Walter Myln, we did most humbly complain of this unjust cruelty,
requiring that justice in such cases should be administered with
greater indifference.[131] A woman born to dissemble and deceive,
she began to lament to us the cruelty of the Archbishop, excusing
herself as innocent. She declared that sentence had been given
without her knowledge, because the man had been a priest at one
time; and the Archbishop's officer had prosecuted him without any
commission from the civil authority, _ex officio_, as they term it.
[131] Impartiality.
[Sidenote: The Protestants appeal to Parliament.]
Still unsuspicious, we required some order to be taken against such
enormities; and this she promised, as she had often done before.
But because a Parliament was to be held shortly after, for certain
affairs pertaining rather to the Queen's particular profit than
to the commodity of the commonwealth, we thought good to expose
our matter unto the whole Parliament, and from them to seek some
redress. Therefore, with one consent, we did offer to the Queen and
Parliament a letter in this tenor:--
"Unto your Grace, and unto you, Right Honourable Lords of this
present Parliament, humbly mean and show your Grace's faithful
and obedient subjects: That we are daily molested, slandered,
and injured by wicked and ignorant persons, place-holders of the
ministers of the Church, who most untruly cease not to infame us as
heretics, and under that name most cruelly have persecuted divers
of our brethren, and further intend to execute their malice against
us, unless by some godly order their fury and rage be bridled
and stayed. Yet in us they are able to prove no crime worthy of
punishment, unless it be that to read the Holy Scriptures in our
assemblies, to invocate the name of God in public prayers, with all
sobriety to interpret and open the places of Scripture that be read,
to the further edification of the brethren assembled, and truly
according to the holy institution of Christ Jesus to minister the
Sacraments, are crimes worthy of punishment. Of other crimes they
are not able to convict us.... Most humbly require we of your Grace,
and of your right honourable Lords, Barons, and Burgesses assembled
in this present Parliament, prudently to weigh, and, as becometh
just judges, to grant these our most just and reasonable petitions:--
"Firstly, ... We most humbly desire that all such Acts of
Parliament, as in the time of darkness gave power to the Churchmen
to execute their tyranny against us, by reason that we were delated
heretics, may be suspended and abrogated until a General Council,
lawfully assembled, shall have decided all controversies in religion.
"Secondly, Lest this mutation should seem to set all men at liberty
to live as they list, we require that it be enacted by this present
Parliament that the prelates and their officers be removed from
the place of judgment; granting unto them, not the less, the place
of accusers in the presence of a temporal judge, before whom the
Churchmen shall be bound to call any accused by them of heresy....
"Thirdly, We require, that all lawful defences be granted to the
persons accused.... Also, that place be granted to the party accused
to explain and interpret his own mind and meaning; which confession
we require to be inserted in public Acts, and to be preferred to the
depositions of any witnesses, seeing that none that is not found
obstinate in his damnable opinion ought to suffer for religion.
"Lastly, We require, that our brethren be not damned for heretics,
unless, by the manifest Word of God, they be convicted to have erred
from that faith which the Holy Spirit witnesseth to be necessary to
salvation....
"These things require we to be considered by you, who occupy the
place of the Eternal God, who is God of order and truth, even in
such sort as ye will answer in the presence of His throne judicial.
And we require, further, that ye will favourably have respect to the
tenderness of our consciences, and to the trouble which apparently
will follow in this commonwealth, if the tyranny of the Prelates
and of their adherents be not bridled by God and just laws. God
move your hearts deeply to consider your own duties and our present
troubles."
[Sidenote: The Regent makes large Promises of Protection and Reform.]
These petitions did we first present to the Queen Regent, because
we were determined to enterprise nothing without her knowledge,
most humbly requiring her favourable assistance in our just action.
She spared not amiable looks, and good words in abundance; but she
kept our bill in her pocket. When we required secretly of her Grace
that our Petitions should be proposed to the whole Assembly, she
answered that she did not think that expedient; for then would the
whole ecclesiastical Estate be contrary to her proceedings. These at
that time were great; for the matrimonial crown was asked, and in
that Parliament granted. "But," said she, "as soon as order can be
taken with these things, which now may be hindered by the Kirkmen,
ye shall know my good mind; and, in the meantime, whatsoever I may
grant unto you shall gladly be granted."
