Original Texts
APPENDIX I
The Battle of Flodden, 9 September 1513
THOMAS RUTHALL
… for on the 9th daie of this instante monethe of Septembere after a mervelouse greate conflicte and terrible bataille the King of Scotes with the greatest parte of the lordes and nobles of his ream wer in playn bataille venquyshed, overthrowen and slayne. At whiche bataille my Lorde Tresourere like a noble, valiaunte and puysaunt capitain, by his greate wisdome, hardiesse and experience, with the assistance, goode conduyt and actyvenesse of his sonne the Lorde Haworde, Admiralle of Englande, so acquitted hym self that for this moste famouse acte dedounding to the inestimable honour, comforte, commoditie and sueritie of the Kinges Grace, this his reame and subjectes of the same, they deserved asmoche lawde, renomme and thankefull remembraunce as ever anny noble men did. Specially remembering the multitude of theire enmyes, being ferre in nombre above the Kinges armye, conscidering also the grete nombre of mervelouse large peces of orynaunce as courtaldys, culverins, sacres and serpentyns amounting in the hole to 17 greate peces, besides moche other smale ordynaunce. Regarding also the greate and strong personages of the Scotes being aswelle fournesched with goodely harneys, wepons and other abilimentes of werre as ever men were, with their abundaunce of vitails, wynes of all sortes, brede, bere and ale, tentes and pavilions ferre above our estimacion and not lightely credible ooneles it had bene seen, tasted and vewed by our folkes to their greate refreshing, and over that the hardinesse and sharp setting on of the said Scotes with the discomforte and feblenes of our people being destitute of vitails and having no thing to drinke but oonely watere by the space of thre daies and moche scarcitie of that, with the mervelous greate payn and laboure that they toke in going 8 myles that daye on fote by daungerouse and paynefull passages over hilles and dales and yet, moste daunger of all, in ascending and clymyng an highe and stipe hille to encountre and geve bataill to the said King of Scotes being there campyd and his ordynaunce set to his moste advauntage and annoysaunce of our armye. And the said Scotes having the hill, the wynde and the sunne with thaym ayeinst our folkes, all whiche impediments, daungers and perells well consciderde, it is to be thought this vitorye procedethe more by the veray hande of God, with the helpe and merites of the gloriouse Confessour Seint Cutbert, thenne by anny strenghte or power of menne, how be it after so greate payn and labour there lakked no goode courage, strenghte and herte in our folks as it well appered by their actes.
For besides the King of Scotes all the lordes of Scotlande, excepte five, and the moste parte of the noble men of the same which that day dyed, there were 10 thousande Scotes slane, and as summe of thaym afferme they lacke 15 thousande in the hoole to the utter confusion of all Scotlande.
The said Scotes wer so surely harnessed with complete harneys, jackes, almayn, ryvettes, splentes, pavices and other habiliments that shote of arrowes in regarde did theim no harme, and whenne it comme to hande strokes of billes and halbardes they wer so myghtie, large, strong and grete men that they wolde not fall whenne 4 or 5 billes strake on oon of thaym at oonys; how be it our billes qwite them veray welle and did more goode that day thenne bowes for they shortely disappointed the Scotes of their long speres wherin was their greatest truste and whenne they came to hande stroke, though the Scotes faght sore and valiauntlye with their swerdes, yet they coude not resiste the billes that lighted so thicke and sore upon theym.
There were that day many goode and towarde capitains which did their partes righte welle, how be it the Lorde Howard was the firste setter on and toke moste payn in counduyting the vawarde of our armye to whome joined Seint Cutbertes banner with the hoole retynewe of the bisshoprike; and al be it the Scotes had moste dispecte to the said banner and set moste feresly upon it, yet what by the grace of God, the assistence of Seint Cutbert to his banner, and the valiauntnesse of the capitains and others being under the same, there gate they noon advauntage but greate losse and damage of their folks, and yet fewe or noon being under the same banner wer slayn thoughe many hurte. This with grete honour is Seint Cutberts banner returned againe to his churche, bringing with it the King of Scotes banner which for a memorial now standeth besides the shryne there. And the sayd Kyng was not farre from hys baner when he was slayne. And besides this all the grete ordinaunce of Scotlande is taken and resteth at Berwike with diverse prisoners, but not many, for our folks entending to make all thing sure, toke little regarde in taking of prisoners, but rid all that came to hande, bothe King, bisshopes, lordes, knyghtes, nobles, or others what so ever came which wer not so soon slayn but forthewith despoiled out of their harnais and array and lefte lying naked in the felde where men moughte have seen a mervelouse nombre of many goodely men well fedde and fatte, among which nombre was the King of Scotes bodye founde, having manye woundes and naked, and the same was broughte to my Lorde Tresourer thenne being in Berwike in whose keping the same bodye yet restethe.
