[15] Wall.
[16] Shirt.
[Sidenote: False Miracles.]
As concerning miracles, the Friar declared what diligence the
ancients took to try true miracles from false. "But now," said he,
"the greediness of priests not only receives false miracles, but
they even cherish and fee knaves on purpose, that their chapels may
be the better renowned, and their offering be augmented. Thereupon
are many chapels founded, as if our Lady were mightier, and as if
she took more pleasure in one place than in another. Of late days
our Lady of Carsegreen has hopped from one green hillock to another!
Honest men of St. Andrews," said he, "if ye love your wives and
your daughters, hold them at home, or else send them in honest
company; for, if ye knew what miracles were kythed[17] there, ye
would neither thank God nor our Lady." And thus he merrily taunted
the trysts of whoredom and adultery used at such devotion. Another
Article in his sermon was judged more hard; for he alleged from the
Common Law that the Civil Magistrate might correct the Churchmen,
and for open vices deprive them of their benefices.
[17] Showed; practised.
Notwithstanding this kind of preaching, this Friar remained
Papist in his heart. The rest of the Friars, fearing to lose the
benediction of the bishops, to wit, their malt and their meal and
their other appointed pension, caused the said Friar to fly to
England, and there, for defence of the Pope and Papistry, he was
cast into prison at King Harry's commandment. But so it pleaseth God
to open up the mouth of Baalam's own ass, to cry out against the
vicious lives of the clergy of the age.
Shortly after this, new consultation was taken that some should be
burnt; for men began to speak very freely. A merry gentleman named
John Lindsay, familiar to Archbishop James Beaton, standing by when
consultation was had, said, "My Lord, if ye burn any more, unless ye
follow my counsel, ye will utterly destroy yourselves. If ye will
burn them, let them be burnt in how[18] cellars; for the reek[19] of
Master Patrick Hamilton has infected as many as it blew upon." But,
so fearful was it then to speak anything against priests, the least
word spoken against them, albeit it was spoken in a man's sleep, was
judged heresy. Richard Carmichael, yet living in Fife, being young
and a singer in the Chapel Royal of Stirling, happened in his sleep
to say, "The Devil take away the priests, for they are a greedy
pack." He was accused by Sir George Clapperton, Dean of the said
Chapel, and was for this compelled to burn his bill.
[18] Underground.
[19] Smoke.
[Sidenote: Friar Alexander Seton preaches the Evangel.]
God shortly after raised up stronger champions against the priests.
Alexander Seton, a Black Friar, of good learning and estimation,
began to tax the corrupt doctrine of the Papistry. For the space of
a whole Lent he taught the commandments of God only, ever beating
in the ears of his auditors that the law of God had not been truly
taught for many years, men's traditions having obscured the purity
of it. These were his accustomed propositions. First: Christ Jesus
is the end and perfection of the law. Second: There is no sin where
God's law is not violated. And, third: To satisfy for sin lies
not in man's power, but the remission thereof comes by unfeigned
repentance, and by faith apprehending God the Father, merciful
in Christ Jesus, His Son. While oftentimes this Friar put his
auditors in mind of these and the like heads, and made no mention of
purgatory, pardons, pilgrimage, prayer to saints, or such trifles,
the dumb doctors and the rest of that forsworn rabble began to
suspect him. They said nothing publicly until Lent was ended, and
he had gone to Dundee. Then, in his absence, one hired for that
purpose openly damned the whole doctrine that he had taught. This
coming to the ears of the said Friar Alexander, then in Dundee,
he returned without delay to St. Andrews, caused immediately to
jow[20] the bell, and to give signification that he would preach;
as he did indeed. In this sermon, more plainly than at any other
time, he affirmed whatsoever in all his sermons he had taught during
the whole Lent-tide; adding that within Scotland there was no true
bishop, if bishops were to be known by such notes and virtues as St.
Paul requires in bishops.
[20] Toll.
[Sidenote: Friar Seton's Apology.]
This delation[21] flew with wings to the Archbishop's ears.
