Synopses & Reviews
JOHN KNOX by G. R. PEARCE CONTENTS Chapter I. 1505-1547 Birth and parentage George Wishart Knox becomes Reformer relations between Scotland and England Cardinal Beaton assassination in St. Andrews Knox joins the rebels appointed preacher siege and capture of St. Andrews Castle condemned to the galleys. Chapter II. 1547-1554 Knox in the galleys independence of spirit release sent to Berwick Mrs. Bowes and Marjory Bowes Knox appointed preacher to the king opposition to Cranmer the Second Prayer Book summoned before Privy Council accession of Mary Tudor Lady Jane Grey persecution of the Protestants, Chapter III. I554-I555 At Dieppe prophetical thunderings meeting with Calvin appointed preacher at Frankfort religious wranglings expelled by the magistrates Geneva return to Berwick marriage to Marjory Bowesin Scotland venality of the Church jealousy of the nobles policy of Mary of Guise the progress of the Reformers. Chapter IV. 1555-1558 Knox summoned for heretical teaching at Edinburgh successful preaching tour a letter to theregent Calvins victory organisation of the Genevan Church oppressive measures Knox called back to Scotland stopped at Dieppe The First Blast of the Trumpet return to Geneva death of May Tudor and accession of Elizabeth of England. Chapter V. 1558-1559 The Lords of the Congregation marriage of Mary Queen of Scots reformed preachers summoned to Edinburgh rioting in the capital the Beggars Summons penalties against the Protestants Knox and Cecil rebellion of the Congregation the outbreak at Perth. Chapter VI. 1559-1560 Destruction of the monasteries a rascal multitude Lord James Stewart the Lords support the rebellion truce between Mary of Guise and the Congregation Knoxs growing authority the Protestants seize the capital Knox negotiates with England the Congregation depose the regent defeat of the Reformers death of Mary of Guise. Chapter VII. 1560-1561 Triumph of the Congregation penalties against the Catholics Knox appointed to St. Giles, Edinburgh the Confession of Faith organisation of the Kirk a scheme for national education the Book of Discipline not accepted by Parliament death of Knoxs wife arrival of Mary Queen of Scots marriage projects Knoxs criticisms of the queen, Chapter VIII. 1561-1563 Knoxs audiences with the queen the greed of the nobles starving the Kirk assaults on the Catholics Mary appeals to Knox Parliament summoned Mary refuses to recognise the laws the desertion of the Lords Knoxs protests to Parliament the quarrel with Lord James Stewart. Chapter IX. 1563-1571 Knox charged with illegal convocation trial before Privy Council forbidden to preach in Edinburgh assassination of David Rizzio Darnley and Bothwell Mary forced to abdicate James VI of Scotland Moray appointed regent Kirkcaldy of Grange Knoxs life threatened transferred to St. Andrews. Chapter X. 1571-1572 Dissensions at St, Andrews growth of Marys party Morton aiid the archbishops robbing the Kirk Knox invited to Edinburgh massacre of St. Bartholomew du Croc death of Knox. CHRONOLOGY 1505... .John Knox born near Haddington. 1545... .Meets George Wishart. 1547... .Joins rebels in St. Andrews. 1547-49 Prisoner In the French galleys. 1549... .Appointed preacher in Berwick, 1553... .Death of Edward VI. 1554... .Knox flees from England. 1555... .Marriage to Marjory Bowes, 1556... .Minister at Geneva. 1558... .Publication of the First Blast. 1559... .Return to Scotland. 1560... .Treaty of Edinburgh. 1561... .Arrival of Mary Queen of Scots. 1563... .Knox tried for sedition. 1564.... Marriage to Margaret Stewart. 1566... .Assassination of Rizzio. 1567... .Mary Queen of Scots abdicates. 1570... .Murder of the Regent Moray. 1571... .Knox transferred to St. Andrews. 1572... .Death of Knox at Edinburgh.
Synopsis
He was born near Haddington, the son of a yeoman, William Knox. Neither of his father nor his mother, who was named Sinclair, does John Knox give any particulars, and, although he may have had several brothers and sisters, there is a record only of an elder brother. Haddington had a burgh school and a Church school, and Knox probably obtained his early education at the former. In 1522, at the age of seventeen, he became a student at Glasgow University under John Major, a scholar with a Continental reputation and the most famous teacher of his day in Scotland. It is known that Knox took orders and acted as a notary under the authority of the Church, but from 1522 to 1545 his career is practically a total blank. We do not know how he conducted himself as a priest, or whether he was attracted by the doctrines of the Reformed Church long before he came out into the open as the bitter opponent of Rome. A papist chronicler affirms that Knox was a man of scandalous life, notorious for his immoral practices, his relations with loose women, and his unnatural lusts. Little credence can, however, be placed on the unconfirmed assertion of a man who was not only on the opposite side in religion but had a personal antagonism towards Knox.