judgement before the parties, protesting, if I were not heard and satisfied, I either wald desist from proclameing, or else declare my minde publickly before the Kirk. Therefore, being admittit, afternoone, before my Lord in Councill, I laid to his charge the law of adulterie, the ordinance of the Kirk, the law of ravishing, the suspicion of collusioune betwixt him and his wife, the sudden divorcement and proclaiming within the space of four dayes, and last the suspicioune of the King’s death, whilk his marriage will confirme. But he answered nothing to my satisfactione: Wherefore, after many exhortationes, I protested that I could not but declare my minde openly to the Kirk. Therefore, upon Sonday, after I had declared what they had done, and how they would proceed whether we would or not, I tooke Heaven and earth to witness that I abhorred and detested that marriage, because it was odious and sclanderous to the world; and seeing the best part of the realme did approve it, either be flatterie or else be their silence, I desyred the faithfull to pray earnestly that God would turne it to the comfort of this realme, that thing whilk they intended againes reasone and good conscience. I, because I heard some persones gangand againes me, used thir reasones for my defences: First, I had broken no law be proclaiming of thir persones at their request: Secondly, If their marriage was sclanderous and hurtfull, I did well for warning all men of it in tyme: Thirdly, As I had of dewtie declareit to them the Prince’s will, so did I faithfully tell them be word and example what God craveit of them. But upon Tuesday last I was calleit before the Councill, and accuseit that I had passed the bounds of my commissioune calling the Prince’s marriage odious and sclanderous before the world. I answered, the bounds of my jurisdictione, whilk was the word of God, guid lawes, and naturall reasone, was able to prove whatsoever I spake; yea, that their owne conscience could not but beare witness that sic a marriage would be odious and sclanderous to all that should hear of it, give all the circumstances thereof were rightly considered: But whill I was comeing to my probatione, my Lord put me to silence, and sent me away; and so upon Wedensday I first repeatit and ratified all things before spoken; and after, exhorted the brethren not to accuse me give that marriage proceeded, but rather themselves, who would not, for feare, oppone themselves, but rather sharpeit their tongues against me, because I admonished them of their deutie, and suffered not the kankert consciences of hypocrites to sleep at rest; protesting at all tymes to them, that it was not my proclaiming, but rather their silence, that give any lawfullness to that marriage: ffor as the proclaiming did take all excuses from them, so my private and publick impugnatione did safe my conscience sufficiently; and this farr I proceeded in this marriage,