The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

God from Heaven, and from the face of the Earth did declare, that he was offended at the iniquity committed within this Realm; for upon the twentieth day of January there fell rain in great abundance,¹ which in the falling freezed so vehemently, that the earth was but a shot of Ice; the Fowls, both great and small freezed, and might not fly, many dyed, and some were taken and laid beside the fire, that their feathers might dissolve;² and that same month the Sea stood still, (as was clearly observed) and never ebbed nor flowed the space of four and twenty hours: In the month of February, the fifteenth and eighteenth days thereof, there was seen in the Firmament battles arrayed, spears, and all other weapons, as it had been the joining of two Armies: These things were not only observed, but also spoken of and constantly affirmed by men of judgement, and credit. But the Queen and our Court made merry, there was banqueting upon banqueting; the Queen would banquet with the Lords; and that was done only upon policy to remove her displeasure against them, because they would not at her devotion condemn John Knox. To remove (we say) that jealousy, she made the Banquet to the whole Lords, whereat she would have the Duke amongst the rest. It behoved them to banquet her again; and so did banqueting continue till Lent ever after. But the poor Ministers were mocked, and reputed ⟨p. 375⟩as Monsters; the Guard, and the Affairs of the Kitchen were so gripping, that the Minsters stipends could not be had; and yet at the Assembly last past, solemn promise was made in the Queens Name, by the mouth of Secretary Lethington, in the audience of the Nobility, and of the whole Assembly, who affirmed that he had commandment of her Highness, to promise full content unto all the Ministers within the Realm, and of such Order to be kept in all times to come, that the whole body of the Protestants should have occasion to stand content; The Earle of Murray affirmed the same, with many other fair promises given by writing, by Lethington himself; as in the Register of the Acts of the general Assembly may be seen; but how that or yet any other thing promised in her name, to the Church of God, was observed, the world can witness.

God from Heaven, and from the face of the Earth did declare, that he was offended at the iniquitie committed within this Realme; for upon the twentieth day of Ianuary there fell rain in great abundance,