"TO THE NOBILITIE, BURGHIS, AND COMMUNITIE OF THIS REALME OF
SCOTLAND, THE LORDIS, BARONIS, AND UTHERIS, BRETHERIN OF THE
CHRISTIANE CONGREGATIOUN, WISCHIS ENCREASE OF WISDOME, WITH THE
ADVANCEMENT OF THE GLORIE OF GOD, AND OF THE COMMUNWEALTH, &C. &C.
"The love of oure natyve cuntrey craifis, the defence of oure
honouris requyreis, and the synceritie of oure conscienceis
compellis us, (derrest Brethren,) to answer sum pairt to the last
writtingis and proclamatiounis sett furth be the Queneis Grace
Regent, no less to mak us and oure caus odiouse, than to abuse your
simplicitie to youre finall destructioun, conspyreit of auld, and
now alreaddy put to wark. And first, quhair sche allegeis certane
seditious personeis have of malice inventit and blawin abrod
diverse rumouris, [tending] thairby (as sche allegeis) to steir up
the hartis of the pepill to seditioun, be reassone that the
Frensche men ar croppin in of lait in our cuntrey; trew it is,
(deir Brethren,) that all sick as beir naturall lufe to thair
cuntrey, to yow, thair brethren, inhabitantis thairof, to our
housses, wyffis, bairneis, the esperance of your posteratie, and
schortlie to your commun-wealth, and the ancient lawis and
libertieis thairof, can not bot in hart lament, with mowth and
teiris complayne, the maist craftie assaultis devisit and
practisit, to the utter rewyne of all thir thyngis foirnameit; and
that sua manifestlie is gane to wark, that evin in our eyeis oure
derrest brethren, trew memberis of oure commun-welth, ar maist
crewellie oppressit by strangearis; in sa far that sum ar baneissit
thair awin housses, sum robbit and spuilzeit of thair substance,
conqueist by thair just laubouris in the sweit of thair browis; sum
crewellie murtherit at the pleasour of thir inhumane souldiouris;
and altogidder have thair lyvis in sick feir and dreddour, as gif
the ennemy war in the myddis of thame; so that nathing can seme
plesand unto thame, quhilk thay possess in the bowellis of thair
natyve cuntrey; sa neir jugeis everie man, (and not but just caus,)
the practise usit upoun thair brethren to approche nixt unto thame
thair selffis, wyffeis, bairneis, housses, and substanceis, quhilk
altogidder ar cassin at the feit of straingearis, men of weir, to
be by thame thus abusit att thair unbrydillit lustis desyre. Now,
if it be seditioun, (deir Brethren,) to complane, lament, and pour
furth befoir God the sorrowis [and] sobbis of oure dolorouse
hartis, crying to him for redress of thir enormyteis, (quhilk ellis
quhair is not to be found;) and thir altogidder dois [proceid] of
the unlauchfull halding of strange suldiouris over the heidis of
oure brethren; gif this to complayne be sedition, then indeid,
(deir Brethren,) can nane of us be purgeit of that cryme; for as in
verray hart we dampne sick inhumayne creweltie, with the wickit and
craftie pretence thairof, sua can we, nor dar we nott, neather be
mouthis speiking, nor yitt by keiping of silence, justifie the
same. Neather do we heir aggrege the breking of the Appointmentt
maid at Leith, (quhilk alwayis hes manifestlie bene done;) bot
quhan we remember quhat aith we have maid to our commun-welth, and
how the dewatie we aucht to the same compellis us to cry outt, that
hir Grace, be wickit and ungodlie counsall, gais maist craftelie
about utterlie to oppress the same, and ancient lawis and
libertieis thairof, alsweill aganeis the King of Francis promeise,
hir awin dewatie, in respect of the heich promotionis that sche
resavit thairby, quhilk justlie sould have caussit hir to have bene
indeid that quhilk sche wald be callit, (and is nathing less in
veritie,) to wit, ane cairfull mother ovir this commun-wealth; bot
quhat motherlie cair sche hes usit towardis yow, ye can not be
ignorant. [SN: LETT THE NOBILITIE JUGE HEIROF.] Haif ye nocht bene,
evin frome the first entres of hir regne, ever smytit and oppressit
with unaccustomit and exhorbitant taxatiounis, [more] than ever war
usit within this realme? Yea, and how far was it socht heir to have
bene brocht in upoun yow and your posteritie, under cullour to have
bene laid up in stoir for the weiris? The inquisitioun tane of all
your guidis, movable and immovabill, be way of testament; the
seiking of the haill coill and saltt of this realme, to have bene
laid up in stoir and gernall, and sche allane to have bene merchant
thairof, dois teache yow be experience sum of her motherlie cair.
