On the other hand he states, with no disapproval, the childish quibbles by which his party defended their action.
On reading or hearing the Lords' proclamation, the Catholics, who knew the real terms of treaty, said that the Lords "in their proclamation had made no mention of anything promised to _them_," and "had proclaimed more than was contained in the Appointment;" among other things, doubtless, the promise to dismiss the French.

{145a} The brethren replied to these "calumnies of Papists" (as Calderwood styles them), that they "proclaimed nothing that was not _finally_ agreed upon, _in word and promise_, betwixt us and those with whom the Appointment was made, _whatsoever their scribes had after written_, {145b} who, in very deed, had altered, both in words and sentences, our Articles, _as they were first conceived_; and yet if their own writings were diligently examined, the self same thing shall be found _in substance_." This is most complicated quibbling! Knox uses his ink like the cuttle- fish, to conceal the facts.

The "own writings" of the Regent's party are before us, and do not contain the terms proclaimed by the Congregation.
Next, in drawing up the terms which the Congregation was compelled to accept, the "scribes" of the Regent's party necessarily, and with the consent of the Protestant negotiators, altered the terms proposed by the brethren, but not granted by the Regent's negotiators.

Thirdly, the Congregation now asserted that "_finally_" an arrangement in conformity with their proclamation was "agreed upon _in word and promise_"; that is, verbally, which we never find them again alleging.

The game was to foist false terms on public belief, and then to accuse the Regent of perfidy in not keeping them.
These false terms were not only publicly proclaimed by the Congregation with sound of trumpets, but they were actually sent, by Knox or Kirkcaldy, or both, to Croft at Berwick, for English reading, on July 24.
In a note I print the letter, signed by Kirkcaldy, but in the holograph of Knox, according to Father Stevenson.