for the assault; nineteen cannons, whereof four were cannons-royal,
called double cannons, besides other pieces. The cannonade began
at four o'clock in the morning, and before ten o'clock of the
day, the whole south quarter, betwixt the fore-tower and the east
block-house, was made assaultable. The lower trance was condemned,
divers were slain in it, and the east block-house was shot off from
the rest of the place between ten and eleven o'clock. Then fell
a shower of rain that continued nearly an hour. The like of it
had seldom been seen. It was so vehement that no man might abide
without shelter. The cannons were left alone. Some within the
Castle were of opinion that men should have ished,[104] and put all
in the hands of God. But because William Kirkaldy was coming with
the Prior of Capua, on commission from the King of France, nothing
was enterprised. And so an Appointment was made, and the Castle
surrendered upon Saturday, the last of July.
[104] Sallied forth.
The heads of the Appointment were:--That the lives of all within
the Castle should be saved, as well English as Scottish. That
they should be safely transported to France; and in case that,
upon conditions that should be offered unto them by the King of
France, they could not be content to remain in service and freedom
there, they should, upon the expense of the King of France, be
safely conveyed to such country as they should require, other than
Scotland. They would have nothing to do with the Governor, nor with
any Scotsman; for these had all traitorously betrayed them, "and
this," said the Laird of Grange, elder, a simple man of most stout
courage, "I am assured God will revenge before long."
[Sidenote: The Company of the Castle are carried to France, and cast
into Prison and the Galleys.]
The galleys, well furnished with the spoil of the Castle, returned
to France, after certain days. Escaping a great danger (for they
all chapped[105] upon the back of the Sands), they arrived first at
Fecamp, and thereafter passed up the water of Seine, and lay before
Rouen. There the principal gentlemen, who looked for freedom, were
dispersed, and put in sundry prisons. The rest were left in the
galleys, and there miserably treated. Amongst these was the foresaid
Master James Balfour, with his two brethren, David and Gilbert, men
without God. We write this because we hear that the said Master
James, principal misguider now of Scotland, denies that he had
anything to do with the Castle of St. Andrews, or that ever he was
in the galleys. In breach of express promises (but Princes have no
fidelity further than for their own advantage), these things were
done at Rouen, and then the galleys departed to Nantes, in Brittany,
where they lay upon the water of Loire the whole winter.
[105] Struck.
[Sidenote: The Papists rejoice, and the Regent receives the Pope's
Thanks.]
Then was the joy of the Papists both of Scotland and France in full
perfection; for this was their song of triumph--
Priests content ye noo; priests content ye noo;
For Norman and his company has filled the galleys fou.
The Pope wrote his letters to the King of France, and to the
Governor of Scotland, thanking them heartily for taking pains to
revenge the death of his kind creature, the Cardinal of Scotland;
and desiring them to continue in their severity as they had begun,
that such things should not be attempted again. And so were all
these that were taken in the Castle condemned to perpetual prison;
and the ungodly believed that Christ Jesus should never have
triumphed in Scotland after that.
In Scotland, that summer, there was nothing but mirth; for all
things went with the priests, at their own pleasure. The Castle
of St. Andrews was rased to the ground, the block-houses thereof
were cast down, and the walls round about were demolished. Whether
this was done to fulfil their law, which commands that places where
Cardinals are slain shall so be used, or else for fear that England
should have taken it, as afterwards they took Broughty Craig, we
remit to the judgment of such as were consulted.
[Sidenote: The Duke of Somerset invades Scotland.]
This same year, 1547, in the beginning of September, an army of ten
thousand men from England entered Scotland, by land, and some ships
with ordnance came by sea. The Governor and the Archbishop, informed
of this, gathered together the forces of Scotland and assembled
at Edinburgh. The Protector of England, with the Earl of Warwick,
and their army, remained at Preston, and about Prestonpans: for
they had certain offers to propose unto the nobility of Scotland.
These concerned the promises formerly made by them to King Harry.
Before his death, he had gently required them to stand fast; and had
undertaken that, if they would do so, they should have no trouble
from him or his kingdom, but rather the help and comfort that he
could give them in all things lawful. On this subject, a letter was
now directed to the Governor and Council; but this fell into the
hands of the Archbishop of St. Andrews, who, thinking that it could
not be for his advantage that it should be divulged, suppressed it
by his craft.
