attempts of the Lieges of this Realme albeit the whole subjects thereof of all estates is and ever hath been readie to give all dutifull obedience to their Soveraignes and their lawfull ministers proceeding by Gods Ordinance And the same Army of strangers not being paid in wages was laid by her upon the necks of the poor Commonalty of our native Countrey who were compelled by force to defraud themselves their wives and children of that poor substance which they might purchase with the sweat of their brows to satisfie their hunger and necessities and quit the same to sustain the idle bellies of her strangers through the which in all parts rose such heavy lamentation and complaint of the Commonalty accusing the Counsell and Nobility of their sloth that as the same oppression we doubt not hath entred in before the Justice Seat of God so hath it moved our hearts to pity and compassion And for redresse of the same with other great offences committed against the publike weale of this Realme we have convened here as said is and as oftentimes before have most humbly and with all reverence desired and required the said Queen Regent to redresse the said enormities and especially to remove her strangers from the necks of the poor Commonalty and to desist from enterprising of fortification of Strengths within this Realme against the expresse will of the Nobility and Councell of the same yet we being convened the more strong for fear of her strangers who we saw presume no other thing but with Arms to pursue our lives and possessions Besought her to remove the fear of the same and make the Town Patent to all our Soveraigne Lord and Ladies Lieges The same in no wise would she grant unto but when some of our company in peaceable manner went to view the Towne there was both great and small Munition shot forth at them And seeing therefore that neither accesse was granted to be used nor yet she would joyn her self to us to consult upon the Affairs of our Common-wealth as that we be borne Councellors to the same by ancient Laws of the Realme But fearing lest the judgement of the Counsell would reform as necessity required the aforesaid enormities she refuseth all manner of assistance with us and by force and violence intendeth to suppresse the Liberties of our Common-weale and of us the favourers of the same We therefore so many of the Nobility Barons and Provests of our Boroughs as are touched with the care of the Common-weale unto the which we acknowledge our selves not onely borne but also sworne Protectors and Defenders against all and whatsoever invaders of the same and moved by the foresaid proceedings notorious and with the lamentable complaint of oppression of our Commonalty our fellow members of the same Perceiving farther That the present necessity of our Common-weale may suffer no delay being convened as said is presently in Edinburgh for support of our Common-weal and ripely consulted and advised taken the fear of God before our eyes for the causes foresaid which are notorious with one consent and common vote Every man in order his judgement being required in the Name and Authority of our Soveraign Lord and Lady suspend the said Commission granted by our said Soveraigne to the said Queen Dowager discharging her of all Administration or Authority she hath or may have thereby unto the next Parliament to be set by our advice and consent And that because the said Queen by the foresaid faults notorious declareth her selfe enemy to our Common-weale abusing the Power of the said Authority to the destruction of the same And likewise we discharge all members of her said Authority from thenceforth and that no Coyn be coyned from thenceforth without expresse consent of the said Councell and Nobility conform to the Laws of this Realme which we maintain And ordaine this to be notified and proclaimed by Officers of Arms in all head Boroughs within the Realm of Scotland In witnesse of the which our common consent and free Vote we have subscribed this present act of suspension with our hands day yeere and place aforesaid Sic subscribitur By us the Nobility and Commons of the Protestants of the Church of Scotland After that this our act of suspension was by sound of Trumpet divulgate at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh we dismissed the Herald with this Answer MADAME WE received your Answer and heard the credit of Lion King of Armes whereby we gathered sufficiently your perseverance in evil minde towards us the glory of God our Common-weale and Liberty of our native Countrey For safety of the which according to our duty we have in our Soveraign Lord and Ladies name suspended your Commission and all administration of policie which you may pretend thereby being most assuredly perswaded That your proceedings are direct contrary to our Soveraigne Lord and Ladies will which we ever esteem to be for the weale and not for the hurt of this our Common-wealth And as you will not acknowledge us our Soveraigne Lord and Lady their true Barons and Leiges for your Subjects and Counsel no more will we acknowledge you for any Regent or lawfull Magistrate unto us seeing if any authority ye have by reason of our Soveraignes Commission granted unto you The same for most worthy reasons is worthily suspended by us in the name and authority of our Soveraigne whose counsell we are of in the affaires of this our Common-weale And forasmuch as we are determinate with hazard of our lives to set that Town at liberty wherein you have most wrongfully planted your Souldiers and strangers For the reverence we owe to your person as mother to our Soveraigne Lady we require your Highnesse to transport your person therefrom seeing we are constrained for the necessity of the Common-weale to follow the same by Arms being denied oft the liberty thereof by sundry requisitions made oft before Again we desire you cause depart with you out of the said Town any person having Commission in Embassie if any such be or in Lieutenantship of our Soveraigns together with all French-men Souldiers being within the same whose blood we thirst not because of the old amity and friendship betwixt the Realme of France and us which amity by the occasion of the marriage of our Soveraigne Lady to the King of that Realm should rather increase then decrease And this we pray your Highnesse and them both to do within the space of twenty foure houres for the reverence we owe to your persons And thus recommending our humble service to you we commit your Highnesse to the eternall protection of God At Edinburgh the 24 of October 1559. Your Highnesse humble servitors The day following we summoned the Town of Leith by the sound of Trumpet in forme as followeth I Require and charge in the name of our Soveraign Lord and Ladie and of the Counsell presently in Edinburgh That all Scots and French-men of whatsoever estate and degree they be
brake the ward or prison Note another wavering of the Hamiltons A new Covenant 1562. Note So was the Duke the Earls of Argyle Murray and Glencarne with all their Company after ter served The day of Correthie field Octob. 22. 1562 The Earle of Huntlies prayer Note Corriethieburne or Farabank Secretary Lethingtons Oration The Lady Forbesse her words Let others that yet live mark this Mens judgement of the Queens Marriage Note this The Preachers railed upon the Courtiers The Preachers Admonition after the Earle of Huntlies death Meaning of Huntley The end declared their words to be true The defence of the Courtiers The Queens practise The tryall of Pauls Meffanes fact Chattelet and the Queen The Queens desire concerning Chattelet The punishment of God for maintaining and erecting of the Masse death and famine Iohn Knox sent for by the Queen Reasoning between I. Knox and the Queen Note diligently The Queens judgement of the Bishop of Cathaes The Lady Argile was naturall Sister to the Queen as the Earle Murray was naturall Brother The Clergie did pretend to be free from all Jurisdiction save the Popes The judgment of some Huntley forfeited The pride of Women at that Parliament Note diligently And so was Religion and the Common-wealth both neglected Occasion painted with a bald Hind-head Variance betwixt the Earle of Murray and Iohn Knox. Iohn Knox discharge to the Earl of Murray God knowes if our times be better The Speaker was the Dean of Restaruk Iohn Knox his affirmation Let this serve for our times Let the Papists judge this day 1567. Note Women Lethingtons practice Note diligently The last commendation of Lord Iohn to the Queen M. Rob. Font stricken in the head with a weapon by Cap. Lawder Bond to a mutuall defence in the cause of Religion Note Pastors The Master of Maxwells discharge to Iohn Knox and their reasoning together Before they disdained not to come to his own house Iohn Knox his answer Note a wise Reply This was the first time the Earle Murray spake with Iohn Knox after the Parliament Iohn Knox called before the Queen and Counsell in Decemb. 156â— Note this diligently Note As the Irish Papists have done to Protestants in Ireland Let this be noted for this day Let the world judge what ensued Note Pastors Note diligently Note the craft of the Court. Note I. Knox falsly reported of his answer Remark false brethren Murther and Whoredome in the Court. Maries Regiment Great Wet and Frost in Ian. 1563. The Sea stood still neither ebbed â—or flowed for 24 houres Cucullus Note how this agrees with our time Lethingtons counteâ—â—nce at the threatnings of the preacher Let the world judge whether this hath come to passe or not what hath fallen since that time Lethington his Harangue at the Assembly Anno 1564. Iohn Knox his answer Note diligently â—nd see how the Bishops did forbid to pray for the conversion of the Queen that now is in Britain M. Maxwells words in the Assembly Iohn Knox his prayer for the Queen Note 2 Tim. 2. Note Note Let this be noâ—ed diligently Psal. 82. Note this 1 Sam. 22. Note this Discourse diligently God craves of us That we should oppose our selves to iniquity Let this be noted for our times Whether this hath come to passe or not let the world judge Note this diligently Noâ—â— â— Paral 25. When the Prince does serve God sincerely in private and publike and hath a care that the people do the same then assuredly they are faithfull to him but if he faile in these or in either of them he findes disobedience in his people beâ—ause he is not carefull to obey God and to see him obeyed Deut. 13. 2 Paral. 26. Let this be applyed to the late affairs of Scotland 2 Paral. 26. Note M. Iohn Dowglâ—s Rector his Vote Master Iohn Craig his Vote Note dilâ—gently Note deligently There be two Epigrams extant written by George Buchanan of a rich Diamond sent from Qu. Mary to Queen Elizabeth At this time an Italian named Davie entred in great familiarity with the Queen so that there was nothing done without him The Earl of Murray seeing the other Nobles consent gave his which before he refused The Dispensation being come from Rome for the Marriage Before which according to the Romish Law it was unlawful to marry being Cousin Germans brother and sisters children and so the degree of Consanguinity forbidden Note this for our time The King to make himself more popular and to take from the Lords of the Congregation the preteâ—t of Religion he went to the Kirk to hear Iohn Knox preach In answering he said more then he had preached for he added That as the King had to pleasure the Queen gone to Masse and dishonoured the Lord God so should God in his justice make her an Instrument of his ruine and so it fell out in a very short time but the Queen being incensed with these words fell out in Tears and to please her Iohn Knox must abstain from preaching for a time Note how this agrees with our times Let this be conferred with our times Note diligenly So was the Citie of London for warre against Scotland vexed for the leavie of mony Note diligently Note diligently Qâ— Elizabeth Here mark either deep dissimulation or a great inconstancy At the end of this Book you shall finde this See in what sense proud ambitious men takes the name of Bishop As is said before This inconstant yongman sometimes declared himself for the Protestant witnesse his last Band And now for the Papist And as he left God so he was left by him The Queen intending vengeance upon the poor King and being in love with the Earle Bothwell grants to the Protestants their Petitions that they may be quiet and not trouble her Plots As she had lately gratified the Protestants by granting their Petition so at this time she yeelds unto the Papists their demands also that she might be stopped by neither of them in her designe of vengeance and new love Note Note how God changeth things in a moment Heb. 10. 1 Cor. 3. Mat. 25. John 3. Rom 58. 2 Cor. 5. Rom. 6. Ephes. 4.5 Ephes. 2. Matth. 10. Vain Religion or Idolatry A Sentence pronounced Appellation from the same The request of Iohn Knox. The Petition of Protestants Deut. 17. The Pâ—tition of Iohn Knox. Note well Answer 1. To Objections Note The Appellation is just and lawfull Gods Messengers may appeal from unjust sentences and Civill powers are bound to admit them Jer. 26. Advert The Princes did absolve the Prophet whom the Priests had condemned Deut. 17. The meaning of these words I am in your hands c. Deut 17. Jerem 1. Deut 1 10. The causes of his Appellation and why he ought to have been defended Jerem. 38. Just cause of Appellation Act. 22 23 24 25. Act. 25. Why Paul would admit none of the Leuiticall order to judge in his cause Upon what reasons the Appellation of Paul was grounded
so without judgement all men fled The Sea was filling and so the water made great stop but the fear was such as happy was he that might get a taker Such as passed the water and escaped that danger not well acquainted with the ground fell into the slimy mosse the entry thereof was pleasing enough but as they proceeded all that took that way either lost their horse or else themselves and horse both To be short a greater fear and discomfiture without cause hath seldome beene seen for it is said That where the men were not sufficient to take the Bands of prisoners Some ran to houses and rendered themselves to women Stout Oliver was without stroke taken fleeing full manfully And so was his glory stinking and foolish proudnesse we should call it suddenly turned to confusion and shame In that discomfiture were taken the two Earls aforesaid the Lords Fleming Somerwell and Olyphant and many other Barons and Gentlemen besides the great multitude of servants Worldly men say That all this come but by misorder and fortune as they term it But whosoever hath the least spark of the knowledge of God may as evidently see the work of his hand in this discomfiture as ever was seen in any of the Battells left to us in Register by the holy Ghost For what more evident Declaration have we that God fought against Benhadad King of Aram when he was discomfited at Samaria than now we have that God fought with his own Arm against Scotland in this former discomfiture There did two hundred and thirty persons in the Skirmish with seven thousand following them in the great Battell put to flight the said Benhadad with thirty Kings in his Company But here there is in this shamefull discomfiture of Scotland very few more than three hundreth men without knowledge of any Backe or Battell to follow put to flight ten thousand men without resistance made There did every man recounter his marrow till that the two hundred and thirty slew such as matched them But here without slaughter the multitude fled There had those of Samaria the Prophet of God to comfort to instruct and to promise Victory unto them But England in that pursuit had nothing but as God secretly wrought by his providence in the men that knew nothing of his working neither yet of the cause thereof more then the wall that fell upon the rest of Benhadads Army knew what it did And therefore yet again we say That such as in that sudden dejection beholds not the hand of God fighting against pride for freedome of his own little Flock injustly persecuted doth willingly and maliciously obscure the glory of God but the end thereof is yet more notable The certain knowledge of the discomfiture coming to the Kings ears who waited upon news at Lochmaban he was stricken with a sudden fear and astonishment so that scarcely could he speak or had purpose with any man The night constrained him to remain where he was and so went to bed but rose without rest or quiet sleep His continuall complaint was O fled Oliver is Oliver taken O fled Oliver And these words in his melancholly and as it were carried in a Trance repeated he from time to time to the very hour of death Upon the morn which was Saint Katherines day returned he to Edinburgh and so did the Cardinall from Hadington But the one being ashamed of the other the brute of their communication came not to publike audience The King made Inventory of his Treasure of all his Jewels and other substance And thereafter ashamed to look any man in the face secretly departed to Fife and coming to Hallzairdes was humanely received of the Lady of Grange an ancient and godly Matron the Laird at his coming was absent In his company was onely with him William Kirkâ—ldy now Laird of Grange and some other that waited upon his Chamber The Lady at Supper perceiving him pensive beganne to comfort him and willeth him to take the Work of GOD in good part My portion said he of this world is short for I will not be with you fifteen dayes His servants repairing unto him asked where he would have provision made for Christmas which then approached he answered with a disdainfull countenance I cannot tell chuse you the place but this I can tell you Or Christmas day you will be masterlesse and the Realme without a King Because of his displeasure no man durst make contradiction unto him So after that he had visited the Castle of Carny pertaining to the Earle of Crawfurde where the said Earles daughter one of his Mistresses was he returned to Falkland and took bed And albeit there appeared unto him no signes of death yet he constantly affirmed Before such a day I shall be dead In this mean time was the Queen upon the point of her delivery in Lynlitquow who was delivered the 8 of December in the yeere of God 1542 yeeres of Mary that then was born and now doth raigne for a scourge to this Realme as the progresse of her whole life has to this day declared The certainty that a daughter was born unto him coming to his ears he turned from such as spake with him and said The devill go with it it will end as it began it came from a woman and it will end with a woman From Mary daughter to Robert Bruse married to Walter Stuart he feared that his daughter should be married to one of another Name and Family but you see by Gods providence the Crown remains in one and the same Family and Name to this day notwithstanding the many Plots of the pretenders to the Crowne both at home and abroad After that he spake not many words that were sensible but ever harped on his old song Fie fled Oliver is Oliver taken all is lost In this mean time in his great extremity comes the Cardinall a fit comforter for a desperate man he cries in his eare Take order Sir with your Realme who shall rule during the minority of your daughter ye have knowne my service What will ye have done Shall there not be four Regents chosen And shall not I be principall of them Whatsoever the King answered Documents were taken That so it should be as my Lord Cardinall thought expedient As many affirme a dead mans hand was made to subscribe one blank that they might write above what it pleased them best the Cardinall having hired one Henry Balfour a Priest to make a false Testament which was done accordingly but in vain This finished the Cardinall posted to the Queen lately before delivered as is said At the first sight of the Cardinall she said Welcome my Lord is not the King dead What moved her so to conjecture divers men are of divers judgements Many whisper that of old his patte was in the pot and that the suspition thereof caused him to be inhibite the Queens company Howsoever it was
your Ceremonies cannot abide the Word of God Ergo They cannot abide the fire And if they may not abide the fire then are they not gold silver nor precious stones Now if ye finde any ambiguity in this terme Fire which I interpret to be the Word finde ye me another fire by the which things builded upon Jesus Christ should be tried then God and his Word which both in the Scriptures are called fire and I shall correct mine Argument Arbugkill I stand not thereupon but I deny your Minor to wit That our Ceremonies may not abide the triall of Gods Word Iohn Knox. I prove That abides not the triall of Gods Word which Gods Word condemnes But Gods Word condemnes your Ceremonies Therefore they do not abide the triall thereof But as a thief abides the triall of the Inquest and thereby is condemned to be hanged even so may your Ceremonies abide the triall of Gods Word but not else And now in few words to make plain that wherein ye may seem to doubt to wit that Gods Word damnes your Ceremonies it is evident For the plain and strait Commandment is Not that thing that appears good in thine eyes shalt thou do to the Lord thy God but what the Lord thy God hath commanded thee that do thou adde nothing to it diminish nothing from it Now unlesse that ye be able to prove that God hath commanded your Ceremonies this his former Commandment will damne both you and them The Frier somewhat abashed what first to answer while he wanders about in the mist he falls in a foule mire For alleadging that we may not be so bound to the Word he affirmed That the Apostles had not received the Holy Ghost when they did write their Epistles but after they received him and then they ordained Ceremonies few would have thought that so learned a man would have given so foolish an answer yet it is even as true as he did bear a gray Coull Iohn Knox hearing the answer start and said If that be true I have long been in an errour and I think I shall die therein The Sub-Prior said to him Father What say ye God forbid that ye affirme that for then farewell the ground of our faith The Frier astonied made the best shift that he could to correct his fault but it would not be Iohn Knox brought him oft again to the ground of the Argument But he would never answer directly but ever fled to the authority of the Church whereto the said Iohn answered ofter then once That the Spouse of Christ had neither power nor authority against the Word of God Then said the Frier If so be ye will leave us no Church Indeed said the other in David I reade that there is a Church of the Malignants for he saith Odi Ecclesiam malignantium That Church ye may have without the Word and doing many things directly fighting against the Word of God Of that Church if ye will be I cannot hinder you But as for me I will be of none other Church except of that which hath Iesus Christ to be Pastour which hears his voice and will not heare a stranger In this Disputation many other things were merrily skoft over For the Frier after his fall could speak nothing to any purpose For Purgatorie he had no better proofe but the authority of Virgil in the sixth of his Aeneiads and the paines thereof to him was an Evil wife Iohn Knox answered that and many other things as he himself witnesseth in a Treatise that he did write in the Gallies containing the sum of his Doctrine and the confession of his Faith and sent it to his familiars in Scotland with his exhortation That they should continue in the Truth which they had professed notwithstanding any worldly adversity that might ensue thereof Thus much of that disputation have we inserted here to the intent that men may see how Satan ever travelleth to obscure the Light and how God by his power working in his weak vessels confounds the craft and discloseth the darknesse of Satan After this the Papists and Friers had no great heart of further disputation or reasoning but invented another shift which appeared to proceed from godlinesse and it was this Every learned man in the Abbey and in the Universitie should Preach in the Parish Church his Sunday about The Sub-Prior began followed the Officiall called Spittall Sermons was penned to offend no man followed all the rest in their ranks And so Iohn Knox smelled out the craft and in his Sermons which he made upon the Weeke-dayes he prayed to God that they should be as busie in Preaching when there should be more want of it then there was then Alwayes said he I praise God that Christ Jesus is Preached and nothing is said publikely against the Doctrine that ye have heard If in my absence they shall speak any thing which in my presence they do not I protest that ye suspend your judgement till that it please God ye hear me againe God so assisted his weak Souldier and so blessed his labours that not onely all these of the Castle but also a great number of the Town openly professed by participation of the Lords Table in the same purity that now it is ministred in the Churches of Scotland with that same Doctrine that he had taught unto them Amongst whom was he that now either rules or else misrules Scotland to wit Sir Iames Balfour sometimes called M. Iames the chiefe and principall Protestant that then was to be found within this Realm This we write because that we have heard that the said Master Iames alleadgeth that he was never of this our Religion but that he was brought up in Martin Luthers opinion of the Sacrament and therefore he cannot communicate with us But his own conscience and two hundred witnesses besides know that he lies and that he was one of the chief if he had not been after his cups that would have given his life if men might credit his words for defence of the doctrine that the said Iohn Knox taught But albeit that those that never were of us as none of Monquhauneys house have shewed themselves to be depart from us it is no great wonder For it is proper and naturall that the children follow the father and let the godly beware of that race and progenie by eschewing it For if in them be either fear of God or love of vertue further then the present commoditie perswades them men of judgement are deceived But to return to our History The Priests and Bishops enraged at all these proceedings that were in Saint Andrews ran now upon the Governour now upon the Queene now upon the whole Counsell and there might have been heard complaints and cryes What are we doing Shall we suffer this whole Realme to be infected with pernicious Doctrine fie upon you and fie upon us The Queen and
his Messenger Sir Adam Browne advertisement was given That if any farther displeasure chanced unto him he would that he should not blame them The Bishops servants that same night began to fortifie the place again and began to do violence to some that were carrying away such Baggage as they could come by The Bishops Girnall was kept the first night by the labours of Iohn Knox who by exhortation removed such as violently would make interruption The same night departed from S. Iohnston the Earl of Argyle and L. Iames as after shall be declared The morrow following some of the poor in hope of spoyl and some of Dundie to consider what was done passed up to the said Abbey of Scone whereat the Bishops servants offended began to threaten and speak proudly and as it was constantly affirmed one of the Bishops sons thrust thorow with a Rapier one of Dundie for because he was looking in at the Girnell door This brute noysed abroad the Town of Dundie was more enraged then before who putting themselves in Armour sent word to the inhabitants of S. Iohnston That unlesse they would support them to avenge that injury they should never after that day occure with them in any action The multitude easily enflamed gave the Alarm and so was that Abbey and Palace appointed to Saccage in doing whereof they took no long deliberation but committed the whole to the merciement of fire Whereat no small number of us were so offended that patiently we could not speak to any that were of Dundie or Saint Iohnston A poor aged matron seeing the flame of fire to passe up so mightily and perceiving that many were thereat offended in plain and sober manner of speaking said Now I see and understand that Gods judgements are just and that no man is able to save where he will punish since my remembrance this place hath been nothing else but a Den of Whore mongers It is incredible to believe how many wives have been adulterate and virgins deflowred by the filthy beasts which have been fostered in this den but especially by that wicked man who is called the Bishop If all men knew as much as I they would praise God and no man would be offended This woman dwelt in the Towne nigh to the Abbey At whose words were many pacified affirming with her That it was Gods just Judgement And assuredly if the labours or travell of any man could have saved that place it had not been at that time destroyed for men of greatest estimation laboured with all diligence for the safety of it While these things were done at Saint Iohnston the Queen fearing what should follow determined to send certain Bands of French Souldiers to Sterlin of purpose to stop the passage to us that then were upon the North side of Forth Which understood the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames departed secretly in the night and with great expedition preventing the French they took the Towne before whose coming the rascall multitude put hands on the thieves I should say Friers places and utterly destroyed them whereat the Queen and her Faction not a little afrayed with all diligence departed from Edinburgh to Dumbar And so we with reasonable diligence marched forward to Edinburgh for Reformation to be made there where we arrived the 29 of June The Provest for that time the Lord Seaton a man without God without honesty and oftentimes without reason had before greatly troubled and molested the brethren for he had taken upon him the protection and defence of the Black and Gray Friers and for that purpose did not onely lie himself in one of the Colledges every night but also constrained the most honest of the Towne to watch those monsters to their great grief and trouble But hearing of our sudden coming he abandoned his charge and left the spoyl to the poor who had made havock of all such things as was moveable in those places before our coming and left nothing but bare walls yea not so much as door or window whereby we were the lesser troubled in putting order to such places After that we had deliberate certain dayes what was best to be done and what order was to be taken for suppressing all Monuments of Idolatry within that Towne and the places next adjacent determination was taken to send some Message to the Queen then Regent For she had bruted as her accustomed manner was by advice of her counsell ever to forge lies that we sought nothing but her life and a plain revoltment from the lawfull obedience due to our Soveraigne her Authority as by the Tenour of these Letters may be seen FRANCIS and MARIE By the Grace of God King and Qneen of Scots Doulphin and Doulphinesse of Viennois To Our loved Lyon King of Armes c. Our Sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute greeting Forasmuch as our dearest Mother Marie Queen Dowager Regent of Our Realme and Lords of our Secret Councell perceiving the seditious tumult raised by one part of our Lieges naming themselves The Congregation who under pretence of Religion have put themselves in Armes And that Our Mother for satisfying of every mans conscience and pacifying of the said troubles had offered unto them to appoint a Parliament to be holden in January next to come this was a manifest lie for this was neither offered nor by her once thought upon till we required it or sooner if they had pleased for establishing of a Universall order in matters of Religion by Our advice and States of Our Religion and in the meane time to suffer every man to live at liberty of Conscience without trouble unto the time that the said order were taken by advise of Our foresaid States And at last because it appeareth much to stand upon Our Burrough of Edinburgh offered in like manner to let the inhabitants thereof chuse what manner of Religion they would set up and use for that time so that no man might alleadge that he was forced to do against his conscience Which offer the Queen Our said dearest Mother was at all times and yet is ready to fulfill Neverthelesse the said Congregation being of minde to receive no reasonable offers hath since by open deed declared That it is no Religion nor any thing thereto pertaining that they seek but onely the subversion of Our Authority and usurpation of Our Crowne In manifest witnessing whereof they daily receive English-men with Messages unto them and sendeth such like into England And last of all have violently intermitted withtaken and yet with-holds the Irons of Our Coyning-House which is one of the chiefe Points that concerneth Our Crowne And such like have intromitted with our Pallace of Halyrud-house Our Will is therefore c. That ye passe to the Market Crosse of Our said Burrough of Edinburgh or any other place within the same and there by open Proclamation in Our Name and Authority command and charge all and sundry persons
our Countrey without our counsell knowledge and consent We dispute not so much whether the bringing in of moe French-men be violating of the appointment which the Queen and her faction cannot deny to be manifestly broken by them in moe causes then one as that we would know if that the heaping of strangers upon strangers above us without our counsell or consent be a thing that may stand with the Liberty of our Realme and with the profit of our Common-wealth It is not unknown to all men of judgement That the fruits of our Countrey in the most common yeers be no more then sufficient reasonable to nourish the born inhabitants of the same But now seeing we have been vexed with wars taken upon us at the pleasure of France by the which the most fruitfull portion of our Countrey in Corne hath been wasted What man is so blinde but that he may see That such bands of ungodly and idle Souldiers can be nothing else but an occasion to famish our poore brethren And in this point we refuse not which is the chiefe the judgement of all naturall Scottish-men The Queen Regent alleadged That although there was an hundred French-men for one that is in Scotland yet she is not minded to trouble any unjust possession Whereto we answer That we dispute not what she intended which neverthelesse by probable conjectures it is to be suspected but alwayes we affirm that such a multitude of French-men is a burden not onely unprofitable but also intolerable to this poor Realme especially being treated as they are by her and Monsieur Dosell For if their wages be paid out of France then are they both the Queen we say and Monsieur Dosell traytors to the King and Counsell for the poor Commons of this Realme have sustained them with the sweat of their brows since the contracting of the Peace and somewhat before What motherly affection she hath declared to this Realm and to the inhabitants of the same her works have evidently declared even since the first hour that she hath borne Authority And albeit men will not this day see what danger hangs over our heads yet fear we that ere it be long experience shall teach some that we have not feared without cause The cruell murther and oppression used by those whom now she fostereth is to us a sufficient argument what is to be looked for when her number is so multiplied that our force shall not be able to gainstand their tyranny Where she complaineth of our Preachers affirming that unreverently they speak of Princes in generall and of her in particular inducing the people thereby to defection from their duty c. And therefore that such a thing cannot be suffered Because this occasion is laid against Gods true Ministers we cannot but witnesse what course and order of Doctrine they have kept and yet keep in that point In publike prayers they recommend to God all Princes in generall and the Magistrates of this our native Realme in particular In open audience they declare the Authority of Princes and Magistrates to be of God and therefore they affirm that they ought to be honoured feared and obeyed even for conscience sake provided that they command nor require nothing expresly repugning to Gods Commandment and plain Will revealed in his holy Word Moreover they affirm That if wicked persons abusing the Authority established by God move Princes to command things manifestly wicked That such as can and do bridle those inordinate appetites of misled Princes cannot be accused as resistaries of the Authority which is Gods good Ordinance To bridle the rage and fury of misled Princes in free Kingdoms and Realms they affirm it appertaineth to the Nobility sworn and borne Councellors of the same and also to the Barons and people whose votes and consents are to be required in all great and weighty matters of the Common-wealth which if they do not they declare themselves criminall with their misled Princes and so subject to the same vengeance of God which they deserve for that they pollute the seat of Iustice and do as it were make God author of Iniquity They proclaim and cry That the same God who plagued Pharaoh repulsed Sennacherib struck Herod with worms and made the bellies of dogs the grave and sepulcher of the spitefull Jesabell will not spare misled Princes who authorize the murtherers of Christs members in this our time On this manner they speak of Princes in generall and of your Majesty in particular This onely we have heard one of our Preachers say rebuking the vain excuses of such as flatter themselves by reason of Authority Many now adayes said he will have no other Religion nor faith then the Queen and Authority had But is it not possible that the Queen be so far blinded that she will have no Religion nor no other faith then may content the Cardinall of Loraine And may it not likewise be true that the Cardinall is so corrupt that he will admit no Religion which doth not establish the Pope in his kingdome But plain it is That the Pope is Lieutenant to Sathan and enemy to Christ Iesus and to his perfect Religion Let men therefore consider what danger they stand in if their salvation shall depend upon the Queens faith and Religion Further we never heard any of our Preachers speak of the Queen Regent neither publikely nor privately Where her Majestie declareth It will not be suffered that our Prerchers meddle with Policy or speak of her or of other Princes but with reverence we answer That as we will justifie and defend nothing in our Preachers which we finde not God to have justified and allowed in his Messengers before them so we dare not forbid them openly to reprehend that which the Spirit of God speaking in the Prophets and Apostles hath reprehended before them Helias did personally reprove Achab and Jesabell of idolatry of avarice of murther and such like Esaias the Prophet called the Magistrates of Jerusalem in his time companions to thieves Princes of Sodome bribe-takers and murtherers he complained that their silver was turned into drosse That their wine was mingled with water and that Iustice was bought and sold. Jeremie saith That the bones of King Jehoiakim should wither with the Sun Christ Iesus called Herod a Fox and Paul calleth the high Priest a painted wall and prayeth unto God that he should strike him because that against justice he commanded him to be smitten Now if the like and greater corruptions be in the world this day Who dare enterprise to put to silence the Spirit of God which will not be subject to the appetites of misled Princes We have said before That the tenth of September was appointed for a convention to be holden at Sterlin to the which repaired the most part of the Lords of the Congregation At that same time arrived the Earle of Arran who after he had saluted his father came with the
