But punishment of that enormity and fearful attempt we could get none: more and more they presumed to do violence, and frequented nightly masking. Some, as Robin Craig's household, because his daughter was fair, delighted therein; others lamented, and began to bear the matter very heavily. At length, the Lord Duke's friends assembled one night upon the causeway. The Abbot of Kilwinning (who then was joined to the Church, and, as we understand, doth yet abide so) was the principal man at the beginning. To him repaired many faithful; and amongst others came Andrew Stewart, Lord Ochiltree, a man rather born to make peace than to brag upon the causeway, and demanded the quarrel. Being informed of the former enormity, he said, "Nay, such impiety shall not be suffered so long as God shall assist us. By His grace, we will maintain the victory that God in His mercy hath given." So he commanded his son, Andrew Stewart, then Master, and his servants to put themselves in order, and to bring forth their spears and long weapons; and thus did others. Word came to the Earl Bothwell and his party that the Hamiltons were upon the gait.[197] Vows were made that the Hamiltons should be dung not only out of the town, but also out of the country. Lord John of Coldingham had married the Earl Bothwell's sister, a sufficient woman for such a man; others drew the Lord Robert; and so they both joined with the Earl Bothwell. But the stoutness of the Marquis Le Boeuf, D'Elboeuf they call him, is most to be commended; for in his chamber, within the Abbey, he started to a halbert, and ten men were scarcely able to hold him; but, as hap was, the inner gate of the Abbey kept him that night. The danger was betwixt the Cross and the Salt Tron; and so he was a large quarter of a mile from the shot and slanting[198] of bolts. The Master of Maxwell gave declaration to the Earl Bothwell that, if he stirred from his lodging, he, and all that would assist him, should resist him in the face: these words did somewhat beat down that blast. The Earls of Huntly and Moray,[199] being in the Abbey where the Marquis was, came with their companies, sent from the Queen to stay that tumult. This they did; for Bothwell and his party were commanded to keep their lodgings, under pain of treason. [197] On the move. [198] Range. [199] Formerly Lord James Stewart: cf. page 247, _n._ [Sidenote: Plots against the Earl of Moray.] It was whispered by many that the desire for a quarrel with the Earl of Moray was as strong as was any hatred that the Hamiltons bore against the Earl Bothwell, or he against them. Indeed, either had the Duke very false servants, or else the Earl of Moray's death was conspired oftener than once by Huntly and the Hamiltons. Suspicion of this burst forth so far that one day the said Earl, being upon horse to come to the sermon, was charged by one of the Duke's own servants to return and abide with the Queen. [Sidenote: Earl Bothwell speaks with John Knox.]