John Knox is recalled to Geneva, and leaves the Realm: he is burned in Effigy.
While John Knox was thus occupied in Scotland, letters came unto him from the English Kirk in Geneva, in God's name commanding him, as their chosen pastor, to repair unto them for their comfort. Upon this, the said John prepared to obey the summons. He bade farewell in almost every congregation in which he had preached, and exhorted us to prayers, to reading of the Scriptures, and to mutual conference, until such time as God should give unto us greater liberty. By the procurement and labours of Robert Campbell of Kinyeancleuch, he visited the old Earl of Argyll in the Castle of Campbell, and there he taught certain days. The Laird of Glenorchy, being one of his auditors, desired the Earl of Argyll to detain him; but he, purposed upon his journey, would not at that time stay for any request. He added that, if God so blessed these small beginnings and they continued in godliness, they should find him obedient whensoever they pleased to command him; but that he must needs visit once that little flock which the wickedness of men had compelled him to leave. In the month of July he left this realm and passed to France, and so to Geneva. Immediately after, the bishops summoned him, and, for non-compearance, burned him in effigy at the Cross of Edinburgh, in the year of God 1555.
The Regent declares War on England: the Nobles decline to move.
In the winter that the said John abode in Scotland, there appeared a comet, the course of which was from the south and south-west to the north and northeast. It was seen during the months of November, December, and January, and was called "the fiery besom." Soon after, Christian, King of Denmark, died, and war rose betwixt Scotland and England; for the Commissioners of both realms, who for almost six months had treated upon the conditions of peace and were upon a near point of conclusion, were disappointed. At Newbattle, the Queen Regent, with her Council of the French faction, decreed war, without giving any intimation to the Commissioners for Scotland. Such is the fidelity of Princes, guided by priests, whenever they seek to serve their own affections. But the nobility of Scotland, after consultation amongst themselves, went to the pavilion of Monsieur D'Oysel, and to his face declared that in nowise would they invade England. They commanded the ordnance to be retired; and this was done without further delay. This put an affray[116] in Monsieur D'Oysel's breath, and kindled such a fire in the Queen Regent's stomach as was not well slockened until her breath failed. And thus was that enterprise frustrated, although war continued.
The Evangel begins to flourish in Scotland.
During this period the Evangel of Jesus Christ began wondrously to flourish. William Harlaw began publicly to exhort in Edinburgh; John Douglas, who had been with the Earl of Argyll, preached in Leith, and sometimes exhorted in Edinburgh; Paul Methven began publicly to preach in Dundee; and so did divers others in Angus and Mearns. And last, in God's good pleasure, John Willock arrived the second time from Embden; and his return was so joyful to the brethren that their zeal and godly courage daily increased. Albeit he contracted a dangerous sickness, he did not cease from labour, but taught and exhorted from his bed. Some of the nobility (of whom some are fallen back, among whom the Lord Seton is chief), with many barons and gentlemen, were his auditors. These were instructed in godliness by him, and wondrously comforted. They kept their conventions, and held councils with such gravity and closeness, that the enemies trembled. The images were stolen away in all parts of the country; and in Edinburgh the great idol called Saint Giles was first drowned in the Nor' Loch, and then burned. This raised no small trouble in the town.
Images are stolen, and the Prelates practise with the Regent.
The Friars rowping[117] like ravens upon the bishops, the bishops ran to the Queen. She was favourable enough to them, but she thought it could not be to her advantage to offend such a multitude as then took upon them the defence of the Evangel and the name of Protestants. Yet she consented to summon the preachers; and the Protestants, neither offended nor yet afraid, determined to keep the day of summons, as that they did. When the prelates and priests perceived this, they procured that there should be made a proclamation that all men that were come to the town without commandment of the authority, should with all diligence repair to the Borders, and there remain fifteen days: for the Bishop of Galloway, in this manner of rhyme, said to the Queen, "Madam,
Because they are come without order,
I red ye, send them to the Border."
Now, God had so provided that the Quarter of the Westland, in which were many faithful men, were that same day returned from the Border. Understanding the matter to proceed from the malice of the priests, they assembled and made passage for themselves until they came to the very privy chamber, where the Queen Regent and the bishops were. The gentlemen began to complain of their strange entertainment, considering that her Grace had found in them faithful obedience in all things lawful. When the Queen began to craft, a zealous and a bold man, James Chalmers of Gadgirth, said, "Madam, we know that this is the malice and device of these Jefwellis,[118] and of that bastard (meaning the Archbishop of St. Andrews) that stands by you. We avow to God we shall make a day of it. They oppress us and our tenants that they may feed their idle bellies: they trouble our preachers, and would murder them and us: shall we suffer this any longer? Nay, Madam: it shall not be." And therewith every man put on his steel bonnet.