"Agane, Quhat cair ower your commun-wealth dois hir Grace
instantlie beir, quhan evin now presentlie, and of ane lang tyme
bygane, be the ministerie of sum, (quha better deserve the
gallowis, than ever did Cochrane,[923]) sche dois sua corrupt the
layit[924] money, and lies brocht it in sick basenes, and sic
quantatie of scruiff, that all men that hes thair eyis oppin may
persaif ane extreme beggarie to be brocht thairthrow upoun the
haill realme, swa that the haill exchange and traffique to be had
with forane natiounis, (ane thing maist necessarie in all
commun-wealthis,) sall thairby be utterlie extinguissitt; and all
the ganeis resavit thairby is, that sche thairwith intertenis
strangearis upoun oure heidis. For, Brethren, ye knaw that hir
money hes servit for na uther purpoise in our commun-wealth this
lang tyme bigane; and the impunitie of thir wickit ministeris,
(quhame laitlie we spak of,) hes brocht the mater to sick ane
licentious enormitie, and plane contempt of the commun-wealth, that
now thay spair not planelie to brek doun and convert the guid and
stark money, cunzeit in our Soveraneis less age, into this thair
corruptit skruiff and baggage of Hard-heidis and Non Suntis,[925]
maist lyik that sche and thay had conspyreit to destroy all the
haill gud cunzey of this realme, and consequentlie that pairt of
the commun-wealth. [SN: LETT SIR ROBERT RICHARTSOUN, AND
UTHERIS,[926] ANSWER TO THIS.] Besydeis all this, thair clyppit
and rowngeit soussis,[927] quhilk had no passage thir three yeiris
past in the realme of France, ar commandit to have course in this
realme, to gratifie thairby hir new cumit suldiouris. And all thir
thingis togidder, ar done without the avise or consent of the
Nobilitie and Counsall of this realme, and manifestlie thairthrow,
against our ancient lawis and liberteis.
"Thridlie, Hir last and maist wechty proceiding, mair fullie
declairis hir motherlie cair hir Grace beiris to our commun-wealth
and us, quhan in tyme of peace, but any occatioun of forane weiris,
thowsandis of strangearis ar layd heir and thair upoun the neckis
of our pure memberis of this commun-wealth; thair idill bellyis fed
upoun the pure substance of the communitie, conqueist by thair just
laubouris in the panefull sueit of thair browis. Quhilk to be trew,
Dumbar, North-Berwick, Tranent, Prestounpanis, Mussilburgh, Leith,
Cannogait, Kingorne, Kirkcaldy, Dysert, with the depauperat saullis
that this day dwell thairin, can testifie; quhais oppressioun, as
doutless it is enterit in befoir the justice sait of God, sa aucht
it justlie to move oure hartis to have reuth and compassioun upoun
thir oure pure brethren, and at oure poweris to provide remedy for
the same. And albeit hir strangearis had bene garneissit with
money, (as ye knaw weill thay war nott,) yitt can thair heir lying
be na wayis bot maist hurtfull to our commun-wealth, seing that the
fertilitie of this realme hes never bene sa plenteouse, that it was
abill of any continewance to sustene the self, and inhabitantis
thairof, without support of forane cuntreis; far less abill,
besydeis the same, to susteane thowsandis of strangeris quhairwith
it is burdenit, to the derthing of all viweris,[928] as the murmour
and complaint of Edinburgh this day dois testifie. Bot to quhat
effect the commun-wealth is this way burdenit, the end dois
declair; for schortlie war thair brocht to the feyldis against our
Soveraneis trew liegeis, even us youre Brethren, quha, (God
knawis,) socht not ellis bot peace of conscience, under protectioun
of oure Soverane, and reformatioune of thir enormiteis, for na
uther caus bot that we wald nott renunce the Evangell of Jesus
Chryst, and subdew oure neckis under the tyranie of that man of
syn, the Romane Antichrist, and his foirsworne schavillingis, quha
at all tymeis moist tyrannicalie oppressit oure saullis with hunger
of Goddis trew word, and reft oure guidis and substanceis, to waist
the same upoun thair foull lustis and stynking harlottis.
