The tramp of horses was presently heard: the party of troops sent to seek Hamilton were come. The young evangelist passed into the church, and had to mount a lofty desk, from which he could be easily seen and heard by the assembly. All eyes were turned towards him. ‘Ah,’ said pious folk, ‘if this young Christian had been a worldling, and had given himself up, like the other lords of the court, to a life of dissipation and rioting,[103] he would doubtless have been loved by everybody; and this flower of youth which we now look on would have blown amidst flatteries and delights. But because to his rank he has added piety and virtue, he must fall under the blows of the wicked.’ [Sidenote: THE TRIAL.] 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,