was skarse weall occupyed." When thei
instantlie urged him to lett thame know some conforte; he said, "I will
tell yow, that I am assured that my travail is neir ane end; and
tharefor call to God with me, that now I schrink not when the battell
waxis moist hoote." And whill that thei weaped, and said, "That was
small conforte unto thame;" [SN: PROPHECIE SPOKIN BY MAISTER GEORGE
WISHARTE.] he ansured, "God shall send yow conforte after me. This
realme shalbe illuminated with the light of Christis Evangell, as
clearlie as ever was any realme sence the dayis of the Apostles. The
house of God shalbe builded in to it. Yea, it sall not lack, (whatsoever
the ennemye imagyne in the contrare,) the verray cope stone:"[355]
Meanyng that it shuld anes be browght to the full perfectioun. "Neyther,
(said he,) shall this be long to: Thare shall nott many suffer after me,
till that the glorie of God shall evidently appear, and shall anes
triumphe in dispyte of Sathan. Butt, allace! yf the people shall after
be unthankfull, then fearfull and terrible shall the plagues be that
after shall follow." And with these woordis he marched fordwardis in his
jorney towardis Sanct Johnestoun; and so to Fyff, and then to Leyth.
Whare arryved, and hearing no wourd of those that appointed to meitt
him, (to witt, the Erle of Cassilles, and the gentill men of Kyle and
Cunynghame,[356]) keap him self secreat a day or two. But begynnyng to
wax sorowfull in spreit, and being demanded of the caus, of such as war
nott into his cumpany of befoir, he said, "What differ I from a dead
man, except that I eat and drynk? To this tyme God hes used my laubouris
to the instructioun of otheris, and unto the disclosing of darknes; and
now I lurk as a man that war eschamed, and durst not schaw him self
befoir men." By these and lyik woordis, thei that heard him understoode
that his desyre was to preach; and tharefoir said, "Maist confortable it
war unto us to hear yow: but becaus we know the danger wharein ye stand,
we dar not desyre yow." "But dar ye and otheris hear, (said he,) and
then lett my God provide for me, as best pleasith him." Finally, it was
concluded, that the nixt Sounday he should preach in Leyth; as that he
did, and took the text, "The Parable of the Sowar that went furth to saw
sead," Mathaei, 13. And this was upoun a fyvetene dayis[357] befoir Yule.
The sermon ended, the gentill men of Lotheane, who then war earnest
professouris of Christ Jesus, thought