mbraced
the new doctrines; and having tried him at St. Andrew's, condemned him
to the flames for heresy. Such general aversion was entertained against
this barbarity, that it was some time before the bishops could prevail
on any one to act the part of a civil judge, and pronounce sentence upon
Mill; and even after the time of his execution was fixed, all the shops
of St. Andrew's being shut, no one would sell a rope to tie him to the
stake and the primate himself was obliged to furnish this implement.
The man bore the torture with that courage which, though usual on these
occasions, always appears supernatural and astonishing to the multitude.
The people, to express their abhorrence against the cruelty of the
priests, raised a monument of stones on the place of his execution; and
as fast as the stones were removed by order of the clergy, they were
again supplied from the voluntary zeal of the populace.[***] It is in
vain for men to oppose the severest punishment to the united motives
of religion and public applause; and this was the last barbarity of the
kind which the Catholics had the power to exercise in Scotland.

* The reformers used at that time King Edward's liturgy in
Scotland. Forbes, p. 155.

* Keith, p. 66. Knox, p. 101.

* Knox, p. 122.

Some time after, the people discovered their sentiments in such a manner
as was sufficient to prognosticate to the priests the fate which was
awaiting them. It was usual on the festival of St. Giles, the tutelar
saint of Edinburgh, to carry in procession the image of that saint; but
the Protestants, in order to prevent the ceremony, found means, on the
eve of the festival, to purloin the statue from the church; and they
pleased themselves with imagining the surprise and disappointment of
his votaries. The clergy, however, framed hastily a new image, which in
derision was called by the people young St. Giles; and they carried it
through the streets, attended by all the ecclesiastics in the town and
neighborhood. The multitude abstained from violence so long as the queen
regent continued a spectator; but the moment she retired, they invaded
the idol, threw it in the mire, and broke it in pieces. The flight and
terror of the priests and friars, who, it was remarked, deserted, in
his greatest distress, the object of their worship, was the source of
universal mockery and laughter.

Encouraged by all these appearances, the congregation proceeded with
alac