The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The death of this aforesaid Tyrant, as it was pleasing to some, to wit, to those who had received the Reformation of Religion, for they were mightily afraid of him▪ and also to sundry Romanists whom he kept under as slaves; so on the other side it was dolorous to the Priests, dolorous to the Governor, dolorous to the Queen Dowager: for in him perished faithfulness to France, ¹and the comfort to all Gentle-women, and especially to wanton widows: His death must be revenged. To the Court again repairs the Earle of Angus, and his brother Sir George; labour is made for the Abbacy of Arbroath, and a grant was once made of the same (in memory whereof George Douglas, bastard son to the said Earle, is yet called Postulant.) But it was more proper (think the Hamiltons) for the Governors itching, then for reward to the Dowglasses; And yet in hope thereof, the said Earle, and Sir George his brother, were the first that voted, that the Castle of S. Andrews should be besieged: Divers Gentlemen of Fife went into the Castle, and abode there with the Leslies during the first siege; and John Rough was Preacher to them. The Bishop,² to declare the zeal that he had to revenge the death of him that was his predecessor (and for his riches he would not have had him living again) still blew the coals. And first he made summons, then he denounced accursed, at last rebels, not only the first enterprisers, but all such also as after did accompany them. And last of all a siege was concluded, which began in the end of August (for the 23 day thereof departed the Soldiers from Edinburgh) and continued near to the end of January. At what time, because they had no other hope of winning of it, but by hunger, and thereof also they despaired, for they within had broken through the East wall, and made a plain passage by an iron gate to the sea, which greatly relieved the besieged, and abased the besiegers; for then they saw that they could not stop them of victuals, unless that they should be masters of the sea, and that they clearly understood they could not be; for the English Ships had once been there, and had brought William Kirkcaldy from London, and with much difficulty (because the said gate was not then prepared) and some loss of men, had rendered him to the Castle again;

The death of this aforesaid Tyrant, as it was pleasing to some, to wit, to those who had received the Reformation of Religion, for they were mightily afraid of him and also to sundry Romanists whom he kept under as slaves; so on the other side it was dolorous to the Priests, dolorous to the Governour, dolorous to the Queene Dowager: for in him perished faithfulnesse to France,