The
Beggar's Summonds [to be fixed] Upon the
gaittis and ports of all Freiris places within this realme. [January
1558, or 1559 by modern reckoning]
[From] The Blynd, Cruiked, Bedrelles, Wedowis,
Orphelings, and all other pure sa viseit be the hand of God, as may
not work.
To the flockes of all Freiris within this Realme, we wische
Restitutioun of wranges bypast and reformation in tyme cuming, for Salutatioun.
Ye yourselves are not ignorant. . .quilk ye, being hale of bodye,
stark, sturdye and able to wyrk, quhat under pretence of poverty (and
nivertheless possessing maist easilie all abundance) quhat throw
cloiket and huided simplicitie. . . and by feynzeit holiness, quilk
is now declared superstition and idolatrie, hes thir mony yeirs,
exprese against Godis word and practeis of his holie Apostles. .
.maist falslie stowen fra us. And as ye have, be your false doctryne
and wresting of Godis word induced the hale people, hie and law, in
sure hope and belief that to cloith, feid and nurreis you is the
onlie maist acceptable almouss allowit before God; and to gif ane
penny or ane piece of bread anis in the oulk is aneuch for us.
Even so ye have persuaded them to bigge you great Hospitalis and
maintain you by their purse. . .which only pertain to us by all law
as biggit and dattat to the pure, of whose number ye are not.
We have thocht guid therefore. . .to warn you, in the name of the
great God, be this publick wryting affixt on your yettis quhair ye
now dwell, that ye remove furth of our said Hospitalis betwixt this
and the Feist of Whit Sunday next.
Translation - The Beggar's Summonds [or warning],
to be fixed upon the gates and ports [exits] of all Friar's
places within this realm. January 1558.
[From] The Blind, Crooked, Bedridden, Widows, Orphans,
and all other poor so visited by the hand of God, as may not work.
To the flocks of all Friars within this realm, we wish restitution of
past wrongs and reformation in time coming, for salutation.
You yourselves are not ignorant.. .which you, being whole of body,
strong, sturdy, and able to work, what, under pretence of poverty
(and nevertheless possessing most easily all abundance) what, through
cloaked and hooded simplicity and by feigned holiness, which is now
declared superstition and idolatry, has these many years, expressly
against God's word and the practice of his holy Apostles. . .most
falsely stolen from us. And as you have, by your false doctrine and
twisting of God's word, induced all the people, high and low, in sure
hope and belief that to clothe, feed and nourish you is the only
acceptable alms allowed before God; and to give one penny or one
piece of bread once in the week is enough for us.
Even so have you persuaded them to build you great Hospitals and
maintain you by their purse.. .(hospitals) which only pertain to us
lawfully as having been built and endowed for the poor, of whose
number you are not. We have thought it well therefore. . . to warn
you, in the name of the great God, by this public statement affixed
on your gates where you now dwell, that you should remove yourselves
from our said Hospitals between now and the Feast of Whit Sunday, next.