Part 29

"And now, are two of our dear brethren, Patrick Cranston and Andrew Armstrong, summoned to underlie the law, in the town of Edinburgh, the 24th of this instant October, 'for forethought, felony, pretended murder, and for invading the Queen's Majesty's Palace of Holyroodhouse, with unlawful convocation,' etc. This terrible summons is directed against our brethren, because they, with two or three more, passed to the Abbey upon Sunday, the 15th of August, to behold and note what persons repaired to the Mass. They did so, because on the Sunday before (the Queen's Grace being absent) there resorted to that idol a rascal multitude, the Papists having openly the least devilish ceremony,[216] yea, even the conjuring of their accursed water, that ever they had in the time of greatest blindness. Because, I say, our said brethren went, in most quiet manner, to note such abusers, these fearful summonses are directed against them; no doubt, to make preparation upon a few, that a door may be opened to execute cruelty upon a greater multitude. If it so come to pass, God, no doubt, has justly recompensed our former negligence and ingratitude towards Him and His benefits received in our own bosoms.

[216] The papistical ceremony, down to its minutest details (?).

"God gave to us a most notable victory over His and our enemies: He brake their strength, and confounded their counsels: He set us at freedom, and purged this realm, for the most part, of open idolatry; to the end that we, ever mindful of so wondrous a deliverance, should have kept this realm clean from such vile filthiness, and damnable idolatry. But we, alas! preferring the pleasure of flesh and blood to the pleasure and commandment of our God, have suffered that idol, the Mass, to be erected again; and therefore justly does He now suffer us to fall into such danger that to look at an idolater going to his idolatry shall be reputed a crime little inferior to treason. God grant that we fall not further.

"God has, of His mercy, made me one amongst many to travail in setting forward His true religion within this realm, and I, seeing the same in danger of ruin, cannot but of conscience crave of you, my brethren, of all Estates, that have professed the truth, your presence, comfort, and assistance, on the said day, in the town of Edinburgh, even as ye tender the advancement of God's glory, the safety of your brethren, and your own assurance, together with the preservation of the Kirk in these apparent dangers.

"It may be, perchance, that persuasion will be made to the contrary, and that ye may be informed either that your assembly is not necessary, or else that it will offend the upper powers. But my good hope is that neither flattery nor fear shall make you so far to decline from Christ Jesus as that, against your public promise and solemn bond, ye will desert your brethren in so just a cause. Albeit there were no great danger, our assembly cannot be unprofitable; many things require consultation, and this cannot be had, unless the wisest and godliest convene. Thus, doubting nothing of the assistance of our God if we uniformly seek His glory, I cease further to trouble you, committing you heartily to the protection of the Eternal."

[Sidenote: John Knox is betrayed.]

The brethren, advertised by this bill, prepared themselves (as many as were thought expedient for every town and province) to keep the day appointed. But by the means of false brethren, the letter came to the hands of the Queen, in this manner. It was read in the town of Ayr, where was present Robert Cunningham, minister of Failford, who then was reputed an earnest professor of the Evangel. He, by means we know not, got the said letter, and sent it with his token to Master Henry Sinclair, then President of the Seat and College of Justice, and styled Bishop of Ross, a perfect hypocrite, and a conjured enemy of Christ Jesus, whom God afterwards struck according to his deservings. The said Mr. Henry was enemy to all that unfeignedly professed the Lord Jesus, but chiefly to John Knox, for the liberty of his tongue; for he had affirmed, as ever still he doth affirm, that a bishop that receives profit, and feeds not the flock by his own labours, is both a thief and a murderer. The said Mr. Henry, thinking himself happy to have found so good occasion to trouble John Knox, whose life he hated, posted the said letter, with his counsel, to the Queen, who then lay in Stirling.

[Sidenote: John Knox is accused of High Treason.]

