THE MARTYRS OF SCOTLAND Like as there was no place, either of Germany, Italy,
or France, wherein there were not some branches sprung out of that most fruitful
root of Luther, so likewise was not this isle of Britain without his fruit and
branches.
Amongst whom was Patrick Hamilton, a Scotsman born of high and noble stock,
and of the king's blood, of excellent towardness, twenty-three years of age,
called Abbot of Fern.
Coming out of his country with three companions to seek godly learning,
he went to the University of Marburg in Germany, which university was then newly
erected by Philip, Landgrave of Hesse.
Using conference with learned men, especially with Francis Lambert,
he so profited in knowledge and judgment, that through the incitation of the said
Lambert, he was the first in all that university who publicly did set up
conclusions there to be disputed of concerning faith and works.
Which young man, if he had chosen to lead his life after the manner of other
courtiers, in all kind of licentious riotousness, should peradventure have
found praise without peril or punishment?
But forasmuch as he joined godliness with his stock and virtue with his age,
he could by no means escape the hands of the wicked.
For there is nothing safe or sure in this world but wickedness and sin.
Whoever saw the cardinals or bishops rage with their cruel inquisitions against
riot, ambition, unlawful gaming, drunkenness, and rapins, but if any man
were truly addict to the desire and study of godliness, confessing Christ to be his
only patron and advocate, excluding the merits of saints, acknowledging free
justification by faith in Christ, denying purgatory, for these articles
Hamilton was burned, they spare neither age nor kindred, neither is there any so
great power in the world that may withstand their majesty or authority.
How great an ornament might so noble, learned, and excellent a young man have
been unto that realm, being endued with so great godliness and such a singular wit
and disposition, if the Scots had not envied their own commodity.
This learned Patrick, increasing daily more and more in knowledge, and inflamed
with godliness, at length began to revolve with himself touching his return into his
country, being desirous to impart unto his countrymen some fruit of understanding
which he had received abroad.
Whereupon, persisting in his godly purpose, he took one of the three whom he
brought out of Scotland, and so returned home without any longer delay.
Not sustaining the miserable ignorance and blindness of that people, he valiantly
taught and preached the truth, was accused of heresy, and stoutly
sustaining the quarrel of God's gospel against the high priest and archbishop of
St. Andrews, named James Beaton, was cited to appear before him and his
college of priests on the first of March, A.
D.
1527.
Being not only forward in knowledge, but also ardent in spirit, not tarrying
for the hour appointed, he came very early in the morning before he was looked for,
and there mightily disputing against them, when he could not by the Scriptures be
convicted, by force he was oppressed.
And so the sentence of condemnation being given against him, the same day after
dinner, in all hot haste, he was had away to the fire, and there burned.
And thus was this noble Hamilton, the blessed servant of God, without all
just cause, made away by cruel adversaries, yet not without great fruit
to the church of Christ.
For the grave testimony of his blood left the truth of God more fixed and confirmed
in the hearts of many than ever could after be plucked away, insomuch that
divers afterwards, standing in his quarrel, sustained the like martyrdom.
Within a few years after the martyrdom of Master Patrick Hamilton, one Henry
Forrest, a young man born in Linlithgow, who, a little before, had received the
orders of Bennet and Collet, as they termed them, affirmed that Master Patrick
Hamilton died a martyr.
For this he was apprehended, and put in prison by James Beaton, Archbishop of St.
Andrews, who shortly after caused a certain friar, named Walter Lane,
to hear his confession.
When Henry Forrest had declared his conscience, how he thought Master Patrick
to be a good man, and not heretical, and wrongfully to be put to death,
the friar came and uttered to the bishop the confession that he had heard,
which before was not thoroughly known.
Hereupon it followed that, his confession being brought as sufficient probation
against him, Henry Forrest was concluded to be a heretic, equal in iniquity with
Master Patrick Hamilton, and given to the secular judges to suffer death.
When the day came for his death, and that he should first be degraded,
he was brought before the clergy in a green place, being between the castle of
St. Andrew and another place called Moneymail.
As soon as he entered in at the door, and saw the faces of the clergy,
perceiving whereunto they tended, he cried with a loud voice, saying,
Fie on falsehood, fie on false friars, revealers of confession.
