The Earl Bothwell, who had broken ward, fearing apprehension, prepared to pass to France; but, by storm of weather, he was driven into England, where he was stayed, and the Queen of England offered to surrender him. But our Queen answered that he was no rebel, and requested that he should have liberty to pass whither it pleased him. In this, Lethington helped not a little; for he travailed to have friends in every faction of the Court. Thus the said Earl obtained licence to pass to France. [Sidenote: The Preachers admonish the Courtiers.] The Court remained for the most part in Edinburgh, during the winter after the death of the Earl of Huntly. The preachers were wondrously vehement in reprehension of all manner of vice, which then began to abound; and especially avarice, oppression of the poor, excess, riotous cheer, banqueting, immoderate dancing, and the whoredom that ensues. The courtiers began to storm, and to pick quarrels against the preachers, alleging that all their preaching was turned to railing. One of them gave answer as follows: "It comes to our ears that we are called railers. Albeit we wonder, we are not ashamed. The most worthy servants of God that before us have travailed in this vocation have so been styled. But the same God, who from the beginning has punished the contempt of His Word, and has poured forth His vengeance upon such proud mockers, shall not spare you; yea, He shall not spare you before the eyes of this same wicked generation, for whose pleasure ye despise all wholesome admonitions. "Have ye not seen a greater than any of you sitting where presently ye sit, pick his nails and pull down his bonnet over his eyes, when idolatry, witchcraft, murder, oppression, and such vices were rebuked? Was not his common talk, 'When these knaves have railed their fill, will they then hold their peace?' Have ye not heard it affirmed to his own face that God should revenge his blasphemy, even in the eyes of such as were witnesses to his iniquity? Then was the Earl of Huntly accused by you as the maintainer of idolatry, and the only hinderer of all good order. Him has God punished, even according to the threatenings that his and your ears heard; and by your hands hath God executed His judgments. "But what amendment in any case can be espied in you? Idolatry was never in greater rest: virtue and virtuous men were never in more contempt: vice was never more bold, never did it less fear punishment. And yet, who guides the Queen and Court? Who but the Protestants? O horrible slanderers of God, and of His holy Evangel. Better it were for you plainly to renounce Christ Jesus, than thus to expose His blessed Evangel to mockage. If God do not punish you, so that this same age shall see and behold your punishment, the Spirit of righteous judgment guides me not."... [Sidenote: The General Assembly: 25th December 1562.]