The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

It was whispered by many, That the Earle of Murray's displeasure was as much sought, as any hatred that the Hamiltons did bear against the Earle of Bothwell, or yet he against them. And in very deed, either had the Duke very false servants, or else by Huntley and the Hamiltons the Earle of Murray's death was oftener conspired then once; the suspicion whereof burst forth so far, that upon a day the said Earle being upon horse to have come to the Sermon, was charged by one of the Dukes own servants, to turn and abide with the Queen. The fame whereof spread over all: What ground it had, we cannot say; but shortly after, the Duke, and some of the Lords, remained at Glasgow; their conclusion was not known. The Earle of Arran came to Edinburgh, where the Earle Bothwell lay. The Queen and the Court were departed to Fife, and remained sometimes in S. Andrews, and sometimes in Falkland.

It was whispered by many, That the Earle of Murray's displeasure was as much sought, as any hatred that the Hamiltons did bear against the Earle of Bothwell, or yet he against them. And in very deed, either had the Duke very false servants, or else by Huntley and the Hamiltons the Earle of Murray's death was oftener conspired then once; the suspition whereof burst forth so far, that upon a day the said Earle being upon horse to have come to the Sermon, was charged by one of the Dukes own servants, to turn and abide with the Queen. The fame whereof spread over all: What ground it had, we cannot say; but shortly after, the Duke, and some of the Lords, remained at Glasgow; their conclusion was not known. The Earle of Arrane came to Edinburgh, where the Earle Bothwell lay. The Queen and the Court were departed to Fyfe, and remained sometimes in S. Androes, and sometimes in Falkland.

The Earle Bothwell, by means of James Barron Burgess, and then Merchant of Edinburgh, desired to speak with John Knox secretly; which the said John gladly granted, and spake with him upon a night, first in the said James his lodging,¹ and after in his own Study: The sum of all their conference and communication was; The said Lord lamented his inordinate life; and especially, That he was provoked by the enticements of the Queen Regent, to do that which he sore repented, as well against the Laird of Ormestoun, whose blood was spilt, albeit not by his faults: But his chief grief was, That he had misbehaved himself toward the Earle of Arran, whose favour he was most willing to redeem, if possible it were that so he might: For (said he) if I might have my Lord Arran's favour, I would aye wait upon the Court with a Page and a few servants, to spare my expense; where now I am compelled to keep for my own safety a number of wicked and unprofitable men, to the utter destruction of my state that is left. To which the said John answered, My Lord, would to God that in me were Counsel and Judgement, that might comfort and relieve you; for albeit that to this hour it hath not happened to me to speak with your Lordship face to face, yet have I born a good mind to your house; and have been sorry at my heart of the trouble that I have heard you to be involved in; for (my Lord) my great Grandfather, Grandfather, and Father, have served your Lordships Predecessors, and some of them have died under their standers; and this is a part of the Obligation of our Scottish kindness: