their servants and other that appertained to them and were exempted from common service should neverthelesse serve in time of necessity These vain promises lifted up in pride the heart of the unhappy king and so begins the Warre The Realme was Quartered and men were laid in Iedburgh and Kelso All men fools we mean bragged of victory and in very deed the beginning gave us a faire shaw For at the first Warden Reade which was made on Saint Bartholomewes day in the yeere of our Lord 1542. was the Warden Sir Robert Bowes his brother Richard Bowes Captaine of Norhame Sir William Mamebery Knight a Bastard Sonne of the Earle of Angus and Iames Dowglas of Parkhead then Rebels with a great number of Borderers Souldiers and Gentlemen taken The Reade was termed Halderig The Earle of Angus and Sir George his brother did narrowly escape Our Papists and Prelats proud of this victory encouraged the King so that there was nothing heard but All is ours They be but Heretickes if we be a thousand and they ten thousand they dare not fight France shall enter into one part and we the other and so shall England be conquest within a yeere If any man was seene to smile at such vanitie he was no more but a Traytour and an Hereticke And yet by these meanes men had greater liberty then they had before as concerning their conscience for then ceased the persecution The Warre continued till midde September And then was sent down the old Duke of Norfolke with such an Army as a hundred yeeres before had not come into Scotland They were in gathering their Forces and setting forward of their Preparations and Munitions which were exceeding great till midde October and after And then they Marched from Barwick and tended to the wast ever holding Tweid upon their own side and never camped from that River the space of a mile during the whole time they continued in Scotland which was ten or twelve dayes Forces were sent up and down to Smallame Stichell and such places neere about but many snappers they gat some Corn they burnt besides that which the great host consumed but small bootie they carried away The King assembled his Forces at Fallowe for he was advertised that they had promised to come to Edinburgh and tooke the Musters all at an houre two dayes before Hallowe even There were found with him eighteen thousand able men Upon the Borders that awaited upon the English Army were ten thousand good men with the Earle of Huntlie Lords Erskin Seton and Hume These were judged men aneuh to hazard Battell albeit the other were esteemed fourty thousand While the King lay at Fallowe abiding upon the Gunes and upon advertisement from the Army The Lords began to remember how the King had been long abused by his flatterers and principally by the Pensioners of the Prelats It was then concluded that they would make some new remembrance of Lawder brig to see if that would for a season somewhat help the state of their Country But because the Lords could not agree among themselves upon the persons that deserved punishment for every man favoured his friend the whole escaped and the purpose was opened to the King and by him to the courtiers who till they came to Edinburgh stood in no little fear but that was suddenly forgot as we shall after hear While time is thus protracted the English army for want of victuals as was bruted retired over Tweid in the night and so begin to skale sunder wherof the King advertised desired the Lords and Barons to assist him to follow them into England whose answer was with one consent That to defend his person and Realme they would hazard life and whatsoever they had But to invade England neither had they so just Title as they desired neither yet could they be able to do any thing to the hurt of England considering that they had long before beene absent from their houses their provision was spent their horses wearied and that which was greatest of all the time of the yeere did utterly reclaime This their answer seemed to satisfie the King for he in words praised their prudent foresight and wise counsell But the essay made to his Courtiers and that bold repulse of his desires given to him in his owne face so wounded his high stomacke for long had he runne as himselfe listed that he decreeth a notable revenge which no doubt he had not failed to have executed if God by his owne hand had not cut the dayes of his lyfe He returnes to Edinburgh the Nobility Barons Gentlemen and Commons to their habitations And this was the second and third dayes of November Without longer delay at the palace of Halyrud-house was a new councell assembled a councell we meane of his abusers wherein were accusations layd against the most part of the Nobilitie Some were Hereticks Some favourers of England Some friends to the Dowglas and so could there be none faithfull to the King in their opinion The Cardinall and Prelats cast fagotts in the fire with all their force and finding the King wholly addicted to their devotion delivered unto him a schroll containing the names of such as they in their inquisition had convict for Hereticks For this was the order of Justice which these holy Fathers kept in condemning of innocent men Whosoever would accuse any of Heresie he was heard no respect nor consideration had what minde the accuser bare to the person accused Whosoever was produced for witnesse were admitted how suspitious and infamous so ever they were if two or three had proved any point that by their Law was holden Heresie that was an Hereticke There rested no more but a day to be affixed to his condemnation and to the execution of their corrupt sentence What man could be innocent where such â—udges were partie the world may this day consider True it is by false Judgement and false Witnesses have innocents been oppressed from the beginning But this freedome to shed innocent blood got never the Devill but in the Kingdome of Antichrist That the innocent should die and neither know accuser nor yet the witnesse that testifieth against him But how shâ—ll the Antichrist be knowne if he shall not be contrarious to God the Father and his Sonne Christ Jesus in Law Life and Doctrine But this we omit The same schroll had the Cardinall and Prelats once presented to the king before at that time when he returned from the Navigation about the Isles in the yeere 1534. But then it was refused by the prudent and stout councell of the Laird of Grainge who opened cleerely to the King the practices of the Prelats and the danger that thereof might ensue Which considered by the King for being out of his passion he was tractable gave this answer in the palace of Halyrud-house to the Cardinall and Prelats after that they had uttered their malice and shewed what
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
high measure in the yeer 1595. This gave occasion then both to Prince and people to enter into Covenant for the defence of the Truth and pure Doctrine of the Church with the Reformed Discipline and of the safety of the King and Kingdom by which means the proceedings of the enemies was stopped for a while Now the time drawing neer of the Kings coming to the Crown of England the watching enemy returns to work again in another manner then he had done hitherto which was this By the mouths of some timerous and worldly men he causeth to present unto the King the consideration of great difficulties that he was likely to finde in his succeeding to the Crown of England by two parties there who were given out to be the Strength of the Kingdom to wit the profest Papists and the Prelaticall men therefore to facilitate the businesse they must be in some sort contented For the satisfaction of the Prelates the King by degrees must endeavour to bring again into Scotland Prelacy with all its dependences for no neglecter or contemner of the holy Order could be kindely received to reigne in England and so this part of the advice was followed with all possible care and diligence To content the Papists they not onely must have given unto them under-hand hopes of connivence and over seeing their practice but also there must be a Letter written to the Pope to assure his Holinesse of the Kings affection to the Catholike Cause Thus both these parties were calmed so far that the King came to the Crown of England Anno 1602 without manifest opposition albeit not without the grumbling and grudging of some As for the stricter sort of Professors of the Reformed Religion going under the nick-name of Puritans no opposition or trouble to the Succession was feared from them because the Principles upon which they go on rising from the Word of God are far other then those of worldlings which flow from interest and consequently they needed not Atonement or Propitiatory Sacrifice to befriend the King But the holy Father not finding reall performance by the King of what he looked for remembers the King in good earnest of his promise not kept by the Gun-powder Plot Anno 1605. After which by Gods mercy failing men would have thought that the Popish party should leave off all undertakings hereafter But they follow their businesse more constantly then so for no sooner one Plot fails but incontinent they put another afoot yea they have severall Plots at one and the same time in hand whereof it is likely that either one or other will take Now this great Plot of the Gun-powder being come to nothing they as it were go back for a time to come forward in due season with another and leaving for a while the open and devouring ravishing of the Wolf they have recourse again to the cunning of the Fox The next care then after the calming in some measure the spirits of men after so horrid a Treason is to look about and to studie by whom he affairs of these Dominions were managed And finding by serious inspection That all affairs received great influence from the Court after mature deliberation they resolved to make friends there which they did by subtill insinuations fair words high promises and some reall performances of good Offices yea when money was absolutely necessary it was not spared Thus by degrees having gotten friends at Court in it they make a party next for whose subsistence and increase they employ all that they can Now having power and credit at Court more and clearly perceiving it to be the fountain from whence all preferment to Honour and benefit in Church and State did flow they judged it fit for their purpose to make sure of some prime men both in Church and State according to their minde which was done as they desired Thus having gained men chief in State and Church for their use then they went to the corrupting of the Universities being the Seminaries of all Liberall Education This likewise they did effectuate first by the Over-seers connivence to loosenesse of life in young people next by the bad example of the Seniors the Iuniors were invited to do mischief Then the Teachers by their bad instruction did corrupt namely in Theologie all sound Doctrine And for this purpose the earnest studie of the Old Testrment in the Originall Hebrew was cryed downe as beseeming rather men of the Synagogue then those of the Christian Schools Likewise the Greek of the New Testament must not be read with diligence for fear of spoyling the elegancy of the Greek Language which is to be found in profane Authors So they withdrew the Students from the studie of Scriptures in the Originall and recommended to them the reading of humane Writings particularly in Theologie the Books of the Ancients which are commonly called Fathers Likewise was recommended unto young men the studie of the Sophistry of the Monks as of Thomas and Scotus namely with their Expositors True it is That if young men were well instructed in Theologie from the Scriptures and taught the true Principles of Philosophie in a setled course by some judicious and diligent Professor they might reade all these Books and others in their kinde with pleasure and benefit But alas young men not knowing the rudiments of Theologie nor the first Elements of Philosophie are let loose unto themselves and so by reading these Books having no sure ground to stick to learn onely to doubt and put Queries yea of the very Principles of all sound knowledge both Divine and Humane Thus being brought to waver and doubt they are easily led what by interest what by weaknesse to embrace a bad Opinion or at least to hold all uncertain as the ancient Scepticks not being able to resolve Yea doubting is come to that height that in the opinion of many he is the bravest fellow and wittiest that can raise most Queries answer them who will or can And so Wit is hugely cryed up which is but meer froth and poor solid Wisedom is not so much as named or thought on Then those of the richer sort having spent some time idly and loosely at the Universities go beyond Sea particularly to Italy forsooth either upon their own trust or which is little better if not worse many of those who go along with young men to advise and direct them have as much need of one for their guide as the young men themselves having neither staidnesse discretion nor probity So that if there were a just account cast up of all those who either have been bred in the Universities or gone beyond Sea these many yeers I will speak within compasse That of twenty you shall hardly finde one who is improved in vertue by this Breeding for the good of the Church and State whereof they are members and perhaps considerable too if they were wise and good At this present both Church and State findes this to be true
go into Edinburgh to settle things fully he sends Deputies thither and returns to London At his return the Scots Commissioners are imprisoned at London against their Safe-Conduct and the Agreement with the Scots is burnt publikely by the hand of the Hang-man and a new Expedition with more cunning and strength then the former is undertaken against the Scots Whereof the Scots duely advertised judging it not to be safe to play alwayes after-games settle their Countrey make sure the strong Holds which they had delivered in simplicity of heart unto the King at the late Agreement and come into England with such an Army that they made their enemies retire Upon this point of necessity the King assembled divers of the Nobles by whom he is advised to call a Parliament which is granted although with difficulty At the overture of the Parliament having gained all the party possible the King is made to demand assistance to repell the Scots from England and chastise them but to no purpose wherefore the Parliament must pay for it and to this purpose the English Army afoot must be brought to London under some pretext This Plot failing and discovered the Scots must be tempted under great offers no lesse then the plunder of London and the propriety of the adjacent Counties to their Countrey The Scots not onely refused these great offers but also give advice of them to the Parliament Then the Scots must be hastened home and the King must go into Scotland under pretext to settle things there but really to make a party viewing by the way the Scots Army and to make sure of some men dis-affected to the Designe of the Court These things not succeeding to smooth a little the shamefull businesse Titles of Honour and Pensions are given to many While the King is in Scotland the Rebellion riseth in Ireland having its influence from the Court whether by sealed Patents or otherwise I will not enquire now more then of the Spanish Navie but certain it is it had its rise from Court Some dayes after the Rebellion begun in Ireland the King must return in all speed to London under pretext to consult with the Parliament how to represse this odious Rebellion but really to be revenged of the Parliament for not assisting against the Scots and for punishing the main agents of the Scotish party witnesse the faction the Queen had made in the City during the Kings abode in Scotland to divide the City and Parliament and the demanding of the Members of the Houses against all Law upon accusation of Treason whereof the chief and main point was To have favourized the Scots Affairs in England against expresse Acts of Oblivion of both Parliaments of Scotland and England As for the repressing of the Rebellion in Ireland it is so little taken to heart that the King seldom goes to the House and being there speaks but little of the businesse After a while with much ado the Popish Irish in Arms are declared Rebells when they had ruined many families and killed many of the innocent Protestants But of the Kings Declaration there were but few Copies Printed and of the few hardly any dispersed when the Scots before they had gathered any Head were Prelatically excommunicated and cursed thorow all the Parishes of England and declared Rebells every where by printed Papers Who as they intended no ill so blessed be God never men of War in a Countrey did lesse harm then the Scots did Yea which is more all the good intentions of both Parliament and City with the ready offers of the Scots for the speedy help of the poor Protestants against the bloody Butchers in Ireland was delayed deluded yea almost put off by the Court and the corrupt Members of both Houses who since have shewed themselves openly what they are in publike Affairs But these Designes failing of apprehending the Members and of dividing the City and Parliament as was seen by the accompanying the Members to the Houses again the King must leave London Here before we proceed any further we shall go a little back When the first undertaking was against the Scots all things within these Dominions being disposed for the best furthering of the work the holy Conclave of Rome forecasting all chances and fearing that England would not altogether be so forward to contribute much unto the destruction of Scotland wherefore the King must be assured of some good friend abroad and not far off who may help in case of need None is thought so fit as the Prince of Orange being able to help with Moneys Arms and Men for command He must be gained by offering him for his Son one of the Kings Daughters who notwithstanding his high minde would have been glad of a lower Match Now at the first the Prince of Orange did onely look to have the second Daughter in due time But to engage him further he shall have the elder not staying for her till she be nubile and that presently although she did little more then then well discerne her right hand from her left But this is not all for the Mother must carry the Daughter to the Prince of Orange to gain him more speedily and make him more affectionate and sure to the Designes of our corrupted Court So the Kings Daughter is sold and made a Sacrifice for furtherance of the Catholike Cause as his Grand-mother was sold to France to the same Designe by the corrupt Court of Scotland for the time What mischief this Marriage and the Queens Voyage into Holland hath brought into this Countrey and what stain she hath brought upon her self by it we see all And so many evils fell upon Scotland after the sending the then young Queen into France Here you shall observe the jugling knavery of our corrupt Court who cry out against the Scots for taking Arms for the just defence of their Liberty and Religion without any by-respect as their whole proceedings to this instant do testifie as guilty of the most horrid crime of Rebellion against Higher Powers as they call it yet the same corrupt Court makes the King give his Daughter unto him who is not onely a chief man but a main Instrument to make War for the Liberty and Religion of the Countrey where he liveth against the unjust oppression of their Sovereign as his renowned Brother and most vertuous Father did before him and as he intends to make his Son after him witnesse the reversion of his Place he hath obtained unto him from the States If the King of Spain by necessity hath been constrained to acknowledge the United Provinces free it is nothing for the justice of their taking Arms to defend their Religion and Liberty And if he had power they would not be long free witnesse the secret Plots to divide them and over-reach them Farther he is very shie in his Writs to call them Free as every man knows The Queen of Bohemia must not onely be neglected and seen lose all that
