History. And Scottish his knees, and said, "Sir, I pray you forgive me, for I am not guilty of your death." To whom he answered, "Come hither to me." A.D. When he was come to him, he kissed his cheek, and said, “Lo! here 1546 is a token that I forgive thee. My heart, do thine office." 1558. by and by he was put upon the gibbet and hanged, and there burned to powder. When the people beheld the great tormenting, they might not withhold from piteous mourning and complaining of this innocent lamb's slaughter. to A NOTE OF THE JUST PUNISHMENT OF GOD UPON THE CRUEL BEATON. It was not long after the martyrdom of the blessed man of God, Master George Wisehart aforesaid, who was put to death by David Beaton, the bloody archbishop and cardinal of Scotland, as is above specified, A.D. 1546, the first day of March, but the said David Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrews, by the just revenge of God's mighty judgment, was slain within his own castle of St. Andrew's, by the hands of one Leslie and other gentlemen, who, by the Lord stirred up, brake in suddenly into his castle upon him, and in his bed murdered him the said year, the last day of May, crying out, "Alas! alas! slay me not! I am a priest !" And so, like a butcher he lived, and like a butcher he died, and lay seven months and more bishop of unburied, and at last like a carrion was buried in a dunghill, a.D. 1546, the last day of May. The death of David Beaton, arch drews. Hamilton archbishop After this David Beaton succeeded John Hamilton, archbishop of St. Andrews, A.D. 1549, who, to the intent that he might in no ways of St. An- appear inferior to his predecessor, in augmenting the number of the a perse holy martyrs of God, in the next year following called a certain poor man to judgment, whose name was Adam Wallace. The order and manner of whose story here followeth. drews, cutor. The Story and Martyrdom of Adam Wallace in Scotland. There was set, upon a scaffold made hard to the chancelary wall of the Black-friars' church in Edinburgh, on seats made thereupon, the lord governor. Above him, at his back, sat Master Gawin Hamilton, dean of Glasgow, representing the metropolitan pastor thereof. Upon a seat on his right hand sat the archbishop of St. Andrews. At his back, and aside somewhat, stood the official of Lothian. Next to the bishop of St. Andrews, the bishop of Dunblane, the bishop of Moray, the abbot of Dunfermline, the abbot of Glenluce, with other churchmen of lower estimation, as the official of St. Andrews, (1) Ex Historia impressâ.' [This alludes to a small pamphlet published about the time of cardinal Beaton's death, the general title of which is The tragical death of David Beal Bishoppe of Sainct Andrewes in Scotland: wherunto is joyned the martyrdom of Maister Wyseherle, &c.; imprinted at London, by John Day, and William Seres.' The book is in eights, and the tragedy of Beaton is printed in small, and Wishart's trial in large black_letter. The date of printing is not mentioned, but it is probable that it was printed soon after Beaton's death. Foxe has embodied the whole in his Acts and Monuments. It is remarkable that this pamphlet had become so scarce in Scotland, even in the time of John Knox, a contemporary of Foxe, that the former, in his history of the Reformation, speaks of it, as accessible to the public in Foxe's work alone; and prefaces his own reprint of the trial with these words: The manner of his (Wishart's) accusation, proofs, and answers following, as we have received the same from The Book of Martyrs, which, word by word, we have here inserted; and that, because the said book, for the price thereof, is rare to be had." Maitland, also, in his 'Antiquities of Scotland,' (fol. Edinb. 1757), quotes largely from The Book of Martyrs,' for his account of this trial. See vol. ii. p. 824.—Also M'Crie's Lafe of Knox (notes), vol. i. p. 368. Edit. 1813.- ED.] History. and other doctors of that nest and city; and, at the other end of Scottish the seat sat Master Uchiltry. On his left hand sat the earl of Argyle, justice, with his deputy sir John Campbell of Lundie under A. D. his feet. Next him the earl of Huntley. Then the earl of Angus, the bishop of Galloway, the prior of St. Andrews, the bishop of Orkney, the lord Forbes, dean John Winryme sub-prior of St. Andrews; and behind the seats stood the whole senate, the clerk of the register,' &c. At the further end of the chancelary wall, in the pulpit, was placed Master John Lauder, parson of Marbotle, accuser, clad in a surplice and red hood, and a great congregation of the whole people, in the body of the church, standing on the ground. 1549 to 1558. After that, sir John Ker, prebendary of St. Giles's church, was accused, convicted, and condemned, for the false making and giving forth of a sentence of divorce (whereby he falsely divorced and parted a man and his lawful wife), in the name of the dean of Restalrig, and certain other judges appointed by the holy father the pope. He granted the falsehood, and that never any such thing was Barabbas done indeed, nor yet meant or moved by the aforesaid judges, and was agreed to be banished the realms of Scotland and England for Christ his lifetime, and to lose his right hand, if he were found or appre- crucified. hended therein after, and in the mean time to leave his benefices for ever, and they to be vacant. let go; poor taken and brought before scribes phari sees. After that was brought in Adam Wallace, a simple poor man in Wallace appearance, conveyed by John of Cumnock, servant to the bishop of infor St. Andrews, and set in the midst of the scaffold, who was com- the manded to look to the accuser, who asked him what was his name. and He answered, "Adam Wallace." The accuser said, he had another name, which he granted, and said he was commonly called Fean. Then asked he where he was born? "Within two miles of Fayle," said he, "in Kyle." 992 Then said the accuser, I repent