Upoun the morow after the disconfiture, the Lady Forbess, a woman boyth wyese and fearing God, cam amangis many other to vesytt the corps of the said Erle; and seing him ly upoun the cold steanes, having onlye upoun him a doublat of cammoise, a pair of Scottishe gray hoise, and covered with ane arrass-work,[849] she said, "What stabilitie shall we judge to be into this world: thair lyeth he that yesterday in the morneyng was holden the wyesest, the richest, and a man of greatest power that was within Scotland." And in verray dead sche lyed nott; for, in mannis opinioun, under a prince, thair was not suche a one these thre hundreth yearis in this Realme produced. Bott felicitie and worldlye wisdome so blynded him, that in the end he perished in thame, as shall all those that dyspyse God, and trust in thame selfis.[850]
Johne Gordoun,[851] at his death, confessed many horrible thingis, devised by his father, by his brother, and by him self. Thair war letteris found in the Erles pocket, that disclosed the treassone of the Erle of Sutherland, and of diverse otheris. Mr. Thomas Keir, who befoir was the hole counsallour to the Erle foirsaid, disclosed whatsoever he understoode myght hurte the Gordones and thair freyndis: and so the treassone planelie disclosed, whiche was, that the Erle of Murray with certane otheris should have bene murthered in Strabogye; the Quene should have bene tane, and keapt at the devotioun of the said Erle of Huntley.
These thingis (we say) reveilled, the Quene left the North,[852] and cam to Dondye, Sanct Johnestoun, Stirveling, and then to Edinburgh.[853] The Erle of Huntleyis body was caryed about in a boat,[854] and laid without buriall in the Abbay of Halyrudhouse, till the day of his forfaltour, as after shall be declaired.[855] The Duck apprehended the Lord Gordoun[856] his sone in law, becaus that the Quene had straitlie commanded him so to do, yf he repaired within his boundis. Befoir he delivered him, the Erle of Murray laubored at the Quenis hand for the saiftye of his lyeff, which hardly was granted; and so was he delivered within the Castell of Edinburgh, the twenty-aught day of November, whair he remaned till the aught of Februare, when he was put to ane assise, accused, and convict of treassone; but was restored agane, first to the Castell foirsaid, and thairafter was transported to Dumbar, whair he remaned preasoner till the moneth of August, the year of God Jm Vc threscoir fyve yearis, as we will after hear.
In this meantyme the trubles war hote in France; and the intelligence and outward familiaritie betwix the two Quenis was great. Lethingtoun was direct with large commissioun both to the Quene of England and unto the Guisianes. The mariage of our Queyn was in all mannis mouth. Some[857] wold have Spaine; some the Emperouris brother; some Lord Robert Dudlye; some Duck de Nemours; and some unhappilie gessed at the Lord Darnlye. What Lethingtounis credyte was, we know not; but schorte after thair began much to be talked of the Erle of Levenox, and of his sone, the Lord Darnlye. It was said that Lethingtoun spack the Lady Margarete Dowglass,[858] and that Robert Melven[859] receaved ane horse to the Secreatare's use, fra the Erle of Levenox, or from his wyff. Howsoever it was, Maister Foullare, servand to the said Erle, cam with letteris to the Quenis Grace, by the which, licence was permitted to the Erle of Levenox to cum to Scotland, to travell in his lauchfull busynes. That same day that the licence was granted, the said Secreatarye said, "This day have I tacken the deadlie haiterent of all the Hamyltonis within Scotland, and have done unto thame no less displeasur than that I had cutted thair throttis."
The Erle Bothwell, who befoir had brocken ward, fearing apprehensioun, prepared to pas to France; but by storme of weather was dryven into England, whair he was stayed, and was offerred to have bein randered by the Quene of England. But our Quenis ansuer was, "That he was no rebell, and thairfoir sche requeasted that he should have libertie to pas whair it pleiseth him."[860] And thairto Lethingtoun helped not a litill; for he travailled to have freindis in everie factioun of the Courte. And so obteined the said Erle licence to pas to France.
The wynter after the death of the Erle of Huntley, the Courte remaned for the maist part in Edinburgh. The Preacheouris war wonderous vehement in reprehensioun of all maner of vice, which then began to habound; and especiallie avarice, oppressioun of the poor, excesse, ryotouse chear, banketting, immoderat dansing, and hurdome, that thairof enseuis. Whairat the Courteouris began to storme, and began to pyck querrallis against the Preachearis, alledging that all thair preaching was turned to raylling. Whairunto one of thame gave ansuer as followeth: "It cumis to our earis that we ar called raillaris, whairof albeit we wounder, yitt we ar not eschamed, seing that the most worthy servandis of God that befoir us have travalled in this vocatioun, have so bein styled. But unto you do I say, that that same God, who from the begyning has punished the contempt of his word, and hes poured furth his vengeance upoun such proude mockaris, shall not spair you; yea, he shall not spair you befoir the eyis of this same wicked generatioun, for the pleasur whairof ye dispyse all holsome admonitionis. Have ye not sein ane greattar than any of you sitting whair presentlie ye sitt, pyck his naillis, and pull down his bonet ower his eyis, when idolatrie, witchecraft, murther, oppressioun, and such vices war rebuked? Was not his commoun talk, When thei knaiffis have railled thair fill, then will thei hald thair peace? Have ye not heard it affirmed to his awin face, that God should revenge that his blasphemy, evin in the eyis of such as war witnesses to his iniquitie? Then was the Erle Huntley accused by you, as the manteanar of idolatrie, and only hinderar of all good ordour. Him hes God punished, evin according to the threatnyngis that his and your earis heard; and by your handis hath God executed his judgementis. But what amendment in any caise can be espyed in you? Idolatrie was never in greattar rest: vertew and verteouse men war never in more contempt: vice was never more bold, nor less feared punishement. And yitt who guydis the Quene and Court? Who but the Protestantis? O horrible sclanderaris of God, and of his holie evangell. Bettir it war unto you plainelie to renunce Christ Jesus, then thus to expone his blessed Evangell to mockage. Yf God punishe not you, that this same aige shall see and behold your punishement,[863] the Spreit of rychteous judgement guydis me not."
This vehemence provocked the hatterent, not onlie of the Courteouris, but also of diverse otheris against the speakar;[864] for such as be in credyte never lack flatteraris. "Thair brethren of the Courte war irreverentlie handilled. What was that, but to raise the heartis of the people against thame? Thei did what thei myght; such speaking wold cause thame do less." And this was the frute the Preachearis gatthered of thair just reprehensionis.
The Generall Assemblie of the Churche,[865] holden the twenty-fyve of December, the year of God 1562, approched, in the which, great complentis war maid, that churches lacked Ministeris; that Ministeris lacked thair stipendis; that wicked men war permitted to be School-maisteris, and so to infect the youth; amongis whom one Maister Robert Cumyn, school-maister in Aberbrothok, was compleaned upoun by the Laird of Dun,[866] and sentence was pronunced against him. It was farther compleaned, that idolatrie was erected in diverse partis of the Realme; for redress whairof, some thought best, that new supplicatioun should be presented to the Quenis Grace. Otheris demanded, what ansuer was receaved of the formar? The Superintendent of Lowtheane confessed the deliverance of it, "But," said he, "I receaved no ansuer." It was ansuered for the parte of the Quene, (for hir suppostis war ever thair,) "That it was weill knawin to the hoill Realme what trubles had occurred since the last Assemblie; and thairfoir, that thei should not wounder albeit that the Quene had not ansuered: but betwix that and the Parliament which was appointed in May, thei doubted not but that such ordour should be tacken, as all men should have occasioun to stand content." This satisfyed, for that tyme, the hoill assemblie: And this was the practise of the Quene and of hir Counsall, with fair wordis to dryve tyme, as befoir we have said.
