PLEIS your Honouris, and the wisdomes of suche as ar heir
presentlie convenit with yow in Counsall, to understand,
that by mony argumentis we perceave quhat the pestilent
generatioun of that Romane Antichrist within this Realme
pretendis; to wit, that thai wald of new erect thair
idolatrie, tak upone thame to impyre abufe our conscience,
and so to command us, the trew subjectis of this Realme, and
suche as God of his mercy hes (under our Soverane) subjected
unto us, in all thingis to obey thair appetitis. Honestie
cravis, and conscience movis us, to mak the verray
secreittis of oure hertis patent to youre Honouris in that
behalf; quhilk is this, "That befoir that ever thai tyrantis
and dumb doggis impyre abufe us, and abufe suche as God hes
subjected unto us, that we the Barronis and Gentilmen
professing Christ Jesus within this Realme, ar fullie
determined to hasard lyffe, and quhatsoever we haif
received of our God in temporall thingis." Most humblie
thairfoir beseiking your Honouris, that suche ordour may be
takin, that we haif nott occasioun to tak agane the swerd of
just defence into oure handis, quhilk we haif willinglie
(efter that God hes gevin victorie, bayth to your Honouris
and us) resignit ovir in your handis; to the end, that
Goddis Evangell may be publiklie within this Realme
preached; the trew Ministeris thairof resonabillie sustened;
Idolatrie suppressed, and the committaris thairof punissit,
according to the lawes of God and man. In doing whairof,
your Honouris sall find us, nott onlie obedient unto yow in
all thingis lauchfull, but also reddy at all tymes to bring
under ordour and obedience, suche as wald rebell aganis your
just authoritie, quhilk, in absence of our Soverane, we
acknawlege to be in your handis. Beseiking your Honouris,
with uprycht jugement and indifferencie, to luyk upone thir
oure few Articles, and, by thir oure brethrein, to signifie
unto us suche answer agane, as may declair your Honouris
worthy of that place, quhairunto God (efter some dangeris
sustened) in his mercy hes called yow. And lett thir
ennemeis of God assure thameselfis, that gif your Honouris
put nocht ordour unto thame, that we sall schortlie tak
suche ordour, that thai salbe nather abill to do quhat thai
list, nather yit to leif upone the sweit of the browis of
suche as ar na debteris unto thame. Lett your Honouris
conceave na thing of us, bot all humble obedience in God.
Bott let the Papistis be yitt anys agane assured that thair
pryid and idolatrie we will not suffer.
(Directed fra the Assemblie of the Kirk, the 28th[330] of
Maij 1561, and send by thir brethrein,[331] the Maister of
Lindesay, the Laird of Lochinvar,[332] the Laird of
Pharnyhirst, the Laird of Quhittingham, Thomas Menzies
Provest of Abirdene, and George Lowell burges of Dundee.)
[330] In MSS. 1566, G, &c. "the 18." Vautr. edit. gives the correct
date, "28th:" see next page, note 4.
[331] The persons who formed this deputation from the General Assembly
to the Lords of Secret Council, were, (1.) Patrick Master of Lindesay,
who succeeded to the title of Lord Lindsay of Byres, on his father's
death in 1563; (2.) John Gordon of Lochinvar, in Kirkcudbrightshire;
(3.) Andrew Ker of Farnihurst, in Roxburghshire, ancestor to the Earls
of Lothian; (4.) William Douglas of Whittingham, in East Lothian, a
grandson of James second Earl of Morton, and afterwards one of the
Senators of the College of Justice; (5.) Thomas Menzies of
Pitfoddellis, who was Provost of Aberdeen, from 1547 to 1576, without
interruption; and, (6.) George Lovell, burgess of Dundee, whose name
has already occurred in Knox.
[332] In MS. 1566, "the Lard of Low^clewen."
Upone the quhilk requeist and Articles, the Lordis of Counsall
foirsaid maid ane act and ordinance answering to everie heid of the
foirsaid Articles,[333] and commandit letteris to be answerit
thairupon, quhilk diverse ministeris raysit, as in the buykis of
Secreit Counsall is yit to be found. And thus gat Sathan the secund
fall, efter that he haid begun to truble the estait of the religioun,
ones establissit by law. His first assault wes by the raschall
multitude, opponying thame selfis to the punischement of vice: The
secound wes, by the Bischoppis and thair bandis, in quhilk he thocht
uterly to haif triumphit; and yit he in the end prospered wer[334]
then ye haif herd.
