KNOX, JOHN The great Scottish reformer, lie was born in 1505 at Giffordgate, Haddington, about 25 miles east of Edinburgh. lie received his early education at the grammar school of Haddington, and in 1522 went to the rniversity of Glasgow, where for a short time he is thought to have been a pupil of John Major (q.v.), and from him probably imbibed some of the freedom of political opinion and independence of thought .that afterwards characterized him. On leaving the university he returned to his na tive district. He is mentioned as apostolieal notary in the Diocese of Saint Andrews in March, 1543, and seems also to have been admitted to minor orders. In 1544 he was living as a tutor in Longniddry House, three miles west of Had dington. Thereafter he emerges from obscurity. lie must already have embraced Protestantism, for he now appears as the companion of George ‘Visbart (q.v.). While the latter prosecuted his career as a preacher in East Lothian, Knox wailed upon him, Tearing before him, he tells us. a 'twa-handed sword.' lie was ready to defend his friend at the peril of his own life, hut the latter dismissed him. After Wishart's seizure and death (March, 1546), he returned to the charge of his pupils. On Slay 29, 1546, Cardinal Beaton (q.v.) was murdered in his castle of Saint Andrews in revenge for Wishart's execution. The castle was taken possession of by the band which bad accomplished the audacious design, and be came the temporary stronghold of the reforming interest. Knox took refuge there with his two pupils. Here his gifts as a preacher were first recognized and the parish church of Saint An drews resounded with his voice in denunciation of 'popery.' His career at this time, however, was cut short by the surrender of the fortress (July 31, 1547) and his capture. For nineteen months he was a galley slave, and during the winter of 1347-48 was kept at. Nantes. At the request of Edward VI. he and others were released in Feb ruary, 1549, and allowed to depart for England, where he resided till early in 1554. 1-1e was ap pointed one of Edward VI.'s chaplains and lived on terms of intimate intercourse with Cranmer and other English reformers. He is supposed to have had considerable influence on the course of the English Reformation. especially in regard to the liberal changes introduced into the service and prayer book of the Church of England at the close of Edward's reign. lie preached in a num ber of places; at Berwick, on the Scottish border (154!.-51), Newcastle (1551-53), and in London and the south. Probably. in 1553 he married Margery Bowes. The accession of Mary drove
him. and others to the Continent. lie settled tem porarily at Dieppe (January, 1554), whence he wrote .1 Godly Letter Sent to the Faithful in London, Newcastle, and Berwick, and a pamphlet, A Faithful Admonition to the Professors of God's Faith in Englund. Ile went to Geneva and then to Frankfort-on-the-Slain, where he participated in the 'Frankfort troubles,' certain disputes as to the use of King Edward's service book in the congregation of English Protestants there. lu 1555 he visited Scotland, and remained there for some months. Then he accepted a call from the English Church at Geneva, and was settled as pastor for nearly three years—among the quietest and probably the happiest years of his life. Thence he issued his famous First Blast of the Trumpet Against the 31onstrous Regiment of Women (i.e. Queen Mary of England. Slary of Guise, and her daughter, Slary Stuart). Queen Elizabeth, taking offense at this work, refused to allow him to pass through England when re called to Scotland.
Knox returned to Scotland in Slay, 1559, and entered upon his triumphant course as a re former. Political necessities had driven the Queen Regent (Mary of Guise) to temporize with the 'lords of the congregation' or the reforming nobles. Having somewhat reestablished her power, she sought to withdraw her concessions (May, 1539) ; but the reforming impulse had gathered a strength that could no longer be re sisted. The heads of the party, assembling at Dundee, under Erskine of Dun, proceeded to Perth. There the pent-up enthusiasm which had been long collecting was roused into furious ac tion by a sermon of Knox on the idolatry of the mass and of image-wo•ship (July, 1559). A riot ensued. The 'rascal multitude,' as Knox himself called them, broke all bounds and de stroyed the churches and monasteries. Similar disturbances followed at Stirling, Lindores. Saint Andrews, and elsewhere. The flame of religious revolution was kindled throughout the country. aggravating the civil war already raging. At length the assistance of Elizabeth and the death of the Queen Regent (June, 1560) brought matters to a crisis; a truce was proclaimed, and a free Parliament summoned to settle differences. The result of the Parliament, which met in August. 1560, was the overthrow of the old religion. and the establishment of the Reformed Kirk in Scot land. In all this Knox was not only an active agent, hut the agent above all others. The orig inal Confession- of Faith of the Reformed Kirk and the First Book of Discipline bear the impress of his mind.