The letter being read, it was concluded by the Council of the Cabinet, that is, by the most secret Council, that it imported treason; and the Queen was not a little rejoiced, for she thought to be revenged for once on her great enemy. It was also concluded that the Nobility should be written for, that the condemnation should have the greater authority. The day appointed was about the midst of December; and this was kept by the whole Council, and by divers others, such as the Master of Maxwell, the old Laird of Lethington, and the said President. In the meantime, the Earl of Moray returned from the north, and to him the Secretary Lethington opened the matter as best pleased him.

The Master of Maxwell gave the said John as it had been a discharge of the familiarity which before was great between them, unless he would agree to satisfy the Queen at her own sight.[217]

[217] That is, as she should dictate.

_Knox._ I know no offence done by me to the Queen's Majesty, and therefore I wot not what satisfaction to make.

_Maxwell._ No offence! Have ye not written letters desiring the brethren to convene from all parts to Andrew Armstrong and Patrick Cranston's day?

_Knox._ That I grant, but therein I acknowledge no offence done by me.

_Maxwell._ No offence, to convocate the Queen's lieges?

_Knox._ Not for so just a cause: greater things were reputed no offence within these two years past.

_Maxwell._ The time is now other: then our Sovereign was absent, and now she is present.

_Knox._ It is neither the absence nor the presence of the Queen that rules my conscience, but God speaking plainly in His Word. What was lawful to me last year is yet lawful, because my God is unchangeable.

_Maxwell._ Well, I have given you my counsel, do as ye list; but I think ye shall repent it, if ye bow not to the Queen.

_Knox._ I understand not, Master, what ye mean. I never made myself an adversary to the Queen's Majesty, except in the head of religion, and therein I think ye will not desire me to bow.

_Maxwell._ Well, ye are wise enough; but ye will find that men will not bear with you in times to come, as they have done in times by-past.

_Knox._ If God stand my friend, as I am assured He of His mercy will, so long as I depend upon His promise, and prefer His glory to my life and worldly profit, I little regard how men behave themselves towards me; nor yet know I wherein men have borne with me in times past, unless it be that from my mouth they have heard the Word of God. If, in times to come, they refuse it, my heart will be pierced and for a season will lament; but the incommodity will be their own.

After these words, of which the Laird of Lochinvar was witness, they parted. To this day, the 17th of December, 1571, they have not met in such familiarity as they had formerly.

[Sidenote: The Lord Advocate gives his Opinion.]

The bruit of the accusation of John Knox being divulged, Mr. John Spens of Condie, Lord Advocate, a man of gentle nature, and one that professed the doctrine of the Evangel, came, as it were in secret, to John Knox, to inquire the cause of that great bruit. The said John was plain to him in all things, and showed him the double[218] of the letter. When he had heard and considered this, he said, "I thank my God. I came to you with a fearful and sorrowful heart, fearing that ye had done such a crime as laws might have punished. That would have been no small trouble to the hearts of all who have received the word of life which ye have preached. I depart greatly rejoiced, as well because I perceive your own comfort, even in the midst of your troubles, as that I clearly understand that ye have committed no such crime as ye are burdened with. Ye will be accused, but God will assist you." And so he departed.

[218] Duplicate.

[Sidenote: The Earl of Moray and Secretary Lethington reason with John Knox.]

The Earl of Moray and the Secretary sent for the said John Knox to the Clerk of Register's house, and began to lament that he had so highly offended the Queen's Majesty. That, they feared, would come to a great inconvenience to himself, if he were not wisely foreseen. They showed what pains and travail they had taken to mitigate her anger, but they could find nothing but extremity, unless he himself would confess his offence, and put himself in her Grace's will.

_Knox._ I praise my God, through Jesus Christ, that I have learned not to cry conjuration and treason at everything that the godless multitude does condemn, or yet to fear the things that they fear. I have the testimony of a good conscience that I have given no occasion to the Queen's Majesty to be offended with me; for I have done nothing but my duty. So, whatsoever shall ensue, my good hope is that my God will give me patience to bear it. But far be it from me to confess an offence where my conscience witnesseth there is none.

_Lethington._ How can it be defended? Have ye not made convocation of the Queen's lieges?

_Knox._ If I have not a just defence for my act, let me smart for it.

