IF the sacred Oracles and Records,H. Scripture more at large had been the best rule to re­form by. which Christ with his A­postles, Evangelists, Disciples, delivered unto the ears, and deposited in the hands of the Pri­mitive-Church, had been at large in every particular, preserved, and by the same authority successively transmitted, whereby that smaler volume of their writings hath been manifested to our knowledge, and commended to our belief; the er­rours and abuses in Christianity had been fewer, or refomation when­soever necessary, more regular; such a standing rule giving sudden Evidence against the least obliqui­ties [Page 2] which Schism and Heresie could transgresse in; and being a Bar a­gainst the boldness of those spirits, which, when the letter of Scripture is not (as it never but is in the sense) clear and powerfull to confound them, rather multiply than rectifie things amisse, upon their pretended priviledge of prophesie or revelati­on. The mystery of Gods provi­dence in withholding this succour from his people,That we have suffi [...]ient. is not so much to be repin'd at, as his mercy to be magnified in administring the re­mainder of those helps, which is compleat to the support and satis­faction of any moderate inquirer after the general of doctrine, and particulars of discipline, the expli­cation of the former, and enlarge­ment of the latter being ever taken into the power of the Catholick-Church, The supplement from the Ca­tholick Church which is indul­gent enough to keep all in a Christian com­munion. which in its orginal purity, so studied a visible communion of Saints, that either by expresse dis­pensation, or indulgent connivance, many national, provincial, yea, in [...]e­riour corporate or collegiate Con­gregations, [Page 3] had that latitude of dif­ference, and singularity of professi­on or practice [...], for which any pro­per [...] pretence could be pro­duced before a general Council, or in lesse matters, before their Patri­arch and Bishops, vested with au­thority to such purpose, as wherein their content and complacency kept all devout well-meaning Christians from Schism and a scandalous sepa­ration. Others whose pride,Gods judge­ment and hers upon Schisma­ticks and Sepa­ratists. ambi­tion, or covetousnesse, carried them beyond the canon of modera­tion and peace, were severely censur'd, curs'd, excommunica­ted, cut off from Christs body, which like rotten members they might otherwise have corrupted and gangrand, having no re-admis­sion or re-union to that holy, sound continuity, without serious and o­pen repentance, humble submissi­on to the high authority of the Church, which if they persisted ob­stinately to contemn or neglect, the power of truth subdued their do­ctrines, the storm of Gods wrath [Page 4] dispersed their conventicles, the sword of his vengeance executed their persons in some exemplary temporal death, if it pursued them not to eternal damnation.

How far the visible Church, whe­ther Romane or Greek, The defection and division of Churches not here handled. made at any time a general defection from her self, in a manifest detortion of, or declention and deviation from her own canon, is neither my design nor duty (in reference to my present undertaking) to search, no more than to condemn or vindicate parti­cular Churches in their separate con­dition. The Sum of what I intend in this my Treatise is, to shew how the Scotch-Presbyterian Kirk, The Scotch re­formation irre­gular and im­pious. which when time was, would have fain been accepted as the pattern of pu­rity, and clearest extraction of Christian Religion, began Refor­mation upon no deep sense, no de­liberate Examen how corruption crept in; nor proceeded accord­ing to any other rule than the Ano­malie of a prejudicate fancy or pre­meditated malice, which intended [Page 5] rather the destruction of persons, than composition of minds [...]o a due temper and sobriety in worship; having no other commission but what was given out by the spirit of disobedience and errour; nor the countenance of any precedent be­side what might be cited from the unhappy successe in the attempts of Rebellion and Schism.

The first Sect of preparatory Re­formers their History pretends to,K. Iames 4▪ were the Lollards of Kyle, who in the reign of King Iames the fourth, The Lollards. about the year 1494. becoming nu­merous and troublesome both to Church and State, were accused to the King not onely as Hereticks, Accus'd for Rebels. but Rebels. The chief points or ar­ticles insisted on, which I am con­cerned to observe were these.

That it is not lawful to fight for the faith, Against War, nor to defend the faith by the sword. Knox (to save the reputa­tion of his own proceedings) adds, if we be not driven to it by necessity, which is above all law. By the for­mer clause the sword is taken out of [Page 6] the Kings hand, who must be no military Defender of the Faith: by the latter it is given to the people, whose safety having a supremacy above the law, may frame an arbi­trary necessity to rebell. That Christ ordained no Priests to conse­crate as they do in the Romish Church, Priests conse­crating. these many years. The sense where­of is best interpreted by another. That every faithfull man and woman is a Priest. So that every one con­sequently (even of either Sex) may administer the Sacrament of the Al­tar, or at least, that no ordination is necessary to endow or qualifie him that consecrates. Or lastly, That no particular form of words proceeding from his mouth, have, by Christs institution, any speciall efficacy to the transmutation of the common elements into mystical and Sacramental essences, conferring grace upon, or operating it in the worthy receiver.

Tythes. That Tythes ought not to be given to Ecclesiastical men, as they were then called (to them that since are [Page 7] called Classical, I think they are not due) to wit, wholly, saith Knox, but a part to the Poor, Widow, or Orphans, and other pious uses: and good rea­son surely; for if the widow hath them, these pharisaical hypocrites know whence to fetch them, and un­der what pretence to devour the houses where they are. As great impiety may be cloaked under the name of pious uses, when the prin­cipal must be supposed the ad­vancement of the discipline, toward which if a chargeable rebellion be found necessary, not onely the tenth but the whole stock must be piously imployed, and the Poor with the Or­phan set out of the way.

That Christ at his comming hath taken away all power from Kings to judge, and That the unction of Kings ceased at the comming of Christ. Of this Knox is ash [...]med and will therefore needs have the article not to be the Lollards their Ancestors, but the venemous accusation of the e­nemies, whereas both in his time and ours howsoever disguised, accor­ding [Page 8] to this doctrine hath proceed­ed the whole practice of the Pres­bytery against their Princes.

Episcopal bene­diction. That the blessings of Bishops are of no value, which passeth onely with this charitable animadversion by the same hand (of dumb dogs they should have been styled.)

Excommuni­cation. That the excommunication of the Kirk is not to be feared.

That in no case it is lawfull to swear.

That true Christians receive the body of Iesus Christ every day by faith. Sacrament of the L. Supper. So no need of the Sacra­ment.

Divorce. That after Matrimony be contra­cted and consummate, the Kirk may make no divorcement.

That faith should not be given to Miracles;Miracles. so that it should seem Christ was mistaken in his means to propagate the Gospel.

That we are no-more bound to pray in the Kirk than in other places. Praying in Churches.

That they which are called Princes and Prelates in the Church are thievs and robbers. Prelates.

[Page 9]These men Knox calls the servants of God, K. Iames 5. 1657. whose merciful providence he magnifies in preserving the regi­ster of their tenents, who without publick doctrine (he means by the authority of a general Assembly) gave so great light to the Kingdom of Scotland. The importunity used by some of their faction about the King prevailed for their pardon, the rather because some ridiculous a­pertnesse in their answers rendred them,The King par­doned them, men not of depth to carry on a design, and this discovery was thought enough to awe them, and the check they had from Court to restrain them; for many years after was little controversie had about Religion, untill Patrick Hamilton Abbot of Ferne, a man though de­vout, yet of an hot and violentspi­rit, discontented at home, passeth over into Germanie, where at Wit­tenberg meeting with Luther and Melancthon, Patrick Ha­milton goes for Germany. as he encreased his dislike of the doctrine he left profes­sed in Scotland; so he did his ani­mosity against the persons of Bishops [Page 10] and such as had the government of that Church. The zeal of Gods glo­ry (as Knox writeth) did so eat him up, that he could not long continue to remain there, but to ease his stomack he returns into his Country,Returns to re­form Scotland. and as if he had been vested with Apo­stolick Commission, he solicites, disputes, and with too much viru­len [...]y declaimes against the divinity of the times, taking the Reformation both of Pulpit and Schools into his care. The sound hereof comes soon to the ears of the Archbishop of S. Andrews, the particulars were chief­ly debated by Cambell a Dominican Frier and learned Thomist, with whom he had disputed at large, and being somewhat pleased that he had as he thought, and the other pro­fessed, made him his convert, he was▪ beyond expectation, by the same man accused of Heresie,Is accused by Cambell. and upon his articles condemned to be burnt, for trifles (as Knox saies) viz. Pilgrimage, Purgatory, Prayer to Saints, and for the dead: Yet as great a Martyr as he was, his prin­ted [Page 11] work shewes him to have been a more subtil Sophister, than ortho­dox Divine.

To omit the great discourage­ment he gives to Christian endea­vours,False doctrine in his bo [...] a­bou [...] t [...]e law. by this assertion in terminis, The law bindeth us to do that which is impossible for us, and the cold water he casts upon practick obedience by this, The law doth nothing but com­mand thee, explaining it to be onely to inform our knowledge, God not requiring nor expecting perfor­mance, putting off that obligation upon Christ: His perverting the sense of many texts in Scripture, from which he draws two ungroun­ded licentious conclusions, Faith onely saveth, Increduli [...]y onely con­demneth, Faith. whereby good works are cashir'd, and a salve is found for all bad ones, the world, the flesh, the Devill can suggest to: His bold enlargement of the Apostles assertion,Iustification. excluding from our Iusti­fication Charity, which is the work of the Gospell, which we act by the benefit of Christs passion, and by [Page 12] the assistance of his grace, because he exempts the works of the law: His sophistry in an antithetical ar­gument,Works. No works make us righ­teous, Ergo, No works make us unrighteous, whereas S. Paul saith, That the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of heaven, 1 Cor. 6.9. and he de­clares such unrighteous, as do the works of the fl [...]sh. Gal. 5.19. Mism [...]k [...]ng works onely characters of a good or evil man, and the reward to bear, by conse­quence, no proportion unto them, which is contrary to the Evangeli­call doctrine.Mat. 16.27. That God will reward every man according to his works: Beside that through the whole se­ries of his wri [...]ing, he makes Chri­stianity an idle speculative professi­on,Speculative Christianity. a mere perspective of the passi­on of Christ. For all which I im­pute not to him the guilt of heresie, nor excuse them that executed him as such.

Some young students and Friars his se­ct [...]ries.The reverence that had been paid him for his strictness of life and abi­lity of parts, according to the lear­ning of that age, was much aug­mented [Page 13] by a constant resolution at his death, which put the younger students and novices upon a combi­nation for maintaining his Tenents, and the breach they made, let out some Friars to rail against the abu­ses of the Bishops. The patronage of Mr. Gawin Logie and Mr. Iohn Maire added some reputation to these actions,Logie. Maire. and a reformation was attempted by some more un­worthy instruments upon their cre­dit. The light pulpit discourse of Friar Arithe with his gossips catch­ed some slight people in a jest,Friar Arithe. while other graver men by more serious arguments, multiplied consider [...]ble proselytes in good earnest, inso­much as the Archbishop of S. An­drews, according to the rigour of his Religion, began to call for more fire and faggots, but was stopt a little by the witty advice of Mr. Iohn Lindsey, who told him, My Lord: If ye will burn them, Lindseys ad­vice to the Archbishop of S. Andrews. let them be burnt in hollow Cellars, for the smoak of Mr. Patrick Hamilton hath infected as many as it blew upon, some touch [Page 14] of it was thoughr to have tainted A­lexander Seton a black Friar and Conf [...]ssor to King Iames the fifth, Al. Seton the Kings Confes­sor p [...]t from him. who presuming upon the opportu­nity of his privacy, endeavoured to withdraw the Kings affections from the Bishops, and his conscience from some part of his Religion, which by more prevalent counsell of Ecclesiastical persons about the Court, made him be discharged of his office, and his dread of the fire, carried him out of the Realme. From Berwick by letter he appeals to the King, whom notwithstand­ing he accuseth to himself of weak­ness and ignorance,His Letter to the King. being very in­vective against the Churchmen who at that time, as well as the Pres­byters since, waved in many things their due subjection, and in the name of Christ took upon them­selves, the authority of the King. I finde no mention of any answer returned, but I do of his progresse from thence to London, where at S. Pauls Crosse he retracted some of the new divinity he had published.Hi retraction. [Page 15] After this for ten years space these violent oppositions in Religion were interrupted,The Reforma­tion interrupted in Scotland. the civil warres making other disputes and partizans upon temporal principles among the Scots. In which time began a reformation in England, from King Henry the eights differences with the Pope, Begins in England. whether the pillage of Ab­bies, and demolishing other religi­ous places, easily invited the Scot­ish labourers, who would alwayes be found at leisure for such work. About the year 1534. began a new Inquisition in Scotland, 1534. wherein was eminent the perverse demeanour of one David Straton an ignorant Gentleman,Straton denies Tyth-fish. though in the Cata­logue of their Martyrs▪ of whom when the Bishop of Murray, Prior of S. Andrews, demanded the cu­stomary Tythe of his Fish, his an­swer was, If they would have Tythe of that which his servants wan in the se [...], it were but reason that they should come and receive it where they got the stock, and so (as it was con­stantly affirmed) he caused his ser­vants [Page 16] to cast the tenth fish into the sea.Is anathema­tized. The processe of cursing laid against him by the Church being encountered with his contempt was re-enforced by a summons to an­swer for his heresie, to maintain which having hitherto no pretense, but the perversness of his will, the Laird of Dun Arskin very lately il­luminated in the point lends him his lamp to look out some better rea­son,Instructed to maintain his errou [...] by Dun Arskin. and because he could not read, bids him hearken, which he did with more diligence than devotion, de­sirous to meet with what might colour the affectation of his errours, to which purpose the Laird of Law­ristons field-lecture conduced luc­kily,Mat. 10.33. Mar. 8 38. chancing to be rather out of S. Matthew than the Prophet Ma­lachy, where the Pharisaical tything of Mint and Cummin being taxed might serve his turn to slight all Christian Decimations as publican-extortions,Matth. 23.23. and no weighty mat­ters of the law. Though that was not the text that brought the spirit of prayer upon him,Matth. 10.33. but another on [Page 17] which he might have made a better comment by his repentance than unwildy resolution; and known, that the denial of tenths is the denial of God in his institution before men, and may perhaps be retaliated be­fore the holy Angels by his Sonne. Sentence of death being passed, he asked grace of the King, David Straton executed. which Knox saith, he willingly would have gran­ted, but the Bishop proudly answer­ed, [no more proudly than the Presbyters more than once since then] That the Kings hands were bound in that case, and that he had no grace to give to such as by their law were condemned.

Notwithstanding the severity exercised upon him and many o­ther, the Reformation (for prece­dents unto which by this time their Merchants and Mariners had traffi­qued in forreign parts) makes its way into the cloysters, and by Fri­ar Killors contrivance (which Iohn Knox seems to approve of very well) shews it self upon the stage in a Satyrick play, Fri [...]r Killors play. and that on a [Page 18] Good-Friday morning the subject whereof was the passion of our Sa­viour Christ, most envious paralels being made between the Iewish Priests and the Scotish Bishops. This gave the occasion of a more close search into the Friars opinions,He and others burnt. which being found such as suited not with the present profession and government of the Church, sent him with many other too zealous refor­ming complices unto the fire. Not long after George Buchanan laid his cockatrice egge,G Buchanan encourage [...]h schism and re­bellion: not onely of Iu­daisme, which himself hatched in a Lenten meeting at the eating of a Paschal lamb, but of Schisme and Rebellion, which His Majesty en­deavoured to crush upon the first discovery, notwithstanding the trust he had reposed in him of instituting some his natural children. He was by the Kings special Order (as they say) committed to prison,1539. whence he made an unhappy escape,Escapeth out of prison. to the ruine almost of that Kingdome by his writing.

All this while the Royal Refor­mers [Page 19] in England marched furiously, so as King Iames had no minde to meet them at York, K. Iames de­ [...]lines an inter­view with K. Hen. 8. nor give King Henry there the interview he desi­red. This, though imputed to his Clergy, was taken as a discourtesie from himself, wh [...]ch set the English jealousie on fire, and that at last burnt out into a warre. King Iames was not so absolute at home as to ce­ment at pleasure the Scotish intestine divisions,A war be­tween them. where the equality of pow­er did so mi-party his thoughts, that he knew not w^ch side to head, nor had he alwaie [...] the liberty of his choice. His distrust of both made him enter into secret counsel with his Clergy, by whose advice and assistance he levied on a suddain a v [...]ry numerous Army, the design whereof was scarcely thought of in England, when it actualy entred upon the borders. But such scruples were scatered by some disaffected persons to the Church and Crown, as made most of the Souldiery dispute the ju­stce of the quarrell when they were to handle their armes,The Scotch Ar­my defeated. or without [Page 20] consulting their conscience, leave them in the field. The loss of this Ar­my so troubled the King that he cast off all care to recruit it,This discomfi­ture w [...]s called Gods fighting agai [...]st pride for his own lit­tle flock. and mea­suring the shortnesse of his daies by the extremity of his grief, he be­comes too true a prophet of his death Some six dayes before his Queen was delivered at Linlitquow of a daughter,Knox saith God as ev [...]dently here fought a­gainst K. Iames as K B [...]nhadad bu [...] [...]n his par­ralell he findes out noth [...]ng for the detect [...]on of the Nobles out of distast at the General chosen by the King The King dies. whom Iohn Knox, very civ [...]lly calls, the scourge of that Realm, as her mother, one that brought continuing plagues upon the same, and that h [...]r whole life decla­red h [...]r to be such. No lesse did his brethren spare the deceased King, but call'd him Murtherer, and re­joyced at the taking away of such an enemy to Gods truth.

1542. Q MaryIn the Kings last will were four Protectors o [...] Regents of the King­dome appointed; the Cardinall of S. A [...]drews, A Protector or R [...]gen [...]s by the Kings will. the Earls of Huntley, Arguyle and Murray, but these were men, especially while in the Cardinals company, very unlikely to promote the new Religion, or the more unjustifiable ends of the [Page 21] pretended Reformers of the Church. The young Earl of Arran was found a fitter subject to work on,They are reje­cted by the Re­formers and the Earl of Arran declared Go­vernour. the faci­lity of his nature rendring him ve­ry flexible to their desires, and the narrownes of his judgment admit­ting, in no latitude, an abilitie to counterplot at any time their de­signs, or a discovery of their pur­poses, but what they laid directly in his sight. His pretence of the second place in succession to the Crown gave him colour, and the Lord Grange furnished him with courage, to claim the government during the minority of the Queen; which that faction of the Nobility soon bestowed upon him, who had more will to rule with him, than reason to suppose that in his hands lay the best security for her person. Yet to enable him for that, or some other more secret ends, were pre­sently delivered up to him the Kings Treasure, Jewe [...]ls, Plate, Horse,The Kings trea­sur [...], &c. deli­vered to him. &c. which notwithstanding they scarce­ly give him liberty to look on, before they set him to study controversies [Page 22] in Religion, and tutor him as well in the polemick divinity, as poli­ticks of that party.They set him to study contro­versies. Shew him the bloudy Sc [...]ol [...], and instruct him by it. And to point the bluntness of his nature by some new animosity of spirit, they shew him his own name, among others, in a private Schedule of the K. being a memoriall of such as of whose disaf­fection to his person, government re­ligion, good notice being taken, as good care might be had to pre­vent the [...]ll effects of that humour, which they suggested to be a desti­nation of them unto ruin. This was called the bloudy Scroll, and the discovery of it, a great deliverance of Gods, which some godly men, as they term'd themselves (that is, such as whose guilt made them conscious how much concerned they were in it) fearing the execution of their ends and intents thereof, being left to the Cardinal as a Legacy by the King, pressed the Governour to [...]ake notice of, to betake himself for what pu [...]pose God had exalted him to that honour, and how great expectation was had of him. The [Page 23] principal of their meaning, being to depose the Cardinal for their own security, he understood not, and therefore they put upon him one Guilliame a lapsed Friar, Friar Guilli­ame a pointed to preach down Superstition. with some others to be priviledged in the preaching down Superstition, a word of as great extent in those times as since, from which was ta­ken as much advantage for a licen­tious and violent Reformation. But the Friars arguments being more powerfull to draw the people into sedition, than the Bishops to a di­spute:A Ballad made against his do­ctrine by Wit­sow servant to the Bishop of Dunkell. one of their servants thought to rime down the ridiculous part of the practice in a ballad, for which he had like to have lost his life, as the Cardinal his liberty, who for some time was their prisoner in Dalkeith and Seaton;The Cardinal of S. Andrews imprisoned. but this pro­ject being advanced, and another pass'd the vote in Parliament about a marriage between Prince Edward of England and their Queen, whe­ther by command or connivance of the Governour, or intercession of the Queen Mother, to which they [Page 24] adde the bribing of his keeper the L [...]rd Seaton, and Lethington, he was soon after set free.Set free.

About this time they obtained with some difficulty the use of the Bible in the vulgar tongue, The Bible in the vulg [...]r tongue. not to lea [...]n out of it the duty of obedience to the supreme Magistrate,The ill use made of it. not to study the sincere doctrine and sense of the holy word; but to have the same advantage with the hereticks of old, to wrest the authority of sacred writ out of the hands of the Catho­lick Church, and to serve their pur­poses at any time, rend the letter from the meaning of the holy Spi­rit. For th [...]s they cited the pattern of primitive Christians, whom they never meant to imitate, and the authority of some Fathers, who countenanced that indulgence to humble holy men;— qui estis? quando, & un­ce venistis? quid in meo a­gitis non mei? — mea est possessio, ol [...]m possid [...]o prior possi [...]eo........ Ego sum haeres Apostolorum.... Vos certe exhae­redaverunt semper & as dicaverunt ut extraneos ut inimicos. De Praescr. c. 37. but in canva­sing the question, I finde not them calling upon Tertullian, who spake his minde too freely, adjudging them for Hereticks, who came short of them in pertinacy and er­rour, and excluded all that were so [Page 25] from any benefit of the Bible in their oppositions unto the Church. The first good use they made of it was the garnishing their libells and re­bellious Pamphlets; and the first fruits of the new amity between England and them, was the l [...]berty of getting thence in great numbers, the most angry Treatises penned in favour of King Henries fury against the Church.

The contract of Marriage was made solemnly in the Abbey of Hal­lirud-house, The contract of Marriage be­tween Prince Edward of England and Q Mary cele­brated. to the confirmation of which, howsoever the Governour was prevail'd with to have Christs sacred body b [...]oken between him and Mr. Sadler the Ambassadour from England; yet the Queen and Cardinal and what they call the fa­ction of France, which was the prin­cipal nobility, are confessed to have no consent in it, upon which the Commissioners were afterward que­stioned for their proceedings,The Commissi­ners questioned for it. but being maintained by the great po­litick Patriot, the pretended Par­liament, it mattered not what the [Page 26] Holy spiritual father, or natural mother had to say against them, the young Queen must be disposed of as they thought fittest, and the great Seals of both Kingdomes, for a se­cond ratification, interchanged.

