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the immediate and total suppression of Papistry; | plained, she assured them that the measure was but this they only considered as a temporary sacri- necessary for the preservation of her daughter's fice of principle to expediency-as a connivance throne, and that she could not, and would not, which was not to last; and headed by the Earls desist until the lords should dismiss their armed of Argyle, Morton, and Glencairn, the Lord Lorn, men. The Lords of the Congregation had of Erskine of Dun, and others, they formed a gene- course less intention than ever of laying down ral Protestant league, entered privately into the sword-their party was daily increasing, and agreements, and, styling themselves the Lords that of the queen-dowager was as rapidly declinof the Congregation, published a solemn protest ing. At this crisis it seems to have fallen prinagainst the abominations and corruptions of cipally to the preachers to expound the lawfulPopery. Among those who went over to the ness of resistance to constituted authorities; and Lords of the Congregation, was the Earl of Arran, in so doing some of them occasionally broached formerly regent, who had now for some years re- doctrines, which, however sound in themselves, joiced in his French title of Duke of Chatelle- and adopted in later times, were exceedingly rault, and whose religion was of a very elastic odious to all the royal ears of Europe, whether nature. But their principal leader—a man of ex- Catholic or Protestant. But the Scotch Protestraordinary abilities, whatever we may think of tants soon found that the Catholics were still his honour or virtue was James Stuart, prior, powerful-that many, even of their own comor commendator, of the monastery of St. Andrews, munion, disapproved of their extreme measures, a natural son of the late king, the unfortunate and looked upon their conduct as rebellion-that James V., and half-brother of the beautiful the foreign troops were formidable from the exMary Stuart. This man professed a wonderful | cellent state of their discipline and appointments zeal for the new religion, whereby, not less than -that the chief fortresses of the kingdom were by his talents, he attached to himself what was in their hands-that money was pouring in from now most decidedly the popular and the stronger France, and that the Lords of the Congregation party. were, as usual, excessively needy. In this emergency, they resolved to apply for assistance to the Queen of England. Elizabeth was solemnly bound by the recent treaty of Cateau-Cambresis to do nothing in Scotland to the prejudice of Mary's rights and authority; but then Mary, since the signing of that treaty, had behaved disrespectfully to one of Elizabeth's servants; and it was known or shrewdly suspected that the Catholic fanatics, who mainly ruled the councils of the French court, were determined, on the first favourable opportunity, to assert the Scottish queen's rights and strike a blow in England for Mary, God, and church. We will not pretend to say that, if all these provocations had been wanting, Elizabeth would not have adopted precisely the same line of conduct, which was nothing but a drawing out of the old line of Henry VIII, which fell to her as a political heir-loom. When the matter was debated in the English council, there was, however, some difference of opinion, and a strong repugnance on the part of the queen, to what was deemed the anarchical polity of John Knox. The Scottish lords, or rather the great English statesmen who espoused their cause, putting aside the delicate question of rebellion and aiding of rebels, represented that the French were keeping and increasing an army in Scotland, and aiming at nothing less than the entire possession or mastery of the country; that Scotland would only prove a step to England; that when the Protestants there were overpowered. the French and Catholics would undoubtedly try to place Mary Stuart on the throne of England,

At this critical moment the absent Mary Stuart had become Queen of France, a transitory grandeur, which only lasted as it were for a moment, and which tended still further to increase the jealousies of the Scots and to embarrass her friends in her native country. Her father-inlaw, Henry II. of France, had not been very happy since the signing of the (to him) disadvantageous treaty of Cateau-Cambresis, but the immediate cause of his death was an accidental wound in the eye from a broken lance while tilting. He expired on the 10th of July, 1559, in the forty-first year of his age, and was succeeded by his eldest son, the husband of Mary, under the title of Francis II. In this manner the Scots became more and more confirmed in their idea that their country was to be held and treated as a French province or dependence; and hence every Frenchman, every ship, every bale of goods that arrived from France was looked upon with a jealous eye. Nor did Francis and Mary, on their accession to the French throne, neglect to take measures for the re-establishment of the royal power in the northern kingdom. In the end of July, 1000 French soldiers landed at Leith; and that the spiritual interests might not be neglected, Francis and Mary sent with these menat-arms a certain number of orthodox divines from the Sorbonne. With these reinforcements, and giving out that more were coming, the queenregent took possession of Leith and quartered the odious Papistical and foreign soldiers on the townspeople. When the citizens of Leith com

and renew the tyranny of Mary Tudor; that the | Scotland. Sir Ralph soon reported progress to safety of the queen, the state, the church, the the cool and circumspect Cecil, telling him that liberty of England, depended essentially on the if the Lords of the Congregation were properly turn which affairs might take in Scotland.' The encouraged and comforted, there was no doubt correctness of these views was undeniable, and as to the result. On his arrival at Berwick he it was therefore resolved to support the Protes- had found in that town a secret messenger sent tant nobility in their struggle with the queen- from Knox to Sir James Croft (who appear to regent; but with such secrecy as neither to bring have been old friends), and by means of this upon the Lords of the Congregation the odium of messenger they signified to Knox that they wished being the friends and pensioners of England, nor that Mr. Henry Balnaves, or some other discreet to engage Elizabeth in an open war with her and trusty Scotsman, might repair "in secret sister and rival. Elizabeth had not far to look manner" to such place as they had appointed, to for an agent competent to manage this business: the intent that they might confer touching affairs. our old friend Sir Ralph Sadler, who knew Scot-Sir James Croft had understood from Knox that land better than any Englishman, who had been in old times the bosom friend of the Scottish lords in the pay of Henry VIII., many of whom figured in the new movements, had quitted his rural retirement at Hackney on the accession of her present majesty, who had forth with appointed him to a seat in her privy council. He was full of energy, and he entered on his new duties with a happy anticipation of success. In the course of the month of August, Cecil issued a commis, sion to Sir Ralph to settle certain disputes concerning Border matters, and to superintend the repairs which it was proposed to make in the fortifications of Berwick and other English fortresses on or near to the Borders. Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and Sir James Croft, the governor of Berwick, were joined in the commission, but more for form than for anything else; for Northumberland, as a Papist himself, was suspected-and the whole business was, in fact, intrusted to Sadler. The repairs which were actually begun on a large scale at Berwick seemed a very sufficient reason to account for Sadler's protracted stay; and Elizabeth had "thought necessary to provoke the queen-regent, her good sister, to appoint some of her ministers of like qualities to meet with the said earl (Northumberland) and the said Sir Ralph and Sir James." Sadler was thus brought into contact with Scottish commissioners, whom he was instructed to bribe. By his private powers and instructions, in Cecil's hand-writing, he was authorized to confer, treat, or practise with any manner of person of Scotland, either in Scotland or England, for his purposes and the furthering of the queen's service; to distribute money to the disaffected Scots, as he should think proper, to the amount of £3000, but he was always to proceed with such discretion and secrecy, that no part of his doings should awaken suspicion or impair the peace lately concluded between Elizabeth and

Memorial written by my lord-treasurer (Cecil) with his own band, 5th August, 1559; Sadler's State Papers: Raumer.

* Walter Scott's Biographical Memoir of Sir Ralph Sadler, prefred to the State Papers and Letters of Sir Ralph Sadler, Knight Bannera, edited by Arthur Clifford.

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his party would require aid of the queen's majesty for the entertainment and wages of 1500 arquebusiers and 300 horsemen, which, if they might have, then France (as Knox said) should “soon understand their minds." To this demand for aid, Sadler had so answered as not to leave them without hope: but he is anxious "to understand the queen's majesty's pleasure in that part, wishing, if it may be looked for that any good effect shall follow, that her majesty should not, for the spending of a great deal more than the charge of their demand amounteth unto, pretermit such an opportunity." But it was money, ready money, that the Scottish Reformers needed. "And to say our poor minds unto you," continues Sir Ralph, "we see not but her highness must be at some charge with them; for of bare words only, though they may be comfortable, yet can they receive no comfort." This letter was written on the 20th of August (1559), immediately after Sadler's arrival at the scene of intrigue, and on the same day John Knox was requested to send his secret agent to Holy Isle. By a letter dated on the 24th of the same month, Elizabeth told Sadler that he should immediately deal out "in the secretest manner" the money committed to him at his departure from London, "to such persons and to such intents as might most effectually further and advance that service which had been specially recommended unto him." And on the same day Cecil addressed to Arran, or Chatellerault, a much more remarkable letter, which it should appear Sir Ralph was to forward to its destination. From some expressions used by Cecil, it should almost seem that Elizabeth entertained the notion of uniting the two kingdoms under her own dominion, without any reference to the rights of Mary; but the Scottish nation was certainly not prepared for any such measure, nor did the fastest pace of the Lords of the Congregation come up with it. On the 28th of August the Queen-regent of Scotland, in the name of Francis and Mary, King and Queen of the French and Scots, appointed Scottish commissioners to treat with Sadler and Northumberland for the