Still suspecting nothing of her falsehood, we were content to give
place for a time to her pleasure and pretended reason. Yet we
thought expedient to protest somewhat before the dissolution of
Parliament; for our Petitions were manifestly known to the whole
Assembly, as also that, for the Queen's pleasure, we ceased to
pursue the uttermost....
Our protestations were publicly read, and we desired that they
should be inserted in the common register; but by labours of enemies
that was denied unto us. Nevertheless, the Queen Regent said, "Me
will remember what is protested; and me shall put good order after
this to all things that now be in controversy." Thus, after she
had by craft obtained her purpose, we departed in good hope of her
favours, praising God in our hearts that she was so well inclined
towards godliness. The good opinion that we had of her sincerity
caused us not only to spend our goods and hazard our bodies at
her pleasure, but also, by our public letters written to that
excellent servant of God, John Calvin, we did praise and commend
her for excellent knowledge in God's Word and her good-will towards
the advancement of His glory; requiring of him that, by his grave
counsel and godly exhortation, he would animate her Grace constantly
to follow that which in godly fashion she had begun. We did further
sharply rebuke, both by word and writing, all such as appeared to
suspect any venom of hypocrisy in her, or were contrary to that
opinion which we had conceived of her godly mind.
[Sidenote: Treachery of the Regent: the Preachers are summoned.]
Suddenly, it became certain that we were deceived in our opinion,
and abused by her craft. As soon as all things pertaining to the
commodity of France were granted by us, and peace was contracted
betwixt King Philip and France, and England and us, she began to
spue forth, and disclose the latent venom of her double heart. She
began to frown, and to look frowardly upon all such as she knew to
favour the Evangel of Jesus Christ. She commanded her household to
use all abominations at Easter; and she herself, to give example
to others, did communicate with that idol, the Mass, in open
audience; she controlled her household, and would know where every
one received the Sacrament. It is supposed that after that day the
Devil took more violent and strong possession in her than he had
before; for, from that day forward, she appeared altogether altered,
insomuch that her countenance and acts did declare the venom of her
heart.
When, incontinently, the Queen caused our preachers to be summoned,
we made intercession for them, beseeching her Grace not to molest
them then in their ministry, unless any man were able to convict
them of false doctrine. But she could not bridle her tongue from
open blasphemy, and proudly said, "In despite of you and of your
ministers both, they shall be banished out of Scotland, albeit they
preached as truly as ever did St. Paul." This proud and blasphemous
answer did greatly astonish us; and yet ceased we not most humbly
to seek her favour, and by great diligence at last secured that
the summonses should be delayed. Alexander, Earl of Glencairn, and
Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudoun, knight, Sheriff of Ayr, were sent
to reason with her, and to crave some performance of her manifold
promises. To them she answered that it became not the subjects to
burden their Princes with promises, further than it pleaseth them
to keep these. Both these noblemen faithfully and boldly discharged
their duty, and plainly forewarned her of the inconveniences that
were to follow. Thereupon, somewhat astonished, she said she would
advise.
[Sidenote: The Revival at Perth: Fury of the Regent.]
In the meantime the town of Perth, called St. Johnston, embraced
the truth, and this did provoke her to a new fury; in which she
urged the Lord Ruthven, Provost of that town, to suppress all such
religion there. He replied that he could make their bodies come to
her Grace, and prostrate themselves before her, until she was fully
satiate of their blood, but that he could not promise to force them
to act against their conscience. In a fury, she said that he was too
malapert to give her such answer, and affirmed that both he and they
should repent it. She solicited Master John Haliburton, Provost of
Dundee, to apprehend Paul Methven, but he, fearing God, gave secret
warning to the man to leave the town for a time. At Easter, she sent
forth men whom she thought most able to persuade, with commission
to induce Montrose, Dundee, St. Johnston, and such other places as
had received the Evangel, to communicate with the idol of the Mass;
but they had no success. The hearts of many were bent to follow the
truth revealed, and did abhor superstition and idolatry.