The Assemblie, nochtwithstanding, proceided fordward in establessing of such ordouris, as whairby vice myght be punished, and vertew myght be manteaned. And becaus that thair was a great sclander rissen upoun Paule Meffen,[867] of whom mentioun is maid in the Secound Booke of this Historie, commissioun and charge was gevin unto Johne Knox, minister of Edinburgh, and unto certane of the eldaris of the Kirk of Edinburgh, to pass to the toune of Jedburgh, whair the said sclander was rased, and to be found thair the thrid of Januar nixt, for the tryall to be tane in the sclander rased, and to hear the articules and complaynt of the said Paule; and after the tryall, to report the treuth to the Sessioun of the Churche of Edinburgh; to whom, with the assistance of the Superintendent of Lowthiane, commissioun was gevin to decern thairintill. The tryall and examinatioun of that cryme was difficill. The sclander was universall in that toune and countrey. The servand woman of the said Paule had betwix termes left his house; sche had borne a child; no father to it could she fynd; but alledged hir self to have bein oppressed late in ane evening. The said Paule constantlie affirmed him self innocent, and wold have gevin his publict purgatioun; but becaus that his accusatouris had tacken upoun thame to prove thair accusatioun, that was denyed. Many witnesses war produced, of whom some deponed so clearlie, that the Commissionaris suspected that thei had bene suborned, and thairfoir thei requyred to have inspectioun of the places, whair some said thei saw, and some said thei heard thame in the verray act of iniquitie. The syght and consideratioun of the places augmented greatlie the suspitioun. But one thing was most suspitiouse of all otheris; for the wyiff of the said Paull, ane auncient matron, was absent from him the space of aucht or nyne weakis in Dundye; which tyme (or at least a great part thairof) thei suspected, and he lay nyghtlie in ane house, without other cumpany than a child of sevin or eight yearis of aige.
The Judges, notwithstanding these suspitionis, haveing a good opinioun of the honestye and godlynes of the man, travalled what thei could (conscience not hurte) to purge him of the sclander. But God, who wold not that such vilanye should be clocked and conceiled within his Churche, otherwyese had decreed; for he brought the brother of the gyltie woman to the toune, having no mind of such materis, who being produced by the accusatouris, as one that was prevey of the fact, and knew the veritie with all circumstances: This witness, (we say,) which could not be suspected, being produced, maid the mater so plane and clear, that all suspitioun was removed; for he it was that convoyed the woman away; he it was that caused the child to be baptised, alledging it to be his awin: he it was that caryed frequent message betwix thame, and from Paull caryed money and claythis diverse tymes. How soon that ever the said Paule saw that man produced, as witnesse, he withdrew himself, and left the toune, by that mean plainlie tacken upon him the cryme; and so the Commissionaris with full informatioun returned to Edinburgh, and notified the fact unto the Churche, who caused publictlie summond the said Paull to hear the sentence pronunced; who not compearing, in the end, for his odiouse cryme and contumacye, was publictlie excommunicated, and depryved of all functioun within the Churches of Scotland: and so left he the Realme.
For two causes we insert this horrible fact, and the ordour keapt in punishment of the same: formar, To foirwarne such as travaill in that vocatioun, that, according to the admonitioun of the Apostle, "Suche as stand, tack head lest thei fall." No man in the begyning of the Evangell was judged more fervent and more upryght, and yit we have heard how far Sathane has prevailled against him. God grant that we may hear of his reapentance.[868] Neather yitt aught his fall any thing to prejudge the authoritie of the doctrin which he taucht; for the doctrin of God have authoritie of no creature, but has the assurance of God him self, how weak or imperfite that ever the instrumentis be by whom it pleases God to publishe the same. The treason of Judas, the adulterie of David, and the abnegatioun of Petir, did derogat nothing to the glorie of Christis evangell, nor yit to the doctrin which befoir thei had taught; but declaired the one to be a reprobat, and the other to be instrumentis in whome mercy must neadis surmount judgement. The other caus is, That the world may see what difference thair is betwix light and darknes, betwix the uprychtness of the Churche of God, and the corruptioun that ringes in the synagoge of Sathan, the Papisticall rable; for how many of that sorte hath bein, and still remane openlie knowin hooremongaris, adulteraris, violataris of virgenis, yea, and committaris of such abhominationis as we will nott name; and yit ar thei called and permitted to be Bischoppis, Archbischoppis, Cardinallis, and Papis thame selfis. For what synnes can unable the sworn servandis of Simonye, and of his father the devill? For bragg what thei lyst of Christ, of Petir, and of Paule, thair lyves and conversationis bearis witnesse whom to they belong. But we return to our Historye of thingis done in Courte.
