History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 2 · Body of book two · Letter 1 – Letter 3
The Forme of the Letter given in Parliament.
UNto your Majesty, and unto your Right honorable Lords, Barons, and Burgesses of this present Parl. Humbly means, and sheweth your Majesties faithfull and obedient subjects, That where we are daily molested, slandered, and injured by wicked and ignorant persons, place-holders of the Ministers of the Church, who most untruely cease not to infame us, as hereticks, & under that name they most cruelly have persecuted divers of our brethren; and farther intend to execute their malice against us, unlesse by some godly order their fury and rage be bridled and stayed. And yet in us they are able to prove no crime worthy of punishment, unlesse that to reade the holy Scriptures in our Assemblies, to invocate the Name of God in publike Prayers, with all sobriety to interpret and open the places of Scripture that be read to the further edification of the brethren assembled; and truely, according to Christ Jesus his holy Institution, to minister the Sacraments, be crimes worthy of punishment: other crimes (we say) in us they are not able to convince. And to the premises we are compelled, for that the said Place-holders discharge no part of their duties rightly to us, neither yet to the people subject to us; and therefore, unlesse we should declare our selves altogether unmindfull of our own salvation, we are compelled in very conscience to seek how that we and our brethren may be delivered from the thraldom of Sathan: For now it hath pleased God to open our eyes, and manifestly we see, That without extreme danger of our souls, we may in no wayes communicate with the damnable Idolatry, and intolerable abuses of the Papisticall Church. And therefore most humbly require we of your Majesty, and of your Right Honorable Lords, Barons, and Burgesses assembled in this present Parliament, prudently to weigh, and as it becometh just Judges, to grant these our most just and reasonable Petitions:
First,Protestation. Seeing that the controversie in Religion which hath long continued betwixt the Protestants of Almany, Helvetia, and other Provinces; and the papisticall Church is not yet decided by a lawfull and generall Counsell: And seeing that our consciences are likewise touched with the fear of God, as was theirs in the beginning of their controversie, we most humbly desire, That all such Acts of Parliament as in the time of darknesse gave power to the Church-men to execute their tyrannie against us, by reason that we to them were delated as hereticks, may be suspended and abrogated, till a Generall Councell lawfully assembled, have decided all controversies in Religion. And lest that this mutation should seem to set all men at liberty to live as they list, we secondarily require that it be Enacted by this present Parliament, That the Prelats and their Officers be removed from place of Iudgement, onelyonly granting unto them neverthelesse the place of accusators in the presence of a Temporall Iudge; before whom the Church men accusators shall be bounden to call any by them accused of heresie: To whom also they shall be bounden to deliver an authenticke Copy of all Depositions, Accusations, and Processe laid against any person accused. The Iudge likewise delivering the same to the partie accused, assigning unto him a competent terme to answer to the same, after he hath taken sufficient caution. De judicio sisti.
Thirdly, We require, That all lawfull defences be granted to the person accused; as, If he be able to prove that the witnesses be persons unable by Law to testifie against him, that then their Accusations and Depositions be null, according to justice.
Item, That place be granted to the party accused to explaine and interpret his owne minde and meaning; which confession we require be inserted in publike Acts, and be preferred to the deposition of any witnesse, seeing that none ought to suffer for Religion, that is not found obstinate in his damnable opinion.
Last, We require that our brethren be not condemned for heretickes, unlesse by the manifest Word of God they be convinced to have erred from that faith which the holy Spirit witnesseth to be necesiary to Salvation: And if so they be, we refuse not but that they be punished according to justice; Unlesse by wholesome admonition they can be reduced to a better minde.
These things require we to be considered of by you, who are in the Place of the Eternall God (who is God of Order and Truth) even in such sort, as ye will answer in presence of his Throne judiciall: Requiring further, That favourably you would have respect to the tendernesse of our consciences, and to the trouble which appeareth to follow in this Common-wealth, if the tyranny of the Prelates, and of their adherents be not bridled by God and just Lawes. God move your hearts deeply to consider your owne duties, and our present troubles.