After this day let no man ever trust any false friars, contemners of God's word,
and deceivers of men.
After his degradation, he suffered death for his faithful testimony of the truth of
Christ, and of his gospel, at the north church style of the abbey church of St.
Andrew, to the intent that all the people of Forfar might see the fire, and so might
be the more feared from falling into the doctrine which they termed heresy.
Within a year after the martyrdom of Henry Forrest, or thereabout, James Hamilton of
Linlithgow, his sister Catherine Hamilton, the spouse of the captain of Dunbar,
also another honest woman of Leith, David Stratton of the house of Loriston,
and Master Norman Gurley, were called to the abbey church of Holyrood House in
Edinburgh, by James Hay, Bishop of Ross, Commissioner to James Beaton, Archbishop,
in presence of King James V, who was altogether clad in red apparel.
James Hamilton was accused as one that maintained the opinion of Master Patrick,
his brother, to whom the king gave counsel to depart and not to appear, for in case
he appeared he could not help him, because the bishops had persuaded the king
that the cause of heresy did in no wise appertain unto him, and so Hamilton fled
and was condemned as a heretic, and all his goods and lands confiscated.
Catherine Hamilton, his sister, appeared upon the scaffold, and being
accused of a horrible heresy to wit, that her own works could not savour,
she granted the same.
And after long reasoning between her and Master John Spens, the lawyer,
she concluded in this manner, Work here, work there.
What kind of working is all this?
I know perfectly that no kind of works can save me, but only the works of Christ,
my Lord and Saviour.
The king, hearing these words, turned him about and laughed, called her
unto him, and caused her to recant, because she was his aunt.
Master Norman Gurley was accused, for that he had said there was no such
thing as purgatory, and that the pope was not a bishop but antichrist, and had no
jurisdiction in Scotland.
Also David Stratton, for that he said there was no purgatory, but the passion of
Christ, and the tribulations of this world.
And because when Master Robert Lawson, vicar of Egglesgrig, asked his tithe-fish
of him, he did cast them to him out of the boat, so that some of them fell into the
sea.
Therefore he accused him, as one that should have said, that no tithes should be
paid.
These two, because, after great solicitation made by the king,
they refused to abjure and recant, were condemned by the bishop of Ross as
heretics, and were burned upon the green side, between Leith and Edinburgh,
to the intent that the inhabitants of Fife, seeing the fire, might be struck
with terror and fear, not to fall into the light.
Not long after the burning of David Stratton and Master Gurley, a canon of St.
Colm's Inch, and a vicar of Dollar, called Dean Thomas Forrett, preached every
Sunday to his parishioners out of the epistle, or gospel, as it fell for the
time.
Which then was a great novelty in Scotland, to see any man preach,
except a black friar or a grey friar.
And therefore the friars envied him, and accused him to the bishop of Dunkeld,
in whose diocese he remained, as a heretic, and one that showed the mysteries
of the Scriptures to the vulgar people in English, to make the clergy detestable in
the sight of the people.
The bishop of Dunkeld, moved by the friar's instigation, called the said Dean
Thomas, and said to him, My joy, Dean Thomas, I love you well, and
therefore I must give you my counsel, how you shall rule and guide yourself.
To whom Thomas said, I thank your lordship heartily.
Then the bishop began his counsel after this manner, Bishop, My joy, Dean Thomas,
I am informed that you preach the epistle, or gospel, every Sunday to your
parishioners, and that you take not the cow, nor the uppermost cloth from your
parishioners, which thing is very prejudicial to the churchmen.
And therefore, My joy, Dean Thomas, I would you took your cow, and your
uppermost cloth, as other churchmen do, or else it is too much to preach every
Sunday, for in doing so you may make the people think that we should preach
likewise.
But it is enough for you, when you find any good epistle, or any good gospel,
that set forth the liberty of the holy church to preach that, and let the rest
be.
The martyr, My lord, I think that none of my parishioners will complain that I take
not the cow, nor the uppermost cloth, but will gladly give me the same,
together with any other thing they have, and I will give and communicate with them
any thing that I have.
And so, My lord, we agree right well, and there is no discord among us.
And whereas your lordship saith, It is too much to preach every Sunday,
indeed I think it is too little, and also would wish that your lordship did
the like.
