JOHN KNOX.
The only authentic Portrait. Engraved for a book by Theodore Beza, published at Geneva in 1580.
THE HISTORY
OF THE
REFORMATION OF RELIGION
IN SCOTLAND
BY
JOHN KNOX
WITH WHICH ARE INCLUDED
KNOX'S CONFESSION AND
THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE
A Twentieth Century Edition
REVISED AND EDITED BY
CUTHBERT LENNOX
LONDON:
ANDREW MELROSE
16 Pilgrim Street, E.C.
MCMV
"It is really a loss to English and even to universal literature that Knox's hasty and strangely interesting, impressive, and peculiar Book, called The History of the Reformation in Scotland, has not been rendered far more extensively legible to serious mankind at large than is hitherto the case. There is in it, ... a really singular degree of clearness, sharp just insight and perspicacity, now and then of picturesqueness and visuality, as if the thing was set before your eyes; and everywhere a feeling of the most perfect credibility and veracity: that is to say altogether, of Knox's high qualities as an observer and narrator.... This man, you can discern, has seized the essential elements of the phenomenon, and done a right portrait of it; a man with an actually seeing eye....
"Besides this perfect clearness, naïveté, and almost unintentional picturesqueness, there are to be found in Knox's swift flowing History many other kinds of 'geniality,' and indeed of far higher excellences than are wont to be included under that designation. The grand Italian Dante is not more in earnest about this inscrutable Immensity than Knox is. There is in Knox throughout the spirit of an old Hebrew Prophet, such as may have been in Moses in the Desert at sight of the Burning Bush; spirit almost altogether unique among modern men; and along with all this, in singular neighbourhood to it, a sympathy, a veiled tenderness of heart, veiled, but deep and of piercing vehemence, and withal even an inward gaiety of soul, alive to the ridicule that dwells in whatever is ridiculous, in fact a fine vein of humour, which is wanting in Dante....
"The story of this great epoch is nowhere to be found so impressively narrated as in this Book of Knox's; a hasty loose production, but grounded on the completest knowledge, and with visible intention of setting down faithfully both the imperfections of poor fallible men, and the unspeakable mercies of God to this poor realm of Scotland."
Carlyle.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
Knox's "History" has all the essential qualities of a classic. It makes appeal with perennial freshness to the heart of man. It depicts a struggle for religious freedom which never had an equal, either before or since, and yet has a counterpart in the experience of every age. It is the honest and truthful record of one of the most highly energised men that ever crossed the stage of life—a record, withal, so masterly that the reader's mind and heart attain the writer's meaning and point of view, at a bound. Its humanity is as broad as human nature; its grasp of the eternal verities is childlike yet strong; its imagination is sane yet soaring.
The literary and historical value of the "History" has been adequately estimated for us by Carlyle, in his "Essay on the Portraits of John Knox;" and here we would only emphasise its manifestation of the intellectual quality and patriotic spirit of the men who were, under God, responsible for the great reformation of religion within the realm of Scotland. Above all, we would mark the noble conception of God which possessed the hearts of the Reformers. For them, the Eternal, our God, as Knox is fond of calling Him, was a living reality; and, with holy boldness, they withstood the enemies of God, whatever the worldly position and seeming authority of these might be. God's will was supreme, and they were there to see to its execution. The sap of the Old Testament is in all their utterances.
The document known as Knox's Confession of Faith,
and The Book of Discipline throw further light upon the
Originally dictated by Knox to amanuenses at intervals, between 1559 and 1571, this "History" existed only in manuscript for many years. Copied and recopied by scribes of differing abilities and of varying bias, the traditional text became overlaid with emendations in some copies, and enfeebled by excisions and suppressions in others, while of clerical errors there is no small crop in almost every one of the extant versions. Several times in the course of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, one or other of these versions was printed and put forth as Knox's work. But it was only in 1846 that, as a result of the painstaking research of the notable Scottish antiquarian scholar, Dr. David Laing, a really authentic and complete version of the "History" was issued by the Wodrow Society.
So far as scholarly research is concerned, Dr. Laing put the copestone upon the task of securing an authentic text, and his will probably be the definitive edition. In it the historians of succeeding generations may win the ore of historic fact and contemporary sentiment. But the work of Knox has a far wider appeal. Its author had his eye upon posterity when he wrote: he had a message for it. Time and again, he makes occasion to say so. As thus:—
"This we write, that the posterity to come may understand how potently God wrought in preserving and delivering those that had but a small knowledge of His truth, and for the love of the same hazarded all. We or our posterity may see a fearful dispersion of such as oppose themselves to impiety, or take upon them to punish the same otherwise than laws of men will permit: we may see them forsaken by men, and, as it were, despised and punished by God. But, if we do, let us not damn the persons that punish vice for just causes, nor yet despair that the same God that casts down, for causes unknown to us, will again raise up the persons dejected, to His glory and their comfort."
Or again:—"This we put in memory, that the posterities to come may know that God once made His truth to triumph; but, because some of ourselves delighted more in darkness than in light, He hath restrained our freedom, and put the whole body in bondage."
Note the obstacles which have checked the wider currency of the book. Knox wrote in the "Engliss tongue," with a liberal admixture of good Scots words. But English prose was then only in its birth. Knox's spelling is now hopelessly archaic, if not anarchic; his punctuation is no help, and almost a hindrance; and his style of composition, in his more sustained periods, is ponderous and involved. Nor is this all. Knox's original conception of his task seems to have been that of an exact record or chronicle of the occurrences between 1558 and 1561 of which he had personal knowledge, or documentary or other credible evidence. He has, therefore, conscientiously transcribed complete copies of letters, treaties, bonds, instructions to deputies ("credits" he calls them), and even of such lengthy documents as The Confession of Faith and The Book of Discipline, as well as of sermons preached on sundry occasions. To the historian, all these records are invaluable; but they only serve to distract the ordinary reader's attention from the main current of the narrative. They blunt his interest, instead of whetting it.
The present edition is a serious attempt to remove the
obstacles to which we have just referred. The editor has
not bound himself to reproduce the ipsissima verba of Knox
Every effort has been made to preserve Knox's vigorous phraseology intact. Obsolete and Scots words are glossed at the foot of the page on which they first occur; and a full Glossary is appended to the work. For the rest, the editor has sought to bring the mind and heart of Knox into touch with those of the reader, without unessential distractions. Footnotes are a manner of impertinence when a wonderful story is forward, and such an one is Knox's. He himself tells us to go to "universal histories of the time," if we want exact information. Here is no dry-as-dust chronicle of days and dates. Here we have an inspired record of the dealings of God with men. Here we read of their sinning, their shortcoming, and their struggling, of their faith and its victory, in a narrative that can be likened to nothing else in literature than the books of the Old Testament. This is a book for the heart, a human book, written by "one who neither flattered nor feared any flesh."
CUTHBERT LENNOX.
February 1905.
THE REFORMATION OF RELIGION IN SCOTLAND
BOOK FIRST."The First Book of the History of the Reformation of Religion within the
Realm of Scotland. Containing the Manner and by what Persons the Light
of Christ's Evangel hath been manifested unto this Realm, after that horrible
and universal Defection from the Truth, which has come by the means of that
Roman Antichrist."
1422-1558.
In the Records of Glasgow, mention is found of one that, in the year of God 1422, was burnt for heresy. His name is not given, and of his opinions or of the order upon which he was condemned there is no evidence left. But our Chronicles make mention that, in the days of King James the First, about the year of God 1431, there was apprehended in the University of St. Andrews one named Paul Craw, a Bohemian, who was accused of heresy before such as then were called Doctors of Theology. The principal accusation against him was that, in his opinion of the Sacrament, he followed John Huss and Wycliffe, who denied that the substance of bread and wine were changed by virtue of any words, or that confession should be made to priests, or prayers made to saints departed.
God gave unto the said Paul Craw grace to
resist his persecutors, and not to consent to their
impiety, and he was committed to the secular judge (for our
bishops follow Pilate, who both did condemn, and also washed
his hands) who condemned him to the fire. Therein he was
These practices did not greatly advance the kingdom of darkness, nor were they able utterly to extinguish the truth. In the days of King James the Second and King James the Third we find small question of religion moved within this Realm, but in the time of King James the Fourth, in the year of God 1494, thirty persons were summoned before the King and his Great Council, by Robert Blackader, called Archbishop of Glasgow. Some of these dwelt in Kyle-Stewart, some in King's-Kyle, and some in Cunningham. Amongst them were George Campbell of Cessnock, Adam Reid of Barskymming, John Campbell of New Mills, Andrew Shaw of Polkemmet, Helen Chalmers, Lady Polkellie, and Marion Chalmers, Lady Stair.
These were called the Lollards of Kyle. In the
Register of Glasgow we find the Articles of Belief for
which they were accused. These were as follows:—(1)
Images are not to be possessed, nor yet to be
worshipped. (2) Relics of Saints are not to be worshipped.
(3) Laws and Ordinances of men vary from time to time, and
so do those of the Pope. (4) It is not lawful to fight, or to
defend the faith. (We translate according to the barbarousness
of their Latin and dictament.
Albeit that the accusation of the Archbishop and his
accomplices was very grievous, God so assisted his servants,
partly by inclining the King's heart to gentleness (for divers
of them were his great familiars), and partly by giving bold
and godly answers to their accusators, that the enemies
After that diet, we find almost no question for
matters of religion, for the space of nigh thirty
years. For not long after, to wit, in the year of God
1508, the said Archbishop Blackader departed this life, while
journeying in his superstitious devotion to Jerusalem. Unto
him succeeded Mr. James Beaton, son to the Laird of Balfour,
This servant of God, the said Master Patrick, being
in his youth provided with reasonable honour and
living (he was titular Abbot of Ferne), as one hating
the world and the vanity thereof, left Scotland, and
passed to the schools in Germany; for then the fame of the
University of Wittenberg was greatly divulged in all countries.
There, by God's providence, he became familiar with these
lights and notable servants of Christ Jesus of that time,
Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and the said Francis
Lambert, and he did so grow and advance in godly knowledge,
joined with fervency and integrity of life, that he was in
admiration with many. The zeal of God's glory did so eat
him up, that he could of no long continuance remain abroad,
but returned to his country, where the bright beams of the
true light, which by God's grace was planted in his heart,
began most abundantly to burst forth, as well in public as
in secret. Besides his godly knowledge, he was well learned in
philosophy. He abhorred sophistry, and would that the text
In short process of time, the fame of the said
Master Patrick's reasoning and doctrine troubled the
clergy, and came to the ears of Archbishop James
Beaton. Being a conjured enemy to Jesus Christ, and
one that long had had the whole regiment of this realm, he bare
impatiently that any trouble should be made in that kingdom
of darkness whereof, within this realm, he was the head. Therefore,
he so travailed with the said Master Patrick, that he got
him to St. Andrews, where, after conference for divers days,
he received his freedom and liberty. The said Archbishop
and his bloody butchers, called Doctors, seemed to approve
his doctrine, and to grant that many things craved reformation
in the ecclesiastical regiment. Amongst the rest, there was
one that secretly consented with Master Patrick almost in all
things, Friar Alexander Campbell, a man of good wit and
learning, but corrupted by the world, as after we will hear.
When the bishops and the clergy had fully understood the
mind and judgment of the said Master Patrick, fearing that
by him their kingdom should be damaged, they travailed with
the King, who then was young and altogether at their command,
that he should pass in pilgrimage to St. Duthac in Ross,
to the end that no intercession should be made for the life of
the innocent servant of God. He, suspecting no such cruelty
as in their hearts was concluded, remained still, a lamb among
the wolves, until he was intercepted in his chamber one night,
and by the Archbishop's band was carried to the Castle. There
he was kept that night; and in the morning, produced in
judgment, was condemned to die by fire for the testimony of
God's truth. The Articles for which he suffered were but of
pilgrimage, purgatory, prayer to saints and prayer for the
dead, and such trifles; albeit matters of greater importance
had been in question, as his Treatise may witness. That the
condemnation should have greater authority, the Archbishop
and his doctors caused the same to be subscribed by all those
of any estimation that were present, and, to make their number
Immediately after dinner, the fire was prepared
before the old College, and Master Patrick was led
to the place of execution. Men supposed that all was
done but to give him a fright, and to have caused him
to have recanted and become recreant to those bloody beasts.
But God, for His own glory, for the comfort of His servant,
and for manifestation of their beastly tyranny, had otherwise
decreed. He so strengthened His faithful witness that neither
the love of life nor yet the fear of that cruel death could move
him a jot to swerve from the truth once professed. At the
place of execution he gave to his servant, who had been
chamber-child
The innocent servant of God being bound to the stake in
the midst of some coals, some timber, and other matter
appointed for the fire, a train of powder was made and set
afire. This gave a glaise
When these cruel wolves had, as they supposed, clean devoured the prey, they found themselves in worse case than they were before; for within St. Andrews, yea, almost within the whole realm, of those who heard of that deed, there was none found who began not to inquire, Wherefore was Master Patrick Hamilton burnt? When his Articles were rehearsed, it was questioned whether such Articles were necessarily believed under pain of damnation. And so, within short space, many began to call in doubt that which before they held for a certain truth, in so much that the University of St. Andrews, and St. Leonard's College principally, by the labours of Master Gavin Logie, and the novices of the Abbey, by those of the Sub-Prior, began to smell somewhat of the truth, and to espy the vanity of the received superstition. Within a few years, both Black and Grey Friars began publicly to preach against the pride and idle life of bishops, and against the abuses of the whole ecclesiastical estate.
Friar William Arth, in a sermon preached in
Dundee, spake somewhat more liberally against the
licentious lives of the bishops than they could well
bear. He spake further against the abuse of cursing
and of miracles. The Bishop of Brechin, having his placeboes
Concerning cursing, the Friar said that, if it were
rightly used, it was the most fearful thing upon the
face of the earth; for it was the very separation of
man from God; but that it should not be used rashly, and
for every light cause, but only against open and incorrigible
sinners. "But now," said he, "the avarice of priests, and the
ignorance of their office, has caused it altogether to be vilipended
As concerning miracles, the Friar declared what
diligence the ancients took to try true miracles from
false. "But now," said he, "the greediness of priests not only
receives false miracles, but they even cherish and fee knaves
on purpose, that their chapels may be the better renowned,
and their offering be augmented. Thereupon are many chapels
founded, as if our Lady were mightier, and as if she took more
pleasure in one place than in another. Of late days our Lady
of Carsegreen has hopped from one green hillock to another!
Honest men of St. Andrews," said he, "if ye love your wives
and your daughters, hold them at home, or else send them in
honest company; for, if ye knew what miracles were kythed
Notwithstanding this kind of preaching, this Friar remained
Papist in his heart. The rest of the Friars, fearing to lose the
benediction of the bishops, to wit, their malt and their meal
and their other appointed pension, caused the said Friar to fly
to England, and there, for defence of the Pope and Papistry,
he was cast into prison at King Harry's commandment. But
so it pleaseth God to open up the mouth of Baalam's own
Shortly after this, new consultation was taken that some
should be burnt; for men began to speak very freely. A
merry gentleman named John Lindsay, familiar to Archbishop
James Beaton, standing by when consultation was had, said,
"My Lord, if ye burn any more, unless ye follow my counsel,
ye will utterly destroy yourselves. If ye will burn them, let
them be burnt in how
God shortly after raised up stronger champions
against the priests. Alexander Seton, a Black Friar,
of good learning and estimation, began to tax the
corrupt doctrine of the Papistry. For the space of a
whole Lent he taught the commandments of God only,
ever beating in the ears of his auditors that the law of God had
not been truly taught for many years, men's traditions having
obscured the purity of it. These were his accustomed propositions.
First: Christ Jesus is the end and perfection of
the law. Second: There is no sin where God's law is not
violated. And, third: To satisfy for sin lies not in man's
power, but the remission thereof comes by unfeigned repentance,
and by faith apprehending God the Father, merciful in
Christ Jesus, His Son. While oftentimes this Friar put his
auditors in mind of these and the like heads, and made no
mention of purgatory, pardons, pilgrimage, prayer to saints, or
such trifles, the dumb doctors and the rest of that forsworn
rabble began to suspect him. They said nothing publicly until
Lent was ended, and he had gone to Dundee. Then, in his
This delation
Albeit, the Archbishop was highly offended at the scoff and bitter mock, as well as at the bold liberty of that learned man; yet durst he not hazard for that present to execute his malice conceived. Not only feared he the learning and bold spirit of the man, but also the favour that he had with the people, as well as with the Prince, King James the Fifth. With him he had good credit; for he was at that time his confessor, and had exhorted him to the fear of God, to the meditation of God's law, and to purity of life. The Archbishop, with his complices, foreseeing what danger might come to their Estate, if such familiarity should continue betwixt the Prince and a man so learned and so repugnant to their affections, laboured to make the said Friar Alexander odious unto the King's Grace. With the assistance of the Grey Friars, who by their hypocrisy deceived many, they readily found means to traduce the innocent as a heretic.
This accusation was easily received and more easily believed by the carnal Prince, who was altogether given to the filthy lusts of the flesh, and abhorred all counsel repugnant thereto. He did remember what a terror the admonitions of the said Alexander were unto his corrupted conscience, and without resistance he subscribed to their accusation, affirming that he knew more than they did in that matter; for he understood well enough that he smelled of the new doctrine, from such things as he had shewn to him under confession. Therefore, he promised that he should follow the counsel of the bishops in punishing him and all others of that sect. These things understood by the said Alexander, as well by information of his friends and familiars, as by the strange countenance of the King unto him, he provided the next way to avoid the fury of a blinded Prince. In his habit, he departed the realm, and, coming to Berwick, wrote back again to the King's Grace his complaint and admonition....
After the death of that constant witness of Jesus
Christ, Master Patrick Hamilton, when God disclosed
the wickedness of the wicked, as we have seen, there was one
Forrest of Linlithgow taken. After long imprisonment in the
In this mid time, the wisdom of God did provide
that Harry the Eighth, King of England, should
abolish from his realm the name and authority of the
Pope of Rome, and suppress the Abbeys and other
places of idolatry. This gave hope, in divers realms, that
some godly reformation should have ensued therefrom. From
this our country, divers learned men, and others that lived in
fear of persecution, did repair to that realm. They found not
such purity as they wished, and some of them sought other
countries. But they escaped the tyranny of merciless men,
and were reserved to better times, that they might fructify
within His Church, in divers places and parts, and in divers
vocations. Alexander Seton remained in England, and publicly,
with great praise and comfort of many, taught the Evangel in
all sincerity certain years. Albeit the craftiness of Winchester,
and of others, circumvented the said Alexander, so as to cause
him, at Paul's Cross, to affirm certain things repugnant to his
Alexander Alesius, Master John Fyfe, and that
famous man Dr. Macchabeus,
As soon as the bishops got the opportunity which
they constantly sought, they renewed the battle against
Jesus Christ. In the year of God 1534, the foresaid
leprous Archbishop caused to be summoned Sir
William Kirk, Adam Deas, Henry Cairns, and John Stewart,
In Master Norman appeared knowledge, albeit
joined with weakness. But in David Stratoun there
could only be espied, from the first, a hatred against
the pride and avarice of the priests. The cause of his
delation was as follows. He had made himself a fishing boat
to go to sea, and the Bishop of Moray, then being Prior of
St. Andrews, and his factors, urged for the teind thereof. His
answer was that, if they would have teind of that which his
servants won in the sea, it was but reason that they should
come and receive it where he got the stock.
One day, the present Laird of Lauriston, then
a young man, was reading to him from the New
Testament, in a certain quiet spot in the fields. As
God had appointed, he chanced to read these sentences of our
Master, Jesus Christ: "He that denies Me before men, or is
ashamed of Me in the midst of this wicked generation, I will
The issue declared that his prayer was not vain: for when he, with the foresaid Master Norman, was produced in judgment in the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, the King himself (all clad in red) being present, there was great labour to make the said David Stratoun recant, and burn his bill. But he, ever standing at his defence, alleging that he had not offended, in the end was adjudged unto the fire. When he perceived the danger, he asked grace of the King. This would the King willingly have granted unto him, but the bishops proudly answered that his hands were bound in that case, and that he had no grace to give to such as by their law were condemned. And so was David Stratoun, with the said Master Norman, after dinner, upon the twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of God 1534, led to a place beside the Rood of Greenside; and there these two were both hanged and burned, according to the mercy of the papistical Kirk.
This tyranny notwithstanding, the knowledge of
God did wondrously increase within this realm, partly
by reading, partly by brotherly conference, which in
those dangerous days was used to the comfort of
many; but chiefly by merchants and mariners, who,
frequenting other countries, heard the true doctrine
affirmed, and the vanity of the papistical religion openly
rebuked. Dundee and Leith were the principal centres of enlightenment,
and there David Beaton, cruel Cardinal, made a
very strait inquisition, divers being compelled to abjure and
burn their bills, some in St. Andrews, and some at Edinburgh.
About the same time, Captain John Borthwick was burnt in
effigy, but by God's providence he himself escaped their fury.
The rage of these bloody beasts proceeded so that the King's Court itself escaped not danger; for in it divers were suspected, and some were accused. And yet ever did some light burst out in the midst of darkness; for the truth of Christ Jesus entered even into the cloisters, as well of Friars, as of Monks and Canons. John Linn, a Grey Friar, left his hypocritical habit and the den of those murderers the Grey Friars. A Black Friar, called Friar Kyllour, set forth the history of Christ's Passion in the form of a play, which he both preached and practised openly in Stirling, the King himself being present, upon a Good Friday in the morning. In this, all things were so lovably expressed that the very simple people understood, and these confessed that, as the priests and obstinate Pharisees persuaded the people to refuse Christ Jesus, and caused Pilate to condemn Him, so did the bishops and men called religious blind the people, and persuade princes and judges to persecute such as professed the blessed Evangel of Christ Jesus.
This plain speaking so inflamed the hearts of all that bare the beast's mark, that they did not cease their machinations until the said Friar Kyllour, and with him Friar Beveridge, Sir Duncan Simson, Robert Forrester, a gentleman, and Dean Thomas Forret, Canon Regular and Vicar of Dollar, a man of upright life, were all together cruelly murdered in one fire, on the last day of February, in the year of God 1538. This cruelty was used by the said Cardinal, the Chancellor, Archbishop of Glasgow, and the incestuous Bishop of Dunblane.
After this cruelty was used in Edinburgh, upon
the Castle Hill, two friars were apprehended in the
Diocese of Glasgow, to the effect that the rest of the
bishops might show themselves no less fervent to
suppress the light of God than was he of St. Andrews. The
one was Jerome Russell, a Cordelier Friar, a young man of a
At the first, Kennedy was faint, and gladly would have recanted. But, when a place of repentance was denied unto him, the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of all comfort, began to work in him. The inward comfort began to burst forth, in visage as well as in tongue and word; for his countenance began to be cheerful. With a joyful voice he said, upon his knees, "O Eternal God! how wondrous is that love and mercy that Thou bearest unto mankind, and unto me the most caitiff and miserable wretch above all others; for, even now, when I would have denied Thee, and Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, my only Saviour, and so have casten myself into everlasting damnation; Thou, by Thine own hand, hast pulled me from the very bottom of hell, and makest me to feel that heavenly comfort which takes from me the ungodly fear wherewith before I was oppressed. Now I defy death; do what ye please, I praise my God I am ready."
The godly and learned Jerome, railed upon by those godless tyrants, answered, "This is your hour and that of the power of darkness: now sit ye as judges; and we stand wrongfully accused, and more wrongfully to be condemned; but the day shall come, when our innocency shall appear, and ye shall see your own blindness, to your everlasting confusion. Go forward, and fulfil the measure of your iniquity."
When these servants of God thus behaved themselves, there
arose a variance betwixt the Archbishop and the beasts that
came from the Cardinal. The Archbishop said, "I think it better
to spare these men, rather than to put them to death." Thereat
The meek and gentle Jerome Russell comforted the other with many comfortable sentences, oft saying unto him, "Brother, fear not: more potent is He that is in us, than is he that is in the world. The pain that we shall suffer is short, and shall be light; but our joy and consolation shall never end. Therefore, let us contend to enter in unto our Master and Saviour, by the strait way which He has trod before us. Death cannot destroy us; for it is destroyed already by Him for whose sake we suffer." With these and the like comfortable sentences, they passed to the place of execution, and constantly triumphed over death and Satan, even in the midst of the flaming fire.
Thus did these cruel beasts intend nothing but murder in all quarters of this realm. For so far had that blinded and most vicious man, the Prince,—most vicious, we call him, for he neither spared man's wife nor maiden, no more after his marriage than he did before,—so far, we say, had he given himself to obey the tyranny of those bloody beasts that he had made a solemn vow, that none should be spared that was suspected of heresy, yea, although it were his own son. He lacked not flatterers enough to press and push him forward in his fury. Many of his minions were pensioners to priests; and among them, Oliver Sinclair, still surviving and an enemy to God, was the principal.
Yet did not God cease to give to that blinded Prince
documents
Men of good credit can yet report a terrible vision the said Prince saw, when lying in Linlithgow, on the night that Thomas Scott, Justice Clerk, died in Edinburgh. Affrighted at midnight, or after, he cried for torches, and raised all that lay in the Palace. He told that Thomas Scott was dead; for he had been at him with a company of devils, and had said unto him these words, "O woe to the day that ever I knew thee or thy service; for, for serving thee against God, against His servants, and against justice, I am adjudged to endless torment." Of the terrible utterances of the said Thomas Scott before his death, men of all estates heard, and some that yet live can witness. His words were ever, "Justo Dei judicio condemnatus sum"; that is, I am condemned by God's just judgment. He was most oppressed for the delation and false accusation of such as professed Christ's Evangel, as Master Thomas Marjoribanks and Master Hew Rigg, then advocates, did confess to Mr. Henry Balnaves. These came to him from the said Thomas Scott, as he and Mr. Thomas Bellenden were sitting in St. Giles's Kirk, and in the name of the said Thomas asked his forgiveness.
None of these terrible forewarnings could either
change or mollify the heart of the indurate, lecherous,
and avaricious tyrant: still did he proceed from impiety
to impiety. In the midst of these admonitions
he caused hands to be put on that notable man, Master George
Buchanan to whom, for his singular erudition and honest
behaviour was committed the charge of instructing some of
This cruelty and persecution notwithstanding, these monsters and hypocrites the Grey Friars, day by day, came further into contempt; for not only did the learned espy their abominable hypocrisy, but men, in whom no such grace or gifts were thought to have been, began plainly to paint the same forth to the people....
When God had given unto that indurate Prince sufficient documents that his rebellion against His blessed Evangel should not prosperously succeed, He raised war against him, as He did against obstinate Saul, and in this he miserably perished, as we shall hear.
The occasion of the war was this. Harry the
Eighth, King of England, had a great desire to have
spoken with our King; and with that object he
travailed long until he got a full promise made to his ambassador,
Lord William Howard. The place of meeting was
to be at York; and the King of England kept the appointment
with such solemnity and preparation as never, for such a purpose,
had been seen in England before. There was great
bruit
These vain promises lifted up in pride the heart of
the unhappy king: and so began the war. The realm
was quartered, and men were laid in Jedburgh and
Kelso. All men, fools we mean, bragged of victory; and
in very deed the beginning gave us a fair show. For at the first
warden raid, which was made on St. Bartholomew's Day, in the
year of God 1542, the Warden, Sir Robert Bowes, his brother
Richard Bowes, Captain of Norham, Sir William Mowbray,
knight, a bastard son of the Earl of Angus, and James Douglas
of Parkhead, then rebels, with a great number of borderers,
soldiers, and gentlemen, were taken. The Raid was termed
Halden Rig. The Earl of Angus, and Sir George his brother,
did narrowly escape. Our papists and priests, proud of this
victory, encouraged the King. There was nothing heard but,
"All is ours. They are but heretics. If we be a thousand
and they ten thousand, they dare not fight. France shall
enter the one part, and we the other, and so shall England be
The war continued until mid September; and then
was sent down the old Duke of Norfolk, with such an
army as for a hundred years before had not come into Scotland.
The English were engaged in amassing their forces, and
setting forward their preparations and munitions, which were
exceeding great, until mid October, and after. Then they
marched from Berwick and tended to the west, ever holding
Tweed upon their one side, and never camping more than a
mile from that river during the whole time they continued in
Scotland, which was ten or twelve days. Day forays were run
to Smailholm, Stitchel, and such places near about, but many
snappers
While the King lay at Fala, waiting for the guns
and for information from the army, the Lords began
to remember how the King had been long abused by
his flatterers, and principally by the pensioners of the
priests. It was at once concluded that they would make some
new remembrance of Lauder-bridge, to see if that would for a
season somewhat help the state of the country. But the Lords
amongst themselves could not agree upon the persons that
deserved punishment. Every man favoured his friend, and
the whole escaped; and, besides, the purpose was disclosed to
the King, and by him to the courtiers. After that, until they
While time was thus protracted, the English army,
for scarcity of victuals, as was rumoured, retired over
Tweed by night, and so began to skaill.
Without delay, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a
new Council was convened, a Council, we mean, of the
abusers of the King. There accusation was laid against
the most part of the nobility. Some were heretics, some
favourers of England, some friends to the Douglases, and
so could there be none faithful to the King, in their opinion.
The Cardinal and the priests cast faggots in the fire with all their
force. Finding the King wholly given over to their devotion,
they delivered unto him a scroll containing the names of such
as they, in their inquisition, deemed heretics. For this was
the order of justice kept by these holy fathers in damning
innocent men. Whosoever would delate any one of heresy was
The Cardinal and prelates had once before presented
the same scroll unto the King, at the time of
his return from the circumnavigation of the Isles.
But then it was refused by the prudent and stout
counsel of the Laird of Grange, who opened clearly to the King
the practice
But now, being informed of all proceedings by their pensioners, Oliver Sinclair, Ross, Laird of Craigie, and others who were faithful to them in all things, they concluded to hazard once again their former suit. This was no sooner proposed than it was accepted, with no small regret made by the King's own mouth that he had so long despised their counsel; "For," said he, "now I plainly see your words to be true. The nobility desire neither my honour nor continuance; they would not ride a mile for my pleasure to follow my enemies. Will ye therefore find me the means whereby I may have a raid made into England, without their knowledge and consent—a raid that may be known as my own raid—and I shall bind me to your counsel for ever." There concurred together Ahab and his false prophets; there were congratulations and clapping of hands; there were promises of diligence, closeness, and felicity.
Finally, conclusion was taken that the west border of England, which was most empty of men and garrisons, should be invaded; the King's own banner should be there; Oliver, the great minion, should be general lieutenant; but no man should be privy of the enterprise, except the council that was then present, until the very day and execution thereof. The Bishops gladly took the charge of that raid. Letters were sent to such as they would charge to meet the King, on a day and at a place appointed. The Cardinal was directed to go with the Earl of Arran to Haddington, to make a show against the east border, when the others were in readiness to invade the west. And thus neither counsel, practice, closeness, nor diligence lacked to set forward that enterprise. And, among these consulters, there was no doubt of a good success. So was the scroll thankfully received by the King himself, and put into his own pocket, where it remained to the day of his death, and then was found. In it were contained the names of more than a hundred landed men, besides others of meaner degree. Amongst these, the Lord Hamilton himself, then second person of the realm, was delated.
It was bruited that this raid was devised by the Lord
Maxwell; but we have no certainty thereof. The night
Upon the point of day, they approached to the enemies'
ground; and passed the water without any great resistance
made unto them. The foray went forward, fires rose, and
herschip
About ten o'clock, when fires had been kindled and almost
slokened
In the meantime, the skirmishing grew hotter than
it had been before: shouts were heard on every side.
Some Scotsmen were stricken down; some, not knowing
the ground, laired,
The Lord Maxwell, perceiving what would be the end of
such beginnings, remained on foot with his friends, and, being
admonished to take horse and provide for himself, answered,
"Nay, I will here abide the chance that it shall please God to
send me, rather than go home, and there be hanged." And
so he remained on foot and was taken prisoner, while the
multitude fled, to their greater shame. The enemy, perceiving
the disorder, increased in courage. Before, they had shouted;
but then they struck. They threw spears and dagged
To be short, a greater fear and discomfiture, without cause, has seldom been seen. It is said that, where the men were not sufficient to take the hands of prisoners, some ran to houses and surrendered themselves to women. Stout Oliver was taken, without stroke, fleeing manfully; and so was his glory (stinking and foolish pride we should call it) suddenly turned to confusion and shame. In that discomfiture were taken the two Earls foresaid, the Lords Fleming and Somerville, and many other barons and gentlemen, besides the great multitude of servants.
Worldly men may think that all this came but by misorder
and fortune, as they term it; but whosoever has the
least spunk
The King waited upon news at Lochmaben, and
when the certain knowledge of the discomfiture
came to his ears he was stricken with a sudden fear
and astonishment, so that scarcely could he speak, or hold
purposed converse with any man. The night constrained him
to remain where he was, and so he went to bed; but he rose
without rest or quiet sleep. His continual complaint was,
"Oh, fled Oliver! Is Oliver ta'en? Oh, fled Oliver!" These
words in his melancholy, and as if he were carried away in
a trance, he repeated from time to time, to the very hour of
his death. Upon the morn, which was St. Katherine's Day, he
returned to Edinburgh, as did the Cardinal from Haddington.
But the one being ashamed of the other, the bruit of their
communication came not to the ears of the public. The King
made inventory of his poise,
In the meantime the Queen was upon the point of her delivery in Linlithgow, and on the eighth day of December, in the year of God 1542, was delivered of Mary, that then was born, and now does reign for a plague to this realm, as the progress of her whole life to this day hath declared. The certainty that a daughter was born unto him coming to his ears, the King turned from such as spake with him, and said, "The devil go with it! It will end as it began: it came from a woman; and it will end in a woman." After that, he spake not many words that were sensible. But ever he harped upon his old song, "Fie, fled Oliver! Is Oliver ta'en? All is lost."
In the meantime came the Cardinal, in the King's
great extremity, an apt comforter for a desperate
man. He cried in his ear, "Take order, Sire, with
your realm: who shall rule during the minority of your
daughter? Ye have known my service, what will ye have
done? Shall there not be four regents chosen, and shall not
I be principal of them?" Whatsoever the King answered,
documents were taken that things should be as my Lord
Cardinal thought expedient. As many affirm, a dead man's
hand was made to subscribe a blank, that they might write
above the signature what pleased them best. This finished,
the Cardinal posted to the Queen. At the first sight of the
Cardinal, she said, "Welcome, my Lord. Is not the King
dead?" Divers men are of divers opinions as to what
moved her so to conjecture. Many whisper that of old his
part was in the pot, and that the suspicion thereof caused
him to be inhibited the Queen's company. Howsoever it
may have been before, it is plain that, after the King's death,
and during the Cardinal's life, whosoever might guide the
King James departed this life on the thirteenth day of December, in the year of God 1542, and on news thereof the hearts of men began to be disclosed. All men lamented that the realm was left without a male to succeed; yet some rejoiced that such an enemy to God's truth was taken away. By some he was called a good poor-man's king; by others he was termed a murderer of the nobility, and one that had decreed their utter destruction. Some praised him for suppressing theft and oppression; others dispraised him for the defiling of men's wives and of virgins. Men spake as affection led them. And yet none spake altogether beside the truth; for all these things were in part so manifest that, as the virtues could not be denied, so could not the vices be cloaked by any craft.
Throughout this realm the question of government
was universally moved. The Cardinal proclaimed
the King's last will. Therein were nominated four
Protectors or Regents, of whom he himself was the
first and principal, with him being joined the Earls Huntly,
Argyll, and Moray. This was done on the Monday at the
Market Cross of Edinburgh. But on the Monday following
the whole Regents had remission from their usurpation.
By the stout and wise counsel of the Laird of Grange, the
Earl of Arran, then second person to the Crown, caused
assemble the nobility of the realm, and required the equity
of their judgment in his just suit to be governor of this realm
during the minority of her to whom he would succeed, in the
event of her death without lawful succession. His friends
convened, the nobility assembled, and the day of decision
was appointed. The Cardinal and his faction opposed themselves
to the government of one man, and especially to the
In despite of the Cardinal and his suborned faction, the Earl of Arran was declared Governor, and with public proclamation so announced to the people. The King's Palace, treasure, jewels, garments, horse, and plate were delivered unto him by the officers that had the former charge; and he was honoured, feared, and obeyed more heartily than ever any king was before, so long as he abode in God. Great favour was borne unto him, because it was bruited that he favoured God's Word; and because it was well known that he was one appointed to have been persecuted, as the scroll, found in the King's pocket after his death, did witness. These two things, together with an opinion that men had of his simplicity, did, in the beginning, bow unto him the hearts of many who afterwards, with dolour of heart, were compelled to change their opinions. We omit a variety of matters, such as the order taken for keeping the young Queen; the provision for the mother; and the home-calling of the Douglases. These appertain to a universal history of the time. We seek only to follow the progress of religion, and of the matters that cannot be dissevered from the same.
The Governor being established in government, godly men repaired unto him, and exhorted him to call to mind for what end God had exalted him; out of what danger He had delivered him; and what expectation all men of honesty had of him. At their suit, more than of his own motion, Thomas Williams, a Black Friar, was called to be preacher. The man was of solid judgment, reasonable letters for that age, and of a prompt and good utterance: his doctrine was wholesome, without great vehemence against superstition. John Rough, who after, for the truth of Christ Jesus, suffered in England, in the days of Mary of cursed memory, preached also sometimes, not so learnedly, yet more simply, and more vehemently against all impiety. The doctrine of these two provoked against them and against the Governor the hatred of all that favoured darkness more than light, and their own bellies more than God. These slaves of Satan, the Grey Friars (and amongst the rest Friar Scott, who before had given himself forth for the greatest professor of Christ Jesus within Scotland, and under that colour had disclosed and so endangered many) croaked like ravens, yea, rather they yelled and roared like devils in hell, "Heresy! heresy! Williams and Rough will carry the Governor to the devil."
The town of Edinburgh was, for the most part,
drowned in superstition: Edward Hope, young
William Adamson, Sibella Lindsay, Patrick Lindsay,
Francis Aikman; and in the Canongate, John Mackay,
Ryngzean Brown, with a few others, had the bruit
At the approach of Parliament before Easter, there began to be question of abolishing certain tyrannical acts, formerly made at the instance of the prelates, for maintaining of their kingdom of darkness; to wit, the Act "that under pain of heresy, no man should read any part of the Scriptures in the English tongue, nor yet any tractate or exposition of any place of Scripture." Such articles began to come into question, we say, and men began to inquire if it was not as lawful to men that understood no Latin to use the Word of their salvation in the tongue they understood, as it was for Latin men to have it in Latin, and for Greeks or Hebrews to have it in their tongues. It was answered that the first Kirk had forbidden all tongues but these three. But men demanded when that inhibition was given; and what Council had ordained that, considering that Chrysostom complained that the people used not the Psalms, and other holy books, in their own tongues? If it be said that these were Greeks, and understood the Greek tongue, we answer that Christ Jesus commanded His Word to be preached to all nations. Now, if it ought to be preached to all nations, it must be preached in the tongue they understand. If it be lawful to preach it and to hear it preached in all tongues, why should it not be lawful to read it, and to hear it read in all tongues, to the end that the people may try the spirits, according to the commandment of the Apostle.
Beaten with these and other reasons, it was admitted that
the Word might be read in the vulgar tongue, provided that
the translation were true. It was demanded, what could be
reprehended in the translation used? Much searching was
made, but nothing could be found, except that "love," said
they, was put in the place of "charity." When they were
asked what difference was betwixt the one and the other,
and whether they understood the nature of the Greek term
Agape, they were dumb. The Lord Ruthven, father to him
The conclusion was that the Commissioners of Burghs and a part of the nobility required of the Parliament that it might be enacted, "That it should be lawful to every man to use the benefit of the translation which then they had of the Bible and New Testament, together with the benefit of other tracts containing wholesome doctrine, until such time as the prelates and kirkmen should give and set forth unto them a translation more correct." The clergy hereto long repugned; but, in the end, convicted by reason and by multitude of contrary votes, they also acquiesced. So, by Act of Parliament, it was made free to all men and women to read the Scriptures in their own tongue, or in the English tongue; and all Acts of contrary effect were abolished.
This was no small victory of Christ Jesus, fighting
against the conjured enemies of His truth; no small
comfort to such as before were so holden in bondage
that they durst not have read the Lord's Prayer, the Ten
Commandments, or the Articles of their faith in the English
tongue, without being accused of heresy. Then might have
been seen the Bible lying upon almost every gentleman's table.
The New Testament was borne about in many men's hands.
We grant that some, alas! profaned that blessed Word; for
some that, perchance, had never read ten sentences in it had
it most commonly in their hands. They would chop their
familiars on the cheek with it, and say, "This has lain hid
under my bed-foot these ten years." Others would glory,
"Oh! how often have I been in danger for this book. How
secretly have I stolen from my wife at midnight to read upon
it." Many did this to make court; for all men esteemed the
Governor the most fervent Protestant in Europe. Albeit
many abused that liberty granted by God miraculously, the
knowledge of God wondrously increased, and God gave His
The fame of our Governor was spread in divers countries, and many praised God for him. King Harry sent unto him his Ambassador, Mr. Sadler, and he lay in Edinburgh a great part of the summer. His commission and negotiation was to contract a perpetual amity betwixt England and Scotland. God seemed to have offered the occasion, and to many men it appeared that from heaven He had declared His good pleasure in that proposal. For, to King Harry, Jane Seymour (after the death of Queen Katherine, and of all others that might have made his marriage suspect) had borne a son, Edward the Sixth of blessed memory, older some years than our Mistress, and unto us was left a Queen. This wonderful providence of God caused men of greatest judgment to enter into disputation with themselves, whether, with good conscience, any man might repugn to the desires of the King of England, considering that thereby all occasion of war might be cut off, and great commodity might ensue to his realm. The offers of King Harry were so large and his demands were so reasonable that all that loved quietness were content therewith. There were sent from the Parliament to King Harry, in commission, Sir William Hamilton, Sir James Learmonth, and Mr. Henry Balnaves. These remained long in England, and so travailed that all things concerning the marriage betwixt Edward the Sixth and Mary Queen of Scots were agreed upon, except the time of her deliverance to the custody of Englishmen.
For the final conclusion of this head, William,
Earl of Glencairn, and Sir George Douglas, were added
to the former commissioners, and to them were given
ample commission and good instructions. Mr. Sadler
remained in Scotland. Communications passed frequently,
yea, the hands of our Lords were liberally anointed.
Other commodities were promised, and by some received;
for divers persons taken at Solway Moss were sent home,
The Papists raged against the Governor and against
the Lords that consented, and abode sweir
As soon as these things were ratified, the merchants made
frack
In the meantime there arrived from France to Scotland the Abbot of Paisley, called bastard brother to the Governor, but by many esteemed son to Crichton, the old Bishop of Dunkeld, and with him Master David Panter, afterwards Bishop of Ross. The bruit of the learning and honest life of these two, and of their fervency and uprightness in religion, was such that there was great hope that their presence should have been comfortable to the Kirk of God. It was constantly affirmed that, without delay, the one and the other would occupy the pulpit, and truly preach Jesus Christ. Few days disclosed their hypocrisy. What terrors, what promises, or what enchanting boxes they brought from France, the common people knew not, but shortly after it was seen that Friar Williams was inhibited from preaching, and so departed to England. John Rough retired to Kyle, a receptacle of God's servants of old.
The men of counsel, judgment, and godliness that had
travailed to promote the Governor, and that gave him faithful
counsel in all doubtful matters, were either craftily conveyed
from him, or else, by threats of hanging, were compelled to
leave him. Of the former number were the Laird of Grange,
Master Henry Balnaves, Master Thomas Bellenden, and Sir
David Lyndsay of the Mount; men by whose labours the
Governor was promoted to honour, and by whose counsel he
so used himself at the beginning that the obedience given to
him was nothing inferior to that possessed by any king of
Scotland for many years before. Yea, it did surmount the
common obedience, in that it proceeded from love of those
virtues that were supposed to have been in him. Of the
number of those that were threatened were Master Michael
These words were spoken in his own presence, and in the presence of some of them that had better deserved than so to have been entreated. The speaker was allowed his bold and plain speaking, and the wicked counsel being tolerated, honest and godly men left the Court and the Governor in the hands of such as led him so far from God that he falsified his promise, dipped his hands in the blood of the saints of God, and brought this commonwealth to the very point of utter ruin. These were the first-fruits of the godliness and learning of the Abbot of Paisley: hereafter we will hear more.
All honest and godly men once banished from the Court, the Abbot and his council began to lay before the inconstant Governor the dangers that might ensue the alteration and change of religion; the power of the King of France; and the commodity that might come to him and his house by retaining the ancient league with France. He was also called on to consider the great danger that he brought upon himself if, in any jot, he suffered the authority of the Pope to be violated or called in question within this realm; for thereon alone stood the security of his right to the succession of the Crown of this realm. By God's Word, the divorcement of his father from Elizabeth Home, his first wife, would not be found lawful, his second marriage would be judged null, and he himself declared bastard. Caiaphas spake prophecy, and wist not what he spake; for at that time there were no men that truly feared God that minded any such thing. With their whole force they would have fortified the title that God had given unto him, and things done in time of darkness would never have been called in question.
Another practice was used. The Cardinal, being now at liberty, ceased not to traffic with such of the nobility as he might draw to his faction or corrupt by any means, seeking thereby to raise a party against the said Governor, and against such as stood fast for the contract of marriage and peace with England. The said Cardinal, the Earls Argyll, Huntly, and Bothwell, and the bishops and their bands, assembled at Linlithgow: thereafter they passed to Stirling, and took with them both the Queens, the mother and the daughter, and threatened the deposition of the said Governor, as inobedient to their Holy Mother the Kirk, as they term the harlot of Babylon, Rome.
The inconstant man, not thoroughly grounded upon God, was left destitute of all good counsel by his own default, and had the wicked ever blowing in his ears, "What will ye do! Ye will destroy yourself and your house for ever." Beaten with these temptations, the unhappy man surrendered himself to the appetites of the wicked. Quietly stealing away from the Lords that were with him in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, he passed to Stirling, subjected himself to the Cardinal and to his council, received absolution, renounced the profession of the holy Evangel of Christ Jesus, and violated the oath that he had made for observation of the contract and league with England.
At that time our Queen was crowned, and new
promise was made to France. The certainty hereof
coming to King Harry, our Scottish ships were stayed,
the sails taken from their rays,
King Harry, perceiving that all hope of the Governor's repentance was lost, called back his ambassador, and that with fearful threatenings, as Edinburgh afterwards felt. He proclaimed war, made our ships prizes, and our merchants and mariners lawful prisoners, and this alone was no small hardship to the burghs of Scotland. But the Cardinal and priests did laugh, and jestingly said, "When we shall conquer England, the merchants shall be recompensed." The summer and the harvest passed over without any notable thing. The Cardinal and Abbot of Paisley parted the prey betwixt them: the abused Governor bare the name only.
In the beginning of the winter the Earl of Lennox came to Scotland, sent from France in hatred of the Governor, whom the King, by the Cardinal's advice, promised to pronounce bastard, and so make the said Earl Governor. The Cardinal further put the Earl in vain hope that the Queen Dowager would marry him. He brought with him some money, and more he afterwards received from the hands of La Broche. But, at length, perceiving himself frustrated of all expectation that he had either from the King of France, or yet from the promise of the Cardinal, he concluded to seek the favour of England, and began to draw a faction against the Governor.
In hatred of the other's inconstancy, many favoured him in
the beginning. At Yule there assembled in the town of Ayr,
the Earls of Angus, Glencairn, and Cassillis, the Lords Maxwell
and Somerville, the Laird of Drumlanrig, and the Sheriff
of Ayr, with all the force that they and the Lords that remained
constant to England might make. After Yule they
came to Leith. The Governor and Cardinal, with their forces,
kept Edinburgh, for they were slackly pursued. Men excused
After the Cardinal had got the Governor wholly
under his control, and had obtained his desires concerning
a part of his enemies, he began to practise
that such as he feared and therefore hated should be
set by the ears, one against another. In that, thought
the carnal man, stood his greatest security. The Lord Ruthven
he hated, by reason of his knowledge of God's Word: the
Lord Gray he feared, because at that time he sought the company
of such as professed godliness, and bare small favour to
the Cardinal. Now the worldly-wise man reasoned thus: "If
I can put enmity betwixt those two, I shall be quit of a great
number of unfriends; for the most part of the country will
either assist the one or the other; and, otherwise occupied,
they will not watch for my displeasure." Without long process,
he found the necessary means; for he laboured with John
Charteris, a man of stout courage and many friends, to accept
the provostship of Perth, which he purchased
The said John, offended hereat, said that he would occupy
that office by force, if they would not give it unto him of
The said John made frack for the pursuit; and
upon the Magdalene's day, in the morning, anno 1543,
approached with his forces, the Lord Gray taking
upon him the principal charge. Norman Leslie, with
his friends, should have come by ship, with munition and
ordnance, and they were in readiness. But because the tide
served not soon, the other, thinking himself of sufficient force for
all that were in the town, entered by the bridge. They found
no resistance until the foremost were well within the Fish
Gate, when the Master of Ruthven, with his company, stoutly
rencountered them, and so rudely repulsed them that such as
were behind gave back. The place of the retreat was so strait,
that men durst not fight, and could not flee at their pleasure,
for Lord Gray and his friends were upon the bridge. The
slaughter was great; for there fell by the edge of the sword
threescore men. The Cardinal had rather that the unhap had
fallen on the other side; but, howsoever it was, he thought
that such trouble was for his comfort and advantage. The
knowledge of this came unto the ears of the party that had
received the discomfiture, and was unto them no small grief.
Many of them had entered into that action for his pleasure,
and thought they should have had his fortification and assistance.
Finding themselves frustrated, they began to look more
narrowly to themselves, and did not so much attend upon the
Cardinal's devotion, as they had been wont to do. Thus was a
new jealousy engendered amongst them; for whosoever would
The Cardinal drew the Governor to Dundee; for
he understood that the Earl of Rothes and Master
Henry Balnaves were with the Lord Gray in the
Castle of Huntly. The Governor sent command to the said
Earl and Lord, with the foresaid Master Henry, to come unto
him to Dundee, and appointed the next day, at ten o'clock
forenoon. This hour they decreed to keep; and for that
purpose assembled their folks at Balgavie. They were more
than three hundred men, and the Cardinal, informed of their
number, thought it not good that they should join with the
town, for he feared his own estate; and so he persuaded the
Governor to pass forth from Dundee before nine o'clock, and
to take the straight road to Perth. The Lords, perceiving this,
began to fear that they were come to pursue them, and so put
themselves in order and array, and marched forward of purpose
to have bidden
The crafty fox, foreseeing that his security stood not in
fighting, ran to his last refuge, that is, to manifest treason;
and consultation was taken as to how the force of the others
might be broken. And at the first, the Laird of Grange and
the Provost of St. Andrews, knowing nothing of treason, were
sent to ask, "Why they molested my Lord Governor in his
journey?" Thereto they answered that "nothing was less
their intention; for they had come at his Grace's commandment,
to keep the hour in Dundee appointed by him. When
they saw this prevented, and knew the Cardinal to be their
unfriend, they could not but suspect their coming forth of the
town contrary to previous arrangement. They had therefore
put themselves in order, not to invade, but to defend in case
they were invaded." This answer being reported, there was sent
to them the Archbishop of St. Andrews, Master David Panter,
and the Lairds of Buccleuch and Coldinknowes, to desire certain
of the other company to talk with them. This was easily
obtained, for they suspected no treason. After long communication,
it was demanded whether the Earl and Lord and
The Governor remained, and another with him; and,
without company, the said Earl, Lord, and Master Henry came
to him. After many fair words given unto them all, protesting
that he would have them agreed with the Cardinal, and that
he would have Master Henry Balnaves the worker and instrument
thereof, he drew them forward with him towards Perth,
whither the Cardinal had ridden. When it was too late,
they began to suspect, and desired to have returned to their
folk. But it was answered, "They should send back from the
town, but they must needs go forward with my Lord Governor."
And so, partly by flattery and partly by force, they were compelled
to obey. As soon as ever they were within the town
they were apprehended, and upon the morn all three were
sent to Black Ness. There they remained so long as it pleased
the Cardinal's graceless Grace, and that was until bond of
manrent
We cannot affirm whether it was on this journey,
or at another date, that that bloody butcher executed
his cruelty upon the innocent persons in Perth.
Indeed, we do not study to be curious; we travail to express
the actual facts, rather than scrupulously and exactly to record
day and date, although we do not omit these when we are
certain of them. The truth in regard to the cruel deed at
Perth is this. On St. Paul's Day, before the first burning in
Edinburgh, the Governor and Cardinal came to Perth, and
there, upon envious delation, a great number of honest men
The names of the men that were hanged were James
Hunter, William Lamb, William Anderson, and James
Ronaldson, burgesses of Perth. At that same time there were
banished Sir Henry Elder, John Elder, Walter Pyper, Lawrence
Pullar, and divers others whose names have not come to our
knowledge. That sworn enemy to Christ Jesus, and unto all
in whom any spunk of true knowledge appeared, had divers
persons in prison about that same time. Amongst these was
John Roger, a Black Friar—godly, learned, and one that had
fruitfully preached Christ Jesus, to the comfort of many in
Angus and Mearns. Him that bloody man caused to be
murdered in the ground of the Sea-Tower of St. Andrews,
thereafter causing his body to be cast over the crag, sparsing
Thus Satan ceased not, by all means, to maintain
his kingdom of darkness, and to suppress the light of
Christ's Evangel. But potent is He against whom
they fought; for, when the wicked were surest of their
triumph, God began to show His anger. On the third
day of May, in the year of God 1543, without knowledge of any
of those in Scotland who should have had the care of the realm,
there was seen a great fleet of ships approaching the Forth.
Posts came to the Governor and Cardinal, who both were in
Edinburgh, informing them of the multitude of ships seen, and
of the course they took. This was upon the Saturday, before
Upon the point of day, upon Sunday, the fourth of May, the fleet made ready for landing, and arranged their ships so that a galley or two laid their snouts to the crags. The small ships, called pinnaces and light horsemen, approached as near as they could. The great ships discharged their soldiers into the smaller vessels, and these, by boats, set upon dry land, before ten o'clock, ten thousand men, as was judged, and more. The Governor and Cardinal, seeing then what they could not, or at least would not, believe before, after they had made a brag to fight, fled as fast as horse would carry them; nor did they afterwards approach within twenty miles of the danger. The Earl of Angus and George Douglas were that night freed of ward in Black Ness, and the said Sir George in merriness said, "I thank King Harry and my gentle masters of England."
The English army entered Leith betwixt twelve and one,
found the tables covered, the dinners prepared, and abundance
of wine and victuals, besides other substance. The like riches
within the like bounds were not to be found, either in Scotland
or England. Upon the Monday, the fifth of May, there
came to them from Berwick and the Border, two thousand
The Englishmen seeing no resistance, hurled
This was a part of the punishment which God laid upon
the realm for the infidelity of the Governor, and for the violation
of his solemn oath. But this was not the end; for the
realm was divided into two factions: the one favoured France;
the other the league lately contracted with England. In
nothing did the one thoroughly trust the other. The country
was in extreme calamity; for divers strongholds, such as Carlaverock,
Lochmaben, and Langholm, were delivered to the
English. And the most part of the borders were confederate
with England. Albeit Sir Ralph Evers and many other
Englishmen were slain at Ancrum Moor, in February, in the
In the month of June, in the year of God 1545,
Monsieur de Lorge Montgomery, with bands of men
of war, came from France for a further destruction to
Scotland; and upon their brag was an army raised
and pushed forward towards Wark, even in the midst of
harvest. The Cardinal's banner was that day displayed, and
all his dependents were charged to be under it. Many had
promised to follow the standard, but in the issue it was left so
bare that for shame it was shut up in the pock
The following winter so nurtured the French men that
they learned to eat, yea to beg, cakes which at their entry
they scorned. Without jesting, they were so miserably treated,
that few returned to France again with their lives. The
Cardinal had then almost fortified the Castle of St. Andrews,
and he made this so strong, in his opinion, that he regarded
neither England nor France. The Earl of Lennox, as we have
said, disappointed of all things in Scotland, passed to England,
where he received protection from King Harry, who gave him
Lady Margaret Douglas to wife. Of her was born Harry,
While the inconstant Governor was sometimes
dejected and sometimes raised up again by the Abbot
of Paisley, who before was called "chaster than any
maiden," the latter began to show himself; for, after
he had by craft taken the Castles of Edinburgh and Dunbar,
he took also possession of his eme's
In the midst of all the calamities that came upon the realm after the defection of the Governor from Christ Jesus, there came to Scotland, in the year of God 1544, that blessed martyr of God, Master George Wishart, in company of the commissioners before mentioned. A man of such graces was never before him heard of within this realm; yea, and such graces are yet rarely found in any man, notwithstanding the great light of God that since his days has shined upon us. He was not only singularly learned, as well in godly knowledge as in all honest human science, but he was also so clearly illuminated with the spirit of prophecy that he saw not only things pertaining to himself, but also such things as some towns and the whole realm afterwards felt. These he forespake, not in secret, but in the audience of many, as in their own places shall be declared.
He began teaching in Montrose. Thence he went
to Dundee, where, with great admiration of all that
heard him, he taught the Epistle to the Romans,
until, by procurement of the Cardinal, Robert Mill, then one
of the principal men in Dundee, and a man that of old had
professed knowledge and for the same had suffered trouble,
did, in the Queen's and Governor's name, give inhibition to the
said Master George that he should trouble their town no more;
for they would not suffer it. This was said unto him in the
public place. After musing for some time, with his eyes bent
to heaven, he looked sorrowfully to the speaker and to the
people, and said, "God is witness that I never minded your
trouble but your comfort. Yea, your trouble is more dolorous
unto me, than it is unto yourselves. But I am assured that
the refusal of God's Word and the chasing from you of His
messenger shall not preserve you from trouble; it shall bring
you into it. God shall send unto you messengers who will not
The Lord Marischall and divers gentlemen were present in the kirk, and these would have had the said Master George remain, or else have gone with him into the country. But for no request would he any longer tarry, either in the town or on that side of Tay. With all possible expedition he passed to the west-land, where he began to offer God's Word. This was gladly received by many, until Dunbar, Archbishop of Glasgow, by instigation of the Cardinal, came with his gatherings to the town of Ayr, to make resistance to the said Master George, and did first occupy the kirk. The Earl of Glencairn being informed of this, repaired with diligence to the town with his friends, and so did divers gentlemen of Kyle (amongst whom was the Laird of Leifnorris, a man far different from him that now liveth, in manners and religion) of whom to this day many yet live, and have declared themselves always zealous and bold in the cause of God. When all were assembled, conclusion was taken that they would have possession of the kirk. But Master George utterly repugned, saying, "Let him alone; his sermon will not do much hurt. Let us go to the Market Cross." This they did, and there he made so notable a sermon that the very enemies themselves were confounded. The Archbishop preached to his jackmen and some old bosses of the town. The sum of all his sermon was: "They say that we should preach: why not? Better late thrive than never thrive: hold us still for your Bishop, and we shall provide better for the next time." This was the beginning and the end of the Archbishop's sermon. With haste he departed from the town, nor did he return to fulfil his promise.
