f Melanchthon's
Catechism, which he had used when superintending their religious
instruction.[314]

[Sidenote: The Perth Martyrs.]

The remaining twenty-one years of his life were spent busily and
usefully in this famous university, though he suffered somewhat
severely during the Schmalkaldic war and the seige of Leipsic. It was
there that most of his theological treatises were elaborated and
published. He was twice at least chosen Rector of the university--viz.,
in 1555 and in 1561.[315] In 1542, as already stated, he published in
Latin the arguments he had used in his disputation with Stokesley,
Bishop of London, on the authority of the Word of God, and against the
doctrine of the seven sacraments, both confirming his former arguments
as to the rights of the Christian laity, and maintaining the supremacy
of Scripture over tradition. He had previously published his inaugural
dissertation in the University of Frankfort, 'De restituendis scholis,'
in which he advocated at length the great need for university training
for the ministers of the protestant churches, and gave a detailed
account of his own opinions, which he affirmed were then in full accord
with those of the Lutheran churches. In 1543, probably before he was
fully settled at Leipsic, it is said that on hearing the news of the
favourable change which had taken place in Scotland on the death of
James V. and the accession of Arran to the regency, he, like many other
Scottish exiles, had serious thoughts of returning home, and availing
himself to the uttermost of this unexpected opportunity which seemed to
be opening for carrying forward the work of the Reformation in the land
which was still dear to him. But before he had fully made up his mind to
follow this course, he fortunately heard that the fickle regent had
already begun to change his policy, and that though the privilege of
freely reading the Scriptures in the vernacular, for which he had so
earnestly contended, was legally secured, the triumph of the Reformation
was by no means so near at hand as at first he had been led to suppose.
Shortly after this, roused by the tidings of fresh persecutions which
had reached him from Scotland, and especially by the account of the
cruel executions of the humble martyrs of Perth by the cardinal and his
party on St Paul's day, 1543-44, Alesius on 23rd April wrote to
Melanchthon in the following terms:--

"Three days ago there were here several countrymen of mine, w