112 The H IS TORY of the PURITANS. Chap. IV. Queen to defert the city and retire to Stirling whither the French troops followed Elizabeth, them, and difperfed them into the mountains. In this low condition I` 5 they publifhed a proclamation, difcharging the regent of her authority, and threatening to treat as enemies all that obeyed her orders; but not be- Elizabeth ing able to Eland their ground, they threw themfelves into the arms of a VIs them. queen Elizabeth, who being fenfible of the danger of the proteftant re= ligion, andof her own crown, if Scotland fhould become entirely popith, under the government of a queen of France, who claimed the crown of England; entered into an alliance to fupport the confederate protefl- ants in their religion and civil liberties, and fign'd the treaty at Berwick, Feb. 27. 1560. Treaty of Among other articles of this treaty it was flipulated, that the queen Edinburgh. fhould fend forces into Scotland, to continue there till Scotland was reflor- ed to its liberties and privileges, and the French driven out of the king- Rapin, dom. Accordingly her majefty fent an army of 7000 foot, and 12000 Vol. III. horfe, which joined the confederate army of like numbers. This army was afterwards reinforced by a large detachment from the northern marches, under the command of the duke of Norfolk ; after which they took the city of Leith, and obliged the queen regent to Phut her- felf up in the caftle of Edinburgh, where the died rune loth. The French offered to reftore Calais, if the queen would recal her forces from Scotland; but the refuted. At length the troubles of France requiring all their forces at home, plenipotentiaries were font into Scotland to treat with Elizabeth about withdrawing the French forces, and reftoring the Scots to their parliamentary government. The treaty was concluded the beginning of Augujt, whereby a general amnefly was granted ; the Eng- lifh and French forces were to withdraw in two months, and a parliament to be called with all convenient fpeed, to fettle the affairs of religion and the kingdom ; but Francis and Mary refufed to ratify it. Before the parliament met, Francis died, and. left Mary queen of Scots a young widow. The late treaty not being ratified, the parliament had no dire& authority from the crown, but affembled by virtue of the late treaty, and received the following petitions from the barons and gentle- men concerning religion. 1. " That the do&rines of the roman church fhould be fuppreffed by " ad of parliament, in thofe exceptionable points therein mentioned. 2. " That the difcipline of the ancient church be revived. 3. " That the pope's ufurped authority be difcharged. All which was voted, and the minifters were defired to draw up a confeftion of faith, which they expreffed in 25 articles, agreeable to the fentiments of Calvin, and the foreign reformers. The confeffion being read
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