But soon after came out of France I. Hamilton, the Abbot of Paisly, and Mr. David Painter afterward Bishop of Rosse, The Abbot of Paisly and Mr. D. Painter come from France wi [...]h advice to the Governour. men formerly cried up by the Reformers for their learning, life, religion; and expected by them to become pillars of the new Temple they were building; but their private instructions directed them to the Court, with new advice to the Governour, to consider whi­ther his petty Counsellors were carrying him; what the consequen­ces might be of the alterations in re­ligion; what commodity in conti­nuing the ancient League with France; and what hazzard of his own [...]ightful succession to the crown under the displeasure of the Pope, who legitimated his birth by fa­vouring the marriage of his mother after the divorcement of his father [Page 27] from Elizabeth Hume then alive, although he might have had secu­rity, as to the last, from the Refor­mers, who acknowledged afterward they would with their whole force have fortified him in the place that God had given unto him, and would never have called in Question things done in time of darkness. So it seems they can digest the Popes dispensa­tions when they serve their turn. The Abbots counsel being observed to make impression in the Governor, The Courtiers conf [...]ont the Reformers. some of the Courtiers took courage to confront his zealous party, and one let flye a desperate speech. That neither He nor his friends could ever be at quietness, till a dozen of those Knaves, that abus'd his Grace were hanged. Some of them about him that had deserved it, disliked the liberty taken to speak so much truth, and secretly withdrew them­selves. Friar Guilliame being inhi­bited his licentious preaching,Fr. Guilliame forbid to preach He and others Banisht. went for Engand, others had their dis­mission, and the Lord Governour betook himself unto the Cardinal, [Page 28] & Lords better affected unto the Q. This was call'd renouncing the pro­fession of Christ Iesus holy Gospell, as if the Christian Creed were then confined to the Cabinet, as since to the Consistory. But this impetuous calumnie forc'd not through his re­solution,The Governor lesse resolved than formerly. nor did his rash oath, lately taken to the English Ambassa­dour oblige him to withstand the counsell of breaking the imperfect League, the onely difficulty was how to raise mony for preparations requisite to a defensive warre▪ Prepares for war with Eng­land. which they must now expect from King Henry of England, whose will in woing, though for his Sonne, must not be checked without [...]evenge. Toward this the Clergy, upon the motion of the Cardinal, who made it a case of conscience in the vindi­cation of Religion, raised great con­tribution,, and an opportunity of breaking the league offer'd it self, when the hostages for the obser­vance of conditions were to be de­livered,An opportunity to break the Le [...]gue. the denial of whom was se­conded with the stay in Scotland of [Page 29] some noble personages late prison­ers in England, who had their liberty but on parole or bail, none returning to custody but the Earl of Cassils, Earl of Cassils kept parrole. who stood more upon his honor, & word passed unto King Henry, then his duty to serve his Queen and Coun­try, for which singular instance of adhering unto his promise, and for the hopes King Henry had that being gratified with his liberty, he might gain him to some future service, he commended his fidelity, rewarded him and sent him home; but being deceived in the rest, and by the Governour in the contract, he seiz'd upon all the Scotish Ships with [...]n his ports,The Scotch ships seiz'd on in England. A w [...]r pro­claimed. and proclaim'd a warre, yet made no haste to it that Summe [...], but us'd th [...] prudence and industry of his Ambassadour before he recall'd him, and afterward of the party he had in Scotland, to re­gain the Governours faith in the performance of his word. In the mean time comes from France the young Earl of Lenox, Earl of Lenox comes from France. who setting aside the dvan [...]age the Governour [Page 30] had by the Popes cherishing the di­vorce, was reputed to have a near [...]r relation unto the Crown,His pretences a­gainst the Go­vernour. and so far said to be justified in his pretences by the deceased King, as that he had intended to declare him succ [...]s­sor in default of heirs. Much con­trivance is charged on the Queen Dowager and the Cardinal in and after the Earls coming over, some­what whereof may be not impro­bable, to keep the Governour more firm to them, to the title of whose estate, as well as honour, the Earl was rival, and ready to step into all, if the importunity of that par [...]y he first headed had [...]ecovered him from the Court, which prevailing not, the Earl thereby frustrate of his hopes, and the amarous addresses he made to the Queen Dowager not so en­tertained as to correspond with his ambition of a Royal marriage,His address to the Q. Dowa­ger. he takes livery and s [...]isin of what was left him, the forlorn party of Re­formers, joyning his with their counsells and discontents.His heading with the Re­formers. His in­terest added somewhat to the num­ber [Page 32] they got together out of anger a­gainst the Cardinal, and now re­venge against the Governour, whom they took to be a creature of their own making, and thought he would have continued to acknowledge their soveraignty while he did wear the badge of honour they bestowed upon him. Those who on other reasons, were of a faction for Eng­land came in to them. Having mo­dell'd their Army, they send a chal­lenge to the Cardinal at Edenburgh, They challenge the Cardinal. undertaking to give him, and what­soever forces would come out a­gainst them, battail between that and Leith. This the Cardinal see­med not to decline, yet prudently judging the medley of those brava­does could not be kept long toge­ther, and that he might have a grea­ter necessity ere long to use a better Army against the English than he had yet in readiness; put the ap­pointment off from day to day, whereupon the more impatient part deserted them, and some other by good conference received good s [...] ­tisfaction; [Page 32] to that their General the young Earl became jealous of the remainder,The Earl leaves them and re­signs himself. and thought it better policy to resign himself, and pass o­ver voluntarily, than to stay till he were fetched by his enemies, or de­livered up by his despairing friends. Thus perswaded, he goes to Eden­burgh, where he was entertained with a lit [...]le more cu [...]tesie in the Ci­ty than he would have been in the field; yet he liked not the comple­ment so well as to trust to it, but by the advice of some friends, with­drew in the night to Glascow, Yet withdraws again and gar­risons. and from thence having garison'd the Bishops Palace, to Dunbarton Some offers were made of an accommo­dation between the Governour and the Earl, but the jealousies on both sides were such as could not be con­centred in a point of mutual satisfa­ction, and so multiplied into coun­ter designs and perturbations of publick p [...]ace. This civil discord hastened King Henries preparations▪ who in the beginning of May 1544.The English invade Scot­land. poured forces into Scotland by sea [Page 33] and land, which troubled many the great ones there little, as Sr. George Douglasse, having a party there. who being taken out of prison upon their approach, said in meriment; I thank King Henry and my gentle Masters of England. And indeed he had so many fellow servants devoted to the English, that the Governour and Cardinal could not raise a sufficient power of loyal subjects to make resistance. So the Army, having sacked and burn'd Edenburgh, wrought their pleasure at Leith and other places adjacent, returned home.

After this,Earl Lenox sends his Apo­logy into France to no purpose. the Earl of Lenox sends an expresse into France with as advantageous pretenses as he could contrive, for his proceedings in Scotland; but King Francis, who advised his going th [...]ther to some better purpose than upon a private quarrell he had against the Prote­ctor to raise a power against the Crown, would vouchsafe his Mes­senger no hearing, nor his Letters reading, but set such a guard upon him as made him doubt whether he [Page 34] had the liberty of his person, at least fear to hazard it by giving intelli­gence to his Lord about the counsels of that Court. This straitned the Earl in the necessity he was reduced to of seeking some protection for himself: In the midst of which distraction the Governour, after few dayes siege, took the Castle of Glascow, and left no secure sanctuary for the Earl but England, Castle of Glas­cow taken by the Governour. which he soon resolved on having promises of his welcome, yet could not take his leave without attempting some re­venge upon a Territory belonging to the Hamiltons, wherein he gra­tified his passion more than justifi­ed his prudence,Earl Lenox makes a rash attempt upon the Hamiltons or satisfied his friends, who were so sensible of the losse sustained by it, that he could not prevail with them to engage a­gain; yet having an affected fond­nesse to keep up the reputation of a party against the malignity of for­tune, they importuned the Earls re­tirement to Dunbarton Castle: but his own courage being conquered, he thought no place inexpugnable, [Page 35] and so weather-beaten at land he put himself upon the mercy of the sea and King Henries kindness, who furnished a pillow for his disquiet and dejected thoughts, the breast of Lady Margaret Douglasse his fair N [...]ece,Flies into Eng­land, where he mar [...]ies K. H. Niece. whom he propounded ac­ceptably unto him for a Wife. The headlesse company he left behinde him fearing more the extremity of rigour from the Hamiltons, which by their rashness they had merited, than knowing how to protect themselves, like desperate persons stood prepared to do mischief, though with no hopes to survive it. Upon consideration of whose per­versness, or compassion unto their persons, the Queen Mother rescu­ed them from their enemies and themselves,Q. Mother pro­tects the party he leaves be­hinde. taking them under her particular command and care; and so preserved their lives against their hopes, if not their wills, but could [...]ot secure their goods, which by their incensed enemies were seized on and set to sale.

Several incursions were made af­terward [Page 36] by the English, with such successe that at last the Nobility (some of whom were not so sensible of the publick dishonour and detri­ment done to their Countrey,The Scotch Nobility weary of their English friends. as of the damage themselves suffered in their private possessions, which could not well be secured in a common dvastation) applied themselves more obsequiously to the Gover­nour, uniting their strength, and compromising their counsels, which helpt them to a little victory, and that after their chasticement invited some auxiliaries from France, com­manded by Monseiur Montgomery de Lorge, De Lorge brings over French forces. who had instructions to enquire after the disorders unneces­sarily caused by the Earl of Lenox and his party, and to rebuke them as well as cherish others who had shewed more conscience in conti­nuing loyal, than curiosity in sear­ching reasons and opportunity how or why they might not be so.They with the Scots march to the borders and return with booty. The countenance of these French forces much hastened the Scotch levies, so that in a short time was raised an [Page 37] Army of 15000. men, with which they marched to the borders of Eng­land, where in the spoil of the Countrey they quitted some old scores, and might have made a far­ther inroad, if not divided in their counsels; but they returned home with the reputation and booty they had gotten, as soon after did De Lorge into France. The late suc­cesse against the publ [...]ck enemy, up­on whose preparation or approach Scotland was never free from inte­stine tumults and disorders, gave the Governour and Cardinal opportu­nity for a progresse and visitation through the Countrey,The Governour and Cardinal make a [...]rogress to set all in or­der. to compose the ruptures in the Ecclesiastick and Civil body; to encourage the hearts of such as were any way in­clinable to peace and duty, and to castigate persons whom they found refractory against the law and esta­blishment of the Kingdom: where­in though some of their proceedings may be censur'd for too much ri­gour,A moderate sense of their proceedings. yet somewhat must be indul­ged to humane infirmity, that not [Page 38] alwaies in Rulers, whether tempo­ral or spiritual, is guided by the sweet influence of Christian charity, the perfection whereof is not onely to pardon, but to do good for evil, at least in judicature not to be over ballanced by the sense of any perso­nall affronts, so as to recompence them with revenge, and make the sword of justice to execute more by the authority of their passion than the Law. Beside, whatsoever were the abuses crept into Religion, when they finde improper persons and uncommission'd for that purpose, not onely lopping off the superflu­ous boughs, but laying the Axe unto the root of all, with design to plant nothing of the word of God that they pretend to, but wilde fancies of their own, and not onely to ar­gue out works, but fight up their Faith, and claim by their doctrine a propriety in all possessions, whose owners submit not to it; what prevention is used, especially by persons in present government, may in charity be hoped to ensue as [Page 39] well from a godly zeal to maintain the better part, as a barbarous cru­elty and perversness to keep up the worse, which being all the apolo­gy I intend for them, passing my word and promise, that howsoever prejudiced I will relate no circum­stance partially, much lesse falsely, to the disadvantage of the Refor­mers, I will briefly instance the proceedings against such p [...]rsons as occur most notorious in their story.

Somewhat before this time, in the year 1540. one Sr. Iohn Borth­wick, Sr. Jo. Borth­wick proc [...]ss'd and condemned when absent. commonly called Captain Borthwick, was in the Cloisters of S. Andrews before a multitude of the principal Clergy and Nobility process'd and condemned though absent and out of reach The arti­cles are publish'd, but because too succinctly, and it may be not indif­ferently; or impartially, by his ac­cusers and Judges; I conceive it no injury to him, to lay down, for his sense and the substance of that he scattered before; what I collect [Page 40] from the answers himself framed af­terward, and commended to his friends.

He is unjust as to the Pope, and uncharitable to the best of that Religion.The first Article was, His level­ling the Pope of Rome with any other Bishop or Prelate whatsoever. Where, as he might have enlarged h [...]s Chri­stian moderation to the allowance of some precedence and priviledges granted him by the submission and Canons of unsuspected Councils, and given him, for S. Peters sake a Pa­triarc [...]ate at least: so much more might he have abstained from com­paring the whole communion of that Religion to common Thieves and Robbers, having the Pope for their Captain; and b [...]cause they called him Holy Father (a Title from Anti­quity rendred to the dignity not only of that, but other Sees) affixing to the persons of all successively in­vested with it the guilt of Treason, Murder, Rapine and all kind of such evils.

A branch of the third Article (for I omit all wherein he is to be commended for asserting the truth, [Page 41] or not condemned for speaking mo­destly and prudently his own opini­ons) that I say, was concerning the lawfulness for all Bishops to be coupled and joyned in Matrimony. His answer for Bishops marri­age not very apposlic. In answer to which, his business was not onely to exclaim against the practice of the Romane Church for prohibit­ing their Clergy marriage, who can­not have the confidence to deny that a greater enlargement was left to them by S. Paul whose doctrine he chiefly urgeth; and by the Can­nons of the Christian Church a long time after, which themselves have not expunged in their editions; but rather ingeniously to clear this point and scruple.1 Cor. 6 12. Whether Saint Paul having said; That all things which are lawfull are not conveni­ent; A question put in behalf of the Romane Church. whensoever the Governours of a Church finde inconvenient what they know lawfull they may not innocently lay a restraint upon that liberty, since they force no man unto the function, but simply make it a condition obliging any man that will enter in, who upon conscience of his infirmity, hath room [Page 42] enough to bestow himself otherwise in the world. And those who since pleade for Sir Iohns, are to frame some distinction between that ge­neral Canon of the Romane Church, and those particular Statutes or laws in divers or all the Reformed, The Reformed Churches re­strain from marriage. which oblige, beside individuals, seve­ral Colledges and Corporations of people to an unmarried life, who make a forfeiture of their prefer­ments and profits, whensoever they enter into that state. Secondly, Sir Iohn citing the doctrine of S. Paul, was to take notice of his ad­vice to all men,1 Cor. 7.7. to be as he was, which argued a possibility they might be so; much more that out of all men a selected number might be called to serve God at his Holy Al­tar, with pure hands and hearts, and after to make up the Lambs speciall train which St. Iohn tells him were virgins not defiled with women, redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. S. Paul misin­terpreted. As to that Sr. Iohn pre­tended, That S. Paul where he de­scribed [Page 43] the perfect image of a good Bishop, did reckon and account marriage amongst the other good gifts which he required to be in them: yea, that he numbred Matrimony a­mong the principal vertues pertain­ing unto a Bishop, it is very ridicu­lous, the most thereby imported be­ing a toleration to such as cannot lye alone, or will not trust a Steward with their accounts, and unworthy a reply. In his answer to the fourth, Calling the Pope Antichrist, Sir John im­petuous against the Pope. among them which made him Pro-Christ by succession and Vicar general of the Church, whatsoever in the eyes of some men, it had of truth▪ unde­serving the imputation of Schism; it had little of prudence, nor could it produce lesse than a condemnati­on by those Judges, whose Religion and interest was to keep up the Tra­dition of their Fathers.

In the fifth,A separation from all Chur­ches. preferring his par­ticular faith before that of the whole National Clergy, yet rend­ring no account of it but in the de­structive part of what he disliked: [Page 44] nor declaring of what other com­munion he was, primitive or mo­dern, but rather that he mean'd to be of none by his crying down ma­terial Temples and Chapels (where­in the Papists puting an Image or Crucifix will not excuse him) he sa­vours of too much insolence and self-conceit, sending every man to a separate subsistence by himself▪ for which God in his holy Scripture gives no authority unto any: beside that, it dissenteth from the Article which the Apostles put in their Creed.

To the sixt Article about the Temporal Iurisdiction of the Clergy, In some cases spiritual men may have tem­poral jurisdicti­on. he might have so far condescended as to permit it where their spiritual function was not interrupted by it; or if it were, where the King su­preme in spiritual and temporal, di­spenced with it, their office being supplied by others: as likewise where the cases of conscience were so involved with the points of pro­priety, interest and profit, that any difficulty arising required the reso­lution [Page 45] rather of a Priest than Law­yer, such as which are to be found in Deut. 17. The places he cites a­gainst it implies onely a singular hu­mility, without ambition or vain-glory, to be enjoyn'd them, and may as well be used against the composing any differences, the greatest act of Christian Charity, as judging Controversies and Suits in law.

In the seventh,A limitation in sequestring Church reve­nues. about The Kings sequestring the revenues of the Church, whatsoever may be the Roy­all power in reserved cases, to as­sume, or transfer the whole from one name to another, as from Priests to Ministers (if the name must be so reformed) from Con­vents to Colledges; yet to rend in pieces the wills and testaments of the dead, and to take their Legacies from a lazy Clergy, to throw them upon a luxurious Laity, hath not hitherto been so approved by God in a blessing upon the persons or posterity of them that gaped for this holy morsel, but that many instan­ces [Page 46] have been made of prodigious ends, taking away the possessors, ruining their families, with an in­sensible losse of such lands and inhe­ritances as more justifiably descend­ed on them. What comparison Sr. Iohn makes between the Priests of Baal, An unchristian comparison. or Iezabel, and those of Rome, sparkles out from the fervency of his zeal, which too much transports him when he pretends to the same com­mission with Daniel and Elias.

Upon the ninth, about the po­wer of the Church in making Canons, The Church hath power to make Canons he [...]aies too much restraint or rather indeed nulls it in pretending it one­ly declarative of what was made by God for the Nation of the Iews, or what was published by Christ to his Apostles sent among them and the Gentiles, whereas the abolishing most part of the former, left room for a new Law to be inserted in its place; nor when Christianity had entred onely into private houses,The reasons why. was it proper to have so many or­ders issued out, as when it should after spread it self openly through­out [Page 47] the world. The authentick li­mitation which he fancieth out of 23. Iohn, may give a greater liberty than the Church of Room hath yet taken; for granting him what he may expect, but calls not for, that the seventh verse bringeth all inten­ded within the compass of the Mo­rall Law; yet that, as to the pra­ctice both in the first and second Ta­ble, brancheth it self into several parts of the positive, as well sacred as judicial then proper for that Na­tion, which since being abolished by Christ, some Evangelical consti­tutions were to succeed, whereof all the Texts in the Gospel against Traditions do not deprive the Church. The conditions he an­nexeth to the Levites priviledge, Malachy 2▪ reach not unto the Christian Priests, unlesse he can de­monstrate them as compleatly fur­nished out of the 4. Evangelists, which rather represent (and that but very briefly, even when they are drawn into an harmony) the state and discipline of the Church at that [Page 48] time, than make provisional Can­nons in all cases, for all Christian Congregations in succeeding ages. As to what power the Prophets had universally which he saith, is so ve­ry lively d [...]scribed, Ezek. 33. that they should hear the word out of Gods own mouth and declare it unto the people. When he can prevail with God to speak viva voce, as lively to Christian Priests, or but whis­per to them in dreams, or shew them Hieroglyphicks of his pleasure in frequent visions; it may be the Church of Rome will lay down her necessity of calling Councills, and suspend the execution of her Can­nons. The summe of what passed between Christ and his Apostles, as to matter of faith, he might believe to be comprehended in the history of the New Testament, whereupon no question the Apostles did more dilate in their dispertion than is preserved for our reading, and the like was done by their successors in the institution of the Church. But as to matters of practice, consider­ing [Page 49] how many years Christ conver­sed with them, Sir Iohn could not but conceive many particulars un­register'd, or fallen short of his Age; nor had they been, if preser­ved, applicable to all times, ac­cording to the variety of which, and other circumstances the Decretalls multiplied, and so will Ecclesiasti­call Canons increase in number, or be alterable for necessity or decen­cy unto the end.

What presseth most in the tenth Article, Sir Iohn declineth,The Reforma­tion in England no good pa [...]tern for Scotland. and therefore no wrong is done him, if he be thought imprudently to have said, &c. That Religion (that is to say, so much of it as Henry 8. turn'd off) was to be abolished and destroyed as then in England, where (what­soever good reformation hath since been made) a great deal of Murder, Rapine and Injustice was acted, and countenanc'd, by what King, and to what purpose the world knowes: And the Cardinal with his Clergy had good reason, beside private in­terest▪ to prevent so passionate and [Page 50] sacrilegious a change in Scotland. Some moderation S [...]r Iohn shews in permitting S. Augustines Monks to stand,Monks in the primitive Church. for not whom alone, but o­thers of ancient institution as much may be pleaded, if S. Basils Rule and the historical passages of S. Hie­rom and other holy Fathers be duly read, whose Convents were made no brothel houses nor swine-sties, nor was their worship such, as to devote them unto the devill, and yet much re­verence they gave unto the Reliques of Christian Martyrs. And reverence given to Re­licks. They that afterward made counterfeits, for gain of proselytes or money, may the better sort dispute the point of pi [...] fraus with his Knightship and the worse with his hypocriticall corrupted Sectaries, who pretend to as great miracles, in having Gods Spirit at their call, and the power of all his Ancient Prophets in their Night-caps. The habits of Monk [...] (which he excepts against) were in the purest times impos'd upon them, and fitter it may be were they for a Cloyster, than those [Page 51] by which the tribe of precisians will since be distinguished in the Chu [...]ch.My opinion of the senten [...]e against Sr. J [...]h [...] Borth­wick. Yet am I not so angry with Sr. Iohn Borthwick for his se­parate singularity in opinion as to justifie the sentence pass'd upon him to be executed in effigie, while absent and in person, when he could be chatched, my portion being not with them that condemn Hereticks to fi [...]e and faggot; but if he did (as commonly such unquiet spirits do) under the pretence of con­version, instigate the people against the government of that Kingdome, because not of his Religion, I re­ferre him to the La [...], and should no otherwise have wisht his pardon than upon a serious acknowledge­ment of his fault.

What fol [...]ows in Fox's Acts, of a conference between the Bishop of Dunkelden and Dean Thomas, a Ca­non of St. Colmes Inch, I cannot judge of finding little or nothing about it in their own Historians; nor can I credit one particular of the Bishops stout saying, Vnlikely sto­ries about the Bishop of Dun­kelden. I thank [Page 52] God I never knew what the Old and New Testament was, howsoe­ver rise the Proverb which he pre­tends to be so common in Scotland, Ye are like the Bishop of Dunkelden, that knew neither New nor Old Law no more than the like in Buchanan, That upon a strict enquiry at Dun­dee after the Readers of the New Testament most of the Priests,The Priests at Dundee. who sure were licensed, profest so much ignorance of the Book, as they contentiously averr'd it to be written by Martin Luther, thereupon re­rejected it and required the Old. And somewhat to be suspected is that which comes after:Dean Thomas and six Friars. That the Dean with six other Friars and a Gentleman were burn'd principally upon these articles, of the Deans preaching every Sunday on the Epi­stles and Gospels, and their eating of flesh in Lent, for which more mo­derate penance to my knowledge is inflicted in other Catholick Countryes at this day, and that an­cient Canon is not wantonly abu­sed upon reasonable causes dispen­sations, [Page 53] without any great diffi­culty are obtained. And therefore another story of like nature, coun­tenanc'd by Buchanan, and most passionately laid forth by Knox, of four hanged in St. Ionhstons for eating one poor Goose on a Friday (which could not afford each of them a leg and a wing) hath little of my be­lief,4. Hanged in St Iohns town. and indeed the lesse because I find them conceal what Fox, out of no meaning I ghess, to deal more impartially, inserteth, Their hang­ing up the Image of St. Francis,The Reformers abuse the I­mage of St. Francis and raise tumults. nai­ling Rams horns to his head▪ and a Cows rump to his tail: and some of them interrupting Friar Spense in his Sermon, maintaining the esta­blished doctrine of those times, the necessity of prayer to Saints, where­upon followed such a tumult of the people, as hazarded his life, which murder would have been more un­justifiable before God and man, than the hanging up four or four hundred of them for attempting that on the person of one, which might and did draw after it the de­struction [Page 54] of many, not in halters upon a legal sentence, but by the sword rebelliously imployed, as well aga [...]nst their Prince as their fellow subjects, which will appear too evidently in the sequel of this story.

