its merit it deserved to be, very considerable, and Kean thought lightly of it. He now published a collection of fugitive poetry, the proceeds of which enabled him to go with the company to Swansea. He next went to Belfast, intending to prosecute the player's life; but he was induced to open a school, in which, with the aid of his father, he taught for some time; but the love of the drama drew him away from the labours of teaching, and he again appeared as a successful author in the drama of "Brian Boroihme." In 1815 "Caius Gracchus" followed, being brought out by Talbot's company at Belfast. This too was very well received. But the genius of Knowles was still half dormant; it was for Kean to awaken it thoroughly. At his request Knowles wrote the tragedy of "Virginius," in which Kean was to have played the principal character. Unfortunately another piece on the same subject was in the meantime accepted at Drury Lane, and Knowles had to tranfer his to Glasgow, where it was well brought out, and had a run of fifteen nights. It was recommended to Macready by a friend, who was struck with its great merit; and it was put on the London boards by Harris, at Covent Garden, where it gradually won its way to the highest favour, identified lastingly with the genius of Macready. For this last Knowles now wrote his great drama of "William Tell," which appeared in 1825, establishing the author's reputation as one of the greatest dramatists of the age. These were succeeded by "The Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal Green," and "Alfred the Great." Then came another triumph, "The Hunchback," produced at Covent Garden in 1832; quickly followed "The Wife," in each of which Knowles himself took the principal character, and established a reputation as an actor that procured him engagements throughout the empire, including his native city. Knowles proceeded to the United States in 1836, where his fame had preceded him, and his success was brilliant. Returning to England, he brought out "The Love Chase" in 1837, which was played at the Haymarket for over a hundred nights. Six other dramas of greater or less merit followed, closing, in 1843, the productions of Knowles as a dramatist. He was now approaching his sixtieth year, and failing health warned him to remit his labours. At the instance of the Dramatic Authors' Society, a pension of £200 a year was granted to him out of the civil list. After this he occasionally appeared as a lecturer on oratory in the principal towns in the empire, and with much success. He also wrote for periodical literature, and published some tales. In his later years his mind, like that of Gerald Griffin, turned to the contemplation of religious subjects, which almost absorbed him. He became a baptist preacher, as the other became a monk, and published some controversial works. As a dramatist it is that Knowles has made a fame that will not die. His great dramas, such as "Virginius," "William Tell," and the "Hunchback," are the result of a fine vigorous genius, improved by intellectual culture, and by deep and earnest study of humanity. Knowles made the Elizabethan dramatists his models, both in sentiment, expression, and treatment; but he has avoided their coarseness, while he emulates their strength—he shows their extravagance, while he exhibits their nature and their pathos. Above all, he depicts woman with a truth, tenderness, and delicacy that have rarely been surpassed. His dramatic works are published in three vols. 8vo.—J. F. W
KNOWLES, Thomas, D.D., was born at Ely in 1724. He studied at Ely and at Pembroke hall, Cambridge, where he became B.A. in 1743, and M.A. in 1747, and a fellow. He was prebendary of Ely, rector of Ickworth and Chedburgh, and vicar of Winston in Suffolk. He is said to have been an amiable man and a good divine. He wrote a reply to Bishop Clayton's Essay on Spirit, for which Archbishop Seeker made him D.D. He also wrote on the tithe bill and the test acts, and published "Advice to a Young Clergyman," a few sermons, &c. He was popular and impressive as a preacher, and by no means destitute of learning, as his "Primitive Christianity" shows. He died at Bury St. Edmunds, October 6, 1802.—B. H. C.
KNOWLTON, Thomas, an English botanist, was born in 1692, and died in 1782. He was educated as a gardener, and was employed first in Sherard's garden, and subsequently in Lord Burlington's in Yorkshire. He cultivated botany, and is said to have been the discoverer of the curious sea-weed called Conferva Ægagropila. He wrote some papers in the Philosophical Transactions. A genus of plants is called Knowltonia after him.—J. H. B.
