Knox to Thomas Eandolph
LETTERS, ETC.
LXXVIII.
Knox to Thomas Eandolph.
BoHT youris ar ciimen to my handis with your bow, for the which I hartelie thank you.
Eollettis tydingis ar as yit buiied in the breastis of two within this realme, butt Maddye telleht ws many newes :
" The mess shall up, the Bischope of Glaskier and Abbot of Dunfermling come as ambassadouris from the Generall Counsall, my Lord Bothwell shall follow, with power to putt in execution whatsoever is demanded, and our Soveraine will have done ; and then shall Knox and his preaching be pulled by the earis, etc."
Thus with ws ravis Maddye'- every day; but heirupon I greatlie pans^ not.
The Erie of Lenox servand is familliare in Court, and it is supposed that it is not without knowledge, yea, and laubour of your Court.
Some in the countrey look for the lady and the yoimg Erie er it be long.
It is whispered to me that licence is all readdy procured for thare hitthercuming.
Goddis providence is inscrutable to man, befor the ischew of such thingis as are keapt clos for a season in his counsall.
But, to be plaine with you, that jorney and progress I lyke not.
The Quens Majestie remanes at St. Johnston, as I heare, yit eight dayes, yea, and perchaunce longar.
As for Edinburgh, it lykes the ladeis nothing.
In these last schippes from Fraunce and Elanderis, I have receaved some newes, and some are comen.
Certane of the salt manis lauboraris are arrived, with mattockis, schooles,^ and certane other instrumentis ; mo ar looked for.
I fear thare trafique shalbe to mack salt upon salt ; divin what I mean.
I hear, of credible reaport, and that of such as ar prevy in the Court of France, that the jorney of Loraine goes fordward.
Lettres I receaved, dated in Trois in Champanye, assuring that the King was so far in jorney, yf other impedimentis occurred not.
The Papistis of Fraunce ^ "Maddye," a name in common use at tyue, in liis Memorials, 1570, also the time, and occurring in some of the speaks of " Madie in our fisch merkat," ballads of Robert Sempill ; one, for inetc. stance, ends—"Quod Maddie, prioress "
" Pans," I care not. of the kaill-market."
Richard Banna- '
" Schooles," shovels.
LETTERS, ETC.
(of Paris especially^ tlireatten destruction to all Protestantes.
The Germans, almost in every cietie and province, amass men of war, and no man can tell att whose devotion.
Yf ye know, I am content, yf not, my counsall is, ye look to it.
Tuo bargeis, in forme and fassion liek lioyes, cam in our Forht above the Inch, and wewed all places, Sonnday and Monunday last.
They saled from land to land, round about the Inche, but wold suffer no man to enter in thame, and so ar departed.
Our solan geis use to vesy the Bass^ befor the great cumpany tack possessioun.
I say yit agane tack head.
I hear (but not of certainetie) that Suaden will yit vesyt with ane ambassadour.
I pray you yit agane salut my Lord of Bedfoord, of whose good mynd towardes me I never doutted, and say to his Lordship that I think I shall have as great nead of confort or it be long, as that I had when his Lordship and I last parted in London, yf God putt not end to my battell schortlie ; for heir wanton and wicked will impyres as it wer above wisdom and verteu.
God send remeady.
And thus ye knowe a part of my mynd ; and yit yf I war with you I wolde trouble you longar.
My purpos is, yf God permitt, to be in Langton the 5, 6, and 7 of May ; you may appomt the place, and I will meitt yon, whome the Eternall preserve.
Of Edinburgh, the 3 of this instant, [May] 1564.
Salut in my name Mr. Boistock and the Italian, to whome great busines suffer me not to write.
Youris to his power, John Kj^ox.
To the ryght wirshipfull Mr.
Ptandolphe, agent for the Quenes Majestic of England for the effaris of Scotland.
Att Baruik.
Be these delivered.
LXXIX.
Extracts, Bishop Gkindal to Henry Bullinger, Zurich.
But enough of our affairs.
Things in Scotland are not so '
Tlic Rjiss Rock, withiri two miles of ed durinp: the season by myriads of ihe coast of East Lothian, still frequentsolan geese, and other sea-lbwl.
LETTERS, ETC.
well established as we could wish.
The churches indeed still i-etain the pure confession of the Gospel ; but the Queen of Scotland seems to be doing all in her power to extirpate it.
She has lately given orders that six or seven Popish masses should be celebrated daily in her Court, where all are admitted who choose to attend ; whereas she was till now content with only one mass, and that a private one, no Scotsman being allowed to be present.
Moreover, when the Eeformation first began, it w^as provided, that out of the estates of the monasteries, which were made over to the Exchequer, salaries should be paid to the ministers of the Gospel ; whereas she has not made any payment whatever these three years.
She has lately banished John Knox from her royal city of Edinburgh, where he has hitherto been chief minister, nor can she be induced to allow him to return.
However, no public changes have as yet been made, except at Court ; and the leading men of the kingdom, the nobility and citizens, have, by a great majority, made a a profession of the gospel, and manifested numerous and convincing proofs of their firmness.
One of the most powerful is the Lord James Stewart, Earl of Murray, the Queen's natural brother, a pious man, and of great influence with his party.
-^ .
London, August 27, 1566.
From this you may easily imagine what great and terrible commotions have lately taken place in Scotland.
In the meantime we entertain the most lively hopes, that all these things will turn out to the further advancement of evangelical doctrine.
John Knox has lately returned, amidst the great rejoicing of the people, to his church in Edinburgh, from which he had heretofore been altogether banished.^ .
London, August 29, 1567.
