicked and crafty pretence thereof so can we not nor dare we neither by mouths speaking nor yet by keeping silence justifie the same Neither do we here aggravate the breaking of the Appointment made at Leith which alwayes hath manifestly been done but herein we remember what oath we have made to our Common-wealth and how the duty we ought to the same compelleth us to cry out That the Queen by wicked and ungodly counsell goeth most craftily about utterly to oppresse the same and the ancient Lawes and Liberties thereof As well against the King of France his promise her own duty in respect of the high promotions that she hath received thereby which justly should have caused her to have been in deed that which she would be called and is nothing lesse in verity to wit a carefull mother over this Common-wealth But what motherly care she hath used towards you ye cannot be ignorant of Have ye not been even from the first entrie of her Reigne ever smitten and oppressed with unaccustomed and more exorbitant Taxations then ever were used within this Realm Yea and how far was it sought here to have been brought in upon you and your posterity under colour to have been laid up in store for the wars The inquisition taken of all your goods moveable and unmoveable by way of Testament the seeking of the whole Câ—ale and Salt of this Realme to have been laid up in store and in garnell and she alone to have been Merchant thereof doth teach you by experience some of her motherly care Again What favour to our Common-wealth doth she at this instant bear when even now presently and of a long time by-gone by the Ministery of some who better deserve the Gallows then ever did Cochran she doth so corrupt the good money and hath brought it to such businesse and such a deale of strife that all men that had their eyes open may perceive an extream beggery to be brought there-through upon the whole Realme So that the whole exchange and traffique to be had with Forraigne nations a thing most necessary in all Common-wealths shall thereby be utterly extinguished and all the gaines received thereby is That she therewith entertaineth strangers upon our heads For brethren you know that her money hath served for no other purpose in our Common-wealth this long time bygone And the impunity of those wicked Ministers whom lately we spake of hath brought the matter to such a licentious enormitie and plaine contempt of the Common-weale that now they spare not plainely to break down and convert the good and weighty money Coined in our Soveraignes lesser age into this their corrupted skruife and baggages of Hard-heads and Non-sunts most like as she and they had conspired to destroy all the whole good Coine of this Realme and consequently that part of the Common-weale Besides all this their clipped and râ—nged Sols which had no passage these three yeers past in the Realme of France are commanded to have course in this Realme to gratifie thereby her new-come Souldiers and all these things together are done without the advice or consent of the Nobilitie and Counsell of thiâ— Realme and manifestly there-through against our ancient Laws and Liberties Thirdly her last and most weightie proceeding more fully declareth the motherly care her Majestie beareth to our Common-weale and us when in time of Peace without any occasion of Forraigne Wars thousands of Strangers are laid here and there upon the necks of our poore members of this Common-weale Their idle bellies fed upon the poore substance of the Commonaltie conquest by their just labours in the painfull sweat of their brows which to be true Dumbar North-Barwick Travent Presâ—on Panes Missilburgh Leith Cannongat Kinghorne Kirkcaldie Disert with the depauperate souls that this day dwell therein can testifie Whose oppression as doubtlesse it is entred in before the Justice-seat of God so ought it justly to move our hearts to have pity and compassion upon these our poore brethren and at our powers to provide remedie for the same And albeit her strangers had been garnished with money as you know well they were not yet can there here lying be no wayes but most hurtfull to our Common-wealth seeing that the fertility of this Realme had never been so plentifull that it was able of any continuance to sustain it selfe and inhabitants thereof without support of Forraigne Countreys far lesse able besides the same to sustain thousands of strangers wherewith it is burthened to the dearthing of all victuals as the murmure and complaint of Edinburgh this day doth testifie But to what effect the Common-weale is thus burdened the end doth declare For shortly were they brought to the fields against our Soveraigns true Lieges even us your brethren who God knoweth sought nothing else but peace of conscience under protection of our Soveraigne and Reformation of these enormities for no other cause but that we would not renounce the Gospel of Jesus Christ and subdue our necks under the tyranny of that wicked Man of sin the Romane Antichrist and his forsworn Shavelings who at that time most tyrannically oppressed our souls with hunger of Gods true Word and rest our goods and substances to waste the same upon their foule lusts and stinking harlots But O dear brethren this was not the chiefe pretence and finall scope of her proceedings as these dayes do well declare for had not God given in our hearts to withstand that oppression with weapons of most just defence thou O Saint Iohnston and Dundie had been in no better state then your sister of Leith is this day For though we in very deed God
the 29 day of September 1559. By your Brethren The Duke and Lords understanding that the Fortifications of Leith proceeded appointed their whole Forces to convene at Sterlin the 15 day of Octob. that from thence they might march forward to Edinburgh for the redresse of the greatest enormities which the French did to the whole Countrey which by them was so oppressed that the life of all honest men was bitter unto them In this mean time the Lords directed their Letters to divers parts of the Countrey making mention what danger did hang over all men if the French should be suffered to plant in this Countrey at their pleasure They made mention farther How humbly they had besought the Queen Regent That she would send away to France her French-men who were a burden unprofitable and grievous to this Common-wealth and how that she notwithstanding did daily augment their number bringing wives and children a plain declaration of a plain conquest The Queen Regent perceiving that her craft began to be espied by all means possible travelled to blinde the people And first she sent forth her pestilent Post forenamed in all parts of the Countrey to perswade all men that she offereth all things reasonable to the Congregation and that they refusing all reason pretended no Religion but a plaine revolt from Authority She tempted every man in particular as well those that were of the Congregation as those that were neutralls She assaulted every man as she thought most easily he might have been overcome To the Lord Ruthuen she sent the Justice Clerk and his wife who is daughter to the wife of the said Lord what was their Commission and credit is no further known then the said Lord hath confessed which is That large promise of profit was promised if he would leave the Congregation and be the Queens To Lord Iames Prior of Saint Andrews was sent Master Iohn Spens of Condie with a Letter and Credit as followeth The Memoriall of Master Iohn Spens of Condie the thirtieth of September 1. YE shall say That the Queens great favour towards you moveth her to this 2. That she now knoweth that the occasion of your departing from her was the favour of the Word and of the Religion with the which albeit she was offended yet knowing your heart and the hearts of the other Lords firmely fixed thereupon she will beare with you in that behalfe and at your owne sights she will set forward that Cause at her power as may stand with Gods Word the common policie of this Realme and the Princes honour note good Reader what venome lurked here for plaine it is that the policie which she pretended and the Princes honour will never suffer Christ Iesus to reigne in this Realme 3. To speak of the occasion of assembling of these men of Warre and fortifying of Leith you must know That it was given to the Queen to understand by some about her that it is not the advancement of the Word and Religion which is sought at this time but rather a pretence to overthrow or alter the authority of your Sister of the which she beleeveth still that ye are not participant and considering the tendernesse betwixt you and your Sister she trusted more in you in that behalfe then in any living But before the Earle of Arrane arrived and that the Duke departed from her faction she ceased not continually to cry That the Prior sought to make himselfe King and so not onely to deprive his Sister to make himselfe King but also to defraud the Duke and his house of their pretension But foreseeing a storme she began to seek a new winde She further willeth him to offer the sending away of the men of War if the former suspition could be removed she lamented the trouble that appeared to follow if the matter should long stand in debate she promised her faithfull labours for reconciliation and required the same of him Requiring further Faith Honour and kindnesse towards his Sister and to advertise for his part what he desired with promise That he might obtaine what he pleased to desire To this Letter and Credit the said Lord Iames answered as followeth MADAME I Received your Highnesse Writ and have heard the credit of the Bearer and finding the businesse of such importance that dangerous it were to give hastie answer And also your Demands are such That with my honour I cannot answer them privately by my selfe I have thought good to delay the same till that I may have the judgement of the whole Councell For this point I will not conceale from your Majestie That amongst us there is a solemned Oath that none of us shall traffique with your Majestie secretly neither yet that any of us shall treat or deale for himselfe particularly Which Oath for my part I purpose to keep unviolated to the end But when the rest of the Noble-men shall conveene I shall leave nothing that lyeth in my power undone that may make for the quietnesse of this poore Realme Provided That the glory of Christ Iesus be not hindered by our concord And if your Majestie shall be found so tractable as now ye offer I doubt not to obtaine of the rest of my brethren such favour towards your service as your Majestie shall have just occasion to stand content For I take God to record That in this action I have neither sought neither yet seek any other thing then to increase Gods glory and the Libertie of this poore Realme to be maintained Further I have shewed unto your Messenger what things have misliked me in your proceedings even from such a heart as I wish to God you knew fully and all men else And this with hearty commendation of service to your Majestie I heartily commit your Highnesse to the eternall protection of the omnipotent At Saint Andrews the first of October Sic subscribitur Your Majesties humble and obedient Servitour I. St. This answer received she raged as hypocrisie useth when it is pricked and perceiving that she could not work what she would at the hands of men particularly she set forth a Proclamation universally to be proclaimed in the tenour as followeth The Queens Proclamation FOr so much as it is understood by the Queen that the Duke of Chattellawralt hath lately directed his Missives into all parts of this Realm making mention that the French-men late arrived with their wives and children are begun to plant in Leith to the ruine of the Common-weale which he and his partakers will not passe over with patient beholding desiring to know what will be every mans part And that the fortification of Leith is a purpose devised in France and that therefore Monsieur de la Brosse and the Bishop of Amiens are come to this countrey A thing so vaine and untrue that the contrary thereof is knowne to all men of free judgement Therefore the Queen willing that the occasions whereby her Majesty was moved so to do be
made patent and what have been her proceedings since the appointment last made on the Linkes beside Leith To the effect that the trueth of all things being made manifest every man may understand how unjustly that a desire to suppresse the liberty of this Realm is laid to her charge we have thought expedient to make this discourse following First although after the said appointment divers of the said Congregation and that not of the meanest sort hath violently broken the points thereof and made sundry occasions of new cumber The same was in a part winked at and over-looked in hope that they in time would remember their duty and abstaine from such evil behaviour which conversion her Majestie ever sought rather then any punishment with such care and solicitude by all means and in the mean time nothing was provided for her own security But at last by their frequent Messages to and from England their intelligence then was perceived yet her Majestie trusted the Queen of England let them seek as they please will do the office of a Christian Princesse in time of a sworne Peace through which force was to her Majestie seeing so great defection of great personages to have recourse to the Law of Nature And like as a small Bird being pursued will provide some nest so her Majestie could do no lesse in cases of pursuit but provide some sure retract for her selfe and her company and to that effect chose the Town of Leith as a place convenient therefore because it was her dearest daughters property and no other person could claime Title or Interesse thereto and also because in former times it had been fortified About the same time that the seeking support of England was made manifest arrived the Earle of Arrane and adjoyned himselfe to the Congregation upon further promise then the pretended quarrell or Religion that was to be set up by them in authority and so to pervert the whole obedience and as some of the Congregation at the same time had put into their hands and taken the Castle of Brochtie put forth the keepers thereof Immediately came from the said Duke to her Majestie unlooked for a Writ beside many others complaining of the fortification of the said Town of Leith in hurt of the ancient inhabitants thereof brethren of the said Congregation whereof he then professed himselfe a Member And albeit that the Bearer of the said Writ was an unmeet Messenger in a matter of such consequence yet her Majestie directed to him two persons of good credit and reputation with answer Offering If he would cause amends to be made for that which was committed against the Lawes of the Realme to do further then could be craved of reason And to that effect to draw some conference which by his fault and his Colleagues took no end neverthelesse they continually since continue in their doings usurping the authority commanding and charging free Boroughs to chuse Provests and officers of their naming and to assist to them in the purpose they would be at and that they will not suffer provision to be brought for sustentation of her Majesties houses A great part have so plainely set aside all reverence and humanitie whereby every man may know That it is no matter of Religion but a plaine usurpation of the authority and no doubt but simple men of good Zeale in former times therewith falsly have been deceived But as to the Queens part God who knoweth the secrets of all hearts well knoweth and the world shall see by experience that the fortification of Leith was devised for no other purpose but for recourse to her highnesse and her company in case they were pursued Wherefore as good Subjects that have the feare of God in their hearts will not suffer themselves by such vaine perswasions to be led away from their due obedience but will assist in defence of their Soveraigns quarrell against all such as shall pursue the same wrongfully Therefore her Majestie ordaineth the officers of Arms to passe to the Market-Crosses of all the head Burroughs of this Realme and there by open Proclamation command and charge all and sundry the Lieges thereof that none of them take in hand to put themselves in arms nor take part with the said Duke or his assistaries under the paine of Treason These Letters being divulgate the hearts of many were stirred for they judged the Narration of the Queen Regent to have been true others understood the same to be utterly false But because the Lords desired that all men should judge in their cause they set out the Declaration subsequent The DECLARATION of the Lords against the former PROCLAMATION WE are compelled unwillingly to answer the grievous accusations most unjustly laid to our charges by the Queen Regent and her perverse Counsell who cease not by all craft and malice to make us odious to our dearest brethren naturall Scottish-men as that we pretended no other thing but the subversion and overthrow of all just authoritie when God knoweth we sought nothing but That such authoritie as God approveth by his Word be established honoured and obeyed amongst us True it is that we have complained and continually must complaine till God send redresse That our common Countrey is oppressed with strangers That this inbringing of Souldiers with their wives and children and planting of men of War in our free Townes appeareth to us a ready way to conquest And we most earnestly require all indifferent persons to be judge betwixt us and the Queen Regent in this cause to wit Whether our complaint be just or not For for what other purpose should she thus multiply strangers upon us but onely in respect of conquest Which is a thing of late divised by her and her avaritious house We are not ignorant that six yeers ago the question was demanded of a man of honest reputation What number of men was able to daunt Scotland and to bring it to the full obedience of France She alleadged That to say that the fortification of Leith was of purpose devised in France and that for that purpose were Monsieur de la Brosse and the Bishop of Amiens sent to this Countrey Is a thing so vaine and untrue that the contrary thereof is notorious to all men of free judgement But evident it is whatsoever she alleadged That since their arrivall Leith was begun to be fortified She alleadged That she seeing the defection of great Personages was compelled to have recourse to the Law of Nature and like a small bird pursued to provide for some sure retract to her self and her company But why doth she not answer for what purpose did she bring in her new Bands of men of War Was there any defection espied before their arrivall was not the Congregation under Appointment with her Which whatsoever she alleadged she is not able to prove that we have violated in any chiefe point before that her new throat-cutters arrived yea before that
of Hosts turne us againe make thy face to shine and we shall be saved c. This Psalme had the said Iohn begun in Edinburgh as it were foreseeing our calamity of which in very deed he did not obscurely speak but he plainly did admonish us That he was assured of troubles suddenly to come and therefore he exhorted all men to prayers He treated the first three Verses in Edinburgh to the comfort of many The Argument of the 80 Psalme He declared the Argument of the Psalme affirming for his judgement That it was made by David himself who in the Spirit of Prophesie foresaw the miserable estate of Gods people especially after the ten Tribes were divided and departed from the obedience of Iuda for it was not said he without cause that Ioseph Ephraim Benjamin and Manasse was especially named and not Iuda to wit Because that they came first to calamity and were translated from their own Inheritance while that Iuda yet possessed the Kingdome He confessed that justly they were punished for Idolatry committed but he affirmed That amongst them there remained some true worshippers of God for whose comfort were the Prophets sent as well to call them to repentance as to assure them of deliverance and of the promises of God to be performed unto them The Division He divided the Psalme into three parts to wit 1. In a Prayer 2. In the ground whereupon their Prayer was founded 3. And in the lamentable complaints and the Vow they made unto God Their Prayer was That God should convert and turne them That he should make his face to shine upon them And that he should restore them to their former dignity The Grounds and Foundations of their Prayers were 1. That God himself had become Pastor and Governour unto them 2. That he had taken the protection of them into his own hand 3. That he had chosen his habitation amongst them 4. That he had delivered them from Bondage and Thraldome 5. That he had multiplied and blessed them with many notable Benedictions Upon those two parts he gave these Notes First That the felicity of Gods people may not be measured by any externall appearance for often it is That the same people to whom God becometh not onely Creator but Pastor and Protector is more severely dealt with then those Nations where very ignorance and contempt of God raigneth Secondly That God never made his acquaintance and league with one people by his Word but that there he had some of his elect who albeit they suffered for a time in the midst of the wicked yet in the end they found comfort and felt in very experience that Gods promises are not vaine Thirdly That those prayers were dyted unto the people by the holy Ghost before they came to the uttermost of trouble to assure them that God by whose Spirit the Prayer was dyted would not contemne the same in the midst of their calamities The third part containing the lamenable complaint he treated on in Sterlin in presence of the Duke and of the whole Councell In the exposition thereof he declared wherfore God in wisedom sometimes suffered his chosen Flock to be exposed to mockage and dangers and to appearing destruction to wit That they may feel the vehemency of Gods indignation That they may know how little strength is in themselves That they may leave a testimony to the Generations following as well of the malice of the Devill against Gods people as of the marvellous work of God in preserving his little flock by farre other means than man can espie In explaning these words How long shalt thou be angry O Lord against the prayer of thy people he declared how dolorous and fearfull it was to fight against that temptation that God turned away his face from our prayers for that was nothing else than to comprehend and conceive God to bee armed to our destruction which temptation no flesh can abide nor overcome unlesse the mighty Spirit of God interpose himself suddenly The example he gave The impaciency of Saul when God would not hear his prayers The difference betwixt the Elect and Reprobate in that Temptation he plainly declared to be that the Elect sustained by the secret power of Gods Spirit did still call upon God albeit he appeared to contemne their prayers which said he is the sacrifice most acceptable to God and is in a manner even to fight with God and to overcome him as Iacob did in wrastling with his Angell But the Reprobate said he being denyed of their requests at Gods hand do either cease to pray and contemne God who straightlie commandeth us to call upon him in the day of adversitie or else they seek at the Devill that which they see they cannot obtain by God 2. In the second part he declared how hard it was to this corrupt nature of ours not to rejoyce and put confidence in our selves when God giveth victory and therefore how necessary it was that man by affliction should be brought to the knowledge of his own infirmitie least that he being puffed up with vain confidence he make an Idoll of his owne strength as did King Nebuchadnezzar He did gravely dispute upon the nature of the blinde world which in all ages had insolently rejoyced when God did chasten his own children whose glory and honour because the Reprobate can never see therefore they despiâ—e them and the wondrous works of God in them And yet said he the joy and rejoycing of the world is but meer sorrow because the end of it tendeth to sudden destructon as the riotous banquetting of Baltasar declareth applying these heads to the time and persons he said if none of Gods children had suffered before us the same injuries that presently we sustaine these our troubles would appear intollerable such is our tender delicacie and selfe-love of our owne flesh That these things which we lightly passe over in others we can greatlie complaine of if they touch our selves I doubt not but that some of us have ofter then once read this Psalme as also that we have read and heard the travell and troubles of our ancient Fathers But which of us either in reading or hearing their dolours and temptations did so discend into our selves that we felt the bitternesse of their passions I think none And therefore hath God brought us to some experience in our own persons But yet because the matter may appear obscure unlesse it be more properly applyed I cannot in conscience but use such plainnesse as God shall grant unto me Our faces are this day confounded our enemies triumph our hearts have quaked for fear and yet they remain oppressed with sorrow and shame But what shall we think to be the very cause that God hath thus dejected us if I shall say Our sins and former unthankfulnesse unto God I speak the truth but yet I speak more generally then the present necessity requireth For when the sins of men are
