a Plague so contagious that with great difficultie could they have their dead buried They were oft refreshed with new men but all was in vain Hunger and plague within and the pursuit of the enemy with a campe volant lay about them and intercepted all victuals except when they were brought by a Convoy from Barwick so constrained them that the Councel of England was conpelled in the spring time to call their Forces from that place And so spoiling and burning some part of the Town they left it to be occupied to such as first should take possession and those were the French-men with a meane number of the ancient inhabitants and so did God performe the words and threatnings of M. George Wischard who said That for that contempt of Gods Messenger they should be visited with sword and fire with pestilence strangers and famine All which they found in such perfection that to this day yet that Town hath neither recovered the former beauty nor yet men of such wisdom and ability as then did inhabit it Hereafter was Peace contracted betwixt France England and Scotland yea a severall Peace was contracted betwixt Scotland and Flanders together with all the Easterlings So that Scotland had peace with the world But yet would their Bishops make War against God For as soone as ever they got any quietnesse they apprehended Adam Wallace alias Fian a simple man without great learning but one that was zealous in godlinesse and of an upright life He with his wife Beatrice Levingstonne frequented the company of the Lady Ormeston for instruction of her children during the trouble of her husband who then was banished This Bastard called Bishop of S. Andrews took the said Adam forth of the place of Wynton men supposed that they thought to have apprehended the Lairde and carried him to Edinburgh where after certain dayes he was presented to judgement in the Church of the Blacke Theeves alias Friers before Duke Hamilton the Earle of Huntly and divers others besides The Bishops and their rabble they began to accuse him Master Iohn Lawder was his accusator That he took upon him to Preach He answered That he never judged himselfe worthy of so excellent a vocation and therefore he never took upon him to Preach but he would not deny that sometimes at Table and sometimes in some other privie places he would reade and had read the Scriptures and had given such exhortation as God pleased to give to him to such as pleased to heare him Knave quoth one What have you to do to meddle with the Scripture I think said he it is the dutie of every Christian to seek the will of his God and the assurance of his salvation where it is to be found and that is within the Old and New Testament What then said another shall we leave to the Bishops and Church-men for to do if every man shall be a babler upon the Bible It becometh you said he to speak more reverently of God and of his blessed Word if the Judge were uncorrupted he would punish you for your blasphemie But to your Question I answer That albeit ye and I and other five thousand within this Realm should read the Bible and speak of it what God should give us to speak yet left we more to the Bishops to do then either they will do or can do For we leave to them publikeâ—y to Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to feed the flock which he hath redeemed by his own blood and hath commanded the same to all true Pastors And when we leave this unto them me thinks we leave to them a heavie burden And that we do unto them no wrong although we search our own salvation where it is to be found considering that they are but dumb Dogs and unsavory Salt that hath altogether lost the season The Bishops hereat offended said What prating is this Let his accusation be read And then was begun False Traitour Hereticke Thou Baptizedst thine own Childe Thou saidst There is no Purgatory Thou saidst That to pray to Saints and for the dead is Idolatry and a vaine Superstition c. What sayest thou to these things He answered If I should be bound to answer I would require an upright and an indifferent Judge The Earle of Huntly disdainefully said Foolish man Wilt thou desire any other Judge then my Lord Dukes Grace great Governour of Scotland and my Lords the Bishops and the Clergie here present Whereto he answered The Bishops can be no Judges to me for they are open enemies to the Doctrine that I professe And as for my Lord Duke I cannot tell whether he hath the knowledge that should be in him that should judge and discern betwixt Lies and the Trueth the Inventions of men and the true worshipping of God I desire Gods Word and with that he produced the Bible to be judge betwixt the Bishops and me and I am content that ye all hear and if by this Booke I shall be convinced to have taught spoken or done in matters of Religion any thing that repugneth to Gods will I refuse not to die But if I cannot be convinced as I am assured by Gods Word I shall not then I in Gods name desire your assistance That malicious men execute not upon me unjust Tyrannie The Earle of Huntley said What a babling foole is this Thou shalt get none other Judges then these that sit here Whereunto the said Adam answered The good will of God be done But be ye assured my Lord with such measure as ye mete to others with the same measure it shall be met to you againe I know that I shall die but be ye assured that my blood shall be required at your hands Alexander Earle of Glencarne yet alive said to the Bishop of Orknay and others that sate nigh him Take heed all you my Lords of the Clergie for here I protest for my part that I consent not to his death And so without feare prepared the said Adam to answer And first to the Baptizing of his own Childe he said It was and is as lawfull to me for lacke of a true Minister to Baptize my owne Childe as that it was to Abraham to Circumcise his son Ismael and his family And as for Purgatory Praying to Saints and for the dead I have oft read said he both the New and Old Testaments but I neither could finde mention nor assurance of them And therefore I beleeve that they are but meere inventions of men devised for covetousnesse sake Well quoth the Bishop ye hear this my Lords What sayest thou of the Masse speires the Earle of Huntly He answered I say my Lord as my Lord Jesus Christ saith That which is in greatest estimation before men is abhomination before God Then all cried out Heresie Heresie And so was the simple servant of God adjudged to the fire which he patiently sustained that same day at after-noon upon
therefore the end shall be her confusion unlesse betimes she repent and desist These things I require of you in the Name of the eternall God as from my mouth to say unto her Majestie adding That I have been and am a more assured friend to her Majestie then they that either flattering her as servants to her corrupt appetites or else inflame her against us who seek nothing but Gods glory to be advanced Vice to be suppressed and Veritie to be maintained in this poore Realme They all three did promise to report his words so far as they could which afterwards we understood they did yea the Lord Sempill himselfe a man sold unto sin enemie to God and all godlinesse did yet make such report That the Queen was somewhat offended that any man should use such libertie in her presence She still proceeded in her malice for immediately thereafter she sent her Lion Herald with Letters straitly charging all men to avoid the Towne under the paine of Treason Which Letters after he had declared them to the chiefe men of the Congregation he publikely proclaimed the same upon Sunday the 27 of May. In this meane time came sure knowledge to the Queen to Duke Hamilton and to Monsieur Dosell That the Earle of Glencarne the Lords Uchiltrie and Boyde the young Sheriffe of Air the Lairds of Craggy Wallace Sesnock Carnell Bar Gairgirth and the whole congregation of Kyle and Cuninghame approached for our reliefe and in very deed they came in such diligence and such a number That as the enemy had just cause to fear so have all that professe Christ Jesus just matter to praise God for their fidelity and stout courage in that need For by their presence was the tyrannie of the enemy bridled Their diligence was such that albeit the passage by Sterlin and six miles above was stopped for there lay the Queen with her bands and caused the Bridges to be cut upon the waters of Forth Gudy and Teith above Sterlin yet made they such expedition through desert and mountaine that they prevented the enemy and approached within sixe miles of our Campe which then lay without the Towne awaiting upon the enemy before that any assured knowledge came to us of their coming Their number was judged to twentie five hundred men whereof there was twelve hundred Horsemen The Queene understanding how the said Earle and Lords with their company approached caused to beset all wayes that no advertisement should come to us To the end That we despairing of support might condiscend to such appointment as she required And sent first to require that some discreet men of our number would come and speak to Duke Hamilton and Monsieur Dosell who then with their Army lay at Achtererdoch ten miles from S. Iohnston to the end that some reasonable appointment might be had She had perswaded the Earle of Argyle and all others That we meant nothing but Rebellion and therefore had he promised unto her That in case we would not stand content with a reasonable appointment he would declare himselfe open enemy unto us notwithstanding that he professed the same Religion with us From us were sent the Laird of Dun the Laird of Inuerquhartye and Thomas Scot of Abbotshall to hear what appointment the Queene would offer The Duke and Monsieur Dosell required That the Towne should be made patent and that all things should be referred to the Queenes pleasure To the which they answered That neither they had commission so to promise neither durst they in conscience so perswade their brethren But if the Queene would promise That no inhabitant of the Town should be troubled for any such crimes as might be alleadged against them for the late mutation of Religion and abolishment of Idolatrie and for down-casting the places of the same If she would suffer the Religion begun to go forward and leave the Towne at her departing free from the Garrisons of French Souldiers That they would labour at the hands of their brethren that the Queene should be obeyed in all things Monsieur Dosell perceiving the danger to be great if that a sudden appointment should be made and that they were not able to execute their tyrannie against us after that the Congregation of Kyle of whose comming we had no advertisement should be joyned with us with good words dismissed the said Lairds to perswade the brethren to quiet concord To the which we were all so well minded that with one voice they cried Cursed be they that seek effusion of blood Let us possesse Christ Iesus and the benefit of his Gospel and none within Scotland shall be more obedient Subjects then we shall be With all expedition were sent from Sterlin againe after that the coming of the Earle of Glencarne was knowne for the enemie for feare quaked the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames aforesaid And in their company a crafty man Master Gauin Hamilton Abbot of Kilwinning who were sent by the Queen to finish the appointment aforesaid But before that they came was the Earle of Glencarne and his honourable company arrived in the Towne and then began all men to praise God for that he had so mercifully heard them in their most extreame necessitie and had sent unto them such reliefe as was able without effusion of blood to stay the rage of the enemie The Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames did earnestly perswade the agreement to the which all men were willing but some did smell the craft of the adversary to wit That they were minded to keep no point of the promise longer then they had obtained their intent With the Earle of Glencarne came our loving brother Iohn Willock Iohn Knox was in the Town before These two went to the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames accusing them of infidelity in so far as they had defrauded their brethren of their dutifull support and comfort in their greatest necessity They answered both That their heart was constant with their brethren and that they would defend that Cause to the uttermost of their power But because they had promised to labour concord and to assist the Queen in case we refused reasonable offers in conscience and honour they could do no lesse then be faithfull in their promise made And therefore they required that the brethren might be perswaded to consent to that reasonable appointment promising in Gods presence That if the Queen did break in any jot thereof that they with their whole powers would assist and concurre with the brethren in all times to come This promise made the Preachers appeased the multitude and obtained in the end that all men did consent to the appointment foresaid which they obtained not without great labours and no wonder for many foresaw the danger to follow yea the Preachers themselves in open Sermon did affirme plainly That they were assuredly perswaded that the Queen meant no truth But to stop the mouth of the adversary who unjustly did burthen
retire marched forward with great expedition and approached within a mile before that ever their horsemen stayed and yet they kept betwixt us and them a water for their strength It appeared to us That either they marched for Cowper or S. Andrews and therefore our Horse-men in their Troope and a part of the Foot-men with the Ordnance marched somewhat alwayes before them for safety of the Towne The Lords with the Gentlemen of Fyfe and so many of Angus and Mearns as were present kept themselves close in a knot neere to the number of a thousand Speares The Townes of Dundie and S. Andrews were arrayed in another battell who came not to the sight of the enemy till that after twelve of the clock the mist began to vanish and then passed some of their Horse-men to a mountaine from the height whereof they might discerne our number Which perceived by them their Horse-men and Foot-men stayed incontinent Posts ran to the Duke and Monsieur Dosell to declare our number and what order we kept And then were Mediators sent to make appointment but they were not suffered to approach neere to the Lords neither yet to the view of our Camp which put them in great feare Answer was given unto them That as we had offended no man so would we seek appointment of no man but if any would seek our lives as we were informed they did they should finde us if they pleased to make diligence This answer received were sent againe the Lord Lindsay and Laird of Wâ—nchton who earnestly requested us to concord and that we would not be the occasion that innocent blood should be shed We answered That neither had we quarrell against any man neither yet sought we any mans blood onely we were convened for defence of our own lives unjustly sought by others We added further That if they could finde the meane that we and our brethren might be free from the tyrannie devised against us that they should reasonably desire nothing which should be denied for our part This answer received the Duke and Monsieur Dosell having Commission of the Queen Regent required That Assurance might be taken for eight dayes to the end that indifferent men in the mean time might commune upon some finall agreement of those things which were then in controversie Hereto did we fully consent albeit that in number and force we were far superiour and for testification hereof we sent unto them our hand writs and we likewise received theirs with promise That within two or three dayes some discreet men should be sent to us to S. Andrews with further knowledge of the Queens minde The tenour of the assurance was this The Assurance WE James Duke of Chattellerault Earle of Arrane Lord Hamilton and my Lord Dosell Lieutenant for the King in these parts for our selves our assistaries and partakers being presently with us in company By the tenor hereof promits faithfully in honour to my Lords Archibald Earle of Argyle and James Commendater of the Priory of S. Andrews to their assistants and partakers being presently with them in company That we and our company aforesaid shall retire incontinent to Falkland and shall with diligence transport the French men and our other folkes now presently with us and that no French men or other Souldiers of ours shall remaine within the bounds of Fyfe but so many as before the raising of the last Army lay in Disert Kirkcaldie and Kinghorne and the same to lie in the same places onely if we shall think good And this to have effect for the space of eight dayes following the date hereof exclusive That in the meane time certaine Noble-men by the advice of the Queen and the rest of the Councell may convene to talk of such things as may make good order and quietnesse amongst the Queens Lieges And further We nor none of our assisters being present with us shall invade trouble or disquiet the said Lords nor their assisters during the said space And this we binde and oblige us upon our loyall fidelitie and honour to observe and keepe in every point above-written without fraud or guile In witnesse whereof we have subscribed these presents with our own hands At Garlebanke the 13 day of Iune 1559. Subscribed Iames Hamilton Meneits Dosell And this received we departed first because we were thereto requested by the Duke and so we returned to Cowper lauding and praising God for his mercy shewed and thereafter every man departed to his dwelling place The Lords and a great part of the Gentlemen passed to S. Andrews who there abode certain dayes still looking for those that were promised to come from the Queen for appointment to be made But we perceiving her craft and deceit for under that assurance she meant nothing else but to convey her selfe her Ordnance and French-men over the water of Forth took consultation what should be done for delivering S. Iohnston from these ungodly Souldiers and how our brethren exiled from their own houses might be restored again It was concluded That the brethren of Fyfe Angus Mernes and Stratherne should Convene at S. Iohnston the foure and twentieth day of June for that purpose and in the mean time were these Letters written by the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames to the Queen then Regent Letters to the Queen Regent MAdame after our hearty commendations of service this shall be to shew your Majestie That upon the 13 day of Iune we were informed by them that were Communers betwixt the Duke Monsieur Dosell and us That we should have spoken unreverently of your Majestie which we beseech your Majestie for the true service that we have made and are ready to make at all times to your Majestie That of your goodnesse you will let us know the sayers thereof and we shall do the dutie of true Subjects to defend our own innocency As we take God to witnesse of the good Zeale and Love we beare towards you to serve you with true hearts and all that we have as well lands as goods desiring no other thing for our service but the liberty of our conscience to serve our Lord God as we shall answer to him which your Majestie ought and should give us unrequired Moreover please your Majestie That the Duke and the Noble-men being in Sterlin for the time by your Majesties advice solicited us to presse the Congregation assembled at the Town of Perth to Commune of Concord where we did our exact diligence and brought it to passe as your Majestie knows And there is a point that we plainly see it not observed to us which is That no Souldier should remain in the Town after your Majesties departing And suppose it may be inferred That it was spoken of French Souldiers onely yet we took it otherwise like as we do yet That Scottish-men or any other Nation taking wages of the King of France are reputed and holden French Souldiers Therefore seeing we of good will and minde brought
of the said Congregation or yet being presently within Our said Borough other then the inhabitants thereof that they within six hours next after Our said Charge depart forth of the same under the pain of Treason And as that ye command all and sundry persons to leave their company and to adhere to Our Authority with Certification That such as do the contrary shall be reputed and holden as manifest Traytors to Our Crowne These Letters did not a little grieve us who most unjustly were accused for never a sentence of the Narrative true except That we stayed the Irons and that for just cause to wit Because that daily there was such number of hard-heads printed that the basenesse thereof made all things exceeding dear And therefore we were counselled by the wisest to stay the Irons while further order might be taken The Queen Regent with all possible diligence posted for her Faction Master Iames Balfour was not idle in the mean time The Lords to purge themselves of these odious crimes wrote to her a Letter in form as after followeth PLease your Majestie to be advertised That it is come to our knowledge that your Majestie hath set forth by your Letters openly proclaimed That we called by name The Congregation under pretence and colour of Religion convene together to no other purpose but to usurp our Soveraignes Authirity and to invade your person representing theirs at this present Which things appeare to have proceeded of sinister information made to your Majestie by our enemies considering that we never minded such thing but onely our minde and purpose was and is To promote and set forth the glory of God Maintain and defend the true Preachers of his Word And according to the same abolish and put away Idolatry and false abuses which may not stand with the said Word of God Beseeching your Majestie to beare patiently therewith and interpose your Authority to the furtherance of the same as is the duty of every Christian Prince and good Magistrate For as to the obedience of our Soveraignes Authority in all Civill and Politick matters we are and shall be as obedient as any other your Majesties subjects within the Realme And that our convention is for no other purpose but to save our Preachers and their auditors from the injury and violence of our enemies Which should be more amply declared by some of us in your Majesties presence if ye were not accompanied with such as have pursued our lives and sought our blood Thus we pray Almighty God to save your Highnesse in his eternall tuition At Edinburgh the 2 of Iuly 1559. And for further purgation hereof it was thought necessary that we should simply expose as well to her Majesty as to the whole people what were our requests and just petitions And for that purpose after that safe-Conduct was purchased and granted we directed unto her two grave men of counsell to wit the Lairds of Pittarrow and Cuninghamehead to whom we gave commission and power first to expose our whole purpose and intent which was no other then before at all times we had required to wit First That we might enjoy the liberty of conscience Secondly That Christ Jesus might be truely preached and his holy Sacraments rightly ministred unto us Thirdly That unable Ministers might be removed from Ecclesiasticall Administration And that our Preachers might be relaxed from the Horne and permitted to execute their charges without molestation unto such as either by a generall Councell lawfully convened or by a Parliament within the Realme the controversies in Religion were decided And for declaration that her Majestie was hereto willing that the Bands of French-men who then were a burden intolerable to the Countrey and to us so fearfull that we durst not in peaceable and quiet manner haunt the places where they did lie should be sent to France their native Countrey Which things granted Her Majestie should have experience of our accustomed obedience To these Heads she did answer at the first so pleasantly that she put both our Commissioners in full esperance that all should be granted and for that purpose she desired to speak with some of greater Authority promising That if they would assure her of their dutifull obedience that she would deny nothing of that which was required For satisfaction of her minde we sent again the Earle of Glencarne the Lord Ruthwen the Lord Uchiltrie and the said Laird of Pittarrow with the same Commission as before But then she began to handle the matter more craftily complaining that she was not sought in a gentle manner And that they in whom she had put most singular confidence had left her in her greatest need And such other things pertaining nothing to the Commission she proposed to spend and drive the time They answered That by unjust tyrannie devised against them and their brethren as her Majestie did well know they were compelled to seek the extreame remedie and therefore that her Majestie ought not to wonder though godly men left the company where they neither found fidelity nor trueth In the end of this communing which was the twelfth day of July 1559. She desired to have talked privately with the Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames Prior of S. Andrews for else as she alleadged she could not but suspect that they pretended to some other higher purpose then Religion She and her crafty Counsell had abused Duke Hamilton perswading him and his friends That the said Earle and Lord Iames had conspired first to deprive our Soveraigne her daughter of her authority and thereafter the Duke and his Successors of their pretended Title to the Crowne of Scotland By these invented lyes she inflamed the hearts of many against us insomuch that some of our own number began to murmure Which perceived as well the Preachers in their publike Sermons as we our selves by our publike Proclamation gave purgation and satisfaction to the people plainely and simply declaring what was our purpose taking God to witnesse That no such crimes were ever entred into our hearts as most unjustly was laid to our charge The Counsell after consultation thought not expedient that the said Earle and Lord Iames should talke with the Queen in any sort for her former practises put all men in suspition That some deceit lurked under such coloured communing She had before said That if she could by any meane sunder these two from the rest she was assured shortly to come by her whole purpose And one of her chiefe Counsell in those dayes and we feare but too inward with her yet said That ere Michaelmas day they two should lose their heads and therefore all men feared to commit two such young plants to her mercy and fidelity It was therefore finally denied that they should talk with the Queen or any appertaining to her but in places void of all suspicion where they should be equall in number with those that should talk with them The Queen
perceiving that her craft could not prevaile was content that Duke Hamilton and that Earle of Huntley with others by her appointed should convene at Preston to Commune with the said Earle and Lord Iames and such others as the Lords of the Congregation would appoint to the number of an hundred on each side Of the which number eight persons onely should meet for conference The principals for their party were the Duke and Earle Huntly the Lords Erskin and Somerwell M. Gawin Hamilton and the Justice Clerk From us were directed the Earles of Argyle and Glencarne the Lords Ruthuen and Lord Iames Boyde and Uchiltrie the Lairds Dun and Pittarrow Who Convening at Preston spake the whole day without any certaine conclusion For this was the practise of the Queen and of her faction By drift of time to weary our company who for the most part had been upon the fields from the tenth day of May That we being dispersed she might come to her purpose in which she was not altogether deceived For our Commons were compelled to scatter for lack of expences And our Gentlemen partly constrained by lack of furnishing and partly hoping some finall appointment after so many Communings returned for the most part to their dwelling places for reposing of themselves The Queen in all those Conventions seemed that she would give liberty to Religion Provided That wheresoever she was our Preachers should cease and the Masse should be maintained We perceiving her malicious craft answered That as we would compell her Majestie to no Religion so could we not in conscience for the pleasure of any earthly treasure put silence to Gods true Messengers neither could we suffer that the right administration of Christs true Sacraments should give place to manifest Idolatry for in so doing we should declare our selves enemies to God to Christ Iesus his Son to his eternall Veritie and to the libertie and establishment of his Church within this Realme For your request being granted There can no Church within the same be so established but at your pleasure and by your residence and remaining there ye might overthrow the same This our last answer we sent unto her with the Lord Ruthuen and Laird of Pittarrow requiring of her Majestie in plaine words to signifie unto us What hope we might have of her favour towards the upsetting of Religion We also required That she would remove her French-men who were a feare to us and a burden most grievous to our Countrey and that she would promise to us in the word of a Prince That she would procure no man to be sent in And then should we not onely support to the uttermost of our powers to furnish Ships and Victuals for their transporting but also upon our honours should we take her body into our protection And should promise in the presence of God and the whole Realme to serve our Soveraigne her daughter and her Majestie Regent as faithfully and as obediently as ever did we Kings within Scotland That moreover we should cause our Preachers give reason of their Doctrine in her audience to any that pleased to impugne any thing that they did or taught Finally That we should submit our selves to a lawfull Parliament Provided that the Bishops as the partie accused and our plaine enemies should be removed from judgement To no point would she answer directly but in all things she was so generall and so ambiguous that her craft appeared to all men She had gotten assured knowledge that our company was scattered for her French-men were daily amongst us without molestation or hurt done unto them and therefore she began to disclose her minde and said The Congregation hath reigned these two moneths past Me my selfe would reigne now other two The malice of her heart being plainely perceived deliberation was had what was to be done It was concluded That the Lords Barons and Gentlemen with their chiefe domesticks should remaine in Edinburgh that whole Winter for establishing of the Church there And because it was found That by the corrupting of our Money the Queen made to her selfe immoderate gaines for maintaining of her Souldiers to the destruction of the whole Common-wealth It was thought necessary That the Printing yrons and all things pertaining should be stayed for feare that she should privily cause to transport them to Dumbar In this mean time came assured word first That the King of France was hurt and after that he was dead Which albeit it ought to have put her in minde of her own estate and wicked enterprises for he that same time in the fulnesse of his glory as she her selfe used to speak had determined most cruell persecution against the Saints of God in France even as she her selfe was here persecuting in Scotland and yet he so perished in his pride That all men might see that Gods just vengeance did strike him even when his iniquity was come to full ripenesse Albeit we say That this wonderous work of God in his sudden death ought to have danted her fury and given unto her admonition That the same God could not suffer her obstinate malice against his Truth long to be unpunished Yet could her indurate heart nothing be moved to Repentance for hearing of the staying of the Printing yrons she raged more outragiously then before and sending for all such as were of her faction exposed her grievous complaint aggravating the same with many lies to wit That we had declared that which before she suspected For what could we mean else but usurpation of the Crown when we durst put hands to the Coining-house which was a portion of the patrimonie of the Crown She further alleadged That we had spoiled the Coining-House of great sums of money To the which we answered both by our Letters sent to her and her Counsell and by publike Proclamation to the people That we without usurpation of any such thing justly appertaining to the Crown of Scotland did stay the Printing yrons in consideration that the Common-wealth was greatly hurt by corrupting of our money And because we were born Counsellers of this Realm sworn to procure the profit of the same we could do no lesse of dutie and of conscience then to stay that for a time which we saw so abused That unlesse remedy were found should turn to the utter detriment of the whole body of this Realme And as to her false accusation of spoil we did remit us to the conscience of M. Robert Richeson master of the Coining-house who from our hands received silver gold and mettall as well Coined as un-Coined so that with us there did not remain the value of a Bawbee or Farthing This our Declaration and purgation notwithstanding she partly by her craft and policie and partly by the labours of the Bishops of Saint Andrews and Glasgow procured the whole number that were with her to consent to pursue us with all cruelty and expedition before that
