Historical COLLECTIONS OF ecclesiastic AFFAIRS IN SCOTLAND And politic related to them, Including the Murder of the Cardinal of St. Andrews, And the Beheading of their Queen Mary in England.  
By Ri. Watson.  Sanguis sanguinem tetigit. Hosea Chap. 4. ver. 2 
By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and commiting adultery they break out, And blood toucheth blood.  
London, Printed by G. D. for John Garfield, and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the rolling-press for Pictures, near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, over against Popes-head-alley. 1657.   

TO The Right Reverend FATHER in GOD, And Religious assertor of Christ's Catholic Church, JOHN LORD Bishop of ROCHESTER.  
My Lord.  
THE certain hazard of all one hath, or is, in these uncertain times, annexed to the nicessity of a strict account, to be rendered in the porch or passage unto eternity, of the managing all affairs and offices, relating either to obligation, or restitution in this world; puts me upon a serious review of mine own concernment, wherein, among many instances of chief regard, I find one of my great engagements unto your Lordship with the impress or character of Holy Orders, into which I received my entrance by the imposition of your sacred hands, unto whom I take myself, in some degree of duty to stand responsible for what I act by that Commission, or write with any reflection upon the Doctrine or Discipline of our Church. The Historical Observations, I here humbly present your Lordship with, are inseparable from that title in respect of both. the Sect of schismatics I describe, having, according to the Tradition I am guided by, in a frenetic fury from the beginning, thrown the price of their estates at their false Apostles fe●t, and they with them cast souls and bodies into the fire of a raging persecution, by impious cruelties when predominant by opprob●ious calumnies when unarmed, and by civil wars, when their plough shares and pruning hooks could at any time be fashioned into swords or axes, for the cutting down not only superfluous innovations in the habit, but the very body and existence of that Apostolic rule and worship to which pattern we pretend. I pursue them but to the period of their first domestic insolences, drenched in the blood of that famous Queen. Whom their best Poet, but one of Her majesty's worst subjects, once thought worth this Distich; 
Quae sortem antevenis meritis, 
G. Buchan Epig. ad Mariam illustriss. Scotorum Regina●  virtutibus annos,  
Sexum animis, morum nobilitate genus.   
What latter attempts they made, when they marched over their borders to reform according to the mysterious model of their new Cove▪ nant, that whereunto their old enormous practices ought rather to have been conformed, is declared and historized by that Royal Pen▪ which hath registered to their eternal infamy their cutting in sunder the common Tie● of nature, 
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. cap. 13.  sovereignty, and bounty; their forgetting special fresh obligations wherewith their active spirits had been gratified, not without some seeming diminution to, or depr●ssion of the donors interest and honour; their inroad with an intent to confirm the Presbyterian copy they had set, by making our Church to write after them, though it were in bloody characters. How infatuated they were in those counsels, how by providence defeated in their most desperate wicked e●ds, the unpitied spectacle of their downfall demonstrates to all the world. Yet my Lord, this is not to raise a trophy out of their miseries, or to trample on their dejected persons. If, by pourtrai●ing the horrid actio●s of their ancestors, I can excite their guilty consciences to compare the copy with the original, and repent effectu●lly for the transcend●ncie of their own rebellions, I shall have great complacency in the assurance that I have outrun, or outwrit my hopes. Howsoever in what proportion I may expect credit to be given unto my care, which was not little, in the Collection, and what resignation by the impartial Reader unto the naked truth of the contents. I shall not doubt but hereby I may, in the same, confirm all pious and humble hearts in the preferring the ancient and univ●rsal successive government of the Christian Church before the new Genevatizing bloody discipline of some heady Scots; and persuade all moderate and quiet minded men to acknowledge one supremacy over both estates, by trusting the same hand with Christ's sceptre here on earth, which himself doth with it and the civil sword. But this endeavour may seem impertinent, if not impudent, in the face or memory of that most Reverend heroic Prelate, 
Archbishop Spotswood.  whose greater eminency in authority, and interest in the same Country hath with much more advantage, particularly and amply satisfied the world by a greater Volume, for the suppressing which so many subtleties and violences had been used, 
At Schidam in Holland.  beside the power of a foreign Magistrate, for a surprisal of the secretary in his preparing it to the press that nothing could be a surer evidence, than such self-confessing guiltiness, against that party, nor ought else, after the Grace and Reverence of the renowned author, put a greater estimate and opinion upon the Book, at least if published as he writ it. May it please your Lordship therefore to believe upon my word (who am invested with the second order to make it valid) that this Treatise was designed long since in a preparatory antecedence unto the other, and to that purpose, with more ingenious confid●nce than worldly prudence, trusted in the same hand which was to print and reap the profit of His Grace's work, from which, after the dilatory pretences of some judgement to be made by a view to be taken of it, or rather after the Printers turn was served in dispersing the greater Copies, it was returned with this sentence, delivered by a person (whose name I had not) of much learning, honour, and integrity, upon perusal of it, That there was too much gall in the ink wherewith it was wrote, and supposed that an enemy was the Collector, for that through the sides of those the design is against, our own Mother is wounded. My Lord, if the name of that severe person, with a particular of his exceptions, had been sent me, I should have endeavoured his satisfaction, or if theirs could have been otherwise effected whom I serve in it, and mine own reputation preserved, who have made implicit reference to this in another Book (a sharp reply to which I am yet to expect) perchance I might have chosen rather to lose my pains, than give such a person scandal or confront his censure, professiing in the words of my learned colleague heretofore, 
‛ Dr. Ier. Tailor's Epist. Ded. before his Further Explic. of the Doctr. of Orig. s●n.  now a most singularly devout and acute Divine, in the case of like question, and appeal unto your Lordship, That I would rather die, than either willingly give occasion or countenance to a schism in the Church of England (I mean that Church of England which conformed herself to the Ancient Latin and Greek Church) and I would suffer much evil before I would displease my dear Brethren (I add such as keep close to their due principles) in the service of Jesus and in the Ministeries of that Church: Wherefore my Lord, if any thing of that nature have passed my Pen, in the vacancy of a Synod. I submit to any Canon of retractation or penance shall be prescribed me by your Reverence, together with that joint primitive Oracle, and most worthy person, who● the Doctor took (and I do by his wary precedent) for the other Pillar of his Sanctuary▪ the Lord Bishop of Sarum, whose countena●ce and favour I some years since was honoured with, more I presume for the integrity of my principles, than any meritorious pregnancy in my parts. But my Lord if some timorous or superstitious Ca●t●le in my Grave censor, would keep me so far from Rome, as to thrust me into the precincts of Geneva, I confess to him and all the world, that upon demonstrative reasons, I am much more afraid in Christianity's behalf of the Leman Lake, than Tiber, and look with more horror on the rebellions sprung, and reprobatory damnation denounced from thence, than on any encroachment upon Kings, or indulgencies unto the people, so prodigally made by, and defused from the Papal See. In fine my Lord, the glosses are not many I have upon points controverted between the Church of Rome and us▪ if those few be so short as to render my sense suspected, I will enlarge them when called upon, to the full state I have made of them deliberately unto myself. For the gall in my ink, I shall say only with your lordship's leave, I know not where more commendably or excusably, I may affect to give it a deeper black, than in the relation of their proceedings, whose souls were as red as scarlet, and the issue of all their enterprises died in blood. I may be no less concerned to anticipate an after c●nsure, incident from persons of another rank I mean such of the Scotch Nobility, or related to them, whose faith and gallantry hath effaced such their ignoble progenitors impeachments in their coats, and yet may conceive their Names and Families purposely tainted by my Pen, where I make a blot in some branch of their pedigree or descent. To whom I profess I searched not their Heraldry for a distinction▪ but as I intended no man injury or disrepute, so I preferred necessary truth to his or their vulgar honour in my design. Which being in that respect a case of Conscience, craves likewise your lordship's cognisance, though as it regards the rule of prudence, I must answer it at my hazard. For the rest, my Lord, till it appear by more than an obscure single suffering that I have infringed the canon of Christian Charity, or deviated from the doctrine and practice of the Ancient Church. I humbly crave your lordship's favourable protection of this essay, and of my name in that communion into the ministry whereof your ordination introduced me, which no new discoveries nor discourses, in foreign parts have obliged my reason to desert, nor doth any self-conviction discourage me in my subscription as that Churches, and My Honoured Lord,  
Caen Aug. 27. 1657. Your lordship's most humbly obedient Son and Servant Ri. Watson.   

Historical Collections.  
IF the sacred Oracles and Records, 
H. Scripture more at large had been the best rule to reform by.  which Christ with his Apostles, Evangelists, Disciples, delivered unto the ears, and deposited in the hands of the Primitive-Church, had been at large in every particular, preserved, and by the same authority successively transmitted, whereby that smalller volume of their writings hath been manifested to our knowledge, and commended to our belief; the errors and abuses in Christianity had been fewer, or refomation whensoever necessary, more regular; such a standing rule giving sudden Evidence against the least obliquities which Schism and heresy could transgress in; and being a Bar against the boldness of those spirits, which, when the letter of Scripture is not (as it never but is in the sense) clear and powerful to confound them, rather multiply than rectify things amiss, upon their pretended privilege of prophecy or revelation. The mystery of God's providence in withholding this succour from his people, 
That we have suffi●ient.  is not so much to be repined at, as his mercy to be magnified in administering the remainder of those helps, which is complete to the support and satisfaction of any moderate inquirer after the general of doctrine, and particulars of discipline, the explication of the former, and enlargement of the latter being ever taken into the power of the catholic-church, 
The supplement from the Catholic Church which is indulgent enough to keep all in a Christian communion.  which in its orginal purity, so studied a visible communion of Saints, that either by express dispensation, or indulgent connivance, many national, provincial, yea, in●eriour corporate or collegiate Congregations, had that latitude of difference, and singularity of profession or practice●, for which any proper 〈◊〉 pretence could be produced before a general Council, or in less matters, before their Patriarch and Bishops, vested with authority to such purpose, as wherein their content and complacency kept all devout well-meaning Christians from Schism and a scandalous separation. Others whose pride, 
God's judgement and hers upon schismatics and Separatists.  ambition, or covetousness, carried them beyond the canon of moderation and peace, were severely censured, cursed, excommunicated, cut off from Christ's body, which like rotten members they might otherwise have corrupted and gangrand, having no readmission or reunion to that holy, sound continuity, without serious and open repentance, humble submission to the high authority of the Church, which if they persisted obstinately to contemn or neglect, the power of truth subdued their doctrines, the storm of God's wrath dispersed their conventicles, the sword of his vengeance executed their persons in some exemplary temporal death, if it pursued them not to eternal damnation.  
How far the visible Church, whether Roman or Greek, 
The defection and division of Churches not here handled.  made at any time a general defection from herself, in a manifest detortion of, or declension and deviation from her own canon, is neither my design nor duty (in reference to my present undertaking) to search, no more than to condemn or vindicate particular Churches in their separate condition. The Sum of what I intend in this my Treatise is, to show how the Scotch-Presbyterian Kirk, 
The Scotch reformation irregular and impious.  which when time was, would have fain been accepted as the pattern of purity, and clearest extraction of Christian Religion, began Reformation upon no deep sense, no deliberate Examen how corruption crept in; nor proceeded according to any other rule than the anomaly of a prejudicate fancy or premeditated malice, which intended rather the destruction of persons, than composition of minds ●o a due temper and sobriety in worship; having no other commission but what was given out by the spirit of disobedience and error; nor the countenance of any precedent beside what might be cited from the unhappy success in the attempts of Rebellion and Schism.  
The first Sect of preparatory Reformers their History pretends to, 
K. James 4▪  were the Lollards of Kyle, who in the reign of King James the fourth, 
The Lollards.  about the year 1494. becoming numerous and troublesome both to Church and State, were accused to the King not only as heretics, 
accused for Rebels.  but Rebels. The chief points or articles insisted on, which I am concerned to observe were these.  
That it is not lawful to fight for the faith, 
Against War,  nor to defend the faith by the sword. Knox (to save the reputation of his own proceedings) adds, if we be not driven to it by necessity, which is above all law. By the former clause the sword is taken out of the King's hand, who must be no military Defender of the Faith: by the latter it is given to the people, whose safety having a supremacy above the law, may frame an arbitrary necessity to rebel. That Christ ordained no Priests to consecrate as they do in the Romish Church, 
Priests consecrating.  these many years. The sense whereof is best interpreted by another. That every faithful man and woman is a Priest. So that every one consequently (even of either Sex) may administer the Sacrament of the Altar, or at least, that no ordination is necessary to endow or qualify him that consecrates. Or lastly, That no particular form of words proceeding from his mouth, have, by Christ's institution, any special efficacy to the transmutation of the common elements into mystical and Sacramental essences, conferring grace upon, or operating it in the worthy receiver.  

tithes.  That tithes ought not to be given to Ecclesiastical men, as they were then called (to them that since are called Classical, I think they are not due) to wit, wholly, saith Knox, but a part to the Poor, Widow, or Orphans, and other pious uses: and good reason surely; for if the widow hath them, these pharisaical hypocrites know whence to fetch them, and under what pretence to devour the houses where they are. As great impiety may be cloaked under the name of pious uses, when the principal must be supposed the advancement of the discipline, toward which if a chargeable rebellion be found necessary, not only the tenth but the whole stock must be piously employed, and the Poor with the Orphan set out of the way.  
That Christ at his coming hath taken away all power from Kings to judge, and That the unction of Kings ceased at the coming of Christ. Of this Knox is ash●med and will therefore needs have the article not to be the Lollards their Ancestors, but the venomous accusation of the enemies, whereas both in his time and ours howsoever disguised, according to this doctrine hath proceeded the whole practice of the Presbytery against their Princes.  

Episcopal benediction.  That the blessings of Bishops are of no value, which passeth only with this charitable animadversion by the same hand (of dumb dogs they should have been styled.)  

Excommunication.  That the excommunication of the Kirk is not to be feared.  
That in no case it is lawful to swear.  
That true Christians receive the body of Jesus Christ every day by faith. 
Sacrament of the L. Supper.  So no need of the Sacrament.  

Divorce.  That after Matrimony be contracted and consummate, the Kirk may make no divorcement.  
That faith should not be given to Miracles; 
Miracles.  so that it should seem Christ was mistaken in his means to propagate the Gospel.  
That we are nomore bound to pray in the Kirk than in other places. 
Praying in Churches.   
That they which are called Princes and Prelates in the Church are thieves and robbers. 
Prelates.   
These men Knox calls the servants of God, 
K. James 5. 1657.  whose merciful providence he magnifies in preserving the register of their tenants, who without public doctrine (he means by the authority of a general Assembly) gave so great light to the Kingdom of Scotland. The importunity used by some of their faction about the King prevailed for their pardon, the rather because some ridiculous apertness in their answers rendered them, 
The King pardoned them,  men not of depth to carry on a design, and this discovery was thought enough to awe them, and the check they had from Court to restrain them; for many years after was little controversy had about Religion, until Patrick Hamilton Abbot of Ferne, a man though devout, yet of an hot and violentspirit, discontented at home, passeth over into Germany, where at Wittenberg meeting with Luther and Melancthon, 
Patrick Hamilton goes for Germany.  as he increased his dislike of the doctrine he left professed in Scotland; so he did his animosity against the persons of Bishops and such as had the government of that Church. The zeal of God's glory (as Knox writeth) did so eat him up, that he could not long continue to remain there, but to ease his stomach he returns into his Country, 
Returns to reform Scotland.  and as if he had been vested with Apostolic Commission, he solicits, disputes, and with too much virulen●y declaimes against the divinity of the times, taking the Reformation both of Pulpit and Schools into his care. The sound hereof comes soon to the ears of the Archbishop of S. Andrews, the particulars were chiefly debated by Cambell a Dominican friar and learned Thomist, with whom he had disputed at large, and being somewhat pleased that he had as he thought, and the other professed, made him his convert, he was▪ beyond expectation, by the same man accused of heresy, 
Is accused by Cambell.  and upon his articles condemned to be burnt, for trifles (as Knox says) viz. Pilgrimage, Purgatory, Prayer to Saints, and for the dead: Yet as great a Martyr as he was, his printed work shows him to have been a more subtle Sophister, than orthodox Divine.  
To omit the great discouragement he gives to Christian endeavours, 
False doctrine in his bo●● abou● t●e law.  by this assertion in terminis, The law bindeth us to do that which is impossible for us, and the cold water he casts upon practic obedience by this, The law doth nothing but command thee, explaining it to be only to inform our knowledge, God not requiring nor expecting performance, putting off that obligation upon Christ: His perverting the sense of many texts in Scripture, from which he draws two ungrounded licentious conclusions, Faith only saveth, Increduli●y only condemneth, 
Faith.  whereby good works are cashired, and a salve is found for all bad ones, the world, the flesh, the devil can suggest to: His bold enlargement of the Apostles assertion, 
justification.  excluding from our justification Charity, which is the work of the gospel, which we act by the benefit of Christ's passion, and by the assistance of his grace, because he exempts the works of the law: His sophistry in an antithetical argument, 
Works.  No works make us righteous, Ergo, No works make us unrighteous, whereas S. Paul saith, That the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of heaven, 
1 Cor. 6.9.  and he declares such unrighteous, as do the works of the flesh. 
Gal. 5.19.  Mism●k●ng works only characters of a good or evil man, and the reward to bear, by consequence, no proportion unto them, which is contrary to the Evangelical doctrine. 
Mat. 16.27.  That God will reward every man according to his works: Beside that through the whole series of his wri●ing, he makes Christianity an idle speculative profession, 
Speculative Christianity.  a mere perspective of the passion of Christ. For all which I impute not to him the guilt of heresy, nor excuse them that executed him as such.  

Some young students and Friars his sect●ries.  The reverence that had been paid him for his strictness of life and ability of parts, according to the learning of that age, was much augmented by a constant resolution at his death, which put the younger students and novices upon a combination for maintaining his tenants, and the breach they made, let out some Friars to rail against the abuses of the Bishops. The patronage of Mr. Gavin Logie and Mr. John Maire added some reputation to these actions, 
Logie.  
Maire.  and a reformation was attempted by some more unworthy instruments upon their credit. The light pulpit discourse of Friar Arithe with his gossips catched some slight people in a jest, 
Friar Arithe.  while other graver men by more serious arguments, multiplied consider●ble proselytes in good earnest, insomuch as the Archbishop of S. Andrews, according to the rigour of his Religion, began to call for more fire and faggots, but was stopped a little by the witty advice of Mr. John Lindsey, who told him, My Lord: If ye will burn them, 
Lindsey's advice to the Archbishop of S. Andrews.  let them be burnt in hollow Cellars, for the smoke of Mr. Patrick Hamilton hath infected as many as it blew upon, some touch of it was thought to have tainted Alexander Seton a black Friar and Conf●ssor to King James the fifth, 
Al. Seton the King's Confessor p●t from him.  who presuming upon the opportunity of his privacy, endeavoured to withdraw the King's affections from the Bishops, and his conscience from some part of his Religion, which by more prevalent counsel of Ecclesiastical persons about the Court, made him be discharged of his office, and his dread of the fire, carried him out of the realm. From Berwick by letter he appeals to the King, whom notwithstanding he accuseth to himself of weakness and ignorance, 
His Letter to the King.  being very invective against the Churchmen who at that time, as well as the Presbyters since, waved in many things their due subjection, and in the name of Christ took upon themselves, the authority of the King. I find no mention of any answer returned, but I do of his progress from thence to London, where at S. Paul's cross he retracted some of the new divinity he had published. 
Hi retraction.  After this for ten years' space these violent oppositions in Religion were interrupted, 
The Reformation interrupted in Scotland.  the civil wars making other disputes and partisans upon temporal principles among the Scots. In which time began a reformation in England, from King Henry the eights differences with the Pope, 
Begins in England.  whether the pillage of abbeys, and demolishing other religious places, easily invited the Scotish labourers, who would always be found at leisure for such work. About the year 1534. began a new Inquisition in Scotland, 
1534.  wherein was eminent the perverse demeanour of one David Straton an ignorant Gentleman, 
Straton denies tithe-fish.  though in the Catalogue of their Martyrs▪ of whom when the Bishop of Murray, Prior of S. Andrews, demanded the customary tithe of his Fish, his answer was, If they would have tithe of that which his servants wan in the se●, it were but reason that they should come and receive it where they got the stock, and so (as it was constantly affirmed) he caused his servants to cast the tenth fish into the sea. 
Is anathematised.  The process of cursing laid against him by the Church being encountered with his contempt was reinforced by a summons to answer for his heresy, to maintain which having hitherto no pretence, but the perverseness of his will, the Laird of Dun Arskin very lately illuminated in the point lends him his lamp to look out some better reason, 
Instructed to maintain his errou● by Dun Arskin.  and because he could not read, bids him harken, which he did with more diligence than devotion, desirous to meet with what might colour the affectation of his errors, to which purpose the Laird of Lawristons' field-lecture conduced luckily, 
Mat. 10.33. Mar. 8 38.  chancing to be rather out of S. Matthew than the Prophet Malachy, where the Pharisaical tithing of Mint and Cummin being taxed might serve his turn to slight all Christian Decimations as publican-extortions, 
Matth. 23.23.  and no weighty matters of the law. Though that was not the text that brought the spirit of prayer upon him, 
Matth. 10.33.  but another on which he might have made a better comment by his repentance than unwieldy resolution; and known, that the denial of tenths is the denial of God in his institution before men, and may perhaps be retaliated before the holy Angels by his son. Sentence of death being passed, he asked grace of the King, 
David Straton executed.  which Knox saith, he willingly would have granted, but the Bishop proudly answered, [no more proudly than the Presbyters more than once since then] That the King's hands were bound in that case, and that he had no grace to give to such as by their law were condemned.  
Notwithstanding the severity exercised upon him and many other, the Reformation (for precedents unto which by this time their Merchants and Mariners had trafficked in foreign parts) makes its way into the cloisters, and by Friar Killors contrivance (which John Knox seems to approve of very well) shows itself upon the stage in a satiric play, 
Fri●r Killors play.  and that on a Good-Friday morning the subject whereof was the passion of our Saviour Christ, most envious parallels being made between the Jewish Priests and the Scotish Bishops. This gave the occasion of a more close search into the friar's opinions, 
He and others burnt.  which being found such as suited not with the present profession and government of the Church, sent him with many other too zealous reforming complices unto the fire. Not long after George Buchanan laid his cockatrice egg, 
G Buchanan encourageth schism and rebellion:  not only of Judaism, which himself hatched in a Lenten meeting at the eating of a Paschal lamb, but of schism and Rebellion, which His Majesty endeavoured to crush upon the first discovery, notwithstanding the trust he had reposed in him of instituting some his natural children. He was by the King's special Order (as they say) committed to prison, 
1539.  whence he made an unhappy escape, 
Escapeth out of prison.  to the ruin almost of that kingdom by his writing.  
All this while the Royal Reformers in England marched furiously, so as King James had no mind to meet them at York, 
K. James de●lines an interview with K. Hen. 8.  nor give King Henry there the interview he desired. This, though imputed to his Clergy, was taken as a discourtesy from himself, which set the English jealousy on fire, and that at last burnt out into a war. King James was not so absolute at home as to cement at pleasure the Scotish intestine divisions, 
A war between them.  where the equality of power did so mi-party his thoughts, that he knew not which side to head, nor had he alwaie● the liberty of his choice. His distrust of both made him enter into secret counsel with his Clergy, by whose advice and assistance he levied on a sudden a v●ry numerous Army, the design whereof was scarcely thought of in England, when it actualy entered upon the borders. But such scruples were scattered by some disaffected persons to the Church and Crown, as made most of the soldiery dispute the justice of the quarrel when they were to handle their arms, 
The Scotch Army defeated.  or without consulting their conscience, leave them in the field. The loss of this Army so troubled the King that he cast off all care to recruit it, 
This discomfiture w●s called Gods fighting agai●st pride for his own little flock.  and measuring the shortness of his days by the extremity of his grief, he becomes too true a prophet of his death Some six days before his Queen was delivered at Linlitquow of a daughter, 
Knox saith God as ev●dently here fought against K. James as K B●nhadad bu●●n his parallel he finds out noth●ng for the detect●on of the Nobles out of distaste at the General chosen by the King The King dies.  whom John Knox, very civ●lly calls, the scourge of that Realm, as her mother, one that brought continuing plagues upon the same, and that h●r whole life declared h●r to be such. No less did his brethren spare the deceased King, but called him murderer, and rejoiced at the taking away of such an enemy to God's truth.  

