The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

This servant of God Master Patrick Hamilton, being in his youth provided to reasonable honours and living (he was entitled Abbot of Fern) as one hating the world and the vanity thereof, left Scotland, and passed to the Schools in Germany; for then the fame of the University of Wittenberg was greatly divulgate in all Countries: where by Gods providence he became familiar with those lights and notable servants of Christ Jesus of that time, Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and the said Francis Lambert, did so grow and advance in godly knowledge, joined with fervency and integrity of life, that he was in admiration with many. The zeal of Gods glory did so eat him up, that he could not long continue to remain there, but returned to his country where the bright beams of the true light, which by Gods grace was planted in his heart, began most abundantly to burst forth, as well in public as in secret; for he was (besides his godly knowledge) well learned ⟨p. 5⟩in Philosophy, he abhorred Sophistry, and would that the Text of Aristotle should have been better understood, and more used in the Schools than then it was; for Sophistry had corrupted all, as well in Divinity, as in humanity. In short process of time, the fame of his reasons and Doctrine troubled the Clergy, and came to the ears of Bishop James Betonne, of whom before we have made mention, who being a conjured enemy to Christ Jesus, and one that long hath had the whole regiment of this Realm, bare impatiently that any trouble should be made to the Kingdom of darkness, whereof within this Realm he was the head. And therefore he so travelled with the said Master Patrick that he gat him to Saint Andrews, where after the conference of divers days he had his freedom and liberty. The said Bishop and his bloody Butchers, called Doctors, seemed to approve his Doctrine, and to grant that many things craved Reformation in the Ecclesiastical regiment. And amongst the rest, there was one that secretly consented with him almost in all things, named, Friar Alexander Campbell, ¹a man of good wit and learning, but yet corrupt by the world, as after we will hear:

This servant of God Master Patrick Hamilton, being in his youth provided to reasonable honours and living (he was intituled Abbot of Fern) as one hating the world and the vanitie thereof, left Scotland, and passed to the Schools in Germany; for then the fame of the Universitie of Wittenberg was greatly divulgate in all Countreys: where by Gods providence he became familar with those lights and notable servants of Christ Jesus of that time, Martin Luther, Philip Melancthon, and the said Francis Lambert, did so grow and advance in godly knowledge, joyned with fervencie and integrity of life, that he was in admiration with many. The zeal of Gods glory did so eat him up, that he could not long continue to remain there, but returned to his countrey where the bright beams of the true light, which by Gods grace was planted in his heart, began most abundantly to burst forth, as well in publike as in secret; for he was (besides his godly knowledge) well learned