[Sidenote: The Battle of Pinkie Cleuch.]
Upon Friday, the ninth of September, the English army marched
towards Leith, and the Scottish army marched from Edinburgh to
Inveresk. The whole Scottish army was not assembled, and yet
skirmishing began; for nothing was expected but victory without a
stroke. The Protector, the Earl of Warwick, the Lord Gray, and all
the English captains were playing at the dice: no men were stouter
than the priests and canons, with their shaven crowns and black
jacks. The Earl of Warwick and the Lord Gray, who had the chief
charge of the horsemen, perceiving the host to be molested by the
Scottish prickers, and that the multitude were neither under order
nor obedience (for they were divided from the great army), sent
forth certain troops of horsemen, and some of their borderers,
either to fight them, or else to put them out of their sight, so
that they might not annoy the host. The skirmish grew hot, and
at length the Scotsmen gave back, and fled without once turning.
The chase continued far, both towards the east and towards the
west. Many were slain, and he that now is Lord Home was afterwards
surrendered to the Englishmen. The loss of these men neither moved
the Governor, nor yet the Archbishop, his bastard brother. They
would revenge the matter well enough upon the morrow; for they were
hands enough (no word of God): the English heretics had no faces;
they would not abide.
Upon the Saturday, the armies of both sides arrayed themselves.
The English army took the mid part of Falside Hill, having their
ordnance planted before them, and their ships and two galleys
brought as near the land as the water would allow. The Scottish army
stood at first in a reasonably strong position and in good order,
having betwixt them and the English army the water of Esk, otherwise
called Musselburgh Water. At length, on the Governor's behalf, with
sound of trumpet, order was given that all men should march forward,
and go over the water. Some say that this was procured by the Abbot
of Dunfermline, and Master Hugh Rigg, for preservation of Carberry.
Men of judgment did not like the move; for they thought it no wisdom
to leave their strong position. But commandment upon commandment,
and charge upon charge were given, and, thus urged, they obeyed
unwillingly. The Earl of Angus was in the vanguard, and had in his
company the gentlemen of Fife, Angus, Mearns, and the Westland, with
many others that for love resorted to him and especially those
that were professors of the Evangel; for they supposed that England
would not make great pursuit of him. He passed first through the
water, and arrayed his host directly before the enemies. The Earl of
Huntly, and his Northland men followed. Last came the Duke, having
in his company the Earl of Argyll, with his own friends, and the
body of the realm.
The Englishmen, perceiving the danger, and that the Scotsmen
intended to take the top of the hill, made haste to prevent the
peril. The Lord Gray was commanded to give the charge with his men
of arms. This he did, albeit the hazard was very unlikely; for the
Earl of Angus's host stood even as a wall. These received the first
assaulters upon the points of their spears (which were longer than
those of the Englishmen) so rudely that fifty horse and men of the
first rank lay dead at once, without any hurt being done to this
Scots army, except that the spears of the two foremost ranks were
broken. This discomfiture received, the rest of the horsemen fled;
yea, some passed beyond Falside Hill. The Lord Gray himself was hurt
in the mouth, and plainly refused to charge again; for, he said, "It
was like running against a wall." The galleys, the ships, and the
ordnance planted upon the mid hill shot terribly. The cross-fire of
the ordnance of the galleys affrighted the Scots army wondrously.
While every man laboured to draw from the north, whence the danger
appeared, they began to reel, and at that point the English footmen
were marching forward, albeit some of their horsemen were in flight.
The Earl of Angus's army stood still, expecting that either Huntly
or the Duke would rencounter the next battle; but it had been
decreed that the favourers of England, and the heretics, as the
priests called them, and the Englishmen should have the struggle to
themselves for the day.
Panic arose, and, in an instant, those who before were victors and
were not yet assaulted with any force, except with ordnance, as we
have said, cast their spears from them and fled. Thus was God's
power so evidently seen, that in one moment, yea, in one instant,
both the armies were fleeing. From the hill, from those that hoped
for no victory upon the English part, the shout arose, "They flee,
they flee." At the first it could not be believed, but at last it
was clearly seen that all had given back; and then began a cruel
slaughter, which was the greater by reason of the late displeasure
of the men at arms.
