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HAMILTON, PATRICK, one of
the first martyrs to the doctrines of the reformed religion, was born
about the year 1503. He was nephew to the earl of Arran by his father,
and to the duke of Albany by his mother; and was besides related to king
James V. of Scotland. And by this illustrious connexion there stands
forth another proof of the erroneousness of the commonly received
opinion, that the first reformers were generally men of inferior birth.
He was early educated for the church, with high views of preferment from
his powerful connexions, and in order that he might prosecute his
studies undisturbed by any cares for his present subsistence, had the
abbacy of Ferme bestowed upon him. While yet but a very young man, he
travelled into Germany, with the view of completing those studies which
he had begun at home, and to which he had applied himself with great
assiduity. Attracted by the fame of the university of Wirtemberg, he
repaired thither, and after remaining some time, removed to that of
Marpurg, where he was the first who introduced public disputations on
theological questions. Here he formed an intimacy with the celebrated
reformers Martin Luther and Philip Melancthon, who finding in Hamilton
an apt scholar, and one already celebrated for superior talent, soon and
successfully instructed him in the new views of religion which they
themselves entertained. His rapid progress in these studies delighted
his instructors, and not only they themselves but all who were of their
way of thinking, soon perceived that in their young pupil they had found
one who would make a distinguished figure in propagating the new faith;
and accordingly he became an object of great and peculiar interest to
all the disciples of Luther and Melancthon, who waited with much anxiety
to see what part the youthful reformer would take in the hazardous and
mighty enterprise of at once overthrowing the church of Rome and
establishing that of the true religion; a task which not only
required talents of the highest order to combat the learned men who were
of the opposite faith, but also the most determined courage to face the
dangers which were certain to accompany their hostility. In the
meantime, Hamilton had come to the resolution of beginning his perilous
career in his native country, and with this view returned to Scotland,
being yet little more than twenty-three years of age. The gallant young
soldier of the true church had no sooner arrived, than, although he knew
it was at the hazard of his life, for Huss and Jerome in Germany, and
Resby and Craw in Scotland, had already perished by the flames for
holding tenets opposed to those of Rome—he began publicly to expose the
corruption of the Romish church, and to point out the errors which had
crept into its religion as professed in Scotland. Hamilton’s gentle
demeanour and powerful eloquence soon procured him many followers, and
these were every day increasing in number. The Romish ecclesiastics
became alarmed at this progress of heresy, and determined to put an
immediate stop to it. Not choosing, however, at first to proceed openly
against him, Beaton, then archbishop of St Andrews, under pretence of
desiring a friendly conference with him on religious matters, invited
him to that city, then the head-quarters of the Romish church in
Scotland. Deceived by the terms of the invitation, Hamilton repaired to
St Andrews. All that Beaton desired was now attained; the young reformer
was within his grasp. One Campbell, a prior of the black friars, was
employed to confer with him, and to ascertain what his doctrines really
were. This duty Campbell performed by means of the most profound
treachery. He affected to be persuaded by Hamilton’s reasoning,
acknowledged that his objections against the Romish religion were well
founded, and, in short, seemed a convert to the doctrines of his
unsuspecting victim; and thus obtained from him acknowledgements of
opinions which brought him immediately under the power of the church.
Campbell having from time to time reported the conversations which took
place, Hamilton was at length apprehended in the middle of the night,
and thrown into prison. On the day after, he was brought before the
archbishop and his convention, charged with entertaining sundry
heretical opinions, Campbell being his accuser, and as a matter of
course being found guilty, was sentenced to be deprived of all
dignities, honours, orders, offices, and benefices in the church; and
furthermore, to be delivered over to the secular arm for corporeal
punishment, a result which soon followed. On the afternoon of the same
day he was hurried to the stake, lest the king should interfere in his
behalf. A quantity of timber, coals, and other combustibles having been
collected into a pile in the area before the gate of St. Salvator’s
college, the young martyr was bound to a stake in the middle of it. A
train of powder had been laid to kindle the fire, but the effect to its
explosion was only to add to the victim’s sufferings, for it failed to
ignite the pile, but scorched his face and hands severely. In this
dreadful situation he remained, praying fervently the while, and
maintaining his faith with unshaken fortitude, until more powder was
brought from the castle. The fire was now kindled, and the intrepid
sufferer perished, recommending his soul to his God, and calling upon
him to dispel the darkness which overshadowed the land.
The infamous and most
active agent in his destruction, Campbell was soon after Hamilton’s
death, seized with a remorse of conscience for the part he had acted in
bringing about that tragedy, which drove him to distraction, and he died
a year after, under the most dreadful apprehensions of eternal wrath. |
