promeis, all such as with simplicitie do obey him." The subtell
craft of Pharao, many years joyned wyth his bloody cruelty, was not
able to destroy the male childrein of Israell, nether war the
watteris of the Redd Sea, much less the rage of Pharao, able to
confound Moses and the cumpany which he conducted; and that because
the one had Goddis promisse that thei should multiplie, and the
other had his commandiment to enter into such dangeris. I wold your
Wisedomes should considder, that our God remaneth one, and is
immutable; and that the Church of Christ Jesus hath the same
promeis of protectioun and defence that Israell had of
multiplicatioun; and farther, that no less caus have ye to enter in
your formar interprise, then Moses had to go to the presence of
Pharao; for your subjectis, yea, your brethrein ar oppressed, thare
bodyis and saules haldin in bondage: and God speaketh to your
consciences, (onles ye be dead with the blynd warld,) [SN: THE
DEUTIE OF THE NOBILITIE.] that yow awght to hasard your awin lyves,
(be it against Kingis or Empriouris,) for thare deliverance; for
only for that caus ar ye called Princes of the people, and ye
receave of your brethrein honour, tribute, and homage at Goddis
commandiment; not be reasson of your birth and progenye, (as the
most parte of men falslie do suppose,) but by ressoun of your
office and dewtie, which is to vindicat and deliver your subjectes
and brethrein from all violence and oppressioun, to the uttermost
of your power. [SN: THAT LETTER LOST BY NEGLIGENCE AND TRUBLES.]
Advise diligentlie, I beseik yow, with the pointis of that Letter,
which I directed to the hole Nobilitie, and lett everie man apply
the mater and case to him self; for your conscience shall one day
be compelled to acknowledge, that the Reformatioun of religioun,
and of publict enormities, doith appertene to mo then to the
Clargie, or cheaf reularis called Kingis. [SN: GOD GRANT THAT OUR
NOBILITIE WOULD YITT UNDERSTAND.] The mychtie Spreit of the Lord
Jesus rewle and guyde your counsellis, to his glorie, your eternall
conforte, and to the consolatioun of your brethrene. Amen.

From Deape, the 27 of October 1557.

These letteris receaved and redd, togetther with otheris direct to the
hole Nobilitie, and some particular gentilmen, as to