the stubborn of the world. Because they will not hear God speaking
for the comfort of the penitent, and the amendment of the wicked,
they are oft compelled to hear the false report of others to their
greater displeasure. I doubt not but that it came to the ears of
proud Herod that our Master Christ Jesus called him fox; but they
told him not how odious a thing it was before God to murder an
innocent, as he had lately done before, causing John the Baptist to
be beheaded, to reward the dancing of a harlot's daughter. Madam,
if the reporters of my words had been honest men, they would have
reported my words, and the circumstances of the same. But, because
they would have credit in Court, and lack virtue worthy thereof,
they must have somewhat to please your Majesty, if it were but
flattery and lies. If your Grace take any pleasure in such persons,
it will turn to your everlasting displeasure. Madam, had your own
ears heard the whole matter that I entreated, ye could not justly
have been offended with anything that I spake, if there be in you
any sparkle of the Spirit of God, yea, of honesty or wisdom. Ye have
heard their report; may it please your Grace to hear myself rehearse
the sermon, as nearly as memory will serve.
"My text, Madam, was this, 'And now, O kings, understand; be
learned, ye judges of the earth.' After, Madam, I had declared the
dignity of kings and rulers, the honour in which God has placed
them, and the obedience that is due unto them, as God's lieutenants,
I demanded this: But, O alas! what account shall the most part of
princes make before that Supreme Judge, whose throne and authority
so manifestly and shamefully they abuse? This day is most true the
complaint of Solomon that violence and oppression do occupy the
throne of God here in this earth: murderers, bloodthirsty men,
oppressors, and malefactors dare be bold to present themselves
before kings and princes, and the poor saints of God are banished
and exiled. What shall we say, but that the Devil hath taken
possession of the throne of God, which ought to be fearful to all
wicked doers, and a refuge to the innocent oppressed. How can it be
otherwise? Princes will not understand; they will not be taught as
God commands them. God's law they despise, His statutes and holy
ordinances they will not understand; they are more exercised in
fiddling and flinging than in reading or hearing God's most blessed
Word; and fiddlers and flatterers, who commonly corrupt youth, are
more precious in their eyes than are men of wisdom and gravity, who
might, by wholesome admonition, beat down in them some part of that
vanity and pride wherein all are born, but in princes taketh deep
root and strength by wicked education.
[Sidenote: Of Dancing.]
"Of dancing, Madam, I said that, albeit in the Scriptures I found no
praise of it, and in profane writers that it is termed the gesture
rather of those that are mad and in frenzy than of sober men; yet
do I not utterly condemn it, providing that two vices be avoided.
Firstly, the principal vocation of those that use that exercise must
not be neglected for the pleasure of dancing; secondly, they may not
dance, as did the Philistines their fathers, for the pleasure that
they take in the displeasure of God's people. If they do either,
they shall receive the reward of dancers, and that will be drink in
hell, unless they speedily repent, and so shall God turn their mirth
into sudden sorrow. God will not always afflict His people, nor will
He always wink at the tyranny of tyrants. If any man, Madam, will
say that I spake more, let him presently accuse me; for I think I
have not only touched the sum, but the very words as I spake them."
Many that stood by bare witness with him that he had recited the
very words that he had spoken publicly.
The Queen looked about to some of the reporters, and said, "Your
words are sharp enough as ye have spoken them; but yet they were
told to me in another manner. I know that my uncles and ye are not
of one religion, and therefore I cannot blame you, albeit you have
no good opinion of them. But if ye hear anything of myself that
mislikes you, come to myself and tell me, and I shall hear you."