I shall not follow every little Martyr to the st [...]ke▪ An impartial censu [...]e of the R [...]formed Martyrs. [...]et not any of them is there but I sh [...]uld heartily commisera [...]e if I were as we I per­s [...]aded, as some Historians seem to be, that he suffered clearly for the tender [...]ess of his consci [...]nce, or by the merciless cruelty of his m [...]li­cious Judges. But when I disco­ver in most the [...]r pr [...]a [...]hing, pray­ing, disc [...]ursi [...]g, designing, c [...]un­selling, such a [...]irit of virulency a­ga [...]nst their Romane Adversaries, which must [...]e censur'd incompe­tible with that Christian charity which the best patte [...]ns, the most exemplary sufferers in the primitive times dec [...]red, principally at their death; when very few of them can be so justified in their strictness of Religion, as they are most evidently [Page 55] to be condemned for sedition; whatsoever indirect proceedings may be observed in their tryalls; whatsoever accumulative articles were by mistake or wilfull injury, cast upon them; I cannot so com­mend them for their vertues, as to flatter posterity by the example in­to their errours. Therefore pas­sing by a multitude of petty Saints ▪ whom Knox and Buchanan canonize as they go,Knox and Bu­chanan a [...]loudy couple. some of whom may be feared to deserve no other red letters in the Calender than themselves, whose names are deep­ly dyed in the bloud, which is not little, shed upon the rebellious practices they prescribed: I will discuss onely the passages about one more signal than the rest, out of whose ashes the Scotish Reformation was raked,The Scotch Re­formation ra­ked out of Mr. George Wis­hearts ashes. and beside the murder of the Cardinal, a consequent re­bellion advanced chiefly upon the reputation of his name, though I will not alledge it as apparently founded in his doctrine. The man I mean is Mr. George Wisheart of [Page 56] B [...]nnets Colledge in Cambridge where he is famed to have lived a very stu­dious and religious life,His course of life at Cam­bridge. yet not without some such singular eccen­trick motions from the custome of other honest men in his time, as gave some part of his piety the cha­racter of Melancholy, and the im­press of cruelty to some, severity in his discipline. An instance of the former in his Wearing and slee­ping in Canvas, which his sheets and shir [...]s, freez-mantle and other habits weekly, or monthly, or quar­terly, as his fancy serv'd he bestow­ed upon the poor. His having a tub of water nightly by his bed­side, wherein he by moon-shine bath'd himself, to allay some heat that troubled him in his rest. And by the latter he so exasperated the young spirits of his pupills, that the desperate part of them complotted his murder to obtain their delive­rance;His return to Scotland. his apprehension whereof might be the reason that brought him back into his Country with the Scotish treaters that came from En­gland, [Page 57] who when they had him at home magnified him for a Prophet, and sent him up & down under co­lour of Religion to draw the people to their party.where he passed for a Prophet. What Town soever rejected h [...]m he denounced against it fire and sword by the spirit, which judgement they prepared as Gods instruments to fulfill. He began at Montrosse, Inhibited to preach. and thence passed to Dundee, where an inhibition was given him in the Queen and Gover­nours name, and they that brought it were told by him that they chaced from them the messenger of God. The Lord Marshall and other No­ble men, whose part he acted,Divers Noble­men encourage him. would have maintained him in the place, or have taken him along w [...]th them, but some other spirit di [...]ected him to the Westland where the Bishop of Glascow was fain to raise a great party to dispute with Mr. George's disciples for the Church, which the Earl of Glencarne and dive [...]s Gen­tlemen of Kyle would have made good for him, but that he thought it as good mustering his men at the [Page 58] Market-Crosse, as he did other­while about a Mole-hill, or some other little piece of rising ground in the fields.The Gentry flock to him. This itenerant Do­ctor thus travelled from place to place, and wheresoever he lodged thither the devoted Gentry of that quarter address'd themselves, with their armed Vassals and Tenants to receive Orders rather for the ma­naging the great design, than in­structions for the amendment of their lives. If any were so addi­cted to their old Religion or allea­geance, or so disposed to their qui­et, that they made no appearance worthy Mr. Georges preaching or presence,He envies and threatens where they do not. he would run from his Tet into an invective for an hour or two, still brandishing his threats of fire and sword, as at Haddington, because he could not take from his pulpit an account of an hundred au­ditors in the Church; after which vehemency so dejected in spirit, ha­ving it may be, some other intima­tions of his being at the end of his prophetick race, that the last part [Page 59] of his speech was like a testament at departure, and his good-night a taking leave for ever of his acquain­tance: which howsoever he meant it proved proper enough, being sei­zed on before morning at Ormeston, by order from the Governour with the Cardinals advice,He is seiz'd on by Earl Bothwel. as a person dangerous, for his sowing the tares of sedition among the seed of his new Evangel. The Earl Bothwel with a guard of House was imploy­ed in surprising him, or else he had not been taken, nor was he with­out some resistance and articling with the Earl, having some armed Proselytes in the house, who ob­serve no orders, obey no commands but when they cannot help it, who would not have surrendred him, but that they saw themselves over-po­wer'd. What promise (if any) the Earl Bothwell had passed for his protection, was not judged so ob­ligatory, as his alleageance to de­liver him up to justice, which he did after some better satisfaction, than what Knox most ambiguously [Page 60] and maliciously instanceth, the Car­dinals gold, or the Queens underta­king to favour him in all lawfull suits to women: And impriso­ned in the ca­stle of St. An­drews. Edenburgh was not thought so fit a place for his imprisonment as the Castle of St. Andrews, whither he was shortly sent, and soon after brought unto his tryall, although the bold op­portunity of one David Hamilton, the speaker for him and his parti­sans, by a mixture of advice, intrea­ty, terrour, had wrought the Go­vernour into some uncertainty of al­lowing the proceedings.He is brought to his Tryall. About the end of February 1546. the Iudges Ecclesiastical and Civill sitting in the Abbey Church, Mr. Wisheart was sent for to answer divers arti­cles alledg'd against him, who go­ing into a Pulpit, according to the custome of that place (after one Father Lawder a Priest, who was to manage the accusation,He makes an Apologetical Oration. had read the articles against him) began an Oration, making entrance and advancing what he could into the mindes of his Auditors, under the [Page 61] glorious canopy of the Word of God, which onely, and that pure­ly and sincerely he pretended to have taught, and nothing in the mother-tongue beside the ten Com­mandements, the twelve Articles of the Faith, and Prayer of the Lord, and at Dundee the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, where I do not find he insisted long upon the 13. Chap. at least in the sense the holy Apo­stle intended it, though I censure him not to have deserved the un­handsome titles put upon him by Lawder at the beginning of every Article; Thou false Heretick, Run­nagate, Traitor and Thief, &c. which is not a form prescribed a­gainst any person brought before that justice, added little force to the sequell of his accusation, part of which as to the substance, he might Christianly and honourably have acknowledged,With what mo­deration he might have de­meand himself. I mean that where­in the latter Tenents of the Roman-Church superinduced to that purity her great Apostles planted in her, carry more weight in the ear, than [Page 62] the genuine stalk is able to support. But where the accusation was justly laid in behalf of the Government under which he l [...]v [...]d, or the Autho­rity of the Church delivered to her by Christ and his Apostles and their incorrup [...]ed Successors, I must ele­vate Mr. Georges answers, and leave the rest to the restriction or relaxa­tion of mens [...]i [...]vate opinions in the world.

To the first, which chargeth him with preaching at Dundee, He cannot pre­tend to the same liberty with the Apostles. after the Governour had commanded him to desist, and again after the Bishop of Brechen had excommunicated for cont [...]macy of that kinde; he in v [...]in claims the liberty taken and given, but not in that latitude by the Apo­stle in the Acts, Chap. 5.29. We shall rather obey God than men, which qualifies not every man with a mission that pre­tends to it of his own head; nor with a remission of his passive obe­dience to higher powers; else eve­ry bold Heretick, rightly so called, may assume as much. Nor can he wrest that of the Prophet Mala­chy, Chap. 2.2. [Page 63] I shall curse your blessings, and blesse your cursings, saith the Lord, against the after Excommunication in the Christian Church, which duly regulated, the Romanes may challenge and justifie to be valid in fit cases.

Nor as to the ninth Article will St. Iohn and St. Peter countenance him in laying hands of Ordination upon himself, when the one saith,Nor to self Or­dination. He hath made us Kings & Priests, Rev. 1.6. & the other,1 Pet. 2.9. He hath made us a Kingly Priesthood, any more than they will another man in setting the Diadem on his head which he thinks fitter for it than the Kings; or taking that Scepter into his hand, which he supposeth an infirm Potentate can­not hold.

For the eleventh Article,The abstinence and feasts of the Church to be observed. about the lawfulness of eating flesh on Fry­day aswell as Sunday, As to the purity of dayes (which bears pro­portion to the Passion and Resur­rection) or indifferency of meat [...], abstracting from all Superiours rational commands, and in pious [Page 64] people an humble commemoration of Christs suffering, by their suf­fering somewhat weekly at that time, St. Paul may justifie him in his answer (though they were o­ther dayes he meant) but yet▪ by his favour, not in reversing the Sta­tutes or Canons composed in piety and prudence, w [...]ich encounter no principles of Religion, nor deny fit supplies to the necessity of na­ture, or moderate desires of a re­gular appetite in due season.

His extream insolence in re­nouncing obedi­ence to General Councils, and professing his neglect to read their Canons.But that which betrayed his ig­norance extreamly, or an insolent arrogance of singular extraordina­ry indowments from God for the interpretation of his Word; or where that in practicals and circum­stantials is silent, for the intelligence of his pleasure; was his answer to the 15. Article which charged him with denying to obey Provincial or General Councils, whereof he ow­ned no knowledge, as if the Histo­ry of Gods Church in the purest times of Christianity had not been worth his search, nor the exem­plary [Page 65] endeavours of the ancient Doctors and Fathers, who con­founded heathen and hereticks by their writings; with joyn'd hands rais'd an edifice of Religion, ac­cording to the most exact model they, at so near a distance traditio­nally received from Christ and his Apostles; deserv'd his review, nor what they sealed with their bloud, so much of his reverence as to con­sider, wether so many did, and himself but one could not, erre, es­pecially when the very Bible, to which he appealed for the authority of his doctrine, had been for its own integrity and incorruption of words and points, and consequent­ly of sense (whether their glosses and commentaries be admitted or no) and could be commended to him by no more powerful testimo­ny than their Canons, neglected and scorned by him, for the intro­duction of what Knox & he, a prety pair to be paralled with representa­tive Christianity in the majestick Sessions of Emperours and Bishops ▪ [Page 66] had for seditious ends concluded in a corner. Whether his singularity in these or any other exorbitant opinions,What reason his Iudges might have to condemn him. proceeded from passi­on or perswasion I shall not deter­mine; nor can I clear his Judges in their sentence of condemnation unto death, unless his sedition were so manifest & dangerous (which it might be) that no security could be given for the publick peace, but by his removal. The manner of it as it lies in the vulgar story, was with more pomp and curiosity than became the gravity or charity very requisite in Cardinals, Yet they are to be blamed for the pomp. Bishops, or inferiour Clergy; Mr. Georges behaviour near the time of his exe­cution such, in many particulars, as became an humble, pious and cou­ragious Christian, as appears by di­vers prayers and discourses; yet his popularity,And he for po­pularity and want of charity at his execution. and debasing Pre­lacy, had not quitted him the very day he was to suffer, when he be­seeched the brethren and sisters, those Epi [...]oen Priests of his making, to exhort their Prelates to the learn­ing [Page 67] of the Word of God, &c. To tell them, That if they would not con­vert themselves from their wick [...]d errour, there should hastily come up­on them the wrath of God, which they should not eschew; very Prophetick, and positive, and prevalent no que­stion, from such mechanick mouths. And though he forgave the Hang­man, when about to do his office, yet he had not so much chari [...]y for the Cardinal, against whom this angry Martyr denounceth the sen­tence of a violent death, revealed to him, more likely by Iohn Lesly, Melvin, and Carmichel (if it were not the overflowing of his own bloudy heart concurring in the de­sign) whose hands were to act it, than by any Oracle from heaven, where no such murders are forged, his last words being these, as his own Friend hath recorded them: He who in such state from that high place feedeth his eyes with my tor­ments, within few dayes shalbe hanged out at the same window, to be seen with as much ign [...]miny, as he row [Page 68] there leaneth in pride.

The credit of the new gospel had been crackt, if the prediction of this great prophet had not been ha­stily accomplished, which his prin­cipal disciples took presently into their care,His disciples make great haste to murder the Cardinal. whose stomacks were so full of indignation against the Car­dinal, that their meat could not down before they had declared it at their tables, That the bloud of Mr. George should be revenged, or else it should cost life for life. The most proper instruments for such a pur­pose must be men of metal, whose spirits being exasperated by a sym­pathy with their late deceased Friend, or a passive sense of some late injury apprehended from their great enemy, that lived against as many of their wishes as there accru­ed minuts unto his time, were pre­disposed to any desperate attempt. Three or four such were pitched upon to surprise Babilon (so they call'd the Castle of the Cardinal of St. They do it bar­barously. Andrews) upon whom they spee­dily executed the work 'tis their [Page 69] own language, that is, they wick­ly murdered him in his Chamber. In which act Iohn Lesly and Peter Carmichael being too hasty, they were rebuked by Iames Melvin the more sedate Reformer of the three, and told,Melvins grave speech in the act. This work and judgement of God ought to be done with greater gravity. He presents to him the point of the sword, saies, Repent thee of thy former wicked life, that is, stopping the godly brethren in their course, strikes him twice or thrice through with a stog sword, and so he fell. All honest Christi­ans were astonished at so horrid and execrable an act, but the meek disciplinarians did not onely, saith Buchanan, approve it, — non solum factum proba­runt, sed & gratulatum ad liberta [...]is publi­cae auctores ve­nerunt, quidam etiam vitam [...]or­tunasque cum illis conjunxe­runt. but came to gratulate these authors of their pub­lick liberty, others ventured life and fortunes with them for the fu­ture; libertatis authores, so it should seem the Cardinal had tied up their hands, till this stog sword cut the knot and set them at liberty to do mischief uncontrouled after­ward. Iohn Knox is so tickled with [Page 70] the business that he becomes very witty, and because he would not lose his jest, tells his Reader ex­presly,Knox professeth himself merry at it. he writes merrily about it: but by this time he knows (if he chang'd not his mind) that the end of that mirth is heavinesse, Prov. 14.13. I believe. That his heart and he might not keep at distance,1547. the Easter follow­ing he goes to live with the murde­rers in the Castle, and not long af­ter from the cry of this bloud takes his call to the ministry,He goes to live with the mur­derers in the Ca­stle. His calling to the Ministry. which was the greatest vengeance that ever God sent to that Kingdome. For this first thriving plant of the disci­pline being set by the sword and cherished by These blessed authors of liberty saith Buchanan, while they conti­nued in the Ca­stle tanquam ar­mis p [...]cta licen­tia, in stupra & adulteria a­li [...]q, hominum otio abundanti­um vitia profusi, jus & aequum. He might have inserted▪ & reli­gionem sua libi­dine metieban­tur Knox's first Ser­mon. license and lust, the soil prepared by the Cardinals bloud, grew up on a sudden to branch it o­ver all Civill Magistrates and Laws, and in short space over-topt Royal Authority it self, some comforta­ble assurance whereof he gave to the brethren in his first Sermon upon Dan. 7.24, &c. And another King shall rise after them, and he shall be unlike unto the first, and he [Page 71] shall subdue three Kings, and shall speak words against the most High, and think that he can change times and laws; And they shall be given unto his hands until a time and times, and dividing of times. But the judgement shall sit, and they sh [...]ll take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. So great a Scholar might easily prove that the Prophet Daniel spake this di­rectly of the Scots, which the Laird of Nydrie, a man fervent, The Laird of Nyrde's advice upon it. so [...]arre I believe him, not when he addes, and upright in religion, so well un­derstood, that he told some body (you may ghesse whom he meant) We would counsel you and them to provide better defence than fire and sword, for it may be that else you may be disappointed: Men now have no o­ther eyes than they had then. A mul­titude of disciples by such good do­ctrine had Knox drawn to him at St. Andrews;The Bishops complain. The Bishops com­plain to the Queen and Councill, they are willed to be quiet and pro­mis'd remedy ere long. The Re­formers [Page 72] with all might and main endeavour to prevent the marriage of the young Princesse with the Dolphin of France, The Refomers angry. being yet too weak, they rail at the Parliament that made it, account it a matter of sale in the Governour, and prophe­sie she shall become a plague and punishment to Gods people. At length the rest of those uncleanly birds of Babilon (now truly call'd so) the Cast [...]e of St. Andrews, The Castle of St. Andrews taken from them, they in it sent for France. was thrown out, care▪ being taken that Iohn Knox should be cag'd and carried away with them for France. Here the Gospel was at a stand for some time,Knox's various fortune in his travails to and fro. till Iohn flutter'd home­ward so near out of danger as he could; lighted first at Barwick, thence flew to Newcastle: There was no chirping yet for him in Scotland: He takes a new flight to L [...]nd [...]n, where having muted as much mischief as he could upon the death of King Edward the sixt, he passeth to Geneva, staies there till he had a new call by the Congrega­tion assembled at Frankford, where [Page 73] he found not all birds of his feather, yet sets up his tune to as high a note of treason as he could, and in an Admonition to England calling the Emperour little inferiour to Nero, In his admoni­into to England, he abuseth the Emperour, Queen and Q. Dowager. and the Queen more cruel than Ie­zabel, being accused he gets away in the dark, shrouds himself for a while under the wings of Geneva, thence to Deep, and thereafter to Scotland, where in the interim had been several alterations of State, though little as yet in religion; The Queen Dowager being in the year 1554.Who is made Regent. made Regent (much impor­tunity or rather a visible necessity constraining the Governour to re­sign) had the Crown put upon her head, as seemly a sight saith Iohn Knox in the new Gospel language as to put the saddle upon the back of an unruly sow. At this change the brethren creep in,The Reformers creep again into Scotland. first Harlow a simple and weak man, then Willock under the cover of some Commissi­ons from the Dutchesse of Embden, and at last to beat down the idol Masse, comes Iohn Knox with his [Page 78] hammer. At first he falls to work in the night with the Earl of Glen­carne, Knox chiefly undertakes the work. Earl of Marschel and Hen­ry Drummond, whom he forms in­to so good a conceit of a godly ex­hortation he made, that they are earnest with him to send a Letter to the Queen Regent that might move her to hear the word of God. I shall not recite all the arguments and good language he used to that purpose, by some few passages ex­pressed may the Reader be able to judge of the rest. Vnlesse in your regiment and in using of power your Majesty be found different from the multitude of Princes and head Ru­lers, His most impu­dent Letter to the Queen Re­gent. this preheminence wherein ye are placed shall be your dejection to torment and pain everlasting, (that is in plain English, Except she gives way to the discipline she shall be damned.) An Orator and Gods Messenger might justly require of you now (by Gods hand promoted to high dignity) a motherly pitty upon your Subjects, a justice inflexible to be used against murderers and common [Page 79] Oppressors; a heart void of avarice and partiality; a minde studious and careful for maintenance of that Realm and Common-wealth (above whom God hath placed you) and by it hath made you honourable, with the rest of vertues, which not onely Gods Scriptures, but also writers (illuminated onely with the light of nature) require in Gods Rulers. But vain it is to crave reformation of manners, where Religion is cor­rupted. So that the Queen being not reformed is a merciless mother, an unjust countenancer of murde­rers, &c. a covetous and most par­tial creature, a negligent or wilfully destructive Governesse, void of all vertue required, and, being despe­rately vitious, unfit to Govern. — Except ye speedily repent, ye and your posterity shall suddenly feel the dispersing hand of him who hath ex­alted you, ye shall be compelled will ye or not, to know that he is eternal against whom ye addresse the battell, and that it is he that moderateth the times, and disposeth kingdomes, e­jecting [Page 76] from authority such as be ino­bedient, and placing others according to his good pleasure; that is, Iohn Knox and his complices shall de­pose you, as it proved. But here Iohn over-reached, and laid himself with his gospel flat upon the ground, whence he had been taken up with a witness, if he had not scrambled away again to Geneva, Knox flies a­way to Geneva. after which escape he was burn'd in effigie at Edenburgh Crosse. Yet like to two buckets, of which one, to be sure is up, if the other be down, Iohn Willock returns the second time from Embden, Willock re­turns in his place. who preaches the Nobility into secret Conventi­ons and close counsels, which brake out into Sedition at Edenburgh, Sedition and sacriledge the effects of his doctrine. where by a zealous brother, Iames Chalmers of Geitgyrth the Queen was personally affronted, Churches pillaged and in part demolished, for which the Brethren assemble, (in what manner ye may judge, for all their singing Psalms and praying) So that (see the power of their Notes) the proudest of their enemies [Page 77] were, they tell us, astonished. In the mean time they have their mountebanks that dispatch by poy­son most of the Nobility and Bishops that went to the young Queens marriage in France, And poisoning some of the Nobility in France. because there were murders enough otherwise to be done at home, that which might be more religiously wrought, Iohn Knox is sent for back from Geneva by Glencarne, Lorne, Knox sent for. &c. advises the rest to work their deli­verance from the Aegyptian bon­dage upon what hazard soever, or by whatsoever opposition, be it against Kings, or Emperours. Who draws them into a Congregational Covenant. Here­upon the first Covenant is entered into by the new nam'd Lords, &c. of the Congregation, and soon after is made the first Oration and Petition of the Protestants of Scotland to the Queen Regent, After which they petition. wherein they style themseves, a part of that power which God had established in that Realm to defend their brethren from cruel mur­derers; propound a Reformation to be made, such as they think fit to prescribe, and seem at that time [Page 74] content (which those of their race since disavow) That not onely the rules and precepts of the New Testa­ment, but also the writings of the An­cient Fathers, and the godly and ap­proved Laws of Iustinian the Empe­rour might decide the controversie betwixt them. The Queens gracious and Christian an­swer. To this Petition they received a gracious answer from the Queen, liberty of con­science restrained in nothing but from publick Assemblies in Eden­burgh and Leith: For which Her Majesty had in return the dutifull character of crafty, dissimulate and false thinking woman, Their unchri­stian ingrati­tude. A querulous Letter against the Rom. Ca­tholick Clergy &c. that made her profit of both parties. Hath a que­rulous Letter directed to her, and the Parliament against her Clergy, whom they reproachfully call, Place-holders of the Ministers of the Church; with a protestation limi­ting the Supream power in depu­ting Judges for Civil affairs, and menacing, That if any tumult or uproar should arise among the mem­bers of the Realm, for the diversity of Religion, & if it shall chance (as they [Page 75] intended it should not, having cer­tainly determined) that abuses be violently reformed, that the crime thereof be not imputed to them, who most humbly do now seek all to be re­formed by an order. The Earl Glen­carne, &c. second this in a private addresse, and forewarn the Queen of the inconveniences that were to follow. To prevent which, and give what satisfaction could be reasonably desir'd, she summons all their Preachers to Sterling, and they according to their never-fail­ing accustomed manner, all the puritane Gentry,The peoples giving confession, &c. &c. to accompany them, and this they call'd, The peoples giving confession with their Preachers. Knox arrives. Iohn Knox casually arriving at the same time repairs to Dundee, and craves leave (which was not difficult to be obtained) to accompany the Brethren, and give confession of his Faith with them, who instead of appearing before the Queen, according to the grace of God granted to him (they are his own words) carries them to [Page 80] St. Iohnston, and so exhorts them, that they there fall to the pillage of the Monasteries, Monasteries pillaged, &c. destroying the Charter-house, wherein was the Tombe of King Iames the first, whereat the Queen taking just in­dignation, and complaining to her Nobi [...]ity about it, the Brethren send Her Majesty a smart Letter, beginning meekly with As hereto­fore with jeopard of our lives, A sharp Letter sent to the Q. Regent. and yet with willing hearts, we have served the Authority of Scotland, and your Majesty now Regent in this Realm— but soon after tell her, They shall be compelled to take the sword of just defence against all that shall pur­sue them for the matter of Religion and their conscience sake, which ought not, nor may not be subject to mortal creatures (the Queen Re­gent was a mortal creature, Ergo) further than by Gods word man is able to prove that he hath power to command them (that is further than they have a mind to be command­ed) Upon the Queens approach they send for more auxiliaries to St. [Page 81] Iohnston. To some Noblemen that declin'd them, or had a desire to be neuters, they write,Excommuni­cation threat­ned the neutral Nobility. That if in this time of their trouble they lookt through their fingers, and joyn'd not themselves to them, as of God they were reputed Traitors, so they should be excommunicated from their socie­tie, and from all participation with them in the administration of the Sa­craments. Their number of the new supply prov'd not so great, but that they were fain to make an ap­poinment with the Queen, and quit the Town after Iohn Knox had ex­horted them to constancie in a Ser­mon, that is, to meet again so soon as handsomly they could, which they did to a second Covenant at Perth, whereof one clause was, That they should not spare labo [...]rs, goods, substance, bodies and lives, Their second Covenant. in maintaining the Libertie of the whole Congregation, and every member thereof, against whatsoever person (no Queen excepted) shall intend the said trouble for cause of Religion, or any other cause d [...]pending thereup­on▪ [Page 82] or lay to their charge under pre­tence thereof, although it happen to be coloured with any other outward cause. So that they might murder, steal, or break any civil law of the Realm, and the Congregation must defend them, if prosecu [...]ed or que­stioned by the Magistrate, that be­ing but a colourable outward cause to trouble their Religion. Whereupon several outrages being acted by them that now began to be called, Keepers of Libertie, as seizing up­on the Irons of the Coyning-house,They seize on the Coining I­rons. because of the impression in the I­mages they stampt, and a late pre­tence of appeal made from the Queen Regent unto their young Queen and Dolphin of France, her Husband. A Proclamation of re­straint is sent in their names to be publisht at Edenburgh Crosse.A Proclama­tion from the young Queen and Dolphin. Yet notwithstanding upon some confe­rence with the Regent, she conde­scended to give them liberty of re­ligion, provided, that wheresoe­ver she was, their Preachers should cease, and Her Majesties be main­tain'd. [Page 83] But this would not passe, because it put to silence Gods true Messengers, that is, restrained them from railing down the Queens own Religion to her face. The Queen, to get rid of her trouble,An Agreement at Eden [...]urgh. if she could, not long after at Edenburgh caus'd such an Agreement to be made, as could not be denyed by them that pretended to any peace or quietness at all. Accordingly Articles on both sides were drawn, agreed, sign'd and proclaim'd. These shrewdly troubled the Brethren in black, who meant nothing less than a Peace. And perceiving some of their party so conscientious as to keep faith and make so great a re­lapse to their duty, as to go to the Queen at her call, they convene and subscribe a third bond at Ster­ling, A third bond. whereof this is a link, — As we tender the maintenance of true Religion, that none of us shall in time coming pass to the Queen Dowager, to talk or commune with her, for any Letter or Message sent by her unto us, or yet to be sent with consent of [Page 84] the rest, or common consultation there­upon: which was so religiously observed by Knox, Strictly obser­ved by Knox. that he returns the Queens Letters upon her hands, and would not give them to the Lords, as was by Her Majesty re­quired. But now must a new quar­rell be pickt to fetch in the Lords and rest of the Brethren that adhe­red to the agreement at Edenburgh;From the Q. Regents forti­fying Leith th [...]y take occa­sion to traduce. And this was by the Queens forti­fying the town of Leith, which, though but intended for a place of retreat in case she should be over­born by their strength, which now made appearance in several places, and many times nearer approaches than she liked, was notwithstand­ing vogued to garison her Townes with the French, and to have in de­sign by them, the conquest of the Kingdome. By way of charge and Declinatour pass'd divers Letters and Proclamations on both sides; From hence mounted the Brethren to admonitions, from admonitions to votes about deprivation, upon justification thereof by Willock and [Page 85] Knox the prime of the Clergy; From votes to articles and the Act of Suspention together with the banishment of her person,Admonish, De­prive. allowing Her Majesty but 24. hours to pre­pare for her passge into France. Banish her. But the walls of Leith were not to be blown down by this breath,All in vain. nor was it strong enough to fill the sails for her passage into France: A stronger wind blew out of the Town, which so dispelled the Con­gregational Brethren, The Brethren disperse. that glad was he who could shelter himself; and many grew desperate of the cause. But Iohn Knox by power of the spi­rit,Are recollected by Knox. when but a spark or two of rebellion was left, could ever blow it up into a flame, wh [...]ch he began now at Sterlin in a Sermon upon the 80. Psalm v. 4, 5, 6, 7. and en­creased it in another afterwards some where else upon Iohn 6. ex­horting the Congregation that they should not faint, but that they should sti [...]l row against the contrari­ous blasts, till that Iesus Christ should come (so that onely the [Page 86] day of judgement is to put an end to the Presbiterian commotions) But nothing can be done without a Covenant, Another Covenant at E­denburgh. which An. 1560. was entred at Edenburgh. That what person soever will plainly reject their godly enterprises, and will not concur as a good and true member of their Common-wealth, they shall fortifie the authoritie of Council to reduce them to their duty, &c. The issue of this, as of all their Covenants, was to put many quiet conscienti­ous people to the choice of either extream, without the priviledge of a detestable neutrality: Do as we do, Rebel or perish; whereby they never faild of an Army that should guard the gospell with an unpara­lell'd villany,An Army raisd by it. and resist the Queen Regent unto her death,Q. Regent di­eth. which fell out very opportunely while they lay at the siege before Leith, being, if not procur'd by their means, very evidently hastened by their malice, denying Her Majesty the benefit of some drugs,Their inhuma­nity toward her. for which she sent to her Apothecary and Chyrurgeon, [Page 87] and in her inrecoverable condition not indulging her free speech with some Lords joyntly though of their own faction, and what curtesie they granted, being clogged with the ungrateful presence, and more un­pleasing discourse of Iohn Willock, Brother-rebel-preacher with Knox, who was sent on purpose to set the Queens conscience on the rack, and torture it to despair if he could. By all these unchristian proceedings, having speeded on their impatient wishes, and fretted open a passage for that Royal soul to expire, they become soon Lords not onely of the Congregation, but Countrey, and having eleven points of the law (their young Queen and her Husband being ab­sent in France) upon advantage enough they capitulate with their Majesties for the twelfth.They capitulate with the young Queen and King. In which pacification the Deputies from France would not medle with the matter of Religion, but agreed that a certain number of Noblemen should be chosen in the next Con­vention [Page 88] and Parliament to be sent to their Majesties, to whom they shall expose those things that shall be thought needful for the State of that business. In the interim, the Brethren I'le warrant you were not idle, but after publick thanks­giving at Edenburgh for their deli­verance,A Thanksgi­ving. that is to say, for the death of their Queen, upon whom they heap (though they name her not) a heavy load of calumnies in their prayers: A Committee sits to distribute Ministers, and so Knox is made Primate of Edenburgh, Ministers di­stributed. or in it rather of Scotland, that being the fountain head from whence all future Rebellion must stream, by Goodman to St. Andrews, by He­riot to Aberdeen, by Row to St. Iohnston, &c. And though they will have no Bishops, they'l have O­ver-seers [...],Over-seers. Spotswood for Lothian, Winram for Fife, &c. And now to work they go to drive the stray-doctrine and discipline of the Countrey, into the Parliament pound at Edenburgh. Please your [Page 89] Honours comes presently from the supplicant Barons, Gentlemen and Burgesses;A Confession of Faith. A Confession of Faith with a more imperious preface or title from the Presbytery out of Matth 24. And this glad tidings of the Kingdome shall be preached through the whole world for a witness unto all Nations, and then shall the end come; that is, the Presbyterian Scot shall pull down all Govern­ment in the world, establish the Kingdome of Iesus Christ upon the earth, and then the end shall come, the work is done, 'tis fit then the wages should be paid, especially since by this new engine they draw Christ into their Covenant, The contents of it. chap. 11. rebellion into the fifth Commande­ment under the notion of saving the life of innocents, and repressing Tyranny; resisting authority if they take it to passe the bounds of the Magistrates office, not suffering innocent bloud to be shed if they may gain-stand it, ch. 14. Likewise they dash all moral vertues at a stroak, restrain the power of Gods [Page 90] Grace from effecting due obedi­ence to his Law, ch. 15. Confine the Catholick Church to them­selves, and such as shall commu­nicate with them, denying all other Christians the undeniable benefit of their Baptism, ch. 16, 18. which they say notwithstanding, ch. 21. was instituted of God to make a vi­sible difference betwixt his people, and those that are without his League. Pretend to reconcile these contra­dictions, making both true at a time. This Church is invisibly known onely to God, who alone knoweth it, whom he hath chosen, &c. ch. 16. and yet the notes, signs and assured to­kens, whereby the immaculate Spouse of Christ Iesus is known (to whom?) from the horrible Harlot the Church malignant we affirm are, &c. De­fraud Antiquity and lineal descent in an undivided continuity the re­verence rendred by the Primitive Fa­thers of the Church,Quod apud multos unum invenitur, non est erratum, sed traditum. Ter­tul. lib. de Praesript▪ c. 28. & to be paid by us for the first knowledge & benefit of the Gospel: and yet at the same time running to the Ancients for [Page 91] strengthening the authority of the Canon. For the doctrine taught in our Churches (say they) is con­tained in the written Word of God, Hoc est verè proprié [...]ue Ca­thol [...]cam— si sequamur u­niversitatem antiquitatem consencionem vincent. Lyrin. cap. 3. to wit, in the Books of the New and Old Testaments, in those Books we mean which have been reputed (by whom but Bishops and Episcopal Doctors? no Pre [...]byterian) cano­nical: Depriving the Church of her just priviledge in interpreting the Scriptures under a pretence of bestowing it upon the Spirit,Multum necesse est propter tan­tos tam var [...]i erroris anfra­ctus ut Prophe­tae & Aposto­licae interpreta­tionis linea se­cundum Eccle­siastici & Ca­tholici sensus norma diriga­tur. Vincent. Lyr. c. 2. di­stracting Christians hereby in mat­ter of opinion, without extraordi­nary divine revelation, as in the point of Justification, wherein St. Paul and St. Iames seem to differ; and in matters of practice by the example of St. Peter and St. Paul, Gal. 3. All this in one ch. viz. 18. frame a plausible excuse for negli­gence in, or after the receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, ch. 21. Exclude all but Preachers, though Priests or Deacons, from the efficatio [...]s administration of the Sacraments, annexing the pow­er [Page 92] and vertue of the same to divine revelation or operation of a Ser­mon, and so defrauding many that have had legitimate imposition of hands, call'd Ordination, of the character & exercise of that power Justifie such as resist Supream pow­ers, doing that which appertaineth not to their charge, ch. 24. so ta­king away the glory of Christian humility, patience and the crown of Martyrdome it self. Ret [...]act in part ch 15. what they professed, chap. 18. about the notes of the Church, and so take Gods Name in vain, making a formal conf [...]ssion of his truth to no purpose.