More angry than ever, she again summoned all the preachers to
appear at Stirling, on the tenth day of May 1559. With all humble
obedience, we sought means to appease her, and save our preachers
from being molested. When it was seen that we could not prevail,
the whole brethren agreed that the gentlemen of every county
should accompany their preachers on the day appointed. All men
were most willing; and for that purpose the town of Dundee, and
the gentlemen of Angus and Mearns, proceeded with their preachers
to Perth, without armour, as peaceable men, desiring only to give
confession with their preachers. Lest such a multitude should raise
the apprehensions of the Queen Regent, the Laird of Dun, a zealous,
prudent, and godly man, went before to the Queen, who was then in
Stirling. To her he declared that the cause of their convocation was
only to give confession with their preachers, and to assist them in
their just defence. She, understanding the fervency of the people,
began to craft with him, soliciting him to stay the multitude,
and also the preachers, promising that she would make some better
arrangements. He, a man most gentle of nature, and most willing to
please her in all things not repugnant to God, wrote requesting
those that then were assembled at Perth to stay, and not to come
forward, and informed them of the Queen's promise and the hope he
had of her favour.... So did the whole multitude tarry at Perth with
their preachers.
[Sidenote: John Knox returns from France, and joins the Protestants
at Perth.]
In the meantime, on the second of May 1559, John Knox arrived from
France. Lodging two nights only in Edinburgh, and hearing the day
appointed to his brethren, he repaired to Dundee. There he earnestly
required that he might be permitted to assist his brethren, and to
give confession of his faith with them. This granted to him, he
departed to Perth with them; and there he began to exhort, according
to the grace of God granted to him. The Queen, perceiving that the
preachers did not obey her summons, began to utter her malice; and,
notwithstanding any request made to the contrary, gave commandment
to put them to the horn,[132] inhibiting all men under pain of
rebellion to assist, comfort, receive or maintain them in any way.
When this extremity was perceived by the Laird of Dun, he prudently
withdrew himself; for otherwise, by all appearance, he would not
have escaped imprisonment. In this belief he was justified by the
fact that the Master of Maxwell, a man zealous and stout in God's
cause, as it then appeared, was, under the cloak of another small
crime, that same day put under arrest, because he did boldly affirm
that, to the uttermost of his power, he would assist the preachers
and the congregation, notwithstanding any sentence which was, or
should be, unjustly pronounced against them. The Laird of Dun,
coming to Perth, expounded the case, and concealed nothing of the
Queen's craft and falsehood.
[132] Formal process of outlawry.
[Sidenote: The Mob wreck the Churches and destroy the Monasteries in
Perth.]
The multitude, when they understood the Queen's treachery, were so
inflamed that neither could the exhortation of the preachers nor
the commandment of the magistrate stay them from destroying the
places of idolatry. What happened was as follows. The preachers had
declared how odious was idolatry in God's presence; what commandment
He had given for the destruction of the monuments thereof; and what
idolatry and what abomination was in the Mass. It chanced that the
next day, the eleventh of May, after the sermon which had been
vehement against idolatry, a priest in contempt insisted upon going
to the Mass; and, to declare his malapert presumption, he opened up
a glorious tabernacle which stood upon the high altar. Certain godly
men were present, and amongst others a young boy, who cried with
a loud voice, "It is intolerable that, when God by His Word hath
plainly damned idolatry, we shall stand and see it used in despite."
The priest, offended, gave the child a great blow; who in anger took
up a stone, and casting it at the priest, did hit the tabernacle and
broke down an image.
Immediately the whole multitude cast stones, and laid hands on the
said tabernacle, and on all other monuments of idolatry. These
they dispatched before the tenth part of the town's people were
made aware, for the most part were gone to dinner. These deeds
noised abroad, the whole multitude came together, not the gentlemen
or those that were earnest professors, but the rascal multitude.