Bishop, Nay, nay, Dean Thomas, let that be, for we are not ordained to
preach.
Martyr, Whereas your lordship biddeth me preach, when I find any good epistle,
or a good gospel, truly, My lord, I have read the New Testament,
and the Old, and all the epistles and gospels, and among them all I could never
find an evil epistle, or an evil gospel.
But if your lordship will show me the good epistle, and the good gospel, and the evil
epistle, and the evil gospel, then I shall preach the good, and omit the evil.
Bishop, Then spake My lord stoutly, and said, I thank God that I never knew
what the Old and New Testament was.
Therefore, Dean Thomas, I will know nothing but My Portuese and My Pontifical.
Go your way, and let be all these fantasies, for if you persevere in these
erroneous opinions, you will repent it, when you may not mend it.
Martyr, I trust My cause be just in the presence of God, and therefore I pass not
much what do follow thereupon.
And so My lord and he departed at that time, and soon after a summons was
directed from the Cardinal of St. Andrews, and the Bishop of Dunkeld, upon the said
Dean Thomas Farratt, and others, who at the day of their appearance were
condemned to the death without any place for recantation, because, as was alleged,
they were heresiarchs, or chief heretics, and teachers of heresies, and especially
because many of them were at the marriage of a priest, who was vicar of Tullibethy,
beside Stirling, and did eat flesh in Lent at the said bridal.
And so they were all together burned upon the Castle Hill at Edinburgh.
There was a certain act of Parliament made in the government of the Lord Hamilton,
Earl of Arran, giving privilege to all men of the realm of Scotland to read the
Scriptures in their mother tongue, secluding nevertheless all reasoning,
conference, convocation of people to hear the Scriptures read or expounded,
which liberty of private reading lacked not its own fruit, so that in sundry parts
of Scotland were opened the eyes of the elect of God to see the truth,
and abhor the papistical abominations, amongst whom were certain persons in St.
John's town.
At this time there was a sermon made by Friar Spence in St. John's town,
otherwise called Perth, affirming prayer made to saints to be so necessary that
without it there could be no hope of salvation to man.
This blasphemous doctrine, a Burgess of the said town, called Robert Lamb,
could not abide, but accused him, in open audience, of erroneous doctrine,
and adjured him in God's name to utter the truth.
This the Friar, being stricken with fear, promised to do.
But the trouble, tumult, and stir of the people increased so, that the Friar could
have no audience.
At this time, A.
D.
1543, the enemies of the truth procured John Charterhouse, who favored the truth,
and was provost of the said city and town of Perth, to be deposed from his office by
the said governor's authority, and a papist, called Master Alexander
Marbeck, to be chosen in his room, that they might bring more easily their
wicked and ungodly enterprise to an end.
On St. Paul's day came to St. John's town the governor, the cardinal, the Earl of
Argyll, with certain other of the nobility.
And although there were many accused for the crime of heresy, as they term it,
yet these persons only were apprehended, Robert Lamb, William Anderson,
James Hunter, James Ravelson, James Finleyson, and Helen Sturck, his wife,
and were cast that night in the Spey Tower.
Upon the morrow, when they were brought forth to judgment, were laid to their
charge the violating of the act of Parliament before expressed, and their
conference and assemblies in hearing and expounding of Scripture against the tenor
of the said act.
Robert Lamb was accused, in special, for interrupting the Friar in the pulpit,
which he not only confessed, but also affirmed constantly, that it was the duty
of no man who understood and knew the truth, to hear the same in pune without
contradiction, and therefore sundry who were there present in judgment,
who hid the knowledge of the truth, should bear the burden in God's presence
for consenting to the same.
The said Robert, also, with William Anderson and James Ravelson, were accused
for hanging up the image of St. Francis in a cord, nailing of ram's horns to his
head, and a cow's rump to his tail, and for eating of a goose on all hallow
even.
James Hunter, being a simple man and without learning, and a flesher by
occupation, so that he could be charged with no great knowledge and doctrine,
yet, because he often used that suspected company of the rest, was accused.
The woman, Helen Sturck, was accused, for that in her child-bed she was not
accustomed to call upon the name of the Virgin Mary, being exhorted thereto by her
neighbours, but only upon God for Jesus Christ's sake.
