The proceedings began. The commissioners presented their report to the court, duly signed. Then Alexander Campbell rose, for the archbishop had charged him to read the indictment, and the unfortunate man had not dared to refuse the horrible task. Hamilton was affected at seeing that man whom he took for his friend appear as his accuser. However, he listened with calmness to the address. His quietude, his noble simplicity, his frankness, his trust in the Lord, impressed every one. ‘Truly,’ said Alesius, ‘no man ever more fully realized that saying, ‘Trust in the Lord and do good.’[104] A contest began between the prior of the Dominicans and the young reformer. The latter, determined to defend his faith in the presence of that great assembly, pointed out the sophistry of his accusers, and established the truth by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures. Campbell replied; but Hamilton, always armed with the Word of God, rejoined, and his adversary was silenced. Campbell, unhappy and distressed, inwardly convinced of the doctrine professed by his old friend, could do no more. He approached the tribunal and asked for instructions. The bishops and the theologians, having no mind for a public debate, directed Campbell to enumerate with a loud voice certain errors which had not yet been reduced to formal articles, and to call Hamilton heretic.[105] This was putting the poor Dominican to fresh torture; but he must hold on to the end. He turned therefore towards Hamilton and said aloud—‘Heretic! thou hast said that all men have the right to read the Word of God. Thou hast said that it is against the divine law to worship images. Thou hast said that it is idle to invoke the saints and the Virgin. Thou hast said that it is useless to celebrate masses to save souls from purgatory....’ Here the unfortunate Campbell stopped. ‘Purgatory!’ exclaimed Patrick; ‘nothing purifies souls but the blood of Jesus Christ.’[106] At these words, Campbell turned to the archbishop and said, ‘My lords, you hear him; he despises the authority of our holy father the pope.’ Then, as if he meant to stifle by insults the voice of the noble and courageous Christian, ‘Heretic,’ cried he, ‘rebel! detestable! execrable! impious!...’ Hamilton, turning towards him, said, in accents full of kindness, ‘My brother, thou dost not in thy very heart believe what thou art saying.’[107] This was too much. The word of tender reproof pierced like a dart the soul of the unhappy Dominican. To find himself treated with so much gentleness by the man whose death he was urging rent his heart, and an accusing cry was heard in the depths of his soul.[108] Campbell was embarrassed and silenced. Hamilton’s charity had heaped coals of fire on his head.[109]
Then began the taking of votes. The members of the court unanimously condemning the innocent man, the primate rose and said,—‘Christi nomine invocato,—We, James, by the grace of God archbishop of St. Andrews, primate of Scotland, sitting in judgment in our metropolitan church, have found Patrick Hamilton infected with divers heresies of Martin Luther, which have been already condemned by general councils. We therefore declare the said Hamilton a heretic; we condemn him; we deprive him of all dignities, orders, and benefices, and we deliver him over to the secular arm to be punished.’[110]
Having thus spoken, the primate laid on the table the sentence which he had just read, and the bishops, priors, abbots, and doctors present came and signed the document one by one. The primate next, with the view of investing the act with more authority, invited such persons as had a certain rank in the university to set their hands likewise to it. Young boys—the earl of Cassilis, for example, who was only thirteen—were of the number. The priests persuaded them that they thereby did God service, and this was very flattering to such children. The court rose, and an escort of some thousands of armed men conducted Hamilton back to the castle.[111]
This numerous escort showed the fears which the clergy entertained. Duncan’s attempt had failed, but Sir James Hamilton was still at the head of his soldiers, and many other persons in Scotland were interested about this young man. But nothing short of the death of their victim could pacify the priests. They decided that the sentence should be executed the same day. The primate was sure of the coöperation of the government. Angus offered no opposition to this iniquitous proceeding. Thus condemnation had hardly been pronounced when the executioner’s servants were seen before the gate of St. Salvator’s College, raising the pile on which Hamilton was to be burnt.
AT THE STAKE.
