Chapter XIII: MS. L. (3.)--A copy of the same volume, with these portions (11)

This ansuer receaved, the Duke and Monsieur Dosell, haveing commissioun of the Quene Regent, required that Assurance mycht be taikin for eight dayis, to the end that indifferent men in the meantyme micht commone upoun sum finall aggrement of those thingis whiche than war in controversie. Heirto did we fullie consent, albeit that in nomber and force we war far superiour; and for testificatioun heirof, we send unto thame our hand-writtis, and we lykewyis receaved thairis, with promess that within two or three dayis some discreat men should be send unto us, to Sanctandrois, with farther knawlege of the Quenis mynd. The tennour of the Assurance was this:--

THE ASSURANCE.

"We, JAMES DUKE OF CHATTELLERAULT, Erle of Arrane, Lord Hammiltoun,
&c., and MY LORD DOSELL, Lievtenant for the King in thir partis,
for our selffis, our assistaris and partakeris, being presentlie
with us in cumpany, be the tennour heirof promittis faithfullie of
honour to My Lordis ARCHIBALD ERLE OF ERGYLE, and JAMES COMMENDATAR
OF THE PRIORIE OF SANCTANDROIS, to thair assistaris and partakeris,
being presentlie with thame in cumpany; That we, and our cumpany
foirsaidis, shall reteir incontinent to Falkland, and shall, with
diligence, transport the Frenchemen and our uther folkis now
presentlie with us; and that na Frencheman, or other souldiouris of
ouris, shall remane within the boundis of Fyffe, bot sa mony as
befoir the raising of the last armye lay in Disart, Kirkcaldy, and
Kinghorne, and the same to ly in the same places onelie, yf we
shall think goode: And this to have effect for the space of eight
dayis following the dait heirof _exclusive_, that in the meantyme
certane Noble men, be the advise of the Quenis Grace, and rest of
the Counsale, may conveane to talk of sick thingis as may maik
goode ordour and quyetnes amongis the Quenis liegis. And further,
we, nor nane of our assistaris, being present with us, shall
invade, truble, or inquyet the saidis Lordis, nor thair
assistaris, dureing the said space: And this we bind and obleise
us, upoun our lautie, fidelitie, and honour, to observe and keape
in everie point above writtin, but fraude or gyle. In witnes
whairof we have subscrivit thir presentis with our handis.

"At Garlabank,[831] the xiij daij of Junii 1559.

[Signed] [Signed]

_The uther subscriptioun we culd nocht read, bot the simile is
this_,--[832]

[Signed]

And, this receaved, we departed first, becaus we war thairto requeasted be the Duke, and so we returned to Cowper, lawding and praising God for his mercie schewed; and thairefter everie man departed to his duelling place. The Lordis, and a great part of the gentilmen, passed to Sanctandrois, who thair abode certane dayis, still looking for those that war promessed to come frome the Quene, for appointment to be maid. Bot we perceaving hir craft and disceat, (for under that assurance sche ment nothing ellis, but to convey hir selff, hir ordinance, and Frenche men, over the wattir of Forth,) took consultatioun what should be done[833] for delivering of Sanct Johnestoun from these ungodlie soldiouris, and how our bretherin, exiled from thair awin housses, mycht be restored agane.

[SN: THE DELIVERANCE OF SANCT JOHNESTOUN.]

It was concluded, that the bretherin of Fyffe, Anguss, Mearnis, and Stratherin, should convene at Sanct Johnestoun, the 24 day of Junij for that purpoise; and in the meantyme, war these letteris writtin be the Erle of Ergyle and Lord James, to the Quene than Regent.

[SN: LETTERIS TO THE QUENE REGENT.]

"Madame,--Efter our hartlie commendationis of service, this shalbe
to schaw your Grace, that upoun the 13 day of Junij, we war
informed by thame that war communeris betuix my Lord Duke, Monsieur
Dosell, and us, that we should have spoken irreverentlie of your
Grace, whiche we beseik your Grace, for the trew service that we
have maid, and ar reddy to maik at all tymes to your Grace; that of
your goodnes ye will lat us knaw the sayeris thairof, and we shall
do the dewetie of trew subjectis to defend our awin innocencie; as
we tak God to witnes of the gud zeale and love we beir towardis
yow, to serve yow with trew hartis and all that we have, alsweill
landis as goodis, desyring na uther thing for our service bot the
libertie of our conscience, to serve our Lord God as we will ansuer
to him, whiche your Grace aucht and should geve to us frelie
unrequired. Mairover, please your Grace, that my Lord Duik, and the
Noble men being in Striveling for the tyme, be your Gracis avise,
solisted us to pass to the Congregatioun convened at the town of
Perth, to commoun of concord, whair we did our exact diligence, and
brocht it to pas, as your Grace knawis. And thair is a point that
we plane is nocht observed to us, whiche is, that na soldiour
should remane in the town, after your Grace departing. And suppois
it may be inferred, that it was spokin of Frenche soldiouris
allanerlie, yit we tuik it utherwais, lyik as we do yit, that
Scottishmen, or any uther natioun, takand the King of Francis
waiges, ar repute and haldin Frenche soldiouris. Thairfoir, sen we
of good will and mynde brocht that matter to your Gracis
contentment, it will please your Grace, of your goodnes, to remove
the soldiouris and thair Capitanes, with utheris that hes gottin
charge of the town, that the same may be guyded and reulled frelie,
as it was befoir, be the Baillies and Counsale, conforme to thair
infeftmentis gevin to thame be the ancient and maist excellent
Kingis of this realme, to elect and cheise thair officiaris at
Michelmess, and thai to indure for the space of one yeir, conforme
to the auld ryte and consuetude of this realme; whiche being done
be your Grace, we traist the better success shall follow thairupoun
to your Grace contentatioun,[834] as the bearar will declair at
mair lenth to your Grace; whome God preserve."

[SN: THE SUMMONING OF SANCT JOHNESTOUN.]