[333] According to the "Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland,"
containing the Acts and Proceedings of the Assembly, the meeting was
held on the 26th of May; and the persons above-named were appointed on
the 28th to present the Supplication and Articles "tuitching the
Suppressioun of Idolatrie." The result of the application is thus
recorded:--
"Upoun the whilk Supplicatioun, Articles and sute thairof was grantit,
and followit be the Lords of Secreit Counsell, and Act and Ordinance
thairupon, with letters therupon, answering to every head of the said
Articles and Supplicatioun, at length specified in the Act of Secreit
Counsell made therupon; whilk is to be had in the hands of John
Johnstone, scrybe therof, and letters and publicatioun past therupon."
[334] In MS. G, &c. "prosperit worse."
For in this meyntyme, returnit fra France the Lord James,[335] quha,
besyid his greit expensis, and the lose of ane box quhairin wes his
secreit poise, eschapit a desparit danger in Pareise: for, his
returning from our Soverane (quha then lay with the Cardinall of
Lorane at Reims) understood[336] of the Papistis at Pareise, thai haid
conspired some tresonable act aganis him; for thai intendit ather to
besett his hous by nycht, or ellis to have assaulted him and his
company as thai walkit upoun the streittis. Quhairof the said Lord
James advertist by the Ryngrave,[337] by ressone of auld familiaritie
quhilk wes betwix thame in Scotland, he tuke purpoise suddenlie and in
gude ordour to depart from Pareise; as that he did, the secund day
efter that he arrived thair. And yit culd he not depart sa secreitlie,
bot that the Papistis haid thair prevy ambusches; for upone the Pont
of Change[338] thai haid prepared ane processioun, quhilk met the said
Lord and his cumpany evin in the teith; and knawing that thai wald not
do the accustumat reverence unto thame and thair idolis, thai thocht
thairupone to haif picked a quarrell; and sa as ane part passed by,
without moving of hatt to ony thing that wes thair, thai haid
suborned some to crye "Hugenottis," and to cast stanis. Bot God
disapoynted thair interpryse; for the said Ryngraife, with other
gentilmen, being with the Lord James, rebuykit the fulische multitude,
and over raid some of the formaist; and sa the rest war dispersit; and
he and his cumpany saiflie eschapit, and come with expeditioun to
Edinburgh, quhill that yit the Lordis and assemblie wer togither, to
the greit comfort of many godlie hertis, and to na litile
astonischement of the wicked: for, fra the Quene oure Soverane he
brocht letteris to the Lordis, praying thame to intertenye quyetnes,
and to suffer na thing to be attemptit aganis the Contract of peace
quhilk wes maid at Leyth, till her awin hame-cuming, and to suffer the
religioun publictlie establissit to go fordward, &c. Quhairupone the
saidis Lordis gaif answer to the Frenche Ambassadour, a negatyve to
everie ane of his petitiouns.[339]
[335] Lord James Stewart (see page 142, note 3.) Queen Mary, in a
letter to Throkmorton, dated at Nancy 22d April 1561, declares that
Lord James who was then with her, had come without any special
mission: "Quant à Lord James qui est devers moy, il y est venue pour
son devoir, comme devers sa souveraine Dame, que je suis, sans charge
ou commission qui concerne autre chose que son droit." She was anxious
he should not return through England; and there can be no doubt, his
conduct was too much influenced by the English Court. See the letters
quoted by Mr. Tytler, vol. vi. pages 218 to 225. Lord James returned
from France before the end of May 1561. The Diurnal of Occurrents (p.
283) has the 19th of May; but according to a letter quoted by Mr.
Tytler, it appears that Lord James was in London on the 20th of that
month, but had reached Edinburgh on the 3d of June. (History, vol. vi.
p. 225.)
[336] In MS. 1566, "at Reins) understand."
[337] The Count Rheingrave had the command of the German troops which
formed one of the divisions of the French forces sent to Scotland in
1548. He distinguished himself at the sieges of Haddington and Dundee.
(Lesley's History, pp. 206, 207, 219, 223.) He returned to France in
1549, but it seems doubtful whether he again visited this country. He
appears to have settled in France. John Philip Rheingrave, Count
Palatine of the Rhine, before 1554, married an heiress, Jean de
Genoüillac, the widow of Charles Seigneur de Crussol, Vicomte d'Uzés.
(Anselme, Hist. Geneal. vol. iii. p. 768.) In December 1562, "the
Rhyngrave lost fourscore of his horsemen," or, "reisters," when
Harfleur was taken by the English. (Wright's Queen Elizabeth, vol. i.
pp. 119-120.)
[338] In MS. G, "upon the Change-brig;" Vautrollier's edition makes
it, "upon the point of change." The place referred to was the
principal bridge in Paris, across the river Seine, formerly known as
the _Grand Pont_. It takes its name, _Pont au Change_, from the
_changeurs_ or money-brokers who resided there, so early as the 12th
century; but the houses upon the bridge were finally removed in 1788,
by order of Louis XVI.
