vve call othervvise High-landers or High-land-men Strabo tells us That bria amongst the Thracians doth signifie a Tovvn or City And so the vvord Bria must needs come from the Hebrevv 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bira Tovvn or Palace by the transposition of a letter vvhich is ordinary in the derivation of vvords as vve have said a little before Here for further proof of the transposition of a letter in a derivative vvord take this example onely Dumbarton for Dumbriton Cansabon in his Notes upon Strabo tells us from Hesychius That bria signifieth a Village or Tovvn upon a hill So bria signifieth not simply a Tovvn or Village but such a one as is builded upon a hill And truely in the most ancient times Tovvns or Villages vvere for the most part builded upon high places as any man that hath taken the pains to remark either by Histories or by considering the places he may have seen knovveth So then Brigantes are men inhabiting the hills or having their Tovvns Cities Villages upon the hills Yea in old times vvhen they had not yet fixed their abode certain they were wont to remove from hill to hill as we have said formerly and to this day some of our Highlanders do within their own extent and limits The Brigantes in the Continent namely were so given anciently to take away goods from their enemies with a strong hand that by successe of time all those that openly did rob and plunder were called Brigantes And the French has from hence derived the verb Brigander to rob or plunder Next there is a kinde of Armour called Brigantine the use and manner whereof is borrowed from the Brigantes it is like a Male-Coat Lastly there is a kinde of Ship used at the Sea called Brigantine of the middle size as being most proper for War at Sea Thus much for the name of Brigantes The Brigantes of this Island came hither from Ireland at divers times and upon divers occasions The Brigantes in Ireland by Ptolomie are placed well Southward But those that are come after Ptolomee I mean those of neerer Antiquity have placed them more Northerly by many miles as ye may see easily by looking upon Ptolomee his Maps and Ortelius his Maps of Geographie of the Ancients So ye see that the Brigantes at their first coming to Ireland from Spain for thence they came with many other inhabitants of that Island dwelt in the South parts but by degrees drew Northward for conveniency to their wandring course of life in keeping cattell and hunting and for freedom from the trouble of too neer neighbors They went by successe of time so far North till at length having come to the part next unto Britannie they came hither and possessed themselves of the little Islands and hills next unto Ireland and finding themselves firted in this new-found Land for their purpose according to their minde they made their abode there and drew dayly more and more company unto them till at length they made up a great Body of people in Britannie and by little and little came all along the West side of Britannie keeping the hills till they came to the River Belisana that is Rhibet in Lancashire and from thence went straight Eastward till they came to the mouth of Abus now Humber The North Britans were glad to give them way contenting themselves with the East side of Britannia minor which indeed was and is the best and were glad also to have them for a Rampart against their enemies in the South or in majore Britannia The Brigantes were great enemies to the Romans with whom they had divers Bickerings but at last they were compelled to go Northward and were hem'd in by the wall built by the Romans betwixt the fluve Tina now Tyne on the East side and Itrina now Eden in Cumberland on the West side Although they left the Countrey besouth this wall yet the Romans continued there the names of Brigantes yea some of the Brigantes allured by the bounty of the Soyl did chuse rather to submit to the Roman yoke then change their abode although it was with thraldome Then after many various encounters with the Romans they were yet constrained to yeeld more ground unto the Romans who hedged in both them and the Picts northward with a Wall betwixt Bodotria or Forth and Glotta or Clyde At last the Romans by cunning raised jealousies betwixt the Brigantes and Picts and so not onely withdraws the Picts from the friendship of the Brigantes but makes them joyn with them to overthrow the Brigantes and taking occasion of the Brigantes domestick troubles fights with them yea at length after a bloody well-fought Battell defeats them gives the best of the Lands they possest to the Picts for their reward After this the Brigantes were constrained for the most part I mean of the better sort to retire thence whereof some went to the next Isles some returned to Ireland to their ancient Patrie and some went to the North Countreys beyond Seas and so they were for a time distressed and in exile till after divers attempts they were restored again under the conduct of Fergus the second Here let us remember That the whole Island Britannie was first named Albion from Albe or Alpe which signifieth hill or high place This word Albe or Alpe cometh from Albus white and this from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laban per metathesin Alban Albus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek because the high hills and mountains yea in the hot Countries are frequently covered with Snow and so appear white witnesse the high hills betwixt France and Italy which by reason of their highnesse above other mountains are named particularly Alps. The Island when it had given unto it the name of Britannia by little and little left off the old name of Albon which continued in the North part of the Island benorth the limits of the Empire and so the whole Countrey beneath the Humber was called and Albion in this second sense in following times was called Britannia minor as we have heard but as the Romans did gain ground upon the in-dwellers of Albion or Britannia minor beating them Northward they lessened Albion or Britannia minor so far till they brought them to keep North Bodotria or Forth and Glotta or Clyde Last of all the Romans having by their cunning divided the Brigantes and Picts and having drawn the Picts on their side against the Brigantes Albion was taken for that part of Britannia minor beyond Clyde and Forth which did not belong to the Picts that is the Northwest side of that hillie Continent with the hillie Islands adjacent where to this day dwelleth our Highlandmen or Highlanders who are the remnant of the ancient Brigantes That the ancient name of a whole great Countrey as this Island is should be conserved in one corner or a little portion thereof may not seem strange I have thought fit to tell you That you
