Page:History of the Scottish martyrs.pdf/6

6 deny the confession I have made from any fear of the torments which you may inflict on me. I infinitely prefer that my body should be burnt in this fire for my acknowledgment of my trust in Christ, than that my soul should burn in unquenchable fire for denying my faith." When in the act of being bound to the stake, Hamilton again exclaimed, "I here, in presence of all assembled, appeal to God against the judgment which has been passed upon me; and I summon you, Sir Friar," he continued, addressing Campbell, who was standing by, "before the awful tribunal of God, within forty days, to answer before the supreme judge of all for the false testimony which you have borne against me." The martyr now addressed a short prayer to the Almighty. So soon as he ceased speaking, his executioners attempted to fire the pile, which was to consume him, but it would not kindle; after the lapse of a considerable length of time, and in any ineffectual efforts, one Myrtown, a baker, whether from motives of clemency or cruelty, hastily procured a quantity of dry straw, which readily ignating instantly set the whole in a blaze, and in a very short time reduced to ashes the mortal part of the first martyr to the reformed church in Scotland. It is said, that a sudden gust of wind flung the flames, in which Hamilton was suffering, in the face of the treacherous friar who had denounced him, scorching him severely, and burning away the front of his cowl. We are farther told, that, at that instant, the wretched man suddenly struck with horror for the crime which he had committed, in the bringing an innocent man to a violent and most painful death, became instantly insane; and, from that moment until the termination of his miserable existence, which, it is