triumph This Sermon ended in the which he did vehemently exhort all men to amendment of life to Prayers and to the Works of Charity the mindes of men began wonderously to be erected and immediately after dinner the Lords passed to counsell unto the which the said Iohn Knox was called to make invocation of the Name of God for other Preachers were none with us at that time in the end it was concluded That William Maitland aforesaid should passe to London to expose our estate and condition to the Queen and Counsell and that the Noble-men should depart to their home and quiet to the 16 day of December Which time was appointed to the next Convention in Sterlin as in this our third Booke following shall be more amply declared With this we end the second Book of the History of the progresse of Religion within Scotland Look upon us O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies for we are brought even to the deep of the dungeon The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOK OF The Progresse of true Religion WITHIN The Realme of SCOTLAND AFter this our dolorous departing from Edinburgh the fury and rage of the French increased for then durst neither man nor woman that professed Christ Jesus within the Town be seen The houses of the most honest men were given by the Queen to Frenchmen for a part of their reward The Earle Bothwell by sound of Trumpet Proclaimed the Earle of Arrane Traitour with other despightfull words which all was done for the pleasure and by the suggestion of the Queene Regent who then thought the battell was wonne without further resistance Great practising she made for obtaining of the Castle of Edinburgh The French made their fagots with other preparations to assault the said Castle either by force or else by Treason But God wrought so mightily with the Captain the Lord Erskin at that time that neither the Queen by flattery nor the French by treason prevailed Advertisement with all diligence past to the Duke of Guise who then was King of France as concerning power to command requiring him to make expedition if he desired the full conquest of Scotland Who delayed no time but with a new Armie sent away his brother Marquis Dalbuif and in his company Marticks promising that he himselfe should follow But the righteous God who in mercy looketh upon the affliction of those that unfainedly sob unto him fought for us by his own out-stretched arm For upon one night upon the coast of Holland were drowned of them eighteen Ensignes so that onely rested the Ship in the which were two principals aforesaid with their Ladies who violently driven back to Deepe were compelled to confesse That God fought for the defence of Scotland From England returned Robert Melvin who past in company to London with the Secretary a little before Christmas and brought unto us certain Articles to be answered as by the contract that after was made more plainely shall appeare Whereupon the Nobility assembled at Sterlin and returned answer with diligence Whereof the French advertised they marched to Linlithquow spoiled the Dukes house and wasted his lands of Kinneill and after came to Sterlin where they remained certaine dayes the Duke the Earles of Argyle and Glencarn with their friends passed to Glasgow The Earle of Arrane and Lord Iames passed to Saint Andrews For charge was given to the whole Nobility Protestants to keepe their owne bodies till that God should send them further support The French tooke purpose first to assault Fyfe for as it was their great indignation Their purpose was to have taken and fortified the Towne and Abbey with the Castle of Saint Andrews and so they came to Culrosse after to Dunfermeling and then to Brunteiland where they began to fortifie but desisted there from and marched to Kinghorn upon the occasion as followeth When certaine knowledge came to the Earl of Arrane and to Lord Iames That the French were departed from Sterlin they departed also from S. Andrews and began to assemble their Forces at Cowper and sent their men of War to Kinghorne unto whom there resorted divers of the coast side of minde to resist rather at the beginning then when they had destroyed a part of their Townes But the Lords had given an expresse commandment That they should hazard nothing till that they themselves were present And for that purpose was sent unto them the Lord Ruthuen a man of great experience and inferiour to few in stoutnesse In his company was the Earle of Sudderland sent from the Earle of Huntly as he alleadged to comfort the Lord in their affliction But others whispered That his principall Commission was unto the Queen Regent Howsoever it was he was hurt in the arme by the shot of an Haquebut for the men of War and the rascall multitude perceiving certaine Boats of French-men landing which came from Leith purposed to stop their landing and so not considering the enemies that approached from Brunteiland unadvisedly they rushed downe to the Pretticure so is that Bay by West Kinghorne called and at the sea coast began the skirmishing But they never took heed to the enemy that approached by land till that the horsemen charged them upon the backe and the whole bands came directly in their faces and so were they compelled to give back with the losse of six or seven of their men and with the taking of some amongst whom were two that professed Christ Jesus one named Paul Lambert a Dutch man and a French boy fervent in Religion and clean of life whom in despight they hanged over the Steeple of Kinghorne Thou shalt revenge O Lord in thy appointed time The cause that in so great a danger there was so small a losse next unto the mercifull providence of God was the sudden coming of my Lord Ruthuen for even as our men had given back he and his Company came to the head of the Bray and did not onely stay the French-men but also some of ours brake upon their Horse-men and so repulsed them that they did no further hurt to our Foot-men In that recounter was the Earle of Sudderland foresaid shot in the arme and was carried back to Cowper The French-men took Kinghorne where they lay and wasted the Country about as well Papists as Protestants yea even those that were confederate with them such as Seafield Weames Balmowto Balwearie and others enemies to God and traytors to their Countrey of those we say they spared not the Sheep the Oxen the Kine and Horses and some say that their wives and daughters gat favour of the French Souldiers and so did recompence the Papists in their own bosoms for besides the defiling of their houses as said is two of them received more damage then did all the Gentlemen that professed the Gospel within Fyfe the Laird of Grange onely excepted whose house of the Grange the French-men overthrew with Gun-Powder The Queen Regent proud of this Victory
carnall wisdome and worldly policie to the which both you are bruted too much inclined give place to Gods simple and naked Trueth very love compells me to say That except the Spirit of God purge your heart from that venome which your eyes have seen to have been destruction to others that you shall not long escape the reward of dissemblers Call to minde what your eares heard Proclaimed in the Chappell of S. Iames when this Verse of the first Psalme was handled Not so O wicked not so but as the dust which the winde tosseth c. And consider that now you travell in the same way which then they did occupie to speak plainely now you are in that estate and credit in the which you shall either comfort the sorrowfull and afflicted for righteousnesse sake or else you shall molest or oppugne the Spirit of God speaking in his Messengers the Comforters of the afflicted for godlinesse hath promise of comfort in their greatest necessities but the troubles of Gods servants how contemned that ever they appeare before the world are threatned to have their Names in execration to the posterities following The examples of the one and of the other are not onely evident in Scriptures but also have been lately manifested in England And this is the conclusion of that which to your self I say except that in the cause of Christs Evangell you be found simple sincere fervent and unfained you shall taste of the same cup which politick heads have drank in before you The other Point concerning my self and that poore flock now dispersed and as I heare say rudely used is this By divers Messengers I have requested such Priviledges as Turkes commonly do grant to men of every Nation to wit That liberty should be granted to me freely to passe through England to the end that with greater expedition I might repaire towards my owne Countrey which now beginneth to thirst for Christs Trueth This request I thought so reasonable that almost I had entered the Realme without license demanded and yet I understand that it hath been so rejected that the soliciters thereof did hardly escape imprisonment and some of that poore flocke I heare to be so extreamely handled That those who most rudely have shed the blood of Gods most deare Children findes this day amongst you greater favours then they do Alas this appeareth much to repugne to Christian Charity for whatsoever hath been mine offence this I fear not to affirme in their cause That if any that hath suffered exile in those most dolorous dayes of persecution deserve praise and commendation for Peace Concord sober and quiet living it is they And as for me how criminall that ever I be in Gods presence for the multitude of my sins yet before his Justice-seat I have a testimonie of a cleare Conscience That since my first acquaintance with England willingly I never offended person within it except in open Chaire to reprove that which God condemneth can be judged offence but I have say you written a Treasonable Book against the regiment and Empire of women If that be my offence the poore flock is innocent except such as this day do fastest cry Treason For Sir in Gods presence I do write with none in that company did I consult before the finishing of the same Therefore in Christs Name I require That the blame may be upon me alone The writing of that Book I will not deny but to prove it Treasonable I think it shall be hard for Sir No more do I doubt of the Trueth of my Proposition then that I doubt that this was the voice of God which first did pronounce this penaltie against women In dolour shalt thou beare thy children It is bruited That my book is or shall be written against or answered If so be Sir I greatly feare That flatterers shall more hurt then helpe the matter which they would seem to maintaine for except my errour be plainly shewne and confuted by better authority then by such Lawes as from yeere to yeere may and do change I dare not promise silence in so weighty a businesse lest that in so doing I shall appeare to betray the Verity which is not subject to the mutabilitie of time And if any thinke me either enemy to the person or yet to the Regiment of her whom God hath now promoted they are utterly deceived in me for the miraculous Work of God comforting his afflicted by an infirme vessell I do acknowledge and I will obey the power of his most potent hand raising up whom best pleaseth his Mercy to suppresse such as fight against his glory albeit that both nature and Gods most perfect Ordinance repugne to such Regiment More plainly to speak If Queen Elizabeth shall confesse That the extraordinary dispensation of Gods great mercy makes that lawfull unto her which both nature and Gods Lawes do deny unto all women then shall none in England be more willing to maintaine her lawfull authority then I shall be But if Gods wondrous worke set aside she ground as God forbid the justnesse of her Title upon consuetude Lawes and Ordinances of men Then I am assured That as such foolish presumption doth highly offend Gods supreame Majestie so do I greatly feare That her ingratitude shall not long lacke punishment And this in the name of the eternall God and of his Son Jesus Christ before whom both you and I shall stand to make an account of all counsell we give I require you to signifie unto her Majestie in my name Adding That onely humility and desertion of her selfe before God shall be the firmenesse and stability of the Throne which I know shall be assaulted mo wayes then one If this you conceale from her Majestie I will make it patent to the world That thus farre I have communicated with you having also further to speak if my judgement may be heard Alas Sir is my offence although in that time and in that matter I had written ten Bookes so hainous that I cannot have Licence by Preaching of Christ Jesus to refresh those thirsty soules which long have lacked the Water of Life No man will I presently accuse but I greatly feare That the Leprous have no greâ—t pleasure to behold faire faces in cleare glasse Let none be afraid that I require to frequent the Court or yet to remaine any long time in England but onely thirsts in passing thorow to my native Countrey to communicate with you and some others such things as willingly I list not to commit to Paper neither to the Credit and knowledge of many And then in the North parts to offer Gods favours to such as I suppose do mourne for their desertion And this I trust shall be no lesse profitable to the Queen and to all godly within England then it should be pleasing to me in the flesh This is the third time that I have begged Licence to visite the hungry and thirstie amongst you which if now be denied
Gods grace whereof God send you plentie And so I end Sic subscribitur Yours as a member of the same body in Christ M. Cecill From Oxford the 28 of Iuly 1559. Albeit the said Iohn received this Letter at Barwick yet would he answer nothing till that he had spoken with the Lords whom he found in Sterlin and unto whom he delivered the answer sent from the Councell of England for Alexander Whitlaw took sicknesse betwixt Barwick and Edinburgh and was troubled by the Lord Seaton as in the former Booke is declared the answer sent by Master Cecill was so generall that many amongst us despaired of any comfort to come from that Countrey And therefore were determined that they would request no further Iohn Knox laboured in the contrary but he could prevaile no further but that he should have licence and libertie to write as he thought best And so took he upon him to answer for all in forme as followeth Answer to Master Cecils writing TWo causes hindred me Right Worshipfull to visit you in any part in England Before this no signification of your minde and pleasure was made unto me for onely did Sir Henry Percie will me to come and speake with him which conveniently at that time I could not do by reason that the French-men which was the second cause of my stay did then most furiously pursue us while our company was dispersed and then durst I not be absent for divers inconveniences neither did I thinke my presence with you greatly necessary considering that the matter which I most desired was opened and proposed To the which I would have wished That a more plaine and especiall answer should have been made For albeit Master Whitlaw by his Credit Master Kirkcaldie by his Letter and I both by Letters and by that which I had received from Sir Iames Crofts did perswade your good mindes yet could not the councell be otherwise perswaded but that this alteration in France had altered your former purpose It is not unknown what good will we three do beare to England And therefore I wish That rather your Pen then our Credit or any thing written to any of us should assure the Lords and others of your good mindes who are now in number but five hundred Unlesse that money be furnished without delay to pay the Souldiers for their service past and to retaine another thousand foot-men with three hundred horse-men till some stay be had in this danger these Gentle-men will be compelled to leave the fields I am assured as flesh may be of flesh That some of them will take a very hard life before that ever they compose either with the Queen Regent or with France but this I dare not promise at all unlesse in they see greater forwardnesse To support us will appear excessive and to break promise with France will appear dangerous But the losse of expences in mine opinion ought not to be esteemed from the first payment neither yet the danger from the first appearance France is most fervent to conquer us and avoweth That against us they will spend the Crown so did mine own ears hear Butten Court bragge But most assuredly I know That unlesse by us they thought to make an entrie to you that they would not buy our poverty at that price They labour to corrupt some of our great men by money and some of our number are poore as before I wrote and cannot serve without support some they threatned and against others they have up one party in their owne Countrey In this mean time if ye lie by as neutralls what will be the end you may easily conjecture And therefore Sir in the bowells of Christ Jesus I require you to make plain answer What the Gentlemen here may trust to and what the Queens Majestie will do may without long delay be put in execution I rest in Christ Jesus Of Saint Iohnston the day of c. Answer with great expedition was returned to this Letter desiring some men of credit to be sent to the Lords to Barwicke for the receiving of the money for the first support with promise That if the Lords of the Congregation meant no otherwise then before they had written and if they would enter into League with honest Conditions they should neither lack men nor money to their just Causes Upon this answer was directed from the Lords to Barwicke Master Henry Balnaves a man of good credit in both the Realmes who suddenly returned with such a sum of money as served all the publike affairs till November next when Iohn Cockburne of Ormeston sent for the second support and receiving the same unhappily fell into the hands of the Earle Bothwell was wounded taken and spoyled of a great Sum upon which mischance followed all the rest of the troubles before rehearsed In the second Book preceding we have declared how Secretary Leehington was directed to England But one thing before we have passed by In that our greatest dejection this order was taken That the Duke the Earle of Glencarne Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie and their friends should remaine together at Glasgow for comfort of the Countrey and for giving of answers as occasion should require and that the Earle of Arrane the Lord Iames the Earle of Rothesse the Master of Lindsay and their adherents should continue together within Fyfe for the same causes that advertisements might go from the one to the other as need required In the Negotiation of the Secretary Lethington with the Queen and Councell of England in the which he travelled with no lesse wisedom and faithfulnesse then happy successe many things occurred that required the resolution of the whole Lords After that the Queen and Councell of England had concluded to send their Army to Scotland for expelling of the French the Duke of Norfolke was sent to Barwick with full instructions power and Commission to do in all things concerning the present affaires of Scotland as the Queen and Councell in their own persons had power to do Hereupon the said Duke required such a part of the Lords of Scotland as had power and Commission from the whole to meet him at such a day and place as pleased them to appoint This advertisement came first to Glasgow by the meanes of the Master of Maxwell Which read and considered by the Lords conclusion was taken that they would meet at Carleil and that was the procurement of the said Master of Maxwell for his ease Hereupon were Letters directed from the Lords being in Glasgow to Lord Iames requiring him with all possible expedition to repaire towards them for the purpose aforesaid Which Letters read and advised upon commandment was given to Iohn Knox to make the answer For so it was appointed at division of the Lords that he should answer for the part of those that were in Fyfe and M. Henry Balnaves for the part of them that abode at Glasgow The said Iohn answered as followeth To the Duke
