The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland. John Armoy Knox
after dinner, the fire was prepared before the old College, and Master Patrick was led to the place of execution. Men supposed that all was done but to give him a fright, and to have caused him to have recanted and become recreant to those bloody beasts. But God, for His own glory, for the comfort of His servant, and for manifestation of their beastly tyranny, had otherwise decreed. He so strengthened His faithful witness that neither the love of life nor yet the fear of that cruel death could move him a jot to swerve from the truth once professed. At the place of execution he gave to his servant, who had been chamber-child[6] to him for a long time, his gown, coat, bonnet, and such like garments, saying, "These will not profit in the fire; they will profit thee. After this, thou canst receive no commodity from me, except the example of my death. That, I pray thee, bear in mind; for, albeit it be bitter to the flesh and fearful before men, it is the entrance unto eternal life, which none shall possess who deny Christ Jesus before this wicked generation."
The innocent servant of God being bound to the stake in the midst of some coals, some timber, and other matter appointed for the fire, a train of powder was made and set afire. This gave a glaise[7] to the blessed martyr of God, scrimpled[8] his left hand and that side of his face, but kindled neither the wood nor yet the coals. And so remained he in torment, until men ran to the Castle again for more powder, and for wood more able to take fire. When at last this was kindled, with loud voice he cried, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! How long shall darkness overwhelm this realm? And how long wilt Thou suffer this tyranny of men?" The fire was slow, and therefore was his torment the more. But most of all was he grieved by certain wicked men, amongst whom Campbell the Black Friar (of whom we spoke before) was principal. These continually cried, "Convert, heretic; call upon our Lady: say Salve Regina," etc. To them he answered, "Depart, and trouble me not, ye messengers of Satan." But, while the foresaid Friar still roared one thing with great vehemency, he said unto him, "Wicked man, thou knowest the contrary, and the contrary to me thou hast confessed: I appeal thee before the tribunal seat of Jesus Christ!" After these words, and others that could not well be understood or marked, both for the tumult and the vehemence of the fire, the witness of Jesus Christ got victory, after long suffering, on the last day of February in the year of God 1527. The said Friar departed this life within few days after, in what estate we refer to the manifestation of the general day. But it was plainly known that he died, in Glasgow, in a frenzy, and as one in despair.
Questionings arise.
When these cruel wolves had, as they supposed, clean devoured the prey, they found themselves in worse case than they were before; for within St. Andrews, yea, almost within the whole realm, of those who heard of that deed, there was none found who began not to inquire, Wherefore was Master Patrick Hamilton burnt? When his Articles were rehearsed, it was questioned whether such Articles were necessarily believed under pain of damnation. And so, within short space, many began to call in doubt that which before they held for a certain truth, in so much that the University of St. Andrews, and St. Leonard's College principally, by the labours of Master Gavin Logie, and the novices of the Abbey, by those of the Sub-Prior, began to smell somewhat of the truth, and to espy the vanity of the received superstition. Within a few years, both Black and Grey Friars began publicly to preach against the pride and idle life of bishops, and against the abuses of the whole ecclesiastical estate.
Friar William Arth speaks out.
Friar William Arth, in a sermon preached in Dundee, spake somewhat more liberally against the licentious lives of the bishops than they could well bear. He spake further against the abuse of cursing and of miracles. The Bishop of Brechin, having his placeboes[9] and jackmen[10] in the town, buffeted the Friar, and called him heretic. The Friar, impatient of the injury received, passed to St. Andrews, and communicated the heads of his sermon to Master John Major, whose word then was held as an oracle in matters of religion. Being assured by him that such doctrine might well be defended, and that he would defend it, for it contained no heresy, there was a day appointed to the said Friar, to make repetition of the same sermon. Advertisement was given to all who were offended to be present. And so, in the parish kirk of St. Andrews, upon the day appointed, appeared the said Friar, and had amongst his auditors Master John Major, Master George Lockhart, the Abbot of Cambuskenneth, and Master Patrick Hepburn, Prior of St. Andrews, with all the Doctors and Masters of the Universities. The theme of his sermon was, "Truth is the strongest of all things."