To Sanct Johnestoun, with the Gentilmen befoir expressed, did conveane the Erle of Menteath,[835] the Lard of Glenurquhar,[836] and diverse utheris who befoir had nocht presented thame selffis for defence of thair bretherin. When the hole multitude was conveaned, a trumpet was send by the Lordis, commanding the Capitanes and thair bandis to avoid the town, and to leave it to the ancient libertie and just inhabitantis of the same; alsua commanding the Laird of Killfaunes,[837] insett Provest be the Quene, with the Capitanes foirsaidis, to cast up the portis of the town, and maik the same patent to all our Soveraneis liegis, to the effect, that alsweill trew religioun now aneis begun thairin may be maynteaned, and idolatrie utterlie suppressed; as alsua the said town mycht joise and brooke thair ancient lawis and liberteis unoppressed by men of wear, according to thair old privilegis granted to thame be the ancient Princes of this realme, and conforme to the provisioun conteaned in the Contract of Mariage maid be the Nobilitie and Parliament of this realme with the King of France, beirand, that nane of our aid lawis nor liberteis should be alterat: adding thairto, gif they folishlie resisted, and thairin happined to commit murther, that thay should be entreated as murtheraris. To the whiche thay ansuered prowdlie, "That thay wald keap and defend that town, according to thair promess maid to the Quene Regent."

[SN: COMMUNING AT SANCT JOHNESTOUN.]

This answer receaved, preparatioun was maid for the seage and assault; for amangis all it was concluded, that the town should be sett at libertie, to what dangeris soever thair bodyis should be exponed. Whill preparatioun was in making, came the Erle of Huntlie, the Lord Erskin, and Maister Johne Bannatyne, Justice Clerk,[838] requireing that the persute of the town should be delayed. To speak thame war appointed the Erle of Ergyle, Lord James, and Lord Ruthven, who, perceaving in thame nothing but a drift of tyme, without any assurance that the former wrangis should be redressed, gave unto thame schort and plane ansuer, "That thay wald nocht delay thair purpoise ane hour; and thairfoir willed thame to certifie the Capitanes in the town, that gif by pryde and foolishnes thay wald keape the town, and in so doing slay any of thair bretherin, that thay should everie one dye as murtheraris." The Erle of Huntlie displeased at this ansuer, departed, as hielie offended that he culd nocht dress suche appointment as should have contented the Queue and the Preastis. After thair departing, the town was agane summondit; bot the Capitanes, supposing that na suddane persute should be maid, and looking for releif to have bein send from the Quene, abode in thair former opinioun. And so upoun Setterday, the 25 [24th] of Junij, at ten houris at nycht, commanded the Lord Ruthven, who beseaged the west quarter, to schoote the first voley; whiche being done, the town of Dundie did the lyke, whose ordinance lay upoun the eist syde of the brig. The Capitanes and soldiouris within the town, perceaving that thai war unable long to resist, required assurance till xij houris upoun the morne, promessing, "That gif or that hour thair came unto thame na releaf frome the Quene Regent, that thay wald rander the town, providing that thay should be suffered to departe the town with ensenzie displayed." We, thrusting the bloode of no man, and seaking onlie the libertie of our bretherin, condiscended to thair desyris, albeit that we mycht have executed against thame jugement without mercie, for that thay had refused our former favouris, and had slane one of our bretherin, and hurt two in thair resistance;[839] and yit we suffered thame freelie to depart without any forther molestatioun.

[SN: THE BISCHOPE OF MURRAY.]

The Town being delivered from thare thraldome, upoun Sounday the 26 [25th] of Junij, thankis war gevin unto God for his great benefite receaved, and consultatioun was taikin what was forder to be done. In this meantyme, four[840] zealous men, considdering how obstinat, prowde, and dispitefull the Bischope of Murray[841] had bein befoir; how he had threatned the town be his soldiouris and freindis, who lay in Skune,[842] thought good that some ordour should be taikin with him and with that place, whiche lay neir to the town end. The Lordis wrait unto him, (for he lay[843] within two myles to Sanet Johnestoun,) "That oneles he wald cum and assist thame, thay nather culd spair nor save his place." He ansuered be his writing, "That he wold cum, and wold do as thay thoght expedient; that he wold assist thame with his force, and wald vote with thame against the rest of the Clargie in Parliament." Bot becaus this ansuer was slaw in cuming, the town of Dundie, partelie offended for the slauchter of thair man, and especiallie bearing no goode favour to the said Bischope, for that he was and is cheif ennemy to Christ Jesus, and that by his counsale alone was Walter Mylne our brother put to death, thay marched fordward. To stay thame was first send the Provest of Dundie, and his brother Alexander Halyburtoun, Capitane, who litill prevaling, was send unto thame Johne Knox; bot befoir his cuming, thay war entered to the pulling down of the ydollis and dortour. And albeit the said Maister James Halyburtoun, Alexander his brother, and the said Johne, did what in thame lay to have stayed the furie of the multitude, yit war thay nocht able to put ordour universalie; and tharfoir thay send for the Lordis, Erle of Ergyle, and Lord James, who, cuming with all diligence, laboured to have saved the Palace and the Kirk. [SN: THE DISTRUCTIOUN OF SCONE.] Bot becaus the multitude had fundin, bureid in the Kirk, a great number of idollis, hid of purpose to have preserved thame to a bettir day, (as the Papistis speak,) the townis of Dundie and Sanct Johnestoun culd nocht be satisfeit, till that the hole reparatioun and ornamentis of the Churche, (as thay terme it,) war distroyed. And yit did the Lordis so travell, that thay saved the Bischopis Palace, with the Churche and place, for that nicht: for the two Lordis did nocht depart till thay brocht with thame the hole nomber of those that most sought the Bischopis displesour. The Bischope, greatlie offended that any thing should have bein interprised in Reformatioun of his place, asked of the Lordis his band and hand-writting, whiche nocht two houris befoir he had send to thame. Whiche delivered to his messinger, Sir Adame Brown,[844] advertisment was gevin, that yf any farder displesour chanced unto him, that he should nocht blame thame. The Bischopis servandis, that same nycht, began to fortifie the place agane, and began to do violence to some that war careing away suche baggage as thay culd cum by. The Bischopis girnell was keapt the first nycht by the laubouris of Johne Knox, who, by exhortatioun, removed suche as violentlie wald have maid irruptioun. That same nycht departed from Sanct Johnestoun the Erle of Ergyle, and Lord James, as efter shalbe declaired.