and the other Lords at Glasgow AFter humble commendation of my service Albeit I have written more then once to Master Henry Balnaves what things have misliked me in your slow proceedings as well in supporting your brethren who many dayes have sustained extreame danger in these parts as in making provision how the enemie might have been annoyed who lay few in number nigh to your Quarters in Sterlin And in making likewise provision how the expectation of our friends who long have waited for your answer might have been satisfied Albeit I say that of these things I have before complained yet in conscience I am compelled to signifie unto your Honours That unlesse of these and other enormities I shall see some redresse I am assured That the end shall be such as godly men shall mourne that a good Cause shall perish for lacke of Wisdome and Diligence In my last Letters to Master Henry Balnaves I declared That your especiall friends in England wonder that no greater expedition is made the weight of the matter being considered If the fault be in the Duke and his friends I wrote also That the greatest losse should be his and theirs in the end And now I cannot cease both to wonder and lament That your whole Councell was so destitute of Wisdome and Discretion as to charge this poore man the Priour to come to you to Glasgow and thereafter to go to Carleil for such affaires as are to be handled Was there none amongst you who did foresee what inconveniences might ensue his absence from these parts I cease to speake of the dangers by the enemie Your friends have lyen in your Haven now fifteene dayes past what was their former travell it is not unknowne they have never received comfort of any man him onely excepted more then if they had lyen upon the coast of their mortall enemy Do ye not consider That such a company shall need comfort and provision from time to time Remove him and who abideth there who carefully will travell in that or any other weighty matter in these parts Did ye not farther consider That he that had begun to meddle with the Gentlemen who have declared themselves back-friends heretofore and also that order should have been taken for such as have been neutrall now by reason of his absence the one shall escape without admonition and the other shall be at their own liberty I am assured that the enemy shall not sleep neither in that nor in other affairs to undermine you and your whole Cause and especially to hurt this part of the Countrey to revenge their former folly If none of these former causes should have moved you to have considered that such a journey at such a time was not meet for him neither yet for them that must accompany him yet discreet men would have considered that the men that have lien in their jacks and travelled their horses continuall the space of a moneth required some longer rest first to themselves then but especially to their horses before they had been charged to such a journey as yet they have not had The Priour may for satisfaction of your unreasonable mindes enterprise the purpose but I am assured he shall not be able to have six honest men in all Fyfe to accompany him and how that either standeth with your Honors or with his safety judge ye your selves But yet wonder it is that ye did not consider To what pain and griefe shall ye put our friends of England especially the Duke of Norfolk and his Councell whom ye shall cause to travell the most wearisome and troublesome way that is in England In mine opinion whosoever gave you that counsell either lacked right judgement in things to be done or else had too much respect to his own ease and too small regard to the travell and damage of their brethren A common cause requireth a common concurrence and that every man bear his burden proportionable But prudent and indifferent men espie the contrary in this cause especially of late dayes for the weakest are most grievously charged and they to whom the matter most belongeth and to whom justly greatest burden is due are exempted in a manner both from travell and expences To speak the matter plainly wise men do wonder what the Dukes friends do mean that they are so slack and backward in this cause In other actions they have been judged stout and forward and in this which is the greatest that ever he or they had in hand they appear destitute both of grace and courage I am not ignorant that they that are most inward of his counsell are enemies to God and therefore cannot but be enemies to this Cause But wonder it is That he and his other friends should not consider That the losse of this godly enterprise shall be the rooting out of them and their posterity from this Realme Considering my Lords That by Gods providence ye are joyned with the Duke in this common Cause admonish him plainly of the danger to come will him to beware of the counsell of those that are plainly infected with Superstition with Pride and with the venome of particular profit which if he do not at your admonition he shall smart before he be aware And if ye cease to put him in minde of his duty it may be that for your silence ye shall drinke some portion of the plague with him Take my plain speaking as proceeding from him that is not your enemy being also uncertaine when I shall have occasion to write hereafter God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ assist you with the Spirit of wisedom and fortitude that to his glory and to your Lordships common comfort ye may performe that thing which godlily was once begun Amen From Saint Andrewes the 6 of February in haste 1559. Sic subscribitur Your Lordships to command in godlinesse J. K. Upon the receit of this Letter and consultation had hereupon a new conclusion was taken to wit That they would visite the said Duke of Norfolke at Barwicke where he was Thus far we have digressed from the text of our History to let the Posterity that shall follow understand by what instruments God wrought the familiarity and friendship that after we found in England Now we returne to our former History The parts of Fyfe set at freedom from the Bondage of these bloody worms solemne thanks were given in S. Andrews unto God for his mighty deliverance Shortly after the Earle of Arrane and Lord Iames apprehended the Lairds of Wemes Seafield Bawgony Durie and others that assisted the French but they were set shortly at freedom upon such conditions as they minded never to keep for such men have neither faith nor honesty Master Iames Balfour who was the greatest practiser and had drawn the Band of the Balfours escaped The English Ships daily multiplied till that they were able to keep the whole Fyrth whereat the French and Queen Regent enraged began to
execute their tyranny upon the parts of Lowthiane that lay nigh to Edinburgh Let M. David Borthwicke witnesse what favour his wife and place of Adeston found of the French for all the service that he did to the Queen Regent In the midst of February were directed to England from the Duke and the Congregation the Lord Iames Lord Ruthuen the Mast of Maxwell the Master of Lindsay Master Henry Balnaves and the Laird of Pittarrow who with their honest companies and Commission departed by Sea all except the Master of Maxwell to Barwicke Where there met them the Duke of Norfolke Lieutenant to the Queen of England and with him a great company of the Gentlemen of the North with some also of the South having full power to contract with the Nobility of Scotland as they did upon such Conditions as are in the same Contract specified and because we have heard the malicious tongues of wicked men make false report of that our fact we have faithfully and truely inserted in this our History the said Contract as well that which was made at Leith during the siege as that which was first made at Barwicke that the memory thereof may abide to our Posterity to the end that they may judge with indifferency Whether that we have done any thing prejudiciall to our Common-wealth or yet contrarious unto the dutifull obedience which true subjects owe to their Superiours whose Authority ought to defend and maintain the Liberty and Freedom of the Realms committed to their Charge and not to oppresse and betray the same to stranger The Tenour of our Contract followeth The Contract at Barwick JAMES Duke of Chattellarault Earle of Arrane Lord Hamilton and others of the Councell Nobility and principall States of Scotland To all and sundry whose knowledge these presents shall come Greeting We have well considered and are fully perswaded in what danger desolation and misery the long enmity with the Kingdom of England hath brought our Countrey heretofore how wealthie and flourishing it shall become if those two Kingdoms as they are joyned in one Island by Creation of the World so they may be knit in a constant and assured friendship The considerations grounded upon a most infallible Trueth ought no lesse to have moved our Progenitours and for fathers then us But the present danger hanging over our heads by the unjust dealing of those of whom we have alwayes best deserved hath caused us to weigh them more earnestly then they did The misbehaviour of the French Monsieurs I had almost said Monsters here hath of late yeers been so great The oppressions and crueltie of the Souldiers the tyrannie and ambition of their Superiours and Rulers so grievous to the people the violent subversion of our liberty and conquest of the land whereat they have by most crafty and subtill means continually pressed hath been I say so intollerable to us all that at last when we could not obtain redresse by humble suits and earnest supplications presented to the Queen Dowager who both for duties sake and place she doth occupie ought to have been most carefull of our state we have been by very necessitie constrained not onely to assay our own Forces but also to implore the Queens Majestie of Englands aide and support which her Majestie hath most willingly granted upon certain conditions specified in a Treaty past at Barwick betwixt the Duke of Norfolk Lieutenant to her Majestie on the one part and certain our Commissioners on the other part whereof the Tenour followeth At Barwick the 27 day of February the yeer of our Lord God 1559 yeers It is appointed and finally Contracted betwixt the noble and mighty Thomas Duke of Norfolk Earle Marshall of England and Lieutenant to the Queens Majestie of the said Realm in the Name and behalf of her Highnesse on the one part and the Right Honourable Lord Iames Stewart Patrick Lord Ruthuen Sir Iohn Maxwell of Terregles Knight William Maitland of Lethington younger Iohn Wischarde of Pittarrow and Master Henry Balnaves of Halhill in name and behalf of the Noble and Mighty Iames Duke of Chattellarault of Scotland and the Lords of the Congregation joyned together in this Cause for maintenance and defence of the ancient Rights and Liberties of their Countrey on the other part in forme as after followeth That is to say That the Queen having sufficiently understood as well by information sent from the Nobility of Scotland as by the proceedings of the French that they intend to conquer the Realm of Scotland suppresse the liberty thereof and unite the same unto the Crown of France perpetually contrary to the Laws of the said Realm and the Pacts Oathes and Promises of France And being thereto most humbly and earnestly required by the said Nobility for and in the name of the whole Realm shall accept the said Realm of Scotland the said Nobility and subjects thereof into her Majesties protection and maintenance onely for preservation of the same in their own freedoms and liberties and from conquest during the time that the Marriage shall continue betwixt the Queen of Scots and the French King and a yeer after And for expelling out of the same Realme of such as presently and apparently goeth about to practice the said Conquest her Majesty shall with all speed send into Scotland a convenient aide of men of War both Horse and Foot to joyn with the power of Scotish men with Artillery Munition and all other Instruments of War meet for that purpose as well by Sea as by Land not onely to expell the present Power of the French within that Realme oppressing the same but also to stop as far as conveniently may be all greater Forces of French to enter therein for the like purpose and shall continue her Majesties ayd to the said Realme Nobility and subjects of the same unto the time the French being enemies to the said Realme be utterly expelled hence and shall never transact compose nor agree with the French nor conclude any League with them except the Scots and the French shall be agreed that the Realme of Scotland may be left in a due freedom by the French nor shall leave the maintenance of the said Nobility and subjects whereby they might fall as a prey into their enemies hands as long as they shall acknowledge their Soveraigne Lady the Queen and shall endeavour their selves to maintain the liberty of their Countrey and the State of the Crowne of Scotland And if in case any Forts or Strengths within the Realme be won out of the hands of the French at this present or at any time hereafter by her Majesties ayd the same shall be immediately demolished by the Scotish-men or delivered to the said Nobility aforesaid at their option and choice neither shall the power of England fortifie within the ground of Scotland being out of the bounds of England but by the advice of the Duke Nobility and States of Scotland For the which causes and in respect of her
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
of the contract they offering and making security for their part by the Queenes Majesties Subscription aud Great Seal and delivering the same unto you Providing That they choose and make their election of the Pledges as is commoned 2. Secondly If the said Commissioners shall demand of you What enterprise the Army of England shall take in hand at their first incoming Ye shall answer in generall The expulsion of the French Souldiers out of this Realme and first and in especiall out of the Town of Leith seeing their great Forces are there 3. Item If it shall be asked of you At what place our friends and brethren of England shall be met And at what day What number And What Noble-men in company Ye shall referre all these things to their election and choice 4. Item If it shall be asked of you How the Armies shall be furnished with Victuals and especially the Horse-men Ye shall answer That with their advice sufficient order shall be taken therein 5. Item If it be required How the Munition shall be carried and oxen furnished to that effect You shall answer as we have given in Commission to Lethington which we ratifie 6. Item If it shall be asked Who shall be Lieutenant to the Army of Scotland Ye shall answer The Duke of Chattellarault 7. Item If it shall be enquired What number our whole Army extends to Ye shall answer They will be God willing five thousand men 8. Item If it shall be asked What manner of way Leith shall be assaulted Ye shall desire all preparations to be in readinesse and the advice to be taken after the placing of the Armies and view of the strength shortly 9. Item If it shall be asked concerning the Castle of Edinburgh If they will stand friends or not Ye shall declare our diligence made and to be made shortly herein but for the present we can assure them of nothing 10. Item If it be asked In case the Castle be enemy Where the Armie shall be placed Ye shall answer For the first in Muschilbrough and Tranent and those parts till the Batterie and all preparations be in readinesse 11. Item In case it be enquired of all by-lyers and neutrals and in especiall of the Lord of Huntley and the North Ye shall answer in generall A good hope is had of the most part thereof And touching the Lord of Huntley in especiall Ye shall shew how he hath sent Writings to my Lord of Arrane with a servant of credit to assure him of his assistance And for that cause hath desired Letters of suspension of the Queen Dowagers Commission to be sent to him to be used in those parts and other Letters to arrest the Clergies Rents and Hires both in those parts With Proclamations to cause all men to be in readinesse to passe forwards for maintaining of the Religion and expulsing of strangers The Nobility hath written to him That he may come to him in proper person Whereof the answer is not returned as yet 12. Item If it shall be asked the place and manner of meeting of our folks or of us and them in case Sterlin be kept We refer the answer hereof to your discretions 13. Item If it shall be asked That their leaden money shall have passage for their necessities Ye shall reason the commodity and discommodity thereof with the Councell 14. Item If it shall be asked What Pioners shall be had Ye shall answer the number being expressed and money in readinesse to so sold or pay them They shall have sufficiencie 15. Item If they shall desire That we declare our causes unto the Princes of Almaigne and the King of Denmark or Germany desiring their assistance Ye shall answer That we think the same good and shall speedily take order therewith 16. Item If it shall be desired of you to confirme for us and in our name the things past and granted by our former Commissioner the young Laird of Lethington Ye shall in all points for us and in our name confirme the same so far as it shall make either for the weale and conjunction of the two Realms or this present Cause or yet for the security of our part for fulfilling of the same And as ye shall accept their offers tending to the same end and such security on that part as ye may purchase and especially such as we have heretofore expressed Given at Glasgow the 10. of February 1559. 17. Item We give and grant you full power to augment or diminsh the said Heads and Articles as ye think the weale of the cause shall require in all points Sic subscribitur Iohn of Menteth Andrew of Rothesse R. Boyd William Murray of Tulibarn Iohn Erskin of Dun. Iames Hamilton Alexander Gordon Alexander Argyle Glencarne Uchiltrie Iames Haliburntoun Shortly after this Contract were our pledges delivered to Master Winter Admirall of the Navie that came to Scotland a man of great honestie so farre as ever we could espie in him who were safely conveyed to Newcastle and so the English Armie by land began to assemble towards the border Whereof the French and Queen Regent assured they began to destroy what they could in the Towns and Countrey about for the whole Victuals they carried to Leith the Mills they brake the Sheep Oxen and Kine yea the Horses of poore Labourers all made they to serve their Tyrannie And finally they left nothing which the very enemies could have devised except that they demolished not Gentlemens houses and burnt not the Town of Edinburgh In which point God bridled their fury to let his afflicted understand That he took care for them Before the comming of the Land Armie the French past to Glasgow and destroyed the Countrey thereabout What tyrannie Marticks used upon a poore Scottish Souldier it is fearefull to heare and yet his fact may not be omitted Silver would they give none to the poore man and they were so slow to depart out of the Towne That albeit the Drum stroke the Ensigne could not be gotten There was a poore Crafts-man who had bought for his Victuals a brown Loaf and was eating a morsell of it and was putting the rest of it into his bosome The Tyrant came to him and with the poore wretches own dagger first stroke him in the brest and after threw it at him and so the poore man staggering and falling the mercilesse tyrant ran him thorow with his Rapier and thereafter commanded him to be hanged over the stayre Lord thou wilt look and recompence such Tyranny how contemptible soever the person was The second of April the yeer of our Lord 1560. the Army of the Land entred into Scotland the conducting whereof was committed to the Lord Gray who had in his company the Lord Scrope Sir Iames Crofts Sir Henry Percie Sir Francis Lake with many other Captains and Gentlemen having charge some of Foot-men and some of Horse-men The Army by Land was esteemed ten thousand men The Queen Regent
Predecessors Item Upon the Petition presented to the said Deputies concerning the Government and Regiment of the Policy they have Consented c. That four and twenty worthy men of this Realme be chosen by the States of the which the King and the Queen shall chuse seven and the States five which in their Majesties absence shall take order and make one ordinary Councell for the administration aforesaid so that no man of whatsoever quality he be shall have the power to order any thing to be done touching the said businesse without the mediation authority and consent of them and the said Councellors shall convene together as oft as they can conveniently but shall convene no lesse nor fix together And when any matter of importance occurreth they shall all be called to consult and order to be taken by them or the most part of them if need be And if it happen any of the said seven chosen by the King and Queen to decease their Majesties shall chuse another forth of the said number of four and twenty in the place of him that deceased And if any of the said five chosen by the States dieth the remnant forechosen by them shall name another of the number of 24. Moreover if it be thought expedient to the said States that other two be augmented to the said number of 12. then and in that cause the King and Queen shall chuse one and the States another and so was this Article agreed under condition that is to say That the same be no prejudice in times coming to the King and Queen and Rights of the Crown And the said Deputies offered their labours to make mediation to the King and Queen for maintaining Pensions and Expenses of the said Councellors and ordinary Officers of the said Councell to be provided of the Rents and Revenues of the Crown Item Upon the Petition made to the said Depuâ—ies anenst the Officers of this Realm they consented and accorded c. That in time to come the King and Queen shall not depute any stranger in the administration of the Civill and Common Justice and likewise in the Office of Chancery Keeper of the Seale the Treasurer Controller and every like Offices and shall not use them but shall be content with their owne subjects borne in the Realm Moreover It shall not be lawfull to put the Office of Treasury Controller into the hands of any Church-man or other which are not able to exercise the said Offices the which Treasurer and Controller shall be provided of sufficient Commission to use the said Offices But it shall be lawfull to them to dispose or sell Wards of Marriages or other casualties or any other things whatsoever they be pertaining to their Offices without advice and consent of the said Councell to the effect that the Councell may know that all things be done to the profit of the King and Queen And yet they will not binde or astraint the King or Queen to this Article that they may not give when they think expedient Item They accorded That in the first Convention and Parliament of the States of this Realme there shall be Constituted Ordained and Established an Act of Oblivion which afterwards shall be confirmed by the Kings and Queens Majesties by the which the remembrance of bearing Armour and other things which have been done shall be buried and forgotten from the sixth day of the moneth of March in the yeer of our Lord God 1558 yeers And by the same Act they which have contravened the Laws of the Realme shall be excused and free of all pains contained therein even so as if it had never been contravened Providing That the Priviledge of the said Act be not extended to them which the States of the Realme shall judge unworthy thereof Item It is agreed and concluded That in the said Convention or Parliament the States of the Realme as the Custome is and ordinarily is required shall be called in the which all they that have used to convene and to be present may come without all fear or force done or to be done to them by any person so that the said States shall oblige them That where in time coming any Sedition or gathering of men of War shall happen to be without command of the Councell being of the number of twelve the Realme and Countrey shall repute the causers thereof and they that convene as Rebells and shall pursue them as such like that they may be punished by the Laws of the Realm so that the K. and Q. shall not be compelled in time coming to send any men of War strangers in these parts for obtaining due obedience of their subjects Item They Offered Accorded and Agreed That there shall be a generall peace and reconciliation amongst all Lords and subjects of this Realm so that they that are called of the Congregation and they which are not of the same shall lay no reproach to others for the things which are done from the said sixth day of March 1558. Item They Offered Accorded and Affirmed That the King and Queen shall not pursue revenge nor make any persecution for the things that have been done nor yet shall they suffer the same to be done by their subjects French-men but shall have all things in Oblivion as if the same had never been done And such like the Lords of this Realm of Scotland shall do in all businesse betwixt them and the French-men on their And if by sinister information or any other occasion their Majesties have conceived evill opinion against their subjects they shall utterly forget and change the same Nor shall they deprive any of them nor take from them any of them their Subjects the Offices Benefices or Estates which they have brooked and enjoyed in the said Realm before by reason of any things they have medled with from the said sixth day of March 1558. And further shall make no occasion of deprivation nor deposing of them by any other colour without just cause but rather they shall esteem and use them in time coming as good and obedient subjects Providing That the said Lords and other subjects on their part make to their Majesties all obedience such like as other faithfull and naturall subjects owe to their Soveraigns Item It is Accorded and Agreed That it shall be lawfull to none of the Lords and Nobility of Scotland or any other to make Convocation of men of War but in the ordinary cause approved by the Laws and Custome of the Realme And none of them shall cause any men of War strangers to come to their parts and much lesse shall attempt to do any thing against the King and Queen or against the Authority of the Councell and other Magistrates of the Realme and they which have presented the Petition shall be bound thereunto And in case any of them or others finde occasion to invade or take Armour against any man as he pretendeth after that he hath communicated the matter with