she and hers can claim for their own but she and hers must be serviceable to those who have undone them To this end she must have People about her namely Court-Chaplains to disguise businesse unto her and so make her have a bad conception of those who are her best friends to wit the true Professors of the Truth and good Patriots in these Dominions Next her eldest son after a long and great neglect of yeelding him any help for the recovery of his own is betrayed at our corrupt Court when he is put in away to do somewhat for his own restoring c. And after this by the same Court he is sollicited to take Arms here against the onely men who really and constantly have expressed unto him and his true affection but they being stopped by the Court could not effectuate much by their good will He in wisdome refuseth to fight against his friends Since he will not his two next Brothers must be employed the eldest whereof is released from prison to that effect And so they hazard their lives and spend their blood to serve the party who hath undone their Fortunes and now strives to undo their persons The King having left London after he had been in severall places retires to Yorke where he begins to raise men against the Parliament The Scots seeing this send to him thither to intreat him to lay aside all such intentions and offer their service by way of Mediation betwixt him and the Parliament to take away all known mistakes The Scots Commissioners were not suffered to proceed any further then in the businesse and were sent back beyond the expectation of men After a long Pen-skirmishing on both sides Armies are leavied many men killed and taken at divers times on each side yea a set Battell fought where numbers of men are slain The Scots not being able any longer to see their Brethren in England destroyed and the Executioners of Ireland butchering man woman and childe the help that the innocents should have had from England being almost altogether diverted by the Intestine War and neither say nor do in the businesse under safe-Conduct send to the King and Parliament Commissioners to intercede for an Agreement But they being arrived at Court were neglected with their Commission and not suffered to repair unto the Parliament At last they are dismissed not without difficulty and having done nothing return Upon this the Scots convene the States to consult concerning their own safety and the help of their friends At this nick of time when they received many fair promises from the Court with a request to be quiet a Plot of the Papists set afoot by the Court for embroyling the Countrey is discovered by the means whereof they were incited to look more narrowly to themselves and their friends Then the Parliament of England sends to the Scots for help Upon this a Covenant is made betwixt the two Nations for the defence of the true Religion and Liberty of the Countreys with the Kings just Rights and after due preparation the Scots having setled their own Countrey enter into England with a strong Army to fight the Battells of the Lord having for scope of their Expedition The glory of God and the good of his People with the Honour of the King Here we shall observe in these our Countreys in these last yeers such Riddles of State and Church as have hardly been heard of A Protestant Prince makes one Protestant Nation fight against another for the Protestant Religion which have been thought to be of one and the same Doctrine for the main One Church thunders Curses against another Then a Prince misled with the ayd of Papists and Atheists spoyling and destroying the professors of the Truth because they professe it for the good and advancement of the Protestant Religion Next in a very short time a Prince to have all his subjects declared Rebells First he is made declare the Scots Then he is constrained to declare the Irish An Army gotten together in the Kings name declares all those that did oppose them Rebells The Parliament declares all those who in the Kings name oppose them Rebells and Traytors Farther under the Kings Authority the named Rebells in England by the King maintain a War against the declared Rebells in Ireland But the late carriage of things at Court and by the Court-Instruments at home and abroad hath solved the Riddle namely The Patent for the Rebellion in Ireland The detaining of help ordained for the repressing of it The Kings offer to go into Ireland The Cessation and bringing over of the Irish and The last-discovered Plot in Scotland all other things laid aside tell us cleerly howsoever the Proclamations and Protestations going in the Kings name be soft and smooth as the voyce of Jacob yet the hands are rough as of Esau destroying and seeking to destroy the true Religion grounded in Gods Word with the professors thereof as also the lawfull Liberty of the Countrey and bring all unto slavery Let Ireland and England say if this be not true and Scotland likewise according to its genius speak truth I shall close up all with two or three Instances of eminent men amongst the Papists Clergie to shew clearly how they stand affected to the Protestants Cardinall Pool in an Oration to Charles the fifth Emperour saith You must leave off the War against the Turks and hereafter make War against the Heretikes so names he the professors of the Truth He adds the reason Because the Turks are lesse to be feared then the Heretikes Paul Rodmek in a Book expresse tells us That the Heretikes must be put to death slain cut off burnt quartered c. Stapleton the Iesuite tells us That the Heretikes are worse then the Turks in an Oration he made at Doway Campian the Iesuite in a Book of his Printed in the yeer 1583 in Trevers declares thus in the name of his holy Order Our will is That it come to the knowledge of every one so far as it concerns our Society That we all dispersed in great numbers thorow the world have made a League and holy solemn Oath That as long as there are any of us alive that all our care and industry all our deliberations and counsells shall never cease to trouble your calm and safety That is to say We shall procure and pursue for ever your ruine the whole destruction of your Religion and of your Kingdom He speaks to the English Now it is long since we have taken this resolution with the hazard of our lives so that the businesse being already well begun and advanced it is impossible that the English can do any thing to stop our Designe or surmount it Let these few Passages satisfie for this time I wish that thou maist reap some benefit of what is written here for thy good So praying for your happinesse I rest Yours in the Lord D. B. The LIFE OF IOHN KNOX IOHN KNOX was borne in Gifford neer
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
necessity a lie And to witnesse that this comes of all my heart I shall remain at Berwike while I get thy Majesties answer and shall without fail return having thy hand write that I may have audience place to speak No more I desire of thee whereof if I had been sure I should never have departed and that thou mayst know the truth thereof if fear of the justnesse of my Cause or dread of persecution for the same had moved me to depart I could not so pleasantly revert onely distrust was the cause of my departing Pardon me to say that which lieth to thy Majesties charge Thou art bound by the Law of God suppose they falsly lie saying it pertaineth not to thy Majestie to intermeddle with such matters to cause every man in any case accused of his life to have their just defence their accusers produced conform to their own law They blinde thy Matie eyes that knows nothing of thy law but if I prove not this out of their own law I offer me to the death Thy Matie therefore by experience may daily learn seeing they neither fear the King of Heaven as their lives testifie neither thee their Naturall Prince as their usurped power in their actions shews why thy Highnes should be no longer blinded Thou maist consider that they pretend nothing else but onely the maintenance and upholding of their barded mules augmenting of their insatiable avarice and continuall overthrowing and swallowing up thy poore subjects neither preaching nor teaching out of the Law of God as they should the rude ignorant people but contend who may be most high most rich and neerest thy Majesty to put thy Temporal Lords and Lieges out of thy counsell and favour who should be and are most tender servants to thy Majesty in all time of need to the defence of thee and thy Crown And where they desire thy Majesty to to put out thy Temporal Lords and Lieges because they despise their vitious life What else intend they but onely thy death and destruction as thou maist easily perceive suppose they colour their false intent and minde with the pursuit of heresie for when thy Barons are put downe What art thou but the king of Land and not of men and then of necessity must be guided by them and there no doubt where a blinde man is guide must be a fall in the mire Therefore let thy Majesty take boldnes and authority which thou hast of God and suffer not their cruell persecution to proceed without audience given to him that is accused and just place of defence and then no doubt thou shalt have thy subjects hearts and all that they can or may do in time of need tranquility justice and policy and finally the Kingdom of the heavens May it please you to give one Copy of this to the Clergie and keep the Original and thy Majestie shall have experience if I go against one word that I have spoken I shall daily make my hearty devotion for thy Majestie and for the prosperity and welfare of thy body and soul. I doubt not but thy gracious Highnesse will give answer to this Letter unto the Presenter of it unto thy Highnesse At Berwike by thy Highnesse servant and Orator Sic subscribitur Alexander Seton This Letter was delivered to the Kings own hands and of many read but what could greatly avail where the pride and corruption of Prelats commanded what they pleased and the flattery of Courtiers fostered the unadvised Prince in all dissolutenesse by which means they made him obsequious unto them From the death of that constant Witnesse of Jesus Christ M. Patrike Hammilton God disclosing the wickednesse of the wicked as before we have heard There was one Forrest of Linlytquow taken who after long imprisonment in the said Tower of S. Andrews was adjudged to the fire by the â—aid Bishop Iames Betonne and his Doctors for no other crime but because he had a new Testament in English Further of that History we have not except that he died constantly and with great patience at S. Andrews After whose death thâ— flame of Persecution ceased till the death of M. Norman Gurlaw the space of ten yeeres or thereabout not that the bloody beasts ceased by all means to suppresse the lyght of God and to trouble such as in any sort were suspected to abhorre their corruption but because the Realme in these times was troubled with intestine and cruell warres in the which much blood was shed first at Melrosse betwixt the Dowglas and Balclench in the yeere of God 1526. the 24. day of July Next at Lynlythcow betwixt the Hamiltons and the Earle of Lenox who was sisters son to the Earle of Arran where the said Earle with many others lost his life the thirteenth day of September in the same yeere And last betwixt the King himself and the foresaid Dowglas whom he banished the Realme and held him in exile during his whole dayes By reason of these we say and of other troubles the Bishops and their bloody bands could not finde the time so favourable unto them as they required to execute their Tyrannie In this middle time so did the wisedome of God provide that Henry the eight King of England did abolish from his Realme the name and authority of the Pope of Rome commanded the Bible to be read in English suppressed the Abbeys and other places of Idolatry with their Idols which gave great hope to divers Realmes that some godly Reformation should thereof have ensued And therefore from this our Countrey did divers learned men and others that lived in feare of Persecution repaire to that Realme where albeit they found not such purity as they wished and therefore divers of them sought other countreys yet they escaped the tyrannie of mercilesse men and were reserved to better times that they might fructifie within his Church in divers places and parts and in divers vocations Alexander Setonne remained in England and publikely with great praise and comfort of many taught the Gospel in all sincerity certain yeers And albeit the craftinesse of Gardner Bishop of Winchester and of others circumvented the said Alexander so that they caused him at Pauls Crosse to affirme certaine things that repugned to his former Doctrine yet it is no doubt but that God potently had assisted him in all his life and that also in his death which shortly after followed he found the mercy of his God whereupon he ever exhorted all men to depend Alexander Alaesius Master Iohn Fyfe and that famous man Doctor Machabeus departed unto Dutchland where by Gods providence they were distributed to severall places Makdowell for his singular prudence besides his Learning and Godlinesse was elected borrow-Master in one of their steads Alaesius was appointed to the Universitie of Lipsia and so was Master Iohn Fyfe where for their honest behaviour and great erudition they were holden in admiration with all the
Gods just Judgement He was most oppressed for thâ— delation and false accusation of such as professed Christs Evangel as M. Thomas Mairioribanckes and M. Heus Rig then advocates did confesse to M. Henry Balnaves who from the said Thomas Scot came to him as he and M. Thomas Ballenden were sitting in Saint Giles Church and asked him forgivenesse of the said Thomas None of these terrible forewarnings could either change or alter the heart of the infortunate and misled Prince but still he did proceed in his accustomed wayes For in the midst of these evils he caused to put hands on that notable man M. George Buchanan to whom for his singular erudition and honest behaviour was committed the charge to instruct some of his naturall children But by the mercifull providence of God he escaped albeit with great difficulty the rage of those that sought his life and remaines alive to this day in the yeere of God 1566. to the glory of God to the great honour of this nation and to the comfort of those that delight in letters and vertue That singular Worke of Davids Psalms in Latin Meeter and Poesie besides many others can witnesse the rare graces of God given to that man which that Prince by instigation of the gray-Friers and of his other flatterers would altogether have devoured if God had not provided remedy to his servant by escaping the keepers being asleep he went out at the window This cruelty and persecution notwithstanding the monsters and hypocrites the gray-Friers day by day came farther in contempt for not onely did the learned espie and detest their abominable hypocrisie but also men in whom no such graces or gifts were thought to have been began plainly to paint the same forth to the people As this Ryme which here we have inserted for the same purpose made by Alexander Earle of Glevearne to this day 1566 alive can witnesse intituled An Epistle directed from the holy Hermite of Larites to his Brethren the gray-Friers I Thomas Hermite in Larite Saint Francis brother heartily greete Beseeching you with firme intent To be watchfull and diligent For thir Lutherans rissen of new Our ordour dayly doth pursew These smacks do set their whole intent To read this Engls ' new Testament And sayth we have them cleane desceivd Therefore in haste they must be stopped Our stately hypocrisie they pryse And do blaspheme us on this wise Saying that we are heretiks And false loud lying Matin tykes Cummerers and quellers of Christs Kyrk Such lasie scemlers that will not wirk But idlely our living winnes Devouring Wolfs into Sheepe-skinnes Hurkland with huids into our neck With Judas minde to Jowcke and Bek Seeking Gods people to devore The overthrowers of Gods glore Professors of hypocrisie Doctors in Idolatrie Fishears with the feynds nette The upclosers of heaven gate Cancard corrupters of the Creede Hemlock sowers among good seed To throw in brambles that do men twist The hye way kennand them from Christ Monsters with the Beasts marke Dogs that never stintes to barke Church men that are to Christ unkend A sect that Sathans selfe has send Lurking in holes lyke trator todes Maintainers of Idolles and false godes Fantastike fooles and frenzie flatterers To turne from the trueth the very teachers For to declare their whole sentence Would much cumber your conscience To say your fayth it is so