TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Introductory Note v Table of Contents ix

BOOK FIRST: 1422-1558.

Early persecutions, 1. Paul Craw: A.D. 1431, 1. The Lollards of Kyle: 1494, 2. Archbishop James Beaton, 4. The Coming of Patrick Hamilton, 5. Persecution of Hamilton, 6. His martyrdom, 7. Questionings arise, 8. Friar William Arth speaks out, 8. The abuse of God's curse, 9. False miracles, 10. Friar Alexander Seton preaches the Evangel, 11. His apology, 12. His persecution, 13. Persecution flags, 13. The Reformation in England, 14. Scots Reformers abroad, 15. Persecution revived: 1534, 15. David Stratoun and his teind fish, 16. The conversion of Stratoun, 16. Martyrdom of Stratoun and Gourlay, 17. The true light spreads: Cardinal David Beaton notwithstanding, 17. The Reformation in Court and cloisters, 18. Friar Kyllour and others go to the stake: February 1538, 18. The trial of Friar Russell and Friar Kennedy, 18. They are burned, 20. The bigotry of James V., 20. God speaks to him, 20. George Buchanan: his arrest and escape, 21. The broken tryst, 22. War with England: 1542, 23. Halden Rig, 23. Fala Raid, 24. The Lords plot against the courtiers, 24. The English army retires, 25. The courtiers and priests plot against the Lords, 25. "An answer worthy of a prince," 26. Solway Moss: how it began, 27. The rout of Solway Moss, 29. The blow falls on the King, 31. The birth of Mary Stuart, 32. The death of James V., 32. The Cardinal claims the regency, 33. The Earl of Arran is proclaimed Regent, 34. Thomas Williams and John Rough preach, in despite of the Friars, 35. Edinburgh drowned in superstition, 35. Liberty to read the Scriptures is demanded, 36. An open Bible is secured, 37. The Bible becomes fashionable, 37. King Harry suggests the betrothal of Queen Mary to Prince Edward, 38. The contract of marriage is adjusted and ratified, 38. The Papists refuse to acknowledge the contract, 39. They turn the tables, 40. The Abbot and the Cardinal next threaten the Regent, 41. The Regent breaks faith with England and receives absolution, 42. King Harry remonstrates without avail, 42. War is declared by King Harry, 43. The revolt of the Earl of Lennox, 43. Cardinal Beaton stirs up strife betwixt his enemies, 44. The fight for the provostship of Perth, 45. Treachery of the Cardinal, 46. The persecution at Perth, 47. The English invade Scotland, and sack Edinburgh and Leith, 48. France comes to the aid of Cardinal Beaton, 51. John Hamilton, Abbot of Paisley, 51. George Wishart comes to Scotland, 52. He is driven from Dundee, 52. Goes to Kyle, 53. The plague comes to Dundee: Wishart returns, 54. The Cardinal attempts to assassinate him at Dundee, 55. Further treachery of the Cardinal, 56. The agony of Wishart, 57. He arrives in Leith, 58. For safety he is removed to the Lothians: preaches at Inveresk, 59. He goes to Haddington, 60. John Knox's first appearance, 60. The last sermon of Wishart: his arrest, 61. He is betrayed into the hands of the Cardinal, 62. The bishops and clergy are convoked to the trial of Wishart, 