the Councell of the Realme he shall present his Complaint to their Majesties and generally they shall oblige them under the said pains to do the things which pertaineth to good and faithfull Subjects for the quietnesse and tranquility of the Realme and Rights of their Soveraigne Item It is Agreed That if any Bishops Abbots or other Church-men shall finde or alleadge them to have received any injuries either in their persons or goods the Complaints shall be seen and considered by the States of the said Convention and Parliament and there shall be made redresse as they shall finde according to reason and in the meane time no man shall stop them but they shall brook and enjoy their goods nor shall do any hurt injury or violence to them And if any doth contravene to this Article he shall be pursued by the Lords as a perturber of a good Common-wealc Item It is Accorded c. That the said Lords shall binde them to observe and cause to be observed all and sundry Points and Articles agreed in this Treaty And if it happen that any of them or any other should gainsay the same the remnant Lords and residue of the whole people shall be enemies to him and shall pursue him till he be chastned and punished according to his demerits Item It is Concluded c. That all the whole Realm may know that the King and Queen are not willing to keep any remembrance of the troubles and differences past and so far as concerns the Nobility and other subjects of this Realme That their Majesties desire is to use them humanely and to be favourable unto them the said Deputies have promised and accorded That the Duke of Chattellarault and all other Noble-men of Scotland shall be restaured and setled again in all their goods and benefices which they had enjoyed in France That they may brook and enjoy the same in the same manner as they did before those debates the said sixth day of March and yeere aforesaid even as the said controversies had never chanced And also that all Capitulations and Articles agreed upon in times past and especially those that were appointed in the King and Queens Contract shall be observed and kept as well for the part of their Majesties as for the part of the Nobility and people of Scotland And as concerning David son to the Duke of Chattellarault now being in Bois de Vincennes liberty shall be granted unto him to returne into Scotland and to do as he pleaseth Moreover when the said Deputies exposed that some time it might chance That the King might have need and use of his great Guns and Artillery in France the said Lords having consideration thereof accorded That no other Artillery be translated out of this Realme but those which were sent and brought in from the said day of the decease of Francis King of France of good memory to these parts And that all other Artillery aud Munition be reposed into the places whence they were taken forth and in speciall they that have the Arms of Scotland shall be put into the places whence they were taken forth of And there shall be Noble-men of Scotland appointed therefore and two for the part of the Kings Majesty are to be deputed to agnosce and view the same afore the Shipping thereof And moreover That whereas in the names of the Nobility and people of Scotland certain Articles concerning Religion and other Points have been presented which the said Deputies will not touch and considering the weight and importance of them has remitted the same to be cognosced and decided by their Majesties The said Lords and Nobility do promise That a certain number of Noble-men should be chosen in the next Convention and Parliament to be sent to their Majesties which shall expose to their Highnesses those things that shall be thought needfull for the state of their busines and for the forementioned and other Articles and Points undecided by the Deputies to the effect they may know their Majesties intention good wil concerning those things which shal be exposed from the Country the which also shall have with them a confirmation ratification by the states of the Realm of those articles which are concorded c. by the Deputies to whom also the same time or before shal be given and delivered and like Confirmation and Ratification made by their Majesties so being that the said States send their Ratification aforesaid The Proclamation of the things above-written made the 8 of Iuly in the yeere of God 1560. TO the glory of the Almighty Lord God and to the comfort of all Christians the most puissant Prince and Princesse and most Christian King and Queen Francis and Mary by the grace of God King and Queen of France and Scotland and by the most puissant Princesse Elizabeth by the same Grace Queen of England France and Ireland c. It is accorded and Reconciliation of Peace and Amitie made which is to be observed inviolably amongst them their Subjects Realms and Countries For as much as in name of the said Prince and Princesse it is commanded and straitly charged to all manner of persons under their obedience or being in their service from henceforth to desist from all hostility both by Sea and Land and to keep a good Peace the one with the other and with charge that none shall break the same under perill of c. These things transacted and the Peace Proclaimed as is said sudden provision was made for transporting of the French to France of whom the most part were put in the English Ships who also carried with them the whole spoile of Leith and that was the second benefit which they received of their late promised liberty the end whereof is not yet The English Army departed by land the 16 day of July in the yeere of God 1560. The most part of our Nobility Protestants honourably conveyed them as in very deed they had well deserved But Lord Iames would not leave the Lord Gray with the other Noble-men of England till that they entred into Barwick After whose returning the Councell began to look as well upon the affaires of the Common-wealth as upon the matters that might concern the stability of Religion As before we have heard the Parliament was concluded to begin the tenth of July and to be continued till the first of August next and therefore the Lords made the greater haste and diligence that all things should be put in convenient order But before all things the Preachers exhorted them for then in Edinburgh were the most part of the chief Ministers of the Realme to be thankfull unto God and next to provide that the Ministers should be distributed as the necessity of the Countrey required A day was appointed when that the whole Nobility and the greatest part of the Congregation assembled in S. Giles Church in Edinburgh where after the Sermon made for that purpose publike thanks were given unto God for
his mercifull deliverance in forme as followeth Thankesgiving for our deliverance with Prayers O Eternall and everlasting God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath not onely commanded us to Pray and promised to hear us but also willest us to magnifie thy mercies and to glorifie thy Name when thou shewest thy selfe pitifull and favourable unto us especially when thou deliverest us from desperate dangers for so did thy servants Abraham David Iehosaphat and Ezechias yea the whole people of Israel omitted not the same when thou by thy mighty hand didst confound their enemies and didst deliver them from feare and danger of death intended We ought not nor can we forget O Lord in how miserable estate stood this poore Countrey and we the just inhabitants of the same not many dayes past When Idolatry was maintained When cruell strangers did bear rule When Virgins were defloured Matrones corrupted Mens Wives violently and villanously oppressed The blood of innocents shed without mercy And finally when the unjust commandments of proud tyrants were obeyed as Law Out of these miseries O Lord could neither our wit policie nor strength deliver us yea thou didst shew to us how vain was the help of man where thy blessing giveth not victory In these our anguishes O Lord we sobbed unto thee we cried for thy help and we reclaimed thy Name as thy troubled flock persecuted for thy Trueths sake Mercifully hast thou heard us O Lord mercifully we say because that neither in us neither yet in our confederates was there any cause why that thou shouldst have given unto us so joyfull and sudden a deliverance For neither of us both ceased to do wickedly even in the midst of our greatest troubles and yet hast thou looked upon us so pitifully as that we had given unto thee most perfect obedience For thou hast disappointed the counsels of the craftie Thou hast bridled the rage of the cruell and thou hast of thy mercy set this our perishing Realm at a reasonable liberty Oh give us hearts thou Lord that onely givest all good gifts with reverence and fear to meditate thy wondrous works late wrought in our eyes Let not the remembrance of the same unthankfully to slip from our wavering mindes We grant and acknowledge O Lord That whatsoever we have received shall fall into oblivion with us and so turn to our condemnation unlesse thou by the power of thy Spirit keep and retain us in recent and perpetuall memory of the same We beseech thee therefore O father of mercies that as of thy undeserved grace thou hast partly removed our darknesse suppressed Idolatry and taken from above our heads the devouring sword of mercilesse strangers that so it would please thee to proceed with us in this thy grace begun And albeit that in us there is nothing that may move thy Majestie to shew us this favour yet for Christ Jesus thy onely welbeloved Sons sake whose Name we bear and whose Doctrine we professe we beseech thee never to suffer us to forsake or deny this Verity which now we professe But seeing that thou hast mercifully heard us and hast caused thy Veritie to triumph in us so we crave of thee continuance to the end that thy godly Name may be glorified in us thy creatures And seeing that nothing is more odious in thy presence O Lord then is ingratitude and violation of an Oath and Covenant made in thy Name And seeing thou hast made our Confederates of England the Instrument by whom we are now set at this libertie and to whom in thy Name we have promised mutuall faith againe Let us never fall to that unkindnesse O Lord that either we declare our selves unthankfull unto them or prophaners of thy holy Name Confound thou the Counsell of those that goe about to break that most godly League contracted in thy Name and retaine thou us so firmly together by the power of thy holy Spirit that Sathan have never power to set us again at variance nor discord Give us thy grace to live in that Christian charitie which thy Sonne our Lord Jesus hath so earnestly commended to all the members of his body that other Nations provoked by our example may set aside all ungodly warre contention and strife and studie to live in tranquilitie and peace as it becometh the Sheepe of thy Pasture and the people that daily look for our finall deliverance by the coming again of our Lord Jesus To whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all honour glory and praise now and ever Amen Hereafter were the Commissioners of Boroughs with some of the Nobility and Barons appointed to see the equall distribution of Ministers to change and transport as the most part should think expedient And so was Iohn Knox appointed to Edinburgh Christopher Goodman who the most part of the troubles had remained in Ayre was appointed to Saint Andrews Adam Heriot to Aberdeene Master Iohn Row to Saint Iohnston Paul Meaffen to whom was no infamie then knowne to Iedburgh William Christison to Dundie David Fargeson to Dunfermelin and Master David Lindsay to Leith There were nominated for Superintendents and Overseers that all things in the Church should be carried with Order and well Master Iohn Spottiswood for Lowthian Master Iohn Wyram for Fyfe Master Iohn Willock for Glasgow the Laird of Dun for Angus and Mearnes Master Iohn Carswell for Argyle and the Isles These to be elected at the dayes appointed unlesse that the Countreys whereto they were to be appointed could in the mean time finde out men more able and sufficient or else shew such causes as might disable them from that imployment The Parliament approaching due advertisement was made by the Councell to all such as by Law and ancient Custome had or might claime to have Title therein The assembly was great notwithstanding some as well of those that be called Spirituall as Temporall Lords contemptuously did absent themselves And yet the chief Pillars of the Papisticall Church gave their presence such as the Bishops of Saint Andrews Dumblane and Dunkell with others of the inferiour sort beside those that had renounced Papisterie and openly professed Jesus Christ with us such as the Bishop of Galloway the Abbots of Lindrosse Culrosse Saint Colmes Inch New-battell Halyrud-house the Priour of Saint Andrews Coldinghame Saint-Mary I le the Sub-priour of S. Andrews and divers others whom we observed not At the same time of Parliament Iohn Knox publikely Preached upon some Texts of the Prophet Haggai the Doctrine was proper for the time In application whereof he was so speciall and so vehement that some having greater respect to the world then to Gods glory feeling themselves pricked said in mockage We may now forget our selves and beare the Barrow to build the house of God God be mercifull to the speaker for we fear yet he shall have experience That the building of his own house the house of God being despised shall not be so prosperous and of
the Cannons which the Galleyes shot the multitude being advertised happy was he or she that first must have the presence of the Queen the Protestants were not the slowest And therein they were not to be blamed Because the Palace of Halyrud-house was not thorowly put in order for her coming was more sudden then many looked for she remained in Leith till towards the evening and then repaired thither In the way betwixt Leith and the Abbey met her the Rebells the Crafts-men of whom we spake before to wit Those that had violated the Acts of the Magistrates and had besieged the Proveist But because she was sufficiently instructed that all they did was done in spight of their Religion they were easily pardoned Fiâ—es of joy were set forth at night and a Company of most honest men with Instruments of Musick and with Musiâ—ians gave their Salutations at her Chamber Window The Mâ—lody as she alleadged liked her well and she willed the same to be continued some nights after with great diligence The Lords repaired to her from all Quarters and so was nothing understood but mirth and quietnesse till the next Sunday which was the 24 of August When that preparations began to be made for that Idoll of the Masse to be said in the Chappell Which perceived the hearts of all the godly began to be emboldened and men began openly to speak Shall that Idoll be suffered again to take place within this Realme It shall not The Lord Lindsay then but Master with the Gentlemen of Fyfe and others plainly cryed in the Close or Yard The Idolatrous Priests should die the death according to Gods Law One that carried in the Candle was evill affrayed but then began flesh and blood fully to shew it self There durst no Papist neither yet any that came out of France whisper But the Lord Iames the man whom all the godly did most reverence took upon him to keep the Chappell door his best excuse was That he would stop all Scotish-men to enter in to the Masse But it was and is sufficiently known That the doore was kept that none should have entry to trouble the Priest who after the Mâ—sse was ended was committed to the protection of the Lord Iohn of Coldingham and Lord Robert of Halyrud-house who then were both Protestants and had Communicate at the Table of the Lord Betwixt them two was the Priest conveyed to his Chamber And so the godly departed with grief of heart and after noon repaired to the Abbey in great companies and gave plain signification That they could not abide that the Land which God by his power had purged from Idolatry should in their eyes be polluted again Which understood there began complaint upon complaint The old Duntebors and others that had long served in the Court and hoped to have no remission of sins but by vertue of the Masse cryed They would away to France without delay They could not live without the Masse the same affirmed the Queens Uncles And would to God that they all together with the Masse had taken goodnight at the Realme for ever for so had Scotland been rid of an unprofitable burthen of devouring strangers and of the malediction of God that hath stricken and yet will strike for Idolatry The Councell assembled disputation was had of the next remedy Politicke heads were sent unto the Gentlemen with these and the like perswasions Why alas Will you chase our Soveraigne from us She will incontinently returne to her Galleyes and what then shall all Realmes say of us May we not suffer her a little while I doubt not but she will leave it If we were not assured that she might be won we should be also as great enemies to her Masse as ye can be Her Uncles will depart and then shall we rule all at our pleasure Would not we be also sorry to hurt the Religion as any of you would be With these and the like perswasions we say was the fervency of the Brethren quenched And an Act was framed the Tenour whereof followeth Apud Edinburgh 25 Aagustii 1561. FOrasmuch as the Queens Majestie hath understood the great inconveniences through the divisiâ—n pâ—esently standing in this Realme for the difference in mattâ—rs of Religion which her Majestie is most desirous to see pacified by any good order To the Honour of God and Tranquility of her Realm and means to take the same by Advice of her States so soon as conveniently may be to their serious Consideration And lest that her Majesties godly Resolutions therein may be greatly hindered in case any Tumult and Sedition be raised amongst the Lieges if any Alteration or Innovation be Pressed or Attempted before that good Order may be Established Wherefore for the eschewing of the said Inconveniences her Majestie Ordains Letters to be Directed to Charge all and sundry her Lieges by open Proclamation at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh and other Places needfull That they and every one of them contain themselves in all Quietnesse keep Peace and Civill Society amongst themselves in the mean time while the States of the Realm may be Assembled and then her Majestie have taken a finall Order by their Advice and publike Consent which her Majestie hopes shall be to the Contentment of all the Law bidding That none of them should take in hand privately or openly any Alteration or Innovation of the state of Religion or attempt any thing against the same which her Majestie found Publikely and Universally standing at her Majesties Arrivall in this her Realme under Pain of Death With Certification That if any Subject of the Realme shall come in the contrary Thereof â—e shall be esteemed and holden a Seditious Person and Raiser of Tumult and the same Pain shall be executed upon him with all Rigour To the Example of others And her Majestie with the Advice of the Lords of the Secret Councell Commands and Charges all her Liâ—ges That none of them take in hand to Molâ—st or Trouble any of her Majesties Domesticke Servants or Persons whatsoever come forth of France in her Company at this time in Word Deed or Countenance for any Cause whatsoever either within her Palace or without or make any assault or invasion upon any of them under whatsoever Colour or Pretence under the said Pain of Death Albeit that her Majestie be sufficiently perswaded That her Good and Loving Subjects would do the same for the Reverence they bear to her Person and Acts notwithstanding no such Commandment were published This Act and Proclamation Penned and put in Forme by such as before professed Christ Jesus for in the Councell then had Papists neither power nor voyce It was publikely Proclaimed at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh upon Munday the day aforesaid No man reclaimed nor made repugnance to it except the Earle of Arrane onely who in open audience of the Herald protested That he disassented that any Protection or Defence should be made to the Queens
but to live upon that which was appointed ought not to be mollified according to the living of other common men who might and did daily augment their Rents by some other industry When such reasons were laid before them they got none other answer but The Queen can spare no greater Sums Oft was it cryed out in their ears O happy servants of the Devill and miserable servants of Iesus Christ if after this life there were nor Hell nor Heaven For to the servants of the Devill these dumbe Dogs and horrid Bishops To one of those idle bellies I say ten thousand was not enough but to the servants of Christ that painfully preach his Evangell a hundreth will suffice how can that be sustained One day in reasoning of this matter the Secretary burst out in a piece of his collor and said The Ministers have thus much payed unto them by year who ever yet said to the Queen Grand mercies for it was there ever a Minister that gave thanks to God for her Majesties liberalitie towards them One singled and answered Assuredly I think that such as receive any thing gratis of the Queen are unthankfull if they acknowledge it not both in heart and minde But whether the Ministers be of that rank or not I greatly doubt gratis I am sure they receive nothing and whether they receive any at all from the Queen wise men may reason I am assured that neither third nor two parts ever appertained to any of her Predecessors within this Realm these thousand years last past neither yet hath the Queens Flatterers better title to that which she usurpes be it in-giving to others or taken it to her self then the souldiers who crucified Jesus Christ had to divide his Garments amongst them And if the truth may be spoken she hath not so good Title as they had for such spoile ought to be the reward of such men And in that point the Souldiers were more gentle than the Queenes Flatterers for they parted not the Garments of our Saviour till that he himself was hung upon the Crosse but her Flatterers do part the spoil whilest that poor Christ is yet preaching amongst you But the wisedome of our God taketh tryall of us by this meanes knowing well enough what the Court faction have purposed to do Let the Papists who have the two parts some that have their thirds free and some that have gotten Abbeys and few Lands thanke the Queen and King Placebo Domine the poore Preachers will not yet flatter for feeding of their bellies These words were judged proud and intollerable and ingendred no small displeasure to the Speaker This we put in memory that the posterity to come may know that God once made his truth to triumph but because some of our selves delighted more in darknesse than in light God hath restrained our freedom and put the whole body in bondage yea the greatest Flatterers have not escaped so free as they supposed yea the latter plagues appear yet to be worse than the first Be mercifull unto us O Lord and deal with us not according to our deservings but look thou to the equitie of the cause which thou hath put in our hands and suffer not iniquitie to oppresse thy Trueth for thy own names sake O Lord. In this mean while to wit in February 1561. was Lord Iames first made Earl of Murray and then marryed one Agnes Keith daughter to the Earl Marshall The marriage was publike in the Church of Edinburgh at the blessing of the marriage they both got one admonition to behave themselves moderately in all things For said the Preacher to him The Church of God hath received comfort by you and by your labours unto this day In the which if hereafter you shall be found fainter then you have been formerly it will be said That your Wife hath changed your nature The greatnesse of the Bankquet and the vanitie used thereat offended many Godly There began the Masking which from yeer to yeer hath continued since Master Randolph Agent for the Queen of England was then and sometime after in no small esteem with our Queen For his Mistris sake she did drink to him in a Cup of Gold which he possessed with great joy more for the favour of the giver then of the gift and value thereof and yet it was honourable The things that then were in handling betwixt the two Queens whereof Lethington Secretary Cecill and Master Randolph were Ministers were of great weight as we will after heare This Winter the Earl of Bothwell the Marquis D'albuff and Lord Iohn of Coldingham committed ryot in Edinburgh and disordered the whole Town brake Cuthbert Ramseyes Gates and Doors searched his House for his Daughter in law Alison Craige And this was done in despight of the Earl of Arrane who was suspected to have been in love with the said Alison the horrours of this fact and the veritie of it highly commoved all godly hearts The Assembly and also the Nobilitie for the most part were in the Town and so they concluded to crave justice and so they did as by this subsequent supplication doth appear To the Queens Majestie Her secret Councell Her Highnesse faithfull and obedient Subjects The professors of Christ Iesus his holy Evangell wish the Spirit of righteous judgement THe fear of God conceived of his holy Word the naturall and unfained love we bear unto your Majestie the duetie which we owe to the quietnesse of our Country and the terrible threatnings which our God pronounceth against every Realm and Citie in the which horrible Crimes are openly committed and then by the Committers obstinately defended compells us a great part of our Subjects humbly to crave of your Majesties upright and true judgement against such persons as have done what in them lye to kindle Gods wrath against this whole Realm The impiety by them committed is so haynous and so horrible That as it is a fact most vile and rare to be heard of within the Realm and principally within the Bowels of this Citie So should we thinke our selves guiltie of the same if negligently or yet for worldy fear we put it over with silence and therfore your Majestie may not think that we crave any thing while that we crave open Malefactors condignly to be punished But that God hath commanded us to crave and also hath commanded your Majestie to give to every one of your Subjects for by this Lynk hath God knit together the Prince and people that as he commands honour fear and obedience to be given to the powers established by him so doth he in expresse words command and declare what the Prince oweth unto the Subjects to wit That as he is the Minister of God bearing the sword for vengeance to be taken on evill doers and for the denfence of peaceable and quiet men so ought he to draw the sword without partialitie so oft as in Gods Name he is required thereto Seeing so it
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
said the other Madame that is put in Election If ye knew him said she as well as I do ye would never promote him to that Office nor yet to any other within your Kirk What he hath been said he Madame I never knew nor yet will I enquire for in time of darknesse What could we do but gâ—ope and go wrong even as darknesse carryed us but if he feare not GOD now he deceives many more then me And yet said he Madame I am assured GOD will not suffer his CHURCH to be so farre deceived As that an unworthy man shall be Elected where free Election is and the Spirit of GOD is earnestly called upon to decide betwixt the two Well said she do as ye will But that man is a dangerous man and therein was not the Queen deceived For he had corrupted the most part of the Gentlemen not onely to nominate him but also to Elect him which perceived by the said Iohn Commissioner delayed the Election and left it with the Master of Maxwell Master Robert Pont who was put in Election with the foresaid Bishop to the end that his Doctrine and Conversation might be the better tryed of these that had not known him before and so was this Bishop frustrate of his purpose for that present and yet was he at that time the man that was most familiar with the said Iohn in his house and at Table But now to the former conference When the Queen had long talked with Iohn Knox and he being oft willing to take his leave she said I have one of the greatest matters that have touched me since I came in this Realm to open unto you and I must have your help into it And she began to make a long discourse of her Sister the Lady Argile how that she was not so circumspect in all things as she wished her to be and yet said she my Lord her husband whom I love useth her not in many things so honestly and so godlily as I thinke ye your self would require Madam said he I have been troubled with that matter before and once I put an end to it and that was before your Majesties arrivall that both she and her friends seemed fully to stand content and she her self promised before her friends That she would never complain to any Creature till that I should first understand the controversie by her own mouth or else by one assured Messenger I now have heard nothing of her part and therefore I think there is nothing but concord Well said the Queen it is worse then ye beleeve but do this much for my sake as once again to put them at Unitie and if she behave not her self so as she ought to do she shall finde no favour of me but in any wise said she let my Lord know That I have requested you in this matter For I would be very sorry to offend him in that or in any other thing And now said she as touching our reasoning yesternight I promise to do as ye required I shall cause to summon all offenders and yee shall know that I shall minister Justice I am assured then said he That ye shall please God and enjoy rest and tranquilitie within your Realm which to your Majesty is more profitable then all the Popes power can be And thus they departed This Conference we have inserted to let the World see how deeply Mary Queen of Scotland can dissemble and how that she could cause men to thinke That she bare no indignation for any controversie in Religion which that yet in her heart was nothing but venome and destruction as shortly after did appeare Iohn Knox departed and prepared himself for his journey appointed to Dunfreis And from Glasgow according to the Queens Commandment he wrote this Letter to the Earle of Argyle the Tenour whereof follows My Lord THe Lord cometh and shall not tarry After commendation of my service unto your Lordship If I had known of your Lordships sudden departing the last time it chanced me to see and speak with you I had opened unto you some of my grief But supposing that your Lordship should have remained still with the Queen I delayed at that time to utter any part of that which now my conscience compelleth me to do Your behaviour towards your wife is very offensive unto many godly Her complaint is grievous That ye altogether withdraw your conversation from her If so ye have great need to look well to your own state for albeit that ye within your self felt no more repugnancie then any flesh this day on the earth yet by promise made before God are ye debtour unto her in all due benevolence But if that ye burne on the one side albeit ye do no worse and she in your default on the other ye are not onely men sworn before God but also doth what in you lieth to kindle against your self his wrath and heavie displeasure The words are sharp and God is witnesse in dolour of heart I write them But because they are true and pronounced by God himself I dare not but admonish you perceiving you as it were sleeping in sin The proud stubbornnesse whereof your Lordship oft complained will nothing excuse you before God for if ye be not able to convince her of any fault ye ought to bear with her imperfections as that ye would she should bear with you likewise In the bowells of Christ Jesus I exhort you my Lord to have respect of your own salvation and not to abuse the lenity and long-suffering of God for that is a fearfull treasure that ye heap up upon your own head while that he calleth you to repentance and ye obstinately continue in your own impiety for impiety it is that ye abstract your comfort and company from your lawfull wife I write nothing in defence of her misbehaviour towards your Lordship in any sort but I say If ye be not able to convince her of any fault committed since your last reconciliation which was in my presence that ye can never be excused before God of this rude and strange usage of your wife And if by you such impiety be committed as is bruted then before God and unto your owne conscience I say That every moment of that filthy pleasure shall turne to you in a yeers displeasure yea it shall be the occasion and cause of everlasting damnation unlesse speedily ye repent and repent ye cannot except ye desist from that impiety Call to minde my Lord That the servant knowing his masters will and doing the contrary shall be plagued with many plagues Sin my Lord is sweet in drinking but in digesting more bitter then the gall The Eternall move your heart earnestly to consider how fearfull a thing it is ever to have God to be enemy In the end I pray your Lordship not to be absent from Edinburgh the 19 of this instant for such causes as I will not write Thus much onely I warne your
foreseen they shew what pains and travel they had taken to mittigate her anger but they could finde nothing but extremity unlesse that he himself would confesse his offence and put him in her Majesties will To which Heads the said Iohn answered as follows I praise my God through Jesus Christ said he I have learned not to crie Conjuration and Treason at every thing that the godlesse multitude doth condemn nether yet to fear the things that they fear I have the testimony of a good conscience that I have given no occasion to the Queens Majestie to be offended with me for I have done nothing but my duty and so whatsoever shall thereof ensue my good hope is that my God will give me patience to bear it but to confesse an offence where my Conscience witnesseth there is none far be it from me How can it be defended said Lethington have you not made a Convocation of the Queens Leiges If I have not said he a just defence for my fact let me smart for it Let us hear said they your defences for we would be glad that you might be found innocent Nay said the other I am informed by divers that even by you my Lord Secretary I am already condemned and my cause prejudged therefore I might be reputed a fool if I would make you privie to my Defences At these words they seemed both offended and so the Secretary departed but the said Earle remained still and would have entred into further discourse of the state of the Court with the said Iohn who answered My Lord I understand more then I would of the state of the Court and therefore it is not needfull that your Lordship trouble me with the recounting thereof if you stand in good case I am content and if you do not as I fear you do not already or else you shall not do it ere it be long blame not me you have the Councellors whom you have chosen my weak judgement both they and you despised I can do nothing but behold the end which I pray God it be other then my troubled heart feareth Within four dayes the said Iohn was called before the Queen and Councell betwixt 6 and seven a Clock at night the season of the year was the midst of December the report rising in the towne That I. Knox was sent for by the Queen The Brethren of the Town followed in such number that the inner Close was full and all the Staires even to the Chamber door where the Queen and Counsell sate who had been reasoning amongst themselves before but had not fully satisfied the Secretaries minde And so was the Queen retired to her Cabbinet and the Lords were talking one with another as occasion served But upon the entry of Iohn Knox they were desired to take their places as they did sitting as Councellors one against another The Duke according to his dignity began the one side upon the other side sate the Earle of Argile and consequently followed the Earle of Murray the Earle of Glencarne the Earle of Mershall the Lord Ruthven the common Officers Pittaro then Controller the Justice Clerk with Master Iohn Spence of Condie Advocate and divers others stood by removed from the Table sate old Lethington father to the Secretary Master Henry Sinclare then Bishop of Rosse and Master Iames Makgill Clerke of the Register Things thus put in Order the Queen came forth and that with no little worldly pompe was placed in a Chaire having two faithfull Supporters the Master of Maxwell upon the one Torre and Secretary Lethington upon the other Torre of the Chaire whereon hee waited diligently at the time of the Accusation sometime the one was speaking in her Eare and sometime the other Her pompe lacked nothing of an womanly gravitie for when she saw Iohn Knox standing at the other end of the Table bare-headed at the first she smiled and after gave a guaf of laughter whereunto her Placeboâ—â— gave their Plaudite assenting with like countenance This is a good beginning she said but know you whereat I laugh Yon man caused me to crie and shed never a Tear himself I will see if I can cause him to grieve At that word the Secretary whispered her in the Eare and she him again and with that gave him a Letter after the inspection whereof he directed his visage and speech to Iohn Knox in this manner The Queens Majesty is informed That you have travelled to raise a Tumult of her Subjects against her and for Certification thereof there is presented to her your owne Letter subscribed in your name Yet because her Majesty will do nothing without good advertisement she hath convened you before this part of the Nobilitie that they may witnesse betwixt you and her Let him acknowledge said she his owne hand-writing and then shall we judge of the Contents of the Letter and so was the Lettet sent from hand to hand to Iohn Knox who taking inspection of it said I acknowledge this to be my hand-writing and also I remember that I indited a Letter in the month of October giving signification to the Brethren in divers Quarters of such things as displeased me and so good opinion have I of the fidelity of the Scribes that willingly they would not adulterate my originall albeit that I left divers blanks subscribed with them And so I acknowledge both the Hand-writing and the Dictatement You have done more said Lethington then I would have done Charity said the other is not suspitious Well well said the Queen read your own Letter and then answer to such things as shall be demanded of you I shall do the best I can said the other and so with a loud voice he began to reade as before is expressed After that the Letter was read it was presented again to M. Iohn Spence her Advocate for the Queen commanded him to accuse as he did but very gently After we say that the Letter was read the Queen beholding the whole Table said Heard you ever my Lords a more dispightfull and Treasonable Letter While that no man gave answer Lethington addressed himself to Iohn Knox and said M. Knox are you not sorry from your heart and do you not repent that such a Letter hath passed your Pen and from you hath come to the knowledge of others I. Knox answered My Lord Secretary before I repent I must be taught of my offence Offence said Lethington if there were no more but the vocation of the Queenes Leiges the offence cannot be denyed Remember your selfe my Lord said the other there is a difference betwixt a lawfull Vocation and an unlawfull If I have been guilty in this I have oft offended since I came last in Scotland for what Vocation of Brethren hath ever been this day unto which my Pen hath not served and before this no man laid it to my charge as a crime Then was then and now is now said Lethington we have no need of
it But when divers times I required him to remember his promise I found nothing but delay Whereunto the Secretary answered True it is I promised to write and true it is That M. Knox required me so to do but when I had ripely advised and deeply considered the weight of the matter I found more doubts then I did before And this is one amongst others How durst I being a subject and the Queens Majesties Secretary take upon me to seek resolution of controversies depending betwixt her Highnesse and her subjects without her own knowledge and consent Then was an acclamation of the claw-backs of the Court as if Apollo had given his Responce It was wisely and faithfully done Well said Iohn Knox let worldly men praise worldly wisdome so highly as they please I am assured that by such shifts Idolatry is maintained and the truth of Jesus Christ is betrayed whereof God one day will be avenged At the and at the like sharpnesse were many offended the Voting ceased and every Faction began to speak as affection moved then Iohn Knox in the end was commanded yet to write to Master Calvin and to the learned in other Churches to know their judgement in that Question which he refused shewing his Reason I my self am not onely full resolved in conscience but also I have heard their judgements in this and all other things that I have affirmed within this Realme of the most godly and most learned that he knew in Europe I came not to this Realme without their Resolution and for my assurance I have the hand-writing of many And therefore if I should now move the said Questions again what should I do other but either shew mine own ignorance and forgetfulnesse or else inconstancy And therefore it may please you to pardon me in that I write not But I will teach you the surer way which is That you write and complain upon me That I teach publikely and affirme constantly such doctrine which offends you and so shall you know their plain mindes and whether that they and I agree in judgement or not Divers said the offer was good but no man was found that would be the Secretary and so did that Assembly and long reasoning break up After the which time the Ministers that were called precise were holden as Monsters of all the Courtiers In all that time the Earle of Murray was so frame and strange to Iohn Knox that neither by word nor writ was there any Communication betwixt them c. The end of the long reasoning betwixt John Knox and the Secretary in the moneth of June 1564. The end of the fourth Book THE FIFTH BOOK Of the Reformation of the CHURCH Of SCOTLAND IN the next Moneth which was Iuly the Queen went into Athole to the Hunting and from thence she made her Progresse into Murray and returned to Fyfe in September All this while there was appearance of love and tender friendship betwixt the two Queens For there was many Letters full of Civility and Complements sent from either of them to the other in signe of Amity besides costly Presents for Tokens And in the mean time the Earle of Lenox laboured to come home forth of England and in the moneth of October he arrived at Halyrud-house where he was graciously received by the Queens Majestie namely When he had presented the Queen of England her Letters written in his favour And because he could not be restored to his Lands without Act of Parliament therefore there was a Parliament procured to be holden at Edinburgh the 13 day of December But before the Queen would cause to Proclaim a Parliament she desired the Earle of Murray by whose means chiefly the said Earle of Lenox came into Scotland That there should no word be spoken or at least concluded that concerned Religion in the Parliament But he answered That he could not promise it In the mean time the Hamiltons and the Earle of Lenox were agreed At the day appointed the Parliament was held at Edinburgh where the said Earle of Lenox was restored after two and twenty yeers Exile He was banished and forfeited by the Hamiltons when they had the rule There were some Articles given in by the Church especially for the abolishing of the Masse universally and for punishment of vice but there was little thing granted save that it was Statute That scandalous livers should be punished first by prison and then publikely shewne unto the people with ignominy but the same was not put in execution In the end of this moneth of December the generall Assembly of the Church was held at Edinburgh many things were ordained for setling of the affaires of the Church In the end of Ianuary the Queen past to Fyfe and visiting the Gentlemens houses was magnificently banquetted every where so that such superfluity was never seen before within this Realme which caused the wilde Fowl to be so dear that Partridges were sold for a crown a piece At this time was granted by an Act of Parliament the confirmation of the Fewes of Church Lands at the desire of divers Lords whereof the Earle of Murray was chief During the Queens absence the Papists of Edinburgh went down to the Chappell to hear Masse and seeing there was no punishment they waxed more bold some of them thinking thereby to please the Queen upon a certain Sunday in February they made an Evensong of their own setting two Priests on the one side of the Quire and one or two on the other side with Sandy Stevin Menstrall Baptizing their children and making Marriages who within eight dayes after convinced of Blasphemy alleadging That he would give no more credit to the New Testament then to a Tale of Robin-Hood except it were confirmed by the Doctors of the Church The said superstitious Evensong was the occasion of a great slander for many were offended with it which being by the Brethren declared to the Lords of the Privy Councell especially to the Earle of Murray who lamented the cause to the Queens Majestie shewing her what inconveniency should come if such things were suffered unpunished And after sharp reasoning it was promised That the like should not be done hereafter The Queen also alleadged That they were a great number and that she could not trouble their conscience About the 20 of this moneth arrived at Edinburgh Henry Stewart Lord Darley from thence he past to Fyfe And in the Place of Weemes he was admitted to kisse the Queens hand whom she liked so well that she preferred him before all others As shall hereafter God willing be declared Soon after in the Moneth of March the Earle Bothwell arrived out of France whereat the Earle of Murray was highly offended because of the evil report made to him of the Lord Bothwell And passing immediately to the Queens Majestie demanded of her if it was her will or by her advice that he was come home and seeing he was his deadly enemy either he or the other
