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from Popery, was the descendant of an ancient family, and born at Gifford, near Haddington, in 1505. On finishing his education at the grammer school, he was removed to St Andrew's to complete his studies under the celebrated John Mair, by whose instructions he made such progress that he received order before the time prescribed by the rules of the church. After this, be quitted scholastic learning, so much in reputation at that period, and applied himself with diligence to the reading of the fathers of the church, particularly St Augustine, from which attending the preaching of one Thomas Euillam, a Black Friar, and the conversation of Mr George Wishart, a celebrated reformer, who came from England in 1545 with the commissioners sent by Henry VIII to conclude a treaty with the Earl of Arran after the death of James V, he attained a more than ordinary degree of scriptural knowledge, and entirely renounced the Roman Catholic religion.
On leaving St Andrew, Mr Knox acted as tutor to the sons of Douglas of Longniddry, and Cockburn of Ormiston, whom, besides the different branches of common Education, he carefully instructed in the principles of the reformed religion, having composed a catechism for their use, besides reading lectures to them on various portions of the scriptures. In this practice he continued till Easter 1547, when, wearied out by the repeated persecutions of Cardinal Beaton, he left Longniddry for St Andrew's, resolved to visit Germany, the state of England proving unfavourable to his views. Against taking this step, however, he was persuaded by the gentleman of whose children he had the charge, and prevailed upon to remain in St Andrews the castle of that place being in the hands of the reformers.
