church, general councils, and most famous universities,) to be an heretic, and to have an evil opinion of the faith, and therefore to be condemned and punished, like as we condemn, and define him to be punished, by this our sentence definitive, depriving, and sentencing him to be deprived of all dignities, honours, orders, offices, and benefices of the church; and therefore do judge and pronounce him to be delivered over to the secular power, to be punished, and his goods to be confiscated.

"This our sentence definitive was given and read at our metropolitan church of St. Andrews, the last day of the month of February, anno 1527, being present, the most Reverend Fathers in Christ, and Lords, Gawand archbishop of Glasgow, George bishop of Dunkelden, John bishop of Brecham, William bishop of Dunblane, Patrick prior of St. Andrews, David abbot of Aberbrothock, George abbot of Dunfermline, Alexander abbot of Cambuskenneth, Henry abbot of Lendors, John prior of Pittenweeme, the dean and subdean of Glasgow, Mr. Hugh Spence, Thomas Ramsay, Allan Meldrum, &c. In the presence of the clergy and the people."

The same day that this doom was pronounced, he was also condemned by the secular power; and in the afternoon of that same day, (for they were afraid of an application to the King on his behalf,) he was hurried to the stake, the fire being prepared, immediately after dinner, before the old college. Being come to the place of martyrdom, he put off his clothes, and gave them to a servant who had been with him a long time, saying, "This stuff will not help me in the fire, yet will do thee some good; I have no more to leave thee, but the ensample of my death, which I pray thee keep in mind; for albeit the same be bitter and painful in man's judgment, yet it is the entrance to everlasting life, which none can inherit who deny Christ before this wicked generation." Having so said, he commended his soul into the hands of God, with his eyes fixed towards heaven, and being bound to the stake in the midst of some coals, timber, and other combustibles, a train of powder was made, with a design to kindle the fire, but did not succeed, the explosion only scorching one of his hands and face. In this situation he remained until more powder was brought from the castle, during which time his comfortable and godly speeches were often interrupted, particularly by Friar Campbell, calling upon him "to recant, pray to our Lady, and say, Salve Regina." Upon being repeatedly disturbed in this manner by Campbell, Mr. Hamilton said, "Thou wicked man, thou knowest that I am not an heretic, and that it is the truth of God for which I now suffer; so much didst thou confess unto me in private; and thereupon I appeal thee to answer before the judgment-seat of Christ.". By this time the fire was kindled, and the noble martyr yielded his soul to God, crying out, "How long, O Lord, shall darkness overwhelm this realm? How long wilt thou suffer this tyranny of men? And then ended his speech, saying, with Stephen," Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Friar Campbell became soon after distracted, and died within a year after Mr. Hamilton's martyrdom, under the most awful apprehensions of the Lord's indignation against him.-The Popish clergy abroad congratulated their friends in Scotland, upon their zeal for the Romish faith discovered in the above tragedy. But it rather served the cause of Reformation than retarded it, especially when the people began to compare deliberately the behaviour of Mr. Hamilton and Friar Campbell together, they were induced to inquire more narrowly into the truth than before.

The reader will find a very particular account of the doctrines maintained by Mr. Hamilton, in Knox's History of the Reformation of Scotland.

MR. GEORGE WISHART.

THIS gentleman was a brother of the Laird of Pittaro in Mearns, and was educated at the university of Cambridge, where his diligence and progress in useful learning soon made him to 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 several 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 shew his own greatness, and to recommend himself to his superior at 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 King James V. who died about this time, declaring himself, with the Earls of Huntly, Argyle and Murray, to be Regents of the kingdom. The cheat being discovered, the Earl of Arran was elected Governor, and the Cardinal was committed prisoner to the castle of Dalkeith: he soon found means to escape from his confinement, and prevailed with the Regent to break all his promises to the party who had elected him to that office, and to join with him in imbruing his hands in the blood of the saints. Accordingly, several professors of the town of Perth were arraigned, condemned, hanged, and drowned; others were sent into banishment, and some were strangled in private. We have departed thus f

r

Te her to preach the gospel with

sur Duibus the then Archbishop of a in prix quorurse of people who crowded 12 spre a Caramui Beaton, went to Ayr with cm. De astup irst took possession of the

scent The news of this brought

4

start, and some gentlemen of the neighbourhood, DALIT DIE ZEIL to put Mr. Wishart in the church, I EL. MIBGt arry. The broop's sermon would not do 2 DL i te mea, he would go to the market-cross;" 1 & 34 THUN such success, that several of his hearers, Sims 3 De Talk, were converted on that occasion. During rein is a mus empurred, the bishop was haranguing 2 de mar a parasites in the church; having no sermon to 2 & TEA I be emer provided against a future occasion,

saat danmasa, with the gentlemen of Kyle after the Arch2 antra du sang desired to preach next Lord's day, at the 1 tl Xher with that design; but the sheriff of a de son-Jima, jut a garrison of soldiers in the church to Juga Campbell of Kinzeancleuch, with others of the we ag findes at such impiety, and would have enLA PARA NYARA, ut Mr. Wishart would not suffer it, saying,

1 2 in wire di peace which I preach unto you; the blood

of no man shall be sled for it this day; Jesus Christ is as mighty in the fields as in the church, and he himself, while he lived in the flesh, preached oftener in the desert and upon the sea-side, than in the temple of Jerusalem." Upon this the people were appeased, and went with him to the edge of a muir on the south-west side of Mauchiin; where having placed himself upon a ditch-dike, he preached to a great multitude who resorted to him: he continued speaking for more than three hours, God working wondrously by him; insomuch that Laurence Rankin, the Laird of Sheld, a very profane person, was converted by his means: the tears ran from his eyes, to the astonishment of all present; and the whole of his after-life witnessed that his profession was without hypocrisy. While in this country, Mr. Wishart often preached with most remarkable success, at the church of Galston and other places. At this time, and in this part of the country, it might be truly said, That "the harvest was GREAT, but the labourers were FEW."