62. A merry tale of the Cardinal and Archbishop Dunbar, 63. Pilate and Herod patch the quarrel, 64. Wishart before the Cardinal's tribunal, 65. The Sub-prior preaches on heresy, 66. A fed sow accuses and curses Wishart, 67. His oration in reply to his accusers, 67. He is brought to the stake, 78. Vengeance on the Cardinal is vowed, 80. Assassination of Cardinal Beaton: 29th May 1546, 82. The reforming party is besieged in the Castle of St. Andrews, 83. A treacherous truce, 83. John Rough resumes preaching, 84. John Knox comes to the Castle of St. Andrews, 84. He is called to the office of preacher, 85. He denounces the Roman Kirk: his challenge, 86. The first public sermon of John Knox is made in the Parish Kirk of St. Andrews, 87. The people comment on Knox's sermon against Papistry, 89. He is called on to defend his doctrine, 90. Signs follow his ministry: the backsliding of Sir James Balfour, 96. The Regent and the Queen-Dowager violate the Appointment: a French army comes to their aid, 96. The Castle is stormed, and surrenders upon terms, 98. The company of the Castle are carried to France, and cast into prison and the galleys, 99. The Papists rejoice, and the Regent receives the Pope's thanks, 99. The Duke of Somerset invades Scotland, 100. The Battle of Pinkie Cleuch, 100. The Parliament at Haddington: Queen Mary is sold to France, 104. The siege of Haddington, 105. The French fruits: arrogance of the French soldiery, 105. The Scots prisoners in France, and their deliverance, 107. John Knox prophesies of himself: his confidence in God's deliverance, 109. John Knox in England, and on the Continent, 111. Haddington proves the truth of Wishart's foreboding, 112. Peace proclaimed (April 1550): the Papists resume persecution, 113. The faithful testimony and martyrdom of Adam Wallace, 113. The Duke is deposed, and the Queen-Dowager is made Regent (1554), 115. The death and virtues of Edward VI., 116. The superstitious cruelty of Mary of England, and of the Queen Regent, 117. Knox follows William Harlaw and John Willock to Scotland, 117. The good testimony of Elizabeth Adamson, Mistress Barron, 118. John Knox argues that the Mass is idolatry, 119. He preaches in different parts, and administers the Lord's Table, 120. He is summoned to answer for his doctrine: the Diet abandoned, 121. He is recalled to Geneva, and leaves the realm: he is burned in effigy, 122. The Regent declares war on England: the nobles decline to move, 122. The Evangel begins to flourish in Scotland, 123. Images are stolen, and the prelates practise with the Regent, 123. The downcasting of Saint Giles's image, and discomfiture of Baal's priests, 125. The Dean of Restalrig, hypocrite, begins to preach, 127. The recall of Knox, 128. The Lords of the Congregation make a covenant, 130. The Earl of Argyll promotes the cause of the Reformed Kirk, 132. The bishops make a feeble show of reformation, 132. The Regent practises for grant of the crown-matrimonial to the King of France, 133. The Parliament of October 1558: the crown-matrimonial is granted, 134.

