This part of the “History,” therefore, as the work of an advocate, needs to be checked, when possible, by other authorities.  We first examine Knox’s letter of June 23, 1559, to Mrs. Locke.  He says that he arrived in Edinburgh on May 2, and, after resting for a day, went (on May 4) to the brethren assembled at Dundee.  They all marched to Perth, meaning thence to accompany the preachers to their day of law at Stirling, May 10.  But, lest the proceeding should seem rebellious, they sent a baron (Erskine of Dun, in fact) to the Regent, “with declaration of our minds.”  The Regent and Council in reply, bade the multitude “stay, and not come to Stirling . . . and so should no extremity be used, but the summons should be continued” (deferred) “till further advisement.  Which, being gladly granted of us, some of the brethren returned to their dwelling-places.  But the Queen and her Council, nothing mindful of her and their promise, incontinent did call” (summon) “the preachers, and for lack of their appearance, did exile and put them and their assistants to the horn. . . . " {276b}

It would be interesting to know who the Regent’s Council were on this occasion.  The Reformer errs when he tells Mrs. Locke that the Regent outlawed “the assisters” of the preachers.  Dr. M’Crie publishes an extract from the “Justiciary Records” of May 10, in which Methuen, Christison, Harlaw, and Willock, and no others, are put to the horn, or outlawed, in absence, for breach of the Regent’s proclamations, and for causing “tumults and seditions.”  No one else is put to the horn, but the sureties for the preachers’ appearance are fined. {276c}

In his “History,” Knox says that the Regent, when Erskine of Dun arrived at Stirling as an emissary of the brethren, “began to craft with him, soliciting him to stay the multitude, and the preachers also, with promise that she would take some better order.”  Erskine wrote to the brethren, “to stay and not to come forward, showing what promise and hope he had of the Queen’s Grace’s favours.”  Some urged that they should go forward till the summons was actually “discharged,” otherwise the preachers and their companions would be put to the horn.  Others said that the Regent’s promises were “not to be suspected . . . and so did the whole multitude with their preachers stay. . . .  The Queen, perceiving that the preachers did not appear, began to utter her malice, and notwithstanding any request made on the contrary, gave command to put them to the horn. . . .”  Erskine then prudently withdrew, rode to Perth, and “did conceal nothing of the Queen’s craft and falsehood.” {277a}