the 29 day of September 1559. By your Brethren The Duke and Lords understanding that the Fortifications of Leith proceeded appointed their whole Forces to convene at Sterlin the 15 day of Octob. that from thence they might march forward to Edinburgh for the redresse of the greatest enormities which the French did to the whole Countrey which by them was so oppressed that the life of all honest men was bitter unto them In this mean time the Lords directed their Letters to divers parts of the Countrey making mention what danger did hang over all men if the French should be suffered to plant in this Countrey at their pleasure They made mention farther How humbly they had besought the Queen Regent That she would send away to France her French-men who were a burden unprofitable and grievous to this Common-wealth and how that she notwithstanding did daily augment their number bringing wives and children a plain declaration of a plain conquest The Queen Regent perceiving that her craft began to be espied by all means possible travelled to blinde the people And first she sent forth her pestilent Post forenamed in all parts of the Countrey to perswade all men that she offereth all things reasonable to the Congregation and that they refusing all reason pretended no Religion but a plaine revolt from Authority She tempted every man in particular as well those that were of the Congregation as those that were neutralls She assaulted every man as she thought most easily he might have been overcome To the Lord Ruthuen she sent the Justice Clerk and his wife who is daughter to the wife of the said Lord what was their Commission and credit is no further known then the said Lord hath confessed which is That large promise of profit was promised if he would leave the Congregation and be the Queens To Lord Iames Prior of Saint Andrews was sent Master Iohn Spens of Condie with a Letter and Credit as followeth The Memoriall of Master Iohn Spens of Condie the thirtieth of September 1. YE shall say That the Queens great favour towards you moveth her to this 2. That she now knoweth that the occasion of your departing from her was the favour of the Word and of the Religion with the which albeit she was offended yet knowing your heart and the hearts of the other Lords firmely fixed thereupon she will beare with you in that behalfe and at your owne sights she will set forward that Cause at her power as may stand with Gods Word the common policie of this Realme and the Princes honour note good Reader what venome lurked here for plaine it is that the policie which she pretended and the Princes honour will never suffer Christ Iesus to reigne in this Realme 3. To speak of the occasion of assembling of these men of Warre and fortifying of Leith you must know That it was given to the Queen to understand by some about her that it is not the advancement of the Word and Religion which is sought at this time but rather a pretence to overthrow or alter the authority of your Sister of the which she beleeveth still that ye are not participant and considering the tendernesse betwixt you and your Sister she trusted more in you in that behalfe then in any living But before the Earle of Arrane arrived and that the Duke departed from her faction she ceased not continually to cry That the Prior sought to make himselfe King and so not onely to deprive his Sister to make himselfe King but also to defraud the Duke and his house of their pretension But foreseeing a storme she began to seek a new winde She further willeth him to offer the sending away of the men of War if the former suspition could be removed she lamented the trouble that appeared to follow if the matter should long stand in debate she promised her faithfull labours for reconciliation and required the same of him Requiring further Faith Honour and kindnesse towards his Sister and to advertise for his part what he desired with promise That he might obtaine what he pleased to desire To this Letter and Credit the said Lord Iames answered as followeth MADAME I Received your Highnesse Writ and have heard the credit of the Bearer and finding the businesse of such importance that dangerous it were to give hastie answer And also your Demands are such That with my honour I cannot answer them privately by my selfe I have thought good to delay the same till that I may have the judgement of the whole Councell For this point I will not conceale from your Majestie That amongst us there is a solemned Oath that none of us shall traffique with your Majestie secretly neither yet that any of us shall treat or deale for himselfe particularly Which Oath for my part I purpose to keep unviolated to the end But when the rest of the Noble-men shall conveene I shall leave nothing that lyeth in my power undone that may make for the quietnesse of this poore Realme Provided That the glory of Christ Iesus be not hindered by our concord And if your Majestie shall be found so tractable as now ye offer I doubt not to obtaine of the rest of my brethren such favour towards your service as your Majestie shall have just occasion to stand content For I take God to record That in this action I have neither sought neither yet seek any other thing then to increase Gods glory and the Libertie of this poore Realme to be maintained Further I have shewed unto your Messenger what things have misliked me in your proceedings even from such a heart as I wish to God you knew fully and all men else And this with hearty commendation of service to your Majestie I heartily commit your Highnesse to the eternall protection of the omnipotent At Saint Andrews the first of October Sic subscribitur Your Majesties humble and obedient Servitour I. St. This answer received she raged as hypocrisie useth when it is pricked and perceiving that she could not work what she would at the hands of men particularly she set forth a Proclamation universally to be proclaimed in the tenour as followeth The Queens Proclamation FOr so much as it is understood by the Queen that the Duke of Chattellawralt hath lately directed his Missives into all parts of this Realm making mention that the French-men late arrived with their wives and children are begun to plant in Leith to the ruine of the Common-weale which he and his partakers will not passe over with patient beholding desiring to know what will be every mans part And that the fortification of Leith is a purpose devised in France and that therefore Monsieur de la Brosse and the Bishop of Amiens are come to this countrey A thing so vaine and untrue that the contrary thereof is knowne to all men of free judgement Therefore the Queen willing that the occasions whereby her Majesty was moved so to do be
by the counsell of France We are not ignorant that Princes think it good policy to betray their subjects by breaking of promises be they never so solemnly made We have not forgotten what counsell she and Monsieur Dosell gave to the Duke against those that slue the Cardinall and kept the Castle of S. Andrewes which was this That what promise they list to require should be made unto them but as soon as the Castle was rendred and things brought to such passe as was expedient that he should chop the heads from every one of them To the which the Duke answered That he would never consent to so treasonable an act but if he promised fidelity he would faithfully keep it Monsieur Dosell said in mockage to the Queen in French That is a good simple nature but I know no other Prince that would so do If this was his judgement in so small a matter what have we to suspect in this our Cause For the question is not of the slaughter of one Cardinall but of the just abolishing of all tyranny which that Romane Antichrist hath usurped above us of the suppressing of Idolatry and of the Reformation of the whole Religion by that vermine of shavelings utterly corrupted Now if the slaughter of a Cardinall be a sin irremissible as they themselves affirme and if faith ought not to be kept to hereticks as their owne law speaketh What promise can she that is ruled by the counsell and commandment of a Cardinall make to us that can be sure Where she accuseth us That we usurp Authority to command and charge free Boroughs to chuse Provests and Officers of our naming c. We will that the whole Boroughs of Scotland testifie in that case Whether we have used any kinde of violence but lovingly exhorted such as asked our support to chuse such in Office as had the fear of God before their eyes loved equity and justice and were not noted with avarice and bribing But wonder it is with what face she can accuse us of that whereof we are innocent and she so openly criminall that the whole Realme knoweth her iniquity In that case hath she not compelled the Towne of Edinburgh to retaine a man to be their Provest most unworthy of any Regiment in a well-ruled Common-wealth Hath she not enforced them to take Bayliffes of her appointment and some of them so meet for their Office in this troublesome time as a sowter is to sayle a Ship in a stormy day She complaineth that we will not suffer provision to be made for her house In very deed we unfainedly repent that before this we took not better order that these murtherers and oppressors whom she pretendeth to nourish for our destruction had not been disappointed of their great provision of Victualls which she and they have gathered to the great hurt of the whole Countrey But as God shall assist us in times coming we shall do diligence somewhat to frustrate their devillish purpose What both what she and we pretend we doubt not but God who cannot suffer the abuse of his owne Name long to be unpunished shall one day declare and unto him we fear not to commit our Cause Neither yet fear we in this present day that against us she maketh a malicious lye where that she saith That it is not Religion that we go about but a plain usurpation of Authority God forbid that such impiety should enter in our hearts that we should make his holy Religion a cloke and covertour of our iniquity From the beginning of this controversie it is evidently knowne what have been our requests which if the rest of the Nobility and Commonalty of Scotland will cause to be performed unto us if then in us appear any signe of Rebellion let us be reputed and punished as traitors But while strangers are brought in to suppresse us our common wealth and posterity while Idolatry is maintained and Christ Jesus his true Religion despised while idle bellies and bloody tyrants the Bishops are maintained and Christs true Messengers persecuted while finally vertue is contemned and vice extolled while that we a great part of the Nobility and Commonalty of this Realme are most unjustly persecuted What godly man can be offended that we shall seek Reformation of these enormities yea even by force of Arms seeing that otherwayes it is denyed unto us we are assured that neither God neither nature neither any just Law forbiddeth us God hath made us Councellors by birth of this Realme Nature bindeth us to love our owne Countrey and just Laws command us to support our brethren unjustly pursued yea the Oath that we have made to be true to this Common-wealth compelled us to hazard whatsoever God hath given us before that we see the miserable ruine of the same If any thinke it is not Religion which now we seek we answer That it is nothing else but the zeal of the true Religion which moveth us to this enterprise For as the enemy doth craftily foresee That Idolatry cannot universally be maintained unlesse that we be utterly suppressed So do we consider that the true Religion the purity whereof we openly require cannot universally be erected unlesse strangers be removed and this poor Realme purged of those pestilences which before have infected it And therefore in the Name of the Eternall God and of his Son Christ Jesus whose Cause we sustain we require all our brethren naturall Scotish-men prudently to consider our Requests and with judgement to discerne betwixt us and the Queen Regent with her faction and not to suffer themselves to be abused by her craft and deceit That to lift their weapons against their brethren who seek nothing but Gods glory Or yet to extract from us their just and dutifull support seeing that we hazard our lives for preservation of them and us and of us and our posterity to come Assuring such as shall declare themselves favourers of her Faction and enemies unto us That we shall repute them whensoever God shall put the Sword of Justice in our hands worthy of such punishment as is due for such as study to betray their Countreyes into the hands of strangers This our answer was formed and divulgate in some places but not universally by reason of our day appointed to meet at Sterlin as before is declared In this mean time the Queens Posts ran with all possible expedition to draw men to her devotion And in very deed she found more favourers of her iniquity then we suspected For a man that of long time had been one of our number in profession offered as himselfe did confesse his service to the Queen to travell betwixt her Majestie and the Congregation for concord she refused not his offer but knowing his simplicitie she was glad to imploy him for her advantage The man is Master Robert Lockard a man of whom many have had and still have good opinion as touching
used By Iehu he destroyed Ioram and the whole posterity of Achab. And by divers others he hath deposed from Authority those whom before he had established by his own Word And hereupon concluded he That sith the Queen Regent denied her chief duty to the subjects of this Realme which was To minister Justice to them indifferently to preserve their Liberties from invasion of strangers and to suffer them to have Gods Word freely and openly preached amongst them Seeing moreover that the Queen Regent was an open and obstinate Idolatresse a vehement maintainer of all Superstition and Idolatry as also she openly declares the Countrie to be conquest and no more free And finally That she utterly despiseth the counsell and requests of the Nobility he could see no reason why they the borne Counsellors Nobility and Barons of the Realme might not justly deprive her from all Regiment and Authority amongst them Hereafter was the judgement of Iohn Knox required who approving the sentence of his brother added first That the iniquity of the Queen Regent and disorder ought in no wise to withdraw neither our hearts neither yet the hearts of other subjects from the obedience due unto our Soveraigne Secondly That if we deposed the said Queen Regent rather of malice and private envie then for the preservation of the Common-wealth and for that her sins appeared incurable That we should not escape Gods just punishment howsoever that she had deserved rejection from honors And thirdly he required That no such sentence should be pronounced against her but that upon known and open repentance and upon her conversion to the Common-wealth and submission to the Nobility place should be granted unto her of regresse to the same honours from the which for just causes she justly might be deprived The Votes of every man particularly by himself required and every man commanded to speak as he would answer to God what his conscience judged in that matter there was none found amongst the whole number who did not by his tongue consent to her deprivation Thereafter was her Processe committed to Writing and registred as followeth Articles against the Queen Regent AT Edinburgh the one and twentieth day of October 1556. the Nobility Barons and Burgesses convened to advise upon the affairs of the Common-wealth and to ayd support and succour the same perceiving and lamenting the enterprised destruction of their said Common-wealth and overthrow of the liberties of their native Countrey by the means of the Queen Regent and certain strangers her privie Counsellors plain contrary to our Soveraign Lord and Ladies mind and direct against the counsell of the Nobility to proceed by little and little even unto the uttermost ruine So that the urgent necessity of the Common-wealth may no longer suffer delay and earnestly craveth our support Seeing therefore that the said Q. Regent abusing and overpassing our Soveraigne Lord and Ladies Commission given and granted to her hath in all her proceedings pursued the Barons and Burgesses within this Realme with Weapons and Armour of strangers without any Processe and order of Law they being our Soveraigne Lord and Ladies true Lieges and never called nor convinced of any crime by any judgement lawfull As first at S. Iohnston in the moneth of May she assembled her Army against the Towne and the Inhabitants thereof never called nor convinced of any crime onely because they professed the true Worship of God conform to his most sacred Word 2. And likewise in the moneth of June last without any order or calling going before invaded the persons of sundry Noble-men and Barons with force of Armes convened at S. Andrews onely for Cause of Religion as is notoriously known they never being called nor convinced of any crime 3. Again laid Garrisons the same moneth upon the Inhabitants of the said Town oppressing the liberties of the Queens true Lieges For fear of which her Garrisons a great part of the Inhabitants thereof fled from the Towne and durst not resort again unto their houses and heritages untill they were restored by Arms they notwithstanding never being called nor convinced of any crime 4. Further at that same time did thrust in upon the heads of the Inhabitants of the said Towne Provest and Bayliffs against all order of Election as lately in this month of September she had done in other Towns of Edinburgh and Iedburgh and divers other places in manifest oppression of our Liberties 5. declaring her evill minde towards the Nobility Commonalty and whole Nation she hath brought in strangers and daily pretends to bring in greater force of the same pretending a manifest Conquest of our native rooms and Countrey as the deed it self declareth in so far as she having brought in the said strangers without any advise of Councell and Nobility and contrary to their expresse minde sent to her in Writing hath placed and planted her said strangers in one of the principall Towns and parts of the Realm sending continually for greater Forces willing thereby to suppresse the Common-weale and liberty of our native Countrey to make us and our posterity slaves to strangers for ever which as it is intolerable to Common-wealths and free Countreys so it is very prejudiciall to our Soveraign Lady and her Heirs whatsoever in case our Soveraigne Lady decease without Heirs of her Person And to performe these her wicked enterprises conceived as appeareth of inveterate malice against our whole Countrey and Nation caused without any consent or advise of the Councell and Nobility to coyn lead Money so base and of such quantity that the whole Realme shall be depauperate and all Traffique with forraigne Nations everted thereby 6. Again she so placeth and maintaineth against the pleasure of the Councell of this Realme a stranger in one of the greatest Offices of credit in this Realme that is in keeping of the Great Seal thereof wherein great perills may be ingendred to the Common-weale and Liberty thereof 7. Further lately sent the Great Seal forth of this Realme by the said stranger against the advice of the said Councell to what effect God knoweth 8. And hath also by this means altered the old Law and Custome of this our Realme ever obser-served in the Graces and Pardons granted bo our Soveraigns to all their Lieges being repentant of their offences committed against their Majesties or the Lieges of the Realme And hath introduced a new captious stile and form of the said Pardons and Remissions conform to the practices of France tending thereby to draw the said Lieges of this Realm by processe of time into a deceivable snare and further shall creep in the whole subversion and alteration of the remanent Laws of this Realme contrary to the Contents of the Appointment of Marriage 9. And also Peace being accorded amongst the Princes retaineth the great Army of strangers after commandment sent by the King of France to retire the same making excuse that they were retained for the suppressing the
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