BOOK SECOND: 1558-1559.

The preface to the second book, 135. The consciences of judges, lords, and rulers are awakened, 136. The office of elder is instituted, and the Privy Kirk is founded, 137. John Willock preaches: formal steps towards a public reformation are taken, 137. The first oration and petition of the Protestants of Scotland to the Queen Regent, 138. The Papists brag of disputation: the Articles of Reconciliation, 141. Persecution at St. Andrews: Walter Myln is burned, 142. The Protestants appeal to Parliament, 143. The Regent makes large promises of protection and reform, 145. Treachery of the Regent: the preachers are summoned, 146. The revival at Perth: fury of the Regent, 147. Knox returns from France, and joins the Protestants at Perth, 148. The mob wreck the churches and destroy the monasteries in Perth, 149. The Queen rages, and stirs up the nobility, 151. The Protestants prepare for a struggle for liberty of conscience, 153. The rival forces are arrayed outside Perth, 154. Commissioners are sent by the Queen: interview with John Knox: May 1559, 154. The nobility of the West-land march to the aid of Perth: the Regent takes fright, 156. Another Appointment is patched up: 28th May 1559, 157. The Lords and the Congregation make a fresh covenant, 158. The Regent enters Perth, and at once breaks faith with the Congregation, 159. The Earl of Argyll abandons the Regent and declines to return, 159. The Archbishop of St. Andrews interdicts Knox from preaching, 160. Knox declines to obey the dictates of the Archbishop, 160. He preaches at St. Andrews once more: the monuments of idolatry are cast down, 161. The Regent declares war: the forces of the Congregation are called out, 162. The affair of Cupar Moor: the Regent sues for an armistice, 162. Once more the Regent breaks faith, 163. The relief of Perth, 164. The sack of the Abbey and Palace of Scone, 164. The forces of the Congregation take possession of Stirling and Edinburgh, 165. The Congregation renew peaceable overtures to the Regent, 166. Death of Harry Second, King of France, 169. The Regent again takes up arms against the Congregation, 169. Edinburgh Castle supports the Regent: Appointment made at Leith, 170. The Congregation invoke the aid of England, 170. John Willock braves the fury of the Regent, and continues to minister to the kirk in Edinburgh, 171. The citizens decline to permit popish ceremonies to be renewed in the High Kirk, 171. The Regent restores the Mass at Holyrood, persecutes the Reformed clergy, and seeks to embroil the Protestants with the French, 172. She receives reinforcements of troops from France, 173. A convention is held at Stirling: 10th September 1559, 174. The Lords of the Congregation agree to take up arms against the French invasion, 174. The protests of the Congregation are scornfully rejected, 175. The Congregation convene at Edinburgh: they agree to depose the Regent, 175. The first siege of Leith is commenced: traitors hinder the Protestants, 177. Hardships of the Protestant party; the soldiers demand their pay, 177. Four thousand crowns are sent from England, and captured by Lord Bothwell, 178. The men of Dundee lose their guns, 178. The ill results of further treachery, 179. The cause of the Protestants is in eclipse, 179. Maitland of Lethington joins the Lords of the Congregation, 180. The retreat from Edinburgh, 181. John Knox preaches at Stirling: a notable sermon on the discipline of Providence, 181.

BOOK THIRD: 1559-1561.

The Regent possesses Edinburgh: Arran is proclaimed traitor, 185. French reinforcements meet with disaster, 185. News from England: a waiting game is played, 186. The French invade Fife, 186. An affair at Pettycur, 186. The French occupy Kinghorn, 187. John Knox preaches at Cupar, 187. The campaign in Fife, 188. An English fleet arrives in the Forth, 190. The French retire on Edinburgh, 190. A greedy Frenchman dies in a beef-tub, 191. The negotiations between the Congregation and the English Court, 191. Cecil's letter to Knox, 193. Reply of Knox to Secretary Cecil, 194. A practical response, 195. Knox reproaches the Lords for slackness and thoughtlessness, 196. After the French retreat from Fife, 199. At Berwick the Lords made a contract with England, 200. Principal clauses of the treaty of Berwick, 200. The Regent lays waste the country, 202. Second siege of Leith: April 1560, 204. The assault upon Leith is unsuccessful, 206. Sir James Crofts is blamed, 207. The siege is continued: illness of the Queen Regent, 208. The Regent expresses repentance, and receives godly instruction, 208. Death of the Queen Regent, 209. Peace with France is concluded, 209. The English army is withdrawn, with honours, 210. Public thanksgiving in St. Giles's Kirk, 210. Preachers and Superintendents are appointed, 212. The first Protestant Parliament, 212. John Knox preaches, and reformation is agreed upon, 213. The Protestants petition Parliament, 213. Parliament calls for The Confession of Faith, 214. The Confession of Faith is considered by Parliament, and solemnly ratified, 214. The Mass is prohibited, 216. Queen Mary and the King of France do not ratify the Acts of Parliament, 216. The Book of Discipline, 217. The House of Guise and the Papists design further trouble, 217. Death of the King of France: 5th December 1560, 218. Queen Elizabeth declines the hand of the Earl of Arran, 218. A public debate concerning the Mass, 219. Lord James Stewart is sent to Queen Mary, 221. An embassy from France, 221. Lord James has a narrow escape from the Papists, 222. Messages from the Queen, 223. Queen Mary's relations with Queen Elizabeth, 223.

BOOK FOURTH: 1561-1564.

