to speik, as he wald ansure to God, what his conscience
judged in that mater, thair was none found, amonges the hole number, who
did nott, by his awin toung consent to her deprivatioun. Thairefter was
her process[997] committed to writt, and registrat, as followeth:--

[SN: THE ENORMITIES COMMITTED BY THE QUEIN REGENT.]

"At Edinburgh, the twenty one day of October 1559. The Nobilitie,
Baronis, and Broughes convenit to advise upoun the affairis of the
commoun-weall, and to ayde, supporte, and succour the samyn,
perceaving and lamenting the interprysed destructioun of thair said
commoun-weall, and overthrow of the libertie of thair native
cuntree, be the meanes of the Quene Regent, and certane strangearis
her Prevey Counsallouris, plane contrarie oure Soveranes Lord and
Ladyis mynd, and direct against the counsall of the Nobilitie, to
proceid by litill and litill evin unto the uttermost, sa that the
urgent necessitie of the commoun-weall may suffer na langare delay,
and earnestlie craves our supporte: Seing heirfoir that the said
Quene Regent, (abusing and owir passing our Soveranes Lord and
Ladyis commissioun, gevin and granted to her,) hes in all her
proceidingis, persewit the Baronis and Broughes within this realme,
with weapones and armour of strangearis, butt ony process or ordour
of law, thei being oure Soverane Lord and Ladyis trew liegis, and
never called nor convict in any cryme be ony judgement lauchfull;
as first at Sanct Johnestoun, in the moneyth of Maij, sche
assembled her army against the towne and inhabitantis thairof,
never called nor convict in any cryme, for that thei professed trew
wirschip of God, conforme to his moist sacrat worde; and lyikwyis
in the moneyth of Junij last, without any lauchfull ordour or
calling going befoir, invaded the persones of syndre Noble men and
Baronis with force of armes convenit at Sanctandrois, onlie for
caus of religioun, as is notoriouslie knawin, thei never being
callit nor convict in ony cryme: Attour layed garnisonis the same
moneth upoun the inhabitantis of the said toun of Sanct Johnestoun,
oppressing the liberties of the Quenis trew lieges; for feir of
whiche her garnisones, ane great parte of the inhabitantis thairof,
fled of the towne, and durst nott resorte agane unto thair housses
and heretages, whill thei