The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

In April, Bothwell called together sundry of the Lords who had come to Edinburgh, to a meeting that was there; and having gained some before, made them all, what by fear, what by fair promises, first of their private State, and then of advancing the Papists Religion, to consent by their subscriptions to the Marriage with the Queen. Then the Queen goes to Stirling to see her son; Bothwell makes a show as if he were going to the Borders to suppress Robbers, and so he raiseth some men of War; which ⟨p. 433⟩when he had done, he turneth towards the way to Stirling, where he meets the Queen, according to appointment betwixt them, and carrieth her to Dumbar, as it had been by force, although every one knew it was with the Queens liking. The prime Nobility convened at Stirling, and from thence sent to her, to know whether or not she was taken against her will: She answered, That it was true she was taken against her will, but since her taking, she had no occasion to complain; yea, the courteous entertainment she had, made her forget and forgive all former offences. These expressions were used by way of preface to the Pardon, which was granted immediately thereafter to Bothwell; for by Letters Patents he was pardoned by the Queen, for laying violently hands upon her Majesty, and for all other crimes: So by this, &c. the murder of the King was pardoned. During the Queens abode in Dumbar, there was Letters of Divorce demanded and granted unto Bothwell from his Lady (who afterward was married to the Earle Sutherland) she was sister to the Earle of. Huntley. The ground of the Divorce was, The parties being within the degrees prohibited, could not be lawfully joined: Next, because Bothwell was an Adulterer, the Marriage was void. The Bill of Divorce was granted by the Papistical Court of the Archbishop of Saint Andrews. And here mark how they juggle in sacred things; for when it pleaseth them, they untie the Bond of Marriage, as now, and as we have seen in the first Book of this History. When the Queen fell in distaste of the late King her husband, it was proposed unto her to have Divorce upon the same ground from the King: To which, first ear was given, but after second thoughts, a Bill of Divorce was too tedious (as we have now said) and could not be stayed for, therefore the King must be dispatched.

In April, Bothwell called together sundry of the Lords who had come to Edinburgh, to a meeting that was there; and having gained some before, made them all, what by fear, what by fair promises, first of their private State, and then of advancing the Papists Religion, to consent by their subscriptions to the Marriage with the Queen. Then the Queen goes to Sterlin to see her son; Bothwell makes a shew as if he were going to the Borders to suppresse Robbers, and so he raiseth some men of War; which