This pretty Pageant fram'd in a schismatical Assembly,It is voted in Parliament. was brought into the packt Parliament to be voted The true Representative of the doctrine of Christs Church, which the Bishops suffered quietly to pass by without spoiling any of the pastboard or guilding,The Bishops not hindring it. because they durst not (writes Knox) say any thing to the contrary; and very likely when they knew it would be to no [Page 93] purpose, and were well assured they should pay their Ecclesiastical Be­nefices, if not their lives, for a syl­lable of any such contradiction, the Bretheren having petitioned that they might be compelled to answer to former accusations, and to other likewise they had yet to lay to their charge, which were such no doubt as wanted no weight of further delinquence to press them down to the depth of any Parlia­mentary Vote. This Confession of Faith very liberally suffrag'd, was sent into France by the Lord St. Iohn to be ratified by their Maje­sties.Their abomi­nable hypo [...]risie in sending it o­ver to be rati­fied in France. By which act of pretended submission to the supremacy of their Princes, we may interpret the true meaning of all the rest, and take a sure essay of the Presbyterian subjection, whatsoever otherwhere they pretend, which I desire the Reader diligently to observe, and have in mind whensoever afterward shall occur their hypocrisie in du­tifull expressions, for saith no less author than Mr. Knox; No rati­fication [Page 94] brought he [the Lord St. Iohn] unto us but that we little re­garded or yet do regard; Their confess'd independency on Kings and Queens. for all that we did was rather to shew our dutiful obedience, than to beg of them [the King and Queen] any strength to our religion, which from God hath full power, and needed not the suf­frage of man [wherefore then was it put to the Vote in Parliament?] but in so far as man had need to be­lieve it, if that ever he shall have participation of the life everlasting. Such obedience as this shewed the Souldiers to our Saviour when they bowed the knee before him and mocked him,Mat 27 29. saying, Hail King of the Iews. John 19.3. Buchanan acknowledg­eth it was sent to the Queen with­out hope of grant, onely to discover the nakedness of her thoughts;magis & ejus animum nude­rent, quam quod quicquam impetrare spe­rarent. Lib 17 as good an argument of the modesty, as the other was of loyalty of the Brethren. But this was not enough to make the Assembly magisterial, who themselves must stoop as low as any lay-brother in doctrine and confession of faith. It is the di­scipline [Page 95] that must hold up the rod (at least, if not the axe too) bind their Kings in chains, The book of di­scipline fram'd & their Nobles in links of iron. To the framing of which, immediately after this Par­liament dissolved, commission was given to Mr. Iohn Winram, Sub-prior of St. Andrews, Mr. Iohn Row and Iohn Knox, Mr. Iohn Spotswood, Iohn Willock, Mr. Iohn Dowglass Rector of St. Andrews: all Iohns and be­loved disciples, that had laid their heads on Christs breast, and knew his heart about the reglement of his Kingdome. Yet their letters of credit were not so good as to obtain the reception of Ambassadors from heaven, though they pretended their message was in every point consonant to the word. The Lord Erskin as great a professor as he was,Refus'd by most of the Nobi [...]ity. and the major part of the Nobi­lity refused this new model, Knox imputes it to the care of his Kitchin, and 'tis not unlikely he and the rest thought their title as good to the Church lands, that they might eat the fat, and be cloathed [Page 96] with the wooll of the lambs which themselves as well the Clericall Iohns, had taken the pains to worry and slay. Or it may be they had a care of their eyes which already began to swell with fatness, Psal. 73. and if they yielded this, they would go on with the Psalmist, being hold [...]n with pride and overwhelmed with cruelty, they would then do even what they lust. Yet this curtesie they did the discipline, to call it, A Book of devout imaginations, that is, zealous whimzies, which might run the round in the Name sakes noddles, but if they once got a­b [...]oad with power to captivate the thoughts of other men which were to be kept in a more reasonable ser­vice and obedience of Christ, they were to be cast down by the Apostles command,2 Cor. 10.5. like high things that ex­alt themselves against the knowledge if God; yet Argile, Glencarn, and the whole private pack of conjur'd Re­bels subscribe the Book,Subscribed by some. and pro­mise to set it forward at the utter­most of their power, whose names [Page 97] were enough to write Nobility in the front, and hold it out with the approbation of the Honourable to the people. But to accomplish the work, behold the hand of God appears through this cloud,Great [...]oy a­mong them at the death of K. Fr. 2. and scatters morning roses in the way of the R [...]formers. Here (saith Knox) was joy to Scotland, and matter of Thanksgiving for the wondrous work and inestimable benefit of the Lord. And what is this but the death of an innocent young King Francis the second, Husband to the Queen of Scots? who because no friend to the Brethren, and so a robber, &c. Knox cannot but brand his me­mory in the forehead with,Knoxes uncha­ritable judge­ment of it. He was suddenly stricken with an Apost [...]me in the deaf ear that nev [...]r would hear the truth of God. His glory perished, and the pride of his stubborn heart va­nished in smoak. Upon notice hereof was a new Convention of the Nobility at Edenburgh, wherein the Book of Discipline was again perused in favour of some that pre­tended ignorance,The Book of Discipline per­used. who when they [Page 98] heard it were not so taken as to own it by subscription, or adde to the authority of it by their vote, yet to prepare the way for the peo­ple to be acquainted with it, twelve things call'd Superintendents are [...]ut out,Superinten­dents elected. chipt and fashioned, just after the pattern in the Book.Brief observa­tions upon their elections. And because all must run in the name, Iohn Spotswood is appointed for Lowthian, and as the leading man is in the printed form and order of the election March 9 1560. In which form I shall onely inti­mate two or three things as I go. First, that the election of him [not onely approbation] is in shew devolv'd upon the people, who pro­mise obedience to him as their Pa­stor no longer than he remains faithfull in his office. This electi­on of the people is styl'd, The Call of God in them [who it should seem miraculously moves their hearts, and directs them to the summoning of Iohn] This Iohn must professe, That the life of Angels relates to Christ as Head and Mediator of his [Page 99] Church, that is, if any thing, Christ came to redeem as well Angells as men, and either summon'd part of those lapsed spirits out of Hell, or recovered others that never had been condemned so low. This Iohn must further profess himself Subject to the wholesome discipline of the Church, and, to avoid ambi­guity, the discipline of the same Church by which he is now called to this office; so that the people that call Iohn are infallibly the Church, and this the Churches Discipline, though it hath not yet an establish­ment by the law. Farther, as a note of true Christian liberty, it is left at large to the people to require of him what other conditions or qua­lifications they think fit. After which in recompence for all this kindness and priviledge, they are to oblige themselves to take what he shall preach for Gospel, and to maintain Iohn — against all such as wickedly would rebell against God and his holy Ordinance; that is, They are to make a tumult when [Page 100] Iohn holds up his finger and fight against the Queen her self as a rebell if, though never so deservedly, she suspend him from the exercise of his Superintendence or Over seeing, as they call it. At last, God is mocked in a prayer, and blasphe­mously craved his benediction and assistance in this work begun, which shall appear by and by to be nought else but the sin of witchcraft, a re­bellion against his own annointed their Soveraign Queen. But all this while somewhat else was in hand beside the Superintendence of Iohn. The L. Iames sent into Fra. The Lord Iames is sent into France, but with such limited in­structions from the black Brethren, that he must by no means conde­scend that the Queen should have either the publick or private exer­cise of her Religion [this is Chri­stian liberty too:The Queen to be denied the e [...]er [...]ise of her Re [...]igion.] This would be to betray the Church of God, and ex­pose the Reformation to danger, who making this reply, She may have it secretly in her Chamber, Who can stop her? no body [...] I, though [Page 101] every body meant it, they all shew­ed the danger, and let him go. But before his return, a little to stop the violence of these furious Reformers, comes over an Am­bassador from France with three demands, the last of which was, That the Bishops and Churchmen should be restored in their former pla­ces, An Ambassa­dor from [...]rance. and be suffered to intermit with their livings. The Council were not very ready to give him answer,He is delayed by the Council. but put him off to the Parliament in May, and then having no sto­mack to sit, feigned a dilatory pretence, That they would wait the certainty of the Queens pleasure, whereof the Bishops having assu­rance good enough held a meeting at Sterlin, The loyal No­bility busie. and the Loyal Nobility were busie in executing Her Ma­jesties comands, the end whereof the prophetical brethren not liking very well, rub'd up their inven­tion and fram'd a jealousie of the Queens authority to be usurped, and their alleageance moved them (tender-hearted men) to meet as [Page 102] numerous as they could at Eden­burgh, to prevent it. After this, as a most certain token of Rebel­lion at hand, comes a new suppli­cate from the Assembly of the Church to the Parliament (met at length) most humbly beseeching their Honors, They are inter­rupted by a me­nacing Suppli­cate. that such order may be taken that they have not occasion to take again the sword of just defence ('tis not the sword of the spirit they mean) which they had willingly [...]esigned over into their hands This wrestled so well with the civil au­thority, that hereby, writes Knox, got Satan the second fall after he had begun to trouble the state of Reli­gion. Now returns Lord Iames with Letters from the Queen desiring the Lords to entertain quietness,Lord Iames re­turns with mo­nitory Letters from the Queen. and to suffer nothing to be attempted against the Contract of peace made at Leith, till her own home-coming. In obedience whereunto, having dismissed the French Ambassadour with a negative to all he brought,The French Ambassador denied all, and dismissed. they divide themselves into several squadrons, burn and ruin all the [Page 103] Monasteries and religious houses they come near, and this in such a trice,The Reformers burn and spoyle. that they accounted it little lesse than a miracle, and bragg'd that God wrought potently with them by his hand. It was time now for the Queen her self to come over, these Masters of mis-rule keeping no better order, whose sudden ar­rival surprised the Brethren, but upon several grounds and reasons drew a great confluence to her Court.The Queen comes over. The Reformers seem'd as officious as the best, wipe their mouthes and supple them into as smooth language as oyl, and drop nothing but honey at the lips, which the good Queen requited with all fair concessions of their li­berty in Religion, reserving onely the priviledge of her Family; but this was against the Lord Iames's instructions,Cannot obtain the priviledge of her private Chapell. to testifie their adhe­rence: whereunto, her devotions disturb'd, and had not some bet­ter temper (that is a stronger hand) interposed, her Chappel had been in all likelihood raz'd unto the [Page 104] ground, for the Book of Discipline af­fords it no singular indulgence, which the Preachers vehemently exhorted to have ectablisht by an Act and publick law [of the sword,] affi [...]ming, That if they suffered things to hang in suspence when God had given unto them sufficient power in their hand, they should after sob for it, but should not get it. In order whereunto, the Earl of Arrane protests against the Queens Proclamation, That Gods Law having pronounced death to the Idolater — he would have it uni­versally observed. Vniversal in­cludes all particulars, and so the Queens not exempted,Nor be secure of her life if she e [...]ercise her Religion. but the meaning is, if she say her prayers according to the perswasion of her c [...]nscience, she must dye. To en­force this, Iohn Knox preacheth a most violent Sermon, enveigheth against Idolatry,Knox's Sermon. addes, That one Masse (he confesseth there were no more suffered at first) was more fearful unto him than if 10000. ar­med enemies were landed in any part of the Realm of purpose to suppr [...]sse [Page 105] the whole Religion: And because he improved not the mystery of this clause into an actual rebellion, he professed himself a very formal penitent afterward,Repented of, because not e­nough sediti­ous. that he had not spoke his meaning plainer; that he had not directly animated them to put their hands to the work of the Lord [that is, execute his law a­gainst Idolaters, and murder the Queen for maintaining a single Masse.] The good Queen for all this admits him to her presence, reasons mildely with him about the point,The Queen reasons with him and con­founds him. wherein she so accutely and judiciously acts her part, that she makes him maintain all the ab­surdities incident thereunto. Op­position to supream Majestrates by the sword: That the Israelites in Aegypt, Daniel and his company in Babylon, and any of the children of God otherwhere, would have made resistance by the sword, if God had given them the power and the means. To the proof of which, in behalf of the Primitive Christians, I won­der he cited not this of Tertullian, [Page 106] Vrbes, insulas, castella, municipia, conciliabula, castra ipsa, tribus▪ de­curias, palatium, Senatum, forum impleverunt, they were numerous enough, yet no Knoxes among them, nulli inter illos Albiniani, nulli Nigriani, nulli Cassiani. The dispute being ended,His revenge in an insolent cha­racter of Her Majesty. he gave this manerly character of the Queen; That there was in her a proud mind, a crafty wit, and an indurate heart against God and his truth. After this the matter of Religion for the Queen and her Family was more publickly agitated between the No­bility and Ministry, The Nobility and Ministry divided about the Queen and Discipline. neither party convinced▪ and so each to other made opposite conclusions. Many Lords retracted their subscription to the Discipline, and drew into que­stion the expedience of Assemblies. This put them upon offering the Discipline to the Queen, which Her Majesty absolutely refused. Here­upon the state of the question is al­tered, and Burrowes a bold fellow, is set in the front of a seditious par­ty,Burrows's ar­ticles. to put up articles about main­tenance [Page 107] for the Ministry of the Re­formation. For quietness sake to this purpose,The Bishops give up a third part of their revenues. the Bishops relinquish the third part of their revenues, to settle which, Commissioners are ordered, and to satisfie any of the discontented faction, proclamati­on is made, that it shall be dispat­ched with all possible speed. Some makes jests upon it, as the Earl of Huntley bids Good morrow to the Lords of the two parts. Huntlies jeer. But Knox who gap'd at the whole,Knox's censure. said in earnest; That the Spirit of God was not the author of it, for he saw two parts freely given to the Devil, and the third must be divided between God and the Devil. The regret at this so sticks in the stomachs of him and his Assembly brethren that they are fain to have recourse to their usual remedy, and disgorge it in a filthy supplicate to the Queen, He and his Brethren sup­plicate with wonted impu­dence. part of the contents were these: Gods hands cannot long spare in his anger to strike the head and the tayl, the inobedient Prince and sinful peo­ple—They presse the Queen again1562. [Page 108] to forsake the practice of her Re­ligion, and revile it as the fosterer of whores, adluterers, drunkards blasphemers of God, &c. threaten that the obstinate maintenance of it shall in the end be to her destru­ction of soul and body, if she rep [...]nted not — declare They could no longer keep silence, unlesse they would make themselves criminal before God of her bloud, perishing in her own ini­quity, and they plainly admonish her of the danger to come— They humbly require that Bishops may not be set up again, to empire a­bove the people of God, for they fear that such usurpation of their former estate will be neither in the end plea­sant to themselves, nor profitable to them that would place them in that tyranny — That if the Pa­pists think to triumph where they may, and to do what they list, where there is not a party able to resist them, that some will think, that the godly must begin where they left. But the equity and civility of tendring such language was discussed between [Page 109] Secretary Lethington and the Bre­thren, who advised them upon any grievance to make complaint and appeal to the Law.Secretary Le­thington dis­courseth with them. Here one mends the matter and saith, If the sheep shall complain to the Wolfe [the Queen] That the wolfes whelps have devoured the lambs, the com­plainer may stand in dange [...], &c. After such cautious reasoning, as Knox calls it, the supplication was left to the Secretary to review, who moderated the language, but not so as to gain a grant from the Queen, nor indeed did the Brethren expect it, but took advantage here­by to pursue their design to stirre up the people by certain emissaries s [...]nt from the Assembly, of whom the great incendiary Knox must be one, whose gospel had the usual successe in Kyle and Gallowoy, the chief Professors meeting at Ayre, A Covenant a [...] Ayre. where they covenanted to maintain the Ministers of the evangel against all persons, power and authority, that should oppose themselvs to the do­ctrine propounded— So that whoso­ver [Page 110] should hurt, molest or trouble any of their bodies, should be reputed enemies to the whole — except he submit to the government of the Church then established [they say not by whom.] At the next Assem­bly were great complaints made a­bout the Churches lacking Mini­sters▪ Complaints a­bout Ministers, &c. Decem. 25. 1562. and Ministers their stipends, &c. For redress hereof some thought of a new Supplication, o­thers mentioned that no answer had been given to the former. So that for such things which could not be done without the Queen, they [...]eem'd to express themselves duti­full subjects in waiting her plea­sure, the rest that could, they did by themselves, not craving her consent or approbation, unless in mockery to make sport. But because the law kept not pace with the Bre­threns haste, nor, as they thought, the Queen with the law, they take an easie occasion for a quicker di­spatch. Having discovered some Priest that said Masse at Easter, A P [...]iest seiz'd on for saying Masse. a­vow'd by the Bishop of St. Andrews [Page 111] contrary to the Queens Proclama­tion, they take justice into their own hands, clap him up in prison, whose pardon the Queen could scarcely obtain with abundance of tear [...]: punish others, and give in­t [...]mation to the Abbot of Cosragnel, the Parson of Sangohar, Encouragement given to punish such without leave from Queen or Council. &c. that they should neither complain to the Queen nor Council, but should execute the punishment that God had appointed to Idolaters in his L [...]w, by such means as they might wherever they should be apprehended. This incensed the Queen, yet put her not beside a temper'd discourse with Iohn Knox (whose you may be s [...]re had been this bloudy ad­vice) to whom Her Majesty pro­pounds this question: Will ye allow that they shall take my sword in their hand? who answered,The Queen ex­postulates with them about it. The sword of justice is Gods — and they that in the fear of God execute judgement where God hath commanded, offend not God, altho [...]gh Kings do it not; neither yet sin th [...]y that bridle Kings to strike innocent men in their rage. The [Page 112] Queen yielded not to his reason, she did to his power with her poor deceived lieg people:Suffers much against her in­terest. And so strickt she was in observing her laws made against her own interest, that she suffered the Bishops and d [...]vers o­ther Priests to be summoned be­fore the Earl of Argile, accus'd and committed to prison. In re­quital for which act of impartial justice writes Iohn Knox, All this was done of a most deep craft, to abuse the simplicity of the Protestants, that they should not presse the Queen with any other thing concerning matters of Religion. For which she is scarcely thanked. A good encouragement for Princes to grant any thing to the Presbytery, when by their lar­gest concessions they shall obtain nothing but the character of poli­tick deceivers, gain neither upon their affection nor duty. Indeed the more reasonable part of the Nobility and people did somewhat reverence the Queen for her great largeness, and decl [...]n'd for some time being further importunate in­struments of her trouble, or the [Page 113] Clergies imperious tyranny upon her conscience, which made an absolute breach between the Earl of Murray and Knox, E. Murray and Knox at diffe­rence. who de­nounced Gods judgements upon him for his coldness in his service: The like he did publickly in a Ser­mon to the rest that should con­sent to the Queens Marriage with an Infidel (for such are all Papists with the Presbytery, though they hold the same Creed) which he said was to banish Christ Iesus from the Realm. Knox question'd by the Queen. These and other his ex [...]travagancies were such as disliked both parties, who concurred to have him question'd by the Queen, which, poor Lady, she could not do (according to his desert) for the passionate cries and tears which, this Tiger confesseth, burst out in such abundance, that her Page could scarcely furnish her with Handkir­chiefs enough to dry her eyes. To whom all the apology he makes is,His Apology▪ his moderation used out of the Pul­pit, a falsehood, as may be evi­d [...]nc'd by his other discourses and [Page 114] Letters, as likewise in that he said, He was not master of himself, but must obey him who commands him to speak plain, and to flatter no flesh upon the face of the earth. The Queens grief had so prevail'd with her, that he was commanded to wait a time in the next chamber, where, to testifie his compassion and sense of those Royal Tears, he enter­tained merry discourse with the Court Ladies, jeering them about their beauties and apparel. At last he had liberty given him to depart, and that (according to the Queens good nature) without a c [...]nsure.He is dismiss [...]d. In recompense of which kindness, two Felons Armstrong and Cran­stone being to undergo the tryal of the law,Summons the Country to res­cue Armstrong and Cranstone. Iohn Knox, (to whom, by his own acknowledgement, the charge was given to make adver­tisements whensoever danger should appear, because zealous brethren) summons in by Letters the Coun­trey to their rescue,For which the Master of M [...]xwel quits his acquain­tan [...]e. for wh [...]ch the Master of Maxwell, his old friend; discharged himself of a rebellious [Page 115] familiar, and never would own him more. He was again brought be­fore the Queen and Council, but dismissed as formerly, though as impudently as ever he maintained all his rebellious doctrine, and bla­spemously abused Scripture to con­firm it.