have the like in our neighbour Countrey of old called Gaule now France where the ancient name of Gaule among the vulgar is onely conserved in a little Countrey lying about Sens of old Senones this little Countrey is called Pays Gaulois and is divided in Haute basse Gaule So it was judiciously said by the Historiographer The name of the Isle Albion is derived from Albe and remains in Scotland as it were in its Native Soyl. Of Alpe or Albe signifying hill or high place you have the in-dwellers thereof sometimes named Albani as in Asia Dalmatia Italy and North Britannia and their Countrey Albania sometimes Albici Albigois in Languedock and their Countrey Albium or Albi in vulgar language sometimes Albini or Alpini and Albienses as the in-dwellers of our Albion who to this day call themselves as they have done of old c. which name is one and the same with Brigantes Here let us remark That as the Provincialls or In-dwellers of Britannia superiour subject to the Romans are ordinarily called by the Writers Britones so the others benorth the Empire have been called by the Writers Britanni peregrini transmarini strangers and beyond-Sea-men as if they had been of another Island And truely if it were not for the Strait betwixt the Rivers afore-named which did serve for Border unto them they were in another Island Hence England is said to be inter quatuor maria Ptolomeis Tacitus and Seneca tell us That the Brigantes inhabited Albion which when they writ was that part of the Island beyond the Roman Empire Therefore the Brigantes were then Albini or Albani Moreover the Brigantes about Eboracum now Yorke were of the Scots who came from Ireland a great and mighty People Iohn Fordon in his Scoti Chronicon writes That the Scots came so far South as Humber and possessed Lands there Also the Isle of Man was for a long time under the Crown of Scotland which Isle is as far South as the Countrey about Yorke although it be Westward and in the Sea And these were the Brigantes we now have spoken of The Brigantes at their first coming into Albion came as we have said without any certain or setled way of Government but being grown to a considerable number or Body they sent into Ireland for Fergus the first to be their King whose with a new Colonie coming into Albion is reckoned to be about Alexander the Great his time that is about three hundred yeers before the Birth of Christ. The Brigantes alias Albini for a certain time by some have been called Dalreudini although this name did not last long from the King Reuda who brought into Albion the second remarkable Colony from Ireland after Fergus about 180 yeers before Christ that is about 220 yeers after Fergus And Dale which signifieth Countrey and Province as is known to this day There is a certain place in the West of Scotland called to this very day Ridsdale We have heard That the people benorth the Roman Province upon the East side were originally Britains whence they were called Britanni Picti and somtimes Britanni Caledonii from one of the chief people sometimes simply Picti or Caledonii Also we have heard That the people benorth the Province on the West side were come from Ireland and called Brigantes or Album yea for a time Dalreudini Likewise we have heard That all the people benorth the Empire by a generall Appellation were called Scoti where they were all spoken of together but when they were spoken of apart those of the East were called Scoto-britanni Those of the West were called Scoto-brigantes as we have heard out of Seneca Moreover by progresse of time the Irish came to go under the name of Scots with those of Britannia minor or Albion who from them had help supply and recruites in their War against the Romans and Britans Provincialls Thus naming the Irish by the name of Scots began some hundred yeers after Christ that is towards the middle Ages And about that time Ireland was called by the name of Scotia as Abrahamus Ortelius hath remarked in these words I have observed Ireland to be named Scotia by the Writers of the middle Age. And so it hath been observed by the learned That ancient Authors did never name Ireland Scotia as you may see by those who have exactly reckoned up the old names of Ireland out of the ancient and Classick Authors So it was not said much amisse by one That this naming of Ireland by the name of Scotland was first about Beda his time who lived in the beginning of the eighth Age. Scaliger tells us That the word Scot is no Irish word but British that is not used in Ireland but in Britannia what is the origine and signification of the word we have heard before As the Irish began to be called Scots so the Picts left off to be so named now withdrawing themselves from the Brigantes or Albini and striking in with their enemies the Irish by the Writers were called Scoti Hibernienses and the Albins were called Scoti Albienses And Ireland was called Scotia major because Albania or Albion in those dayes which they called Scotia minor was of lesse extent But this name