Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/275

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THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX. 265 ' without/ and none of the expected help from Eng- land arriving, the besieged, on the 31st July 1547, surrendered St. Andrews Castle : prisoners to France, high and low, but with shining promises of freedom and good treatment there, which promises, however, were not kept by the French ; for on reaching Rouen,

  • the principal gentlemen, who looked for freedom,

'were dispersed and put in sundry prisons. The

  • rest ' (Knox among them) ' were left in the galHcs,
  • and there miserable entreated.'

There are two luminous little incidents connected with this grim time, memorable to all. Knox de- scribes, and, also, it is not doubted, is the hero of the scene which follows :

  • These that were in the gallies were threatened
  • with torments, if they would not give reverence to

' the Mass (for at certain times the Mass was said in ^ the galley, or else heard upon the shore, in presence

  • of the forsaris' {formats); *but they could never
  • make the poorest of that company to give reverence
  • to that idol. Yea, when upon the Saturday at night,
  • they sang their Salve Beginaf the whole Scottishmen
  • put on their caps, their hoods or such thing as they