that ever such a poor man as you should put these noble lords to so great incumbrance this day by your vain speaking." "And I must speak," said he, "as God giveth me grace, and I believe I have said no evil to hurt any body." "Would God," said the accuser, ye had never spoken; but you are brought forth for such horrible crimes of heresy, as never were imagined in this country before, and that shall be sufficiently proved, that ye cannot deny it; and I forethink that it should be heard for hurting of weak consciences. Now I will yea thee no more, and thou shalt hear the points that thou art accused of." Accuser: Adam Wallace, alias Fean: thou art openly delated and accused for First arpreaching, saying, and teaching of the blasphemies and abominable heresies ticle. under written. In the first, thou hast said and taught that the bread and wine on the altar, after the words of consecration, are not the body and blood of Jesus Christ.' He turned to the lord governor, and lords aforesaid, saying thus: Wallace: I never said, nor taught any thing but that I found in this book, Answer. and writ (having there a Bible at his belt in French, Dutch, and English), which is the word of God: and if you will be content that the Lord God and (1) Convenerunt scribæ et pharisæi adversus Dominum, et adversus Christum ejus. (2) Kyle,' one of the subdivisions of Airshire.-ED. Scottish his word be judge to me, and this his holy writ, here it is; and where I have History. said wrong, I shall take that punishment you shall put to me: for I never said any thing concerning this that I am accused of, but that which I found in this writ.' A. D. 1549 to 1558. Wallace answer creed. "What didst thou say?" said the accuser: Wallace: I said that after our Lord Jesus Christ had eaten the paschal lamb in his latter supper with his apostles, and fulfilled the ceremonies of the old law, he instituted a new sacrament in remembrance of his death then to come. He took bread, he blessed, and brake it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take ye, eat ye: this is my body which shall be broken and given for you. And likewise the cup he blessed, and bade them drink all thereof, for that was the cup of the New Testament which should be shed for the forgiving of many. How oft ye do this, do it in my remembrance." Then said the bishop of St. Andrews and the official of Lothian, with the dean of Glasgow, and many other prelates, "We know this well enough." The earl of Huntley said, "Thou answerest not to that which is laid to thee ; say either nay or yea thereto.” Wallace: If ye will admit God and his word spoken by the mouth of his blessed Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, ye will admit that which I have said: for I have said and taught nothing but what the word, which is the trial and touchstone, saith; which ought to be judge to me, and to all the world.' "Why," quoth the earl of Huntley, "hast thou not a judge good enough? and trowest thou that we know not God and his word? Answer to that is spoken to thee." And then they made the accuser speak the same thing over again. "Thou sayest," quoth the accuser, "and hast taught, that the bread and the wine in the sacrament of the altar, after the words of the consecration, are not the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ." Wallace: 'I never said more than the writ saith, nor yet more than I have said before. For I know well by St. Paul, when he saith, Whosoever eateth this bread, and drinketh of this cup unworthily, receiveth to himself damnation. And therefore, when I taught (which was but seldom, and to them only who required and desired me), I said, that if the sacrament of the altar were truly ministered, and used as the Son of the living God did institute it, where that was done, there was God himself by his divine power, by the which he is over all.' The bishop of Orkney asked him, "Believest thou not,” said he, "that the bread and wine in the sacrament of the altar, after the words of the consecration, is the very body of God? flesh, blood, and bone?" Wallace: 'I wot not what that word consecration meaneth. I have not eth by his much Latin, but I believe that the Son of God was conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary, and hath a natural body, with hands, feet, and other members; and in the same body he walked up and down in the world, preached and taught, he suffered death under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried; and that by his godly power he raised that same body again the third day: and the same body ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father, which shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead. (1) Matt. xxvi. A. D. 1549 to And that this body is a natural body with hands and feet, and cannot be Scottish in two places at once, he showeth well himself; for which everlasting thanks History. be to him that maketh this matter clear. When the woman brake that ointment on him, answering to some of his disciples who grudged thereat, he said, The poor shall you always have with you, but me ye shall not have always :1 meaning of his natural body. And likewise at his ascension, said he to the same disciples that were fleshly, and would ever have had him remaining with them corporally, It is needful for you that I pass away, for if I pass not away, the Comforter the Holy Ghost shall not come to you (meaning that his natural body behoved to be taken away from them): but be stout and be of good cheer, for I am with you unto the world's end." 1558. the very 'And that the eating of his very flesh profiteth not, may well be known by The his words which he spake in John vi., where, after he had said, Except ye eat eating of my flesh and drink my blood, ye shall not have life in you; they murmuring flesh of thereat, he reproved them for their gross and fleshly taking of his words, and Christ said, What will ye think when ye see the Son of