"Bot, (O deir Brethren,) this was nocht the cheif pretence and
finall scope of hir proceidingis, (as thir dayis do weill declair;)
for had not God gevin in oure hartis to withstand that oppressioun
with weaponis of maist just defence, thow, O Sanct Johnestoun and
Dundie, had bene in na better estait nor youre sister of Leyth is
this day. For thocht we in verray deid (God is witnes) menit then
na thing bot, in the simplicitie of oure hartis, the mentenance of
trew religioun, and saiftie of oure brethren professouris of the
same, yit lay thair ane uther serpent lurking in the breist of our
adversareis, as this day, (prayse to God,) is planelie oppinnit to
all that list behald, to witt, to bring yow and us baith under the
perpetuall servitude of strangearis; for we being appointit, as ye
knaw, tuiching religioun to be reassonit in the Counsall at the day
affixt, and na occatioun maid to brek the same on our syde, (as is
weill knawin,) yitt come thair furth writtingis and complayntis,
that this day and that day we war prepairit to invaid hir Graceis
persone, (quhan in verray treuth thair was never sic thing thocht,
as the verray deid hes declairit;) bot becaus sche was befoir
deliberatt to bryng in Frensche men to bayth oure destructionis,
that ye sould nott stur thairwith, sche maid yow to understand,
that thay bandis came onlie for the saiftie of hir awin persone. O
craft, Brethren! O subtiltie! Bot behald the end. [SN: THE CAUS OF
THE FRENCHE MENIS CUMING WITH WYFFIS AND BAIRNEIS.] Thay ar cum,
(yitt not sa mony, na, not the saxt pairt that sche desyreit and
lukit for,) and how?[929] Not onlie with weaponis to defend hir
Graceis persone, bot with wyffis and bairneis, to plant in youre
natyve rowmeis,[930] as thay have alreddy begun in the toun of
Leith, the principall port and stapill of all this realme, the
gernall and furnitour of the Counsall and Sait of Justice: and heir
will thay duell, quhill thay may rainforce thame with greitar
nomber of thair fallow suldiouris, to subdew than the rest, gif God
withstand not. And yitt hir Grace feirit nor eschamit not to write,
'Gif thay war ane hundreth Frensche men for everie ane of thame
that is in Scotland, yitt thay sould harme na man.' Tell thow now,
Leith! gif that be trew: gif this be not ane crafty entrie to ane
manifest conqueist, foirthocht of auld, juge yow, deir Brethren!
Thus to forte our tounis, and evin the principall port of our
realme, and to lay sa strang garnisouns[931] of straingearis
thairin, without any consent of the Nobilitie and Counsall of this
realme, bot expres aganeis thair mynd, (as our writtingis send to
hir Grace beiris record,) gif this be not to oppres the ancient
lawis and libertieis of oure realme, lett all wise men say to
it.[932] And farther, to tak the barne-yairdis new gatherrit, the
gernallis replenischeit, the houssis garnissit, and to sitt doun
thairin, and be force to putt the just possessouris and ancient
inhabitantis thairfra, with thair wyffis, bairneis, and servandis,
to schyft [for] thame selfis in begging, gif thair be na uthir
meaneis, thay being trew Scottis men, memberis of our
commun-wealth, and our deir brethren and sisteris, borne, fosterit,
and brocht up in the bowellis of oure commune and natyve cuntrey:
gif this be not the manifest declaratioun of thair auld pretence
and mynd to the haill Scottis natioun, lett your awin conscience,
(Brethren,) be juge heirin. Was all Leith of the Congregatioun? Na,
I think nott; yitt war all alyk servit.
"Let this motherlie cair than be tryit be the fruttis thairof:
First, Be the greit and exhorbitant taxatiounis usit upoun yow, and
yitt ten tymeis greittar preissit at, as ye knaw. Secundlie, The
utter depravatioun of our counzie, to conqueiss tharby money to
interteyne strangearis, Frensche suldiouris, upoun yow, to mak
thame strong haldis, leist ye sould sumtyme expell thame out of
your natyve rowmeis.[933] Thridlie, Be the daylie rainforceing of
the said Frensche souldiouris, in strenth and nomber, with wyffis
and bairneis, planting in your brethrenis houssis and possessiouns.
Indeid, hir Grace is, and lies bene at all tymes cairfull to
procure be hir craft of fair wordis, fair promeissis, and sumtyme
buddis, to allure your simplicitie to that poynt, to joyne your
self to hir suldiouris, to dantoun and oppres us, that ye the
remanent, (we being cut of,) may be ane easie pray to hir slychtis,
quhilk God, of infinite gudnes, lies now discoveritt to the eyeis
of all that list to behald. Bot credeit the warkis, (deir
Brethren,) gif ye will not creddeit us; and lay the exampill of
forane natiouns, yea, of your awin brethren, befoir your eyis and
procure not your awin rewyne willinglie. Yff ye tender trew
religioun, ye see how hir Grace beiris hir[self] plane ennemy
thairto, and mentenis the tyrannie of thair idill bellies, the
Bischopis, aganeis Godis Kirk. Giff religioun be nott perswaidit
unto yow, yit cast ye not away the cair ye aucht to have ower your
commun-welth, quhilk ye see manifestlie and violentlie rewyneit
befoir your eyis. Gif this will nott move yow, remember your deir
wyffis, children, and posteratie, your ancient heretageis and
houssis; and think weill thir strangearis will regaird na mair
your rycht thairunto, than thay have done your brethrenis of Leyth,
quhan ever occatioun sall serve. Bot gif ye purpoise, as we dout
not bot that all thay that ather haif wit or manheid will declair
and prove indeid, to bruik your ancient rowmeis and heretageis,
conquerit maist valiantlie, and defendit be your maist nobill
progenitouris against all strangearis, invaidaris or the same, as
the Frenscheis pretendis planelie this day; gif ye will not he
slavis unto thame, and to have your liffis, your wiffis, your
bairnes, your substance, and quhatsoever is deir unto yow, cassin
at thair feitt, to be usit and abusit at the plesour of strange
suldiouris, as ye see your brethrenis at this day befoir your
eyeis; gif ye will not have experience sum day heirof in your awin
personeis, (as we suppone the least of yow wald not glaidlie have,
bot rather wald chuse with honour to die in defence of his awin
natyve rowme, than leif and serve sa schamefull ane servitud;)
than, Brethren, let us joyne our forceis, and baith with witt and
manheid resist thir begynningis, or ellis our libertieis heirefter
sall be deirar bocht. [SN: ANE PROVERB.] Lett us surelie[934] be
perswaidit, 'Quhan our nychtbouris house be on fyre, that we duell
nott without daingear.'[935] Lett na man withdraw himself heirfra:
and gif any will be sa unhappy and myschevous, (as we suppone nane
to be,) let us altogidder reput, hald, and use him, (as he is
indeid,) for ane ennemy to us, and to him self, and to his
commun-weill. The eternall and omnipotent God, the trew and onlie
revengear of the oppressit, be oure confort and oure protectour
against the fury and raige of the tyrantis of this warld; and
especiallie frome the insaciabill covetousnes of the
Guisianeis[936] generatioun. AMEN."
Besydis this, our publict letter, sum men answerit certane heidis of hir
proclamatioun on this maner:--
"Gyff it be seditious to speik the treuth in all sobrietie, and to
complayne quhan thay ar woundit, or to call for help against unjust
tyrannie befoir that thair throttis be cutt, than can we not deny,
bot we ar criminall and giltie of tumult and seditioun. For we have
said that our commun-wealth is oppressit, that we and our brethren
ar hurt be the tyrrannie of strangearis, and that we feir bondage
and slaverie, seing that multitudeis of cruell murtheraris ar
daylie brocht in our cuntrey, without our counsall, or knawlege and
consent. We dispuit not sa mekill quhidder the bringing in of ma
Frensche men be violating of the Appointment, (quhilk the Quene nor
hir factioun can not deny to be manifestlie brokin be thame, in ma
caisses than ane,) as that we wald knaw, gif the heipping of
strangearis upoun strangearis above us, without our counsall or
consent, be ane thing that may stand with the libertie of our
realme, and with the proffitt of our commun wealth. It is not
unknawin to all men of jugement, that the fruitis of our cuntrey,
in the maist commun yeiris, be na mair than sufficient reassonabill
to nureis the borne inhabitantis of the same. Bot now, seing that
we have bene vexit with weiris, taikin upoun us at the plesour of
France, by the quhilk the maist fruttfull portioun of our cuntrey
in corneis hes bene waistit; quhatt man is sa blynd bot that he may
see, that sic bandis of ungodlie and idill suldiouris can be na
thing ellis bot ane occatioun to fameis our pure brethren? and in
this poynt we refuise nott, (quhilk is the cheif,) the jugement of
all naturall Scottis men."
The Quene Regent allegeit, "That althocht thair war ane hundreith
Frensche men for ane in Scotland, yitt sche is not myndit to
trubill any in his just possessioun." Quhairto we answer, "That we
disput not quhat sche intendis, (quhilk nochttheless, be probabill
conjectouris, is to be suspectit;) bot alwayis we affirme, that
sick ane multitude of Frensche men is ane burding, not onlie
unproffitabill, bot alssua intollerabill to this pure realme,
especiallie being intreatit as thay ar be hir and Monsieur Dosell;
for gif thair waigeis be payit out of France, than ar thay baith
(the Quene, we say, and Monsieur Dosell,) traytouris to the Kyng
and Counsall; for the pure communis of this realme have sustenit
thame with the sweit of thair browis, sence the contracting of the
peace, and sumquhat befoir.
"Quhat motherlie effectioun sche hes declairit to this realme, and
to the inhabitantis of the same, hir warkis have evidentlie
declairit, evin sence the first houre that sche hes borne
authoritie; and albeit men will not this day see quhat daingear
hyngis over thair heidis, yitt feir we, that or it be long,
experience sall teich sum that we feir not without cause. The
crewell murthar and oppressioun usit be thame quham now sche
fosteris, is till us ane sufficient argument, quhatt is to be
luikit for, quhan hir nomber is sa multipleit, that oure force sall
not be abill to gainestand thair tyranie.
[SN: THE DOCTRINE OF OUR PRECHARIS CONCERNING OBEDIENCE TO BE GEVIN
TO MAGISTRATTIS.[937]]
"Quhair sche complenis of our Prechearis, affirmyng that
irreverentlie thay speik of Princeis in generall, and of hir in
particular, induceing the pepill thairby to defectioun frome thair
dewatie, &c., and thairfor that sick thing can nott be sufferit:
Becaus this occatioun is had aganis[938] Godis trew Ministeris, we
can not bot witnes quhat tred and ordour of doctrine thay have
keipitt and yitt keip in that poynt. In publict prayeris thay
commend to God all Princeis in generall, and the Magistrattis of
this our natyve realme in particular. In oppin audience thay
declair the auctoratie of Princeis and Magistratis to be of God;
and thairfoir thay affirme, that thay aucht to be honourit, feirit,
obeyit, evin for conscience saik; providit that thay command nor
requyre nathing expreslie repugning to Godis commandiment and
plane will, reveillit in his holy worde. Mairover, thay affirme,
that gif wickit personeis, abusing the auctoratie estableischet be
God, command thingis manifestlie wickit, that sick as may and do
brydill thair inordinatt appetyteis of Princeis, can not be accusit
as resistaris of the aucthoratie, quhilk is Godis gud ordinance. To
brydill the fury and raige of Princeis in free kingdomes and
realmeis, thay affirme it appertenis to the Nobilitie, sworne and
borne Counsallouris of the same, and allsua to the Barronis and
Pepill, quhais voteis and consent ar to be requyreit in all greit
and wechty materis of the commun-welth. Quhilk gif thay do not,
thay declair thame selffis criminall with thair Princeis, and sa
subject to the same vengeance of God, quhilk thay deserve, for that
thay pollute the sait of justice, and do, as it war, mak God author
of iniquytie. Thay proclame and thay cry, that the same God quha
plaigit Pharoo, repulsit Senacherib, struik Herod with wormes, and
maid the bellies of dogis the grave and sepulchrie of despytefull
Jesabell, will nott spair the crewell Princeis, murtheraris of
Chrystis memberis in this our tyme. On this maner thay speik of
Princeis in generall, and of youre Grace in particular. [SN: LETT
SICK AS THIS DAY LEIF WITNES QUHAT GOD HES WROCHT SINCE THE
WRYTTING AND PUBLICATIOUN HEIROF.[939]] This onlie we have hard ane
of oure Prechearis say, rebuiking the vane excuise of sick as
flatter thame selffis, be reassone of the auctoratie; 'Many now a
dayis, (said he,) will have na uther religioun nor faith than the
Quene and the authoratie hes.'[940] Bot is it [not] posseble, that
the Quene be sa far blyndit that sche will haif na religioun, nor
na uther fayth, than may content to the Cardinall of Lorane? and
may it nott lykwyise be abill, that the Cardinall be sua corrupt,
that he will admitt na religioun quhilk dois nott establische the
Paip in his kingdome: Bot plane it is, that the Paip is lievetenent
to Sathan, and ennemy to Chryst Jesus, and to his perfyte
religioun. Lett men thairfoir considder quhat daingear thay stand
in, gif thair salvatioun sall depend upoun the Queneis faith and
religioun. Farder we have never hard any of oure Prechearis speik
of the Quene Regent, nether publictlie nor privatlie. Quhair hir
Grace declairis, 'It will nocht be sufferit that oure prechearis
mell with policie, nor speik of hir nor of uther Princeis bot with
reverence,' we answer, 'That as we will justifie and defend nathing
in oure prechearis, quhilk we fynd not God to have justifeit and
allowit in his messingeris befoir thame; sua dar we not forbid
thame oppinlie to reprehend that quhilk the Spreit of God, speiking
in the Propheitis and [SN: THE PROPHETTIS HAIF MIDDILLIT WITH
POLICEY, AND HIS REPROVIT THE CORRUPTIOUN THAIROF.] Apostillis, hes
reprehendit befoir thame. Helias did personallie reprove Achab and
Jesabell of idolatrie, of avarice, of murther; and sicklik Esaias
the Propheit callitt the magistrattis of Jerusalem in his tymeis
companzeounis to thevis, princeis of Sodome, brybe-takeris, and
murtheraris: He complenit that thair silver was turnit in to dross,
that thair wyne was myngleit with watter, and that justice was
bocht and sauld. Jeremias said, 'That the baneis of King Jehoiakim
sould widder with the sone.' Christ Jesus callit Herod a fox; and
Paul callit the Hie Preist ane payntit wall, and prayit unto God
that he sould strike him, because that against justice he commandit
him to be smyttin. Now gif the lyk or greittar corruptiounis be in
the warld this day, quha dar interprise to put silence to the
Spreit of God, quhilk [will] not be subject[941] to the appetyteis
of wickit Princeis?"
