Estates convened in Parliament should appoint About the midst of Iuly the dispensation of the marriage being brought from Rome the Queen was espoused to the Lord Darnelie after the Popish manner in the Chappel of Halirudhruse by the Dean of Restalrig and the next day was he by the sound of the Trumpet proclaimed King and declared to be associated with her in the Government The discontented Lords sent forth their complaints upon this alledging That the Kingdome was openly wronged the liberties thereof oppressed and a King imposed upon the people without advise and consent of the Estates a thing not practised before at any time and contrary to the Laws and received custom of the Countrey Desiring therefore all good subjects to take the matter to heart and joyn with them in resisting these beginnings of Tyranny But few or none were thereby won to shew themselves openly of their party so as when the Queen with her husband went against them they left the town of Striveling where the first convened and fled into Paislay The King to make himself more popular and take from the Lords the pretext of Religion wherewith they coloured their designes took purpose to go unto St. Giles Church in Edinburgh and hear Sermon Iohn Knox either doubting his sincerity or favouring the faction of the Noblemen fell upon him with a bitter reproof for which being cited before the Queen and Councell he not onely stood to that he had spoken but added That as the King for her pleasure had gone to Masse and dishonoured the Lord God so should he in his Iustice make her the instrument of his ruine The Queen incensed with this answer burst forth in tears whereupon he was inhibited preaching by the Councell and silenced for some moneths Mr. Iohn Craig who a little before was brought to Edinburgh because of the prohibition given to his Colleague refused to do any service there which put the people in a stur yet upon better advice he was moved to continue in his charge In the end of August the King and Queen accompanied with five thousand or thereabouts went to Glasgow to pursue the Lords They removing from Paisley to Hamilton an Herald was sent thither to summon the Castle which they denied to render giving out that they would try the matter in battell the next day But the manifold distractions amongst themselves did let this resolution and divers falling away from their side they went to Edinburgh where supposing to finde assistance the Captain of the Castle forced them by his continuall playing on the town to quit it After which they tooke their course to Dumfreis allured by the fair promises of Iohn Maxwell Lord Hereis A new expedition upon this was concluded and the Lieges warned to meet at Bigger the 9. of October in the mid time the King and Queen leaving the Earl of Lenox Lieutenant in the West parts made a Progress through Fife to punish those that had assisted the Lords The Lairds of Grainge Balcomie Pitmillie and Ramormie were fugitive some others of meaner sort taken prisoners and the towns of Perth Dundie and St. Andrewes fined in great summes This done they returned to Edinburgh and from thence went into Dumfrâ—is where the Lords had stayed all that while The Lord Hereis pretending to make their peace concluded his own advising them to fly into England as they did Thither went the Duke of Chattellerault the Earl of Murray Glencarne and Rothes the Lord Ochiltrie the Commendatory of Kilwinning and divers others of good note A few dayes they abode in Carlile with the Earle of Bedford Lieutenant at that time in the North. Then going to Newcastle they sent the Earl of Murray to the English Court to intreat the Queens intercession for them she incontinent dispatched a Gentleman of her Privie Chamber named Tamerorth with Letters to the Queen of Scots requesting that Murray and the rest might be received in favour The Gentleman not vouchsafing to give her husband the title of a King nor bringing any Commission to him was denied presence and had his answer delivered him in writing to this effect That Queen Elizabeth should do well to have no medling with the subjects of Scotland but leave them to their Princes discretion seeing neither she nor her husband did trouble themselves with the causes of her subjects The Duke perceiving that by these means their peace would not be hastily made and knowing his reconcilement to be more easie resolved to sever his cause from the rest and sent the Abbot of Kilwinning to entreat favour to himself and his friends which he easily obtained for he was known to be nothing so guilty as the others and to have been craftily drawn upon that faction so he returned into Scotland in December following In this moneth a generall Assembly of the Church convened again at Edinburgh where the answer made by the Queen to their last petitions was presented and replied unto by the same Assembly in this manner First they said That it was no small grief to the hearts of good and Christian subjects to hear that notwithstanding the Evangel of Christ had been so long preached in the Realm and his mercy so plainly offered her Majesty should yet continue unperswaded of the truth of that Religion which they preached and professed it being the same which Christ Iesus had revealed to the world which he commanded his Apostles to preach and ordained to be received of all the faithfull and firmly retained by them untill his second coming A religion that had God the Father his onely Son Christ Iesus and the Holy Spirit for the Authors thereof and was most clearly grounded upon the Doctrine and practice aswell of the Prophets as Apostles which no other religion upon the face of the earth could justifie alledge or prove For whatsoever assurance the Papist had or could alledge for his profession the same the Turk had for his Alcoran And the Jews more probably might alledge for their rites and traditions whether it be antiquity of time or consent of people or authority of Princes or multitudes and number of Professors or any the like cloakes they do pretend Wherefore in the Name of the eternall God with the reverence that became them they required her highness to use the means whereby she might be perswaded of the truth such as the preaching of the Word of God the ordinary mean that he hath appointed for working knowledge and begetting faith in the hearts of his chosen ones conference with learned men and disputation with the adversaries which they were ready to offer when and where her Grace should think expedient Next where she could not believe any impiety to be in the Mass they made offer to prove the whole Mass from the beginning to the ending to be nothing else but a mass of impietie and that the Priest his actions the opinion which the hearers or rather the gazers
proceeding divers were cited to appear at Halirudhouse by Iames Hay Bishop of Ross who sate as Commissioner for the Archbishop of S. Andrews amongst others Iames Hamilton of Levingston brother-germane to Master Patrick with Katharine Hamilton his sister The Gentleman was advised by the King secretly for he loved the man not to appear and was for his contumacie condemned His sister appearing and questioned upon the point of justification by works answered simply that she believed no person could be saved by their works Master Iohn Spence the Lawyer whom we named before held a long discourse with her about that purpose telling her that there were divers sorts of works works of congruity and works of condignity in the application whereof he consumed a long time The woman growing thereupon into a chafe cried out Work here work there what kind of working is all this I know perfectly that no works can save me but the works of Christ my Saviour The King was present all the time and laughed heartily at the answer yet taking the Gentlewoman aside he moved her to recant her opinions and by her ensample divers others at the same time abjured their profession of which number were Sir William Kirk Priest Adam Daes Henry Cairnes Master William Iohnston Advocate Master Henry Henryson Schoolmaster in Edinburgh and Iohn Stewart In-dweller in Leith These persons scarce dismissed Master Normand Gourlay and David Straiton were brought to trial Master Normand was charged for denying Purgatory and saying that the Pope had no jurisdiction within Scotland David Straiton was charged with the same points