And yet whenne our capitains and folks had thus welle acquitted them self, greate displeasure was done unto theym, for in their absence from their tentes, they being occupied with the Scotes, all their goodes, horses and necessaries wer clerely taken awaye. But whether it wer doon by Scottes or bordourers I canne not saye, but the brute is that the borderours did full ill. I pray God amende theyme for by this dealing our folks wer wars discouraged at their departing thenne by all the harmes doon to them by the Scottes, and suche dealing hath and shall cause thame to have the wars wille to retourne thider again if necessite require.
APPENDIX II
The Burning of George Wishart, 1 March 1546
JOHN KNOX
When that he came to the fire, he sat down upon his knees, and rose again; and thrice he said these words, ‘O Thou Saviour of the world, have mercy upon me: Father of Heaven, I commend my spirit into Thy holy hands.’ When he had made this prayer, he turned him to the people, and said these words: ‘I beseech you, Christian brethren and sisters, that ye be not offended at the word of God for the affliction and torments which ye see already prepared for me. But I exhort you, that ye love the word of God, your salvation, and suffer patiently, and with a comfortable heart, for the word’s sake, which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort. Moreover, I pray you, show my brethren and sister, which have heard me oft before, that they cease not nor leave off to learn the word of God, which I taught unto them, after the grace given unto me, for no persecutions nor troubles in this world, which lasteth not, and show unto them that my doctrine was no wives’ fables, after the constitutions made by men; and if I had taught men’s doctrine, I had not greater thanks by men. But for the word’s sake, and true Evangel, which was given to me by the grace of God, I suffer this day by men, not sorrowfully, but with a glad heart and mind. For this cause I was sent, that I should suffer this fire for Christ’s sake. Consider and behold my visage, ye shall not see me change my colour. This grim fire I fear not; and so I pray you for to do, if that any persecution come unto you for the word’s sake; and not to fear them that slay the body, and afterward have no power to slay the soul …
Then, last of all, the hangman, that was his tormentor, sat down upon his knees and said, ‘Sir, I pray you, forgive me, for I am not guilty of your death.’ To whom he answered, ‘Come hither to me.’ When he was come to him he kissed his cheek and said, ‘Lo! Here is a token that I forgive thee. My heart, do thine office.’ And then, by and by, he was put upon the gibbet, and hanged, and there burnt to powder. When that the people beheld the great tormenting of that innocent, they might not withhold from piteous mourning and complaining of the innocent lamb’s slaughter.
APPENDIX III
The Murder of Cardinal David Beaton, 29 May 1546
JOHN KNOX
Many purposes were devised how that wicked man might have been taken away. But all failed, till Friday, the 28 of May, Anno 1546, when the foresaid Norman [Leslie] came at night to Saint Andrews; William Kirkcaldy of Grange, younger, was in the town before, awaiting upon the purpose; last came John Leslie foresaid, who was most suspected. What conclusion they took that night, it was not known but by the issue which followed.
