March - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

The Early Scottish Reformation 75labourers left their fields, women came out of every poor cottage, and allgathered about him respectfully. Priests, citizens from a neighbouring town,women of rank and nobles – people of all classes – met together there. Patrickreceived them with a kindly smile. He addressed to them that first word ofthe gospel: Be converted! But he also pointed out the errors of the RomanChurch. His hearers returned, astonished at his knowledge of the Scriptures,and those who were touched by the salvation which he proclaimed increasedin number from day to day.He soon began to set forth the gospel in lowly churches in neighbouringvillages; then he grew bolder and preached in the beautiful sanctuary of StMichael, at Linlithgow, in the midst of the rich altars. No sooner had thereport of his preaching begun to get abroad than everyone wanted to hearhim. The name he bore, his learning and his piety drew about him each daya larger number of hearers; for a long time such a crowd had not been seenflocking to church. Members of the royal family and the most prominentnobles of the kingdom united with the citizens in the church of Linlithgow.Among his hearers was a young maiden of noble birth, who with joyreceived the good news of salvation. Hamilton recognised in her a soul akinto his own. He had adopted Luther’s principles on marriage. “My father andmother”, said Luther one day, “lived in the holy state of marriage; even thepatriarchs and the prophets did the same; why should not I do so? Marriageis the holiest state of all, and the celibacy of priests has been the cause ofabominable sins.” However, to marry was a daring step for Hamilton. Asabbot of Fearn and one connected with the first families of Scotland, hismarriage would excite the wrath of the priests to the highest. Besides, itcalled for great decision from Patrick, and genuine sympathy from the youngwoman, to unite in marriage in sight, as it were, of the scaffold. The marriagehowever took place, probably at the beginning of 1528. It is possible thatknowledge of this union did not pass beyond the family circle.While Hamilton was preaching at Linlithgow, Archbishop Beaton was atthe monastery of Dunfermline, on the other side of the Firth of Forth. WhenBeaton learned of the return of the young noble who had so narrowly escapedhim, he saw clearly that a missionary animated with Luther’s spirit, thoroughlyfamiliar with the manners of the people, and supported by the powerfulHamiltons, was a formidable adversary. Beaton was a determined enemy ofthe gospel. Having governed Scotland during the minority of the king, he wasindignant at the thought of the troubles with which Hamilton’s preachingmenaced the Church and the realm. The clergy shared the alarm of theirhead; St Andrews especially was in a state of great agitation.The Archbishop therefore took counsel with his nephew and other clerics