68 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH.
Valence and Amiens, and other French commissioners, and a treaty was formally concluded
and signed, by which, through the diplomatic skill of Cecil, the objects aimed at
by Queen Elizabeth, as well as the real interests of the Congregation, were completely
secured, notwithstanding the feeble remonstrances of the French commissioners. A separate
convention, agreed to at the same time, bound the French garrison to remove all the
artillery from the ramparts of Leith, completely to demolish its fortifications, and
immediately thereafter to embark for France.
On the 19th of July,-the third day after the embarkation of the French troops at
Leith, and the departure of the English forces on their march homeward,-a solemn public
thanksgiving was held by the reforming nobles, and the great body of the Congregation,
in St Giles’s Church ; and thereafter the preachers were appointed to some of the chief
boroughs of the kingdom, Knox being confirmed in the chief charge at Edinburgh.
A Parliament assembled in Edinburgh on the 1st of August, the proceedings of which
were opened with great solemnity. The lesser barons, from their interest in the progress of
the reformed doctrines, claimed the privilege, which they had long ceased to use, of sitting
and voting in the Assembly of the Three Estates. This led to the accession of nearly a
hundred votes, nearly all of them adhering to the Protestant party. After the discussion
of 8ome preliminary questions,-particularly as to the authority by which the Parliament
was summoned,-Maitland was appointed their “ harangue maker,” or speaker, and they
proceeded to choose the Lords of the Articles. Great complaint was made as to the choice
falling entirely on those well affected to the new religion, particularly among the Lords
Spiritual, some of whose representatives were mere laymen ;-but altogether without effect.
c( This being done,” says Randolph, in an interesting letter to Cecil, U the Lords departed,
and accompanied the Duke as far as the Bow,-which is the gate going out of the High
Street,-and many down unto the Palace where he lieth; the town all in armour, the
trumpets sounding, and all other kinds of music such as they have. . . . . . The Lords
of the Articles sat from henceforth in Holyrood House, except that at such times as upon
matter of importance the whole Lords assembled themselves again, as they did this day, in
the Parliament House.”
The Parliament immediately proceeded with the work of reformation, a Confession of
Faith was drawn up, and approved of by acclamation, embodying a summary of Christian
doctrine in accordance with the views of the majority, and this was seconded by a series of
acts rendering all who refused to subscribe to its tenets liable to confiscation, banishment,
and even death. Ambassadors were despatched to England with proposals of marriage
between the Earl of Arran, eldest 6011 to the Duke of Chatelherault, and Queen Elizabeth,
while Sir James Sandilands, grand prior of the knights of St John of Jerusalem, was sent
to France to carry an account of their proceedings to the Queen.
The latter met with a very cool reception ; he was, however, entrusted with a reply from
the Scottish Queen, which, though it refused to recognise the assembly by which he was
sent as a Parliament, was yet couched in conciliatory terms, and intimated her intention
to despatch commissioners immediately, to convene a legal Parliament ; but ere Sir James
arrived at Edinburgh, the news reached him of the death of the young King, her royal consort,
anwhich avent caused the utmost rejoicing among the party of the Congregation.
MS. Letter St P. O&, 9th August 1560, Tytler.
