The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

He that denieth me before men, or is ashamed of me in the midst of this wicked generation, I will deny him in the presence of my Father, ⟨p. 23⟩and before his Angels. At which words, he suddenly being as one revived, cast himself upon his knees, and extending both hand and visage constantly to the heaven a reasonable time, at length he burst forth in these words; O Lord, I have been wicked, and justly mayest thou withdraw thy grace from me: but Lord, for thy mercies sake, let me never deny thee, nor thy Trueth, for fear of death or corporal pain. The issue declared that his prayer was not vain; for when he with the aforesaid Master Norman, was produced in judgement in the Abbey of Halyrud-House, the King himself (all clad in red) being present,¹ great labour was made, that the said David Straton should have recanted, and burnt his Bill: But he ever standing at his defence, alleging that he had not offended, in the end was adjudged to the fire, and then when he perceived the danger, asked grace at the King (which he would willingly have granted unto him) the Bishops proudly answered,² That the Kings hands were bound in that case, and that he had no grace to give, to such as by their Law were condemned. And so was he with the said Master Norman, after dinner, upon the seven and twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord 1534. aforesaid, led to a place besides the rood of green side: ³and there they two were both hanged and burnt, according to the mercy of the Papistical Church. To that same diet were summoned as before we have said, others of whom some escaped into England, and so for that present escaped the death. This their tyranny, notwithstanding, the knowledge of God did wonderfully increase within this Realm, partly by reading, partly by brotherly conference which in those dangerous days was used to the comfort of many; but chiefly by Merchants and Mariners, who frequenting other countries, heard the true Doctrine affirmed, and the vanity of the Papistical Religion openly rebuked: Amongst whom were those of Dundee and Lieth principals, against whom was made a very strait inquisition, by David Beton, cruel Cardinal. And divers were compelled to abjure and burn their Bills,