The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland / With Which Are Included Knox's Confession and The Book of Discipline

by John Knox

Haddington being in the hands of the English, and much herschip being done in the country (for what the Englishmen did not destroy, the French consumed), God did begin to fight for Scotland; for to the town named He sent so contagious a pest, that with great difficulty could the English garrison have their dead buried. They were oft reinforced with new men, but all was in vain. Hunger and pest were within the town, and the enemy, with a camp-volant,[110] lay about them and intercepted all victuals, unless these were brought by a convoy from Berwick; and the Council of England was compelled, in spring, to withdraw its forces from that place. So, after spoiling and burning some part of the town, they left it to be occupied by such as first should take possession—and those were the Frenchmen, with a mean number of the ancient inhabitants. Thus did God perform the words and the threatening of His servant Master George Wishart, who said that, for their contempt of God's messenger, they should be visited with sword and fire, with pestilence, strangers, and famine.

Peace proclaimed (April 1550): the Papists resume Persecution.

After this, peace was contracted betwixt France and England and Scotland; and a separate contract of peace was made betwixt Scotland and Flanders, with all the Easterlings; so that Scotland had peace with the world. But yet the Bishops would make war with God. As soon as they got any quietness, they apprehended Adam Wallace, a simple man, without great learning, but zealous in godliness and of an upright life. He with his wife, Beatrice Livingston, frequented the company of the Lady Ormiston, for the instruction of her children during the trouble of her husband, who then was banished. That bastard, called Archbishop of St. Andrews, took the said Adam from the place of Winton, and carried him to Edinburgh. And, in the kirk of the black thieves, alias Friars, he was brought to trial before the Duke, the Earl of Huntly, divers others besides, and the Bishops and their rabble.

The faithful Testimony and Martyrdom of Adam Wallace.

Master John Lauder was accuser, and alleged that he took upon him to preach. He answered that he never considered himself worthy of so excellent a vocation, and therefore never took upon him to preach; but that he would not deny that, sometimes at the table and sometimes in other privy places, he had read the Scriptures, and had given such exhortation as God pleased to give him, to such as pleased to hear him. "Knave," quoth one, "what have ye to do to meddle with the Scriptures?" "I think," said he, "it is the duty of every Christian to seek the will of his God, and the assurance of his salvation, where it is to be found, and that is within his Old and New Testament." "What then," said another, "shall we leave to the bishops and kirkmen to do, if every man shall be a babbler upon the Bible?" "It becometh you," said he, "to speak more reverently of God and of His blessed Word. If the judge were incorrupt, he would punish you for your blasphemy. To your question, I answer that, albeit ye and I and other five thousand within this realm should read the Bible, and speak of it what God should give us to speak, yet should we leave more to the bishops to do than either they will or yet can well do. We leave to them to preach the Evangel of Jesus Christ publicly, and to feed the flock which He hath redeemed with His own blood, and hath commended to the care of all true pastors. When we leave this unto them, methinks we leave to them a heavy burden; and we do them no wrong if we search our own salvation where it is to be found, considering that they are but dumb dogs, and unsavoury salt that has altogether lost its season." The Bishops, offended, said, "What prating is this? Let his accusation be read."

And then was begun, "False traitor, heretic, thou didst baptize thine own bairn. Thou saidst there is no purgatory. Thou saidst that to pray to saints and for the dead is idolatry and a vain superstition, and so on. What sayest thou of these things?" He answered, "If I should be bound to answer, I would require an upright and indifferent judge." The Earl of Huntly disdainfully said, "Foolish man, wilt thou desire another judge than my Lord Duke's Grace, great Governor of Scotland, and my Lords the bishops, and the clergy here present?" Thereto he answered, "The bishops can be no judges of me; for they are open enemies to me and to the doctrine that I profess. And, as for my Lord Duke, I cannot tell if he has the knowledge that should be in him that should judge and discern betwixt lies and the truth, the inventions of men and the true worshipping of God. I desire God's Word," and with that he produced the Bible, "to be judge betwixt the bishops and me, and I am content that ye shall all hear. If by this book I shall be convicted to have taught, spoken, or done, in matters of religion, anything that repugns to God's will, I refuse not to die; but if I cannot be convicted, as I am assured by God's Word I shall not be, then I in God's name desire your assistance, that malicious men may not execute unjust tyranny upon me." The Earl of Huntly said, "What a babbling fool this is. Thou shalt get none other judges than these that sit here." Thereto the said Adam answered, "The good will of God be done. But be ye assured, my Lord, with such measure as ye mete to others, with the same measure it shall be meted to you again. I know that I shall die, but be ye assured that my blood will be required of your hands."

Alexander Earl of Glencairn, yet alive, then said to the Bishop of Orkney, and others that sat near him, "Take you yon, my lords of the clergy; for here I protest, for my part, that I consent not to his death." And so, without fear, the said Adam prepared to answer. As to the baptizing of his own child, he said, "It was and is as lawful to me, for lack of a true minister, to baptize my own child, as it was to Abraham to circumcise his son Ishmael and his family. And as for purgatory, praying to saints, and praying for the dead, I have read both the New and Old Testaments often, but I neither could find mention nor assurance of them; and, therefore, I believe that they are but mere inventions of man, devised for covetousness's sake." "What sayest thou of the Mass?" speired[111] the Earl of Huntly. He answered, "I say, my Lord, as my Master Jesus Christ says, 'That which is in greatest estimation before men is abomination before God.'" Then all cried out, "Heresy! heresy!" And so this simple servant of God was adjudged to the fire; which he patiently sustained that same afternoon, upon the Castle Hill.

Thus the Papists began again to pollute the land, which God had lately plagued. Their iniquity was not yet come to that full ripeness in which God willed that it should be made manifest to this whole realm that they were faggots prepared for the everlasting fire, and men whom neither plagues might correct, nor the light of God's Word convert from their darkness and impiety.

The Duke is deposed, and the Queen-Dowager is made Regent: 1554.

Peace contracted, the Queen-Dowager passed by sea to France, and took with her divers of the nobility of Scotland, to wit, the Earls Huntly, Glencairn, Marischall, and Cassillis, the Lords Maxwell and Fleming, and Sir George Douglas; together with all the King's natural sons, and divers barons and gentlemen of ecclesiastical estate, the Bishop of Galloway and many others, with promises that they should be richly rewarded for their good service. What they received we cannot tell; but few made ruse[112] at their returning. The Dowager practised somewhat with her brethren, the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine, and the Governor afterwards felt the weight of this: for shortly after her return he was deposed from the government—justly by God, but most unjustly by men—and she made Regent in the year of God 1554. A crown was put upon her head—as seemly a sight, if men had eyes, as to put a saddle upon the back of an unruly cow. Then did she begin to practise practice upon practice, how France might be advanced, her friends made rich, and she brought to immortal glory....