Amongis the monzeonis of the Courte,[869] thair was one named Monsieur Chattelett,[870] a Frencheman, that at that tyme passed all otheris in credytt with the Quene. In dansing of the Purpose, (so terme thei that danse, in the which man and woman talkis[871] secreatlie—wyese men wold judge such fassionis more lyke to the bordell than to the comelynes of honest women,) in this danse the Quene chosed Chattelett, and Chattelett took the Quene. Chattelett had the best dress. All this wynter Chattelett was so familiare in the Quenis cabinett, ayre and laitt, that scarslye could any of the Nobilitie have access unto hir. The Quene wold ly upoun Chattelettis shoulder, and sometymes prively she wold steall a kyss of his neck. And all this was honest yneuch; for it was the gentill entreatment of a stranger. But the familiaritie was so great, that upoun a nycht, he privelie did convoy him self under the Quenis bed; but being espyed, he was commanded away. But the bruyte arysing, the Quene called the Erle of Murray, and bursting furth in a womanlie affectioun, charged him, "That as he loved hir, he should slay Chattelett, and let him never speak word." The other, at the first, maid promesse so to do; but after calling to mynd the judgementis of God pronunced against the scheddaris of innocent bloode, and also that none should dye, without the testimonye of two or thre witnesses, returned and fell upoun his kneis befoir the Quene, and said, "Madam, I beseak your Grace, cause not me tack the blood of this man upoun me. Your Grace hes entreated him so familiarlie befoir, that ye have offended all your Nobilitie; and now yf he shalbe secreatlie slane at your awin commandiment, what shall the world judge of it? I shall bring him to the presence of Justice, and let him suffer be law according to his deserving." "Oh," said the Quene, "ye will never let him speak?" "I shall do," said he, "Madam, what in me lyeth to saiff your honour."
Poor Chattelett was brocht back from Kinghorne to Sanctandrois, examinat, putt to ane assise, and so beheaded, the twenty-twa day of Februar, the year of God Jm Vc threscoir twa. He begged licence to wryte to Fraunce the cause of his death, which, said he, in his toung, was, "Pour estre trouvé en lieu trop suspect;" that is, "Becaus I was found in a place too much suspect." At the place of executioun, when he saw that thair was no remeady but death, he maid a godly confessioun, and granted, that his declyning from the treuth of God, and following of vanitie and impietie, was justlie recompensed upoun him. But in the end he concluded, looking unto the heavenis, with these words, "O cruelle Dame," that is, "Cruell Maistress."[872] What that complaint imported, luvaris may devine. And so receaved Chattelett the reward of his dansing; for he lacked his head, that his toung should nott utter the secreattis of our Quene. "Deliver us, O Lord, from the raige of such inordinat reullaris."
The year of God a thousand fyve hundreth threscoir thre yearis, thair was ane universall dearth in Scotland. But in the northland, whair the harvest befoir the Quene had travailled, thair was ane extreame famyn, in the qubilk many dyed in that countrey. The dearth was great ower all, but the famyn was principallie thair. The boll of wheat gave sax pound: the boll of bear, sax markis and ane half: the boll of meill, four markis: the boll of aittis, fyfty schillingis: ane ox to draw in the pleuch, xx markis: a weddir, thretty schillingis. And so all thingis apperteanyng to the sustentatioun of man, in tripill and more exceaded thair accustomed prices. And so did God, according to the threatnyng of His law, punish the idolatrie of our wicked Quene, and our ingratitud, that suffered hir to defyle the land with that abominatioun agane, that God so potentlie had purged, by the power of his wourd. For the ryotouse feasting, and excessive banquetting, used in Court and countrey, whair soevir that wicked Woman repaired, provocked God to stryck the staff of braid, and to geve his maledictioun upoun the fructis of the earth.[873] But, O allace, who looked, or yit lookis to the very cause of all our calamities.
Lethingtoun was absent, as befoir we have heard, in the Quenis effairis.[874] The Papistis, at that Pasche,[875] anno lxiijo, in diverse partis of the Realme, had erected up that idoll, the Messe; amongis whom the Bisshope of Sanctandrois, the Priour of Whithorne,[876] with diverse otheris of thair factioun, wold avow it. Besydis the first proclamatioun, thair had letteris past in the contrair, with certificatioun of death to the contraveanar.
