3. That he had preached against the sacraments, saying, that there were not seven, but two only, viz., baptism and the supper of the Lord. 4. That he had taught, that auricular confession was not a blessed sacrament; and had said confession should be made to God only, and not to a priest. 5. That he had said it was necessary for every man to know and understand his baptism, contrary to the established maxims of the Roman catholic church. build costly churches to the honor of God, seeing that he remained not in churches made with men's hands; nor yet could God be in so small a space as between the priest's hands. 17. That he had despised fasting, and had taught the people to do the like. 18. That in his preaching he had said the soul of man should sleep till the last day, and should not obtain immortal life till that time., Mr. Wishart answered these respective 6. That he had said the sacrament of the articles with great composure of mind, and altar was but a piece of bread baked upon in so learned and clear a manner, as greatthe ashes; and the ceremonies attendingly surprised most of those who were presit was but a superstitious rite, against theent. commandment of God. A bigoted priest, at the instigation of the 7. That he had said extreme unction archbishop, not only heaped a load of cur was not a sacrament. ses on him, but also treated him with the most barbarous contempt. He used a language fit only for the most complicated in 8. That holy water was equally simple and insignificant as water not consecrated; and that he had said the curses of the Ro-fidel; and, not satisfied with that, he spit mish clergy availed nothing. in his face, and otherwise maltreated him. On this Mr. Wishart fell on his knees, and after making a prayer to God, thus addressed his judges : 9. That he had said every layman was a priest; and that the pope had no greater authority or power than another man. 10. That he had said a man had no free will, but was like the stoics, who said, that it was not in man's will to do anything, but that all concupiscence and desire came from God, of what kind soever it might be. 11. That it was as lawful to eat flesh on a Friday as on a Sunday. 12. That the people should not pray to { Wishart to recant; but he was too firmly saints, but to God only. 13. That in his preaching he had said that there was no purgatory, and that it was a false conception to imagine there was any such thing after death. 14. That he had taught plainly against the vows of monks, friars, nuns, and priests; and had said, that whoever was bound to such vows, they vowed themselves to the state of damnation. Moreover, that it was lawful for priests to marry, and not to live single. 15. That he had spoken disrespectfully of the general and provincial counsels. 16. That he had said, it was in vain to fixed in his religious principles, and too much enlightened with the truth of the gos{pel, to be in the least moved. In consequence of this, the archbishop pronounced on him the dreadful sentence of death, which he ordered should be put into execution on the following day. As soon as the archbishop had finished' this cruel and melancholy ceremony, our martyr fell on his knees, and thus exclaimed :— "O immortal God, how long wilt thou suffer the rage, and great cruelty of the ungodly, to exercise their fury upon thy servants, which do further thy word in this world? Whereas they, on the contrary, seek to destroy the truth, whereby thou hast revealed thyself to the world, &c. Lord, we know certainly that thy true servants must needs suffer, for thy name's sake, persecutions, afflictions, and troubles, in this present world; yet we desire, that thou wouldst preserve and defend thy church, which thou hast chosen before the foundation of the world, and give thy people grace to hear thy word, and to be thy true servants in this present life." Having said this; he arose, and was immediately conducted by the officers to the prison whence he had been brought, in the in the castle. In the evening he was visited by two friars, who asked him to make his confession to them; to whom he said, "I will not make any confession to you;" on which they immediately departed. remember that Christ died for us, and feed on it spiritually.". Then taking the cup, he drank, and bade them "remember that Christ's blood was shed for them," &c. After this he gave thanks, prayed for some time, took leave of his visiters, and retired to his chamber. On the morning of his execution there came to him two friars from the cardinal; one of whom put on him a black linen coat, and the other brought several bags of gunpowder, which they tied about different parts of his body. In this dress he was conducted from the room in which he had been confined, to the outer chamber of the governor's apartments, there to stay till the necessary preparations were made for his execution. The windows and balconies of the castle, opposite the place where he was to suffer, were all hung with tapestry and silk Soon after this came the sub-prior, with hangings, and with cushions for the carwhom Wishart conversed in so feeling adinal and his train, who were thence to manner on religious matters as to make him feast their eyes with the torments of this weep. When he left him, he went to the innocent man. There was also a great cardinal, and told him, he came not to in-guard of soldiers, not so much to secure tercede for Wishart's life, but to make the execution, as to show a vain ostentation known his innocence to all men. At these of power; besides which, brass guns were words, the cardinal expressed great dissat-placed on different parts of the castle. isfaction, and forbid the sub-governor from again visiting Wishart. The necessary preparations being made, our martyr, after having his hands tied behind him, was conducted to the fatal spot. In his way thither, he was accosted by two friars, who desired him to pray to the Virgin Mary, to intercede for him. To whom he meekly said, "Cease; tempt me not, I As soon as he arrived at the stake, the executioner put a rope round his neck, and a chain about his middle; upon which he fell on his knees, and thus exclaimed :— Toward the close of the evening, our martyr was visited by the captain of the castle, with several of his friends; who bringing with them some bread and wine, asked him if he would eat and drink with them. 66 Yes," said Wishart, "very wil-entreat you.". lingly, for I know you are honest men." In the meantime he desired them to hear him a little, when he discoursed with them on the Lord's supper, his sufferings and death for us, exhorting them to love one another, and to lay aside all rancor and malice, as became the members of Jesus Christ, who continually interceded for them with his Father. After this he gave thanks to God, and blessing the bread and wine, he took the bread and brake it, giving some to each, saying, at the same time, "Eat this, "O thou Savior of the world, have mercy upon me! Father of heaven, I commend my spirit into thy holy hands." After repeating these words three times he arose, and turning himself to the spectators, addressed them as follows: "Christian brethren and sisters: I beseech you be not offended at the word of The governor of the castle, who stood so near that he was singed with the flame, exhorted our martyr in a few words, to be of good cheer, and to ask pardon of God "This flame occasions trouble to my body, indeed, but it hath in no wise broken my spirit. But he who now so proudly looks down upon me from yonder lofty place," pointing to the cardinal, "shall, ere long, be as ignominiously thrown down, as now he proudly lolls at his ease.” God for the torments which you see pre-fire to the powder that was tied about him, pared for me; but I exhort you, that ye and which blew into a flame and smoke. love the word of God for your salvation, and suffer patiently, and with a comfortable heart, for the word's sake, which is your undoubted salvation, and everlasting comfort. I pray you also, show my breth-for his offences. To which he replied: ren and sisters, who have often heard me, that they cease not to learn the word of God, which I taught them according to the measure of grace given me, but to hold fast to it with the strictest attention; and show them, that the doctrine was no old wives' fables, but the truth of God; for if I had taught men's doctrine, I should have had greater thanks from men but for the word of God's sake, I now suffer, not sorrowful-neck with great violence, so that he was ly, but with a glad heart and mind. For this cause I was sent, that I should suffer this fire for Christ's sake; behold my face, you shall not see me change my countenance: I fear not the fire; and if persecution come to you for the word's sake, I pray you 'fear not them that can kill the body, and have no power over the soul.'" When he had said this, the executioner pulled the rope which was tied about his soon strangled; and the fire getting strength, burnt with such rapidity that in less than an hour his body was totally consumed. Thus died, in confirmation of the gospel of Christ, a sincere believer, whose fortitude and constancy during his sufferings, can only be imputed to the support of divine aid, in order to fulfil that memorable promise, "As is thy day, so shall thy strength be also." The prediction of Mr. Wishart, concerning Cardinal Beaton, is related by that great historian, Buchanan, as also by Archbishop Spotwood, and others; but it has been doubted, by some later writers, wheth After this he prayed for his accusers, saying: "I beseech thee, Father of heaven, forgive them that have, from ignorance, or an evil mind, forged lies of me: I forgive them with all my heart. I beseech Christ to forgive them, that have ignorantly condemned me." Then, again turning himself to the spec-er he really made such prediction or not. tators, he said: "I beseech you, brethren, exhort your prelates to learn the word of God, that they may be ashamed to do evil, and learn to do good; or also there will shortly come upon them the wrath of God, which they shall not eschew." As soon as he had finished this speech, the executioner fell on his knees before him, and said, "Sir, I pray you forgive me, for I am not the cause of your death." In return to this, Wishart cordially took the man by the hand, and kissed him, saying, "Lo, here is a token that I forgive thee my heart, do thine office." He was then fastened to the stake, and the fagots being lighted, immediately set Be that as it may, however, it is certain that the death of Wishart did, in a short time after, prove fatal to the cardinal himself; the particulars of which it may not be improper here to subjoin. Soon after the death of Mr. Wishart, the cardinal went to Finhaven, the seat of the earl of Crawford, to solemnize a marriage between the eldest son of that nobleman, and his own natural daughter, Margaret. While he was thus employed, he received intelligence that an English squadron was upon the coast, and that consequently an invasion was to be feared. Upon this he immediately returned to St. Andrew's, and appointed a day for the nobility and gentry to meet, and consult what was proper to be done on this occasion. But as no further news was heard of the English fleet, their apprehensions of an invasion soon subsided. In the meantime, Norman Lesley, eldest son of the earl of Rothes, who had been treated by the cardinal with injustice and contempt, formed a design, in conjunction with his uncle John Lesley, who hated Beaton, and others who were inflamed against him on account of his persecution of the protestants, the death of Wishart, and other causes, to assassinate the prelate, though he now resided in the castle of St. Andrew's, which he was fortifying at great expense, and had, in the opinion of that age, already rendered it almost impregnable. The cardinal's retinue was numerous, the town was at his devotion, and the neighboring country full of his dependants. However, the conspirators, who were in number only sixteen, having concerted their plan, met together early in the morning, on Saturday the 29th of May. The first thing they did, was to seize the porter of the castle, from whom they took the keys, and secured the gate. They then sent four of their party to watch the cardinal's chamber, that he might have no notice given him of what was doing; after which, they went and called up the servants and attendants, to whom they were well known, and turned them to the number of fifty, out of the gate, as they did also upward of a hundred { workmen, who were employed in the fortifications and buildings of the castle; but the eldest son of the regent, who lodged also in the castle, they kept for their own security. All this was done with so little noise, that the cardinal was not waked till they knocked at his chamber door; upon which he cried out, "Who is there ?" John Lesley answered, "My name is Lesley." "Which Lesley ?" replied the cardinal; "Is it Norman ?" It was answered that he must open the door to those who were there; but instead of this he barricaded the door in the best manner he could. However, finding that they had brought fire in order to force their way, and they having, as it is said by some, made him a promise of his life, he opened the door. They immediately entered with their swords drawn, and John Lesley smote him twice or thrice, as did also Peter Carmichael; but James Melvil (as Mr. Knox relates the affair), perceiving them to be in anger, said, “This work and judgment of God, although it be secret, ought to be done with greater gravity:" and presenting the point of his sword to the cardinal, said to him: “ Repent thee of thy wicked life, but especially of the shedding of the blood of that notable instrument of God, Mr. George Wishart, which, albeit the flame of fire consumed it before men, yet cries for vengeance upon thee; and we from God are sent to revenge it. For here, before my God, I protest, that neither the hatred of thy person, the love of thy riches, nor the fear of any trouble thou couldst have done to me in particular, moved or moveth me to strike thee; but only because thou hast been, and remainest, an obstinate enemy of Christ Jesus, and his holy gospel." Having said this, he with his sword run the cardinal twice or thrice through the body; who only said, "I am a priest! Fy! Fy! all is gone!" and then expired, being about fiftytwo years of age. Thus fell Cardinal Beaton, who had been as great a persecutor against the protestants in Scotland, as Bonner was in England; and whose death was as little regretted by all true professors of Christ's gospel. The character of this distinguished tyrant, is thus given by a celebrated writer : "Cardinal Beaton," says he," had not used his power with moderation equal to the prudence by which he obtained it. Notwithstanding his great abilities, he had too many of the passions and prejudices of an angry leader of a faction, to govern a divided people with temper. His resentment against one part of the nobility, his insolence toward the rest, his severity and of primitive sanctity, wore out the pato the reformers, and above all, the barba- tience of a fierce age; and nothing but a rous and illegal execution of the famous bold hand was wanting, to gratify the pubGeorge Wishart, a man of honorable birth, lic wish by his destruction." PERSECUTIONS OF PROTESTANTS IN IRELAND, DURING THE IRISH MASSACRE. HOUGH the various at-, meetings; and thence used to pass to and fro, to France, Spain, Flanders, Lorraine, and Rome; where the detestable plot of 1641 was hatching by the family of the O'Neals, and their followers. tempts made by the Irish that they would never grant any toleration to the popish religion in that kingdom. serve more properly the A short time before the horrid conspiraepithet persecution, as all their destructive cy broke out, which we are now going to efforts were particularly levelled at the prot- relate, the papists of Ireland had presented estants only, whom they were determined, a remonstrance to the lords-justices of that if possible, totally to extirpate from the kingdom, demanding the free exercise of kingdom. They had, indeed, hitherto mis- their religion, and a repeal of all laws to carried; but they at length hit upon a proj- the contrary; to which both houses of parect that succeeded to their wishes, and pro-liament in England solemnly answered, duced a catastrophe that will remain in characters of blood to the latest posterity. That the Romish clergy of Ireland were the principal fomenters of the rebellions in that kingdom, is evident from their treacherous and disloyal behavior under Queen Elizabeth and King James I., they continually urging to the people the lawfulness of killing all protestants, who supported the right of the crown of England to Ireland; and assuring them that all papists who should die fighting against the protestants, would go immediately to heaven. These Irish ecclesiastics, under Charles I. were greatly increased by titular Romish archbishops, bishops, deans, vicars-general, abbots, priests, and friars; for which reason, in 1629, the public exercise of the popish rites and ceremonies was forbidden. But notwithstanding this, soon after the Romish clergy erected a new popish university in the city of Dublin. They also proceeded to build monasteries and nunneries in various parts of the kingdom; in which places these very Romish clergy, and the chiefs of the Irish, held frequent This further irritated the papists to put in execution the diabolical plot concerted for the destruction of the protestants; and it failed not of the success wished for by its malicious and rancorous projectors. The design of this horrid conspiracy was, that a general insurrection should take place at the same time throughout the kingdom; and that all the protestants, without exception, should be murdered. The day fixed for this horrid massacre, was the 23d of October, 1641, the feast of Ignatius Loyola, founder of the jesuits; and the chief conspirators, in the principal parts of the kingdom, made the necessary preparations for the intended conflict. In order that this detested scheme might the more infallibly succeed, the most distinguished artifices were practised by the papists; and their behavior, in their visits to the protestants at this time, was with more seeming kindness than they had hitherto shown, which was done the more completely to effect the inhuman and treacher |