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
should leave the Countrey and therefore desired that he might have Justice Her answer was That seeing the Earle Bothwell was a Noble-man and had done her service she could not hate him Neverthelesse she would do nothing that might be prejudiciall to the Earle of Murray but desired that the matter might be taken away within few days she caused summon the Earl Bothwell to answer to the course of Law the 2 of May for the Conspiracy which the Earl of Arrane had alleadged two yeers before and for the breaking of the Ward of the Castle In the mean while there was nothing in the Court but Banquetting Balling and Dancing and other such pleasures as were meet to provoke the disordered appetite and all for the entertainment of the Queens Cousin from England the Lord Darley to whom she did shew all the expressions imaginable of love and kindenesse Within few dayes the Queen being at Sterlin order was given to Secretary Lethington to passe to the Queen of England The chief point of his Message was to declare to the Queen of England That the Queen was minded to marry her Cousin the Lord Darley and the rather because he was so neer of Blood to both Queens For by his mother he was Cousin German to the Queen of Scotland also of neer kindred and of the same name by his father His mother was Cousin German to the Queen of England Here mark Gods providence King Iames the fifth having lost his two sons did declare his resolution to make the Earl of Lenox his Heir of the Crown but he prevented by sudden death that designe ceased Then come the Earle of Lenox from France with intenion to marry King Iames his Widow but that failed also He marries Mary Dowglas and his son marrieth Mary King Iames the fifth his daughter And so the Kings desire is fulfilled to wit The Crown continueth in the Name and in the Family The Queen of England neverthelesse shewed her self nothing pleased therewith but rather declared That she would in no wise suffer her subjects to make such Contracts or Alliance that might be prejudiciall to her and for the same purpose sent a Post to the Queen with Letters wherein she complained greatly of the mind of our Mistris seeing the great affection she bare to her intending to declare her Heretrix of her Realm of England providing onely that she would use her counsell in Marriage but she could not approve her Marriage with the Lord Darley although he was their neer Cousin by Birth since he was below the Rank of the Queen by Condition being but a private subject At the same time she wrote to the Earle of Lenox and to his son commanding them to repair both into England Some write That all this was but counterfeit by the Queen of England and from her heart she was glad of the Marriage for by that means the Succession of the Crown of England was secured the Lord Darley being the right Heir after the Queen of Scotland and Queen Elizab. was not angry to see her married to one of inferiour Rank for by that means she thought the Scots Queen would be lesse proud During this time there were certain Letters directed to the Brethren of Edinburgh to Dundie Fyfe Angus and Mernes and other places from the Brethren of Kyle and other places in the West Countrey desiring the professors of the Evangel in all places to remember what the Eternall God had wrought and how potently he had abolished all kinde of Idolatry and superstition and placed his Word in this Realm so that no man could say otherwise but it was the Work of God who also had delivered this Countrey from the bondage and tyranny of strangers Neverthelesse by our slothfulnesse we have suffered that Idol the Masse not onely to be planted again but to encrease so that the maintainers thereof are like by all appearance to get the upper hand which would be the occasion of our destruction And for that the Papists purposed to set up their Idol at Easter following in all places which was to be imputed to the slothfulnesse and want of godly zeal of the Professors Therefore they admonished the Brethren to strive to avert the evil in time not to suffer such wickednesse to continue and encrease lest that Gods heavie wrath come upon us unawares like a consuming fire By these Letters many Brethren were animated and their spirits wakened minding to provide as God should give them grace And first of all by the advice of the most learned in Edinb there was a Supplication made and given to the Queens Majestie by the Superintendent of Lowthian containing in effect That the Church in generall of the Realme had divers times most humbly craved of her Majesty That committers of Adultery should be punished according to the Law of God and the Acts of Parliament neverthelesse they continued in their wickednes and the Papists of obstinate malice pretended nothing else but to erect and set up their Idolatry and Superstition and especially at Easter day following they intended to put the same in practice which the Brethren and Professors of the Evangel could not suffer Therefore wished her Majestie to take heed of the matter This Supplication the Secretary received of the hands of the Superintendents of Lowthian and Glasgow and told them in the Queenes Name That there should be such provision made as should serve to their contentment And for the same purpose the Queens Majestie writ to all such places as were suspected especially to the Bishop of Saint Andrewes and Aberdeine as was said not to use any Masse And that they should not do any such thing as was feared by the Protestants or convene any Councell and thereto commanded them Now the Communion was administred in Edinburgh the first day of April 1565. At which time because it was neer Easter the Papists used to meet at their Masse And as some of the Brethren were diligent to search such things they having with them one of the Bayliffs took one Sir Iames Carvet riding hard as he had now ended the saying of the Masse and conveyed him together with the Master of the house and one or two more of the assistants to the Tolbuith and immediately revested him with all his Garments upon him and so carried him to the Market-Crosse where they set him on high binding the Chalice in his hand and himself fast tyed to the â—aid Crosse where he tarried the space of one hour During which time the boyes served him with his Easter egges The next day following the said Carvet with his assistants were accused and convinced by an Assize according to the Act of Parliament And albeit for the same offence he deserved death yet for all punishment he was set upon the Market-Crosse for the space of three or four hours the hang-man standing by and keeping him the boyes and others were busie with egges casting and some Papists there were that stopped as far
be set a part for divine service yet we are not so tied to the place as the Iews were yea not so much as the Rominists would have us to be according to that of S. Ioh 21.22 23 for wheresoever 2 or 3 are gathered together in my Nâ—â—â—r I am in the midst of you * Witnesse the Princes and people that the Pope put to the Interdict without cause to say nothing of private persons * So that many do think it a liberty of Religion to swear and curse * Witnesse the divorce of Mary Stuart daughter to James 2. from her lawfull husband Tho. Boyde and maâ—ried to Iames Hamiltonâ— Also of Mary mother to Iames 5. who married after K. Iam. the fourths death Arâ—hibald Douglas Earle of Angus was divorced from him and married to Henry Stuart Lord Meffen Adam Reade his bold aâ—d godly answer Note 1500. 1513. 1527. Brothers son to Iames Hamilton Earle of Arran and sisters son to Iohn Stuart Duke of Althai A Dominican Frier Note how Church-men rules the good nature of the Prince Frier Campbell apostate Mâ—ior Deuâ— 6. Matth. 12. Minor 1. Joh. 4. Conclusio Matth 7. Rom. 13. Galat. 5. Maior Rom. 13. Minor Joh. 19. Conclusio Christ is the end and fulfilling of the Law to every one that believeth Rom. 10.14 Rom. 3. Rom. 7. Gospel quasi Godspel that is Gods word but ordinarily it is taken from that part which we call Evangel that is Good tidings otherwise Gospel quasi Goodspel that is Good words and so Good tidings Gen. 15. Joh. 5. Jam. 1. Rom 14. Heb 11. Heb. 11. Rom 8. Rom. 4. Rom. 4. Abac. 2. Rom. 1. Joh. 6. 1 Joh. 5. Act. 10. Rom. 10. Joh. 3. Gal. 3. Matth. 19. Joh 9. Joh. 20. Mark 16. Matth. 28. Psal. 117. 1. Tim. 6. This 〈…〉 derstood of circumstance of worldly mâ—n and not of them of God for the neerer that meâ— draw to God we are bound 〈◊〉 more to love them Galat. 3. Matth 13. Matth. 7. Note Note Note Quaere Answer Note Note Here you see verified Cinis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae M. Gawyn Logy Munks Preach Bishops devices M. Iohn Mair whose History of Scotland we have c. He wrote upon the 4 Evangelists c. Arithe his Sermon False Miracles Alexander Furrour his Examination before the Bishops Alexander Seton a black Frier Note Note Iames the fifth Note Aleâ—ander Seton his Letter There was another Frier Forrest hanged in Smithfield 1538. Note For 10 yeers the persecution ceaseth 1534. 