[SN: THE CAUS OF THE BURNING OF SCONE.]

The morrow following, some of the poore, in houp of spoyle, and sum of Dundie, to considder what was done, passed up to the said Abbay of Scone; whairat the Bischopis servandis offended, began to threattene and speak proudlie: and, as it was constantlie affermed, one of the Bischopis sonis stogged throuch with a rapper one of Dundie, for becaus he was looking in at the girnell door. This brute[845] noysed abrode, the town of Dundie was more enraged than befoir, who, putting thame selffis in armour, send word to the inhabitants of Sanct Johnestoun, "That onles thay should supporte thame to avenge that injurie, that thai should never after that day concur with thame in any actioun." The multitud easelie inflambed, gave the alarme,[846] and so was that Abbay and Palace appointit to saccag; in doing whairof thay took no lang deliberatioun, bot committed the hole to the merciment of fyre; wharat no small nomber of us war offended, that patientlie we culd nocht speak till any that war of Dundie or Sanct Johnestoun. [SN: SPEAKING OF ANE ANCIENT MATRONE WHEN SCONE WAS BURNING.] A poore aged matrone, seing the flambe of fyre pas up samichtelie, and perceaving that many war thairat offended, in plane and sober maner of speaking, said, "Now I see and understand that Goddis judgementis ar just, and that no man is able to save whare he will punische. Since my remembrance, this place hath bein nothing ellis bot a den of hooremongaris. It is incredible to beleve how many wyffes hath bein adulterat, and virginis deflored, by the filthie beastis whiche hath bein fostered in this den; bot especiallie by that wicked man who is called the Bischope. Yf all men knew alsmuche as I, thay wald praise God; and no man wald be offended." This woman duelt into the toun, neye unto the Abbay; at whose wordis war many pacifeid; affirming with hir, that it was Goddis just judgement. And assuredlie, yf the laubouris or travell of any man culd have saved that place, it had nocht bein at that tyme destroyed;[847] for men of greattest estimatioun lawboured with all diligence for the savetie of it.

[SN: THE TAKING OF STRIVILING.]

Whill these thingis war done at Sanct Johnestoun, the Quene, fearing what should follow, determinat to send certane bandis of Frenche soldiouris to Striveling, for purpose to stop the passage to us that than war upoun the north syde of Forth. Whiche understand, the Erle of Ergyle and Lord James departed secreatlie upoun the nycht, and with great expeditioun, preventing the Frenchemen, thay took the town, (befoir whose cuming the rascheall multitude put handis in the thevis, I should say, frearis places and utterlie distroyed thame;) wharat the Quene and hir factioun nocht a litill affrayed, with all diligence departed from Edinburgh to Dumbar. And so we with reasonable diligence merched fordwart to Edinburgh, for Reformatioun to be maid thair, whare we arrived the 29 of Junij. [SN: LORD SEYTOUN.] The Provest for that tyme, the Lord Seytoun, a man without God, without honestie, and oftentymes without reasone, had befoir greatlie trubled and molested the bretherin; for he had taikin upoun him the protectioun and defence of the Blak and Gray Frearis; and for that purpose did nocht onelie lye him self in the one everie nicht, bot also constraned the most honest of the town to wache those monstouris, to thair great greaf and truble. [SN: THE CUMING OF THE CONGREGATIOUN TO EDINBURGH.] Bot hearing of our suddane cuming, he abandoned his charge, and had left the spoile to the poore, who had maid havock of all suche thingis as was movable in those placis befoir our cuming, and had left nothing bot bair wallis, yea, nocht sa muche as door or windok; wharthrow we war the less trubilled in putting ordour to suche places.

After that certane dayis we had deliberat what was to be done, and that ordour was tackin for suppressing of all monumentis of idolatrie within that town, and the places nixt adjacent, determinatioun was taikin, to send some message[848] to the Quene, than Regent; for sche had bruted, (as hir accustomed maner was, and yit hir Dochteris is, ever to forge lyes,) that we sought nothing bot hir lyef, and a plane revoltment from the lawfull obedience dew to our Soverane, hir authoritie, as by the tennour of these Letteris may be sene:--

"FRANCES AND MARIE, be the Grace of God, King and Quene of Scottis,
Daulphine and Daulphines of Viennois, to our lovittis, Lyoun King
of Armes, &c., our Schireffis in that parte, conjunctlie and
severallie, specialie constitute, greting: For sa mekle as our
darrest moder Marie, Quene Dowager, Regent of our Realme, and
Lordis of our Secreat Counsale, perceaving the seditious tumult
rased be ane parte of our liegis, nameing thame selffis THE
CONGREGATIOUN, who, under pretense of religioun, have putt thame
selffis in armes;[849] and that hir Grace, for satisfeing of everie
manis conscience, and pacifeing of the saidis trubles, had
offerred unto thame to affix ane Parliament to be haldin in Januare
nixt to cum, (this was a manyfest leye, for this was nether
offerred, nor by hir ancis thought upoun, till we required it,) or
sonnar, gyf thay had pleased, for establissing of ane universall
ordour in matteris of religioun, be our advise and Estatis of our
Realme;[850] and, in the meantyme, to suffer everie man to leaf at
libertie of conscience, without truble, unto the tyme the said
ordour war tackin be advise of our foirsaid [Estates.[851]] And at
last, becaus it appeared mekle to stand upoun our burght of
Edinburght, offerred in lyke maner to latt the inhabitants thairof
chease what maner of religioun thai wald sett up and use for that
tyme; swa that na man mycht alledge that he was forsed to do
against his conscience: Quhilk offer the Quenis Grace, our said
darrest Moder, was at all tymes, and yit is, ready to fulfill.
Nochttheles, the said Congregatioun being of mynd to receave no
reasonable offerris, hes sensyne, by oppin dead, declaired, that it
is na religioun, nor any thing thairto perteaning, that thai seak,
bot onelie the subversioun of our authoritie, and usurpatioun of
our Crown; in manifest witnessing whairof, thay daylie receave
Inglismen with messagis unto thame, and sendis siclyk in Ingland;
and last of all, have violentlie intrometted with, taikin, and yit
withhaldis the irnis of our Cunzee hous,[852] quhilk is ane of the
cheife pointis that concernis our Crown; and siclyke lies
intrometted with our Palice of Halirudhouse. Oure will is heirfoir,
&c., that ye pas to the Mercat Croce of our said burght of
Edinburght, or any uther publict place within the same, and thair,
be oppin proclamatioun in our name and authoritie, command and
charge all and sindrie personis of the said Congregatioun, or yit
being presentlie within our said burght other than the inhabitantis
thairof, that thay, within sex houris nixt efter our said charge,
depart furth of the same under the pane of treasone; and als, that
ye command and charge all and sindrie personis to leave thair
cumpany, and adhear to our authoritie; with certificatioun to suche
as do the contrare, shalbe repute and haldin as manifest traytouris
to our Crowne, &c."

