THUS have we, in these few Headis, offered unto youre Honouris oure
judgmentis, according as we war commanded, tueching the Reformatioun
of thingis which heirtofoir have altogidder bene abused in this
curssed Papistrie. We doubt not but some of oure Petitionis shall
appear strange unto you at the first sight. But yf your Wisdomes
deaplie considder, that we must ansuer not onlie unto men, but also
befoir the throne of the Eternall God, and of his Sone Christ Jesus,
for the counsall which we geve in this so grave a mater; your Honouris
shall easilie considder, that more assured it is till us to fall in
the displeasour of all men in earth, then to offend the Majestie of
God, whose justice can not suffer flatteraris and deceitfull
Counsalouris unpunished.
That we require the Churche to be set at suche libertie, that scho
neathir be compelled to fead idill bellyes, neathir yit to susteane
the tyrannye which heirtofoir by violence hath bene manteaned, we know
will offend many. But yf we should keape silence heirof, we ar most
assured to offend the just and rychteous God, who by the mouth of his
Apostle hath pronunced this sentence:--"He that lauboreth nott, let
him not eat." Yf we in this behalf, or in any other, requyre or ask
any [other] thing, than by Goddis expressed commandiment, by equitie
and good conscience ye ar bound to grant, lett it be noted, and after
repudiat; but yf we require nothing which God requyreth not also, let
your Honouris tack head, how ye ganestand the charge of him whose hand
and punishment ye can not eschape.
Yf blynd affectioun rather lead you to have respect to the
sustentatioun of those your carnall Freindis, who tyrannouslie have
impyred above the poor flock of Christ Jesus, than that the zeall of
Goddis glorie provock and move you to sett his oppressed Churche at
fredome and libertie, we fear your scharpe and suddane punischmentis,
and that the glorie and honour of this interpryse be reserved unto
otheris.
And yitt shall this oure judgment abyd to the Generationis following
for a monument and witness, how lovinglie God called you and this
Realme[580] to repentance, what counsallouris God send unto you, and
how ye [have] used the same. Yf obedientlie ye hear God now calling,
we doubt not but he shall hear you in your greatest necessitie. But
yf, following youre awin corrupt judgmentis, ye contempt his voice and
vocatioun, we ar assured that your formare iniquitie, and present
ingratitude, shall togither crave just punishment frome God, who can
not long delay to execute his most just judgmentis, when, after many
offenses and long blyndness, grace and mercy offered is
contemptuouslie refused.
[580] In edit. 1621, "this nation."
God the Father of oure Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of his Holy
Spreit, so illuminat your heartis, that ye may clearlie see what is
pleasing and acceptable in his presence; so bow the same till his
obedience, that ye may prefer his reveilled will to your awin
affectionis; and so strengthen you by the spreit of fortitude, that
boldlie ye may punishe vyce, and maintene virtue within this Realme,
to the praise and glorie of his Holy name; to the conforte and
assurance of your awin Consciences, and to the consolatioun and good
example of the Posteriteis following. Amen. So be it.
BY YOUR HONOURIS
MOST HUMBLE SERVITOURIS, ETC.
Frome Edinburgh,
The 20 of Maij 1560.