[339] See _supra_, page 156.
And First, That France haid not deserved at thair handis, that ather
thai or thair posteritie, suld enter with thame agane in ony league or
confideracie, offensive or defensive, seying that sa tratrouslie and
crewallie, thai haid persecuted thame, thair Realme and liberteis,
under pretense of amitie and mariage.
Secundlie, That besydis thair conscience, thai culd not tak suche a
warldlie scheme, as without offence committit, to breke the league,
quhilk in Goddis name thai haid maid with thame, quhom he haid maid
instrumentis to set Scotland at fredome from the tyranny of the
Frenche, at the leist of the Guisians and thair factioun.
And last, That suche as thai callit Bischoppis and Kirkmen, thai knew
nather for pastouris of the Kirk, nather yit for ony just possessouris
of the patrimonye thairof; bot understude thame perfitlie to be
wolves, theaves, murtheraris, and idill-belleis: And thairfoir, as
Scotland haid forsakin the Pape and Papistrie, sa culd thai not be
debttouris to his fore-sworne vassallis.
* * * * *
With thir answeris departit the said Ambassadour.[340] And the Lordis
of Secreit Counsall maid ane act, that all places and monumentis of
ydolatrie suld be destroyit.[341] And for that purpose wes directed to
the West, the Erle of Arrane, having joyned with him the Erlis of
Argyle and Glencarne, togidder with the Protestantes of the West: quha
burnt Paislay,[342] (the Bischope [of Sanctandrois, quha was Abbot
thareof,][343] narrowlie eschapit,) kest doun Failfurd,[344]
Kilwynnyng,[345] and a part of Corsragwell.[346] The Lord James wes
appointed to the North, quhair he maid sick reformatioun, as nathing
contentit the Erie of Huntlie, and yet seemed he to approve all
thingis. And thus God sa potentlie wrocht with us, sa lang as we
dependit upone him, that all the warld mycht se his potent hand to
mayntene us, and to feght aganis oure ennemeis; yea, most to confound
thame, quhen that thay promest to thame selfis victory without
resistance. "Oh! that we suld rychtlie considder the wonderouse werkis
of the Lord oure God."
[340] Monsieur de Nouailles left Edinburgh on the 7th June 1561.
(Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 64.)
[341] As Knox has enjoyed more than his full share of credit for
destroying the ecclesiastical buildings of this country, I may be
permitted to call the reader's attention to Dr. M'Crie's remarks on
the "Alleged Excesses of the Reformers," in his notes to the Life of
Knox, vol. ii. pages 450-456. But it might not be difficult to show
that the actual devastations committed by the Reformers have been
greatly exaggerated. The object they had in view was not to destroy
the buildings, but to remove objects of idolatrous worship and
superstition. It should also be remembered, that the revenues
appropriated for keeping such buildings in repair, being diverted to
other channels, these large and imposing edifices, more suited for the
services of the Romish Church than the simpler forms of Presbyterian
worship, were allowed to fall into utter ruin. When portions were
restored to serve as parish churches, this was too often done but
little in accordance with their original richly decorated style of
architecture.
[342] The Monastery of Paisley, in the shire of Renfrew, was not
wholly destroyed, as the nave of the church, with its aisles, remain
very entire, and have continued to be used as the collegiate church of
the Abbey Parish.
[343] The words inclosed within brackets, omitted in the MS. 1566, and
in Vautr. edit., are supplied from MS. G.--In vol. i.p. 124, it is
mentioned, that John Hamilton, who afterwards became Archbishop of St.
Andrews, had obtained the Abbacy of Paisley in the year 1525. In 1544,
he proposed to resign Paisley to his brother James, reserving to
himself the whole fruits of the benefice, with a right to re-enter to
it, should his brother predecease him. (Epist. Regum Scot. vol. ii. p.
212.) This arrangement probably was not confirmed; as the Abbot
eventually resigned the Commendatorship to Lord Claud Hamilton, third
son of James Duke of Chattelherault. This appears to have taken place
in 1553, when Lord Claud was aged eleven years; the Archbishop still
acting as Administrator in spiritual as well as temporal matters, till
the Commendator had attained the age of twenty-three. In various
deeds, so late as April 1565, the former continued to be styled "John,
&c. Archbishop of Sanctandrois, Primat and Legat of the haill Realme
of Scotland, and Abbot of the Abbay of Pasley." Lord Claud Hamilton
was the ancestor of the Earls of Abercorn.
[344] Only some inconsiderable remains now exist of the Monastery of
Failfurd, in the parish of Tarbolton, Ayrshire.
[345] Some portions of this stately building still exist, adjoining
the Parish Church of Kilwinning.
