Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 8.djvu/40

484 after sent to St Andrews, by the cardinal, who, assisted by Dunbar, archbishop of Glasgow, prepared for the trial of the reformer.

On the 1st of March, 1545-6, the dignitaries of the church assembled at St Andrews, when Beaton, being refused the presence of a civil judge by the governor, determined to proceed on his own authority. The alleged heretic, being arraigned on a series of charges, defended himself meekly but firmly, and with a profound knowledge of scripture. The result, as was to be expected, was his condemnation to the stake. On the 28th, he was led from the prison, with a rope about his neck, and a large chain round his middle, to the place of execution, in front of the castle, which was the archi-episcopal palace of the cardinal. "Here a scaffold had been raised, with a high stake firmly fixed in the midst of it. Around it were piled bundles of dry faggots; beside them stood an iron grate containing the fire; and near it the solitary figure of the executioner. Nor did it escape the observation of the dense and melancholy crowd which had assembled, that the cannon of the fortress were brought to bear directly on the platform, whilst the gunners stood with their matches beside them; a jealous precaution, suggested perhaps by the attempt of Duncan to deliver the martyr Hamilton, and which rendered all idea of rescue in this case perfectly hopeless. On arriving at the place, Wishart beheld these horrid preparations, which brought before him the agony he was to suffer, with an unmoved countenance; mounted the scaffold firmly, and addressed a short speech to the people, in which he exhorted them not to be offended at the word of God, by the sight of the torments which it seemed to have brought upon its preacher, but to love it, and to suffer patiently for it any persecution which the sin of unbelieving men might suggest. He declared that he freely forgave all his enemies, not excepting the judges who had unjustly condemned him." Having signified his forgiveness to the executioner, he was tied to the stake, and the flame began to encompass the holy martyr. "It torments my body," said he to his friend, the captain of the castle, "but no way abates my spirit;" then, looking up to a window, from which the cardinal was contemplating the scene, he said, "He who, in such state, from that high place, feedeth his eyes with my torments, within a few days shall be hanged out at the same window, to be seen with as much ignominy, as he now leaneth there in pride." On this, the executioner drew a cord which had been fastened round the neck of the sufferer, who shortly afterwards expired amidst the flames. The prediction of the dying martyr was literally fulfilled within three months after, by the violent and ignominious death of his persecutor. The admirable biographer of Knox and Melville has recorded this just and comprehensive eulogium on the character of the martyr:—"Excelling," says Dr M'Crie, "the rest of his countrymen at that period in learning; of the most persuasive eloquence; irreproachable in life, courteous and affable in manners; his fervent piety, zeal, and courage in the cause of truth, were tempered with uncommon meekness, modesty, patience, prudence, and charity."

 , or, a learned divine, and admired writer of the seventeenth century, was of the family of Logy in Forfarshire. He is said to have been born in East Lothian in 1609, and to have studied at the university of Edinburgh. Previously to the breaking out of the religious troubles in the reign of Charles I. he was one of the ministers of St Andrews. Being prepossessed, like the most of the men of family connected with the east coast of Scotland, in favour of episcopacy, he refused to take the covenant, and