_Moray._ Let us hear your defences; we would be glad that ye might be found innocent.

_Knox._ Nay, I am informed by divers, and even by you, my Lord Secretary, that I am already condemned, and my cause prejudged. Therefore I might be reputed a fool, if I would make you privy to my defences.

At those words they seemed both offended; and the Secretary departed. But the Earl of Moray remained still, and would have entered into further discourse with the said John concerning the state of the Court. But he answered, "My Lord, I understand more than I would of the affairs of the Court; and therefore it is not needful that your Lordship trouble with the recounting of it. If you stand in good case, I am content; and if you do not, as I fear ye do not already, or else ye shall not do before long, blame not me. Ye have the counsellors whom ye have chosen; my weak judgment both ye and they despised. I can do nothing but behold the end, which I pray God may be other than my troubled heart feareth."

[Sidenote: John Knox is brought before the Queen and Privy Council.]

Within four days, the said John was called before the Queen and Council betwixt six and seven o'clock at night. The season of the year was the midst of December. The bruit rising in the town that John Knox was sent for by the Queen, the brethren of the Kirk followed in such number that the inner close was full, and all the stairs, even to the chamber door where the Queen and Council sat. These had been reasoning amongst themselves before, but had not fully satisfied the Secretary's mind. And so the Queen had retired to her cabinet, and the Lords were talking each one with other, as occasion served. Upon the entrance of John Knox, they were commanded to take their places, and did so, sitting as Councillors, one opposite another.

The Duke of Chatelherault, according to his dignity, began the one side. Upon the other side sat the Earl of Argyll, and in order of precedence followed the Earl of Moray, the Earl of Glencairn, the Earl Marischall, the Lord Ruthven, then the common officers, Pittarrow, then Comptroller, the Justice Clerk, and Mr. John Spens of Condie, Lord Advocate; divers others stood by. Removed from the table sat old Lethington, father to the Secretary, Mr. Henry Sinclair, then Bishop of Ross, and Mr. James M'Gill, Clerk Register.

[Sidenote: The Trial of John Knox for High Treason.]

Things thus put in order, the Queen came forth, and, with no little worldly pomp, was placed in the chair, having two faithful supporters, the Master of Maxwell upon the one tor[219] and Secretary Lethington on the other tor of the chair. There they waited diligently all the time of that accusation, sometimes the one occupying her ear, sometimes the other. Her pomp lacked one principal point, to wit, womanly gravity; for when she saw John Knox standing at the other end of the table bare-headed, she first smiled, and after gave a gawf of laughter. When her placeboes gave their plaudits, affirming, with like countenance, "This is a good beginning," she said: "But wot ye whereat I laugh? Yon man gared me greet,[220] and grat never tear himself: I will see if I can gar him greet." At that word the Secretary whispered her in the ear, and she him again, and with that gave him a letter. After inspecting this, he directed his visage and speech to John Knox.

[219] Arm.

[220] Weep.

_Lethington._ The Queen's Majesty is informed that ye have travailed to raise a tumult of her subjects against her, and for certification thereof, there is presented to her your own letter subscribed in your name. Yet, because her Grace will do nothing without a good advisement, she has convened you before this part of the Nobility, that they may witness betwixt you and her.

_Queen._ Let him acknowledge his own handwriting, and then shall we judge of the contents of the letter.

So the letter was presented from hand to hand to John Knox, who examined it.

_Knox._ I gladly acknowledge this to be my handwriting; and also I remember that I indited a letter to the brethren in sundry quarters, in the month of October, giving signification of such things as displeased me. So good opinion have I of the fidelity of the scribes that they would not willingly adulterate my original, albeit I left divers subscribed blanks with them, I acknowledge both handwriting and ditement.[221]

[221] What is written.

_Lethington._ Ye have done more than I would have done.

_Knox._ Charity is not suspicious.

_Queen._ Well, well, read your own letter, and then answer to such things as shall be demanded of you.

_Knox._ I shall do the best I can.

