The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The certainty of the death foresaid was signified unto us both by Sea and Land. By Sea received John Knox (who then had great intelligence both with the Churches abroad, and some of the Court of France) That the King was mortally sick, and could not well escape death. Which Letters received that same day at afternoon he passed to the Duke to his own lodging at the Church of Field, with whom he found the Lord James in conference alone: The Earle of Arran was in Jedburgh, to whom he opened such news as he had received, and willed them to be of good comfort; for, said he, the advertiser hath never deceived me: It is the same Gentleman that first gave us knowledge of the slaughter of Henry King of France; and showed unto them the Letter, but would not express the mans name. While they were reasoning in divers purposes, and he comforting them: For while (we say) they three were familiarly communing together, there came a messenger from the Lord Grey forth of Berwick, assuring him of the death of the K. of France. Which noised abroad, a general Convention of the Nobility was appointed to be holden at ⟨p. 282⟩Edinburgh the fifteenth day of January following, in the which the Book of discipline was perused newly over again, for some pretended ignorance, by reason that they had not heard it. In that assembly was Master Alexander Anderson Subprincipal, and Under-Master of one of the Schools of Aberdeen, a man more subtle and crafty than either learned or godly, called, who refused to dispute anent his faith, abusing a place of Tertullian, to cloak his ignorance. It was answered unto him, That Tertullian should not prejudge the Authority of the Holy Ghost, who by the mouth of Peter commandeth us to give reason of our faith to every one that requireth the same of us; It was farther answered, that we neither required him, neither yet any man to dispute in any point concerning our faith▪ which was grounded upon Gods Word, and fully expressed in his holy Scriptures, for all that we believed without controversy. But we required of him, as of the rest of Papists, that they would suffer their Doctrine, Constitutions, and Ceremonies to come to trial.

The certainty of the death foresaid was signified unto us both by Sea and Land. By Sea received Iohn Knox (who then had great intelligence both with the Churches abroad, and some of the Court of France) That the King was mortally sick, and could not well escape death. Which Letters received that same day at afternoon he passed to the Duke to his own lodging at the Church of Field, with whom he found the Lord Iames in conference alone: The Earle of Arrane was in Iedburgh, to whom he opened such news as he had received, and willed them to be of good comfort; for, said he, the advertiser hath never deceived me: It is the same Gentleman that first gave us knowledge of the slaughter of Henry King of France; and shewed unto them the Letter, but would not expresse the mans name. While they were reasoning in divers purposes, and he comforting them: For while (we say) they three were familiarly communing together, there came a messenger from the Lord Gray forth of Barwick, assuring him of the death of the K. of France. Which noysed abroad, a generall Convention of the Nobility was appointed to be holden at