These our Demands did we first present to the Queen Regent, because that we were determined to enterprise nothing without her knowledge, most humbly requiring her favourably to assist us in our just action. She spared not amiable looks, and good words in abundance. But alwayes she kept our Petition close in her pocket. When we required secretly of her Majesty that our Petition should be proposed to the whole Assembly: She answered, That she thought not that expedient; for then would the whole Ecclesiasticall Estate be contrary to her proceedings, which at that time was great: For the Matrimoniall Crowne was asked, and in that Parliament granted. But, said she, how soon order can be taken with these things, which now may be hindred by the Church-men, ye shall know my good minde. And in the meane time whatsoever I can grant unto you, shall gladly be granted. We yet nothing suspecting her falshood, were content to give place for a time to her pleasure and pretended reason. And yet thought we expedient somewhat to protest, before the dissolution of the Parliament: For our Petition was manifestly knowne to the whole Assembly; as also how that for the Queens pleasure we had ceased to pursue the uttermost. Our Protestation was formed in manner following.
The Forme of the Protestation made in the Parliament holden at Edinburgh, Anno 1558.
IT is not unknowne to this Honourable Parliament, what controversie is now lately risen betwixt those that will be called the Prelats and Rulers of the Church, and a great number of us the Nobility and Communalty of the Realme, for the true worshipping of God, for the duty of Ministers, for the right Administration of Christ Jesus holy Sacraments. How that we have complained by our supplication to the Queen Regent, That our consciences are burthened with unprofitable Ceremonies; And that we are compelled to adhere to Idolary: That such as take upon them the Office Ecclesiasticall, discharge no part thereof as becometh true Ministers to do; and finally, That we and our brethren are most injuriously oppressed by their usurped authority. And also we suppose it is a thing sufficiently known, That we were of minde at this present Parliament to seek redresse of such enormities: but considering that the troubles of the time do not suffer such Reformation as we by Gods plain Word do require, we are enforced to delay that which most earnestly we desire: And yet lest that our silence should give occasion to our adversaries to thinke that we repent of our former enterprisers, we cannot cease to protest, for remedy against that most unjust tyranny which we heretofore have most patiently sustained.
And first we protest, That seeing we cannot obtain a just Reformation according to Gods Word, that it be lawfull to us to use our selves in matters of Religion and conscience, as we must answer unto God, unto such time as our adversaries be able to prove themselves the true Ministers of Christs Church, and to purge themselves of such crimes as we have already laid to their charge, offering our selves to prove the same whensoever the sacred Authority please to give us audience.
Secondly we protest, That neither we, nor yet any other of the godly that list to joyn with us in the true Faith which is grounded upon the invincible Word of God, shall incur any danger of life or lands, or any politicall pain, for not observing such Acts as heretofore have passed in favour of our adversaries, neither yet for violating of such Rites as man without Gods Commandment or Word hath commanded.
We thirdly protest, That if any tumult or uprore shall arise amongst the members of this Realme for the diversity of Religion; Let the Papists observe.and if it shall chance that abuses be violently reformed, that the crime thereof be not imputed to us, who most humbly do now seek all to be reformed by an Order. But rather whatsoever inconvenience shall happen to follow for lack of Order taken, Note.that may be imputed to those that do refuse the same.
And last we protest, That these our requests, proceeding from conscience, do tend to none other end, but to the reformation of the abuses in Religion onelyonly: Most humbly beseeching the sacred Authority to take us faithfull and obedient subjects into protection against our adversaries, and to shew unto us such indifferency in our most just Petition, as it becometh Gods Lieutenants to do to those that in his Name do call for defence, against cruell oppressors, and blood-thirsty Tyrants.
