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

LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
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the indignity shewn to her person. She tound herself,
however, unable to resume her plan for altering the re¬
ceived religion; and the Earl of Murray, with the other
lords who had opposed her marriage, were soon after
pardoned.
When the queen came to Edinburgh, Knox left it,
and retired to Kyle. There is no reason to think that
he was privy to the conspiracy which proved fatal to
Rizio. But it is probable that he had expressed his
satisfaction at an event, which contributed to the safety
of religion and the commonwealth, if not also his appro¬
bation of the conduct of the conspirators. At any rate,
he was, on other grounds, sufficiently obnoxious to the
queen ; and as her resentment, on the present occasion,
was exceedingly inflamed, it was deemed prudent for
him to withdraw.
Having, at last, “ got quit” of one who had long been
troublesome to her, the queen was determined to prevent
his return to the capital. We need not doubt that the
Town Council and inhabitants, who had formerly refused
to agree to his suspension from preaching for a short
time, would exert themselves to obtain his restoration.
But she resisted the importunities of all his friends.
She was even unwilling that he should find a refuge
within the kingdom, and wrote to a nobleman in the
west country, with whom he resided, to banish him
from his house. It does not appear that he returned to
Edinburgh, or, at least, that he resumed his ministry in
it, until the queen was deprived of the government.
Being banished from his flock, he judged this a
favourable opportunity for paying a visit to England.
Parental affection, on the present occasion, increased
the desire which he had long felt to accomplish this
journey. His two sons had some time ago been sent by
him into that kingdom, probably at the desire of their
mother’s relations, to obtain their education in some of
the English seminaries. Having obtained the queen’s
safe-conduct, he applied to the General Assembly, which