The brethren universallie offended, and espying that the Quene, by hir proclamationis, did but mock thame, determined to put to thair awin handis, and to punishe for example of otheris. And so some Preastis in the westland war apprehended, intimatioun maid unto otheris, (as unto the Abbot of Crossraguell,[878] the Parsone of Sanquhair,[879] and such,) that thei should nether complayne to Quene nor Counsall, but should execute the punishment that God has appointed to idolateris in his law, by such means as thei mycht, whairever thei should be apprehended.
The Quene stormed at sick fredome of speaking, but she could not amend it; for the Spreit of God, of boldness and of wisdom, had not then left the most part of such as God had used instrumentis in the begynyng. Thei war of one mynd to manteane the treuth of God, and to suppresse idolatrie. Particularties had not divided thame; and thairfoir could not the devill, working in the Quene and Papistis, do then what thei wold; and, thairfoir, she began to invent a new craft. She send for Johne Knox to come unto hir, whair she lay at Lochleaven.[880] She travailled with him earnestlie two houris befoir hir suppar, that he wold be the instrument to perswaid the people, and principallie the gentilmen of the West, not to put handis to punishe any man for the using of thame selfis in thair religioun as pleased thame. The other perceaving hir craft, willed hir Grace to punishe malefactouris according to the lawis, and he durst promesse quietness upoun the part of all thame that professed the Lord Jesus within Scotland. But yf hir Majestie thought to delude the lawis, he said, he feared that some wold lett the Papistis understand, that without punishement, thei should not he suffered so manifestlie to offend Goddis Majestie.
" Will ye," quod sche, "allow that thei shall tack my sweard in thair hand?"
"The Sweard of Justice," quod he, "Madam, is Goddis, and is gevin to Princes and reuallaris for ane end, which, yf thei transgresse, spairing the wicked, and oppressing innocentis, thei that in the fear of God executis judgement, whair God hes commanded, offendis not God, althought Kingis do it not; neather yitt synne thei that brydillis kingis to stryek innocent men in thair raige. The examples ar evident; for Samuell feared not to slay Agag, the fat and delicate king of Amalech, whom king Saule had saved. Neather spaired Helias Jesabellis fals propheittis, and Baallis preastis, albeit that king Achab was present. Phyneas was no magistrat, and yit feared he not to stryek Cosby and Zimbrye in the verray act of fylthie fornicatioun. And so, Madam, your Grace may see that otheris then cheaf magistrattis may lauchfullie punishe, and hes punished, the vice and crymes that God commandis to be punished. And in this case I wold earnestlie pray your Majestie to tack good advisement, and that your Grace should lett the Papistis understand, that thair attemptatis will not be suffered unpunissed. For power, be Act of Parliament, is gevin to all judges within thair awin boundis, to searche mesmongaris, or the heareris of the same, and to punishe thame according to the law. And thairfoir it shalbe profitable to your Majestie, to considder what is the thing your Grace's subjectis lookis to receave of your Majestie, and what it is that ye aught to do unto thame by mutuall contract. Thei ar bound to obey you, and that not but in God. Ye ar bound to keape lawis unto thame. Ye crave of thame service: thei crave of you protectioun and defence against wicked doaris. Now, Madam, yf ye shall deny your dewtie unto thame, (which especialle craves that ye punishe malefactouris) think ye to receave full obedience of thame? I feare, Madam, ye shall not."
Heirwith, she being somewhat offended, passed to hir suppar. The said Johne Knox left hir, informed the Erle of Murray of the hoill reassonyng, and so departed of finall purpose to have returned to Edinburgh, without any farther communicatioun with the Quene: But befoir the sonne, upoun the morne, war two direct (Watt Melven was the one[881]) to him, commanding him not to departe whill that he spack the Quenis Majestie; which he did, and met hir at the halking[882] be-weast Kynross. Whitther it was the nychttis sleape, or a deape dissimulation lokked in hir breast, that maid hir to forget hir formar anger, wyese men may doubt; but thairof sche never moved word, but began diverse other purposses; such as the offering of a ring to hir by the Lord Ruthven,[883] "Whome," said she, "I can not love, (for I know him to use enchantment,) and yit is he maid one of my Privy Counsall."
"Whome blamis your Grace," said the other, "thairof?"
