heightened the contempt and the aversion at the priesthood, which the injudicious and culpable conduct of that order had very extensively created. They flattered also that self-importance which influences, in a greater or a less degree, every intelligent being, by appealing to the understandings of those who heard them, by quoting the Scriptures, and by inculcating the right of private judgment, the exercise of which was incompatible with the continuance of that blind submission, so long represented as the duty of laymen to their spiritual guides.*

The eagerness with which the multitudes listened to these preachers was very striking. They were constantly surrounded by numbers thirsting after instruction; and who, in the imperfect state of government which then existed, entertained no fear that conversion would be attended with consequences fatal to their tranquillity. Under the eye and the patronage of their own chieftains, they could remain in security; and if they did not attract public notice by taking an active and open part in spreading the knowlege of Scripture, they were left, without molestation, to prosecute and increase that knowledge. The consequence was, that at a very early period, the great mass of the community in Scotland were disposed to embrace the Protestant faith, and to submit to such a form of ecclesiastical discipline and government as their pastors might afterwards frame. p. 183—4.

Affairs with respect to religion being in this state, David Beaton, an ecclesiastic of respectable prudence, capacity, and experience; but devoid of religion, profligate and ambitious, having been recently created cardinal, succeeded his uncle in the primacy of Scotland. Determined to signalize his elevation by a display of zeal in favour of the church, and having resolved on violent measures as the most summary and effectual, he delivered, in the cathedral of St. Andrews, 1540, to an assembly of the nobility and clergy, a discourse on the mischiefs to be apprehended from the prevalence of heresy, and the necessity of taking decisive steps to counteract it, concluding with an exhortation to assist him in executing justice on Sir John Borthwick, whom he accused of being heretically disposed. Borthwick escaped; but was burnt in effigy. And in the beginning of the following year, the Cardinal going still further, procured the passing of several acts against the adherents of the new opinions.

Henry being still solicitous to secure the friendship of his nephew, had again recourse to negotiation, and, among other inducements, proposed to him to break with the court of Rome, and appropriate to himself the wealth of the abbeys and other religious foundations. As James was very necessitous, the clergy, to destroy the force of this motive, besides offering

* These facts are established by the general representations of the ministry of the eformers, and the effects resulting from it, in Knox, B. i. See also Burnet's Hist. the Reformation in England, Vol. I.

For the progress of the Protestant faith, see Knox, B. i. passim. Spottiswooden Bii. p. 69. Calderwood's true History of the Church of Scotland. p. 2.

large contributions from their own property, suggested to him as an ample source of wealth, to confiscate the goods of those who were charged with heresy. The advice meeting with the king's approbation, the more wealthy Protestants now began to feel the violence of persecution. But this measure, which would have proved such a check to the progress of the innovations, was rendered ineffectual by the death of the king which happened in 1542.

Notwithstanding the attempts of Beaton, the Earl of Arran, supported by the friends of an English alliance and the reformation, was advanced to the regency. This nobleman, who had already fallen into suspicion with the clergy, discovered, immediately on his accession, his preference of the reformed doctrine, in receiving into his family, as chaplains, Williams and Rough, two preachers in the habit of declaiming with vehemence against the errors of the ancient faith. The noblemen taken prisoners at Solway, returned home with a violent abhorrence of subjection to Rome. During the negotiations entered into on the death of James, the Protestants enjoyed protection. The reforming spirit was so diffused in consequence of these circumstances, that, in the parliament met to deliberate on the negotiations, it was proposed,-and, notwithstanding the protestation of the prelates headed by the Archbishop of Glasgow, was enacted, that all her majesty's subjects should have liberty to read the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue. This was of singular advantage to the reforming cause; and the more so, as the regent steadily resisted all solicitations to make use of violence against the church.

