On This Day in Scottish Reformation History

On this day 1546, Scottish Reformer George Wishart is arrested. Having said goodbye to his friend and bodyguard John Knox, who wished to accompany him, Wishart told him “Nay, return to your bairns (pupils), and God bless you; one is sufficient for a sacrifice”.

He continued to Ormiston and after supper addressed some friends on the death of God’s chosen children. He concluded by saying ” Methinks that I desire earnestly to sleep. Shall we sing a psalm?” so they sang the 51st Psalm.

He then went to bed with saying “God grant quiet rest”, but it was not to be. Before midnight the house was surrounded the Earl of Bothwell and several horsemen.

The Earl of Bothwell assured him no harm would come to him. Learning he was going to be protected, Wishart said “I thank God that one so honourable as your lordship receives me this night, being assured that having pledged your honour you will preserve me from injury without order of law. The law, I am not ignorant, is corrupt, and is used as a cloak under which to shed blood. But I less fear to die openly than to be slain in secret.”

Bothwell replied “Not only shall I protect you from secret violence, but I shall shelter you from the designs both of the governor and cardinal. In my keeping you shall be secure till I restore you to freedom or bring you again to this place.”

But three days later we find an entry in the Privy Council of Scotland’s records. It say’s “Meeting at Edinburgh, 19 January 1546. Present: Governor, Cardinal, bishop. of Galloway, Earl Bothwell, abbots of Paisley and Culross, lord Borthuik, Clerk Register. Business:- Earl Bothwell bound to deliver Master George Wishart to the Governor before 30 Jan.”

Wishart had been betrayed by Bothwell and would eventually be hanged and burnt at the stake on the 1st March 1546.

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