and further was accused for maintaining that Tythes were not due to Churchmen which point he denied confessing that the tithes of some fishes which his servants had taken at sea being too rigorously exacted he said that if they would have the tithes of the fishes they should go and receive them where the stock was taken and that he gave order to his servants to cast every tenth fish they took into the Sea because he saw nothing but rigour would content the Church This Gentleman had been in former times very quarellous and turbulent but was then become another man through frequenting the company of Iohn Areskyn of Dun by whom it pleased God to enlighten his mind with the knowledge of his truth and to kindle in his heart such a love to the same as usually he was heard to pray for strength and spiritual courage that if he should be brought to suffer for Christ no fear of death nor corporal pain might cause him shrink And it clearly appeared when he was brought to his answer that his prayers were heard For notwithstanding of the offers made him to recant and burn his bill as they spoke at that time he stood most constantly to the defence of the truth and gave great incouragement to Master Normand Gourlay who suffered with him These two were burnt at one stake the 27. of August 1534. At the same time was sentence pronounced against Alexander Alesse Master Iohn Fife Iohn Mackbee and one Macdongal who were summoned to the said Diet and compeered not These persons fled afterwards into England where they remained a while well entertained Alexander Alesse by the commendation of the Lord Cromwel came in favour with King Henry the eighth and was called commonly the Kings Scholar as he was indeed a man of good learning and gave thereof a notable proof in his dispute with Stockeslie Bishop of London before the Convocation in the year 1537. After Cromwels death taking with him Master Iohn Fife he went into Saxony where they lived Professours together a long time in the University of Lipsia Macdongal went also in their company and came to good credit being elected Burgomaster of one of their Townes Iohn Macbee commonly ealled Doctor Machabeus during his aboad in England was liberally entertained by Nicol Saxton Bishop of Salisbury who made much accompt of him but afterwards going to Denmark became Chaplain to King Christian in whose service he died in the year 1550. Thus it pleased God to provide for these men after their exile Some four years after the Bishops kept a meeting at Edinburgh in the moneth of February 1538. where divers were accused of heresie and condemned to die Frier Killore Frier Beverage Sir Duncane Simpson Priest Robert Forrester a Gentleman and Dean Thomas Forrest a Chanon of S. Colinsinch called commonly The Vicar of Dolour This poor man not long before had been called before the Bishop of Dunkeld his Ordinary for preaching every Sunday to his Parishioners upon the Epistles and Gospels of the day and desired to forbear seeing his diligence that way brought him in suspicion of heresie If he could find a good Gospel or a good Epistle that made for the liberty of the holy Church the Bishop willed him to preach that to his people and let the rest be The honest man replying That he had read both the new Testament and the old and that he had never found an ill Epistle or an ill Gospel in any of them The Bishop said I thank God I have lived well these many years and never knew either the old or new I content me with my Portuise and Pontificall and if you Dean Thomas leave not these fantasies you will repent when you cannot mend it Dean Thomas answered that he believed it was his duty to do what he did and that he had laid his accompt with any danger that might follow So at this time being brought in question with the persons above named they were all together condemned and burnt in the fire upon the Castle hill of Edinburgh This year in Glasgow Hieronymus Russel of the Order of the Gray Friers and one Kennedy a young man of Aire not past 18. years of age were accused likewise of heresie but because the Archbishop Mr. Gawine Dumbar was esteemed somewhat cold in those businesses Master Iohn Lawder Master Andrew Oliphant and Frier Maltman were sent from Edinburgh to assist at their trial Kennedy at his first appearing in judgement discovered some weaknesse and would gladly have saved his life by denying the points laid to his charge but encouraged by Hieronymus and by the answers he made to the Judges he gathered his spirits and falling down upon his knees brake forth in these words Wonderful O God is thy love and mercy towards me a miserable wretch for even now when I would have denied thee and thy Son the Lord Iesus Christ my onely Saviour and so have thrown my self into everlasting condemnation thou by thine own hand hast pulled me back from the bottome of hell and given me to feel most heavenly comfort which hath removed the ungodly fear that before oppressed my mind Now I defie death do what you please I praise God I am ready The Frier reasoned long and learnedly against his accusers and being answered only with railings and
while answered in all their names That it was not reasonable to give any spiritual benefit to an obstinate heretick condemned by the Church When Master George heard that the Sacrament was denied him being asked by the Captain of the Castle going then to breakfast if he would take a part with him he answered Very willingly and so much the rather because I perceive you to be a good Christian and a man fearing God Then turning himself to the Captain he said I beseech you in the name of God and for the love you bear to our Saviour Iesus Christ to be silent a little while till I have made a short exhortation and blessed this bread which we are to eat so that I may bid you farewell The table being covered and bread according to the custome set upon it he spake about the space of an half hour of the institution of the Supper and of our Saviours death and passion exhorting those that were present to mutual love and to the leading of an holy life such as becometh the members of Christ. Then giving thanks he brake the bread distributing to every one that was present a portion likewise having tasted the wine he delivered the cup unto them exhorting them to remember with thankfulnesse the death of our Lord Jesus in this his communion with them As to my self he said there is a more bitter potion prepared for me only because I have preached the true doctrine of Christ which bringeth salvation but pray you the Lord with me that I may take it patiently as out of his hand and so concluding with a new thanksgiving he withdrew himself to his chamber Within a little space two executioners came up unto him one of whom apparelled him in a black coat of linen the other fastened some bags of powder upon all the parts of his body and thus arrayed he was brought to an utter room where he was commanded to stay till all things were prepared A scaffold in the mean time erecting on the East part of the Castle towards the Abbey with a great tree in the middest in manner of a gibbet unto which the prisoner was to be tied and right against it was all the munition of the Castle planted if perhaps any should press by violence to take him away The fore Tower was hanged with Tapestry and rich Cushions laid for ease of the Cardinal and Prelates who were to behold that spectacle And when all things were made ready he was led forth with his hands being tied behinde his back and a number of souldiers guarding him to the place of execution As he was going forth of the Castle gate some poor creatures who were lying there did ask of him some almes for Gods sake to whom he said I have not the use of any hands wherewith I should give you almes but our merciful God who out of his abundance feedeth all men vouchsafe to give you the things which are necessary both for your bodies and for your soules Afterwards two Friers met him crying Master George pray to our Lady that she may be mediatrix for you to her sonne to whom he said Cease tempt me not my brethren Being come to the place of execution and gone up upon the scaffold he turned himself towards the people and besought them not to offend with the good word of God because of the torments they saw prepared for him desiring them withall to shew his brethren and sisters who had often