Paisley, was a preacher of much
repute in the church; but ambition and private interest had more sway
with him than the interest of Christ. And having wrought himself into
the king's favour by undermining the government and discipline of the
church, he was declared bishop by Morton about 1578. But got the
bishoprick of St. Andrews 1584, after which he not only spoke and wrote
in favours of prelacy, but became a persecutor of his faithful brethren.
In the height of his grandeur, he used to boast that three things could
not fail him, his learning, the king's favour, and his riches: for the
first, in the just judgment of God, he could not speak a word of sense
before or after his meat. For the second, he lost the king's favour and
had his bishoprick taken from him, and was heard say, he was sure the
king cared more for his dogs than for him. And for his riches, he was so
reduced that he had to get charity from those ministers whom before he
harrassed. Before, for his pride, contumacy and other enormities he was
excommunicated by the church, but being now in extreme poverty and
sickness, he made a recantation and confession, supplicating the church
he might be absolved from the censure; which at last was by them
granted. Whether this repentance proceeded from constraint to get a
little outward sustenance, as was suspected, I cannot say; but in this
situation he died, in great want and extreme misery, about the year
1591--_Fulfilling of the Scriptures_, &c.

MR. JAMES NICHOLSON, a creature of the same make; one eminent for parts
and learning in these times, and at first a great opposer of prelacy.
But being still gaping for riches, honour and preferment, shifted from
one benefice to another, till he got the bishopric of Dunkeld: yea, so
forward was he to establish prelacy, that he behoved to be one of those
who assisted the king at Hampton court against eight of his brethren who
were more faithful than himself in 1606. But his honour continued not
long, for being stricken with sickness of body and seized with
melancholy of mind and horror of conscience, he could have no rest.
Physicians being brought, he told them his trouble was of another kind,
for which they could give him no cure; for, said he, "The digesting of a
bishoprick hath racked my conscience. I have against much light and over
the belly of it, opposed the truth and yielded up the liberties of
Christ to please an earthly king, &c." And so in great horror of
consc