Just south of the border of Scotland is the narrowest part of England. This seventy-five mile stretch runs from Carlisle in the west to Newcastle upon Tyne in the east. Long ago a stout rock wall was constructed by three legions of Roman soldiers over this entire distance by order of the Roman Emperor, Hadrian (76-138 AD. Begun in 122 AD the wall was completed after six years of labor. What was its purpose? Some historians have suggested that it was built to “keep the Scots out,” and others have argued that it was built to “keep the English in.” Perhaps, it was built for both reasons. But in any case, it was a clear statement of Roman authority within the region. It marks the frontier between civilized Roman Britannia and the unconquered Scots of Caledonia.
Here is an outline of a mile-castle where 20-30 soldiers would be stationed. Note the space for a gate where merchants and travelers could pass through. Taxes were collected accordingly.
Here are some interesting features about the wall: It runs straight across this narrow part of northern England–up and down hills, across pristine farmland, from one side of England to the other. It is not as high as it was when initially envisioned. The plan was that it would be twelve feet high, but in some places it was only eight feet tall due to a shortage of rock. Remarkably, the mortar used to build the wall is still holding the stones together nearly 1900 years after it was built! Once the Romans left Britannia in the early 400’s, the local people started cannibalizing the stones for other purposes. The rocks were a perfect building material for roads, fences, houses, barns, and churches. Today, the wall is mostly a ruin that appears from time to time along its ancient path. Throughout the course of the wall large forts, mile-castles, and turrets were constructed. There are gates built in the wall for trade and taxation. Also for defensive purposes, ten foot deep ditches–called a Vallum–run parallel to the wall on both sides. Sharpened wooden spikes were placed in the ditches to slow down marauding barbarian armies. Roman soldiers often looked at this duty as a cold and dreary posting–far from family, friends, and decent food. They felt as if they were on the edge of the civilized world; and in many respects they were!
Here is “Sycamore Gap” made famous by the film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” (1991)
Besides the legions of Roman soldiers that were garrisoned along the wall, several small towns sprung up a few miles south of the wall. Who lived in them? There were Roman officials in charge of supplies, priests serving in the local temple, farmers growing food and caring for animals, plus a bevy of skilled workmen who constructed the buildings, cisterns, and roads. Moreover, the families of some of the older and more-experienced soldiers lived in these communities. These towns represented a small outpost of Roman culture and civilization in a foreign land. One such town was Vindolanda. Its ruins have provided a treasure trove of relics and information into ancient Roman culture. We visited the ongoing archeological excavation at Vindolanda and were astonished by the large number of items that were being found on this site. In particular, there are lots leather shoes–amazingly preserved in the clay-like soil of Northumbria. Excavators have also found wooden tablets with all the normal correspondence you might find in any Roman city–military reports, to do lists, letters to be sent home, grocery lists, invitations to parties, etc. There is an extensive collection of shoes and tablets on display in the museum.
The ruins of Vindolanda are yielding new treasures day by day and giving a glimpse into Roman culture
I highly recommend you visit Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda! Both sites give a fascinating picture of what life was like in ancient Roman culture. And for those who are stout in body and heart, hiking excursions can be arranged that follow the path of Hadrian’s Wall. We saw several groups making the trek while crossing the English countryside–its so very beautiful!
Here we are exploring the ruins of St. Andrews Castle
My wife and I just returned from a glorious trip to Scotland! Once I go through all of my many pictures, I’ll post images of some of the historic and special places that we visited. But, in the meantime let me say that I was stuck by the deep and abiding sense of history throughout all of Scotland. Where else could you go in one day and visit the ancient monastery tower of St. Rule (4th Century), the site of two significant Protestant martyrs, Patrick Hamilton and George Wishart (16th Century), the grave of the beloved Presbyterian preacher and professor, Samuel Rutherford (17th Century), and also enjoy some excellent fish and chips for lunch at Cromars (21st Century)? We experienced all of this in St. Andrews, UK. It was a wonderful treat to be there and spend an entire day soaking-up all the sights and sounds of this fascinating and historic city. More insights to come…
Under threat of death, John Knox boldly preaches in St. Andrews Cathedral, June 11, 1559
“In the hearts of Scotsmen…he became the Moses of the Scots; more indeed, for he was their Amos and their Isaiah too…” Geddes MacGregor
Written by Dr. Marcus J. Serven
John Knox (1514-1572)
Who was John Knox? Briefly stated: he was born in Scotland, attended classes at St. Andrews University, experienced a life-changing conversion to Jesus Christ and a call to the ministry; he was enslaved by the French and forced to row all over the North Atlantic coming close to death while in captivity; in God’s kind providence he was released and became a diligent and esteemed pastor in England; he fled to Europe during the reign of Bloody Mary, and while there he ministered to English exiles in Frankfurt, Germany and later in Geneva, Switzerland; he studied at the feet of John Calvin. He was a husband to Marjorie Bowes, and after her untimely death, to Margaret Stewart; he was a father to two sons and three daughters. In triumph he returned to his native Scotland where he courageously advanced the cause of the Reformation as a pastor at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh for the remainder of his life. After his death, he became widely known as an author with his gripping book, The History of the Reformation in Scotland (which is still in print). By his preaching and teaching, he was able to bring virtually all of Scotland to a thorough-going knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and he engendered in the Scots a stalwart resolve to advance Christ’s Kirk (or, Church) here on earth. This is why many of the spiritual descendants of Knox—the Scottish Covenanters, the English Puritans and Pilgrims, and the American Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists—uniformly thank God for the life and ministry of John Knox. The “rallying cry” of the Scots Covenanters and their spiritual children is “For Christ’s Crown and Covenant” and this motto is directly connected to the preaching of John Knox.
