Life of John Knox - M'Crie - VIII - Period 5 concluded

Required reading
The life of John Knox by Thomas M'Crie (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Period 5.

My summary
Tension continues to build between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants in Scotland.  Knox tries to drum up support from England.

Then M'Crie also gives us a discussion Knox's views on politics, including when it is not right to submit to the authorities.

By the end of the chapter the English army has entered Scotland and 'Roman Catholic worship was almost universally deserted through the kingdom'.

What grabbed me
Knox continues to experience trouble resulting from his treatise against female rulers: 'Knox himself wrote to Cecil, requesting permission to visit England, and enclosed a letter to Queen Elizabeth, in which he attempted to apologise for his rude attack upon female government. There was nothing at which he was more awkward than making apologies, and in the present instance, he was the more embarrassed as he could not in conscience retract the sentiments that had given offence. The letter contains professions of strong attachment to Elizabeth's government ; but the strain in which it is written is such as, if it was ever read by that high-minded princess, must have aggravated, instead of extenuating, his offence.'

I think we can all learn a lesson from Knox that we should be very careful whenever we write.

Next week's reading
Commence Period 6 by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'This interview excited great speculation, and different conjectures were formed as to its probable consequences.'

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.