as they could And as the preasse of people encreased about the Crosse there appeared to have beene some tumult The Provest Archibald Dowglas came with some Halberdiers and carried the Priest safe againe to the Tolbuith The Queen being advertised and having received sinister information that the Priest was dead suddenly thought to have used and inflicted some extreme punishment for she thought that all this was done in contempt of her and of her Religion and it was affirmed That the Towne should have beene sacked and a great number executed to death she sent to such as she pleased commanding them to come to her at Edinburgh suddenly with their whole Forces and in the mean time she sent her Advocate Master Spence of Condie to Edinburgh to take a sure triall of the matter The Provest and Councell wrote to the Queen the truth of the matter as it was desiring her Majestie to take the same in good part and not to give credit to false reports and therewith sent to her Majestie the Processe and enrolment of the Court of the Priest Conviet Thus the Queens Majesty being informed of the truth by her said Advocate sent againe and stayed the said meeting of men and sent to the Town a grave Letter whereof the Copie followeth ⧠The Queens Letter to the Provest Bailiffe and Councell of Edinburgh PRrovest Bayliffe and Councell of our Citie of Edinburgh We received your Letter from our Advocate and understand by this report what diligence you took to stay the Tumult in the late disorder attempted at Edinburgh wherein as you did your duty in suppressing the Tumult so can we not take in good part nor thinke our self satisfied of so notorious a thing without certain seditious persons who were pleased to do justice perforce and without the Magistrates Authoritie be condignly and really punished for their rashnesse and misbehaviour for if all private Persons should usurpe to take vengeance at their owne hands What lies in ours And to what purpose hath good Laws and Statutes been established Since therefore we have never been obstinate to the due punishment of any offendors prescribed by the Lawes but have alwayes maintained Iustice in that case without respect of persons It is Our will and We command you as you will answer to Us upon your obedience and allegiance That you will take before you certaine of the most responsall persons which are declared Authors of the said Sedition and usurpers of our Authority and to administer Iustice upon them in such sort as We may know a sinceritie on your parts and Our Authority no wayes slighted But if you faile perswade your selves and that shortly we will not oversee it but will account this Contempt not onely to be in the Committers thereof but in your selves who ought to punish it and relieve us on our part remitting the rest to your diligence and execution which we look for so soon as reason will permit Subscribed with Our Hand at STERLIN this 24 of April Anno 1565. BY this manner of writing and high threatning may be perceived how grievously the Queens Majestie would have been offended if the said Tarbot and Masse-monger had been handled according to his demerite being not onely a Papist Idolater but a manifest Whoremaster and a common Fighter and blasphemer neverthelesse within few dayes the Queen charged the Provest and Bailiffs to set him at libertie commanding them further That no man should trouble nor molest him in any sort for whatsoever cause and soon after rewarded him with a Benefice and likewise his Assisters Iohn Low and Iohn Kennedie set at libertie in the same manner At this Easter-Tyde in Sterlin the Queen made her domestick servants use Papisticall Rites and Ceremonies and more she perswaded others by faire means to do the same and threatned those that were most constant at the Earle of Cassels House Upon the second day of May 1565. conveened at Edinburgh the Earle of Murray with his friends in great numbers to keepe the day of Law against the Earle Bothwell who being called appeared not onely the Laird of Rickerton protested That the personall absence of the Earle Bothwell should not be prejudiciall to him by reason that for just fear which might happen in the heart of any man since he had so potent an enemy as the Lord of Murray who next the Queens Majesty was of greatest estimation and Authority of any man within this Realm to whom assisted at this present day of Law seven or eight hundred men which Force he could not resist and therefore had absented himself which Protestation being made those that had been Sureties for his appearance were Outlawed The said Earle Bothwell a few dayes after past into France after he had been in Liddesdale where suspecting almost every man he was not in great assurance of his life notwithstanding he was not put to the Horne for the Queen continually bore a great favour towards him and kept him to be a Souldier as appeared within lesse then half a year for she would not suffer the Lord Morton nor my Lord Ariskin my Lord of Murrayes great friends to keep the day There assisted my Lord of Murray the Earles of Argyle Glencarne and Crawford with great numbers and many Lords and Barons who for the most part conveened the same Afternoon to Treat and Consult for the maintaining of Religion where some Articles were devised and delivered to the Lord of Murray to be presented to the Queens Majestie and privie Councell which Articles were enlarged at the generall assembly following as shall be declared In the meane time as they were informed in Court of this great Assembly of people in Edinburgh they were affraid for naturally the Queen-hated and suspected all such Conventions as were not in her own presence and devised by her self The chief Counsellors in the Court were the Earls of Lenox and Athole The Queen writ incontinent for all the Lords to come to Sterlin so soone as she was advertised that they had Treated in Edinburgh of Religion She Writ likewise for the superintendants and other learned men who went thither and being there they caused to keep the Ports or Gates and make good Watch about the Towne The speciall cause of this Convention was to give to the Lord Darley Title of Honour openly and solemnly with consent of the Nobles before the marriage The fourth day of May the Earle of Murray came to Sterlin where he was well received by the Queens Majestie as appeared and immediately as he past with her to my Lord Darleys Chamber they presented to him a Contract containing in effect That forasmuch as or since the Queen had contracted Marriage with the Lord Darley and that therefore sundry Lords of the Nobilitie had under-written ratified and approved the same and obliged themselves to grant unto him in full Parliament the Crowne Matrimoniall by a new Court Solecisme in Policie the Crowne for the second time is sirnamed Matrimoniall before when
well grounded Knowing besides the grudge of conscience that she should receive upon the change of her owne Religion That she should lose the friendship of the King of France the married Allia of this Realme and of other great Princes her Friends and Confederates who would take the same in evil part and of whom she may look for their great support in all her necessities And having no assured consideration that may countervaile the same she will be loth to put in hazard all her friends at an instant praying all her loving subjects seeing they have had experience of her goodnesse that she hath neither in times past nor yet intends hereafter to presse the conscience of any but that they may worship God in such sort as they are perswaded in their conscience to be best That they will also not presse her conscience As to the establishing of Religion in the Body of the Realme they themselves know as appears by their Articles That the same cannot be done onely by consent of her Majestie but requires necessarily the consent of the States in Parliament and therefore so soon as the Parliament holds those things which the States agree upon amongst themselves her Majestie shall consent unto the same and in the mean time shall make sure That no man be troubled for â—sing Religion according to conscience So that no man shall have cause to doubt That for Religions sake mens Lives and Heritage shall be in any hazard To the second Article it is answered That her Majestie thinks it no wayes reasonable that she should defraud her self of so great a part of the Patrimony of the Crowne as to put the Patronage of Benefices forth of her own hands for her owne necessity in bearing of her Port and common Charges will require the retention thereof and that in a good part in her owne hands Neverthelesse her Majestie is well pleased That consideration being had of her owne necessity And what may be sufficient for the reasonable sustentation of the Ministers a speciall Assignation be made to them in places most commodious and meet With which her Majesty shall not meddle but suffer the same to come to them To the third Article it is answered That her Majestie shall do therein as shall be agreed by the States in Parliament To the fourth Article Her Majesties liberality towards the poore shall alwayes be so far extended as can be reasonably required at her hands To the fifth and sixth Articles Her Majesty will refer the taking order therein unto the States assembled in Parliament As the Queens Majestie came from Saint Iohnston over Forth to the Callender she was conveyed to the Water side of Forth with two hundred Spears For at that time it was bruted That there was some lying in wait at the Path of Dron In the mean time the Earle of Murray was in Locklevin and the Earle of Argyle with him Now in the Callender the Lord Levingston had desired the Queens Majestie to be Witnesse to the Christning of a childe For his Lady was lately delivered and brought to Bed And when the Minister made the Sermon and Exhortation concerning Baptisme the Queens Majestie came in the end and said to the Lord Levingston That she would shew him that favour that she had not done to any other before that is That she would give her presence to the Protestant Sermon which was reckoned a great matter The Queen being in the Callender was informed both by word and Letters by false Brethren That a great part of the Protestants of Edinburgh had lately convened upon Saint Leonards Craigs and there made a Conspiration against her And had chosen for the same purpose certain Captains to governe the rest And without any Tryall or perfect notice taken in the Case she sent to the Provest and Bayliffs of Edinburgh commanding them to take and apprehend Alexander Guthrie Alexander Clerke Gilbert Lawder and Andrew Slater and put them in prison in the Castle This new and unaccustomed fashion of proceeding seemed to be very strange And because the said four persons were not apprehended she sent the next day a Charge to the Provest and Bayliffs and to her owne great Treasurer to passe to the houses of the said foure men and likewise to their Booths or Shops and there to take Inventory of all their Goods and Chattells And commanded the said Treasurer to take the Keyes of the said Houses and Booths together with the said Inventory which was executed in effect especially upon the said Alexander Guthrie his wife he being then common Clerke and one of the greatest in estimation within the Towne his wife and children were shut out of their house and compelled to seek some other lodging in the Town By this manner of proceeding the hearts of all men of spirit and judgement were wonderfully abashed and wounded seeing and perceiving these things so furiously handled upon sinister and wrong Information men never called to their answer nor heard nor any triall taken therein Immediatly thereafter as she came to Edinburgh she called to counsell such as pleased her Majestie and there complains of the said matter alleadging it to be a Conspiracy and manifest Treason And another matter likewise was complained upon That the Earle of Argile as the Queen was surely informed was riding with a great Army to invade the Earle of Athole and his Lands For the first matter it was concluded by the Councell That diligent inquisition should be made in the matter and to that purpose appointed the Queens Advocates M. Iohn Spence of Condie and M. Robert Crichton to examine such as they would and when the said Advocates had called before them and examined a sufficient number and their depositions subscribed and delivered to the Queen there was nothing found worthy of death nor Treason at length the said four persons were summoned to answer at Law For the matter That the Queens Majesty should send to the Earles of Argyle and Athole some of her Councell or familiar servants to take order touching it And when the Secretary the Justice Clarke and Lord of Saint Colme had past to the said Earle of Argyle they found no such thing but in Athole there was great fear come of a sudden fray for after many Proclamations the Fire-Crosse which they made use of in lieu of Beacons was raised in Athole Now as the day of the Parliament approached the Lords pretending to consult before what should be done as well in Religion as for the Commonwealth the fifteenth day of Iuly there conveened at Sterlin the Duke the Earles of Argyle and Murray Rothes and other Lords and Barons and as they were devising and consulting the Queens Majesty taking their meeting in evill part sent her Advocates Master Iohn Spence and Master Crichton to them at Sterlin requiring the cause of their meeting they answered That the speciall occasion of their meeting was for the cause of Religion and the assurance thereof according as they
off their Enterprize till another time and had absolutely done so but God had ordained other wayes as the event did shew if the Queen and Bothwell could have had patience to stay at Dumbar for three or four dayes without any stirre but the Queen and Bothwell having gathered together about four or five thousand men trusting in their Force the Queen being puft up by Flatterers set forth and Marched towards Leith being come forward as farre as Glaidsmure she caused publike Proclamation against the aforesaid Lords calling them a number of Conspirators and that she now discerned their inward malice against her and her husband the Duke of Orkney for so now they called Bothwell After they had endeavoured to apprehend her and her Husband at Brothwick and had made a seditious Proclamation under pretence of seeking the revenge of the King her late husband and to free her from Captivity giving out That the Duke her husband had a minde to invade the Prince her Sonne all which was false for the Duke her Husband had used all means to clear himself both by a Legall way and by the offer of a Combate to any that did accuse him as they knew well enough As touching her captivity she was in none but was in company with her Husband unto whom she was publikely married in the view of the world and many of the Nobles had given their consent unto this her marriage As for the Prince her Sonne it was but a specious pretence to the Treason and Rebellion against her their naturall Soveraign and her Posterity which they intended to overthrow wherefore she declared her self necessitated to take Arms hoping that all her faithfull Subjects would adhere unto her and that those who were already assembled with her would with good hearts and hands stand to her defence and for the recompence of their valour they should have the Lands and goods of these unnaturall Rebels After this Proclamation the Army went on and the Queen that night came to Seaton where she lay About Midnight the Lords of Edinburgh were advertised of the Queens approach presently they took Arms and at the Sun rising they were at Muselburgh where they refreshed themselves with meat and rest The Queens Camp was not yet stirring About Midday the Scouts that the Lords had sent out brought word that the Enemy was Marching towards them presently they put themselves in two Battalia's the first was conducted by the Earle Morton and the Lord Hume the second by the Earls Athole Glencarne the Lords Lindsey Ruthuen Semple and Sancharmar with the Lairds Drumlanrick Tullibardin Cesfoord and Graunge with divers others their number was almost as great as the Queens their men better being many of them expert men that I say nothing of the Cause The Queen had gained a Hill called Carbarry which the Lords by reason of the steepnesse of the ascent could not well come at wherefore they wheeled about to get a more convenient place to go to the Hill where the Enemy was and to have the Sunne behinde them in the time of the sight At the first the Queen seeing their thus going about did imagine they were fleeing away to Dalketh but when she saw them come directly towards her she found her selfe deceived The French Ambassadour seeing them ready to fight strived to take up the businesse and having spoken with the Queen went to the Lords telling them that the Queene was disposed to peace and to forgive and pardon this Insurrection wherefore it was very fit to spare blood to agree in a peaceable way The Earle of Morton in the name of all rest answered That they had taken up Armes not against the Queen but against the murtherer of the King whom if she would deliver to be punished or at least put from her company she should finde a continuation of dutifull obedience by them and all other good subjects otherwise no peace Besides we are not to ask pardon for any offence done by us The Ambassadour seeing their resolution to stand to the right of their Cause withdrew and went to Edinburgh While the French Ambassadour was thus labouring for Accommodation Bothwell came out of the Camp which was in the Trench that the Englishmen had left at their last being in these places as was we have said in the former Books well mounted with a defie to any that would fight with him Iames Murray brother to the Laird of Tullibardin who before had accepted of Bothwells challenge when he made the Rodomontade at Edinburgh immediately after the Kings death but then Iames Murray did not make knowne his name Bothwell refused to fight with Iames Murray alleadging he was not his equall Upon this the Elder Brother William Murrey Laird of Tullibardin answered That he would fight with him as being his Better in Estate and in Antiquitie of House many degrees above him yet Bothwell refused him saying That he was not a Peer of the Kingdome as he was then sundry Lords would have gone to fight with Bothwell but the Lord Lindsey namely who said to the rest of the Lords and Gentlemen That he would take it as a singular favour of them and as a recompence of his service done to the State if they would suffer him to fight with the Braggadocio Bothwell seeing that there was no more subterfuge nor excuse under-hand made the Queen to forbid him After this challenge and answers Bothwells Complices and Followers were very earnest to fight but others that had come only for the Queens sake became little cold saying That Bothwell would do well to fight himself and spare the blood of divers Gentlemen that were there Some counselled to delay the Battell till the Hamiltons came whom they did expect All this the Queen heard with anger and riding up and down burst out in tears and said They were all cowards and traytors that would not fight Immediately after thus vapouring the Queen pereceiving sundry to leave her she advised Bothwell to look unto himself for she said to him She would render her self unto the Noble-men Upon this she sent for Iames Kirkaldie of Grange with whom she kept discourse for a while till that she was assured that Bothwell was out of danger Then she went to the Lords whom she did entertain with many fair words telling them That it was neither fear nor want of hope of victory that made her come unto them but a meer desire to spare shedding of innocent blood Withall she promised to be ruled and advised by them With this she was received with all respect But shortly after declaring that she would go to the Hamiltons with promise to return they restrained her liberty and brought her along with them to Edinburgh at night She was very slow in marching looking to be rescued by the Hamiltons but in vain She lay that night in the Provest his house The next day the Lords sent the Queen to the Castle that is within an Isle of Lochlevin Sir Iames
have done against the children of Reuben Gad and Manasses for their suspected Apostasie and defection from God And the whole Tribes did in very deed execute that sharp judgement against the Tribe of Benjamin for a lesse offence then for Idolatry And the same ought to be one wheresoever Christ Jesus and his Evangell is so received in any Realm Province or Citie that the Magistrates and people have solemnly avowed and promised to defend the same as under King Edward of late dayes was done in England In such places it is not onely lawfull to punish to the death such as labour to subvert the true Religion but the Magistrates and people are bound so to unlesse they will provoke the wrath of God against themselves And therefore I fear not to affirm That it had been the duty of the Nobilitie Judges Rulers and people of England to have resisted and gain-standed Mary their Queen with all the sort of her Idolatrous Priests together with all such as should have assisted her when that she and they openly began to suppresse Christs Evangell to shed the blood of the Saints of God and to erect that most devillish Idolatry the Papisticall abominations and his usurped tyranny which once most justly by common Oath was banished from that Realm But because I cannot at this present discusse this argument as it appertaineth I am compelled to omit it to better opportunity and so returning to your Honours I say That if ye confesse your selves baptized in the Lord Jesus as of necessity ye must confesse That the care of Religion doth appertain to your charge And if ye know that in your hands God hath put the sword for the causes above expressed then can ye not deny but that the punishment of obstinate and malapert Idolaters such as all your Bishops be doth appertain to your Office if after admonition they continue obstinate I am not ignorant what be the vain defences of your proud Prelats they claim first A prerogative and priviledge That they are exempted and that by consent of Councells and Emperouts from all Jurisdiction of the Temporalty And secondly when they are convinced of manifest impiety abuses and enormities as well in their manners as in Religion neither fear nor shame they to affirm That things so long established cannot suddenly be reformed although they be corrupted but with processe of time they promise to take order But in few words I answer That no priviledge granted against the Ordinance and Statutes of God is to be observed although all Councells and men on the earth have appointed the same But against Gods Ordinance it is That Idolaters murtherers false Teachers and Blasphemers shall be exempted from punishment as before is declared and therefore in vain it is that they claim for priviledge when God saith The murtherer shalt thou drive from my Altar that he may die the death And as to the Order and Reformation which they promise that is to be looked or hoped for when Satan whose children and slaves they are can change his nature This answer I doubt not shall suffice the sober and godly reader But yet to the end that they may further see their own confusion and that your Honours may the better understand what ye ought to do in so manifest a corruption and defection from God I ask of them What assurance they have of this their immunity exemption or priviledge Who is the author of it And what fruit it hath produced And first I say That of God they have no assurance neither yet can he be proved to be author of any such priviledge But the contrary is easie to be seen for God in establishing his Orders in Israel did so subject Aaron in his Priesthood being the figure of Christ to Moses that he feared not to call him in judgement and to constrain him to give accounts of his wicked deed in consenting to Idolatry as the History doth plainly witnesse for thus it is written Then Moses took the Calfe which they had made and burned it with fire and did grinde it to powder and scattering it in the water gave it to drink to the children of Israel declaring thereby the vanity of their Idol and the abomination of the same And thereafter Moses said to Aaron What hath this people done to thee that thou shouldest bring upon it so a great sin Thus I say doth Moses call Aaron and accuse him of the destruction of the whole people and yet he perfectly understood that God had appointed him to be the high Priest That he should bear upon his shoulders and upon his brest the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel for whom he was appointed to make sacrifice prayers and supplications He knew his dignitie was so great that onely he might enter within the most holy place but neither could his Office nor dignitie exempt him from judgement when he had offended If any object Aaron at that time was not anointed and therefore was he subject to Moses I have answered That Moses being taught by the mouth of God did perfectly understand to what dignitie Aaron was appointed and yet he feared not to call him in judgement and to compell him to make answer for his wicked fact But if this answer doth not suffice yet shall the Holy Ghost witnesse further in the matter Salomon removed from honour Abiathar being the High Priest and commanded him to cease from all function and to live as a private man Now if the Unction did exempt the Priest from Jurisdiction of the Civill Magistrate Solomon did offend and injured Abiathar for he was Anointed and had carried the Arke before David But God doth not reprove the fact of Solomon neither yet doth Abiathar claime any prerogative by the reason of his Office but rather doth the Holy Ghost approve the fact of Solomon saying Solomon ejected forth Abiathar that he should not be the Priest of the Lord that the word of the Lord might be performed which he spake upon the house of Eli. And Abiathar did thinke that hee obtained great favour in that hee did escape the present death which by his Conspiracie he had deserved If any yet reason That Abiathar was no otherwise subject to the judgement of the King but as he was appointed to be the executor of that sentence which GOD before had pronounced as I will not greatly denie that reason so require I that every man consider That the same God who pronounced sentence against Eli and his house hath pronounced also That Idolaters Whore-mongers Murtherers and Blasphemers shall neither have portion in the Kingdom of God neither ought to be permitted to bear any Rule in his Church and Congregation Now if the Unction and Office saved not Abiathar because that Gods sentence must needs be performed Can any priviledge granted by man be a Buckler to malefactors that they shall not be subject to the punishments pronounced by God I think no man