of Scots was not for any long time given to the Irish So that at length the name of Scots became peculiar to the Albins or Brigantes alone Lastly the Albins having subdued the Picts and made them no more a People communicated into the Countrey newly conquered by them the name of Scotia as one Countrey with Albinia and so all the in-dwellers there were called Scots with the Albins as one people with them and so they are to this day Now the Albins or Brigantes being the onely Masters of Britannia minor came to be called Scoto-Britanni as the Picts had been of old and are upon occasion called so to this day to distinguish them from the South Britons of whom some are called Cambro-britanni the rest Anglo-britanni Although the ancient Brigantes were called by forreigners Scoti namely by the Britons Provincialls and the Romans yet they did never name themselves so by this name Scoti neither do the High-landers to this day in their own language call themselves Scots but Albins So Scaliger had just reason to say That Scoti was not an Irish name As the Hellenes did never name themselves Greeks although they were so commonly called by the forreigners And the Misraims did not call themselves Egyptians although forreigners named them so The Scots now adayes are divided in Highland-men and Lowland-men The Highlanders are the true Progenie of the ancient Brigantes or Albins for the most part I say because some are come in later times from other Countreys And to this day our Highlanders as the Brigantes of old makes main use of their Bowes and Arrows in their war namely when they are among the hills so when they praise one for a Military man they say He is a good Bowe-man and Bray-man which two
Epithites were expressed by the ancients in one composed word Scoto-Brigantes The Lowland-men are made up of divers Nations for a few of them are a little remnant of the ancient Picts other few are descended from the ancient Albins who leaving the hills after the defeat of the Picts did betake themselves to the Low Countrey Divers from the South parts of Britannie had fled thither from the Tyranny of the Saxons Danes and Normans as they did of old from the Tyranny of the Romans Then the English being so oft in Scotland with their Armies have left divers in the Countrey Also Marriages and other private occasions have drawn sundry men from England into Scotland Lastly sundry of the Low-Countrie people are come from beyond Seas as from France Germany Hungary Flanders Ireland c. of late dayes So all being reckoned they are but few in the Low Countrey come of the old Albins Brigantes or old Picts The Low-Countrey men calls the High-landers Irish not so much for their ancient descent as for their language onely differing from the Irish by dialect and for their wayes of living not much unlike yet one main difference is to be seen in the activity of the Scots and the lazinesse of the Irish. On the other side the Highlanders calls the low-Low-Countrey men Saxons not so much for their descent although many of them are come from the Southern people as we have said who are a Progenie of the Saxons as for the language which differeth onely by dialect from the language of the South which acknowledgeth the Saxon language for its mother Tongue and for the way of living not so different save that the Scots are harder bred and consequently more fitted for toyling at War namely then the English are for we see the English to have pain to toyle and endure Wars at the first going to the Field by reason of their tender and soft breeding The language of the South Britons of old was not much different from that of the Gauls from whence they came into Albion witnesse Tacitus in Agricola his Life The Gauls then did speak a corrupt Greek for they are come of the Greeks Besides many words of the old Gaulois the phrase and construction are to this day in the French language kept which doth signifie that of old the Greek was spoken in Gaule although corrupt grosly by ignorant men without learning who neither could reade nor write Yet in the South parts of Gaule neer the Mediterranean Sea wherein the Greek Islands are the Greeke was spoken and taught at Marseilles namely The ancient language of the Britons suffred a great change by the Romans and other forreigners who brought in amongst them their terms of Law of divine Service of War and of Policie with the names of divers Commodities and the names of divers Trades When the Saxons and Danes came into the Land they confined the remnant of the ancient Britons unto the West Countrey with their language such as it was left unto them by the Romans and other forreigners of old and with themselves planted the language which is spoken in all England now adays with some alteration and change The first notable change happened by the Normans in whose language the Law hath been administred c. The next change is from the Latin in which language divine Service hath been for many yeers Officiated Then the English language hath borrowed from all neighbour Nations many words without any great change so that the English language is said to be the quintessence of all neighbour Languages From it the Scotish Tongue differs but in dialect as we have said The Highlanders Language as hath been said likewise is Irish which of old was a corrupt Greek also for the Irish came into Ireland from the North parts of Spain who spake a corrupt Greek as those of Gaule did for the ancient in-dwellers of the North parts of Spain came also from the Greek Islands So that of old the Language of the ancient Britons was not altogether strange unto the Brigantes or Alpins yea in this time wherein we live notwithstanding the great changes that both the Languages have sustained by time and Commerce of forreign Nations they have many words which are one and the same signifying the same thing Thus much I have written of the