stark Your cord and loosie cote and sark Ye lippin may you bring to salvation And quyte excludes Christ his passion I dread this doctrine and it last Shall either gar us worke or fast Therefore with speede we must provide And not our profit overslide I schaip my selfe within short while To curse our Ladie in Argyle And there some craftie wyse to worke Till that we builded have one Kyrk Since miracles made by your advice The kitterells thought they had but lyce The two parts to us they will bring But orderly to dresse this thing Aghaist I purpose for to cause gang By counsayll of Frear Walter Lang Which shall make certaine demonstrations To help us in our procurations Your holy ordor to decore That practise he provd once before Betwâ—xt Kyrkcadie and Kinggorne But Lymmers made thereat such skorne And to his fame made such digression Since syn he heard not the Kings confession Though at that time he came with speede I pray you take good will as deede And some among your selves receave As one worth many of the leave What I obtaine you through his art Reason wold ye had your part Your order handles no money But for other casualtie As beefe meale butter and cheese Or what else you have that you please Send your brethren and habete As now not els but valete Be Thomas your brother at command A Culrune kethed through many a land After God had given unto that mis-informed Prince sufficient documents that his warring against his blessed Gospel should not prosperously succeed He raised up against him Warres as he did of old against divers Princes that would not hear his voice in the which he lost himself as we shall hereafter heare The occasion of the Warre was this HENRY the eighth King of England had a great desire to have spoken with our King and in that point travelled so long till that he gat a full promise made to his Ambassadour Lord William Howard The place of meeting was appointed Yorke which the King of England kept with such solemnitie and preparations as never for such a purpose was seene in England before Great brute of that journey and some preparation for the same was made in Scotland But in the end by perswasion of the Cardinall David Beton and by others of his faction that journey was stayed and the Kings promise falsified Whereupon were sharp Letters of reproach sent unto the King and also unto his counsell King Henry frustrate returneth to London and after his indignation declared began to fortifie with men his frontiers toward Scotland There was sent to the borders Sir Robert Bowes the Earle of Angus and his brother Sir George Dowglas Upon what other trifling questions as for the debetable land and such the Warre brake up we omit to write The principall occasion was the falsifying of the promises before made Our King perceiving that Warre would rise asked the Prelats and Churchmen what support they would make to the sustaining of the same for rather would he yet satisfie the desire of his Uncle then he would hazard warre where he saw not his force able to resist They promised mountains of gold as Satan their father did to Christ Jesus if he would worship him for rather would they have gone to hell then he should have met with King Henry for then thought they Farewell our Kingdom of Abbots Monks c. And farewell thought the Cardinall his credit and glory in France In the end they promised fifty thousand crowns by yeere to be well paid so long as the Warre lasted and further That
profit might arise to the Crowne if he would follow their councell Packe you Iuglers get you to your charges and reforme your owne lives and be not instruments of discord betwixt my Nobilitie and me Or else I vow to God I shall reforme you not as the King of Denmarke by imprisonment doeth neither yet as the King of England doth by hanging and heading but I shall reproove you by sharpe punishments if ever I heare such motion of you againe The Prelats dashed and astonished with this answer ceased for a season to attempt any further by rigour against the Nobility But now being informed of all proceedings by their Pensioners Oliver Sincler Rosse Laird of Cragie and others who were to them faithfull in all things they conclude to hazard once again their former sute which was no sooner proponed but as soone it was accepted with no small regreate by the Kings own mouth that he had so long despised their counsell For said he now I plainely see your words to be true The Nobility neither desire my honour nor countenance for they would not ride a mile for my pleasure to follow mine enemies Will ye therefore finde me the meanes how that I may have a roade made into England without their knowledge and consent that it may be knowne to be mine owne reade and I shall binde me to your counsell for ever There were gratulations and clapping of hands there were promises of diligence closenesse and fidelity among them Finally conclusion was taken that the West borders of England which was most empty of men and Garrison should be invaded The Kings own Banner should be theirs Oliver the great Minion should be Generall-Lieutenant but no man should be privie except the counsell that was then present of the enterprise till the very day and execution thereof The Bishops gladly tooke the charge of that device Letters were sent to such as they would charge To meet the King at the day and place appointed The Cardinall with the Earle of Arran was directed to go to Hadington to make a shew against the East Border when the others were in readinesse to invade the West And thus neither lacked counsell practise closenesse nor diligence to set forward that Enterprise and so among these consulters there was no doubt of any good successe And so was the scroell thankfully received by the king himselfe and put into his owne pocket where it remained to the day of his death and then was found In it were contained more then an hundred landed men besides other of meaner degree Among whom was the Earle of Arran notwithstanding his siding with the current of the Court and his neernesse in blood to the King It was bruted that this roade was devised by the Lord Maxwell but the certaintie thereof we have not The night before the day appointed to the Enterprise the King was found at Lochmabane To him comes companies from all quarters as they were appointed no man knowing of another for no generall Proclamations past but privie Letters neither yet did the multitude know any thing of the purpose till after midnight when that the trumpet blew And commanded all men to march forward and to follow the King who was constantly supposed to have been in the host guides were appointed to conduct them towards England as both faithfully and closely they did upon the point of day they approached to the enemies ground and so passed the water without any great resistance made unto them The forward goeth foorth feare rises hership might have been seen on every side The unprovided people were altogether amazed for bright day appearing they saw an army of ten thousand men Their Beacons on every side send flames of fire unto the heaven To them it was more then a wonder that such a multitude could have been assembled and conveyed no knowledge thereof coming to any of their Wardens For support they looked not and so at the first they utterly despaired and yet began they to assemble together ten in one company twenty in another and so as the Fray proceeded their Troopes increased but to no number for Carlile fearing â—o have been assaulted suffered no man to issue out of their gates and so the greatest number that ever appeared or approached before the discomfiture past not three or four hundreth men and yet they made hot skirmishing as in their own ground in such feats as they are most expert about ten hours When fires were kindled and almost slackned on every side Oliver thought time to shew his glory and so incontinent was displayed the Kings Banner and he upholden by two Spears lift up upon mens shoulders there with sound of Trumpet was proclaimed Generall Lieutenant and all men commanded to obey him as the Kings own Person under all highest pains There was preseut the Lord Maxwell Warden to whom the regiment of things in absence of the King properly appertaineth He heard and saw all but thought more than he spake There were also present the Earls of Glencarne and Cassels with the Lord Flemyng and many other Lords Barons and Gentlemen of Lothaine Fife Angus and Mearnes In this Mountain did the skirmishing grow hotter than it was before shouters were heard on every side some Scottish-men were stricken down some not knowing the ground were mired and lost their horses Some English Horse of purpose were let loose to provoke greedie and imprudent men to presse at them as many did but found no advantage While such disorder rises more and more in the Army every man cried aloud My Lord Lievtenant What will ye do Charge was given that all men should light and go to array in order for they would fight Others cried Against whom will ye fight yonder men will fight none other wayes than ye see them do if ye will stand here while the morrow New purpose was taken That the Footmen they had there with them certain Bands of Souldiers should safely retire towards Scotland and the Horse-men should take their Horse again and so follow in order Great was the noyse and confusion that was heard while that every man calleth his own sluggards the day was neer spent and that was the cause of the greatest fear The Lord Maxwell perceiving what would be the end of such beginnings stood upon his feet with his friends who being admonished to take his horse and provide for himselfe answered Nay I will rather abide here the chance that it shall please God to send me than to go home and there be hanged and so he remained upon his foot and was taken while the multitude fled and tooke the greater shame The enemies perceiving the disorder increased in courage Before they shouted but then they stroke they shot Spears and dagged Arrows where the Companies were thickest some encounters were made but nothing availeth the Souldiers cast from them their Pikes and Culverings and other Weapons fencible the Horse-men left their Spears and
after in Seaton But at length by Bribes given to the said Lord Seaton and to the old Laird of Lethington he was restored to Saint Andrewes from whence he wrought all mischief as we shall after heare The PARLIAMENT approached which was before EASTER there began question of the abolishing of certaine Tyrannicall ACTS made before at the Devotion of the Prelates for the maintaining of their Kingdome of Darkenesse To wit That under paine of Heresie no man should reade any part of the Scriptures in the Vulgar Tongue neither yet any Tractate or Exposition of any place of Scripture Such Articles began to come in question we say And men began to enquire If it were not lawfull to men that understood no Latine to use the word of their Salvation in the Tongue they understood as it was for the Latine men to have it in Latine Grecians or Hebrews to have it in their Tongues It was answered That the Church he means the Prelats first had forbidden all Tongues but the three viz. Hebrew Greek and Latine But men demanded when that Inhibition was given and what Counsell had ordained it considering that in the dayes of Chrysostome he complained That the people used the Psalmes and other holy Books in their owne Tongues And if ye will say they were Greeks and understood the Greek Tongue We answere That Christ Jesus commanded his word to be Preached to all Nations now if it ought to be Preached to all Nations it must be Preached in the Tongue they understand Then if it be lawfull to Preach and heare it Preached in all Tongues Why should it not be lawfull to reade it and hear it read in all Tongues to the end that the people may try the spirits according to the commandment of the Apostle Beaten with these and other Reasons they denied not but it might be read in the Uulgar Tongue provided if the Translation were true It was demanded What could be reprehended in it And when much searching was made nothing could be found But that Love say they was put in the place of Charity When the Question was asked What difference was betwixt the one and the other and if they understood the nature of the Greek term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were dumb Reasoned for the party of the seculars The L. Ruthwen father to him that prudently gave counsell to take just punishment upon that knave David for that he abused the unhappy K. Henry Stuart in mo cases then one a stout and a discreet man in the cause of God and M. Henry Balneves an old professour For the part of the Clergy one Hay Dean of Lastarrik and certain old Bishops with him The conclusion was the Commissioners of Broughes and a part of the Nobility required of the Parliament that it might be Enacted That it should be lawfull to every man to use the benefit of the Translation which then they had of the Old and New Testament together with the benefit of other Treatises containing wholsome Doctrine untill such time as the Prelats and other Church-men should give and set forth unto them a Translation more correct The Clergie hereto long repugned But in the end convinced by Reasons and by multitude of voyces in their contrary they also condescended And so by Act of Parliament it was made free to all men and women to read the Scriptures in their owne Uulgar Tongue and so were all Acts made to the contrary abolished This was no small Victorie of CHRIST JESUS fighting against the conjured enemies of his Veritie No small comfort to such as before were holden in such bondage that they durst not have read The Lords Prayer The ten Commandments nor The Articles of their Faith in the Uulgar Tongue but they should have been accused of Heresie Then might have beene seene the Bible lying almost upon every Gentlemans Table The New Testament was borne about in many mens hands We grant that some alas prophaned that blessed Word for some that perchance had never read ten Sentences in it had it most common in their hand they would chop their familiars on the cheeke with it and say This hath lyne under my beds feet these ten yeers Others would glory O how oft have I been in danger for this Booke how secretly have I stollen from my wife at midnight to reade upon it And this was done we say of many to make cowrt and curry favour thereby For all men esteemed the Governour to have been one of the most fervent Protestants that was in Europe Albeit we say that many abused that libertie granted of God miraculously yet thereby did the knowledge of God wonderously increase and God gave his holy spirit to simple men in great abundance Then were set forth works in our owne Tongue besides those that came from England that did disclose the pride the craft the tyrannie and abuses of that Romane Antichrist The fame of our Governour was spread in divers countreys and many praised God for him King Henry the eight sent unto him his Ambassadour M. Radulph Saidlair who lay in Edinburgh a great part of the Summer his Commission and Negotiation was to contract a perpetuall amitie betwixt England and Scotland The occasion whereof God had so offered that to many men it appeared that from heaven he had declared his good pleasure in that behalfe For to King Henry of Iane Seymer after the death of Queene Katherine and of all others that might have made his Marriage suspect was given a sonne Edward the sixth of blessed memory elder some yeeres then our Mistresse and unto us was left a Queene as before we have heard This wonderfull providence of God caused men of greatest judgement to enter into disputation with themselves Whether that with good conscience any man might repugne to the desires of the King of England considering that thereby all occasion of Warre might be cut off and great commodity might ensue to this Realme The offers of King Henry was so large and his demands so reasonable that all that loved quietnesse were content therewith There were sent from the Parliament to King Henry in Commission Sir Iames Lermont and M. Henry Balnevis who long remaining in England so travailed that all things concerning the Marriage betwixt Edward the sixth and Mary Queen of Scots was agreed upon except the time of her deliverance to the custody of English-men Upon the finall conclusion of the which head were added to the former Commissioners William Earle of Glencarne and Sir George Dowglas to whom was given ample Commission and good Instructions In Scotland remained M. Radulph Saidlaire advertisements past so frequently betwixt yea the hands of our Lords liberally were anointed besides other commodities promised and of some received for divers Prisoners taken at Solway mosse were sent home free upon promise of their fidelity which as it was kept the issue will witnesse But in the end so well were all once content the Cardinall the
