"We, JAMES DUKE OF CHATTELLERAULT, Erle of Arrane, Lord Hammiltoun,
&c., and MY LORD DOSELL, Lievtenant for the King in thir partis,
for our selffis, our assistaris and partakeris, being presentlie
with us in cumpany, be the tennour heirof promittis faithfullie of
honour to My Lordis ARCHIBALD ERLE OF ERGYLE, and JAMES COMMENDATAR
OF THE PRIORIE OF SANCTANDROIS, to thair assistaris and partakeris,
being presentlie with thame in cumpany; That we, and our cumpany
foirsaidis, shall reteir incontinent to Falkland, and shall, with
diligence, transport the Frenchemen and our uther folkis now
presentlie with us; and that na Frencheman, or other souldiouris of
ouris, shall remane within the boundis of Fyffe, bot sa mony as
befoir the raising of the last armye lay in Disart, Kirkcaldy, and
Kinghorne, and the same to ly in the same places onelie, yf we
shall think goode: And this to have effect for the space of eight
dayis following the dait heirof _exclusive_, that in the meantyme
certane Noble men, be the advise of the Quenis Grace, and rest of
the Counsale, may conveane to talk of sick thingis as may maik
goode ordour and quyetnes amongis the Quenis liegis. And further,
we, nor nane of our assistaris, being present with us, shall
invade, truble, or inquyet the saidis Lordis, nor thair
assistaris, dureing the said space: And this we bind and obleise
us, upoun our lautie, fidelitie, and honour, to observe and keape
in everie point above writtin, but fraude or gyle. In witnes
whairof we have subscrivit thir presentis with our handis.
"At Garlabank,[831] the xiij daij of Junii 1559.
[Signed] [Signed]
_The uther subscriptioun we culd nocht read, bot the simile is
this_,--[832]
[Signed]
And, this receaved, we departed first, becaus we war thairto requeasted
be the Duke, and so we returned to Cowper, lawding and praising God for
his mercie schewed; and thairefter everie man departed to his duelling
place. The Lordis, and a great part of the gentilmen, passed to
Sanctandrois, who thair abode certane dayis, still looking for those
that war promessed to come frome the Quene, for appointment to be maid.
Bot we perceaving hir craft and disceat, (for under that assurance sche
ment nothing ellis, but to convey hir selff, hir ordinance, and Frenche
men, over the wattir of Forth,) took consultatioun what should be
done[833] for delivering of Sanct Johnestoun from these ungodlie
soldiouris, and how our bretherin, exiled from thair awin housses, mycht
be restored agane.
[SN: THE DELIVERANCE OF SANCT JOHNESTOUN.]
It was concluded, that the bretherin of Fyffe, Anguss, Mearnis, and
Stratherin, should convene at Sanct Johnestoun, the 24 day of Junij for
that purpoise; and in the meantyme, war these letteris writtin be the
Erle of Ergyle and Lord James, to the Quene than Regent.
[SN: LETTERIS TO THE QUENE REGENT.]
"Madame,--Efter our hartlie commendationis of service, this shalbe
to schaw your Grace, that upoun the 13 day of Junij, we war
informed by thame that war communeris betuix my Lord Duke, Monsieur
Dosell, and us, that we should have spoken irreverentlie of your
Grace, whiche we beseik your Grace, for the trew service that we
have maid, and ar reddy to maik at all tymes to your Grace; that of
your goodnes ye will lat us knaw the sayeris thairof, and we shall
do the dewetie of trew subjectis to defend our awin innocencie; as
we tak God to witnes of the gud zeale and love we beir towardis
yow, to serve yow with trew hartis and all that we have, alsweill
landis as goodis, desyring na uther thing for our service bot the
libertie of our conscience, to serve our Lord God as we will ansuer
to him, whiche your Grace aucht and should geve to us frelie
unrequired. Mairover, please your Grace, that my Lord Duik, and the
Noble men being in Striveling for the tyme, be your Gracis avise,
solisted us to pass to the Congregatioun convened at the town of
Perth, to commoun of concord, whair we did our exact diligence, and
brocht it to pas, as your Grace knawis. And thair is a point that
we plane is nocht observed to us, whiche is, that na soldiour
should remane in the town, after your Grace departing. And suppois
it may be inferred, that it was spokin of Frenche soldiouris
allanerlie, yit we tuik it utherwais, lyik as we do yit, that
Scottishmen, or any uther natioun, takand the King of Francis
waiges, ar repute and haldin Frenche soldiouris. Thairfoir, sen we
of good will and mynde brocht that matter to your Gracis
contentment, it will please your Grace, of your goodnes, to remove
the soldiouris and thair Capitanes, with utheris that hes gottin
charge of the town, that the same may be guyded and reulled frelie,
as it was befoir, be the Baillies and Counsale, conforme to thair
infeftmentis gevin to thame be the ancient and maist excellent
Kingis of this realme, to elect and cheise thair officiaris at
Michelmess, and thai to indure for the space of one yeir, conforme
to the auld ryte and consuetude of this realme; whiche being done
be your Grace, we traist the better success shall follow thairupoun
to your Grace contentatioun,[834] as the bearar will declair at
mair lenth to your Grace; whome God preserve."
[SN: THE SUMMONING OF SANCT JOHNESTOUN.]