With loud voice he began to read the letter already quoted. After it was read to the end, it was presented again to Mr. John Spens; for the Queen commanded him to accuse, as he afterwards did, but very gently.

_Queen._ Heard ye ever, my Lords, a more despiteful and treasonable letter?

No man gave answer, and Lethington addressed himself to John Knox.

_Lethington._ Master Knox, are ye not sorry from your heart, and do you not repent that such a letter has passed your pen, and from you is come to the knowledge of others.

_Knox._ My Lord Secretary, before I repent I must be taught of my offence.

_Lethington._ Offence! If there were no more than the convocation of the Queen's lieges, the offence could not be denied.

_Knox._ Remember yourself, my Lord. There is a difference betwixt a lawful convocation, and an unlawful. If I have been guilty in this, I have often offended since I came last to Scotland: for what convocation of the brethren has ever been to this day in which my pen served not? Before this, no man laid it to my charge as a crime.

_Lethington._ Then was then, and now is now. We have no need of such convocations as sometimes we have had.

_Knox._ The time that has been is even now before my eyes; for I see the poor flock in no less danger than it has been at any time before, except that the Devil has gotten a visor upon his face. Before, he came in with his own face, discovered by open tyranny, seeking the destruction of all that refused idolatry: and then, I think ye will confess, the brethren lawfully assembled themselves for defence of their lives. Now the Devil comes under the cloak of justice, to do that which God would not suffer him to do by strength.

_Queen._ What is this? Methinks ye trifle with him. Who gave him authority to make convocation of my lieges? Is not that treason?

_Lord Ruthven._ No, Madam, for he makes convocation of the people to hear prayer and sermon almost daily; and, whatever your Grace or others think thereof, we think it no treason.

_Queen._ Hold your peace, and let him make answer for himself.

_Knox._ Madam, I began to reason with the Secretary, whom I take to be a far better dialectician than your Grace is, that all convocations are not unlawful. And now my Lord Ruthven has given the instance. If your Grace will deny this, I shall address myself to the proof.

_Queen._ I will say nothing against your religion, nor against your convening to your sermons. But what authority have ye to convocate my subjects when ye will, without my commandment?

_Knox._ I have no pleasure to decline from the former purpose. And yet, Madam, to satisfy your Grace's two questions, I answer that at my will I never convened four persons in Scotland; but, upon the instructions of the brethren, I have given divers notifications, and great multitudes have assembled. If your Grace complain that this was done without your Grace's commandment, I answer--So has all that God has blessed within this realm from the beginning of this action. Therefore, Madam, I must be convicted by a just law that I have done against the duty of God's messenger in writing this letter, before either I be sorry, or yet repent for the doing of it, as my Lord Secretary would persuade me. What I have done, I have done at the commandment of the general Kirk of this realm; and, therefore, I think I have done no wrong.

_Queen._ Ye shall not escape so. Is it not treason, my Lords, to accuse a prince of cruelty? I think there be Acts of Parliament against such whisperers.

That was granted by many.

_Knox._ But wherein can I be accused?

_Queen._ Read this part of your own bill, which began, "These fearful summonses are directed against them, to wit the brethren foresaid, to make, no doubt, preparation upon a few, that a door may be opened to execute cruelty upon a greater multitude." Lo, what say ye to that?

Many doubted what the said John should answer.

_Knox._ Is it lawful for me, Madam, to answer for myself? Or shall I be condemned before I be heard?

_Queen._ Say what ye can, for I think ye have enough ado.

_Knox._ I will first, then, desire this of your Grace, Madam, and of this most honourable audience, whether your Grace knows not that the obstinate Papists are deadly enemies to all such as profess the Evangel of Jesus Christ, and that they most earnestly desire the extermination of them, and of the true doctrine that is taught within this realm?

The Queen held her peace; but all the Lords, with common voice, said, "God forbid that either the lives of the faithful, or yet the staying of teaching and preaching, stood in the power of the Papists: just experience has told us what cruelty lies in their hearts."