1538. The civil troubles give some rest to Gods flock fâ—r a time Note Macdowel Alaesius John Fyfe Machabeus Note 1534. This yeere was Lawes made against the Reformation the Pope having sent to Scotland a Legat the yeere before 6 Accused for Heresie Note 2 Gentlemen Straton and Gowâ—ley burnt See how the Bishops did intrench upon the good disposition of the King and his Soveraigne 1534. Burning of the Bill was a signe of recantation 1537. Lâ—sly writes this done 1540. Iohn Berthwick fled into England from whence Henry sent him into Germany to the Protestant Princes Foure burnt 1538. 1539. Ieremie Russell Alex. Kennedie Kennedie his thanks to God His speech to the Judges Note Sir Iames Hamilton said That God had justly brought him to that because he had offended often to gain the King favour by unjust ways Note George Buchanan by the Kings câ—mmand then angry with the Friers did write this Satyre against them who thereafter having made their peace with the King would not be appeased with Gâ—orge Buchanan whom the king gave over to their importunity and so he was put in prison The Earle of Gleaverne his verse upon the Gray Friers The Church-men ingage the King to warre against his Uncle Halderig Read England called Hereticke bâ—cause it renounced the Pope Note All hallow tyde Fallow Reade Note The Lords answer to the Kings desire Note Note Note An answer worthy of a Prince By this answer you may see how good this Prince had bin if 〈◊〉 Câ—urch mâ—n and flatterâ—â—s â—ad not abused him Abused Prince by Prelats So the evil advised Prince gave himselfe over to the false Propâ—ets I meane the Prelats The Reade of Holway masse by Oliver Sinclar Whaâ—ton was then Warden in these parts Stratageme Note Note Oliver compared to Benhadad against Samaria 2 King 20. 300 men put to flight 10000 Others say at Carlaveâ—ok neer by the place where the defeat was given called Sobâ—â—y Mosse The King foretells his own death Reginae Nativitas Mark the Queens mourning for the King Others stick not to say That the King was hastned away by a Potion Levit. 12. Regis exitus Divers Charactâ—rs of the late King arise post funâ—ra virtuâ— Character of the Hamiltons Note the reasons why the Earle of Arran was thus favoured by the Countrey 1543 Note Frier Scot. The Cardinal taken 1543. An Act of Parliament for reading of the Scripture Note the hypocrisie of worldlings So long as men follow God they are blessed Nothing could be said against the lawfulnesse of Edwards birth Katharine of Spaine and Anne Bullen being dead before his mother was married to his father Note well The Queenes marriage the second time ratified He was before sometimes called Cunningham sometimes Colwan so uncertaine was it who was his father Note Note This is the Prelats language The Governour violated his faith refused God and took absulution of the devil renouncing his Religion in the gray Friers All this was then said by the Cardinall Penes authorem fides estâ— Note the device of the wicked to set men by the 〈◊〉 1543 Note * And many trod under foot died Note As they went to Dundie they said they were going to burne the readers of the new Testament and that they would stick to the old for Luther said they had made the new Note A woman and her childe put to death because she prayed not to the Virgin Mary Men put to death for eating a Goose upon Friday Iohn Roger a black Friet murthered 1544. The English Army arrived in Scotland Note Endinburgh burnt and spoiled by the English Note 1544. Lorge cometh to Scotland 1545. Note The character of Hamilton Note George Wischarde Note a falsâ— brother M. Wischard his words in Dundie The Bishops Sermon Note Note M. Wescharde his zeale to gain soules A Priest appointed by the Cardinall to stab M. George Wischarde The second attempt of the Cardinall for the killing of M. George Wischarde Note the spirit of Prophesie Prophesie spoken by Master George Whischarde of the Church of Scotland Note the resolution of a Preacher Two gray Friers Vengeance against Hadington Master Wischarde taken at Ormeston Note He means Gods people The Lord Bothwels promise M Georges words to the Earl Bothwell 1546. Note The proud Cardinall and the glorious foole Dumbar A question worthy of such two Prelats 1546. Who was a learned man and heartily favoured the pure Religion in secret Bona heresios definitio c. Note the
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
suffered in body in respect of that wherewith sometimes she was troubled in spirit She answered A thousand yeere of this torment and ten times more joyned unto it is not to be compared in the quarter of an houre that I suffered in my spirit I thanke my God through Iesus Christ that hath delivered me from that fearfull pain and welcome be this even so long as it pleaseth his godly Majestie to exercise me therewith A little before her departure she desired her sisters and some others that were beside her to sing a Psalme and amongst others she appointed the 103. Psalme beginning My soule praise thou the Lord alwayes which ended she said At the Teaching of this Psalme began my troubled soule first effectually to taste of the mercy of my God which now to me is more sweet and precious then if all the kingdomes of the earth were given to me to possesse them a thousand yeeres The Priests urged her with their Ceremonies and Superstitions To whom she answered Depart from me ye Sergeants of Satan for I have refused and in your own presence doe refuse all your abominations That which you call your Sacrament and Christs body as ye have deceived us to beleeve in times past is nothing but an Idoll and hath nothing to do with the right Institution of Iesus Christ and therefore in Gods Name I command you not to trouble me They departed alleadging That she raved and wist not what she said And she shortly after slept in the Lord Jesus to no small comfort of those that saw her blessed departing This we could not omit of this worthy woman who gave so notable a Confession before that the great light of Gods Word did universally shine thorowout this Realme At the first coming of the said Iohn Knox he perceiving divers who had a zeale to godlinesse make small scruple to go to the Masse or to communicate with the abused Sacraments in the Papisticall manner began as well in privie Conference as in Preaching to shew the impietie of the Masse and how dangerous a thing it was to communicate in any sort with Idolatrie wherewith the conscience of some being affrighted the matter began to be agitate from man to man And so was the said Iohn called to Supper by the Laird of Dun for that same purpose where were assembled David Forresse Master Robert Lockart Iohn Willocke and William Maitland of Lethington younger a man of good Learning and of sharpe wit and reasoning The Question was Proposed and it was answered by the said Iohn That in no wise it was lawfull to a Christian to present himselfe to that Idoll Nothing was omitted that might serve for the purpose and yet was every head so fully answered and especially one whereunto they thought their great defence stood To wit That Paul at the commandment of Iames and of the Elders of Ierusalem passed to the Temple and fained himselfe to pay his vow with others This we say and other things were so fully answered that William Maitland concluded saying I see very perfectly that our shifts will serve nothing before God seeing that they stand us in so small stead before men The answer of Iohn Knox to the fact of Paul and to the commandment of Iames was That Pauls fact had nothing to do with their going to Masse For to pay Vowes was sometimes Gods Commandment as was never Idolatry But their Masse from the originall was and remained odious Idolatry Therefore the fact was most unlike Secondarily said he I greatly doubt whether either Iames his commandment or Pauls obedience proceeded of the holy Ghost We know their counsell tendeth to this That Paul would shew himselfe one that observed diligently the very small points of the Law to the end he might purchase to himself the favours of the Jews who were offended at him by reason of the bruites that were spread That he taught defection from Moses Now while he obeyed their counsell he fell into the most desperate danger that ever he sustained before whereby it was evident That God approved not that mean of reconciliation but rather that he plainely declareth That evil should not be done that good might come of it Evil it was for Paul to confirme those obstinate Jewes in their Superstition by his example worse it was to him to expose himselfe and the Doctrine which before he had taught to slander and mockage And therefore concluded the said Iohn That the fact of Paul and the sequell that thereof followed appeared rather to fight against them that would go to the Masse then to give unto them any assurance to follow his example unlesse that they would that the like trouble should instantly apprehend them that apprehended him for obeying worldly-wise councell After these and like reasonings the Masse began to be abhorred of such as before used it for the fashion and avoiding of slander as then they termed it Iohn Knox at request of the Laird of Dun followed him to his place of Dun where he remained a moneth daily exercised in Preaching whereunto resorted the principall men of that countrey After this returning his residence was most in Calder whither repaired unto him the Lord Erskin the Earle of Argyle then Lord of Lorne and Lord Iames then Priour of S. Andrews and after Earle of Murrey where they heard and so approved his Doctrine that they wished it to have been publike That same Winter he taught commonly in Edinburgh and after Christmas by the conduct of the Laird of Bar and Robert Campbell of Kingieancleuch he came to Kyle and taught in the Bar in the house of the Caâ—nell in the Kingieancleuch in the Town of Air and in the houses of Uchiltrie and Gathgirth and in some of them he ministred the Lords Table Before Easter the Earl of Glencarne sent for him to his place of Fynlaston where after Sermon he also ministred the Lords Table Whereof besides himself were partakers his Lady two of his sons and certain of his friends And so returned he to Calder where divers from Edinburgh and from the Countrey about assembled as well for the Doctrine as for the right use of the Lords Table which before they had never practised From thence he departed the second time to the Laird of Dun and teaching then in greater liberty the Gentlemen required That he should minister likewise unto them the Table of the Lord Jesus where were partakers the most part of the Gentlemen of the Mernes who God be praised to this day do constantly remain in the same doctrine which then they professed To wit That they refused all society with Idolatry and bent themselves to the uttermost of their powers to maintain the true Preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as God should offer unto them Preachers and opportunitie The bruite hereof spread for the Friers from all quarters flocked to the Bishops the said Iohn Knox was summoned to appear in the Church of the blacke
we could have our company which then was dispersed for new furnishing assembled again The certaintie hereof coming to our knowledge the Saturday at night being the 25 of July we did what in us lay to give advertisement to our brethren but impossible it was that the Wast Angus Mernes Straitherne or Fyfe in any number could come to us For the enemie Marched from Dumbar upon the Sunday and approached within two miles of us before Sun-rising upon Munday For they verily supposed to have found no resistance being assured that the Lords onely with certain Gentlemen remained with their private houses calling upon God for counsell in that straight we sought what was the next defence We might have left the Town and might have retired our selves without any danger but then we should have abandoned our brethren of Edinburgh and suffered the Ministery thereof to have decayed which to our hearts was so dolorous that we thought better to hazard the extremitie then so to do For then the most part of the Town appeared rather to favour us then the Queens faction and did offer unto us the uttermost of their support which for the most part they did faithfully keep The same did the Town of Leith but they kept not the like fidelity For when we were upon the field marching forward for their support for the French marched nigh to them they rendred themselves without further resistance And this they did as is supposed by the treason of some within themselves and by perswasion of the Laird of Lestarrig who before declared himselfe to be one of us and notwithstanding that same day rendred himselfe undesired to Monsieur Dosell Their unprovided and sudden defection astonished many and yet we retired quietly to the side of Cragingate which place we took for resisting the enemy In the mean time divers mediatours passed betwixt us amongst whom the Lord Ruthuen for our part was principall Alexander Erskin did much travell to stay us and our Souldiers that we should not joyne with them of Leith till that they as is said had rendred themselves to the French The said Alexander did oft promise that the French would stay provided That we would not joyne with those of Leith But after that they were rendred we heard nothing of him but threatning and discomfortable words Before it was eight of the clock in the morning God had given unto us both courage and a reasonable number to withstand their furie The Towne of Edinburgh so many as had subject themselves to discipline and divers others besides them behaved themselves both faithfully and stoutly The Gentlemen of Lowthiane especially Calder Hatton and Ormeston were very comfortable as well for their counsell as for their whole assistance Some Gentlemen of Fyfe prevented the French-men other were stopped by reason that the French had passed Leith Alwayes the enemy took such a fear That they determined not to invade us where we stood but took purpose to have passed to Edinburgh by the other side of the water of Leith and that because they had the Castle to their friend which was to us unknown for we supposed the Lord Erskin Captain of the same either to have been our friend or at least to have been indifferent But when we had determined to fight he sent word to the Earle of Argyle to Lord Iames his sisters son and to the other Noble-men That he would declare himselfe both enemy to them and to the Town and would shoot at both if they made any resistance to the French-men to enter into the Town This his treasonable defiance sent us by the Laird of Ricarton did abate the courage of many for we could not fight nor stop the enemy but under the mercy of the Castle and whole Ordnance thereof Hereupon was consultation taken and in conclusion it was found lesse damage to take an appointment albert the Conditions were not such as we desired then to hazard battell betwixt two such enemies After long talking certaine heads were drawn by us which we desired to be granted First That no member of the Congregation should be troubled in life lands goods or possessions by the Queen her Authority nor any other justice within the Realm for any thing done in the late Innovation till a Parliament which should begin the tenth of Ianuary had decreed things in controversie 2. That Idolatry should not be erected where it was at that day suppressed 3. That the Preachers and Ministers should not be troubled in their Ministery where they are already established neither yet stopped to preach wheresoever they should chance to come 4. That no Bands of men of War should be laid in Garrison within the Town of Edinburgh 5. That the French-men should be sent away at a reasonable day and that none other should be brought into the Countrey without consent of the whole Nobility and Parliament But these our Articles were altered and another forme disposed as followeth At the Linkes of Leith the 24 of July 1559. It is appointed in manner following IN the first Congregation and their company others then the inhabitants of the said Towne shall remove themselves forth of the said Town the morrow at ten hours before noon the 25 of Iuly and leave the same void and rid of them and their said company conform to the Queens Majesties pleasure and desire Item The said Congregation shall cause the Irons of the Coyning-house taken away by them be rendred and delivered to Master Robert Richeson And likewise the Queens Majesties Palace of Halyrud-house to be left and rendred again to M. John Balfour or any other having her Majesties sufficient power in the same matter as it was resolved and that betwixt the making of these Articles and the morn at ten of the clock For observing and keeping of these two Articles above written the Lord Ruthuen and the Laird of Pittarrow have entred themselves pledges Item The said Lords of the Congregation and all the members thereof shall remain obedient subjects to our Lord and Ladies Authority and to the Queen Regent in their place And shall obey all Laws and laudable Customs of this Realme as they were used before the moving of this tumult and controversie excepting the cause of Religion which shall be hereafter specified Item The Congregation nor any of them shall not trouble or molest a Church-man by way of deed nor yet shall make them any impediment in the peaceable brooking enjoying and uptaking of their Rents Profits and Duties of their Benefices but that they may freely use and dispose upon the same according to the Laws and Custome of this Realme to the tenth of Ianuary next to come Item The said Congregation nor none of them shall use in no wayes from thenceforth any force or violence in casting downe of Churches Religious places or apparell thereof but the same shall stand harmlesse of them unto the tenth day of January Item The Town of Edinburgh shall without compulsion
