The
initials of the Protestant martyr at the site of his execution in front of St.
Andrews Castle in 1546.
"When the fyre was maid reddy, and the gallowse, at the Weste part of the
Castell, neir to the Priorie, my Lord Cardinall, dreading that Maister George
should have bene takin away by his friendis, tharefoir he commanded to bend all
the ordinance of the Castell richt against the place of executioun, and
commanded all his gunnaris to be readdy, and stand besyde thare gunnes, unto
such tyme as he war burned. All this being done, thei bound Maister George's
handis behind his back, and led him furth with thare soldeouris, from the
Castell, to the place of thare cruell and wicked executioun. (...)
After this, he was led to the fyre, with a rope about his neck, and a chaine of
irne about his myddill. When that he came to the fyre, he sat doun upon upoun
his knees, and rose agane; and thrise he said these wordis, "O thou
Saviour of the warld, have mercy upon me: Father of heavin, I commend my spreit
into thy holy handis." (...) And then by and by, he was putt upoun the
gibbet, and hanged, and there brynt to poulder [i.e. ashes]. When that the
people beheld the great tormenting of that innocent, thei mycht not withhold
frome piteous morning and complaining of the innocent lambes slawchter.
After the death of this blissed martyre of God, begane the people, in plaine
speaking, to dampne and detest the crueltie that was used. Yea, men of great
byrth, estimatioun, and honour, at open tables [Communion] avowed, That the
blood of the said Maister George should be revenged, or ellis thei should cost
lyef for lyef."
(from John Knox's 'Historie of the Reformatioun of Scotland')
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