The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Shortly after this Contract were our pledges delivered to Master Winter Admiral of the Navy, that came to Scotland, a man of great honesty, so far as ever we could espy in him; who were safely conveyed to Newcastle, and so the English Army by land began to assemble towards the border. Whereof the French and Queen Regent assured, they began to destroy what they could in the Towns and Country about: for the whole Victuals they carried to Leith, the Mills they brake, the Sheep, Oxen and Kine, yea the Horses of poor Labourers all made they to serve their Tyranny. And finally, they left nothing which the very enemies could have devised,¹ except that they demolished not Gentlemen's houses, and burnt not the Town of Edinburgh. In which point God bridled their fury, to let his afflicted understand, That he took care for them. Before the coming of the Land Army, the French past to Glasgow, and destroyed the Country thereabout. What tyranny Marticks used upon a poor Scottish Soldier, it is fearful to hear, and yet his fact may not be omitted.² Silver would they give none to the poor man, and they were so slow to depart out of the Town; That albeit the Drum stroke, the Ensign could not be gotten. There was a poor Crafts-man, who had bought for his Victuals a brown Loaf, and was eating a morsel of it, and was putting the rest of it into his bosom. The Tyrant came to him, and with the poor wretches own dagger first stroke him in the breast, and after threw it at him, and so the poor man staggering ⟨p. 239⟩and falling, the merciless tyrant ran him through with his Rapier, and thereafter commanded him to be hanged over the stair. Lord thou wilt look and recompense such Tyranny, how contemptible soever the person was.

Shortly after this Contract were our pledges delivered to Master Winter Admirall of the Navie, that came to Scotland, a man of great honestie, so farre as ever we could espie in him; who were safely conveyed to Newcastle, and so the English Armie by land began to assemble towards the border. Whereof the French and Queen Regent assured, they began to destroy what they could in the Towns and Countrey about: for the whole Victuals they carried to Leith, the Mills they brake, the Sheep, Oxen and Kine, yea the Horses of poore Labourers all made they to serve their Tyrannie. And finally, they left nothing which the very enemies could have devised,