shall be more amply declared After we had abided certaine dayes in Sterlin the Earle of Argyle departed to Glasgow and because he was to depart to his owne Countrey with whom also passed the Lord Iames to pacifie some trouble which by the craft of the Queen was raised in his absence he required the Earle of Glencarne Lord Boyd Lord Uchiltrie and others of Kyle to meet there for some order to be taken that the brethren should not be oppressed which with one consent they did and appointed the tenth of September for the next convention at Sterlin While these things were in doing at Glasgow Letters and a servant came from the Earle of Arran to the Duke his father signifying unto him That by the providence of God he had escaped the French Kings hands who most treasonably and most cruelly had sought his life or at the least to have committed him to perpetuall prison For the same time the said French King seeing he could not have the Earle himself caused put his younger brother a childe of such age as could not offend in strait prison where he yet remained to wit in the Month of October the yeer of our Lord 1559. Which things were done by the power and craft of the Queen Dowager at the time that the Duke and his friends were most ready to set forth her cause These Letters received and the estate of her two sons knowne of whom one was escaped and the other cast in vile prison the Duke desired communing with the said Earle of Argyle who partly against the will of some that loved him rid unto the Duke from Glasgow to Hammilton where abiding a night he declared his judgement to the Duke and to his friends especially to Master Gawane Hammilton The Duke required him and the Lord Iames to write their friendly and comfortable Letters to his son which they most willingly did and thereafter addressed them to their journey But the very day of their departing came one Boutancourt from the Queen Regent with Letters as was alleadged from the King and Queen of France to the Lord Iames which he delivered with a bragging countenance and many threatning words the Tenour of his Letter was this The King his Letter to the Lord Iames. MY Cousin I have greatly marvelled when I understood the troubles that are happened in these parts And yet I more marvell That ye in whom I had whole confidence and who has the Honour to be so neer the Queen my wife and has received from the late King my Father from the Queen my wife and from me such graces and favours that ye should be so forgetfull as to make your selfe the Head and one of the principall beginners and nourishers of the tumults and seditions that are seen there The which because it is so strange to me and so farre against the profession that ye at all times have made I cannot well beleeve it But if it be so I cannot think but ye have been entised and led thereto by some persons that have seduced you and caused you commit such a fault as I am assured you repent of already which will be a great pleasure to me to the effect I may lose a part of the occasion I have to be miscontent with you as I will you to understand I am Seeing you have so far deceived the esperance I had of you and your affection toward God and the weale of our service unto the which ye know ye are as much and more obliged then any other of the Lords there For this cause desiring that the matters may be duely amended and knowing what ye can therein I thought good on this manner to write unto you and pray you to take heed to return to the good way from which ye have declined and cause me know the same by the effects That you have another intention then this which the follies by-past maketh me now to beleeve doing all that ever ye can to reduce all things to their first estate and put the same to the right and good obedience that you know to be due unto God and unto me Otherwise ye may be well assured that I will put to my hand and that in good earnest that you and all they who have done and do as ye do shall feele through your own fault that which ye have deserved and merited Even as I have given charge to this Gentle-man present bearer to make you know more largely of my part for which cause I pray you credit him even as ye would do my selfe Praying God my cousin to have you in his holy and worthy protection Written at Paris the 17 day of July 1559. The same Messenger brought also Letters from the Queen our Soveraigne more sharp and threatning then the former For her conclusion was Vous en sentires la poincture a iamais His credit was That the King would spend the Crown of France if that he were not revenged upon such seditious persons That he would never have suspected such inobedience and such defection from his own sister in him To the which the said Lord Iames answered first by word and then by writing as followeth The Lord Iames his Letter to the King Sir MY most humble duty remembred Your Majesties Letters I received from Paris the 17 of Iuly last importing in effect That your Majestie doth marvell that I being forgetfull of the graces and favours shewed me by the King of blessed memorie your Majesties father and the Queen my Soveraigne should declare my selfe head and one of the principall beginners of these alleadged Tumults and Seditions in these parts deceiving thereby your Majesties expectation in all times had of me with assurance That if I did not declare by contrary effects my repentance I with the rest that had put or yet putteth hand to this Work should receive that reward which we had deserved and merited SIR It grieves me very heavily that the crime of ingratitude should bâ— laid to my charge by your Majestie and the rather Thâ—t I perceive the same to have proceeded of sinister information of them whose part it was not to have reported so if true service past had been regarded And as touching the repentance and declaration of the same by certaine effects That your Majesty desires I shew My conscience perswades me in these proceedings to have done nothing against God not the dutifull obedience towards your Majesty and the Queen my Soveraigne Otherwise it should not have been to be repented and also amended already accordâ—ng to your Majesties expectation of me But your Majestie being truely informed and perswaded That the thing which we have done maketh for the advancement of Gods glory without any manner of derogation to your Majesties due obedience We doubt not but your Majestie shall be well contented with our proceedings which being grounded upon the commandment of the eternall God we dare not leave the same unaccomplished onely wishing and desiring
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
necessity a lie And to witnesse that this comes of all my heart I shall remain at Berwike while I get thy Majesties answer and shall without fail return having thy hand write that I may have audience place to speak No more I desire of thee whereof if I had been sure I should never have departed and that thou mayst know the truth thereof if fear of the justnesse of my Cause or dread of persecution for the same had moved me to depart I could not so pleasantly revert onely distrust was the cause of my departing Pardon me to say that which lieth to thy Majesties charge Thou art bound by the Law of God suppose they falsly lie saying it pertaineth not to thy Majestie to intermeddle with such matters to cause every man in any case accused of his life to have their just defence their accusers produced conform to their own law They blinde thy Matie eyes that knows nothing of thy law but if I prove not this out of their own law I offer me to the death Thy Matie therefore by experience may daily learn seeing they neither fear the King of Heaven as their lives testifie neither thee their Naturall Prince as their usurped power in their actions shews why thy Highnes should be no longer blinded Thou maist consider that they pretend nothing else but onely the maintenance and upholding of their barded mules augmenting of their insatiable avarice and continuall overthrowing and swallowing up thy poore subjects neither preaching nor teaching out of the Law of God as they should the rude ignorant people but contend who may be most high most rich and neerest thy Majesty to put thy Temporal Lords and Lieges out of thy counsell and favour who should be and are most tender servants to thy Majesty in all time of need to the defence of thee and thy Crown And where they desire thy Majesty to to put out thy Temporal Lords and Lieges because they despise their vitious life What else intend they but onely thy death and destruction as thou maist easily perceive suppose they colour their false intent and minde with the pursuit of heresie for when thy Barons are put downe What art thou but the king of Land and not of men and then of necessity must be guided by them and there no doubt where a blinde man is guide must be a fall in the mire Therefore let thy Majesty take boldnes and authority which thou hast of God and suffer not their cruell persecution to proceed without audience given to him that is accused and just place of defence and then no doubt thou shalt have thy subjects hearts and all that they can or may do in time of need tranquility justice and policy and finally the Kingdom of the heavens May it please you to give one Copy of this to the Clergie and keep the Original and thy Majestie shall have experience if I go against one word that I have spoken I shall daily make my hearty devotion for thy Majestie and for the prosperity and welfare of thy body and soul. I doubt not but thy gracious Highnesse will give answer to this Letter unto the Presenter of it unto thy Highnesse At Berwike by thy Highnesse servant and Orator Sic subscribitur Alexander Seton This Letter was delivered to the Kings own hands and of many read but what could greatly avail where the pride