The calm, however, was but of short duration. The Cardinal, who had been thrown into prison, uniting his interests with those of the queen-dowager, soon made his escape; and, taking advantage of Henry's impolicy to bring general odium on the English alliance, secretly undermined the governor's authority. By gaining possession likewise of the infant queen, and procuring the return of the Earl of Lennox as a rival to Arran, he at last brought the latter to ally himself with the dowager and her party, and publicly abjure the Protestant faith. Though Arran still retained the name of regent, yet, as he fell in with the views of the French faction, the Cardinal, its head, was in the possession, without the envy, of the supreme power. Accordingly, he required the governor to pass, (in a parliament held towards the close of 1543,) an act for the extirpation of heresy. The fears indeed, occasioned by the union of the Earl of Lennox, with th opposite faction, and by vigorous hostilities on the part of Enland, delayed, for a short time, the execution of this act. But o sooner were those fears removed, than the Cardinal made a po

gress through his diocese, in order to intimidate and take vengeance on the objects of his hatred. Five men were burnt at Perth; one for interrupting a friar, who said that no man could be saved without praying to the saints; three for treating disrespectfully the image of a saint, and eating flesh upon forbidden days; and the fifth, for associating with those decined guilty of heresy. The wife also of one of these persons was drowned, being convicted of no less a crime, than that of refusing to invoke the Virgin Mary in the time of labour.

The circumstances attending the last scene of this unfortunate woman's life, must move every heart from which the best feelings of our nature have not been eradicated. Warmly attached to her husband, with whom she had enjoyed some years of uninterrupted domestic happiness, she im plored that they might die together. This affecting request having been barbarously refused, she soothed, by the most impressive consolations his departing moments; and after witnessing his execution, she prepared for her own. The tenderness of a parent agitated her mind. She entreated her neighbours to shew humanity to her children; and to complete her anguish, she took from her bosom the infant whom she suckled, and gave it to the nurse whom he had provided. Yet all this did not overpower her fortitude or shake her faith; she rose superior to her sufferings, and she died with courage and with comfort.

• Such facts, while they shew the fatal tendency of bigotry, or of ambition under the mask of zeal, to corrupt the human heart, to destroy the feelings most intimately interwoven with our constitution, should also forcibly teach the elevating operation of sincere piety. The religious principle when called into action, gives a heroism and a magnanimity to the character, which the abstract dictates of reason have seldom or never created.

• To regard, then, with indifference or with contempt, a cause which thus powerfully influences moral and intellectual beings, is as unworthy of true philosophy as it is repugnant to benevolence. The very errors into which it may betray those who are guided by it, should only more thoroughly illustrate the importance of giving to it a right direction; of making every exertion, to disseminate the knowledge of the sublime doctrines, and the pure precepts of rational religion.' p. 267.

Numbers were banished or cast into prison. At length the Cardinal, suffering his zeal to outstrip his prudence, perpetrated a deed that proved fatal to himself, and gave a fresh impulse to the progress of the reformation. George Wishart, a man of amiable manners, considerable learning, and graceful elocution,-famous for purity of morals, fervent and cha ritable, had for some time preached the new faith, with very great reputation, in various parts of the kingdom. His diligence and success exposed him to the vengeance of the Cardinal and the clergy. At first, they attempted to prohibit his preaching; then to effect his assassination. Both these expedients having failed, the Cardinal, at last, prevailed with the Earl of Bothwell to seize him, and, in violation of an express proise, to commit him to the Castle of St. Andrews. Having him

now in his power, the Cardinal was impatient for his death. Not being able, however, to obtain the governor's concurrence, he had recourse to the spiritual authority, and cited Wishart to appear in the abbey church.

The court was opened by a sermon from John Winram, the sub-prior, a man of an enlightened mind, who, although he had not at this time forsaken the communion of the church, was sensible of its imperfections, and secretly condemned the intolerance which it sanctioned. He discoursed upon heresy, and upon the causes of its increase, which, without hesitation, he specified to be the ignorance and the negligence of those who had the care of souls: who, not themselves understanding the word of God, were unable to lead back to the truth those who had gone astray. He then observed, that heresy could be ascertained only by the Scriptures, and expressed some doubt of the propriety or law fulness of persecuting it in this world; founding this doubt upon that remarkable declaration in the parable of the wheat and the tares" let them both grow together till the harvest." He concluded, however, surely rather inconsistently with his premises, that it ought to be opposed by the power of the church and the state, and that they who were guilty of it might be put to death.