use and chuse what Religion and manner thereof they please to the said day so that every man may have freedom to use his owne conscience to the day aforesaid Item The Queen shall not interpose her Authority to molest or trouble the Preachers of the Congregation nor their Ministry to them that please to use the same nor no other of the said Congregation in their bodies lands goods or possessions Pensions or whatsoever other kinde of goods they possesse nor yet suffer the Clergie or any other either Spirituall or Temporall Iurisdiction to trouble them in any manner of sort privately or openly for the cause of Religion or any other action depending thereupon to the said tenth day of Ianuary within written and that every man in particular live in the mean time according to his own conscience Item That no men of War French nor Scots be laid in daily Garrison within the Town of Edinburgh but to repair thereto to do thsir lawfull businesse and thereafter to retire them to their Garrisons This alteration in words and Order was made without knowledge and consent of those whose counsell we had used in all such causes before For some of them perceiving we began to faint and that we would appoint with unequall conditions said God hath wonderously assisted us in our greatest dangers He hath stricken fear in the hearts of our enemies when they supposed themselves most assured of Victory Our case is not yet so desperate that we need to grant to things unreasonable and ungodly which if we do it is to be feared That things shall not so prosperously succeed as they have done heretofore When all things were communed and agreed upon by mid persons the Duke and the Earle of Huntlie who that day were against us desired to speake with the Earles of Argyle and Glencarne the Lord Iames and others of our party who obeying their requests met with them at the Quarrell holes betwixt Leith and Edinburgh who in conclusion promised to our Lords That if the Queen brake to us any one jot of the Appointment then made that they should declare themselves plain enemies to her and friends to us As much promised the Duke that he would do in case that she would not remove her French-men at a reasonable day for the oppression which they did was manifest to all men This Appointment made and subscribed by the Duke Monsieur Dosell and the Earle of Huntlie the 25 of July we returned to the Towne of Edinburgh where we remained till the next day at noon when after Sermon dinner and Proclamation made at the Market Crosse in forme as followeth we departed Forme of the Proclamations FORASMUCH as it hath pleased God that Appointment is made betwixt the Queen Regent and us the Lords Protestants of this Realme We have thought good to signifie unto the chief Heads of the Appointment which be these First That no member of the Congregation shall be troubled in life lands goods or possessions by the Queene by her Authority nor by any other justice within this Realme for any thing done in this late Innovation till that a Parliament hath decided things that be in controversie Secondly That Idolatry shall not be erected where it is now at this day suppressed Thirdly That the Preachers and Ministers shall not be troubled in the ministration where they are already established neither yet stopped to Preach wheresoever they shall happen to travell within this Realme Fourthly That no Bands of men of War shall be laid in Garrison within the Town of Edinburgh The chief Heads of appointment concerning the liberty of Religion and conservation of our brethren we thought good to notifie unto you by this Proclamation that in case wrong or injury be done by any of the contrary faction to any member of our Body complaint may be made unto us to whom we promise as we will answer to our God our faithfull support to the uttermost of our powers At this Proclamation made with sound of Trumpet were offended all the Papists for first they alleadged It was done in contempt of Authority Secondarily That we had proclaimed more then was contained in the Appointment And last That we in our Proclamation had made no mention of any thing promised unto them To such murmures we answered That no just Anthority could think it self contemned because that the truth was by us made manifest unto all who otherwise might have pretended ignorance Secondly That we had proclaimed nothing which was not finally agreed upon in word and promise betwixt us and those with whom the Appointment was made whatsoever the Scribes had after written who in very deed had altered both in words and sentences our Articles as they were first conceived And yet if their owne writings were diligeutly examined the self-same thing shall be found in substance And last To proclaim any thing in their favours we thought it not necessary knowing that in that behalf they themselves would be diligent enough And in this we were nothing deceived for within fifteen days after there was not a Shaveling in Scotland to whom Tenths or any other Rents pertaineth but he had that Article of the Appointment by heart That the Church-men should be answered of Tenths Rents and all other duties and that no man should trouble or molest them We departing from Edinburgh the 26 of July came first to Linlithqow and after to Sterlin where after consultation the Band of defence and maintenance of Religion and for mutuall defence every one of the other was subscribed of all that were there present The tenour of the Bond was thus WE foreseeing the craft and sleight of our Adversaries who trie all manner of wayes to circumvient us and by privy means intend to assayle every one of us particularly by fair heights and promises therethrough to separate one of us from another to our utter ruine and destruction For remedy thereof we faithfully and truely binde us in the presence of God and as we tender the maintenance of true Religion That none of us shall in time coming passe to the Queen Dowager to talk or commune with her for any Letter or Message sent by her unto us or yet to be sent with consent of the rest or common consultation thereupon and how soon that either Message or Writing should come from her unto us with all diligence we shall notifie the same one to another so that nothing shall proceed therein without common consent of us all At Sterlin the first day of August 1559. This Band subscribed and we foreseeing that the Queen and Bishops meant nothing but deceit thought good to seek ayd and support of all Christian Princes against her tyranny in case we should be more sharply pursued And because that England was of the same Religion and lay next unto us it was judged expedient first to prove them which we did by one or two Messengers as hereafter in its owne place
shall be more amply declared After we had abided certaine dayes in Sterlin the Earle of Argyle departed to Glasgow and because he was to depart to his owne Countrey with whom also passed the Lord Iames to pacifie some trouble which by the craft of the Queen was raised in his absence he required the Earle of Glencarne Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie and others of Kyle to meet there for some order to be taken that the brethren should not be oppressed which with one consent they did and appointed the tenth of September for the next convention at Sterlin While these things were in doing at Glasgow Letters and a servant came from the Earle of Arran to the Duke his father signifying unto him That by the providence of God he had escaped the French Kings hands who most treasonably and most cruelly had sought his life or at the least to have committed him to perpetuall prison For the same time the said French King seeing he could not have the Earle himself caused put his younger brother a childe of such age as could not offend in strait prison where he yet remained to wit in the Month of October the yeer of our Lord 1559. Which things were done by the power and craft of the Queen Dowager at the time that the Duke and his friends were most ready to set forth her cause These Letters received and the estate of her two sons knowne of whom one was escaped and the other cast in vile prison the Duke desired communing with the said Earle of Argyle who partly against the will of some that loved him rid unto the Duke from Glasgow to Hammilton where abiding a night he declared his judgement to the Duke and to his friends especially to Master Gawane Hammilton The Duke required him and the Lord Iames to write their friendly and comfortable Letters to his son which they most willingly did and thereafter addressed them to their journey But the very day of their departing came one Boutancourt from the Queen Regent with Letters as was alleadged from the King and Queen of France to the Lord Iames which he delivered with a bragging countenance and many threatning words the Tenour of his Letter was this The King his Letter to the Lord Iames. MY Cousin I have greatly marvelled when I understood the troubles that are happened in these parts And yet I more marvell That ye in whom I had whole confidence and who has the Honour to be so neer the Queen my wife and has received from the late King my Father from the Queen my wife and from me such graces and favours that ye should be so forgetfull as to make your selfe the Head and one of the principall beginners and nourishers of the tumults and seditions that are seen there The which because it is so strange to me and so farre against the profession that ye at all times have made I cannot well beleeve it But if it be so I cannot think but ye have been entised and led thereto by some persons that have seduced you and caused you commit such a fault as I am assured you repent of already which will be a great pleasure to me to the effect I may lose a part of the occasion I have to be miscontent with you as I will you to understand I am Seeing you have so far deceived the esperance I had of you and your affection toward God and the weale of our service unto the which ye know ye are as much and more obliged then any other of the Lords there For this cause desiring that the matters may be duely amended and knowing what ye can therein I thought good on this manner to write unto you and pray you to take heed to return to the good way from which ye have declined and cause me know the same by the effects That you have another intention then this which the follies by-past maketh me now to beleeve doing all that ever ye can to reduce all things to their first estate and put the same to the right and good obedience that you know to be due unto God and unto me Otherwise ye may be well assured that I will put to my hand and that in good earnest that you and all they who have done and do as ye do shall feele through your own fault that which ye have deserved and merited Even as I have given charge to this Gentle-man present bearer to make you know more largely of my part for which cause I pray you credit him even as ye would do my selfe Praying God my cousin to have you in his holy and worthy protection Written at Paris the 17 day of July 1559. The same Messenger brought also Letters from the Queen our Soveraigne more sharp and threatning then the former For her conclusion was Vous en sentires la poincture a iamais His credit was That the King would spend the Crown of France if that he were not revenged upon such seditious persons That he would never have suspected such inobedience and such defection from his own sister in him To the which the said Lord Iames answered first by word and then by writing as followeth The Lord Iames his Letter to the King Sir MY most humble duty remembred Your Majesties Letters I received from Paris the 17 of Iuly last importing in effect That your Majestie doth marvell that I being forgetfull of the graces and favours shewed me by the King of blessed memorie your Majesties father and the Queen my Soveraigne should declare my selfe head and one of the principall beginners of these alleadged Tumults and Seditions in these parts deceiving thereby your Majesties expectation in all times had of me with assurance That if I did not declare by contrary effects my repentance I with the rest that had put or yet putteth hand to this Work should receive that reward which we had deserved and merited SIR It grieves me very heavily that the crime of ingratitude should bâ— laid to my charge by your Majestie and the rather Thâ—t I perceive the same to have proceeded of sinister information of them whose part it was not to have reported so if true service past had been regarded And as touching the repentance and declaration of the same by certaine effects That your Majesty desires I shew My conscience perswades me in these proceedings to have done nothing against God not the dutifull obedience towards your Majesty and the Queen my Soveraigne Otherwise it should not have been to be repented and also amended already accordâ—ng to your Majesties expectation of me But your Majestie being truely informed and perswaded That the thing which we have done maketh for the advancement of Gods glory without any manner of derogation to your Majesties due obedience We doubt not but your Majestie shall be well contented with our proceedings which being grounded upon the commandment of the eternall God we dare not leave the same unaccomplished onely wishing and desiring
your Majestie did know the same and the truth thereof as we were perswaded in our consciences and all them that are truly instructed in the eternall Word of our God upon whom we cast our care from all dangers that may follow the accomplishment of his eternall will and to whom we commend your Majestie beseeching him to illuminate your heart with the Gospel of his eternall Truth to know your Majesties duty towards your poore Subjects Gods chosen people and what you ought to crave justly of them againe for then we should have no occasion to feare your Majesties wrath and indignation nor your Majesties suspition in our inobedience The same God have your Majestie in his eternall saveguard At Dunbartane the 12 of August 1559. This answer directed to the Queen our Soveraigne and Francis her husband the Queen Dowager received and was bold upon it as she might well enough for it was supposed That the former Letters were forged here at home in Scotland The answer read by her she said That so proud an answer was never given to King Prince nor Princesse And yet indifferent men thought that he might have answered more sharply and not have transgressed modesty nor trueth For where they burden him with the great benefits which of them he had received if in plain words he had purged himselfe affirming That the greatest benefit that ever he received of them was to spend in their service that which God by others had provided for him no honest man would have accused him and no man could have been able to have convinced him of a lye But Princes must be pardoned to speak what they please For the comfort of the brethren and continuance of the Church in Edinburgh was left there our deare brother Iohn Willock who for his faithfull labours and bold courage in that battell deserves immortall praise For when it was found dangerous that Iohn Knox who before was elected Minister to the Church should continue there the brethren requested the said Iohn Willock to abide with them lest that for lack of Ministers Idolatry should be erected up again To the which he so gladly consented That it might evidently appeare that he preferred the comfort of his brethren and the continuance of the Church there to his own life One part of the French-men were appointed to lye in Garison at Leith that was the first benefit which they gate for their confederacie with them the other part were appointed to lye in the Canon-gate the Queen and her train abiding in the Abbey Our brother Iohn Willock the day after our departure preached in S. Giles Church and fervently exhorted the brethren to stand constant to the Truth which they had professed At this and some other Sermons was the Duke and divers other of the Queens faction This liberty of Preaching and resort of all people thereto did highly offend the Queen and the other Papists And first they began to give terrours to the Duke affirming That he would be reputed as one of the Congregation if he gave his presence to the Sermons Thereafter they began to require That Masse might be set up again in S. Giles Church and that the people should be set at liberty to chuse what Religion they would For that said they was contained in the appointment That the Town of Edinburgh should chuse what Religion they listed For obtaining hereof were sent to the Town the Duke the Earle of Huntly and the Lord Seaton to solicite all men to condiscend to the Queens minde wherein the two last did labour what they could the Duke not so but as a beholder of whom the brethren had good hope and after many perswasions and threatnings made by the said Earle and Lord the brethren stoutly and valiantly in the Lord Jesus gain-said their most unjust Petitions Reasoning That as in conscience they might not suffer Idolatry to be erected where Christ Jesus was truely Preached so could not the Queen nor they require any such thing unlesse she and they would plainely violate their Faith and chiefe Article of the appointment For it is plainely appointed That no member of the Congregation shall be molested in any thing That at the day of the appointment they peaceably possessed But so it was That we the brethren and Protestants of the Town of Edinburgh with our Ministers the day of the appointment did peaceably enjoy Saint Giles Church appointed us for Preaching of Christs true Gospel and right ministration of his holy Sacraments Therefore without manifest violation of the appointment you cannot remove us therefrom untill a Parliament have decided the Controversie This answer given the whole brethren departed and left the foresaid Earle and Lord Seaton then Provest of Edinburgh still in the Tolbuith Who perceiving that they could not prevaile in that manner began to entreat that they would be quiet and that they would so far condiscend to the Queens-pleasure as that they would chuse them another within the Town or at the least be content that Masse should be said either after or before their Sermon To the which answer was given That to give place to the devil who was the chiefe Inventer of the Masse for the pleasure of any creature they could not They were in possession of that Church which they could not abandon neither yet could they suffer Idolatry to be erected in the same unlesse by violence they should be constrained so to do And then they were determined to seek the next remedy Which answer received the Earle of Huntly did lovingly intreat them to quietnesse faithfully promising That in no sort they should be molested so that they would be quiet and make no farther uproare To the which they were most willing for they sought onely to serve God as he had commanded and to keep their possession according to the appointment which by Gods grace they did till the moneth of November notwithstanding the great boasting of the enemy For they did not onely convene to the Preaching daily supplâ—cations and administration of Baptisme but also the Lords Table was ministred even in the eyes of the very enemy to the great comfort of many afflicted consciences and as God did strongly work with his true Ministers and with his troubled Church so did not the devil cease to inflame the malice of the Queen and of the Papists with her For that after her coming to the Abbey of Halyrud-house she caused Masse to be said first in her own Chappell and after in the Abbey where the Altars before were cast down She discharged the Common-Prayers and forbade to give any portion to such as were the principall young men who read them Her malice extended in like manner to Cambuâ—kenneth for there she discharged the portions of as many of the Canons as had forsaken Papistry She gave commandment and inhibition that the Abbot of Lyndors should be answered of any part of his living in the North because he had submitted
himselfe to the Congregation and had put some Reformation to his place By her consent and procurement was the Preachers Chaire broken in the Church of Leith and Idolatry was erected in the same where it was before suppressed Her French Captains with their Souldiers in great companies in time of Preaching and Prayers resorted to Saint Giles Church in Edinburgh and made their common deambulation therein with such loud talking as no perfect audience could be had And although the Minister was there-through oft times compelled to cry out on them Praying to God to rid them of such Locusts they neverthelesse continued still in their wicked purpose devised and ordained by the Queen to have drawn our brethren of Edinburgh and them in cumber so that she might have had any coloured occasion to have broken the League with them Yet by Gods grace they behaved themselves so that she could finde no fault in them albeit in all these things before-named and in every one of them she is justly accounted to have gaine-said the said appointment We passe over the oppressing of our brethren in particular which had been sufficient to have proved the appointment to have been plainly violated For the Lord Seaton without any occasion offered unto him brake a chase upon Alexander Whitlam as he came from Preston accompanied with M. William Knox towards Edinburgh and ceased not to pursue him till he came to the Towne of Ormeston And this he did supposing that the said Alexander had been Iohn Knox. In all this mean time and while that moe French-men arived they are not able to prove that we brake the appointment in any jote except that a horned Cap was taken off a proud Priests head and cut in four quarters because he said He would wear it in despight of the Congregation In this mean time the Queen then Regent knowing assuredly what force was shortly to come unto her ceased not by all meanes possible to cloke the in-coming of the French and to inflame the hearts of our Countrey-men against us And for that purpose she first wrote unto Duke Hamilton in forme as followeth The Queen Regents false flattering Letter to Duke Hamilton MY Lord and Cousin after hearty commendations We are informed that the Lords of the West-land Congregation intend to make a Convention and assembly of your kin and friends upon Gowan Moore besides Glasgow on Munday come eight dayes the 28 day of August instant for some high purpose against us which we can scantly believe considering they have no occasion on Our part so to do And albeit we know the Appointment was made against and without Our advise yet we accepted the same at your desire and have since made no cause whereby they might be moved to come in the contrary thereof Like as we are yet minded to keep firme and stable all things promised by you in Our behalfe We thinke on the other part it is your duty to require them that they violate not their part thereof in no wise And in case they mean any evil towards Us and so will break their promise We believe ye will at the uttermost of your power convene with us and compell them to do that thing which they ought if they will not praying you to have your self your kin and friends in readinesse to come to us as ye shall be advertised by Proclamation in case the Congregation assemble themselves for any purpose against Us or the Tenour of the said Appointment Assuring you without they gather and give first occasion We shall not put you to any pains in that behalf And that you advertise Us by writ what we may trust to herein by this Bearer who will shew you the fervent minde we bear to have good concord with the said Congregation what offers We have made them and how desirous we are to draw them to the obedience of Our Soveraignes Authority to whom you shall give credit and God keep you At Edinburgh the tenth of August 1559. The like Letter she wrote to every Lord Baron and Gentleman of this Tenour The Queen Regents Letter to the Barons TRusty friend after hearty commendations We doubt not but you have heard of the Appointment made beside Leith betwixt the Duke the Earle of Huntlie and Monsieur Dosell on the one part And the Lords of the Congregation on the other part Which Appointment We have approved in all points albeit it was taken without Our advise and is minded to observe and keep all the contents thereof for Our part Neverthelesse as We are informed the Lords of the Congregation intend shortly to convene all such persons as will assist them for enterprising of some high purpose against Us Our Authority and Tenour of the said Appointment which we cannot believe seeing they neither have nor shall have any occasion given thereto on Our part But in case against all reason they should mean any such thing We have thought it good to give warning to Our speciall friends of the advertisement We have gotten and amongst the rest to you whom We esteem of that number praying you to have your self your kin and folks in readinesse to come to Us and so forth as in the other Letter above sent to the Duke word by word After that by these Letters and by the decitfull surmising of her soliciters she had somewhat stirred up the hearts of the people against us then she began openly to complain That we were of minde to invade her Person That we would keep no part of the Appointment and therefore she was compelled to crave assistance of all men against our unjust pursuit And this practise she used as before is said to abuse the simplicity of the people that they should not suddenly espie for what purpose she brought in her new bands of men of War who did arrive about the midst of August to the number of 1000 men The rest were appointed to come after with Monsieur de la Brosse and with the Bishop of Ammians who arrived the nineteenth day of September following as if they had been Ambassadours But what was their Negotiation the effect did declare and they themselves could not long conceal for by both tongue and pen they uttered That they were sent for the extermination of all those that would not professe the Papist call Religion in all points The Queens practise and craft could not blinde the eyes of all men neither yet could her subtilty hide her owne shame but that many did espy her deceit and some spared not to speak their judgements liberally who foreseeing the danger gave advertisement requiring that provision might be found before that the evil should exceed our wisedome and strength to put fit remedy to it For prudent men foresaw That she pretended a plain conquest but to the end that the people should not suddenly stir she would not bring in her full force at once as before is said but by continuall traffique purposed to augment
Earle of Argyle and Lord Iames to Sterlin to the said convention in which divers godly men complained of the tyrannie used against their brethren And especially that more French-men were brought in to oppresse their Country After the consultation of certain dayes the principall Lords with my Lord Arran and the Earle of Argyle past to Hammilton for consultation to be taken with the Duke And in this mean time came assured word that the French-men had begun to fortifie Leith which thing as it did more evidently discover the Queens craft so did it deeply grieve the hearts of all the Nobility there who with one consent agreed to write unto the Queen in form as followeth At Hammilton the 29 day of September MAdame we are credibly informed that your Army of French-men should instantly begin to plant in Leith and to fortifie the same of minde to expell the ancient inhabitants thereof our brethren of the Congregation whereof we marvell not a little that your Majestie should so manifestly breake the Appointment made at Leith without any provocation made by us and our brethren And seeing the same is done without any manner of consent of the Nobilitie and counsell of this Realme we esteem the same not onely oppression of our poore brethren and in-dwellers of the said Towne but also very prejudiciall to the Common-wealth and plain contrary to our ancient Laws and Liberties We therefore desire your Majestie to cause the same work enterprised to be stayed and not to attempt so rashly and so manifestly against your Majesties promise against the Common-wealth â—he ancient Laws and Liberties thereof which things besides the glory of God are most dear and tender to us and onely our pretence otherwise assuring your Majestie we will complain to the whole Nobility and Commonalty of this Realme and most earnestly seek for redresse thereof And thus recommending our humble service unto your Highnesse whom we commit to the Eternall Protection of God expecting earnestly your answer At Hammilton the day and yeer aforesaid By your Majesties humble and obedient servitours This Letter was subscribed with the hands of the Duke the Earles of Arran Argyle Glencarne and Menteth by the Lords Ruthwen Uchiltrie Boyd and by divers others Barons and Gentlemen To this request she would not answer by wret but with a Letter of credit she sent Sir Robert Carnegie and Master Danid Borthwike two whom amongst many others she abused and by whom she corrupted the hearts of the simple They travelled with the Duke to bring him again to the Queens Faction Labrosse and the Bishop of Amians were shortly before arrived and as it was bruted were directed as Ambassadours but they kept close their whole Commission they onely made large promises to them that would be theirs and leave the Congregation The Queen did grievously complain That we had intelligence with England and the conclusion of their Commission was to solicite the Duke to put in all in the Queens Will and then she would be gracious enough It was answered That no honest men durst commit themselves to the mercy of such throat-cutters as she had about her whom if she would remove and joyn to her a Councell of naturall Scotish-men permitting the Religion to have free passage then should none in Scotland be more willing to serve her Majesty then should the Lords and Brethren of the Congregation be At the same time the Duke and the Lords wrote to my Lord Erskin Captain of the Castle of Edinburgh in form as followeth Letter to the Lord Erskin MY Lord and Cousin after our hearty commendations this present is to advertise you That we are credibly informed that the Army of French-men now in this Realme without any advice of the Councell or Nobility are fortifying or else shortly intendeth to fortifie the Towne of Leith and expell the ancient inhabitants thereof whereby they proclaim to all that will open their ears to hear or eyes to see what is their pretence And seeing the faithfulnesse of your antecessors and especially of your Father of honourable memory who was so recommended and dear to the Estates and Councellors of this Realme through affection they perceived in him towards the Common-wealth thereof that they doubted not to give in his keeping the key as it were of the Councell of the Iustice and Policy of this Realme the Castles of Edinburgh and Sterlin we cannot but believe ye will rather augment the honourable favour of your House by stedfast favour and loyalty to our Common wealth then through the subtill perswasions of some which care not what after shall come to you and your House at the present would abuse you to the performance of their wicked enterprises and pretences against our Common-wealth utterly destroy the same And herefore seeing we have written to the Queen to desist from the enterprise otherwise that we will complain to the Nobility and Commonalty of the Realm and seek redresse thereof We likewise beseech you as our tender friend brother and member of the same Common-wealth with us that in no wise you meddle with or assent to that ungodly enterprise against the Common-wealth And likewise that ye would save your body and the jewels of this Countrey committed to yours and your predecessors loyalty and fidelity towards your native Countrey and Common-wealth if ye thinki to be reputed hereafter one of the same And that ye would rather be brother to us then to strangers for we do gather by the effects the secrets of mens hearts otherwise unsearchable unto us Thus we write not that we are in doubt of you but rather to warne you of the danger in case ye suffer your selfe to be inchanted with fair promises and crafty Councellors For let no man flatter himself we desire all men to know That though he were our father seeing God hath opened our eyes to see his Will if he be enemy to the Common wealth which is now assailed and we with it and all true members thereof he shall be knowne and as he is indeed enemy to us to our lives our houses babes heritages and whatsoever is contained within the same For as the Ship perishing What can be safe that is within So the Common wealth being betrayed What particular member can live in quietnesse And therefore in so far as the said Castles are committed to your credite we desire you to shew your faithfulnesse and stoutnesse as ye tender us and whatsoever appertaineth to us And seeing we are assured ye will be assayled both with craft and force as now by warning we help you against the first so against the last ye shall not misse in all possible haste to have our assistance onely to shew your selfe a man Save your person by wisedome strengthen your self against force And the Almighty God assist you in both that one ayd the other and open the eyes of your understanding to see and perceive the craft of Sathan and his supposts At Hamilton
triumph This Sermon ended in the which he did vehemently exhort all men to amendment of life to Prayers and to the Works of Charity the mindes of men began wonderously to be erected and immediately after dinner the Lords passed to counsell unto the which the said Iohn Knox was called to make invocation of the Name of God for other Preachers were none with us at that time in the end it was concluded That William Maitland aforesaid should passe to London to expose our estate and condition to the Queen and Counsell and that the Noble-men should depart to their home and quiet to the 16 day of December Which time was appointed to the next Convention in Sterlin as in this our third Booke following shall be more amply declared With this we end the second Book of the History of the progresse of Religion within Scotland Look upon us O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies for we are brought even to the deep of the dungeon The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOK OF The Progresse of true Religion WITHIN The Realme of SCOTLAND AFter this our dolorous departing from Edinburgh the fury and rage of the French increased for then durst neither man nor woman that professed Christ Jesus within the Town be seen The houses of the most honest men were given by the Queen to Frenchmen for a part of their reward The Earle Bothwell by sound of Trumpet Proclaimed the Earle of Arrane Traitour with other despightfull words which all was done for the pleasure and by the suggestion of the Queene Regent who then thought the battell was wonne without further resistance Great practising she made for obtaining of the Castle of Edinburgh The French made their fagots with other preparations to assault the said Castle either by force or else by Treason But God wrought so mightily with the Captain the Lord Erskin at that time that neither the Queen by flattery nor the French by treason prevailed Advertisement with all diligence past to the Duke of Guise who then was King of France as concerning power to command requiring him to make expedition if he desired the full conquest of Scotland Who delayed no time but with a new Armie sent away his brother Marquis Dalbuif and in his company Marticks promising that he himselfe should follow But the righteous God who in mercy looketh upon the affliction of those that unfainedly sob unto him fought for us by his own out-stretched arm For upon one night upon the coast of Holland were drowned of them eighteen Ensignes so that onely rested the Ship in the which were two principals aforesaid with their Ladies who violently driven back to Deepe were compelled to confesse That God fought for the defence of Scotland From England returned Robert Melvin who past in company to London with the Secretary a little before Christmas and brought unto us certain Articles to be answered as by the contract that after was made more plainely shall appeare Whereupon the Nobility assembled at Sterlin and returned answer with diligence Whereof the French advertised they marched to Linlithquow spoiled the Dukes house and wasted his lands of Kinneill and after came to Sterlin where they remained certaine dayes the Duke the Earles of Argyle and Glencarn with their friends passed to Glasgow The Earle of Arrane and Lord Iames passed to Saint Andrews For charge was given to the whole Nobility Protestants to keepe their owne bodies till that God should send them further support The French tooke purpose first to assault Fyfe for as it was their great indignation Their purpose was to have taken and fortified the Towne and Abbey with the Castle of Saint Andrews and so they came to Culrosse after to Dunfermeling and then to Brunteiland where they began to fortifie but desisted there from and marched to Kinghorn upon the occasion as followeth When certaine knowledge came to the Earl of Arrane and to Lord Iames That the French were departed from Sterlin they departed also from S. Andrews and began to assemble their Forces at Cowper and sent their men of War to Kinghorne unto whom there resorted divers of the coast side of minde to resist rather at the beginning then when they had destroyed a part of their Townes But the Lords had given an expresse commandment That they should hazard nothing till that they themselves were present And for that purpose was sent unto them the Lord Ruthuen a man of great experience and inferiour to few in stoutnesse In his company was the Earle of Sudderland sent from the Earle of Huntly as he alleadged to comfort the Lord in their affliction But others whispered That his principall Commission was unto the Queen Regent Howsoever it was he was hurt in the arme by the shot of an Haquebut for the men of War and the rascall multitude perceiving certaine Boats of French-men landing which came from Leith purposed to stop their landing and so not considering the enemies that approached from Brunteiland unadvisedly they rushed downe to the Pretticure so is that Bay by West Kinghorne called and at the sea coast began the skirmishing But they never took heed to the enemy that approached by land till that the horsemen charged them upon the backe and the whole bands came directly in their faces and so were they compelled to give back with the losse of six or seven of their men and with the taking of some amongst whom were two that professed Christ Jesus one named Paul Lambert a Dutch man and a French boy fervent in Religion and clean of life whom in despight they hanged over the Steeple of Kinghorne Thou shalt revenge O Lord in thy appointed time The cause that in so great a danger there was so small a losse next unto the mercifull providence of God was the sudden coming of my Lord Ruthuen for even as our men had given back he and his Company came to the head of the Bray and did not onely stay the French-men but also some of ours brake upon their Horse-men and so repulsed them that they did no further hurt to our Foot-men In that recounter was the Earle of Sudderland foresaid shot in the arme and was carried back to Cowper The French-men took Kinghorne where they lay and wasted the Country about as well Papists as Protestants yea even those that were confederate with them such as Seafield Weames Balmowto Balwearie and others enemies to God and traytors to their Countrey of those we say they spared not the Sheep the Oxen the Kine and Horses and some say that their wives and daughters gat favour of the French Souldiers and so did recompence the Papists in their own bosoms for besides the defiling of their houses as said is two of them received more damage then did all the Gentlemen that professed the Gospel within Fyfe the Laird of Grange onely excepted whose house of the Grange the French-men overthrew with Gun-Powder The Queen Regent proud of this Victory
Gods grace whereof God send you plentie And so I end Sic subscribitur Yours as a member of the same body in Christ M. Cecill From Oxford the 28 of Iuly 1559. Albeit the said Iohn received this Letter at Barwick yet would he answer nothing till that he had spoken with the Lords whom he found in Sterlin and unto whom he delivered the answer sent from the Councell of England for Alexander Whitlaw took sicknesse betwixt Barwick and Edinburgh and was troubled by the Lord Seaton as in the former Booke is declared the answer sent by Master Cecill was so generall that many amongst us despaired of any comfort to come from that Countrey And therefore were determined that they would request no further Iohn Knox laboured in the contrary but he could prevaile no further but that he should have licence and libertie to write as he thought best And so took he upon him to answer for all in forme as followeth Answer to Master Cecils writing TWo causes hindred me Right Worshipfull to visit you in any part in England Before this no signification of your minde and pleasure was made unto me for onely did Sir Henry Percie will me to come and speake with him which conveniently at that time I could not do by reason that the French-men which was the second cause of my stay did then most furiously pursue us while our company was dispersed and then durst I not be absent for divers inconveniences neither did I thinke my presence with you greatly necessary considering that the matter which I most desired was opened and proposed To the which I would have wished That a more plaine and especiall answer should have been made For albeit Master Whitlaw by his Credit Master Kirkcaldie by his Letter and I both by Letters and by that which I had received from Sir Iames Crofts did perswade your good mindes yet could not the councell be otherwise perswaded but that this alteration in France had altered your former purpose It is not unknown what good will we three do beare to England And therefore I wish That rather your Pen then our Credit or any thing written to any of us should assure the Lords and others of your good mindes who are now in number but five hundred Unlesse that money be furnished without delay to pay the Souldiers for their service past and to retaine another thousand foot-men with three hundred horse-men till some stay be had in this danger these Gentle-men will be compelled to leave the fields I am assured as flesh may be of flesh That some of them will take a very hard life before that ever they compose either with the Queen Regent or with France but this I dare not promise at all unlesse in they see greater forwardnesse To support us will appear excessive and to break promise with France will appear dangerous But the losse of expences in mine opinion ought not to be esteemed from the first payment neither yet the danger from the first appearance France is most fervent to conquer us and avoweth That against us they will spend the Crown so did mine own ears hear Butten Court bragge But most assuredly I know That unlesse by us they thought to make an entrie to you that they would not buy our poverty at that price They labour to corrupt some of our great men by money and some of our number are poore as before I wrote and cannot serve without support some they threatned and against others they have up one party in their owne Countrey In this mean time if ye lie by as neutralls what will be the end you may easily conjecture And therefore Sir in the bowells of Christ Jesus I require you to make plain answer What the Gentlemen here may trust to and what the Queens Majestie will do may without long delay be put in execution I rest in Christ Jesus Of Saint Iohnston the day of c. Answer with great expedition was returned to this Letter desiring some men of credit to be sent to the Lords to Barwicke for the receiving of the money for the first support with promise That if the Lords of the Congregation meant no otherwise then before they had written and if they would enter into League with honest Conditions they should neither lack men nor money to their just Causes Upon this answer was directed from the Lords to Barwicke Master Henry Balnaves a man of good credit in both the Realmes who suddenly returned with such a sum of money as served all the publike affairs till November next when Iohn Cockburne of Ormeston sent for the second support and receiving the same unhappily fell into the hands of the Earle Bothwell was wounded taken and spoyled of a great Sum upon which mischance followed all the rest of the troubles before rehearsed In the second Book preceding we have declared how Secretary Leehington was directed to England But one thing before we have passed by In that our greatest dejection this order was taken That the Duke the Earle of Glencarne Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie and their friends should remaine together at Glasgow for comfort of the Countrey and for giving of answers as occasion should require and that the Earle of Arrane the Lord Iames the Earle of Rothesse the Master of Lindsay and their adherents should continue together within Fyfe for the same causes that advertisements might go from the one to the other as need required In the Negotiation of the Secretary Lethington with the Queen and Councell of England in the which he travelled with no lesse wisedom and faithfulnesse then happy successe many things occurred that required the resolution of the whole Lords After that the Queen and Councell of England had concluded to send their Army to Scotland for expelling of the French the Duke of Norfolke was sent to Barwick with full instructions power and Commission to do in all things concerning the present affaires of Scotland as the Queen and Councell in their own persons had power to do Hereupon the said Duke required such a part of the Lords of Scotland as had power and Commission from the whole to meet him at such a day and place as pleased them to appoint This advertisement came first to Glasgow by the meanes of the Master of Maxwell Which read and considered by the Lords conclusion was taken that they would meet at Carleil and that was the procurement of the said Master of Maxwell for his ease Hereupon were Letters directed from the Lords being in Glasgow to Lord Iames requiring him with all possible expedition to repaire towards them for the purpose aforesaid Which Letters read and advised upon commandment was given to Iohn Knox to make the answer For so it was appointed at division of the Lords that he should answer for the part of those that were in Fyfe and M. Henry Balnaves for the part of them that abode at Glasgow The said Iohn answered as followeth To the Duke
execute their tyranny upon the parts of Lowthiane that lay nigh to Edinburgh Let M. David Borthwicke witnesse what favour his wife and place of Adeston found of the French for all the service that he did to the Queen Regent In the midst of February were directed to England from the Duke and the Congregation the Lord Iames Lord Ruthuen the Mast of Maxwell the Master of Lindsay Master Henry Balnaves and the Laird of Pittarrow who with their honest companies and Commission departed by Sea all except the Master of Maxwell to Barwicke Where there met them the Duke of Norfolke Lieutenant to the Queen of England and with him a great company of the Gentlemen of the North with some also of the South having full power to contract with the Nobility of Scotland as they did upon such Conditions as are in the same Contract specified and because we have heard the malicious tongues of wicked men make false report of that our fact we have faithfully and truely inserted in this our History the said Contract as well that which was made at Leith during the siege as that which was first made at Barwicke that the memory thereof may abide to our Posterity to the end that they may judge with indifferency Whether that we have done any thing prejudiciall to our Common-wealth or yet contrarious unto the dutifull obedience which true subjects owe to their Superiours whose Authority ought to defend and maintain the Liberty and Freedom of the Realms committed to their Charge and not to oppresse and betray the same to stranger The Tenour of our Contract followeth The Contract at Barwick JAMES Duke of Chattellarault Earle of Arrane Lord Hamilton and others of the Councell Nobility and principall States of Scotland To all and sundry whose knowledge these presents shall come Greeting We have well considered and are fully perswaded in what danger desolation and misery the long enmity with the Kingdom of England hath brought our Countrey heretofore how wealthie and flourishing it shall become if those two Kingdoms as they are joyned in one Island by Creation of the World so they may be knit in a constant and assured friendship The considerations grounded upon a most infallible Trueth ought no lesse to have moved our Progenitours and for fathers then us But the present danger hanging over our heads by the unjust dealing of those of whom we have alwayes best deserved hath caused us to weigh them more earnestly then they did The misbehaviour of the French Monsieurs I had almost said Monsters here hath of late yeers been so great The oppressions and crueltie of the Souldiers the tyrannie and ambition of their Superiours and Rulers so grievous to the people the violent subversion of our liberty and conquest of the land whereat they have by most crafty and subtill means continually pressed hath been I say so intollerable to us all that at last when we could not obtain redresse by humble suits and earnest supplications presented to the Queen Dowager who both for duties sake and place she doth occupie ought to have been most carefull of our state we have been by very necessitie constrained not onely to assay our own Forces but also to implore the Queens Majestie of Englands aide and support which her Majestie hath most willingly granted upon certain conditions specified in a Treaty past at Barwick betwixt the Duke of Norfolk Lieutenant to her Majestie on the one part and certain our Commissioners on the other part whereof the Tenour followeth At Barwick the 27 day of February the yeer of our Lord God 1559 yeers It is appointed and finally Contracted betwixt the noble and mighty Thomas Duke of Norfolk Earle Marshall of England and Lieutenant to the Queens Majestie of the said Realm in the Name and behalf of her Highnesse on the one part and the Right Honourable Lord Iames Stewart Patrick Lord Ruthuen Sir Iohn Maxwell of Terregles Knight William Maitland of Lethington younger Iohn Wischarde of Pittarrow and Master Henry Balnaves of Halhill in name and behalf of the Noble and Mighty Iames Duke of Chattellarault of Scotland and the Lords of the Congregation joyned together in this Cause for maintenance and defence of the ancient Rights and Liberties of their Countrey on the other part in forme as after followeth That is to say That the Queen having sufficiently understood as well by information sent from the Nobility of Scotland as by the proceedings of the French that they intend to conquer the Realm of Scotland suppresse the liberty thereof and unite the same unto the Crown of France perpetually contrary to the Laws of the said Realm and the Pacts Oathes and Promises of France And being thereto most humbly and earnestly required by the said Nobility for and in the name of the whole Realm shall accept the said Realm of Scotland the said Nobility and subjects thereof into her Majesties protection and maintenance onely for preservation of the same in their own freedoms and liberties and from conquest during the time that the Marriage shall continue betwixt the Queen of Scots and the French King and a yeer after And for expelling out of the same Realme of such as presently and apparently goeth about to practice the said Conquest her Majesty shall with all speed send into Scotland a convenient aide of men of War both Horse and Foot to joyn with the power of Scotish men with Artillery Munition and all other Instruments of War meet for that purpose as well by Sea as by Land not onely to expell the present Power of the French within that Realme oppressing the same but also to stop as far as conveniently may be all greater Forces of French to enter therein for the like purpose and shall continue her Majesties ayd to the said Realme Nobility and subjects of the same unto the time the French being enemies to the said Realme be utterly expelled hence and shall never transact compose nor agree with the French nor conclude any League with them except the Scots and the French shall be agreed that the Realme of Scotland may be left in a due freedom by the French nor shall leave the maintenance of the said Nobility and subjects whereby they might fall as a prey into their enemies hands as long as they shall acknowledge their Soveraigne Lady the Queen and shall endeavour their selves to maintain the liberty of their Countrey and the State of the Crowne of Scotland And if in case any Forts or Strengths within the Realme be won out of the hands of the French at this present or at any time hereafter by her Majesties ayd the same shall be immediately demolished by the Scotish-men or delivered to the said Nobility aforesaid at their option and choice neither shall the power of England fortifie within the ground of Scotland being out of the bounds of England but by the advice of the Duke Nobility and States of Scotland For the which causes and in respect of her
Majesties most gentle clemency and liberall support the said Nobility as well such as be joyned as such as shall hereafter joyn with them already joyned for the defence of the liberty of that Realme shall to the uttermost of their power ayd and support her Majesties Army against the French and their partakers with Horse-men and Foot-men and with Victualls by Land and Sea with all manner of other ayd to the best of their power and so shall continue during the time that her Majesties Army shall remain in Scotland Item They shall be enemies to all such Scotish men and French as shall in any wise shew themselves enemies to the Realm of England for the ayding and supporting of the said Nobility in the delivery of the Realme of Scotland from Conquest Item They shall never assent nor permit that the Realme of Scotland shall be conquered or otherwise knit to the Crown of France then it is at this present onely by Marriage of the Queen their Soveraign to the French King and it be ruled by the Laws and Liberties of the Realme as it ought to be Item In case the French-men shall at any time hereafter invade or cause to be invaded the Realme of England they shall furnish the number of two thousand Horse-men and one thousand Foot-men at the least or such part of either of them at the charge of the Queen of England and shall conduct the same to passe from the borders of Scotland next England upon her Majesties charges to any part of the Realme of England for defence of the same And in case the invasion be on the North parts of England on the North side of the water of Tyne towards Scotland or against Barwick on the North side of the water of Tweid They shall convene and gather their whole Forces upon their owne charges and shall joyne with the English power and shall continue in good and earnest pursuite of the Quarrell of England during the space of thirty dayes or so much longer as they were accustomed to tarry in the fields for defence of Scotland At the commandment of their Soveraignes at any time by past and also the Earle of Argyle Lord Justice of Scotland being presently joyned with the rest shall imploy his force and good will where he shall be required by the Queens Majestie to reduce the North parts of Ireland to the perfect obedience of England conforme to a mutuall and reciproque contract to be made betwixt her Majesties Lieutenant or Deputie of Ireland being for the time and the said Earle wherein shall be contained what he shall do for his part and what the said Lieutenant or Deputie shall do for his support in case he shall have to do with Iames Mackconell or any others of the Isles of Scotland or Realme of Ireland For performance and sure keeping whereof they shall for their part come to the said Duke of Norfolk the pledges presently named by him before the entry of her Majesties Armie in Scottish ground to remain in England for the space of six moneths and to be there exchanged upon deliverance of new hostages of like or as good condition as the former or being the lawfull sons brethren or heires of any of the Peers or Barons of Parliament that have or hereafter shall shew themselves and persist open enemies to the French in this quarrell and so forth from six moneths to six moneths or foure moneths to foure moneths as shall best please the partie of Scotland And the time of continuance of the hostages shall be during the marriage of the Queen of Scots to the French King and a yeere after the dissolution of the said Marriage untill further order may be had betwixt both the Realmes for Peace and Concord And furthermore the said Nobility being Peers and Barons of Parliament joyned together shall subscribe and seale these Articles and agreement within the space of twenty or thirty dayes at the uttermost next following the day of the delivering of the said hostages and shall also procure and perswade all others of the Nobility that shall joyne themselves heereafter with the said Lords for the cause above-specified likewise to subscribe and seale those Articles at any time after the space of twenty dayes after their conjunction upon requisition made by them on the partie of the Queens Majestie of England And finally the said Nobility joyned together certainly perceiving that the Queens Majestie of England is thereunto moved onely upon respect of Princely honour and neighbourhood for defence of the freedom of Scotland from Conquest and not of any other sinister intent doth by these presents testifie and declare That they nor any of them mean by this agreement to withdraw any due obedience to the Soveraign Lady the Queen nor in any lawfull thing to withstand the French King her husband and head that during the marriage shall not tend to the subversion and oppression of the just and ancient Liberties of the said Kingdom of Scotland For preservation whereof both for their Soveraigns honour and for the continuance of the Kingdom in its ancient state they acknowledge themselves bound to spend their Goods Lands and Lives And for performance of this present Contract for the part of England the Queens Majestie shall confirm the same and all Clauses therein contained by her Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England to be delivered to the Nobility of Scotland upon the entrie of the Pledges aforesaid within the ground of England In Witnesse whereof the said Duke of Norfolke hath subscribed these Points and thereunto affixed his Seal the day yeer and place aforesaid Which Contract we finde honest and reasonable and that our said Commissioners therein hath considerately respected the Common-weale of this Realme of us and our posterity And therefore do ratifie allow confirme and approve the same with all Clauses and Articles therein contained by these Presents In Witnesse hereof we have subscribed the same with our Hands and sealed with our Seals of Arms in such causes accustomed are appended At the Camp before Leith the tenth day of May the year of God 1560 yeers Follow the Subscriptions The Subscriptions The Duke of Chattellarault Earle of Arrane Earle of Glencarne Earle of Rothesse Earl of Argyle Earle of Huntlie Earle of Morton Earle of Menteth Lord Ogilbye Lord Iames Steward Alexander Gordon Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie Gawin Hamilton of Kilwinning Abbot of Culrosse Lord Bothwike Lord of Saint Iohn Lord Iohn Abirbrâ—thok Lord Simmerwaile Lord Robert Steward Abbot of Kynlosse Iames Stewart of Saint Colmes Inche The Instructions given subscribed to the said Commissioners following 1. IN the first place if it shall be asked of you by the Duke of Norfolk and by other the Queens Majesties appointed Commissioners If your Pledges be in readinesse ye shall answer That they are and in Saint Andrews the 25 of this instant and shal be ready to be delivered in Hostage for security of our promises and part