and corruption of Prelats commanded what they pleased and the flattery of Courtiers fostered the unadvised Prince in all dissolutenesse by which means they made him obsequious unto them From the death of that constant Witnesse of Jesus Christ M. Patrike Hammilton God disclosing the wickednesse of the wicked as before we have heard There was one Forrest of Linlytquow taken who after long imprisonment in the said Tower of S. Andrews was adjudged to the fire by the â—aid Bishop Iames Betonne and his Doctors for no other crime but because he had a new Testament in English Further of that History we have not except that he died constantly and with great patience at S. Andrews After whose death thâ— flame of Persecution ceased till the death of M. Norman Gurlaw the space of ten yeeres or thereabout not that the bloody beasts ceased by all means to suppresse the lyght of God and to trouble such as in any sort were suspected to abhorre their corruption but because the Realme in these times was troubled with intestine and cruell warres in the which much blood was shed first at Melrosse betwixt the Dowglas and Balclench in the yeere of God 1526. the 24. day of July Next at Lynlythcow betwixt the Hamiltons and the Earle of Lenox who was sisters son to the Earle of Arran where the said Earle with many others lost his life the thirteenth day of September in the same yeere And last betwixt the King himself and the foresaid Dowglas whom he banished the Realme and held him in exile during his whole dayes By reason of these we say and of other troubles the Bishops and their bloody bands could not finde the time so favourable unto them as they required to execute their Tyrannie In this middle time so did the wisedome of God provide that Henry the eight King of England did abolish from his Realme the name and authority of the Pope of Rome commanded the Bible to be read in English suppressed the Abbeys and other places of Idolatry with their Idols which gave great hope to divers Realmes that some godly Reformation should thereof have ensued And therefore from this our Countrey did divers learned men and others that lived in feare of Persecution repaire to that Realme where albeit they found not such purity as they wished and therefore divers of them sought other countreys yet they escaped the tyrannie of mercilesse men and were reserved to better times that they might fructifie within his Church in divers places and parts and in divers vocations Alexander Setonne remained in England and publikely with great praise and comfort of many taught the Gospel in all sincerity certain yeers And albeit the craftinesse of Gardner Bishop of Winchester and of others circumvented the said Alexander so that they caused him at Pauls Crosse to affirme certaine things that repugned to his former Doctrine yet it is no doubt but that God potently had assisted him in all his life and that also in his death which shortly after followed he found the mercy of his God whereupon he ever exhorted all men to depend Alexander Alaesius Master Iohn Fyfe and that famous man Doctor Machabeus departed unto Dutchland where by Gods providence they were distributed to severall places Makdowell for his singular prudence besides his Learning and Godlinesse was elected borrow-Master in one of their steads Alaesius was appointed to the Universitie of Lipsia and so was Master Iohn Fyfe where for their honest behaviour and great erudition they were holden in admiration with all the
sat downe upon his knees and rose againe And thrice he said these words O thou Saviour of the world have mercy on me Father of heaven I commend my spirit into thy holy hands When he had made this Prayer he turned him to the people and said these words having obtained leave to speak a little I beseech you Christian brethren and sisters that ye be not offended at the Word of God for the affliction and torments which ye see already prepared for me But I exhort you that ye love the Word of God for your salvation and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort Moreover I pray you shew my brethren and sisters which have heard me oft before that they cease not nor leave off to learne the word of God which I taught them after the grace given unto me for no persecutions nor troubles in this world which last not And shew unto them that my Doctrine was no wives fables after the constitutions made by men And if I had taught mens doctrine I had gotten greater thanks by men But for the Words sake and true Gospel which was given to me by the grace of God I suffer this day by men not sorrowfully but with a glad heart and minde For this cause I was sent That I should suffer this fire for Christs sake Consider and behold my visage ye shall not see me change my colour This grim fire I fear not and so I pray you for to do if that any persecution come unto you for the Words â—ake and not to fear them that slay the body and have no power afterward to slay the soul. Some have said of me That I taught that the soul of man should sleep untill the last day But I know surely and my faith is such That my soul shall sup with my Saviour this night ere it be six hours for whom I suffer this Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech the Father of heaven to forgive them that have of any ignorance or else of any evil minde forged lies upon me I forgive them with all my heart I beseech Christ forgive them that have condemned me to death this day ignorantly And last of all he said to the people on this manner I beseech you brethren and sisters to exhort your Prelats to the learning of the Word of God that they may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good And if they will not convert themselves from their wicked errour there shall hastily come upon them the wrath of God which they shall not eschew Many faithfull words said he in the meane time taking no heed or care of the cruell torments which were then prepared for him Then the Executioner that was his tormentor sate down upon his knees and said Sir I pray you forgive me for I am not guilty of your death To whom he answered Come hither to me When he was come to him he kissed his cheek and said Lo here is a token that I forgive thee my heart do thy Office And then by and by the Trumpet sounding he was tyed to the stake and the fire kindled The Captain of the Castle for the love he bore to M. Wischarde drew so neer to the fire that the flame thereof did him harme he wished M. Wischarde to be of good courage and to beg from God the forgivenesse of his sins to whom M. Wischarde answered thus This fire torments my body but no wayes abates my spirit Then M. Wischarde looking towards the Cardinall said He who in such state from that high place feedeth his eyes with my torments within few dayes shall be hanged out at the same window to be seen with us much ignominy as he now leaneth there in pride Then with this the Executioner drawing the Cord stopt his breath presently after the fire being great he was consumed to powder The Prelats would not suffer any prayers to be made for him according to their Custome After the death of Master Wischarde the Cardinall was cryed up by his flatterers and all the rabble of the corrupt Clergie as the onely Defender of the Catholike Church and punisher of hereticks neglecting the authority of the sluggish Governour And it was said by them That if the great Prelates of latter dayes both at home and abroad had been so stout and zealous of the credit of the Catholike Church they had not onely suppressed all hereticks but also kept under the Lay-men who were so froward and stubborne On the other side when that the people beheld the great tormenting of that innocent they could not withhold from piteous mourning and complaining of the innocent lambs slaughter After the death of this blessed Martyr of God began the people in plaine speaking to damne and detest the cruelty that was used yea men of great birth and estimation and honour at open tables avowed That the blood of the said Master George should be revenged or else it should cost life for life and that in a short time they should be like hogs kept for slaughter by this vitious Priest and wicked Monster which neither minded God nor cared for man Amongst those that spake against the Cardinalls cruelty Iohn Lesley brother to the Earle of Rothes was chief with his Cozen Norman Lesley who had been a great follower of the Cardinall and very active for him but a little before fell so foule with him that they came to high reproaches one with another The occasion of their falling out was a private businesse wherein Norman Lesley said he was wronged by the Cardinall On the other side the Cardinall said he was not with respect used by Norman Lesley his inferiour The said Iohn Lesley in all companies spared not to say That that same dagger shewing forth his dagger and that same hand should be put in the Cardinalls brest These brutes came to the Cardinalls ears but he thought himselfe stout enough for all Scotland For in Babylon that is in his new Block-House he was sure as he thought and upon the fields he was able to match all his enemies And to speak the truth the most part of the Nobility of Scotland had either given unto him their Bands of Manred or else were in confederacy and promised amity with him and so he gave his bastard eldest daughter in Marriage to the Earl of Crawford his eldest son and heir and caused the Wedding to be celebrate with such State as if she had been a Princes lawfull daughter He onely feared them in whose hands God did deliver him and for them he laid his nets so secretly as that he made a full compt that their feet could not escape as we shall after hear And something of his former practices we may recompt After Easter he came to Edinburgh to hold the Seingnye as the Papists termed then their unhappy Assembly of Baals shaven sort It was bruted that