To Sanct Johnestoun, with the Gentilmen befoir expressed, did conveane
the Erle of Menteath,[835] the Lard of Glenurquhar,[836] and diverse
utheris who befoir had nocht presented thame selffis for defence of
thair bretherin. When the hole multitude was conveaned, a trumpet was
send by the Lordis, commanding the Capitanes and thair bandis to avoid
the town, and to leave it to the ancient libertie and just inhabitantis
of the same; alsua commanding the Laird of Killfaunes,[837] insett
Provest be the Quene, with the Capitanes foirsaidis, to cast up the
portis of the town, and maik the same patent to all our Soveraneis
liegis, to the effect, that alsweill trew religioun now aneis begun
thairin may be maynteaned, and idolatrie utterlie suppressed; as alsua
the said town mycht joise and brooke thair ancient lawis and liberteis
unoppressed by men of wear, according to thair old privilegis granted to
thame be the ancient Princes of this realme, and conforme to the
provisioun conteaned in the Contract of Mariage maid be the Nobilitie
and Parliament of this realme with the King of France, beirand, that
nane of our aid lawis nor liberteis should be alterat: adding thairto,
gif they folishlie resisted, and thairin happined to commit murther,
that thay should be entreated as murtheraris. To the whiche thay
ansuered prowdlie, "That thay wald keap and defend that town, according
to thair promess maid to the Quene Regent."
[SN: COMMUNING AT SANCT JOHNESTOUN.]
This answer receaved, preparatioun was maid for the seage and assault;
for amangis all it was concluded, that the town should be sett at
libertie, to what dangeris soever thair bodyis should be exponed. Whill
preparatioun was in making, came the Erle of Huntlie, the Lord Erskin,
and Maister Johne Bannatyne, Justice Clerk,[838] requireing that the
persute of the town should be delayed. To speak thame war appointed the
Erle of Ergyle, Lord James, and Lord Ruthven, who, perceaving in thame
nothing but a drift of tyme, without any assurance that the former
wrangis should be redressed, gave unto thame schort and plane ansuer,
"That thay wald nocht delay thair purpoise ane hour; and thairfoir
willed thame to certifie the Capitanes in the town, that gif by pryde
and foolishnes thay wald keape the town, and in so doing slay any of
thair bretherin, that thay should everie one dye as murtheraris." The
Erle of Huntlie displeased at this ansuer, departed, as hielie offended
that he culd nocht dress suche appointment as should have contented the
Queue and the Preastis. After thair departing, the town was agane
summondit; bot the Capitanes, supposing that na suddane persute should
be maid, and looking for releif to have bein send from the Quene, abode
in thair former opinioun. And so upoun Setterday, the 25 [24th] of
Junij, at ten houris at nycht, commanded the Lord Ruthven, who beseaged
the west quarter, to schoote the first voley; whiche being done, the
town of Dundie did the lyke, whose ordinance lay upoun the eist syde of
the brig. The Capitanes and soldiouris within the town, perceaving that
thai war unable long to resist, required assurance till xij houris upoun
the morne, promessing, "That gif or that hour thair came unto thame na
releaf frome the Quene Regent, that thay wald rander the town, providing
that thay should be suffered to departe the town with ensenzie
displayed." We, thrusting the bloode of no man, and seaking onlie the
libertie of our bretherin, condiscended to thair desyris, albeit that we
mycht have executed against thame jugement without mercie, for that thay
had refused our former favouris, and had slane one of our bretherin, and
hurt two in thair resistance;[839] and yit we suffered thame freelie to
depart without any forther molestatioun.
[SN: THE BISCHOPE OF MURRAY.]
The Town being delivered from thare thraldome, upoun Sounday the 26
[25th] of Junij, thankis war gevin unto God for his great benefite
receaved, and consultatioun was taikin what was forder to be done. In
this meantyme, four[840] zealous men, considdering how obstinat, prowde,
and dispitefull the Bischope of Murray[841] had bein befoir; how he had
threatned the town be his soldiouris and freindis, who lay in
Skune,[842] thought good that some ordour should be taikin with him and
with that place, whiche lay neir to the town end. The Lordis wrait unto
him, (for he lay[843] within two myles to Sanet Johnestoun,) "That
oneles he wald cum and assist thame, thay nather culd spair nor save his
place." He ansuered be his writing, "That he wold cum, and wold do as
thay thoght expedient; that he wold assist thame with his force, and
wald vote with thame against the rest of the Clargie in Parliament." Bot
becaus this ansuer was slaw in cuming, the town of Dundie, partelie
offended for the slauchter of thair man, and especiallie bearing no
goode favour to the said Bischope, for that he was and is cheif ennemy
to Christ Jesus, and that by his counsale alone was Walter Mylne our
brother put to death, thay marched fordward. To stay thame was first
send the Provest of Dundie, and his brother Alexander Halyburtoun,
Capitane, who litill prevaling, was send unto thame Johne Knox; bot
befoir his cuming, thay war entered to the pulling down of the ydollis
and dortour. And albeit the said Maister James Halyburtoun, Alexander
his brother, and the said Johne, did what in thame lay to have stayed
the furie of the multitude, yit war thay nocht able to put ordour
universalie; and tharfoir thay send for the Lordis, Erle of Ergyle, and
Lord James, who, cuming with all diligence, laboured to have saved the
Palace and the Kirk. [SN: THE DISTRUCTIOUN OF SCONE.] Bot becaus the
multitude had fundin, bureid in the Kirk, a great number of idollis, hid
of purpose to have preserved thame to a bettir day, (as the Papistis
speak,) the townis of Dundie and Sanct Johnestoun culd nocht be
satisfeit, till that the hole reparatioun and ornamentis of the Churche,
(as thay terme it,) war distroyed. And yit did the Lordis so travell,
that thay saved the Bischopis Palace, with the Churche and place, for
that nicht: for the two Lordis did nocht depart till thay brocht with
thame the hole nomber of those that most sought the Bischopis
displesour. The Bischope, greatlie offended that any thing should have
bein interprised in Reformatioun of his place, asked of the Lordis his
band and hand-writting, whiche nocht two houris befoir he had send to
thame. Whiche delivered to his messinger, Sir Adame Brown,[844]
advertisment was gevin, that yf any farder displesour chanced unto him,
that he should nocht blame thame. The Bischopis servandis, that same
nycht, began to fortifie the place agane, and began to do violence to
some that war careing away suche baggage as thay culd cum by. The
Bischopis girnell was keapt the first nycht by the laubouris of Johne
Knox, who, by exhortatioun, removed suche as violentlie wald have maid
irruptioun. That same nycht departed from Sanct Johnestoun the Erle of
Ergyle, and Lord James, as efter shalbe declaired.
