History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 2 · Body of book two · Floating text 6
A Proclamation set forth by the Queen Regent, to blinde the vulgar People.
How like to the Procl…mations of our times this is, let the Reader judge.FOrasmuch as We understand that certain seditious persons have of malice invented and blown abroad divers rumours and evill brutes, intending thereby to stir up the hearts of the people, and so to stop all manner of reconciliations betwixt us and our subjects being of the number of the Congregation, and consequently to kindle and nourish a continuall strife and division within this Realme, to the manifest subversion of the whole State thereof; And amongst other purposes, have maliciously devised for that effect, and have perswaded too many, That We have violated the Appointment lately taken, in so far as any more French men since came in, and that we do minde to draw in great Forces of men of War forth of France, to suppresse the Liberty of this Realm, oppresse the inhabitants thereof, and make up strangers with their lands & goods. Which reports are all (God knoweth) most vain, fained, and untrue: For it is of truth, That nothing hath been done on our part since the said Appointment, whereby it may be alleadged that any part thereof contravened; nor yet was at that time any thing commoved or concluded to stop the sending in of French-men, as may clearly appear by inspection of the said Appointment, which the Bearer hereof hath present to shew. Whatsoever number of men of War be arrived, We have such regard to Our honor, and quietnesse of this Realm, that in case in the room of every French-man that is in Scotland, there were an hundred at our command, yet should not for that any jot that is p…omised be broken, or any alteration made by our provocation,Let the Bishop of Amians Letters▪ and Monsieur de la Brosse Letters written to France ▪ witnesse that. but the said Proclamation truely and surely should be observed in every point. If the said Congregation will in like manner faithfully keep their part thereof: Nor yet mean we to trouble any man in the peaceable possession of their goods, & rooms: Nor yet to enrich the Crowne, and far lesse any strangers, with your substance; for Our dearest son and daughter the King and Queen, are by Gods provision placed in the room where all men of judgement may well consider they have no need of any mans goods. And for Our Self, we seeking nothing but dutifull obedience unto them,Confer this with our times. such as good subjects ought to give to their Soveraigne, without diminution of your liberties and priviledges, or alteration of your Laws. Therefore We have thought good to notifie unto you Our good minde foresaid, and desire you not to give ear nor credit to such vain imaginations, whereof, before God, no part entered in our conceit, nor suffer your selves be thereby led from your due obedience, assuring you, ye shall ever finde with Us truth in promise, and a motherly love towards all you,Few dayes after declareth the truth of this. behaving your selves as Our obedient subjects. But of one thing We give you warning, That whereas some Preachers of the Congregation in their publike Sermons speak irreverently and slanderously, as well of Princes in generall, as of Our Selfe in particular, and of the obedience of higher Powers, inducing the people by that part of their Doctrine, to defection from their duty; which pertaineth nothing to Religion, but rather sedition and tumult, things direct quite contrary to Religion. Therefore We desire you to take order in your Towns and bounds, that when the Preachers repair thither, they use themselves more modestly in these behalfs, and in their Preaching not to meddle so much with Civill Policy, and Publike Government, nor yet name Us, or other Princes, but with reverence, otherwise it will not be suffered. And seeing you have presently the Declaration of Our Intention, We desire likewise to know what shall be your part to Us, that We may understand what to trust for at your hands, whereof we desire a plain Declaration in writing with this Bearer, without delay.
At Edinburgh the 28 of August, 1559.
This Proclamation she sent by her Messengers thorow all the Countrey, and had her solicitors in all parts, who painfully travelled to bring men to her opinion; amongst whom these were the principall; Sir Iohn Ballenden, Justice Clerke, Master Iames Balfour, Officiall of Lowthian; Master Thomas and Master William Scots, sons to the Laird of Balwerie; Sir Robert Carnegie, and Master Gaw…n Hammilton, who fo… fainting of the brethrens hearts, and drawing many to the Queens fa…tion against their native Countrey, have declared themselves enemies to God, and Traytors to the Common-weal: But above all others▪ Master Iames Balfour, Official for the time, ought to be abhorred; for he of an old professor, is become a new denier of Christ Jesus, and manifest blasphemer of his eternal Verity, against his knowledge and conscience, seeking to betray his brethren and native Countrey into the hands of a cruell and unfaithfull Nation. The answer to this former Proclamation was made in forme as followeth.