Without further delay, he sent for the said Friar Alexander, and
began grievously to complain and sharply to accuse him for having
spoken so slanderously of the dignity of the bishops, as to say
that "it behoved a bishop to be a preacher, or else he was but a
dumb dog, and fed not the flock, but fed his own belly." The man,
being witty, and minded of his most assured defence, said, "My
Lord, the reporters of such things are manifest liars." Thereat
the Archbishop rejoiced, and said, "Your answer pleases me well:
I never could think that ye would be so foolish as to affirm such
things. Where are these knaves that have brought me this tale?"
These compearing[22] and affirming the same that they did before, he
still replied that they were liars. Witnesses were multiplied, and
men were brought to attention, and then he turned to the Archbishop
and said, "My Lord, ye may see and consider what ears these asses
have, who cannot discern betwixt Paul, Isaiah, Zechariah, Malachi,
and Friar Alexander Seton. In very deed, my Lord, I said that Paul
says, 'It behoveth a bishop to be a teacher.' Isaiah saith, that
'they that feed not the flock are dumb dogs.' And Zechariah saith,
'They are idle pastors.' I of my own head affirmed nothing, but I
declared what the Spirit of God had before pronounced. If ye be not
offended at Him, my Lord, ye cannot justly be offended at me. And
so, yet again, my Lord, I say that they are manifest liars that
reported unto you that I said that ye and others that preach not are
no bishops, but belly gods."
[21] Accusation.
[22] Presenting themselves.
[Sidenote: Persecution of Friar Seton.]
Albeit, the Archbishop was highly offended at the scoff and bitter
mock, as well as at the bold liberty of that learned man; yet durst
he not hazard for that present to execute his malice conceived. Not
only feared he the learning and bold spirit of the man, but also the
favour that he had with the people, as well as with the Prince, King
James the Fifth. With him he had good credit; for he was at that
time his confessor, and had exhorted him to the fear of God, to the
meditation of God's law, and to purity of life. The Archbishop, with
his complices, foreseeing what danger might come to their Estate,
if such familiarity should continue betwixt the Prince and a man
so learned and so repugnant to their affections, laboured to make
the said Friar Alexander odious unto the King's Grace. With the
assistance of the Grey Friars, who by their hypocrisy deceived many,
they readily found means to traduce the innocent as a heretic.
This accusation was easily received and more easily believed by the
carnal Prince, who was altogether given to the filthy lusts of the
flesh, and abhorred all counsel repugnant thereto. He did remember
what a terror the admonitions of the said Alexander were unto his
corrupted conscience, and without resistance he subscribed to their
accusation, affirming that he knew more than they did in that
matter; for he understood well enough that he smelled of the new
doctrine, from such things as he had shewn to him under confession.
Therefore, he promised that he should follow the counsel of the
bishops in punishing him and all others of that sect. These things
understood by the said Alexander, as well by information of his
friends and familiars, as by the strange countenance of the King
unto him, he provided the next way to avoid the fury of a blinded
Prince. In his habit, he departed the realm, and, coming to Berwick,
wrote back again to the King's Grace his complaint and admonition....
[Sidenote: Persecution flags.]
After the death of that constant witness of Jesus Christ, Master
Patrick Hamilton, when God disclosed the wickedness of the wicked,
as we have seen, there was one Forrest of Linlithgow taken. After
long imprisonment in the Sea Tower of St. Andrews, this man was
adjudged to the fire by the said Archbishop James Beaton and his
doctors, for none other crime but because he had a New Testament
in English. More of his story we have not, except that he died
constant, and with great patience, at St. Andrews. The flame of
persecution ceased after his death for the space of ten years
or thereby. Not that these bloody beasts ceased by all means to
suppress the light of God, and to trouble such as in any sort
were suspected to abhor their corruption; but because the realm
was troubled with intestine and civil wars. In these, much blood
was shed; first, at Melrose, betwixt the Douglas and Buccleuch,
on the eighteenth day of July, in the year of God 1526; next, at
Linlithgow, betwixt the Hamiltons and the Earl of Lennox, where the
said Earl, with many others, lost his life, on the thirteenth day
of September in the same year; and last, betwixt the King himself
and the said Douglases, whom he banished from the realm, and held in
exile during the rest of his days. By reason of these, and of other
troubles, the bishops and their bloody bands could not find the
time so favourable unto them as they required, for executing their
tyranny.
[Sidenote: The Reformation in England.]