[SN: THE CAUS OF THE BURNING OF SCONE.]
The morrow following, some of the poore, in houp of spoyle, and sum of
Dundie, to considder what was done, passed up to the said Abbay of
Scone; whairat the Bischopis servandis offended, began to threattene and
speak proudlie: and, as it was constantlie affermed, one of the
Bischopis sonis stogged throuch with a rapper one of Dundie, for becaus
he was looking in at the girnell door. This brute[845] noysed abrode,
the town of Dundie was more enraged than befoir, who, putting thame
selffis in armour, send word to the inhabitants of Sanct Johnestoun,
"That onles thay should supporte thame to avenge that injurie, that thai
should never after that day concur with thame in any actioun." The
multitud easelie inflambed, gave the alarme,[846] and so was that Abbay
and Palace appointit to saccag; in doing whairof thay took no lang
deliberatioun, bot committed the hole to the merciment of fyre; wharat
no small nomber of us war offended, that patientlie we culd nocht speak
till any that war of Dundie or Sanct Johnestoun. [SN: SPEAKING OF ANE
ANCIENT MATRONE WHEN SCONE WAS BURNING.] A poore aged matrone, seing the
flambe of fyre pas up samichtelie, and perceaving that many war thairat
offended, in plane and sober maner of speaking, said, "Now I see and
understand that Goddis judgementis ar just, and that no man is able to
save whare he will punische. Since my remembrance, this place hath bein
nothing ellis bot a den of hooremongaris. It is incredible to beleve how
many wyffes hath bein adulterat, and virginis deflored, by the filthie
beastis whiche hath bein fostered in this den; bot especiallie by that
wicked man who is called the Bischope. Yf all men knew alsmuche as I,
thay wald praise God; and no man wald be offended." This woman duelt
into the toun, neye unto the Abbay; at whose wordis war many pacifeid;
affirming with hir, that it was Goddis just judgement. And assuredlie,
yf the laubouris or travell of any man culd have saved that place, it
had nocht bein at that tyme destroyed;[847] for men of greattest
estimatioun lawboured with all diligence for the savetie of it.
[SN: THE TAKING OF STRIVILING.]
Whill these thingis war done at Sanct Johnestoun, the Quene, fearing
what should follow, determinat to send certane bandis of Frenche
soldiouris to Striveling, for purpose to stop the passage to us that
than war upoun the north syde of Forth. Whiche understand, the Erle of
Ergyle and Lord James departed secreatlie upoun the nycht, and with
great expeditioun, preventing the Frenchemen, thay took the town,
(befoir whose cuming the rascheall multitude put handis in the thevis, I
should say, frearis places and utterlie distroyed thame;) wharat the
Quene and hir factioun nocht a litill affrayed, with all diligence
departed from Edinburgh to Dumbar. And so we with reasonable diligence
merched fordwart to Edinburgh, for Reformatioun to be maid thair, whare
we arrived the 29 of Junij. [SN: LORD SEYTOUN.] The Provest for that
tyme, the Lord Seytoun, a man without God, without honestie, and
oftentymes without reasone, had befoir greatlie trubled and molested
the bretherin; for he had taikin upoun him the protectioun and defence
of the Blak and Gray Frearis; and for that purpose did nocht onelie lye
him self in the one everie nicht, bot also constraned the most honest of
the town to wache those monstouris, to thair great greaf and truble.
[SN: THE CUMING OF THE CONGREGATIOUN TO EDINBURGH.] Bot hearing of our
suddane cuming, he abandoned his charge, and had left the spoile to the
poore, who had maid havock of all suche thingis as was movable in those
placis befoir our cuming, and had left nothing bot bair wallis, yea,
nocht sa muche as door or windok; wharthrow we war the less trubilled in
putting ordour to suche places.
