Volume 1

Biographia Scoticana, or, A brief historical account of the most eminent Scots worthies : noblemen, gentlemen, ministers, and others, who testified or suffered for the cause of Reformation in Scotland ; from the beginning of the sixteenth century, to the year 1688 / originally compiled by John Howie; now revised, corrected and enlarged, by a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, and enriched with a preface and notes, by William M'Gavin.

  • Howie, John, 1735-1793.
Date:
1828-9
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Biographia Scoticana, or, A brief historical account of the most eminent Scots worthies : noblemen, gentlemen, ministers, and others, who testified or suffered for the cause of Reformation in Scotland ; from the beginning of the sixteenth century, to the year 1688 / originally compiled by John Howie; now revised, corrected and enlarged, by a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, and enriched with a preface and notes, by William M'Gavin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    103/652
    , of David Forrest, Robert Lockhart, John Willock, and William Maitland, younger of Lethington: he gave such satisfactory answers to all the objections which were started by the company, that Mait- land ended the conversation, by saying, “ I see very well that all our shifts will serve nothing before God, seeing they stand us in so small stead before men.’' From this time forward, the mass was very little revered amongst them. Knox continued a month, at the Laird of Dun’s, preaching every day; the principal gentlemen of the country resorting to his minis > try. From thence he went to Calder, where the Earl of Argyle, then Lord Lorn, and Lord James Stuart, afterwards Earl of Moray, heard his doctrine, and highly approved of it. During the winter, he taught in Edinburgh, and, in the beginning of spring, went to Ayrshire, where he preached in different places. The Earl of Glencairn sent for him to Finlayston, where, after sermon, lie administered the Lord’s supper, and then returned to Calder. The people being thus instructed, began to refuse all superstition and idolatry, and set themselves to the utmost of their power to support the true preaching of the gospel. This alarmed the Popish clergy so much, that they from all quarters complained to the bishops; and Knox was summoned to appear in the Black Friars’ church of Edinburgh, on the 15th of May following. This appoint- ment he resolved to observe; and accordingly came to Edinburgh, in company with the Laird of Dun, and several other gentlemen ; but the diet did not hold, because the bishops were afraid to pro- ceed further against him. The consequence was, that, on the same day on which he should have appeared before them, he preached to a greater audience in Edinburgh, than ever he had before. The Earl of Marischal being induced by Lord Glencairn to hear one of his discourses, was so delighted with his doctrine, that he immediately proposed that something should be done, to secure the approbation and protection of the Regent to his ministrations. Knox accord- ingly addressed her in a letter which was delivered into her own hand by Glencairn. When she had read it, she gave it to Beaton, a nephew of the late cardinal, and then Archbishop of Glasgow saying in ridicule, “ Please you, my Lord, to read a pasquil ?” About this time, [1555], he received a letter from the English congregation at Geneva, who w*ere not in communion with that ot Frankfort, in which they intimated their choice of him as pastor, and besought him in the name of God, that he w ould speedily come to them. In obedience to this call, he resolved to go, and sent his wdfe and mother-in-law before him to Dieppe; but by the impor- tunity of some gentlemen, he was prevailed on to stay some time longer in Scothand. This time he spent in going about exhorting the several congregations in which he had preached, to be fervent in prayer, frequent in reading the Scriptures, and in mutual conferen- ces, till God should give them greater liberty. The Earl of Argyle, and others, earnestly solicited him permanently to remain in this country, but without effect. He told them, that, if they continued steadfast in the profession of the faith, God w^ould bless these small