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

LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
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presented to the king a list, containing the names of some
hundreds, possessed of property and wealth, whom they
denounced as heretics; and endeavoured to procure his
consent to their condemnation, by flattering him with
the immense riches which would accrue to him from
their forfeiture. The first time the proposal was made,
James rejected it with strong marks of displeasure;
but so violent was the antipathy which he at last con¬
ceived against his nobility, and so much had he fallen un¬
der the influence of the clergy, that it is highly probable
he would have yielded to their solicitations, had not
that disaster happened, which put an end to his unhappy
life.
PERIOD II.
FROM THE FRENCH GALLETS, ANNO 1549. ’
While this fermentation of opinion was spreading
through the nation, Knox, from the state in which his
mind was, could not remain long unaffected. The re¬
formed doctrines had been imbibed by several of his ac¬
quaintances, and they were the topic of common conver¬
sation and dispute among the learned and inquisitive at
the university. His change of views first discovered itself
in his philosophical lectures, in which he began to for¬
sake the scholastic path, and to recommend to his pupils
a more rational and useful method of study. Even this
innovation excited against him violent suspicions of here¬
sy, which were confirmed, when he proceeded to repre¬
hend the corruptions which prevailed in the church.
It was impossible for him, after this, to remain in safety
at St. Andrews, which was wholly under the power of
Cardinal Beatoun, the most determined supporter of the
Romish church, and enemy of all reform. He left that
place, and retired to the south, where, within a short