Ringan Gilhaize, or, The Covenanters
Page 19
CHAPTER XVIII
When my grandfather left the Greyfriars, he went to the lodging of theLord James Stuart, whom he found well instructed of all that had takenplace, which he much marvelled at, having scarcely tarried by the way ingoing thither.
"Now, Gilhaize," said my Lord, "the tidings fly like wildfire, and theQueen Regent, by the spirit that has descended into the hearts of thepeople, will be constrained to act one way or another. John Knox, as youperhaps know, stands under the ban of outlawry for conscience sake. In alittle while we shall see whether he is still to be persecuted. If leftfree, the braird of the Lord, that begins to rise so green over all theland, will grow in peace to a plentiful harvest. But if he is to behunted down, there will come such a cloud and storm as never ragedbefore in Scotland. I speak to you thus freely, that you may report myfrank sentiments to thir noble friends and trusty gentlemen, and say tothem that I am girded for the field, if need be."
He then put a list of several well-known friends of the Reformationayont the frith into my grandfather's hands, adding, "I need not saythat it is not fitting now to trust to paper, and therefore much willdepend on yourself. The confidence that my friend the Earl, your master,has in you, makes me deal thus openly with you; and I may add, that ifthere is deceit in you, Gilhaize, I will never again believe thephysiognomy of man--so go your ways; see all these, wheresoever they maybe,--and take this purse for your charges."
My grandfather accepted the paper and the purse; and reading over thepaper, imprinted the names in it on his memory, and then said--
"My Lord, I need not risk the possession of this paper; but it may benecessary to give me some token by which the lords and lairds thereinmentioned may have assurance that I come from you."
For some time the Lord James made no reply, but stood ruminating, withthe forefinger of his left hand pressing his nether lip; then heobserved,--
"Your request is very needful;" and taking the paper, he mentioneddivers things of each of the persons named in it, which he told mygrandfather had passed between him and them severally, when none otherwas present. "By remembering them of these things," said he, "they willknow that you are in verity sent from me."
Being thus instructed, my grandfather left the Lord James, andproceeding forthwith to the pier of Leith, embarked in the Burntislandferry-boat--and considering with himself, that the farthest way of thosewhom he was missioned to see ought to be the first informed, as thenearer had other ways and means of communion, he resolved to go forwardto such of them as dwelt in Angus and Merns; by which resolution hereached Dundee shortly after the arrival there of the champion of theReformation, John Knox.
This resolution proved most wise and fortunate, for, on landing in thattown, he found a great concourse of the Reformed from the two shiresassembled there, and among them many of those to whom he was speciallysent. They had come to go with their ministers before the Queen Regent'scounsel at Stirling, determined to avow their adherence to the doctrinesof which those pious men were accused. And it being foreseen that, asthey went forward others would join, my grandfather thought he could dono better in his mission than mingle with them, the more especially asJohn Knox was also to be of that great company.
On the day following, they accordingly all set forward towardsPerth,--and they were a glorious army, mighty with the strength of theirgreat ally the Lord of the hosts of heaven. No trumpet sounded in theirmarch, nor was the courageous drum heard among them,--nor the shouts ofearthly soldiery,--nor the neigh of the war-horse,--nor the voice of anycaptain. But they sang hymns of triumph, and psalms of the great thingsthat Jehovah had of old done for his people; and though no banner wasseen there, nor sword on the thighs of men of might, nor spears in thegrasp of warriors, nor crested helmet, nor aught of the panoply ofbattle, yet the eye of faith beheld more than all these, for the hillsand heights of Scotland were to its dazzled vision covered that day withthe mustered armies of the dreadful God: the angels of his wrath intheir burning chariots; the archangels of his omnipotence, calm in theirarmour of storms and flaming fires, and the Rider on the white horse,were all there.
As the people with their ministers advanced, their course was like ariver, which continually groweth in strength and spreadeth its waters asit rolls onward to the sea. On all sides came streams of new adherentsto their holy cause, in so much that when they arrived at Perth it wasthought best to halt there, lest the approach of so great a multitude,though without weapons, should alarm the Queen Regent's government.Accordingly they made a pause, and Erskine of Dun, one of the Lord JamesStuart's friends, taking my grandfather with him, and only two otherservants, rode forward to Stirling to represent to her Highness thefaith and the firmness of the people.