^ The above is au extract, from the letters in Latin, p. 100, which were first Zurich Letters, in the Parker Society printed in Strype's Life of Grindal volume, 1842, 8vo, p. 169.
Ap. p. 19.
The volume also contains tlie original Ihicl. p. 198, and p.
1 17.
LETTERS, ETC.
LXXX.
The General Assembly to Theodore Beza.
ExiMio Christi servo D. Theodoro Bez^ Genevensis
ECCLESL^ PASTOEI
DOCTISSIMO
SLMUL AC VIGILANTISSIMO
SALUTEM ET PACEM IN DOMINO.
Legimus uuper literas tuas, Christiane pastor vigilantissime, ad cliarissimum nobis fratrem Johannem Knoxum missas quae profecto varie nos affeceriiut.
Quod enim ecclesias vestras et pace et tranquillitate magna frui narras, peijucundiim nobis fuit i;t debuit.
Quod autem reperiri quosdam scribis in Augustano <7vyKpi]TC(T/j,o), quos aut error aut pertinacia ad tumultus in eis movendos excitet, quorum causa etiam indictus sit jirincipum conventus, graviter sane molesteque tulimus.
Quum vero ex To the very EMINENT SERVANT OF ChRIST, MaSTER ThEODORE Beza, the most learned and vigilant Pastor of the Genevan Church.-^ Health and peace from the Lord ! We have lately, most vigilant Christian pastor, read your letter sent to our very dear brother, John Knox, and it has indeed affected us in various ways
: For inasmuch as you state that your churches are in the enjoyment of great peace and tranquillity, this intelligence was very gratifying to us, as it ought to be.
But whereas you inform ns that some persons are found in the s}Ticretism of Augsburg, whom either ignorance or obstinacy may excite to raise disturbances among them, and for whose sake there has even been appointed a conference of the sovereigns ; this is ' The following translation of this the signatures are most inaccurately letter appeared in the volume of Zurich copied.
From Beza's letter, at p. 550, Letters printed for the Parker Society, it appears he requested the original to 1842.
I was much disappointed to find, he returned to him by Bullinger.
It is after a careful search, that the original siifficicnt, therefore, to subjoin the names letter is not preserved at Zurich, but of the subscribers to the English version, only a contemporary transcript, in which partly from the volume alluded to.
LETTERS, ETC.
eadeni epistola iiitelleximus te tuosque fratres a nobis eiiixe postulare ut Confessionem vestraui et Expositionem Siniplicein
" Orthodoxse Fidei, et dogmatiiin Catholicoriim syncerse religionis Christianaj, concorditer ab Ecclesise Christi ministris, qui sunt in Helvetia, Tiguri, Bernte, Scaphusii, Sangalli, Curi^ Rlia^torum et apud confcederatos, Mylliusii item, et Bienna?, quibus adjunxerunt se et G-eneyensis Ecclesise ministri"^ niense Martio recens editani, nostris suffragiis comprobaremus
; in eo summam erga nos hunianitateni tuam tuorumque ingenue agnoscinius et predicamus, qui Scotos gentem in ultimis terrse angulis Domino servientem cultu religionis syncero tanti sestimatis, ut eorum consensione judicetis ad religionem Christianam quam eo libello estis complexi posse multum lucis et splendoris accedere.
Quare, ne studia nostra human itati tantse et tarn sequae indeed painful and distressing news.
But as we understood from that same letter, that you and your brethren earnestly request of us to signify our approbation of your " Confession, and Simple Exposition of the orthodox faith, and catholic doctrines of the pure Christian Eeligion, recently set forth in the month of March, with the unanimous assent of the ministers of the Church who are in Switzerland, namely, those of Zurich, Berne,
Schauffhausen, St. Gall, the Grisons, and their confederates, Mullhausen and Bienne, to which the ministers of the Church of Geneva have joined themselves ;" in this we acknowledge and declare the exceeding courtesy towards us, both of yourself and your brethren, who express so much esteem for the Scots, a people serving the Lord with the pure worship of religion in the farthest corners of the earth, as to consider that their agreement will add much light and splendour to the Christian religion, which you have embraced in that treatise.
Wherefore, * The words within inverted commas edition has the imprint, " Tigvki, exform part of the title-page of this " Concudebat
Christophoriis Froschouerus, fessio et Expositio Simplex."
The first Mense Martio, m.d.lxvi."
4to.
VOL. VI.
2 M
LETTERS, ETC.
postiilationi deessent, simul ac tuas vidimus literas cuncti e proximis quibusque oppidis Andreapolim convolaviniiLs, urbem literis divinis humanisque in Scotia florentissimam ; ibi qvianta fieri potuit celeritate librum eum inspeximus capita ejus singula expendimus, nihil inexploratum pnTetermisinius, omnia de
Deo sacris legibus ritibusque ecclesi« diligeuter excussimus.
Dici autem non potest quantum ex ea opera Isetitise ceperimus cum perspicue cerneremus libello vestro fide optima sancte pie planeque divinitus idque l)reviter explicari quicquid nos in templis, in scliolis, et in suggestu his octo annis perpetuis docuimus, et adhuc (Deo est gratia) docemus.
Ejus ergo patrocinium suscipere tum conscientia urgente tum officio penitus cogimur, ac omnia ejus capita, omnesque sententias, non solum adprobare sed etiam magnopere laudare.
Nitithat our diligence might not be wanting to so great courtesy, and so just a request, as soon as we received your letter, we, all of us, from every town in the neighbourhood, assembled at St.
