History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 1 · Letter 7 – Preface
Memorandum, This present Writ is to make answer particularly to every Article, directed from my Lord of S. Andrews to me, by Sir David Hamilton, which Articles are in number nine; and heere repeated and answered, as I trust, to his Lordships contentment.
1. THe first Article putteth me in remembrance of the antiquity of the blood of my house, how many Earles, Lords, and Knights hath been thereof; how many Noble-men descended of the same house, how long it continued true to God and the Prince, without spot, in their dayes, in any manner of sort.
Answer, True it is, my Lord, that there is well-long continuance of my house, by Gods providence, and benevolence of our Princes whom we have served,Note. and shall serve truely, next to God. And the like obedience, towards Gods and our Princes remaineth with us yet, or rather better, (praised be the Lords Name) neither know we any spot towards our Princesse, and her due obedience. And if there be offence towards God, he is mercifull to remit our offences. For he will not the death of a sinner. Like as it standeth in his omnipotent power to make up houses, to continue the same to alter them, to make them small or great, or to extinguish them according to his own inscrutable wisdom. For in exalting, depressing, and changing of houses, the laud and praise must be given to that one eternall God, in whose hands the same standeth.
2. The second Article beareth the great affection and love your Lordship beareth towards me and my house, and of the ardent desire ye have of the perpetuall standing thereof in honour and fame with all them that are coming of it.
Answ. Forsooth it is your dutie to wish good unto my house, and unto them that are coming of the same; not onelyonly for the faithfulnesse, amity, and society that hath been between our forefathers; but also for the late conjunction of blood that is between our said house, if it be Gods pleasure that it have successe. Which should give sufficient occasion to your Lordship to wish good to my house and perpetuity, with Gods glory, without which nothing is perpetuall, unto whom be praise and worship for ever and ever. Amen.
3. Thirdly, Your Lordship declareth how displeasant it is to you that I should be seduced by an infamed person of the Law, and by the flattery of a forsworn Apostata, that under pretence of his giving forth, maketh us to understand, That he is a Preacher of the Gospel, and therewith raiseth Schismes and Divisions in the whole Church of God: And by our maintenance and defence would infect this Countrey with Heresie, alleadging that to be Scripture, which these many yeeres past hath been condemned as Heresie by the generall Councells, and whole estate of Christian people.
Answ. The God that created heaven and earth, and all that is therein, preserve me from seducing: for I dread others; many under the colour of godlinesse are seduced, and think that they do God a pleasure, when they persecute one of them that professe his Name. What that man of the Law is, we know not; we hear none of his flattery, his perjured Oath of Apostasie is unknown unto us: But if he have made any unlawfull Oath, contrary to Gods commandment, it were better to violate it, then to observe it. He Preaches nothing to us but the Gospel, if he would do otherwise, we would not beleeve him, nor yet an Angel of heaven: we heare him sowe no Schismes nor Divisions, but such as may stand with Gods Word, which we shall cause him to confesse, in presence of your Lordship and the Clergy, when ye require us thereto. And as to it that hath been condemned by generall Councels, we trust you know well, that all the generall Councels have been at diversity among themselves, and never two of them universally agreeing in all points, in so much as they are of men. But the Spirit of Verity that bears testimony of our Lord Jesus, hath not, neither can erre. For heaven & earth shal perish, ere one jot of it perish. Beyond this, my Lord, neither teacheth he neither will we accept of him, but that which agrees with the Word of God, set forth by the Patriarks, Prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists, left to our salvation in expresse words. And so my Lord, to condemn the Doctrine not examined, is not required: For when your Lordship pleaseth to hear the confession of that mans Faith, the manner of his Doctrine, which agreeth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I will cause him to assist to judgement, and shall be present there at Gods pleasure, that he may render reckoning of his belief, and our Doctrine to the superiour Powers, according to the prescription of that blood of the eternall Testament, sealed by the Immaculate Lambe; To whom with the Father and the holy Spirit, be all honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
4. The fourth Article puts me in remembrance, how dangerous it is, if the Authority would put me to it, and my House, according to comely and common Laws, and our own municipiall Lawes of this Realme, and how it appeareth to the decay of our House.
