e Ladyes liegis. Assureand your Hienes,
that yf, refusand the samyn, ye declair thairby your evill mynd
toward the commoun-weill and libertie of this realme, we will (as
of befoir) mene and declair the caus unto the haill Nobilitie and
communaltie of this realme; and according to the oath quhilk we
have sworne for the mantenance of the commoun-weall, in all maner
of thingis to us possible, we will provid reamedy: thairfoir
requyring most humblie your Grace answer in haist with the berar,
becaus in our eyis the act continewallie proceadis, declaring ane
determinatioun of conquest, quhilk is presumed of all men, and not
without caus. And thus, after our humill commendatioun of service,
we pray Almychttie God to have your Grace in his eternall
tuitioun."

* * * * *

These our letteris receaved, our messinger was threatned, and withholdin
a whole day. Thairefter he was dismissed, without ony other answer bot
that sche wald send ane answer when sche thocht expedient.

In this meantyme, becaus the rumour ceassed nott, that the Duke his
Grace usurped the Authoritie, he was compelled, with the sound of
trumpete, at the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh, to maik his purgatioun, in
forme as followis, the xix day of October:

[SN: THE DUIK LONG BEFOIR FALSLIE ACCUSED OF USURPATIOUN.[992]]

THE PURGATIOUN OF THE DUIK.

"Forsamekle as my Lord Duik of Chastellerault, understanding the
fals reporte maid be the Quene Regent against him, that he and his
sone, my Lord of Arrane, should pretend usurpatioun of the Croune
and Authoritie of this realme, when in verray deid he nor his said
sone never anis mynded sic thingis, bott allanerlie in simplicitie
of heart, movit partlie be the violent persute of the religioun and
trew professouris thairof, partlie by compassioun of the
commoun-wealth and poore communitie of this realme, oppressed with
strangearis, he joyned him self with the rest of the Nobilitie,
with all hasard, to supporte the commoun caus of that ane and of
that uther; hes thoght expedient to purge him self and his said
Sone, in presence of yow all, as he had done in presence of the
Counsall, of that same cryme, of auld, evin be summondis, laid to
his charge the secound year of the regne of our Soverane Lady.
Quhilk malice hes continewed ever again