History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 5
THE FIFTH BOOK Of the Reformation of the CHURCH Of SCOTLAND.
IN the next MonethMonth, which was Iuly, the Queen went into Athole to the Hunting; and from thence she made her Progresse into Murray, and returned to Fyfe in September. All this while there was appearance of love and tender friendship betwixt the two Queens; For there was many Letters, full of Civility and Complements sent from either of them to the other,There be two Epigrams extant, written by George Buchanan, of a rich Diamond sent from Qu. Mary to Queen Elizabeth. in signe of Amity; besides costly Presents for Tokens. And in the mean time the Earle of Lenox laboured to come home forth of England, and in the monethmonth of October he arrived at Halyrud-house, where he was graciously received by the Queens Majestie; namely, When he had presented the Queen of England her Letters, written in his favour: And because he could not be restored to his Lands without Act of Parliament, therefore there was a Parliament procured to be holden at Edinburgh the 13 day of December: But before the Queen would cause to Proclaim a Parliament, she desired the Earle of Murray, by whose means chiefly the said Earle of Lenox came into Scotland, That there should no word be spoken, or at least concluded, that concerned Religion in the Parliament. But he answered, That he could not promise it. In the mean time, the Hamiltons and the Earle of Lenox were agreed.
At the day appointed, the Parliament was held at Edinburgh, where the said Earle of Lenox was restored, after two and twenty yeers Exile: He was banished, and forfeited by the Hamiltons, when they had the rule. There were some Articles given in by the Church, especially for the abolishing of the Masse universally, and for punishment of vice; but there was little thing granted, save that it was Statute, That scandalous livers should be punished first by prison, and then publikely shewne unto the people with ignominy; but the same was not put in execution. In the end of this monethmonth of December, the generall Assembly of the Church was held at Edinburgh, many things were ordained for setling of the affaires of the Church.
In the end of Ianuary the Queen past to Fyfe, and visiting the Gentlemens houses, was magnificently banquetted every where, so that such superfluity was never seen before within this Realme; which caused the wilde Fowl to be so dear, that Partridges were sold for a crown a piece. At this time was granted by an Act of Parliament, the confirmation of the Fewes of Church Lands, at the desire of divers Lords, whereof the Earle of Murray was chief. During the Queens absence, the Papists of Edinburgh went down to the Chappell to hear Masse; and seeing there was no punishment, they waxed more bold: some of them thinking thereby to please the Queen, upon a certain Sunday in February they made an Evensong of their own, setting two Priests on the one side of the Quire, and one or two on the other side, with Sandy Stevin, Menstrall (Baptizing their children, and making Marriages) who within eight dayes after convinced of Blasphemy, alleadging, That he would give no more credit to the New Testament, then to a Tale of Robin-Hood, except it were confirmed by the Doctors of the Church. The said superstitious Evensong was the occasion of a great slander, for many were offended with it; which being by the Brethren declared to the Lords of the Privy Councell, especially to the Earle of Murray, who lamented the cause to the Queens Majestie, shewing her what inconveniency should come, if such things were suffered unpunished: And after sharp reasoning it was promised, That the like should not be done hereafter: The Queen also alleadged, That they were a great number; and that she could not trouble their conscience.
About the 20 of this monethmonth arrived at Edinburgh, Henry Stewart, Lord Darley; from thence he past to Fyfe: And in the Place of Weemes he was admitted to kisse the Queens hand; whom she liked so well, that she preferred him before all others; As shall hereafter, God willing, be declared. Soon after, in the MonethMonth of March, the Earle Bothwell arrived out of France; whereat the Earle of Murray was highly offended, because of the evil report made to him of the Lord Bothwell; And passing immediately to the Queens Majestie, demanded of her if it was her will, or by her advice, that he was come home; and seeing he was his deadly enemy, either he or the other should leave the Countrey, and therefore desired that he might have Justice. Her answer was, That seeing the Earle Bothwell was a Noble-man, and had done her service, she could not hate him: Neverthelesse she would do nothing that might be prejudiciall to the Earle of Murray, but desired that the matter might be taken away: within few days she caused summon the Earl Bothwell, to answer to the course of Law the 2 of May, for the Conspiracy which the Earl of Arrane had alleadged two yeers before, and for the breaking of the Ward of the Castle. In the mean while there was nothing in the Court, but Banquetting, Balling, and Dancing, and other such pleasures as were meet to provoke the disordered appetite; and all for the entertainment of the Queens Cousin from England, the Lord Darley, to whom she did shew all the expressions imaginable of love and kindenesse.
Within few dayes, the Queen being at Sterlin, order was given to Secretary Lethington to passe to the Queen of England: The chief point of his Message was, to declare to the Queen of England, That the Queen was minded to marry her Cousin the Lord Darley; and the rather, because he was so neer of Blood to both Queens: For by his mother, he was Cousin German to the Queen of Scotland, also of neer kindred, and of the same name by his father: His mother was Cousin German to the Queen of England. Here mark Gods providence; King Iames the fifth having lost his two sons, did declare his resolution to make the Earl of Lenox his Heir of the Crown; but he prevented by sudden death, that designe ceased: Then come the Earle of Lenox from France, with intenion to marry King Iames his Widow; but that failed also: He marries Mary Dowglas, and his son marrieth Mary, King Iames the fifth his daughter: And so the Kings desire is fulfilled, to wit, The Crown continueth in the Name and in the Family. The Queen of England, neverthelesse, shewed her self nothing pleased therewith, but rather declared, That she would in no wise suffer her subjects to make such Contracts or Alliance that might be prejudiciall to her, and for the same purpose sent a Post to the Queen with Letters, wherein she complained greatly of the mind of our Mistris, seeing the great affection she bare to her, intending to declare her Heretrix of her Realm of England, providing onelyonly that she would use her counsell in Marriage; but she could not approve her Marriage with the Lord Darley, although he was their neer Cousin by Birth, since he was below the Rank of the Queen by Condition, being but a private subject. At the same time she wrote to the Earle of Lenox, and to his son, commanding them to repair both into England. Some write, That all this was but counterfeit by the Queen of England; and from her heart she was glad of the Marriage; for by that means the Succession of the Crown of England was secured, the Lord Darley being the right Heir after the Queen of Scotland: and Queen Elizab. was not angry to see her married to one of inferiour Rank, for by that means she thought the Scots Queen would be lesse proud. During this time, there were certain Letters directed to the Brethren of Edinburgh, to Dundie, Fyfe, Angus and Mernes, and other places, from the Brethren of Kyle, and other places in the West Countrey, desiring the professors of the Evangel in all places, to remember what the Eternall God had wrought, and how potently he had abolished all kinde of Idolatry and superstition, and placed his Word in this Realm; so that no man could say otherwise, but it was the Work of God; who also had delivered this Countrey from the bondage and tyranny of strangers: Neverthelesse by our slothfulnesse, we have suffered that Idol the Masse, not onelyonly to be planted again, but to encrease so, that the maintainers thereof are like, by all appearance, to get the upper hand, which would be the occasion of our destruction: And for that the Papists purposed to set up their Idol at Easter following, in all places; which was to be imputed to the slothfulnesse, and want of godly zeal of the Professors: Therefore they admonished the Brethren to strive to avert the evil in time, & not to suffer such wickednesse to continue and encrease, lest that Gods heavie wrath come upon us unawares like a consuming fire. By these Letters many Brethren were animated, and their spirits wakened, minding to provide as God should give them grace: And first of all, by the advice of the most learned in Edinb. there was a Supplication made, and given to the Queens Majestie by the Superintendent of Lowthian, containing in effect. That the Church in generall of the Realme had divers times most humbly craved of her Majesty, That committers of Adultery should be punished according to the Law of God,At this time an Italian, named Davie, entred in great familiarity with the Queen, so that there was nothing done without him. and the Acts of Parliament, neverthelesse they continued in their wickednes; and the Papists of obstinate malice pretended nothing else, but to erect and set up their Idolatry and Superstition; and especially at Easter day following they intended to put the same in practice, which the Brethren and Professors of the Evangel could not suffer; Therefore wished her Majestie to take heed of the matter.
This Supplication the Secretary received of the hands of the Superintendents of Lowthian and Glasgow, and told them, in the Queenes Name, That there should be such provision made, as should serve to their contentment: And for the same purpose, the Queens Majestie writ to all such places as were suspected, especially to the Bishop of Saint Andrewes and Aberdeine (as was said) not to use any Masse; And that they should not do any such thing as was feared by the Protestants, or convene any Councell, and thereto commanded them. Now the Communion was administred in Edinburgh the first day of April, 1565. At which time, because it was neer Easter, the Papists used to meet at their Masse: And as some of the Brethren were diligent to search such things, they having with them one of the Bayliffs, took one Sir Iames Carvet riding hard, as he had now ended the saying of the Masse, and conveyed him, together with the Master of the house, and one or two more of the assistants, to the Tolbuith, and immediately revested him with all his Garments upon him, and so carried him to the Market-Crosse, where they set him on high, binding the Chalice in his hand, and himself fast tyed to the …aid Crosse, where he tarried the space of one hour; During which time, the boyes served him with his Easter egges. The next day following, the said Carvet, with his assistants, were accused and convinced by an Assize, according to the Act of Parliament: And albeit for the same offence he deserved death, yet for all punishment, he was set upon the Market-Crosse for the space of three or four hours, the hang-man standing by, and keeping him, the boyes and others were busie with egges casting; and some Papists there were, that stopped as far as they could: And as the preasse of people encreased about the Crosse, there appeared to have beene some tumult. The Provest, Archibald Dowglas, came with some Halberdiers, and carried the Priest safe againe to the Tolbuith. The Queen being advertised, and having received sinister information that the Priest was dead, suddenly thought to have used and inflicted some extreme punishment, for she thought that all this was done in contempt of her, and of her Religion; and it was affirmed, That the Towne should have beene sacked, and a great number executed to death; she sent to such as she pleased, commanding them to come to her at Edinburgh suddenly with their whole Forces; and in the mean time she sent her Advocate Master Spence of Condie to Edinburgh, to take a sure triall of the matter. The Provest and Councell wrote to the Queen the truth of the matter as it was, desiring her Majestie to take the same in good part, and not to give credit to false reports; and therewith sent to her Majestie the Processe and enrolment of the Court of the Priest Conviet. Thus the Queens Majesty being informed of the truth by her said Advocate, sent againe and stayed the said meeting of men, and sent to the Town a grave Letter, whereof the Copie followeth.