BEATON, 1Wton, Scot. pron. beton. or BETH UNE, DA VID (1494-1546). A cardinal and primate of Scotland, noted for his opposition to the Reformation in that country, and for his persecution of Protestants. He was born in Fife and became a student at Saint Andrews Univer sity, afterwards studying canon and civil law in Paris. After filling several minor positions with ability, he was appointed Lord Privy Seal in 1528, and in 1533 went as Ambassador to France. On the heommendation of the King, Pope Paul Ill. in 1538 made Beaton cardinal, and in 1539, at his uncle's death, he became Archbishop of Saint Andrews. On the death of James V., December 14. 1542, after the disastrous overthrow of the Scots at Solway Moss, Beaton produced a forged will of the late King. appointing himself, with three others, Re gent of the kingdom during the minority of the infant Queen, Mary. The nobility, however, re jected the fictitious document, and elected the Earl of Arran regent, who then professed the Re formed faith. The following month, Beaton was arrested and imprisoned, accused, among other charges, of a design to introduce French, troops into Scotland, in order to stop the negotiations then in progress with Henry of England for a marriage between the young Prince of Wales, afterwards Edward VI., and the infant Queen of Scots. He was soon after liberated, and recon ciled to the Regent, whom he induced to abandon the English interest, and publicly to abjure the Reformed religion. On the young Queen's corona tion in 1543, Beaton was again admitted to the council and appointed Chancellor. He now re newed his persecution of the Reformers, and in January, 1546, accompanied by the Regent, he made a diocesan visitation of the counties under his jurisdiction, and punished with the utmost severity all the Protestants lie could find. At
Perth, a number of persons accused of heresy were banished from the city, others imprisoned: three men were cruelly hanged, and one woman drowned by his directions. During a provincial council of the clergy held in Edinburgh. at which he presided, he caused the celebrated evan gelical preacher, George \\'ishart, to be appre hended and conveyed to the castle of Saint An drews, where he was burned at the stake. Bea ton and other prelates witnessed his sufferings from a window. The Lairds of Fife, friends of Wishart, determined to avenge him and secure their own safety by compassing the Cardinal's death. John Leslie. brother to the Earl of Rothes, his nephew Norman and Kirkaldy of Grange, entered the archiepiscopal palace by stealth, and, surprising the Cardinal in his bed room, murdered him on May 29, 1546. Although a talented man, Beaton was arrogant, cruel, and immoral. lie had six natural children. He married the three daughters into titled families, and one of his sons became a Protestant. Con suit: Keith, Catalogue of the Bishops (Edin burgh, 1755, 1824) ; Spottiswood, History of the Church of Scotland (London, 1655: Edinburgh, 1851) ; Chambers, Biographical Dictionary of EmineW Scotsmen (London, 1875) ; Burton, His tory of Scotland (Edinburgh, n.d., Index.)