The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Upon that information was Marticks with two Ships, and some Captains and Horses directed to come into Scotland, but little to their own advantage, as we shall after hear.

The Lords of the Congregation offended at the foolishness of the rascal multitude, called to themselves the men of War, and remained certain days at Cowper, unto whom repaired John Knox, and in our greatest desperation Preached unto us a most comfortable Sermon: his Text was,¹ The danger wherein the Disciples of Christ Jesus stood when they were in the midst of the Sea, and Jesus was upon the mountain. His Exhortation was,² That we should not faint, but that we should still row against the contrarious blasts, till that Jesus Christ should come; for, said he, I am assuredly persuaded that God will deliver us from this extreme trouble, as that I am assured, That this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which I preach unto you this day. The fourth watch is not yet come, abide a little, the Boat shall be saved, and Peter, which hath left the Boat, shall not drown. I am assured, That albeit I cannot assure you by reason of this present rage, God grant that ye may acknowledge his hand, after that your eyes have seen his deliverance. In that Sermon he comforted many, & yet he offended the Earl of Arran; for in his discourse upon the manifold assaults the Church of God sustained,³ he brought for example the multitude of strangers that pursued Jehoshaphat after he had reformed Religion. He spake of the fear of the people, yea, and of the King himself at the first. But after he affirmed, that Jehoshaphat was stout; and to declare his courage in his God, he comforted his people and his Soldiers; he came forth in the midst of them, he spake lovingly unto them. He kept not himself ⟨p. 216⟩(said he) enclosed in his chamber, but frequented the multitude, and rejoiced them with his presence, and godly comfort. These and the like sentences took the said Earle to be spoken in reproach of him, because he kept himself more close and solitary then many men would have wished. After these things, determination was taken, That the Earle of Arran, and Lord James, with men of War, and some Companies of Horse-men, should go to Disert, and there lie to wait upon the French, to stop them from destroying the Sea-coast, as they intended utterly to have done. The said Earle, and Lord James did as they were appointed, albeit their Company was very small; and yet they did so valiantly, that it passed almost credit; for twenty and one days they lay in their clothes, their Boots came never off: