Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/261

 THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX. 251 is full of a noble, heartfelt, we might call it holy- sympathy, — pious and pure in a high degree. The noble and zealous Wishart, * at the end of the Holy dayis of Yule,' 1546, came to Haddington, full of hope that the great tidings he was preaching would find a fervour of acceptance from the people there ; but Wishart's disappointment, during the three days and nights that this visit lasted, was mournfully great. The first day the audience was considerable (what Knox calls 'reasonable'), but nothing like what had been expected, and formerly usual to "Wishart in that kirk on such occasions. The second day it was worse, and the third * so sclender, that many wondered.' The fact was that the Earl of Bothwell, the afterwards so famous and infamous, at this time High Sheriff of the County of Haddington, and already a stirring questionable gentleman of ambi- dexterous ways, had been busy, privately intimating from his great Cardinal, that it might be dangerous to hear Wishart and his preachings; and that prudent people would do well to stay away. The second night Wishart had lodged at Lethington, with Maitland, father of the afterwards notable Secretary