Page 50 - DIVA_2_2008_No.33

JOHN KNOX (15147-1572)

The fourth huge limestone preacher at the royal couit.
At this time he married. He
figures on the Wall of the
was offered important posts
Reformation in the Parc des
in the religious hierarchy, but
Bastions in Geneva is of
refused. He was one of the
John Knox. Why should the
founders of Puritanism, but
leader of the Scottish
used his influence to stop
Refonnation be commemo-
England breaking up into
rated in Gene'va? In fact, he
numerous religious sects.
did spend a short time there.
But then in 1553 Edward VII
'Jery little is known abouthis
died at the age of 15 and his
early life. Those who have
sister Mary Tudor became
studied the subject assume
John Knox would normally
Queen of England. Shewas a
that he was bom into a fami-
have led a quiet acadetnic
fierce Catholic and the
ing corni'nunity to the east of
life, except that inApril 1547
Edinburgh, Scotland, in he came to the castle of St Protestant leaders fled for
their lives. Many who stood
about 1514. It is equally Andrews accompanied by
fum were burned at the
assiuned that he trained as a
his little group of scholars-an
stake. Knox took refuge in
priest, probably at St obscure and unknown
Franldurt and then Geneva.
Andrews. What is known is
teacher. But the sermons he
He noted that the fate of
that by 1540 he was a priest
preached electrified the
working in the village where garrison and they at once religion often depended on
the personal whims of an 'iu'i-
it is believed he was born,
recognized that the great
godly' monarch-even worse
and he was well viewed by
leader of the Scottish 'a woman'!
Cffl the (Catholic) church Protestants had arrived. After 'The
exercise of authority by a
authorities. initial resistance and an
E intemal snuggle with him- woman,' he stormed, 'is
contrary to natural law!'
Nevertheless, at about this
:$ self, Knox finally accepted (This declaration was to go
time the Protestant Reform
that he had been chosen by
down very badly with (the
that was sweeping through God to assume this role.
o Europe was finally brought Protestant) QueenElizabethI
0 to Scotland by a man called However, the Catholic who followed her sister
George Wishart. By 1545 authorities had asked France Mary Tudor to the English
throne.) He went so far as to
John Knox had become one
for some troops and when
suggest that the Protestant
ofWishart's close frierids and they arrived they quicldy
o allies. But these were religion must be preserved
captured the castle of St by force if necessary. In
o tumultuous times as Andrews and sent all of its
Protestants and Catholics Geneva, Jean Calvin and
occupants into captivity as
Th6odore de Beze were more
fought bloodily for control of
galley slaves. Some nineteen
inclined to patience and
the Christian church. The fol-
months later, through the
prayer. But Knox came to the
lowing year the Archbishop intervention of the English
fateful decision that the
of St Andrews had George
government, Knox was
church leaders should
Wishart arrested and bunnt at
released-but his health was
resist-by whatever means
the stake for heresy. The pemianently impaired.
necessary-any ruler who
martyrdom of Wishart was
threatened their religious
quickly avenged, for a few
There followed an interlude
beliefs.
weeks later the Archbishop
in England, where the
himself was murdered by a
government of the boy-king
For four short years-from
group of Protestants. The Edward VII was desperate to
1555 to 1559-Knox was
castle of St Andrews then recruit enthusiastic
minister to the English-
became the headquarters of
Protestant preachers. Knox
speaking exiles living in
the Protestant movement in
was sent all over England
Geneva. Here he spent the
Scotland.
and was even for a time a
happiest years of his life,
48 2 2008 Diva
wwwdivaNntevnaNonalch