Queene and the faction of France ever excepted that solemnely in the Abbey of Hallyrud-house was the Contract of Marriage made betwixt the persons aforesaid together with all the Clauses and Conditions requisite for the faithfull observation thereof read in publike audience subscribed sealed approoved and allowed of the Governour for his part Nobilitie and Lords for their parts and that nothing should lacke that might fortifie the matter was Christs Body sacred as Papists terme it broken betwixt the said Governour and M. Saidlar Ambassadour and received of them both as a signe and token of the unitie of their mindes immediately to keepe that contract in all points as they looked of Christ Jesus to be saved and after to be reputed men unworthy of credit before the world The Papists raged against the Governour and against the Lords that had consented and abode fast to the Contract and to confound all as after follows But upon the returning of the aforesaid Ambassadours from England pacification was made for that time for by the judgements of eight persons for either partie chosen to judge whether that any thing was done by the said Ambassadours in the Contracting of that Marriage which to do they had not sufficient power from the Counsell and Parliament It was found that all things were done according to their Commission and that so they should stand And so were the Seales of England and Scotland interchanged Master Iames Fowles then Clerke of the Register received the great Seale of England And Master Saidlare received the great Seale of Scotland The heads of the Contract we passe by These things newly ratified the Merchants made preparation to Saile and to their Traffique which by the troubles of Warres had some yeeres been hindered From Edinburgh were fraughted twelve Ships richly laden according to the wares in Scotland From other Townes and Ports departed other who all arrived upon the coasts of England toward the South to wit in Yarmouth and without any great necessity entred not onely Roads but also within Ports and places of commandment and where that Ships might be arrested And because of the late contracted amitie and gentle entertainement that they found at the first they made no great dispatch But being as they supposed in security in merrinesse they spent the time abiding upon the winde In this meane time arrived from France to Scotland the Abbot of Paislay called now of late Iohn Hamilton bastard brother to the Governour whom yet many esteemed sonne to the old Bishop of Dunikelden called Crichton and with him M. David Panter who after was made Bishop of Rosse The brute of the learning of these two and their honest life and of their fervencie and uprightnesse in Religion was such that great hope there was that their presence should be comfortable to the Church of God For it was constantly affirmed of some that without delay the one or the other would go to the Pulpit and truely Preach Jesus Christ. But few dayes disclosed their hypocrisie For what terrours what promises or what enchaunting boxes they brought from France the common people knew not But shortly after it was seene that Frier Guilliamâ— was inhibited to Preach and so departed into England Iohn Rough to Kylle a receptacle of Gods servants of old The men of counsell judgement and godlinesse that had travailed to promote the Governour and that gave him faithfull counsell in all doubtfull matters were either craftily conveyed from him or else by threatning to be hanged were compelled to leave him Of the one number was the Laird of Grange aforesaid M. Henry Balneves M. Thomas Ballenden and Sir David Lindesay of the Mount Men by whose labours he was promoted to honour and by whose councell he so used himselfe at the beginning that the obedience given to him was nothing inferiour to that obedience that any King of Scotland of many yeeres had before him yea in this it did surmount the common obedience in that it proceeded from love of those vertues that was supposed to have beene in him Of the number of these that were threatned were M. Michael Durham M. David Borthinke David Forresse and David Bothwell who counselled him to have in company with him men fearing God and not to nourish wicked men in their iniquity albeit they were called his friends and were of his surname This counsell understood by the aforesaid Abbot and by the Hamiltons who then repaired to the Court as Ravens to the Carrion in plaine words it was said My Lord Governour nor his friends will never be at quietnesse till a dozen of these knaves that abuse his Grace be hanged These words were spoken in his own presence and in the presence of some of them that had better deserved then to have beene so used the speaker was allowed for his plain and bold speaking And so the wicked counsell followed honest and godly men left the Court and him in the hands of such as by their wicked counsell led him so far from God that he falsified his promise dipt his hands in the blood of the Saints of God and brought this Common-wealth to the very point of utter ruine And these were the first fruits of the Abbot of Paislay his counterfeit Godlinesse and Learning But hereof we will heare more All honest and godly men banished from the Court the Abbot and his counsell beginneth to lay before the inconstant Governour the dangers that might ensue the alteration and change of Religion The power of the King of France the commodity that might come to him and his house by retaining the ancient League with France and the great danger that he brought upon himselfe if in one jote he suffereth the authority of the Pope to be violated or called in doubt within this Realme Considering that thereupon onely stood the security of his pretended right to the succession of the Crowne of this Realme For by Gods word could not be good the divorcement of his father from Eliz. Hume sister to the Lord Hume his lawfull wife and consequently his marriage with Beton Neece to Iames Beton Bishop of S. Andrews Elizabeth Hume being alive must be null and he declared Bastard Caiphas spake Prophesie and yet wist not what he spake For at that time there was hardly any man that truely feared God that minded any such thing but with their whole force would have fortified him in the place that God had given unto him and would never have called in question things done in time of darknesse But this head we passe by till God declare his will therein Another practise was used As for the Cardinall he being set at libertie as before we have heard ceased not to traffique with such of the Nobility as he might draw to his faction or corrupt by any meanes to raise a partie against the said Governour and against such as stood fast at the Contract of Marriage and Peace with England And so assembled at Lynlytquow
that were criminall of their blood But the day approacheth when that the punishment of that cruelty and of others will evidently appears The names of the men that were hanged were Iames Hunter William Lambe William Anderson Iames Ruvals Burgesse of Saint Iohnston At that same time were banished Sir Henry Eldar Iohn Eldar Walter Piper Laurence Pullar with divers others whose names come not to our knowledge That sworn enemy to Christ Jesus and unto all in whom any spark of knowledge appeared had about that time in prison divers amongst whom was Iohn Roger a black Frier godly and learned one that had fruitfully preached Christ Jesus to the comfort of many in Angus and Mearnes whom that bloody man caused to murther in the ground of the Sea Tower in S. Andrews and then caused to cast him over the wall spreading a false brute That the said Iohn seeking to flie had broken his own neck This ceased not Sathan by all means to maintaine his kingdome of Darknesse and to suppresse the light of Christs Gospel But mighty is he against whom they â—â—ght for when the wicked were in greatest security then began God to show his anger For the third day of May in the yeer of our Lord 1544 yeers without knowledge of any man in Scotland we mean of such as should have had the care of the Realme was seen a great Navy of Ships arriving towards the Fyrth The Posts came to the Governour and Cardinall who both were in Edinburgh what multitude of Ships were seen and what course they took This was on the Saturday before noon Question was had What should they mean Some said It is no doubt but they are English-men and we fear that they will land The Cardinall skipped and said It is the Island flote they are come to make a shew and to put us in fear I shall lodge all the men of Warre in mine eye that shall land in Scotland Still sitteth the Cardinall at his dinner eating as though there had been no danger appearing Men assembled to gaze upon the Ships some to the Castle hill some to the mountains and other places eminent But there was no question With what Forces shall we resist if we be invaded Soon after six of the clock at night were arrived and had cast Ankor in the Road of Leith more than two hundred Sail. Shortly after the Admirall shot a flott Boat which from Granton hills till by East Leith sounded the deep and so returned to her Ship Hereof were divers opinions men of judgement foresaw what it meant but no credit was given to any that would say They minded to land and so passed every man to his rest as if the Ships had been a guard for their defence Upon the point of day upon Sunday the fourth of May addresse they for landing and they ordered the Ships so that a Galley or two laid their snouts to the hills the small Ships called Pinnaces and light Horse-men approached as neer as they could The great Ships discharged their Souldiers into the smaller Vessels and they by Boats set upon dry Land before ten of the clock 10000 men as was judged and more The Governour and Cardinall seeing then the thing that they could not or at least they would not believe before after they had made a brag to fight fled as fast as horse could carry them so that after they approached not within twenty miles of the danger The Earle of Angus and Sir George Dowglas were that night freed of Ward they were in Blacknesse The said Sir George in merrinesse said I thanke King Henry and my gentle Masters of England The English Army betwixt one and two of the clock entered into Leith found the Tables covered the dinners prepared such abundance of wine and victualls besides the other substance that the like riches within the like bounds was not to be found neither in Scotland nor England Upon Munday the fifth of May came to them from Barwick and the borders two thousand Horse-men who being somewhat reposed the Army upon the Wednesday marched toward the Town of Edinburgh spoiled and burnt the same and so did they the Palace of Halyrud-house The Horse-men took the House of Craigmiller and gat great spoils therein for it being judged the strongest House neer the Towne after the Castle of Edinburgh and all men sought to save their moveables therein But the stoutnesse of the Laird gave it over without shot of Hacke but and for his reward was caused to march upon his feet to London He is now Captain of Dumbar and Provost of Edinburgh The English-men seeing no resistance hurled by force of men Cannons upon the street to the Butter trone and above and hazarded a shot against the fore-entry of the Castle but that was to their own pains For they lying without Trench or Gabion were exposed to the force of the whole Ordnance of the said Castle which shot and that not all in vain for the Wheel and Axletree of one of the English Cannons was broken and some of their men slain and so they left with small honour that enterprise taken rather of rashnesse than of any advised counsell When the most part of the day they had spoiled and burnt towards the night they returned to Leith and upon the morrow returned to Edinburgh and executed the rest of Gods judgements for that time And so when they had consumed both the Towns they laded the Ships with the spoiles thereof and they by Land returned to Barwick using the Countrey for the most part at their own pleasure This was a part of the punishment which God took upon the Realm for the infidelity of the Governour and for the violation of his solemne Oath But this was not the end for the Realme was divided into two factions the one favoured France the other the League lately contracted with England The one did in no things credit thorowly the other so that the Countrey was in extreme calamity for to the English-men were delivered divers Strengths such as Carelaverock Lochmaben and Langham the most part of the Borderers were confederate with England And albeit at Ancrome mure in February in the yeer of God 1544. was Sir Rafe Ewers with many other English-men slain and the yeere after were some of the said strengths recovered yet was it not without great losse and detriment of the Common-wealth For in the month of Ianuary in the yeer of God 1545. Monsieur de Lorge with Bands of men of War came from France for a destruction to Scotland For upon their brag was an Army raised forwards they go towards Warke even in the midst of harvest The Cardinalls Banner was that day displayed and all his Files were charged to be under it many had before promised but at the point it was left so bare that with shame it was shut up into the pock againe and they after a shew returned with more
perpetuall prison And the ungodly judged That after this Christ Jesus should never triumph in Scotland On thing we cannot passe by From Scotland was sent a famous Clerke laugh not Reader M. Iohn Hammilton of Milburne with credit to the King of France and unto the Cardinall of Loraine and yet he had neither French nor Latine and some say his Scotish tongue was not very good The sum of his Negotiation was That those of the Castle should be sharply handled In the which Suit he was heard with favour and was dispatched from the Court of France with Letters and great credit which that famous Clerke forgate by the way For passing up to the Mountaine of Dumbartane before his letters were delivered he brake his neck and so God took away a proud ignorant enemy But now to our History These things against promise for Princes have no Fidelity further then for their owne advantage done at Roan the Galleys departed to Nantes in Britanie Where upon the water of Lore they lay the whole Winter In Scotland that Summer was nothing but mirth for all went with the Priests even at their own pleasure The Castle of S. Andrewes was razed to the ground the Block-house thereof cast downe and the walls round about demolished Whether this was to fulfill their law which commands that places where Cardinals are slain so to be used or else for fear that England should have taken it as after they did Brouchtie Rock we remit to the judgement of such as were of counsell This same yeer in the beginning of September entereth Scotland an Army of ten thousand men from England by Land and some Ships with Ordnance come by Sea The Governour and the Bishop hereof advertised gathered together the Forces of Scotland and assembled at Edinburgh The Protector of England with the Earle of Warwicke and their Army remained at Praeston and about Praeston Panes for they had certaine Offers to propose unto the Nobility of Scotland concerning the promise before made by them unto the which King Henry before his death gently required them to stand fast And if they would so do of him nor of his Realme they should have no trouble but the helpe and the comfort that he could make them in all things lawfull And hereupon there was a Letter directed to the Governour and Councell which coming to the hands of the Bishop of Saint Andrewes he thought it could not be for his advantage that it should be divulgate and therefore by his craft it was suppressed Upon the Friday the seventh of September the English Army marched towards Leith and the Scotish Army marched from Edinburgh to Ennernes The whole Scotish Army was not assembled and yet the skirmishing began for nothing was concluded but Victory without stroke The Protector the Earle of Warwicke the Lord Gray and all the English Captaines were playing at the Dice No men were stouter then the Priests and Channons with their shaven crowns and black Jacks The Earl of Warwick and the Lord Gray who had the chief charge of Horse-men perceiving the Host to be molested with the Scotish Preachers and knowing that the multitude were neither under order nor obedience for they were divided from the great Army sent forth certain Troops of Horse-men and some of their Borderers either to fetch them or else to put them out of their sight so that they might not annoy the Host. The Skirmish grew hot and at length the Scotish-men gave back and fled without gain turne The chase continued far both towards the East and towards the West in the which many were slain and he that now is Lord Home was taken which was the occasion that the Castle of Home was after surrendered to the English men The losse of these men neither moved the Governour nor yet the Bishop his bastard brother bragging That they would revenge the matter well enough upon the morrow for they had hands enow no word of God the English hereticks had no faces they would not abide Upon the Saturday the Armies of both sides past to Array The English Army takes the middle part of Fawside hill having their Ordnance planted before them and having their Ships and two Galleys brought as neer the Land as water would serve The Scotish Army stood first in a reasonable strength and good order having betwixt them and the English Army the water of Esk otherwise called Mussylburgh water But at length a charge was given in the Governours behalf with sound of Trumpet That all men should march forward and go over the water Some say that this was procured by the Abbot of Dunfermeling and Master Hew Rig for preservation of Carbarrie Men of judgement liked not the journey for they thought it no wisedom to leave their strength But commandment upon commandment and charge upon charge was given which urged them so that unwillingly they obeyed The Earle of Angus being in the Vant-guard had in his company the Gentlemen of Fyfe of Angus Mearnes and the Westland with many others that of love resorted unto him and especially those that were professors of the Gospel for they supposed that England would not have made great pursuit of him He passed first thorow the water and arrayed his Host direct before the enemies Followed the Earle of Huntley with his Northland men Last come the Governour having in his company the Earle of Argyle with his own friends and the Body of the Realme The English-men perceiving the danger and how that the Scotish-men intended to have taken the top of the hill made to prevent the perill The Lord Gray was commanded to give the charge with his men at Armes which he did albeit the hazard was very unlikely For the Earle of Angus Host stood even as a wall and received the first assaulters upon the points of their Spears which were longer then those of the English-men so rudely that fifty Horse and men of the first rank lay dead at once without any hurt done to the Scottish Armie except that the Spears of the former two Ranks were broken Which Discomfiture received the rest of the Horse-men fled yea some passed beyond Fawside Hill the Lord Gray himselfe was hurt in the mouth and plainly denied to chage againe for he said It was alike to run against a Wall The Galleyes and the ships and so did the ordnance planted upon Myde-hill shoot terribly But the ordnance of the Gallies shooting amongst the Scottish Army affraied them wonderously And while that every man laboured to draw from the North from whence the danger appeared they begin to faile and with that were the English foot-men marching forward Albeit that some of their horse-men were upon the flight The Earle of Angus army stood still looking that either Huntly or the Governour should have recountred the next battell But they had decreed that the favourers of England and the Hereticks as the priests called them and the Englishmen should part
