and their offering be augmented. Thereupon are many chapels founded, as if our Lady were mightier, and as if she took more pleasure in one place than in another. Of late days our Lady of Carsegreen has hopped from one green hillock to another! Honest men of St. Andrews," said he, "if ye love your wives and your daughters, hold them at home, or else send them in honest company; for, if ye knew what miracles were kythed[17] there, ye would neither thank God nor our Lady." And thus he merrily taunted the trysts of whoredom and adultery used at such devotion. Another Article in his sermon was judged more hard; for he alleged from the Common Law that the Civil Magistrate might correct the Churchmen, and for open vices deprive them of their benefices.
Notwithstanding this kind of preaching, this Friar remained Papist in his heart. The rest of the Friars, fearing to lose the benediction of the bishops, to wit, their malt and their meal and their other appointed pension, caused the said Friar to fly to England, and there, for defence of the Pope and Papistry, he was cast into prison at King Harry's commandment. But so it pleaseth God to open up the mouth of Baalam's own ass, to cry out against the vicious lives of the clergy of the age.
Shortly after this, new consultation was taken that some should be burnt; for men began to speak very freely. A merry gentleman named John Lindsay, familiar to Archbishop James Beaton, standing by when consultation was had, said, "My Lord, if ye burn any more, unless ye follow my counsel, ye will utterly destroy yourselves. If ye will burn them, let them be burnt in how[18] cellars; for the reek[19] of Master Patrick Hamilton has infected as many as it blew upon." But, so fearful was it then to speak anything against priests, the least word spoken against them, albeit it was spoken in a man's sleep, was judged heresy. Richard Carmichael, yet living in Fife, being young and a singer in the Chapel Royal of Stirling, happened in his sleep to say, "The Devil take away the priests, for they are a greedy pack." He was accused by Sir George Clapperton, Dean of the said Chapel, and was for this compelled to burn his bill.
Friar Alexander Seton preaches the Evangel.
God shortly after raised up stronger champions against the priests. Alexander Seton, a Black Friar, of good learning and estimation, began to tax the corrupt doctrine of the Papistry. For the space of a whole Lent he taught the commandments of God only, ever beating in the ears of his auditors that the law of God had not been truly taught for many years, men's traditions having obscured the purity of it. These were his accustomed propositions. First: Christ Jesus is the end and perfection of the law. Second: There is no sin where God's law is not violated. And, third: To satisfy for sin lies not in man's power, but the remission thereof comes by unfeigned repentance, and by faith apprehending God the Father, merciful in Christ Jesus, His Son. While oftentimes this Friar put his auditors in mind of these and the like heads, and made no mention of purgatory, pardons, pilgrimage, prayer to saints, or such trifles, the dumb doctors and the rest of that forsworn rabble began to suspect him. They said nothing publicly until Lent was ended, and he had gone to Dundee. Then, in his absence, one hired for that purpose openly damned the whole doctrine that he had taught. This coming to the ears of the said Friar Alexander, then in Dundee, he returned without delay to St. Andrews, caused immediately to jow[20] the bell, and to give signification that he would preach; as he did indeed. In this sermon, more plainly than at any other time, he affirmed whatsoever in all his sermons he had taught during the whole Lent-tide; adding that within Scotland there was no true bishop, if bishops were to be known by such notes and virtues as St. Paul requires in bishops.
Friar Seton's Apology.
This delation[21] flew with wings to the Archbishop's ears. Without further delay, he sent for the said Friar Alexander, and began grievously to complain and sharply to accuse him for having spoken so slanderously of the dignity of the bishops, as to say that "it behoved a bishop to be a preacher, or else he was but a dumb dog, and fed not the flock, but fed his own belly." The man, being witty, and minded of his most assured defence, said, "My Lord, the reporters of such things are manifest liars." Thereat the Archbishop rejoiced, and said, "Your answer pleases me well: I never could think that ye would be so foolish as to affirm such things. Where are these knaves that have brought me this tale?" These compearing[22] and affirming the same that they did before, he still replied that they were liars. Witnesses were multiplied, and men were brought to attention, and then he turned to the Archbishop and said, "My Lord, ye may see and consider what ears these asses have, who cannot discern betwixt Paul, Isaiah, Zechariah, Malachi, and Friar Alexander Seton. In very deed, my Lord, I said that Paul says, 'It behoveth a bishop to be a teacher.' Isaiah saith, that 'they that feed not the flock are dumb dogs.' And Zechariah saith, 'They are idle pastors.' I of my own head affirmed nothing, but I declared what the Spirit of God had before pronounced. If ye be not offended at Him, my Lord, ye cannot justly be offended at me. And so, yet again, my Lord, I say that they are manifest liars that reported unto you that I said that ye and others that preach not are no bishops, but belly gods."
Persecution of Friar Seton.
Albeit, the Archbishop was highly offended at the scoff and bitter mock, as well as at the bold liberty of that learned man; yet durst he not hazard for that present to execute his malice conceived. Not only feared he the learning and bold spirit of the man, but also the favour that he had with the people, as well as with the Prince, King James the Fifth. With him he had good credit; for he was at that time his confessor, and had exhorted him to the fear of God, to the meditation of God's law, and to purity of life. The Archbishop, with his complices, foreseeing what danger might come to their Estate, if such familiarity should continue betwixt the Prince and a man so learned and so repugnant to their affections, laboured to make the said Friar Alexander odious unto the King's Grace. With the assistance of the Grey Friars, who by their hypocrisy deceived many, they readily found means to traduce the innocent as a heretic.
This accusation was easily received and more easily believed by the carnal Prince, who was altogether given to the filthy lusts of the flesh, and abhorred all counsel repugnant thereto. He did remember what a terror the admonitions of the said Alexander were unto his corrupted conscience, and without resistance he subscribed to their accusation, affirming that he knew more than they did in that matter; for he understood well enough that he smelled of the new doctrine, from such things as he had shewn to him under confession. Therefore, he promised that he should follow the counsel of the bishops in punishing him and all others of that sect. These things understood by the said Alexander, as well by information of his friends and familiars, as by the strange countenance of the King unto him, he provided the next way to avoid the fury of a blinded Prince. In his habit, he departed the realm, and, coming to Berwick, wrote back again to the King's Grace his complaint and admonition. …
Persecution flags.
After the death of that constant witness of Jesus Christ, Master Patrick Hamilton, when God disclosed the wickedness of the wicked, as we have seen, there was one Forrest of Linlithgow taken. After long imprisonment in the Sea Tower of St. Andrews, this man was adjudged to the fire by the said Archbishop James Beaton and his doctors, for none other crime but because he had a New Testament in English. More of his story we have not, except that he died constant, and with great patience, at St. Andrews. The flame of persecution ceased after his death for the space of ten years or thereby. Not that these bloody beasts ceased by all means to suppress the light of God, and to trouble such as in any sort were suspected to abhor their corruption; but because the realm was troubled with intestine and civil wars. In these, much blood was shed; first, at Melrose, betwixt the Douglas and Buccleuch, on the eighteenth day of July, in the year of God 1526; next, at Linlithgow, betwixt the Hamiltons and the Earl of Lennox, where the said Earl, with many others, lost his life, on the thirteenth day of September in the same year; and last, betwixt the King himself and the said Douglases, whom he banished from the realm, and held in exile during the rest of his days. By reason of these, and of other troubles, the bishops and their bloody bands could not find the time so favourable unto them as they required, for executing their tyranny.
The Reformation in England.
In
