doctrin mycht weall be
defendid, and that he wald defend it, for it conteaned no heresye; thair
was ane day appointed to the said Frear, to maik repetitioun of the sam
sermon; and advertisment was gevin to all such as war offended att the
formar to be present. And so, in the parishe kirk of Sanctandrose, upoun
the day appointed, appeared the said Frear, and had amonges his
auditouris Maistir Johnne Mair, Maistir George Lockart,[75] the Abbot of
Cambuskynneth,[76] Maistir Patrik Hepburne the Priour of
Sanctandrose,[77] with all the Doctouris and Maistires of the
Universities. The theame of his sermone was, "Veritie is the strongest
of all thingis." His discourse of Curssing was, "That yf it war rychtlie
used, it was the moist fearfull thing upoun the face of the earth; for
it was the verray separatioun of man frome God: but that it should nott
be used rashlie, and for everie light cause, but onlie against open and
incorrigible synnaris. But now, (said he,) the avarice of preastis, and
the ignorance of thair office, has caused it altogitther to be
vilipended;[78] for the preast, (said he,) whose dewitie and office is
to pray for the people, standis up on Sounday, and cryes, 'Ane hes tynt
a spurtill. Thair is ane flaill stollin from thame beyound the burne.
The goodwyiff of the other syd of the gait hes tynt a horne spune.
Goddis maleson and myne I geve to thame that knowis of this geyre, and
restoris it not.'"--How the people mocked thair curssing, he ferther
told a meary tale; how, after a sermoun that he had maid at Dumfermling,
he came to a house whair gossoppis was drynking thair Soundayis penny,
and he, being dry, asked drynk. "Yis, Father, (said ane of the
gossoppes,) ye shall haif drynk; bot ye mon first resolve ane doubt
which is rissen amongis us, to witt, What servand will serve a man beast
on least expenssis." "The good Angell, (said I,) who is manis keapar,
who maikis great service without expenssis." "Tush, (said the gossope,)
we meane no so heigh materis: we meane, What honest man will do greatest
service for least expensses?" And whill I was musing, (said the Frear,)
what that should meane, he said, "I see, Father, that the greatest
clerkis ar nott the wysest men. Know ye not how the Bischoppis and thair
officiallis servis us husband men? Will thei not give to us a lettir of
Curssing for a plack, to laste for a year, to curse all that looke ower
our dick [dyke]? and that keapis our corne better nor the sleapi