1542. Q Mary  In the Kings last will were four Protectors o●Regents of the kingdom appointed; the Cardinal of S. A●drews, 
A Protector or R●gen●s by the King's will.  the Earls of Huntley, Arguyle and Murray, but these were men, especially while in the Cardinal's company, very unlikely to promote the new Religion, or the more unjustifiable ends of the pretended Reformers of the Church. The young Earl of Arran was found a fitter subject to work on, 
They are rejected by the Reformers and the Earl of Arran declared governor.  the facility of his nature rendering him very flexible to their desires, and the narrowness of his judgement admitting, in no latitude, an ability to counterplot at any time their designs, or a discovery of their purposes, but what they laid directly in his sight. His pretence of the second place in succession to the Crown gave him colour, and the Lord Grange furnished him with courage, to claim the government during the minority of the Queen; which that faction of the Nobility soon bestowed upon him, who had more will to rule with him, than reason to suppose that in his hands lay the best security for her person. Yet to enable him for that, or some other more secret ends, were presently delivered up to him the King's Treasure, Jewe●ls, Plate, Horse, 
The King's treasur●, &c. delivered to him.  &c. which notwithstanding they scarcely give him liberty to look on, before they set him to study controversies in Religion, and tutor him as well in the polemic divinity, as politics of that party. 

They set him to study controversies.  
show him the bloody Sc●ol●, and instruct him by it.   And to point the bluntness of his nature by some new animosity of spirit, they show him his own name, among others, in a private Schedule of the K. being a memorial of such as of whose disaffection to his person, government religion, good notice being taken, as good care might be had to prevent the ●ll effects of that humour, which they suggested to be a destination of them unto ruin. This was called the bloody Scroll, and the discovery of it, a great deliverance of Gods, which some godly men, as they termed themselves (that is, such as whose guilt made them conscious how much concerned they were in it) fearing the execution of their ends and intents thereof, being left to the Cardinal as a Legacy by the King, pressed the governor to ●ake notice of, to betake himself for what pu●pose God had exalted him to that honour, and how great expectation was had of him. The principal of their meaning, being to depose the Cardinal for their own security, he understood not, and therefore they put upon him one Guilliame a lapsed Friar, 
Friar Guilliame a pointed to preach down Superstition.  with some others to be privileged in the preaching down Superstition, a word of as great extent in those times as since, from which was taken as much advantage for a licentious and violent Reformation. But the friar's arguments being more powerful to draw the people into sedition, than the Bishops to a dispute: 
A Ballad made against his doctrine by Witsow servant to the Bishop of Dunkell.  one of their servants thought to rhyme down the ridiculous part of the practice in a ballad, for which he had like to have lost his life, as the Cardinal his liberty, who for some time was their prisoner in Dalkeith and Seaton; 
The Cardinal of S. Andrews imprisoned.  but this project being advanced, and another passed the vote in Parliament about a marriage between Prince Edward of England and their Queen, whether by command or connivance of the governor, or intercession of the Queen Mother, to which they add the bribing of his keeper the L●rd Seaton, and Lethington, he was soon after set free. 
Set free.   
About this time they obtained with some difficulty the use of the Bible in the vulgar tongue, 
The Bible in the vulg●r tongue.  not to lea●n out of it the duty of obedience to the supreme Magistrate, 
The ill use made of it.  not to study the sincere doctrine and sense of the holy word; but to have the same advantage with the heretics of old, to wrest the authority of sacred writ out of the hands of the Catholic Church, and to serve their purposes at any time, rend the letter from the meaning of the holy Spirit. For this they cited the pattern of primitive Christians, whom they never meant to imitate, and the authority of some Fathers, who countenanced that indulgence to humble holy men; 
— qui estis? quando, & unce venistis? quid in meo agitis non mei?— mea est possessio, ol●m possid●o prior possi●eo........ Ego sum haeres Apostolorum.... Vos certe exhaeredaverunt semper & as dicaverunt ut extraneos ut inimicos. De Praescr. c. 37.  but in canvasing the question, I find not them calling upon Tertullian, who spoke his mind too freely, adjudging them for heretics, who came short of them in pertinacy and error, and excluded all that were so from any benefit of the Bible in their oppositions unto the Church. The first good use they made of it was the garnishing their libels and rebellious Pamphlets; and the first fruits of the new amity between England and them, was the l●berty of getting thence in great numbers, the most angry Treatises penned in favour of King Henry's fury against the Church.  
The contract of Marriage was made solemnly in the Abbey of Hallirud-house, 
The contract of Marriage between Prince Edward of England and Q Mary celebrated.  to the confirmation of which, howsoever the governor was prevailed with to have Christ's sacred body b●oken between him and Mr. Sadler the ambassador from England; yet the Queen and Cardinal and what they call the faction of France, which was the principal nobility, are confessed to have no consent in it, upon which the Commissioners were afterward questioned for their proceedings, 
The commissioners questioned for it.  but being maintained by the great politic Patriot, the pretended Parliament, it mattered not what the Holy spiritual father, or natural mother had to say against them, the young Queen must be disposed of as they thought fittest, and the great Seals of both kingdoms, for a second ratification, interchanged.  
But soon after came out of France I. Hamilton, the Abbot of Paisly, and Mr. David Painter afterward Bishop of Rosse, 
The Abbot of Paisly and Mr. D. Painter come from France with advice to the governor.  men formerly cried up by the Reformers for their learning, life, religion; and expected by them to become pillars of the new Temple they were building; but their private instructions directed them to the Court, with new advice to the governor, to consider whither his petty Counsellors were carrying him; what the consequences might be of the alterations in religion; what commodity in continuing the ancient League with France; and what hazard of his own ●ightful succession to the crown under the displeasure of the Pope, who legitimated his birth by favouring the marriage of his mother after the divorcement of his father from Elizabeth Hume then alive, although he might have had security, as to the last, from the Reformers, who acknowledged afterward they would with their whole force have fortified him in the place that God had given unto him, and would never have called in Question things done in time of darkness. So it seems they can digest the Pope's dispensations when they serve their turn. The abbot's counsel being observed to make impression in the Governor, 
The Courtiers conf●ont the Reformers.  some of the Courtiers took courage to confront his zealous party, and one let fly a desperate speech. That neither He nor his friends could ever be at quietness, till a dozen of those Knaves, that abused his Grace were hanged. Some of them about him that had deserved it, disliked the liberty taken to speak so much truth, and secretly withdrew themselves. Friar Guilliame being inhibited his licentious preaching, 
Fr. Guilliame forbid to preach He and others banished.  went for Engand, others had their dismission, and the Lord governor betook himself unto the Cardinal, & Lords better affected unto the Q. This was called renouncing the profession of Christ Jesus holy gospel, as if the Christian Creed were then confined to the Cabinet, as since to the Consistory. But this impetuous calumny forced not through his resolution, 
The Governor less resolved than formerly.  nor did his rash oath, lately taken to the English ambassador oblige him to withstand the counsel of breaking the imperfect League, the only difficulty was how to raise money for preparations requisite to a defensive war▪ 
Prepares for war with England.  which they must now expect from King Henry of England, whose will in wooing, though for his son, must not be checked without ●evenge. Toward this the Clergy, upon the motion of the Cardinal, who made it a case of conscience in the vindication of Religion, raised great contribution,, and an opportunity of breaking the league offered itself, when the hostages for the observance of conditions were to be delivered, 
An opportunity to break the Le●gue.  the denial of whom was seconded with the stay in Scotland of some noble personages late prisoners in England, who had their liberty but on parole or bail, none returning to custody but the Earl of Cassils, 
Earl of Cassils kept parrole.  who stood more upon his honour, & word passed unto King Henry, than his duty to serve his Queen and Country, for which singular instance of adhering unto his promise, and for the hopes King Henry had that being gratified with his liberty, he might gain him to some future service, he commended his fidelity, rewarded him and sent him home; but being deceived in the rest, and by the governor in the contract, he seized upon all the Scotish Ships with●n his ports, 
The Scotch ships seized on in England. A w●r proclaimed.  and proclaimed a war, yet made no haste to it that Summe●, but used the prudence and industry of his ambassador before he recalled him, and afterward of the party he had in Scotland, to regain the governor's faith in the performance of his word. In the mean time comes from France the young Earl of Lenox, 
Earl of Lenox comes from France.  who setting aside the advantage the governor had by the Popes cherishing the divorce, was reputed to have a near●r relation unto the Crown, 
His pretences against the governor.  and so far said to be justified in his pretences by the deceased King, as that he had intended to declare him succ●ssor in default of heirs. Much contrivance is charged on the Queen Dowager and the Cardinal in and after the Earls coming over, somewhat whereof may be not improbable, to keep the governor more firm to them, to the title of whose estate, as well as honour, the Earl was rival, and ready to step into all, if the importunity of that par●y he first headed had ●ecovered him from the Court, which prevailing not, the Earl thereby frustrate of his hopes, and the amorous addresses he made to the Queen Dowager not so entertained as to correspond with his ambition of a Royal marriage, 
His address to the Q. Dowager.  he takes livery and s●isin of what was left him, the forlorn party of Reformers, joining his with their counsels and discontents. 
His heading with the Reformers.  His interest added somewhat to the number they got together out of anger against the Cardinal, and now revenge against the governor, whom they took to be a creature of their own making, and thought he would have continued to acknowledge their sovereignty while he did wear the badge of honour they bestowed upon him. Those who on other reasons, were of a faction for England came in to them. Having modelled their Army, they send a challenge to the Cardinal at Edinburgh, 
They challenge the Cardinal.  undertaking to give him, and whatsoever forces would come out against them, battle between that and Leith. This the Cardinal seemed not to decline, yet prudently judging the medley of those bravadoes could not be kept long together, and that he might have a greater necessity ere long to use a better Army against the English than he had yet in readiness; put the appointment off from day to day, whereupon the more impatient part deserted them, and some other by good conference received good s●tisfaction; to that their General the young Earl became jealous of the remainder, 
The Earl leaves them and resigns himself.  and thought it better policy to resign himself, and pass over voluntarily, than to stay till he were fetched by his enemies, or delivered up by his despairing friends. Thus persuaded, he goes to Edinburgh, where he was entertained with a lit●le more cu●tesie in the City than he would have been in the field; yet he liked not the compliment so well as to trust to it, but by the advice of some friends, withdrew in the night to Glascow, 
Yet withdraws again and garrisons.  and from thence having garrisoned the Bishop's Palace, to Dunbarton Some offers were made of an accommodation between the governor and the Earl, but the jealousies on both sides were such as could not be concentred in a point of mutual satisfaction, and so multiplied into counter designs and perturbations of public p●ace. This civil discord hastened King Henry's preparations▪ who in the beginning of May 1544. 
The English invade Scotland.  poured forces into Scotland by sea and land, which troubled many the great ones there little, as Sr. George Douglasse, 
having a party there.  who being taken out of prison upon their approach, said in merriment; I thank King Henry and my gentle Masters of England. And indeed he had so many fellow servants devoted to the English, that the governor and Cardinal could not raise a sufficient power of loyal subjects to make resistance. So the Army, having sacked and burned Edinburgh, wrought their pleasure at Leith and other places adjacent, returned home.  
After this, 
Earl Lenox sends his Apology into France to no purpose.  the Earl of Lenox sends an express into France with as advantageous pretences as he could contrive, for his proceedings in Scotland; but King Francis, who advised his going th●ther to some better purpose than upon a private quarrel he had against the Protector to raise a power against the Crown, would vouchsafe his Messenger no hearing, nor his Letters reading, but set such a guard upon him as made him doubt whether he had the liberty of his person, at least fear to hazard it by giving intelligence to his Lord about the counsels of that Court. This straightened the Earl in the necessity he was reduced to of seeking some protection for himself: In the midst of which distraction the governor, after few day's siege, took the Castle of Glascow, and left no secure sanctuary for the Earl but England, 
Castle of Glascow taken by the governor.  which he soon resolved on having promises of his welcome, yet could not take his leave without attempting some revenge upon a Territory belonging to the Hamiltons, wherein he gratified his passion more than justified his prudence, 
Earl Lenox makes a rash attempt upon the Hamiltons  or satisfied his friends, who were so sensible of the loss sustained by it, that he could not prevail with them to engage again; yet having an affected fondness to keep up the reputation of a party against the malignity of fortune, they importuned the Earls retirement to Dunbarton Castle: but his own courage being conquered, he thought no place inexpugnable, and so weather-beaten at land he put himself upon the mercy of the sea and King Henry's kindness, who furnished a pillow for his disquiet and dejected thoughts, the breast of Lady Margaret Douglasse his fair N●ece, 
Flies into England, where he mar●ies K. H. Niece.  whom he propounded acceptably unto him for a Wife. The headless company he left behind him fearing more the extremity of rigour from the Hamiltons, which by their rashness they had merited, than knowing how to protect themselves, like desperate persons stood prepared to do mischief, though with no hopes to survive it. Upon consideration of whose perverseness, or compassion unto their persons, the Queen Mother rescued them from their enemies and themselves, 
Q. Mother protects the party he leaves behind.  taking them under her particular command and care; and so preserved their lives against their hopes, if not their wills, but could ●ot secure their goods, which by their incensed enemies were seized on and set to sale.  
Several incursions were made afterward by the English, with such success that at last the Nobility (some of whom were not so sensible of the public dishonour and detriment done to their country, 
The Scotch Nobility weary of their English friends.  as of the damage themselves suffered in their private possessions, which could not well be secured in a common devastation) applied themselves more obsequiously to the governor, uniting their strength, and compromising their counsels, which helped them to a little victory, and that after their chastisement invited some auxiliaries from France, commanded by Monseiur Montgomery de Lorge, 
De Lorge brings over French forces.  who had instructions to inquire after the disorders unnecessarily caused by the Earl of Lenox and his party, and to rebuke them as well as cherish others who had showed more conscience in continuing loyal, than curiosity in searching reasons and opportunity how or why they might not be so. 
They with the Scots march to the borders and return with booty.  The countenance of these French forces much hastened the Scotch levies, so that in a short time was raised an Army of 15000. men, with which they marched to the borders of England, where in the spoil of the country they quitted some old scores, and might have made a farther inroad, if not divided in their counsels; but they returned home with the reputation and booty they had gotten, as soon after did De Lorge into France. The late success against the publ●ck enemy, upon whose preparation or approach Scotland was never free from intestine tumults and disorders, gave the governor and Cardinal opportunity for a progress and visitation through the country, 
The governor and Cardinal make a ●rogress to set all in order.  to compose the ruptures in the ecclesiastic and Civil body; to encourage the hearts of such as were any way inclinable to peace and duty, and to castigate persons whom they found refractory against the law and establishment of the Kingdom: wherein though some of their proceedings may be censured for too much rigour, 
A moderate sense of their proceedings.  yet somewhat must be indulged to human infirmity, that not always in Rulers, whether temporal or spiritual, is guided by the sweet influence of Christian charity, the perfection whereof is not only to pardon, but to do good for evil, at least in judicature not to be over balanced by the sense of any personal affronts, so as to recompense them with revenge, and make the sword of justice to execute more by the authority of their passion than the Law. Beside, whatsoever were the abuses crept into Religion, when they find improper persons and uncommissioned for that purpose, not only lopping off the superfluous boughs, but laying the Axe unto the root of all, with design to plant nothing of the word of God that they pretend to, but wild fancies of their own, and not only to argue out works, but fight up their Faith, and claim by their doctrine a propriety in all possessions, whose owners submit not to it; what prevention is used, especially by persons in present government, may in charity be hoped to ensue as well from a godly zeal to maintain the better part, as a barbarous cruelty and perverseness to keep up the worse, which being all the apology I intend for them, passing my word and promise, that howsoever prejudiced I will relate no circumstance partially, much less falsely, to the disadvantage of the Reformers, I will briefly instance the proceedings against such p●rsons as occur most notorious in their story.  
Somewhat before this time, in the year 1540 one Sr. John Borthwick, 
Sr. Jo. Borthwick proc●ss'd and condemned when absent.  commonly called Captain Borthwick, was in the Cloisters of S. Andrews before a multitude of the principal Clergy and Nobility processed and condemned though absent and out of reach The articles are published, but because too succinctly, and it may be not indifferently; or impartially, by his accusers and Judges; I conceive it no injury to him, to lay down, for his sense and the substance of that he scattered before; what I collect from the answers himself framed afterward, and commended to his friends.  