_Knox._ I must proceed, then, seeing that I perceive that all will grant that it was a barbarous cruelty to destroy such a multitude as profess the Evangel of Jesus Christ within this realm. This, oftener than once or twice, has been attempted by force, as things done of late days do testify. Disappointed by God and His providence, the Papists have invented more crafty and dangerous practices, to wit, to make the prince party, under colour of law: what they could not do by open force, they hope to perform by crafty deceit. For who thinks, my Lords, that the insatiable cruelty of the Papists within this realm shall end in the murdering of these two brethren now unjustly summoned, and more unjustly to be accused? I think no man of judgment can so esteem, but rather the direct contrary; that is, by this few number they intend to prepare a way to bloody enterprises against the whole. Therefore, Madam, cast up when ye list the Acts of your Parliament. I have offended nothing against them. In my letter, I accuse neither your Grace nor your nature of cruelty. But I affirm yet again that the pestilent Papists, who have inflamed your Grace without cause against those poor men at this present, are the sons of the Devil; and therefore must obey the desires of their father, who has been a liar and a murderer from the beginning.

_A Councillor._ Ye forget yourself, ye are not now in the pulpit.

_Knox._ I am in the place where I am demanded of conscience to speak the truth; and therefore I speak. The truth I speak, impugn it whoso list. And hereunto I add, Madam, that honest, gentle, and meek natures by appearance, may, by wicked and corrupt counsellors, be converted and altered to the direct contrary. We have example in Nero, who, in the beginning of his empire, had some natural shame; but, after his flatterers had encouraged him in all impiety, alleging that nothing was either unhonest nor yet unlawful for the personage of him who was emperor above others--when he had drunken of this cup, I say, to what enormities he fell: the histories bear witness. And now, Madam, to speak plainly, Papists and conjured enemies to Jesus Christ have your Grace's ear patent at all times. I assure your Grace they are dangerous counsellors, and that your mother found.

As this was said, Lethington smiled, and spake secretly to the Queen in her ear; what it was, the table heard not. But immediately she addressed her visage, and spake to John Knox.

_Queen._ Well, ye speak fair enough here before my Lords; but the last time I spake with you secretly, ye caused me greet many salt tears, and said to me stubbornly that ye set not by my greeting.

_Knox._ Madam, because now, the second time, your Grace has burdened me with that crime, I must answer, lest for my silence I be holden guilty. If your Grace be ripely remembered, the Laird of Dun, yet living to testify the truth, was present at the time whereof your Grace complains. Your Grace accused me of having irreverently handled you in the pulpit; that I denied. Ye said, What ado had I to speak of your marriage? What was I, that I should mell with such matters? I answered that, as touching nature, I was a worm of this earth, and yet a subject of this commonwealth; but as touching the office wherein it had pleased God to place me, I was a watchman, both over the realm and over the Kirk of God gathered within the same. For that reason, I was bound in conscience to blow the trumpet publicly, oft as ever I saw any upfall,[222] any appearing danger, either to the one or to the other. A certain bruit affirmed that traffic of marriage was betwixt your Grace and the Spanish ally; and as to that I said that if your Nobility and Estates did agree--unless both ye and your husband should be so straitly bound that neither of you might hurt this commonwealth, nor yet the poor Kirk of God within the same--in that case I would pronounce that the consenters were troublers of this commonwealth, and enemies to God, and to His promise[223] planted within it. At these words, I grant, your Grace stormed, and burst forth into an unreasonable weeping. What mitigation the Laird of Dun would have made, I suppose your Grace has not forgotten. While nothing was able to stay your weeping, I was compelled to say, "I take God to record that I never took pleasure to see any creature weep, yea, not my children when my own hands had beaten them, much less can I rejoice to see your Grace make such regret. But, seeing that I have offered your Grace no such occasion, I must rather suffer your Grace to take your own pleasure, before I dare conceal the truth, and so betray both the Kirk of God and my commonwealth." These were the most extreme words that I spoke that day.

[222] Incident; matter cast up.

[223] Evangel.

After the Secretary had conferred with the Queen, he said, "Mr. Knox, ye may return to your house for this night."