Covenanters > Martyrs and Covenanters of Scotland

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GEORGE WISHART.
youth spread rapidly through the kingdom,
and men began to inquire why Patrick Hamil¬
ton was burned, and what were the opinions
which he had held and maintained to the
death. The archbishop and his familiars,
alarmed and irritated, spoke of burning some,
in order to terrify and silence others; but a
bystander, with a mixture of shrewdness and
mockery, warned the archbishop to act warily,
and if he burned any more, to burn them in
cellars; “ for the smoke,” said he, “ of Mr.
Patrick Hamilton hath infected as many as it
blew upon.” He
“ Had borne his faculties so meek, had been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Did plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking off!"
GEORGE WISHART.
BORN 1501. MARTYRED 1548.
George Wishart was brother of the Laird
of Pittarow, in Mearns. He had been ban¬
ished by the instigation of the Bishop of Bre¬
chin, for teaching the Greek language in Mon¬
trose, and had resided for some years at the