and quiet all things speedily with wisedom to the good of the people with due obedience to our lawfull Sovereign under God as we are taught by the Law of God the Law of Nature the Law of Nations and the Municipall Laws of our severall Countreys But to return to the Church The Scots although they received amongst them the light of the Gospel with the very first of the Gentiles as we have said yet had they not the Evangel so universally professed thorow the whole Countrey till towards the first yeers of the third Age that is till Donald the first who not onely professed the Faith of Christ himself with his Family but did his best to cast out Idolatry wholly from his Dominions and to settle the Ministery of the Gospel in every corner thereof But this religious King could not bring to passe this his good Designe fully being diverted by continuall Wars against the Romans the whole course of his life After the death of Donald till toward the later end of the third age that is to the Reign of Crathilinth this work of totally putting down Idolatry and setling the Gospel every where in the Countrey by the negligence of the following Princes was at a stay In this King Crathilinth his dayes fell out the ninth persecution under Aurelius and the tenth under Dioclesian which gave occasion to many Christians from divers parts of the Empire but namely from the South parts of Britanie now another time to flie into Scotland for refuge as they had done before under Domitian Among those fugitives who did then repair into Scotland for shelter from the generall massacre were many excellent men in Piety and Learning whom the King Crathilinth not onely kindely received but also employed to ayd and help him and his Councell in the further setling of Christs Truth in his Kingdom and in the totall extirpation of Idolatry out of it which was so much the harder work because of the Druides the principall false Prophets and Idolatrous Priests in those dayes who not onely by their subtill hypocrisie and sense-pleasing Divine Service but also by a cunning forecast having drawn into their hands the hearing and determining of Civill affairs had so gained upon the spirits of the poor and simple people that they could not imagine how to be without them and live The resolute care and diligence of King Crathilinth and his Councell with the help of those pious and learned men surpasseth all difficulties and having put quite down the Groves and Altars under the Oaks and in a word all Idoll Service established the pure Worship of the true God in every place of his Dominions and filled up the rooms of those false Prophets with godly and learned Teachers of the people which was done every where thorow the Kingdom but particularly in the Islands which those pious men chose for their principall abode as being most fit for a retired life and namely in the Isle of Man the King Crathilinth caused to build a Church to the honour of our Saviour which in following times by corruptions was called Fanum Sodorense for Soterense the word originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hence the Town neer the Church was called Sodora as Minster in our vulgar language and Moustier in French signifying a Town in a secondary signification neer a Church Those godly men being setled as aforesaid and having withdrawn themselves from the sollicitude of worldly affairs did wholly give themselves to divine Service that is To instruct the ignorant comfort the weak administer the Sacraments to the people and to train up Novices and Disciples to do the same service in their due time These men for their single and retired life were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Monks by abbreviation and for their travelling altogether in Gods Worship and Service were called Colidei or Culdees These Culdees were so given to the exercise of devotion by the meditating the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven and by Prayers that the very Cells whereinto they had inclosed and separated themselves from the world after their death were reputed so many Temples or Chappels set aside for Divine Service hence to this day Cella is taken for a Church among the ancient Scots as you may see in these composed names Kelmarnoc Marnoc his Church Celpatric Patrick his Church The Culdees thus setled as we have seen did chose out of themselves some eminent men in piety knowledge and wisedom to oversee the rest and to keep them to the discharge of their duty towards the People and towards the Disciples with an orderly and discreet carriage of each one towards another in their severall societies and in their private These Overseers or Superintendents chosen of themselves and by themselves did discharge the Duties of their Function indifferently every where thorowout the whole Kingdom without restraining themselves to any certain place or Lording over their Brethren or any part of the Flock of Jesus Christ not attributing unto themselves any particular distinct holy order from the rest belonging onely to them and to be onely conferred by them This way of instructing the People and governing the Church by Culdees did continue for many yeers under Gods mercy the Ministery of Gods Church as yet not being become a businesse of gain and of worldly pomp and pride So these Culdees and Overseers of others had no other emulation but of weldoing nor striving but to advance true Pietie and godly Learning The Overseers of Superintendents of the Culdees were commonly called by the Writers who writ of those dayes Scotorum Episcopi without any definition of place or preeminence of one above another But to return to Crathilinth who till his dying day which was about the 312. yeer did constantly continue to advance the Kingdom of Christ as likewise his successor Fincormac under whose dayes the Gospel did flourish in Puritie and in Peace he died about the yeer 358. After the death of Fincormac both the Church and State of Scotland fell in great disorder and troubles by domestick dissensions and factions for some yeers The Roman Lievtenant Maximus seeing the intestine troubles of Scotland began to lay hold upon the occasion First he foments their divisions within them next not onely he withdraws under fair promises from the Scots their ancient Allies the Picts but also obtains help of the Picts to make Warre against the Scots and so to defeat them which he did effectuate indeed in a battell fought with much bloodshed on both sides at the Water of Dun in Carrick wherein the King Ewen was killed this defeat fell out about 380. in the yeer of Christ the most part of the Nobilitie and numbers of People of those that escaped some fled into the West Isles some into Ireland and others to the Northern parts of Germany or Scandia some submitted themselves to the will and discretion of the Conquerour with the poor people that had not taken arms Among those that fled
by wofull experience namely in the Clergie Gentry and Nobility Now these evils have not been in England alone for Scotland according to its proportion in compasse of Bounds numbers of people provision of means and in its distance from Court hath its full share of all the evil For first the Schools of breeding young people at home were become very corrupt and many in their travelling abroad have either miscarried or little benefited themselves The fruit we have found namely in our corrupt Clergie yea and in some of our infatuated Gentry and Nobility but blessed be God things are now in a better posture and constitution there then they have been formerly God grant we may have occasion to say the like of England For Religion sound knowledge and true wisedome with probity have been so neglected and contemned there to the ignominy and reproach of Christianity that in these times there we have seen the dolefull effects of want of Religion and of these other vertues But to return to the Court. The Popish party although they had both power and credit at Court yet they were not assured to go on so smoothly and speedily with the great Designe so long as there were any of eminency there of whom they could not be certain So Prince Henry was first wished to be out of the way next by untimely death was taken away to the grief of many honest men This conceived Remora being laid aside they resolve to go on more freely in their Designe But although they had gained much upon the affection of the King yet they can suffer him to expresse the Notions of Religion and wisedom both by word and writing Yea they will yeeld him to follow so far his former Principles as to match his daughter to one of his Profession so he marries the Lady Elizabeth to the Prince Elector Palatine although it was not altogether so pleasing to some chief ones at Court then These things passed in the yeer 1613. who although they would not stop the Marriage to go on yet they managed the businesse so that they hindered the Prince Elector Palatine to receive the advantages which in reason he should have had by vertue of it as help and ayd at his need c. Here we must make a little step beyond Sea and presently return back Now then we must know That as the Popish party have been very busie in these our Dominions in carrying on the Work of the great Designe of subjecting all to the Pope directly or indirectly so in other places where Idolatry and Tyranny had been cast off they have not been sleeping nor idle namely in our neighbour Countreys where when they had made things up for a combustion of War by their crafty forecasting divisions and corruptions in life and Doctrine of men of place they kindled the fire witnesse the businesse of Barnevel in the Low Countreys in the yeer 1619. And not long thereafter the troubles raised in France against the Professors of the Truth then in Germany likewise having all things ready for a War as they were thinking that the two Houses of Saxe to wit the Weymerian and the now Electorall was most fit and easie to be embroyled by reason of the emulation of the Weymerian against the other for the Electorall Dignity taken from it and given to the other But conveniently for their purpose the Elector Palatine being made King of Bohemia the great agent of the Pope the House of Austria takes occasion to make War against him leaving the House of Saxe c. Now to come home again King James by this time is turned about and his affection so much cooled and turned from the Protestant party distressed that for all help or supply to the Protestants of France he sends complements by Embassadours with fair promises And for his son-in-Law with other Protestants his adherents in Germany he did little more so senselesse is he of the sufferings of Jacob and unmindefull of his own interest by suffering those in France and Germany to perish who not onely did so much honour him but they being preserved made him the most redoubted and considerable Prince in Christendom To speak nothing of his tye by nature unto his own children Then contradicting his own published Dictates he must seek after a Popish wife for his son and to hasten the businesse the young Prince must be sent into Spain where he had two men by whom he was then advised who although they did not love one another yet they did agree among themselves To betray their old Master with their Countrey and their young Master in their company whom they theu counselled to embrace Popery and by writing engage himself unto the Pope This is upon Record At last the Prince cometh home without the wife which was never really intended for him howsoever things were given out notwithstanding all the pains of the young Prince and the earnest sollicitude of the Father with the compliance of both If it had not been for the hatred to the Palatine House and fear of its advancement to the succession of those Dominions the Prince never had seen this Island again but in a Map Howsoever King James is glad to have his son safe returned And at length seeing clearly how he had been misled and gulled bethinks himself how to amend his former mistakes and errours but alas it was too late for as he was thus consulting with himself death takes him away An. 1625. not without suspition of wrong done unto him The new King must have a Popish wife according to the former intention she cometh from France and bringeth along with her her strange gods The Prelats had a main hand in this Popish Match by actuall furtherance thereof and by opening the way how the free exercise of Popery might be had in favour of the Queen and her adherents without breach of the Law of the Land The same yeer of the death of the late King and of the Marriage of our now Sovereign there was an Expedition made against the Spaniard without any reall intention to do harm as appears by the slack performance of the War and by the shamefull Peace made thereafter The main drift of this undertaking was first To try how ready the people would be to endure Souldiers in the Countrey which they had not seen for a long time and how willing they would be to undergo a War at the command of the corrupt Court and uphold it with Supplies of men and moneys Next There must be an Expedition against France under pretext to help the then distressed Protestants there which really was intended for the hastening of their ruine and encrease of their desolation and so it proved indeed although the main and chief undertaker was prevented by death to see the effect of his intents The other end of this undertaking was To have Forces at command both Horse and Foot by Land and a well-provided Navie at Sea for the enslaving of
the people to spirituall and temporall Bondage which in all humane probability had not been difficile to effectuate then such was the sheeppish sillinesse and knavish basenesse of many men in these Dominions of all ranks conditions and professions as also the unpreparednesse of the wiser and better Patriots and Members of the Church to withstand this mischief if God in his mercy by the unexpected death of the Court-ruler and chief agent in the businesse had not put in a Remora and lett At which time if men had returned unto God amending their lives in private and had expressed their true zeal then to the good of the Church and Countrey whereof they are members according to their severall ranks and conditions the designe of the common enemy had been fully dasht But God in his wisedom hath been pleased to keep us yet a while longer under the rod of tryall to see if we will return unto him at last The Romish party although astonished and surprised at the death of their Engine and main Instrument here among us gives not over but continues the great Designe without intermission albeit not with such speed as formerly for those to whose care principally the businesse was committed and in whose hands the managing of matters had fallen by the death of the late Fac totum were not so powerfull to obtain without refusall what they pleased at the Kings hands neither were they in such opinion and reputation with inferiours to make them go on in the work so earnestly wherefore the Queen must be brought now of necessity to take upon her the main care and to obtain from the King whatsoever may conduce and further the businesse and take away all letts and stops which may hinder the proceedings Then to employ all her credit abroad for countenancing and advancing affairs And next by her authority to draw on inferiours to act their part with affection and ardour Now all things being thus cunningly and carefully by degrees in few yeers prepared and disposed for enslaving Church and State Prince and People to Rome again it was thought fit by the hottest of the party to wit the Iesuites to hasten the work openly and delay no more time the compassing of the Designe being conceived to be infallible By this means they thought to shorten the businesse and to make themselves so considerable as to share deeply in the Booty of which they looked for but little if things were still lingred and carryed on slowly But how and where to begin this new undertaking was consulted upon and after deliberation the Scots must be begun at the way is resolved on there must be a new Prayer-Book put upon these rude fellows that they may say their Prayers in modo figura a la Romaine and not so rudely and irregularly as they were wont to do in the Northern way Then they must have high-Commission Courts Canons and Etcetera's Which things if the Scots be so wise to accept as doubtlesse they will reasoned these men but he that reckons without this host reckons twice for their chief men of State are either actually at Court or provided to places in the Countrey from Court at least they can do no businesse of moment without the favour of the Court. At this time the devout and religious Prelats with the rest of their good Clergie are not onely in all earnestnesse bent for the work according to their severall places in the Church but also they over-sway all busines in State Wherefore without difficulty we will compasse our main Designe thorow all these Dominions said they And truely so they had in all likelihood as we may see by the wofull carriage of businesse and so ill managing so good a Cause in England since But God had in his mercy towards us all ordained otherwise And if the Scots say they should be so mad as to refuse the commands from the Court and think upon resistance they shall be made obey the holy Mandate with a Vengeance and say their prayers with a rod for we shall over-run their Countrey speedily and subdue them as poor silly ignorant fools destitute of all means for War to wit wisedom with resolution not having breeding and pressed down with poverty to undertake and undergo such a businesse as War and money and Arms to go on in it for the Sâ—yl being barren and the Havens bad they cannot have the advantages of a fertile Countrey furnished with good Harbours and Commanders or Leaders to manage a War their Military men being abroad who will not easily quit the honorable and beneficiall Employments they have in forreigne Countreys and come home to suffer want with losse of credit But God who laughs from above at the foolish Counsells of vain men in this particular hath made us see That he hath an â—ver-ruling power over the affairs of men making little and contemptible ones do great things and bring to nothing the undertakings of the mighty and wise of this world By this time the new Prayer-Book designed at Rome and perfected at London is sent down into Scotland After some little reluctancy it is received by the Councell there the major part whereof then were either Church-men or their addicted friends Then it is sent to the Churches to be put in use and practice But unexpected and unlooked for it is opposed by inferiour people from whence the opposition riseth to those of higher ranks whereupon Petitions are drawn up and sent to the King to supplicate His Majesty in all due respect to free the Church of Scotland from this new Prayer-Book with the High-Commission Courts Canons Etcetera's To these Demands of the Scots no answer is given but hot threatnings after which preparatives of War were made against the Scots and because the King did not shew himself propense enough to the undertaking of War nor the Queen forward enough to engage the King in this holy War the Queen-Mother who for her known faithfulnesse to her husband and for her care of her son both late Kings of France must come to her Son-in-law against his will to help him with her best advice and counsell and to better instruct her daughter how to carry her self with earnestnesse and addresse in the businesse Things being thus disposed there is an Expedition undertaken against the Scots and followed to the Borders by the King present in person but to small purpose for the Scots came to the Borders duly prepared notwithstanding their pre-conceived wants and indisposition to sell their Religion and Liberty at a dear rate which being perceived by the Court the Scots Demands formerly rejected are granted and a Peace concluded Then some of the chief men of the Scots were invited to go to Court for the time at Barwick who upon certain advice of a Plot against them were stopped by their friends to trust themselves to the faith of the Court. After things in a kinde calmed there the King not suffered by his Counsell to