The said Master George remained with the gentlemen in Kyle, until he should get sure knowledge of the state of Dundee. He preached commonly at the kirk of Galston and much in the Barr. He was required to come to the kirk of Mauchline, and did so. But the Sheriff of Ayr manned the kirk, for preservation of a tabernacle that was there, beautiful to the eye. The persons that held the kirk were George Campbell of Monkgarswood, who yet liveth, Mungo Campbell of Brounsyde, George Reid in Daldilling, and the Laird of Templeland.
Some zealous men of the parish, among whom was Hugh Campbell of Kinyeancleuch, offended that they should be debarred their parish kirk, determined to enter by force. But the said Master George drew the said Hugh aside, and said unto him, "Brother, Christ Jesus is as potent upon the fields as in the kirk; and I find that He Himself preached in the desert, at the sea side, and other places judged profane, more often than He did in the Temple of Jerusalem. It is the word of peace that God sends by me; the blood of no man shall be shed this day for the preaching of it." And so, withdrawing the whole people, he came to a dyke at the side of a moor, upon the south-west side of Mauchline, and upon this he climbed. The whole multitude stood and sat about him, God giving a pleasing and hot day. He continued in preaching more than three hours. In that sermon, God wrought so wonderfully with him that one of the most wicked men that was in that country, Lawrence Rankin, Laird of Sheill, was converted. The tears ran from his eyes in such abundance that all men wondered. His conversion was without hypocrisy, for his life and conversation witnessed it in all after-times.
While this faithful servant of God was thus
occupied in Kyle, word came that the plague of
pestilence had arisen in Dundee. This had begun
within four days after Master George was inhibited
from preaching, and was so vehement that it almost
passed credibility to hear what number died every four-and-twenty
hours. This certainly understood, Master George took
his leave of Kyle, with the regret of many. No request could
make him remain. "They are now in trouble," he said, "and
By this sermon Master George so raised up the hearts of all that heard him that they regarded not death, but judged those more happy that should depart, than such as should remain behind; considering that they knew not if they should have such a comforter with them at all times. Master George did not hesitate to visit them that lay in the very extremity of sickness. Them he comforted as well as he might in such a multitude. He also caused that all things necessary for those that could use meat or drink should be ministered; and in that respect the town was wondrously benefited; for the poor were no more neglected than were the rich.
While Master George Wishart was spending his
life to comfort the afflicted, the Devil ceased not to
stir up his own son the Cardinal again. He, by money,
corrupted a desperate priest named Sir John Wighton
to slay the said Master George, who did not look to
himself in all things so circumspectly as worldly men would
When the plague was so ceased that there were almost none sick, Master George took his leave of the people of Dundee; saying that God had almost put end to that battle, and he found himself called to another. The gentlemen of the west had written unto him that he should meet them at Edinburgh; for they would demand disputation with the bishops, and he should be publicly heard. Thereto he willingly agreed; but first he passed to Montrose to salute the kirk there. There he remained, occupied sometimes in preaching but for the most part in secret meditation, in which he was so earnest that he would continue in it night and day.
While Master George was so occupied with his
God, the Cardinal drew a secret draught for his
slaughter. He caused to be written unto him a
letter, purporting to be from his most familiar friend,
the Laird of Kynneir, desiring him to come unto him with all
possible diligence, for he was stricken with a sudden sickness.
In the meantime the traitor had provided threescore men,
with jacks
When the time at which he had appointed to meet the gentlemen at Edinburgh approached, Master George took his leave of Montrose, and, sorely against the judgment of the Laird of Dun, entered on his journey. He returned to Dundee, but did not remain, going on to the house of a faithful brother named James Watson, who dwelt in Invergowrie, two miles distant from the said town. That night, according to information given to us by William Spadin and John Watson, both men of good credit, he passed forth into a yard, a little before day. The said William and John followed privily, and took heed what he did. When he had gone up and down in an alley for some time, with many sobs and deep groans, he platt upon his knees, and remaining thus, his groans increased. From his knees, he fell upon his face; and then the persons forenamed heard weeping, and an indistinct sound, as it were of prayers. In this agony he continued for nearly an hour, and afterwards began to be quiet, when he arose and came in to his bed.
They that had watched got in before Master George, as if
they had been ignorant of his absence until he came in; and
then they began to ask where he had been. But that night he
would answer nothing. Upon the morrow they urged him
again; and, when he dissimulated, they said, "Master George,
be plain with us; we heard your groans; yea, we heard your
bitter mourning, and saw you both upon your knees and upon
your face." With dejected visage, he said, "I had rather ye
had been in your beds. It would have been more profitable
Arrived in Leith, and hearing no word of those
that had appointed to meet him, to wit, the Earl of
Cassillis and the gentlemen of Kyle and Cunningham,
Master George kept himself secret for a day or two.
But beginning to wax sorrowful in spirit, and being asked the
cause, he said, "What differ I from a dead man, except that I
eat and drink? Unto this time, God has used my labours for
the instruction of others, and for the disclosing of darkness;
and now I lurk as a man that is ashamed, and dare not show
himself before men." From these and like words, they that
heard him understood that his desire was to preach; and
therefore said they, "Most comfortable it were unto us to
hear you; but, because we know the danger wherein ye
stand, we dare not desire you." "Only dare ye and others
hear," said he, "and then let my God provide for me,
as best pleaseth Him." Finally, it was concluded that he
should preach in Leith on the next Sunday. This he did,
taking the text, "The parable of the sower that went forth
to sow seed." (
The sermon ended, the gentlemen of Lothian, who then were earnest professors of Christ Jesus, thought it not expedient that Master George should remain in Leith, as the Governor and Cardinal were shortly to come to Edinburgh. Therefore they took him with them, and kept him sometimes in Brunstone, sometimes in Longniddry, and sometimes in Ormiston; for those three Lairds diligently waited upon him. On the Sunday following, he preached in the kirk of Inveresk, beside Musselburgh, both before and after noon. There was a great congregation of people, amongst them being Sir George Douglas, who said publicly after the sermon, "I know that my Lord Governor and my Lord Cardinal shall hear that I have been at this preaching. Say unto them that I will avow it, and will not only maintain the doctrine that I have heard, but also the person of the teacher, to the uttermost of my power." These words greatly rejoiced the people and the gentlemen then present.
We cannot pass by one notable thing in that sermon.
Amongst others, there came two Grey Friars, who, standing in
the entry of the kirk door, made some whispering to such as
came in. This perceived, the preacher said to the people that
stood nigh them, "I heartily pray you to make room for those
two men. It may be that they be come to learn." Unto them
he said, "Come near,"—they stood in the very entry of the
door,—"for I assure you ye shall hear the Word of truth, which
shall this same day seal unto you your salvation, or your condemnation."
He then proceeded with his sermon, supposing
that they would have been quiet. But, when he perceived
that they still troubled the people that stood nigh them (for
vehement was he against the false worshipping of God), he
turned unto them the second time, and with an awful
countenance said, "O sergeants of Satan and deceivers of
the souls of men, will ye neither hear God's truth, nor suffer
others to hear it? Depart, and take this for your portion,—God
shall shortly confound and disclose your hypocrisy.
Within this realm ye shall be abominable unto men, and your
places and habitations shall be desolate." This sentence he
pronounced with great vehemence, in the midst of the sermon;
That day's travail ended, he came to Longniddry; and on the two next Sundays he preached in Tranent, with the like grace and like confluence of people. In all his sermons, after his departure from Angus, he forespake the shortness of the time that he had to travail, and of his death, the day whereof, he said, approached nigher than any would believe.
Towards the close of those days that are called the holy days of Yule, he passed, by the consent of the gentlemen, to Haddington, where it was supposed the greatest confluence of people might be found, both by reason of the town and of the country adjacent. On the first day, before noon, the audience was reasonable, and yet nothing in comparison with that which used to be in that kirk. But, in the afternoon and on the next forenoon, the audience was so slender that many wondered. The reason was thought to have been that the Earl Bothwell, who in these bounds had great credit and obedience, had, by procurement of the Cardinal, given inhibition to the town, as well as to the country, that they should not hear Master George, under the pain of his displeasure. On the first night he lay within the town with David Forrest, now called the general, a man that long has professed the truth, and upon whom many in that time depended. On the second night he lay in Lethington, the Laird whereof was ever civil, albeit not persuaded in religion.
On the day following, before the said Master
George passed to the sermon, a boy came to him
with a letter from the west land. This read, he
called for John Knox, who had waited upon him carefully
from the time he came to Lothian. With him he began
to enter into purpose,
Master George should have begun to have treated
of the second table of the Law; but thereof in that
sermon he spake very little, and began in this manner:
"O Lord, how long shall it be that Thy holy Word
shall be despised, and men shall not regard their own
salvation. I have heard of thee, Haddington, that in thee two
or three thousand people would have been at a vain clerk play;
The servant of God, Master George Wishart, was
carried first to Edinburgh; thereafter brought back to
the House of Hailes, which was the principal place
that then the Earl of Bothwell had in Lothian. As
gold and women have corrupted all worldly and fleshly
men from the beginning, so did they him. For the Cardinal
gave gold, and that largely; and the Queen, with whom the
said Earl was then in the glondours,
Thus, small inversion being made, Pilate obeyed the petition of Caiaphas and of his fellows, and adjudged Christ to be crucified. The servant of God being delivered into the hand of that proud and merciless tyrant, triumph was made by the priests. The godly lamented, and accused the foolishness of the Governor; for, by retaining the said Master George, he might have caused Protestants and Papists to have served: the one to the end that the life of their preacher might have been saved; the other, for fear that he should have set him at liberty again, to the confusion of the bishops. But, where God is forsaken, what can counsel or judgment avail?
How the servant of God was treated, and what
he did from the day that he entered within the Sea-Tower
of St. Andrews, which was in the end of
January, in the year of God 1546, until the first of
March in the same year, when he suffered, we cannot
certainly tell. We understand that he wrote something when
In that day was wrought no less a wonder than that at the accusation and death of Jesus Christ, when Pilate and Herod, who before were enemies, were made friends, by both of them consenting to Christ's condemnation. There was no difference between the two cases, except that Pilate and Herod were brethren under their father the Devil in the estate called temporal, and these two of whom we are to speak were brethren, sons of the same father the Devil, in the estate ecclesiastical. If we interlace merriness with earnest matters, pardon us, good reader. The fact is so notable that it deserveth long memory.
The Cardinal was known to be proud; and Dunbar,
Archbishop of Glasgow, was known for a glorious fool;
and yet, because for some time he had been called
the King's Master,
Howsoever these doubts were resolved by the doctors of
divinity of both the prelates, the decision was as we shall hear.
Coming forth, or going in, at the choir door of Glasgow Kirk
there began a strife for position betwixt the two cross-bearers.
From glooming they came to shouldering; from shouldering
they went on to buffets, and from dry blows, by neifs and
neifeling;
And then began no little fray, but yet a merry game, for
rochets were rent, tippets were torn, crowns were knapped,
This enmity was judged mortal, and without all
hope of reconciliation. But the blood of the innocent
servant of God buried in oblivion all that bragging
and boasting; for the Archbishop of Glasgow was
the first unto whom the Cardinal wrote, signifying unto him
Upon the last day of February,
Upon the next morn, my Lord Cardinal caused
his servants to dress themselves in their most warlike
array, with jack, knapscall,
His sermon was divided into four principal parts.
The first was a short and brief declaration concerning
the evangelist. The second was of the interpretation
of the good seed; and because he called the Word of
God the good seed, and heresy the evil seed, he declared what
heresy was and how it should be known. He defined in this
manner: "Heresy is a false opinion, defended with pertinacity,
clearly repugning to the Word of God." The third part of his
sermon was concerning the cause of heresy within that realm
and all other realms. "The cause of heresy," quoth he, "is
the ignorance of those who have the cure of men's souls. To
them it necessarily belongeth to have the true understanding
of the Word of God, that they may be able to win again the
false doctors of heresies, with the sword of the Spirit which
is the Word of God; and not only to win again, but also
to overcome, as saith Paul, 'a bishop must be faultless, as
becometh the minister of God, not stubborn, nor angry; no
drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre; but harberous,
The fourth part of his sermon was as to how heresies
should be known. "Heresies be known on this manner. As
the goldsmith knoweth the fine gold from the imperfect, by
use of the touchstone, so likewise may we know heresy by the
undoubted touchstone, that is, the true, sincere, and undefiled
Word of God." At the last, he added that "heretics should
be put down in this present life. The Gospel appeared to
repugn this proposition—'let them both grow unto the harvest.'
When the Sub-prior ended his sermon, incontinently they caused Master George to ascend into the pulpit, there to hear his accusation and articles. Right against him stood up one of the fed flock, a monster, John Lauder, laden full of cursing written on paper. Of these he took out a roll both long and full of cursings, threatenings, maledictions, and words of devilish spite and malice, saying to the innocent Master George so many cruel and abominable words, and hitting him so spitefully with the Pope's thunder, that the ignorant people dreaded lest the earth then would have swallowed him up quick. Notwithstanding, he stood still with great patience hearing these sayings, not once moving or changing his countenance. When this fed sow had read throughout all his lying menaces, his face running down with sweat and he frothing at the mouth like a bear, he spat at Mr. George's face, saying "What answerest thou, thou runagate, traitor, and thief, to these sayings, which we have duly proved by sufficient witness against thee?" Master George, hearing this, sat down upon his knees in the pulpit, making his prayer to God. When he had ended his prayer, sweetly and Christianly he answered to them all in this manner.
"Many and horrible sayings, many words abominable
to hear, ye have spoken here unto me a Christian
man this day, words which, not only to teach but also
to think, I thought it ever great abomination. Wherefore,
I pray you quietly to hear me, that ye may know what
were my sayings, and the manner of my doctrine. This my
petition, my Lords, I desire to be heard for three causes. The
first is that through preaching of the Word of God, His glory
is made manifest. It is reasonable, therefore, for the advancement
of the glory of God, that ye hear me preaching truly the
pure and sincere Word of God, without any dissimulation.
The second reason is that your health springeth of the Word
of God, for He worketh all things by His Word. It were
therefore an unrighteous thing, if ye should stop your ears
"First, and chiefly, since the time I came into this realm, I have taught nothing but the ten commandments of God, the twelve articles of the faith, and the prayer of the Lord, in the mother tongue. Moreover, in Dundee, I taught the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans; and I shall show faithfully what fashion and manner I used when I taught, without any human dread, so that your discretions give me your ears benevolent and attent."
Suddenly then, with a high voice, cried the accuser, the fed
sow, "Thou heretic, runagate, traitor, and thief, it was not
lawful for thee to preach. Thou hast taken the power at
thine own hand, without any authority of the Church. We
forethink
Master George, seeing their malicious and wicked intent,
appealed from the Lord Cardinal to the Lord Governor, as to
an indifferent and equal judge. The accuser, John Lauder,
with hoggish voice answered, "Is not my Lord Cardinal the
second person within this realm, Chancellor of Scotland, Archbishop
of St. Andrews, Bishop of Mirepoix, Commendator of
Arbroath, Legatus Natus, Legatus a Latere?" And so reciting
as many titles of his unworthy honours as would have laden
a ship, much sooner an ass,—"Is not he," quoth John Lauder,
This humble man answered, "I refuse not my Lord Cardinal, but I desire the Word of God to be my judge, and the Temporal Estate, with some of your Lordships, my auditors; because I am here my Lord Governor's prisoner." Whereupon the prideful and scornful people that stood by, mocked him, saying, "Such man, such judge!" speaking seditious and reproachful words against the Governor and other the nobles, meaning them also to be heretics. Incontinent, without delay, they would have given sentence upon Master George, and that without further process, had not certain men there counselled my Lord Cardinal to read again the articles, and to hear his answers thereupon, that the people might not complain of his wrongful condemnation.
Shortly declared, the following were the articles, with his
answers, as far as they would give him leave to speak; for
when he intended to mitigate their lesings
1. Thou, false heretic, runagate, traitor, and thief, deceiver of the people, despisest the holy Church, and in like case contemnest my Lord Governor's authority. And we know for surety that, when thou preachedst in Dundee, and wast charged by my Lord Governor's authority to desist, thou wouldest not obey, but persevered in the same. And therefore the Bishop of Brechin cursed thee, and delivered thee into the Devil's hand, and gave thee commandment that thou shouldest preach no more. Yet, notwithstanding, thou didst continue obstinately.—My Lords, I have read in the Acts of the Apostles, that it is not lawful, for the threats and menacings of men, to desist from the preaching of the Evangel. It is written, "We shall rather obey God than men." I have also read in the Prophet Malachi, "I shall curse your blessings, and bless your cursings, says the Lord:" believing firmly that He would turn your cursings into blessings.
2. Thou, false heretic, didst say that a priest standing at
Then the accuser stopped his mouth with another article.
3. Thou, false heretic, preachest against the Sacraments, saying that there are not seven Sacraments.—My Lords, if it be your pleasure, I taught never of the number of the Sacraments, whether they were seven or eleven. So many as are instituted by Christ, and are shown to us by the Evangel, I profess openly. Except it be the Word of God, I dare affirm nothing.
4. Thou, false heretic, hast openly taught that auricular confession is not a blessed sacrament; and thou sayest that we should only confess to God, and to no priest.—My Lords, I say that auricular confession, seeing that it hath no promise of the Evangel, cannot be a sacrament. Of the confession to be made to God, there are many testimonies in Scripture; as when David saith, "I thought I would acknowledge my iniquity against myself unto the Lord; and He forgave the trespasses of my sins." Here, confession signifieth the secret knowledge of our sins before God. When I exhorted the people on this manner, I reproved no manner of confession. And further, St. James saith, "Acknowledge your sins one to another, and so let you to have peace amongst yourselves." Here the Apostle meaneth nothing of auricular confession, but that we should acknowledge and confess ourselves to be sinners before our brethren and before the world, and not esteem ourselves as the Grey Friars do, thinking themselves already purged.
When he had said these words, the horned bishops and
their accomplices cried, and girned
5. Thou, heretic, didst say openly, that it was necessary to every man to know and understand his baptism, and that it was contrary to general councils, and the estates of Holy Church.—My Lords, I believe there be none so unwise here that will make merchandise with a Frenchman, or any other unknown stranger, except he know and understand first the condition or promise made by the Frenchman or stranger. So, likewise, I would that we understood what things we promise in the name of the infant unto God in baptism. For this cause, I believe ye have confirmation.
Then said Master Bleiter, chaplain, that he had the devil within him, and the spirit of error. A child answered him, "The Devil cannot speak such words as yonder man doth speak."
6. Thou, false heretic, traitor, and thief, saidst that the Sacrament of the altar was but a piece of bread, baken upon the ashes, and nothing else; and all that is there done is but a superstitious rite against the commandment of God....—O Lord God! So manifest lies and blasphemies the Scripture doth not teach you. As concerning the Sacrament of the altar, my Lords, I never taught anything against the Scripture, which I shall, by God's grace, make manifest this day, I being ready therefor to suffer death.
The lawful use of the Sacrament is most acceptable unto
God: the great abuse of it is very detestable unto Him. But
what occasion they have to say such words of me, I shall
shortly show your Lordships. I once chanced to meet with
a Jew, when I was sailing upon the water of Rhine. I did
inquire of him what was the cause of his pertinacity in not
believing that the true Messias was come, considering that
they had seen fulfilled all the prophecies which were spoken
of Him; moreover, the prophecies taken away, and the sceptre
of Judah. By many other testimonies of the Scripture, I
vanquished him, and proved that Messias was come, whom
they called Jesus of Nazareth. This Jew answered me,
"When Messias cometh, he shall restore all things, and he
shall not abrogate the Law, which was given to our fathers, as
ye do. For why? we see the poor almost perish through
Then the bishops shook their heads, and spat on the ground. What he meant to say further in this matter, they would not hear.
7. Thou, false heretic, didst say that extreme unction was not a sacrament.—My Lords, forsooth, I never taught anything of extreme unction in my doctrine, whether it was a sacrament or no.
8. Thou, false heretic, saidst that the holy water is not so good as wash, and such like. Thou contemnest conjuring, and sayest that Holy Church's cursing availeth not.—My Lords, as for holy water, of what strength it is, I never taught in my doctrine. Conjurings and exorcisms, if they were conformable to the Word of God, I would commend. But in so far as they are not conformable to the commandment and Word of God, I reprove them.
9. Thou, false heretic and runagate, hast said that every
layman is a priest; and thou sayest that the Pope hath no
more power than any other man.—My Lords, I taught nothing
but the Word of God. I remember that I have read in some
places in St. John and St. Peter, of whom one sayeth, "He
hath made us kings and priests;" the other sayeth, "He hath
made us the kingly priesthood." Wherefore, I have affirmed
that any man, being cunning and perfect in the Word of God
and the true faith of Jesus Christ, has his power given him from
God, and that not by the power or violence of men, but by
the virtue of the Word of God—the Word which is called the
power of God, as St. Paul witnesseth evidently enough. And
again I say that any unlearned man, not exercised in the
Word of God, nor yet constant in his faith, of whatsoever
After he had said these words all the bishops laughed, and mocked him. When he beheld their laughing, "Laugh ye," saith he, "my Lords? Though these my sayings appear scornful and worthy of derision to your Lordships, they are nevertheless very weighty to me, and of a great value; because they stand not only upon my life, but also the honour and glory of God."
In the meantime many godly men, beholding the wodness
10. Thou, false heretic, saidst that a man hath no free will, but is like to the Stoics, who say that it is not in man's will to do anything, but that concupiscence and desire cometh of God, of whatsoever kind it be.—My Lords, I said not so, truly: I say that unto as many as believe in Christ firmly is given liberty, conformable to the saying of St. John, "If the Son make you free, then shall ye verily be free." Of the contrary, as many as believe not in Christ Jesus, they are bound servants of sin: "He that sinneth is bound to sin."
11. Thou, false heretic, sayest it is as lawful to eat flesh upon Friday, as on Sunday.—May it please your Lordships, I have read in the Epistles of St. Paul that "to the clean, all things are clean." Of the contrary, "To filthy men, all things are unclean." A faithful man, clean and holy, sanctifieth by the Word the creature of God; but the creature maketh no man acceptable unto God: so that a creature may not sanctify any impure and unfaithful man. But to the faithful man, all things are sanctified by the prayer of the Word of God.
After these sayings of Master George, all the bishops, with their accomplices, said, "What witness need we against him: hath he not openly here spoken blasphemy?"
12. Thou, false heretic, dost say that we should not pray
to saints, but to God only. Say whether thou hast said this or
no: say shortly.—For the weakness and the infirmity of the
These sayings he rehearsed divers times.
13. Thou, false heretic, hast preached plainly that there is no purgatory, and that it is a feigned thing that any man, after this life, will be punished in purgatory.—My Lords, as I have oftentimes said heretofore, without express witness and testimony of Scripture, I dare affirm nothing. I have oft and divers times read over the Bible, and yet such a term found I never, nor yet any place of Scripture applicable thereto. Therefore, I was ashamed ever to teach of that which I could not find in Scripture.
Then said he to Master John Lauder, his accuser, "If you have any testimony of the Scripture, by the which ye may prove any such place, show it now before this audience." But that dolt had not a word to say for himself, but was as dumb as a beetle in that matter.
14. Thou, false heretic, hast taught plainly against the
When he had said these words, they were all dumb, thinking it better to have ten concubines, than one married wife.
15. Thou, false heretic and runagate, sayest that thou wilt not obey our General or Provincial Councils.—My Lords, I know not what your General Councils are. I never studied that matter; but gave my labours to the pure Word of God. Read here your General Councils, or else give me a book wherein they are contained, that I may read of them. If they agree with the Word of God, I will not disagree.
Then the ravening wolves became mad, and said, "Whereunto do we let him speak any further? Read forth the rest of the articles, and stay not upon them." Amongst these cruel tigers there was one false hypocrite, a seducer of the people, called John Scott, who, standing behind John Lauder's back, hasted him to read the rest of the articles, and not to tarry for Master George's witty and godly answers; "For we may not abide them," quoth he, "no more than the Devil may abide the sign of the Cross when it is named."
16. Thou, heretic, sayest, that it is vain to build to the
honour of God costly churches, seeing that God remaineth
not in churches made by men's hands, nor yet can God be
in so little space, as betwixt the priest's hands.—My Lords,
Solomon saith, "If the heaven of heavens cannot comprehend
Thee, how much less this house that I have builded." And
Job consenteth to the same sentence, saying, "Seeing that He
Then said he to his accuser, "If thou thinkest any otherwise, then I say, show further thy reasons before this audience." He, without all reason, was dumb, and could not answer a word.
17. Thou, false heretic, contemnest fasting, and sayest thou shouldest not fast.—My Lords, I find that fasting is commanded in the Scripture; therefore I were a slanderer of the Gospel if I contemned fasting. Not only so, I have learned by experience that fasting is good for the health and conservation of the body. But God knoweth only who fasteth the true fast.
18. Thou, false heretic, hast preached openly, saying, that the souls of men shall sleep to the latter day of judgment, and shall not obtain life immortal until that day.—God, full of mercy and goodness, forgive him that sayeth such things of me. I wot and know surely, by the Word of God, that the soul of him that hath begun to have the faith of Jesus Christ and believeth firmly in Him, shall never sleep, but ever shall live an immortal life. That life is renewed in grace from day to day and augmented; nor shall it ever perish or have an end, but shall ever live immortal with Christ its Head. To this life, all that believe in Him shall come, and then shall remain in eternal glory. Amen.
When the bishops, with their accomplices, had accused
The following is the prayer of Master George. "O immortal God! how long shalt Thou suffer the wodness and great credulity of the ungodly to exercise their fury upon Thy servants, who do further Thy Word in this world. They desire to do the contrary, to choke and destroy the true doctrine and truth, whereby Thou hast showed Thee unto the world, which was all drowned in blindness and misknowledge of Thy name. O Lord, we know surely that Thy true servants must needs suffer, for Thy name's sake, persecution, affliction, and troubles in this present life, which is but a shadow, as Thou hast showed to us by Thy prophets and apostles. But yet we desire Thee, merciful Father, that Thou wouldest preserve, defend, and help Thy congregation, which Thou hast chosen before the beginning of the world, and give them Thy grace to hear Thy word, and to be true servants in this present life."
Then, by and by, the common people were removed (for their desire was always to hear that innocent speak) and the sons of darkness pronounced their sentence definitive, not having respect to the judgment of God. When all this was done and said, my Lord Cardinal caused his tormentors to pass again with the meek lamb unto the Castle, until such time as the fire was made ready. When he was come into the Castle, there came two Grey fiends, Friar Scott and his mate, saying, "Sir, ye must make your confession unto us." He answered and said, "I will make no confession unto you. Go fetch me yonder man that preached this day, and I will make my confession unto him." Then they sent for the Sub-prior of the Abbey, who came to him with all diligence; but what he said in this confession I cannot show.
When the fire and the gallows were made ready at the west part of the Castle, near to the Priory, my Lord Cardinal, dreading that Master George should have been taken away by his friends, commanded his men to bend all the ordnance of the Castle against the place of execution, and commanded all his gunners to be ready, and stand beside their guns, until such time as he was burned. All this being done, they bound Master George's hands behind his back, and led him forth from the Castle with their soldiers, to the place of their cruel and wicked execution. As he came forth from the Castle gate, there met him certain beggars asking his alms, for God's sake. To these he answered, "I want my hands, wherewith I was wont to give you alms. But may the merciful Lord, who feedeth all men, vouchsafe of His benignity and abundant grace to give you necessaries, both for your bodies and souls." Then met him two false fiends—I should say, Friars—saying, "Master George, pray to our Lady that she may be a mediatrix for you to her Son." To them he answered meekly, "Cease: tempt me not, my brethren." After this he was led to the fire, with a rope about his neck, and a chain of iron about his middle.
When he came to the fire he sat down upon his
knees, and rose again; and thrice he said these words,
"O Thou Saviour of the world, have mercy upon me:
Father of heaven, I commend my spirit into Thy holy
hands." When he had made this prayer, he turned him to
the people, and said these words: "I beseech you, Christian
brethren and sisters, that ye be not offended at the Word of
God because of the affliction and torments which ye see already
prepared for me. I exhort you that ye love the Word of God,
your salvation, and suffer patiently and with a comfortable
heart, for the Word's sake, which is your undoubted salvation
and everlasting comfort. Moreover, I pray you, urge upon
those of my brethren and sisters who have heard me oft before
that they cease not nor leave off to learn that Word of God
which I taught them, according to the grace given unto me—not
for my persecution or troubles in this world, which lasteth
not. And show unto them that my doctrine was no wives'
Then Master George prayed for them that accused him, saying, "I beseech Thee, Father of Heaven, to forgive them that have of any ignorance, or else of any evil mind, forged lies upon me; I forgive them with all mine heart: I beseech Christ to forgive them that have condemned me to death this day, ignorantly." And last of all, he said to the people on this manner, "I beseech you, brethren and sisters, to exhort your prelates to the learning of the Word of God, that they at least may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good; and if they will not convert themselves from their wicked error, there shall hastily come upon them the wrath of God, and that they shall not eschew."
Many faithful words said he in the meantime, taking no heed or care of the cruel torments which were then prepared for him. Then, last of all, the hangman that was his tormentor, sat down upon his knees, and said, "Sir, I pray you, forgive me, for I am not guilty of your death." To whom he answered, "Come hither to me." When he was come to him, he kissed his cheek, and said, "Lo! here is a token that I forgive thee. My heart, do thine office." And then by and by he was put upon the gibbet, and hanged, and there burned to powder. When the people beheld the great tormenting of that innocent, they could not refrain from piteous mourning and complaining of the innocent lamb's slaughter.
After the death of this blessed martyr of God, the people began, in plain speaking, to damn and detest the cruelty that was used. Yea, men of great birth, estimation, and honour, avowed at open tables that the blood of the said Master George should be revenged, or else it should cost life for life. Amongst these John Leslie, brother to the Earl of Rothes, was the chief; for he spared not to say in all companies, "This same whinger," drawing his dagger, "and this same hand, shall be priests to the Cardinal." These bruits came to the Cardinal's ears; but he thought himself stout enough for all Scotland; for in Babylon, that is, in his new block-house, he was secure, as he thought; and upon the field he was able to match all his enemies. To write the truth, the most part of the nobility of Scotland had either given unto him their bonds of manrent, or else were in confederacy, and promised amity with him....
After Easter, the Cardinal came to Edinburgh to hold the
seinye,
Early upon Saturday morning, the twenty-ninth of May
Shouts arose; the workmen, to the number of more than a
hundred, ran off the walls, and were without hurt put forth at
the wicket gate. The first thing, William Kirkaldy took the
guard of the privy postern, fearing that the fox should escape.
Then went the rest to the gentlemen's chambers, and without
violence done to any man, put more than fifty persons to the
gate. The number that enterprised and did this was but
sixteen persons. The Cardinal, awakened with the shouts,
asked from his window what that noise meant. It was
answered that Norman Leslie had taken his Castle. This
understood, he ran for his postern; but, perceiving the passage
to be guarded, he returned quickly to his chamber, took his
two-handed sword, and gart
In the meantime came John Leslie and bade the door be
opened. The Cardinal asking, "Who calls?" he answered,
"My name is Leslie." He again asked, "Is that Norman?"
The other said, "Nay; my name is John." "I will have
John Leslie, according to his former vows, struck
the Cardinal once or twice, and so did the said Peter.
But James Melvin, a man of nature most gentle and
most modest, perceiving that they were both in choler,
withdrew them, and said, "This work and judgment
of God, although it be secret, ought to be done with greater
gravity." Presenting the point of his sword at the Cardinal,
he said, "Repent thee of thy former wicked life, but especially
of the shedding of the blood of that notable instrument of God,
Master George Wishart, which, albeit the flame of fire consumed
it before men, yet cries a vengeance upon thee. We
are sent from God to revenge it: for here, before my God, I
protest that neither the hatred of thy person, nor the love
of thy riches, nor the fear of any trouble thou couldst have
brought on me in particular, doth move me to strike thee, I
do so only because thou hast been and remainest an obstinate
enemy against Christ Jesus and His holy Evangel." And so
he struck him twice or thrice through with a stog sword;
The death of this tyrant was dolorous to the priests,
The siege began in the end of August; for on the twenty-third day thereof the soldiers departed from Edinburgh, and it continued until near the end of January. At that time, they had no other hope of winning it but by hunger; and of that they were despaired, for those within had broken through the east wall, and made a plain passage by an iron gate to the sea. This greatly relieved the besieged, and abased the besiegers; for they could not stop them of victuals, unless they should be masters of the sea, and that they clearly understood they could not be.
The English ships had been there once already, and had brought William Kirkaldy from London, and had taken with them to the Court of England, John Leslie and Master Henry Balnaves, for the perfecting of all contracts. King Harry had promised to take them into his protection, upon condition that they should keep the Governor's son, my Lord of Arran, and stand friends to the contract of marriage before mentioned. These things clearly understood by the Governor and by his Council, the priests, and the shaven sort, they concluded to make an Appointment, to the end that they might either get the Castle betrayed, or else some principal men of the company taken unawares.
The heads of the coloured Appointment were:—1.
That they should keep the Castle of St. Andrews,
until the Governor and the authority of Scotland
should get unto them a sufficient absolution from the Pope,
Antichrist of Rome, for the slaughter of the Cardinal foresaid.
The Appointment was made, and all the godly were glad; for they had some hope that thereby God's Word should somewhat bud, as indeed it did. For John Rough, who had entered the Castle soon after the Cardinal's slaughter, and had continued with them during the siege, began to preach in St. Andrews. Albeit he was not the most learned, his doctrine was without corruption, and therefore well liked by the people.
At the Easter following, John Knox came to the Castle of St. Andrews. Wearied of removing from place to place, by reason of the persecution that came upon him by this Archbishop of St. Andrews, he had determined to have left Scotland, and to have visited the schools of Germany. Of England he had no pleasure then. There, albeit the Pope's name had been suppressed, his laws and corruptions remained in full vigour. But the said John had the care of some gentlemen's children, whom for certain years he had nourished in godliness, and their fathers solicited him to go to St. Andrews, that he himself might have the protection of the Castle, and their children the benefit of his tuition. So came he thither at the time mentioned, and, having in his company Frances Douglas of Longniddry, George his brother, and Alexander Cockburn, then eldest son to the Laird of Ormiston, he began to exercise them after his accustomed manner.
Besides their grammar and other human authors, he read
Whereupon, advising privily among themselves, and having with them Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount, they decided to give a charge to the said John, and that publicly by the mouth of their preacher. And so, upon a certain day, a sermon was delivered concerning the election of ministers—what power the congregation (however small, passing the number of two or three) had over any man in whom they supposed and espied the gifts of God to be, and how dangerous it was to refuse, and not to hear the voice of such as desired to be instructed. Then the said John Rough, preacher, directed his words to the said John Knox, saying, "Brother, ye must not be offended if I speak unto you that which I have in charge from all those that are here present, namely this: In the name of God and of His Son Jesus Christ, and in the name of these that presently call you by my mouth, I charge you that ye refuse not this holy vocation, but that—as ye seek the glory of God, the increase of Christ's Kingdom, the edification of your brethren, and the comfort of me, whom ye well enough understand to be oppressed by the multitude of labours—ye take upon you the public office and charge of preaching, even as ye look to avoid God's heavy displeasure, and desire that He shall multiply His graces with you."
In the end, the preacher said to those that were present,
"Was not this your charge to me? And do ye not approve
this vocation?" They answered, "It was; and we approve
it." Thereat the said John, abashed, burst forth in most
abundant tears, and withdrew himself to his chamber. His
Another necessity caused him to enter the public place, besides the vocation foresaid. Dean John Annan, a rotten Papist, had long troubled John Rough in his preaching: and the said John Knox had fortified the doctrine of the preacher by his pen, and had beaten the said Dean John from all defences, so that he was compelled to fly to his last refuge, that is, to the authority of the Church, "which authority," said he, "damned all Lutherans and heretics; and therefore he needed no further disputation." John Knox answered, "Before we hold ourselves convicted, or ye can sufficiently prove us so, we must define the Church, by the right notes of the true Church given to us in God's Scriptures. We must discern the immaculate spouse of Jesus Christ from the Mother of Confusion, spiritual Babylon, lest imprudently we embrace a harlot instead of the chaste spouse; yea, to speak it in plain words, lest we submit ourselves to Satan, thinking that we submit ourselves to Jesus Christ. For, as for your Roman Kirk, as it is now corrupted, and the authority thereof, wherein stands the hope of your victory, I no more doubt that it is the synagogue of Satan, and the head thereof, called the Pope, that man of sin of whom the Apostle speaks, than do I doubt that Jesus Christ suffered by the procurement of the visible Kirk of Jerusalem. Yea, I offer myself to prove, by word or writing, that the Roman Church is this day further degenerate from the purity which was in the days of the Apostles than was the Church of the Jews from the ordinance given by Moses, when it consented to the innocent death of Christ."
These words were spoken in open audience, in the parish
Kirk of Saint Andrews, after the said Dean John Annan had
spoken as it pleased him, and had refused to dispute. The
people, hearing the offer, cried with one consent, "We cannot
all read your writings, but we may all hear your preaching;
The day approaching, the said John took the text written in Daniel, the seventh chapter, beginning thus: "And another King shall rise after them, and he shall be unlike unto the first, and he shall subdue three kings, and shall speak words against the Most High, and shall consume the saints of the Most High, and think that he may change times and laws. And they shall be given into his hands until a time, and times, and dividing of times."
1. In the beginning of his sermon, he shewed the great love of God towards His Church, whom it pleaseth Him to forewarn of dangers to come, many years before they come to pass. 2. He briefly treated of the state of the Israelites, who then were in bondage in Babylon for the most part; and made a short discourse concerning the four Empires, the Babylonian, the Persian, that of the Greeks, and that of the Romans; in the destruction whereof rose up that last Beast, which he affirmed to be the Roman Church,—for all the notes that God hath shewn to the prophet do appertain to none other power than has ever yet been, except to it alone, and unto it they do so properly appertain, that such as are not more than blind may clearly see them. 3. But before he began to open the corruptions of the Papistry, he defined the true Kirk, shewed the true notes of it, whereupon it was builded, why it was the pillar of truth, and why it could not err, to wit, "Because it heard the voice of its own pastor, Jesus Christ, would not hear a stranger, neither yet would be carried about with every kind of doctrine."
Every one of these heads sufficiently declared, he entered
on the contrary proposition; and, upon the notes given in his
text, he shewed that the Spirit of God in the New Testament
gave to this king other names, to wit, "The Man of Sin," "The
Anti-Christ," "The Whore of Babylon." He shewed that this
Then began he to decipher the lives of divers Popes, and the lives of all the shavelings for the most part; their doctrine and laws he plainly proved to be directly repugnant to the doctrine and laws of God the Father and of Christ Jesus, His Son. This he proved by comparing the doctrine of justification expressed in the Scriptures, which teach that man is "justified by faith only," and "that the blood of Jesus Christ purges us from all our sins;" and the doctrine of the Papists, which attributeth justification to the works of the law, yea, to such works of man's invention as pilgrimage, pardons, and other such baggage. That the papistical laws were repugnant to the laws of the Evangel, he proved by the laws made concerning observation of days, abstaining from meats, and from marriage which Christ Jesus made free, and the forbidding whereof Saint Paul called "the doctrine of devils."
In handling the notes of that Beast, given in the text, he
willed men to consider if these notes, "There shall one arise
unlike to the other, having a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemous," could be applied to any other but the Pope and
his Kingdom; for "if these," said he, "be not great words and
blasphemous, 'the Successor of Peter,' 'the Vicar of Christ,'
'the Head of the Kirk,' 'Most Holy,' 'Most Blessed,' 'that
cannot err;' that 'may make right of wrong, and wrong of
right;' that 'of nothing, may make somewhat;' that 'hath all
truth in the shrine of his breast;' yea, 'that has power over
all, and none power over him;' nay, 'not to say that he does
wrong, although he draw ten thousand million of souls with
"And yet," said he, "there is one note most evident of all. John, in his Revelation, says that 'the merchandise of that Babylonian harlot, among other things, shall be the bodies and souls of men.' Now, let the very Papists themselves judge if ever any before them took upon them power to relax the pains of them that were in purgatory, as they affirm to the people that they do by the merits of their Mass and of their other trifles, daily." In the end, he said, "If any here"—and there were present Master John Major, the University, the Sub-prior, and many Canons, with some Friars of both the Orders—"will say that I have alleged Scripture, teaching, or history, otherwise than it is written, let them come unto me with sufficient witness, and by conference I shall let them see not only the original where my testimonies are written, but I shall prove that the writers meant what I have spoken."
Of this sermon, which was the first that ever John
Knox made in public, there were divers bruits. Some
said, "Others sned
The bastard Archbishop, who was not yet execrated (consecrated, they call it) wrote to the Sub-prior at Saint Andrews, who, sede vacante, was Vicar-general, that he wondered that he suffered such heretical and schismatical doctrine to be taught, and did not oppose himself to the same. Upon this rebuke, there was appointed a Convention of Grey Friars and black fiends with the said Sub-prior, Dean John Winram, in Saint Leonard's yards. Thereunto was first called John Rough, and certain Articles were read unto him; and thereafter was John Knox called for. The cause of their Convention, and why they were called, was set forth, and the following Articles were read:—(1) No mortal man can be the head of the Church. (2) The Pope is an Anti-Christ, and so is no member of Christ's mystical body. (3) Man may neither make nor devise a religion that is acceptable to God: but man is bound to observe and keep the religion that from God is received, without chopping or changing thereof. (4) The Sacraments of the New Testament ought to be administered as they were instituted by Christ Jesus, and practised by His Apostles: nothing ought to be added unto them; nothing ought to be diminished from them. (5) The Mass is abominable idolatry, blasphemous to the death of Christ, and a profanation of the Lord's Supper. (6) There is no purgatory in which the souls of men are pained or purged after this life. Heaven remains for the faithful, and hell for the reprobate and unthankful. (7) Praying for the dead is vain, and prayer to the dead is idolatry. (8) There are no bishops unless they preach themselves, without any substitute. (9) By God's law the teinds do not appertain of necessity to the Kirk-men.
"The strangeness," said the Sub-prior, "of these Articles,
which are gathered from your teaching, have moved us to
call for you to hear your own answer." John Knox said, "I,
for my part, praise my God that I see so honourable, and
apparently so modest and quiet, an audience. But because it
is long since I have heard that ye are one that is not ignorant
of the truth, I must crave of you, in the name of God, yea,
and I appeal to your conscience before that Supreme Judge
Sub-prior. I came not here as a judge, but only to talk familiarly, and therefore I will neither allow nor condemn; but, if you like, I will reason. Why may not the Kirk, for good causes, devise ceremonies to decorate the Sacraments and other of God's services?
Knox. Because the Kirk ought to do nothing that is not of faith, and ought not to go before. She is bound to follow the voice of the true Pastor.
Sub-prior. It is in faith that the ceremonies are commended,
and they have proper significations to help our faith.
The hardess
Knox. It is not enough that man invent a ceremony, and then give it a signification, according to his pleasure. The ceremonies of the Gentiles, and to-day the ceremonies of Mahomet, might be so justified. If anything proceed from faith, it must have the Word of God for assurance; for ye are not ignorant that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Now, if ye would prove that your ceremonies proceed from faith and do please God, ye must prove that God in expressed words has commanded them. Else ye shall never prove that they proceed from faith, nor yet that they please God. Ye will but show that they are sin, and do displease Him, according to the words of the apostle, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
Sub-prior. Will ye bind us so strait that we may do
nothing without the express Word of God? What! If I ask
a drink, do you think that I sin? I have not God's Word for
Knox. I would we should not jest in so grave a matter; neither would I that ye should begin to elude the truth with sophistry; but, if ye do, I will defend myself as best I can. As to your drinking, I say that, if ye either eat or drink without assurance of God's Word, in so doing ye ill-please God, and ye sin in your very eating and drinking. For, says the Apostle, speaking even of meat and drink, "the creatures are sanctified unto man, even by the Word and by prayer." The word is this: "All things are clean to the clean," and so forth. Now, let me hear thus much of your ceremonies, and I shall give you the argument; but I wonder that ye compare profane and holy things so indiscreetly. The question was not, and is not of meat and drink, wherein the Kingdom of God consists not, but the question is of God's true worshipping, without which we have no society with God. It is doubtful if, in the use of Christ's Sacraments, we may take the same freedom as we may do in eating and drinking. One meat I may eat, another I may refuse, and that without scruple of conscience. I may change one for another, as often as I please. May we do the same in matters of religion? May we cast away what we please, and retain what we please? If I recollect aright, Moses, in the name of God, says to the people of Israel, "All that the Lord thy God commands thee to do, that do thou to the Lord thy God: add nothing to it; diminish nothing from it." By this rule, I think, the Kirk of Christ should measure God's religion, and not by that which seems good in their own eyes.
Sub-prior. Forgive me, I spake but in mows,
Arbuckle, Greyfriar. I shall prove plainly that ceremonies are ordained by God.
Knox. Such as God has ordained, we allow, and with
reverence we use them. But the question is of those that
Arbuckle. I will even prove that these ye damn be ordained of God.
Knox. The proof thereof I would gladly hear.
Arbuckle. Says not Saint Paul, that "another foundation than Jesus Christ may no man lay. But upon this foundation some build gold, silver, and precious stones; some hay, stubble, and wood." The gold, silver, and precious stones are the ceremonies of the Church, which do abide the fire, and consume not away. This place of Scripture is most plain.
Knox.—I praise my God, through Jesus Christ, for I find His promise sure, true, and stable. Christ Jesus bids us "not fear, when we shall be called before men, to give confession of His truth;" for He promises that "it shall be given unto us in that hour what we shall speak." If I had sought the whole Scripture, I could not have produced a place more proper for my purpose, nor more potent to confound you. Now, to your argument. The Ceremonies of the Kirk, say ye, are gold, silver, and precious stones, because they are able to abide the fire; but I would learn of you, what fire is it that your Ceremonies abide? And in the meantime, until ye be advised how to answer, I will show my mind, and make an argument against yours upon the same text. First, I have heard the text adduced for a proof of purgatory; but for defence of Ceremonies, I have never heard or yet read of its use. Omitting whether ye understand the mind of the Apostle or not, I make my argument, and say, that which may abide the fire may abide the Word of God. Your Ceremonies cannot abide the Word of God: ergo they cannot abide the fire; and if they cannot abide the fire, they are not gold, silver, nor precious stones. Now, if ye find any ambiguity in the term "fire," which I interpret to be the Word, find me a fire by the which things builded upon Jesus Christ should be tried, other than God and His Word, which are both called fire in the Scriptures, and I shall correct my argument.
Arbuckle. I stand not thereupon; but I deny your minor argument, to wit, that our Ceremonies may not abide the trial of God's Word.
Knox. I prove that that which God's Word condemns, abides not the trial of God's Word. But God's Word condemns your Ceremonies: therefore they do not abide the trial thereof. As the thief abides the trial of the inquest, and is thereby condemned to be hanged, even so may your Ceremonies abide the trial of God's Word, but not otherwise. And now I make plain in few words that wherein ye may seem to doubt, to wit, that God's Word damns your Ceremonies. This thing is evident; for the plain and straight commandment of God is, "Not that thing which appears good in thy eyes shalt thou do to the Lord thy God, but what the Lord thy God has commanded thee, that do thou: add nothing to it; diminish nothing from it." Now, unless ye be able to prove that God has commanded your Ceremonies, this His former commandment will damn both you and them.
The Friar, somewhat abashed what first to answer, fell into
a foul mire while he wandered about in the mist: for, alleging
that we may not be so bound by the Word, he affirmed that
the Apostles had not received the Holy Ghost when they did
write their Epistles; but that they did ordain the Ceremonies
after they received Him. (Few would have thought that so
learned a man would have given so foolish an answer; and
yet it is even as true as that he bare a grey cowl.) John
Knox, hearing the answer, started and said, "If that be true,
I have long been in an error, and I think I shall die therein."
The Sub-prior said to him, "Father, what say ye? God forbid
that ye affirm that; for then farewell the ground of our faith."
The Friar, astonished, made the best shift that he could to
correct his fall; but it could not be. John Knox brought
him often again to the ground of the argument; but he would
never answer directly, but ever fled to the authority of the
Kirk. Thereto the said John answered oftener than once
that "the spouse of Christ had neither power nor authority
against the Word of God." Then said the Friar, "If so be,
ye will leave us no Kirk." "Indeed," said the other, "in
In this Disputation many other things were merely skiffed over; for the Friar, after his fall, could speak nothing to a purpose. For purgatory he had no better proof than the authority of Virgil in his sixth Æneid; and the pains thereof to him were an evil wife. How John Knox answered that and many other things, he did witness in a treatise that he wrote in the galleys. This contained the sum of his doctrine and the confession of his faith, and was sent to his familiars in Scotland; with the exhortation that they should continue in the truth which they had professed, notwithstanding any worldly adversity that might ensue. Thus much of the Disputation have we inserted here, to the intent that men may see how Satan ever travails to obscure the light; and how God by His power, working in His weak vessels, confounds his craft and discloses his darkness.
After this, neither Papists nor Friars had great heart for
further disputation or reasoning; but they invented another
shift, which appeared to proceed from godliness. It was an
ordinance that learned men in the Abbey and in the University
should preach in the Parish Kirk, Sunday about. The Sub-prior
began, next came the Official called Spittal (sermons
penned to offend no man), and all the rest followed in their
ranks. John Knox smelled out the craft, and in the sermons
which he made upon the week-days he prayed to God that
they should be as busy in preaching when there should be
more myster
God so assisted his weak soldier, and so blessed his
labours, that not only all those of the Castle, but also
a great number of the town, openly professed Christ,
by participation at the Lord's Table, in the same
purity as now it is administered in the churches of
Scotland. Among them was he that now either rules,
or misrules, Scotland: Sir James Balfour
The priests and bishops, enraged at these proceedings
in Saint Andrews, ran now to the Governor,
now to the Queen,
By these means the Governor, the Archbishop, the Queen and Monsieur D'Oysel had treasonably broken the terms of the Appointment. To excuse their treason, they had, eight days before, presented to the party in the Castle of St. Andrews an absolution bearing to be sent from Rome, containing, after the aggravation of the crime, this clause, Remittimus Irremissible, that is, we remit the crime that cannot be remitted. When this had been considered by the most of the company that was in the Castle, answer was given that the Governor and Council of the Realm had promised them a sufficient and assured absolution, such as that did not appear to be; and that therefore they could not deliver the house, nor did they think that any reasonable man would require them so to do, considering that the promise made had not been truly kept.
On the day after the galleys arrived, the house was summoned.
This was denied, and they prepared for siege. They
began to assault by sea, and shot for two days. But they
neither got advantage nor honour; for they dang
By land the siege of the Castle of St. Andrews was made
complete on the nineteenth day of July. Trenches were cast;
and ordnance was planted upon the Abbey Kirk, and upon
Upon the second last day of July, at night, the ordnance
was planted 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,
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."
The galleys, well furnished with the spoil of the
Castle, returned to France, after certain days. Escaping
a great danger (for they all chapped
Then was the joy of the Papists both of Scotland and France in full perfection; for this was their song of triumph—
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
At the Easter following, Haddington was fortified by the
Englishmen. The most part of Lothian, from Edinburgh east,
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.
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,
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.
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,
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
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.
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,
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
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."
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.
William Kirkaldy, then younger of Grange, Peter Carmichael,
Robert and William Leslie, who were all together in
Mount St. Michael, wrote to the said John, asking his counsel
as to whether they might, with safe conscience, break their
prison? His answer was that if, without the blood of any
shed or spilt by them for their deliverance, they could set
themselves at freedom, they might safely take it: but that he
would never consent to their shedding any man's blood for
their freedom. He added, further, that he was assured that
God would deliver them and the rest of that company, even
in the eyes of the world; but not by such means as we had
looked for; that was, by the force of friends or by their other
John Knox was the more earnest in giving his counsel, because the old Laird of Grange, and others, were averse from their purpose, fearing lest the escaping of the others should be an occasion of their own worse treatment. Thereto the said John answered that such fear proceeded not from God's Spirit, but only from a blind love of self. No good purpose was to be stayed for things that were in the hands and power of God. In one instant, he added, God delivered all that company into the hands of unfaithful men, but so would He not relieve them. Some would He deliver by one means, and at one time, and others must, for a season, abide upon His good pleasure. In the end, they embraced this counsel. Upon the King's Even, when Frenchmen commonly drink liberally, the foresaid four persons, having the help and conduct of a boy of the house, bound all those that were in the Castle, put them in sundry houses, locked the doors upon them, took the keys from the captain, and departed without harm done to the person of any, or without touching anything that appertained to the King, the Captain, or the house.
Great search was made through the whole country for
them. But it was God's good pleasure so to conduct them
that they escaped the hands of the faithless, albeit it was with
long travail, and endurance of great pain and poverty; for the
French boy left them, and took with him the small poise that
they had. Having neither money, nor knowledge of the
country, and fearing that the boy should discover them, as
in very deed he did, of purpose they divided themselves,
changed their garments, and went in sundry parties. The two
brethren, William and Robert Leslie (who now are become,
the said Robert especially, enemies to Christ Jesus and
to all virtue) came to Rouen. William Kirkaldy and Peter
Carmichael, in beggars' garments, came to Le Conquet, and
The said John was first appointed preacher to Berwick, then to Newcastle; and lastly, he was called to London and the south parts of England, where he remained until the death of King Edward the Sixth. Then he left England, and went to Geneva, where he remained in his private study, until he was called to be preacher to the English congregation at Frankfort. This call he obeyed, albeit unwillingly, at the commandment of that notable servant of God, John Calvin. He remained at Frankfort until some of the learned, more given to unprofitable ceremonies than to sincerity of religion, began to quarrel with him. These men, because they despaired of prevailing before the magistrate there in the overt purpose of establishing their corruptions, accused him of treason committed against the Emperor, and against their sovereign Queen Mary, in that, in his Admonition to England, he called the one little inferior to Nero, and the other more cruel than Jezebel. The magistrate, perceiving their malice and fearing that the said John should fall into the hands of his accusers by one means or another, gave secret warning to him to depart from the city; for they could not save him if he were required by the Emperor, or by the Queen of England, in the Emperor's name. So the said John returned to Geneva, from thence to Dieppe, and thereafter to Scotland, as we shall hear.
In the winter that the galleys remained in Scotland, there
were delivered Master James Balfour, his two brethren, David
and Gilbert, John Auchinleck, John Sibbald, John Gray,
William Guthrie, and Stephen Bell. The gentlemen that
remained in prisons were, by the procurement of the Queen-Dowager,
set at liberty in the month of July 1550. These
were shortly thereafter recalled to Scotland, their peace was
proclaimed, and they themselves were restored to their lands,
in despite of their enemies. And that was done in hatred of
This we write, that the posterity to come may understand how potently God wrought in preserving and delivering those that had but a small knowledge of His truth, and for the love of the same hazarded all. We or our posterity may see a fearful dispersion of such as oppose themselves to impiety, or take upon them to punish the same otherwise than laws of men will permit: we may see them forsaken by men, and, as it were, despised and punished by God. But, if we do, let us not damn the persons that punish vice for just causes, nor yet despair that the same God that casts down, for causes unknown to us, will again raise up the persons dejected, to His glory and their comfort....
Haddington being in the hands of the English, and
much herschip being done in the country (for what the
Englishmen did not destroy, the French consumed),
God did begin to fight for Scotland; for to the town
named He sent so contagious a pest, that with great
difficulty could the English garrison have their dead
buried. They were oft reinforced with new men, but all was
in vain. Hunger and pest were within the town, and the
enemy, with a camp-volant,
After this, peace was contracted betwixt France and England and Scotland; and a separate contract of peace was made betwixt Scotland and Flanders, with all the Easterlings; so that Scotland had peace with the world. But yet the Bishops would make war with God. As soon as they got any quietness, they apprehended Adam Wallace, a simple man, without great learning, but zealous in godliness and of an upright life. He with his wife, Beatrice Livingston, frequented the company of the Lady Ormiston, for the instruction of her children during the trouble of her husband, who then was banished. That bastard, called Archbishop of St. Andrews, took the said Adam from the place of Winton, and carried him to Edinburgh. And, in the kirk of the black thieves, alias Friars, he was brought to trial before the Duke, the Earl of Huntly, divers others besides, and the Bishops and their rabble.
Master John Lauder was accuser, and alleged that
he took upon him to preach. He answered that he
never considered himself worthy of so excellent a vocation,
and therefore never took upon him to preach;
but that he would not deny that, sometimes at the
table and sometimes in other privy places, he had read
the Scriptures, and had given such exhortation as God pleased
to give him, to such as pleased to hear him. "Knave," quoth
one, "what have ye to do to meddle with the Scriptures?"
"I think," said he, "it is the duty of every Christian to seek
the will of his God, and the assurance of his salvation, where it
is to be found, and that is within his Old and New Testament."
"What then," said another, "shall we leave to the bishops and
kirkmen to do, if every man shall be a babbler upon the
Bible?" "It becometh you," said he, "to speak more reverently
of God and of His blessed Word. If the judge were incorrupt,
he would punish you for your blasphemy. To your question, I
answer that, albeit ye and I and other five thousand within
And then was begun, "False traitor, heretic, thou didst
baptize thine own bairn. Thou saidst there is no purgatory.
Thou saidst that to pray to saints and for the dead is idolatry
and a vain superstition, and so on. What sayest thou of these
things?" He answered, "If I should be bound to answer, I
would require an upright and indifferent judge." The Earl of
Huntly disdainfully said, "Foolish man, wilt thou desire another
judge than my Lord Duke's Grace, great Governor of Scotland,
and my Lords the bishops, and the clergy here present?"
Thereto he answered, "The bishops can be no judges of me;
for they are open enemies to me and to the doctrine that I
profess. And, as for my Lord Duke, I cannot tell if he has
the knowledge that should be in him that should judge and
discern betwixt lies and the truth, the inventions of men and
the true worshipping of God. I desire God's Word," and with
that he produced the Bible, "to be judge betwixt the bishops
and me, and I am content that ye shall all hear. If by this
book I shall be convicted to have taught, spoken, or done, in
matters of religion, anything that repugns to God's will, I
refuse not to die; but if I cannot be convicted, as I am assured
by God's Word I shall not be, then I in God's name desire your
assistance, that malicious men may not execute unjust tyranny
upon me." The Earl of Huntly said, "What a babbling fool
this is. Thou shalt get none other judges than these that sit
here." Thereto the said Adam answered, "The good will of
God be done. But be ye assured, my Lord, with such measure
Alexander Earl of Glencairn, yet alive, then said to the
Bishop of Orkney, and others that sat near him, "Take you
yon, my lords of the clergy; for here I protest, for my part,
that I consent not to his death." And so, without fear, the
said Adam prepared to answer. As to the baptizing of his own
child, he said, "It was and is as lawful to me, for lack of a true
minister, to baptize my own child, as it was to Abraham to
circumcise his son Ishmael and his family. And as for purgatory,
praying to saints, and praying for the dead, I have read
both the New and Old Testaments often, but I neither could
find mention nor assurance of them; and, therefore, I believe
that they are but mere inventions of man, devised for covetousness's
sake." "What sayest thou of the Mass?" speired
Thus the Papists began again to pollute the land, which God had lately plagued. Their iniquity was not yet come to that full ripeness in which God willed that it should be made manifest to this whole realm that they were faggots prepared for the everlasting fire, and men whom neither plagues might correct, nor the light of God's Word convert from their darkness and impiety.
