Articles to be direct to the King’s Majestie, being presentit in forme, the haill Assemblie votit to the presenting thereof, with the Instructiones, qwhairof the tenor follows. SIR, The strait Commissione we haue receavit of the Eternall, our God, qwhen, as in this your Majestie’s realme, we were made watchmen of his people, and fearfull threatening pronuncit against such as neglect faithfully to execute every pairt of their weighty charge, compells us presently to haue recourse unto your Majestie, percewing many things to fall furth, greatly to the prejudice of God’s Glory, and no small appearance of utter wrack of this his Kirk and Commonwealth, unless some heastie remead be put thereto; most humblie, therefore, beseikand your Majestie diligently to weighe and consider thir few heids, qwhilks, with all reverence and observance we present, looking for graceous answer and speedy redress thereof. 1. It is ane great griefe to the hearts of all these that fears God, that apostates, sworne enemies to Christ, your Grace, and all your faithfull subjects, forfault for their treasone--some also suspect and bruitit with the murther of the most noble persone of your umquhill father--impugners of the truth be word and wreite--continuing still in their wickedness, unreconcilit to the Kirk, to receave of your Majestie the benefite of pacificatione to the prejudice of the faithfull ministers, qwham violently be their meanes they labour to dispossesse. 2. That wthers from their youth, nurischit in the Kirk of God, with us, and sensyne fearfullie fallen back therefrae, and become greit runnagats, and blasphemers of the truth, and maintainers of idolatrie, and that Man of Sinne, Liutennant of Satane, and oppressors of God’s people; and yet, notwithstanding, are receivit in court, authorised, and so far countenanced, that they are becum familiars with your Majestie, qwhairthrough, besyde the grief of your Majestie’s subjects, many are brought to doubt qwhat shall ensew upon such beginnyngs. 3. That a wicked obstinate Papist sent in the countrie to traffique against God and quyetness of your Grace’s estate, and therefore is worthy of death, committit in ward at your Grace’s command, with sure promise that he sould not escape punischment, yet as we understand, was, be indirect meanes, let depart, and no tryall taken of the author of his delyverie. 4. That your Majestie seems to have over great lyking of the enemies of God, alsewell in France as some within this realme, who hes never gine testimony of any good meining aither in religione or in your Majestie’s seruice, have succeidit to men that were knawne zealous in God’s cause, and faythfull to your Grace from your tender age.