The Bulwark Magazine of the Scottish Reformation Society
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The Bulwark Magazine of the Scottish Reformation Society APRIL - JUNE 2012 // 75p April - June 2012 1 The Bulwark The Martyrdom of Magazine of the Scottish Reformation Society The Magdalen Chapel the Blessed 41 Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1JR Tel: 013 1220 1450 Email: [email protected] www.scottishreformationsociety.org.uk Servant of God, Registered charity: SC007755 Chairman Committee Members Walter Mille » Rev Dr S James Millar » Mr Norman Fleming John Foxe Vice-chairman » Rev Maurice Roberts » Rev John J Murray This account of the martyrdom of Walter Mille or » Rev Kenneth Macdonald Secretary Myln, formerly priest of Lunan in Angus, on 28th » » Rev Douglas Somerset Mr James Dickson April 1558 is taken from John Foxe’s ‘Acts and Treasurer Monuments’. Mille was aged eighty-two at the » Rev Andrew Coghill time and was the last Protestant martyr before the Reformation. His wife, mentioned in the account, was still alive in 1573. CO-OPERATION OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY In pursuance of its objects, the Society may co- (a) To propagate the evangelical Protestant faith and those principles held in common by Among the rest of the martyrs of Scotland, the operate with Churches and with other Societies those Churches and organisations adhering to marvellous constancy of Walter Mille is not to be whose objects are in harmony with its own. the reformation; passed over with silence. Out of whose ashes sprang thousands of his opinion and religion in (b) To diffuse sound and Scriptural teaching on Magazine Editor: Rev Douglas Somerset the distinctive tenets of Protestantism and Scotland, who altogether chose rather to die, then to be any longer overtrodden by the tyranny All literary contributions, books for review and Roman Catholicism; of the foresaid, cruel, ignorant, and beastly papers, should be sent to: (c) To carry on missionary work among Bishops, Abbots, Monks, and Friars, and so The Magdalen Chapel adherents of the latter faith with a view to began the Congregation of Scotland to debate winning them to the doctrines of grace and to 41 Cowgate, Edinburgh the fellowship of the true Gospel; the True Religion of Christ against the Frenchmen EH1 1JR and papists, who sought always to depress and (d) To produce and distribute evangelistic, keep down the same: for it began soon after the religious and other literature in connection with The views expressed in articles are those of martyrdom of Walter Mille, of the which the form the promotion of the Protestant religion; hereafter followeth. Martyrs’ Monument, St Andrews the contributor and may not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the Committee of the (e) To promote the associating together of men and women, and especially young people, In the year of our Lord, 1558, in the time of Mary doctrine of the Gospel, he returned Society. Scriptural references are from the A.V. for systematic Bible Study and holding of Duchess of Longueville, Queen Regent of Scotland, again into Scotland, and setting aside except where stated otherwise. meetings for the above specified purposes. and the said John Hamilton being Bishop of St all papistry and compelled chastity, Andrews, and Primate of Scotland, this Walter Mille married a wife, which thing made him DESIGNED & PRINTED BY: (who in his youth had been a papist) after that he unto the Bishops of Scotland to be had been in Almaine (Germany), and had heard the suspected of heresy: and after long www.visionsolutionsni.co.uk Tel: 028 9073 1841 2 The Bulwark April - June 2012 3 watching of him he was taken by two popish the Bishops to be accused, the 20th day Mille. I hold it a blessed band, for Christ for Christ was once offered on the cross for Priests, one called sir George Straqwhen, of April. Being brought unto the church himself maintained it, and approved the man’s trespass, and will never be offered and the other sir Hew Turry, servants to and climbing up to the pulpit, they seeing same, and also made it free to all men: but again, for then he ended all sacrifice. the said Bishop for the time, within the him so weak and feeble of person, partly ye think it not free to you: ye abhor it, and in town of Dysart in Fife, and by age and travail, and the mean time take other men’s wives and Oliph. Thou deniest the office of a Bishop. brought to St Andrews and partly by evil entreatment, daughters, and will not keep the band that imprisoned in the Castle ‘ Dear friends, the that without help he could God hath made. Ye vow chastity, and break Mille. I affirm that they whom ye call Bishops, thereof. cause why I suffer not climb up, they were the same. St Paul had rather marry than do no Bishops’ works, nor use the offices of in despair not to have burn: the which I have done, for God forbad Bishops, (as Paul biddeth writing to Timothy,) He being in prison, this day is not for heard him for weakness never marriage to any man, of what state or but live after their own sensual pleasure and the papists earnestly any crime laid to of voice. But when he degree so ever he were. take no care of the flock, nor yet regard they travailed and laboured to began to speak, he made the word of God, but desire to be honored have seduced him, and my charge but only the church to ring and Oliph. Thou sayest there is not seven and called, my Lords. threatened him with death for the defence of sound again, with so great sacraments. and corporal torments, to the faith of Jesus courage and stoutness, Oliph. Thou speakest against pilgrimage, the intent they would cause that the Christians which Mille. Give me the Lord’s Supper and and callest it a pilgrimage to whoredom. him to recant and forsake Christ....’ were present were Baptism, and take you the rest, and part the truth. But seeing no less rejoiced than them among you: for if there be seven, Mille. I affirm that, and say that it is not they could profit nothing the adversaries were why have you omitted one of them, to wit, commanded in the scripture, and that there thereby, and that he remained still firm confounded and ashamed. marriage, and give yourselves to slanderous is no greater whoredom in no places, than and constant, they laboured to persuade and ungodly whoredom. at your pilgrimages, except it be in common him by fair promises, and offer unto him a He being in the pulpit, and on his knees brothels. monk’s portion for all the days of his life, in at prayer, sir Andrew Oliphant one of the Oliph. Thou art against the blessed the Abbey of Dunfermline, so that he would Bishop’s Priests, commanded him to arise sacrament of the altar, and sayest, that the Oliph. Thou preachest quietly and privately deny the things he had taught, and grant and to answer to his Articles, saying on this Mass is wrong, and is Idolatry. in houses and openly in the fields. that they were heresy: but he continuing in manner: sir Walter Mille, arise and answer to the truth even unto the end, despised their the Articles, for you hold my Lord here over Mille. A Lord or a King sendeth and calleth Mille. Yea man, and on the sea also sailing threatenings and fair promises. long. To whom Walter after he had finished many to a dinner, and when the dinner is in in ship. his prayer, answered saying: we ought to readiness, he causeth to ring a bell, and the Then assembled together the bishops of St obey God more than men, I serve one more men come to the hall, and sit down to be Oliph. Wilt thou not recant thine erroneous Andrews, Moray, Brechin, Caithness, and mighty, even the omnipotent Lord: and partakers of the dinner, but the Lord turning opinions, and if thou wilt not, I will pronounce Athens, the Abbots of Dunfermline, Lindores, where you call me sir Walter, they call me his back unto them eateth all himself, and sentence against thee. Balmerino, and Coupar, with Doctors of Walter, and not sir Walter, I have been over mocked them: so do ye. Theology of St Andrews, as John Grierson long one of the Pope’s Knights. Now say Mille. I am accused of my life: I know I Black Friar, and Dean John Winram Sub-prior what thou hast to say. Oliph. Thou deniest the sacrament of the must die once, and therefore as Christ said of St Andrews, William Cranston Provost of altar to be the very body of Christ really in to Judas: Quod facis, fac citius (What thou the old College, with divers others, as sundry These were the Articles whereof he was flesh and blood. doest, do quickly). Ye shall know that I will friars black and gray. These being assembled accused, with his answers unto the same. not recant the truth, for I am corn, I am no and having consulted together, he was taken Mille. The very scripture of God is not to be chaff, I will not be blowen away with the wind out of prison and brought to the metropolitan Oliphant. What think you of Priests’ taken carnally but spiritually, and standeth in nor burst with the flail, but I will abide both. church where he was put in a pulpit before marriage? faith only: and as for the Mass, it is wrong, 4 The Bulwark April - June 2012 5 and more increase: so that the spirit the New and Old Testament unto us, of GOD working miraculously in him, for which as the faithful martyrs have made it manifest to the people that offered themselves gladly before, his cause and Articles were just and being assured after the death of their he innocently put down.