Peace contracted, the Queen-Dowager passed by
sea to France, and took with her divers of the nobility of
Scotland, to wit, the Earls Huntly, Glencairn, Marischall,
and Cassillis, the Lords Maxwell and Fleming, and Sir
George Douglas; together with all the King's natural
sons, and divers barons and gentlemen of ecclesiastical
estate, the Bishop of Galloway and many others, with promises
that they should be richly rewarded for their good service.
Thus did light and darkness strive within the
realm of Scotland; the darkness ever before the world
suppressing the light, from the death of that notable
servant of God, Master Patrick Hamilton, unto the
death of Edward Sixth, the most godly and most virtuous King
that hath been known to have reigned in England or elsewhere
these many years bypast, who departed the misery of this life
on the sixth of July 1553. The death of this Prince was
lamented by all the godly within Europe; for the graces given
unto him by God, by nature as well as through erudition and
godliness, passed the measure that is commonly given to other
Princes in their greatest perfection, and yet he exceeded not
sixteen years of age. What gravity beyond his years, what
wisdom passing all expectation of man, and what dexterity in
answering all questions proposed, were in that excellent Prince,
the Ambassadors of all countries did bear witness. Yea, some
that were mortal enemies to him and to his realm, amongst
whom the Queen-Dowager of Scotland was not the least, could
and did so testify. The said Queen-Dowager, returning from
France through England, communed with him at length, and
gave record, when she came to this realm, that she found more
wisdom and solid judgment in young King Edward than she
would have looked for in any three princes that were then
in Europe. His liberality towards the godly and learned,
persecuted in other realms, was remarkable. Germans, Frenchmen,
Italians, Scots, Spaniards, Poles, Greeks, and Hebrews
After the death of this most virtuous Prince, of whom the godless people of England, for the most part, were not worthy, Satan intended nothing less than that the light of Jesus Christ should have been utterly extinguished within the whole Isle of Britain. For there was raised up after him, in God's hot displeasure, that idolatrous Jezebel, mischievous Mary, of the Spaniards' blood; a cruel persecutrix of God's people, as the acts of her unhappy reign can sufficiently witness. And in Scotland, at that same time, as we have heard, there reigned that crafty practiser, Marie of Lorraine, then named Regent of Scotland; who, bound to the devotion of her two brethren, the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine, did only abide the opportunity to cut the throats of all those within the realm of Scotland in whom she suspected any knowledge of God. Satan thought that his kingdom of darkness was in quietness and rest, in the one realm as well as in the other; but that provident eye of the Eternal our God, who continually watches for preservation of His Church, did so dispose all things, that Satan shortly after found himself far disappointed in his conclusions. For in the cruel persecution carried on by that monster, Mary of England, godly men were dispersed among divers nations, and then it pleased the goodness of our God to send some of these unto us, for our comfort and instruction.
First came a simple man, William Harlaw, who,
although his erudition excels not, is yet, for his zeal,
and diligent plainness in doctrine, to this day worthy
of praise, and remains a faithful member within the
Church of Scotland. After him came that notable
man, John Willock, with some commission from the Duchess
of Embden to the Queen Regent. But his principal purpose
Amongst these was Elizabeth Adamson, spouse to James Barron, burgess of Edinburgh, who had a troubled conscience, and delighted much in the company of the said John, because he, according to the grace given unto him, opened more fully the fountain of God's mercies, than did the common sort of teachers that she had heard before, for she had heard none but Friars. She did with much greediness drink of that fountain, and at her death she expressed the fruit of her hearing, to the great comfort of all those that repaired to her. Albeit she suffered most grievous torment in her body, from her mouth there was heard nothing but praising of God, except that sometimes she would lament the troubles of those that were troubled by her. When her sisters asked what she thought of the pain which she then suffered in body, in comparison with that with which sometimes she had been troubled in spirit, she answered, "A thousand years of this torment, and ten times more joined unto it, is not to be compared to the quarter of an hour that I suffered in my spirit. I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, that He has delivered me from that most fearful pain; and welcome be this, even so long as it pleaseth His godly Majesty to discipline me therewith."
A little before her departure, the said Elizabeth desired her
sisters and some others that were beside her to sing a psalm.
Amongst others, she appointed the Hundred and Third Psalm,
beginning, "My soul, praise thou the Lord always." This
ended, she said, "At the teaching of this Psalm, my troubled
soul first began effectually to taste of the mercy of God, which
At the first coming of the said John Knox, divers
who had a zeal to godliness made small scruple to
go to the Mass, or to communicate with the abused
sacraments in the papistical manner. Perceiving
this, he began, in privy conference as well as in preaching,
to show the impiety of the Mass, and how dangerous it was
to participate in any way with idolatry. The consciences of
some were affrighted, and the matter began to agitate from
man to man. So the said John was called to supper by the
Laird of Dun for that purpose, and there were convened David
Forrest, Master Robert Lockhart, John Willock, and William
Maitland of Lethington, younger, a man of good learning, and
of sharp wit and reasoning. The question was proposed, and
it was answered by the said John that it was nowise lawful
to a Christian to present himself to that idol. Nothing was
omitted that might make for the temporiser, and yet was
every head fully answered, and especially one wherein they
thought their great defence stood, to wit, that Paul, at
the commandment of James and the elders of Jerusalem,
went to the temple and feigned to pay his vow with others.
After a full discussion, William Maitland concluded, saying,
"I see perfectly that our shifts will serve nothing before
The answer of John Knox to the act of Paul, and to the commandment of James, was that Paul's act had nothing to do with their going to the Mass. To pay vows was sometimes God's commandment, and was never idolatry: but the Mass was from the beginning, and still remained odious idolatry. "Secondarily," said he, "I greatly doubt whether either James's commandment or Paul's obedience proceeded from the Holy Ghost...." After these and like reasonings, the Mass began to be abhorred by such as before had frequented it for the fashion, and for avoidance of slander, as then they termed it.
At the request of the Laird of Dun, John Knox followed him to his place of Dun, where he remained a month, daily occupied in preaching; and the principal men of that country were among his audiences. After his return, his residence was most in Calder. The Lord Erskine that now is, the Earl of Argyll, then Lord of Lorne, and Lord James Stewart, then Prior of St. Andrews, and now Earl of Moray, came to Calder and so approved his doctrine that they expressed a desire that it should have been public. That same winter he taught commonly in Edinburgh; and, after Yule, on the invitation of the Laird of Barr and Robert Campbell of Kinyeancleuch, he came to Kyle, and taught in the Barr, in the house of the Carnell, in the Kinyeancleuch, in the town of Ayr, and in the houses of Ochiltree and Gadgirth, and in some of them he ministered the Lord's Table.
Before Easter, the Earl of Glencairn sent for him to his
place of Finlayston; where, after preaching, he likewise
ministered the Lord's Table. Besides Glencairn himself, his
lady, two of his sons, and certain of his friends were partakers.
When he returned to Calder, divers from Edinburgh,
and from the country about, assembled there, for the preaching
as well as for the right use of the Lord's Table, which they
had never practised before. Thence he departed the second
time to the Laird of Dun. His teaching was then with
The Friars from all quarters flocked to the bishops
with the bruit, and the said John Knox was summoned
to appear in the Kirk of the Black Friars in
Edinburgh on the fifteenth day of May 1556. The
said John decided to obey the summons, and for that
purpose John Erskine of Dun, with divers other
gentlemen, assembled in the town of Edinburgh. But that
diet was not held; for the bishops either perceived informality
in their own proceedings, or feared that danger might ensue
upon their extreme measures. On the Saturday before, they
cassed
The Earl of Glencairn allured the Earl Marischall,
with Harry Drummond, his counsellor for that time,
to hear an exhortation, one night. They were so well
satisfied, that they both desired the said John to write
unto the Queen Regent a letter that might move her to hear
the Word of God. He obeyed, and wrote that which was
afterwards printed, and is called "The Letter to the Queen
Dowager." This was delivered into her own hands by the
said Alexander, Earl of Glencairn. When she had read this
letter, she delivered it to that proud prelate, Beaton,
While John Knox was thus occupied in Scotland, letters came unto him from the English Kirk in Geneva, in God's name commanding him, as their chosen pastor, to repair unto them for their comfort. Upon this, the said John prepared to obey the summons. He bade farewell in almost every congregation in which he had preached, and exhorted us to prayers, to reading of the Scriptures, and to mutual conference, until such time as God should give unto us greater liberty. By the procurement and labours of Robert Campbell of Kinyeancleuch, he visited the old Earl of Argyll in the Castle of Campbell, and there he taught certain days. The Laird of Glenorchy, being one of his auditors, desired the Earl of Argyll to detain him; but he, purposed upon his journey, would not at that time stay for any request. He added that, if God so blessed these small beginnings and they continued in godliness, they should find him obedient whensoever they pleased to command him; but that he must needs visit once that little flock which the wickedness of men had compelled him to leave. In the month of July he left this realm and passed to France, and so to Geneva. Immediately after, the bishops summoned him, and, for non-compearance, burned him in effigy at the Cross of Edinburgh, in the year of God 1555.
In the winter that the said John abode in Scotland,
there appeared a comet, the course of which was
from the south and south-west to the north and northeast.
It was seen during the months of November,
December, and January, and was called "the fiery
besom." Soon after, Christian, King of Denmark,
died, and war rose betwixt Scotland and England; for the
Commissioners of both realms, who for almost six months
had treated upon the conditions of peace and were upon a
near point of conclusion, were disappointed. At Newbattle,
the Queen Regent, with her Council of the French faction,
decreed war, without giving any intimation to the Commissioners
for Scotland. Such is the fidelity of Princes, guided
by priests, whenever they seek to serve their own affections.
During this period the Evangel of Jesus Christ began wondrously to flourish. William Harlaw began publicly to exhort in Edinburgh; John Douglas, who had been with the Earl of Argyll, preached in Leith, and sometimes exhorted in Edinburgh; Paul Methven began publicly to preach in Dundee; and so did divers others in Angus and Mearns. And last, in God's good pleasure, John Willock arrived the second time from Embden; and his return was so joyful to the brethren that their zeal and godly courage daily increased. Albeit he contracted a dangerous sickness, he did not cease from labour, but taught and exhorted from his bed. Some of the nobility (of whom some are fallen back, among whom the Lord Seton is chief), with many barons and gentlemen, were his auditors. These were instructed in godliness by him, and wondrously comforted. They kept their conventions, and held councils with such gravity and closeness, that the enemies trembled. The images were stolen away in all parts of the country; and in Edinburgh the great idol called Saint Giles was first drowned in the Nor' Loch, and then burned. This raised no small trouble in the town.
The Friars rowping
I red ye, send them to the Border."
Now, God had so provided that the Quarter of the
Westland, in which were many faithful men, were that same
day returned from the Border. Understanding the matter to
proceed from the malice of the priests, they assembled and
made passage for themselves until they came to the very
privy chamber, where the Queen Regent and the bishops
were. The gentlemen began to complain of their strange
entertainment, considering that her Grace had found in them
faithful obedience in all things lawful. When the Queen
began to craft, a zealous and a bold man, James Chalmers
of Gadgirth, said, "Madam, we know that this is the malice
and device of these Jefwellis,
Then was heard nothing on the Queen's part but, "My
joys, my hearts, what ails you? Me means no evil to you
nor to your preachers. The bishops shall do you no wrong.
Ye are all my loving subjects. Me know nothing of this
proclamation. The day of your preachers shall be discharged,
and me will hear the controversy that is betwixt the bishops
and you. They shall do you no wrong. My Lords," said
she to the bishops, "I forbid you either to trouble them or
their preachers." And unto the gentlemen, who were
wondrously moved, she turned again, and said, "O my
hearts, should ye not love the Lord your God with all your
The day of summons being discharged, the brethren
universally began to be further encouraged. But the
bishops could not be quiet; and Saint Giles's day
approaching, they gave charge to the Provost, Bailies,
and Council of Edinburgh, either to get again the old
Saint Giles, or else at their own expense to make a
new image. The Council answered that to them the charge
appeared very unjust; for they understood that God in some
places had commanded idols and images to be destroyed.
Where He had commanded images to be set up, they had
not read; and they desired the Bishop to find a warrant for
his commandment. The Bishop, offended, admonished them
under pain of cursing; but they prevented
Yet the priests and Friars would not cease to have that
great solemnity and manifest abomination which they accustomably
had upon Saint Giles's day. They would have that idol
borne; and therefore all necessary preparation was duly made.
A marmoset idol was borrowed from the Grey Friars, a silver
piece of James Carmichael being laid in pledge. It was fast
fixed with iron nails upon a barrow, called their fertour.
Immediately after the Queen had entered the lodging,
some of those that were in the enterprise drew nigh to the
idol, as if willing to help to bear him, and getting the fertour
upon their shoulders, began to shudder, thinking that thereby
the idol should have fallen. But that was provided for and
prevented by the iron nails, as we have said; and so one
began to cry, "Down with the idol; down with it;" and
without delay it was pulled down. One took him by the
heels and, dadding
The Queen Regent laid this up amongst her other
mementoes, until she might see the time proper to revenge
The most part of the Lords that were in France at the Queen's marriage, although they got their congé from the Court, yet forgot to return to Scotland. For whether it was by an Italian posset, or by French figs, or by the potage of their potinger, who was a Frenchman, there departed from this life the Earl of Cassillis, the Earl of Rothes, Lord Fleming, and the Bishop of Orkney, whose end was even according to his life.... When word of the departing of so many patrons of the papistry, and of the manner of their departing, came to the Queen Regent, she said, after astonishment and musing, "What shall I say of such men? They lived as beasts, and as beasts they die: God is not with them, neither with that which they enterprise."
While these things were happening in Scotland and France, that perfect hypocrite, Master John Sinclair, then Dean of Restalrig, and now Lord President and Bishop of Brechin, began to preach in his Kirk of Restalrig. At the beginning he kept himself so indifferent that many were of the opinion that he was not far from the Kingdom of God. Such as feared God had begun to have a good opinion of him, and the Friars and others of that sect had begun to whisper that if he did not take heed to himself and to his doctrine he would be the destruction of the whole estate of the Kirk. But his hypocrisy could not long be cloaked; for, when he learned of this change in public opinion, he promised a sermon, in which he should give his judgment upon all such heads as were then in controversy in the matters of religion. The bruit hereof secured him a great audience at the first; but he so handled himself that day that no godly man did credit him after that. Not only gainsaid he the doctrine of Justification and of prayer, which before he had taught, but he also set up and maintained the Papistry to the uttermost prick; yea, holy water, pilgrimage, purgatory, and pardons were of such virtue in his conceit that he looked not to be saved without them.
In the meantime, the clergy made a brag that they would dispute. But Master David Panter, who then lived and lay at Restalrig, dissuaded them therefrom, affirming that if ever they disputed—except where they themselves were both judge and party, and where fire and sword should obey their decree—their cause was wrecked for ever. Their victory, he said, stood neither in God nor in His Word, but in their own wills, and in the things concluded by their own councils, together with sword and fire, "and thereto," said he, "these new start-up fellows will give no place. They will call you to your account book, the Bible; and by it ye will no more be found the men that ye are called, than the Devil will be proven to be God. And therefore, if ye love yourselves, never enter into disputation; nor yet call ye the matter in question; but defend your possession, or else all is lost." Caiaphas could not give a better counsel to his companions; but God disappointed both them and him, as we shall hear afterwards.
At this same time, some of the nobility directed letters to call John Knox from Geneva, for their comfort, and for the comfort of their brethren the preachers and others that then courageously fought against the enemies of God's truth.... These letters were delivered to the said John in Geneva, in the month of May immediately thereafter. Upon their receipt, he took consultation with his own church as well as with that notable servant of God, John Calvin, and with other godly ministers. All, with one consent, said that he could not refuse that vocation, unless he would declare himself rebellious unto his God, and unmerciful to his country. And so he returned answer, with promise to visit Scotland with reasonable expedition, as soon as he might make arrangements for the dear flock that was committed to his charge. In the end of the following September, he departed from Geneva, and came to Dieppe, where there met him contrary letters; as by this his answer thereto we may understand.
"The Spirit of wisdom, constancy, and strength be multiplied with you, by the favour of God our Father, and by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"According to my promise, Right Honourable, I came to
Dieppe on the twenty-third of October, of full mind, by the
good will of God, with the first ships to have visited you.
But because two letters, not very pleasing to the flesh, were
there presented unto me, I was compelled to stay for a time.
The one was directed to myself from a faithful brother, who
made mention that new consultation was appointed for final
conclusion of the matter before purposed, and desired me
therefore to abide in these parts until the determination of
the same. The other letter was direct from a gentleman to a
friend, with charge to inform me that he had communed with
all those that seemed most frack and fervent in the matter,
and that in none did he find such boldness and constancy as
was requisite for such an enterprise; but that some did, as he
writeth, repent that ever any such thing was moved; some
were partly ashamed; and others were able to deny that ever
they did consent to any such purpose, if any trial or question
should be taken thereof, etc. Which letters, when I had considered,
I partly was confounded, and partly was pierced with
anguish and sorrow. Confounded I was, that I had so far
travelled in the matter, moving the same to the most godly
and the most learned that this day we know to live in Europe,
to the effect that I might have their judgments and grave
counsels, for assurance as well of your consciences as of mine,
in all enterprises. That nothing should succeed so long consultation,
cannot but redound either to your shame or mine;
for either it shall appear that I was marvellously vain, being
so solicitous where no necessity required, or else that such as
were my movers thereto lacked the ripeness of judgment in
their first vocation.... The cause of my dolour and sorrow,
God is witness, is for nothing pertaining either to my corporal
contentment or worldly displeasure; but it is for the grievous
plagues and punishments of God, which assuredly shall apprehend
not only you, but every inhabitant of that miserable
realm and Isle, except that the power of God, by the liberty
of His Evangel, deliver you from bondage.... If any persuade
you, for fear of dangers that may follow, to faint in your
former purpose, be he never esteemed so wise and friendly,
New consultation was taken as to what was best to be done: and in the end it was concluded that they would follow out their original purpose, and commit themselves and whatsoever God had given unto them into His hands, rather than suffer idolatry so manifestly to reign, and the subjects of that realm, as long they had been, to be defrauded of the only food of their souls, the true preaching of Christ's Evangel. And that every one should be the more assured of the other, a common bond was made and by some subscribed. The tenor thereof was as follows:—
"We, perceiving how Satan in his members, the Antichrists
of our time, cruelly doth rage, seeking to down-thring
"A. Erle of Ergyle.
"Glencarne.
"Morton.
"Archibald Lord of Lorne.
"Johnne Erskyne of Doun."
Et cetera.
Immediately after the subscription of this foresaid Bond, the Lords and Barons professing Christ Jesus convened frequently in counsel; when these Heads were concluded:—
First, it is thought expedient, devised, and ordained,
that in all parishes of this realm the common prayers be read,
Secondly, it is thought necessary that doctrine, preaching, and interpretation of Scriptures be had and used privately in quiet houses, without great conventions of the people thereto, until afterwards God move the Prince to grant public preaching by faithful and true ministers.
These two heads concerning the religion and some others concerning the policy being concluded, the old Earl of Argyll, took the maintenance of John Douglas, caused him to preach publicly in his house, and reformed many things according to his counsel. Divers others took the same boldness within towns as well as to landward; and this did not a little trouble the bishops and Queen Regent.... Shortly after this, God in His mercy called the said Earl of Argyll from the miseries of this life. The bishops were glad; for they thought that their great enemy was taken out of the way; but God disappointed them. For the said Earl departed most firmly adhering to the true faith of Jesus Christ, with a plain renunciation of all impiety, superstition, and idolatry; and in his testament he directed his son to study to set forward the public and true preaching of the Evangel of Jesus Christ, and to suppress all superstition and idolatry, to the uttermost of his power.
The bishops continued in their Provincial Council.
That they might give some show to the people that
they proponed reformation, they spread abroad a rumour
of this, and published a printed manifesto, which the
people dubbed "The Twa-penny Faith." Amongst the
Acts of the Council, there was much ado (1) for caps, shaven
crowns, tippets, long gowns, and such other trifles: (2) That
none should enjoy office or benefice ecclesiastical, except a
priest: (3) That no Kirk-man should nourish his own bairns
in his own company; but that every one should hold the
Persecution was decreed by the Queen Regent and
the prelates. But there remained a point which the
Queen Regent and France had not at that time
obtained from the Scots Parliament. It was desired
that the crown-matrimonial should be granted to
Francis, husband to our Sovereign, so that France and
Scotland should be one kingdom, the subjects of both realms
having equal liberty, Scotsmen in France, and Frenchmen in
Scotland. The glister
To get the matrimonial crown, the Queen Regent left no
point of the compass unsailed. With the bishops and priests
she practised in this manner. "Ye may clearly see that I
cannot do what I would within this realm; for these heretics
and confederates of England are so bound together, that they
stop all good order. But, if ye be favourable unto me in this
suit of the matrimonial crown to be granted to my daughter's
husband, ye shall see how I shall handle these heretics and
traitors before long." And truly, in these promises she meant
Lord James Stewart, then Prior of St. Andrews, was directed to the Earl of Argyll, with this commission and credit, and more promises than we list to rehearse. By dissimulation to those that were simple and true of heart, she inflamed them to be more fervent in her petition than she herself appeared to be. And so, at the Parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of October, the year of God 1558, the crown-matrimonial was clearly voted. No man protested (except the Duke for his interest), and yet for this proceeding there was no better law produced than that in the Pontifical there was a solemn Mass appointed for such a purpose.
BOOK SECOND.The Second Book of the History of Things done in Scotland, in the Reformation
of Religion, beginning in the Year of God 1558.
1558-1559.
Lest Satan shall take occasion of our long silence to blaspheme, and to slander us the Protestants of the realm of Scotland by suggesting that our actions tended rather to sedition and rebellion than to reformation of manners and abuses in religion; we have thought it expedient, as truly and briefly as we can, to commit to writing the causes moving us, a great part of the nobility and barons of the realm, to take the sword of just defence against those that most unjustly have sought our destruction. In this our Confession we shall faithfully declare what moved us to take action, what we have asked, and what we require of the sacred authority. Our cause being thus made known, our enemies as well as our brethren in all realms may understand how falsely we are accused of tumult and rebellion, and how unjustly we are persecuted by France and by their faction. Thus, too, our brethren, natural Scotsmen, of whatever religion they be, may have occasion to examine themselves as to whether they may with safe conscience oppose themselves to us. We only seek that the glorious Evangel of Christ Jesus may be preached, His holy Sacraments be truly ministered, superstition, tyranny, and idolatry be suppressed in this realm, and the liberty of this our native country remain free from the bondage and tyranny of strangers.
While the Queen Regent practised with the prelates, how the blessed Evangel of Christ Jesus might be utterly suppressed within Scotland, God so blessed the labours of His weak servants that no small part of the Barons of this realm began to abhor the tyranny of the bishops. God did so open their eyes by the light of His Word, that they could clearly discern betwixt idolatry and the true honouring of God. Yea, men almost universally began to doubt whether they might give their bodily presence to the Mass without offending God, or offer their children for papistical baptism. When the most godly and the most learned in Europe had answered these doubts, both by word and writing, affirming that we might do neither, without extreme peril to our souls, we began to be more troubled. Then also, men of estimation, who bore rule amongst us, began to examine themselves concerning their duties towards reformation of religion, as well as towards the just defence of their most cruelly persecuted brethren. And so divers questions began to be moved, to wit, whether such as were judges, lords, and rulers of the people might, with safe conscience, serve the superior powers in maintaining idolatry, in persecuting their brethren, and in suppressing Christ's truth? Or, whether they, to whom God had in some cases committed the administration of justice, might suffer the blood of their brethren to be shed in their presence, without any declaration that such tyranny displeased them? By the plain Scripture it was found that a lively faith required a plain confession, when Christ's truth was attacked; that not only are they guilty that do evil, but so also are they that assent to evil. It is plain that they that assent to evil, seeing iniquity openly committed, do by their silence seem to justify and allow what is done.
These things being sufficiently proven by evident Scriptures
of God, every man began to look more diligently to his
salvation; for the idolatry and tyranny of the clergy, called
the Churchmen, was and is so manifest, that whoever doth
deny it declares himself ignorant of God, and enemy to Christ
Jesus. We therefore, with humble confession of our former
offences, began, with fasting and supplication unto God, to seek
God did so bless our weak beginning that, within a few months, the hearts of many were so strengthened that we sought to have the face of a Church amongst us, and to have open crimes punished, without respect of person. For that purpose, by common election, elders were appointed. To them the whole brethren promised obedience; for at that time we had no public ministers of the Word; but certain zealous men, amongst whom were the Laird of Dun, David Forrest, Master Robert Lockhart, Master Robert Hamilton, William Harlaw, and others, exhorted their brethren, according to the gifts and graces granted unto them. Shortly after did God stir up His servant, Paul Methven (whose latter fall ought not to deface the work of God in him), and he in boldness of spirit began openly to preach Christ Jesus in Dundee, in divers parts of Angus, and in Fife. God did so work with him that many began openly to renounce their old idolatry, and to submit themselves to Christ Jesus, and unto His blessed ordinances. In consequence, the town of Dundee began to erect the face of a public Church Reformed, and in this the Word was openly preached, and Christ's Sacraments were truly ministered.
In the meantime God did send to us our dear
brother, John Willock, a man godly, learned, and
grave, who, after short abode at Dundee, repaired to
Edinburgh. There, notwithstanding his long and
dangerous sickness, he so encouraged the brethren by
godly exhortations, that we began to deliberate upon
some public Reformation; for the corruption in religion was
such that, with safe conscience, we could no longer sustain it.
Yet, because we would attempt nothing without the knowledge
of the sacred authority, with one consent, after the deliberation
of many days, it was concluded that by our public and common
"Albeit we have of long time contained ourselves
in such modesty, Most Noble Princess, that neither
the exile of body, tinsel
"This condition of affairs doth not only displease us, but as your Grace's wisdom most prudently doth foresee, for the quieting of this intestine dissension, a public Reformation, in religion as well as in temporal government was most necessary. To this task, as we are informed, ye have most gravely and most godly exhorted as well the clergy as the nobility, to employ their study, diligence, and care. We, therefore, of conscience, dare no longer dissemble in so weighty a matter which concerneth the glory of God and our salvation. Neither now dare we withdraw our presence, or conceal our petitions, lest the adversaries hereafter shall object to us that place was granted to reformation, and yet no man suited for the same; and so should our silence be prejudicial unto us in time to come. Therefore, knowing no other order placed in this realm, but your Grace, in your grave Council, set to amend, as well the disorder ecclesiastical, as the defaults in the temporal regiment, we most humbly prostrate ourselves before your feet, asking your justice, and your gracious help, against them that falsely traduce and accuse us, as if we were heretics and schismatics. Under that colour they seek our destruction; because we seek the amendment of their corrupted lives, and that Christ's religion be restored to its original purity. Further, we crave of your Grace to hear, with open and patient ears, these our subsequent requests; and, to the joy and satisfaction of our troubled consciences, mercifully to grant the same, unless by God's plain Word any be able to prove that justly they ought to be denied.
"First, Humbly we ask that, as we have, by the laws of
this realm, after long debate, obtained to read the holy books
of the Old and New Testaments in our common tongue, as
spiritual food to our souls, so from henceforth it may be lawful
that we may convene publicly or privately to our Common
Prayers, in our vulgar tongue; to the end that we may increase
and grow in knowledge, and be induced, in fervent and oft
prayer, to commend to God the Holy Church universal, the
"Secondly, If it shall happen in our said conventions that any hard place of Scripture be read, from which no profit ariseth to the conveners, we ask that it shall be lawful to any person qualified in knowledge, being present, to interpret and open up the said hard places, to God's glory and to the profit of the hearers. If any think that this liberty would be occasion of confusion, debate, or heresy, we are content that it be provided that the said interpretation shall underlie the judgment of the most godly and most learned within the realm at this time.
"Thirdly, We seek that the holy Sacrament of Baptism may
be used in the vulgar tongue; so that the godfathers and
witnesses may not only understand the points of the league
and contract made betwixt God and the infant, but also that
the Church then assembled may be more gravely informed
and instructed of the duties which at all times they owe to
God, according to the promise made unto Him, when they were
received into His household by the lavachre
"Fourthly, We desire that the holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, or of His most blessed body and blood, may likewise be ministered unto us in the vulgar tongue; and in both kinds, according to the plain institution of our Saviour Christ Jesus.
"Lastly, We most humbly require that the wicked, slanderous,
and detestable life of prelates, and of the estate ecclesiastical
may be so reformed, that the people may not have occasion
(as for many days they have had) to contemn their ministers,
and the preaching whereof they should be messengers. If they
suspect that we, envying their honours or coveting their riches
and possessions rather than zealously desiring their amendment
and salvation, do travail and labour for this Reformation; we
are content not only that the rules and precepts of the New
Testament, but also the writings of the ancient fathers, and the
"These things we, as most obedient subjects, require of your Grace, in the name of the Eternal God and of His Son Christ Jesus, in presence of whose throne judicial, ye and all other that here on earth bear authority shall give account of your temporal regiment. The Spirit of the Lord Jesus move your Grace's heart to justice and equity. Amen."
When these petitions were presented, the Estate
Ecclesiastical began to storm and to devise all manner
of lies to deface the equity of our cause. They
bragged that they would have public disputation.
This we most earnestly asked them to arrange, upon
two conditions: the one, that the plain and written
Scriptures of God should decide all controversy; the other,
that our brethren, of whom some were then exiled and by
them unjustly condemned, might have free access to the said
disputation, and safe conduct to return to their dwelling
places, notwithstanding any process which before had been
led against them in matters concerning religion. But these
preliminary conditions were utterly denied. No judge would
they admit but themselves, their Councils, and Canon law.
They and their faction began to draw up certain Articles of
Reconciliation. These stipulated that we should permit the
The grossness of these articles was such, that with one voice we refused them; and continued to crave justice from the Queen Regent, and a reasonable answer to our former petitions. The Queen Regent, a woman crafty, dissimulate, and false, thinking to make profit of both parties, gave us permission to conduct ourselves in godly manner, according to our desires, provided that we should not make public assemblies in Edinburgh or Leith; and she promised her assistance to our preachers, until some uniform order might be established by a Parliament. To the clergy, she quietly gave signification of her mind, promising that, as soon as opportunity should serve, she should so arrange matters for them that they should have no more trouble. Some say that they gave her a large purse,—40,000 pounds, says the Chronicle gathered by Sir William Bruce, the Laird of Earlshall. Unsuspecting of her doubleness and falsehood, we were fully contented with her answer; and did use ourselves so quietly that, for her pleasure, we put silence to John Douglas. He would have preached publicly in the town of Leith; but in all things we sought the contentment of her mind, so far as we should not offend God by obeying her in things unlawful.
Shortly after these things, that cruel tyrant and
unmerciful hypocrite, falsely called Archbishop of St.
Andrews, apprehended that blessed martyr of Christ
Jesus, Walter Myln; a man of decrepit age, whom
most cruelly and most unjustly he put to death by
fire in St. Andrews, the twenty-eighth day of April, the year of
God 1558. This did highly offend the hearts of all godly, and
immediately after his death a new fervency arose amongst
the whole people; yea, even in the town of St. Andrews,
the people began plainly to damn such unjust cruelty. In
testification that the death of Walter Myln would abide
Having no suspicion that the Queen Regent approved of
the murder of Walter Myln, we did most humbly complain
of this unjust cruelty, requiring that justice in such cases
should be administered with greater indifference.
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
"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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
The Queen first sent for all the Nobility, and to
them she complained that we meant nothing but a
rebellion. She did grievously aggreage
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
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
Our requests and advertisements notwithstanding, Monsieur D'Oysel and his Frenchmen, with the priests and their bands, marched against Perth, and approached within ten miles of the town. Then repaired the brethren from all quarters for our relief. The gentlemen of Fife, Angus, and Mearns, with the town of Dundee, first hazarded resistance to the enemy; and for that purpose chose a platt of ground, distant a mile and more from the town. In the meantime the Lord Ruthven, Provost of Perth, and a man whom many judged godly and stout in that action (as in very deed he was, even unto his last breath), left the town, and departed first to his own place, and afterwards to the Queen. His defection and revolt was a great discouragement to the hearts of many; and yet God did so comfort that, within the space of twelve hours after, the hearts of all men were erected again. Those then assembled did not so much hope for victory by their own strength, as by the power of Him whose truth they professed; and they began to comfort one another, until the whole multitude was encouraged by a reasonable hope.
The day after the Lord Ruthven departed, which was the twenty-fourth of May, the Earl of Argyll, Lord James, Prior of St. Andrews, and the Lord Semple arrived in Perth, with commission from the Queen Regent to inquire into the cause of the convocation of lieges there.... On the morning of the day after that, the twenty-fifth day of May, before the said Lords departed, John Knox desired to speak with them, and, permission being granted, he was conveyed to their lodging by the Laird of Balvaird, and thus he began:—
"Not only the hearts of the true servants of God, but also those of all who bear any favour to their country and fellow-countrymen, ought to be moved by the present troubles to descend within themselves and to consider deeply what shall be the end of this pretended tyranny....
"Firstly, I most humbly require of you, my Lords, to say to the Queen's Grace Regent, in my name, that we whom she in her blind rage doth persecute are God's servants, and faithful and obedient subjects to the authority of this realm; that that religion which she pretendeth to maintain by fire and sword is not the true religion of Christ Jesus, but is expressly contrary to it, a superstition devised by the brain of man; which I offer myself to prove against all that within Scotland will maintain the contrary, liberty of tongue being granted to me, and God's written Word being admitted for judge.
"And, secondly, I farther require your Honours to say unto her Grace, in my name, that, as I have already written, so now I say that this enterprise of hers shall not prosper in the end; and albeit for a time she trouble the saints of God, she does not fight against man only, but against the eternal God and His invincible truth; and the end shall be her confusion, unless she repent and desist betimes.
"These things I require of you, in the name of the eternal God, to say unto her Grace as from my mouth; adding that I have been and am a more assured friend to her Grace than are these servants to her corrupt appetites, who either flatter her, or else inflame her against us. We seek nothing but the advance of God's glory, suppression of vice, and the maintenance of truth in this poor realm."
All three did promise to report these words so far as they
could, and we learned afterwards that they did so. Yea, the
Lord Semple himself, a man sold under sin, enemy to God
and to all godliness, yet made such report that the Queen
was somewhat offended that any man should use such liberty
in her presence. She still proceeded in her malice; for she
sent her Lion Herald immediately after with letters in which
all men were straitly charged to quit the town, under pain
of treason. After he had declared these letters to the chief
In the meantime, sure knowledge came to the Queen, to the Duke, and to Monsieur D'Oysel, that the Earl of Glencairn, the Lords Ochiltree and Boyd, the young Sheriff of Ayr, the Lairds of Craigie-Wallace, Cessnock, Carnell, Barr, Gadgirth, and the whole congregation of Kyle and Cunningham, approached for our relief. In very deed they came with such diligence, and in such a number that the enemy had just cause to fear, and all that professed Christ Jesus had just matter to praise God for their fidelity and stout courage in that need; for the tyranny of the enemy was bridled by their presence.... Their number was estimated at twenty-five hundred men, and of these twelve hundred were horsemen. The Queen, understanding how the said Earl and Lords approached with their company, caused all ways to be beset, so that no information should come to us, and that we, despairing of support, might consent to the terms required by her. At the same time, she sent to require that some discreet men of our number should come and speak with the Duke and Monsieur D'Oysel (who lay with their army at Auchterarder, ten miles from Perth) for the purpose of making some reasonable appointment....
From us were sent the Laird of Dun, the Laird of Inverquharity,
and Thomas Scott of Abbotshall to learn what
appointment the Queen would offer. The Duke and Monsieur
D'Oysel required that access to the town should be given, and
that all matters in dispute should be referred to the Queen's
pleasure. To this they answered that neither had they commission
so to promise, nor durst they conscientiously persuade
their brethren to agree to such a promise. But, they said, if the
Queen's Grace would promise that no inhabitant of the town
should be troubled for any such crimes as might be alleged
against them for the late change of religion, and the abolition
of idolatry and downcasting of the places of idolatry; and if she
would suffer that the religion begun should continue, and would
on her departure leave the town free from the garrisons of
Monsieur D'Oysel perceived the danger to be great, should a speedy appointment not be made. He saw, also, that they would not be able to execute their tyranny against us after the congregation of Kyle, of whose coming we had no information, should be joined with us. So, with good words, he dismissed the said Lords to persuade the brethren to quiet concord. All men were well disposed to this course, and with one voice they cried, "Cursed be they that seek effusion of blood, war, or dissension. Let us possess Christ Jesus, and the benefit of His Evangel, and none within Scotland shall be more obedient subjects than we shall be." After the coming of the Earl of Glencairn was known, the enemy quaked for fear, and with all expedition there were sent from Stirling again the Earl of Argyll and the Lord James, in company with a crafty man, Master Gavin Hamilton, Abbot of Kilwinning, to finish the appointment foresaid....
With the Earl of Glencairn came our loving
brother John Willock; John Knox was in the town
already. These two went to the Earl of Argyll and
Prior, and accused them of disloyalty, in that they
had defrauded their brethren of their dutiful support
and comfort in time of their greatest necessity. They both
answered that their heart was constant with their brethren,
and that they would defend the cause to the uttermost of their
power. But because they had promised to labour for concord
and to assist the Queen should we refuse reasonable offers,
conscience and honour did not permit them to do less than be
faithful in their promise made. Therefore, they required that
the brethren might be persuaded to consent to that reasonable
appointment; promising, in God's presence, that, if the Queen
did break in any jot thereof, they, with their whole powers,
would assist and co-operate with their brethren in all times to
come. This promise made, the preachers appeased the multitude,
and ultimately secured the consent of all men to the
appointment foresaid; although they did not obtain this
without great labour. And no wonder, for many foresaw the
Before the Lords departed they made this bond:—
"At Perth, the last day of May, the year of God 1559, the Congregations of the West country, with the Congregations of Fife, Perth, Dundee, Angus, Mearns, and Montrose, being convened in the town of Perth, in the name of Jesus Christ, for forthsetting of His glory; understanding nothing more necessary for the same than to keep a constant amity, unity, and fellowship together, according as they are commanded by God, are confederate, and become bound and obliged, in the presence of God, to concur and assist together in doing all things required by God in His Scripture, that may be to His glory: and with their whole power to destroy, and put away all things that do dishonour to His name, so that God may be truly and purely worshipped. And in case any trouble is intended against the said Congregation, or any part or member thereof, the whole Congregation shall concur, assist, and convene together, to the defence of the Congregation or person troubled; and shall not spare labours, goods, substance, bodies, and lives, in maintaining the liberty of the whole Congregation, and every member thereof, against whatsoever power shall intend the said trouble, for the cause of religion or any other cause dependent thereupon, or laid to their charge under pretence thereof, although it happen to be coloured with any other outward cause. In witnessing and testimony of this, the whole Congregations foresaid have ordained and appointed the Noblemen and persons underwritten to subscribe these presents.
| "Arch. Argyle. | Glencairn. |
| James Stewart. | R. Lord Boyd. |
| Matthew Campbell of Thringland. | Ochiltree." |
On the twenty-ninth of May the Queen, the
Duke, Monsieur D'Oysel, and the Frenchmen entered
Perth.... The swarm of Papists that entered with
her began at once to make provision for their Mass....
The Queen began to rage against all godly and
honest men; their houses were oppressed by the
Frenchmen; the lawful magistrates, Provost as well as Bailies,
were unjustly and irregularly deposed from their authority. A
wicked man, void of God's fear, and destitute of all virtue, the
Laird of Kinfauns, was intrused by her as Provost of the
town.... She gave order that four ensenyes
The Earl of Argyll, and Lord James, perceiving in
the Queen nothing but mere tyranny and falsehood,
and mindful of their former promises to their brethren,
secretly conveyed themselves and their companies from
the town. With them departed the Lord Ruthven,
the Earl of Menteith, and the Laird of Tullibardine.... The
Queen, highly offended at the sudden departure of these
persons, charged them to return, under the highest pain of
her displeasure. But they answered that they could not, with
safe conscience, be partakers in so manifest tyranny as that
committed by her, and in the great iniquity which they
perceived to be devised by her and her ungodly Council, the
The Archbishop, hearing of Reformation to be
made in his cathedral Church, thought it time to
stir if ever he were to do so. He assembled
his colleagues and confederate fellows, besides his
other friends, and came to the town upon the
Saturday night, accompanied by a hundred spears, desiring
to have stopped John Knox from preaching. The two Lords
and gentlemen foresaid were only accompanied by their quiet
households, and the sudden coming of the Archbishop was the
more fearful; for the Queen and her Frenchmen having departed
from Perth, were then lying in Falkland, within twelve miles
of St. Andrews. Besides, the town had not at that time given
profession of Christ, and therefore the Lords could not be
assured of their friendship. After consultation, many were of
opinion that the preaching should be delayed for that day,
and especially that John Knox should not preach; for the
Archbishop had affirmed that he would not suffer this, seeing
that the picture of the said John had formerly been burned
by his commandment. He instructed an honest gentleman,
Robert Colville of Cleish, to say to the Lords that did John
Knox present himself at the preaching place in his town and
principal church, he should "gar
After long deliberation, the said John was called,
that his own judgment might be had. Many persuasions
were used to induce him to delay for that
time, and great terrors were threatened if he should
enterprise such a thing, in seeming contempt of the
Archbishop. But he answered, "God is witness that I never
"Therefore," said John Knox, "my Lords, seeing that God hath, beyond the expectation of many, brought me in the body to the place where first I was called to the office of a preacher, and from the which most unjustly I was removed, I beseech your Honours not to stop me from presenting myself unto my brethren. As for the fear of danger that may come to me, let no man be solicitous. My life is in the custody of Him whose glory I seek; and therefore I cannot so fear their boast or tyranny as to cease from doing my duty, when of His mercy He offereth occasion. I desire the hand or weapon of no man to defend me; only do I crave audience. If this be denied here to me at this time, I must seek further where I may have it."
At these words, the Lords were fully content that
John Knox should occupy the preaching place, which
he did upon Sunday, the eleventh of June. In his
sermon he treated of the ejection of the buyers and
the sellers from the Temple of Jerusalem, as it is
written in the Evangelists, Matthew and John. He
applied the corruption that was there to the corruption
that is in the Papistry; and Christ's act, to the duty of those
to whom God giveth power and zeal thereto. The result
was that the magistrates within the town, the provost and
The Archbishop, informed of this, departed that same day to the Queen, who lay in Falkland with her Frenchmen, as we have said. The hot fury of the Archbishop did so kindle her choler (and yet the love was very cold betwixt them) that, without any further delay, it was decided to invade St. Andrews.... When this was known, counsel was given to the Lords to march forward and get to Cupar before the Queen. This they did, giving notice to all brethren to repair towards them with possible expedition. This also was done with such diligence that in their assembling the wondrous work of God might have been espied. When the Lords came to Cupar at night, they were not a hundred horse, and a certain number of footmen, whom Lord James brought from the coast side; and yet, before the next day at twelve o'clock, which was Tuesday, the thirteenth of June, their number exceeded three thousand men.... Finally, God did so multiply our number that it appeared as if men had rained from the clouds. The enemy, understanding nothing of our force, assured themselves of victory.... Before midnight they sent forward their ordnance, themselves following before three o'clock in the morning.
The Lords, being notified of this, assembled their
company upon Cupar Moor early in the morning....
The Lord Ruthven took charge of the horsemen, and so
ordered them that the enemy was never permitted to
espy our number; the day was dark, and that helped.
The enemy, thinking to have found no resistance, after they
had twice or thrice made a feint of retiring, advanced with
great expedition, and approached within a mile before ever
their horsemen stayed.... After twelve o'clock, the mist
began to vanish, and then some of their horsemen occupied
an eminence whence they might discern our number. When
they perceived this, their horsemen and footmen came to a
speedy halt. Posts ran to the Duke and Monsieur D'Oysel to
The assurance granted by the Earl of Arran and others contained faithful promise, "that we, and our company foresaid, shall retire incontinent to Falkland, and shall with diligence transport the Frenchmen and our other folks now presently with us; and that no Frenchman or other soldiers of ours, shall remain within the bounds of Fife, except as many as before the raising of the last army lay in Dysart, Kirkcaldy, and Kinghorn, these to lie in the same places only, if we shall think good. And this to have effect for the space of eight days following the date hereof exclusive, that in the meantime certain noblemen, by the advice of the Queen's Grace and rest of the Council, may convene to talk of such things as may make good order and quietness amongst the Queen's lieges...."
Having received this assurance, we departed first,
because we were requested by the Duke to do so. We
returned to Cupar, lauding and praising God for His
mercy showed; and thereafter every man departed to
his dwelling place. The Lords and a great part of the gentlemen
proceeded to St. Andrews, and abode there certain days,
always looking for those that had been promised to be sent
from the Queen, for the preparation of an appointment.
Perceiving her craft and deceit (for under that assurance she
meant nothing else than to convey herself, her ordnance, and
Frenchmen, over the water of Forth) we took consultation as
to what should be done to deliver Perth from these ungodly
At Perth, a trumpet was sent by the Lords, commanding the captains and their bands to vacate the town, and to leave it to its ancient liberty and just inhabitants; and also commanding them and the Laird of Kinfauns, provost, thrust upon the town by the Queen, to open the gates of the town and admit all our sovereign's lieges.... To this they answered proudly that they would keep and defend that town, according to promise made to the Queen Regent.... And so, upon Saturday, the twenty-fourth of June, at ten o'clock at night, the Lord Ruthven, who besieged the west quarter, commanded to shoot the first volley. This being done, the town of Dundee, whose ordnance lay upon the east side of the bridge, did the like. The captains and soldiers within the town, perceiving that they were unable long to resist, requested a truce until twelve o'clock noon, promising that, if before that hour there came no relief to them from the Queen Regent, they would surrender the town, provided that they should be suffered to depart from the town with ensigns displayed. We, thirsting for the blood of no man, and seeking only the liberty of our brethren, suffered them freely to depart without any further molestation....
The Bishop of Moray lay in the Abbey of Scone, and it was thought good that some proceedings should be taken against him and against that place, which lay near to the town-end. The Lords wrote unto him, for he lay within two miles of Perth, that, unless he would come and assist them, they neither could spare nor save his place. He answered, by writing, that he would come, and would do as they thought expedient; that he would assist them with his force, and would vote with them against the rest of the clergy in Parliament. But his answer was slow in coming, and the town of Dundee marched forward.
John Knox was sent unto them to stay them; but before
his coming, they had begun the pulling down of the idols and
dortour.
On the morrow, some of the poor, in hope of spoil, and some of the 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....
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
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.
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
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
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
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....
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
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....
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
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.
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 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.
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
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
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....
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.
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."...
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;
"The Queen Regent had denied her chief duty to the subjects of this realm, which was to minister justice unto them indifferently, to preserve their liberties from invasion by strangers, and to suffer them to have God's Word freely and openly preached amongst them. Moreover, she was an open and obstinate idolatress, a vehement maintainer of all superstition and idolatry; and, finally, she had utterly despised the counsel and requests of the nobility. Upon these grounds he argued that there was no reason why they, the born counsellors, nobility, and barons of the realm, might not justly deprive her from all regiment and authority amongst them."...
The individual vote of every man being required, and every man commanded to speak what his conscience judged in that matter, as he would answer to God, there was none found amongst the whole number who did not, by his own tongue, consent to her deprivation....
After our Act of Suspension was by sound of trumpet
divulged at the Market Cross of Edinburgh, we dismissed
the herald with his answer, and on the following day we
summoned the town of Leith by the sound of trumpet,
requiring, in name of the King and Queen and of the Council
then in Edinburgh, that all Scots and French men,
Defiance given, there was skirmishing, without
great slaughter. Preparation of scaills
By such domestic enemies not only were our
purposes frustrated, but also our determinations were
often overthrown and changed. The Duke's friends
sought to alarm him, and he was greatly troubled; by
his fear many others were troubled. The men of war,
for the most part men without God or honesty, made a mutiny,
because they lacked a part of their wages.... All these
troubles were practised by the Queen, and put into execution
by the traitors amongst ourselves.... To pacify the men of
war, a collection was devised. But, because some were poor
and some were niggardly and avaricious, no sufficient sum
could be obtained. It was thought expedient that a cunyie
There now remained no hope that any money could be furnished among ourselves; and therefore it was concluded by a few of those whom we judged most secret that inquiry should be directed to Sir Ralph Sadler, and Sir James Crofts, then having charge at Berwick, to ascertain whether they would support us with any reasonable sum in that urgent necessity. And for that purpose the Laird of Ormiston was directed to them in as secret manner as we could devise. But our counsel was disclosed to the Queen, who appointed the Lord Bothwell, as he himself confessed, to await the return of the said Laird. That he did with all diligence; and, being assuredly informed by what way he would come, the said Earl Bothwell foreset his way, and, coming upon him at unawares, did capture him, and the sum of four thousand crowns of the sun, which Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir James Crofts had most lovingly sent for our support.... The Earl of Arran, the Lord James, the Master of Maxwell, with the most part of the horsemen, took sudden purpose to pursue the said Earl of Bothwell, in the hope that they might apprehend him in Crichton or Morham.... But, albeit the departure and counsel of the Earl of Arran and Lord James was very sudden and secret, the Earl Bothwell, then being in Crichton, received information of this, and so escaped with the money....
In the absence of the said Lords and horsemen (we
mean the same day that they departed, which was the
last of October) the Provost and town of Dundee,
together with some soldiers, issued from the town of
Edinburgh, and carried with them some great ordnance to
shoot at Leith.... The French being notified that our horsemen
were absent, and that the whole company were at dinner,
made a sortie, and with great expedition came to the place
where our ordnance was laid. The town of Dundee, with a
few others, resisted for a while, with their ordnance as well as
hackbuts; but, being left by our ungodly and feeble soldiers,
who fled without stroke offered or given, they were compelled
to give back, and so to leave the ordnance to the enemies.
These pursued the fugitives to the middle of the Canongate,
It was very apparent that amongst ourselves there was some treason. Upon the first alarm, all men made haste to come to the relief of their brethren, and in very deed we might have saved them, and at least we might have saved the ordnance, and have kept the Canongate from danger; for we were at once marched forward with bold courage. But then a shout was raised amongst ourselves (God will disclose the traitors one day) affirming that the whole French company had entered Leith Wynd at our backs. What clamour and disorder then suddenly arose, we list not to express with multiplication of words. The horsemen and some of those that ought to have maintained order overrode their poor brethren at the entrance of the Nether Bow. The cry of distress arose in the town; the wicked and malignant blasphemed; the feeble (amongst whom was the Justice Clerk, Sir John Bellenden) fled without mercy. With great difficulty could they be kept in at the West Port.... In the meantime, the French retired themselves with our ordnance....
From that day forward, the courage of many was
dejected. With great difficulty could men be retained
in the town; yea, some of the greatest estimation
determined to abandon the enterprise. Many fled
away secretly, and those that did abide—a very few excepted—appeared
destitute of counsel and manhood.... Thus we
continued from Wednesday, the last of October, until Monday
the fifth of November, never two or three abiding firm in one
opinion for the space of twenty-four hours.... Upon the last-named
day, the French made an early sally from Leith, for
the purpose of kepping
William Maitland of Lethington, younger, Secretary to the Queen, perceiving himself not only to be suspected as one that favoured our part, but also to stand in danger of his life if he should remain amongst so ungodly a company, surrendered himself to Master Kirkaldy, Laird of Grange. He, coming to us, exhorted us to constancy, assuring us that there was nothing but craft and deceit in the Queen. He travailed exceedingly to keep the Lords together, and most prudently laid before their eyes the dangers that might ensue upon their departing from the town. But fear and dolour had seized the hearts of all, and they could admit no consolation.
The Earl of Arran, and Lord James, offered to abide, if any reasonable company would abide with them. But men continued to steal away, and the wit of man could not stay them. Yea, some of the greatest determined plainly that they would not abide. The Captain of the Castle, then Lord Erskine, would promise us no favours, but said he must needs declare himself friend to those that were able to support and defend him. When this answer was given to the Lord James, it discouraged those that before had determined to have abided the uttermost, rather than abandon the town, had but the Castle stood their friend. But the contrary being declared, every man consulted his own safety. The complaint of the brethren within the town of Edinburgh was lamentable and sore. The wicked, too, began to spue forth the venom which lurked in their cankered heart....
It was finally agreed to withdraw from Edinburgh;
and, to avoid danger, it was decided that the forces
should depart at midnight. The Duke made provision
for his ordnance, and caused it to be sent before; but
the rest was left to the care of the Captain of the Castle, who
received it, both that of the Lord James, and that of Dundee.
The despiteful tongues of the wicked railed upon us, calling us
traitors and heretics: every one provoked the other to cast
stones at us. One cried, "Alas, if I might see;" another, "Fie,
give advertisement to the Frenchmen that they may come, and
we shall help them now to cut the throats of these heretics."
The next Wednesday, which was the seventh of November, John Knox preached (John Willock having departed to England, as he had previously arranged) and treated of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth versicles of the Fourscore Psalm.... In his exposition he declared the reasons for which God sometimes suffered His chosen flock to be exposed to mockage, to dangers, and to apparent destruction: to wit, that they might feel the vehemency of God's indignation; that they might know how little strength was in themselves; that they might leave a testimony to the generations following, as well of the malice of the Devil against God's people, as of the marvellous work of God in preserving His little flock by far other means than man can espy. In explaining these words, "How long shalt Thou be angry, O Lord, against the prayer of Thy people?" he declared how dolorous and fearful it was to fight against the temptation to believe that God turned away His face from our prayers, for that was nothing else than to comprehend and conceive God to be armed for our destruction. This temptation no flesh could abide or overcome, unless the mighty Spirit of God interponed Himself suddenly.
By way of example, he noted the impatience of Saul, when
God would not hear his prayers. He plainly declared that
the difference between the elect and reprobate in that temptation
was that the elect, sustained by the secret power of God's
Spirit, did still call upon God, albeit He appeared to contemn
their prayers. That, he said, was the sacrifice most
acceptable to God, and was in a manner even to fight with
In the second part, he declared how hard it was to this corrupt nature of ours not to rejoice and put confidence in itself when God gave victory; and, therefore, how necessary it was that man by affliction should be brought to the knowledge of his own infirmity, lest, puffed up with vain confidence, he should make an idol of his own strength, as did King Nebuchadnezzar. He gravely disputed upon the nature of the blind world, which, in all ages, had insolently rejoiced when God did chasten His own children. The reprobate could never see their glory and honour, and therefore despised them, and the wondrous work of God in them. "And yet," said he, "the joy and rejoicing of the world is but mere sorrow, because the end of it tendeth to sudden destruction, as the riotous banqueting of Belshazzar declareth.... I doubt not that some of us have oftener than once read this Psalm, as also that we have read and heard the travail and troubles of our ancient fathers. But which of us, either in reading or hearing their dolours and temptations, did so descend into ourselves that we felt the bitterness of their passions? I think none. And therefore has God brought us to some experience in our own persons....
"When we were few in number, in comparison with our
enemies, when we had neither Earl nor Lord, a few excepted,
to comfort us, we called upon God; we took Him for our
protector, defence, and only refuge. Amongst us, we heard
no bragging of multitude, of our strength, nor policy: we
did only sob to God, to have respect to the equity of our
cause, and to the cruel pursuit of the tyrannous enemy. But
since our number hath been thus multiplied, and chiefly since
my Lord Duke's Grace and his friends have been joined with
us, there has been nothing heard, but, 'This Lord will bring
"I am uncertain if my Lord's Grace hath unfeignedly repented of his assistance to these murderers unjustly pursuing us. Yea, I am uncertain if he hath repented of that innocent blood of Christ's blessed martyrs which was shed in his default. But let it be that so he hath done (as I hear that he hath confessed his offence before the Lords and Brethren of the Congregation), I am yet assured that neither he nor his friends have felt before this time the anguish and grief of heart suffered by us when in their blind fury they pursued us. Therefore hath God justly permitted both them and us to fall into this confusion at the same time: us, because we put our trust and confidence in man; and them, that they should feel in their own hearts how bitter was the cup which they made others drink. It only remains that both they and we should turn to the Eternal our God, who beats down to death, to the intent that He may raise up again, and leave the remembrance of His wondrous deliverance, to the praise of His own name....
"Yea, whatever shall become of us and of our mortal carcases, I doubt not but that this cause, in despite of Satan, shall prevail in the realm of Scotland. For, as it is the eternal truth of the eternal God, so shall it once prevail, howsoever for a time it be impugned. It may be that God shall plague some because they delight not in the truth, albeit for worldly respects they seem to favour it. Yea, God may take some of His dearest children away before their eyes see greater troubles. But neither shall the one nor the other hinder this action, and in the end it shall triumph."
Upon the conclusion of this sermon, in which John Knox
had vehemently exhorted all men to amendment of life, to
prayers, and to the works of charity, the minds of men began
wondrously to be erected.... In the end, it was concluded
that William Maitland should go to London to lay our estate
Look upon us, O Lord, in the multitude of Thy mercies; for we are brought even to the deep of the dungeon.
BOOK THIRD.The Third Book of the Progress of True Religion within the Realm of
Scotland.
1559-1561.
After our dolorous departure from Edinburgh, the fury and the rage of the French increased; for then neither man nor woman that professed Christ Jesus durst be seen within that town. The houses of the most honest men were given by the Queen to the Frenchmen for a part of their reward. The Earl Bothwell, by sound of trumpet, proclaimed the Earl of Arran traitor, with other despiteful words; and all this was done for the pleasure and at the suggestion of the Queen Regent, who then thought the battle was won, without fear of further resistance. Great practising she made towards obtaining the Castle of Edinburgh. The French made faggots and other preparations for assaulting the Castle, by force or by treason. But God wrought so potently with the Captain, the Lord Erskine, that neither did the Queen prevail by flattery, nor the French by treason.
With all diligence, intelligence was sent to the
Duke of Guise, who was then virtual King of France,
requiring him to use expedition, if he desired the
full conquest of Scotland. He delayed no time, and
sent away a new army with his brother, Marquis
D'Elbœuf, and the Count de Martigues, promising that he himself
should follow. But the righteous God, who in mercy
looketh upon the affliction of those that unfeignedly sob unto
Him, fought for us by His own outstretched arm. One night,
upon the coast of Holland, eighteen ensigns of them were
drowned, so that there only remained the ship in which were
the two leaders with their ladies. These, violently driven
Robert Melvin, who had gone to London in company with the Secretary, a little before Christmas, now returned from England and brought certain Articles to be answered by us. Thereupon the Nobility convened at Stirling, and returned answer with diligence. The French, informed of this, marched to Linlithgow, spoiled the Duke's house, and wasted his lands of Kinneil; thereafter coming to Stirling, where they remained for some days. The Duke, and the Earls of Argyll and Glencairn, with their friends, moved on to Glasgow, the Earl of Arran and Lord James, to St. Andrews; for charge had been given to all the Protestant Nobility to conserve their forces until God should send them further support.
The French laid their plans for assaulting Fife first; for it had stirred their great indignation. Their purpose was to have taken and fortified the town, the Abbey, and the Castle of St. Andrews. So they came to Culross, after that to Dunfermline, and then to Burntisland, where they began to fortify. But they soon had reason to desist and march to Kinghorn. For, when the Earl of Arran and the Lord James learned that the French had departed from Stirling, they departed also from St. Andrews, and began to assemble their forces at Cupar. They also sent their men of war to Kinghorn; and to them there resorted divers of the coast side, who were of mind to resist at the beginning, rather than when the French had destroyed a part of their towns. As the Lords had given express command that nothing should be hazarded until they themselves were present, the Lord Ruthven, a man of great experience, and inferior to few in stoutness, was dispatched to Kinghorn.
The men of war, and the rascal multitude, perceiving
Frenchmen landing from certain boats which
had come from Leith, determined to stop their coming
ashore. Not considering the enemies that approached from
Burntisland, they unadvisedly rushed down to the Pettycur,
as the brae be-west Kinghorn is called, and at the sea-coast
The French took Kinghorn, and there they lay, wasting the country about, as well Papists as Protestants, yea, even those that were confederate with them, such as Seafield, Wemyss, Balmuto, Balweary, and others, enemies to God and traitors to their country. They spared not the sheep, the oxen, the kine, and horse of these men, and some say that their wives and daughters got favours of the French soldiers. Thus did God recompense the Papists in their own bosoms, for, besides the defiling of their houses, two of them received more damage than did all the gentlemen that professed the Evangel within Fife, the Laird of Grange only excepted. His house of the Grange the French overthrew by gunpowder.
The Queen Regent, proud of this victory, burst forth in blasphemous railing, and said, "Where is now John Knox's God? My God is now stronger than his, yea, even in Fife." To her friends in France she posted news that thousands of the heretics had been slain, and that the rest were fled; and required that some nobleman would come and take the glory of that victory. Upon that information, the Count de Martigues, with two ships, and some captains and horse, were directed to come to Scotland; but little to their own advantage, as we shall hear.
The Lords of the Congregation, offended at the
foolishness of the rascal multitude, recalled the men of
war, and remained certain days at Cupar. To them
repaired John Knox, and, in our greatest desperation, preached
a most comfortable sermon. His subject was, "The danger in
After these things, determination was taken that the Earl of Arran and Lord James, with the men of war and some company of horsemen, should go to Dysart, and there lie in wait upon the French, so that they should not utterly destroy the sea-coast, as they had intended to have done. The said Earl and Lord James did as they were appointed, albeit their company was very small; and yet they did so valiantly, that it passed all credibility. For twenty-one days they lay in their clothes; their boots never came off: they had skirmishing almost every day; yea, some days, from morn to even. The French had four thousand soldiers, beside their favourers and faction of the country. The Lords had never altogether five hundred horsemen, with a hundred soldiers; and yet they held the French so busy, that for every horse they slew to the Congregation, they lost four French soldiers.
William Kirkaldy of Grange, on the day after his house
was cast down, sent in his defiance to Monsieur D'Oysel
and the rest, declaring that to that hour had he used the
French favourably. He had saved their lives, when he might
have suffered their throats to be cut; but, seeing that they had
used him with that rigour, let them not look for that favour in
times to come. The said William Kirkaldy, and the Master
of Lyndsay, escaped many dangers. The Master had his horse
slain under him: the said William was almost betrayed in his
On one occasion, they with some gentlemen laid themselves
in a secret place, before day, to await the French, who were
wont to ish in companies, to seek their prey. Forth came a
Captain Battu, with his hundred men, and began to spoil.
The said Master, now Lord of Lyndsay, and the said William,
suffered this without showing themselves or their company,
until they had them more than a mile from Kinghorn. Then
the horsemen began to break. Perceiving this, the French
drew together to a place called Glennis House, and made for
debate; some took the house, and others defended the close
and yard. The hazard appeared very unlikely, for our men
had nothing but spears, and were compelled to light upon
their feet. The others were within dykes; and all had
culverins: the shot was fearful to many, and divers were hurt.
Kirkaldy, perceiving men to faint and begin to recoil, cried,
"Fie, let us never live after this day, if we shall recoil for
French schybalds
To furnish the French with victuals, Captain Cullen, with
two ships, travelled betwixt the south shore and Kinghorn.
For his wages, he spoiled Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, and as much
of Dysart as he might. For remedy, two ships were sent from
Dundee, Andrew Sands, a stout and fervent man in the cause
of religion, being in command. At the same time Count de
Martigues arrived. Without delay he landed himself, his
coffers, and the principal gentlemen that were with him at
The French were incensed, and vowed the destruction of St. Andrews and Dundee. Upon Monday morning, the twenty-third day of January 1560, they marched from Dysart, and crossed the water of Leven; ever keeping the sea-coast, for the sake of their ships and victuals. About twelve o'clock they espied ships. These had been seen that morning by us that were upon the land, but they were not known. Monsieur D'Oysel affirmed them to be French ships, and so the soldiers triumphed, shot their volley for salutation, and marched forward to Kincraig, fearing no resistance. But shortly after, the English ships, meeting with Captain Cullen, seized him and his ships, and this made them muse a little.
Suddenly came Master Alexander Wood, and assured Monsieur D'Oysel, that they were Englishmen, and that they were the fore-riders of a greater number that followed for the support of the Congregation. Then might have been seen the riving of beards, and might have been heard such despite as cruel men are wont to spue forth when God bridleth their fury. Weariness and the night constrained them to lodge where they were. They supped scarcely, because their ships were taken. In these were their victuals, and also the ordnance which they intended to have placed in St. Andrews. They themselves durst not stray abroad to forage; and the Laird of Wemyss's carriage, which likewise was coming with provisions for them, was stayed. Betimes in the morning, they retired towards Kinghorn, and made more expedition in one day in retiring, than they had done in two in advancing.
The storm, which had continued for the space of
nearly a month, broke at the very time of the retreat
of the French. Many thought they would have been
stayed by this until a reasonable company might have been
assembled to have fought them; and with that purpose William
In their retreat, the French spoiled the country and lost divers men; amongst whom there was one whose miserable end we must rehearse. A Frenchman—captain or soldier, we cannot tell, but he had a red cloak and a gilt morion—entered upon a poor woman, that dwelt in the Whyteside, and began to spoil. The poor woman offered him such bread as she had ready prepared. But he, in no ways content therewith, demanded the meal and a little salt beef with which she had to sustain her own life, and the lives of her poor children. Neither could tears nor pitiful words mitigate the merciless man; he would have whatsoever he could carry. The poor woman perceiving him so bent, and that he stooped down into her tub to take forth such stuff as was within it, cowped up his heels, so that his head went down; and there he ended his unhappy life.
From this time forward, frequent mention will be made of the comfortable support that we, by God's providence, received in our greatest extremity from our neighbours of England. We therefore think it expedient simply to declare how that matter was first moved, and by what means it came to pass that the Queen and Council of England showed themselves so favourable to us.
John Knox had forewarned us, by his letters from Geneva, of all dangers that he foresaw to ensue from our enterprise; and, when he came to Dieppe, mindful of these, and revolving with himself what remedy God would please to offer, he had the boldness to write to Sir William Cecil, Secretary of England. With him the said John had formerly been familiarly acquainted, and he intended thereby to renew acquaintance, and so to open his mind further....
To this letter no answer was made; for, shortly thereafter,
the said John made forward to Scotland by sea, where he
Within a day or two after the departure of the said
Alexander, there came a letter from Sir Harry Percy to John
Knox, requiring him to meet him at Alnwick, on the third of
August, upon such affairs as he would not write of, nor yet
communicate to any but the said John himself. While he was
preparing himself for the journey, for Secretary Cecil had
appointed to meet him at Stamford, the Frenchmen came forth
furiously from Dunbar, intending to have surprised the Lords
in Edinburgh, as in the Second Book has been declared. This
stayed the journey of the said John, until God had delivered
the innocent from that great danger; and then was he (having
Master Robert Hamilton, minister of the Evangel of Jesus
The passage was from Pittenweem, by sea. Arriving at Holy Island, and being informed that Sir Harry Percy was absent from the North, they addressed themselves to Sir James Crofts, then Captain of Berwick and Warden of the East Marches of England. They showed to him their credit and commission. He received them gently, and comforted them with his faithful counsel, which was that they should travel no farther, nor yet should they be seen in public, and that for divers considerations. First, the Queen Regent had her spies in England. Secondarily, the Queen and the Council favoured our action, but would that all things should remain secret as long as possible. And last, said he, "I do not think it expedient that, when preachers are so scarce, ye two should be any long time absent from the Lords. Therefore," said he, "ye shall do best to commit to writing your whole mind and credit, and I shall promise to you, upon my honour, to have answer delivered to you and the Lords, before ye yourselves could reach London. And where your letters cannot express all things so fully as your presence could, I, not only by my pen, but also by my own presence, shall supply the same, to such as will inform the Council sufficiently of all things."
The said John and Master Robert followed this counsel, for it was faithful and proceeded of love at that time. They tarried with Sir James Crofts very secretly, within the Castle of Berwick, for two days, when Alexander Whitelaw returned with answer to the Lords, and to John Knox, the tenor of whose letter was this:—
"Master Knox,—Non est masculus neque foemina, omnes enim, ut ait Paulus, unum sumus in Christo Jesu. Benedictus vir qui confidit in Domino; et erit Dominus fiducia ejus.
There is neither male nor female; for, as saith Paul, they are all one in Christ Jesus. Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord; and the Lord will be his confidence.—Laing. "I have received your letters, at the time that I had thought
to have seen yourself about Stamford. What is the cause of your let, I know not. I forbear to descend to the bottom of things, until I may confer with such an one as ye are; and, therefore, if your chance shall be hereafter to come hither, I wish you to be furnished with good credit, and power to make good resolution. Although my answer to the Lords of Congregation be somewhat obscure, upon further understanding ye shall find the matter plain. I need wish to you no more prudence than God's grace, whereof God send you plenty. And so I end. From Oxford, the twenty-eighth of July 1559.—Yours as a member of the same body in Christ,—W. Cecil."
Albeit the said John received this letter at Berwick, yet would he answer nothing until he had spoken with the Lords. Them he found in Stirling, and unto them he delivered the answer sent from the Council of England.... The answer sent by Master Cecil was so general that many amongst us were despaired of any comfort to come from that country; and therefore were determined that they would request nothing further. John Knox laboured for the contrary purpose; but he could prevail no further than that he should have licence and liberty to write as he thought best. And so took he upon him to answer for all, in form as follows:—
"... Albeit Master Whitelaw, by his credit, Master Kirkaldy, by his letter, and I, both by letters and by that which I had learned from Sir James Crofts, did declare and affirm your good minds towards them and their support; yet could not some of the Council—those, I mean, of greatest experience—be otherwise persuaded, but that this alteration in France had altered your former purpose.
"It is not unknown to your countrymen what goodwill we three do bear to England. Therefore we heartily desire of you that your favours and good minds may appear to the Council by your own writings, rather than by any credit committed to any of us. The case of those gentlemen standeth thus:—Unless money be furnished without delay to pay their soldiers, who in number now exceed five hundred, for their service by-past, and to retain another thousand footmen, with three
hundred horsemen for a time, they will be compelled every man to seek the next way for his own safety. I am assured, as flesh may be of flesh, that some of them will take a very hard life before they compone Agree. either with the Queen Regent, or with France. But this I dare not promise at all, unless in you they see a greater forwardness to their support."To support us may appear excessive, and to break promise with France may appear dangerous. But, Sir, I hope ye consider that our destruction were your greatest loss; and that when France shall be our full master—which God avert!—they will be but slender friends to you. I heard Béthencourt brag in his credit, after he had delivered his menacing letters to Lord James Stewart, that the King and his Council would spend the Crown of France, unless they had our full obedience. But most assuredly I know that unless by us they thought to make an entrance to you, they would not buy our poverty at that price. They labour to corrupt some of our great men by money, and some of our number are poor, as before I wrote, and cannot serve without support; some they threaten; and against others they have raised up a party in their own country. In the meantime, if ye lie by as neutrals, ye may easily conjecture what will be the end! Some of the Council, immediately after the sight of your letters, departed, not well appeased. The Earl of Argyll is gone to his country for putting order to the same,
That is, to make arrangements there. and is minded to return shortly with his forces, if assurance of your support be had."Therefore, Sir, in the bowels of Jesus Christ, I require you to make plain answer, that the Gentlemen here may know what to lippen to,
Trust to. and at what time their support should be in readiness. How dangerous is the drift of time in such matters, ye are not ignorant...."
With great expedition, answer was returned to
this letter. It was requested that some men of credit
should be sent from the Lords to Berwick, to receive
money for immediate support; and promise was made that, if
the Lords of the Congregation meant no otherwise than they
had written, and if they would enter into league with honest
In the negotiation of the Secretary Lethington with the Queen and Council of England, in which he travailed with no less wisdom and faithfulness than happy success, many things occurred that required the resolution of the whole Lords. Amongst these there was one of which we have made no previous mention.
After the Queen and Council of England had concluded to send their army into Scotland to expel the French, the Duke of Norfolk was sent to Berwick, with full instructions, power, and commission, to do in all things, concerning the present affairs of Scotland, as the Queen and Councillors in their own persons might do. Hereupon, the said Duke required such a part of the Lords of Scotland as had power and commission from the whole to meet him at such day and place as it might please them to appoint. The intimation came first to Glasgow, by means of the Master of Maxwell. When this had been read and considered by the Lords, it was agreed that they should meet at Carlisle. This arrangement was made on the procurement of the said Master of Maxwell, for his own ease.
Letters were directed from the Lords, lying at
Glasgow, to Lord James, requiring him to repair
towards them for the purpose named, with all
possible expedition. When these letters had been
read and advised upon, commandment was given to
John Knox to make the answer.... And he wrote as
follows:—"I have written oftener than once to Mr. Henry
Balnaves concerning things that have misliked me in your
"In my last letters to Mr. Henry Balnaves, I declared that your especial friends in England wonder that no greater expedition is made, the weight of the matter being considered. I wrote also that, if the fault were with the Lord Duke and his friends, the greatest loss should be his and theirs in the end. And now, I cannot cease both to wonder and lament that your whole Council was so destitute of wisdom and discretion as to charge this poor man, the Prior, to come to you to Glasgow, and thereafter to go to Carlisle, for such affairs as are to be entreated. Was there none amongst you who did foresee what inconveniences might ensue his absence from these parts?
"I cease to speak of the dangers from the enemy. Your
friends have lain in the Firth now for fifteen days bypast, and
what was their former travail is not unknown; yet they have
never received comfort from any man, him only excepted,
more than if they had lain upon the coast of their mortal
enemy. Do ye not consider that such a company needs
comfort and provision from time to time? Remove him, and
who abideth that carefully will travail in that or any other
weighty matter in these parts? Did ye not further consider
that he had begun to meddle with the gentlemen who had
declared themselves unfriends heretofore; and also that order
would have been taken for such as have been neutral? Now,
by reason of his absence, the former will escape without
"If none of these causes should have moved you to have considered that such a journey, at such a time, was not meet for the Lord James, or for them that must accompany him, discreet men would yet have considered that the men that have lien in their jacks, and travailed their horses continually the space of a month, require some longer rest than yet they have had, both for themselves and, especially, for their horses, before they should have been charged to take such a journey. The Prior may, for satisfaction of your unreasonable minds, make the enterprise; but I am assured that he shall not be able to procure in all Fife six honest men to accompany him. How that stands either with your honour or his safety, judge ye yourselves.
"Again, it is a wonder that ye did not consider to what
pain and fashery
"To speak the matter plainly, wise men do wonder what
my Lord Duke's friends do mean; they are so slack and backward
in this cause. In other actions, they have been judged
stout and forward; and in this, which is the greatest that ever
he or they had in hand, they appear destitute both of grace
Upon the receipt of this letter, and consultation thereupon, a fresh decision was made; to wit, that the Lords would visit the Duke of Norfolk at Berwick, where he was.
Thus far have we digressed from the style of the history, to let the posterity that shall follow understand by what instruments God wrought the familiarity and friendship that afterwards we found in England. Now we return to our former history.
The parts of Fife set at freedom from the bondage of those bloody worms, solemn thanks unto God, for His mighty deliverance, were given in St. Andrews. Shortly after, the Earl of Arran and Lord James apprehended the Lairds of Wemyss, Seafield, Balgonie, and Durie, and others that had assisted the French. They were, however, soon set at freedom, upon conditions that they never intended to keep: for such men have neither faith nor honesty. Mr. James Balfour, who was the greatest practiser, escaped. The English ships multiplied daily, until they were able to keep the whole Firth. This enraged the French and the Queen Regent, and they began to execute their tyranny upon the parts of Lothian that lay near to Edinburgh.
In the middle of February 1560, the Lord James, Lord Ruthven, the Master of Maxwell, the Master of Lyndsay, Master Henry Balnaves, and the Laird of Pittarrow were directed to England, from the Duke's Grace and the Congregation. All these, except the Master of Maxwell, departed with their honest companies and commission by sea to Berwick. There they were met by the Duke of Norfolk, lieutenant to the Queen's Majesty of England, and with him a great company of the gentlemen of the North, and some also of the South, having full power to contract with the nobility of Scotland. This they did, upon such conditions as in the Contract are specified. And because we have heard the malicious tongues of wicked men make false report of our action, we have faithfully and truly inserted in this our history the said Contract, that the memory thereof may bide to our posterity. They may judge with indifference whether we have done anything prejudicial to our commonwealth, or yet contrary to that dutiful obedience which true subjects owe to their superiors—superiors whose authority ought to defend and maintain the liberty and freedom of the realms committed to their charge; and not to oppress and betray these to strangers. The tenor of our Contract follows.
"... The Queen's Majesty, having sufficiently
understood, as well by information sent from the
nobility of Scotland, as by the manifest proceedings
of the French, that they intend to conquer the realm
of Scotland, suppress the liberties thereof, and unite
the same unto the Crown of France perpetually, contrary
to the laws of the same realm, and to the pacts, oaths, and
promises of France; and being thereto most humbly and
earnestly required by the said nobility, for and in name of
the whole realm, shall accept the said realm of Scotland, the
Duke of Chatelherault, Earl of Arran, being declared by Act
of Parliament in Scotland to be heir-apparent to the Crown
thereof, and the nobility and subjects thereof, unto Her
Majesty's protection and maintenance, only for preservation
of the same in their freedoms and liberties, and from conquest
"For which causes, and in respect of Her Majesty's most
gentle clemency and liberal support, the said Duke, and all
the nobility, as well such as be now joined, as such as shall
hereafter join with him for defence of the liberty of that
realm, shall, to the uttermost of their power, aid and support
"And, finally, the said Duke and the nobility joined with him certainly perceiving that the Queen's Majesty of England is thereunto moved only upon respect of princely honour and neighbourhood for the defence of the freedom of Scotland from conquest, and not of any other sinister intent, do by these presents testify and declare that neither they nor any of them mean by this count to withdraw any due obedience to their Sovereign Lady the Queen, or to withstand the French King, her husband and head, in any lawful thing that, during the marriage, shall not tend to the subversion and oppression of the just and ancient liberties of the said kingdom of Scotland; for preservation whereof, both for their Sovereign's honour, and for the continuance of the kingdom in ancient estate, they acknowledge themselves bound to spend their goods, lands, and lives...."
Shortly after this contract was completed, our
pledges were delivered to Master Winter, Admiral
of the navy
Before the coming of the land army, the French passed to Glasgow, and destroyed the country thereabout. The tyranny used by the Marquis upon a poor Scottish soldier is fearful to hear, and yet his act may not be omitted. They would give no silver to the poor men, and so they were slow to depart from the town; and, albeit the drum was beaten, the ensign could not be got. A poor craftsman, who had bought for his victuals a grey loaf and was eating a morsel of it, was putting the rest of it in his bosom. The tyrant came to him, and with the poor caitiff's own whinger first struck him in the breast, and afterwards cast it at him. The poor man staggering and falling, the merciless tyrant ran him through with his rapier, and thereafter commanded him to be hung over the stair. Lord, Thou wilt yet look, and recompense such tyranny; however contemptible the person was!
On the second of April, in the year of God 1560, the army by land entered Scotland. Its conduct was committed to the Lord Grey, who had in his company the Lord Scrope, Sir James Crofts, Sir Harry Percy, and Sir Francis Lake; many other captains and gentlemen having charge, some of footmen, some of horsemen. The army by land was estimated at ten thousand men. The Queen Regent and some others of her faction had passed to the Castle of Edinburgh. At Preston the English were met by the Duke's Grace, the Earl of Argyll (Huntly came not until the siege was confirmed), Lord James, the Earls of Glencairn and Monteith, Lords Ruthven, Boyd, and Ochiltree, and all the Protestant gentlemen of West Fife, Angus, and Mearns. For a few days the army was great.
After two days' deliberation at Inveresk, the whole camp marched forward with ordnance and all preparation necessary for the siege, and came to Restalrig upon Palm Sunday evening. The French had put themselves in battle array upon the Links without Leith, and had sent forth their skirmishers. These, beginning before ten o'clock, continued skirmishing until after four o'clock in the afternoon, when some horsemen of Scotland and some of England charged upon them. But, because the principal captain of the horsemen of England was not present, the whole troop durst not charge, and so the overthrow and slaughter of the French was not so great as at one time it appeared to be. The great battle was once at the trot; but when the French perceived that the great force of the horsemen stood still, and charged not, they returned and gave some resource to their fellows that fled. Thus there fell in that defeat only about three hundred Frenchmen. God would not give the victory so suddenly, lest man should glory in his own strength. This small victory put both the English and Scots in too great security, as the issue declared.
The French enclosed within the town, the English army
began to plant their pavilions betwixt Leith and Restalrig.
The ordnance of the town, and especially that which lay upon
St. Anthony's steeple, caused them great annoyance; and eight
cannon were bent against this place. These shot so continually,
and so accurately, that, within few days, that steeple was
condemned, and all the ordnance on it was dismounted. This
made the Englishmen somewhat more negligent than it
became good men of war to have been; for, perceiving that the
French made no pursuit outside their walls, they got the idea
that they would never ish more. Some of the captains for
pastime, went to the town:
The watch was negligently kept, and succour was slow, and long in coming; the French, before any resistance was made, approached almost to the great ordnance. But then the horsemen trooped together, and the footmen got themselves in array, and so repulsed the French back again to the town. But the slaughter was great: some say it exceeded double of that which the French received the first day. And this was the fruit of their security and ours.
Matters were afterwards remedied; for the Englishmen, most wisely considering themselves not able to besiege the town at all points, made mounds at divers quarters of it. In these, they and their ordnance lay in as good strength as did the enemy within the town. The common soldiers kept the trenches, and had the said mounds for their safeguard and refuge, in case of any greater pursuit than they were able to sustain. The patience and stout courage of the Englishmen, but principally of the horsemen, is worthy of all praise: for where was it ever heard that eight thousand (they that lay in camp never exceeded that number) should besiege four thousand of the most desperate cut-throats that were to be found in Europe, and lie so near to them in daily skirmishing, for the space of three months and more. The horsemen kept watch night and day, and did so valiantly behave themselves that the French got no advantage from that day until the day of the assault.
In the meantime, another bond to defend the liberty of the Evangel of Christ was made by all the nobility, barons, and gentlemen, professing Christ Jesus in Scotland, and by divers others that joined with us in expelling the French army.... This contract and bond came not only to the ears but to the sight of the Queen Dowager. Thereat she stormed not a little, and said, "The malediction of God I give unto them that counselled me to persecute the preachers, and to refuse the petitions of the best part of the true subjects of this realm. It was said to me that the English army could not lie in Scotland ten days; but they have lain nearly a month now, and are more likely to remain than the first day they came."
They that gave such information to the Queen, spoke as worldly wise men, and as things appeared to have been. For, the country being almost in all parts wasted, the victuals within reach of Leith either brought in to their stores or else destroyed, and the mills and other places cast down, it appeared that the camp could not have been furnished, unless it had been by their own ships. That could not have been for any long continuance of time, and so would have been of little comfort. But God confounded all worldly wisdom, and made His own benediction as evidently to appear as if, in a manner, He had fed the army from above. In the camp all the time that it lay, after eight days had passed, all kinds of victuals were more abundant, and of more easy prices, than they had been in Edinburgh at any time in the two previous years, or yet have been in that town to this day. The people of Scotland so much abhorred the tyranny of the French that they would have given their substance to have been rid of that chargeable burden which our sins had provoked God to lay upon us—in giving us into the hands of a woman, whom our nobility, in their foolishness, sold unto strangers, and with her the liberty of the realm....
The camp abounding in all necessary provision,
arrangements were made for the confirmation of the
siege; and the trenches were drawn as near to the
town as they well might be. The great camp removed
from Restalrig to the west side of the Water of Leith;
and the cannons were planted for the bombardment, and shot
at the south-west wall. But all was earth, and the breach
was not made so great during the day but that it was sufficiently
repaired at night. The English, beginning to weary,
determined to give the brush and assault. This they did,
upon the seventh day of May, beginning before daylight, and
continuing until it was near seven o'clock. Albeit the
English and Scottish, with great slaughter of the soldiers of
both, were repulsed, there was never a sharper assault given
at the hands of so few. The men that assaulted the whole
two quarters of the town exceeded not a thousand, and yet
they silenced the whole block-houses; yea, they once put the
Sir James Crofts was blamed by many for not doing his duty that day. He, with a sufficient number of most able men, had been instructed to assault the north-west quarter upon the sea-side, where, at low-water, as at the time of the assault, the passage was easy: but neither he nor his approached the quarter appointed. At their first coming in, he had spoken with the Queen Regent at the front block-house of the Castle of Edinburgh. Whether she had enchanted him we knew not, but we suspected so that day. He certainly deceived the expectation of many, and, so far as man could judge, was the cause of that great repulse.... All the time of the assault, which was both terrible and long, the Queen Regent sat upon the fore-wall of the Castle of Edinburgh; and when she perceived our overthrow, and that the ensigns of the French were again displayed upon the walls, she gave a guffaw of laughter, and said, "Now will I go to the Mass, and praise God for that which my eyes have seen!"
The French, proud of the victory, stripped naked all the slain, and laid their dead carcases in the hot sun along their wall, where they suffered them to lie more days than one. When the Queen Regent looked towards this, she hopped for mirth and said, "Yonder are the fairest tapestries that ever I saw: I would that the whole fields that are betwixt this place and yon were strewn with the same stuff." This act was seen by all, and her words were heard by some, and misliked by many. Against this, John Knox spake openly in pulpit, and boldly affirmed, that God would revenge that contumely done to His image, not only on the furious and godless soldiers, but even on such as rejoiced thereat. And that which actually happened did declare that he was not deceived, for within a few days thereafter the Queen Regent was smitten with disease.
The Duke of Norfolk, who then lay at Berwick, commanded the Lord Grey to continue the siege, and promised that he should not lack men, so long as any were to be had betwixt Trent and Tweed; so far was he lieutenant.... While the siege thus continued, a sudden fire chanced in Leith, and this devoured many houses and much victual. Thus did God begin to fight for us, as the Lord Erskine in plain words said to the Queen Regent. "Madam," quoth he, "I can say no more; but seeing that men may not expel unjust possessors from this land, God Himself will do it; for yon fire is not kindled by man." These words offended the Queen Regent not a little. Her sickness daily increasing, she used great craft that Monsieur D'Oysel might be permitted to speak with her. Belike she wished to bid him farewell, for of old their familiarity had been great; but that was denied. Then she wrote as if to her chirurgeon and apothecary, explaining her sickness and requiring drugs. The letter being presented to the Lord Grey, he espied craft. Few lines being written above and much white paper left, he said, "Drugs are abundant and fresher in Edinburgh than they can be in Leith: there lurks here some other mystery." By holding the paper to the fire, he perceived some writing appear, and this he read. But what it was, no other man can tell; for he burnt the bill immediately, and said to the messenger, "Albeit I have been her secretary, yet tell her I shall keep her counsel. But say to her, such wares will not sell in a new market."
When the Queen received this answer, she was not
content; and travailed earnestly that she might speak
with the Earls of Argyll, Glencairn, and Marischall,
and with the Lord James. After deliberation, it was
thought expedient that they should speak with her,
but not altogether, lest some part of the Guisian
practice had lurked under the colour of such friendship. She
expressed to them all regret that she had behaved herself so
foolishly, and had compelled them to seek the support of others
rather than of their own sovereign; and she said that she sore
repented that ever it came to that extremity. But hers was
Some said the Queen was anointed in the papistical manner, a sign of small knowledge of the truth, and of less repentance of her former superstition. Yet, howsoever it was, Christ Jesus got no small victory over such an enemy. For, albeit she had formerly avowed that, in despite of all Scotland, the preachers of Jesus Christ should either die or be banished the realm, she was compelled not only to hear that Christ Jesus was preached, and all idolatry openly rebuked, and in many places suppressed, but also she was constrained to hear one of the principal ministers within the realm, and to approve the chief head of our religion, wherein we dissent from all Papists and papistry. Shortly thereafter she finished her unhappy life; unhappy, we say, for Scotland, from the first day she entered into it, to the day she departed this life, which was the ninth of June, the year of God 1560....
Upon the sixteenth day of June, after the death of
the Queen Regent, there came to Scotland Monsieur
Randan, and with him the Bishop of Valance, in
commission from France, to entreat of peace. Their negotiation
was longsome; for both England and we, fearing deceit,
sought by all means that the contract should be sure. They,
Peace proclaimed, immediate provision was made for transporting the French to France. The most part were put into the English ships, and these also carried with them the whole spoil of Leith. That was the second benefit which Leith received from their late promised liberty; the end is not yet come. The English army by land departed on the sixteenth day of July, in the year of God 1560. The most part of our Protestant nobility, honorably convoyed them, and in very deed they had well deserved this honour. The Lord James would not leave the Lord Grey and the other noblemen of England, until they had entered Berwick. After that, the Council began to look upon the affairs of the commonwealth, as well as upon the matters that might concern the stability of religion....
A day was appointed, when the whole nobility and the greatest part of the Congregation assembled in St. Giles's Kirk in Edinburgh, and there, after the sermon made for that purpose, public thanks was given unto God for His merciful deliverance, in form as follows:—
"O Eternal and Everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hast not only commanded us to pray, and promised
to hear us, but also dost will us to magnify Thy mercies, and
to glorify Thy name when Thou showest Thyself pitiful and
favourable unto us, especially when Thou deliverest us from
desperate dangers, ... we ought not to forget, nor can we, in
what miserable estate stood this poor country, and we the just
inhabitants thereof, not many days past.... Out of these
miseries, O Lord, neither our wit, policy, nor strength could
deliver us; yea, they did show unto us how vain is the help of
man, where Thy blessing gives not victory. In these our
anguishes, O Lord, we made suit unto Thee, we cried for Thy
"We beseech Thee, therefore, O Father of mercies, that,
as of Thy undeserved grace Thou hast partly removed our
darkness, suppressed idolatry, and taken from above our
heads the devouring sword of merciless strangers, it would
so please Thee to proceed with us in this Thy grace begun.
Albeit that in us there is nothing that may move Thy
Majesty to show us Thy favour, O yet for the sake of Christ
Jesus, Thy only well-beloved Son, whose name we bear, and
whose doctrine we profess, we beseech Thee never to suffer us
to forsake or deny this Thy truth which now we profess....
And seeing that nothing is more odious in Thy presence, O
Lord, than is ingratitude and violation of an oath and covenant
made in Thy name; and seeing that Thou hast made our
confederates of England the instruments by whom we are now
set at liberty, and that to them we, in Thy name, have promised
mutual faith again, let us never fall to that unkindness, O
Lord, that either we shall declare ourselves unthankful unto
them, or profaners of Thy holy name. Confound the counsels
of them that go about to break that most godly league contracted
in Thy name, and retain Thou us so firmly together by
the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that Satan shall never have
power to set us again at variance or discord. Give us Thy
grace to live in that Christian charity which Thy Son, our
Lord Jesus, has so earnestly commanded to all members of His
body; that other nations, provoked by our example, may set
aside all ungodly war, contention, and strife, and study to live
in tranquillity and peace, as it becomes the sheep of Thy
pasture, and the people that daily look for final deliverance
After this, the Commissioners of Burghs, with
some of the nobility and barons, were appointed to
see to the equal distribution of ministers, and to
change and transpose as the majority should think
expedient. Thus John Knox was appointed to Edinburgh;
Christopher Goodman, who during the most part of the
troubles had remained in Ayr, was appointed to St. Andrews;
Adam Heriot to Aberdeen; Master John Row to Perth; Paul
Methven, of whom no infamy was then known, to Jedburgh;
William Christison to Dundee; David Ferguson to Dunfermline;
and Master David Lindsay to Leith. There were
nominated as superintendents Master John Spottiswood for
Lothian; Master John Winram for Fife; Master John Willock
for Glasgow; the Laird of Dun for Angus and Mearns; and
Master John Carswell for Argyll and the Isles. It was agreed
that these should be elected upon certain days fixed, unless the
districts to which they were to be appointed could in the
meantime find out men more able and sufficient, or else show
such causes as might inable
The Parliament approaching, due notification was made by the Council to all such as by law and ancient custom had or might claim to have vote therein. The assembly was great, notwithstanding that certain of those that are called spiritual Lords, as well as some temporal Lords, did contemptuously absent themselves. The chief pillars of the papistical kirk gave their presence, such as the Bishops of St. Andrews, Dunblane, and Dunkeld, with others of the inferior sort. There were, besides, those that had renounced papistry, and openly professed Jesus Christ with us; such as the Bishop of Galloway, the Abbots of Lindores, Culross, Inchcolm, Newbattle, and Holyroodhouse; the Prior of St. Andrews, Coldingham, and St. Mary's Isle; the Sub-prior of St. Andrews, and divers others whom we observed not.
At the time of Parliament, John Knox taught publicly from the Prophet Haggai. The doctrine was proper for the time; and the preacher was so special and so vehement in its application, that some who had greater respect to the world than to God's glory, feeling themselves pricked, said in mockage, "We must now forget ourselves, and bear the barrow to build the houses of God." God be merciful to the speaker; for we fear that he shall have experience that the building of his own house, the house of God being despised, shall not be so prosperous, and of such firmness, as we desire it were. Albeit some mocked, others were godly moved, and assembled themselves together to consult as to what things were to be proponed to that present Parliament. After deliberation, the following Supplication was offered by the barons, gentlemen, burgesses, and other true subjects of the realm, professing the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Nobility and Estates of Parliament.
"May it please your Honours to bring to remembrance that, at divers and sundry times, we (with some of yourselves) most humbly made suit at the feet of the late Queen Regent for freedom and liberty of conscience, with godly reformation of abuses which, by the malice of Satan and the negligence of men, have crept into the religion of God, and are maintained by such as take upon themselves the name of clergy. Our godly and most reasonable suit was then disdainfully rejected, no small troubles ensuing, as your Honours well know. But now, seeing that the necessity that then moved us doth yet remain, and moreover, that God in His mercy hath now put it into your hands so to regulate affairs that He may be glorified, this commonwealth quieted, and the policy thereof established, we cannot cease to crave at your hands the redress of such enormities as manifestly are, and of long time have been committed by the place-holders of the ministry and others of the clergy within this realm....
"We therefore, in the bowels of Jesus Christ, crave of your
Honours that either they be compelled to answer to our
former accusations and to such others as we justly have to lay
to their charge, or else that, all affection laid aside, ye, by the
This our Supplication being read in audience of the
whole assembly, divers men were of divers judgments.
As there were some that uprightly favoured the cause
of God, so were there many that, for worldly respects,
abhorred a perfect Reformation—for how many within Scotland
that have the name of Nobility are not unjust possessors of the
patrimony of the Kirk? Yet, the barons and ministers were
called, and commandment was given unto them to frame in plain
and distinct heads the sum of that doctrine which they would
maintain, and would desire that Parliament to establish, as wholesome,
true, and alone necessary to be believed and to be received
within that realm. This commission they willingly accepted,
and within four days they presented their Confession of Faith.
This our Confession was publicly read, first in
audience of the Lords of Articles, and afterwards in
audience of the whole Parliament. There were present
a great number of the adversaries of our religion, such
as the forenamed Bishops, and some others of the
Temporal Estate, and these were commanded, in Gods
name, to state any objection to that doctrine if they could.
Many voted in the affirmative rather than in the negative,
because the Bishops would or durst say nothing to the
contrary. For instance, this was the vote of the Earl
Marischall,—"It is long since I have had some favour unto
the truth, and since I have had a suspicion of the papistical
religion; but, I praise my God, this day has fully resolved
me in the one and the other. For, seeing that my Lord
Bishops, who for their learning can, and for the zeal that
they should bear to the truth, would, as I suppose, gainsay
anything that directly repugns to the verity of God; seeing,
I say, my Lord Bishops here present speak nothing contrary
to the doctrine proponed, I cannot but hold it to be the very
truth of God, and the contrary to be deceivable doctrine. And
therefore, so far as in me lieth, I approve the one and damn
the other. I do further ask of God that not only I but also
all my posterity may enjoy the comfort of the doctrine that
this day our ears have heard. Yet more, I must vote, as it
were by way of protestation, that, if any persons ecclesiastical
shall after this oppose themselves to this our Confession, they
shall have no place or credit; considering that, they having
long notice and full knowledge of this our Confession, none
are now found in lawful, free, and quiet Parliament to oppose
themselves to that which we profess. And therefore, if any of
this generation pretend to do it after this, I protest that he be
repute one that loveth his own commodity and the glory of
After the ratification of our Confession by the whole body of Parliament, there were also pronounced two Acts, the one against the Mass and the abuse of the Sacraments, and the other against the supremacy of the Pope....
These and other things done in lawful and free Parliament, we dispatched Sir James Sandilands, Lord St. John, to France, to our Sovereigns, with the Acts of the Parliament, that by them they might be ratified, according to the promise of their Highness's Commissioners made to us by the Contract of Peace. How the said Lord St. John was treated, we list not to rehearse; but, in any case, no ratification was brought by him to us. That we little regarded, or yet do regard; for all that we did was to show our dutiful obedience, rather than to beg of them any strength to our religion. That has full power from God, and needeth not the suffrage of man, except in so far as man hath need to believe it, if ever he shall have participation in the life everlasting.
We must make answer, however, to such as since have whispered that it was but a pretended Parliament and a privy convention, and no lawful Parliament. Their reasons are that the King and Queen were in France; that there was neither sceptre, sword, nor crown borne, and so on, and that some principal Lords were absent. We answer that the Queen's person was absent, and that to no small grief of our hearts. But were not the Estates of her realm assembled in her name? Yea, had they not her full power and commission, yea, the commission and commandment of her head, the King of France, to convocate that Parliament, and to do all things that may be done in lawful Parliament, even as if our Sovereigns had been there in proper person? That Parliament, we are bold to affirm, was more lawful, and more free than any Parliament that they are able to produce for a hundred years before it, or any that hath since ensued; for in it the votes of men were free, and given of conscience; in others, they were bought, or given at the devotion of the prince.
Parliament dissolved, consultation was had as to
how the Kirk, which had been altogether defaced by
the Papists, might be established in a good and godly
policy. Commission and charge were given to Mr. John
Winram, Sub-prior of St. Andrews, Master John Spottiswood,
John Willock, Mr. John Douglas, Rector of St. Andrews,
Master John Row, and John Knox, to prepare a volume containing
the policy and discipline of the Kirk, much as in the
Confession of Faith they had done in the matter of doctrine.
This they did, and the book was presented to the Nobility,
who perused it for many days. Some approved it, and were
willing that it should have been set forth by a law. Others,
perceiving their carnal liberty and worldly commodity somewhat
to be impaired by its provisions, grudged, insomuch that
the name of the Book of Discipline became odious unto
them.... There were none within the realm more unmerciful
to the poor ministers than were they which had greatest
rents of the churches. But in that we have perceived the old
proverb to be true, "Nothing can suffice a wretch;" and
again, "The belly has no ears." Yet the Book of Discipline
was subscribed by a great part of the Nobility.
Shortly after the Parliament, the Earls Morton and Glencairn, together with William Maitland of Lethington, younger, were sent to England as ambassadors from the Council. The chief point of their commission was to crave earnestly the constant assistance of the Queen's Majesty of England against all foreign invasion, and to propose the Earl of Arran (who was then in no small estimation with us) to the Queen of England in marriage....
The Papists were proud, for they looked for a new
army from France in the next spring, and there was
no small appearance of this, if God had not otherwise
provided. For France utterly refused to confirm the
peace contracted at Leith, would ratify no Act of our
Parliament, dismissed the Lord St. John without any resolute
answer, and began to gather new bands of throat-cutters, and
to make great preparation for ships. They further sent before
The certain knowledge of all these things came to our ears, and many were effrayed; for divers suspected that England would not be so forward in times to come, considering that their former expenses were so great. The principal comfort remained with the preachers. They assured us, in God's name, that God would in our hands perform that work in all perfection. He had mightily maintained its beginning, because it was not ours but His own. They therefore exhorted us that we should with constancy proceed to reform all abuses and to plant the ministry of the Church, as by God's Word we might justify it, and should then commit the success of all to our God, in whose power the disposition of kingdoms stands. This we began to do, for threatening troubles made us give ear to the admonitions of God's servants.
[Side note: Death of the King of France: 5th December 1560.]
We had scarcely begun again to implore the help of our God, and to show some signs of our obedience unto His messengers and Holy Word, when, lo! the potent hand of God from above sent unto us a wonderful and most joyful deliverance. For unhappy Francis, husband to our sovereign, suddenly perished of a rotten ear.... And we, who by our foolishness had made ourselves slaves to strangers, were restored again to freedom and the liberty of a free realm. Oh! that we had hearts deeply to consider what are Thy wondrous works, O Lord, that we might praise Thee in the midst of this most obstinate and wicked generation, and leave the memorial of the same to our posterity, who, alas! we fear, may forget Thy inestimable benefits.... The death of this King made great alteration in France, England, and Scotland. France was relieved and in some hope....
The Queen of England and the Council sent back
our Ambassadors with answer that she would not
marry hastily, and therefore desired the Council of
Scotland, and the Earl of Arran, not to depend upon
any hope thereof. What motives she had, we omit.
The pride of the Papists of Scotland began to be abated, and
The certainty of the death of King Francis was notified unto us both by sea and land. When the news was divulged and noised abroad, a general Convention of the whole nobility was appointed to be holden at Edinburgh on the fifteenth day of January following. The Book of Discipline was thereat perused over again, for some pretended ignorance, because they had not heard it.
At that assembly, Master Alexander Anderson, sub-principal of Aberdeen, a man more subtle and crafty than either learned or godly, was called on but refused to dispute in his faith, abusing a place of Tertullian to cloak his ignorance. It was answered to him, that Tertullian should not prejudge the authority of the Holy Ghost, who, by the mouth of Peter, commands us to give reason for our faith to every one that requires the same of us. It was further answered that we required neither him nor any man to dispute in any point concerning our faith, which was grounded upon God's Word, and fully expressed within His holy Scriptures; all that we believed without controversy. But we required of him, as of the rest of the Papists, that they would suffer their doctrine, constitutions, and ceremonies to come to trial; and principally, that the Mass, and the views thereof taught by them to the people, might be laid to the square rule of God's Word, and unto the right institution of Jesus Christ....
While the said Mr. Alexander denied that the priest took
upon him Christ's office to offer for sin, as was alleged, a Mass
book was produced, and in the beginning of the Canon were
these words read: Suscipe, Sancta Trinitas, hanc oblationem,
quam ego indignus peccator offero tibi vivo Deo et vero, pro
peccatis meis, pro peccatis totius Ecclesiae vivorum et mortuorum,
etc.
The said Master Alexander, being more than astonished,
would have shifted; but the Lords called on him to answer
directly. He answered that he was better seen in philosophy,
than in theology. Master John Leslie, who then was parson
of Une, and now is Lord Abbot of Lindores, was commanded
to answer to the former argument: and he with great gravity
began to answer, "If our Master have nothing to say to it, I
have nothing; for I know nothing but the Canon Law: and
the greatest reason that ever I could find there is Nolumus
and Volumus." And yet we understand that now he is the
only patron of the Mass.... The nobility hearing that neither
the one nor the other would answer directly, said, "We have
been miserably deceived heretofore; for if the Mass may not
obtain remission of sins to the quick and to the dead, wherefore
were all the abbeys so richly doted
Thus much we have thought good to insert here, because some Papists are not ashamed nowadays to affirm that they with their reasons could never be heard; but that all that we did, we did by fine force; when the whole realm knows that we ever required them to speak their judgments freely, not only promising them protection and defence, but also that we should subscribe with them, if they by God's Scriptures could confute us, and by the same Word establish their assertions.
At this Assembly also, the Lord James was appointed to go to France to the Queen our Sovereign; and a Parliament was appointed to begin on the twentieth of May next following; for the return of the said Lord James was looked for at that time.... He was plainly premonished that, if ever he condescended that the Queen should have Mass publicly or privately within the realm of Scotland, he then betrayed the cause of God, and exposed religion to the uttermost danger that he could....
While Lord James, we say, was in France, there
came an ambassador from France, suborned, no doubt,
with all craft that might trouble the Estate of the
religion. His demands were—1. That the league
betwixt us and England should be broken. 2. That the
The Papists, a little before the Parliament, resorted
in divers bands to the town, and began to brag that
they would deface the Protestants. When this was perceived,
the brethren assembled together, and went in such companies,
in peaceable manner, that the bishops and their bands forsook
the causeway.
For, in the meantime, the Lord James returned
from France. Besides his great expenses, and the
loss of a box wherein was his secret poise, he barely
escaped a desperate danger in Paris. The Papists
at Paris, hearing of his return from our Sovereign,
who then lay with the Cardinal of Lorraine at Rheims, had
conspired some treasonable act against him; for they intended
either to beset his house by night, or else to have assaulted
him and his company as they walked upon the streets. Of
this the said Lord James was informed by the Rheingrave,
by reason of old familiarity betwixt them in Scotland,
and he took purpose suddenly and in good order to depart
The Lord James's coming was of great comfort to many godly hearts, and caused no little astonishment to the wicked: for, from the Queen our Sovereign he brought letters to the Lords, praying them to entertain quietness, to suffer nothing to be attempted against the contract of peace made at Leith, until her own home-coming, and to suffer the religion publicly established to go forward, etc. Thereupon, the Lords gave the French Ambassador a negative answer to every one of his petitions....
In the treaty of peace contracted at Leith, there
were certain heads that required the ratification of
both the Queens. The Queen of England, according
to her promise, subscription, and seal, performed the
same without any delay, and sent it to our Sovereign by her
appointed officers. But our Sovereign (whether because her
own crafty nature so moved her, or because her uncle's chief
counsellors so desired, we know not) with many delatours
BOOK FOURTH.The Fourth Book of the Progress and Continuance of True Religion within
Scotland.
1561-1564.
In the former books, gentle reader, thou mayest
clearly see how potently God hath performed, in
these our last and wicked days, as well as in the
ages that have passed before us, the promises that
are made to the servants of God by the prophet
Isaiah, in these words:—"They that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall lift up the wings as the
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk,
and not faint." For what was our force? What was our
number? Yea, what wisdom or worldly policy was in us, to
have brought to a good end so great an enterprise? Our very
enemies can bear witness. And yet in how great purity God
did establish amongst us His true religion, as well in doctrine
as in ceremonies! To what confusion and fear were idolaters,
adulterers, and all public transgressors of God's commandments
brought within short time? As touching the doctrine taught
by our ministers, and as touching the administration of Sacraments
used in our churches, we are bold to affirm that there is
no realm this day upon the face of the earth that hath them
in greater purity: yea, we must speak the truth whomsoever
we offend, there is no realm that hath them in like purity.
However sincere be the doctrine that is taught by some, all
others retain some footsteps of Antichrist, and some dregs of
Papistry, in their churches, and the ministers thereof; but we,
all praise to God alone, have nothing within our churches that
ever flowed from that man of sin. This we acknowledge to
be the strength given unto us by God, because we esteemed
Whence, alas, cometh this miserable dispersion of God's people within this realm to-day, in May, Anno 1566. And why is now the just compelled to keep silence? Why are good men banished, and why do murderers, and such as are known to be unworthy of decent society (were just laws put in due execution) bear the whole regiment and swing within this realm? Because, we answer, the most part of us declined from the purity of God's Word. Almost immediately we began to follow the world, and so again to shake hands with the Devil, and with idolatry, as in this Fourth Book we will hear.
While the Papists were so confounded, that none within
the realm durst avow the hearing or saying of Mass, more
than the thieves of Liddesdale durst avow their stowth
On the nineteenth day of August, in the year
of God 1561, betwixt seven and eight o'clock in the
morning, Mary Queen of Scotland, then widow, arrived
with two galleys, from France. In her company
(besides her gentlewomen, called the Marys) were
her three uncles, the Duke D'Aumale, the Grand Prior, and
the Marquis d'Elbœuf. There accompanied her also De Damville,
At the sound of the cannons which the galleys shot, the multitude were notified, and happy was he or she that first might attain the presence of the Queen. The Protestants were not the slowest, and therein they were not to be blamed. Because the Palace of Holyroodhouse was not thoroughly put in order (for her coming was more sudden than many looked for) she remained in Leith until towards the evening, and then repaired thither. In the way betwixt Leith and the Abbey, the rebels of the crafts, who had violated the authority of the magistrates, and had besieged the Provost, met the Queen. But, because she was sufficiently instructed that all they had done was in despite of religion, they were easily pardoned. Fires of joy were set forth all night, and a company of the most honest, with instruments of music and musicians, gave their salutations at her chamber window. The melody, as she alleged, liked her well; and she willed the same to be continued for some nights after.
With great diligence the Lords repaired to the
Queen from all quarters. So there was nothing but
mirth and quietness until the next Sunday, the
twenty-third of August, when preparation began to
be made for that idol the Mass to be said in the chapel. This
pierced the hearts of all. The godly began to bolden; and
men began openly to speak, "Shall that idol be suffered again
to take its place within this realm? It shall not." The Lord
The godly departed with great grief of heart, and in the
afternoon repaired to the Abbey in great companies. These
gave plain signification that they could not abide that the
land, which God by His power had purged from idolatry,
should be polluted again in their eyes. This understood, there
began complaint upon complaint. The old dontibours
The Council having assembled, disputation was
had as to what was the next remedy. Politic heads
were sent to the gentlemen, with these and like
persuasions, "Why, alas, will ye chase our Sovereign
from us? She will incontinently return to her galleys; and
what then shall all realms say of us? May we not suffer her
a little while? We doubt not but that she shall leave it. If
This Act and Proclamation, penned and put in form by men who had formerly professed Christ Jesus (for Papists had then neither power nor vote in the Council) was publicly proclaimed at the Market Cross of Edinburgh. No man reclaimed or made repugnance to it, with the sole exception of the Earl of Arran. He, in open audience of the heralds and people, protested that he dissented that any protection or defence should be made for the Queen's domestics or any that came from France, permitting to them more than to any other subject to offend God's Majesty, and to violate the laws of the realm. God's law had pronounced death against the idolater, and the laws of the realm had appointed punishment for sayers and hearers of the Mass. "I here protest," said he, "that these ought to be universally observed, and that none should be exempted, until such time as a law, as publicly made and as consonant to the law of God, shall have disannulled the former."
This boldness somewhat exasperated the Queen,
and such as favoured her in that matter. As the
Lords, now called the Lords of the Congregation,
repaired to the town, they at the first coming showed
themselves wondrously offended that the Mass was permitted;
so that every man, as he came, accused those that had arrived
before him: but after they had remained a certain time, they
became as quiet as those who had preceded them. This perceived,
a zealous and godly man, Robert Campbell of Kinyeancleuch,
said to the Lord Ochiltree, "My Lord, ye are come
almost the last of all; and I perceive by your anger that the
fire-edge is not off you yet; but I fear that, after the holy
water of the Court shall be sprinkled upon you, ye shall
become as temperate as the rest. I have been here five days,
and at the first I heard every man say, 'Let us hang the
On the next Sunday, John Knox, inveighing against idolatry, showed what terrible plagues God had laid upon realms and nations for this; and added that one Mass (there were no more suffered at the first) was more fearful to him than if ten thousand armed enemies were landed in any part of the realm, for the purpose of suppressing the whole religion. "In our God," said he, "there is strength to resist and confound multitudes, if we unfeignedly depend upon Him; and of this we have had experience heretofore. But when we join hands with idolatry, there is no doubt that both God's amicable presence and comfortable defence leave us, and what shall then become of us? Alas, I fear that experience shall teach us, to the grief of many." At these words, the guiders of the Court mocked, and plainly said that such fear was no point of their faith: it was outside his text, and was a very untimely admonition....
Whether it was by counsel of others, or of the
Queen's own desire, we know not; but the Queen
spake with John Knox, and had long reasoning with
him, none being present except the Lord James: two
gentlewomen stood at the other end of the apartment. The
sum of their reasoning was this. The Queen accused him of
having raised a part of her subjects against her mother and
against herself. He had, she said, written a book against her
just authority (she meant the treatise against the regiment of
The said John answered, "Madam, it may please your Majesty patiently to hear my simple answers. And first," said he, "if to teach the truth of God in sincerity, if to rebuke idolatry, and to will a people to worship God according to His Word, be to raise subjects against their princes, then can I not be excused; for it has pleased God in His mercy to make me one, amongst many, to disclose unto this realm the vanity of the papistical religion, and the deceit, pride, and tyranny of that Roman Antichrist. But, Madam, if the true knowledge of God and His right worshipping be the chief causes that must move men from their heart to obey their just princes, as it is most certain that they are, wherein can I be reprehended? I think, and am surely persuaded, that your Grace has had, and presently has, as unfeigned obedience from such as profess Jesus Christ within this realm, as ever your father, or other progenitors had from those that were called bishops. And, touching that book which seemeth so highly to offend your Majesty, it is most certain that I wrote it, and am content that all the learned of the world should judge of it. I hear that an Englishman hath written against it, but I have not read him. If he have sufficiently improved my reasons, and established his contrary proposition, with as evident testimonies as I have done mine, I shall not be obstinate, but shall confess my error and ignorance. But to this hour I have thought, and yet think myself alone to be more able to sustain the things affirmed in that work, than any ten in Europe shall be able to confute it."
Queen Mary. Ye think, then, that I have no just authority?
John Knox. Please, your Majesty, learned men in all ages
have had their judgments free, and most commonly disagreeing
from the common judgment of the world; such also have they
published, both with pen and tongue, and yet they themselves
have lived in common society with others, and have borne
patiently with the errors and imperfections which they could
Queen Mary. But ye speak of women in general.
John Knox. Most true it is, Madam, and yet it appeareth to me that wisdom should persuade your Grace never to raise trouble for that which to this day hath not troubled your Majesty, in person or in authority. Of late years, many things, which before were holden stable, have been called in doubt; yea, they have been plainly impugned. But yet, Madam, I am assured that neither Protestant nor Papist shall be able to prove that any such question was at any time moved in public or in secret. Now, Madam, if I had intended to have troubled your estate because ye are a woman, I might have chosen a time more convenient for that purpose than I can do now, when your own presence is within the realm.
But now, Madam, shortly to answer to the other two
accusations. I heartily praise my God, through Jesus Christ,
that Satan, the enemy of mankind, and the wicked of the
world, have no other crimes to lay to my charge, than such as
the very world itself knoweth to be most false and vain. I
was resident in England for only the space of five years. The
places were Berwick, where I abode two years; so long in
Newcastle; and a year in London. Now, Madam, if any man
Queen Mary. But yet ye have taught the people to receive another religion than their princes can allow. How can that doctrine be of God, seeing that God commands subjects to obey their princes?
John Knox. Madam, as right religion took neither original strength nor authority from worldly princes, but from the Eternal God alone, subjects are not bound to frame their religion according to the appetites of their princes. Oft it is that princes are the most ignorant of all others in God's true religion, as we may read in the histories of times before the death of Christ Jesus, as well as after. If all the seed of Abraham should have been of the religion of Pharaoh, to whom they were long subjects, I pray you, Madam, what religion should there have been in the world? Or, if all men in the days of the Apostles should have been of the religion of the Roman Emperors, what religion should there have been upon the face of the earth? Daniel and his fellows were subjects to Nebuchadnezzar, and to Darius, and yet, Madam, they would not be of their religion: for the three children said, "We make it known unto thee, O King, that we will not worship thy gods." And Daniel did pray publicly to his God against the expressed commandment of the King. And so, Madam, ye may perceive that subjects are not bound to the religion of their princes, albeit they are commanded to give them obedience.
Queen Mary. Yea, but none of these men raised the sword against their princes.
John Knox. Yet, Madam, ye cannot deny that they resisted: for, in some sort, these resist that obey not the commandments that are given.
Queen Mary. But yet, they resisted not by the sword.
John Knox. God, Madam, had not given unto them the power and the means.
Queen Mary. Think ye, that subjects having power may resist their princes.
John Knox. If their princes exceed their bounds, Madam, no doubt they should be resisted, even by power. For there is neither greater honour, nor greater obedience to be given to kings or princes, than God has commanded to be given to father and mother. But, Madam, the father may be stricken with a frenzy, in which he would slay his own children. Now, Madam, if the children arise, join themselves together, apprehend the father, take the sword or other weapons from him, and finally bind his hands, and keep him in prison, until his frenzy be overpast; think ye, Madam, that the children do any wrong? Or, think ye, Madam, that God will be offended with them that have stayed their father from committing wickedness? It is even so, Madam, with princes that would murder the children of God that are subject unto them. Their blind zeal is nothing but a very mad frenzy; and, therefore, to take the sword from them, to bind their hands, and to cast them into prison until they be brought to a more sober mind, is no disobedience against princes, but just obedience, because it agreeth with the will of God.
At these words the Queen stood as it were amazed, for more than quarter of an hour. Her countenance altered, so that Lord James began to entreat her, and to demand, "What has offended you, Madam."
At length she said, "Well, then, I perceive that my subjects shall obey you, and not me; and shall do what they list, and not what I command: and so must I be subject to them, and not they to me."
John Knox. God forbid, that ever I take upon me to
Queen Mary. Yea, but ye are not the Kirk that I will nurse. I will defend the Kirk of Rome, for I think it is the true Kirk of God.
John Knox. Your will, Madam, is no reason; neither doth your thought make of that Roman harlot the true and immaculate spouse of Jesus Christ. Wonder not, Madam, that I call Rome a harlot; for that Church is altogether polluted with all kind of spiritual fornication, as well in doctrine as in manners. Yea, Madam, I offer myself further to prove that the Church of the Jews that crucified Christ Jesus, when it manifestly denied the Son of God, was not so far degenerated from the ordinances and statutes which God gave by Moses and Aaron unto His people, as the Church of Rome is declined, and for more than five hundred years hath declined from the purity of that religion which the Apostles taught and planted.
Queen Mary. My conscience is not so.
John Knox. Conscience, Madam, requires knowledge; and I fear that right knowledge ye have none.
Queen Mary. But I have both heard and read.
John Knox. So, Madam, did the Jews that crucified Christ Jesus read both the Law and the Prophets, and heard the same interpreted after their manner. Have ye heard any teach, but such as the Pope and his Cardinals have allowed? Ye may be assured that such will speak nothing to offend their own estate.
