Hearing of this, some of us repaired to Perth again about the twenty-second day of May, and there we did abide for the comfort of our brethren. After invocation of the name of God, we began so to fortify the town and ourselves in the manner that we thought might prove best for our just defence. And, because we were not utterly despaired of the Queen's favour, we drew up a letter to her Grace, as followeth:—
"To the Queen's Grace Regent, all humble obedience and duty premised. As heretofore, with jeopardy of our lives, and yet with willing hearts, we have served the authority of Scotland, and your Grace, now Regent in this realm, in service dangerous and painful to our bodies; so now, with most dolorous minds we are constrained by unjust tyranny purposed against us to declare unto your Grace, that, unless this cruelty be stayed by your wisdom, we will be compelled to take the sword of just defence against all that shall pursue us for the matter of religion, and for our conscience' sake; which ought not, nor may not, be subject to mortal creatures, farther than by God's Word man be able to prove that he hath power to command us.
"We signify moreover unto your Grace, that if by rigour we be compelled to seek the extreme defence, we will not only notify our innocence and petitions to the King of France, to our Mistress and to her husband, but also to the Princes and Council of every Christian realm, declaring unto them that this cruel, unjust, and most tyrannical murder, intended against towns and multitudes, was and is the only cause of our revolt from our accustomed obedience, which, in God's presence, we faithfully promise to our Sovereign Mistress, to her husband, and unto your Grace Regent; provided that our consciences may live in that peace and liberty which Christ Jesus hath purchased unto us by His blood; and that we may have His Word truly preached, and holy Sacraments rightly ministrate unto us, without which we firmly purpose never to be subject to mortal man. For we think it better to expose our bodies to a thousand deaths than to hazard our souls to perpetual condemnation, by denying Christ Jesus and His manifest verity, which thing not only do they that commit open idolatry, but also all such as, seeing their brethren unjustly pursued for the cause of religion, and having sufficient means to comfort and assist them, do not-the-less withdraw from them their dutiful support.
"Your Grace's obedient subjects in all things not repugnant to God,
"The Faithful Congregation of Christ Jesus
in Scotland."
In the same tenor we wrote to Monsieur D'Oysel in French, requiring of him that, by his wisdom, he would mitigate the Queen's rage, and the rage of the priests; and warning him that otherwise that flame, then beginning to burn, would so kindle that it could not be slockened. We added that he declared himself no faithful servant to his master the King of France if, for the pleasure of the priests, he persecuted us, and so compelled us to take the sword of just defence. In like manner we wrote to Captain Serra la Burse, and to all other captains and French soldiers in general, admonishing them that their vocation was not to fight against us natural Scotsmen; and that they had no such commandment from their master. We besought them, therefore, not to provoke us to enmity against them, considering that they had found us favourable in their most extreme necessities. We declared further unto them that, if they entered into hostility and bloody war against us, this should continue longer than their and our lives, to wit, even in all posterity to come, so long as natural Scotsmen should have power to revenge such cruelty, and most horrible ingratitude....
The Protestants prepare for a Struggle for Liberty of Conscience.
Our letters were suppressed to the uttermost of the power of the enemy, and yet they came to the knowledge of many. But the rage of the Queen and priests could not be stayed; and they moved forward against us: we were then but a very few and mean number of gentlemen in Perth. Perceiving the extremity to approach, we wrote to all brethren enjoining them to repair towards us for our relief. To this we found all men so readily bent, that the work of God was evident. And, because we wished to leave nothing undone that would declare our innocency to all men, we addressed a letter to those of the nobility who then persecuted us....
When our letters were divulged, some man began to reason whether of conscience it would be right to make war upon us, considering that we offered due obedience to the authority, and required nothing but liberty of conscience, and that our religion and actions should be tried by the Word of God. Our letters came with convenient expedition to the hands of the brethren in Cunningham and Kyle. These convened at the Kirk of Craigie, where, after some contrarious reasons, Alexander, Earl of Glencairn, in zeal, burst forth in these words, "Let every man serve his conscience. I will, by God's grace, see my brethren in Perth; yea, albeit never man should accompany me, I will go, were it but with a pike upon my shoulder; for I had rather die with that company than live after them." These words so encouraged the rest that all decided to go forward, and that they did so stoutly that, when Lion Herald, in his coat armour, by public sound of trumpet in Glasgow, commanded all men under pain of treason to return to their houses, never man obeyed that charge, but all went forward....
The rival Forces are arrayed outside Perth.
Our requests and advertisements notwithstanding, Monsieur D'Oysel and his Frenchmen, with the priests and their bands, marched against Perth, and approached within ten miles of the town. Then repaired the brethren from all quarters for our relief. The gentlemen of Fife, Angus, and Mearns, with the town of Dundee, first hazarded resistance to the enemy; and for that purpose chose a platt of ground, distant a mile and more from the town. In the meantime the Lord Ruthven, Provost of Perth, and a man whom many judged godly and stout in that action (as in very deed he was, even unto his last breath), left the town, and departed first to his own place, and afterwards to the Queen. His defection and revolt was a great discouragement to the hearts of many; and yet God did so comfort that, within the space of twelve hours after, the hearts of all men were erected again. Those then assembled did not so much hope for victory by their own strength, as by the power of Him whose truth they professed; and they began to comfort one another, until the whole multitude was encouraged by a reasonable hope.
Commissioners are sent by the Queen: Interview with John Knox: May 1559
The day after the Lord Ruthven departed, which was the twenty-fourth of May, the Earl of Argyll, Lord James, Prior of St. Andrews, and the Lord Semple arrived in Perth, with commission from the Queen Regent to inquire into the cause of the convocation of lieges there.... On the morning of the day after that, the twenty-fifth day of May, before the said Lords departed, John Knox desired to speak with them, and, permission being granted, he was conveyed to their lodging by the Laird of Balvaird, and thus he began:—