men of Dundee, to see what had been done, went up to the Abbey of
Scone. The Bishop's servants were offended, and began to threaten
and speak proudly, and, as it was constantly affirmed, one of the
Bishop's sons stogged through with a rapier a man of Dundee, for
looking in at the girnell door.... The multitude, easily inflamed,
gave the alarm, and the Abbey and Palace were appointed to sackage.
They took no long deliberation in carrying out their purpose, but
committed the whole to the merciment of fire....
[Sidenote: The Forces of the Congregation take possession of
Stirling and Edinburgh.]
While these things were being done at Perth, the Queen, fearing what
should follow, determined to send certain bands of French soldiers
to Stirling, to stop the passage to us that then were upon the north
side of Forth. Hearing of this, the Earl of Argyll and Lord James
departed secretly over-night, and with great expedition, getting
in before the Frenchmen, took the town. Before their coming, the
rascal multitude had laid hands on the thieves', I should say
Friars', places and utterly destroyed them.
The Queen and her faction, not a little afraid, departed hastily
from Edinburgh to Dunbar. So we, with all reasonable diligence,
marched forward to Edinburgh to make reformation there, and arrived
on the twenty-ninth of June. The Provost for that time, the Lord
Seton, a man without God, without honesty, and oftentimes without
reason, had formerly greatly troubled and molested the brethren. He
had taken upon himself the protection and defence of the Black and
Grey Friars; and for that purpose not only lay himself in one of the
monasteries every night, but also constrained the most honest of the
town, to their great grief and trouble, to keep vigil for the safety
of those monsters. Hearing of our sudden coming, however, he had
abandoned his charge, and had left the spoil to the poor, who had
made havoc of all such things as were movable in those places before
our coming, and had left nothing but bare walls, yea, not so much as
door or window. We were the less troubled in reforming such places.
[Sidenote: The Congregation renew peaceable Overtures to the Regent.]
For certain days we deliberated as to what was to be done, and
then determined to send some message to the Queen Regent.... After
safe conduct was purchased[139] and granted, we directed unto her
two grave men of our Council. We gave commission and power to
them to expose our whole purpose and intent, which was none other
than before at all times we had insisted upon, to wit, that we
might enjoy the liberty of conscience; that Christ Jesus might be
truly preached, and His holy Sacraments rightly ministered unto
us; that unable ministers might be removed from ecclesiastical
administration; that our preachers might be relaxed from the horn,
and permitted to perform their duties without molestation, until
such time as, either by a General Council, lawfully convened, or by
a Parliament within the realm, the controversies in religion were
decided; and that the bands of Frenchmen, who were an intolerable
burden to the country, and so fearful to us that we durst not in
peaceable and quiet manner haunt the places where they did lie,
should be sent to France, their native country. These things
granted, her Grace should have experience of our customary obedience.
[139] Sued out; procured.
To these heads the Queen did answer at the first pleasantly, but
then she began to handle the matter more craftily, complaining that
she was not sought in a gentle manner; and that they in whom she had
put most singular confidence had left her in her greatest need. In
discussing these and such other things, pertaining nothing to their
commission, she sought to spend and drive the time.... In the end of
this communing, on the twelfth day of July 1559, she desired to have
private talk with the Earl of Argyll, and Lord James, Prior of St.
Andrews.... The Council, after consultation, thought it inexpedient
that the Earl and Prior should talk with the Queen in any way; for
her former practices made all men suspect that some deceit lurked
under such coloured communing. It was known that she had said that,
if she could by any means sunder those two from the rest, she was
sure she should shortly attain her whole purpose; and one of her
chief counsellors in those days had said that before Michaelmas day
these two should lose their heads.... The Queen, perceiving that
her craft could not prevail, was content that the Duke's Grace and
the Earl of Huntly, with others appointed by her, should convene at
Preston, to commune with the said Earl and Prior, and such others
as the Lords of the Congregation would appoint. These, convening at
Preston, spake the whole day without any certain conclusion. For
this was the subterfuge of the Queen and of her faction. By drift
of time she hoped to weary our company, who, for the most part,
had been in the field from the tenth day of May, and that when we
were dispersed she might come to her purpose. In this she was not
altogether deceived; for our commons were compelled to skaill for
lack of expenses, and our gentlemen, partly constrained by lack of
furnishing and partly hoping that some small appointment would
result from so many communings, returned for the most part to their
dwelling places, to repose themselves.
The Queen, in all these conventions, seemed to indicate that she
would give liberty to religion, provided that, wheresoever she was,
our preachers should cease, and the Mass should be maintained. We,
perceiving her malicious craft, answered that we would compel her
Grace to no religion, but that we could not, of conscience, for
the pleasure of any earthly creature, put silence to God's true
messengers. Nor could we suffer that the right administration of
Christ's true sacraments should give place to manifest idolatry;
for in so doing we should declare ourselves enemies to God, to
Christ Jesus His Son, to His eternal truth and to the liberty and
establishment of His Church within this realm. If her request were
granted, there could be no Kirk within the realm so established but
that, at her pleasure, and by her residence and remaining there, she
might overthrow the same....
To no point would the Queen answer directly; but in all things she
was so general and so ambiguous, that her craft appeared to all men.
She had gotten sure information that our company was skailled--for
her Frenchmen were daily amongst us, without molestation or hurt
done to them--and therefore she began to disclose her mind. "The
Congregation," she said, "has reigned these two months bypast: me
myself would reign now other two." The malice of her heart being
plainly perceived, there was deliberation as to what was to be
done. It was decided that the Lords, Barons and gentlemen, with
their substantial households, should remain in Edinburgh that whole
winter, for the purpose of establishing the Church there. When it
was found that, by corrupting our money, the Queen made to herself
immoderate gains for maintaining her soldiers, thereby destroying
our whole commonwealth, it was thought necessary that the printing
irons[140] and all things pertaining to them should be taken
into custody, for fear that she should privily cause them to be
transported to Dunbar.
[140] Coining dies.
[Sidenote: Death of Harry the Second, King of France.]
In the meantime there came assured information, first, that the
King of France was hurt, and, afterwards, that he was dead.... This
wondrous work of God in his sudden death ought to have daunted the
fury of the Queen Regent, and given her admonition that the same
God could not long suffer her obstinate malice against His truth
to remain unpunished. But her indurate heart could not be moved to
repentance; and, hearing of the detention of the printing irons, she
raged more outrageously than before.... We answered that we, without
usurpation of anything justly pertaining to the Crown of Scotland,
had stayed the printing irons because the commonwealth was greatly
hurt by the corrupting of our money....
[Sidenote: The Regent again takes up Arms against the Congregation.]
Partly by her craft and policy, and partly by the labours of the
Archbishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow, the Queen Regent procured,
from the whole number that were with her, consent to pursue us
with all cruelty and expedition, before we could again assemble
our forces, then dispersed for new equipment. Certain knowledge of
this reached us on the Saturday at night, on the twenty-second of
July, and we did what in us lay to give notice to our brethren. It
was impossible, however, that those of the West, Angus, Mearns,
Strathearn, or Fife, in any number, could come to us; for the enemy
marched from Dunbar upon the Sunday, and approached within two miles
of us before sunrise upon Monday. They verily supposed that they
should have found no resistance, being assured that only the Lords
and certain gentlemen remained, with their private households....
The most part of the town appeared rather to favour us than the
Queen's faction; and offered us the uttermost of their support, a
promise that, for the most part, they faithfully kept. The town of
Leith made similar promise, but they did not keep the like fidelity;
for, when we were upon the field, advancing to their support, when
the French were close upon them, they surrendered without further
resistance. Their unprovided and sudden defection astonished many;
and yet we retired quietly to the side of Craig-end gate, where
we took up a defensive position.... Before eight o'clock in the
morning, God had given us both courage and a reasonable number
wherewith to withstand the fury of the enemy. As many of the town of
Edinburgh as had been trained to arms, and divers others besides,
behaved themselves both faithfully and stoutly. The gentlemen of
Lothian, and especially Calder, Haltoun, and Ormiston, were very
helpful....
[Sidenote: Edinburgh Castle supports the Regent: Appointment made at
Leith.]
The enemy took such fright that they determined not to invade us
where we stood, but planned to approach Edinburgh by the other side
of the Water of Leith, and that because they had, unknown to us,
secured the support of the Castle. We had supposed the Lord Erskine,
Captain of the Castle, either to be our friend, or at least to be
neutral. But, when we had determined to fight, he sent word to the
Earl of Argyll, to Lord James, his sister's son, and to the other
noblemen, that he would declare himself both enemy to them and to
the town, and would shoot at both, if they made any resistance
to the entrance of the Frenchmen to the town. We could not fight
or stop the enemy, but under the mercy of the Castle and whole
ordnance thereof. In conclusion, it was found less damage to take
an appointment, albeit the conditions were not such as we desired,
than to hazard battle betwixt two such enemies. After long talking,
certain heads were drawn by us....
At the Links of Leith appointment was made and subscribed on the
twenty-fifth of July. We returned to the town of Edinburgh, where
we remained until the next day at noon; when, after sermon, dinner,
and a proclamation made at the Market Cross, we withdrew from the
town....
[Sidenote: The Congregation invoke the Aid of England.]
We came first to Linlithgow, and after that to Stirling, where,
after consultation, a bond of defence, for maintenance of religion,
and for mutual defence, every one of the other, was subscribed by
all that were present.... This bond subscribed, we, foreseeing that
the Queen and bishops meant nothing but deceit, thought good to seek
support from all Christian Princes against her and her tyranny, in
case we should be more sharply pursued. And because England was of
the same religion, and lay next to us, it was judged expedient
first to approach her rulers. This we did by one or two messengers,
as hereafter, in the proper place, shall be declared more fully....
[Sidenote: John Willock braves the Fury of the Regent, and continues
to minister to the Kirk in Edinburgh.]
For comfort of the brethren and continuance of the Kirk in
Edinburgh, our dear brother John Willock was left there. He, for his
faithful labours and bold courage in that battle, deserves immortal
praise. When it was found dangerous for John Knox, already elected
minister to that Kirk, to continue there, the brethren requested the
said John Willock to abide with them, lest, for lack of ministers,
idolatry should again be erected. To this he so gladly consented
that it was evident that he preferred the comfort of his brethren
and the continuance of the Kirk there to his own life. One part of
the Frenchmen were appointed to lie in garrison at Leith (that was
the first benefit they got for their confederacy with them), the
other part were appointed to lie in the Canongate; the Queen and her
train abiding in the Abbey. Our brother John Willock, the day after
our departure, preached in St. Giles's Kirk, and fervently exhorted
the brethren to stand constant in the truth which they had professed.
[Sidenote: The Citizens decline to permit Popish Ceremonies to be
renewed in the High Kirk.]
The Duke, and divers others of the Queen's faction, were present
at this and some other sermons. This liberty and preaching, with
the resort of all people thereto, highly offended the Queen and the
other Papists, and they began to give terrors to the Duke; affirming
that he would be reputed as one of the Congregation, if he gave
his countenance to the sermons. Thereafter they began to require
that Mass should be set up again in St. Giles's Kirk, and that the
people should be set at liberty to choose what religion they would:
for, they affirmed, it had been a condition in the Appointment that
the town of Edinburgh should have what religion they cared for. To
ascertain this, the Duke, the Earl of Huntly, and the Lord Seton
were sent to the Tolbooth, to solicit all men to submit to the
Queen's opinion. The two last named did what they could, but the
Duke remained a mere beholder, and of him the brethren had good
hopes. After many persuasions and threatenings by the said Earl
and Lord, the brethren stoutly and valiantly, in the Lord Jesus,
gainsaid their most unjust petitions....
The foresaid Earl and Lord Seton, then Provost of Edinburgh,
perceiving that they could not prevail in that manner, began to
entreat that the citizens would so far submit to the Queen's
pleasure as to choose another kirk within the town, or at least be
contented that Mass should be said either after or before their
sermons. Answer was given that they could not give place to the
Devil, who was the chief inventor of the Mass, for the pleasure of
any creature. They were in possession of that kirk, and they could
not abandon it; nor could they suffer idolatry to be set up there,
unless they should be constrained so to do by violence, and, if this
were resorted to, they were determined to seek the next remedy....
By God's grace, the citizens continued in faithful service of
God until the month of November. They not only convened to the
preaching, daily supplications, and administration of baptism; but
also the Lord's Table was administered, even in the eyes of the very
enemy, to the great comfort of many afflicted consciences.
[Sidenote: The Regent restores the Mass at Holyrood, persecutes
the Reformed Clergy, and seeks to embroil the Protestants with the
French.]
As God did potently work through His true minister, and in His
troubled Kirk, so did not the Devil cease to inflame the malice of
the Queen, and of the Papists with her. Shortly after her coming to
the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, she caused Mass to be said, first in her
own chapel, and after that in the Abbey, where the altars had before
been cast down. Her malice extended in like manner to Cambuskenneth;
for there she cancelled the stipends of as many of the Canons as had
forsaken Papistry. She gave command and inhibition that the Abbot
of Lindores should not receive payment of any part of his living in
the north, because he had submitted himself to the Congregation,
and had made some reformation to his place. By her consent and
procurement, the preaching stools in the Kirk of Leith were broken,
and idolatry was re-erected there. Her French captains, with
their soldiers in great companies, resorted to St. Giles's Kirk
in Edinburgh at the time of preaching and prayers, and made their
common deambulator[141] therein, with such loud talking that it was
impossible to hear the preacher distinctly. Although the minister
was oft times compelled to cry out on them, praying to God to rid
the people of such locusts, they continued in their wicked purpose.
This had been devised and ordered by the Queen, who sought to draw
our brethren of Edinburgh into a cummer[142] with the soldiery, so
that she might have a colourable occasion for breaking the league
with them. Yet, by God's grace, they so behaved themselves that
she could find no fault with them. On the other hand, in all these
things, and in every one of them, she is worthily counted to have
contravened the said Appointment....
[141] Promenade.
[142] Entanglement.
[Sidenote: The Regent receives Reinforcements of Troops from France.]
In the meantime the Queen Regent, knowing assuredly what force was
shortly to come to her aid, ceased not, by all means possible, to
cloak the incoming of the French, and to inflame the hearts of
our countrymen against us.... She used these means to abuse the
simplicity of the people, that they should not suddenly espy for
what purpose she brought in her new bands of men of war. These,
to the number of a thousand men, arrived about the middle of
August. The rest were appointed to come after with Monsieur de la
Broche and the Bishop of Amiens, who arrived on the nineteenth
day of September, as if they had been Ambassadors. What was their
negotiation, the result declared, and they themselves could not long
conceal; for, both by tongue and pen, they proclaimed that they had
been sent for the utter extermination of all that would not profess
the papistical religion in all points....
Prudent men foresaw that the Queen intended a complete conquest.
But, to the end that the people should not suddenly stir, she would
not bring in her full force at once, but by continual traffic
purposed to augment her army, so that in the end we should not be
able to resist. The greatest part of the nobility and many of the
people were so enchanted by her treasonable agents that they could
not listen to, or credit, the truth plainly spoken. The French,
after the arrival of their new men, began to brag: then began they
to divide the lands and lordships according to their own fancies;
for one was styled Monsieur d' Ergyle; another, Monsieur le Prior;
the third, Monsieur de Ruthven; yea, they were so assured, in their
own opinion, to possess whatsoever they list, that some asked for
statements of the rentals and revenues of divers men's lands, to the
end that they might choose the best....