heard him that the doctrine he taught was no wives fables but the true Gospel of Christ given him by the grace of God which he was sent to preach and for which he was then with a most glad heart and mind to give his life Some have falsely spoken said he that I should hold the opinion that the soules of men departed sleep after their death untill the last day but I know and believe the contrary and am assured that my soul shall this night be with my Saviour in the heavens This said he bowed his knees and having conceived a short but most pithy prayer he was tied to the stake then cried aloud O Saviour of the world have mercy upon me Father of heaven I commend my spirit into thine holy hands The executioners having kindled the fire the powder that was fastned to his body blew up The Captain of the Castle who stood near unto him perceiving that he was yet alive willed him to be of good courage and commend his soul unto God This flame said he hath scortched my body yet hath it not daunted my spirit but he who from yonder high place beholdeth us with such pride shall within few dayes lye in the same as ignominiosly as now he is seen proudly to rest himself After which words one of the tormentors drawing the cord that went about his neck stopt his breath so as he spake no more The fire increasing his body was quickly consumed unto ashes But the Cardinals malice not yet satisfied caused the same night a Proclamation to be made through the City that none should pray for the heretick under pain of the heaviest censures that could be inflicted And then the Priests triumphing did in all meetings extoll the Cardinal above the skies saying That he not regarding the Governours authority had by himself caused justice to be executed upon that heretick and kithed a most worthy Patron of the Ecclesiastical estate If the Church said they in former times had found such a Protector matters had not been reduced to the doubtfull terms wherein now they stand but long or this time by her own power and authority she had been able to maintain her self Such insolent speeches they were heard to utter in every place The Cardinal himself also seemed to be greatly pleased with that which he had done presuming it should keep all his enemies in fear yet it proved the very rock on which he and all his fortunes perished for the common sort of people exclaimed mightily against his cruelty and some of good birth and quality did openly vow that the blood of Master George Wishart should be revenged though they should give life for life of which number Iohn Lesley brother to the Earle of Rothes forbare not in all companies openly to avouch that his hand and dagger should be the Cardinals Priests Nor was he ignorant of the general hatred carried unto him and thereupon began to fortify himself with some strong alliance which he shortly after made contracting one of his base daughters to the Earle of Craford his sonne and heir The Nuptials were performed with an exceeding pomp and magnificence But he did not long enjoy the content he took in his Match for Normand Lesley sonne to the Earle of of Rothes who had followed him a long time and done him good services having moved him in the behalf of some friends that were interessed by the restitution of the
for he had warrant so to do and seeing them full of vain and idle brags for to shew the strength of the faction they had set down a Roll of all the Noblemen of their party inserting there in both some of their opposites and some that had carried themselves newters in all these broyls returned answer by the messenger that he would do as he was directed and not grant any truce nor keep the Army at their pleasure without imployment The time of the Convention approaching they who favoured the King his authority came in great numbers to Edinburgh At their first meeting it was thought convenient seeing the adverse party professed a desire of peace to make trial of their disposition and thereupon a Gentleman was sent with this message that if they would joyn for revenge of the murther of the Kings Father and Regent and would acknowledge the King for their Soveraign whatsoever else in reason they could crave should be granted unto them The answer was short and peremptory on their part That they acknowledge none for their Soveraign but the Queen and that she having committed the Government of affairs to the Earls of Arrane Argile and Huntley they would follow and obey them in her service Then they caused proclaim the Queens authority with the several Commissions of their Lieutenandries and in the Queens name indicted a Parliament to be kept at Linlithgow in August ensuing The Estates perceiving there would be no agreement gave forth a Proclamation to this effect First they said that it was not unknown to all the subjects in what a happy state the Realm stood under the government of the late Regent and what calamities it was fallen into by his death divers Lords and other subjects conspiring with them having presumed to erect another authority under the name of the Queen his Majesties mother But as such treasonable attempts had been often taken in hand and as often through Gods favour disappointed to the shame and ignominy of the enterprisers so they wished all men should understand what sort of people they were that had massed themselves together in the present conspiracy The Conspirators they ranked in three orders the principles they said were the authours of the cruel murthers of the King his father and Regent Others were manifestly purjured as having bound themselves by their oathes and subscriptions to defend the King his authority which now they impugned A third sort were such as had servile minos and without regard to conscience or honour did follow those to whom they had addicted themselves All which did pretend the maintenance of true Religion the liberty of the Countrie and the preservation of peace both abroad and at home But with what probability any man of judgement might consider for neither could he who was known to have been a persecutor of the truth and now carried the chief sway amongst them meaning the Archbishop of St. Andrews be thought a maintainer of Religion nor could they be esteemed favourers of their Country and the quietness thereof who without any just provocation had invaded the neighbour Realm of England and publickly entertained the Queens Rebells professing enemies to God and Religion As to the care they professed of the Kings preservation any man might conjecture how he should be preserved by them who exiled his Grandfather murthered his father did wickedly counsell his mother led her on courses that had brought her to shame and dishonour and now at last had unworthily cut off his Uncle and Regent by suborning a mischant to kill him treacherously It is like said they that they will be content to live subjects to a King discended of that house which they have so long a time persecuted and will they not fear if God shall bring him to perfection of years that he will be avenged of his fathers and uncles murther Neither can any be ignorant what the hope of a Kingdome will work in ambitious spirits especially when they finde themselves in a possibility to succeed unto the present possession And these are the men said they who seek to rule and command under the name of her whom they have undone by their wicked practices Of this they thought fit to advertise the subjects and to inhibit them from giving any assistance to the said conspirators under pain of death Such as of simplicity or ignorance had joyned with them they commanded to separate and return to their houses within the space of 24. houres promising in that case impunity and pardon for their by-past defection those onely excepted who were suspect of the foresaid murthers and had resset the Queen of Englands Rebells and violated the publick peace betwixt the two Realms This Proclamation was indited with much passion and matters now reduced to these termes that each side prepared to maintain their quarrell with the destruction of their adversaries The Queens faction dispatched Veraâ— to France to inform how matters went and to further the supply promised The Lord Seaton was sent to Flanders to intreat the Duke of Alva at that time Governour of the Neatherlands for the King of Spain for some aid of moneys and men and to impede the