In this mid time, the wisdom of God did provide that Harry the
Eighth, King of England, should abolish from his realm the name
and authority of the Pope of Rome, and suppress the Abbeys and
other places of idolatry. This gave hope, in divers realms, that
some godly reformation should have ensued therefrom. From this
our country, divers learned men, and others that lived in fear of
persecution, did repair to that realm. They found not such purity
as they wished, and some of them sought other countries. But they
escaped the tyranny of merciless men, and were reserved to better
times, that they might fructify within His Church, in divers places
and parts, and in divers vocations. Alexander Seton remained in
England, and publicly, with great praise and comfort of many, taught
the Evangel in all sincerity certain years. Albeit the craftiness of
Winchester, and of others, circumvented the said Alexander, so as to
cause him, at Paul's Cross, to affirm certain things repugnant to
his former true doctrine; there is no doubt but that, as God had
powerfully reigned with him in all his life, in his death, which
shortly after followed, he found the mercy of his God, whereupon he
ever exhorted all men to depend.
[Sidenote: Scots Reformers abroad.]
Alexander Alesius, Master John Fyfe, and that famous man Dr.
Macchabeus,[23] departed unto Germany, where by God's providence
they were distributed to several places. Macdowell, for his
singular prudence, besides his learning and godliness, was elected
burgomaster in one of the Stadts. Alesius was appointed to the
University of Leipsic; and so was Master John Fyfe. There, for their
honest behaviour and great erudition, they were held in admiration
by all the godly. And in what honour, credit, and estimation, Dr.
Macchabeus was with Christian King of Denmark, let Copenhagen and
famous men of divers nations testify. Thus did God provide for His
servants, and frustrate the expectation of these bloody beasts who,
by the death of one in whom the light of God did clearly shine,
intended to have suppressed Christ's truth for ever within this
realm. But the contrary had God decreed; for his death was, as we
have said, the cause of awakening many from the deadly sleep of
ignorance; and so did Jesus Christ, the only true Light, shine
unto many, from the away-taking of one. These notable men, Master
John Fyfe only excepted, did never after comfort this country with
their bodily presence; but God made them fructify in His Church,
and raised them up lights out of darkness, to the praise of His own
mercy, and to the just condemnation of them that then ruled--to wit,
the King, Council, and nobility, yea, the whole people--who suffered
such notable personages, without crimes committed, to be unjustly
persecuted, and so exiled. Others were afterwards treated in the
same manner; but of them we shall speak in their own places.
[23] Macalpine.
[Sidenote: Persecution revived: 1534.]
As soon as the bishops got the opportunity which they constantly
sought, they renewed the battle against Jesus Christ. In the year of
God 1534, the foresaid leprous Archbishop caused to be summoned Sir
William Kirk, Adam Deas, Henry Cairns, and John Stewart, indwellers
of Leith, with divers others, such as Master William Johnstone,
and Master Henry Henderson, schoolmaster of Edinburgh. Some of
these compeared in the Abbey Kirk of Holyroodhouse and abjured,
and publicly burned their bills: others compeared not, and were
exiled. But two were brought to judgment, to wit, David Stratoun, a
gentleman, and Master Norman Gourlay, a man of reasonable erudition.
Of them we must shortly speak.
[Sidenote: David Stratoun and his Teind Fish.]
In Master Norman appeared knowledge, albeit joined with weakness.
But in David Stratoun there could only be espied, from the first, a
hatred against the pride and avarice of the priests. The cause of
his delation was as follows. He had made himself a fishing boat to
go to sea, and the Bishop of Moray, then being Prior of St. Andrews,
and his factors, urged for the teind thereof. His answer was that,
if they would have teind of that which his servants won in the sea,
it was but reason that they should come and receive it where he
got the stock.[24] So, as was constantly affirmed, he caused his
servants to cast every tenth fish into the sea again. Process of
cursing was led against him, for non-payment of such teinds; and
when he contemned this, he was delated[25] to answer for heresy. It
troubled him vehemently; and he began to frequent the company of
such as were godly; for before he had been a very stubborn man, and
one that despised all reading, chiefly of those things that were
godly. Miraculously, as it were, he appeared to be changed; for he
delighted in nothing but in reading, albeit he himself could not
read, and he became a vehement exhorter of all men to concord, to
quietness, and to the contempt of the world. He frequented much the
company of the Laird of Dun, whom God in those days had marvellously
illuminated.