it betwixt them for that day The feare riseth and at an instant they which before were victors and were not yet assaulted with any force except with ordnance as is said cast from them their spears and fled So that Gods power was so evidently seen that in one moment yea at one instant time both the armies were fleeing The shout came from the hill from those that hoped no victory upon the English part The shout rises we say They flee they flee but at the first it could not be beleeved till at the last it was clearly seene that all had given back and still began the cruell slaughter which was the greater by reason of the late displeasure of the men of arms the chase and slaughter lasted till neer Edinburgh upon the one part and toward Dalketh upon the other The number of the slain upon the Scottish side were judged nigh ten thousand men The Earle of Huntly was taken and carried to London But he relieved himselfe being surety for many reasons Honesty or unhonesty we know not but as the bruite was he used policie with England In that same time was slain the Master of Erskin dearly beloved of the Queene for whom she made great lamentation and bare his death many dayes in minde When the certaintie of the discomfiture came she was in Edinburgh abiding upon tidings But with expedition she posted that same night to Sterlin with Monsieur Dosell who was as fearfull as a Fox when his hole is smoaked And thus did God take the second revenge upon the perjured Governour with such as assisted him to defend an unjust quarrell Albeit that many innocents fell amongst the middest of the wicked The English armie came to Leyth and their taking order with their prisoners and spoile they returned with this victory which they looked not for to England That Winter following was great hearships made upon all the borders of Scotland Broughtie mountain was taken by the Englishmen and besieged by the Governor but still kept And at it was slain Gawine the best of the Hamiltons and the ordnance left Whereupon the Englishmen encouraged began to fortifie upon the hill above Broughty house which was called The fort of Broughty and was very noisome to Dundie which it burnt and laid waste and so did it the most part of Angus which was not assured and under friendship with them The Lent following was Hadington fortified by the English men The most part of Lothian from Edinburgh East was either assured or laid waste This did God plague in every quarter But men were blinde and would not nor could not consider the cause The Lairdes Ormeston and Brunstone were banished and after sore assaulted and so were all those of the Castle of S. Andrews The sure knowledge of the troubles of Scotland coming to France there was prepared a Navie and Army The Navie was such as never was seen to come from France for the support of Scotland for besides the Gallies being twenty two in number they had threescore great Ships besides Victuallers How soon so ever they took the plain seas the red Lion of Scotland was displayed and they holden as rebels unto France such policie is no falshood in Princes for good peace stood betwixt France and England And the King of France approved nothing that they did The chiefe men to whom the conducting of the Army was appointed were Monsieur Dandelott Monsieur de Termes and Peter Strozi In their journey they made some harship upon the coast of England but it was not great They arrived in Scotland in May in the yeere of our Lord 1549. The Gallies did visit the Fort of Broughtie but did no more at that time Preparations were made for the siege of Hadington but it was another thing that they meant as the issue declared The whole body of the Realm assembled the form of a Parliament was set to be holden there to wit in the Abbey of Hadington The principall head was the Marriage of the Princesse by the State before contracted to King Edward to the King of France and of her present deliverie by reason of the danger she stood in by the invasion of the old enemies of England Some were corrupted with buds some deceived by flattering promise and some for fear were compelled to consent for the French Souldiers were the officers of Arms in that Parliament The Laird of Balcleuch a bloody man with many Gods-wounds swore They that would not consent should do worse The Governour got the Title of Duke of Chattelherauld with the order of the Cockle and a Pension of 12000. lib. turn with a full discharge of all intermissions with King Iames the fift his treasure and substance whatsoever with possession of the Castle of Dumbartane till that issue should be seen of the Queenes body With these and other conditions stood he content to sell his Soveraigne out of his own hands which in the end will be his destruction God thereby punishing his former wickednesse if speedie repentance prevent not Gods judgements which we heartily wish Huntly Argyle and Angus were likewise made Knights of the Cockle and for that and other good deeds received they sold also their part Shortly none was found to resist that unjust demand And so was she sold to go to France To the end that in her youth she should drink of that liquor that should remain with her all her life time for a plague to this Realm and for her own ruine And therefore albeit that now a fire cometh out of her that consumes many let no man wonder she is Gods hand in his displeasure punishing our former ingratitude Let men patiently abide Gods appointed time and turn unto him with hearty repentance then God will surely stop the fire that now comes from her by sudden changing her heart to deal favourably with his people or else by taking her away or by stopping her to go on in her couâ—se by such meanes as he shall think meet in his wisdom for he having all in his hand disposeth of all and doth with all according to his own will unto which we must not onely yeeld but also be heartily pleased with it since it is absolutely good and both by Sacred and Prophane History we are taught to do so for in them we finde That Princes have been raised up by his hands to punish his people But when they turned unto him with hearty repentance he either turned the heart of the Prince to deal kindly with his people or else did take him away or at least did stop his violent course against his people Of this the examples are so frequent that we spare to name them heere But to returne to our Historie This conclusion That our Queene without further delay should be delivered to France The siege continued great shooting but no assaulting and yet they had fair occasion offered unto them For the English-men approaching to
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
prudent and circumspect did compell the Captains as is alleadged to bring their men so nigh that either they must needs have hazarded battell with the whole French-men and that under the mercy of their Cannons also or else they must needs retire in a very narrow corner For our men were approached neer to Lestarrig The one part of the French were upon the North toward the Sea the other part marched from Leith to Edinburgh and yet they marched so that we could have foughten with neither Company before that they should have joyned We took purpose therefore to retire towards the Towne and that in haste left that the former Company of the French should either have invaded the Towne before that we could have come to the rescue thereof or else have cut us off from the entry of the Abbey of Halyrud-house as apparantly they had done if that the Laird of Grange and Alexander Whitlaw with a few Horse-men had not stayed both their Horse-men and Foot-men The Company which was next us perceiving that we retired with speed sent forth their skirmishers to the number of three or four hundred who took us at a disadvantage before us having the mire of Lestarrig betwixt us and them and we were enclosed by the Park ditch so that in no wise we could avoid their shot The Horse-men followed upon our heels and slue divers Our own Horse-men over-rode our Foot-men and so by reason of the narrownesse of the place there was no resistance made The Earle of Arran the Lord Iames in great danger lighted amongst the Foot-men exhorting them to have some respect to order and to the safety of their brethren whom by their flying they exposed to murther and so were criminall of their death Captain Alexander Halyburnetoun a man that feared God tarried with certain of his Souldiers behinde and made resistance till that he was first shot and then taken but being known those cruell murtherers wounded him in divers parts to the death and yet as it were by the power of God he was brought in to the Towne where in few but yet most plaine words he gave Confession of his Faith testifying That he doubted nothing of Gods mercy purchased to him by the Blood of Christ Jesus neither yet that he repented that it pleased God to make him worthy to shed his blood and spend his life in defence of so just a Cause And thus with the dolour of many he ended his dolour and did enter we doubt not into that blessed Immortality within two hours after our departure There were slain to the number of twenty four or thirty men the most part poor There was taken the Laird of Pitmillie the Laird of Pharnie younger the Master of Bowchane George Cuwell of Dundie and some others of lower rank Iohn Dumbar Lieutenant to Captain Movet Captain David Murray had his horse slain and himselfe hurt in the legge Few dayes before our first departure which was upon Alhallow Even William Maitland of Lethington younger Secretary to the Queen perceiving himself not onely to be suspected as one that favoured our part but also to stand in danger of his life if he should remain amongst so ungodly a company for whensoever matters came in question he spared not to speak his conscience which liberty of tongue and gravity of judgement the French did highly disdain Which perceived by him he conveyed himself away in the morning and tendred himself to M. Kirkcaldie Laird of Grange who coming to us did exhort us to constancy assuring us That in the Queen there was nothing but craft and deceit He travelled exceedingly to have retained the Lords together and most prudently laid before their eyes the dangers that might ensue their departing from the Towne but fear and dolour had so seized the hearts of all that they could admit no consolation The Earle of Arran and the Lord Iames offered to abide if any reasonable company would abide with them but men did so steal away that the wit of man could not stay them yea some of the greatest determined plainly That they would not abide The Captain of the Castle then Lord Erskin would promise unto us no favour but said He must needs declare himself friend to those that were able to support and defend him Which answer given to the Lord Iames discouraged those that before determined to have abidden the uttermost rather then to have abandoned the Towne so that the Castle would have stood their friend but the contrary declared every man took purpose for himself The complaints of the brethren within the Towne of Edinburgh was lamentable and sore the wicked then began to spue forth the venome which then lurked in their cankred hearts The godly as well those that were departed as the inhabitants of the Town were so troubled that some of them would have preferred death to life at Gods pleasure For avoiding of danger it was concluded That they should depart at midnight The Duke made provision for his Ordnance and caused it to be sent before but the rest was left to the care of the Captain of the Castle who received it as well that which appertained to the Lord Iames as that of Dundie The despightfull tongues of the wicked rayled upon us calling us Traytors and Hereticks every one provoked other to cast stones at us One cryed Alas if I might see another defie given Give advertisement to the French-men that they may come and we shall help them now to cut the throats of these hereticks And thus as the sword of dolour passed thorow our hearts so were the cogitations and former determinations of many hearts then revealed For we would never have believed that our naturall Countrey-men and women could have wished our destruction so unmercifully and have so rejoyced in our adversity God move their hearts to repentance for else we fear that he whose Cause we sustain shall let them feel the weight of the yoke of cruell strangers into whose hands they wished us to have been betrayed We stayed not till we came to Sterlin which we did the day after that we departed from Edinburgh for it was concluded that there consultation should be taken What was the next remedy in so desperate a matter The next Wednesday which was the 7 of November Iohn Knox preached Iohn Willock was gone into England as before he appointed and treated of the 5 6 7 and 8 Verses of the 80 Psalm where David in the person of the afflicted people of God speaketh this in the fourth Verse The Sermon of Iohn Knox in Sterlin in the greatest of our trouble O thou the eternall the God of Hosts how long shalt thou be against the prayer of thy people 5 Thou hast fed us with the bread of tears and hast given to us tears to drinke in great measure 6. Thou hast made us a strife unto our neighbours and our enemies laught us to scorne amongst themselves 7. O God
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
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
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
with such others of the French faction who had openly spoken That they had refused all portion of Scotland unlesse that it were under the government of a French-man Recompence them O Lord as thou knowest most expedient for thine owne glory and for the perpetuall shame of all Traitours to their Common-wealth The certain knowledge of all these things came to our eares whereat many were afraid and divers suspected that England would not be so forward in times to come considering that their former expences were so great The principall comfort remained with the Preachers for they assured us in Gods Name that God would performe in all perfection that worke in our hands The beginning whereof he had so mightily maintained because it was not ours but his own And therefore exhorted us That we should constantly proceed to reform all abuses and to plant the Ministery of the Church as by Gods word we might justifie it and then commit the successe of all to our God in whose power the disposition of Kingdoms standeth And so we began to do for troubles appearing made us give eare to the admonitions of Gods servants And while that we had scarcely begun again to implore the help of our God and to shew some signes of our obedience unto his Messengers and holy Word Lo the mighty hand of God from above sent unto us a wonderfull and most joyfull deliverance For unhappy Francis husband to our Soveraigne suddenly perished of a rotten eare But because the death of that young man was not onely the cause of joy to us in Scotland but also by it were the faithfull in France delivered as it were from the present death We think expedient to speak of the same somewhat more largely These cruell and conjured enemies of God and of all godlinesse the Duke of Guise the Cardinall of Loraine and their faction who then at their owne appetite plaid the Tyrants in France had determined the destruction of all that professed the true knowledge of Jesus Christ within that Realme What tyrannie late before they had used at Amboyse the History of France doth witnesse now in Orleance in the moneth of November conveaned the King unhappy Francis the Queen our Soveraigne and the Queen mother of the King the Duke of Guise with all his faction The King of Navarre and the Prince of Condie his brother So that great was the confluence of the Nobilitie but greater was the assembly of the murtherers for there was not a Hang-man in all France which was not there The prisons were full of the true servants of God The King of Navarre and the Prince of Condie were constituted Prisoners The Sheriffe of Orleance a man fearing God was taken and so were many others of the Towne Briefly there was none that professed God or godlinesse within that Towne that looked not for the extremity for the Walles and Gates were night and day kept with the Garisons of the Guysians miserable men were daily brought in to suffer judgement but none was suffered to depart forth but at the devotion of the Tyrants And so they proceeded till the tenth or twelfth of December when that they thought time to put their bloody councell in execution and for that purpose conclusion was taken That the King should depart out of the Towne and lie at a certaine place which was done to this intent That there should no suite be made to the King for the safetie of any mans life whom they thought worthy of death And so was the Kings house in Orleance broken up his beds cofers and tapistrie sent away his owne bootes put on he sitting at the Masse immediately hereafter to have departed and so their tyrannie to have begun When all things we say were in this readinesse to shed the blood of innocents the eternall our God who ever watcheth for the preservation of his owne began to worke and suddenly did put his own work in execution for as the said King sat at Masse he was suddenly stricken with an Aposthume in that deaf ear that never would hear the Trueth of God and so was he carried to a void and empty house laid upon a palliase unto such time as a Cannaby was set up unto him where he lay till the fifteenth day of December in the yeere of God 1560. When his glory perished and the pride of his stubborne heart vanished in smoke And so was the snare broken The Tyrants disappointed of their crueltie Those that was appointed to death raised as it were out of their graves And we who by our foolishnesse had made our selves slaves to strangers were restored againe to freedome and libertie of a free Realme O that we had hearts deepely to consider what are thy wondrous works O Lord that we might praise thee in the midst of this most obstinate and wicked generation and leave the memoriall of the same to our posterities which alas we feare shall forget these thy inestimable benefits Some in France after the sudden death of Francis the 2. and calling to minde the death of Charles the 9 in blood and the slaughter of Henry the 2. did remark the Tragicall ends of these three Princes who had persecuted Gods servants so cruelly by their instruments the Guisians and by their Pens both in Prose and Verse did advise all other Princes not to authorize any Persecution or wrong done unto Gods servants left they should have the like end And indeed the following Kings of France unto this day hath found this true by their infortunate and unexpected ends The death of this King made great alteration in France England and Scotland France was erected in some esperance that the tyranny of the Guisians should no longer raigne above them because God at unawares had broken the staffe whereupon they leaned but alas they were deceived For the simplicity of some was so abused that against the Lawes of the Realm to the Queen mother was committed the Regiment which lifted up as well the Duke of Guise as the cruell Cardinall for a season The Queen of England and the Councell remitted our Ambassadours The pride of the Papists of Scotland began to be abated and some that ever had shewn themselves enemies unto us began to think and plainly to speak amongst whom the old Sheriff of Ayre was one That they perceived God to fight for us The Earle of Arrane having suffered repulse in his designe to marry the Queen of England he began to fancie unto himselfe that the Queen of Scotland bare unto him some favour And so he wrote unto her and sent for credit a Ring which the said Queen our Soveraign knew well enough The Letter and Ring were both presented to the Queen and by her received Such answer was returned to the said Earle after the which he made no further pursuit in that matter And yet neverthelesse he did bear it heavily in heart and more heavily then his friends would have wished for grief he
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
that it came to the Ears of Herod that our Master Jesus Christ called him a Fox but they told him not how odious a thing it was before God to murther an Innocent as he had lately done before causing to behead Iohn the Baptist to reward the dancing of an Harlots daughter Madame if the reporters of my words had been honest men they would have reported my words and the circumstances of the same but because they would have credit in Court and wanting vertue worthy thereof they must have somewhat to please your Majestie if it were but flatteries and lies But such pleasure if any your Majestie take in such persons will returne to your everlasting displeasure for Madame if your own Ears had heard the whole matter that I treated if there be in you any spark of the Spirit of God yea of honestie and wisedome you would not justly have been offended with any thing that I spake And because you have heard their report please your Majesty to hear my self rehearse the same so near as memory will serve it was even upon the next day after that the Sermon was made My Text said he Madame was this And now O Kings understand be learned ye Iudges of the Earth After Madame said he that I had declared the dignity of Kings and Rulers the honour wherein God hath placed them the obedience that is due unto them being Gods Lieutenants I demanded this question But oh alas what account shall the most part of Princes make before that Supreme Judge whose Throne and Authoritie so manifestly and shamefully they abuse the complaint of Solomon is this day most true to wit That violence and oppression do occupie the Throne of God here in this Earth for whilest that murtherers blood-thirsty men oppressors and Malefactors dare be bold to present themselves before Kings and Princes and that the poor Saints of God are banished and exiled what shall we say but that the Devill hath taken possession in the Throne of God which ought to be fearfull to all wicked doers and a refuge to the innocent oppressed and how can it otherwise be for Princes will not understand they will not be learned as God commands them but Gods Law they despise his Statutes and Holy Ordinances they will not understand for in fidling and flinging they are more exercised than in reading or hearing Gods most blessed Word and Fidlers and Flatterers which commonly corrupt the Youth are more precious in their eyes then men of wisedome and gravitie who by wholesome admonitions may beat down in them some part of that vanity and pride wherein we all are born but in Princes take deep root and strength by evill education And of dancing Madame I said That albeit in Scriptures I found no praise of it and in prophane Writers that it is termed the gesture rather of those that are Mad and in phrensie then of sober men yet do I not utterly condemn it providing that two vices be avoyded the former That the principall Vocation of those that use that exercise be not neglected for the pleasure of Dancing Secondly That they dance not as the Philistins their Fathers for the pleasure that they take in the displeasure of Gods people for if they do these or either of them they shall receive the reward of Dancers and that will be to drink in Hell unlesse they speedily repent so shall God turne their mirth into sudden sorrow For God will not alwayes afflict his people neither will he alwayes wink at the Tyranny of Tyrants If any Madame said he will say that I spake more let him publikely accuse me for I think I have not onely touched the summe but the very words as I spake them Many that stood by did bear witnesse with him that he had recited the very words that publikely he spake The Queen looked about to some of the Reporters and said Your words are sharpe enough as you have spoken them but yet they were told me in another manner I know said she that my Uncles and you are not of one Religion and therefore I cannot blame you to have no good opinion of them but if you hear any thing of my self that mislikes you come to my self and tell me and I shall hear you Madame quoth he I am assured that your Uncles are enemies to God and unto his Son Jesus Christ and for maintenance of their own pompe and worldly glory that they spare not to spill the blood of many Innocents and therefore I am assured that these enterprises shall have no better successe than others have had that before them have done as they doe now But as to your own person Madame I would be glad to doe all that I could to your Majesties contentment providing that I exceed not the bounds of my Vocation I am called Madame to a publike function within the Church of God and appointed by God to rebuke the vices and sins of all I am not appointed to come to every man in particular to shew him his offence for that labour were infinite if your Majestie pleaseth to frequent the publike Sermons then I doubt not but that you shall fully understand both what I like and mislike as well in your Majesty as in all others Or if your Majesty will assigne unto me a certaine day and houre when it will please you to hear the form and substance of Doctrine which is proposed in publike to the Churches of this Realm I will most gladly wait upon your Majesties pleasure time and place but to come to wait upon your chamber door or elswhere and then to have no further liberty but to whisper my minde in your Majesties eare or to tell you what others think and speak of you neither will my conscience nor the vocation whereto God hath called me suffer it for albeit at your Majesties commandment I am here now yet I cannot tell what other men will judge of me that at this time of the day I am absent from my book and waiting at the Court You will not alwayes said she be at your Booke and so turned her back And the said Iohn departed with a reasonable merry countenance whereat some Papists offended said He is not afraid which heard by him he answered Why should the pleasant face of a Lady afray me I have looked in the faces of many angry men and yet have not been afraid above measure and so left he the Queen and the Court for that time In this mean time the negotiation was great betwixt the Queen of England and our Soveraigne Letters Curriours and Posts ran frequent great bruit there was of the interviewe and meeting at Yorke and some preparation was made therefore in both the Realmes but that failed upon the part of England and that by occasion of the troubles moved in France as was alleaged which caused the Queene of England and the Councill attend upon the South parts of England for
that the rest of the Lords were charged with and also commanded to give over the House of Lochmabben and the Castle which he had in keeping for the Queen And albeit he obeyed not yet was he not put to the Horne as the rest Neverthelesse there was no man that doubted of his good will and partaking with the Lords who in the mean time sent Robert Melvin to the Queen of England and declared their state to her Majesty desiring support Now the chief care and solicitude that was in the Court was By what means they might come to have money for notwithstanding this great preparation for warre and eminent appearance of trouble yet were they destitute of the sinewes of Warre albeit the Treasurers and now Comptroller to wit the Laird of Tilbardin had disbursed many thousands yet there was no appearance of payment of souldiers nor scarcely how the King and Queens Houses and pompous Trains should be upholden there was about 600. Horsmen besides the Guard and 3. Ensignes of footmen The charge of the whole would amount to 1000. l. ster every moneth a thing surpassing the usuall manner of Scotland At this time arrived the Earl of Bothwell who was welcome and graciously received by the Queen and immediately placed in Councell and made Lieutenant of the West and middle Marches Now as every one of the Barons compounded to be exempted from this meeting the E. of Athole demanded of Edinburgh 200. l. ster but they refused to pay it notwithstanding Octo. 27. there was a certain number of the principall and rich persons of the Town warned by a Macer to passe to the Palace of Hallyrudhouse to the King and Queen who declared to them by their own mouthes speaking that they had use for money and therefore knowing them to be honest men and the inhabitants of the best Citie in their Countrey they must needs charge them and for security they should have other men bound for pledges or any Hand therefore The sum that they desired was 1000 l. sterl and no lesse They being astonished made no answer but Parson Flisk standing by said That seeing the King and Queens Majesties desired them so civilly in a thing most lawfull in their necessitie they did shew themselves not honest to keepe silence and give no answer to their Majesties for that must needs be had of them which was required and if they would not they should be constrained by the Laws which they would not abide for some of them had deserved hanging said he because they had lent large summs of money to the King and Queens enemies and Rebels and therefore they must shortly suffer great punishment Soon after they were called in one by one and demanded how much they would lend some made this excuse and some that by reason there were that offered to lend money amongst whom there was one offered to lend 20 l. To him the Earle of Athole said Thou art worthy to be hanged that speakest of 20 l. seeing the Princes charge thee so easily Finally they were all imprisoned and souldiers set over them having their Muskets ready charged and their Match lighted even in the house with them where they remained all that night and the next day till night and then being changed from one prison to another there were six chosen out and sent in the night to the Castle of Edinburgh convoyed with Musketteers round about them as if they had been Murtherers or most vile persons At length the third day by means of the Laird of Craigmiller Provest and some others the summe was made more easie to wit a 1000 Marks sterling to be paid immediately and to have the superioritie of Leithin in Pledge to wit upon condition of Redemption And besides the said summe of 1000 Marks sterlin they paid 1000 l. sterl For the meeting at Dumfreis at the day appointed for electing the officers the Queen sent in a Ticket such as she would have them to chuse for Provest Bailiffs and Councell whereof there was a number of Papists the rest not worthy Of the number given in by the Queen they named such as should rule for that year Notwithstanding without free Election the Laird Craigmiller remained Provest who shewed himself most willing to set forward Religion to punish vice and to maintain the Common-wealth All this time the Ministers cried out against the Masse and such Idolatry for it was more advanced by the Queen then before The first day of October met in Edinburgh the Superintendant of Lothian with all the Ministers under his charge according to their ordinary custome for every Superintendant used to convene the whole Ministery and there it was complained on That they could get no payment of their stipends not only about the City but thorow the whole Realm Therefore after reasoning and consultation taken they framed a supplication directed to the King and Queen and immediately presented the same to their Majesties by M. Iohn Spottswood Superintendant of Lothian and Master David Lindsey Minister of Leith it contained in effect That forasmuch as it had pleased the King and Queens Majesties with advice of the Privie Councell to grant unto the Ministers of the Word their stipends to be taken of the Thirds of the Benefices which Stipends are now detained from the said Ministers by reason of the troubles and changing of the Comptroller whereby they are not able to live and therefore most humbly craved the King and Queens Majesty to cause them to be paid Their answer was That they would cause order to be taken therin to their contentment Soon after the Lord Gordion came to Edinburgh and left the most part of his people at Sterlin with his carriage the King and Queen for hope of his good service to be done restored him to his Fathers place to the Earledome of Hintley the Lands and Heritage thereof October 8. the King and Queene marched forth of Edinburgh towards Dumfreis and as they passed from the Pallace of Hallyrud-house all men were warned with Jack and Spear The first night they came to Sterlin and the next to Craford the day after the Lairds of Drunlaurick and Lochinvar met the Queen albeit they had been with the Lords familiar enough The Lords perceiving that all hope of reconciliation was past they rode to Ednam where they remained till the Queen came to Dumfreis and then they past to Carlile Now the Master of Maxwell who had entertained the Lords familiarly and subscribed with them and had spoken as highly against their enemies as any of themselves and had received large mony by that means to wit 1000. l. to raise a Band or Troup of Horsmen and that the same day the King and Queen came to Dumfreis the third day after their coming he came to them conveyed by the Earle Bothwell with divers other Noblemen At length the Earles of Athole and Hintley were Sureties for him and all things past remitted upon condition that he should be a faithfull and
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
passe over the Tyrants of old time whom God hath plagued let us come to the Tyrants which now are within the Realm of England whom God will not long spare If Steven Gardener Cuthbert Tunstal and Butcherly Bonnar false Bishops of Winchester Duresme and of London had for their false Doctrine and Traiterous acts suffered death when they justly deserved the same then would arrant Papists have alleadged as I and others have heard them do that they were men reformable That they were meet Instruments for a Common-wealth That they were not so obstinate and malicious as they were judged neither that they thirsted for the blood of any man And of Lady Mary who hath not heard That she was not sober mercifull and one that loved the Common-wealth of England Had she I say and such as now be of her pestilent Councell been dead before these dayes then should not their iniquity and cruelty so manifestly have appeared to the world for who could have thought that such cruelty could have entred into the heart of a woman and into the heart of her that is called a Virgine that she would thirst for the blood of innocents and of such as by just Laws and faithfull witnesses can never be proved to have offended by themselves I finde that Athalia through appetite to Reign murthered the Seed of the Kings of Iudah and that Herodias daughter at the desire of a whorish Mother obtained the head of Iohn the Baptist but yet that ever a woman suffered her self to be called the most blessed Virgin caused so much blood to be spilt for establishing of the usurped Authoritie of the Pope I think the like is rare to be found in Scripture or other History I finde that Iezabel that cursed Idolatresse caused the blood of the Prophets of God to be shed and Naboth to be murthered unjustly for his own Vineyard but yet I think she never erected halfe so many Gallows in all Israel as mischievous Mary hath done within London alone But you Papists will excuse your Mary the Virgine Well let her be your Virgine and a Goddesse meet to entertain such Idolaters yet shall I rightly lay to her charge that which I think no Papist within England will justifie nor defend And therefore O ye Papists here I will a little turn my Pen unto you Answer unto this Question O ye Seed of the Serpent Would any of you have confessed two years ago that Mary your mirrour had been false dissembling unconstant proud and a breaker of promises except such promises as she made to your god the Pope to the great shame and dishonour of her noble Father I am sure you would hardly have thought it of her And now doth she not manifestly shew her self to be an open Traitoresse to the Imperiall Crown of England contrary to the just Laws of the Realme to bring in a stranger and make a proud Spanyard King to the shame dishonour and destruction of the Nobilitie to the spoile of their Honours Lands Possessions chief Offices and promotions of them and theirs To the utter decay of the Treasures Commodities Navie and Fortifications of the Realm to the abasing of the Yeomandry to the slavery of the Commonalty to the overthrow of Christianity and Gods true Religion and finally to the utter subversion of the whole publike estate and Common-wealth of England Let Norfolk and Suffolke let her own Promise and Proclamation let her fathers Testament let the Citie of London let the ancient Laws and Acts of Parliaments before established in England be judges betwixt mine accusation and her most tyrannous