"Madam," quoth he, "I am assured that your uncles are enemies to
God, and unto His Son, Jesus Christ; and that, for maintenance of
their own pomp and worldly glory, they spare not to spill the blood
of many innocents. I am therefore assured that their enterprises
shall have no better success than have had others that before them
have done what they do now. But as to your own personage, Madam, I
would be glad to do all that I could for your Grace's contentment,
provided that I exceed not the bounds of my vocation. I am called,
Madam, to a public function within the Kirk of God, and am appointed
by God to rebuke the sins and vices of all. I am not appointed to
come to every man in particular to show him his offence; that labour
were infinite. If your Grace will please to frequent the public
sermons, I doubt not but that ye shall fully understand both what
I like and mislike, as well in your Majesty as in all others. Or,
if your Grace will assign unto me a certain day and hour when it
will please you to hear the form and substance of doctrine which is
proponed in public to the churches of this realm, I will most gladly
await upon your Grace's pleasure, time, and place. But to wait upon
your chamber door, or elsewhere, and then to have no farther liberty
than to whisper my mind in your Grace's ear, or to tell you what
others think and speak of you, neither will my conscience nor the
vocation whereto God hath called me suffer it. For, albeit at your
Grace's commandment I am here now, I cannot tell what other men
shall judge of me, when they learn that at this time of day I am
absent from my book, and waiting upon the Court."
"You will not always," said she, "be at your book," and so turned
her back. John Knox departed with a reasonably merry countenance.
Some Papists, offended at this, said, "He is not afraid." Hearing
this, he answered, "Why should the pleasing face of a gentlewoman
affright me? I have looked in the faces of many angry men, and yet
have not been afraid, above measure." And so left he the Queen and
the Court for that time.
[Sidenote: The Queen negotiates with England.]
In the meantime, the negotiation and credit was great betwixt the
Queen of England and our Sovereign: letters, couriers, and posts ran
very frequently. There was great bruit of an interview and meeting
of the two Queens at York, and some preparations were made for this
in both the realms. But it failed upon the part of England, and that
by occasion of the troubles moved in France, as was alleged. These
caused the Queen and her Council to remain in the south parts of
England, to avoid inconvenience.
[Sidenote: The King of Sweden proposes Marriage to Queen Mary.]
That Summer, there came an Ambassador from the King of Sweden,
requiring marriage of our Sovereign to his master the King. His
entertainment was honourable; but our Queen liked not his petition.
Such a man was too base for her estate; had not she been great Queen
of France? Fie, of Sweden! What is it? But happy was the man that
was forsaken of such an one. And yet she did not refuse one who was
far inferior to a virtuous king.
[Sidenote: The Queen and the Earl of Moray.]
The Earl of Moray made a privy raid to Hawick upon the fair-day, and
apprehended fifty thieves; of this number seventeen were drowned;
others were executed in Jedburgh. The principals were brought to
Edinburgh, and there suffered, according to their merits, upon the
Borough Muir. The Queen was not content with the prosperity and good
success that God gave to the Earl of Moray in all his enterprises,
for she hated his upright dealing, and the image of God which did
evidently appear in him; but at that time she could not well have
been served without him.
[Sidenote: The General Assembly: June 1562.]
At the Assembly of the Kirk at Midsummer, on the 29th of June 1562,
many notable points were discussed concerning good order in the
Church; for the Papists and the idolatry of the Queen began to
trouble the former good orders.... The tenor of the supplication
read in open audience, and approved by the whole Assembly to be
presented to the Queen's Majesty, was this:--
[Sidenote: The Supplication presented to the Queen.]
"Having in mind that fearful sentence, pronounced by the Eternal
God against the watchmen that see the sword of God's punishment
approach, and do not in plain words forewarn the people, yea, the
princes and rulers, that they may repent, we cannot but signify
unto your Highness, and unto your Council, that the state of this
realm is such, at this present time, that unless redress and remedy
be shortly provided, God's hand cannot long spare in His anger,
to strike the head and the tail; the inobedient prince and sinful
people. For, as God is unchangeable and true, so must He punish in
these our days the grievous sins that we read He has punished in
all ages, after He has long called for repentance, and none is shown.
