Knox, John (1), the Reformer of Scotland.
I. Early Life. — He was born in GifFord, a vUlage in East Lothian, in 1505, of respectable parents, members of the Romish Chiu-ch, who were able to give their son a liberal education. After spending some time at the grammar-school of Haddington, he was sent by his fa- ther, in 1521, to the University of Glasgow. Here he studied under Jlayor, a famous professor of philosophy and theology, A disciple, by the way, of Gerson and Pe- ter d'Ailly, he advocated the supremacy of general coun- cils over the popes, and, carrying this view into polities, held also that the king's authoritj^ is derived from the people — a doctrine which he inculcated in his pupils (Knox as well as Buchanan), and which fully explains the democratic tendencies of the Scottish reformer. Soon after taking the degree of M. A., Knox became an assist- ant professor, and rivalled his master in the subtleties of the dialectic art. He obtained clerical orders even before he reached the age fixed by the canons, and about 1530 went to St. Andrew's, and began to teach there. A veil of obscurity hangs over his life for several of the fol- lowing years. It is supposed, however, that the study of the fathers, especially Jerome and Augustine, shook his attachment to the Romish Church as early as 1535, but he did not become an avowed Protestant until 1542 — a fact which shows that he did not act from hasty or turbulent impulses, but with prudence and deliberation, Ilis reproof of existing corruptions compelled him to re- tire from St. Andrew's to the south of Scotland, and he was degraded from his orders as a heretic. He now be- came a tutor to the sons of two noble families, and oc- casionally preached to the people in the neighborhood. During this period he became a frequent companion of the reformer and martyr Geo. Wishart, to whose instruc- tions he was greatly indebted. When Wishart was ap- prehended, Knox would fain have clung to him and shared his fate, but his friend refused, saying, '• Nay, re- turn to your bairns, and God bless j'ou ; one is suffi- cient for a sacrifice." Wishart was burnt at the stake, under cardinal Beaton's orders, in ^M arch, 1540, and with- in two mouths afterwards the cardinal was put to death
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in liis own castle of St. Andrew's by a band of nobles and | others who held the castle as a stronghold of the re- furniing interest. Knox, who was dail_y in danger of liis life from Beaton's successor, determined to go to Germany to inirsue his studies, but was induced by the parents of his pupils to give up his purpose and take refuge in the castle, which he did with many other Protestants in Easter, 1547. Here for the first time he entered upon the public ministry of the Gospel, and he distinguished himself both as a powerfid preacher and a fearless opponent of the papacy. But this did not continue long. *
II. His Ej-ik. — The arrival of a French fleet enabled the regent of Scotland to invest the castle by sea and by land, and on the last day of July the garrison was com- IX'lled to surrender, wliich tliej^ did upon honorable terms. But instead of being simply expatriated according to the engagement, they were taken to France, whore the principal gentlemen were held as prisoners, and Knox and others were made galley-slaves. The following winter the galleys lay on the Loire, but the next sum- mer they cruised on the east coast of Scotland, often in sight of the steeple of St. Andrew's. Knox's constancy continued unshaken under all toils and trials, which were greatly increased at one time by disease, until in Feb. 15-19, after nineteen months of bondage, he was re- leased through the personal interposition of Edward Yl of England with the king of France. He immediately repaired to England, where he was warmly welcomed by Cranmer and the council. He was stationed in the nortli at Berwick, and afterwards at Newcastle, where he labored indefatigably, preaching often every daj' in the week, notwithstanding many bodily infirmities. He enjoyed the confidence of the English reformers, was made one of king Edward's chaplains, was consulted in the revision of the Prayer-book, and also of the j\rticles of Religion, and was oifered the bishopric of Rochester, but declined it from scruples as to the divine authority of the office. After five years of great and faithful ac- tivity, at the end of which he married a Miss Bowes, of Berwick, the accession of jNIary to the throne put an end to his usefidness and endangered his life. His own de- sire was to remain and meet the issue, for, as he said, "never could he die in a more honest quarrel," but the tears and importunity of friends prevailed on him to Hy. Accordingly, in January, 1554, he took ship to Dieppe, Mhere lie sjjent his first leisure in writing suitable ad- vices to those whom he coidd no longer reach by his voice. Afterwards he travelled in France and Switzer- land, visiting particidar churches and conferring with the learned. At Geneva he studied Hebrew, anil form- ed with the celebrated Calvin an intimate friendship, Avhich ended only with Calvin's death. By Calvin's infiucnce he was induced to take charge of the Church of English exiles at Frankfort-on-the-ilain, but un- happy disputes about the service-book led to his with- drawal after less than six months' service, in March, 1555. He immediately turned his steps to Geneva, where he took charge of an English congregation. But in the same year he made a flying visit to Scotland, during which he preached incessantly, and labored night and day. Among the many distinguished converts he made at this time figured three young lords, wlio after- wards played no unimportant part in the affairs of their country: Archibald Horn, later earl of Argyle; James Stuart, natural brother of ^lary, and later earl of Mur- ray, and regent during the minority of James YI; and John Erskine, who, under the title of earl of JMarr, also acted as regent. His influence rendered the reformers more decided in their course, and he instituted in 1556 the first of those rehgious bonds or covenants which are so marked a feature in Scottish ecclesiastical hi^torj'. But he judged that the time was not ripe for a general movement, and accordingly returned to Switzerland. After his departure he was cited to appear before an as- sembly of the h'omish clergy, and in his absence was condemned to be burnt as a heretic, and the sentence