The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Hadington being kept, and much hearship done about in the Country (for what the English-men destroyed not, that was consumed by the French) God begins to fight for Scotland: For in the Town he sent a Plague so contagious, that with great difficulty could they have their dead buried. They were oft refreshed with new men, but all was in vain. Hunger and plague within, and the pursuit of the enemy with a camp volant lay about them, and intercepted all victuals (except when they were brought by a Convoy from Berwick) so constrained them that the Council of England was compelled in the spring time, to call their Forces from that place. And so spoiling and burning some part of the Town, they left it to be occupied to such as first should take possession, and those were the French-men, with a mean number of the ancient inhabitants, and so did God perform the words and threatenings of M. George Wischard, who said,¹ That for that contempt of Gods Messenger, they should be visited with sword and fire, with pestilence, strangers and famine; All which they found in such perfection, that to this day yet, that Town hath neither recovered the former beauty, nor yet men of such wisdom and ability, as then did inhabit it. Hereafter was Peace contracted betwixt France, England, and Scotland; yea, a several Peace was contracted betwixt Scotland and Flanders together with all the Easterlings. So that Scotland had peace with the world. But yet would their Bishops make War against God: For as soon as ever they got any quietness, they apprehended Adam Wallace, alias, Fian, a simple man without great learning, but one that was zealous in godliness, and of an upright life: He, with his wife Beatrice Livingstone, frequented the company of the Lady Ormeston, for instruction of her children, during the trouble of her husband, who then was banished. This Bastard, called Bishop of S. Andrews, took the said Adam forth of the place of Winton (men supposed that they thought to have apprehended the Laird) and carried him to Edinburgh, where after certain days he was presented to judgement in the Church of the Black Thieves,² alias, Friars, before Duke Hamilton, the Earle of Huntly, and divers others besides. The Bishops and their rabble, they began to accuse him (Master John Lawder was his accusator) That he took upon him to Preach.

Hadington being kept, and much hearship done about in the Countrey (for what the English-men destroyed not, that was consumed by the French) God begins to fight for Scotland: For in the Town he sent a Plague so contagious, that with great difficultie could they have their dead buried. They were oft refreshed with new men, but all was in vain. Hunger and plague within, and the pursuit of the enemy with a campe volant lay about them, and intercepted all victuals (except when they were brought by a Convoy from Barwick) so constrained them that the Councel of England was conpelled in the spring time, to call their Forces from that place. And so spoiling and burning some part of the Town, they left it to be occupied to such as first should take possession, and those were the French-men, with a meane number of the ancient inhabitants, and so did God performe the words and threatnings of M. George Wischard, who said,