Volume I Part 36 (1/2)
MILLE. The very scripture of G.o.d is not to be taken carnally but spiritually, and standeth in fayth onely: & as for the Ma.s.se, it is wrong, for Christ was once offered on the Crosse for mans trespa.s.se, and will neuer be offered agayne, for then he ended all sacrifice.
OLIPH. Thou denyest the office of a Byshop.
MILLE. I affirme that they whom ye call Byshops, do no Byshops workes, nor vse the offices of bishops, (as Paul byddeth writyng to Timothy,) but lyue after their owne sensuall pleasure and take no care of the flocke, nor yet regarde they the word of G.o.d, but desire to be honored and called, my Lordes.
OLIPH. Thou speakest agaynst pilgrimage, and callest it a pilgrimage to wh.o.r.edome.
MILLE. I affirm that, and say that it is not commanded in the scripture, and that there is no greater wh.o.r.edome in no places, then at your pilgrimages, except it be in common broth.e.l.ls.
OLIPH. Thou preachest quietly and priuatly in houses and openly in the fieldes.
MILLE. Yea man, and on the sea also sailyng in shyp.
OLIPH. Wilt thou not recant thyne erroneous opinions, and if thou wilt not, I will p.r.o.nounce sentence agaynst thee.
MILLE. I am accused of my lyfe: I know I must dye once, & therfore as Christ said to Judas: _Quod facis, fac citius_. Ye shall know that I wil not recant the truth, for I am corne, I am no chaffe, I wil not be blowen away with the winde nor burst with the flaile, but I will abyde both.
These thynges rehea.r.s.ed they of purpose, with other light trifles, to augment their finall accusation, and then Sir Andrew Oliphant p.r.o.nounced sentence agaynst him that he should be deliuered to the temporall judge, and punished as an hereticke, which was to be burnt. Notwithstandyng his boldnes and constauncie moued so the hartes of many, that the Byshop's Stuard of his regalitie, Prouest of the towne called Patrike Learmond, refused to be his temporall judge: to whom it appertained if the cause had been just. Also the Byshop's Chamberlaine beyng therewith charged, would in no wise take vppon hym so vnG.o.dly an office. Yea the whole Towne was so offended with his unjust condemnation, that the Byshop's seruauntes could not get for their money so much as one cord to tye him to the stake, or a tarre barrell to burne him, but were constrained to cut the cordes of their maistors owne pauillon to serue their turne.
Neuerthelesse one seruaunt of the Byshop's more ignoraunt and cruell then the rest, called Alexander Symmerwyll, enterprising the office of a temporall judge in that part, conueyed him to the fire, where agaynst all naturall reason of man, his boldnes and hardynes did more & more increase: so that the spirite of G.o.d workyng miraculously in hym, made it manifest to the people that his cause and Articles were just and he innocently put downe.
Now when all thynges were ready for his death and he conueyed with armed men to the fire, Oliphant bad hym pa.s.se to the stake: and he sayd, nay, but wilt thou put me vp with thy hand and take part of my death, thou shalt see me pa.s.se vp gladly, for by the law of G.o.d I am forbydden to put handes vpon my selfe. Then Oliphant put him vp with his hand, and he ascended gladly, saying; _Introibo ad altare Dei_, and desired that he might haue place to speake to the people, the which Oliphant and other of the burners denyed, saying that he had spoken ouer much, for the Bishops were altogether offended that the matter was so long continued.
Then some of the young men committed both the burners, & the Byshops their maisters to the deuill, saying that they beleued that they should lament that day, and desired the sayd Walter to speake what he pleased.
And so after he had made his humble supplication to G.o.d on his knees, he arose, and standyng vpon the coales sayd on this wise. Deare frendes, the cause why I suffer this day is not for any crime layed to my charge (albeit I be a miserable sinner before G.o.d) but onely for the defence of the fayth of Jesus Christ, set forth in the new and old Testament vnto vs, for which the as the faythful Martyrs haue offered them selues gladly before, beyng a.s.sured after the death of their bodyes of eternall felicitie, so this day I prayse G.o.d that he hath called me of his mercy among the rest of his seruaunts, to seale vp his truth with my life: which as I haue receaued it of hym, so willingly I offer it to his glory. Therfore as you will escape the eternall death, be no more seduced with the lyes of Priestes, Monkes, Friers, Priours, Abbots, Byshops, and the rest of the sect of Antichrist, but depend onely vpon Jesus Christ and his mercy, that ye may be deliuered from condemnation.
All that while there was great mournyng and lamentation of the mult.i.tude, for they perceiuyng his patience, stoutnes, and boldnes, constancie, and hardynes, were not onely moued and styrred vp, but their hartes also were so inflamed, that hee was the last Martyr that dyed in Scotland for the Religion.
After his prayer, he was hoysed vp on the stake, and beyng in the fire, he sayd: Lord haue mercy on me: Pray people while there is tyme, and so constauntly departed.
EPITAPHIUM.
Non nostra impietas aut actae crimina vitae Armarunt hostes in mea fata truces.
Sola fides Christi sacris signata libellis, Quae vitae causa est, est mihi causa necis.
After this, by the just judgement of G.o.d, in the same place where Walter Mille was burnt, the Images of the great Church of the Abbey, which pa.s.sed both in number and costlynes, were burnt in tyme of reformation.
_Ex fideli testimonio e Scotia misso._
And thus much concerning such matters as happened, and such Martyrs as suffered in the Realme of Scotland for the faith of Christ Jesus, and testimony of his truth.”
The Epitaph, quoted in the above extracts from Foxe, was written by Patrick Adamson, who became Archbishop of St. Andrews.
No. XIV.
ON THE t.i.tLE OF SIR, APPLIED TO PRIESTS.