The Swordbearer: John Knox and the European Reformation Book

This is the biography of one of Scotland's most famous reformers whose life story reads like an adventure thriller involving assassinations, revolution and undercover trips across Europe. In 1544 he was acting tutor to the sons of two families where he was brought into contact with George Wishart. In 1547 he was formally called to the ministry, and preached with acceptance. A few months later the castle fell to the French and for 18 months Knox remained a prisoner on the French galleys. In 1549 he regained his liberty and for four years made his home in England. In 1551 he was appointed one of the six chaplains to Edward VI and was consulted by Cranmer regarding his forty-two articles. On Mary's accession Knox fled to Dieppe and then to Geneva where he founded a congregation of his own. In 1557 the advocates of reform in Scotland bound themselves to religious revolution and by 1558 felt strong enough to summon Knox to their aid. Through the efforts of Knox, the assistance of England was obtained against the French invasion. Parliament ordered the ministers to draw up a Confession of Faith and Protestantism was established. Knox is often described as a pre-eminent type of religious Reformer who was dominated by his one transcendent idea, indifferent or hostile to every interest of life that did not serve its realization.Read More