The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

I am assured that the enemy shall not sleep, neither in that, nor in other affairs, to undermine you and your whole Cause, and especially to hurt this part of the Country, to revenge their former folly. If none of these former causes should have moved you to have considered that such a journey (at such a time) was not meet for him, neither yet for them that must accompany him: yet discreet men would have considered, that the men that have lien in their jacks, and travelled their horses continual the space of a month, required some longer rest, first to themselves, then but especially to their horses, before they had been charged to such a journey, as yet they have not had. The Prior may for satisfaction of your unreasonable minds, enterprise the purpose; but I am assured he shall not be able to have six honest men in all Fife to accompany him; and how that either standeth with your Honours, or with his safety, judge ye your selves. But yet wonder it is, that ye did not consider, To what pain and grief shall ye put our friends of England, especially the Duke of Norfolk and his Council, whom ye shall cause to travel the most wearisome and troublesome way that is in England. In mine opinion, whosoever gave you that counsel, either lacked right judgement in things to be done, or else had too much respect to his own ease, and too small regard to the travel and damage of their brethren. A common cause, requireth a common concurrence, and that every man bear his burden proportionable. But prudent and indifferent men espy the contrary in this cause, especially of late days; for the weakest are most grievously charged, and they to whom the matter most belongeth, and to whom justly greatest burden is due, are exempted in a manner, both from travel and expenses. To speak the matter plainly, wise men do wonder, what the Dukes friends do mean, that they are so slack and backward in this cause; In other actions they have been judged stout and forward, and in this, which is the greatest that ever he or they had in hand, they appear destitute both of grace and courage. I am not ignorant that they that are most inward of his counsel,¹ are enemies to God, and therefore cannot but be enemies to this Cause.

I am assured that the enemy shall not sleep, neither in that, nor in other affairs, to undermine you and your whole Cause, and especially to hurt this part of the Countrey, to revenge their former folly. If none of these former causes should have moved you to have considered that such a journey (at such a time) was not meet for him, neither yet for them that must accompany him: yet discreet men would have considered, that the men that have lien in their jacks, and travelled their horses continuall the space of a moneth, required some longer rest, first to themselves, then but especially to their horses, before they had been charged to such a journey, as yet they have not had. The Priour may for satisfaction of your unreasonable mindes, enterprise the purpose; but I am assured he shall not be able to have six honest men in all Fyfe to accompany him; and how that either standeth with your Honors, or with his safety, judge ye your selves. But yet wonder it is, that ye did not consider, To what pain and griefe shall ye put our friends of England, especially the Duke of Norfolk and his Councell, whom ye shall cause to travell the most wearisome and troublesome way that is in England. In mine opinion, whosoever gave you that counsell, either lacked right judgement in things to be done, or else had too much respect to his own ease, and too small regard to the travell and damage of their brethren. A common cause, requireth a common concurrence, and that every man bear his burden proportionable. But prudent and indifferent men espie the contrary in this cause, especially of late dayes; for the weakest are most grievously charged, and they to whom the matter most belongeth, and to whom justly greatest burden is due, are exempted in a manner, both from travell and expences. To speak the matter plainly, wise men do wonder, what the Dukes friends do mean, that they are so slack and backward in this cause; In other actions they have been judged stout and forward, and in this, which is the greatest that ever he or they had in hand, they appear destitute both of grace and courage. I am not ignorant that they that are most inward of his counsell,