"That your Grace and Council may understand what be the things we
desire to be reformed, we will begin at that which we assuredly know
to be the fountain and spring of all other evils that now abound in
this realm, to wit, that idol and bastard service of God, the Mass;
the fountain, we call it, of all impiety, not only because many take
boldness to sin by reason of the opinion which they have conceived
of that idol, to wit, that by the virtue of it, they get remission
of their sins; but also that, under colour of the Mass, whores,
adulterers, drunkards, blasphemers of God and of His holy Word and
Sacraments, and such other manifest malefactors, are maintained and
defended: for, let any Mass-sayer, or earnest maintainer thereof,
be deprehended in any of the forenamed crimes, no execution can be
had, for all is said to be done in hatred of his religion; and so
are wicked men permitted to live wickedly, cloaked and protected
by that odious idol. But, supposing the Mass were occasion of no
such evils, yet in itself it is so odious in God's presence that we
cannot cease, with all instance, to desire the removing of the same,
as well from yourself as from all others within this realm, taking
heaven and earth, yea, and your own conscience, to record that
the obstinate maintenance of that idol shall in the end be to you
destruction of soul and body.
"If your Majesty demand why we are more earnest now than we have
been heretofore; we answer (our former silence nowise excused)
that it is because we find ourselves frustrated of our hope and
expectation; which was that, in process of time, your Grace's heart
should have been mollified, so far as to have heard the public
doctrine taught within this realm; by which, our farther hope
was, God's Holy Spirit should so have moved your heart, that ye
should have suffered your religion, which before God is nothing but
abomination and vanity, to have been tried by the true touchstone,
the written Word of God; and that your Grace finding it to have
no ground or foundation in the same, should have given such glory
unto God that ye would have preferred His truth unto your own
preconceived vain opinion, of whatever antiquity it has been.
Of this we in a part are now discouraged and can no longer keep
silence, unless we would make ourselves criminal before God of your
blood, perishing in your own iniquities; for we plainly admonish you
of the dangers to come.
"The second that we require is punishment of horrible vices, such as
are adultery, fornication, open whoredom, blasphemy, and contempt
of God, of His Word and of His Sacraments; vices which, in this
realm, for lack of punishment, do even now so abound that sin is
reputed to be no sin. And, therefore, as we see the present signs
of God's wrath manifestly appear, so do we forewarn that He will
strike, before long, if His law be permitted thus manifestly to be
contemned, without punishment. If any object, that punishment cannot
be commanded to be executed without a Parliament; we answer that
the Eternal God in His Parliament has pronounced death to be the
punishment for adultery and for blasphemy. If ye put not His acts
to execution, seeing that kings are but His lieutenants, having no
power to give life where He commands death, He will repute you, and
all others that foster vice, patrons of impiety, and He will not
fail to punish you for neglecting His judgments.
"Our third request concerneth the poor, who be of three sorts; the
poor labourers of the ground; the poor desolate beggars, orphans,
widows, and strangers; and the poor ministers of the holy Evangel of
Christ Jesus, who are all so cruelly treated by this last pretended
order taken for sustentation of ministers, that their latter misery
far surmounteth the former. For now the poor labourers of the ground
are so oppressed by the cruelty of those that pay their Third, that
they for the most part advance upon the poor, whatsoever they pay
to the Queen, or to any other. As for the very indigent and poor,
to whom God commands a sustentation to be provided from the teinds,
they are so despised that it is a wonder that the sun giveth light
and heat to the earth, where God's name is so frequently called
upon, and no mercy, according to His commandment, is shown to
His creatures. And also for the ministers, their livings are so
appointed that the most part shall live but a beggar's life. And all
cometh of impiety, that the idle bellies of Christ's enemies must be
fed with their former delicacies.
"We dare not conceal from your Grace and Honours the burden of our
conscience, which is this, that neither by the law of God, nor by
any just law of man, is anything due to them who now most cruelly do
exact of the poor and rich the Two-part of their benefices, as they
call it.
"Therefore we most humbly require that some other order may be
taken with them, and that they be not set up again to empire above
the people of God, or above any subject within this realm. For we
fear that such usurpation to their former estate shall be in the
end neither pleasing to themselves, nor profitable to them that
would place them in that tyranny. If any think that a competent
living should be assigned to them, we repugn not, provided that the
labourers of the ground be not oppressed, the poor be not utterly
neglected, the ministers of the Word be not so sharply treated as
they now are, and, finally, that those idle bellies, who by law can
crave nothing, shall confess that they receive their sustentation,
not as a matter of debt, but as of benevolence. Our humble request
is, therefore, that some speedy order may be taken that the poor
labourers may find some relief, and that in every parish some
portion of the teinds may be assigned to the sustentation of the
poor within the same; and likewise that some public relief may
be provided for the poor within burghs; that collectors may be
appointed to gather, and that sharp account may be taken, as well of
their receipts as of their disbursements. The farther consideration
to be had towards our ministers, we in some part remit to your
wisdoms, and to their particular complaints.
