Brethren, We thocht it expedient to certifie yow that being in France, and hearing the great troubles in this our native countrey, of conscience and dewtie was compellit to come home, desyreous to helpe to pacifie the same at our utter power: First to the glory of God Almightie, and next to the relief of the right sair and lamentable oppressed trew subjects, quhais innocent blood and innumerable heirschips, oppressiones, wrongs and slewths that hes been committit, and daily is upon them, is to us so grievous and intollerable a burden both in conscience and honor, that we refuse not only this our native realme, but also the hale warld or it were not reformit; and albeit in my absence I have sustained wrong, I assure my owne particular naither in blood, lands, nor gear, is so heavie to me as the great danger this haill kingdome stands intill, giue be the grace of Almighty God, and help of the old and natiue Scotts blood, it be not foreseen and relieved in tyme. Heiring of your Conventione, brethren, at this tyme, I have send this bearer to you to declare this to be our full and determinit minde to follow be the grace of God; First, That the word of God may have free passage through this haill realme, and that the sacraments may be ministrat according to the institutione of Christ Jesus his Sone our Saviour: Next, That every true subject of this realme may live without feare upon that whilk is justly his owne, according to God’s calling and commandement. In this cause of this present diversitie of our native Soveraigne and ane pairt of her subjects, ffor the qwhilk we are very heartilie sorrie, and as Almightie God knawes innocent of foirknawledge of any thing, so we would wische all uthers to be the lyke. Our desyre is, that all hostilitie and troubles might be pacified according to the command of God, and that the haill Estates in quiet and peaceable manner may continew, and first calling for his grace and Holy Spirite of righteous judgement, might consider the ground and beginning of this altogidder evill deid, I meane the slaughter of the Queen’s late husband, what hes proceedet thereupon sinsyne, and what God wald of reasone sould be done therefore; and this to be devysed either be the haill estates or 25 of the wysist of the nobilitie chosen be the haill, and to be followit be the whole people of the realme, whereunto we of the nobilitie and all that continews under our obedience to the Queen our Soveraigne, sall for God’s and for the commone weall be found agreeable. I avoyde the wrougous judgement may be spoken that we wreit this to yow because of proclamations that the Earle of Murray hes made in diverse shyres of this realme, to have the people in Glasgow the 10. of March: We would ye should consider we doe it not for that cause: ffor first as ye knaw sen before thir troubles begane we have never been in this countrie before the 25. of this instant Februarii, wherethrough we