He is unjust as to the Pope, and uncharitable to the best of that Religion.  The first Article was, His levelling the Pope of Rome with any other Bishop or Prelate whatsoever. Where, as he might have enlarged h●s Christian moderation to the allowance of some precedence and privileges granted him by the submission and Canons of unsuspected Councils, and given him, for S. Peter's sake a Patriarc●ate at least: so much more might he have abstained from comparing the whole communion of that Religion to common Thieves and Robbers, having the Pope for their Captain; and b●cause they called him Holy Father (a Title from Antiquity rendered to the dignity not only of that, but other Sees) affixing to the persons of all successively invested with it the guilt of Treason, Murder, Rapine and all kind of such evils.  
A branch of the third Article (for I omit all wherein he is to be commended for asserting the truth, or not condemned for speaking modestly and prudently his own opinions) that I say, was concerning the lawfulness for all Bishops to be coupled and joined in Matrimony. 
His answer for Bishop's marriage not very apposlic.  In answer to which, his business was not only to exclaim against the practice of the Roman Church for prohibiting their Clergy marriage, who cannot have the confidence to deny that a greater enlargement was left to them by S. Paul whose doctrine he chiefly urgeth; and by the Cannons of the Christian Church a long time after, which themselves have not expunged in their editions; but rather ingeniously to clear this point and scruple. 
1 Cor. 6 12.  Whether Saint Paul having said; That all things which are lawful are not convenient; 
A question put in behalf of the Roman Church.  whensoever the governors of a Church find inconvenient what they know lawful they may not innocently lay a restraint upon that liberty, since they force no man unto the function, but simply make it a condition obliging any man that will enter in, who upon conscience of his infirmity, hath room enough to bestow himself otherwise in the world. And those who since plead for Sir John's, are to frame some distinction between that general Canon of the Roman Church, and those particular Statutes or laws in divers or all the Reformed, 
The Reformed Churches restrain from marriage.  which oblige, beside individuals, several colleges and Corporations of people to an unmarried life, who make a forfeiture of their preferments and profits, whensoever they enter into that state. Secondly, Sir John citing the doctrine of S. Paul, was to take notice of his advice to all men, 
1 Cor. 7.7.  to be as he was, which argued a possibility they might be so; much more that out of all men a selected number might be called to serve God at his Holy Altar, with pure hands and hearts, and after to make up the Lambs special train which St. John tells him were virgins not defiled with women, redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. 
S. Paul misinterpreted.  As to that Sr. John pretended, That S. Paul where he described the perfect image of a good Bishop, did reckon and account marriage amongst the other good gifts which he required to be in them: yea, that he numbered Matrimony among the principal virtues pertaining unto a Bishop, it is very ridiculous, the most thereby imported being a toleration to such as cannot lie alone, or will not trust a Steward with their accounts, and unworthy a reply. In his answer to the fourth, Calling the Pope Antichrist, 
Sir John impetuous against the Pope.  among them which made him Pro-Christ by succession and Vicar general of the Church, whatsoever in the eyes of some men, it had of truth▪ undeserving the imputation of Schism; it had little of prudence, nor could it produce less than a condemnation by those Judges, whose Religion and interest was to keep up the Tradition of their Fathers.  
In the fifth, 
A separation from all Churches.  preferring his particular faith before that of the whole National Clergy, yet rendering no account of it but in the destructive part of what he disliked: nor declaring of what other communion he was, primitive or modern, but rather that he meant to be of none by his crying down material Temples and Chapels (wherein the Papists putting an Image or Crucifix will not excuse him) he savours of too much insolence and self-conceit, sending every man to a separate subsistence by himself▪ for which God in his holy Scripture gives no authority unto any: beside that, it dissenteth from the Article which the Apostles put in their Creed.  
To the sixt Article about the Temporal jurisdiction of the Clergy, 
In some cases spiritual men may have temporal jurisdiction.  he might have so far condescended as to permit it where their spiritual function was not interrupted by it; or if it were, where the King supreme in spiritual and temporal, dispensed with it, their office being supplied by others: as likewise where the cases of conscience were so involved with the points of propriety, interest and profit, that any difficulty arising required the resolution rather of a Priest than Lawyer, such as which are to be found in Deut. 17. The places he citys against it implies only a singular humility, without ambition or vainglory, to be enjoined them, and may as well be used against the composing any differences, the greatest act of Christian Charity, as judging Controversies and Suits in law.  
In the seventh, 
A limitation in sequestering Church revenues.  about The Kings sequestering the revenues of the Church, whatsoever may be the royal power in reserved cases, to assume, or transfer the whole from one name to another, as from Priests to Ministers (if the name must be so reformed) from Convents to colleges; yet to rend in pieces the wills and testaments of the dead, and to take their Legacies from a lazy Clergy, to throw them upon a luxurious Laity, hath not hitherto been so approved by God in a blessing upon the persons or posterity of them that gaped for this holy morsel, but that many instances have been made of prodigious ends, taking away the possessors, ruining their families, with an insensible loss of such lands and inheritances as more justifiably descended on them. What comparison Sr. John makes between the Priests of Baal, 
An unchristian comparison.  or Jezabel, and those of Rome, sparkles out from the fervency of his zeal, which too much transports him when he pretends to the same commission with Daniel and Elias.  
Upon the ninth, about the power of the Church in making Canons, 
The Church hath power to make Canons  he ●aies too much restraint or rather indeed nulls it in pretending it only declarative of what was made by God for the Nation of the Jews, or what was published by Christ to his Apostles sent among them and the Gentiles, whereas the abolishing most part of the former, left room for a new Law to be inserted in its place; nor when Christianity had entered only into private houses, 
The reasons why.  was it proper to have so many orders issued out, as when it should after spread itself openly throughout the world. The authentic limitation which he fancieth out of 23. John, may give a greater liberty than the Church of Rome hath yet taken; for granting him what he may expect, but calls not for, that the seventh verse bringeth all intended within the compass of the moral Law; yet that, as to the practice both in the first and second Table, brancheth itself into several parts of the positive, as well sacred as judicial then proper for that Nation, which since being abolished by Christ, some Evangelical constitutions were to succeed, whereof all the Texts in the Gospel against Traditions do not deprive the Church. The conditions he annexeth to the Levites privilege, Malachy 2▪ reach not unto the Christian Priests, unless he can demonstrate them as completely furnished out of the 4. Evangelists, which rather represent (and that but very briefly, even when they are drawn into an harmony) the state and discipline of the Church at that time, than make provisional Cannons in all cases, for all Christian Congregations in succeeding ages. As to what power the Prophets had universally which he saith, is so very lively d●scribed, Ezek. 33. that they should hear the word out of God's own mouth and declare it unto the people. When he can prevail with God to speak viva voce, as lively to Christian Priests, or but whisper to them in dreams, or show them hieroglyphics of his pleasure in frequent visions; it may be the Church of Rome will lay down her necessity of calling councils, and suspend the execution of her Cannons. The sum of what passed between Christ and his Apostles, as to matter of faith, he might believe to be comprehended in the history of the New Testament, whereupon no question the Apostles did more dilate in their dispersion than is preserved for our reading, and the like was done by their successors in the institution of the Church. But as to matters of practice, considering how many years Christ conversed with them, Sir John could not but conceive many particulars unregistered, or fallen short of his Age; nor had they been, if preserved, applicable to all times, according to the variety of which, and other circumstances the decretals multiplied, and so will ecclesiastical Canons increase in number, or be alterable for necessity or decency unto the end.  
What presseth most in the tenth Article, Sir John declineth, 
The Reformation in England no good pa●tern for Scotland.  and therefore no wrong is done him, if he be thought imprudently to have said, &c. That Religion (that is to say, so much of it as Henry 8. turned off) was to be abolished and destroyed as then in England, where (whatsoever good reformation hath since been made) a great deal of Murder, Rapine and Injustice was acted, and countenanced, by what King, and to what purpose the world knows: And the Cardinal with his Clergy had good reason, beside private interest▪ to prevent so passionate and sacrilegious a change in Scotland. Some moderation S●r John shows in permitting S. Augustine's Monks to stand, 
Monks in the primitive Church.  for not whom alone, but others of ancient institution as much may be pleaded, if S. Basil's Rule and the historical passages of S. Hierom and other holy Fathers be duly read, whose Convents were made no brothel houses nor swine-sties, nor was their worship such, as to devote them unto the devil, and yet much reverence they gave unto the relics of Christian Martyrs. 
And reverence given to relics.  They that afterward made counterfeits, for gain of proselytes or money, may the better sort dispute the point of pi● fraus with his Knightship and the worse with his hypocritical corrupted Sectaries, who pretend to as great miracles, in having God's Spirit at their call, and the power of all his Ancient Prophets in their nightcaps. The habits of Monk● (which he excepts against) were in the purest times imposed upon them, and fitter it may be were they for a cloister, than those by which the tribe of precisian's will since be distinguished in the Chu●ch. 
My opinion of the senten●e against Sr. J●h● Borthwick.  Yet am I not so angry with Sr. John Borthwick for his separate singularity in opinion as to justify the sentence passed upon him to be executed in effigy, while absent and in person, when he could be chatched, my portion being not with them that condemn heretics to fi●e and faggot; but if he did (as commonly such unquiet spirits do) under the pretence of conversion, instigate the people against the government of that kingdom, because not of his Religion, I refer him to the La●, and should no otherwise have wished his pardon than upon a serious acknowledgement of his fault.  
What fol●ows in Fox's Acts, of a conference between the Bishop of Dunkelden and Dean Thomas, a Canon of St. Colmes Inch, I cannot judge of finding little or nothing about it in their own Historians; nor can I credit one particular of the Bishops stout saying, 
unlikely stories about the Bishop of Dunkelden.  I thank God I never knew what the Old and New Testament was, howsoever rise the Proverb which he pretends to be so common in Scotland, Ye are like the Bishop of Dunkelden, that knew neither New nor Old Law no more than the like in Buchanan, That upon a strict enquiry at Dundee after the Readers of the New Testament most of the Priests, 
The Priests at Dundee.  who sure were licenced, professed so much ignorance of the Book, as they contentiously averred it to be written by Martin Luther, thereupon rerejected it and required the Old. And somewhat to be suspected is that which comes after: 
Dean Thomas and six Friars.  That the Dean with six other Friars and a Gentleman were burned principally upon these articles, of the Deans preaching every Sunday on the Epistles and Gospels, and their eating of flesh in Lent, for which more moderate penance to my knowledge is inflicted in other Catholic countries at this day, and that ancient Canon is not wantonly abused upon reasonable causes dispensations, without any great difficulty are obtained. And therefore another story of like nature, countenanced by Buchanan, and most passionately laid forth by Knox, of four hanged in St. Jonhstons' for eating one poor Goose on a Friday (which could not afford each of them a leg and a wing) hath little of my belief, 
4. Hanged in St John's town.  and indeed the less because I find them conceal what Fox, out of no meaning I guess, to deal more impartially, inserteth, Their hanging up the Image of St. Francis, 
The Reformers abuse the Image of St. Francis and raise tumults.  nailing Rams horns to his head▪ and a cow's rump to his tail: and some of them interrupting Friar Spense in his Sermon, maintaining the established doctrine of those times, the necessity of prayer to Saints, whereupon followed such a tumult of the people, as hazarded his life, which murder would have been more unjustifiable before God and man, than the hanging up four or four hundred of them for attempting that on the person of one, which might and did draw after it the destruction of many, not in halters upon a legal sentence, but by the sword rebelliously employed, as well aga●nst their Prince as their fellow subjects, which will appear too evidently in the sequel of this story.  
I shall not follow every little Martyr to the st●ke▪ 
An impartial censu●e of the R●formed Martyrs.  ●et not any of them is there but I sh●uld heartily commisera●e if I were as we I pers●aded, as some Historians seem to be, that he suffered clearly for the tender●ess of his consci●nce, or by the merciless cruelty of his m●licious Judges. But when I discover in most the●r pr●a●hing, praying, disc●ursi●g, designing, c●unselling, such a ●●irit of virulency aga●nst their Roman Adversaries, which must ●e censured incompatible with that Christian charity which the best patte●ns, the most exemplary sufferers in the primitive times dec●●red, principally at their death; when very few of them can be so justified in their strictness of Religion, as they are most evidently to be condemned for sedition; whatsoever indirect proceedings may be observed in their trials; whatsoever accumulative articles were by mistake or wilful injury, cast upon them; I cannot so commend them for their virtues, as to flatter posterity by the example into their errors. Therefore passing by a multitude of petty Saints▪ whom Knox and Buchanan canonize as they go, 
Knox and Buchanan a ●loudy couple.  some of whom may be feared to deserve no other red letters in the calendar than themselves, whose names are deeply died in the blood, which is not little, shed upon the rebellious practices they prescribed: I will discuss only the passages about one more signal than the rest, out of whose ashes the Scotish Reformation was raked, 
The Scotch Reformation raked out of Mr. George Wishearts ashes.  and beside the murder of the Cardinal, a consequent rebellion advanced chiefly upon the reputation of his name, though I will not allege it as apparently founded in his doctrine. The man I mean is Mr. George Wisheart of B●nnets college in Cambridge where he is famed to have lived a very studious and religious life, 
His course of life at Cambridge.  yet not without some such singular eccentric motions from the custom of other honest men in his time, as gave some part of his piety the character of Melancholy, and the impress of cruelty to some, severity in his discipline. An instance of the former in his Wearing and sleeping in Canvas, which his sheets and shir●s, friese-mantle and other habits weekly, or monthly, or quarterly, as his fancy served he bestowed upon the poor. His having a tub of water nightly by his bedside, wherein he by moonshine bathed himself, to allay some heat that troubled him in his rest. And by the latter he so exasperated the young spirits of his pupils, that the desperate part of them complotted his murder to obtain their deliverance; 
His return to Scotland.  his apprehension whereof might be the reason that brought him back into his Country with the Scotish treaters that came from England, who when they had him at home magnified him for a Prophet, and sent him up & down under colour of Religion to draw the people to their party. 
where he passed for a Prophet.  What Town soever rejected h●m he denounced against it fire and sword by the spirit, which judgement they prepared as God's instruments to fulfil. He began at Montrosse, 
Inhibited to preach.  and thence passed to Dundee, where an inhibition was given him in the Queen and governor's name, and they that brought it were told by him that they chased from them the messenger of God. The Lord Martial and other Noble men, whose part he acted, 
Divers Noblemen encourage him.  would have maintained him in the place, or have taken him along with them, but some other spirit di●ected him to the Westland where the Bishop of Glascow was fain to raise a great party to dispute with Mr. George's disciples for the Church, which the Earl of Glencarne and dive●s Gentlemen of Kyle would have made good for him, but that he thought it as good mustering his men at the market-cross, as he did otherwhile about a molehill, or some other little piece of rising ground in the fields. 
The Gentry flock to him.  This itenerant Doctor thus traveled from place to place, and wheresoever he lodged thither the devoted Gentry of that quarter addressed themselves, with their armed Vassals and Tenants to receive Orders rather for the managing the great design, than instructions for the amendment of their lives. If any were so addicted to their old Religion or allegiance, or so disposed to their quiet, that they made no appearance worthy Mr. George's preaching or presence, 
He envies and threatens where they do not.  he would run from his Tet into an invective for an hour or two, still brandishing his threats of fire and sword, as at Haddington, because he could not take from his pulpit an account of an hundred auditors in the Church; after which vehemency so dejected in spirit, having it may be, some other intimations of his being at the end of his prophetic race, that the last part of his speech was like a testament at departure, and his good-night a taking leave for ever of his acquaintance: which howsoever he meant it proved proper enough, being seized on before morning at Ormeston, by order from the governor with the Cardinal's advice, 
He is seized on by Earl Bothwel.  as a person dangerous, for his sowing the tares of sedition among the seed of his new Evangel. The Earl Bothwel with a guard of House was employed in surprising him, or else he had not been taken, nor was he without some resistance and articling with the Earl, having some armed Proselytes in the house, who observe no orders, obey no commands but when they cannot help it, who would not have surrendered him, but that they saw themselves overpowered. What promise (if any) the Earl Bothwell had passed for his protection, was not judged so obligatory, as his allegiance to deliver him up to justice, which he did after some better satisfaction, than what Knox most ambiguously and maliciously instanceth, the Cardinal's gold, or the Queen's undertaking to favour him in all lawful suits to women: 
And imprisoned in the castle of St. Andrews.  Edinburgh was not thought so fit a place for his imprisonment as the Castle of St. Andrews, whither he was shortly sent, and soon after brought unto his trial, although the bold opportunity of one David Hamilton, the speaker for him and his partisans, by a mixture of advice, entreaty, terror, had wrought the governor into some uncertainty of allowing the proceedings. 
He is brought to his trial.  About the end of February 1546. the judges Ecclesiastical and civil sitting in the Abbey Church, Mr. Wisheart was sent for to answer divers articles alleged against him, who going into a Pulpit, according to the custom of that place (after one Father Lawder a Priest, who was to manage the accusation, 
He makes an Apologetical Oration.  had read the articles against him) began an Oration, making entrance and advancing what he could into the minds of his Auditors, under the glorious canopy of the Word of God, which only, and that purely and sincerely he pretended to have taught, and nothing in the mother-tongue beside the ten commandments, the twelve Articles of the Faith, and Prayer of the Lord, and at Dundee the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, where I do not find he insisted long upon the 13. Chap. at least in the sense the holy Apostle intended it, though I censure him not to have deserved the unhandsome titles put upon him by Lawder at the beginning of every Article; Thou false heretic, runagate, Traitor and Thief, &c. which is not a form prescribed against any person brought before that justice, added little force to the sequel of his accusation, part of which as to the substance, he might Christianly and honourably have acknowledged, 
With what moderation he might have demeaned himself.  I mean that wherein the latter tenants of the Roman-Church superinduced to that purity her great Apostles planted in her, carry more weight in the ear, than the genuine stalk is able to support. But where the accusation was justly laid in behalf of the Government under which he l●v●d, or the Authority of the Church delivered to her by Christ and his Apostles and their incorrup●ed Successors, I must elevate Mr. George's answers, and leave the rest to the restriction or relaxation of men's ●i●●vate opinions in the world.  
To the first, which chargeth him with preaching at Dundee, 
He cannot pretend to the same liberty with the Apostles.  after the governor had commanded him to desist, and again after the Bishop of Brechen had excommunicated for cont●macy of that kind; he in v●in claims the liberty taken and given, but not in that latitude by the Apostle in the Acts, 
Chap. 5.29.  We shall rather obey God than men, which qualifies not every man with a mission that pretends to it of his own head; nor with a remission of his passive obedience to higher powers; else every bold heretic, rightly so called, may assume as much. Nor can he wrest that of the Prophet Malachy, 
Chap. 2.2.  I shall curse your blessings, and bless your cursings, saith the Lord, against the after Excommunication in the Christian Church, which duly regulated, the Romans may challenge and justify to be valid in fit cases.  
Nor as to the ninth Article will St. John and St. Peter countenance him in laying hands of Ordination upon himself, when the one saith, 
Nor to self Ordination.  He hath made us Kings & Priests, 
Rev. 1.6.  & the other, 
1 Pet. 2.9.  He hath made us a Kingly Priesthood, any more than they will another man in setting the Diadem on his head which he thinks fitter for it than the Kings; or taking that sceptre into his hand, which he supposeth an infirm Potentate cannot hold.  
For the eleventh Article, 
The abstinence and feasts of the Church to be observed.  about the lawfulness of eating flesh on Friday as well as Sunday, As to the purity of days (which bears proportion to the Passion and Resurrection) or indifferency of meat●, abstracting from all superiors rational commands, and in pious people an humble commemoration of Christ's suffering, by their suffering somewhat weekly at that time, St. Paul may justify him in his answer (though they were other days he meant) but yet▪ by his favour, not in reversing the Statutes or Canons composed in piety and prudence, w●ich encounter no principles of Religion, nor deny fit supplies to the necessity of nature, or moderate desires of a regular appetite in due season.  

His extreme insolence in renouncing obedience to General Councils, and professing his neglect to read their Canons.  But that which betrayed his ignorance extremely, or an insolent arrogance of singular extraordinary endowments from God for the interpretation of his Word; or where that in practicals and circumstantials is silent, for the intelligence of his pleasure; was his answer to the 15. Article which charged him with denying to obey Provincial or General Councils, whereof he owned no knowledge, as if the History of God's Church in the purest times of Christianity had not been worth his search, nor the exemplary endeavours of the ancient Doctors and Fathers, who confounded heathen and heretics by their writings; with joined hands raised an edifice of Religion, according to the most exact model they, at so near a distance traditionally received from Christ and his Apostles; deserved his review, nor what they sealed with their blood, so much of his reverence as to consider, weather so many did, and himself but one could not, err, especially when the very Bible, to which he appealed for the authority of his doctrine, had been for its own integrity and incorruption of words and points, and consequently of sense (whether their glosses and commentaries be admitted or no) and could be commended to him by no more powerful testimony than their Canons, neglected and scorned by him, for the introduction of what Knox & he, a pretty pair to be paralleled with representative Christianity in the majestic Sessions of Emperors and Bishops▪ had for seditious ends concluded in a corner. Whether his singularity in these or any other exorbitant opinions, 
What reason his judges might have to condemn him.  proceeded from passion or persuasion I shall not determine; nor can I clear his Judges in their sentence of condemnation unto death, unless his sedition were so manifest & dangerous (which it might be) that no security could be given for the public peace, but by his removal. The manner of it as it lies in the vulgar story, was with more pomp and curiosity than became the gravity or charity very requisite in Cardinals, 
Yet they are to be blamed for the pomp.  Bishops, or inferior Clergy; Mr. George's behaviour near the time of his execution such, in many particulars, as became an humble, pious and courageous Christian, as appears by divers prayers and discourses; yet his popularity, 
And he for popularity and want of charity at his execution.  and debasing Prelacy, had not quitted him the very day he was to suffer, when he beseeched the brethren and sisters, those Epi●oen Priests of his making, to exhort their Prelates to the learning of the Word of God, &c. To tell them, That if they would not convert themselves from their wick●d error, there should hastily come upon them the wrath of God, which they should not eschew; very prophetic, and positive, and prevalent no question, from such mechanic mouths. And though he forgave the Hangman, when about to do his office, yet he had not so much chari●y for the Cardinal, against whom this angry Martyr denounceth the sentence of a violent death, revealed to him, more likely by John Lesly, Melvin, and Carmichel (if it were not the overflowing of his own bloody heart concurring in the design) whose hands were to act it, than by any Oracle from heaven, where no such murders are forged, his last words being these, as his own Friend hath recorded them: He who in such state from that high place feedeth his eyes with my torments, within few days shall be hanged out at the same window, to be seen with as much ign●miny, as he row there leaneth in pride.  
The credit of the new gospel had been cracked, if the prediction of this great prophet had not been hastily accomplished, which his principal disciples took presently into their care, 
His disciples make great haste to murder the Cardinal.  whose stomachs were so full of indignation against the Cardinal, that their meat could not down before they had declared it at their tables, That the blood of Mr. George should be revenged, or else it should cost life for life. The most proper instruments for such a purpose must be men of metal, whose spirits being exasperated by a sympathy with their late deceased Friend, or a passive sense of some late injury apprehended from their great enemy, that lived against as many of their wishes as there accrued minutes unto his time, were predisposed to any desperate attempt. Three or four such were pitched upon to surprise Babylon (so they called the Castle of the Cardinal of St. 
They do it barbarously.  Andrews) upon whom they speedily executed the work 'tis their own language, that is, they wickly murdered him in his Chamber. In which act John Lesly and Peter Carmichael being too hasty, they were rebuked by James Melvin the more sedate Reformer of the three, and told, 
Melvins' grave speech in the act.  This work and judgement of God ought to be done with greater gravity. He presents to him the point of the sword, says, Repent thee of thy former wicked life, that is, stopping the godly brethren in their course, strikes him twice or thrice through with a stog sword, and so he fell. All honest Christians were astonished at so horrid and execrable an act, but the meek disciplinarians did not only, saith Buchanan, approve it, 
— non solum factum probarunt, sed & gratulatum ad liberta●is publicae auctores venerunt, quidam etiam vitam ●ortunasque cum illis conjunxerunt.  but came to gratulate these authors of their public liberty, others ventured life and fortunes with them for the future; libertatis authores, so it should seem the Cardinal had tied up their hands, till this stog sword cut the knot and set them at liberty to do mischief uncontrolled afterward. John Knox is so tickled with the business that he becomes very witty, and because he would not lose his jest, tells his Reader expressly, 
Knox professeth himself merry at it.  he writes merrily about it: but by this time he knows (if he changed not his mind) that the end of that mirth is heaviness, 
Prov. 14.13.  I believe. That his heart and he might not keep at distance, 
1547.  the Easter following he goes to live with the murderers in the Castle, and not long after from the cry of this blood takes his call to the ministry, 

He goes to live with the murderers in the Castle.  
His calling to the Ministry.   which was the greatest vengeance that ever God sent to that kingdom. For this first thriving plant of the discipline being set by the sword and cherished by 
* 
These blessed authors of liberty saith Buchanan, while they continued in the Castle tanquam armis p●cta licentia, in stupra & adulteria ali●q, hominum otio abundantium vitia profusi, jus & aequum. He might have inserted▪ & religionem sua libidine metiebantur  
Knox's first Sermon.   licence and lust, the soil prepared by the Cardinal's blood, grew up on a sudden to branch it over all civil Magistrates and Laws, and in short space overtopped Royal Authority itself, some comfortable assurance whereof he gave to the brethren in his first Sermon upon Dan. 7.24, &c. And another King shall rise after them, and he shall be unlike unto the first, and he shall subdue three Kings, and shall speak words against the most High, and think that he can change times and laws; And they shall be given unto his hands until a time and times, and dividing of times. But the judgement shall sit, and they sh●ll take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. So great a Scholar might easily prove that the Prophet Daniel spoke this directly of the Scots, which the Laird of Nydrie, a man fervent, 
The Laird of Nyrde's advice upon it.  so far I believe him, not when he adds, and upright in religion, so well understood, that he told some body (you may guess whom he meant) We would counsel you and them to provide better defence than fire and sword, for it may be that else you may be disappointed: Men now have no other eyes than they had then. A multitude of disciples by such good doctrine had Knox drawn to him at St. Andrews; 
The Bishops complain.  The Bishops complain to the Queen and council, they are willed to be quiet and promised remedy ere long. The Reformers with all might and main endeavour to prevent the marriage of the young Princess with the Dolphin of France, 
The Refomers angry.  being yet too weak, they rail at the Parliament that made it, account it a matter of sale in the governor, and prophesy she shall become a plague and punishment to God's people. At length the rest of those uncleanly birds of Babylon (now truly called so) the Cast●e of St. Andrews, 
The Castle of St. Andrews taken from them, they in it sent for France.  was thrown out, care▪ being taken that John Knox should be caged and carried away with them for France. Here the Gospel was at a stand for some time, 
Knox's various fortune in his travails to and fro.  till John fluttered homeward so near out of danger as he could; lighted first at Barwick, thence flew to Newcastle: There was no chirping yet for him in Scotland: He takes a new flight to L●nd●n, where having muted as much mischief as he could upon the death of King Edward the sixt, he passeth to Geneva, stays there till he had a new call by the Congregation assembled at Frankford, where he found not all birds of his feather, yet sets up his tune to as high a note of treason as he could, and in an Admonition to England calling the Emperor little inferior to Nero, 
In his admoniinto to England, he abuseth the Emperor, Queen and Q. Dowager.  and the Queen more cruel than Jezabel, being accused he gets away in the dark, shrouds himself for a while under the wings of Geneva, thence to Deep, and thereafter to Scotland, where in the interim had been several alterations of State, though little as yet in religion; The Queen Dowager being in the year 1554. 
Who is made Regent.  made Regent (much importunity or rather a visible necessity constraining the governor to resign) had the Crown put upon her head, as seemly a sight saith John Knox in the new Gospel language as to put the saddle upon the back of an unruly sow. At this change the brethren creep in, 
The Reformers creep again into Scotland.  first Harlow a simple and weak man, than Willock under the cover of some Commissions from the Duchess of Embden, and at last to beat down the idol mass, comes John Knox with his hammer. At first he falls to work in the night with the Earl of Glencarne, 
Knox chiefly undertakes the work.  Earl of Marschel and Henry Drummond, whom he forms into so good a conceit of a godly exhortation he made, that they are earnest with him to send a Letter to the Queen Regent that might move her to hear the word of God. I shall not recite all the arguments and good language he used to that purpose, by some few passages expressed may the Reader be able to judge of the rest. unless in your regiment and in using of power your Majesty be found different from the multitude of Princes and head Rulers, 
His most impudent Letter to the Queen Regent.  this pre-eminence wherein ye are placed shall be your dejection to torment and pain everlasting, (that is in plain English, Except she gives way to the discipline she shall be damned.) An Orator and God's Messenger might justly require of you now (by God's hand promoted to high dignity) a motherly pity upon your Subjects, a justice inflexible to be used against murderers and common Oppressors; a heart void of avarice and partiality; a mind studious and careful for maintenance of that Realm and commonwealth (above whom God hath placed you) and by it hath made you honourable, with the rest of virtues, which not only God's Scriptures, but also writers (illuminated only with the light of nature) require in God's Rulers. But vain it is to crave reformation of manners, where Religion is corrupted. So that the Queen being not reformed is a merciless mother, an unjust countenancer of murderers, &c. a covetous and most partial creature, a negligent or wilfully destructive governess, void of all virtue required, and, being desperately vicious, unfit to Govern.— Except ye speedily repent, ye and your posterity shall suddenly feel the dispersing hand of him who hath exalted you, ye shall be compelled will ye or not, to know that he is eternal against whom ye address the battle, and that it is he that moderateth the times, and disposeth kingdoms, ejecting from authority such as be inobedient, and placing others according to his good pleasure; that is, John Knox and his complices shall depose you, as it proved. But here John overreached, and laid himself with his gospel flat upon the ground, whence he had been taken up with a witness, if he had not scrambled away again to Geneva, 
Knox flies away to Geneva.  after which escape he was burned in effigy at Edinburgh cross. Yet like to two buckets, of which one, to be sure is up, if the other be down, John Willock returns the second time from Embden, 
Willock returns in his place.  who preaches the Nobility into secret Conventions and close counsels, which broke out into Sedition at Edinburgh, 
Sedition and sacrilege the effects of his doctrine.  where by a zealous brother, James Chalmers of Geitgyrth the Queen was personally affronted, Churches pillaged and in part demolished, for which the Brethren assemble, (in what manner ye may judge, for all their singing Psalms and praying) So that (see the power of their Notes) the proudest of their enemies were, they tell us, astonished. In the mean time they have their mountebanks that dispatch by poison most of the Nobility and Bishops that went to the young Queen's marriage in France, 
And poisoning some of the Nobility in France.  because there were murders enough otherwise to be done at home, that which might be more religiously wrought, John Knox is sent for back from Geneva by Glencarne, Lorne, 
Knox sent for.  &c. advises the rest to work their deliverance from the Egyptian bondage upon what hazard soever, or by whatsoever opposition, be it against Kings, or Emperors. 
Who draws them into a Congregational Covenant.  Hereupon the first Covenant is entered into by the new named Lords, &c. of the Congregation, and soon after is made the first Oration and Petition of the Protestants of Scotland to the Queen Regent, 
After which they petition.  wherein they style themselves, a part of that power which God had established in that Realm to defend their brethren from cruel murderers; propound a Reformation to be made, such as they think fit to prescribe, and seem at that time content (which those of their race since disavow) That not only the rules and precepts of the New Testament, but also the writings of the Ancient Fathers, and the godly and approved Laws of Justinian the Emperor might decide the controversy betwixt them. 
The Queen's gracious and Christian answer.  To this Petition they received a gracious answer from the Queen, liberty of conscience restrained in nothing but from public Assemblies in Edinburgh and Leith: For which Her Majesty had in return the dutiful character of crafty, dissimulate and false thinking woman, 

Their unchristian ingratitude.  
A querulous Letter against the Rom. Catholic Clergy &c.   that made her profit of both parties. Hath a querulous Letter directed to her, and the Parliament against her Clergy, whom they reproachfully call, placeholderss of the Ministers of the Church; with a protestation limiting the supreme power in deputing Judges for Civil affairs, and menacing, That if any tumult or uproar should arise among the members of the Realm, for the diversity of Religion, & if it shall chance (as they intended it should not, having certainly determined) that abuses be violently reformed, that the crime thereof be not imputed to them, who most humbly do now seek all to be reformed by an order. The Earl Glencarne, &c. second this in a private address, and forewarn the Queen of the inconveniences that were to follow. To prevent which, and give what satisfaction could be reasonably desired, she summons all their Preachers to Sterling, and they according to their never-failing accustomed manner, all the Puritan Gentry, 
The people's giving confession, &c.  &c. to accompany them, and this they called, The people's giving confession with their Preachers. 
Knox arrives.  John Knox casually arriving at the same time repairs to Dundee, and craves leave (which was not difficult to be obtained) to accompany the Brethren, and give confession of his Faith with them, who instead of appearing before the Queen, according to the grace of God granted to him (they are his own words) carries them to St. Johnston, and so exhorts them, that they there fall to the pillage of the Monasteries, 
Monasteries pillaged, &c.  destroying the Charter-house, wherein was the tomb of King James the first, whereat the Queen taking just indignation, and complaining to her Nobi●ity about it, the Brethren send Her Majesty a smart Letter, beginning meekly with As heretofore with jeopard of our lives, 
A sharp Letter sent to the Q. Regent.  and yet with willing hearts, we have served the Authority of Scotland, and your Majesty now Regent in this Realm— but soon after tell her, They shall be compelled to take the sword of just defence against all that shall pursue them for the matter of Religion and their conscience sake, which ought not, nor may not be subject to mortal creatures (the Queen Regent was a mortal creature, Ergo) further than by God's word man is able to prove that he hath power to command them (that is further than they have a mind to be commanded) Upon the Queen's approach they send for more auxiliaries to St. Johnston. To some Noblemen that declined them, or had a desire to be neuters, they write, 
Excommunication threatened the neutral Nobility.  That if in this time of their trouble they looked through their fingers, and joined not themselves to them, as of God they were reputed Traitors, so they should be excommunicated from their society, and from all participation with them in the administration of the Sacraments. Their number of the new supply proved not so great, but that they were fain to make an appoinment with the Queen, and quit the Town after John Knox had exhorted them to constancy in a Sermon, that is, to meet again so soon as handsomely they could, which they did to a second Covenant at Perth, whereof one clause was, That they should not spare labours, goods, substance, bodies and lives, 
Their second Covenant.  in maintaining the liberty of the whole Congregation, and every member thereof, against whatsoever person (no Queen excepted) shall intend the said trouble for cause of Religion, or any other cause d●pending thereupon▪ or lay to their charge under pretence thereof, although it happen to be coloured with any other outward cause. So that they might murder, steal, or break any civil law of the Realm, and the Congregation must defend them, if prosecu●ed or questioned by the Magistrate, that being but a colourable outward cause to trouble their Religion. Whereupon several outrages being acted by them that now began to be called, Keepers of liberty, as seizing upon the Irons of the Coyning-house, 
They seize on the Coining Irons.  because of the impression in the Images they stamped, and a late pretence of appeal made from the Queen Regent unto their young Queen and Dolphin of France, her Husband. A Proclamation of restraint is sent in their names to be published at Edinburgh cross. 
A Proclamation from the young Queen and Dolphin.  Yet notwithstanding upon some conference with the Regent, she condescended to give them liberty of religion, provided, that wheresoever she was, their Preachers should cease, and Her Majesties be maintained. But this would not pass, because it put to silence God's true Messengers, that is, restrained them from railing down the Queens own Religion to her face. The Queen, to get rid of her trouble, 
An Agreement at Eden●urgh.  if she could, not long after at Edinburgh caused such an Agreement to be made, as could not be denied by them that pretended to any peace or quietness at all. Accordingly Articles on both sides were drawn, agreed, signed and proclaimed. These shrewdly troubled the Brethren in black, who meant nothing less than a Peace. And perceiving some of their party so conscientious as to keep faith and make so great a relapse to their duty, as to go to the Queen at her call, they convene and subscribe a third bond at Sterling, 
A third bond.  whereof this is a link,— As we tender the maintenance of true Religion, that none of us shall in time coming pass to the Queen Dowager, to talk or commune with her, for any Letter or Message sent by her unto us, or yet to be sent with consent of the rest, or common consultation thereupon: which was so religiously observed by Knox, 
Strictly observed by Knox.  that he returns the Queen's Letters upon her hands, and would not give them to the Lords, as was by Her Majesty required. But now must a new quarrel be picked to fetch in the Lords and rest of the Brethren that adhered to the agreement at Edinburgh; 
From the Q. Regents fortifying Leith th●y take occasion to traduce.  And this was by the Queen's fortifying the town of Leith, which, though but intended for a place of retreat in case she should be overborne by their strength, which now made appearance in several places, and many times nearer approaches than she liked, was notwithstanding vogued to garrison her towns with the French, and to have in design by them, the conquest of the kingdom. By way of charge and declinator passed divers Letters and Proclamations on both sides; From hence mounted the Brethren to admonitions, from admonitions to votes about deprivation, upon justification thereof by Willock and Knox the prime of the Clergy; From votes to articles and the Act of suspension together with the banishment of her person, 
Admonish, Deprive.  allowing Her Majesty but 24. hours to prepare for her passage into France. 
Banish her.  But the walls of Leith were not to be blown down by this breath, 
All in vain.  nor was it strong enough to fill the sails for her passage into France: A stronger wind blew out of the Town, which so dispelled the Congregational Brethren, 
The Brethren disperse.  that glad was he who could shelter himself; and many grew desperate of the cause. But John Knox by power of the spirit, 
Are recollected by Knox.  when but a spark or two of rebellion was left, could ever blow it up into a flame, which he began now at Sterlin in a Sermon upon the 80. Psalm v. 4, 5, 6, 7. and increased it in another afterwards somewhere else upon John 6. exhorting the Congregation that they should not faint, but that they should sti●l row against the contrarious blasts, till that Jesus Christ should come (so that only the day of judgement is to put an end to the presbyterian commotions) But nothing can be done without a Covenant, 
Another Covenant at Edinburgh.  which An. 1560. was entered at Edinburgh. That what person soever will plainly reject their godly enterprises, and will not concur as a good and true member of their commonwealth, they shall fortify the authority of Council to reduce them to their duty, &c. The issue of this, as of all their Covenants, was to put many quiet conscientious people to the choice of either extreme, without the privilege of a detestable neutrality: Do as we do, Rebel or perish; whereby they never failed of an Army that should guard the gospel with an unparalleled villainy, 
An Army raised by it.  and resist the Queen Regent unto her death, 
Q. Regent dieth.  which fell out very opportunely while they lay at the siege before Leith, being, if not procured by their means, very evidently hastened by their malice, denying Her Majesty the benefit of some drugs, 
Their inhumanity toward her.  for which she sent to her Apothecary and chirurgeon, and in her inrecoverable condition not indulging her free speech with some Lords jointly though of their own faction, and what courtesy they granted, being clogged with the ungrateful presence, and more unpleasing discourse of John Willock, Brother-rebel-preacher with Knox, who was sent on purpose to set the Queen's conscience on the rack, and torture it to despair if he could. By all these unchristian proceedings, having sped on their impatient wishes, and fretted open a passage for that Royal soul to expire, they become soon Lords not only of the Congregation, but country, and having eleven points of the law (their young Queen and her Husband being absent in France) upon advantage enough they capitulate with their Majesties for the twelfth. 
They capitulate with the young Queen and King.  In which pacification the Deputies from France would not meddle with the matter of Religion, but agreed that a certain number of Noblemen should be chosen in the next Convention and Parliament to be sent to their Majesties, to whom they shall expose those things that shall be thought needful for the State of that business. In the interim, the Brethren I'll warrant you were not idle, but after public thanksgiving at Edinburgh for their deliverance, 
A Thanksgiving.  that is to say, for the death of their Queen, upon whom they heap (though they name her not) a heavy load of calumnies in their prayers: A Committee sits to distribute Ministers, and so Knox is made Primate of Edinburgh, 
Ministers distributed.  or in it rather of Scotland, that being the fountain head from whence all future Rebellion must stream, by Goodman to St. Andrews, by Heriot to Aberdeen, by Row to St. Johnston, &c. And though they will have no Bishops, they'll have overseers {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, 
overseers.  Spotswood for Lothian, Winram for Fife, &c. And now to work they go to drive the stray-doctrine and discipline of the country, into the Parliament pound at Edinburgh. Please your Honours comes presently from the supplicant Barons, Gentlemen and Burgesses; 
A Confession of Faith.  A Confession of Faith with a more imperious preface or title from the Presbytery out of Matth 24. And this glad tidings of the kingdom shall be preached through the whole world for a witness unto all Nations, and then shall the end come; that is, the Presbyterian Scot shall pull down all Government in the world, establish the kingdom of Jesus Christ upon the earth, and then the end shall come, the work is done, 'tis fit than the wages should be paid, especially since by this new engine they draw Christ into their Covenant, 
The contents of it.  chap. 11. rebellion into the fifth commandment under the notion of saving the life of innocents, and repressing Tyranny; resisting authority if they take it to pass the bounds of the Magistrates office, not suffering innocent blood to be shed if they may gain-stand it, ch. 14. Likewise they dash all moral virtues at a stroke, restrain the power of God's Grace from effecting due obedience to his Law, ch. 15. Confine the Catholic Church to themselves, and such as shall communicate with them, denying all other Christians the undeniable benefit of their Baptism, ch. 16, 18. which they say notwithstanding, ch. 21. was instituted of God to make a visible difference betwixt his people, and those that are without his League. Pretend to reconcile these contradictions, making both true at a time. This Church is invisibly known only to God, who alone knoweth it, whom he hath chosen, &c. ch. 16. and yet the notes, signs and assured tokens, whereby the immaculate Spouse of Christ Jesus is known (to whom?) from the horrible Harlot the Church malignant we affirm are, &c. Defraud Antiquity and lineal descent in an undivided continuity the reverence rendered by the Primitive Fathers of the Church, 
Quod apud multos unum invenitur, non est erratum, sed traditum. Tertul. lib. de Praesript▪ c. 28.  & to be paid by us for the first knowledge & benefit of the Gospel: and yet at the same time running to the Ancients for strengthening the authority of the Canon. For the doctrine taught in our Churches (say they) is contained in the written Word of God, 
Hoc est verè proprié●ue Cathol●cam— si sequamur universitatem antiquitatem consencionem vincent. Lyrin. cap. 3.  to wit, in the Books of the New and Old Testaments, in those Books we mean which have been reputed (by whom but Bishops and Episcopal Doctors? no Pre●byterian) canonical: Depriving the Church of her just privilege in interpreting the Scriptures under a pretence of bestowing it upon the Spirit, 
Multum necesse est propter tantos tam var●i erroris anfractus ut Prophetae & Apostolicae interpretationis linea secundum Ecclesiastici & Catholici sensus norma dirigatur. Vincent. Lyr. c. 2.  distracting Christians hereby in matter of opinion, without extraordinary divine revelation, as in the point of Justification, wherein St. Paul and St. James seem to differ; and in matters of practice by the example of St. Peter and St. Paul, Gal. 3. All this in one ch. viz. 18. frame a plausible excuse for negligence in, or after the receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, ch. 21. Exclude all but Preachers, though Priests or Deacons, from the efficatio●s administration of the Sacraments, annexing the power and virtue of the same to divine revelation or operation of a Sermon, and so defrauding many that have had legitimate imposition of hands, called Ordination, of the character & exercise of that power justify such as resist supreme powers, doing that which appertaineth not to their charge, ch. 24. so taking away the glory of Christian humility, patience and the crown of martyrdom itself. Ret●act in part ch 15. what they professed, chap. 18. about the notes of the Church, and so take God's Name in vain, making a formal conf●ssion of his truth to no purpose.  
This pretty Pageant framed in a schismatical Assembly, 
It is voted in Parliament.  was brought into the packed Parliament to be voted The true Representative of the doctrine of Christ's Church, which the Bishops suffered quietly to pass by without spoiling any of the pasteboard or guilding, 
The Bishops not hindering it.  because they durst not (writes Knox) say any thing to the contrary; and very likely when they knew it would be to no purpose, and were well assured they should pay their Ecclesiastical Benefices, if not their lives, for a syllable of any such contradiction, the brethren having petitioned that they might be compelled to answer to former accusations, and to other likewise they had yet to lay to their charge, which were such no doubt as wanted no weight of further delinquence to press them down to the depth of any Parliamentary Vote. This Confession of Faith very liberally suffraged, was sent into France by the Lord St. John to be ratified by their Majesties. 
Their abominable hypo●risie in sending it over to be ratified in France.  By which act of pretended submission to the supremacy of their Princes, we may interpret the true meaning of all the rest, and take a sure essay of the Presbyterian subjection, whatsoever otherwhere they pretend, which I desire the Reader diligently to observe, and have in mind whensoever afterward shall occur their hypocrisy in dutiful expressions, for saith no less author than Mr. Knox; No ratification brought he [the Lord St. John] unto us but that we little regarded or yet do regard; 
Their confessed independency on Kings and Queens.  for all that we did was rather to show our dutiful obedience, than to beg of them [the King and Queen] any strength to our religion, which from God hath full power, and needed not the suffrage of man [wherefore then was it put to the Vote in Parliament?] but in so far as man had need to believe it, if that ever he shall have participation of the life everlasting. Such obedience as this showed the soldiers to our Saviour when they bowed the knee before him and mocked him, 
Mat 27 29.  saying, Hail King of the Jews. 
John 19.3.  Buchanan acknowledgeth it was sent to the Queen without hope of grant, only to discover the nakedness of her thoughts; 
magis & ejus animum nuderent, quam quod quicquam impetrare sperarent. Lib 17  as good an argument of the modesty, as the other was of loyalty of the Brethren. But this was not enough to make the Assembly magisterial, who themselves must stoop as low as any lay-brother in doctrine and confession of faith. It is the discipline that must hold up the rod (at least, if not the axe too) bind their Kings in chains, 
The book of discipline framed  & their Nobles in links of iron. To the framing of which, immediately after this Parliament dissolved, commission was given to Mr. John Winram, subprior of St. Andrews, Mr. John Row and John Knox, Mr. John Spotswood, John Willock, Mr. John Dowglass Rector of St. Andrews: all John's and beloved disciples, that had laid their heads on Christ's breast, and knew his heart about the reglement of his kingdom. Yet their letters of credit were not so good as to obtain the reception of Ambassadors from heaven, though they pretended their message was in every point consonant to the word. The Lord Erskin as great a professor as he was, 
refused by most of the Nobi●ity.  and the major part of the Nobility refused this new model, Knox imputes it to the care of his kitchen, and 'tis not unlikely he and the rest thought their title as good to the Church lands, that they might eat the fat, and be clothed with the wool of the lambs which themselves as well the clerical Johns, had taken the pains to worry and slay. Or it may be they had a care of their eyes which already began to swell with fatness, 
Psal. 73.  and if they yielded this, they would go on with the Psalmist, being hold●n with pride and overwhelmed with cruelty, they would then do even what they lust. Yet this courtesy they did the discipline, to call it, A Book of devout imaginations, that is, zealous whimsies, which might run the round in the Name sakes noddles, but if they once got ab●oad with power to captivate the thoughts of other men which were to be kept in a more reasonable service and obedience of Christ, they were to be cast down by the Apostles command, 
2 Cor. 10.5.  like high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge if God; yet Argile, Glencarn, and the whole private pack of conjured Rebels subscribe the Book, 
Subscribed by some.  and promise to set it forward at the uttermost of their power, whose names were enough to write Nobility in the front, and hold it out with the approbation of the Honourable to the people. But to accomplish the work, behold the hand of God appears through this cloud, 
Great ●oy among them at the death of K. Fr. 2.  and scatters morning roses in the way of the refoemrs. Here (saith Knox) was joy to Scotland, and matter of Thanksgiving for the wondrous work and inestimable benefit of the Lord. And what is this but the death of an innocent young King Francis the second, Husband to the Queen of Scots? who because no friend to the Brethren, and so a robber, &c. Knox cannot but brand his memory in the forehead with, 
Knox's uncharitable judgement of it.  He was suddenly stricken with an Apost●me in the deaf ear that nev●r would hear the truth of God. His glory perished, and the pride of his stubborn heart vanished in smoke. Upon notice hereof was a new Convention of the Nobility at Edinburgh, wherein the Book of Discipline was again perused in favour of some that pretended ignorance, 
The Book of Discipline perused.  who when they heard it were not so taken as to own it by subscription, or add to the authority of it by their vote, yet to prepare the way for the people to be acquainted with it, twelve things called Superintendents are ●ut out, 
Superintendents elected.  chipped and fashioned, just after the pattern in the Book. 
Brief observations upon their elections.  And because all must run in the name, John Spotswood is appointed for Lowthian, and as the leading man is in the printed form and order of the election March 9 1560. In which form I shall only intimate two or three things as I go. First, that the election of him [not only approbation] is in show devolved upon the people, who promise obedience to him as their Pastor no longer than he remains faithful in his office. This election of the people is styled, The Call of God in them [who it should seem miraculously moves their hearts, and directs them to the summoning of John] This John must profess, That the life of Angels relates to Christ as Head and Mediator of his Church, that is, if any thing, Christ came to redeem as well angels as men, and either summoned part of those lapsed spirits out of Hell, or recovered others that never had been condemned so low. This John must further profess himself Subject to the wholesome discipline of the Church, and, to avoid ambiguity, the discipline of the same Church by which he is now called to this office; so that the people that call John are infallibly the Church, and this the church's Discipline, though it hath not yet an establishment by the law. Farther, as a note of true Christian liberty, it is left at large to the people to require of him what other conditions or qualifications they think fit. After which in recompense for all this kindness and privilege, they are to oblige themselves to take what he shall preach for Gospel, and to maintain John— against all such as wickedly would rebel against God and his holy Ordinance; that is, They are to make a tumult when John holds up his finger and fight against the Queen herself as a rebel if, though never so deservedly, she suspend him from the exercise of his Superintendence or Over seeing, as they call it. At last, God is mocked in a prayer, and blasphemously craved his benediction and assistance in this work begun, which shall appear by and by to be nought else but the sin of witchcraft, a rebellion against his own anointed their sovereign Queen. But all this while somewhat else was in hand beside the Superintendence of John. 
The L. James sent into Fra.  The Lord James is sent into France, but with such limited instructions from the black Brethren, that he must by no means condescend that the Queen should have either the public or private exercise of her Religion [this is Christian liberty too: 
The Queen to be denied the e●er●ise of her Re●igion. ] This would be to betray the Church of God, and expose the Reformation to danger, who making this reply, She may have it secretly in her Chamber, Who can stop her? nobody 〈◊〉 I, though everybody meant it, they all showed the danger, and let him go. But before his return, a little to stop the violence of these furious Reformers, comes over an Ambassador from France with three demands, the last of which was, That the Bishops and Churchmen should be restored in their former places, 
An Ambassador from ●rance.  and be suffered to intermit with their livings. The Council were not very ready to give him answer, 
He is delayed by the Council.  but put him off to the Parliament in May, and then having no stomach to sit, feigned a dilatory pretence, That they would wait the certainty of the Queen's pleasure, whereof the Bishops having assurance good enough held a meeting at Sterlin, 
The loyal Nobility busy.  and the Loyal Nobility were busy in executing Her majesty's commands, the end whereof the prophetical brethren not liking very well, rubbed up their invention and framed a jealousy of the Queen's authority to be usurped, and their allegiance moved them (tender-hearted men) to meet as numerous as they could at Edinburgh, to prevent it. After this, as a most certain token of Rebellion at hand, comes a new supplicate from the Assembly of the Church to the Parliament (met at length) most humbly beseeching their honours, 
They are interrupted by a menacing Supplicate.  that such order may be taken that they have not occasion to take again the sword of just defence ('tis not the sword of the spirit they mean) which they had willingly ●esigned over into their hands This wrestled so well with the civil authority, that hereby, writes Knox, got Satan the second fall after he had begun to trouble the state of Religion. Now returns Lord James with Letters from the Queen desiring the Lords to entertain quietness, 
Lord James returns with monitory Letters from the Queen.  and to suffer nothing to be attempted against the Contract of peace made at Leith, till her own home-coming. In obedience whereunto, having dismissed the French ambassador with a negative to all he brought, 
The French Ambassador denied all, and dismissed.  they divide themselves into several squadrons, burn and ruin all the Monasteries and religious houses they come near, and this in such a trice, 
The Reformers burn and spoil.  that they accounted it little less than a miracle, and bragged that God wrought potently with them by his hand. It was time now for the Queen herself to come over, these Masters of misrule keeping no better order, whose sudden arrival surprised the Brethren, but upon several grounds and reasons drew a great confluence to her Court. 
The Queen comes over.  The Reformers seemed as officious as the best, wipe their mouths and supple them into as smooth language as oil, and drop nothing but honey at the lips, which the good Queen requited with all fair concessions of their liberty in Religion, reserving only the privilege of her Family; but this was against the Lord Iames's instructions, 
Cannot obtain the privilege of her private chapel.  to testify their adherence: whereunto, her devotions disturbed, and had not some better temper (that is a stronger hand) interposed, her chapel had been in all likelihood razed unto the ground, for the Book of Discipline affords it no singular indulgence, which the Preachers vehemently exhorted to have ectablisht by an Act and public law [of the sword,] affi●ming, That if they suffered things to hang in suspense when God had given unto them sufficient power in their hand, they should after sob for it, but should not get it. In order whereunto, the Earl of Arrane protests against the Queen's Proclamation, That God's Law having pronounced death to the Idolater— he would have it universally observed. Universal includes all particulars, and so the Queens not exempted, 
Nor be secure of her life if she e●ercise her Religion.  but the meaning is, if she say her prayers according to the persuasion of her c●nscience, she must die. To enforce this, John Knox preacheth a most violent Sermon, enveigheth against Idolatry, 
Knox's Sermon.  adds, That one mass (he confesseth there were no more suffered at first) was more fearful unto him than if 10000 armed enemies were landed in any part of the Realm of purpose to suppr●sse the whole Religion: And because he improved not the mystery of this clause into an actual rebellion, he professed himself a very formal penitent afterward, 
Repented of, because not enough seditious.  that he had not spoke his meaning plainer; that he had not directly animated them to put their hands to the work of the Lord [that is, execute his law against Idolaters, and murder the Queen for maintaining a single mass.] The good Queen for all this admits him to her presence, reasons mildly with him about the point, 
The Queen reasons with him and confounds him.  wherein she so accutely and judiciously acts her part, that she makes him maintain all the absurdities incident thereunto. Opposition to supreme magistrates by the sword: That the Israelites in Egypt, Daniel and his company in Babylon, and any of the children of God otherwhere, would have made resistance by the sword, if God had given them the power and the means. To the proof of which, in behalf of the Primitive Christians, I wonder he cited not this of Tertullian, Vrbes, insulas, castella, municipia, conciliabula, castra ipsa, tribus▪ decurias, palatium, Senatum, forum impleverunt, they were numerous enough, yet no Knox's among them, nulli inter illos Albiniani, nulli Nigriani, nulli Cassiani. The dispute being ended, 
His revenge in an insolent character of Her Majesty.  he gave this mannerly character of the Queen; That there was in her a proud mind, a crafty wit, and an indurate heart against God and his truth. After this the matter of Religion for the Queen and her Family was more publicly agitated between the Nobility and Ministry, 
The Nobility and Ministry divided about the Queen and Discipline.  neither party convinced▪ and so each to other made opposite conclusions. Many Lords retracted their subscription to the Discipline, and drew into question the expedience of Assemblies. This put them upon offering the Discipline to the Queen, which Her Majesty absolutely refused. Hereupon the state of the question is altered, and Burrowes a bold fellow, is set in the front of a seditious party, 
Burrows' articles.  to put up articles about maintenance for the Ministry of the Reformation. For quietness sake to this purpose, 
The Bishops give up a third part of their revenues.  the Bishops relinquish the third part of their revenues, to settle which, Commissioners are ordered, and to satisfy any of the discontented faction, proclamation is made, that it shall be dispatched with all possible speed. Some makes jests upon it, as the Earl of Huntley bids Good morrow to the Lords of the two parts. 
Huntley's jeer.  But Knox who gaped at the whole, 
Knox's censure.  said in earnest; That the Spirit of God was not the author of it, for he saw two parts freely given to the Devil, and the third must be divided between God and the Devil. The regret at this so sticks in the stomachs of him and his Assembly brethren that they are fain to have recourse to their usual remedy, and disgorge it in a filthy supplicate to the Queen, 
He and his Brethren supplicate with wonted impudence.  part of the contents were these: God's hands cannot long spare in his anger to strike the head and the tail, the inobedient Prince and sinful people— They press the Queen again 
1562.  to forsake the practice of her Religion, and revile it as the fosterer of whores, adluterers, drunkards blasphemers of God, &c. threaten that the obstinate maintenance of it shall in the end be to her destruction of soul and body, if she rep●nted not— declare They could no longer keep silence, unless they would make themselves criminal before God of her blood, perishing in her own iniquity, and they plainly admonish her of the danger to come— They humbly require that Bishops may not be set up again, to empire above the people of God, for they fear that such usurpation of their former estate will be neither in the end pleasant to themselves, nor profitable to them that would place them in that tyranny— That if the Papists think to triumph where they may, and to do what they list, where there is not a party able to resist them, that some will think, that the godly must begin where they left. But the equity and civility of tendering such language was discussed between Secretary Lethington and the Brethren, who advised them upon any grievance to make complaint and appeal to the Law. 
Secretary Lethington discourseth with them.  Here one mends the matter and saith, If the sheep shall complain to the wolf [the Queen] That the wolves whelps have devoured the lambs, the complainer may stand in dange●, &c. After such cautious reasoning, as Knox calls it, the supplication was left to the Secretary to review, who moderated the language, but not so as to gain a grant from the Queen, nor indeed did the Brethren expect it, but took advantage hereby to pursue their design to stir up the people by certain emissaries s●nt from the Assembly, of whom the great incendiary Knox must be one, whose gospel had the usual success in Kyle and Gallowoy, the chief Professors meeting at air, 
A Covenant a● air.  where they covenanted to maintain the Ministers of the evangel against all persons, power and authority, that should oppose themselves to the doctrine propounded— So that whosoever should hurt, molest or trouble any of their bodies, should be reputed enemies to the whole— except he submit to the government of the Church then established [they say not by whom.] At the next Assembly were great complaints made about the Churches lacking Ministers▪ 
Complaints about Ministers, &c. Decem. 25. 1562.  and Ministers their stipends, &c. For redress hereof some thought of a new Supplication, others mentioned that no answer had been given to the former. So that for such things which could not be done without the Queen, they ●eem'd to express themselves dutiful subjects in waiting her pleasure, the rest that could, they did by themselves, not craving her consent or approbation, unless in mockery to make sport. But because the law kept not pace with the brethren's haste, nor, as they thought, the Queen with the law, they take an easy occasion for a quicker dispatch. Having discovered some Priest that said mass at Easter, 
A P●iest seized on for saying mass.  avowed by the Bishop of St. Andrews contrary to the Queen's Proclamation, they take justice into their own hands, clap him up in prison, whose pardon the Queen could scarcely obtain with abundance of tear●: punish others, and give int●mation to the Abbot of Cosragnel, the Parson of Sangohar, 
Encouragement given to punish such without leave from Queen or Council.  &c. that they should neither complain to the Queen nor Council, but should execute the punishment that God had appointed to Idolaters in his L●w, by such means as they might wherever they should be apprehended. This incensed the Queen, yet put her not beside a tempered discourse with John Knox (whose you may be s●re had been this bloody advice) to whom Her Majesty propounds this question: Will ye allow that they shall take my sword in their hand? who answered, 
The Queen expostulates with them about it.  The sword of justice is God's— and they that in the fear of God execute judgement where God hath commanded, offend not God, altho●gh Kings do it not; neither yet sin th●y that bridle Kings to strike innocent men in their rage. The Queen yielded not to his reason, she did to his power with her poor deceived liege people: 
Suffers much against her interest.  And so strict she was in observing her laws made against her own interest, that she suffered the Bishops and divers other Priests to be summoned before the Earl of Argile, accused and committed to prison. In requital for which act of impartial justice writes John Knox, All this was done of a most deep craft, to abuse the simplicity of the Protestants, that they should not press the Queen with any other thing concerning matters of Religion. 
For which she is scarcely thanked.  A good encouragement for Princes to grant any thing to the Presbytery, when by their largest concessions they shall obtain nothing but the character of politic deceivers, gain neither upon their affection nor duty. Indeed the more reasonable part of the Nobility and people did somewhat reverence the Queen for her great largeness, and decl●n'd for some time being further importunate instruments of her trouble, or the Clergies imperious tyranny upon her conscience, which made an absolute breach between the Earl of Murray and Knox, 
E. Murray and Knox at difference.  who denounced God's judgements upon him for his coldness in his service: The like he did publicly in a Sermon to the rest that should consent to the Queen's Marriage with an Infidel (for such are all Papists with the Presbytery, though they hold the same Creed) which he said was to banish Christ Jesus from the Realm. 
Knox questioned by the Queen.  These and other his ex●travagancies were such as disliked both parties, who concurred to have him questioned by the Queen, which, poor Lady, she could not do (according to his desert) for the passionate cries and tears which, this Tiger confesseth, burst out in such abundance, that her Page could scarcely furnish her with Handkirchiefs enough to dry her eyes. To whom all the apology he makes is, 
His Apology▪  his moderation used out of the Pulpit, a falsehood, as may be evid●nc'd by his other discourses and Letters, as likewise in that he said, He was not master of himself, but must obey him who commands him to speak plain, and to flatter no flesh upon the face of the earth. The Queens grief had so prevailed with her, that he was commanded to wait a time in the next chamber, where, to testify his compassion and sense of those Royal Tears, he entertained merry discourse with the Court Ladies, jeering them about their beauties and apparel. At last he had liberty given him to depart, and that (according to the Queen's good nature) without a c●nsure. 
He is dismiss●d.  In recompense of which kindness, two Felons Armstrong and Cranstone being to undergo the trial of the law, 
Summons the Country to rescue Armstrong and Cranstone.  John Knox, (to whom, by his own acknowledgement, the charge was given to make advertisements whensoever danger should appear, because zealous brethren) summons in by Letters the country to their rescue, 
For which the Master of M●xwel quits his acquaintan●e.  for which the Master of Maxwell, his old friend; discharged himself of a rebellious familiar, and never would own him more. He was again brought before the Queen and Council, but dismissed as formerly, though as impudently as ever he maintained all his rebellious doctrine, and blaspemously abused Scripture to confirm it.  
In December 1563. was another General Assembly, 
A general Assembly where the Ministers petition.  and several Petitions of Ministers presented, but their dutiful demeanour had not been such, as to win a speedy answer and grant of their demands. They complained of some such speech given them. As Ministers will not follow our counsel, so will we suffer Ministers to labour for themselves, and see what speed they come. To which the whole▪ Assembly made this modest reply: If the Queen will not we must. Some dispute there was between the Lord Secretary Lethington and the Brethren▪ Go●dman being their speaker, for John Knox was sullen and musty at that time, 
Knox ou● of humour.  having lashed out so far, that some even of the Protestants themselves said, What can the Pope do more than to send forth his Letters and require them to be obeyed. At length he made a speech, wherein he desired to have his actions justified and owned by the whole Assembly, 
Thre●etns the Ass●mb●y.  or else he threatened he would never in public, nor private, as a public Minister open his mouth in doctrine or reasoning. The Brethren trembling at this immediately voted and avowed his fact to be the fact of the whole Assembly. But this with the rest, alienated the affections not only of the Queen and Court, but of rational Lay-Protestants from their Ministers, 
The Ministers disliked by most.  whereat they, hating the name of Dumb dogs (which was the insepar●ble title of the Bishops) barked aloud every day in their Pulpits, but as it happened this was no time to bite. In the next Assembly 1564. their words were scanned, some advocates they found, but more accusers. Here, as in the other, 
A s●hism among the Reformers.  was a public Schism● among the Reformers, divers Lords and Ministers withdrawing themselves, and transacting many things about the Church: 
A dispute betw●en L. Se. Lething●on and Knox, who maintains strange doctrine.  At length they were drawn together to the hear●●g of Knox's Cause, which was very largely discussed between the Lord Secretary Lethington and him. The propositions maintained by Knox were these five.  
1. That Subjects have delivered an innocent from the hands of their King, and therefore offended not God.  
2. That Subjects have refused to strike innocents, when a King commanded, and in so doing denied no just obedience.  
3. That such as struck at the commandment of the King, were before God reputed murderers.  
4. That God hath not only of a subject made a King, but also he armed subjects against their natural King, & commanded them to take vengeance upon him according to his law.  
5. And lastly, That God's people hath executed God's law against their King, having no farther regard to him in that behalf, than if he had been the most simple subject within the Realm.  
To the proof of these, holy Scripture and ecclesiastic History is shamefully wrested; 
Scripture and History wrested to prove it.  all the extraordinary precedents in the Old Testament forced to justify the new practice of the Schismatical Scots, and John Knox made as familiar with God, and as private to his most secret counsels, as any of the Prophets or Apostles in the Bible.  
These are to this day the doctrines of the Disciplinarian Brethren, 
A caution to Princes and Subjects concerning the Presbyterians.  by which Kings and Princes may see how much concerned they are to beware of, and by an indispen●able coercive power, when they have it, to restrain them: And all good subjects are to abandon utterly their opinions and practice, lest the Devil possess them, as from the beginning he hath done these swine, and cast them down headlong into Hell.  
At the end of this dispute, much ado there was about the votes of the Assembly, but their divisions being many, they at last advised Knox to send for the opinions of Calvin and other eminent Divines in the Reformed Churches, 
Their opinions and practices intended to be counten●nced by the Reformed Churches.  which he cunningly declined, pretending he was assured he had them all on his side (a pretty credit for the foreign Reformation) and would not so wrong his cause as to call it in question before any of them. And so, re infecta, the Assembly broke up.  
Not long after the banished Earl of Lenox had leave to return into Scotland, 
E. of Lenox returns into Scotland.  and was graciously received by the Queen. In favour of whom, that he might be restored to his lands, 
A Parliament called in favour of him.  Her Majesty intended to call a Parliament, but desired the Earl of Murray that nothing about Religion might be mentioned; He said, he could not promise it, for the precise Ministry, 
The Assembly rigid about Church affairs.  as they were now called, did not use to stand to the Queen's courtesy in Church aff●irs. Nor did they now forbear, although they knew Her pleasure, but gave in again their old factious articles, and ordained many things in their Assembly about the Church.  
Now begins the Queen's affecti●on to show itself toward the young Lord Darley, 
The Queen declares her intent to marry the L. Darley.  and Secretary Lethington is dispatched into England to signify to Queen Elizabeth, that she minded to marry him. Whether in reference to this or no I know not, 
Knox summons the Country to arms and a suppl●cate.  but Pope Knox's Bulls are dispersed abroad, and the Brethren of Edinburgh, Dundee, Fife, etc, summoned to come in and arm themselves to make a new supplication to the Queen, which was presented in very dutiful manner (no question) by the Superintendent of Lowthian, wherein Her Majesty was advised to take heed of the matter, if any Idolatry and Superstition were used at Easter following. The poor Queen's task was hard, 
The Queen complices with their desires.  having two Popes to please, but this nearer home threatening greater mischief to her Crown and person, must be served first, and accordingly prohibitions were sent out to all suspected places and persons, especially to the Bishop of St. Andrews and Aberdeen, not to use mass. And that they should not do any such thing as was feared by the Protestants, or convene any Council, &c. This stopped not the stricter inquisition of the Precisians, 
Sir James Carvet intercepted after Mass and exposed to mockery and violence at Edinburgh cross.  who intercepted Sir James Carvet upon the road, having it should seem, been at some private mass, revested him with his garments, carried him to the market-cross at Edinburgh, bound the Chalice to his hand, and him to the cross, let him stand there an hour or two for the boys to throw eggs at, which they called, Serving him with his Easter eggs. This popular piece of justice was approved afterward, 
This justice allowed and again appointed at the Assize.  and seconded by a grave censure to the same punishment at the Assize, only for some solemnity, he had appointed to him the attendance of the Hangman. The Queen sent a serious Letter to the Provost & bailiff, to proceed legally with the seditious executioners of justice, but hereof was little notice taken beside setting Sir James and his company at liberty upon Her majesty's special Command. 
1565.  In the month of May following some of the Precise Nobility and Clergy being angry that they failed of a design they had against the Earl Bothwell (whom they summoned to Edinburgh, 
The Precise Nobiilty and Clergy assembling about religion, are summoned by the Queen unto her Marriage.  but he diverted toward France) turned their Law-Court into an ecclesiastic Assembly, and, without any authority from the Queen, sat down to consult about maintaining of Religion, but Her Majesty knowing by custom that would end in a Rebellion, citys them all to Sterlin about her marriage with the Lord Darley, and to subscribe a Writ about obedience to him as their sovereign, which the Brethren that bent themselves every way to cross her, caused the Earl Murray to refuse, 
E Murray refuseth.  till some conditions about religion were consented to on her part, and a Convention ordered to be at St Johnston to that purpose. A day for which being prefixed, that a business of that consequence might be the more sedately and peaceably deliberated on, 
A convention at St. Johnston.  the principals of the Precisians summon in what strength they could out of the country, which Her Majesty foreseeing was to force her consent to whatsoever they would propound, 
Put off by the Queen.  put off the day till she had advised with her Council, after which the 23. of June following was appointed, but the Queen being by that time too well guarded agai●●t the intended violence, the Brethren had no stomach to assemble; 
And let fall by the Brethren, who divert E. Murr●y's going thither by a feigned story.  and to divert the Earl of Murray, who ●as going thither, feign a formal sto●y of a design upon his person. That the Lord Darley should discourse with him and draw him into a dispute, whereupon David Rizio (of whom more shall be said hereafter) was to strike in, and with some other Assistants that were in readiness, murder him. To colour the Earls absence, was given out that he was taken with a flux, and lay sick at Lochlevin, where he remained till the Queen came to Edinburgh. In the interim, there is held a general Ass●mbly of the Church July 24. By this time the Brethren had mustered their strength, 
A Church Assembly held.  and were resolved to capitulate to the rigour with the Queen, six very modest Articles are drawn up, and sent by five Commissioners to be ratified by Her Majesty in Parliament. The first and fifth of which were to have her sign her own death, 
Very insolent articles sent by Commissioners unto the Queen.  in case she altered not her religion, for the Papistical and blasphemous mass, with all Papistical Idolatry, &c. must be abolished throughout the Realm, not only in the subjects, but also in the Queens own person, with punishment against all persons that should be deprehended (Her Majesty expressly named in the former, and not excepted in the latter, and the punishment appointed for Idolaters is death, as they everywhere mention) The Queen having received this pleasing message departs privately to Dunkeld, 
Who departeth to Dunkeld, whither they follow her.  whither she is persecuted by this Commission, prevailed with for audience, and importuned for a dispatch. In her answer she delays them for eight days, after which she intended to be in Edinburgh with her Council. To gain Her majesty's concession the Brethren arm themselves and assemble at St. Leonard Crag. 
And appear in arms at St. Leonard Crag.  The Queen saw it was now high time to speak her mind, which she did in a particular return to the six Articles. To the first, 
The Queen's answer to their Articles.  she only demanded of her subjects what she freely gave to them, liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion: hoped they would not press her to receive any religion against her conscience, which should be unto her a continual trouble by remorse, and a perpetual unquietness. And to deal plainly, Her Majesty neither will nor may leave the Religion wherein she hath been nour●shed and brought up. But the Brethren still prosecute the religious cause, and to prepare it the better for the Parliament approaching▪ the Earls of A●gile and Murray, &c. meet at Sterlin to consult. 
Argile and Murray meet.  The Queen takes this ill; s●nds her two Advocates Mr. Spense and Mr. Crichton, who c●uld by no means persuade them to come to Edinburgh. The Queen p●orogues the Parliament to the fi●st of September, 
The Parliament prorogued.  preparing by Letters and Proclamations to be in as good a military posture of defence as they could.  
Upon the 18. of July Proclamation was made for obedience to be rendered to the Lord Darley as King, 
L. Darley proclaimed King. The Queen disturbed in her Marriagr.  the next morning he was Married to the Queen, notwithstanding such disturbance intended as the Queen was fain to raise an Army to secure her in her Marriage. The Precise Lords had appointed the rendezvouz for their forces the 24. of August, and a countermand issued out from their Majesties to attend them at Linlithgow the same day. But upon the 19 day of that month John Knox preacheth before the King at Edinburgh upon Isa. 26.13. O Lord our God, 
Knox's Sermon.  other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us, but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. He declaims against Tyrants and wicked Princes, saith expressly, That God sets in that room (for the offences and ingratitude of the people) boys and women— That God justly punishe● Ahab and his Posterity, because he would not take order with that Harlot Jezabel. The King knew whom he meant, 
displeased the King.  and forbore his dinner out of anger. Knox was summoned before the Council, and wished to abstain from preaching for some few day●s; He answered, That he had spoken nothing but according to his Text, and if th●Church would command him either to speak or abstain, he would abstain So far as the word of God would permit. So the King's command must give way to the Churches, and John Knox regulate the Churches too according to the word,  
The Lords range up and down the country to increase their strength, 
The Lords divided in their Councils.  but find not what success they hoped for. This makes some divisions in their Councils, Murray and Glencarne were for an accommodation; the Hamiltons put no confidence in peace, pretending the enmity of Kings was implacable, no other way to be extinguished but by their death. This harsh advice took place with none but such as adhered to them upon a mystical reason, their nea●●itle to the Crown: And many others looking upon the quarrel as prosecuted upon private interest, more than the public good, which was pretended, deserted their party, and so infirmed their strength. The remnant sent a Letter to their Majesties, 
A Letter sent from that party to their Majesties.  flattering their persons, but enveighing against their Council, putting in some caution for Religion, and menacing a hard market for their blood, if sought. The Princes guessing this might be to gain time, remitted no whit of their Military care, but made hard marches, the weather being very bad. 
A Proclamation at St. Andrews▪  At St. Andrews Proclamation was published to inform the subjects about the true state of the difference, demonstrating to them that nothing less was meaned than Religion most pretended; how hardly they were used, according to Mr. Knoxs's Doctrine, like boys and Gyrls in their pupillage, the Lords appointing their Council as their Guardians. The Ministers all this while were no cyphers, 
The Ministers petition unseasonably for their means.  but knowing their Majesties were somewhat necessitated for money to pay their Army, which was come to a considerable number of 18000 men, thought it the fittest time to supplicate for their means. This piece of impertinency was easily swallowed among greater troubles, their authority being not such at this time as to stand upon terms, and expostulate at length the Holy Lords of the Congregation being confiscate and banished: Therefore they fall to their Prayers for patience, 
They pray for patience, having not power enough to fight.  comfort, and constancy to the exiled, which John Knox did not without honourable mention of them as the best part of the Nobility, the chief Members of the Congregation. But prayers and tears were not wont to be the only arms of this new Church, and though they had no other at present, yet some course must be taken to reduce them into possession of such a power. This cannot be done without the exiled Lord's return into the country, for which their Letters and missive supplicates not prevailing, 
inquiry made about the obstruction of their supplicates.  enquiry was made about the principal obstruction, the common current of the Queen's favour and mercy diffusive enough. requiring nought of the most delinquent Subject, but to take the pains to stoop and taste it as he pleased. This was found to be David Rizio Her Secretary, who by the excellency of his parts, and fidelity of his service, 
D. Rizio pretended to be it, whose murder they design, and at●●mpt to draw the King into the plot.  in these many turns of treachery and falsehood, had raised himself to an intimacy with the Queen, much beyond the quality o● his Birth, or place in Her Court. The Brethren had no such free access to the retirements of the Royal Palace as afforded them an opportunity to commit such a rape on Majesty as this: nor could there be they thought, a better hand than the King to rend in sunder the Queen's heart, and rifle thence, by prerogative privilege, the counterfeit of her dearest servant, whom they were resolved to have thrown out of the world, that she might never more have benefit by his Counsel, nor content by his presence and attendance. But such transcendent wickedness as this requires supreme providence to guide it, nor can any miraculous mischief be wrought but by the plenipotence of Heaven. To this purpose a Fast is proclaimed by the Assembly, 
A Fast procla●med for success,  and observed, No Fast for strife and debate, 
Isai 58.  nor to smite with the fist of wickedness; such a Fast, no doubt, as the Lord had chosen, to undo the heavy bu●thens, to break the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free. The King's head is daily possessed by convenient instruments with variety of jealousies about his Queen: 
Suggestions unto the K●ng against the Queen, and D. Rizio.  her privacies with David Rizio are suggested as no arguments of her matrimonial fidelity; and the precedence of her name before his (Her paramours invention) did derogate as much from the due authority of an Husband, as from the Majesty of a King. nought but David Rizio's removal can make way for the future innocency of the Queen: and very just is it thought that his heart blood should blot out his hands error in the writs. But bare-faced murder is not so beautiful as to draw a tender Conscience to embrace it. Religious mask may hide somewhat of the horror, and necessity of state animate, an adventure to take it by the hand, which the Lords of this black Council weighing with themselves, propound three Atticles to the King. Establishing the Religion. Recalling the banished Lords, and in the rear of these, 
Three Artices propounded by the Lords unto the King.  The murder of David Rizio. His Royal word might vanish into air, and be no standing evidence for the security of the actors, who press for a subscription by his hand. The discourse alone upon this is enough for an after-claim to his consent, and the counterfeit of his name to give his disavowing Majesty the lie. Howsoever if his engagement were any, the reverence of a Father that advised brought him half way upon the mistasken borders of his duty, and old Patrick Ruvens resurrection, who had for many months been bedrid: but skipped very lively into this action, might impose on his youth as an oracle from the dead. Upon the Saturday before the Tuesday prefixed by the Queen for the attainder of the Lords, 
D. Rizio hurried from the Queen's presence, and murdered.  this crippled assassin in the company of the Earl Morton, Lord Ruthuen, Lord Lindsay, &c. broke into the presence, and in Her majesty's sight who was then great with child, carry violently away her servant of greatest secrecy and trust, and within a Chamber or two by fifty three strokes with their whingers or daggers, murder him for the advancement of the Discipline, which work now goes on a pace, the Earl Murray and the banished Lords returning to the Court upon a pretended summons from the King These with the Murderers sit in Council, desire the Queen to take the act for good service, 
The Queen desired to take this for good service.  because hereby were so many Noblemen restored. The poor Queen was fain to be silent in what she could not help, and not knowing how soon her own turn was to come, 
She is jealous of the like violence intended to her person.  as an essay of their intentions, desired the armed Guard might be dismissed, for granting which the cruel Brethren count the King uxorious and simple, the Earl Murray facile, and the other Lords too inclinable to submit. Her Majesty though good natured, was neither stupid, nor partial when endued with exercive power. The blood of Rizio called upon her for Justice more than the memory of his good service, or her own affection did incite her to revenge. This opportunity she took to summon her loyal Subjects to Dunbar, 
Yet calls the Lords &c. to account for the murder.  whither Her Majesty privately withdrew. The guilty Lords did not like to have any armed assemblies appear but their own, and accounted it an entrenchment on their privilege for the Queen to act any thing but by their counsel. At the same time and 
* Edinburgh, Tolboth.  place where they should have answered to their charge, they convene to protest against the Q. proceedings, 
They protest against her proceedings.  yet wanting that which was wont more then either their authority or innocency to spirit their dispute, they disperse themselves to seek each a single sanctuary in a corner. 
But disperse.  The King and Queen in March were attended with a strong Guard to Edinburgh, His Majesty having before by Proclamation quit himself, 
The King quits himself by proclamation of all guilt.  not only of the guilt, but all foreknowledge of the murder (which is not inconsistent with what was said of an article propounded, so they acquainted him not upon his refusal with their design) search is made by order after the actors and partisans, 
Search made after the actors.  care being taken that the Brethren which so zealously prayed and fasted for poor Rizio's death, should not surfeit at their leisure on his blood. The common hackney-interruption of every Royal enterprise or process was the humble and lamentable complaints of Her highness's poor orators, 
An interruption by the Ministers supplicates.  the superintendents and Ministers, &c. who still want 〈◊〉 means, and at this time, it may be a reward for their late service. But here they fetch their breath short, and cannot lengthen out their supplicate as heretofore, to abolishing the Mass, & antichristian Bishops, 
The demur upon acceptance of the Quee●s grant.  the temporal sword was wanting which should strengthen their weak hands, and confirm their feeble knees. The Queen gratified their present modesty with a promise, although the Assembly was nice in owning her gracious performance afterward, for the writ of maintenance subscribed by Her Majesty being publicly presented, they take time to deliberate about acceptance of it from her hand, and answer very gravely, That it was their duty to preach to the people the Word of God truly and sincerely, and to crave of the auditors the things that were necessary for their sustentation, as of duty the pastors might justly crave of their flock; and further it became them not to have any care. 
Of whose denial they could have made better us●.  Which plain contradiction can ad●mit of no other Salve but this. That they wanted not the subsistence, for which they so frequently and importunately petitioned, nor had they any desire to be answered by a grant; but this colourable pretence they could ever make use of to usher in their more peevish demands, upon denial whereof, or (which they made ever equivalent) delay, the public commiseration of their poverty who laboured in the Gospel melted the people's loyalty into a tumult. 
Iac. 6. June 1566.  About this time comes matter of joy for all, 
A Prince born.  though upon several grounds, and different hopes of advantage to be made by it, the birth of a Prince, of whom if the Brethren can get the godly education, and mould the new d●scipline into his creed, there can be Gospel enough beside Knox's Book against the Empire of Women, or else club law, which is better to prevail with the Queen for a surrender of the Crown and sceptre into his hand. In reference hereunto, after thanks and praises, are made many supplications to God, and wishes (more powerful persuasions being wanting) that he might be baptised according to the manner of the Reformed Churches in the Realm. 
And against the brethren's mind baptised by the Archbishop of St. Andrews.  But the Bishop of St. Andrews is thought to have a more authentic mission than the Brethren, and the Sacrament efficacious from his hand though none but boys could be got to bear torches at the solemnity of the Christening. This check to the Discipline seemed ominous, 
This they take ill from the King.  and if the future removes in the Prince's education should be answerable, the Brethren saw they might be mated in the end. The King had either taken no impression by their counsel about Rizio, or retained very little of it after his dispatch. He had been so uxorious as to put the bloody Lords to shift for themselves, and being given to his sports might possibly leave the young child wholly to the Queen's disposal; at the best he was but a cipher in Religion, 
A Regent o● Protector thought more proper for their occasions.  and filled up the room of a more significant figure, a Regent, or Protector of the Prince. The strong reports of his engagement against Rizio hath wrought a visible suspicion in the Queen, and that will be enough to draw a popular jealousy upon herself, though Murray and his complices be the true politic Assassins that act a second Trajedy in the murder of the King. Howsoever this bloody business was contrived and executed, 
Whereupon the King is obscurely murdered, and one of his servants strangled.  the corpse of the murdered King was thrown into a Garden, and one of his Servants strangled with him, the house where he lay in Edinburgh blown up in triumph for the design taking effect, or as a signal to the Brethren to blaspheme God by their midnight Thanksgiving.  

The Queen again in solitude.  Now was the poor Queen once again reduced to her solitude, without the comfort or assistance of a Husband, in greater haz●rd of her peace and security then ever by what she foresaw would be act●d against her by the Reformers under the umbrage of her Son. To prevent what she well could of this mischief she casts herself upon the despe●ate adventure of a sudden marriage. The experience she had of Earl Bothwels trust, 
Thinks of marrying E. Bothwel.  and the clear opinion the world had of his courage led her nuptial affection unto his comely person by the hand. The intended divorce between the Earl and his Lady upon the lawful ground of too near consanguinity would assuredly set him at liberty for her purpose, and Her majesty thought Religion as well as policy might be had to justify his help, 
Having forecasted all difficulties to be encountered.  being then at leisure, in supporting of a Crown, she presumed on her innocency to quit her from the slander of the Brethren about her former familiarity with the Earl, and upon the justice of the Law to wash his hands in the sight of the world from the murder of the King. What other inevitable difficulty, she must encounter, she left to providence and the fortune of war. And if by all the fair means to be used the precise mouths could not be stopped from shooting bitter words, and sharp arrows against her person or government, she saw no way left but to hold their hands, and ●ut their venomous tongues out with the Sword. But the Brethren were never wont to be backward, to raise a Rebellion in their own defence as they called it, and much more unlikely is it they should be now when a young Prince was committed by Heaven unto their charge. The fountainhead for sedition was most commonly at Edinburgh, which now had for a Conduit John Craig the Minister, 
John Craig declaims against it, and excites the people to rebellion.  who declaimed fiercely against the divorce and marriage, and as boldly as could be maintained his discourse when he was questioned for it before the Council. Hence tumults beginning, the Queen thought to seize the Castle of Edinburgh to suppress them, 
The Queen demands Edinburgh Castle, and obtains it on an hard condition, for the person of the Prince, the original of her ruin.  which she demands of the old Earl of Marre, who, though sick at Sterling▪ advised by his confessors would make no surrende●, and exchange he would for no les● than the person of the Prince. The condition was hard, ●et at length consented to by the Queen, who might have saved some part of her future trouble it may be her head, if when she kissed and shook hands with her Babe, she had taken off her Crown, and thrown it into the cradle, for now we hear of no more Supplicates, 
They address now no more supplicates.  and humble addresses to her; they had now a Royal Infant in their hands, whom as young as he was, they had taught to speak far better language than his Mother, and to act (with good authority and judgement no question) their hearts desire in behalf of the D●scipline. The Queen may now proclaim what she please, as she did, they say, large favours towards the poor Protestants, she mistakes herself, they are no such men as mean to live on her alms, having got her only jewel in possession, and will have very shortly her Crown; but they had not hands enough yet to remove it, being like a nail fastened in a sure place of Female magnanimity, 
Isai. 22.23▪  and innocency, and the Throne had by late marriage acquired a stout Champion to protect it; nothing now but sl●under and violence can get it into their power, and they must be sure to coin the former of good metal, whereby to purchase an effectual assistance in the latter. 
Their malicious calumny of the Queen, and E. Bothwell's resolution to murder the young Prince.  They set up shop at Sterlin, and hammer out a conceit that the Queen and Earl of Bothwell had an undoubted resolution to murder the young Prince, and next a band or covenant to protect him. But Argile one of the banded Lords, could not sleep well with this shackle about his Conscience, and the next day reveals the conspiracy to the Queen. She hath many of the Lords that adhere to her, 
The Queen raiseth an Army.  & a daily access of strength from the common people But Her majesty makes first approaches by her goodness▪ before she moves toward the conspirators with her power. Having proclaimed a Grant of their demands for Religion, 
Yet proclaims great concessions.  she doth the like to the other Article of policy, and passeth her Royal promise to be hereafter guided by the advice of her Nobles. This they thought was to direct a way to Sterlin, where having yielded all, it might be taken for reason or a civil favour to gratify her with the restitution of her Son. To intercept her in this haste they besiege Her majesty and the Earl at Borthwike Castle, 
They besiege Her Majesty at Borthwike-Castle.  where nothing was wanting to the surprisal of their persons but the Earl of Athols men to stop a pass, by which they both escaped to Dunbar. The rebels thus defeated in their plot, 
Thence they go to Edinburgh.  make what hast they can to Edinburgh, where they found no hard entrance into the City, and they pretended to some underhand favour from Balfour governor of the Castle; yet as guilt is prone to suspicions and fears, they confide not so much in their friends or strength, but that divided in their counsels the prevailing party inclined to a disbanding and shifting for themselves; 
Yet incline to disband, but are prevented by the Queen's approach.  but the Queen's Army drawing near, despair of mercy made them resolute, and united their factions to hazard all at once. Musselburgh field was the place where both Armies met, and being ready to join battle▪ 
An unfortunate Treaty by the French Agents means.  Mon. Croke the French Agent unhappily interposeth for a Treaty; gets the Queen to promise pardon, and then offers it in her name to the Lords of the conspiracy; they had no mind to take her word, nor his, and the Earl of Glencarn very majestickly told him, They came not thither to take, but to give pardon at their pleasure. The Queens yielding to this parley put a jealousy into her Army that she had no great faith in the good fortune of the battle, 
The Queen's Army discouraged.  and Glencarns bold answer spoke a too fixed resolution in their enemies. This, and some treachery that was acted in the dark, made a great party declare against the business for which they came into the field. The Queen's passion, running too quick a division upon entreaties and menaces, evidenced to them the distraction of her m●nd, which at length brought her to a precipice, & threw her into a ruin, She sends to treat personally with the L. Kirkaldie of Grange, with whom he holds a discourse while the Earl Bothwell of late made Duke of Orkney was out of present danger. 
Her majesty's discourse with L. Kirkaldic of Grange, while E. Bothwell slips away. Her horrid entert●inment in the rebel's Army.  Afterward Her Majesty goeth with him to the Rebels, by whom she was at first received with as much reverence as hypocrisy could counterfeit, which being only a false paint upon the van or front of the Army, when she had made a little farther entrance, she heard a loud cry, Burn the Strumpet, and Parricide, Burn the Strumpet and Parricide, This courtesy pursued her until she was welcomed by a Pageant, a fair banner displayed, wherein was pictured K. Henry, (the Lord Darley) that was dead, and a little Infant (the young Prince) at his Prayers to God for revenge upon the murderer. This was carried by two Soldiers between two Spears, and which way soever the Queen turned her face. as maliciously as might be, this was presented to her. When the poor innocent Lady fainted not under the burden of her guilt, but impatience of this most unchristian reproach, they held her upon her horse, and the banner still displayed on purpose it may be (there being more yet undiscovered of the design) to affright her Royal Soul into her body, if it attempted to spring out. Being somewhat recovered, they hurry her toward Edinburgh, but her faintness of spirit, after the late torture, declining so great haste, a common soldier was instructed to cry out, You linger to no purpose; The Hamiltons are not at hand here for your rescue. When they had brought her to the City, they thrust her into an inn, where if she looked but out at window, 
She is thrust into an inn at Edinburgh, and guarded.  to weep at that liberty, as the tears trickled down with the sad sound of her sighs, & the pity of some tender hearted people ascended in a whisper, she was sure to have that cursed banner a fresh presented, which forced her to this choice, a perpetual rack, or close imprisonment, yet the Rebell● fearing the effects of such still conference between a distressed Queen, and her commiserating subjects, 
Thence posted away to the Isle of Lochlevin.  post her the next day to a Castle in the Isle of Lochlevin▪ where a proud harlot insults and tra●ples upon her calamitous person, while her ambitious bastard plays the part of a pretender to the Crown.  
And now it was high time for the godly Ministers to meet in an assembly, and with the Seal of the Spirit make good all these proceedings; 
The Ministers ●ssemble.  which they did, and farther service, for the Hamiltons had got a strong party of the Nobles, and as great an Army as the Brethren. To these and to diverse N●utrals were sent several conscientious letters from the Cl●rgie, to summon them in for the settling of God's true worship in the Church, beside a spiritual quaternion of John Knox▪ Dowglas, Row, and Craig are deputed Commissioners with instructions to like purpose, 
Four Commissioners deputed by them to summon in the Hamilton's, &c.  in expectation of whose return was the Assembly prorogued. But so much time was lost, for neither soothing Letters, nor supling language could prevail for their company. This summons, though rejected, was sufficient to authoriz● the faction at Edinburgh, to combine in the maintenance of some such Articles as these. 
Articles agreed on by the rebels.   
That all crimes and offences against God should be punished according to God's word, &c. but they make no particular mention, as that doth, of Witchcraft and Rebellion.  
That they would protect the young Prince, against all violence, (his Imprisonment at present they counted none.)  
That he should be committed to the care of four wise and godly men. The first time, I have heard of a Clerical Assembly choosing Lords Protectors, That they would set up and further the true worship of God,— and all that may concern the purity of Religion, and life. And for this to take arms if need require. They should have added, Where need requires another pretence, they would take that for taking arms, or if it please them, take arms without any.  
That all Princes and Kings hereafter in this Realm before their Coronation shall take Oath to maintain the true Religion, which if they do, to be sure theirs is out of protection. This being done, the Assembly broke up.  