After he had been about a month thus employed in Kyle, he was informed that the plague had broke out in Dundee the fourth day after he had left it; and that it still continued to rage in such a manner, that great numbers were swept off every day. This affected him so much, that he resolved to return again unto them: accordingly, he took leave of his friends in the west, who were filled with sorrow at his departure. The next day after his arrival at Dundee, he caused intimation to be made that he would preach; and for that purpose chose his station upon the head of the east gate, the infected persons standing without, and those that were whole within: his text was Psalm cvii. 20." He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction." By this discourse he so comforted the people, that they thought themselves happy in having such a preacher, and entreated him to remain with them while the plague continued; which he complied with, preaching often, and taking care that the poor should not want necessaries more than the rich; in doing which he exposed himself to the infection, even where it was most malignant, without reserve.

During all this his sworn adversary the Cardinal had his eye close upon him, and bribed a priest called Sir John Wighton, to assassinate him: he was to make the attempt as Mr. Wishart came down from the preaching place, with the expectation of escaping among the crowd after the deed was done. To effect this he posted himself at the foot of the steps with his gown loose, and a dagger under it in his hand. Upon Mr. Wishart's approach, he looked sternly upon the priest, asking him what he intended to do? and instantly clapped his hand upon the hand of the priest that held the dagger, and took it from him. Upon which he openly confessing his design, a tumult immediately ensued, and the sick without the gate rushed in, crying to have the assassin delivered to them. Then Mr. Wishart interposed, and defended him from their violence, telling them, he had done him no harm; and that such as injured the one injured the other likewise; so the priest escaped without any harm.

The plague was now considerably abated, and he determined to pay a visit to the town of Montrose, intending to go from thence to Edinburgh, to meet the gentlemen of the west. While he was at Montrose, he administered the sacrament of our Lord's supper in both kinds of the ele ments, and preached with success. Here he received a letter directed to him from his intimate friend the Laird of Kinnier, acquainting him

he had taken a sudden sickness, and requesting him to come to him with all diligence. Upon this he immediately set out on his journey, attended by some honest friends of Montrose, who out of affection would accompany him part of the way. They had not travelled above a quarter of a mile, when all of a sudden he stopped, saying to the company, "I am forbidden by God to go this journey. Will some of you be pleased to ride to yonder place (pointing with his finger to a little hill), and see what you find; for I apprehend there is a plot against my life:" whereupon he returned to the town, and they who went forward to the place found about sixty horsemen ready to intercept him: by this the whole plot came to light they found that the letter had been forged; and upon their telling Mr. Wishart what they had seen, he replied," I know that I shall end my life by the hands of that wicked man, (meaning the Cardinal,) but it will not be after this manner.

The time he had appointed for meeting the west-country gentlemen at Edinburgh drawing near, he undertook that journey, much against the advice of the Laird of Dun. The first night after leaving Montrose, he lodged at Innergowrie, about two miles from Dundee, with one James Watson, a faithful friend, where being laid in bed, he was observed to rise a little after midnight, and to go out into an adjacent garden, that he might give vent to his sighs and groans without being observed; but being followed by two men, William Spalding and John Watson, at a distance, in order that they might observe his motions, they saw him prostrate himself upon the ground, weeping and making supplication for near an hour, and then return to his rest. As they lay in the same apartment with him, they took care to return before him; and upon his coming into the room, they asked him, (as if ignorant of all that had past,) where he had been? But he made no answer, and they ceased their interrogations. In the morning they asked him again, Why he rose in the night, and what was the cause of such sorrow? (for they told him all that they had seen him do ;) he answered, with a dejected countenance, "I wish you had been in your beds, which had been more for your ease, for I was scarce well occupied." But they praying him to satisfy their minds further, and to communicate some comfort unto them, he said, "I will tell you, that I assuredly know my travail is nigh an end; therefore pray to God for me, that I may not shrink when the battle waxeth most hot."-Hearing these words, they burst out into tears, saying, that was but small comfort to them. To this he replied, "God will send you comfort after me: this realm shall be illuminated with the light of Christ's gospel, as clearly as any realm ever was since the days of the apostles; the house of God shall be built in it; yea, it shall not lack (whatsoever the enemies shall devise to the contrary) the very cope-stone; neither shall this be long in doing, for there shall not many suffer after me. The glory of God shall appear, and truth shall once triumph in despite of the devil; but, alas! if the people become unthankful, the plagues and punishments which shall follow will be fearful and terrible." After this prediction, which was accomplished in such a remarkable manner afterwards, he proceeded on his journey and arrived at Leith about the 10th of December, where being disappointed of a meeting with the west-country gentlemen, he kept himself retired for some days, and then became very uneasy and discouraged, and being asked the reason, he replied, "I have laboured to bring people out of darkness, but now I lurk as a man ashamed to shew himself before men." By this they understood that he