mbridge, where his diligence and
progress in useful learning, soon made him be respected. From an ardent
desire to promote the truth in his own country, he returned to it in the
summer of 1544, and began teaching a school in the town of Montrose,
which he kept for some time with great applause. He is particularly
celebrated for his uncommon eloquence, and agreeable manner of
communication. The sequel of this narrative will inform the reader,
That he possessed the spirit of prophecy to an extraordinary degree, and
was at the same time humble, modest, charitable and patient, even to
admiration. One of his own scholars gives the following picture of him,
"That he was a man of a tall stature, black-hair'd, long-bearded, of a
graceful personage, eloquent, courteous, ready to teach and desirous to
learn; that he ordinarily wore a French cap, a frieze gown, plain black
hose, and white bands and hand cuffs; that he frequently gave away
different parts of his apparel to the poor; in his diet he was very
moderate, eating only twice a day, and fasting every fourth day; his
lodging, bedding, and such other circumstances, were correspondent to
the things already mentioned." But as these particulars are rather
curious than instructive, we shall say no more of them.

After he left Montrose, he came to Dundee, where he acquired still
greater fame, in public lectures on the epistle to the Romans; insomuch
that the Romish clergy began to think seriously on the consequences
which they saw would inevitably ensue, if he was suffered to go on,
pulling down that fabric of superstition and idolatry, which they with
so much pains had reared; they were particularly disgusted at the
reception which he met with in Dundee, and immediately set about
projecting his ruin.

From the time that Mr. Patrick Hamilton suffered, until this period,
papal tyranny reigned by fire and faggot without controul. In the year
1539, cardinal David Beaton succeeded his uncle in the see of St.
Andrews, and carefully trod the path his uncle had marked out; to show
his own greatness, and to recommend himself to his superior of Rome, he
accused Sir John Borthwick of heresy, whose goods were confiscated, and
himself burnt in effigy (for being forewarned of his danger, he had
escaped out of the country). After this he suborned a priest to forge a
will of K. James V. who died about this time, declaring himself, with
the earls of Huntly, Argyle and Murray to be regents of the