But early upon the Saturday, in the morning, the 29 of May, were they in sundry companies in the Abbey kirk-yard, not far distant from the Castle. First, the yetts being open, and the drawbrig let down, for receiving of lime and stones, and other things necessary for building (for Babylon was almost finished) – first, we say, essayed William Kirkcaldy of Grange, younger, and with him six persons, and getting entrance, held purpose with the porter, ‘If My Lord was walking [awake]?’ who answered, ‘No.’ … While the said William and the porter talked, and his servants made them to look the work and the workmen, approached Norman Leslie with his company; and because they were in no great number, they easily got entrance. They address them to the midst of the close, and immediately came John Leslie, somewhat rudely, and four persons with him. The porter, fearing, would have drawn the brig; but the said John, being entered thereon, stayed, and leapt in. And while the porter made him for defence, his head was broken, the keys taken from him, and he cast in the fosse [ditch]; and so the place was seized. The shout arises: the workmen, to the number of more than a hundred, ran off the walls, and were without hurt put forth at the wicket yett. The first thing that ever was done, William Kirkcaldy took the guard of the privy postern, fearing that the fox should have escaped. Then go the rest to the gentlemen’s chambers, and without violence done to any man, they put more than fifty persons to the yeyt: The number that enterprised and did this, was but sixteen persons. The Cardinal, awakened with the shouts, asked from his window, What meant that noise? It was answered, That Norman Leslie had taken his Castle. Which understood, he ran to the postern; but perceiving the passage to be kept without, he returned quickly to his chamber, took his two-handed sword, and gart [made] his chamber child cast kists [chests], and other impediments to the door. In this meantime came John Leslie unto it, and bids open. The Cardinal asking, ‘Who calls?’, he answers, ‘My name is Leslie.’ He re-demands, ‘Is that Norman?’ The other says, ‘Nay; my name is John.’ ‘I will have Norman,’ says the Cardinal, ‘for he is my friend.’ ‘Content yourself with such as are here; for other shall ye get none.’ There were with the said John, James Melville, a man familiarly acquainted with Master George Wishart, and Peter Carmichael, a stout gentleman. In this meantime, while they force at the door, the Cardinal hides a box of gold under the coals that were laid in a secret corner. At length he asked, ‘Will ye save my life?’ The said John answered, ‘It may be that we will.’ ‘Nay,’ says the Cardinal, ‘swear unto me by God’s wounds, and I will open unto you.’ Then answered the said John, ‘It that was said, is unsaid’; and so cried, ‘Fire, fire,’ (for the door was very stark); and so was brought a chimney full of burning coals. Which perceived, the Cardinal or his chamber child, (it is uncertain), opened the door, and the Cardinal sat down in a chair and cried, ‘I am a priest; I am a priest: ye will not slay me.’ The said John Leslie (according to his former vows) struck him first, once or twice, and so did the said Peter. But James Melville (a man of nature most gentle and most modest) perceiving them both in choler [temper], withdrew them, and said, ‘This work and judgment of God (although it be secret) ought to be done with greater gravity’; and presenting unto him the point of the sword, said, ‘Repent thee of thy former wicked life, but especially of the shedding of the blood of that notable instrument of God, Master George Wishart, which albeit the flame of fire consumed before men, yet cries it a vengeance upon thee, and we from God are sent to revenge it: For here, before my God, I protest, that neither the hetterent [hatred] of thy person, the love of thy riches, nor the fear of any trouble thou could have done to me in particular, moved, nor moves me to strike thee; but only because thou hast been, and remains an obstinate enemy against Christ Jesus and his holy Evangel.’ And so he struck him twice or thrice through with a stog sword; and so he fell, never word heard out of his mouth, but ‘I am a priest, I am a priest: fye, fye: all is gone.’
APPENDIX IV
John Knox Apologizes to Queen Elizabeth I, 1559
EDINBURGH 1559
… As your Grace’s displeasure against me, most unjustlie conceaved, hath beene, and is to my wretched hart a burthein grievous, and almost intollerabill; so is the testimonie of a cleene conscience to me a stay and uphold, that in desperation I sink not, how vehement that ever the temptation appear: for in Goddis presence, my conscience beareth me record, that maliciouslie nor of purpose I never offended your Grace, nor your realme; and, therefore, howsoever I be judged of man, I am assured to be absolved by Him who onelie knoweth the secreates of hartes. I cannot denie the writting of a booke against the usurped Authorities and unjust Regiment of Women; neyther yit am I mynded to retreate or to call backe anie principall point, or propositioun of the sam, till truthe and veritie doe farther appear. Bot why, that eyther your Grace, eyther anie such as unfainedlie favour the libertie of England, sould be offended at the author of suche a worke, I can perceive no just occasioun: For, first, my booke tuichest not your Grace’s person in especiall, neyther yit is it prejudiciall to anie libertie of the realme, if the time and my writing be indifferentlie considered. How could I be enemie to your Grace’s person, for deliverance quahairof I did more study, and interprised farther, than anie of those that now accuse me? And, as concerning your regiment, how could I, or can I, envy that which most I have thirsted, and the which (als oblivion will suffer) I render thanks unfainedlie unto God? That is, it hath pleased Him of his eternall goodnes to exalt your head there (who sometime was in danger), to the manifestatioun of his glorie, and extirpatioun of idolatrie?
