and danger; his labours succeeded so far,
as to draw off some and alarm many others: In a conversation upon this
subject at the laird of Dun's house in presence of David Forrest, Mr.
Robert Lockhart, John Willock and William Maitland junr. of Lethington,
he gave such satisfactory answers to all the objections which were
started by the company, that Maitland ended the conversation, saying, "I
see very well that all our shifts will serve nothing before God, seeing
they stand us in so small stead before men." From this time forward the
mass was very little respected.

Mr. Knox continued a month at the laird of Dun's, preaching every day;
the principal gentlemen of that country resorted to his ministry. From
thence he went to Calder, where the earl of Argyle (then lord Lorn) and
lord James (afterwards earl of Moray) heard his doctrine, and highly
approved of it--During the winter he taught in Edinburgh, and in the
beginning of the spring went to Kyle, where he preached in different
places; The earl of Glencairn sent for him to Finlaston, where, after
sermon, he administered the Lord's supper, and then returned to Calder.

The people being thus instructed, began to refuse all superstition and
idolatry, and set themselves to the utmost of their power to support the
true preaching of the gospel. This alarmed the inferior popish clergy so
much, that they came from all quarters complaining to the bishops;
whereupon Mr. Knox was summoned to appear in the black friars church of
Edinburgh on the 15th of May following: which appointment he resolved to
observe, and accordingly came to Edinburgh in company with the laird of
Dun, and several other gentlemen, but the diet did not hold, because the
bishops were afraid to proceed further against him, so that, on the
same day that he should have appeared before them, he preached to a
greater audience in Edinburgh than ever he had done before. The earl of
Marshal being desired by Lord Glencairn to hear Mr. Knox preach,
complied, and was so delighted with his doctrine, that he immediately
proposed that something should be done to draw the queen regent to hear
him likewise; he made this proposal in a letter, which was delivered
into her own hand by Glencairn. When she had read it, she gave it to
Beaton[32], arch-bishop of Glasgow, saying in ridicule, "Please you, my
lord, to read a pasquille."

About this time (1555) he received a letter from the English
congregation at Geneva (who were no