The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Some years thereafter, to wit, in the second Persecution raised against the Christians, many Britons Provincials of the Empire, professing the Name of Christ, left their own country, and went into Scotland, for shelter from the general Massacre then executed throughout the whole Empire, by that bloody Butcher Domitian; and to enjoy the freedom of the Gospel, which they knew to be received then in Scotland. Among these fugitive Britons there were sundry learned ⟨image 14⟩and pious men, who stayed in Scotland (the Persecution ended) propagating the Faith of Christ there by their Preaching. This we have related unto us by the Historians of best trust. We have not then from the Sea of Rome our first Institution in the Christian Faith; yea, we are so far from it, that, for many years together, we hardly had any communication with Rome at all. Palladius was the first, some years after the beginning of the fifth Age, who made our acquaintance with Rome; although the general current of the Romish Writers give out, That the Gospel was first planted amongst us in Scotland by the means of Victor Bishop of Rome: Yet Baronius, that renowned Chronologer, albeit he would fain have the Scots owe this Obligation unto Rome, disclaimeth this opinion of his Party, as untrue, and disagreeing with the best Antiquity.

Some yeers thereafter, to wit, in the second Persecution raised against the Christians, many Britons Provincials of the Empire, professing the Name of Christ, left their own countrey, and went into Scotland, for shelter from the generall Massacre then executed thorowout the whole Empire, by that bloody Butcher Domitian; and to enjoy the freedom of the Gospel, which they knew to be received then in Scotland. Among these fugitive Britons there were sundry learned ⟨image 14⟩and pious men, who stayed in Scotland (the Persecution ended) propagating the Faith of Christ there by their Preaching. This we have related unto us by the Historians of best trust. We have not then from the Sea of Rome our first Institution in the Christian Faith; yea, we are so far from it, that, for many yeers together, we hardly had any communication with Rome at all. Palladius was the first, some yeers after the beginning of the fifth Age, who made our acquaintance with Rome; although the generall current of the Romish Writers give out, That the Gospel was first planted amongst us in Scotland by the means of Victor Bishop of Rome: Yet Baronius, that renowned Chronologer, albeit he would fain have the Scots owe this Obligation unto Rome, disclaimeth this opinion of his Party, as untrue, and disagreeing with the best Antiquity.