And because she said that if she herself had been in the time of the Virgin Mary,
God might have looked to her humility and base estate, as He did to the virgins,
in making her the mother of Christ, thereby meaning that there were no merits
in the virgin, which procured her that honour, to be made the mother of Christ,
and to be preferred before other women, but that only God's free mercy exalted her
to that estate, which words were counted most execrable in the face of the clergy
and of the whole multitude.
James Ravelson aforesaid, building a house, set upon the round of his fourth
stair the three-crowned diadem of Peter carved of tree, which the cardinal took as
done in mockage of his cardinal's hat.
After sentence given, their hands were bound, and the men cruelly treated,
which thing the woman beholding desired likewise to be bound by the sergeants with
her husband, for Christ's sake.
Great intercession made by the town for the life of these persons to the governor,
who of himself was willing that they might have been delivered.
But he was so subject to the appetite of the cruel priests, that he could not do
that which he would.
Yea, they menaced to assist his enemies and to depose him, except he assisted
their cruelty.
The martyrs were carried by a great band of armed men, for they feared rebellion in
the town, except they had men of war, to the place of execution, which was
common to all thieves, and that to make their cause appear more odious to the
people.
Every one comforting another, and assuring themselves that they should sup together
in the kingdom of heaven that night, they commended themselves to God,
and died constantly in the Lord.
The woman desired earnestly to die with her husband, but she was not suffered.
Yet, following him to the place of execution, she gave him comfort,
exhorting him to perseverance and patience for Christ's sake, and parting from him
with a kiss, said, Husband, rejoice, for we have lived together many joyful
days.
But this day, in which we must die, ought to be most joyful unto us both,
because we must have joy for ever.
Therefore I will not bid you good night, for we shall suddenly meet with joy in the
kingdom of heaven.
The woman, after that, was taken to a place to be drowned, and albeit she had a
child sucking on her breast, yet this moved nothing the unmerciful hearts of the
enemies.
So after she had commended her children to the neighbors of the town for God's sake,
and the sucking ban was given to the nurse, she sealed up the truth by her
death.
With most tender affection consider, gentle reader, the uncharitable manner of
the accusation of Master George Wishart made by the bloody enemies of Christ's
faith.
Ponder the furious rage and tragical cruelness of the malignant church in
persecuting this blessed man of God, and on the contrary his humble,
patient and most godly answers made to them without all fear, not having respect
to their boastful menacings and boisterous threats, but charitably and without stop
of tongue answering, not changing his visage.
I thought it not impertinent somewhat to touch concerning the life and conversation
of this godly man.
According as of late it came to my hands, certified in writing by a certain scholar
of his named Emery Tilney, whose words here follow.
About the year of our Lord 1543 there was in University of Cambridge one Master
George Wishart, commonly called Master George of Bennett's College, a man of tall
stature, polled-headed, and on the same a round French cap of the best, judged to be
of melancholy complexion by his physiognomy, black-haired, long-bearded,
comely of personage, well-spoken after his country of Scotland, courteous,
lowly, lovely, glad to teach, desirous to learn, and well-travelled, having on him
for his clothing a frieze gown to the shoes, a black million fustian doublet,
and plain black hosen, coarse new canvas for his shirts, and white falling bands
and cuffs at his hands.
He was a man modest, temperate, fearing God, hating covetousness,
for his charity had never end, night, noon, nor day.
He forbear one meal in three, one day in four for the most part, except something
to comfort nature.
He lay hard upon a puff of straw and coarse new canvas sheets, which,
when he changed, he gave away.
He had commonly by his bedside a tub of water, in the which, his people being in
bed, the candle put out and all quiet, he used to bathe himself.
He loved me tenderly, and I him.
He taught with great modesty and gravity, so that some of his people thought him
severe and would have slain him.
But the Lord was his defence.
And he, after due correction for their malice, by good exhortation amended them
and went his way.
Oh, that the Lord had left him to me, his poor boy, that he might have finished
that he had begun!
For he went into Scotland with divers of the nobility that came for a treaty to
King Henry.
If I should declare his love to me and all men, his charity to the poor, in giving,
relieving, caring, helping, providing, yea, infinitely studying how to do good
unto all and hurt to none, I should sooner want words than just cause to commend him.
