sest to stay the irnes,[854] whill farther
ordour mycht be tackin. Sche, with all possible diligence, posted for
hir factioun. Maister James Balfour was nocht ydill in the meantyme. The
Lordis, to purge thame of these odious crymes, wrait unto hir a letter,
in forme as efter followeth:--

[SN: THE THRID LETTER TO THE QUENE REGENT.]

"Pleas your Grace, be advertist, it is cum to our knowlcge, that
your Grace hath sett furth, be your letteris openelie proclamed
that we, called by name THE CONGREGATIOUN, under pretence and
colour of religioun, convene togidder to na uther purpose bot to
usurpe our Soveraneis authoritie, and to invaid your persone
representand thairis at this present: Quhilkis thingis appeiris to
have proceidit of sinister informatioun, maid to your Grace be our
ennemeis, considdering that we never mynded sic thing, bot onelie
our mynd and purpose was and is to promote and sett furth the
glorie of God, maynteane and defend the trew preacharis of his
word; and according to the same, abolish and put away idolatrie and
false abuses, whiche may nocht stand with the said word of God:
Beseaking your Grace to bear patientlie thairwith, and interpone
your authoritie to the furtherance of the same, as is the dewetie
of everie Christiane Prince and good magistrat. For as to the
obedience of our Soveraneis authoritie in all civile and politick
matteris, we ar and shalbe als obedient as ony uther your Gracis
subjectis within the realme; and that our Conventioun is for na
uther purpose bot to save our preacheouris and thair auditouris fra
the injurie and violence of our enymeis, quhilk should be mair
amplie declaired be some of us in your Gracis presence, yf yow war
nocht accumpanyed with such as hes persewit our lyves and sought
our bloode. Thus, we pray Almyghtie God to have your Hienes in his
eternall tuitioun.

"At Edinburght, the secund of Julij 1559."

And for farther purgatioun heirof, it was thocht necessar that we should
sempillie expone, alsweill to hir Grace as to the hole people, what war
our requeastis and just petitionis. And for that purpoise, after that
salf conduct was purchessed and granted, we directed unto hir two grave
men of our counsale, to witt, the Lardis of Pittarrow and
Cuninghamheid,[855] to whame we gaif commissioun and power, First, To
expone our hole purpose and