After that certane dayis we had deliberat what was to be done, and that
ordour was tackin for suppressing of all monumentis of idolatrie within
that town, and the places nixt adjacent, determinatioun was taikin, to
send some message[848] to the Quene, than Regent; for sche had bruted,
(as hir accustomed maner was, and yit hir Dochteris is, ever to forge
lyes,) that we sought nothing bot hir lyef, and a plane revoltment from
the lawfull obedience dew to our Soverane, hir authoritie, as by the
tennour of these Letteris may be sene:--
"FRANCES AND MARIE, be the Grace of God, King and Quene of Scottis,
Daulphine and Daulphines of Viennois, to our lovittis, Lyoun King
of Armes, &c., our Schireffis in that parte, conjunctlie and
severallie, specialie constitute, greting: For sa mekle as our
darrest moder Marie, Quene Dowager, Regent of our Realme, and
Lordis of our Secreat Counsale, perceaving the seditious tumult
rased be ane parte of our liegis, nameing thame selffis THE
CONGREGATIOUN, who, under pretense of religioun, have putt thame
selffis in armes;[849] and that hir Grace, for satisfeing of everie
manis conscience, and pacifeing of the saidis trubles, had
offerred unto thame to affix ane Parliament to be haldin in Januare
nixt to cum, (this was a manyfest leye, for this was nether
offerred, nor by hir ancis thought upoun, till we required it,) or
sonnar, gyf thay had pleased, for establissing of ane universall
ordour in matteris of religioun, be our advise and Estatis of our
Realme;[850] and, in the meantyme, to suffer everie man to leaf at
libertie of conscience, without truble, unto the tyme the said
ordour war tackin be advise of our foirsaid [Estates.[851]] And at
last, becaus it appeared mekle to stand upoun our burght of
Edinburght, offerred in lyke maner to latt the inhabitants thairof
chease what maner of religioun thai wald sett up and use for that
tyme; swa that na man mycht alledge that he was forsed to do
against his conscience: Quhilk offer the Quenis Grace, our said
darrest Moder, was at all tymes, and yit is, ready to fulfill.
Nochttheles, the said Congregatioun being of mynd to receave no
reasonable offerris, hes sensyne, by oppin dead, declaired, that it
is na religioun, nor any thing thairto perteaning, that thai seak,
bot onelie the subversioun of our authoritie, and usurpatioun of
our Crown; in manifest witnessing whairof, thay daylie receave
Inglismen with messagis unto thame, and sendis siclyk in Ingland;
and last of all, have violentlie intrometted with, taikin, and yit
withhaldis the irnis of our Cunzee hous,[852] quhilk is ane of the
cheife pointis that concernis our Crown; and siclyke lies
intrometted with our Palice of Halirudhouse. Oure will is heirfoir,
&c., that ye pas to the Mercat Croce of our said burght of
Edinburght, or any uther publict place within the same, and thair,
be oppin proclamatioun in our name and authoritie, command and
charge all and sindrie personis of the said Congregatioun, or yit
being presentlie within our said burght other than the inhabitantis
thairof, that thay, within sex houris nixt efter our said charge,
depart furth of the same under the pane of treasone; and als, that
ye command and charge all and sindrie personis to leave thair
cumpany, and adhear to our authoritie; with certificatioun to suche
as do the contrare, shalbe repute and haldin as manifest traytouris
to our Crowne, &c."
These letteris did nocht a litill greave us, who most injustlie war
accused; for thare is never a sentence of the narrative trew, except
that we stayed the irnes, and that for most just causses, to witt,
because that daylie thair was suche nomber of Hard-headis printed,[853]
that the basenes thairof maid all thingis exceiding dear; and thairfoir
we war counsaled by the wysest to stay the irnes,[854] whill farther
ordour mycht be tackin. Sche, with all possible diligence, posted for
hir factioun. Maister James Balfour was nocht ydill in the meantyme. The
Lordis, to purge thame of these odious crymes, wrait unto hir a letter,
in forme as efter followeth:--
[SN: THE THRID LETTER TO THE QUENE REGENT.]
"Pleas your Grace, be advertist, it is cum to our knowlcge, that
your Grace hath sett furth, be your letteris openelie proclamed
that we, called by name THE CONGREGATIOUN, under pretence and
colour of religioun, convene togidder to na uther purpose bot to
usurpe our Soveraneis authoritie, and to invaid your persone
representand thairis at this present: Quhilkis thingis appeiris to
have proceidit of sinister informatioun, maid to your Grace be our
ennemeis, considdering that we never mynded sic thing, bot onelie
our mynd and purpose was and is to promote and sett furth the
glorie of God, maynteane and defend the trew preacharis of his
word; and according to the same, abolish and put away idolatrie and
false abuses, whiche may nocht stand with the said word of God:
Beseaking your Grace to bear patientlie thairwith, and interpone
your authoritie to the furtherance of the same, as is the dewetie
of everie Christiane Prince and good magistrat. For as to the
obedience of our Soveraneis authoritie in all civile and politick
matteris, we ar and shalbe als obedient as ony uther your Gracis
subjectis within the realme; and that our Conventioun is for na
uther purpose bot to save our preacheouris and thair auditouris fra
the injurie and violence of our enymeis, quhilk should be mair
amplie declaired be some of us in your Gracis presence, yf yow war
nocht accumpanyed with such as hes persewit our lyves and sought
our bloode. Thus, we pray Almyghtie God to have your Hienes in his
eternall tuitioun.
"At Edinburght, the secund of Julij 1559."