In December 1563. was another General Assembly,A general As­sembly where the Ministers petition. and several Pe­titions of Ministers presented, but their dutiful demeanor had not been such, as to win a speedy an­swer and grant of their demands. They complained of some such speech given them. As Ministers will not follow our counsel, so will we suffer Ministers to labour for them­selves, and see what speed they come. To which the whole▪ Assembly made this modest reply: If the Queen will not we must. Some dispute there was between the Lord Secretary Lethington and the Bre­thren▪ Go [...]dman being their speaker, for Iohn Knox was sullen and musty at that time,Knox ou [...] of humour. having lashed out so far, that some even of the Prote­stants [Page 116] themselves said, What can the Pope do more than to send forth his Letters and require them to be obey­ed. At length he made a speech, wherein he desired to have his acti­ons justified and owned by the whole Assembly, Thre [...]etns the Ass [...]mb [...]y. or else he threat­ned he would never in publick, nor private, as a publick Minister open his mouth in doctrine or reasoning. The Brethren trembling at this im­mediately voted and avowed his fact to be the fact of the whole Assembly. But this with the rest, alienated the affections not onely of the Queen and Court, but of ratio­nal Lay-Protestants from their Mi­nisters,The Ministers disliked by most. whereat they, hating the name of Dumb dogs (which was the insepar [...]ble title of the Bishops) barked aloud every day in their Pulpits, but as it happened this was no time to bite. In the next Assembly 1564. their words were scan'd, some advocates they found, but more accusers. Here, as in the other,A s [...]hism a­mong the Re­formers. was a publick Schism [...] among the Reformers, divers Lords [Page 117] and Ministers withdrawing them­selves, and transacting many things about the Church:A dispute betw [...]en L. Se. Lething [...]on and Knox, who maintains strange do­ctrine. At length they were drawn together to the hear­ [...]g of Knox's Cause, which was very largely discussed between the Lord Secretary Lethington and him. The propositions maintained by Knox were these five.

1. That Subjects have delivered an innocent from the hands of their King, and therefore offended not God.

2. That Subjects have refused to strike innocents, when a King com­manded, and in so doing denyed no just obedience.

3. That such as struck at the commandement of the King, were before God reputed murderers.

4. That God hath not onely of a subject made a King, but also he armed subjects against their natural King, & commanded them to take ven­geance upon him according to his law.

5. And lastly, That Gods people hath executed Gods law against their King, having no farther regard to [Page 118] him in that behalf, than if he had been the most simple subject within the Realm.

To the proof of these, holy Scripture and Ecclesiastick History is shamefully wrested;Scripture and History wre­sted to prove it. all the ex­traordinary precedents in the Old Testament forced to justifie the new practice of the Schismatical Scots, and Iohn Knox made as familiar with God, and as private to his most secret counsels, as any of the Pro­phets or Apostles in the Bible.

These are to this day the do­ctrines of the Disciplinarian Bre­thren, A caution to Princes and Subjects con­cerning the Presbyterians. by which Kings and Princes may see how much concerned they are to beware of, and by an indispen­ [...]able coercive power, when they have it, to restrain them: And all good subjects are to abandon ut­terly their opinions and practice, lest the Devil possesse them, as from the beginning he hath done these swine, and cast them down headlong into Hell.

At the end of this dispute, much ado there was about the votes of [Page 119] the Assembly, but their divisions being many, they at last advised Knox to send for the opinions of Calvin and other eminent Divines in the Reformed Churches,Their opinions and practices intended to be counten [...]nced by the Reformed Churches. which he cunningly declin'd, pretending he was assured he had them all on his side (a pretty credit for the for­reign Reformation) and would not so wrong his cause as to call it in question before any of them. And so, re infecta, the Assembly brake up.

Not long after the banished Earl of Lenox had leave to return into Scotland, E. of Lenox returns into Scotland. and was graciously recei­ved by the Queen. In favour of whom, that he might be restored to his lands,A Parliament call'd in favour of him. Her Majesty intend­ed to call a Parliament, but desired the Earl of Murray that nothing a­bout Religion might be mentioned; He said, he could not promise it, for the precise Ministry, The Assembly rigid about Church affairs. as they were now called, did not use to stand to the Queens curtesie in Church aff [...]irs. Nor did they now forbear, although they knew [Page 120] Her pleasure, but gave in again their old factious articles, and ordained many things in their Assembly a­bout the Church.

Now begins the Queens affecti [...]on to shew itself toward the young Lord Darley, The Queen declares her in­tent to marry the L. Darley. and Secretary Le­thington is dispatched into England to signifie to Queen Elizabeth, that she minded to marry him. Whether in reference to this or no I know not,Knox summons the Country to arms and a suppl [...]cate. but Pope Knox's Bulls are di­spersed abroad, and the Brethren of Edenburgh, Dundee, Fife, &c, summon'd to come in and arme themselves to make a new suppli­cation to the Queen, which was presented in very dutiful manner (no question) by the Superinten­dent of Lowthian, wherein Her Ma­jesty was advised to take heed of the matter, if any Idolatry and Superstition were used at Easter following. The poor Queens task was hard,The Queen complices with their desires. having two Popes to please, but this nearer home threatening greater mischief to her Crown and person, must be served [Page 121] first, and accordingly prohibitions were sent out to all suspected pla­ces and persons, especially to the Bi­shop of St. Andrews and Aberdeen, not to use Masse. And that they should not do any such thing as was feared by the Protestants, or convene any Council, &c. This stopt not the strickter inquisition of the Precisians, Sir Iames Carvet interce­pted after Mass and expos'd to mockery and violence at E­denburgh Crosse. who intercepted Sir Iames Carvet upon the road, having it should seem, been at some private Masse, revested him with his garments, carried him to the Market-Crosse at Edenburgh, bound the Chalice to his hand, and him to the Crosse, let him stand there an hour or two for the boyes to throw egges at, which they called, Serving him with his Easter egges. This popular piece of justice was approved afterward,This justice al­lowed and a­gain appointed at the Assize. and seconded by a grave censure to the same pu­nishment at the Assize, onely for some solemnity, he had appoin­ted to him the attendance of the Hangman. The Queen sent a se­rious Letter to the Provost & Bay­liff, [Page 122] to proceed legally with the seditious executioners of justice, but hereof was little notice taken beside setting Sir Iames and his company at liberty upon Her Ma­jesties special Command.1565. In the month of May following some of the Precise Nobility and Clergy being angry that they failed of a design they had against the Earl Bothwell (whom they summon'd to Edenburgh, The Precise Nobiilty and Clergy assem­bling about re­ligion, are summon'd by the Queen un­to her Mar­riage. but he diverted to­ward France) turn'd their Law-Court into an Ecclesiastick Assem­bly, and, without any authority from the Queen, sate down to consult about maintaining of Reli­gion, but Her Majesty knowing by custome that would end in a Rebellion, cites them all to Sterlin about her marriage with the Lord Darley, and to subscribe a Writ a­bout obedience to him as their So­veraign, which the Brethren that bent themselves every way to cross her, caused the Earl Murray to refuse,E Murray re­fuseth. till some conditions about religion were consented to on her [Page 123] part, and a Convention ordered to be at St Iohnston to that purpose. A day for which being prefixed, that a business of that consequence might be the more sedately and peaceably deliberated on,A convention at St. Iohnston. the prin­cipals of the Precisians summon in what strength they could out of the Countrey, which Her Majesty fore-seeing was to force her con­sent to whatsoever they would propound,Put off by the Queen. put off the day till she had advised with her Council, af­ter which the 23. of Iune follow­ing was appointed, but the Queen being by that time too well guar­ded agai [...]t the intended violence, the Brethren had no stomack to as­semble;And let fall by the Brethren, who divert E. Murr [...]y's going thither by a feigned story. and to divert the Earl of Murray, who [...]as going thither, feign a formal sto [...]y of a design upon his person. That the Lord Darley should discourse with him and draw him into a dispute, whereupon David Rizio (of whom more shall be said hereafter) was to strike in, and with some other Assistants that were in readinesse, [Page 124] murder him. To colour the Earls absence, was given out that he was taken with a flux, and lay sick at Lochlevin, where he remained till the Queen came to Edenburgh. In the interim, there is held a general Ass [...]mbly of the Church Iuly 24. By this time the Brethren had mu­stered their strength,A Church As­sembly held. and were re­solved to capitulate to the rigour with the Queen, six very modest Articles are drawn up, and sent by five Commissioners to be rati­fied by Her Majesty in Parliament. The first and fifth of which were to have her sign her own death,Very insolent articles sent by Commissioners unto the Queen. in case she altered not her Religon, for the Papistical and blasphemous Masse, with all Papistical Idolatry, &c. must be abolished throughout the Realm, not onely in the sub­jects, but also in the Queens own person, with punishment against all persons that should be deprehend­ed (Her Majesty expresly named in the former, and not excepted in the latter, and the punishment appointed for Idolaters is death, [Page 125] as they every where mention) The Queen having received this pleasing message departs privately to Dunkeld, Who departeth to Dunkeld, whither they follow her. whither she is per­secuted by this Commission, pre­vail'd with for audience, and importun'd for a dispatch. In her answer she delayes them for eight dayes, after which she intended to be in Edenburgh with her Coun­cil. To gain Her Majesties con­cession the Brethren arm them­selves and assemble at St. Leonard Crag. And appear in arms at St. Le­onard Crag. The Queen saw it was now high time to speak her mind, which she did in a particular return to the six Articles. To the first,The Queens answer to their Articles. she one­ly demanded of her subjects what she freely gave to them, liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion: hoped they would not press her to receive any religion against her conscience, which should be unto her a continual trouble by remorse, and a perpe­tual unquietness. And to deal plainly, Her Majesty neither will nor may leave the Religion where­in [Page 126] she hath been nour [...]shed and brought up. But the Brethren still prosecute the religious cause, and to prepare it the better for the Parliament approaching▪ the Earls of A [...]gile and Murray, &c. meet at Sterlin to consult.Argile and Murray meet. The Queen takes this ill; s [...]nds her two Ad­vocates Mr. Spense and Mr. Crich­ton, who c [...]uld by no means per­swade them to come to Edenburgh. The Queen p [...]orogues the Parlia­ment to the fi [...]st of September, The Parlia­ment prorogued. pre­paring by Letters and Proclamati­ons to be in as good a military po­sture of defence as they could.

Upon the 18. of Iuly Proclama­tion was made for obedience to be rendred to the Lord Darley as King, L. Darley pro­claim'd King. The Queen di­sturbed in her Marriagr. the next morning he was Married to the Queen, notwith­standing such disturbance intended as the Queen was fain to raise an Army to secure her in her Marriage. The Precise Lords had appointed the rendezvouz for their forces the 24. of August, and a countermand issued out from their Majesties to [Page 127] attend them at Linlithgow the same day. But upon the 19. day of that month Iohn Knox preacheth before the King at Edenburgh upon Isa. 26.13. O Lord our God, Knox's Ser­mon. other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us, but by thee onely will we make mention of thy name. He de­claims against Tyrants and wicked Princes, saith expresly, That God sets in that room (for the offences and ingratitude of the people) boyes and women — That God justly puni­she [...] Ahab and his Posterity, because he would not take order with that Harlot Iezabel. The King knew whom he meant,Displeas'd the King. and forbore his dinner out of anger. Knox was summon'd before the Council, and wisht to abstain from preaching for some few day [...]s; He answered, That he had spoken nothing but according to his Text, and if th [...] Church would command him ei­ther to speak or abstain, he would abstain So far as the word of God would permit. So the Kings com­mand must give way to the Chur­ches, [Page 128] and Iohn Knox regulate the Churches too according to the word,

The Lords range up and down the Countrey to encrease their strength,The Lords di­vided in their Councils. but find not what success they hop'd for. This makes some divisions in their Councils, Mur­ray and Glencarne were for an ac­commodation; the Hamiltons put no confidence in peace, pre­tending the enmity of Kings was implacable, no other way to be extinguished but by their death. This harsh advice took place with none but such as adhered to them upon a mystical reason, their nea [...] [...]itle to the Crown: And many others looking upon the quarrel as prosecuted upon private interest, more than the publick good, which was pretended, deserted their par­ty, and so infirmed their strength. The remnant sent a Letter to their Majesties, A Letter sent from that par­ty to their Ma­jesties. flattering their persons, but enveighing against their Coun­cil, putting in some caution for Religion, and menacing a hard [Page 129] market for their blood, if sought. The Princes guessing this might be to gain time, remitted no whit of their Military care, but made hard marches, the weather being very bad.A Proclamati­on at St. An­drews▪ At St. Andrews Proclama­tion was publish'd to inform the subjects about the true state of the difference, demonstrating to them that nothing lesse was mean'd than Religion most pretended; how hardly they were used, according to Mr. Knoxs's Doctrine, like Boyes and Gyrls in their pupillage, the Lords appointing their Council as their Guardians. The Ministers all this while were no cyphars,The Ministers petition unsea­sonably for their meanes. but knowing their Majesties were somewhat necessitated for money to pay their Army, which was come to a considerable number of 18000 men, thought it the fittest time to supplicate for their meanes. This piece of impertinency was ea­sily swallowed among greater trou­bles, their authority being not such at this time as to stand upon termes, and expostulate at length [Page 130] the Holy Lords of the Congregation being confiscate and banish'd: Therefore they fall to their Prayers for patience,They pray for patience, ha­ving not power enough to fight. comfort, and constan­cy to the exil'd, which Iohn Knox did not without honorable mention of them as the best part of the Nobi­lity, the chief Members of the Con­gregation. But prayers and tears were not wont to be the onely arms of this new Church, and though they had no other at pre­sent, yet some course must be taken to reduce them into possession of such a power. This cannot be done without the exil'd Lords re­turn into the Countrey, for which their Letters and missive supplicates not prevailing,Enquiry made about the ob­struction of their suppli­cates. enquiry was made about the principal obstruction, the common current of the Queens favour and mercy diffusive enough. requiring naught of the most delin­quent Subject, but to take the paines to stoop and taste it as he pleased. This was found to be Da­vid Rizio Her Secretary, who by the excellency of his parts, and fide­lity [Page 131] of his service,D. Rizio pre­tended to be it, whose murder they designe, and at [...]mpt to draw the King into the plot. in these many turns of treachery and falsehood, had rais'd himself to an intimacy with the Queen, much beyond the quality o [...] his Birth, or place in Her Court. The Brethren had no such free accesse to the retirements of the Royal Palace as afforded them an opportunity to commit such a rape on Majesty as this: nor could there be they thought, a better hand than the King to rend in sunder the Queens heart, and rifle thence, by prerogative priviledge, the counter­feit of her dearest servant, whom they were resolved to have thrown out of the world, that she might never more have benefit by his Counsel, nor content by his pre­sence and attendance. But such transcendent wickedness as this re­quires supream providence to guide it, nor can any miraculous mischief be wrought but by the plenipotence of Heaven. To this purpose a Fast is proclaimed by the Assembly, A Fast pro­cla [...]med for successe, and observed, No Fast for strife and de­bate, Isai 58. nor to smite with the fist of wick­edness; [Page 132] such a Fast, no doubt, as the Lord had chosen, to undo the heavy bu [...]thens, to break the yoak, and to let the oppressed go free. The Kings head is daily possessed by convenient instruments with variety of jealou­sies about his Queen: Suggestions unto the K [...]ng against the Queen, and D. Rizio. her privacies with David Rizio are suggested as no arguments of her matrimonial fi­delity; and the precedence of her name before his (Her paramours in­vention) did derogate as much from the due authority of an Husband, as from the Majesty of a King. Naught but David Rizio's removal can make way for the future innocency of the Queen: and very just is it thought that his heart blood should blot out his hands error in the writs. But bare-fac'd murder is not so beautiful as to draw a tender Con­science to embrace it. Religious mask may hide somewhat of the horror, and necessity of state ani­mate, an adventure to take it by the hand, which the Lords of this black Council weighing with themselves, propound three Atticles to the [Page 133] King. Establishing the Religion. Re­calling the banish'd Lords, and in the rear of these,Three Artices propounded by the Lords unto the King. The murder of David Rizio. His Royal word might va­nish into ayr, and be no standing evidence for the security of the actors, who presse for a subscripti­on by his hand. The discourse alone upon this is enough for an after-claim to his consent, and the coun­terfeit of his name to give his disa­vowing Majesty the lie. Howsoever if his engagement were any, the re­verence of a Father that advised brought him half way upon the misse-taken borders of his duty, and old Patrike Ruvens resurrection, who had for many moneths been bed-rid: but skipped very lively in­to this action, might impose on his youth as an oracle from the dead. Upon the Saturday before the Tuesday prefixed by the Queen for the attainder of the Lords, D. Rizio hur­ried from the Queens pre­sence, and murder'd. this cripled assassin in the company of the Earl Morton, Lord Ruthuen, Lord Lindsay, &c. broke into the presence, and in Her Majesties sight [Page 134] who was then great with child, carry violently away her servant of great­est secresie and trust, and within a Chamber or two by fifty three stroaks with their whingers or dag­gers, murder him for the advance­ment of the Discipline, which work now goes on a pace, the Earl Mur­ray and the banish'd Lords return­ing to the Court upon a pretended summons from the King These with the Murderers sit in Council, desire the Queen to take the act for good service,The Queen desired to take this for good service. because hereby were so many Noblemen restored. The poor Queen was fain to be si­lent in what she could not help, and not knowing how soon her own turn was to come,She is jealous of the like vio­lence intended to her person. as an essay of their intentions, desired the armed Guard might be dismissed, for granting which the cruel Brethren count the King uxorious and sim­ple, the Earl Murray facile, and the other Lords too inclinable to submit. Her Majesty though good natur'd, was neither stupid, nor partial when indued with exercive [Page 135] power. The blood of Rizio called upon her for Justice more then the memory of his good service, or her own affection did incite her to re­venge. This opportunity she took to summon her loyal Subjects to Dunbar, Yet calls the Lords &c. to account for the murder. whither Her Majesty pri­vately withdrew. The guilty Lords did not like to have any armed as­semblies appear but their own, and accounted it an entrenchment on their priviledge for the Queen to act any thing but by their counsel. At the same time and Edenburgh, Tolboth. place where they should have answered to their charge, they convene to protest a­gainst the Q. proceedings,They protest a­gainst her pro­ceedings. yet wan­ting that which was wont more then either their authority or innocency to spirit their dispute, they disperse themselves to seek each a single san­ctuary in a corner.But disperse. The King and Queen in March were attended with a strong Guard to Edenburgh, His Majesty having before by Pro­clamation quit himself,The King quits himself by pro­clamation of all guilt. not onely of the guilt, but all fore-knowledge of the murder (which is not incon­sistent [Page 136] with what was said of an ar­ticle propounded, so they acquaint­ed him not upon his refusal with their designe) search is made by or­der after the actors and partizans,Search made after the a­ctors. care being taken that the Brethren which so zealously prayed and fasted for poor Rizio's death, should not surfeit at their leisure on his blood. The common hackney-interruption of every Royal enterprize or process was the humble and lamentable complaints of Her Highnesses poor Oratours, An interrupti­on by the Mini­sters suppli­cates. the superintendents and Ministers, &c. who still want [...] meanes, and at this time, it may be a reward for their late ser­vice. But here they fetch their breath short, and cannot lengthen out their supplicate as heretofore, to abolishing the Mass, & antichristi­an Bishops, The demur up­on acceptance of the Quee [...]s grant. the temporal sword was wanting which should strengthen their weak hands, and confirme their feeble knees. The Queen gra­tified their present modesty with a promise, although the Assembly was nice in owning her gracious per­formance afterward, for the writ [Page 137] of maintenance subscribed by Her Majesty being publickly presented, they take time to deliberate about acceptance of it from her hand, and answer very gravely, That it was their duty to preach to the people the Word of God truly and sincerely, and to crave of the auditors the things that were necessary for their sustentation, as of duty the Pastours might justly crave of their flock; and further it became them not to have any care. Of whose deny­al they could have made bet­ter us [...]. Which plain contradiction can ad [...]mit of no other Salve but this. That they wanted not the subsi­stence, for which they so frequent­ly and importunately petition'd, nor had they any desire to be an­swered by a grant; but this colou­rable pretence they could ever make use of to usher in their more pee­vish demands, upon denial whereof, or (which they made ever equiva­lent) delay, the publick commise­ration of their poverty who labou­red in the Gospel melted the peo­ples loyalty into a tumult.Iac. 6. Iune 1566. About this time comes matter of joy for all,A Prince born. though upon several grounds, [Page 138] and different hopes of advantage to be made by it, the birth of a Prince, of whom if the Brethren can get the godly education, and mold the new d [...]scipline into his creed, there can be Gospel enough beside Knox's Book against the Empire of Wo­men, or else club law, which is bet­ter to prevail with the Queen for a surrender of the Crown and Scep­ter into his hand. In reference hereunto, after thanks and praises, are made many supplications to God, and wishes (more powerfull perswasions being wanting) that he might be Baptized according to the manner of the Reformed Church­es in the Realm. And against the Brethrens mind baptized by the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews. But the Bishop of St. Andrews is thought to have a more authentick mission then the Brethren, and the Sacrament effica­cious from his hand though none but boyes could be got to bear torches at the solemnitie of the Christening. This check to the Discipline seem­ed ominous,This they take ill from the King. and if the future re­moves in the Princes education should be answerable, the Brethren saw they might be mated in the [Page 139] end. The King had either taken no impression by their counsel a­bout Rizio, or retain'd very little of it after his dispatch. He had been so uxorious as to put the bloody Lords to shift for themselves, and being given to his sports might possibly leave the yong child whol­ly to the Queens disposal; at the best he was but a Cypher in Religi­on,A Regent o [...] Protector thought more proper for their occasions. and fill'd up the room of a more significant figure, a Regent, or Pro­tector of the Prince. The strong reports of his engagement against Rizio hath wrought a visible suspici­on in the Queen, and that will be enough to draw a popular jealousie upon her self, though Murray and his complices be the true politick Assassins that act a second Trajedy in the murder of the King. How­soever this bloody businesse was contrived and executed,Whereupon the King is ob­scurely mur­der'd, and one of his servants strangled. the Corps of the murder'd King was thrown into a Garden, and one of his Ser­vants strangled with him, the house where he lay in Edenburgh blown up in triumph for the designe ta­king effect, or as a signal to the [Page 140] Brethren to blaspheme God by their midnight Thanksgiving.

