The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Well (said Lethington) that cannot be done now, for too much time is spent; And therefore, my Lord Chancellor (said he) ask ye the votes, and take ever, one of the Ministers, and one of us.

¹And so was the Rector of Saint Andrews commanded first to speak his conscience: Who said, I refer it to the Superintendent of Fife, for I think we are both of one judgement: and yet (said he) if ye will that I speak ⟨p. 395⟩first, my conscience is this, That if the Queen oppose her self to our Religion (which is the only true Religion) that in that case the Nobility and States of this Realm, professors of the true Doctrine, may justly oppose themselves to her: But as concerning her Mass, I know it is Idolatry, but I am not yet resolved, Whether by violence we may take it from her, or not. The Superintendent of Fife said, That same is my conscience: And so affirmed some of the Nobility. But others voted frankly, and said, That as the Mass is abominable, so it is just and right that it should be suppressed; And that in so doing, men did no more hurt to the Queens Majesty, then they that should by force take from her a poisoned cup, when she were a going to drink in it. Last Master John Craig, ²fellow Minister with John Knox in the Church of Edinburgh, was required to give his judgement and vote; who said, I will gladly show unto your Honours what I understand; but I greatly doubt, Whether my knowledge and conscience shall satisfy you, seeing you have heard so many reasons, and are so little moved by them: But yet I will not conceal from you my judgement, adhering first to the Protestation of my Brother, to wit, That our voting prejudge not the Liberty of the General Assembly. I was (said he) in the University of Bonnonia, in the year of our Lord 1554. where, in the place of the black-Friars of the same Town, I saw in the time of their General Assembly this Conclusion set forth; the same I heard reasoned, determined and concluded, to this sense.