History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 1 · Letter 6
Followes the Credit.
MEmorandum, To Sir David Hamilton, to my Lord Earle of Argyle, in my behalfe, and let him see and heare every Article.
1. Imprimis, To repeat the ancient blood of his house, how long it hath stood, how notable it hath been, and so many Noble-men hath been Earles, Lords and Knights thereof: How long they have reigned in their parts, true and obedient both to God and the Prince, without any spot in their dayes in any manner of sort: And to remember how many notable men are come of his house.
2. Secondly, To shew him the great affection I beare towards him, his blood, house, and friends, and of the ardent desire I have of the perpetuall standing of it in honour and fame, with all them that are come of it: Which is my part, for many and divers causes, as you shall see.
3. Thirdly, To shew, my Lord, how heavy and displeasing it is to me, now to heare, That he who is and hath been so Noble a man, should be seduced and abused, by the flattery of such an infamed person of the Law, and men sworne Apostate, that under the pretence that he giveth himself forth as a Preacher of the Gospel and Veritie, under that colour, setteth forth Schismes and Divisions in the holy Church of God, with Hereticall Propositions, thinking that under his maintenance and defence, to infect this Countrey with Heresie, perswading my said Lord, and others, his children and friends, that all that he speaketh is Scripture, and conform thereunto, albeit that many of his Propositions are many yeers past condemned by generall Councels, and the whole state of Christian people.
4. Fourthly, To shew to my Lord how perillous this is to his Lordship and his house, and decay thereof, in case that authority should be sharp, and should use rigour conform both to Civill and Canon, and also your own Municipall law of this Realm.
5. Fifthly, to shew his Lordship how woe I would be, either to heare, see, or know any displeasure that might come to him, his son, or any of his house or friends, and especially in his own time and dayes. And as how great displeasure I have now to hear great and evil bruites of him that should in his old age, in a manner, vary from his faith, and to be altered therin when the time is that he should be most sure and firme therein.
6. Sixthly, To shew his Lordship that there is delation of that man called Dowglas, or Grant, of sundry Articles of Heresie which lieth to my charge and conscience to put remedie to, or else all the pestilentious Doctrine he sowes, and such like, all that are corrupt by his Doctrine, and all that he draweth from our Faith and Christian Religion, will lie to my charge before God: and I to be accused before God for overseeing of him, if I put not remedy thereto, and correct him for such things he is delated of. And therefore that my Lord consider, and weigh it well, how highly it lieth both to my honour and conscience: for if I favour him, I shall be accused for all them that he infects and corrupts in Heresie.
7. Seventhly, Therefore I pray my Lord, in most hearty maner to take this matter in the best part for his own conscience, honour, and weale of himselfe, house, friends, and servants: and sik like for my part, and for my conscience and honour. Then considering that there are divers Articles of Heresie to be laid to him, that he is dilated of, and that he is presently in my Lords company: That my Lord would by some honest way part with this man, and put him from him, and from his sons company: For I would be right sorry that any being in any of their companies should be called for such causes, or that any of them should be bruited to hold any sik man. And this I would advertise, my Lord, and have his Lordships Answer and Resolution, before any Summons passed upon him.
8. Eighthly, Item, If my Lord would have a man to instruct him truely in the Faith, and Preach to him, I would provide a learned man to him, and I shall answer for his true Doctrine, and shall Pand my soule that he shall teach nothing but truly, according to our Catholike Faith. Of Edinburgh, this last of March 1558.
Sic subscribiter. Saint Andrews.
Moreover, I hope your Lordship will call to good remembrance, and weigh the great and heavie murmure against me, both by the Queene, the Church-men, Spirituall and Temporall estates, and well given people, moaning, crying, and murmuring at me greatly, That I do not my Office: To those such infamous persons with such perversed Doctrine within my Diocesses, and this Realme, by reason of my Legacie and Primacie, which I have the rather sustained and long suffered,Flesh & blood is preferred to God with the Bishop. for the great love that I had to your Lordship and posterity, and your friends and your house: As beleeving surely your Lordships wisedome should not have maintained and medled with such things that might do me dishonour or displeasure, considering that I have bin ready to put good order thereto alwayes, but have modestly abstained, for the love of your Lordship and house aforesaid, that I beare truely; knowing and seeing the great harm, and dishonour, and lack apparantly that might come there through, in case your Lordship remedie not the same hastily, whereby we might both be quiet of all danger, which doubtlesse will come upon us both, if I use not my Office, or that he be called, while that he is now with your Lordship, and under your Lordships protection.
Subscribed againe. Saint Andrews.
By these former Instructions thou mayest perceive (Gentle Reader) what was the care that this Pastour, or rather Impostour, with his Complices took to feed the flock committed to their charge (as they alleadge) and to gain-stand false Teachers: Here is oft mention of conscience, of Heresie, & such other terms that might fray the ignorant, and deceive the simple. But we hear no crime in particular laid to the charge of the accused, and yet is he condemned as a forsworn Apostata. This was my Lords conscience, which he learned of his fathers the Pharisees, old enemies to Christ Jesus, who condemned him before they heard him. But who ruled my Lords conscience, when he took his cousins wife, the Lady Gilton. Consider thou the rest of his perswasions, & thou shalt clearly see, That honour, estimation, love to house and friends, is the best ground that my Lord Bishop hath, why he should persecute Jesus Christ in his members. We thought good to insert the answers of the said Earle, which follow.