The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Allured with these words, and taking counsel with the said Master George, (who at the first word said, Open the gates, the blessed will of my God be done.) They received in the Earle Bothwell himself, with some Gentlemen with him: To whom Master George said, I praise my God, that so honourable a man as you, ¹my Lord, receiveth me this night, in the presence of these noble men: For now I am assured, That for your Honours sake, ye will suffer nothing any ways to be done to me, but by the order of Law. I am not ignorant that all their Law is nothing but corruption, and a cloak to shed the blood of the Saints. But yet I less fear to die openly, than secretly to be murdered. The said Earle Bothwell answered, I shall not only preserve your body from all violence that shall be purposed against you against order of Law, but also I promise here in the presence of these Gentlemen, That neither shall the Governor nor the Cardinal have their will of you, But I shall retain you in mine own hands, and in mine own house, till that either I shall make you free, or else restore you in the same place where I receive you. The Lairds aforesaid, said, My Lord, If ye will do as you have spoken, and as we think your Lordship will do, then do we here promise unto your Lordship, That not only we our selves shall serve you all the days of our life, but also we shall procure the whole professors within Lothian to do the same. And upon either the preservation of this our brother, or upon his delivery again to our hands; we being reasonably advertised to receive him, That we, in the name and behalf of our friends, shall deliver to your Lordship, or any sufficient man that shall deliver to us again this servant of God, our Band of Manred in manner requisite. And thus promise made in the presence of God, and hands stricken upon both the parties for observation of the promise, the said Master George was delivered to the hands of the said Earle Bothwell; who immediately departing with him, came to Elphinston, where the Cardinal was. Who knowing that Calder Younger, and Brunston, were with Johan Cocburne Laird of Ormeston, sent back with expedition to apprehend them also. The noise of Horse-men being heard, the servants gave advertisement, That more then departed, or was there before, were returned.

Allured with these words, and taking counsell with the said Master George, (who at the first word said, Open the gates, the blessed will of my God be done.) They received in the Earle Bothwell himself, with some Gentlemen with him: To whom Master George said, I praise my God, that so honourable a man as you,