th. This, fair ye weill in the Lord.

Off Striveling, the tent of Marche, Anno 1556.[699] (This is the
trew copy of the bill, being subscrived by the names underwrittin,)

_Sic subscribitur_, GLENCARNE.
LORNE, (now ERGYLE.)
ERSKYN.
JAMES STEWART.

These letteris war delivered to the said Johne in Geneva, by the handis
of James Sym, who now resteth with Christ, and of James Barroun, that
yit liveth,[700] in the moneth of Maij immediatlie tharefter. Which
receaved, and advised upoun, he took consultatioun alsweall with his
awin church as with that notable servand of God, Johne Calvin, and with
other godlie ministers, who all with one consent, said, "That he could
nott refuise that Vocatioun, onless he wald declair him self rebellious
unto his God, and unmercyfull to his contrie." And so he returned
answer, with promessis to visite thame with ressonable expeditioun, and
so sone as he mycht putt ordour to that dear flock that was committed to
his charge. And so, in the end of the nixt September after, he departed
from Geneva, and came to Deape, whare thare mett him contrare letteris;
as by this his answer thareto we may understand.

_The Spreit of wisdom, constancie, and strenth be multiplied with
yow, by the favour of God our Father, and by the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ._

According to my promeis, Rycht Honorable, I came to Deape, the
xxiiij of October, of full mynd, by the good will of God, with the
first schippes to have visited yow. Bot becaus two letteris, not
verray pleassing to the flesche, wer there presented unto me, I was
compelled to stay for a tyme. The one was directed to myself from a
faithfull brother, which maid mentioun, that new consultatioun was
appointed for finall conclusioun of the mater befoir purposed, and
willed me tharefoir to abyd in these partes, till the
determinatioun of the same. The other letter was direct from a
gentilman to a friend, with charge to advertise me, that he had
communed with all those that seamed most frack and fervent in the
mater, and that into none did he fynd such boldness and constancie,
as was requisite for such ane interprise; bot that some did (as he
writteth) reapent that ever any such thing was moved; som