The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

At which words, the faithless man afraid, adjudged the innocents to die, according to the desire of the wicked. The meek and gentle Jeronimus Russell ⟨p. 25⟩comforted the other with many comfortable sentences, oft saying unto him, Brother, fear not, more mighty is he that is in us, than he that is in the world: the pain that we shall suffer is short, and shall be light; but our joy and consolation shall never have end: and therefore let us contend to enter in, unto our Master and Saviour, by the same strait way which he hath taken before us: Death cannot destroy us, for it is destroyed already by him for whose sake we suffer. With these and the like comfortable sentences they passed to the place of execution, and constantly triumphed over death and Satan, even in the midst of the flaming fire. And thus did those cruel beasts intend nothing but murder in all the quarters of this Realm: for so far had they blinded and corrupted the inconsiderate Prince, that he gave himself to obey the tyranny of those bloody beasts: and he made a solemn Vow, That none should be spared that was suspect of Heresy, yea, although it were his own son. To press and push him forward in this his fury, he lacked not flatters enow; for many of his Minions were pensioners to Priests: Amongst whom, Oliver Synclare, yet remaining enemy to God, was principal. And yet did not God cease to give that blinded Prince documents that some sudden punishment was to fall upon him, if he did not repent, and amend his life; and that his own mouth did confess: For after that Sir James Hamilton was beheaded (justly or unjustly we dispute not) this Vision came unto him,¹ as to his familiars himself did declare) the said Sir James appeared unto him, having in his hands a drawn sword, with the which he stroke from the King both the arms, saying to him these words, Take that, till thou receive a final payment for all thy impiety. This Vision with sorrowful countenance, he showed on the morrow, and shortly thereafter died his two sons, both within the space of 24 hours, yea, some say within the space of six hours.

At which words, the faithlesse man afraid, adjudged the innocents to die, according to the desire of the wicked. The meeke and gentle Ieronimus Russell ⟨p. 25⟩comforted the other with many comfortable sentences, oft saying unto him, Brother, fear not, more mighty is he that is in us, than he that is in the world: the pain that we shall suffer is short, and shall be light; but our joy and consolation shall nevea have end: and therefore let us contend to enter in, unto our Master and Saviour, by the same strait way which he hath taken before us: Death cannot destroy us, for it is destroyed already by him for whose sake we suffer. With these and the like comfortable sentences they passed to the place of execution, and constantly triumphed over death and Sathan, even in the midst of the flaming fire. And thus did those cruell beasts intend nothing but murther in all the quarters of this Realme: for so far had they blinded and corrupted the inconsiderate Prince, that he gave himself to obey the tyrannie of those bloodie beasts: and he made a solemne Vow, That none should be spared that was suspect of Heresie, yea, although it were his own son. To presse and push him forward in this his fury, he lacked not flatters enow; for many of his Minions were pensioners to Priests: Amongst whom, Oliver Synclare, yet remaining enemy to God, was principall. And yet did not God cease to give that blinded Prince documents that some sudden punishment was to fall upon him, if he did not repent, and amend his life; and that his own mouth did confesse: For after that Sir Iames Hamilton was beheaded (justly or unjustly we dispute not) this Vision came unto him,