JOHNE KNOX.

[SN: _OPTIMA COLLATIO._]

"I prove, that abydis not the tryall of Goddis word, which Goddis word

condempnes But Goddis word condempnes your Ceremonies: Therefor thei do

not abyd the tryall thairof. But as the theaf abydis the tryall of the

inqueist, and tharby is condempned to be hanged, evin so may your

ceremonies abyd the tryall of Goddis word; but not ellis. And now, in

few wordis to maik plane that wharein ye may seme to dowbt, to wit, That

Goddis woord damnes your Ceremonies, it is evident; for the plaine and

strate commandiment of God is, 'Not that thing which appearis good in

thy eis, shalt thow do to the Lord thy God, but what the Lord thy God

hes commanded thee, that do thow: add nothing to it; diminish nothing

from it'. [SN: DEUTE. 4.] Now onless that ye be able to prove that God

hes commanded your Ceremonies, this his formar commandiment will dampne

boyth yow and thame."

* * * * *

The Freir, somewhat abased[490] what first to answer, whill he wanderis

about in the myst, he falles in a fowll myre; for alledgeing that we may

nott be so bound to the woord, he affirmed, "That the Apostles had not

receaved the Holy Ghost, when thei did wryte thare Epistles; but after,

thei receaved him, and then thei did ordeyn the Ceremonies." (Few wold

have thought, that so learned a man wold have gevin so foolishe ane

answer; and yitt it is evin as trew as he bayre a gray cowll.) Johne

Knox, hearing the answer, starte, and said, "Yf that be trew, I have

long bein in ane errour, and I think I shall dye thairintill." The

Suppriour said to him, "Father, what say ye? God forbide that ye

affirme that; for then fayre weall the ground of our fayth." The Freir

astonyed, made the best schift that he could to correct his fall;[491]

but it wold not be. Johne Knox brought him oft agane to the ground of

the argument: but he wold never answer directlie, but ever fled to the

authoritie of the Kyrk. Whairto the said Johnne answered ofter then

ones, "That the spous of Christ had nether power nor authoritie against

the word of God." Then said the Freir, "Yf so be, ye will leave us na

Kirk." "Indead, (said the other,) in David I read that thare is a church

of the malignantis, for he sayis, _Odi ecclesiam malignantium_. That

church ye may have, without the word, and doing many thingis directly

feghtting against the word of God. Of that church yf ye wilbe, I can not

impead[492] yow. Bott as for me, I wilbe of none other church, except of

that which hath Christ Jesus to be pastor, which hearis his voce, and

will nott hear a strangeir."

[SN: FREIR ARBUCKILLIS PRUF FOR PURGATORYE.]

In this Disputatioun many other thingis war merealy skooft ower;[493]

for the Freir, after his fall, could speak nothing to a purpose. For

Purgatorie he had no better pruf, but the authoritie of Vergile in his

sext Æneidos; and the panes thareof to him was ane evill wyff. How Johne

Knox answered that, and many other thingis, him self did witness in a

treatise that he wrate in the gallayis, conteanyng the some of his

doctrin, and Confessioun of his fayth,[494] and send it to his

familiaris in Scotland; with his exhortatioun, that thei should

continew in the trewth, which thei had professed, nochtwithstanding any

worldly adversitie that mycht ensew thareof. [SN: THE CAUS OF THE

INSERTING OF THIS DISPUTATIOUN.] Thus much of that Disputatioun have we

inserted hear, to the intent that men may see, how that Sathan ever

travellis to obscure the lyght; and yitt how God by his power, in his

weak veschellis, confoundis his craft, and discloses his darkness.

[SN: THE PRACTISE OF PAPISTIS THAT THARE WICKIDNES SHOULD NOT BE

DISCLOSED.]

After this, the Papistes nor Frearis had not great heart of farther

disputatioun or reassonyng; butt invented ane other schift, which

appeared to proceid frome godlynes; and it was this. Everie learned man

in the Abbay, and in the Universitie, should preach in the parishe kirk

his Sonday about. The Suppriour began, followed the Officiall called

Spittall,[495] (sermones penned to offend no man,) followed all the rest

in thare ranckes. And so Johne Knox smelled out the craft, and in his

sermonis, which he maid upone the Weak dayis, he prayed to God, that

thei should be als busye in preaching when thare should be more myster

of it, then thare was then. [SN: THE PROTESTATIOUN OF JOHNE KNOX.]

"Allwyise, (said he,) I praise God, that Christ Jesus is preached, and

nothing is said publictlie against the doctrin ye have heard. Yf in my

absence thei shall speak any thing, which in my presence thei do nott, I

protest that ye suspend your judgement till that it please God ye hear

me agane."

[SN: MAISTER JAMES BALFOUR ANES JOYNED WITH THE CHURCH, AND DID

PROFESSE ALL DOCTRINE TAWGHT BE JOHNE KNOX.]

God so assisted his weak soldeour, and so blessed his laubouris, that

not onlye all those of the Castell, but also a great nomber of the

toune, openlie professed, by participatioun of the Lordis Table, in the

same puritie that now it is ministrat in the churches of Scotland, wyth

that same doctrin, that he had taught unto thame. Amongis whome was he

that now eyther rewillis, or ellis misrewillis Scotland, to wit, Schir

James Balfour, (sometymes called Maister James,[496]) the cheaf and

principall Protestant that then was to be found in this realme. This we

wryte, becaus we have heard that the said Maister James alledgeis, that

he was never of this our religioun; but that he was brought up in

Martine's[497] opinioun of the Sacrament, and tharefoir he can nott

communicat with us. But his awin conscience, and two hundreth witness

besydes, know that he lyes; and that he was ane of the cheaff, (yf he

had not bein after Coppis,) that wold have gevin his lyef, yf men mycht

credite his wordis, for defence of the doctrin that the said Johnne Knox

tawght. But albeit, that those that never war of us, (as none of

Monquhanye's sones have schawin thame selfis to be,) departe from us, it

is no great wonder; for it is propir and naturall that the children

follow the father; and lett the godly levar of that rase and progeny be

schawen;[498] for yf in thame be eather fear of God, or luf of vertew,

farther then the present commoditie persuades thame, men of judgement ar

deceaved. Butt to returne to our Historye.

[SN: THE RAGE OF THE MARKED BEASTIS AT THE PREACHING OF THE

TREUTH.]

The Preastis and Bischoppis, enraged at these proceadingis, that war in

Sanctandrois, ran now upoun the Governour, now upoun the Quene, now

upoun the hole Counsall, and thare mycht have been hard complainetes and

cryes, "What ar we doing? Shall ye suffer this hole realme to be

infected with pernicious doctrin? Fy upoun yow, and fy upoun us." The

Quein and Monsieur Dosell,[499] (who then was _a secretis mulierum_ in

the Courte,) conforted thame, and willed thame to be quyet, for thei

should see remeady or it was long. [SN: THE FIRST CUMING OF THE GALAYES

ANNO 1547.] And so was provin in dead; for upoun the penult day of

Junij, appeared in the sight of the Castell of Sanctandrois twenty ane

Frenche galayis, with a skeife of an army,[500] the lyik whairof was

never sein in that Fyrth befoir. [SN: THE TREASONABLE FACT OF THE

GOVERNOUR AND THE QUEIN DOWAGER.] This treassonable meane had the

Governour, the Bischope, the Quein, and Monsieur Dosell, under the

Appointment drawin. Bot to excuse thare treasone, viij dayis befoir,

thei had presented ane absolutioun unto thame, as sent from Rome,

conteanyng, after the aggravatioun of the cryme, this clause,

_Remittimus Irremissibile_, that is, We remitt the cryme that can nott

be remitted. Which considdered by the worst of the company[501] that was

in the Castell, answer was gevin, [SN: THE ANSWER GEVIN TO THE GOVERNOUR

WHEN THE CASTELL OF SANCTANDROIS WAS REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED.] "That

the Governour and Counsall of the Realme had promissed unto thame a

sufficient and assured absolutioun, which that appeared nott to be; and

tharefor could thei nott deliver the house, nether thought thei that any

reassonable man wald requyre thame so to do, considering that promeis

was nott keapt unto thame." The nixt day, after that the galayis

arryved, thei summoned the hous, which being denyed, (becaus thei knew

thame no magistrattis in Scotland,) thei prepared for seage. And, first

thei begane to assalt by sey, and schote two dayis. Bott thairof thei

nether gat advantage nor honour; for thei dang the sclattis of houssis,

but neyther slew man, nor did harme to any wall. [SN: THE GUNNARRIS

GODDESS.] But the Castell handilled thame so, that Sancta Barbara, (the

gunnaris goddess,) helped thame nothing; for thei lost many of thare

rowaris, men chained in the galayis, and some soldeouris, bayth by sea

and land. And farther, a galay that approched neyar then the rest, was

so doung with the cannoun and other ordinance, that she was stopped

under watter, and so almost drowned, and so had bein, war nott that the

rest gave hir succourse in tyme, and drew hir first to the west sandis,

without the schot of the Castell, and thaireftir to Dondye, whare thei

remaned, till that the Governour, who then was at the seige of

Langhope,[502] came unto thame, with the rest of the French factioun.

The seige by land was confirmed about the Castell of Sanctandrois, the

xviiij day of Julij. The trenchess war cast; ordinance was planted upoun

the Abbay Kirk, and upoun Sanct Salvatouris Colledge, and yitt was the

steaple thairof brunt; which so noyed the Castell, that neyther could

thei keape thare blok-houssis, the Sea-tour head, nor the west wall; for

in all these places war men slaine by great ordinance. Yea, thei monted

the ordinance so height upoun the Abbay Kirk, that thei mycht discover

the ground of the close[503] in diverse places. Moreover, within the

Castell was the pest,[504] (and diverse thairin dyed,) which more

effrayed some that was thairin, then did the externall force without.

[SN: THE SENTENCE OF JOHNE KNOX TO THE CASTELL OF SANCTANDROIS BEFOIR IT

WAS WON.] But Johne Knox was of ane other judgement, for he ever said,

"That thare corrupt lyef could nott eschape punishment of God;" and that

was his continuall advertisment, fra the tyme that he was called to

preache. When thei triumphed of thare victorie, (the first twenty dayis

thei had many prosperous chances,) he lamented, and ever said, "Thei

saw not what he saw." When thei bragged of the force and thicknes of

thare walles, he said, "Thei should be butt eggeschellis."[505] When

thei vanted, "England will reskew us," he said, "Ye shall not see thame;

but ye shalbe delivered in your ennemyis handis, and shalbe caryed to

ane strange countrey."

[SN: PRIOR OF CAPPUA]

Upone the penult of Julij,[506] at nycht, was the ordinance planted for

the battery; xiiij cannons, whareof four was cannons royall, called

double cannons, besydis other peices. The battery begane att iiij houris

in the mornyng, and befoir ten houris of the day, the haill sowth

qwarter, betuix the foir tour and the East blok-house, was maid

saltable. The lawer transe was condempned, diverse slane into it, and

the East blok-house was schote of fra the rest of the place, betuix ten

houris and ellevin. Thare fell a schour of rane, that continewed neir

ane hour, the lyek wharof had seldom bein sein: It was so vehement, that

no man myeht abyd without a house: The cannounes war left allone. Some

within the Castell war of judgement, that men should have ished, and

putt all in the handis of God. But becaus that Williame Kirkcaldy was

commonyng[507] with the Priour of Cappua,[508] who had the commissioun

of that jorney from the King of France, nothing was interprysed. And so

was appointment maid, and the Castell randered upone Setterday, the last

of Julij.

[SN: THE CASTELL OF SANCTANDROIS REFUISED IN THARE GREATEST

EXTREMITIE TO APPOINT WITH THE GOVERNOUR.]

The headis of the Appointment war; "That the lyefis of all within the

Castell should be saved, alsweall Engliss as Scottish; That thei should

be saiflie transported to France; and in case that, upoun conditionis

that by the King of France should be offerred unto thame, thei could

nott be content to remane in service and fredome thare, thei should,

upoun the King of France expenssis, be saiflie conveyed to what contrey

thei wold requyre, other then Scotland." Wyth the Governour thei wold

have nothing ado, neyther yitt with any Scottishe man; for thei had all

tratorouslye betrayed them, "Which," said the Lard of Grange eldar, (a

man sempill, and of most stout corage,) "I am assured God shall revenge

it, or it be long."

[SN: MAISTER JAMES BALFOUR WAS FLEYED YNEUCH.]

The galayes, weall furnessed with the spoyle of the Castell foirsaid,

after certane dayis, returned to France; and eschaping a great danger,

(for upon the back of the sandis thei all schopped,) thei arryved first

at Fekcam,[509] and thareafter past up the watter of Sequane,[510] and

lay befoir Rowane; whare the principall gentilmen, who looked for

fredome, war dispersed and putt in syndrie preasonis. The rest war left

in the galayis, and thare miserable entreated, amonges whome the

foirsaid Maister James Balfour was, with his two brethrein, David and

Gilbert, men without God. Which we wryt, becaus that we hear, that the

said Maister James, principall mysgydar now of Scotland, denyes that he

had any thing to do with the Castell of Sanctandrois, or yet that ever

he was in the galayis. Then was the joy of the Papistis boyth of

Scotland and France evin in full perfectioun; for this was thare song of

triumphe:--

Preastis content yow now; Preastis content yow now;

For Normond and his cumpany hes filled the galayis fow.

