the same time shedding tears, and expres- When the poor man came before the sing the greatest unhappiness. The chap-bishop, he said, " God be here and peace." lain asked who was his father; and when To which the bishop replied, "That is the boy told him, he pointed toward Lol-neither God speed, nor good-morrow." lard's tower, intimating that he was there confined. The chaplain then told him his father was a heretic, to which the boy (who was of a bold and forward spirit, and had been instructed by his father in the reformed re- { ligion) answered, "My father is no heretic, but you have Balaam's mark." On this the incensed priest took the boy by the hand, and led him to a large room in the palace, where he scourged him in the most severe and unmerciful manner; after which he ordered one of his servants to carry him in his shirt to his father, the blood running down to his heels. One of the bishop's chaplains standing by, reviled Fetty for the speech he had made; when he, after looking about, and spying a bundle of black beads, and a small crucifix, said, "As Christ is herc handled, so you deal with Christ's chosen people." The bishop was so enraged at this, that he called him a vile heretic, and said, "I will burn thee, or spend all I possess." However, in a little time his passion cooled, and thinking of the consequences, that might arise from scourging the child, he ordered them both to be discharged. The father immediately went home with As soon as he saw his father he fell on his son, but the poor boy, from an extraorhis knees, and craved his blessing. The dinary effusion of blood, and a mortification poor man beholding his child in so dread-which ensued, died a few days after, to the ful a situation, exclaimed, with great grief, great grief of his persecuted and indulgent "Alas! son, who hath thus cruelly treated { parent. you?" The boy replied, "Seeking to find you out, a priest, with Balaam's mark, took me into the bishop's house, and treated me in the manner you see.” The servant then seized the boy with great wrath, and dragging him from his father, led him back to the place where he had been scourged by the priest. Here he was kept three days, in the course of which his former punishment was several times repeated, though not in so severe a manner as before. At the expiration of that time, Bonner, in order to make some atonement for this cruel treatment of the boy, and to appease the father, determined to release both of them. He therefore, ordered the latter to be brought before him, in his bed-chamber, early in the morning. The old man remained, without further persecution, during the residue of his life, often praising God for delivering him out of the hands of his enemies, and expressing the sense he had of the divine protec{tion in words to the following effect: (see engraving.) To heaven I lift my waiting eyes, The Lord, who built the earth and skies, Their feet shall never slide or fall, He will sustain my weakest powers, And watch my most unguarded hours He guards my soul, he keeps my breath, I go and come, secure from death, PERSECUTIONS IN SCOTLAND DURING THE REIGN OF HENRY VIII. popular, and was followed by great numbers of advocates for the cause of Christ. cent people who fell victims to bigoted ma-lar abilities as a preacher, soon became levolence, and cheerfully resigned up their souls in testimony of the truth of that gospel to which they had strenuously and religiously adhered. The first person we meet with who suffered in Scotland on the score of religion, was one PATRICK HAMILTON, a gentleman of an independent fortune, and descended from a very ancient and honorable family. Having acquired a liberal education, and being desirous of further improving himself in useful knowledge, he left Scotland, and went to the university of Wirtemberg, in Germany, in order to finish his studies. During his residence here, he became intimately acquainted with those eminent lights of the gospel, Martin Luther and Philip Melancthon; from whose writings and doctrines he strongly attached himself to the protestant religion. After staying some time at Wirtemberg, he left that place, and went to the university of Marburgh, which was then but lately established by one Philip, landgrave of Hesse. Here he formed an intimacy with several distinguished characters who were friends to the reformation, among whom was Francis Lambert. From this person Mr. Hamilton received such enlightened assistance that he set up public disputations on religion at Marburgh, and from the solidity of his arguments, joined to his well-known piety, and regular conduct in life, he soon obtained a number of followers, who were happy in having the opportunity of hearing the true gospel of Christ displayed in its proper colors. The archbishop of St. Andrew's (who was a rigid papist) hearing of Mr. Hamilton's proceedings, cited him to appear before him at his palace, where, after several conferences with him on different points of religion, he was dismissed, the bishop seeming to approve of his doctrines, and acknowledging, that in many particulars there needed a reformation in the church. This, however, was all hypocrisy and deceit; the bishop's intentions were to make a sacrifice of Mr. Hamilton, but he was fearful that his attempts would prove abortive by Mr. Hamilton's being acquainted with many personages who had free access to the king, and that if he should convict him of heresy, he would escape by means of their intercession. To obviate this difficulty, the bishop, who had great ascendency over the Scottish king, persuaded him to go on a pilgrimage to St. Dothesse, in Rosse. The king, who was a strong bigot, readily took the bishop's advice, and a few days after set out on his journey, little suspecting the bishop's intentions. The very next day after his departure, the bishop caused Mr. Hamilton to be seized, and being brought before him, after a short examination relative to his religious principles, he committed him a prisoner to the castle, at the same time ordering him to be confined in the most loathsome part of the prison. The next morning Mr. Hamilton was brought before the bishop, and several others, for examination, when the principal articles exhibited against him were, his publicly disapproving of pilgrimages, purgatory, prayers to saints, for the dead, &c. it be bitter to the flesh, and fearful before men, yet it is the entrance into eternal life, which none shall possess who deny Christ Jesus before this wicked generation." After this he was fastened to the stake, and the fagots placed round him. A quantity of gunpowder having been fastened under his arms, was first set on fire, which scorched his left hand and one side of his These articles Mr. Hamilton acknowledged to be true, in consequence of which he was immediately condemned to be burnt, and that his condemnation might have the greater authority, they caused it to be sub-face, but did him no