The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Then those of the richer sort, having spent some time idly and loosely at the Universities, go beyond Sea, particularly to Italy, forsooth, either upon their own trust, or, which is little better, if not worse, many of those who go along with young men, to advise and direct them, have as much need of one for their guide, as the young men themselves; having neither staidness, discretion, nor probity. So that if there were a just account cast up of all those who either have been bred in the Universities, or gone beyond Sea these many years, I will speak within compass, That of twenty you shall hardly find one who is improved in virtue by this Breeding, for the good of the Church and State, whereof they are members, and perhaps considerable too, if they were wise and good. At this present both Church and State finds this to be true, by woeful experience, namely, in the Clergy, Gentry, and Nobility.

Then those of the richer sort, having spent some time idly and loosely at the Universities, go beyond Sea, particularly to Italy, forsooth, either upon their own trust, or, which is little better, if not worse, many of those who go along with young men, to advise and direct them, have as much need of one for their guide, as the young men themselves; having neither staidnesse, discretion, nor probity. So that if there were a just account cast up of all those who either have been bred in the Universities, or gone beyond Sea these many yeers, I will speak within compasse, That of twenty you shall hardly finde one who is improved in vertue by this Breeding, for the good of the Church and State, whereof they are members, and perhaps considerable too, if they were wise and good. At this present both Church and State findes this to be true, by wofull experience, namely, in the Clergie, Gentry, and Nobility.

Now these evils have not been in England alone, for Scotland, according to its proportion, in compass of Bounds, numbers of people, provision of means, and in its distance from Court, hath its full share of all the evil: For first, the Schools of breeding young people at home were become very corrupt; and many in their travelling abroad, have either miscarried, or little benefited themselves: The fruit we have found, namely, in our corrupt Clergy, yea, and in some of our infatuated Gentry and Nobility: but blessed be God, things are now in a better posture and constitution there, then they have been formerly; God grant we may have occasion to say the like of England. For Religion, sound knowledge, and true wisdom, with probity have been so neglected and contemned there, to the ignominy and reproach of Christianity, that in these times, there we have seen the doleful effects of want of Religion, and of these other virtues. But to return to the Court.