past to the Castle of Edinburgh and some others of her faction At Preston met them the Duke the Earle of Argyle Huntlie came not till that the siege was confirmed Lord Iames the Earle of Glencarne and Menteth Lords Ruthuen Boyd Uchiltrie with all the Protestants Gentlemen of the West Fyfe Angus and Mearnes so that in few dayes the Army was great After the deliberation of two dayes had at Inneresk the whole Camp marched forward with Ordnance and all preparations necessary for the siege and came to Lestarrig the Palme Sunday Even The French had put themselves in Battell Aray upon the Linkes without Leith and sent forth their skirmishers who beginning before ten of the clock continued skirmishing till after four of the clock at afternoon when there was given upon them a charge by some Horse-men of Scotland and some of England But because the principall Captaine of the Horse-men of England was not present the whole Troops durst not charge and so was not the overthrow and slaughter of the French so great as it once appeared to have been for the great Battell was once at the trot but when it perceived that the great Force of Horse-men stood still and charged not they returned and gave some rescue to their fellows that fled and so there fell onely in that defeat about three hundred French-men God would not give the Victory so suddenly lest that man should glory in his owne strength The small Victory that was gotten put both the English and Scotish in over-great security as the issue declared The French enclosed within the Towne the English Army began to plant their Pavilions betwixt Leith and Lestarrig The Ordnance of the Towne and especially that which lay upon Saint Anthonies Steeple did them great annoyance against which place were bent eight Cannons which shot so continually and so just that within few dayes that the Steeple was condemned and all the Ordnance that was on it discomfited which made the English-men somewhat more negligent then it became good men of War to have been For perceiving that the French made no pursuit without their Walls they tooke an opinion that they should never issue more and that made some of the Captaines for pastime go to the Towne The Souldiers for their ease laid their Armour beside them and as men without danger fell to the Dice and Cards and so upon the Easter Munday at the very houre of noon the French issued both upon Horse and Foot and with great violence entred within the English Trenches slue and put to flight all that was found therein The Watch was negligently kept and so were the Succours slow and long in coming For the French before that any resistance was made unto them approached hard to the great Ordnance But then the Horse-men trooped together and the Foot-men gat themselves in Aray and so repulsed the French back again to the Town but the slaughter was great some say it double exceeded that which the French received the first day And this was the fruit of their security and ours which after was remedied For the English men most wisely considering themselves not able to besiege the Town round about devised to make Mounts at divers quarters of it in the which they and their Ordnance lay in as good strength as they did within the Town The common souldiers kept the Trenches and had the said mountains for their saveguard and refuge in case of any greater pursuit then they were able to sustain The patience and stout courage of the English men but principally of the Horse-men is worthy of all praise For where was it ever heard That eight thousand they never exceeded that number that lay in Camp should besiege four thousand of the most desperate throat-cutters that were to be found in Europe and to lie nigh unto them in daily skirmishing the space of three moneths and more The Horse-men night and day kept Watch and did so valiantly behave themselves that the French gat no advantage from that day back to the day of the assault whereof we shall shortly hear In this mean time was this other Band made of all the Nobility Barons and Gentlemen professing Christ Jesus in Scotland and of divers others that joyned with us for expelling of the French amongst whom the Earle of Huntlie was a prime man The Band followeth The last Band at Leith AT Edinburgh the seven and twentieth of April the yeer of our Lord 1560 yeers We whose names are under-written have promised and obliged our selves faithfully in the presence of God and by these Presents do promise That we together in generall and every one of us in speciall by himself with our bodies goods friends and all that we can do shall set forward the Reformation of Religion according to Gods Word and procure by all means possible that the Truth of Gods Word may have free passage within this Realme with due Administration of the Sacraments and all things depending upon the said Word and such like deeply weighing with our selves the misbehaviour of the French Ministers here the intolerable oppression committed by the French men of War upon the poor subjects of this Realme by maintenance of the Queen Dowager under colour and pretence of Authority The tyranny of their Captains and Leaders and manifest danger of Conquest in which this Countrey at this present standeth by reason of divers Fortifications upon the Sea-coast and other novelties of late attempted by them promising That we shall each one with another all of us together with the Queen of Englands Army presently come in for our deliverance effectually concurre joyn in one take and hold one plain part for expulsion of the said strangers oppressors of our Liberty forth out of this Realme and recovery of our ancient Freedoms and Liberties to the end that in time coming we may under the obedience of the King and Queen our Soveraigns be onely ruled by the Laws and Customs of the Countrey and borne men of the Land And that never one of us shall have privy intelligence by writing message or communication with any of our enemies or adversaries in this Cause but by advice of the rest at least of five of the counsell Again That we shall tender the common Cause as if it were the cause of every one of us in particular And that the causes of every one of us now joyned together being lawfull and honest shall be all our causes in generall And that he that is enemy to the Cause aforesaid shall be enemy to us all in so far That what person soever will plainly resist these our godly enterprises and will not concur as a good and true member of this our Common-wealth we shall fortifie the said Authority of the Councell to reduce them to their duty like as we shall fortifie the said Authority of the Councell in all things tending to the furtherance of the said Causes And if any particular debate quarrell
one Citie For the bodily presence of Kings can no more be in divers cities at one instant then that they can be in divers Realms Hitherto we have understood that wheresoever the great Councellers of the King with his power and Commission are assembled to do any thing at his just commandment That there is the Kings sufficient presence and authority wheresoever his own body be living at freedome and liberty which if the Papists deny we will finde faults with them and with the Princes whom they have abused that more will annoy them then any thing that we can lose by the insufficiencie of that Parliament Which neverthelesse we are bold to affirme to have been more lawfull and more free then any Parliament that they are able to produce this hundred yeeres before it or yet any that hath ensued since it was he meanes untill 1566. when this Book was written for in it the voices of men were free and given in conscience in others they were bought or given at the devotion of the misled Prince All things in it concluded are able to abide the triall and not to be consumed at the proofe of the fire of others the godly may justly call in doubt things determined To the Sword and Scepter nor yet to the absence of some Lords we answer nothing For our adversaries know well enough that the one is rather a pompe and vaine-glorious ceremonie then a substantiall point of necessitie required to a lawfull Parliament And the absence of some prejudges not the powers of the present duely assembled Providing that due advertisement be made unto them But now we return to our History The Parliament dissolved consultation was had how the Church might be established in a good and godly policie which by the Papists was altogether defaced Commission and charge was given to Master Iohn Winram Sub-priour of S. Andrews Master Iohn Spottiswood Iohn Willock Master Iohn Dowglas Rectour of S. Andrews Master Iohn Row and Iohn Knox to draw in a Volume the Policie and Discipline of the Church as well as they had done the Doctrine which they did and presented it to the Nobility who did peruse it many dayes Some approved it and willed the same to have been set forth by a Law others perceiving their carnall liberty and worldly commodity somewhat to be impared thereby grudged in so much that the name of the Book of Discipline became odious unto them Every thing that repugned to their corrupt imaginations was termed in their mockage Devout imaginations The cause we have before declared some was licentious some had greedily griped the possessions of the Church and others thought that they would not lack their part of Christs Coat yea and that before that ever he was Crucified as by the Preachers they were oft rebuked The chief great man that had professed Christ Jesus and refused to subscribe the Book of Discipline was the Lord Erskin And no wonder for besides that he had a very evill woman to his wife if the Poore the Schooles and the Ministerie of the Church had their owne his Kitchin would lack two parts and more of that which he unjustly now possesseth Assuredly some of us hath wondered how men that professe godlinesse could of so long continuance hear the threatnings of God against theeves and against their houses and knowing themselves guilty in such things as were openly rebuked and that they never had remorse of conscience neither yet intended to restore any thing of that which long they had stollen and reft There were none within the Realme more unmercifull to the poore Ministers then were they which had greatest rents of the Churches But in that we have perceived the old Proverb to be true Nothing can suffice a wretch And again The belly hath no eares Yet the same Book of Discipline was subscribed by a great part of the Nobility To wit The Duke the Earle of Arrane the Earles Argyle Glencarn Mershell Menteth Morton Rothesse Lord Iames after Earle of Murray Lords Yeaster Boyd Uchiltrie Master of Maxwell Lord Lindsay elder and the Master after Lord Barrons Drunlaurige Lothingwar Garleisse Bargany Master Alexander Gordon Bishop of Galloway this Bishop of Galloway as he renounced Popery so did he Prelacie witnesse his subscription of the Book of Discipline as the rest of the Prelats did who did joyne to the Reformation Alexander Campbell Deane of Marray with a great number moe subscribed and approved the said Book of Discipline in the Town-Buith of Edinburgh the 27 day of January the yeere of our Lord God 1560. by their approbation In these words WE which have subscribed these presents having advised with the Articles herein specified and as is above-mentioned from the beginning of this Book thinks the same good and conforme to Gods Word in all points conforme to the Notes and Additions thereto asked and promise to set the same forward at the uttermost of our powers Providing that the Bishops Abbots Priors and other Prelates and Beneficed men which else have adjoyned themselves to us brooke the revenues of their Benefices during their life times they sustaining and upholding the Ministerie and Ministers as is heerein specified for Preaching of the Word and Ministring of the Sacraments What be the contents of the whole Book and how that this promise was illuded from time to time we shall after heare Shortly after the said Parliament were sent from the Councell Ambassadours to England the Earles Morton and Glencarne together with William Maitland of Lethington yonger The chief point of their Commission was earnestly to crave the constant assistance of the Queens Majestie of England against all forraigne invasion and common enemies That same time was the Castle of Semple hard besieged and taken Because the Lord thereof disobeyed the Lawes and Ordinances of the Councell in many things and especially in that that he would maintain the Idolatrie of the Masse and also that he beset the way to the Earle of Arrane with a great gathering as he was riding with his accustomed company The Papists were proud for they looked for a new Armie from France at the next Spring and thereof was no small appearance if God had not otherwise provided For France utterly refused the confirmation of the Peace contracted at Leith would ratifie no part of our Parliament dismissed the Lord of Saint Iohn without a resolute answer began to gather new Bands of throat-cutters and to make great preparation for Ships They further sent before them certain practisers amongst whom the Lord Seaton who had departed with the French out of Leith was one to raise up new troubles within this Realme And all this came partly of the malice of the house of Guise who had avowed to revenge the displeasure of their sister both upon England and Scotland and partly by instigation of proud Beton falsly called Bishop of Glasgow of Dury Abbot of Dunfermeling and Saulles Seaton and Master Iohn Sinclair Deane of Restalrige
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
up to the effects aforesaid and ordained Letters to be directed charging all and sundry Beneficed men on this side of the Water to produce their Rentalls before the foure and twentieth day of Ianuary last past And the tenth of February instant were prefixed by the said Letters for the bringing in all Rentalls of the Benefices beyond the water with certification That who produced not the said Rentalls at the dayes aforesaid respectively the Queens Majesty and her Councell would provide remedy according to the which Certification her Highnesse with advice of her Councell aforesaid hath Ordained That they who have not produced their Rentalls whole and full intromission shall be had of their fruits by them whom her Majesty shall direct thereto And who have not given their just Rentalls whatsoever part omitted forth of their said Rentall shall be intromitted in like manner And further having consulted rightly and diligently advised upon the common affairs and necessities concerning the Queens Majesty and charges to be borne for the Common-weale of the Realme and sustentation and maintenance of the Preachers and Readers conform to the said Ordinance made thereupon of before hath Ordained and Declared the whole third part of all Benefices of the which Rentalls are produced to be taken up by the person or persons to be nominated by her Majesty and to begin upon this last Crop of the yeer of God 1561. the same to be employed to the effect aforesaid Together with the whole Profits of the Benefices whereof the Rentalls are not produced And also all that is omitted out of the Rentalls produced And that order be directed by the Queens Majesty to the Lords of the Session That the old Possessors may be answered of the remnant fruits of the said Benefices providing That the third part aforesaid be full and whole taken up by the persons to be deputed to the taking thereof And this Order to continue and stand while further order be taken by the Queens Majesty with the advice of the States Moreover her Highnesse with the advice of the Councell aforesaid hath Statuted and Ordained That Annuells Marles and Duties within free Burroughs or other Townes of this Realme as well pertaining to Chaplanries Prebendaries as to Friers together with the Rents of the Friers Lands where-ever they be setting and disposing thereupon be intermedled with and taken by such as her Majesty shall depute thereto for employing of the same by her Highnesse to Hospitalls Schools and other godly uses as shall seeme best to her Highnesse with advice of her Councell And knowing that nothing is more commodious for the foresaid Hospitality then the places of Friers that are yet undemolished and also to the entertainment of Schools Colledges and other uses aforesaid ordains the Provests and Bayliffs of Aberdeine Elgmen Murray Inneresk Glasgow and other Burroughs of this Realme where the same are not demolished to entertain and uphold the said Friers places standing in the said Townes upon the Common goods thereof and to use the same to the Common weale and service of the said Townes untill the Queenes Majesty be further advised and take finall order in such things notwithstanding of any Gift Title or Entryes given to whatsoever persons of the said places with their Yards and Orchards and other Pertinents by our Soveraign Lady of before The Lords of secret Councell that were present at the Voting and making of the aforesaid Acts were Iames Duke of Chattellarault George Earle of Huntley Archibald Earle of Argyle William Earle Mershall Iohn Earle Atholl William Earle of Montrosse Iames Earle Morton Alexander Earle of Glencarne Iames Commendator of Saint Andrews Iohn Lord Erskin The Treasurer The Justice Clerke The Steward and Controller For the first Acts the Earle of Huntley said jestingly Good morrow my Lords of the two parts The whole Rentals being gathered the sum of the third according to their own calculation was found to extend to c. The Ministers even in the beginning of publike Sermons opposed themselves to such corruption for they foresaw the purposes of the Devill and clearly understood the Butt whereat the Queene and her flatterers Shot And so in the chaire of Edinburgh Iohn Knox said Well if the end of this Order pretended to be taken for sustentation of the Ministers be happy my judgement failes me for I am assured That the Spirit of God is not the Authour of it for first I see two parts freely given to the Devill and the third must be divided between God and the Devill Well said he beare witnesse to me that this day I said it Ere it be long the Devill shall have three parts of the third and judge you then what Gods portion will be This was an unsavory saying in the eares of many Some were not ashamed to affirme That the Ministers being sustained the Queen will not get at the yeers end to buy her a paire of new shoes And this was Secretary Lethington There were appointed to modifie the Ministers stipends The Earle of Argyle Murray and Morton Lethington Justice Clarke and Clerke of the Register The Laird of Pittaro was appointed to pay the Ministers Stipends according to their Modification Who would have thought that when Ioseph ruled Egypt that his brethren should have travelled for Victuals and have returned with empty Sacks unto their families men would rather have thought that Pharaohs Pose Treasure and Gilnells should rather have been diminished then that the houshold of Iacob should stand in danger to starve for hunger But so busie and circumspect were the Modificators because it was a new Office the terme must also be new that the Ministers should not be over-wanton That a hundred Marks was sufficient to a single man being a common Minister Three hundred Marks was the highest that was appointed to any except the Superintendents and a few others shortly Whether it was the ingratitude of their own hearts or the care that they had to enrich the Queene we know not But the poore Ministers Readers and Exhorters cryed out to the heaven as their complaints in all assemblies do witnesse That neither were they able to live upon the Stipends appointed neither could they get payment of that small thing that was appointed so faine would the Controllers have played the good Vallet and have satisfied the Queen or else their own profit The good Laird of Pittaro was an earnest Professour of Christ but the great Devill receive the Controller for he and his Collectours are become greedy factors To put an end to this unpleasing matter When the brethren complained of their poverty it was disdainfully answered of some There are many Lairds that have not so much to spend when men did reason that the Vocation of Ministers craved of them books quietnesse study and travell to edifie the Church of Christ Jesus when many Lairds were waiting upon their worldly businesse and therefore that the stipends of Ministers who had no other industry
is Madame that this crime so recently committed and that in the eyes of the whole Realm now publikely assembled is so hainous for who heretofore hath heard within the bowels of Edinburgh Gates and Doors under silence of night broken Houses ripped or searched and that with hostillity seeking a woman as appeareth to oppresse her Seeing we say that this crime is so hainous that all godly men fear not onely Gods dispeasure to fall upon you and your whole Realm but also that such licentiousnesse breed contempt and in the end sedition if remedie in time be not provided which in our judgement is possible if severe punishment be not executed for the crime committed Therefore we most humbly beseech your Majestie that all affection set aside you declare your self so upright in this case that ye may give evident demonstration to all your Subjects that the fear of God joyned with the love of common tranquility hath principall seat in your Majesties Heart This further Madame in conscience we speak That as your Majesty in Gods Name doth crave of us obedience which to render in all things lawfull we are most willing so in the same name doe we the whole Professors of Christs Evangell within this your Majesties Realme crave of you and of your Councell sharp punishment of this crime And for performance thereof that without delay the most principall Actors of this haynous crime and the perswaders of this publike Villany may be called before the Chief Justice of this Realm to suffer an Assise and to be punished according to the Laws of the same and your Majesties Answer most humbly we beseech These Supplications was presented by divers Gentlemen the Flatterers of the Court at first stormed and asked who durst avow it To whom the Master after Lord Lyndesay answered A thousand Gentlemen within Edinburgh others were ashamed to oppose themselves thereto in publike but they suborned the Queen to give a gentle answer untill such time as the Convention was dissolved and so she did and then after in fair words shee alleaged That her Uncle was a Stranger and that he had a young Company with him but she should put such order unto him and unto all others that hereafter they should have no occasion to complain And so deluded she the just Petition of her Subjects And no wonder for how shall she punish in Scotland that vice which in France she did see so free without punishment and which Kings and Cardinalls commonly use as the Mask and Dancing of Orleans can witnesse wherein virgins and mens wives were made common to King Harry Charles the Cardinall and to their Courtiers and Pages as common women in Bordells are unto their Companions The manner was thus At the entry of King Henry of France in the Town of Orleans the Matrons Virgins and mens wives were commanded to present themselves in the Kings Palace to dance And they obeyed for commonly the French Nation is not very hard to be entreated to vanity After Fidling and Flinging and when the Cardinall of Loraine had espied his prey he said to the King Sire le premiere est a vous fault queje soy le second that is Sir the first choyce is yours and I must be the second And so the King got the preeminence that he had his first Election But because Cardinalls are companions to Kings the Cardinall had the next And thereafter the Torches were put out and every man commanded to provide for himself the best he might What cry there was of husbands for their wives and wives for their husbands of ancient matrons for their daughters of virgins for their friends for some honest men to defend their pudicity Orleance will remember more Kings dayes then one This horrible villany a fruit of the Cardinalls good Catholike Religion we shortly touch to let the world understand what subjects may look for of such Magistrates for such Pastime to them is Jollity It had been good for our Queene that she had been brought up in better company both for her credit and for the course of her life And it may be that her excellent naturall enduements had been better employed for her reputation and happinesse then they were to her great misfortune and to the grief of those that wished her truely well But punishment of that enormity and fearfull attempt we could get none Yea more and more they presumed to do violence and frequented nightly Masking and began to bear the matter very heavily At length the Dukes friends began to assemble in the night time on the calsay or street The Abbot of Kylwinning who then was joyned to the Church and so as we understand yet abideth was principall man at the beginning To him repaired many faithfull and amongst others came Andrew Stewart Lord Uchiltrie a man rather borne to make peace then to brag upon the calsey he demanded the quarrell And being informed of the former enormity said Nay such impiety shall not be suffered so long as God shall assist us The Victory that God hath in his owne mercy given us we will by his grace maintaine And so he commanded his son Andrew Stewart then Master and his servants to put themselves in order and to bring forth their spears and long weapons and so did others The word came to the Earle Bothwell and his son that the Hamiltons were upon the street vows was made that the Hamiltons should be driven not onely out of the Town but also out of the Countrey Lord Iohn of Coldingham married the E. Bothwels sister a sufficient woman for such a man Alliance drew Lord Robert and so they joyned with the E. Bothwell But the stoutnes of the Marq. le Beuf d'Albuff they call him is most to be commended for in his Chalmer in the Abbey he start to an Halbert and ten men were scarce able to hold him that night and the danger was betwixt the Crosse and Tron and so he was a long quarter of a mile from the shot sklenting of Bolts The M. of Maxw after L. Herreis gave declaratiō to the Earle Bothwell That if he stirred forth of his Lodging he and all that assist him should resist him in the face Whose words did somewhat beat down that blast The Earles of Murray and Huntley being in the Abbey where the Marquesse was came with their company sent from the Queen to stay that tumult as they did for Bothwell and his were commanded under pain of Treason to keep their lodgings It was whispered by many That the Earle of Murray's displeasure was as much sought as any hatred that the Hamiltons did bear against the Earle of Bothwell or yet he against them And in very deed either had the Duke very false servants or else by Huntley and the Hamiltons the Earle of Murray's death was oftener conspired then once the suspition whereof burst forth so far that upon a day the said Earle being upon horse to have come to
the Sermon was charged by one of the Dukes own servants to turn and abide with the Queen The fame whereof spread over all What ground it had we cannot say but shortly after the Duke and some of the Lords remained at Glasgow their conclusion was not known The Earle of Arrane came to Edinburgh where the Earle Bothwell lay The Queen and the Court were departed to Fyfe and remained sometimes in S. Androes and sometimes in Falkland The Earle Bothwell by means of Iames Barron Burgesse and then Merchant of Edinburgh desired to speak with Iohn Knox secretly which the said Iohn gladly granted and spake with him upon a night first in the said Iames his lodging and after in his own Study The sum of all their conference and communication was The said Lord lamented his inordinate life and especially That he was provoked by the enticements of the Queen Regent to do that which he sore repented as well against the Laird of Ormestoun whose blood was spilt albeit not by his faults But his chief grief was That he had misbehaved himself toward the Earle of Arrane whose favour he was most willing to redeem if possible it were that so he might For said he if I might have my Lord Arranes favour I would aye wait upon the Court with a Page and a few servants to spare my expence where now I am compelled to keep for my own safety a number of wicked and unprofitable men to the utter destruction of my state that is left To which the said Iohn answered My Lord would to God that in me were Counsell and Judgement that might comfort and relieve you for albeit that to this hour it hath not happened to me to speak with your Lordship face to face yet have I born a good minde to your house and have been sorry at my heart of the trouble that I have heard you to be involved in for my Lord my great Grandfather Grandfather and Father have served your Lordships Predecessors and some of them have died under their standers and this is a part of the Obligation of our Scotish kindenesse but this is not the chiefe But as God hath made me his publike Messenger of glad Tydings so it is my earnest desire that all men may embrace it which perfectly they cannot so long as there remaineth in them rankor malice or envie I am sorry that you have given occasion unto men to be offended with you But more sorrowfull That you have offended the Majesty of God wherefore he often punisheth the other sins of man And therefore my counsell is That you begin at God with whom if you enter into perfect reconciliation I doubt not but he shall bow the hearts of men to forget all offences And as for me if you will continue in godlinesse your Lordship shall command me as boldly as any that serves your Lordship The said Lord desired him that he would trie the Earle of Arrans minde If he would be content to accept him in his favour Which he promised to do And so earnestly he travelled in the matter and it was once brought to such an end as all the faithfull praised God for such agreement The greatest stay stood upon the satisfaction of the Laird of Ormestoune who beside his former hurt as is before declared was even at that time of the coming pursued by the said Earle Bothwell and his son Master Alexander Cockburne was taken by him and carried by him to Berwicke but courteously enough sent back again The new trouble so greatly displeased Iohn Knox that he almost gave over further travelling for amity But yet upon excuse of the said Earle and upon declaration of his minde he re-entred into labour and so brought it to passe that the Laird of Ormestoun referred his satisfaction in all things to the Judgement of the Earles of Arrane and Murray to whom the said Earle submitted himselfe in that Head And thereupon delivered his hand writing and so was conveyed by vertue of his friends to the Lodging of the Church of Field where the Earle of Arrane was with his friends and the said Iohn Knox with him to beare witnesse and testification of the end of the Agreement As the Earle of Bothwell entred the Chamber and would have done those Honours that friends had appointed Master Gabriel Hamilton Abbot of Kilwinning and the Laird of Richardton were the chief friends that communed the said Earle of Arrane gently past unto him embraced him and said If the hearts be upright few Ceremonies will serve and content me The said Iohn Knox in audience of them both and of their friends said Now my Lords God hath brought you together by the labour of simple men in respect of such as would have travelled therein I know my labours are already taken in evill part but because I have the testimony of a good conscience before God That whatsoever I have done it is in his fear for the profit of you both for the hurt of none and for the tranquility of this Realm Seeing therefore that my conscience beareth witnesse to me what I have sought and do continually seek I the more patiently bear the misreports and wrongfull judgements of men And now I leave you in Peace and desire you who are the friends to study that Amity may encrease all former hatred forget The friends on either party embraced other and the two Earles departed to a window and talked by themselves a reasonable space And thereafter the Earle of Bothwell departed for that night and upon the next day in the morning returned with some of his honest friends and came to the Sermon with the said Earle whereat many rejoyced But God had another work to work then the eyes of men could espie The Thursday next they dined together and thereafter the said Earle Bothwell and Master Gabriel Hamilton rode to the Duke who then was in Enmell what communication was betwixt them it is not certainly knowne but by the report which the said Earle of Arrane made to the Queen and unto the Earle of Murray by his writings for upon the third day after their Reconciliation the Sermon being ended the said Earle of Arrane came to the house of the said Iohn Knox and brought with him Master Richard Strange and Alexander Guthrie to whom he opened the grief of his minde before that Iohn Knox was called for he was busie as commonly he used to be after his Sermon in directing of writings Which ended the said Earle called the three together and said I am reasonably betrayed and with these words began to weep Iohn Knox demanded My Lord Who hath betrayed you One Iudas or other said he I know it is but my life that is sought I regard it not The other said My Lord I understand no such dark manner of speech if I shall give you any answer you must speak more plainly Well said he I take you three to witnesse That I open this
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