"Lethingtoun," said she, "was the haill cause."
"That man is absent," said he, "for this present, Madam; and thairfoir I will speak nothing in that behalf."
"I understand," said the Quene, "that ye ar appointed to go to Drumfreise, for the electioun of a Superintendent to be establessed in thai countreys."
"Yis," said he, "those quarteris have great nead, and some of the gentilmen so require."
"But I hear," said she, "that the Bischope of Athenis[884] wold be Superintendent."
"He is one," said the other, "Madam, that is put in electioun."
"Yf ye knew him," said sche, "als weall as I do, ye wold never promote him to that office, nor yit to any other within your Kirk."
"What he hes bein," said he, "Madam, I neather know, nor yitt will I enquyre; for, in tyme of darkness, what could we do but grop and go wrang evin as darkness caryed us? But yf he fear not God now, he deceaves many ma then me. And yitt, (said he,) Madam, I am assured God will not suffer his Churche to be so far deceaved as that ane unworthy man shalbe elected, whair free electioun is, and the Spreit of God is earnestlie called upoun to decyd betwix the two."
"Weall," says she, "do as ye will, but that man is a dangerouse man."[885]
And thairintill was nott the Queue deceaved; for he had corrupted most part of the gentilmen, not onlie to nominat him, but also to elect him; which perceaved by the said Johne, Commissionare, delayed the electioun, and left with the Maister of Maxwell, Mr. Robert Pont, (who was put in electioun with the foirsaid Bischope,) to the end that his doctrin and conversatioun mycht be the better tryed of those that had not knawin him befoir. And so was the Bischope frustrat of his purpose for that present. And yit was he, at that tyme, the man that was most familliare with the said Johne, in his house, and at table. But now to the formar conference.
When the Queue had long talked with Johne Knox, and he being oft willing to tack his leave, she said, "I have one of the greatest materis that have tweiched me since I cam in this Realme, to open unto you, and I maun have your help into it." And she began to maik a long discourse of hir sister, the Lady Ergyle,[886] how that sche was not so circumspect in all thingis as that sche wisshed hir to be. "And yitt," said sche, "my Lord, hir husband, whom I love, entreattis hir not in many thingis so honestlie and so godlie, as I think ye your self wold requyre."
"Madam," said he, "I have been trubled with that mater befoir, and anes I put sick ane end to it, (and that was befoir your Grace's arryvall,) that boith she and hir freindis seamed fullie to stand content: And she hir self promessed befoir hir freinds, that sche should never complain to creature, till that I should first understand the controversie by hir awin mouth, or ellis [by an] assured messinger. I now have heard nothing of hir part; and thairfoir I think thair is nothing but concord."
"Weall," said the Quene, "it is war then ye beleve. But do this mekle for my saik, as anes agane to put thame at unitie; and if sche behave not hir self so as she aught to do, she shall find no favouris of me: But, in any wyse, (said sche,) let not my Lord know that I have requested you in this mater; for I wald be verray sorry to offend him in that or any other thing. And now, (said sche,) as tueching our reassonyng yisternycht, I promess to do as ye requyred; I sall caus summond all offendaris, and ye shall know that I shall minister Justice."
"I am assured then," said he, "that ye shall please God, and enjoy rest and tranquillitie within your Realme; which to your Majestie is more profitable than all the Papes power can be." And thus thei departed.
This conference we have inserted to let the world see how deaplie Marie, Quene of Scotland, can dissembill; and how that she could cause men to think that she bare no indignatioun for any controversie in religioun, whill that yitt in hir hearte was nothing but vennome and destructioun, as short after did appear.
Johne Knox departed, and prepaired him self for his jorney, appointed to Drumfreise; and from Glasgow, according to the Quenis commandiment, he wraitt this Lettir to the Erle of Ergile, the tenour whairof followis:—
"The Lord cumith and shall not tarie, &c.