The chase and slaughter extended almost to Edinburgh, upon the one
part, and be-west Dalkeith upon the other. The number of the slain
upon the Scottish side was judged to be nigh ten thousand men. The
Earl of Huntly was taken, and carried to London; but he relieved
himself, being surety for many ransoms. Whether he did so honestly
or unhonestly we know not; but, as the bruit passed, he used policy
with England. In the same battle was slain the Master of Erskine,
dearly beloved of the Queen, who made great lamentation for him,
and bare his death in mind for many days. When the certainty of
the discomfiture came, she was in Edinburgh, waiting for tidings;
but with expedition she posted that same night to Stirling, with
Monsieur D'Oysel, who was as fleyed[106] as "a fox when his hole
is smoked." Thus did God take the second revenge upon the perjured
Governor and such as assisted him to defend an unjust quarrel;
albeit many innocents fell with the wicked. The English army came to
Leith, and, after securing their prisoners and spoil, returned to
England with this unlooked-for victory.
[106] Scared.
During the following winter, great hardships were inflicted upon all
the Borders of Scotland. Broughty Craig was taken by the Englishmen,
besieged by the Governor, but still kept. There Gavin, the best of
the Hamiltons, was slain, and the ordnance lost. The Englishmen,
encouraged, began to fortify the hill above Broughty House. The
position was called the Fort of Broughty, and was very noisome[107]
to Dundee. This it burned and laid waste; as it did the most part of
Angus, which was not assured and under friendship with England.
[107] Troublesome.
At the Easter following, Haddington was fortified by the Englishmen.
The most part of Lothian, from Edinburgh east, was either assured
or laid waste. Thus did God plague in every quarter; but men were
blind, and would not, or could not, consider the cause. The Lairds
of Ormiston and Brunstone were banished, and afterwards forfeited,
and so were all those of the Castle of St. Andrews.
The sure knowledge of the troubles of Scotland coming to France,
there was prepared a navy and army. The navy was such as never
was seen to come from France for the support of Scotland.... They
arrived in Scotland in May 1549. Preparations were made for the
siege of Haddington; but it was another thing that they meant, as
the issue declared.
[Sidenote: The Parliament at Haddington: Queen Mary is sold to
France.]
The whole body of the realm having assembled, the form of a
Parliament was held in the Abbey of Haddington. The principal head
was the marriage to the King of France of the Princess, who had
formerly been contracted to King Edward; and her immediate transfer
to France, by reason of the danger to her from the invasion of
our old enemies of England. Some were corrupted with buds,[108]
some were deceived by flattering promises, and some for fear were
compelled to consent, for the French soldiers were the officers
of arms in that Parliament. The Laird of Buccleuch, a bloody man,
sware, with many "God's wounds," that "they that would not consent
should do worse." The Governor got the Duchy of Châtelherault, with
the order of the Cockle, a full discharge of all intromissions with
the treasure and substance of King James the Fifth, and possession
of the Castle of Dumbarton, until issue of the Queen's body should
be seen. Upon these and other conditions, he stood content to sell
his sovereign. Huntly, Argyll, and Angus were likewise made knights
of the Cockle; and, for that and other good deeds received, they
also sold their interest. In short, none was found to resist that
unjust demand; and so the Queen was sold to go to France, to the end
that in her youth she should drink of the liquor that should remain
with her all her lifetime, for a plague to this realm, and for her
final destruction. Therefore, albeit there now comes out from her a
fire that consumes many, let no man wonder. She is the hand of God,
who, in His displeasure, is punishing our former ingratitude....
[108] Gifts; bribes.
[Sidenote: The Siege of Haddington.]
Once it was decided that our Queen, without further delay, should be
delivered to France, the siege continued. There was great shooting,
but no assaulting; and yet they had fair occasion offered unto them.
For the Englishmen, approaching the town with powder, victuals, and
men for the comforting of the besieged, lost an army of six thousand
men. Sir Robert Bowes was taken prisoner, and the most part of the
Borderers were either captured or slain. The town might justly have
despaired of any further succour, but yet it held good; for the
stout courage and prudent government of General Sir James Wilford
did so inspire the whole captains and soldiers that they determined
to die upon their walls. From the time that the Frenchmen had gotten
the bone for which the dog barked, the pursuit of the town was slow.
The siege was raised, and the Queen was conveyed by the west seas to
France; and so the Cardinal of Lorraine got her into his keeping, a
morsel meet for his own mouth....
That winter Monsieur de Dessé remained in Scotland with the bands
of Frenchmen. They fortified Inveresk, to prevent the English from
invading Edinburgh and Leith. Some skirmishes there were betwixt the
one and the other, but no notable thing was done, except that the
French almost took Haddington, as we shall see.
[Sidenote: The French Fruits: Arrogance of the French Soldiery.]
Thinking themselves more than masters in all parts of Scotland,
and in Edinburgh principally, the French thought that they could
do no wrong to any Scotsman. A certain Frenchman having delivered
a culverin to George Tod, a Scotsman, to be stocked, he was
bringing it through the street, when another Frenchman claimed
it. He would have reft it from the said George; but he resisted,
alleging that the Frenchman did wrong. Parties began to assemble
to succour of the Scotsman, as well as to that of the Frenchman.
Two of the Frenchmen were stricken down, and the rest were chased
from the Cross to Niddrie's Wynd head. The Provost, being upon the
street, apprehended two of the French, and was carrying them to the
Tolbooth; when from Monsieur de Dessé's lodging and close issued
forth Frenchmen, to the number of threescore persons. These, with
drawn swords, resisted the said Provost. But the town, assembling,
repulsed them, until they came to the Nether Bow. There Monsieur de
La Chapelle, with the whole bands of Frenchmen in arms, rencountered
the said Provost and repulsed him (for the town was without weapons
for the most part), and then attacked all that they met. In the
throat of the Bow were slain David Kirke and David Barbour, who
were at the Provost's back, and then were slain the said Provost
himself, who was Laird of Stenhouse and captain of the Castle, James
Hamilton, his son, William Chapman, a godly man, Master William
Stewart, William Purves, and a woman, named Elizabeth Stewart.
Thereafter the soldiers tarried within the town, by force, from
five o'clock until after seven at night, and then retired to the
Canongate, as to their receptacle and refuge.
The whole town, yea, the Governor and Nobility, commoved at
the unworthiness of this bold attempt, craved justice upon the
malefactors, and threatened that they would otherwise execute
justice on the whole. The Queen, craftily enough, Monsieur de Dessé,
and Monsieur D'Oysel laboured for pacification, and did promise that
"unless the Frenchmen, by themselves alone, should do such an act
as might recompense the wrong that they had done, they should not
refuse that justice should be executed, with rigour."
These fair words pleased our fools, and the French bands were the
next night directed to Haddington. They approached the town a little
after midnight, so secretly that they were never espied until the
foremost were within the base court, and the whole company in
the churchyard, not two pair of butt-lengths from the town. The
soldiers, Englishmen, were all asleep, except the watch, which was
slender, and yet the shout was raised, "Bows and bills: bows and
bills," which in all towns of war signifies need of extreme defence,
to avoid present danger. The affrighted arose; weapons that first
came to hand serving for the need. One amongst many came to the east
port, where lay two great pieces of ordnance, and where the enemies
were known to be. Crying to his fellows that were at the gate making
defence, "Ware before," he fired a great piece, and thereafter
another. God so conducted this discharge that, after it, no further
pursuit was made. The bullets rebounded from the wall of the Friar
Kirk, to the wall of St. Catherine's Chapel, which stood directly
fornent it, and from the wall of the Chapel to the Kirk wall again,
so often that there fell more than a hundred of the French, at those
two shots only. The firing was continued, but the French retired
with diligence, and returned to Edinburgh, without harm done, except
the destruction of some drinking beer, which lay in the said Chapel
and Kirk. Herein was ample satisfaction for the slaughter of the
said captain and Provost, and for the slaughter of such as were
slain with him. This was the beginning of the French fruits.
