292 THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX. found so impressively narrated as in this Book of Knox's ; a hasty loose production, but grounded on the completest knowledge, and with visible intention of setting down faithfully both the imperfections, of poor fallible men, and the unspeakable mercies of God to this poor realm of Scotland. And truly the struggle in itself was great, nearly unique in that section of European History ; and at this day stands much in need of being far better known than it has much chance of being to the present generation. I suppose there is not now in the whole world a nobility and population that would rise, for any imaginable reason, into such a simple nobleness of resolution to do battle for the highest cause against the powers that be, as those Scottish nobles and their followers at that time did. Robertson's account, in spite of its clearness, smooth regularity, and complete intelligibi- lity down to the bottom of its own shallow depths, is totally dark as to the deeper and interior meaning of this great movement ; cold as ice to all that is highest in the meaning of this phenomenon ; which has proved the parent of endless blessing to Scotland and to all Scotsmen. Robertson's fine gifts have