iniquity First her Promise and Proclamation did signifie and declare That neither she would bring in neither yet Marry any stranger Northfolk Suffolk and the Citie of London do testifie and witnesse the same The ancient Laws and Acts of Parliament pronounceth it Treason to transferre the Crown of England into the hands of a forraigne Nation and the Oath made to observe the said Statutes cryeth out That all they are perjured that consent to that her traiterous fact Speak now O ye Papists and defend your monstrous Masters and deny if ye can for shame that she hath not uttered her self to be borne alas therefore to the ruine and destruction of noble England Oh who would ever have beleeved I write now in bitternesse of heart that such unnaturall crueltie should have had dominion over any reasonable creature But the saying to be true That the usurped Government of an affectionate woman is a rage without reason Who would ever have thought that the love of that Realme which hath brought forth which hath nourished and so nobly maintained that wicked woman should not have moved her heart with pitie Who seeth not now that she in all her doings declareth most manifestly that under an English name she beareth a Spaniards heart If God I say had not for our scourge suffered her and her cruell Councell to have come to Authority then could never these their abominations cruelty and treason against God against his Saints and against the Realm whose liberties they are sworn to defend so manifestly have been declared And who ever could have beleeved That proud Gardener and treacherous Tunstall whom all Papists praised for the love they bare to their Countrey could have become so manifestly Traiterous not onely against their solemne Oathes that they should never consent nor agree unto that a forraigne Stranger should reigne over England but also that they would adjudge the Imperiall Crown of the same to appertain to a Spanyard by inheritance Lineall discent O Traiterous Traitours how can you for shame shew your faces It cometh to my minde that upon Christmas day Anno 1552. preaching in New-Castle upon Tine and speaking against the obstinacie of the Papists I made this affirmation That whosoever in his heart was enemy to Christs Gospel and Doctrine which then was preached within the Realm of England was enemy also to God and secret traitours to the Crown and Common-wealth of England for as they thirsted nothing more then the Kings death which their iniquity could procure so they regarded not who should reign over them so that their Idolatry might be erected again How these my words at that time pleased men the crimes and action intended against me did declare But let my very enemies now say their conscience if those may words have not proved true What is the cause that Winchester and the rest of his pestilent sect so greedily would have a Spanyard to reign over England The cause is mafest for as that Hellish Nation surmounteth all other in pride and Whoredome so for Idolatry and vaine Papisticall and devillish Ceremonies they may rightly be called the very sons of superstition And therefore are they found and judged by the Progeny of Antichrist most apt Instruments to maintain establish and defend the Kingdom of that cruell Beast whose head and wound is lately
deep But such was the deadly despair of him that alwayes had despised Gods Prophets and had most abominably defiled himself with Idolatry that no consolation could enter into his heart but desperately and with a dissembling and fained excuse he refused all the offers of God And albeit God kept touch with that hypocrite for that time which was not done for his cause but for the safety of his afflicted Church yet after escaped he not the vengeance of God The like we reade of Zedekiah the wretched and last King of Iudah before the destruction of the City of Ierusalem who in his great fear and extreme anguish sent for Ieremiah the Prophet and secretly demanded of him How he might escape the great danger that appeared when the Caldeans besieged the City And the Prophet boldly spake and commanded the King if he would save his life and the City to render and give up himself into the hands of the King of Babylon But the miserable King had no grace to follow the Prophets counsell because he never delighted in the said Prophets Doctrine neither yet had shewed unto him any friendly favour But even as the enemies of God the chiefe Priests and false Prophets required of the King so was the good Prophet evilly used sometimes cast into prison and sometimes judged and condemned to die The most evident testimony of the wilfull blinding of wicked Idolaters is written and recited in the same Prophet Ieremiah as followeth After that the City of Ierusalem was burnt and destroyed the King led away prisoner his sons and chief Nobles slain and the whole vengeance of God poured out upon the disobedient yet there was left a remnant in the Land to make use of and possesse the same who called upon the Prophet Ieremiah to know concerning them the will and pleasure of God Whether they should remain still in the Land of Iudea as was appointed and permitted by the Caldeans Or if they should depart and flie into Egypt To certifie them of this their duty they desire the Prophet to pray unto God for them Who condescending and granting their Petition promised to keep back nothing from them which the Lord God should open unto him And they in like manner taking God to record and witnesse made a solemn Vow To obey whatsoever the Lord should answer unto him But when the Prophet by the inspiration of the Spirit of God and assured revelation and knowledge of his Will commanded them to remain still in the Land that they were in promising them if they so would do That God would there plant them and that he would repent of all the plagues that he had brought upon them and that he would be with them to deliver them from the hands of the King of Babylon But contrariwise if they would not obey the voyce of the Lord but would against his Commandment go to Egypt thinking that there they should live in rest and aboundance without any fear of Warre and penury of victuall then the very plagues which they feared should come upon them and take them For saith the Prophet it shall come to passe That all men that obstinately will go to Egypt there to remain shall die either by sword by hunger or pestilence But when the Prophet of God had declared unto them this plain sentence and will of God I pray you what was their answer The text declared it saying Thou speakest a lie neither hath the Lord our God sent thee unto us commanding that we should not go into Egppt but Baruch the sonne of Neriah provoketh thee against us that he may give us into the power of the Caldees that they might kill us and lead us prisoners into Babylon And thus they refused the counsell of God and followed their owne fantasies Here may be espied in this people great obstinacie and blindnesse for nothing which the Lord had before spoken by this Prophet Ieremy had fallen in vain Their own eyes had seen the plagues and miseries which hee had threatned take effect in every point as he had spoken before yea they were yet green and fresh both in minde and presence for the flame and fire wherewith Ierusalem was consumed and burnt was then scantly quenched and yet could they not beleeve his threatnings then spoken neither yet could they follow his fruitfull counsell given for their great wealth and safeguard And why so Because they never delighted in Gods Truth neither had they repented their former Idolatry but still continued and rejoyced in the same as manifestly appeareth in the four and fortieth Chapter of the same Prophet and therefore would they and their wives have been in Egypt where all kinde of Idolatry and Superstition abounded that they without reproach or rebuke might have their Bellyes full thereof in despight of Gods holy Lawes and Prophets In writing hereof it came to my minde that after the death of that innocent and most godly King Edward the sixt while that great tumult was in England for the establishing of that most unhappy and wicked womans Authority I mean of Mary that now reigneth in Gods wrath entreating the same argument in a Town in Buckingam Shire named Hammersham before a great congregation with sorrowfull heart and weeping eyes I fell into this exclamation O England now is Gods wrath kindled against thee now hath he begun to punish as he hath threatned a long while by his true Prophets and Messengers he hath taken from thee the Crown of thy glory and hath left thee without honour as a body without a head And this appeareth to be onely the beginning of sorrows which appeareth to increase for I perceive that the heart the tongue and hand of one English man is bent against another and devision to be in the whole Realm which is an assured signe of desolation to come O England England doest thou not consider that the Common-wealth is like a Ship sailing on the Sea if thy Marriners and Governours shall one consume another shalt thou not suffer shipwrack in short processe of time O England England alasse these plagues are powred upon thee for that thou wouldest not know the most happy time of thy gentle Visitation But wilt thou yet obey the voyce of thy God and submit thy self to his holy words Truly if thou wilt thou shalt finde mercie in his sight and the estate of thy Common-wealth shall be preserved But O England England if thou obstinately wilt return into Egypt that is If thou contract Mariage Confederacie or League with such Princes as do maintain and advance Idolatry such as the Emperour who is no lesse enemy unto Christ then ever was Nero if for the pleasure and friendship I say of such Princes thou returnest to thine old abominations before used under the Papistrie then assuredly O England thou shalt be plagued and brought to desolation by the means of those whose favours thou seekest and by whom thou art
procured to fall from Christ and to serve Antichrist This and much more in the dolour of my heart that day in the audience of such as yet may bear record through Gods permission I then pronounced The thing that I then most feared and which also my Tongue spake that is The subversion of the true Religion and bringing in of Strangers to reign over that Realm this day I see come to passe in mens councels and determinations which if they proceed and take effect as by men it is concluded then so assuredly as my God liveth and as those Israelites that obstinately returned into Egypt againe were plagued to the death so shall England taste what the Lord hath threatned by his Prophets before God grant us true and unfained repentance of our former offences God for his great mercies sake stirre up some Phinies Elias or Iehu that the blood of abominable Idolaters may pacifie Gods wrath that it consume not the whole multitude Amen But to returne to our matter of the premisses it is plain That such as contemne Gods eternall verity and grace can neither in their troubles receive comfort by Gods Messengers neither yet can they follow the counsell of God be it never so profitable but God giveth them over and suffereth them to wander in their owne vanities to their owne perdition whereas contrarywise such as beareth a reverence to Gods most Holy Word are drawn by the power and vertue of the same as before is said to beleeve follow and obey that which God commandeth be it never so hard so unapparent or contrary to their affections And therefore as God alwayes keepeth appointment with them so are they wonderously preserved when Gods vengeances are powred forth upon the disobedient And this is most evident in Abraham at Gods commandment leaving his Countrey and going forth he knew not whither which was a thing not so easie to be done as it is to be spoken or read It appeareth also in Abraham beleeving Gods promises against all appearance and also in offering his son Isaac against all fatherly love and naturall affection The same is said in Moses Samuel Hezekiah Michaiah and other of the Prophets which at the commandment of Gods Word boldly passed to the presence of Tyrants and there to them did their message as charge was given unto them But lest that some should alledge that these examples appertaineth nothing to a multitude because they were done in singular men I answer We will consider what the power of Gods Word hath wrought in many at one instance After that the Israelites had made the golden Calfe and so fallen to Idolatry Moses coming down from the mountain and beholding their abominations the honour that they gave to an Idol and the people spoiled of their ear-rings and jewels to their great rebuke and shame was enflamed with such zeal indignation and wrath that first he brake the Tables of the Commandments then he beat their Calfe to powder and gave it to them to drink to cause them to understand That their filthy guts should receive that which they worshipped for God And finally he commanded that every man that was of God should approach and come nigh unto him And the sons of Levi saith the Text came to him to whom he said Thus saith the Lord God of Israel Let every man put his sword upon his thigh and go in and out from Port to Port in the Tents and let every man kill his brother his neighbour and every man his nigh kinsman And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses And there fell the same day of the people nigh three thousand It is evident by this history That the power of Gods Word pronounced by the mouth of a man prevailed at one time in a great number against nature and compelled them to be executers of Gods vengeance regarding nothing the affinity nor nighnesse of blood And also that their doing so well pleased Moses the Ambassadour of God that he said unto them Consecrate your hands this day every man in his own son and in his own brother that a fortunate benediction may be given to you this day As though he should say Your father Levi prophaned and defiled his hands killing the Sichemites in his blinde rage which moved his father Iacob in his last Testament to condemne execrate and curse that his most vehement and ungodly zeale But because in this work you have preferred Gods Commandment before blood nature and also affection in place of that rebuke and curse you have obtained blessing and praise The like puissance and vertue of Gods Word working in a multitude is to be read in the Prophet Ieremiah who perceiving the time of Gods vengeance to draw nigh and the City of Ierusalem to be besieged boldly cryeth out in his open Sermon saying He that remaineth in this Citie shall die either by sword by hunger or by pestilence But he that shall go forth to the Caldeans shall live and shall finde his soul for a prey This might have appeared a deceivable seditious and ungodly Sermon to command subjects to depart from the obedience and defence of their native Prince rich Citizens and valiant souldiers from their possessions and strong Holds and to will them to render themselves without all manner of resistance into the hands of strangers being their enemies What carnall man would not have judged the perswasions of the Prophet most foolish and false And yet in the hearts of such as God had elected and appointed to life so effectually wrought this Sermon that a great number of Ierusalem left their King their City riches and friends and obeyed the Prophets counsell for so may be espied by the answer of Zedechias the King when Ieremiah counselled him That he should render himself into the hands of Nebuchadonoser he saith I fear these Iews that are fled to the Caldeans lest perchance they give me into their hands Hereof it is plain That many were departed from him whom he feared more then he did his enemies Many more testimonies might be brought to declare how mightily Gods Word spoken by man hath wrought in the hearts of great multitudes As in the hearts of the Ninevites who at Ionahs Preaching condemned their former Religion conversation and life And in the hearts of those three thousand who at Peters first Sermon openly made after Christs Ascension acknowledged their offences repented and were soon after baptized But these premises are sufficient to prove as well that Gods Word draweth his Elect after it against worldly appearance against naturall affections and against evil Statutes and Constitutions as also That such as obey Gods speaking by his Ministers never lacketh just reward and recompence For onely such as obeyed the voyce of the Prophet found favour and grace to the praise and glory of Gods Name when his just judgements
