By word and write, it hes come to our knowledge, Reverend Pastors, that diverse of our dearest brethren, amongst whom are some of the best learned within that realme, are depryved from ecclesiasticall sunshine and forbidden to preach, and so by you are stayed to promove the Kingdome of Christ, because their conscience will not suffer them to take upon them, at commandment of the authoritie, sick garments as idolaters in tyme of blindnesse have used in their idolatrie, whilk bruit cannot be bot most dolorous to our hearts, mindfull of that sentence of the Apostle, saying, If ye byte and devowre one another, take heid lest ye be consumed one of another. We purpose not at this present, to enter into the ground whilk we hear of aither partie, to be agitate with greater vehemencie then well lyketh us, To witt, whether sic apparell is to be counted amongst things simple and indifferent or not. But, in the bowells of Christ Jesus, we crave that Christian charity may so prevaill in you; in you, we say, the Pasters and leaders of the flock in that realme, that ye doe not to uthers that quhilk ye would not have uthers doe to you. Ye cannot be ignorant how tender a thing the conscience of man is. All that have knowledge are not alyke persuaded, yet conscience reclaims not at the wearing of sic garments, but many thousands, both godly and learned, are utherwayes persuaded, whose consciences are continually stricken with thir sentences--What has Christ to do with Belial? What fellowshid is betwixt light and darkness? If surcloaths, cornet, cape, and tippet, hes been badges of idolators in the very act of their idolatrie, what hes the preacher of Christian libertie and the open rebuke of all superstitione to doe with the dreggs of that Romish beast? Yea, what is he that ought not to feare either to take in his hand or forehead the print and mark of that odious beast? Our brethren that of conscience refuses that unprofitable apparell does rather now molest you that use sick vain trifles: if ye shall doe the like to them, we doubt not but therein ye shall please God, and comfort the hearts of many whilks are wounded with the extreamitie that is used against these godly and our well-beloved brethren. Collour of Rhetoric or manly persuasion will we use none, but charitablie we desyre you to call that sentence of Peter to minde; Feed the flock of God whilk is commited to your charge, caring for it, not be restraint but willingly, not as though ye were lords over God’s heritage, but that ye may be ensamples to the flock. And, farder, alse we desire you to meditate on that sentence of the Apostle, saying, Give nane offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Grecians, nor to the Kirk of God. In what condition of tyme ye and we both travell in the promoving of Christ’s Kingdome, we suppose you not to be ignorant; and therefore we are more bold to exhort you to walk more circumspectly then that for sick vanities the godly should