The Works of James Melville

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project has a long history. Started nearly twenty years ago, it was set aside as administrative obligations inevitably seemed to get in the way. Working with a transcription from what seems a lifetime ago posed its own set of challenges. I will, however, always be grateful to Dr. Rod Lyall who first suggested the possibility of an edition of James Melville, and introduced me to Dr. Louise Yeoman, who was part of the early stages of the project, but who also moved on to other pursuits. Nearly fifteen years later, it was a special delight to reconnect with Dr. Yeoman, who provided me with important assistance in completing this present volume.

I owe much to Dr. Jamie Reid-Baxter, whose extraordinary knowledge of Melville and his historical and literary context were invaluable in finishing this project. So, too, I must recognize the input of Dr. Sally Mapstone during the early stages of my work. More recently, I wish to thank my colleague at MacEwan University, Dr. Pamela Farvolden, for her interest and assistance, and my student Ms. Carrie Digout who was amazing in catching the inevitable errors that come with a project like this one. Finally, I owe much to Ms. Maxan Ferguson-Dyer who gave me exactly the right kind of assistance in updating a very old text and in formatting a new one. ← ix | x →

Brock University provided important assistance in the early going, as did the staff in the President’s Office. I am also grateful to the Board of Governors of MacEwan University who gave me an administrative leave following my Presidency there that enabled me to finish this edition. I wish to acknowledge the assistance of the librarians at the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, and Edinburgh University Library, and, of course, my own MacEwan University Library, and especially its archivist Ms. Valla Mclean. I would also like to thank the staff of Peter Lang Publishing for their work in bringing this project to completion.

None of this could have been accomplished without the support of my wife Terry, who patiently put up with a lot over the last year as I single-mindedly pursued the completion of this work. I could not have done it without her.

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THE MANNER OF THE SICKNESSE AND DEPARTURE, OF IEAN D’ALBRET, OF NAVARR

Wherin Every Christian May See and Learne the Practise of the Former, Wherin Doctrine, That is, the Plaine and Plesant Passage, From This Miserie to the Life Everlasting

Translated out of French In Scottes.¹

IN the yeare of God, 1572. The peace the third time being sworne and concluded betweene Charles the nynt, King of France, and the Protestants, for the mair sure confirmation thereof, that bluddie marriage was appointed to bee, betwixt the Kings sister, and the King of Navarr.² After the peace sworne, and all agreed vpon concerning the marriage: In the beginning of May, King Charles prayed Iean D’ Albret Queene of Navarr, and mother to the young King that was to be married to come to Paris, to advise [p. 74] and provide for ← 233 | 234 → sik things, as were necessarie for the marriage, according to the dignitie and greatnes of the matter: The quhilk she yeelded vnto, and taking journey about the sixt of May, shee arriued at Paris the 15. of the same Moneth, and began to make divers walkes to and fro, throughout the Cittie, to the houses and booths of the Merchants and craftismen, to finde out sik things as were meete for the day of the solemnitie; als weil concerning the wedding garments, and sik things as shee purposed to propyne, as vther things proper and needefull.

The Queene, Mother of FRANCE, KATHERINE de Medices,3 seeing a great fish fanged in her net, wald not slip the occasioun: Shee hated extremely the Queene of Navarr,⁴ for she had knowne long before her notable spirit, and what a Mother she had beene among the Protestants: so shee thought gif, she suld let her liue, after that all the rest were massacred,⁵ she could not eschewe a newe hinder of her interprise; and to slay her among [p. 75] the rest that were to be murdered thereafter, vnder pretence of the quarrel betwixt the house of Guise⁶ and Chastillion,⁷ she sawe not a sufficient cause to lay the fault on the Guisians quha had no thing to do with the Queene of Navarr: Also she was out of all hope to make the King of Navar her sonne in law, so long as his Mother lived: quha being wise & of a gude spirit culd perceiue her craft, and make all to turne in smoke: wherefore she hes recourse to ane Maister Renney,⁸ her intertained poysoner, vppon set pension and wages; quha had anes⁹ of before presented to the vmquhile¹⁰ Prince of Condie,¹¹ a perfumed impoysoned apple, quhilk was discovered to bee so, be the experience proven of a dogge, and be the danger that the Princes Chirurgion was into, be smelling of the apple over ← 234 | 235 → neir. This Renney, selling his drugs and perfumed collours, and vther wares to the Queene of Navarr; fand12 the moyen,¹³ finely to impoyson her be a paire of perfumed gloues, quhilk the Queene caught for her awin¹⁴ present vse, So manifest [p. 76] it was, that the same Renney vaunted himselfe thereafter of his vassaledge, and durst very weill say, that he held the same Pageant to playe to three or foure mo, that feared litle sik fashions. So then on wednesday, the 4. of Iune, shee falles downe sick in her bed of a continuall feuer; the cause whereof, as Mediciners meined¹⁵ it, was a corruption in her pulmons,¹⁶ whereof be processe of tyme, a postume¹⁷ had sprung; the quhilks being moved and irritat be the great heate that then was, and extraordinarie travell that she tooke, kendled vp in her that fever, wherof in fiue daies thereafter she dyed, to the great regrate of them of the Religion, and joy of the secret bludy counsell: yet in very deede, the cause of her deadly disease was in her beane,¹⁸ wroght by the force of the poyson, drawne in by her smelling. Nowe because that in her sicknes and death, she declared by what spirit she was guided; we haue thought good to set down a short discourse therof, quhilk may bee a patterne and example to all good Christians to follow; that [p. 77] they may happelie ende this miserable pilgrimage, and enter into that heavenly habitation.

