While they were heaping up the wood and driving in the stake, Patrick was taking his last meal in one of the rooms of the castle; he ate moderately, as his custom was, but without the slightest agitation; his countenance was perfectly serene. He was going to meet death with good courage, because it would admit him into his Father’s house; he hoped, too, that his martyrdom would be gain to the Church of God. The hour of noon struck: it was the time appointed for the execution. Hamilton bade them call the governor of the castle. That officer appeared; he was deeply affected. Hamilton, without leaving the table, inquired of him _whether all was ready_?[112] The governor, whose heart was breaking to see such innocence and nobleness requited with a cruel death, could not find courage to pronounce a single word which would point to the scaffold, and he answered with emotion, _Dii meliora_, ‘God give you a better fate!’ Hamilton understood him, got up, took the Gospel in one hand, grasped affectionately with the other the hand of the sympathizing governor, and went like a lamb to execution.[113] He was accompanied by a few friends, his faithful servant followed, and a numerous guard escorted him. He set the cross of Christ, which he then bore, above all the delights of life.[114] His soul was full of a glorious and solid joy, which was worth more than the joy of the world. He arrived at the spot. All was ready--wood, coal, powder, and other combustible material. Standing before the pile, he uncovered his head, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, remained motionless for some moments in prayer.[115] Then he turned to his friends and handed to one of them his copy of the Gospels. Next, calling his servant, he took off his cloak, his coat, and his cap, and with his arms stretched out presented them to him and said--‘Take these garments, they can do me no service in the fire, and they may still be of use to thee. It is the last gift thou wilt receive from me, except the example of my death, the remembrance of which I pray thee to bear in mind. Death is bitter for the flesh ... but it is the entrance into eternal life, which none can possess who deny Jesus Christ.’[116] The archbishop, wishing to ingratiate himself with the powerful family of the Hamiltons, had ordered some of his clergy to offer the young reformer his life on condition of his submitting to the absolute authority of the pope. ‘No,’ replied Hamilton, ‘your fire will not make me recant the faith which I have professed. Better that my body should burn in your flames for having confessed the Saviour, than that my soul should burn in hell for having denied him. I appeal to God from the sentence pronounced against me, and I commit myself to his mercy.’[117] [Sidenote: INSULTS OF CAMPBELL.]