Finding nothing to do in that church, these ran without deliberation
to the Grey and Black Friars, and, notwithstanding that these
monasteries had within them very strong guards for their defence,
their gates were forthwith burst open. Idolatry was the occasion
of the first outburst, but thereafter the common people began to
look for spoil. In very deed, the Grey Friars was so well provided
that unless honest men had seen it, we would have feared to report
what provision they had. Their sheets, blankets, beds, and coverlets
were such that no Earl in Scotland had better; their napery was
fine. There were but eight persons in the convent, and yet there
were found eight puncheons of salt beef (consider the time of the
year, the eleventh day of May), wine, beer, and ale, besides store
of victuals of the same sort. A like abundance was not found in the
monastery of the Black Friars; and yet there was more than became
men professing poverty. The poor were permitted to take the spoil;
but no honest man was enriched by the value of a groat. For the
preachers had before threatened all men, that for covetousness' sake
none should put their hand to such a Reformation.
The conscience of the spoilers did so move them, that they suffered
those hypocrites to take away what they could. The Prior of
Charter-house was permitted to take away with him as much gold and
silver as he was well able to carry. So had men's consciences before
been beaten with the Word, that they had no respect to their own
particular profit, but only to abolish idolatry, and the places and
monuments thereof. In this they were so busy and so laborious that,
within two days, these three great places, monuments of idolatry, to
wit, the monasteries of the Grey and Black thieves and that of the
Charter-house monks (a building of a wondrous cost and greatness)
were so destroyed that only the walls remained.
When the Queen heard what had happened, she was so enraged that she
vowed utterly to destroy Perth, man, woman, and child, to consume
the place by fire, and thereafter to salt it, in sign of a perpetual
desolation. Suspecting nothing of such beastly cruelty, but thinking
that such words might escape her in choler without forethought,
because she was a woman set afire by the complaints of those
hypocrites who flocked unto her as ravens to carrion, we returned to
our own houses, leaving John Knox in Perth to instruct the people,
because they were young and rude in Christ. But she continued in her
rage, set afire partly by her own malice, partly by commandment of
her friends in France, and not a little by the bribes which she and
Monsieur D'Oysel received from the bishops and the priests here at
home.
[Sidenote: The Queen rages and stirs up the Nobility.]
The Queen first sent for all the Nobility, and to them she
complained that we meant nothing but a rebellion. She did grievously
aggreage[133] the destruction of the Charter-house, because it
was a King's foundation, and contained the tomb of King James
the First. By these and other persuasions, she made the majority
of them consent to attack us. And then in haste she sent for her
Frenchmen; for it was ever her joy to see Scotsmen dipped in one
another's blood. No man was at that time more frack against us than
was the Duke, led on by that cruel beast, the Archbishop of St.
Andrews, and by those that yet abuse him, the Abbot of Kilwinning
and Matthew Hamilton of Millburn, two chief enemies to Christ Jesus;
yea, enemies to the Duke himself and to his whole house, in so far
as at least they may procure their own particular profit. These and
such other pestilent papists ceased not to cast faggots on the fire,
continually crying, "Forward upon these heretics; we shall for once
and all rid this realm of them."
[133] Aggravate.
Hearing of this, some of us repaired to Perth again about the
twenty-second day of May, and there we did abide for the comfort of
our brethren. After invocation of the name of God, we began so to
fortify the town and ourselves in the manner that we thought might
prove best for our just defence. And, because we were not utterly
despaired of the Queen's favour, we drew up a letter to her Grace,
as followeth:--
"TO THE QUEEN'S GRACE REGENT, all humble obedience and duty
premised. As heretofore, with jeopardy of our lives, and yet
with willing hearts, we have served the authority of Scotland,
and your Grace, now Regent in this realm, in service dangerous
and painful to our bodies; so now, with most dolorous minds we
are constrained by unjust tyranny purposed against us to declare
unto your Grace, that, unless this cruelty be stayed by your
wisdom, we will be compelled to take the sword of just defence
against all that shall pursue us for the matter of religion,
and for our conscience' sake; which ought not, nor may not, be
subject to mortal creatures, farther than by God's Word man be
able to prove that he hath power to command us.