So then the saide Queene of Navarr, finding her selfe pressed with the evill, & that so meikle¹⁹ the mair as the Mediciners were diligent to releeue her, with the quhilks, the Queene mother wanted not her secreet dealing: shee perceived that it behoved her to go into another Cuntrie; and therefore she prepared her selfe to receiue glaidly at the handes of God, what it pleased him to dispone,²⁰ & so resolved her selfe constantly to die, craving ever instantly, that shee suld not be left destitute of that, quhilk all her life tyme she had esteemed most precious; to wit, the consolation of the word of God, with continuall prayer; conform to that quhilk Iames commaunds, that the sick suld call for the Elders of the Kirk, to the end, they might pray to God for them; seeing the prayer of the just is of greate force and effect.²¹ ← 235 | 236 →

Following this advertisement, they ceased not thereafter to solist22 her, to take [p. 78] good courage; and to put inteirlie her trust & assurance in God, as in him quha was the author of her life, and had power to preserue the samin. But namely, on a certaine daye, the minister quhilk cam to comfort her, declared to her, be many testimonies of scripture, that it behoued Christians in all things to conforme themselues to the will of God; because he is the Father of the faithfull: and for that cause, crosses and chastisements suld be suffered patiently; seeing they ar laid on by their Father for their weill and saluation: howbeit, at some times, the rigour of afflictions, appeareth to the flesh to be sik; that we imagine na vther thing, but God to bee enarmed against vs in wrath vtterlie to destroy vs: yet we man²³ considder, that as he is just, hee dois nothing in that but justlie: and being our Father, he hes special respect to our weilfare: that he is nothing like the Tyrants, that takes pleasure in tormenting and troubling their subjects without reason; but makes all to serue for the comforte and edification of his Elect: wherevnto [p. 79] she answered, that shee tooke all things from the hand of God, whome shee acknowledged to be her Father; declaring mairover, that she never feared the dead, so farre was shee from murmuring or grudging against God: notwithstanding the paines quhilk she indured, knowing that hee dois nothing but that quhilk is good and right; so that she was certainly perswaded, that al suld work for her weil and comfort.

The Minister continuing his purpose, adjoyned; that it behoved to search out the cause of sicknes some vther way than the Mediciners are accustomed to doe; quhilk ever respects, either the corruption of the humors, the hurt or offence of the noble partes of the body, or some vther naturall cause: for albeit the ordinarie grounds of sicknesses be there, and sik be the second causes of them; yet wee man go fordward to the first cause, even toward God, quha dispones²⁴ vppon his creatures according to his good plesure; quha by striking makes the wounde, and syne applies the plaister thereto: Therefore [p. 80] it was, he to whom she suld addresse her selfe by prayer to finde reliefe of her sicknes and perfite deliverance, to whom it were an easie matter to restore her to health againe, gif so it were his good pleasure.²⁵ ← 236 | 237 →

To this she made answer, that she depended on na thing, saue on his onely providence, and that she knew very wel, that it appertained to him allanerlie,26 to dispose on all things; and therefore shee earnestly desired his Majestie, that hee wald grant her sa farre as he knewe to be good and necessary for her, as well anent²⁷ her bodily health, as her salvation: and neverthelesse sayis she, This present life for just causes, is very noysome²⁸ to me; for the miseries that I haue susteined in it sen my young age, and namly, because I liue not without offending my dear Father daylie, with whome I wish to bee with all my heart.

The minister replied, that the Pagans had taken consolation in death, in that it was a moyen to bee delivered from the evils of this world, but Christians ought [p. 81] to go farther: to wit, in consideration that by death,²⁹ we are not onely exemed³⁰ from thir present miseries, but also that thereby, wee begin to enter in possession of a better life, quhilk is the life eternall; where God hes prepared for vs ane vnspeakeable felicitie, by Iesus Christ, his Sonne: even as he himselfe had taught saying: That it is the will of the Father, that whosoever beleeues in the Sonne, suld haue eternall life:³¹ and neverthelesse, lang life for as miserable as it is, ceases not to bee a blessing of God, seeing he had promised it as a testimonie of his favour, to the keepers of his law, and maireover, in sa farre as we serue in this life, to his glorie: it suld be a singular honour, and taken of his gude will, to haue it continued: as in him, whom a Prince wald a lang time employ in his service: because hee had fund him faithfull, not for a day or twa,³² but for many yers. For this cause, she suld pray him instantly, that gif it were his will to employ her farther in this life, for the furtherance ← 237 | 238 → and increase of his truth: and it wald please him to accompanie [p. 82] her with health and good disposition; to the end, that recovering new forces, she might incourage her selfe to go forward to the end in her course, meikle33 mair vertuouslie then ever of before.

Where vpon she protested, that her life was of small avayll in her eyes, for any particular respect of hir awin:³⁴ in so far as shee ceased not continvallie to offend God in this flesh: But she regarded chiefely the comforts, weilfare, of the Kirk of God vppon earth: Wherevnto gif hir life may serue, she wald esteeme it some-what worth the lasting.³⁵ Also, that she had some regard vnto the tender age of her children, quhilk God had given vnto her; fearing to see them want her presence, in their so base age: yet nevertheles (sayis she,) I am assured that God wil steir vp gude instruments, for the weil and comfort of his kirke: and will also be a father & protector to my Children, as he hes beene vnto mee in my greatest afflictions; in sik sort, that I remit it wholly to his providence to see therevnto.

The Minister said vnto her, that hee [p. 83] praised God to see her so assured and resolved in his providence; praying her to continue therein, as a thing quhilk was a good and assured mark of her faith, and that the good Patriarches in tymes past had done so, leaving the speciall care of their posteritie in the handes of God, as might be seene in Abraham, Isaak, and Iacob;³⁶ and the blessing quhilk they wished to their awin: alwaies it was very requisit that she suld chuse some persones of good life and doctrine, quhilk might continue in these yong Princes, the seed of Pietie, quhilk shee had sawin in them with so great travell and cares, hoping that her faith and constancie in the true service of God, suld be vnto them an example of perpetuall recommendation, to followe and imitate all the dayes of their life: like as also it was not liklie, yea almost incredible, but that they suld ever haue a feeling remembrance of these good and halie instructions, quhilk they had so often heard, as weill of her awin mouth, as of these whome shee had imployed to fashion and accustome them [p. 84] to followe honestie and vertue. ← 238 | 239 →

And because that thereafter shee declared that she had na feare of death; saying, it was a passage, through the quhilk all flesh suld resolue themselues to go. The Minister proposed vnto her, that so farre suld it bee from Christians to feare death, that they suld be assured never to dye, in respect of the saying of Christ, Whosoever beleeveth in me sall liue eternally.37 In sa meikle as death, is not properly a death vnto the faithfull, but a sleep; as it is often tymes sa tearmed in Scripture. Seeing Iesus Christ for them hes conquessed³⁸ it, and led it in triumph, so that wee may crye out with Saint PAVL, O Death, where is thy sting? O Graue, where is thy victory?³⁹ She was also often admonished by him, to acknowledge and confesse her faults before God; telling her, that sicknes was the way to death, and death was the reward of sinne: therefore this chastisement suld teach her in earnest, howe farre she was detfull to Gods justice; not onely by the fall of the first man, in the quhilk she was involved with [p. 85] vthers; but also by her owne proper of sinne, seeing the best in the warld is but a pure miserable sinner; and that gif God wald punish vs according to our sinnes, we culd look for nothing but death and everlasting condemnation.

At this purpose, shee began to lift vp her hands, joyne them together, & look stedfastly with her eies toward the Heauen: saying, she confessed in very trueth, that she had committed offences without number; yea, and moe then ane culd expresse; but shee hoped that God suld be mercifull to her, through her Saviour Iesus Christ, quha had suffered for her sinnes, and risen againe for her justification; in whome shee had reposed her whole confidence for salvation.

