Page:History of the Scottish martyrs.pdf/11

11 uffer, Russel continued encouraging and comforting his young companion in martyrdom, who now ooked boldly and proudly in the face of death. They both endured the torments to which they were subjected without uttering the slightest complaint, or exhibiting by any sign the excruciating agonies which they must have felt.

The next sufferer in the cause of religion, to whose fate any particular interest is attached, was he celebrated George Wishart, school-master at Montrose. This martyr, like Patrick Hamilton, had spent some years abroad, it is believed at Ge- heva, where he had imbibed the principal tenets of Calvin. On his return from thence, he began to preach in various parts of Scotland, and was every where received with the most cordial welcome. His exertions in propagating the doctrine of Reformation, tended greatly to strengthen the popularity which these doctrines had already attained, and which were daily gaining ground throughout he whole kingdom in defiance of the merciless, system of persecution which the clergy had adopted to suppress them.

Wishart, though extremely obnoxious to the clergy, continued for some time to escape their vengeance. An opportunity however of seizing him, for which they anxiously looked, at length offered, and it was eagerly embraced. Cardinal Beaton learnt, with a satisfaction which he did not attempt to conceal, that Wishart was at Ormiston, within six miles of St Andrews, and hastily communicating the joyful tidings to the governor of the castle, he prevailed upon him, though extremely reluctant, to dispatch a party of men to apprehend him. The laird of Ormiston, at whose house, and under whose protection he was, stoutly refused to deliver him up. On learning this, the Car-