The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

In this middle time,¹ so did the wisdom of God provide, that Henry the eight,² King of England, did abolish from his Realm the name and authority of the Pope of Rome, ³commanded the Bible to be read in English, suppressed the Abbeys and other places of Idolatry, with their Idols, which gave great hope to divers Realms, that some godly Reformation should thereof have ensued: And therefore from this our Country did divers learned men, and others that lived in fear of Persecution, repair to that Realm, where albeit they found not such purity as they wished (and therefore divers of them sought other countries) yet they escaped the tyranny of merciless men, and were reserved to better times, that they might fructify within his Church in divers places and parts, and in divers vocations. Alexander Seton remained in England, and publicly (with great praise and comfort of many) taught the Gospel in all sincerity certain years. And albeit the craftiness of Gardner Bishop of Winchester and of others, circumvented the said Alexander, so that they caused him at Pauls Cross, to affirm certain things that repugned to his former Doctrine: yet it is no doubt but that God potently had assisted him in all his life,⁴ and that also in his death (which shortly after followed) he found the mercy of his God, whereupon he ever exhorted all men to depend. Alexander Alaesius, Master John Fife, and that famous man Doctor Maccabeus departed unto Dutchland, where by Gods providence they were distributed to several places. Makdowell for his singular prudence,⁵ besides his Learning and Godliness, was elected borrow-Master in one of their steads. Alaesius was appointed to the University of Lipsia, ⁶and so was Master John Fife, ⁷where for their honest behaviour and great erudition they were holden in admiration with all the godly. And in what honour, credit, and estimation Doctor Maccabeus was,