This gaue occasion to the Minister, to discourse at greater length, vpon the assurance quhilk she suld haue to obtain the effect of the mercie of God, seeing that Iesus Christ had come in the world to saue such, as acknowledge themselues sinners, as hee himselfe had sufficiently protested; saying, that he did as the mediciners, [p. 86] quha goes not to visit the whol, as not having neede of his helpe, but the sick and diseased: and in like maner, that he was presented and offered with al his goodnes and benefites to them, that acknowledged themselues empty & voide of all goodnes: of the quhilk thing, shee suld sa meikle the mair be assured, as she had ane inward testimonie of the spirite in her conscience, causing her to cry Abba, deir Father; as also her faith was no vther thing, but ane assurance of the fauour and good will of God, manifested to her in his Sonne Iesus Christ; so that she might say with the ← 239 | 240 → Apostle, I am perswaded, that neither death nor life, nor Angels, principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor heigh, nor deepe, nor na vther creature, suld be able to separate vs from the loue of God, quhilk is in Christ Iesus the Lord.40

Now because, that after this, the Minister keeped silence, fearing to annoy her with over long discourse, because the Mediciners had not thoght it good that she suld speak meikle; she on the contrary [p. 87], prayed him earnestlie to insist in talking to her of salvation and the life eternall, adding therevnto, that sen she came to Paris, she had been negligent ynough of her duetie, in hearing of the worde of God, for the quhilk she was grieved: yet for the present, sayis she, I finde my selfe greatly eased & comforted be the same, in this great extremitie.

Vpon the quhilk desire, the Minister set forth the felicitie of these happie people, quha in the hevens enjoyed the presence of their God, and of all good everlasting: the quhilk was so greatly excellent, that the Scripture willing to painte it forth vnto vs, saith: That the eye hath not seene, nor the eare heard, neither could it enter into the heart of man, to considder what God hath laid vp for his owne.⁴¹ There he added therevnto this similitude, that even as a potent and magnifick rich King, willing to honor gretly some stranger, he shewes him his Court, his Princes, his Estates, his store-houses, and his most precious Iewels, he intertaines him delicately, he feedes his eies with pleasant spectacles, [p. 88] his eares with sweet musick, his taste and smelling with fragrant odours, &c. Even so, God wald some day display and laye open his Glory and Majestie; yea, even all his treasures vnto his Elect and Faithfull: even then, when he sall retyre them from this miserie vnto himself, in his heuenlie Kingdome of glory; where he sall highlie honour them, and decore⁴² them with Light, incorruption, and immortalitie. Wherefore, seeing that sik was the felicitie of the happie and glorified, shee suld not greatly care to quyte the warld, in sa far, as for ane earthly Realm, quhilk she left, she suld inherit the Kingdome of Heaven: and for goods and ritches corruptible, shee suld enjoye for ever sik, as culd not wither nor passe away: & thereafter he addressed himselfe particularlie to her, demaunding of her, gif she beleeued that Iesus Christ was her Saviour, quha had by his bluid made a purgation for all her sinnes.

To the quhilk she answered; Yes verely, I certainly beleeue, that hee is my onely Saviour and Mediator, and hopes [p. 89] for help no where else, but ← 240 | 241 → only by him: knowing that he hes satisfied for my sins abundantlie; and I am assured, that God will be mercifull vnto me, for my Christ his sake, according to his promises.

Behold a pairt of the good and holie purposes, quhilk shee did vse a three or foure daies of her sicknes: the quhilk also both before and thereafter, she ceased not continually to vtter; sometimes with great sighes and sobbes, in a most affectionate and mooving manner; testifying the great desire and hope that she had to go to the Lord: saying oftentimes these words, O my God and Father, deliver mee from this body of sinne, and from the miseries of this life, that I offend thee no mair; and that I may enioy the felicitie quhilk thou hes promised.

Now not onely did she daily declare the godlinesse of her heart, be sa gude purposes: but also therewithall, did shew a face and countenance, resolved, assured, and joyfull, according as the rigour of her sicknesse might suffer, quhilk testified sufficiently, that the feare of death [p. 90] did no wise shake or brangill43 the firmnesse of her faith. At the ende of all the conferences for consolation, they were ever accustomed to make a Prayer to God, that it walde please his Maiesty to accompanie him with a constant patience, and to shew his mercie and trueth vpon her; of the quhilk prayer, it is not by purpose to insert, heir the summe.

