During the sitting of the convention, Knox received a number of letters from his acquaintances in England, expressive of their high regard for the character of the regent, and their sorrow at so grievous a loss.[220] One of these was from Christopher Goodman, and another from John Willock, who either had not complied with the invitation of the General Assembly, or had again returned to England.[221] The other letters were from Englishmen, who had no immediate {178} connexion with Scotland. Dr Laurence Humphrey[222] urged Knox to write a memoir of the deceased. Had he done this, his intimate acquaintance with the regent would, no doubt, have enabled him to communicate many particulars of which we must now be content to remain ignorant; but though he had been disposed to undertake this task, the state of his health would have prevented its execution. The grief which he indulged on account of this mournful event, and the confusions which followed it, preyed upon his spirits, and injured his health.[223] In the month of October, he had a stroke of apoplexy, which affected his speech to a considerable degree. On this occasion, his enemies exulted, and circulated the most exaggerated tales respecting his disorder. The report ran through Scotland and England, that John Knox would never preach or speak more,――that his face was turned into his neck,――that he was become the most deformed creature ever seen,――that he was actually dead.[224] A most unequivocal proof {179} of the high consideration in which he was held, which our Reformer received in common with other great men of his age![225] {180} PERIOD IX. FROM OCTOBER 1570, WHEN HE WAS STRUCK WITH APOPLEXY, TO HIS DEATH, IN NOVEMBER 1572. THOSE who flattered themselves that the Reformer’s disorder was mortal, were disappointed; for he was restored to the use of his speech, and was able, in the course of a few days, to resume preaching, at least on Sabbath days.[226] He never recovered, however, from the debility which was produced by the apoplectic stroke.