sses war multiplyed, and men war browght to
attentioun, he turned him to the Bischope, and said, "My Lord, ye may
see[101] and considder what caris these asses have, who cane nott
discerne betuix Paull, Isai, Zacharie, and Malachie and Frear Alexander
Setoun. In verray deid, My Lord, I said that Paule sayis, 'It behoveth a
Bischop to be ane teichear.' Isai sayith, 'That thei that feid nott the
flock ar dum doggis.' And Zacharie sayeth, 'Thei ar idoll pastouris.' I
of my awin head affirmed nothing, butt declared what the Spreitt of God
had befoir pronunced; at whome, my Lord, yf ye be nott offended, justly
ye cane nott be offended at me. And so yit agane, my Lord, I say, that
thei ar manifest leyaris that reported unto yow, that I said, That ye
and utheris that preach nott ar no Bischoppis, but belly Goddis."

Albeit after that, the Bischope was heightly offended, asweill at the
skwff[102] and bitter mock, as at the bold libertie of that learned man;
yitt durst he nott hasard for that present to execute his malice
conceaved; for nott onlye feared he the learnyng and bold spreit of the
man, bot also the favour that he had, alsweall of the people, as of the
Prince, King James the Fyft, of whome he had good credite; for he was at
that tyme his Confessour, and had exhorted him to the feare of God, to
the meditatioun of Goddis law, and unto puritie of lyiff. Butt the said
Bischope, with his complices, foirseing what danger mycht cume to thair
Estaite, yf such familiaritie should continew betuix the Prince and a
man so learned, and so repugnyng to thair affectionis, laubored by all
meanes to mack the said Frear Alexander odiouse unto the Kingis Grace,
and easely fand the meanes by the Gray Frearis, (who by thare
hypochrisye deceaved many,) to traduce the innocent as ane heretyk. This
accusatioun was easely receaved and more easelye beleved[103] of the
carnall Prince, who altogitther was gevin to the filthy loostis of the
fleshe, abhorred all counsall that repugned thairto. And becaus he did
remember what a terrour the admonitionis of the said Alexander was unto
his corrupted conscience, without resistance he subscrived to thair
accusatioun, affirmyng that he knew mair then thei did in that mater;
for he understood weall ynewcht, that he smelled of the new doctrin, by
such thingis as he had schawin to him under confessioun. And tharefoir
he promessed, that he should follow the counsall of the Bischoppes in
punishing of him and o