Sacraments untill such time as they satisfied the Magistrates and made humble suit unto the Church Of the death of the Queen Regent we have heard before spoken but of her Buriall was nothing heard And it may appear That such matters are unworthy of remembrance And if all things should be rightly weighed we shall perceive Gods just Judgements how secret soever that they be Before we heard the barbarous inhumanity that was used at Leith by the French who exposed the naked carkasses of the slain as it were in a spectacle despighting God We have heard that the Queen Regent rejoyced at the sight but her joy was suddenly turned into sorrow as we have heard The question was moved of her Buriall The Preachers boldly gainstood That any Superstitious Rites should be used within that Realm which God of his mercy began to repugne And so conclusion was taken That her Buriall should be deferred till farther advertisement and so was she wrapped in a Coffin of Lead and kept in the Castle from the ninth of Iune untill the 19 of October when she by Pynours was carried to a Ship and so carried to France what pomp was used there we neither heard nor yet regard But in it we see That she that delighted that others lay without Buriall gat it neither so soon as she her selfe if she had been of the counsell in her life would have required it neither yet so honourable in this Realm as sometimes she looked for As men do so they receive The Papists a little before the Parliament resorted in divers Bands to the Town and began to brag as that they would have defaced the Protestants Which thing perceived the brethren assembled and went in such Companies and yet in peaceable manner that the Bishops and their Bands forsook the calsay or street The Brethren understanding what the Papists meant convened in Councell in the Tolbuith of Edinburgh the seven and twentieth of May the yeer of God 1561. and after consultation concluded That an humble Supplication should be presented unto the Lords of the Secret Counsell and unto the whole Assembly that then was convened in the which should these subsequent Heads be required and a Law to passe thereupon 1. First That Idolatry and all Monuments thereof should be suppressed thorowout the whole Realme That the sayers hearers maintainers and hanters of the Masse should be punished according to the Act of Parliament as said is 2. That speciall and certain provision be made for the maintenance of the Superintendents Ministers Exhorters and Readers That Superintendents and Ministers should be planted where none were That punishment should be appointed for such as disobeyed or contemned the Superintendents in their Function 3. That punishment may be appointed for the abusers of the Sacraments and for the contemners of the same 4. That no Letters of the Session or Warrant from the Iudge be given to answer or pay to any person of their Tenths without especiall provision that the Parishioners retain so much in their owne hands as is appointed for the maintenance of the Ministry And that all such as are else given be called in and discharged And likewise that no Sheriffs give Precepts to that effect 5. That neither the Lords of Session nor any other Iudges proceed upon such Precepts or Warnings past at the instance of them that of late have obtained fewis of Vicarages and Parsons Manses and Church-yards And that six akers if so much there be of the Gleebe be alwayes reserved to the Minister according to the appointment of the Book of Discipline 6. That no Letters of Session nor other Warrants take place while the stipends contained in the Book of Discipline for maintenance of the Ministers be first consigned in the hands at the least of the Principals of the Parishioners 7. That punishment be appointed against all such as purchase bring home or execute within this Realme the Popes Bulls The Tenour of the Supplication was this PLease your Honours and the wisedoms of such as are presently convened with you in Councell to understand That by many arguments we perceive what the pestilent generation of that Romane Antichrist within this Realme pretendeth to wit That they would of new erect their Idolatry take upon them Empire above our conscience and so to command us the true subjects of this Realme and such as God of his mercy hath under our Soveraigne subject unto us in all things to obey their appetites Honesty craveth and conscience moveth us to make the very secrets of our hearts patent to your Honours in that behalfe which is this That before ever those Tyrants and dumb dogges Empire above us and above such as God hath subjected unto us that we the Barons and Gentlemen professing Christ Iesus within this Realme are fully determined to hazard life and whatsoever we have received of God in Temporall things Most humbly therefore beseeching your Honours That such order may be taken that we have not occasion to take againe the Sword of just Defence into our hands which we have willingly after God had given Victory both to your Honours and us resigned over into your hands To the end that Gods Gospel may be publikely Preached within this Realme The true Ministers thereof reasonably maintained Idolatry suppressed and the committers thereof punished according to the Lawes of God and man In doing whereof your Honours shall finde us not onely obedient unto you in all things lawfull but also ready at all times to bring under order and obedience such as would rebell against your just authority which in absence of our Soveraigne we acknowledge to be in your hands beseeching your Honours with upright judgement and indifferencie to look upon these our few Articles and by these our brethren to signifie unto us such answer againe as may declare your Honours worthy of that place whereunto God after some danger sustained in his mercy hath called you And let these enemies of God assure themselves That if your Honours put not order unto them that we shall shortly take such order That they shall neither be able to do what they list neither yet to live upon the sweat of the brows of such as are no debters unto them Let your honours conceive nothing of us but all humble obedience in God But let the Papists be yet once againe assured That their Pride and Idolatry we will not suffer Directed from the assembly of the Church the 28 of May 1561. And sent by these brethren The Master of Lindsay The Laird of Lochinvar The Laird of Pharmherst The Laird of Whittingham Thomas Menzeis Provest of Aberdeene and George Lowell Burgesse of Dundie Upon the which Request and Articles the Lords and Counsell aforesaid made an Act and Ordinance answering to every head of the foresaid Articles and commanded Letters to be answered thereupon which divers Ministers raised and copied as in the Books of secret Councell is yet to be found And thus gat
Madame said the other would to God that the learnedest Papist in Europe and he that you would best believe were present with your Majestie to sustain the argument and that ye would abide patiently to hear the matter reasoned to the end for then I doubt not Madame but that you should hear the vanity of the Papisticall Religion and what small ground it hath within the Word of God Well said she ye may perchance get that sooner then you believe Assuredly said the other if ever I get that in my self I get it sooner then I believe for the ignorant Papist cannot patiently reason and the learned and crafty Papist will never come in your audience Madame to have the ground of their Religion searched out for they know they are not able to maintain any argument except by fire and sword and their own Laws be judges So say you quoth the Queen and I believe it hath been to this day Quoth he for how oft have the Papists in this and in other Realmes been required to come to conference and yet could it never be obtained unlesse themselves were admitted for Judges and therefore I must yet say again That they dare never dispute but where themselves are both judges and party And when you shall let me see the contrary I shall grant my self to be deceived in that Point And with this the Queen was called unto dinner for it was afternoon At departing Iohn Knox said unto her I pray God Madame that you may be also blessed within the Common-wealth of Scotland if it be the pleasure of God as ever Deborah was in the Common-wealth of Israel Of this long conference whereof we onely touch a part were divers opinions The Papists grudged and feared that which they needed not the godly thinking at least That she would have heard the preaching rejoyceed but they were utterly deceived for she continued in her Massing and despised and quickly mocked all exhortation Iohn Knox his owne judgement being by some of his familiars demanded what he thought of the Queen said If there be not in her a proud mind a crafty wit and an indurate heart against God and his Truth my judgement faileth me and this I say with a grieved heart for the good I wish unto her and by her to the Church and State When the whole Nobility were convened the Lords of Privie Councell were chosen where were appointed the Duke the Earles of Huntley Argyle Atholl Mortoun Glencarne Mershell Bothwell Lords Arskeme and Lord Iames after Earle Murray and these were appointed as certain to wait upon the Court by course But that Order continued not long Duke d'Anville returned with the Galleyes to France The Queen entred in her Progresse and in the Moneth of September travelled from Edinburgh Linlithgow Sterlin S. Iohnston Dundie S. Androes all these parts she polluted with the Idolatrous Masse Fire followed the Court very commonly in that Journey the Towns propined the Queen liberally thereof were the French enriched About the beginning of October they returned to Edinburgh and at the day appointed the Q. was received in the Castle whereat preparations were made for her entry into the Town in Farces in Masking and other Prodigalities fain would our fools have counterfeited France Whatsoever might set forth her glory that she heard and gladly beheld The Keyes were delivered unto her by a pretty Boy descending as it were from a Cloud The Verses of her own Praise she heard and smiled But when the Bible was presented and the Praise thereof declared she began to frowne for shame she could not refuse it but she did no better for she gave it to the most pestilent Papist within the Realme to wit To Arthur Arskeme Edinburgh since that day have reaped as they sowed They gave her some taste of their Prodigality And because the Liquor was sweet she hath licked oft of that Bust or Box oftner then twice since All men know what we mean The Queen cannot lack and the Subjects have In Edinburgh it hath been an ancient and laudable Custome That the Provests Bayliffs and Councell after their Election which used to be at Michaelmas caused publikely proclaim the Statutes and Ordinances of the Town And therefore Archbald Dowglas Provest Ed. Hope Adam Fullartoun c. Bayliffs caused proclaim according to the former Statutes of the Town That no Adulterer nor Fornicator no noted Drunkard no Masse-monger no obstinate Papist that corrupted the people such as Priests Friers and others of that sort should be found within 41 hours thereafter under the Pains contained in the Statutes Which blowne in the Queens ears there began pride and maliciousnesse to shew it selfe for without further cogitation of the cause was the Provest and Bayliffes charged to Ward in the Castle and immediately was Commandment given That other Provests and Bayliffs should be elected Some gainstood for a while The new Election alleadged That the Provest and Bayliffs whom they had chosen and to whom they had given their Oath had committed no offence therefore that justly they might be deprived But while Charge was doubled upon Charge and no man found to oppose himself to impiety the misled Queens Letter and wicked will is obeyed as just Law And so was M. Thomas Makalan chosen Provest for the other The man no doubt was both discreet and sufficient for that Charge but the deposition of the other was against all Law God be mercifull to some of our owne for they were not all blamelesse that the Queens unreasonable will was so far obeyed A contrary Proclamation was publikely made That the Town should be patent to all the Queens Lieges And so Murtherers Adulterers Theeves Whores Drunkards Idolaters and all Malefactors got protection under the Queens wings under colour that they were of her Religion And so got the devill freedome againe where that before he durst not have been seen in day light upon the common streets Lord deliver us from this Bondage of sin The Devil finding his raines loose ran forward in his course and the Queen evil men abusing her name and authority took upon her greater boldnesse then she and Balaams bleating Priests durst have attempted before for upon All-Hallow day they bended up their Masse with all mischievous solemnitie The Ministers thereat offended in plaine and publike place declared the inconvenience that thereupon would ensue The Nobility were sufficiently admonished of their duties but affection caused men to call that in doubt wherein oft before they seemed most resolute to wit Where that the Subjects might have hand to suppresse the Idolatry of their Prince And upon this Question conveaned in the house of Master Iames Mackgill the Lord Iames Earle of Morton the Earle of Marshall Secretary Lethington the Justice Clarke and the foresaid Master Iames Clarke of the Register who all reasoned for the part of the Queen affirming That the Subjects might not take her Masse lawfully from her
In the contrary judgement were the principall Ministers Master Iohn Row Master George Hay Master Robert Hamilton and Iohn Knox. The reasons of both parties we will omit because they will be explained after where the said Question and others Concerning the Obedience due to Princes were long reasoned in open assembly The conclusion of that first reasoning was That the Question should be formed Letters directed to Geneva for the resolution of that Church Wherein Iohn Knox offered his labour But Secretary Lethington alleadging That there stood much in the information said That he should write But that was onely to drive time as the trueth declared it selfe The Queenes partie urged That the Queen should have her Religion free in her own Chappell to do she and her houshold what they list The Ministers affirmed and Voted the contrary adding That her liberty should be their thraldome ere it be long But neither could reason nor threatning move the affections of such as were creeping in Credit and so did the Votes of the Lords prevaile against the Ministers For the punishment of Theft and Reafe which had encreased upon the border and in the South from the Queenes arrivall was the Lord Iames made Lieutenant some suspected that such honour and charge proceeded from the same heart and counsell that Saul made David Captain against the Philistines but God assisted and bowed the hearts of men both to feare and obey him yea the Lord Bothwell himselfe at that time assisted him but he had remission for Liddisdall except that execution was there made in Edinburgh for her twenty eight of one clan and other were hanged at that Justice Court bribes budds or sollicitation saved not the guilty if he might be apprehended And therefore God prospered him in that his integrity that same time the Lord Iames spake with the Lord Gray of England at Kelsoe for good rule to be kept on both the borders and agreed in all things Before his returning the Queene upon a night tooke a fright in her bed as if horsemen had been in the Close and as if the Palace had been enclosed about whether it proceeded of her own womanly fantasie or if men put her in feare for displeasure of the Earle of Arrane And for other purposes as for the electing of the Guard we know not but the feare was so great that the Towne was called to the Watch Lord Robert of Hallyrud-house and Iohn of Coldingham kept the Watch by course Skouts were set forth and Sentinels upon pain of death were commanded to keep their Stations And yet they feared where there was no fear neither yet could ever any appearance or suspition of such things be tried Shortly after the returning of the Lord Iames there came from the Queen of England Sir Peter Mewtes with Commission to require the Ratification of the Peace made at Leith Her answer was even such as we have heard before That she behoved to advise and then she should answer In presence of her Councell she kept her selfe grave for under the mourning weed and apparell she could dissemble in full perfection but how soon that ever the French people had her alone they told her That since she came to Scotland she saw nothing there but gravity which repugned altogether to her breeding for she was brought up in joviality so tearmed she her Dancing and other things thereto belonging The generall Assembly of the Church approached holden in December after the Queens arrivall in the which began the rulers of the Court to draw themselves apart from the Societie of their brethren and began to strive and grudge That any thing should be consulted upon without their advices Master Iohn Wood who before had shewed himselfe very fervent in the Cause of God and forward in giving of his councell in all doubtfull matters refused to assist the Assembly again whereof many did wonder The Courtiers drew unto them some of the Lords and would not conveane with their Brethren as before they were accustomed but kept themselves in the Abbey The principall Commissioners of the Church the Superintendents and some Ministers past unto them where they were assembled in the Abbots Lodging within Hallyrud-house both the parties began to open their griefes The Lords complained That the Ministers drew the Gentlemen into secret and held Councell without their knowledge The Ministers denied That they had done any thing in secret otherwise then the common Order commanded them And accused the Lords the flatterers of the Queen we meane that they kept not the Convention with their Brethren considering That they knew the Order and that the same was appointed by their own advice as the Book of Discipline subscribed with the most part of their own hands would witnesse some began to deny That ever they knew such a thing as the Book of Discipline And called also in doubt Whether it was expedient that such Assemblies should be or not for gladly would the Queen and her secret Councell have had all Assemblies of the godly discharged The reasoning was sharpe and quicke on either side The Queens faction alleadged That it was suspicious to Princes that Subjects should assemble themselves and keep Conventions without their knowledge It was answered That without knowledge of the Princes the Church did nothing for the Princes perfectly understood That within this Realme was a Reformed Church and that they had their Orders and appointed times of Convention And so without knowledge of the Princes they did nothing Yea said Lethington the Queen knew and knoweth well enough But the Question is Whether that the Queen alloweth such Conventions It was answered If the Libertie of the Church should stand upon the Queens allowance or disallowance we are assured not onely to lacke Assemblies but also to lacke the publike Preaching of the Evangell that affirmative was mocked and the contrary affirmed Well said the other time will try the truth But to my former words this I will adde Take from us the freedomes of assemblies and take from us the Evangell for without assemblies how shall good order and unity in Doctrine be kept It is not to be supposed That all Ministers shall be so perfect but that they shall need admonition as well concerning Manners as Doctrine As it may be that some be so stiffe-necked that they will not admit the admonition of the simple As also it may be that fault may be found with Ministers without just offence committed And if order be not taken both with the Complainer and with the persons complained upon It cannot be avoided but that many grievous offences shall arise For remedy whereof of necessity it is That generall Assemblies must be In the which the judgements and gravitie of many may occurre to correct or represse the follies or errours of a few Hereunto consented the most part as well of the Nobility as of the Barrons and willed the reasoners for the Queen to be sent to her Majestie