Andrews, the most flourishing city as to divine and human learning in all Scotland ; and there, as speedily as we could, when we had read over the book, we considered each chapter by itself, and left nothing unexplored, and diligently examined everything respecting God, the sacred laws and rights of the Church, and it is impossible to express the exceeding delight we derived from that work, when we clearly perceived that in your little book was most faithfully, holily, piously, and indeed divinely explained, and that briefly whatever we have been constantly teaching these eight jears, and still by the grace of God, continue to teach, in our Churches, in the schools, and in the pulpit.
We are therefore altogether compelled, as ^veU by our consciences, as from a sense of duty, to undertake its patronage, and not only to express our approval, but also our exceeding
; ;
LETTERS, ETC.
tur enim libellus ille prorsiis Uteris sacris quas et profitemur et capitis periciilo vel etiam sanguinis profusione parati sumus tueri.
Subscripsinius autem onines qui per augustiara concessi temporis interesse poteranius et hujus Academias sigillo publico obsignavimus.
Quod si postliac ecclesiis vestris id profuturuin putaveris, et subscriptionem bujus Ecclesite publicam et Confessionis fidei nostra? formulam, trium Ordinum Eegni comitiis sancitam, ad te primo quoque tempore mittemus.
Illud modo silentio tegere vix possumus quod de nataliciis feriis, de circumcisione, passione, resurrectione, ascensione, Spiritus
Sancti missione in discipulos, vigesimo quarto capite dictte Confessionis conscribitur, eas ferias apud nos mininie locum obtinere in proesentia quippe qui uon audemus ullum diem festum religiose celebrare nisi quern oracula divina prffiscripserunt.
Csetera, ut diximus, commendation of every chapter and every sentence.
For that little treatise rests altogether upon the Holy Scriptures, which we both profess and are prepared to defend at the risk of our lives, or even to the shedding of blood.
And we have all of us, as many as by reason of the shortness of the tune allowed us, were able to be present, both subscribed our names, and sealed this letter with the common seal of this University.
But if you should think that it wovild be of use to your churches at any future time, we will send you by the first opportunity both the public subscription of this Church, and the formula of our
Confession of Faith, confirmed in the Assembly of the Three Estates of the realm.
This one thing, however, we can scarcely refrain from mentioning, with regard to what is written in the 24th chapter of the aforesaid Confession concerning the " festival of our Lord's nativity, circumcision, passion, resurrection, ascension, and sending the Holy Ghost upon his disciples," that these festivals at the preseiit time obtain no place_.among]us for we dare not religiously celebrate any other feast-day than
LETTERS, ETC.
omnia docemus probanms et libentissime amplectimur.
Has ad te literas quam brevissime scripsimus ut angustiis temporis pareremus.
A te vero magnopere contendimus ne tuaj erga nos familiaritatis consuetudinem earn incoeptam intermori sinas.
Id si sedulo feceris nos parem tibi gratiam referre conabimur.
Dominus Jesus tuos tuorumque fratrum pios eonatus ecclesife Christi incremento quam diutissime fortunet.
Vale, Andreapoli pridie nonas Septembris anno Domini 1566.^ what the divine oracles have prescribed.
Everything else, as we have said, we teach, approve, and most willingly embrace.
We have written you this letter as briefly as possible, in consequence of the shortness of the time.
But we earnestly request you not to allow the friendly correspondence now commenced between us to die away.
If you will diligently do this, we will endeavour to return you the like favour.
INIay the Lord Jesus prosper as long as possible the pious exertions of yourself and brethren for the increase of the Church of Christ !
Farewell.
At St. Andrews, 4th of September 1566.
Your most loving Brethren in Christ, John Douglass, Eector of the University of St. Andrews, and Principal of St. Mary's College.
^ Petrie, in his History of the Catholick the 27th of December that year, "orChurch,Eotterdam,l 662, mentions (what dained the same to be printed, togither Calderwood has omitted) that " the with ane Epistle sent be tlie Assemblie Superintendents, together with many of the Kirk of Scotland, approving the otlier most qualified Ministers," having same, providing a note be put in the convened at St. Andrews in September margin, where mention is made of the 156Q, and having read the Letters and remembrance of some holy days."— See Confession of the Churches at Helvetia, Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotetc, sent the answer as above.
Tliis land, vol. i. p.
90.
Calderwood's HisConfession of the Kirk of Ziirich being tory, vol. ii. p. 333.
Wodrow Misceltranslated by Mr.
Robert Pont, the lany, pp.
4, 335.
General Assembly, at the meeting held
LETTERS, ETC.
William Skene, Dean of the Faculty of Arts there, and Ordinary Professor of Law in the same College,
John Eutheeford, Principal of St. Salvator's College.
William Eamsay, Professor of Humanity in the same College.
David Gould, Professor in the same.
John Duncanson, Principal of St. Leonard's College.
James Wylkie, in the same.
John Wynrame, Superintendent of Pife and St. Andrews.
John Erskyne, Superintendent of Angus and Mearns.
John Spottiswood, Superintendent of Lothian.
John Knox, ) .
. p -^ .
, r r, r Mmisters of Edinburgh.
John Craig, j ^ John Eow, Minister of the town of Perth.
Egbert Hamilton, Minister of St. Andrews.
David Ferguson, Minister of Dunfermline.
John ISToreis [Ure], Minister of Lucharis.
George Scot, Minister of Kirkaldy.
Andrew Forrester, Minister of Dysart.
William Clerk, Minister of Anstruther.
Alexander Spens, Minister of Kilconquhar.
Thomas Jameson, Minister of Largo.
John Symson, Minister of Scoonie.
Thomas Byggar, Minister of Kinghorne.
David Spens, Minister of Monimail.
William Christieson, Minister of the town of Dundee.
John Hepburne, Minister of Brechin.
Thomas Anderson, Minister of Montrose.