They are yet p●rplex'd in their thoughts what to do with the Queen.  But all this while they were troubled how to r●d their hands of the Queen, who, though a prisoner, had yet such authority at liberty as prevented the Brethren from being absolute in their power. In consultation about her, some were for a conditional restitution, others for a legal trial, deposition, and condemnation to perpetual imprisonment; but Knox and the meek-sp●rited Assembly-men, upon some holy inspiration published this merciful censure in their Pulpits, To have her divested of Royal authority and executed, which took effect in the end, although not in so short a time, nor by the same hands they then hastily desired. 
Queen Elizabeth's emulation▪ &c. made her countenance some of their proceedings.  Queen Elizabeth of England, whose Royal dignity did rather cherish her in, then exempt her from, an eager emulation, which is very inseparable, (in some cases happily incident) to her Sex, partly by that, and partly upon a conscientious care to preserve and enlarge what is called in the Mass, the Protestant Religion, the sincerity of which was ever pretended, but never meant nor practised by the Presbytery in Scotland; and farther upon the jealousy she had of the great reputation, and growing power of her successor, had from time to time recruited the strength, and supported the fainting spirits of that faction; yet at such opportunities, and upon such politic advantages, as gave all her actions the countenance of justice, and herself the honour of being as bitter to theirs: but when by the help of her Sword they had cut out their way, and got the Royal sceptre in their reach, like perfidious rebels, ungrateful and cruel Murderers, as she called them, 
Their ingratitude and scorn returned upon her.  they turned the point upon herself, would stand no more to the courtesy of her imperious mediation; denied her Ambassador access to their Queen, and sent him back with a French Proverb in his mouth, Il perd le jeu, qui la isse, la party, to bid her have a care to continue a Friend to their party, lest having got the foregame for them, she lose an aftergame, more considerable, when she plays it for herself.  
In the interim the Lords Lindsey and Ruthuen were sent to the Queen to have two Wri●s signed; 
The Queen moved to q●it her Crown, and permit Murray to be Regent.  one for the renunciation of the Crown and Royal dignity; the other to ordain the Earl of Murray Regent▪ 
K James 6.  during the Prince's minority. They having by their hard usage brought upon Her Majesty some infirmity of body, did her the courtesy to put her in mind of that as a fair pretence, why she gave up her Crown and Government, but to balance that, they threatened her with Death if she refused. Whether Her Majesty set her Hand or no, is not so certain, as that it was proclaimed she had, at the Market-cross of Edinburgh; and soon after the young Prince Crowned King at Sterlin, 

The Prince Crowned at Sterlin.  
K. James 6.   where John Knox sanctified his inauguration with a Sermon, and Earl Morton, one of them that killed his Father, with Lord Hume that meant as much unto his Mother, when he besieged her in Borthwike Castle, took the Oath in his behalf, That he should constantly live in the profession of the true Religion, and maintain it, &c. It's no matter whether the King knows it to be true or false he swears to.  
The next solemnity was to proclaim the Regent, who was returned out of France, 
Murray returned out of France, and proclaimed Regent.  whither he had cunningly diverted to avoid the discovery about the murder of the King, and his personal appearance in the deposit●on of the Queen.  
After eleven months' Imprisonment (in all which time she was not once permitted the sight of her Son, which she earnestly desired,) Her Majesty by the help of George Douglas, 
The Queen escapes out of prison.  Broth●r to the Regent, makes an escape out of the Castle, and Island of Lochlevin, and within ten days got an handsome Army, and fought a battle for the recovery of her right; but her Friends that were stronger in their affections then arms, 
Her last ill success in battle.  were unfortunately dispersed, and herself narrowly escaped to the borders of England. Afterward, 
She escapes to England for protection.  having sent a Letter to Queen Elizabeth to crave protection in her Kingdom, as apprehending some danger in her stay where she was, prevented the Queen's answer by her coming to Carliste.  
What passed before Queen Elizabeth's Commissioners at York and herself at London, whither the Regent came, being only a discussion of the Scotch factions on all sides, and including title of the clerical proceedings, I purposely omit.  
The Regent being returned into Scotland, meets with new commotions, 
Queen Elizabeth's three Desires unto the Regent.  raised by the opportunity of his absence; and afterward was overtaken by that which pleased him worse: three desires from Queen Elizabeth in behalf of the banished Queen.  
1. That she might be restored to her former Authority, and place. Or,  
2. That she might be joint Regent with her Son, and her Name as well as his in all public Acts and Writings, yet so as Murray should bear all the sway until the King came to seventeen years of age: Or,  
3. That, if the Queen of Scots liked of it, she might enjoy her peace in a private condition, and with it what honour should not be prejudicial to the Royal dignity of the King▪ Beside, the Queen of Scots sent 〈◊〉 Letter to demand a fair judicial hea●ring about the business of her marriage with Earl Bothwell, 
Queen of Scots demands a hearing about her last marriage.  that if 〈◊〉 were found illegal, she might have the benefit of a divorce, and be qui● of that engagement. These were referred to a Parliament at Perth, where the last of Queen Elizabeth's propositions were yielded to, 
All discussed in the Parliament at Perth.  upon hopes to get her within the limits of their power, when she could have no pretence to raise a party, being divested of all her Royalties, and to be acknowledged as no other than a private person, and subject to the rigor of their Laws, by which within a very short time she might be reduced to her former condition in the Castle of Lochlevin. To the Queen of Scots Letter they make exceptions upon her assuming the title of Queen, 
Whence the two Queens receive little satisfaction.  &c. and when offer was made that that should be amended, and urged as a strange Paradox that they which had so much pressed the illegality and impiety of that marriage, would not now ye●ld unto a cognizance of the business; they made many frivolous demurs, as to have 60 days given for the summons of Earl Bothwell, who was now in Denmark▪ &c. and at last spoke plainly, 
They demur about E. Bothwell.  that they would have her send to the Danish King to take his Head off, and then she was at liberty to marry whom she pleased. Queen Elizabeth not liking the Perth Parliaments answer, nor the young Messenger that brought it, they called another at Sterlin, 
Pelkarne sent with their apology to Queen Elizabeth.  and from thence sent Pelkarn with a subtle enlargement about▪ their declining the two former of her three Propositions; but because they saw so long as the exiled Queen had the countenance of Queen Elizabeth, she had oppo●tunity to encourage, and some means to assist their enemies, 
Their subtlety in making a diff●rence between the two Queens by much falsehood mixed with little truth.  which now began to be somewhat potent; they take a sure way, to set the two Queens at variance by several suggestions, wherein what was true, had been done by Murray's advice, if not fi●st procurement, the private overture of a Marriage between the Queen of Scots, and the Duke of Norfolk: and what was false, they were sure would incense Queen Elizabeth, and prevent all possibility of farther mischief from the South▪ Of this nature was  
That she had passed away to the D. of Andyn her right to the Crown of England, That She and the Duke of Norfolk intended to cut off the present royal possessors of both kingdoms, which plot● must be discovered by providence just at Pelcarnes coming to the English Court, whereupon the Queen and Duke were presently secured. 
Q. of Scots and D. of Korfolk s●cured.  After this the Regent Murray goes on with less opposition, and better success in Scotland, ye● in the midst of his victories was rewarded for his murders, rebellions and falsehood, being shot at Lithgow in the belly upon a private revenge, 
Regent M●rray killed.  and so prevented of dispatching the young Prince, which may be very fairly guessed by his proceedings to be intended, his Mother boasting herself to have been the Wife, not the Harlot of James the fifth, and so this her son the lawful inheritor of the Crown.  
The holy Brethren would fain had Murray cannonized for a Saint and Martyr in the cause, 
The Brethren prosecute revenge.  and his blood revenged they cared not upon whom, so any of the Queen's dutiful subjects might be cut off. To bring such upon trial as stood most in their way, were many popular supplicates presented, and what reason was rendered for deferring the enquiry, at least till the Assizes, if not rather till the next Assembly in May, they either take for a close compliance of their Peers with the Queens, or an impolitic yielding advantage to their enemies. At length some of the wisest began to put in questions by what authority they could proceed to this or any other execution of Laws, the Queen being deposed, 
A sc●upulous question put to them.  the King in his nonage, and no legal establishment to be made of a successor to Murray in his Regency of the kingdom. Fain would they have made use of an old by grant extorted from the Queen, but that they found null by the former election of Murray, and if now taken up for authentic, might be thought a recalling her majesty's authority from the dead. This not holding good, they leave all their saucy French Proverbs behind them, 
T●eir applicatlons to Q. Eliz. rejected.  and come fawning upon Queen Elizabeth in English; she denies them as well advice as assistance, having before made plausible promises of both to the Queen of Scots, though her prisoner, The Rebe●l● were sensible what ground the Qu●ens party daily got by their Anarchy, & though their necessities hastened them toward a conclusion of somewhat, yet, not knowing what, they were to seek by what means, and in what method to effect it. Queen Elizabeth, who seemed not full● satisfied with the thing, must not be disgusted by the person. The Earl of Lenox, the young King's Grandfather is pitched on for several reasons looking that way; 
They confer regal power upon the Earl of Lenox.  and first upon some Assembly revelation he was chosen an Interrex or Interloping King, which soon after by some divine counter-light was discovered to be a monster in Government, suspected for Saturn's unnatural stomach, that might possibly devour the young King and Jesus Christ's sceptre to boot, which the Presbytery had given him to play with in his hand. To avoid this danger they divest him of his intercalary Kingship, 
Divest him again of it, and make him Regent.  and having no law upon earth to empower them, they furnish him with a Regency from heaven. And now in his time no question all Parliamentary as well as Assembly authority may plead to be by divine right, and their proceedings are justified by this extraordinary providence of God. Upon this Patent the new Regent reforms what he could by the sword, according to the true sense of the Discipline. The poor captive Queen in compliance with the principles of nature, and likewise in discharge of her civil duty (who had the trust though not possession of a kingdom) by submiss, 
Q: of Scots by all means endeavours her liberty.  yet enough majestic, requests in England; by a mediation from France and Spain, agitates what she can for her liberty, and this for stopping farther effusion of Christian blood in her country, and preventing the progress of oppressive tyranny over her party. Queen Elizabeth sensible of these unchristian proceedings, by her arbitrary power sometimes orders a truce between the Scots, 
Queen Eliz: giveth fair answers to her, and her intercessors.  gives fair answers as well to her prisoner as foreign Ambasdours that interceded for her: adviseth with her Council, Wherein some were mislead by too facile credulity of false informations from the North; others, not improbably, 
Q. E●izabeths council how affected at this time.  corrupted; all too much ad●cted to their own interests, and an overweening solicitude about the peace and security of England. This begat an overture too high and imperious for a magnanimous freeborn Princess to yield to; 
K. James 5.  put new thoughts and designs into the Pope, Spaniard, and French; enlarged the breach between her English Subjects, 
They involve her in a multitude of difficulties.  (for they had been divided and some unsatisfied in the proceedings relating to the Scotch Queen) revived and multiplied conspiracies at home. Into all these did the northwind blow the sparkles of the Disciplinarian Rebellion, which more or less increased the flame where they lighted, if upon matter ready to fire with a touch. Queen Elizabeth finding herself environed with danger, 
She calls the Scots to accoun● about the deposition of their Queen.  and apprehending no possible security but in a perfect composure of the Scotch differences, in order to it calls upon the Presbyterian division for a new account about the deposition of their Queen. They exhibit a large remonstrance upon it, 
They exhib●te a large Remonstrance rebellious and antimonarchiall enough.  stuffed with so much pride and barbarous insolence, as left no place for religion, reason, or law, although they were great pretenders to the last, pleading Ancient privilege of the Scotch people's superiority to their Prince. 
K James 6.  This (for which their Reformed Brethren may thank them) they fortified with Calvins' authority, and in some cases enlarged it to imprisoning and deposing Kings what, or wheresoever. They not only justified their censure but magnified their own lenity to their Queen, as to the pa●doning of her life, 
1571.  to the succession of her son, who being in their power, and standing only by their pleasure, no marvel if in this years Assembly and Parliament, all Acts and Statutes made before by him and his Predecessors annexed the freedom and liberty of the true Kirk of God, a●e ratified by his name, whenas yet he could not superscribe them with his hand. Queen Elizabeth saw and disliked the drifts of these Antimonarchical maxims and practices, 
Queen Eliz: dislikes it.  yet not resolute enough to trust providence with the preservation of her person. At the next meeting in the Lord keeper's House, persists in one of her principal demands from the Queen of Scots Commissioners to have, beside the delivery up of two strong Castles, the Duke of Castle herald, the Earls of Huntl●y, Argile, Humes, 
Yet persists in her high demand from the Qu: of Scots Commissioners.  H●ris, &c. to be Pledges or Hostages for the good behaviour of their Queen. This was to change one pri●oner for more, to disarm the Scotch Queen and turn her into a wilderness of wolves, or more savage beasts, ready every minute to devour her. The Bishop of Ross and her other Delegates, looked over Queen Elizabeth's shoulder and her Councils to see the black Assembly men vying hard for the honour of this fatal invention; returned a modest answer to Her Majesty,, 
Their modest answer.  That this could not be yielded in Christian prudence, nor mercy to their miserable Mistress, which was repelled by the L. Keeper with that sharp reply, which, 
L: Keepers sharp reply.  if any thing, cut off all mutual confidence in the Queens, That the kingdom, Princes, Nobles, Castles, and what soever else was valuable in Scotland, 
K. jemes 5.  could be no considerable pledge for the security of England.  

A truce between the divided parties in Scotland, made by Q: Eliz.  While matters were thus carried on there, both parties in Scotland by Queen Elizabeth's order, enter into a truce which the Disciplinarians kept according to the articles of their faith, putting to the sword what persons of quality they wished out of the way, wherein the murder of their late King, and a feigned design to poison this now in being, served them very plausibly for a disguise; They seized upon what Castles and Forts they could get by fraud or stratagem, without any great noise of arms; among the rest, that on Dunbriton frith, where the fury of the meaner sort being slacked by customary murder, 
The Regent and his do notwithstanding what they please.  the wrath of the Regent and his sanguinary Chaplains must have a solemn holy sacrifice to appease it, which was the Archbishop of St. Andrews, whom they found in that Castle. 
They hang up the Ar●h-Bishop of St: Andrews.  He craved the ordinary justice of the law, but the fear of Queen Elizabeth's mediatory Letters, 
K James 6.  or any other prevalent possibility to save him, carried him the shorest way by a Council of war, to be, as he was, dispatched at the Gallows. But divine vengeance not ●ong after found the Regent out at Sterlin, sitting secure, as he thought, in his Parliament of Rebolls, where by the hands of some on the Queen's party, 
Revenge taken upon the Regent.  he paid the due debt of his blood to the innocence of that holy Martyr whom he murdered.  
And now the good Brethren having divers months since, out stripped the rebellious precedents of their ancestors, by leaping over the letter, and all pretensions of Law and authority in the election of their Regent, find themselves safe on this side all scrupulous trouble, and so without any more addresses into England, or home disputes about stating their power, commit their cause to the protection of John Erskin Earl of Marre, whose first ominous repulse before Edinburgh, and mild temper inclining toward a composure, together with his impardonable endeavours to bring in again Archbishops and Bishops, 
They make the E of Marre his successor, who is so vexed by them, that he shortly dies with gr●ef.  drew such swarms of contentious Presbyters about him, that after thirteen months struggling with his own Conscience and their unconscientious proceedings, he died through extremity of grief.  

The Parliaments fierce proposition to Q Eliz. about the Queen of Scots.  In this time, by the good managing of the Brethren, a proposition was made by the Members of Parliament in England, That if the Queen of Scots acted any thing against the known Laws of the Land, upon advantage given by her contract of marriage with the Duke of Norfolk, she should be proceeded against as a Wife to one of the Peers of the Realm. 
Rejected.  But for Royal majesty's sake Queen Elizabeth interposeth by her power, and would not suffer it to be put to the Vote of the House, or at least not enacted as a Law. 
A resolution taken by the rebels in Scotland fatal to the Queen and her party.  After all this juggling and underhand contrivance, the Disciplinarian faction in Scotland perceiving trouble and hazard increasing upon them at home, and potent enemies multiplying abroad, resolve now to cut up root and branch of all that hindered the growth of their dominion, and having but blunt instruments in Scotland, make bold with the highest authority, and sharpest axe of England to effect it, wherein as part of the work is easy with some rotten boughs, which, having no intrinsical conjunction nor continuity with that body whereof they had been arms and members, were broken off at pleasure by the hand of Justice: so the knotty pieces were, not without some difficulty wrought off by the strength of malice, and acuteness of subtlety in the too partial industrious journeymen for the cause. The Bishop of Rosse, the Queen of Scots greatest agent and advocate, fencing under the umbrage of the public embassy, saved his life, but not his liberty to do her service, Felion, Story, Barnes, Mather, 
Divers executed in England.  &c. were at several times arraigned, and executed, But these were taken to be at too great a distance to give warning to their captive Queen. The Duke of Norfolk was her principal adhearent they aimed at, 
The Duke of Norfolk Beheaded.  the most likely Champion to have justified her title; who, though at his death he protested his chiefest endeavours had been to re-establish the oppressed Queen, and suppress the rebellious practices in her Kingdom; yet, because his Plot was laid in the dark, and his complices abroad such as, for their own ends, kept not within the compass of his designs, but wrought the ruin of England into their hopes, met with Law enough to condemn him by his Peers, and after four months' reprieve by the Queen's singular favour, inexorable Justice to behead him upon the Scaffold.  

The Brethren well-pleased at the success of their designs, and approach of the axe so near their Queen.  This much heightened the Assembly men in Scotland, who wiping their eyes to behold, with much consolation of spirit, by what a slender thread their successes had hung the axe over their imprisoned Queen, endeared each other by the mutual assurance they gave, it could not be long before her Head too must off, and then the Discipline they thought would take place with the unquestionable Succession of the King. Not ten days passed after the Duke's death, 
To whom Commissioners are sent to expostulate.  before they wrought by their Agents, that Commissioners were sent, Lord de l' Amour, Sadler, Wilson, and Bromley, to expostulate with the Queen of Scots about her treasonable practices against the Crown of England, and to ring the knell of the Duke's destiny in her ears. The French, more earnestly than before interceding for her liberty, 
The French interceding, are answered with instances from their own and other Nations.  are silenced with instances of their own cashiering their Kings, Childerike by Pipin, Charles of Lorraign by Hugh Capet, imprisoning the Queens of Lewis, Philip the Long, and Charles the Fair, successively. The cases of Henry the Second of England, Alphonsus of Castille, and Charles the fifth of Spain, and Sicily are produced as precedents for taking the Crown, their mother's surviving; And the honourable restraint of the Queen of Scots pleaded a favour beyond her desert, or on this side her guilt, and only for the security of Queen Elizabeth and her Kingdom, yet room was left for the Queen's ingenuity to acknowledge that the former extraordinary and extrajudicial examples were not drawn clear off from their Lees, nor justifiable in every circumstance that accompanied them. After this the Duke of Momorancie Ambassador from the King of France presseth a cessation of Arms in Scotland, 
Momoranchies' propositions not harkened to.  a free Parliament, or at least delegates from both sides to treat at London with the like deputed by the Queen of England, and French King; but this could not be harkened to, and the aversion of Lord Grange with his Garrison in Edinburgh Castle from peace, upon hopes of supplies out of France, is made the only bar against a general accord.  

The Assemblies domineer while no Regent in Scotland.  Since the Earl of Marre's death, there had been no Regent in Scotland, but Christ's viceroys in black took the care of both Swords, and passed Assembly acts at pleasure, authentic, no question, so long as the young King breathed in the Country, who must pay the Church tribute for his life by an innocent compliance to enact what they list, to which purpose they kept him, and would not part with this Jewel to England, nor France, though both desired to have him out of the noise and danger of their Wars: but this looked like a Monarchy divinely limited by the boundaries of the Discipline, which might sweeten their liberty by degrees to a silent desertion of all future Government by a King. Queen Elizabeth therefore, 
Q. Elizabeth calls upon them to choose one, They take E: Morton as fittest for their purpose.  who was in a manner perpetual Protectrice calls upon them to go about the election of a Regent. The Earl Morton was the man they made choice of, whereby they seemed both to gratify the Queen, and provide a mercenary creature to their purpose, he having not long before delivered up the Earl of Northumberland who had fled to Scotland for refuge, and for a piece of money unworthily (as to the point of personal honour) betrayed an obliging Friend, who had fed and harboured him in his exile. The late Earl of Marre had broke the Assemblies Instructions in his Regency by offering at some restraint unto the Church, which had been better doubted upon the Infant person of the King, and therefore his Son might well be opposed in his hereditary privilege to have the young King in his custody, especially his own minority requiring rather to have than to become a Guardian, 
The young E: of Marre becomes Guardian to the King.  yet conditions being made, the charge was conferred upon him, for to secure the main good order was taken by the new Regent, That no Papist nor factious person (under which were comprised all loyal Subjects) should have access unto the King. 
Orders made by the new Regent.  An Earl with only two Servants attending him; A Baron with one; All others single and unarmed. 
The Queen's party in Scotland faint.  The Queen of Scots deplorable condition in England discouraged her principal abettors at home; The Duke of Castle Herald and Huntley are drawn in to acknowledge the King and his Regent; the Lord Grange, Humes, and Lidington maintain their loyalty so long as they can in Edinburgh Castle, which after a siege laid to it by Queen Elizabeth's Forces (which she lent the Regent out of kindness hastened by her jealousy of the French, 
Edinburgh Castle taken by the help of the English Forces.  from whom the Queen's Royalists in Scotland expected succour) was resigned, and according to the Disciplinarian mercy, the first was hanged, the second scarcely pardoned, at Queen Elizabeth's entreaty; the third, having sometime been a Friend, sent to Leith, and yet upon-after-thought, because of a subtle and active head-piece, supposed very probably to be poisoned, by which Christian proceedings the Presbyterian rebels become absolute Masters, rule King and Country without contradiction.  
And now their work being done, 
The Scotch army disbanded.  they turn their packhorse soldiers to grass, some of whom get new entertainment in Swedeland, others agree better with the employment in France, and the Low-Countries. The cessation of arms in Scotland gives the restless Brethren some respite to bethink themselves how to work mischief abroad. The Bishop of Rosse, 
Bishop of Rosse banished England upon the Scots importunity.  though a prisoner in England, had his head at liberty to devise, and too many hands in readiness to execute what he should command upon any visible advantage against them. Their importunity being not able to prevail for injustice, and cruelty enough to put him to death, they accept of his exile out of England, though they foresee that will not quit them of their fears. 
Morton cannot obtain a league &c. with England.  Morton the Regent craves a league with England of mutual defence against all foreign Forces, and would have a large pension for himself and some Scots his devoted guards against the pretended attempts to depose him; but that would not be harkened to; somewhat else with less charge, and slight proofs did accumulate gu●lt upon the Queen of Scots for contriving a dangerous Match between a Scotch Earl of the blood, the King's uncle, 
Queen of Scots a●cused of cont●●ving a Match.  and the Lady Elizabeth Candish the Countess of Shrewsbury's Daughter, for which her Mother and divers Ladies were imprisoned.  
Soon after the good old Earl of Castleherault having taken no great content in changing sides, 
E Castleherault dies with grief.  and forsaking his quond●m pupil and Queen, by the mod●rate way of disciplinar●an dispatch was vexed into a sickness, and died.  
In the year 1577 was discovered Don John of Austria's design to marry the Queen of Scots, 
Don John of Austria faileth in his design to marry the Q. of Scots.  which the Brethren fores●eing, would imply the liberty of her person, and confusion of their cause, were not wanting in d●ligence to quicken information, and aggravate prejudice to the Queen of England. The Don●ailing of strength and assistance to carry on this, and other vast youthful designs, the next year, as 'tis thought took no other pestilent infection than grief, which brought him to his Grave.  

And dyeth.  In the year following the face of Government in Scotland was altered Earl Morton's covetous converting that public treasure to his temporal use, 
Morton deposed from his Regency.  which should maintain Christ's ecclesiastic Kingdom in luster, brings upon him the damnation of the Discipline, in deposing him from his Regency, being scarcely afforded the favour of communion with his Peers. The King yet but twelve years of age was apprehensive enough of the tyranny he had been under, and in capacity to accept any courteous tender as well of his liberty as of his Crown. It was found convenient to trust him with the title of Governing, but that he might be sure not to surfeit upon the power, he had his twelve Godfathers to pass upon him for every year one. 
Twelve appointed to assist the King in governing, Morton one of them, but defeated in his purpose to do all.  Earl Morton was kept in to instruct the rest rather how to give in verdict, upon His majesty's actions then Counsel to his person, and had the cunning to keep himself foreman of the Jury; but unadvisedly endeavouring to improve his interest to the retroduction of detestable regency, split his own with the twelve Members superintendency in pieces, and to little purpose secured the King in the Castle of Sterling, there being a Regal power pretended abroad that gave the Earl of Athol commission to levy an Army to meet him in the Field. Sir Robert Bows the English Ambassador composed the public difference at present, after which a better expedient was supposed to be found, to prevent by poison all further martial attempts of Athol, while Earl Morton betook himself more unto his privacy than innocency at home.  
The first sally of Regal government under the pretended personal conduct of the King put the Assembly brethren in mind to strengthen their encroachment upon the Church, 
The King begins to show himself to the terror of the Assembly.  to which purpose follows a discharging of Chapters with their election of Bishops; the titular Bishops are warned to quit their anti-christian corruptions, in particular was instanced their receiving ecclesiastic emoluments, so that, notwithstanding all former Acts and agreements for life, their known assignation of benefice must be as well extinct, as their Jurisdiction and office: 
Preserves the Bishops in some part of their Rights and revenues whereof the other would deprive them.  yet to please the young King, who beyond his years had a discretive Judgement, and held Episcopacy in a reverend esteem, that they might seem to leave them somewhat to do, they make them Itinerant visitors of their Hospitals, themselves being the Sacrilegious Collectors of the Rents. Beside this, 
2 B: of Discip. cannot ye● pass in Parliament  they heave hard to obtain an establishment of the policy in the Second Book of their Discipline, but as that, yet could not be got to be incorporated with other Parliament Acts; At this time two French Noblemen raise fears and jealousies in abundance, 
D: of Alanson attempts a marriage with Q: Eliz.  the Duke of Alanson in England by endeavouring a Marriage with Queen Elizabeth, with whom he held private conference, but was suspected to aim at restoring the Queen of Scots, Lord Aubignie in Scotland, who was become the only favourite of the King. The consequences of the Marriage were debated by the Lords in Council, and their opposite possibilities or conjectures represented to the Queen. 
D. of Lenox, and E: of Arran set at difference by the Assembly.  The new humours of Esme Stuart, Lord d' Aubignie, whom the King had ●arely c●eated Duke of Lenox, was a business undoubted to be of Ecclesiastical cognizance, and therefore taken into consideration by the Assembly, the Christian result of whose counsels was this. To set up against him an emulous rival, James Stuart of the Ochiltrie Family, called Earl of Arran, which title he attained by session from one of the Hamiltons not well in his wits, to whom he had been Guardian; but these two were soon reconciled by the King▪ and the Assembly Brethren defeated in their plot. 
Reconciled by the King.  They can soon find means to be revenged, and make the King hear of his misdemeanour. A large complaint is sent up to Queen Elizabeth, which being sweetened with the discovery of a feigned design to convey the captive Queen out of prison, 
Then they accuse Lenox to Q: Elizabeth.  laid to the charge of the Duke of Lenox relisheth well in the Court and Council of England, from whence come endeavours and Embassies to degrade him from favour if not his honour, 
Who demands to have him banished.  and dem●nds to have him bani●●ed out of Scotland. The young King had now quit himself of his pupillage, 
The King will not part with him.  and with that of his custom, to return suppliant answers by his Regent according to the instructions that ever accompanied the demands. Sir Robert Bows the Agent was admitted to deliver his Message, but not with his condition to have Lenox removed from the Council, and therefore went grumbling home without audience. Humes was sent with a compliment after him, and had the like reception in England, where he was turned over to Lord Treasurer Burleigh, and could have no admission to the Queen. Lord Burleigh at large expostulated with him about the miscarriage of some in the Scotch King's Council. 
Humes his Agent hears of this from the L: Treasurer in England.  The Queen of England's successful endeavours were magnified, and her tender care in preventing many eminent mischiefs from the French; Some sharp language was used, which was hoped would cut off the King's affection to the Duke of Lenox, and make way for Morton's restitution to favour; but the issue was otherwise, 
Morton questioned.  Morton was questioned for many great enormities, especially the murder of the King's Father, Randolph is sent to intercede somewhat magisterially, and hinder the proceeding against him for his life. The King adheres to his Laws, by which he answers he is bound to submit Delinquents to Justice. 
Randolph's sent to intercede, but prevails not▪  Randolph by the help of the Assembly Brethren makes a strong faction of Lenox's enemies and Morton's Friends, draws Argile, Angus, and many other of the Nobility to the party, but their different interests caused division in their counsels, made them quit the engagement, and leave Morton, after proof and his own confession of the murder, to pay his Head ●o the Justice of the Law.  
In this time passed many arrogant. Acts in their general Assemblies: 
Arrogant Assembly Acts. 1579.  one among the rest did confine the holy Kirk of Jesus Christ in that Realm to the Ministers of the blessed Evangel, and such as were in communion with them, excluding all the Episcopal party, and de●iv●ring them up to Satan as being Members of a Kirk divided from the Society of Christ's body. They professed, That there was no other face of Kirk▪ no other face of Religion, 
No Christianity allowed but in Scotland, and where is a conf●rmity in Religion unto the Kirk.  then was presently at that time established, which therefore is ●ver styled God's true Religion, Christ's true Religion, the true and Christian Religion, admi●ting, it seems, no other Religion to be so much as Christi●n but that. Beside th●s, other Acts there were ent●enc●ing upon the civil authority, 
th' K: checks th●m.  whereupon the King by Letter required the Assembly to abstain from making any innovations in the Policy of the Church, and from prejudging the decisions of the State by their conclusions, 
They contest with him by a Committee. And extort his subscription to the Negative Confession, with a c●mmand of the like from all.  to suffer all things to continue in the condition they were▪ during the time of his minority; They regard not his letter; send a Committee to Striveling to contest with His Majesty, and sit down again about the ordering their Discipline; Set John Craig a Presbyter about framing a most rigid 
* This is that Craig, and this that confession which K: James reflects upon in Hampton-Court conference, saying, That with his, I renounce and abhor his detestations and abrenuntiations he did to amaze the simple people, that they not able to conceive all those things, utterly gave over all, falling back to Popery, or remaining still in their former ignorance, yea if I, saith his Majesty, should have been bound to his form, the confession of my Faith must have been in my Table-book, not in my head.  Negative confession of Faith; Never let His Majesty have quiet, until himself and his Family subscribe it; Wrest a charge from him to all Commissioners and Ministers to require the like subscriptions from all, and upon this authority, taken by violence, play the tyrants over the Consciences of the people They censure the Presbytery of Striveling for admitting Montgomery to the temporallity of the bishopric of Glascow, and him for aspiring thereto, contrary to the word of God, and Acts of the Kirk.  
While they are thus fencing with the spiritual Sword in Scotland, their pure Brethren in England execute their Commission by the pen, where the marriage between Qu. Elizabeth and Alanson, new Duke of Anj●u, being in a manner concluded, they set out a virulent book with this Title, The Gulf wherein England will be swallowed by the French Marriage, but the Author, John Stubbs of Lincolns-inn, a zealous professor, as he must needs be who was Brother-in-Law to Cartwright, and one William Page, who dispersed the Copies, soon after had their hands cut off on a Scaffold at Westminster, and played their parts no more at that weapon.  
But the civil Sword must have its turn, 
A public stratagem practised by the Brethren.  and what no menacing bulls of the Assembly, nor any pointed calumnies of mercenary pens can keep off, must by a stratagem be declined at first, and yet the same afterward authorized by strength. The long disconsolate captivity of the Queen, and despair of ever obtaining her liberty, had withdrawn her thoughts from her sceptre on earth, and raised them to an higher kingdom than the Scots, 
The Queen of Scots directs her thoughts to an higher kingdom and means to resign all up to her Son.  whereon that they might be fixed without any diversion, she resolves to divest herself of the other interest, and confer freely her Royal title upon her Son. The Assembly Brethren have intimation hereof, 
Whereupon the Brethren put all into confusion.  do not like to have their King become absolute, or Reign by any other Title than what he had before received on courtesy from them. The Duke of Lenox, and Earl of Arran are two good Friends to his Majesty, not to be instrumental in promoting so just an advancement to his Crown, and therefore it is the Presbyters tasks to preach them out of all favour with the people, and then an opportunity is fairly taken in their absence from Court for the Earls Gowry, Marre, Lindsey, and others, 
The King invited to the Castle of Ruthen, and detained prisoner.  to invite his Majesty to the Castle of Ruthen, and by the Laws of Displinarian hospitality, detain him prisoner, dismiss his retinue, deny him the liberty to stir abroad but at his peril. Nor indeed could he well be at leisure to walk for the perpetuity of business they found him within doors, 
They press him most insolently to do their business.  forcing him first by a Writ to recall Earl Angus from England, whither the guilt of his late rebellion had carried him; by another after the imprisonment of His majesty's dearest Friend, to command the Duke of Lenox into France, who being in possession of Dunbriton Castle, might have disputed the freedom of that Royal command, if his clear awful spirit had not dreaded the thought of the least disloyal averseness to obey; And by a slight of singul●r cunning tyranny in a third, framed into a Letter to Queen Elizabeth of England▪ to justify their act, and contract the guilt of that unnatural sin in laying violent hands upon himself; By a fourth to authorise the Convention of States indicted by them. All acts of such transcendent rebellion, that George Buchanan, their never-failing advocate before, could be wrought neither to advise by his Council, nor justify with his pen; nay, 
Buchanan deserts them, and repents of what he had done heretofore.  'tis said he turned penitent upon it, retracted with tears what he had writ before in their cause, and wished he could wash out all the spots, the black calumnies he had dropped upon Royal Majesty with his blood, yet further, he would have writ retractions, if being so old, he could have hoped such a conversion would not have been interpreted an act rather of dotage than devotion.  
The Queen of Scots much affected with this treasonable surprisal of her Son, 
Queen of Scots complains to Queen Eliz.  complains at large to Queen Elizabeth in a Letter, appeals to her conscience for Justice, and summons her to her plea about the differences between them before the highest Tribunal of Heaven; yet very charitably imputes the obstruction of intercourse between her and her Son for a twelvemonth before, as likewise Queen Elizabeth's long silence, notwithstanding some former importunate letters, not unto herself, but some malignant disposition in her Council. Queen Elizabeth's blood and thoughts had many quick motions upon this querulous writing, 
Queen Eliz: very uncertain what to do.  many ebbs and flows of resolutions and fears; at length Mr. Secretary Deale, 
Sends two Commissioners to the Queen of Scots.  an austere man, and no Friend at all unto the Royal Prisoner, was joined in Commission with the Earl of Shrewsbury to expostulate the business with the captive Queen, and yet treat with her about articles of enlargement: but the Disciplinarian Scots being called in about what concerned them, 
The Disciplinarians make new jealousies about Fa: Holt.  raised new spirits of division, by interposing ungrounded jealousies of one Father Holt a Jesuit, and some other Emissaries lately come over, as they alleged, on purpose to plot the invasion of England, and therewith a violent rescue of their Queen. As little truth as there was in this calumny, 
Qu: Eliz: by her Agents Courts King James kindness.  there was sophistry enough to prevail with Queen Elizabeth to lay aside the complaint of her prisoner, and to employ her two Agents in Scotland, bows and Davison in vying Courtship with two other from the French, to gain upon the affection of the King. The News of the Duke of Lenox's death at Paris, 
D: Lenoxs' death.  though accompanied with that which confounded his enemies, who thought they had undone him by traducing him for a Papist, puts life into the Kings banded Jailers, who take assurance by this they had him prisoner during pleasure, but His majesty escapes soon after to the Castle of Saint Andrews makes them curse the lying spirit in their Prophets, 
King James makes an escape.  and desperate enough to become executioners of themselves, but the good King, reprieved them by his mercy, 
Offers pardon to all that ask it.  offering pardon unto all that could find confidence to ask it; but this appeared in none but Earl Gowrie, who corrupted the benefit of it unto his bane, The rest, not long after, being banished, went some into Ireland, others into France, only Angus asked and had a confinement unto his Earldom. Queen Elizabeth sends Sir Francis Walsingham to the King, 
Sir Francis Walsingham sent to counsel him.  not so much to gratulate his liberty, as to instill some sententious Counsel how to use it. He meets with a greater luster and gallantry in the Scotch Court than he expected, and a young King as grave a politician as himself. He was entertained better than his carriage to the captive Queen had deserved, and returned with an answer no less modest than majestic. Though many acts had passed the Assemblies of late derogatory to the safety and Royal authority of the King, 
The Assemblies justify their late Treason.  yet none more than the justifying the late Treason, requiring the Ministers in all their Churches to commend it unto the people, and threatning excommunication to such as subscribed not, though against their Conscience, to the unjust judgement of the Assembly. And in the year 1582▪ the Assembly at Saint Andrews proceeded violently against one Montgomery Bishop of Saint Andrews, 
And commit new.  cutting off the appeal he had made unto the King, rejecting both his Letter and Messenger sent on purpose to inhibit them.  
The late treasonable justification voted by the Assembly, though nipped in the bud by the King's unexpected escape, and all the leaves scattered by the breath of his displeasure into several corners of the world, began now to sprout again in a second conspiracy, many of the Traitors being at that time appointed by Gowry returned again, and under the colour of care and courtesy to the King, 
Gowrie etc▪ attempt again the surprisal of the King.  attempting a second surprisal of his person. But the Earl of Arran, whom they had not now time or opportunity to secure, seizeth upon Gowrie at Dundee, and the Kings martial appearance, 
But himself is seized on, &c.  suddenly affrights his Complices out of the Castle of Sterlin, which they had taken. Queen Elizabeth, whose Court because the Cathedral of Religion, was ever abused as a sanctuary after a Scotch rebellion, had now a new address to make by mediation unto their King; And her Secretary Walsingham, 
Walsingham's Letters not observed by E: Hunsdon.  by the (no justifiable) privilege of his place issued out Writs in Her majesty's name, though without her knowledge, for their admission into the Holy Island. The Letters were not obeyed by Earl Hunsdon, who d●sputed the Secretaries single separate authority, nor was the Queen hearken●d to otherwise then by yielding a legal trial, 
E: Gowrie beh●aded.  which cost Gowrie h●s Head, for all the promises he had of better success from o●e Maclen a W●tch whom he had consulted in the case.  
To balance this somewhat must be done by the Disciplinarian undertakers in England, 
Letters feigned in the n●me of the Queen of S.o.s.  who frame divers letters in the name of the Queen of Scots, and some English fugitives convey them into the Papists houses, and then make discovery of a plot. Hereupon, as slight and improbable as the proofs were▪ the Earls of Northumberland and Arundel were confined, 
upon whi●h divers Nobles are questioned.  his Lady imprisoned, divers examined, and the Lord Paget scarcely by h●s prudent innocency protected. 
And the judges for their severity against Papists.  Queen Elizabeth though facile in hearing their complaints, was not so barbarous as to execute the cruelty of their Counsels, but called her Judges to account for their extreme serverity against the Papists, granting indemnity and liberty to many Jesuits and Priests. Yet Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador was sent home; and Throckmorton, whom he was said to have encouraged in an intricate conspiracy▪ being neither constant in denying, nor clear in confessing, nor at all, cunning in concealing or disguising his guilt, 
Throckmorton hanged.  was hanged.  
A new Treaty between the two Queens is now commenced, 
A reconciliation between the two Queens prevented:  and Sir William Wade employed in an overture unto the Queen of Scots▪ but the Agitators of differences between them, renew their division by unseasonable jealousies and fears, and Wade falls to pasting Father Creyghtone the Jesuits torn papers together, neglecting a far more Christian and honourable artifice▪ which he might ha●e s●ewed by cementing the unhappy rupture in two so Royal and magnanimous Lady's hearts. This new discomposure gave the Scottish partisans in England a colourable pretence to enter into an association for Queen Elizabeth's security from danger, 
An ●ssociation in England.  which was managed by the policy of the Earl of Leicester: The Queen of Scots took hence an alarum o● her ruin, 
Queen of Scots sees a necessity of complying with Q: Eliz:  yet chose rather to submit somewhat of her spirit, then in an humour sacrifice her life unto their malice. She sends her Secretary Nave with Articles so near Queen Elizabeth's demands as had wrought undoubted reconcilement, 
The Scots Presbytery foreseeing the effect of it, declaim ●gainst her, their King● and Council in the Pulpit.  if it had been consistent with the Discipline of the Kirk; but this the Scotch Ministry declared to be otherwise in their Pulpits; call out for help, as if both Kingdoms had been on ●ire, and Christian Religion in danger to be consumed by the flames, inve●gh bitterly against their Queen, King, and his Council; slight the King's summons to answer; stand upon their Ecclesiastical exemption, and Presbyterian privilege of immunity from his censure. The King began from hence to apprehend it better for his safety, and more agreeable with his honour to restore the Mi●er to the Church, 
upon their flighting the King's summons they are inhibited, and Episcopacy settled.  then cast away his Crown to a mongrel lay-Clerical Assembly. Hereupon he recalls Bishops to their primitive jurisdiction and dignity; inhibites all Presbyteries and their Synods, together with the popular parity of Ministers, and among other Acts pas●eth this in the eight Parliament●olden at Edinburgh May 22. 1584. 
The King's supr●macy established by Act of Parliament.  which alone cuts off all their vain ●retences to this day.  
For as much as some persons being ●ately called before the King's Maje●ty, and his secret Council, to answer ●pon certain points to have been enqui●ed of t●em, concerning some treaso●able, seditious, and contumelious ●●eeches, uttered by them in Pulpits, ●chools, and otherways to the disdain ●nd reproach of his Highness, his progenitors, and present Council, con●●mptuously declined the judgement of ●is Highness and his said Council in that behalf, to the evil example of others to d● the like, if timely remedy be not provided: Therefore our S●veraigne Lord, and his thre● Estates assembled in this present Parliament, ratifieth and approveth, and perpetually confirmeth the Royal power and authority over all Estates, as well spiritual as temporal within this Realm, in the person of the King's Majesty, our sovereign Lord, his Heirs and Successors: And also statuteth, and ordaineth, that his Hign●ss, his Heirs and Successors by themselves, and their Councils, are, and in time to com● shall be judges competent to all person His highness's subjects, of what estate degree, function, or condition so 〈◊〉 they be, spiritual or temporal, in 〈◊〉 matters wherein they or any of the● shall be apprehended, summoned, 〈◊〉 charged to answer to such things 〈◊〉 shall be inquired of them by our 〈◊〉 sovereign Lord and his Council And that none of them which shal● happen to be apprehended, called, 〈◊〉 summoned to the effect aforesaid, pr●sume to take in hand to d●cline 〈◊〉 judgement of his Highness, his Heirs and successors, or their Council in the Premises, under the pain of Treason.  
This Act puts many of the Assembly birds upon the wing, who, 
Hereupon ●ivers ministers take their flight.  i●n●cent D●●es, take none but a Virgin breast for their refuge. Queen Elizabeth, 
Q Eliz: restrains ●heir violence▪ but counten●nceth them too much.  whose too industri●us infirmi●y it was to keep up her popular interest with all, as well as to enjoy the honour and more clear content of an impartial conscience within herself, although she gave no ear to their querulous Remonstrances in private, nor permitted their public libelling in her Churches, yet cherished their persons, and very unproperly employed their endeavours to preserve Religion from innovations, which made no such real impressions in Scotland, as some untrue aggravating relations had in the time●ous minds of her Reformed English Subjects and herself. This practice of Her Majesty being observed by those who looked ou● of the Scotch King's Court, put the Earl of Arran upon a forward tender of his Service to meet Her majesty's desires, and Her Agent the Lord Hunsdon upon the borders: 