"After commendatioun of my service unto your Lordschipe, yf I had knawin of your Lordshipis suddane departing, the last tyme it chaunsed me to see and speak you, I had opened unto you somewhat of my greaf. But supposing that your Lordshipe should have remaned still with the Quenis Grace, I delayed at that tyme to utter any part of that which now my conscience compelleth me to do. Your behaviour toward your wyff is verray offensive unto many godlie. Hir complant is grevouse, that ye altogetther withdraw the use of your body from hir. Yf so be, ye have great nead to look weill to your awin estait; for albeit that ye within your self felt no more repugnance, than any flesche this day on earth, yitt by promesse, maid befoir God, ar ye debttour unto hir, as reassonablie ye shalbe requyred of hir. But yf that ye burne on the one syd, (albeit ye do no worse,) and sche in your defalt upoun the other, ye ar not onlie mensworne befoir God, but also doeth what in you lyeth, to kendle against your self his wraith and havie displeasour. These wordis ar scharpe, and God is witnesse that in dolour of heart I wraitt thame; but becaus thei ar trew, and pronunced by God himself, I dar not but admonische you, perceaving you, as it war, sleaping in synne. The proude stubburnes, whairof your Lordship hath oft compleaned, will not excuise you before God; for yf ye be not able to convict hir of one cryme, ye aught to beir with other imperfectionis, and that ye wold that she should bear with you, in the lyik. In the bowellis of Christ Jesus, I exhort you, my Lord, to have respect to your awin salvatioun, and not to abuse the lenitie and long suffering of God: for that is a fearfull treasure that ye heap upoun your awin head, whill that he calleth you to reapentance, and you obstinatlie contineu in your awin impietie; for impietie it is, that ye abstract your confort and cumpany from your lauchfull wyff. I wrytt nothing in defence of hir mysbehavour towardis your Lordship in any sort; but I say, yf ye be not able to convict hir of adulterie committed since your last reconciliatioun, which was in my presence, that ye can never be excuissed befoir God of this freammed and strange intreatment of your wyff. And yf by you such impietie be committed, as is bruited, then, befoir God, and unto your awin conscience I say, that everie moment of that fylthie pleasure shall turne to you in a yearis displeasur; yea, it shalbe the occasioun and caus of everlasting dampnatioun, onless spedelie ye reapent: and reapent ye can nott, except that ye desist from that impietie. Call to mynd, my Lord, 'That the servand knawing the will of his Lord, and doing the contrarie, shalbe plagued with many plagues.' Syn, my Lord, is sweat in drinkyng, but in digesting more bitter then the gall. The Eternall move your heart earnestlie to considder, how fearfull a thing it is ever to have God to be [ane] ennemye.
"In the end, I most heartlie pray your Lordship, not to be absent from Edinburgh the nynetene of this instant, for sick causses as I will not wraitt. This much onlie I foirwarne your Lordship, that it will nott be profitable for the commoun quyetness of this Realme, that the Papistis brag, and that justice be mocked that day. And thus I cease farther to truble your Lordship, whom God assist. In haist from Glasgu, the 7. of May 1563. Your Lordships to command in godlynes.
(Sic subscribitur.)
"Johne Knox."
This bill was not weall accepted of the said Erle; and yitt did he utter no part of his displeasur in publict, but contrairrelie schew him self most familiar with the said Johne. He keapt the dyett, and sat in judgment him self, whair the Bischope and the rest of the Papistis war accused, as after followis.
The summondis war direct against the Messe-mongaris with expeditioun, and in the streatest form. The day was appointed the xix of May, a day onlie befoir the Parliament. Off the Papis knychtis[887] compeared the Bischop of Sanctandrois,[888] the Priour of Whitthorne,[889] the Parsone of Sanquhair,[890] Williame Hammyltoun of Camskeyth, Johne Gordoun of Barskeoghe, with otheris diverse. The Protestantis convened hoill to crave for justice. The Quene asked counsall of the Bischope of Ross,[891] and of the old Laird of Lethingtoun,[892] (for the youngar was absent, and so the Protestantis had the fewar unfreindis,) who affirmed, "That she must see hir lawis keapt, or ellis she wold get no obedience." And so was preparatioun maid for thair accusationis. The Bischope, and his band of the exempted sorte, maid it nyse to entyre befoir the Erle of Argyle who sat in judgement;[893] butt at last he was compelled to entir within the barr. A meary man, (who now sleapis in the Lord,) Robert Norwell, instead of the Bischoppis croce, bair befoir him a steyll hammer; whairat the Bischope and his band was not a lytill offended, becaus the Bischoppis priviledges war nott then currant in Scotland, (which day God grant oure posteritie may see of longar continuance then we possessed it.) The Bischope and his fellowis, after much ado, and long dryft of tyme, cam in the Quenis will, and war committed to warde, some to one place, some to ane other. The Lady Erskin,[894] (a sweatt morsall for the devillis mouth,) gatt the Bischoppis for hir part. All this was done of a most deape craft, to abuse the simplicitie of the Protestantis, that thei should not prease the Quene with any other thing concernyng materis of religioun at that Parliament, quhilk began within two dayis thairefter.[895] Sche obteined of the Protestantis whatsoever sche desyred; for this was the reassone of many, "We see what the Quene has done; the lyek of this was never heard of within the Realme: we will bear with the Quene; we doubt not but all shalbe weill." Otheris war of a contrarie judgement, and foirspak thingis, as after thei cam to pas, to wit, that nothing was meant but deceat; and that the Quene, how soon that ever Parliament was past, should set the Papistis at freedome: and thairfoir willed the Nobilitie not be abused. But becaus many had thair privat commoditie to be handilled at that Parliament, the commoun cause was the less regarded.
