Having reached Glasgow the three men got round the chancellor-prelate, and demanded of him far more than he could lawfully grant: he was not only to have the two evangelical Christians examined, he must put them to death. What reproaches he would incur if he protected heretics! what praises would he not win if he were ardent in serving the Church! Gawin yielded, and Russel and Kennedy were put on their trial. They appeared before the court, over which the archbishop himself presided, and the proceedings began. Thanks to the inventive zeal of Lauder and his colleagues, numerous charges were brought forward against the accused. Kennedy had an upright soul, but had rather an inclination to the faith than faith itself. The imposing display of judicial pomp, the gravity of the accusations, the severity of the punishment which was preparing, and the horrible agony which was to precede it, all disturbed the young man; he was distressed, and being sharply pressed to retract what he had written, he was intimidated and went astray. Russel, on the other hand, whose faith, the fruit of close examination of the Word of God, was developed and established by long-continued studies, appeared full of decision. He replied with wisdom to his accusers, defended by powerful proofs the doctrines which he professed, and repulsed with calmness, dignity, and intrepidity the false accusations of his enemies. His words had an unlooked-for result: they reawakened the conscience of his young companion. The Spirit of God, the Spirit of all consolation, worked in him. The Christian life, which had scarcely begun in his heart, now expanded itself. ‘He felt himself as it were a new creature; his mind was changed;’ a living faith filled his heart; he was confirmed in his resolution.[226] From that time he no longer hesitated to give up his life for the truth. The happiness which he had lost came back to him; his countenance brightened, his tongue was loosed, there was a radiance in his whole person; and, falling on his knees, he exclaimed with joy--‘O eternal God, how wondrous is that love and mercy that thou bearest unto mankind, and unto me the most caitiff and miserable wretch above all others; for even now, when I would have denied thee and thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, my only Saviour, and so have casten myself in everlasting damnation, thou by thine own hand hast pulled me from the very bottom of hell, and makest me to feel that heavenly comfort which takes from me that ungodly fear wherewith before I was oppressed. Now I defy death.’ Then, rising, he turned towards his persecutors and said, ‘Do what ye please; I praise God I am ready.’[227]