264 THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX.

• it." Whereat tlie said John, abashed, burst forth
• in most abundant tears, and withdrew himself to

' his chamber. His countenance and behaviour, from ' that day till the day that he was compelled to pre- 'sent himself to the public place of preaching, did

• sufficiently declare the grief and trouble of his heart ;

' for no man saw any sign of mirth in him, neither ' yet had he pleasure to accompany any man, many ' days together.' In its rude simplicity this surely is a notable pas- sage in the history of such a man, and has a high and noble meaning in it. About two months after Knox's being called to the ministry in this manner, a French fleet 'with an army ' the like whereof was never seen in that firth before, ■'came vrithin sight of St. Andrews,' — likely to make short work of the Castle there ! To the, no doubt, great relief of Arran and the Queen Dowager, who all this while, had been much troubled by cries and complaints from the Priests and Bishops. After some days of siege, — 'the pest within the castle,' says Knox, * alarming some more than the French force