This is a review and summary on the documentary I watched on Tubi: Knox (2o15)
1514 - Knox born in Haddington, Scotland
1528 - Patrick Hamilton returning from Lutheran Germany burned as first Scottish martyr for the reformation movement.
1529 - St Andrews where Patrick Hamilton was killed and where Knox came to study.
1543 - King of Scotland died. Power vacuum. 3 rivals: Cardinal Beaton (head of Scottish Church), Mary of Guise (widowed queen), Earl of Arran. Earl of Arran proclaimed himself regent of Scotland, sympathetic to protestants, allowed English bibles. George Wishart influenced Knox greatly: A person must have personal relationship with God. Knox became Wishart's bodyguard, literally. Wishart was arrested at St. Mary's Kirk after persuaded Knox to leave him. Regent Arran failed to change Cardinal Beaton's mind on releasing Wishart, who was then burnt in St. Andrews. Nation began to question Roman Catholicism. Cardinal Beaton killed by angry mob. With the mob hiding in castle and holding Regent Arran's son as hostage, where Knox was also, this is when Knox had the opportunity to preach the Gospel, against Rome, calling the pope the anti-Christ. Giving good news to those under Rome's gospel-less bad news. Unlike Regent Arran, Mary of Guise was more aggressive in secretly scheming with the Catholic French to defeat the mob in their castle. Knox was captured, enslaved on French Galley for 2 years, health declined.
Knox then mysteriously freed and moved to protestant England (where Reformation was formally established), instead of Catholic Scotland or Catholic France.
At the time in England, the Archbishop of Canterbury during Edward VI is Thomas Cranmer who was focusing on reformation direction.
Knox was sent to Berwick as military chaplain, changing violent people there into god-fearing and peaceful town. Bishop Tunstall was forced to decide to accept a separation from Rome. Yet Tunstall was appalled by Knox's "heresy" in his own diocese.
1550 - Knox openly condemned the mass as idolatry and blasphemy (calling the bread not just bread but God). Tunstall got Knox questioned by the Council of the North, yet the Council was so impressed by Knox's arguments that they asked him to preach in Newcastle, to Tunstall's fury. Knox preached in Newcastle and Berwick (because of Marjorie Bowes) for 2 years.
Marjorie's father opposed to her relationship with Knox, unlike her mother, Elizabeth, who was Knox's big fan. The idea of a clergy marrying is still very new to England at the time.
Black Rubric: Knox was against kneeling during holy communion (wrong object of worship), but Cranmer opposed it because the 2nd edition of the book of prayer was just published, instructing specifically to kneel for the communion. Black Rubric is an attempt to reconcile both sides by calling the kneeling not worship. Knox wasn't satisfied but better than nothing.
Knox refused to become Bishop of Rochester because of fear of what might happen if Mary Tudor who was fervent Catholic, became Queen. When Mary Tudor became Queen, Knox fled England, leaving Marjorie behind. From a good home in England to nothing, arriving France with only 10 groats in his pocket. Looking up Reformed leaders everywhere led him to Geneva, where John Calvin was.
Genevan problem with John Calvin: Strict rule on must come to church every Sunday. Consistory polices people's behavior.
The Cathedral of St. Pierre: Calvin's base. Where Knox asked Calvin about revolution against Rome. Calvin: "Better we all perish a hundred times than that the name of Christianity and the Gospel should come under such disgrace."
Knox and Calvin's disagreement: Most likely on whether to use force or not against Catholics, Knox obviously went for force. Knox wrote the infamous pamphlet: "The Faithful Admonition" to circulate England, condemning leaders of church and state who persecuted protestants and reintroduced Catholicism. Calling Queen Mary Tudor a modern-day Jezebel, an oath-breaker, wicked person. Causing precarious situation for reformers who were already in England. Seditious. Essentially calling for the Queen's assassination. Radicals support Knox for resistance after seeing so many of their own persecuted.
1554 - Knox was called to preach in Frankfurt, where English exiles established a church but no minister. Knox modified the prayer book here so the people did not kneel for the Lord's Supper.
Dr. Richard Cox led English refugees to Knox's church in Frankfurt after Knox preached there for 4 months. Cox argued with Knox: Cox: "English church must have English face (pertaining to not abandoning the prayer book)." Knox: "The only face any church should have should be that of Jesus!"
The new arrivals voted Knox out, due to his infamous pamphlet. Knox left Frankfurt and the Church of England and never returned.
Knox was asked to return to Scotland after being away for 8 years. Mary of Guise supplanted Regent Arran. But more protestants growing in Scotland at the time. Knox paused briefly to see Marjorie in Berwick, then wasted no time to start preaching in Scotland. Land owner John Erskine of Dun was Knox's most powerful supporter.
Erskine introduced Knox to William Maitland of Lethington, newly appointed secretary of state. But though they admired each other, they soon had strong disagreement as Lethington had to pay lip service to Catholic government as a high ranking public official despite being sympathetic to Protestantism.
Knox: Thou thinkest it lawful for a child of God to prostrate himself before that idol?
Lethington: Mr. Knox, the Christian faith came from the Jewish, and the Protestant from the church of Rome. As the apostles continued to worship in Jewish synagogues, a Protestant is at liberty to attend mass.
Knox: There is no comparison to be made!
1556 - Archbishop Hamilton (younger brother of Earl of Arran) replaced Cardinal Beaton as leader of the Scottish Church. Charged Knox with heresy, summoned him for trial in the capital city of Edinburgh. The queen had the charges to be dropped fearing riot in the streets. Knox preached twice a day on the Royal Mile.
As Knox felt the reformation was stalling in England, Geneva invited Knox back to pastor there, he left abruptly. With Marjorie this time. Married, had a son in Geneva, named Nathaniel. Here he wrote his most notorious book: The first Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women. Its basic premise is that no woman should rule over a political state. His blast was obviously an attack at Queen Mary Tudor. Of course, Knox was not misogynic at all.
Knox preached in Auditoire de Calvin (still considered as the Church of Scotland today), to the English refugees in Geneva.
Now, revolution was in the air of Scotland, but Knox was hesitant to return despite numerous invitation and his favor of active resistance to a wicked ruler. But Calvin, contrary to Knox's expectation, told Knox to be present in his own native land to influence events for good.
1559 - May 2, Knox returned to Scotland for the 3rd and last time. Mary of Guise and Archbishop Hamilton vs. Lords of the congregation. 4 Protestant preachers charged with preaching without permission, summoned to Stirling Castle for trial where Knox also accompanied them, along with Erskine and a crowd of supporters. Knox had the crowd 30 miles away from the trial to prevent bloodshed. Mary was prepared to drop the charge to prevent riot. However, the 4 preachers didn't show up and were outlawed. Knox announced this in St. John's Kirk in Perth during a sermon on deceit, and a riot broke out in Perth as crowd felt betrayed. The church was ransacked. Knox couldn't stop it. Resulting in iconoclastic riot, destroying Catholic church art. Knox approved such destruction in one way, but not the way it was done. Thus, pre-reformation cultural treasures were destroyed.
Mary of Guise and Glencairn (Reformers) from the West both raised armies against each other.
Lord James, illegitimate son of the old King and sympathetic to the Reformers, but strong supporter of Mary, attempted diplomacy by riding from Stirling to Perth. Knox heeded and left Perth with the Reformers, making Lord James vowing that he pledge full support of the Reformers revolution if Mary broke her promise of tolerance. But Mary was unaware of this and marched on Perth. Lord James switched sides to join the Lords of the Congregation and Mary's victory turned to defeat in one day.
Knox went back to Archbishop Hamilton's St. Andrews to preach. Many converted to Protestantism. The queen regent was soon outnumbered as Protestant number grew. Negotiation was held, but not very successful. Because Mary's daughter was now a teenage crowned Queen of France (Mary Queen of France and also Mary Queen of Scots), she wrote to France for military support. The Reformers requested help from Protestant England. While Mary was away, the Reformers took over Edinburgh to reform the city. Knox called to preach in the Church of St. Giles in Edinburgh.
Another fail of Mary was to trust Lethington, who leaked her secrets to the Reformers. However, Mary was victorious with greater number in Leith. The Reformers planning in Stirling as help from England has yet to arrive. Since Mary of Guise's daughter was technically held the throne, the Lords of the Congregation deposed Mary of Guise from the Regency in her daughter's name. When the Lords of the Congregation took over Edinburgh again from Mary, Lethington defected and broke Mary's heart. Though Knox's people liked Lethington, Knox wasn't pleased as he saw Lethington as someone more interested in political revolution than Christian reformation. Under Knox and Lethington, the Reformation looked incredibly fragile and Mary incredibly strong. The Lords of the Congregation (LOC) and Knox retreated from Edinburgh as Mary's armies occupied the city.
Knox preached in Holyrood Church, Stirling, to the Lords of Congregation. Defeat is nothing, repent to advance the Kingdom of Christ. Hard winter for the Reformers.
1560 - Spring, English arrived. Balance changed. Mary of Guise took refuge in Edinburgh Castle for good. Dead in June. Treaty had all French and English troops to leave Scotland. Scottish Parliament directs the country. A new national Reformed church established to replace the Catholic church in Scotland: Catholicism should be banned outright, execute those attending mass after two warnings. No zeal from the Catholics to be martyr in this case.
John Knox and 5 other Johns came up with the Scots Confession (foundation for the new church of Scotland) as Reformers gained monopoly in Scotland. In order to united the church rather than just enthusiasm.
Pre-Reformation vs. Post-Reformation: Congregation had only listened and watched to the worship, lots of ceremonies, Latin vs. congregation had to sing, Psalms, participate more, vernacular: Gaelic, English, Scots language in understanding scripture, worship. Knox wished every Scotland parish to have a church and a school. Reforming social life. Education was key. Power shared around in Presbyterianism and hierarchy of church courts. Decisions are made nationally by a general assembly, represented by all levels. However, Scotland was still not stable in infancy of this and Knox was worried.
Frances II of France died, Mary, the teenage daughter of Mary of Guise, became young widow. As Queen of France, Mary could never rule Scotland, but now that she's single, Lethington had Parliament to invite Mary back with well received welcome. Meanwhile Knox was in mourning as he just lost his wife, survived by him and two sons, Nathaniel and Eleazar. Mary celebrated Mass in Holyrood House in her first Sunday in Scotland. Thus, exception was made for her to avoid execution for doing this offense, and her half brother Lord James guarded the door for her.
Mary invited Knox as they shared lots of common grounds: both lost spouses, well spoken, etc. Knox wrote about it as very compelling dialogues one could read. When Mary spoke of Rome as the true church, Knox took her to task to listen to God rather than Rome.
Knox: Pope = anti-Christ, Church of Rome = harlot, Mary = tyrannical emperor Nero.
3 Marys so far: Mary of Tudor, Mary of Guise and Mary Queen of Scots. All 3 dehumanized by Knox. Some believed had Knox not be so harsh, Mary Queen of Scots could have become protestant. Knox cared for Scotland turning away from Rome's superstition than his own life.
1564 - In Edinburgh, Knox married again, 17 year old Margaret Stewart, distant relative of the queen. Age gap was not the scandal. But she has royal blood, so the queen looked down on Knox.
1565 - Edinburgh, Mary married Lord Darnley (handsome aristocrat), the girlish nincompoop, described by a French Cardinal. Darnley was then jealous of Mary's private secretary, the Italian Catholic, David Rizzio, dragged him from her chambers and murdered. Knox was however the suspect, being known to be belligerent against the Catholics.
1566 - Knox escaped to Ayrshire as the queen suspected him in vengeance of the murder. Here Knox wrote "History of the Reformation".
Darnley was later strangled, his house blown up. Mary married the chief suspect of the murder, which led to her forced abdication in favor of her one year old son. Lord James took over as Regent. Knox preached at the infant King's coronation service. But Mary still has many supporters, especially Edinburgh Castle. Capital in the state of cold war.
Lord James was assassinated. Chaos.
1571 - Knox's window was musketballed through, missed him, decided to leave Edinburgh (St. Giles church), returned to St. Andrews, where the frailed Knox spent his last Summer.
1572 - November 9th, Knox's last sermon preached at St. Giles, Edinburgh, at the induction service of his replacement. Became ill the next day, dead within 14 days. His secretary stated his last words after prayer were: Now it has come. Then he died as fallen asleep.
Scotland becomes Protestant country. Scottish missionaries sent to India, Africa, etc. Now churches in these countries far stronger in faith than the homeland. Now in Scotland, nobody cared about. Apathy [not empathy] reigns and godliness is a joke in its churches. Today Scotland may need a new reformation, is what the narrator (Philip Todd) said.
Knox: Know God! Be Faithful! Bless Scotland!