Answ. All Laws are (or at least should be) subject to Gods Law, which Law should be first placed, and planted in every mans heart, it should have no impediment. Men should not abrogate it, for the defence and setting up of their owne advantage. If it would please Authorities to put at our House,Note diligently. for confessing of Gods Word, or for maintenance of his Law: God is mighty enough in his own Cause, he should be rather obeyed then man. I will serve my Prince, with body, heart, goods, strength, and all that is in my power, except that which is Gods duty, which I will reserve to him alone; that is, To worship him in truth and verity, and as neer as I can to conform to his written Word, to his owne honour, and obedience of my Princesse.
5. The fifth Article puts me in remembrance how woe your Lordship would be, to hear, to see, or know any displeasure that might come to me, my son, or any of my House, and especially in my time and dayes: And as to heare the great and evill brute of me, that should now in my old age in a manner, begin to vary in my Faith, and to be altered therein, when it is time that I should be most sure and firm therein.
Ans. Your Lordships good will is ever made manifest unto me in all your Articles, that you should be sorry to hear, see, or know my displeasure, for the which I am bound to render your Lordship thanks, & shall do the same assuredly. But as for wavering in my Faith, God forbid that I should so do: For I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven & earth; And in Jesus Christ his onelyonly Son our Saviour. My Lord, I vary not in my Faith; but I praise God, that of his goodnesse now in my latter days, hath of his infinite mercy opened his bosome of grace unto me, to acknowledge him the eternall Wisedome, his Son Jesus Christ, my one sufficient Satisfaction, to refuse all Idolatry, Superstition, and Ignorance, wherewith I have been blinded in times past, and now believe that God will be mercifull unto me; for now he hath declared his blessed Will clearly to me, before my departing out of this transitory life.
6. The sixth Atticle declareth, That there are delations of sundry points of Heresie upon that man, Dowglas or Grant, which lies to your charge and conscience to put remedie to; or else that all the pestilentious doctrine he sowes, and all whom he corrupteth with his seed, will be required at your hands, and all whom he draws from your Christian Faith; and if ye should suffer him, that ye will be accused for all them whom he infecteth with Heresie; and therefore to regard your Lordships honour and conscience therein.
Answ. What is his sirname I know not, but he calleth himself Dowglas; for I know neither his father nor his mother: I have heard him teach no Articles of heresie, but that which agreeth with Gods Word. For I would maintain no man in heresie or errour. Your Lordship regards your conscience in the punishment thereof: I pray God that ye do so, and examine well your conscience. He preacheth against Idolatry; I remit to your Lordships conscience, if it be heresie or not. He preacheth against adultery and fornication, I refer that to your Lordships conscience. He preacheth against hypocrisie, I refer that to your Lordships conscience. He preaches against all manner of abuses, and corruption of Christs sincere Religion, I refer that to your Lordships conscience. My Lord, I exhort you, in Christs Name, to weigh all these affairs in your conscience, and consider if it be your duty also, not onelyonly to suffer this, but in like manner to do the same. This is all, my Lord, that I vary in my old age, and in no other thing, but that I knew not these offences to be abominable to God, and now knowing his will by manifestation of his Word, abhor them.
7. The seventh Article desireth me to weigh these matters in most hearty manner, and to take them in best part, for the weale of both our consciences, my house, friends and servants, and put such a man out of my company, for fear of the rumour and brute that should follow thereupon, by reason he is delated of sundry heresies: And that your Lordship would be sorry to hear any of your servants delated or bruted for such a cause, or for holding of any such men; and that your Lordship would understand mine answer hereunto, or any summons passed thereupon.
Answ. I thank your Lordship greatly, that ye are so solicited for the weale of me and of my house, and are so humane, as to give me advertisement, before ye have summoned, of your owne good will and benevolence. I have weighed these matters, as highly as my judgement can serve me, both for your Lordships honour and mine. And when that I have reasoned all that I can do with my self in it; I think it alwayes best to serve God, and obey his manifest Word, and not be obstinate in the contrary,Note. and to give their due obedience to our Princes, Rulers, and Magistrates, and to hear the voice of Gods Prophets, declaring his good promise to them that repent, and threatning to obstinate wicked doers, everlasting destruction. Your Lordship knows well the man, he hath spoken with your Lordship: I thought you content with him, I heare no occasion of offence in him, I cannot well want him, or some Preacher. I cannot put away such a man, without I knew him an offender, as I know not; for I heare nothing of him, but such as your Lordships self heares of him, and such as he yet will professe in your presence, whensoever your Lordship requires. Such a man that is ready to present himself to judgement, should not be expelled without knowledge of the cause; for like as I answered before in another Article, when your Lordship pleaseth, that all the Spirituall and Temporall men of estate in Scotland be assembled, I shall cause him to render an account of his belief and Doctrine in your presences, then if he deserves punishment and correction, let him so suffer; if he be found faithfull, let him live in his faith.
