The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Defiance given, there was skirmishing, without great slaughter, preparation of Scales and Ladders was made for the Assault, which was concluded by common consent of the Nobility and Barons. The Scales were appointed to be made in Saint Giles Church, so that Preaching was neglected, which did not a little grieve the Preachers, and many godly with them. The Preachers spared not openly to say, That they feared the success of that enterprise should not be prosperous, because the beginning appeared to bring with it some contempt of God and of his Word; other places, said they, had been more apt for such Preparations, then where the people convened to Common-Prayers and unto Preaching. In very deed the audience was wonderfully troubled all that time, which (with other disorder espied amongst us) gave occasion to our Preachers to affirm,¹ That God could not suffer such contempt of his Word and abuses of his Grace, long to be unpunished. The Queen had amongst us her assured espies, who did not only signify unto her what was our estate: but also what was our counsel, purposes, and devices. Some of our own company were vehemently suspected to be the very betrayers of all our secrets; for a boy of the Officials of Lowthian, Master James Balfour, was taken carrying a Writ, which did open the most secret thing that was devised in the Council;² yea, those very things which were thought to have been known but to very few. By such domesticall enemies were not only our purposes frustrate, but also our determinations were oft times overthrown and changed. The Dukes friends gave unto him such terrors,³ that he was greatly troubled, and by his fear, were troubled many others. The men of War (for the most part were men without God or honesty) made a mutiny, because they lacked a part of their wages. They had done the same in Linlithgow before, ⟨p. 201⟩where they made a Proclamation, That they would serve any man, to suppress the Congregation, and set up the Mass again. They made a fray upon my Lord Argyles Hie-land men, and slew one of the principal men of his Chamber, who notwithstanding, behaved himself so moderately, and so studious to pacify that tumult, that many wondered, as well of his prudent counsel and stoutness, as of the great obedience of his company.