traffique of the Scottish rebells so they termed them that acknowledged the Kings authority in those parts For the point of traffick the Duke excused himself saying That he could not inhibit the same it being against the liberty of the Low-countreys but in other things he would do his best to further the Queen of Scots cause Like as shortly after he sent Mr. Iohn Hamilton Parson of Dumbar who lay Agent with him for the Scottish Queen to the Earl of Huntley with great store of Armor and gunpowder and the summe of ten thousand Crowns to levie Souldiers The Lord Seaton in the mean while who could not be idle wheresoever he was and had a great desire to approve himself by some service to the King of Spain dissembling his habit went into the United Provinces and dealt with Scottish Captains and Under officers to make them leave the service of the Estates and follow the King of Spain which being detected he was apprehended and by sentence of the Councell of Warre condemned to ride the Canon yet by some help he escaped and fled to the Duke of Alva who sent him home loaden with promises and rewarded with some little present for himselfe because of his good affection The Lords on the other side who stood for the Kings authority sent to the Earl of Sussex intreating the assistance of his forces or some part thereof because of the common danger and to move him the more they advertised that the Earl of Westmerland and other English Rebels were with the Lords convened at Linlithgow in Armes with intention as it seemed to work some mischief which had need for the good of both Realms to be prevented which they doubted not so the letters bear having his assistance to
the crossings he found in the publick affairs he contracted a sicknesse whereof he died at Striveling the eighth of October The adversary faction flattering themselves in their own conceits made the like construction of his death which they had made of the other Regents that proceeded saying that it was an evident sign of Gods displeasure with the present courses and that none of those who joyned in the enterprise against the Queen could prosper better But to measure Gods love or hatred by these outward accidents is folly seeing they fall out alike to all both good and wicked and for this Nobleman howsoever he was taken away to the countrey untimely he died happily for himself and well reported of all Before his dying he commended the care of the Kings person in most earnest manner to his Lady and to Alexander Ereskin his brother appointing him keeper of the Castle till his son should be grown up and be of a perfectage and giving most wise directions both for the one and the other ended his days in great quietness and in the assurance of that better life In the next moneth Iohn Knox who had returned a little before to Edinburgh departed this life The Reader will pardon me if here I make a little digression to shew what a man this was both in his life and death the rather because some malicious and wicked spirits have studied by many forged lies to deprave his fame only out of hatred of true Religion whereof he was a zealous promover He was born in Gifford within Lothian of a mean but honest parentage and being put to school made such profit in his studies under that famous Doctor Mr. Iohn Major as he was held worthy to enter into orders before the years allowed By reading the ancients especially the works of S. Austen he was brought to the knowledge of the truth and for the profession thereof endured many troubles as well in the Cardinals life as after his death Having happily escaped these dangers he went into England and became a Preacher of the Gospel making his chief abode in the towns of Berwick and Newcastle In the beginning of Queen Maries persecution he fled in the company of some other Ministers to Geneva and served with them in an English Congregation which was there gathered untill the year 1559. at which time he was called home by the Noblemen that enterprised the Reformation and how soon the Church got liberty placed Minister at Edinburgh in this charge he continued to his last for the civil troubles which forced him to leave the town ceased no sooner then he returned to the place But his body grown infirm and his voyce so weak as people could not hear him teaching in the ordinary place he made choice of another more commodious within the town reading to his auditory the history of the Passion in which he said It was his desire to finish and close his Ministery Thus he continued preaching though with much weaknesse two moneths and more after his return and knowing that he was not to remain a long time with them he was instant with the Councel of the town to provide themselves of a worthy Parson to succeed in his place Mr. Iames Lawson who at that time professed Philosophy in the Colledge of Aberdene being commended for a good Preacher Commissioners were directed from the Superintendent of Lothian the Church of Edinburgh and Mr. Iohn Knox himself to desire him to accept the charge To the letter that the Commissioners carried after he had set his hand he added this Postscript Accelcra mifrater alioqui serò venies make haste brother otherwise you come too late meaning that if he made any stay he should find him dead and gone These last words moved Mr. Lawson to take journey the more quickly when he was come to the town and had preached once or twice to the good liking of the people order was taken by the Superintendent for his admission and the Diet appointed at which Iohn Knox himself would be present and teach though he could scarcewalk on foot to the chaire At no time was he heard to speak with greater power and more content to the hearers and in the end of his Sermon calling God to witness that he had walked in a good conscience amongst them not seeking to please men nor serving either his own or other mens affections but in all sincerity and truth preached the Gospel of Christ with most grave and pithy words he exhorted them to stand fast in the faith they had received and having conceived a zealous prayer for the continuance of Gods blessings upon them and the multiplying of his spirit upon the Preacher who was then to be admitted he gave them his last farewell The people did convey him to his lodging and could not be drawn from it so loth they were to part with him and he the same day in the afternoon by sicknesse was forced to take bed During the time he lay which was not long he was much visited by all sorts of persons to whom he spake most comfortably amongst others to the Earl of Morton that came to see him he was heard say My Lord God hath given you many blessings he hath given you wisdom riches many good and great friends and is now to preferre you to the government of the Realm In his name I charge you that you use these blessings aright and better in time to come nor ye have done in times past In all your actions seek first the glory of God the furtherance of his Gospel the maintenance of his Church and Ministery and next be careful of the King to procure his good and the welfare of the Realm If ye shall do this God will be with you and honour you if otherwise ye shall do it not he shall deprive you of all these benefits and your end shall be shame and ignominy These speeches the Earl nine years after at the time of his execution called to mind saying that he had found them to be true and him therein a Prophet His last speech to the Ministers A day or two before his death he sent for Mr. David Lindesay Mr. Iames Lawson and the Elders and Deacons of the Church to whom he said The time is approaching for which I have long thirsted wherein I shall be relieved of all cares and be with my Saviour Christ for ever And now God is my witnesse whom I have served with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son that I have taught nothing but the true and solid doctrine of the Gospel and that the end I proponed in all my preaching was to instruct the ignorant to confirm the weak to comfort the consciences of those who were humbled under the sense of their sinnes and bear down with the threatenings of Gods judgements such as were prou◠and rebellious I am not ignorant that many have blamed and yet do blame my too great rigour