[Sidenote: A Convention is held at Stirling: 10th September 1559.]
As we have already said, a Convention was appointed to be held at
Stirling on the tenth day of September. To this repaired the most
part of the Lords of the Congregation, ... and in the meantime came
assured word that the Frenchmen had begun to fortify Leith. This
action more evidently disclosed the Queen's craft, and so deeply
grieved the hearts of the whole nobility that, with one consent,
they addressed a letter to the Queen on the subject. This letter was
signed by my Lord Duke, the Earls of Arran, Glencairn and Menteith,
by the Lords Ruthven, Ochiltree and Boyd, and by divers other barons
and gentlemen....
[Sidenote: The Lords of the Congregation agree to take up arms
against the French Invasion.]
The Duke and Lords, understanding that the fortification of Leith
was still proceeding, directed their whole forces to convene at
Stirling on the fifteenth day of October, that from thence they
might advance to Edinburgh, for redress of the great enormities
committed by the French upon the whole country, which was so
oppressed by them that the life of every honest man was bitter to
him.[143]...
[143] In framing a historical record of the important events in
Scotland in which he took a part, Knox seems to have considered it
incumbent upon him to preserve in his chronicle complete copies
of the numerous documents and missives concerning the relations
of the Reformers among themselves, or embodying the communings
of the Reformers with the Queen Regent and with the Sovereign of
England. In the present edition, these are omitted, or only quoted
in abbreviated form, so far as may be necessary to keep the reader
in close touch with the thread of the narrative, and the attitude of
the different parties.--ED.
[Sidenote: The Protests of the Congregation are scornfully rejected.]
There came from the Queen Regent, on the twenty-first day of
October, Master Robert Forman, Lion King of Arms, who brought unto
us the following credit:--
"That she wondered how any durst presume to command her in that
realm, which needed not to be conquered by any force, considering
that it was already conquered by marriage; that Frenchmen could not
justly be called strangers, seeing that they were naturalised; and
therefore that she would neither make the town of Leith patent, nor
yet send any man away, except as she thought expedient. She accused
the Duke of violating his promise; she made long protestation of
her love towards the commonwealth of Scotland; and in the end she
commanded that, under pain of treason, all assisters to the Duke and
to us should depart from the town of Edinburgh."...
[Sidenote: The Congregation convene at Edinburgh; they agree to
depose the Regent.]
The whole nobility, barons, and burgesses, then present, were
commanded to convene in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, the same
twenty-first day of October, for deliberation. The whole cause
being exponed there by the Lord Ruthven, the question was proponed,
Whether she that so contemptuously refused the most humble request
of the born counsellors of the realm, being also but a Regent
whose pretences threatened the bondage of the whole commonwealth,
ought to be suffered so tyrannously to empire over them? Because
this question had not before been disputed in open assembly, it
was thought expedient that the judgment of the preachers should
be required. These being called and instructed in the case, John
Willock spoke as follows, affirming:--
"First. That, albeit magistrates be God's ordinance, having power
and authority from Him, their power is not so largely extended, but
that it is bounded and limited by God in His Word.
"Secondarily. That, as subjects are commanded to obey their
magistrates, so are magistrates commanded to fulfil their duty to
the subjects, as God by His Word has prescribed the office of the
one and of the other.
"Thirdly. That, albeit God has appointed magistrates to be His
Lieutenants on earth, and has honoured them with His own title,
calling them gods, He did never so establish any, but that for just
causes they might be deprived.
"Fourthly. That, in deposing Princes and those in authority, God
did not always use His immediate power; but sometimes He used other
means which His wisdom thought good, and justice approved. By Asa He
had removed Maachah, his own mother, from the honour and authority
which she had brooked;[144] by Jehu He had destroyed Joram and the
whole posterity of Ahab; and by divers others He had deposed from
authority those whom previously He had established by His own Word.
[144] Soiled.