Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 8.djvu/39

Rh the announcement of coming vengeance, Mr Tytler, who enjoyed the advantage of a closer inspection of the secret history of the period, than any preceding writer, presents the following theory, to which we can see little chance of any valid objection being started:—"He enjoyed, it is to be remembered, the confidential intimacy, nay, we have reason to believe that his councils influenced the conduct, of Cassillis, Glencairn, Brunstain, and the party which were now the advisers of Henry's intended hostilities; a circumstance which will sufficiently account for the obscure warnings of the preacher, without endowing him with inspiration." It is to be remarked that in calling upon the people to embrace the reformed doctrines, and threatening them with temporal destruction if they refused, he was speculating only upon the natural course of events: he must have known that to continue attached to the ancient faith, which was equivalent to a resistance against the English match, was sure to bring the vengeance of Henry upon the country, while an opposite conduct was calculated to avert his wrath.

While at Dundee, Wishart received a message from the earl of llis [sic] and the gentlemen of Kyle and Cunningham, requesting him to meet them in Edinburgh, where they intended to make interest that he should have a public disputation with the bishops. On arriving at Leith, he did not, as expected, immediately find his friends, so that, "beginning to wax sorrowful in spirit," from the inactive life to which he was submitting, he preached in Leith, from which, as the governor and cardinal were expected in Edinburgh, he went to the country, residing successively in Brunstain, Longniddry, and Ormiston, the proprietors of which, as well as many other gentlemen of Lothian, were zealous in the cause of reformation. At this time he preached, with much effect in Inveresk and Tranent, and, during the holidays of Christmas, 1545, he proceeded to Haddington. Here he preached several sermons. Before delivering the last of them, he received information that the conference to which he had been invited in Edinburgh could not be fulfilled. This greatly distressed him, and the smallness of his audience on the present occasion added to his depression. Having, for more than half an hour walked about in front of the high altar, he proceeded to the pulpit, where his sermon commenced with the following words: "O Lord, how long shall it be that thy holy word shall be despised, and men shall not regard their own salvation? I have heard of thee, Haddington, that in thee would have been, at any vain clerk play, two or three thousand people; and now to hear the messenger of the Eternal God, of all the town or parish, cannot be numbered one hundred persons. Sore and fearful shall the plagues be that shall ensue upon this thy contempt; with fire and sword shall thou be plagued." He then proceeded to particularize the kind of troubles which should fall on Haddington, and which actually did befall it shortly afterwards. Parting with several of his friends, and even with John Knox, to whom, on his wishing to accompany him, he said, "Nay, return to your children, and God bless you; one is sufficient for one sacrifice," he went, with the proprietor, to Ormiston. At night, the earl of Bothwell came to the house, and, intimating the approach of the governor and the cardinal, advised Ormiston to deliver Wishart to him, promising that he should be safe. Wishart was willing to accede to these terms. "Open the gates," said he, "the blessed will of my God be done." Bothwell's promises were renewed, and his attendants joined him in his protestations. But they proceeded with Wishart to Elphinston, where Beaton was; and the preacher, having been sent to the capital, and thence brought back to Hailes, lord Bothwell's seat, was at last committed to ward in the castle of Edinburgh. He was soon