And for farther purgatioun heirof, it was thocht necessar that we should
sempillie expone, alsweill to hir Grace as to the hole people, what war
our requeastis and just petitionis. And for that purpoise, after that
salf conduct was purchessed and granted, we directed unto hir two grave
men of our counsale, to witt, the Lardis of Pittarrow and
Cuninghamheid,[855] to whame we gaif commissioun and power, First, To
expone our hole purpose and intent, whiche was none other than befoir at
all tymes we had required, to witt, That we mycht injoy the libertie of
conscience. Secundlie, [That] Christ Jesus mycht be trewlie preached,
and his holie Sacramentis rychtlie ministrat unto us. [Thirdly,] That
unable ministeris micht be removed from ecclesiasticall
administratioun; and that our preacheouris mycht be relaxit from the
horne, and permitted to execut thair chargis without molestatioun, unto
such tyme as ather by a Generall Counsale, lauchfullie convened, or by a
Parliament within the realme, the contraverseis in religioun wer
decided. And, for declaratioun that hir Grace was heirto willing, that
the bandis[856] of Frenche men, who than war a burthein untollerable to
the cuntrey, and to us so fearfull, that we durst nocht in peaciable and
quiet maner hant the places whare thay did lye, should be send to
France, thair native cuntrey: Whiche thing is granted, hir Grace should
have experience of our accustomed obedience.
[SN: THE CRAFTYNES OF THE QUENE REGENT MAY YIT BE ESPYED.]
To these headis sche did answer at the first so plesandlie, that sche
put boith our Commissioneris in full esperance that all should be
granted; and for that purpose, sche desyred to speak with sum of
greatter authoritie, promesing, that yf thay wald assure hir of thair
detfull[857] obedience, that sche wald deny nothing of that whiche was
required. For satisfactioun of hir mynd, we send agane the Erle of
Glencarne, the Lord Ruthven, the Lord Uchiltrie, and the said Lard of
Pittarrow, with the same commissioun as of befoir. Bot than sche began
to handill the matter more craftelie, compleaning that sche was nocht
sought in a gentill maner; and that thay in whome sche had put maist
singular confidence, had left hir in hir greattest neid; and suche uther
thingis, perteaning nothing to thair commissioun, proponed sche, to
spend and dryve the tyme. Thai answered, "That, by injust tyranny
devised aganis thame and thair bretherin, (as hir Grace did weill know,)
thay war compelled to seak the extreme remedie; and thairfoir, that hir
Grace aucht nocht to wonder thocht godlie men left the cumpany whare
thai nether fand fidelitie nor treuth." In the end of this communing,
whiche was the xij day of Julij 1559, sche desyred to have talked
privelie with the Erle of Ergyle, and Lord James, Priour of
Sanctandrois, "For ellis, (as sche alledged,) sche culd nocht bot
suspect that thai pretendit to some uther hiear purpose nor religioun."
[SN: ACCUSATIONIS.] Sche and hir craftie Counsale had abuesd the Duke,
perswaiding unto him, and unto his freindis, that the saidis Erle and
Priour had conspyred, first to deprive our Soverane hir dochter of hir
authoritie, and thairefter the Duke and his successioun of thair titill
to the Crown of Scotland. By these invented lyes, sche inflambed the
hartis of many against us, in so muche that some of our awin number
began to murmur; whiche perceaved, alsweall the preacheouris, in thair
publict sermonis, as we our selffis, by our publict proclamationis, gave
purgatioun and satisfactioun to the people, planelie and simplie
declairing what was our purpose, tacking God to witnes, that no suche
crymes ever entered in our hartis as most injustlie was layed to our
charge. The Counsale, efter consultatioun, thocht nocht expedient that
the saidis Erle and Priour should talk with the Quene in ony sort; for
hir former practises put all men in suspitioun, that some deceat lurked
under suche colorat commoning. Sche had befoir said, That yf sche culd
by any meane sunder those two from the rest, sche was assured schortlie
to cum by hir hole purpose; and one of hir cheaf Counsale in those
dayis, (and we fear bot over inward with hir yit,) said, "That or
Michelmess day, thay two should leaf thair headis;" and thairfoir all
men feared to committ two suche young plantis to hir mercie and
fidelitie. It was, thairfoir, finallie denyed that thai should talk
[with] the Quene, or ony to hir apperteaning, bot in places void of all
suspitioun, whare thay should be equall in nomber with those that should
talk [with] thame.
[SN: THE COMMUNING AT PRESTON.]
The Quene perceaving that hir craft culd nocht prevaill, was content
that the Duke's Grace and the Erle of Huntlie, with utheris by hir
appointed, should convene at Prestoun, to commone [with] the saidis
Erle and Priour, and suche utheris as the Lordis of the Congregatioun
wald appoint, to the nomber of ane hundreth on the syde, of the whiche
nomber aucht personis onelie should meit for conference. The
principallis for thair partie war, the Duke, the Erle Huntlie, the
Lordis Erskin and Somervell, Maister Gavine Hammiltoun, and the Justice
Clerk.[858] From us war directed the Erlis of Ergyle and Glencarne, the
Lordis Ruthven, Lord James, Boyd, and Uchiltrie, the Lairdis Dun and
Pittarrow, who, conveaning at Prestoun, spak the hole day without any
certane conclusioun: For this was the practise of the Quene, and of hir
factioun, by dryft of tyme to weary our cumpany, who, for the most
parte, had bein upoun the feildis from the tent day of Maij, that we
being dispersed, sche mycht cum to hir purpose. In whiche sche was nocht
altogidder deceaved; for our commonis war compelled to skaill for lack
of expenssis, and our gentilmen, partelie constraned be lack of
furnessing, and partlie houping sum small appointment, after so many
communingis, returned for the most parte to thair duelling places, for
reposing of thame selffis.
