The words wherein the Duke’s Grace is offendit are thir; That the said Mr Walter had spoken in pulpit, that within this four years, Papistrie had enterit in the countrie, not only in the court but in the King’s hall, and maintained be the tyrannie of a great campione, who is callit Grace; and if his Grace vald oppone himself to God’s word, he sould haue little grace. Further, concernyng the Bischope of Glasgow, the King’s Majestie desyrit they sould stay any proceedings against him as bischop; yet if there be any uther thing the Kirk hes to lay to his charge, let them use their order. Hereunto the said Mr Walter answerit, Seeing in the King’s Majesties letter and credite gine to the bearer thereof, he is accusit,--praying the Moderator to suffer him to give his answer thereto; the sum quhairof schortly shall be this: First, he praisit God that he is not accusit of any thing wherein ather civilie or criminallie in his life or conversatione, he hes offendit the King’s Majestie, or his laws, whereunto with all reverence and all tymes he is readie to submitt himself as effeirs, but is accusit of these things whilk he hes spoken publickly in the pulpit, qwherein he hes been mair plaine in reproveing of vice then sum men can goodlie suffer, qwhilk is a very point of his doctrine; qwhilk, howbeit, he heir there callit open sclander, yet he man so justifie the same, that although all the kings of the earth wald call it erroneous, yet he is ready here be good reasone to prove it to be the very trewth of God; and if neid sall requyre, to seall it with his blood. Secondlie, he praises God for this, that of his last accusation, God hes giuen this meikle victorie to this Kirk, that howbeit then it was callit in questione, to whom the judgement of the doctrine sould appertayne, yet as then be good reasone it was concludit and promised be the King’s Majestie, Counsell, and Commissioners appoyntit therfra, to conferr with the ministers in that matter, That in all tymes cuming the tryall of the ministers’ doctrine sould be referrit to the judgement of the Assemblie of the Kirk, as the only competent judge thereto; so now it is performit, and for that he sies that promise now keepit, he thanks God, and is so meikle the more glad to give his answer before their godlie wisdomes of the Assemblie present, as his competent judges in this matter, and that after this manner. As concernyng these things qwhilks he spake in his sermon the last Wedensday, he spake them not quyetlie, but all his breither and all the haill Assemblie heard them, and so, of all wthers, can best judge of the same. Wherefore, with all reverence, he will submitt himself simply unto their godly judgements, alwayes neither being aschamitt of his doctrine, neither yet being myndit to giue advantage to his enemies, so far as he may, whose purpose he knaws against him in this matter. He will only requyre this conditione,--that the canone of the Apostle Paul be keepit to him, qwhilk is this: Against