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
they joyned with the Assembly and came unto it but they drew themselves like as they did before apart and entred into the inner Councell-House They were the Duke the Earls of Argyle Murray Mortoune Glencarne Mershall Lord Rosse the Master of Maxwell Secretary Lethington the Justice Clerk the Clerk of the Register and the Laird of Pittarrow Comptroller After a little consultation they directed a Messenger M. George Hay the Minister of the Court requiring the Superintendents and some of the learned Ministers to confer with them The Assembly answered They convened to deliberate upon the common affairs of the Church and therefore that they could not lack their Superintendents and chiefe Ministers whose judgements were so necessary that the rest should sit as it were idle without them And therefore willed them as oft before That if they acknowledged themselves Members of the Church that they would joyn with their Brethren and propose in publike such things as they pleased and so they should have the assistance of the whole in all things that might stand with Gods Commandment But to send from themselves a portion of their company they understood That thereof hurt and slander might arise rather then any profit or comfort to the Church for they feared that all men should not stand content with the conclusion where the conference and reasonings were heard but of a few This answer was not given without cause for no small travell was made to have drawn some Ministers to the faction of the Courtiers and to have sustained their Arguments and Opinions But when it was conceived by the most politick amongst them That they could not travell by that means they prepared the matter in other termes purging themselves That they never meant to divide themselves from the Society of their Brethren but because they had certain Heads to confer with certain Ministers But the Assembly did still reply That secret Conference would they not admit in those Heads that should be concluded by generall Voice The Lords promised That no Conclusion should be taken neither yet Vote required till that both the Propositions and the Reasons should be heard and considered by the whole Body and upon that condition were directed unto them with expresse charge To conclude nothing without the knowledge and advise of the Assembly The Laird of Dun Superintendent of Angus the Superintendents of Lothain and Fyfe Master Iohn Row Master Iohn Craig William Christieson Master David Lyndsay Ministers with the Rector of Saint Androes and Master George Hay the Superintendent of Glasgow Master Iohn Willock was Moderator and Iohn Knox waited upon the Scribe And so were they appointed to sit with the Brethren And yet because the principall complaint touched Iohn Knox he was also called for Secretary Lethington began the Harangue which contained these Heads first How much we are indebted unto God by whose providence we have liberty of Religion under the Queens Majestie albeit that she is not perswaded in the same Secondly How necessary a thing it is That the Queens Majestie by all good Offices of the part of the Church so spake he and of the Ministers principally should be retained in that constant opinion that they unfainedly favoured her advancement and procured her subjects to have a good opinion of her And last How dangerous a thing it is That the Ministers should be noted one to disagree from another in form of Prayer for her Majestie And in these two last Heads said he we desire you all to be circumspect But especially we most crave of you our Brother Iohn Knox to moderate your selfe as well in form of praying for the Queens Majesty as in Doctrine that you propose touching her State and Obedience Neither shall ye take this said he as spoken to your reproach quia mens pulchra interdum in corpore pulchro But because that others by your example may imitate the like liberty albeit not with the same discretion and foresight and what opinion that may engender in the peoples heads wise men may foresee The said Iohn prepared himself for answer as follows If such as fear God have occasion to praise him because that Idolatry is maintained the servants of God despised wicked men placed again in Honour and Authority Master Henry Sinclare was of short time before made President who before durst not have sitten in Judgement And finally if we ought to praise God because that vice and impiety over-floweth the whole Realm without punishment then we have occasion to rejoyce and praise God But if these and the like use to provoke Gods vengeance against Realms and Nations then in my judgement the godly within Scotland ought to lament and mourn and so to prevent Gods Judgements lest that he finding all in a like security strike in his hot indignation beginning perchance at such as think they offend not That is one Head said Lethington whereunto you and I never agreed for how are you able to prove That God ever struck or plagued any Nation or People for the iniquity of their Prince if that they themselves lived godlily I looked said he my Lord to have audience till that I had absolved the other two parts But seeing it pleaseth your Lordship to cut me off before the midst I will answer to your question The Scripture of God teacheth me That Ierusalem and Iuda were punished for the sins of Manasses And if you alleadge That they were punished because they were wicked and offended with their King and not because their King was wicked I answer That albeit the Spirit of God makes for me saying in expresse words For the sins of Manasses yet will I not be so obstinate as to lay the whole sin and plagues that thereof ensued upon the King and utterly absolve the people but I will grant withall That the whole people offended with their King but how and in what fashion I fear that ye and I shall not agree I doubt not but the great multitude accompanied him in all the abomination that he did for Idolatry and false Religion hath ever been and will be pleasing to the most part of men But to affirm That all Iudah committed really the acts of his impiety is but to affirm that which neither hath certainty nor yet appearance of any truth for who can think it to be possible That all those of Ierusalem should so shortly turn to Idolatry considering the notable Reformation lately before had in the dayes of Hezekias But yet sayes the Text Manasses made Iuda and all the inhabitants of Ierusalem to erre True it is the one part as I have said willingly followed him in his Idolatry the other suffered him to defile Ierusalem and the Temple of God with all abominations and so were they criminall of his sin the one by act and deed the other by suffering and permission even as Scotland is this day guilty of the Queens Idolatry and ye my Lords in speciall above others Well said
well grounded Knowing besides the grudge of conscience that she should receive upon the change of her owne Religion That she should lose the friendship of the King of France the married Allia of this Realme and of other great Princes her Friends and Confederates who would take the same in evil part and of whom she may look for their great support in all her necessities And having no assured consideration that may countervaile the same she will be loth to put in hazard all her friends at an instant praying all her loving subjects seeing they have had experience of her goodnesse that she hath neither in times past nor yet intends hereafter to presse the conscience of any but that they may worship God in such sort as they are perswaded in their conscience to be best That they will also not presse her conscience As to the establishing of Religion in the Body of the Realme they themselves know as appears by their Articles That the same cannot be done onely by consent of her Majestie but requires necessarily the consent of the States in Parliament and therefore so soon as the Parliament holds those things which the States agree upon amongst themselves her Majestie shall consent unto the same and in the mean time shall make sure That no man be troubled for â—sing Religion according to conscience So that no man shall have cause to doubt That for Religions sake mens Lives and Heritage shall be in any hazard To the second Article it is answered That her Majestie thinks it no wayes reasonable that she should defraud her self of so great a part of the Patrimony of the Crowne as to put the Patronage of Benefices forth of her own hands for her owne necessity in bearing of her Port and common Charges will require the retention thereof and that in a good part in her owne hands Neverthelesse her Majestie is well pleased That consideration being had of her owne necessity And what may be sufficient for the reasonable sustentation of the Ministers a speciall Assignation be made to them in places most commodious and meet With which her Majesty shall not meddle but suffer the same to come to them To the third Article it is answered That her Majestie shall do therein as shall be agreed by the States in Parliament To the fourth Article Her Majesties liberality towards the poore shall alwayes be so far extended as can be reasonably required at her hands To the fifth and sixth Articles Her Majesty will refer the taking order therein unto the States assembled in Parliament As the Queens Majestie came from Saint Iohnston over Forth to the Callender she was conveyed to the Water side of Forth with two hundred Spears For at that time it was bruted That there was some lying in wait at the Path of Dron In the mean time the Earle of Murray was in Locklevin and the Earle of Argyle with him Now in the Callender the Lord Levingston had desired the Queens Majestie to be Witnesse to the Christning of a childe For his Lady was lately delivered and brought to Bed And when the Minister made the Sermon and Exhortation concerning Baptisme the Queens Majestie came in the end and said to the Lord Levingston That she would shew him that favour that she had not done to any other before that is That she would give her presence to the Protestant Sermon which was reckoned a great matter The Queen being in the Callender was informed both by word and Letters by false Brethren That a great part of the Protestants of Edinburgh had lately convened upon Saint Leonards Craigs and there made a Conspiration against her And had chosen for the same purpose certain Captains to governe the rest And without any Tryall or perfect notice taken in the Case she sent to the Provest and Bayliffs of Edinburgh commanding them to take and apprehend Alexander Guthrie Alexander Clerke Gilbert Lawder and Andrew Slater and put them in prison in the Castle This new and unaccustomed fashion of proceeding seemed to be very strange And because the said four persons were not apprehended she sent the next day a Charge to the Provest and Bayliffs and to her owne great Treasurer to passe to the houses of the said foure men and likewise to their Booths or Shops and there to take Inventory of all their Goods and Chattells And commanded the said Treasurer to take the Keyes of the said Houses and Booths together with the said Inventory which was executed in effect especially upon the said Alexander Guthrie his wife he being then common Clerke and one of the greatest in estimation within the Towne his wife and children were shut out of their house and compelled to seek some other lodging in the Town By this manner of proceeding the hearts of all men of spirit and judgement were wonderfully abashed and wounded seeing and perceiving these things so furiously handled upon sinister and wrong Information men never called to their answer nor heard nor any triall taken therein Immediatly thereafter as she came to Edinburgh she called to counsell such as pleased her Majestie and there complains of the said matter alleadging it to be a Conspiracy and manifest Treason And another matter likewise was complained upon That the Earle of Argile as the Queen was surely informed was riding with a great Army to invade the Earle of Athole and his Lands For the first matter it was concluded by the Councell That diligent inquisition should be made in the matter and to that purpose appointed the Queens Advocates M. Iohn Spence of Condie and M. Robert Crichton to examine such as they would and when the said Advocates had called before them and examined a sufficient number and their depositions subscribed and delivered to the Queen there was nothing found worthy of death nor Treason at length the said four persons were summoned to answer at Law For the matter That the Queens Majesty should send to the Earles of Argyle and Athole some of her Councell or familiar servants to take order touching it And when the Secretary the Justice Clarke and Lord of Saint Colme had past to the said Earle of Argyle they found no such thing but in Athole there was great fear come of a sudden fray for after many Proclamations the Fire-Crosse which they made use of in lieu of Beacons was raised in Athole Now as the day of the Parliament approached the Lords pretending to consult before what should be done as well in Religion as for the Commonwealth the fifteenth day of Iuly there conveened at Sterlin the Duke the Earles of Argyle and Murray Rothes and other Lords and Barons and as they were devising and consulting the Queens Majesty taking their meeting in evill part sent her Advocates Master Iohn Spence and Master Crichton to them at Sterlin requiring the cause of their meeting they answered That the speciall occasion of their meeting was for the cause of Religion and the assurance thereof according as they
had lately written to the Queens Majesty in Sâ—aton from the town of Edinburgh they desiring then to prorogate the day Finally when the said Advocates could by no means perswade them to come to Edinburgh they returned again to Edinburgh and declared to the Queens Majestie according as they had found In the mean time the Parliament was prorogated at the Queens Majesties command to the first of September next after following for it was thought That the least part and principall of the chiefe Nobility being absent there could no Parliament be holden at the same time the Queens Majestie perceiving that the matter was already come to a maturity and ripenesse so that the mindes and secrecy of mens hearts must needs be disclosed she wrote to a great number of Lords Barons Gentlmen and others that were nearest in Fife Angus Lowthian Mers Tevimdale Perth Lithgow Clidsdall and others to resort to her in this forme of words hereafter following The Queens Letter TRusty friend We greet you well we are grieved indeed by the evill bruite spread amongst our Lieges as that we should have molested any man in the using of his Religion and Conscience freely a thing which never entred into our minde yet since we perceive the too easie beleeving such reports hath made them carelesse and so we think it becomes us to be carefull for the safety and preservation of our state wherefore we pray you most affectionately That with all possible hast after the receipt of this our Letter you with your kindred friends and whole Force well furnished with Arms for Warre be provided for fifteen dayes after your coming addresse you to come to us to waite and attend upon us according to our expectation and trust in you as you will thereby declare the good affection you bear to the maintenance of our Authoritie and will doe us therein acceptable service Subscribed with Our Hand at Edinburgh the seventeenth day of July 1565. THere was likewise Proclamation made in Edinburgh That the Queen minded not the trouble nor alter the Religion and also Proclamations made in the Shires above mentioned for the same purpose That all Freeholders and other Gentlemen should resort in the aforesaid manner to Edinbronth where the Earle of Rosse was made Duke of Rothesay with great triumph the 23 day of Iuly The same afternoon the Queen complained grievously upon the Earle of Murray in open audience of all the Lords and Barons and the same day the Bans of the Earle of Rosse and Duke of Rothesay and the Queens Marriage were proclaimed About this time the Lord Arskin was made Earle of Marre In the mean time there were divers Messages sent from the Queens Majestie to the Lord of Murray first Master Robert Crichton to perswade him by all meanes possible to come and resort to the Queens Majestie his answer was That he would be glad to come to her self according to his bounden duty yet for as much as such persons as were most privie in her company were his capitall enemies who also had conspired his death he could no wayes come so long as they were in Court Soon after my Lord Erskin and the Master Maxwell past to him to S. Andrews rather suffered and permitted by the Queen then sent by her Highnesse after them the Laird of Dun who was sent by the means of the Earl of Mar but all this did not prevail with him and when all hope of his coming was past an Herald was sent to him charging him to come to the Queens Majesty and answer to such things as should be laid to his charge within eight and fourty hours next after the Charge under pain of Rebellion and because he appeared not the next day after the eight and forty hours he was denounced Rebell and put to the Horne The same order they used against the Earle of Argyle for the Queen said she would serve him and the rest with the same measure they had mete to others meaning the said Argyle In the mean while as the fire was well kindled and enflamed all means and wayes were sought to stir up enemies against the chief Protestants that had been lately at Sterlin for the Earle of Athole was ready bent against the Earle of Argyle the Lord Lindsay against the Earle Rothesse in Fyfe they being both Protestants for they had contended now a long time for the Heir-ship of Fyfe And that no such thing should be left undone the Lord Gordon who now had remained neer three yeers in prison in Dumbar was after some little travell of his friends received by the Queen and being thus received into favour was restored first to the Lordship of Gordon and soon after to the Earldom of Huntley and to all his Lands Honours and Dignities that he might be a bar and a party in the North to the Earle of Murray The 18 of Iuly late in the evening neer an hour after the Suns going down there was a Proclamation made at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh containing in effect THat forasmuch as at the will and pleasure of Almighty God the Queen had taken to her husband a right excellent and illustrious Prince Harry Duke of Rothesay Earle of Rosse Lord Darley Therefore it was her Will That he should be holden and obeyed and reverenced as King Commanding all Letters and Proclamations to be made in the Names of Henry and Mary in times coming The next day following at six hours in the morning they were marryed in the Chappell Royall of Halyrud-house by the Dean of Lestarrig the Queen being all clothed in Mourning But immediately as the Queen went to Masse the King went not with her but to his Pastime During the space of three or four dayes there was nothing but Balling and Dancing and Banqueting In the mean time the Earle Rothesse the Laird of Grange the Tutor Pitcur with some Gentlemen of Fyfe were put to the Horne for none appearance And immediately the Swash Tabron and Drums were stricken or beaten for men of War to serve the King and Queens Majestie and to take their Pay This sudden alteration and hasty creation of Kings moved the hearts of a great number Now amongst the people there were divers brutes for some alleadged That the cause of this alteration was not for Religion but rather for hatred envie of sudden promotion or dignity or such worldly causes But they that considered the progresse of the matter according as is heretofore declared thought the principall cause to be onely for Religion In this mean time the Lords past to Argyle taking apparantly little care of the trouble that was to come Howbeit they sent into England M. Nicolas Elphinston for support who brought some Moneys in this Countrey to the sum of ten thousand pounds sterlin There came one forth of England to the Queen who got Presence the seventh of August in Halyrud-house He was not well c. About the fifteenth of August the Lords met at Aire to wit the
Duke Hamilton the Earles Argile Murray Glencarne Rothesse the Lord Boyd and Ochiltrie with divers Barons and Gentlemen of Fife and Kyle where they concluded to be in readinesse with their whole Forces the four and twentieth day of August But the King and Queene with great cerity prevented them for their Majesties sent thorow Lowthian Fife Angus Stratherne Tividaile and Chiddisdaile and other Shires making their Proclamations in this manner That forasmuch as certaine Rebels who under colour of Religion intended nothing but the trouble and subversion of the Common-wealth were to convene with such as they might perswade to assist them therefore they charged all manner of men under pain of Life Lands and Goods to resort and meet their Majesties at Linlithgow the 24 day of August This Proclamation was made in Lowthian the third pay of the said moneth Upon Sunday the ninteenth of August the King came to the high Kirke of Edinburgh where Iohn Knox made the Sermon his Text was taken out of the six and twentieth Chapter of Esayas his Prophesie about the thirteenth Verse where in the words of the Prophet he said O Lord our God other Lords then thou have ruled over us Whereupon he tooke occasion to speake of the government of wicked Princes who for the sinnes of the people are sent as Tyrants and scourges to plague them And amongst other things he said That God sets in that room for the offences and ingratitude of the people Boyes and women And so other words which appeared bitter in the Kings ears as That God justly punished Ahab and his Posterity because he would not take order with that Harlot Iezabel And because he had tarried an hour and more longer then the time appointed the King sitting in a Throne made for that purpose was so moved at this Sermon that he would not Dine and being troubled with great fury he past in the afternoon to the Hawking Immediately Iohn Knox was commanded to come to the Councell where in the Secretaries Chamber were convened the Earle of Athole the Lord Ruthven the Secretary the Justice Clarke with the Advocate There passed along with the Minister a great number of the most apparent men of the Towne When he was called the Secretary declared That the Kings Majestie was offended with some words spoken in the Sermon especially such as are above rehearsed desiring him to abstaine from preaching for fifteen or twenty dayes and let Master Craig supply the place He answered That he had spoken nothing but according to his Text and if the Church would command him either to speake or abstain he would obey so far as the Word of God would permit him Within four dayes after the King and Queen sent to the Councell of Edinburgh commanding them to depose Archibald Dowglas and to receive the Laird Craigmiller for their Provest which was presently obeyed The five and twentieth of August the King and Queens Majesties past from Edinburgh to Linlithgow and from thence to Sterlin and from Sterlin to Glasgow At their first arrivall their whole people were not come The next day after their arrivall to Glasgow the Lords came to Paisley where they remained that night being in company about one thousand horses On the morrow they came to Hamilton keeping the high passage from Paisley hard by Glasgow where the King and Queen easily might behold them The night following which was the penult of August they remained in Hamilton with their Company but for divers respects moving them they thought it not expedient to tarry especially because the Earle of Argyle was not come for his Diet was not afore the second of September following to have been at Hamilton Finally they took purpose to come to Edinburgh the which they did the next day And albeit Alexander Areskin Captain under the Lord his brother caused to shoot forth of the Castle two Shot of Cannon they being neer the Towne And likewise that the Laird Craigmiller Provest did his endeavour to hold the Lords forth of the Towne in causing the common Bells to be rung for the convening of the Towne to the effect aforesaid yet they entred easily at the West Port or Gate without any molestation or impediment being in number as they esteemed themselves one thousand three hundred Horses Immediately they dispatched Messengers Southward and Northward to assist them but all in vain And immediately after they were in their Lodgings they caused to strike or beat the Drum desiring all such men as would receive Wages for the defence of the Glory of God That they should resort the day following to the Church where they should receive good Pay But they profited little that way neither could they in Edinburgh get any comfort or support for none or few resorted unto them yet they got more rest and sleep when they were at Edinburgh then they had done in five or six nights before The Noble-men of this Company were The Duke The Earles Murray Glencarne and Rothesse The Lords Boyd and Uchiltrie The Lairds of Grange Cunningham-head Balcomie and Lavers The Tâ—tor of Pitcur The Lairds of Barr Carmell and Dreghorn And the Laird of Pittarow Comptroller went with them Some said merrily That they were come to keepe the Parliament for the Parliament was continued till the first day of September Upon the which day they wrote to the King and Queens Majesties a Letter containing in effect That albeit they were persecuted most unjustly which they understood proceeded not of the King and Queens Majesties own Nature but onely by evil Counsell yet notwithstanding they were willing and content to suffer according to the Lawes of the Realm providing that the true Religion of God might be established and the dependants thereupon be likewise reformed Beseeching their Majesties most humbly to grant these things But otherwise if their enemies would seek their blood they should understand It should be dear bought They had written twice almost to the same effect to the King and Queens Majesties after their passing from Edinburgh for the Laird of Preston presented a Letter to the King and Queens Majestie and was therefore imprisoned but soon after released neverthelesse they got no answer The same day that they departed out of Hamilton the King and Queens Majesties issued out of Glasgow in the morning betimes And passing towards Hamilton the Army met their Majesties neer the Bridge of Cadder As they mustered the Master of Maxwell sate downe upon his knees and made a long Oration to the Queen declaring what pleasure she had done to them and ever laid the whole burden upon the Earle Murray Soon after they marched forward in Battell aray The Earle of Lenox took the Van-guard the Earle of Mortoun the middle Battell and the King and Queen the Reere The whole number were about five thousand men whereof the greatest part were in the Van-guard As the King and Queens Majesties were within three miles of Hamilton they were advertised that the Lords
were departed in the morning but where they pretended to be that night it was uncertain Alwayes soon after their returne to Glasgow the King and Queen were certainly advertised That they were past to Edinburgh and therefore caused immediately to warne the whole Army to passe with them to Edinburgh the next day who early in the morning long before the Sun was risen began to march But there arose such a vehement Tempest of winde and raine from the West as the like had not been seen before in a long time so that a little brook turned incontinent into a great River and the raging storme being in their face with great difficulty went they forward And albeit the most part waxed weary yet the Queens courage encreased man-like so much that she was ever with the foremost There was divers persons drowned that day in the water of Carren and amongst others the Kings Master a notable Papist who for the zeal he bare to the Masse carried about his neck a round god of bread well closed in a Case which alwayes could not serve him Before the end of August there came a post to the Queens Majestie sent by Alexander Areskin who declared That the Lords were in the Town of Edinburgh where there was a multitude of innocent persons and therefore desired to know if he should shoot She commanded incontinent that he should return again to the said Alexander and command him in her name That he should shoot so long as he had either Powder or Bullet and not spare for any body At night the King and Queen came well wet to the Callender where they remained that night and about eight hours at night the first of September the Post came again to the Castle and reported the Queenes Command to Alexander Areskin who incontinently caused to shoot six or seven shot of Cannon whereof the marks appeared having respect to no reason but onely to the Queens Command The Lords perceiving that they could get no support in Edinburgh nor Souldiers for money albeit they had travelled all that they could and being advertised of the Queens returning with her whole Company they took purpose to depart And so the next day betimes long before day they departed with their whole Company and came to Lanrik and from thence to Hamilton where the Master of Maxwell came to them with his Uncle the Laâ—rd of Dumlanrick And after consultation the said Master wrote to the Queens Majesty That being required by the Lords as he was passing homeward he could not refuse to come to them and after that he had given them counsell to disperse their Army they thought it expedient to passe to Dumfreis to repose them where they would consult and make their Officers and send to their Majesties And thus beseeching their Majesties to take this in good part The Town of Edinburgh sent two of the Councell of the Town to make their excuse The next day the King and Queen past to Sterlin and sent to Edinburgh and caused a Proclamation to be made commanding all men to returne to Glasgow where having remained three or four dayes And understanding that the Lords were past to Dumfreis they returned to Sterlin and from thence to Fyfe And in their passage caused to take in Castle Campbell which was delivered without impediment to the Lord of Sanquhar Before the King and Queen went out of Sterlin there came from Edinburgh two Ensignes of Foot-men to convey them into Fyfe In the mean time the Burroughs were taxed in great Sums unaccustomed for the payment of these Souldiers Farther there was raised divers Troops of Horse-men to the number of five or six hundred Horse The Souldiers had taken two poor men that had received the Lords wages which two men being accused and convinced of at the Queens Command were hanged at Edinburgh the third day after the Lords departing At this time M. Iames Balfour Parson of Flesk had gotten all the guiding in the Court The third day after the Queens coming to Fyfe the whole Barons and Lairds of Fyfe convoyed her Majestie till she came to S. Andrewes where the said Lairds and Barons especially the Protestants were commanded to subscribe to a Band containing in effect That they obliged themselves to defend the King and Queens Persons against Englishmen and Rebells And in case they should come to Fyfe they should resist them to their utmost power Which Charge every man obeyed The second night after the Queens coming to S. Andrews she sent a Band or Troop of Horse-men and another of Foot to Lundie and at midnight took out the Laird being a man of 80 yeers old Then they past to Fawside and took likewise Thomas Scot and brought him to Saint Andrewes where they with the Laird of Bavard and some others were commanded to prison This manner of handling and usage being oâ—kend and strange were heavily spoken of and a great terrour to others who thought themselves warned of greater severity to come In the mean time the houses of the Earles of Murray Rothesse and the houses of divers Gentlemen were given in keeping to such as the Queen pleased after that their children and servants had been cast out At the same time the Duke the Earls of Glencarne and Argyle the Lords Boyd and Uchiltrie with the Lord of Cunningham-head and the rest were charged to come and present themselves in S. Andrews before the King and Queens Majesties to answer to such things as should be laid to their charge within six dayes under the pain of Rebellion And the day being expired and they not appearing were denounced Rebells and put to the Horne As the Queen remained in Saint Andrews the inhabitants of Dundie being sore afraid because of some evil report made of them to the Queen as if they had troubled the Queen in seeking men of War and suffered some to be raised in their Town for the Lords for there was nothing done in Dundie but it was revealed to the Queen especially that the Minister had received a Letter from the Lords and delivered the same to the Brethren perswading them to assist the Lords which being granted by the Minister the Queen remitted it After great travell and supplication made by some Noble-men at length the King and Queen being in the Town they agreed for two thousand marks five or six of the principall left out with some others that were put to their shift After the King and Queen had remained two nights in the Towne of Dundie they came to S. Andrews and soon after they came over Forth and so to Edinburgh During this time the Master of Maxwell wrote to the King and Queen making offers for and in the name of the Lords The next day after the King and Queens coming to Edinburgh there was a Proclamation made at the Market-Crosse And because the same is very notable I thought good to insert it here word by word albeit it be somewhat long HEnry and Mary By the
