was wracked for
ever; for thare victorie stood neyther in God, nor in his word, but in
thare awin willis, and in the thingis concluded by thare awin
Counsallis, (togitther with sword and fyre,) whareto, (said he,) these
new starte-up fellowis will give no place. But thei will call yow to
your compt booke, and that is to the Bible; and by it ye will no more be
found the men that ye ar called, then the Devill wilbe approvin to be
God. And therefor, yf ye love your selfis, enter never in disputatioun;
nether yitt call ye the mater in questioun; but defend your possessioun,
or ellis all is lost." Cayaphas could not geve ane bettir counsall to
his companizeons; but yitt God disapointed boith thame and him, as after
we shall hear.

* * * * *

[SN: THE SECOUND VOCATION OF JOHNE KNOX BY LETTERIS OF THE
LORDIS.]

At this same tyme, some of the Nobilitie direct thare letteris to call
JOHNE KNOX from Geneva, for thare conforte, and for the conforte of
thare brethrein the preachearis, and otheris that then couragiouslye
faught against the ennemyes of Goddis trewth. The tenour of thare lettre
is this:

_Grace, Mercy, and Peace, for Salutatioun, &c._

DEIRLIE BELOVED in the Lord, the Faithfull that ar of your
acquentance in thir partes, (thankis be unto God,) ar stedfast in
the beleve whareinto ye left thame, and hes ane godly thrist and
desyre, day by day, of your presence agane; quhilk, gif the Spreat
of God will sua move and permitt tyme unto yow, we will hartly
desyre yow, in the name of the Lord, that ye will returne agane in
thir partes, whare ye shall fynd all faithfull that ye left behynd
yow, not only glaid to hear your doctrin, but wilbe reddy to
jeopard lyffis and goodis in the forward setting of the glorie of
God, as he will permitt tyme. And albeit the Magistraittis in this
countrey be as yitt but in the staite ye left thame, yitt at the
maiking heirof, we have na experience of any mair crueltie to be
used nor was befoir; but rather we have beleve, that God will
augment his flock, becaus we see daly the Freiris, ennemyes to
Christis Evangell, in less estimatioun, baith with the Quenis
Grace, and the rest of the Nobilitie of our realme. This in few
wordis is the mynd of the faithfull, being present, and otheris
absent. The rest of our myndis this faythfull berare will schaw you
at len