Queen Mary. Ye interpret the Scriptures in one manner,
John Knox. Ye shall believe God, that plainly speaketh in His Word: and, farther than the Word teaches you, ye shall believe neither the one nor the other. The Word of God is plain in itself; and, if there appear any obscurity in one place, the Holy Ghost, who is never contrary to Himself, explains the same more clearly in other places: so that there can remain no doubt, but to such as obstinately remain ignorant. And now, Madam, take one of the chief points this day in controversy betwixt the Papists and us. For example, the Papists allege and boldly have affirmed that the Mass is the ordinance of God, and the institution of Jesus Christ, and a sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead. We deny both the one and the other, and affirm that the Mass, as it is now used, is nothing but the invention of man; and, therefore, is an abomination before God, and no sacrifice that ever God commanded. Now, Madam, who shall judge betwixt us two thus contending? There is no reason that either of the parties be believed farther than they are able to prove by insuspect witnessing. Let them lay down the Book of God and, by the plain words thereof, prove their affirmation, and we shall give them the plea granted. But so long as they are bold to affirm, and yet do prove nothing, we must say that, albeit all the world believe them, yet they believe not God, but receive the lies of men for the truth of God. What our Master Jesus Christ did, we know from His Evangelists: what the priest doeth at his Mass, the world seeth. Now, doth not the Word of God plainly assure us that Christ Jesus neither said, nor yet commanded Mass to be said at His Last Supper, seeing that no such thing as their Mass is made mention of within the whole Scriptures?
Queen Mary. Ye are ower sair
John Knox. Madam, would to God that the learnedest
Papist in Europe, and him whom ye would best believe, were
present with your Grace to sustain the argument; and that ye
Queen Mary. Well, ye may perchance get that sooner than ye believe.
John Knox. Assuredly, if ever I get that in my life, I get it sooner than I believe; for the ignorant Papists cannot patiently reason, and the learned and crafty Papists will never come to your audience, Madam, to have the ground of their religion searched out. They know that they are never able to sustain an argument, unless fire, and sword, and their own laws be judges.
Queen Mary. So say ye, but I cannot believe that.
John Knox. It has been so to this day; for how oft have the Papists in this and other realms been required to come to conference, and yet it could never be obtained, unless they themselves were admitted as judges. Therefore, Madam, I must yet say again that they dare never dispute, but where themselves are both judge and party. Whensoever ye shall let me see the contrary, I shall grant myself to have been deceived in that point.
With this the Queen was called to dinner, for it was afternoon. At departing, John Knox said to her, "I pray God, Madam, that ye may be as blessed within the commonwealth of Scotland, if it be the pleasure of God, as ever Deborah was in the commonwealth of Israel."
Of this long conference, whereof we only touch a part, there were divers opinions. The Papists grudged, and feared that which they needed not. The godly, thinking that at least she would have heard the preaching, rejoiced; but they were utterly deceived, for she continued in her massing; and despised and quietly mocked all exhortations.
Some of his familiars demanded of John Knox what he thought of the Queen. "If there be not in her," said he, "a proud mind, a crafty wit, and an indurate heart against God and His truth, my judgment faileth me...."
The Duke D'Aumale returned with the galleys to France.
The Queen entered on her progresses, and in the month of
September travelled from Edinburgh to Linlithgow, Stirling,
Perth, Dundee, and St. Andrews; and all these parts she
polluted with her idolatry. Fire followed her very commonly
in that journey. The towns propyned
In the beginning of October, the Queen returned
to Edinburgh, and on the day appointed she was
received in the Castle. Great preparations were
made for her entrance to the town. In farces, in
masking, and in other prodigalities, fools would fain have
counterfeited France. Whatsoever might set forth her glory,
that she heard and gladly beheld. The keys were delivered to
her by a pretty boy, descending as it were from a cloud. The
verses in her own praises she heard, and smiled. But when
the Bible was presented, and its praise declared, she began to
frown: for shame she could not refuse it. But she did no
better, for immediately she gave it to the most pestilent
Papist within the realm, to wit, to Arthur Erskine. Since
that day, the people of Edinburgh have reaped as they sowed.
They gave her some taste of their prodigality; and because
the liquor was sweet, she has licked of that buist
It hath been an ancient and a laudable custom in
Edinburgh that the Provost, Bailies, and Council,
after their election at Michaelmas, cause public proclamation
of the statutes and ordinances of the town.
Therefore Archibald Douglas, Provost, Edward Hope,
Adam Fullerton, Mr. James Watson, and David Somer,
Bailies, made proclamation, according to the former statutes
of the town, that no adulterer, no fornicator, no noted drunkard,
no mass-monger, no obstinate Papists that corrupted the people,
such as priests, friars, and others of that sort, should be found
within the town within forty-eight hours thereafter, under the
pains contained in the statutes. This blown in the Queen's
Some gainstood the new election for a while, alleging that the Provost and Bailies whom they had chosen, and to whom they had given their oath, had committed no offence for which they ought justly to be deprived. But charge was doubled upon charge, and, no man being found to oppose the iniquity, Jezebel's letter and wicked will were obeyed as law. So Mr. Thomas M'Calzean was chosen. The man, no doubt, was both discreet and sufficient for that charge; but the deposition of the other was against all law. God be merciful to some of our own; for they were not all blameless that her wicked will was so far obeyed.
A contrary proclamation was publicly made, to the effect that the town should be patent unto all the Queen's lieges; and so murderers, adulterers, thieves, whores, drunkards, idolaters, and all malefactors, got protection under the Queen's wings, under that colour, because they were of her religion. And so gat the Devil freedom again, where before he durst not have been seen in daylight upon the common streets. "Lord deliver us from that bondage."
The Devil, finding his reins loose, ran forward in
his course; and the Queen took upon her greater
boldness than she and Baal's bleating priests durst
have attempted before. For, upon Allhallow Day, they
blended their Mass with all mischievous solemnity. The
ministers, offended, declared in plain and public place the
inconveniences that should ensue, and the nobility were
sufficiently admonished of their duties. But affection caused
men to call in doubt that wherein shortly before they had
seemed to be most resolute, to wit, "Whether subjects might
put to their hand to suppress the idolatry of their Prince."
Upon this question, there convened, in the house of Mr.
James Macgill, the Lord James, the Earl of Morton, the
Earl Marischall, Secretary Lethington, the Justice Clerk,
and the Clerk of Register. All reasoned for the part of
The conclusion of that first reasoning was that the question should be put in form, and letters directed to Geneva for the resolution of that Church. Therein John Knox offered his labours; but Secretary Lethington, alleging that much depended on the information, said that he should write. But that was only to drive time, as the truth declared itself. The Queen's party urged that the Queen should have her religion free in her own chapel, that she and her household might do what they should list. The ministers both affirmed and voted to the contrary, adding that her liberty should be their thraldom before long. But neither could reason nor threatening move the affections of such as were creeping into credit, and the votes of the Lords prevailed against those of the ministers.
For the punishment of theft and of reif,
Before the return of the Lord James, the Queen
one night took a fray
Shortly after the return of the Lord James, Sir Peter Mewtas came from the Queen of England, with commission to require the ratification of the Peace made at Leith. His answer was even such as we have heard before—that she behoved to advise, and then should send answer.
In presence of her Council, the Queen kept herself very
grave, for, under the dule weed,
The General Assembly of the Church was held
in the December after the Queen's arrival. There the
rulers of the Court began to draw themselves apart
from the society of their brethren, and to sturr
The Lords complained that the ministers drew the gentlemen into secret councils without their knowledge. The ministers denied that they had done anything in secret, or otherwise than the Common Order commanded them; and accused the Lords, the flatterers of the Queen we mean, for not having kept convention with their brethren, considering that they knew the order, and that the same was appointed by their own advices, as the Book of Discipline, subscribed by the hands of the most part of them, would witness. Some began to deny that ever they knew such a thing as the Book of Discipline; and also called in doubt whether it was expedient that such conventions should be held; for gladly would the Queen and her Secret Council have had all assemblies of the godly discharged.
The reasoning was sharp and quick on either part. The Queen's faction alleged that it was suspicious to Princes that subjects should assemble themselves and keep conventions without their knowledge. It was answered that the Church did nothing without knowledge of the Prince. The Prince perfectly understood that within this realm there was a Reformed Church, and that they had their orders and appointed times of convention. "Yea," said Lethington, "the Queen knew and knoweth it well enough; but the question is, whether the Queen allows such conventions?" It was answered, "If the liberty of the Church should stand upon the Queen's allowance or disallowance, we are assured not only to lack assemblies, but also the public preaching of the Evangel."
That affirmative was mocked, and the contrary was
affirmed. "Well," said the other, "time will try the truth;
but to my former words this will I add—take from us the
freedom of assemblies, and take from us the Evangel; for,
without assemblies, how shall good order and unity in doctrine
be kept? It is not to be supposed that all ministers shall be
so perfect, but that they shall need admonition, concerning
After that, the Book of Discipline was put forward, with request that it should be ratified by the Queen's Majesty. That was scripped at, and it was demanded, "How many of those that had subscribed that Book would be subject unto it?" It was answered, "All the godly." "Will the Duke?" said Lethington. "If he will not," answered the Lord Ochiltree, "I would that he were scraped out, not only from that Book, but also from our number and company. For to what purpose shall labours be taken to put the Kirk in order, and to what end shall men subscribe, and then never mean to keep a word of that which they promise?" Lethington answered, "Many subscribed there in fide parentum, as the bairns are baptized." John Knox answered, "Albeit ye think that scoff proper, yet, as it is most untrue, so is it most improper. That Book was read in public audience, and by the space of divers days the heads thereof were reasoned, as all that here sit know well enough, and ye yourself cannot deny; no man was required to subscribe that which he understood not." "Stand content," said one, "that Book will not be obtained." "Let God," said the other, "require the lack which this poor Commonwealth shall have of the things therein contained, from the hands of such as stop the same."
The Barons, perceiving that the Book of Discipline was refused, presented certain Articles to the Council, requiring idolatry to be suppressed, their churches to be planted with true ministers, and some certain provision to be made for these, according to equity and conscience; for, until that time, the most part of the ministers had lived upon the benevolence of men. Many held in their own hands the fruits that the bishops and others of that sect had formerly abused; and so some part was bestowed upon the ministers. But then the bishops began to grip again at that which most unjustly they called their own; for the Earl of Arran was discharged of St. Andrews and Dunfermline, with which, by virtue of a factory, he had formerly intromitted: and so were many others. Therefore the Barons required that arrangements might be made for their ministers. Otherwise, they would obey the bishops no more, nor would they suffer anything to be taken for their use, more than they did before the Queen's arrival. They verily supposed that the Queen's Majesty would keep promise made to them, not to alter their religion. That could not remain without ministers, and ministers could not live without provision. For these reasons, they heartily desired the Council to provide some convenient order in that respect.
The Queen's flatterers were somewhat moved; for
the rod of impiety was not then strengthened in her
and their hands. So they began to practise; they
wished to please the Queen, and yet seem somewhat
to satisfy the faithful. In the end, they devised that
the Churchmen
Even in the beginning, the ministers, in their public
sermons, opposed themselves to such corruption, for they
There were appointed to modify
So busy and circumspect were the modificators (because it
was a new office, the term must also be new) to secure that
the ministers should not be too wanton, a hundred marks
was considered sufficient for a single man, being a common
minister. Three hundred marks was the highest stipend
appointed to any, except to the superintendents, and a few
others. Shortly, whether it was from the niggardliness of
their own hearts, or the care that they had to enrich the
Queen, we know not; but the poor ministers, readers, and
exhorters cried out to the heaven, as their complaints in all
Assemblies do witness, that neither were they able to live
upon the stipends appointed, nor could they get payment
We put an end to this unpleasing story. When the brethren complained of their poverty, it was disdainfully answered by some, "There are many Lords that have not so much to spend." Men did reason that the vocation of ministers craved books, quietness, study, and travel, to edify the Kirk of Jesus Christ, while many Lairds were waiting upon their worldly business. The stipends of ministers, who had no other industry, but had to live upon that which was appointed, ought therefore not to be modified according to the livings of common men, who might and did daily augment their rents by some other industry. But they gat no other answer than, "The Queen can spare no greater sums." Oft was it cried into their ears, "O happy servants of the Devil, and miserable servants of Jesus Christ; if after this life there were not hell and heaven." To the servants of the Devil, to your dumb dogs and horned bishops, to one of those idle bellies, I say, ten thousand was not enough; but to the servants of Christ that painfully preach His Evangel, a thousand pounds; how can that be defended?
One day, in reasoning of this matter, the Secretary
burst out in a piece of his choler, and said, "The
ministers have so much paid to them year by year,
and who yet ever bade the Queen 'grand-mercies'
for it? Was there ever a minister that gave thanks to God
for her Majesty's liberality towards them?" One smiled and
answered, "Assuredly, I think that such as receive anything
gratis of the Queen, are unthankful if they acknowledge it
not, both in heart and mouth. But whether the ministers
be of that rank or not, I greatly doubt. Gratis, I am assured,
they receive nothing; and whether they receive anything at
This we put in memory, that the posterities to come may know that God once made His truth to triumph; but, because some of ourselves delighted more in darkness than in light, He hath restrained our freedom, and put the whole body in bondage....
In the meantime, to wit, in February, the year
of God 1561, Lord James Stewart was first made
Earl of Mar,
Master Randolph, agent for the Queen of England, was then, and for some time after, in no small conceit with our Queen; for his mistress' sake, she drank to him in a cup of gold, which he possessed with greater joy for the favour of the giver, than for the gift and its value; and yet it was honourable. The things that then were in handling betwixt the two Queens—Lethington, Secretary Cecil, and Master Randolph being ministers—were of great weight, as we will afterwards hear.
This winter, the Earl Bothwell, the Marquis
D'Elbœuf, and Lord John of Coldingham, played
riot in Edinburgh, misordered the whole town, broke
Cuthbert Ramsay's gates and doors, and searched his
house for his good-daughter,
This supplication was presented by divers gentlemen. At first the flatterers of the Court stormed, and asked, "Who durst avow it?" The Master, now Lord Lyndsay, answered, "A thousand gentlemen within Edinburgh." Others were ashamed to oppose themselves to the supplication in public; but they suborned the Queen to give a gentle answer until such time as the Convention was dissolved. This she did; for she lacks no craft, both to cloak and to maintain impiety. She alleged that her uncle was a stranger and had a young company; but that she should put such order to him, and unto all others, that thereafter they should have no occasion to complain....
But punishment of that enormity and fearful attempt
we could get none: more and more they presumed to do
Word came to the Earl Bothwell and his party that the
Hamiltons were upon the gait.
It was whispered by many that the desire for a quarrel with the Earl of Moray was as strong as was any hatred that the Hamiltons bore against the Earl Bothwell, or he against them. Indeed, either had the Duke very false servants, or else the Earl of Moray's death was conspired oftener than once by Huntly and the Hamiltons. Suspicion of this burst forth so far that one day the said Earl, being upon horse to come to the sermon, was charged by one of the Duke's own servants to return and abide with the Queen.
The Earl Bothwell, by means of James Barron,
burgess
The said John answered, "My Lord, would to God that in
me were counsel or judgment that might comfort and relieve
you. Albeit to this hour it hath not chanced me to speak
with your Lordship face to face, yet have I borne a good mind
to your house; and I have been sorry at my heart concerning
the troubles that I have heard you to be involved in. My
The said Lord desired John Knox that he would sound the
Earl of Arran as to whether he would be content to receive
him into his favour. This he promised to do; and he so
earnestly travailed in that matter, that it was once brought to
a conclusion and agreement, such as caused all the faithful to
praise God. The greatest stay
That new trouble so greatly displeased John Knox,
that he almost gave over farther travailing for amity.
But yet, upon receiving the excuse of the said Earl,
and after the declaration of his mind, he re-entered
upon his labours, and brought it to pass that the
Laird of Ormiston referred his satisfaction in all things to the
judgments of the Earls of Arran and Moray. To them the
said Earl Bothwell submitted himself in that respect, and
thereupon delivered his handwrit. He was convoyed by certain
of his friends to the lodging of the Kirk-of-Field, where
the Earl of Arran was with his friends, the said John Knox
being with him, to bear witness and testification of the end of
The said John Knox, in audience of them both and of their friends, then said, "Now, my Lords, God hath brought you together by the labours of simple men, in respect of such as would have travailed therein. I know my labours are already taken in an evil part; but, because I have the testimony of a good conscience before my God that whatsoever I have done, I have done in His fear, for the profit of you both, for the hurt of none, and for the tranquillity of this realm: seeing, I say, that my conscience beareth witness to me—a witness that I have sought and continually seek—I the more patiently bear the misreports and wrongous judgments of men. And now I leave you in peace, and desire you that are the friends to study that amity may increase, all former offences being forgotten." The friends of either part embraced the others, and the two Earls departed to a window, and talked by themselves familiarly for a reasonable space. Thereafter the Earl Bothwell departed for that night; and upon the next day in the morning he returned, with some of his honest friends, and came to the sermon with the Earl foresaid. At this many rejoiced. But God had another work to work than the eyes of men could espy.
The next Thursday, the 26th of March 1562, they
dined together; and thereafter the said Earl Bothwell
and Master Gavin Hamilton rode to my Lord Duke's
Grace, who then was at Kinneil. What communication
was had betwixt them, it is not certainly known, except
by the report which the said Earl of Arran made to the
Queen's Grace, and to the Earl of Moray, by his writings.
For upon Friday, the fourth day after their reconciliation, the
sermon being ended, the said Earl of Arran came to the house
of John Knox, and brought with him Master Richard Strang
and Alexander Guthrie. To them he opened the grief of his
These labours ended, the said Earl called the three together, and said, "I am treasonably betrayed;" and with these words began to weep. John Knox demanded, "My Lord, who has betrayed you?" "One Judas, or other," said he; "but I know it is but my life that is sought: I regard it not." The other said, "My Lord, I understand not such dark manner of speaking: if I shall give you any answer, you must speak more plain." "Well," said he, "I take you three to witness that I open this to you, and I will write it to the Queen. An act of treason is laid to my charge; the Earl of Bothwell has shown to me in counsel that he shall take the Queen and put her in my hands in the Castle of Dumbarton; and that he shall slay the Earl of Moray, Lethington, and others that now misguide her: and so shall I and he rule all. But I know that this is devised to accuse me of treason; for I know that he will inform the Queen of it. But I take you to witness that I open it here to you; and, incontinently, I will go and write to the Queen's Majesty, and to my brother, the Earl of Moray."
John Knox demanded, "Did ye consent, my Lord, to any
part of that treason?" He answered, "Nay." "Then," said
he, "in my judgment, his words, albeit they were spoken, can
never be treason to you; for the performance of the act depends
upon your will, whereto ye say ye have dissented; and
so shall that purpose vanish and die by itself, unless ye waken
it; for it is not to be supposed that he will accuse you of that
which he himself devised, and whereto ye would not consent."
"O," said he, "ye understand not what craft is used against
me: it is treason to conceal treason." "My Lord," said he,
"treason must import consent and determination, which I hear
upon neither of your parts. Therefore, my Lord, in my judgment,
it shall be more sure and more honourable to you to
depend upon your innocence, and to abide the unjust accusation
of another, if any follow thereof, as I think there shall
not, than for you to accuse, especially after so recent reconciliation,
and have none other witnesses but your own affirmation."
"I know," said he, "that he will offer combat to me; but that
The Earl himself rode afterwards to Kinneil, to his father, the Duke's Grace. How he was treated, we have but the common bruit; but thence he wrote another letter with his own hand, in cipher, to the Earl of Moray, complaining of his rigorous handling and treatment by his own father, and by his friends; and affirming, farther, that he feared his life, in case he gat not speedy rescue. He did not rest there, but brake the chamber wherein he was put, and with great pain passed to Stirling, and thence he was convoyed to the Hallyards. There he was kept until the Earl of Moray came to him, and convoyed him to the Queen, who was then in Falkland. She was sufficiently instructed concerning the whole matter; and, upon suspicion conceived, had ordered the apprehension of Master Gavin Hamilton and the Earl Bothwell. They, knowing nothing of what had passed, came to Falkland, and this augmented the former suspicion.
The letters of John Knox, however, ensured that
all things were done the more circumspectly; for he
did plainly forewarn the Earl of Moray that he espied
the Earl of Arran to be stricken with frenzy, and
therefore would not have too great credit given to his words
and inventions. And so it came to pass; for within few days
the Earl's sickness increased; he devised of wondrous signs
that he saw in the heaven; and, finally, he behaved himself in
all things so foolishly that his frenzy could not be hid.
Nevertheless, the Earl Bothwell and the Abbot of Kilwinning
were detained in the Castle of St. Andrews, and convened
before the Council, with the Earl of Arran, who ever stood
firm in alleging that the Earl Bothwell proponed to him such
things as he had advertised the Queen's Grace of. He stiffly
denied that his father, the said Abbot, or his friends, knew
anything of the matter, or that they intended any violence
Things put in order in Fife, the Queen returned to Edinburgh, and then began dancing to grow hot; for her friends began to triumph in France. Sure information of this came to the ears of John Knox, for there were some that showed to him the state of things from time to time. He was assured that the Queen had danced excessively until after midnight, because she had received letters informing her that persecution was renewed in France, and that her uncles were beginning to stir their tail, and to trouble the whole realm of France. Upon occasion of this text, "And now understand, O ye kings, and be learned, ye that judge the earth," he began to tax the ignorance, the vanity, and the despite of princes against all virtue, and against all those in whom hatred of vice and love of virtue appeared.
Report of this sermon was made unto the Queen, and John Knox was sent for. Mr. Alexander Cockburn, of Ormiston, who had formerly been his scholar, and then was very familiar with him, was the messenger, and gave him some knowledge both of the report and of the reporters. The Queen was in her bedchamber, and with her, besides the ladies and the common servants, were the Lord James, the Earl Morton, Secretary Lethington, and some of the guard that had made the report. He was called, and accused of having spoken irreverently of the Queen, of travailing to bring her into the hatred and contempt of the people, and of exceeding the bounds of his text. Upon these three heads, the Queen herself made a long harangue or oration; to which the said John answered as follows:—
"Madam, this is oftentimes the just recompense
which God giveth to 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
"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
"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
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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:—
"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 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
"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
"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
"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
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
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....
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
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.
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
After exhortations made and conference held, these subscribed a bond to maintain and assist the preaching of God's holy Evangel, then, of His mere mercy, offered to this realm; and also the ministers thereof against all persons, power, and authority, that would oppose themselves to the doctrine proponed, and by them received. And farther, with the same solemnity, it was protested and promised, that every one should assist others, yea, the whole body of the Protestants within the realm, in all lawful and just actions, against all persons; so that whosoever should hurt, molest, or trouble any of our body, should be reputed enemy to the whole, unless the offender were content to submit himself to the judgment of the Kirk, as established amongst us....
These things done at Ayr, the said John passed to Nithsdale and Galloway, and there, in conference with the Master of Maxwell, a man of great judgment and experience, he communicated such things as he feared. Upon his suggestion, the Master wrote to the Earl Bothwell, enjoining him to behave himself as became a faithful subject, and to keep good quietness in the parts committed to his charge, for so would the crime of his breaking ward be the more easily pardoned. John Knox wrote to the Duke's Grace, and earnestly exhorted him neither to give ear to the Archbishop, his bastard brother, nor yet to the persuasion of the Earl of Huntly; for if he did, he assured him, he and his house should come to a sudden ruin.
By such means the south parts were kept in reasonable
quietness, during the time that the troubles were
in brewing in the north. And yet the Archbishop
and the Abbot of Crossraguel did what in them lay
to raise some trouble. Besides the fearful bruits that they
sparsed abroad, sometimes that the Queen was taken; sometimes
that the Earl of Moray and all his band were slain;
and sometimes that the Queen had given herself to the
Earl of Huntly,—besides such bruits, the Archbishop, to
The Abbot of Crossraguel requested an opportunity
to dispute with John Knox as to the maintenance
of the Mass. This was granted to him, and
debate was held in Maybole during three days. The
Abbot had the advantage that he required; to wit, he took upon
him to prove that Melchisedec offered bread and wine to God,
and this was the ground upon which was founded the argument
that the Mass was a sacrifice, etc. But, in the travail
of three days, no proof could be produced for Melchisedec's
oblation, as in the disputation (which is to be had in print)
may clearly appear. The Papists constantly looked for a
wolter,
After the Queen was somewhat satisfied of hunting
and other pastime, she came to Aberdeen. There the
Earl of Huntly and his Lady met her with no small
train. He remained in Court, was supposed to have the
greatest credit, departed with the Queen to Buchan, and met
her again at Rothiemay, expecting that she would accompany
him to Strathbogie. But, in the journey, certain word came
to her that John Gordon
Upon the morrow after the discomfiture, the Lady Forbes, a woman both wise and fearing God, came amongst many others to visit the corpse of the said Earl; and seeing him lie upon the cold stones, having only upon him a doublet of canvas, a pair of Scottish grey hose, and a covering of arras-work, she said, "What stability shall we judge to be in this world: there lieth he that yesterday morning was holden the wisest, the richest, and a man of greatest power within Scotland." In very deed, she lied not; for, in man's opinion, under a prince, there was not such a one produced in this realm these three hundred years. But felicity and worldly wisdom so blinded him that in the end he perished in them, as shall all those that despise God and trust in themselves....
The Earl of Moray sent word of the marvellous victory to the Queen, and humbly prayed her to show obedience to God and publicly to convene with them, to give thanks to God for His notable deliverance. She gloomed at the messenger and at the request, and scarcely would give a good word or blithe countenance to any that she knew to be earnest favourers of the Earl Moray, whose prosperity was, and yet is, to her boldened heart, a very venom against him for his godliness and upright plainness. For many days she bare no better countenance; and thereby it might have been evidently espied that she rejoiced not greatly in the success of that matter; and, albeit she caused John Gordon and divers others to be executed, it was the destruction of others that she sought.
In the meantime, there was much trouble in France; and the intelligence and outward familiarity betwixt the two Queens was great. Lethington was directed with large commission both to the Queen of England and to the Guisians. The marriage of our Queen was in every man's mouth. Some would have Spain; some the Emperor's brother; some Lord Robert Dudley; some the Duke de Nemours; and some unhappily guessed at the Lord Darnley. We know not what Lethington's credit was; but, shortly after, there began to be much talk of the Earl of Lennox, and of his son, the Lord Darnley. It was said that Lethington spake with the Lady Margaret Douglas, and that Robert Melvin received a horse, for the Secretary's use, from the Earl of Lennox or from his wife. Howsoever it was, Master Fowler, servant to the said Earl, came with letters to the Queen's Grace, and licence was permitted to the Earl of Lennox to come to Scotland, to travail in his lawful business. On the day that the licence was granted, the Secretary said, "This day have I incurred the deadly hatred of all the Hamiltons within Scotland, and have done them no less displeasure than had I cutted their throats."
The Earl Bothwell, who had broken ward, fearing apprehension, prepared to pass to France; but, by storm of weather, he was driven into England, where he was stayed, and the Queen of England offered to surrender him. But our Queen answered that he was no rebel, and requested that he should have liberty to pass whither it pleased him. In this, Lethington helped not a little; for he travailed to have friends in every faction of the Court. Thus the said Earl obtained licence to pass to France.
The Court remained for the most part in Edinburgh, during the winter after the death of the Earl of Huntly. The preachers were wondrously vehement in reprehension of all manner of vice, which then began to abound; and especially avarice, oppression of the poor, excess, riotous cheer, banqueting, immoderate dancing, and the whoredom that ensues. The courtiers began to storm, and to pick quarrels against the preachers, alleging that all their preaching was turned to railing.
One of them gave answer as follows: "It comes to our ears that we are called railers. Albeit we wonder, we are not ashamed. The most worthy servants of God that before us have travailed in this vocation have so been styled. But the same God, who from the beginning has punished the contempt of His Word, and has poured forth His vengeance upon such proud mockers, shall not spare you; yea, He shall not spare you before the eyes of this same wicked generation, for whose pleasure ye despise all wholesome admonitions.
"Have ye not seen a greater than any of you sitting where presently ye sit, pick his nails and pull down his bonnet over his eyes, when idolatry, witchcraft, murder, oppression, and such vices were rebuked? Was not his common talk, 'When these knaves have railed their fill, will they then hold their peace?' Have ye not heard it affirmed to his own face that God should revenge his blasphemy, even in the eyes of such as were witnesses to his iniquity? Then was the Earl of Huntly accused by you as the maintainer of idolatry, and the only hinderer of all good order. Him has God punished, even according to the threatenings that his and your ears heard; and by your hands hath God executed His judgments.
"But what amendment in any case can be espied in you? Idolatry was never in greater rest: virtue and virtuous men were never in more contempt: vice was never more bold, never did it less fear punishment. And yet, who guides the Queen and Court? Who but the Protestants? O horrible slanderers of God, and of His holy Evangel. Better it were for you plainly to renounce Christ Jesus, than thus to expose His blessed Evangel to mockage. If God do not punish you, so that this same age shall see and behold your punishment, the Spirit of righteous judgment guides me not."...
At the General Assembly of the Church, holden
the twenty-fifth of December, the year of God 1562,
great complaints were made that churches lacked
ministers; that ministers lacked their stipends; that
wicked men were permitted to be schoolmasters,
and so to infect the youth. One, Master Robert Cumin,
The Papists, at Easter, 1563, had erected that idol, the Mass, in divers parts of the realm; amongst these being the Archbishop of St. Andrews, the Prior of Whithorn, with divers others of their faction.... The brethren, universally offended, and espying that the Queen did but mock them by her proclamations, determined to put to their own hands, and to punish for example to others. So some priests in the West-land were apprehended, and intimation was made by the brethren to others, as to the Abbot of Crossraguel, the Parson of Sanquhar, and such, that they should not proceed by complaint to Queen or Council, but should execute the punishment that God, in His Law, had appointed to idolaters, by such means as they might, wherever these should be apprehended.
The Queen stormed at such freedom of speaking, but she
could not amend it; for the spirit of God, of boldness, and of
wisdom, had not then left the most part of those whom God
had used as instruments in the beginning. They were of one
mind to maintain the truth of God, and to suppress idolatry.
Particularities had not divided them; and therefore could not
The Queen began to invent a new craft. She sent for John Knox to come to her at Lochleven. She travailed with him earnestly for two hours before her supper, seeking that he would be the instrument to persuade the people, and principally the gentlemen of the West, not to put hands to punish men for conducting themselves in their religion as pleased them. The other, perceiving her craft, said that if her Grace would punish the malefactors according to the laws, he could promise quietness upon the part of all them that professed the Lord Jesus within Scotland. But, if her Majesty thought to delude the laws, he said he feared that some would let the Papists understand that they should not be suffered to offend God's Majesty so manifestly, without punishment.
"Will ye," quoth she, "allow that they shall take my sword in their hand?"
"The sword of justice," quoth he, "Madam, is God's, and
is given to princes and rulers for an end. If they transgress
this, sparing the wicked, and oppressing innocents, they that, in
the fear of God, execute judgment where God has commanded,
do not offend God, although kings forbear; nor do those sin
that bridle kings from striking innocent men in their rage.
The examples are evident; Samuel feared not to slay Agag,
the fat and delicate king of Amalek, whom King Saul had
saved.... And so, Madam, your Grace may see that others
than chief magistrates may lawfully punish, and have punished
the vice and crimes that God commands to be punished. In
the present case, I would earnestly pray your Majesty to take
good advisement, and that your Grace should let the Papists
understand that their attempts will not be suffered to go
unpunished. For, by Act of Parliament, power is given to all
judges to search for Mass-mongers, or the hearers of the same,
within their own bounds, and to punish them according to the
law. It shall therefore be profitable to your Majesty to consider
what is the thing your Grace's subjects look to receive of your
Majesty, and what it is that ye ought to do to them by mutual
Herewith the Queen, being somewhat offended, passed to her supper. John Knox left her, informed the Earl of Moray of the whole reasoning, and departed, of final purpose to return to Edinburgh, without any further communication with the Queen.
But before sunrise, upon the morrow, two messengers were directed to him, commanding him not to depart until he spake with the Queen's Majesty. This he did, meeting her at the hawking be-west Kinross. Whether it was the night's sleep or a deep dissimulation locked in her breast that made her forget her former anger, wise men may doubt; but concerning that she never moved word, and began divers other purposes, such as the offering of a ring to her by the Lord Ruthven.
Queen. I cannot love Lord Ruthven, for I know him to use enchantment, and yet is he one of my Privy Council.
Knox. Whom blames your Grace for that?
Queen. Lethington was the whole cause.
Knox. That man is absent for the present, Madam; and, therefore, I will say nothing on that subject.
Queen. I understand that ye are appointed to go to Dumfries, for the election of a Superintendent to be established in these countries.
Knox. Yes, those quarters have great need, and some of the Gentlemen so require.
Queen. But I hear that the Bishop of Athens would be Superintendent.
Knox. He is one, Madam, that is put in election.
Queen. If ye knew him as well as I do, ye would never promote him to that office, nor yet to any other within your Kirk.
Knox. What he has been, Madam, I neither know, nor
Queen. Well, do as ye will, but that man is a dangerous man.
Therein the Queen was not deceived; for he had corrupted most part of the Gentlemen, not only to nominate him, but also to elect him. This perceived, the said John, Commissioner, delayed the election, and left Mr. Robert Pont (who was put in election with the foresaid Bishop) with the Master of Maxwell, that his doctrine and conversation might be the better tried by those that had not known him before. So the Bishop was frustrated of his purpose, for that time. Yet was he, at that time, the man that was most familiar with the said John, in his house and at table. When the Queen had talked long with John Knox, he being oft willing to take his leave, she said, "I have to open unto you one of the greatest matters that have touched me since I came to this realm, and I must have your help in it." Then she began to make a long discourse concerning her sister, the Lady Argyll, how that she was not so circumspect in all things as she wished her to be.
Queen. Yet, my Lord, her husband, whom I love, treats her not in many things so honestly and so godly, as I think ye yourself would require.
Knox. Madam, I have been troubled with that matter before, and once I put such an end to it, before your Grace's arrival, that both she and her friends seemed fully to stand content. She herself promised before her friends that she should never complain to creature until I should first understand their controversy by her own mouth or an assured messenger. I have heard nothing from her; and, therefore, I think there is nothing but concord.
Queen. Well, it is worse than ye believe. Do this much
for my sake, as once again to put them at unity. If she
Knox. I am assured, then, that ye shall please God, and enjoy rest and tranquillity within your realm; and that is more profitable to your Majesty than all the Pope's power can be.
And thus they parted.
This conference we have inserted to let the world see how deeply Mary, Queen of Scotland, can dissemble; and how she could cause men to think that she bare no indignation for any controversy in religion, while in her heart there was nothing but venom and destruction, as did appear shortly after.
John Knox departed, and prepared himself for his journey to Dumfries; and from Glasgow, according to the Queen's commandment, he wrote to the Earl of Argyll.... This letter was not well accepted by the said Earl; and yet he uttered no part of his displeasure in public, but contrarily showed himself most familiar with the said John. He kept the diet at which the bishop and the rest of the Papists were accused, and sat in judgment himself.
The summonses were directed against the Massmongers
with expedition, and in the straitest form.
The nineteenth day of May was appointed, a day
only before the Parliament. Of the Pope's knights
there compeared the Archbishop of St. Andrews, the Prior of
Whithorn, the Parson of Sanquhar, William Hamilton of
Cammiskeyth, John Gordon of Barskeocht, with divers others.
The Protestants convened to crave for justice. The Queen
asked counsel of the Bishop of Ross, and of the old Laird
of Lethington (for the younger was absent, and so the
Protestants had the fewer unfriends), and they affirmed that
she must see her laws kept, or else she would get no
All this was done in a most deep craft, to abuse the simplicity of the Protestants, so that they should not press the Queen with any other thing concerning matter of religion at that Parliament, which began within two days thereafter. She obtained of the Protestants whatsoever she desired; for thus reasoned many, "We see what the Queen has done; the like of this was never heard of within the realm: we will bear with the Queen; we doubt not but all shall be well." Others were of a contrary judgment, and forespake things as they afterwards came to pass. They said that nothing was meant but deceit; and that the Queen, as soon as ever Parliament was past, would set the Papists at freedom. They therefore urged the Nobility not to be abused. But because many had their private commodity to be handled at that Parliament, the common cause was the less regarded.
Such stinking pride of women as was seen at that Parliament was never seen before in Scotland. Three sundry days the Queen rode to the Tolbooth. On the first day she made a painted oration; and there might have been heard among her flatterers, "Vox Dianae! the voice of a goddess, and not of a woman! God save that sweet face! Was there ever orator that spake so properly and so sweetly!"
All things misliking the preachers, they spake
boldly against the targetting of their tails,
The matter became so hot betwixt the Earl of
Moray and some others of the Court, and John Knox,
that after that time they spake not together familiarly
for more than a year and a half. The said John, by
letter, gave a discharge to the said Earl of all further intromission
or care with his affairs. He made discourse of their
first acquaintance; in what estate he was when first they
spake together in London; how God had promoted him, even
beyond man's judgment; and in the end he made this conclusion:
"But seeing that I perceive myself frustrated of my
expectation that ye should have ever preferred God to your
own affection, and the advancement of His truth to your
singular commodity, I commit you to your own wit, and to
the guidance of those who better can please you. I praise my
God, I this day leave you victor of your enemies, promoted to
This bill
The Act of Oblivion was passed, because some of the Lords had interest; but the Acts against adultery, and for the manses and glebes, were so modified, that no law and such law might stand in eodem predicamento. To speak plainly, no law and such Acts were both alike. The Acts are in print: let wise men read, and then accuse us, if we complain without cause.
In the progress of this corruption, and before the
Parliament dissolved, John Knox, in his sermon before
the most part of the Nobility, entered on a deep
discourse concerning God's mercies to the realm, and
the ingratitude which he espied in almost the whole multitude,
albeit God had marvellously delivered them from the
bondage and tyranny both of body and soul. "And now,
my Lords," said he, "I praise my God, through Jesus Christ,
that, in your own presence, I may pour forth the sorrows of
"I have been with you in your most extreme dangers. Perth, Cupar Moor, and the Crags of Edinburgh are yet recent in my heart. Yea, that dark and dolorous night, wherein ye all, my Lords, with shame and fear left this town, is yet in my mind; God forbid that I ever forget it. Ye yourselves yet live to testify what was my exhortation to you, and what is fallen in vain of all that ever God promised to you by my mouth. Not one of you, against whom death and destruction were threatened, perished in that danger. How many of your enemies has God plagued before your eyes! Shall this be the thankfulness that ye shall render unto your God, to betray His cause, when ye have it in your own hands to establish it as ye please? The Queen, say ye, will not agree with us. Ask of her that which by God's Word ye may justly require, and if she will not agree with you in God, ye are not bound to agree with her in the Devil. Let her plainly understand your minds, and steal not from your former stoutness in God, and He shall yet prosper you in your enterprises.
"But I can see nothing but a recoiling from Christ Jesus:
the man that first and most speedily fleeth from Christ's ensign
holdeth himself most happy. Yea, I hear that some say that
we have nothing of our religion established, by Law or by
Parliament. Albeit the malicious words of such can neither
hurt the truth of God, nor yet those of us that thereupon
depend, the speaker, for his treason, committed against God
and against this poor commonwealth, deserves the gallows.
Our religion, being commanded and established by God, has
been accepted within this realm in public Parliament; if they
"And now, my Lords, to put an end to all, I hear of the Queen's marriage. Dukes, brethren to emperors, and kings strive all for the best game; but this will I say, my Lords—note the day and bear witness afterwards—whensoever the Nobility of Scotland, professing the Lord Jesus, consent that an infidel (and all Papists are infidels) shall be head to your Sovereign, so far as in ye lieth, ye do banish Christ Jesus from this realm; ye bring God's vengeance upon the country, a plague upon yourselves, and perchance small comfort to your Sovereign."
These words and this manner of speaking were judged intolerable. Papists and Protestants were both offended; yea, the most familiar friends of Knox disdained him for that utterance. Placeboes and flatterers posted to the Court to give information that he had spoken against the Queen's marriage, and the Provost of Lincluden, Douglas of Drumlanrig by surname, brought the charge that the said John Knox should present himself before the Queen. This he did soon after dinner. The Lord Ochiltree, and divers of the faithful, bare him company to the Abbey; but none passed in to the Queen with him in the cabinet but John Erskine of Dun, then Superintendent of Angus and Mearns. The Queen, in a vehement fume, began to cry out that never prince was handled as she was.
Queen. I have borne with you in all your rigorous manner of speaking, both against myself and against my uncles; yea, I have sought your favours by all possible means. I offered unto you presence and audience whensoever it pleased you to admonish me; and yet I cannot be quit of you. I avow to God, I shall be once revenged.
At these words, scarcely could Marna, her secret chamber
boy, get napkins
Knox. True it is, Madam, your Grace and I have been at divers controversies, in which I never perceived your Grace to be offended at me. But, when it shall please God to deliver you from that bondage of darkness and error in which ye have been nourished for the lack of true doctrine, your Majesty will find in the liberty of my tongue nothing offensive. Outside the preaching place, Madam, I think few have occasion to be offended at me; and there, Madam, I am not master of myself, but must obey Him who commands me to speak plain, and to flatter no flesh upon the face of the earth.
Queen. But what have ye to do with my marriage?
Knox. If it please your Majesty to hear me patiently, I shall show the truth in plain words. I grant your Grace offered me more than ever I required; but my answer was then, as it is now, that God hath not sent me to wait upon the courts of princesses, or upon the chambers of ladies. I am sent to preach the Evangel of Jesus Christ to such as please to hear it. It hath two parts, repentance and faith. And now, Madam, in preaching repentance, it is necessary that the sins of men be so noted that they may know wherein they offend; but the most part of your Nobility are so addicted to your affections, that neither God, His Word, nor yet their commonwealth are rightly regarded. Therefore it becomes me so to speak, that they may know their duty.
Queen. What have ye to do with my marriage? Or what are ye within this commonwealth?
Knox. A subject born within the same, Madam. And,
albeit I be neither Earl, Lord, nor Baron within it, God has
made me a profitable member within the same, however abject
I be in your eyes. Yea, Madam, it appertains to me to forewarn
of such things as may hurt that commonwealth, if I
foresee them, no less than it does to any of the Nobility.
Both my vocation and conscience crave plainness of me.
Therefore, Madam, to yourself I say that which I speak in
public place. Whensoever the Nobility of this realm shall
At these words, howling was heard, and tears might have been seen in greater abundance than the matter required. John Erskine of Dun, a man of meek and gentle spirit, stood beside, and entreated what he could do to mitigate her anger, giving her many pleasing words of her beauty, of her excellence, and saying that all the princes of Europe would be glad to seek her favours. But all this was to cast oil in the flaming fire. The said John stood still, without any alteration of countenance for a long season, while the Queen gave place to her inordinate passion.
In the end he said, "Madam, I speak in God's presence. I never delighted in the weeping of any of God's creatures; yea, I can scarcely well abide the tears of my own boys whom my own hand corrects, much less can I rejoice in your Majesty's weeping. Seeing, however, that I have offered you no just occasion to be offended, but have spoken the truth as my vocation craves of me, I must sustain your Majesty's tears, albeit unwillingly, rather than dare hurt my conscience, or betray my commonwealth through my silence."
Herewith was the Queen more offended, and commanded
the said John to leave the cabinet, and to abide her pleasure
in the chamber. The Laird of Dun tarried, and Lord John of
Coldingham came into the cabinet, and there they both remained
with her for nearly an hour. The said John stood in
the chamber, as one whom men had never seen, so afraid were
all, except that the Lord Ochiltree bare him company. Therefore
began he to forge talk with the ladies who were sitting
there in all their gorgeous apparel. This espied, he merrily
said, "O fair Ladies, how pleasing were this life of yours if it
should ever abide, and in the end we might pass to heaven
with all this gay gear. Fie upon that knave Death, who will
come whether we will or not! When he has laid on his
arrest, the foul worms will be busy with this flesh, be it never
Shortly after the Parliament, Lethington returned
from his negotiation in England and France. In the
February before, God had stricken that bloody tyrant
the Duke of Guise, and this somewhat broke the fard
The Queen spent the rest of that summer in her progress throughout the West country, where in all towns and gentlemen's places she had her Mass. This coming to the ears of John Knox, he began that form of prayer which ordinarily he sayeth after thanksgiving at his table: "1. Deliver us, O Lord, from the bondage of idolatry. 2. Preserve and keep us from the tyranny of strangers. 3. Continue us in quietness and concord amongst ourselves, if Thy good pleasure be, O Lord, for a season," etc. Divers of the familiars of the said John asked him why he prayed for quietness to continue for a season, and not rather absolutely that we should continue in quietness. His answer was that he durst not pray but in faith; and faith in God's Word assured him that constant quietness could not continue in that realm where idolatry had been suppressed, and then been permitted to be erected again.
From the West country, the Queen passed to Argyll to the hunting, and afterwards returned to Stirling. The Earl of Moray, the Lord Robert of Holyroodhouse, and Lord John of Coldingham, passed to the Northland. Justice Courts were holden; thieves and murderers were punished; two witches were burned, the elder so blinded with the Devil that she affirmed that no judge had power over her.
At that same time, Lord John of Coldingham
departed this life in Inverness. It was affirmed that
he commanded such as were beside him to say to the
Queen that, unless she left off her idolatry, God would
not fail to plague her. He asked God's mercy that he had so
far borne with her in her impiety, and had maintained her
in the same. No one thing did he more regret than that he
had flattered, fostered, and maintained her in her wickedness
against God and His servants. And in very deed he had great
cause to lament his wickedness; for, besides all his other
infirmities, he, in the end, for the Queen's pleasure, became
enemy to virtue and virtuous men, and a patron to impiety to
the uttermost of his power. Yea, his venom was so kindled
against God and his Word, that in his rage he burst forth with
these words: "Before I see the Queen's Majesty so troubled
What further villainy came forth from the stinking throats and mouths of both, modesty will not suffer us to write. If Lord John had grace to repent unfeignedly thereof, it is no small document to God's mercies. Howsoever God wrought with him, the Queen regarded his words as wind, or else thought them to have been forged by others, and not to have proceeded from himself. She affirmed plainly that they were devised by the Laird of Pittarrow and Mr. John Wood, both of whom she hated, because they did not flatter her in her dancing and other doings. One thing in plain words she spake, "God always took from her those persons in whom she had greatest pleasure:" that she repented; but of further wickedness there was no mention.
While the Queen lay at Stirling, with her idolatry
in her chapel, certain dontibours and others of the
French menyie were left in the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
These raised up their Mass more publicly
than they had done at any time before. Upon those
same Sundays that the Church of Edinburgh had the ministration
of the Lord's Table, the Papists, in great numbers, resorted
to the Abbey, to their abomination. This understood, divers
of the brethren, being sorely offended, consulted as to redress
of that enormity. Certain of the most zealous and most
upright in the religion, were appointed to watch the Abbey,
and note the persons who resorted to the Mass. Perceiving
a great number to enter the chapel, some of the brethren
did also burst in. Thereat the priest and the French dames,
being afraid, made the shout to be sent to the town; while
Madame Raulet, mistress of the Queen's dontibours (for maids
that court could not then bear) posted on with all diligence to
the Comptroller, the Laird of Pittarrow, who was then in St.
Giles's Kirk at the sermon, and cried for his assistance, to save
her life and to save the Queen's Palace. He, with greater
haste than need required, obeyed her desire, and took with
him the Provost, the Bailies, and a great part of the faithful.
But when they came to the place where the fear was bruited
True it is that a zealous brother, named Patrick
Cranston, passed into the chapel, and finding the altar
covered, and the priest ready to go to that abomination,
the Mass, said, "The Queen's Majesty is not
here; how darest thou then be so malapert, as openly to do
against the law?" No further was done or said, and yet the
bruit was posted to the Queen, with such information as the
Papists could give; and this found as much credit as their
hearts could have wished for. Here was so heinous a crime
in her eyes, that there was no satisfaction for that sin, without
blood. Without delay, Andrew Armstrong and Patrick
Cranston were summoned to find surety to underlie the law,
for "forethought, felony, hamesucken,
When those summonses were divulged, the extremity was feared, and the few brethren that were in town consulted as to the next remedy. In the end, it was concluded that John Knox (to whom the charge had been given to spread intelligence whenever danger should appear) should write to the brethren in all quarters, giving information as to how the matter stood, and requiring their assistance. This he did in tenor as here follows—
"'Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.'
"It is not unknown unto you, dear brethren,
what comfort and tranquillity God gave to us, in
most dangerous times, by our Christian assemblies,
and godly conferences, as oft as any danger appeared
to any member or members of our body: and that, since we
have neglected, or at least not frequented our conventions
and assemblies, the adversaries of the holy Evangel of Christ
Jesus have enterprised, and boldened themselves, publicly and
secretly, to do many things odious in God's presence, and most
hurtful to the liberty of true religion, now granted unto us
"And now, are two of our dear brethren, Patrick Cranston
and Andrew Armstrong, summoned to underlie the law, in the
town of Edinburgh, the 24th of this instant October, 'for
forethought, felony, pretended murder, and for invading the
Queen's Majesty's Palace of Holyroodhouse, with unlawful
convocation,' etc. This terrible summons is directed against
our brethren, because they, with two or three more, passed to
the Abbey upon Sunday, the 15th of August, to behold and
note what persons repaired to the Mass. They did so, because
on the Sunday before (the Queen's Grace being absent) there
resorted to that idol a rascal multitude, the Papists having
openly the least devilish ceremony,
"God gave to us a most notable victory over His and our enemies: He brake their strength, and confounded their counsels: He set us at freedom, and purged this realm, for the most part, of open idolatry; to the end that we, ever mindful of so wondrous a deliverance, should have kept this realm clean from such vile filthiness, and damnable idolatry. But we, alas! preferring the pleasure of flesh and blood to the pleasure and commandment of our God, have suffered that idol, the Mass, to be erected again; and therefore justly does He now suffer us to fall into such danger that to look at an idolater going to his idolatry shall be reputed a crime little inferior to treason. God grant that we fall not further.
"God has, of His mercy, made me one amongst many to travail in setting forward His true religion within this realm, and I, seeing the same in danger of ruin, cannot but of conscience crave of you, my brethren, of all Estates, that have professed the truth, your presence, comfort, and assistance, on the said day, in the town of Edinburgh, even as ye tender the advancement of God's glory, the safety of your brethren, and your own assurance, together with the preservation of the Kirk in these apparent dangers.
"It may be, perchance, that persuasion will be made to the contrary, and that ye may be informed either that your assembly is not necessary, or else that it will offend the upper powers. But my good hope is that neither flattery nor fear shall make you so far to decline from Christ Jesus as that, against your public promise and solemn bond, ye will desert your brethren in so just a cause. Albeit there were no great danger, our assembly cannot be unprofitable; many things require consultation, and this cannot be had, unless the wisest and godliest convene. Thus, doubting nothing of the assistance of our God if we uniformly seek His glory, I cease further to trouble you, committing you heartily to the protection of the Eternal."
The brethren, advertised by this bill, prepared
themselves (as many as were thought expedient for
every town and province) to keep the day appointed.
But by the means of false brethren, the letter came to the
hands of the Queen, in this manner. It was read in the town
of Ayr, where was present Robert Cunningham, minister of
Failford, who then was reputed an earnest professor of the
Evangel. He, by means we know not, got the said letter, and
sent it with his token to Master Henry Sinclair, then President
of the Seat and College of Justice, and styled Bishop of Ross, a
perfect hypocrite, and a conjured enemy of Christ Jesus, whom
God afterwards struck according to his deservings. The said
Mr. Henry was enemy to all that unfeignedly professed the
Lord Jesus, but chiefly to John Knox, for the liberty of his
tongue; for he had affirmed, as ever still he doth affirm, that a
bishop that receives profit, and feeds not the flock by his own
The letter being read, it was concluded by the Council of the Cabinet, that is, by the most secret Council, that it imported treason; and the Queen was not a little rejoiced, for she thought to be revenged for once on her great enemy. It was also concluded that the Nobility should be written for, that the condemnation should have the greater authority. The day appointed was about the midst of December; and this was kept by the whole Council, and by divers others, such as the Master of Maxwell, the old Laird of Lethington, and the said President. In the meantime, the Earl of Moray returned from the north, and to him the Secretary Lethington opened the matter as best pleased him.
The Master of Maxwell gave the said John as it had been
a discharge of the familiarity which before was great between
them, unless he would agree to satisfy the Queen at her own
sight.
Knox. I know no offence done by me to the Queen's Majesty, and therefore I wot not what satisfaction to make.
Maxwell. No offence! Have ye not written letters desiring the brethren to convene from all parts to Andrew Armstrong and Patrick Cranston's day?
Knox. That I grant, but therein I acknowledge no offence done by me.
Maxwell. No offence, to convocate the Queen's lieges?
Knox. Not for so just a cause: greater things were reputed no offence within these two years past.
Maxwell. The time is now other: then our Sovereign was absent, and now she is present.
Knox. It is neither the absence nor the presence of the Queen that rules my conscience, but God speaking plainly in His Word. What was lawful to me last year is yet lawful, because my God is unchangeable.
Maxwell. Well, I have given you my counsel, do as ye
Knox. I understand not, Master, what ye mean. I never made myself an adversary to the Queen's Majesty, except in the head of religion, and therein I think ye will not desire me to bow.
Maxwell. Well, ye are wise enough; but ye will find that men will not bear with you in times to come, as they have done in times by-past.
Knox. If God stand my friend, as I am assured He of His mercy will, so long as I depend upon His promise, and prefer His glory to my life and worldly profit, I little regard how men behave themselves towards me; nor yet know I wherein men have borne with me in times past, unless it be that from my mouth they have heard the Word of God. If, in times to come, they refuse it, my heart will be pierced and for a season will lament; but the incommodity will be their own.
After these words, of which the Laird of Lochinvar was witness, they parted. To this day, the 17th of December, 1571, they have not met in such familiarity as they had formerly.
The bruit of the accusation of John Knox being
divulged, Mr. John Spens of Condie, Lord Advocate,
a man of gentle nature, and one that professed the
doctrine of the Evangel, came, as it were in secret, to
John Knox, to inquire the cause of that great bruit. The said
John was plain to him in all things, and showed him the
double
The Earl of Moray and the Secretary sent for the said John Knox to the Clerk of Register's house, and began to lament that he had so highly offended the Queen's Majesty. That, they feared, would come to a great inconvenience to himself, if he were not wisely foreseen. They showed what pains and travail they had taken to mitigate her anger, but they could find nothing but extremity, unless he himself would confess his offence, and put himself in her Grace's will.
Knox. I praise my God, through Jesus Christ, that I have learned not to cry conjuration and treason at everything that the godless multitude does condemn, or yet to fear the things that they fear. I have the testimony of a good conscience that I have given no occasion to the Queen's Majesty to be offended with me; for I have done nothing but my duty. So, whatsoever shall ensue, my good hope is that my God will give me patience to bear it. But far be it from me to confess an offence where my conscience witnesseth there is none.
Lethington. How can it be defended? Have ye not made convocation of the Queen's lieges?
Knox. If I have not a just defence for my act, let me smart for it.
Moray. Let us hear your defences; we would be glad that ye might be found innocent.
Knox. Nay, I am informed by divers, and even by you, my Lord Secretary, that I am already condemned, and my cause prejudged. Therefore I might be reputed a fool, if I would make you privy to my defences.
At those words they seemed both offended; and the
Secretary departed. But the Earl of Moray remained still,
and would have entered into further discourse with the said
John concerning the state of the Court. But he answered,
"My Lord, I understand more than I would of the affairs of
the Court; and therefore it is not needful that your Lordship
trouble with the recounting of it. If you stand in good case,
I am content; and if you do not, as I fear ye do not already,
or else ye shall not do before long, blame not me. Ye have
the counsellors whom ye have chosen; my weak judgment
Within four days, the said John was called before the Queen and Council betwixt six and seven o'clock at night. The season of the year was the midst of December. The bruit rising in the town that John Knox was sent for by the Queen, the brethren of the Kirk followed in such number that the inner close was full, and all the stairs, even to the chamber door where the Queen and Council sat. These had been reasoning amongst themselves before, but had not fully satisfied the Secretary's mind. And so the Queen had retired to her cabinet, and the Lords were talking each one with other, as occasion served. Upon the entrance of John Knox, they were commanded to take their places, and did so, sitting as Councillors, one opposite another.
The Duke of Chatelherault, according to his dignity, began the one side. Upon the other side sat the Earl of Argyll, and in order of precedence followed the Earl of Moray, the Earl of Glencairn, the Earl Marischall, the Lord Ruthven, then the common officers, Pittarrow, then Comptroller, the Justice Clerk, and Mr. John Spens of Condie, Lord Advocate; divers others stood by. Removed from the table sat old Lethington, father to the Secretary, Mr. Henry Sinclair, then Bishop of Ross, and Mr. James M'Gill, Clerk Register.
Things thus put in order, the Queen came forth,
and, with no little worldly pomp, was placed in the
chair, having two faithful supporters, the Master of
Maxwell upon the one tor
Lethington. The Queen's Majesty is informed that ye have travailed to raise a tumult of her subjects against her, and for certification thereof, there is presented to her your own letter subscribed in your name. Yet, because her Grace will do nothing without a good advisement, she has convened you before this part of the Nobility, that they may witness betwixt you and her.
Queen. Let him acknowledge his own handwriting, and then shall we judge of the contents of the letter.
So the letter was presented from hand to hand to John Knox, who examined it.
Knox. I gladly acknowledge this to be my handwriting;
and also I remember that I indited a letter to the brethren
in sundry quarters, in the month of October, giving signification
of such things as displeased me. So good opinion
have I of the fidelity of the scribes that they would not
willingly adulterate my original, albeit I left divers subscribed
blanks with them, I acknowledge both handwriting and
ditement.
Lethington. Ye have done more than I would have done.
Knox. Charity is not suspicious.
Queen. Well, well, read your own letter, and then answer to such things as shall be demanded of you.
Knox. I shall do the best I can.
With loud voice he began to read the letter already quoted. After it was read to the end, it was presented again to Mr. John Spens; for the Queen commanded him to accuse, as he afterwards did, but very gently.
Queen. Heard ye ever, my Lords, a more despiteful and treasonable letter?
No man gave answer, and Lethington addressed himself to John Knox.
Lethington. Master Knox, are ye not sorry from your heart, and do you not repent that such a letter has passed your pen, and from you is come to the knowledge of others.
Knox. My Lord Secretary, before I repent I must be taught of my offence.
Lethington. Offence! If there were no more than the convocation of the Queen's lieges, the offence could not be denied.
Knox. Remember yourself, my Lord. There is a difference betwixt a lawful convocation, and an unlawful. If I have been guilty in this, I have often offended since I came last to Scotland: for what convocation of the brethren has ever been to this day in which my pen served not? Before this, no man laid it to my charge as a crime.
Lethington. Then was then, and now is now. We have no need of such convocations as sometimes we have had.
Knox. The time that has been is even now before my eyes; for I see the poor flock in no less danger than it has been at any time before, except that the Devil has gotten a visor upon his face. Before, he came in with his own face, discovered by open tyranny, seeking the destruction of all that refused idolatry: and then, I think ye will confess, the brethren lawfully assembled themselves for defence of their lives. Now the Devil comes under the cloak of justice, to do that which God would not suffer him to do by strength.
Queen. What is this? Methinks ye trifle with him. Who gave him authority to make convocation of my lieges? Is not that treason?
Lord Ruthven. No, Madam, for he makes convocation of the people to hear prayer and sermon almost daily; and, whatever your Grace or others think thereof, we think it no treason.
