Church of Scotland; Knox, John, approximately 1514-1572; Reformation -- Scotland; Theology -- Early works to 1800
That with jugement, we have advysed your Majesteis letteris;
and albeit the haill Estaittis culd not suddandlie be
assemblit, yit we thocht expedient to signifie somquhat of
oure myndis unto your Majestie. Far be it frome us, that
eather we tak upone us, that infamye befoir the warld, or
grudge of conscience befoir oure God, that we suld lychtlie
esteme the observatioun of that peace laitlie contractit
betwix these two Realmes. By quhat motives oure Soverane
delayeth the ratificatioun thairof, we can nott tell: but of
us, (of us, we say, Madame, that have in Goddis presence
protested fidelitie in oure promeisses,) hir Grace hes none.
Your Majestie can not be ignorant, that in this Realme thair
ar mony ennemeis; and, farther, that oure Soverane hes
Counsalouris, quhois jugementis scho in all suche cases
preferreth to ouris. Oure allegeance bindeth us, nott onlie
reverentlie to speik and write of oure Soverane, but also so
to juge and think: and yit your Majestie may be weill
assured, that in us salbe noted no blame, gif that peace be
nott ratifiet to your Majesteis contentment: for God is
witness, that oure cheiff cair in this earth, nyxt the
glorie of oure God, is, that constant peace may remane
betwix these two Realmes; quhairof your Majestie and realme
sall have suyre experience sa lang as oure counsall or votes
may stay the contrarie. The benefite that we haif receaved
is so recent, that we can nott suddandlie bury it in
forgetfulnes. We wald desyre your Majestie rather to be
perswaded of us, that we to oure powaris will studye to
leave it in remembrance to oure posteritie. And thus, with
lauchfull and humble commendatioun of oure service, we
committ youre Majestie to the protectioun of the Omnipotent.
Of Edinburgh, the 16 of Julij 1561.
Thair war some utheris that answered some of the ministeris of Ingland
somequhat more scharplie, and willed thame nott to accuse nor
threatten sa scharplie, till that thai war able to convict suche as
haid promised fidelitie of some evident cryme; quhilk, althocht thai
war able to lay to the charge of some, yit respect wald be haid to
suche as long haid declared thame selfis constant procureris of
quyetnes and peace.
The suddane arryvall of the Quene maid grite alteratioun evin in the
Counsall, as efter we will heir. In this meantyme, the Papistis by
surmising, trublit quhat thai mycht: thair postis, letteris, and
complaintis wer from day to day direct, some to the Paipe, some to the
Cardinall of Lorane, and some to oure Quene. The principall of these
curriouris war, Maister Stevin Wilsoun,[363] Maister Johnne Leslie,
called _Nolumus_ and _Volumus_,[364] Maister James Thorntoun,[365]
and utheris, suche as leved, and still leve, by the trafique of that
Romane harlott.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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