No dregs of Papistry left in the Reformed Church of Scotland, 225. This Book tells of declension, 226. The arrival of Mary, Queen of Scots: a distressing omen, 226. The Mass is restored at Holyrood, 227. The Council tolerates the Mass at Court, 228. The Earl of Arran protests, 229. The Protestants are beguiled, 229. John Knox preaches against the Queen's Mass, 230. He reasons with the Queen, 230. No results follow the Queen's conference with Knox, 237. The prodigality of Edinburgh, 238. The Magistrates of Edinburgh are imprisoned and deposed, 238. The Mass is restored, 239. Lord James Stewart is sent to the Borders, 240. The behaviour of the Queen, 240. The influence of the Court is felt in the Kirk, 241. The ministers reproach the defaulting lords, 242. Discussion concerning The Book of Discipline, 243. The barons sue for public order in regard to ecclesiastical benefices, 244. The Council agrees to divide the patrimony of the Kirk, 244. The modification of stipends, 245. Secretary Lethington gets his answer, 246. Lord James Stewart created Earl of Mar: his marriage, 247. Disorderly conduct of Earl Bothwell and others, 248. Plots against the Earl of Moray, 250. Earl Bothwell speaks with John Knox, 250. The reconciliation of the Earl of Arran and the Earl Bothwell, 251. The Earl of Arran suspects treachery, 252. The frenzy of the Earl of Arran, 254. John Knox reproves the Queen, 255. He is summoned before the Queen, 255. He states his views concerning the behaviour of Princes, 255. Of dancing, 257. The Queen negotiates with England, 258. The King of Sweden proposes marriage to Queen Mary, 259. The Queen and the Earl of Moray, 259. The General Assembly: June 1562, 259. The supplication to the Queen, 259. Secretary Lethington objects to the terms of the supplication, 264. The Queen visits the North: Papist intrigues, 265. John Knox warns the Protestants, 266. A bond is again subscribed, 267. The result of John Knox's labours in the South, 267. The Abbot of Crossraguel and Knox, 268. The revolt of the Earl of Huntly, 268. Of the Earl of Huntly, 269. The Queen's relations with the Earl of Moray, 269. Rumours concerning the Queen's marriage, 270. The Queen and Earl Bothwell, 270. The preachers admonish the courtiers, 270. The General Assembly: 25th December 1562, 271. The Protestants deal with idolaters and the Mass, 272. Queen Mary and John Knox at Lochleven, 273. John Knox writes to the Earl of Argyll, 276. The Massmongers are tried: 19th May 1563, 276. Parliament of May 1563, 277. Queen Mary's influence: "Vox Dianae," 277. Reformation is hindered by personal interests, 278. John Knox breaks with the Earl of Moray, 278. Inept legislation, 279. John Knox preaches a faithful sermon to the Lords, 279. Papists and Protestants take offence: Knox is summoned by the Queen, 281. Lethington's return: his worldly wisdom displayed, 284. The Queen retains observance of the Mass, 285. The death of Lord John of Coldingham, 285. Massmongers at Holyrood take fright, 286. The Papists devise mischief, 287. John Knox's letter to the brethren: 8th October 1563, 287. He is betrayed, 289. He is accused of high treason, 290. The Lord Advocate gives his opinion, 291. The Earl of Moray and Secretary Lethington reason with John Knox, 292. Knox is brought before the Queen and Privy Council, 293. He is tried for high treason, 293. The verdict of the Privy Council, 299. The displeasure of the Queen, 300. The General Assembly: December 1563, 301. John Knox demands the judgment of his brethren, 301. His acquittal by the General Assembly, 302. Signs of God's displeasure, 302. Lavish entertainments at Court, 303. The Queen's broken promises, 303. Secretary Lethington defies the servants of God, 304. The courtiers and the Kirk, 304. The courtiers rouse John Knox: he preaches concerning idolatry, 305. The General Assembly: June 1564, 306. The Protestant courtiers maintain an independent position, 307. Secretary Lethington defines the attitude of the lords of the Court, 308. The disputation between John Knox and the Secretary, 309.