[24] The crop from which the teind was drawn.
[25] Accused.
[Sidenote: The Conversion of Stratoun.]
One day, the present Laird of Lauriston, then a young man, was
reading to him from the New Testament, in a certain quiet spot in
the fields. As God had appointed, he chanced to read these sentences
of our Master, Jesus Christ: "He that denies Me before men, or is
ashamed of Me in the midst of this wicked generation, I will deny
him in the presence of My Father, and before His angels." At these
words he suddenly, being as one ravished, platt[26] himself upon his
knees. After extending both hands and visage fixedly to the heavens
for a reasonable time, he burst forth in these words: "O Lord, I
have been wicked, and justly mayest Thou withdraw Thy grace from
me. But, Lord, for Thy mercy's sake, let me never deny Thee or Thy
truth, from fear of death or corporal pain."
[26] Threw.
[Sidenote: Martyrdom of Stratoun and Gourlay.]
The issue declared that his prayer was not vain: for when he, with
the foresaid Master Norman, was produced in judgment in the Abbey
of Holyroodhouse, the King himself (all clad in red) being present,
there was great labour to make the said David Stratoun recant, and
burn his bill. But he, ever standing at his defence, alleging that
he had not offended, in the end was adjudged unto the fire. When
he perceived the danger, he asked grace of the King. This would
the King willingly have granted unto him, but the bishops proudly
answered that his hands were bound in that case, and that he had no
grace to give to such as by their law were condemned. And so was
David Stratoun, with the said Master Norman, after dinner, upon the
twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of God 1534, led to a
place beside the Rood of Greenside; and there these two were both
hanged and burned, according to the mercy of the papistical Kirk.
[Sidenote: The True Light spreads: Cardinal David Beaton
notwithstanding.]
This tyranny notwithstanding, the knowledge of God did wondrously
increase within this realm, partly by reading, partly by brotherly
conference, which in those dangerous days was used to the comfort
of many; but chiefly by merchants and mariners, who, frequenting
other countries, heard the true doctrine affirmed, and the vanity of
the papistical religion openly rebuked. Dundee and Leith were the
principal centres of enlightenment, and there David Beaton, cruel
Cardinal, made a very strait inquisition, divers being compelled
to abjure and burn their bills, some in St. Andrews, and some at
Edinburgh. About the same time, Captain John Borthwick was burnt in
effigy, but by God's providence he himself escaped their fury. This
was done for a spectacle and triumph to Mary of Lorraine, lately
arrived from France, as wife of James the Fifth, King of Scots. What
plagues she brought with her, and how they yet continue, may be
manifestly seen by such as are not blind.
[Sidenote: The Reformation in Court and Cloisters.]
The rage of these bloody beasts proceeded so that the King's Court
itself escaped not danger; for in it divers were suspected, and some
were accused. And yet ever did some light burst out in the midst
of darkness; for the truth of Christ Jesus entered even into the
cloisters, as well of Friars, as of Monks and Canons. John Linn,
a Grey Friar, left his hypocritical habit and the den of those
murderers the Grey Friars. A Black Friar, called Friar Kyllour,
set forth the history of Christ's Passion in the form of a play,
which he both preached and practised openly in Stirling, the King
himself being present, upon a Good Friday in the morning. In this,
all things were so lovably expressed that the very simple people
understood, and these confessed that, as the priests and obstinate
Pharisees persuaded the people to refuse Christ Jesus, and caused
Pilate to condemn Him, so did the bishops and men called religious
blind the people, and persuade princes and judges to persecute such
as professed the blessed Evangel of Christ Jesus.
[Sidenote: Friar Kyllour and others go to the Stake: Feby. 1538.]
This plain speaking so inflamed the hearts of all that bare the
beast's mark, that they did not cease their machinations until
the said Friar Kyllour, and with him Friar Beveridge, Sir Duncan
Simson, Robert Forrester, a gentleman, and Dean Thomas Forret,
Canon Regular and Vicar of Dollar, a man of upright life, were all
together cruelly murdered in one fire, on the last day of February,
in the year of God 1538. This cruelty was used by the said Cardinal,
the Chancellor, Archbishop of Glasgow, and the incestuous Bishop of
Dunblane.
