These Protestants of Perth were certainly originals, of which not many copies were to be found. There were some of them, however, who were free from these eccentricities while displaying no less courage. On one occasion, when a monk named Spence very loudly asserted in the church that ‘prayer made to saints is so necessary that without it there could be no hope of salvation to man,’ Robert Lamb rose and accused him before the whole assembly of teaching false doctrines. ‘In the name of God,’ said he, ‘I adjure you to speak the truth.’ The friar, stricken with fear, promised to do so; but there was so much excitement and tumult in the church that the monk could not make himself heard, and Robert, at the peril of his life, barely escaped the violence of the people. The women, above all, uttered piercing screams, and urged on the multitude to the most cruel actions.[317] [Sidenote: THE PERTH PROTESTANTS.] The cardinal, in January, 1544, seeing that his authority was firmly established, thought that the time was come for suppressing the Reformation and glorifying the pope. Having heard of what was going on at Perth, he set out for that place, taking with him the regent, some of the chief lords, bishops, and judges. When he reached Perth on St. Paul’s day, January 19, he ordered the seizure of Robert Lamb, William Anderson, James Hunter, James Raveleson, James Finlason, and Hellen Stirke his wife,[318] and had them imprisoned the same evening in the Spay Tower. On the following morning the prisoners appeared before their judge. They were accused on several grounds, and particularly of having met together to hear the Holy Scriptures read. A special charge was made against Lamb of having interrupted a friar. ‘It is the duty of no man,’ he answered, ‘who understands and knows the truth to hear the same impugned without contradiction. There are sundry here present in judgment who, while they know what is true, are consenting to what is false; but they will have to bear the burden in God’s presence.’[319] The six prisoners were condemned to death, and were cruelly treated. Many of the inhabitants of Perth were deeply interested in their case, and appealed to the regent to save their lives. But when Arran spoke a word to the cardinal in their behalf, the latter replied, ‘If you refuse to take part in the execution of this sentence, I will depose you.’ Arran trembled, and held his peace.