of France, yf for the plesour of the
Preistis he wald persecut us, and so compell us to taik the sweard of
just defence. In lyke maner we wrait to Capitane Serra la Burse, and to
all uther Capitanis and Frenche soldiouris in generall, admonischeing
thame that thair vocatioun was nocht to fyght aganis us naturall
Scottishmen; nather yit that thai had any suche commandiment of thair
maister. We besowght thame thairfoir nocht to provok us to inemitie
aganest thame, considdering, that thay had found us favorable in thair
most extreme necessiteis. We declairit farther unto thame, that yf thay
enterit in hostilitie and bloody warre aganest us, that the same sould
remane langar than thair and oure lyves, to witt, evin in all
posteriteis to come, so lang as naturall Scottishmen suld have power to
revenge suche crewelty, and maist horribill ingratitude.

Thease letteris war causit be spred abroade in great habundance, to the
end that sum myght cume to the knawlege of men. The Quene Regent hir
letter was layed upoun hir cussing in the Chapell Royall at Striveling,
quhair sche accustomit to sitt at Messe. Sche looked upoun it, and put
it in the pocket of hir goune. Monsieur Dosell and the Capitanis
receavit thairis deliverit evin be thair awin soldiouris, (for sum
amongis thame war favoraris of the treuth,) quho efter the reading of
thame, began to ryve thair awin beardis; for that was the modest
behaveour of Monsieur Dosell, quhen treuth was told unto him, so that it
repugne to his fantasie. These our letteris war suppressed to the
uttermost of thair power, and yit thay come to the knowlege of mony. Bot
the raige of the Quene and Preistis culd nocht be stayed; bot fordwart
thay move against us, quho than war bot are verrie few and meane number
of gentilmen in Sanct Johnestoun. We perceaving the extremitie to
approche, did wrytt to all bretherin, to repair towardis us for our
releve; to the quhiche we fand all men so readie bent, that the work of
God was evidentlie to be espyed. And becaus that we wold omitt na
diligence to declair our innocencie to all men, we formit ane letter to
those of the Nobilitie who than persecuted us, as efter followeth:--

"TO THE NOBILITIE OF SCOTLAND, THE CONGREGATIONIS OF CHRYST JESUS
WITHIN THE SAME, DESYR THE SPREIT OF RYGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT."

"Becaus we ar nocht ignorant, that the Nobilitie of this realme who
now persecute us, employing thair hole study and force to manteyne