Page:Life of John Knox (4).pdf/10

10 at Frankfort, on the 24th September, 1554, to be their pastor, a situation he accepted by the advice of the celebrated John Galvin, but which he did not long enjoy, for having opposed the introduction of the English liturgy, and refused to celebrate the communion according to the forms prescribed by it, he was deprived of his office; and, such was the malice of his enemies, that, taking advantage of a passage in his "Admonition to England," wherein he compares the Emperor to Nero, and the Queen of England to Jezebel, they accused him to the magistrates of treason. These gentlemen perceiving the spirit by which his accusers were actuated, found means to apprise him of his danger; and on the 26th march, 1555, he left Frankfort for Geneva, form whence he proceed to Dieppe, and shortly afterwards to Scotland, where he arrived in the month of August.

On his arrival be found the reformers much increased in number, and after assisting them to rectify some errors which had erept into their practice, accompanied John Erskine of Dun to his seat in the Mearns, where he continued a month, preaching to the principal people in that country. He afterwards resided at Calder-house, the residence of Sir James Sandilands, where he was attended by a number of personages of the first rank; and, among others, by the prior of St. Andrew's, afterwards earl of Moray. During the winter he visited Edinburgh; preached in many places of Ayrshire; and in the beginning of 1556, at the request of the earl of Glencairn, administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to his lordship's family, and a number of friends, at his seat of Finlayston.

In this way did Mr Knox continue preaching, sometimes in one place, and sometimes in another.