5. That yf any war found in open adultery, for the first falt, he should
lose the thrid of his benefice; for the secound cryme, the half; and for
the thrid, the hole benefice.
But hearfra appelled the Bischope of Murray,[729] and otheris Prelattis,
saying, "That thei wold abyd at the Cannoun law." And so mycht thei
weall yneuch do, so long as thei remaned interpretouris, dispensatouris,
maikaris, and disannullaris of that law. But lett the same law have the
trew interpretatioun and just executioun, and the Devill shall als
schone be provin a trew and obedient servand unto God, as any of that
sorte shalbe provin a Bischope, or yit to have any just authoritie
within the Church of Christ Jesus. But we returne to oure Historye.
[SN: THE QUEIN REGENT HIR PRACTISES.]
The persecutioun was decreid, asweall by the Quein Regent as by the
Prelattis; but thare rested a point, which the Quein Regent and France
had nott at that tyme obteaned; to witt, That the Croune Matrimoniall
should be granted to Frances, husband to our Soverane, and so should
France and Scotland be but one kingdome, the subjectes of boyth realmes
to have equall libertie, Scotismen in France, and French men in
Scotland. The glister of the proffeit that was judged heirof to have
ensewed to Scotishmen at the first sight, blynded many menis eyis. But a
small wynd caused that myst suddantlye to vaniss away; for the greatast
offices and benefices within the Realme war appointed for French men.
Monsieur Ruby[730] keapt the Great Seall. Vielmort was
Comptrollar.[731] Melrose and Kelso[732] should have bein a Commend to
the poore Cardinall of Lorane. The fredomes of Scotish merchantis war
restreaned in Rowan, and thei compelled to pay toll and taxationis
otheris then thare ancient liberties did bear. To bring this head to
pass, to witt, to gett the Matrimoniall Croune, the Quein Regent left no
point of the compas unsailled. With the Bischoppis and Preastis, sche
practised on this maner: "Ye may clearlie see, that I can not do what I
wald within this Realme; for these heretickis and confidderatis of
England ar so band togitther, that thei stop all good ordour. Butt will
ye be favorable unto me in this suyt of the Matrimoniall Croune to be
granted to my Dowghtaris housband, then shall ye see how I shall handill
these heretickis and tratouris or it be long." And in verray dead, in
these hir promessis, sche ment no deceat in that behalf. Unto the
Protestantis she said, "I am nott unmyndfull how oft ye have suyted me
for Reformatioun in religioun, and glaidly wald I consent thairunto;
but ye see the power and craft of the Bischop of Sanctandrois,
togetther with the power of the Duck, and of the Kirkmen, ever to be
bent against me in all my proceadingis: So that I may do nothing, onless
the full authoritie of this Realme be devolved to the King of France,
which can nott be butt by donatioun of the Croune Matrimoniall; which
thing yf ye will bring to passe, then devise ye what ye please in
materis of religioun, and thei shalbe granted."
Wyth this commission and credytt was Lord James, then Priour of
Sanctandrois, direct to the Erle of Ergyle, with mo other promessis then
we list to reherse. By such dissimulatioun to those that war sempill and
trew of harte, inflambed sche thame to be more fervent in hir petitioun,
then hir self appeared to be. And so at the Parliament, haldin at
Edinburght in the moneth of October,[733] the yeir of God 1558, it was
clearlie voted, no man reclamyng, (except the Duck[734] for his
entress;[735]) and yitt for it thare was no better law produced, except
that thare was ane solempned Messe appointed for that purpose in the
Pontificall.
This head obteaned, whaireat France and sche principallie schote, what
faith sche keapt unto the Protestantis, in this our Secound Book shalbe
declared: In the begynnyng whairof, we man more amplie reherse some
thingis, that in this our First ar summarly tweiched.