The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

If this will not move you, remember your dear wives, children and posterity, your ancient heritages and houses, and think well these strangers will regard no more your right thereunto, then they have done your brethren of Leith, when ever occasion shall serve. But if you purpose (as we doubt not but that all those that either have wit or manhood will declare and prove indeed) to brook your ancient rooms and heritages, conquered most valiantly, and defended by ⟨p. 178⟩your most noble Progenitors, against all strangers, invaders of the same, as the French pretendeth plainly this day, if ye will not be slaves unto them, and to have your lives, your wives, your children, your substance, and whatsoever is dear unto you cast at their feet, to be used and abused at the pleasure of strange Soldiers, as you see your brethren's at this day before your eyes. If you will not have experience some day hereof in your own persons (as we suppose the least of you all would not gladly have, but rather would choose with honour to die in defence of his own native room, then live and serve so shameful a servitude) then brethren let us join our forces, and both with wit and manhood resist their beginnings,¹ or else our liberties hereafter shall be dearer bought. Let us surely be persuaded, when our neighbours houses be on fire, that we dwell not without danger. Let no man withdraw himself herefrom, and if any will be so unhappy and mischievous (as we suppose none to be) let us altogether repute, hold and use him (as he is in deed) for an enemy to us, and to himself, and to his Common-weal. The eternal and omnipotent God, the true and only revenger of the oppressed, be our comfort and Protector against the fury and rage of the Tyrants of this world: And especially from the insatiable covetousness of the Cardinal of Guise, and the Hamiltons. Amen.

If this will not move you, remember your deare wives, children and posterity, your ancient heritages and houses, and think well these strangers will regard no more your right thereunto, then they have done your brethren of Leith, when ever occasion shall serve. But if you purpose (as we doubt not but that all those that either have wit or manhood will declare and prove indeed) to brook your ancient roomes and heritages, conquered most valiantly, and defended by ⟨p. 178⟩