The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Most gracious Sovereign Lord,¹ under the Lord and King of all, of whom only thy Highness and Majesty hast power and authority, to exercise Justice within this thy Realm under God, who is King and Lord of all Realms, and thy Majesty, and all mortal kings are but only servants unto that only immortal Prince, Christ Jesus, &c. It is not, I wot, unknown to thy gracious Highness, how that thy Majesties sometime servant and Orator (and ever shall be to my lives end) is departed out of thy Realm, unto the next adjacent of England; nevertheless, I believe the cause of my departing is unknown to thy gracious Majesty: Which only is, Because the Bishops and Church-men of thy Realm have had heretofore such authority upon thy subjects, that apparently they were rather King, and thou the subject; which unjust Regiment is of it self false, and contrary to holy Scripture, and Gods Law. Then thou art the King and Master, and they thy subjects, which is very true, and testified expressly by the Word of God. And also because they will give no man of any degree or state (whom they often call Heretics) audience, time, nor place to speak and have defence, which is against all Law, both the old Law (called the Law of Moses) and the new Law of the Gospel. So that if I might have had audience and place to speak, and have showed my just defence, conformable to the Law of God, I should never have fled to any other Realm, suppose it should have cost me my life. But because I believed that I should have no audience, nor place to answer (they are so great with thy Majesty) I departed not doubting, but moved of God, unto a better time▪ that God illuminate thy Majesty, even to give every man audience (is thou shouldst and mayst, and is bound by the Law of God) who are accused to the death. And to certify thy Highness that these are no vain words, but of deed and effect, here I offer me to thy Majesty to come in thy Realm again, so that thy Majesty will give me audience, and hear what I have for me of the Law of God: and cause any Bishop or Abbot, Friar or Secular, which is most cunning (some of them cannot read their Matins, who are made Judges of Heresy) to impugn me by the Law of God; and if my part be found wrong, thy Majesty being present and Judge, I refuse no pain worthy or condigne for my fault.

MOst gracious Soveraigne Lord,¹ under the Lord and King of all, of whom onely thy Highnesse and Majestie hast power and authority, to exercise Justice within this thy Realme under God, who is King and Lord of all Realms, and thy Majestie, and all mortall kings are but onely servants unto that onely immortall Prince, Christ Jesus, &c. It is not, I wot, unknowne to thy gracious Highnesse, how that thy Majesties sometime servant and Orator (and ever shall be to my lives end) is departed out of thy Realm, unto the next adjacent of England; neverthelesse, I believe the cause of my departing is unknown to thy gracious Majesty: Which onely is, Because the Bishops and Church-men of thy Realm have had heretofore such authority upon thy subjects, that apparently they were rather King, and thou the subject; which unjust Regiment is of it self false, and contrary to holy Scripture, and Gods Law. Then thou art the King and Master, and they thy subjects, which is very true, and testified expresly by the Word of God. And also because they will give no man of any degree or state (whom they often call Hereticks) audience, time, nor place to speak and have defence, which is against all Law, both the old Law (called the Law of Moses) and the new Law of the Gospel. So that if I might have had audience and place to speak, and have shewed my just defence, conformable to the Law of God, I should never have fled to any other Realm, suppose it should have cost me my life. But because I believed that I should have no audience, nor place to answer (they are so great with thy Majestie) I departed not doubting, but moved of God, unto a better time that God illuminate thy Majestie, even to give every man audience (is thou shouldst and mayst, and is bound by the Law of God) who are accused to the death. And to certifie thy Highnesse that these are no vain words, but of deed and effect, here I offer me to thy Majestie to come in thy Realme again, so that thy Majestie will give me audience, and hear what I have for me of the Law of God: and cause any Bishop or Abbot, Friar or Secular, which is most cunning (some of them cannot reade their Mattins, who are made Judges of Heresie) to impugne me by the Law of God; and if my part be found wrong, thy Majestie being present and Judge, I refuse no pain worthy or condigne for my fault.