finding him to have failed in his duty did remit his censure to the King himself who as he was a Prince most tractable did passe it upon the Earl his submission In the moneth of Iune the Assembly of the Church convened at Edinburgh which the King did honour with his presence Mr. Patrick Galloway elected to preside in name of the Church did put up three Petitions to his Majesty One for establishing the Churches jurisdiction and the abolishing of all Acts made to the contrary Another for purging the country of Jesuits seminary Priests and excommunicate persons trafficking against Religion The third was for providing a competent maintenance to Ministers forth of the tithes of the Parishes where they served and applying what was above to the sustentation of Schooles maintaining of the poor repairing of the fabrick of Churches and other the like necessary uses To the first his Majesty answered That in all Parliaments the first Act that was concluded did concern the liberty of the Church which he should have care to see observed as in times passed For the second he said that it was known what pains he had taken therein before his journey to Denmark and that he would do what lawfully could be done for purging the countrey of Papists And touching the third because many were interessed therein he did advise them to make choice of the most discreet of their number to meet with such of the Councel as he should appoint for conferring upon the readiest means to effectuate that which they desired Thereafter his Majesty falling to speak of the barbarous feuds which were entertained in the Realm and the many odious murthers there through committed did seriously commend to them as those who should of all others most study to make peace the removing of such barbarities so farre as in them lay wishing them in their Sermons to strike on that point and make people understand how sinful it was and how shamefull to the whole Nation as likewise to employ the most wise amongst them for reconciling the variances that abounded in the countrey For my self said he I will employ all the power I have that way and if you shall apply your selves in your places to do the like my work shall be the more easie and have the better successe This was greatly applauded of all and indeed after that time he took such pains partly calling those that were at variance before the Councel and causing them submit their quarrels partly making strict lawes against the troublers of the common peace as he never ceased till he got the feuds wholly abolished Yet this was not wrought but after some time and with much difficulty new troubles daily arising in sundry parts of the countrey In the North a dissension brake out betwixt the Earls of Huntley and Murray that kept those parts a long time in trouble the occasion whereof was this Iohn Gordon son to Thomas Gordon of Cluny having married the widow of Grant of Ballendallagh it happeneth in a private quarrel one of Gordons servants to be killed by the Tutor of the house Gordon pursuing him before the Justice for not appearing he was denounced Rebel and Commission given to the Earl of Huntley as Sheriffe of the countrey to apprehend him The Earl making search for him cometh to the house of Ballendallagh and after some resistance taketh it by force but findeth not the Tutor This the family of the Grants interpreting to be done in their disgrace they betook themselves to the patrociny of the Earl of Murray and with them the Clanchatton and divers of the name of Dumbarre did joyn Huntley offending that any in those parts should make head against him and having understood that the Earls of Atholl and Murray were to meet these Glammis in Forres for making up a confederacy did assemble his friends and went thither to dissolve the meeting but before his coming they had severed and the Earl of Murray was returned to his house of Tarnway Huntley taking that way home and some of his company riding about the house in manner of a Bravado they within discharging some Musquets upon them it happened the same Gordon that married the widow to be killed To be revenged of this affront Huntley gathered forces to invade the Earl of Murray and he assisted by the Earl of Athol his Cousen prepareth to defend The convocations were great on either side whereof the King receiving advertisement charges were directed to command Atholl home and inhibit Huntley from coming by West the River of Spey and Murray not to come on the East of Findorne this course did restrain them for a time but gave not an end to thòse troubles A little after this fell out the slaughter of William Ker of Ancram a Gentleman of great sufficiency who was killed in Edinburgh under night by Sir Robert Ker apparant of Cesfourd There had been a long and old emulation betwixt the two families of Cesfourd and Farnherst for the Wardenry of the middle Marches and the Provostry of Iedburgh But Farnherst being then deceased and the heir left young this Gentleman as descended of the house did what he could to maintain the reputation of it which was an eyesore to the other It happened also some little time before this Gentleman in the trial of goods stolne from England to find out the committer of the theft and when the same was denied for the matter was brought before the Councel to verify the same by clear testimonies which was taken to be done out of spleen and to rubbe some infamy upon Cesfourd who was then Warden for the man accused was one of his followers This the Lady Cesfourd a woman of an haughty spirit did apprehend so deeply as she never ceased till she had moved her son being then very young to bereave the Gentleman of his life A hateful fact it was both for the manner in which it was done and for the losse the countrey received by the Gentlemans death for he was a man generally well given wise of great courage and expert beyond others in the Lawes and Customes of the Borders The King was highly offended and was resolved to use exemplary Justice upon the Actor But he eschewing and living a fugitive some moneths was pardoned upon satisfaction made to the Gentlemans children as was thought by the Chancellors intercession who afterwards married him to his Neece a daughter of Lethington Most of this Winter was spent in the discovery and examination of Witches and Sorcerers Amongst these Agnes Samson commonly called the wise wife of Keith was most remarkeable a woman not of the base and ignorant sort of Witches but Matron-like grave and setled in her answers which were all to some purpose In her examination she declared That she had a familiar spirit who upon her call did appear in a visible form and resolve her of any doubtful matter especially concerning the life or death of persons lying
Gordon and Mr. William Ogilvie Iesuits and finde surety under the pain of fourty thousand pounds each of them to abide by their subscriptions and not to make defection from the Religion Achindowne and Sir James Chisholme finding the like surety under the pain of ten thousand pounds That such of them as make choice to leave the Countrey and will not imbrace the true Religion should give assurance to forbear all practising with Iesuits and others against Religion and the State when they are abroad and till their departing keep no intelligence with any of that Sect. That they should declare their choice of the two conditions before the 1 of January to the King and Church otherwise in case they doe not accept the same in manner and within the time above specified they should injoy no benefit by vertue thereof but should be liable to triall and punishment of Law as if the same had never been proponed nor offered unto them That the Church should in the mean time call all suspected persons before them requiring them to satisfie and if they be obstinate delate their names to his Majesty and Councell that they may be punished and that Masters and Landlords be holden to answer for persons so suspected as for other crimes These were the conclusions taken in this meeting by the Deputies of the Estates and signed by the King and them which likewise were to be subscribed by the 3 Earls and their complices in token of their acceptation what effect the same took we shall afterwards hear In the end of this year there fell out great troubles in the west marches some of the surname of Iohnston having in the Iuly preceding made a great depredation upon thelands of Sanwhare and Drumlanrig and killed eighteen persons that