History/Piety

The Martyrdom of Patrick Hamilton

Posted on by Carl Robbins

patrick-hamilton-1504-1528-hervormer-in-schotland-gestudeerd-in-wittenberg-levend-verbrandBoth our sons were named for martyrs for the Reformed Faith. Our oldest son is “John Patrick” after the great Patrick Hamilton, the first martyr of the Scottish Reformation.

Today, February 29, is the 488th anniversary of his slaughter at the hands of the Roman Catholic church in 1528.

Born in 1504, Hamilton was from one of the leading Roman Catholic aristocratic families of Scotland. Being related to King James of Scotland, he faced the prospect of a comfortable life (think Downton Abbey).

Hamilton studied at the University of Paris, where he was granted a Master’s degree at the age 16! While studying in Paris Hamilton was first exposed to the exploding Protestant doctrines being taught by Martin Luther. At the age of 20 (!) Hamilton became a faculty member of St. Andrews University back in his native Scotland. There he also served as a priest.

Young Patrick began preaching Reformation doctrines. This preaching caught the attention of his superiors and he was ordered to be tried for heresy. Before he could stand trial, Hamilton fled to Germany where he came in contact with William Tyndale, who was translating the Bible into English and was also a wanted man and being pursued by the pope’s agents.

Even with a price on his head Hamilton could not stay away from his beloved Scotland. He returned, and once again began to preach the doctrines of free grace and further breaking from Rome by getting married along the way.

Hamilton was so passionately desirous of spreading Reformation doctrine in his native land that he published a treatise entitled Patrick’s Places, which proclaimed many of Martin Luther’s doctrines, especially “Justification by Faith Alone” and “Sola Gratia”.

In early 1528 Hamilton was arrested and hauled before the archbishop and examined upon his doctrines. He was specifically charged with teaching the following:

  • There is no such thing as purgatory
  • That predestination is a biblical doctrine
  • Many other anti-Romish doctrines

He bravely confessed, was condemned and was sentenced to be burnt at the stake…as “A Protestant heretic”. The next day, February 29, 1528, Hamilton was marched to the front entrance of St. Salvator’s Chapel in St. Andrews where he was set on fire. His last intelligible words were “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”. He burned from noon until 6 PM.

His courage and writings attracted attention all over Scotland and the cause of Protestantism raced through the nation.

Carl Robbins
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Carl Robbins
Carl is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a graduate of Crichton College and Covenant Theological Seminary. Pastor Robbins has served churches in South Carolina, Oklahoma and Nevada. In addition Carl has served on the board of crisis pregnancy centers, Christian schools and seminaries. He has spoken to college groups, medical school forums, state legislative groups, seminary chapels and church conferences. His special passion is training pastors in developing countries. Carl and wife Sandy have been married for 37 years(!) and are the parents of three believing, adult children: John and his wife DeAnna and their children (Bray, Emmie Ruth, and Maggie Grace), James and his wife Megen and their children (Jack and Lainey Janice), and Sarah and her husband Andrew Holmes. Carl and Sandy love OU football, big dogs, good Mexican food, and the beach—any beach, any time.