… God is witnesse, that unfainedlie I both love and reverence your Grace; yea, I pray that your raigne may be long prosperous, and quiet; and that for the quietnes which Christ’s members, before persecuted, have received under you…
APPENDIX V
James Melville’s Schooldays, 1560s
My father put my eldest and onlie brother, David, about a yeir and a half in age above me, and me togidder, to a kinsman and brother in the ministerie of his, to school, a guid lernit, kynd man, quham for thankfulness I name, Mr Wilyame Gray, minister at Logie Montrose. He had a sister, a godlie and honest matron, reular of his hous, quha often rememberit me of my mothir, and was a verie loving mothir to me indeid. Thair wes a guid nombir of gentil and honest mennis bairnis of the countrey about, weill trainit up baith in letteris, godliness, and exerceis of honest gamis. Thair we lernit to reid the Catechism, Prayeris, and Scripture; to reherse the Catechism and Prayeris par coeur; also notis of Scripture eftir the reiding thairof; and thair first I fand (blissit be my guid God for it!) that Spreit of Sanctificatioun beginning to wark sum motiounis in my hart, evin about the aucht and nynt yeir of my aige; to pray going to bed and rysing, and being in the feildis alane to say ower the prayeris I haid lernit, with a sweit moving in my hairt; and to abhor sweirin and rebuik and complein upoun sic as I herd sweir. Quhairunto the exempil of that godlie matron, seiklie and giffen to reid and pray in hir bed, did mekil profit me; for I lay in hir chalmer and herd hir exerceisis. We lernit thair the Rudimentis of the Latin grammair, with the vocablis in Latin and French; also divers speichis in French, with the reiding and richt pronounciatioun of that toung. We proceidit furder to the Etymologie of Lillius and his Syntax, as also litil of the Syntax of Linacer; thairwith wer joynit Hunter’s Nomenclatura, the Minora Colloquia of Erasmus, and sum of the Eclogis of Virgil and Epistolis of Horace; also Cicero his Epistolis ad Terentiam. … Thair also we had the air guid, and feildis reasonabil far, and be our maistir wer techit to handil the bow for archerie, the glub for gowff, the batons for fencing, also to run, to loup, to swoom, to warsel, to preve pratticks [test, by competition], everie ane haiffing his matche and antagonis, baith in our lessounis and play.
A happy and goldin tyme indeid, gif our negligence and unthankfulness haif noct movit God to schorten it, pairtlie be decaying of the number, quhilk causit the maister to wearie, and pairtlie of a pest quhilk the Lord, for sin and contempt of His Gospel, send upoun Montrose, distant from Over Logie bot two mylis; sa that school skailit, and we wer al sent for an brocht hame. I was at that school the space of almost fyve yeiris, in the quhilk tyme, of publict newis, I remember I herd of the mariage of Hendrie and Marie, King and Quene of Scottis, Seignour Davies slauchtir, of the Kingis murdour at the Kirk of Feild, of the Quenis taking at Carberi, and the Langsyde feild.… Also I remember weill how we passit to the heid of the muir to sie the fyre of joy burning upoun the stepil heid of Montrose at the day of the Kingis birth.
