The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The Peace as is said, is contracted. The Queen Dowager past by sea to France, with Galleys that for that purpose were prepared, and took with her divers of the Nobility of Scotland. The Earls Huntley, Glencarne, Mershell, Cassiles: The Lords Maxwell, Fleming, Sir George Douglas, together with all the late Kings natural sons, and divers Barons, and Gentlemen of Ecclesiastical estate; the Bishop of Galloway, and many others, with promise that they should be richly rewarded for their good service. What they received we cannot tell, but few were made rich at their returning. The Dowager had to practise somewhat with her brethren, the Duke of Guise, and the Cardinal of Loraine. The weight whereof the Governor after felt; for shortly after her return, was the Governor deposed of the government (justly by God, but most unjustly by man) and she made Regent, in the year of our Lord 1554. and a Crown put upon her head, as seemly a sight (if men had eyes) as to put a Saddle upon the back of an unruly Cow. And so began she to practise, practise upon practise, How France might be advanced, her friends made rich, and she brought to immortal glory: For that was her common talk, So that I may procure the wealth and honour of my Friends, and a good fame unto my self, I regard not what God do after with me. And in very deed, in deep dissimulation to bring her own purpose to effect, she passed the common sort of women, as we will after hear. But yet God, to whose Gospel she declared her self enemy, in the end frustrated her of all her devices. Thus did light and darkness strive within the Realm of Scotland: The darkness ever before the World suppressing the light, from the death of that notable servant of God,¹ Master Patrick Hamilton, until the death of Edward the sixth, the most godly and most virtuous King that had been known to have reigned in England, or elsewhere, these many years by past, who departed the miseries of this life the sixth of July, Anno 1553. The death of this Prince was lamented of all the godly within Europe, for the graces given unto him of God, as well of nature, as of erudition and godliness, passed the measure that accustomably is used to be given to other princes in their greatest perfection, and yet exceeded he not 16 years of age. What Gravity, above age? What Wisdom, wherein he passed all understanding or expectation of man?

The Peace as is said, is contracted. The Queen Dowager past by sea to France, with Gallies that for that purpose were prepared, and took with her divers of the Nobility of Scotland. The Earles Huntley, Glencarne, Mershell, Cassiles: The Lords Maxwell, Fleiming, Sir George Dowglas, together with all the late Kings naturall sons, and divers Barons, and Gentlemen of Ecclesiasticall estate; the Bishop of Galloway, and many others, with promise that they should be richly rewarded for their good service. What they received we cannot tell, but few were made rich at their returning. The Dowager had to practise somewhat with her brethren, the Duke of Gwise, and the Cardinall of Loraine. The weight whereof the Governour after felt; for shortly after her returne, was the Governour deposed of the government (justly by God, but most unjustly by man) and she made Regent, in the yeer of our Lord 1554. and a Crown put upon her head, as seemly a sight (if men had eyes) as to put a Saddle upon the backe of an unruly Cow. And so began she to practise, practise upon practise, How France might be advanced, her friends made rich, and she brought to immortall glory: For that was her common talk, So that I may procure the wealth and honour of my Friends, and a good fame unto my selfe, I regard not what God do after with me. And in very deed, in deep dissimulation to bring her owne purpose to effect, she passed the common sort of women, as we will after heare. But yet God, to whose Gospel she declared her selfe enemie, in the end frustrated her of all her devices. Thus did light and darknesse strive within the Realme of Scotland: The darknesse ever before the World suppressing the light, from the death of that notable servant of God,