Spottiswoode Society > History of the affairs of the Church and State of Scotland from the beginning of the reformation to the year 1568 > Volume 1

334 APPENDIX. [book I.
Grace, therefore, by experience may dayly learn, seeing they
neither fear the King of Heaven, as their lives testify , neither
the natural Prince, as their usurped power in their own
actions shews, why thy Highness should lie no longer blinded.
Thou maist consider that they pretend nothing else, but
only the maintenance and upholding of their barbed mules,
augmenting of their insatiable avarice, and continual over-
throwing and swallowing up thy poor subjects ; neither
preaching nor teaching out of the Law of God (as they should)
to the rude ignorant people ; but contend who may be most
high, most rich, and nearest thy Grace, to put the temporal
Lords and lieges out of thy counsel and favour, who should
be, and are most tender servants to thy Grace in all time of
need, to the defence of thee and thy Croun. And where they
desire thy Grace to put out thy temporal Lords and lieges
because they despise their vitious life, what else intend they
but only thy death and destruction ? as thou mayst easily
perceive, suppose they colour their false intent and mind
with the pursuit of heresie. For when thy Barons are put
down, what art thou but the King of Bane ? and then of
necessity must be guided by them ; and there, no doubt,
where a blind man is guide, must be a fall in the myre.
Therefore let thy Grace take boldnes and authoritie, which
thou hast of God, and suffer not their cruell persecution to
proceed, without audience given to him that is accused, and
just place of defence ; and then, no doubt, thou shalt have
thy subjects 1 hearts, and all that they can or may do in time
of need, tranquilitie, justice, and policie in thy Kealme, and
finally the kingdom of the heavens. Pleaseth you to give
this, or the copy, to the clergy and churchmen, and keep the
principal, and thy Grace shall have experience if I go against
one word that I have spoken, I shall dayly make my heartly
devotion for thy Grace, and for the prosperity and welfare
of thy body and soul. I doubt not but thy gracious High-
nes will give answer of these presents unto the presenter of
this unto thy Highnes. At Barwicke, by thy Highnes ser-
vant and orator, Alexander Seton. 1
1 [Seton lingered at Berwick for some time, expecting an answer from
the King to his letter, in the hope that its perusal would restore him to
favour, but he was disappointed. A perusal of the letter will at once
prove that the writer of it was not likely to obtain any favour from the
« clergy and churchmen," to whom lie desired the King to give a copy .— K.l