KNOX, John, the famous Scottish reformer, was born at Gifford in East Lothian in 1505. His father was descended from an ancient family in Renfrewshire, possessed of the lands of Knock, Craigends, and Ranfurly—this last being now the title of an Irish earl, a descendant of the old house. His mother's name was Sinclair—a name which in days of danger he sometimes assumed, or "wrait in time of trubill." In his boyhood he attended the grammar-school at Haddington, and in 1522 his father sent him to the university of Glasgow: the name of John Knox stands among the incorporati, or matriculated students of that year. Mair, or Major, was his preceptor, being then professor of philosophy and theology, a man of high reputation, and who had held a chair in the university of Paris. His liberal opinions appear to have taken deep hold of the minds of his two illustrious pupils, Knox and Buchanan. On Major's removal to St. Andrews during the following year, Knox seems to have followed him. It is a question whether Knox was an A.M. Probably he had this honour; and he publicly taught philosophy in a style that outshone his master. Before his twenty-fifth year he was ordained a priest, though he had not reached the age fixed by ecclesiastical canons. But his mind grew weary of scholastic subtleties and refinements; he preferred studies more useful and practical in their nature. The popish theology did not satisfy him, and suspicions of his heresy were soon and easily excited. Accordingly he retired to the south of Scotland, where he formally renounced the papal faith. His enemies in St. Andrews passed sentence against him, and ruffians were employed by Cardinal Beatoun to assassinate him. After shifting his residence various times, he found an asylum in the house of Hugh Douglas of Longniddrie, to whose sons, and those of the neighbouring proprietor of Ormiston, he acted for a brief period as tutor. His mind was profoundly impressed at this period by the preaching of Thomas Guillaume, a reformed Benedictine, and that of George Wishart the saintly martyr. The persecution against the reformers did not pause at Beatoun's death, though his tragic end produced a wide and deep sensation. But persecution did not check the progress of opinion and religious change in Scotland. "If ye will burn any more persons," said one to the archbishop, "let it be in how (hollow) cellars, for the reek (smoke) of Master Patrick Hamilton has infected as many as it blew upon." The conspirators against Cardinal Beatoun still held the castle of St. Andrews; and as it was reckoned a place of safety, Knox and his pupils took refuge in it at Easter, 1547, though his first purpose had been to repair to Germany and pursue his studies in some of its protestant universities. Among the refugees in the stronghold were Sir David Lindsay, whose muse had so severely satirized the clergy, and who now dreaded their resentment—his patron, the king, being dead—and Henry Balnaves, who had been secretary of state at the commencement of Arran's regency. In the castle of St. Andrews Knox still carried on the education of his pupils, and taught and exhorted so much to the satisfaction of his audience, that it was resolved to call him to the ministry as colleague to John Rough, who was chaplain to the garrison. Knox reluctantly, and after great mental distress, obeyed the call, and soon preached and disputed to the terror of all his priestly antagonists. Many of the inhabitants were then induced to abandon popery; and for the first time in Scotland, the Lord's Supper was publicly celebrated in protestant form. But in the month of June a French fleet came to the assistance of the regent, and the castle, invested by sea and land, was forced to capitulate. Knox and some other persons were transported to Rouen, the terms of capitulation were violated, and at the instigation of the pope and the Scottish clergy, they were confined on board the galleys and loaded with chains. Others of the prisoners were sent to Cherbourg, Brest, and other strongholds. The galleys in which Knox and his fellows were confined sailed to Nantes, and lay all winter in the Loire. Every inducement was held out to the captives to recant; but cajolery and menace were alike in vain. The story goes that a painted image of the Virgin was brought to Knox, and that, so far from adoring it, he tossed it into the stream, saying—"It is only a pented bred" (painted board); or, according to another tradition—"Let our Ladye now save herself; she is light enough, let her learne to swyme." The French vessels returned to the east coast of Scotland, probably in 1548. Knox had been seized with fever, and his life was despaired of; yet there was in his soul the inborn persuasion that God had some work for him to do in Scotland. At length, after a rigorous and unhealthy imprisonment of nineteen months, he was liberated in February,