While they were heaping up the wood and driving in the stake, Patrick was taking his last meal in one of the rooms of the castle; he ate moderately, as his custom was, but without the slightest agitation; his countenance was perfectly serene. He was going to meet death with good courage, because it would admit him into his Father’s house; he hoped, too, that his martyrdom would be gain to the Church of God. The hour of noon struck: it was the time appointed for the execution. Hamilton bade them call the governor of the castle. That officer appeared; he was deeply affected. Hamilton, without leaving the table, inquired of him whether all was ready?[112] The governor, whose heart was breaking to see such innocence and nobleness requited with a cruel death, could not find courage to pronounce a single word which would point to the scaffold, and he answered with emotion, Dii meliora, ‘God give you a better fate!’ Hamilton understood him, got up, took the Gospel in one hand, grasped affectionately with the other the hand of the sympathizing governor, and went like a lamb to execution.[113] He was accompanied by a few friends, his faithful servant followed, and a numerous guard escorted him. He set the cross of Christ, which he then bore, above all the delights of life.[114] His soul was full of a glorious and solid joy, which was worth more than the joy of the world.
He arrived at the spot. All was ready—wood, coal, powder, and other combustible material. Standing before the pile, he uncovered his head, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, remained motionless for some moments in prayer.[115] Then he turned to his friends and handed to one of them his copy of the Gospels. Next, calling his servant, he took off his cloak, his coat, and his cap, and with his arms stretched out presented them to him and said—‘Take these garments, they can do me no service in the fire, and they may still be of use to thee. It is the last gift thou wilt receive from me, except the example of my death, the remembrance of which I pray thee to bear in mind. Death is bitter for the flesh ... but it is the entrance into eternal life, which none can possess who deny Jesus Christ.’[116] The archbishop, wishing to ingratiate himself with the powerful family of the Hamiltons, had ordered some of his clergy to offer the young reformer his life on condition of his submitting to the absolute authority of the pope. ‘No,’ replied Hamilton, ‘your fire will not make me recant the faith which I have professed. Better that my body should burn in your flames for having confessed the Saviour, than that my soul should burn in hell for having denied him. I appeal to God from the sentence pronounced against me, and I commit myself to his mercy.’[117]
INSULTS OF CAMPBELL.
The executioners came to fulfil their part. They passed an iron chain round the victim’s body, and thus fastened him to the stake which rose above the pile. Conscious that acute pains might lead him to err, Hamilton prayed to God that the flames might not extort from him the least word which should grieve his divine master. ‘In the name of Jesus,’ he added, ‘I give up my body to the fire, and commit my soul into the hands of the Father.’ Three times the pile was kindled, and three times the fire went out because the wood was green.[118] Suddenly the powder placed among the faggots exploded, and a piece of wood shot against Hamilton flayed part of his body; but death was not yet come. Turning to the deathsman, he said mildly, ‘Have you no dry wood?’ Several men hastened to get some at the castle. Alexander Campbell was present, struggling with his evil conscience, and in a state of violent agitation which rose with his distress and misery. The servants of the executioner brought some dry wood and quickened the fire. ‘Heretic,’ said Campbell, ‘be converted! recant! call upon Our Lady; only say, Salve Regina.’ ‘If thou believest in the truth of what thou sayest,’ replied Patrick, ‘bear witness to it by putting the tip only of thy finger into the fire in which my whole body is burning.[119]’ The unhappy Dominican took good care to do no such thing. He began to insult the martyr. Then Hamilton said to him, ‘Depart from me, messenger of Satan.’ Campbell, enraged, stormed round the victim like a roaring lion. ‘Submit to the pope,’ he cried; ‘there is no salvation but in union with him.’ Patrick was broken-hearted with grief at seeing to what a pitch of obduracy his old friend had come. ‘Thou wicked man,’ said he to him, ‘thou knowest the contrary well enough; thou hast told me so thyself.’ This noble victim, then, chained to the post and already half-burnt, feeling himself to be superior to the wretched man who was vexing him, spoke as a judge, commanded as a king, and said to the Dominican, ‘I appeal thee before the tribunal seat of Christ Jesus.’[120] At these words Campbell, ceasing his outcries, remained mute, and leaving the place, fled affrighted into his monastery. His mind wandered; he was seized with madness; he was like one possessed by a demon, and in a little while he died.[121]
The tenderest affections succeeded these most mournful emotions in Hamilton’s heart. He was drawing near to the moment of heart-rending separations: but his thoughts, though turning heavenward, were not turned away from his home at Kincavil. He had cherished the hope of becoming a father; and some time afterwards his wife gave birth to a daughter who was named Issobel. She lived at court in later years, and received on more than one occasion tokens of the royal favor.[122] Hamilton, who had always felt the tenderest respect for his mother, did not forget her at the stake, but commended her to the love of his friends.[123] After his wife and his mother, he was mindful of his native place. ‘O God,’ said he, ‘open the eyes of my fellow-citizens, that they may know the truth!’