Bowe-men as our Poet expresseth it Roma sagitti feris praetendit maenia Scotis And Claudian many hundred yeers before this our Poet speaking of the Legion which then was called from its Garrison on the aforesaid walls saith thus The Legion came which was placed before the utmost Britans and which bridled the fierce Scot. Lucius Florus many yeers before Claudian who wrote towards the later end of the fourth Age to wit in the beginning of the second Age and Spartianus who alleadgeth Florus writ towards the later end of the third Age. Lucius Florus the Poet is the same with the Historian who writ the short History of the Romans as judgeth Salmasius is brought in by Aelius Spartianus in the History of the Life of Adrian the Emperor saying these words I would not be Caesar to walk among the Britans and suffer the Scots morning hoar Frosts The word pruina which the Author useth doth signifie so much for it is quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 morning What Florus in these words here alleadged calleth in his Language Scoticas pruinas Claudian calleth Caledonias pruinas speaking of another Roman in these words And he placed his Camp in the middle of the Caledonian morning â—oar Frosts I know that commonly in Spartian of whom we have these Verses of Florus it is read Scythicas for Scoticas but wrong notwithstanding that the great Criticks have not corrected it For how I pray you can Adrian be said to suffer Scythicas pruinas who never was in the Countrie which then went under the name of Scythia yea the Romans had never any War with the Scythes for albeit the Scythes heard of the Romans Arms yet they never felt them Besides what sense had it been in Florus to say unto Adrian That he would not be Caesar to walk in Britany and endure the morning hoary Frosts of Scythia For although the Romans heard say That Scythia was a cold Countrey yet they more perfectly knew Scotland to be cold having been upon the place Now it was very easie to those who copied Books of old and hardly understood what they writ to change one letter for another namely when two letters are so like one to another as these two Vowels O O for O not being Initiall or Capitall was written formerly without the draught under it which hath been written for distinction sake as we see it commonly now thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This change of these two Vowels hath been found elsewhere then in this place of Florus by the Criticks in the same words who seeing the name of the Sea upon the Coast of Scotland written Scythicum presently mended it and made it Scoticum Then Erasmus smelled out the same fault in Ierome his Epistle to Ctesiphon against Palladius and his disciple Caelestius in these words Britannie and the Scots Nations had not then known Moses and the Prophets Erasmus finding Scythicae he changed it into Scoticae Lucius Seneca about an hundred yeers before Florus that is about fourty yeers after Christ now 1600 yeers since in his Satyre upon the death of Claudius makes mention of the Scots in the composed word Scoto-Brigantes as thus followeth He i. e. Claudius commanded the Britans beyond the known Seas and the blue Scoto-Brigantes to submit their necks to the Roman Chains This word above named hath puzzled many of the Criticks how to reade it so that a right meaning or sense might be had of these lines with the true measure of the Verse some reading it one way some another way till at last the learned Ioseph Scaliger corrected it as you have it here giving to the words a plain and easie sense and keeping the law of the Verses against which all others did faile And to this Correction of Scaliger hath submitted many learned men yet some partly for envie against the Nation of whom is here spoken partly for vanity will stand out against the truth because of the authority of this Correction at whose great and most rare Learning they are offended as the former are at any advantage that the Nation whom these words doth concern may have The Scots are called Cerulaei or blue because they used much blue in their Garments and so doth the old Scots to this day witnesse their Plaids whereof the best sort ordinarily hath the ground blue as also their blue Caps Mamertin in his Panegyrick to Maximinian tells us That the Britans had War with the Scots and Picts before Iulius Caesar entered into the Island So by these Testimonies ye see how injurious they are unto the Scots that will not have their name known till many yeers yea some hundred yeers after the entry of the Romans into the Island The Romans having setled themselves in the Island they divided the whole into two parts Their part or the South part they called Britannia major and superiour and their Provincialls went most commonly under the name of Britones although sometimes under the name of Britanni but not so oft and they were sub-divided into severall Peoples The other part of the Island without the Roman Province that is the northern part was called Britannia minor and inferiour Now all the inhabitants of this northern part who were in continuall Bickerings and Warre with the Romans and their Provincialls were called Scoti sometime Transmarins sometime Forreigners and they did consist of two chief Peoples to wit Brigantes and Picti which both were sub-divided into severall lesser Peoples of which we forbear to speak at this time So the name of Scoti was at first appellative and given to more then to one People but in successe of time appropriated to one And this is not singular in this name for the proper names of divers Peoples at first hath been appellative and thereafter appropriate to one alone I will instance onely in one for brevity sake which is this The name Franck or French at first was common to all those that stood out together for Franchise and Liberty against the Romans about the Rhyne and other parts of Germany But at length it became peculiar unto one people as we see it is at this day Moreover that the name of Scoti was appellative and given to more then one people you may cleerly see by the ordinary expression of ancient Writers in the plurall number thus Scotorum gentes Scoticae gentes when otherwise all men ordinarily both by word and writing have ever used and to this day use the singular number speaking of one people as gens not gentes populus not populi nation not nations As all the northern people of the main Land or Continent both in Europe and Asia went anciently under the name of Scythae witnesse Strabo in these words The ancients commonly called the northern people Scythes And in another place he saith The ancients did call by one name of Scythes all the known places towards the North. He means in the Continent or main Land So the northern
to France to make Warre and at his arrivall there he findes an Army of Scots ready to fight for the Alliay of Scotland the French King against the English Upon this the King of England moves King Iames whom he had taken along with him to write unto the Scots and to charge them upon their Allegiance not to draw their Sword against the party where he their King was in person The Scots answered That they were sent into France to assist their Alliays against the common enemy As for him who writ unto them since he was a prisoner and not a free man they neither owed him Allegiance nor would they give him any so long as he was in prison but if he were set at liberty and were living among them they would obey him according to the Laws of the Countrey since the Crown was setled upon him by the consent of the States and so they did for these Kingdoms were governed in his name without any communication with him during the time of his imprisonment which was very long but when he went home he was received and obeyed as King From this Princes may learn that although people do submit themselves to their Government the resignation is not so full as to devest themselves of all power in such a way That the Prince may dispose of them as he thinks right or wrong he ordinarily being misled and kept captive by those that are about him who for the most part have no regard to the publike good nor to the credit and esteem of him to whom in shew they professe themselves so addicted the people have constantly reserved even unto themselves by the consent of all men yea of the greatest Court-parasites and Sycophants of Princes that the Prince cannot nor ought not to enslave or subject the people to any Forreign Power and where Princes by Pusillanimitie and ill counsell have essayed or attempted such a thing they have smarted for it witnesse Baliol who not onely was excluded himself from the Crown but also his Posterity and it was setled upon the next Branch to wit Robert Bruce with his descendents where it continues to this day by Gods providence Then since the people have reserved this power in themselves to stop the Prince to put them under any Forreign yoak or slavery is it possible That they have not reserved a power to right themselves from domestick and intestine slavery and misery slavery being ever one and the same For what is it to me by whom I suffer evil of one and the same kinde and degree whether it be by a neighbour or a stranger a forreigner or a con-citizen yea when I suffer by him who should be my friend and stand for the same Freedom with me my suffering is the greater To this purpose you have a memorable Passage of William the Norman who although he had invaded England with the Sword and by it had defeated him who did oppose him for the Crown with all his adherents and party and in consequencie of this Victory had committed many out-rages with a strong hand yet the same William could never assure himself nor his Posterity of the Allegeance of the People till he had sworn solemnly according to the Rite of the times for himself and his To govern according to the good and approved Laws of the Land as the best Kings before him had done Then the County of Kent in its own name and in the name of the whole Kingdom declared That neither Kent nor any other of the Kingdom was conquered but in a peaceable way did submit to William the Norman upon Condition and with Proviso That all their Liberties and free Customs in use and practice should be kept If this was not accomplished afterwards it was sillinesse of the People that suffered themselves to be abused and the fault of misled Princes that did not keep their promise whereunto they were tyed And sundry for the breach of this promise have had occasion to repent when it hath been too late We shall adde one example more which is of Henry the eighth who anno 1525 the seventeenth yeer of his Reign by the advice of his Councell put a Tax upon the people which the people did not onely refuse to pay but declared That the thing was unjust and unlawfull Withall wherever they met those whom the King had employed for the gathering the money they used them so kindely that they did never come twice to one place for the payment of the Tax The King seeing this he disclaims the Imposition of the Tax and so do the Nobles that convened at London by his Command for that purpose and layes all the fault upon ill counsell namely upon Wolsey This was Henry constrained to do notwithstanding his resolutenesse against all forreign enemy chiefly the Pope with his shavelings By this instance Henry acknowledged his power to be limited and no wayes arbitrary Against the doctrine of our now Cout-parasites Now if the People have this much power in them as to stand for their Temporall Liberty both against forreign and domestick slavery far more may they and ought they to defend the Spirituall Freedom which Christ having purchased with his Blood hath left them as Members of his Church But all this defence of Liberty and Religion ought to be made so that it be without by-ends sinistrous respects of hatred malice ambition c. The onely scope and main drift being To have Gods glory in the Light of his Gospel setled and maintained The People at quiet The Prince obeyed in God and for God i. e. according to the Law of God Nature Nations and the Countrey or Kingdom so far as possibly can be This being lookt to carefully there is no gap opened to Rebellion which is a fighting against Gods Ordinance and not the just and necessary opposing of the abuse and corrupting of the good Ordinance of God But here a Court-slave will say If things be so there is no absolutenesse in Monarchs and Princes To answer this we must know what is to be meant by absolute or absolutenes whereof I finde two main significations First absolute signifieth perfect and absolutenesse perfection Hence we have in Latin this expression Perfectum est omnibus numeris absolutum And in our vulgar Language we say A thing is absolutely good when it is perfectly good Next absolute signifieth free from tye or bond which in Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now say I if you take absolute for perfect that Prince or Magistrate is most absolute that is most perfect who governs most absolutely or most perfectly The absolutenesse or perfection of Government consists in its conformity to the perfect Rule which is written in the Law of God printed in the heart of man received generally of all wise People and in practice by all particular well-polished Common-wealths Next I say if you take absolute for free from tye or bond That no Prince nor Magistrate is free for every
