"These things require we to be considered by you, who occupy the place of the Eternal God, who is God of order and truth, even in such sort as ye will answer in the presence of His throne judicial. And we require, further, that ye will favourably have respect to the tenderness of our consciences, and to the trouble which apparently will follow in this commonwealth, if the tyranny of the Prelates and of their adherents be not bridled by God and just laws. God move your hearts deeply to consider your own duties and our present troubles."
The Regent makes large Promises of Protection and Reform.
These petitions did we first present to the Queen Regent, because we were determined to enterprise nothing without her knowledge, most humbly requiring her favourable assistance in our just action. She spared not amiable looks, and good words in abundance; but she kept our bill in her pocket. When we required secretly of her Grace that our Petitions should be proposed to the whole Assembly, she answered that she did not think that expedient; for then would the whole ecclesiastical Estate be contrary to her proceedings. These at that time were great; for the matrimonial crown was asked, and in that Parliament granted. "But," said she, "as soon as order can be taken with these things, which now may be hindered by the Kirkmen, ye shall know my good mind; and, in the meantime, whatsoever I may grant unto you shall gladly be granted."
Still suspecting nothing of her falsehood, we were content to give place for a time to her pleasure and pretended reason. Yet we thought expedient to protest somewhat before the dissolution of Parliament; for our Petitions were manifestly known to the whole Assembly, as also that, for the Queen's pleasure, we ceased to pursue the uttermost....
Our protestations were publicly read, and we desired that they should be inserted in the common register; but by labours of enemies that was denied unto us. Nevertheless, the Queen Regent said, "Me will remember what is protested; and me shall put good order after this to all things that now be in controversy." Thus, after she had by craft obtained her purpose, we departed in good hope of her favours, praising God in our hearts that she was so well inclined towards godliness. The good opinion that we had of her sincerity caused us not only to spend our goods and hazard our bodies at her pleasure, but also, by our public letters written to that excellent servant of God, John Calvin, we did praise and commend her for excellent knowledge in God's Word and her good-will towards the advancement of His glory; requiring of him that, by his grave counsel and godly exhortation, he would animate her Grace constantly to follow that which in godly fashion she had begun. We did further sharply rebuke, both by word and writing, all such as appeared to suspect any venom of hypocrisy in her, or were contrary to that opinion which we had conceived of her godly mind.
Treachery of the Regent: the Preachers are summoned.
Suddenly, it became certain that we were deceived in our opinion, and abused by her craft. As soon as all things pertaining to the commodity of France were granted by us, and peace was contracted betwixt King Philip and France, and England and us, she began to spue forth, and disclose the latent venom of her double heart. She began to frown, and to look frowardly upon all such as she knew to favour the Evangel of Jesus Christ. She commanded her household to use all abominations at Easter; and she herself, to give example to others, did communicate with that idol, the Mass, in open audience; she controlled her household, and would know where every one received the Sacrament. It is supposed that after that day the Devil took more violent and strong possession in her than he had before; for, from that day forward, she appeared altogether altered, insomuch that her countenance and acts did declare the venom of her heart.
When, incontinently, the Queen caused our preachers to be summoned, we made intercession for them, beseeching her Grace not to molest them then in their ministry, unless any man were able to convict them of false doctrine. But she could not bridle her tongue from open blasphemy, and proudly said, "In despite of you and of your ministers both, they shall be banished out of Scotland, albeit they preached as truly as ever did St. Paul." This proud and blasphemous answer did greatly astonish us; and yet ceased we not most humbly to seek her favour, and by great diligence at last secured that the summonses should be delayed. Alexander, Earl of Glencairn, and Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudoun, knight, Sheriff of Ayr, were sent to reason with her, and to crave some performance of her manifold promises. To them she answered that it became not the subjects to burden their Princes with promises, further than it pleaseth them to keep these. Both these noblemen faithfully and boldly discharged their duty, and plainly forewarned her of the inconveniences that were to follow. Thereupon, somewhat astonished, she said she would advise.
The Revival at Perth: Fury of the Regent.
In the meantime the town of Perth, called St. Johnston, embraced the truth, and this did provoke her to a new fury; in which she urged the Lord Ruthven, Provost of that town, to suppress all such religion there. He replied that he could make their bodies come to her Grace, and prostrate themselves before her, until she was fully satiate of their blood, but that he could not promise to force them to act against their conscience. In a fury, she said that he was too malapert to give her such answer, and affirmed that both he and they should repent it. She solicited Master John Haliburton, Provost of Dundee, to apprehend Paul Methven, but he, fearing God, gave secret warning to the man to leave the town for a time. At Easter, she sent forth men whom she thought most able to persuade, with commission to induce Montrose, Dundee, St. Johnston, and such other places as had received the Evangel, to communicate with the idol of the Mass; but they had no success. The hearts of many were bent to follow the truth revealed, and did abhor superstition and idolatry.