[SN: THE CUMING OF THE ERLE OF ARRANE TO SCOTLAND, AND HIS JOYNING
WITH THE CONGREGATIOUN.[942]]
We have befoir said, that the tent day of September was appointit for
ane Conventioun to be haldin at Striveling, to the quhilk repairit the
maist pairt of the Lordis of the Congregatioun. At that same tyme
arryvitt the Erle of Arrane, quha, efter that he had salutit his Father,
came with the Erie of Ergyle and Lord James to Striviling to the said
Conventioun. In quhilk diverse godlie men complenit upoun the tyrranie
usit against thair brethren, and especiallie that ma Frensche men wer
brocht in to oppress thair cuntrey. Efter the consultatioun of certane
dayis, the principall Lordis, with my Lord of Arrane and Erie of Ergyle,
past to Hammyltoun, for consultatioun to be taikin with my Lord Duikis
Grace. And in this menetyme came assureit word that the Frensche men war
begun to fortifie Leith; quhilk thing, as it did mair evidentlie
discover[943] the Queneis craft, sua did deiplie greiff the hartis of
the haill Nobilitie thair, quha, with ane consentt, aggreit to write
unto the Quene, in forme as followis:--
[SN: LETTERIS TO THE QUENE REGENT.]
"At Hammyltoun, the xix[944] day of September 1559.
"Pleise Your Grace,
"We ar credibillie informeit, that your army of Frensche men sould
instantlie begin to plant in Leith, to fortifie the same, of mynd
to expell the ancient inhabitants thairof, our brethren of the
Congregatioun; quhairof we marvell not a littill, that your Grace
sould sua manifestlie brek the Appointment maid at Leith, but ony
provocatioun maid be us and our brethren. And seing the samyn is
done without ony maner consent of the Nobilitie and Counsale of
this realme, we esteme the same nocht onlie oppressioun of our pure
brethren, indwellaris of the said town, bot allsua verray
prejudiciall to the commun-wealth, and playne contrair to oure
ancient lawis and libertieis: Heirfoir desyreis your Grace to caus
the samyn warke interprysit, be stayit; and nott to attempt sua
raschlie and manifestlie against your Graceis promeis, against the
commun-wealth, the ancient lawis and libertieis thairof, (quhilk
thingis, besyde the glorie of God, ar maist deir and tender unto
us, and onlie our pretence;) utherwayis, assuring your Grace, we
will complayne to the haill Nobilitie and Communitie of this
realme, and maist eirnistlie seik for redress thairof. And thus,
recommending oure humyll service unto youre Hienes, your Graceis
answer maist eirnistlie we desire, quham we committ to the eternall
protectioun of God.
"At Hammyltoun, day and yeir forsaid. Be youre Graceis humyll and
obedient Servitouris."