after in Seaton But at length by Bribes given to the said Lord Seaton and to the old Laird of Lethington he was restored to Saint Andrewes from whence he wrought all mischief as we shall after heare The PARLIAMENT approached which was before EASTER there began question of the abolishing of certaine Tyrannicall ACTS made before at the Devotion of the Prelates for the maintaining of their Kingdome of Darkenesse To wit That under paine of Heresie no man should reade any part of the Scriptures in the Vulgar Tongue neither yet any Tractate or Exposition of any place of Scripture Such Articles began to come in question we say And men began to enquire If it were not lawfull to men that understood no Latine to use the word of their Salvation in the Tongue they understood as it was for the Latine men to have it in Latine Grecians or Hebrews to have it in their Tongues It was answered That the Church he means the Prelats first had forbidden all Tongues but the three viz. Hebrew Greek and Latine But men demanded when that Inhibition was given and what Counsell had ordained it considering that in the dayes of Chrysostome he complained That the people used the Psalmes and other holy Books in their owne Tongues And if ye will say they were Greeks and understood the Greek Tongue We answere That Christ Jesus commanded his word to be Preached to all Nations now if it ought to be Preached to all Nations it must be Preached in the Tongue they understand Then if it be lawfull to Preach and heare it Preached in all Tongues Why should it not be lawfull to reade it and hear it read in all Tongues to the end that the people may try the spirits according to the commandment of the Apostle Beaten with these and other Reasons they denied not but it might be read in the Uulgar Tongue provided if the Translation were true It was demanded What could be reprehended in it And when much searching was made nothing could be found But that Love say they was put in the place of Charity When the Question was asked What difference was betwixt the one and the other and if they understood the nature of the Greek term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were dumb Reasoned for the party of the seculars The L. Ruthwen father to him that prudently gave counsell to take just punishment upon that knave David for that he abused the unhappy K. Henry Stuart in mo cases then one a stout and a discreet man in the cause of God and M. Henry Balneves an old professour For the part of the Clergy one Hay Dean of Lastarrik and certain old Bishops with him The conclusion was the Commissioners of Broughes and a part of the Nobility required of the Parliament that it might be Enacted That it should be lawfull to every man to use the benefit of the Translation which then they had of the Old and New Testament together with the benefit of other Treatises containing wholsome Doctrine untill such time as the Prelats and other Church-men should give and set forth unto them a Translation more correct The Clergie hereto long repugned But in the end convinced by Reasons and by multitude of voyces in their contrary they also condescended And so by Act of Parliament it was made free to all men and women to read the Scriptures in their owne Uulgar Tongue and so were all Acts made to the contrary abolished This was no small Victorie of CHRIST JESUS fighting against the conjured enemies of his Veritie No small comfort to such as before were holden in such bondage that they durst not have read The Lords Prayer The ten Commandments nor The Articles of their Faith in the Uulgar Tongue but they should have been accused of Heresie Then might have beene seene the Bible lying almost upon every Gentlemans Table The New Testament was borne about in many mens hands We grant that some alas prophaned that blessed Word for some that perchance had never read ten Sentences in it had it most common in their hand they would chop their familiars on the cheeke with it and say This hath lyne under my beds feet these ten yeers Others would glory O how oft have I been in danger for this Booke how secretly have I stollen from my wife at midnight to reade upon it And this was done we say of many to make cowrt and curry favour thereby For all men esteemed the Governour to have been one of the most fervent Protestants that was in Europe Albeit we say that many abused that libertie granted of God miraculously yet thereby did the knowledge of God wonderously increase and God gave his holy spirit to simple men in great abundance Then were set forth works in our owne Tongue besides those that came from England that did disclose the pride the craft the tyrannie and abuses of that Romane Antichrist The fame of our Governour was spread in divers countreys and many praised God for him King Henry the eight sent unto him his Ambassadour M. Radulph Saidlair who lay in Edinburgh a great part of the Summer his Commission and Negotiation was to contract a perpetuall amitie betwixt England and Scotland The occasion whereof God had so offered that to many men it appeared that from heaven he had declared his good pleasure in that behalfe For to King Henry of Iane Seymer after the death of Queene Katherine and of all others that might have made his Marriage suspect was given a sonne Edward the sixth of blessed memory elder some yeeres then our Mistresse and unto us was left a Queene as before we have heard This wonderfull providence of God caused men of greatest judgement to enter into disputation with themselves Whether that with good conscience any man might repugne to the desires of the King of England considering that thereby all occasion of Warre might be cut off and great commodity might ensue to this Realme The offers of King Henry was so large and his demands so reasonable that all that loved quietnesse were content therewith There were sent from the Parliament to King Henry in Commission Sir Iames Lermont and M. Henry Balnevis who long remaining in England so travailed that all things concerning the Marriage betwixt Edward the sixth and Mary Queen of Scots was agreed upon except the time of her deliverance to the custody of English-men Upon the finall conclusion of the which head were added to the former Commissioners William Earle of Glencarne and Sir George Dowglas to whom was given ample Commission and good Instructions In Scotland remained M. Radulph Saidlaire advertisements past so frequently betwixt yea the hands of our Lords liberally were anointed besides other commodities promised and of some received for divers Prisoners taken at Solway mosse were sent home free upon promise of their fidelity which as it was kept the issue will witnesse But in the end so well were all once content the Cardinall the
richly hung with Tapistry and orned but not for them and set themselves making Protestations the Earle of Glencarne and some others being present The Earle of Argyle who was written for by the King came to Lithgow and being informed of the matter he remained there After this manner above specified to wit by the death of David Rizio the Noble-men were relieved of their trouble and restored to their places and rooms And likewise the Church Reformed and all that professed the Evangell within this Realm after Fasting and Prayer was delivered and freed from the apparant dangers which were like to have fallen upon them For if the Parliament had taken effect and proceeded it was thought by all men of the best judgement That the true Protestant Religion should have been wrackt and Popery erected and for the same purpose there were certain Woodden Altars made to the number of twelve found ready in the Chappell of the Palace of Halyrud-house which should have been erected in Saint Gyles his Church The Earles Bothwell and Huntley being informed of the King and Queenes sudden departure forth of Edinburgh came to Dumbar where they were most graciously received by the Queens Majesty who consulting with them and the Master of Maxwell together with Parson Owin and Parson Fliske chief Councellors what was best to be done and how she should be revenged upon the murtherers At first they did intend to go forward and leaving no manner of cruelty unpractised putting to death all such as were suspected This was the opinion of such as would obey their Queens rage and fury for their own advantage But in the end they concluded That she should come to Edinburgh with all the force and power she could make and there proceed to Justice And for the same purpose she caused to summon by open Proclamation all persons of defence and all Noble-men and Gentlemen to come to her in Dumbar incontinent In the mean time the Captains laboured by all means to take up and enroll men and women The Earles of Morton Murray Glencarne Rothesse with the rest that were in Edinburgh being informed of the Queens fury and anger towards the committers of the slaughter and perceiving they were not able to make any Party thought it best to give place to her fury for a time for they were divided in opinions and finally departed out of Edinburgh upon Sunday the seventeenth of March every one a severall way for the Queens Majesty was now bent onely against the slayers of David Rizio and to the purpose she might be the better revenged upon them she intended to give pardon to all such as before had been attainted for whatsoever crime The eighteenth day of March the King and Queen came to Edinburgh having in their company horse and foot to the number of 8000 men whereof there were four Companies of Foot-men of War The Town of Edinburgh went out to meet them for fear of War And finally coming within the Town in most awfull manner they caused to place their men of War within the Town and likewise certain Field-Pieces against their Lodging which was in the middle of the Town over against the Salt Trove Now a little before the Queenes entrance into the Towne all that knew of her cruell pretence and hatred towards them fled here and there And amongst others Master Iames Magill the Clerk Register the Justice Clerk and the common Clerk of the Towne The chief Secretary Lethington was gone before likewise Iohn Knox past West to Kyle The men of War likewise kept the Ports or Gates Within five days after their entry there was a Proclamation made at the Market-Crosse for the purgation of the King from the aforesaid slaughter which made all understanding men laugh at the passages of things since the King not onely had given his consent but also had subscribed the Bond afore-named and the businesse was done in his name and for his Honour if he had had wisedome to know it After this Proclamation the King lost his credit among all men and so his friends by this his inconstancy and weaknesse And in the mean time the men of War committed great outrages in breaking up doors thrusting themselves into every house And albeit the number of them were not great yet the whole Town was too little for them Soon after the King and Queen past to the Castle and caused to warne all such as had absented themselves by open Proclamation to appear before their Majesties and the Privy Councell within six dayes under pain of Rebellion which practice was devised in the Earle of Huntleys case before the Battell of Corrichy And because they appeared not they were denounced Rebells and put to the Horne and immediately thereafter their Escheats given or taken up by the Treasurer There was a certain number of the Towns-men charged to enter themselves prisoners in the Tolbooth and with them were put in certain Gentlemen Where after they had remained eight dayes they were convoyed down to the Palace by the men of War and then kept by them eight dayes more And of that number was Thomas Scot Sheriff deputâ— of S. Iohnston who was condemned to death and executed cruelly to wit hanged and quartered for keeping the Queen in prison as was alleadged although it was by the Kings command And two men likewise were condemned to death and carried likewise to the Ladder foot But the E. Bothwell presented the Queens Ring to the Provest which then was Justice for safety of their life The names of those two were Io. Mobray Merchant and Will. Harlow Sadler About the same time notwithstanding all this hurliburly the Ministers of the Church and professors of Religion ceased not for the people they convened to publike prayers preaching with boldnesse yea a great number of Noble-men assisted likewise The E. Bothwell had now of all men greatest accesse and familiarity with the Queen so that nothing of any great importance was done without him for he shewed favour to such as liked him and amongst others to the Lairds of Ormeston Hawton and Calder who was so reconciled unto him that by his favour they were relieved of great trouble The Earles of Argyle and Murray at the Queens Command past to Argyle where after they had remained about a Moneth they were sent for by the Queene and coming to Edinburgh they were received by the Queene into the Castle and banquetted the Earles of Huntley and Bothwell being present At this time the King grew to be contemned and disesteemed so that scarcely any Honour was done to him and his Father likewise About Easter the King past to Sterlin where he was Shriven after the Papist manner And in the meane time at the Palace of Halyrud-house in the Chappell there resorted a great number to the Masse albeit the Queen remained still in the Castle with her Priests of the Chappell Royall where they used Ceremonies after the Popish manner At the same time departed this life
go into Edinburgh to settle things fully he sends Deputies thither and returns to London At his return the Scots Commissioners are imprisoned at London against their Safe-Conduct and the Agreement with the Scots is burnt publikely by the hand of the Hang-man and a new Expedition with more cunning and strength then the former is undertaken against the Scots Whereof the Scots duely advertised judging it not to be safe to play alwayes after-games settle their Countrey make sure the strong Holds which they had delivered in simplicity of heart unto the King at the late Agreement and come into England with such an Army that they made their enemies retire Upon this point of necessity the King assembled divers of the Nobles by whom he is advised to call a Parliament which is granted although with difficulty At the overture of the Parliament having gained all the party possible the King is made to demand assistance to repell the Scots from England and chastise them but to no purpose wherefore the Parliament must pay for it and to this purpose the English Army afoot must be brought to London under some pretext This Plot failing and discovered the Scots must be tempted under great offers no lesse then the plunder of London and the propriety of the adjacent Counties to their Countrey The Scots not onely refused these great offers but also give advice of them to the Parliament Then the Scots must be hastened home and the King must go into Scotland under pretext to settle things there but really to make a party viewing by the way the Scots Army and to make sure of some men dis-affected to the Designe of the Court These things not succeeding to smooth a little the shamefull businesse Titles of Honour and Pensions are given to many While the King is in Scotland the Rebellion riseth in Ireland having its influence from the Court whether by sealed Patents or otherwise I will not enquire now more then of the Spanish Navie but certain it is it had its rise from Court Some dayes after the Rebellion begun in Ireland the King must return in all speed to London under pretext to consult with the Parliament how to represse this odious Rebellion but really to be revenged of the Parliament for not assisting against the Scots and for punishing the main agents of the Scotish party witnesse the faction the Queen had made in the City during the Kings abode in Scotland to divide the City and Parliament and the demanding of the Members of the Houses against all Law upon accusation of Treason whereof the chief and main point was To have favourized the Scots Affairs in England against expresse Acts of Oblivion of both Parliaments of Scotland and England As for the repressing of the Rebellion in Ireland it is so little taken to heart that the King seldom goes to the House and being there speaks but little of the businesse After a while with much ado the Popish Irish in Arms are declared Rebells when they had ruined many families and killed many of the innocent Protestants But of the Kings Declaration there were but few Copies Printed and of the few hardly any dispersed when the Scots before they had gathered any Head were Prelatically excommunicated and cursed thorow all the Parishes of England and declared Rebells every where by printed Papers Who as they intended no ill so blessed be God never men of War in a Countrey did lesse harm then the Scots did Yea which is more all the good intentions of both Parliament and City with the ready offers of the Scots for the speedy help of the poor Protestants against the bloody Butchers in Ireland was delayed deluded yea almost put off by the Court and the corrupt Members of both Houses who since have shewed themselves openly what they are in publike Affairs But these Designes failing of apprehending the Members and of dividing the City and Parliament as was seen by the accompanying the Members to the Houses again the King must leave London Here before we proceed any further we shall go a little back When the first undertaking was against the Scots all things within these Dominions being disposed for the best furthering of the work the holy Conclave of Rome forecasting all chances and fearing that England would not altogether be so forward to contribute much unto the destruction of Scotland wherefore the King must be assured of some good friend abroad and not far off who may help in case of need None is thought so fit as the Prince of Orange being able to help with Moneys Arms and Men for command He must be gained by offering him for his Son one of the Kings Daughters who notwithstanding his high minde would have been glad of a lower Match Now at the first the Prince of Orange did onely look to have the second Daughter in due time But to engage him further he shall have the elder not staying for her till she be nubile and that presently although she did little more then then well discerne her right hand from her left But this is not all for the Mother must carry the Daughter to the Prince of Orange to gain him more speedily and make him more affectionate and sure to the Designes of our corrupted Court So the Kings Daughter is sold and made a Sacrifice for furtherance of the Catholike Cause as his Grand-mother was sold to France to the same Designe by the corrupt Court of Scotland for the time What mischief this Marriage and the Queens Voyage into Holland hath brought into this Countrey and what stain she hath brought upon her self by it we see all And so many evils fell upon Scotland after the sending the then young Queen into France Here you shall observe the jugling knavery of our corrupt Court who cry out against the Scots for taking Arms for the just defence of their Liberty and Religion without any by-respect as their whole proceedings to this instant do testifie as guilty of the most horrid crime of Rebellion against Higher Powers as they call it yet the same corrupt Court makes the King give his Daughter unto him who is not onely a chief man but a main Instrument to make War for the Liberty and Religion of the Countrey where he liveth against the unjust oppression of their Sovereign as his renowned Brother and most vertuous Father did before him and as he intends to make his Son after him witnesse the reversion of his Place he hath obtained unto him from the States If the King of Spain by necessity hath been constrained to acknowledge the United Provinces free it is nothing for the justice of their taking Arms to defend their Religion and Liberty And if he had power they would not be long free witnesse the secret Plots to divide them and over-reach them Farther he is very shie in his Writs to call them Free as every man knows The Queen of Bohemia must not onely be neglected and seen lose all that
