"TO THE QUEEN'S GRACE REGENT, all humble obedience and duty premised. As heretofore, with jeopardy of our lives, and yet with willing hearts, we have served the authority of Scotland, and your Grace, now Regent in this realm, in service dangerous and painful to our bodies; so now, with most dolorous minds we are constrained by unjust tyranny purposed against us to declare unto your Grace, that, unless this cruelty be stayed by your wisdom, we will be compelled to take the sword of just defence against all that shall pursue us for the matter of religion, and for our conscience' sake; which ought not, nor may not, be subject to mortal creatures, farther than by God's Word man be able to prove that he hath power to command us. "We signify moreover unto your Grace, that if by rigour we be compelled to seek the extreme defence, we will not only notify our innocence and petitions to the King of France, to our Mistress and to her husband, but also to the Princes and Council of every Christian realm, declaring unto them that this cruel, unjust, and most tyrannical murder, intended against towns and multitudes, was and is the only cause of our revolt from our accustomed obedience, which, in God's presence, we faithfully promise to our Sovereign Mistress, to her husband, and unto your Grace Regent; provided that our consciences may live in that peace and liberty which Christ Jesus hath purchased unto us by His blood; and that we may have His Word truly preached, and holy Sacraments rightly ministrate unto us, without which we firmly purpose never to be subject to mortal man. For we think it better to expose our bodies to a thousand deaths than to hazard our souls to perpetual condemnation, by denying Christ Jesus and His manifest verity, which thing not only do they that commit open idolatry, but also all such as, seeing their brethren unjustly pursued for the cause of religion, and having sufficient means to comfort and assist them, do not-the-less withdraw from them their dutiful support. "Your Grace's obedient subjects in all things not repugnant to God, "THE FAITHFUL CONGREGATION OF CHRIST JESUS IN SCOTLAND."