The Queen a­gain in soli­tude.Now was the poor Queen once again reduced to her solitude, with­out the comfort or assistance of a Husband, in greater haz [...]rd of her peace and security then ever by what she foresaw would be act [...]d against her by the Reformers under the umbrage of her Son. To prevent what she well could of this mischief she casts her self upon the despe [...]ate adventure of a sudden marriage. The experience she had of Earl Bothwels trust,Thinks of marrying E. Bothwel. and the clear opini­on the world had of his courage led her nuptial affection unto his comely person by the hand. The intended divorce between the Earl and his Lady upon the lawfull ground of too near consanguinity would assuredly set him at liberty for her purpose, and Her Majestie thought Religion as well as policy might be had to justifie his help,Having fore­casted all dif­ficulties to be encountred. being then at leisure, in supporting of a Crown, she presum'd on her in­nocency to quit her from the slan­der [Page 141] of the Brethren about her for­mer familiarity with the Earl, and upon the justice of the Law to wash his hands in the sight of the world from the murder of the King. What other inevitable difficulty, she must encounter, she left to provi­dence and the fortune of war. And if by all the faire meanes to be used the precise mouths could not be stopt from shooting bitter words, and sharp arrows against her person or government, she saw no way left but to hold their hands, and [...]ut their venemous tongues out with the Sword. But the Brethren were never wont to be backward, to raise a Rebellion in their own defense as they call'd it, and much more un­likely is it they should be now when a young Prince was committed by Heaven unto their charge. The fountain-head for sedition was most commonly at Edenburgh, which now had for a Conduit Iohn Craig the Minister, Iohn Craig de­claims against it, and excites the people to rebellion. who declaimed fiercely against the divorce and marriage, and as boldly as could be maintain'd [Page 142] his discourse when he was questi­on'd for it before the Council. Hence tumults beginning, the Queen thought to seize the Castle of E­denburgh to suppresse them,The Queen demands Eden­burgh Castle, and obtains it on an hard con­dition, for the person of the Prince, the ori­ginal of her ru­ine. which she demands of the old Earl of Marre, who, though sick at Ster­ling ▪ advis'd by his Confessours would make no surrende [...], and exchange he would for no les [...] then the person of the Prince. The con­dition was hard, [...]et at length con­sented to by the Queen, who might have saved some part of her future trouble it may be her head, if when she kissed and shook hands with her Babe, she had taken off her Crown, and thrown it into the cra­dle, for now we hear of no more Supplicates, They address now no more supplicates. and humble addresses to her; they had now a Royal In­fant in their hands, whom as young as he was, they had taught to speak far better language then his Mo­ther, and to act (with good autho­rity and judgement no question) their hearts desire in behalf of the D [...]scipline. The Queen may now [Page 143] proclaim what she please, as she did, they say, large favours towards the poor Protestants, she mistakes her self, they are no such men as mean to live on her almes, having got her onely jewel in possession, and will have very shortly her Crown; but they had not hands e­nough yet to remove it, being like a nail fastened in a sure place of Fe­male magnanimity,Isai. 22.23▪ and innocen­cy, and the Throne had by late mar­riage acquir'd a stout Champion to protect it; nothing now but sl [...]un­der and violence can get it into their power, and they must be sure to coyn the former of good mettal, whereby to purchase an effectual as­sistance in the latter.Their maliti­ous calumnie of the Queen, and E. Bothwell's resolution to murder the young Prince. They set up shop at Sterlin, and hammer out a conceit that the Queen and Earl of Bothwell had an undoubted resolu­tion to murder the young Prince, and next a band or covenant to pro­tect him. But Argile one of the banded Lords, could not sleep well with this shackle about his Consci­ence, and the next day reveals the [Page 144] conspiracy to the Queen. She hath many of the Lords that adhere to her,The Queen raiseth an Ar­my. & a daily access of strength from the common people But Her Ma­jestie makes first approaches by her goodness▪ before she moves toward the conspirators with her power. Having proclaimed a Grant of their demands for Religion,Yet proclaims great conces­sions. she doth the like to the other Article of policy, and passeth her Royal promise to be hereafter guided by the advice of her Nobles. This they thought was to direct a way to Sterlin, where having yeilded all, it might be taken for reason or a civil favour to grati­fie her with the restitution of her Son. To intercept her in this hast they besiege Her Majestie and the Earl at Borthwike Castle, They besiege Her Majesty at Borthwike-Castle. where no­thing was wanting to the surprisal of their persons but the Earl of A­thols men to stop a passe, by which they both escaped to Dunbar. The Rebells thus defeated in their plot,Thence they go to Edenburgh. make what hast they can to Edenburgh, where they found no hard entrance into the City, and [Page 145] they pretended to some underhand favour from Balfour Governour of the Castle; yet as guilt is prone to suspicions and fears, they con­fide not so much in their friends or strength, but that divided in their counsels the prevailing party in­clin'd to a disbanding and shifting for themselves;Yet incline to disband, but are prevented by the Queens approach. but the Queens Army drawing near, despair of mercy made them resolute, and united their factions to hazard all at once. Musselburgh field was the place where both Armies met, and being ready to joyn battail▪ An unfortunate Treaty by the French Agents means. Mon. Croke the French Agent unhappily interposeth for a Treaty; gets the Queen to promise pardon, and then offers it in her name to the Lords of the conspiracy; they had no mind to take her word, nor his, and the Earl of Glencarn very ma­jestickly told him, They came not thither to take, but to give pardon at their pleasure. The Queens yeilding to this parly put a jealousie into her Army that she had no great faith in the good fortune of the Battail,The Queens Army dis­couraged. and [Page 146] Glencarns bold answer spake a too fixed resolution in their enemies. This, and some treachery that was acted in the dark, made a great par­ty declare against the business for which they came into the field. The Queens passion, running too quick a division upon intreaties and menaces, evidenc'd to them the di­straction of her m [...]nd, which at length brought her to a precipice, & threw her into a ruine, She sends to treat personally w^th the L. Kirkal­die of Grange, with whom he holds a discourse while the Earl Bothwell of late made Duke of Orkney was out of present danger.Her Majesties discourse with L. Kirkaldic of Grange, while E. Bothwell slips away. Her horrid en­tert [...]inment in the Rebells Ar­my. Afterward Her Majesty goeth with him to the Rebels, by whom she was at first re­ceived with as much reverence as hy­pocrisie could counterfeit, which be­ing only a false paint upon the van or front of the Army, when she had made a little farther entrance, she heard a loud cry, Burn the Strumpet, and Parricide, Burn the Strumpet and Parricide, This courtesie pursu­ed her untill she was welcom'd by [Page 147] a Pageant, a fair banner displayed, wherein was pictur'd K. Henry, (the Lord Darley) that was dead, and a little Infant (the young Prince) at his Prayers to God for revenge upon the murderer. This was carried by two Soldiers be­tween two Spears, and which way soever the Queen turn'd her face. as maliciously as might be, this was presented to her. When the poor innocent Lady fainted not under the burden of her guilt, but impati­ence of this most unchristian re­proach, they held her upon her horse, and the banner still display­ed on purpose it may be (there be­ing more yet undiscovered of the designe) to affright her Royal Soul into her body, if it attempted to spring out. Being somewhat reco­vered, they hurrey her toward E­denburgh, but her faintness of spirit, after the late torture, declining so great hast, a common Souldier was instructed to cry out, You linger to no purpose; The Hamiltons are not at hand here for your rescue. When [Page 148] they had brought her to the City, they thrust her into an Inne, where if she look't but out at window,She is thrust in­to an Inne at Edenburgh, and guarded. to weep at that liberty, as the tears trickled down with the sad sound of her sighs, & the pitty of some ten­der hearted people ascended in a whisper, she was sure to have that cursed banner a fresh presented, which forced her to this choice, a perpetual rack, or close imprison­ment, yet the Rebell [...] fearing the effects of such still conference be­tween a distressed Queen, and her commiserating subjects,Thence posted away to the Isle of Lochle­vin. post her the next day to a Castle in the Isle of Lochlevin ▪ where a proud harlot insults and tra [...]ples upon her cala­mitous person, while her ambitious bastard playes the part of a preten­der to the Crown.

And now it was high time for the godly Ministers to meet in an as­sembly, and with the Seal of the Spirit make good all these procee­dings;The Ministers [...]ssemble. which they did, and farther service, for the Hamiltons had got a strong party of the Nobles, and [Page 149] as great an Army as the Brethren. To these and to diverse N [...]utrals were sent several conscientious let­ters from the Cl [...]rgie, to summon them in for the setling of Gods true worship in the Church, beside a spi­ritual quaternion of Iohn Knox▪ Dowglas, Row, and Craig are depu­ted Commissioners with instructions to like purpose,Four Commis­sioners deputed by them to summon in the Hamilton's, &c. in expectation of whose return was the Assembly pro­rogued. But so much time was lost, for neither soothing Letters, nor supling language could prevail for their company. This summons, though rejected, was sufficient to authoriz [...] the faction at Edenburgh, to combine in the maintenance of some such Articles as these.Articles agreed on by the Re­bells.

That all crimes and offences against God should be punish'd according to Gods word, &c. but they make no particular mention, as that doth, of Witchcraft and Rebellion.

That they would protect the young Prince, against all violence, (his Imprisonment at present they counted none.)

[Page 150] That he should be committed to the care of four wise and godly men. The first time, I have heard of a Clerical Assembly chusing Lords Protectors, That they would set up and further the true worship of God, — and all that may concern the purity of Religion, and life. And for this to take arms if need require. They should have added, Where need requires another pretense, they would take that for taking arms, or if it please them, take arms without any.

That all Princes and Kings hereaf­ter in this Realm before their Coro­nation shall take Oath to maintain the true Religion, which if they do, to be sure theirs is out of protection. This being done, the Assembly brake up.

They are yet p [...]rplex'd in their thoughts what to do with the Queen.But all this while they were trou­bled how to r [...]d their hands of the Queen, who, though a prisoner, had yet such authority at liberty as prevented the Brethren from being absolute in their power. In con­sultation about her, some were for a conditional restitution, others for [Page 151] a legal Tryal, deposition, and con­demnation to perpetual imprison­ment; but Knox and the meek-sp [...] ­rited Assembly-men, upon some holy inspiration publish'd this mercifull censure in their Pulpits, To have her divested of Royal authority and exe­cuted, which took effect in the end, although not in so short a time, nor by the same hands they then hastily desired.Queen Eliza­beths emulati­on▪ &c. made her countenance some of their proceedings. Queen Elizabeth of Eng­land, whose Royal dignity did rather cherish her in, then exempt her from, an eager emulation, which is very inseperable, (in some cases happily incident) to her Sex, partly by that, and partly upon a conscien­tious care to preserve and enlarge what is call'd in the Mass, the Pro­testant Religion, the sincerity of which was ever pretended, but never mean'd nor practis'd by the Presby­tery in Scotland; and farther upon the jealousie she had of the great reputation, and growing power of her successor, had from time to time recruited the strength, and suppor­ted the fainting spirits of that fa­ction; [Page 152] yet at such opportunities, and upon such politick advantages, as gave all her actions the counte­nance of justice, and her self the ho­nour of being as bitter to theirs: but when by the help of her Sword they had cut out their way, and got the Royal Scepter in their reach, like perfidious Rebells, ungratefull and cruel Murderers, as she call'd them,Their ingrati­tude and scorn return'd upon her. they turn'd the point upon her self, would stand no more to the courtesie of her imperious medi­ation; denyed her Ambassador accesse to their Queen, and sent him back with a French Proverb in his mouth, Il perd le jeu, qui la isse, la partie, to bid her have a care to continue a Friend to their party, lest having got the fore-game for them, she lose an after-game, more consi­derable, when she playes it for her self.

In the interim the Lords Lindsey and Ruthuen were sent to the Queen to have two Wri [...]s signed;The Queen mo­ved to q [...]it her Crown, and permit Murray to be Regent. one for the renunciation of the Crown and Royal dignity; the other to ordain [Page 153] the Earl of Murray Regent ▪ K Iames 6. during the Princes minority. They having by their hard usage brought upon Her Majesty some infirmity of bo­dy, did her the courtesie to put her in mind of that as a fair pretense, why she gave up her Crown and Government, but to ballance that, they threatned her with Death if she refused. Whether Her Majesty set her Hand or no, is not so certain, as that it was proclaim'd she had, at the Market-cross of Edenburgh; and soon after the young Prince Crown­ed King at Sterlin, The Prince Crowned at Sterlin. K. Iames 6. where Iohn Knox sanctified his inauguration with a Sermon, and Earl Morton, one of them that kill'd his Father, with Lord Hume that mean'd as much un­to his Mother, when he besieged her in Borthwike Castle, took the Oath in his behalf, That he should constant­ly live in the profession of the true Re­ligion, and maintain it, &c. It's no matter whether the King knows it to be true or false he swears to.

[Page 154]The next solemnity was to pro­claim the Regent, who was return­ed out of France, Murray return­ed out of France, and proclaimed Re­gent. whither he had cunningly diverted to avoid the discovery about the murther of the King, and his personal appearance in the deposit [...]on of the Queen.

After eleven moneths Imprison­ment (in all which time she was not once permitted the sight of her Son, which she earnestly desired,) Her Majesty by the help of George Douglas, The Queen escapes out of prison. Broth [...]r to the Regent, makes an escape out of the Castle, and Island of Lochlevin, and within ten dayes got an handsome Army, and fought a Battail for the recove­ry of her right; but her Friends that were stronger in their affections then arms,Her last ill success in Bat­tail. were unfortunately dis­persed, and her self narrowly esca­ped to the borders of England. Afterward,She escapes to England for protection. having sent a Letter to Queen Elizabeth to crave protecti­on in her Kingdom, as apprehend­ing some danger in her stay where she was, prevented the Queens an­swer by her coming to Carliste.

[Page 155]What passed before Queen Eli­zabeths Commissioners at York and herself at London, whither the Re­gent came, being only a discussion of the Scotch factions on all sides, and including title of the Clericall proceedings, I purposely omit.

The Regent being returned into Scotland, meets with new commo­tions,Queen Eliza­beth's three Desires unto the Regent. rais'd by the opportunity of his absence; and afterward was o­vertaken by that which pleas'd him worse: three desires from Queen Elizabeth in behalf of the banished Queen.

1. That she might be restored to her former Authority, and place. Or,

2. That she might be joynt Regent with her Son, aad her Name as well as his in all publick Acts and Writ­ings, yet so as Murray should bear all the sway untill the King came to seventeen years of age: Or,

3. That, if the Queen of Scots li­ked of it, she might enjoy her peace in a private condition, and with it what honour should not be prejudiciall to [Page 156] the Royal dignity of the King▪ Beside, the Queen of Scots sent [...] Letter to demand a fair judicial hea [...]ring about the businesse of her mar­riage with Earl Bothwell, Queen of Scots demands a hea­ring about her last marriage. that if [...] were found illegal, she might have the benefit of a divorce, and be qui [...] of that engagement. These were referred to a Parliament at Perth, where the last of Queen Elizabeths propositions were yeilded to,All discussed in the Parliament at Perth. upon hopes to get her within the limits of their power, when she could have no pretense to raise a party, being divested of all her Royalties, and to be acknowledged as no other then a private person, and subject to the rigor of their Laws, by which with­in a very short time she might be re­duced to her former condition in the Castle of Lochlevin. To the Queen of Scots Letter they make exceptions upon her assuming the title of Queen, Whence the two Queens reeeive little satisfaction. &c. and when offer was made that that should be amen­ded, and urged as a strange Para­dox that they which had so much pressed the illegality and impiety of [Page 157] that marriage, would not now ye [...]ld unto a cognizance of the businesse; they made many frivilous demurs, as to have 60 dayes given for the summons of Earl Bothwell, who was now in Denmark▪ &c. and at last spake plainly,They demurre about E. Both­well. that they would have her send to the Danish King to take his Head off, and then she was at liberty to marry whom she plea­sed. Queen Elizabeth not liking the Perth Parliaments answer, nor the young Messenger that brought it, they call'd another at Sterlin, Pelkarne sent with their apo­logy to Queen Elizabeth. and from thence sent Pelkarn with a sub­tile enlargement about▪ their decli­ning the two former of her three Propositions; but because they saw so long as the ex l'd Queen had the countenance of Queen Elizabeth, she had oppo [...]tunity to encourage, and some means to assist their ene­mies,Their subtilty in making a diff [...]rence be­tween the two Queens by much falsehood mixed with little truth. which now began to be some­what potent; they take a sure way, to set the two Queens at variance by severall suggestions, wherein what was true, had been done by Murray's advice, if not fi [...]st pro­curement, [Page 158] the private overture of a Marriage between the Queen of Scots, and the Duke of Norfolk: and what was false, they were sure would incense Queen Elizabeth, and pre­vent all possibility of farther mis­chief from the South ▪ Of this na­ture was

That she had passed away to the D. of Andyn her right to the Crown of England, That She and the Duke of Norfolke intended to cut off the present Royall poss [...]ssours of both Kingdomes, which plot [...] must be discoverd by providence just at Pelcarnes coming to the English Court, whereupon the Queen and Duke were presently secured.Q. of Scots and D. of Korfolk s [...]cu­red. After this the Regent Murray goes on with less opposition, and better success in Scotland, ye [...] in the midst of his victories was rewarded for his murders, rebellions and false­hood, being shot at Lithgow in the belly upon a private revenge,Regent M [...]rray kill'd. and so prevented of dispatching the young Prince, which may be very fairly guessed by his procee­dings [Page 159] to be intended, his Mother boasting her self to have been the Wife, not the Harlot of Iames the fifth, and so this her son the lawfull inheritor of the Crown.

The holy Brethren would fain had Murray cannoniz'd for a Saint and Martyr in the cause,The Brethren prosecute re­venge. and his bloud reveng'd they car'd not upon whom, so any of the Queens dutifull Subjests might be cut off. To bring such upon tryal as stood most in their way, were many po­pular supplicates presented, and what reason was rendred for de­ferring the enquiry, at least till the Assizes, if not rather till the next Assembly in May, they either take for a close compliance of their Peers with the Queens, or an im­politick yielding advantage to their enemies. At length some of the wisest began to put in questions by what authority they could proceed to this or any other execution of Laws, the Queen being deposed,A sc [...]upulous question put to them. the King in his non-age, and no legal establishment to be made of [Page 160] a successor to Murray in his Re­gency of the Kingdome. Fain would they have made use of an old by grant extorted from the Queen, but that they found null by the for­mer election of Murray, and if now taken up for authentick, might be thought a recalling her Majesties authority from the dead. This not holding good, they leave all their sawcy French Proverbs behind them,T [...]eir applica­tlons to Q. Eliz. rejected. and come fawning upon Queen Elizabeth in English; she denies them as well advice as assi­stance, having before made plau­sible promises of both to the Queen of Scots, though her prisoner, The Rebe [...]l [...] were sensible what ground the Qu [...]ens party daily got by their Anarchy, & though their necessities hastened them toward a conclusion of somewhat, yet, not knowing what, they were to seek by what means, and in what method to effect it. Queen Elizabeth, who seem'd not full [...] satisfied with the thing, must not be disgusted by the person. The Earl of Lenox, [Page 161] the young King's Grandfather is pitcht on for several reasons look­ing that way;They confer re­gall power upon the Earl of Le­nox. and first upon some Assembly revelation he was chosen an Interrex or Interloping King, which soon after by some divine counter-light was discovered to be a monster in Government, suspe­cted for Saturnes unnatural sto­mack, that might possibly devoure the young King and Iesus Christs Scepter to boot, which the Pres­bytery had given him to play with in his hand. To avoid this dan­ger they divest him of his interca­lary Kingship, Divest him a­gain of it, and make him Re­gent. and having no law upon earth to impower them, they furnish him with a Regency from heaven. And now in his time no question all Parliamentary as well as Assembly authority may plead to be by divine right, and their proceedings are justified by this extraordinary providence of God. Upon this Patent the new Regent reforms what he could by the sword, according to the true sense of the Discipline. The poor captive [Page 162] Queen in compliance with the prin­ciples of nature, and likewise in discharge of her civil duty (who had the trust though not possession of a Kingdome) by submisse, Q: of Scots by all means en­deavours her li­berty. yet enough Majestick, requests in Eng­land; by a mediation from France and Spain, agitates what she can for her liberty, and this for stop­ping farther effusion of Christian bloud in her Countrey, and pre­venting the progresse of oppressive tyranny over her party. Queen Elizabeth sensible of these unchri­stian proceedings, by her arbitrary power sometimes orders a truce be­tween the Scots, Queen Eliz: giveth fair an­swers to her, and her inter­cessors. gives fair answers as well to her prisoner as forein Ambas­dours that interceded for her: ad­viseth with her Council, Wherein some were mis lead by too facile credulity of false informations from the North; others, not improba­bly,Q. E [...]izabeths Councill how affected at this time. corrupted; all too much a­d [...]cted to their own interests, and an overweening solicitude about the peace and security of England. This begat an overture too high [Page 163] and imperious for a magnanimous free-born Princesse to yield to;K. Iames 5. put new thoughts and designs into the Pope, Spaniard, and French; en­larged the breach between her Eng­lish Subjects,They involve her in a multi­tude of difficul­ties. (for they had been divided and some unsatisfied in the proceedings relating to the Scotch Queen) reviv'd and multiplied con­spiracies at home. Into all these did the northwind blow the sparkles of the Disciplinarian Rebellion, which more or less encreased the flame where they lighted, if upon matter ready to fire with a touch. Queen Elizabeth finding her self environ'd with danger,She calls the Scots to accoun [...] about the depo­sition of their Queen. and appre­hending no possible security but in a perfect composure of the Scotch differences, in order to it calls upon the Presbyterian division for a new account about the deposition of their Queen. They exhibit a large remonstrance upon it,They exhib [...]te a large Remonstrance rebellious and antimonarchiall enough. stuffed with so much pride and barbarous insolence, as left no place for re­ligion, reason, or law, although they were great pretenders to the last, [Page 164] pleading Ancient priviledge of the Scotch peoples superiority to their Prince. K Iames 6. This (for which their Reformed Brethren may thank them) they fortified with Calvins authority, and in some cases en­larged it to imprisoning and deposing Kings what, or wheresoever. They not onely justified their censure but magnified their own lenity to their Queen, as to the pa [...]doning of her life,1571. to the succession of her son, who being in their power, and standing onely by their pleasure, no marvail if in this years Assembly and Parliament, all Acts and Sta­tutes made before by him and his Predecessors annext the freedom and liberty of the true Kirk of God, a [...]e ratified by his name, whenas yet he could not superscribe them with his hand. Queen Elizabeth saw and disliked the drifts of these An­timonarchical maxims and practises, Queen Eliz: dislikes it. yet not resolute enough to trust providence with the preservation of her person. At the next meet­ing in the Lord Keepers House, [Page 165] persists in one of her principal de­mands from the Queen of Scots Commissioners to have, beside the delivery up of two strong Castles, the Duke of Castle Herault, the Earles of Huntl [...]y, Argile, Humes, Yet persists in her high de­mand from the Qu: of Scots Commissioners. H [...]ris, &c. to be Pledges or Ho­stages for the good behaviour of their Queen. This was to change one pri [...]oner for more, to disarm the Scotch Queen and turn her into a wilderness of wolves, or more savage beasts, ready every minute to devour her. The Bishop of Ross and her other Delegates, lookt over Queen Elizabeths shoulder and her Councils to see the black Assembly men vying hard for the honour of this fatal invention; returned a modest answer to Her Majesty,, Their modest answer. That this could not be yielded in Christian prudence, nor mercy to their miserable Mistresse, w^ch was repelled by the L. Keeper with that sharp reply, which,L: Keepers sharp reply. if any thing, cut off all mutual confidence in the Queens, That the King­dome, Princes, Nobles, Castles, and [Page 166] what soever else was valuable in Scotland, K. Iemes 5. could be no considerable pledge for the security of England.