This our Protestation publikely read, we desired it to have been inserted in the common Register, but that, by the labor of enemies, was denied unto us. Neverthelesse the Queen Regent said, Me will remember what it protested, and me shall put good order after this to all things that now be in controversie. And thus after she by craft had obtained her purpose, we departed ed, in good hope of her favour, praising God inour hearts, that she was so well inclined towards godlinesse. The good opinion that we had of her sincerity, caused us not onelyonly to spend our goods, and hazard our bodies at her pleasure, but also by our publike Letters written to that excellent servant of God Iohn Calvine we did praise and commend her, for her excellent knowledge in Gods Word,Letters to Iohn Calvine. and good will towards the advancement of his glory; requiring of him, That by his grave counsell, and godly exhortation, he would animate her Majestie constantly to follow that, which godlily she had begun. We did farther sharply rebuke both by word and writing, all such as appeared to suspect in her any venom or hypocrisie, or that were contrary to that opinion which we had conceived of her godly minde. But how far we were deceived in our opinion, and abused by her craft, did suddenly appear: For how soon that all things pertaining to the commodity of France were granted by us, and that Peace was contracted betwixt King Philip and France, and England and us, she began to spue forth, and disclose the latent venom of her double heart. Then began she to frowne, and to look forwardly to all such as she knew did favour the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She commanded her houshold to use all abominations at Easter; and she first her self, to give example to others, did communicate to the Idol in open audience; she controlled her houshold▪ and would know where that every one received ther Sacrament. And it appeared, That after that day that malice took more violent and strong possession in her, then it did before; for from that day forward she appeared altogether altered, insomuch that her countenance and facts did declare the venom of her heart: For incontinent she caused our Preachers to be summoned; for whom when we made intercession, beseeching her Majesty not to molest them in their Ministry, unlesse any man were able to convince them of false Doctrine, she could not bridle her tongue from open blasphemy, but proudly she said,Blasphemy. In despight of you and your Ministers both, they shall be banished out of Scotland, albeit they preached as true as ever did Saint Paul.Note. Which proud and blaspemous answer,She had gotten her lesson from the Cardinall. Forefather to the now Earle of Lowdone, Chancellor. Queen Regents answer. did greatly astonish us: and yet ceased we not most humbly to seek her favour; and by great diligence, at last we obtained that the Summons at that time were delayed: For to her were sent Alexander Earl of Glenclarne, and Sir Hues Campbell of Lowdone Knight, Sheriff of Air, to reason with her, and to crave some performance of her manifold promises; to whom she answered, It becomes not subjects to burthen their Princes with promises, further then it pleased them to keep the same. Both the Noble men faithfully and boldly discharged their duty, and plainly forewarned her of the inconveniences that were to follow: wherewith she somewhat astonied, said she would advise.
In this mean time did the Town of Perth, called Saint Iohnston, embrace the Truth,S. Iohnston embraced the Gospel. which did provoke her to a new fury; in which she willed the Lord Ruthuein Provest of that Towne, so suppresse all such Religion there.Lord Ruthuens answer. To the which when he answered, That he could make their bodies to come to her Majesty, & to prostrate themselves before her, till that she was fully satiate with her blood: but to cause them to do against their conscience, he could not promise. She in fury did answer, That he was too mallapart, to give her such answer, affirming that both he and they should repent it. She solicited M. Iames Haliburntoun Provest of Dundie, to apprehend Paul Methuen, who fearing God, gave secret advertisement to the man to avoid the Town for a time. She sent forth such as she thought most able to perswade at Easter, to cause Montrosse, Dundie, S. Iohnston, and other such places as had received the Gospel, to communicate with the Idoll of the Masse, but they could profit nothing, the hearts of many were bent to follow the Trueth revealed, and did abhorre Superstition and Idolatry. Whereat she more highly commoved, did Summon again all the Preachers to appear at Sterlin, the tenth day of May, in the yeere of our Lord 1559.1559 Which understood by us, we with all humble obedience sought the means how she might be appeased, and our Preachers not molested: but when we could prevaile nothing, it was concluded by the whole brethren,The first assembly at S. Iohnston. That the Gentlemen of every Countrey should accompany their Preachers, to the day and place appointed; Whereto all men were most willing. And for that purpose, the Town of Dundie, the Gentlemen of Angus and Mernes, passed forward with their Preachers to S. Iohnston, without Armour, as peaceable men, minding onelyonly to give confession with their Preachers. And lest that such a multitude should have given feare to the Queene Regent, the Laird of Dun, a zealous, prudent, and godly man, passed before to the Queene, then being at Sterlin, to declare to her, That the cause of their Convocation, was onelyonly to give confession with their Preachers, and to assist them in their just defence.The Laird of Dun, stayed the congregation, and the Preachers. She understanding the fervencie of the people, began to use craft with him, soliciting him to stay the multitude, and the Preachers also, with promise that she would take some better order. He a man most gentle of nature, and most addict to please her in all things not repugnant to God,Note. wrote to those that then were assembled at S. Iohnston, to stay, and not to come forward, shewing what promise and hope he had of the Queens favour. At the reading of his Letters, some did smell the craft and deceit, and perswaded to passe forward, untill that a discharge of the former Summons should be had, alleadging that otherwise their Processe of Rebellion should be executed against the Preachers: And so should not onelyonly they, but also all such as did accompany them, be involved in a like crime. Others did reason, That the Queens promise was not to be suspected, neither yet the Laird of Duns request to be contemned, and so did the whole multitude with their Preachers stay.
