The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

❧ The Queens Letter to the Provest, Bailiff, and Council of Edinburgh. Provest, Bailiff and Council of our City of Edinburgh, We received your Letter from our Advocate, and understand by this report what diligence you took to stay the Tumult in the late disorder attempted at Edinburgh; wherein, as you did your duty in suppressing the Tumult, so can we not take in good part, nor think our self satisfied of so notorious a thing, without certain seditious persons, who were pleased to do justice perforce and without the Magistrates Authority, be condignly and really punished for their rashness and misbehaviour; for if all private Persons should usurp to take vengeance at their own hands, What lies in ours? And to what purpose hath good Laws and Statutes been established? Since therefore we have never been obstinate to the due punishment of any offenders, prescribed by the Laws, but have always maintained Justice in that case without respect of persons. It is Our will, and We command you, as you will answer to Us upon your obedience and allegiance, That you will take before you certain of the most responsible persons which are declared Authors of the said Sedition, and usurpers of our Authority, and to administer Justice upon them, in such sort as We may know a sincerity on your parts, and Our Authority no ways slighted. But if you fail, persuade your selves, (and that shortly) we will not oversee it, but will account this Contempt not only to be in the Committers thereof, but in your selves, who ought to punish it, and relieve us on our part, remitting the rest to your diligence and execution, which we look for so soon as reason will permit. Subscribed with Our Hand at STIRLING, this 24 of April, Anno 1565.

❧ The Queens Letter to the Provest, Bailiffe, and Councell of Edinburgh. PRrovest, Bayliffe and Councell of our Citie of Edinburgh, We received your Letter from our Advocate, and understand by this report what diligence you took to stay the Tumult in the late disorder attempted at Edinburgh; wherein, as you did your duty in suppressing the Tumult, so can we not take in good part, nor thinke our self satisfied of so notorious a thing, without certain seditious persons, who were pleased to do justice perforce and without the Magistrates Authoritie, be condignly and really punished for their rashnesse and misbehaviour; for if all private Persons should usurpe to take vengeance at their owne hands, What lies in ours? And to what purpose hath good Laws and Statutes been established? Since therefore we have never been obstinate to the due punishment of any offendors, prescribed by the Lawes, but have alwayes maintained Iustice in that case without respect of persons. It is Our will, and We command you, as you will answer to Us upon your obedience and allegiance, That you will take before you certaine of the most responsall persons which are declared Authors of the said Sedition, and usurpers of our Authority, and to administer Iustice upon them, in such sort as We may know a sinceritie on your parts, and Our Authority no wayes slighted. But if you faile, perswade your selves, (and that shortly) we will not oversee it, but will account this Contempt not onely to be in the Committers thereof, but in your selves, who ought to punish it, and relieve us on our part, remitting the rest to your diligence and execution, which we look for so soon as reason will permit. Subscribed with Our Hand at STERLIN, this 24 of April, Anno 1565.