followed for rescue of their goods a Commission was given to the Lord Maxwell then Warden for pursuing the doers with all hostility Not long before a great friendship had been contracted betwixt him and the Laird of Iohnston and bonds interchanged for assisting one another which the Lord Sanwhare Drumlanrig and others interessed by the Iohnstons feared should make him remisse in executing the Commission yet considering his disposition and that he loved above all things to be followed they took advice to offer their services so as he would joyn with them for suppressing the power of the Iohnstons Maxwell thinking this to be a good occasion for bringing all Niddisdale to depend upon him embraced the offer whereupon a bond was formed and subscribed by them and these others with divers of their friendship This bond being negligently kept fell into the hands of one Iohnston of Commertries who served the Lord Maxwell and was by him carried to the Laird Iohnston who resolving to dissemble his knowledge of the Bond sent a Gentleman to learn of the Lord Maxwell himself if any such friendship was made up amongst them as was noysed in the Countrey Maxwell at first denied that there was any such thing but having missed the Bond and suspecting the same to have fallen into Iohnstons hands he excused the matter by the Commission that was sent to him saying He must obey the King and doe as he was directed Iohnston seeing whereto matters would turn did associate to himself the Scots of Teviotdale the Eliots and Grahams of Eske and hearing that Maxwell had levied some companies of horse and foot and placed the foot company with their Captain called Oliphant in Lochmaben to attend his coming to Annandale resolved to prevent him and cut them off and so falling upon them unexpected killed the Captain and divers of the souldiers Some fled to the Church thinking to save themselves but the same being set on fire they came forth and rendred Maxwell to repair his dishonour gathered in haste as good as 2000. men and entred into Annandale with displayed banner as the Kings Lieutenant intending to rase the houses of Lochwood and Lockerby Iohnston not equalling his forces kept aloof and after the Border fashion sent forth some prickers to ride and make provocation Against them a number went out of Maxwells Army who encountring with a great company were beaten and chased back to the stall or main host which by their breaking in was wholly disordered Iohnston that stood in a piece of high ground beholding the issue of the skirmish took the advantage of their confusion and breaking upon them without any resistance made put them all to flight The Lord Maxwell a tall man and heavy in armour was in the chase overtaken and stricken from his horse The report went that he called to Iohnston and desired to to be taken as he had some time taken his father but was unmercifully used and the hand that he reached forth cut off But of this I can affirm nothing There alwayes the Lord Maxwell fell having received many wounds He was a Nobleman of great spirit humane curteous and more learned then Noblemen commonly are but aspiring and ambitious of Rule his fall was pittied of many for that he was not known to have done much wrong in his time and was rather hurtfull to himself then others The King took these news very hardly that his Warden a Nobleman bearing his authority should be cut off in such a manner and he kept in such a businesse what with Bothwel on the one hand and the Popish Lords on the other as he could not take journey to those parts it grieved him exceedingly alwayes for quieting the Countrey order was taken that the Lord Hereis Drumlanrig Lagg and some other Barons should abide at Dumfreis with their friends and be ready upon all occasions to represse whatsoever stirs might arise The 18. of Ianuary in a convention of Estates called at Halirudhouse the Earls of Angus Huntley and Arroll were declared to have amitted the benefit of the Act of Abolition because of their misregard of his Majesties favour and not accepting of the benefit offered before the day prefixed The King had used divers means to gain them and would gladly upon assurance of their good behaviour have winked at crimes past but all was in vain the Jesuits prevailing with their counsels and feeding them still with hopes of forain aid whereupon charges were directed for entring their persons in ward till triall was taken of the accusations laid against them Angus was charged to enter in Blacknesse Huntley in Dumbriton and Arroll in the Castle of Edinburgh and Achindowne in Tentallon but none of them gave obedience Now the time of the Queens lying drawing near the King went to Striveling where she then abode and remained with her untill she was delivered upon the 19. of February of a sonne about which time came the Lord Souche Ambassadour from the Queen of England to complain of the King his lenity in proceeding against the Popish Lords for she had seen the conditions granted them in November and was highly displeased therewith But
the name of the Clergy of Scotland was a warrant sufficient Thus the Bishop consenting the absolution was given him in the Chappell of Lambeth by the Archbishop of Canterbury in this form Whereas the purpose and intendment of the whole Church of Christ is to win men unto God and frame their souls for heaven and that there is such an agreement and correspondency betwixt the Churches of Scotland and England that what the Bishops and Pastors in the one without any earthly or wordly respect shall accomplish to satisfie the Christian and charitable end and desire of the other cannot be distastfull to either I therefore finding your earnest intreaty to be loosed from the bond of excommunication wherewith you stand bound in the Church of Scotland and well considering the reason and cause of that censure as also considering your desire on this present day to communicate here with us for the better effecting of this work of participation of the holy Sacrament of Christ our Saviour his blessed body and blood do absolve you from the said excommunication in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost And beseech the Almighty God that you may be so directed by the holy Spirit that you may continue in the truth of his Gospell unto your lives end and then be made partaker of his everlasting kingdome How soon it was known that the Marquis was absolved by the Archbishop of Canterbury there were great exceptions taken by the Church and the same interpreted to be a sort of usurpation whereof the King being advertised in a long letter written to the Archbishop of S. Andrews he did justifie the doing by these reasons First that in absolving the Marquis nothing was intended to the prejudice of the Church of Scotland but what was done was out of a Christian necessity it being needfull that the Marquis should be absolved before he was admitted to the participation of the holy Sacrament Secondly he willed the Church to consider that his absolution at home was onely deferred upon the scruple he made of the Presence of our Saviour in the Sacrament and that upon his confession swearing and subscriving the other points of Religion they themselves had suspended his excommunication the lawfulâ—nesse whereof he would not dispute but remit the same to the Canonists yet the suspension standing it was not much from an absolution Thirdly that the absolution given him in England did necessarily imply an acknowledgement of the authority of the Church of Scotland whereas if the Archbishop of Canterbury had received him to the holy Communion and not first absolved him being excommunicated by the Church of Scotland the contempt and neglect had been a great deal greater Fourthly that the Marquis being come into England and make offer to perform whatsoever should be required of him it was more fit to take him in that disposition then to have delayed it unto his return into Scotland For these reasons he said and especially because all that was done was with a due acknowledgement and reservation of the power and independent authority of the Church of Scotland which the Archbishop of Canterbury had by his own hand testified it was his pleasure that upon the Marquis his return a full form of absolution should be given him or a ratification made of that which was done in England so as neither