Commonalty and comes to the house side crying What have ye done with my Lord Cardinall Where is my Lord Cardinall Have ye slain my Lord Cardinall They that were within answered gentlely Best it were for you to return to your own houses for the man ye call the Cardinall hath received his reward and in his own person will trouble the world no more But then more inragedly they cry We shall never depart till that we see him And so was he brought to the East block-house head and shewed dead over the wall to the faithlesse multitude which would not beleeve before they saw and so they departed without Requiem aeternam requiescat in pace sung for his soule Now because the weather was hot for it was in May as ye have heard and his funerals could not suddenly be prepared it was thought best to keep him from stinking to give him great salt enough a cope of lead and a corner in the bottom of the sea Tower a place where many of Gods children had been imprisoned before to await what exequies his brethren the Bishops would prepare for him These things we write merrily but we would that the Reader should observe Gods just judgements and how that he can deprehend the worldly wise in their own wisdom make their table to be a snare to trap their own feet and their own purposed strength to be their own destruction These are the works of our God whereby he would admonish the tyrants of this earth that in the end he will be revenged of their crueltie what strength soever they make in the contrary But such is the blindnesse of man as David saith that the posterity doth ever follow the footsteps of their wicked fathers and principally in their impiety For how little differs the cruelty of that bastard that yet is called Bishop of S. Andrews from the cruelty of the former we will after heare The death of this aforesaid Tyrant as it was pleasing to some to wit to those who had received the Reformation of Religion for they were mightily afraid of him and also to sundry Romanists whom he kept under as slaves so on the other side it was dolorous to the Priests dolorous to the Governour dolorous to the Queene Dowager for in him perished faithfulnesse to France and the comfort to all Gentle-women and especially to wanton widows His death must be revenged To the Court again repaires the Earle of Angus and his brother Sir George labour is made for the Abbacie of Arbroth and a grant was once made of the same in memory whereof George Dowglas bastard sonne to the said Earle is yet called Postulant But it was more proper think the Hamiltons for the Governours itching then for reward to the Dowglasses And yet in hope thereof the said Earle and Sir George his brother were the first that voted that the Castle of S. Andrews should be besieged Divers Gentlemen of Fyfe went into the Castle and abode there with the Leslies during the first siege and Iohn Rough was Preacher to them The Bishop to declare the zeale that he had to revenge the death of him that was his predecessour and for his riches he would not have had him living againe still blew the coles And first he made summons then he denounced accursed at last rebels not onely the first enterprisers but all such also as after did accompany them And last of all a siege was concluded which began in the end of August for the 23 day thereof departed the Souldiers from Edinburgh and continued neer to the end of January At what time because they had no other hope of winning of it but by hunger and thereof also they despaired for they within had broken through the East wall and made a plaine passage by an iron gate to the sea which greatly relieved the besieged and abased the besiegers for then they saw that they could not stop them of victuals unlesse that they should be masters of the sea and that they clearly understood they could not be for the English Ships had once been there and had brought William Kirkcaldie from London and with much difficultie because the said gate was not then prepared and some losse of men had rendered him to the Castle againe and had taken with them to the Court of England Iohn Leslie and Master Henry Balnaves for perfecting of all Contracts betwixt them and the King Henry who promised to take them into his protection upon condition onely that they should keep the Governours son my Lord of Arrane and stand friends to the Contract of Marriage whereof before we have made mention These things clearly understood we say by the Governour and his Counsell the Priests and the shaven sort they concluded to make an appointment to the end that under Truce they might either get the Castle betrayed or else some principall men of the company taken at unawares In which dressing was the Abbot of Dunfermeling principall and for that purpose had the Laird of Monquhanie who was most familiar with those of the Castle laboured with foot and hand and proceeded so in his traffique that from entring in day light at his pleasure he gat licence to come in in the night whensoever it pleased him But God had not appointed so many to be betrayed albeit that he would that they should be punished and that justly as hereafter we shall heare The Heads of the coloured appointment were 1. That they should keep the Castle of S. Andrews still while that the Governour and the authority of Scotland should get unto them a sufficient absolution from the Pope Antichrist of Rome for the slaughter of the Cardinall aforesaid 2. That they should deliver pledges for the deliverie of that house as soone as the aforesaid absolution was delivered unto them 3. That they their friends familiars and servants and others to them pertaining should never be pursued in Law by authority for the slaughter aforesaid But that they should enjoy commodities spirituall or temporall whatsoever they possessed before the said slaughter even as if it had never beene committed That they of the Castle should keep the Earle of Arran so long as their Pledges were kept And such like Articles liberall enough for they never minded to keep word of them as the issue did declare Iohn Rough left the Castle seeing he could do little good upon those that were within so addicted were they to their evil wayes he went into England to Preach Gods Word there The appointment made all the godly were glad for some hope they had that thereby Gods Word should somewhat bud as indeed so it did For Iohn Rough who soon after the Cardinals slaughter entred within the Castle and had continued in it during the whole siege having left the Castle because he could do little good upon those that were with him so addicted were they to their evil wayes began to Preach in the city of S. Andrews
us that professe the same God secretly they desire but that ye begin the bargaine at us and when it begins at us God knows the end therof and who shall bide the next put My Lord consider this make no Preparative of us Let not the vain exhortation of them that regard little of the weale and strength of both our Houses stirre up your Lordship as they would to do against God your owne conscience and the weale of your posterity for ever And therefore now in the end I pray your Lordship weigh these things wisely and if ye do otherwise God is God was and shall be God when all is wrought that man can work This answer received the Bishop and his complices found themselves somewhat disappointed for the Bishops looked for nothing lesse then for such Answers from the Earle of Argyle and therefore they made them for their extreme defence that is To corrupt and by buds to stirre up the Queen Regent against us as in the second Booke we shall more plainly heare Shortly after that God called to his mercy the said Earle of Argyle from the miseries of this life whereof the Bishops were glad for they thought that their great enemy was taken out of the way but God disappointed them For as the said Earle departed most constant in the true Faith of Jesus Christ with a plain renounciation of all Impiety Superstition and Idolatry so he left it to his Son in his Testament That he should studie to set forward the publike and true preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to suppresse all Superstition and Idolatry to the uttermost of his power In which point small fault can be found with him unto this day 10 Maii Anno 1568. God be mercifull unto other offences Amen The Blinde Crooked Lame Widows Orphans and all other poor so visited by the hand of God as cannot work To all the flock of Friers within this Realme we wish restitution of wrongs past and