Hardships of the Protestant Party: the Soldiers demand their Pay.
By such domestic enemies not only were our purposes frustrated, but also our determinations were often overthrown and changed. The Duke's friends sought to alarm him, and he was greatly troubled; by his fear many others were troubled. The men of war, for the most part men without God or honesty, made a mutiny, because they lacked a part of their wages.... All these troubles were practised by the Queen, and put into execution by the traitors amongst ourselves.... To pacify the men of war, a collection was devised. But, because some were poor and some were niggardly and avaricious, no sufficient sum could be obtained. It was thought expedient that a cunyie[147] should be erected, so that every nobleman might cunyie his silver to supply the immediate necessity. David Forrest, John Hart, and others who before had charge of the Cunyie-house, promised their faithful labours; but, when the matter came to the very point, the said John Hart and others of his faction stole away, and took with them the necessary tools....
Four thousand Crowns are sent from England, and captured by Lord Bothwell.
There now remained no hope that any money could be furnished among ourselves; and therefore it was concluded by a few of those whom we judged most secret that inquiry should be directed to Sir Ralph Sadler, and Sir James Crofts, then having charge at Berwick, to ascertain whether they would support us with any reasonable sum in that urgent necessity. And for that purpose the Laird of Ormiston was directed to them in as secret manner as we could devise. But our counsel was disclosed to the Queen, who appointed the Lord Bothwell, as he himself confessed, to await the return of the said Laird. That he did with all diligence; and, being assuredly informed by what way he would come, the said Earl Bothwell foreset his way, and, coming upon him at unawares, did capture him, and the sum of four thousand crowns of the sun, which Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir James Crofts had most lovingly sent for our support.... The Earl of Arran, the Lord James, the Master of Maxwell, with the most part of the horsemen, took sudden purpose to pursue the said Earl of Bothwell, in the hope that they might apprehend him in Crichton or Morham.... But, albeit the departure and counsel of the Earl of Arran and Lord James was very sudden and secret, the Earl Bothwell, then being in Crichton, received information of this, and so escaped with the money....
The Men of Dundee lose their Guns.
In the absence of the said Lords and horsemen (we mean the same day that they departed, which was the last of October) the Provost and town of Dundee, together with some soldiers, issued from the town of Edinburgh, and carried with them some great ordnance to shoot at Leith.... The French being notified that our horsemen were absent, and that the whole company were at dinner, made a sortie, and with great expedition came to the place where our ordnance was laid. The town of Dundee, with a few others, resisted for a while, with their ordnance as well as hackbuts; but, being left by our ungodly and feeble soldiers, who fled without stroke offered or given, they were compelled to give back, and so to leave the ordnance to the enemies. These pursued the fugitives to the middle of the Canongate, and to the foot of Leith Wynd. Their cruelty then began to discover itself; for the decrepit, the aged, the women and children, found no greater favour in their fury than did the strong man who made resistance.
The ill Results of further Treachery.
It was very apparent that amongst ourselves there was some treason. Upon the first alarm, all men made haste to come to the relief of their brethren, and in very deed we might have saved them, and at least we might have saved the ordnance, and have kept the Canongate from danger; for we were at once marched forward with bold courage. But then a shout was raised amongst ourselves (God will disclose the traitors one day) affirming that the whole French company had entered Leith Wynd at our backs. What clamour and disorder then suddenly arose, we list not to express with multiplication of words. The horsemen and some of those that ought to have maintained order overrode their poor brethren at the entrance of the Nether Bow. The cry of distress arose in the town; the wicked and malignant blasphemed; the feeble (amongst whom was the Justice Clerk, Sir John Bellenden) fled without mercy. With great difficulty could they be kept in at the West Port.... In the meantime, the French retired themselves with our ordnance....
The Cause of the Protestants is in Eclipse.