Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 4.djvu/199

1546.] secular execution. In decent observance of these formalities, Beton applied to the Regent for the assistance necessary to complete the proceedings; and the Regent would have acquiesced as a matter of course, but, at the entreaty of a friend, he was persuaded to hesitate, and directed the Cardinal to proceed no further until he could himself examine the prisoner in person. The Cardinal in an ordinary matter might have endured Arran's interference; in the present instance he declined the responsibility of obedience. He arranged a pseudo-official condemnation in one of his own courts, where a lay magistrate transacted the necessary forms; and on the 1st of March a pile and a gallows were prepared under the windows of the Castle, where the two Archbishops might sit in state and preside over the ceremony.

In anticipation of an attempt at rescue, the Castle guns were loaded and the portfires lighted. 'After this, Mr Wishart was led to the fire, with a rope about his neck, and a chain of iron about his middle; and when that he came to the fire, he sat down upon his knees and rose up again, and thrice he said these words: 'Oh, thou Saviour of the world, have mercy on me. Father of Heaven, I commend my spirit into thy holy hands.'' He next spoke a few words to the people; and then 'last of all the hangman, that was his tormentor, sat 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;' and he