The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The time and that Winter that the Galleys remained in Scotland, were delivered M. James Balfour his two brethren, David and Gilbert, John Auchinleck, John Sibald, John Grey, William Guthrie, and Stevin Bell. The Gentlemen that remained in prisons, were by the procurement of the Queen Dowager to the Cardinal of Loraine, and to the King of France, set at liberty in the month of July, ¹anno 1550. who shortly thereafter were called to Scotland, their peace proclaimed, and they themselves restored to their lands, in despite of their enemies. And that was done in hatred of Duke Hamilton, because that then France began to have the Regiment of Scotland in their own hands.² Howsoever it was, God made the hearts of their enemies to set them at liberty and freedom. There rested a number of common servants yet in the Galleys, who were all delivered upon the Contract of peace that was made betwixt France and England, after the taking of Bullen; and so was the whole company set at liberty, none perishing (no not before the world) except James Melvin, who departed from the misery of this life in the Castle of Brest in Brittany. This we write, to let the posterity to come to understand how potently God wrought in preserving and delivering of those that had but a small knowledge of his truth, and for the love of the same hazarded all. That if either we now in our days having greater light,³ or our posterity that shall follow us, shall see a fearful dispersion of such as oppose themselves to impiety, or take upon them to punish the same otherwise then laws of men will permit: If we, say we, or they, shall see such left of men, yea, as it were despised and punished of God, yet let us not damn the persons, that punish vice (and that for just cause) nor yet despair but that the same God that dejects (for causes unknown to us) will raise up again the persons dejected to his glory & their comfort. And to let the world understand in plain terms what we mean,⁴ that great abuser of this Common-wealth, that poltroon, and vile knave Davy, was justly punished the ninth of March, in the year of our Lord 1565.

The time and that Winter that the Gallies remained in Scotland, were delivered M. Iames Balfour his two brethren, David and Gilbert, Iohn Anchinlek, Iohn Sibald, Iohn Gray, William Gutrie, and Stevin Bell. The Gentlemen that remained in prisons, were by the procurement of the Queen Dowager to the Cardinall of Loraine, and to the King of France, set at liberty in the month of Iuly,