Thus did these cruel beasts intend nothing but murder in all quarters of this realm. For so far had that blinded and most vicious man, the Prince,--most vicious, we call him, for he neither spared man's wife nor maiden, no more after his marriage than he did before,--so far, we say, had he given himself to obey the tyranny of those bloody beasts that he had made a solemn vow, that none should be spared that was suspected of heresy, yea, although it were his own son. He lacked not flatterers enough to press and push him forward in his fury. Many of his minions were pensioners to priests; and among them, Oliver Sinclair, still surviving and an enemy to God, was the principal. [Sidenote: God speaks to the King.] Yet did not God cease to give to that blinded Prince documents[29] that some sudden plague was to fall upon him, if he did not repent his wicked life; and that his own mouth did confess. For, after Sir James Hamilton was beheaded, justly or unjustly we dispute not, this vision came unto him, as he himself did declare to his familiars. The said Sir James appeared unto him, having in his hands a drawn sword. With this he struck both arms from the King, saying to him, "Take that, until thou receivest a final payment for all thy impiety." He showed this vision, with sorrowful countenance, on the morrow; and shortly thereafter his two sons died, both within the space of twenty-four hours; some say, within the space of six hours. In his own presence, George Steel, his greatest flatterer, and the greatest enemy to God that was in his Court, dropped off his horse, and died without word, on the same day that, in open audience of many, the said George had refused his portion of Christ's kingdom, if the prayers of the Virgin Mary should not bring him there. [29] Warnings. Men of good credit can yet report a terrible vision the said Prince saw, when lying in Linlithgow, on the night that Thomas Scott, Justice Clerk, died in Edinburgh. Affrighted at midnight, or after, he cried for torches, and raised all that lay in the Palace. He told that Thomas Scott was dead; for he had been at him with a company of devils, and had said unto him these words, "O woe to the day that ever I knew thee or thy service; for, for serving thee against God, against His servants, and against justice, I am adjudged to endless torment." Of the terrible utterances of the said Thomas Scott before his death, men of all estates heard, and some that yet live can witness. His words were ever, "_Justo Dei judicio condemnatus sum_"; that is, I am condemned by God's just judgment. He was most oppressed for the delation and false accusation of such as professed Christ's Evangel, as Master Thomas Marjoribanks and Master Hew Rigg, then advocates, did confess to Mr. Henry Balnaves. These came to him from the said Thomas Scott, as he and Mr. Thomas Bellenden were sitting in St. Giles's Kirk, and in the name of the said Thomas asked his forgiveness.