Earl of Arran offers a meeting with L: Hunsdon upon the borders  
The fugitives proscribed Patrick Gray sent Ambassador for England.   but before the time the Sterlin fugitives, whom she had protected, were prescribed, and at it charged by the Earl with their treason against the King. The compliment he left of his real intentions at parting, took place until Patrick Gray came with another embassy and particular Articles from King James. But the ill offices, it was suspected, he did at the same time, to the captive Queen, 
Qu: of Scots practices too much for herself.  gained him no reputation with her party; and put her upon some such extraordinary courses, as betrayed her into a new prison under more restraint, and L●icester, 
And Leicester against her and her party.  'tis said, upon murderous designs, who would not hear of her liberty, less of her succession to the English Crown. To cover whose private spleen and malicious attempts, new fears are fetched from the Roman Catholics, and their designs magnified in a mist unto the people, whereby a sharper edge is set upon the severity of the Laws. This alteration encouraged some of the precise Scottish Religion to pursue the Queen's commands for pressing in Parliament to have the Bishops reformed, and to others, 
Queen Eliz: requires a reformation of Scots Bishops.  as may be not improbably conjectured to murder the Earl of Northumberland in the Tower, 
Earl of Northumberland, ●urdered in the Tower.  because a known Friend to the Queen of Scots, though they left the pistol wherewith they acted it in his Chamber, and the opinion of self-assasinate at his door. Not long after was Sir Edward Wotton sent Ambassador into Scotland, to renew a league, and present the King with his English retinue, which the Regents in his Minority had neglected or pawned for auxiliary support of their power. 
Sir Edward Wotton sent Ambassador into Scotland.  While conditions about this and a marriage with the King of Denmark's daughter were making at Court, some others were broken at a meeting upon the borders, where, though the usual Oath for mutual security was taken, the Earl of Bedford was slain, and though by whom not known, yet the Lord Fernihurst Governor of the middle Borders was accused and imprisoned, 

E: of Bedford slain at a meeti●g u●on the borders.  
L: Fernihurst imprisoned.  
E: of Arran confined.  
Qu: Eliz demands their persons, is denied.  
She sends home the Scottish Fugitives.   because a firm adherent to the Queen of Scots, and the Earl of Arran c●nfined, b●cause a favourite of the Kings. The charge was fiercely prosecuted by the English, who in the name of the Queen demanded to have their persons delivered, which not obtained, the E●rl of Angus, Marre Glames, and other presc●ibed Fugitive●, are sent home, who have no sooner set foot in Scotland, but by the advice and assistance of the Assembly brethren, they summon all ●n the King's name to them for defence of the Evangel, removing ill Counsellors from the King, and conserving the old amity with the English. Being got into a body of 8000 at Fankirk, Arran transgresseth the rules of his confinement to expres●e a more considerable duty to the King, 
A rebellious army raised by them.  unto whom he accuseth Patrick Grey of this Treason (which he cunningly declines, 
E: of Arran accuseth P: Grey of Treason. ) and fortifies Sterlin in d●fense of the King; but the work was not done when the rebels drew near, and began to set their scaling Ladders to the walls. 
Is besieged, and narrowly escapes.  The Earl of Arran knowing his p●rson was principally aimed at, (for Lord Fernihurst was lately dead in prison) conveys himself and one Servant away privately by a bridge, and then the Town-garrison retreat unto the King in the Castle. The rebels display their banners in his sight; Lord Grey is sent out to demand the reason of their coming; 
The rebels answer to L: Gray.  receives a meek answer, To kiss the King's hands. The King expresseth no liking of their armed love, offers restitution of all their goods if they will depart. 
They capitulate and h●ve what they ask of the Ki●g.  They will have the interest of admission to his presence, and when they have it, capitulate for his Castles and chief holds, which, there being no remedy, are granted, with the delivery up of divers noblemen, Earls Montross, Crawford, Rothsay, &c. their pardon signed, and the Treaty for a league with the Queen of England renewed. 
A league renewed with England.  One Article whereof, had it been sooner agreed on, had preserved both Kingdoms in better security, & fettered the unruly Di●cipline to its duty, 
A considerable Article had it been agreed and kept heretofore.  viz That neither Prince should for time to come afford assistance or favour to any traitor or rebel, or any that had made a public defection; nor suffer them to be relieved by others; nor harbour them publicly or privately in their Dominions, &c. And had another been omitted, which, 
Another about Religion, the ambiguity whereof doth more hurt than good.  when before care had been taken for defence of the Christian and Catholic Religion, draws in the rea●m of The pure Reformation, which the Catholic Romans interpreted by the Scotch negative confession: and the Catholic Protestants by the many. Assembly Acts condemning and branding the sacred Episcopal order and jurisdiction, as Antichristian, happily the persons of both Princes had not been engaged in such after-hazard, nor had such designs been prosecuted for the invasion of their Kingdoms. For this Treaty was no sooner concluded, but a most desperate conspiracy in England broke out, supposed to be long since laid by the too zealous consistory at Rome, 
A Conspiracy in England discovered.  but took life now, being hastily hatched by some preternatural Scotch Assembly● hear in this agreement. The chief actors in it were Father Ballard a Priest of the Seminary at Rheims, Babington a a young ingenious, and learned Gentleman, of a good extraction and Family in Derbyshire; 
Many executed for it.  Sarisbury of Derbigh-shire; Tichbourne of Hampshire, with ten other Gentlemen of good quality, all which were afterward hanged, and some dismembered alive in St: Giles' fields, the common place of their meeting. Their design was to have killed Queen Elizabeth; set at liberty the Queen of Scots, and by the help of For●eign strength to have altered the face of Religion in both kingdoms. The Q. of Scots though suspected to be private unto all three, 
The Queen of Scots how far concerned in it.  in the general, yet p●ofess'd to her death that she encouraged none but that, which nature suggesting and justifying, conduced to the liberty of her injured person, and half restitu●ion to ●er Crown. Her two Secretaries Nave and curl were brought in by Walsingham's cunning, if not corrupted rather by his cost very unnaturally to accuse her; 
Walsingham and her own Secretaries charge more upon her than she owns.  who, as from the beginning, he daily instructed a false Brother with as much hypocrisy and perjury as could be, to carry on this fatal contrivance: so 'tis not certain whether by him, and other polit●ck instruments he had, he discovered or made more of what was desperate in the plot.  
Before the Queen of Scots came to her trial, 
She is prejudged too soon by persons uncommissioned.  several judgements passed upon her in private, anticipating the enquiry after better evidence, and the●r sovereign's prerogative in granting pardon at her pleasu●e. They whom neither the fury of Disciplinarian zeal, nor any private malignant spirit had possessed, 
The more prudent, yet as loyal grew milder censures.  deliliberately sounding the shallowness of her guilt, and computing the shortness of her life by her sickness, adjudged her only to a stricter confinement, and adventu●'d to have the possibilities of ●ischie● prevented by the p●udence of the State. Others who had been lighted to a Religion that made murder and innocence consistent, did not care if some wickedness were invented to d●spach her quickly any way, so by the Law Leicester as otherwise, 
Leicester wo●l● have her poi●on'd.  so desirous to become voluptuous in revenge, ●n●used his sentence in a cup of ling●ing poison, that he might take at leisure his delight in the preassurance of her death; And wanting an help to discourse at his Feast, invited Walsingham to accompany him in judgement, and sent a presbyterian Divine to prepare his Conscience by a Classica●l indulgence, 
Walsingham not prevailed with to consent.  but he pretends he had refused a less courtesy to Morton, who it may be to balance the guilt of both Kingdoms, had advised to have her sent into Scotland, 
Yet d●rects the contrivers to a methodical proceeding.  and executed on the Borde●s, yet having compromised his Vote as the major part should determine it, begins to rectify their method, and puts them upon debate by what Law they should proceed. There were but two cited for their purpose, one of 25 Edward 3. the other 27 Eliz. The latter was concluded the more proper, because in effect confessed to be made upon design, and so more naturally operative for the end it was intended to. Those of the Iuncto knew what arguments were most prevalent with the Queen to sign a Writ of Delegacy for enquiry, 
Queen Elizabeth yields to their persuasions for signing a Writ o● Delegacy.  wherein a multitude were nominated, who must not deny to serve up their honours, and sacrifice their conscience in appearance unto their Queen's name, but indeed to some more passionate impotency in her Council. Most of these were sent unto Fotheringham Castle, where the Queen of Scots was prisoner to Sir Dru Drury and Sir Amias Pawlet, She looking upon her judges, and their Commission in their papers, 
The Queen of Scots prudent d●meanour reward the Delegates at Fotheringham Castle.  thought the sight of their names did antedate her doom; yet made no except●on against their persons, only stood upon her Majesty as a Queen, and chose a thousand deaths rather than descend to the capacity of a Subject. The late association, and Act of Parliament ensuing upon it, with the neglect had of her in the league, she put out of her way in discourse, with as much scorn as she left charity in the room to forgive the injury she thought done he● by them. She thought her cause deserved the theatre of the world, and a Diet of Princes fitter than the Subjects delegated by any one to decide it: yet a free Parliament her Majesty accounted no contemptible arbitrement, and hoped there her innocency should not be pinioned by a party, but left to the liberty of defence. At length the Lord Treasurer telling her somewhat harshly, 
Lord Treasur●r rigid wit● her.  That if she would not ye●ld her presence before the Delegates, her absence and contum●cy should be no bar to them in executing their Commission, she charged him and the rest home enough with this poignant answer: 
Her Majesty answers him accordingly.  Then sift your Consciences, have a care of your honours, ●nd God reward you and your Heirs according to the justice you administer to me. The next day she sends for some of the Delegates, 
Submits to a trial, but on condition.  and putting in caution that her submission might not derogate from the honour of her predecessors, nor prejudice any way her successors in their right, Her Majesty professed that by Sir Christopher Hattons' persuasions she was resolved to condescend to Queen Elizabeth's desires in a public justification of herself. In the time of her trial justice Gawdies narration was more particular than the rest, 
justice's Gawdies too particular n●rration.  out of which he concluded, That she had conspired with Ballard and the rest of his Complices, approved assented, promised aid, and pointed out the way to effect their design Ballard and Babington she protested she knew not; 
The Queen protests against it.  acknowledged that many indeed unknown to her had offered su●h service as to which she gave no encou●agement; and how far they proceeded she neither knew, nor being in prison could hinder. What confessions were made by those who had suffered, she did impute to the sense or fear of their tortures; And what her own Secretaries produced, she i●terpreted rather their cunning than malice, to shift off from themselves what they thought would never be questioned in her. Yet their hopes failed, or else her charity mistook, for their evidence cast her, though but made out of their papers, and such as Nave in an Apology disclaimed. 
Nave disclaims his papers.  Such as it was they transmitted from Fo●heringham Castle to Westminster, where a full Parliament voted up to the sense of the principal Delegates, some out of zeal, others for fear, 
The English Parlia●ent passeth sent●nce according to the sense of the Delegates.  a third sort in rev●rence of, and implicit credulity in their state policy, and skill of the Laws; All out of hopes to please Queen Elizabeth, by removing the object of her jealousy and emulation Yet the sentence passed, the Queen's signing keeps at a distance, 
But Q: Eliz: makes no haste to sign the Bill.  having a long p●ocession of demurs and apologies between, and when her hand came to take hold of the Justice, security, necessity, which in this case was tendered to her in the name of her Subjects, it seemed not to have confidence enough to own any Commission from her heart. The King of Scots did the part of a Son, to preserve his Mother, 
King James endeavours to pre●erve his Mother, but ●ann●t.  and measured not his affection and duty by the length of the league, nor confined his endeavours to the circle of the English Crown he must look for. It is certain there was an unhappy conjuncture of his mother's fate with his late surprisal at Sterlin, which made him as unfit to expostulate, as the Assembly Ministers were backward to pray, who disobeyed His majesty's commands to recommend the safety of their Queen his Mother in their public devotions to God. 
Commands the Ministers to pr●y in p●blick for her, who deny him and her that respect.  The Scotch Nobility, that were of the Eldership did as their black Brethren inspired them, and made Patrick Gray forget his Message which he had from the King, 
Pa●rike Grey's proverb to Qu, E●iz.  to deliver in place a proverb made by the Synod, and often inculcate in Queen Elizabeth's ears, That a dead Woman could not bite This made her thoughts become somewhat sententious, 
Who is troubled in mind about her execution.  being often heard to whisper to herself, with a sigh, Endure or strike, and then after som● respite, Strike, lest thou be'st struck. The last it should seem left the imp●essi●n, and signed the Bill for execution, which committed to Secretary Davison with a mixture of come and remands, 
V●certain instructions given to Davison with the feigned Bill.  was posted away by one Beale a zealous professor, and effected with more haste than pretended good liking-Davison being called into the star▪ Chamber for acting according to a right or w●o●g understanding of Her Maj●sties meaning, and fined ten thousand pounds with imprisonment during the pleasure of the Queen▪ 
He is fined and imprisoned for g●ing be●ond t●e meaning of them.   
With what courage and true Christian resolution that Royal and magnanimous Princess entertained her Death; may be read at large in the Histories of those Times, which I will not go abou● to contract, lest I commit sacrilege on a Saint. 
The Queen very reso●ute and ●eligious at her death.  I shall only among other circumstances intimate how the Disciplinarian malice pursued her Soul with a sharper edge than the axe had, that but at two strokes divide● her Head from her body, denying her last Conscientious request, 
A Priest denied her.  to have a Priest of her own Religion to converse with, and her Execution being out of the Assembly jurisdiction, an impertinent Deane was procured to spin out a long Prayer as near the prescript of the Discipline as he durst. 
Fletcher Dean of Peterburgh.  In the midst of this Tyranny upon her Soul, she performed the office of a Royal Priest unto herself, and having blessed her Friends, and forgiven her enemies, she assumed majestic confidence enough to demand Justice in the distribution of her Legacies. All being done Her Majesty intended, Virgin-Iustice (if not deflowered by the violence of this act) with a faint boldness employing the axe which she scarcely had in her power, 
justice blushed when she suffered.  her scales dropped down, and with shame enough she held her trembling hand before her Eyes.  
FINIS.   

Books printed and sold by John Garfield at the rolling-press for Pictures, near the royal Exchange, in Cornhill, Viz.  
RHanodaeus Medicinal Dispensatory▪ containing the whole body of physic, discovering the Natures, Properties, and Virtues of the Plants, Minerals, and Animals, the manner of Compounding Medicines, with the way how to administer them: Methodically digested into Five Books of Philosophical and Pharmaceutical Institutes; Three Books of Physical Materials, both Galenical and chemical, with a perfect apothecary's shop: And a Physical Dictionary adjoined with the said Dispensatory, explaining all the hard Words and Terms of Art in the said Dispensatory.  
Ochinus his Dialogue of polygamy and Divorce: Wherein all the Texts of holy Scripture and Arguments from Reason and the Laws and customs of Nations that have been, or can be brought for, or against polygamy, are urged and answered interchangeably, by two persons.  
Daphnis and Chloe, a most sweet, amorous and pleasant Pastoral Romance for young Ladies: Translated out of Greek by George Thornly, Gentleman.  
A Physical Dictionary, or an interpretation of such crabbed Words and Terms of Art, as are derived from the Greek or Latin, and used in physic, Anatomy, Chirurgery, and chemistry: With a definition of most Diseases incident to the Body of Man▪ and a description of the Marks and Characters used by Doctors in their Receipts.  
The Wise man's Crown▪ and the Way to bliss two Books of chemical and Rosie-Cra●ian physic, will be Published for the benefit of Posterity, by John Heydon a servant of God, and Secretary of Nature.