These letteris did nocht a litill greave us, who most injustlie war accused; for thare is never a sentence of the narrative trew, except that we stayed the irnes, and that for most just causses, to witt, because that daylie thair was suche nomber of Hard-headis printed,[853] that the basenes thairof maid all thingis exceiding dear; and thairfoir we war counsaled by the wysest to stay the irnes,[854] whill farther ordour mycht be tackin. Sche, with all possible diligence, posted for hir factioun. Maister James Balfour was nocht ydill in the meantyme. The Lordis, to purge thame of these odious crymes, wrait unto hir a letter, in forme as efter followeth:--

[SN: THE THRID LETTER TO THE QUENE REGENT.]

"Pleas your Grace, be advertist, it is cum to our knowlcge, that
your Grace hath sett furth, be your letteris openelie proclamed
that we, called by name THE CONGREGATIOUN, under pretence and
colour of religioun, convene togidder to na uther purpose bot to
usurpe our Soveraneis authoritie, and to invaid your persone
representand thairis at this present: Quhilkis thingis appeiris to
have proceidit of sinister informatioun, maid to your Grace be our
ennemeis, considdering that we never mynded sic thing, bot onelie
our mynd and purpose was and is to promote and sett furth the
glorie of God, maynteane and defend the trew preacharis of his
word; and according to the same, abolish and put away idolatrie and
false abuses, whiche may nocht stand with the said word of God:
Beseaking your Grace to bear patientlie thairwith, and interpone
your authoritie to the furtherance of the same, as is the dewetie
of everie Christiane Prince and good magistrat. For as to the
obedience of our Soveraneis authoritie in all civile and politick
matteris, we ar and shalbe als obedient as ony uther your Gracis
subjectis within the realme; and that our Conventioun is for na
uther purpose bot to save our preacheouris and thair auditouris fra
the injurie and violence of our enymeis, quhilk should be mair
amplie declaired be some of us in your Gracis presence, yf yow war
nocht accumpanyed with such as hes persewit our lyves and sought
our bloode. Thus, we pray Almyghtie God to have your Hienes in his
eternall tuitioun.

"At Edinburght, the secund of Julij 1559."

And for farther purgatioun heirof, it was thocht necessar that we should sempillie expone, alsweill to hir Grace as to the hole people, what war our requeastis and just petitionis. And for that purpoise, after that salf conduct was purchessed and granted, we directed unto hir two grave men of our counsale, to witt, the Lardis of Pittarrow and Cuninghamheid,[855] to whame we gaif commissioun and power, First, To expone our hole purpose and intent, whiche was none other than befoir at all tymes we had required, to witt, That we mycht injoy the libertie of conscience. Secundlie, [That] Christ Jesus mycht be trewlie preached, and his holie Sacramentis rychtlie ministrat unto us. [Thirdly,] That unable ministeris micht be removed from ecclesiasticall administratioun; and that our preacheouris mycht be relaxit from the horne, and permitted to execut thair chargis without molestatioun, unto such tyme as ather by a Generall Counsale, lauchfullie convened, or by a Parliament within the realme, the contraverseis in religioun wer decided. And, for declaratioun that hir Grace was heirto willing, that the bandis[856] of Frenche men, who than war a burthein untollerable to the cuntrey, and to us so fearfull, that we durst nocht in peaciable and quiet maner hant the places whare thay did lye, should be send to France, thair native cuntrey: Whiche thing is granted, hir Grace should have experience of our accustomed obedience.

[SN: THE CRAFTYNES OF THE QUENE REGENT MAY YIT BE ESPYED.]

To these headis sche did answer at the first so plesandlie, that sche put boith our Commissioneris in full esperance that all should be granted; and for that purpose, sche desyred to speak with sum of greatter authoritie, promesing, that yf thay wald assure hir of thair detfull[857] obedience, that sche wald deny nothing of that whiche was required. For satisfactioun of hir mynd, we send agane the Erle of Glencarne, the Lord Ruthven, the Lord Uchiltrie, and the said Lard of Pittarrow, with the same commissioun as of befoir. Bot than sche began to handill the matter more craftelie, compleaning that sche was nocht sought in a gentill maner; and that thay in whome sche had put maist singular confidence, had left hir in hir greattest neid; and suche uther thingis, perteaning nothing to thair commissioun, proponed sche, to spend and dryve the tyme. Thai answered, "That, by injust tyranny devised aganis thame and thair bretherin, (as hir Grace did weill know,) thay war compelled to seak the extreme remedie; and thairfoir, that hir Grace aucht nocht to wonder thocht godlie men left the cumpany whare thai nether fand fidelitie nor treuth." In the end of this communing, whiche was the xij day of Julij 1559, sche desyred to have talked privelie with the Erle of Ergyle, and Lord James, Priour of Sanctandrois, "For ellis, (as sche alledged,) sche culd nocht bot suspect that thai pretendit to some uther hiear purpose nor religioun." [SN: ACCUSATIONIS.] Sche and hir craftie Counsale had abuesd the Duke, perswaiding unto him, and unto his freindis, that the saidis Erle and Priour had conspyred, first to deprive our Soverane hir dochter of hir authoritie, and thairefter the Duke and his successioun of thair titill to the Crown of Scotland. By these invented lyes, sche inflambed the hartis of many against us, in so muche that some of our awin number began to murmur; whiche perceaved, alsweall the preacheouris, in thair publict sermonis, as we our selffis, by our publict proclamationis, gave purgatioun and satisfactioun to the people, planelie and simplie declairing what was our purpose, tacking God to witnes, that no suche crymes ever entered in our hartis as most injustlie was layed to our charge. The Counsale, efter consultatioun, thocht nocht expedient that the saidis Erle and Priour should talk with the Quene in ony sort; for hir former practises put all men in suspitioun, that some deceat lurked under suche colorat commoning. Sche had befoir said, That yf sche culd by any meane sunder those two from the rest, sche was assured schortlie to cum by hir hole purpose; and one of hir cheaf Counsale in those dayis, (and we fear bot over inward with hir yit,) said, "That or Michelmess day, thay two should leaf thair headis;" and thairfoir all men feared to committ two suche young plantis to hir mercie and fidelitie. It was, thairfoir, finallie denyed that thai should talk [with] the Quene, or ony to hir apperteaning, bot in places void of all suspitioun, whare thay should be equall in nomber with those that should talk [with] thame.