APPENDIX VI
Mary, Queen of Scots, Arrives in Scotland, 19 August 1561
JOHN KNOX
The nineteenth day of August, the year of God 1561, betwixt seven and eight hours before noon, arrived Marie Queen of Scotland, then widow, with two galleys forth of France.… The very face of heaven, the time of her arrival, did manifestly speak what comfort was brought unto this country with her, to wit, sorrow, dolour, darkness, and all impiety. For, in the memory of man, that day of the year was never seen a more dolorous face of the heaven than was at her arrival, which two days after did so continue; for, besides the surface wet, and corruption of the air, the mist was so thick and so dark that scarce might any man espy another the length of two pair of boots. The sun was not seen to shine two days before, nor two days after. That fore-warning gave God unto us; but alas, the most part were blind.
APPENDIX VII
The Murder of Riccio, 9 March 1566
SIR JAMES MELVILLE
Now ther cam heir in company with the ambassadour of Scavoy, ane David Ricio, of the contre of Piedmont, that was a merry fallow and a gud mucitien; and hir Maieste had thre varletis of hir chamber that sang thre partis, and wanted a beiss to sing the fourt part; therfor they tald hir Maieste of this man to be ther fourt marrow [mate], in sort that he was drawen to sing somtymes with the rest; and eftirwart when the ambassadour his maister retournit, he stayed in this contre, and wes retiret in hir Maiestes service as ane varlet of hir chamber. And efterwart when hir French secretary retired him self till France, this David obtenit the said office, and therby entrit in greter credit, and occupied hir Maiesteis ear of tymes in presens of the nobilite, and when ther was gretest conventions of the estates; quhilk maid him to be sa invyed and hated … that some of the nobilite wald glown [frown] upon him, and some of them wald schulder him and schut hym by, when they entrit in the chamber, and fand him always speaking with hir Maieste.… Not without some fear, therefore, he lamented his estait unto me, and askit my counsaill, how to behave hym self. I tald him, that strangers wer commonly envied when they medlit over far in the affaires of forren contrees … I said again, that it wes thocht that the maist part of the affaires of the contre past throw his handis; and advysit him, when the nobilite were present, to gif them place, and prey the Quenis Maieste to be content therwith.… Quhilk he did, and said unto me efterwart, that the Quen wald not suffer him, bot wald nedis have him to use him self in the auld maner.… Efterwart, seing the invy against the said David still increase, and that be his wrek hir Maieste mucht incure displesour, I … tok occasion … to enter with hir Maieste, and in maist humble maner schew her what advyse I had geven unto Seigneur David, as is above specified. Hir maieste said, that he medlit na farther bot in hir French wretingis and affaires, as hir uther Frenche secretary had done of before; and said, that wha ever fand falt therwith, sche wald not leave to do hir ordinary directions.… Sche thankit me for my continuell cair, and promised to tak sic gud ordour ther intill as the cause required …
The K. [the King, Darnley] wes wone to geve his consent over facely to the slauchter of seigneur David, quihilk the Lordis of Mortoun, Ruthven, Lindsay and uthers had devysit; that way to be masters of the court, and to stay the parlement. The King was yet very yong of yeares, and not weill experimented with the nature of this nation. It was supponit also that the Erle of Lenox knew of the said enterprise, for he had his chamber within the palice; and sa had the Erles of Atholl, Bothewell, and Huntly, wha baith eschaiped be louping down out of a window, towardis the litle garding wher the lyns are lugit. This vil act was done upon a Satterday [9th] of [March] in the year [1565] about sex houres. When the Quen was at hir supper in hir cabinet, a number of armed men entrit within the closs before the closing of the yetis, and tok the keyes from the porter. And part of them passit up throw the Kingis chamber, conducted be the Lord Ruthven and George Douglas the postulat [postulate bishop]; the rest remanit in the close, with drawen swerdis in ther handis, crying ‘a Douglas, a Douglas,’ for ther slougern; for it was in the glomyng of the venyng. The King was past up to the Quen of before, and was leanin upon hir chair, when the Lord Ruthven entrit with his knappisca [headpiece] upon his head, and George the postulat entrit in with him and dyvers uther, sa rudly and unreverently, that the burd [table] fell, the candelis and meat and plaitis fell. Sr David tok the Quen about the waist, and cryed for marcy; bot George Douglas pluckit fourth the Kingis dager that wes behind his bak, and strak him first with it, leaving it sticking within him. He giving gret skirlis and cryes, wes rudly reft from the Quen, wha culd not get him saif, nother for boist [threat] nor fairness. He wes forceably drawen fourth of the cabinet, and slain in the utter hall, and her Maieste keped as captive.