material injury, neiscribed by all those of any note who were present, and to make the number as considerable as possible, even admitted the subscription of boys who were sons of the nobility. ther did it communicate with the fagots. In consequence of this, more powder and combustible matter was brought, which being set on fire took effect, and the fagots being kindled, he called out, with an audible voice, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! How long shall darkness overwhelm this realm ? and how long wilt thou suffer the tyranny of these men ?" The fire burning slow put him to great torment, but he bore it with Christian magnanimity. What gave him the greatest So anxious was this bigoted and persecuting prelate for the destruction of Mr. Hamilton, that he ordered his sentence to be put in execution on the afternoon of the very day it was pronounced. He was accordingly led to the place appointed for the horrid tragedy, and was attended by a prodigious number of spectators. The great-pain, was the clamor of some wicked men est part of the multitude would not believe set on by the friars, who frequently cried it was intended he should be put to death, out, "Turn, thou heretic; call upon our but that it was only done to frighten him, lady; say, Salve Regina," &c. To whom and thereby bring him over to embrace the he replied, "Depart from me, and trouble principles of the Romish religion. But me not, thou messengers of Satan." One they soon found themselves mistaken. Campbell, a friar, who was the ringleader, still continuing to interrupt him by opprobrious language, he said to him, “ Wicked man, God forgive thee." After which, being prevented from further speech by the violence of the smoke, and the rapidity of the flames, he resigned up his soul into the hands of him who gave it. When he arrived at the stake he knelt down, and, for some time, prayed with the greatest fervency. After this he arose, and was accosted by a priest, who told him that if he would recant, his life should be spared, but our martyr was so furnished with godly strength, that neither the love of life, nor fear of the most cruel death, could in the least move him to deviate from the truth of that gospel he had so religiously professed, and for which he was determined to relinquish a miserable existence. Having finished his devotions, he took off his gown, coat, cap, and other garments, and delivered them to a faithful servant that attended him, saying, "These will not profit in the fire, but they will profit thee; after this, of me thou canst receive no commodity except the example of my death, which I beg thee to bear in mind, for though This steadfast believer in Christ suffered martyrdom in the year 1527. Campbell, the friar, who had so interrupted him at the place of execution, afterward ran distracted, and died within the year. These two circumstances put together, made an impression upon the people, and as these points began to be inquired into, many embraced the new opinions. This execution is ascribed by Drummond, to a revenge of a private quarrel against the earl of Arran. After which The bishop one day sent to Stratton, and demanded of him a tithe of the fish he caught; to which he returned for answer, that if they would have tithe of what his servants took in the sea, they should receive it in the place where it was caught, and immediately ordered the men to carry every tenth fish, and throw it into the sea. several persons, in all parts of the kingdom, began to inquire into the articles for which Mr. Hamilton had been so inhumanly treat-{ ed. Many entertained favorable sentiments concerning them, insomuch that several of the friars, from that time, declaimed openly against the lewd behavior of their brethren the clergy; and particularly that in Lent, one Seton, confessor to the king, presumed to recommend some of the new doctrines from the pulpit, and to set forth to the people, the virtues which St. Paul requires inmined to be revenged on him at some fua good minister. This freedom was not a little grating to most of the clergy, and they found less difficulty to bring Seton into discredit at court, as he had used much freedom in reproving the king. Mr. Seton, however, perceiving his majesty's countenance was changed, and dreading the power and influence of the clergy, retired from court, and went to London, after having wrote a letter to the king. One Henry Forest, a young inoffensive Benedictine, being charged with speaking respectfully of the above Patrick Hamilton, was thrown into prison; and, in confessing himself to a friar, owned that he thought Hamilton a good man, and that the articles, for which he was sentenced to die, might be defended. This being revealed by the friar, it was received as evidence, and the poor Benedictine was sentenced to be burnt. While consultation was held with regard to the manner of his execution, John Lindsay, one of the archbishop's gentlemen, offered his advice to burn Friar Forest in some cellar, for, said he, "The smoke of Pattrick Hamilton, hath infected all those on whom it blew." Though the bishop was greatly irritated at the behavior of Stratton, yet he took no notice of him for the present, but deter ture opportunity. In the meantime, Stratton having accidentally fallen into the company of some godly and Christian people, he was so struck with their conversation, that it impressed on his mind that sense of his duty to which he had hitherto been a stranger. From this period he attended, with the greatest diligence, to hear the word of God, which before he had despised, and in a short time became so scrious a convert, that he exhorted others to follow his example, and not to fix their minds only on the concerns of the world. The lord of Dun Areskin, who had been enlightened with the truth of the gospel, endeavored to propagate it to others, and for that purpose frequently expounded the Scriptures to such as would attend to hear him. Among these were our two martyrs, who never let any opportunity slip whereby they might receive Christian knowledge, and it was from their constant attendance here, that they became, not only good Christians, but the most sincere friends, and were never so happy as when in company with each other. Attending one day, as usual, to hear the lord of Dun Areskin, he took for his text This advice was taken, and the poor vic- the following words: "He that denieth me tim was rather suffocated than burnt. before men, or is ashamed of me in the midst of this wicked generation, I will de The next who fell victims for professing the truth of the gospel, were DAVID STRAT-ny him before my father, and his holy anTON and NORMAN GOURLAY. The first of gels." these was by trade a fisherman, and a very Stratton was so sensibly struck at hear illiterate person, paying little regard eithering these words, that he immediately fell to morality or religion. on his knees, and steadfastly lifting up his |