The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Grace, Mercy, and Peace for Salvation. Dearly Beloved in the Lord, the faithful that are of your acquaintance in these parts (thanks be unto God) are steadfast in the belief wherein ye left them,¹ and have a godly thirst and desire day by day of your presence again: Now if the Spirit of God will so move you, and grant time unto you, we all heartily desire you, in the Name of the Lord, That ye would return again into these parts, where you shall find all the faithful that ye left behind you, not only glad to hear your doctrine, but also ready to jeopard their lives and goods for the setting forward of the glory of God, as he will permit. And albeit the Magistrates in this Country be as yet but in the state ye left them in, yet at the making hereof we have no experience of any more cruelty to be used, then was before: But rather we have belief, That God will augment his Flock, because we see daily the Friars, enemies to Christs Gospel, in less estimation with the Queen, and the Nobility of our Realm. This, in few words, is the mind of the faithful being present, and others absent. The rest of our minds this faithful Bearer will show you at length. Thus fare ye well in the Lord. At Stirling the tenth of March, Anno 1556. This is the true Copy of the Letter, being subscribed by the names under-written. Sic subscribitur, Glencarne. Lorn, now Argyle. Erskine. James Stewart.

Grace, Mercy, and Peace for Salvation. DEarly Beloved in the Lord, the faithfull that are of your acquaintance in these parts (thanks be unto God) are stedfast in the beliefe wherein yee left them,¹ and have a godly thirst and desire day by day of your presence againe: Now if the Spirit of God will so move you, and grant time unto you, we all heartily desire you, in the Name of the Lord, That ye would returne again into these parts, where you shall finde all the faithfull that ye left behinde you, not onely glad to heare your doctrine, but also ready to jeopard their lives and goods for the setting forward of the glory of God, as he will permit. And albeit the Magistrates in this Countrey be as yet but in the state ye left them in, yet at the making hereof we have no experience of any more cruelty to be used, then was before: But rather we have beliefe, That God will augment his Flock, because we see daily the Friers, enemies to Christs Gospel, in lesse estimation with the Queen, and the Nobility of our Realm. This, in few words, is the minde of the faithfull being present, and others absent. The rest of our mindes this faithfull Bearer will shew you at length. Thus fare ye well in the Lord. At Sterlin the tenth of March, Anno 1556. This is the true Copy of the Letter, being subscribed by the names under-written. Sic subscribitur, Glencarne. Lorne, now Argyle. Erskin. Iames Stewart.