Page:History of the Scottish martyrs.pdf/8

8 their power and authority was in danger; and, in the darkest spirit of bigotry, they determined to seek safety by pursuing a course of bloody and relentless persecution. Accordingly, soon after the execution of Forrest, several persons accused of heresy were summoned to Holyroodhouse, all of them, however, having the terrors of a violent and painful death too distinctly before their eyes, recanted, excepting Thomas Forrest, Vicar of Dollar, Norman Galloway, and David Straiton. These three, more resolute than the others, obstinately maintained their opinions, and were, in consequence, condemned to die.

The principal heresies with which Forrest was charged were, That he had given back again to his parishioners certain customary church donations, saying, "he had no right to them." When this charge was preferred against the benevolent man, he simply replied, "I gave them again to those who had more occasion for them than I had." An answer which, though breathing the purest spirit of christianity, produced no effect on the haughty, avaricious, and bigotted persecutors to whom it was addressed. The next charge was, That he had taught his parishoners to say their pater noster, the creed, and the ten commandments in English. To this he again replied, looking to his accuser, "Brother, my people are so rude and barbarous that they understand not the Latin tongue in which these things are written. I therefore deemed it my duty to make the words of their salvation intelligible to them, by presenting them with these words in their native language." Whilst repelling the third point of accusation, he was abruptly asked by bis unrelenting accuser, “Where he found the statements which he was then advancing?" "It the book which