The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Please your Honours, and the wisdoms of such as are presently convened with you in Council, to understand, That by many arguments we perceive what the pestilent generation of that Roman Antichrist within this Realm pretendeth, to wit, That they would of new erect their Idolatry, take upon them Empire above our conscience, and so to command us, the true subjects of this Realm, and such as God of his mercy hath (under our Sovereign) subject unto us, in all things to obey their appetites. Honesty craveth, and conscience moveth us, to make the very secrets of our hearts patent to your Honours in that behalf, which is this; That before ever those Tyrants and dumb dogs Empire above us, and above such as God hath subjected unto us, that we the Barons and Gentlemen professing Christ Jesus within this Realm, are fully determined to hazard life, and whatsoever we have received of God in Temporal things. ¹Most humbly therefore beseeching your Honours, That such order may be taken, that we have not occasion to take again the Sword of just Defence into our hands, which we have willingly (after God had given Victory both to your Honours and us) resigned over into your hands; To the end that Gods Gospel may be publicly Preached within this Realm, The true Ministers thereof reasonably maintained, Idolatry suppressed, and the ⟨p. 293⟩committers thereof punished, according to the Laws of God and man. In doing whereof your Honours shall find us not only obedient unto you in all things lawful, but also ready at all times to bring under order and obedience such as would rebel against your just authority, which in absence of our Sovereign we acknowledge to be in your hands, beseeching your Honours with upright judgement and indifferency, to look upon these our few Articles, and by these our brethren to signify unto us such answer again, as may declare your Honours worthy of that place, whereunto God (after some danger sustained) in his mercy hath called you.² And let these enemies of God assure themselves, That if your Honours put not order unto them, that we shall shortly take such order, That they shall neither be able to do what they list, neither yet to live upon the sweat of the brows of such as are no debtors unto them. Let your honours conceive nothing of us, but all humble obedience in God.