the Archbishop of Canterbury his doing should be disapproved as unlawfull nor the same so approved as it might seem that the Church of Scotland was inferiour in any sort to that of England and that the Archbishops Letter written to that effect should be put in record and kept as a perpetuall monument for ages to come This Letter directed to the Archbishop of S. Andrews I have thought here meet to be inserted Salutem in Christo. Because I understand that a Generall Assembly is shortly to be held at Aberdene I cannot but esteem it an office of brotherly love to yeild you an accompt of that great action which lately befell us here with the Marquis of Huntley So it was then that upon the coming up of the said Marquis his Majesty sharply entreating him for not giving satisfaction to the Church of Scotland and for a time restraining him from his Royall presence the Marquis resolving to give his Majesty contentment did voluntarily proffer to communicate when and wheresoever his Highness should be pleased whereupon his Majesty being pleased to make known that offer to me it was held fit to strike the iron whilest it was hot and that his great work should be accomplished before his Majesties going to progresse whereunto a good opportunity was offered by the consecration of the Bishop of Chester which was to be in my Chappell of Lambeth the seventh of this moneth at which time a solemn communion was there to be celebrated The only pause was that the Marquis being excommunicated by the Church of Scotland there was in appearance some difficulty how he might be absolved in the Church of England wherewith his Majesty being acquainted who wished that it should not be deferred we grew to this peaceable resolution which I doubt not your Lordship and the rest of our brethren there will interpret to the best for first what was to be performed might be adventured upon as we esteemed out of a brotherly correspondency and unity of affection and not only of any authority for we well know that as the Kingdome of Scotland is a free and absolute Monarchy so the Church of Scotland is entire in it self and independent upon any other Church Secondly we finde by the advice of divers Doctors of the Civil law and men best experienced in things of this nature that the course of Ecclesiasticall proceedings would fairly permit that we might receive to our communion a man excommunicated in another Church if the said person doe declare that he had a purpose hereafter for some time to reside among us which the Lord Marquis did openly professe that he intended and I know his Majesty doth desire it and for my part I rest satisfied that it can bring no prejudice but rather contentment unto you and to that Kingdom Thirdly it pleased God the night before the celebration of the sacrament to send in our brother the Bishop of Cathnes with whom I taking counsel his Lordship resolved me that it was my best way to absolve the Lord Marquis and assured me that it would be well taken by the Bishops and Pastors of the Church of Scotland I leave the report of this to my Lord Cathnes himself who was an eye-witness with what reverence the Marquis did participate of that holy sacrament For all other circumstances I doubt not but you shall be certified of them from his Majesty whose gracious and princely desire is that this bruised reed should not be broken but that so great a personage whose example may doe much good should be cherished and comforted in his coming
THE HISTORY OF THE Church of Scotland Beginning the Year of our Lord 203 and continued to the end of the Reign of King JAMES the VI. of ever blessed Memory Wherein are described The Progress of Christianity The Persecutions and Interruptions of it The Foundation of Churches The Erecting of Bishopricks The Building and Endowing Monasteries and other Religious Places The Succession of Bishops in their Sees The Reformation of Religion and the frequent Disturbances of that Nation by Wars Conspiracies Tumults Schisms Together with great variety of other Matters both Ecclesiasticall and Politicall WRITTEN By that grave and Reverend Prelate and wise COUNSELLOR IOHN SPOTSWOOD Lord Archbishop of S. Andrews and Privy Counsellor to King CHARLES the I. that most Religious and blessed Prince Res in exitu aestimantur cù abeunt ex oculis hinc videntur LONDON Printed by I. Flesher for R. Royston at the Angel in Ivie-lane MDCLV AEtat suae 74 Aº 1639 HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE Aspice non frustrâ Veneranda haec pingitur Icon Vivit adhuc tanti qvaelibet umbra Viri Prisca nitet Vultu Pietas Virtusque Sepulchri Nescia in Effigie nescit et ipsa Mori Sic vno Intuitu Vultûs Morumque Volumen Perlegis et Pictor transit in Historicum IOANNES SPOTISWOODE ARCHIEPISCOPVS St. ANDREANVS TOTIVS SCOTIAE PRIMAS ET METROPOLITANVS EIVSDEMQVE REGNI CANCELIA us W. Hollar fecit THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER THis History being wrote in calm and quiet Times and by a person whose temper and disposition was not unsutable to them had the ill hap to have an hideous storm tread upon the heels of it which among other greater Wrecks and Ruines might very likely have buried this never to have been raised up again But Providence had so disposed of it that a Copy of it lighting into more Ingenuous and Noble hands it was thought a sin by them to stifle and conceal it from the World which now being in dotage and infinitely in love with Change may reade here if they do not feel it already the sad Effects which an unruly and a misgovern'd Reformation usher'd in by Tender Consciences brings upon them Nor doth it come forth now to cast any Obloquy upon that Church or Nation famous in former Times for so much Piety that the devotion of the Natives under so cold a Clime whether you consider the rich Endowments or magnificent Structures of Places dedicated to Gods Service can hardly be match'd but to shew rather the variation of all Humane Things and how easie it is to slide from something that might look like Superstition into the contrary Vices of Sacriledge and Profaneness for which they have felt so remarkable a Scourge that unless it be in the same Island and all Circumstances considered scarce in that can the whole World and the Stories of it sute them with a Parallel But there is lesse to be said of this because if the Times become patient of hearing Truth you may possibly by the Industry of some good hand have the latter and more Fatall part of the Story For though this Cloud in the North was at first no bigger then a Hand and might have been grasp'd and easily dispers'd by the Authority then in being had it not miscarried in being too tender towards it hath since for the sins of both Nations rowl'd it self into a more Universal Darkness and pour'd down such a sweeping Rain upon us as hath carried away all that is Sacred with it And for us that live to see the Desolation on all hands our onely portion left us is to mourn in secret for Nihil praeter plorare relictum est And that you may know to how innocent and unbyassed a person you owe this Story do but impartially reade it and you shall finde it woven with so even threed and so much of the spirit of meekness in all the passages of it that neither the Rage of the first Reformers nor the Fury of them who in after â—imes did second them could tempt him to dispense so much with his own nature as to passe any bitter Reproof upon them but leaves them upon the Stage with the bare Narrative of their actions and trusts the judgement of the Reader either to condemn or to acquit them What the Life of this Author was hath been diligently and faithfully collected by a Reverend Person of that Nation who out of the midst of the Ruines of his Church hath gather'd out of the Rubbidge of it the substance of these following Particulars that this world of ours being now grown barren of such Examples might at least have an excellent Copy set before them which if they have not the Will to imitate yet let them use it as they do their Pictures and commend the Hand though they neglect his Virtues There is no more to say to thee but this That if there be so much Devotion in thee as to melt thee into Prayers and Tears for the Sufferings of thine own Church Let there be so much Charity too as to bestow some of them on our Neighbour Nation from whom our Ruine came and have since