cause of Heresie The Proofe of Heresie Note Note Note Note Note Note this against the legality of the Bishops Note This was Friâ—â— Scot. Note Note Note 1566 1546. How the Cardiall was occupied the night before that in the morning he was slain The Cardinals demand The Cardinals confession The fact and words of Iames Melvin The Cardinals last words Advertisement to the Reader Note The Bishop of S Andrews was glad and yet made himselfe to be angry at the slaughter of the Cardinall Upon what conditions King Henry took the castle of S. Andrews into his protection The first â—iege lasted from August to January 1547. Iohn Knox goes into the Castle of S. Andrews * Sir David Lindsay King of Armes then who fore the time had good light both in Divine and Humane knowledge as his works tell us The first Vocation by name of Iohn Knox. Dean Iohn Annan The offer of Iohn Knox first and last unto the Papists The first publike â—reaching of Iohn Knox made in the Parish Church of S. Andrewâ—â— Contra Dei Spirituâ— ad Gâ—lat cap. 2 vâ—r 17. 11. Note The great wordâ— which Ant. christ speaketh Iohn Knox had been disciple in his first yeers to Iohn Maire Note Note Optima Collatio Deut. 4. Note Psal. 26.5 Frier Arbuckiâ—ls proofe of Purgatory The cause of the inserting of this Disputation The practises of Papists that their wickednesse should not be disclosed The protestation of Iohn Knox. M. Iames Balfoure once joyned with the Church and did professe all Doctrine taught by Iohn Knox. Filius sequitur patris iter The rage of the marked beasts at the Preaching of the Truth The first coming of Galleys Anno 1547. And the second Siege of the Castle The treasonable act of the Governour and Queen Dowager Note The answer given to the Governour when the Castle of S. Andrews was required to be delivered The Gunners goddesse Commonly called The old Colledge The sentence of Knoxâ—o â—o the Castle of S. Andrews bâ—â—fore it was won Note King Henry of England being dead Prior of Cappua Leon Stâ—ozi The Castle of S. Andrews refused in greatest extremity to treat with the Governor fearing the cruelty of his weak nature in revenging the death of his Cousin the Cardinall Nulla fides Rogni Socii c. Pinckey Clâ—â—ch Duke of Sommerset The security of the Scotishmen at Pinckey Clewch Fridays chase Brags The repulse of the Horse-men of England Note Note Note Note 1549. The Parliament at Hadington Note The Dukes fact and what appeareth to follow thereof Experience hath taught and further will declare The siege of Hadington Tuesdayes chase Note The slaughter of the Captain of the Castle of Edinburgh Hadington almost surprised by the French The recovery of the Castle of Home The death of the Laird of Raith The entertainment of those of the Castle of S. Andrews during their Captivity Note Note Note This book was printed 1584. at Edinburgh by Tho. Vtroâ—â—â— A merry fact Note Jerem. 10. Note Quamvis multa sunt justorum mala c. Note diligently the Prophesie Iohn Knox his answer and counsell to the captives Le jour de Roys au soir quand els erient le Roy boit The escaping of William Kirkcaldie and of his fellows forth of Mount Saint Michell Note To shew what is contained in this Admonition we have caused it to be printed at the end of this History 1550 Note Note diligently The slaughter of that villain Davie The rulers of annoâ—566 â—566 and their prediction Note The accusation of Adam Wallace and his answers The Papisticall manner of accusation Note Adam Wallace his accusations and answers Note Protestation of the Earle of Glencarne Note The death and vertues of Edward the sixth Who first after the death of King Edward began to preach in Scotland Elizabeth Adamson and her death Note Note Note Note diligently Masse abhorred Note 1555. Note You will finde this Appellation at the end of this book War against England by the meanes of the Queen Regent A calfe with two heads The fact of the Nobility of Scotland at Maxwel Hewcht The second return of Iohn Willock to Scotland Lord Seton an Apostata The abolishing of Images and trouble therefore The Preachers summoned The practice of Prelats and what thereof ensued The bold words of Iames Chalmers of Gaithgyrth O crafty flatterer The command of the Bishop The answer of Edinburgh Edinburgh appealeth from the sentence of the Bishop of S. Andrews Triumph for hearing of stock Gyle The down casting of stock Gyle and the discomfiture of Baals Priests A merry English-man Note The death of the Bishop of Galoway and his last confession Qualis vita finis ita The Vow of that marked beast Dury B. oâ— Galloway The death of M David Panter The death of the Bishop of Orknay Reid â— Orknays answer and his friends home Note The Queen Regents sentence of the death of her Papists Dean of Lestarrige hypocrite began to preach M. David Panters counsell 〈◊〉 his forsworne brethren the Bishops The second Vocation of Iohn Knox by Letters of the Lords Note Note Let the Papists themselves judge of what spirit these sentences could proceed The duty of the Nobility The letter lost by negligence and troubles God grant that our Nobility would yet understand Note The first Covenant of Scotland 1557 Those that then did oppose Popery were called the Congregation Note The Earl of Argyle the first man in this Covenant The third Vocation of Iohn Knox by the Lords and Churches of Scotland Flesh blood is preferred to God with the Bishop Note Note diligently Note Note the Earl of Argyle his Testament Note Here is one Solecisme in State expression newly invented by the Court Parasites Note To call the Crowne Matrimoniall is an absurd Solecisme newly then invented at Court Note And now in these later days it hath pleased God in his goodnesse to grant the pure and Primitive Discipline also unto the Church of Scotland The first douâ—t The second Note Scriptures answering the doubts This was called the privie Church Iohn Willocke The Laird of Calder elder The tyrannie of the Clergy Note The Petition The offer The practise of Satan Disputation with condition The offer of the Papists The grant of the Queene Regent The apprehension of Walter Mill. 1558. Note The hypocrisie of the Queene Regent Protestation Let the Papists observe Note Letters to Iohn Calvine Blasphemy Note She had gotten her lesson from the Cardinall Forefather to the now Earle of Lowdone Chancellor Queen Regents answer S. Iohnston embraced the Gospel Lord Ruthuens answer 1559 The first assembly at S. Iohnston The Laird of Dun stayed the congregation and the Preachers Note 1559 Note At this time the Professors of the Gospel were called the Congregation The taking down of the Fâ—iers in Saint Iohnston Note The Gray Friers their provision Note Note A godly vow The complaint of the Queene Regent Note Note Note O where is this fervencie
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
arrayed to do her honour and offer her lawfull service Then she came to Craigmiller where she remained in November till she was advertised of the coming of the Ambassadors to the Baptisme of the Prince and for that purpose there was great preparation made not without the trouble of such as were supposed to have money in store especially of Edinburgh for there was borrowed a good round summe of money for the same businesse All her care and solicitude was for that triumph At the same time arrived the Counte de Briance Embassadour of the King of France who had a great Train Soon after the Earle of Bedford went forth of England with a very gorgious company to the number of fourscore Horses and passing to Sterlin he was humanly received of the Queens Majestie and every day banquetted The excessive expences and superfluous apparell which was prepared at that time exceeded farre all the preparation that ever had been devised or set forth afore that time in this Countrey The 17 of December 1566. in the great Hall of the Castle of Sterlin was the Prince baptized by the Bishop of Saint Andrews at five a Clock at Even with great Pompe albeit with great paine could they finde men to beare the Torches wherefore they took Boyes The Queen laboured much with the Noblemen to bear the Salt Grease and Candle and such other things but all refused she found at last the Earls of Eglington Athole and the Lord Seaton who assisted at the Baptisme and brought in the said Trash The Counte de Briance being the French Ambassadour assisted likewise The Earle of Bedford brought for a Present from the Queen of England a Font of Gold valued to be worth three thousand Crownes Soon after the said Baptisme as the Earle was in communing with the Queen who entertained him most reverently he began to say merrily to her amongst other talking Madame I rejoyce very greatly at this time seeing your Majestie hath here to serve you so many Noblemen especially twelve Earles whereof two onely assist at this Baptisme to the Superstition of Popery At the which saying the Queen kept good countenance Soon after they banquetted in the said great Hall where they wanted no prodigality During the time of the Earle of Bedfords remaining at Sterlin the Lords for the most part waited upon him and conveyed him every day to the Sermon and after to Banquetting The King remained in Sterlin all that time never being present kept his Chamber his father hearing how he was used writ to him to repaire unto him who soon after went without good-night toward Glasgow to his Father he was hardly a Mile out of Sterlin when the poyson which had been given him wroght so upon him that he had very great pain and dolour in every part of his body At length being arrived at Glasgow the Blisters brake out of a blewish colour so the Physitians presently knew the Disease to come by poyson he was brought so low that nothing but death was expected yet the strength of his youth at last did surmount the poison During the time of this Triumph the Queen was most liberall in all things that were demanded of her amongst other things she subscribed a writing for the maintenance of the Ministers in a reasonable proportion which was to be taken up of the Thirds of Benefices which writing being purchased by the Bishop of Galloway was presented at the generall Assembly of the Church at Edinburgh the five and twentieth day of December 1566. where were conveened the Superintendents and other Ministers in reasonable number but very few Commssioners The first matter that was there proposed was concerning the said Writing lately obtained and the most part of the Ministers being demanded their opinions in the matter after advice and passing a little aside they answered very gravely That it was their duty to preach to the people the Word of God truly and and sincerely and to crave of the Auditors the things that were necessary for their sustentation as of duty the Pastour might justly crave of their Flock and further it became them not to have any care Neverthelesse the Assembly taking in consideration that the said Gifts granted by the Queens Majestie was not to be refused they ordained That certaine faithfull men of every Shire should meet and do their utmost diligence for gathering and receiving the said Corne and money and likewise appointed the Superintendent of Lowthian and Master Iohn Row to waite upon the Bishop of Galloway and concurre and assist him for further expedition in the Court that the said Guift miâ—t be dispatched through the Seales In the same Assembly there was presented a Remonstrance by Writ by some Gentlemen of Kyle containing in effect That in asmuch as the Tythes ought to be given onely to the Ministers and Schooles of the Word and for maintenance of the poor that therefore the Assembly would Statute and Ordain That all the Professors of the Evangell should keep the same in their own hands to the effects aforesaid and no way permit the Papists to meddle therewith This Writing took no effect at that time for there was none else but the Gentlemen of Kyle of that opinion It was Statuted in the said Assembly That such publike Fornicators and scandalous livers as would not confesse their offences nor come to declare their repentance should be declared by the Minister to be out of the Church and not of the body thereof and their names to be declared publikely upon the Sunday After this Assembly the Bishop of Galloway with the Superintendent of Lowthian and M. Iohn Row passing to Sterlin obtained their Demands in an ample manner at the Queens Majesties hand according to their desire and likewise they obtained for every Borough a Guift or Donation of the Altarages Annuals and Obites which before were given to the Papists now to be disposed for the maintenance of the Ministers and Schooles within the Boroughs and the rest to the poor or Hospitall Notwithstanding the Domestick troubles that the Church of God in Scotland suffered in the time of these hurliburlies within the Kingdom yet they were not unmindefull of the affliction of Iacob every where upon the face of the Earth namely they had before their Eyes the State and condition of the Church of God in England witnesse this Letter from the Generall Assembly to the Rulers of the Church of God in England The Superintendents with other Ministers and Commissioners of the Church of God in the Kingdome of Scotland to their Brethren the Bishops and Pastours of Gods Church in England who professe with us in Scotland the Truth of Iesus Christ. BY Word and Letters it is come to our knowledge Reverent Brethren Pastors of Gods Word in the Church of England that divers of our Brethren of whom some be of the most learned in England are deprived from all Ecclesiasticall Function namely Are forbidden to Preach and so by you are stopped to
promote the Kingdom of God because they have a scruple of Conscience to use at the command of Authoritie such Garments as Idolaters in time of greatest darknesse did use in their Superstitious and Idolatrous Service which Report cannot but be very grievous to our hearts considering the sentence of the Apostle If ye bite and devour one another take heed ye be not consumed one of another We intend not at this present to enter into the Question which we hear iâ— agitated and handled with greater vehemency by either partie then well liketh us to wit Whether such apparell be accounted amongst things indifferent or not Wherefore through the Bowels of Iesus Christ we crave that Christian Charitie may so farre prevaile with you who are the Pastors and Guides of Christs Flock in England that ye doe one to another as ye desire others to do to you You cannot be ignorant what tendernesse is in a scrupulous Conscience and all that have knowledge are not alike perswaded the Consciences of some of you stirres not with the wearing of such things on the other side many thousands both godly and learned are otherwayes perswaded whose Consciences are continually strucken with these sentences What hath Christ to doe with Beliall What felloship is there betwixt Light and darknesse If Surplice Corner-Cap and Tippet have been the Badges of Idolaters in the very act of their Idolatry what hath the Preachers of Christian libertie and the Rebukers of Superstition with the dregs of that Romish Beast yea What is he that ought not to fear either to take in his hand or on his forehead the Prints and Mark of that odious Beast The Brethren that refuse such unprofitable apparell do neither condemne nor molest you who use such Trifles On the other side if ye that use these things will do the like to your Brethren we doubt nor but therein you shall please God and comfort the Hearts of many which are wounded to see extremitie used against these godly Brethren Humane arguments or coloured Rhetoricke we use none to perswade you onely in Charity we desire you to minde the sentence of Peter Feed the Flock of Christ which is committed to your charge caring for it not by constraint but willingly not being as Lords of Gods Heritages but being examples to the Flock We further desire you to meditate upon that sentence of Paul Give no offence neither to Iewes nor Gentiles nor to the Church of God in what condition you and we both travell at least are bound to travell for the promoting of Christs Kingdom you are not ignorant therefore we are the more bold to exhort you to deale more wisely then to trouble the godly for such vanities for all things which seem lawfull edifie not if Authority urge you farther then your Consciences can bear I pray you remember that the Ministers of the Church are called the Light of the World and Salt of the Earth all Civill Authority hath not alwayes the Light of God shining before their eyes in Statutes and Commands for their affections savour too much of the earth and wordly wisdome therefore we tell you That ye ought to oppose your selves boldly not onely to all power that dare extoll it selfe against God but also against all such as dare burthen the Consciences of the faithfull farther then God chargeth them in his own Word But we hope you will excuse our freedom in that we have entred in reasoning farther then we intended in the beginning now againe we return to our former request which is That the Brethren among you who refuse the Romish Rags may finde of you who use and urge them such favour as our Head and Master commandeth each one of his Members to shew to another which we look to receive of your courtesie not onely because you will not offend God in troubling your brethren for such vain Trifles but also because you will not refuse the earnest request of us your Brethren and fellow Ministers in whom although there appear no worldly pompe yet we are assured you will esteem us as Gods servants travelling to set forth his glory against the Roman Antichrist the dayes are evill iniquitie aboundeth and Charitie alas waxeth cold wherefore we ought to walk diligently for the hour is uncertain when the Lord shall come before whom we must all give an account of our administration In conclusion yet once more we desire you to be favourable one to another Lord Iesus rule your hearts in his fear unto the end and give to you and us victorie over that conjured Enemy of true Religion the Pope whose wounded head Sathan by all means strives to cure againe but to destruction shall he go and all his maintainers by the power of our Lord Iesus to whose mighty protection we commit you From our Generall Assembly Decemb. 27. 1566. At the same time the Bishop of Saint Andrews by means of the Earle Bothwell procured a writing from the Queens Majesty to be obeyed within the Diocesse of his Jurisdiction in all such causes as before in time of Popery were used in the Consistory and thefore to discharge the new Commissioners and for the same purpose came to Edinburgh in Ianuary having a Company of one hundred horses or more intending to take possession according to his gift lately obtained The Provest being advertised thereof by the Earle of Murray they sent to the Bishop three or foure of the Councell desiring him to desist from the said matter for fear of trouble and sedition that might rise thereupon whereby he was perswaded to desist at that time Soon after the Queen came to Edinburgh where she remained a few dayes In the moneth of Ianuary she was informed that the King was recovered of the poyson given him at Sterlin and therefore she past to Glasgow to visite him and there tarried with him six dayes using him wonderfully kindely with many gracious and good words and likewise his father the Earle of Lenox insomuch that all men marvelled whereto it should turn considering the great contempt and drynesse that had been before so long together the Queen notwithstanding all the contempt that was given him with a known designe to take away his life yet by her sweet words gains so far upon the uxorious husband and his facile father that he went in company with her to Edinburgh where she had caused to lodge him at the Church of Field in a lodging lately bought by Master Iames Balfour Clerk Register truely very unmeet for a King The Queen resorted often to visite him and lay in the house two nights by him although her lodging was in the Palace of Halyrud-house Every man marvelled at this reconciliation and sudden change The ninth of February the King was murthered and the house where he lay burned with Powder About twelve of the clock in the night his body was cast forth in a yard without the Town wall adjoyning close by There was a servant likewise murthered beside