APPENDIX VIII
Act against Luxury, 1581
THE PARLIAMENT OF SCOTLAND
The kingis maiestie and estates of this present parliament considering the greit abuse standing amang his subiectis of the meane estate presuming to conterfait his hines and his nobilities in the use and wearing of coistlie cleithing of silkis of all sortis, layne, cameraige, freinyeis and pasmentis of gold, silver and silk and wollin claith maid and brocht from uthir foryne cuntreis quhairthrow the prices of the same is groun to sic exorbitant derth as it is nocht abill to be langer sustenit without greit skayth and inconvenient of the commone weill quhowbeit god hes grantit to this realms sufficient commodities for cleithing of the inhabitantis thairof within the self gif the pepill were verteouslie employit in working of the same at hame, quhairby gret numberis of pure folkis now wandering in beging mycht be releissit alsweill to the honestie and welth of the cuntrie, for remeid quhairof it is statute and ordanit … that nane of his hines suiectis man nor woman being under the degrees of duikis, erlis, lordis of parliament, knichtis, or landed gentilmen, that hes or may spend of fre yeirlie rent twa thowsand merkis or fiftie chalderis victual at leist or thair wyffis, sonnes, or dochteris sal eftir the first day of Maii nixtocum use or weir in thair cleithing or apparel or lyning thairof onie clayth of gold or silver, welvet, satyne, damas, taffateis or onie beggaries, freinyeis, pasmentis or broderie of gold, silver or silk, nor yit layne, cameraige or wollin clayth maid and brocht from onie foryne cuntreis under the pane of an hundreth pundis of everie gentilman landit, an hundreth pundis of everie yeman man for everie day that his wyff, sone or dochter trangressis this present act.… A alsua that the puir pepill may be the bettir haldin in werk throw the laboring of the woll of the cuntrie within the same, thairfoir it is statut and ordanit … that na maner of wollbe transportit furth of this realme in tyme cuming under the pane of confiscation of the same woll and of all the remanent guides moveabill of the personis awneris and transportis thairof to oure soverane lordis use …
APPENDIX IX
No Pipe-playing on Sundays, 1593
THE PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW
The Presbiterie of Glasgow statutis and ordainis that gif Mungo Craig sal play on his pypes on the Sonday fra the sun rising quhill the sun going to, in onie place within the boundis of the Presbiterie, that he incontinent thaireftir sall be summarilie excommunicat.
APPENDIX X
Grammar School Mutiny, 1595
ROBERT BIRREL
The 15 of September, Johne Macmorrane slaine be the schott of ane pistole out of the school. This Johne Macmorrane being Baillie for the tyme, the bairns of the said grammar school came to the tounes counsel conforme to yair yeirlie custome, to seek the priviledge, quha wes refusit; upon the qlk, ther wes ane number of schollaris, being gentelmens bairns, made ane mutinie, and came in the night and tooke the school, and provydit yameselfis wt meit, drink and hagbutis [ancient firearms], pistolet, and suord: they ranforcit the dores of the said school, sua yat yai refusit to let in yr mr. [master] nor nae uthir man, wtout they wer grantit ther privilege, conforme to yr wontit use. The Provost and Baillies and Counsell heiring tell of the same, they ordeinit John Macmorrane Baillie, to goe to the grama school and take some order yrwt. The said Johne, with certain officers, went to the school, and requystit the schollaris to opin the dories: yei refusit. The said Baillie and officers tooke an geast [beam of wood] and rane at the back dore with the geast. Ane scholar bad him desist from dinging up the dore, utherways, he vouit to God, he wald shute ane pair of bulletis throw hes heid. The said Baillie, thinking he durst not shute, he, with his assisters, ran still wt the geast at the said dore. Ther came ane scholar callit William Sinclair, sone to William Sinclair chansler of Catnes [Caithness], and with ane pistolet shott out at ane window, and shott the said Baillie throw the heid, sua yat he diet. Pntlie [shortly after] the haill tounesmen ran to the school, and tuik the said bairns and put yame in the tolbuith: bot the haill bairns wer letten frie wtout hurte done to yame for the same, wtin ane short tyme yairafter.
