Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/80

 44 ADAMS ON. verfe, a work highly approved, even by his enemies; buf, neverthelefs, they ftill continued to perfecute him with great violence. 101578, he fubmitted hirpfelf to the general aiiem- bly, which procured him peace but for a very little time ; for, the year following, they brought frefh accufations againft him. In the year 1582, being artacked with a grievous dif- eafe, in which the phyficians could give him no relief, he happened to take a limple medicine from an old woman, which did him fervice. The woman, whofe name was Ali- fon Pearfone, was thereupon charged with witchcraft, and committed to prifon, but efcaped out of her confinement; however, about four vears afterwards, fhe was again found, and burnt for a witch. In 1583, king James came to St. An- drews ; and the archbifhop, being much recovered, preached before him, and difputed with Mr. Andrew Melvil, in pre- fence of his majefty, with great reputation, which drew upon him frefti calumny and perfecution. The king, however, vas fo well pleafed with him% that he fent him embaiTador to queen Elizabeth, at whofe court he refided for fome years. His condudl, during his embaffy, has been varioufly reported by different authors. Two things he principally laboured, viz. the recommending the king, his mafter, to the nobility and gentry of England, and the procuring fome fupport for the epifcopal party in Scotland. By his eloquent preaching, he drew after him fuch crowds of people, and raifed in their minds fuch a high idea of the young king, his matter, that queen Elizabeth forbad him to enter the puipit during his ftay Tft. Pat. in her dominions. In 1584, he was recalled, and fat in the parliament held in Auguft at Edinburgh. The piefbyteriau party were Aill very violent againft the archbilhop. A pro- vincial fynod v/as held at St. Andrews in April 1586; the archbifhop was here accufed and excommunicated ; he appealed to the king and the ftates, but this availed him but little ; for ihe mob being excited againit him, he durft fcarce appear in d, public in the city of St. Andrews. At (he next general af- fembly a paper being produced, containing the archbiihop's fubmiffion, he was abfolved from the excommunication. In 1588, frefli accufations were brought againft him. The year following, he publifhed the Lamentations of the prophet Je- remiah, in Latin verfe, which he dedicated to the king, com- plaining of his hard ufage. In the latter erjd of the fame year, he published a tranflation of the Apocalypfe, in Latin verfe, and a copy of Latin verfes, addreffed alfo to his tnajefty, when he was in great diftrefs. The king, however, was fo far from giying him ailiilance, that he granted the revenue of his fee to the