^ NiNiAN Clement, Minister of Aberbrothock.
Adam Heriot, Minister of Aberdeen.
David Lyndesay, Minister of Forfar.
James Melvill, Minister of Feirne.
James Balfour, Minister of Guthrie.
Egbert Pont, Minister of Elgin.
LETTERS, ETC.
David Lyndesay, Minister of Leith.
Patfjck Kynlociiy, Minister of Linlithgow.
John Duncanson, Minister of Stirling.
Robert Wilson, Minister of Dalkeith.
John Burn, Minister of Musselburgh.
Andrew Simpson, Minister of Dunbar.
John Brand, Minister of Halyroodhouse.
George Sylvius.
LXXXI.
Theodore Beza to Henry Bullinger, Zurich.^ I SEND you a specimen of the very extensive correspondence of Kuox,^ from which you will learn the entire condition of Scotland.
I have added the unanimous testimony of the General Assembly of Scotland and of the principal churches,^ and we are of opinion that we must consider whether, since our common Confession is in the course of being printed a second time both in Latin and in German, there should be added to it this testimony of the Scottish churches.
We shall do so when we republish the French [version], unless you think otherwise.
But it is my wish that you return safely, and as soon as possible, the autograph which I send you.
I had intended to send to our Mr. Haller a consolatoiy epistle ; but you see how I have been obliged to hurry, our messenger being in haste.
The Lord acknowledge him and us all in the day of His coming.
Farewell, my father, and all the brethren who arc with you, for whom I here continually pray God that he may more and more bless you and them.
Geneva, 8th of December 156G.
Thine, Beza.
"^ This letter is not preserved, among Beza's Letters.
(Orig.
M.'sa., Ge- " In the preceding letter, No. Ixxx., ' Translated from the original scroll neva, No. 1 18, p. 550.) from theConvention held at St. Andrews.
LETTERS, 'ETC.
LXXXII.—ExTEACTS— Sill Nicholas Throkmorton to Queen Elizabeth.-^ It maye please your Majestie to be advertyzed
; I did signefye to Mr. Secretorye, by my lettres of the 1 1 and 1 2 of Julye, the daye of myne entrye into Scotlande, the causes of my staye, my lodgynge at Eas Castle, a place of the Lord Hume's, where I was met by the saide Lord and the Laird of Lyddyngton, and what had passed in conference betwixte us whilest I was at the said Fas Castle.^ Synce which tyme, accompanyed with the Lordes afforesaid, and with 400 horses by theyi'e appoyntemente for my better conduct, I cam to Edenboroughe the 12 of this present.
The 13 beiuge Soundaye, appoynted for a solempne Communyon in thys towne, and also a solempne Fast being publysshed I could not have conference with the Lordes, which be assembled within thys towne, as I desyred ; that is to saye, the Erles of Athell and Moreton, the Lorde Hume, the Larde of Lyddyngton, Sir James Bawfor, Capytayne of the castle, Mr. James Magyll, and the Presydent of the Sessyon.
Nevertheles, I made meanes by the Laird of Lyddyngton, that theye woulde use no protracte of tyme in myne audyence
; so I dyd lykewyse to the Earle Moreton, whom I met by chaunce.
I was aunswered by them bothe that, albeyt the daye weere destyned to sacred exercyses, suche as weere there of the Counsell woulde consulte uppon my mocyon touchynge myne accesse unto them, and my conference with them
; and said, ^ Most of the letters from which these trating the Keign of Mary Queen of extracts are made, have been printed enScotland, m.dxliii.—m.dlxviii.
Glastire in a volume edited for the Maitland gow, 1837.
4to.
Club by the Eev.
Joseph Stevenson, under this title:—"
Selections from ^ Fast Castle, now in ruins, situated unpublished Manuscripts in the College on a bold rocky promontory on the coast of Arms and the British Museum, illusof Berwickshire.
LETTERS, ETC.
also, that in th'afternoime eyther they woulde come to me, or I shoulde heare from them.
Agaynst the 20 daye of thys monethe, there is a Generall Assemblye of all the cliirches, shyres, and boroughe townes of thys realme, namelye, of suche as be contented to repayre to theys
Lordes to thys towne, where yt is thought the wholle state of thys matter wyl be handled, and, I feare me, mviche to the Queen's. dysadvauntage and datinger, oneles the Lorde of Lyddyngton and some others, which be best affected unto her, do provyde some remedye.
For I perceyve the great nomber, and in manner all, but chyeflye the common people, which have assysted in theys doinges, doe greatlye dysfavour the Queen, and mynde seryouslye eyther her depryvacyon or her destructyon.
I have used the best meanes I can (consyderynge the furye of the worlde here), to proroge thys Assemblye, for that appearethe to me to be the best remedye.
I may not speake of dyssolucyon of yt, for that may not be abyden, and I shoulde thereby brynge myselfe in great hatred and peryll.
The chyfest of the Lordes which be heere preasent at thys tyme dare not shewe so muche lenytye to the Queue as I thynke they coulde be contented, for fear of the rage of the people.
The women be moost furious and impudent ag^ainst the Queue, and yet the men be mad enoughe ; so as a straunger over busye maye soone be made a sacrafyce amongest them.
Knox is not heere, but in the West partyes. He and the rest of the mynysters wyl be heere at thys great Assemblye, whose austerytye agaynst the Queue I feare as muche as anye man's.
By some conference which I have had with some of thys counsell, me thynkethe, they have intellygence that there is a dysposycion in the Quene of Scotland to leave thys realme, and to retyre herselfe eyther into Englaunde or into Frauuce, but moost willinglye into Englaunde, for suche traverces and jnyslykynges, as she knoweth, hath ben, and is ment unto her in Fraunce, leavynge the regymente of thys realme eyther to a
LETTERS, ETC.
nomber of persons deleagued and authoiyzed by her, or to some one or moe.
