History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 1300-1600 · Century 16 · Part 2 · Chapter 4 (2 of 2)
II. It is not neceſſary to ſpeak more of the groſſe ignorance and wickedneſs Pa. Hamilton a Scotish Martyre.of the clergy & people at that time (unleſs i… fall in by the by): but behold how God brought the light of the Goſpell into this Iſland (I may ſay) wonderfully. Firſt Patrik Hamilton a young gentleman was made Abbot of Ferne; and then he would go and ſee other countries: and in his trauels he viſites Witemberg, and there he heard Luther, Melanthon & others: he had litle or no underſtanding before, and hearkned unto them, and took it to heart. He returnes …ome in the 23. year of his age in the end of the year 1526. In what companie he came, he ſpared not to ſpeak againſt the corruptions of the Church, and to declare the truth as he had learned it. The clergy could not endure this, and under colour of conference they entice him unto Santan drews. They had perſuaded the young King James 5. to go in pilgrimage to S. Dutheſs in Roſſe, leſt he ſould hinder their proceeding. In the night time Patrik Hamilton was taken out of the chamber (where he was lodged) and carried into the caſtle: the next day he was preſented before the arch Bishop James be…on, and accuſed upon theſe articles; The corruption of nature remains in children after baptiſme. 2. No the articles layd to his chargeman by the power of free will can do any good. 3. No man is without ſin ſo long as he liveth. 4. Every true Chriſtian may know himſelf to be in the eſtate of grace. 5. A man is not juſtified by works, but by faith only. 6. Good works make not a good man, but a good man doth good works, and an ill man doth ill works; yet the ſame ill, if truly repented, make not an ill man. 7. Faith, hope & charity are ſo linked together, that he who hath one of them, hath all; and who lacketh one of them, lacketh all. 8. God is the cauſe of ſin, in this ſenſe, that he withdrawes his grace from man, and grace being withdrawn he can not but ſin. 9. It is a devilish doctrine, to teach that by any actuall penn…nce remiſſion of ſin is purchaſed. 10 Auricular confeſſion it not neceſſary to ſalvation. 11. There is no purgatory. 12. The holy Patriarchs were in heaven before Chriſt… paſſion 13. The Pope is Antichriſt, and every prieſt hath as much power as the Pope. He is demanded, What he thinks of theſe articles? He anſwereth. … hold the firſt ſeven to be undoubtedly true, and the other are diſputable points, nor can I condemne them, unleſs I ſee better reaſon than as yet I have heard. After ſome conference with him, theſe articles were delivered unto the Rectour of the Univerſity, who with other twelve (as they were called, Divines & Lawyers having cenſured and condemned them as hereticall, redelivereth them within two dayes in a ſolemne meeting (March 2. year 1527.) of the two archbb. three bb. ſixe Abbots and Priours, and eight Divines. Theſe all ſet their hands unto the ſentence; and the …ame day Pa. Hamilton was condemned by the Secular Judge, and burnt in the afternoon. When this execution was reported, many in all parts of the kingdom do enquire, why was ſuch a man burnt? and when they heard of the articles, they talk of the truth of them, and many do apprehend otherwiſe then was judged. The blood of a Martyr … ſeed of the Church.In the Univerſity theſe articles took a deep impreſſion; yea and many Friers beg…n in their Sermons to comdemn the errours and abuſes of the Clergy. Thus God made the martyrdom of one man to be the meanes of ſpreading the trueth unto many. In time of that Lent Alex. Seton (a Dominican) preached oft in Santandrewes: the ſubſtance of his Sermons was; The law of God is the only rule of righteouſnes: If Gods law be not violated, no ſin is committed: It is not in mans power to ſatiſfie for ſin: The forgiveneſs of ſin is no way purchaſed, but by unfained repentance, and true faith apprehending the mercy of God in Chriſt. He ſpoke not of purgatory, pilgrimage, prayer to Saints, merits nor miracles, as the Friers were wont: therefore he was ſuſpected of hereſy. Before the Lent was finished, he went to Dundy, and there he was advertiſed, that another Dominican had publickly contradicted his former doctrine: without delay he returnes, and in a Sermon confirmes what he had taught before, and moreover he ſpeaks of the vertues, that are required of a faithfull Bishop: and made this Uſe of them; Within Scotland are no true Bishops, if they be examined by thoſe notes, which the Scripture requires. This was by and by reported to the Bishop, in words varying a little, that a Bishop muſt be a preacher, or els he is a dumbe dog. He is ſent for, and ſaid, The reporters are manifeſt liars. The reporters are called, and they affirm that he had ſaid ſo; and they profer to bring more witneſſes. He ſtill ſaith, They are lya…. More witneſſes are brought, and many come to heare. Then ſaid Seton, My Lord, you may conſider, what eares theſe aſſes have: they can not diſcern betwixt Paul, Eſaie, Zacharie and Malachie, and Frier Alex. Seton: I ſaid indeed, Paul ſaith, A Bishop should be a teacher; Eſa…e ſaith, shepherds not feeding their flocks are dumbe… oggs; Zacharie ſaith, they are idle paſtours; and I declared what thoſe have ſaid: and, my Lord, if you be not offended at them, you can not be offended at mee: therefore I ſay again, theſe men are manifeſt lya…s, which have reported, that I called you or any other Bishop, no Bishops but belly gods. The Bishop was offended: but durſt not at that time proceed againſt him, becauſe he was learned, bold, and in favour with the King, and his Confeſſour. But he and his complices did judge it not expedient, ſuch a man to bee with the King: and ſo they endeavoure to make him odious unto the King, and call him an heretick. The King did remember, how in private confeſſion the Frier had admonished him for his luſts of the flesh, and loved no… ſuch advice, and ſaid, He knew more of that man, than any of them; and then ſubſcribes their accuſation, and promiſeth to follow their advice in punishing him and all of that ſect. Seton is informed of theſe things, and fleeth to Berwick, whence he wrote unto the King in this manner,