Page:Life of John Knox (3).pdf/9

9 Here he continued to teach his pupils in the usual manner, but his lectures were now attended by a number of people belonging to the town, who earnestly entreated him to preach in public. This task he at first declined but afterwards accepted a call from the pulpit, and in his very first sermon discovered such zeal learning and intrepidity, as evinced the prudence of their choice, and how eminently qualified he was for the discharge of these duties. This success caused such alarm among the Popish clergy that a letter was sent to the sub-prior, by the abbot of Paisley: natural brother of the Regent, who had been nominated to the archbishopric reproving him for his negligence, in allowing such doctrines to be taught without opposition. A meeting of the clergy was held in consequence and every scheme they could devise put in practice to hurt Mr Knox's usefulness; but, in a public disputation, he replied to all their arguments with so much acuteness as completely to silence them, and gained many proselytes, who made profession of their faith by partaking of the communion openly, which he was the first to administer in the manner practised at present.

This success was not of long duration, for a body of French troops was sent to besiege the castle, and it was compelled to surrender on the 23d July when he, along with the garrison, was sent prisoner to France, and confined in the gallies till the year 1549. On obtaining his liberty he retired to England, where he preached sometime at Berwick, afterwards at Newcastle and London, and was at last chosen, one of the itinerants appointed by Edward VI to preach the Protestant doctrine through England. Upon the death of that Prince on the 6th July, 1553, he went to Geneva, where he resided when he was chosen by the English church