Queen. Hold your peace, and let him make answer for himself.
Knox. Madam, I began to reason with the Secretary, whom I take to be a far better dialectician than your Grace is, that all convocations are not unlawful. And now my Lord Ruthven has given the instance. If your Grace will deny this, I shall address myself to the proof.
Queen. I will say nothing against your religion, nor against your convening to your sermons. But what authority have ye to convocate my subjects when ye will, without my commandment?
Knox. I have no pleasure to decline from the former purpose. And yet, Madam, to satisfy your Grace's two questions, I answer that at my will I never convened four persons in Scotland; but, upon the instructions of the brethren, I have given divers notifications, and great multitudes have assembled. If your Grace complain that this was done without your Grace's commandment, I answer—So has all that God has blessed within this realm from the beginning of this action. Therefore, Madam, I must be convicted by a just law that I have done against the duty of God's messenger in writing this letter, before either I be sorry, or yet repent for the doing of it, as my Lord Secretary would persuade me. What I have done, I have done at the commandment of the general Kirk of this realm; and, therefore, I think I have done no wrong.
Queen. Ye shall not escape so. Is it not treason, my Lords, to accuse a prince of cruelty? I think there be Acts of Parliament against such whisperers.
That was granted by many.
Knox. But wherein can I be accused?
Queen. Read this part of your own bill, which began, "These fearful summonses are directed against them, to wit the brethren foresaid, to make, no doubt, preparation upon a few, that a door may be opened to execute cruelty upon a greater multitude." Lo, what say ye to that?
Many doubted what the said John should answer.
Knox. Is it lawful for me, Madam, to answer for myself? Or shall I be condemned before I be heard?
Queen. Say what ye can, for I think ye have enough ado.
Knox. I will first, then, desire this of your Grace, Madam,
and of this most honourable audience, whether your Grace
knows not that the obstinate Papists are deadly enemies to
all such as profess the Evangel of Jesus Christ, and that they
The Queen held her peace; but all the Lords, with common voice, said, "God forbid that either the lives of the faithful, or yet the staying of teaching and preaching, stood in the power of the Papists: just experience has told us what cruelty lies in their hearts."
Knox. I must proceed, then, seeing that I perceive that all will grant that it was a barbarous cruelty to destroy such a multitude as profess the Evangel of Jesus Christ within this realm. This, oftener than once or twice, has been attempted by force, as things done of late days do testify. Disappointed by God and His providence, the Papists have invented more crafty and dangerous practices, to wit, to make the prince party, under colour of law: what they could not do by open force, they hope to perform by crafty deceit. For who thinks, my Lords, that the insatiable cruelty of the Papists within this realm shall end in the murdering of these two brethren now unjustly summoned, and more unjustly to be accused? I think no man of judgment can so esteem, but rather the direct contrary; that is, by this few number they intend to prepare a way to bloody enterprises against the whole. Therefore, Madam, cast up when ye list the Acts of your Parliament. I have offended nothing against them. In my letter, I accuse neither your Grace nor your nature of cruelty. But I affirm yet again that the pestilent Papists, who have inflamed your Grace without cause against those poor men at this present, are the sons of the Devil; and therefore must obey the desires of their father, who has been a liar and a murderer from the beginning.
A Councillor. Ye forget yourself, ye are not now in the pulpit.
Knox. I am in the place where I am demanded of conscience
to speak the truth; and therefore I speak. The truth
I speak, impugn it whoso list. And hereunto I add, Madam,
that honest, gentle, and meek natures by appearance, may, by
wicked and corrupt counsellors, be converted and altered to
the direct contrary. We have example in Nero, who, in the
As this was said, Lethington smiled, and spake secretly to the Queen in her ear; what it was, the table heard not. But immediately she addressed her visage, and spake to John Knox.
Queen. Well, ye speak fair enough here before my Lords; but the last time I spake with you secretly, ye caused me greet many salt tears, and said to me stubbornly that ye set not by my greeting.
Knox. Madam, because now, the second time, your Grace
has burdened me with that crime, I must answer, lest for my
silence I be holden guilty. If your Grace be ripely remembered,
the Laird of Dun, yet living to testify the truth, was
present at the time whereof your Grace complains. Your
Grace accused me of having irreverently handled you in the
pulpit; that I denied. Ye said, What ado had I to speak of
your marriage? What was I, that I should mell with such
matters? I answered that, as touching nature, I was a worm
of this earth, and yet a subject of this commonwealth; but as
touching the office wherein it had pleased God to place me, I
was a watchman, both over the realm and over the Kirk of
God gathered within the same. For that reason, I was bound
in conscience to blow the trumpet publicly, oft as ever I saw
any upfall,
After the Secretary had conferred with the Queen, he said, "Mr. Knox, ye may return to your house for this night."
"I thank God and the Queen's Majesty," said the other. "And, Madam, I pray God to purge your heart from Papistry, and to preserve you from the counsel of flatterers; for, however pleasant they appear to your ear and corrupt affections for the time, experience has told us into what perplexity they have brought famous princes."
Lethington and the Master of Maxwell were that night the
two stoops
John Knox being departed, it was demanded of the
Lords and others that were present, every man by his
vote, whether John Knox had not offended the Queen's
Majesty. The Lords voted uniformly that they could
find no offence. The Queen had retired to her cabinet. The
flatterers of the Court, and Lethington principally, raged. The
Queen was brought again, and placed in her chair, and they
were commanded to vote over again. This highly offended the
whole Nobility, who began to speak in open audience. "What!
shall the Laird of Lethington have power to control us: or
shall the presence of a woman cause us to offend God, and to
condemn an innocent against our conscience, for pleasure of
When this was perceived, the Queen began to upbraid Mr. Henry Sinclair, then Bishop of Ross, and said, hearing his vote to agree with the rest, "Trouble not the bairn: I pray you trouble him not; for he is newly wakened out of his sleep. Why should not the old fool follow the footsteps of them that have passed before him." The bishop answered coldly, "Your Grace may consider that it is neither affection to the man, nor yet love to his profession, that moves me to absolve him; but the simple truth, which plainly appears in his defence, draws me after it, albeit others would have condemned him." This said, the Lords and whole assisters arose and departed. That night was neither dancing nor fiddling in the Court; for Madam was disappointed of her purpose, which was to have had John Knox at her disposal by vote of her Nobility.
John Knox, absolved by the votes of the greatest part of the Nobility from the crime intended against him, even in the presence of the Queen, she raged, and the placeboes of the Court stormed. And so began new assaults to be made upon the said John, to confess an offence, and to put himself in the Queen's will, they promising that his greatest punishment should be to go within the Castle of Edinburgh, and immediately return to his own home. He answered, "God forbid that my confession should condemn those noble men who for their conscience' sake, and with the displeasure of the Queen, have absolved me. And, further, I am assured that ye will not in earnest desire me to confess an offence, unless ye would desire me to cease from preaching: for how can I exhort others to peace and Christian quietness, if I confess myself an author and mover of sedition?"
At the General Assembly of the Kirk, the just
petitions of the ministers and commissioners of kirks
were despised at the first, with these words, "As
ministers will not follow our counsels, so will we
suffer ministers to labour for themselves, and see what speed
they come." And when the whole Assembly said, "If the
Queen will not provide for our ministers, we must; for both
Third and Two-part are rigorously taken from us, and from
our tenants." "If others," said one, "will follow my counsel,
the gaird
Many wondered at the silence of John Knox;
for in all those quick reasonings he opened not his
mouth. The cause thereof he himself expressed in
those words: "I have travailed, right honourable and
beloved Brethren, since my last arrival within this
realm, in an upright conscience before my God, seeking
nothing more, as He is my witness, than the advancement
of His glory, and the stability of His Kirk within this realm;
and yet of late days I have been accused as a seditious man,
and as one that usurps to myself power that becomes me not.
True it is that I have given notification to the Brethren in
divers quarters concerning the extremity intended against
certain faithful men for looking at a priest going to Mass,
"I say that by you, that is, by the charge of the General Assembly, I have as just power to advertise the Brethren from time to time of dangers appearing, as I have authority to preach the Word of God in the pulpit of Edinburgh; for by you I was appointed to the one and to the other; and, therefore, in the name of God, I crave your judgments. The danger that appeared to me in my accusation was not so fearful as were the words that came to my ears dolorous to my heart; for these words were plainly spoken, and that by some Protestants, 'What can the Pope do more than send forth his letters, and require them to be obeyed.' Let me have your judgments whether I have usurped any power to myself, or if I have but obeyed your commandment."
The flatterers of the Court, amongst whom Sir John Bellenden, Justice Clerk, was then not the least, began to storm, and said, "Shall we be compelled to justify the rash doings of men?" "My Lord," said John Knox, "ye shall speak your pleasure for the present: of you I crave nothing; but if the Kirk that is here present do not either absolve me, or else condemn me, never shall I in public or in private, as a public minister, open my mouth in doctrine or in reasoning."
The said John being removed, the whole Kirk
found, after long contention, that a charge was given
to him to warn the brethren in all quarters as oft as
ever danger appeared; and therefore avowed that act
not to be his only, but to be the act of all. Thereat
were the Queen's clawbacks
God from heaven, and upon the face of the earth,
gave declaration that He was offended at the iniquity
that was committed even within this realm; for upon
But the Queen and our Court made merry. There
was banqueting upon banqueting. The Queen banqueted
all the Lords; and that was done upon policy,
to remove the suspicion of her displeasure against
them, because they would not, at her devotion, condemn John
Knox. To remove, we say, that jealousy, she made the banquet
to the whole Lords, and thereat she would have the
Duke of Chatelherault amongst the rest. It behoved them
to banquet her again; and so did banqueting continue till
Fastern's-e'en
And yet at the Assembly preceding, solemn promise
of redress had been made in the Queen's name,
by the mouth of Secretary Lethington, in audience of
many of the nobility and of the whole Assembly. He
had affirmed that he had commandment of her Highness to
promise them full contentation
The ministers perceiving all things tend to ruin,
discharged their conscience in public and private;
but they received for their labours hatred and
indignation. Amongst others, that worthy servant of
God, Mr. John Craig, speaking against the manifest corruption
that then declared itself without shame or fear, said, "At one
time, hypocrites were known by their disguised habits, and we
had men as monks, and women as nuns; but now, all things
are so changed that we cannot discern the earl from the abbot,
or the nun from such as would be held noblewomen; so that
we have got a new order of monks and nuns. But, seeing that
ye are not ashamed of that unjust profit, would God that
therewith ye had the cowl of the nun, the veil, yea, and the
tail joined with all, that so ye might appear in your own
colours." Their liberty did so provoke the choler of Lethington,
that, in open audience, he gave himself to the Devil, if
ever after that day he should regard what became of ministers.
He should do what he could that his companions should have
a skair
Hereupon rose whispering and complaints by the
flatterers of the Court. Men were not charitably
handled, said they: "Might not sins be reproved in
general, albeit men were not so specially taxed, that
all the world might know of whom the preacher spake?" To
this the answer was made, "Let men be ashamed to offend
publicly, and the ministers shall abstain from specialities; but
so long as Protestants are not ashamed manifestly to act
against the Evangel of Jesus Christ, so long cannot the
ministers of God cease to cry that God will be revenged upon
such abusers of His holy Word." Thus had the servants of
God a double battle; fighting upon the one side against the
idolatry and the rest of the abominations maintained by the
The Queen, after the banqueting, kept a diet by direction of Monsieur la Usurie, Frenchman, who had been acquainted with her malady before, being her physician. And thereafter, for the second time, she made her progresses to the North, and commanded the Earl of Caithness to ward in the castle of Edinburgh, for a murder committed by his servants upon the Earl Marischall's men. He obeyed, but he was speedily relieved; for bloodthirsty men and Papists, such as he is, are best subjects to the Queen. "Thy kingdom come, O Lord; for in this realm there is nothing (amongst such as should punish vice and maintain virtue) but abomination abounding without bridle."
The flatterers of the Court did daily enrage against the poor preachers: happiest was he that could invent the most bitter taunts and disdainful mockings of the ministers. At length they began to jest at the term of idolatry, affirming, "That men wist not what they spake when they called the Mass idolatry." Yea, some proceeded further, and feared not at open tables to affirm, that they would sustain the argument that the Mass was no idolatry. These things coming to the ears of the preachers, were proclaimed in the public pulpit of Edinburgh, with this complaint directed by the speaker to his God. "O Lord, how long shall the wicked prevail against the just! How long shalt Thou suffer Thyself and Thy blessed Evangel to be despised of men; of men, we say, that make themselves defenders of the truth. Of Thy manifest and known enemies we complain not, but of such as unto whom Thou hast revealed Thy light: for now it comes to our ears that men, not Papists, but chief Protestants, will defend the Mass to be no idolatry. If this were so, O Lord, miserably have I been deceived, and miserably, alas, O Lord, have I deceived Thy people; and that Thou knowest, O Lord, I have ever abhorred more than a thousand deaths."
Turning his face towards the room where sat such men as
had so affirmed, "If I be not able to prove the Mass to be the
most abominable idolatry that ever was used since the beginning
of the world, I offer myself to suffer the punishment
appointed by God to a false teacher; and it appears to me
that the affirmers should be subject to the same law; for it is
the truth of God that ye persecute and blaspheme; and it is
the invention of the Devil that, obstinately against His Word,
ye maintain. Albeit ye now flyrt and flyre,
The General Assembly, held in June 1564,
approaching, to this the great part of those of
the Nobility that are called Protestants, convened;
some for assistance of the ministers, and some to
accuse them.... On the first day of the General Assembly,
the Courtiers and the Lords that depended upon the Court,
did not present themselves in session with their brethren.
Many wondering thereat, an ancient and honourable man,
the Laird of Lundie, said, "Nay, I wonder not of their
present absence; but I wonder that, at our last Assembly,
they drew themselves apart, and joined not with us, but
drew from us some of our ministers, and willed them to
conclude such things as were never proponed in the public
Assembly. That appears to me to be very prejudicial to
the liberty of the Kirk. My judgment is, therefore, that
they be informed of this offence, which the whole brethren
have conceived of their former fault; with humble request
that, if they be brethren, they will assist their brethren
with their presence and counsel, for we never had greater
At first, the Courtiers seemed not a little offended that they should be suspected of defection: yet, upon the morrow, they joined with the Assembly, and came into it. But they drew themselves apart, as they had done before, and entered the Inner Council House. There were the Duke's Grace, the Earls Argyll, Moray, Morton, Glencairn, Marischall, and Rothes; the Master of Maxwell, Secretary Lethington, the Justice Clerk, the Clerk Register, and the Comptroller, the Laird of Pittarrow.
After a little consultation, they directed a messenger, Mr. George Hay, then called the Minister of the Court, requiring the Superintendents, and some of the learned ministers, to confer with them.
The Assembly answered that they had convened to deliberate upon the common affairs of the Kirk; and therefore, that they could not lack their superintendents and chief ministers, whose judgments were so necessary that, without them, the rest should sit as it were idle. They therefore, as before, willed them that, if they acknowledged themselves members of the Kirk, they would join with the brethren, and propone in public such things as they pleased; and so they should have the assistance of the whole in all things that might conform to God's commandment. Hurt and slander might arise, rather than any profit or comfort to the Kirk, were they to send from themselves a portion of their company. For they feared that all men should not stand content with the conclusion, where the conference and reasons were only heard by a few.
This answer was not given without cause; for no small
travail was made to have drawn some ministers to the faction
of the courtiers, and to have sustained their arguments and
opinions. But when it was perceived by the most politic
amongst them that they could not prevail by that means, they
The Lords promised that no conclusion should be taken, or yet vote required, until their propositions and the reasons should both be heard and considered by the whole Assembly. Upon that condition, there were directed to them, with express charge to conclude nothing without the knowledge and advice of the Assembly, the Laird of Dun, Superintendent of Angus, the Superintendents of Lothian and Fife, Mr. John Row, Mr. John Craig, William Christison, and Mr. David Lindsay, ministers, with the Rector of St. Andrews, and Mr. George Hay. The Superintendent of Glasgow, Mr. John Willock, was moderator, and John Knox waited upon the scribe. And so they were appointed to sit with the brethren. Because the principal complaint touched John Knox, he was also called for.
Secretary Lethington began the harangue, which
contained these heads: First, how much we were
indebted unto God, by whose providence we had
liberty of religion under the Queen's Majesty, albeit
she was not persuaded in it herself: Secondly, how
necessary a thing it was that the Queen's Majesty, by all
good offices, so spake he, of the Kirk, and of the ministers
principally, should be retained in the constant opinion that
they unfeignedly favoured her advancement, and procured
her subjects to have a good opinion of her: And, lastly,
how dangerous a thing it was that ministers should be
noted to disagree one from another, in form of prayer for
Her Majesty, or in doctrine concerning obedience to Her
Majesty's authority. "And in these two last heads," said he,
"we desire you all to be circumspect; but especially we must
crave of you, our brother, John Knox, to moderate yourself, as
John Knox. If such as fear God have occasion
to praise Him because idolatry is maintained, the
servants of God are despised, wicked men are placed
again in honour and authority, and, finally, because
vice and impiety overflow this whole realm without
punishment, then have we occasion to rejoice and to praise
God. But if those and the like actions are wont to provoke
God's vengeance against realms and nations, then, in my
judgment, the godly within Scotland ought to lament and
mourn; and so to prevent
Lethington. That is a head wherein ye and I never agreed; for how are ye able to prove that ever God struck or plagued a nation or people for the iniquity of their prince, if they themselves lived godly?
Knox. I looked, my Lord, to have audience, until I had
absolved the other two parts; but seeing that it pleases your
Lordship to cut me off before the midst, I will answer your
question. The Scripture of God teaches me that Jerusalem
and Judah were punished for the sin of Manasseh; and if
ye will allege that they were punished because they were
wicked, and offended with their king, and not because their
king was wicked, I answer that, albeit the Spirit of God
makes for me, saying in express words, "For the sin of
Manasseh," yet will I not be so obstinate as to lay the
whole sin, and the plagues that followed, upon the king, and
utterly absolve the people. I will grant you that the whole
people offended with the king: but how, and in what fashion,
I fear that ye and I shall not agree. I doubt not but that the
Lethington. Well, that is the chief head wherein we never agreed; but of that we shall speak hereafter. What will ye say as touching the moving of the people to have a good opinion of the Queen's Majesty, and as concerning obedience to be given to her authority, as also of the form of the prayer which commonly ye use, and so on?
Knox. My Lord, a good conscience will not suffer me to move the people more earnestly, or to pray otherwise than heretofore I have done. He who knows the secrets of hearts knows that, privately and publicly, I have called to God for the Queen's conversion, and have willed the people to do the same, showing them the dangerous estate wherein not only she herself stands, but also the whole realm, by the reason of her indurate blindness.
Lethington. That is exactly wherein we find greatest fault. Your extremity against the Queen's Mass, in particular, passes measure. Ye call her a slave to Satan; ye affirm that God's vengeance hangs over the realm by reason of her impiety; and what is this else but to rouse up the heart of the people against Her Majesty, and against them that serve her?
There was heard an exclamation from the rest of the flatterers that such extremity could not profit. The Master of Maxwell said in plain words, "If I were in the Queen's Majesty's place, I would not suffer such things as I hear."
Knox. If the words of preachers shall always be wrested to the worst construction, then will it be hard to speak of anything so circumspectly (provided that the truth be spoken) that it shall not escape the censure of the calumniator. The most vehement, and, as ye put it, excessive manner of prayer that I use in public is this, "O Lord, if it be Thy pleasure, purge the heart of the Queen's Majesty from the venom of idolatry, and deliver her from the bondage and thraldom of Satan in which she has been brought up, and yet remains, for the lack of true doctrine; and let her see, by the illumination of Thy Holy Spirit, that there is no means to please Thee but by Jesus Christ, Thy only Son, and that Jesus Christ cannot be found but in Thy holy Word, nor yet received but as it prescribes; which is, to renounce our own wisdom and preconceived opinion, and worship Thee as Thou commandest; that in so doing she may avoid that eternal damnation which abides all who are obstinate and impenitent unto the end; and that this poor realm may also escape that plague and vengeance which inevitably follow idolatry, maintained against Thy manifest Word and the open light thereof." This, said he, is the form of my common prayer, as yourselves can witness. Now, I would hear what is worthy of reprehension in it.
Lethington. There are three things that I never liked. The first is that ye pray for the Queen's Majesty with a condition, saying, "Illuminate her heart, if it be Thy good pleasure." It may appear from these words that ye doubt of her conversion. Where have ye the example of such prayer?
Knox. Wheresoever the examples are, I am assured of the rule, which is this, If we shall ask anything according to His will, He shall hear us; and our Master, Christ Jesus, commanded us to pray unto our Father, "Thy will be done."
Lethington. But where do ye ever find one of the Prophets so to have prayed?
Knox. It sufficeth me, my Lord, that the Master and Teacher of both Prophets and Apostles has taught me so to pray.
Lethington. But, in so doing, ye put a doubt in the people's head concerning her conversion.
Knox. Not I, my Lord. Her own obstinate rebellion causes more than me to doubt of her conversion.
Lethington. Wherein rebels she against God?
Knox. In all the actions of her life, but in these two heads especially; firstly, she will not hear the preaching of the blessed Evangel of Jesus Christ; and, secondly, she maintains that idol, the Mass.
Lethington. She does not think that rebellion, but good religion.
Knox. So thought they that at one time offered their children to Moloch; and yet the Spirit of God affirms that they offered them unto devils, and not unto God. This day the Turks think they have a better religion than that of the Papists. I think ye will excuse neither of them from committing rebellion against God: nor can ye justly excuse the Queen, unless ye make God to be partial.
Lethington. But yet, why pray ye not for her, without moving any doubt?
Knox. Because I have learned to pray in faith. Now faith, ye know, depends upon the words of God, and the Word teaches me that prayers profit the sons and daughters of God's election. Whether she be one of these or not, I have just cause to doubt; and, therefore, I pray God "illuminate her heart," if it be His good pleasure.
Lethington. But yet ye can produce the example of none that so has prayed before you.
Knox. I have already answered that; but yet, for further declaration, I will demand a question. Do ye think that the Apostles prayed themselves as they commanded others to pray?
"Who doubts of that?" said the whole company that were present.
Knox. Well then, I am assured that Peter said these words to Simon Magus, "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray to God, that, if it be possible, the thought of your heart may be forgiven thee." Here we may plainly see that Peter joins a condition with his commandment that Simon should repent and pray, to wit, if it were possible that his sin might be forgiven; for he was not ignorant that some sins were unto the death, and so without all hope of repentance or remission. Think ye not, my Lord Secretary, there may touch my heart, concerning the Queen's conversion, the same doubt that then touched the heart of the Apostle?
Lethington. I would never hear you or any other call that in doubt.
Knox. But your will is no assurance to my conscience.
And, to speak freely, my Lord, I wonder if ye yourself doubt
not of the Queen's conversion; for more evident signs of
induration
Lethington. Why say ye that she refuses admonition? She will gladly hear any man.
Knox. But what obedience, to God or to His Word, ensues of all that is spoken to her? Or when shall she be seen to give her presence to the public preaching?
Lethington. I think never, so long as she is thus treated.
Knox. And so long ye and all others must be content that I pray, so that I may be assured of being heard by my God, that His good will may be done, either in making her comfortable to His Kirk, or, if He has appointed her to be a scourge to it, that we may have patience, and she may be bridled.
Lethington. Well let us come to the second head. Where find ye that the Scripture calls any the bond slaves to Satan? or that the Prophets of God speak so irreverently of kings and princes?
Knox. The Scripture says, that "by nature we are all the sons of wrath." Our Master, Christ Jesus, affirms, that "such as do sin are servants to sin," and that it is the only Son of God that sets men at freedom. Now, what difference there is betwixt the sons of wrath, and the servants of sin, and the slaves to the Devil, I understand not, except I be taught. If the sharpness of the term offend you, I have not invented that phrase of speech, but have learned it out of God's Scripture; for those words I find spoken unto Paul, "Behold, I send thee to the Gentiles, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." Mark these words, my Lord, and sturr not at the speaking of the Holy Ghost. The same Apostle, writing to his scholar Timothy, says, "Instruct with meekness those that are contrary minded, if God at any time will give them repentance, that they may know the truth, and that they may come to amendment, out of the snare of the Devil, which are taken of him at his will." If your Lordship rightly considers these sentences, ye shall not only find my words to be the words of the Holy Ghost, but also that the condition which I use to add, has the assurance of God's Scriptures.
Lethington. But they spake nothing against kings in especial, and yet your continual crying is, "The Queen's idolatry, the Queen's Mass, will provoke God's vengeance!"
Knox. In the former sentences I hear not kings and
queens excepted, but all unfaithful are pronounced to stand
in one rank, and to be in bondage to one tyrant, the Devil.
But belike, my Lord, ye little regard the estate wherein they
stand, when ye would have them so flattered, that the danger
Lethington. Where will ye find that any of the Prophets did so entreat kings and queens, rulers or magistrates?
Knox. In more places than one. Ahab was a king, and Jezebel was a queen, and yet of what the Prophet Elijah said to the one and to the other, I suppose ye are not ignorant?
Lethington. That was not cried out before the people to make them odious to their subjects.
Knox. That Elijah said, "Dogs shall lick the blood of Ahab, and eat the flesh of Jezebel," the Scriptures assure me; but I read not that it was whispered in their own ear, or in a corner. The plain contrary appears to me. That is, both the people and the Court understood well enough what the Prophet had promised; for so witnessed Jehu, after God's vengeance had stricken Jezebel.
Lethington. They were singular motions of the Spirit of God, and appertain nothing to this our age.
Knox. Then the Scripture has far deceived me, for
St. Paul teaches me that, "Whatsoever is written within the
Holy Scriptures, is written for our instruction." And my
Master said that "Every learned and wise scribe brings forth
his treasure, both things old and things new." And the
Prophet Jeremiah affirms that "Every realm and every city
that likewise offends, as then did Jerusalem, should likewise be
punished." Why then, I neither see nor yet can understand
that the acts of the ancient Prophets, and the fearful judgments
of God executed before us upon the disobedient,
appertain not unto this our age. But now, to put an end to
this head, my Lord, the Prophets of God have not spared to
rebuke wicked kings, as well to their face as before the people
and subjects. Elisha feared not to say to King Jehoram,
"What have I to do with thee? Get thee to the prophets of
thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother; for as the Lord
of Hosts lives, in whose sight I stand, if it were not that
I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah,
I would not have looked toward thee nor seen thee." It is
plain that the Prophet was a subject in the kingdom of Israel,
For the most part of this reasoning, Secretary Lethington leaned upon the Master of Maxwell's breast, who said, "I am almost weary: I would that some other would reason in the chief head, which is not touched."
The Earl of Morton, Chancellor, commanded Mr. George Hay to reason against John Knox, in the head of obedience due unto magistrates; and he began so to do.
Knox. Brother, I am well content that ye reason with me, because I know you to be both a man of learning and of modesty: but that ye shall oppose yourself to a truth of which, I suppose, your own conscience is no less persuaded than is mine, I cannot well approve. I would be sorry that you and I should be reputed to reason as two scholars of Pythagoras, to show the quickness of our imagination. I protest here, before God, that, whatsoever I sustain, I do the same of conscience; yea, I dare no more sustain a proposition known unto myself untrue, than dare I teach false doctrine in the public place. Therefore, Brother, if conscience move you to oppose yourself to that doctrine which ye have heard from my mouth in that matter, do it boldly: it shall never offend me. But it pleases me not that ye be found to oppose yourself to me, if ye are persuaded in the same truth. In that there may be greater inconvenience than either ye or I do consider for the present.
Hay. Far be it from me to prove myself willing to
impugn or confute that head of doctrine, which not only ye,
Lethington. Marry; ye are well the worse of the two. I remember well your reasoning when the Queen was in Carrick.
Knox. Well, seeing, Brother, that God has made you occupy the chair of truth, in which, I am sure, we will agree in all principal heads of doctrine, let it never be said that we disagree in disputation.
John Knox was moved thus to speak, because he understood more of the craft than the other did.
Lethington. Well, I am persuaded in this last head somewhat better than I was in the other two. Mr. Knox, yesterday we heard your judgment upon the 13th to the Romans; we heard the mind of the Apostle well opened; we heard the causes why God has established powers upon the earth; we heard the necessity that mankind has of the same; and we heard the duty of magistrates sufficiently declared; but in two things I was offended, and so I think were some more of my Lords that were then present. The one was that ye made difference betwixt the ordinance of God and the persons that were placed in authority; and ye affirmed that men might refuse the persons, and yet not offend against God's ordinance. This is the one; the other ye had no time to explain; but methought ye meant this,—that subjects were not bound to obey their princes if they commanded unlawful things; but that they might resist their princes, and were never bound to suffer.
Knox. In very deed ye have rightly both marked my words, and understood my mind; for I have long been of that same judgment, and so I yet remain.
Lethington. How will ye prove your division and difference, and that the person placed in authority may be resisted, and God's ordinance not transgressed, seeing that the Apostle says, "He that resists the powers, resisteth the ordinance of God."
Knox. My Lord, the plain words of the Apostle make the
difference, and the acts of many approved by God prove my
Lethington. I doubt if in so doing the people did well.
Knox. The Spirit of God accuses them not of any crime,
but rather praises them, and condemns the king, as well for
his foolish vow and law made without God, as for his cruel
mind, that would have punished an innocent man so severely.
I shall not stand entirely upon this: what follows shall
confirm it. This same Saul commanded Abimelech and the
priests of the Lord to be slain, because they had committed
treason, as he alleged, for intercommuning with David. His
guard and principal servants would not obey his unjust commandment;
but Doeg, the flatterer, put the king's cruelty to
And now, my Lord, to answer to the statement of the Apostle, where he affirms that such as resist the power resist the ordinance of God, I say that the power in that place is not to be understood to be the unjust commandment of men, but the just power wherewith God has armed His magistrates and lieutenants to punish sin and maintain virtue. If any man enterprise to take from the hands of a lawful judge a murderer, an adulterer, or any other malefactor that by God's law deserves death, this same man resists God's ordinance, and procures to himself vengeance and condemnation, because he has stayed God's sword from striking. But this is not the case if men, in the fear of God, oppose themselves to the fury and blind rage of princes; in doing so, they do not resist God, but the Devil, who abuses the sword and authority of God.
Lethington. I sufficiently understand what ye mean; and to the one part I will not oppose myself. But I doubt of the other. If the Queen commanded me to slay John Knox, because she is offended at him, I would not obey her. But, were she to command others to do it, or by a colour of justice to take his life from him, I cannot tell if I should be found to defend him against the Queen and against her officers.
Knox. Under protestation that the audience think not that I seek favours for myself, my Lord, I say that, if ye be persuaded of my innocency, and if God has given you such power and credit as might deliver me, and yet you suffered me to perish, in so doing you should be criminal, and guilty of my blood.
Lethington. Prove that, and win the play.
Knox. Well, my Lord, remember your promise, and I shall be short in my probation. The Prophet Jeremiah was apprehended by the priests and prophets, who were a part of the authority within Jerusalem, and by the multitude of the people, and this sentence was pronounced against him, "Thou shalt die the death; for thou hast said, this house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without inhabitant." The princes, hearing the uproar, came from the king's house, and sat down in judgment in the entry of the new gate of the Lord's House, and there the priests and the prophets, before the princes, and before all the people, stated their accusation in these words, "This man is worthy to die, for he has prophesied against this city, as your ears have heard." Jeremiah answered that whatsoever he had spoken proceeded from God; and therefore said he, "As for me, I am in your hands: do with me as ye think good and right. But know ye for certain that, if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon your souls, and upon this city, and upon the habitations thereof; for of truth the Lord has sent me to you, to speak all these words." Now, my Lord, if the prophets and the whole people should have been guilty of the Prophet's blood, how shall ye or others be judged innocent before God, if ye suffer the blood of such as have not deserved death to be shed when ye may save it?
Lethington. The cases are nothing like.
Knox. I would like to learn wherein the dissimilitude stands.
Lethington. First, the king had not condemned him to death. And next, the false prophets and the priests and the people accused him without a cause, and therefore they could not but be guilty of his blood.
Knox. Neither of these fights against my argument; for,
albeit the king was neither present, nor yet had condemned
him, the princes and chief councillors were there sitting in
judgment. They represented the king's person and authority,
hearing the accusation laid to the charge of the Prophet.
Therefore he forewarns them of the danger, as I have already
said, that, if he should be condemned and put to death, the
Lethington. Then ye will make subjects control their princes and rulers.
Knox. And what harm should the commonwealth receive, if the corrupt affections of ignorant rulers were moderated, and so bridled by the wisdom and discretion of godly subjects that they should do wrong nor violence to no man?
Lethington. All this reasoning is not to the purpose; for we reason as if the Queen should become such an enemy to our religion, that she should persecute it, and put innocent men to death. This, I am assured, she never intended, and never will do. If I should see her again of that purpose, yea, if I should suspect any such thing in her, I should be as far forward in that argument as ye or any other within this realm. But there is not such a thing. Our question is, whether we may and ought to suppress the Queen's Mass? Or whether her idolatry shall be laid to our charge?
Knox. What ye may do by force, I dispute not; but what ye may and ought to do by God's express commandment, that I can tell. Idolatry ought not only to be suppressed, but the idolater ought to die the death, unless we will accuse God.
Lethington. I know that the idolater is commanded to die the death; but by whom?
Knox. By the people of God. The commandment was
Lethington. But there is no commandment given to the people to punish their king if he be an idolater.
Knox. I find no privilege to offend God's Majesty granted to kings, by God, more than to the people.
Lethington. I grant that; but yet the people may not be judges to their king to punish him, albeit he be an idolater.
Knox. God is the Universal Judge, as well of the king as of the people. What His Word commands to be punished in the one, is not to be absolved in the other.
Lethington. We agree in that; but the people may not execute God's judgment. They must leave it to Himself. He will either punish it by death, by war, by imprisonment, or by some other plagues.
Knox. I know the last part of your reason to be true; but for the first, that the people, yea, or a part of the people, may not execute God's judgments against their king, he being an offender, I am assured ye have no other warrant except your own imagination, and the opinion of such as have more fear to offend princes than God.
Lethington. Why say ye so? I have the judgments of the most famous men within Europe, and of such as ye yourself will confess both godly and learned.
And with that he called for his papers. When these were produced by Mr. Robert Maitland, he began to read with great gravity the judgments of Luther, and Melanchthon, and the minds of Bucer, Musculus, and Calvin, as to how Christians should behave themselves in time of persecution: yea, the Book of Baruch was not omitted.
Lethington. The gathering of these things has cost more travail than I have taken these seven years in the reading of commentaries.
Knox. The more pity; and yet, let others judge what ye have profited your own cause. As for my argument, I am assured ye have weakened it in nothing; for your first two witnesses speak against the Anabaptists, who deny that Christians should be subject to magistrates, or that it is lawful for a Christian to be a magistrate. That opinion I no less abhor than ye do, or than does any other that lives. The others speak of Christians subject to tyrants and infidels, so dispersed that they have no other force but only to sob to God for deliverance. That such, indeed, should hazard any further than these godly men direct them, I cannot hastily counsel. But my argument has another ground; for I speak of the people assembled together in one body of one commonwealth, to whom God has given sufficient force, not only to resist, but also to suppress all kind of open idolatry. Such a people, I affirm yet again, are bound to keep their land clean and unpolluted.
That this my division shall not appear strange to you, ye should understand that God required one thing of Abraham and of his seed, when he and they were strangers and pilgrims in Egypt and Canaan; and another thing when they were delivered from the bondage of Egypt, and the possession of the land of Canaan was granted to them. At the first, and during all the time of their bondage, God craved no more than that Abraham should not defile himself with idolatry. Neither was he nor his posterity commanded to destroy the idols that were in Canaan or in Egypt. But when God gave them the possession of the land, He gave them this strait commandment, "Beware lest ye make league or confederacy with the inhabitants of this land: give not thy sons unto their daughters, nor yet give thy daughters unto their sons. But this shall ye do unto them, cut down their groves, destroy their images, break down their altars, and leave thou no kind of remembrance of those abominations, which the inhabitants of the land used before: for thou art a people holy unto the Lord thy God. Defile not thyself, therewith, with their gods."
Ye, my Lords, and all such as have professed the Lord
Lethington. In that point we will never agree; and where find ye, I pray you, that any of the Prophets or of the Apostles ever taught such a doctrine as that the people should be plagued for the idolatry of the prince; or that the subjects might suppress the idolatry of their rulers, or punish them for the same?
Knox. My Lord, we know what was the commission given
to the Apostles. It was to preach and plant the Evangel of
Jesus Christ where darkness had dominion before; and therefore
it behoved them, first, to let them see the light before they
should urge them to put to their hands to suppress idolatry.
I will not affirm what precepts the Apostles gave to the
faithful in particular, other than that they commanded all to
flee from idolatry. But I find two things which the faithful
did; the one was, they assisted their preachers, even against
the rulers and magistrates; the other was, they suppressed
idolatry wherever God gave them force, asking no leave of the
As I have said, God's laws pronounce sentence of death upon idolatry, without exception of any person. Idolatry is never alone; ever does it corrupt religion, and bring with it a filthy and corrupt life. How the Prophets could rightly interpret the law, and show the causes of God's judgments, which they ever threatened should follow idolatry, and the rest of abominations that accompany it—how they could reprove the vices, and not show the people their duty, I understand not. Therefore, I constantly believe that the doctrine of the Prophets was so sensible that the kings understood their own abominations, and the people understood what they ought to have done in punishing and repressing them. But because the most part of the people were no less rebellious to God than were their princes, the one and the other convened against God and against His servants. And yet, my Lord, the acts of some Prophets are so evident, that we may collect from them what doctrine they taught; for it were no small absurdity to affirm that their acts should repugn to their doctrine.
Lethington. I think ye refer to the history of Jehu. What will ye prove thereby?
Knox. The chief head that ye deny and I affirm—that the
Prophets never taught that it appertained to the people to
punish the idolatry of their kings. For the probation, I am
ready to produce the act of a Prophet. Ye know, my Lord,
that Elisha sent one of the children of the Prophets to anoint
Jehu, who gave him commandment to destroy the house of his
master Ahab for the idolatry committed by him, and for the
innocent blood that Jezebel his wicked wife had shed. He
obeyed, and put this into full execution; and for this God
promised him the stability of the kingdom, to the fourth
generation. Here is the act of one Prophet that proves that
Lethington. There is enough to be answered thereto. Jehu was a king before he put anything in execution; and besides, the act is extraordinary, and not to be imitated.
Knox. My Lord, he was a mere subject and no king, when the Prophet's servant came to him; yea, and albeit his fellow-captains, hearing of the message, blew the trumpet, and said, "Jehu is king;" I doubt not that Jezebel both thought and said he was a traitor. So did many others that were in Israel and in Samaria. And as touching what ye allege—that the act was extraordinary, and is not to be imitated—I say that it had ground upon God's ordinary judgment, which commands the idolater to die the death. Therefore, I yet again affirm that it is to be imitated by all those that prefer the true honour, the true worship, and the glory of God to the affections of flesh, and of wicked princes.
Lethington. We are not bound to imitate extraordinary examples, unless we have the like commandment and assurance.
Knox. I grant that, if the example repugn to the law,
and if an avaricious and deceitful man desired to borrow gold,
silver, raiment, or any other necessaries from his neighbour,
and withhold the same, he might allege that he might do so
and not offend God, because the Israelites did so to the
Egyptians, at their departure from Egypt. The example
would serve no purpose unless the like cause, and the like
commandment to that which the Israelites had, could be
produced; because, their act repugned to this commandment
of God, "Thou shalt not steal." But where the example
agrees with the law, and is, as it were, the execution of
God's judgments expressed in it, I say that the example
approved by God stands to us in place of a commandment.
God of His nature is constant, and immutable; He cannot
condemn in the subsequent ages that which He has approved
in His servants before us. In His servants before us, by
His own commandment, He has approved when subjects have
not only destroyed their kings for idolatry, but also rooted
Lethington. Whatsoever they did was done at God's commandment.
Knox. That fortifies my argument. You admit that subjects punish their princes by God's commandment for idolatry and wickedness committed by them.
Lethington. We have not the like commandment.
Knox. That I deny. The commandment, "The idolater
shall die the death," is perpetual, as ye yourself have granted.
You doubted only who should be executors against the king;
and I said the people of God. I have sufficiently proven, I
think, that God has raised up the people, and by His Prophet
has anointed a king to take vengeance upon the king and upon
his posterity. Since that time, God has never retreated
Lethington. Ye have but produced one example.
Knox. One sufficeth. But, God be praised, we do not lack others. The whole people conspired against Amaziah, king of Judah, after he had turned away from the Lord, followed him to Lachish and slew him, and took Uzziah and anointed him king instead of his father. The people had not altogether forgotten the league and covenant made betwixt their king and them, at the inauguration of Joash, his father, that the king and the people should be the people of the Lord, and then should they be his faithful subjects. When first the father, and afterwards the son, declined from that covenant, they were both punished to the death, Joash by his own servants, and Amaziah by the whole people.
Lethington. I doubt whether they did well or not.
Knox. It shall be free for you to doubt as ye please; but where I find execution according to God's laws, and God Himself does not accuse the doers, I dare not doubt of the equity of the cause. Further, it appears to me that God gave sufficient approbation and allowance to their act; for He blessed them with victory, peace, and prosperity, for the space of fifty-two years thereafter.
Lethington. But prosperity does not always prove that God approves the acts of men.
Knox. Yes; when the acts of men agree with the law of God, and are rewarded according to God's own promise, expressed in His law, I say that the prosperity succeeding the act is most infallible assurance that God has approved that act. God has promised in His law that, when His people shall exterminate and destroy such as decline from Him, He will bless them, and multiply them, as He has promised to their fathers. Amaziah turned from God; for so the text doth witness; and it is plain that the people slew their king; and it is as plain that God blessed them. Therefore, yet again I conclude that God approved their act, and it, in so far as it was done according to His commandment, was blessed according to His promise.
Lethington. Well, I think the ground is not so sure that I durst build my conscience thereupon.
Knox. I pray God that your conscience have no worse ground than this, whenever ye shall begin work like that which God, before your own eyes, has already blessed. And now, my Lord, I have but one example to produce, and then I will put an end to my reasoning, because I weary of standing. (Commandment was given that he should sit down; but he refused it, and said, "Melancholious reasons would have some mirth intermixed.") My last example, my Lord, is this, Uzziah the king, not content of his royal estate, malapertly took upon him to enter within the temple of the Lord, to burn incense upon the altar of incense; and Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord, valiant men. These withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, "It pertaineth thee not, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests, the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to offer incense. Go forth of the sanctuary, for thou hast transgressed, and you shall have no honour of the Lord God." From this, my Lord, I conclude that subjects not only may, but ought to withstand and resist their princes, whenever they do anything that expressly repugns to God's law or holy ordinance.
Lethington. They that withstood the king were not simple subjects. They were the priests of the Lord, and figures of Christ. We have none such priests this day, to withstand kings if they do wrong.
Knox. I grant that the High Priest was the figure of
Christ, but I deny that he was not a subject. I am assured
that he, in his priesthood, had no prerogative above those that
had gone before him. Now, Aaron was subject unto Moses,
and called him his lord. Samuel, being both prophet and
priest, subjected himself to Saul, after he was inaugurated by
the people. Zadok bowed before David; and Abiathar was
deposed from the priesthood by Solomon. These all confessed
themselves subjects to the kings, albeit therewith they ceased
not to be figures of Christ. Ye say that we have no such
priests this day, but I might answer that neither have we
such kings this day as then were anointed at God's commandment,
Lethington. Well, I will dip no further into that head. But how resisted the priests the king? They only spake to him, without further violence intended.
Knox. That they withstood him, the text assures me; but that they did nothing but speak, I cannot understand. The plain text affirms the contrary. They caused him hastily to depart from the sanctuary, yea, he was compelled to depart. This manner of speaking, I am assured, imports in the Hebrew tongue another thing than exhorting, or commanding by word.
Lethington. They did that after he was espied to be leprous.
Knox. They withstood him before; but their last act
confirms my proposition so evidently, that such as will oppose
themselves to it must needs oppose themselves to God. My
assertion is, that kings have no privilege to offend God's Majesty
more than had the people; and that, if they do so, they are
no more exempted from the punishment of the law than is any
subject; yea, and that subjects may not only lawfully oppose
themselves to their kings, whenever they do anything that
expressly repugns to God's commandment, but also that they
may execute judgment upon them according to God's law. If
the king be a murderer, adulterer, or idolater, he should suffer
Lethington. And yet I cannot tell what can be concluded.
Knox. Albeit ye cannot, I am assured of what I have proven, to wit:—1. That subjects have delivered an innocent from the hands of their king, and therein offended not God. 2. That subjects have refused to strike innocents when a king commanded, and in doing so denied no just obedience. 3. That such as struck at the commandment of the king before God were reputed murderers. 4. That God has not only of one subject made a king, but also has armed subjects against their natural kings, and commanded them to take vengeance upon them according to His law. 5. That God's people have executed God's law against their king, having no further regard to him in that behalf, than if he had been the most simple subject within this realm. Therefore, albeit ye will not understand what should be concluded, I am assured not only that God's people may, but also that they are bound to do the same where the like crimes are committed, and when He gives unto them the like power.
Lethington. Well, I think ye shall not have many learned men of your opinion.
Knox. My Lord, the truth ceases not to be the truth, howsoever men either misknow it, or yet gainstand it. And yet, I praise my God that I lack not the consent of God's servants in that head.
With that, John Knox presented to the Secretary the Apology of Magdeburg; and willed him to read the names of the ministers who had subscribed the defence of the town to be a most just one; adding, that to resist a tyrant is not to resist God, or yet His ordinance.
When the Secretary had read this, he scripped and
said, "Homines obscuri."
So Lethington arose and said, "My Lords, ye have heard the reasons upon both sides: it becomes you now to decide, and to give an order unto preachers, that they may be uniform in doctrine. May we, think ye, take the Queen's Mass from her?"
While some began to give their votes, for some were appointed, as it were, leaders to the rest, John Knox said, "My Lords, I suppose that ye will not do contrary to your Lordships' promise, made to the whole Assembly. This was that nothing should be voted in secret, until all matters should first be debated in public, and that then the votes of the whole Assembly should put an end to the controversy. Now have I only sustained the argument, and shown my conscience in most simple manner, rather than insisted upon the force and vehemence of any one argument. Therefore I, for my part, utterly dissent from all voting, until the whole Assembly have heard the propositions and the reasons of both parties. For I unfeignedly acknowledge that many in this company are more able to sustain the argument than I am.
"Think ye it reasonable," said Lethington, "that such a multitude as are now convened should reason and vote in these heads and matters that concern the Queen's Majesty's own person and affairs."
"I think," said the other, "that, whosoever should bind,
"I cannot tell," said Lethington, "if my Lords that be here present, and that bear the burden of such matters, should be bound to their will. What say ye, my Lords? Will ye vote in this matter, or will ye not vote?"
After long reasoning, some that were made for the purpose said, "Why may not the Lords vote, and then show unto the Kirk whatsoever is done?"
"That appears to me," said John Knox, "not only a backward order, but also a tyranny usurped upon the Kirk. For me, do as ye list, as I reason, so I vote; yet I protest, as before, that I dissent from all voting, until the whole Assembly understand the questions as well as the reasonings."
"Well," said Lethington, "that cannot be done now, for the time is spent; and therefore, my Lord Chancellor, said he, ask ye the votes, and take by course every one of the ministers, and one of us."
The Rector of St. Andrews, first commanded to speak his conscience, said, "I refer to the Superintendent of Fife, for I think we are both of one judgment; and yet, if ye will that I speak first, my conscience is this. If the Queen oppose herself to our religion, which is the only true religion, the Nobility and Estates of this realm, professors of the true doctrine, may justly oppose themselves to her. But, as concerning her own Mass, albeit I know it is idolatry, I am not yet resolved, whether or not we may take it from her by violence." The Superintendent of Fife said, "That is my conscience." So also affirmed some of the Nobility. But others voted frankly, and said that, as the Mass was an abomination, it was just and right that it should be suppressed; and that, in so doing, men did no more wrong to the Queen's Majesty than would they that should, by force, take from her a poisoned cup when she was going to drink it.
At last, Mr. John Craig, fellow-minister with John Knox in the Kirk of Edinburgh, was required to give his judgment and vote. "I will gladly show to your Honours what I understand," he said; "but I greatly doubt whether my knowledge and conscience shall satisfy you, seeing that ye have heard so many reasons, and are so little moved by them. But yet I shall not conceal from you my judgment, adhering first to the protestation of my brother that our voting prejudge not the liberty of the General Assembly. I was in the University of Bologna in the year of God 1554, and there, in the place of the Black Friars of the same town, I saw in the time of their General Assembly this conclusion set forth. This I heard reasoned, determined, and concluded:—'All rulers, be they supreme or be they inferior, may be and ought to be reformed or deposed by them by whom they are chosen, confirmed, or admitted to their office, as oft as they break that promise made by the oath to their subjects. Princes are no less bound by oath to the subjects, than are the subjects to their princes, and therefore ought to be kept and reformed equally, according to the law and condition of the oath that is made by either party.'
"This conclusion, my Lords, I heard sustained and concluded,
as I have said, in a most notable auditory. The sustainer
was a learned man, Monsieur Thomas de Finola, the
Rector of the University, a man famous in that country.
Magister Vincentius de Placentia affirmed the conclusion to
be most true and certain, agreeable both with the law of God
and man. The occasion of this disputation and conclusion
was a certain disorder and tyranny attempted by the Pope's
governors. These began to make innovations in the country
against the laws formerly established, alleging themselves not
to be subject to such laws, by reason that they were not
institute
Then started up a clawback of that corrupt Court, and said, "Ye wot not what ye say; for ye tell us what was done in Bologna; we are a kingdom, and they are but a commonwealth."
"My Lord," said he, "my judgment is, that every kingdom is or, at least, should be a commonwealth, albeit every commonwealth be not a kingdom; and, therefore, I think that, in a kingdom no less than in a commonwealth, diligence ought to be taken that laws be not violated. The tyranny of princes who continually reign in a kingdom is more hurtful to the subjects, than is the misgovernment of those that from year to year are changed in free commonwealths. But yet, my Lords, to assure you and all others further, that head was disputed to the uttermost; and then, in the end, it was concluded, that they spoke not of such things as were done in divers kingdoms and nations by tyranny and negligence of people. 'But we conclude,' said they, 'what ought to be done in all kingdoms and commonwealths, according to the law of God, and the just laws of man. And if, by the negligence of the people, or by the tyranny of princes, contrary laws have been made, yet may that same people, or their posterity, justly crave all things to be reformed, according to the original institution of kings and commonwealths; and such as will not do so, deserve to eat the fruit of their own foolishness.'"
Master James Macgill, then Clerk of Register, perceiving
the votes to be different, and hearing the bold plainness of the
foresaid servant of God, said, "I remember that this same
question was long debated once before this in my house, and
"Nay," said Mr. Knox, "my Lord Secretary would not consent that I should write, alleging that the greatest weight of the answer stood in the narrative, and therefore promised that he would write, and I should see it. But when, at divers times, I required him to remember his promise, I found nothing but delay."
Thereto the Secretary did answer, "True it is, I promised to write, and true it is, that divers times Mr. Knox required me so to do. But, when I had more deeply considered the weight of the matter, I began to find more doubts than I did before, and this one amongst others, how durst I, being a subject, and the Queen's Majesty's Secretary, take upon me, without her own knowledge and consent, to seek resolution of controversies depending betwixt her Highness and her subjects." Then was there an acclamation of the clawbacks of the Court, as if Apollo had given his response. It was wisely and faithfully done.
"Well," said John Knox, "let worldly men praise worldly
wisdom as highly as they please, I am assured that by such
shifts idolatry is maintained, and the truth of Jesus Christ is
betrayed. God one day will be revenged." At this and the
like sharpness many were offended, the voting ceased, and
every faction began plainly to speak as affection moved them.
In the end John Knox was commanded yet to write to Mr.
Calvin, and to the learned in other Kirks, to ascertain their
judgments on that question. This he refused, stating his
reason. "I myself am not only fully resolved in conscience,
but also I have heard the judgments of the most godly and
most learned that be known in Europe, in this and all other
things that I have affirmed within this realm. I came not to
this realm without their resolution; and for my assurance I
have the handwritings of many. Therefore, if I should now
move the same question again, what should I do but either
show my own ignorance and forgetfulness, or else inconstancy?
So may it please you to pardon me, albeit I write not. But I
Divers said the offer was good; but no man was found that would be the secretary. And so did the Assembly break up after long reasoning. After that time, the ministers were holden of all the courtiers as monsters.
In all that time the Earl of Moray was so fremmed
THE END.
APPENDIX.
I. KNOX'S CONFESSION.
II. THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE.
KNOX'S CONFESSION.The Confession of Faith professed and believed by the Protestants within
the Realm of Scotland, published by them in Parliament, and by the Estates
thereof ratified and approved, as wholesome and sound Doctrine, grounded upon
the infallible Truth of God's Word. (Original Title.)
The Preface.
The Estates of Scotland with the inhabitants of the same professing the Holy Evangel of Christ Jesus, to their natural countrymen, and to all other realms and nations, professing the same Lord Jesus with them, wish grace, peace, and mercy from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Spirit of righteous judgment, for salutation.
Long have we thirsted, dear brethren, to have notified unto
the world the sum of that doctrine which we profess, and for
the which we have sustained infamy and danger. But such
has been the rage of Satan against us, and against the eternal
verity of Christ Jesus lately born amongst us, that to this day
no time has been granted unto us to clear our consciences, as
most gladly we would have done; for how we have been
tossed for a whole year past, the most part of Europe, as we
suppose, does understand. But seeing that, of the infinite
goodness, above expectation, of our God, who never suffers
His afflicted to be utterly confounded, we have obtained some
rest and liberty, we could not but set forth this brief and
plain confession of such doctrine as is proponed unto us,
and as we believe and profess. We do so, partly for satisfaction
of our brethren, whose hearts we doubt not have been
and yet are wounded by the despiteful railing of such as yet
have not learned to speak well, and partly for stopping of the
mouths of impudent blasphemers, who boldly condemn that
Of God.—Cap. I.
We confess and acknowledge one only God, to whom only
we must cleave, [whom only we must serve],
Of the Creation of Man.—Cap. II.
We confess and acknowledge this our God to have created man, to wit, our first father Adam, of whom also God formed the woman to His own image and similitude; to whom He gave wisdom, lordship, justice, free-will, and clear knowledge of Himself; so that in the whole nature of man there could be noted no imperfection. From which honour and perfection man and woman did both fall; the woman being deceived by the serpent, and man obeying to the voice of the woman, both conspiring against the Sovereign Majesty of God, who before, in expressed words, had threatened death, if they presumed to eat of the forbidden tree.
Of Original Sin.—Cap. III.
By which transgression, commonly called Original Sin, was the image of God utterly defaced in man; and he and his posterity of nature became enemies to God, slaves to Satan, and servants to sin; insomuch that death everlasting has had, and shall have, power and dominion over all that have not been, are not, or shall not be regenerate from above: which regeneration is wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost, working in the hearts of the elect of God an assured faith in the promise of God, revealed to us in His word; by which faith they apprehend Christ Jesus, with the graces and benefits promised in Him.
Of the Revelation of the Promise.—Cap. IV.
For this we constantly believe, that God, after the fearful
and horrible defection of man from His obedience, did seek
The Continuance, Increase, and Preservation of the Kirk.—Cap. V.
We most constantly believe, that God preserved, instructed, multiplied, honoured, decorated, and from death called to life His Kirk in all ages, from Adam until the coming of Christ Jesus in the flesh: Abraham He called from his father's country, him He instructed, his seed He multiplied, the same He marvellously preserved and more marvellously delivered from the bondage [and tyranny] of Pharaoh; to them He gave His laws, constitutions, and ceremonies; them He possessed in the land of Canaan; to them, after judges, and after Saul, He gave David to be King, to whom He made promise, that of the fruit of his loins should one sit for ever upon his regal seat. To this same people, from time to time, He sent prophets to lead them back to the right way of their God, from the which oftentimes they declined by idolatry, and albeit, for their stubborn contempt of justice, He was compelled to give them into the hands of their enemies, as before was threatened by the mouth of Moses, insomuch that the holy city was destroyed, the temple burned with fire, and the whole land left desolate the space of seventy years; yet of mercy did He lead them back again to Jerusalem, where the city and temple were rebuilt, and they, against all temptations and assaults of Satan, did abide until the Messias came, according to the promise.
Of the Incarnation of Christ Jesus.—Cap. VI.
When the fulness of time came, God sent His Son, His Eternal Wisdom, the substance of His own glory, into this world, who took the nature of Manhood of the substance of a woman, to wit, of a virgin, and that by the operation of the Holy Ghost: And so was born the just seed of David, the Angel of the great counsel of God; the very Messias promised, whom we acknowledge and confess Emmanuel; very God and very man, two perfect natures united and joined in one person. By this our Confession we condemn the damnable and pestilent heresies of Arius, Marcion, Eutyches, Nestorius, and such others as either deny the eternity of His Godhead or the verity of His human nature, confound them, or divide them.
Why it behoved the Mediator to be very God and very Man.—Cap. VII.
We acknowledge and confess that this most wondrous conjunction betwixt the Godhead and the Manhood in Christ Jesus did proceed from the eternal and immutable decree of God, whence also our salvation springs and depends.
Election.—Cap. VIII.
For that same Eternal God, and Father, who of mere mercy
elected us in Christ Jesus, His Son, before the foundation of
the world was laid, appointed Him to be our Head, our Brother,
our Pastor, and great Bishop of our souls. But because that
the enmity betwixt the justice of God and our sins was such
that no flesh by itself could or might have attained unto God,
it behoved that the Son of God should descend unto us, and
take Himself a body of our body, flesh of our flesh, and bone of
our bones, and so become the perfect Mediator betwixt God
and man; giving power to so many as believe in Him to be the
sons of God, as He Himself does witness: "I pass up to my
Father and unto your Father, to my God and unto your God."
By this most holy fraternity, whatsoever we have lost in Adam
Christ's Death, Passion, Burial, etc.—Cap. IX.
That our Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself a voluntary sacrifice unto His Father for us; that He suffered contradiction of sinners; that He was wounded and plagued for our transgressions; that He, being the clean and innocent Lamb of God, was condemned in the presence of an earthly judge, that we might be absolved before the tribunal seat of our God; that He suffered not only the cruel death of the Cross, which was accursed by the sentence of God, but also that He suffered for a season the wrath of His Father, which sinners had deserved. But yet we avow that He remained the only and well-beloved and blessed Son of His Father, even in the midst of His anguish and torment, which He suffered in body and soul, to make the full satisfaction for the sins of His people. We confess and avow, that there remains no other sacrifice for sins; which if any affirm, we nothing doubt to avow that they are blasphemers against Christ's death, and the everlasting purgation and satisfaction procured for us by the same.
Resurrection.—Cap. X.
We undoubtedly believe that, insomuch as it was impossible that the dolours of death should retain in bondage the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified, dead, and buried, descended into hell, did rise again for our justification, and the destruction of him who was the author of death, and brought life again to us that were subject to death and to its bondage. We know that His resurrection was confirmed by the testimony of His very enemies; by the resurrection of the dead, whose sepulchres did open, and who did arise and appear to many within the city of Jerusalem. It was also confirmed by the testimony of His angels, and by the senses and judgments of His apostles, and of others who had conversation, and did eat and drink with Him after His resurrection.