8. The eight Article proposes to me, That your Lordship would take the labour to get me a man to instruct me in your Catholike Faith, and to be my Preacher, for whose Doctrine ye would lay your soul, that he would teach nothing, but truely conform to your faith.
Answ. God Almighty send us many of that sort, that will preach truely, and nothing but a Catholike or Universall Christian Faith; and we Highland rude people have misse of them. And if your Lordship would get and provide me such a man, I should provide him a corporall Living, as to my self, with great thanks unto your Lordship: For truely, I and many more have great misse of such men. And because I am able to sustain more then one of them, I request your Lordship earnestly, to provide me a man as ye wrote; for the harvest is great, but the labourers are few.
9. The last and ninth Article putteth me in remembrance to consider what murmure your Lordship suffers, and great brute, at many mens hands, both Spirituall and Temporall, and at the Queens hand, and other well given people, for not putting order to these affairs; and that your Lordship hath abstained from execution hereof, for love of my House and Posterity, to the effect that my self should remedy it, for fear of the dishonour that might come upon us both for the same: which being remedied, might bring us out of all danger.
Answ. My Lord, I know well what murmure and indignation your Lordship suffers at enemies hands of all estates, for not pursuing of poor simple Christians: And I know, That if your Lordship should use their counsell, who would by blood-shedding and burning of poor men, to make your Lordship serve their wicked appetites; Yet your Lordship knows your owne duty, and should not fear the danger of men, as of him whom ye professe. And verily, my Lord, there is nothing that may be to your Lordships relief in this behalf, but I will use your Lordships counsell therein, and further the same, Gods honour being first provided, and the Truth of his eternall Word having liberty. And to abstain for my love from pursuit, as your Lordship hath signified, I am indebted to your Lordship, as I have written divers times before. But there is one above, for whose fear ye must abstain from blood-shedding, or else, my Lord, knock in your conscience. Last of all, your Lordship please to consider how desirous some are to have sedition amongst friends; how mighty the devill is to sow discord; how that many would desire no better game, but to hunt us at other. I pray your Lordship beguile them, we will agree upon all purposes with Gods pleasure, standing to his glory. There are divers Houses in Scotland neer us, that professe the same God secretly; they desire but that ye begin the bargaine at us; and when it begins at us, God knows the end therof, and who shall bide the next put. My Lord, consider this; make no Preparative of us: Let not the vain exhortation of them that regard little of the weale and strength of both our Houses, stirre up your Lordship as they would, to do against God, your owne conscience, and the weale of your posterity for ever. And therefore now in the end I pray your Lordship weigh these things wisely; and if ye do otherwise, God is God, was, and shall be God, when all is wrought that man can work.
This answer received, the Bishop and his complices found themselves somewhat disappointed; for the Bishops looked for nothing lesse, then for such Answers from the Earle of Argyle; and therefore they made them for their extreme defence, that is, To corrupt, and by buds to stirre up the Queen Regent against us; as in the second Booke we shall more plainly heare. Shortly after that, God called to his mercy the said Earle of Argyle from the miseries of this life; whereof the Bishops were glad; for they thought that their great enemy was taken out of the way, but God disappointed them: For as the said Earle departed most constant in the true Faith of Jesus Christ, with a plain renounciation of all Impiety, Superstition, and Idolatry; so he left it to his Son in his Testament, That he should studie to set forward the publike and true preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,Note the Earl of Argyle his Testament. and to suppresse all Superstition and Idolatry to the uttermost of his power. In which point small fault can be found with him unto this day. 10 Maii, Anno 1568. God be mercifull unto other offences. Amen.
The Blinde, Crooked, Lame, Widows, Orphans, and all other poor, so visited by the hand of God as cannot work:
To all the flock of Friers within this Realme, we wish restitution of wrongs past, and reformation in times coming, for Salvation.
YE your selves are not ignorant (and though ye would be) it is now (thanks be to God) well knowne to the whole world, by his most infallible Word, That the Benignity or Almes of all Christian people pertaineth to us alone; which ye, being whole of bodie, strong, sturdie, and able to work, what under pretence of poverty (and yet neverthelesse possessing most easily all abundance) what through cloked and hidden humility (though your proudnesse is knowne) and what fained holinesse (which now is declared to be Superstition and Idolatry) have these many yeers, expresly against Gods Word, and the practice of his holy Apostles, to our great torment (alas) most falsly stollen from us. And as ye have by your false doctrine and wresting of Gods Word, learned of your father Sathan, induced the whole people, high and low, into a sure hope and belief, That to clothe, feed, and nourish you, is the onelyonly most acceptable Alms allowed before God; and to give a penny, or a piece a bread once in a week is enough for us. Even so ye have perswaded them to build you great Hospitals, and maintain you therein by their force, which onelyonly pertains now to us by all Law, as builded and given to the poore, of whose number ye are not, nor can be reputed, neither by the Law of God, nor yet by no other Law proceeding of Nature, Reason, or Civill Policy. Wherefore seeing our number is so great, so indigent, and so heavily oppressed by your false meanes, that none taketh care of out misery: And that it is better for to provide there our impotent members, which God hath given us, to oppose to you in plain controversie, then to see you hereafter (as ye have done afore) steale from us our houses, and our selves in the meane time to perish and die for want of the same. We have thought good therefore, ere we enter with you in the conflict to warne you, in the Name of the great God, by this publike writing, affixt in your gates where ye now dwell, that ye remove forth of our said Hospitals, betwixt this and the Feast of Whit-sunday next: So that we the only lawfull proprietaries thereof, may enter thereinto, and afterward enjoy the commodities of the Church, which ye have hereunto wrongfully holden from us. Certifying you, if ye faile, we will at the said terme, in whole number (with the help of God, and assistance of his Saints in earth, of whose ready support we doubt not) enter and take possession of our said Patrimony, and eject you utterly forth of the same.
Let him therefore that before hath stollen, steal no more, but rather let him work with his hands, that he may be helpfull to the poore.
From all Cities, Towns, and Villages of Scotland, Ianuary 1. 1558.
The Bishops continued in their Provinciall Councell even unto that day that Iohn Knox arrived in Scotland, and that they might give some shew to the people that they minded Reformation; they dispersed abroad a rumour thereof, and set forth somewhat in Print, which of the people was called, The two-penny Faith. Amongst their acts there was much a do, for Caps, Shaven crowns, Typpets, Long Gowns, and such other trifles.
Item, That none should enjoy Office, or Benefice Ecclesiasticall, except a Priest.
Item, That no Church-man should nourish his owne children, in his own company but that every one should hold the children of others.
That none should put his own son in his own benefice.
That if any were found in open Adulterie, for the first fault he should lose the third of his Benefice, for the second time the halfe, and for the third the whole Benefice.
But here from appealed the Bishop of Murray, and other Prelates, saying, That they would abide at the Canon-Law. And so they might well enough do, so long as they remained Interpreters, Dispensators, Makers, and Disanullars of the Law. But let the same Law have the true interpretation, and just execution, and the Devil shall as soon be proved a true and obedient servant unto God, as any of that sort shall be proved a Bishop, or yet to have any just authority within the Church of Christ Jesus. But we will return to our History.
The persecution was decreed as well by the Queen Regent as by the Prelates.Note. But there rested a point which the Queen Regent and France had not at that time obtained;Here is one Solecisme in State expression, newly invented by the Court Parasites. to wit, That the Crown matrimoniall should be granted to Francis, husband to our Soveraign, and so should France and Scotland be but one kingdome. The Subjects of both the Realmes to have equall libertie, Scottishmen in France, and Frenchmen in Scotland. The glister of the profit that was judged hereof to have ensued to Scottishmen, at the first sight blinded many mens eyes. But a small winde caused that mist suddenly to vanish away: For the greatest Offices and Benefices within the Realme were appointed for the Frenchmen: Monsieur Ruby kept the great Seale; Vielmort was Controller; Melrosse and Kelso should have been a commends to the poore Cardinall of Loraine. The freedomes of Scottish Merchants were restrained in Roane, and they compelled to pay Tole and Taxations others then their ancient Liberties did beare. To bring this head to passe; to wit, to the Matrimoniall Crown, the Queen Regent left no point of the Compasse unsailed with the Bishops and Priests. She practised on this manner; Ye may clearely see that I cannot do what I would within this Realme: for these Hereticks and Confederates of England are so banded together, that they stop all good order. But will ye be favourable unto me in this suit of the Matrimoniall Crowne, to be granted to my daughters husband, Then shall we see how I shall handle these Heretickes and Traitours ere it be long. And in very deed in these her promises she meant no deceit in that behalfe. Unto the Protestants she said; I am not unmindfull how oft ye have solicited me for Reformation in Religion, and gladly would I consent thereunto, but ye see the power and craft of the Bishop of S. Andrews, together with the power of Duke Hamilton, and of Church-men ever to be bent against me in all my proceedings: so that I may do nothing, unlesse the full authority of this Realme be delivered to the King of France, which cannot be, but by donation of the Crowne Matrimoniall, which thing, if ye will bring to passe, then devise ye what ye please in matters of Religion, and they shall be granted. With this Commission and Credit, was Lord Iames, then Prior of S. Andrews, directed to the Earle of Argyle, with moe other promises then we list to rehearse. By such dissimulation to those that were simple and true of heart, inflamed she them to be more fervent in her Petition, then her selfe appeared to be. And so at the Parliament holden at Edinburgh, in the monethmonth of October, in the yeere of God 1558. it was clearely voed, no man reclaiming (except the Duke for his interest) and yet for it there was no better Law produced,Note. except that there was a solemne Masse appointed for that purpose in the Pontificall.To call the Crowne Matrimoniall, is an absurd Solecisme, newly then invented at Court. This head obtained, whereat France and she principally shot, what faith she kept to the Protestants, in this our second Book shall be declared. In the beginning whereof we may more amply rehearse some things, that in this our first are summarily touched.
The end of the first Booke.
The Second Booke OF THE HISTORY OF Things done in SCOTLAND, in the Reformation of Religion: Beginning in the yeere of our Lord God 1558.
OUr purpose was to have made the beginning of our History, from the things that were done, from the yeere of God 1558. till,Note. The Reformation of Religion,And now in these later days it hath pleased God in his goodnesse to grant the pure and Primitive Discipline also unto the Church of Scotland. which of Gods mercy we once possessed, and yet in Doctrine, and in the right use of administration of Sacraments do possesse.
But because divers of the godly (as before is said) earnestly required, That such persons as God raised up in the midst of darkenesse, to oppose themselves to the same, should not be omitted: We obeyed their Request, and have made a short Rehearsall of all such matters as concerne Religion, from the death of that notable Servant of God, Master Patricke Hamilton, unto the aforesaid yeere, when that it pleased God to looke upon us more mercifully then we deserve, and to give unto us greater boldnesse, and better (albeit not without hazard and trouble) successe in all our enterprizes then we looked for, as the true Narration of this second Booke shall witnesse. The PREFACE whereof followeth.
The Preface.
LEst that Sathan by our silence shall take occasion to blaspheme, and to slander us the Protestants of the Realme of Scotland, as that our fact tended rather to Sedition and Rebellion, then to Reformation of Manners, and abuses in Religion, We have thought expedient so truely and briefly as we can, to commit to writing the causes moving us (as we say, and great part of the Nobility and Barons of the Realme) to take the sword of just Defence, against those that most unjustly seek our destruction. And in this our confession we shall faithfully declare, What moved us to put our hands to the Reformation of Religion; How we have proceeded in the same; What we have asked, and what presently we require of the sacred Authority. To the end that our Cause being knowne, as well our enemies as our brethren in all Realmes, may understand how falsly we are accused of tumult and Rebellion, and how unjustly we are persecuted by France, and by their Faction. And also that our brethren naturall Scotish-men, of whatsoever Religion they be, may have occasion to examine themselves, If they can with safe conscience oppose themselves to us, who seek nothing but Christ Iesus his glorious Gospel to be preached, his holy Sacraments to be truely ministred, Superstition, Tyranny, and Idolatry to be suppressed in this Realme, And finally, This our native Countrey to remaine free from the Bondage and Tyranny of Strangers.