At Edenboronghe, the 14 of Julye 1567.
Mr. Knox arryved here in thys towne the 1 7 of this monethe, with whom I have had some conference ; and with Mr. Cragge also, th'other mynister of thys towne.
I have perswaded with them to preache and perswade lenytie.
I fynde them both verye austere in thys conference ; what I shall doe hereafter I know not.
They are furnyshed with manye arguments ; some forthe of the Scriptures, some forthe of hystoryes, some grounded, as they say, apon the lawes of thys realme, some upon practyzes used in this realme, and some apon the condycyons and othe made by theyre prince at her coronacyon.
The Busshop of Gallowaye, unckle to the Earle of Huntleye, hathe sent hether to theys Lordes, that hys nephewe, the Earle, and some others of that syde, maye, at Lyethcoe or Sterlynge, have some comunycacyon with some appoynted on thys syde
; assurynge them that there is a good disposycion in the Lordes of thother partye to concurre with theys ; aft'yrmynge further, that they wyll not dyssent for tryfles or unnecessarye thinges, and, as I am gevin to understande, they can be pleased the Queues restraynte be contynued untill the murder be punysshed in all persones, wherebye the separacyon of the Queue and Bodwell is implyed, the preservacyon of the Prynce, the securitye of all men, and a good order taken for the governaunce of the realme in tranquyllytie.
At Edenboronghe, thys 18 of Julye 1567.
This day being at Mr. Knox sermon, who tooke a peece of the Scripture forthe of the Bookes of the Kynges, and did inveygh vehementlye agaynst the Queue, and perswaded extremytye towardes her, by applycatione of hys texte, I did, after the sermon, move suche of the Counsel as weere present to
LETTERS, ETC.
pcrsw.ade the L(H'des to advyse tlie preachers not to intermeddle with th'ende of theys matters, untill theye weere resolved amongest themselves Avhat theye weere mynded to doe; for otherwyse the Mynisters goinge on so rygowrowslye (as theye did in theyi^e daylye preachynges) might so drawe the multetude from them and thoyre resolutions, that thoughe amongest themselves theye woulde make choyse of some reasonable ende yet theye shoulde not be liable to brynge yt to passe, the people beinge once by the Preachers argumentes and perswacions setled another waye.
At Edenboroughe, the 19 of July 1567.
Mr. Knox dothe in hys sermons daylye praye for the contynuacyon of amytie betwixte Englaunde and Scotland, and dothe lykewise admonyshe hys auditorye to eschewe theyre oulde allyaunce with Fraunce as they woulde flye fi'oni the pottes of Egypte, which brought them nothynge but sugred poyson
; notwithstandinge he dothe continewe hys seveare exhortations as well against the Queue as agaynst Bodwell
; thretnynge the greate plage of God to thys wholle countrey and natyon yf she be spared from her condigne ponyshement.
The Earles of Mar, Glenkerne, and Cassels, with the rest of theys Lordes assocyatts, wyll be heere, as I am informed, the 24 or 25 of this monethe, and not before.
The Convencyon of all the churches (whereof I made mencyon in my last to your Majestic), notwithstandinge all my perswacyons to the contrarye, dothe houlde ; and thys daye (being the 21st of thys monethe) they are assembled in the Tollebowthe, where they do propounde suche matters as they cntende to treate of at thys tyme.
The Laird of Lyddyngeton hathe trayvaylled with soundrye of the wysest to make them desyste from dcalynge in anye matter which doethe concerne the Qnene or thys cryme.
But, as farr as I can learne, yt wyl be very liarde to wyn thys at theyre handes, for they be ver}'o
LETTERS, ETC.
audacyous ; and yt appearetlie theyre hartes be marvelowslye hardened against theyre Soveraygne, which God mollefye.
For as much as I heare an inkelynge that theys Lordes doe nieane to desyre me to assyste with them at the coronatyou of the I'rynce at Sterlynge, it may please your Majestic that I may knowe your pleasure howe to dyrecte myselfe in that matter, in case I be by them so requyred.
Thus I praye Aliuightye God to preserve your Majestic in perfecte helthe, longe lyffe, and prosperous felycytie.
At Edenboroughe, this 21 of Julye 1567.
It may please your Majestic that I maye knowe your further pleasure, whether I shall repayre to the Quene of Scotlande and speake with her, accordinge to your Majesties former instructions, in case the Prynce be crowned, and that theys Lordes will accorde unto me acces unto her (as I thynke they wyll not) and lykewyse, that I may know your Majesties further pleasure concerning myne abode lieere, synce my commissyon of legacyon ys altered by tliys mutacyon, the Prynce beinge invested with the royall estate and dygnetye, and the Quene, hys mother, depr}^"ed of the same, which, I thynke, ^vyll come to passe with in theys three or foure dayes ; all the nobylytic and gentlemen within this towne beinge readye thys daye to departe hence, to goe hence to Sterlinge, to crown the Prynce with great solempnytie.
The Lordes have shewed me that Tewsdaye, the 29th of Julye, is the daye of the Kynges inauguracyon.
Th'A ssemblye of the churches ys dyssolved, untyll yt be reassembled by the Kynges aucthoritye.
The carles, lordes, barons, lardes, and gentlemen, assembled at thys tyme, have all subscrybed to the defence of and mayntenaunce of theyi'e yonge Kynges regalytie, and to the suppressynge of all adversaryes to the contrarye, without excepcyon.