The Erle of Huntley, whose corps had lyn unburyed till that tyme, it was brought to the Tolbuyth:[896] he was accused, his armes rent of, him self, the Erle of Sudderland, and ellevin Baronis and Lairdis, bearing Gordoun to surname, war that day foirfalted. The Lady Huntley craftely protested, and asked the support of a man of law. In that Parliament war restored the Laird of Grange in Fyff, Maister Henrie Balnaves, Johne Lesly, and Alexander Whytlaw.[897]
Such styneken pryde of wemen as was sein at that Parliament, was never sein befoir in Scotland. Thre syndrie dayis the Quene raid to the Tolbuyth. The first day sche maid a paynted orisoun;[898] and thair mycht have bene hard among hir flatteraris, "Vox Dianæ! The voce of a goddess, (for it could not be Dei,) and not of a woman! God save that sweat face! Was thair ever oratour spack so properlie and so sweitlie!"
All thingis myslyking[899] the Preachearis, thei spack boldlie against the tarejatting of thair taillies, and against the rest of thair vanitie, which thei affirmed should provock Goddis vengeance, not onlie against those foolishe wemen, but against the hoill Realme; and especiallie against those that manteaned thame in that odiouse abusing of thingis that mycht have bene better bestowed. Articles war presented for ordour to be tacken for apperall, and for reformatioun of other enormities; but all was scripped at. The Earldome of Murray neaded confirmatioun, and many thingis war to be ratified that concerned the help of friendis and servandis; and thairfoir thei myght nott urge the Quene, for yf thei so did, she wald hald no Parliament; and what then should become of thame that had melled with the slaughter of the Erle of Huntley? Lett that Parliament pas ower, and when the Quene asked[900] any thing of the Nobilitie, as sche most do befoir hir mariage, then should the Religioun be the first thing that should be establessed. It was answered, That the poetts and paynteris erred nott altogether, that fayned and paynted Occasioun with a bald hynd-head:[901] for the first, when it is offered, being lost, is hard to be recovered againe. Thc mater fell so hote betwix the Erle of Murray and some otheris of the Courte, and Johne Knox, that familiarlie after that tyme thei spack nott togetther more then a year and half; for the said Johne, by his letter, gave a discharge to the said Erle of all further intromissioun or cayr with his effaires. He maid unto him a discourse of thair first acquaintance; in what estait he was when that first thei spack togetther in London;[902] how God had promoted him, and that abuf manis judgement; and in the end maid this conclusioun, "But seing that I perceave myself frustrat of my expectatioun, which was, that ye should ever have preferred God to your awin affectioun, and the advancement of his treuth to your singular commoditie, I committ you to your awin wytt, and to the conducting of those who better can please you. I praise my God, I this day leave you victour of your enemyes, promoted to great honouris, and in credytt and authoritie with your Soverane. Yf so ye long continew, none within the Realme shalbe more glad than I shalbe: but yf that after this ye shall dekay, (as I fear that ye shall,) then call to mynd by what meanes God exalted you; quhilk was neather by bearing with impietie, neather yitt by manteanyng of pestilent Papistis."