In this mean time that the Preachers were summoned, to wit, the second of May 1559. arrived Iohn Knox from France, 1559who lodging two nights onelyonly in Edinburgh, hearing the day appointed to his brethren, repaired to Dundie, where he earnestly required them, That he might be permitted to assist his brethren, and to give confession of his Faith with them, which granted unto him, he departed unto S. Iohnston with them, where he began to exhort, according to the grace of God granted unto him. The Queen perceiving that the Preachers did not appear, began to utter her malice; and notwithstanding any request made to the contrary, gave commandment to put them to the Horne; inhibiting all men, under pain of high Rebellion, to assist, comfort, receive, or maintain them in any sort: which extremity perceived by the said Laird of Dun, he prudently withdrew himselfe (for otherwise by all appearance he had not escaped imprisonment.) For the Master of Maxwell, a man zealous and stout in Gods Cause (as then appeared) under the cloke of another small crime, was that same day committed to ward, because he did boldly affirme, That to the uttermost of his power,Note. he would assist the Preachers and the Congr…gation, notwithstanding any sentence which unjustly was,At this time the Professors of the Gospel were called the Congregation. or should be pronounced against them. The Laird of Dun coming to S. Iohnston, exposed the case even as it was, and did conceal nothing of the Queens craft and falshood: Which understood, the multitude was so inflamed, that neither could the exhortation of the Preachers, nor the commandment of the Magistrate, stay them from destroying the places of Idolatry. The manner whereof was: The Preachers had declared before how odious Idolatry was in Gods presence: What commandment he had given for the destruction of the monuments thereof:The taking down of the F…iers in Saint Iohnston. What Idolatry, and what abomination was in the Masse. It chanced that the next day, which was the eleventh of May, after that the Preachers were exiled, that after the Sermon, which was very vehement against Idolatry, a certaine Priest in contempt would go to the Masse; and to declare his malapart presumption, he would open up a glorious Tabernacle, which stood upon the high Altar: There stood beside, certain godly men, and amongst others, a young boy, who cryed with a bold voice, This is intolerable, Note.that when God by his Word hath plainely condemned Idolatry, we shall stand and see it used in despight. The Priest hereat offended, gave the childe a great blow; who in anger took up a stone, and casting at the Priest, hit the Tabernacle, and brake down an Image: And immediatly, the whole multitude threw stones, and put hands on the said Tabernacle, and on all other Monuments of Idolatry; Which they dispatched before the tenth man in the Town were advertised (for the most part were gone to diner) which noised abroad, the whole multitude assembled, not of the Gentlemen, neither of them that were earnest Professours, but of the rascall multitude, who finding nothing to do in that Church, did run without deliberation to the Gray and Black-Friers, and notwithstanding that they had within them very strong guards kept for their defence, yet were their gates incontinent burst up. The first invasion was upon Idolatry, and thereafter the common people began to seek some spoile. And in very deed the Gray-Friers was a place so well provided, that unlesse honest men had seen the same, we would have feared to have reported what provision they had,The Gray Friers their provision. their sheets, blankets, beds, and coverlets were such, that no Earle in Scotland had better: Their naperie was fine, they were but 8 persons in the Convent, and yet had they 8 puncheons of salt Beef (consider the time of the yeere, the eleventh of May) wine, beere, and ale, beside store of victuals belonging thereto. The like abundance was not in the Black-Friers, and yet there was more then became men professing poverty. The spoile was permitted to the poore: For so had the Preachers before threatned all men, That for covetousnesse sake, none should put their hand to such a Reformation, that no honest man was inriched thereby the value of a groat. Their conscience so moved them, that they suffered those hypocrites to take away what they could, of that which was in their places. The Prior of the Charter-house was permitted to take with him even as much gold and silver as he was able to carry.Note. So were mens consciences beaten with the Word, that they had no respect to their own particular profit,Note. but onelyonly to abolish Idolatry, the places and Monuments thereof, in which they were so busie, and so laborious, that within two dayes these three great places, Monuments of Idolatry, to wit, the Black and Gray Theeves, and Charter-house Monks (a building of wonderous cost and greatnesse) was so destroyed, that the walls onelyonly did remain of all those great edifices. Which reported to the Queen, she was so inraged,A godly vow. That she did vow utterly to destroy S. Iohnston, man, woman, and childe, and to consume the same by fire, and thereafter to salt it, in signe of a perpetuall desolation. We suspecting nothing such cruelty, but thinking that such words might escape her in choler without purpose determined, because she was a woman, set on fire by the complaints of those hypocrites, who flocked unto her as Ravens to a carion. We (we say) suspecting nothing such beastly cruelty, returned to our own houses: leaving in S. Iohnston, Iohn Knox to instruct the people, because they were yong and rude in Christ. But she, set on fire partly by her own malice, partly by commandment of her friends in France, and not a little by bribes, which she and Monsieur Dosell received from the Bishops and the Priests here at home, did continue still in her rage. And first she sent for all the Nobility,The complaint of the Queene Regent. to whom she complained, That we meaned nothing but Rebellion: She did grievously lament the destruction of the Charter-house, because it was a Kings foundation, and there was the tombe of King Iames the first, and by such other perswasions she made the most part of them grant to pursue us. And then incontinent sent she for her French men: For that was, and ever hath been her joy, to see Scottish men dip one with anothers blood. No man was at that time more franke against us then was Duke Hamilton, led by that cruell beast the Bishop of Saint Andrews, and by those that yet abuse him, the Abbot of Kilvinning, and Matthew Hamilton of Milburne, two chiefe enemies to the Duke and to his whole house, but in so far as thereby they may procure their own particular profit. These and such other pestilent Papists ceased not to cast fagots on the fire continually, crying, Forward upon these Hereticks, we shall once rid this Realme of them. The certaintie hereof coming to our knowledge, some of us repaired to the Towne againe, about the two and twentieth day of May, and there did abide for the comfort of our brethren: Where after Invocation of the Name of God, we began to put the Town and our selves in such strength, as we thought might best serve for our just defence.Note. And because we did not utter despaire of the Queens favour, we caused to forme a Letter to her Majestie, as followeth.
To the Queenes Majestie Regent, all humble obedience and dutie premised.