beginning names way of living and Languages of Scotland to make known to all how unjust and injurious unto us are some modern Antiquaries of our neighbour Countreys who first think they cannot prove their own people to be sufficiently ancient except they take from their neighbour their just right of good Antiquity Next they conceive they cannot set forth fully enough the greatnesse of their own Countrey except they make their neighbours no people at all or at least hardly considerable Thirdly they imagine That they cannot extoll and magnifie the glory of their Countrey highly enough unlesse they not onely depresse and extenuate their neighbours name but also attribute unto themselves the advantages of their neighbours But if these Antiquaries had considered with the eyes of men That there is enough to be said for the credit of their own Countrey without wronging others they had not so stuffed their Books with mistaken and mis-applied Allegations of good ancient Authors nor with Collection of fabulous and lying Monks tales wherein some of them do fansie Learning mainly to consist But of this enough For this place I will only adde this As the Scots although they be not of the greatest people yet they are truely one of the most ancient People in Europe So I dare be bold to say That God to whose praise be it spoken in his goodnesse towards them hath raised up of them and amongst them so many excellent and vertuous men in Church and State in Piety and Learning in Policy and War at home and abroad of old and of late that few Nations ancient or moderne although of greater bounds can compare with them fewer equall them and hardly any at all go beyond them in this for which we praise God who of the best things hath given us the best measure and say with the Historian That the Land is more fertile of good men then of good fruits But now since all former walls of separation and division both ancient and moderne Civill and Ecclesiasticall are in a great measure taken away by Gods blessing and since in so many respects the Scots and English are so neer one unto another as we have said But above all since they both are members of the true Church and pure Spouse of Christ Jesus to the upholding of whose Truth and purging of it from uncleannesse they have newly bound themselves together as one People yea as one man Let them then in Gods Name laying aside all excuses envies jealousies and by-ends as feeling members of one and the same Body concur unanimously with their mutuall and best endeavours to settle the true Worship of God in all true purity
Hadington in Lothian the yeer of Christ 1505. of honest Parentage His father was a brothers son of the House of Ranferlie which is an ancient Family of Gentlemen in the West When he left the Grammar Schoole in the Countrey he was sent to the Vniversity of Saint Andrews to studie under M. John Mair who in those dayes was very famous for his Learning which particularly did consist in the ergotie or disputative part of Philosophy and in School-Divinity wherein formerly for many yeers together almost all Learning was placed In a very short time John Knox became such a Proficient that in this kinde of knowledge wherein his Master most excelled he surpassed him and being yet very young was thought worthy of Degrees in the School Moreover before the time ordinarily allowed by the Canons he entred in Church Orders Thereafter laying aside the idle Disputes and Sophistry of the School he betook himself to the reading of the Ancients namely of Augustine with whose Writings he was much taken by reason of their plainnesse and solidity Last of all he betook himself to the earnest study of the holy Scriptures wherein having found the Truth of God concerning the salvation of Mankinde fully revealed he in good earnest did embrace it and freely professed it yea made it his main work to make it known to all men and believed by them in which work he was very active and vigilant at home and abroad namely at home For the Cause of the Truth he suffered very much by Sea and by Land in minde and in body among forraigners and amongst his own Countreymen as ye may see in this History of the Church which now here we present unto you Which History namely so much of it I mean as formerly was published hath gone commonly under his name because he is the man of whom most is spoken thorowout the whole History as being a most earnest and diligent agent in the businesse of Reformation in the Church Next because he hath penned with his own hand or spoken by word of mouth the most part of the most remarkable and most usefull things for Posterity in the History Thirdly the whole History is gathered out of his Papers and Manuscripts And so ye see why it is generally received to be of John Knox. But to return to his Life He being constrained for a time to leave his Countrey by reason of the Persecution raised in Scotland by the then Bishops against the professors of the Truth he came into England where for some yeers he was busied in preaching the Evangell of Christ with a great deal of content and benefit to those that had the happinesse to hear him His chief abode was in Berwick Newcastle and London This was in the dayes of King Edward the sixth with whom he was in great favour and esteem By whom being offered a Bishopricke he not onely refused and rejected it but with a grave and severe speech declared That the proud Title of Lordship and that great State was not to be suffered to be in the Church of God as having quid commune cum Antichristo that is somewhat common with Antichrist King Edward being dead the persecution of Mary made him leave England with many other godly Ministers who went beyond Seas First John Knox went to Frankford where for a time he preached the Gospel to the English Congregation there From whence he wrote the Admonition to England But being molested there partly by