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

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LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
ous incident which took place on one of these occasions;
and although he has not named the person concerned in
it, most probably it was himself. One day a fine painted
image of the Virgin was brought into one of the galleys,
and presented to a Scots prisoner to kiss. He desired the
bearer not to trouble him, for such idols were accursed,
and he would not touch it. The officers roughly replied,
that he should; put it to his face, and thrust it into his
hands. Upon this he took hold of the image, and watch¬
ing his opportunity, threw it into the river, saying, “Lat
our Ladie now save hirself: sche is lycht anoughe, lat
hir leime to swime.” After this, they were no more troub¬
led in that way.
The galleys returned to Scotland in summer 1548, as
near as I can collect, and continued for a considerable
time on the east coast, to watch for English vessels.
Knox’s health was now greatly impaired by the severity
of his confinement, and he was seized with a fever, dur¬
ing which his life was despaired of by all in the ship.
But even in this state, his fortitude of mind remained
unsubdued, and he comforted his fellow-prisoners with
hopes of release. To their anxious desponding inquiries
(natural to men in their situation), “if he thought they
would ever obtain their liberty,” his uniform answer
was, “ God will deliver us to his glory, even in this life.”
While they lay on the coast between Dundee and St. An¬
drews, Mr. (afterwards Sir) James Balfour, who was
confined in the same ship, desired him to look to the
land, and see if he knew it. Though at that time very
sick, he replied, “ Yes, I know it well; for I see the
steeple of that place where God first opened my mouth
in public to his glory; and I am fully persuaded, how
weak soever I now appear, that I shall not depart this
life, till that my tongue shall glorify his godly name in
the same place.” This striking reply Sir James repeated,
in the presence of many witnesses, a number of years
before Knox returned to Scotland, and when there was
very little prospect of his words being verified.