It was now November 2 or 3. He immediately convoked a council at Holyrood palace. But in his rage against the nobles, he summoned only the bishops, the priests, and their partisans; all those who made a trade of pandering to the passions of the prince and who had no other aim but to secure the triumph of the clergy. When they saw the king’s discouragement, and his anger against the nobles, they persuaded themselves that the moment was come for them to make an end of their enemies. That, they thought, would not be very difficult. These men, branded by public opinion, did not care to furnish evidence in support of their denunciations. The only trouble they took was to deprive the innocent of all means of clearing themselves. They thought that it would for the moment suffice them to obtain a hearing, to accuse some noble of heresy and to call as witnesses certain men of infamous character in their own pay. With one accord, therefore, they all strove to inflame the king against the Reformation and its friends. Oliver Sinclair, among the laymen, distinguished himself in these proceedings, and among the churchmen, Beatoun. ‘The cardinal and the priests,’ it was said, ‘cast fagots in the fire with all their force.’[250] They drew up a list containing the names of all of whom they wished to be rid. There were the names of about one hundred nobles, among whom were Lord Hamilton, the first person of the realm after the king, the earls of Cassilis and Glencairn, the earl Marshal, and other nobles, all well disposed towards the Word of God.[251] This fact shows what progress the Reformation had made in Scotland. The majority of these _suspects_, to be sure, were not decided evangelical Christians, but they had leanings that way. Once already James had refused to accept such a list. But the case was different now, and he accepted it at once, and expressed to the prelates his regret that he had so long set their counsels aside. ‘I see clearly at this moment that you are right,’ he said; ‘the nobles neither desire my honor nor my continuance; for they would not ride a mile for my pleasure to follow enemies. Will ye therefore find me the means that I may have raid made in England without their knowledge and consent, that may be known to be my own raid, and I shall bind me to your counsel forever.’ [Sidenote: A PROSCRIPTION LIST.]