These things read in public Assembly as aforesaid, were approved of all: And some wished that more sharpness had been used, because that the time so required. But the Minions of the Court, and Secretary Lethington above others, could not abide such hard spoken words; for whoever shall write (said he) to a Prince, That God would strike the head and the tail; That if Papists do what they list, men would begin where they left:1 But above all others, that was most offensive That the Queen was accused, as that she would raise up Papists and Papistry again; To put that in the people heads, was no less then Treason: yea, Oaths was made, That she never meant such thing. To whom it was answered,2 That the Prophet Isaiah used such manner of speaking; And it was no doubt but that he was acquainted in the Court, for it was supposed that he was of the Kings Stock: but howsoever it was, his words make manifest that he spake to the Court, and to the Courtiers, to Judges, Ladies, Princes and Priests; and yet, saith he, The Lord shall cut away the head and the tail, &c. And so said the first writer, I find that such phrase was once used before us: And if this offend you, that we say, Men must begin where they left, in case the Papists do as they do, we would desire you to teach us, not so much how we shall speak, but rather what we shall do, when our Ministers are stricken, our Superintendents disobeyed, and a plain Rebellion decreed against all good Orders. Complain, said Lethington. To whom? said the other. To the Queen, said he. How long shall we do so? quoth the other. Till that you get remedy, said the Justice Clerk: Give me their names, and I shall give you Letters. If the Sheep, said one, shall complain to the Wolfe, That the Wolfs whelps have devoured their Lambs, the Complainer may stand in danger, but the offender we fear,3 shall have leave to hunt after his prey. Such Comparisons (said Lethington) are very unsavoury; for I am assured, That the Queen will not erect nor maintain Papistry. Let your assurance (said the other) serve your self, but it cannot assure us; for her manifest ⟨p. 341⟩proceedings speaketh the contrary. After such cautious reasoning on both sides, the plurality concluded, That the supplication as it was conceived, should be presented, unless that the Secretary would make one more fit to the present necessity;
These things read in publike Assembly as aforesaid, were approved of all: And some wished that more sharpnesse had been used, because that the time so repuired. But the Minions of the Court, and Secretary Lethington above others, could not abide such hard spoken words; for whoever shall write (said he) to a Prince, That God would strike the head and the tayle; That if Papists do what they list, men would begin where they left:1 But above all others, that was most offensive That the Queen was accused, as that she would raise up Papists and Papistry again; To put that in the people heads, was no lesse then Treason: yea, Oathes was made, That she never meaned such thing. To whom it was answered,2 That the Prophet Isaiah used such manner of speaking; And it was no doubt but that he was acquainted in the Court, for it was supposed that he was of the Kings Stock: but howsoever it was, his words make manifest that he spake to the Court, and to the Courtiers, to Judges, Ladies, Princes and Priests; and yet, saith he, The Lord shall cut away the head and the tayle, &c. And so said the first writer, I finde that such phrase was once used before us: And if this offend you, that we say, Men must begin where they left, in case the Papists do as they do, we would desire you to teach us, not so much how we shall speak, but rather what we shall do, when our Ministers are stricken, our Superintendents disobeyed, and a plain Rebellion decreed against all good Orders. Complain, said Lethington. To whom? said the other. To the Queen, said he. How long shall we do so? quoth the other. Till that you get remedy, said the Justice Clerke: Give me their names, and I shall give you Letters. If the Sheep, said one, shall complain to the Wolfe, That the Wolfs whelps have devoured their Lambs, the Complainer may stand in danger, but the offender we fear,3 shall have leave to hunt after his prey. Such Comparisons (said Lethington) are very unsavoury; for I am assured, That the Queen will not erect nor maintaine Papistry. Let your assurance (said the other) serve your selfe, but it cannot assure us; for her manifest ⟨p. 341⟩proceedings speaketh the contrary. After such cautious reasoning on both sides, the pluralitie concluded, That the supplication as it was conceived, should be presented, unlesse that the Secretary would make one more fit to the present necessitie;
- 1Note this for our times.
- 2An answer to Lethington.
- 3Note this diligently.
