Scottish reformer
Educated
in Glasgow and possibly at St. Andrews, Knox received minor orders,
set up as a notary in Haddington, and then became a private tutor, c.
1544. Soon afterwards he embraced the principles of the Reformation.
After being taken prisoner by the French during their attack on St.
Andrews, he made his way from France to England, where he served briefly
as chaplain to Edward VI. Upon Queen Mary’s ascension, he fled to the
continent, where he met and was influenced by John
Calvin in Geneva, c. 1554.
Eventually returning to Scotland in 1559, Knox became a leader of the Reforming party, drew up the Scottish Confession, and was the main author of the Book of Common Order (1556-64), the Scottish service book.
One of Knox’s significant works is History of the Reformation of Religion within the Realms of Scotland. Originally issued in an unfinished edition in 1587, it was immediately seized and suppressed. The first complete edition appeared in 1644.
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Knox, John
(c. 1513-1572) The Historie of the Reformation of Religioun within the Realm of Scotland......taken from the original manuscript Edinburgh: Fleming, 1732 Click to view enlargement |
