The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

so could not the Queen nor they require any such thing, unless she and they would plainly violate their Faith, and chief Article of the appointment. For it is plainly appointed, That no member of the Congregation shall be molested in any thing; That at the day of the appointment they peaceably possessed. But so it was, That we the brethren and Protestants of the Town of Edinburgh, with our Ministers the day of the appointment, did peaceably enjoy Saint Giles Church, appointed us for Preaching of Christs true Gospel, and right ministration of his holy Sacraments. Therefore without manifest violation of the appointment, you cannot remove us therefrom, until a Parliament have decided the Controversy. This answer given, the whole brethren departed, and left the foresaid Earle, and Lord Seaton, then Provest of Edinburgh, still in the Tolbooth. Who perceiving that they could not prevail in that manner, began to entreat that they would be quiet, and that they would so far condescend to the Queens-pleasure, as that they would choose them another within the Town, or at the least be content that Mass should be said, either after or before their Sermon. To the which, answer was given; That to give place to the devil (who was the chief Inventer of the Mass) for the pleasure of any creature,¹ they could not. They were in possession of that Church which they could not abandon, neither yet could they suffer Idolatry to be erected in the same, unless by violence they should be constrained so to do. And then they were determined to seek the next remedy. Which answer received, the Earle of Huntly did lovingly entreat them to quietness, faithfully promising, That in no sort they should be molested, so that they would be quiet, and make no farther uproar. To the which they were most willing, for they sought only to serve God, as he had commanded, and to keep their possession, according to the appointment: which by Gods grace they did, till the month of November, notwithstanding the great boasting of the enemy. For they did not only convene to the Preaching, daily supplications and administration of Baptism, but also the Lords Table was ministered, ⟨p. 170⟩even in the eyes of the very enemy, to the great comfort of many afflicted consciences, and as God did strongly work with his true Ministers, and with his troubled Church:

so could not the Queen nor they require any such thing, unlesse she and they would plainely violate their Faith, and chiefe Article of the appointment. For it is plainely appointed, That no member of the Congregation shall be molested in any thing; That at the day of the appointment they peaceably possessed. But so it was, That we the brethren and Protestants of the Town of Edinburgh, with our Ministers the day of the appointment, did peaceably enjoy Saint Giles Church, appointed us for Preaching of Christs true Gospel, and right ministration of his holy Sacraments. Therefore without manifest violation of the appointment, you cannot remove us therefrom, untill a Parliament have decided the Controversie. This answer given, the whole brethren departed, and left the foresaid Earle, and Lord Seaton, then Provest of Edinburgh, still in the Tolbuith. Who perceiving that they could not prevaile in that manner, began to entreat that they would be quiet, and that they would so far condiscend to the Queens-pleasure, as that they would chuse them another within the Town, or at the least be content that Masse should be said, either after or before their Sermon. To the which, answer was given; That to give place to the devil (who was the chiefe Inventer of the Masse) for the pleasure of any creature,