[346] The Abbay of Crossraguel, in the parish of Kirkoswald, about two
miles from Maybole, although in ruins, is preserved with great care,
and is more entire than any other monastic building in the West of
Scotland.
* * * * *
In the Treatye of Peace contracted at Leyth, thair war contened
certane heidis that requyred the ratificatioun of baith the Quenis.
The Quene of Ingland, according to hir promese, subscriptioun, and
seill, without ony delay performit the same,[347] and sent it to oure
Soverane by hir appoynted officiaris. Bot our Soverane (quhidder
because hir awin craftie nature thairto moved hir, or that hir Uncles
cheiff counsallouris sa wald, we knaw not) with mony delatouris
frustrat the expectatioun of the Quene of Ingland; as by the copy of a
Letter, sent from the Ambassadour of Ingland to his Soverane,[348] we
may understand.
[347] The Treaty of Leith, as already noticed at pages 73-84, was
ratified by Queen Elizabeth, 20th September 1560: The Ratification is
printed in Rymer's Foedera.
[348] Sir Nicholas Throkmorton:--His correspondence, addressed to
Queen Elizabeth and Secretary Cecil, whilst English ambassador at the
Court of France, includes much curious and interesting matter relating
to Scotland. See in particular Dr. Forbes's Collection of State
Papers, Lond. 1740, 1741, 2 vols. folio: unfortunately the
intermediate portion of his Collections, from May 1560 to July 1562,
was never published. Throkmorton returned from France in 1564, and was
afterwards sent on more than one occasion to Scotland. He was made
Chamberlain of the Exchequer; and died in 1570.
At Pareis, the xxiij of Junij 1561.
"THE xviij of this present Junij, I send Sommer[349] to the Quene of
Scottis for audience, quha appoyntit me to come to hir the same day
efter denner; quhilk I did. To hir I did [remember] youre Majesteis
hertlie recommendations, and declarit unto hir your Majesteis lyik
glaidsomnes of hir recoverye of hir lait seikness, quhais want of
helth, as it wes grevouse unto youre Majestie, so did yow congratulat
and greitlie rejoise of the gude termes of helth scho wes presentlie
in. After these offices, I put hir in remembrance agane quhat haid
passed from the begynning, in the mater of youre Majesteis demand of
hir ratificatioun, according to the proporte[350] of the said Treatie,
alsweill by me at the first, as efterwart by my Lord of Bedfurd at his
being heir, and alsua followed sensyne agane be me in audience, and by
my letter to hir being in Lorane: adding heirto youre Majesteis
farther commandiment; and recharge to me agane, presentlie to renew
the same demand, as befoir haid bene done."
[349] "Mr. Somer," or Sommers, was a confidential agent or messenger
employed by Cecil, in his correspondence with the English Ambassadors
at the Court of France.
[350] In MS. 1566, "propertie."
[Sidenote: ANSURE.]
[Sidenote: CRAFTIE DEALLAR; THOU NEVER RESPECTED THEM FARTHER THEN
THAI MYCHT SERVE TO THY CORRUPT AFFECTIONS.]
[Sidenote: THIS WES A SECREIT LARDON.]
[Sidenote: SCHO MENT SCHO WALD SEIK A SAIF CONDUCT.]
[Sidenote: * EVER QUHILL THAT SCHO MAY SCHAW HIR EVILL WILL][351]
[351] This marginal note forms part of the text in MS. G. It evidently
is one of those remarks of the author which form a kind of running
commentary by Knox on this communication. They are contained in
Vautrollier's edition; but not in MS. G, with the exception of this
marginal addition.
[Sidenote: GIF FRANCE WALD HAIF SUSTENIT THAM, THAI HAID NOT YIT
DEPARTIT.]
[Sidenote: THE SECUND SECREIT LARDON.]
The said Quene maid answer: "Monsieur l'Ambassadour, I thank the
Quene, my gude-sister, for this gentle visitatioun and congratulatioun
of this my recoverye; and thocht I be not yit in perfite helth, yit I
thank God I feill my self in verray gude[352] in the cuming to. And
for ansuer to youre demand, (quod sche,) of my ratificatioun, I do
remember all thai thingis that yow haif recited unto me; and I wald
the Quene, my gude-sister, suld think that I do respect the resolute
ansuer in this mater, and performyng thairof, untill suche tyme as I
may have the advyses of the Noblis and Estaitis of my awin Realme,
quhilk I trust sall not be lang a doing; for I intend to mak my voyage
thither schortlie. And thocht this mater (quod scho) dois twiche me
principallie, yit dois it also twiche the Noblis and Estaitis of my
Realme too; and thairfoir it salbe meit, that I use thair advyses
thairin. Heirtofoir, thai haif semed to be greved that I suld do ony
thing without thame; and now thai wald be mair offendit gif I suld
proceid in this mater of my self, without thair advyses. I do intend
(quod scho) to send Monsieur Dosell[353] to the Quene youre Maistres,
my gude-sister, quho sall declair that unto hir from me, that, I
trust, sall satisfie hir; by quhom I will gif hir to understand of my
jurnay into Scotland. I meyne to embarque at Calice. The King hes lent
me certane galeis and schippis, to convoy me hame; and I intend to
requyre of my gude-sister those favouris that princes usis to do in
those cases. And thocht the termes quhairin we haif heirtofoir [been],
hes bene some quhat hard,* yet, I trust that from hensfurth we sall
accord togidder as cousignes and gude nychtbouris. I meyne (quod scho)
to reteir all the Frenche men furth of Scotland, quho hes gevin jelose
to the Quene, my gude-sister, and miscontentment to my subiectis; so
as I will leve nathing undone to satisfie all parties, trusting the
Quene, my gude-sister, will do the lyke, and that from hensfurth none
of my disobedient subjectis (gif thair be ony suche) sall fynd ayd or
supporte at hir handis."
[352] In Vautr. edit. "in very good health:" MS. G, (omitting the
words, "I thank God,") is the same as the text.
[353] The Seigneur D'Oysel: See notes in vol. i. pp. 328 and 355. Lord
Clinton, in a letter to the Earl of Sussex, 8th August 1560, mentions
that D'Oysel and Martigues, having 3500 French soldiers in their
company, had then landed at Calais, on their return from Scotland.
Queen Mary had purposed sending him again to Scotland in the spring of
1561. From letters of the time we learn he was not expected to reach
Greenwich before the 8th of July, and Cecil on the 25th of that month
says, "Monser d'Oyzell came from the Scottish Quene, with request that
the Quene his Mistress might have a salve conduct to pass alongst our
sea coast, and hymself to pass into Scotland to provide for her
coming. Many reasons moved us to myslike her passadge, but this only
served us for answer," &c., namely, her refusal to ratify the Treaty
of Peace. It is added, "Monser d'Oyzell was also gently required to
returne with this answer." (Wright's Queen Elizabeth, vol. i. pp. 43,
62, 66.) Mr. Tytler has shown, that D'Oysel "was altogether unworthy
of the trust reposed in him," by his secret communications both to the
English Ambassador and Queen Elizabeth. (Hist. vol. vi. p. 228.)
[Sidenote: THE ARMYS OF INGLAND WER USURPIT.]
I answered, "That I was nocht desyrous to fall in the discours how
those hard termes first beganne, nor by quhat meanys thai wer
nurischit; becaus thairin I most charge some partie with injurie, and
perrel offered to the Quene my maistres, quhilk wes the verray ground
of those materis: Bot I wes weill assured thair culd be no better
occasioun offered to put the formar unkyndnes in forgetfulnes, than by
ratifyeing the Treatie of Peace, for that suld repay all injureis
past. And Madame, (quod I,) quhair it plesis yow to suspend the
Ratificatioun, untill yow haif the advyses of the Nobles and Estatis
of youre Realme, the Quene my maistres dois nothing doubt of thair
conformitie in this mater, becaus the Treatie wes maid by thair
consentis."
[Sidenote: YOUR PAPISTIS AND OURIS HAIF PRACTISIT, AND STILL PRACTISIS
DEVISIOUN.]
[Sidenote: SA THAT SCHO MYCHT HAIF INGLAND AND THE PAIPIS RELIGIOUN, I
THINK SCHO LYET NOT.]
The Quene answered, "Yea, by some of thame, but not by all. It will
appeir, quhen I cum amangis thame, quhidder thai be of the same mynd
that yow say thai wer than of, [or no:] Bot of this I assure yow,
Monsieur l'Ambassadour, (quod scho,) I, for my parte, am verray
desyrouse to haif the perfite and the assured amitie of the Quene, my
gude-sister, and will use all the meanis I can to geve hir occasioun
to think that I meane it in deid."
I answered, "Madame, the Quene my maistres, yow may be assurit, will
use the lyik towardis yow, to move yow to be of the same opinioun
towardis hir."
[Sidenote: THE FEIR OF GOD IN THE HERT OF HELIAS WAS DISOBEDIENCE TO
CURSIT JESABELL.]
"Than (said scho) I traist the Quene your maistres, will not support
nor encurage none of my subjectis to continew in thair disobedience,
nor to tak upone thame thingis that appertene not to subjectis."--[This
we mon answer heir: It appertenis to subjectis to wirschip God as he
hes commandit, and to suppres idolatrie, by quhomsoevir it be erected or
mayntened.][354]
[354] The words enclosed within brackets are evidently added by Knox.
[Sidenote: GOD GEVIS HIS LAW ALSWEILL TO THE PRINCE AS TO THE
SUBJECT.]
"Yow knaw, (quod scho,) thair is moche ado in my Realme about materis
of religioun; and thocht thair be a greittar nomber of a contrarie
religioun unto me then I wald thair war, yit thair is na ressone that
subjectis suld gif a law to thair Soverane, and speciallie in materis
of religioun, quhilk, I feare, (quod scho,) my subjectis sall tak in
hand."--[Answer for the parte of Scotland: and gif sa thai haid done,
thai haid eschapit Goddis indignatioun, quhilk hes bene felt, and
still hingis over this Realme, for the idolatrie and other
abominationis committit in the same, quhilk sall not ceise till that
it be suppressit.][355]
[355] This is one of Knox's additions.
[Sidenote: THE CONSECRATIOUN OF THE CARDINALL WILL NOT SUFFER YOW.]
[Sidenote: THE THRID LARDON, ACCUSING INGLAND OF INCONSTANCIE IN
RELIGIOUN.]
I answerit, "Madame, youre realme is in na uther caise at this day,
than all uther realmes of Christiandome ar; the prufe quhairof you see
verefied in this realme: and you see quhat grit difficultie it is to
gif ordour in this mater, thocht the King and all his Counsall be
verray desyrouse thairunto. Religioun is of the grittest force that
may be. You haif bene lang out of your awin realme, so as the
contrarie religioun to youris hes wone the upper hand, and the
grittest parte of youre realme. Youre Mother wes a woman of greit
experience, of deip dissimulatioun, and keipit that Realme in
quyetness, till scho begane to constraine[356] menis consciences; and
as you think it unmeit to be constranit by your subjectis, so it may
lyk you to considder, the mater is also intollerabill to thame to be
constraynit by you in materis of conscience; for the dewtie deu to God
can not be gevin to ony uther without offence of his Majestie." "Quhy,
(said scho,) God dois command subjectis to be obedient to thair
Princes, and commandis Princes to reid his law, and governe thairby
thame selfis and the peple committit to thair chargis." Answer, "Yea,
Madame, (quod I,) in those thingis that be not aganis his
commandimentis." "Weill, (quod scho,) I will be plane with you: the
Religioun that I profess, I tak to be maist acceptable to God: and, in
deid, neither do I knaw nor desire to knaw any uther. Constancie dois
become all folkis weill; but none better than Princes, and suche as
have reull over Realmes, and speciallie in materis of Religioun." [The
Turk is als constant in his Alcoram, as the Paip and his sect ar in
his constitutionis.][357] "I haif bene brocht up, (quod scho,) in this
Religioun; and quho mycht creditt me in ony thing gif I suld schaw my
self lycht in this case; and thocht I be young and nott weill learned,
yitt haif I herd this mater oft disputed by my Uncle my Lord
Cardinall, with some that thocht thai could say somquhat in the mater;
and I fand thairin na grit ressone to change my opinioun." [Neather
yitt did Caiaphas, quhen Christ Jesus did reassone in his presence:
Bot quhat wes the Cardinall compelled to confesse at Poysie?][357]
[356] In MS. G, "to strayne."
[357] These words, enclosed, are remarks by Knox.
[Sidenote: BOT THE DEVILL WALD PUT ORDOUR TO HIM SELF.]
"Madame, (quod I,) gif you will juge weill in that mater, you mon be
conversant in the Scriptures, quhilk ar the tuichstone to try the
rycht from the wrang. Paradventure, you ar so partiallie affected to
your Uncle's argument, that you culd not indifferentlie considder the
uther partie. Yit this I assure you, Madame, (quod I,) your Uncle my
Lord Cardinall, in conference with me about these materis, hes
confessed, that thair be grit errouris and abuses come into the Kirk,
and grit disordour in the Ministeris and Clargye; insomuche that he
desyred and wisched that thair mycht be a reformatioun of the ane and
of the uther." "I have oftyne tymes hard him say the lyik," (quod
scho.) Than I said, "Weill, I trust God will inspyre all you that be
Princes, that thair be some gude ordour tackin in this mater, so as
thair may be one unitie in Religioun throcht all Christiandome."
[Sidenote: CHANGE IT NOT BEFOIR YOW HAVE IT; FOR DANSING AND HIR
SISTER IS THE GROUND OF THAT QUHILK YIT YE HAIF PROFESSIT.]
"God grant, (quod scho,) bot for my parte, you may perceave I am none
of those that will change my Religioun, everie yeir. And, as I tauld
you in the begynnyng, I meyne to constrane none of my subjectis, bot
wald wische that thai wer all as I am; and I trust thai suld haif na
supporte to constrane me. I will send Monsieur Dosell, (quod scho,) to
you befoir he go, to knaw quhether you will ony thing into Ingland. I
pray you, so ordour yourself in this mater, betwix the Quene my gud
sister and me, that thair may be perfite and sure amitie betwix us;
for I knaw, (quod scho,) Ministeris may do muche gude and harme."