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
of your Bishops is more then manifest their filthy lives infect the ayr the innocent blood which they shed cryeth vengeance in the ears of our God the idolatry and abomination which openly they commit and without punishment maintain doth corrupt and defile the whole Land and none amongst you do unfainedly study for any redresse of such enormities Will God in this behalf hold you as innocents Be not deceived dear brethren God hath punished not onely the proud tyrants filthy persons and cruell murtherers but also such as with them did draw the yoke of iniquity was it by flattering their offences obeying their unjust commandments or in winking at their manifest iniquity All such I say God once punished with the chief offenders Be ye assured brethren that as he is immutable of nature so will he not pardon you in that which he hath punished in others and now the lesse because he hath plainly admonished you of the dangers to come and hath offered you his mercy before he pour forth his wrath and displeasure upon the inobedient God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who is the father of glory and God of all consolation give you the spirit of wisedom and open unto you the knowledge of himself by the means of his dear Son by the which ye may attain to the esperance and hope That after the troubles of this transitory life ye may be partakers of the glorious Inheritance which is prepared for such as refuse themselves and fight under the Banner of Christ Iesus in the day of this his Battell That in deep consideration of the same ye may learn to prefer the invisible and eternall joyes to the vain pleasures that are present God further grant you his holy Spirit righteously to consider what I in his Name have required of your Nobility and of the subjects and move all together so to answer that my Petition be not a testimony of your just condemnation when the Lord Iesus shall appear to revenge the blood of his Saints and the contempt of his most holy Word Amen Sleep not in sin for vengeance is prepared against the inobedient Fly from Babylon if ye will not be partakers of her plagues Grace be with you Your Brother to command in godlinesse JOHN KNOX Be witnesse to my Appellation The 4. of Iuly 1558. A faithfull ADMONITION made by IOHN KNOX To the true Professors of the Gospel of CHRIST within the Kingdom of England 1554. John Knox wisheth Grace Mercy and Peace from GOD the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ with the perpetuall Comfort of the Holy Ghost to be with you for ever and ever dear Brethren the afflicted Members of Christs Church in England HAving no lesse desire to comfort such as now be in trouble within the Realm of England and specially you for many causes most dear to me then hath the naturall Father to ease the griefe and pain of his dearest Childe I have considered with my selfe what argument or parcell of Gods Scriptures was most convenient and meet to be handled for your consolation in these most dark and dolorous dayes And so as for the same purpose I was turning my Book I chanced to see a Note in the Margine written thus in Latine Videas Anglia Let England beware which Note when I had considered I found that the matter written in my Booke in Latine was this Seldome it is that God worketh any notable work to the comfort of his Church but that trouble fear and labour cometh upon such as God hath used for his Servants and Workmen and also tribulation most commonly followeth that Church were Christ Iesus is most truely preached This Note was made upon a place of Scripture written in the fourteenth Chapter of Saint Matthews Gospell which place declareth That after Christ Jesus had used the Apostles as Ministers and Servants to feed as it had been by their hands five thousand men beside women and children with five Barley Loaves and two Fishes he sent them to the Sea commanding them to passe over before him to the other side Which thing as they attempted to obey and for the same purpose did travell and row forth in the Sea the night approached the wind was contrary the vehement and raging storme arose and was like to overthrow their poor Boat and them When I considered as dolour and my simplicity would suffer the circumstances of the Text I began to reckon and ask account of my self and as God knoweth not without sorrow and sobs whether at any time I had been so plain by my tongue as God had opened his holy Will and Wisdom in that matter unto me as mine own Pen and Note beare witnesse to my conscience And shortly it came to my minde that the same place of Scripture I had handled in your presences when God gave opportunity and time for you to heare Gods Messenger speak the words of eternall life Wherefore I thought nothing more expedient then shortly to call to minde againe such things as then I trust were touched albeit peradventure neither of me so plainly uttered neither of you so plainly perceived as these most dolorous dayes declare the same to us It shall not bee necessary to handle the Text word by word but of the whole summe to gather certain Notes and Observations which shall not farre disagree from the state of these dayes it shall be sufficient And first it is to be observed That after this great miracle that Christ had wrought he neither would retain with himself the multitude of people whom he had fed neither yet his disciples but the one he sent away every man to return to his place of accustomed residence and the others he sent to the danger of the Seas not as he that was ignorant what should chance unto them but knowing and foreseeing the Tempest yea and appointing the same so to trouble them It is not to be judged That the onely and true Pastour would remove and send away from him the wandering and weak sheep neither yet that the onely provident Governour and Guide would set out his rude Warriours to so great a jeopardie without sufficient and most just cause Why Christ removed and sent away from him the people the Evangelist Saint Iohn declareth saying When Iesus knew that they were come to take him that they might make him King he passed secretly or alone to the Mountain Whereof it is plain what chiefly moved Christ to send away the people from him because that by him they sought a carnall and worldly libertie regarding nothing his Heavenly Doctrine of the Kingdom of God his Father which before he had taught and declared unto them plainly shewing them That such as would follow him must suffer for his Names sake persecution must be hated of all men must deny themselves must be sent forth as sheep among Wolves But no part of this doctrine pleased them or could enter into their
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
took vengeance upon the disobedient But now briefly by Notes we will touch the rest of Peters act and Christs mercifull deliverance of him which is the end of all troubles sustained by Gods Elect. And first That Peter seeing a mighty winde was afraid and so when he began to sink he cryed Lord save me are three things principally to be noted The first From whence cometh the fear of Gods Elect. The second What is the cause that they faint and fall in adversity The third What resteth with them in the time of this fear and down-sinking And first it is plain That so long as Peter had his eyes fixed upon Christ and attended upon no other thing but the voyce of Christ he was bold and without fear But when he saw a mighty winde not that the winde was visible but the vehement storm and waves of the Sea that were stirred up and carried by the winde were seen then began he to fear and to reason no doubt in his heart that better it had been for him to have remained in his Ship for so might Christ have come to him But now the storm and rage of winde was so vehement that he could never come to Christ and so he greatly feared Whereof it is plain That the onely cause of our fear that have left our Ship and thorow the storms of the Sea would go to Christ with Peter is That we more consider the dangers and letts that are in our journey then we do the Almighty power of him that hath commanded us to come to himself And this is a sinne common to all the elect and chosen children of God That whensoever they see a vehement trouble appearing to lett them and drive them back from the obedience of God then begin they to fear and to doubt of Gods power and good will With this fear was Abraham stricken when he denied his wife This storme saw Moses when he refused to be Gods Messenger And Hezekiahs sore complaint declareth That more he believed considered and looked upon the proud voyces and great power of Sennacherib then he did the promises of the Prophet This I note for this purpose That albeit this late and most raging storm within the Realme of England have taken from you the presence of Christ for a time so that you have doubted whether it was Christ which you saw before or not And albeit that the vehemency of this contrary winde that would drive you from Christ have so employed your ears that almost you have forgotten what he was who commanded you to come to himself when that he cryed Come unto me all ye that labour and are burthened and I shall refresh you Passe from Babylon O my people c. Albeit I say that this raging tempest have stricken such fear in your heart that almost all is forgotten yet dear brethren despair not such offences have chanced to Gods Elect before you If obstinately ye shall not continue yet shall you finde mercy and grace It had been your duty indeed and agreeable to your profession to have looked to Christ alone and to have contemned all impediments but such perfection is not alway with man but happy is he that feeleth himself to sink The cause that Godt elect begin to faint and to sink down in the time of great adversitie is fear and unbelief as in Peter doth appear for so long as he neither feared danger neither mistrusted Christs word so long as the waves above and contrary to their nature did obey and serve his feet as they had been the drie solid and sure ground But so soon as he began to despair and fear so soon began he to sink To instruct us That lively faith maketh man bold and is able to carry us thorow such perils as be uncapable to nature But when faith beginneth to faint then beginneth man to sink down in every danger as in the Histories before rehearsed it may appear and in the Prophets it is plain for Elias at Gods Commandment passing to the presence of King Ahab in the fervency of his faith obtained the fire to come from heaven and to consume his Sacrifice by which also he was made so bold that in the presence of the King he feared nothing to kill his false Prophets But the same Elias hearing of the managing and threatnings of cursed Iezabel and considering that the wrath of a wicked woman could by no reasonable means be appeased he saw a storme and feared the same and so he prepared to flie which he doth not without some sinking down for he began to reason and dispute with God which never can be done by the Creature without foolishnesse and offence The same we finde in Ieremy and many more But the Question may be asked Seeing Christ knew before what should happen to Peter why did he not hinder him from coming from his Boat or else Why did he not so confirm him in faith that he should not have doubted To the which may be answered Albeit that we could render no reason of this work of Christ yet were the work it self a sufficient reason and it were enough to answer That so it pleased him who is not bound to render a reason of all his works But yet if we shall marke with deligence to what Office Peter was to be called and what offences long rested with him we shall finde most just and necessary causes of this work of Christ and down sinking of Peter It is plain that Peter had many notable vertues as a zeal and fervency towards Christs glory and a readinesse and forwardnesse to obey his commandments but it is like plain That of long continuance there rested with Peter a desire of honor and worldly rest and that moved him to perswade Christ that he should not die There rested with him pride presumption and a trust in himself which presumption and vain trust in his own strength unlesse it had been corrected he had never been fit to have fed Christs flock And such sinnes can never be fully corrected or reformed till they be felt known and confessed Doubtlesse so arrogant is our nature that neither will it know nor confesse the infirmitie of it self untill such time as it hath a triall by manifest experience This is most plain by Peter long after this tempest for when Christ said to his Disciples This night shall ye all be slandered in me Peter boldly bragged and said Albeit that all should be slandered and should flie from thee yet shall not I be slandered but I am ready to go to prison and to die with thee This was a bold presumption and an arrogant promise spoken in contempt of all his Brethren from which he could not be reduced by Christs admonition but the more that Christ shewed him that he should deny him the more bold was he to affirm the contrary as though his Master Christ
tongue and my Cause to be heard before your Majestie and the Body of the Realm before that any such Processe was laid against me as this my Letter directed to your Majesty doth testifie The beginning of the Letter THE Eternall Providence of the same God who hath appointed his chosen Children to fight in this transistory and wretched life a battell strong and difficile hath also appointed their finall victory by a marvellous fashion and the manner of their preservation in their battell more marvellous their victory standeth not in resisting but in suffering as our Soveraign Master pronounceth to his Disciples that in patience they should possesse their soules And the same foresaw the Prophet Esay when that he painteth forth all other battell to be with violence tumult and blood-shedding but the victory of Gods people to be in quietnesse silence and hope meaning that all others that obtain victorie do enforce themselves to resist their adversaries to shed bloood and to murther But so do not the Elect of God but all things they sustain at the commandment of him who hath appointed them to suffer being most assuredly perswaded that then onely they triumph when all wen judge them oppressed For in the Crosse of Christ alwayes is included a secret and hid victory never well known till the sufferer appear all together to be as it were exterminate for then onely did the blood of Abel crie to God when proud Cain judged all memory of his brother to have been extinguished and so I say their victory is marvellous and how that they can be preserved and not brought to utter confusion the eye of man perceiveth not But he whose power is infinite by secret and hid motions toucheth the hearts of such as to mans judgment hath power to destroy them with very pietie and compassion to save his people as in times past he did the hearts of the Egyptian Midwives to preserve the men-children of the Israelites when command was given of Pharoah for their destruction The heart of Pharaohs daughter likewise to pitty Moses in his young infancy exposed to the danger of the waters The heart of Nabuchadnezzar to preserve the Captives alive and liberally to nourish the Children that were found apt to Letters And finally The heart of Cyrus to set at liberty the people of God after long bondage and thraldome And thus doth the invisible power and love of God manifest it self towards his Elect from time to time for two causes specially First to comfort his weake warriers in their manifold temptations letting them understand That he is able to compell such as sometimes were enemies to his people to fight their Cause and to promote their deliverance And secondarily to give a testimony of his favour to them that by all appearance did lâ—ve before as Saint Paul speaketh wanting God in the world as strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel and without the league of his mercifull promise and free grace mâ—de to his Church For who would have affirmed That any of these persons aforenamed had been of that nature and clemency before occasions were offered unto them But the works of mercie shewed to the afflicted have left to as assurance That God used them as vessels of his honour For pitie and mercie shewed to Christs afflicted flock as they never lacked reward temporall so if they be continued and be not changed into crueltie are assured signes and seales of everlasting mercy to be received from God who by his Holy Spirit moveth their heats to shew mercy to the people of God oppressed and afflicted Addition THis Preface I used to give your Majestie occasion more deeply to consider what hath been the condition of Christs Members from the beginning that in so doing ye might see That it is no new thing that the Saints of God be oppressed in the word that ye moved by earnest contemplation of the same might also study rather to save them from murder although by the wicked councels of many ye were provoked to the contrary then to engage your self to the corrupt Clergie who are servants to sinne and Sathan whose fury is bent against God and his verity But this after followeth in our Let-which thus proceedeth Letter YOur Majestie perchance doth wonder to what purpose these things be recited and I in very deed cannot wonder enough that occasion is offered to me a worme most wretched to recite the same at this present for I have looked rather for the sentence of death then to have written to your Majestie in these last and most wicked dayes in which Sathan so blindeth the hearts of many that innocents are condemned their Cause never tried Addition HEreof ye cannot be ignorant For besides these whom ye hear from time to time most cruelly to be murthered in France Italy Spaine Flanders and now of late yeers besides you in England for no other cause but that they professe Christ Jesus to be the onely Saviour of the world The onely Mediator betwixt God and man The onely Sacrifice acceptable for the sins of all faithfull and finally The onely Head to his Church Besides these I say of whom ye hear the brute ye have been witnesse That some within the Realm of Scotland for the same cause most cruelly have been murthered whose cause was never heard with indifferency But murtherers sitting in the Seat of Justice have shed the blood of Christs true Witnesses which albeit did then appear to be consumed away with fire yet it is resent in the presence of him for whose cause they did suffer and ceaseth not to call for vengeance with the blood of Abel to fall upon not onely such as were immediate and next authors of that murther but also upon all those that maintain those tyrants in their tyranny or that do consent to their beastly cruelty or that do not stop having the power in hand Take not this as the affirmation of any man but hear and consider the voice of the Son of God Fulfill saith he the measure of your fathers that all the blood which hath been shed since the blood of Abel the just till the blood of Zachariah c. may come upon this generation Hereby it is evident That the murtherers of our time as well as in the time of Christ are guilty of all the blood that hath been shed from the beginning Fearfull I grant is the sentence yet it is most equall and just For whosoever sheddeth the blood of any one of Christ Jesus his members for professing of his Truth consenteth to all the murther which hath been made since the beginning for that cause So that as there is one communion of all Gods Elect of whom every member is participant of the holy Justice of Christ so is there a communion among the reprobate by which every one of the Serpents seed are criminall and guilty of all iniquity which the whole Body committeth because
all things love and reverence When further I consider the troublesome state of Christs true Religion this day oppressed by blindnesse of men and lastly The great multitude of flatterers and the rare number of them that boldly and plainly dare speak the naked verity in presence of their Princesse and principally in the cause of Christ Iesus These things I say considered whatsoever any man shall judge of my enterprise I am compelled to say That Unlesse in your Regiment and in using of Power your Majesty be found different from the multitude of Princes and head Rulers That this pre-eminence wherein ye are placed shall be your dejection to torment and pain everlasting This proposition is sore but alas it is so true That if I should conceal and hide it from your Majesty I committed no lesse treason against your Majestie then if I did see you by imprudency take a Cup which I knew to be poysoned or invenomed and yet would not admonish you to abstain from drinking of the same The Religion which this day men defend by fire and sword is a Cup invenomed of which whosoever drinketh except that by true repentance he after drink of the water of life drinketh therewith damnation and death How and by whom it hath been invenomed if it were no more tedious to your Majestie to read or hear then it is painfull to me to write or rehearse I would not spare the labour But for this present I have thought it some discharge of one part of my duty if I of very love admonish your Majesty of the danger which I do as God one day shall declare preferring your Majesties salvation and the salvation of the People now committed to your charge before any corporall benefit that can redound to my self Addition AS Satan by craft hath corrupted the most holy Ordinances of Gods precepts I mean of the first Table in the place of the spirituall honouring of God introducing mens dreams inventions and fantasies So hath he abusing the weaknesse of man corrupted the precepts of the second Table Touching the honour which is due to Parents under whom are comprehended Princes and Teachers For now the devill hath so blinded the senses of many that they cannot or at least will not learn what appertaineth to God and what to Caesar. But because the spirit of God hath said Honour the King therefore whatsoever they command be it right or wrong must be obeyed But heavy shall the judgement be which shall apprehend such blasphemers of Gods Majesty who dare be so bold as to affirm That God hath commanded any creature to be obeyed against himself Against God it is That for the commandment of any Prince be he never so potent men shall commit Idolatry embrace a Religion which God hath not approved by his Word or confirm by their silence wicked and blasphemous Laws made against the honour of his Majestie Men I say that so do give no true obedience but as they are Apostates from God so are they Traytors to their Princes whom by flattery they confirm in rebelling against God onely they which to the death resist such wicked laws and decrees are acceptable to God and faithfull to their Princes As were the three children in the presence of Nabuchadnezzar and Daniel in the dayes of Darius the Persian Emperour whose constant and free confession as it glorified God so did it notifie as well to those tyrants as to all ages following the great blasphemy which in their rage and fury they committed against God from the which by all appearance neither of both so suddenly should have been called if the three children had bowed among the rest and Daniel had not declared the confession of his faith Which was with Windows open to pray towards Ierusalem manifestly thereby declaring That he did not consent to the blasphemous law and decree which was established by the King and his Counsell Experience hath taught us what surmises and blasphemies the adversaries of Christ Jesus of his eternall verity do invent and devise against such as begin to detect their impiety They are accused to be Authors of sedition raisers of tumults violators of common orders c. I answer with the Prophet Esay That all is not reputed before God sedition and conjuration which the foolish multitude so esteemeth neither yet is every tumult and breach of publike order contrary to Gods commandment for Christ Jesus himself coming to take the spoil from the strong armed who before did keepe his house in quietnesse is not come to send Peace but a Sword and to make a man disassent from his Father c. His Prophets before him and Apostles after him feared not to break publike Orders established against God and in so doing to move as it were the one half of peoples nations and cities against the other and yet I trust that none except the hired servant of Sathan will accuse Christ of sedition nor the Apostles of the troubling of Common wealths True it is that the most wholesome Medicine most troubleth for a time the body replenished with wicked and corrupted humours but the cause hereof is known to be not in the Medicine but in the Bodie subject to Maladie even so the true Word of God when it entreth to fight where Sathan hath born dominion as he still doth in the whole Papistrie cannot but appear to be occasion of great trouble But Madame more profitable it is that the pestilent humours be expelled with pain then that they be nourished to the distruction of the body The Papisticall Religion is a mortall pestilence which shall assuredly bring to death eternall the bodies and souls from the which it is not purged in this life and therefore take heed betimes God calleth upon you beware that ye shut not up your ears Judge not the matter after the vilenesse of my body whom God hath appointed Ambassadour and Messenger unto you but with reverence and fear consider him whose Message I bear I come to you in the name of the Eternall God and of Christ Jesus his Son to whom the Father hath committed all power whom he hath established Soveraign Judge over all flesh before whose Throne you must make accompt with what reverence you hear such as he sendeth It shall not excuse you to say or think That you doubt whether I be sent of God or no I crie unto you That the Religion which the Princes and blinded Papists maintain with fire and sword is not the Religion of Christ That your proud Prelates are none of Christs Bishops I admonish you That Christs Flock is oppressed by them and therefore I require and that yet again in the name of the Lord Jesus That with indifferency I may be heard to preach to reason and to dispute in that Cause which if you deny you declare your self to bear no reverence to Christ nor love to his true Religion Letter BUt
