He quitted the church, bade farewell to his friends, and then prepared to leave the town. ‘I will not leave you alone,’ said Knox to him. But Wishart, who had his approaching end constantly before his eyes, said--‘Nay, return to your bairns [his pupils], and God bless you. One is sufficient for a sacrifice.’ He then compelled Knox to give up the sword, and parted with him. The laird of Ormiston, who was at the time with Wishart, had invited him to his house in the country. They set out on their journey with several gentlemen of the neighborhood. The cold was severe, and they therefore travelled on foot. While at supper Wishart spoke of the death of God’s children. Then he said with a cheerful smile--‘Methinks that I desire earnestly to sleep. We’ll sing a psalm.’ He chose Psalm li., and struck up the tune himself:--‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness.’ As soon as the psalm was ended, he went to his chamber and to bed. [Sidenote: ARREST OF WISHART.] A little before midnight a troop of armed men silently approached, surrounded the house that no one might escape, and demanded Wishart. But neither promises nor threats could induce Ormiston to deliver up his guest. They then went for the earl of Bothwell, the most powerful lord of that region. Bothwell came, and said to the laird--‘It is but vain to make him to hold his house, for the governor and the cardinal with all their power are coming. But and if you will deliver the man unto me, I will promise upon my honor that he shall be safe and sound, and that it shall pass the power of the cardinal to do him any harm or scathe.’ Ormiston, confiding in this promise, told Wishart what had occurred. ‘Open the gates,’ replied he, immediately; ‘the blessed will of my God be done.’ Bothwell entered, with several gentlemen who accompanied him. Wishart said to him, ‘I praise my God that so honorable a man as you, my lord, receives me this night in the presence of these noblemen; for now I am assured that, for your honor’s sake, ye will suffer nothing to be done unto me besides the order of law.’ The earl replied--‘I shall preserve your body from all violence, neither shall the governor nor cardinal have their will over you: but I shall retain you in my own hands till that either I shall make you free or else restore you in the same place where I receive you.’ Immediately after giving this promise, the earl set out with Wishart for Elphinston. The cardinal, bent on getting possession of Wishart’s friends, sent five hundred horsemen to Ormiston to seize the laird, together with the lairds of Brownston and Calder. Brownston fled through the woods, but the other two were carried off to Edinburgh castle. Wishart was removed to the strong castle of Hailes on the banks of the Tyne, the principal mansion of Bothwell in the Lothians.[341]