The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

¹For who knows not (said the Cardinal) that the Hammiltons are cruel murderers, oppressors of innocents, proud, avaricious, double, and false, and finally, the pestilence in this Common-wealth? Whereto the Earl answered, Defraud me not of my right, and call me what ye please: whatsoever my friends have been, yet unto this day hath no man cause to complain upon me, neither yet am I minded to flatter any of my friends in their evil doing, but by Gods grace shall be as forward to correct their enormities, as any within the Realm can reasonably require of me; And therefore yet again, my Lords, in Gods Name, I crave that ye do me no wrong, nor defraud me of my just Title, before the have experience of my Government. At these words, were all that feared God, or loved honesty so moved, that with one voice they cried, That Petition is most just; and unless ye will do against Gods Justice and Equity, it cannot be denied. And so in despite of the Cardinal, and his suborned Faction, was he declared Governor, and with public Proclamation so denounced to the people. The Kings Palace, Treasure, Jewels, Garments, Horse, and Plate was delivered unto him by the Officers that had the former charge; and he honoured, feared; and obeyed, more heartily than ever any King was before,² so long as he abode at God. The cause of the great favour that was born unto him, was; That it was bruited that he favoured Gods Word; and because it was well known that he was one appointed to have been persecuted, as the Scroll found in the ⟨p. 36⟩Kings pocket after his death did witness. These two things, together with an opinion that men had of his simplicity, bowed the hears of many unto him in the beginning; who after, with dolour of hearts, were compelled to change their opinions: but hereof we will after speak. The variety of matters that occurred, we omit, such as the order taken for keeping of the young Queen; of the provision for the mother; the calling home of the Douglas, and other, such as appertain to a Universal History of the time. For, as before we have said, we mind only to follow the progress of the Religion, and of the matters that cannot be severed from the same.

¹For who knowes not (said the Cardinall) that the Hammiltons are cruell murtherers, oppressors of innocents, proud, avaritious, double, and false, and finally, the pestilence in this Common-wealth? Whereto the Earl answered, Defraud me not of my right, and call me what ye please: whatsoever my friends have been, yet unto this day hath no man cause to complain upon me, neither yet am I minded to flatter any of my friends in their evill doing, but by Gods grace shall be as forward to correct their enormities, as any within the Realme can reasonably require of me; And therefore yet again, my Lords, in Gods Name, I crave that ye do me no wrong, nor defraud me of my just Title, before ye have experience of my Government. At these words, were all that feared God, or loved honesty so moved, that with one voyce they cryed, That Petition is most just; and unlesse ye will do against Gods Iustice and Equity, it cannot be denied. And so in despight of the Cardinall, and his suborned Faction, was he declared Governour, and with publike Proclamation so denounced to the people. The Kings Pallace, Treasure, Jewels, Garments, Horse, and Plate was delivered unto him by the Officers that had the former charge; and he honoured, feared; and obeyed, more heartily than ever any King was before,