The Pope wrote his letters to the King of France, and so did he to the

Governour of Scotland, thanking thame hartlie for the tacking panes to

revenge the death of his kynd creature, the Cardinall of Scotland;

desyring thame to continew in thare begune severitie, that such thingis

after should not be attemptat. And so war all these that war deprehended

in the Castell dampned to perpetuall preasone; and so judged the

ungodly, that after that in Scotland should Christ Jesus never have

triumphed. One thing we can not pass by: From Scotland was send a famous

clerk, (lawghe not, readar,) Maister Johnne Hammyltoun of Mylburne,[511]

with credite to the King of France, and unto the Cardinall of Lorane,

(and yitt he nether had French nor Latine, and some say his Scottishe

toung was nott verray good.) The sume of all his negotiatioun was, That

those of the Castell should be scharplie handilled. In which suyt, he

was heard with favouris, and was dispatched fra the Courte of France

with letteris, and great credyte, which that famouse clark foryett by

the way; for passing up to the craig[512] of Dumbertane, befoir his

letteris war delyvered, he brack his nek; and so God took away a proude

ignorant ennemye. Butt now to our Historie.

[SN: _NULLA FIDES REGNI SOCIIS, ETC._]

These thingis against promeissis, (but Princes have no fidelitie farther

then for thare awin advantage,) done at Rowane,[513] the galayes

departed to Nantes, in Bartainzie, whare upone the watter of Lore[514]

thei lay the hole wyntar.

In Scotland, that somer, was nothing but myrth; for all yead[515] with

the preastis eavin at thare awin pleasur. The Castell of Sanctandrois

was rased to the ground,[516] the block houssis thairof cast doune, and

the walles round about demolissed. Whitther this was to fulfill thare

law, which commandis places whare Cartlinalles ar slane so to be used;

or ellis for fear that England should have takin it, as after thei did

Broughty Crage, we remitt to the judgement of such as was of counsall.

[SN: PYNCKEY CLEUCHT.]

This same year, in the begynnyng of September, entered in Scotland ane

army of ten thowsand men from England, by land, some schippes with

ordinance came by sea. The Governour and the Bischope, heirof

advertissed, gathered togetther the forces of Scotland, and assembled at

Edinburgh. The Protectour of England,[517] with the Erle of Warwik, and

thare army, remaned at Preastoun, and about Preastoun Pannes:[518] for

thei had certane offerres to have bein proponed unto the Nobilitie of

Scotland, concernyng the promeissis befoir maid by thame, unto the which

King Hary befoir his death gentillye required thame to stand fast; and

yf thei so wald do, of him nor of his Realme thei should have no truble,

but the helpe and the conforte that he could maike thame in all thingis

lauchfull. And heirupoun was thare a letter direct to the Governour and

Counsall;[519] which cuming to the handis of the Bischope of

Sanctandros, he thought it could nott be for his advantage that it

should be divulgat, and thairfoir by his craft it was suppressed.

[SN: THE SECURITIE OF THE SCOTISMEN AT PYNKEY CLEUCHT.]

Upone the Fryday, the [ixth[520]] of September, the Engliss army marched

towardis Leyth, and the Scottishe army marched from Edinburgh to

Enresk.[521] The hole Scottishe army was nott assembled, and yitt the

skirmissing begane; for nothing was concluded but victorie without

strok. The Protectour, the Erle of Warwik, the Lord Gray, and all the

Engliss Capitanes, war played[522] at the dyce. No men war stowttar then

the Preastis and Channounes, with thare schaven crownes and blak

jackis. [SN: FRYDAYIS CHASE.] The Erle of Warwik and the Lord Gray, who

had the cheaf charge of the horsmen, perecaving the host to be molested

with the Scotishe preakaris,[523] and knowing that the multitud war

nether under ordour nor obedience, (for thei war devided fra the great

army,) sent furth certane troupes horsmen, and some of thare Borderaris,

eyther to feght thame, or ellis to putt thame out of thare syght, so

that thei mycht not annoy the host. The skarmuch grewe hote, and at

lenth the Scottishmen gave back, and fled without gane turne. The chase

continewed far, bayth towardis the East and towardis the Weast; in the

which many war slayne, and he that now is Lord Home was tane, which was

the occasioun, that the Castell of Home[524] was after randered to the

Engliss men. [SN: BRAGGIS.] The lose of these men neyther moved the

Governour, nor yitt the Bischope, his bastard brother: Thei should

revenge the mater weall yneuch upoun the morne; for thei war handis

ynew, (no word of God;) the Engliss heretyckis had no faces; thei wald

not abyd.

[SN: THE REPULSE OF THE HORSMEN OF ENGLAND.]

Upone the Setterday, the armyis of boyth sydis past to array. The

Engliss army tackis the mydd parte of Fawsyd hill,[525] having thare

ordinance planted befoir thame, and having thare schippes and two

galayis brought as neir the land as watter wald serve. The Scottishe

army stood first in ane ressonable strenth and good ordour, having

betuix thame and the Engliss army the Watter of Esk, (otherwyese called

Mussilburgh Watter;) butt at length a charge was gevin in the

Governouris behalf, with sound of trumpett, that all men should merche

fordwarte, and go ower the watter.[526] Some say, that this was procured

by the Abbote of Dumfermeling,[527] and Maister Hew Rig,[528] for

preservatioun of Carbarry. Men of judgement lyeked not the jorney; for

thei thought it no wisdome to leave thare strenth. But commandiment

upoun commandiment, and charge upoun charge, was gevin, which urged

thame so, that unwillinglie thei obeyed. The Erle of Anguss,[529] being

in the vantgard, had in his cumpany the gentilmen of Fyfe, of Anguss,

Mernes, and the Westland, with many otheris that of luif resorted to

him, and especiallie those that war professouris of the Evangell; for

thei supposed, that England wold not have maid gret persuyt of him. He

passed first throwght the watter, and arrayed his host direct befoir the

ennemies. Followed the Erle of Huntlie, with his Northland men. Last

came the Duke, having in his cumpany the Erle of Ergyle,[530] with his

awin freindis, and the body of the realme. The Englesmen perceaving the

danger, and how that the Scottishe men intended to have tane the tope of

the hill, maid hast to prevent the perrell. The Lord Gray was commanded

to geve the charge with his men of armes, which he did, albeit the

hasard[531] was verray unliklye; for the Erle of Anguss host[532] stood

evin as a wall, and receaved the first assaultairis upon the pointis of

thare spearis, (which war longar then those of the Englismen,) so

ruidlye, that fyftie horse and men of the first rank lay dead at ones,

without any hurte done to the Scottishe army, except that the spearis of

the formar two rankis war brokin. Which discomfitur receaved, the rest

of the hors men fled; yea, some passed beyound Fawsyd hill. The Lord

Gray him self was hurte in the mouth, and plainelie denyed to charge

agane; for he said, "it was alyik as to ryne against a wall." The

galayis and the schippes, and so did the ordinance planted upoun the

mydd hill, schote terriblye. But the ordinance of the galayis schooting

longis the Scotish army effrayed thame wonderuslye.[533] And whill that

everie man laubouris to draw from the north, whense the danger appeired,

thei begyne to reyll, and with that war the Engliss foot men marching

fordwarte, albeit that some of thare horsmen war upoun the flight. The

Erle of Anguss army stood still, looking that eyther Huntlie[534] or the

Duke should have recountered the nixt battell; but thei had decreid that

the favoraris of England, and the Heretickis, (as the Preastis called

thame,) and the Englismen should parte it betuix thame for the day.

The fear ryses, and at ane instant thei, which befoir war victouris, and

war nott yitt assaulted with any force, (except with ordinance, as said

is,) cast frome thame thare spearis and fled. So that Goddis power was

so evidentlie sein, that in one moment, yea, at one instant tyme, boyth

the armyes war fleing. The schout came from the hill frome those that

hoped no victorie upone the Engliss parte; the schout ryses, (we say,)

"Thei flye, thei flie;" but at the first it could nott be beleved, till

at the last it was clearlie sein, that all had gevin backis, and then

begane a cruell slawchtter, (which was the greattar be reassone of the

lait displeasur of the men of armes.) The chase and slaughter lasted

till ney Edinburght, upoun the one parte, and be-west Dalkeith, upon the

other.[535] The number of the slane upoun the Scotishe syd war judged

ney ten thowsand men. The Erle of Huntley was tackin, and caryed to

London; but he releved him self, being suyrtie for many ransonis,

honestlie or unhonestlie[536] we know nott; but, as the bruyt past, he

used pollicye with England. In that same battell was slane the Maister

of Erskin,[537] deirlie beloved of the Quein, for whome she maid great

lamentatioun, and bayre his death many dayis in mind. When the

certaintie of the disconfiture came, sche was in Edinburgh abyding upon

tydinges; but with expeditioun she posted that same nycht to Stryveling,

with Monsieur Dosell, who was als fleyed as "a fox when his hole is

smoked." And thus did God tak the secound revenge upoun the perjured

Governour, with such as assisted him to defend ane injust qwerrell;

albeit that many innocentis fell amonges the myddest of the wicked. The

Engliss army came to Leyth, and thare tackin ordour with thare

preasonaris and spoile, thei returned with this victorie, (which thei

looked nott for,) to England.

That wynter following was great heirschippes maid upoun all the

Bordouris of Scotland. Browghty crag[538] was tane by the Englismen,

beseiged by the Governour, but still keapt; and at it was slane Gawen,

the best of the Hammyltonis,[539] and the ordinance left. Whareupon,

the Englismen encouraged, begane to fortifie upoun the hill above

Broughty hous, which was called the Forte of Broughty, and was verray

noysome to Dondy, which it brunt and laid waist; and so did it the moist

parte of Anguss, which was not assured, and under freindschipe with

thame.

That Lentran[540] following, [SN: 1548.] was Haddingtoun fortified by

the Engliss men. The maist parte of Lothiane, from Edinburgh east, was

eyther assured or laid wast. Thus did God plague in everie qwarter; butt

men war blynd, and wald nott, nor could nott, considder the cause. The

Lardes Ormestoun[541] and Brunestoun[542] war banissed, and after

forfalted,[543] and so war all those of the Castell of Sanctandrois.

The suyre knowledge of the trubles of Scotland cuming to France, thare

was prepared a navy and army. The navy was such as never was sein to

come fra France, for the supporte of Scotland; for besydis the galayis,

being twenty twa then in nomber, thei had threscoir great schippis,

besydis vittallaris. Howsone soever thei took the playne seas, the read

lyoun of Scotland was displayed, and thei holdin as rebelles unto

France, (such pollicye is no falsett in Princes,) for good peax stoode

betuix France and England, and the King of France approved nothing that

thei did. The cheaf men, to whome the conducting of that army was

committed, war Monsieur Dandelot, Monsieur de Termes, and Peir de

Strois. In thare jorney thei maid some hereschepe upoun the coast of

England; but it was nott great. [SN: 1549.] They arryved in Scotland in

Maij, anno 1549.[544] The galayis did visitt the forte of Browghty, but

did no more at that tyme. Preparationis war maid for the seig of

Hadyngtoun; but it was ane other thing that thei ment, as the ischew

declared. [SN: THE PARLIAMENT ATT HADINGTOUN.] The hole body of the

realme assembled, the forme of a Parliament was sett to be holdin thare,

to witt, in the Abbay of Haddingtoun.[545] The principall head was the

mariage of the Princess (by thame befoir contracted to King Edwarte,) to

the King of France, and of hir present deliverie, be reassone of the

danger that she stood into, by the invasioun of our old ennemies of

England. Some war corrupted with buddis, some deceaved by flattering

promessis, and some for fear war compelled to consent; for the French

soldartis war the officiaris of armes in that Parliament. The Lard of

Balclewcht,[546] a bloody man, with many Goddis woundis, sware, "Thei

that wold nott consent should do war." The Governour gat the Duchry of

Chattellerawlt,[547] with the Ordour of the Cokill, and a full discharge

of all intromissionis with King James the Fyft his treasure and

substance whatsoever, with possessioun of the Castell of Dumbertane,

till that ischew should be sein of the Quenis body. [SN: THE DUKIS FACT,

AND WHAT APPEARIS TO FOLLOW THAREOF.] With these, and other conditionis,

stood he content to sell his Soverane furth of his awin handis, which in

the end wilbe his destructioun; God thairby punishing his formar

wickedness, (yf speady reapentance prevent not Goddis judgementis, which

we hartly wishe.) Huntley, Ergyle, and Anguss, was lykwiese maid

Knyghtis of the Cockill;[548] and for that and other good deid

receaved, thei sold also thare parte. [SN: EXPERIENCE HES TAWGHT, AND

FARTHER WILL DECLAIR.] Schortlie, none was found to resist that injust

demand; and so was she sold to go to France, to the end that in hir

youth she should drynk of that lycour, that should remane with hir all

hir lyfetyme, for a plague to this realme, and for hir finall

destructioun. And tharefoir, albeit that now a fyre cumes out frome hir,

that consumes many, lett no man wonder, she is Goddis hand, in his

displeasur punishing our formare ingratitude. [SN: _PERFICE QUOD CEPISTI

ME DEUS PROPTER TUI NOMINIS GLORIAM. 15 JUNIJ 1567._[549]] Lett men

patientlie abyd, and turne unto thare God, and then shall he eyther

destroy that hoore in hir hurdome, or ellis he shall putt it in the

harttis of a multitude, to tak the same vengeance upoun hir, that hes

bein tane of Jesabell and Athalia, yea, and of otheris, of whome

prophane historyis mak mentioun; for greattar abominatioun was never in

the nature of any woman, then is in hir, whareof we have but sein only

the buddis; butt we will after taist of the rype frutt of hir impietie,

yf God cutt not hir dayis schorte. [SN: WRITTIN THE ---- OF APRILE, ANNO

1566.] But to returne to our Historie.

