handis of James
Dowglas, Erle of Morton, Patrik Lord Lyndesay, and the Lord Ruthven,
with otheris assistaris in thare cumpany, who all, for thare just act,
and most worthy of all praise, ar now unworthely left of thare
brethrein, and suffer the bitterness of banishement and exyle. But this
is our hope in the mercyes of our God, that this same blynd generatioun,
whither it will or nott, shalbe compelled to see that he will have
respect to thame that ar injustlye persewed; that he will apardoun thare
formar offenses; that he will restore thame to the libertie of thare
countrey and common wealth agane; and that he will punish, (in dispyte
of man,) the head and the taill, that now trubles the just, and
manteanes impietie. [SN: THE REULARIS OF MARY, ANNO 1566, AND THAIRE
PREDICTIOUN.] The head is knawin: the taill hes two branches; the
temporall Lordis that manteane hir abhominationis, and hir flattering
counsallouris, blasphemous Balfour, now called Clerk of Register,[603]
Sinclar Deane of Restalrige and Bischope of Brechin, blynd of ane eie in
the body, but of boithe in his saule,[604] upoun whome God schortlie
after took vengeance; [John[605]] Leslye, preastis gett,[606] Abbot of
Londorse and Bischope of Ross, Symon Preastoun of Craigmyllare,[607] a
right epicureane, whose end wilbe, or it be long, according to thare
warkis. Butt now to returne to our Historye.

* * * * *

Haddingtoun being keapt,[608] and much hearschipe done about in the
countrey, (for what the Engliss men destroyed nott, that was consumed by
the French,) God begynnis to feght for Schotland; for in the toun he
send a peast so contagious, that with great difficultie could thei have
thare dead buryed. Thei war oft refresched with new men, but all was in
vane. Hunger and pest within, and the persuyt of the ennemy with a campe
volant lay about thame, and intercepted all victuallis, (except when
thei war brought by ane convoy from Berwik,) so constrayned thame that
the Counsall of England was compelled in spring tyme to call thare
forses from that place; and so spuilzeing and burnyng some parte of the
toune, thei left it to be occupyed to such as first should tack
possessioun,--and those war the Frenchmen, with a meane nomber of the
ancient inhabitantis. And so did God performe the woordis and threatnyng
of his servand, Maister George Wisharte, who said, "That for thare
contempt of Goddis messinger, thei should be visited with