whelps have devoured their Lambs the Complainer may stand in danger but the offender we fear shall have leave to hunt after his prey Such Comparisons said Lethington are very unsavoury for I am assured That the Queen will not erect nor maintaine Papistry Let your assurance said the other serve your selfe but it cannot assure us for her manifest proceedings speaketh the contrary After such cautious reasoning on both sides the pluralitie concluded That the supplication as it was conceived should be presented unlesse that the Secretary would make one more fit to the present necessitie he promised to keep the substance of ours but he would use other termes and aske things in a more gentle manner The first Writer answered That he served the Churches at their commandment and was content That in his ditement men should use the libertie that best pleased them providing That he were not compelled to subscribe to the flattery of such as more regarded the persons of men then the simple truth of God And so was this former supplication given to be reformed as Lethingtons wisedome thought best And in very deed he framed it so That when it was delivered by the Superintendents of Lothain and Fyfe And when the Queen had read somewhat of it she said Here are many faire words I cannot tell what the hearts are And so for our painted Oratory we were termed by the next name Flatterers and dissemblers but for that Session the Church received no other answer Short after the Convention of the Church chanced that unhappy persuite which Iohn Gordon Laird of Finlater made upon the Lord Ogilvie who was evill hurt and was for a long time mitilate The occasion was for certain Lands and Rights which old Finlater had resigned to the Lord which he was pursuing by Law and was in appearance to obtain his purpose whereat the said Iohn and his servants were offended and therefore made the said pursuite upon a Saterday at night betwixt nine and ten The friends of the said Lord were either not with him or else not willing to fight that night for they took stroakes but gave few that left markes The said Iohn was taken and put in the Tolbuith where he ramained certain dayes and then broke the Prison Some judged at his Fathers commandment for he was making preparation for the Queens coming to the North as we will after heare The enterview and meeting of the two Queens delayed till the next yeer Our Soveraign took purpose to visite the North and departed from Sterlin in the moneth of August whether there was any paction and confederacy betwixt the Papists of the South and the Earle of Huntly and his Papists in the North or to speak more plainly betwixt the Queen her Self and Huntly We cannot certainly affirme But the suspitions were wondrous vehement that there was no good will borne to the Earle of Murray nor yet to such as depended upon him at that time The History we shall faithfully declare and so leave the judgement free to the Readers That Iohn Gordon broke the Prison we have already heard who immediately repaired to his Father George Earle of Huntly and understanding the Queens coming made great provision in Strabogie and in other parts as it were to receive the Queen At Aberdeine the Queen and Court remained certaine dayes to deliberate upon the Affaires of the Countrey where some began to smell that the Earle of Huntly was privately gathering men as hereafter shall be declared Whilest things was so working in the North the Earle of Bothwell broke his prison and came forth of the Castle of Edinburgh the eight and twentieth day of August some say he broke the Stancheours of the Window others whispered that he got easie passage by the gates one thing is certain to wit The Queen was little offended at his escaping There passed with him a servant of the Captains named Iames Porterfield The said Earle shewed himself not very much afraid for his common residence was in Louthain The Bishop of Saint Andrews and Abbot of Crosrainell kept secret convention that same time in Paislay to whom resorted divers Papists yea the said Bishop spake to the Duke unto whom also came the Lord Gordon from the Earle of Huntly requiring him to stirre his hands in the South as he should do in the North and so it should not be Knox crying and preaching that should stay that purpose The Bishop be he never so close could not altogether hide his minde but at his own Table said The Queen is gone into the North belike to seek disobedience she may perchance finde the thing she seeks It was constantly affirmed That the Earle Bothwell and the said Lord Gordon spake together but of their purpose we heard no mention That same year and in that same instant time were appointed Commissioners by the Generall Assembly to Carrick and Cunningham Master George Hay who with great profit preached the space of a moneth in all the Churches of Carrick To Kyle and to the parts of Galloway was appointed Iohn Knox who besides the doctrine of the Evangell shewne to the common people forewarned some of the Nobilitie and Barrows of the dangers that he feared and that were appearing shortly to follow and exhorted them to put themselves in such order as that they might be able to serve the authoritie and yet not to suffer the enemies of Gods truth to have the upper hand Whereupon a great part of the Barons and Gentlemen of Kyle Cunningham and Carrick professing the true doctrine of the Evangell assembled at Ayre and after the exhortation made and conference had subscribed this Bond the Tenour whereof followeth WE whose Names are under-written do promise in the presence of God and in the presence of his Son our Lord Iesus Christ that we and every one of us shall and will maintain the preaching of his holy Evangell now of his mercy offered and granted unto this Realm and also will maintaine the Ministers of the same against all persons power and authoritie that will oppose themselves to the Doctrine proposed and by us received And further with the same solemnitie we protest and promise that every one of us shall assist another yea and the whole Body of the Protestants within this Realme in all lawfull and just occasions against all persons So that whosoever shall hurt molest or trouble any of our bodies shall be reputed enemies to the whole except that the offender will be content to submit himself to the Government of the Church now established amongst us and this we do as we desire to be accepted and favoured of the Lord Iesus and accepted worthy of credit and honesty in the presence of the godly At the Burgh of Aire the fourth day of September in the year of God 1552. Subscribed by all these with their hands as followeth The Earle Glencairne Lord Boyde Lord Uchiltrie and Failfurd Mathew Cambell of Lowdoune Knight
carryed about in a Boat and laid without Buriall in the Abbey of Halyrud-house till the day of his Forefaltor as after shall be declared The Duke apprehended the Lord Gordon his son in Law because that the Queen had straitly commanded him so to do if that he repaired within his bounds Before that he delivered him the Earle of Murray laboured at the Queens hands for the safety of his life which hardly was granted and so was he delivered within the Castle of Edinburgh the eight and twentieth day of November 1562. where he remained till the eighth day of February when he was put to an Assise accused and convinced of Treason but was restored againe first to the Castle aforesaid and thereafter was transported to Dumbar where he remained prisoner till the moneth of August in the yeer of God 1565. as we will after hear In the mean time the troubles were hot in France and the intelligence and outward familiarity betwixt the two Queens was great Lethington was directed with large Commission both to the Queene of England and to the Guisians The Marriage of our Queen was in all mens mouthes some would have the Infant of Spaine some the Emperours Brother some Duke Denemours and some truely guessed at the Lord Darley What Lethingtons Credit was we know not but shortly after there began much to be talked of the Earle of Lenox and of his son the Lord Darley It was said that Lethington spake to the Lady Margaret Dowglas And that Robert Melvill received a horse to the Secretaries use from the Earle of Lenox or from his wife Howsoever it was Master Fouller servant to the said Earle came with Letters to the Queene by which License was permitted to the Earle of Lenox to come to Scotland to travell in his lawfull businesse That same day the Queens License was granted the Secretary said This day I have taken upon me the deadly hatred of all the Hamiltons within Scotland and have done unto them no lesse displeasure then if I had cut their throats The Earle Bothwell who before had broken Ward fearing apprehension or taking prepared to passe to France but by storm of Weather was driven into England where he was stayed and was offered to have been rendred by the Queen of England But our Queens answer was That he was no Rebell and therefore she requested that he should have liberty to passe whither he pleased And thereto Lethington helped not a little for he travelled to have friends in every faction of the Court. And so obtained the said Earle Lincense to passe to France The Winter after the death of the Earle of Huntley the Court remained for the most part at Edinburgh The Preachers were wondrous vehement in reprehension of all manner of Vice which then began to abound and especially Avarice Oppression of the poore Excesse Ryotous Cheer Banquetting immoderate Dancing and Whoredome that thereof ensues Whereat the Courtiers began to storme and to pick quarrells against the Preachers alleadging that all their Preaching was turned to Rayling whereunto one of them gave answer as followeth It comes to our eares that we are called Raylers whereof albeit we wonder yet we are not ashamed seeing that the most worthy servants of God that before us have travelled in this Vocation have so been stiled But unto you do I say That the same God who from the beginning hath punished the Contempt of his Word and hath poured forth his Vengeance upon such proud mockers shall not spare you yea he shall not spare you before the eyes of this same wicked Generation for the pleasure whereof ye despise all wholesome Admonitions Have you not seen greater then any of you sitting where presently ye sit pick his nayles and pull down his Bonnet over his eyes when Idolatry Witchcraft Murther Oppression and such Vices were rebuked Was not this his common talke When these Knaves have rayled their fill then will they hold their peace Have ye not heard it affirmed to his owne face That God should revenge that his Blasphemie even in the eyes of such as were witnesse to his iniquity Then was the Earle of Huntley accused by you as the maintainer of Idolatry and onely hinderer of all good Orders him hath God punished even according to the threatnings that his and your ears heard and by your hands hath God executed his Judgements But what amendment can be espied in you Idolatry was never in greater quiet Vertue and vertuous men were never in more contempt Vice was never more bold nor punishment lesse feared And yet who guides the Queene and Court who but the Protestants O horrible slanderers of God and of his holy Evangell Better it were unto you plainely to renounce Christ Jesus then thus to expose his blessed Evangell to Mockage if God punisheth not you That this same age shall see and behold your punishment the spirit of righteous judgement guides me not This vehemency provoked the hatred not onely of the Courtiers but also of divers others against the Speaker which was Iohn Knox for such as be in credit never lack flatterers Their Brethren of the Court were irreverendly handled What was that but to raise the hearts of the people against them They did what they could Such speaking would cause them to do lesse And this was the fruit that the Preachers gathered of their just reprehensions The generall Assembly of the Church held on the 25 of December 1562. approached In the which great complaints were made That Churches lacked Ministers That Ministers lacked their Stipends That wicked men were permitted to be Schoole-Masters and so to infect the youth amongst them whom one Master Robert Cunning Schoole-master in Aberbrothoke was complained upon by the Laird of Dun and sentence pronounced against him It was further complained That Idolatry was erected in divers parts of the Realm For redresse hereof some thought best That a new supplication should be presented to the Queen others demanded what answer was received of the former The superintendent of Lowthian confessed the delivery of it but said he I received no answer It was answered for the part of the Queene for her supposts were ever there that it was well known to the whole Realm what troubles had occurred since the last Assembly and therefore That they should not wonder albeit that the Queen had not answered but betwixt that and the Parliament which was appointed to be in May they doubted not but such order should be taken as all men should have occasion to stand content This satisfied for that time the whole Assembly And this was the practice of the Queene and of her Councell with faire words to drive time as before we have said The Assembly notwithstanding proceeded forward in establishing of such orders as whereby vice might be punished and vertue might be maintained And because there was a great slander risen upon Paul Meffane of whom mention is made in the
second Booke of the Historie Commissions and charge was given unto Iohn Knox Minister of Edinburgh and unto certain of the Elders of the Church of Edinburgh to passe to the Town of Iedwart where the slander was raised and to be found there the third of Ianuary next was the tryall to be taken of the slander raised and to hear the Articles and complaint of the said Paul and after the tryall to report the truth to the Session of the Church of Edinburgh To whom with the assistance of the superintendent of Lowthian Commission was given to discerne therein The tryall and examination of that crime was difficile the slander was universall in that Towne and Country the servant woman of the said Paul had betwixt that and Christmas left his House she had borne a child no father to it could she finde but alleaged her self to have been suppressed late in an Evening the said Paul constantly affirmed himself innocent and would have given his publike purgation but because his Accusators had taken on them to prove ther accusation that was denyed many witnesses were produced of whom some deposed so clearly that the Commissioners suspected that they had been suborned and therefore they required to have inspection of the places where some said they saw and some said they heard them in the very act of iniquitie The sight and consideration of the place augmented greatly the suspition but one thing was most suspitious of all other for the Wife of the sad Paul an ancient Matron was absent from him the space of eight or nine weeks in Dundie which time or at least a great part thereof they suspected and he lay nightly in one house without other company then a Childe of seven or eight yeers of age The Judges notwithstanding these suspitions having a good opinion of the honestie and godlinesse of the man travelled what they could conscience not hurt to purge him of the slander But God who would not that such a Villanie should be cloaked and concealed within his Kirk otherwayes had decreed for he brought the brother of the guilty woman to the Towne having no minde of such matters who being produced by the Accusators as one that was privy to the fact and knew the veritie of all circumstances this witnesse we say which could not be suspected being produced made the matter so plain and clear that all suspition was removed for he it was that conveyde the woman away he it was that caused the Childe to be baptised alleaging it to be his own he it was that carried frequent message betwixt them and from Paul carryed money and clothes divers times How soon that ever the said Paul saw that man produced as Witnesse he withdrew himselfe and left the Town by that means plainly taking upon him the Crime And so the Commissioners with full information returned to Dundie and notified the same unto the Kirke who caused publikely to summon the said Paul to hear the sentence pronounced who not appearing in the end for his odious Crime and contumacy was publikely excommunicated and was deprived of all functions within the Kirke of Scotland and so left the Realme For two causes we insert this horrible fact and the order kept in punishing of the same the former to forewarn such as travell in that Vocation that according to the admonition of the Apostle Such as stand take heed lest they fall No man in the beginning of the Evangell was judged more fervent and more upright and yet we have heard how far Sathan has prevailed against him God grant that we may hear of his repentance neither yet should this fall do any thing to prejudice the Authoritie of the Doctrine which he taught for the Doctrine of God hath its authority of no creature but hath the assurance of God himselfe how weak or imperfect soever the Instruments be by whom it pleaseth God to publish the same The treason of Iudas the Adultery of David and abnegation of Peter did derogate nothing from the glory of Christs Evangell nor yet the Doctrine which before they had taught but declared the one to be a Reprobate and the other to be Instruments in whom mercy must surmount judgement The other cause is that the World may see what difference there is betwixt the uprightnesse of the Kirke of God and the corruption that reignes in the Synagogue of Sathan the Papisticall rabble for how many of that sort hath been and still remaine openly knowne Whoremongers Adulterers Violators of Virgines yea and committers of such abominations as we will not name and yet are they called and permitted to be Bishops Archbishops Cardinalls and Popes themselves For what sinnes can unable the sworne servants of Symonie and of their Father the Devill For bragg what they list of Christ of Peter and of Paul their lives and conversation bear witnesse to whom they belong But we return to our History of things done in Court Amongst the Menizoons of the Court there was one named Monsieur Chattelet a Frenchman that at that time passed all others in credit with the Queene In dancing of the purpose so terme they that dance in the which man and woman talketh secretly wise men would judge such fashions not agreeable to the gravity of honest women In this dance the Queen choose Chattelet and Chattelet took the Queen for he had the best dresse All this winter Chattelet was so familiar with the Queen that the Nobilitie being by this means stopped to have so free accesse as they thought fit and due unto them were highly offended at length Chattelet having conveyed himselfe privately under the Queens Bed but being espied was commanded away The Bruit arising the Queene called the Earle of Murray and bursting in a womanly affection charged him that as he loved her he should slay Chatelet and let him never speak word The other at the first made promise so to doe but after calling to minde the judgement of GOD pronounced against the shedders of innocent blood and also that none should die without the testimonie of two or three witnesses returned and fell upon his knees before the Queen and said Madame I beseech your Majestie cause not me to take the blood of this man upon me Your Majestie hath used him so familiarlie before that you have offended all your Nobilitie and now if he shall be secretly slain at your owne commandment what shall the world judge of it I shall bring him to the presence of Justice and let him suffer by Law according to his deserving Oh said the Queene you shall not let him speake I shall doe said he Madame what in me lyeth to give your Majestie content Poor Chattelet was brought back from Kingorne to Saint Andrews examined put to an Assize and so beheaded the two and twentieth day of February Anno Dom. 1562. He begged license to write to France the cause of his death which said he in his Tongue was Pour estre
Lordship that it will not be profitable for the common quietnesse of this Realme that the Papists brag and Justice be mocked that day And thus I cease further to trouble your Lordship whom God assist In haste from Glasgow the 7 of May 1563. Your Lordships to command in godlinesse Sic subscribitur JOHN KNOX THis Letter was not well accepted of the said Earle and yet did he utter no part of his displeasure in publike but contrarily shewed himself most familiar with the said Iohn Knox He kept the Diet and sate in Judgement himself where the Bishop and the rest of the Papists were accused as after follows The Summons were directed against the Masse-mongers with expedition and in the straitest forme The day was appointed the 19 of May a day onely before the Parliament of Popes Knights appeared The Bishop of Saint Androes the Prior of Quinthorne the Parson of Sanguhair William Hamilton of Camskeneth Iohn Gordon of Barskuch with divers others The Protestants convened whole to crave for Justice The Queen asked counsell of the Bishop of Rosse and of the old Laird of Lethington for the younger was absent and so the Protestants had fewer friends who affirmed That she must see her Laws kept or else she would get no obedience and so was preparations made for their accusations The Bishop and his band of the exempted sort made nice to enter before the Earle of Argyle who sate in Judgement but at last he was compelled to enter within the Barre A merry man who now sleeps with the Lord Robert Horwell instead of the Bishops Crosse bore before him a Steel Hammer Whereat the Bishop and his Band were not a little offended because the Bishops priviledges were not then currant in Scotland which day God grant our posterity may see of longer continuance then we possessed it The Bishop and his fellows after much ado and long drift of time came in the Queens will and were committed to Ward some to one place and some to another The Lady Arskine got the Bishops for her part All this was done of a most deep craft to abuse the simplicity of the Protestants that they should not presse the Queen with any other thing concerning the matters of Religion At that Parliament which began within two dayes thereafter she obtained of the Protestants whatsoever she desired for this was the reason of many We see what the Queen hath done the like of this was never heard within this Realme we will bear with the Queen we doubt not but all shall be well Others were of contrary judgement and forespake things as after they came to passe to wit That nothing was meant but deceit and that the Queen how soon that ever the Parliament was past should set the Papists at freedome And therefore willed the Nobility not to be abused But because many had their private businesse to be handled at that Parliament the common Cause was the lesse regarded The Earle of Huntley whose Corps had been unburied till the time it was brought to the Tolbuith he was accused his Arms rent off himself the Earle of Sutherland and eleven Barons and Earles bearing the surname of Gordon were that day forfeited the Lady Huntley craftily protested and asked the support of a man of Law or Counsellor Such stinking pride of women as was seen at that Parliament was never seen before in Scotland Three sundry dayes the Queen rode to the Tolbuith The first day she made a painted Oration and there might have been heard amongst her flatteries Vox Dianae The voyce of a goddesse for it could not be Dei and not of a Woman God save that sweet face Was there ever Orator spake so properly and so sweetly c. All things misliked the Preachers They spake boldly against the superfluities of their Cloathes and against the rest of their vanitie which they affirmed should provoke Gods vengeance not onely against these foolish Women but against the whole Realme and especially against those that maintained them in that odious abusing of things that might have been better bestowed Articles were presented for orders to be taken for Apparrell and for Reformation of other Enormities but all was winked at The Earledome of Murray needed confirmation and many things were to be ratified that concerned the helpe of friends and servants and therefore they might not urge the Queene For if they so did she would hold no Parliament and what then should become of them that had medled with the slaughter of the Earle of Huntley let that Parliament passe over and when the Queene shall aske any thing of the Nobilitie as she must do before her marriage then shall Religion be the first thing that shall be established It was answered That the Poets and Painters erred not altogether that fained and painted Occasion with a bald Hind-head For the first when it is offered being lost is hard to be recovered againe The matter fell so hot betwixt the Earl of Murray and some others of the Court and Iohn Knox That familiarly after that time they spake not together more then a yeer and a half For the said Iohn by his Letter gave a discharge to the said Earle of all further intromission or care with his affaires He made unto him a discourse of their first acquaintance in what estate he was when that first they spake together in London how God had promoted him and that above mans judgement and in the end made this conclusion But seeing that I perceive my self frustrate of my expectation which was That ye should ever have preferred God to your own affection and the advancement of his Truth to your owne commoditie I commit you to your wit and to the conducting of those which can better please you I praise my God I leave you this day victor of your enemies promoted to great honour and in credite and authority with your Soveraigne If so yee long to continue none shall be more glad then I shall be But that after this ye decay as I feare ye shall then call to minde by what means God exalted you which was neither by plying with impiety neither yet by maintaining of pestilent Papists This Letter and discharge was so pleasing to the Flatterers of the said Earle that they triumphed of it and were glad to have gotten their occasion for some envyed that so great familiaritie was betwixt them and therefore from the time they got once that occasion to separate they ceased not to cast Oyle in the burning Flame which ceased not to burne till that God by water of affliction began to slacken it as we shall after heare But least that they should altogether have been seen to have forsaken God as in very deed both God and his Word was vey farre from the hearts of the most part of the Courtiers of that Age a few excepted they began a new Schift to wit To speak of the punishment