O Lord our Cod,⁴⁴ wee acknowledge before thy face, that we are vnworthie of thy great mercie, because of our jniquities: and yet we merit not onely not to be heard, but also to be cast away from thy face in vtter confusion: nevertheles, seeing thou hes promised to heare vs: wee humbly beseech thee to forgiue vs freelie all our sinnes, & to cloath vs with the obedience and justice of thy Sonne our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ, that in him, wee may bee acceptable in thy sight. O Lord, we acknowledge, that all our afflictions cum fra thine hand, wha art a righteous Iudge, and whome wee haue continvallie provoked to wrath, by infinit vices, and rebellious, quhilk ar in [p. 91] vs: whose life answers nawise to the perfit obedience, quhilk thou requires of vs, be the right of the law, the quhilk, alas we cease not alwaies to transgresse: And this is it, quhilk makes vs to caste downe our selues at this present, to bee humbled before thy maiestie, and to acknowledge in earnest, from the very bottom of our hearts, our perverse miserie: and that all the evill, quhilk we indure in this vale of sorrow, proceeds of this spring; that we haue not given vnto thee a right and true obedience: but hes gone astray from thy pathes; Yet ← 241 | 242 → so it is Lord, that ther is mercy with thee, seeing thou art our father: and that thou wilt not the death of a sinner: but that he suld turne to thee and liue. This is the cause, why we present our selues, before the throne of thy grace: with confidence to obtaine this great mercie: whereof, thou hes at all times made promise to our fathers, that it may please thee to accept the merit of Iesus Christ, thy Sonne our Lord, for entire and perfit satisfaction of our iniquities: and thou thereby, beeing appeased [p. 92], we may finde some reliefe of our evills. The quhilk request, as thou art God of all mercy and compassion, wee make speciallie, for them that are vnder the correction of thy wand,45 assaulted with diuers calamities; and namely, for the Queene here present, strucken with a very great Maladie: to the intent, that as it hes pleased thee to afflict hir justlie for her faults, as she dois acknowledge with vs: sa it wald please thee, in forgiueing the same to her, for the loue of thy beloved Sonne Iesus Christ: to make this chastisement profitable for her amendement and ours: Aboue all, to giue vnto her a tast and certaine assurance of these heauenly gudis: to the end she may mair easilie beare and indure the bitternesse of that cup, quhilk thou hes powred out to her: and that we onelie desire thy presence may swallow vp all the torments of this miserie: and make her to forget all the greatnesse and magnificence of the world: knowing that they are nothing in respect of these, quhilk thou hes prepared for her. In the meane time, giue hir patience [p. 93] in her sicknesse, in sa far as thou knowis: that howbeit, the spirit be ready, yet the flesh is heauie, fragill, and full of incredulitie, to the end, that she receiving it, as from the hande of her Father, she may the mair cherafullie, conforme her selfe to thy holy will. And for sa meikle, Lord, as thou hes vsed hir hither-tils,⁴⁶ for the advancement of thy glorie, and for the defence of thy pure people, wee earnestly beseik thee to restore her again to her former helth: to the intent, that by this default, the warke, that thou hes sa excellentlie begunne be her, remayne not vnperfited: but that this deliverance may make hir heereafter to take newe courage, & imploy her selfe in the samin better, especially, for the education and instruction of the Children, quhilk thou hes given hir. But Lord, gif so it sal please thee to call vppon her, wee will not repine⁴⁷ against thy haly will: but wee praye thee to confirme her mair and mair, in the knawledge and profession of thy halie Evangell: and of the assurance of that salvation, quhilk thou hes giuen her, be [p. 94] faith in Iesus Christ, shewing the samin be the in-calling and sanctifying of thy haly ← 242 | 243 → name, vnto her last birth. And as to vs that ar heare about hir in health, make vs to vnderstand the shortnes and incertude of this life: to the end, we may look as becoms vs, in this mirror: and see how the greatest in this worlde, are subiect to the same calamities, that the pure-anis ar to the end, that hereafter we may bestow the rest of our daies, on nothing else, but on thy honour & service: knawing that nothing remayns stedfast saue only that, & the recompence quhilk thou in mercy hes bestowed therevpon: and that through the onely merits, death, & Passion of thy Sonne, Iesus Christ, our Advocate and Mediatour. Amen.

Now, this is almost the summe of the Prayer: the time whereof, while it was directed to God, she ceased not to lift vp her eies firmelie to the heavens: joyning some times her hands togeither, and oftentimes sighing: Namely, when mension made of the mercy of God, through Iesus Christ, shewen to poore sinners; in [p. 95] sik sorte, that there was none present, but might perceiue plainly, that she followed in her heart, the words quhilk weare pronounced in her hearing. And sa did constantlie continue in this resolution, to go to God al the time that she lay bedfast: taking great pleasure in the haly and Christian declaration, quhilk was ordinarily made before her, be many godlie men, quhilk came to visit her, giuing a manifest and solemne testification of the assurance to come, and hope quhilk shee had to bee saved: and that be the gude & haly purposes, quhilk she did often hald and interteine, quhilk for shortnes sake are omitted.

And albeit, the dolours48 quhilk shee felt were vehement: yet so was it, that none ever heard an vnpatient worde escape out of her mouth: yea, not sa meikle, as be the maner of a complaynt: like as, beside and attowre⁴⁹ her domestickes, the Queene mother her selfe, the Mounsieur, and Madame, the brother and sister of the King, quhilk came somtime to visit her, can beare witnesse.

[p. 96] Now, gif God in the middest of her greatest travels & paines, had made her to feele an new life: as there is no maladie so cruell, quhilk hes not some intermission and vexation: she gaue plainelie to vnderstande, that shee was not vnwilling to recover her former health, gif it wald please God to grant it. Refused nothing that the mediciners appoynted hir to take for that effect: and againe, when her sicknesse did increase, shee brake no thing off of her courage, but shewed her self to be armed with an invincible constancy, to ← 243 | 244 → sustayne the proofe of the last combat, in preparing her selfe joyfullie to the death.

And when shee saw her women, and and mayden-servants weiping about her bed, shee rebuked them incontinent, shewing them that they suld not mourn nor lament for her, but thank God, wha was calling her to a better life: & to that heaven of health and salvation, whervnto shee had contended: onely regarding that shee had no time to recompence them, & many others of her domestikes, [p. 97] that had awayted faithfully, and weil on her seruice: excusing her selfe at their hands thereanent,50 that it was not for lack of gude will, but for want of time, being taken from them in that Maladie, yet neverthelesse, she sulde take the best order therewith, that she might.⁵¹

As to the rest, it were lang to recite, al the good & haly advertisements, instructions, & admonitions, quhilk shee gaue to her Dame of honour, Governour to Madam the Princesse: that shee suld repeate the samin againe to hir, and hald her in remembrance thereof, when shee suld come to age, exhorting her by the sayd Dame of honour, to shew her selfe firme and constant, in the true service of God; and that she suld insist with her vncessantly for the samin effect, taking heed to the gude Counsell of Mounsieur the Prince of Navarre hir brother,⁵² as also of the woman quhilk she had appoynted for her governour: And to follow the gude examples and instructions, quhilk had been giuen her in time bypast, committing, & resigning her over in the protection [p. 98] of God: with many informations quhilk needs not be extended any farther

In the ende, feeling her selfe growen weak, she caused make her last testament and latter will: in the quhilk, she recommended aboue all things vnto her Children, the feare and honour of God, exhorting them to persevere constantly in the profession of the Evangell, in the quhilk they were instructed from their birth. Appointing namely, that Madame the Princes hir daughter, suld bee ever nurished and instructed in the samin: by the foure Dames quhilk she had appoynted hir for this effect; And that into the Country of Bearne,⁵³ till she cumming to age; God suld raise vp some Prince of the samin Religion, to take her in Marriage, and that be the Counsell and conduct of Mounsieur, the Cardinall of Bourbone,⁵⁴ & Mounsieur GASPAR Count of Colignie, Admirall ← 244 | 245 → of Fraunce:55 the quhilk she nominated & established executors of hir said testament, This Testament received by the notars,⁵⁶ and red over twise before her, on Sunday the 8. of Iune, quhilk was [p. 99] the day before her death; a little after she caused the Minister be called to her, and having mair viuely⁵⁷ apprehended the feeling of death, then of before, shee commanded him to speake at length, of the tentations, be the quhilk Sathan is accustomed to assault the faith of the chosen of God, at the extreamitie of death.⁵⁸ So then the Minister began & shew, that in verye deede, that was the houre in the quhilk Sathan the adversarie of mans salvation, layis to the moste rude and vehement assaults: but even then, and at that time, inspecial dois the Lord increse and redouble the vertue and force of his Spirit in his awin, to mak them victorious in that combat: and as to the tentations wherby he preases to bring them in dispayre, hee layes before their eyes the innumerable multitude of their sins committed, and presents the samin discovered before them, that they may see the turpitude, filthines and pollution quhilk is therein. And on the vther part, he sets the justice of God, before the quhilk na thing can stand that is spoted or vnclean; [p. 100] wherof he inferres, that there is nathing to be looked for be the sinner, but a horrible judgement and condemnation, but therevnto shee suld oppone⁵⁹ in the first part, even as DAVID dois in the 51. Psal. In the multitude of Gods mercies and compassions, quhilk in number exceeds far the multitude of our sins. And howbeit, in respect of his justice, and the rygorous tryall of the samin: wee confesse that no Creature defiled with sinne, can suffer the samin, gif he sall be called to an account; Yet he knowes, that God will not enter into judgement with them quhilk beleues in his Son: but imputes and allowes vnto them the justice and obedience, perfited and accomplished be him, the quhilk onely is able to answere to his justice-Court: therefore also, in the samin only, his elect hopes to stand befor his face: and not be their awin dignitie or merit; For gif they sulde compeir before the throne of God, to receiue the judgement deserved, they suld haue no occasion, but wholilie to be swallowed vp in dispaire, so oft as they looked to the [p. 101] justice of God: but when they cast their eye on him, wha beeing ← 245 | 246 → the eternall Son of God, tooke the nature of man vppon him: and the same buir60 the paine quhilk was due to vs: and to discharge and free vs therefra; then the justice of God not onelie affrayes vs nothing, but rather comforts and assures vs; by this certaine reason, that seeing God is just, he wil not receiue nor craue the paynes of an debt twise: wherefore having received a pefit satisfaction of him, wha became our cautioner and debter, and wha hes made full payment for all our faults: he can no-wise of his justice require the samin fra vs of new againe; and for the strenthening of her faith therin, she suld remember thir sentences. Esa. 53. That Christs hes borne our sicknesse and dolours,⁶¹ that the correction of our peace was layd on him, that by his wounds, we haue health: we haue erred & fayled: but the Lorde hes layd on him the iniquitie of vs all. That he hes payed that quhilk he tooke not: that he is our peace and appoyntment towards God: that hee is that Lamb of God, that takes awaie the sinnes of the worlde. [p. 102] And many vther sentences quhilk the Ministers added heere vnto; continving the purpose lang ynough, for satisfying of the sayd victorious Princesse demand, & craving strength against the tentation of Sathan, wherby he preasses in time of extremity to bring & turne vpside-down the faith of the faithful: and in the end he concluded, that the justice of God suld no wise bee fearefull, to sik to whome Christ is made be God, justice, sanctification and redemption, & wha acknowledges the same Iesus Christ, wha knew no sinne, was made sinne: that is to saye, an oblation for sin for vs, that wee might be the righteousnesse of God in him.

He added therevnto, that these things were not spoken of all men jndifferently, but of them only wha beleeued in the Sonne of God, wha reposes themselues wholie on the merit of his death, vnto whome the merit is sufficient, for all the meane of their salvation; And wha contented them selues with that onely. And vpon that he asked her, gif shee had altogether her confidence reposed on Iesus [p. 103] Christ, Crucified for her sinnes, & raysed againe for her justification. To the quhilk, the Princesse having aunswered, that she looked not for health, justice or life, by any vther way or meane: but allanerlie,⁶² by her saviour Iesus Christ: and was assured that his merit was aboundantlie sufficient for the satisfaction and ransome of her sins: although they were innumerable. The Minister there assured her that she could not enter in condemnation: but was already passed from death to life; and tooke occasion therof, to enter againe on that purpose, that she had no cause now to ← 246 | 247 → feare the throne of of Gods justice, quhilk was become to her a throne of grace and mercy: & that the hour of death suld be greatumly63 wissed⁶⁴ and desired be her, seeing in culd be no vther thing vnto her, but an entresse of a better life: and the houre wherin the Lorde stretching out his armes, suld embrace her with the samin, that shee suld continuallie meditate this excellent saying. Blessed are thay that dyes in the Lorde, so sayis the spirit, for they rest from their labours.⁶⁵ [p. 104] That that was the houre wherevnto she suld enjoy the visible societie of Christ her spouse, and suld be in company with the Angels & heavenly spirits: with the haly Patriarkes, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, with our godlie brethren, friends, and acquayntance: with whom she had comfort and joy in her life time, to posses with them the same felicitie & glory.

Yet the Minister going forward, and willing yet to sound nearer, gif shee was willing to leaue this life without grudge or regrate: He spake thir words vnto her, weil then Madame, gif it sall please God to put an end by this siknesse, vnto your earthlie Pilgrimage, and call you vnto himselfe, as there is greate appearance, wald ye not gladlie goe to him. To the quhilk, this excellent Princesse, with great courage and magnanimitie: but any astonishment, answered; yea that I assure you: The Minister then said, looke vp then Madame, with the eyes of fayth, on Iesus Christ, the great Saviour, that sitting at the right hande of the Father, stretching forth his arme to receiue you [p. 105] thither: Will you not go vnto him? Yes I assure you (sayis she) with a very gude wil: and a farre better then ever I remayned in the worlde; wherein I haue seene nothing but vanitie. The Minister continued, not that purpose any langer, but demanded on that, if she wald that prayer suld be made, that many good folkes quhilk were there, might conjoyne their Prayers with hers: She answered, do so, & God strenthen me to continue in praier with you to the last breath. The Minister then continved the Prayer lang ynough: all the quhilk space, this Noble godlie Princesse, declared a burning & vehement affection & service in calling to God.

