The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

We are not ignorant that Princes think it good policy to betray their subjects by breaking of promises, be they never so solemnly made. We have not forgotten what counsel she and Monsieur Dosell gave to the Duke, against those that slue the Cardinal, and kept the Castle of S. Andrews, ¹which was this, That what promise they list to require should be made unto them; but as soon as the Castle was rendered, and things brought to such pass as was expedient, that he should chop the heads from every one of them. To the which the Duke answered, That he would never consent to so treasonable an act, but if he promised fidelity, he would faithfully keep it. Monsieur Dosell said in mockage to the Queen in French, That is a good simple nature, but I know no other Prince that would so do. If this was his judgement in so small a matter, what have we to suspect in this our Cause? For the question is not of the slaughter of one Cardinal, but of the just abolishing of all tyranny, which that Roman Antichrist hath usurped above us; of the suppressing of Idolatry, and of the Reformation of the whole Religion, by that vermin of shavelings utterly corrupted. Now if the slaughter of a Cardinal be a sin irremissible,² as they themselves affirm; and if faith ought not to be kept to heretics, as their own law speaketh, What promise can she that is ruled by the counsel and commandment of a Cardinal,³ make to us that can be sure? Where she accuseth us, That we usurp Authority to command and charge free Boroughs, to choose Provosts and Officers of our naming, &c. We will that the whole Boroughs of Scotland testify in that case, Whether we have used any kind of violence, but lovingly exhorted such as asked our support to choose such in Office, as had the fear of God before their eyes, loved equity and justice, and were not noted with avarice and bribing. But wonder it is with what face she can accuse us of that, whereof we are innocent, and she so openly criminal, that the whole Realm knoweth her iniquity: In that case hath she not compelled the Town of Edinburgh to retain a man to be their Provest most unworthy of any Regiment in a well-ruled Common-wealth?⁴ Hath she not enforced them to take Bailiffs of her appointment? and some of them so meet for their Office in this troublesome time,