Scotland/Scots > Life of John Knox ; and, The life of Alexander Henderson

THE
LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
PERIOD I.
FROM HIS BIRTH, ANNO 1505, TO HIS EMBRACI
RELIGION, ANNO 154.2.
OF THE REFORMED
John Knox was bom in tbe year 1505. The place of
his nativity has been disputed. That he was born at
Gifford, a village in East Lothian, has been the most
prevailing opinion; but the tradition of the country
fixes his birth at Haddington, the principal town of the
county. The house in which he is said to have been
bom is still shewn by the inhabitants, in one of the
suburbs of the town, called the Gifford-gate. This house,
with some adjoining acres of land, continued to be
possessed by the family until about fifty years ago,
when it was purchased from them by the Earl of
Wemyss.
The name of his mother was Sinclair. His father
was descended from an ancient and respectable family,
who possessed the lands of Knock, Ranferly, and Craig-
ends, in the shire of Renfrew. The descendants of
this family have been accustomed to claim him as a
cadet, and to enumerate among the honours of their
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