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

LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
127
she renewed the process, and summoned all the preach¬
ers to appear at Stirling, on the tenth of May, to under¬
go a trial.
The state of our Reformer’s mind, upon receiving
this information, will appear from the following letter,
hastily written by him on the day after he landed in
Scotland.
“ The perpetual comfort of the Holy Ghost for saluta¬
tion.
“ These few lines are to signify unto you, dear sister,
that it hath pleased the merciful providence of my hea¬
venly Father to conduct me to Edinburgh, where I arriv¬
ed the 2d of May: uncertain as yet what God shall
further work in this country, except that I see the battle
shall be great. For Satan rageth even to the uttermost,
and I am come, I praise my God, even in the brunt of the
battle. For my fellow preachers have a day appointed
to answer before the Queen Regent, the 10th of this in¬
stant, when I intend (if God impede not) also to be pre¬
sent ; by life, by death, or else by both, to glorify his
godly name, who thus mercifully hath heard my long
cries. Assist me, sister, with your prayers, that now I
shrink not, when the battle approacheth. Other things
I have to communicate unto you, but travel after travel
doth so occupy me, that no time is granted me to write.
Advertise my brother, Mr. Goodman, of my estate; as,
in my other letter sent unto you from Dieppe, I willed
you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest with you.
From Edinburgh, in haste, the 3d of May.”
Although his own cause was prejudged, and sentence
already pronounced against him, he did not hesitate a
moment in resolving to present himself voluntarily at
Stirling, to assist his brethren in their defence, and share
in their danger. Having rested only a single day at
Edinburgh, he hurried to Dundee, where he found the
principal protestants in Angus and Mearns already as¬
sembled, determined to attend their ministers to the
place of trial, and to avow their adherence to the doc-