man ascend to the place that profiteth he came from? It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing (to be eaten as they took it, and even so take ye it).' "It is a horrible heresy," said the bishop of Orkney. When Wallace began to speak again, and bade the lord governor judge if he had right by the writ, the accuser cried, "Ad secundam." ad secundam," answered the archbishop of St. Andrews. "Nunc nothing. ticle. Then was he bidden to hear the accuser, who propounded the The sesecond article, and said, "Thou saidst likewise, and openly didst cond arteach, that the mass is very idolatry, and abominable in the sight of God." 6 Wallace: I have read the Bible and word of God in three tongues, and Answer. have understood them so far as God gave me grace, and yet never read I that word mass in it all: but I found,' said he, that the thing that was highest and most in estimation amongst men, and not in the word of God, was idolatry, and abominable in the sight of God. And I say, the mass is holden greatly in The mass estimation, and high amongst men, and is not founded in the word; therefore, I not found said, it was idolatry, and abominable in the sight of God. But if any man will ture arfind it in the Scripture, and prove it by God's word, I will grant mine error, gument. and that I have failed: otherwise not. And in that case I will submit me to all lawful correction and punishment.' in Scrip article. "Ad tertiam," said the archbishop. Then said the accuser, The third "Thou hast said and openly taught, that the God which we worship, is but bread sown of corn, growing of the earth, baked of men's hands, and nothing else." The pope's Wallace: 'I worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, three per- Answer. sons in one Godhead, who made and fashioned the heaven and earth, and all that is therein of nought: but I know not which God you worship; and if you will show me whom you worship, I will show you what he is, as I can, by my God. judgment.' "Believest thou not," said the accuser, 66 that the sacrament of the altar, after the words of the consecration, betwixt the priest's hands, is the very body and blood of the Son of God, and God himself?" Wallace: What the body of God is, and what kind of body he hath, I have Answer. showed you, so far as I have found in the Scripture.' (1) Matt. xxvi. (2) John xvi (3) Matt. xxviii. (4) John vi. Scottish History. Then said the accuser, "Thou hast preached, said, and openly taught, divers and sundry other great errors and abominable heresies A. D. against all the seven sacraments, which, for shortness of time, I pre1549 termit and overpass. Whether dost thou grant thy aforesaid articles that thou art accused of, or no? and thou shalt hear them shortly." And then repeated the accuser the three articles aforesaid shortly over, and asked him whether he granted or denied them? to 1558. The Wallace Wallace answered that which before he had said of his answers, and that he said nothing but agreeing to the holy word as he understood; so God judge him, and his own conscience accuse him: and thereby would he abide unto the time he were better instructed by Scripture, and the contrary proved, even to the death. And he said thus to the lord governor and other lords : Wallace: If you condemn me for holding by God's word, my innocent words of blood shall be required at your hands, when ye shall be brought before the to the lord judgment-seat of Christ, who is mighty to defend my innocent cause; before governor whom ye shall not deny it, nor yet be able to resist his wrath; to whom I refer and the the vengeance as it is written, Vengeance is mine and I will reward."1 lords. Sentence of condemna Terry an Then gave they forth sentence, and condemned him by the laws, and so left him to the secular power, in the hands of sir John Camption given bell, justice-deputy, who delivered him to the provost of Edinburgh against Wallace. to be burned on the Castle Hill, who incontinent made him to be put in the uppermost house in the town, with irons about his legs Sir Hugh and neck, and gave charge to sir Hugh Terry, to keep the key of imp of the said house, an ignorant minister and imp of Satan and of the bishops, who, by direction, sent to the poor man two grey friars to instruct him, with whom he would enter into no communing. Soon after that were sent in two black friars, an English friar, and another subtle sophister, called Arbuthnot, with the which English friar he would have reasoned and declared his faith by the Scriptures; who answered, he had no commission to enter into disputation with him: and so departed and left him. Satan. Friars sent to instruct Wallace. The dean of talrig Then was sent to him a worldly wise man, and not ungodly in the Resent understanding of the truth, the dean of Restalrig, who gave him christian consolation, among the which he exhorted him to believe the reality of the sacrament after the consecration. But he would consent to nothing that had not evidence in the holy Scripture, and so passed over that night in singing, and lauding God, to the ears of divers hearers, having learned the Psalter of David without book, to his consolation for they had before spoiled him of his Bible, which always, till after he was condemned, was with him wherever he went. After sir Hugh Terry knew that he had certain books to the good read and comfort his spirit, he came in a rage, and took the same from man ta- him, leaving him desolate (to his power) of all consolation, and gave him. divers ungodly and injurious provocations by his devilish venom, to The books of ken from have perverted him, a poor innocent, from the patience and hope he had in Christ his Saviour: but God suffered him not to be moved therewith, as plainly appeared to the hearers and seers for the time. So all the next morning abode this poor man in irons, and provision was commanded to be made for his burning against the next (1) Heb. x. |