Knox to Gregoey Raylton
156U.
KNOX TO GEEGORY RAYLTON.
XLVIII.
Knox to Gregoey Raylton.
Dominus acljutor opportunus.
Your shipp es, dear Brother, arrived in the first tuo dayes befor I receyved your writeing, to no lytill contort of many adflicted hart; for the verrey day of thare arrivall at May/ war the Frenche men with thare hoU preparation advaunced in thare expedition towardis Sanct Androwes within 8 myles; and after the sight of yonr shippes, supposing that thi-i had bene the Frenche arniye, with the JMarquess, thei marched till thei approched within sex myles, but the certeintie knowen, thei reteyred asmueh in on[e] day as thei advaunced in tuo.^
What war our soIjIjcs, and \Aliat was the dolour of my hart, I will not now express; but you may conjecture in what estaite I stood when such as wilbe called freindis did openlye say to my face, the support of England will cum when we that now suffer have no nead of it.
But omitting theis dolouris, which we must devors befor we triumphe, I hartlie besech you,
Brother, to put Sire Eaufe and Sire James^ in mynd of my former requeastes, to witt, that men of judgment and authoritie be joyned with our Lordis heir, and that expert capitanes, faythfull and godly, be appointed not only over your owen soldiouris, but also to correct the disobedience of our throward foot men ; for onles ye concurr with us continually in wisdom and in pollicy of warr, neather shall your riches nor forse greatlie advaunce this cause begun.
I am judged amongis ourselves too extream, and be reason therof I have extracted myself from all public assemblies to my privat study, yet can I not cease to signifye unto you, that onles wisdom bridill the foolishe boldnes of some, all that favour the good success of this great and godlye interprise will one day murn.
Yf Goddis myghty hand had not defended these two ^ The Isle of May, at tbe entrnnce cf ''
See vol. ii. p.
LS.
•> That is, Sadler and Croft. the Firth of Forth.
LETTERS, ETC.
1560. young plantes, tliei had bolli perrislieil in tliis last dannger, for what hasard took tliei when with fewar than two hundreht horsemen (I compt our foot men as sipheris) thei lay without fort or walled town within thre myles of the ennemey, having also the most part of that countrey unfreindis.
God is highlie to be prased in the prudent boldnes and painfull diligence of the Lard of Grangis, who continually so did annoy the ennemey that he cutted from thame all victualles by land, except when thei war compelled to move thare whole campe.
He hath bein in great daunger, and was ones shott under the left breast, and yit God dyd preserve him.
The gentilmen of Fife that be Protestantes have tacken such pains in tliis last troeble, that all men wouiider of thare patience ; for from the first of January that the French departed from Styrviling, till the 24 of the sam when thei reteyred, thei never cam in bed, neyther yit did thei ever sleip but in thare jackis and armour, for thei only assisted Mr. Kyrkcaldye to anoy the ennemey
; otheris weryed within tuo dayes.
I wold therfor that a confortable lettre should be written unto thame, exhorting thame to perseverance.
The principall men ar the Mr. of Lyndsey, the lardis of Lochleven, Bavard, Londyn, Cragyhall, Eaymornye, Thomas
Scott of Abbottishall : thare be many otheris besydes these, but these ar those that now took greatest pain, and did farthest adventure.
The Lordis heir wold be advertissed that ennemeis Scotismen shold be entreated as ennemeis, for otherwise thare will never be obedience.
I putt in your moulit that which I cannot persuaid myself, as thingis woerthy of advertisement shall occurr, I will do what I can that ye shall know the certaintie.
Ye remember. Brother, my old requeast for som support to be maid to som particuler men, whom befor I expressed, and I know that it is so necessar, that withowt the sam it shall not be able to thame to serve. My judgment of our footmen I have l)efore written to Sir James Croftis, which is, and ever hath bein, that thei shall never proffet us in our nead.
The sowm is great