Knox retires from St Andrew’s, and joins himself to the reformed—is degraded from the priesthood—reformation favoured by Regent Arran—Scottish Parliament authorize the use of the Scriptures in the vulgar language—the Regent abjures the reformed religion—Thomas Guillaume—George Wishart—Knox enters the family of Langniddrie as a tutor—Cardinal Beatoun assassinated—Knox persecuted by Archbishop Hamilton—averse to go to England—takes refuge in the Castle of St Andrew’s—his sentiments respecting the assassination of Beatoun—Sir David Lindsay of the Mount—Henry Balnaves of Halhill—John Rough—Knox’s call to the ministry—his reluctance to comply with it—reflections on this—his first sermon—his disputationbefore a convention of the clergy—the clergy begin to preach at St Andrew’s—success of Knox’s labours—castle taken, and Knox confined in the French galleys—his health injured—his fortitude of mind—writes a confession of faith—extract from his dedication to a treatise of Balnaves—his humane advice to his fellow‑prisoners—his liberation.
Knox arrives in England—state of the Reformation in that kingdom—Knox sent by the privy council to preach at Berwick—his great exertions—character of Bishop Tonstal—Knox defends his doctrine before him—is removed to Newcastle—made chaplain to Edward VI.—consulted in the revisal of the liturgy and articles—makes proposals of marriage to Marjory Bowes—receives marks of approbation from the privy council—incurs the displeasure of Earl of Northumberland—is honourably acquitted by the privy council—bad state of his health—preaches in London—declines accepting a benefice—refuses a bishopric—his objections to the worship and government of the church of England—private sentiments of English reformers similar to his—plan of Edward VI. for improving the church of England—state of his court—boldness and honesty of the royal chaplains—Knox’s sermons at court—his distress at the death of Edward—he retires to the north of England on the accession of Mary—returns to the south—his prayer for the queen—marries Marjory Bowes—displeasure of some of her relations at this—Roman Catholic religion restored by parliament—Knox continues to preach—his letters are intercepted—he is forced to abscond—and retires to Dieppe in France.
Knox’s uneasy reflections on his flight—letters to his friends in England—his eloquent exhortation to religious constancy—he visits Switzerland—returns to Dieppe with the intention of venturing into England—visits Geneva—forms an intimate friendshipwith Calvin—returns to Dieppe—distressing tidings from England—writes his Admonition—apology for the severity of its language—devotes himself to study at Geneva—his means of subsistence—called to be minister to the English exiles at Frankfort—dissensions among them about the liturgy—moderation with which Knox acted in these—harmony restored—disorderly conduct of the sticklers for the liturgy—rebuked by Knox—he is accused of high treason—retires to Geneva—turns his thoughts to his native country—retrospect of ecclesiastical transactions in Scotland from the time he left it—triumph of the popish clergy—execution of Melville of Raith—martyrdom of Adam Wallace—provincial councils of the clergy—canons enacted by them for reforming abuses—catechism in the vulgar language—Queen Dowager made Regent—she privately favours the protestants—violence of English Queen drives preachers into Scotland—William Harlow—John Willock—Knox visits his wife at Berwick—preaches privately in Edinburgh—John Erskine of Dun—William Maitland of Lethington—Knox’s letter to Mrs Bowes—he prevails on the protestants to abstain from hearing mass—preaches at Dun—at Calder house—Sir James Sandilands—John Spotswood—Lord Lorn—Lord Erskine—The Prior of St Andrew’s—Knox dispenses the sacrament of the supper in Ayrshire—Earl of Glencairn—first religious covenant in Scotland—conversation at court about Knox—he is summoned before a convention of the clergy—appears—preaches publicly in Edinburgh—his letter to Mrs Bowes—his letter to the queen regent—he receives a call from the English congregation at Geneva—leaves Scotland—clergy condemn him as a heretic, and burn his effigy—summary of the doctrine which he had taught—estimate of the advantages which accrued to the Reformation from this visit—letter of instruction which he left behind him.
