main tower, the several turrets, and front windows were decorated with silk hangings and tapestry; and the prisoner's escape was rendered impossible by the heavy artillery of the fortress being pointed towards the scene of execution.

From the front windows of the castle, the cardinal and bishops reclined on splendid cushions. The cardinal's military guard, bearing insignia, encircled the stake. As the trumpeters sounded, two executioners proceeded to fetch the prisoner. They arrayed him in a vestment of black linen, and hung bags of gunpowder around his person; then they conducted him to the place of death.

Tempt me not, my

"Pray to our Lady, Master George," exclaimed two friars, as the prisoner crossed the drawbridge. brethren," replied the preacher.

At the stake, Wishart fell upon his knees, and exclaimed aloud: "Saviour of the world, have mercy upon me. Heavenly Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." Turning to the multitude, he said: "Christian brethren and sisters, be not offended at the Word of God on account of the tortures you see prepared for me. Love the Word which publisheth salvation, and suffer patiently for the Gospel's sake. To my brethren and sisters who have heard me elsewhere,

declare that my doctrine is no old wife's fables, but the blessed Gospel of salvation. For preaching that Gospel, I am now to suffer, and I suffer gladly for the Redeemer's sake. Should any of you be called on to endure persecution, fear not them who can destroy the body, for they cannot slay the soul. Most falsely have I been accused of teaching that the soul shall sleep after death till the last day; I believe my soul shall sup with my Saviour this night." After a pause, he said, "I beseech you, brethren and sisters, exhort your prelates to acquaint themselves with the Word of God, so that they may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good; for if they will not turn from their sinful way, the wrath of God shall fall upon them suddenly, and they shall not escape." Again falling on his knees, he prayed for those who had, through ignorance, condemned him, and for all who had testified against him falsely. One of the executioners, who entreated his forgiveness, he kissed on the cheek, saying to him," By this token I forgive thee; do thine office." Wishart was now made fast to the stake, while a heap of faggots was piled around his body. Fire being applied, the bags of gunpowder attached to his person exploded, and he ceased to live.

Deeply moved, the multitude retired from the scene of death. A religion which required such sacrifices could not long retain general acceptance. But the cardinal was indifferent to public sentiment. Early in April he, at Finhaven in Forfarshire, attended the marriage of his illegitimate daughter, Margaret, with David Lindsay, afterwards Earl of Crawford. One of the charges on which Wishart was condemned, was that he opposed the celibacy of the clergy. But while the cardinal held those who opposed priestly celibacy to be worthy of death, he personally ignored its obligations. For many years he cohabited with Marion Ogilvy, a daughter of Lord Ogilvy of Airlie, by whom he was father of two sons and a daughter, Margaret.* In a contract of marriage which he subscribed at St Andrews on the 10th April 1546, he

* Knox's History, ed. 1846, p. 174, note by Mr David Laing.

names Margaret Beaton as his daughter, and as such he provided her with a dowry of four thousand merks.*

The account we have presented of Wishart's trial and martyrdom is derived from the narrative of Foxe the martyrologist, in the first edition of his "Actes and Monumentes," printed in 1563. The original of that narrative is contained in a black-letter volume,† printed at London by John Day and William Seres, with the title, "The tragical death of David Beatō, Bishoppe of Sainct Andrewes in Scotland, whereunto is ioyned the martyrdom of maister George Wyseharte, gentleman, for whose sake the aforesayed bishoppe was not long after slayne. Wherein thou maiest learne what a burnynge charitie they shewed not only towardes him: but vnto suche as come to their hādes for the blessed Gospel's sake." The volume is without a date, but the "Tragedy of Beaton" contained in it was composed by Sir David Lindsay about a year after the cardinal's death, and it is not improbable that the account of Wishart, by which it is accompanied, was prepared by Knox when he resided in the Castle of St Andrews, between April and July 1547. Whether this opinion be well founded or not, Knox has, by including in his "History" the narrative of the martyr's trial and death contained in the black-letter volume, substantially verified its details.