To the said Master George being in captivity, in the castle of St. Andrews,
the Dean of the same town was sent by the commandment of the Cardinal and by his
wicked counsel, and there summoned the said Master George, that he should,
upon the morning following, appear before the Judge, then and there to give account
of his seditious and heretical doctrine.
Upon the next morning, the Lord Cardinal caused his servants to address themselves
in their most warlike array, with jack, knapsack, splint, spear, and axe,
more seeming for war than for the preaching of the true word of God.
And when these armed champions, marching in warlike order, had conveyed
the bishops into the abbey church, incontinently they sent for Master George,
who was conveyed unto the said church by the captain of the castle, accompanied
with a hundred men addressed in manner aforesaid.
Like a lamb led they him to sacrifice.
As he entered in at the abbey church door, there was a poor man lying, vexed with
great infirmities, asking of his arms, to whom he flung his purse.
And when he came before the Lord Cardinal, the subprior of the abbey, called Dane
John Winram, stood up in the pulpit, and made a sermon to all the congregation
there assembled.
And when he ended his sermon, they caused Master George to ascend into the pulpit,
there to hear his accusation.
And right against him stood up one of the fed flock, a monster, John Lander,
laden full of cursings written in paper, the which he took out, a roll,
long and full of threats, maledictions, and words of devilish spite and malice,
saying to the innocent Master George so many cruel and abominable words,
and hitting him so spitefully with the Pope's thunder, that the ignorant people
dreaded lest the earth would have swallowed him up quick.
Notwithstanding, Master George stood still with great patience, hearing their
sayings, not once moving or changing his countenance.
When that this fed sow had read all his lying menacings, his face running down
with sweat and frothing at the mouth like a boar, he spit at Master George's face,
saying, What answerest thou to these sayings, thou runagate, traitor,
thief, which we have duly proved by sufficient witness against thee?
Master George, hearing this, kneeled down upon his knees in the pulpit.
When he had ended his prayer, sweetly and christianly, he answered to them all in
this manner.
It is just and reasonable that your discretions should know what my words and
doctrine are, and what I have ever taught, that I perish not unjustly to the great
peril of your souls.
Wherefore, both for the glory and honor of God, your own health, and safeguard of my
life, I beseech your discretions to hear me, and in the meantime I shall recite my
doctrine without any color.
Suddenly, with a high voice, cried the accuser, the fed sow, thou heretic,
runagate, traitor, and thief, it is not lawful for thee to preach.
Thou hast taken the power at thy own hand without any authority of the church.
Then all of the congregation of the prelates, with their accomplices,
said, If we give him license to preach, he is so crafty, and in the Holy Scripture
so exercised, that he will persuade the people to his opinion, and raise them
against us.
Master George, seeing their malicious intent, appealed from the Lord Cardinal to
the Lord Governor, as to an indifferent and equal judge.
To whom the accuser, John Lander, with hoggish voice answered, Is not my
Lord Cardinal the second person within this realm, Chancellor of Scotland,
Archbishop of St. Andrews, Bishop of Mirpois, Commendator of Aberbrashoch,
Legatus nartus, legatus a' the tier?
And so, reciting as many titles of his unworthy honors as would have loaded a
ship much sooner an ass, is not he, quoth John Lander, an equal judge
apparently unto thee?
Whom other desirest thou to be thy judge?
To whom this humble man answered, saying, I refuse not my Lord Cardinal,
but I desire the word of God to be my judge.
The temporal estate with some of your lordship's mine auditors, because I am
here my Lord Governor's prisoner.
Hereupon the prideful and scornful people mocked him, and without all delay they
would have given sentence upon Master George, had not certain men counseled the
Cardinal to read again the articles, and to hear his answers thereupon,
that the people might not complain of his wrongful condemnation.
They caused the common people to void away, whose desire was always to hear that
innocent man to speak.
Then the sons of darkness pronounced their sentence definitive, not having respect to
the judgment of God.
And when all this was done and said, the Cardinal caused his tormentors to pass
again with the meek lamb into the castle, until such time as the fire was made
ready.
When he was come unto the castle, there came Friar Scott and his mate,
saying, Sir, ye must make you confession unto us.
He answered, and said, I will make no confession unto you.