Knox arrives at Geneva—happiness which he enjoyed in that city—his passionate desire to preach the gospel in his native country[—]he receives an invitation from the protestant nobles in Scotland—leaves Geneva—receives letters at Dieppe dissuading him from prosecuting the journey—his animated letter to the nobility—persecution of the protestants in France—Knox preaches in Rochelle—and at Dieppe—reasons which induced him not to proceed to Scotland—he writes to the protestants of Scotland—warns them against the Anabaptists—writes to the nobility—his prudent advice respecting resistance to the government—he returns to Geneva—assists in an English translation of the Bible—publishes his letter to the queen regent—and his Appellation from the sentence of the clergy—and his First Blast of the Trumpet—reasons which led to this publication against female government—Aylmer’s answer to it—Knox receives a second invitation from the protestant nobility of Scotland—progress which the Reformation had made—formation of private congregations—resolutions of a general meeting—protestant preachers taken into the families of the nobility—correspondence between the Archbishop of St Andrew’s and Earl of Argyle—martyrdom of Walter Mill—important effects of this—protestants present a petition to the regent—her fair promises to them—death of Queen Mary of England and accession of Elizabeth—Knox leaves Geneva for Scotland—is refused a passage through England—grounds of this refusal—Knox’s reflections on it—reason for his wishing to visit England—he writes to Cecil from Dieppe—arrives in Scotland.
Critical situation in which Knox found matters at his arrival—dissimulation of the Queen Regent—differences between her and Archbishop Hamilton accommodated—a provincial council of the clergy—reconciliation of the two archbishops—remonstrance presented by some members of the popish church—canons of the council—treaty between the regent and clergy for suppressing the Reformation—proclamation by the queen against the protestants—the preachers summoned to stand trial—Knox’s letter to Mrs Locke—clergy alarmed at his arrival—he is outlawed—herepairs to Dundee—protestants of the north resolve to attend the trial of their preachers—send information of this to the Regent—her duplicity—Knox preaches at Perth—demolition of the monasteries in that town—unjustly imputed to Knox—Regent threatens the destruction of Perth—protestants resolve to defend themselves—a treaty—Knox’s interview with Argyle and Prior—treaty violated by the Regent—the name of the Congregation given to the protestant association—Lords of the Congregation invite Knox to preach at St Andrew’s—archbishop opposes this by arms—intrepidity of Knox—he preaches at St Andrew’s—magistrates and inhabitants agree to demolish the monasteries and images, and to set up the reformed worship—their example followed in other parts of the kingdom—apology for the destruction of the monasteries—Lords of the Congregation take possession of Edinburgh—Knox is chosen minister of that city—Willock supplies his place after the capital was given up to the Regent—archbishop Hamilton preaches—Knox undertakes a tour of preaching through the kingdom—his family arrive in Scotland—Christopher Goodman—settlement of protestant ministers in principal towns—French troops come to the assistance of the Regent—Knox persuades the Congregation to seek assistance from the court of England—apologizes to Elizabeth for his book against female government—undertakes a journey to Berwick—succeeds in the negotiation—reasons for his taking a part in political managements—embarrassments in which this involved him—prejudices of the English court against him—their confidence in his honesty—his activity and danger—Lords of Congregation consult on the deposition of the Regent—Knox advises her suspension—influence of the reformation on civil liberty—political principles of Knox—resistance to tyrants not forbidden in the New Testament—disasters of the Congregation—their courage revived by the eloquence of Knox—his exertions in Fife—treaty between Elizabeth and Congregation—expedition of the French troops against Glasgow—English army enter Scotland—death of the Queen Regent—intrigues of the French court—civil war concluded—exertions of protestant preachers during the war—increase of their number—conduct of popish clergy—their pretendedmiracle at Musselburgh—meeting of parliament—petition of Protestants—Protestant Confession of Faith ratified by parliament—retrospective view of the advancement of the Reformation.