people of Britannie which is another little world were of old and to this day are called Scoti The two names Scytha and Scotus do signifie one and the same thing to wit an Archer or Bow-man in Latin Arcuarius in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The ancient Writers tell us That the Scythes were much given to Archery and to Hunting so were anciently and to this day are the old Scots Bow-men In Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Keshut from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Keshet Bow And so you have the signification of Scytha and Scotus which are truely one and the same with little change more in Latin then in Greek for the one is written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so at first the other was written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which afterward they turned into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the true origine of the name Scotus It comes neither then from the fabulous Scota neither from the foolishly-invented 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 darknesse For if the days be as long in summer as the nights are in winter Why should the Countrey be called Scotia from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rather then Photia from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 light Also the Britan Writers use one and and the same word when they speak of Scyth and Scot to wit y Scot as likewise the Low German calleth them both Schutten From the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Keshet we have the vulgar schut and schot Now this Etymologie of Scot as it is true so it is easie by the transposition of a letter to wit by putting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 behinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is ordinary not onely in the derivation of words from one Language into another but also obvious in one and the same Language in common discourse Let this one Example satisfie for all to be short Is not one and the same word both written and pronounced according to the writing thirty and thrity in our vulgar Tongue As the names of Scyth and Scot do signifie one thing so the people in many things may be said to be like one another as for Example The Scythes in the Continent generally were of two kindes to wit European and Asiatick So the Scots in Britanie were of two sorts in generall to wit the Brigantes and Picti Next the Scyths did not till the ground but feeding cattell and sheep had a Custome to remove from one place or solitude to another Of old so did all the Scots and to this day the ancient or prisei Scots do The Scythes did live much upon milk and so do our old Scots The Scythes not knowing the use of riches did not desire them and so it is with many of our old Scots The Scythes were never vanquished by Forreigners so the Scots were never utterly overthrown although they have suffered very much by their enemies at severall times The Scythes were hard for toyling and War so are our Scots as is known to all c. We have said That the In-dwellers of the north part of the Island were named Scoti and that by a generall Division they were of two kindes Brigantes and Picti Now we must enquire who are Brigantes and who Picti where they both lived and from whence they came And to begin at Picti They inhabited the East side of Britannia minor which is the best and for the most part they were of the ancient native Britons of whom sundry of old before the entry of the Romans into the Island had drawn themselves Northward to have more elbow-room for their course of life which was To feed Cattell and to hunt removing from one place to another whereunto largenesse of Bounds is required Then others of the old Britons flying from the Tyranny of the Romans upon grievance went from time to time Northward beyond the Limits of the Empire to their ancient com-Patriots Next came in to these North Britans at divers times severall Colonies of Northern people from beyond Sea Hence it is that some late Authors have written That the inhabitants of the East side of Britannia minor came from Scandie The North Britans having received these men come from beyond Sea into their Society and being joyned with them made up a People called the Romans and South Britons Picti because they continued the Custom of painting their bodies of old in use among many Nations which custome the South Britons left off with other Rites now become Provincialls of the Empire The whole Island was first called Albion of which we shall speak anon God willing Then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Britannia which signifieth a woody Countrey for of old it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sylvis obsita covered with Woods as Strabo terms it And to this day we see that part of the countrey opposite to the Continent full of Woods and Inclosures We finde in ancient Authors the Peninsule of Italy next Sicilie whereof Rhegium was the Metropolis called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the same reason because it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Strabo names it also The Origine of the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 barat which signifieth severall kindes of trees Fir Ash Cedar c. The Picti had divers people under them whereof the chief were Caledonii by whose name sometimes all the Picts were named although Caledonii properly were those of the Picts who dwelt among the lesser hills of which hills some are called Ocelli montes in vulgar language Ochell hills The countrey of the Caledonii did begin at Forth and went Northward beyond Tay where their chief City was Caledon now Dunkell by a transposition In this countrey were the Woods called saltus Caledonius or sylva Caledonia The rockie and hillie part of Aetolia in Greece was called by the same name and there was there a Town of this name yea and a Forrest so much spoken of by the old Poets True it is That the second vowell is now and then changed which makes no difference for in words the consonants are mainly regarded Strabo Lib. 10. calleth the one and the other countrey 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hillie and stonie or rockie the name cometh from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Galeaetan which is as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tumulus asper a rough little hill Benorth the Limits of the Empire in this Island all people beside the Picts were called Brigantes which importeth as much as In-dwellers of Mountains or high hills So you have the Brigantes neer the Lake of Constance in-dwelling Mountains On the Alps in Daulphine you have Brigantium Brianson the highest Town in Europe The Brigantes of Spain as those of Ireland of old did inhabite Mountains and so did our Brigantes in this Island mainly keep upon the Mountains The name cometh from Briga Brica or Bria as it is diversly written It signifieth an high place or Mountain Our vulgar hath interpreted it Bray hence we haply call our Brigantes Bray-men vvhom
have the like in our neighbour Countrey of old called Gaule now France where the ancient name of Gaule among the vulgar is onely conserved in a little Countrey lying about Sens of old Senones this little Countrey is called Pays Gaulois and is divided in Haute basse Gaule So it was judiciously said by the Historiographer The name of the Isle Albion is derived from Albe and remains in Scotland as it were in its Native Soyl. Of Alpe or Albe signifying hill or high place you have the in-dwellers thereof sometimes named Albani as in Asia Dalmatia Italy and North Britannia and their Countrey Albania sometimes Albici Albigois in Languedock and their Countrey Albium or Albi in vulgar language sometimes Albini or Alpini and Albienses as the in-dwellers of our Albion who to this day call themselves as they have done of old c. which name is one and the same with Brigantes Here let us remark That as the Provincialls or In-dwellers of Britannia superiour subject to the Romans are ordinarily called by the Writers Britones so the others benorth the Empire have been called by the Writers Britanni peregrini transmarini strangers and beyond-Sea-men as if they had been of another Island And truely if it were not for the Strait betwixt the Rivers afore-named which did serve for Border unto them they were in another Island Hence England is said to be inter quatuor maria Ptolomeis Tacitus and Seneca tell us That the Brigantes inhabited Albion which when they writ was that part of the Island beyond the Roman Empire Therefore the Brigantes were then Albini or Albani Moreover the Brigantes about Eboracum now Yorke were of the Scots who came from Ireland a great and mighty People Iohn Fordon in his Scoti Chronicon writes That the Scots came so far South as Humber and possessed Lands there Also the Isle of Man was for a long time under the Crown of Scotland which Isle is as far South as the Countrey about Yorke although it be Westward and in the Sea And these were the Brigantes we now have spoken of The Brigantes at their first coming into Albion came as we have said without any certain or setled way of Government but being grown to a considerable number or Body they sent into Ireland for Fergus the first to be their King whose with a new Colonie coming into Albion is reckoned to be about Alexander the Great his time that is about three hundred yeers before the Birth of Christ. The Brigantes alias Albini for a certain time by some have been called Dalreudini although this name did not last long from the King Reuda who brought into Albion the second remarkable Colony from Ireland after Fergus about 180 yeers before Christ that is about 220 yeers after Fergus And Dale which signifieth Countrey and Province as is known to this day There is a certain place in the West of Scotland called to this very day Ridsdale We have heard That the people benorth the Roman Province upon the East side were originally Britains whence they were called Britanni Picti and somtimes Britanni Caledonii from one of the chief people sometimes simply Picti or Caledonii Also we have heard That the people benorth the Province on the West side were come from Ireland and called Brigantes or Album yea for a time Dalreudini Likewise we have heard That all the people benorth the Empire by a generall Appellation were called Scoti where they were all spoken of together but when they were spoken of apart those of the East were called Scoto-britanni Those of the West were called Scoto-brigantes as we have heard out of Seneca Moreover by progresse of time the Irish came to go under the name of Scots with those of Britannia minor or Albion who from them had help supply and recruites in their War against the Romans and Britans Provincialls Thus naming the Irish by the name of Scots began some hundred yeers after Christ that is towards the middle Ages And about that time Ireland was called by the name of Scotia as Abrahamus Ortelius hath remarked in these words I have observed Ireland to be named Scotia by the Writers of the middle Age. And so it hath been observed by the learned That ancient Authors did never name Ireland Scotia as you may see by those who have exactly reckoned up the old names of Ireland out of the ancient and Classick Authors So it was not said much amisse by one That this naming of Ireland by the name of Scotland was first about Beda his time who lived in the beginning of the eighth Age. Scaliger tells us That the word Scot is no Irish word but British that is not used in Ireland but in Britannia what is the origine and signification of the word we have heard before As the Irish began to be called Scots so the Picts left off to be so named now withdrawing themselves from the Brigantes or Albini and striking in with their enemies the Irish by the Writers were called Scoti Hibernienses and the Albins were called Scoti Albienses And Ireland was called Scotia major because Albania or Albion in those dayes which they called Scotia minor was of lesse extent But this name of Scots was not for any long time given to the Irish So that at length the name of Scots became peculiar to the Albins or Brigantes alone Lastly the Albins having subdued the Picts and made them no more a People communicated into the Countrey newly conquered by them the name of Scotia as one Countrey with Albinia and so all the in-dwellers there were called Scots with the Albins as one people with them and so they are to this day Now the Albins or Brigantes being the onely Masters of Britannia minor came to be called Scoto-Britanni as the Picts had been of old and are upon occasion called so to this day to distinguish them from the South Britons of whom some are called Cambro-britanni the rest Anglo-britanni Although the ancient Brigantes were called by forreigners Scoti namely by the Britons Provincialls and the Romans yet they did never name themselves so by this name Scoti neither do the High-landers to this day in their own language call themselves Scots but Albins So Scaliger had just reason to say That Scoti was not an Irish name As the Hellenes did never name themselves Greeks although they were so commonly called by the forreigners And the Misraims did not call themselves Egyptians although forreigners named them so The Scots now adayes are divided in Highland-men and Lowland-men The Highlanders are the true Progenie of the ancient Brigantes or Albins for the most part I say because some are come in later times from other Countreys And to this day our Highlanders as the Brigantes of old makes main use of their Bowes and Arrows in their war namely when they are among the hills so when they praise one for a Military man they say He is a good Bowe-man and Bray-man which two
Epithites were expressed by the ancients in one composed word Scoto-Brigantes The Lowland-men are made up of divers Nations for a few of them are a little remnant of the ancient Picts other few are descended from the ancient Albins who leaving the hills after the defeat of the Picts did betake themselves to the Low Countrey Divers from the South parts of Britannie had fled thither from the Tyranny of the Saxons Danes and Normans as they did of old from the Tyranny of the Romans Then the English being so oft in Scotland with their Armies have left divers in the Countrey Also Marriages and other private occasions have drawn sundry men from England into Scotland Lastly sundry of the Low-Countrie people are come from beyond Seas as from France Germany Hungary Flanders Ireland c. of late dayes So all being reckoned they are but few in the Low Countrey come of the old Albins Brigantes or old Picts The Low-Countrey men calls the High-landers Irish not so much for their ancient descent as for their language onely differing from the Irish by dialect and for their wayes of living not much unlike yet one main difference is to be seen in the activity of the Scots and the lazinesse of the Irish. On the other side the Highlanders calls the Low-Countrey men Saxons not so much for their descent although many of them are come from the Southern people as we have said who are a Progenie of the Saxons as for the language which differeth onely by dialect from the language of the South which acknowledgeth the Saxon language for its mother Tongue and for the way of living not so different save that the Scots are harder bred and consequently more fitted for toyling at War namely then the English are for we see the English to have pain to toyle and endure Wars at the first going to the Field by reason of their tender and soft breeding The language of the South Britons of old was not much different from that of the Gauls from whence they came into Albion witnesse Tacitus in Agricola his Life The Gauls then did speak a corrupt Greek for they are come of the Greeks Besides many words of the old Gaulois the phrase and construction are to this day in the French language kept which doth signifie that of old the Greek was spoken in Gaule although corrupt grosly by ignorant men without learning who neither could reade nor write Yet in the South parts of Gaule neer the Mediterranean Sea wherein the Greek Islands are the Greeke was spoken and taught at Marseilles namely The ancient language of the Britons suffred a great change by the Romans and other forreigners who brought in amongst them their terms of Law of divine Service of War and of Policie with the names of divers Commodities and the names of divers Trades When the Saxons and Danes came into the Land they confined the remnant of the ancient Britons unto the West Countrey with their language such as it was left unto them by the Romans and other forreigners of old and with themselves planted the language which is spoken in all England now adays with some alteration and change The first notable change happened by the Normans in whose language the Law hath been administred c. The next change is from the Latin in which language divine Service hath been for many yeers Officiated Then the English language hath borrowed from all neighbour Nations many words without any great change so that the English language is said to be the quintessence of all neighbour Languages From it the Scotish Tongue differs but in dialect as we have said The Highlanders Language as hath been said likewise is Irish which of old was a corrupt Greek also for the Irish came into Ireland from the North parts of Spain who spake a corrupt Greek as those of Gaule did for the ancient in-dwellers of the North parts of Spain came also from the Greek Islands So that of old the Language of the ancient Britons was not altogether strange unto the Brigantes or Alpins yea in this time wherein we live notwithstanding the great changes that both the Languages have sustained by time and Commerce of forreign Nations they have many words which are one and the same signifying the same thing Thus much I have written of the beginning names way of living and Languages of Scotland to make known to all how unjust and injurious unto us are some modern Antiquaries of our neighbour Countreys who first think they cannot prove their own people to be sufficiently ancient except they take from their neighbour their just right of good Antiquity Next they conceive they cannot set forth fully enough the greatnesse of their own Countrey except they make their neighbours no people at all or at least hardly considerable Thirdly they imagine That they cannot extoll and magnifie the glory of their Countrey highly enough unlesse they not onely depresse and extenuate their neighbours name but also attribute unto themselves the advantages of their neighbours But if these Antiquaries had considered with the eyes of men That there is enough to be said for the credit of their own Countrey without wronging others they had not so stuffed their Books with mistaken and mis-applied Allegations of good ancient Authors nor with Collection of fabulous and lying Monks tales wherein some of them do fansie Learning mainly to consist But of this enough For this place I will only adde this As the Scots although they be not of the greatest people yet they are truely one of the most ancient People in Europe So I dare be bold to say That God to whose praise be it spoken in his goodnesse towards them hath raised up of them and amongst them so many excellent and vertuous men in Church and State in Piety and Learning in Policy and War at home and abroad of old and of late that few Nations ancient or moderne although of greater bounds can compare with them fewer equall them and hardly any at all go beyond them in this for which we praise God who of the best things hath given us the best measure and say with the Historian That the Land is more fertile of good men then of good fruits But now since all former walls of separation and division both ancient and moderne Civill and Ecclesiasticall are in a great measure taken away by Gods blessing and since in so many respects the Scots and English are so neer one unto another as we have said But above all since they both are members of the true Church and pure Spouse of Christ Jesus to the upholding of whose Truth and purging of it from uncleannesse they have newly bound themselves together as one People yea as one man Let them then in Gods Name laying aside all excuses envies jealousies and by-ends as feeling members of one and the same Body concur unanimously with their mutuall and best endeavours to settle the true Worship of God in all true purity
because their Gownes were Red. In this fourteenth age did flourish the great Scholastick Iohannes called Scotus from his Nation and Duns from the place of his Birth for he was born in the Town of Duns in the Mers he was a great Opposer of Thomas of Aquin his Doctrine his Sectaries were called Scotists his Epitaph was thus Scotia me genuit Anglia suscepit Gallia edocuit Germania tenet In the beginning of the fifteenth age there was a great Schisme in the Romish Church Pope against Pope yea sometimes there were three Popes at one time fighting one against another and excommunicating one another this Schisme lasted about thirty yeers and by the Councell of Constance Martin the fift was made Pope and the rest defeated There was one Iohn Fogo a Monke of Milros who in Scotland defended the Election of Martin by the Councell against Benedict alias Peter de Lune During this forenamed Schisme many taking occasion of the opennesse of the times began boldly and freely to speak against the bad Doctrine Government and Lives of the Church-men and that not only in private discourse but they also preached it publikely as Iohn Wickliffe in England Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prague in Bohemia who spoke before the people freely of the Tyrannie of the Government of the Clergie the corruption of their Doctrine and wickednesse of their lives In those dayes also there were some in Scotland who feared not to make known to the people the Truth of God as namely Iames Resby and Paul Craw among others who suffered Martyrdom for the Truth About this time the Carthusians were brought from England into Scotland and had built unto them a Monasterie at Perth In this Age the Universitie of Saint Andrews was set up chiefly by the means of Henry Wardlaw Bishop of the place that in some kinde the Schools of Learning might not bee altogether wanting which formerly had flourished for so long a time among the Culdees and of later yeers had quite decayed this good did Wardlaw As his Predecessor William Trail had built the Castle of the same City So his Successour Iames Kenedy built the old Colledge likewise called Saint Salvator his Colledge Patrick Grahame that came after him was the man that brought into Scotland the Title of Primate Metropolitane and Archbishop by Bull of Sextus quartus From the first Preaching of the Gospel till Palladius the Church of Scotland was happy without Bishops From Palladius to King Malcolme his days the Bishops had no distinct Diocesses or Parishes from King Malcolme till Patricke Grahame they were without Archbishops this Title and higher rank of Authoritie did not succeed well with Grahame for the other Bishops could suffer no Superiour under the Pope namely so neer them hitherto having rejected all the pretentions of the Archbishop of York The inferior Clergie also were afraid of the increase of the Authority of the Man whom they conceived austere and rigid and so by the Faction of the corrupt Court and disordered Clergy poor Grahame lost the Title he had procured with the Benefice and one Shevez got his spoyl and what a sweet Bird Shevez was the Stories of that time doe sufficiently manifest Robert Blacater seeing the Bishop of Saint Andrews now a Metropolitane and Archbishop obtains from Alexander the sixt a Bull whereby he is made Archbishop also and hee had under him the Bishops of Galloway Argyle and Isles which new dignitie angred the Archbishop of Saint Andrews above the losse of his Vassals for to have a Companion in equall dignity set up beside him was hard but he must digest the Pill since the Pope will have it so Lastly David Beaton brought in the Title of Cardinall into Scotland who hath beene the onely man that hath born that Title in this Countrey and how it did speed with him the following Historie will tell you As in the beginning of the fifteenth age the Schisme for the Papacie opened thorow Christendom many mens mouthes and busied their Pennes to set forth the corruption of the Church and the Vices of the Clergie even so in the beginning of the sixteenth age those that fought for the Bishoprick of Saint Andrews by their dissention gave occasion to many in Scotland to speak in publike and private of the corruption of Church-mens Lives Government and Doctrine in Scotland which coming to the Popes ears presently he sent unto the King Iames the fourth a Sword with the Title of Protector of the Faith as if all Christian Princes were not in dutie bound to protect the Faith in Christ but the Faith whiâ—h the Pope would have the King to protect was his erroneous Doctrine and Tyrannicall Authoritie Some few yeers after this Henry the eighth was declared by the Pope Defender of the Faith and had the Sword likewise Iames the 4 of Scotland being dead now by the corrupt Courtiers the yong inconsiderate King Iames was made beleeve That the conferring of this new Title by the Pope did bring unto him a great preheminence yea the Court Sycophants did not stick to call it A new Royaltie when in effect it was nothing else but a new note of his Vasâ—allage to Rome and by the accepting of the Sword he did engage himself to make warre for Rome and so he did indeed for sundry men after this during his short Reign were persecuted and suffered death for the Truth of Christ. This is the second remarkable Badge of slavery put upon our Princes by the Pope the former was their Anointing by him as wee have seen before Here be pleased with me to remark That of all the Bishops of Scotland before the Reformation namely since they were made Lords of certain places and had particular Diocesses you cannot finde one who had any care of the true Charge of Pastor for their whole studie was to raise their power and to encrease their means for the upholding of their power and to effectuate this more easily and fully they kept both Prince and people in dark ignorance of Gods Will and Word But because they must seem to do somwhat for the name sake of Bishops they caused to build walls of Temples and Chappels set up images and pictures richly dressed to content the eyes and brought into the Church Instruments of Musick and artificiall Singing with great skill to content the ear Also they brought in sweet perfume and incense for the smell so the most subtill senses were thus satisfied And to make a shew to keep under the senses which are more grosse there must be some kinde of Fasting enjoyned to the people and chastenesse to the Church-men But how and to what purpose these two last have been kept all men know But kept or not all is one all these Ordinances which the Bishops set up for Religion have been discovered by Gods mercy to be not onely without Warant in Gods Word but plainly contrary to the same Of all the Bishops of Scotland in time of Reformation there was
their servants and other that appertained to them and were exempted from common service should neverthelesse serve in time of necessity These vain promises lifted up in pride the heart of the unhappy king and so begins the Warre The Realme was Quartered and men were laid in Iedburgh and Kelso All men fools we mean bragged of victory and in very deed the beginning gave us a faire shaw For at the first Warden Reade which was made on Saint Bartholomewes day in the yeere of our Lord 1542. was the Warden Sir Robert Bowes his brother Richard Bowes Captaine of Norhame Sir William Mamebery Knight a Bastard Sonne of the Earle of Angus and Iames Dowglas of Parkhead then Rebels with a great number of Borderers Souldiers and Gentlemen taken The Reade was termed Halderig The Earle of Angus and Sir George his brother did narrowly escape Our Papists and Prelats proud of this victory encouraged the King so that there was nothing heard but All is ours They be but Heretickes if we be a thousand and they ten thousand they dare not fight France shall enter into one part and we the other and so shall England be conquest within a yeere If any man was seene to smile at such vanitie he was no more but a Traytour and an Hereticke And yet by these meanes men had greater liberty then they had before as concerning their conscience for then ceased the persecution The Warre continued till midde September And then was sent down the old Duke of Norfolke with such an Army as a hundred yeeres before had not come into Scotland They were in gathering their Forces and setting forward of their Preparations and Munitions which were exceeding great till midde October and after And then they Marched from Barwick and tended to the wast ever holding Tweid upon their own side and never camped from that River the space of a mile during the whole time they continued in Scotland which was ten or twelve dayes Forces were sent up and down to Smallame Stichell and such places neere about but many snappers they gat some Corn they burnt besides that which the great host consumed but small bootie they carried away The King assembled his Forces at Fallowe for he was advertised that they had promised to come to Edinburgh and tooke the Musters all at an houre two dayes before Hallowe even There were found with him eighteen thousand able men Upon the Borders that awaited upon the English Army were ten thousand good men with the Earle of Huntlie Lords Erskin Seton and Hume These were judged men aneuh to hazard Battell albeit the other were esteemed fourty thousand While the King lay at Fallowe abiding upon the Gunes and upon advertisement from the Army The Lords began to remember how the King had been long abused by his flatterers and principally by the Pensioners of the Prelats It was then concluded that they would make some new remembrance of Lawder brig to see if that would for a season somewhat help the state of their Country But because the Lords could not agree among themselves upon the persons that deserved punishment for every man favoured his friend the whole escaped and the purpose was opened to the King and by him to the courtiers who till they came to Edinburgh stood in no little fear but that was suddenly forgot as we shall after hear While time is thus protracted the English army for want of victuals as was bruted retired over Tweid in the night and so begin to skale sunder wherof the King advertised desired the Lords and Barons to assist him to follow them into England whose answer was with one consent That to defend his person and Realme they would hazard life and whatsoever they had But to invade England neither had they so just Title as they desired neither yet could they be able to do any thing to the hurt of England considering that they had long before beene absent from their houses their provision was spent their horses wearied and that which was greatest of all the time of the yeere did utterly reclaime This their answer seemed to satisfie the King for he in words praised their prudent foresight and wise counsell But the essay made to his Courtiers and that bold repulse of his desires given to him in his owne face so wounded his high stomacke for long had he runne as himselfe listed that he decreeth a notable revenge which no doubt he had not failed to have executed if God by his owne hand had not cut the dayes of his lyfe He returnes to Edinburgh the Nobility Barons Gentlemen and Commons to their habitations And this was the second and third dayes of November Without longer delay at the palace of Halyrud-house was a new councell assembled a councell we meane of his abusers wherein were accusations layd against the most part of the Nobilitie Some were Hereticks Some favourers of England Some friends to the Dowglas and so could there be none faithfull to the King in their opinion The Cardinall and Prelats cast fagotts in the fire with all their force and finding the King wholly addicted to their devotion delivered unto him a schroll containing the names of such as they in their inquisition had convict for Hereticks For this was the order of Justice which these holy Fathers kept in condemning of innocent men Whosoever would accuse any of Heresie he was heard no respect nor consideration had what minde the accuser bare to the person accused Whosoever was produced for witnesse were admitted how suspitious and infamous so ever they were if two or three had proved any point that by their Law was holden Heresie that was an Hereticke There rested no more but a day to be affixed to his condemnation and to the execution of their corrupt sentence What man could be innocent where such â—udges were partie the world may this day consider True it is by false Judgement and false Witnesses have innocents been oppressed from the beginning But this freedome to shed innocent blood got never the Devill but in the Kingdome of Antichrist That the innocent should die and neither know accuser nor yet the witnesse that testifieth against him But how shâ—ll the Antichrist be knowne if he shall not be contrarious to God the Father and his Sonne Christ Jesus in Law Life and Doctrine But this we omit The same schroll had the Cardinall and Prelats once presented to the king before at that time when he returned from the Navigation about the Isles in the yeere 1534. But then it was refused by the prudent and stout councell of the Laird of Grainge who opened cleerely to the King the practices of the Prelats and the danger that thereof might ensue Which considered by the King for being out of his passion he was tractable gave this answer in the palace of Halyrud-house to the Cardinall and Prelats after that they had uttered their malice and shewed what
