Then, by and by, the common people were removed (for their desire was always to hear that innocent speak) and the sons of darkness pronounced their sentence definitive, not having respect to the judgment of God. When all this was done and said, my Lord Cardinal caused his tormentors to pass again with the meek lamb unto the Castle, until such time as the fire was made ready. When he was come into the Castle, there came two Grey fiends, Friar Scott and his mate, saying, "Sir, ye must make your confession unto us." He answered and said, "I will make no confession unto you. Go fetch me yonder man that preached this day, and I will make my confession unto him." Then they sent for the Sub-prior of the Abbey, who came to him with all diligence; but what he said in this confession I cannot show.
When the fire and the gallows were made ready at the west part of the Castle, near to the Priory, my Lord Cardinal, dreading that Master George should have been taken away by his friends, commanded his men to bend all the ordnance of the Castle against the place of execution, and commanded all his gunners to be ready, and stand beside their guns, until such time as he was burned. All this being done, they bound Master George's hands behind his back, and led him forth from the Castle with their soldiers, to the place of their cruel and wicked execution. As he came forth from the Castle gate, there met him certain beggars asking his alms, for God's sake. To these he answered, "I want my hands, wherewith I was wont to give you alms. But may the merciful Lord, who feedeth all men, vouchsafe of His benignity and abundant grace to give you necessaries, both for your bodies and souls." Then met him two false fiends—I should say, Friars—saying, "Master George, pray to our Lady that she may be a mediatrix for you to her Son." To them he answered meekly, "Cease: tempt me not, my brethren." After this he was led to the fire, with a rope about his neck, and a chain of iron about his middle.
Master George Wishart is brought to the Stake.
When he came to the fire he sat down upon his knees, and rose again; and thrice he said these words, "O Thou Saviour of the world, have mercy upon me: Father of heaven, I commend my spirit into Thy holy hands." When he had made this prayer, he turned him to the people, and said these words: "I beseech you, Christian brethren and sisters, that ye be not offended at the Word of God because of the affliction and torments which ye see already prepared for me. I exhort you that ye love the Word of God, your salvation, and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart, for the Word's sake, which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort. Moreover, I pray you, urge upon those of my brethren and sisters who have heard me oft before that they cease not nor leave off to learn that Word of God which I taught them, according to the grace given unto me—not for my persecution or troubles in this world, which lasteth not. And show unto them that my doctrine was no wives' fables, after the constitution made by men; if I had taught men's doctrine, I should have gotten greater thanks from men. But, for the Word's sake, and for the true Evangel, given to me by the grace of God, I suffer this day by men, not sorrowfully, but with a glad heart and mind. For this cause I was sent, that I should suffer this fire for Christ's sake. Consider and behold my visage; ye shall not see me change my colour. This grim fire I fear not; and so I pray you to do, if any persecution come unto you for the Word's sake. Do not fear them that slay the body, and afterwards have no power to slay the soul. Some have said of me that I taught that the soul of man should sleep until the last day; but I know surely that this night, before six o'clock, my soul shall sup with my Saviour, for whom I suffer this."
Then Master George prayed for them that accused him, saying, "I beseech Thee, Father of Heaven, to forgive them that have of any ignorance, or else of any evil mind, forged lies upon me; I forgive them with all mine heart: I beseech Christ to forgive them that have condemned me to death this day, ignorantly." And last of all, he said to the people on this manner, "I beseech you, brethren and sisters, to exhort your prelates to the learning of the Word of God, that they at least may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good; and if they will not convert themselves from their wicked error, there shall hastily come upon them the wrath of God, and that they shall not eschew."
Many faithful words said he in the meantime, taking no heed or care of the cruel torments which were then prepared for him. Then, last of all, the hangman that was his tormentor, sat down upon 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." When he was come to him, he kissed his cheek, and said, "Lo! here is a token that I forgive thee. My heart, do thine office." And then by and by he was put upon the gibbet, and hanged, and there burned to powder. When the people beheld the great tormenting of that innocent, they could not refrain from piteous mourning and complaining of the innocent lamb's slaughter.
Vengeance on the Cardinal is vowed.
After the death of this blessed martyr of God, the people began, in plain speaking, to damn and detest the cruelty that was used. Yea, men of great birth, estimation, and honour, avowed at open tables that the blood of the said Master George should be revenged, or else it should cost life for life. Amongst these John Leslie, brother to the Earl of Rothes, was the chief; for he spared not to say in all companies, "This same whinger," drawing his dagger, "and this same hand, shall be priests to the Cardinal." These bruits came to the Cardinal's ears; but he thought himself stout enough for all Scotland; for in Babylon, that is, in his new block-house, he was secure, as he thought; and upon the field he was able to match all his enemies. To write the truth, the most part of the nobility of Scotland had either given unto him their bonds of manrent, or else were in confederacy, and promised amity with him....