The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The whole Town, yea the Governor and Nobility commoved at the unworthiness of this bold attempt, craved justice upon the malefactors, or else they would take justice of the whole. The Queen craftily enough, Monsieur de Essie, and Monsieur Doseil, laboured for pacification, and promised, That unless the French-men by themselves alone, should do such an act as might recompense the wrong that they had done, that then they should not refuse, but that Justice should be executed to the rigour. These fair words pleased our fools, and so were the French bands the next night directed to Hadington, to the which they approached a little after midnight so secretly, that they were never espied till that the foremost were within the outer Court, and the whole Company in the Church-yard, not two pair of Buts length distant from the Town. The Soldiers English-men were all asleep except the watch, the which was slender; and yet the shout arises, Bows and Bills, ¹Bows and Bills; which is signification of extreme defence, to avoid the present danger in all Towns of war. They affrighted arise, weapons that first came to hand serve for the need. One amongst many came to the East-gate, where lay two great pieces of Ordnance, and where the enemies were known to be, and cried to his fellows, that were at the gate making defence. Beware before, and so fires a great piece, and thereafter another, which God so conducted, that after them was no further pursuit made: for the Bullets redounded from the wall of the Friar-Church, to the wall of S. Katherines Chapel, which stood directly over it, and from the wall of the said Chapel to the said Church wall again, so oft, that there fell more then an hundred of the French at those two shots only. They shot oft; but the French retired with diligence, and returned to Edinburgh without harm done, except the destruction of some drinking Beer, which lay in the Sands, Chapel, and Church. And this was satisfaction more then enough, for the slaughter of the foresaid captain, and Provost, and for the slaughter of such as were slain with them. This was the beginning of the French fruits.

The whole Town, yea the Governour and Nobility commoved at the unworthinesse of this bold attempt, craved justice upon the malefactours, or else they would take justice of the whole. The Queen craftily enough, Monsieur de Essie, and Monsieur Doseil, laboured for pacification, and promised, That unlesse the French-men by themselves alone, should do such an act as might recompence the wrong that they had done, that then they should not refuse, but that Justice should be executed to the rigour. These faire words pleased our fools, and so were the French bands the next night directed to Hadington, to the which they approched a little after midnight so secretly, that they were never espied till that the foremost were within the outer Court, and the whole Company in the Church-yard, not two paire of Buts length distant from the Town. The Souldiers English-men were all asleep except the watch, the which was slender; and yet the shout arises, Bowes and Bils,