Immediately it was noised in the town of Edinburgh, that there was murther committed within the King's Palace, wherefore the Provest caused to ring the common bell, or, Sonner le toksain, (as the French speaks,) and straightway past to the Palace, having about four or five hundred men in warlike manner; and as they stood in the utter court, the King called to the Provest, commanding him to pass home with his company, saying, The Queen and he were merry. But the Provest desired to hear the Queen speak her self; whereunto it was answered by the King, "Provest, know you not that I am King? I command you to pass home to your houses;" and immediately they retired.
The next day (which was the second Sunday of our Fast in Edinburgh) there was a proclamation made in the King's name, subscribed with his hand, That all Bishops, Abbots, and other Papists should avoid and depart the town; which proclamation was indeed observed, for they had "a flea in their hose." There were letters sent forth in the King's name, and subscribed with his hand, to the Provest and Bailiffs of Edinburgh, the Bailiffs of Leith and Canongate, commanding them to be ready in armour to assist the King and his company, and likewise other private writings directed to divers Lords and gentlemen, to come with all expedition. In the mean time, the Queen, being above measure enraged, offended, and troubled, as the issue of the matter declared, sometime railing upon the King, and sometime crying out at the windows, desired her servants to set her at libertie; for she was highly offended and troubled.
This same tenth of March, the Earl of Murray, with the rest of the Lords and Noblemen that were with him, having received the King's letter, (for after the Bond, above named, was subscribed, the King wrote unto the banished Lords to return into their countrey, being one of the articles of the said Bond,) came at night to the Abbey, being also convoyed by the Lord Hume, and a great company of the Borderers, to the number of 1000 horses. And first, after he had presented himself to the King, the Queen was informed of his sudden coming, and therefore sent unto him, commanding him to come to her; and he obeying, went to her, who, with a singular gravitie received him, after that he had made his purgation, and declared the over-great affection which he bore continually to her Majestie. The Earles of Athole, Cathnes, and Sutherland, departed out of the town, with the Bishops, upon the Munday, the third day after the slaughter of David Rizio. The Earls of Lenox, Murray, Morton, and Rothes, Lords Ruthven, Lindsay, Boyd, and Ochiltrie, sitting in Councell, desired the Queen, that forasmuch as the thing which was done could not be undone, that she would (for avoiding of greater inconveniences) forget the same, and take it as good service, seeing there were so many Noblemen restored. The Queen dissembling her displeasure and indignation, gave good words, nevertheless she desired, That all persons armed or otherwise, (being within the Palace at that time,) should remove, leaving the Palace void of all, saving only her domestick servants. The Lords being perswaded by the uxorious King, and the facile Earl of Murray, condescended to her desire, who finally, the next morning, two hours before day, past to Seaton, and then to Dumbar, having in her company the simple King, who was allured by her sugred words. From Dumbar immediately were sent pursuivants with letters thorowout the countrey; and especially letters to the Noblemen and Barons, commanding them to come to Dumbar, to assist the King and Queen within five days. In the mean time the Lords being informed of the [Queen's] sudden departure, they were astonished, and knew not what were best for them to do: But because it was the self-same day (to wit, the twelfth day of March) that they were summoned unto; therefore, having good opportunity, they past to the Tolbooth, which was richly hung with tapistry, and adorned, (but not for them,) and set themselves, making protestations, the Earl of Glencarne, and some others being present. The Earl of Argyle, who was written for by the King, came to Lithgow; and being informed of the matter, he remained there.
After this manner above specified, to wit, by the death of David Rizio, the Noblemen were relieved of their trouble, and restored to their places and rooms: And likewise the Church Reformed, and all that professed the Evangell within this Realm, after fasting and prayer, was delivered and freed from the apparent dangers which were like to have fallen upon them; for if the Parliament had taken effect, and proceeded, it was thought by all men of the best judgement, that the true Protestant Religion should have been wrackt, and Popery erected; and for the same purpose, there were certain woodden altars made, to the number of twelve, found ready in the Chappell of the Palace of Halyrud-House, which should have been erected in Saint Gyles his Church.
The Earls Bothwell and Huntley being informed of the King and Queen's sudden departure forth of Edinburgh, came to Dumbar, where they were most graciously received by the Queen's Majesty; who consulting with them and the Master of Maxwell, together with Parson Owin[1119] and Parson Fliske,[1120] chief Councellors, what was best to be done, and how she should be revenged upon the murtherers. At first they did intend to go forward, and leaving no manner of cruelty unpractised, putting to death all such as were suspected: This was the opinion of such as would obey their Queen's rage and fury for their own advantage; but in the end they concluded, that she should come to Edinburgh with all the force and power she could make, and there proceed to justice: and for the same purpose, she caused to summon, by open proclamation, all persons of defence, and all Noblemen and Gentlemen, to come to her in Dumbar incontinent. In the mean time, the Captains laboured by all means to take up, and enroll men and women. The Earles of Morton, Murray, Glencarne, Rothesse, with the rest that were in Edinburgh, being informed of the Queen's fury and anger towards the committers of the slaughter; and perceiving they were not able to make any party, thought it best to give place to her fury for a time; for they were divided in opinions, and finally, departed out of Edinburgh, upon Sunday the seventeenth of March, every one a severall way; for the Queen's Majesty was now bent only against the slayers of David Rizio; and to the purpose she might be the better revenged upon them, she intended to give pardon to all such as before had been attainted, for whatsoever crime.
