The General Assembly: 25th December 1562.
At the General Assembly of the Church, holden the twenty-fifth of December, the year of God 1562, great complaints were made that churches lacked ministers; that ministers lacked their stipends; that wicked men were permitted to be schoolmasters, and so to infect the youth. One, Master Robert Cumin, schoolmaster in Arbroath, was complained upon by the Laird of Dun, and sentence was pronounced against him. It was farther complained that idolatry was erected in divers parts of the realm; and some thought that new supplication for redress should be presented to the Queen's Grace. Others demanded, What answer was received on the former occasion? The Superintendent of Lothian confessed the deliverance of it. "But," said he, "I received no answer." It was answered on behalf of the Queen—for her supporters were ever there—that it was well known to the whole realm what troubles had occurred since the last Assembly; and, therefore, that they should not wonder that the Queen had not answered: but they doubted not but that order would be taken betwixt that and the Parliament which was appointed for May, and all men should have occasion to stand content. This satisfied the whole Assembly for that time. And this was the practice of the Queen and of her Council to drive time with fair words....
The Protestants deal with Idolaters and the Mass.
The Papists, at Easter, 1563, had erected that idol, the Mass, in divers parts of the realm; amongst these being the Archbishop of St. Andrews, the Prior of Whithorn, with divers others of their faction.... The brethren, universally offended, and espying that the Queen did but mock them by her proclamations, determined to put to their own hands, and to punish for example to others. So some priests in the West-land were apprehended, and intimation was made by the brethren to others, as to the Abbot of Crossraguel, the Parson of Sanquhar, and such, that they should not proceed by complaint to Queen or Council, but should execute the punishment that God, in His Law, had appointed to idolaters, by such means as they might, wherever these should be apprehended.
The Queen stormed at such freedom of speaking, but she could not amend it; for the spirit of God, of boldness, and of wisdom, had not then left the most part of those whom God had used as instruments in the beginning. They were of one mind to maintain the truth of God, and to suppress idolatry. Particularities had not divided them; and therefore could not the Devil, working in the Queen and Papists, then do what he would.
Queen Mary and John Knox at Lochleven.
The Queen began to invent a new craft. She sent for John Knox to come to her at Lochleven. She travailed with him earnestly for two hours before her supper, seeking that he would be the instrument to persuade the people, and principally the gentlemen of the West, not to put hands to punish men for conducting themselves in their religion as pleased them. The other, perceiving her craft, said that if her Grace would punish the malefactors according to the laws, he could promise quietness upon the part of all them that professed the Lord Jesus within Scotland. But, if her Majesty thought to delude the laws, he said he feared that some would let the Papists understand that they should not be suffered to offend God's Majesty so manifestly, without punishment.
"Will ye," quoth she, "allow that they shall take my sword in their hand?"
"The sword of justice," quoth he, "Madam, is God's, and is given to princes and rulers for an end. If they transgress this, sparing the wicked, and oppressing innocents, they that, in the fear of God, execute judgment where God has commanded, do not offend God, although kings forbear; nor do those sin that bridle kings from striking innocent men in their rage. The examples are evident; Samuel feared not to slay Agag, the fat and delicate king of Amalek, whom King Saul had saved.... And so, Madam, your Grace may see that others than chief magistrates may lawfully punish, and have punished the vice and crimes that God commands to be punished. In the present case, I would earnestly pray your Majesty to take good advisement, and that your Grace should let the Papists understand that their attempts will not be suffered to go unpunished. For, by Act of Parliament, power is given to all judges to search for Mass-mongers, or the hearers of the same, within their own bounds, and to punish them according to the law. It shall therefore be profitable to your Majesty to consider what is the thing your Grace's subjects look to receive of your Majesty, and what it is that ye ought to do to them by mutual contract. They are only bound to obey you in God. Ye are bound to keep laws for them. Ye crave of them service; they crave of you protection and defence against wicked doers. Now, Madam, if ye shall deny your duty to those who especially crave that ye shall punish malefactors, think ye to receive full obedience of them? I fear, Madam, ye shall not."
Herewith the Queen, being somewhat offended, passed to her supper. John Knox left her, informed the Earl of Moray of the whole reasoning, and departed, of final purpose to return to Edinburgh, without any further communication with the Queen.