Queene and the faction of France ever excepted that solemnely in the Abbey of Hallyrud-house was the Contract of Marriage made betwixt the persons aforesaid together with all the Clauses and Conditions requisite for the faithfull observation thereof read in publike audience subscribed sealed approoved and allowed of the Governour for his part Nobilitie and Lords for their parts and that nothing should lacke that might fortifie the matter was Christs Body sacred as Papists terme it broken betwixt the said Governour and M. Saidlar Ambassadour and received of them both as a signe and token of the unitie of their mindes immediately to keepe that contract in all points as they looked of Christ Jesus to be saved and after to be reputed men unworthy of credit before the world The Papists raged against the Governour and against the Lords that had consented and abode fast to the Contract and to confound all as after follows But upon the returning of the aforesaid Ambassadours from England pacification was made for that time for by the judgements of eight persons for either partie chosen to judge whether that any thing was done by the said Ambassadours in the Contracting of that Marriage which to do they had not sufficient power from the Counsell and Parliament It was found that all things were done according to their Commission and that so they should stand And so were the Seales of England and Scotland interchanged Master Iames Fowles then Clerke of the Register received the great Seale of England And Master Saidlare received the great Seale of Scotland The heads of the Contract we passe by These things newly ratified the Merchants made preparation to Saile and to their Traffique which by the troubles of Warres had some yeeres been hindered From Edinburgh were fraughted twelve Ships richly laden according to the wares in Scotland From other Townes and Ports departed other who all arrived upon the coasts of England toward the South to wit in Yarmouth and without any great necessity entred not onely Roads but also within Ports and places of commandment and where that Ships might be arrested And because of the late contracted amitie and gentle entertainement that they found at the first they made no great dispatch But being as they supposed in security in merrinesse they spent the time abiding upon the winde In this meane time arrived from France to Scotland the Abbot of Paislay called now of late Iohn Hamilton bastard brother to the Governour whom yet many esteemed sonne to the old Bishop of Dunikelden called Crichton and with him M. David Panter who after was made Bishop of Rosse The brute of the learning of these two and their honest life and of their fervencie and uprightnesse in Religion was such that great hope there was that their presence should be comfortable to the Church of God For it was constantly affirmed of some that without delay the one or the other would go to the Pulpit and truely Preach Jesus Christ. But few dayes disclosed their hypocrisie For what terrours what promises or what enchaunting boxes they brought from France the common people knew not But shortly after it was seene that Frier Guilliamâ— was inhibited to Preach and so departed into England Iohn Rough to Kylle a receptacle of Gods servants of old The men of counsell judgement and godlinesse that had travailed to promote the Governour and that gave him faithfull counsell in all doubtfull matters were either craftily conveyed from him or else by threatning to be hanged were compelled to leave him Of the one number was the Laird of Grange aforesaid M. Henry Balneves M. Thomas Ballenden and Sir David Lindesay of the Mount Men by whose labours he was promoted to honour and by whose councell he so used himselfe at the beginning that the obedience given to him was nothing inferiour to that obedience that any King of Scotland of many yeeres had before him yea in this it did surmount the common obedience in that it proceeded from love of those vertues that was supposed to have beene in him Of the number of these that were threatned were M. Michael Durham M. David Borthinke David Forresse and David Bothwell who counselled him to have in company with him men fearing God and not to nourish wicked men in their iniquity albeit they were called his friends and were of his surname This counsell understood by the aforesaid Abbot and by the Hamiltons who then repaired to the Court as Ravens to the Carrion in plaine words it was said My Lord Governour nor his friends will never be at quietnesse till a dozen of these knaves that abuse his Grace be hanged These words were spoken in his own presence and in the presence of some of them that had better deserved then to have beene so used the speaker was allowed for his plain and bold speaking And so the wicked counsell followed honest and godly men left the Court and him in the hands of such as by their wicked counsell led him so far from God that he falsified his promise dipt his hands in the blood of the Saints of God and brought this Common-wealth to the very point of utter ruine And these were the first fruits of the Abbot of Paislay his counterfeit Godlinesse and Learning But hereof we will heare more All honest and godly men banished from the Court the Abbot and his counsell beginneth to lay before the inconstant Governour the dangers that might ensue the alteration and change of Religion The power of the King of France the commodity that might come to him and his house by retaining the ancient League with France and the great danger that he brought upon himselfe if in one jote he suffereth the authority of the Pope to be violated or called in doubt within this Realme Considering that thereupon onely stood the security of his pretended right to the succession of the Crowne of this Realme For by Gods word could not be good the divorcement of his father from Eliz. Hume sister to the Lord Hume his lawfull wife and consequently his marriage with Beton Neece to Iames Beton Bishop of S. Andrews Elizabeth Hume being alive must be null and he declared Bastard Caiphas spake Prophesie and yet wist not what he spake For at that time there was hardly any man that truely feared God that minded any such thing but with their whole force would have fortified him in the place that God had given unto him and would never have called in question things done in time of darknesse But this head we passe by till God declare his will therein Another practise was used As for the Cardinall he being set at libertie as before we have heard ceased not to traffique with such of the Nobility as he might draw to his faction or corrupt by any meanes to raise a partie against the said Governour and against such as stood fast at the Contract of Marriage and Peace with England And so assembled at Lynlytquow
that were criminall of their blood But the day approacheth when that the punishment of that cruelty and of others will evidently appears The names of the men that were hanged were Iames Hunter William Lambe William Anderson Iames Ruvals Burgesse of Saint Iohnston At that same time were banished Sir Henry Eldar Iohn Eldar Walter Piper Laurence Pullar with divers others whose names come not to our knowledge That sworn enemy to Christ Jesus and unto all in whom any spark of knowledge appeared had about that time in prison divers amongst whom was Iohn Roger a black Frier godly and learned one that had fruitfully preached Christ Jesus to the comfort of many in Angus and Mearnes whom that bloody man caused to murther in the ground of the Sea Tower in S. Andrews and then caused to cast him over the wall spreading a false brute That the said Iohn seeking to flie had broken his own neck This ceased not Sathan by all means to maintaine his kingdome of Darknesse and to suppresse the light of Christs Gospel But mighty is he against whom they â—â—ght for when the wicked were in greatest security then began God to show his anger For the third day of May in the yeer of our Lord 1544 yeers without knowledge of any man in Scotland we mean of such as should have had the care of the Realme was seen a great Navy of Ships arriving towards the Fyrth The Posts came to the Governour and Cardinall who both were in Edinburgh what multitude of Ships were seen and what course they took This was on the Saturday before noon Question was had What should they mean Some said It is no doubt but they are English-men and we fear that they will land The Cardinall skipped and said It is the Island flote they are come to make a shew and to put us in fear I shall lodge all the men of Warre in mine eye that shall land in Scotland Still sitteth the Cardinall at his dinner eating as though there had been no danger appearing Men assembled to gaze upon the Ships some to the Castle hill some to the mountains and other places eminent But there was no question With what Forces shall we resist if we be invaded Soon after six of the clock at night were arrived and had cast Ankor in the Road of Leith more than two hundred Sail. Shortly after the Admirall shot a flott Boat which from Granton hills till by East Leith sounded the deep and so returned to her Ship Hereof were divers opinions men of judgement foresaw what it meant but no credit was given to any that would say They minded to land and so passed every man to his rest as if the Ships had been a guard for their defence Upon the point of day upon Sunday the fourth of May addresse they for landing and they ordered the Ships so that a Galley or two laid their snouts to the hills the small Ships called Pinnaces and light Horse-men approached as neer as they could The great Ships discharged their Souldiers into the smaller Vessels and they by Boats set upon dry Land before ten of the clock 10000 men as was judged and more The Governour and Cardinall seeing then the thing that they could not or at least they would not believe before after they had made a brag to fight fled as fast as horse could carry them so that after they approached not within twenty miles of the danger The Earle of Angus and Sir George Dowglas were that night freed of Ward they were in Blacknesse The said Sir George in merrinesse said I thanke King Henry and my gentle Masters of England The English Army betwixt one and two of the clock entered into Leith found the Tables covered the dinners prepared such abundance of wine and victualls besides the other substance that the like riches within the like bounds was not to be found neither in Scotland nor England Upon Munday the fifth of May came to them from Barwick and the borders two thousand Horse-men who being somewhat reposed the Army upon the Wednesday marched toward the Town of Edinburgh spoiled and burnt the same and so did they the Palace of Halyrud-house The Horse-men took the House of Craigmiller and gat great spoils therein for it being judged the strongest House neer the Towne after the Castle of Edinburgh and all men sought to save their moveables therein But the stoutnesse of the Laird gave it over without shot of Hacke but and for his reward was caused to march upon his feet to London He is now Captain of Dumbar and Provost of Edinburgh The English-men seeing no resistance hurled by force of men Cannons upon the street to the Butter trone and above and hazarded a shot against the fore-entry of the Castle but that was to their own pains For they lying without Trench or Gabion were exposed to the force of the whole Ordnance of the said Castle which shot and that not all in vain for the Wheel and Axletree of one of the English Cannons was broken and some of their men slain and so they left with small honour that enterprise taken rather of rashnesse than of any advised counsell When the most part of the day they had spoiled and burnt towards the night they returned to Leith and upon the morrow returned to Edinburgh and executed the rest of Gods judgements for that time And so when they had consumed both the Towns they laded the Ships with the spoiles thereof and they by Land returned to Barwick using the Countrey for the most part at their own pleasure This was a part of the punishment which God took upon the Realm for the infidelity of the Governour and for the violation of his solemne Oath But this was not the end for the Realme was divided into two factions the one favoured France the other the League lately contracted with England The one did in no things credit thorowly the other so that the Countrey was in extreme calamity for to the English-men were delivered divers Strengths such as Carelaverock Lochmaben and Langham the most part of the Borderers were confederate with England And albeit at Ancrome mure in February in the yeer of God 1544. was Sir Rafe Ewers with many other English-men slain and the yeere after were some of the said strengths recovered yet was it not without great losse and detriment of the Common-wealth For in the month of Ianuary in the yeer of God 1545. Monsieur de Lorge with Bands of men of War came from France for a destruction to Scotland For upon their brag was an Army raised forwards they go towards Warke even in the midst of harvest The Cardinalls Banner was that day displayed and all his Files were charged to be under it many had before promised but at the point it was left so bare that with shame it was shut up into the pock againe and they after a shew returned with more
Souldiers in generall admonishing them that their Vocation was not to fight against us naturall Scotish-men nor yet that they had any such Commandment of their Master We besought them therefore not to provoke us to enmity against them and to consider that they had found us favourable in their most great extremities We declared farther unto them That if they entred in hostility and bloody War against us that the same should remain longer then their owne lives to wit even in all posteritie to come so long as naturall Scotish-men should have power to revenge such cruelty and most horrible ingratitude These Letters were caused to be spread abroad in great abundance to the end that some might come to the knowledge of men The Queen Regent her Letter was laid upon her Cushion in the Chappel Royall at Sterlin where she was accustomed to sit at Masse she looked upon it and put in the pocket of her Gown Monsieur d' Osel and the Captains received theirs delivered even by their own souldiers for some amongst them were favourers of the Truth who after the reading of them began to pull their own beards for that was the modest behaviour of Monsieur d' Osell when truth was told unto him so that it repugned to his fantasie These our Letters were suppressed to the utmost of their power and yet they came to the knowledge of many But the rage of the Queen and the Priests could not be stayed but forward they move against us who then were but a very few and mean number of Gentlemen in S. Iohnston we perceiving the extremity to approach did write to all brethren to repair towards us for our relief to the which we found all men so ready bent that the Work of God was evidently to be espied the Tenour whereof followeth And because that we would omit no diligence to declare our innocency to all men we formed a Letter to those of the Nobility who then persecuted us as after followeth To the Nobility of Scotland The Congregation of Christ Iesus within the same desire the spirit of righteous Iudgement BEcause we are not ignorant that ye the Nobility of this Realme who now persecute us employing your whole study and force to maintain the kingdom of Sathan of superstition and Idolatry are yet neverthelesse divided in opinion We the Congregation of Christ Jesus by you unjustly persecuted have thought good in one Letter to write unto you severally Ye are divided we say in opinion for some of you think that we who have taken this enterprise to remove Idolatry and the Monuments of the same to erect the true Preaching of Christ Jesus in the bounds committed to our Charges are hereticks seditious men and troublers of this Commonwealth and therefore no punishment is sufficient for us and so blinded with this rage and under pretence to serve the Authority ye proclaim War and destruction without all order of Law against us To you we say that neither your blinde zeal neither yet the colour of Authority shall excuse you in Gods presence who commandeth none to suffer death till that he be openly convinced in judgement to have offended against God and against his Law written which no mortall creature is able to prove against us for whatsoever we have done the same we have done at Gods commandment who plainly commands Idolatry and all Monuments of the same to be destroyed and abolished Our earnest and long request hath been and is That in open Assembly it may be disputed in presence of indifferent auditors Whether that these abominations named by the pestilent Papists Religion which they by fire and sword defend be the true Religion of Jesus Christ or not Now this humble request denied unto us our lives are sought in most cruell manner And the Nobility whose duty is to defend innocents and to bridle the fury and rage of wicked men were it of Princes or Emperors do notwithstanding follow their appetites and arme your selves against us your brethren and naturall Countrey-men yea against us that be innocent and just as concerning all such crimes as be laid to our charges If ye think that we be criminall because that we dissent from your opinion consider we beseech you that the Prophets under the Law the Apostles of Christ Jesus after his Ascension his Primitive Church and holy Martyrs did disagree from the whole world in their dayes And will ye deny but that their action was just and that all those that persecuted them were murtherers before God May not the like be true this day What assurance have ye this day of your Religion which the world that day had not of theirs ye have a multitude that agree with you and so had they ye have antiquity of time and that they lacked not ye have Counsells Laws and men of reputation that have established all things as ye suppose but none of all these can make any Religion acceptable unto God which onely depended upon his owne will revealed to man in his most sacred Word It is not then a wonder that ye sleep in so deadly a security in the matter of your owne salvation considering that God giveth unto you so manifest tokens that ye and your leaders are both declined from God For if the tree shall be judged by the fruit as Christ Jesus affirmeth that it must needs be then of necessity it is That your Prelats and the whole rabble of their Clergie be evill trees For if Adultery Pride Ambition Drunkennesse Covetousnesse Incest Unthankfulnesse Oppression Murther Idolatry and Blasphemy be evill fruits there can none of that Generation which claim to themselves the title of Churchmen be judged to be good trees For all these pestilent and wicked fruits do they bring forth in greatest abundance And if they be evil trees as ye your selves must be compelled to confesse they are advise prudently with what consciences ye can maintain them to occupy the room and place in the Lords Vine-yard Do ye not consider that in so doing ye labour to maintain the servants of sin in their filthy corruption and so consequently ye labour that the devill may raigne and still abuse this Realme by all iniquity and tyranny and that Christ Jesus and his blessed Gospel be suppressed and extinguished The name and the cloke of the authority which ye pretend will nothing excuse you in Gods presence but rather shall ye bear double condemnation for that ye burden God as that his good Ordinances were the cause of your iniquity All Authority which God hath established is good and perfect and is to be obeyed of all men yea under pain of damnation But do ye not understand That there is a great difference betwixt the Authority which is Gods Ordinance and the persons of those which are placed in Authority the Authority and Gods Ordinances can never do wrong for it commandeth that vice and wicked men be punished and vertue with
her Army so that in the end we should not be able to resist But the greatest part of the Nobility and many of the people were so enchanted by her treasonable soliciters that they would not hear nor credit the truth plainly spoken The French then after the arriving of their new men began to brag then began they to divide the Lands and Lordships according to their owne fantasies for one was stiled Monsieur de Argyle another Monsieur le Prior the third Monsieur de Ruthwen yâ—a they were assured in their own opinion to possesse whatsoever they listed so that some asked for the Rentalls and Revenues of divers mens lands to the end that they might chuse the best And yet in this mean time she was not ashamed to set out a Proclamation in this form A Proclamation set forth by the Queen Regent to blinde the vulgar People FOrasmuch as We understand that certain seditious persons have of malice invented and blown abroad divers rumours and evill brutes intending thereby to stir up the hearts of the people and so to stop all manner of reconciliations betwixt us and our subjects being of the number of the Congregation and consequently to kindle and nourish a continuall strife and division within this Realme to the manifest subversion of the whole State thereof And amongst other purposes have maliciously devised for that effect and have perswaded too many That We have violated the Appointment lately taken in so far as any more French men since came in and that we do minde to draw in great Forces of men of War forth of France to suppresse the Liberty of this Realm oppresse the inhabitants thereof and make up strangers with their lands goods Which reports are all God knoweth most vain fained and untrue For it is of truth That nothing hath been done on our part since the said Appointment whereby it may be alleadged that any part thereof contravened nor yet was at that time any thing commoved or concluded to stop the sending in of French-men as may clearly appear by inspection of the said Appointment which the Bearer hereof hath present to shew Whatsoever number of men of War be arrived We have such regard to Our honor and quietnesse of this Realm that in case in the room of every French-man that is in Scotland there were an hundred at our command yet should not for that any jot that is pâ—omised be broken or any alteration made by our provocation but the said Proclamation truely and surely should be observed in every point If the said Congregation will in like manner faithfully keep their part thereof Nor yet mean we to trouble any man in the peaceable possession of their goods rooms Nor yet to enrich the Crowne and far lesse any strangers with your substance for Our dearest son and daughter the King and Queen are by Gods provision placed in the room where all men of judgement may well consider they have no need of any mans goods And for Our Self we seeking nothing but dutifull obedience unto them such as good subjects ought to give to their Soveraigne without diminution of your liberties and priviledges or alteration of your Laws Therefore We have thought good to notifie unto you Our good minde foresaid and desire you not to give ear nor credit to such vain imaginations whereof before God no part entered in our conceit nor suffer your selves be thereby led from your due obedience assuring you ye shall ever finde with Us truth in promise and a motherly love towards all you behaving your selves as Our obedient subjects But of one thing We give you warning That whereas some Preachers of the Congregation in their publike Sermons speak irreverently and slanderously as well of Princes in generall as of Our Selfe in particular and of the obedience of higher Powers inducing the people by that part of their Doctrine to defection from their duty which pertaineth nothing to Religion but rather sedition and tumult things direct quite contrary to Religion Therefore We desire you to take order in your Towns and bounds that when the Preachers repair thither they use themselves more modestly in these behalfs and in their Preaching not to meddle so much with Civill Policy and Publike Government nor yet name Us or other Princes but with reverence otherwise it will not be suffered And seeing you have presently the Declaration of Our Intention We desire likewise to know what shall be your part to Us that We may understand what to trust for at your hands whereof we desire a plain Declaration in writing with this Bearer without delay At Edinburgh the 28 of August 1559. This Proclamation she sent by her Messengers thorow all the Countrey and had her solicitors in all parts who painfully travelled to bring men to her opinion amongst whom these were the principall Sir Iohn Ballenden Justice Clerke Master Iames Balfour Officiall of Lowthian Master Thomas and Master William Scots sons to the Laird of Balwerie Sir Robert Carnegie and Master Gawâ—n Hammilton who foâ— fainting of the brethrens hearts and drawing many to the Queens faâ—tion against their native Countrey have declared themselves enemies to God and Traytors to the Common-weal But above all others Master Iames Balfour Official for the time ought to be abhorred for he of an old professor is become a new denier of Christ Jesus and manifest blasphemer of his eternal Verity against his knowledge and conscience seeking to betray his brethren and native Countrey into the hands of a cruell and unfaithfull Nation The answer to this former Proclamation was made in forme as followeth To the Nobility Burgesse and Commonty of this Realme of Scotland the Lords Barons and others Brethren of the Congregation wisheth encrease of all wisedom with advancement of the glory of God and of the Common-wealth THe love of our native Countrey craveth the defence of our honours requireth and the sincerity of our consciences compelleth us dear brethren to answer in some part to the last Writs and Proclamations set forth by the Q Regent no lesse to make us and our Cause odious then to abuse your simplicity and to work your finall destruction conspired of old and now already put to work And first where she alleadgeth That certain seditious persons have of malice invented and blown abroad divers rumors tending thereby as she alleadgeth to stir up the hearts of the people to sedition by reason that the French-men are crept in of late in our Countrey True it is dear brethren that all such as bear naturall love to their Countrey to you their brethren inhabitants thereof to our houses wives children the esperance of our posterity and to be short To our Common-wealth and to the ancient Laws and Liberties therof cannot but in heart lament and with mouth tears complain the most crafty assaults devised and practised to the utter ruine of all these things forenamed This is so manifestly gone to work
made patent and what have been her proceedings since the appointment last made on the Linkes beside Leith To the effect that the trueth of all things being made manifest every man may understand how unjustly that a desire to suppresse the liberty of this Realm is laid to her charge we have thought expedient to make this discourse following First although after the said appointment divers of the said Congregation and that not of the meanest sort hath violently broken the points thereof and made sundry occasions of new cumber The same was in a part winked at and over-looked in hope that they in time would remember their duty and abstaine from such evil behaviour which conversion her Majestie ever sought rather then any punishment with such care and solicitude by all means and in the mean time nothing was provided for her own security But at last by their frequent Messages to and from England their intelligence then was perceived yet her Majestie trusted the Queen of England let them seek as they please will do the office of a Christian Princesse in time of a sworne Peace through which force was to her Majestie seeing so great defection of great personages to have recourse to the Law of Nature And like as a small Bird being pursued will provide some nest so her Majestie could do no lesse in cases of pursuit but provide some sure retract for her selfe and her company and to that effect chose the Town of Leith as a place convenient therefore because it was her dearest daughters property and no other person could claime Title or Interesse thereto and also because in former times it had been fortified About the same time that the seeking support of England was made manifest arrived the Earle of Arrane and adjoyned himselfe to the Congregation upon further promise then the pretended quarrell or Religion that was to be set up by them in authority and so to pervert the whole obedience and as some of the Congregation at the same time had put into their hands and taken the Castle of Brochtie put forth the keepers thereof Immediately came from the said Duke to her Majestie unlooked for a Writ beside many others complaining of the fortification of the said Town of Leith in hurt of the ancient inhabitants thereof brethren of the said Congregation whereof he then professed himselfe a Member And albeit that the Bearer of the said Writ was an unmeet Messenger in a matter of such consequence yet her Majestie directed to him two persons of good credit and reputation with answer Offering If he would cause amends to be made for that which was committed against the Lawes of the Realme to do further then could be craved of reason And to that effect to draw some conference which by his fault and his Colleagues took no end neverthelesse they continually since continue in their doings usurping the authority commanding and charging free Boroughs to chuse Provests and officers of their naming and to assist to them in the purpose they would be at and that they will not suffer provision to be brought for sustentation of her Majesties houses A great part have so plainely set aside all reverence and humanitie whereby every man may know That it is no matter of Religion but a plaine usurpation of the authority and no doubt but simple men of good Zeale in former times therewith falsly have been deceived But as to the Queens part God who knoweth the secrets of all hearts well knoweth and the world shall see by experience that the fortification of Leith was devised for no other purpose but for recourse to her highnesse and her company in case they were pursued Wherefore as good Subjects that have the feare of God in their hearts will not suffer themselves by such vaine perswasions to be led away from their due obedience but will assist in defence of their Soveraigns quarrell against all such as shall pursue the same wrongfully Therefore her Majestie ordaineth the officers of Arms to passe to the Market-Crosses of all the head Burroughs of this Realme and there by open Proclamation command and charge all and sundry the Lieges thereof that none of them take in hand to put themselves in arms nor take part with the said Duke or his assistaries under the paine of Treason These Letters being divulgate the hearts of many were stirred for they judged the Narration of the Queen Regent to have been true others understood the same to be utterly false But because the Lords desired that all men should judge in their cause they set out the Declaration subsequent The DECLARATION of the Lords against the former PROCLAMATION WE are compelled unwillingly to answer the grievous accusations most unjustly laid to our charges by the Queen Regent and her perverse Counsell who cease not by all craft and malice to make us odious to our dearest brethren naturall Scottish-men as that we pretended no other thing but the subversion and overthrow of all just authoritie when God knoweth we sought nothing but That such authoritie as God approveth by his Word be established honoured and obeyed amongst us True it is that we have complained and continually must complaine till God send redresse That our common Countrey is oppressed with strangers That this inbringing of Souldiers with their wives and children and planting of men of War in our free Townes appeareth to us a ready way to conquest And we most earnestly require all indifferent persons to be judge betwixt us and the Queen Regent in this cause to wit Whether our complaint be just or not For for what other purpose should she thus multiply strangers upon us but onely in respect of conquest Which is a thing of late divised by her and her avaritious house We are not ignorant that six yeers ago the question was demanded of a man of honest reputation What number of men was able to daunt Scotland and to bring it to the full obedience of France She alleadged That to say that the fortification of Leith was of purpose devised in France and that for that purpose were Monsieur de la Brosse and the Bishop of Amiens sent to this Countrey Is a thing so vaine and untrue that the contrary thereof is notorious to all men of free judgement But evident it is whatsoever she alleadged That since their arrivall Leith was begun to be fortified She alleadged That she seeing the defection of great Personages was compelled to have recourse to the Law of Nature and like a small bird pursued to provide for some sure retract to her self and her company But why doth she not answer for what purpose did she bring in her new Bands of men of War Was there any defection espied before their arrivall was not the Congregation under Appointment with her Which whatsoever she alleadged she is not able to prove that we have violated in any chiefe point before that her new throat-cutters arrived yea before that
