The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

I Require and charge in the name of our Sovereign Lord and Lady, and of the Council presently in Edinburgh, That all Scots and French-men of whatsoever estate and degree they be, depart out of the Town of Lieth within the space of twelve hours, and make the same patent to all and sundry our Sovereign Ladies Lieges: For seeing we have no such hatred at either the one or the other that we thirst the blood of any of the two, for the one is our natural brother, born, nourished, and brought up within the bowels of one common Country, and with the other our nation hath continued long amity and ally, and hopeth that so shall do, so long as they use us as friends, and not strive to make slaves of friends, which this strengthening of our Towns pretendeth. And therefore most heartily desire, that one and the other to desist from fortifying or maintaining of this Town, in our Sovereigns and their said Councils name, requiring them to make the same free within the space of twelve hours.

I Require and charge in the name of our Soveraign Lord and Ladie, and of the Counsell presently in Edinburgh, That all Scots and French-men of whatsoever estate and degree they be, depart out of the Towne of Lieth within the space of twelve houres, and make the same patent to all and sundry our Soveraigne Ladies Leiges: For seeing we have no such hatred at either the one or the other that we thirst the blood of any of the two, for the one is our naturall brother, born, nourished, and brought up within the bowels of one common Countrey, and with the other our nation hath continued long amity and allie, and hopeth that so shall do, so long as they use us as friends, and not strive to make slaves of friends, which this strengthening of our Towns pretendeth. And therefore most heartily desire, that one and the other to desist from fortifying or maintaining of this Town, in our Soveraignes and their said Councells name, requiring them to make the same free within the space of twelve houres.

Defiance given, there was skirmishing, without great slaughter, preparation of Scales and Ladders was made for the Assault, which was concluded by common consent of the Nobility and Barons. The Scales were appointed to be made in Saint Giles Church, so that Preaching was neglected, which did not a little grieve the Preachers, and many godly with them. The Preachers spared not openly to say, That they feared the success of that enterprise should not be prosperous, because the beginning appeared to bring with it some contempt of God and of his Word; other places, said they, had been more apt for such Preparations, then where the people convened to Common-Prayers and unto Preaching. In very deed the audience was wonderfully troubled all that time, which (with other disorder espied amongst us) gave occasion to our Preachers to affirm,