The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The Purgation of the Duke. Forasmuch as the Duke of Chatellarault, understanding the false report made by these about the Queen Regent against him, That he and his son the Lord Arran, should pretend usurpation of the Crown and ⟨p. 194⟩authority of this Realm, when in very deed, he, nor his said son never once hath made any show of any such thing, but only in simplicity of heart,¹ moved partly by the violent pursuit against Religion, and true Professors thereof, partly by compassion of the Common-wealth, and poor Commonalty of this Realm, oppressed with strangers; he joined himself to the rest of the Nobility, with all hazard, to support the common Cause of the one & of the other; and hath thought expedient to purge himself and his said son in presence of you all, as he had done in presence of the council of that said crime of old, even by Summons laid to his charge the second year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady: Which accusation hath continued ever against him, as guilty of that crime; he therefore now openly and plainly Protesteth, That neither he nor his said son, sues nor seeks any preeminence, either to the Crown or authority, but as far as his puissance may extend, is ready, and ever shall be, and his son also, to concur with the rest of the Nobility his brethren, and all others,² whose hearts are touched to maintain the common causes of Religion, and Liberty of their native Country, plainly invaded by the said Regent, and her said Soldiers, who only do forge such vain reports, to withdraw the hearts of true Scottish-men from the succour they owe of bounden duty to their Common-weal oppressed. Wherefore exhorting all men, that will maintain the true Religion of God, or withstand this oppression or plain conquest enterprised by strangers upon our native Scottish-men, not to credit such false and untrue reports. But rather concur with us and the rest of the Nobility, to set our Country at liberty, expelling strangers therefrom, which doing, ye shall show your selves obedient to the ordinance of God, which was established for maintenance of the Common-weal and true members of the same.

The Purgation of the Duke. FOrasmuch as the Duke of Chatellarault, understanding the false report made by these about the Queen Regent against him, That he and his son the Lord Arrane, should pretend usurpation of the Crown and