[SN: THE COMMUNING AT PRESTON.]

The Quene perceaving that hir craft culd nocht prevaill, was content that the Duke's Grace and the Erle of Huntlie, with utheris by hir appointed, should convene at Prestoun, to commone [with] the saidis Erle and Priour, and suche utheris as the Lordis of the Congregatioun wald appoint, to the nomber of ane hundreth on the syde, of the whiche nomber aucht personis onelie should meit for conference. The principallis for thair partie war, the Duke, the Erle Huntlie, the Lordis Erskin and Somervell, Maister Gavine Hammiltoun, and the Justice Clerk.[858] From us war directed the Erlis of Ergyle and Glencarne, the Lordis Ruthven, Lord James, Boyd, and Uchiltrie, the Lairdis Dun and Pittarrow, who, conveaning at Prestoun, spak the hole day without any certane conclusioun: For this was the practise of the Quene, and of hir factioun, by dryft of tyme to weary our cumpany, who, for the most parte, had bein upoun the feildis from the tent day of Maij, that we being dispersed, sche mycht cum to hir purpose. In whiche sche was nocht altogidder deceaved; for our commonis war compelled to skaill for lack of expenssis, and our gentilmen, partelie constraned be lack of furnessing, and partlie houping sum small appointment, after so many communingis, returned for the most parte to thair duelling places, for reposing of thame selffis.

[SN: THE DEMAND OF QUENE REGENT, AND ANSWER OF THE PROTESTANTIS.]

The Quene, in all these conventionis, seamed that sche wald geve libertie to religioun, provided, "That wharesoever sche was, our Preacheouris sould cease, and the Masse sould be maynteaned." We perceaving hir malitious craft, ansuered, "That as we wald compell hir Grace to no religioun, so could we nocht of conscience, for the pleasur of any earthlie creature, put silence to Godis trew messingeris; nather culd we suffer that the rycht administratioun of Christis trew sacramentis should gif place to manifest idolatrie; for in so doing, we should declair ourselffis ennemeis to God, to Christ Jesus his Sone, to his eternall veritie, and to the libertie and establishment of his Churche within this realme; for your requeist being granted, there can no Kirk within the same be so estableshit but at your pleasour, and by your residence and remaning thare ye myeht overthrow the samin." [SN: THE LAST OFFERIS OF THE PROTESTANTIS TO THE QUENE REGENT.] This our last answer we send unto hir with the Lord Ruthven and Laird of Pittarrow; requiring of hir Grace, in plane wordis, to signifie unto us what houpe we myeht have of hir favouris toward the outsetting of religioun. We also required that sche wald remove hir Frenchemen, who war a fear to us, and a burthein most grevouse to our cuntrey: And that sche wald promess to us, in the word of a Prince, that sche wald procure no mo to be send in; and than should we nocht onelie support, to the uttermost of our poweris, to furnish schippis and victuallis for thair transporting, bot also, upoun our honouris, should we tak hir body in our protectioun; and should promess, in the presence of God and the hole realme, to serve our Soverane hir Dochter, and hir Grace Regent, als faithfullie and als obedientlie as ever we did Kingis within Scotland: That, moreover, we should caus our Preacheouris geve reasone of thair doctrin in hir audience, till any that pleased till impugne any thing that thay did or taught: Finallie, that we should submit our selflis to a lauchtfull Parliament, provided that the Bischoppis, as the party accused, and our plane ennemeis, should be removed from judgement.

[SN: THE SCOFFING OF THE QUENE REGENT.]

To no point wald sche answer directlie; bot in all thingis sche was so generall and so ambigua, that hir craft appeared to all men. Sche had gottin assured knowlege that our cumpany was skailled, (for hir Frenchemen war daylie amongis us, without molestatioun or hurt done unto thame,) and thairfoir sche began to discloise hir mynde, and said, "The Congregatioun hes roung these two monethis bypast: me my selff wald ring now other two." The malice of hir hart being planelie perceaved, deliberatioun was had what was to be done. It was concluded, that the Lordis, Barronis, and gentilmen, with thare substantious housholdis, should remane in Edinburgh that hole winter, for establissing of the Church[859] thair. [SN: THE CAUS QUHY THE IRNES STAYED.] And becaus it was found, that by the corrupting of our money, the Quene maid to hir selff immoderat gaines for maynteaning of hir soldiouris, to the distructioun of our haill commone weill, it was thocht necessar[860] that the printing irnes, and all thingis to thame perteaning, should be stayed, for fear that sche should privelie caus transport thame to Dumbar.

[SN: THE DEATH OF HARY, KING OF FRANCE.]

