The Queen and Court remained at Aberdeen certain days, to deliberate upon the affairs of the country; and some began to smell that the Earl of Huntly was under gathering.[205] While things were so working in the north, the Earl Bothwell brake his ward, and came forth from the Castle of Edinburgh on the 28th of August. Some say that he broke the stanchions of the window; others whispered that he got easy passage by the gates. One thing is certain; the Queen was little offended at his escaping. The said Earl showed himself not very much afraid, for his common residence was in Lothian. The Archbishop of St. Andrews and Abbot of Crossraguel kept secret convention at that same time in Paisley, and to them resorted divers Papists; yea, the said Archbishop spake with the Duke, and unto him came also the Lord Gordon from the Earl of Huntly, requiring him "to put to his hands in the south, as he should do in the north; and Knox's crying or preaching should not stay that purpose." The Archbishop, let him be never so close, could not altogether hide his mind, but at his own table said, "The Queen is gone into the north, belike to seek disobedience: she may perchance find the thing that she seeks." It was constantly affirmed that the Earl Bothwell and the said Lord Gordon spake together, but of their purpose we heard no mention. [205] That is, his clansmen were being mobilised. [Sidenote: John Knox warns the Protestants.] The same year, and at that instant time, Commissioners were appointed by the General Assembly. To Carrick and Cunningham, Master George Hay was sent, and he, for the space of a month, preached with great fruit in all the churches of Carrick. To Kyle, and to the parts of Galloway, John Knox was appointed. Besides showing the doctrine of the Evangel to the common people, John Knox forewarned some of the nobility and Barons of the dangers that he feared, and that were apparently to follow shortly; and he exhorted them to put themselves in order, so that they might be able to serve the authority, and yet not to suffer the enemies of God's truth to have the upper hand. Thereupon, a great part of the Barons and Gentlemen of Kyle and Cunningham and Carrick, professing the true doctrine of the Evangel, assembled at Ayr. [Sidenote: A Bond is again subscribed.]