‘God from heaven, and upon the face of the earth, gave declaration that
he was offended at the iniquity that was committed within this realm;
for, upon the 20th day of January, there fell weet in great abundance,
whilk in the falling freezit so vehemently, that the earth was but ane
sheet of ice. The fowls both great and small freezit, and micht not
flie: mony died, and some were taken and laid beside the fire, that
their feathers might resolve. And in that same month, the sea stood
still, as was clearly observed, and neither ebbed nor flowed the space
of twenty-four hours.’--_Knox._
[Sidenote: FEB. 15
and 18.]
In the ensuing month meteorological signs even more alarming to the
great reformer took place. There were seen in the firmament, says
he, ‘battles arrayit, spears and other weapons, and as it had been
the joining of two armies. Thir things were not only observed, but
also spoken and constantly affirmed by men of judgment and credit.’
Nevertheless, he adds, ‘the queen and our court made merry.’
The reformer considered these appearances as declarations of divine
wrath against the iniquity of the land, and he is evidently solicitous
to establish them upon good evidence. There can be no difficulty in
admitting the facts he refers to. The debate must be as to what the
facts were. Most probably they were resolvable into a simple example of
the _aurora borealis._
* * * * *
The crimes of unruly passion and of superstition predominated in this
age; but those of dexterous selfishness were not unknown.
[Sidenote: 1563-4.