The Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, conveened at
Edinburgh the 25th of December 1566, To the Nobilitie of this
Realme that professe the Lord Jesus with them, and hes renunced
that Roman Antichrist, desyre constancie in faith, and the
spirit of righteous judgement.
Seeing that Satan, be all our negligences, (Right Honourable,) hes
so far prevailed within this realme of late dayes, that we stand
in extream danger not only to losse our temporall possessions, bot
also be depryved of the glorious Evangell of Christ Jesus, and so
we and our posteritie to be left in damnable darkness, we could
no longer contain ourselves nor keep silence, lest in so doing we
might be accused as guiltie of the blood of sic as shall perishe for
lack of admonishment, as the Prophet threatens. We, therefore, in
the fear of our God, and with grief and anguish of heart, complains
unto your honors, yea, we must complaine unto God and to all his
obedient creatures, That that conjurit enemie of Jesus Christ, and
cruell murtherer of our dear brethren, most falsly styled Archbishop
of St Andrews, is reponed and restored be signator to his former
tyrannie: ffor not only are his ancient jurisdictions (as they are
termed) of the haill bishopric of St Andrews granted unto him, but
also the execution of judgement, confirmatione of testaments, and
donatione of benefices, as more ample in his signator is exprest.
If this be not to cure the head of that venemous beast whilk ance
within this realme, be the potent hand of God, was so banished
and broken downe that be tyranny it could not hurt the faithfull,
judge ye. His antient jurisdictione was, that he with certaine
his colleagues collateralls, might have damnit of heresie, upon
probatione as pleased him, and then to take all that were suspect of
heresie heretofore. Ye cannot be ignorant judges whether they remaine
in their former malice or not: their states and travells openly
declares. The danger may be feared, say ye; but what remedie? It is
easie and at hand, Right Honourable, if ye will not betray the cause
of God and leave your brethren, whilk never will be more subject to
that usurped tyrannie then they will unto the Diuell himselfe. Our
Queen belyke is not well informed. She ought not, nor justly may
not, breake the lawes of this realme; and so consequently she may
not raise up against us, without our consent, that Roman Antichrist
againe: ffor in ane lawfull and free Parliament as ever was in the
realme before, was that odious beast depryved of all jurisdictione,
office, and authority within this realme. Her Majestie, at her first
arryvall, and be diverse her proclamations sinsyne, hes expressly
forbidden all uther forme and fact of religione then that whilk she
fand publickly established at her arryvall: Therefore she may not
bring us the greatest part of the subjects of this realme back againe
to bondage, till that alse lawfull and alse free ane Parliament as
justly damned that Antichrist and his usurped authority have given
decision betwixt us and him heirof, and of uther things that no less
concerns yourselfes then us, ye plainly and boldly admonishe our
Soveraigne, and without tumult only crave justice. The tyrants dare
no more be seen in lawful judgement, nor dare the howlats in the
day light. Weigh this matter as it is, and ye shall finde it more
weighty then to many it appears. Farther, at this present we complain
not, but humbly craves of your honors ane reasonable answer, what
ye will doe in case that sic tyrants, devowering wolves be given
to invade the flock of Jesus Christ within this realme, under what
title that ever it be; ffor this we boldly confess, that we will
never acknowledge uther pastors to our saules, nor yet judges to our
cause; and if that for denyall thereof, we either suffer in body or
goods, we doubt not but we have not only ane Judge to punishe them
that unjustly trouble us, but also ane Advocat and strong Champion in
heaven, to recompense them who for his name sake suffer persecutione,
whose Holy Spirit so rule your hearts in his trew fear unto the end.
Your Lordships’ answer yet again we crave. Given in the Generall
Assembly, and third Session thereof, at Edinburgh, December 27, 1566.