tain with some of
the clergy a dispute concerning the controverted points; and after much
reasoning with regard to justification, free will, original sin, and
other topics of that nature, the conference ended with their condemning
Hamilton to be burned for his errors. The young man, who had been deaf
to the insinuations of ambition, was less likely to be shaken with the
fears of death; while he proposed to himself, both the glory of
bearing testimony to the truth, and the immediate reward attending his
martyrdom. The people, who compassionated his youth, his virtue, and
his noble birth, were much moved at the constancy of his end; and
an incident which soon followed still more confirmed them in their
favorable sentiments towards him. He had cited Campbell, who still
insulted him at the stake, to answer before the judgment seat of Christ;
and as that persecutor, either astonished with these events, or overcome
with remorse, or perhaps seized casually with a distemper, soon after
lost his senses, and fell into a fever, of which he died; the people
regarded Hamilton as a prophet as well as a martyr.[*]

Among the disciples converted by Hamilton, was one friar Forrest, who
became a zealous preacher; and who, though he did not openly discover
his sentiments, was suspected to lean towards the new opinions. His
diocesan, the bishop of Dunkel, enjoined him, when he met with a good
epistle or good gospel, which favored the liberties of holy church, to
preach on it, and let the rest alone. Forrest replied, that he had read
both Old and New Testament, and had not found an ill epistle or ill
gospel in any part of them. The extreme attachment to the Scriptures was
regarded, in those days, as a sure characteristic of heresy; and Forrest
was soon after brought to trial, and condemned to the flames. While the
priests were deliberating on the place of his execution, a bystander
advised them to burn him in a cellar; for that the smoke of Mr. Patrick
Hamilton had infected all those on whom it blew.[**]

* Spotswood's Hist. of the Church of Scotland, p. 62.

** Spotswood's Hist. of the Church of Scotland, p. 65.

The clergy were at that time reduced to great difficulties, not only
in Scotland, but all over Europe. As the reformers aimed at a total
subversion of ancient establishments, which they represented as
idolatrous, impious, detestable; the priests, who found both their
honors and properties at stake, thought that they h