THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX. 271 the community, received with thankful approhation ; and he had made warm friends among that class ; and naturally, also, given offence to the lukewarm or half-and-half Protestants ; especially to Tonstall, Bishop of Durham, for his too great detestation of the Mass. To the Council, on the other hand, it is clear that he rose in value ; giving always to them, when summoned on such complaints, so clear and candid an account of himself. In the third year of his ahode in England, 1552, he was offered hy them the Bishopric of Eochester ; hut declined it, and, soon after, the living of Allhallows, Bread Street, London, which also he declined. On each of these occasions he was again summoned by the King's Council to give his reasons ; and again gave them, — Church in England not yet sufficiently reformed ; too much of vestments and of other Popish fooleries remaining ; bishops or pastors without the due power to correct their flock which every pastor ought to have ; — ^was again dismissed by the Council, without censure, to continue in his former employment, where, he said, his persuasion was that he could be more useful than preaching in London or presiding at Rochester.