AS heretofore with jeopard of our lives, and yet with willing hearts we have served the authoritie of Scotland, and your Majestie now Regent in this Realme, in service to our bodies dangerous, and painefull, so now with most dolorous mindes we are constrained by unjust tyrannie purposed against us, to declare unto your Majestie, That except this crueltie be stayed by your wisdome, we shall be compelled to take the sword of just defence, Note.against all that shall pursue us for the matter of Religion, and for our conscience sake: which ought not, nor may not be subject to mortall creatures, further then by Gods Word man is able to prove that he hath power to command us. We signifie moreover unto your Majestie, That if by rigour we be compelled to seek the extreame defence, that we will not onelyonly notifie our innocencie and Petition to the King of France, to our Mistresse and to her husband; but also to the Princes and Counsell of every Christian Realme, declaring unto them, That this cruell,Note. unjust, and most tyrannicall murther intended against Townes and multitudes, was, and is the onelyonly cause of our revolt from our accustomed obedience, which in Gods presence we faithfully promise to our Soveraigne Mistresse, to her husband, and unto your Majestie Regent. Provided that our consciences may live in that Peace and Libertie, which Christ Iesus hath purchased to us by his blood, and that we may have his Word truely Preached and holy Sacraments rightly ministred unto us, without which we firmely purpose never to be subject to mortall man:O where is this fervencie now? For better we think to expose our bodies to a thousand deaths, then to hazard our souls to perpetuall damnation, by denying Christ Iesus, and his manifest Veritie, which thing not onelyonly do they who commit open Idolatry, but also all such as seeing their brethren pursued for the cause of Religion,O would God that the Nobility should yet consider. and having sufficient means to comfort and assist them, do neverthelesse withdraw from them their dutifull support. We would not your Majestie should be deceived, by the false perswasions of those cruell beasts the Church-men, who affirme, That your Majestie needeth not greatly to regard the losse of us that professe Christ Iesus in this Realme. If (as God forbid) ye give ear to their pestilent counsell, and so use against us this extremity pretended, it is to be feared, That neither ye, neither yet your posteritie shall at any time after this finde that obedience and faithfull service within this Realme, which as all times you have found in us. We declare our judgements freely, as true and faithfull Subjects. God move your Princely heart favourably to interpret our faithfull meaning: Further advertising your Majestie, That the selfe same thing, together with all things that we have done, or yet intend to do, we will notifie by our Letters to the King of France. Asking of you, in the Name of the eternall God, and as your Majestie tenders the peace and quietnesse of this Realme: That ye invade us not with any violence, till we receive answer from our Mistresse and her husb…nd, and from their advised Counsell there. And thus we commit your Majestie to the protection of the omnipotent. From Saint Johnston, the 22 of May 1559.
Sic subscribitur. Your Majesties obedient Subjects in all things, not repugnant to God. The faithfull congregation of Christ Iesus in Scotland.
To the same purpose we wrote to Monsieur Dosell in French, requiring of him, That by his wisdome he would mitigate the Queenes rage, and the rage of the Priests, otherwise that flame which then began to burn, would so kindle, that when some men would, it could not be slackned. Adding further, That he declared himself no faithfull servant unto his Master the King of France, if for the pleasure of the Priests he would persecute us, and so compell us to take the sword of just defence. In like manner we wrote to Captain Serre la Bourse, and to all other Captains and French Souldiers in generall, admonishing them that their Vocation was not to fight against us naturall Scotish-men, nor yet that they had any such Commandment of their Master: We besought them therefore not to provoke us to enmity against them, and to consider that they had found us favourable, in their most great extremities. We declared farther unto them, That if they entred in hostility and bloody War against us, that the same should remain longer then their owne lives, to wit, even in all posteritie to come, so long as naturall Scotish-men should have power to revenge such cruelty, and most horrible ingratitude. These Letters were caused to be spread abroad in great abundance, to the end that some might come to the knowledge of men. The Queen Regent her Letter was laid upon her Cushion in the Chappel Royall at Sterlin, where she was accustomed to sit at Masse; she looked upon it, and put in the pocket of her Gown: Monsieur d' Osel and the Captains, received theirs, delivered even by their own souldiers (for some amongst them were favourers of the Truth) who after the reading of them, began to pull their own beards, for that was the modest behaviour of Monsieur d' Osell, when truth was told unto him, so that it repugned to his fantasie. These our Letters were suppressed to the utmost of their power, and yet they came to the knowledge of many. But the rage of the Queen and the Priests could not be stayed, but forward they move against us, who then were but a very few and mean number of Gentlemen in S. Iohnston; we perceiving the extremity to approach, did write to all brethren to repair towards us for our relief, to the which we found all men so ready bent, that the Work of God was evidently to be espied: the Tenour whereof followeth. And because that we would omit no diligence to declare our innocency to all men, we formed a Letter to those of the Nobility, who then persecuted us, as after followeth: