Boyd, the young Schiref of
Air, the Lairdis of Cragy Wallace, Sesnock, Carnell, Barr,
Gaitgirth,[796] and the hole Congregatioun of Kyle and Cuninghame,
approched for our releve; and in verray dead thay came in suche
diligence, and suche a nomber, that as the enymie had just caus to fear,
so have all that professe Christ Jesus just matter to praise God for
thair fidelitie and stout corage in that nead; for by thair presence was
the tyranny of the enymie brydilled. Thare diligence was suche, that
albeit the passage by Striveling, and sex myles above, was stoppit, (for
thair lay the Quene with hir bandis, and gart cutt the brigis upoun the
watter of Forth, Gwdy and Teath,[797] above Striveling,) yit maid thay
suche expeditioun throw desert and montane, that thay prevented the
enymie, and approched within sex myles to our campe, whiche than lay
without the town, awaiting upoun the enymie, befoir that any assured
knawlege come to us of thair cunning. Their number was judged to[798] to
tuentie fyve hundreth men, whairof thair was 12 hundreth horsmen. The
Quene understanding how the said Erle and Lordis, with thair cumpany
approched, causit to besett all wayis, that na advertisment should come
to us, to the end that we, dispared of support, myght condiscend to
suche appointment as sche required; and send first to require, that some
discreat men of our number wald cum and speik the Duke and Monsieur
Dosell, (who than with thair armye did lye at Auchterardour,[799] ten
myles fra Sanct Johnestoun,) to the end that some reasonable appointment
myght be had. Sche had perswaded the Erle of Ergyle, and all utheris,
that we ment nothing bot rebellioun; and thairfoir had he promisshed
unto hir, that in case we should nocht stand content with ane reasonable
appointment, he should declair him self plane enymie unto us,
nochtwithstanding that he professed the same religioun with us. From us
war send the Laird of Dun,[800] the Lard of Inverquharitie,[801] and
Thomas Scot of Abbotishall,[802] to heir quhat appointment the Quene
wald offer. The Duke and Monsieur Dosell required, "That the town should
be maid patent, and that all thingis should be referred to the Quenis
plesour." [SN: THE PETITIOUN OF THE PROTESTANTIS FOR RANDERING OF SANCT
JOHNESTOUN.] To the whiche thai answered, "That nather had thay
commissioun so to promese, nather durst thay of conscience so perswaid
thair bretherin. Bot yf that the Quenis Grace wald promeise, that no
in