(This letter was subscrivit with the handis of my Lord Duik, the Erie of
Arrane, Argyle, Glencairne, and Menteith; be the Lordis Ruthwen,
Uchiltre, Boyd, and by utheris diverse, Barronis and Gentilmen.)--To
this requeist sche wald nott answer be writt, bot with ane letter of
creddeit sche send Sir Robert Carnegy[945] and Maister David
Boirthick,[946] tua, quham amangis many utheris, sche abusit, and by
quham sche corruptit the hartis of the sempill. They travellit with the
Duik, to bring him agane to the Queneis factioun. La Broche and the
Bischop of Amiance were schort befoir arryvit; and, as it was brutit,
war directit as ambassadouris; bot thay keipitt cloise thair haill
commissioun: Thay onlie maid large promeisses to thame that wald be
thairis, and leif the Congregatioun. The Quene did grevouslie complayne,
that we haid intelligence with Ingland. [SN: THE PETITIOUN OF
LABROCHE.] The conclusioun of thair commissioun was to solist my Lord
Duike to put all in the Queneis will, and than wald sche be gratious
aneuch. [SN: THE ANSWER.] It was answerit, "That na honest men
durst committ thame selfis to the mercie of sick thrott-cuttaris[947] as
sche had about hir; quham, gif sche wald remove, and joyne to hir ane
Counsall of naturall Scottismen, permitting the religioun to have fre
passage, than sould nane in Scotland be mair willing to serve hir Grace
than sould the Lordis and Brethren of the Congregatioun be."
[SN: LETTER TO THE LORD ERSKIN.]
At the same tyme, the Duik his Grace and the Lordis wrait to my Lord
Erskin, Capitane of Castell of Edinburgh, in forme as followis:
"MY LORD AND COUSING,
"Efter oure hartlie commendatioun, this present is to adverteise
yow, that we ar credibillie informeit, the army of Frensche men
instantlie in this realme, but ony avise of the Counsale of
Nobilitie, ar fortifieand, of ellis schortlie intendis to fortifie
the town of Leith, and expell the ancient inhabitantis thairof;
quhairby thay proclame to all that will oppin thair eiris to heir,
or ene to se, quhat is thair pretence. And seing the faithfulnes of
youre antecessouris, and especiallie of your Father, of honorabill
memorie, was sa recommendit and experimentit to the Estaitis and
Counsallouris of this realme, throwch affectioun thay persawit in
him towartis the commun-wealth thairof, that thay doubtit not to
gif in his keiping the key, as it war, of the Counsall, the
Justice, and Policey of this realme, the Castellis of Edinburgh
and Striveling;[948] we can not bot beleif ye will rather augment
the honorabill favoure of your housse, be steidfast favour and
lawtie to your commun-wealth, than throuch the subtell persuatioun
of sum, (quhilk cair not quhat efter sail cum of yow and your
house,) at the present wald abuse yow, to the performance of thair
wickit interprysis and pretensis against oure commun-wealth,
utterlie to destroy the same. And heirfoir, seing that we haif
writtin to the Queneis Grace, to desist fra that interpryse,
utherwise that we will complane to the Nobilitie and Communitie of
the realme, and seik redress thairof. We lykwise beseik yow, as our
tender freynd, brother, and member of the same commun-wealth with
us, that ye on na wayis mell or assent to that ungodlie interpryise
aganeis the commun-wealth; and lykwyise, that ye wald saif your
body, and the jewell of this countrey commitit to yow and your
predicessouris lawtie and fidelitie toward youre natyve countrey
and commun-wealth, gif ye think to be repute heirefter ane of the
samyn, and wald rather be brother to us, nor to strangers; for we
do gather by the effectis, the secreitis of menis hartis,
utherwayis inserceabill unto us. This we write, nott that we ar in
dout of yow, bot rather to wairne yow of the daingear, in caise ye
thoill your self to be enchantit with fair promeissis and craftie
counsalouris. For lett na man flatter him selff: We desyre all man
[to] knaw, that thocht he war our father, (sen God hes oppinnit
oure eyes to se his will,) be he ennemy to the commun-wealth,
quhilk now is assailzeit, and we with it, and all trew memberis
thairof, he sall be knawin (and as he is in deid) ennemy to us, to
oure lyvis, housses, babis, heretageis, and quhat sumevir is
contenit within the same. For as the schip perischeing, quhat can
be saif that is within?[949] Sua the commun-wealth being betrayit,
quhat particular member can leif in quyetnes? And thairfoir in sa
far as the saidis Castellis ar commitit to your credeitt, we desyre
yow to schaw youre faithfulnes and stoutnes, as ye tender us, and
quhatsumevir appertenis to us. And seing we ar assureit ye will be
assailzeit bayth with craft and force, as now be wairnyng we help
yow against the first, sua against the last ye sall not myss in all
possibill haist to have oure assistance. Onlie schaw your selff the
man. Saiff your persone by wisdome, strenth your selff against
force, and the Almychtie God assist yow in baith the ane and the
uther, and oppin youre eyis[950] understanding, to see and persaif
the craft of Sathan and his suppoistis.
