the flames for heresy. Arran, the governor,
was irresolute in his temper; and the cardinal, though he had gained him
over to his party, found that he would not concur in the condemnation
and execution of Wishart. He determined, therefore, without the
assistance of the secular arm, to bring that heretic to punishment; and
he himself beheld from his window the dismal spectacle. Wishart suffered
with the usual patience, but could not forbear remarking the triumph of
his insulting enemy. He foretold that, in a few days, he should, in the
very same place, lie as low as now he was exalted aloft in opposition to
true piety and religion.[**]

* Knox's Hist. of Ref. p. 44. Spotswood.

** Spotswood. Buchanan.

This prophecy was probably the immediate cause of the event which it
foretold. The disciples of this martyr, enraged at the cruel execution,
formed a conspiracy against the cardinal; and having associated to them
Norman Lesly, who was disgusted on account of some private quarrel, they
conducted their enterprise with great secrecy and success. Early in
the morning, they entered the cardinal's palace, which he had strongly
fortified, and though they were not above sixteen persons, they thrust
out a hundred tradesmen and fifty servants, whom they seized separately,
before any suspicion arose of their intentions; and having shut the
gates, they proceeded very deliberately to execute their purpose on the
cardinal. That prelate had been alarmed with the noise which he heard
in the castle, and had barricadoed the door of his chamber; but finding
that they had brought fire in order to force their way, and having
obtained, as is believed, a promise of life, he opened the door, and
reminding them that he was a priest, he conjured them to spare him. Two
of the assassins rushed upon him with drawn swords; but a third, James
Melvil, more calm and more considerate in villany, stopped their career,
and bade them reflect, that this sacrifice was the work and judgment of
God, and ought to be executed with becoming deliberation and gravity.
Then turning the point of his sword towards Beatoun, he called to him,
"Repent thee, thou wicked cardinal, of all thy sins and iniquities,
especially of the murder of Wishart, that instrument of God for the
conversion of these lands: it is his death which now cries vengeance
upon thee: we are sent by God to inflict the deserved punishment. For
here, before the Almighty, I protest that it is n