[SN: THE SEIGE OF HADINGTOUN.]

This conclusioun tackin, that our Quein, (butt farther delay,) should be

delivered to France, the seig continewis, great schooting, but no

assaulting; and yitt thei had fair occasioun offered unto thame. For

the Englismen approching to the toune, for the conforting of the

beseiged, with powder, vittalles, and men, lost ane army of sax thowsand

men. [SN: TUESDAYIS CHASE.] Schir Robert Bowes[550] so was tane, and the

most parte of the Borderaris war eyther tackin or slane. And so mycht

the Toune justlye have dispared of any farther succourse to have bein

loked for; butt yit it held good; for the stout corage and prudent

governement of Schir James Wolfurd,[551] generall, who did so encorage

the hole capitanes and soldartis, that thei determined to dye upon thare

wallis. But from the tyme that the Frenche men had gottin the bone for

the which the dog barked, the persuyt of the toune was slow. The seig

was rased, and she was convoyed by the Weast seas to France,[552] with

four galayis, and some schippis; and so the Cardinall of Lorane gatt

hir in his keping, a morsall, assuyre yow,[553] meit for his awin mouth.

We omitt many thingis that, occurred in this tyme; as the sitting doun

of the schip called the Cardinall, (the farest schip in France,) betuix

Sanct Colmes Inch and Crawmond,[554] without any occasioun, except

negligence, for the day was fair, and the wetther calme; but God wold

schaw, that the countrie of Scotland can bear no Cardinallis. In this

tyme also, was thare a combate betuix the galayis and the Engliss

schippis; thei schote fracklie a whill. Ane Engliss schip took fyre, or

ellis the galayis had come schorte hame, and, as it was, thei fled

without mercy, till that thei war abuf Sanct Colmes Inch.[555] The

Capitanes left the galayes, and took a forte maid upoun the Inch for

thare defence. But the Engliss schippis maid no persuyt, (except that

thei brunt the Cardinall whare that she lay,) and so the galayis and the

galay-men did boyth eschape.

Ordoure was lackin, that nixt September, that some galayes should remane

in Scotland, and that the rest should returne to France; as that thei

did all, except one that was tackin by ane Engliss schip, (by one

Engliss schip onlye, we say,) as that thei war passing betuix Dover and

Calice.

That wynter remaned Monsieur De Arfe[556] in Scotland, with the bandis

of French men. Thei fortified Enresk, to stay that the Engliss should

not invaid Edinburgh and Leyth. Some skarmessis[557] thare war betuix

the one and the other, butt no notable thing done, except that the

French had almost tackin Hadingtoun; the occasioun whareof was this.

The French men thinking thame selfis moir then maisteris in all partes

of Scotland, and in Edinburgh principallie, thought that thei could do

no wrong to no Scottishe man; for a certane French man delivred a

coulvering to George Tod, Scottisman, to be stocked, who bringing it

throwght the streat, ane other French man clamed it, and wold have reft

it from the said George; but he resisted, alledgeing that the Frenche

man did wronge. And so begane parties to assemble, asweall to the

Scottishman, as to the French; so that two of the French men war

stryckin doune, and the rest chassed from the Croce to Nudrye's Wynd

head.[558] The Provost being upoun the streat, apprehended two of the

French, and was carying thame to the Tolbuyth; but from Monsieur de

Essie's loodgeing and close isched furth French men, to the nomber of

threscoir persones, with drawin sweardis, and resisted the said Provest.

But yitt the toune assembling repulsed thame, till that thei came to

the Nether Bow;[559] and thare Monsieur La Chapell, with the hole bandis

of French men enarmed, rencontered the said Provest, and[560] repulsed

him, (for the toune war without weapones, for the maist parte,) and so

maid invasioun upoun all that thei mett. [SN: THE SLAUGHTER OF THE

CAPITANE OF THE CASTELL OF EDINBURGH] And first, in the throt of the

Bow, war slane David Kirk and David Barbour, (being at the Provostes

back,) and thareafter war slane the said Provest himself, being Lard of

Stannoss, and Capitane of the Castell,[561] James Hammyltoun his

sone,[562] Williame Chapman, a godly man, Maister Williame

Stewarte,[563] Williame Purvess, and a woman, named Elizabeth Stewarte;

and thareafter taryed within the toune, by force, from fyve houris, till

after sevin at nycht, and then reteared to the Cannogat, as to thare

receptackle and refuge.

[SN: HADINGTOUN ALMOST SURPRISED BY THE FRENCH.]

The hole Toun, yea, the Governour and Nobilitie commoved at the

unwoorthynes of this bold attemptat, craved justice upoun the

malefactouris, or ellis thei wold tack justice of the hole. The Quein,

crafty yneweht, Monsieur de Essye, and Monsieur Dosel, laubored for

pacificatioun, and did promeise, "That onless the French men, by thame

selfis allone, should do such ane act, as mycht recompense the wrong

that thei had done, that then thei should not refuise, but that justice

should be executed to the rigour." These fayre woordis pleased our

foollis, and so war the Frenche bandis the nixt nycht direct to

Hadingtoun,[564] to the which thei approched a lytill after mydnycht, so

secreatlye, that thei war never espyed, till that the formar war within

the basse courte, and the haill cumpany in the church yard, nott two

payre of boot lenthis distant frome the toune. The soldartis,

Englishmen, war all a sleape, exceapt the watch, the which was sklender,

and yitt the schowt arises, "Bowes and billes: Bowes and billes;" which

is significatioun of extreame defence, to avoid the present danger, in

all tounes of warr. The effrayed aryses: weapones that first come to

hand serve for the nead. One[565] amongis many cumes to the East porte,

whare lay two great pieces of ordinance, and whare the ennemies war

knowin to be, and cryed to his fellowes that war at the yett macking

defence, "Ware befoir;" and so fyres a great peace, and thareafter

another, which God so conducted, that after thame was no farther persuyt

maid; for the bullates redounded fra the wall of the Freir Kirk, to the

wall of Sanct Katherine's Chapell, which stood direct foiranent it, and

fra the wall of the said Chapell to the said Kirk wall agane, so oft,

that thare fell mo then ane hundreth of the French, att those two

schottis only. Thei schott oft, but the French reteired with diligence,

and returned to Edinburgh, without harme done, except the destructioun

of some drynkin bear, which lay in the saidis Chappell and Kirk. And

this was satisfactioun more then yneuht,[566] for the slawchter of the

said Capitane and Provest, and for the slawghter of such as war slane

with him. This was the begynnyng of the French fruittis.

[SN: THE RECOVERY OF THE CASTELL OF HOME.]

This wynter, in the tyme of Christen Masse, was the Castell of Home

recovered from the Engliss, by the negligence of the Capitane named

Dudley.[567]

[SN: THE DEATH OF THE LARD OF RAYTH.]

This wynter also did the Lard of Rayth most innocentlie suffer, and

after was forfalted, becaus that he wrait a bill to his sone, Johne

Melvin,[568] who then was in England, which was alleged to have bein

found in the house of Ormestoun; but many suspected the pauckis[569] and

craft of Ringzen Cockburne, (now called Capitane Ringzeane,[570]) to

whome the said letter was delivered. Butt howsoever it was, thei cruell

beastis, the Bischope of Sanctandrois and Abbot of Dumfermling, ceassed

nott, till that the head of the said noble man was strickin from him;

especiallie becaus that he was knawin to be ane that unfeanedlie favored

the treuth of Goddis word, and was a great freind to those that war in

the Castell of Sanctandrois; of whose deliverance, and of Goddis

wonderouse wyrking with thame during the tyme of thare bondage, we man

now speak, least that in suppressing of so notable a wark of God, we

mycht justlie be accused of ingratitude.

[SN: THE ENTREATMENT OF THESE OF THE CASTELL OF SANCTANDROIS

DURING THARE CAPTIVITY.]

And, first, the principalles being putt in severall houssis, as befoir

we have said, great laubouris was maid to mack thame have a good

opinioun of the Messe. But cheaflie travail was takin upoun Normond

Leslye,[571] the Lard of Grange, and the Lard of Petmyllie,[572] who war

in the Castell of Scherisburgh,[573] that thei wold come to the Messe

with the Capitane: Who answered, "That the Capitane had commandiment to

keape thare bodyes, but he had no power to command thare conscience."

The Capitane replyed, "That he had power to command and to compell thame

to go whare he yead." Thei answered, "That to go to any lauchfull place

with him, thei wold nott refuise; but to do any thing that was against

thare conscience thei wold not, nether for him, nor yitt for the King."

The Capitane said, "Will ye nott go to the Messe?" Thai answered, "No;

and yf ye wald compell us, yitt will we displease yow farther; for we

will so use our selfis thare, that all those that ar present shall knaw

that we dispite it." These same answeris, (and somewhat scharpar,)

Williame Kirkcaldye, Petir Carmichaell, and such as war with thame in

Mont Sanct Michaell, gave to thare Capitane; for thei said, "Thei wold

nott only hear Messe everie day, but that thei wold help to say it,

provided that thei mycht stick the preastis, or ellis thei wold nott."

Maister Henry Balnaves,[574] who was in the Castell of Rowane, was most

sharplie assaulted of all; for becaus he was judged learned, (as he was,

and is, in deid,) tharefoir learned men war appointed to trawall with

him, with whome he had many conflictes; but God so ever assisted him,

that thei departed confounded, and he, by the power of Goddis Spreit,

remaned constant in the trewth and profession of the same, without any

wavering or declynyng to idolatrie. In the preasone he wrait a most

profitable Treatise of Justificatioun,[575] and of the workis and

conversatioun of a justifeid man: but how it is suppressed, we know

nott. These that war in the galayis war threatned with tormentis, yf

thei wold not geve reverence to the Messe, (for at certane tymes the

Messe was said in the galay, or ellis heard upoun the schoar, in[576]

presence of the forsaris;) butt thei could never mack the poorest of

that cumpanye to geve reverence to that idole. Yea, when upoun the

Setterday at nycht, thei song thare _Salve Regina_, the hole Scottishmen

putt on thare cappes, thare hoodis, or such thing as thei had to cover

thare headis; and when that otheris war compelled to kyss a paynted

brod, (which thei called "Nostre Dame,") thei war not preassed after

ones; for this was the chance. [SN: MEARY FACT.] Sone after the arrivall

at Nances,[577] thare great _Salve_ was song, and a glorious painted

Lady was brought in to be kissed, and, amongis otheris, was presented to

one of the Scotishmen then cheyned. He gentillye said, "Truble me nott;

such ane idole[578] is accurssed; and tharefoir I will not tuich it."

The Patron and the Arguesyn, with two officeris, having the cheaf charge

of all such materis, said, "Thow salt handill it;" and so thei

violentlie thrust it to his face, and putt it betuix his handis; who

seing the extremitie, tooke the idole, and advisitlie looking about, he

caist it in the rivare, and said, "Lett our Lady now saif hir self: sche

is lycht aneuch; lett hir learne to swyme." After that was no Scotish

man urged with that idolatrie.

These ar thingis that appear to be of no great importance; and yit yf we

do rychtlie considder, thei expresse the same obedience that God

requyred of his people Israell, when that thei should be caryed to

Babylon; for he gave charge unto thame, that when thei should see the

Babylonians wirschipe thare goddis of gold, silver, mettall, and woid,

that thei should say, [SN: JERE. 10.] "The goddis that have nott maid

the heavin and the earth shall perish frome the heavin, and out of the

earth." That confessioun gave that hole nomber, during the tyme of thare

bondage: in the which, wald God thei had continewed in thare fredome;

for then had nott Maister James Balfour bein Officiall,[579] neyther

yitt borne a cope[580] for pleasur of the Bischope. But to proceid. The

said Maister James and Johne Knox being intill one galay, and being

wounderous familiare with him, wold often tymes ask his judgement, "Yf

he thought that ever thei should be delivered?" Whose answer was ever,

fra the day that thei entered in the galayis, "That God wald deliver

thame from that bondage, to his glorie, evin in this lyef." [SN: _QUÆVIS

MULTA SINT JUSTORUM MALA._] And lyeing betuix Dundye and Sanctandrois,

the secound tyme[581] that the galayis returned to Scotland, the said

Johne being so extreamlye seak, that few hoped his lyeff, the said

Maister James willed him to look to the land, and asked yf he knew it?

Who answered, "Yes: I knaw it weall; for I see the stepill of that

place, whare God first in publict opened my mouth to his glorie, and I

am fullie persuaded, how weak that ever I now appear, that I shall nott

departe this lyif, till that my toung shall glorifie his godlie name in

the same place." This reported the said Maister James in presence of

many famous witness, many zearis befoir that ever the said Johne sett

his futt in Scotland, this last tyme, to preache.

[SN: JOHNE KNOX HIS ANSUER AND COUNSALL TO THE CAPTIVES.]

Williame Kirkcaldy, then of Grange, youngar, Petir Carmichaell, Robert

and Williame Leslyes, who war altogetther in Mont Sanct Michaell,[582]

wrait to the said Johnne, asking his counsall, "Yf thei mycht with saif

conscience break thare preasone?" Whose answer was, "That yf without the

blood of any sched of spilt by thame for thare deliverance, thei mycht

sett thame selfis at fredome, that thei mycht saiflye tak it: but to

sched any manes bloode for thare fredome, thairto wold he never

consent." Adding farther, "That he was assured that God wold deliver

thame, and the rest of that cumpany, evin in the eis[583] of the world;

but not by such meanes as we had looked for, that was by the force of

freindis, or by thare other labouris." By such meanes he affirmed thei

should nott be delivered, but that God wold so wirk in the deliverance

of thame, that the praise thairof should redound to his glorie onlye. He

willed, tharefoir, everie one to tack the occasioun that God offerred

unto thame, providing that thei committed nothing against Goddis

expresse commandiment, for deliverance of thame selves. He was the more

earnest in geving his counsall, becaus that the old Larde of

Grange,[584] and otheris, repugned to thare purpoise, fearing least that

the eschaping of the otheris should be ane occasioun of thare warse

entreatment. Whareunto the said Johnne answered, "That such fear

proceided nott from Goddis Spreat, but only from ane blynd luif of the

self; and tharefor, that no good purpoise was to be stayed for thingis

that war in the handis and power of God." And added, "That in one

instant God delivered all that cumpany in the handis of unfaythfull men,

but so wald he nott releave thame. But some wald he deliver by one

meanes, and at one tyme, and otheris must abyd for a season upon his

good pleasur." This counsall in the end embrased, upoun the Kinges

Evin,[585] when French men commonlie use to drynk liberallie, the

foirsaid four personis, having the helpe and conducting of a boy of the

house, band all those that war in the Castell, putt thame in syndrie

houssis, locked the doores upon thame, took the keyis from the Capitane,

and departed, without harme done to the persone of any, or without

tueching of any thing that apparteaned to the King, the Capitane, or the

house.

[SN: THE ESCHAPING OF WILLIAME KIRKCALDYE AND HIS FELLOWIS FURTH

OF MONT SANCT MICHAELL.]

Great search was maid throweh the hole countrey for thame.[586] But it

was Goddis gud pleasur so to conduct thame, that thei eschaped the

handis of the faithless, albeit it was with long travaill, and grait

pane and povertie susteaned; for the French boy left thame, and took

with him the small poise that thei had; and so nether having money, nor

knawledge of the countrey, and farther fearing that the boy should

discrive thame, (as that in verray dead he did,) thei took purpose[587]

to devid thame selfis, to change thare garmentis, and to go in sindrie

partes. The two brethrein, Williame and Robert Leslyes,[588] (who now ar

become, the said Robert especiall, ennemies to Christ Jesus and to all

vertew,) came to Rowane. Williame Kirkcaldy and Petir Carmichael, in

beggaris garment, came to Conqwet,[589] and by the space of twelf or

threttein weakis, thei travalled as poore marinaris, frome porte to

porte, till at lenth thei gat a French schipe, and landed in the Weast,

and from thense came to England, whare thei mett befoir thame the said

Johne Knox, who that same wynter was delivered, and Alexander Clerk[590]

in his cumpany.

The said Johne[591] was first appointed preachar to Berwik, then to

Newcastell; last he was called to London, and to the sowth partes of

England, whare he remaned to the death of King Edwart the Sext.[592]

When he left England, then he passed to Geneva, and thare remaned at his

privat study, till that he was called by the Engliss[593] congregatioun,

that then was assembled at Franctfoorde, to be preachear to thame:

Which vocatioun he obeyed, (albeit unwillinglye,) at the commandiment of

that notable servand of God, JOHNE CALVYNE. At Franctfoord he remaned,

till that some of the learned, (whose names we suppress,) moir gevin to

unprofitable ceremonies,[594] then to synceritie of religioun, began to

qwerrall with the said Johnne; and becaus thei dispared to prevaill

befoir the Magistrat thare, for the establissing of thare corruptionis,

thei accused him of treasone committed against the Emperour, and against

thare Soverane Quein Marie, that in his ADMONITIOUN TO ENGLAND,[595] he

called the one lytill inferiour to Nero, and the other more cruell then

Jezabell. The Magistrat perceaving thare malice, and fearing that the

said Johnne should fall in the handis of his accusatouris, by one meane

or by other, gave advertisment secreatlie to him to departe thare citie;

for thei could not saif him yf he ware required by the Emperour, or by

the Quein of England in the Emperouris name; and so the said Johne

returned to Geneva, from thense to Deape, and thairafter to Scotland, as

we shall after hear.

The tyme and that wynter that the galayes remaned in Scotland, war

delivered Maister James Balfour, his twa brethrein, David and Gilbert,

Johne Auchinlek, Johnne Sibbald, Johne Gray, William Gutthery, and

Stevin Bell.[596] The gentilmen that remaned in preasonis war, by the

procurement of the Quein Dowager, to the Cardinall of Lorane and to the

King of France, sett at libertie in the moneth of Julij, Anno 1550; who

schorte tharefter war called to Scotland,[597] thare peax proclamed, and

thei thame selfis restored to thare landis, in dyspite of thare

ennemies. And that was done in hatterent of the Duck, becaus that then

France begane to thrist to have the regiment of Scotland in thare awin

handis. How soever it was, God maid the heartis of thare ennemyes to

sett thame at libertie and fredome. Thare rested a nomber of commoun

servandis yitt in the galayes, who war all delivered upoun the contract

of peace that was maid betuix France and England, after the tackin of

Bullon; and so was the haill cumpany sett at libertie, none

perishing,[598] (no nott befoir the world,) except James Melvin, who

departed from the miserie of this lyif in the Castell of Byrst in

Bartainzea.[599]

[SN: THE SLAUGHTER OF THAT VILLANE DAVY.]

This we wryte to lett the posteriteis to come understand, how potentlye

God wrought in preserving and delivering of these that had butt a small

knowledge of his trewth, and for the luif of the same hasarded all; that

yf that eyther we now in our dayis, having grettar lycht, or our

posteriteis that shall follow us, shall see ane fearfull dispersioun of

such as oppone thame selfis to impietie, or tack upoun thame to punishe

the same, otherwiese then lawis of men will permite: yf, (we say,) we or

thei[600] shall see such left of men, yea, as it war, dispyssed and

punished of God; yit lett us nott dampne the personis that punish vice,

(and that for just caussis;) nor yitt dispare, butt that the same God

that dejectes, (for causes unknawin to us,) will raise up agane the

personis dejected, to his glorye and thare conforte. And to lett the

world understand in plane termes what we meane, that great abusar of

this commoun wealth, that pultron and vyle knave Davie, was justlie

punished, the nynt of Merch, in the year of God[601] J^m. V^c. threscore

fyve, for abusing of the commoun wealth, and for his other villany,[602]

which we list nott to express, by the counsall and handis of James

Dowglas, Erle of Morton, Patrik Lord Lyndesay, and the Lord Ruthven,

with otheris assistaris in thare cumpany, who all, for thare just act,

and most worthy of all praise, ar now unworthely left of thare

brethrein, and suffer the bitterness of banishement and exyle. But this

is our hope in the mercyes of our God, that this same blynd generatioun,

whither it will or nott, shalbe compelled to see that he will have

respect to thame that ar injustlye persewed; that he will apardoun thare

formar offenses; that he will restore thame to the libertie of thare

countrey and common wealth agane; and that he will punish, (in dispyte

of man,) the head and the taill, that now trubles the just, and

manteanes impietie. [SN: THE REULARIS OF MARY, ANNO 1566, AND THAIRE

PREDICTIOUN.] The head is knawin: the taill hes two branches; the

temporall Lordis that manteane hir abhominationis, and hir flattering

counsallouris, blasphemous Balfour, now called Clerk of Register,[603]

Sinclar Deane of Restalrige and Bischope of Brechin, blynd of ane eie in

the body, but of boithe in his saule,[604] upoun whome God schortlie

after took vengeance; [John[605]] Leslye, preastis gett,[606] Abbot of

Londorse and Bischope of Ross, Symon Preastoun of Craigmyllare,[607] a

right epicureane, whose end wilbe, or it be long, according to thare

warkis. Butt now to returne to our Historye.

* * * * *

Haddingtoun being keapt,[608] and much hearschipe done about in the

countrey, (for what the Engliss men destroyed nott, that was consumed by

the French,) God begynnis to feght for Schotland; for in the toun he

send a peast so contagious, that with great difficultie could thei have

thare dead buryed. Thei war oft refresched with new men, but all was in

vane. Hunger and pest within, and the persuyt of the ennemy with a campe

volant lay about thame, and intercepted all victuallis, (except when

thei war brought by ane convoy from Berwik,) so constrayned thame that

the Counsall of England was compelled in spring tyme to call thare

forses from that place; and so spuilzeing and burnyng some parte of the

toune, thei left it to be occupyed to such as first should tack

possessioun,--and those war the Frenchmen, with a meane nomber of the

ancient inhabitantis. And so did God performe the woordis and threatnyng

of his servand, Maister George Wisharte, who said, "That for thare

contempt of Goddis messinger, thei should be visited with sweard and

fyre, with pestilence, strangearis, and famyne;" which all thei fand in

such perfectioun, that to this day yitt, that toune hes neyther

recovered the formar beautie, nor yit men of such wisdome and

habilitie, as then did inhabite it.

Hearafter was Peace contracted betuix France and England and

Scotland;[609] yea, a severall Peace was contracted betuix Scotland and

Flanderis, togetther with all the Easterlingis; so that Scotland had

peace with the world.[610] Butt yitt wold thare Bischopcs maik warr

against God; for how sone that ever thei gat any qwyetness, thei

apprehended Adame Wallace,[611] alias Fean, a sempill man, without great

learnyng, but ane that was zelous in godlynes and of ane uprycht lyeff.

He, with his wyif Beatrice Levingstoun, frequented the cumpany of the

Lady Ormestoun,[612] for instructioun of hir childrein, during the

truble of hir husband, who then was banissed. This bastard, called

Bischope of Sanctandrois, took the said Adame furth of the place of

Wyntoun,[613] (men supposed that thei thowght to have apprehended the

Lard,) and caryed him to Edinburgh; whare, after certane dayis, he was

presented to judgement in the Kirk of the Blak thevis alias

Freiris,[614] befoir the Duik, the Erle of Huntley, and diverse otheris

besydis, the Bischoppes and thare rable. Thei begyn to accuse him,

(Maister Johnne Lauder[615] was Accusatour,) [SN: THE ACCUSATIOUN OF

ADAME WALLACE AND HIS ANSWERIS.] "That he took upoun him to preach." He

answered, "That he never judged himself worthy of sa excellent a

vocatioun, and tharefoir he never took upoun him to preach; but he wold

not deny, butt sometymes at the table, and sometymes in other prevey

places, he wald reid, and had red the Scriptures, and had gevin such

exhortatioun as God pleaseth to geve to him, to such as pleased to hear

him." [SN: THE PAPISTICALL MANER OF ACCUSATIOUN.] "Knave, (quod ane,)

what have ye to do to medle with the Scriptures?" "I think, (said he,)

it is the dewitie of everie Christiane to seak the will of his God, and

the assurance of his salvatioun, whare it is to be found, and that is

within his Old and New Testament." "What then, (said ane other,) shall

we leave to the Bischoppis and Kirkmen to do, yf everie man shalbe a

babler upoun the Byble?" "It becumith[616] yow, (said he,) to speak more

reverentlie of God, and of his blessed worde: Yf the judge war

uncorrupt, he wald punish yow for your blasphemye. But to your

questioun, I answer, That albeit ye and I, and other fyve thowsand

within this realme, should read the Byble, and speak of it what God

should geve us to speak, yitt left we more to the Bischoppes to do, nor

eyther thei will or yit can weill do; for we leave to thame publictly to

preach the Evangell of Jesus Christ, and to fead the flock, which he

hath redeamed by his awin bloode, and hes commanded the same to the

cayre of all trew pastouris. And when we leave this unto thame, me think

we leave to thame a heavy burdein; and that we do unto thame na wrong,

althowght we search our awin salvatioun whare it is to be found,

considdering that thei ar but dum doggis, and unsavery salt, that hes

altogither lost the seasson." The Bischoppes heirat offended, said,

"What pratting is this? Lett his accusatioun be redd."

And than was begun, "False tratour, heretik, thow baptised thy awin

barne: Thow said, thare is no Purgatorie: Thow said, that to pray to

Sanctes and for the dead is idolatrie and a vane superstitioun, &c. What

sayis thow of these thinges?" He answered, "Yf I should be bound to

answer, I wold requyre an uprycht and indifferent judge." The Erle of

Hunteley[617] disdanefullie said, "Foolishe man, wilt thow desyre ane

uther judge nor my Lorde Dukis Grace, great Governour of Scotland, and

my Lordis the Bischoppes, and the Clargy hear present?" Whairto he

answered, "The Bischoppes can be no judges to me; for thei ar oppen

ennemyes to me and to the doctrin that I professe. And as for my Lord

Duck, I can not tell yf he hes the knowledge that should be in him that

should judge and decerne betuix lyes and the trewth, the inventionis of

men and the trew wirschipping of God. I desyre Goddis word (and with

that he produced the Byble) to be judge betuix the Bischoppes and me,

and I am content that ye all hear, and yf by this book, I salbe convict

to have tawght, spokin, or done, in materis of religioun, any thing that

repugnes to Goddis will, I refuise not to dye; but yf I can nott be

convict, (as I am assured by Goddis woord I sall nott,) then I in Goddis

name desyre your assistance, that malicious men execut not upoun me

injust tyranny." The Erle of Hunteley said, "What a babling foole is

this? Thow shalt gett none other judges then those that sitt heir."

Wharunto the said Adam ansured, "The good will of God be done. But be ye

assured, my Lord, with sic measur as ye mett to otheris, with the same

measur it shalbe mett to yow agane. I know that I shall dye, but be ye

assured, that my blood shalbe requyred of your handis."

[SN: PROTESTATIOUN OF THE ERLE OF GLENCARNE.]

Alexander Erle of Glencarne,[618] yitt alyve, said to the Bischope of

Orknay,[619] and otheris that satt ney him, "Tack yow yon, my Lordis of

the Clargye;[620] for hear I protest, for my parte, that I consent nott

to his death." And so, without fear, prepared the said Adam to answer.

And first, to the baptising of his awin child, he said, "It was and is

als lauchfull to me, for lack of a trew minister, to baptise my awin

child, as that it was to Abraham to circumcise his sone Ismael and his

familie. And as for Purgatorie, praying to Sanctes, and for the dead, I

have oft redd, (said he,) boith the New and Old Testamentis, but I

nether could find mentioun nor assurance of thame; and tharefoir, I

beleve, that thei ar but mear inventionis of men, devised for

covetousnes saik." "Weall, (quod the Bischope,) ye hear this, my

Lordis." "What sayis thow of the Messe?" spearis the Erle of Huntley. He

ansuered, "I say, my Lord, as my master Jesus Christ sayis, 'That which

is in greatast estimatioun befoir men, is abomination befoir God.'" [SN:

LUCÆ. [16.]] Then all cryed out, "Heresye! heresye!" And so was the

sempill servand of God adjudged to the fyre; which he patientlie

susteaned that same day, at after nune, upoun the Castell-hill.[621]

And so began thei agane to pollute the land, which God had laitlie

plagued; for yitt thare iniquitie was nott come to so full rypnes, as

that God wold that thei should be manifested to this hole realme, (as

this day thei ar,) to be faggottis prepared for the everlesting fyre,

and to be men whome nether plagues may correct, nor the light of Goddis

woorde converte from thare darknes and impietie.

The Peace, as said is, contracted, the Quein Dowager past by sea to

France, with galayes,[622] that for that purpose war prepared, and took

with hir diverse of the nobilitie of Scotland, to witt, the Erles

Huntley, Glencarne, Marschell, Cassilles, the Lordis Maxwell, Fleyming,

Schir George Dowglass, togither with all the Kinges Sonnes, and diverse

baronis and gentillmen of ecclesiasticall estait, the Bischope of

Galloway, and many otheris, with promisses that thei should be richely

rewarded for thare good service. What thei receaved we can nott tell;

but few maid ruse at thare returnyng. The Dowager had to practise

somewhat with hir brethrein, the Duck of Gueise, and the Cardinall of

Lorane, the weght wharof the Governour after felt: for schortly after

hir returnyng, was the Governour deposed of the governement, (justly by

God, but most injustly by men,) and she maid Regent in the year of God

J^m. V^c. fyfty four;[623] and a croune putt upone hir head, als seimlye

a sight, (yf men had eis,) as to putt a sadill upoun the back of ane

unrewly kow. And so began she to practise practise upoun practise, how

France mycht be advanced, hir freindis maid riche, and sche brought to

immortall glorie: for that was hir commoun talk, "So that I may procure

the wealth and honour of my freindis, and a good fame unto my self, I

regard nott what God do after with me." And in verray deid, in deap

dissimulatioun, to bring hir awin purpose to effect, sche passed the

commoun sorte of wemen, as we will after heare. Butt yit God, to whose

Evangell she declared hir self ennemye, in the end frustrat hir of all

hir devises.

[SN: THE DEATH AND VERTEUS OF EDWARD THE SEXT.]

Thus did light and darknes stryve within the realme of Scotland; the

darknes ever befoir the world suppressing the light, from the death of

that notable servand of God, Maister Patrik Hammyltoun, unto the death

of Edwarde the Saxt, that most godly and most verteous King that hath

bein knowin to have rounge in England, or elles whare, these many

yearis bypast, who departed the miserie of this lyef the vj of Julij,

Anno, &c., 1553. The death of this Prince was lamented of all the godly

within Europe; for the graces gevin unto him of God, as weall of nature

as of eruditioun and godlines, passed the measur that accustomablye

useth to be gevin to other Princes in thare grettast perfectioun, and

yitt exceaded he nott sextein yearis of aige. What gravitie abuf age,

what wisdome passing all expectatioun of man,[624] and what dexteritie

in answering in all thingis proponed, war into that excellent Prince,

the Ambassadouris of all countreeis, (yea, some that war mortall

ennemyes to him and to his realme, amonges whome the Quein Dowager of

Scotland was not the least,) could and did testifie; for the said Quein

Dowager, returnyng from France throwght England, commoned with him at

lenth,[625] and gave record when sche came to this Realme, "That sche

fand more wisdome and solidd judgement in young King Edward, then she

wold have looked for in any three Princes that war then in Europe." His

liberalitie towardis the godly and learned, that war in other realmes

persecuted, was such as Germanes, Frenchmen, Italianes, Scottis,

Spainzardis, Polonianes, Grecianis, and Hebrewis borne, can yitt geve

sufficient document; for how honorablie war Martyn Buceir,[626] Petir

Martyre, Joannes Alasco, ...[627] Emanuel Gualterus,[628] and many

otheris, upoun his publict stipendis interteaned, thare patentis can

witnesse, and thei thame selfis during thare lyffis wold never have

denyed.

After the death of this most verteous Prince, of whome the godless

people of England, (for the most parte,) was nott worthy, Sathan

intended nothing less then the light of Jesus Christ utterly to have

bein extinguissed, within the hole Ile of Britannye; for after him was

rased up, in Goddis hote displeasur, that idolatress Jesabel, mischevous

Marie, of the Spaynyardis bloode;[629] a cruell persecutrix of Goddis

people, as the actes of hir unhappy regne can sufficiently

witnesse.[630] And in to Scotland, that same tyme, (as we have

hard,[631]) rang that crafty practisar, Marie of Lorane, then named

Regent of Scotland; who, bound to the devotioun of hir two brethrein,

the Duck of Gueise, and Cardinall of Lorane, did onlye abyd the

oportunitie to cutt the throttis of all those in whome she suspected any

knowledge of God to be, within the realme of Scotland. And so thought

Sathan, that his kingdome of darkness was in qwietness and rest, asweall

in the one realme, as in the other: but that provident eie of the

Eternall our God, who continually watches for preservatioun of his

Church, did so dispone all thingis, that Sathane schorte after fand him

self far disapointed of his conclusioun tackin. For in that cruell

persecutioun, used by that monstour, Marie of England, war godlie men

dispersed in diverse nationis, of whom it pleaseth the goodnes of our

God to send some unto us, for our conforte and instructioun.

[SN: WHO FIRST AFTER THE DEATH OF KING EDWARDE BEGANE TO PREACH IN

SCOTLAND.]

And first cam a sempill man, WILLIAME HARLAW,[632] whose eruditioun,

althowght it excell nott, yit for his zeill, and diligent plainess in

doctrin, is he to this day worthy of praise, and remanes a fruitfull

member within the Church of Scotland. After him cam that notable man,

JOHNE WILLOK,[633] as one that had some commissioun to the Quein Regent,

from the Duchess of Emden. Butt his principall purpose was to assay what

God wald wirk by him in his native countrey. These two did sometymes, in

severall cumpanyes, assemble the brethrein, who by thare exhortationis

begane greatlie to be encoraged, and did schaw that thei had ane earnest

thrist of godlines.

[SN: ELIZABETH ADAMESOUN AND HIR DEATH.]

And last came JOHNE KNOX,[634] in the end of the harvest, in the year

of God J^m. V^c. fyfty fyve; who first being loodged in the house of

that notable man of God, James Syme, begane to exhorte secreatly in that

same house; whareunto repared the Lard of Dun, David Forress, and some

certane personages of the toune, amonges whome was Elizabeth Adamsoun,

then spous to James Barroun,[635] burges of Edinburgh, who be reasson

that she had a trubled conscience, delyted much in the cumpany of the

said Johne, becaus that he, according to the grace gevin unto him,

opened more fullie the fontane of Goddis mercyes, then did the commoun

sorte of teachearis that sche had hard befoir, (for sche had heard none

except Freiris,) and did with such gredynes drynk thairof, that at hir

death she did expresse the frute of hir hearing, to the great conforte

of all those that repared to hir; for albeit that she sufferred most

grevous torment in hir body, yitt out of hir mouth was heard nothing but

praising of God, except that somtymes she wold lament the trubles of

those that war trubled by hir. Being somtymes demanded by hir Sisteris,

"What she thought of that pane, which she than sufferred in body, in

respect of that wharewith sometymes she was trubled in spreit?" She

ansuered, "A thowsand year of this torment, and ten tymes more joyned

unto it, is not to be compared to the qwarter of ane hour that I

sufferred in my spreit. I thank my God, throught Jesus Christ, that hes

delivered me from that most fearfull pane; and welcome be this, evin so

long as it pleassed his godlie Majestie to exercise me thairwith." A

litill befoir hir departuyre, she desyred hir Sisteris, and some otheris

that war besyd hir, to sing a psalme, and amonges others, she appointed

the 103. Psalme, begynnyng, "My saule praise thow the Lord

alwyes;"[636] which ended, sche said, "At the teaching of this Psalme,

begane my trubled soule first effectually to taist of the mercy of my

God, which now to me is more sweat and precious, then[637] all the

kingdomes of the earth war gevin to me to possesse thame a thowsand

yearis." The Preastis urged hir with thare ceremonies and

superstitionis; to whome she answered, "Depart from me, ye

sergeantis[638] of Sathan; for I have refused, and in your awin presence

do refuise, all your abominationis. That which ye call your Sacrament

and Christes body, (as ye have deceaved us to beleve in tymes past,) is

nothing but ane idole, and hes nothing to do with the rycht institutioun

of Jesus Christ; and thairfor, in Goddis name, I command yow nott to

truble me." Thei departed, allegeing, That she raved, and wist not what

sche said. And she short thereafter sleapt in the Lord Jesus, to no

small conforte of those that saw hir blessed departing. This we could

nott omitt of this wourthy woman, who gave sa notable a confessioun,

befoir that the great lycht of Goddis word did universallie schyne

throwght this realme.

At the first cuming of the said Johne Knox, he perceaving diverse who

had a zeall to godlynes maik small scrupill to go to the Messe, or to

communicat with the abused Sacramentis in the Papisticall maner, begane

alsweall in privy conferance as in doctrin, to schaw the impietie of the

Messe, and how dangerous a thing it was to communicat in any sort with

idolatrie. Wharewith the conscience of some being effrayed, the mater

began to be agitat fra man to man, and so was the said Johne called to

suppar by the Lard of Dun, for that same purpose, whare war conveaned

David Forress, Maister Robert Lockart, Johne Willock, and Williame

Maitland of Lethingtoun youngar, a man of good learnyng, and of scharpe

witt and reassonyng. The questioun was proponed, and it was answered by

the said Johne, "That no-wyise it was lauchfull to a Christiane to

present him self to that idoll." Nothing was omitted that mycht maik for

the temperisar,[639] and yitt was everie head so fullie ansuered, and

especially one whairinto thei thought thare great defence stood, to wit,

"That Paule at the commandiment of James, and of the eldaris of

Jerusalem, passed to the tempill and fanzeid him self to pay his vow

with otheris." This, we say, and otheris, war so fullye ansuered, that

Williame Maitland concluded, saying, "I see perfytlye, that our schiftis

will serve nothing befoir God, seing that thei stand us in so small

stead befoir man." The answer of Johne Knox to the fact of Paule, and to

the commandiment of James, was, "That Paule's fact had nothing to do

with thare going to the Messe; for to pay vowes was sometymes Goddis

commandiment, and was never idolatrie: but thare Messe, from the

originall, was and remaned odiouse idolatrie; tharefor the factes war

moist unlyik. Secundarly, (said he,) I greatly dowbt whitther eyther

James's commandiment or Paule's obedience proceaded frome the Holy

Ghost. We knaw thare counsall tended to this, That Paule should schaw

him self one that observed the verray small pointes of the law, to the

end that he mycht purchase to him the favouris of the Jewes, who war

offended at him be reassone of the bruittis that war sparsed, that he

tawght defectioun from Moses. Now, whill he obeyed thare counsall, he

fell into the most disperat danger that ever he susteaned befor, whareof

it was evident, that God approved nott that meane of reconciliatioun;

but rather that he plainelie declaired, 'That evill should not be done

that good mycht come of it.' Evill it was to Paule to confirme those

obstinat Jewes in thare superstitioun by his exampill; worse it was to

him to expone him self, and the doctrin which befoir he had tawght, to

sklander and mockage; and tharefoir, (concluded the said Johne,) that

the fact of Paule, and the seqwell that tharof followed, appeired

rather to feght against thame that wold go to the Messe, than to geve

unto thame any assurance to follow his example, onless that thei wold,

that the lyik truble should instantlye apprehend thame that apprehended

him, for obeying worldly wyise counsall." After these and lyik

reassonynges, the Messe began to be abhorred of such as befoir used it

for the fassioun, and avoiding of sclander, (as then thei termed it.)