obedient subject hereafter The same day they made Musters the next day the Army was dispersed being about 18000. men the King and Queen past to Lothinaben where the Master of Maxwell gave a Banquet and then forthwith marched to Tueddall so to Peblis and then to Edinburgh The best and chief part of the Nobility of this Realme who also were the principall Instruments of the Reformation of Religion and therefore were called the Lords of the Congregation in manner above rehearsed were banished and chased into England they were courteously received and entertained by the Earle of Bedford Lieutenant upon the Borders of England Soon after the Earle of Murray took Post towards London leaving the rest of the Lords at Newcastle every man supposed that the Earle of Murray should have been graciously received of the Queen of England and that he should have gotten support according to his hearts desire but farre beyond his expectation he could get no audience of the Queen of England But by means of the French Ambassadour called Monsieur de Four his true friend he obtained audience The Queen with a fair countenance demanded How he being a Rebell to her sister of Scotland durst take the boldnesse upon him to come within her Realm These and the like words got he instead of the good and courteous entertainment expected Finally after private discourse the Ambassadour being absent she refused to give the Lords any support denying plainly that ever she had promised any such thing as to support them saying She never meant any such thing in that way albeit her greatest familiars knew the contrary In the end the Earle of Murray said to her Madame whatsoever thing your Majestie meant in your heart we are thereof ignorant but thus much we know assuredly That we had lately faithfull promises of ayd and support by your Ambassadour and familiar servants in your name And further we have your owne hand-writing confirming the said promises And afterward he took his leave and came North-ward from London towards Newcastle After the Earle of Murray his departure from the Court the Queen sent them some ayd and writ unto the Queen of Scotland in their favour Whether she had promised it in private to the Earle of Murray or whether she repented her of the harsh reception of the Earle of Murray At this time David Rizio Italian began to be higher exalted insomuch as there was no matter or thing of importance done without his advice And during this time the faithfull within this Realme were in great fear looking for nothing but great trouble and persecution to be shortly Yet Supplications and Intercessions were made thorowout all the Congregations especially for such as were afficted and banished That it would please God to give them patience comfort and constancy and this especially was done at Edinburgh where Iohn Knox used to call them that were banished The best part of the Nobility Chiefe Members of the Congregation Whereof the Courtiers being advertised they took occasion to revile and bewray his sayings alleadging He prayed for the Rebels and desired the people to pray for them likewise The Laird of Lethington chief Secretary in presence of the King and Queens Majesties and Councell confessed that he heard the Sermons and said There was nothing at that time spoken by the Minister whereat any man need to be offended And further declared plainly That by the Scripture it was lawfull to pray for all men In the end of November the Lords with their complices were summoned to appear the fourth day of February for Treason and laese Majestie But in the mean time such of the Nobility as had professed the Evangell of Christ and had communicate with the Brethren at the Lords Table were ever longer the more suspected by the Queen who began to declare her self in the Months of November and December to be maintainer of the Papists for at her pleasure the Earles of Lenox Athole and Cassels with divers others without any dissimulation known went to the Masse openly in her Chappell Yet neverthelesse the Earles of Huntley and Bothwell went not to Masse albeit they were in great favour with the Queen As for the King he past his time in Hunting and Hawking and such other pleasures as were agreeable to his appetite having in his company Gentlemen willing to satisfie his will and affections About this time in the beginning of as the Court remained at Edinburgh the banished Lords by all means possible by writings and their friends made suit and means to the King and Queens Majesties to be received into favour At this time the Abbot of Kylwinning came from Newcastle to Edinburgh and after he had gotten audience of the King and Queen with great difficulty he got Pardon for the Duke and his friends and servants upon this Condition That he should passe into France which he did soon after The five and twentieth of December convened in Edinburgh the Commissioners of the Churches within this Realme for the generall assemblie There assisted to them the Earles of Morton and Marre the Lord Lindsay and Secretary Lethington with some Barons and Gentlemen The principall things that were agreed and concluded were That forasmuch as the Masse with such Idolatry and Papisticall Ceremonies were still maintained expresly against the Act of Parliament and the Proclamations made at the Queens Arrivall And that the Queen had promised that she would hear Conference and Disputation That the Church therefore offered to prove by the Word of God That the Doctrine preached within this Realme was according to the Scriptures and that the Masse with all the Papisticall Doctrine was but the invention of men and meer Idolatry Secondly That by reason of the change of the Comptroller who had put in new Collectors forbidding them to deliver any thing to the Ministry and by these means the Ministry was like to decay and fail contrary to the Ordinance made in the yeer of God 1562. in favour and support of the Ministery During this time as the Papists flocked to Edinburgh for making Court some of them that had been Friers as black Abercrommy and Roger presented supplication to the Queens Majesty desiring in effect That they might be permitted to preach which was easily granted The noyse was further That they offered Disputation For as the Court stood they thought they had a great advantage already by reason they knew the King to be of their Religion as well as the Queen with some part of the Nobility who with the King after declared themselves openly And especially the Queen was governed by the Earls of Lenox and Athole but in matters most weighty and of greatest importance by David Rizio the Italian afore mentioned who went under the name of the French Secretary by whose means all grave matters of what weight soever must passe providing always That his hands were anoynted In the mean time he was a manifest enemy to the Evangell and therefore a
Balfour seeing the Queen committed and Bothwell consequently defeated he capitulated with the Lords for the delivery of the Castle Bothwell finding himself thus in disorder sent a servant to Sir Iames Balfour to save a little silver Cabinet which the Queen had given him Sir Iames Balfour delivers the Cabinet to the messenger and under-hand giveth of it to the Lords In this Cabinet had Bothwell kept the Letters of privacy he had from the Queen Thus he kept her Letters to be an awe-bond â—pon her in case her affection should change By the taking of this Cabinet many particulars betwixt the Queen and Bothwell were cleerly discovered These Letters were after printed They were in French with some Sonnets of her own making Few dayes after the commitment of the Queen the Earle of Glencarne with his domesticks went to the Chappell of Halyrud-house where he brake down the Altars and the Images Which fact as it did content the zealous Protestants so it did highly offend the popishly affected The Nobles who had so proceeded against Bothwell and dealt so with the Queen hearing that the Hamiltons had a great number of men and had drawn the Earls of Argyle and Huntley to their side sent to Hamilton desiring those that were there to joyn with them for the redresse of the disorders of Church and State But the Hamiltons thinking now they had a fair occasion fallen unto them to have all again in their hands and to dispose of all according to their own minde did refuse audience to the Message sent by the Lords Upon this the Lords moved the generall Assembly then met in Edinburgh in the moneth of Iune to write to the Lords that either were actually declared for the Hamiltons or were neuters And so severall Letters were directed to the Earles of Argyle Huntley Cathnes Rothesse Crauford and Menteth to the Lords Boyd Drummens Grame Cathcart Yester Fleming Levinston Seaton Glamnis Uthiltrie Gray Olyphant Methven Inderneth and Somervile as also to divers other men of note Besides the Letters of the Assembly Commissioners were sent from the Assembly to the Lords above-named to wit Iohn Knox Iohn Dowglas Iohn Row and Iohn Craig who had instructions conforme to the tenour of the Letters to desire these Lords and others to come to Edinburgh and joyn with the Lords there for the setling of Gods true Worship in the Church and policy reformed according to Gods Word a maintenance for the Ministers and support for the poor But neither the Commissioners nor the Letters did prevail with these men they excused That they could not repair to Edinburgh with freedome where there was so many armed men and a Garrison so strong But for the Church-affairs they would not be any wayes wanting to do what lay in them The Lords at Edinburgh seeing this joyneth absolutely with the Assembly which had been prorogated to the 20 of Iuly upon the occasion of these Letters and Commissioners aforesaid and promiseth to make good all the Articles they thought fit to resolve upon in the Assembly But how they performed their promises God knows alwayes The Articles they agreed upon were these 1. THat the Acts of Parliament holden at Edinburgh the 24 of August 1560. touching Religion and abolishing the Popes Authority should have the force of a publicke Law and consequently this Parliament defended as a lawfull Parliament and confirmed by the first Parliament that should be kept next 2. That the Thirds of the Tythes or any more reasonable proportion of Benefices should be allowed towards the maintenance of the Ministery and that there should be a charitable course taken concerning the exacting of the Tythes of the poor Labourers 3. That none should be received in the Vniversities Colledges or Schools for instruction of the youth but after due tryall both of capacity and probitie 4. That all crimes and offences against God should be punished according to Gods Word and that there should be a Law made there-anent at the first Parliament to be holden 5. As for the horrible murther of the late King husband to the Queen which was so haynous before God and man all true professors in whatsoever rank or condition did promise to strive that all persons should be brought to condigne punishment who are found guilty of the same crime 6. They all promised to protect the young Prince against all violence lest he should be murthered as his father was And that the Prince should be committed to the care of four wise and godly men that by a good Education he might be fitted for that high Calling he was to execute one day 7. The Nobles Barons and others doth promise to beat down and abolish Popery Idolatry and Superstition with any thing that may contribute unto it As also to set up and further the true Worship of God his Government the Church and all that may concerne the purity of Religion and life And for this to convene and take Arms if need require 8. That all Princes and Kings hereafter in this Realm before their Coronation shall take Oath to maintain the true Religion now professed in the Church of Scotland and suppresse all things contrary to it and that are not agreeing with it To these Articles subscribed the Earles of Morton Glencarne and Marre the Lords Hume Ruthen Sanchar Lindsey Grame Inermeth and Uchiltrie with many other Barons besides the Commissioners of the Burroughs This being agreed upon the Assembly dissolved Thereafter the Lords Lindsey and Ruthuen were sent to Lochlevin to the Queen to present unto her two Writs the one contained a Renounciation of the Crowne and Royall Dignity in favour of the Prince her son with a Commission to invest him into the Kingdome according to the manner accustomed Which after some reluctancy with tears she subscribed by the advice of the Earle of Athole who had sent to her and of Secretary Lethington who had sent to her Robert Melvill for that purpose So there was a Procuration given to the Lords Lindsay and Ruthuen by the Queen to give up and resigne the Rule of the Realme in presence of the States The second Writ was To ordain the Earle of Murray Regent during the Princes minority if he would accept the Charge And in case he refused the Duke Chattellarault the Earles of Lenox Argyle Athole Morton Glencarne and Marre should governe conjoyntly These Writs were published the 29 of Iuly 1567. at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh Then at Sterlin was the Prince Crowned King where Iohn Knox made the Sermon The Earl Morton and the Lord Hume took the Oath for the King That he should constantly live in the Profession of the true Religion and maintain it And that he should governe the Kingdom according to Law thereof and do Justice equally to all In the beginning of August the Earle Murray being sent for cometh home in all haste he visites the Queen at Lochlevin strives to draw the Lords that had taken part with the Hamiltons or were neuters to
Gods just Judgement He was most oppressed for thâ— delation and false accusation of such as professed Christs Evangel as M. Thomas Mairioribanckes and M. Heus Rig then advocates did confesse to M. Henry Balnaves who from the said Thomas Scot came to him as he and M. Thomas Ballenden were sitting in Saint Giles Church and asked him forgivenesse of the said Thomas None of these terrible forewarnings could either change or alter the heart of the infortunate and misled Prince but still he did proceed in his accustomed wayes For in the midst of these evils he caused to put hands on that notable man M. George Buchanan to whom for his singular erudition and honest behaviour was committed the charge to instruct some of his naturall children But by the mercifull providence of God he escaped albeit with great difficulty the rage of those that sought his life and remaines alive to this day in the yeere of God 1566. to the glory of God to the great honour of this nation and to the comfort of those that delight in letters and vertue That singular Worke of Davids Psalms in Latin Meeter and Poesie besides many others can witnesse the rare graces of God given to that man which that Prince by instigation of the gray-Friers and of his other flatterers would altogether have devoured if God had not provided remedy to his servant by escaping the keepers being asleep he went out at the window This cruelty and persecution notwithstanding the monsters and hypocrites the gray-Friers day by day came farther in contempt for not onely did the learned espie and detest their abominable hypocrisie but also men in whom no such graces or gifts were thought to have been began plainly to paint the same forth to the people As this Ryme which here we have inserted for the same purpose made by Alexander Earle of Glevearne to this day 1566 alive can witnesse intituled An Epistle directed from the holy Hermite of Larites to his Brethren the gray-Friers I Thomas Hermite in Larite Saint Francis brother heartily greete Beseeching you with firme intent To be watchfull and diligent For thir Lutherans rissen of new Our ordour dayly doth pursew These smacks do set their whole intent To read this Engls ' new Testament And sayth we have them cleane desceivd Therefore in haste they must be stopped Our stately hypocrisie they pryse And do blaspheme us on this wise Saying that we are heretiks And false loud lying Matin tykes Cummerers and quellers of Christs Kyrk Such lasie scemlers that will not wirk But idlely our living winnes Devouring Wolfs into Sheepe-skinnes Hurkland with huids into our neck With Judas minde to Jowcke and Bek Seeking Gods people to devore The overthrowers of Gods glore Professors of hypocrisie Doctors in Idolatrie Fishears with the feynds nette The upclosers of heaven gate Cancard corrupters of the Creede Hemlock sowers among good seed To throw in brambles that do men twist The hye way kennand them from Christ Monsters with the Beasts marke Dogs that never stintes to barke Church men that are to Christ unkend A sect that Sathans selfe has send Lurking in holes lyke trator todes Maintainers of Idolles and false godes Fantastike fooles and frenzie flatterers To turne from the trueth the very teachers For to declare their whole sentence Would much cumber your conscience To say your fayth it is so stark Your cord and loosie cote and sark Ye lippin may you bring to salvation And quyte excludes Christ his passion I dread this doctrine and it last Shall either gar us worke or fast Therefore with speede we must provide And not our profit overslide I schaip my selfe within short while To curse our Ladie in Argyle And there some craftie wyse to worke Till that we builded have one Kyrk Since miracles made by your advice The kitterells thought they had but lyce The two parts to us they will bring But orderly to dresse this thing Aghaist I purpose for to cause gang By counsayll of Frear Walter Lang Which shall make certaine demonstrations To help us in our procurations Your holy ordor to decore That practise he provd once before Betwâ—xt Kyrkcadie and Kinggorne But Lymmers made thereat such skorne And to his fame made such digression Since syn he heard not the Kings confession Though at that time he came with speede I pray you take good will as deede And some among your selves receave As one worth many of the leave What I obtaine you through his art Reason wold ye had your part Your order handles no money But for other casualtie As beefe meale butter and cheese Or what else you have that you please Send your brethren and habete As now not els but valete Be Thomas your brother at command A Culrune kethed through many a land After God had given unto that mis-informed Prince sufficient documents that his warring against his blessed Gospel should not prosperously succeed He raised up against him Warres as he did of old against divers Princes that would not hear his voice in the which he lost himself as we shall hereafter heare The occasion of the Warre was this HENRY the eighth King of England had a great desire to have spoken with our King and in that point travelled so long till that he gat a full promise made to his Ambassadour Lord William Howard The place of meeting was appointed Yorke which the King of England kept with such solemnitie and preparations as never for such a purpose was seene in England before Great brute of that journey and some preparation for the same was made in Scotland But in the end by perswasion of the Cardinall David Beton and by others of his faction that journey was stayed and the Kings promise falsified Whereupon were sharp Letters of reproach sent unto the King and also unto his counsell King Henry frustrate returneth to London and after his indignation declared began to fortifie with men his frontiers toward Scotland There was sent to the borders Sir Robert Bowes the Earle of Angus and his brother Sir George Dowglas Upon what other trifling questions as for the debetable land and such the Warre brake up we omit to write The principall occasion was the falsifying of the promises before made Our King perceiving that Warre would rise asked the Prelats and Churchmen what support they would make to the sustaining of the same for rather would he yet satisfie the desire of his Uncle then he would hazard warre where he saw not his force able to resist They promised mountains of gold as Satan their father did to Christ Jesus if he would worship him for rather would they have gone to hell then he should have met with King Henry for then thought they Farewell our Kingdom of Abbots Monks c. And farewell thought the Cardinall his credit and glory in France In the end they promised fifty thousand crowns by yeere to be well paid so long as the Warre lasted and further That
the Castle-hill And so began they again to pollute the land which God had lately plagued for yet their iniquity was not come to full ripenesse as that God would that they should be manifested to this whole Realme as this day they are to be Fagots prepared for everlasting fire and to be men whom neither Plagues may correct nor the light of Gods Word convert from their darknesse and impiety The Peace as is said is contracted The Queen Dowager past by sea to France with Gallies that for that purpose were prepared and took with her divers of the Nobility of Scotland The Earles Huntley Glencarne Mershell Cassiles The Lords Maxwell Fleiming Sir George Dowglas together with all the late Kings naturall sons and divers Barons and Gentlemen of Ecclesiasticall estate the Bishop of Galloway and many others with promise that they should be richly rewarded for their good service What they received we cannot tell but few were made rich at their returning The Dowager had to practise somewhat with her brethren the Duke of Gwise and the Cardinall of Loraine The weight whereof the Governour after felt for shortly after her returne was the Governour deposed of the government justly by God but most unjustly by man and she made Regent in the yeer of our Lord 1554. and a Crown put upon her head as seemly a sight if men had eyes as to put a Saddle upon the backe of an unruly Cow And so began she to practise practise upon practise How France might be advanced her friends made rich and she brought to immortall glory For that was her common talk So that I may procure the wealth and honour of my Friends and a good fame unto my selfe I regard not what God do after with me And in very deed in deep dissimulation to bring her owne purpose to effect she passed the common sort of women as we will after heare But yet God to whose Gospel she declared her selfe enemie in the end frustrated her of all her devices Thus did light and darknesse strive within the Realme of Scotland The darknesse ever before the World suppressing the light from the death of that notable servant of God Master Patricke Hamilton untill the death of Edward the sixth the most godly and most vertuous King that had been known to have reigned in England or elsewhere these many yeeres by past who departed the miseries of this life the sixth of July Anno 1553. The death of this Prince was lamented of all the godly within Europe for the graces given unto him of God as well of nature as of erudition and godlinesse passed the measure that accustomably is used to be given to other princes in their greatest perfection and yet exceeded he not 16 yeers of age What Gravity above age What Wisdom wherein he passed all understanding or expectation of man And what Dexterity in answering in all things proposed were in that excellent Prince The Ambassadours of all Countries yea some that were mortall enemies to him and to his Realme amongst whom the Queen Dowager of Scotland was not the least could and did testifie For the said Queen Dowager returning from France through England communed with him at length and gave record when she came to this Realme That she found more wisdome and solide judgement in young King Edward then she would have looked for in any three Princes that were then in Europe His liberality towards the godly and learned that were in other Realms persecuted was such as Germans French-men Italians Scots Spaniards Polonians Grecians and Hebrews born can yet give sufficient document For how honourably was Martin Bucer Peter Martyr Iohn Alasco Emanuel Gualterus and many others upon his publike stipends entertained their parents can witnesse and they themselves during their lives would never have denied After the death of this most vertuous Prince of whom the godlesse people of England for the most part were not worthy Satan intended nothing lesse then the light of Jesus Christ utterly to have been extinguished within the whole Isle of Britain For after him was raised up in Gods hot displeasure that Idolatresse and mischievous Mary of the Spaniards blood a cruell persecutrix of Gods people as the acts of her unhappy reigne can sufficiently witnesse And in Scotland that same time as we have heard reigned that crafty practiser Mary of Loraine then named Regent of Scotland who bound to the devotion of her two brethren the Duke of Guise and Cardinall of Loraine did onely abide the opportunity to cut the throat of all those in whom she suspected any knowledge of God to be within the Realme of Scotland And so thought Satan that his kingdome of darknesse was in quietnesse and rest as well in the one Realme as in the other But that provident eye of our eternall God who continually watches for preservation of his Church did so order all things that Satan shortly after found himselfe farre disappointed of his conclusion taken For in that cruell persecution used by Queen Mary of England were godly men dispersed into divers nations of whom it pleased the goodnesse of God to send some unto us for our comfort and instruction And first came a simple man William Harlaw whose erudition although it excell not yet for his whole and diligent plainnesse in Doctrine is he to this day worthy of praise and remaines a fruitfull member within the Church of Scotland After him came that notable man Iohn Willocke as one that had some Commission to the Queen Regent from the Dutchesse of Emden But his principall purpose was to essay what God would worke by him in his native countrey These two did sometimes in severall companies assemble the brethren who by their exhortations began greatly to be encouraged and did shew that they had an earnest thirst of godlinesse And last came Iohn Knox in the end of the harvest Anno 1555. who first being lodged in the house of that notable man of God Iames Sime began to exhort secretly in that same house whereunto repaired the Laird of Dun David Forresse and some certain personages of the Town amongst whom was Elizabeth Adamson then spouse to Iames Barrone Burgesse of Edinburgh who by reason that she had a troubled conscience delighted much in the company of the said Iohn because that he according to the grace given unto him opened more fully the Fountaine of Gods Mercies then did the common sort of Teachers that she had heard before for she had heard none except Friers and did with such greedinesse drinke thereof that at her death she did expresse the fruit of her hearing to the great comfort it of all those that repaired unto her For albeit she suffered most grievous torment in her body yet out of her mouth was heard nothing but praising of God except that sometimes she lamented the troubles of those that were troubled by her Being sometimes demanded by her sisters What she thought of that pain which she then
