irafter to Scotland, as
we shall after hear.

The tyme and that wynter that the galayes remaned in Scotland, war
delivered Maister James Balfour, his twa brethrein, David and Gilbert,
Johne Auchinlek, Johnne Sibbald, Johne Gray, William Gutthery, and
Stevin Bell.[596] The gentilmen that remaned in preasonis war, by the
procurement of the Quein Dowager, to the Cardinall of Lorane and to the
King of France, sett at libertie in the moneth of Julij, Anno 1550; who
schorte tharefter war called to Scotland,[597] thare peax proclamed, and
thei thame selfis restored to thare landis, in dyspite of thare
ennemies. And that was done in hatterent of the Duck, becaus that then
France begane to thrist to have the regiment of Scotland in thare awin
handis. How soever it was, God maid the heartis of thare ennemyes to
sett thame at libertie and fredome. Thare rested a nomber of commoun
servandis yitt in the galayes, who war all delivered upoun the contract
of peace that was maid betuix France and England, after the tackin of
Bullon; and so was the haill cumpany sett at libertie, none
perishing,[598] (no nott befoir the world,) except James Melvin, who
departed from the miserie of this lyif in the Castell of Byrst in
Bartainzea.[599]

[SN: THE SLAUGHTER OF THAT VILLANE DAVY.]

This we wryte to lett the posteriteis to come understand, how potentlye
God wrought in preserving and delivering of these that had butt a small
knowledge of his trewth, and for the luif of the same hasarded all; that
yf that eyther we now in our dayis, having grettar lycht, or our
posteriteis that shall follow us, shall see ane fearfull dispersioun of
such as oppone thame selfis to impietie, or tack upoun thame to punishe
the same, otherwiese then lawis of men will permite: yf, (we say,) we or
thei[600] shall see such left of men, yea, as it war, dispyssed and
punished of God; yit lett us nott dampne the personis that punish vice,
(and that for just caussis;) nor yitt dispare, butt that the same God
that dejectes, (for causes unknawin to us,) will raise up agane the
personis dejected, to his glorye and thare conforte. And to lett the
world understand in plane termes what we meane, that great abusar of
this commoun wealth, that pultron and vyle knave Davie, was justlie
punished, the nynt of Merch, in the year of God[601] J^m. V^c. threscore
fyve, for abusing of the commoun wealth, and for his other villany,[602]
which we list nott to express, by the counsall and