The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

These Letters were directed by Alexander Whitlaw, a man that oft had hazarded himself, and all that he had for the Cause of God, and for his friends, being in danger for the same Cause. Within a day or two after the departing of the said Alexander, there came a Letter from Sir Henry Percy to John Knox, requiring him to meet him at Annick the third day of August, for such affairs as he would not write nor yet communicate with any, but with the said John himself, while he was preparing himself for the journey (for Secretary Cecil had appointed to have met him at Stamford) the French-men furiously came forth of Dumbar, of purpose to have surprised the Lords being in Edinburgh, as in the second Book before is declared, which stayed the journey of the said John, till that God had delivered the innocents from that great danger, and then was he sent, having in his company M. Robert Hamilton, Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, directed from the Lords with full Commission and Instructions to decline their whole case and estate wherein they stood. Their passage was from Pittenweame by sea, they arrived at Holy-Island, and being advertised that Sir Henry Percy was absent from the North; They addressed themselves to Sir James Crofts, then Captain of Berwick, and Warden of the East Marches of England. They showed unto him their Credit and Commission; He received them courteously, and comforted them with his faithful Counsel,¹ which was, That they should travel no further, neither yet should they be seen in public, and that for divers considerations. First, The Queen Regent had her spies in England. Secondly, The Queen and the Council that favoured our faction, would that all things should be secret so long as they might. And last, said he, I think it not expedient, that in such rarity of Preachers, ye two be any long time absent from the Lords of the Congregation. And therefore (said he) ye shall do best to commit to writing your whole mind and Credit, and I shall promise to you upon my honour, to have answer at you, and at the Lords again, before that ye your selves can be at London. And where that your Letters cannot express all things so fully, as your presence could, I shall supply the same, not only by my pen, but also by my own presence, to such as will inform the Council sufficiently of all things. The said John and M.

These Letters were directed by Alexander Whitlaw, a man that oft had hazarded himself, and all that he had for the Cause of God, and for his friends, being in danger for the same Cause. Within a day or two after the departing of the said Alexander, there came a Letter from Sir Henry Percie to Iohn Knox, requiring him to meet him at Annick the third day of August, for such affaires as he would not write nor yet communicate with any, but with the said Iohn himselfe, while he was preparing himselfe for the journey (for Secretary Cecill had appointed to have met him at Stampford) the French-men furiously came forth of Dumbar, of purpose to have surprised the Lords being in Edinburgh, as in the second Book before is declared, which stayed the journey of the said Iohn, till that God had delivered the innocents from that great danger, and then was he sent, having in his company M. Robert Hamilton, Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, directed from the Lords with full Commission and Instructions to decline their whole case and estate wherein they stood. Their passage was from Pittenweame by sea, they arrived at Holy-Iland, and being advertised that Sir Henry Percie was absent from the North; They addressed themselves to Sir Iames Crofts, then Captain of Barwick, and Warden of the East Marches of England. They shewed unto him their Credit and Commission; He received them courteously, and comforted them with his faithfull Counsell,