Part 18

In the meantime there came assured information, first, that the King of France was hurt, and, afterwards, that he was dead.... This wondrous work of God in his sudden death ought to have daunted the fury of the Queen Regent, and given her admonition that the same God could not long suffer her obstinate malice against His truth to remain unpunished. But her indurate heart could not be moved to repentance; and, hearing of the detention of the printing irons, she raged more outrageously than before.... We answered that we, without usurpation of anything justly pertaining to the Crown of Scotland, had stayed the printing irons because the commonwealth was greatly hurt by the corrupting of our money....

[Sidenote: The Regent again takes up Arms against the Congregation.]

Partly by her craft and policy, and partly by the labours of the Archbishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow, the Queen Regent procured, from the whole number that were with her, consent to pursue us with all cruelty and expedition, before we could again assemble our forces, then dispersed for new equipment. Certain knowledge of this reached us on the Saturday at night, on the twenty-second of July, and we did what in us lay to give notice to our brethren. It was impossible, however, that those of the West, Angus, Mearns, Strathearn, or Fife, in any number, could come to us; for the enemy marched from Dunbar upon the Sunday, and approached within two miles of us before sunrise upon Monday. They verily supposed that they should have found no resistance, being assured that only the Lords and certain gentlemen remained, with their private households.... The most part of the town appeared rather to favour us than the Queen's faction; and offered us the uttermost of their support, a promise that, for the most part, they faithfully kept. The town of Leith made similar promise, but they did not keep the like fidelity; for, when we were upon the field, advancing to their support, when the French were close upon them, they surrendered without further resistance. Their unprovided and sudden defection astonished many; and yet we retired quietly to the side of Craig-end gate, where we took up a defensive position.... Before eight o'clock in the morning, God had given us both courage and a reasonable number wherewith to withstand the fury of the enemy. As many of the town of Edinburgh as had been trained to arms, and divers others besides, behaved themselves both faithfully and stoutly. The gentlemen of Lothian, and especially Calder, Haltoun, and Ormiston, were very helpful....

[Sidenote: Edinburgh Castle supports the Regent: Appointment made at Leith.]

The enemy took such fright that they determined not to invade us where we stood, but planned to approach Edinburgh by the other side of the Water of Leith, and that because they had, unknown to us, secured the support of the Castle. We had supposed the Lord Erskine, Captain of the Castle, either to be our friend, or at least to be neutral. But, when we had determined to fight, he sent word to the Earl of Argyll, to Lord James, his sister's son, and to the other noblemen, that he would declare himself both enemy to them and to the town, and would shoot at both, if they made any resistance to the entrance of the Frenchmen to the town. We could not fight or stop the enemy, but under the mercy of the Castle and whole ordnance thereof. In conclusion, it was found less damage to take an appointment, albeit the conditions were not such as we desired, than to hazard battle betwixt two such enemies. After long talking, certain heads were drawn by us....

At the Links of Leith appointment was made and subscribed on the twenty-fifth of July. We returned to the town of Edinburgh, where we remained until the next day at noon; when, after sermon, dinner, and a proclamation made at the Market Cross, we withdrew from the town....

[Sidenote: The Congregation invoke the Aid of England.]

We came first to Linlithgow, and after that to Stirling, where, after consultation, a bond of defence, for maintenance of religion, and for mutual defence, every one of the other, was subscribed by all that were present.... This bond subscribed, we, foreseeing that the Queen and bishops meant nothing but deceit, thought good to seek support from all Christian Princes against her and her tyranny, in case we should be more sharply pursued. And because England was of the same religion, and lay next to us, it was judged expedient first to approach her rulers. This we did by one or two messengers, as hereafter, in the proper place, shall be declared more fully....

[Sidenote: John Willock braves the Fury of the Regent, and continues to minister to the Kirk in Edinburgh.]

For comfort of the brethren and continuance of the Kirk in Edinburgh, our dear brother John Willock was left there. He, for his faithful labours and bold courage in that battle, deserves immortal praise. When it was found dangerous for John Knox, already elected minister to that Kirk, to continue there, the brethren requested the said John Willock to abide with them, lest, for lack of ministers, idolatry should again be erected. To this he so gladly consented that it was evident that he preferred the comfort of his brethren and the continuance of the Kirk there to his own life. One part of the Frenchmen were appointed to lie in garrison at Leith (that was the first benefit they got for their confederacy with them), the other part were appointed to lie in the Canongate; the Queen and her train abiding in the Abbey. Our brother John Willock, the day after our departure, preached in St. Giles's Kirk, and fervently exhorted the brethren to stand constant in the truth which they had professed.

[Sidenote: The Citizens decline to permit Popish Ceremonies to be renewed in the High Kirk.]

The Duke, and divers others of the Queen's faction, were present at this and some other sermons. This liberty and preaching, with the resort of all people thereto, highly offended the Queen and the other Papists, and they began to give terrors to the Duke; affirming that he would be reputed as one of the Congregation, if he gave his countenance to the sermons. Thereafter they began to require that Mass should be set up again in St. Giles's Kirk, and that the people should be set at liberty to choose what religion they would: for, they affirmed, it had been a condition in the Appointment that the town of Edinburgh should have what religion they cared for. To ascertain this, the Duke, the Earl of Huntly, and the Lord Seton were sent to the Tolbooth, to solicit all men to submit to the Queen's opinion. The two last named did what they could, but the Duke remained a mere beholder, and of him the brethren had good hopes. After many persuasions and threatenings by the said Earl and Lord, the brethren stoutly and valiantly, in the Lord Jesus, gainsaid their most unjust petitions....

The foresaid Earl and Lord Seton, then Provost of Edinburgh, perceiving that they could not prevail in that manner, began to entreat that the citizens would so far submit to the Queen's pleasure as to choose another kirk within the town, or at least be contented that Mass should be said either after or before their sermons. Answer was given that they could not give place to the Devil, who was the chief inventor of the Mass, for the pleasure of any creature. They were in possession of that kirk, and they could not abandon it; nor could they suffer idolatry to be set up there, unless they should be constrained so to do by violence, and, if this were resorted to, they were determined to seek the next remedy.... By God's grace, the citizens continued in faithful service of God until the month of November. They not only convened to the preaching, daily supplications, and administration of baptism; but also the Lord's Table was administered, even in the eyes of the very enemy, to the great comfort of many afflicted consciences.

[Sidenote: The Regent restores the Mass at Holyrood, persecutes the Reformed Clergy, and seeks to embroil the Protestants with the French.]

As God did potently work through His true minister, and in His troubled Kirk, so did not the Devil cease to inflame the malice of the Queen, and of the Papists with her. Shortly after her coming to the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, she caused Mass to be said, first in her own chapel, and after that in the Abbey, where the altars had before been cast down. Her malice extended in like manner to Cambuskenneth; for there she cancelled the stipends of as many of the Canons as had forsaken Papistry. She gave command and inhibition that the Abbot of Lindores should not receive payment of any part of his living in the north, because he had submitted himself to the Congregation, and had made some reformation to his place. By her consent and procurement, the preaching stools in the Kirk of Leith were broken, and idolatry was re-erected there. Her French captains, with their soldiers in great companies, resorted to St. Giles's Kirk in Edinburgh at the time of preaching and prayers, and made their common deambulator[141] therein, with such loud talking that it was impossible to hear the preacher distinctly. Although the minister was oft times compelled to cry out on them, praying to God to rid the people of such locusts, they continued in their wicked purpose. This had been devised and ordered by the Queen, who sought to draw our brethren of Edinburgh into a cummer[142] with the soldiery, so that she might have a colourable occasion for breaking the league with them. Yet, by God's grace, they so behaved themselves that she could find no fault with them. On the other hand, in all these things, and in every one of them, she is worthily counted to have contravened the said Appointment....

[141] Promenade.

[142] Entanglement.

[Sidenote: The Regent receives Reinforcements of Troops from France.]

In the meantime the Queen Regent, knowing assuredly what force was shortly to come to her aid, ceased not, by all means possible, to cloak the incoming of the French, and to inflame the hearts of our countrymen against us.... She used these means to abuse the simplicity of the people, that they should not suddenly espy for what purpose she brought in her new bands of men of war. These, to the number of a thousand men, arrived about the middle of August. The rest were appointed to come after with Monsieur de la Broche and the Bishop of Amiens, who arrived on the nineteenth day of September, as if they had been Ambassadors. What was their negotiation, the result declared, and they themselves could not long conceal; for, both by tongue and pen, they proclaimed that they had been sent for the utter extermination of all that would not profess the papistical religion in all points....

Prudent men foresaw that the Queen intended a complete conquest. But, to the end that the people should not suddenly stir, she would not bring in her full force at once, but by continual traffic purposed to augment her army, so that in the end we should not be able to resist. The greatest part of the nobility and many of the people were so enchanted by her treasonable agents that they could not listen to, or credit, the truth plainly spoken. The French, after the arrival of their new men, began to brag: then began they to divide the lands and lordships according to their own fancies; for one was styled Monsieur d' Ergyle; another, Monsieur le Prior; the third, Monsieur de Ruthven; yea, they were so assured, in their own opinion, to possess whatsoever they list, that some asked for statements of the rentals and revenues of divers men's lands, to the end that they might choose the best....

[Sidenote: A Convention is held at Stirling: 10th September 1559.]

