The Death and Virtues of Edward VI.
Thus did light and darkness strive within the realm of Scotland; the darkness ever before the world suppressing the light, from the death of that notable servant of God, Master Patrick Hamilton, unto the death of Edward Sixth, the most godly and most virtuous King that hath been known to have reigned in England or elsewhere these many years bypast, who departed the misery of this life on the sixth of July 1553. The death of this Prince was lamented by all the godly within Europe; for the graces given unto him by God, by nature as well as through erudition and godliness, passed the measure that is commonly given to other Princes in their greatest perfection, and yet he exceeded not sixteen years of age. What gravity beyond his years, what wisdom passing all expectation of man, and what dexterity in answering all questions proposed, were in that excellent Prince, the Ambassadors of all countries did bear witness. Yea, some that were mortal enemies to him and to his realm, amongst whom the Queen-Dowager of Scotland was not the least, could and did so testify. The said Queen-Dowager, returning from France through England, communed with him at length, and gave record, when she came to this realm, that she found more wisdom and solid judgment in young King Edward than she would have looked for in any three princes that were then in Europe. His liberality towards the godly and learned, persecuted in other realms, was remarkable. Germans, Frenchmen, Italians, Scots, Spaniards, Poles, Greeks, and Hebrews can yet give sufficient document[113] of this. Martin Bucer, Peter Martyr, Joannes Alasco, and many others were honourably entertained upon his public stipends, as their patents can witness, and as they themselves during their lives never would have denied.
The superstitious Cruelty of Mary of England, and of the Queen Regent.
After the death of this most virtuous Prince, of whom the godless people of England, for the most part, were not worthy, Satan intended nothing less than that the light of Jesus Christ should have been utterly extinguished within the whole Isle of Britain. For there was raised up after him, in God's hot displeasure, that idolatrous Jezebel, mischievous Mary, of the Spaniards' blood; a cruel persecutrix of God's people, as the acts of her unhappy reign can sufficiently witness. And in Scotland, at that same time, as we have heard, there reigned that crafty practiser, Marie of Lorraine, then named Regent of Scotland; who, bound to the devotion of her two brethren, the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine, did only abide the opportunity to cut the throats of all those within the realm of Scotland in whom she suspected any knowledge of God. Satan thought that his kingdom of darkness was in quietness and rest, in the one realm as well as in the other; but that provident eye of the Eternal our God, who continually watches for preservation of His Church, did so dispose all things, that Satan shortly after found himself far disappointed in his conclusions. For in the cruel persecution carried on by that monster, Mary of England, godly men were dispersed among divers nations, and then it pleased the goodness of our God to send some of these unto us, for our comfort and instruction.
John Knox follows William Harlaw and John Willock to Scotland.
First came a simple man, William Harlaw, who, although his erudition excels not, is yet, for his zeal, and diligent plainness in doctrine, to this day worthy of praise, and remains a faithful member within the Church of Scotland. After him came that notable man, John Willock, with some commission from the Duchess of Embden to the Queen Regent. But his principal purpose was to ascertain what work God had for him in his native country. These two did sometimes assemble the brethren in several companies, and by their exhortations those began to be greatly encouraged, and did show that they had an earnest thirst of godliness. Last came John Knox, in the end of harvest, in the year of God 1555. Lodged in the house of that notable man of God, James Syme, he began to exhort secretly in that same house; and thereto repaired the Laird of Dun, David Forrest, and some certain personages of the town.
The good Testimony of Elizabeth Adamson, Mistress Barron.
Amongst these was Elizabeth Adamson, spouse to James Barron, burgess of Edinburgh, who had a troubled conscience, and delighted much in the company of the said John, because he, according to the grace given unto him, opened more fully the fountain of God's mercies, than did the common sort of teachers that she had heard before, for she had heard none but Friars. She did with much greediness drink of that fountain, and at her death she expressed the fruit of her hearing, to the great comfort of all those that repaired to her. Albeit she suffered most grievous torment in her body, from her mouth there was heard nothing but praising of God, except that sometimes she would lament the troubles of those that were troubled by her. When her sisters asked what she thought of the pain which she then suffered in body, in comparison with that with which sometimes she had been troubled in spirit, she answered, "A thousand years of this torment, and ten times more joined unto it, is not to be compared to the quarter of an hour that I suffered in my spirit. I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, that He has delivered me from that most fearful pain; and welcome be this, even so long as it pleaseth His godly Majesty to discipline me therewith."
A little before her departure, the said Elizabeth desired her sisters and some others that were beside her to sing a psalm. Amongst others, she appointed the Hundred and Third Psalm, beginning, "My soul, praise thou the Lord always." This ended, she said, "At the teaching of this Psalm, my troubled soul first began effectually to taste of the mercy of God, which now to me is more sweet and precious than were all the kingdoms of the earth given to me to possess for a thousand years." The priests urged her with their ceremonies and superstitions, but to them she answered, "Depart from me, ye sergeants of Satan; for I have refused, and in your own presence do refuse, all your abominations. That which ye call your Sacrament and Christ's body, as ye have deceived us to believe in times past, is nothing but an idol, and has nothing to do with the right institution of Jesus Christ. Therefore, in God's name, I command you not to trouble me." They departed, alleging that she raved, and wist not what she said. Shortly thereafter she slept in the Lord Jesus, to the no small comfort of those that saw her blessed departing. We could not omit mention of this worthy woman, who gave so notable a confession before the great light of God's Word did universally shine throughout this realm.
John Knox argues that the Mass is Idolatry.