[Sidenote: The Trial of Friar Russell and Friar Kennedy.]
After this cruelty was used in Edinburgh, upon the Castle Hill, two
friars were apprehended in the Diocese of Glasgow, to the effect
that the rest of the bishops might show themselves no less fervent
to suppress the light of God than was he of St. Andrews. The one was
Jerome Russell, a Cordelier Friar, a young man of a meek nature,
quick spirit, and good letters. The other was one Kennedy, who was
not more than eighteen years of age, and was of excellent ingyne[27]
in Scottish poesy. To assist the Archbishop of Glasgow in that cruel
judgment, or at least to cause him to dip his hands in the blood
of the saints of God, there were sent Master John Lauder, Master
Andrew Oliphant, and Friar Maltman, sergeants of Satan, apt for
that purpose. The day appointed for their cruelty having come, the
two poor saints of God were presented before these bloody butchers.
Grievous were the crimes that were laid to their charge.
[27] Ingenuity; genius.
At the first, Kennedy was faint, and gladly would have recanted.
But, when a place of repentance was denied unto him, the Spirit of
God, which is the Spirit of all comfort, began to work in him. The
inward comfort began to burst forth, in visage as well as in tongue
and word; for his countenance began to be cheerful. With a joyful
voice he said, upon his knees, "O Eternal God! how wondrous is that
love and mercy that Thou bearest unto mankind, and unto me the most
caitiff and miserable wretch above all others; for, even now, when I
would have denied Thee, and Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, my only
Saviour, and so have casten myself into everlasting damnation; Thou,
by Thine own hand, hast pulled me from the very bottom of hell, and
makest me to feel that heavenly comfort which takes from me the
ungodly fear wherewith before I was oppressed. Now I defy death; do
what ye please, I praise my God I am ready."
The godly and learned Jerome, railed upon by those godless tyrants,
answered, "This is your hour and that of the power of darkness:
now sit ye as judges; and we stand wrongfully accused, and more
wrongfully to be condemned; but the day shall come, when our
innocency shall appear, and ye shall see your own blindness, to your
everlasting confusion. Go forward, and fulfil the measure of your
iniquity."
When these servants of God thus behaved themselves, there arose a
variance betwixt the Archbishop and the beasts that came from the
Cardinal. The Archbishop said, "I think it better to spare these
men, rather than to put them to death." Thereat the idiot Doctors,
offended, said, "What will ye do, my Lord? Will ye condemn all that
my Lord Cardinal and the other bishops and we have done? If so ye
do, ye show yourself enemy to the Kirk and us, and so we will repute
you, be ye assured." At these words the faithless man, effrayed,[28]
adjudged the innocents to die, according to the desire of the wicked.
[28] Frightened; afraid.
[Sidenote: The Friars are burned.]
The meek and gentle Jerome Russell comforted the other with many
comfortable sentences, oft saying unto him, "Brother, fear not: more
potent is He that is in us, than is he that is in the world. The
pain that we shall suffer is short, and shall be light; but our joy
and consolation shall never end. Therefore, let us contend to enter
in unto our Master and Saviour, by the strait way which He has trod
before us. Death cannot destroy us; for it is destroyed already by
Him for whose sake we suffer." With these and the like comfortable
sentences, they passed to the place of execution, and constantly
triumphed over death and Satan, even in the midst of the flaming
fire.
[Sidenote: The Bigotry of James V.]
Thus did these cruel beasts intend nothing but murder in all
quarters of this realm. For so far had that blinded and most vicious
man, the Prince,--most vicious, we call him, for he neither spared
man's wife nor maiden, no more after his marriage than he did
before,--so far, we say, had he given himself to obey the tyranny
of those bloody beasts that he had made a solemn vow, that none
should be spared that was suspected of heresy, yea, although it were
his own son. He lacked not flatterers enough to press and push him
forward in his fury. Many of his minions were pensioners to priests;
and among them, Oliver Sinclair, still surviving and an enemy to
God, was the principal.
[Sidenote: God speaks to the King.]