In this meantyme came the assured word, first, that the King of France was hurt, and after, that he was dead[861] whiche, albeit it aucht to have put hir in mynd of hir awin estait and wicked interprise: for he that same tyme, in the fulnes of his glorie, (as sche hir self useth to speak,) had determined most crewell persecutioun aganis the sanctis of God in France, evin as sche hir selff was heir persecutand in Scotland: and yit he so perished in his pryde, that all men mycht see that Godis just vengeance did stryke him, evin quhen his iniquitie was cumed to full rypenes. Albeit, (we say,) that this wonderouse wark of God in his suddane death, aucht to have dantoned hir furie, and gevin unto hir admonitioun, that the same God culd nocht suffer her obstinat malice against his treuth long to be unpunished; yit culd hir indurat hart nothing be moved to repentance: for hearing the staying of the printing irnes, sche raiged more outragiouslie than of befoir, and sending for all suche as wer of hir factioun, exponed hir grevous complaint, aggredging the same with many lyes, to wit, "That we had declaired that whiche befoir sche suspected; for what culd we meane ellis, bot usurpatioun of the Crown, when we durst put handis to the Cunze-hous, whiche was a portioun of the patrimony of the Crown." Sche farther alleged, "That we had spoyled the Cunze-house of great sowmes of money." To the whiche we ansuered, boith by our letteris send to hir, and hir Counsale, and by publict proclamatioun to the people, that we, without usurpatioun of any thing justlie perteaning to the Crown of Scotland, did stay the printing irnes, in consideratioun that the commone wealth was greatlie hurt by corrupting of our money; and becaus that we war borne counsalouris of this realme, sworne to procure the proffite of the same, we culd do no less of dewetie and of conscience than to stay that for a tyme, whiche we saw so abused, that oneles remedy war fundin, should turne to the detriment of the hole body of this realme. And as to hir fals accusatioun of spuilzie, we did remit us to the conscience of Maister Robert Richesone[862], Maister of the Cunze-hous, who from our handis receaved silver, gold, and mettall, alsweill cunzeit as uncunzeit; so that with us thair did nocht remane the valour of a bawbie.[863]

This our declaratioun and purgatioun nochtwithstanding, sche, partelie by hir craft and policie, and partelie by the lawbouris of the Bischopis of Sanctandrois and Glasgw; procured the hole nomber that war with hir to consent to persew us with all creweltie and expeditioun, befoir that we culd haif our cumpany (whiche than was dispersed for new furnessing) assembled agane. The certantie heirof cuming to our knawlege, the Setterday at nycht, the 25. [22d] of Julij, we did in what us lay to gif advertisment to our bretherin; bot impossible it was that those of the West, Anguss, Mearnis, Stratherin, or Fyeff, in any nomber culd come to us; for the ennemie marched from Dumbar upoun the Sounday, and approched within two myles of us befoir the sone-rysing upoun Monunday; for thay verrelie supposed to have found no resistance, being assured that the Lordis onelie with certane gentillmen remaned, with thair privat housses. Calling upoun God for counsale in that straytt, we soght what was the nixt defence. We mycht have left the town, and mycht have reteired our selffis without any danger; bot than we should have abandoned our bretherin of Edinburgh, and suffered the ministrie thairof to have decayed, whiche to our hartis was so dolorous, that we thocht better to hasard the extreamitie than so to do. For than the most parte of the town appeared rather to favour us than the Quenis factioun; and did offer unto us the uttermost of thair support, whiche for the most parte thay did faithfullie keap. [SN: LEYTH LEFT THE CONGREGATIOUN.] The same did the town of Leyth, bot thay keapit nocht the lyek fidelitie; for when we war upoun the feild, marching fordward for thair support, (for the Frenche marched neye to thame,) thai randered thame selffis, without ferther resistance. And this thay did, as was supposed, by the treasone of some within thame selffis, and by the perswasioun of the Lard of Restalrig,[864] who of befoir declaired himselff to have bein one of us, and nochtwithstanding,[865] that day randered him selff undesyred to Monsieur Dosell. Thair unprovided and suddane defectioun astonished many; and yit we retyred quyetlie to the syde of Cragingatt,[866] which place we tooke for resisting the ennemie.

In the meantyme, diverse mediatouris passed betuix, amongis whome the Lord Ruthven, for our parte, wes principall. Alexander Erskin[867] did muche travell to stay us and our soldiouris, that we should nocht joyne with thame of Leyth, till that thay, as said is, had randered thame selffis to the Frenche. The said Alexander did oft promese, That the Frenche wald stay, provided that we wold nocht joyne with these of Leyth. Bot efter that thai war randerit, we hard nothing of him bot threatning and disconfortable wordis. Befoir it was eight houris in the morning, God had gevin unto us boith curage, and a reasonable nomber to withstand thair furie. The town of Edinburght, sa mony as had subject thame selffis to discipline, and diverse utheris besydis thame, behavit thame selffis boith faithfullie and stoutlie. The gentilmen of Lowthiane, especiall Caldar, Haltoun, and Ormestoun, war verrey confortable, alsweill for thair counsale as for thair hole assistance. Some gentilmen of Fiffe prevented the Frenche men; otheris war stopped, be reasone that the Frenche had possessed[868] Leyth. Alwais the ennemie tooke suche a fear, that thai determined nocht to invaid us whare we stoode, bot tooke purpose to have passed to Edinburgh, by the other syde of the Watter of Leyth, and that becaus thay had the Castell to thair freind, whiche was to us unknawin; for we supponed the Lord Erskin, Capitane of the same, ather to have bein our freind, or at the least to have bein indifferent. [SN: THE LORD ERSKIN AND HIS FACT.] Bot when we had determined to feght, he send word to the Erle of Ergyle, to Lord James, his sister sone,[869] and to the uther Noble men,[870] that he wald declair him selff boith ennemie to thame and to the town, and wald schoote at boith, gif thay maid any resistance to the Frenche men to enter in the town. This his treasonable defyence, send unto us by the Lard of Ricartoun,[871] did abait the corage of many; for we culd nocht feght nor stop the ennemie, bot under the mercie of the Castell and hole ordinance thairof.

Heirupoun was consultatioun tackin; and in conclusioun, it was found less domage to tak ane Appointment, albeit the conditionis war nocht suche as we desyred, than to hasard battall betuix two suche ennemeis. After lang talkin, certane Headis war drawin by us, whiche we desyred to be granted:--

"First, That no member of the Congregatioun should be trubled in
lief, landis, goodis, or possessionis by the Quene, hir Authoritie,
nor any uther Justice within the realme, for any thing done in the
lait innovatioun, till a Parliament (whiche should begin the tent
of Januar nixt) had decyded thingis in contraversie.

"2. That idolatrie should nocht be erected, whare it was at that
day suppressed.

"3. That the preacheouris and ministeris should nocht be trubled in
thair ministrie, whare thai war alreadie establessed, nather yit
stopped to preache, wharesoever thai should chance to come.

"4. That no bandis of men of warr should be layed in garneshing
within the town of Edinburght.

"5. That the Frenche men should be send away at a reasonable day,
and that none uther should be broght in the cuntrey without consent
of the haill Nobilitie and Parliament."

But these our Articles[872] war altered, and ane uther forme disposeth, as efter followeth:[873]--

"AT THE LYNKIS OF LEITH, THE 24. OF JULIJ 1559, IT IS APPOINTED IN
MANER FOLLOWING:--

"In the first, the Congregatioun and thair cumpany, utheris than
the inhabitants of the said Town, shall remove thame selffis furth
of the said town, the morne at ten houris befoir none, the 25. of
Julij, and leaf the same void and red of thame and thair said
cumpany, conforme to the Quenis Grace pleasour and desyre.

"_Item_, The said Congregatioun shall caus the irnes of the
Cunze-hous,[874] tacken away be thame, be randered and delivered to
Maister Robert Richardsone; and in lykewyis the Quenis Grace
Palace[875] of Halirudhous to be left and randered agane to Maister
Johne Balfour, or ony uther haveand hir Grace sufficient power, in
the same maner as it was receaved, and that betuix the making of
thir Articles and the morne at ten houris.--(For observing and
keaping of thir tua Articles abovewrittin, the Lord Ruthven and the
Lard of Pittarrow hes entered thame selffis pledges.)

"_Item_, The saidis Lordis of Congregatioun, and all the memberis
thairof, shall remane obedient subjectis to our Soverane Lord and
Ladyis authoritie, and to the Quenis Grace Regent in thair place;
and shall obey all lawis and lovable consuetudis of this realme, as
thai war used of befoir the moving of this tumult and contraversie,
exceptand the caus of religioun, whiche shalbe heirafter specifeid.

[SN: IN CONTEMPLATIOUN OF THESE ARTICLES AROSE THIS PROVERB:--"GUD
DAY, SIR JOHNE, WHILL JANUAR. "WELCUM, SIR JOHNE, QUHILL JANUAR",
&c.]

"_Item_, The said Congregatioun, nor nane of thame, shall nocht
truble nor molest a Kirk-man be way of dead, nor yit shall maik
thame any impediment in the peaciable bruiking, joising, and
uptaking of thair rentis, proffittis, and deweties of thair
benefices, bot that thai may frelie use and dispone upoun the same,
according to the lawis and consuetude of this realme, to the tent
day of Januar nixt to cum.

"_Item_, The said Congregatioun, nor nane of thame, shall in no
wayis from thynefurth use ony force or violence, in casting down of
kirkis, religious placis, or reparrelling thairof, bot the same
sall stand skaithles of thame, unto the said tent day of Januar.

"_Item_, The town of Edinburght shall, without compulsioun, use and
cheise what religioun and maner thairof thay please to the said
day; sua that everie man may have fredome to use his awin
conscience to the day foirsaid.

"_Item_, The Quenis Grace sall nocht interpone hir authoritie, to
molest or truble the preacheouris of the Congregatioun, nor thair
ministrie, (to thame that pleasis to use the same,) nor na uther of
the said Congregatioun, in thair bodyis, landis, goodis, or
possessionis, pensionis, or whatsumever uther kynd of goodis thai
possess; nor yit thoill the Clargie, or any uther haveand
spirituall or temporall jurisdictioun, to truble thame, in ony
maner of sort, privatlie or openelie, for the caus of religioun, or
uther actioun depending thairupoun, to the said tent day of Januar
within writtin; and that everie man in particular leife in the
meantyme according to his awin conscience.

"_Item_, That na man of warr, Frenche nor Scottis, be layed in
daylie garnesoun within the town of Edinburght, bot to repair
thairto to do thair lefull besynes, and thairefter to reteir thame
to thare garnesounis."[876]

This alteratioun in wordis and ordour was maid without knowledge and consent of those whose counsale we had used in all cases befoir. For sum of thame perceaving we began to faynt, and that we wald appoint with inequall conditionis, said, "God hath wonderfullie assisted us in our greatest dangeris: He hath strikin fear in the hartis of our ennemeis, when thai supposed thame selffis most assured of victorie: our case is nocht yit sa disperat that we nead to grant to thingis unreasonable and ungodlie; whiche, yf we do, it is to be feared that thingis sall nocht so prosperouslie succeid as thai have done heirtofoir."

[SN: THE PROMESE OF THE DUKE AND ERLE OF HUNTLIE.]

When all thingis war commoned and aggreed upoun by myd personis, the Duke and Erle of Huntlie, who that day war against us, desyred to speak the Erlis of Ergyle and Glencarne, the Lord James, and utheris of our partie: who obeying thare requeastis, mett thame at the Querrell Hollis,[877] betuix Leyth and Edinburght, who in conclusioun promest to our Lordis, "That yf the Quene breake to us any one joyt of the Appointment than maid, that thai should declair thame selffis plane ennemeis unto hir, and freindis to us." Alsmuche promeshed the Duke that he wold do, in case that sche wald nocht remove hir Frenche men at are reasonable day; for the oppressioun whiche thai did was manifest to all men.

This Appointment maid and subscrived by the Duke, Monsieur Dosell, and the Erle of Huntlie, the 25. of Julij, we returned to the town of Edinburght, whare we remanit till the nixt day at none; when, efter sermone, dennar, and a proclamatioun maid at the Mercat Croce in forme as followeth, we departed.

FORME OF THE PROCLAMATIOUN.

"Forasmuche as it hath pleased God, that Appointment is maid betuix
the Quene Regent and us the Lordis, hole[878] Protestantis of this
Realme, we have thocht good to signifie unto yow the cheafe Headis
of the same, whiche be these:--

"1. First, That no member of the Congregatioun shalbe trubled in
lief, landis, goodis, or possessionis, by the Quene, by hir
Authoritie, nor by any uther Justice within this realme, for any
thing done in this lait innovatioun, till that a Parliament hath
decyded thingis that be in contraversie.

