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

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LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
trines for which they were accused. The providential
arrival of such an able champion of the cause, at this
crisis, must have been very encouraging to the assembly;
and the liberty of accompanying them, which he re¬
quested, was readily granted.
Lest the unexpected approach of such a multitude,
though unarmed, should alarm or offend the regent, the
Congregation (for so the protestants began at this time
to be called)'agreed to stop at Perth, and sent Erskine
of Dun before them to Stirling, to acquaint her with the
peaceable object and manner of their coming. Appre¬
hensive that their presence would disconcert her measures,
the regent had again recourse to dissimulation. She
persuaded Erskine to write to his brethren to desist
from their intended journey, and authorised him to pro¬
mise, in her name, that she would put a stop to the
trial. The Congregation testified their pacific intentions
by a cheerful compliance with this request, and the
greater part, confiding in the royal promise, returned to
their homes. But when the day of trial came, the sum¬
mons was called by the orders of the queen, the accused
were outlawed for not appearing, and all were prohibit¬
ed, under the pain of rebellion, from harbouring or as¬
sisting them.
Escaping from Stirling, Erskine brought to Perth the
intelligence of this disgraceful transaction, which could |
not fail to incense the Protestants. It happened that, '!
on the same day on which the news came, Knox, who ■
remained at Perth, preached a sermon, in which he
exposed the idolatry of the mass, and of image worship. ,
Sermon being ended, the audience quietly dismissed ; a
few idle persons only loitered in the church, when an
imprudent priest, wishing either to try the disposition
of the people, or to shew his contempt of the doctrine
which had been just delivered, uncovered a rich altar-
piece, decorated with images, and prepared to celebrate
mass. A boy, having uttered some expressions of dis- I
approbation, was struck by the priest. He retaliated by |