the 29 day of September 1559. By your Brethren The Duke and Lords understanding that the Fortifications of Leith proceeded appointed their whole Forces to convene at Sterlin the 15 day of Octob. that from thence they might march forward to Edinburgh for the redresse of the greatest enormities which the French did to the whole Countrey which by them was so oppressed that the life of all honest men was bitter unto them In this mean time the Lords directed their Letters to divers parts of the Countrey making mention what danger did hang over all men if the French should be suffered to plant in this Countrey at their pleasure They made mention farther How humbly they had besought the Queen Regent That she would send away to France her French-men who were a burden unprofitable and grievous to this Common-wealth and how that she notwithstanding did daily augment their number bringing wives and children a plain declaration of a plain conquest The Queen Regent perceiving that her craft began to be espied by all means possible travelled to blinde the people And first she sent forth her pestilent Post forenamed in all parts of the Countrey to perswade all men that she offereth all things reasonable to the Congregation and that they refusing all reason pretended no Religion but a plaine revolt from Authority She tempted every man in particular as well those that were of the Congregation as those that were neutralls She assaulted every man as she thought most easily he might have been overcome To the Lord Ruthuen she sent the Justice Clerk and his wife who is daughter to the wife of the said Lord what was their Commission and credit is no further known then the said Lord hath confessed which is That large promise of profit was promised if he would leave the Congregation and be the Queens To Lord Iames Prior of Saint Andrews was sent Master Iohn Spens of Condie with a Letter and Credit as followeth The Memoriall of Master Iohn Spens of Condie the thirtieth of September 1. YE shall say That the Queens great favour towards you moveth her to this 2. That she now knoweth that the occasion of your departing from her was the favour of the Word and of the Religion with the which albeit she was offended yet knowing your heart and the hearts of the other Lords firmely fixed thereupon she will beare with you in that behalfe and at your owne sights she will set forward that Cause at her power as may stand with Gods Word the common policie of this Realme and the Princes honour note good Reader what venome lurked here for plaine it is that the policie which she pretended and the Princes honour will never suffer Christ Iesus to reigne in this Realme 3. To speak of the occasion of assembling of these men of Warre and fortifying of Leith you must know That it was given to the Queen to understand by some about her that it is not the advancement of the Word and Religion which is sought at this time but rather a pretence to overthrow or alter the authority of your Sister of the which she beleeveth still that ye are not participant and considering the tendernesse betwixt you and your Sister she trusted more in you in that behalfe then in any living But before the Earle of Arrane arrived and that the Duke departed from her faction she ceased not continually to cry That the Prior sought to make himselfe King and so not onely to deprive his Sister to make himselfe King but also to defraud the Duke and his house of their pretension But foreseeing a storme she began to seek a new winde She further willeth him to offer the sending away of the men of War if the former suspition could be removed she lamented the trouble that appeared to follow if the matter should long stand in debate she promised her faithfull labours for reconciliation and required the same of him Requiring further Faith Honour and kindnesse towards his Sister and to advertise for his part what he desired with promise That he might obtaine what he pleased to desire To this Letter and Credit the said Lord Iames answered as followeth MADAME I Received your Highnesse Writ and have heard the credit of the Bearer and finding the businesse of such importance that dangerous it were to give hastie answer And also your Demands are such That with my honour I cannot answer them privately by my selfe I have thought good to delay the same till that I may have the judgement of the whole Councell For this point I will not conceale from your Majestie That amongst us there is a solemned Oath that none of us shall traffique with your Majestie secretly neither yet that any of us shall treat or deale for himselfe particularly Which Oath for my part I purpose to keep unviolated to the end But when the rest of the Noble-men shall conveene I shall leave nothing that lyeth in my power undone that may make for the quietnesse of this poore Realme Provided That the glory of Christ Iesus be not hindered by our concord And if your Majestie shall be found so tractable as now ye offer I doubt not to obtaine of the rest of my brethren such favour towards your service as your Majestie shall have just occasion to stand content For I take God to record That in this action I have neither sought neither yet seek any other thing then to increase Gods glory and the Libertie of this poore Realme to be maintained Further I have shewed unto your Messenger what things have misliked me in your proceedings even from such a heart as I wish to God you knew fully and all men else And this with hearty commendation of service to your Majestie I heartily commit your Highnesse to the eternall protection of the omnipotent At Saint Andrews the first of October Sic subscribitur Your Majesties humble and obedient Servitour I. St. This answer received she raged as hypocrisie useth when it is pricked and perceiving that she could not work what she would at the hands of men particularly she set forth a Proclamation universally to be proclaimed in the tenour as followeth The Queens Proclamation FOr so much as it is understood by the Queen that the Duke of Chattellawralt hath lately directed his Missives into all parts of this Realm making mention that the French-men late arrived with their wives and children are begun to plant in Leith to the ruine of the Common-weale which he and his partakers will not passe over with patient beholding desiring to know what will be every mans part And that the fortification of Leith is a purpose devised in France and that therefore Monsieur de la Brosse and the Bishop of Amiens are come to this countrey A thing so vaine and untrue that the contrary thereof is knowne to all men of free judgement Therefore the Queen willing that the occasions whereby her Majesty was moved so to do be
made patent and what have been her proceedings since the appointment last made on the Linkes beside Leith To the effect that the trueth of all things being made manifest every man may understand how unjustly that a desire to suppresse the liberty of this Realm is laid to her charge we have thought expedient to make this discourse following First although after the said appointment divers of the said Congregation and that not of the meanest sort hath violently broken the points thereof and made sundry occasions of new cumber The same was in a part winked at and over-looked in hope that they in time would remember their duty and abstaine from such evil behaviour which conversion her Majestie ever sought rather then any punishment with such care and solicitude by all means and in the mean time nothing was provided for her own security But at last by their frequent Messages to and from England their intelligence then was perceived yet her Majestie trusted the Queen of England let them seek as they please will do the office of a Christian Princesse in time of a sworne Peace through which force was to her Majestie seeing so great defection of great personages to have recourse to the Law of Nature And like as a small Bird being pursued will provide some nest so her Majestie could do no lesse in cases of pursuit but provide some sure retract for her selfe and her company and to that effect chose the Town of Leith as a place convenient therefore because it was her dearest daughters property and no other person could claime Title or Interesse thereto and also because in former times it had been fortified About the same time that the seeking support of England was made manifest arrived the Earle of Arrane and adjoyned himselfe to the Congregation upon further promise then the pretended quarrell or Religion that was to be set up by them in authority and so to pervert the whole obedience and as some of the Congregation at the same time had put into their hands and taken the Castle of Brochtie put forth the keepers thereof Immediately came from the said Duke to her Majestie unlooked for a Writ beside many others complaining of the fortification of the said Town of Leith in hurt of the ancient inhabitants thereof brethren of the said Congregation whereof he then professed himselfe a Member And albeit that the Bearer of the said Writ was an unmeet Messenger in a matter of such consequence yet her Majestie directed to him two persons of good credit and reputation with answer Offering If he would cause amends to be made for that which was committed against the Lawes of the Realme to do further then could be craved of reason And to that effect to draw some conference which by his fault and his Colleagues took no end neverthelesse they continually since continue in their doings usurping the authority commanding and charging free Boroughs to chuse Provests and officers of their naming and to assist to them in the purpose they would be at and that they will not suffer provision to be brought for sustentation of her Majesties houses A great part have so plainely set aside all reverence and humanitie whereby every man may know That it is no matter of Religion but a plaine usurpation of the authority and no doubt but simple men of good Zeale in former times therewith falsly have been deceived But as to the Queens part God who knoweth the secrets of all hearts well knoweth and the world shall see by experience that the fortification of Leith was devised for no other purpose but for recourse to her highnesse and her company in case they were pursued Wherefore as good Subjects that have the feare of God in their hearts will not suffer themselves by such vaine perswasions to be led away from their due obedience but will assist in defence of their Soveraigns quarrell against all such as shall pursue the same wrongfully Therefore her Majestie ordaineth the officers of Arms to passe to the Market-Crosses of all the head Burroughs of this Realme and there by open Proclamation command and charge all and sundry the Lieges thereof that none of them take in hand to put themselves in arms nor take part with the said Duke or his assistaries under the paine of Treason These Letters being divulgate the hearts of many were stirred for they judged the Narration of the Queen Regent to have been true others understood the same to be utterly false But because the Lords desired that all men should judge in their cause they set out the Declaration subsequent The DECLARATION of the Lords against the former PROCLAMATION WE are compelled unwillingly to answer the grievous accusations most unjustly laid to our charges by the Queen Regent and her perverse Counsell who cease not by all craft and malice to make us odious to our dearest brethren naturall Scottish-men as that we pretended no other thing but the subversion and overthrow of all just authoritie when God knoweth we sought nothing but That such authoritie as God approveth by his Word be established honoured and obeyed amongst us True it is that we have complained and continually must complaine till God send redresse That our common Countrey is oppressed with strangers That this inbringing of Souldiers with their wives and children and planting of men of War in our free Townes appeareth to us a ready way to conquest And we most earnestly require all indifferent persons to be judge betwixt us and the Queen Regent in this cause to wit Whether our complaint be just or not For for what other purpose should she thus multiply strangers upon us but onely in respect of conquest Which is a thing of late divised by her and her avaritious house We are not ignorant that six yeers ago the question was demanded of a man of honest reputation What number of men was able to daunt Scotland and to bring it to the full obedience of France She alleadged That to say that the fortification of Leith was of purpose devised in France and that for that purpose were Monsieur de la Brosse and the Bishop of Amiens sent to this Countrey Is a thing so vaine and untrue that the contrary thereof is notorious to all men of free judgement But evident it is whatsoever she alleadged That since their arrivall Leith was begun to be fortified She alleadged That she seeing the defection of great Personages was compelled to have recourse to the Law of Nature and like a small bird pursued to provide for some sure retract to her self and her company But why doth she not answer for what purpose did she bring in her new Bands of men of War Was there any defection espied before their arrivall was not the Congregation under Appointment with her Which whatsoever she alleadged she is not able to prove that we have violated in any chiefe point before that her new throat-cutters arrived yea before that
and Customes of this Realm seeing it was begun and yet continueth without any advice and consent of the Nobility and Counsell of this Realm Wherefore now as oft before according unto our duty to our Common-wealth we most humbly require your Majestie to cause your Strangers and Souldiers whatsoever to depart the said Town of Lieth and make the same patent not onely to the inhabitants but also to all Scottish men our Soveraign Ladies Leiges assuring your Highnesse That if refusing the same ye declare thereby your evil minde towards the Common-wealth and Liberty of this Realm we will as before move and declare the causes unto the whole Nobility and Commonalty of this Realm And according to the oath which we had sworn for the maintenance of the Common-weale in all manner of things to us possible we will provide remedy therefore requiring most humbly your Majesties answer in haste with the Bearer because in our eyes the act continually proceeds declaring your determination of conquest which is presumed of all men and not without cause And thus after our commendation of service we pray Almighty God to have your Majesty in his eternall tuition These our Letters received our Messenger was threatned and withholden a whole day thereafter he was dismissed without any other answer But that she would send an answer when she thought expedient In this mean time because the rumour ceased not that the Duke usurped the authority he was compelled with the sound of trumpet at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh to make his Purgation as followeth the 19 of October The Purgation of the Duke FOrasmuch as the Duke of Chatellarault understanding the false report made by these about the Queen Regent against him That he and his son the Lord Arrane should pretend usurpation of the Crown and authority of this Realm when in very deed he nor his said son never once hath made any shew of any such thing but onely in simplicity of heart moved parly by the violent pursuit against Religion and true Professours thereof partly by compassion of the Common-wealth and poore Commonalty of this Realme oppressed with strangers he joyned himselfe to the rest of the Nobility with all hazard to support the common Cause of the one of the other and hath thought expedient to purge himselfe and his said son in presence of you all as he had done in presence of the counsell of that said crime of old even by Summons laid to his charge the second yeere of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Ladie Which accusation hath continued ever against him as guilty of that crime he therefore now openly and plainly Protesteth That neither he nor his said son sues nor seeks any preeminence either to the Crown or authority but as far as his puissance may extend is ready and ever shall be and his son also to concurre with the rest of the Nobility his brethren and all others whose hearts are touched to maintain the common causes of Religion and Liberty of their native Countrey plainly invaded by the said Regent and her said Souldiers who onely do forge such vain reports to withdraw the hearts of true Scottish-men from the succour they owe of bounden dutie to their Common-weale oppressed Wherefore exhorting all men that will maintain the true Religion of God or withstand this oppression or plain conquest enterprised by strangers upon our native Scottish-men not to credit such false and untrue reports But rather concurre with us and the rest of the Nobility to set our Countrey at liberty expelling strangers therefrom which doing ye shall shew your selves obedient to the ordinance of God which was established for maintenance of the Common-weale and true members of the same The 21 of Octob. came from the Queen Regent M. Robert Forman Lion King of Arms who brought unto us a Writing in this Tenor and Credit AFter commendations We have received your Letter of Edinburgh the 19 of this instant which appeareth to us rather to have come from a Prince to his Subjects then from Subjects to them that beare authority For answer whereof we have presently directed unto you this Bearer Lion Herald King of Arms sufficiently instructed with our minde to whom ye shall give credence At Leith Octob. 21. 1559. Sic subscribitur Mary R. His Credit is this THat the Queen wonders how any durst presume to command her in that Realm which needeth not to be Conquest by any force considering that it was already Conquest by Marriage That French-men could not justly be called strangers seeing that they were Naturalized and therefore that she would neither make that Town patent neither yet send any man away but as she thought expedient She accused the Duke of violating his promise She made long Protestation of her love towards the Common-wealth of Scotland and in the end commanded That under the pain of Treason all assistaries to the Duke and unto us should depart from the Town of Edinburgh This answer received credit heard preconceived malice sufficiently espied consultation was taken what was expedient to be done And for the first it was concluded That the Herald should be stayed till further determination should be taken The whole Nobility Barons and Burgesses then present were commanded to convene in the Tolbuith of Edinburgh the same one and twentieth day of October for deliberation of those matters where the whole cause being exposed by the Lord Ruthuen the question was propounded Whether she that so contemptuously refused the most humble request of the borne Councellors of the Realme being also but a Regent whose pretences threatned the bondage of the whole Common-wealth ought to be suffered so tyrannically to domineer over them And because that this question had not been before disputed in open assembly it was thought expedient that the judgement of the Preachers should be required who being instructed in the case Iohn Willock who before had sustained the burthen of the Church in Edinburgh commanded to speak made discourse as followeth Affirming first That albeit Magistrates be Gods Ordinance having of him Power and Authority yet is not their Power so largely extended but that it is bounded and limited by God in his Word And secondarily That as subjects are commanded to obey their magistrates so are the Magistrates commanded to give some duty to their subjects so that God by his Word hath prescribed the Office of the one and of the other Thirdly That albeit God hath appointed Magistrates his Lieutenants on earth and hath honoured them with his own Title calling them Gods That yet he did never so firmly establish any but at his pleasure he seeing just cause might deprive them Fourthly That in deposing of Princes and those that have been in Authority God did not alwayes use his immediate power but sometimes he useth second means which his wisedome thought good and Justice approved As by Asa he removed Maacha his owne mother from Honour and Authority which before she had
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
rebuked in generall seldome it is that man descendeth within himself accusing and condemning in himself that which most displeaseth God but rather he doubteth that to be a cause which before God is no cause indeed For example The Israelites fighting against the Tribe of Benjamin were twice discomfited with the losse of 40000 men They lamented and bewailed both first and last but we finde not that they came to the knowledge of their offence and sin which was the cause that they fell by the edge of the sword but rather they doubted that to have been a cause of their misfortune which God had commanded for they asked Shall we go and fight any more against our brethren the sonnes of Benjamin By which question it is evident That they supposed that the cause of their overthrow and discomfite was Because they had lifted the sword against their brethren and naturall Countrey-men And yet the expresse Commandment of God that was given unto them did deliver them from all crime in that cause There is no doubt but that there was some cause in the Israelites that God gave them so over into the hands of these wicked men against whom he sent them by his own expresse Commandment to execute his Judgements Such as do well mark the History and the estate of that people may easily see the cause why God was offended All the whole people had declined from God Idolatry was maintained by the common consent of the multitude and as the Text saith Every man did that which appeared good in his own eyes In this mean time the Levite complained of the villany that was done unto himself and unto his wife which oppressed by the Benjamites of Gibeah died under their filthy lusts which horrible fact enflamed the hearts of the whole people to take vengeance upon that abomination and therein they offended but in this they failed That they go to execute judgement against the wicked without any repentance or remorse of conscience of their owne former offences and defection from God And farther Because they were a great multitude and the other were far inferiour unto them They trusted in their own strength and thought themselves able enough to do their purpose without any invocation of the Name of God But after that they had twice proved the vanity of their own strength they fasted and prayed and being humbled before God they received a more favourable answer and assured promise of the Victory The like may be amongst us albeit suddenly we do not espie it And to the end that every man may the better examine himself I will divide the whole company into two sorts of men The one are those that from the beginning of this trouble have sustained the common danger with their brethren The other be these which be joyned to our fellowship In the one and in the other I fear that just cause shall be found why God should thus have humbled us And albeit that this appear strange at the first hearing yet if every man shall examine himself I speak as that his conscience dyteth him I doubt not but he shall subscribe to my sentence Let us begin at our selves who longest hath continued in this Battell When we were a few number in comparison of our enemies when we had neither Earle nor Lord a few excepted to comfort us we called upon God and took him for our Protector Defence and onely Refuge Amongst us was heard no bragging of multitude nor of our strength nor policy we did onely sob to God to have respect to the equity of our Cause and to the cruell pursuit of the tyrannicall enemy But since that our number had been thus multiplied and chiefly since the Duke with his friends have been joyned with us there was nothing heard but This Lord will bring these many hundred Speares This man hath the credit to perswade this Countrey If this Earle be ours no man in such bounds will trouble us And thus the best of us all that before felt Gods potent hand to our defence hath of late dayes put Flesh to be our Arme. But wherein yet had the Duke and his friends offended It may be That as we have trusted in them so have they put too much confidence in their owne strength But granting it be not so I see a cause most just why the Duke and his friends should thus be confounded amongst the rest of their brethren I have not yet forgotten what was the dolour and anguish of my owne heart when at Saint Iohnston Cooper-Moure and Edinburgh Craigs those cruell murtherers that now hath put us to this dishonour threatned our present destruction The Duke and his friends at all three Journeys was to them a great comfort and unto us a great discouragement For his name and authority did more astonish us then did the force of the other yea without his assistance they could not have compelled us to appoint with the Queen upon so unequall Conditions I am certaine if the Duke hath unfainedly repented of that his assistance to those murtherers unjustly pursuing us yea I am certaine if he hath repented of the innocent blood of Christs blessed Martyrs which was shed by his fault But let it be that so he hath done as I hear that he hath confessed his offence before the Lords and Brethren of the Congregation yet I am assured That neither he neither yet his friends did feel before this time the anguish and grief of hearts which we felt when their blinde fury pursued us and therefore hath God justly permitted both them and us to fall into this confusion at once us for that we put our trust and confidence in man and them because that they should feel their owne hearts how bitter was the cup which they made others to drinke before them Resteth that both they and we turn to the Eternall our God who beateth down to death to the intent that he may raise up again to leave the remembrance of his wonderous deliverance to the praise of his owne Name which if we do unfainedly I no more doubt but that this our dolour confusion and fear shall be turned into joy honour and boldnesse then that I doubt that God gave Victory to the Israelites over the Benjamites after that twice with ignominy they were repulsed and driven back yea whatsoever shall become of us and our mortall carkasses I doubt not but that this Cause in despight of Sathan shall prevaile in this Realme of Scotland For as it is the eternall Trueth of the eternall God so shall it once prevaile howsoever for the time it be impugned It may be that God shall plague some for that they delight not in the Trueth albeit for worldly respects they seem to favour it Yea God may take some of his dearest children away before that their eyes see greater troubles But neither shall the one nor the other so hinder this action but in the end it shall
was misliked of many Against the which Iohn Kâ—ox spake openly in Pulpit and boldly affirmed That God should revenge that contumelie done to his Image which not onely in the furious and godlesse Souldiers but even in such as rejoyced thereat And the very experience declared That he was not deceived For within few dayes after yea some say that same day began her belly and loathsome legs to swell and so continued till that God did in his wisdome take her away from this world as after we shall heare After the Defeat received the Queen Regent and her faction were fully perswaded that the Siege would rise and that the English Armie would depart And so began the Papists wonderously to brag and yet God did frustrate their expectation for the Armie concluded to remaine till new advertisement came from the Queen and Counsell The Duke of Norfolk who then lay at Barwick commanded the Lord Gray to continue the Siege and promised That he should not lack men so long as any were to be had betwixt Trent and Twead for so far was he Lieutenant he further promised his own presence in case he should be required and for assurance thereof he sent his own Tents such as seldome before had been seen in Scotland with his Officers and provision And with expedition were sent two thousand fresh men whereby the Camp greatly comforted began to forget the former discomfiture and to sustain the daily skirmishing as they did before In the which the French after the day of the assault did ever receive the hurt and the repulse as the slaughter of many that came to the Cole-rake did witnesse The greatest damage that either English or Scotish received after that day was the slaughter of two Gentlemen the one master of houshold to my Lord Iames Robert Colwin of Clesch a man stout modest and wise who was shot in the thigh with a Falcon or Harquebute of Croke and so departed the misery of this life within two houres after The other was Alexander Lockart brother to the Laird of Bar who rashly discovering himselfe in the Trenches was shot in the head and immediately thereafter departed this life While the Siege thus continued a sudden fire chanced in Leith which devoured many houses and much Victuall and so began God to fight for us as the Lord Erskin in plaine words said to the Queen Regent Madame quoth he I can see no more but seeing that men may not expell unjust possessours forth of this land God himselfe would do it For your fire is not kindled by man Which words offended the Queen Regent not a little whose sicknesse daily increasing great craft she used That Monsieur Dosell might have been permitted to have spoken with her belike she would have bidden him fare-well for their old familiaritie was great but that denied she Writ as it had been to her Chyrurgeon and Apothecarie shewing her sicknesse and requiring some Drogs The Letter being presented to the Lord Gray he espied the craft for few Lines being written above and so much White-Paper left he said Drogs are abundant and fresher in Edinburgh then they can be in Leith There lurketh here some other mysterie and so he began to try and by holding the Paper to the fire he perceiveth some writing appear and so began he to read but what it was no other man can tell for immediately he burnt the Bill and said to the Messenger Albeit I have been her Secretary yet tell her I shall keep her councell But say to her Such Wares will not sell till a new Market The answer received she was nothing content and then travelled she earnestly That she might speak with the Earles Argyle Glencarne Mershall and with the Lord Iames. After deliberation it was thought expedient that they should speak with her but not all together lest that some part of the Guisians practice had lurked under the colour of such friendship Her regrate was unto them all That she had behaved her selfe so foolishly as that she had compelled them to seek the support of others then of their own Soveraigne and said That she sore repented that ever it came to that extremitie but she was not the wight but the wicked counsell of her friends on the one part and the Earle of Huntley on the other for if he had not been she would have fully agreed with them at their Commoning at Preston They gave unto her both the Councell and the Comfort which they could in that extremitie and willed her to send for some godly learned man of whom she might receive instruction for these ignorant Papists that were about her understood nothing of the Mysterie of our redemption Upon their motion was Iohn Willock sent for with whom she talked a reasonable space and who did plainely shew unto her as well the vertue and strength of the death of Jesus Christ as the vanity and abomination of that Idoll the Masse She did openly confesse That there was no salvation but in and by the death of Iesus Christ but of the Masse we heard not her Confession Some say she was anointed with extreame Unction after the Papisticall manner which was a signe of small knowledge of the Trueth and of lesse Repentance of her former Superstition Yet howsoever it was Christ Jesus gate no small Victorie over such an enemie For albeit before she had Vowed That in despight of all Scotland the Preachers of Jesus Christ should either die or be banished the Realme yet was she compelled not onely to heare That Christ Jesus was Preached and all Idolatry openly rebuked and in many places suppressed but also she was constrained to heare one of the principall Ministers within the Realme and to approve the chiefe head of our Religion wherein we dissent from all Papists and Papistrie Shortly thereafter she finished her life unhappy to Scotland from the first day she entred into it unto the day that she departed this life which was the ninth day of June in yeere of God 1560. The Guisian Councells as they were wicked and cruell to the people so they proved mischievous to themselves and to them that followed them to this day Upon the sixteenth day of June after the death of the Queen Regent came to Scotland Monsieur Randam and with him the Bishop of Valance in Commission from France to negotiate a Peace From England there came Sir William Cecill chiefe Secretary and Doctor Whitton Their negotiation was longsome for both England and we fearing deceit sought by all meanes that the contract should be sure And they on the other part meaning to gratifie such as had sent them who meant nothing but meere falshood protracted time to the uttermost yea while that those of Leith were very scarce of victuals and those of the Inch had perished had not been that by policie they gat a ship with Victuals and some Munition which was upon Midsommer Even whereof they made no small