open Papists and partly by false Brethren was constrained to retire And from thence he went to Geneva from whence he wrote his Letter to Mary Regent of Scotland his Appeal to the Nobility of Scotland and Admonition to the Commons of Scotland From Geneva after some yeers abode there he was called home to his own Countrey the yeer of Christ 1559. which was the 54 of his age by the Noble-men and others who had taken upon them the generall Reformation of the Church of Scotland where how soon that the reformed Church had any liberty he was setled Minister at Edinburgh where he continued exercising his Ministery to his dying day but not without interruption by reason of the Civill disorders that fell out in those dayes During this his being at Edinburgh he Preached many excellent Sermons whereof there be but few that were printed and conserved to Posterity he not being willing to busie himself with the Presse Yet some of them we have as this namely which he Preached Aug. 19 An. 1564. and for which he was forbidden to Preach for a time He to make known to the world what ground there was to deal so with him took the care to have this Sermon printed as you will finde it at the end of this History Here I cannot let slip a remarkable passage which was this Anno 1566. the Earle of Murray was slain upon the Saturday The morrow after John Knox preached in Edinburgh where as he was reading the Papers wherein was written the names of those that desired the Prayers of the Church he findes a paper with these words Take up the man whom ye accounted another god which he passed without expressing any commotion and went on with his Prayer and Sermon At the end of the Sermon he made moan for the losse that the Church and State of Scotland had by the death of that vertuous man and said That as God in his mercy giveth good and wise Rulers so taketh he them away from a people in his wrath Then he added There is one in this company that maketh the subject of his mirth this horrible murther whereat all good men have occasion to be sorry I tell him That he shall die where there shall be none to lament him He who had written the aforesaid words in the paper was Thomas Metellan a young Gentlemen of most rare parts but youthfull and bearing small affection to the Earle of Murray who when he heard this Commination of John Knox went home to his lodging and said to his sister That John Knox was raving to speak of he knew not whom His sister replyed with tears in her eyes If you had followed my advice ye had not written these words and withall told him That none of John Knox his threatnings fell to the ground without effect And so it fell out in this particular For shortly thereafter the young Gentleman went beyond Seas to travell and died in Italy having no known man to assist him much lesse to lament him Towards the latter dayes of his age his body became very infirm and his voice so weake that the people could not hear him Preaching in the ordiplace wherfore he made choice of another more commodious within the Town reading to his auditors the history of the Passion in which he said it was his desire to finish and close his Ministery Thus he continued Preaching though with much weaknesse two moneths and more after this retiring And foreseeing that he was not to remain long with
is witnesse meant then nothing but in the simplicity of our hearts the maintenance of true Religion and safetie of our brethren Professours of the same yet lay there another serpent lurking in the brest of our adversaries as this day praise to God is plainely opened to all that list to behold to wit To bring you and us both under the perpetuall servitude of strangers For we being appointed as ye know touching Religion to be reasoned with all in the Councell at the day affixed and no occasion made to break the same on our side as is well known yet come there forth writings and complaints That this day and that day we were prepared to invade the Queens person when in very truth there was never such thing thought as the very deed hath declared But because she was before deliberate to bring in French-men to both our destructions that you should not stir therewith she made you to understand That those Bands came onely for safety of her own person O craft brethren O subtilty But behold the end They are come yet not so many no not the sixth part that she desired and looked for and how not onely with weapons to defend her person but with wives and children to plant in your native rooms as they have already begun in the Town of Leith the principall Port and Staple of this Realm The gernall and furniture of the Councell and seat of Justice And here will they dwell till they may reinforce themselves with greater number of their fellow-Souldiers to subdue then the rest if God withstand not And yet her Majestie feared nor shamed not to write if they were a hundred French-men for every one of them that is in Scotland yet they should harme no man Tell thou now Leith if that be true If this be not a craftie entrie to a manifest conquest fore-thought of old judge you deare brethren Thus to fortifie our Towns and even the principall Port of our Realm and to lay so strong Garisons of strangers therein not onely without any consent of the Nobility and Councell of this Realm but also expresse against their minde as our Writ sent to her Majestie beareth record if this be not to oppresse the ancient Lawes and Liberties of our Realme let all wise men say to it And further to take the Barne-yards new gathered the Gernalls replenished and to sit down therein and by force to put the just possessours and ancient inhabitants there-from with their wives children and servants to shift for themselves in begging if they have no other means they being true Scottish-men members of our Common-wealth and our deare brethren and sisters borne fostred and brought up in the bowels