The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

I have oft, and divers times read over the Bible, and yet such a term found I never, nor yet any place of Scripture applicable thereto. Therefore I was afraid ever to teach of that thing which I could not find in Scripture. Then said he to M. John Lawder, his accuser; If you have any testimony of the Scripture, by the which you may prove any such place, show it now before this auditory. But that dolt had not a word to say for himself, but was as dumb as a Beetle in that matter. ⟨p. 65⟩The fourteenth Article. Thou false Heretic hast taught plainly against the Vows of Monks, Friars, Nuns, and Priests, saying, That whosoever was bound to such like Vows, they vowed themselves to the state of damnation. Moreover, That it was lawful for Priests to marry wives, and not to live sole. The Answer. Of this, my Lords, I have read in the Gospel, That there are three kind of chaste men, some are gelded from their mothers womb: some are gelded by men, and some have gelded themselves for the kingdom of heavens sake; Verily, I say, these men are blessed by the Scripture of God. But as many as have not the gift of chastity; nor yet for the Gospel, have overcome the concupiscence of the flesh, and have vowed chastity; ye have experience, although I should hold my tongue, to what inconveniences they have vowed themselves. When he had said these words, they were all dumb, thinking it better to have ten concubines then one wife. The fifteenth Article. Thou false Heretic, and runagate sayest, That thou wilt not obey our General Provincial Councils. The Answer. My Lords, what your general Councils are, I know not, I was never exercised in them, but to the pure Word of God, I gave my labours. Read here your general Councils, or else give me a book, wherein they are contained, that I may read them; if they be agreeable with the Word of God, I will not disagree. Then the ravening Wolves turned unto madness, and said; Wherefore let we him speak any farther? Read forth the rest of the Articles, and stay not upon them. Amongst those cruel Tigers, there was one false hypocrite,¹ a seducer of the people, called John Scot, standing behind John Lawder's back, hasting him to read the rest of the Articles, and not to tarry upon his witty and godly answers; For we may not abide them (quoth he) no more then the devil may abide the sign of the Cross, when it is named.