The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Pack you Jugglers, get you to your charges, and reform your own lives, and be not instruments of discord betwixt my Nobility and me; Or else, I vow to God, I shall reform you, not as the King of Denmark by imprisonment doeth, neither yet as the King of England doth by hanging and heading: but I shall reprove you by sharp punishments, if ever I hear such motion of you again. The Prelates dashed and astonished with this answer, ceased for a season to attempt any further by rigour against the Nobility. But now being informed of all proceedings by their Pensioners, Oliver Sincler, Rosse Laird of Craggy and others, who were to them faithful in all things: they conclude to hazard once again ⟨p. 31⟩their former suit: which was no sooner proponed, but as soon it was accepted, with no small regret, by the Kings own mouth, that he had so long despised their counsel:¹ For (said he) now I plainly see your words to be true; The Nobility neither desire my honour nor countenance, for they would not ride a mile for my pleasure to follow mine enemies: Will ye therefore find me the means how that I may have a road made into England without their knowledge and consent, ²that it may be known to be mine own read, and I shall bind me to your counsel for ever. There were gratulations and clapping of hands; there were promises of diligence, closeness, and fidelity among them. Finally, conclusion was taken that the West borders of England, which was most empty of men and Garrison, should be invaded. The Kings own Banner should be theirs, Oliver the great Minion should be General-Lieutenant, but no man should be privy (except the council that was then present) of the enterprise, till the very day and execution thereof. The Bishops gladly took the charge of that device. Letters were sent to such as they would charge,³ To meet the King at the day and place appointed: The Cardinal with the Earle of Arran was directed to go to Hadington, to make a show against the East Border, when the others were in readiness to invade the West: And thus neither lacked counsel, practise, closeness, nor diligence, to set forward that Enterprise; and so among these consulters there was no doubt of any good success. And so was the scroll thankfully received by the king himself, and put into his own pocket, where it remained to the day of his death, and then was found.