When the fire was made ready, and the gallows, the Lord Cardinal, dreading that
Master George should have been taken away by his friends, commanded to bend all the
ordinance of the castle against that part, and commanded all his gunners to stand
beside their guns until such time as he were burned.
All this being done, they bound Master George's hands behind his back,
and led him forth with their soldiers to the place of their wicked execution.
As he came forth of the castle gate, there met him certain beggars asking of
his arms for God's sake, to whom he answered, I want my hands, wherewith I
should give you arms, but the merciful Lord, of His benignity and abundance of
grace, that feedeth all men, vouchsafe to give you necessaries both unto your bodies
and souls.
Then afterwards met him two friars, saying, Master George, pray to our lady
that she may be Mediatrix for you to her son, to whom he answered meekly,
Cease, tempt me not, my brethren.
After this he was led to the fire with a rope about his neck and a chain of iron
about his middle.
When he came to the fire he sat down upon his knees, and rose again, and thrice he
said these words, O thou Saviour of the world, have mercy on me!
Father of heaven, I commend my spirit into thy holy hands.
When he had made this prayer, he turned to the people and said, For the words' sake
and true evangel, which was given to me by the grace of God, I suffer this day by
men, not sorrowfully, but with a glad heart and mind.
For this cause I was sent, that I should suffer this fire for Christ's sake.
Consider and behold my visage, ye shall not see me change my colour.
This grim fire I fear not, I know surely that my soul shall sup with my Saviour
Christ this night.
The hangman, that was his tormentor, sat down upon his knees and said,
Sir, I pray you forgive me, for I am not guilty of your death.
To whom he answered, Come hither to me.
When that he was come to him, he kissed his cheek and said, Lo, here is a token
that I forgive thee.
My heart, do thine office.
And then he was put upon the gibbet and hanged, and burned to powder.
When that the people beheld the great tormenting, they might not withhold from
piteous mourning and complaining of this innocent lamb's slaughter.
It was not long after the martyrdom of this blessed man of God, Master George
Wishart, who was put to death by David Beaton, the bloody Archbishop and Cardinal
of Scotland, A.D.
1546, the first day of March, that the said David Beaton, by the just revenge of
God's mighty judgment, was slain within his own castle of St. Andrews,
by the hands of one Leslie and other gentlemen, who, by the Lord, stood up,
break in suddenly upon him, and in his bed murdered him the said year, the last day
of May, crying out, Alas, alas, slay me not, I am a priest!
And so, like a butcher he lived, and like a butcher he died, and lay seven
months and more unburied, and at last, like a carrion, was buried in a dunghill.
After this David Beaton, succeeded John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews,
who, to the intent that he might in no ways appear inferior to his predecessor in
augmenting the number of the holy martyrs of God, called a certain poor man to
judgment, whose name was Adam Wallace, the order and manner of whose story here
followeth.
There was set, upon a scaffold, made hard to the chancellery wall of the
Blackfriars Church in Edinburgh, on seats made thereupon, the Lord
Governor.
Behind the seats stood the whole Senate.
In the pulpit was placed Master John Lander, parson of Marbottle, accuser,
clad in a surplus and red hood.
Was brought in Adam Wallace, a simple poor man in appearance, conveyed by John of
Cumnock, servant to the Bishop of St. Andrews, and sat in the midst of the
scaffold.
He was commanded to look to the accuser, who asked him what was his name.
He answered, Adam Wallace.
Then asked he where he was born.
Within two miles of Fale, said he, in Kyle.
Then said the accuser, I repent that ever such a poor man as you should put these
noble lords to so great encumbrance this day by your vain speaking.
And I must speak, said he, as God giveth me grace, and I believe I have said no
evil to hurt anybody.
Would God, said the accuser, he had never spoken, for you are brought forth for such
horrible crimes of heresy, as never were imagined in this country before.
Wallace answered that he said nothing but agreeing to the holy word as he
understood, and thereby would he abide unto the time he were better instructed by
Scripture, even to the death.
If you condemn me for holding by God's word, my innocent blood shall be required
at your hands, when ye shall be brought before the judgment seat of Christ.
Then they condemned him, and delivered him to the provost of Edinburgh to be burned
on the Castle Hill, who made him to be put in the uppermost house in the town with
irons about his legs and neck, and gave charge to Hugh Terry,
an ignorant minister of Satan and of the bishops, to keep the key of the said
house.
