Series 1 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (First volume)

AN APOLOGIE, 1598
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his great humanitie to manie others of his coate, as to fa.
Gordon lesuyte, whom he graciously admitted vnto his owne Father Gordon,
presence, and safly protected against all his enemies a long
tyme. Fa. Morton, also a lesuitte, being taken and imprisonned Father Morton,
by the Heretiques, and accused by the malicious Ministers, was
by his Maties gratious fauor relieued, and sett free out of
prison, in such sort that he commaunded to pay all his ex-
pences, and restored him to greater libertie then he had be¬
fore. And lastly fa. Christi being likewise persecuted, taken ^risty^
and imprysonned, received the same fauor at his Maties hands,
wch doe plainely proue that the King of Scotland is no
obstinat heretique, nor malicious persecutor of Catholiques.
That the King of Scotland was vnconstant and faylled in his Honours the
promise to the Buishopp of Glascowe and Rosse, as M. C. falsely GlMgow,OP °f
reporteth, it is also a most malicious calumnie, and the con-
trarie is true, wch his Maties fauor towards the one, and beneuo-
lence towards the other may plainely proue ; for not only did he
authorise the Archbuishopp of Glascow by most ample commis¬
sion vnder his greate seale, as his Amb in fraunce, wch honorable
office he reteyned vnto the death of the last King; but also of
newe he hath honored him with the same dignitie, wch he
presently enjoyeth wth the King of france that now reigneth ;
and, as he imbrased them as his faithfull frends, so he restored
them to their lands and liuings, and had a true intention that
they should have enioyed the fruits and profits of the same;
and so most sincerely and faithfully performed his promise
vnto them, wch was that he would give them the benefitte of
his subiects, as he did indeed. But the state of the country
was such that neither could the archbuishopp obteyne his
rents and reuenewes from the possess18, in respect of his mightie
aduersaries, nor the K. compell them to obey, vnlesse he would
haue made a commotion of the States of his countrie, wch he
neither promised to do, nor was conuenient to be done in a
quyett common wealth, for the particular commoditie of one
man. And for the Bishoprick of Rosse, the K. most freely gaue it Bishop
to Mr. Leslie, the B. owne cosin, to his vse and commoditie:
yf it shold please him to requyre the same; so the world may
see howe uniustly M. C. doth accuse the K. of Scotland in these
actions, only of malice, to make him odious to the Catholiq®