When they arrived, they found the town in consternation. Busy were thebailies, marshalling such of the burgesses as could be persuaded to takeup arms, but all who joined them were feckless aged men, dealers andtraffickers in commodities for the courtiers. Proud was the provost thatday, and a type of the cause for which he was gathering his papisticalremnants. At the sight of Dun and his three followers riding up thestreet to the castle, he was fain to draw out his sword and make asalutation; but it stuck sae dourly in that he was obligated to gar aneof the town-officers hold the scabbard, while he pulled with such mightand main at the hilt, that the blade suddenly broke off, and back hestumbled, and up flew his heels, so that even my grandfather wasconstrained, notwithstanding the solemnity of the occasion, to join inthe shout of laughter that rose thereat from all present. But provostsand bailies, not being men of war, should not expose themselves to suchadversities.
Nor was the fyke of impotent preparation within the walls of the castlebetter. The Queen had been in a manner lanerly with her ladies when thesough of the coming multitude reached her. The French guards had notcome from Glasgow, and there was none of the warlike nobles of thepapistical sect at that time at Stirling. She had therefore reason bothfor dread and panic, when the news arrived that all Angus and Merns hadrebelled, for so it was at first reported.
On the arrival of Dun, he was on the instant admitted to her presence;for she was at the time in the tapestried chamber, surrounded by herpriests and ladies, and many officers, all consulting her according totheir fears. The sight, said my grandfather, for he also went into thepresence, was a proof to him that the cause of the papacy was in thedead-thraws, the judgments of all present being so evidently in a stateof discomfiture and desertion.
Dun going forward with the wonted reverences, the Queen said to himabruptly,--
"Well, Erskine, what is this?"
Whereupon he represented to her, in a sedate manner, that the Reformedministers were not treated as they had been encouraged to hope;nevertheless, to show their submission to those in temporal authorityover them, they were coming, in obedience to the citation, to standtrial.
"But their retinue--when have delinquents come to trial so attended?"she exclaimed eagerly.
"The people, please your Highness," said Dun, with a steadfastness ofmanner that struck every one with respect for him, "the people hold thesame opinions and believe the same doctrines as their preachers, andthey feel that the offence, if it be offence, of which the ministers areaccused, lies equally against them, and therefore they have resolved tomake their case a common cause."
"And do they mean to daunt us from doing justice against seditiousschismatics?" cried her Highness somewhat in anger.
"They mean," replied Dun, "to let your Highness see whether it bepossible to bring so many to judgment. Their sentiment, with one voice,is, Cursed be they that seek the effusion of blood, or war, ordissension. Let us possess the evangile, and none within Scotland shallbe more obedient subjects. In sooth, madam, they hold themselves asguilty of the crime charged as their ministers are, and they will sufferwith them."
"Suffer! Call you rebellion suffering?" exclaimed the Queen.
"They have not yet rebelled," said Dun, calmly; "they come toremonstrate with your Highness first; for, as Christians, they
are lothto draw the sword. They have no arms with them, to the end that no onemay dare to accuse them of any treason."
"It is a perilous thing when subjects," said the Queen, much troubled,"declare themselves so openly against the authority of their rulers."
"It is a bold thing for rulers," replied Dun, "to meddle with theconsciences of their subjects."
"How!" exclaimed the Queen, startled and indignant.
"I will deal yet more plainly with your Highness," said he, firmly."This pretended offence of which the Reformed are accused is not againstthe royal authority. They are good and true subjects, and, by their walkand conversation, bear testimony to the excellence and purity of thosedoctrines for which they are resolved to sacrifice their lives ratherthan submit to any earthly dictation. Their controversies pertain tothings of Christ's kingdom,--it is a spiritual warfare. But the papists,conscious of their weakness in the argument, would fain see yourHighness abandon that impartial justice which you were called of Heavento administer in your great office, and to act factiously on theirside, as if the cause of the Gospel could be determined by the arm offlesh."
"What has brought you here?" exclaimed the Queen, bursting into tears.
"To claim the fulfilment of your royal promises," said Dun, making alowly reverence that by its humility took away all arrogance from theboldness of the demand.
"I will," said she. "I am ever willing to be just, but this rising hasshaken me with apprehensions; therefore, I pray you, Erskine, write toyour brethren; bid them disperse; and tell them from me, that theirministers shall neither be tried nor molested."
At these words, she took the arm of one of her ladies and hastilyretired. Dun also withdrew, and the same hour sent my grandfather backto Perth with letters to the Congregation to the effect of her requestand assurance.
That same evening the multitude broke up and returned to theirrespective homes, rejoicing with an exceeding great joy at so blessed atermination of their weaponless Christian war. Dun, however, distrustingthe influence of some of those who were of the Queen's council, and whohad arrived at the castle soon after my grandfather's departure, did notreturn, as he had intended, next morning to Perth, but resolved to waitover the day of trial; or, at least, until the ministers were absolvedfrom attendance on the summons, either by proclamation or other forms oflaw.