Wherfore, the Minister after the praier, said vnto her; that seing in her so many good and sure testimonies of Repentance and displeasure, quhilk she had of the offences committed by her against God, togither with the assurance she had of his mercy in Christ Iesus: he as Minister of the Evangell, and Ambassadour of the Sonne of God, in the name and [p. 106] authoritie of him, quha had put in his mouth the word of reconciliation, assured her, that her sinnes ← 247 | 248 → were forgiven by God, that she had obtained free pardone of them all from him, and that they suld never come againe in count and reckoning before his judgment seate; whereof she needed na mair to doubt, then gif the Son of God present in his awin person said vnto her, Daughter thy sinnes are forgiuen thee: And for to rander in this case, the puir affrayed conscience mair assured, Christ had given to the Ministers of his word that authoritie, that vnto all them to whom they suld forgiue sinnes in the Earth, they suld be forgiuen in the Heauens; and where they suld lowse heir belowe, it suld be lowsed aboue; and that because the worde whereby they vtter the samin, is not the word of man, but of God; having the same force, as if he had pronounced it himselfe: for so Christ had said, They who heares you, heares me:66 wherevpon he demanded the Princesse, gif she resaved gladlie this so gratious a message of remission of al her sinnes, and [p. 107] perfite reconciliation quhilk he brought vnto her from God? Yea, sayis she, with all my heart and saull I assure you; so that I find na hink⁶⁷ nor doubt thereof in my conscience, my gracious father be thanked quha sa hes wroght in me by his gude spirite. A little after these exhortations, the Admiral being come to visit her, and with him ane vther Minister, shee heard also this vther a space lang ynough, the Exhortation wherof, tended to the same mark with the former, who also at the end of his Exhortation joyned a prayer, the quhilk also she heard with great zeal and affection, and requested the said twa⁶⁸ Ministers to remaine with her all that night in the Chamber, and not to go away from her. The greatest part of that night was spent in comfortable remembrances, incouragements, and consolations, quhilk was made be these twa Ministers ane after ane vther: after the quhilk, she commanded to reade vnto her some good and comfortable places of Scripture: Ane of the twa Ministers reade vnto her, from the 14. Chapter of IOHN, to the [p.108] 18. That being done, the prayer was made; after the quhilk, the Queene desired to repose a litle, but incontinent thereafter, she commanded againe to read. So the vther Minister red the 8. to the Romans. 1. Cor. 15. 2. Cor. 4. chap. vers. 16. to the 11. verse of the 5. Chapter, and Psalmes, 3. 16. 17. 18. 23. 25. 31. 39. 143. and last, 142. with vther comfortable, & ardent prayers, meet for the affliction wherein the Princesse was: And hauing at last red the 31. Psalme, where DAVID commended his spirit in the handes of God, protesting the assurance quhilk he had, to bee redeemed by the most true God; she commanded vpon that to make the praier; and so she passed as is said, the greatest part of ← 248 | 249 → the night: during all the quhilk tyme, and purposes, there culd none perceiue, that shee had any regrate69 of this life: And that quhilk is mair, howbeit some dayes before she fell sick, shee had beene very earnest to prepare some pompes and magnificences to the Marriage of the King of Navarr her sonne, sik as she esteemed meet and proper for [p. 109] the greatnes of that allyance, whereinto she was entring: yet nevertheles, (quhilk is a thing marvelous) fra the time that she fel sick, vnto the houre of her death; God made her so to forget sik things, that shee never appeared anes to meane and declare any thought or care of sik matters. This night being sa imployed and spent, by this godly Princesse; on the Morne, having alwaies persevered to shewe and vtter notable signes of godlines and ardent faith, she passed from this miserie to the life eternall; randring⁷⁰ most sweetlie her spirit in the hand of the Lord Iesus, betwixt aucht⁷¹ and nyne houres in the morning, the 9. of Iune, the yeare. 1572. In the 44. yeare of her age, the 6. day after she took sicknesse: She spake very intelligiblie to the vtter hour of her death, and shewed not onely in these thinges quhilk concerned the salvation of her saull, but also in all vther affayres, a spirit and courage as whole as ever she had in her life time.

FINIS.

[p. 110] Christianvs Ego.

A. M.⁷² ← 249 | 250 →

The comfort Of a Christian