The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

In the end he said, I have forgotten my self, and the matter that I should have treated of: But let these my last words concerning public Preaching remain in your minds, till that God send you new comfort. Thereafter he made a short Paraphrase upon the second Table, with an Exhortation to patience, to the fear of God, and unto the works of mercy, and so ended, as it were making his last Testament, as the issue declared fully. The Spirit of Truth and of true Judgement were both in his heart and mouth: for that same night was he apprehended before midnight, in the house of Ormeston, ¹by the Earle Bothwell, made for money butcher to the Cardinal. The manner of his taking was thus: Departing from the town of Hadington, he took his good-night, as it were, for ever,² of all his acquaintance, especially from Hewe Douglas of Langindrie. John Knox pressing to have gone with the said Master George, he said, Nay, ³return to your children, and God bless you; one is sufficient for one Sacrifice. And so the said John Knox albeit unwillingly obeyed, and returned with Hewe Douglas of Langindrie, Master George having to accompany him the Laird of Ormeston, John Sandelandes of Calder younger, the Laird of Brounston, and others, with their servants, passed upon foot (for it was a vehement Frost) to Ormeston. After supper he held comfortable purpose of Gods chosen children, and merrily said, Methinke that I desire earnestly to sleep: And therewith he said, Shall we sing a Psalm? And so he appointed the One and fiftieth Psalm, which was put in Scottish Metre, and began thus, Have mercy on me now good Lord after thy great mercy, &c. Which being ended, he past to his Chamber, and sooner ⟨p. 54⟩then his common diet, was to pass to bed with these words, And grant quiet rest. Before midnight the place was beset about, that none could escape to make advertisement. The Earle Bothwell came and called for the Laird, and declared the purpose, and said, That it was but in vain to make him to hold his house, for the Governor and the Cardinal with all their power were coming (and indeed the Cardinal was at Elphinston, not a mile distant from Ormeston) But if he would deliver the man to him, he would promise upon his Honour,