• When the sermon was finished the articles of accusation against Wishart were read to him. His accuser then addressed him with coarseness and indecency of reproach, which, in a more refined age, even tyranny would disdain to use. The meekness and humility of the prisoner presented a most striking and interesting contrast. He fell on his knees and prayed for a short time; he afterwards modestly gave an account of his sermons, declaring that he had never taught any doctrine contrary to the ten commandents, the apostles' creed, and the Lord's prayer. Upon this he was interrupted with the utmost violence; and finding that it was impossible for him to make his defence where he then stood, he appealed to a competent udge.

Lawder, who accused, took this opportunity of flattering the Cardinal. He enumerated his many splendid titles, remarking, with triumph, that he who was honoured with them all, might well be regarded as a proper judge; but Wishart turned aside his panegyric, which was intended to overwhelm him, by answering, that he did not condemn the Cardinal, as he only meant to say, that he wished to be tried by the word of God, and by lay-judges, he being the governor's prisoner.

This appeal irritated Beaton; his patience was exhausted, and he would immediately have proceeded to condemnation, had he not been reminded that it was proper to allow the accusation to be again read, and to hear the replies which might be made to its different parts. It is evident that the other prelates, aware of the impression which the death of Wishart would probably leave, were anxious to avoid all irregularity in their proceedings; and although they had failed in procuring the sanction of the civil power, they persuaded the Cardinal to hear Wishart. Eighteen charges were exhibited against him, and were brought forward in a manner equally disgraceful to the court which permitted it to be used, and to the man who could use it. The opinions of Wishart were much misrepresented. H endeavoured to convey an accurate idea of them; but, as he acknowledged that he believed several points which were considered inconsistent with the

faith of the church, he was condemned as an obstinate heretic, and sentenced to be burned.

، When his trial was concluded, he was led back to the castle, and was lodged in the room assigned to the captain. He spent the night mostly in prayer; and his unaffected piety, his awful situation, the injustice which had been shewn to him, made that officer conduct himself towards him with humanity and respect.

"His enemies, agreeably to what had been their common practice, added insult to cruelty. They ordered two friars to intimate to him in the morn ing he must die, and to exhort him to make confession. He declined entering into any conference with them; but he entreated that he might be permitted to converse with the sub-prior, of whom, from his sermon, he had formed a favourable opinion. This worthy priest, after a long conversation, asked him if he wished to receive the sacrament. He expressed his anxiety to partake of it, if he could do so according to what he believed to be the mode which had been prescribed by Christ. In this the sub-prior, had it depended upon himself, would most cheerfully have gratified him. He had, indeed, become so convinced of his innocence, that in the honesty and simplicity of his heart, he conceived it to be right to state that conviction to his spiritual superiors. If he expected to influence them he was soon undeceived. He was silenced by threats which alarmed him; and when he asked whether they would allow him to dispense the sacrament to Wishart, they, after some consultation, answered that it was not reasonable to give any spiritual benefit to an obstinate heretic condemned by the church.

Wishart, on that awful morning, accepted an invitation to breakfast with the captain of the castle. Bread and wine having been placed upon the table, he blessed them, and, partaking of them himself, as the memorials of Christ's sufferings he gave them to those who were present, who, deeply affected with a scene so impressive, wtthout hesitation received them.

In a few hours after, the executioners conducted him to the place of suffering, which was in the area before the castle. He was clothed in a linen garment, from which were suspended several bags of gun-powder. The Cardinal seems to have been sensible, that the minds of men would be much agitated by the fate of this amiable sufferer, and even to have apprehended that some attempt might be made to rescue him from the flames. He commanded all the artillery of the fortress to be pointed towards the scene of execution; and, either to watch the ebullitions of popular indig. nation, to display his contempt of the Reformers, or to satiate himself by contemplating the destruction of a man, in whose grave he hoped that their principles would be buried, he openly, with the prelates who accompa nied him, witnessed the melancholy spectacle. Wishart conducted himself, in his last moments, as it became a martyr for the cause of truth and the purity of religion. After imploring from heaven the support which he so much required, he exhorted the people not to depart from what he had taught, on account of the sufferings which it had brought upon him, but to adhere to it as the most valuable of blessings. Having again prayed, the executioner kindled the fire and the powder, but life was not immediately extinguished. The captain of the castle, entreating him to preserve his fortitude, he answered him with unshaken intrepidity, and the cord which surrounded his neck having been more tightly drawn, he expired. p. 286--292. Our author maintains, with great force of evidence, we think,