Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

moment to put forth. He knew how precious the
hours were, and that if the golden opportunity were
lost it would never return. He appealed to the
patriotism of the nobles and citizens. He told them
what an ignominious vassalage the Pope and the
Continental Powers had prepared for them and
their sons, namely, that of hewers of wood and
drawers of water to France. He especially
explained to them the nature of the Gospel, the
pardon, the purity, the peace it brings to
individuals, the stable renown it confers on
kingdoms; he forecast to them the immense issues
that hung upon the struggle. On the one side stood
religion, like an angel of light, beckoning Scotland
onwards; on the other stood the dark form of
Popery, pulling the country back into slavery. The
crown was before it, the gulf behind it. Knox
purposed that Scotland should win and wear the
crown.
The Reformer was declared an outlaw, and a
price set upon his head; but the only notice we find
him deigning to take of this atrocity of the regent
and her advisers, was in a letter to his brother-in-
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