Acts and Proceedings: 1561, December

A. D. M.D.LXI.

[At Edinburgh, the day of December 1561.]

The whilk day tuiching the slander takin be the horrible fact and impietie committed within this brugh under silence of night be Marques Dalbuiff and his colligues, in breaking up of Cuthbert Ramsay his ȝets and doores, and searching and seiking his dochter in law to oppresse her, as appeirit; it is thoght good be the haill kirk, that a supplicatioun be made and givin in to the Q. Majestie, in name of the professours of the Evangell, and the persons befor nominat present the samein, to seik the ansuer therof. The forme of the supplication followeth.

To the Q. Majestie and her secreit and great counsell, Her G. faithfull and obedient subiects, the Professours of Chryst Jesus his holy Evangell, wishes the spirit of righteous judgement.

The feare of God conceivit of his holie word, the naturall and unfained love whilk we beare unto ȝour G. the duetie whilk we ow unto ȝour countrie, and the terrible threatnings whilk God pronounces against every realme and citie in the whilk horrible crymes are openly committed, and then be the committers obstinately defended, compell us, ane great part of your subiects, humblie to crave of ȝour Grace upright and true judgement against sick persones as hes done what in them lyes to kindle Gods wrath agains this heale realme. The impietie be them committed is so haynous and so horrible, that as it is ane fact most vyle and rare to be heard of within this realme, and principallie within the bowells of this citie, so sould we think ourselves guiltie in the samein, if negligentlie, or yet for worldlie feare, we passe it over with silence; and therfor ȝour Grace may not think that we requyre any thing, whill that we crave oppin malefactors condignely to be punished, but that whilk God hes commandit us to crave, and hes als commandit ȝour Grace to give to every ane of ȝour subiects; for be this linke hes God knitt together the prince and the peiple, that as he commands honour, feare, and obedience, to be givin to the powers established be him, swa does he in expresse words command and declare what thing the prince aweth unto the subiects, to witt, that as he is the minister of God, bearing the sword for vengeance to be takin on evill doers, and for the defence of peaceable and quyet men, swa ought he to draw the same without all partialitie swa oft as he is in Godis name requyrit therto. Seeing so it is, Madame, that this cryme so recentlie committed, and that in the eyes of ȝour heale realme now presentlie assembled, is so haynous, for who heirtofoir have heard within the bowells of Edinburgh, ȝetts and dures under silence of night bruisit up, houses rypeit and that with hostilitie, seiking ane woman as appeirit to oppresse her, seing we say that this cryme is so haynous, that all godlie men feare not only Godis sair displeasure to fall upon ȝow and ȝour heale realme, but also that sick libertie breid contempt, and in the end seditioun, if remeid in tyme be not gudlie provydeit, whilk in our judgement is impossible, if severe punishment be not execute for the cryme committed: Therfor we most humblie beseik ȝour Grace, that all affectioun laid asyde, ȝe declare ȝour selfe so upright in this case, that ȝe may give evident demonstration to all ȝour subiectis, that the fear of God, joynit with the love of the commoun tranquillitie, have principall seat and dominion in ȝour G. heart. This forder, Madame, of conscience we speake, that as ȝour Grace in Godis name does crave of us obedience, whilk to render in all things lawfull we are most willing, swa in the samein name doe we, the haill professours of Christs Evangell within this realme, crave of ȝou, and of ȝour counsell, sharp punishment of this cryme; and for performance therof, that without all delay the principall actors of this most haynous cryme, and the persewars of this intendit villany, may be callit befor the Cheife Justice of this realme, to suffer ane assyse, and to be punishit according to the lawes of the samein, and ȝour Graces ansuer we most humblie beseik.] R. K.