APPENDIX XI
Border Reivers Defy Capture, 14 April 1596
THE LORD TREASURER OF ENGLAND
I thought it my duty to acquaint you with ‘the proude attempte’ which the Scots have made on this her Majesty’s castle and chief strength here, praying you to move her Majesty for such redress as may stand with her liking. The ground of it proceedeth from the cause which I formerly advertised, and will now be imparted to you by my Lord Treasurer, to whom to avoid tediousness, I refer you.
‘Yesternighte in the deade time therof, Water Scott of Hardinge, the cheife man aboute Buclughe, accompanied with 500 horsemen of Buclughes and Kinmontes frends, did come armed and appointed with gavlockes and crowes of iron, handpeckes, axes and skailinge lathers, unto an owtewarde corner of the base courte of this castell, and to the posterne dore of the same – which they undermined speedily and quietlye and made them selves possessors of the base courte, brake into the chamber where Will of Kinmont was, carried him awaye, and in their discoverie by the watch, lefte for deade two of the watchmen, hurt a servante of myne one of Kynmontes keperes, and were issued againe oute of the posterne before they were descried by the watche of the innerwarde, and ere resistance coulde be made. The watch, as yt shoulde seeme, by reason of the stormye night, were either on sleepe or gotten under some covert to defende them selves from the violence of the wether; by meanes wherof the Scottes atcheived theire enterprise with lesse difficultie. The wardinge place of Kinmonte, in respect of the manner of his takinge, and the assurance he had given that he woulde not breake awaye, I supposed to enforce in the suretie, and litle looked that any durst have attempted to enforce in the tyme of peace any of her Majesty’s castells, and a peece of so good strength. Yf Buclugh him selfe have bin therat in person, the capten of this proud attempt, as some of my servantes tell me they hard his name called upon (the trueth wherof I shall shortly advertise), then I humblie beseech, that her Majesty wilbe pleased to send unto the Kinge, to call for and effectually fynde that the quality of his offence shall demirite, for yt wilbe a dangerous example to leave this highe attempt unpunished … in revenge whereof, I intend that somethinge shalbe shortly entreprised against the principalles in this accion for repaire therof …
APPENDIX XII
The First New Year’s Day, 1600
THE PRIVY COUNCIL
The Kingis Majestie and Lordis of his Secreit Counsall, undirstanding that in all uthiris weill governit comoun welthis and countryis the first day of the yeir beginnis yeirlie upoun the first day of Januar, comounlie callit New Yeiris Day, and that this realm onlie is different fra all uthiris in the compt and reckoning of the yeirs, and His Majestie and Counsall willing that thair sall be na disconformitie betwixt His Majestie his realm and liegis and uthiris nichtbour countreyis in this particular, bot that they sall conform thaimselffis to the ordour and custom observit be all uthiris countreyis, especiallie seing the course and sesoun of the yeir is maist propir and ansuerabill thairto, and that the alteratioun theirof importis na hurt nor prejudice to onie pairtie: thairof His Majestie, with advice of the Lordis of his Secreit Counsall, statutis and ordainis that in all tyme coming, the first day of the yeir sall begin yeirlie upoun the first day of Januar, and thir presentis to taik execution upoun the first day of Januar nixt to cum, quhilk sall be the first day of them and six hundreth yeir of God …
APPENDIX XIII
The National Covenant, 1638
JOHN LIVINGSTONE
All the Summer 1637 I had as much work in preaching in publick & exercises in privat as any time before partly in Lanerk & partly in the west, & at Communions at divers places, & in the Stewartry of Kircudbright & the presbyterie of Stranrawer while I was waiting at the port for my wifes coming out of Ireland. This Summer severall ministers of Scotland were charged wth letters of horning to buy & receive the Service book wch stirred up great thoughts of heart through ye Land, beside a tumult in Edinburgh begun by some of the common people at the first reading of the Service book the true rise of that blessed reformation in Scotland began wth two petitions against the Service book the one from the west and the oyz [other] from ffife wch mett together at the Councell door in Edz [Edinburgh] the one now knowing the other, after that the 20 of Septz [September] a great many petitions from severall parts were presented against the Service book, these being denyed by the king the number of the petitioners & their demands increased for they desired not only exemption from the Service book but from ye five ceremonies of Perth & the high Commission Court, & these things being denyed they at last desired also freedom from episcopacy and a free parliment & generall Assembly; when these things were still denyed; & their number had so increased yt in some sort they were the whole body of the land and considering yt the lords controversy with them was ye breach of Covenant they did in the beginning of March 1638 renew the nationall Covenant wch had formerly by authority of king and parliament severall times been sworn, I was immediatly sent to go post to London wth severall copies of the Covenant & letters to friends at Court of both nations; to avoid discovery I rode in a gray coat and a gray Montero cape.