I tauld hir, "I wald faithfullie and treulie mak declaratioun, of all
that scho haid said unto me, unto your Majestie; and trusted that scho
wald so satisfie your Majestie by Monsieur Dosell in all thingis, as I
suld heirefter have no moir occasionis to treatie with hir of ony
thingis bot of the encrease of amitie." Scho said, "Thair suld be no
want thairin on hir behalf."
"This is the effect of the Quene of Scotlandis answer to youre
Majesteis demand of hir said Ratificatioun, and of my negotiatioun
with hir at this tyme."
* * * * *
These advertisementis somewhat exasperated the Quene of Ingland, and
nott altogither without cause; for the armys of Ingland wer befoir
usurpit by oure Soverane, and by hir husband Francis; and Elizabeth,
Quene of Ingland, wes of the Gwysians reputed litill better then a
bastard. It was appointed that this titill suld be renuncit. Bot
heirof haid oure proude and vane glorious Quene no plesour, and
especiallie efter that hir husband was deid; for, thocht scho, the
toluyke of Ingland[358] sall allure mony wowaris to me. The Gwysians
and the Paipistis of baith the Realmes did not a litill animat hir in
that persute; the effect quhairof will sonar appeir then the godlie of
Ingland wald desyre: And yit is scho that now reigneth ovir thame,
neather gude Protestant, nor yit resolute Papist: Lat the warld juge
quhilk is the thrid.
[358] In Vautr. edit., "the shew of England."
Queyn Elizabeth,[359] we say, offendit with the former ansueris, wrait
unto the Nobilitie and Estaittis of Scotland, in forme as followis:--
[359] The remark on Queen Elizabeth, in the preceding paragraph, "And
yet is scho," &c., is omitted in Vautrollier's edition; and the words
that follow, read, "Let the world judge whether Queen Elizabeth, we
say," &c., as above.
THE QUENE OF INGLANDIS LETTER TO THE
ESTAITTIS OF SCOTLAND.
[Sidenote: THE PEACE CONTRACTIT AT LEYTH.]
[Sidenote: PRINCES LITILL REGARD THAT.]
[Sidenote: I THINK THIS SENTENCE MANCK, BUT I WILL ALTER NO
WORD.][360]
RYCHT trusty and rycht enteirlie belovit Cousingis, we greit
yow. We doubt not, bot as oure menyng is, and hes bene
alwayis sithence oure regne, in the sycht of Almichty God,
streycht and direct towart the advancement of his honour and
trewth in religioun, and consequentlie to procure peace and
mayntene concord betwix baith thir Realmes of Ingland and
Scotland; so also our outwarde actis have weill declared the
same to the warld, and speciallie to yow, being oure
nychtbouris, quho have taisted and proved in these oure
friendschip and ernest gude will, mair then we think any of
youre antecessouris have ever receaved from hence; yea, moir
then a greit nomber of youre selfis culd weill houpe of us,
all former examples being weill weyit and considered. And
this we haif to rejoise of, and so may ye be glaid, that
quhair, in the begynnyng of the trublis in that cuntrey, and
of our succours ment for yow, the jelosie, or rather the
malice of diverse, boith in that Realme and in uther
cuntreis, wes suche, boith to deprave boith us in the
yielding, and yow in requyring our aide, that we were noted
to have meant the surprise of that Realme, by depryving of
your Soverane the Quene of hir croune, and yow or the
greittar parte of yow to haif intendit by our succour the
lyik; and ather to prefer some other to the croune, or ellis
to mak of that monarchie a commonweill: materis verray
sclanderouse and false. Bot the end and determinatioun, yea,
the haill course and process of the actioun on boith oure
partis have manifested, boith to the sclanderaris, and to
all utheris, that no thing wes more meant and prosecuted,
then to establish youre Soverane the Quene, our cousigne and
sister, in hir estait and crowne, the possessioun quhairof
wes in the handis of strangearis. And althocht no wordis
culd then weill satisfie the malitious, yit our deids do
declair, that no uther thing wes soucht, but the
restitutioun of that Realme to the auncient libertie, and,
as it wer, to redeme it frome captivitie. Off these oure
purposes and deidis, thair remanis, amongis uther
argumentis, gude testimonye by a solempne treatie and
accord, maid the last yeir at Edinburgh, by Commissionaris
sent boith from us and from your Quene, with full auctoritie
in wryting, under boith our handis, and the Greit Seills of
boith oure Realmes, in suche maner as uther Princes, oure
progenitouris, have alwayes used. By quhilk treatie and
accord, eather of us have fullie accordit with uther, to
keip gude peace and amitie betwix oure selfis, oure
countreis, and subjectis. And in the same also ane gude
accord is maid, nott onlie of certane quarrellis happened
betwix us, bot also of some differences betwix the
Ministeris of the lait Frenche King, your Soveranis husband,
and yow the Estaittis of that Realme, for the alteratioun of
lawis and customes of that countrey attemptit by thame.