"Our fourth petition is for the manses, yards, and glebes, justly
appertaining to the ministers, without which it is impossible for
them quietly to serve their charges; and therefore we desire order
to be taken therein without delay.
"Our fifth concerneth the inobedience of certain wicked persons, who
not only trouble, and have troubled ministers in their functions,
but also disobey the superintendents in their visitation. Of this
we humbly crave remedy; not so much for any fear that we and our
ministers have of the Papists, but for the love that we bear to
the common tranquillity. For we cannot hide from your Majesty and
Council that, if the Papists think to triumph where they may, and to
do what they list, where there is not a party able to resist them,
some will think that they must begin where they left off. Heretofore
they have borne all things patiently, in hope that laws should have
bridled the wicked. If they be frustrated in this, albeit nothing
is more odious to them than tumults and domestic discord, men will
attempt the uttermost, before they behold with their own eyes the
demolition of that House of God, which with travail and danger God
hath within this realm erected by them.
"Lastly, we desire that such as have received remission of their
Third be compelled to sustain the ministry within their bounds, else
we forewarn your Grace and Council that we fear that the people will
retain the whole in their hands, until such time as their ministry
shall be sufficiently provided. We farther desire that the kirks
be repaired according to an Act set forth by the Lords of Secret
Council, before your Majesty's arrival in this country; that judges
be appointed to hear the causes of divorcement, for the Kirk can no
longer sustain that burden, especially since there is no punishment
for the offenders; that sayers and hearers of Mass, profaners of the
Sacraments, such as have entered into benefices by the Pope's bulls,
and other such transgressors of the law made at your Grace's arrival
within this realm, may be severely punished; else men will think
that there is no truth meant in the making of such laws.
"Farther, we most humbly desire of your Grace and honourable Council
a resolute answer to every one of the heads forewritten, that, the
same being known, we may somewhat satisfy such as are grievously
offended at manifest iniquity now maintained, at oppression under
pretext of law done against the poor, and at the rebellious
disobedience of many wicked persons against God's Word and holy
ordinance.
"God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, so rule your hearts, and
direct your Grace and Council's judgments by the dyttament[204] and
illumination of His Holy Spirit, that ye may so answer that your
consciences may be absolved in the presence of that righteous Judge,
the Lord Jesus; and then we doubt not but that ye yourselves shall
find felicity, and this poor realm, that long has been oppressed
by wicked men, shall enjoy tranquillity and rest, with the true
knowledge of God."
[204] Dictation; guidance.
[Sidenote: Secretary Lethington objects to the Terms of the
Supplication.]
These things were read in public Assembly, and approved by all.
Some wished that more sharpness had been used, because the time so
craved. But the monsieurs of the Court, and Secretary Lethington
above others, could not abide such hard speaking; "For who ever
saw it written," said he, "to a prince, that God would strike the
head and the tail, or that, if Papists did what they should list,
men would begin where they had left off?" Above all others, it was
most offensive that the Queen was accused as if she would raise up
Papists and Papistry again. To put that into the people's head was
no less than treason; for oaths durst be made that she never meant
such a thing.
It was answered that the Prophet Isaiah used such manner of
speaking; and there was no doubt but that he was well acquainted
in the Court, for it was supposed that he was of the King's stock.
Howsoever it was, his words make manifest that he spake to the Court
and courtiers, to judges, ladies, princes and priests. And yet,
says he, "The Lord shall cut away the head and the tail," etc. "And
so," said the first writer, "I find that such a phrase was used
once before. If it offend you that we say, 'Men must begin where
they left off,' in case the Papists do as they do; we would desire
you to teach us, not so much how we shall speak, but rather what we
shall do when our ministers are stricken, our superintendents are
disobeyed, and a plain rebellion is decreed against all good order."
"Complain," said Lethington. "Whom to?" said the other. "To the
Queen's Majesty," said he. "How long shall we do so?" quoth the
whole. "Till ye get remedy," said the Justice Clerk: "give me
their names, and I shall give you letters." "If the sheep," said
one, "shall complain to the wolf that the wolves and whelps have
devoured their lambs, the complainer may stand in danger; but the
offender, we fear, shall have liberty to hunt after his prey." "Such
comparisons," said Lethington, "are very unsavoury; for I am assured
that the Queen will neither erect nor yet maintain Papistry." "Let
your assurance," said another, "serve yourself; it cannot assure us;
for her manifest proceedings speak the contrary."
After such taunting reasoning on both sides, the multitude concluded
that the supplication, as it was conceived, should be presented;
unless the Secretary would form one more agreeable to the present
necessity. He promised to keep the substance of ours, but said he
would use other terms, and ask things in a more genteel manner. The
first writer answered that he served the Kirk at their commandment,
and was content that with his dictament men should use the liberty
that best pleased them, provided that he was not compelled to
subscribe to the flattery of such as regarded the persons of men and
women more than the simple truth of God. So this former supplication
was given to be reformed as Lethington's wisdom thought best. And
in very deed he so framed it that, when it was delivered by the
Superintendents of Lothian and Fife, and when the Queen had read
somewhat of it, she said, "Here are many fair words: I cannot tell
what the hearts are." For our painted oratory, we were termed the
next name to flatterers and dissemblers; but, for that session, the
Kirk received no other answer....
[Sidenote: The Queen visits the North: Papist Intrigues.]
The interview and meeting of the two Queens being delayed until
the next year, our Sovereign took purpose to visit the north, and
departed from Stirling in the month of August. Whether there was any
secret paction and confederacy betwixt the Papists in the south and
the Earl of Huntly and his Papists in the north; or, to speak more
plainly, betwixt the Queen herself and Huntly, we cannot certainly
say. But the suspicions were wondrously vehement that there was no
good-will borne to the Earl of Moray, nor yet to such as depended
upon him at that time. The history we shall faithfully declare, and
leave the judgment to the reader....
The Queen and Court remained at Aberdeen certain days, to deliberate
upon the affairs of the country; and some began to smell that the
Earl of Huntly was under gathering.[205] While things were so
working in the north, the Earl Bothwell brake his ward, and came
forth from the Castle of Edinburgh on the 28th of August. Some say
that he broke the stanchions of the window; others whispered that
he got easy passage by the gates. One thing is certain; the Queen
was little offended at his escaping. The said Earl showed himself
not very much afraid, for his common residence was in Lothian. The
Archbishop of St. Andrews and Abbot of Crossraguel kept secret
convention at that same time in Paisley, and to them resorted divers
Papists; yea, the said Archbishop spake with the Duke, and unto him
came also the Lord Gordon from the Earl of Huntly, requiring him
"to put to his hands in the south, as he should do in the north;
and Knox's crying or preaching should not stay that purpose." The
Archbishop, let him be never so close, could not altogether hide his
mind, but at his own table said, "The Queen is gone into the north,
belike to seek disobedience: she may perchance find the thing that
she seeks." It was constantly affirmed that the Earl Bothwell and
the said Lord Gordon spake together, but of their purpose we heard
no mention.
[205] That is, his clansmen were being mobilised.
[Sidenote: John Knox warns the Protestants.]
The same year, and at that instant time, Commissioners were
appointed by the General Assembly. To Carrick and Cunningham, Master
George Hay was sent, and he, for the space of a month, preached
with great fruit in all the churches of Carrick. To Kyle, and to
the parts of Galloway, John Knox was appointed. Besides showing the
doctrine of the Evangel to the common people, John Knox forewarned
some of the nobility and Barons of the dangers that he feared, and
that were apparently to follow shortly; and he exhorted them to
put themselves in order, so that they might be able to serve the
authority, and yet not to suffer the enemies of God's truth to have
the upper hand. Thereupon, a great part of the Barons and Gentlemen
of Kyle and Cunningham and Carrick, professing the true doctrine of
the Evangel, assembled at Ayr.
[Sidenote: A Bond is again subscribed.]