February - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

44
The Free Presbyterian Magazine
the assaults of a gracious queen”. Wishart was first taken to Edinburgh Castle
and, at the end of January 1546, the Regent gave him up to the Cardinal,
who confined him in the sea tower at St Andrews. The assistance of a civil
judge was, it seems, necessary to give validity to the judgement. The Cardinal
requested one from Arran, but one of the Regent’s councillors, Hamilton of
Preston, asked him: “What, will you deliver up to wicked men those whose
uprightness is acknowledged even by their enemies Will you put to death
those who are guilty of no more crime than that of preaching the gospel of
Christ What ingratitude towards God!”
The Regent consequently wrote to the Cardinal that he would not consent
that any hurt should be done to that man without a careful investigation of his
cause. When the cardinal received this letter, he flew into a violent passion.
“It was only for civility’s sake”, he said, “that I made the request. I and my
clergy have the power in ourselves to inflict on Wishart the chastisement
which he deserves.” He invited the Archbishop of Glasgow and all bishops
and other dignitaries of the Church to assemble at St Andrews on February
27 to consult on the matter, although it was already decided in his own mind.
The next day the Dean of St Andrews went to the prison where Wishart
was confined and summoned him in the Cardinal’s name to appear before the
judges the next day. “What needed,” replied the prisoner, “my Lord Cardinal
to summon me to answer for my doctrine openly before him, under whose
power and dominion I am thus bound in irons May not my Lord compel me
to answer to his extorted power” On March 1 the Cardinal ordered all the
household servants of his palace to put themselves under arms. The civil
power, it is remembered, had refused to take part in the proceedings, and
therefore Beaton took its place. His men at once equipped themselves with
lances, swords, axes and other warlike array. It might have been thought that
some military action was in hand, rather than a gathering of priests. These
armed champions, putting themselves in marching order, first escorted the
bishops with great ceremony to the abbey church, and then went for Wishart.
The governor of the castle put himself at the head of the band, and so they
led the prisoner “like a lamb to sacrifice”. As Wishart entered the door of the
abbey church he threw his purse to a poor infirm man lying there, and at
length he stood in the presence of the large gathering. To invest the proceedings
with due formality, Beaton had two platforms erected, facing each
other. Wishart was set on one of them, and John Lauder, his accuser, took
his place on the other.
The Dean, John Winram, then appeared in the pulpit. This worthy churchman,
who was charged to deliver the customary sermon, was secretly a friend
to the gospel. He read the parable of the good seed and the tares (Mt 13: