Page:History of the Scottish martyrs.pdf/15

15 of his persecutors, only strengthened their obduration, and confirmed his own rate. He was condemned to die the death of a heretic. When sentence of death was passed on Mr Wishart, he was carried back to the chamber which he had occupied previous to his trial.

At the hour of noon, the Captain of the Castle, and the gentlemen who were him, going to dinner to the Captain's room, the latter invited Mr Wishart to join them if he felt disposed to eat. "With much good will,' replied Wishart, for I am better content to eat with you this day than ever I was in my life, because I know you to be good, godly, and honest men." When they approached the table he added, "I request that you all sit down, and that there may be silence in the house until I ask a blessing on this meat, which we shall eat as brothers in Christ, and thereafter will take my leave of you." The table being now covered, and wine and bread placed on it, Wishart began his exhortation. When he concluded. he broke a little bread, took a glass of wine, banded another to the captain, and thereafter to each of the company present, blessing it n the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. When dinner was ended, Wishart, fter delivering another short exhortation, retired who his chamber, where he continued in contemplation and prayer until the cardinal and bishops were ready to witness his execution.

He was now waited upon by two executioners, e one bringing along with him a coat of buck am, and the other several small bags of gunpowder. Having put the buckram coat upon Mr Joe Wishart, and disposed the bags of powder around s person in such a manner as was best calculated annoy him when they should be exploded, he