Now, God had so provided that the Quarter of the Westland, in which were many faithful men, were that same day returned from the Border. Understanding the matter to proceed from the malice of the priests, they assembled and made passage for themselves until they came to the very privy chamber, where the Queen Regent and the bishops were. The gentlemen began to complain of their strange entertainment, considering that her Grace had found in them faithful obedience in all things lawful. When the Queen began to craft, a zealous and a bold man, James Chalmers of Gadgirth, said, "Madam, we know that this is the malice and device of these Jefwellis,[118] and of that bastard (meaning the Archbishop of St. Andrews) that stands by you. We avow to God we shall make a day of it. They oppress us and our tenants that they may feed their idle bellies: they trouble our preachers, and would murder them and us: shall we suffer this any longer? Nay, Madam: it shall not be." And therewith every man put on his steel bonnet. [118] Jail-birds. Then was heard nothing on the Queen's part but, "My joys, my hearts, what ails you? Me means no evil to you nor to your preachers. The bishops shall do you no wrong. Ye are all my loving subjects. Me know nothing of this proclamation. The day of your preachers shall be discharged, and me will hear the controversy that is betwixt the bishops and you. They shall do you no wrong. My Lords," said she to the bishops, "I forbid you either to trouble them or their preachers." And unto the gentlemen, who were wondrously moved, she turned again, and said, "O my hearts, should ye not love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind? and should ye not love your neighbours as yourselves?" With these and the like fair words, she kept the bishops from buffets at that time. [Sidenote: The downcasting of Saint Giles's Image, and Discomfiture of Baal's Priests.] The day of summons being discharged, the brethren universally began to be further encouraged. But the bishops could not be quiet; and Saint Giles's day approaching, they gave charge to the Provost, Bailies, and Council of Edinburgh, either to get again the old Saint Giles, or else at their own expense to make a new image. The Council answered that to them the charge appeared very unjust; for they understood that God in some places had commanded idols and images to be destroyed. Where He had commanded images to be set up, they had not read; and they desired the Bishop to find a warrant for his commandment. The Bishop, offended, admonished them under pain of cursing; but they prevented[119] this by a formal appellation, appealing from him, as from a partial and corrupt judge, unto the Pope's Holiness. Greater things shortly following, that passed into oblivion. [119] Anticipated.