of our common and native Countrey if this be not the manifest declaration of their old pretence and minde towards the whole Scottish Nation let your owne conscience brethren be judge herein Was all Leith of the Congregation No I think not yet were all alike served Let this motherly care then be tried by the fruits thereof First by the great and exorbitant Taxations used upon you and yet ten times greater pressed at as ye know Secondly the utter depravation of our Coine to purchase thereby money to entertaine strangers French Souldiers upon you and to make them strong holds lest you should sometime expell them out of your native roomes Thirdly by the daily re-inforcing of the said French Souldiers in strength and number with wives and children planting in your brethrens houses and possessions Indeed her Majestie is and hath been at all times carefull to procure by her craft of fair words of fair promises and sometimes of buds to allure your simplicity to that point to joyn your selves to her Souldiers to daunt and oppresse us that you the remnant we being cut off may be an easie prey to her sleights Which God of his infinite goodnesse hath now discovered to the eyes of all that list to behold But credit the works deare brethren if ye will not credit us and lay the example of Forreign nations yea even of our brethren before your eyes and procure not your own ruine willingly If you tender true Religion you see how her Majestie beareth her selfe plaine enemy thereto and maintaineth the tyrannie of those idle bellies the Bishops against Gods Church If Religion be not perswaded unto you yet cast you not away the care you ought to have over your Common-wealth which you see manifestly and violently ruined before your eyes If this will not move you remember your deare wives children and posterity your ancient heritages and houses and think well these strangers will regard no more your right thereunto then they have done your brethren of Leith when ever occasion shall serve But if you purpose as we doubt not but that all those that either have wit or manhood will declare and prove indeed to brook your ancient roomes and heritages conquered most valiantly and defended by your most noble Progenitors against all strangers invaders of the same as the French pretendeth plainly this day if ye will not be slaves unto them and to have your lives your wives your children your substance and whatsoever is dear unto you cast at their feet to be used and abused at the pleasure of strange Souldiers as you see your brethrens at this day before your eyes If you will not have experience some day hereof in your own persons as we suppose the least of you all would not gladly have but rather would chuse with honour to die in defence of his own native roome then live and serve so shamefull a servitude then brethren let us joyn our forces and both with wit and manhood resist their beginnings or else our liberties hereafter shall be dearer bought Let us surely be perswaded when our neighbours houses be on fire that we dwell not without danger Let no man withdraw himselfe herefrom and if any will be so unhappy and mischievous as we suppose none to be let us altogether repute hold and use him as he is in deed for an enemie to us and to himselfe and to his Common-weale The eternall and omnipotent God the true and onely revenger of the oppressed be our comfort and Protectour against the furie and rage of the Tyrants of this world And especially from the insatiable covetousnesse of the Cardinall of Guyse and the Hamiltons Amen Besides this our publike Letter some men answered certaine heads of the Queens said Proclamation on this manner If it be sedition to speak the trueth in all sobriety and to complaine when they are wounded or to call for help against unjust tyrannie before that their throats be cut then can we not denie but we are criminall and guilty of tumult and sedition For we have said That our Common-weale is oppressed that we and our brethren are hurt by the tyrannie of strangers and that we fear bondage and slaverie seeing that multitudes of cruell murtherers are daily brought into
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
past to the Castle of Edinburgh and some others of her faction At Preston met them the Duke the Earle of Argyle Huntlie came not till that the siege was confirmed Lord Iames the Earle of Glencarne and Menteth Lords Ruthuen Boyd Uchiltrie with all the Protestants Gentlemen of the West Fyfe Angus and Mearnes so that in few dayes the Army was great After the deliberation of two dayes had at Inneresk the whole Camp marched forward with Ordnance and all preparations necessary for the siege and came to Lestarrig the Palme Sunday Even The French had put themselves in Battell Aray upon the Linkes without Leith and sent forth their skirmishers who beginning before ten of the clock continued skirmishing till after four of the clock at afternoon when there was given upon them a charge by some Horse-men of Scotland and some of England But because the principall Captaine of the Horse-men of England was not present the whole Troops durst not charge and so was not the overthrow and slaughter of the French so great as it once appeared to have been for the great Battell was once at the trot but when it perceived that the great Force of Horse-men stood still and charged not they returned and gave some rescue to their fellows that fled and so there fell onely in that defeat about three hundred French-men God would not give the Victory so suddenly lest that man should glory in his owne strength The small Victory that was gotten put both the English and Scotish in over-great security as the issue declared The French enclosed within the Towne the English Army began to plant their Pavilions betwixt Leith and Lestarrig The Ordnance of the Towne and especially that which lay upon Saint Anthonies