The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Whose oppression as doubtless it is entered in before the Justice-seat of God, so ought it justly to move our hearts to have pity and compassion upon these our poor brethren, and at our powers to provide remedy for the same. And albeit her strangers had been garnished with money (as you know well they were not) yet can there here lying be no ways but most hurtful to our Common-wealth, seeing that the fertility of this Realm had never been so plentiful that it was able of any continuance to sustain it self and inhabitants thereof, without support of Foreign Countries, far less able besides the same to sustain thousands of strangers wherewith it is burdened, to the dearthing of all victuals, as the murmur and complaint of Edinburgh this day doth testify. But to what effect the Common-weal is thus burdened, the end doth declare. For shortly were they brought to the fields against our Sovereigns true Lieges, even us your brethren, who (God knoweth) sought nothing else but peace of conscience, under protection of our Sovereign, and Reformation of these enormities, for no other cause but that we would not renounce the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and subdue our necks under the tyranny of that wicked Man of sin, the Roman Antichrist and his forsworn Shavelings, who at that time most tyrannically oppressed our souls with hunger of Gods true Word, and rest our goods and substances, to waste the same upon their foul lusts and stinking harlots. But (O dear brethren) this was not the chief pretence and final scope of her proceedings (as these days do well declare) for had not God given in our hearts to withstand that oppression, with weapons of most just defence, thou, O Saint Johnston and Dundee, had been in no better state then your sister of Leith is this day. For though we in very deed (God is witness) meant then nothing, but in the simplicity of our hearts, the maintenance of true Religion, and safety of our brethren, Professors of the same, yet lay there another serpent lurking in the breast of our adversaries, as this day (praise to God) is plainly opened to all that list to behold, to wit, To bring you and us both under the perpetual servitude of strangers.

Whose oppression as doubtlesse it is entred in before the Justice-seat of God, so ought it justly to move our hearts to have pity and compassion upon these our poore brethren, and at our powers to provide remedie for the same. And albeit her strangers had been garnished with money (as you know well they were not) yet can there here lying be no wayes but most hurtfull to our Common-wealth, seeing that the fertility of this Realme had never been so plentifull that it was able of any continuance to sustain it selfe and inhabitants thereof, without support of Forraigne Countreys, far lesse able besides the same to sustain thousands of strangers wherewith it is burthened, to the dearthing of all victuals, as the murmure and complaint of Edinburgh this day doth testifie. But to what effect the Common-weale is thus burdened, the end doth declare. For shortly were they brought to the fields against our Soveraigns true Lieges, even us your brethren, who (God knoweth) sought nothing else but peace of conscience, under protection of our Soveraigne, and Reformation of these enormities, for no other cause but that we would not renounce the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and subdue our necks under the tyranny of that wicked Man of sin, the Romane Antichrist and his forsworn Shavelings, who at that time most tyrannically oppressed our souls with hunger of Gods true Word, and rest our goods and substances, to waste the same upon their foule lusts and stinking harlots. But (O dear brethren) this was not the chiefe pretence and finall scope of her proceedings (as these dayes do well declare) for had not God given in our hearts to withstand that oppression, with weapons of most just defence, thou, O Saint Iohnston and Dundie, had been in no better state then your sister of Leith is this day. For though we in very deed (God is witnesse) meant then nothing, but in the simplicity of our hearts, the maintenance of true Religion, and safetie of our brethren, Professours of the same, yet lay there another serpent lurking in the brest of our adversaries, as this day (praise to God) is plainely opened to all that list to behold, to wit, To bring you and us both under the perpetuall servitude of strangers.