hair
corruptit skruiff and baggage of Hard-heidis and Non Suntis,[925]
maist lyik that sche and thay had conspyreit to destroy all the
haill gud cunzey of this realme, and consequentlie that pairt of
the commun-wealth. [SN: LETT SIR ROBERT RICHARTSOUN, AND
UTHERIS,[926] ANSWER TO THIS.] Besydeis all this, thair clyppit
and rowngeit soussis,[927] quhilk had no passage thir three yeiris
past in the realme of France, ar commandit to have course in this
realme, to gratifie thairby hir new cumit suldiouris. And all thir
thingis togidder, ar done without the avise or consent of the
Nobilitie and Counsall of this realme, and manifestlie thairthrow,
against our ancient lawis and liberteis.

"Thridlie, Hir last and maist wechty proceiding, mair fullie
declairis hir motherlie cair hir Grace beiris to our commun-wealth
and us, quhan in tyme of peace, but any occatioun of forane weiris,
thowsandis of strangearis ar layd heir and thair upoun the neckis
of our pure memberis of this commun-wealth; thair idill bellyis fed
upoun the pure substance of the communitie, conqueist by thair just
laubouris in the panefull sueit of thair browis. Quhilk to be trew,
Dumbar, North-Berwick, Tranent, Prestounpanis, Mussilburgh, Leith,
Cannogait, Kingorne, Kirkcaldy, Dysert, with the depauperat saullis
that this day dwell thairin, can testifie; quhais oppressioun, as
doutless it is enterit in befoir the justice sait of God, sa aucht
it justlie to move oure hartis to have reuth and compassioun upoun
thir oure pure brethren, and at oure poweris to provide remedy for
the same. And albeit hir strangearis had bene garneissit with
money, (as ye knaw weill thay war nott,) yitt can thair heir lying
be na wayis bot maist hurtfull to our commun-wealth, seing that the
fertilitie of this realme hes never bene sa plenteouse, that it was
abill of any continewance to sustene the self, and inhabitantis
thairof, without support of forane cuntreis; far less abill,
besydeis the same, to susteane thowsandis of strangeris quhairwith
it is burdenit, to the derthing of all viweris,[928] as the murmour
and complaint of Edinburgh this day dois testifie. Bot to quhat
effect the commun-wealth is this way burdenit, the end dois
declair; for schortlie war thair brocht to the feyldis against our
Soveran