and general council ;” adding, “these things I require of your honours to be granted unto me, viz., that the doctrines which our adversaries condemn for heresy may be tried by the plain and simple word of God; that the just defences be admitted to us that sustain the battle against this pestilent battle of Antichrist; and that they be removed from judgment in our cause, seeing that our accusation is not intended against any one particular person, but against that whole kingdom which we doubt not to prove to be a power usurped against God, against his commandments, and against the ordinance of Christ Jesus, established in his church by his chief apostles; yea, we doubt not to prove the kingdom of the Pope to be the kingdom and power of Antichrist, and therefore, my lords, I cannot cease, in the name of Christ Jesus, to require of you that the matter may come to examination, and that ye, the estates of the realm, by your authority, compel such as will be called bishops, not only to desist from their cruel murdering of such as do study to promote God’s glory, in detecting and disclosing the damnable impiety of that man of sin the Roman Antichrist ; but, also, that ye compel them to answer to such crimes as shall be laid to their charge, for not righteously instructing the flock committed to their care.”
On the death of Mary, Queen of England, and the accession of Elizabeth, the Protestant refugees hastened to return to their native country, and Knox wrote some of his former acquaintances, who were now in the court of Elizabeth, requesting permission to travel through England on his way to Scotland ; but as he was accused of disloyalty to the Queen, the government would not allow him to pass through their dominions. This refusal touched his irritable temper to the quick; but there was another object which gave him still more concern. In the course of his