The Abuse of God's Curse.
Concerning cursing, the Friar said that, if it were rightly used, it was the most fearful thing upon the face of the earth; for it was the very separation of man from God; but that it should not be used rashly, and for every light cause, but only against open and incorrigible sinners. "But now," said he, "the avarice of priests, and the ignorance of their office, has caused it altogether to be vilipended[11]; for the priest, whose duty and office it is to pray for the people, stands up on Sunday and cries, 'One has lost a spurtle.[12] There is a flail stolen from those beyond the burn.[13] The goodwife of the other side of the gate has lost a horn spoon. God's malison and mine I give to them that know of this gear, and restore it not.'" The people, he continued, mocked their cursing. After a sermon that he had made at Dunfermline, where gossips were drinking their Sunday penny, he, being dry, asked drink. "Yes, Father," said one of the gossips, "ye shall have drink; but ye must first resolve a doubt which has arisen amongst us, to wit, What servant will serve a man best on least expense?" "The good Angel," said I, "who is man's keeper, does great service without expense." "Tush," said the gossip, "we mean not such high matters. We mean, "What honest man will do greatest service for least expense?" "While I was musing," said the Friar, "what that should mean," he said, 'I see, Father, that the greatest clerks are not the wisest men. Know ye not how the bishops and their officials serve us husbandmen? Will they not give us a letter of cursing for a plack,[14] to last for a year, to curse all that look over our dyke[15]? That keeps our corn better than the sleeping boy, who demands three shillings of fee, a sark,[16] and a pair of shoes in the year. Therefore, if their cursing do anything, we hold that the bishops are the cheapest servants, in that behalf, that are within the realm.'"
False Miracles.
As concerning miracles, the Friar declared what diligence the ancients took to try true miracles from false. "But now," said he, "the greediness of priests not only receives false miracles, but they even cherish and fee knaves on purpose, that their chapels may be the better renowned, and their offering be augmented. Thereupon are many chapels founded, as if our Lady were mightier, and as if she took more pleasure in one place than in another. Of late days our Lady of Carsegreen has hopped from one green hillock to another! Honest men of St. Andrews," said he, "if ye love your wives and your daughters, hold them at home, or else send them in honest company; for, if ye knew what miracles were kythed[17] there, ye would neither thank God nor our Lady." And thus he merrily taunted the trysts of whoredom and adultery used at such devotion. Another Article in his sermon was judged more hard; for he alleged from the Common Law that the Civil Magistrate might correct the Churchmen, and for open vices deprive them of their benefices.
Notwithstanding this kind of preaching, this Friar remained Papist in his heart. The rest of the Friars, fearing to lose the benediction of the bishops, to wit, their malt and their meal and their other appointed pension, caused the said Friar to fly to England, and there, for defence of the Pope and Papistry, he was cast into prison at King Harry's commandment. But so it pleaseth God to open up the mouth of Baalam's own ass, to cry out against the vicious lives of the clergy of the age.
Shortly after this, new consultation was taken that some should be burnt; for men began to speak very freely. A merry gentleman named John Lindsay, familiar to Archbishop James Beaton, standing by when consultation was had, said, "My Lord, if ye burn any more, unless ye follow my counsel, ye will utterly destroy yourselves. If ye will burn them, let them be burnt in how[18] cellars; for the reek[19] of Master Patrick Hamilton has infected as many as it blew upon." But, so fearful was it then to speak anything against priests, the least word spoken against them, albeit it was spoken in a man's sleep, was judged heresy. Richard Carmichael, yet living in Fife, being young and a singer in the Chapel Royal of Stirling, happened in his sleep to say, "The Devil take away the priests, for they are a greedy pack." He was accused by Sir George Clapperton, Dean of the said Chapel, and was for this compelled to burn his bill.
Friar Alexander Seton