[SN: THE DEMAND OF QUENE REGENT, AND ANSWER OF THE PROTESTANTIS.]
The Quene, in all these conventionis, seamed that sche wald geve
libertie to religioun, provided, "That wharesoever sche was, our
Preacheouris sould cease, and the Masse sould be maynteaned." We
perceaving hir malitious craft, ansuered, "That as we wald compell hir
Grace to no religioun, so could we nocht of conscience, for the pleasur
of any earthlie creature, put silence to Godis trew messingeris; nather
culd we suffer that the rycht administratioun of Christis trew
sacramentis should gif place to manifest idolatrie; for in so doing, we
should declair ourselffis ennemeis to God, to Christ Jesus his Sone, to
his eternall veritie, and to the libertie and establishment of his
Churche within this realme; for your requeist being granted, there can
no Kirk within the same be so estableshit but at your pleasour, and by
your residence and remaning thare ye myeht overthrow the samin." [SN:
THE LAST OFFERIS OF THE PROTESTANTIS TO THE QUENE REGENT.] This our last
answer we send unto hir with the Lord Ruthven and Laird of Pittarrow;
requiring of hir Grace, in plane wordis, to signifie unto us what houpe
we myeht have of hir favouris toward the outsetting of religioun. We
also required that sche wald remove hir Frenchemen, who war a fear to
us, and a burthein most grevouse to our cuntrey: And that sche wald
promess to us, in the word of a Prince, that sche wald procure no mo to
be send in; and than should we nocht onelie support, to the uttermost of
our poweris, to furnish schippis and victuallis for thair transporting,
bot also, upoun our honouris, should we tak hir body in our protectioun;
and should promess, in the presence of God and the hole realme, to serve
our Soverane hir Dochter, and hir Grace Regent, als faithfullie and als
obedientlie as ever we did Kingis within Scotland: That, moreover, we
should caus our Preacheouris geve reasone of thair doctrin in hir
audience, till any that pleased till impugne any thing that thay did or
taught: Finallie, that we should submit our selflis to a lauchtfull
Parliament, provided that the Bischoppis, as the party accused, and our
plane ennemeis, should be removed from judgement.
[SN: THE SCOFFING OF THE QUENE REGENT.]
To no point wald sche answer directlie; bot in all thingis sche was so
generall and so ambigua, that hir craft appeared to all men. Sche had
gottin assured knowlege that our cumpany was skailled, (for hir
Frenchemen war daylie amongis us, without molestatioun or hurt done unto
thame,) and thairfoir sche began to discloise hir mynde, and said, "The
Congregatioun hes roung these two monethis bypast: me my selff wald ring
now other two." The malice of hir hart being planelie perceaved,
deliberatioun was had what was to be done. It was concluded, that the
Lordis, Barronis, and gentilmen, with thare substantious housholdis,
should remane in Edinburgh that hole winter, for establissing of the
Church[859] thair. [SN: THE CAUS QUHY THE IRNES STAYED.] And becaus it
was found, that by the corrupting of our money, the Quene maid to hir
selff immoderat gaines for maynteaning of hir soldiouris, to the
distructioun of our haill commone weill, it was thocht necessar[860]
that the printing irnes, and all thingis to thame perteaning, should be
stayed, for fear that sche should privelie caus transport thame to
Dumbar.
[SN: THE DEATH OF HARY, KING OF FRANCE.]
In this meantyme came the assured word, first, that the King of France
was hurt, and after, that he was dead[861] whiche, albeit it aucht to
have put hir in mynd of hir awin estait and wicked interprise: for he
that same tyme, in the fulnes of his glorie, (as sche hir self useth to
speak,) had determined most crewell persecutioun aganis the sanctis of
God in France, evin as sche hir selff was heir persecutand in Scotland:
and yit he so perished in his pryde, that all men mycht see that Godis
just vengeance did stryke him, evin quhen his iniquitie was cumed to
full rypenes. Albeit, (we say,) that this wonderouse wark of God in his
suddane death, aucht to have dantoned hir furie, and gevin unto hir
admonitioun, that the same God culd nocht suffer her obstinat malice
against his treuth long to be unpunished; yit culd hir indurat hart
nothing be moved to repentance: for hearing the staying of the printing
irnes, sche raiged more outragiouslie than of befoir, and sending for
all suche as wer of hir factioun, exponed hir grevous complaint,
aggredging the same with many lyes, to wit, "That we had declaired that
whiche befoir sche suspected; for what culd we meane ellis, bot
usurpatioun of the Crown, when we durst put handis to the Cunze-hous,
whiche was a portioun of the patrimony of the Crown." Sche farther
alleged, "That we had spoyled the Cunze-house of great sowmes of money."