A truce be­tween the divi­ded parties in Scotland, made by Q: Eliz.While matters were thus carried on there, both parties in Scotland by Queen Elizabeths order, enter into a truce which the Disciplina­rians kept according to the articles of their faith, putting to the sword what persons of quality they wished out of the way, wherein the mur­der of their late King, and a feig­ned design to poison this now in being, served them very plausibly for a disguise; They seized upon what Castles and Forts they could get by fraud or stratagem, without any great noise of armes; among the rest, that on Dunbriton frith, where the fury of the meaner sort being slacked by customary murder,The Regent and his do not­withstanding what they please. the wrath of the Regent and his sanguinary Chaplains must have a solemn holy sacrifice to appease it, which was the Archbishop of St. Andrews, whom they found in that Castle.They hang up the Ar [...]h-Bi­shop of St: An­drews. He craved the ordi­nary justice of the law, but the fear [Page 167] of Queen Elizabeths mediatory Let­ters,K Iames 6. or any other prevalent possibi­lity to save him, carried him the shorest way by a Council of war, to be, as he was, dispatched at the Gal­lows. But divine vengeance not [...]ong after found the Regent out at Ster­lin, sitting secure, as he thought, in his Parliament of Rebolls, where by the hands of some on the Queens party,Revenge taken upon the Re­gent. he paid the due debt of his bloud to the innocence of that holy Martyr whom he murder'd.

And now the good Brethren ha­ing divers months since, out stript the rebellious precedents of their ancestors, by leaping over the letter, and all pretentions of Law and au­thority in the election of their Re­gent, find themselves safe on this side all scrupulous trouble, and so without any more addresses into England, or home disputes about stating their power, commit their cause to the protection of Iohn Ers­kin Earl of Marre, whose first omi­nous repulse before Edenburgh, and mild temper inclining toward a [Page 168] composure, together with his im­pardonable endeavours to bring in again Archbishops and Bishops, They make the E of Marre his successor, who is so vexed by them, that he shortly dies with gr [...]ef. drew such swarms of contentious Presby­ters about him, that after thirteen moneths strugling with his own Conscience and their unconscienti­ous proceedings, he dyed through extremity of grief.

The Parlia­ments fierce proposition to Q Eliz. about the Queen of Scots.In this time, by the good managing of the Brethren, a proposition was made by the Members of Parliament in England, That if the Queen of Scots acted any thing against the known Laws of the Land, upon ad­vantage given by her contract of mar­riage with the Duke of Norfolk, she should be proceeded against as a Wife to one of the Peers of the Realm. Rejected. But for Royal Majesties sake Queen E­lizabeth interposeth by her power, and would not suffer it to be put to the Vote of the House, or at least not enacted as a Law.A resolution taken by the Rebells in Scot­land fatall to the Queen and her party. After all this jugling and under-hand contri­vance, the Disciplinarian faction in Scotland perceiving trouble and ha­zard increasing upon them at home, [Page 169] and potent enemies multiplying a­broad, resolve now to cut up root and branch of all that hindred the growth of their dominion, and ha­ving but blunt instruments in Scot­land, make bold with the highest authority, and sharpest ax of Eng­land to effect it, wherein as part of the work is easie with some rotten boughs, which, having no intrinse­cal conjunction nor continuity with that body whereof they had been arms and members, were broaken off at pleasure by the hand of Ju­stice: so the knotty pieces were, not without some difficulty wrought off by the strength of ma­lice, and acuteness of subtilty in the too partial industrious Journey­men for the cause. The Bishop of Rosse, the Queen of Scots greatest a­gent and advocate, fencing under the umbrage of the publick Em­bassie, saved his life, but not his li­berty to do her service, Felion, Sto­ry, Barnes, Mather, Divers execu­ted in England. &c. were at several times arraigned, and execu­ted, But these were taken to be at [Page 170] too great a distance to give warning to their captive Queen. The Duke of Norfolk was her principal adhea­rent they aim'd at,The Duke of Norfolk Be­headed. the most likely Champion to have justified her ti­tle; who, though at his death he protested his chiefest endeavours had been to reestablish the oppres­sed Queen, and suppress the rebelli­ous practises in her Kingdom; yet, because his Plot was laid in the dark, and his complices abroad such as, for their own ends, kept not within the compass of his designs, but wrought the ruine of England into their hopes, met with Law enough to con­demn him by his Peers, and after four moneths reprieve by the Queens singular favour, inexorable Justice to behead him upon the Scaf­fold.

The Brethren well-pleased at the successe of their designes, and approach of the Ax so near their Queen.This much heightened the Assem­bly men in Scotland, who wiping their eyes to behold, with much consolation of spirit, by what a slen­der thread their successes had hung the ax over their imprisoned Queen, endeared each other by the [Page 171] mutual assurance they gave, it could not be long before her Head too must off, and then the Discipline they thought would take place with the unquestionable Succession of the King. Not ten dayes passed after the Dukes death,To whom Com­missioners are sent to expostu­late. before they wrought by their Agents, that Com­missioners were sent, Lord de l' A­mour, Sadler, Wilson, and Bromley, to expostulate with the Queen of Scots about her treasonable practi­ses against the Crown of England, and to ring the knell of the Dukes destiny in her ears. The French, more earnestly than before interce­ding for her liberty,The French in­terceding, are answered with instances from their own and other Nations. are silenced with instances of their own cashie­ring their Kings, Childerike by Pi­pin, Charls of Lorraign by Hugh Capet, imprisoning the Queens of Lewis, Philip the Long, and Charls the Fair, successively. The cases of Henry the Second of England, Al­phonsus of Castile, and Charls the fifth of Spain, and Scicilie are pro­duced as precedents for taking the Crown, their Mothers surviving; [Page 172] And the honourable restraint of the Queen of Scots pleaded a favour be­yond her desert, or on this side her guilt, and onely for the security of Queen Elizabeth and her King­dom, yet room was left for the Queens ingenuity to acknowledge that the former extraordinary and extrajudicial examples were not drawn cleer off from their Lees, nor justifiable in every circumstance that accompanied them. After this the Duke of Momorancie Ambassador from the King of France presseth a cessation of Arms in Scotland, Momoranchies propositions not hearkened to. a free Parliament, or at least delegates from both sides to treat at London with the like deputed by the Queen of England, and French King; but this could not be hearkened to, and the aversion of Lord Grange with his Garrison in Edenburgh Castle from peace, upon hopes of supplies out of France, is made the only barr against a general accord.

The Assemblies domineer while no Regent in Scotland.Since the Earl of Marre's death, there had been no Regent in Scot­land, but Christs viceroies in black [Page 173] took the care of both Swords, and passed Assembly acts at pleasure, au­thentick, no question, so long as the young King breathed in the Country, who must pay the Church tribute for his life by an innocent compliance to enact what they list, to which purpose they kept him, and would not part with this Jewel to England, nor France, though both desired to have him out of the noise and danger of their Wars: but this look'd like a Monarchy divine­ly limited by the boundaries of the Discipline, which might sweeten their liberty by degrees to a silent desertion of all future Government by a King. Queen Elizabeth therefore,Q. Elizabeth calls upon them to chuse one, They take E: Morton as fittest for their purpose. who was in a manner per­petuall Protectrice calls upon them to go about the election of a Regent. The Earl Morton was the man they made choice of, whereby they seem'd both to gratifie the Queen, and provide a mercenarie creature to their purpose, he having not long before delivered up the Earl of Nor­thumberland who had fled to Scot­land [Page 174] for refuge, and for a piece of mony unworthily (as to the point of personall honour) betrayed an obliging Friend, who had fed and harbour'd him in his exile. The late Earl of Marre had broak the Assemblies Instructions in his Re­gency by offering at some restraint unto the Church, which had been better doubted upon the Infant person of the King, and therefore his Son might well be opposed in his hereditary priviledge to have the young King in his custody, es­pecially his own minority requiring rather to have than to become a Guardian,The young E: of Marre becomes Guardian to the King. yet conditions being made, the charge was conferr'd up­on him, for to secure the main good order was taken by the new Regent, That no Papist nor factious person (under which were comprised all loyal Subjects) should have accesse unto the King. Orders made by the new Re­gent. An Earl with onely two Servants attending him; A Ba­ron with one; All others single and unarmed. The Queens party in Scot­land faint. The Queen of Scots de­plorable condition in England dis­couraged [Page 175] her principal abettors at home; The Duke of Castle Herald and Huntley are drawn in to ac­knowledge the King and his Re­gent; the Lord Grange, Humes, and Lidington maintain their loyalty so long as they can in Edenburgh Ca­stle, which after a siege laid to it by Queen Elizabeths Forces (which she lent the Regent out of kindness hastened by her jealousie of the French, Edenburgh Ca­stle taken by the help of the English For­ces. from whom the Queens Royalists in Scotland expected suc­cour) was resigned, and according to the Disciplinarian mercy, the first was hanged, the second scarcely pardoned, at Queen Elizabeths in­treaty; the third, having sometime been a Friend, sent to Leith, and yet upon-after-thought, because of a subtile and active headpiece, sup­posed very probably to be poison'd, by which Christian proceedings the Presbyterian Rebells become abso­lute Masters, rule King and Country without contradiction.

And now their work being done,The Scotch ar­my disbanded. they turn their pack-horse Souldi­ers [Page 176] to grass, some of whom get new entertainment in Swedeland, others agree better with the imployment in France, and the Low-Countries. The cessation of armes in Scotland gives the restless Brethren some respite to bethink themselves how to work mischief abroad. The Bishop of Rosse, Bishop of Rosse banish'd Eng­land upon the Scots importu­nity. though a prisoner in Eng­land, had his head at liberty to de­vise, and too many hands in readiness to execute what he should command upon any visible advantage against them. Their importunity being not able to prevail for injustice, and cruelty enough to put him to death, they accept of his exile out of Eng­land, though they foresee that will not quit them of their fears.Morton cannot obtain a league &c. with England. Morton the Regent craves a league with England of mutual defense against all forraign Forces, and would have a large pension for himself and some Scots his devoted guards a­gainst the pretended attempts to depose him; but that would not be hearkened to; somewhat else with lesse charge, and slight proofs did [Page 177] accumulate gu [...]lt upon the Queen of Scots for contriving a dangerous Match between a Scotch Earl of the blood, the Kings Vnkle, Queen of Scots a [...]cused of cont [...]ving a Match. and the Lady Elizabeth Candish the Countess of Shrewsburies Daughter, for which her Mother and divers Ladies were imprisoned.

Soon after the good old Earl of Castleherault having taken no great content in changing sides,E Castlehe­rault dies with grief. and for­saking his quond [...]m pupill and Queen, by the mod [...]rate way of dis­ciplinar [...]an dispatch was vexed into a sickness, and dyed.

In the year 1577 was discovered Don Iohn of Austria's designe to marry the Queen of Scots, Don Iohn of Austria fail­eth in his design to marry the Q. of Scots. which the Brethren fores [...]eing, would im­ply the liberty of her person, and confusion of their cause, were not wanting in d [...]ligence to quicken in­formation, and aggravate prejudice to the Queen of England. The Don [...]ailing of strength and assistance to carry on this, and other vast youth­full designes, the next year, as 'tis thought took no other pestilent in­fection [Page 178] then grief, which brought him to his Grave.

And dyeth.In the year following the face of Government in Scotland was alter'd Earl Mortons covetous converting that publick treasure to his tempo­ral use,Morton deposed from his Re­gency. which should maintaine Christs Ecclesiastick Kingdom in lu­ster, brings upon him the damnati­on of the Discipline, in deposing him from his Regency, being scarce­ly afforded the favour of commu­nion with his Peers. The King yet but twelve years of age was ap­prehensive enough of the tyranny he had been under, and in capacity to accept any courteous tender as well of his liberty as of his Crown. It was found convenient to trust him with the title of Governing, but that he might be sure not to surfeit upon the power, he had his twelve Godfathers to passe upon him for e­very year one.Twelve ap­pointed to assist the King in go­verning, Mor­ton one of them, but defeated in his purpose to do all. Earl Morton was kept in to instruct the rest rather how to give in verdict, upon His Majesties actions then Counsel to his person, and had the cunning to keep him­self [Page 179] fore-man of the Jury; but unad­visedly endeavouring to improve his interest to the retroduction of de­testable regency, split his own with the twelve Members superintenden­cy in pieces, and to little purpose secur'd the King in the Castle of Ster­ling, there being a Regal power pre­tended abroad that gave the Earl of Athol commission to leavy an Ar­my to meet him in the Field. Sir Robert Bowes the English Ambassa­dor composed the publick difference at present, after which a better ex­pedient was supposed to be found, to prevent by poyson all further martial attempts of Athol, while Earl Morton betook himself more unto his privacy than innocency at home.

The first salley of Regal govern­ment under the pretended personall conduct of the King put the Assem­bly brethren in mind to strengthen their incroachment upon the Church, The King be­gins to shew himself to the terror of the Assembly. to which purpose follows a discharging of Chapters with their election of Bishops; the titular Bi­shops [Page 180] are warned to quit their anti-christian corruptions, in particular was instanc'd their receiving Eccle­siastick emoluments, so that, not­withstanding all former Acts and agreements for life, their known assignation of benefice must be as well extinct, as their Jurisdiction and office:Preserves the Bishops in some part of their Rights and re­venues whereof the other would deprive them. yet to please the young King, who beyond his years had a discretive Judgement, and held E­piscopacy in a reverend esteem, that they might seem to leave them somewhat to do, they make them Itinerant Visiters of their Hospitals, themselves being the Sacrilegious Collectors of the Rents. Beside this,2 B: of Discip. cannot ye [...] pass in Parliament they heave hard to obtain an establishment of the policy in the Second Book of their Discipline, but as that, yet could not be got to be incorporated with other Parlia­ment Acts; At this time two French Noblemen raise fears and jealousies in abundance,D: of Alanson attempts a mar­riage with Q: Eliz. the Duke of Alanson in England by endeavouring a Marriage with Queen Elizabeth, with whom he held private confe­rence, [Page 181] but was suspected to aime at restoring the Queen of Scots, Lord Aubignie in Scotland, who was be­come the only favorite of the King. The consequences of the Marriage were debated by the Lords in Coun­cil, and their opposite possibilities or conjectures represented to the Queen. D. of Lenox, and E: of Ar­ran set at diffe­rence by the Assembly. The new humours of Es­me Stuart, Lord d' Aubignie, whom the King had [...]arely c [...]eated Duke of Lenox, was a business undoubted to be of Ecclesiastical cognizance, and therefore taken into considera­tion by the Assembly, the Christian result of whose counsels was this. To set up against him an emulous ri­val, Iames Stuart of the Ochiltrie Family, call'd Earl of Arran, which title he attained by cession from one of the Hamiltons not well in his wits, to whom he had been Guardian; but these two were soon reconciled by the King ▪ and the As­sembly Brethren defeated in their plot.Reconciled by the King. They can soon find means to be revenged, and make the King hear of his misdemeanour. A large [Page 182] complaint is sent up to Queen Eli­zabeth, which being sweetned with the discovery of a feigned designe to conveigh the captive Queen out of rison,Then they ac­cuse Lenox to Q: Elizabeth. laid to the charge of the Duke of Lenox rellisheth well in the Court and Council of England, from whence come endeavours and Em­bassies to degrade him from favour if not his honour,Who demands to have him banish'd. and dem [...]nds to have him bani [...]ed out of Scotland. The young King had now quit him­self of his pupillage,The King will not part with him. and with that of his custome, to return suppliant an­swers by his Regent according to the instructions that ever accompa­nied the demands. Sir Robert Bowes the Agent was admitted to deliver his Message, but not with his condi­tion to have Lenox removed from the Council, and therefore went grumbling home without audi­ence. Humes was sent with a com­plement after him, and had the like reception in England, where he was turn'd over to Lord Treasurer Bur­leigh, and could have no admission to the Queen. Lord Burleigh at [Page 183] large expostulated with him about the miscarriage of some in the Scotch Kings Council. Humes his A­gent hears of this from the L: Treasurer in England. The Queen of Eng­lands succesfull endeavours were magnified, and her tender care in preventing many eminent mischiefs from the French; Some sharp lan­guage was used, which was hoped would cut off the Kings affection to the Duke of Lenox, and make way for Mortons restitution to favour; but the issue was otherwise,Morton questi­oned. Mor­ton was question'd for many great enormities, especially the murder of the Kings Father, Randolph is sent to intercede somewhat magisterial­ly, and hinder the proceeding a­gainst him for his life. The King ad­hears to his Laws, by which he an­swers he is bound to submit Delin­quents to Justice.Randolphs sent to intercede, but prevails not▪ Randolph by the help of the Assembly Brethren makes a strong faction of Lenox's enemies and Mortons Friends, draws Ar­gile, Angus, and many other of the Nobility to the party, but their dif­ferent interests caus'd division in their counsels, made them quit the [Page 184] engagement, and leave Morton, af­ter proof and his own confession of the murder, to pay his Head [...]o the Justice of the Law.

In this time passed many arrogant. Acts in their general Assemblies: Arrogant As­sembly Acts. 1579. one among the rest did confine the holy Kirk of Iesus Christ in that Realm to the Ministers of the blessed Evan­gel, and such as were in communion with them, excluding all the Epis­copal party, and de [...]iv [...]ring them up to Satan as being Members of a Kirk divided from the Society of Christs body. They professed, That there was no other face of Kirk▪ no other face of Religion, No Christiani­ty allowed but in Scotland, and where is a conf [...]rmity in Religion unto the Kirk. then was pre­sently at that time established, which therefore is [...]ver stiled Gods true Reli­gion, Christs true Religion, the true and Christian Religion, admi [...]ting, it seems, no other Religion to be so much as Christi [...]n but that. Beside th [...]s, other Acts there were ent [...]en­c [...]ing upon the civill authority,Th K: checks th [...]m. whereupon the King by Letter re­quired the Assembly to abstain from [Page 185] making any innovations in the Po­licy of the Church, and from pre­judging the decisions of the State by their conclusions,They contest with him by a Committee. And extort his subscription to the Negative Confession, with a c [...]m­mand of the like from all. to suffer all things to continue in the condition they were▪ during the time of his minority; They regard not his let­ter; send a Committee to Strive­ling to contest with His Majesty, and sit down again about the orde­ring their Discipline; Set Iohn Craig a Presbyter about framing a most rigid This is that Craig, and this that confession which K: Iames reflects upon in Hampton-Court confe­rence, saying, That with his, I renounce and abhor his detestations and abrenunti­ations he did to amaze the sim­ple people, that they not able to conceive all those things, utterly gave o­ver all, falling back to Popery, or remaining still in their former igno­rance, yea if I, saith his Ma­jesty, should have been bound to his form, the con­fession of my Faith must have been in my Table-book, not in my head. Negative confession of Faith; Never let His Majesty have quiet, untill himself and his Family sub­scribe it; Wrest a charge from him to all Commissioners and Ministers to require the like subscriptions from all, and upon this authority, taken by violence, play the tyrants over the Consciences of the people They censure the Presbytery of Striveling for admitting Montgome­ry to the temporallity of the Bisho­prick of Glascow, and him for aspi­ring thereto, contrary to the word of God, and Acts of the Kirk.

[Page 186]While they are thus fencing with the spirituall Sword in Scotland, their pure Brethren in England exe­cute their Commission by the pen, where the marriage between Qu. Elizabeth and Alanson, new Duke of Anj [...]u, being in a manner con­cluded, they set out a virulent book with this Title, The Gulf wherein England will be swallowed by the French Marriage, but the Author, Iohn Stubbs of Lincolns-Inne, a zea­lous professor, as he must needs be who was Brother-in-Law to Cart­wright, and one William Page, who dispersed the Copies, soon after had their hands cut off on a Scaffold at Westminster, and play'd their parts no more at that weapon.

But the civil Sword must have its turn,A publick stra­tagem practis'd by the Bre­thren. and what no menacing bulls of the Assembly, nor any pointed ca­lumnies of mercenary pens can keep off, must by a stratagem be declined at first, and yet the same afterward authorized by strength. The long disconsolate captivity of the Queen, and despair of ever obtain­ing [Page 187] her liberty, had withdrawn her thoughts from her Scepter on earth, and rais'd them to an higher king­dom than the Scots, The Queen of Scots directs her thoughts to an higher king­dom and means to resign all up to her Son. whereon that they might be fixed without any diversion, she resolves to divest her self of the other interest, and confer freely her Royal title upon her Son. The Assembly Brethren have intima­tion hereof,Whereupon the Brethren put all into confusion. do not like to have their King become absolute, or Reign by any other Title than what he had before received on courtesie from them. The Duke of Lenox, and Earl of Arran are two good Friends to his Majesty, not to be in­strumentall in promoting so just an advancement to his Crown, and therefore it is the Presbyters tasks to preach them out of all favour with the people, and then an op­portunity is fairly taken in their ab­sence from Court for the Earls Gow­ry, Marre, Lindsey, and others,The King in­vited to the Castle of Ru­then, and de­tained prisoner. to invite his Majesty to the Castle of Ruthen, and by the Laws of Displi­narian hospitality, detain him priso­ner, dismiss his retinue, deny him [Page 188] the liberty to stir abroad but at his peril. Nor indeed could he well be at leisure to walk for the perpe­tuity of business they found him within doors,They press him most insolently to do their bu­siness. forcing him first by a Writ to recall Earl Angus from England, whither the guilt of his late rebellion had carried him; by another after the imprisonment of His Majesties dearest Friend, to command the Duke of Lenox into France, who being in possession of Dunbriton Castle, might have dis­puted the freedome of that Royal command, if his clear awfull spirit had not dreaded the thought of the least disloyal averseness to obey; And by a slight of singul [...]r cunning tyranny in a third, fram'd into a Letter to Queen Elizabeth of Eng­land ▪ to justifie their act, and con­tract the guilt of that unnatural sin in laying violent hands upon him­self; By a fourth to authorize the Convention of States indicted by them. All acts of such transcen­dent rebellion, that George Bucha­nan, their never-failing advocate [Page 189] before, could be wrought neither to advise by his Council, nor justifie with his pen; nay,Buchanan de­serts them, and repents of what he had done heretofore. 'tis said he turn'd penitent upon it, retracted with tears what he had writ before in their cause, and wished he could wash out all the spots, the black calumnies he had dropt upon Royal Majesty with his blood, yet further, he would have writ retractions, if being so old, he could have hoped such a con­version would not have been inter­preted an act rather of dotage then devotion.