Steeple did them great annoyance against which place were bent eight Cannons which shot so continually and so just that within few dayes that the Steeple was condemned and all the Ordnance that was on it discomfited which made the English-men somewhat more negligent then it became good men of War to have been For perceiving that the French made no pursuit without their Walls they tooke an opinion that they should never issue more and that made some of the Captaines for pastime go to the Towne The Souldiers for their ease laid their Armour beside them and as men without danger fell to the Dice and Cards and so upon the Easter Munday at the very houre of noon the French issued both upon Horse and Foot and with great violence entred within the English Trenches slue and put to flight all that was found therein The Watch was negligently kept and so were the Succours slow and long in coming For the French before that any resistance was made unto them approached hard to the great Ordnance But then the Horse-men trooped together and the Foot-men gat themselves in Aray and so repulsed the French back again to the Town but the slaughter was great some say it double exceeded that which the French received the first day And this was the fruit of their security and ours which after was remedied For the English men most wisely considering themselves not able to besiege the Town round about devised to make Mounts at divers quarters of it in the which they and their Ordnance lay in as good strength as they did within the Town The common souldiers kept the Trenches and had the said mountains for their saveguard and refuge in case of any greater pursuit then they were able to sustain The patience and stout courage of the English men but principally of the Horse-men is worthy of all praise For where was it ever heard That eight thousand they never exceeded that number that lay in Camp should besiege four thousand of the most desperate throat-cutters that were to be found in Europe and to lie nigh unto them in daily skirmishing the space of three moneths and more The Horse-men night and day kept Watch and did so valiantly behave themselves that the French gat no advantage from that day back to the day of the assault whereof we shall shortly hear In this mean time was this other Band made of all the Nobility Barons and Gentlemen professing Christ Jesus in Scotland and of divers others that joyned with us for expelling of the French amongst whom the Earle of Huntlie was a prime man The Band followeth The last Band at Leith AT Edinburgh the seven and twentieth of April the yeer of our Lord 1560 yeers We whose names are under-written have promised and obliged our selves faithfully in the presence of God and by these Presents do promise That we together in generall and every one of us in speciall by himself with our bodies goods friends and all that we can do shall set forward the Reformation of Religion according to Gods Word and procure by all means possible that the Truth of Gods Word may have free passage within this Realme with due Administration of the Sacraments and all things depending upon the said Word and such like deeply weighing with our selves the misbehaviour of the French Ministers here the intolerable oppression committed by the French men of War upon the poor subjects of this Realme by maintenance of the Queen Dowager under colour and pretence of Authority The tyranny of their Captains and Leaders and manifest danger of Conquest in which this Countrey at this present standeth by reason of divers Fortifications upon the Sea-coast and other novelties of late attempted by them promising That we shall each one with another all of us together with the Queen of Englands Army presently come in for our deliverance effectually concurre joyn in one take and hold one plain part for expulsion of the said strangers oppressors of our Liberty forth out of this Realme and recovery of our ancient Freedoms and Liberties to the end that in time coming we may under the obedience of the King and Queen our Soveraigns be onely ruled by the Laws and Customs of the Countrey and borne men of the Land And that never one of us shall have privy intelligence by writing message or communication with any of our enemies or adversaries in this Cause but by advice of the rest at least of five of the counsell Again That we shall tender the common Cause as if it were the cause of every one of us in particular And that the causes of every one of us now joyned together being lawfull and honest shall be all our causes in generall And that he that is enemy to the Cause aforesaid shall be enemy to us all in so far That what person soever will plainly resist these our godly enterprises and will not concur as a good and true member of this our Common-wealth we shall fortifie the said Authority of the Councell to reduce them to their duty like as we shall fortifie the said Authority of the Councell in all things tending to the furtherance of the said Causes And if any particular debate quarrell