To the whiche we ansuered, boith by our letteris send to hir, and hir
Counsale, and by publict proclamatioun to the people, that we, without
usurpatioun of any thing justlie perteaning to the Crown of Scotland,
did stay the printing irnes, in consideratioun that the commone wealth
was greatlie hurt by corrupting of our money; and becaus that we war
borne counsalouris of this realme, sworne to procure the proffite of the
same, we culd do no less of dewetie and of conscience than to stay that
for a tyme, whiche we saw so abused, that oneles remedy war fundin,
should turne to the detriment of the hole body of this realme. And as to
hir fals accusatioun of spuilzie, we did remit us to the conscience of
Maister Robert Richesone[862], Maister of the Cunze-hous, who from our
handis receaved silver, gold, and mettall, alsweill cunzeit as
uncunzeit; so that with us thair did nocht remane the valour of a
bawbie.[863]
This our declaratioun and purgatioun nochtwithstanding, sche, partelie
by hir craft and policie, and partelie by the lawbouris of the Bischopis
of Sanctandrois and Glasgw; procured the hole nomber that war with hir
to consent to persew us with all creweltie and expeditioun, befoir that
we culd haif our cumpany (whiche than was dispersed for new furnessing)
assembled agane. The certantie heirof cuming to our knawlege, the
Setterday at nycht, the 25. [22d] of Julij, we did in what us lay to gif
advertisment to our bretherin; bot impossible it was that those of the
West, Anguss, Mearnis, Stratherin, or Fyeff, in any nomber culd come to
us; for the ennemie marched from Dumbar upoun the Sounday, and approched
within two myles of us befoir the sone-rysing upoun Monunday; for thay
verrelie supposed to have found no resistance, being assured that the
Lordis onelie with certane gentillmen remaned, with thair privat
housses. Calling upoun God for counsale in that straytt, we soght what
was the nixt defence. We mycht have left the town, and mycht have
reteired our selffis without any danger; bot than we should have
abandoned our bretherin of Edinburgh, and suffered the ministrie thairof
to have decayed, whiche to our hartis was so dolorous, that we thocht
better to hasard the extreamitie than so to do. For than the most parte
of the town appeared rather to favour us than the Quenis factioun; and
did offer unto us the uttermost of thair support, whiche for the most
parte thay did faithfullie keap. [SN: LEYTH LEFT THE CONGREGATIOUN.] The
same did the town of Leyth, bot thay keapit nocht the lyek fidelitie;
for when we war upoun the feild, marching fordward for thair support,
(for the Frenche marched neye to thame,) thai randered thame selffis,
without ferther resistance. And this thay did, as was supposed, by the
treasone of some within thame selffis, and by the perswasioun of the
Lard of Restalrig,[864] who of befoir declaired himselff to have bein
one of us, and nochtwithstanding,[865] that day randered him selff
undesyred to Monsieur Dosell. Thair unprovided and suddane defectioun
astonished many; and yit we retyred quyetlie to the syde of
Cragingatt,[866] which place we tooke for resisting the ennemie.
In the meantyme, diverse mediatouris passed betuix, amongis whome the
Lord Ruthven, for our parte, wes principall. Alexander Erskin[867] did
muche travell to stay us and our soldiouris, that we should nocht joyne
with thame of Leyth, till that thay, as said is, had randered thame
selffis to the Frenche. The said Alexander did oft promese, That the
Frenche wald stay, provided that we wold nocht joyne with these of
Leyth. Bot efter that thai war randerit, we hard nothing of him bot
threatning and disconfortable wordis. Befoir it was eight houris in the
morning, God had gevin unto us boith curage, and a reasonable nomber to
withstand thair furie. The town of Edinburght, sa mony as had subject
thame selffis to discipline, and diverse utheris besydis thame, behavit
thame selffis boith faithfullie and stoutlie. The gentilmen of
Lowthiane, especiall Caldar, Haltoun, and Ormestoun, war verrey
confortable, alsweill for thair counsale as for thair hole assistance.
Some gentilmen of Fiffe prevented the Frenche men; otheris war stopped,
be reasone that the Frenche had possessed[868] Leyth. Alwais the ennemie
tooke suche a fear, that thai determined nocht to invaid us whare we
stoode, bot tooke purpose to have passed to Edinburgh, by the other syde
of the Watter of Leyth, and that becaus thay had the Castell to thair
freind, whiche was to us unknawin; for we supponed the Lord Erskin,
Capitane of the same, ather to have bein our freind, or at the least to
have bein indifferent. [SN: THE LORD ERSKIN AND HIS FACT.] Bot when we
had determined to feght, he send word to the Erle of Ergyle, to Lord
James, his sister sone,[869] and to the uther Noble men,[870] that he
wald declair him selff boith ennemie to thame and to the town, and wald
schoote at boith, gif thay maid any resistance to the Frenche men to
enter in the town. This his treasonable defyence, send unto us by the
Lard of Ricartoun,[871] did abait the corage of many; for we culd nocht
feght nor stop the ennemie, bot under the mercie of the Castell and hole
ordinance thairof.
Heirupoun was consultatioun tackin; and in conclusioun, it was found
less domage to tak ane Appointment, albeit the conditionis war nocht
suche as we desyred, than to hasard battall betuix two suche ennemeis.
After lang talkin, certane Headis war drawin by us, whiche we desyred to
be granted:--
"First, That no member of the Congregatioun should be trubled in
lief, landis, goodis, or possessionis by the Quene, hir Authoritie,
nor any uther Justice within the realme, for any thing done in the
lait innovatioun, till a Parliament (whiche should begin the tent
of Januar nixt) had decyded thingis in contraversie.
"2. That idolatrie should nocht be erected, whare it was at that
day suppressed.
"3. That the preacheouris and ministeris should nocht be trubled in
thair ministrie, whare thai war alreadie establessed, nather yit
stopped to preache, wharesoever thai should chance to come.
"4. That no bandis of men of warr should be layed in garneshing
within the town of Edinburght.