foreseen they shew what pains and travel they had taken to mittigate her anger but they could finde nothing but extremity unlesse that he himself would confesse his offence and put him in her Majesties will To which Heads the said Iohn answered as follows I praise my God through Jesus Christ said he I have learned not to crie Conjuration and Treason at every thing that the godlesse multitude doth condemn nether yet to fear the things that they fear I have the testimony of a good conscience that I have given no occasion to the Queens Majestie to be offended with me for I have done nothing but my duty and so whatsoever shall thereof ensue my good hope is that my God will give me patience to bear it but to confesse an offence where my Conscience witnesseth there is none far be it from me How can it be defended said Lethington have you not made a Convocation of the Queens Leiges If I have not said he a just defence for my fact let me smart for it Let us hear said they your defences for we would be glad that you might be found innocent Nay said the other I am informed by divers that even by you my Lord Secretary I am already condemned and my cause prejudged therefore I might be reputed a fool if I would make you privie to my Defences At these words they seemed both offended and so the Secretary departed but the said Earle remained still and would have entred into further discourse of the state of the Court with the said Iohn who answered My Lord I understand more then I would of the state of the Court and therefore it is not needfull that your Lordship trouble me with the recounting thereof if you stand in good case I am content and if you do not as I fear you do not already or else you shall not do it ere it be long blame not me you have the Councellors whom you have chosen my weak judgement both they and you despised I can do nothing but behold the end which I pray God it be other then my troubled heart feareth Within four dayes the said Iohn was called before the Queen and Councell betwixt 6 and seven a Clock at night the season of the year was the midst of December the report rising in the towne That I. Knox was sent for by the Queen The Brethren of the Town followed in such number that the inner Close was full and all the Staires even to the Chamber door where the Queen and Counsell sate who had been reasoning amongst themselves before but had not fully satisfied the Secretaries minde And so was the Queen retired to her Cabbinet and the Lords were talking one with another as occasion served But upon the entry of Iohn Knox they were desired to take their places as they did sitting as Councellors one against another The Duke according to his dignity began the one side upon the other side sate the Earle of Argile and consequently followed the Earle of Murray the Earle of Glencarne the Earle of Mershall the Lord Ruthven the common Officers Pittaro then Controller the Justice Clerk with Master Iohn Spence of Condie Advocate and divers others stood by removed from the Table sate old Lethington father to the Secretary Master Henry Sinclare then Bishop of Rosse and Master Iames Makgill Clerke of the Register Things thus put in Order the Queen came forth and that with no little worldly pompe was placed in a Chaire having two faithfull Supporters the Master of Maxwell upon the one Torre and Secretary Lethington upon the other Torre of the Chaire whereon hee waited diligently at the time of the Accusation sometime the one was speaking in her Eare and sometime the other Her pompe lacked nothing of an womanly gravitie for when she saw Iohn Knox standing at the other end of the Table bare-headed at the first she smiled and after gave a guaf of laughter whereunto her Placeboâ—â— gave their Plaudite assenting with like countenance This is a good beginning she said but know you whereat I laugh Yon man caused me to crie and shed never a Tear himself I will see if I can cause him to grieve At that word the Secretary whispered her in the Eare and she him again and with that gave him a Letter after the inspection whereof he directed his visage and speech to Iohn Knox in this manner The Queens Majesty is informed That you have travelled to raise a Tumult of her Subjects against her and for Certification thereof there is presented to her your owne Letter subscribed in your name Yet because her Majesty will do nothing without good advertisement she hath convened you before this part of the Nobilitie that they may witnesse betwixt you and her Let him acknowledge said she his owne hand-writing and then shall we judge of the Contents of the Letter and so was the Lettet sent from hand to hand to Iohn Knox who taking inspection of it said I acknowledge this to be my hand-writing and also I remember that I indited a Letter in the month of October giving signification to the Brethren in divers Quarters of such things as displeased me and so good opinion have I of the fidelity of the Scribes that willingly they would not adulterate my originall albeit that I left divers blanks subscribed with them And so I acknowledge both the Hand-writing and the Dictatement You have done more said Lethington then I would have done Charity said the other is not suspitious Well well said the Queen read your own Letter and then answer to such things as shall be demanded of you I shall do the best I can said the other and so with a loud voice he began to reade as before is expressed After that the Letter was read it was presented again to M. Iohn Spence her Advocate for the Queen commanded him to accuse as he did but very gently After we say that the Letter was read the Queen beholding the whole Table said Heard you ever my Lords a more dispightfull and Treasonable Letter While that no man gave answer Lethington addressed himself to Iohn Knox and said M. Knox are you not sorry from your heart and do you not repent that such a Letter hath passed your Pen and from you hath come to the knowledge of others I. Knox answered My Lord Secretary before I repent I must be taught of my offence Offence said Lethington if there were no more but the vocation of the Queenes Leiges the offence cannot be denyed Remember your selfe my Lord said the other there is a difference betwixt a lawfull Vocation and an unlawfull If I have been guilty in this I have oft offended since I came last in Scotland for what Vocation of Brethren hath ever been this day unto which my Pen hath not served and before this no man laid it to my charge as a crime Then was then and now is now said Lethington we have no need of
within this Realme and of late dayes I have been accused as a seditious man and as one that usurpeth to my selfe power that becometh me not True it is that I have given advertisment unto the Brethren in divers Quarters of the extremity intended against divers faithfull for looking to a Priest going to Masse and for observing of those that transgresse against just Laws but that therein I have usurped further power then is given me till that by you I be condemned I utterly deny for I say that by you that is By the charge of the Generall Assembly I have all just power to advertise the Brethren from time to time of dangers appearing as I have power to preach the Word of God in the Pulpit of Edinburgh for by you was I appointed to the one and to the other and therefore in the Name of God I crave your judgements The danger that appeared to me in my Accusation was not so fearfull as the words that came to my Ears were dolorous to my heart for these words were plainly spoken and that by some Protestants What can the Pope do more then to send forth his Letters and require them to be obeyed Let me have your judgements therefore whether I have usurped any power to my self or if I have obeyed your commandment The Flatterers of the Court amongst whom the Justice Clerk then not the least began to storme and said shall we be compelled to justifie the rash judgements of men My Lord said Iohn Knox you shall speak your pleasure for the present of you I crave nothing but the if Church that is here present do not either absolve me or else condemne me never shall I in publike or in private as a publike Minister open my mouth in doctrine or reasoning After long contention the said Iohn being removed the whole Church found that a charge was given unto him To advertise the Brethren in all Quarters as oft as ever danger appeared and therefore avowed that fact not to be his onely but the fact of the whole assembly Thereat were the Queens Claw-backs more enraged then ever they were for some of them had promised the Queen to get the said Iohn convinced both by the Councell and by the Church and being frustrate of both she and they thought themselves not a little disappointed In the very time of the generall Assembly there comes to publike knowledge or naynous murther committed in the Court yea not far from the Queens Lap for a French-woman that served in the Queens Chamber had played the Whore with the Queens own Apothecary the woman conceived and bare a Childe whom with common consent the father and the mother murthered yet were the cries of a new borne Childe heard search was made the Childe and the Mother were both apprehended and so was both the man and the woman condemned to be hanged in the publike Street of Edinburgh The punishment was notable because the Crime was hainous But yet was not the Court purged of Whores and Whoredoms which was the fountaine of such enormities for it was well known that shame hasted Marriage betwixt Iohn Sempill called the Dancer and Mary Leringston sirnamed the Lusty what bruit the Maries and the rest of the Dancers of the Court had the Ballads of that age did witnesse which we for modesties sake omit but this was the common complaint of all godly and wise men That if they thought that such a Court should long continue and if they looked for no better life to come they would have wished their Sonnes and Daughters rather to have been brought up with Fidlers and Dancers and to have been exercised in flinging upon a Floore and in the rest that thereof followes then to have been exercised in the company of the godly and exercised in vertue which in that Court was hated and filthinesse not onely maintained but also rewarded witnesse the Abbacie of Abercone the Barony of Anchvermuchtie and divers others pertaining to the Patrimony of the Crowne given in heritage to Skippers and Dancers and Dalliers with Dâ—mes This was the beginning of the Regiment of Mary Queen of Scots and these were the fruits that she brought forth of France Lord loâ—k upon our miseries and deliver us from the wickednesse of this corrupt Court for thy own Names sake God from Heaven and from the face of the Earth did declare that he was offended at the iniquitie committed within this Realme for upon the twentieth day of Ianuary there fell rain in great abundance which in the falling freezed so vehemently that the earth was but a shot of Ice the Fowls both great and small freezed and might not flie many dyed and some were taken and laid beside the fire that their feathers might dissolve and that same moneth the Sea stood still as was clearly observed and never ebbed nor flowed the space of foure and twenty hours In the moneth of February the fifteenth and eighteenth dayes thereof there was seen in the Firmament battels arrayed spears and all other weapons as it had been the joyning of two Armies These things were not onely observed but also spoken of and constantly affirmed by men of judgement and credit But the Queen and our Court made merry there was banquetting upon banquetting the Queen would banquet with the Lords and that was done onely upon policy to remove her displeasure against them because they would not at her devotion condemne Iohn Knox. To remove we say that jealousie she made the Banquet to the whole Lords whereat she would have the Duke amongst the rest It behoved them to banquet her again and so did banquetting continue till Lent ever after But the poor Ministers were mocked and reputed as Monsters the Guard and the Affairs of the Kitchin were so gripping that the Minsters stipends could not be had and yet at the Assembly last past solemne promise was made in the Queens Name by the mouth of Secretary Lethington in the audience of the Nobilitie and of the whole Assembly who affirmed that he had commandment of her Highnesse to promise full content unto all the Ministers within the Realme and of such Order to be kept in all times to come that the whole body of the Protestants should have occasion to stand content The Earle of Murray affirmed the same with many other faire promises given by writing by Lethington himself as in the Register of the Acts of the generall Assembly may be seene but how that or yet any other thing promised in her name to the Church of God was observed the world can witnesse The Ministers perceiving all things to tend to ruine discharged their consciences in publike and in private but they received for their labour hatred and indignation and amongst others that worthy servant of God Master Iohn Craig speaking against the manifold corruption that then without shame or fear declared it self said Sometimes was Hypocrites known by their noted habits and we had
Lethington that is the chief Head wherein we never agreed but of that we shall speak hereafter What will ye say as touching the moving of the people to have a good opinion of the Queens Majesty and as concerning obedience to be given to her Authority as also of the form of Prayer which ye commonly use My Lord saith he more earnestly to move the people or yet otherwise to pray then heretofore I have done a good conscience will not suffer me for he who knows the secrets of hearts knows That privately and publikely I have called to God for her conversion and have willed the people to do the same shewing unto them the dangerous state wherein not onely she her self stands but also the whole Realm by reason of her indurate blindnesse That is said Lethington wherein we finde the greatest fault your extremity against her Masse in particular passeth measure ye call her a slave to Sathan ye affirm that Gods vengeance hangs over the Realm by reason of her impiety And what is this else but to raise up the hearts of the poeple against her Majesty and against them that serve her Then there was heard an acclamation of the rest of the flatterers that such extremity could not profit The Master of Maxwell said in plain words If I were in the Queens Majesties place I would not suffer such things as I hear If the words of Preachers said Iohn Knox shall be alwayes wrested in the worst part then will it be hard to speak any thing so circumspectly providing that the truth be spoken which shall not escape the censure of the calumniator The most vehement as ye speak and most excessive manner of Prayer that I use in publike is this O Lord if thy good pleasure be purge the heart of the Queens Majestie from the venome of Idolatry and deliver her from the bondage and thraldom of Satan into the which she hath been brought up and yet remains for the lack of true Doctrine and let her see by the illumination of thy holy Spirit That there is no means to please thee but by Iesus Christ thy only Son and that Iesus Christ cannot be found but in thy holy Word nor yet received but as it prescribes which is To renounce our own wisedom and preconceived opinion and worship thee as it commands that in so doing she may avoid the eternall damnation which is ordained for all obstinate and impenitent to thee and that this poor Realm may also escape that plague and vengeance which inevitably followeth Idolatry maintained against thy manifest Word and the light thereof This said he is the form of common Prayer as your selves can witnesse Now what is worthy of reprehension in it I would hear There are three things in it said Lethington that never liked me and the first is Ye pray for the Queens Majesty with a condition saying Illuminate her heart if thy good pleasure be Wherein it may appear That ye doubt of her conversion Where have ye the example of such Prayer Wheresoever the examples are said the other I am assured of the Rule which is this If we shall ask any thing according to his Will he shall grant us And our Master Christ Jesus commands us to pray unto our Father Thy will be done But said Lethington Where ever finde ye any of the Prophets so to have prayed It sufficeth me said the other my Lord that the Master and Teacher both of Prophets and Apostles hath taught me so to pray But in so doing said Lethington ye put a doubt in the peoples heads of her conversion Not I said the other but her own obstinate rebellion causeth more then me to doubt of her conversion Wherein said he rebells she against God In all the actions of her life said M. Knox but in these two Heads especially The former is That she will not hear the Preaching of the blessed Evangel of Jesus Christ. 2. That she maintaineth that Idol the Masse She thinks not that rebellion said Lethington So thought they said the other that sometimes offered their children unto Molech and yet the Spirit of God affirms That they offered them unto devils and not unto God And this day the Turks think they have a better Religion then the Papists have and yet I think ye will excuse neither of both from committing rebellion against God neither yet can ye do the Queen unlesse ye will make God to be partiall But said Lethington Why pray ye not for her without moving any doubt Because said the other I have learned to pray in faith now faith ye know depends upon the Word of God and so it is that the Word teacheth me That prayer profiteth the sons and daughters of Gods Election of which number if she be one or not I have just cause to doubt and therefore I pray that God would illuminate her heart if his good pleasure be so to do But yet said Lethington ye can produce the example of none that so hath prayed before you Thereto I have already answered said Iohn Knox But yet for further declaration I will demand a question which is this Whether ye think that the Apostles prayed themselves as they commanded others to pray or not who doubts of that said the company that were present Well then said Iohn Knox I am assured that Peter said these words to Simon Magus Repent therefore of this thy wickednesse and pray God That if it be possible the thoughts of thy heart may be forgiven thee Here we may cleerly see That Peter joynes a condition with his Commandment That Simon should repent and pray to wit If it were possible that his sin might be forgiven for he was not ignorant that some sinnes are unto death and so without all hope of repentance or remission And think ye not my Lord Secretary said he but that same doubt may touch my heart as touching the Queens conversion that then touched the heart of the Apostle I would never said Lethington heare you or any other call that in doubt But your will said the other is no assurance to my conscience And to speak freely My Lord I wonder if yee your self doubt not of the Queens conversion for more evident signes of Induration have appeared and do appear in her then Peter outwardly could have espyed in Simon Magus for albeit sometimes he was a Sorcerer yet joyned he with the Apostles beleeved and was baptized And albeit That the venome of Avarice remained in his heart and that he would have bought the holy Ghost yet when he heard the fearfull threatnings of God pronounced against him he trembled desired the assistance of the Prayers of the Apostles and so humbled himself so farre as the judgement of man could peirce like a true penitent and yet we see that Peter doubts of his conversion Why then may not all the godly justly doubt of the conversion of the Queen who hath used Idolatry which is also most odious