"We signify moreover unto your Grace, that if by rigour we be
compelled to seek the extreme defence, we will not only notify
our innocence and petitions to the King of France, to our
Mistress and to her husband, but also to the Princes and Council
of every Christian realm, declaring unto them that this cruel,
unjust, and most tyrannical murder, intended against towns and
multitudes, was and is the only cause of our revolt from our
accustomed obedience, which, in God's presence, we faithfully
promise to our Sovereign Mistress, to her husband, and unto your
Grace Regent; provided that our consciences may live in that
peace and liberty which Christ Jesus hath purchased unto us by
His blood; and that we may have His Word truly preached, and
holy Sacraments rightly ministrate unto us, without which we
firmly purpose never to be subject to mortal man. For we think
it better to expose our bodies to a thousand deaths than to
hazard our souls to perpetual condemnation, by denying Christ
Jesus and His manifest verity, which thing not only do they
that commit open idolatry, but also all such as, seeing their
brethren unjustly pursued for the cause of religion, and having
sufficient means to comfort and assist them, do not-the-less
withdraw from them their dutiful support.
"Your Grace's obedient subjects in all things not repugnant to
God,
"THE FAITHFUL CONGREGATION OF CHRIST JESUS
IN SCOTLAND."
In the same tenor we wrote to Monsieur D'Oysel in French, requiring
of him that, by his wisdom, he would mitigate the Queen's rage,
and the rage of the priests; and warning him that otherwise that
flame, then beginning to burn, would so kindle that it could not be
slockened. We added that he declared himself no faithful servant to
his master the King of France if, for the pleasure of the priests,
he persecuted us, and so compelled us to take the sword of just
defence. In like manner we wrote to Captain Serra la Burse, and to
all other captains and French soldiers in general, admonishing them
that their vocation was not to fight against us natural Scotsmen;
and that they had no such commandment from their master. We
besought them, therefore, not to provoke us to enmity against them,
considering that they had found us favourable in their most extreme
necessities. We declared further unto them that, if they entered
into hostility and bloody war against us, this should continue
longer than their and our lives, to wit, even in all posterity to
come, so long as natural Scotsmen should have power to revenge such
cruelty, and most horrible ingratitude....
[Sidenote: The Protestants prepare for a Struggle for Liberty of
Conscience.]
Our letters were suppressed to the uttermost of the power of the
enemy, and yet they came to the knowledge of many. But the rage of
the Queen and priests could not be stayed; and they moved forward
against us: we were then but a very few and mean number of gentlemen
in Perth. Perceiving the extremity to approach, we wrote to all
brethren enjoining them to repair towards us for our relief. To this
we found all men so readily bent, that the work of God was evident.
And, because we wished to leave nothing undone that would declare
our innocency to all men, we addressed a letter to those of the
nobility who then persecuted us....
When our letters were divulged, some man began to reason whether of
conscience it would be right to make war upon us, considering that
we offered due obedience to the authority, and required nothing but
liberty of conscience, and that our religion and actions should
be tried by the Word of God. Our letters came with convenient
expedition to the hands of the brethren in Cunningham and Kyle.
These convened at the Kirk of Craigie, where, after some contrarious
reasons, Alexander, Earl of Glencairn, in zeal, burst forth in these
words, "Let every man serve his conscience. I will, by God's grace,
see my brethren in Perth; yea, albeit never man should accompany
me, I will go, were it but with a pike upon my shoulder; for I had
rather die with that company than live after them." These words so
encouraged the rest that all decided to go forward, and that they
did so stoutly that, when Lion Herald, in his coat armour, by public
sound of trumpet in Glasgow, commanded all men under pain of treason
to return to their houses, never man obeyed that charge, but all
went forward....
[Sidenote: The rival Forces are arrayed outside Perth.]