to think that our God beareth lesse love to his Church this day then that he hath done from the beginning For as our God in his own nature is immutable so remaineth his love towards his elect alwayes unchangeable For as in CHRIST JESUS he hath chosen his Church before the beginning of all ages so by him will he maintain and preserve the same unto the end Yea he will quiet the storms and cause the earth to open her mouth and receive those raging flouds of violent waters cast out by the Dragon to drown and carry away the woman which is the spouse of Jesus Christ unto whom God for his own Names â—ake will be the perpetuall Protector This saw that notable servant of Jesus Christ Athanasius who being exiled from Alexandria by that blasphemous Apostata Iulian the Emperour said unto his flock who bitterly wept for his envious banishment Weep not but be of good comfort said he For this little cloud will suddainly vanish A little cloud he called both the Emperour himself and his cruell tyranny And albeit That small appearance there was of any deliverance to the Church of God or yet of any punishment to have apprehended the proud tyrants when the man of God pronounced these words Yet shortly after God did give witnesse That those words did not proceed from flesh nor blood but from Gods very spirit For not long after being in warfare he received a deadly wound whether by his own hand or by one of his own souldiers the Writers cleerly conclude not But casting his own blood against the Heaven he said Vicisti tandem Galilee That is At last thou hast overcome thou Galilean So in despite he termed the Lord Jesus and so perished that tyrant in his own iniquity The storm ceased and the Church of God received now comfort Such shall be the end of all cruell persecuters Their raign shall be short their end miserable and their name shall be left in execrations to Gods people and yet shall the Church of God remain to Gods glory after all storms But now shortly let us come to the last point For behold saith the Prophet the Lord will come out of his place to visit the iniquitie of the Inhabitants of the earth upon them and the earth shall disclose her blood and shall no more hide her slain because that the finall end of the troubles of Gods Chosen shall not be before that the Lord Iesus shall return to restore all things to their full perfection The Prophet bringeth forth the Etenall God as it were from his owne place and habitation and therewith sheweth the cause of his coming to bee That hee might take account of all such as have wrought wickedly for that he meaneth where he saith Hee will visit the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth upon them And lest that any should thinke That the wrong doers are so many that they cannot bee called to an account he giveth unto the earth as it were an Office and charge to beare witnesse against all those that have wrought wickedly and chiefly against those that have shed innocent blood from the beginning and saith That the earth shall disclose her blood and shall no more hide her slain men If Tyrants of the earth and such as delight in the shedding of blood should be perswaded that this sentence is true they would not so furiously come to their own destruction for what man can be so enraged that he would willingly do even before the eyes of God that which might provoke his Majestie to anger yea provoke him to become his enemy for ever if that he understood how fearfull a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God The cause then of this blinde fury of the world is the ignorance of God and that men think that God is but an Idoll and that there is no knowledge above that beholdeth their Tyranny neither yet Justice that will nor power that can represse their impiety but yet the Spirit of truth doth witnesse the contrary affirming That as the eyes of the Lord are upon the just and as his ears are ready to receive their sobbing and prayers so is his angry visage against such as work iniquitie he hateth and holdeth in abomination every deceitfull and blood-thirsty man whereof he hath given sufficient document from age to age in preserving the one or at least in revenging of their cause and in punishing of the other Where it is said That the Lord will come from his place and that he will visit the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth upon them and that the earth shall disclose her blood we have to consider what most commonly hath been and what shall be the condition of the Church of God to wit That it is not onely hated mocked and despised but that it is exposed as it were in a prey unto the fury of the wicked so that the blood of the Children of God is spilt like unto water upon the face of the earth The understanding whereof albeit it be unpleasant to the flesh yet to us it is most profitable lest that we seeing the cruell entreatings of Gods servants begin to forsake the Spouse of Jesus Christ because that she is not so dealt withall in this unthankfull world as the just and upright dealing of Gods Children do deserve But contrariwise for mercy they receive crueltie for doing good to many of all the reprobate they receive evill And this is decreed in Gods eternall Councell that the members may follow the trace of the head to the end that God in his just judgement should finally condemne the wicked for how should he punish the inhabitants of the earth if their iniquitie deserved it not How should the earth disclose our blood if it should not bee unjustly spilt Wee must then commit our selves into the hands of our God and lay downe our neckes yea and patiently suffer our blood to bee shed that the righteous Judge may require account as most assuredly hee shall of all the blood that hath been shed from the blood of Abel the just till the day that the earth shall disclose the same I say every one that sheddeth or consenteth to shed the blood of Gods Children shall be guilty of the whole So that all the blood of Gods children shall crie vengeance not onely in generall but also in particular upon every one that hath shed the blood of any that unjustly suffered And if any thinke it strange that such as live this day can be guilty of the blood that was shed in the dayes of the Apostles let them consider that the verity it selfe pronounced That all the blood that was shed from the dayes of Abel unto the dayes of Zacharie should come upon that unthankfull generation that heard his Doctrine and refused it The reason is evident for as there is two heads and captains that rule over the whole world to wit Jesus Christ the Prince of
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
brake the ward or prison Note another wavering of the Hamiltons A new Covenant 1562. Note So was the Duke the Earls of Argyle Murray and Glencarne with all their Company after ter served The day of Correthie field Octob. 22. 1562 The Earle of Huntlies prayer Note Corriethieburne or Farabank Secretary Lethingtons Oration The Lady Forbesse her words Let others that yet live mark this Mens judgement of the Queens Marriage Note this The Preachers railed upon the Courtiers The Preachers Admonition after the Earle of Huntlies death Meaning of Huntley The end declared their words to be true The defence of the Courtiers The Queens practise The tryall of Pauls Meffanes fact Chattelet and the Queen The Queens desire concerning Chattelet The punishment of God for maintaining and erecting of the Masse death and famine Iohn Knox sent for by the Queen Reasoning between I. Knox and the Queen Note diligently The Queens judgement of the Bishop of Cathaes The Lady Argile was naturall Sister to the Queen as the Earle Murray was naturall Brother The Clergie did pretend to be free from all Jurisdiction save the Popes The judgment of some Huntley forfeited The pride of Women at that Parliament Note diligently And so was Religion and the Common-wealth both neglected Occasion painted with a bald Hind-head Variance betwixt the Earle of Murray and Iohn Knox. Iohn Knox discharge to the Earl of Murray God knowes if our times be better The Speaker was the Dean of Restaruk Iohn Knox his affirmation Let this serve for our times Let the Papists judge this day 1567. Note Women Lethingtons practice Note diligently The last commendation of Lord Iohn to the Queen M. Rob. Font stricken in the head with a weapon by Cap. Lawder Bond to a mutuall defence in the cause of Religion Note Pastors The Master of Maxwells discharge to Iohn Knox and their reasoning together Before they disdained not to come to his own house Iohn Knox his answer Note a wise Reply This was the first time the Earle Murray spake with Iohn Knox after the Parliament Iohn Knox called before the Queen and Counsell in Decemb. 156â— Note this diligently Note As the Irish Papists have done to Protestants in Ireland Let this be noted for this day Let the world judge what ensued Note Pastors Note diligently Note the craft of the Court. Note I. Knox falsly reported of his answer Remark false brethren Murther and Whoredome in the Court. Maries Regiment Great Wet and Frost in Ian. 1563. The Sea stood still neither ebbed â—or flowed for 24 houres Cucullus Note how this agrees with our time Lethingtons counteâ—â—nce at the threatnings of the preacher Let the world judge whether this hath come to passe or not what hath fallen since that time Lethington his Harangue at the Assembly Anno 1564. Iohn Knox his answer Note diligently â—nd see how the Bishops did forbid to pray for the conversion of the Queen that now is in Britain M. Maxwells words in the Assembly Iohn Knox his prayer for the Queen Note 2 Tim. 2. Note Note Let this be noâ—ed diligently Psal. 82. Note this 1 Sam. 22. Note this Discourse diligently God craves of us That we should oppose our selves to iniquity Let this be noted for our times Whether this hath come to passe or not let the world judge Note this diligently Noâ—â— â— Paral 25. When the Prince does serve God sincerely in private and publike and hath a care that the people do the same then assuredly they are faithfull to him but if he faile in these or in either of them he findes disobedience in his people beâ—ause he is not carefull to obey God and to see him obeyed Deut. 13. 2 Paral. 26. Let this be applyed to the late affairs of Scotland 2 Paral. 26. Note M. Iohn Dowglâ—s Rector his Vote Master Iohn Craig his Vote Note dilâ—gently Note deligently There be two Epigrams extant written by George Buchanan of a rich Diamond sent from Qu. Mary to Queen Elizabeth At this time an Italian named Davie entred in great familiarity with the Queen so that there was nothing done without him The Earl of Murray seeing the other Nobles consent gave his which before he refused The Dispensation being come from Rome for the Marriage Before which according to the Romish Law it was unlawful to marry being Cousin Germans brother and sisters children and so the degree of Consanguinity forbidden Note this for our time The King to make himself more popular and to take from the Lords of the Congregation the preteâ—t of Religion he went to the Kirk to hear Iohn Knox preach In answering he said more then he had preached for he added That as the King had to pleasure the Queen gone to Masse and dishonoured the Lord God so should God in his justice make her an Instrument of his ruine and so it fell out in a very short time but the Queen being incensed with these words fell out in Tears and to please her Iohn Knox must abstain from preaching for a time Note how this agrees with our times Let this be conferred with our times Note diligenly So was the Citie of London for warre against Scotland vexed for the leavie of mony Note diligently Note diligently Qâ— Elizabeth Here mark either deep dissimulation or a great inconstancy At the end of this Book you shall finde this See in what sense proud ambitious men takes the name of Bishop As is said before This inconstant yongman sometimes declared himself for the Protestant witnesse his last Band And now for the Papist And as he left God so he was left by him The Queen intending vengeance upon the poor King and being in love with the Earle Bothwell grants to the Protestants their Petitions that they may be quiet and not trouble her Plots As she had lately gratified the Protestants by granting their Petition so at this time she yeelds unto the Papists their demands also that she might be stopped by neither of them in her designe of vengeance and new love Note Note how God changeth things in a moment Heb. 10. 1 Cor. 3. Mat. 25. John 3. Rom 58. 2 Cor. 5. Rom. 6. Ephes. 4.5 Ephes. 2. Matth. 10. Vain Religion or Idolatry A Sentence pronounced Appellation from the same The request of Iohn Knox. The Petition of Protestants Deut. 17. The Pâ—tition of Iohn Knox. Note well Answer 1. To Objections Note The Appellation is just and lawfull Gods Messengers may appeal from unjust sentences and Civill powers are bound to admit them Jer. 26. Advert The Princes did absolve the Prophet whom the Priests had condemned Deut. 17. The meaning of these words I am in your hands c. Deut 17. Jerem 1. Deut 1 10. The causes of his Appellation and why he ought to have been defended Jerem. 38. Just cause of Appellation Act. 22 23 24 25. Act. 25. Why Paul would admit none of the Leuiticall order to judge in his cause Upon what reasons the Appellation of Paul was grounded
abomiâ—ations were revolted then was the Boat in the midst of the Sea Two speciall Notes of this discourse The first Note Who ruled all by wit under K. Edward 6 John 13. Psalm 40. Godly Princes commonly have most uugodly Counsellors Note well 2 Reg. 17. Esa. 22. Matth. 26. John 12. Quest. Answ. The enemies of the verity many times appear to be most profitable for a Common-Wealth Mischief at the length will so utter it self that men may espie it Esa. 22.36 Esa. 22. If David and Hezekiah were deceived by traiterous Councellors how much more a young and innocent King The Author might fear this indeed Paulet is painted The Treasurers words against the authority of Mary Caiaphas prophesied Judge at the end The second Note Tyrants cannot cease to persecute Christs Members Gen. 21. Gen. 28. Exod. 5 6 7 8 c. John 5. 12. The power of Gods Word put the Papists to silence in England except it had been to brag in corners Princes are ready to persecute as malicious Papists will command Job 12. 2 Cor. 4. Ephes. 2. 1 Reg 16 18. John 13. John 8. Wily Winchester Dâ—eaming Duresme Bloody Bonner This is the cruse before omitted why the winde blew to trouble Christs disciples The prayer of the author Exhortation Isai. 48 51.54 62. The coming of Christ to his dâ—sâ—iplâ—s upon the Sâ—â—s is opâ—ned Christ is sute upon the mountain God never brought his people into trouble to the intent that they should perish therein Mark these words Christ came not to his disciples till the fourth watch The causes why Christs disciples misknew him What chanced to Christ that also in all ages chanceth to his holy Word The fear is greatest when deliverance is â—ost nâ—gh Exod. 5 6 c. 5 Reg. 7. Isai. 36 37. Note Why God suffereth tribulation to abound and continue Exod. 14. Note Exod. 10â— Iezabel Athalia and Iudas Gardâ—â—r Tunstal Bucherly Bonâ—r The praise of Winchester Durysme and oâ—â—dy Mary before these dayes 4. Reg. 11. Matth. 14. 3. Reg. 18 3. Reg. 18. A digression to the Papists of Qu. Maries chaste dealing A lively Picture of Mary the utter mischief of England What commodities the Spanish King shall bring to the Realm of England A true saying Under an English name she bâ—areth a Spanyards heart Spanyards sons of pride and superstition Why Winchester would have Spanyards to reigne over England To Winchester The Book of true obedience both in Latine and in English shall remain to thy perpetuall shame and condemnation of thy cankered Conscience The wicked must declare their selves Apocalip 13. Note Abraham Gen. 15. Isaac Gen. 16. Iacob Gen. 23 31.32.35 Moses Exod 5. Rom. 1. Psal. 119. The power and effâ—ctuall operation of Gods Word Exod. 4 Reg 9. Luke 24 Simile Math. John 〈◊〉 Note that Peter considâ—red not his own weaknesse The sherp at length know the voyce of their own Pastor The Elect. The Reprâ—bate 1 Reg 28. Saul 2 Reg. 18. Ahaz Isai. 7. God sometime sheweth mercy to an hypocrit for the cause of his Church Jerem. 37 38. Jerem. 42. Reade the Text Jer 42. Jerem. 43. Great blindnes Jer. 44. As Papists would have League with the Emperor What was said in Hammeâ—sham when uproar was for establishing of Mary in authority A Common-wealth compared to a Ship sayling on the Sea The end shall declare Enemies to the Truth receive no comfort of Gods Messengers The godly and chosen of God Gen. 12. Gen. 15. Gen. 22. Exod. 5.7.10 1 Reg. 16. 3 Reg 21. Object Answer Exod. 32. Gods Word sometimes moveth great multitudes Why Moses caused the Israelites do drink the powder of the golden calf Exod. 32. A sharp sentence against Idolaters Gen. 34. Gen. 49. Jerem. 21.38 Jerem. 21. Jerem. 38 Jerem. 38. Jon. 3. Act. 2. Jerem. 32. The cause of fear Gen. 12. Exod. 34. Isa. 36 37. Matth. 11. Apoc. 18. Note Lively faith maketh a man bold 3. Reg. 18. 3. Reg. 19. The creature can never dispute wâ—th God without sin Quest. Answ. Gods works by them self are a sufficient reason Peters vertue The vice that long rested with Peter Matth. 16. Note Matth. 26. Why Peter was suffered to sink Luke 22. What resteth with Gods Elect in their greatest danger The nature of faith Peter knew the power and good will of God Psal. 144. How nigh God is in extream perill to deliver his Elect that syithfully call upon him Exod 14. Hester 7.8 â— Daniel 6. John 3. Act 12. Psalm 18. God flattereth not his Elect. Peter was not faithlesse Matth 10. 2 Tim 2. Such as have stood long may yet fall Luke 17. Note We have lesse pretence of excuse then Peter had Note Consolation Matth. 28. Worldly Princes are conjured against God Psal. 2. The sheep of Christ cannot be rent from his hand Joh. 10. Joh. 7. The temptations of Gods elect now in England Good counsell to thee in faith Rom. 11. 1 Reg 2. Note To whom appertaineth the former counsel Matth. 28. Note Objection Answer The root of faith remaineth with Gods elect in greatest danger 3 Reg. 19. The root of faith is not idle A tryall of faith in trouble It appertaineth not to man to know not to enquire how God will deliver Note Divers wayes of deliverance Note The means offered by God to avoid Idolatry are not to be refused Repetition Isai. 78. Psal. 74. Apocal. 17. Psal 74 87. Prayer and Confession Appealing to mercy Isai. 33. Jerem. 4. Psal. 74. Psal. 59. Psal. 79. Jerem. 10 11 12. Psal. 95. Against the enemies of God Esay 25. Of Gods Elect Exhortation Esa 26. Gen. 3. Mattâ— 10. Act. 4. Matth. 5. Joh. 14 16. Esay 9. In the Crosse of Christ iâ— victory hid Esay 40.41.51 Exod. 2. 4 Reg. 25. Jerem 52. Esd. 1. Note â—phes 2. The causes why the Saints of God bâ— this day persecuted 1 Joh. 1.2 Heb. 6. 10. Ephes. 5. Matth. 23. Whosoever sheddeth the Blood of one of Christs members for his Names sake consenteth to the blood of all that have suffered since the beginning Note Gen. 4. Matth. 15. Answer to an Objection Gen. 19. Exod. 14. Iosephus The Petition of such as be persecuted Matth. 5. Matth. 10. â— Cor. 2. Matth 10. Exod. 20. Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. The first proportion The second proposition John 4. Apo. 14. 17. Note Take heed of unlawfull obedience Dan. 3. Dan. 6. Answ. Matth. 10. Act. 14. Note The Papisticall Religion a mortall Pestilence The Admonition Answer to an Objection Gen. 6. Psâ—l 14. Psal 2. Act. 4. Luk. 18. Hosea 4. Matth 20 Matth. 7. 2 Thess 2. Note Deu 4 and 12 Matth. 15. 1 Reg. 13 15 2 Par. 26. Levit. 10. Matt. 17 Act. 1 2 3. 1 Cor. 11. Col. 2. Deâ—â— 4. 12. Apoc. 2. The craft of Sathan The ground of â—â—â—â—â—ticall Religion Note Tertul. in Apol. The chief Preposition Nâ—cen 1. The dutie of Magistrates The Spirit of God abideth not with Idolaters 3. Reg. â— 5. 2 â—ar 17. 4 Reg 22. 2 Paâ— 34. 4 Reg 18. 2 Par. 29 30 c. 31. The second proposition Stob. ser. 12. Niceph. Calist. Histor. Ecclâ—s Lib 10. cap. 42. Note Mich. 3. Note Flatterers contagious stilence Ezek. 22. Note Idolatry is mother to all â—ice Matth 6. Rom. 8. â— Reg. 18. John 17. Ezek. 34. Note this for our time Daniel 2. 1 Reg. 2. Job 12. Psal. 107. Daniel 2. Note Note Note 1 Reg. 14. 1 Reg. 16. 2 Reg. 10. 2 Reg. 17. The offer of Iohn Knox. Advert Prosperity for a time proveth not Religion good No Realme England except so grievously plagued at Scotland Isai. 30. Isai. 14. Isai 6. Exhortation Josh. 1. 2 Par 34. 2 Par. 1. Jerem. 36. Amos 2. Zach 15 James 5. 1 Reg 17. 1 Reg. 18. 1 Reg. 19. 2 Reg 9. 1 Reg 19. Mat 10. The disposition Note Verse 23. From whencâ— all Authority floweth Psal. 82. 2. Point Rom. 13. Note Note Josh. 1. What is required of a King or Prince The Authority and Power of Kings is limited Note Usc. The duty of Gods people Ezek 20. 2 Reg. 17. Isai. Jere. 9. Eccles 3. Isa. 3. Verse 14. Verse 15. Ezel 8. Note Apoc. Vers. 15. Vers. 16. Josh 24. Rom 9. Dan. 1. Dan. 2. Dan. 3. Dan. 6. 1 Esd 2. 1 Esd 6. A Prayer Vers. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 1 Reg. 22. 2 Reg. 9. Verse 17. Verse 18. John 16. Vers. 19.20 Verse 19. Gal. 2. 1 Pet. 1. Ezek. 37 Psal. 14. 1 John 5. Eccles. histor Sozomoni lib. 5. cap. 5. A terrible but must true sentence The Castle of Edinburgh was shooting against the exiled for Christ Jesus sake