ldrein. And
this we signifie unto yow in the name of the eternall God, and of
his Sone Christ Jesus, whose veritie we profess, and Evangell we
will have preached, and holy Sacramentis ryghtlie minstrat, so long
as God will assist us to ganestand your idolatrie. Tak this for
Advertisment, and be nocht deceaved."

[SN: SPEIKARIS SEND BY THE QUENE TO SANCT JOHNESTOUN.]

These our requeistis and advertismentis nochtwithstanding, Monsieur
Dosell and his Frenchemen, with the Preastis and thair bandis, marched
fordward against Sanct Johnestoun, and approched within ten myles to the
town. Than repaired the bretherin from all quartaris for our releaff.
The gentilmen of Fyffe, Anguss, and Mernis, with the town of Dundie, war
thay that first hasarded to resist the enimie; and for that purpoise was
chosin a platt of ground,[786] a myle and more distant from the town. In
this meantyme the Lord Ruthven, Provest of the town of Sanct Johnestoun,
and a man whome many judged godlie and stout in that actioun, (as in
verray dead he was evin unto his last breath,[787]) left the town, and
depairtit first to his awin place, and efter to the Quene: whose
defectioun and revolt was a great discoragement to the hartis of many;
and yit did God so confort,[788] that within the space of tuelf houris
efter, the hartis of all men war erected agane; for those that war than
assembillit did nocht so muche houp victorie by thair awin strenth, as
by the power of Him whose veritie they professed; and began one to
confort another, till the hole multitude was erected in a reasonable
esperance. The day efter that the Lord Ruthven depairted, whiche was the
24 of Maij, cam the Erle of Argyle, Lord James, Priour of Sanctandrois,
and the Lord Sempill, directed from the Quene Regent to inquire the caus
of that convocatioun of liegis thare. To quhome, quhen it was ansuered,
that it was onelie to resist that crewell tyranny devised against that
poore town, and the inhabitants of the same, thay asked, "Gif we myndit
nocht to hold that town against the authoritie, and against the Quene
Regent?" To the whiche questioun ansuered the Lairdis of Dun and
Pittarro, with the Congregatioun of Anguss and Mernis, the Maister of
Lyndesay, the Lairdis of Lundy, Balvaird,[789] and otheris Barronis of
Fyffe, "That gif the Quenis Grace wald suffer the religioun thare begun
to proceid, and nocht truble thair bretherin and sisteris that had
professed Christ Je