One night riding late, the horse & I fell to the ground where I lay about a quarter of an hour as dead, ye first thing I discerned when I came to myself I found the guide sitting under me & crying & weeping, yet it pleased ye Lord I recovered, & got to fferrybriggs where after a day or two’s stay I came to London, but one of my eyes and part of my cheek being bloodshot I did not go to the Street, but mz Eleasar Borthwick delivered the letters for me, some friends & some of the english nobility came to my chamber to be informed how matters went, & told yt the Marquess of Hamilton had sent him to me to show he had overheard the king saying, I was com’d but he would endeavour to put a pair of fetters about my feet, wherefore fearing to be way laid on the post way, I bought a horse, & came home by St Albans and the wester way.
I was present at Lanerk and at severall other parishes when on a Sabbath after the forenoon Sermon the Covenant was read & sworn, & may truly say yt in all my life except one day in the kirk of shotts I never saw such motions from the Spirit of God, all the people generally & most willingly concurring where I have seen above a thousand persons all at once lifting up their hands, and the tears dropping down from their eyes, so yt through the whole land except the professed papists & some few who for base ends adhered to the prelates, the people universally entered into the Covenant of god for reformation of religion against prelates and the ceremonies.
APPENDIX XIV
The Run-up to the Union of the Scottish and English Parliaments
STIRLING TOWN COUNCIL, 1706
To His Grace Her Majesties high Commissioner and the Estates of Parliament. The Address of the provost Baillies Town Councill and other Inhabitants of the Burgh of Stirling.
Humbly Sheweth
That having had our most deliberat thought upon the great affair of the Union of the two Nationes, as Contained in the printed Articles, wee judge it our Indispensable duety to the Nation to this place, yea to posterity, with all Imaginable defference to your Grace and Honourable Estates of parliament humbly to represent, That though we are desirous that true peace and freindship be perpetually Cultivat with our neighbours in England, Up on Just and honourable termes consisting with the being, Soveraignitie & Independencie of our Natione and parliaments as defenders therof, Yet we judge your goeing into this Treaty as it now Lyes before you, will bring ane Insupportable burden of Taxationes upon this Land, which all the Grants of freedome of Trade will never Counterballance being so uncertain and precarious while still under the regulations of the English in the parliament of Brittain, who may if they please discourage the most Considerable Branches of our Trade, if any way apprehended to interfeir with their own. That it will prove, ruining to our manufactores, That it will be ane expossing of our Religione, Church Government as by Law Established, our Claime of Right, Lawes, Liberties & consequently all that’s valuable. To be incroached upon, yea wholly Subverted by them, whose principles does, & Suposed Interests may Lead yr Unto, That it will be a depryving of us and the rest of the royall burghs in this Natione, in a great measure of our fundamentall right and propertie of being represented in the Legis Lative power, That therby one of the most ancient nations so long and so gloriously defended by our worthie patriots will be supprest. Our parliaments the very hedge of all that is dear to us, Extinguished and we and our posterity brought under ane Lasting yoke which we will never be able to bear, The fatal consequences of which we tremble to think upon …