The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

By these former Instructions thou mayest perceive (Gentle Reader) what was the care that this Pastor, or rather Impostor, with his Complices took to feed the flock committed to their charge (as they allege) and to gain-stand false Teachers: Here is oft mention of conscience, of Heresy, & such other terms that might fray the ignorant, and deceive the simple. But we hear no crime in particular laid to the charge of the accused, and yet is he condemned as a forsworn Apostate. This was my Lords conscience, which he learned of his fathers the Pharisees, old enemies to Christ Jesus, who condemned him before they heard him. But who ruled my Lords conscience, when he took his cousins wife, the Lady Gilton. Consider thou the rest of his persuasions, & thou shalt clearly see, That honour, estimation, love to house and friends, is the best ground that my Lord Bishop hath, why he should persecute Jesus Christ in his members. We thought good to insert the answers of the said Earle, which follow.

By these former Instructions thou mayest perceive (Gentle Reader) what was the care that this Pastour, or rather Impostour, with his Complices took to feed the flock committed to their charge (as they alleadge) and to gain-stand false Teachers: Here is oft mention of conscience, of Heresie, & such other terms that might fray the ignorant, and deceive the simple. But we hear no crime in particular laid to the charge of the accused, and yet is he condemned as a forsworn Apostata. This was my Lords conscience, which he learned of his fathers the Pharisees, old enemies to Christ Jesus, who condemned him before they heard him. But who ruled my Lords conscience, when he took his cousins wife, the Lady Gilton. Consider thou the rest of his perswasions, & thou shalt clearly see, That honour, estimation, love to house and friends, is the best ground that my Lord Bishop hath, why he should persecute Jesus Christ in his members. We thought good to insert the answers of the said Earle, which follow.

Memorandum, This present Writ is to make answer particularly to every Article, directed from my Lord of S. Andrews to me, by Sir David Hamilton, which Articles are in number nine; and here repeated and answered, as I trust, to his Lordships contentment. 1. The first Article putteth me in remembrance of the antiquity of the blood of my house, how many Earls, Lords, and Knights hath been thereof; how many Noble-men descended of the same house, how long it continued true to God and the Prince, without spot, in their days, in any manner of sort. Answer, True it is, my Lord, that there is well-long continuance of my house, by Gods providence, and benevolence of our Princes whom we have served,