The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

To the Queens Majesty, and her most honourable Privy Council. The Superintendents and Ministers of the Evangel of Christ Jesus within this Realm, together with the Commissioners of the whole Churches, desire Grace and Peace, from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Spirit of righteous Judgement. Having in mind that the fearful sentence pronounced against the Watch-men that see the Sword of Gods punishment approach, and do not in plain words forewarn the people, yea, the Princes and Rulers, that they repent, we cannot but signify unto your Highness, and to your Council, That the state of this Realm is such for this present, that unless redress and remedy be shortly provided, Gods hands cannot long spare in his anger, to strike the Head and the Tail; the inobedient Prince,¹ and sinful People: For as God is unchangeable and true, so must he punish, in these our days the grievous sins which before, we read, he hath punished in all Ages, after that he hath long called for repentance, and none is shown. And that your Majesty and Council may understand what are the things we desire to be reformed, we will begin at that which we know assuredly to be the Fountain and Spring of all other evils that now abound in this Realm: To wit: That Idol and base service of God, the Mass, the fountain, we call, of all Impiety, not only because many take boldness to sin, by reason of that opinion which they have conceived of that Idol, to wit, That by virtue of it they get remission of their sins; But also because that under this colour of the Mass, are Whores, Adulterers, Drunkards, Blasphemers of God,² of his holy Sacraments, and such other manifest Malefactors, maintained and defended: For let any Mass-sayer, or earnest maintainer thereof be deprehended in any of the fore-named crimes, no execution can be had; for all is done in hatred of his Religion: And so are wicked men permitted to live wickedly, cloaked and defended by that wicked Idol. But supposing that the Mass was occasion of no such evils, yet in it self it is so odious in Gods presence, that we cannot cease with all instance to desire the removing of the same, as well from your self, as from all others within this Realm;

To the Queens Majesty, and her most honorable Privy Councell. The Superintendents and Ministers of the Evangell of Christ Iesus within this Realme, together with the Commissioners of the whole Churches, desire Grace and Peace, from the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, with the Spirit of righteous Iudgement. HAving in minde that the fearfull sentence pronounced against the Watch-men that see the Sword of Gods punishment approach, and do not in plain words forewarn the people, yea, the Princes and Rulers, that they repent, we cannot but signifie unto your Highnesse, and to your Councell, That the state of this Realme is such for this present, that unlesse redresse and remedy be shortly provided, Gods hands cannot long spare in his anger, to strike the Head and the Tayle; the inobedient Prince,