In this mid time, the wisdom of God did provide that Harry the Eighth, King of England, should abolish from his realm the name and authority of the Pope of Rome, and suppress the Abbeys and other places of idolatry. This gave hope, in divers realms, that some godly reformation should have ensued therefrom. From this our country, divers learned men, and others that lived in fear of persecution, did repair to that realm. They found not such purity as they wished, and some of them sought other countries. But they escaped the tyranny of merciless men, and were reserved to better times, that they might fructify within His Church, in divers places and parts, and in divers vocations. Alexander Seton remained in England, and publicly, with great praise and comfort of many, taught the Evangel in all sincerity certain years. Albeit the craftiness of Winchester, and of others, circumvented the said Alexander, so as to cause him, at Paul's Cross, to affirm certain things repugnant to his former true doctrine; there is no doubt but that, as God had powerfully reigned with him in all his life, in his death, which shortly after followed, he found the mercy of his God, whereupon he ever exhorted all men to depend. [Sidenote: Scots Reformers abroad.] Alexander Alesius, Master John Fyfe, and that famous man Dr. Macchabeus,[23] departed unto Germany, where by God's providence they were distributed to several places. Macdowell, for his singular prudence, besides his learning and godliness, was elected burgomaster in one of the Stadts. Alesius was appointed to the University of Leipsic; and so was Master John Fyfe. There, for their honest behaviour and great erudition, they were held in admiration by all the godly. And in what honour, credit, and estimation, Dr. Macchabeus was with Christian King of Denmark, let Copenhagen and famous men of divers nations testify. Thus did God provide for His servants, and frustrate the expectation of these bloody beasts who, by the death of one in whom the light of God did clearly shine, intended to have suppressed Christ's truth for ever within this realm. But the contrary had God decreed; for his death was, as we have said, the cause of awakening many from the deadly sleep of ignorance; and so did Jesus Christ, the only true Light, shine unto many, from the away-taking of one. These notable men, Master John Fyfe only excepted, did never after comfort this country with their bodily presence; but God made them fructify in His Church, and raised them up lights out of darkness, to the praise of His own mercy, and to the just condemnation of them that then ruled--to wit, the King, Council, and nobility, yea, the whole people--who suffered such notable personages, without crimes committed, to be unjustly persecuted, and so exiled. Others were afterwards treated in the same manner; but of them we shall speak in their own places. [23] Macalpine. [Sidenote: Persecution revived: 1534.]