Inventors -- Juvenile literature; Kings and rulers -- Juvenile literature; Soldiers -- Juvenile literature
I want to take you back to the sixteenth century, into rugged Scotland,
and into the rugged times of that period of its history. I want to
introduce to you a man of whom it was said, "No grander figure can be
found in the history of the Reformation in this island, than that of
Knox."
John Knox was a boy when the Reformation movement began in Germany;
indeed it was ten years after that when he was ordained a priest. It was
twelve years later that he avowed himself a Protestant, and thus
incurred the wrath of the Cardinal. He was of course obliged to withdraw
from St. Andrew's, where he held the position of teacher, and seek a
place of refuge. This he found with a friend named Hugh Douglass. And
the old ruins of the chapel at that place are still called "Knox's
Kirk." One of his beloved friends was tried and condemned to the stake
for heresy. The Cardinal whose anger he had roused was killed about that
time, and Knox was suspected of having a hand in it; and, having been
tried, was condemned to the galleys. For about a year he suffered as a
prisoner and from illness. After he was set free he went to a town on
the borders of England, were he succeeded in turning the hearts of many
to the views of the Reformers. Always as he had opportunity he defended
the cause of the Reformation.
He was raised to a post of honor by King Edward, receiving the
appointment of King's Chaplain. He was offered a bishopric, but declined
that honor. At Edward's death he was again in danger. Because the new
sovereign was not in sympathy with the views which he was advocating,
and not thinking it wise to throw away his life, he went to the
Continent; he was for a time pastor of a church in Geneva, he became a
friend of Calvin and spent two or three peaceful years.
When he returned to England the Scottish clergy burned him in effigy,
and he was not well received even in England. Elizabeth was now upon the
throne, but this did not seem to make matters much better for Knox.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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