reformation in times coming for Salvation YE your selves are not ignorant and though ye would be it is now thanks be to God well knowne to the whole world by his most infallible Word That the Benignity or Almes of all Christian people pertaineth to us alone which ye being whole of bodie strong sturdie and able to work what under pretence of poverty and yet neverthelesse possessing most easily all abundance what through cloked and hidden humility though your proudnesse is knowne and what fained holinesse which now is declared to be Superstition and Idolatry have these many yeers expresly against Gods Word and the practice of his holy Apostles to our great torment alas most falsly stollen from us And as ye have by your false doctrine and wresting of Gods Word learned of your father Sathan induced the whole people high and low into a sure hope and belief That to clothe feed and nourish you is the onely most acceptable Alms allowed before God and to give a penny or a piece a bread once in a week is enough for us Even so ye have perswaded them to build you great Hospitals and maintain you therein by their force which onely pertains now to us by all Law as builded and given to the poore of whose number ye are not nor can be reputed neither by the Law of God nor yet by no other Law proceeding of Nature Reason or Civill Policy Wherefore seeing our number is so great so indigent and so heavily oppressed by your false meanes that none taketh care of out misery And that it is better for to provide there our impotent members which God hath given us to oppose to you in plain controversie then to see you hereafter as ye have done afore steale from us our houses and our selves in the meane time to perish and die for want of the same We have thought good therefore ere we enter with you in the conflict to warne you in the Name of the great God by this publike writing affixt in your gates where ye now dwell that ye remove forth of our said Hospitals betwixt this and the Feast of Whit-sunday next So that we the only lawfull proprietaries thereof may enter thereinto and afterward enjoy the commodities of the Church which ye have hereunto wrongfully holden from us Certifying you if ye faile we will at the said terme in whole number with the help of God and assistance of his Saints in earth of whose ready support we doubt not enter and take possession of our said Patrimony and eject you utterly forth of the same Let him therefore that before hath stollen steal no more but rather let him work with his hands that he may be helpfull to the poore From all Cities Towns and Villages of Scotland Ianuary 1. 1558. The Bishops continued in their Provinciall Councell even unto that day that Iohn Knox arrived in Scotland and that they might give some shew to the people that they minded Reformation they dispersed abroad a rumour thereof and set forth somewhat in Print which of the people was called The two-penny Faith Amongst their acts there was much a do for Caps Shaven crowns Typpets Long Gowns and such other trifles Item That none should enjoy Office or Benefice Ecclesiasticall except a Priest Item That no Church-man should nourish his owne children in his own company but that every one should hold the children of others That none should put his own son in his own benefice That if any were found in open Adulterie for the first fault he should lose the third of his Benefice for the second time the halfe and for the third the whole Benefice But here from appealed the Bishop of Murray and other Prelates saying That they would abide at the Canon-Law And so they might well enough do so long as they remained Interpreters Dispensators Makers and Disanullars of the Law But let the same Law have the true interpretation and just execution and the Devil shall as soon be proved a true and obedient servant unto God as any of that sort shall be proved a Bishop or yet to have any just authority within the Church of Christ Jesus But we will return to our History The persecution was decreed as well by the Queen Regent as by the Prelates But there rested a point which the Queen Regent and France had not at that time obtained to wit That the Crown matrimoniall should be granted to Francis husband to our Soveraign and so should France and Scotland be but one kingdome The Subjects of both the Realmes to have equall libertie Scottishmen in France and Frenchmen in Scotland The glister of the profit that was judged hereof to have ensued to Scottishmen at the first sight blinded many mens eyes But a small winde caused that mist suddenly to vanish away For the greatest Offices and Benefices within the Realme were appointed for the Frenchmen Monsieur Ruby kept the great Seale Vielmort was Controller Melrosse and Kelso should have been a
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
Allaine Lord Cathcart Caprington elder and younger Cuninghameheid Rowallan Waterston Craigie Lefnoreis Achinharvy Middleton Master Michael Wallace Provest of Ayr with fourty more of the honestest Burgesses of that Towne The Master of Boyd Graitgirth Barr Carnell Dreghorne Hested Skeldon Wolston Carsland Fergnshill Polquhairne Stair Barkskyning Kinganelech with a hundred more Gentle men of worth Iohn Dumbar of Blantyre Carleton and his brother Halrig Cers Kirckmichael Dalyaroich Crosclayes Horsclench Carbiston Kelwood Tarmganoich c. THese things done at Ayr the said Iohn passed to Nithsdaill and Galloway where in conference with the Master of Maxwell a man of great judgement and experience he communicated with him such things as he feared who by his motion wrote to the Earle of Bothwell to behave himself as it became a faithfull Subject and to keep good quietnesse in the places committed to his charge and that his crime of breaking the Ward would be the more easily pardoned Iohn Knox wrote unto the Duke and earnest-exhorted him neither to give ear to the Bishop his Bastard brother noâ— yet to the perswasions of the Earle of Huntly for if he did he assured him that he and his house should come to a sudden ruine By which meanes was the South parts kept in reasonable quietnesse during the time that the troubles were a brewing in the North and yet the Bishop and the Abbot of Cosraynell did what in them lay to have raised some trouble for besides the fearfull bruits that they spearced abroad sometime that the Queen was taken sometimes that the Earle of Murray and all his were slain and sometimes that the Queen had given her self to the Earle of Huntly besides such bruits the Bishop to break the Countrey of Kyle where quietnesse then was greatest raised the Crawfords against the Reides for the payment of the Bishops Paschfynes but that was pacified by the labor of indifferent men who favoured peace The Abbot of Cosrainell required disputation of Iohn Knox for maintenance of the Masse which was granted unto him and the dispute held in Mayboll three dayes The Abbot had the advantage that he required to wit he took in hand to prove That Melchisedec offered Bread and Wine unto God which was the ground that the Masse was built upon to be a Sacrifice c. But in the work of three dayes there could no proofe be produced for Melchizedecks Oblation as in the disputation which was afterwards Printed clearly may appeare The Papists looked for a revolt and therefore they would have some brag of reasoning the Abbot further presented himself to the Pulpit but the voyce of Master George Hay so affrayed him that after once he was wearied oâ— that exercise After that the Queene was somewhat satisfied of hunting and other pastimes she came to Aberdein where the Earle of Huntly met her and his Ladies with no small Train who remained in Court and was supposed to have the greatest credite departed with the Queen to Buchan met her againe at Rothemay looking that shee should have passed with him to Strabogy but in the journey certain word came to her that Iohn Gordon had broken promise in not re-entring in ward for his Father the Earle had promised that he should enter againe within the Castle of Sterlin and there abide the Queens pleasure but whether with his Fathers knowledge and consent or without the same we know not but he refused to enter which so offended the Queen that she would not go to Strabogy but passed thorow Straithla to Innernesse where the Castle thereof was denyed unto her the Captaine was commanded to keep it and looked for relief for so had Iohn Gordon promised but being thereof frustrate the Castle was rendred and the Captain called Gordon was executed upon the place the rest were condemned and the hands of some bound but escaped This was the beginning of further trouble for the Earle of Huntly thereat offended began to assemble his Folkes and spared not to speak that he would be revenged But alwayes his Wife bare a faire countenance to the Queen and it is verily supposed that no other harme then the Queen her self could easily have stood content with was meaned unto her own person But the whole matter lay upon the Earle of Murray Secretary Lethington and the Laird of Pittaro yet the Queene began to be afraid and by Proclamation caused to warn Sterling Shire Fyfe Anguis Mernes and Stratherne charging all substantiall men to be in Aberdein the fifth day of October there to remaine the space of twenty dayes In her return from Innernesse she required the Castle of Finlater which was likewise denyed and so was Anchndowne which more angred the Queen The Earle of Huntly was charged to cause deliver the said house under the pain of Treason to shew some obedience he caused the Keyes of both to be presented by his servant Master Thomas Keir But before had the Queen sent young Captaine Stewart son to Iames who to this day hath neither been stout happy nor true with sixscore to lye about the places of Finlater They lodged in Culan not farre distant from the said place But upon a night Iohn Gordon came with a company of Horsemen took the Captain slew certain of the Souldiers and disarmed the rest This fact done as the Queen alleaged under trust so inflamed her that all hope of reconciliation was past and so the Earl of Huntly was charged under the pain of putting him to the Horn to present himselfe and the said Iohn before the Queen and Councill within six dayes which charge he disobeyed and so was denounced Rebell Whether it was Law or not we dispute little thereof but it was a preparative to others that after were served with the like measure he was sought at his Place of Stragobie but escaped The evil encreased for the Earle assembled his fellowes out of all parts of the North He marched forwards towards Aberdiene and upon the two and twentieth of October 1562. came to the Lough of Skeine His Army was judged to be seven or eight hundred men The Queens Army both in number and man-hood far surmounting his and yet he took no fear for he was assured of the most part of them which were with the Queen as the issue did witnesse Within the Town they stood in great fear and therefore it was concluded That they would assayle the uttermost upon the fields The Forbesses Hayes and Lesleyes took the Vant-guard and promised to fight with the said Earle without any other help They passed forth of the Towne before ten hours in the morning they put themselves in aray but they approached not the enemy till that the Earle of Murray and his Company were come to the fields and that was after two after noon for he was appointed with his Company onely to have beholded the Battell but all things turned otherwise then the most part of men supposed The Earle of Huntley was the night before determined 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
to get the Crown Matrimoniall In the Tolbooth was devised and named the Heads of the Articles that were drawn against the banished Lords Upon the morrow and Saturday following there was great reasoning concerning the Attainder some alleadged That the Summons was was not well Libelled or Dressed others thought the matter of Treason was not sufficiently proved and indeed they were still seeking proof for there was no other way but the Queen would have them all attainted albeit the time was very short the twelfth day of March should have been the day which was the Tuesday following Now the matter was stayed by a marvellous Tragedy for by the Lords upon the Saturday before which was the ninth of March about Supper-time David Rizio the Italian named the French Secretary was slain in the Gallery below Stairs the King staying in the room with the Queen told her That the Designe was onely to take order with that Villain after that he had been taken violently from the Queens presence who requested most earnestly for the saving of his life which act was done by the Earle of Morton the Lord Ruthven the Lord Lindsay the Master of Ruthven with divers other Gentlemen They first purposed to have hanged him and had provided Cords for the same purpose but the great haste which they had moved them to dispatch him with Whingers or Daggers wherewith they gave him three and fifty strokes They sent away and put forth all such persons as they suspected The Earles Bothwell and Hnntley hearing the noise and clamour came suddenly to the Close intending to have made work if they had had a partie strong enough but the Earle Morton commanded them to passe to their Chamber or else they should doe worse At the which words they retyred immediately and so past forth at a back Window they two alone and with great fear came forth of the Towne to Edmistone on foot and from thence to Crichton This David Rizio was so foolish that not onely he had drawne unto him the managing of all Affaires the King set aside but also his Equipage and Train did surpasse the Kings and at the Parliament that was to be he was ordained to be Chancellour which made the Lords conspire against him They made a Bond to stand to the Religion and Liberties of the Countreys and to free themselves of the slavery of the Villain David Rizio The King and his father subscribed to the Bond for they durst not trust the Kings word without his Signet There was a French Priest called Iohn Daniot who advised David Rizio to make his fortune and be gone for the Scots would not suffer him long His answer was That the Scots would bragg but not fight then he advised him to beware of the Bastard To this he answered That the Bastard should never live in Scotland in his time he meant the Earle Murray but it happened that one George Dowlas Bastard son to the Earle of Angus gave him the first stroke The Queen when she heard he was dead left weeping and declared she would study revenge which she did Immediatly it was noised in the Town of Edinburgh that there was murther committed within the Kings Palace wherefore the Provest caused to Ring the common Bell or Sonner le toksain as the French speaks and straightway past to the Palace having about four or five hundred men in warlike manner and as they stood in the utter Court the King called to the Provest commanding him to passe home with his company saying The Queen and he were merry But the Provest desired to hear the Queen speak her self Whereunto it was answered by the King Provest know you not that I am King I command you to passe home to your houses and immediately they retired The next day which was the second Sunday of our Fast in Edinburgh there was a Proclamation made in the Kings Name subscribed with his hand That all Bishops Abbots and other Papists should avoid and depart the Town which Proclamation was indeed observed for they had a Flea in their Hose There were Letters sent forth in the Kings Name and subscribed with his hand to the Provest and Bailiffs of Edinburgh the Bailiffs of Leith and Cannogate commanding them to be ready in Armour to assist the King and his Company and likewise other private writings directed to divers Lords and Gentlemen to come with all expedition In the mean time the Queen being above measure enraged offended and troubled as the issue of the matter declared sometime railing upon the King and sometime crying out at the Windows desired her servants to set her at libertie for she was highly offended and troubled This same tenth of March the Earle of Murray with the rest of the Lords and Noblemen that were with him having received the Kings Letter for after the Bond above named was Subscribed the King Wrote unto the banished Lords to return into their Countrey being one of the Articles of the said Bond came at night to the Abbey being also convoyed by the Lord Hume and a great company of the borderers to the nâ—mber of 1000 horses And first after he had presented himself to the King the Queen was informed of his sudden coming and therefore sent unto him commanding him to come to her and he obeying went to her who with a singular gravitie received him after that he had made his purgation and declared the over-great affection which he bore continually to her Majestie The Earles of Athole Cathnes and Sutherland departed out of the Town with the Bishops upon the Munday the third day after the slaughter of David Rizio The Earles of Lenox Murray Morton and Rothes Lords Ruthven Lindsay Boyd and Ocheltrie sitting in Councell desired the Queen That forasmuch as the thing which was done could not be undone that she would for avoiding of greater inconveniences forget the same and take it as good service seeing there were so many Noblemen restored The Queen dissembling her displeasure and indignation gave good words neverthelesse she desired That all persons armed or otherwise being within the Palace at that time should remove leaving the Palace void of all saving onely her domestick servants The Lords being perswaded by the uxorious King and and the facile Earle of Murray condescended to her desire who finally the next morning two hours before day past to Seaton and then to Dumbar having in her company the simple King who was allured by her sugred words from Dumbar immediately were sent Pursuivants with Letters thorowout the Countrey and especially Letters to the Noble-men and Barons commanding them to come to Dumbar to assist the King and Queen within five dayes In the mean time the Lords being informed of the sudden departure they were astonished and knew not what were best for them to do But because it was the self-same day to wit the twelfth day of March that they were summoned unto therefore having good opportunity they past to the Tolbooth which was