"At Hammyltoun, the xix day[951] of September 1559. Be your
Brethren, &c."
[SN: THE TYRRANNY OF THE FRENSCHE.]
The Duike and Lordis understanding that the fortificatioun of Leith
proceidit, appointit thair haill forceis to convene at Striviling the xv
day of October, that frome thence thai mycht marche fordwart to
Edinburgh, for the redress of the greit enormyteis quhilk the Frensche
did to the haill cuntrey, quhilk be thame was sua oppressitt that the
lyfe of all honest man[952] was bitter unto him.
In this meintyme, the Lordis directit thair letteris to diverse pairtis
of the cuntrey, makand mentioun quhat dangear did hing ower all men,
giff the Frensche sould be sufferit to plant in this cuntrey at thair
plesoure. Thay maid mentioun farder, how humblie thay had socht the
Queue Regent, that sche wald send away to France hir Frensche men, quha
war ane burding unproffitable and grevous to thair commun-wealth; and
how that sche nochtwithstanding did daylie augment hir nomber, brynging
wyffis and bairneis; a declaratioun of ane plane conqueist, &c.
The Quene, than Regent, perseving that hir crafte began to be espiit, be
all meaneis possebill travellit to blynd the pepill. And first, sche
send furth hir pestilent postis foirnameit in all pairtis of the
cuntrey, to perswaid all man that sche offerit all thingis reassonabill
to the Congregatioun; and that thay refusing all reassoun, pretendit na
religioun, bot ane plane revolt frome the Authoratie. Sche temptit every
man in particular, alse weill thay that war of the Congregatioun, as
thame that war neutrallis. Sche assaultit everie man, as sche thocht
maist easelie he mycht have bene ovircum. To the Lord Ruthven sche send
the Justice Clerk and his wiff, quhn, is dochter to the wife[953] of the
said Lord. Quhat was thair commissioun and creddeit, is na farther
knawin than the said Lord hes confessit, quhilk is, that large
promeisses of proffitt was offerrit, gif he wald leiff the
Congregatioun and be the Queneis. To Lord James, Priour of Sanctandrois,
was send Maister Johnne Spense of Condy, with ane letter and creddeit,
as followis:--
"THE MEMORIALL OF MAISTER JOHNNE SPENSE OF CONDY,[954]
THE THRETTY DAY OF SEPTEMBER.
"1. Ye sall say, that hir[955] greit favour towartis yow movis hir
to this.
"2. That sche now knawis, that the occatioun of your depairting frome
hir was the favoure of the word and of religioun; with the quhilk albeit
sche was offendit, yitt knawing your hart and the hartis of the uther
Lordis firmelie fixit thairupoun, sche will beir with yow in that
behalf, and at youre awin sychtis sche will sett fordwart that caus at
hir power, as may stand with Goddis word, the commun policey of this
realme, and the Princeis honour. (Note, Gud reiddar, quhat vennoum
lurkis heir; for plane it is, that the policey quhilk sche pretendit,
and the Princeis honour, will never suffer Christ Jesus to ring in this
realme.)
"3. To say, that the occasioun of the assembling of thir men of weir,
and fortifeing of Leith, is, that it was gevin hir to understand be sum
about hir, that it is not the advancement of the word and religioun
quhilk is socht at this tyme, bot rather ane pretense to owerthraw, or
alter the authoratie of your Sister, of the quhilk sche belevis still
that ye ar nott participant; and considdering the tendernes betuix yow
and your Sister, sche trestis mair in yow in that behalf than in any
leving. [SN: LETT THIS BE NOTIT, O CRAFTIE FLATTERIE![956] (Bot
befoir the Erle of Arrane arryvit, and that the Duke depairtit frome hir
factioun, sche ceassit not contynewallie to cry, that the Priour socht
to mak him self King; and sua not onlie to depryve his sister to mak him
selff King, bot alssua to defraude the Lordis Duikeis Grace and his
housse: bot foirseing ane storme, sche began to seik ane new wynd.)
"Sche farther willit, to offer the way-sending of the men of weir,
gif the former suspitioun could be removit. Sche lamentit the
trubill that appeirit to follow gif the mater sould lang stand in
debait. Sche promeist hir faithfull laubouris for reconciliatioun,
and requyreit the samyn of him; requiring farther, faith, favour,
and kyndnes, towartis his Sister; and to adverteise for his pairt
quhat he desyreit, with promeise that he mycht obtene quhat he
plesit to desyre, &c."