George Wishart, a schoolteacher from Angus who had been charged with heresy for teaching the Greek New Testament, left the country to spend some years in Switzerland. There he absorbed the theology of the Swiss reformers. On his return to Scotland, he widely preached the Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith, which led to his arrest on the orders of Cardinal Beaton. He was tried and condemned to death at the stake. Wishart was by all accounts a gentle and very likeable man, and his beliefs were the inspiration for John Knox. Knox’s account of his execution is followed by that of the murder, in retribution, of Cardinal Beaton. With these acts, the full force of the Reformation in Scotland was unleashed.
When he came to the fire, he sat down upon his knees, and rose again; and thrice he said these words, ‘O Thou Saviour of the world, have mercy upon me: Father of Heaven, I commend my spirit into Thy holy hands.’ When he had made this prayer, he turned to the people, and said these words: ‘I beseech you, Christian brethren and sisters, that you be not offended at the word of God for the affliction and torments which you see already prepared for me. But I exhort you, that you love the word of God, your salvation, and suffer patiently, and with a comfortable heart, for the word’s sake, which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort. Moreover, I pray you, show my brethren and sister, which have heard me often before, that they cease not nor leave off to learn the word of God, which I taught them, after the grace given me, for no persecutions nor troubles in this world, which lasts not. And show unto them that my doctrine was no wives’ fables, after the constitutions made by men; and if I had taught men’s doctrine, I had not greater thanks by men. But for the word’s sake, and true Evangel, which was given to me by the grace of God, I suffer this day by men, not sorrowfully, but with a glad heart and mind. For this cause I was sent, that I should suffer this fire for Christ’s sake. Consider and behold my face, you shall not see me change my colour. This grim fire I fear not; and so I pray you for to do, if any persecution come to you for the word’s sake; and not to fear them that slay the body, and afterward have no power to slay the soul …’
Then, last of all, the hangman, that was his tormentor, sat down upon his knees and said, ‘Sir, I pray you, forgive me, for I am not guilty of your death.’ To whom he answered, ‘Come hither to me.’ When he was come to him he kissed his cheek and said, ‘Lo! Here is a token that I forgive you. My heart, do thine office.’ And then, by and by, he was put upon the gibbet, and hanged, and there burnt to powder. When the people beheld the great tormenting of that innocent, they could not hold back piteous mourning and complaining of the innocent lamb’s slaughter.
[modified version, see Appendix II, p. 437]