settlement of the Border disputes, the release of prisoners on both sides, and the establishing a sound and lasting tranquillity on the frontiers of the two kingdoms, the seat of ancient and fierce enmities. These commissioners were the infamous James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, who, a few years later, involved Queen Mary in disgrace and destruction; Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, father of the celebrated secretary of Mary; and Sir Walter Car, or Ker, of Cessford, ancestor of the Dukes of Roxburgh. Sir Ralph Sadler thought fit to postpone the meeting to the 11th of September, and the Scottish commissioners do not appear to have been sensible of the fact that, in the meanwhile, those of England were actively corresponding with the insurgents. Great caution was used in that matter. In conformity with Cecil's advice, a comfortable letter was drawn up between Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir James Croft to the Lords of the Congregation, expressing their hearty sorrow at understanding that their godly enterprise, tending principally to the advancement of God's glory, and next to the safeguard and defence of their natural country from the conquest of the French nation, should be unfortunately stayed and interrupted.' But this letter was not sent to its destination; and it seems to have been stopped in consequence of the journey into Scotland of the son and heir of the Duke of Chatellerault, who had been in England in close conference with Cecil, by means of whom the necessary encouragement might be transmitted to the insurgents by word of mouth, thus diminishing the chance of committing Queen Elizabeth as a fomenter of the rebellion.

The ex-regent's son, who at this time bore his father's former title of Earl of Arran, stole into Scotland with an English pass, under the assumed name of Monsieur de Beaufort, and he was accompanied by Master Thomas Randall, or Randolph, an able and intelligent agent of Queen Elizabeth, an adept in secret intrigues, who assumed, for the nonce, the name of Barnyby.' This Randall, or Randolph, alias Barnyby, remained a considerable time in Scotland, being in fact the resident envoy of Elizabeth to the Lords of the Congregation. He occasionally corresponded directly with the queen's council, but more generally with Sir R. Sadler. On the 8th of September, three days before the appointed meeting with the commissioners of the Queen-regent of Scotland, Sadler wrote to inform Cecil that Mr. Balnaves had at last arrived at midnight from the Lords of the Congregation, and had made him "the whole discourse of all their proceedings from the beginning." English money and promises had worked

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the desired effect; the Lords of the Congregation were encouraged to strike another blow.

In an armistice concluded at the Links of Leith on the 24th of the preceding month of July, it was covenanted-1. That the town of Edinburgh should use what religion they pleased. 2. That no one should be prosecuted for religion. 3. That no garrison should be placed in Edinburgh. A dispute arose concerning the possession of the high church of St. Giles' in Edinburgh, which the queen-regent desired to retain for the exercise of the Catholic worship, and which the Reformers were equally eager to occupy. But, in fact, John Knox was determined to drive the Romish clergy from every church, from every altar, whether public or private, and thus, immediately after the agreement of the Links of Leith, he extended his demands, insisting that mass should not be said even within the precincts of the palace of Holyrood. Sadler granted the Lords of the Congregation for the present £2000, telling their envoy, that if they made a good use of it, and kept the secret, and the queen's honour untouched, they should soon have more. Balnaves returned well satisfied to the Lords of the Congregation, who took the money as secretly as possible. In the same long letter, in which he reports all that had passed with Balnaves, Sir Ralph informs Cecil that there were other Scot tish Protestants, as Kirkaldy of Grange, Ormeston, and Whitlaw, "which have spent much for this matter, whereof they be earnest prosecutors; and, having lost fifteen or sixteen months' pay, which they should now have had out of France,” looked for some relief, and had been put in some hope thereof; "but," continues Sadler, "because we have been so liberal of the queen's purse, albeit it pleased her majesty to commit the same to the discretion of me the said Sir Ralph, yet we would be glad to know how her highness liketh or misliketh what we have done before we do any more." Elizabeth was obliged to send down more money to Berwick, some of which was paid to Kirkaldy, Ormeston, and Whitlaw, and some, it should appear, to the Earl of Arran, the son of the Duke of Chatellerault the ex-regent. In a day or two Arran was safely delivered in Teviotdale to one of his friends, who undertook to convey him surely and secretly to his father in the castle of Hamilton; and it appears to have been after this return of his son that the ex-regent fully declared for the Lords of the Congregation. Meanwhile, on the ap pointed day, Sadler, with Croft and the Earl of Northumberland, met the commissioners of the queen-regent upon the frontiers. A dispute about the wording of their respective commissions consumed some time, and then, with proper diplomatic slowness, Sadler proceeded to business-a

business which, like all Border disputes, could be of the chief port and entrance into that part of lengthened ad infinitum. During these discus- Scotland;" and the Lords of the Congregation sions Knox sent his preachers over the country; attempted to get possession of Edinburgh Castle, the queen-regent "fell into a great melancholy in which, however, they were defeated by Lord and displeasure;" the Congregation began to as- Erskine the governor, who professed to observe semble, and the Frenchmen began to devise means neutrality between the contending parties, and for their own defence. Had she but known half refused to admit either Protestants or Catholics. the intrigues that were at work, the queen-regent In spite of all the precaution of the English had good reason to be melancholy. Her secre- queen and the marvellous address of her agent, tary, William Maitland, wrote to Sadler's asso- Mary's mother was not altogether blind to what ciate, Sir James Croft, desiring him to have no was passing, and she complained, through her less good opinion of him than heretofore, and commissioners, that, without her license and offering his service to the queen's majesty (Eliza- knowledge, many of the Scottish insurgents were beth) in anything that he could: "and further," allowed to pass through England into Scotland. says Croft in a joint letter, "he sent me word that and also out of Scotland into England, to work he attended upon the regent in her court no longer mischief to her government. It is indeed certain. than till he might have good occasion to revolt that the Cardinal of Lorraine, and others who unto the Protestants." At the same time, how-directed the councils of that very youthful couple, ever, more troops arrived from France, and more French money was placed at the disposal of the queen-regent and her party. John Knox was greatly alarmed as to the French money, and he immediately besought Elizabeth to counteract its dangerous effects to the Protestant interests by sending more English money into Scotland. On his recent return from Geneva through England he had had an interview with Cecil, and evidently had arranged beforehand the plan of his operations. He corresponded afterwards with the English secretary and others in England; and on the 21st of September, under the feigned name of John Sinclear, he wrote to Sadler's colleague, Croft, a remarkable letter from St. Andrews. After mentioning the return of the younger Arran, and how the Lords of the Congregation had departed for Stirling to join him and his father, the Duke of Chatellerault, at Hamilton Castle, he passed at once to the question of money, and told Mr. Secretary that unless more money was sent, especially for some chiefs whom he had named in writing, it would be impossible for them to serve in this action.?

would have made Francis and Mary quarter the English arms under any circumstances; but notwithstanding this, Elizabeth, with reference to her own conduct, could not justly allege that the first provocation to their mortal quarrel proceeded from Mary. It is almost idle to consider this as a moral question, or as an affair directed personally by the two rival princesses; but as many writers have viewed it in this light, it may be proper to make prominent one or two little facts. Mary was only in her seventeenth year, her husband was nearly a year younger, and both were entirely guided by others. Elizabeth was in her twenty-sixth year, the mistress of her own council and actions, an experienced and most competent person. If, therefore, a false and unfair direction was given to the policy of Mary, it was her misfortune, or an offence for which morally she was not accountable, but in Elizabeth such a thing would be her own crime.

The ex- Regent Chatellerault took occasion openly to declare himself on the French fortifying Leith, and he told the queen-regent that she must either dislodge them, or be sure that the Those who take the least favourable view of nobility of Scotland would not suffer nor endure the character of John Knox can hardly suspect it. The regent replied that it was surely as that he wanted money for himself, but he knew lawful for her daughter to fortify where she the world and the mercenary character of most pleased in her own realm as it was for him, the of the Scottish chiefs; and, besides, the sinews of duke, to build fortifications for himself at Hamilwar appear really to have been wanting, and the ton Castle, and that she would not remove the Catholic party, as we have seen, were drawing French from Leith unless she were compelled by funds from France. For a time it was a struggle force. As soon as these matters were known at of the purse between England and France. Eli- Berwick, where agents and spies were constantly zabeth, at all times parsimonious, was at the pre-going and coming, Sadler wrote a short but sensent poor and embarrassed, and yet, under the tentious letter to his old acquaintance the duke, wise guidance of Cecil and Sadler, she continued assuring his grace that if it might lie in so poor to send gold down to Berwick. Meanwhile the a man as he was to do his grace any service, he French fortified Leith, as if "intending to keep should find him most willing and ready thereto, themselves within that place, and so to be masters to the uttermost of his power at all times. The duke and the Lords of the Congregation suppressed the abbeys of Paisley, Kilwinning, and

Knox had arrived in Scotland only on the 2d of May of this present year, 1559. 2 Sadler, Papers.

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making in that country against Scotland, with earnest advice to the lords to seek aid of England; “which letter," adds the adroit agent, "I guess to savour too much of Knox's style to come from France, though it will serve to good purpose."

Dunfermline, burning all the images, idols, and Popish stuff in the same, and by means of Alexander Whitlaw, a godly man and most affectionate to England," they assured Sadler that they would take the field after harvest against the French-only they wanted some more money, without which they should not be able to keep their The queen-regent by this time had conveyed men together. At the same time Knox sued all her property out of Holyroodhouse and Edinagain for relief for certain Scottish leaders whom burgh, into Leith. At last, the Lords of the he would not name, but whom Sadler set down Congregation, with the Duke of Chatellerault, as the Earl of Glencairn, the Lairds of Dun, Or- and his son the Earl of Arran, at their head, meston, and Grange, and Alexander Whitlaw. La marched upon the capital: the regent, with the Brosse and the Bishop of Amiens had arrived with French and the Scottish lords of the Catholic party a few troops at Leith, and more were expected. who yet adhered to her, withdrew at their apIn this posture of affairs Sadler recommended the proach within the fortified lines of Leith, there immediate spending of £4000 or £5000, which to await aid from France. The lords called a he thought might save the queen's highness a parliament, and summoned to Edinburgh all the great deal another way. While they were get- gentlemen living upon the Borders, upon pain of ting ready this money in England the regent treason in case of non-attendance. On the 22d wrote to the duke, reproving him for joining of October Balnaves reported that all hope of with the Lords of the Congregation, and accusing concord had that day been taken away, by reason him and the said lords of their practices with that blood had been drawn largely on both sides.' Queen Elizabeth. At the same time the regent At the same time he pressed for more money, and spoke of a new agreement, offering to leave off asked for some English gunpowder. Two days fortifying Leith, to secure liberty for all men to after, the Lords of the Congregation themselves use their conscience, and to send the French out addressed Sadler, telling him that they had deof Scotland by a certain day; but the duke an- prived the queen-regent of her authority, by swered that he could do nothing without the common consent of all the lords and barons preLords of the Congregation. The sum of £3000 sent at Edinburgh-that they had openly proin French coin was down at Berwick by the 10th claimed her deprivation, had inhibited her offi of October; and from Berwick it soon found its cers from executing anything in her name, and way into the pockets of the Lords of the Congrehad further denounced "her French and assisgation; but still those chiefs were slow in taking tants" as enemies to the commonwealth. Touchthe field; and Sadler, through Thomas Randolph, ing the lords' request for more money and for alias Barnyby, told them that they ought to be gunpowder, Sadler replied that he trusted they more diligent in this great and weighty business. would consider secrecy above all things-that he A few days afterwards Sir Ralph was still more did not see how he could send them powder pressing, telling the Lords of the Congregation without an open show and manifestation of Elithat they ought "to take their time while they, zabeth as an enemy to the French, who were have it, and thereby prevent the malice of their then in peace and amity with her: and yet he enemies." Randolph, who was moving about adds, if they can devise which way the same may with the Scottish lords, assured Sadler that some- be secretly conveyed unto them, in such sort as thing would be done presently, for the queen- it could not be known to come from England, he regent had set forth her proclamation, and the could be well content that they had as much Lords of the Congregation had also set forth their gunpowder as might be spared from Berwick proclamation "as vehement on the other side, conveniently. And likewise for money, he was with full determination to fall to no composition." | in good hope of having some to send them soon, By this time continual vexation and alarm had but he prayed that they would use such precau broken the health of Mary of Guise. "Some," tions and mysteries as the importance of the writes Randolph, "think that the regent will matter and the honour of Queen Elizabeth redepart secretly; some that she will to Inch- quired, and be more close and secret in their keith, for that three ships are a-preparing. doings and conferences. Knox, who could rea Some say that she is very sick: some say the devil cannot kill her." In the same secret despatch, which, like most of the rest, was written in a cipher, Randolph says that the prior of St. Andrews has just sent to the Earl of Arran a powerful letter said to be received out of France, containing many news of the great preparations,

1 This blood was drawn in skirmishes outside of the works of Leith. Knox, in his history, says that there was skirmishing, but without great slaughter.

In praising himself, Balnaves seems to cast a reflection on his colleagues. He tells Randolph to assure their bonours, the English commissioners, in his name, that the little money he

had brought with him had gone farther than £5000 would have gone intrusted to anybody else.

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