the benefit of the translation which then they had of the Bible and New Testament, together with the benefit of other tracts containing wholesome doctrine, until such time as the prelates and kirkmen should give and set forth unto them a translation more correct." The clergy hereto long repugned; but, in the end, convicted by reason and by multitude of contrary votes, they also acquiesced. So, by Act of Parliament, it was made free to all men and women to read the Scriptures in their own tongue, or in the English tongue; and all Acts of contrary effect were abolished.
The Bible becomes fashionable.
This was no small victory of Christ Jesus, fighting against the conjured enemies of His truth; no small comfort to such as before were so holden in bondage that they durst not have read the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, or the Articles of their faith in the English tongue, without being accused of heresy. Then might have been seen the Bible lying upon almost every gentleman's table. The New Testament was borne about in many men's hands. We grant that some, alas! profaned that blessed Word; for some that, perchance, had never read ten sentences in it had it most commonly in their hands. They would chop their familiars on the cheek with it, and say, "This has lain hid under my bed-foot these ten years." Others would glory, "Oh! how often have I been in danger for this book. How secretly have I stolen from my wife at midnight to read upon it." Many did this to make court; for all men esteemed the Governor the most fervent Protestant in Europe. Albeit many abused that liberty granted by God miraculously, the knowledge of God wondrously increased, and God gave His Holy Spirit to simple men in great abundance. Then were set forth works in our own tongue, besides those that came from England, disclosing the pride, the craft, the tyranny, and the abuses of that Roman Antichrist.
King Harry suggests the Betrothal of Queen Mary to Prince Edward.
The fame of our Governor was spread in divers countries, and many praised God for him. King Harry sent unto him his Ambassador, Mr. Sadler, and he lay in Edinburgh a great part of the summer. His commission and negotiation was to contract a perpetual amity betwixt England and Scotland. God seemed to have offered the occasion, and to many men it appeared that from heaven He had declared His good pleasure in that proposal. For, to King Harry, Jane Seymour (after the death of Queen Katherine, and of all others that might have made his marriage suspect) had borne a son, Edward the Sixth of blessed memory, older some years than our Mistress, and unto us was left a Queen. This wonderful providence of God caused men of greatest judgment to enter into disputation with themselves, whether, with good conscience, any man might repugn to the desires of the King of England, considering that thereby all occasion of war might be cut off, and great commodity might ensue to his realm. The offers of King Harry were so large and his demands were so reasonable that all that loved quietness were content therewith. There were sent from the Parliament to King Harry, in commission, Sir William Hamilton, Sir James Learmonth, and Mr. Henry Balnaves. These remained long in England, and so travailed that all things concerning the marriage betwixt Edward the Sixth and Mary Queen of Scots were agreed upon, except the time of her deliverance to the custody of Englishmen.
The Contract of Marriage is adjusted and ratified.
For the final conclusion of this head, William, Earl of Glencairn, and Sir George Douglas, were added to the former commissioners, and to them were given ample commission and good instructions. Mr. Sadler remained in Scotland. Communications passed frequently, yea, the hands of our Lords were liberally anointed. Other commodities were promised, and by some received; for divers persons taken at Solway Moss were sent home, ransom free, upon promise of their fidelity—how this was kept, the issue will witness. In the end, all were well content (the Cardinal, the Queen, and the faction of France ever excepted), and solemnly, in the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, the contract of marriage betwixt the persons foresaid, together with all the clauses and conditions requisite for the faithful observation thereof, was read in public audience, subscribed, sealed, approved, and allowed by the Governor for his part, and the Nobility and Lords for their part. That nothing should lack that might fortify the matter, Christ's sacred body, as Papists term it, was broken betwixt the said Governor and Master Sadler, Ambassador, and received by them both as a sign and token of the unity of their minds, inviolably to keep that contract, in all points, as they looked to Christ Jesus to be saved, and to be reputed men worthy of credit before the world in after time.
The Papists refuse to acknowledge the Contract.
The Papists raged against the Governor and against the Lords that consented, and abode sweir[51] at the contract. They made a brag that they would depose the Governor, and confound all. Without delay, they raised their forces and came to Linlithgow, where the young Queen was kept. But, upon the return of the Ambassadors from England, pacification was made for that time. By the judgment of eight persons for either party, chosen to judge whether anything had been done by the Ambassadors, in contracting that marriage, for which they had not sufficient power from the Council and Parliament, it was found that all things had been done by them according to their commission, and that these should stand. So the Seals of England and Scotland were interchanged. Master James Foulis, then Clerk of Register, received the Great Seal of England; and Master Sadler received the Great Seal of Scotland. The heads of the contract we pass by.
As soon as these things were ratified, the merchants made frack[52] to sail, and to resume the traffic which had for some years been hindered by the trouble of wars. From Edinburgh were freighted twelve ships richly laden with the wares of Scotland. From other towns and ports departed others. All arrived in Yarmouth; and entered not only within roads, but also within ports and places where ships might be arrested. Because of the lately contracted amity and the gentle entertainment that they received at first, they made no great expedition. Being, as they supposed, in security, they spent the time in merriness, abiding upon the wind.
The Papists turn the Tables.
In the meantime there arrived from France to Scotland the Abbot of Paisley, called bastard brother to the Governor, but by many esteemed son to Crichton, the old Bishop of Dunkeld, and with him Master David Panter, afterwards Bishop of Ross. The bruit of the learning and honest life of these two, and of their fervency and uprightness in religion, was such that there was great hope that their presence should have been comfortable to the Kirk of God. It was constantly affirmed that, without delay, the one and the other would occupy the pulpit, and truly preach Jesus Christ. Few days disclosed their hypocrisy. What terrors, what promises, or what enchanting boxes they brought from France, the common people knew not, but shortly after it was seen that Friar Williams was inhibited from preaching, and so departed to England. John Rough retired to Kyle, a receptacle of God's servants of old.
The men of counsel, judgment, and godliness that had travailed to promote the Governor, and that gave him faithful counsel in all doubtful matters, were either craftily conveyed from him, or else, by threats of hanging, were compelled to leave him. Of the former number were the Laird of Grange, Master Henry Balnaves, Master Thomas Bellenden, and Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount; men by whose labours the Governor was promoted to honour, and by whose counsel he so used himself at the beginning that the obedience given to him was nothing inferior to that possessed by any king of Scotland for many years before. Yea, it did surmount the common obedience, in that it proceeded from love of those virtues that were supposed to have been in him. Of the number of those that were threatened were Master Michael Durham, Master David Borthwick, David Forrest, and David Bothwell. These had counselled the Governor to have in his company God-fearing men, and not to foster wicked men in their iniquity, albeit they were called his friends and were of his surname. When this counsel came to the ears of the foresaid Abbot and the Hamiltons, who then repaired to the Court as ravens to the carrion, it was said in plain words, "My Lord Governor and his friends will never be in quietness, until a dozen of these knaves that abuse his Grace be hanged."
These words were spoken in his own presence, and in the presence of some of them that had better deserved than so to have been entreated. The speaker was allowed his bold and plain speaking, and the wicked counsel being tolerated, honest and godly men left the Court and the Governor in the hands of such as led him so far from God that he falsified his promise, dipped his hands in the blood of the saints of God, and brought this commonwealth to the very point of utter ruin. These were the first-fruits of the godliness and learning of the Abbot of Paisley: hereafter we will hear more.
The Abbot