The eighteenth day of March, the King and Queen came to Edinburgh, having in their company horse and foot to the number of 8000 men; whereof there were four companies of foot-men of war. The Town of Edinburgh went out to meet them, for fear of war. And finally, coming within the town, in most awfull manner they caused to place their men of war within the town, and likewise certain field-pieces against their lodging, which was in the middle of the town, over against the Salt Trone: Now, a little before the Queen's entrance into the town, all that knew of her cruell pretence and hatred towards them, fled here and there, and amongst others, Master James Macgill the Clerk Register, the Justice Clerk, and the common Clerk of the town:[1121] The chief Secretary Lethington was gone before; likewise John Knox past west to Kyle: The men of war likewise kept the ports or gates. Within five days after their entry, there was a proclamation made at the Market-Cross, for the purgation of the King from the aforesaid slaughter; which made all understanding men laugh at the passages of things, since the King not only had given his consent, but also had subscribed the bond afore-named; and the business was done in his name, and for his honour, if he had had wisdom to know it.
After this proclamation, the King lost his credit among all men, and so his friends, by this his inconstancy and weakness. And in the mean time, the men of war committed great outrages in breaking up doors, thrusting themselves into every house: And albeit the number of them were not great, yet the whole town was too little for them. Soon after, the King and Queen past to the Castle, and caused to warn all such as had absented themselves, by open proclamation, to appear before their Majesties and the Privy Councell within six days, under pain of rebellion; which practice was devised in the Earl of Huntley's case, before the battle of Corrichy. And because they appeared not, they were denounced rebells, and put to the horne, and immediately thereafter, their escheats given or taken up by the Treasurer. There was a certain number of the townsmen charged to enter themselves prisoners in the Tolbooth, and with them were put in certain gentlemen: where, after they had remained eight days, they were convoyed down to the Palace by the men of war, and then kept by them eight days more: And of that number was Thomas Scot,[1122] Sheriff-depute of Saint Johnston, who was condemned to death, and executed cruelly, to wit, hanged and quartered, for keeping the Queen in prison, as was alleadged, although it was by the King's command: And two men likewise were condemned to death, and carried likewise to the ladder foot; but the Earl Bothwell presented the Queen's ring to the Provest, which then was justice, for safety of their life. The names of those two were John Mowbray, merchant, and William Harlow, sadler. About the same time, notwithstanding all this hurliburly, the Ministers of the Church and professors of Religion ceased not; as for the people, they convened to publike prayers and preaching with boldness; yea, a great number of Noblemen assisted likewise. The Earl Bothwell had now, of all men, greatest access and familiarity with the Queen, so that nothing of any great importance was done without him; for he shewed favour to such as liked him; and amongst others, to the Lairds of Ormeston, Hawton, and Calder,[1123] who was so reconciled unto him, that by his favour they were relieved of great trouble.
The Earls of Argyle and Murray, at the Queen's command, past to Argyle, where, after they had remained about a month, they were sent for by the Queen; and coming to Edinburgh, they were received by the Queen into the Castle, and banquetted, the Earls of Huntley and Bothwell being present. At this time the King grew to be contemned and disesteemed, so that scarcely any honour was done to him, and his Father likewise.
About Easter, the King past to Sterlin, where he was shriven after the Papist manner: and in the meane time, at the Palace of Halyrud-house, in the Chappell, there resorted a great number to the Masse, albeit the Queen remained still in the Castle, with her Priests of the Chappell Royall, where they used ceremonies after the Popish manner.
At the same time departed this life, Master John Sinclair, Bishop of Rosse [Brechin], and Dean of Restalrig, of whom hath been oft mention, President of the Colledge of Justice, called the Session; who also succeeded in the said office and dignity after the decease of his brother, Master John [Henry] Sinclair, Bishop of Rosse, Dean of Glasgow, who departed this life at Paris, about a year before. They were both learned in the laws, and given to maintain the Popish religion, and therefore great enemies to the Protestants. A little before died Master Abraham Crichton, who had been President likewise.[1124] Now, in their rooms, the Queen placed such as she pleased, and had done her service, (always very unfit.) The patrimony of the Kirk, Bishopricks, Abbeys, and such other Benefices, were disposed by the Queen to courtiers, dancers, and flatterers. The Earl Bothwell, whom the Queen preferred above all others, after the decease of David Rizio, had for his part Melrosse, Hadington, and New Battell; likewise the Castle of Dumbar was given to him, with the principall lands of the Earldom of Merche, which were of the patrimony of the Crown.