The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

BY this manner of writing and high threatening, may be perceived how grievously the Queens Majesty would have been offended if the said Tarbot and Mass-monger had been handled according to his demerit, being not only a Papist Idolater, but a manifest Whoremaster, and a common Fighter and blasphemer; nevertheless within few days the Queen charged the Provest and Bailiffs to set him at liberty, commanding them further, That no man should trouble nor molest him in any sort for whatsoever cause, and soon after rewarded him with a Benefice, and likewise his Assisters John Low and John Kennedy set at liberty in the same manner. At this Easter-Tide in Stirling the Queen made her domestic servants use Papistical Rites and Ceremonies, and more, she persuaded others by fair means to do the same, and threatened those that were most constant at the Earle of Cassels House. Upon the second day of May 1565. convened at Edinburgh the Earle of Murray with his friends in great numbers to keep the day of Law against the Earle Bothwell, who being called, appeared not, only the Laird of Rickerton protested, That the personal absence of the Earle Bothwell should not be prejudicial to him, by reason that for just fear, which might happen in the heart of any man, since he had so potent an enemy as the Lord of Murray, who, next the Queens Majesty was of greatest estimation and Authority of any man within this Realm, to whom assisted at this present day of Law, seven or eight hundred men, which Force he could not resist, and therefore had absented himself; which Protestation being made, those that had been Sureties for his appearance, were Outlawed. The said Earle Bothwell a few days after past into France, after he had been in Liddesdale, where suspecting almost every man, he was not in great assurance of his life, notwithstanding he was not put to the Horne, for the Queen continually bore a great favour towards him, and kept him to be a Soldier, as appeared within less then half a year; for she would not suffer the Lord Morton, nor my Lord Erskine, my Lord of Murray's great friends to keep the day; There assisted my Lord of Murray, the Earls of Argyle, Glencarne, and Crawford, with great numbers, and many Lords and Barons, who for the most part convened the same Afternoon to Treat and Consult for the maintaining of Religion;

BY this manner of writing and high threatning, may be perceived how grievously the Queens Majestie would have been offended if the said Tarbot and Masse-monger had been handled according to his demerite, being not onely a Papist Idolater, but a manifest Whoremaster, and a common Fighter and blasphemer; neverthelesse within few dayes the Queen charged the Provest and Bailiffs to set him at libertie, commanding them further, That no man should trouble nor molest him in any sort for whatsoever cause, and soon after rewarded him with a Benefice, and likewise his Assisters Iohn Low and Iohn Kennedie set at libertie in the same manner. At this Easter-Tyde in Sterlin the Queen made her domestick servants use Papisticall Rites and Ceremonies, and more, she perswaded others by faire means to do the same, and threatned those that were most constant at the Earle of Cassels House. Upon the second day of May 1565. conveened at Edinburgh the Earle of Murray with his friends in great numbers to keepe the day of Law against the Earle Bothwell, who being called, appeared not, onely the Laird of Rickerton protested, That the personall absence of the Earle Bothwell should not be prejudiciall to him, by reason that for just fear, which might happen in the heart of any man, since he had so potent an enemy as the Lord of Murray, who, next the Queens Majesty was of greatest estimation and Authority of any man within this Realm, to whom assisted at this present day of Law, seven or eight hundred men, which Force he could not resist, and therefore had absented himself; which Protestation being made, those that had been Sureties for his appearance, were Outlawed. The said Earle Bothwell a few dayes after past into France, after he had been in Liddesdale, where suspecting almost every man, he was not in great assurance of his life, notwithstanding he was not put to the Horne, for the Queen continually bore a great favour towards him, and kept him to be a Souldier, as appeared within lesse then half a year; for she would not suffer the Lord Morton, nor my Lord Ariskin, my Lord of Murrayes great friends to keep the day; There assisted my Lord of Murray, the Earles of Argyle, Glencarne, and Crawford, with great numbers, and many Lords and Barons, who for the most part conveened the same Afternoon to Treat and Consult for the maintaining of Religion;