All othir thingis tuiching the bookes to be red in ilk classe, and all suche particular effaires, we refer to the discretioun of the Maisteris, Principallis, and Regentis, with thair weill advisit Counsallis; not doubting but yf God sall grant quietnes, and gif your Wisdomes grace to set fordward letteris in the sort prescribed, ye shall leave wisdome and learnyng to your posteritie, ane treasure more to be estemed nor ony earthlie treasure ye ar abill to provide[489] for thame; whiche, without wisdome, ar more abill to be thair ruyne and confusioun, than help or confort. And as this is most treu, so we leave it with the rest of the commoditeis to be weyit by your Honouris wisdome, and set fordwart by your authoritie to the most heigh advancement of this Common-wealth, committed to your charge. [489] In edit. 1621, "to amasse." THE SEXT HEID, OF THE RENTIS AND PATRIMONY OF THE KIRK.[490] [490] In edit, 1722, Chap. VIII. These twa sortis of men, that is to say, the Ministers[491] and the Pure, togidder with the Schollis, when ordour sall be takin thairanent, must be sustened upoun the chargeis of the Churche: And thairfore provisioun must be maid, how and of whome suche soumes must be lifted. But befoir we enter in this heid, we must crave of your Honouris, in the name of the Eternall God and of his Sone Christ Jesus, that ye have respect to your pure brethren, the lauboraris and manuraris of the ground; who by these creuell beastis the Papistis have bene so oppressit,[492] that thair life to thame have bene dolorus and bitter. Yf ye will have God author and approver of youre reformatioun, ye must nott follow thair futesteppis; but ye must have compassioun upoun your brethren, appointing thame to pay so reasonabill teyndis, that thei may feill[493] sum benefit of Christ Jesus, now precheit unto thame. [491] In edit. 1722, "ministers of the Word." [492] In edit. 1621, "have before been opprest." [493] In edit. 1621, "may find." With the greaf of our hertis we heare, that sum Gentilmen are now als creuell over thair tennentis as ever war the Papistis, requiring of thame whatsoever before thay payit to the Churche;[494] so that the Papisticale tirrannye shall onlie be changeit in the tirrannye of the lord or of the laird. We dar not flatter your Honouris, neathir yit is it proffitabill for you that so we do: if you permit suche creualtie[495] to be used, neather shall ye, who by your authoritie aucht to ganestand suche oppressioun, neathir thei that use the same, escheip Goddis hevy and feirfull judgementis. The Gentilmen, Baronis, Earlis, Lordis, and utheris, must be content to live upon thair just rentis, and suffer the Churche to be restorit to hir libertie, that, in hir restitutioun, the poore, who heirtofore by the creuall Papistis have bene spoilled and oppressit, may now resave sum confort and relaxatioun. [494] In edit. 1621, "whatsoever they afore payed to the Kirk." [495] In edit. 1621, "if we permit cruelty."