Johne Knox, at the request of the Lard of Dun,[640] followed him to his

place of Dun, whare he remaned a moneth, dalye exercised in doctrin,

whairunto resorted the principall men of that countrey. After his

returnyng, his residence was most in Calder,[641] whare repared unto him

the Lord Erskin that now is,[642] the Erle of Argyle, then Lord of

Lorne,[643] and Lord James, then Priour of Sanctandrois,[644] and now

Erle of Murray; whare thei hard and so approved his doctrin, that thei

wissed it to have bein publict. That same wynter[645] he tawght commonly

in Edinburgh; and after the Youle, by the conduct of the Lard of Barr,

and Robert Campbell of Kingyeancleucht, he came to Kyle,[646] and tawght

in the Barr, in the house of the Carnell, in the Kingyeancleuch, in the

toune of Air, and in the houssis of Uchiltrie, and Gathgyrth, and in

some of thame ministrat the Lordis Table. Befoir the Pasche,[647] the

Erle of Glencarne send for him to his place of Fynlastoun;[648] whare,

after doctrin, he lyikwiese ministrat the Lordis Table, whairof besydis

him self war parttakaris, his Lady, two of his sonnis, and certane of

his freindis; and so returned he to Calder, whare diverse frome

Edinburgh, and frome the countrey about, convened, asweall for the

doctrin, as for the rycht use of the Lordis Table, which befoir thei had

never practised. From thense he departed the secound tyme to the Lard of

Dun; and teiching then in grettar libertie, the gentilmen required that

he should ministrat lyikwiese unto thame the Table of the Lord Jesus,

whairof war partakaris the moist parte of the gentilmen of the Mernse;

who, God be praised, to this day constantlie do remane in the same

doctrin which then thei professed, to witt, that thei refuissed all

societie with idolatrie, and band thame selfis,[649] to the uttermost

of thare poweris, to manteane the trew preaching of the Evangell of

Jesus Christ, as God should offer unto thame preachearis and

oportunitie.

The bruyt heirof sparsed, (for the Freiris from all qwarteris flokked to

the Bischoppes,) the said Johne Knox was summond to compeir in the Kirk

of the Black Freiris in Edinburgh, the xv day of Maij [1556,] which day

the said Johne decread to keape; and for that purpose Johne Erskin of

Dun, with diverse otheris gentilmen, convened to the toune of Edinburgh.

Butt that dyet held nott; for whitther that the Bischoppis perceaved

informalitie in thare awin proceidyngis, or yf thei feared danger to

ensew upoun thare extremitie, it was unknown unto us. But the Setterday

befoir the day appointed, thei caist thare awin summondis; and the said

Johne, the same day of the summondis, tawght in Edinburgh in a greattar

audience then ever befoir he had done in that toune: The place was the

Bischope of Dunkellis his great loodgeing, whare he continewed in

doctrin ten dayis, boyth befoir and after nune. The Erle of Glencarne

allured the Erle Merschall,[650] who with Harye Drummound,[651] (his

counsallour for that tyme,) heard ane exhortation, (but it was upone

the nycht,) who war so weall contented with it, that thei boyth willed

the said Johne to wrait unto the Quein Regent somwhat that mycht move

hir to heir the word of God. He obeyed thare desyre, and wrait that

which after was imprinted, and is called "THE LETTER TO THE QUEIN

DOWAGER;"[652] which was delivered into hir awin handis by the said

Alexander Erle of Glencarne. Which letter, when sche had redd, within a

day or two, she delivered it to that proud Prelate, Betoun,[653]

Bischope of Glasgw, and said in mockage, "Please yow, my Lord, to reid a

pasqwill." Which woordis cuming to the earis of the said Johne, war the

occasioun that to his Letter he maid his additionis,[654] as yitt may be

sein. [SN: _NOTA._] As concernyng the threatnyngis pronunccd against hir

awin persone, and the most principale of hir freindis, lett thare verray

flatteraris see what hath failled of all that he hes writtin. And

tharefor it war expedient that hir Dochtter, now mischevouslye rynging,

should look to that which hath passed befoir, least that in following

the counsallis of the wicked, she end more miserablie then hir crafty

Mother did.

Whill Johne Knox was thus occupyed in Scotland, letteris came unto him

from the Engliss Kirk that was assembled in Geneva, (which was separated

from that superstitious and contentious cumpany that war at

Franckfoord,) commanding him in Goddis name, as he that was thare chosin

pastor, to repayre unto thame, for thare conforte. Upone the which, the

said Johne took his leave from us, almost in everie congregatioun whare

befor he had preached, and exhorted us to prayaris, to reading of the

Scriptures, and mutuall conference, unto such tyme as God should geve

unto us grettar libertie. And hearupon he send befoir him to Deape, his

mother in law Elizabeth Bowes,[655] and his wyef Marjory, with no small

dolour to thare hartes, and unto many of us. He him self, by procurement

and laubouris of Robert Campbell of Kingzeanclewch,[656] remaned behynd

in Scotland, and passed to the old Erle of Ergyle,[657] who then was in

the Castell of Campbell,[658] whare he tawght certane dayis. The Lard of

Glenurquhare,[659] (which yit liveth,) being one of his auditouris,

willed the said Erle of Ergyle to reateane him still; but he, purposed

upoun his jorney, wold not att that tyme stay for no requeast, adding,

"That yf God so blessed thei small begynnynes, that thei continewed in

godlyness, whensoever thei pleased to command him, thei should fynd him

obedient;" but said, "That ones he must neadis visit that lytill flock

which the wickedness of men had compelled him to leave." And so in the

moneth of Julij he left this realme, and past to France, and so to

Geneva. Immediatly after, the Bischoppis summoned him, and for none

compeirance, brunt him in effigie at the Croce of Edinburgh, in the year

of God 1555.[660] Fra the which injust sentence the said Johnne maid his

APPELLATIOUN, and caused to print the same, and direct it to the

Nobilitie and Commounes of Scotland,[661] as yitt may be redd.

[SN: WARR AGAINST ENGLAND BY THE MEANES OF QUEIN REGENT.]

In[662] the wynter that the said Johne aboad in Scotland, appeired a

comet, the course whairof was from the south and south-west, to the

north and north-east. It was sein the monethis of November, December,

and Januare. It was called "The fyrie boosome."[663] Sune after dyed

Christierne, King of Denmark: And warr raise betuix Scotland and

England; for the Commissionaris of boyth realmes, who almost the space

of sex monethis entraitted upoun the conditionis of peace, and war upoun

a neyr point of conclusioun [war disappointed.] The Quein Regent with

hir Counsall of the French factioun decreatted war at Newbattil,[664]

without geving any advertisment to the Commissionaris for the parte of

Scotland. Such is the fidelitie of Princes, guyded by Preastis, when

soever thei seik thare awin affectionis to be served.

[SN: A CALF WITH TWO HEADIS.]

In the end of that nixt harvest, was sein upoun the Bordouris of England

and Scotland a strange fyre, which discended from the heavin, and brunt

diverse cornes in boyth the realmes, but most in England. Thare was

presented to the Quein Regent, by Robert Ormestoun, a calf having two

headdis, whareat sche scripped, and said, "It was but a commoun thing."

The warr begane in the end of the harvest, as said is, and conclusioun

was tackin that Wark[665] should be asseged. The army and ordinance past

fordwarte to Maxwell Heucht.[666] The Quein Regent remaned in the

Castell of Home,[667] and thinking that all thingis war in assurance,

Monsieur Dosell, then Lieutenant for France, gave charge that the

cannonis should be transported ower the watter of Twead, which was done

with expeditioun, (for the French in such factes ar experte;) [SN: THE

FACT OF THE NOBILITIE OF SCOTLAND AT MAXWELL HEWCHT.] but the nobilitie

of Scotland nothing content of such proceadingis, after consultatioun

amongis thame selfis, past to the palzeon[668] of Monsieur Dosell, and

in his awin face declared, "That in no wiese wald thei invade England,"

and tharefoir command the ordinance to be reteired; and that it was,

without farther delay.[669]

This putt ane effray in Monsieur Dosell his breathe,[670] and kendilled

such a fyre in the Quein Regentis stomak, as was nott weall slockened

till hir braith failled. And thus was that enterprise frustrate. Butt

yitt warre continewed, during the which the Evangell of Jesus Christ

begane wonderouslye to floriss; for in Edinburgh begane publictlie to

exhorte, Williame Harlaw; Johnne Dowglass,[671] who had (being with the

Erle of Ergyle) preached in Leyth, and sometymes exhorted in Edinburgh;

Paule Meaffen begane publictly to preach in Dondye; and so did diverse

otheris in Anguss and the Mernse.

[SN: THE SECUND RETURNE OF JOHNE WILLOK TO SCOTLAND.]

And last, at Goddis good pleasur, arryved Johnne Wyllok the secound tyme

from Emden;[672] whose returne was so joyfull to the brethrein, that

thare zeall and godly courage daly encreassed. And albeit he contracted

a dangerous seaknes, yitt he ceassed nott from laubouris, but tawght and

exhorted from his bed: some of the nobilitie, [SN: LORD SETOUN ANE

APOSTAT.] (of whome some ar fallen back, amongis whome the Lord

Setoun[673] is cheaf,) with many baronis and gentilmen, war his

auditouris, and by him war godly instructed, and wonderouslie conforted.

Thei keapt thare conventionis, and held counsallis with such gravitie

and closnes, that the ennemyes trembled. [SN: THE ABOLISHING OF IMAGES

AND TRUDLE THAREFOIR.] The images war stollen away in all partes of the

countrie; and in Edinburgh was that great idole called Sanct Geyle,[674]

first drouned in the North Loch,[675] after brunt, which rased no small

truble in the toun. For the Freiris rowping lyik reavins upoun the

Bischoppes, the Bischoppes ran upoun the Quein, who to thame was

favorable yneweh, but that she thowght it could not stand with hir

advantage to offend such a multitud as then took upon thame the defence

of the Evangell, and the name of Protestantes. [SN: THE PREACHARIS

SUMMONED.] And yitt consented sche to summond the Preachearis; whareat

the Protestantis neyther offended, neyther yitt thairof effrayed,

determined to keape the day of summondis,[676] as that thei did. [SN:

THE PRACTISE OF PRELATTIS, AND WHAT THAIROF ENSEWED.] Which perceaved by

the Prelattis and Preastis, thei procured a proclamatioun to be

publictlie maid, "That all men that war come to the toune without

commandiment of the authoritie, should with all diligence repayre to the

Bordouris, and thare remane xv dayis:" for the Bischope of

Galloway,[677] in this maner of ryme, said to the Quein, "MADAME,

Becaus thei ar come without ordour,

I red ye, send thame to the Bordour."

[SN: THE BOLD WOURDIS OF JAMES CHALMERIS OF GAITHGYRTH.]

Now so had God provided, that the qwarter of the West-land, (in to the

which war many faythfull men,) was that same day returned from the

Bordour; who understanding the mater to procead from the malice of the

Preastis, assembled thame selfis together, and maid passage to thame

selfis, till thei came to the verray prevey chalmer, whare the Quein

Regent and the Bischoppes war. The Gentilmen begane to complane upoun

thare strange intertenement, considdering that hir Grace had found into

thame so faithfull obedience in all thingis lauchfull. Whill that the

Quein begane to craft, a zelous and a bold man, James Chalmeris of

Gaitgyrth,[678] said, "Madame, we know that this is the malice and

devise of thei Jefwellis, and of that Bastard, (meanyng the Bischope of

Sanctandrois,) that standis by yow: We avow to God we shall maik ane day

of it. Thei oppresse us and our tennantis for feading of thare idill

bellyes: thei truble our preacheris, and wold murther thame and us:

Shall we suffer this any longare? Na, Madame: It shall nott be." And

tharewith everie man putt on his steill bonet. Thare was hard nothing of

the Quenis parte but "My joyes, my hartes, what ailes yow? Me[679]

meanes no evill to yow nor to your preachearis. The Bischoppes shall do

yow no wrong. Ye ar all my loving subjectes. Me knew nathing of this

proclamatioun. The day of your preachearis shalbe discharged, and me

will hear the controversie that is betuix the Bischoppes and yow. Thei

shall do yow no wrong. My Lordis," said she to the Bischoppes, "I forbid

yow eyther to truble thame or thare preachearis." [SN: O CRAFTY

FLATTERAR!] And unto the gentilmen who war wonderouslye commoved, she

turned agane, and said, "O my heartis, should ye nott love the Lord your

God with all your harte, with all your mynd? and should ye nott luif

your nychtbouris as your selfis?" With these and the lyik fair wordis,

she keapt the Bischoppes from buffattis at that tyme.

[SN: THE COMMAND OF THE BISCHOPPIS.]

And so the day of summondis being discharged, begane the brethrein

universallie to be farther encoraged. But yit could the Bischoppes in no

sorte be qwyet; for Sanct Geillis day approcheing, thei gave charge to

the Provest, Baillies, and Counsall of Edinburgh, eyther to gett agane

the ald Sanct Geile, or ellis upoun thaire expenssis to maik ane new

image. [SN: THE ANSWER OF EDINBURGH.] The Counsall answered, "That to

thame the charge appeired verray injust; for thei understood that God in

some plaices had commanded idolles and images to be distroyed; but

whare he had commanded ymages to be sett up, thei had nott redd; and

desyred the Bischope to fynd a warrant for his commandiment." [SN:

EDINBURGH APPELLED FROM THE SENTENCE OF THE BISCHOPE OF SANCTANDROSE.]

Whareat the Bischope offended, admonissed under pane of curssing; which

thei prevented by a formall Appellatioun;[680] appelling from him, as

from a parciall and corrupt judge, unto the Pape's holynes; and so

grettar thingis schortly following, that passed in oblivioun. Yit wold

nott the Preastis and Freiris cease to have that great solempnitie and

manifest abhominatioun which thei accustomablie had upoun Sanct Geillis

day,[681] to witt, thei wold have that idole borne; and tharefor was all

preparatioun necessar deuly maid. A marmouset idole was borrowed fra the

Gray Freiris, (a silver peise of James Carmichaell[682] was laid in

pledge:) It was fast fixed with irne nailles upon a barrow, called thare

fertour. [SN: TRIUMPH FOR BEARING OF STOCK GEILL.] Thare assembled

Preastis, Frearis, Channonis, and rottin Papistes, with tabornes and

trumpettis, banerris and bage-pypes, and who was thare to led the ring,

but the Quein Regent hir self, with all hir schaivelingis, for honour of

that feast. West about goes it, and cumis doun the Hie Streat, and doun

to the Canno Croce.[683] The Quein Regent dyned that day in Sandie

Carpetyne's housse, betuix the Bowes,[684] and so when the idole

returned back agane, sche left it, and past in to hir dennar. The

heartes of the brethrein war wonderouslie inflammed, and seing such

abominatioun so manifestlie manteaned, war decreed to be revenged. Thei

war devided in severall cumpanyes, wharof not one knew of ane other.

Thare war some temperisaris that day, (amonges whome David Forress,

called the Generall,[685] was one,) who, fearing the chance to be dune

as it fell, laubored to stay the brethrein. Butt that could not be; for

immediatlie after that the Quein was entered in the loodgeing, some of

those that war of the interprise drew ney to the idole, as willing to

helpe to bear him, and getting the fertour upon thare schulderis, begane

to schudder, thinking that thairby the idole should have fallin. [SN:

THE DOUNCASTING OF STOCK GEILL, AND DISCONFITUR OF BAALIS PREASTIS.] But

that was provided and prevented by the irne nailles, as we have said;

and so, begane one to cry "Doun with the idole; doun with it;" and so

without delay it was pulled doun. Some brag maid the Preastis patrons at

the first; but when thei saw the febilness of thare god, (for one took

him by the heillis, and dadding his head to the calsay, left Dagon

without head or handis, and said, "Fye upon thee, thow young Sanct

Geile, thy father wold haif taryed four such:") this considdered, (we

say,) the Preastis and Freiris fled faster then thei did at Pynckey

Clewcht.[686] Thare mycht have bein sein so suddane a fray as seildome

hes bein sein amonges that sorte of men within this realme; for doun

goes the croses, of goes the surpleise, round cappes cornar with the

crounes. The Gray Freiris gapped, the Blak Frearis blew, the Preastis

panted, and fled, and happy was he that first gate the house; for such

ane suddan fray came never amonges the generatioun of Antichrist within

this realme befoir. [SN: A MEARY ENGLISMAN.] By chance thare lay upoun a

stare a meary Englissman, and seing the discomfiture to be without

blood, thought he wold add some mearynes to the mater, and so cryed he

ower a stayr, and said, "Fy upoun yow, hoorsones, why have ye brockin

ordour! Doun the streat ye passed in array and with great myrth. Why

flie ye, vilanes, now, without ordour? Turne and stryk everie one a

strok for the honour of his god. Fy, cowardis, fy, ye shall never be

judged worthy of your wages agane!" But exhortationis war then

unprofitable; for after that Bell had brokin his neck, thare was no

conforte to his confused army.

The Quein Regent lade up this amonges hir other mementoes, till that

sche mycht have sein the tyme proper to have revenged it. Search was

maid for the doaris, but none could be deprehended; for the brethrein

assembled thame selfis in such sorte, in companyes, synging psalmes, and

prasing God, that the proudast of the ennemies war astonied.

[SN: THE DEATH OF THE BISCHOPE OF GALLOWAY, AND HIS LAST

CONFESSIOUN.]

This tragedy of Sanct Geill was so terrible to some Papistes, that Dury,

sometymes called for his filthines Abbot Stottikin, and then intitulat

Bischope of Galloway,[687] left his rymyng wharewith he was accustumed,

and departed this lyef, evin as that he leved: For the articles of his

beleve war; "I Referr: Decarte yow: Ha, ha, the four Kinges and all

maid: The Devill go with it: It is but a varlett:

Fra France we thought to have gottin a Rooby;[688]

And yit is he nothing but a cowhuby."

[SN: THE VOW OF THAT MARKED BEAST DURY BISCHOPE OF GALLOWAY.]

With such faith and such prayeris, departed out of this lyeff that

ennemy of God, who had vowed and plainelie said, "That in dispyte of

God, so long as thei that then war Prelattis lyved, should that word

(called the Evangell) never be preached within this realme." [SN: THE

DEATH OF DAVID PANTER.] After him followed that belly-god, Maister David

Panter,[689] called Bischope of Ross, evin with the lyik documentis,

exceapt that he departed eatting and drynking, which, togitther with the

rest that tharupoun dependis, was the pastyme of his lyef.

[SN: THE DEATH OF THE BISCHOPE OF ORKNAY, REID.]

The most parte of the Lordis that war in France at the Quenis mariage,

althought that thei gat thare congie fra the Courte, yit thei forget to

returne to Scotland.[690] For whitther it was by ane Italiane posset, or

by French fegges, or by the potage of thare potingar, (he was a French

man,) thare departed fra this lyef the Erle of Cassilles,[691] the Erle

of Rothose,[692] Lord Flemyng,[693] and the Bischope of Orknay, whose

end was evin according to his lyfe:[694] For after that he was dryvin

back by a contrarious wynd, and forced to land agane at Deape,

perceaving his seiknes to encrease, he caused maik his bed betuix his

two cofferis, (some said upoun thame:) such was his god, the gold that

tharein was inclosed, that he could not departe tharefra, so long as

memorie wold serve him. The Lord James, then Priour of Sanctandrois, had

(by all appearance) lyked of the same bust[695] that dispatched the

rest, for thareof to this day his stomack doeth testifie: but God

preserved him for a bettir purpose. This same Lord James, now Erle of

Murray, and the said Bischope, war commonlye at debate for materis of

religioun; and tharefoir the said Lord, hearing of the Bischoppis

disease, came to visitt him, and fynding him not sa weall at a point as

he thowght he should have bein, and as the honour of the country

requyred, said unto him, "Fy, my Lord, how ly ye so? Will ye not go to

your chalmer, and not ly hear into this commoun house?" [SN: ORKNAYIS

ANSWER, AND HIS FREINDIS WHOME.] His answer was, "I am weall whare I am,

my Lord, so long as I can tary; for I am neir unto my freindis, (meanyng

his cofferis and the gold tharein.) But, my Lord, (said he,) long have

ye and I bein in pley for Purgatory: I think that I shall know or it be

long whetther thare be such a place or not." Whill the other did exhorte

him to call to mynd the promisses of God, and the vertew of Christis

death; he answered, "Nay, my Lord, lett me allon; for ye and I never

aggreid in our lyiff, and I think we shall nott aggree now at my death;

and tharefor lett me allone." The said Lord James departed to his

loodgeing, and the other schort after departed this lyef; whitther, the

great day of the Lord will declare.

[SN: THE QUEIN REGENTIS SENTENCE OF THE DEATH OF HIR

PAPISTIS.[696]]

When the word of the departing of so many patrons of the Papistrye, and

of the maner of thare departing, cam unto the Quein Regent, after

astonisment and musing, she said, "What shall I say of such men? Thei

lieved as beastis, and as beastis thei dye: God is not with thame,

nether with that which thei interprise."

[SN: DEAN OF RESTALRIG, HYPOCRITE, BEGAN TO PREACHE.]

Whill these thingis war in doing in Scotland and France, that perfyt

hipocryte Maister Johne Sinclare, then Dene of Restalrige,[697] and now

Lord President and Bischope of Brechin, begane to preache in his Kirk

of Restalrig; and at the begynnyng held himself so indifferent, that

many had opinion of him, that he was nott far from the kingdom of God.

But his hypochrisie could nott long be clocked; for when he understood

that such as feared God began to have a good opinioun of him, and that

the Freiris and otheris of that sect begane to whisper, "That yf he took

not head in tyme to him self, and unto his doctrin, he wold be the

destructioun of the hole estait of the Kirk." This by him understand, he

appointed a sermon, in the which he promissed to geve his judgement

upoun all such headis as then war in controversie in the materis of

religioun. The bruyte heirof maid his audience great at the first; but

that day he so handilled him self, that after that, no godly man did

creditt him; for not only ganesaid he the doctrin of Justificatioun and

of Prayer which befoir he had tawght, but also he sett up and manteaned

the Papistrie to the uttermost prick; yea, Holy Watter, Pilgramage,

Purgatory, and Pardonis war of such vertew in his conceit, that without

thame he looked not, to be saved.

[SN: MAISTER DAVID PANTER HIS CONSALL TO HIS FORSWORNE BRETHREIN

THE BISCHOPPIS.]

In this meantyme, the Clargye maid a brag that thei wald disput. But

Maister David Panter,[698] which then lived and lay at Restalrig,

dissuaded thame tharefra, affirmyng, "That yf ever thei disputed, but

whare thame selfis war bayth judge and party, and whare that fyre and

swerd should obey thare decrie, that then thare caus was wracked for

ever; for thare victorie stood neyther in God, nor in his word, but in

thare awin willis, and in the thingis concluded by thare awin

Counsallis, (togitther with sword and fyre,) whareto, (said he,) these

new starte-up fellowis will give no place. But thei will call yow to

your compt booke, and that is to the Bible; and by it ye will no more be

found the men that ye ar called, then the Devill wilbe approvin to be

God. And therefor, yf ye love your selfis, enter never in disputatioun;

nether yitt call ye the mater in questioun; but defend your possessioun,

or ellis all is lost." Cayaphas could not geve ane bettir counsall to

his companizeons; but yitt God disapointed boith thame and him, as after

we shall hear.

* * * * *

[SN: THE SECOUND VOCATION OF JOHNE KNOX BY LETTERIS OF THE

LORDIS.]

At this same tyme, some of the Nobilitie direct thare letteris to call

JOHNE KNOX from Geneva, for thare conforte, and for the conforte of

thare brethrein the preachearis, and otheris that then couragiouslye

faught against the ennemyes of Goddis trewth. The tenour of thare lettre

is this:

_Grace, Mercy, and Peace, for Salutatioun, &c._

DEIRLIE BELOVED in the Lord, the Faithfull that ar of your

acquentance in thir partes, (thankis be unto God,) ar stedfast in

the beleve whareinto ye left thame, and hes ane godly thrist and

desyre, day by day, of your presence agane; quhilk, gif the Spreat

of God will sua move and permitt tyme unto yow, we will hartly

desyre yow, in the name of the Lord, that ye will returne agane in

thir partes, whare ye shall fynd all faithfull that ye left behynd

yow, not only glaid to hear your doctrin, but wilbe reddy to

jeopard lyffis and goodis in the forward setting of the glorie of

God, as he will permitt tyme. And albeit the Magistraittis in this

countrey be as yitt but in the staite ye left thame, yitt at the

maiking heirof, we have na experience of any mair crueltie to be

used nor was befoir; but rather we have beleve, that God will

augment his flock, becaus we see daly the Freiris, ennemyes to

Christis Evangell, in less estimatioun, baith with the Quenis

Grace, and the rest of the Nobilitie of our realme. This in few

wordis is the mynd of the faithfull, being present, and otheris

absent. The rest of our myndis this faythfull berare will schaw you

at lenth. This, fair ye weill in the Lord.

