ix day[951] of September 1559. Be your
Brethren, &c."

[SN: THE TYRRANNY OF THE FRENSCHE.]

The Duike and Lordis understanding that the fortificatioun of Leith
proceidit, appointit thair haill forceis to convene at Striviling the xv
day of October, that frome thence thai mycht marche fordwart to
Edinburgh, for the redress of the greit enormyteis quhilk the Frensche
did to the haill cuntrey, quhilk be thame was sua oppressitt that the
lyfe of all honest man[952] was bitter unto him.

In this meintyme, the Lordis directit thair letteris to diverse pairtis
of the cuntrey, makand mentioun quhat dangear did hing ower all men,
giff the Frensche sould be sufferit to plant in this cuntrey at thair
plesoure. Thay maid mentioun farder, how humblie thay had socht the
Queue Regent, that sche wald send away to France hir Frensche men, quha
war ane burding unproffitable and grevous to thair commun-wealth; and
how that sche nochtwithstanding did daylie augment hir nomber, brynging
wyffis and bairneis; a declaratioun of ane plane conqueist, &c.

The Quene, than Regent, perseving that hir crafte began to be espiit, be
all meaneis possebill travellit to blynd the pepill. And first, sche
send furth hir pestilent postis foirnameit in all pairtis of the
cuntrey, to perswaid all man that sche offerit all thingis reassonabill
to the Congregatioun; and that thay refusing all reassoun, pretendit na
religioun, bot ane plane revolt frome the Authoratie. Sche temptit every
man in particular, alse weill thay that war of the Congregatioun, as
thame that war neutrallis. Sche assaultit everie man, as sche thocht
maist easelie he mycht have bene ovircum. To the Lord Ruthven sche send
the Justice Clerk and his wiff, quhn, is dochter to the wife[953] of the
said Lord. Quhat was thair commissioun and creddeit, is na farther
knawin than the said Lord hes confessit, quhilk is, that large
promeisses of proffitt was offerrit, gif he wald leiff the
Congregatioun and be the Queneis. To Lord James, Priour of Sanctandrois,
was send Maister Johnne Spense of Condy, with ane letter and creddeit,
as followis:--

"THE MEMORIALL OF MAISTER JOHNNE SPENSE OF CONDY,[954]
THE THRETTY DAY OF SEPTEMBER.

"1. Ye sall say, that hir[955] greit favour towartis yow movis hir
to this.

"2. That sche now knawis, that the occatioun of your depairting frome
hir was the favoure of the word and of religioun; with the quhilk albeit
sc