As we have already said, a Convention was appointed to be held at Stirling on the tenth day of September. To this repaired the most part of the Lords of the Congregation, ... and in the meantime came assured word that the Frenchmen had begun to fortify Leith. This action more evidently disclosed the Queen's craft, and so deeply grieved the hearts of the whole nobility that, with one consent, they addressed a letter to the Queen on the subject. This letter was signed by my Lord Duke, the Earls of Arran, Glencairn and Menteith, by the Lords Ruthven, Ochiltree and Boyd, and by divers other barons and gentlemen....

[Sidenote: The Lords of the Congregation agree to take up arms against the French Invasion.]

The Duke and Lords, understanding that the fortification of Leith was still proceeding, directed their whole forces to convene at Stirling on the fifteenth day of October, that from thence they might advance to Edinburgh, for redress of the great enormities committed by the French upon the whole country, which was so oppressed by them that the life of every honest man was bitter to him.[143]...

[143] In framing a historical record of the important events in Scotland in which he took a part, Knox seems to have considered it incumbent upon him to preserve in his chronicle complete copies of the numerous documents and missives concerning the relations of the Reformers among themselves, or embodying the communings of the Reformers with the Queen Regent and with the Sovereign of England. In the present edition, these are omitted, or only quoted in abbreviated form, so far as may be necessary to keep the reader in close touch with the thread of the narrative, and the attitude of the different parties.--ED.

[Sidenote: The Protests of the Congregation are scornfully rejected.]

There came from the Queen Regent, on the twenty-first day of October, Master Robert Forman, Lion King of Arms, who brought unto us the following credit:--

"That she wondered how any durst presume to command her in that realm, which needed not to be conquered by any force, considering that it was already conquered by marriage; that Frenchmen could not justly be called strangers, seeing that they were naturalised; and therefore that she would neither make the town of Leith patent, nor yet send any man away, except as she thought expedient. She accused the Duke of violating his promise; she made long protestation of her love towards the commonwealth of Scotland; and in the end she commanded that, under pain of treason, all assisters to the Duke and to us should depart from the town of Edinburgh."...

[Sidenote: The Congregation convene at Edinburgh; they agree to depose the Regent.]

The whole nobility, barons, and burgesses, then present, were commanded to convene in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, the same twenty-first day of October, for deliberation. The whole cause being exponed there by the Lord Ruthven, the question was proponed, Whether she that so contemptuously refused the most humble request of the born counsellors of the realm, being also but a Regent whose pretences threatened the bondage of the whole commonwealth, ought to be suffered so tyrannously to empire over them? Because this question had not before been disputed in open assembly, it was thought expedient that the judgment of the preachers should be required. These being called and instructed in the case, John Willock spoke as follows, affirming:--

"First. That, albeit magistrates be God's ordinance, having power and authority from Him, their power is not so largely extended, but that it is bounded and limited by God in His Word.

"Secondarily. That, as subjects are commanded to obey their magistrates, so are magistrates commanded to fulfil their duty to the subjects, as God by His Word has prescribed the office of the one and of the other.

"Thirdly. That, albeit God has appointed magistrates to be His Lieutenants on earth, and has honoured them with His own title, calling them gods, He did never so establish any, but that for just causes they might be deprived.

"Fourthly. That, in deposing Princes and those in authority, God did not always use His immediate power; but sometimes He used other means which His wisdom thought good, and justice approved. By Asa He had removed Maachah, his own mother, from the honour and authority which she had brooked;[144] by Jehu He had destroyed Joram and the whole posterity of Ahab; and by divers others He had deposed from authority those whom previously He had established by His own Word.

[144] Soiled.

"The Queen Regent had denied her chief duty to the subjects of this realm, which was to minister justice unto them indifferently, to preserve their liberties from invasion by strangers, and to suffer them to have God's Word freely and openly preached amongst them. Moreover, she was an open and obstinate idolatress, a vehement maintainer of all superstition and idolatry; and, finally, she had utterly despised the counsel and requests of the nobility. Upon these grounds he argued that there was no reason why they, the born counsellors, nobility, and barons of the realm, might not justly deprive her from all regiment and authority amongst them."...

The individual vote of every man being required, and every man commanded to speak what his conscience judged in that matter, as he would answer to God, there was none found amongst the whole number who did not, by his own tongue, consent to her deprivation....

After our Act of Suspension was by sound of trumpet divulged at the Market Cross of Edinburgh, we dismissed the herald with his answer, and on the following day we summoned the town of Leith by the sound of trumpet, requiring, in name of the King and Queen and of the Council then in Edinburgh, that all Scots and French men,[145] of whatsoever estate and degree they should be, to depart from the town of Leith within the space of twelve hours, and "make the same patent to all and sundry our Sovereign Lady's lieges."...