The said Terry sent to the poor man two grey friars to instruct him, with whom he
would enter into no communing.
Soon after that were sent in two black friars, an English friar and another
subtle sophister called Arbuthnot.
With the witch English friar, he would have reasoned and declared his faith by
the Scriptures, who answered he had no commission to enter into disputation with
him, and so left him.
Then was sent to him a worldly wise man, and not ungodly in the understanding of
the truth, the dean of Rastelrig, who gave him Christian consolation,
and exhorted him to believe the reality of the sacrament after the consecration.
But Wallace would consent to nothing that had not evidence in the Holy Scripture,
and so passed that night in singing and lauding God to the ears of divers hearers,
having learned the Psalter of David without book to his consolation.
For they had before spoiled him of his Bible, which always till after he was
condemned was with him wherever he went.
After Hugh Terry knew that he had certain books to read and comfort his spirit,
he came in a rage and took the same from him, endeavouring to pervert him from the
patience and hope he had in Christ his Saviour.
But God suffered him not to be moved therewith.
All the next morning abode this poor man in irons, and provision was commanded to
be made for his burning against the next day.
Which day came the dean of Rostlerig to him again, and reasoned with him,
who answered as before that he would say nothing concerning his faith, but as the
Scripture testifieth, yea, though an angel came from heaven to persuade him to the
same.
Thenafter came in Hugh Terry again, and examined him after his old manner,
and said he would gar devils to come forth of him ere even.
To whom he answered, You should rather be a godly man to give me consolation in my
case.
When I knew you were come, I prayed God I might resist your temptations,
which, I thank him, he hath made me able to do.
Therefore I pray you, let me alone in peace.
Then he asked of one of the officers that stood by, Is your fire-making ready?
Who told him it was?
He answered, As it pleaseth God, I am ready soon or late, as it shall
please him.
At his forthcoming, the provost, with great menacing words, forbade him to
speak to any man or any to him.
Coming from the town to the castle hill, the common people said, God have mercy
upon him, and on you too, said he.
Being beside the fire, he lifted up his eyes to heaven twice or thrice,
and said to the people, Let it not offend you that I suffer death this day for the
truth's sake, for the disciple is not greater than his master.
The cord being about his neck, the fire was lighted, and so departed he
to God constantly and with good countenance.
Among the rest of the martyrs of Scotland, the marvellous constancy of Walter Mill is
not to be passed over with silence, out of whose ashes sprang thousands who
chose rather to die than to be any longer overtrodden by the tyranny of the cruel,
ignorant, and brutal bishops, abbots, monks, and friars.
In the year of our Lord, 1558, this Walter Mill, who in his youth had
been a papist, after he had been in Almayne and had heard the doctrine of the
gospel, returned into Scotland, and setting aside all papistry,
married a wife, which thing made him unto the bishops of Scotland to be suspected of
heresy, and after long watching he was taken by two popish priests, and brought
to St. Andrews, and imprisoned in the castle thereof.
The papists threatened him with death and corporal torments, to the intent they
might cause him to forsake the truth.
But seeing they could profit nothing thereby, and that he remained firm and
constant, they laboured to persuade him by fair promises, and offered unto him a
monk's portion for all the days of his life in the abbey of Dunfermline,
so that he would deny the things he had taught, and grant that they were heresy.
But he, continuing in the truth, even unto the end, despised their
threatenings and fair promises.
The said Walter Mill was brought to the Metropolitan Church of St. Andrews,
where he was put in a pulpit before the bishops to be accused.
Seeing him so weak and feeble of person, partly by age and travail, and partly by
evil entreatment, that without help he could not climb up, they were out of hope
to have heard him, for the weakness of his voice.
But when he began to speak, he made the church to ring again with so great courage
and stoutness, that the Christians who were present were no less rejoiced than
the adversaries were confounded and ashamed.
Being in the pulpit and on his knees at prayer, Andrew Olyphant, one of the
archbishop's priests, commanded him to arise, saying on this manner, Sir Walter
Mill, arise and answer to the articles, for you hold my Lord here over long.
To whom Walter, after he had finished his prayer, answered, saying, Ye call me Sir
Walter?
Call me Walter, and not Sir Walter.