will be so foolish as so to affirm for a thing more then evident it is That the whole Priesthood in the time of the Law was bound to give obedience to the Civill Powers and if any member of the same was found criminall the same was subject to the punishment of the Sword which God had put into the hand of the Magistrate And this Ordinance of his Father did not Christ disannull but rather did confirm the same commanding Tribute to be paid for himself and for Peter who perfectly knowing the minde of his Master writeth thus in his Epistle Submit your selves to all manner of Ordinance of man he excepteth such as be expressely repugning to Gods Commandment for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as to the chief Head or unto Rulers as unto them that are sent by him for punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well The same doth the Apostle Saint Paul most plainly command in these words Let every soul be subject to the Superiour Powers Which places make evident That neither Christ neither his Apostles hath given any assurance of this immunity and priviledge which men of Church as they will be termed do this day claim Yea it was a thing unknown to the Primitive Church many yeers after the dayes of the Apostles For Chrysostome who served in the Church at Constantinople four hundreth yeers after Christs Ascension and after that corruption was greatly increased doth yet thus write upon the foresaid words of the Apostle This precept saith he doth not appertain to such as be called seculars onely but even to those that be Priests and religious men And after he addeth Whether thou be Apostle Evangelist Prophet or whosoever thou be thou canst not be excepted from this subjection Hereof it is plain Chrysostome did not understand that God had exempted any person from obedience and subjection of the Civill Power neither yet that he was Authour of such exemption and priviledge as Papists do this day claim And the same was the judgement and uniforme Doctrine of the Primitive Church for many yeers after Christ. Your Honours do wonder I doubt not from what Fountain then did this their immunitie as they term it and singular priviledge spring I shall shortly touch that which is evident in their owne Law and Histories When the Bishops of Rome the very Antichrists had partly by fraud and partly by violence usurped the superiortie of some places in Italy and most unjustly had spoiled the Emperours of their Rents and possessions and had also murthered some of their Officers as Histories do witnesse then began Pope after Pope to practise and devise how they should be exempted from the judgment of Princes and from the equity of Laws and in this point they were most vigilant till at length iniquity did so prevaile in their hands according as Daniel had before prophesied of them that this sentence was pronouned Neither by the Emperour neither by the Clergie neither yet by the people shall the Iudge be judged God will saith Symmachus that the causes of others be determined by men but without all question he hath reserved the Bishop of this Seat understanding Rome to his own judgement And hereof diverse Popes and Expositours of their Laws would seeme to give reasons for saith Agatho All the Precepts of the Apostolike Seat are assured as by the voyce of God himself The Author of the glosse upon this Canon affirmeth That if all the world would pronounce sentence against the Pope yet should his sentence prevail For saith he the Pope hath a Heavenly will and therefore he may change the nature of things he may apply the substance of one thing to another and of nothing he may make somewhat and that sentence which was nothing that is by his minde false and unjust he may make somewhat that is true and just for saith he in all things that please him his will is for reason neither is there any man that may aske of him Why doest thou so for he may dispence above Law and of injustice he may make justice for he hath the fulnesse of all power And many other blasphemous sentences did they pronounce every one after other which for shortnesse sake I omit till at the end they obtained this most horrible Decree That albeit in life and conversation they were so wicked and detestable that not onely they condemned themselves but that also they drew to Hell and perdition many thousands with them yet that none should presume to reprehend or rebuke them This being established for the Head albeit not without some contradiction for some Emperours did require due obedience of them as Gods Word commanded and ancient Bishops had given before to Emperours and to their Laws but Sathan so prevailed in his suite before the blinde world that the former sentences were confirmed which power being granted to the Head then began provision to be made for the rest of the members in all Realms and Countries where they made residence the residence whereof we see to be this that none of that pestilent generation I mean the vermine of the Papisticall Order will be subject to any Civill Magistrate how enormous soever his crime be but will be reserved to their own Ordinary as they terme it And what fruits have hereof ensued be the word never so blinde it cannot but witnesse for how their Head that Romane Antichrist hath beene occupied ever since the granting of such priviledges Histories do witnesse and of late the most part of Europa subject to the plague of God to fire and sword by his procurement hath felt and this day doth feel The pride ambition envie excesse fraud spoil oppression murther filthie life and incest that is used and maintained amongst that rabble of Priests Friers Monks Cannons Bishops and Cardinals cannot be expressed I fear not to affirm neither doubt I to prove that the Papisticall Church is further degenerate from the puritie of Christs Doctrine from the footsteps of the Apostles and from the manners of the primitive Church then was the Church of the Iews from Gods holy Statutes what time it did crucifie Christ Jesus the onely Messias and most cruelly persecute his Apostles And yet will our Papists claim their priviledges and ancient Liberties which if you grant unto them my Lords ye shall assuredly drink the cup of Gods vengeance with them and shall be reputed before his presence companions of Theeves and maintainers of Murtherers as is before declared for their immunity and priviledge whereof so greatly they boast is nothing else but as if Theeves Murtherers or Briggands should conspire amongst themselves that they would never answer in judgement before any lawfull Magistrate to the end that their theft and murther should not be punished even such I say is their wicked priviledge which neither they have of God the Father neither of Christ