Upone quhilk accord thair maid and concludit, hes hitherto
followit, as yow knaw, suyrtie to your Soveranis estait,
quyetnes to your selfis, and a better peace betwix boyth
Realmes, then ever wes herd of in any tyme past.
Nevertheless, how it happeneth we knaw not, [--We can: for
scho in hir consait thinkis hir self Quene of boyth,][361]
that your Soverane eather not knawing in this parte hir awin
felicitie, or ellis dangerouslie seduced by perverse
counsall, quhairof we wald be most sorye; being of lait at
sundry tymes requyred by us, according to hir Band remanying
with us, signed with hir awin hand, and sealled with the
Greit Seall of that Realme, and allowed by yow being the
Estaittis of the same, to ratifie hir said Treatie, in like
maner as we by wryting have done, and ar reddy to
deliver[362] it to hir, [yet she] makketh suche delatorie
answeris thairinto, as quhat we sall juge thairof, we
perseave by hir answer, that it is meit to requyre of yow.
For althocht scho hes alwayis answerit, since the deith of
hir Husband, that in this mater scho wald first understand
the myndis of certane of yow, befoir scho wald mak answer;
and so having now of long tyme suspendit oure expectatioun,
in the end, nochtwithstanding that scho hes haid conference
boyth by messingeris, and by some of your selfis being with
hir, yit scho still delayis it, alledgeing to oure
Ambassadour in France (quho said that this Treatie wes maid
by your consentis) it was not by consent of yow all; and so
wald have us forbeir, unto scho sall returne in that hir
countrey. And now seing that hir ansuer dependis, as it suld
seme, by hir wordis, upone your opinionis, we can nott bot
planelie latt yow all understand, that this maner of ansuer,
without some moir frute, can nott long content us. We have
meant weill to our sister your Quene in tyme of offence
gevin to us by hir. We did planelie, without dissimulatioun,
charge hir in hir awin dowbtfull estait: quhylest
strangearis possessit hir Realme, we stayed it from danger.
And now, having promissed to keip gude peace with hir, and
you hir subjectis, we have hitherto observed it; and salbe
sorye gif eather scho or yow sall geve us contrary cause. In
a mater so profitable to boyth the Realmes, we think it
strange that your Quene hes no better advise: and thairfoir
we do requyre yow all, being the Estaittis of that Realme,
upone quhom the burthen resteth, to considder this mater
deiplie, and to mak us ansuer quhairunto we may trust. And
gif yow sall think meit scho sall thus leif the peace
imperfite, by breking of hir solempned promeis, contrary to
the ordour of all princes, we salbe weill content to accept
your ansuer, and salbe als cairless to see the peace kepit,
as ye sall gif us cause; and doubt nott, by the grace of
God, bot quhosoever of yow sall first inclyne thairto sall
soonest repent. Yow must be content with oure plane writing.
And, on the uther syid, gif yow continew all of one mynd to
have the peace inviolablie keipit, and sall so by your
advise procure the Quene to ratifie it, we also planelie
promisse yow, that we will also continew oure gude
dispositioun to keip the same in such gude termes as now it
is: and in so doing, the honour of Almychty God sall be
dewly soucht and promoted in boyth Realmes; the Quene your
Soverane sall enjoy hir stait with suyrtie; and your selfis
possesse that quhilk yow have with tranquillitie, to the
encreas of your families and posterities quhilk by the
frequent warris heirtofoir your ancestouris never haid long
in one estaite.
To conclude, We requyre yow to advertise us of quhat mynd
yow be, speciallie gif yow all continew in that mynd, that
yow meane to have the peace betwix boith the Realmes
perpetuallie keipit. And gif yow sall forbeir ony long tyme
to advertise us, ye sall geve to us some occasioun of doubt,
quhairof moir hurt may grow than gude.
From, &c.
[360] "Manck," or deficient; that is, "I think (says Knox) there is
something deficient or wanting in this sentence, but I will not alter
one word."
[361] Evidently a remark by Knox.
[362] In MS. G, "to declair."
These letteris receaved and perused, albeit the Estatis culd nott be
convened, yit did the Counsall, and some utheris also in particulare,
returne ansures with resonable diligence. The tennour of oure Letteris
was this:--