Apon the receypt of thys my dyspatche, 1 trust yt shall
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please your Majestie to geve order for my revocacyon fortlie of this coimtrey.
I doe intend to send my cowsen, Henrye Myddlemore, your Majesties servaunte, to Sterlynge, to th'ende he may see theyre procedynges there at thys solemnytie ; and also that your Majestie may be the more trulye advertyzed of all suche thynges as shall chaunce there.
Thus Almightye God preserve your Majestie in helthe, honour, and all felycytye.
At Edenbrughe, thys 2G of July 1567.
Maye it please your Majestie, after the wrytynge of the premysses, my cowsen Henrye Myddlemore retorned from Sterlynge to thys towne ; by whome I understand thynges have passed at Sterlynge as insuethe.
The 29 th daye of Julye (as I wrote unto your Majestie in my laste), the yonge Prynce was crowned in the greate churche of Sterlyngenby^ie Busshop of Orkeneye, the Larde of Dun, and Superintendent of Lodyan.
Mr. Knox preached, and tooke a place of the Scripture forthe of the bookes of the Kinges, where Joas was crowned verye yonge, to treate on.
Some ceremonyes accustomablye used at the coronation of theyre prynces weere omytted, and manye reteyned.
Th'othe usuallye to be mynistred to the Kyng of thys realm at hys coronation, was taken by the Erie of ]\Ioreton and the Larde of Dun on the Prynces behalfe.
The Lordes Lindseye and Eutheven dyd by theyi'e othe testefye publycklye that the Quene theyr Soveraigne dyd resigne wyllyngelye, without compulcyon, her estate and dignyt5'e to her Sonne, and the governemente of the realme to suche persons as by her severall commissyons she had named, which weere there publykelye red, together with her resignation, to her Sonne.
After tlieys ceremonyes weere accomplyshed, great feastes weere made in the Castell to all the nobylytie and gentlemen.
At Edinbrughe, thys laste of Julye 1567.
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It maye please your Majestie.
The 22 of Auguste th'eaiie of Murreye was in the towne of Edenbrughe declared Regent of tliys realme after thys mauer.
So manye lordes, barones, and gentlemen, as weere at that present in thys towne, which weere manye, dyd assemble themselves in the Tollebuthe ; where the Justice Gierke dyd publykelye read the Queues commissyon of Regentcye graunted to the sayd Earle, signed with her hande, and sealed with her prevye scale.
AVhich donne, the sayd Justice Gierke wylled the sayd Earle, in the Queue and Kynge her sonnes name, to accepte the sayde charge, and to procede to the takynge hys othe.
Whereapon th'earle of Murreye, with great modestye, as I am informed, made a longe discourse conteyninge hys insuffycyentcye and dishabylytie for that charge ; notwithstandinge, beinge agayne pressed by the sayd Justice Gierke, in the names of the Quene and Kynge, and by the intercessyon of the Lordes and other th'assystauntes, he the sayd Earle dyd accept yt.
Whereapon the sayd Justice Gierke dyd mynister unto hym the same othe which th'earle of Moreton dyd make for the Prynce at his coronatyon at Sterlynge ; the copye whereof I doe send your Majestie herewith.
Which othe beynge solempnlye red and made by the sayd Earle, there weere certayne artyckles red unto the Lordes, proposed on the behalfe of the sayd Earle of Murrey, to be consented unto by the sayd Lordes, and promesse made by them and everye of them to be on there partes observed and kepte.
Thys donne, th'earle tooke hys place, and there Avas great joye made amongest all sortes ; and imme dyatlye after, hys regentcye and aucthorytye was with heraldes and trumpettes proclamed in thys towne at the Hye Grosse, and in other places destyned for that purpoose.
At Edenbrughe, thys 23 of Auguste 1567.
To the Queues mooste excellent Majestie.
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LXXXIII.—Knox to Mr. John Wood.^ My purpose, beloved in the Lord, concerning that which oft and now last ye crave, I wrote to you before, fronie which
can not be moved, and, therefore, of my freinds I will aske pardon, howbeit in that one head I play the churle, reteaning to myself that which will rather hurt me, than profite them, during my dayes, which I hope in God sail not be long ; and then it sail be in the opinion of others, wliether it sail be suppressed, or come to liglit.^ God for his great mercies sake putt suche end to the troubles of France, as tlie puritie of his Evangell may have free passage within that Realme
; and idolatrie, with the meanteaners of the same, may once be overthrowen by order of justice, or otherways as His godlie wisdome hath appointed.
In my opinion England and Scotland have both no lesse cause to feare than the faithfidl in France
; for what they suffer in present action is laid up in store, lett us be assured, for both countries.
The ground of my assurance is not the determination of the Councell of Trent, for that decree is but the utterance of their owne malice ; but the justice of God is my assurance, for it cannot spaire to punishe all realmes and nations that is or sail be like to Jerusalem, against whose inicpiitie God long cried be his servants the prophets, but found no repentance.
The truthe of God hath now of some years bene manifested to both, but what obedience, the words, works, and behaviour of men give sufficient testimonie.
God grant Mr.
Goodman a prosperous and liappie successe in the acceptation of his charge, and in all his other interprises to God's glorie and the comfort of his kirk ; and so will I the more patientlie beare his absence, weaning myself from all comfort that I looked to have receaved be his presence and familiaritie.
Becaus I have ' See note to p. 560.
This and the ^ Knox evidently refers to bis Hisnext letter are preserved in Ciiklerwood'.s tory of the Keform.'ition.
See vol. i.
MSS. p. xxix.