Ascension.—Cap. XI.
We nothing doubt but that the self-same body, which was
born of the Virgin, was crucified, dead, and buried, and rose
again, did ascend into the heavens for the accomplishment of
all things; where, in our names and for our comfort, He has
received all power in heaven and in earth; where He sits at
the right hand of the Father, inaugurate in His kingdom,
Advocate and only Mediator for us; which glory, honour, and
prerogative He alone amongst the brethren shall possess, until
all His enemies be made His footstool, as we undoubtedly
believe they shall be in the final judgment; to the execution
whereof we certainly believe that our Lord Jesus shall visibly
return as we believe that He was seen to ascend. And then we
firmly believe, that the time of refreshing and restitution of all
things shall come, insomuch that they that from the beginning
have suffered violence, injury, and wrong for righteousness'
sake, shall inherit that blessed immortality promised from the
beginning: but contrariwise, the stubborn, inobedient, cruel,
oppressors, filthy persons, adulterers, and all sorts of unfaithful
men shall be cast into the dungeon of outer darkness, where
their worm shall not die, neither yet their fire be extinguished.
Faith in the Holy Ghost.—Cap. XII.
This our faith, and the assurance of the same, proceeds not
from flesh and blood, that is to say, from no natural powers
within us, but is the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Him we
confess God, equal with the Father and with the Son; who
sanctifieth us, and bringeth us into all truth by His own
operation; without Him we should remain for ever enemies
to God, and ignorant of His Son, Christ Jesus. For of nature
we are so dead, so blind, and so perverse, that neither can we
feel when we are pricked, see the light when it shines, nor
assent to the will of God when it is revealed; only the Spirit
of the Lord Jesus quickeneth that which is dead, removeth the
darkness from our minds, and boweth our stubborn hearts to
the obedience of His blessed will. As we confess that God
the Father created us when we were not, and as His Son, our
Lord Jesus, redeemed us when we were enemies to Him, so
also do we confess that the Holy Ghost does sanctify and
regenerate us, altogether without respect to any merit proceeding
from us, be it before, or be it after our regeneration.
In more plain words, as we willingly spoil ourselves of all
honour and glory of our own creation and redemption, so do
we also of our regeneration and sanctification: for of ourselves
we are not sufficient to think one good thought; but He who
The Cause of Good Works.—Cap. XIII.
The cause of good works we therefore confess to be, not our
freewill, but the Spirit of the Lord Jesus; who, dwelling in our
hearts by true faith, brings forth such good works as God hath
prepared for us to walk in: for we most boldly affirm, that it
is blasphemy to say that Christ Jesus abides in the hearts of
such as in whom there is no Spirit of sanctification. And
therefore we fear not to affirm, that murderers, oppressors,
cruel persecutors, adulterers, whoremongers, filthy persons,
idolaters, drunkards, thieves, and all workers of iniquity, have
neither true faith, nor any portion of the Spirit of sanctification,
which proceedeth from the Lord Jesus, so long as they
obstinately continue in their wickedness. For how soon that
ever the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, which God's elect children
receive by true faith, takes possession in the heart of any man,
so soon does He regenerate and renew the same man; so that
he begins to hate that which before he loved, and begins to
love that which before he hated; and from thence comes that
continual battle which is betwixt the flesh and the Spirit in
God's children; while the flesh and natural man, according to
its own corruption, lusts for things pleasing and delectable
unto itself, grudges in adversity, is lifted up in prosperity, and
at every moment is prone and ready to offend the Majesty of
God. But the Spirit of God, which giveth witness to our
spirit that we are the sons of God, makes us to resist the Devil,
to abhor filthy pleasures, to groan in God's presence for deliverance
from this bondage of corruption; and finally, so to
triumph over sin that it reign not in our mortal bodies. Carnal
men, being destitute of God's Spirit, have not this battle; these
do follow and obey sin with greediness, and without repentance,
even as the Devil and their corrupt lusts do prick them. But
the sons of God, as before is said, do fight against sin, do sob
and mourn, when they perceive themselves tempted to iniquity:
What Works are reputed good before God.—Cap. XIV.
We confess and acknowledge that God has given to man
His holy law, in which not only are forbidden all such works
as displease and offend His Godly Majesty; but also are commended
all such as please Him, and as He hath promised to
reward. And these works be of two sorts; the one are done
to the honour of God, the other to the profit of our neighbours;
and both have the revealed will of God for their assurance.
To have one God; to worship and honour Him; to call upon
Him in all our troubles; to reverence His holy name; to hear
His Word; to believe the same; to communicate with His holy
Sacraments: these are the works of the First Table. To
honour father, mother, princes, rulers, and superior powers; to
love them; to support them, yea, to obey their charges, unless
repugnant to the commandment of God; to save the lives of
innocents; to repress tyranny; to defend the oppressed; to
keep our bodies clean and holy; to live in sobriety and temperance;
to deal justly with all men, both in word and in deed;
and, finally, to repress all appetite for our neighbour's hurt:
these are the good works of the Second Table, which are most
pleasing and acceptable unto God, as those works that are
commanded by Himself. The contrary is sin most odious,
which always displeases Him, and provokes Him to anger.
Not to call upon Him alone when we have need; not to hear His
Word with reverence; to contemn and despise it; to have or
to worship idols; to maintain and defend idolatry; lightly to
esteem the reverent name of God; to profane, abuse, or contemn
the Sacraments of Christ Jesus; to disobey or resist any
that God has placed in authority, while they pass not over the
bounds of their office; to murder, or to consent thereto; to
bear hatred, or to suffer innocent blood to be shed if we may
The Perfection of the Law and Imperfection of Man.—Cap. XV.
The law of God we confess and acknowledge most just,
most equal, most holy, and most perfect; commanding those
things which, being wrought in perfection, were able to give
life, and able to bring man to eternal felicity. But our nature
is so corrupt, so weak, and imperfect, that we are never able to
fulfil the works of the law in perfection; yea, "If we say we
have no sin," (even after we are regenerate,) "we deceive ourselves,
and the truth of God is not in us." And therefore it
behoved us to apprehend Christ Jesus, with His justice and
satisfaction, who is the end and accomplishment of the law to
all that believe; by whom we are set at this liberty, that the
curse and malediction of God fall not upon us, albeit we fulfil
not the same in all points. For God the Father, beholding us
in the body of His Son Christ Jesus, accepteth our imperfect
obedience as it were perfect, and covereth our works, which
are defiled with many spots, with the justice of His Son.
As we have already plainly confessed, we do not mean that
we are so set at liberty that we owe no obedience to the
law; but we affirm that no man on earth, Christ Jesus
only excepted, hath given, giveth, or shall give in work,
Of the Kirk.—Cap. XVI.
As we believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, so do we most earnestly believe that from the beginning there has been, now is, and to the end of the world shall be a Church; that is to say, a company and multitude of men chosen of God, who rightly worship and embrace Him, by true faith in Christ Jesus, who is the only Head of the same Kirk, which also is the body and spouse of Christ Jesus; which Kirk is Catholic, that is, universal, because it contains the elect of all ages, of all realms, nations, and tongues, be they of the Jews, or be they of the Gentiles, who have communion and society with God the Father, and with His Son Christ Jesus, through the sanctification of His Holy Spirit; and therefore it is called the communion, not of profane persons, but of saints, who, as citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, have the fruition of the most inestimable benefits, to wit, of one God, one Lord Jesus, one faith, and of one baptism; out of the which Kirk there is neither life nor eternal felicity. And therefore we utterly abhor the blasphemy of those that affirm that men which live according to equity and justice shall be saved, what religion soever they have professed. For as without Christ Jesus there is neither life nor salvation, so shall there none be participant thereof but such as the Father has given unto His Son Christ Jesus, and those that in time come to Him, avow His doctrine, and believe into Him—we comprehend the children with the faithful parents. This Kirk is invisible, known only to God, who alone knoweth whom He has chosen, and comprehends as well, as said is, the elect that be departed, commonly called the Kirk triumphant, as those that yet live and fight against sin and Satan as shall live hereafter.
The Immortality of the Souls.—Cap. XVII.
The elect departed are in peace, and rest from their labours; not that they sleep and come to a certain oblivion, as some fantastic heads do affirm, but they are delivered from all fear, all torment, and all temptation, to which we and all God's elect are subject in this life; and therefore do bear the name of the Kirk militant. As contrariwise, the reprobate and unfaithful departed have anguish, torment, and pain, that cannot be expressed; so that neither are the one nor the other in such sleep that they feel not joy or torment, as, in the parable of Christ Jesus in the sixteenth chapter of Luke, His words to the thief, and these words of the souls crying under the altar, "O Lord, Thou that art righteous and just, how long shalt Thou not revenge our blood upon them that dwell upon the earth!" do plainly testify.
Of the notes by which the True Kirk is discerned from the false, and who shall be judge of the doctrine.—Cap. XVIII.
Because that Satan from the beginning has laboured to
deck his pestilent synagogue with the title of the Kirk of
God, and has inflamed the hearts of cruel murderers to
persecute, trouble, and molest the true Kirk and members
thereof, as Cain did Abel; Ishmael, Isaac; Esau, Jacob; and
the whole priesthood of the Jews, Jesus Christ Himself and
His apostles after Him; it is a thing most requisite that the
true Kirk be discerned from the filthy synagogue, by clear and
perfect notes, lest we, being deceived, receive and embrace to
our own condemnation the one for the other. The notes,
signs, and assured tokens whereby the immaculate spouse of
Christ Jesus is known from that horrible harlot the Kirk
malignant, we affirm are neither antiquity, title usurped,
lineal descent, place appointed, nor multitude of men approving
an error; for Cain in age and title was preferred to
Abel and Seth. Jerusalem had prerogative above all places of
the earth, where also were the priests lineally descended from
The Authority of the Scriptures.—Cap. XIX.
As we believe and confess the Scriptures of God sufficient to instruct and make the man of God perfect, so do we affirm and avow the authority of the same to be of God, and neither to depend on men nor angels. We affirm, therefore, that such as allege the Scripture to have no other authority, but that which is received from the Kirk, to be blasphemous against God, and injurious to the true Kirk, which always heareth and obeyeth the voice of her own spouse and pastor, but taketh not upon her to be mistress over the same.
Of General Councils, of their Power, Authority, and Causes of their Convention.—Cap. XX.
As we do not rashly condemn that which godly men
assembled together in General Council, lawfully gathered,
have approved unto us; so without just examination dare we
not receive whatsoever is obtrused unto men, under the name
of General Councils. For plain it is, that as they were men,
so have some of them manifestly erred, and that in matters of
great weight and importance. So far, then, as the Council
proveth the determination and commandment that it giveth
by the plain Word of God, so far do we reverence and embrace
Of the Sacraments.—Cap. XXI.
As the Fathers under the Law, besides the verity of the
sacrifices, had two chief Sacraments, to wit, Circumcision and
the Passover, the despisers and contemners whereof were not
reputed God's people; so do we acknowledge and confess that
we now, in the time of the Evangel, have two Sacraments only,
institute by the Lord Jesus, and commanded to be used of all
those that will be reputed members of His body, to wit, Baptism
and the Supper, or Table of the Lord Jesus, called the Communion
of His body and blood. And these Sacraments, as well
Of the right Administration of the Sacraments.—Cap. XXII.
That Sacraments be rightly ministered, we judge two things
requisite. The one, that they be ministered by lawful ministers,
whom we affirm to be only they that are appointed to the
preaching of the Word, or into whose mouths God has put
some sermon of exhortation, they being men lawfully chosen
thereto by some kirk. The other, that they be ministered in
such elements, and in such sort as God hath appointed. Else
we affirm that they cease to be right Sacraments of Christ
Jesus. And, therefore, it is, that we flee the society of the
To whom Sacraments Appertain.—Cap. XXIII.
We confess and acknowledge that baptism appertaineth as well to the infants of the faithful as to those that be of age and discretion. And so we condemn the error of the Anabaptists, who deny baptism to appertain to children before they have faith and understanding. But the Supper of the Lord we confess to appertain only to such as have been of the household of faith and can try and examine themselves, as well in their faith as in their duty towards their neighbours. Such as eat [and drink] at that holy table without faith, or being at dissension or division with their brethren, do eat unworthily: and, therefore, in our kirks our ministers take public and particular examination of the knowledge and conversation of such as are to be admitted to the Table of the Lord Jesus.
Of the Civil Magistrate.—Cap. XXIV.
We confess and acknowledge empires, kingdoms, dominions,
and cities to be distinct and ordained by God: the powers and
authorities in the same, be it of emperors in their empires, of
kings in their realms, dukes and princes in their dominions,
or of other magistrates in free cities, to be God's holy ordinance,
ordained for manifestation of His own glory, and for the
singular profit and commodity of mankind. So that whosoever
goes about to take away or to confound the whole state of civil
The Gifts freely given to the Kirk.—Cap. XXV.
Albeit that the word of God truly preached, the Sacraments
rightly ministered, and discipline executed according to the
Word of God, be the certain and infallible signs of the true
Kirk; yet do we not so mean that every particular person
joined with such a company, is an elect member of Christ
Jesus. For we acknowledge and confess that darnel, cockle,
and chaff may be sown, grow, and in great abundance lie in
the midst of the wheat; that is, the reprobate may be joined
in the society of the elect, and may externally use with them
the benefits of the Word and Sacraments; but such, being but
temporal professors in mouth and not in heart, do fall back
Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be confounded: Let them flee from Thy presence that hate Thy godly name: Give Thy servants strength to speak Thy Word in boldness: and let all nations attain to Thy true knowledge.
These Acts and Articles were read in face of Parliament and ratified by the Three Estates of the Realm at Edinburgh, on the 17th day of August in the year of God 1560.
THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE.In a Preface, the compilers addressed themselves to the Great Council of
Scotland, "now admitted to the Regiment, by the Providence of God,"
acknowledging instructions, received on 29th April 1560, to commit to writing
their Judgments touching the Reformation of Religion. The book is offered
"for common order and uniformity to be known in this Realm, concerning
Doctrine, Administration of Sacraments [Election of Ministers, Provision for
their Sustentation], Ecclesiastical Discipline, and Policy of the Kirk." The
Lords are desired neither to admit anything which God's plain Word shall not
approve, nor yet to reject such ordinances as equity, justice, and God's Word do
specify. Cf. pp. 217, 243 supra.
I. Of Doctrine.
Seeing that Christ Jesus is He whom God the Father has commanded only to be heard and followed of His sheep, we urge it necessary that His Evangel be truly and openly preached in every kirk and assembly of this realm; and that all doctrine repugning to the same be utterly suppressed as damnable to man's salvation.
Lest upon this generality ungodly men take occasion to cavil, this we add for explication. By preaching of the Evangel, we understand not only the Scriptures of the New Testament but also of the Old; to wit, the Law, Prophets, and Histories, in which Christ Jesus is no less contained in figure, than we have Him now expressed in verity. And, therefore, with the Apostle we affirm, that all Scripture inspired of God is profitable to instruct, to reprove, and to exhort. In which books of Old and New Testaments we affirm that all things necessary for the instruction of the Kirk, and to make the man of God perfect, are contained and sufficiently expressed.
By the contrary doctrine, we understand whatsoever men,
by laws, councils, or constitutions have imposed upon the
consciences of men, without the expressed commandment of
II. Of Sacraments.
To the true preaching of the holy Evangel of Christ Jesus it is necessary that His holy Sacraments be annexed, and truly ministered, as seals and visible confirmations of the spiritual promises contained in the Word. These be two, to wit, Baptism and the Holy Supper of the Lord Jesus; which are rightly ministered when the people, before the administration of the same, are plainly instructed by a lawful minister, and put in mind of God's free grace and mercy, offered unto the penitent in Christ Jesus; when God's promises are rehearsed, the end and use of the Sacraments declared, and that in such a tongue as the people do understand; when, farther, to them is nothing added, from them nothing diminished, and in their practice nothing changed from the institution of the Lord Jesus and practice of His holy Apostles.
Albeit the order of Geneva, which now is used in some of our kirks, is sufficient to instruct the diligent reader how both these Sacraments may be rightly ministered; yet, that a uniformity be kept, we have thought good to add the following as superabundant.
In Baptism, we acknowledge nothing to be used except the
element of water only; that the Word and declaration of the
promises ought to precede we have already said. Wherefore,
The Table of the Lord is then most rightly ministered when it approacheth most nigh to Christ's own action. But plain it is that at that Supper, Christ Jesus sat with His disciples, and therefore do we judge, that sitting at a table is most convenient to that holy action; that bread and wine ought to be there; that thanks ought to be given; distribution of the same made; and commandment given that the bread should be taken and eaten; and that all should likewise drink of the cup of wine, with declaration what both the one and the other is, we suppose no godly man will doubt. As touching the damnable errors of the Papists, who can defraud the common people of the one part of that holy Sacrament, to wit, of the cup of the Lord's blood, we suppose their error to be so manifest that it needeth no confutation; neither yet intend we to confute anything in this our simple confession; but to offer public disputation to all that list to oppugn anything affirmed by us.
That the minister break the bread and distribute the same to those that be next unto him, commanding the rest, every one with reverence and sobriety, to break with other, we think nighest to Christ's action, and to the perfect practice of the Apostles, as we read it in St. Paul. During this action, we think it necessary that some comfortable places of the Scriptures be read, which may bring in mind the death of Christ Jesus and the benefit of the same; for, seeing that in that action we ought chiefly to remember the Lord's death, we judge the Scriptures making mention of the same to be most apt to stir up our dull minds, then and at all times. Let the discretion of the ministers appoint the places to be read as they think good. What times we think most convenient for the administration of the one and of the other of these Sacraments shall be declared in the policy of the Kirk.
III. Touching the Abolition of Idolatry.
As we require Christ Jesus to be truly preached, and His holy Sacraments to be rightly ministered; so can we not cease to require idolatry, with all monuments and places of the same, as abbeys, monasteries, friaries, nunneries, chapels, chantries, cathedral kirks, canonries, colleges, others than presently are parish kirks or schools, to be utterly suppressed in all bounds and places of this realm, except only the palaces, mansions, and dwelling places adjacent thereto, with orchards and yards of the same. As also that idolatry may be removed from the presence of all persons of whatsoever estate or condition within this realm.
Let your honours be assuredly persuaded that where idolatry is maintained, or permitted where it may be suppressed, there shall God's wrath reign, not only upon the blind and obstinate idolater, but also upon the negligent sufferers of the same; especially if God have armed their hands with power to suppress such abomination. By idolatry we understand the Mass, invocation of saints, adoration of images, and the keeping and retaining of the same: and finally all honouring of God, not contained in His holy Word.
IV. Concerning Ministers and their Lawful Election.
1. In a Kirk reformed or tending to reformation, none ought to presume to preach, or to minister the Sacraments, until they be called to the same in proper form. Ordinary vocation consisteth in election, examination, and admission; and, because election of ministers in this cursed Papistry has altogether been abused, we think it expedient to treat of it more largely.
It appertaineth to the people, and to every several congregation,
to elect their minister. And in case that they be
found negligent therein the space of forty days, the best reformed
kirk, to wit, the church of the Superintendent with
his Council, may present unto them a man whom they judge
And that this may be done with more exact diligence, the persons that are to be examined must be commanded to compear before men of soundest judgment, resident in some principal town adjacent unto them; as they that be in Fife, Angus, Mearns, or Strathearn, to present themselves in St. Andrews; those that be in Lothian, Merse, or Teviotdale, in Edinburgh; and likewise those that be in other districts must resort to the best reformed cities or towns, that is, to the city of the Superintendent. There, first, in the schools or, failing that, in open assembly, and before the congregation, they must give declaration of their gifts, utterance, and knowledge, by interpreting some place of Scripture to be appointed by the ministry. This ended, the person that is presented, or that offered himself to the administration of the kirk, must be examined by the ministers and elders of the kirk, and that openly and before all that list to hear, in all the chief points that now lie in controversy betwixt us and the Papists, Anabaptists, Arians, or other such enemies to the Christian religion. If he be found sound, able to persuade by wholesome doctrine, and to convince the gainsayers, then must he be directed to the kirk and congregation where he should serve, that there, in open audience of his flock, in divers public sermons, he may give confession of his faith in the articles of Justification, of the office of Christ Jesus, of the number, effect, and use of the Sacraments; and finally, of the whole religion, which heretofore hath been corrupted by the Papists.
If his doctrine be found wholesome, and able to instruct
the simple, and if the Kirk justly can reprehend nothing in
his life, doctrine, nor utterance, then we judge the kirk which
before was destitute, unreasonable if they refuse him whom
the Kirk did offer, and that they should be compelled, by
the censure of the Council and Kirk, to receive the person
appointed and approven by the judgment of the godly and
learned; unless the same kirk have presented a man better
or as well qualified to the examination, before this foresaid
trial of the person presented by the Council of the whole
2. What may disqualify any person for admission to the ministry of the Kirk.—It is to be observed that no person noted with public infamy, or being unable to edify the Kirk by wholesome doctrine, or being known of corrupt judgment, be either promoted to the regiment of the Kirk, or yet received in ecclesiastical administration.
By public infamy we understand, not the common sins
and offences which any has committed in time of blindness,
by frailty (if of the same, by a better and more sober conversation,
he hath declared himself verily penitent), but such
capital crimes as the civil sword ought and may punish with
death, according to the word of God. For, besides that the
Apostle requireth the life of ministers to be so irreprehensible,
that they have a good testimony from those that be without,
we judge it a thing unseemly and dangerous, that he shall
have public authority to preach to others the life everlasting,
from whom the civil magistrate may take the life temporal for
a crime publicly committed. And if any object that the prince
has pardoned his offence, and that he has publicly repented,
That the life and conversation of the person presented, or to be elected, may be the more clearly known, public edicts must be directed to all parts of this realm, or at the least to those parts where the person hath been most conversant: as where he was nourished in letters, or where he continued after the years of infancy and childhood were passed. Strait commandment would be given that if any capital crimes were committed by him they should be notified; as, if he hath committed wilful murder, or adultery, if he were a common fornicator, a thief, a drunkard, a fighter, a brawler, or a contentious person. These edicts ought to be notified in the chief cities, with the like charge and commandment, with declaration that such as concealed his known sins did, so far as in them lay, deceive and betray the Kirk, which is the spouse of Christ Jesus, and did communicate with the sins of that wicked man.
3. Admission of Ministers.—The admission of ministers to their offices, must consist in consent of the people and kirk whereto they shall be appointed, and in approbation of the learned ministers appointed for their examination.
We judge it expedient, that the admission of ministers be
in open audience; that some especial minister make a sermon
touching the duty and office of ministers, touching their
manners, conversation, and life, as also touching the obedience
which the kirk owe to their ministers. Commandment should
be given as well to the minister as unto the people, both being
present, to wit, that he with all careful diligence attend upon
the flock of Christ Jesus, over which he is appointed preacher;
that he will walk in the presence of God so sincerely that the
graces of the Holy Spirit may be multiplied unto him, and in
the presence of men so soberly and uprightly that his life may
confirm, in the eyes of men, that which by tongue and word
he persuadeth unto others. The people would be exhorted to
reverence and honour their ministers chosen, as the servants
Other ceremony than the public approbation of the people, and declaration of the chief minister that the person there presented is appointed to serve that kirk, we cannot approve; for albeit the Apostles used the imposition of hands, yet, seeing the miracle is ceased, the using of the ceremony we judge is not necessary.
The minister elected or presented, examined, and, as said is, publicly admitted, must not at his pleasure leave the flock to the which he has promised his fidelity and labours; nor may the flock reject nor change him at their appetite, unless they be able to convict him of such crimes as deserve deposition. The whole Kirk, or the most part thereof, for just considerations, may transfer a minister from one kirk to another: nor do we mean that men who now do serve as it were of benevolence may not be appointed and elected to serve in other places; but we cannot approve that once being solemnly elected and admitted they should change at their own pleasure.
We are not ignorant that the rarity of godly and learned
men shall seem to some a just reason why so strait and
sharp examination should not be taken universally, because
it shall appear that the most part of the kirks shall have no
minister at all. But let these men understand that the lack
of able men shall not excuse us before God if, by our consent,
unable men be placed over the flock of Christ Jesus; as also
that amongst the Gentiles, godly, learned men were as rare as
they be now amongst us, when the Apostle gave the rule to
try and examine ministers which we now follow. Let them
understand that it is alike to have no minister at all, and to
have an idol in the place of a true minister, yea and in some
cases it is worse; for those that be utterly destitute of ministers
will be diligent to search for them; but those that have a vain
shadow do commonly without farther care content themselves
The chiefest remedy left to your honours and to us, in all this rarity of true ministers, is fervent prayer unto God, that it will please His mercy to thrust out faithful workmen into this His harvest; and next, that your honours, with the consent of the Kirk, are bound by your authority to compel such men as have gifts and graces able to edify the Kirk of God, that they bestow them where greatest necessity shall be known; for no man may be permitted to live idle, or as he himself lists, but he must be appointed to travail where your wisdoms and the Kirk shall think expedient.
We cannot prescribe unto your honours certain rule how that ye shall distribute the ministers and learned men, whom God has already sent unto you. But hereof we are assured, that it greatly hindereth the progress of Christ's Evangel within this poor realm, that some altogether abstract their labours from the Kirk, and others remain together in one place, the most part of them being idle. And therefore of your honours we require in God's name, that by the authority which ye have of God, ye compel all men to whom God has given any talent to persuade by wholesome doctrine, to bestow the same, if they be called by the Kirk to the advancement of Christ's glory, and to the comfort of His troubled flock; and that ye, with the consent of the Kirk, assign unto your chiefest workmen, not only towns to remain in, but also provinces, that by their faithful labours kirks may be erected, and order established, where none is now. If on this manner ye will use your power and authority, chiefly seeking God's glory, and the comfort of your brethren, we doubt not but God shall bless you and your enterprises.
4. For Readers.—To the kirks where no ministers can be had
presently must be appointed the most apt men that distinctly
V. Concerning Provision for the Ministers, and for Distribution of the Rents and Possessions justly appertaining to the Kirk.
Seeing that from our Master Christ Jesus and His Apostle
Paul we have it that the workman is worthy of his reward, and
that the mouth of the labouring ox ought not to be muzzled, of
necessity it is that honest provision be made for the ministers.
This we require to be such that they have neither occasion of
solicitude nor of insolence and wantonness. And this provision
must be made not only for their own sustentation during their
lives, but also for their wives and children after them. For
It is difficult to appoint a stipend to every several minister, by reason that the charges and necessity of all will not be alike; for some will be continuers in one place, while some will be compelled to travel and oft to change dwelling-place if they shall have charge of divers kirks. Some will be burdened with wife and children, and one with more than another, and some perchance will be single men. If equal stipends be appointed to all those that in charge are so unequal, one would suffer penury, or another would have superfluity and too much.
We judge, therefore, that every minister should have
sufficient whereupon to keep a house and be sustained honestly
in all things necessary, as well for keeping of his house, as
clothes, flesh, fish, books, fuel, and other things necessary.
Provision should be made for this from the rents and treasury
of the kirk where he serveth, at the discretion of the congregation,
conform to the quality of the person and necessity of
the time. It is thought good that every minister should have
at least forty bolls meal and twenty-six bolls malt, to find his
house in bread and drink, and so much more as the discretion
of the kirk finds necessary. He should have, besides, money
for buying other provision to his house, and other necessaries,
and the modification of this is referred to the judgment of the
kirk, to be made every year at the choosing of the elders and
deacons of the kirk; providing always that there be advanced
to every minister sufficient provision of all things for a quarter
of a year beforehand.
For those that travel from place to place, whom we call
Superintendents, who remain a month or less in one place for
the establishing of the Kirk, and thereafter, for the same
The children of the ministers must have the liberties of the
cities next adjacent the place of their father's labours, freely
granted. They must have the privileges in schools, and bursaries
in colleges; that is, they shall be sustained at learning,
if they be found apt thereto, and failing thereof, they shall be
put to some handicraft, or exercised in some virtuous industry,
whereby they may become profitable members of the commonwealth.
In God's presence we bear witness that we require these provisions not so much for ourselves, or for any that to us appertain, as for the increase of virtue and learning, and for the profit of the posterity to come. It is not to be supposed that any man will dedicate himself and his children to God, and so serve His Kirk that he will look for no worldly commodity. This cankered nature which we bear is provoked to follow virtue when it seeth honour and profit annexed to the same, as, contrarily, virtue is despised of many when virtuous and godly men live without honour. And, too, we should be sorry that poverty should discourage men from study and from following the way of virtue, whereby they might edify the Kirk and flock of Christ Jesus.
We have not spoken of the stipend of readers, because, if
they can do nothing but read, they can be neither called nor
judged true ministers. And yet regard must be had to their
labours; but only that they may be spurred forward to virtue,
and not by a stipend appointed for their reading be retained
permanently in that estate. For a reader that is lately entered,
For the other sort of readers who have long continued in godliness, have some gift of exhortation, are in hope to attain to the degree of a minister, and teach the children, we think a hundred marks, or more at the discretion of the Kirk, may be appointed; difference being made betwixt them and the ministers that openly preach the word and minister the Sacraments.
There still remain other two sorts of people to be provided
for, from that which is called the patrimony of the Kirk, to
wit, the poor and the teachers of youth. Every several kirk
must provide for the poor within itself; for fearful and horrible
it is that the poor (whom not only God the Father in His law,
but Christ Jesus in His Evangel, and the Holy Spirit speaking
by St. Paul, have so earnestly commended to our care) are
universally so contemned and despised. We are not patrons
for stubborn and idle beggars, who, running from place to
place, make a craft of their begging. Them the civil magistrate
ought to punish; but God commandeth His people to be careful
for the widow and fatherless, the aged, impotent, or lamed, who
How, most conveniently and most easily, this may be done in every city, and in other parts of this realm, God shall show you wisdom and the means, if your minds shall godly thereto be inclined. All must not be suffered to beg that gladly so would do; neither yet must beggars remain where they choose; but the stout and strong beggar must be compelled to work, and every person that may not work must be compelled to repair to the place where he or she was born (unless of long continuance he or she have remained in one place), and there reasonable provision must be made, as the Church shall appoint. The order nor sums, in our judgment, cannot be particularly appointed, until such time as the poor of every city, town, or parish be compelled to repair to the places where they were born, or to the place of their residence. There their names and number must be taken and put in roll; and then may the wisdom of the kirk appoint stipends accordingly.
VI. Of the Superintendents.The Sections are numbered in this edition as in the edition of 1722.
Originally the Book of Discipline had nine "heads" with sundry sub-headings,
numbered in some cases and not in others. The numbering coincides up to this
point.—Ed.
1. Because we have appointed a larger stipend to these that shall be Superintendents than to the rest of the ministers, we have thought good to signify such reasons as moved us to make difference betwixt preachers at this time; as also how many Superintendents we think necessary, with their bounds, office, the manner of their election, and causes that may deserve deposition from that charge.
We consider that, if the ministers whom God hath endowed
with His singular graces amongst us should be appointed to
several and certain places, there to make their continual
residence, the greatest part of this realm should be destitute
2. The Names of the Places of Residence, and several Dioceses of the Superintendents.—(1) The Superintendent of Orkney; whose diocese shall be the Isles of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness, and Strathnaver. His residence to be in the town of Kirkwall.
(2) The Superintendent of Ross; whose diocese shall comprehend Ross, Sutherland, Moray, with the North Isles of Skye, and the Lewis, with their adjacents. His residence to be in Chanonry of Ross.
(3) The Superintendent of Argyll; whose diocese shall comprehend Argyll, Kintyre, Lorne, the South Isles, Arran, and Bute, with their adjacents, with Lochaber. His residence to be in Argyll.
(4) The Superintendent of Aberdeen; whose diocese is betwixt Dee and Spey, containing the sheriffdom of Aberdeen and Banff. His residence to be in Old Aberdeen.
(5) The Superintendent of Brechin; whose diocese shall be the whole sheriffdoms of Mearns and Angus, and the Brae of Mar to Dee. His residence to be in Brechin.
(6) The Superintendent of St. Andrews; whose diocese shall comprehend the whole sheriffdom of Fife and Fotheringham to Stirling; and the whole sheriffdom of Perth. His residence to be in St. Andrews.
(7) The Superintendent of Edinburgh; whose diocese shall
comprehend the whole sheriffdoms of Lothian, and Stirling on
the south side of the Water of Forth; and thereto is added,
by consent of the whole Church, Merse, Lauderdale, and
Wedale.
(8) The Superintendent of Jedburgh; whose diocese shall comprehend Teviotdale, Tweeddale, Liddesdale, with the Forest of Ettrick. His residence to be Jedburgh.
(9) The Superintendent of Glasgow; whose diocese shall comprehend Clydesdale, Renfrew, Monteith, Lennox, Kyle, and Cunningham. His residence to be in Glasgow.
(10) The Superintendent of Dumfries; whose diocese shall comprehend Galloway, Carrick, Nithsdale, Annandale, with the rest of the Dales in the west. His residence to be in Dumfries.
Those men must not be suffered to live as your idle bishops have done heretofore; neither must they remain where gladly they would. They must be preachers themselves, and such as may make no long residence in any one place, until their churches be planted and provided with ministers, or at the least with readers.
Charge must be given to them that they remain in no one
place above twenty or thirty days in their visitation, until
they have passed through their whole bounds. They must
preach thrice every week, at the least; and when they return
If the Superintendent be found negligent in any of these chief points of his office, and especially if he be noted negligent in preaching of the Word, and in visitation of his churches; or if he be convicted of any of those crimes which in the common ministers are condemned, he must be deposed, without respect to his person or office.
3. Of the Election of Superintendents.—In this present necessity, the nomination, examination, and admission of Superintendents cannot be so strait as we require, and as afterwards it must be. For the present, therefore, we think sufficient that either your honours, by yourselves, nominate so many as may serve the forewritten provinces; or that ye give commission to men in whom ye suppose the fear of God to be, to do the same; these men, being called into your presence, shall be by you, and by such as your honours may please to call unto you for consultation in that case, appointed to their provinces. We think it expedient and necessary, that the gentlemen, as well as the burgesses of every diocese, be made privy at the same time to the election of the Superintendent, both to bring the Church into some practice of her liberty, and to make the pastor better favoured of the flock whom themselves have chosen.
If your honours cannot find for the present so many able
When, therefore, after three years, any Superintendent shall depart, or chance to be deposed, the chief town within that province, to wit, the ministers, elders, and deacons, with the magistrate and council of the same town, shall nominate, and by public edicts proclaim, as well to the Superintendent, as to two or three provinces next adjacent, two or three of the most learned and most godly ministers within the whole realm, that from amongst them, one with public consent may be elected and appointed to the office then vacant. The chief town shall be bound to do this within the term of twenty days. If this period expire and no man be presented, then shall three of the next adjacent provinces, with consent of their Superintendents, ministers, and elders, enter into the right and privileges of the chief town, and shall present every one of them one, or two if they list, to the chief town, to be examined as the order requireth. It shall also be lawful for all the churches of the diocese to nominate within the same time such persons as they think worthy to stand in election; and this must be put in edict.
After the nominations are made, public edicts must be sent, first warning all men that have any objection against the persons nominated, or against any one of them, to be present in the chief town at day and place appointed, to object what they can against the election. Thirty days we think sufficient to be assigned thereto; thirty days, we mean, after the nomination shall be made.
The day of election being come, the whole ministers of that
province, with three or more of the Superintendents next adjacent,
or thereto named, shall examine not only the learning,
but also the manners, prudence, and ability to govern the
Church, of all those that are nominated; that he who shall
If his offences be known, and the ministers and elders of his province be negligent in correcting him, the next one or two Superintendents, with their ministers and elders, may convene him, and the ministers and elders of his chief town, within his own province or chief town; and they may accuse and correct the Superintendent in those things that are worthy of correction, as well as the ministers and elders for their negligence and their ungodly tolerance of his offences. Whatsoever crime deserves correction or deposition of any other minister deserveth the same in the Superintendent, without respect of person.
After the Church is established, and three years be passed, we require that no man be called to the office of a Superintendent, who hath not for two years at least, given declaration of his faithful labours in the ministry of some church.
No Superintendent may be transferred at the pleasure or request of any one province without the consent of the whole Council of the Church, and that only for grave causes and considerations.
Of one thing, in the end, we must admonish your honours.
VII. Of Schools and Universities.
As the office and duty of the godly magistrate is not only to purge the Church of God from all superstition, and to set it at liberty from bondage of tyrants, but also to provide, to the uttermost of his power, that it may abide in the same purity to the posterities following, we cannot but freely communicate our judgments to your honours in this behalf.
1. The Necessity of Schools.—Seeing that God hath determined that His Church here on earth shall be taught not by angels but by men; and seeing that men are born ignorant of all godliness; and seeing, also, how God ceaseth to illuminate men miraculously, suddenly changing them, as He changed His Apostles and others in the primitive Church: it is necessary that your honours be most careful for the virtuous education and godly upbringing of the youth of this realm, if ye now thirst unfeignedly for the advancement of Christ's glory, or desire the continuance of His benefits to the generation following. For as the youth must succeed to us, so ought we to be careful that they have knowledge and erudition, for the profit and comfort of that which ought to be most dear to us, to wit, the Church and Spouse of the Lord Jesus.
Therefore we judge it necessary that every several church
have a schoolmaster appointed, such an one as is able, at least,
to teach Grammar and the Latin tongue, if the town be of any
reputation. If it be upaland,
The fruit and commodity hereof shall speedily appear. For, first, the youths and tender children shall be nourished and brought up in virtue, in presence of their friends; by whose good care may be avoided those many inconveniences into which youth commonly falls, either by too much liberty, which they have in strange and unknown places while they cannot rule themselves; or else for lack of good care, and of such necessities as their tender age requireth. Secondarily, the exercise of the children in every church shall be great instruction to the aged.
Lastly, the great schools, called Universities, shall be replenished with those that are apt to learn; for this must be carefully provided, that no father, of what estate or condition that ever he be, use his children at his own fantasy, especially in their youth. All must be compelled to bring up their children in learning and virtue.
The rich and potent may not be permitted to suffer their
children to spend their youth in vain idleness, as heretofore
they have done. They must be exhorted, and by the censure
of the Church compelled to dedicate their sons, by good
exercise, to the profit of the Church and to the Commonwealth;
and this they must do at their own expense, because
they are able. The children of the poor must be supported
and sustained as the charge of the Church, until trial be taken
whether the spirit of docility be found in them or not. If they
A certain time must be appointed to reading, and to learning of the Catechism; a certain time to Grammar, and to the Latin tongue; a certain time to the Arts, Philosophy, and to the other tongues; and a certain time to that study in which they intend chiefly to travail for the profit of the Commonwealth. This time being expired, we mean in every course, the children must either proceed to farther knowledge, or else they must be sent to some handicraft, or to some other profitable exercise. Care must always be taken that first they have the form of knowledge of Christian religion, to wit, the knowledge of God's law and commandments; the use and office of the same; the chief articles of our belief; the right form to pray unto God; the number, use, and effect of the Sacraments; the true knowledge of Christ Jesus, of His office and natures, and such others. Without this knowledge, neither deserveth any man to be named a Christian, nor ought any to be admitted to the participation of the Lord's Table; and, therefore, these principles ought to be taught and must be learned in youth.
2. The Times appointed to every Course.—Two years
we think more than sufficient to learn to read perfectly, to
answer to the Catechism, and to have some entrance to the
first rudiments of Grammar. For the full accomplishment of
the Grammar, we think other three or four years, at most,
sufficient. For the Arts, to wit, Logic and Rhetoric, and for
the Greek tongue, we allow four years. The rest of youth,
until the age of twenty-four years, should be spent in that
study wherein the learner would profit the Church or Commonwealth,
be it in the Laws or Physic or Divinity. After twenty-four
3. The Erection of Universities.—The Grammar schools and schools of the tongues being erected as we have said, next we think it necessary that there be three Universities in this whole realm, established in the towns accustomed: the first in St. Andrews, the second in Glasgow, and the third in Aberdeen.
In the first University and principal, which is St. Andrews,
there be three Colleges. And in the first College, which is the
entrance of the University, there be four classes or sessions: the
first, to the new supposts,
4. Of Readers, and of the Degrees, of Time, and Study.—In
the first College, and in the first class, shall be a reader
In the second College, in the first class, there shall be one
reader only in the Ethics, Economics, and Politics, who shall
In the third College, in the first class, there shall be a reader of the Hebrew, and another of the Greek tongue, who shall complete the grammars thereof in half a year, and for the remnant of the year, the reader of the Hebrew shall interpret a Book of Moses, the Prophets or the Psalms; so that his course and class shall continue a year. The reader of the Greek shall interpret some book of Plato, together with some place of the New Testament. And in the second class, there shall be two readers in Divinity, one in the New Testament, the other in the Old. These shall complete their course in five years. After this time, those shall be graduate in Divinity who shall be found by examination sufficient.
We think it expedient that no one be admitted unto the
first College, and to be suppost of the University, unless he
have from the master of the school, and from the minister of
the town where he was instructed in the tongues, a testimonial
of his learning, docility,
None shall be admitted to the class of Medicine but he that
shall have his testimonial of his time well spent in Dialectic,
Mathematic, and Physic, and of his docility
None shall be admitted to the class of the Laws but he that shall have sufficient testimonials of his time well spent in Dialectic, Mathematic, Physic, Ethic, Economics, and Politics, and of his docility in the last.
None shall be admitted unto the class and session of
Divinity but he that shall have sufficient testimonials of his
time well spent in Dialectic, Mathematic, Physic, Ethic,
Economic, Moral Philosophy, and the Hebrew tongue, and
In the second University, which is Glasgow, there shall be two Colleges only. In the first shall be a class of Dialectic, another in Mathematic, the third in Physic, ordered in all sorts as St. Andrews. In the second College there shall be four classes: the first in Moral Philosophy, Ethics, Economics, and Politics; the second, of the Municipal and Roman Law; the third, of the Hebrew tongue; the fourth, in Divinity. These shall be ordered in all sorts, as we have written in the order of the University of St. Andrews.
The third University of Aberdeen shall be conform to this University of Glasgow, in all sorts.
We think it needful that there be chosen from the body of the University a Principal for every College—a man of learning, discretion, and diligence. He shall receive the whole rents of the College, and distribute the same according to the erection of the College, and shall daily hearken the diet accounts, adjoining to him weekly one of the readers or regents. In the oversight of the readers and regents he shall watch over their diligence, in their reading, as well as their exercitation of the youth in the matter taught. He shall have charge of the policy and uphold of the place; and for punishment of crimes, shall hold a weekly convention with the whole members of the College. He shall be accountable yearly to the Superintendent, Rector, and rest of the Principals convened, about the first of November. His election shall be in this sort. There shall be three of the most sufficient men of the University, not Principals already, nominated by the members of the College (sworn to follow their consciences) whose Principal is departed, and publicly proponed through the whole University. After eight days the Superintendent, by himself or his special Procurator, with the Rector and rest of the Principals, as a chapter convened, shall confirm that one of the three whom they think most sufficient, being before sworn to do the same with single eye, without respect to fee or favour.
In every College, we think needful at the least one steward, one cook, one gardener, and one porter. These shall be subject to discipline of the Principal, as the rest.
Every University shall have a beadle subject to serve at all times throughout the whole University, as the Rector and Principals shall command.
Every University shall have a Rector, chosen from year to
year as follows. The Principals being convened with the whole
Regents in chapter, shall be sworn that every man in his room
shall nominate such one as his conscience shall testify to be
most sufficient to bear such charge and dignity; and three of
them that shall be of test nominated shall be put in edict
publicly, fifteen days before Michaelmas. On Michaelmas
Even shall be convened the whole Principals, Regents, and
Supposts that are graduate, or have at least studied their time
in Ethics, Economics, and Politics, and no others younger; and
every nation,
We think it expedient, that in every College, in each
5. Of Stipends and Expenses necessary.—We think expedient that the Universities be doted with temporal lands, with rents, and revenues of the Bishoprics' temporality, and of the Collegiate Kirks, as far as their ordinary charges shall require; and therefore, we crave that it would please your honours, by advice of your honours' Council and vote of Parliament, to do the same. And that the same may be shortly expedite, we have recollected the sums we think necessary for the same.
(1) For the ordinary stipend of the Dialectitian Reader, the Mathematician, Physician, and Reader in Moral Philosophy, we think sufficient a hundred pounds for every one of them. (2) For the stipend of every Reader in Medicine and Laws, a hundred and thirty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence. (3) To every Reader in Hebrew, Greek, and Divinity, two hundred pounds. (4) To every Principal of a College, ij lb. (5) To every Steward, sixteen pounds of fee. (6) To every Gardener, to every Cook, and to every Porter, each, ten marks. (7) To the board of every Bursar, other than those in the classes of Theology and Medicine, twenty pounds. (8) To every Bursar in the class of Theology, which will be only twelve persons in St. Andrews, 24 lib.
| The sum of yearly and ordinary expenses in the University of St. Andrews, extends to | 3796 lib. |
| The sum of yearly and ordinary expenses of Glasgow | 2922 " |
| Aberdeen, the same | 2922 " |
| The sum of the ordinary charges of the whole | 9640 lib. |
The beadle's stipend shall be of every entrant and suppost of the University, two shillings; of every one graduate in Philosophy, three shillings; of every one graduate in Medicine or Laws, four shillings; in Theology, five shillings; all Bursars being excepted.
We have thought good that, for building and upkeep of the places, a general collection be made; and that every Earl's son, at his entrance to the University, shall give forty shillings, and suchlike at every graduation, forty shillings; every Lord's son suchlike at each time, thirty shillings; each freeholding Baron's son, twenty shillings; every Feuar and substantial gentleman's son, one mark; every substantial Husbandman's or Burgess's son, at each time, ten shillings; every one of the rest, excepting the Bursars, five shillings at each time.
We recommend that this collection be gathered in a common box, put in keeping of the Principal of the Theologians, every Principal having a key thereof. The contents should be counted each year once, with the relicts of the Principals to be laid into the same, about the fifteenth day of November, in presence of the Superintendent, Rector, and the whole Principals. At their whole consent, or at least the most part thereof, the sums collected should be reserved and employed only upon the building and upkeep of the places, and repairing of the same, as ever necessity shall require. For this end, the Rector with his assistants shall be obliged to visit the places each year once, immediately after he is promoted, upon the last of October, or thereby.
6. Of the Privilege of the University.—We desire that
innocency should defend us rather than privilege, and we think
that each person of the University should be answerable, before
the Provost and Bailies of each town where the Universities
are, for all crimes whereof they are accused, only that the
Rector be Assessor to them in the said actions. In civil
matters, if the question on both sides be betwixt members of
the University, making their residence and exercitation therein
for the time, the party called shall not be obliged to answer,
otherwise than before the Rector and his Assessors. In all
The Rector and all inferior members of the University
shall be exempted from all taxations, imposts, charges of war,
or any other charge that may onerate or abstract him or them
from the duties of their office—such as Tutory, Curatory,
Deaconry, or any suchlike, that are established, or hereafter
shall be established in our Commonwealth. In this manner,
without trouble, this one may wait upon the upbringing of the
youth in learning, that other bestow his time only in that
most necessary exercition.
All other things, touching the books to be read in each class and all such particular affairs, we refer to the discretion of the Masters, Principals, and Regents, with their well advised Councils; not doubting but that, if God shall grant quietness and give your wisdoms grace to set forward letters in the sort prescribed, ye shall leave wisdom and learning to your posterity, a treasure more to be esteemed than any earthly treasure ye are able to provide for them. These, without wisdom, are more able to be their ruin and confusion, than help or comfort. And as this is most true, we leave it with the rest of the commodities to be weighed by your honours' wisdom, and set forward by your authority for the most high advancement of this Commonwealth, committed to your charge.
VIII. Of the Rents and Patrimony of the Kirk.
The ministers and the poor, together with the schools, when
order shall be taken thereanent, must be sustained upon the
charges of the Church. Provision must therefore be made,
how and from whom the necessary sums must be lifted. But,
before we enter upon this head, we must crave of your honours,
in the name of the Eternal God and of His Son, Christ Jesus,
that ye have respect to your poor brethren, the labourers and
manurers of the ground. These have been so oppressed by
these cruel beasts, the Papists, that their lives have been
dolorous and bitter. If ye will have God author and approver
With grief of heart we hear that some gentlemen are now
as cruel over their tenants as ever were the Papists, requiring
of them whatsoever before they paid to the Church; so
that the papistical tyranny is only like to be changed to the
tyranny of the lord or of the laird. We dare not flatter your
honours, neither yet is it profitable for you that so we do: if
you permit such cruelty to be used, neither shall ye, who by
your authority ought to gainstand such oppression, nor shall
they that use the same, escape God's heavy and fearful judgments.
The gentlemen, barons, earls, lords, and others, must
be content to live upon their just rents, and suffer the Church
to be restored to her liberty, that, in her restitution, the poor,
who heretofore by the cruel Papists have been spoiled and
oppressed, may now receive some comfort and relaxation.
Nor do we judge it to proceed from justice that one man shall possess the teinds of another; but we think it a thing most reasonable that every man have the use of his own teinds, provided that he be answerable to the deacons and treasurers of the Church for that which justly shall be appointed unto him. We require deacons and treasurers to receive the rents rather than the ministers themselves; because not only the ministers, but also the poor and schools must be sustained from the teinds. We think it most expedient, therefore, that common treasurers, to wit, the deacons, be appointed from year to year, to receive the whole rents appertaining to the Church; and that commandment be given that no man be permitted either to receive, or yet to intromit with anything appertaining to the sustentation of the persons foresaid, but such as by common consent of the Church are thereto appointed.
If any think this prejudicial to the tacks and assedations
Your honours may easily understand that we speak not now for ourselves, but in favour of the poor and the labourers defrauded and oppressed by the priests and by their confederate pensioners. For, while the priests' pensioner's idle belly has been delicately fed, the poor, to whom a portion of that appertains, have pined with hunger. Moreover, the true labourers were compelled to pay that which they ought not: for the labourer is neither debtor to the dumb dog called the bishop, nor yet unto his hired pensioner; but is debtor only unto the Church. And the Church is only bound to sustain and nourish at her charges the persons before mentioned, to wit, the ministers of the Word, the poor, and the teachers of the youth.
But now to return to the former head. The sums able to
sustain these forenamed persons, and to furnish all things
appertaining to the preservation of good order and policy
within the Church, must be lifted from the teinds, to wit, the
To the ministers, and failing these the Readers, must be
restored their manses and their glebes; otherwise they cannot
serve their flock at all times as their duty is. If any glebe
exceed six acres of land, the rest shall remain in the possessor's
hands until order be taken therein.
The receivers and collectors of these rents and duties must
be the deacons or treasurers appointed from year to year in
every church, by common consent and free election of the
church. The deacons may distribute no part of that which
is collected, but by commandment of the ministers and elders;
and they may command nothing to be delivered, but as the
Church before hath determined; and the deacons shall pay
the sums, either quarterly, or from half year to half year,
to the ministers which the Kirk hath appointed. The same
If any extraordinary sums fall to be delivered, then must the ministers, elders, and deacons consult whether the deliverance of these sums doth stand with the common utility of the Church or not; and if they do universally agree and condescend either upon the affirmative or the negative, then, because they are in credit and office for the year, they may do as best seemeth unto them. But if there be controversy amongst themselves, the whole Church must be made privy; and after the matter has been exponed and the reasons heard, the judgment of the Church, with the ministers' consent, shall prevail.
The deacons shall be bound and compelled to make accounts to the ministers and elders of that which they have received, as oft as the policy shall appoint; and the elders when they are changed, which must be every year, must clear their accounts before such auditors as the Church shall appoint. When the deacons and elders are changed, they shall deliver to them that shall then be elected, all sums of money, corns, and other profits remaining in their hands. The tickets for these must be delivered to the Superintendents in their visitation, and by them to the great Council of the Church, that the abundance as well as the indigence of every church may be evidently known, and that a reasonable equality may be had throughout the whole realm. If this order be precisely kept, corruption cannot suddenly enter. The free and yearly election of deacons and elders will not suffer any one to usurp a perpetual dominion over the Church; the knowledge of the rental shall suffice them to receive no more than whereof they shall be bound to make accounts; and the deliverance of the money to the new officers shall not suffer private men to use in their private business that which appertaineth to the public affairs of the Church.
IX. Of Ecclesiastical Discipline.
1. As no commonwealth can flourish or long endure without
good laws, and sharp execution of the same; so neither can the
But, because this accursed Papistry hath brought such confusion into the world that neither was virtue rightly praised nor vice severely punished, the Church of God is compelled to draw the sword, which of God she has received, against such open and manifest offenders, cursing and excommunicating all such (as well those whom the civil sword ought to punish as the others) from all participation with her in prayers and Sacraments, until open repentance manifestly appear in them. As the order of Excommunication and proceeding to the same ought to be grave and slow, so, being once pronounced against any person of what estate and condition that ever he be, it must be kept with all severity. For laws made and not kept engender contempt of virtue, and bring in confusion and liberty to sin. Therefore we think this order expedient to be observed before and after excommunication.
If the offence be secret and known to few, and rather
stands in suspicion than in manifest proof, the offender ought
to be privately admonished to abstain from all appearance of
evil. If he promises to do this, and to declare himself sober,
honest, and one that feareth God, and feareth to offend his
brethren, then may the secret admonition suffice for his correction.
But if he either contemns the admonition, or, after
promise made, do show himself no more circumspect than he
was before, then must the minister admonish him; to whom
If the crime be public and such as is heinous, as fornication,
drunkenness, fighting, common swearing, or execration,
then ought the offender to be called into the presence of the
minister, elders, deacons, where his sin and offence ought to be
declared and aggravated,
If the offender, called before the ministry, be found stubborn, hard-hearted, or one in whom no sign of repentance appeareth, then must he be dismissed with an exhortation to consider the dangerous estate in which he stands; with the assurance that, if the ministry find in him no other token of amendment of life, they will be compelled to seek a further remedy. If he within a certain space show his repentance, they must present him to the Church as before is said.
But if he continue in his impenitence, then must the
Church be admonished that such crimes are committed
amongst them, and that these have been reprehended by the
ministry, and the persons provoked to repent; also, because
no sign of repentance appeareth unto them, that they could
not but signify unto the Church the crimes, but not the
If the person malign, then, on the next day of public assembly, the crime and the person must be both notified unto the Church, and their judgment must be required, if that such crimes ought to be suffered unpunished amongst them. Request also would be made to the most discreet and to the nearest friends of the offender to travail with him to bring him to knowledge of himself, and of his dangerous estate, and a commandment be given to all men to call to God for the conversion of the impenitent. If a solemn and a special prayer were made and drawn for that purpose, the thing should be the more gravely done.
On the third Sunday, the minister ought to inquire if the
impenitent have declared any signs of repentance to any of
the ministry. If he hath, the minister may appoint him to be
examined by the whole ministry; either then, instantly, or
at another day affixed to the consistory.
After this sentence no person, his wife and family only excepted, may have any kind of conversation with him who is excommunicate; be it in eating and drinking, buying or selling, yea, in saluting or talking with him, except that it be at the commandment or with licence of the ministry, for his conversion; that he by such means confounded, seeing himself abhorred by the faithful and godly, may have occasion to repent and so be saved. The sentence of his excommunication must be published universally throughout the realm, lest any man should pretend ignorance.
His children, begotten or born after that sentence and before his repentance, may not be admitted to baptism until either they be of age to require the same, or else the mother, or some of his especial friends, members of the Church, offer and present the child, abhorring and condemning the iniquity and obstinate contempt of the impenitent. If any think it severe that the child should be punished for the iniquity of the father, let them understand that the Sacraments appertain only to the faithful and to their seed. Such as stubbornly contemn all godly admonition and obstinately remain to their iniquity cannot be accounted amongst the faithful.
2. The Order for Public Offenders.—We have spoken nothing of those that commit horrible crimes, as murderers, man-slayers, and adulterers; for such, as we have said, the civil sword ought to punish to death. But, if they be permitted to live, the Church must, as before is said, draw the sword which of God she hath received, holding them as accursed even in their very act. The offender in each case must be called and order of the Church used against him, in the same manner as the persons that for obstinate impenitence are publicly excommunicate. The obstinate impenitent after the sentence of excommunication, and the murderer or adulterer, stand in one case as concerning the judgment of the Church; that is, neither may be received in the fellowship of the Church to prayers or sacraments (but to hearing of the Word they may be admitted) until first they offer themselves to the ministry, humbly requiring the ministers and elders to pray to God for them, and also to be intercessors to the Church that they may be admitted to public repentance, and so to the fruition of the benefits of Christ Jesus, distributed to the members of His body.
If this request be humbly made, then may not the ministers
refuse to signify the same unto the Church on the next day
of public preaching, the minister giving exhortation to the
Church to pray to God to perform the work which He appears
to have begun, working in the heart of the offender unfeigned
repentance of his grievous crime, and the sense and feeling of
His great mercy, by the operation of His Holy Spirit. Thereafter,
If the minister find the offender reasonably instructed in the knowledge of Christ Jesus, in the virtue of His death, he may comfort him with God's infallible promises, and demand of the Church if they be content to receive in the society of their body that creature of God, whom Satan before hath drawn into his nets, seeing that he declares himself penitent. If the Church grant this, and they may not justly deny the same, then ought the minister in public prayer to commend him to God, and confess the sin of that offender and of the whole Church, desiring mercy and grace for Christ Jesus' sake. This prayer being ended, the minister ought to exhort the Church to receive that penitent brother into their favour, as they require God to receive themselves when they have offended. In sign of their consent, the elders and chief men of the Church shall take the penitent by the hand, and one or two, in name of the whole, shall kiss and embrace him with all reverence and gravity, as a member of Christ Jesus.
When these things have been done, the minister shall
exhort the reconciled to take diligent heed in times coming,
that Satan entrap him not into such crimes, admonishing him
that he will not cease to tempt and try by all means possible
to bring him from that obedience which he hath given to God,
and to the ordinance of His Son Christ Jesus. The exhortation
being ended, the minister ought to give public thanks
unto God for the conversion of that brother, and for the
If the penitent, after he have offered himself to the ministry or to the Church, be found ignorant in the principal points of our religion, and chiefly in the article of Justification and of the office of Christ Jesus, he ought to be exactly instructed before he be received. For it is a mocking of God to receive into repentance those who know not wherein stands their remedy when they repent their sin.
3. Persons subject to Discipline.—To discipline must all estates within this realm be subject, if they offend; the rulers as well as they that are ruled; yea, and the preachers themselves, as well as the poorest within the Church. And because the eye and the mouth of the Church ought to be most single and irreprehensible, the life and conversation of the ministers ought most diligently to be tried. Of this we shall speak after we have spoken of the election of elders and deacons, who must assist the ministers in all public affairs of the Church, etc.
X. Touching the Election of Elders and Deacons, etc.
Men of best knowledge in God's Word, of cleanest life, men faithful, and of most honest conversation that can be found in the Church, must be nominated to be in election; and the names of the same must be publicly read to the whole kirk by the minister, who shall give them advertisement that from amongst these must be chosen elders and deacons. If any of the nominated be noted with public infamy, he ought to be repelled; for it is not seemly that the servant of corruption shall have authority to judge in the Church of God. If any man knows others of better qualities within the church than these that be nominated, let them be put in election, that the church may have the choice.
