A47584:229
The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland
The history of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.The historie of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.
London: printed by John Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen, 1644
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This Letter was delivered to the Kings own hands, and of many read; but what could greatly avail, where the pride and corruption of Prelates commanded what they pleased; and the flattery of Courtiers fostered the unadvised Prince in all dissoluteness, by which means they made him obsequious unto them.1 From the death of that constant Witness of Jesus Christ, M. Patrick Hamilton, God disclosing the wickedness of the wicked, as before we have heard. There was one Forrest of Linlytquow taken, ⟨p. 21⟩who after long imprisonment in the said Tower of S. Andrews was adjudged to the fire, by the •aid Bishop James Betonne and his Doctors, for no other crime,2 but because he had a new Testament in English. Further of that History we have not, except that he died constantly, and with great patience at S. Andrews. After whose death th• flame of Persecution ceased, till the death of M. Norman Gurlaw, the space of ten years,3 or thereabout, not that the 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 in these times was troubled with intestine and cruel wars, in the which much blood was shed; first at Melrosse, betwixt the Douglas and Balclench, in the year of God 1526. the 24. day of July: Next at Lynlythcow, betwixt the Hamiltons and the Earle of Lenox, who was sisters son to the Earle of Arran ▪ where the said Earle with many others lost his life, the thirteenth day of September, in the same year: And last, betwixt the King himself and the foresaid Douglas, whom he banished the Realm, and held him in exile during his whole days. By reason of these, we say, and of other troubles, the Bishops and their bloody bands could not find the time so favourable unto them as they required, to execute their Tyranny.
This Letter was delivered to the Kings own hands, and of many read; but what could greatly avail, where the pride and corruption of Prelats commanded what they pleased; and the flattery of Courtiers fostered the unadvised Prince in all dissolutenesse, by which means they made him obsequious unto them.