sus with thame, that the town, thay thame selffis,
and quhatsoevir to thame perteaned, should be at the Quenis
commandiment." [SN: THE FALS SUGGESTIOUN OF THE QUENE REGENT.] Whiche
ansuer understand,[790] the Erle of Ergyle and the Priour (quho boith
war than Protestantis) began to muse, and said planelie, that thay war
far utherwayis informed by the Quene, to witt, "That we mentt no
religioun, but a plane rebellioun." To the whiche when we had answered
simplie, and as the treuth was, to wit, "That we conveaned for none
other purpose, bot onelie to assist our brethrein, who than war most
injustlie persecuted; and thairfoir we desyred thame faithfullie to
report our answer, and to be intercessouris to the Quene Regent, that
suche creweltie suld nocht be usit against us, considering that we had
offered in our former letteris, alsweill to the Quenis Grace, as to the
Nobilitie, our mater to be tryed in lauchfull judgement." Thay promesed
fidelitie in that behalff, whiche also thay keipt.

The day efter, whiche was the 25 day of Maij, befoir that the saidis
Lordis depairted, in the morning Johne Knox desyred to speak with the
same Lordis; whiche grantit unto him, he was conveyed to thair ludgeing
by the Laird of Balvaird,[791] and thus he began:--

[SN: THE ORATIOUN OF JOHNE KNOX TO THE LORDIS.]

"The present trublis, Honorable Lordis, owght to move the hartis,
nocht onlie of the trew servandis of God, bot also of all suche as
beare any favour to thare cuntree, and naturall cuntreymen, to
discend within thame selfis and deiplie to considder quhat shalbe
the end of this pretended tyranny. The raige of Sathan seaketh the
destructioun of all those that within this realme professe Christ
Jesus; and thay that inflambe the Quenis Grace, and yow the Nobles
aganis us, regard nocht who prevaill, provided that thay may abuse
the warld, and leve at thair pleasour, as heirtofoir thay have
done. Yea, I fear that some seak nothing more than the effusioun of
Scottis bloode, to the end that thair possessionis may be more
patent to utheris. Bot, becaus that this is nocht the principall
whiche I have to speak, omitting the same to be considderit by the
wisdome of those to quhome the cair of the commone wealth
apperteaneth.

"1st. I most humbillie require of yow, my Lordis, in my name, to
say to the Quenis Grace Regent, that we, who sche in hir blynd