The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The eight Article proposes to me, That your Lordship would take the labour to get me a man to instruct me in your Catholic Faith, and to be my Preacher, for whose Doctrine ye would lay your soul, that he would teach nothing, but truly conform to your faith. Answ. God Almighty send us many of that sort, that will preach truly, and nothing but a Catholic or Universal Christian Faith; and we Highland rude people have miss of them. And if your Lordship would get and provide me such a man, I should provide him a corporal Living, as to my self, with great thanks unto your Lordship: For truly, I and many more have great miss of such men. And because I am able to sustain more then one of them, I request your Lordship earnestly, to provide me a man as ye wrote; for the harvest is great, but the labourers are few. 9. The last and ninth Article putteth me in remembrance to consider what murmur your Lordship suffers, and great brute, at many mens hands, both Spiritual and Temporal, and at the Queens hand, and other well given people, for not putting order to these affairs; and that your Lordship hath abstained from execution hereof, for love of my House and Posterity, to the effect that my self should remedy it, for fear of the dishonour that might come upon us both for the same: which being remedied, might bring us out of all danger. Answ. My Lord, I know well what murmur and indignation your Lordship suffers at enemies hands of all estates, for not pursuing of poor simple Christians: And I know, That if your Lordship should use their counsel, who would by blood-shedding and burning of poor men, to make your Lordship serve their wicked appetites; Yet your Lordship knows your own duty, and should not fear the danger of men, as of him whom ye profess. And verily, my Lord, there is nothing that may be to your Lordships relief in this behalf, but I will use your Lordships counsel therein, and further the same, Gods honour being first provided, and the Truth of his eternal Word having liberty. And to abstain for my love from pursuit, as your Lordship hath signified, I am indebted to your Lordship, as I have written divers times before. But there is one above, for whose fear ye must abstain from blood-shedding, or else, my Lord, knock in your conscience. Last of all, your Lordship please to consider how desirous some are to have sedition amongst friends;

The eight Article proposes to me, That your Lordship would take the labour to get me a man to instruct me in your Catholike Faith, and to be my Preacher, for whose Doctrine ye would lay your soul, that he would teach nothing, but truely conform to your faith. Answ. God Almighty send us many of that sort, that will preach truely, and nothing but a Catholike or Universall Christian Faith; and we Highland rude people have misse of them. And if your Lordship would get and provide me such a man, I should provide him a corporall Living, as to my self, with great thanks unto your Lordship: For truely, I and many more have great misse of such men. And because I am able to sustain more then one of them, I request your Lordship earnestly, to provide me a man as ye wrote; for the harvest is great, but the labourers are few. 9. The last and ninth Article putteth me in remembrance to consider what murmure your Lordship suffers, and great brute, at many mens hands, both Spirituall and Temporall, and at the Queens hand, and other well given people, for not putting order to these affairs; and that your Lordship hath abstained from execution hereof, for love of my House and Posterity, to the effect that my self should remedy it, for fear of the dishonour that might come upon us both for the same: which being remedied, might bring us out of all danger. Answ. My Lord, I know well what murmure and indignation your Lordship suffers at enemies hands of all estates, for not pursuing of poor simple Christians: And I know, That if your Lordship should use their counsell, who would by blood-shedding and burning of poor men, to make your Lordship serve their wicked appetites; Yet your Lordship knows your owne duty, and should not fear the danger of men, as of him whom ye professe. And verily, my Lord, there is nothing that may be to your Lordships relief in this behalf, but I will use your Lordships counsell therein, and further the same, Gods honour being first provided, and the Truth of his eternall Word having liberty. And to abstain for my love from pursuit, as your Lordship hath signified, I am indebted to your Lordship, as I have written divers times before. But there is one above, for whose fear ye must abstain from blood-shedding, or else, my Lord, knock in your conscience. Last of all, your Lordship please to consider how desirous some are to have sedition amongst friends;