In the reprint of Foxe's "Actes and Monumentes," which appeared in 1570, on the margin opposite to Wishart's allusion to the bishops, are these words: "M. George Wishart prophesieth of the death of the cardinall, which followed after." Proceeding on this unwarrantable deduction, George Buchanan, in his "History of Scotland," asserts that, at the stake, Wishart did actually predict the cardinal's death. Adopting his uncle's statement, David Buchanan, in his edition of Knox's " History," + adds that Wishart at the stake, "looking towards the cardinal, said, he who in such state

* Lord Lindsay's Lives of the Lindsays, London, 1858, 8vo, vol. i., p. 201. + A unique copy of this volume belonged to the late Mr Richard Heber. Knox's History, edited by David Buchanan, Lond., 1644, p. 171.

U

from that high place feedeth his eyes with my torments, within few dayes shall be hanged out at the same window, to be seen with as much ignominy, as he now leaneth there in pride."

Other erroneous statements in connection with Wishart's execution may be related, since they have unhappily been adopted by more than one historian, and are generally believed. Lindsay of Pitscottie, an extremely credulous writer, remarks "that Wishart informed the captain of the castle that he saw a great fire upon the sea, which, moving to and fro, at length came upon the city of St Andrews, and lighting upon the earth, brake asunder, which, he thought, did portend the wrath of God to seize shortly not only on that wicked man, who was lord of that castle, but also upon the city." George Buchanant relates that the sub-prior, on being admitted to Wishart's presence, asked him whether he would receive the Holy Communion, when he answered that he would, provided it was dispensed in both the elements. Having communicated to the cardinal the prisoner's wish, Winram was censured for conveying it, while the request was denied. Next morning, at nine o'clock, the governor of the castle, on sitting down to breakfast, asked Wishart to eat with him. Wishart consented, and, with the governor's consent, consecrated bread and wine, and distributed to those who sat with him, also partaking himself. He then closed with prayer. This narrative has been incorporated by David Buchanan in his edition of Knox's "History."

Lindsay of Pitscottie's narrative betrays the credulous character of its author, and may be dismissed summarily. The statements of Buchanan are unsupported by Knox. As Knox was associated with Winram in preparing the standards of the Reformed Church, he was as likely as any other to obtain from him what he might divulge respecting his last interview with Wishart. But Knox remarks

* Lindsay of Pitscottie's History of Scotland, from 1431 to 1565, Edin., 1728, folio, p. 190.

+ History of Scotland, by George Buchanan, Lond., 1690, folio, vol. ii., p. 96.

emphatically that "he could not show" what had occurred on that occasion.* Further, at the time that Wishart was at St Andrews undergoing his sufferings, Knox was resident in the neighbouring county of Haddington, while Buchanan was in exile. Knox, too, was an inmate of the castle in which the martyr was imprisoned, little more than a year after his death, and Buchanan did not compose his "History" till nearly thirty years afterwards. If the governor of the castle related that Wishart dispensed the Holy Communion, Knox must have heard the narrative, and he could have no motive for suppressing it. But it is extremely improbable that one occupying the position of governor of the cardinal's castle, would venture to allow a condemned heretic to consecrate the eucharist. By so doing, and more especially by partaking of the elements himself, he would have rendered himself liable to a charge of sacrilege, attended with imprisonment or death. Wishart, after his trial, would no doubt be carried back to his dungeon under the rude guardianship of unfeeling warders.

Wishart's alleged prediction as to Beaton's death is unnoticed in the black-letter volume printed shortly after his execution. Foxe, in his first and in the text of his subsequent editions, omits reference to it; and Knox, who ascribes to the martyr what he did not claim, a sort of foreknowledge, is silent on the point. But on other grounds the preacher has been charged with conspiring against the cardinal's life. And this charge must be fully met.

The

Wishart returned to Scotland at the close of July 1543, and in April of the following year, a person, described as a "Scottish man called Wyshert," bore from Crichton of Brunstone to the court of Henry VIII. a letter, of which the contents indicate a conspiracy for the destruction of the cardinal. question arises as to whether the preacher and the messenger were one and the same person. To arrive at a proper conclusion, the conspiracy against Beaton must be considered in its details.

* Knox's History, Edin., 1846, vol. i., p. 168.