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the testimonie of a good conscience, that in writting that Treatise, against which so manie worldlie men have stormed, and yitt storme, I nather sought myself nor worldlie promotioun; and becaus, as yet, I have nather heard nor seene law nor Scripture to overthrow my grounds,^ I may appeale to a more indifterent judge than Doctor Jewell.
I would most giadelie passe through the course that God hath appointed to my labours, in meditationn with my God, and giving thankes to his holie name, for that it hath pleased his mercie to make me not a lord-like Bishop, but a painfull Preacher of his blessed Evangell ; in the fuiirtinn whorecif, it hath pleasi'd liis ^lajcstie for Christ his sonnes sake, to deliver me from the contradictioun of moe enemeis than one or two ; which maketh me the more slow and lesse carefull to revenge be word or writt, whatever injury hath been done against me in my owne particular.
But if that men will not cease to impugne the truthe, the faithfuU will pardon me if I offend suche as for pleasure of fleshe feare not to offend God.
The defence and maintenance of supersti tious triffles produced never better fruict in the end than I perceave is budding amongst you ; schisme, which no doubt is a / / forerunner of greater desolatioun, unless there be speedie re- ' pentance.
God comfort that dispersed little flock, amongst whom I once lived with cpuetnesse of conscience and contentment of heart ; and amongst whom^ I would be content to end my dayes, if so it might stand witFG^d's" good pTeasufe.'
For, seeing it hath pleased his Majestic, above all men's expectatioun, to prosper that worke for the performing whereof I left that companie, I would even as giadelie return to them, if they stood in need of my labours, as ever I was glad to be delivered from the rage of mine enemies.
I can give you no reason that I should so desire, other than that my heart so thristeth.
The faithfull of your acquaintance here salute you.
The grace of the Lord rest with you.—14th of February 1567-8.
^ In his " First Blast," or Treatise ^ The English Congregation at Geagainst Female Government. ueva, where Kiiox had been Minister.
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LXXXIV.—Knox to Mr. John Wood.'
I TIIANKE you lieartilie, deirlie beloved in the Lord Jesus, that ye had suche remembrance of me as to certifie of that point which not a little troubled and yit troubleth me.
What I have done, or am able to doe in that behalfe, I will not trouble you at this present, this onlie excepted, that it will please you to travell as in the end of your letter ye write ye would doe, to witt, that my Sonnes might be denezans there. ^
I am informed both by letter and by tongue, besides conjectures that probablie may be gathered, that the Duke and his freinds are inflammed against me.
Ofter than once I have called to minde your words to me that day, that I had beene more than vehement as some men thoght, in the end of the [13th] chapter of John's Evangell, concerning the treasonable departing of Judas frome Christ, and of the causes thereof.
Before that I came furth of the preaching place, ye said, " Before my God, I thinke, your eyes sail see performed that which your mouth hath pronounced."
My words ^ In volume ii. p. 295, various particlianan.
The following is an extract of culars are given respecting the history the passage relating to Wood: of Mr. John Wood of Tiiliedavy.
He " For quhat defence can be in nobiwas the son of Andrew Wood of Largo, litie, or authoritie, aganis thame that hes and was educated at St. Andrews for niurtherit ane king, and sekisstrangearis the Church.
In 1548 he accompanied to murthour ane nther?
Quhonie sail Lord James Stewart, Prior of St. Anthay spair for vertew or innocency that drews, to France, and became his secrelaitlie murtherit the Regent, and yet tary when raised to the, peerage as Earl kepis the murtherarc in thair company? of Murray.
It is usually said that he Or quha wilbe owersene for law degree was killed in Fife a few days after the or basse estait be thame that fetchit men assassination of the Regent Murray, his out of Teviotdaill to Fyff to slay Maismaster
; but the proper dale, as we learn tek Johnne Wod, for na uther cause from Pitcairn's Criminal Trials (p. 140), bot for being ane gude servand to the was the 15th of April 1570.
In the Crown, and that he had espyit out sum State Paper Office there is an Exhortaof thair practizes,"
Tliis shows that the tion against the Hamiltons, conjectured date of Buchanan's Admonition was to be of the end of February 1569-70, in subsequent to April 1570.
It was first which Wood's slaughter is mentioned. printed at St. Andrews in 1571 ; and reThe paper itself is evidently an early printed at London the same year, transcript of the " Admonition direct to * Perhaps meaning their admission to the trew Lordis," etc., by George PuSt. John's College, Cambridge.
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were these, " I feare that suche as have entered with us in pro fessing of the Evangell, as Judas did with Christ, sail depart and follow Judas, how soon the expectatioun of gaine and worldlie promotioun faileth them."
Time will trie farther, and we sail see overmuche.
We looke dailie for the arrivall of the Duke and his Frenchemen, sent to restore Satan to his king - / dome, in the persone of his deerest lieutenant, sent, I say, to represse religioun, not from the King of France, but frome the Cardinall of Lorane in favour of his deerest neice.
Lett England take heed, for assuredlie their nighbours houses are on fire.
I would, deere Brother, that ye sould travell with zealous men, that they may consider our estate.
What I would say, yee may easilie conjecture.
Without support we are not able to resist the force of the domesticall enemies (unlesse God worke miraculouslie), muche lesse are we able to stand against the puissance of France, the substance of the Pope, and the malice of the house of Gwise, unless we be conforted be others than by ourselves.
Yee know our estate, and therefore I will not insist to deplore our povertie.
The whole comfort of the enemeis is this, that be treasoun or other meanes they may cutt off the Eegent, and then cutt the throat of the innocent King.
How narrowlie hath the Eegent escaped once, I suppose yee have heard.
As their malice is not quenched, so ceasseth not the practice of the wicked, to put in execution the crueltie devised.
I live as a man alreadie deid from all affairs civill, and therefore I praise my God ; for so I have some quietuesse in spirit, and time to meditat upon death, and upon the troubles I have long feared and foresee.
The Lord assist you with his Holie Spirit, and putt an end to my traveils, to his owaie glorie, and to the comfort of his Kirk
; for assuredlie, Brother, this miserable life is bitter unto me.
Salute your bedfellow in my name, and the rest in Christ Jesus.
The faithfuU here salute you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ rest with you for ever.
Of Edinburgh, the 10th of September 1568.
VOL.
VI.
2 N
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LXXXV.
Theodoee Beza to John Knox, Kestorer of the Gospel among the Scots', his Venerable Brother and Fellow Minister/ Grace and peace, my Brother, I wish to you and all your holy churches from the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom also I continually give thanks, both for his great goodness towards you, and for yomsingular constancy and fortitude in maintaining his worship.
But, when that honourable and truly Christian declaration of your Assembly, by wliich you adopted the Confession of our churches, had been laid before me,^ some months thereafter I intimated, both to yourself in private and to other brethren by letter, how agreeable and how pleasant to us all, and especially to the brethren of Zurich, was this your union with us in the Lord in all things, which too we trust will be everlasting, and stand firm against the very gates of hell.
But, though since that time you have received no letter from me, I would not, my Brother, that you should ascribe it to either contempt or neglect, or even to a press of business, but partly to the want of bearers, of whom, indeed, I had none quite suitable, and partly to the perpetual commotions of these times, from which, although by the special kindness of God the best and greatest this state has as yet been safe, yet, since they are both, as you know, very near us, and chiefly affect those with whom we have necessarily almost all things in common, it is impossible that they should not trouble us also to a grievous extent.
But I do not think it necessary to write to you at greater length concerning our affairs, as you can learn them all from this countryman of yours, evidently a very
' The original Latin letter is printed as 12mo, p. 333.
Also in the republicaNo.lxxiv., in the volume entitled "Epistion, " Secunda editio, ab ipso auctore tolarum Theologicarum Tbeodori Bezse recognita.
Genevan, m.d.lxxv."
8vo.
Vezelii, Liber Vniis.
Genevaj, excudeEpist. 74, p. 304. bat Eustathius Vignon. m.d.t.xxiu."
- See supra, No. Ixxx. p. 544.
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good man, much better than from myself.
Let me therefore add but this, that through the grace of God we are still in good health, and with perfect unanimity continue in the same position in ^^dlich you formerly left us.
Nay, this small school of ours has now increased so much that I beKeve few are better attended.
Colladonius^ and I teach divinity week about.
And a third has been added in the persou of our Galasius,^ whom those troubles in France have driven, with almost innumerable others, into this haven.
But two things hinder us from enjoying this solid comfort—one, that our church here increases indeed wonderfully, but it does so out of the ruins of others—the other, that the plague, which afflicted us last year with considerable severity, has a month since begun more or less to revive.
Therefore I earnestly entreat of you and the other brethren, that with us you will beseech of God, our most merciful Father, this also, that forgetting our manifold sins he may chasten us indeed, but not rebuke us in his wTath ; but rather, which is almost the sole refuge that remains to so many miserable beings, that he may by his own special goodness preserve us from all evil.
As to French affairs, at the moment when I write to you, all are reported to us as prosperous, as you will learn from the bearer of this.
For although our friends have received a great blow through the loss of that most illustrious hero, the Prince of Conde, yet since that time the Lord has often so refreshed them, that his death seems to have been, and is likely to be in future, a greater cause of sorrow to our enemies than to them.
It is certain, indeed, that besides him very few were slain, but among those there were two justly lamented by the army, Castellier a Frenchman, and Stuard your countryman, a man, so far as I can judge, of excellent qualities, both of mind and of ^ Nicolas Colladon, Rector of the Uuithe
French Congregation in London, versity of Geneva, succeeded Calvin, in He was the author of various works be1566, as Professor of Divinity. sides translations from Calvin.
See '' Nicolas Gallasius, in French De vol. iv. p. 29
Gallars, was for some time minister of
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body.
May the Lord recompense his enemies for this most unworthy slaughter, since both these as well as the Prince of Cond^ were, contrary to the laws of war, most cruelly put to death after they had surrendered.
But such is the lot of good men, especially in this ungrateful age.
And I have no doubt (for what we hear from your quarter is rather by rumour than from sure information) that every other year may furnish similar examples among yourselves.
But alas, my Brother, what a state of matters is tliis !
For although it is by no means new that they who so very pertinaciously reject the doctrine of j^eace should be vexed by the spirit of discord, yet is it a sad and sorrowful thing that those who for so many years have so successfully opposed both Satan and the world by patient endurance only should be forced to defend themselves with the sword.
However, provided the Lord leads his own, they shall certainly find that he is the sole arbiter both of war and of peace.
But I wish we may not experience how difficult, nay, how almost impossible it is so to handle those iron weapons as to keep from N hurting oneself God alone, for whom, to use the words of Paul, we war, can cure this evil as well as all others.
To him I render great thanks that he has so often been with you in ways so wonderful, and I trust you will join me in praying for the same favours to our France.
But more than enough of so doleful a subject.
God grant that I may soon have more and better news.
There were published last week certain prelections of mine on polygamy, divorces, and separatioi*s, which I wish you to read and to examine with care where you are.
For that purpose I would willingly have sent you some copies of them, had I not been afraid of burdening this friend of ours, who, however, has promised, under favour of God, to convey at least one copy to you.
Moreover, the calumnies of certain very troublesome persons compelled me to publish a sort of trifle, of which I send you two copies, one for yourself, in order that.