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.