The Queen of Scots much affected with this treasonable surprisal of her Son,Queen of Scots complains to Queen Eliz. complains at large to Queen Elizabeth in a Letter, appeals to her conscience for Justice, and summons her to her plea about the differen­ces between them before the high­est Tribunal of Heaven; yet very charitably imputes the obstruction of intercourse between her and her Son for a twelvemoneth before, as likewise Queen Elizabeths long si­lence, notwithstanding some for­mer importunate letters, not unto [Page 190] her self, but some malignant dispo­sition in her Council. Queen Eliza­beths blood and thoughts had many quick motions upon this querulous writing,Queen Eliz: very uncertain what to do. many ebbs and flows of resolutions and fears; at length Mr. Secretary Deale, Sends two Commissioners to the Queen of Scots. an austere man, and no Friend at all unto the Royal Pri­soner, was joyn'd in Commission with the Earl of Shrewsbury to ex­postulate the business with the cap­tive Queen, and yet treat with her a­bout articles of enlargement: but the Disciplinarian Scots being called in about what concern'd them,The Discipli­narians make new jealousies about Fa: Holt. rai­sed new spirits of division, by inter­posing ungrounded jealousies of one Father Holt a Iesuit, and some other Emissaries lately come over, as they alledged, on purpose to plot the invasion of England, and there­with a violent rescue of their Queen. As little truth as there was in this calumny,Qu: Eliz: by her Agents Courts King Iames kind­ness. there was Sophistrie e­nough to prevaile with Queen Eli­zabeth to lay aside the complaint of her prisoner, and to imploy her two Agents in Scotland, Bowes and Da­vison [Page 191] in vying Courtship with two other from the French, to gaine up­on the affection of the King. The News of the Duke of Lenox's death at Paris, D: Lenoxs's death. though accompanied with that which confounded his enemies, who thought they had undone him by traducing him for a Papist, puts life into the Kings banded Jailers, who take assurance by this they had him prisoner during pleasure, but His Majestie escapes soon after to the Castle of Saint Andrews makes them curse the lying spirit in their Prophets,King Iames makes an es­cape. and desperate enough to become executioners of themselves, but the good King, repriev'd them by his mercy,Offers pardon to all that ask it. offering pardon unto all that could find confidence to ask it; but this appear'd in none but Earl Gowrie, who corrupted the be­nefit of it unto his bane, The rest, not long after, being banish'd, went some into Ireland, others into France, only Angus ask'd and had a confinement unto his Earldom. Queen Elizabeth sends Sir Francis Walsingham to the King, Sir Francis Walsingham sent to counsell him. not so [Page 192] much to gratulate his liberty, as to instill some sententious Counsel how to use it. He meets with a greater luster and gallantry in the Scotch Court then he expected, and a young King as grave a politician as himself. He was entertained better than his carriage to the cap­tive Queen had deserved, and retur­ned with an answer no less modest than Majestick. Though many acts had passed the Assemblies of late de­rogatory to the safety and Royal au­thority of the King, The Assemblies justifie their late Treason. yet none more than the justifying the late Treason, requiring the Ministers in all their Churches to commend it unto the people, and threatning excommu­nication to such as subscribed not, though against their Conscience, to the unjust judgement of the Assem­bly. And in the year 1582▪ the Assembly at Saint Andrews procee­ded violently against one Montgo­mery Bishop of Saint Andrews, And commit new. cut­ting off the appeal he had made un­to the King, rejecting both his Let­ter and Messenger sent on purpose to inhibite them.

[Page 193]The late treasonable justification voted by the Assembly, though nipt in the bud by the Kings unexpected escape, and all the leaves scattered by the breath of his displeasure into several corners of the world, began now to sprout again in a second conspiracy, many of the Traitors being at that time appointed by Gowry return'd again, and under the colour of care and courtesie to the King, Gowrie &c▪ attempt again the surprisal of the King. attempting a second sur­prizal of his person. But the Earl of Arran, whom they had not now time or opportunity to secure, sei­zeth upon Gowrie at Dundee, and the Kings martial appearance,But himself is seised on, &c. suddenly affrights his Complices out of the Castle of Sterlin, which they had taken. Queen Elizabeth, whose Court because the Cathedral of Re­ligion, was ever abused as a sanctua­ry after a Scotch rebellion, had now a new address to make by mediati­on unto their King; And her Secre­tary Walsingham, Walsinghams Letters not ob­served by E: Hunsdon. by the (no justifi­able) priviledg of his place issued out Writs in Her Majesties name, [Page 194] though without her knowledg, for their admission into the Holy Island. The Letters were not obeyed by Earl Hunsdon, who d [...]sputed the Secretaries single separate authori­ty, nor was the Queen hearken [...]d to otherwise then by yeilding a le­gal tryal,E: Gowrie be­h [...]aded. which cost Gowrie h [...]s Head, for all the promises he had of better success from o [...]e Maclen a W [...]tch whom he had consulted in the case.

To ballance this somewhat must be done by the Disciplinarian un­dertakers in England, Letters feigned in the n [...]me of the Queen of S.o.s. who frame di­vers L [...]tters in the name of the Queen of Scots, and some English fugitives conveigh them into the Papists hou­ses, and then make discovery of a plot. Hereupon, as slight and im­probable as the proofs were▪ the Earls of Northumberland and Arun­del were confined,Vpon whi [...]h divers Nobles are questioned. his Lady impri­son'd, divers examin'd, and the Lord Paget scarcely by h [...]s prudent in­nocency protected.And the Iudg­es for their se­verity against Papists. Queen Eliza­beth though facile in hearing their complaints, was not so barbarous [Page 195] as to execute the cruelty of their Counsels, but called her Judges to account for their extream serverity against the Papists, granting indem­nity and liberty to many Iesuits and Priests. Yet Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador was sent home; and Throckmorton, whom he was said to have encouraged in an intricate conspiracy▪ being neither constant in denying, nor clear in confessing, nor at all, cunning in concealing or disguising his guilt,Throckmorton hanged. was hang'd.

A new Treaty between the two Queens is now commenc'd,A reconciliati­on between the two Queens prevented: and Sir William Wade imployed in an o­verture unto the Queen of Scots ▪ but the Agitators of differences be­tween them, renew their division by unseasonable jealousies and fears, and Wade falls to pasting Father Creyghtone the Iesuits torn papers together, neglecting a far more Christian and honourable artifice▪ which he might ha [...]e s [...]ewed by cementing the unhappy rupture in two so Royal and magnanimous [Page 196] Ladies hearts. This new discom­posure gave the Scottish partizans in England a colourable pretense to enter into an association for Queen Elizabeths security from danger,An [...]ssociation in England. which was managed by the policy of the Earl of Leicester: The Queen of Scots took hence an alarum o [...] her ruine,Queen of Scots sees a necessity of complying with Q: Eliz: yet chose rather to submit somewhat of her spirit, then in an humour sacrifice her life unto their malice. She sends her Secretary Nave with Articles so near Queen Elizabeths demands as had wrought undoubted reconcilement,The Scots Presbytery foreseeing the effect of it, de­claim [...]gainst her, their King [...] and Council in the Pulpit. if it had been consistent with the Discipline of the Kirk; but this the Scotch Ministry declared to be otherwise in their Pulpits; call out for help, as if both Kingdoms had been on [...]ire, and Christian Religion in danger to be consumed by the flames, inve [...]gh bitterly against their Queen, King, and his Council; slight the Kings summons to answer; stand upon their Ecclesiastical exemption, and Presbyterian privilege of immunity from his censure. The King be­gan [Page 197] from hence to apprehend it better for his safety, and more a­greeable with his honour to restore the Mi [...]er to the Church,Vpon their flighting the Kings summons they are inhibi­ted, and Episco­pacy setled. then cast away his Crown to a mungrel lay-Clerical Assembly. Hereupon he recalls Bishops to their primitive ju­risdiction and dignity; inhibites all Presbyteries and their Synods, toge­ther with the popular parity of Mi­nisters, and among other Acts pas­ [...]eth this in the eight Parliament [...]olden at Edenburgh May 22. 1584.The Kings su­pr [...]macy esta­blished by Act of Parliament. which alone cuts off all their vaine [...]retences to this day.

For as much as some persons being [...]ately called before the Kings Maje­ [...]ty, and his secret Council, to answer [...]pon certain points to have been enqui­ [...]ed of t [...]em, concerning some treaso­ [...]able, seditious, and contumelious [...]eeches, uttered by them in Pulpits, [...]chools, and otherways to the disdain [...]nd reproach of his Highness, his Pro­ [...]enitors, and present Council, con­ [...]mptuously declined the judgement of [...]is Highness and his said Council in [Page 198] that behalf, to the evill example of o­thers to d [...] the like, if timely remedy be not provided: Therefore our S [...]ve­raigne Lord, and his thre [...] Estates assembled in this present Parliament, ratifieth and approveth, and perpetually confirmeth the Royal power and au­thority over all Estates, as well spiri­tual as temporal within this Realm, in the person of the Kings Majesty, our Soveraigne Lord, his Heirs and Successors: And also statuteth, and ordaineth, that his Hign [...]ss, his Heirs and Successors by themselves, and their Councils, are, and in time to com [...] shall be judges competent to all person His Highnesses subjects, of what estate degree, function, or condition so [...] they be, spiritual or temporal, in [...] matters wherein they or any of the [...] shall be apprehended, summoned, [...] charged to answer to such things [...] shall be enquired of them by our [...] Soveraigne Lord and his Council And that none of them which shal [...] happen to be apprehended, called, [...] summoned to the effect aforesaid, pr [...] ­sume to take in hand to d [...]cline [...] [Page 199] judgement of his Highness, his Heirs and S [...]ccessors, or their Council in the Premises, under the pain of Treason.

This Act puts many of the As­sembly birds upon the wing, who,Hereupon [...]i­vers Mi [...]isters take their flight. i [...]n [...]cent D [...]es, take none but a Virgin breast for their refuge. Queen Elizabeth, Q Eliz: re­strains [...]heir violence▪ but counten [...]nceth them too much. whose too industri [...]us infirmi [...]y it was to keep up her po­pular interest with all, as well as to enjoy the honour and more clear content of an impartial conscience within her self, although she gave no ear to their querulous Remon­strances in private, nor permitted their publick libelling in her Chur­ches, yet cherished their persons, and very unproperly imployed th [...]ir endeavours to preserve Religion from innovations, which made no such real impressions in Scotland, as some untrue aggravating relations had in the time [...]ous minds of her Reformed English Subjects and her self. This practise of Her Majesty being observed by those who look­ed ou [...] of the Scotch Kings Court, put the Earl of Arran upon a for­ward [Page 200] tender of his Service to meet Her Majesties desires, and Her A­gent the Lord Hunsdon upon the borders:Earl of Arran offers a meeting with L: Huns­don upon the borders The fugitives proscribed Patrike Grey sent Ambassa­dor for Eng­land. but before the time the Sterlin fugitives, whom she had protected, were prescribed, and at it charged by the Earl with their trea­son against the King. The comple­ment he left of his real intentions at parting, took place until Patrike Grey came with another Embassie and particular Articles from King Iames. But the ill offices, it was su­spected, he did at the same time, to the captive Queen, Qu: of Scots practises too much for her self. gain'd him no reputation with her party; and put her upon some such extraordinary courses, as betrayed her into a new prison under more restraint, and L [...]icester, And Leicester against her and her party. 'tis said, upon murderous designes, who would not hear of her liberty, lesse of her succession to the English Crown. To cover whose private spleen and malitious attempts, new fears are fetched from the Romane Catholicks, and their de­signes magnified in a mist unto the people, whereby a sharper edge is [Page 201] set upon the severity of the Laws. This alteration encouraged some of the precise Scottish Religion to pur­sue the Queens commands for pres­sing in Parliament to have the Bi­shops reformed, and to others,Queen Eliz: requires a re­formation of Scots Bishops. as may be not improbably conjectur'd to murder the Earl of Northumber­land in the Tower,Earl of Nor­thumberland, [...]urdered in the Tower. because a known Friend to the Queen of Scots, though they left the pistol wherewith they acted it in his Chamber, and the o­pinion of self-assasinate at his door. Not long after was Sir Edward Wotton sent Ambassador into Scot­land, to renew a league, and present the King with his English retinue, which the Regents in his Minority had neglected or pawned for auxilia­ry support of their power.Sir Edward Wotton sent Ambassador into Scotland. While conditions about this and a marri­age with the King of Denmarks daughter were making at Court, some others were broken at a meeting upon the borders, where, though the usual Oath for mutual security was taken, the Earl of Bedford was slaine, and though by whom not [Page 202] known, yet the Lord Fernihurst Go­vernor of the middle Borders was accus'd and imprisoned,E: of Bedford slain at a meet­i [...]g u [...]on the borders. L: Fernihurst imprisoned. E: of Arran confined. Qu: Eliz de­mands their persons, is deny­ed. She sends home the Scottish Fugitives. because a firm adherent to the Queen of Scots, and the Earl of Arran c [...]nfined, b [...] ­cause a favorite of the Kings. The charge was fiercely prosecuted by the English, who in the name of the Queen demanded to have their per­sons delivered, which not obtain'd, the E [...]rl of Angus, Marre Glames, and other presc [...]ibed Fugitive [...], are sent home, who have no sooner set foot in Scotland, but by the advice and assistance of the Assembly bre­thren, they summon all [...]n the Kings name to them for defense of the Evangel, removing ill Counsellors from the King, and conserving the old amity with the English. Being got into a body of 8000 at Fankirk, Arran transgresseth the rules of his confinement to expres [...]e a more considerable duty to the King, A rebellious army raised by them. unto whom he accuseth Patrike Grey of this Treason (which he cunningly declines,E: of Arran accuseth P: Grey of Trea­son.) and fortifies Sterlin in d [...] ­fense of the King; but the work was [Page 203] not done when the Rebells drew near, and began to set their scaling Ladders to the walls.Is besieged, and narrowly es­capes. The Earl of Arran knowing his p [...]rson was prin­cipally aim'd at, (for Lord Fernihurst was lately dead in prison) conveighs himself and one Servant away pri­vately by a bridge, and then the Town-garrison retreat unto the King in the Castle. The Rebells display their banners in his sight; Lord Grey is sent out to demand the reason of their coming;The Rebells answer to L: Grey. receives a meek answer, To kiss the Kings hands. The King expresseth no li­king of their armed love, offers re­stitution of all their goods if they will depart.They capitulate and h [...]ve what they ask of the Ki [...]g. They will have the interest of admission to his presence, and when they have it, capitulate for his Castles and chief holds, which, there being no remedy, are granted, with the delivery up of divers no­ble-men, Earls Montross, Crawford, Rothsay, &c. their pardon signed, and the Treaty for a league with the Queen of England renewed.A league re­newed with England. One Article whereof, had it be [...]n [Page 204] sooner agreed on, had preserved both Kingdoms in better security, & fetter'd the unruly Di [...]cipline to its duty,A considerable Article had it been agreed and kept heretofore. viz That neither Prince should for time to come afford assistance or favour to any Traytor or Rebell, or any that had made a publick defecti­on; nor suffer them to be relieved by others; nor harbour them publickly or privately in their Dominions, &c. And had another been omitted, which,Another about Religion, the ambiguity whereof doth more hurt than good. when before care had been taken for defense of the Christian and Catholick Religion, draws in the rea [...]m of The pure Reformation, which the Catholick Romans inter­preted by the Scotch negative con­fession: and the Catholick Prote­stants by the many. Assembly Acts condemning and branding the sa­cred Episcopal order and jurisdicti­on, as Antichristian, happily the per­sons of both Princes had not been engaged in such after-hazard, nor had such designes been prosecuted for the invasion of their Kingdoms. For this Treaty was no sooner con­cluded, but a most desperate con­spiracy [Page 205] in England broak out, sup­posed to be long since laid by the too zealous consistory at Rome, A Conspiracy in England dis­covered. but took life now, being hastily hatched by some preternatural Scotch Assembly [...] hear in this agreement. The chief actors in it were Father Ballard a Priest of the Semi­nary at Rhemes, Babington a a young ingenious, and learned Gentleman, of a good extraction and Family in Darby-Shire; Many executed for it. Saris­bury of Derbigh-shire; Tichbourne of Hampshire, with ten other Gentle­men of good quality, all which were afterward hanged, and some dis­membred alive in St: Giles's fields, the common place of their meeting. Their designe was to have kill'd Queen Elizabeth; set at liberty the Queen of Scots, and by the help of For [...]eign strength to have altered the face of Religion in both kingdoms. The Q. of Scots though suspected to be private unto all three,The Queen of Scots how far concerned in it. in the ge­neral, yet p [...]ofess'd to her death that she encouraged none but that, which nature suggesting and justify­ing, [Page 206] conduced to the liberty of her injured person, and half restitu [...]ion to [...]er Crown. Her two Secretaries Nave and Curle were brought in by Walsinghams cunning, if not cor­rupted rather by his cost very unna­turally to accuse her;Walsingham and her own Secretaries charge more upon her then she owns. who, as from the beginning, he daily instructed a false Brother with as much hypo­crisie and perjury as could be, to carry on this fatal contrivance: so 'tis not certain whether by him, and other polit [...]ck instruments he had, he discovered or made more of what was desperate in the plot.

Before the Queen of Scots came to her tryal,She is prejudg­ed too soon by persons uncom­mission'd. several judgements pas­sed upon her in private, anticipating the enquiry after better evidence, and the [...]r Soveraigns prerogative in granting pardon at her pleasu [...]e. They whom neither the fury of Disciplinarian zeal, nor any private malignant spirit had possessed,The more pru­dent, yet as loy­al grue milder censures. deli­liberately sounding the shallowness of her guilt, and computing the shortness of her life by her sickness, adjudged her only to a stricter con­finement, [Page 207] and adventu [...]'d to have the possibilities of [...]ischie [...] preven­ted by the p [...]udence of the State. Others who had been lighted to a Religion that made murder and in­nocence consistent, did not care if some wickedness were invented to d [...]spach her quickly any way, so by the Law Leicester as otherwise,Leicester wo [...]l [...] have her poi [...]on'd. so desirous to become voluptuous in revenge, [...]n [...]used his sentence in a cup of ling [...]ing poyson, that he might take at leisure his delight in the preassurance of her death; And wanting an help to discourse at his Feast, invited Walsingham to accom­pany him in judgement, and sent a Presbiterian Divine to prepare his Conscience by a Classica [...]l indul­gence,Walsingham not prevailed with to consent. but he pretends he had refu­sed a less courtesie to Morton, who it may be to ballance the guilt of both Kingdoms, had advised to have her sent into Scotland, Yet d [...]rects the contrivers to a methodical proceeding. and ex­ecuted on the Borde [...]s, yet having compromised his Vote as the major part should determine it, begins to rectifie their method, and puts them [Page 208] upon debate by what Law they should proceed. There were but two cited for their purpose, one of 25 Edward 3. the other 27 Eliz. The latter was concluded the more proper, because in effect confessed to be made upon designe, and so more naturally operative for the end it was intended to. Those of the Iuncto knew what arguments were most prevalent with the Queen to signe a Writ of Delegacy for en­quiry,Queen Eliza­beth yeilds to their perswasi­ons for signing a Writ o [...] De­legacy. wherein a multitude were no­minated, who must not deny to serve up their honours, and sacrifice their conscience in appearance unto their Queens name, but indeed to some more passionate impotency in her Council. Most of these were sent unto Fotheringham Castle, where the Queen of Scots was prisoner to Sir Dru Drurie and Sir Amias Pawlet, She looking upon her Iudges, and their Commission in their papers,The Queen of Scots prudent d [...]meanour re­ward the Dele­gates at Fothe­ringham Castle. thought the sight of their names did antidate her doom; yet made no ex­cept [...]on against their persons, onely stood upon her Majesty as a Queen, [Page 205] and chose a thousand deaths rather than descend to the capacity of a Subject. The late association, and Act of Parliament ensuing upon it, with the neglect had of her in the league, she put out of her way in discourse, with as much scorn as she left charity in the room to forgive the injury she thought done he [...] by them. She thought her cause deser­ved the Theater of the world, and a Diet of Princes fitter than the Sub­jects delegated by any one to decide it: yet a free Parliament her Maje­sty accounted no contemptible arbi­trement, and hoped there her inno­cency should not be pinion'd by a party, but left to the liberty of de­fense. At length the Lord Treasu­rer telling her somewhat harshly,Lord Treasu­r [...]r rigid wit [...] her. That if she would not ye [...]ld her pre­sence before the Delegates, her ab­sence and contum [...]cy should be no barre to them in executing their Commission, she charged him and the rest home enough with this poi­nant answer:Her Majesty answ [...]rs him accordingly. Then sift your Con­sciences, have a care of your Honors, [Page 206] [...]nd God reward you and your Heirs according to the Iustice you administer to me. The next day she sends for some of the Delegates, Submits to a Tryal, but on condition. and putting in caution that her submission might not derogate from the honour of her predecessors, nor prejudice any way her successors in their right, Her Majesty professed that by Sir Christopher Hattons perswasions she was resolved to condescend to Queen Elizabeths desires in a pub­lick justification of her self. In the time of her tryal Iustice Gawdies narration was more particular than the rest,Iustice Gaw­dies too parti­cular n [...]rration. out of which he concluded, That she had conspired with Ballard and the rest of his Complices, approv'd assented, promis'd aid, and pointed out the way to effect their designe Ballard and Babington she protested she knew not;The Queen protests against it. acknowledged that ma­ny indeed unknown to her had of­fer'd su [...]h service as to which she gave no encou [...]agement; and how far they proceeded she neither knew, nor being in prison could hinder. What confessions were made by [Page 207] those who had suffered, she did im­pute to the sense or fear of their tortures; And what her own Secre­taries produced, she i [...]terpreted ra­ther their cunning than malice, to shift off from themselves what they thought would never be questioned in her. Yet their hopes fail'd, or else her charity mistook, for their e­vidence cast her, though but made out of their papers, and such as Nave in an Apology disclaimed.Nave disclaims his p [...]pers. Such as it was they transmitted from Fo [...]he­ringham Castle to Westminster, where a full Parliament voted up to the sense of the principal Delegates, some out of zeal, others for feare,The English Parlia [...]ent passeth sent [...]nce according to the sense of the De­legates. a third sort in rev [...]rence of, and implicite credulity in their state poli­cy, and skill of the Laws; All out of hopes to please Queen Elizabeth, by removing the object of her jea­lousie and emulation Yet the sen­tence passed, the Queens signing keeps at a distance,But Q: Eliz: makes no hast to signe the Bill. having a long p [...]ocession of demurrs and apologies between, and when her hand came to take hold of the Justice, security, [Page 208] necessity, which in this case was tender'd to her in the name of her Subjects, it seemed not to have con­fidence enough to own any Com­mission from her heart. The King of Scots did the part of a Son, to pre­serve his Mother,King Iames endeavours to pre [...]erve his Mother, but [...]ann [...]t. and measur'd not his affection and duty by the length of the league, nor confin'd his endea­vours to the circle of the English Crown he must look for. It is cer­tain there was an unhappy conjun­cture of his Mothers fate with his late surprisal at Sterlin, which made him as unfit to expostulate, as the Assembly Ministers were backward to pray, who disobeyed His Maje­sties commands to recommend the safety of their Queen his Mother in their publick devotions to God.Commands the Ministers to pr [...]y in p [...]blick for her, who de­ny him and her that respect. The Scotch Nobility, that were of the Eldership did as their black Brethren inspir'd them, and made Patrike Grey forget his Message which he had from the King,Pa [...]rike Greys proverb to Qu, E [...]iz. to de­liver in place a proverb made by the Synod, and often inculcate in Queen Elizabeths ears, That a dead [Page 209] Woman could not bite This made her thoughts become somewhat senten­tious,Who is trou­bled in mind a­bout her execu­tion. being often heard to whisper to her self, w^th a sigh, Endure or strike, and then after som [...] respite, Strike, lest thou beest strook. The last it should seem left the imp [...]essi [...]n, and signed the Bill for execution, which com­mitted to Secretary Davison with a mixture of com and re mands, V [...]certain in­structions gi­ven to Davison with the feign­ed Bill. was posted away by one Beale a zealous professor, and effected with more hast then pretended good liking-Davison being call'd into the Starr▪ Chamber for acting according to a right or w [...]o [...]g understanding of Her Maj [...]sties meaning, and fined ten thousand pounds with imprison­ment during the pleasure of the Queen ▪ He is fined and imprisoned for g [...]ing be [...]ond t [...]e meaning of them.

With wh [...]t courage and true Christian resolution that Royal and magnanimous Princess entertained her Death; may be read at large in the Histories of those Times, which I will not go abou [...] to contract, lest I commit Sacriledge on a Saint. The Queen very reso [...]ute and [...]eligious at her death. I shal onely among other circumstances intimate [Page 210] how the Disciplinarian ma­lice pursued her Soul with a sharper edge than the Ax had, that but at two stroaks divide [...] her Head from her body, denying her last Consci­entious request,A Priest de­nied her. to have a Priest of her own Religion to converse with, and her Execution being out of the Assembly jurisdiction, an im­pertinent Deane was procured to spin out a long Prayer as near the prescript of the Discipline as he durst.Fletcher Dean of Peterburgh. In the midst of this Tyranny upon her Soul, she perform'd the office of a Royal Priest unto her self, and having blessed her Friends, and forgiven her enemies, she assum'd Majestick confidence enough to demand Justice in the distribution of her Legacies. All being done Her Majesty intended, Virgin-Iu­stice (if not deflowred by the vio­lence of this act) with a faint bold­ness imploying the Ax which she scarcely had in her power,Iustice blushed when she suf­fered. her scales dropt down, and with shame enough she held her trembling hand before her Eyes.