ldiouris in
greit companeis, in tyme of preching and prayeris, resortit to Sanct
Geillis Kirk in Edinburgh, and maid thair commune deambulatour thairin,
with sick lowd talking, as na perfyte audience could be had; and
althocht the Minister was ofttymes thairthrow compellit to cry out on
thame, praying to God to red thame of sick locustis; thay nevirtheless
continewit still in thair wickit purpoise, devisit and ordaneit be the
Quene, to have drawin our brethren of Edinburgh and thame in cummer; swa
that sche mycht have had ony cullorat occatioun to have brokin the
liegue with thame. Yitt, be Goddis grace, thay behaveit thame selfis
swa, that sche could fynd na falt with thame; albeit in all thir thingis
befoir nameit, and in every ane of thame, sche is worthelie comptit to
have contravenit the sayd Appointment. We pass over the oppressing done
of oure brethren in particular, quhilk had bene sufficient to have
provin the Appointment to have bene playne violatit; for the Lord
Seytoun, without ony occasioun offerrit unto him, brak a chaise upoun
Alexander Quhitelaw,[903] as he came frome Prestoun, accumpaneit with
Williame Knox,[904] towartis Edinburgh, and ceassit not to persew him
till he came to the toun of Ormestoun: And this he did, supposing that
the said Alexander Quhitelaw had bene Johnne Knox. In all this menetyme,
and quhill that ma Frensche men arryvit, thay ar not abill to pruif that
we brak the Appointment in any jote, except that ane hoirnit capp was
taikin of ane proud preistis heid, and cut in four quarteris,[905]
becaus he said he wald weir[906] it in dispyte of the Congregatioun.

[SN: THE QUENE REGENTIS FALSE FLATTERING LETTER TO THE DUKE.[907]]

In this menetyme, the Quene, then Regent, knawin assuredlie quhat force
was schortlie to cum unto hir, ceassit not, by all meneis possibill, to
cloik the incuming of the Frensche, and to enflamb the hartis of oure
cuntrey men aganis us. And for that purpoise, sche first wrait to my
Lord Duike, in forme as followis:--

"My Lord and Cousing,

"Efter hartlie commendatioun; We ar informit that the Lordis of the
Westland Congregatioun intendis to mak ane conventioun and
assembillie of thair kyn and freyndis upoun Govane Mure, besyde
Glasgw, on Monnunday cum viij dayis, the [21st] day[908] of August
instant, for sum hie purpoise aganeis us, quhilk we can nott
skantlie beleve,[909] considdering thay have na occasioun upoun our