matter doe it boldly it shall never offend me But that yee shall bee found to oppose your selfe unto mee yee being perswaded in the same Trueth I say yet againe it pleaseth me not for therein may be greater inconveniency then either yee or I doe consider for the publike The said Master George answered That I will not oppose my selfe unto you as one willing to impugne or confute that Head of Doctrine which not onely yee but many others yea and my selfe have affirmed farre be it from me for so should I be found contrarious to my selfe for my Lord Secretary knows my judgement in that Head Marry said the Secretary you are in my opinion the worst of the two for I remember that your Reasoning when the Queen was in Carricke Well said Iohn Knox seeing Brother God hath made you one to fill the chaire of verity wherein I am assured we agree in all principall Heads of Doctrine Let it never be said That we agree not in disputation Iohn Knox was moved thus to speake because he understood more of the craft then the other did Well said Lethington I am somewhat better provided in this last Head then I was in the other two Master Knox said he yesterday we heard your Judgement upon the thirteenth to the Romanes we heard the minde of the Apostle well opened we heard the causes why God hath established powers upon the earth we heard of the necessitie that mankinde hath of the same and wee heard the dutie of Magistrates sufficiently declared But in two things I was offended as I thinke some other more of my Lords that were present which was Ye made difference betwixt the Ordinance of God and the persons that were placed in Authoritie And ye affirmed That men might refuse the persons and yet not offend against Gods Ordinance This is one the other yee had no time to explaine but this me thought ye meant That Subjects were not bound to obey their Princes if they command unlawfull things but that they might refuse their Princes and that they were not ever bound to suffer In very deed said the other ye have rightly both marked my words and understood my minde for of that same Judgement I have long been and yet so remaine How will ye prove your division and difference said Lethington and that the persons placed in Authoritie may be resisted and the Ordinance of God not transgressed seeing that the Apostle saith He that resisteth resisteth the Ordinance of God My Lord said he The plaine words of the Apostle makes the difference and the facts of many approved by God prove my affirmative First the Apostle affirmes That the powers are ordained of God for the preservation of quiet and peaceable men and for the punishment of malefactors whereof it is plaine That the Ordinance of God and the power given unto man is one thing and the person clad with the Authoritie is another For Gods Ordinance is the conservation of mankinde The punishment of vice and the maintenance of vertue which in it self is holy just constant stable and perpetuall but men clad with the Authoritie are commonly prophane and unjust yee they are mutable transitory and subject to corruption as God threateneth by his Prophet David saying I have said yee are gods and every one of you the sonnes of the most high but yee shall dye as man and the Princes shall fall like others Here I am assured That the persons yee soule and body are threatned with death I think that so ye will not affirm is the Authothority the Ordinance and the Power wherewith God endeued such persons for as I have said it is holy so is the permanent will of God And now my Lord that the Prince may be resisted and yet the Ordinance of God not violated It is evident that the people resisted Saul when he had sworn by the living God that Ionathan should die The people I say swore in the contrary and delivered Ionathan so that a hair of his head fell not Now Saul was the Anoynted Kiâ—g and they were his subjects and yet they resisted him that they made him no better then men sworn I doubt said Lethington That in so doing the people did well The Spirit of God said the other accuses them not of any crime but rather praises them and condemnes the King as well for his foolish vow and Law made without God as for his cruell minde that so severely would have punished an innocent man But herein will I not stand this that followeth shall confirme the former This same Saul commanded Abimelech and the Priests of the Lord to be slain because they had committed Treason as he alleadged for intercommuning with David His Guard and principall servants would not obey his unjust commandment But Doeg the flatterer put the Kings cruelty in execution I will not ask your judgement Whether that the servants of the King in not obeying his Commandment resisted the Ordinance of God or not or Whether Doeg in murthering the Priests gave obedience to a just Authority For I have the Spirit of God speaking by the mouth of David for assurance as well of the one as of the other for he in his 52. Psalme condemnes that fact as a most cruell murther and affirms That God would punish not onely the commander but also the mercilesse executer And therefore I conclude That they who gainstood his commandment resisted not the Ordinance of God And now my Lord to answer to the place of the Apostle who affirms That such as resist the Power resist the Ordinance of God I say That the power in that place is not to be understood of unjust commandment of men but of the just power wherewith God hath armed his Magistrates and Lieutenants to punish sin and maintain vertue And if any man should enterprise to take from the hands of the faithfull Judge a murtherer and adulterer or any malefactor that deserved death this same resisteth Gods Ordinance and procureth to himself vengeance and damnation because that he stayed Gods Sword from striking But so it is if men in the fear of God oppose themselves to the fury and blinde rage of Princes for so they resist not God but the devill who abuses the Sword and Authority of God I understand sufficiently said Lethington what ye mean unto the one part I will not oppose my self but I doubt of the other for if the Queen would command me to slay Iohn Knox because she is offended at him I would not obey her But if she would command others to do it or yet by colour of Justice take his life from him I cannot tell if I be bound to defend him against the Queen and her Officers With protestation said the other That the auditors think not that I speak in favour of my self I say my Lord That if ye be perswaded of my innocency and if God have given unto you such power and credit as might deliver
would they consent that any thing there should be voted or concluded I cannot tell said Lethington if my Lords that be here present and that bear the burthen of such matters should be bound to their will What say ye my Lords said he will ye vote in this matter or will ye not vote After long reasoning some that were made for the purpose said Why may not the Lords vote and then shew unto the Church whatsoever is done That appears to me said Iohn Knox not onely a backward order but a tyranny usurped upon the Church But for me do as ye list said he for as I reason so I wrote yet protesting as before That I disassent from all voting till that the whole Assembly understand as well the questions as the reasons Well said Lethington that cannot be done now for too much time is spent And therefore my Lord Chancellor said he ask ye the votes and take ever one of the Ministers and one of us And so was the Rector of Saint Androes commanded first to speak his conscience Who said I refer it to the Superintendent of Fyfe for I think we are both of one judgement and yet said he if ye will that I speake first my conscience is this That if the Queen oppose her self to our Religion which is the onely true Religion that in that case the Nobility and States of this Realme professors of the true Doctrine may justly oppose themselves to her But as concerning her Masse I know it is Idolatry but I am not yet resolved Whether by violence we may take it from her or not The Superintendent of Fyfe said That same is my conscience And so affirmed some of the Nobility But others voted frankly and said That as the Masse is abominable so it is just and right that it should be suppressed And that in so doing men did no more hurt to the Queens Majesty then they that should by force take from her a poysoned cup when she were a going to drink in it Last Master Iohn Craig fellow Minister with Iohn Knox in the Church of Edinburgh was required to give his judgement and vote who said I will gladly shew unto your Honours what I understand but I greatly doubt Whether my knowledge and conscience shall satisfie you seeing you have heard so many reasons and are so little moved by them But yet I will not conceale from you my judgement adhering first to the Protestation of my Brother to wit That our voting prejudge not the Liberty of the Generall Assembly I was said he in the University of Bonnonia in the yeer of our Lord 1554. where in the place of the black-Friers of the same Town I saw in the time of their Generall Assembly this Conclusion set forth the same I heard reasoned determined and concluded to this sense Conclusion ALl Rulers be they Supreme or Inferiour may and ought to be reformed or bridled to speak moderately by them by whom they are chosen confirmed or admitted to their Office so oft as they break that promise made by Oath to their subjects Because that the Prince is no lesse bound by Oath to the subjects then are the subjects to their Princes And therefore ought it to be kept and reformed equally according to Law and Condition of the Oath that is made of either party This Conclusion my Lords I heard sustained and concluded as I have said in a most notable Auditory The sustainer was a learned man Master Thomas de Finola Rector of the University a man famous in that Countrey Master Vincentins de Placentia affirmed the Conclusion to be most true and certain agreeable both with the Law of God and man The occasion of this disputation and conclusion was a certain disorder and tyranny that was attempted by the Popes Governours who began to make Innovations in the Countrie against the Laws that were before established alleadging themselves not to be subject to such Laws by reason that they were not instituted by the People but by the Pope who was King of that Countrey And therefore they having full Commission and Authority of the Pope may alter and change Statutes and Ordinances of the Countrey without any consent of the people Against this usurped Tyranny the learned and the people opposed themselves And when that all reasons which the Popes Governours could alleadge were heard and consulted the Pope himself was fain to take up the matter and to promise not onely to keep the Liberty of the people but also that he should neither abrogate any Law nor Statute neither yet make any new Law without their owne consent And therefore my Lord said he my Vote and my Conscience is That Princes are not onely bound to keep Laws and Promises to their subjects But also That in case they fail they justly may be bridled For the Band betwixt the Prince and the People is reciprocall Then start up a claw-back of that corrupt Court and said Ye wot not what ye say for ye tell us what was done in Bononia we are a Kingdom and they are a Common-wealth My Lord said he my judgement is That every Kingdom is or at least should be a Common-wealth albeit that every Common-wealth be not a Kingdom And therefore I think that in a Kingdom no lesse diligence ought to be taken that Laws ought not to be violated then they ought to be in a Common-wealth because that the tyranny of Princes who continuing in a Kingdom is more hurtfull to the subjects then is the mis-government of those that from yeer to yeer are changed in free Common-wealths But yet my Lord to assure you and all others that Head was disputed to the uttermost and then in the end was concluded That they spake not of such things as were done in divers Kingdoms and Nations by Tyrannie and negligence of people But we conclude said they what ought to be done in all Kingdoms and Common-wealths according to the Law of God and unto the just Laws of man And if by the negligence of the people by the tyranny of Princes contrary Laws have been made yet may that same people or their posterity justly crave all things to be reformed according to the originall institution of Kings and Common-wealths and such as will not so do deserve to eat the fruit of their own foolishnesse M. Iames Markgow then Clerk of the Register perceiving the Votes to be different and hearing the bold plainnesse of the foresaid servant of God said I remember that this same question was long debated on before in my house and there by reason we were not all of one minde it was concluded That M. Knox in all our names should have written to M. Calvin for his jugement in the controversie Nay said M. Knox my Lord Secretary would not consent that I should write alleadging That the greatest weight of the answer stood in the Narrative and therefore promised that he would write and that I should see
Grace of God King and Queen of Scots To all and sundry Our Lieges and Subjects whom it may concerne and to whose knowledge these Letters shall come Greeting Forasmuch as in this Uprore lately raised up against us by certaine Rebels and their assistants the authors thereof to blinde the eyes of the simple people have given them to understand That the quarrell they have in hand is onely Religion thinking with that cloke to cover their ungodly designes and so under that plausible argument to draw after them a large train of ignorant persons easie to be seduced Now for the preservation of our good Subjects whose case were to be pitied if they blindely should suffer themselves to be induced and trapped in so dangerous a snare it hath pleased the goodnesse of God by the utterance of their own mouthes and writings to us to discover the poyson that before lay hid in their hearts albeit to all persons of cleer judgment the same was evident enough before For what other thing is this but to dissolve the whole Policy and in a manner to invert the very order might move the principal raisers of this tumult to put themselves in Arms against us so unnaturally upon whom we had bestowed so many benefits But that the great honor we did them they being thereof unworthy made them misknow themselves and their ambition could not be satisfied with heaping riches upon riches honor upon honor unlesse they retain in their hands us and our whole Realme to be led used and disposed at their pleasure But this could not the multitude have perceived if God for disclosing their Hypocrisie had not compelled them to utter their unreasonable desire to Governe for now by Letters sent from themselves to us which make plain profession that the establishing of Religion will not content them but we must be forced to govern by Councell such as it shall please them to appoint us a thing so farre beyond all measure that we thinke the onely mention of so unreasonable a demand is sufficient to make their nearest Kinsfolks their most mortall enemies and all men to run on them without further scruple that are zealous to have their native Countrey to remain still in the state of a Kingdome For what other thing is this but to dissolve the whole policie and in a manner to invert the very order of nature to make the Prince obey and Subjects command The like was never demanded by any of our most Noble Progenitors heretofore yea not of Governours and Regents but the Prince and such as have filled their place chose their Councell of such as they thought most fit for the purpose When we our selves were of lesse age and at our first returning into this our Realme we had free choice of our Councell at our pleasure and now when we are at our full maturity shall we be brought back to the state of Pupills and be put under Tutory So long as some of them bore the whole sway with us this matter was never called in question but now when they cannot be longer permitted to do and undoe all at their pleasure they will put a Bridle into our mouthes and give us a Councell chosen after their fantasie This is the quarrell of Religion they made you beleeve they had in hand This is the quarrell for which they would have you hazzard your Lands Lives and goods in the company of a certain number of Rebels against your naturall Prince To speak in good language they would be Kings themselves or at the least leaving to us the bare Name and Title and take to themselves the credit and whole administration of the Kingdome We have thought good to make publication hereof to shew that you suffer not your selves to be deceived under pretence of Religion to follow them who prefering their particular advancement to the publike tranquilitie and having no care of you in respect of themselves would if you would hearken to their voice draw you after them to your utter destruction Assuring you that you have heretofore good experience of our clemency and under our Wings enjoyed in peace the possession of your Goods and lived at liberty of your Conscience so may you be in full assurance of the like hereafter and have us alwayes your good and loving Princes to so many as shall continue your selves in due obedience and do the office of faithfull and naturall Subjects Given under our Signet at Saint Andrews the tenth of December and of our Reignes the first and twentie three years 1565. NOw the Lords desired next the establishing of Religion That the Queens Majesty in all the Affairs of the Realme and Common-wealth should use the counsell and advice of the Nobility and ancient blood of the same whereas in the mean time the Councell of David and Francisco the Italians with Fowler the Englishman and Master Iames Balfour Parson of Flisk was preferred before all others save onely the Earle of Athole who was thought to be a man of grosse judgement but neverthelesse in all things given to please the Queen It was now finally come to this point that in stead of Law Justice and equity onely Will ruled in all things there was thorow all the Countie set out a Proclamation in the King and Queens names commanding all persons to come and meet them at Sterlin the first day of October following with twenty dayes provision under pain of life lands and goods It was uncertain whether their Majesties intended to passe from Sterlin or not and I beleeve the principall men knew not well at that time for a report was That by reason the Castles of Hamilton and Draffen were kept Fortified and Victualled at the Dukes command that they would passe to siege the said houses give them some shot of a Canon others said They would passe towards my L. of Argile who had his people alwayes armed whereof his neighbours were afraid especially the Inhabitants of Athole and Lenox but at length it was concluded that they should passe to Dumfreis as shall be declared During this time there were Propositions made continually to the King and Queen by the Lords desiring alwayes their Majesties most humbly to receive them into their hands Their Articles tended continually to these two Heads viz. To abolish the Masse root out Idolatry and Establish the true Religion And that they and the affaires of the Realm should be governed by the advice and counsell of the true Nobility of the same offering themselves and their cause to be tried by the Lawes of the Countrey Yet nothing could be accepted nor taken in good part albeit the Master of Maxwell laboured by all meanes to redresse the matter who also entertained the Lords most honourably in Dumfreis for he had the government of all that Countrey But he himself incurred the Queens wrath so that he was summoned to present himself and appear before the King and Queens Majesties after the same form
despise his admonitions The Sword of Gods wrath is already drawn which of necessity must needs strike when grace offered is obstinately refused You have been long in bondage of the devill blindenesse errour and Idolatry prevailing against the simple Truth of God in that your Realme in which God hath made you Princes and Rulers But now doth God of his great mercy call you to repentance before he pour forth the uttermost of his vengeance He cryeth to your ears That your Religion is nothing but Idolatry he accuseth you of the blood of his Saints which hath been shed by your permission assistance and powers For the tyranny of those raging Beasts should have no force if by your strength they were not maintained Of those horrible crimes doth now God accuse you not of purpose to condemne you but mercifully to absolve and pardon you as sometime he did those whom Peter accused to have killed the Son of God so that ye be not of minde nor purpose to justifie your former iniquity Iniquity I call not onely the crimes and offences which have been and yet remain in your manners and lives but that also which appeareth before men most holy with hazard of my life I offer to prove abomination before God that is your whole Religion to be so corrupt and vain that no true servant of God can communicate with it because that in so doing he should manifestly deny Christ Jesus and his Eternall Verity I know that your Bishops accompanied with the swarm of the Papisticall vermine shall cry A damned heretick ought not to be heard But remember my Lords what I protested in the beginning upon which ground I continually stand to wit That I am no hereticke nor deceivable Teacher but the servant of Christ Jesus a Preacher of his infallible Verity innocent in all that they can lay to my charge concerning my Doctrine and therefore by them being enemies to Christ I am unjustly condemned From which cruell Sentence I have appealed and do appeal as before mention is made in the mean time most humbly requiring your Honours to take me in your protection to be auditors of my just defences granting unto me the same liberty which Achab a wicked King and Israel at that time a blinded people granted to Elijah in the like case That your Bishops and the whole rabble of your Clergie may be called before you and before that people whom they have deceived That I be not condemned by multitude custome by Authority or Law devised by man but that God himself may be judge betwixt me and my adversaries Let God I say speak by his Law by his Prophets by Christ Jesus or by his Apostles and so let him pronounce what Religion he approveth and then be my enemies never so many and appear they never so strong and so learned no more do I fear victory then did Elijah being but one man against the multitude of Baals Priests And if they think to have advantage by their Councells and Doctors this I further offer To admit the one and the other as witnesses in all matters debatable three things which justly cannot be denied being granted unto me First That the most ancient Councells nighest to the Primitive Church in which the learned and godly Fathers did examine all matters by Gods Word may be holden of most Authority Secondly That no determination of Councells nor man be admitted against the plain Verity of Gods Word nor against the determination of those four chief Councells whose Authority hath been and is holden by them equall with the Authority of the four Evangelists And last That to no Doctor be given greater authority then Augustine requireth to be given to his Writings to wit If he plainly prove not his affirmation by Gods infallible Word that then his sentence be rejected and imputed to the errour of a man These things granted and admitted I shall no more refuse the testimonies of Councells and Doctors then shall my adversaries But and if they will justifie those Councells which maintain their pride and usurped Authority and will reject those which plainly have condemned all such tyranny negligence and wicked life as Bishops now do use And if further they will snatch a doubtfull sentence of a Doctor and refuse his minde when he speaketh plainly then will I say That all men are lyers That credit ought not to be given to an unconstant witnesse and that no Councells ought to prevail nor be admitted against the sentence which God hath pronounced And thus my Lords in few words to conclude I have offered unto you a tryall of my innocency I have declared unto you what God requireth of you being placed above his people as Rulers and Princes I have offered unto you and to the inhabitants of the Realme the Verity of Christ Jesus And with the hazard of my life I presently offer to prove the Religion which amongst you is maintained by fire and sword to be false damnablâ— and diabolicall Which things if ye refuse defending tyrants in their tyrannie then I dare not flatter but as it was commanded to Ezechiel boldly to proclaim so must I cry to you That you shall perish in your iniquity That the Lord Jesus shall refuse so many of you as maliciously withstand his eternall Verity and in the day of his apparition when all flesh shall appeare before him that he shall repell you from his company and shall command you to the fire which never shall be quenched and then neither shall the multitude be able to resist neither yet the counsells of man be able to prevail against that sentence which he shall pronounce God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ by the power of his holy Spirit so rule and dispose of your hearts that of simplicity ye may consider the things that be offered and that ye may take such order in the same as God in you may be glorified and Christs Flock by you may be edified and comforted to the praise and glory of our Lord Iesus Christ whose Omnipotent Spirit rule your hearts in his true feare to the end Amen The Admonition of John Knox to the Commonalty of Scotland To his beloved Brethren the Commonalty of SCOTLAND JOHN KNOX wisheth Grace Mercy and Peace With the Spirit of righteous judgement WHat I have required of the Queen Regent States and Nobility as of the chief Heads for this present of the Realm I cannot cease to require of you dearly beloved brethren which be the Communalty and Body of the same to wit That it notwithstanding that false and cruell Sentence which your disguised Bishops have pronounced against me would please you to be so favourable unto me as to be indifferent auditors of my just Purgation Which to do if God earnestly move your hearts as I nothing doubt but that your enterprise shall redound to the praise and glory of his holy Name so am I assured
now O would God that the Nobility should yet consider The first of the Nobility The constant request of the Protestants of Scotland Note the duty of Noblemen Note Probation against the Papists Against such as under colour of authority persecute their brethren Difference betwixt the person and the Authority Note Note diligently Pharaoh his fact Note The fact of King Saul The second sort of the Nobility Note Let both the one part and the other judge if God have not justified the cause of the innocents From whence this courage did proceed the issue did declare Note The Earle of Glencarne his resolution Speakers sent by the Queene to S. Iohnston Note the answer The false suggestion of the Queen Regent Let the Papists rather ambitious Romanists judge The diligence of the Earle of Glencarne and of the brethren of the wast for the relief of S. Iohnston The Petition of the Protestants for the rendering of S Iohnston The answer of the Earle of Argyle and L. Iames Prior of S. Andrews The promise of the foresaid Note 1559 The first slaughter at the entry of the French-men Idolatry erected against the appointment Against the appointment the second time Second answer of the Queen Regent The third anâ—wer The departure of the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames from the Queen Regent The answer the Earle of Argyle The Bishops good minde towards Iohn Knox. Iohn Knox his answer to the Lords and the rest of the brethren The Reformation of S. Audrews For the old Earle of Argyle was dead Cowper-Moore M. Gawin Hamiltons Vow First answer at Cowper-moore The second answer The delivery of S. Iohnston The summoning of S. Iohnston Communing at S. Iohnston Huntly The Bishop of Murray The destruction of Scone The cause of the burning of Scone Speaking of an ancient matron when Scone was burning The taking of Stirlin Lord Shaton The coming of the Congregaon to Edinburg Let the Reader marke how this agrees with our time The third Letter to the Queen Regent The craftines of the Queen Regent may yet be espied 1559. Accusations Mark the craftie calumnies The communing at Preston The demand of the Queen Regent and answer of the Protestants The last offers of the Protestants to the Q. Regent The scoffing of the Queen Regent Note The death of Henry King of France Note how this agrees with our times Answer to the calumnie Note Nobles Leith left us the congregation The Lord Erskin and his fact In contemplation of these Articles arose this proverb Good day Sir John till Ianury Welcome Sir John till Ianuary Note The promise of the Duke and Earle of Huntly Answer to thâ— complaint of the Papists The third Bond of mutuall defence at Sterlin Note â—he first knowledge of the escaping of the Eâ—rle of Arran out of France Let this be noted The just reward of the Duâ—e for leaving God Brags â—now Note Note Note The residence of Iohn Willock in Edinburg Note The Queen Regents malice against poore men Note The practise of the Queen Regent See how this agreeth with our times The arrivall of th French Note The division of the Lords lands by the French How like to the Proclâ—mations of our times this is let the Reader judge Let the Bishop of Amians Letters and Monsieur de la Brosse Letters written to France witnesse that Confer this with our times Few dayes after declareth the truth of this Confer this with our times Let the Nobility judge hereof Let Sir Robert Richardson and others answer to this See how this agrees with our times The cause of the Frenchmens coming with wives and children Note A proverbe Note The doctrine of our Preachers concerning obedience to be given to Magistrates Let such as this day live witnesse what God hath wrought since the writing and publication hereof Note The Prophets have medled with policy and have reproved the corruptions thereof The coming of the Earle of Arran to Scotland and his joyning with the Congregation Letters to the Queen Regent The Petition of la Brosse The answer Note The tyranny of the French Note how this agrees with our times Note Let this be noted O craâ—ty flatterâ—r Note Elizabeth was come to the crown of England the yeere before by the death of Mary False lying tongue God hath confounded thee God hath purged his people of that false accusation Note The avarice of those of Loraine and Guise Note The title that the Queen hath or had to Leith The Laird of Lestarrig sup riour to Leith Note Note diligently The wickednesse of the Bishops The cause that Broughtie Craig was taken Let all men judge The Dukes answer Note Note Note The quarrell betwixt Frauce and the Congregation of Scotland The Lord Seaton unworthy of Regiment Optimâ— collatio Let the Papists judge if God hath not given judgement to the displeasure of their hearts Note The causes that moved the Nobility of this Realme to oppose the Q. Regent The sâ—me minde remaineth to this day This promise was forgot and therefore God plagued Wha spirit could have hoped for victory in so desperate dangers Note Note how calumnies prevail upon the world for a time Now the Duke seeing the Queens partie decline and the Protestant party grow strong he once more changeth the profession of his Religion and joyneth with the Protestants as strongest How true this is the whole and constant course of the family can tell Let this be noted and let all men judge of the purpose of the French and how good and wise Patriots they wâ—re who sold our Soveraign to France for their private profit and they by name were 〈◊〉 Hamiltons The order of the suspension of the Queen Regent from Authority within Scotland The discourse of Iohn Willock The causes The judgment of Iohn Knox in the deposition of the Queen Regent Let no man then for privat ends and by-wayes do any thing against their Prince â—nder preâ—ence of the publike 1559 The enormities committed by the Queen Regent Her daughter followed the same for to Davie was delivered the Great Seal Note Note Note Note All done in the Soveraignâ— Name as they do now a-dayâ— Note Treason among the counsell The Duke and his friends fearfull The ungodly Souldiers The Queenâ— Regents practises The fact of the councell The treason of Iohn 〈◊〉 Note the kindnesse of the English in need The E. Bothweâ—l false in promise and his treasonable fact Note The first departing of the Congregation The cruelty of the French Note this diligently The Earle of Argyle Lord Robert Stewart The Castle shot one Shot The Queen Regents rejoycing and unwomanly behaviour The counsel of the Master of Maxwell The last discâ—mâ—â—tuâ—e upon Munday The death of Alexander Haliburnton Captaine How and why William Maitland left Leith The Lord Erskin declared himself enemy to the Congregation The despight of the Papists of Edinburgh The worst is not yet come upon our enemies Note Note Note diligently Note Specialiâ— Applicatio Let Scotland
Chron. 34 35. chap. Mat. 13.24 25 26 c. Mat. 13 20 21 Rom. 10.9 13. Rom. 7 c. 2 Cor. 5.21 John 5.28 29. Apoc 20.28 Heb 19 25 26 27. Mat 25 31. Apoc. 14.10 Rom. 26.7 8 9 10. Phil. 3 21. 1 Cor 15.28 This we confirmed 1567. in the first Parliament of Iames 6 held by the Earle Murray and all Acts in any Parliament before whatsoever against the truth abolished The Lord of the Articles are a Committee of 24. whereof in former times there was eight Lords eight Church-men who were called Lords and eight Commons So from the greater part they were named Lords and of the Articles Because all Articles and Heads that are to passe in Parliament are first brought to them who having discussed them sends them to the House of Parlâ—ament The latin Histories calls their Lords of the Articles Apolecti The Earle Marshall his pious voyce in Parliament This Act is particularly confirmed 1567. in the Parliament under Iames 6. holden by the Earl Murrâ—y This also was confirmed by one particular Act 1567. by the Parliament holden by the Earle Murray Note this diligently Quest. Answ. Note this I pray you for these dayes sake See how this agreeâ— with the worldlings now adayes What blessings hath been since in the house of Erskin they know best Note how although the Prelats being convinced of the truth did subscribe unto it yet it was with this Proâ—iso That they should enjoy their rents for their lives Note men to their owne countrey Note this for our dayes Let this teach us to seek God The death of the yong King of France husband to our Queen 15. December 1560. Note this well Note Note Lesley his answer * That is An. 1566 when this book was written Note the liberality of the Earle Murray Note this diligently Where then are Pluralities and fatnesse of Livings in our dayes Let the Church-men now adayes look to this Wâ—at can the Pâ—elats say to this Ambassadour from France and his demands See the study of France to divide the two Kingdoms newly bound for mantenance of Religion against the common enemies Note The Protestants faithfulnesse ill rewarded A foolish play used in time of darknes Hence we say any foolish thing to be like a play of Robin-Hood Some say his name is Killone Of the Queen Regents death Note Note Note diligently Let this also be considered and referred to our times Note Note Reader remark the advantages that Scotland hath from France A good Character of Bishops Let us stick to God and he will not leave us Faire words to no purpose That was a secret Lardon She meant she would seek a safe conduct * Ever till that she may shew her evill will If France would have sustained rhem they had not yet departed The second secret Lardon The Arms of England were usurped Your Papists and ours have practised and still practise division So that she might have England to the Popes Religion I think she said not amisse The feare of God in the heart of Elias 〈◊〉 disobediâ—â—â— to cursed 〈◊〉 Nâ—te 〈…〉 his 〈…〉 well to 〈…〉 as 〈◊〉 the subjects Note The third Lardon of accusing England of inconstancy in Religion Notwithstanding his own disorder Note this false lye and see how it answers to the calumnies of these dayes The Peace and Contract at Leith Many Princes little regarded that All power is not then in the Prince if the States have any as they have Note this Note Note the Scots acknowledgement Isaiah 40 31. A true acknowledgment oâ— mans weaknesse to the glory of God and as it was then so hath it been in this last Reformation As it was then so it is now by Gods mercies â—o that Nation The first Petition of the Protestants of Scotland Let this be noted for example The cause of the trouble within Scotland flowed from the Courtiers who seemed to professe the Evangell He means the Loâ—d Iames Earle Murray The corruption that entred the Queens Court. The Theologie of the Court and their reasonâ— Wicked Councellors â—athers all thâ—ir mischievâ—us plots upon misled Princes and causeth them to take all things upon them This was written when the secoâ—d rank of the Lordâ— was banished Anno 1560 after Danâ—â—s sâ—aughter The Queens Arrivaâ—l from France 156â— Tâ—â—â—le lugubre Coelum The Queens first â—â—ace in despight of Religion The Queens first Masse Lord Iames notwithstanding his sonner zeal to tâ—e Truth complying with Court favoureth Idolatry â— godly resoâ—â—â—â—on The end is not yet seen The perswâ—sâ—ons of the Courtiers The Lord Arrans stout and godly Protestatiâ—n against the Quâ—ens Masse Good resolution if followed Robert Campbell to the Lord Vchiltrie The Queens practise at the first The iudgment of Iohn Knox upon the suffering of the Masse The Courtier making Note diligently how wise and godly mâ—n are so mistaken oft as to play after games And this M. Knox doth acknowledge here The first reasoning betwixt the Queen and Iohn Knox. Note how that Princâ—s are informed against Godâ— servant Let this be noted diligently Let the Prince note this Let this wiâ—e reply be noted Note this undertaking The Queens second Objection Answer Note this comparison Blinde zeal what it is When this was written there was no appearance of Maries imprisonment The Queens Church Strong Imagination called conscience Question Note this Iohn Knox his judgement of the Queen at the first and ever since The Queens first Progresse Note the disposition of a misled soul. Boâ—fours doctrine Note this diligently Yet in the Parliament holden 1563. there is an expresse Act for punishing of Adultery by death It is the Act 74. The devil getting entry to his little finger will screw in his whole arm Note this The Queenes first fray in Hallyrud-house Division between the Lords and the Ministers The Queen fain would have had all Assemblies discharged Note this diliâ—gently Note this dilâ—gently Note this passage Iohn Knox his judgement of the thirds Let this be noted * That is five old pieces A proverb upon Pittaro Controller The right that Princes have to the Patrimony of the Church Note The marriage of the Earl of Murray Note this diligently Note this diligently The Mask of Orleance The Hamiltons against Bothwell and the Marquesse The Earle of Bothwells communication with Iohn Knox 1562. Note the complement Note diligently Reconciliation betwixt the Earle of Arrane and Earle of Bothwell Note diligently Psal. 2. The second communing of Iohn Knox with the Queen Note diligently Note Note Note diligently Note Let Princes note this Let Court-Chaplains and unthrifts of the time note this The Earle of Lennox and his Lady imprisoned in the Tower of London for traffiquing with Papists Sharp left preaching and took him to the Laws Note This causeth the Quâ—ens Râ—ligion to have many â—avourers Note Note Note dâ—ligently Note Note this for our times Note this for our times An answer to Lethington Note this diligently Iohn Gordonne and Ogilvie Bothwell