The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Shortly after this, new consultation was taken there that some should be burnt; for men began liberally to speak. A merry Gentleman named John Lindsey, familiar to Bishop James Betonne, standing by when consultation was had, said, My Lord, If ye burn any more, except ye follow my counsel, ye will utterly destroy your selves; if ye will burn them, let them be burnt in hollow Cellars; for the smoke of Master Patrick Hamilton hath infected as many as it blew upon. Thus it pleased God that they should be taunted in their own face. But here followeth the most merry of all: One Alexander Furor, who had been imprisoned seven years in the Tower of London, Sir John Dungwaill (according to the charity of Church-men) entertained his wife, and wasted the poor mans substance; for the which cause at his returning, he spake more liberally of Priests, then they could bear: And so was he declared to be accused for heresy, and called to his answer to Saint Andrews, he leapt up merrily upon the Scaffold, and casting a gambade, said,¹ Where are the rest of the Players? Master Andrew Oliphant offended therewith, said, It shall be no Play to you, Sir, before the depart, and so began to read his Accusation; the first Article whereof was, That he despised the Mass. His answer was, I hear more Masses in eight days, than three Bishops there sitting say in a year. Accused secondly of the contempt of the Sacraments. The Priests, said he, were the most common contemners of Sacraments, and specially of Matrimony. And that he witnessed by many of the Priests there present, and named the mans wife with whom they had meddled, and especially Sir John Dungwaill, who had seven years together abused his own wife, and consumed his substance; and said, because I complain of such injuries, I am here summoned and accused as one that is worthy to be burnt: For Gods sake, said he, will ye take wives of your own, that I and others whom ye have abused, may be revenged upon you. Then Bishop Gawin Dumbar, named the old Bishop of Aberdein, thinking to justify himself ⟨p. 17⟩before the people, said, Carl, thou shalt not know my wife. The said Alexander answered, My Lord, ye are too old, but with the grace of God I shall drink with your daughter or I depart, and thereat was smiling of the best, and loud laughter of some, for the Bishop had a daughter married with Andrew Balfour in that Town.

Shortly after this, new consultation was taken there that some should be burnt; for men began liberally to speak. A merry Gentleman named Iohn Lindsey, familiar to Bishop Iames Betonne, standing by when consultation was had, said, My Lord, If ye burne any more, except ye follow my counsell, ye will utterly destroy your selves; if ye will burne them, let them be burnt in hollow Cellars; for the smoke of Master Patrike Hammilton hath infected as many as it blew upon. Thus it pleased God that they should be tanted in their own face. But here followeth the most merry of all: One Alexander Furrour, who had been imprisoned seven yeers in the Tower of London, Sir Iohn Dungwaill (according to the charity of Church-men) entertained his wife, and wasted the poor mans substance; for the which cause at his returning, he spake more liberally of Priests, then they could bear: And so was he declared to be accused for heresie, and called to his answer to Saint Andrewes, he leapt up merrily upon the Scaffold, and casting a gambade, said,