This winter also did the Laird of Raith most innocently suffer,
the head of the said nobleman being stricken from him; especially
because he was known to be one that unfeignedly favoured the truth
of God's Word, and was a great friend to those that were in the
Castle of St. Andrews. Of their deliverance, and of God's wondrous
working with them during the time of their bondage, we must now
speak, lest, in suppressing the record of so notable a work of God,
we might justly be accused of ingratitude.
[Sidenote: Of the Scots Prisoners in France, and their Deliverance.]
The principals being confined in several houses, as before we have
said, there was great labour to make them have a good opinion of
the Mass. Chiefly was there travail with Norman Leslie, the Laird
of Grange, and the Laird of Pitmilly, who were in the Castle of
Cherbourg. Pressed to go to Mass with the captain, they answered
that "The captain had commandment to keep their bodies, but he had
no power to command their conscience." The captain replied that "He
had power to command and to compel them to go where he would." They
answered that "They would not refuse to go to any lawful place with
him; but they would not, either for him or for the King, do anything
that was against their conscience." The captain said, "Will ye not
go to the Mass?" They answered, "No; and if ye would compel us, we
will displease you further; for we will so use ourselves there that
all those that are present shall know that we despite it."
Similar answers, and somewhat sharper, did William Kirkaldy, Peter
Carmichael, and such as were with them in Mount St. Michael, give
to their captain; for they said they would not only hear Mass every
day, but that they would help to say it, provided that they might
stick the priests. Master Henry Balnaves, who was in the Castle of
Rouen, was most sharply assaulted of all; for, because he was judged
learned, learned men were appointed to travail with him, and with
them he had many conflicts. But, God so assisting him, they departed
confounded, and he, by the power of God's Spirit, remained constant
in the truth and profession of the same, without any wavering or
declining to idolatry.
These that were in the galleys were threatened with torments, if
they would not give reverence to the Mass; but the French could
never make the poorest of that company give reverence to that idol.
Yea, when, upon the Saturday night, they sang their _Salve Regina_,
the whole Scotsmen put on their caps, their hoods, or such things
as they had to cover their heads; and when others were compelled
to kiss a painted board, which they called "Notre Dame," they were
not pressed more than once; for this was what happened. Soon after
the arrival at Nantes, their great _Salve_ was sung, and a glorious
painted Lady was brought to be kissed, and was presented to one of
the Scotsmen then chained, amongst others. He gently said, "Trouble
me not; such an idol is accursed; and therefore I will not touch
it." The patron and the arguesyn[109] with two officers, having the
chief charge of all such matters, said, "Thou shalt handle it;"
and so they violently thrust it to his face, and put it betwixt
his hands. He, seeing the extremity, took the idol, and advisedly
looking about, cast it into the river, saying, "Let our Lady now
save herself: she is light enough; let her learn to swim." After
that no Scotsman was urged with that idolatry.
[109] Skipper and the lieutenant.
These are things that appear to be of no great importance; and
yet, if we do rightly consider, they express the same obedience as
God required of His people Israel when they should be carried to
Babylon. He gave charge unto them that, when they should see the
Babylonians worship their gods of gold, silver, metal, and wood,
they should say, "The gods that have not made the heaven and the
earth shall perish from the heaven, and out of the earth."
[Sidenote: John Knox prophesies of himself: his Confidence in God's
Deliverance.]
Master James Balfour being in the same galley as John Knox, and
being wondrously familiar with him, would often ask his opinion
whether he thought that they should ever be delivered. His answer
ever was, from the day that they entered the galleys, that God,
for His own glory, would deliver them from that bondage, even in
this life. The second time that the galleys returned to Scotland,
when they were lying betwixt Dundee and St. Andrews, and the said
John was so extremely sick that few hoped his life, the said Master
James willed him to look to the land, and asked if he knew it? He
answered, "Yes, I know it well; for I see the steeple of the place
in which God first in public opened my mouth to His glory. I am
fully persuaded that, however weak I may now appear, I shall not
depart this life until my tongue shall glorify His godly name in the
same place." The said Master James reported this in presence of many
famous witnesses, many years before the said John set his foot in
Scotland this last time.