past to the Castle of Edinburgh and some others of her faction At Preston met them the Duke the Earle of Argyle Huntlie came not till that the siege was confirmed Lord Iames the Earle of Glencarne and Menteth Lords Ruthuen Boyd Uchiltrie with all the Protestants Gentlemen of the West Fyfe Angus and Mearnes so that in few dayes the Army was great After the deliberation of two dayes had at Inneresk the whole Camp marched forward with Ordnance and all preparations necessary for the siege and came to Lestarrig the Palme Sunday Even The French had put themselves in Battell Aray upon the Linkes without Leith and sent forth their skirmishers who beginning before ten of the clock continued skirmishing till after four of the clock at afternoon when there was given upon them a charge by some Horse-men of Scotland and some of England But because the principall Captaine of the Horse-men of England was not present the whole Troops durst not charge and so was not the overthrow and slaughter of the French so great as it once appeared to have been for the great Battell was once at the trot but when it perceived that the great Force of Horse-men stood still and charged not they returned and gave some rescue to their fellows that fled and so there fell onely in that defeat about three hundred French-men God would not give the Victory so suddenly lest that man should glory in his owne strength The small Victory that was gotten put both the English and Scotish in over-great security as the issue declared The French enclosed within the Towne the English Army began to plant their Pavilions betwixt Leith and Lestarrig The Ordnance of the Towne and especially that which lay upon Saint Anthonies Steeple did them great annoyance against which place were bent eight Cannons which shot so continually and so just that within few dayes that the Steeple was condemned and all the Ordnance that was on it discomfited which made the English-men somewhat more negligent then it became good men of War to have been For perceiving that the French made no pursuit without their Walls they tooke an opinion that they should never issue more and that made some of the Captaines for pastime go to the Towne The Souldiers for their ease laid their Armour beside them and as men without danger fell to the Dice and Cards and so upon the Easter Munday at the very houre of noon the French issued both upon Horse and Foot and with great violence entred within the English Trenches slue and put to flight all that was found therein The Watch was negligently kept and so were the Succours slow and long in coming For the French before that any resistance was made unto them approached hard to the great Ordnance But then the Horse-men trooped together and the Foot-men gat themselves in Aray and so repulsed the French back again to the Town but the slaughter was great some say it double exceeded that which the French received the first day And this was the fruit of their security and ours which after was remedied For the English men most wisely considering themselves not able to besiege the Town round about devised to make Mounts at divers quarters of it in the which they and their Ordnance lay in as good strength as they did within the Town The common souldiers kept the Trenches and had the said mountains for their saveguard and refuge in case of any greater pursuit then they were able to sustain The patience and stout courage of the English men but principally of the Horse-men is worthy of all praise For where was it ever heard That eight thousand they never exceeded that number that lay in Camp should besiege four thousand of the most desperate throat-cutters that were to be found in Europe and to lie nigh unto them in daily skirmishing the space of three moneths and more The Horse-men night and day kept Watch and did so valiantly behave themselves that the French gat no advantage from that day back to the day of the assault whereof we shall shortly hear In this mean time was this other Band made of all the Nobility Barons and Gentlemen professing Christ Jesus in Scotland and of divers others that joyned with us for expelling of the French amongst whom the Earle of Huntlie was a prime man The Band followeth The last Band at Leith AT Edinburgh the seven and twentieth of April the yeer of our Lord 1560 yeers We whose names are under-written have promised and obliged our selves faithfully in the presence of God and by these Presents do promise That we together in generall and every one of us in speciall by himself with our bodies goods friends and all that we can do shall set forward the Reformation of Religion according to Gods Word and procure by all means possible that the Truth of Gods Word may have free passage within this Realme with due Administration of the Sacraments and all things depending upon the said Word and such like deeply weighing with our selves the misbehaviour of the French Ministers here the intolerable oppression committed by the French men of War upon the poor subjects of this Realme by maintenance of the Queen Dowager under colour and pretence of Authority The tyranny of their Captains and Leaders and manifest danger of Conquest in which this Countrey at this present standeth by reason of divers Fortifications upon the Sea-coast and other novelties of late attempted by them promising That we shall each one with another all of us together with the Queen of Englands Army presently come in for our deliverance effectually concurre joyn in one take and hold one plain part for expulsion of the said strangers oppressors of our Liberty forth out of this Realme and recovery of our ancient Freedoms and Liberties to the end that in time coming we may under the obedience of the King and Queen our Soveraigns be onely ruled by the Laws and Customs of the Countrey and borne men of the Land And that never one of us shall have privy intelligence by writing message or communication with any of our enemies or adversaries in this Cause but by advice of the rest at least of five of the counsell Again That we shall tender the common Cause as if it were the cause of every one of us in particular And that the causes of every one of us now joyned together being lawfull and honest shall be all our causes in generall And that he that is enemy to the Cause aforesaid shall be enemy to us all in so far That what person soever will plainly resist these our godly enterprises and will not concur as a good and true member of this our Common-wealth we shall fortifie the said Authority of the Councell to reduce them to their duty like as we shall fortifie the said Authority of the Councell in all things tending to the furtherance of the said Causes And if any particular debate quarrell
that the rest of the Lords were charged with and also commanded to give over the House of Lochmabben and the Castle which he had in keeping for the Queen And albeit he obeyed not yet was he not put to the Horne as the rest Neverthelesse there was no man that doubted of his good will and partaking with the Lords who in the mean time sent Robert Melvin to the Queen of England and declared their state to her Majesty desiring support Now the chief care and solicitude that was in the Court was By what means they might come to have money for notwithstanding this great preparation for warre and eminent appearance of trouble yet were they destitute of the sinewes of Warre albeit the Treasurers and now Comptroller to wit the Laird of Tilbardin had disbursed many thousands yet there was no appearance of payment of souldiers nor scarcely how the King and Queens Houses and pompous Trains should be upholden there was about 600. Horsmen besides the Guard and 3. Ensignes of footmen The charge of the whole would amount to 1000. l. ster every moneth a thing surpassing the usuall manner of Scotland At this time arrived the Earl of Bothwell who was welcome and graciously received by the Queen and immediately placed in Councell and made Lieutenant of the West and middle Marches Now as every one of the Barons compounded to be exempted from this meeting the E. of Athole demanded of Edinburgh 200. l. ster but they refused to pay it notwithstanding Octo. 27. there was a certain number of the principall and rich persons of the Town warned by a Macer to passe to the Palace of Hallyrudhouse to the King and Queen who declared to them by their own mouthes speaking that they had use for money and therefore knowing them to be honest men and the inhabitants of the best Citie in their Countrey they must needs charge them and for security they should have other men bound for pledges or any Hand therefore The sum that they desired was 1000 l. sterl and no lesse They being astonished made no answer but Parson Flisk standing by said That seeing the King and Queens Majesties desired them so civilly in a thing most lawfull in their necessitie they did shew themselves not honest to keepe silence and give no answer to their Majesties for that must needs be had of them which was required and if they would not they should be constrained by the Laws which they would not abide for some of them had deserved hanging said he because they had lent large summs of money to the King and Queens enemies and Rebels and therefore they must shortly suffer great punishment Soon after they were called in one by one and demanded how much they would lend some made this excuse and some that by reason there were that offered to lend money amongst whom there was one offered to lend 20 l. To him the Earle of Athole said Thou art worthy to be hanged that speakest of 20 l. seeing the Princes charge thee so easily Finally they were all imprisoned and souldiers set over them having their Muskets ready charged and their Match lighted even in the house with them where they remained all that night and the next day till night and then being changed from one prison to another there were six chosen out and sent in the night to the Castle of Edinburgh convoyed with Musketteers round about them as if they had been Murtherers or most vile persons At length the third day by means of the Laird of Craigmiller Provest and some others the summe was made more easie to wit a 1000 Marks sterling to be paid immediately and to have the superioritie of Leithin in Pledge to wit upon condition of Redemption And besides the said summe of 1000 Marks sterlin they paid 1000 l. sterl For the meeting at Dumfreis at the day appointed for electing the officers the Queen sent in a Ticket such as she would have them to chuse for Provest Bailiffs and Councell whereof there was a number of Papists the rest not worthy Of the number given in by the Queen they named such as should rule for that year Notwithstanding without free Election the Laird Craigmiller remained Provest who shewed himself most willing to set forward Religion to punish vice and to maintain the Common-wealth All this time the Ministers cried out against the Masse and such Idolatry for it was more advanced by the Queen then before The first day of October met in Edinburgh the Superintendant of Lothian with all the Ministers under his charge according to their ordinary custome for every Superintendant used to convene the whole Ministery and there it was complained on That they could get no payment of their stipends not only about the City but thorow the whole Realm Therefore after reasoning and consultation taken they framed a supplication directed to the King and Queen and immediately presented the same to their Majesties by M. Iohn Spottswood Superintendant of Lothian and Master David Lindsey Minister of Leith it contained in effect That forasmuch as it had pleased the King and Queens Majesties with advice of the Privie Councell to grant unto the Ministers of the Word their stipends to be taken of the Thirds of the Benefices which Stipends are now detained from the said Ministers by reason of the troubles and changing of the Comptroller whereby they are not able to live and therefore most humbly craved the King and Queens Majesty to cause them to be paid Their answer was That they would cause order to be taken therin to their contentment Soon after the Lord Gordion came to Edinburgh and left the most part of his people at Sterlin with his carriage the King and Queen for hope of his good service to be done restored him to his Fathers place to the Earledome of Hintley the Lands and Heritage thereof October 8. the King and Queene marched forth of Edinburgh towards Dumfreis and as they passed from the Pallace of Hallyrud-house all men were warned with Jack and Spear The first night they came to Sterlin and the next to Craford the day after the Lairds of Drunlaurick and Lochinvar met the Queen albeit they had been with the Lords familiar enough The Lords perceiving that all hope of reconciliation was past they rode to Ednam where they remained till the Queen came to Dumfreis and then they past to Carlile Now the Master of Maxwell who had entertained the Lords familiarly and subscribed with them and had spoken as highly against their enemies as any of themselves and had received large mony by that means to wit 1000. l. to raise a Band or Troup of Horsmen and that the same day the King and Queen came to Dumfreis the third day after their coming he came to them conveyed by the Earle Bothwell with divers other Noblemen At length the Earles of Athole and Hintley were Sureties for him and all things past remitted upon condition that he should be a faithfull and
to record in my conscience That I delivered the same bread that I received of Christs hands and that I mixed no poyson with the same that is I teached Christs Gospel without any mixture of mens dreames devises or phantasies But alas I did it not with such fervency with such indifferency and with such diligency as this day I know my duty was to have done Some complained in those dayes That the Preachers were undiscreet persons yea some called them raylers and worse because they spake against the manifest iniquity of men and especially of those that then were placed in Authority as well in Court as in other Offices universally thorowout the Realme both in Cities Towns and Villages And among others peradventure my rude plainnesse displeased some who did complain That rashly I did speak of mens faults so that all men might know and perceive of whom I meant But alas this day my conscience accuseth me That I spake not so plainly as my duty was to have done For I ought to have said to the wicked man expressely by his name Thou shalt die the death For I finde Ieremiah the Prophet to have done so to Pashur the high Priest and to Zedechiah the King And not onely he but also Elijah Elisha Michah Amos Daniel Christ Jesus himself and after him his Apostles expressely to have named the blood-thirsty tyrants abominable Idolaters and dissembling hypocrites of their dayes If that we the Preachers within the Realme of England were appointed by God to be the Salt of the earth as his other Messengers were before us Alas Why with-held we the Salt where manifest compunction did appear I accuse none but my selfe The blinde love that I did bear to this my wicked carkase was the chiefe cause that I was not fervent and faithfull enough in that behalfe For I had no will to provoke the hatred of all men against me And therefore so touched I the vices of men in the presence of the greatest that they might see themselves to be offenders I dare not say that I was the greatest flatterer But yet neverthelesse I would not be seen to proclaim manifest Warre against the manifest wicked Whereof unfainedly I ask my God mercy As I was not so fervent in rebuking manifest iniquity as it became me to have been So was I not so indifferent a feeder as is required of Christs Steward For in preaching Christs Gospel albeit mine eye as knoweth God was not much upon worldly promotion yet the love of friends and carnall affection of some men with whom I was most familiar allured me to make more residence in one place then in another having more respect to the pleasure of a few then to the necessity of many That day I thought I had not sinned if I had not been idle But this day I know it was my duty to have had consideration how long I had remained in one place and how many hungry souls were in other places to whom alas none took pain to break and distribute the bread of Life Moreover remaining in one place I was not so diligent as mine Office required but sometime by counsell of carnall friends I spared the body sometime I spent in worldly businesse of particular friends and sometime in taking recreation and pastime by exercise of the body And albeit men may judge these to be light and small offences yet I acknowledge and confesse That unlesse pardon should be granted to me in Christs blood that every one of these three offences aforenamed that is to say Lack of fervency in reproving sin The lack of indifferency in feeding those that were hungry And the lack of diligence in the execution of mine Office deserved damation And beside these I was assaulted yea infected and corrupted with more grosse sins that is My wicked nature desired the favours the estimation and praise of men against which albeit that sometime the Spirit of God did move me to fight and earnestly did stir me God knoweth I lye not to sob and lament for those imperfections yet never ceased they to trouble me when any occasion was offred And so privily and craftily did they enter into my brest that I could not perceive my self to be wounded till vain-glory had almost gotten the upper hand O Lord be mercifull to my great offence and deal not with me according to my great iniquity but according to the multitude of thy mercies remove from me the burthen of my sin for of purpose and minde to have avoided the vain displeasure of man I spared little to offend thy Majestie Think not beloved in the Lord That thus I accuse my selfe without just cause as though in so doing I might appear more holy or that yet I do it of purpose and intent by occasion thereof to accuse others of my brethren the true Preachers of Christ of like or greater offences No God is Judge to my conscience That I do it even from an unfained and sore troubled heart as I that know my selfe grievously to have offended the Majesty of my God during the time that Christs Gospel had free passage in England And this I do let you understand That the taking away of the heavenly Bread and this great tempest that now bloweth against the poor disciples of Christ within the Realme of England as touching our part cometh from the great mercy of our heavenly Father to provoke us to unfained repentance for that neither Preacher nor Professor did rightly consider the time of our mercifull Visitation But altogether so we spent the time as though Gods Word had been Preached rather to satisfie our fantasies then to reforme our evill manners Which thing if we earnestly repent then shall Jesus Christ appear to our comfort be the storm never so great Haste O Lord for thy Names sake The second thing that I finde to be noted is The vehemency of the fear which the disciples endured in that great danger being of longer continuance then ever they had at any time before In Saint Matthewes Gospel it appeareth That another time there arose a great stormy Tempest and sore tossed the Boat wherein Christs disciples were labouring But that was nigh the day light and then they had Christ with them in the Ship whom they awaked and cryed for help unto him for at that time he slept in the Boat and so were shortly delivered from their sudden fear But now were they in the midst of the raging Sea and it was night and Christ their Comforter absent from them and cometh not to them neither in the first second nor third Watch What fear think ye were they in And what thoughts arose out of their so troubled hearts during that storm Such as this day be in like danger within the Realme of England doth by this storm better understand then my pen can expresse But of one thing I am well assured That Christs presence would in that great