"5. That the Frenche men should be send away at a reasonable day,
and that none uther should be broght in the cuntrey without consent
of the haill Nobilitie and Parliament."
But these our Articles[872] war altered, and ane uther forme disposeth,
as efter followeth:[873]--
"AT THE LYNKIS OF LEITH, THE 24. OF JULIJ 1559, IT IS APPOINTED IN
MANER FOLLOWING:--
"In the first, the Congregatioun and thair cumpany, utheris than
the inhabitants of the said Town, shall remove thame selffis furth
of the said town, the morne at ten houris befoir none, the 25. of
Julij, and leaf the same void and red of thame and thair said
cumpany, conforme to the Quenis Grace pleasour and desyre.
"_Item_, The said Congregatioun shall caus the irnes of the
Cunze-hous,[874] tacken away be thame, be randered and delivered to
Maister Robert Richardsone; and in lykewyis the Quenis Grace
Palace[875] of Halirudhous to be left and randered agane to Maister
Johne Balfour, or ony uther haveand hir Grace sufficient power, in
the same maner as it was receaved, and that betuix the making of
thir Articles and the morne at ten houris.--(For observing and
keaping of thir tua Articles abovewrittin, the Lord Ruthven and the
Lard of Pittarrow hes entered thame selffis pledges.)
"_Item_, The saidis Lordis of Congregatioun, and all the memberis
thairof, shall remane obedient subjectis to our Soverane Lord and
Ladyis authoritie, and to the Quenis Grace Regent in thair place;
and shall obey all lawis and lovable consuetudis of this realme, as
thai war used of befoir the moving of this tumult and contraversie,
exceptand the caus of religioun, whiche shalbe heirafter specifeid.
[SN: IN CONTEMPLATIOUN OF THESE ARTICLES AROSE THIS PROVERB:--"GUD
DAY, SIR JOHNE, WHILL JANUAR. "WELCUM, SIR JOHNE, QUHILL JANUAR",
&c.]
"_Item_, The said Congregatioun, nor nane of thame, shall nocht
truble nor molest a Kirk-man be way of dead, nor yit shall maik
thame any impediment in the peaciable bruiking, joising, and
uptaking of thair rentis, proffittis, and deweties of thair
benefices, bot that thai may frelie use and dispone upoun the same,
according to the lawis and consuetude of this realme, to the tent
day of Januar nixt to cum.
"_Item_, The said Congregatioun, nor nane of thame, shall in no
wayis from thynefurth use ony force or violence, in casting down of
kirkis, religious placis, or reparrelling thairof, bot the same
sall stand skaithles of thame, unto the said tent day of Januar.
"_Item_, The town of Edinburght shall, without compulsioun, use and
cheise what religioun and maner thairof thay please to the said
day; sua that everie man may have fredome to use his awin
conscience to the day foirsaid.
"_Item_, The Quenis Grace sall nocht interpone hir authoritie, to
molest or truble the preacheouris of the Congregatioun, nor thair
ministrie, (to thame that pleasis to use the same,) nor na uther of
the said Congregatioun, in thair bodyis, landis, goodis, or
possessionis, pensionis, or whatsumever uther kynd of goodis thai
possess; nor yit thoill the Clargie, or any uther haveand
spirituall or temporall jurisdictioun, to truble thame, in ony
maner of sort, privatlie or openelie, for the caus of religioun, or
uther actioun depending thairupoun, to the said tent day of Januar
within writtin; and that everie man in particular leife in the
meantyme according to his awin conscience.
"_Item_, That na man of warr, Frenche nor Scottis, be layed in
daylie garnesoun within the town of Edinburght, bot to repair
thairto to do thair lefull besynes, and thairefter to reteir thame
to thare garnesounis."[876]
This alteratioun in wordis and ordour was maid without knowledge and
consent of those whose counsale we had used in all cases befoir. For sum
of thame perceaving we began to faynt, and that we wald appoint with
inequall conditionis, said, "God hath wonderfullie assisted us in our
greatest dangeris: He hath strikin fear in the hartis of our ennemeis,
when thai supposed thame selffis most assured of victorie: our case is
nocht yit sa disperat that we nead to grant to thingis unreasonable and
ungodlie; whiche, yf we do, it is to be feared that thingis sall nocht
so prosperouslie succeid as thai have done heirtofoir."
[SN: THE PROMESE OF THE DUKE AND ERLE OF HUNTLIE.]
When all thingis war commoned and aggreed upoun by myd personis, the
Duke and Erle of Huntlie, who that day war against us, desyred to speak
the Erlis of Ergyle and Glencarne, the Lord James, and utheris of our
partie: who obeying thare requeastis, mett thame at the Querrell
Hollis,[877] betuix Leyth and Edinburght, who in conclusioun promest to
our Lordis, "That yf the Quene breake to us any one joyt of the
Appointment than maid, that thai should declair thame selffis plane
ennemeis unto hir, and freindis to us." Alsmuche promeshed the Duke
that he wold do, in case that sche wald nocht remove hir Frenche men at
are reasonable day; for the oppressioun whiche thai did was manifest to
all men.
This Appointment maid and subscrived by the Duke, Monsieur Dosell, and
the Erle of Huntlie, the 25. of Julij, we returned to the town of
Edinburght, whare we remanit till the nixt day at none; when, efter
sermone, dennar, and a proclamatioun maid at the Mercat Croce in forme
as followeth, we departed.