So Great a Cloud of Witnesses...2nd Installment: Walter Mill

This is an excerpt taken from "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" by John Foxe.

"The last martyr to die in Scotland was 82-year-old Walter Mill [or Milne] in 1558. In his youth, Mill had been a papist and for some time parish priest in the Church of Lunan in Angus. At some point in his life, he went to Germany and there heard the true Gospel. When he returned to Scotland, he set aside all things about the Roman Catholic church, began to teach Reformation doctrine and, though quite old, got married. Soon the bishops of Scotland began to suspect him of heresy. Realizing that he was about to be taken into custody and charged, Mill left his church and hid himself in the country for quite some time. Later the queen allowed him to return to is parish and preach. Nevertheless, not long after he was apprehended by two priests and taken to St. Andrews castle in Edinburgh.
At first Mill was threatened with torture and burning, but when this did not convince him to recant his Reformation beliefs and teachings, he was offered a monk's position and lifetime security in the Abbey of Dunfermline if he would deny the things he had taught, and agree that they were heresy. But he continued to maintain the truth of the Gospel despite their threats and enticing promises.
He was then taken to St. Andrews church and put into the pulpit to be accused before the bishops. Because of his age and his treatment in prison, Mill was unable to climb the pulpit stairs without help, and the bishops thought he would be too weak to speak loud enough for them to hear him. But when he spoke, his voice rang out with such courage and boldness that the Christians who were present rejoiced while his adversaries were confused and ashamed. Mill knelt in the pulpit and prayed so long that Andrew Oliphant, who had been a priest since the time of Cardinal Beaton, said to him, "Sir Walter Mill, get up and respond to the charges; you're holding my lords here too long." After he finished praying, Walter said, "You call me 'Sir Walter', call me 'Walter,' and not 'Sir Walter' . I have been one of the Pope's knights far too long. Now say what you have to say."
The examination proceeded in its expected direction, and at the end Andrew Oliphant asked Mill if he would recant his erroneous opinions. He answered, "I would rather forfeit ten thousand lives than give up a particle of the heavenly principles I received from the sufferings of my blessed Redeemer." Oliphant then pronounced sentence upon him and he was conducted back to prison for execution the next day.
When he was taken to the place of execution, Walter Mill expressed his religious sentiments so strongly and with such keenness of mind for his age and weak condition, that it astonished even his enemies. After prayer, he said to all, "Dear friends, the reason why I am to suffer this day is not because I have committed any crimes, although I consider myself a most miserable sinner before God, but it is for the defense of the faith of Jesus Christ as set forth in the Old and New Testament for us. It is that faith for which godly martyrs have offered themselves gladly before, being assured of eternal happiness. So this day I praise God that He has called me to be among those servants, and seal up His truth with my life, which I received from Him and willingly offer it back to Him for His glory.
"Therefore, if you wish to escape the second death, do not be seduced by the lies of priests, monks, friars, priors, abbots, bishops, and the rest of the sect of Antichrist. Depend only upon Jesus Christ and His mercy, so that you will be delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life." While he spoke there was great crying and mourning among the people, for they were stirred by his courage and boldness, his steadfastness and faith, and his words inflamed their hearts.

Walter Mill was them lifted up on the stake, and the faggots were lit. As the flames burned him, he cried out, "Lord, have mercy on me! Pray, people, while there is yet time!" And then he left this world to be with his Lord for whom he died. 
When the Reformation came fully upon Scotland in 1560, and the Scottish Parliament established Presbyterianism as the national faith, many costly images from papist churches were burned on the site of Walter Mill's martyrdom."


"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."-Hebrews 12:1-2