The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

This winter, in the time of Christmas, was the Castle of Hume recovered from the English, by the negligence of the Captain, named Dudley. This winter also did the Laird of Raith most innocently suffer,¹ and after was forsalted, because that he wrote a Letter to his son John Melvin, who then was in England, which was alleged to have been found in the house of Ormeston;² but many suspected the pranks and craft of Ninian Cokburne, now called Captain Ninian, to whom the said Letter was delivered. But howsoever it was, the cruel beast the Bishop of S. Andrews, and the Abbot of Dunfermline, ceased not, till that the head of that noble man was stricken from him; especially, because that he was known to be one that unfeignedly favoured the Truth of Gods Word, and was a great friend to those that were in the Castle of S. Andrews, of whose deliverance, and of Gods wonderful working with them during the time of their bondage, we will now speak, lest that in suppressing of so notable a work of God, we should justly be accused of ingratitude. First then, the principals being put in several houses,³ as before we have said, great labours were made to make them have a good opinion of the Mass: But chiefly, travel was taken upon Norman Leslie, the Laird of Grange, the Laird of Pitmillie, who were in the Castle of Scherisburgh, that they would come to Mass with the Captain: Who answered, That the Captain had commandment to keep their bodies, but he had no power to command their consciences. ⁴The Captain replied, That he had power to command, and to compel them to go where he went. They answered, That to go to any lawful place with him, they would not refuse: But to do any thing that was against their conscience, they would not, neither for him, nor yet for the King. The Captain said, Will ye not go to the Mass? They answered, No; and if ye compel us, yet we will displease you farther; for we will use our selves there, that all those that are present shall know we despise it. These same answers (and somewhat sharper) William Kirkcaldy, Peter Carmichell, and such as were with them in Mount S. Michel, gave to their Captain; for they said, They would not only hear Mass every day, but that they would help to say it, providing that they might stick the Priests, or else they would not. M.