I have been over long one of the Pope's knights.
Now say what thou hast to say.
Olyphant, thou sayest there be not seven sacraments?
Mill, give me the Lord's supper and baptism, and take you the rest,
and part them among you.
Olyphant, thou art against the blessed sacrament of the altar, and sayest that
the mass is wrong and is idolatry?
Mill, a lord or a king sendeth and calleth many to a dinner.
And when the dinner is in readiness, he causeth to ring the bell, and the men
come to the hall, and sit down to be partakers of the dinner.
But the Lord, turning His back unto them, eateth all Himself, and mocketh them.
So do ye.
Olyphant, thou denyest the sacrament of the altar to be the very body of Christ,
really, and flesh and blood?
Mill, as for the mass, it is wrong, for Christ was once offered on the cross
for man's trespass, and will never be offered again, for then He ended all
sacrifice.
Olyphant, thou preachest secretly and privately in houses and openly in the
fields.
Mill, yea, man, and on the sea also, sailing in a ship.
Olyphant, wilt thou not recant thy erroneous opinions?
Mill, I will not recant the truth, for I am corn, I am no chaff.
I will not be blown away with the wind, nor burst with the flail, but I will abide
both.
Then Olyphant pronounced sentence against him, that he should be delivered to the
temporal judge, and punished as a heretic, which was to be burned.
Notwithstanding, his boldness and constancy moved so the hearts of many,
that the provost of the town, called Patrick Lermond, refused to be his
temporal judge, to whom it appertained if the cause had been just.
Also the bishop's chamberlain, being therewith charged, would in no wise
take upon him so ungodly an office.
Yea, the whole town was so offended with his unjust condemnation, that the bishop's
servants could not get for their money so much as one cord to tie him to the stake,
or a tar-barrel to burn him, but were constrained to cut the cords of their
master's own pavilion, to serve their turn.
Nevertheless, one servant of the bishop's, more ignorant and cruel than the rest,
called Alexander Somervale, enterprising the office of a temporal judge in that
part, conveyed him to the fire, where, against all natural reason of man,
his boldness and hardiness did more and more increase, so that the Spirit of God,
working miraculously in him, made it manifest to the people, that his cause was
just, and he innocently put down.
When all things were ready for his death, and he conveyed with armed men to the
fire, Oliphant bade him pass to the stake, and he said, Nay, wilt thou put me up with
thy hand, and take part of my death, thou shalt see me pass up gladly,
for by the law of God I am forbidden to put hands upon myself.
Then Oliphant put him up with his hand, and he ascended gladly, saying,
I will go to the altar of God, and desired that ye might have space to
speak to the people, which Oliphant and the other of the burners denied,
saying that he had spoken over much.
For the bishops were altogether offended that the matter was so long continued.
Then some of the young men committed both the burners, and the bishops their
masters, to the devil, saying that they should lament that day, and desired the
said Walter to speak what he pleased.
And so after he made his humble supplication to God on his knees,
he arose, and standing upon the coals, said on this wise, Dear friends,
the cause why I suffer this day is not for any crime laid to my charge, albeit I be a
miserable sinner before God, but only for the defense of the faith of Jesus Christ,
set forth in the New and Old Testament unto us.
For which as the faithful martyrs have offered themselves gladly before,
being assured after the death of their bodies of eternal felicity, so this day I
praise God that he hath called me of his mercy among the rest of his servants to
seal up his truth with my life, which, as I have received it of him,
so willingly I offer it to his glory.
Therefore, as you will escape the eternal death, be no more seduced with the lies of
priests, monks, friars, priors, abbots, bishops, and the rest of the sect
of Antichrist, but depend only upon Jesus Christ and His mercy, that ye may be
delivered from condemnation.
All that while there was great mourning and lamentation of the multitude,
for they, perceiving his patience, stoutness and boldness, constancy,
and hardiness, were not only moved and stirred up, but their hearts also were
inflamed.
After his prayer he was hoisted up upon the stake, and being in the fire he said,
Lord, have mercy upon me.
Pray, people, while there is time.
And so he departed.
After this, by the just judgment of God, in the same place where Walter Mill was
burnt, the images of the great church of the Abbey, which surpassed both in number
and costliness, were burned in the time of reformation.