Off Striveling, the tent of Marche, Anno 1556.[699] (This is the

trew copy of the bill, being subscrived by the names underwrittin,)

_Sic subscribitur_, GLENCARNE.

LORNE, (now ERGYLE.)

ERSKYN.

JAMES STEWART.

These letteris war delivered to the said Johne in Geneva, by the handis

of James Sym, who now resteth with Christ, and of James Barroun, that

yit liveth,[700] in the moneth of Maij immediatlie tharefter. Which

receaved, and advised upoun, he took consultatioun alsweall with his

awin church as with that notable servand of God, Johne Calvin, and with

other godlie ministers, who all with one consent, said, "That he could

nott refuise that Vocatioun, onless he wald declair him self rebellious

unto his God, and unmercyfull to his contrie." And so he returned

answer, with promessis to visite thame with ressonable expeditioun, and

so sone as he mycht putt ordour to that dear flock that was committed to

his charge. And so, in the end of the nixt September after, he departed

from Geneva, and came to Deape, whare thare mett him contrare letteris;

as by this his answer thareto we may understand.

_The Spreit of wisdom, constancie, and strenth be multiplied with

yow, by the favour of God our Father, and by the grace of our Lord

Jesus Christ._

According to my promeis, Rycht Honorable, I came to Deape, the

xxiiij of October, of full mynd, by the good will of God, with the

first schippes to have visited yow. Bot becaus two letteris, not

verray pleassing to the flesche, wer there presented unto me, I was

compelled to stay for a tyme. The one was directed to myself from a

faithfull brother, which maid mentioun, that new consultatioun was

appointed for finall conclusioun of the mater befoir purposed, and

willed me tharefoir to abyd in these partes, till the

determinatioun of the same. The other letter was direct from a

gentilman to a friend, with charge to advertise me, that he had

communed with all those that seamed most frack and fervent in the

mater, and that into none did he fynd such boldness and constancie,

as was requisite for such ane interprise; bot that some did (as he

writteth) reapent that ever any such thing was moved; some war

partlie eschamed; and otheris war able to deny, that ever thei did

consent to any such purpose, yf any triall or questioun should be

tackin thareof, &c. Which letteris, when I had considdered, I

partlie was confounded, and partlye was persed with anguise and

sorrow. Confounded I was, that I had so far travelled in the mater,

moving the same to the most godly and the most learned that this

day we know to lyve in Europe, to the effect that I mycht have

thare judgements and grave counsalles, for assurance alsweall of

your consciences as of myne, in all interprises: And then that

nothing should succead so long consultatioun, can not but redound

eyther to your schame or myne; for eyther it shall appear; that I

was mervelouse vane, being so solist whare no necessitie requyred,

or ellis, that such as war my moveris thareto lacked the rypnes of

judgement in thare first vocatioun. To some it may appear ane small

and lycht mater, that I have cast of, and as it war abandoned,

alsweall my particulare care, as my publict office and charge,

leaving my house and poore familie destitut of all head, save God

only, and committing that small (but to Christ deirlie belovit)

flock, ower the which I was appointed one of the ministeris, to the

charge of ane other. This, I say, to worldly men may appear a small

mater, but to me it was, and yit is such, that more worldly

sustance then I will expresse, could not have caused me willinglie

behold the eies of so many grave men weape at ones for my caus, as

that I did, in tackin of my last good nycht frome thame. To whome,

yf it please God that I returne, and questioun be demanded, What

was the impediment of my purposed jorney? judge yow what I shall

answer. The caus of my dolour and sorrow (God is witnes) is for

nothing pertenyng eyther to my corporall contentment or worldly

displeasur; butt it is for the grevouse plagues and punishmentis of

God, which assuredly shall apprehend nott only yow, but everie

inhabitant of that miserable Realme and Ile, except that the power

of God, by the libertie of his Evangell, deliver yow from bondage.

[SN: THE MATRIMONIALL CROUN WAS GRANTED, AND FRENCHE BANDIS WAR

ARRYVED.] I meane not only that perpetuall fyre and torment,

prepared for the Devill, and for such as denying Christ Jesus and

his knawin veritie, do follow the sones of wickednes to perditioun,

(which most is to be feared;) butt also that thraldome and miserie

shall apprehend your awin bodyes, your childrein, subjectis, and

posteritie, whome ye have betrayed, (in conscience, I can except

none that bear the name of Nobilitie,) and presentlie do feght to

betray thame and your Realme to the slavrie of strangeris. The warr

begune, (althocht I acknawledge it to be the wark of God,) shalbe

your destructioun, unless that, be tyme, remedy be provided. God

opin your eis, that ye may espy and considder your awin miserable

estaite. My wordis shall appeir to some scharpe and undiscreitlie

spokin; but as charitie awght to interpreit all thingis to the

best, so awght wyse men to understand, that a trew friend can nott

be a flatterar, especiallie when the questions of salvatioun, boith

of body and saule, ar moved; and that nott of one nor of two, but

as it war of a hole realme and natioun. What ar the sobbes, and

what is the affectioun[701] of my trubled heart, God shall one day

declare. But this will I add to my formar rigour and severitie, to

wit, yf any perswad yow, for feir of dangeris that may follow, to

faint in your formar purpose, be he never esteamed so wyse and

freindly, lett him be judged of yow boith foolish and your mortall

ennemy: foolishe, for becaus he understandeth nothing of Goddis

approved wisedome; and ennemye unto yow, becaus he lauboureth to

separat yow from Goddis favour; provoking his vengeance and

grevouse plagues against yow, becaus he wald that ye should prefer

your worldly rest to Goddis prase and glorie, and the freindschipe

of the wicked to the salvatioun of your brethrein. [SN: LETT THE

PAPISTIS THAME SELVIS JUDGE OF WHAT SPREIT THOSE SENTENSES COULD

PROCEAD.] "I am nott ignorant, that feirfull trubles shall ensew

your enterprise, (as in my formar letters I did signifie unto yow;)

but O joyfull and confortable ar those trubles and adversities,

which man susteaneth for accomplishment of Goddis will, reveilled

by his woord! For how terrible that ever thei appear to the

judgement of the naturall man, yit ar thei never able to devore nor

utterlie to consume the sufferraris: For the invisible and

invincible power of God susteaneth and preserveth, according to his

promeis, all such as with simplicitie do obey him." The subtell

craft of Pharao, many years joyned wyth his bloody cruelty, was not

able to destroy the male childrein of Israell, nether war the

watteris of the Redd Sea, much less the rage of Pharao, able to

confound Moses and the cumpany which he conducted; and that because

the one had Goddis promisse that thei should multiplie, and the

other had his commandiment to enter into such dangeris. I wold your

Wisedomes should considder, that our God remaneth one, and is

immutable; and that the Church of Christ Jesus hath the same

promeis of protectioun and defence that Israell had of

multiplicatioun; and farther, that no less caus have ye to enter in

your formar interprise, then Moses had to go to the presence of

Pharao; for your subjectis, yea, your brethrein ar oppressed, thare

bodyis and saules haldin in bondage: and God speaketh to your

consciences, (onles ye be dead with the blynd warld,) [SN: THE

DEUTIE OF THE NOBILITIE.] that yow awght to hasard your awin lyves,

(be it against Kingis or Empriouris,) for thare deliverance; for

only for that caus ar ye called Princes of the people, and ye

receave of your brethrein honour, tribute, and homage at Goddis

commandiment; not be reasson of your birth and progenye, (as the

most parte of men falslie do suppose,) but by ressoun of your

office and dewtie, which is to vindicat and deliver your subjectes

and brethrein from all violence and oppressioun, to the uttermost

of your power. [SN: THAT LETTER LOST BY NEGLIGENCE AND TRUBLES.]

Advise diligentlie, I beseik yow, with the pointis of that Letter,

which I directed to the hole Nobilitie, and lett everie man apply

the mater and case to him self; for your conscience shall one day

be compelled to acknowledge, that the Reformatioun of religioun,

and of publict enormities, doith appertene to mo then to the

Clargie, or cheaf reularis called Kingis. [SN: GOD GRANT THAT OUR

NOBILITIE WOULD YITT UNDERSTAND.] The mychtie Spreit of the Lord

Jesus rewle and guyde your counsellis, to his glorie, your eternall

conforte, and to the consolatioun of your brethrene. Amen.

From Deape, the 27 of October 1557.

These letteris receaved and redd, togetther with otheris direct to the

hole Nobilitie, and some particular gentilmen, as to the Lardis of Dun

and Pettarrow, new consultatioun was had what was best to be done: and

in the end it was concluded, that thei wold follow fordwart thare

purpose anes intended, and wold committ thame selfis, and whatsoever God

had gevin unto thame, in his handis, rather then thei wold suffer

idolatrie so manifestlie to regne, and the subjectes of that Realme so

to be defrauded, as long thei had bein, of the only food of thare

saules, the trew preaching of Christes Evangell. And that everie ane

should be the more assured of other, a commoun Band was maid, and by

some subscrived, the tennour whareof followis:--

"We, perceaving how Sathan in his memberis, the Antichristis of our

tyme, cruelly doeth rage, seaking to dounethring and to destroy the

Evangell of Christ, and his Congregatioun, aught, according to our

bonden deuitie, to stryve in our Maisteris caus, evin unto the

death, being certane of the victorie in him. The quhilk our dewitie

being weall considdered, We do promesse befoir the Majestie of God,

and his congregatioun, that we (be his grace,) shall with all

diligence continually apply our hole power, substance, and our

verray lyves, to manteane, sett fordward, and establish the most

blessed word of God and his Congregatioun; and shall laubour at our

possibilitie to have faythfull Ministeris purely and trewlie to

minister Christis Evangell and Sacramentes to his people. We shall

manteane thame, nuriss thame, and defend thame, the haill

congregatioun of Christ, and everie membour thairof, at our haill

poweris and waring of our lyves, against Sathan, and all wicked

power that does intend tyranny or truble against the foirsaid

congregatioun. Onto the quhilk holy woord and congregatioun we do

joyne us, and also dois forsaike and renunce the congregatioun of

Sathan, with all the superstitious abominatioun and idolatrie

thareof: And moreover, shall declare our selfis manifestlie

ennemies thairto, be this oure faithfull promesse befoir God,

testifeid to his Congregatioun, be our subscriptionis at thir

presentis:--

"At Edinburgh, the thrid day of December, the year of God J^m. V^c.

fyfty sevin yearis: God called to witnesse.[702]

(_Sic subscribitur_,) A. ERLE OF ERGILE.

GLENCARNE.

MORTON.

ARCHIBALD LORD OF LORNE.

JOHNNE ERSKYNE OF DOUN.[703]

_Et cetera_.

[SN: THE THIRD VOCATIOUN OF JOHNE KNOX BY THE LORDIS AND CHURCHE

OF SCOTLAND.]

Befoir a litill that this Band was subscryved, by the foirwrittin and

many otheris, letteris war direct agane to Johne Knox fra the said

Lordis, togitther with thare letteris to Maister CALVIN, craving of him,

that by his authoritie he wold command the said Johne anes agane to

visit thame. These letteris war delivered by the handis of Maister Johne

Gray,[704] in the moneth of November, the yeir of God J^m. V^c. fyfty

awght, who at that same tyme past to Rome for expeditioun of the

bowes[705] of Ross to Maister Henry Sinclare.[706]

Immediatlie after the subscriptioun of this foirsaid Band, the Lordis

and Barons professing Christ Jesus, conveined frequentlie in counsall;

in the which these Headis war concluded:--

First, It is thought expedient, devised, and ordeaned, that in all

parochines of this Realme the Commoun Prayeris[707] be redd owklie

on Sounday, and other festuall dayis, publictlie in the Paroche

Kirkis, with the Lessonis of the New and Old Testament, conforme to

the ordour of the Book of Common Prayeris: And yf the curattis of

the parochynes be qualified, to cause thame to reid the samyn; and

yf thei be nott, or yf thei refuise, that the maist qualifeid in

the parish use and read the same.

Secoundly, It is thought necessare, that doctrin, preacheing, and

interpretatioun of Scriptures be had and used privatlie in qwyet

houssis, without great conventionis of the people tharto, whill

afterward that God move the Prince to grant publict preacheing be

faithfull and trew ministeris.

* * * * *

These two Headis concernyng the religioun, and some otheris concernyng

the Polecy, being concluded, the old Erle of Ergile took the mantenance

of Johne Dowglass, caused him preache publictlie in his hous, and

reformed many thingis according to his consall. The same boldness took

diverse otheris, alsweall within townes as to landwarte; which did not a

litle truble the Bischoppis and Quein Regent, as by this lettre and

credite, committed to Sir David Hammyltoun [708] fra the Bischope of

Sanctandrois to the said Erle of Ergile, may be clearlic understand.