Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies): A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots WorthiesHowie, John
History
Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies): A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies
Howie, John
Church of Scotland -- Biography; Scotland -- Biography
Being come to Ormiston, he entered into some spiritual conversation in
the family, particularly concerning the happy state of God's children,
appointed the 51st psalm, according to an old version then in use, to be
sung, and then recommended the company to God; he went to bed some time
sooner than ordinary; about midnight the earl of Bothwel beset the
house, so as none could escape, and then called upon the laird,
declaring the design to him, and intreating him not to hold out, for it
would be to no purpose, because the cardinal and governor were coming
with all their train; but if he would deliver Mr. Wishart up, Bothwel
promised upon his honour that no evil should befal him. Being inveigled
with this, and consulting with Mr. Wishart who requested that the gates
should be opened, saying, "God's will be done," the laird complied. The
earl of Bothwel entered, with some gentlemen, who solemnly protested,
That Mr. Wishart should receive no harm, but that he, _viz._ Bothwel,
would either carry him to his own house, or return him again to Ormiston
in safety: Upon this promise hands were stricken, and Mr. Wishart went
along with him to Elphiston where the cardinal was, after which he was
first carried to Edinburgh, then to the earl of Bothwel's house (perhaps
upon pretence of fulfilling the engagement which Bothwel had come under
to him) after which he was re-conducted to Edinburgh, where the cardinal
had now assembled a convocation of prelates for reforming some abuses,
but without effect. Buchanan says, that he was apprehended by a party of
horse detached by the cardinal for that purpose; that at first the laird
of Ormiston refused to deliver him up, upon which the cardinal and
regent both posted thither, but could not prevail until the earl of
Bothwel was sent for, who succeeded by flattery and fair promises, not
one of which were fulfilled.
Mr. Wishart remained at Edinburgh only a few days, until the
blood-thirsty cardinal prevailed with the governor to deliver up this
faithful servant of Jesus Christ unto his tyranny, and was accordingly
sent to St. Andrews; and being advised to it by the arch-bishop of
Glasgow, he would have got a civil judge appointed to try him, if David
Hamilton of Preston, a kinsman to the regent, had not remonstrated
against it, and represented the danger of attacking the servants of God,
who had no other crime laid to their charge, but that of preaching the
gospel of Jesus Christ. This speech, which Buchanan gives at large,
affected the governor in such a manner, that he absolutely refused the
cardinal's request, upon which he replied in anger, "That he had only
sent to him out of mere civility, without any need for it, for that he
with his clergy had power sufficient to bring Mr. Wishart to condign
punishment."--Thus was this servant of God left in the hands of that
proud and merciless tyrant, the religious part of the nation loudly
complaining of the governor's weakness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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