so deeply smarted for it that a discreet and a very considerable person among them hath so far in my hearing expressed his Penitence for it as to say That it was true that he with the rest of his Nation had buried Episcopacy and their Ancient Monarchy in one and the same Grave but upon the sad consequences of it they could be content to tear up the very earth of that Grave with their Teeth so that they might raise up Both again And when this single Vote shall come to be the Vote of the whole Nation God is where he was and without the attending the Revolution of Plato's Great Year can when he pleaseth and by what means he pleaseth restore them to their former Happiness Non si malè Nunc Olim sic erit The Authors Life THough Buildings are looked upon with more pleasure when they are rear'd then in their foundations yet that this Reverend Prelat raised in his own Countrey to the highest honour that his condition was capable of may not seem obscurely to have stole into the World as a Mushrome of a nights growth or as that Roman did of whom it is said in Tacitus Videtur Curtius Rufus è se natus It can no way be impertinent to mention that he was descended from the Lairds of Spotiswood in the Merse an ancient race of Gentlemen and the chief of that surname His Grandfather died in the bed of honour with his King Iames the fourth in the battel of Flodden field a battel that might have been looked upon as most unfortunate to that Nation had not their latter contests by the sword proved infinitely more unhappy His Father was no sword-man but betook himself to the study of the Arts passing his course of Philosophy in the Colledge of Glasgow with a purpose the better to enable himself for
Theology to which by the guidance of Gods Spirit over him he stood most affected But matters of Religion being at that time in his Countrey like the eddies of waters rowling and confused the old way questioned and the new persecuted none knowing in this turning tyde which wayes the times would run he withdrew himself into England where bringing with him an unsetled mind and doubtfull what party he should incline to Providence cast him upon a familiarity with Archbishop Cranmer who soon confirm'd him in those truths which afterward he never varied from About the time of the death of King Iames the fift he returned into Scotland whereby occasion given by the Earl of Glencarn to whom he had applied himself he became known to Matthew Earl of Lennox who finding him a person judicious and discreet and fitted by these qualities for managing of business emploied him to Henry the eight of England when France upon some jealousies was so unkind to him as to cast him off Affaires upon this succeeding to the Earl of Lennox his mind the Earl came into England with whom some moneths he there remained But longing to see the smoak of his own Countrey he returned once more to enjoy himself among his friends where being known to Sir Iames Sandilands of Calder a person of great authority in those times he was moved by him to accept of the Parsonage of Calder which upon the beginning of the Reformation was then void Not long after this he was made Super-intendent of Lothian Merse and Teviot-dale where he exercised fully the power and discharged faithfully the Office of a Bishop though under another style For it was not the Office but the name which the first Reformers out of humor startled at though they who have succeeded them for in errors of this kinde the last comers think they have done nothing unless they out-bid the former have since to their own ruin cast out both He continued in this holy function with the approbation of all good men till his death when being full of days and leaving the persume of a good name behinde him he peaceably departed out of this life on the fift of December in the year 1585. His Wife was Beatrix Crichton a grave and a discreet Matron daughter to the Laird of Lugton an ancient Baron of Scotland And from these Parents Iohn Spotiswood the Author of this History descended Born he was in the year of our Lord 1565 when he was no sooner brought into the World but a remarkable passage accompanied it For among the rest that were present not ordinary Gossipers but women of good note there was one among them who in a sober though in a prophetick fit taking the childe in her armes called aloud to the rest in these or the like tearms You may all very well rejoyce at the birth of this childe for he will become the Prop and Pillar of this Church and the main and chief instrument in the defending of it From what principle this praediction came or how she was thus inspired I will not search into but that her words came really to pass may evidently appear to him that reads this short story of his life His education was answerable to his birth for being a child of a pregnant wit great spirit and good memory he was by the care of his parents brought up in the University of Glasgow where he came so early to perfection that he received his degrees in the sixteenth year of his age for though the fruits of the earth under that Northern Clime do not mature so soon the men generally are of a better mold and mellow as early into a ripeness as any of those Nations who because they have more of the Sun plead for a priority forgetting that some kinde of grain are ripened best by Frosts And this so many excellent men of all sorts as have been of that Nation are so many examples of But to revert to this one among the rest who having laid his foundation in humane Arts and Sciences did not make his period there but used them as the rundles of a ladder by which he might climbe higher to the knowledge of diviner things to the practise of which by way of charge he was sooner called then he expected for his father being by age and weakness of body unable to appear any more in publick none was thought fitter to succeed in the Parsonage of Calder then his son though otherwise in a well-govern'd Church his age being then but eighteen might in an ordinary course have been a barre against him but his early parts and his conscientious diligence in attending this cure supplied his defect of years and the greenness of his youth was corrected and tempered by so sober a gravity as no man could either despise his youth or think him unfit for the employment Nor were these virtues of his buried and confined within the boundaries of his Parish for having formerly had a relation to the Noble family of Lennox he was looked upon as the fittest person of his quality to attend Lodowick Duke of Lennox as his Chaplain in that honourable Ambassy to Henry the fourth of France for confirming the ancient amity between both the Nations wherein he so discreetly carried himself as added much to his reputation and made it appear that men bred up in the shade of learning might possibly endure the Sun-shine and when it came to their turnes might carry themselves as handsomely abroad as they whose education being in a more pragmatick way usually undervalue them In the retinue of this Noble Person he returned from France through England where Queen Elizabeth being in her declining age was in his Masters name saluted by this Ambassadour who seeing her night draw on so fast could the easier guess that his Masters rising in this Horizon was not then far off Some two years after this Queen Elizabeth after the glorious reign of fourty four years by her death made way for King Iames her successor and when all the World stood at gaze what would become of the Crown of England which the Jesuit under the name of Dolman had bandied over into Spain and some of the contrary extreme were then in consultation though upon different purposes to make a game of it at home there was a diviner hand of Providence which so unexpectedly ordered it that without any contest at all it settled on the right heir to the admiration of the neighbouring Nations and had we known our own good to the infinite happiness of this This King being to take possession of his hereditary Crown here chose out for his attendants the most eminent persons of all kindes and among his Clergy this Author being then no farther advanced then to his Cure of Calder was summoned to this service That year Iames Beaton Archbishop of Glasgow dying the King who being of excellent parts himself could the better discover and value them in others not only