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

LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
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wrath, refused to taste dinner. The papists, who had
accompanied him to the church, inflamed his resent¬
ment and that of the queen, by their representations.
That very afternoon Knox was taken from bed, and
carried before the Privy Council. Some respectable in¬
habitants of the city, understanding his situation, accom¬
panied him to the palace. He was told that he had of¬
fended the king, and must desist from preaching as long
as their majesties were in Edinburgh. He replied, that
“ he had spoken nothing but according to his text; and
if the church would command him to speak or abstain,
he would obey, so far as the word of God would permit
him.” Spottiswood says, that he not only stood to
what he had said in the pulpit, but added, “ That as the
king, for” the queen’s “ pleasure, had gone to mass, and
dishonoured the Lord God, so should he in his justice
make her the instrument of his overthrow. This speech,”
continues the archbishop’s manuscript, “esteemed too
bold at the time, came afterwards to be remembered, and
was reckoned among other his prophetical sayings, which
certainly were marvellous. The queen, enraged at this
answer, burst forth into tears.”
The report of the inhibition laid upon the Reformer
created great agitation in the city. His colleague, who
was appointed to supply his place during the suspension,
threatened to desist entirely from preaching. The
Town Council met, and appointed a deputation to wait
on their majesties, and request the removal of the in¬
hibition; and in a second meeting, on the same day,
they came to an unanimous resolution, that they would
“ in no manner of way consent or grant that his mouth
be closed,” but that he should be desired, “ at his plea¬
sure, and as God should move his heart, to proceed for¬
ward to time doctrine as before, which doctrine they
would approve and abide at to their life’s end.”
It does not appear that he continued any time sus¬
pended from preaching. For the king and queen left
Edinburgh before the next Sabbath, and the prohibit