[145] That is, men-at-arms.

[Sidenote: The Siege of Leith is commenced: Traitors hinder the Protestants.]

Defiance given, there was skirmishing, without great slaughter. Preparation of scaills[146] and ladders was made for the assault, which had been agreed upon by common consent of the nobility and barons. The scaills were appointed to be made in St. Giles's Church, and preaching was neglected. This not a little grieved the preachers, and many godly persons.... The Queen had amongst us her assured spies, who did not only signify unto her what was our state, but also what were our counsel, purposes, and devices. Some of our own company were vehemently suspected to be the very betrayers of all our secrets. A boy of the Official of Lothian, Master James Balfour, was caught carrying a writing which disclosed the most secret thing that was devised in the Council; yea, these very things which were thought only to have been known to a very few.

[146] Scaling-ladder.

[Sidenote: Hardships of the Protestant Party: the Soldiers demand their Pay.]

By such domestic enemies not only were our purposes frustrated, but also our determinations were often overthrown and changed. The Duke's friends sought to alarm him, and he was greatly troubled; by his fear many others were troubled. The men of war, for the most part men without God or honesty, made a mutiny, because they lacked a part of their wages.... All these troubles were practised by the Queen, and put into execution by the traitors amongst ourselves.... To pacify the men of war, a collection was devised. But, because some were poor and some were niggardly and avaricious, no sufficient sum could be obtained. It was thought expedient that a cunyie[147] should be erected, so that every nobleman might cunyie his silver to supply the immediate necessity. David Forrest, John Hart, and others who before had charge of the Cunyie-house, promised their faithful labours; but, when the matter came to the very point, the said John Hart and others of his faction stole away, and took with them the necessary tools....

[147] Mint.

[Sidenote: Four thousand Crowns are sent from England, and captured by Lord Bothwell.]

There now remained no hope that any money could be furnished among ourselves; and therefore it was concluded by a few of those whom we judged most secret that inquiry should be directed to Sir Ralph Sadler, and Sir James Crofts, then having charge at Berwick, to ascertain whether they would support us with any reasonable sum in that urgent necessity. And for that purpose the Laird of Ormiston was directed to them in as secret manner as we could devise. But our counsel was disclosed to the Queen, who appointed the Lord Bothwell, as he himself confessed, to await the return of the said Laird. That he did with all diligence; and, being assuredly informed by what way he would come, the said Earl Bothwell foreset his way, and, coming upon him at unawares, did capture him, and the sum of four thousand crowns of the sun, which Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir James Crofts had most lovingly sent for our support.... The Earl of Arran, the Lord James, the Master of Maxwell, with the most part of the horsemen, took sudden purpose to pursue the said Earl of Bothwell, in the hope that they might apprehend him in Crichton or Morham.... But, albeit the departure and counsel of the Earl of Arran and Lord James was very sudden and secret, the Earl Bothwell, then being in Crichton, received information of this, and so escaped with the money....

[Sidenote: The Men of Dundee lose their Guns.]

In the absence of the said Lords and horsemen (we mean the same day that they departed, which was the last of October) the Provost and town of Dundee, together with some soldiers, issued from the town of Edinburgh, and carried with them some great ordnance to shoot at Leith.... The French being notified that our horsemen were absent, and that the whole company were at dinner, made a sortie, and with great expedition came to the place where our ordnance was laid. The town of Dundee, with a few others, resisted for a while, with their ordnance as well as hackbuts; but, being left by our ungodly and feeble soldiers, who fled without stroke offered or given, they were compelled to give back, and so to leave the ordnance to the enemies. These pursued the fugitives to the middle of the Canongate, and to the foot of Leith Wynd. Their cruelty then began to discover itself; for the decrepit, the aged, the women and children, found no greater favour in their fury than did the strong man who made resistance.

[Sidenote: The ill Results of further Treachery.]

It was very apparent that amongst ourselves there was some treason. Upon the first alarm, all men made haste to come to the relief of their brethren, and in very deed we might have saved them, and at least we might have saved the ordnance, and have kept the Canongate from danger; for we were at once marched forward with bold courage. But then a shout was raised amongst ourselves (God will disclose the traitors one day) affirming that the whole French company had entered Leith Wynd at our backs. What clamour and disorder then suddenly arose, we list not to express with multiplication of words. The horsemen and some of those that ought to have maintained order overrode their poor brethren at the entrance of the Nether Bow. The cry of distress arose in the town; the wicked and malignant blasphemed; the feeble (amongst whom was the Justice Clerk, Sir John Bellenden) fled without mercy. With great difficulty could they be kept in at the West Port.... In the meantime, the French retired themselves with our ordnance....

[Sidenote: The Cause of the Protestants is in Eclipse.]