"2. That idolatrie shall nocht be erected, whare it is now at this
day suppressed.

"3. That the preachearis and ministeris shall nocht be trubled in
the ministratioun, whare thai ar already established, nather yit
stopped to preache whairsoevir thai shall happin to travaill within
this realme.

"4. That no bandis of men of warr shalbe layed in garnesoun within
the town of Edinburght.

"These cheafe headis of Appointment concerning the libertie of
religioun and conservatioun of our bretherin, we thoght goode to
notifie unto yow, by this our Proclamatioun, that in case wrong or
injurie be done, by any of the contrarie factioun, to any member of
our body, complaint may be maid to us, to whome we promese, as we
will ansuer to God, our faitlifull support to the uttermost of our
poweris."

[SN: ANSUER TO THE COMPLAYNT OF THE PAPISTIS.]

At this proclamatioun, maid with sound of trumpett, war offended all the Papistis: for, first, Thai alledged it was done in contempt of the Authoritie: secundarlie, That we had proclamed more than was conteaned in the Appointment: and last, That we, in our proclamatioun, had maid no mentioun of any thing promished unto thame. To suche mummeris[879] we answered, "That no just Authoritie culd think the selff contempned, becaus that the treuth was by us maid manifest unto all, who utherwayis mycht have pretendit ignorance. Secundlie, That we proclamed nathing, whiche [was] nocht finallie aggreit upoun in word and promeiss betuix us and thame with quhame the Appointment was maid, whatsoevir thair scribeis had efter writtin, quha in verray deid had alterit, bayth in wordis and sentenceis, oure Articles, as thay war first consavit; and yitt, gif thair awin writtingis war diligentlie examinit, the self same thing sall be found in substance. And last, To proclame any thing in thair favouris, we thocht it nocht necessarie, knawing that in that behalf thay thame selfis sould be diligent aneweh." And in this we war not desavit; for within fyftene dayis efter, thair was not ane schaveling in Scotland, to wham teyndis, or any uthor rentis pertenit, bot he had that Article of the Appointment by hart, "That the Kirk men sould be ansuerit of teyndis, rentis, and all uthir dewties, and that no man sould trubill nor molest thame."

We depairting from Edinburgh, the 26. of Julij, came first to Lynlythqw, and efter to Striviling; whair, efter consultatioun, the band of defence, and mentenance of religioun, and for mutuall defence, evere ane of uther, was subscrivit of all that war thair present. The tennour of the Band was this:--

"We foirseing the craft and slycht of our adversaries, tending all
maner of wayis to circumvene us, and be prevy meanis intendis to
assailzie everie ane of us particularie be fair hechtis and
promisses, thairthrow to separat ane of us frome ane uthir, to oure
utter rewyne and destructioun: for remedy heirof, we faythfullie
and trewlie byndis us, in the presence of God, and as we tender the
mentenance of trew Religioun, that nane of us sall in tymeis cuming
pas to the Queneis Grace Dowriare, to talk or commun with hir for
any letter [or] message send be hir unto us, or yitt to be send,
without consent of the rest, and commone consultatioun thairupoun.
And quhowsone that ather message or writt sall cum fra hir unto us,
with utter diligence we sall notifie the same ane to ane uther; swa
that nathing sall proceid heirin without commune consent of us all.

"At Striveling, the first day of August 1559."

This Band subscrivit, and we foirseing that the Quene and Bischopis menit nathing bot desait, thocht guid to seik ayde and support of all Christiane Princeis against hir and hir tyrrannie, in caise we sould be mair schairplie persewit. And becaus that Ingland was of the same religioun, and lay nixt unto us, it was jugeit expedient first to prove thame; quhilk we did be ane or twa messingeris, as heirefter,[880] in the awin place, mair ampill sall be declairit.

Efter we had abiddin certane dayis in Striviling, the Erle of Argyle depairtit to Glasgw; and becaus he was to depairt to his awin cuntrey, (with wham also past Lord James,) to pacifie sum trubill quhilk, be the craft of the Quene, was rasit in his absens, he requyreit the Erle of Glencairne, Lord Boyde, Lord Uchiltre, and utheris of Kyle, to meit thair, for sum ordoure to be taikin, that the brethren sould not be oppressit; quhilk with ane consent thay did, and appoyntit the tent of September for the nixt Conventioun at Striveling.

[SN: THE FIRST KNAWLEGE OF THE ESCHAIPING OF THE ERLE OF ARRANE OUT OF FRANCE.]

Quhill thir thingis war in doing at Glasgw, letteris and ane servand came fra the Erle of Arraine[881] to the Duik his father, signifeing unto him, that be the providence of God, he had eschaipit the Frensche Kyngis handis, quha maist treason abillie and maist crewellie had socht his lyfe, or at leist to have committit him to perpetuall presoun: [SN: LET THIS BE NOTIT.] for the same tyme, the said Frensche King, seing he could [not] have the Erle him self, gart put his youngar brother,[882] ane bairne of sick aige as could not offend, in strait presoun, quhair he yitt remaneis, to witt, in the moneth of October, the yeir of God J^m. V^c. lix yeiris: quhilk thingis war done be the craft and policie of the Quene Dowager, quhat tyme the Duik and his freyndis war maist frack to sett fordwart hir caus. Thir letteris resavit, and the estait of his twa soneis knawin, of whame the ane was escaipit, and the uthir in vyle preassoun cassin,[883] the Duke desyreit communing of the Erle of Argyle, quha, pairtlie against the will of sum that lovit him, raid unto the Duik fra Grlasgw to Hammiltoun; quhair, abyding ane nycht, he declairit his jugement to the Duik and to his freindis, especiallie to Maister Gawyne Hamyltoun. The Duik requyreit him and the Lord James to write thair freindlie and confortabill letteris to his sone, quhilk thay baith maist willinglie did, and thairefter addressit thame to thair jornay. Bot the verray day of thair depairting, came one Bowtencourt,[884] from the Quene Regent, with letteris, as was allegeit, from the Kyng and Quene of France to Lord James, whilk he delyverit with ane braggin countenance and many threatning wordis. The tennour of his letteris was this:--

"_Le Roy._