you opinion of some alteration in us from that good course which we have taken, we have thought meetest to prevent it by our own letter; simply to let you understand how it fell out, on what occasion, and what is the effect intended thereof. Upon the 27th of June last, having appointed a convention of our nobility and council here in our city of Saint Andrew's, of intention to have acquainted them of the answer lately returned to us from you by our late ambassador, minding to have procured their approbation and liking of them, and being come to that effect, we were advertised that some specially of our nobility divided in particularity among themselves, had trusted their friends and dependents to accompany them in arms to our said presence, where being disposed (as they were indeed) likely to draw on our whole nobility, convened in two factions. We, seeing the event of it, and understanding their evil design to us, were advised by so many of our council as were present for the time, to withdraw us to our castle of our said city, where our person might be in best surety, till some good order might be taken for removing the inconvenience appearing to ensue thereof. This is our only meaning and intent on this behalf; assuring you that, in so doing, neither mind we to control nor remove any of our nobility or others, that have my good brother, in my name, in order that he may be pleased, necessity requiring it, to assist my son for his preservation and for the support of the good party which is now about him."-Letter of Queen Mary, July 15th. faithfully given their dependence on us heretofore, nor pre-judge them in their honours, lives, nor living in any sort, except they give us special occasion hereafter to the contrary; wherewith always we mind to make you first acquainted, before we proceed against them, and always to conform us to your good advice and counsel in that behalf; it being our special meaning and intention to use all our good subjects indifferently, 2 and to grant them equally access unto our presence, except so many as are debarred therefrom, whom we intend not to call again unto us, without your special consent and privity ; nor do in any sort whereby you may conceive jealousy of any our actions or proceedings. But, as you possess most deservedly our special liking and good will before all princes in the world, so mean we to continue to you, and afauldly to follow forth that good course which we have both professed, sincerely and solemnly promised to you by our former letters. And whereas heretofore it hath been liked of but by ourself and two or three of our nobility that were about us, we shall be now about to qualify it ourself in such sort to the whole, as we are in good hope to be the mean of a more frequent approbation of it; at least, by so many as will depend upon our own good liking. 3 Praying you, therefore, dearest sister, to conceive no otherwise of us and our intention in this behalf nor we have here set down, and in our princely word shall keep unto you; for so it is, and so shall it appear by the course of our whole actions, to be testified unto you from 1 Prejudice. 2 Impartially. 3 Without fail. 4 Than. time to time by your ambassadors here resident, whom we have at more length, by our own speech, assured of our continuance and constancy in this behalf. And so, right excellent, right high, and mighty princess, our dearest sister and cousin, we commit you to the protection of the Almighty. Off our castle of Saint Andrew's, the 2nd day of July, and of our reign the seventeenth, 1583. Your most loving and affectionate brother and cousin, Madam-I have stayed Master Spenser upon the letter, which I have written with my own hand, which shall be ready within two days. JAMES R. James VI. to the Foreign Ministers of Religion. 1 To the pious pastors, teachers, and ministers of God's word, the preachers of gospel truth, our reverend fathers in Christ James the king. After that we, by the blessing of the great and good God, attained to the governance of our kingdom, nothing was to us of so great concern, as that we might restore and renew the true and genuine religion, and the uncorrupt discipline of the church; for it is just, as we reign by His grace, that we should turn all our energies and thoughts to His glory; and, although the purity of the 1 Rawlinson Manuscripts, Bodleian Library. Translated from the Latin. James was suspected of a leaning towards Roman Catholic doctrines in the early part of his reign. Divine word has, for the most part, in our kingdom, been reclaimed from the darkness of superstitions and of Popery (on which account we render exceeding thanks to God); nevertheless, our minority having been harassed by various civil tumults and seditions, did not permit us to establish a settled policy in the church, whereby it might outshine other kingdoms, and preserve the truth amongst our subjects to their posterity. Now, however, having passed our nonage, we are beginning to think seriously on this matter; and, since it is of primary importance, we have thought not merely that we ought to subscribe to the judgment of learned men who preside over the churches amongst us; but we have deemed it worth while to inquire your opinion, O most erudite, most grave, and pious men, in order that our churches (as far as may be), may be edified to the most perfect pattern of the divine temple. For this purpose we have given command to our beloved noble—who is setting forth to foreign parts for the sake of his health, to explain to you the present condition of our churches, and by mutual conference to elicit your sentiments, and report them faithfully to us. Moreover, we are fully persuaded you will not be wanting, by your counsel, to so pious and holy an undertaking; but that you will write to us at large, in good faith, what each of you think of a thorough reformation. May God bless your labours, restore His church to liberty, and grant to me, in his only-begotten, that I may apply my whole heart and life to the setting forth of His glory. Given at our palace at Falkland, the 12th of the calends of November, 1, from the incarnation of our Saviour, 1583. Your son in Christ our Saviour, of true and evangelic purity the foster-child and protector, JACOBUS REX. James VI. to the Refugee Ministers of the Church.2 Forasmuch as since the accepting of this regiment 3 in our person, we have chiefly endeavoured to establish a godly and perfect order of policy in the church of our realm, for the sincerity of the gospel being professed in our kingdom; and the troubles wherewith this realm hath been vexed in our minority not permitting a solid and stablished order of policy; we, coming to years of maturity, have chiefly disposed our intentions (by the grace of God) to maintain the truth, set forth His glory (by whose mercy we govern and reign), and to establish such order, whereby posterity hereafter may find the comfort. And, because this work of God's cannot be duly accomplished without instruments, and that we are certainly informed of your good gifts and long time bestowed in godly learning, especially in the scriptures; and that, chiefly to perform this work, we have need of men endued with such virtues ;-therefore, we have given commission to our well-beloved, Mr. Archibald Herbertson, whom you shall trust in our name, that you may, with all possible diligence, address yourselves hither to your native country and king, that we may 1 November the 20th. 2 Cotton. MSS. Calig. C. viii. art. 49. 3 Rule; government. |