was troubled in his understanding The certainty of the death foresaid was signified unto us both by Sea and Land By Sea received Iohn Knox who then had great intelligence both with the Churches abroad and some of the Court of France That the King was mortally sick and could not well escape death Which Letters received that same day at afternoon he passed to the Duke to his own lodging at the Church of Field with whom he found the Lord Iames in conference alone The Earle of Arrane was in Iedburgh to whom he opened such news as he had received and willed them to be of good comfort for said he the advertiser hath never deceived me It is the same Gentleman that first gave us knowledge of the slaughter of Henry King of France and shewed unto them the Letter but would not expresse the mans name While they were reasoning in divers purposes and he comforting them For while we say they three were familiarly communing together there came a messenger from the Lord Gray forth of Barwick assuring him of the death of the K. of France Which noysed abroad a generall Convention of the Nobility was appointed to be holden at Edinburgh the fifteenth day of Ianuary following in the which the Book of discipline was perused newly over againe for some pretended ignorance by reason that they had not heard it In that assembly was Master Alexander Anderson Subprincipall and Under-Master of one of the Schools of Aberdein a man more subtill and craftie than either learned or godly called who refused to dispute anent his faith abusing a place of Tertullian to cloak his ignorance It was answered unto him That Tertullian should not prejudge the Authoritie of the Holy Ghost who by the mouth of Peter commandeth us to give reason of our faith to every one that requireth the same of us It was farther answered that we neither required him neither yet any man to dispute in any point concerning our faith which was grounded upon Gods Word and fully expressed in his holy Scriptures for all that we beleeved without controversie But we required of him as of the rest of Papists that they would suffer their Doctrine Constitutions and Ceremonies to come to triall And principally that the Masse and the opinion thereof by them taught unto the people might be laid to the square rule of Gods Word and unto the right Institution of Jesus Christ That they might understand whether that their Preachers offended or not in that that they affirmed The Action of the Masse to be expresly repugning unto the last Supper of the Lord Jesus The sayer of it to commit horrible blasphemie in usurping up-him the Office of Christ The hearers to commit damnable Idolatry and the opinion of it conceived to be a derogation and as it were a disanulling of Christs death While the said Master Alexander denied that the Priest took upon him Christs office to offer for sin as he alleaged a Masse book was produced and in the beginning of the Canon were these words read Suscipe Sancta Trinitas hanc oblationem quam ego indignus peccator offero tibi vivo Deo vero pro peccatis meis pro peccatis totius Ecclesiae vivorum mortuum Now said the reasoner if to offâ—r for the sinnes of the whole Church was not the Office of Christ Jesus yea that Office that to him onely might and may appertaine let the Scripture judge And if a vile Knave whom ye call Priest proudly taketh the same upon him let your own Books witnesse The said Mr. Alexander answered Christ offered the propitiatory and that could none do but he but we offer the remembrance Whereto it was answered We praise God that ye have denyed a sacrifice propitiatorie to be in the Masse and yet we offer to prove that in moe than a hundreth places of your Papisticall Doctors this proposition is affirmed The Masse is said to be a Sacrifice propitiatory But the second part where ye alleage that ye offer Christ in remembrance we ask first Unto whom do ye offer him and next by what authority are ye assured of well-doing In God the Father there falleth no Oblivion And if ye will shift and say that ye offer it not as God were forgetfull but as willing to apply Christs merits to his Church We demand of you What power commandment have ye so to do We know that our Master Christ Jesus commanded his Apostles to do that which he did in remembrance of him But plain it is that Christ took bread gave thanks brake bread and gave it to his disciples saying Take ye eate ye this is my body which is broken for you do this in remembrance of me c. Here we finde a commandment to take to eat to take and to drinke but to offer Christs Body either for remembrance or application we finde not And therefore we say To take upon you an Office which is not given unto you is unjust usurpation and no lawfull power The said Master Alexander being more then astonished would have shifted but then the Lords willed him to answer directly whereto he answered That he was better seen in Philosophie then in Theologie Then was commanded M. Iohn Leslie who then was Parson of Une and now Abbot of Londors and after was made Bishop of Rosse to answer to the former Argument and he with great gravity began to answer If our Master have nothing to say to it I have nothing for I know nothing but the Cannon Law And the greatest reason that ever I could finde there is Nolumus and Volumus and yet we understand that now he is the onely Patron of the Masse But it is no marvell for we understand that he is a Priests get and Bastard and therefore we should not wonder albeit that the old truan Verse be true Patrem sequitur sua proles The Nobility hearing that neither the one nor the other would answer directly said We have been miserably deceived heretofore for if the Masse may not obtaine remission of sins to the quick and to the dead Wherefore were all the Abbies so richly doted and endowed with our Temporall lands Thus much we thought good to insert here because that some Papists are not ashamed now to affirm That they with their reasons could never be heard but that all we did we did by meer force when that the whole Realme knoweth That we ever required them to speak their judgements freely not onely promising unto them protection and defence but also that we should subscribe with them if they by Gods Scriptures could confute us and by the same Word establish their assertions But who can correct the leasings of such as in all things shew them the sons of the Father of all lies Preserve us Lord from that perverse and malicious Generation Amen At this same Assembly was the Lord Iames appointed to go to France to the Queen our Soveraigne and a Parliament was
if that she stood in suspition of any thing that was to be handled in their assemblies that it would please her Majestie to send such as he would appoint to hear whatsoever was propounded or reasoned Hereafter was the Book of Discipline proposed and desired to have been ratified by the Queens Majestie but it was stopped and the Question demanded How many of those that subscribed to that Book would be subject unto it It was answered All the godly Will the Duke said Lethington If he will not answered the Lord Uchiltrie I would that he were scraped out not onely of that Book but also out of our number and company for what purpose shall labour be taken to put the Church in order and to what end shall men subscribe and then never mean to keep a word of that which they promise Lethington answered Many subscribe there in fide Parentum as Children are baptized One to wit Iohn Knox answered Albeit ye think that scoffe proper yet as it is most untrue so it is most improper That Book was read in publike audience and by the space of divers dayes the hearers thereof were resolved as all that here sit know well enough and you your selves cannot deny So that no man was required to subscribe that which he understood not Stand content said one that Booke will not be obtained Let God said the other require the lack and want which this poor Common-wealth shall have of the things therein contained from the hands of such as stop the same Thomas Borrows perceiving that the Book of discipline was refused presented unto the Councill certain Articles requiring Idolatry to be suppressed their Churches to be planted with true Ministers and some certain propositions to be made for them according to equitie and Conscience for unto that time the most part of the Ministers had lived upon the benevolence of men for many had into their owne hands the profits that the Bishops and others of that Sect had before abused and so some part was bestowed upon the Ministers But when the Bishops began to gripe again to that which most unjustly they called their own for the Earle of Arrane was discharged of Saint Andrews and Dumfermling wherewith before by vertue of a Factory and Commission he had intromitted and medled And so were many others Therefore the Barons required That order might be taken for the Ministers or else they would no more cause Rents to be paid unto any that formerly belonged to the Church-men nor suffer any thing to be collected for the use of any whosoever after the Queenes arrivall then that they did before for they verily supposed that the Queens Majestie would keep promise made to them which was Not to alter their Religion which could not remain without Ministers and Ministers could not live without provision And therefore they heartily desired the Councell to provide some convenient order in that behalf This somewhat moved the Queens flatterers for the Rod of impiety was not then strengthened in her and their hands And so began they to practise how they might please the Queen and yet seem somewhat to satisfie the faithfull And so devised they That the Church-men should have intromission and medling with the two parts of their Benefices and that the third part should be gathered by such men as thereto should be appointed for such uses As in these subsequent Acts are more fully expressed Apud Edinburgh vicesimo Decemb. Anno 1561. THe which day Forasmuch as the Queens Majestie by the advice of the Lords of her secret Councell foreseeing the imminent troubles which apparantly threaten to arise amongst the Lieges of this Realme for matters of Religion to stay the same and shun all incommodities that might thereupon ensue having intercommuned and spoken with a part of the Clergie or State Ecclesiasticall with whom then reasoning being had It was thought good and expedient by her Highnesse That a generall Assembly should be appointed the 15 day of December instant whereto the rest of the States might have appeared and by the advice of Lawyers one reasonable overture be made and order taken for staying of the approaching trouble and quieting of all the Countrey which Assembly being by her Majestie appointed and sundry dayes of Counsell kept and the said Ecclesiasticall State oft-times required That the said Order might be taken and overture made for staying of the trouble and quieting of the Countrey Last of all in presence of the Queens Majesty and Lords of the Councell aforesaid and others of the Nobility of this Realm compeired Iohn Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews Patrick Bishop of Murray Henry Bishop of Rosse and Robert Bishop of Dunkeld And for themselves respectively offered unto the Queens Majestie to be content with the two parts of the Rents of their Benefices and the third part to be imployed as her Majestie thought expedient And because the certaintie thereof was not knowne not yet what summes of Money would sustaine the Ministery and Ministers of Gods Word within this Realme neither yet how much was necessary to support the Queenes Majesty above her own Rents for the common affairs of the Countrey Therefore it is Ordained Concluded and Determined by the Queens Majesty and the Lords of the Councell aforesaid and others of the Nobility present That if the fourth part of the whole Benefices within this Realm may be sufficient to sustain the Ministers thorowout this whole Realme and support the Queens Majesty to maintain and set forwards the common affairs of the Countrey failing thereof the third part of the said Profits and more if it be found sufficient for the effect aforeâ—aid to be taken up yeerly in time coming that a generall order may be taken therewith and so much thereof to be employed to the Queens Majesties use for entertaining and setting forward of the common affairs of the Countrey and so much thereof to the Ministers and sustentation of the Ministry as may reasonably sustain the same at the sight and discretion of the Queens Majesty and Councell aforesaid and the excrescens and superplus to be assigned to the old Possessors And to the effect that the Rents and yeerly Profits of the whole Benefices within this Realme may be cleerly known to the Queens Majesty and Councell aforesaid It is Statuted and Ordained That the whole Rentals of the Benefices of this Realm be produced before her Majesty and Lords aforesaid at the time under-written that is to say The Rentalls of the Benefices on this side of the Water before the 24 of Ianuary next coming And those beyond the water the 10 of February next thereafter and ordains Letters to be directed to the Sheriffs in that part to passe charge and require all and sundry Archbishops Bishops Commendators Abbots Priors on this side of the Water personally to be apprehended and failing thereof at their dwelling places or at the Parish Churches where they should remain Cathedrall Churches or Abbeyes And all Archdeacons Deans
of Adultery of Witchcraft and to seek the restitution of Gleibes or Manses to the Minister of the Church and of the reparation of the Churches and thereby they thought to have pleased the Godly that were highly offended at their slacknesse The Act of Oblivion passed because some of the Lords had entresse but the Acts against adulterie and for the Manses and Gleibes were so modified that no Law and such a Law might stand in eodem predicamento To speak plain no Law and such Acts were both alike The Acts are in Print let wise men read and then accuse us if without cause we complain In the progresse of this corruption and before the Parliament dissolved Iohn Knox in his Sermon before the most part of the Nobilitie began to enter in a deep discourse of Gods mercies which that Realme had felt and of that ingratitude which he espied in the whole multitude which God had marvellously delivered from the bondage and tyrannie both of body and soule And now my Lords said he I praise my God through Jesus Christ that in your own presence I may powre forth the sorrows of my heart yea your selves shall be witnesse if I make any lie in things by-past from the beginning of Gods mighty Works within this Realme I have been with you in your most desperate temptations Aske your own Consciences and let them answer you before God if that I not I but Gods Spirit by me in your greatest extremity willed you not ever to depend upon your God and in his Name promised unto you victory and preservation from your enemies so that onely ye would depend upon his protection and preferre his glory before your lives and worldly commoditie in your most extreme danger I have been with you Saint Iohnstouâ— Cowper-More and the charges of Edinburgh are yet recent in my heart yea that dark and dolorous night wherein all you my Lords with shame and feare left this Town is yet in my minde and God forbid that ever I forget it What was I say my Exhortation unto you and what is fallen in vain of all that ever God promised unto you by my mouth ye your selves live and testifie There is not one of you against whom death and destruction was threatned perished in that danger and how many of your enemies hath God plagued before your eyes shall this be the thankfulnesse that ye shall render unto your God To betray his Cause when ye have it in your own hands to establish it as you please The Queen sayes you will not agree with us aske ye of her that which by Gods Word ye may justly require and if she will not agree with you in God you are not bound to agree with them in the Devill Let her plainly understand so farre of your mindes and steal not from your former stoutnesse in God and he will prosper you in your enterprises But I can see nothing but a recalling from Christ Jesus that the man that first and most speedily fleeth from Christs Ensigne holdeth himselfe most happy yea I hear some say That we have nothing of our Religion Established neither by Law nor Parliament Albeit the malicious words of such can neither hurt the truth of God nor yet us that thereupon depend yet the speaker of this Treason committed against God and against this poore Common-wealth deserves the Gallows for our Religion being commanded and so established by God is received with this Realme in publike Parliament And if they will say That it was no Parliament we must and will say and also prove That that Parliament was also as lawfull as ever any that passed before it within this Realme I say if the King then living was King and the Queen now in this Realm be lawfull Queen that Parliament cannot be denyed And now my Lords to put end to all I hear of the Queens marriage Dukes Brethren to Emperours and Kings strive all for the best gain But this my Lords will I say note the day and beare witnesse after Whensoever the Nobilitie of Scotland who professe the Lord Jesus consents that an Infidell and all Papists are Infidels shall be Head to our Soveraigne ye do so farre as in you lyeth to banish Christ Jesus from this Realme yea to bring Gods vengeance upon the Countrey a plague upon your selves and perchance you shall do small comfort to your Soveraigne These words and this manner of speaking was judged intollerable Papists and Protestants were both offended yea his most familiars disdained him for that speaking Placeboes and Flatterers posted to the Court to give advertisement That Iohn Knox had spoken against the Queens Marriage The Provest of Glencludan Douglas by sirname of Drumlangrig was the man that gave the charge That the said Iohn should present himselfe before the Queen which he did immediately after Dinner The Lord Uchiltrie and divers of the faithfull bare him company to the Abbey but none past in to the Queen with him in the Cabinet but Iohn Arskin of Dun then super-intendent of Angus and Mernes The Queen in a vehement fume began to crie out That never Prince was used as she was I have said she born with you in all your rigorous manner of speaking both against my selfe and against my Uncles yea I have sought your favours by all possible means I offered unto you presence and audience whensoever it pleased you to admonish me and yet I cannot be quit of you I Vow to God I shall be once revenged and with these words scarce could Marnocke one of her Pages get Handkirchiefs to hold her Eyes drie for the Tears and the howling besides womanly weeping stayed her Speech The said Iohn did patiently abide all this fume and at opportunitie answered True it is Madame your Majesty and I have been at divers controversies into the which I never perceived your Majestie to be offended at me but when it shall please God to deliver you from that bondage of darknesse and errour wherein ye have been nourished for the lack of true doctrine your Majestie will finde the libertie of my tongue nothing offensive without the preaching-place Madame I thinke few have occasion to be offended at me and there Madame I am not Master of my selfe but must obey him who commands me to speak plaine and to flatter no flesh upon the face of the Earth But what have you to do said she with my marriage If it please your Majestie said he patiently to hear me I shall shew the truth in plaine words I grant your Majestie offered unto me more then ever I required but my answer was then as it is now That God hath not sent me to awaite upon the Courts of Princes or upon the Chamber of Ladies but I am sent to preach the Evangell of Jesus Christ to such as please to hear it hath two points Repentance and Faith Now Madame in preaching repentance of necessity it is that the sinnes of men be noted that they may
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
and the other Lords at Glasgow AFter humble commendation of my service Albeit I have written more then once to Master Henry Balnaves what things have misliked me in your slow proceedings as well in supporting your brethren who many dayes have sustained extreame danger in these parts as in making provision how the enemie might have been annoyed who lay few in number nigh to your Quarters in Sterlin And in making likewise provision how the expectation of our friends who long have waited for your answer might have been satisfied Albeit I say that of these things I have before complained yet in conscience I am compelled to signifie unto your Honours That unlesse of these and other enormities I shall see some redresse I am assured That the end shall be such as godly men shall mourne that a good Cause shall perish for lacke of Wisdome and Diligence In my last Letters to Master Henry Balnaves I declared That your especiall friends in England wonder that no greater expedition is made the weight of the matter being considered If the fault be in the Duke and his friends I wrote also That the greatest losse should be his and theirs in the end And now I cannot cease both to wonder and lament That your whole Councell was so destitute of Wisdome and Discretion as to charge this poore man the Priour to come to you to Glasgow and thereafter to go to Carleil for such affaires as are to be handled Was there none amongst you who did foresee what inconveniences might ensue his absence from these parts I cease to speake of the dangers by the enemie Your friends have lyen in your Haven now fifteene dayes past what was their former travell it is not unknowne they have never received comfort of any man him onely excepted more then if they had lyen upon the coast of their mortall enemy Do ye not consider That such a company shall need comfort and provision from time to time Remove him and who abideth there who carefully will travell in that or any other weighty matter in these parts Did ye not farther consider That he that had begun to meddle with the Gentlemen who have declared themselves back-friends heretofore and also that order should have been taken for such as have been neutrall now by reason of his absence the one shall escape without admonition and the other shall be at their own liberty I am assured that the enemy shall not sleep neither in that nor in other affairs to undermine you and your whole Cause and especially to hurt this part of the Countrey to revenge their former folly If none of these former causes should have moved you to have considered that such a journey at such a time was not meet for him neither yet for them that must accompany him yet discreet men would have considered that the men that have lien in their jacks and travelled their horses continuall the space of a moneth required some longer rest first to themselves then but especially to their horses before they had been charged to such a journey as yet they have not had The Priour may for satisfaction of your unreasonable mindes enterprise the purpose but I am assured he shall not be able to have six honest men in all Fyfe to accompany him and how that either standeth with your Honors or with his safety judge ye your selves But yet wonder it is that ye did not consider To what pain and griefe shall ye put our friends of England especially the Duke of Norfolk and his Councell whom ye shall cause to travell the most wearisome and troublesome way that is in England In mine opinion whosoever gave you that counsell either lacked right judgement in things to be done or else had too much respect to his own ease and too small regard to the travell and damage of their brethren A common cause requireth a common concurrence and that every man bear his burden proportionable But prudent and indifferent men espie the contrary in this cause especially of late dayes for the weakest are most grievously charged and they to whom the matter most belongeth and to whom justly greatest burden is due are exempted in a manner both from travell and expences To speak the matter plainly wise men do wonder what the Dukes friends do mean that they are so slack and backward in this cause In other actions they have been judged stout and forward and in this which is the greatest that ever he or they had in hand they appear destitute both of grace and courage I am not ignorant that they that are most inward of his counsell are enemies to God and therefore cannot but be enemies to this Cause But wonder it is That he and his other friends should not consider That the losse of this godly enterprise shall be the rooting out of them and their posterity from this Realme Considering my Lords That by Gods providence ye are joyned with the Duke in this common Cause admonish him plainly of the danger to come will him to beware of the counsell of those that are plainly infected with Superstition with Pride and with the venome of particular profit which if he do not at your admonition he shall smart before he be aware And if ye cease to put him in minde of his duty it may be that for your silence ye shall drinke some portion of the plague with him Take my plain speaking as proceeding from him that is not your enemy being also uncertaine when I shall have occasion to write hereafter God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ assist you with the Spirit of wisedom and fortitude that to his glory and to your Lordships common comfort ye may performe that thing which godlily was once begun Amen From Saint Andrewes the 6 of February in haste 1559. Sic subscribitur Your Lordships to command in godlinesse J. K. Upon the receit of this Letter and consultation had hereupon a new conclusion was taken to wit That they would visite the said Duke of Norfolke at Barwicke where he was Thus far we have digressed from the text of our History to let the Posterity that shall follow understand by what instruments God wrought the familiarity and friendship that after we found in England Now we returne to our former History The parts of Fyfe set at freedom from the Bondage of these bloody worms solemne thanks were given in S. Andrews unto God for his mighty deliverance Shortly after the Earle of Arrane and Lord Iames apprehended the Lairds of Wemes Seafield Bawgony Durie and others that assisted the French but they were set shortly at freedom upon such conditions as they minded never to keep for such men have neither faith nor honesty Master Iames Balfour who was the greatest practiser and had drawn the Band of the Balfours escaped The English Ships daily multiplied till that they were able to keep the whole Fyrth whereat the French and Queen Regent enraged began to
have retired himselfe and his Company But that morning he could not be wakened before it was ten hours and when he was upon his feet his spirits failed him by reason of his corpulency so that rightly a long time he could do nothing Some of his friends fearing the danger left him When that he looked upon both the Companies he said This great Company that approacheth neerest to us will do us no harme they are our friends I onely feare that small Company that stands on the hill side they are our enemies But we are enough for them if God be with us And when he had thus spoken he fell upon his knees and made his Prayer in this form O Lord I have been a blood-thirstie man and by my means hath much innocent blood been spilt But wilt thou give me Victory this day and I shall serve thee all the dayes of my life Note and observe good Reader he confesseth that he hath beene a blood-thirsty man and that he had been the cause of the shedding of much innocent blood but yet would he have had Victory And what was that else but to have had power to have shedded more and then would he have satisfied God for altogether wherein is expressed the nature of hypocrites which never fear nor love God further then present danger or profit perswadeth But to our History The Lesleyes Hayes and Forbisses espying the Earle of Murray and his to have lighted upon their feet and made forward against the Earle of Huntley and his who stood in Correthieburne some call it Farabanke But ere they approached nigh by the space of the shot of an Arrow they cast from them their Spears and long Weapons and fled directly in the face of the Earle of Murray and his Company The danger espied the Laird of Pittarrow a man both stout and of a ready wit with the Master after Lord Lyndsey and Tutor of Pitcur said Let us cast down Spears to the foremost and let them not come in amongst us for there is no doubt but this flying is but Treachery And so they did so that they that fled of Huntley seeing the Vaunt-guard flie said unto his Company Our friends are honest men they have kept promise Let us now encounter the rest And so he and his as sure of Victory marched forward The Secretary in few words made a vehement Oration and they willed every man to call upon his God to remember his duty and not to fear the multitude And in the end concluded thus O Lord thou that rulest the heaven and the earth look upon thy servants whose blood this day is most unjustly sought and to mans judgement are sold and betrayed our refuge is now unto thee and our hope is in thee Iudge thou O Lord betwixt us and the Earle of Huntlie and the rest of our enemies If ever we have justly sought his or their destruction and blood let us fall on the sword And O Lord if thou knowest our innocency maintain thou and preserve us for thy great mercies sake Shortly after the speaking of these and the like words the former Rank rejoyced for Huntlies Company made great haste They were repulsed by the Master of Lyndsay and the Companies of Fyfe and Angus some of them that had fled returned and followed the Earle of Murray but gave no stroke till that Huntlies Company gave back In the Front there was slain eighteen or four and twenty men and in the flying there fell 100. There were taken 100. and the rest were spared The Earl himselfe was taken alive his two sons Iohn aforesaid and Adam Gordon were taken with him The Earle immediately after his taking departed this life without any wound or yet appearance of any stroke whereof death might have ensued And so because it was late he was cast overthwart or upon a payre of Creilles and so was carried to Aberdeine and was laid in the Tolbuith thereof that that which his wives Witches had given might be fulfilled who all affirmed as the most part say That same night he should be in the Towne of Aberdeine without any wound upon his body When his Lady got knowledge thereof she blamed her principall Witch called Iannett but she stoutly defended her selfe as the devill can do and affirmed That she gave a true answer albeit she spake not all the truth for she knew that he should be there dead but that could not profit my Lady She was angry and sorry for a season But the devill the Masse and Witches have all great credit with her this day the twelfth of Iune 1566. as they had seven yeers agoe The Earle of Murray sent a Message unto the Queen of the marvellous Victory and humbly prayed her to shew that obedience to God as publikely to convene with them to give thanks unto God for his notable deliverance She glomed and frowned both at the Message and at the Request and scarcely would give a good word or blythe and merry countenance to any that she knew earnest favourers of the Earle of Murray whose prosperity was and yet is a very venome to her boldned heart For many dayes she bare no better countenance whereby it might have been easily espied That she rejoyced not greatly of the successe of that matter And albeit she caused to execute Iohn Gordon and divers others yet it was the destruction of others that she sought Upon the morrow after the discomfiture the Lady Forbesse a woman both wise and fearing God came amongst many others to visite the Corps of the said Earle and seeing him lie upon the cold stones having onely upon him a Doublet of Canvas a payre of Scotch gray Hose and him covered with an Arras work She said What stability shall we judge to be in this world There lieth he that yesterday in the morning was esteemed the wisest the richest and man of greatest power that was within Scotland And in very deed she lyed not for in mans opinion under a Prince there was not such a one these three hundred yeers in this Realme produced But felicity and worldly wisedom so blinded him that in the end he perished in them as shall all those that despight God and trust in themselves Iohn Gordon at his death confessed many horrible things devised by his father by his brother and by himself There were Letters found in the Earles pocket that disclosed the Treason of the Earle of Sutherland and of divers others Master Thomas Keir who before was the whole Councellor of the said Earle disclosed whatsoever he understood might hurt the Gordons and their friends and so Treason plainly disclosed which was That the Earle of Murray should have been murthered in Stragobie the Queen should have been taken and kept at the devotion of the said Earle of Huntley These things we say revealed the Queen left the North and came to Dundie Saint Iohnston Sterlin and then to Edinburgh The Earle of Huntleys body was