If churches be of smaller number than that seniors and deacons can be chosen from amongst them, they may well be joined to the next adjacent church. For the plurality of churches, without ministers and order, shall rather hurt than edify.
The election of elders and deacons ought to take place once every year (we judge the first day of August to be most convenient), lest, by long continuance of such officers, men presume upon the liberty of the Church. It hurts not that one man be retained in office more years than one, so that he be appointed yearly, by common and free election; provided always that the deacons, treasurers, be not compelled to receive the office again for the space of three years.
How the votes and suffrages may be best received, so that every man may give his vote freely, every several church may take such order as best seemeth to them.
The elders, being elected, must be admonished of their office, which is to assist the minister in all public affairs of the Church, to wit, in judging and discerning causes, in giving admonition to the licentious liver, and in having respect to the manners and conversation of all men within their charge; for the light and unbridled life of the licentious ought to be corrected and bridled by the gravity of the seniors.
Yea, the seniors ought to take heed to the life, manners, diligence, and study of their minister. If he be worthy of admonition, they must admonish him; of correction, they must correct him. And if he be worthy of deposition, they, with consent of the church and Superintendent, may depose him, if his crime so deserve. If a minister be light in conversation, he ought to be admonished by his elders and seniors. If he be negligent in study, or one that waiteth not upon his charge and flock, or one that proponeth not fruitful doctrine, he deserveth sharper admonition and correction. If he be found stubborn and inobedient to this, the seniors of one church may complain to the ministry of the two next adjacent churches where men of greater gravity are. If he be found inobedient to their admonition, he ought to be discharged from his ministry, until his repentance appear and a place be vacant for him.
Should any minister be taken in any notable crime, such as
whoredom, adultery, murder, manslaughter, perjury, teaching of
heresy, or any that deserveth death or that may be a note of
perpetual infamy, he ought to be deposed for ever. By heresy
we mean pernicious doctrine, plainly taught and obstinately
Some crimes deserve deposition for a time, and until the person give declaration of greater gravity and honesty. As, if a minister be deprehended drunk, brawling or fighting, an open slanderer, an infamer of his neighbour, factious and a sower of discord, he may be commanded to cease from his ministry until he declare the signs of repentance; upon which the Church shall abide him the space of twenty days or farther, as they shall think expedient, before they proceed to a new election.
Every inferior church shall, by one of their seniors and one of their deacons, once in the year, notify unto the ministry of the Superintendent's church the life, manners, study, and diligence of their ministers, to the end that the discretion of some may correct the lenity of others.
Not only may the life and manners of the ministers come under censure and judgment of the Church, but also that of their wives, children, and family. Care must be taken that ministers neither live riotously nor yet avariciously; yea, respect must be had how they spend the stipend appointed to their living. If a reasonable stipend be appointed, and they live avariciously, they must be admonished to live as they receive; for, as excess and superfluity is not tolerable in a minister, so is avarice and the careful solicitude of money and gear utterly to be condemned in Christ's servants, and especially in those that are fed upon the charge of the Church. We judge it unseemly and not tolerable that ministers shall be boarded in common alehouses or taverns.
Neither yet must a minister be permitted to frequent and
commonly haunt the Court, unless it be for a time, when he is
either sent by the Church or called for by the Authority for
his counsel and judgment. Nor must he be one of the Council
in civil affairs, be he judged never so apt for that purpose.
Either must he cease from the ministry, which at his own
The office of the deacons, as is before declared, is to receive the rents and gather the alms of the Church, and to keep and distribute the same, as by the ministry of the Kirk shall be appointed. They may also assist in judgment with the ministers and elders, and may be admitted to read in the assembly if they be required and be found able thereto.
The elders and deacons, with their wives and households, must be under the same censure as is prescribed for the ministers. For they must be careful over their office; and, seeing that they are judges to the manners of others, their own conversation ought to be irreprehensible. They must be sober, humble, lovers and entertainers of concord and peace; and, finally, they ought to be the example of godliness to others. If the contrary thereof appear, they must be admonished by the minister, or by some of their brethren of the ministry, if the fault be secret; if it be open and known, it must be rebuked before the ministry, and the same order kept against the senior or deacon as against the minister.
We do not think it necessary that any public stipend shall be appointed to the elders or to the deacons, because their travail continues but for a year, and also because they are not so occupied with the affairs of the Church but that reasonably they may attend upon their domestic business.
XI. Concerning the Policy of the Church.
Policy we call an exercise of the Church in such things as
may bring the rude and ignorant to knowledge, inflame the
learned to greater fervency, or retain the Church in good order.
Thereof there be two sorts: the one utterly necessary; as that
the Word be truly preached, the Sacraments rightly ministrate,
common prayer publicly made, the children and rude persons
instructed in the chief points of religion, and offences corrected
and punished; these things, we say, be so necessary that, without
the same, there is no face of a visible Kirk. The other is
In great towns we think it expedient that every day there be either sermon, or else common prayers, with some exercise of reading the Scriptures. We can neither require nor greatly approve that the Common Prayers be publicly used on the day of the public sermon, lest we shall either foster superstition in the people, who come to the Prayers as they come to the Mass, or else give them occasion to think that those be no prayers which are made before and after sermon.
We require that, in every notable town, one day besides
the Sunday be appointed to the sermon and prayers. This
day, during the time of sermon, must be kept free from all
exercise of labour, as well of the master as of the servants.
In smaller towns, as we have said, the common consent of the
church must put order. But the Sunday must straitly be
kept, both before and after noon, in all towns. Before noon
the Word must be preached and Sacraments be administered,
as also marriage solemnised, if occasion offer. After noon the
young children must be publicly examined in their catechism
in audience of the people, and in doing this the minister must
take great diligence, to cause the people to understand the
questions proponed, as well as the answers, and the doctrine
that may be collected thereof. The order, and how much is
appointed for every Sunday, are already distinct in our Book
of Common Order; the most perfect Catechism that ever yet
was used in the Church. After noon, also, baptism may be
ministered, when great travail before noon offers occasion.
It appertaineth to the policy of the Church to appoint the times when the Sacraments shall be administered. Baptism may be ministrate whensoever the Word is preached; but we think it more expedient, that it be ministered upon the Sunday, or upon the day of prayers only, after the sermon; partly, to remove the gross error by which many deceived persons think that children be damned if they die without baptism; and, partly, to make the people assist the administration of that Sacrament with greater reverence than they do. For we do see the people begin already to wax weary by reason of the frequent repetition of those promises.
Four times in the year we think sufficient for the administration of the Lord's Table. These we desire to be distinct, that the superstition of times may be avoided so far as may be. Your honours are not ignorant how superstitiously the people run to that action at Easter, even as if the time gave virtue to the Sacrament; and how the rest of the whole year they are careless and negligent, as if it appertaineth not unto them but at that time only. We think therefore most expedient that the first Sunday of March be appointed for one time; the first Sunday of June for another; the first Sunday of September for the third; and the first Sunday of December for the fourth. We do not deny that any several church, for reasonable causes, may change the time, and may administer oftener; but we study to suppress superstition. All ministers must be admonished to be more careful to instruct the ignorant than to satisfy their appetites, and more sharp in examination than indulgent, in admitting to that great mystery such as be ignorant of the use and virtue of the same. We think, therefore, that the administration of the Table ought never to be without previous examination, especially of those whose knowledge is suspect. We think that none are fit to be admitted to that mystery who cannot formally say the Lord's Prayer, recite the Articles of the Belief, and declare the sum of the Law.
Farther, we think it a thing most expedient and necessary that every church have a Bible in English, and that the people be commanded to convene to hear the plain reading or interpretation of the Scriptures, as the Church shall appoint; so that, by frequent reading, this gross ignorance, which in the cursed Papistry hath overflown all, may partly be removed. We think it most expedient that the Scriptures be read in order, that is, that some one book of the Old and the New Testament be begun and orderly read to the end. And the same we judge of preaching, where the minister for the most part remaineth in one place. For this skipping and divagation from place to place of the Scripture, be it in reading or be it in preaching, we judge not so profitable to edify the Church, as the continual following of a text.
Every master of household must be commanded either to
instruct, or else cause to be instructed, his children, servants,
and family, in the principles of the Christian religion; and
without the knowledge of them none ought to be admitted to
the Table of the Lord Jesus. For such as be so dull and so
ignorant that they can neither try themselves nor know the
dignity and mystery of that action cannot eat and drink of
that Table worthily. We therefore judge it necessary that,
every year at least, public examination be had by the ministers
and elders of the knowledge of every person within the
Church; to wit, that every master and mistress of household
come themselves, and so many of their family as be come to
maturity, before the ministers and elders, to give confession
of their faith, and to answer to such chief points of religion
as the ministers shall demand. Such as be ignorant in the
Articles of their Faith; understand not, nor cannot rehearse
the commandments of God; know not how to pray, nor wherein
their righteousness consists, ought not to be admitted to the
Lord's Table. If these stubbornly continue, and suffer their
children and servants to continue in wilful ignorance, the
discipline of the Church must proceed against them unto
excommunication; and then must the matter be referred to
the Civil Magistrate. For, seeing that the just liveth by his
own faith, and that Christ Jesus justifieth by knowledge of
Moreover, men, women, and children would be exhorted to exercise themselves in the Psalms, that when the church conveneth and doth sing, they may be the more able, with common heart and voice, to praise God.
We think it expedient that, in private houses, the most grave and discreet person use the Common Prayers at morn and at night, for the comfort and instruction of others. For, seeing that we behold and see the hand of God now presently striking us with divers plagues, we think it a contempt of His judgments, or a provocation of His anger more to be kindled against us, if we be not moved to repentance of our former unthankfulness and to earnest invocation of His name. Only His power may, and great mercy will, if we unfeignedly convert unto Him, remove from us these terrible plagues which now for our iniquities hang over our heads. "Convert us, O Lord, and we shall be converted."
XII. For Preaching and Interpretation of Scriptures, etc.
To the end that the Church of God may have a trial of
men's knowledge, judgments, graces, and utterances, and
that such as somewhat have profited in God's Word may
from time to time grow to more full perfection to serve the
Church, as necessity shall require, it is most expedient that,
in every town where schools and repair of learned men are,
there be a certain day every week appointed to that exercise
which Saint Paul calleth prophesying. The order thereof is
expressed by him in these words: "Let two or three prophets
speak; and let the rest judge. But if anything be revealed
to him that sitteth by, let the former keep silence. For ye
may, one by one, all prophesy, that all may learn, and all may
receive consolation. And the spirits, that is, the judgments,
of the prophets, are subject to the prophets." From these
words of the Apostle, it is evident that in Corinth, when the
These exercises, we say, are things most necessary for the Church of God this day in Scotland; for thereby, as we have said, shall the Church have judgment and knowledge of the graces, gifts, and utterances of every man within their own body; and the simple, and such as have somewhat profited, shall be encouraged daily to study and proceed in knowledge. And, too, the Church shall be edified; for this exercise must be patent to such as list to hear and learn, and every man shall have liberty to utter and declare his mind and knowledge to the comfort and edification of the Church.
But curious, peregrine,
If any be noted with curiosity, or for bringing in any strange doctrine, he must be admonished by the moderators, the ministers and elders, immediately after the interpretation is ended. The whole members and number of them that are of the assembly ought to convene together, and then examination should be had as to how the person that did interpret did handle and convey the matter, the interpreter being removed until every man have given his censure. After this, the person being called, the faults, if any notable be found, are noted, and the person shall be gently admonished. In that last assembly, all questions and doubts, if any arise, should be resolved, without contention.
The ministers of the parish churches to landward, adjacent to every chief town, and the readers (if they have any gift of interpretation) within six miles, must assist and concur with those that prophesy within the towns; to the end that they themselves may either learn, or that others may learn from them. And, moreover, men in whom any gifts are supposed to be, which might edify the Church, if they were well applied, must be charged by the ministers and elders to join themselves with that session and company of interpreters, to the end that the Church may judge whether they be able to serve to God's glory, and to the profit of the Church in the vocation of ministers or not. If any be found disobedient, and not willing to communicate the gifts and spiritual graces of God with their brethren, after sufficient admonition, discipline must proceed against them; provided that the Civil Magistrate concurs with the judgment and election of the Church. For no man may be permitted to live as best pleaseth himself within the Church of God; but every man must be constrained, by fraternal admonition and correction, to bestow his labours, to the edification of others, when of the Church they are required.
What day in the week is most convenient for that exercise
and what books of the Scriptures shall be most profitable to
XIII. Of Marriage.
Because marriage, the blessed ordinance of God, hath partly been contemned in this cursed Papistry; and partly hath been so infirmed, that the persons conjoined could never be assured of continuance, if the Bishops and Prelates should list to dissolve the same; we have thought good to show our judgments how such confusion in times coming may be best avoided.
First, public inhibition must be made that no persons under
the power and obedience of others, such as sons and daughters
and these that be under curators, neither men nor women,
contract marriage privily and without knowledge of their
parents, tutors, or curators, under whose power they are for
the time. If they do this, the censure and discipline of the
Church shall proceed against them. If the parties have their
hearts touched with desire of marriage, they are bound to give
honour to the parents and open unto them their affection,
asking of them counsel and assistance, as to how that motion,
which they judge to be of God, may be performed. If father,
friend, or master gainstand their request, and have no other
cause than the common sort of men have (to wit, lack of
goods, or because they are not so high-born as they require);
yet must not the parties whose hearts are touched make any
covenant until farther declaration be made unto the Church of
God. And, therefore, after they have opened their minds to
their parents, or such others as have charge over them, they
must declare it also to the ministry or to the Civil Magistrate,
requiring them to travail with their parents for their consent,
which to do they are bound. If they, to wit, the Magistrate
or ministers, find no just cause why the marriage required may
not be fulfilled, then, after sufficient admonition to the father,
friend, master, or superior, that none of them resist the work
of God, the ministry or Magistrate may enter into the place of
the parent and, by consenting to their just requests, may admit
If any man commit fornication with the woman whom he
required in marriage, then do both lose this foresaid benefit as
well of the Church as of the Magistrate; for neither ought to
be intercessors or advocates for filthy fornicators. But the
father, or nearest friend whose daughter, being a virgin, is
deflowered, hath power by the law of God to compel the man
that did that injury to marry his daughter; or, if the father
will not accept him by reason of his offence, then may he
require the dot
Because fornication, whoredom, and adultery are sins most common in this realm, we require of your honours, in the name of the Eternal God, that severe punishment, according as God hath commanded, be executed against such wicked offenders; for we doubt not but that such enormous crimes, openly committed, provoke the wrath of God, as the Apostle speaketh, not only upon the offenders, but also upon the places where, without punishment, they are committed.
To return to our former purpose: Marriage ought not to be contracted amongst persons that have no election for lack of understanding; and therefore we affirm that bairns and infants cannot lawfully be married in their minor age, to wit, the man within fourteen years of age, and the woman within twelve years, at the least. If it chance that any have been so married and have kept their bodies always separate, we cannot judge them bound to adhere as man and wife, by reason of a promise which in God's presence was no promise at all. But if, in the years of judgment, they have embraced the one the other, then, by reason of their last consent, they have ratified that which others did promise for them in their youth.
In a Reformed Church, marriage ought not to be secretly used, but in open face and public audience of the Church. For avoidance of dangers, it is expedient that the banns be publicly proclaimed on three Sundays, unless the persons be so known that no suspicion of danger may arise, when the banns may be shortened at the discretion of the ministry. But in nowise can we admit marriage to be used secretly, however honourable the persons be. The Sunday before sermon we think most convenient for marriage, and that it be used on no other day, without the consent of the whole ministry.
Unless adultery be committed, marriage, once lawfully contracted, may not be dissolved at man's pleasure, as our master Christ Jesus doth witness. If adultery be sufficiently proven in presence of the Civil Magistrate, the innocent, upon request, ought to be pronounced free, and the offender ought to suffer death, as God hath commanded. If the civil sword foolishly spare the life of the offender, yet may not the Church be negligent in their office. This is to excommunicate the wicked, to repute them as dead members, and to pronounce the innocent party to be at freedom, be the offender never so honourable before the world. If the life be spared to the offenders, as it ought not to be, if the fruits of repentance of long time appear in them, and if they earnestly desire to be reconciled with the Church, we judge that they may be received to participation of the Sacraments, and of the other benefits of the Church, for we would not that the Church should hold those excommunicate whom God has absolved, that is, the penitent.
If any demand whether the offender, after reconciliation with the Church, may marry again, we answer, that, if they cannot live continent, and if the necessity be such as that they fear farther offence of God, we cannot forbid them to use the remedy ordained of God. If the party offended may be reconciled to the offender, then we judge that in nowise it shall be lawful to the offender to marry any other than the party that hath been offended. The solemnization of the latter marriage must be in the open face of the Church, like the former, but without proclamation of banns.
This we do offer as the best counsel that God giveth unto us in so doubtsome a case. But the most perfect reformation were, if your honours would give to God His honour and glory, that ye would prefer His express commandment to your own corrupt judgments, especially in punishing of those crimes which He commandeth to be punished with death. For so should ye declare yourselves God's true and obedient officers, and your commonwealth should be rid of innumerable troubles.
We mean not that sins committed in our former blindness, and almost buried in oblivion, shall be called again to examination and judgment. But we require that the law may now and hereafter be so established and executed that this ungodly impunity of sin have no place within this realm. For, in the fear of God, we signify unto your honours that whosoever persuadeth you that ye may pardon where God commandeth death deceiveth your souls, and provoketh you to offend God's Majesty.
XIV. Of Burial.
Burial in all ages hath been holden in estimation, to
signify the faith that the same body that was committed to
the earth would not utterly perish, but would rise again.
And we would have the same kept within this realm, provided
that superstition, idolatry, and whatsoever hath proceeded of
a false opinion and for advantage's sake, be avoided. Singing
of Mass, placebo, and dirge, and all other prayers over or for
the dead, are not only superfluous and vain, but are idolatry,
and are repugnant to the plain Scriptures of God. Plain it
is that every one that dieth departeth either in the faith of
Christ Jesus, or else departeth in incredulity. Plain it is
that they that depart in the true faith of Christ Jesus rest
from their labours, and from death do go to life everlasting,
as by our Master and by His Apostle we are taught. But
whosoever shall depart in unbelief or in incredulity shall
never see life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him.
And so we say that prayers for the dead are not only superfluous
To avoid all inconveniences, we judge it best that there
be neither singing nor reading at the burial. Albeit things
sung and read may admonish some of the living to prepare
themselves for death, yet shall some superstitious and ignorant
persons ever think that the singing or reading of the living
does and may profit the dead. For this reason we think it
most expedient that the dead be convoyed to the place of
burial by some honest company of the Church, without either
singing or reading; yea, without all kind of ceremony heretofore
used, other than that the dead be committed to the grave,
with gravity and sobriety, so that those that be present may
seem to fear the judgments of God, and to hate sin, which is
the cause of death.
We are not ignorant that some require a sermon at the burial, or else that some places of Scriptures be read, to put the living in mind that they are mortal, and that likewise they must die. But let those men understand that the sermons which are daily made serve for that use. If men despise these, the preaching of funeral sermons shall nourish superstition and a false opinion, as we have said, rather than bring such persons to any godly consideration of their own estate. Besides, either shall the ministers for the most part be occupied in preaching funeral sermons or else they shall have respect to persons, preaching at the burial of the rich and honourable, but keeping silence when the poor or despised departeth; and this the ministers cannot do with safe conscience. For, seeing that before God there is in respect of persons, and that their ministry appertaineth to all alike, whatsoever they do to the rich, in respect of their ministry, the same they are bound to do to the poorest under their charge.
In respect of divers inconveniences, we think it unseemly
that the church appointed to preaching and ministration of
XV. For Reparation of Churches.
Lest the Word of God, and ministration of the Sacraments, come into contempt by unseemliness of the place, churches and places where the people publicly convene should, with expedition, be repaired in doors, windows, thatch, and provided within with such preparations as appertain to the majesty of the Word of God as well as unto the ease and commodity of the people. We know the slothfulness of men in this behalf, and in all other which may not redound to their private commodity, and strait charge and commandment must be given that before a certain day the reparations must be begun, and that before another day, to be affixed by your honours, they be finished. Penalties and sums of money must be enjoined, and then without pardon taken from the contemners.
The reparation would be according to the possibility and number of the church. Every church must have doors, close windows of glass, thatch or slate able to withhold rain, a bell to convocate the people together, a pulpit, a basin for baptism, and tables for the ministration of the Lord's Supper. In greater churches, and where the congregation is great in number, provision must be made within the church for the quiet and commodious receiving of the people. The expenses shall be lifted partly from the people, and partly from the teinds, at the discretion of the ministry.
XVI. For Punishment of those that Profane the Sacraments and do contemn the Word of God, and dare presume to minister them, not being thereto lawfully called.
Satan hath never ceased from the beginning to draw
mankind into one of two extremities. He hath sought that
So long as Satan might retain man in that damnable idolatry, he was quiet, as one that possessed his kingdom of darkness peaceably. But since it hath pleased the mercies of God to reveal unto the unthankful world the light of His Word, and the right use and administration of His Sacraments, he essays man upon the contrary part. Where, not long ago, men stood in such admiration of that idol in the Mass that none durst presume to have said the Mass, but the foresworn shaven sort (the beasts marked men); some dare now be so bold as, without all convocation, to minister, as they suppose, the true Sacraments in open assemblies. Some idiots, also, yet more wickedly and more imprudently, dare counterfeit in their houses that which the true ministers do in the open congregation; they presume, we say, to do it in houses without reverence, without Word preached, and without minister, other than of companion to companion. This contempt proceedeth, no doubt, from the malice and craft of that serpent who first deceived man, of purpose to deface the glory of Christ's Evangel, and to bring His blessed Sacraments into a perpetual contempt.
Farther, your honours may clearly see how proudly and
stubbornly the most part despise the Evangel of Christ Jesus
We dare not prescribe unto you what penalties shall be
required of such. But this we fear not to affirm, that the one
and the other deserve death. If he which doth falsify the seal,
subscription, or coinage of a king is adjudged worthy of death;
what shall we think of him who plainly doth falsify the seals
of Christ Jesus, Prince of the kings of the earth? If Darius
pronounced upon the man that durst attempt to hinder the
re-edification of the material temple, the sentence that a bauk
The papistical priests have neither power nor authority to
administer the Sacraments of Christ Jesus; because in their
mouth is not the sermon of exhortation. To them, therefore,
must strait inhibition be made, notwithstanding any usurpation
which they have had in that behalf in the time of blindness.
It is neither the clipping of their crowns, the crossing
of their fingers, the blowing of the dumb dogs, called the
bishops, nor yet the laying on of their hands that maketh
them the true ministers of Christ Jesus. The Spirit of God
The Conclusion.
Thus have we, in these few heads, offered unto your honours our judgments, according as we were commanded, touching the reformation of things which heretofore have altogether been abused in this cursed Papistry. We doubt not but some of our petitions shall appear strange unto you at the first sight. But if your wisdoms deeply consider that we must answer not only unto men, but also before the throne of the Eternal God and of His Son, Christ Jesus, for the counsel which we give in this so grave matter, your honours shall easily consider that it is much safer for us to fall into the displeasure of all men on earth, than to offend the Majesty of God, whose justice cannot sutler flatterers and deceitful counsellors to go unpunished.
That we require the Church to be set at such liberty, that she neither be compelled to feed idle bellies, nor to sustain the tyranny which heretofore by violence hath been maintained, we know will offend many. But if we should keep silence, we are most certain to offend the just and righteous God, who by the mouth of His Apostle hath pronounced this sentence: "He that laboureth not, let him not eat." If we, in this behalf or in any other, require to ask anything, other than by God's expressed commandment, by equity and by good conscience ye are bound to grant, let it be noted, and after repudiated; but if we require nothing which God requireth not also, let your honours take heed how ye gainstand the charge of Him whose hand and punishment ye cannot escape.
If blind affection leads you to have respect to the sustentation of those carnal friends of yours, who tyrannously have empired above the poor flock of Christ Jesus, rather than the zeal of God's glory provoke and move you to set His oppressed Church at freedom and liberty, we fear sharp and sudden punishment for you, and that the glory and honour of this enterprise will be reserved unto others.
Yet shall this our judgment abide to the generations following for a monument, and witness how lovingly God called you and this realm to repentance, what counsellors God sent unto you, and how ye have used the same. If obediently ye hear God now calling, we doubt not but He shall hear you in your greatest necessity. But if, following your own corrupt judgments, ye contemn His voice and vocation, we are assured that your former iniquity, and present ingratitude, shall together crave just punishment from God, who cannot long delay to execute His most just judgments, when, after many offences and long blindness, grace and mercy offered is contemptuously refused.
God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of His Holy Spirit, so illuminate your hearts, that ye may clearly see what is pleasing and acceptable in His presence; so bow the same to His obedience, that ye may prefer His revealed will to your own affections; and so strengthen you by the spirit of fortitude, that boldly ye may punish vice, and maintain virtue within this realm, to the praise and glory of His holy name, to the comfort and assurance of your own consciences, and to the consolation and good example of the posterities following. Amen. So be it.
By your Honours'
Most humble servitors, etc.
From Edinburgh, The twentieth of May 1560.
Act of Secret Council, xxvii January,
Anno &c., 1560.That is, in modern terms, 27th January 1561, the year running from 25th
March (instead of 1st January), in the computation of time then in use.
We, who have subscribed these presents, having advised with the Articles herein specified, as is above mentioned from the beginning of this book, think the same good, and in conformity with God's Word in all points, subject to the notes and additions thereto eked; and we promise to set the same forward to the uttermost of our powers. Providing that the Bishops, Abbots, Priors, and other Prelates and beneficed men, who already have joined themselves to us, bruik the revenues of their benefices during their lifetimes, they sustaining and upholding the ministry and ministers, as is herein specified, for preaching of the Word, and administering of the Sacraments of God.
| JAMES. | JOHN LOCKHART of Barr. |
| JAMES HAMILTON. | GEORGE CORRIE of Kelwood. |
| ARCHIBALD ARGYLE. | JOHN SHAW of Haly. |
| JAMES STEWART. | ANDREW HAMILTON of |
| ROTHES. | Letham. |
| JAMES HALIBURTON. | GLENCAIRN. |
| R. BOYD. | OCHILTREE. |
| ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, | SANQUHAR. |
| DEAN OF MORAY. | SAINTJOHNS. |
| WILLIAM OF CULROSS. | WILLIAM LORD HAY. |
| MASTER ALEXANDER | DRUMLANRIG. |
| GORDON. | CUNNINGHAMHEAD. |
| BARGANY YOUNGER. | JOHN MAXWELL. |
| ANDREW KER of Faldonside. | GEORGE FENTON of that Ilk. |
| T. SCOTT of Hayning. | LOCHINVAR. |
GLOSSARY
OF OBSOLETE AND SCOTS WORDS AND PHRASES.
Affray, terror; fright: (v.) to frighten.
Aggravate, to emphasise an enormity.
Aggreage, to aggravate.
Appointment, terms; agreement; truce or treaty.
Arguesyn, lieutenant (naut.).
Assedations, leases.
Assurance, truce; agreement for truce.
Bauk, beam.
Bear, barley.
Bide, to abide; biaden, abode.
Bill, letter; petition.
Birse, bristle; beard.
Block-house, tower; fort.
Boss, a worthless character.
Bourding, jesting.
Brook, to soil.
Bruik, to enjoy; to possess.
Bruit, common talk; rumours; repute.
Buds, gifts; bribes.
Buist (for browst), brewing.
Buist, box; chest.
Burgess, inhabitant of a burgh who has full municipal rights.
Burn, brook.
Burn his bill, make recantation.
Camp-volant, expeditionary force.
Cass, to annul.
Censement, judgment.
Chalder, a grain measure of about 90 bushels.
Chamber-child, valet-de-chambre.
Chanters, laics endowed with ecclesiastical benefices.
Chap, to strike; to knock.
Cheek-mate, familiar.
Chimley, chimney; fire-basket.
Clawback, sycophant.
Clerk-play, a dramatic entertainment founded on a passage of Scripture; a "mystery."
Cognition, evidence.
Comfort, strength; godly confidence.
Commend, an ecclesiastical benefice committed to a temporary holder.
Commendator, the holder of a commend.
Commodity, advantage.
Compear, to present oneself in response to a summons.
Compone, to agree.
Consequently, in sequence.
Consistory, Church Court.
Cordelier friar, Franciscan.
Cowp, to tilt.
Craig, neck.
Crown of the sun, a French crown having as mint mark an emblem of the sun: gold coin worth 18s.
Cuid, chrisom.
Culverin, the largest cannon used in the 16th century.
Cummer, entanglement; broil; brawl.
Cunyie, mint, coinage; to mint, to coin.
Dad, to knock; to thump.
Dag, to shoot.
Deambulator, promenade.
Delate, to accuse.
Delation, accusation.
Delatour, procrastination.
Dictament, phraseology.
Ding, to knock violently; to dash (p. dang, p.p. dung).
Ditement, what is written.
Divagation, wandering from the straight course.
Divers, sundry.
Doctrine, act of teaching.
Document, warning; evidence.
Dolour, grief; distress.
Dontibour, courtesan.
Dortour, hangings; decorative draperies.
Dot, dowry.
Doted, endowed.
Down-thring, overthrow.
Dule-weed, apparel of mourning.
Dyke, wall.
Dyttament, dictation; guidance.
Effray, to frighten.
Eke, to increase.
Eke, eik, an addition.
Eme, uncle; kinsman.
Ensenyes, companies (milit.).
Exercition, bodily exercise; military exercise.—Jamieson.
Factors, stewards.
Factory, Scots equivalent of a power of attorney.
Fard, ardour; violence.
Fash, to trouble.
Fashery, trouble.
Fashious, troublesome.
Fertour, coffer.
File, thread; sequence.
Fillocks, giddy young women.
Fley, to scare; to frighten.
Flyrt and flyre, to mock and deride.
Forethink, to repent.
Fornent, over against.
Frack, active; ready; make frack, make bustling preparation.
Fray, fright.
Fremmed, strange; unfriendly.
Gaird, guard; civil establishment.
Gait, way; route; upon the gait, on the move.
Gar, to cause; gart, caused.
Gear, goods; stuff.
Girn, to grind or gnash the teeth.
Girnell, granary.
Glaise, a scorching.
Glister, lustre.
Glondours, a state of ill-humour.
Good-daughter, daughter-in-law.
Goodsire, maternal grandfather.
Greet, to weep; grat, wept.
Griping, extortionate.
Gukstoun Glaikstour, apparently a nickname. "A contemptuous designation, expressive of the combination of folly and vainglory."—Jamieson.
Hackbut, harquebus: species of hand firearm used in 15th and 16th centuries.
Hamesucken, the crime of beating or assaulting a person within his own house.
Harberous, hospitable.
Herschip, plundering.
Horn, public intimation of outlawry.
Horning, outlawry; process of outlawry.
How, hollow; underground.
Hurl, to wheel.
Improve, to disprove.
Inable, to disqualify.
Incontinently, forthwith.
Indifference, impartiality.
Indifferent, impartial.
Induration, hardening of heart.
Indure, to remain of firm purpose.
Ingyne, ingenuity; genius.
Institute, to place in authority.
Irons, coining dies.
Ish, to come out; to sally forth.
Jack, a coat of mail.
Jackman, armed follower.
Jefwellis, jailbirds.
Jow, to toll.
Kep, to intercept; to catch.
Kindness, fealty of retainers.
Knap, to strike.
Knapscall, head-piece.
Kythe, to show; to practise.
Lair, to stick in the mire.
Lavachre, washing.
Lesing, lying.
Let, hindrance.
Letters, writs under the royal signet; summonses.
Lippen, to trust.
Manrent, vassalage.
Mansworn, perjured.
Marrow, match; equal.
Mell, to meddle.
Menyie, crowd of followers.
Mint, threat.
Modify, adjust.
Mows, jest.
Myster, skill; mastery.
Napkin, pocket-handkerchief.
Navy, fleet.
Neifeling, fisticuffs.
Neifs, fists.
Noisome, annoying; troublesome.
Pare, to diminish.
Partaker, ally.
Patron, skipper.
Penult, second last (day).
Peregrine, foreign; irrelevant.
Placebo, the opening antiphon of vespers for the dead, in the Romish service; from opening words of
Placeboes, parasites; flatterers.
Plack, a small copper coin.
Platt, to place close.
Platt on his knees, threw himself on his knees.
Pock, bag; case.
Poise, secret hoard of money.
Pottinger, apothecary.
Power, forces.
Practise, to intrigue.
Prevent, anticipate.
Propine, to present gifts.
Purchase, to sue out; to procure.
Purpose, conversation.
Rays, yards (naut.).
Reduce, to bring back.
Reek, smoke.
Regiment, rule; control.
Reif, robbery.
Retreat, to repudiate; to withdraw.
Rowping, crying hoarsely.
Ruse, boast.
Sark, shirt.
Schybald, mean fellow.
Scrimple, to shrivel.
Scrip, to mock.
Seinyiè, synod; consistory.
Skaill, to disperse; to spill.
Slanting, range of fire.
Slogan, battle-cry.
Sloken, to quench.
Snappers, stumbles.
Sned, to clip, as with shears.
Sparse, to spread abroad.
Speir, to inquire.
Splent, armour for the legs.
Spunk, spark.
Spurtle, porridge stick.
Stammer, to stagger.
Stark, strong.
Stay, impediment.
Stock, crop from which teind was drawn.
Stog, to stab.
Stog-sword, long small-sword.
Stool, pulpit.
Stoop, support.
Stout, staunch.
Stowth, theft.
Sturr, to make disturbance or trouble.
Suppostis, supporters.
Sweir, unwilling.
Tabernacle, a shrine for host consecrated at mass.
Targetting of tails, bordering of gowns with tassels.
Teind, tenth-part; tithe.
Tine, to lose; tint, lost.
Tinsel, loss.
To-look, prospect.
Tor, arm (of a chair).
Umquhile, late; deceased.
Upaland, at a distance from the sea; in the country.
Upfall, matter cast up; incident.
Vassalage, feats of valour.
Vilipended, slighted; undervalued.
Warsel, wrestle.
Whinger, hanger (kind of sword).
Wiss, to imagine.
Wodness, fury; madness.
Wolter, overturn.
Wyte, blame.
Yett, gate.
INDEX.
Angus, Earl of, 23, 43, 49, 80, 101, 104.
Annan, Dean John, 86.
Argyll, Fourth Earl of, 33, 42, 102, 104, 122, 131, 132.
Argyll, Fifth Earl of, 120, 131, 154, 157, 158, 159, 160, 165, 167, 203, 208, 245, 276, 277.
Arran, Lord James Hamilton, Second Earl of (afterwards created Duke of Châtelherault, and frequently referred to by Knox as "The Duke" or "The Duke's Grace").
His name on the roll of heretics, 27.
Claims the regency on death of James V., 33.
Proclaimed Regent, 34.
Breaks faith with England, 42.
The Cardinal's tool, 46.
Consents to Wishart's arrest, 62.
Treacherous dealing with assassins of Beaton, 83, 97.
Prepares to resist Somerset's invasion, 100.
At Pinkie Cleuch, 102.
Receives Duchy of Châtelherault, and other favours, for consent to marriage of the young Queen, 104.
At the trial of Adam Wallace, 113.
He is deposed, 116.
Persecutes the Protestants, 151.
In league with Queen Regent, 156, 163, 167.
Attends sermon in St. Giles, 171.
Is found on the side of the Congregation, 180.
Is admonished by Knox, 183.
Stationed at Glasgow, 186.
His slackness reproved by Knox, 198.
Concurs in treaty of Berwick, 200.
At Kinneil, 252, 254.
Exhorted by Knox to remain firm, 267.
At the trial of Knox, 293.
Banqueted by the Queen, 303.
Arran, Third Earl of (Son of Second Earl, and succeeded to the Title on his Father's attaining his Dukedom), 83, 84, 178, 180, 185, 186, 199, 217, 218, 229, 241, 250.
Arth, Friar William, 8.
Ayr, 43, 120, 267.
Balfour, Sir James, of Pittendreich (sometime Official of Lothian), 96, 99, 109, 111, 177, 199.
Balnaves, Henry, 21, 37, 38, 40, 46, 83, 85, 108, 197-200.
Beaton, David, Cardinal.
Makes inquisition, 17.
Opposes meeting of James V. and Henry VIII., 22.
Presents a "scroll" of heretics, 25.
Partly responsible for Solway Moss, 27.
At the King's deathbed, 32.
Claims the Regency unsuccessfully, 33.
The Regent favours the Protestants and Beaton is imprisoned, 35.
But he escapes, 36.
With the Queen Dowager and the faction of France, 39.
Raises a party against Arran, 42.
Suggests marriage of Lennox with Queen Dowager, 43.
Stirs strife amongst the Protestants, 44.
His treachery, 46.
Fortifies St. Andrews, and hoists his flag, 51.
Attempts assassination of Wishart, 55.
Secures arrest of Wishart, 62.
His quarrel with Archbishop Dunbar, 63.
Sits in judgment on Wishart, 65-77.
Fancies himself secure, 80.
Seized and assassinated, 81-82.
Beaton, James, Archbishop of Glasgow (Nephew of Cardinal Beaton), 121, 169.
Beaton, James, Archbishop of St. Andrews (Uncle of Cardinal Beaton), 4, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15.
Bellenden, Thomas (Justice Clerk in succession to Thomas Scott), 21, 40.
Berwick, Treaty of, 200.
Bible, An Open, 36.
Blackader, Robert, Archbishop of Glasgow, 2, 4.
Book of Discipline, The, 363 (cf. 217, 243).
Borthwick, Captain John, 17.
Bothwell, Third Earl of, 42, 60, 61.
Bothwell, Fourth Earl of (afterwards third Husband of Mary Queen of Scots), 178, 185, 248, 250, 254, 266, 267, 270, 284.
Buccleuch, Family of, 14, 23, 46, 104.
Buchanan, George, 21.
Campbell, Friar Alexander, 6, 7.
Campbell, Hugh, of Kinyeancleuch, 54.
Campbell, Robert, of Kinyeancleuch, 120, 229.
Cassillis, Earl of, 7, 29, 43, 58, 115, 127.
Castle Campbell, 122.
Châtelherault, Duke of. See Arran, Second Earl of.
Clerk of Register (James Macgill of Nether Rankeillor), 239, 245, 335.
Coldingham, Lord John Stewart, Prior of, 228, 248, 249, 283, 285.
Confession of Faith, Knox's, 214, 341.
Congregation, The (Name given to the Reformation Party in Scotland).
Letter from Knox to the Lords of the Congregation, 128.
First Covenant: December 1557, 130.
First Rules of Reformed Church, 131.
Questioning regarding the Mass, 136.
Steps towards Public Reformation, 137.
First Petition to Regent, 138.
Appeal to Parliament, 143.
Letter to the Regent, 151.
Letters to the Nobility, 153.
West-land marches to aid of Perth, 156.
Peace patched: May 1559, 157.
Covenant renewed, 158.
Occupation of Stirling and Edinburgh, 165.
Overtures to Regent, 167.
Regent in Arms, 169.
Convention at Stirling, 174.
Depose the Regent, 175.
Soldiers demand Pay, 177.
English Supplies captured, 178.
Retreat to Stirling, 181.
At Stirling, 186.
Campaign in Fife, 188.
English Fleet arrives, 190.
French retreat to Edinburgh, 190.
Negotiation with England, 191 ff.
Treaty of Berwick, 200.
English Army arrives: 1560, 203.
Peace with France, 209.
Preachers and Superintendents appointed, 212.
Knox preaches, Reformation agreed upon, 213.
Petition to Parliament, 213.
Confession of Faith, 214.
Mass prohibited, 216.
The Book of Discipline, 217.
French Demands, 221.
Convention at Edinburgh, 222.
The Queen's Mass, 239.
Court and Kirk, 241.
Defaulting Lords, 242.
Patrimony of Kirk, 246.
General Assembly: June 1562, 259.
Petition to Queen, 259.
Bond subscribed at Ayr, 267.
Influence at Court, 270.
General Assembly: December 1562, 271.
Massmongers tried, 276.
Arrest of Cranstoun and Armstrong, 287.
Knox summons the Brethren, 287.
He is tried for Treason, 289.
General Assembly: December 1563, 301.
The Assembly and Knox, 301.
General Assembly: June 1564, 306.
Schismatic Courtiers, 307.
Debate between Knox and Lethington, 309.
Craig, Mr. John, 304, 308, 334.
Craigmillar Castle, 50.
Craw, Paul, 1.
Crossraguel, Abbot of, 267, 268, 272.
Crown Matrimonial, 133.
Cupar, 162, 186.
Cupar Moor, 162, 192.
Darnley, Henry, Lord, 51, 270.
D'Elbœuf, René de Lorraine, Marquis, 185, 226, 248, 249.
Discipline, The Book of, 217, 243, 363.
Douglas, Family of, 14.
Douglas, John, 123, 132, 142.
Douglas, Sir George (Brother of the Earl of Angus), 23, 38, 44, 49, 59, 115.
D'Oysel, Monsieur, 96, 103, 106, 111, 123, 151, 152, 154, 159, 163, 188, 190.
Duke, The. See Arran, Second Earl of.
Dun, John Erskine, Laird of (Superintendent of Angus and Mearns), 16, 119, 120, 131, 137, 148, 149, 156, 160, 212, 281, 283, 308.
Dunbar, 166, 168, 169.
Dunbar, Gavin, Archbishop of Glasgow, 18, 53, 63, 64.
Dunblane, Bishop of, 18.
Dundee, 8, 11, 17, 46, 52, 54, 56, 68, 97, 103, 123, 137, 147, 154, 165, 178, 238.
Dysart, 188.
Edinburgh Castle, 50, 51, 62, 170, 185, 305.
Edward VI., 38, 104, 116.
England, Reformation in, 15.
War with Scotland (1542), 43.
Invasion of Scotland (1543), 48.
Invasion of Scotland (1547), 100.
Congregation seeks Aid, 170.
Aid sent, 178.
A Fleet sent, 190.
Communings with the Congregation, 191-199.
Army withdrawn from Scotland, 210.
Queen Elizabeth declines Marriage with Arran, 218.
Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots, 223, 258, 265.
Erskine, John, of Dun. See Dun, Laird of.
Erskine, Lord (afterwards Earl of Mar and Regent of Scotland), 24, 120, 170, 185, 247 n.
Faith, The Confession of, 214, 341.
Fala Raid, 24.
Fife, Campaign in, 188.
Foxe, John, 5, 65 n.
France, Peace with, 209.
Francis II. of France, 133, 153, 218, 281.
French in Scotland, 51, 97, 104, 105, 133, 173.
Glasgow, 1, 44, 64, 154.
Glencairn, William, Fourth Earl of, 29, 30, 38, 43, 53.
Glencairn, Alexander, Fifth Earl of, 115, 120, 121, 131, 147, 153, 156, 186, 203, 208, 217, 293.
Gourlay, Norman, 16.
Gray, Lord, 44, 45, 46.
Guise, Duke of, 116, 185.
Guise. See Lorraine; D'Elbœuf; Mary.
Haddington, 31, 60, 61, 103, 104, 105, 106, 112.
Hailes, House of, 62.
Halden Rig, 23.
Hamilton, Gavin, Abbot of Kilwinning, 157, 249, 252, 254.
Hamilton, Family of, 14, 34, 41, 103, 249, 250.
Hamilton, Sir James, 20.
Hamilton, John (Abbot of Paisley, and Archbishop of St. Andrews after Beaton), 40, 41, 43, 51, 83, 90, 97, 100, 113, 124, 134, 142, 151, 160, 162, 169, 267, 272, 276, 284.
Hamilton, Patrick, 5 ff., 11, 116.
Harlaw, William, 117, 123, 137.
Henry II. of France, 43, 98, 99, 169.
Henry VIII., 10, 14, 22, 38, 42, 51, 83, 100.
Holyroodhouse, Lord Robert Stewart, Abbot of, 228, 285.
Home, Lord, 24, 101.
Huntly, Earl of, 24, 33, 42, 102, 103, 104, 113, 114, 115, 167, 171, 249, 250, 265, 267.
Inveresk, 59, 100, 105.
James IV., 2, 4, 5.
James V., 6, 13, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24-33.
Justice Clerk, Sir John Bellenden, 239, 245, 293, 302.
Kennedy, Friar, 19.
Kinghorn, 186, 187.
Kirkaldy, James, Laird of Grange, 33, 40, 46, 99, 107, 110, 192.
Kirkaldy, William, of Grange, Younger, 31, 81, 83, 98, 108, 109, 110, 180, 188.
Kirkcaldy, Affair at, 189.
Kirk-breaking at Perth, 149.
Kirk, The Privy, 137.
Knox's Confession, 341 (cf. 241).
Knox, John, Waits upon Wishart, 60.
At Castle of St. Andrews, 84.
Called to be Preacher, 85.
First Sermon, 87.
Disputation with Winram, 90.
Prisoner in France, 109.
In England, 111.
At Geneva, 111.
Returns to Scotland, 117.
On the Mass, 119.
In Kyle, 120.
Summoned by the Bishops, 121.
Recalled to Geneva, 122.
Burned in Effigy, 122.
Recalled from Geneva, 128.
Letter to the Lords, 128.
Returns from France, 148.
At Perth, 148.
Protest at Perth, 154.
Accuses Argyll and Lord James Stewart of disloyalty, 157.
Interdicted from Preaching, 160.
He declines to obey, 160.
Preaches at St. Andrews, 161.
At Scone, 165.
Sermon at Stirling, 181.
Preaches at Cupar, 187.
And Sir William Cecil, 191-195.
At Berwick, 193.
Reproaches the Lords, 196.
Minister of Edinburgh, 212.
The Book of Discipline, 217.
Preaches against Queen's Mass, 230.
Discusses Book of Discipline, 243.
On Patrimony of Kirk, 245.
Knox and Lethington, 246.
Marriage of Earl of Moray, 247.
Bothwell and Arran, 250.
Second Interview with Queen, 255-258.
Warns the Protestants, 266.
And Abbot of Crossraguel, 268.
Third Interview with Queen Mary, 273-276.
Breaks with Lord Moray, 278.
Sermon to the Lords, 279.
Fourth Interview with Queen Mary, 281-283.
Summons the Brethren, 287.
He is betrayed, 289.
Accused of High Treason, 290.
Argues with Master of Maxwell, 290.
Tried by Privy Council, 293-300.
Preaches against the Mass, 305.
Disputation with Lethington, concerning Rights of Princes, 309-332.
Kyle, Knox in, 120.
Kyle, Lollards of, 2.
Kyle, Wishart in, 53.
Kyllour, Friar, 18.
Leith, 16, 17, 43, 49, 50, 58, 142, 169, 170, 172.
Lennox, Earl of (afterwards Regent of Scotland), 14, 43, 51, 270, 284.
Lennox, Family of, 14.
Leslie, John, 80, 83.
Leslie, Norman, 45, 81, 107.
Lethington. See Maitland.
Lindsay, John, 11.
Linlithgow, 13, 14, 21, 32, 39, 42, 186, 238.
Lollards of Kyle, The, 2.
Longniddry, 59.
Lorraine. See D'Elbœuf; Mary.
Lorraine, Cardinal of, 105, 116, 133, 222.
Lyndsay, Master, afterwards Lord, 188, 228, 248.
Lyndsay, Sir David of the Mount, 40, 85.
Macgill, James, of Nether Rankeillor. See Clerk of Register.
Maitland, Sir Richard, of Lethington, 36, 60, 276, 290, 293.
Maitland, William, of Lethington, Secretary to Mary Queen of Scots.
At conference with Knox anent the Mass, 119.
Joins Lords of Congregation, 180.
Ambassador from Congregation to English Court, 183, 217.
Supports the Queen's Mass, 239.
Scoffs at Book of Discipline, 243.
Modificator of stipends, 245.
On the ingratitude of ministers, 246.
At second interview of Knox with Queen, 255.
Objects to plain speaking concerning Queen's Mass, 264.
Commissioner to England and France concerning Queen's marriage, 270.
His return and worldly wisdom, 284.
Interest in Knox's trial for high treason, 290, 292, 293, 299.
For the Queen, makes promises which are not kept, 303.
Defies the servants of God, 304.
Major, Master John, 9.
Marischall, Earl, 53, 115, 121, 208, 215, 239, 247, 293.
Martigues, Count de, 185, 187, 189.
Mary Tudor, Queen of England, 111, 117.
Mary of Lorraine (Queen of James V., and for some time Regent of Scotland).
Arrival in Scotland, 18.
Gives birth to Mary Stuart, 32.
Relations with Cardinal Beaton, 32.
Resents betrothal of Mary to Prince Edward, 39.
Cardinal Beaton takes possession, 42.
Earl of Lennox proposes marriage, 43.
Seeks the death of Wishart, 62.
Mourns death of Cardinal Beaton, 83.
Abets Arran in breaking appointment with Protestants, 96.
Goes to France, 115.
Supplants Arran as Regent, 116.
Her superstition and cruelty, 117.
Declares war on England, 122.
Temporises with Protestants, 124.
Celebrates St. Giles's Day, 125.
Seeks the crown-matrimonial for the King of France, 133.
Aims at suppressing Evangel, 136.
Duplicity towards Protestants, 142.
Approves murder of Walter Myln, 143.
Makes large promises of reform, 145.
Her treachery, 146.
Resents kirk-breaking at Perth, 150.
Stirs up the nobility, 151.
Objects to convocation of Protestants at Perth, 154.
Offers coloured terms, 156.
Enters Perth, and breaks faith, 159.
Deserted by Argyll and Lord James, 159.
Declares war on the Protestants, 162.
Breaks armistice after Cupar Moor, 163.
Driven from Stirling and Edinburgh, 166.
Marches upon Edinburgh, 169.
Restores Mass at Holyrood, 172.
Strengthens her French forces, 173.
Deposed by the Protestants, 175.
Lays waste the country, 202.
Rejoices at sight of French barbarity at second siege of Leith, 207.
Is smitten with disease, 207.
Her illness, 208.
Expresses repentance, 208.
Her death, 209.
Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Her birth, 32.
Betrothal to Prince Edward, 38. Taken to France, 105.
Visited by the Queen-Dowager (upon the occasion of her marriage to King Francis II.), 115.
Protestants act in her name, 176.
Declines to ratify Acts of first Protestant Parliament, 216.
Death of King Francis, 218.
Message to her people, 223.
Relations with Queen Elizabeth, 223.
Arrival in Scotland, 226.
The Queen's Mass at Holyrood, 227-229.
First interview with Knox, 230.
State entry to Edinburgh, 238.
Her behaviour, 240.
Imprisons Arran and Bothwell, 255.
Second interview with Knox, 255-258.
Negotiations with Elizabeth, 258.
Relations with Lord Moray, 259, 269.
Visits the North, 265.
Deals with the revolt of Huntly, 268.
Rumours of marriage, 270.
Permits flight of Bothwell, 270.
Resents suppression of massmongers, 272.
Third interview with Knox, 273-276.
Opens Parliament, 277.
Fourth interview with Knox, 281-283.
Receives warning from Lord John Stewart, 285.
Presides at trial of Knox, 293-300.
Banquets the Lords, 303.
Her broken promises, 303.
Favours the Papists, 305.
Mass, Knox attacks, 119.
The Queen Regent and the, 146.
Prohibited by Act of Parliament, 216.
Disputation concerning, 219.
At Holyrood, 227.
Restored by Queen Mary, 239.
The Queen's, 285.
Massmongers, Trial of, 276.
Mauchline, 54.
Maxwell, Lord, 27, 28, 29, 43, 115.
Maxwell, Master of, 148, 178, 196, 200, 249, 267, 290, 293.
Melvin, James, 82, 112.
Methven, Paul, 123, 137, 147, 212.
Miracles, False, 10.
Montrose, 52, 56, 57, 147.
Moray, Lord James Stewart, Earl of. When Prior of St. Andrews, approves Knox's doctrine, 120.
Emissary from Queen Regent to Earl of Argyll, 131.
Her commissioner to Reformers at Perth: interview with Knox, 151.
Accused of disloyalty, by Knox, 157.
Subscribes the Bond of the Lords of the Congregation, 158.
Abandons the Queen Regent, 159.
Convenes the Reformers at St. Andrews, 160.
At Cupar Moor, 162.
Stays the sack of Scone, 165.
Represents the Congregation at communings at Preston, 167.
Pursues Earl of Bothwell, 178.
Offers to hold Edinburgh for the Congregation, 180.
Conducts Protestant forces to St. Andrews and Cupar, 186.
Campaign in Fife, 188.
Is summoned to conference at Carlisle, 196.
Knox objects, 197.
Apprehends supporters of the French, 199.
At Berwick, 200. With the English army at Preston, 203.
At the Queen Regent's deathbed, 208.
At the first Protestant Parliament, 212.
Sent by Protestants to Queen Mary in France, 221.
His narrow-escape and return, 222.
Protects Queen's Mass at Holyrood, 228.
At Knox's interview with the Queen, 230.
At conference concerning Queen's Mass, 239.
Lieutenant of the Borders, 210.
Appointed to modify stipends, 245.
Created Earl of Mar, and thereafter Earl of Moray instead, 247.
Suppresses riotous courtiers, 249.
Plots made against his life, 250.
Relations with the Queen, 259, 269.
Receives Knox's report of second interview with the Queen, 274.
Knox breaks with him, 278.
His eclipse at Court, 284.
Receives Lethington's report on Knox's treason, 290.
He and Lethington reason with Knox, 292.
At Knox's trial, 293.
Strained relations with Knox continue, 337.
Morton, Earl of, Lord Chancellor, (afterwards Regent of Scotland), 131, 217, 239, 245, 255, 307, 313, 333.
Myln, Walter, 142.
Oblivion, Act of, 279.
Ochiltree, Andrew Stewart, Lord, 156, 203, 229, 213, 219, 281.
Ormiston, 59.
Paisley, Abbot of. See Hamilton, John.
Parliament of October 1558, 134, 143.
Parliament, First Protestant (1560), 212.
Parliament of May 1563, 277.
Patrimony of the Kirk, 244, 301.
Peace with France and England, 113.
Persecutions, Early, 1.
Perth, 46, 47, 48, 58, 147-159, 164, 238.
Pettycur, Skirmish at, 186.
Pinkie Cleuch, Battle of, 100.
Pittarrow, Laird of, 200, 245, 246, 286, 293.
Pope, Act against Supremacy of the, 216.
Protestant Party. See Congregation, Lords of.
Reconciliation, Articles of, 141.
Regent, The. See Arran; Mary.
Reid, Adam, of Barskymming, 2, 4.
Restalrig, Dean of, 127.
Revolt of Huntly, 268.
Rothes, Earl of, 46, 127.
Rough, John, 35, 40, 84, 85.
Russell, Friar, 18.
Ruthven, Second Lord, 36, 44, 147, 154, 159, 164, 175.
Ruthven, Third Lord, 45, 186, 203, 293, 295.
St. Andrews, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, 46, 63, 160, 163, 199, 238.
St. Andrews' Castle, 51, 62, 78, 83, 96, 97, 104, 142.
St. Andrews University, 1, 8, 95.
St. Giles's Image, 125.
St. Giles's Kirk, 177, 210.
St. John, Sir James Sandilands, Lord, 216, 217, 421.
Sandilands, Sir James, of Calder, 138.
Sandilands, Sir James, of Torphichen. See St. John.
Scone, Sack of, 165.
Scots Prisoners in France, 99, 107.
Scots Reformers abroad, 15.
Scott, Friar, 35, 77.
Scott, Thomas, Justice Clerk, 21.
Seton, Friar Alexander, 11-14.
Seton, Lord, 24, 36, 123, 166, 171.
Siege of Leith, First, 177.
Siege of Leith, Second, 204.
Siege of St. Andrews Castle, 97.
Sinclair, Oliver, 27, 28.
Solway Moss, 27 ff., 38.
Stewart, Lord James, Prior of St. Andrews. See Earl of Moray.
Stewart, Lord John. See Coldingham, Prior of.
Stewart, Lord Robert. See Holyroodhouse, Abbot of.
Stipends, Modification of, 244.
Stirling, 11, 18, 42, 147, 165, 170, 186, 238.
Stratoun, David, 16.
Tranent, 60.
Twa-penny Faith, The, 132.
Wallace, Adam, 113.
War with England (1555), 122.
Willock, John. Seeks work in Scotland, 117.
Discusses the Mass, 119.
Preaches and teaches in Edinburgh, 123, 137.
At Perth, 157.
Braves the fury of the Queen Regent, 171.
Absence in England, 181.
Exhorts the Queen Regent on her deathbed, 209.
Superintendent of Glasgow, 212.
Part author of The Book of Discipline, 217.
Moderator at disputation between Knox and Protestant courtiers, 308.
Winram, Dean John (Sub-prior of St. Andrews: afterwards Superintendent of Fife). Preaches on heresy before trial of Wishart, 66.
Receives Wishart's confession, 77.
Disputation with Knox concerning doctrine, 90-92.
Is appointed Superintendent for Fife, 212.
Takes part in framing Book of Discipline, 217.
Joins deputation from Assembly to Protestant courtiers, 308.
His judgment concerning the Queen's Mass, 333.
Wishart, George, 52 ff., 89.
Printed by Morrison and Gibb Limited, Edinburgh
Transcriber's note:
Minor typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed.
Mismatched quotes are not fixed if it's not sufficiently clear where the missing quote should be placed.
Page 121: "taught in Edinburgh in a greater audience that ever before"—"that" has been replaced with "than".
Indexes
Index of Citations
- Admonition to England: 1
- Book of Discipline: 1 2 3
- Book of Discipline, The: 1
- Confession of Faith: 1 2
- Discipline, The Book of: 1
- Knox's Confession: 1
- Knox's Confession of Faith: 1
- The Book of Discipline: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- The Commonwealth: 1
- The Confession of Faith: 1 2
- The First Book of the History of the Reformation of Religion within the Realm of Scotland.: 1
- The Fourth Book of the Progress and Continuance of True Religion within Scotland.: 1
- The History of the Reformation in Scotland: 1
- The Second Book of the History of Things done in Scotland, in the Reformation of Religion, beginning in the Year of God 1558.: 1
- The Third Book of the Progress of True Religion within the Realm of Scotland.: 1
Index of Latin Words and Phrases
- Actor sequitur forum rei: 1
- Dei tamen servi: 1
- Dispersit, dedit pauperibus: 1
- Homines obscuri: 1
- Insignia Magistratus: 1
- Justo Dei judicio condemnatus sum: 1
- Legatus Natus: 1 2
- Legatus a Latere: 1
- Magistri Nostri: 1
- Ne sit peregrinus curiosus in aliena Republica: 1
- Nolumus: 1
- Odi ecclesiam malignantium: 1
- Placebo Dominæ: 1
- Remittimus Irremissible: 1
- Suscipe, Sancta Trinitas, hanc oblationem, quam ego indignus peccator offero tibi vivo Deo et vero, pro peccatis meis, pro peccatis totius Ecclesiae vivorum et mortuorum, etc.: 1
- Volumus: 1
- Vox Dianae!: 1
- a secretis mulierum: 1
- ergo: 1
- hinc inde: 1
- in eodem predicamento: 1
- in fide parentum: 1
- ipsissima verba: 1
- quia nevus interdum in corpore pulchro: 1
- sede vacante: 1
Index of Pages of the Print Edition
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