HIS EARLY YEARS: BIRTH AND PREPARATION (1514-1542)
Patrick Hamilton (1503-1528)
1514 – John Knox is born at Giffordgate on the outskirts of Haddington, on southern plains of Scotland; some place his date of birth much earlier in 1505
1528 – The young scholar Patrick Hamilton is martyred for his faith in St. Andrews–all of Scotland grieves his death
1532 – Knox was sent by his father to study at the University of St. Andrews
1536 – In March, John Calvin published the Institutes of the Christian Religion in Basle
1540 – Knox is ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood; and serves as a Papal notary
HIS CONVERSION: NEW LIFE & CALL TO MINISTRY (1543-1547)
John Knox bearing his two-handed sword to protect George Wishart
1543 – Knox begins tutoring the young sons of two Scottish Lords open to Protestantism
1543 – Knox is converted to Christ after reading John 17, he refers to this passage as “Where I cast my first anchor.”
1544 – He serves the bold Scottish evangelist, George Wishart, as a personal body guard and carries a large two-handed sword to defend him
1546 – George Wishart is captured by Cardinal David Beaton, quickly tried & burned alive on March 1, 1546 outside the Castle of St. Andrews
1546 – In revenge, Cardinal David Beaton is murdered by several young Scottish assassins who take refuge in St. Andrews Castle
1547 – Knox is called to preach by Chaplain John Rough and the people of St. Andrews Castle
1547 – Knox preaches his 1st sermon in the parish church of St. Andrews Castle
AS A GALLEY-SLAVE: THE “SOBS OF MY HEART” (1548-1549)
A French Galley Ship rowed by captives–for nineteen months John Knox was one of these slaves until he was delivered!
1548 – St. Andrew’s Castle falls to French forces; all are captured and enslaved
1548 – Knox is forced to be a galley-slave on the French ship, Notre Dame
1548 – Knox assists his friend Sir Henry Balnaves in writing a Treatise on Justification
1549 – Near death, Knox prophesies that he will once again preach in St. Andrews Kirk
1549 – As a result of English negotiations, Knox is providentially released in March from the galley-ship after nineteen months of enslavement
1549 – Knox makes his way to England; is licensed to preach by the English Privy Council
IN ENGLAND: AS A PREACHER OF THE WORD (1549-1553)
King Edward VI (1537-1553)
1549 – Knox is appointed as a preacher in Berwick, England
1549 – Knox meets Mrs. Elisabeth Bowes of Aske, and her daughter Marjorie
1549 – the 1st edition of the Book of Common Prayer is adopted; Knox assists Thomas Cramner in this project
1550 – Knox writes Vindication of the Doctrine that the Mass is Idolatry in Newcastle
1550 – Knox writes a practical treatise on True Prayer, and how we should pray
1551 – He receives a formal ministerial call to Newcastle, England
1551 – Elected to serve as one of six Royal Chaplains to King Edward VI
1552 – the 2nd edition of the Book of Common Prayer is adopted
1553 – Edward VI dies on July 6, and Mary I becomes the Queen of England
1553 – Mary begins her bloody persecution of the Protestants; many flee to Europe
ON THE CONTINENT: DIEPPE, FRANKFORT, & GENEVA (1554-1558)
John Calvin, Head Minister of Geneva, Switzerland
1554 – In January, Knox flees to France and takes up temporary residence in Dieppe, Netherlands
1554 – He writes A Godly Letter of Warning or Admonition to the faithful in London, Newcastle, and Berwick
1554 – In March, Knox visits John Calvin in Geneva, then returns to Dieppe
1554 – Knox quietly enters into a binding engagement with Marjorie Bowes
1554 – Writes Two Comfortable Epistles to his Afflicted Brethren in England
1554 – Writes A Faithful Admonition to the Professors of God’s Truth in England
1554 – In August, Knox returns to Geneva for the purpose of study with John Calvin
1554 – In November, Knox is called to serve as the pastor to English refugees in Frankfort, Germany
1554 – Knox befriends the young scholar William Whittingham in Frankfort
1555 – In March, Knox is ousted by the unruly congregation in Frankfort over disputes about the proper forms of worship
1555 – Knox returns briefly to Scotland and secretly marries Marjorie Bowes; returns to Dieppe
1556 – In May, Knox begins an extended preaching mission throughout Scotland
1556 – Knox writes the Queen Mother, Mary of Guise, of the need for reform in the Kirk
1556 – Knox leaves Scotland, reunites with Marjorie and her mother; travels to Geneva
John Knox in his maturity
1557 – Birth of his 1st son, Nathaniel, and later a 2nd son, Eleazer; both are born in Geneva
1557 – Knox intends to return to Scotland, but is warned off by friends; he remains in Dieppe
1557 – Writes The First Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regiment of Women
1558 – Knox returns to Geneva and works out his theory of a “godly revolution” and the resistance of tyrants through the interposition of lesser magistrates
1558 – Knox writes a massive treatise On Predestination in Geneva; published in 1560
1558 – Works with William Whittingham translating the Geneva Bible; published in 1560
1558 – Mary I, “Bloody Mary”, dies on November 17th and is succeeded by Elizabeth I
IN SCOTLAND: ADVANCING THE REFORMATION (1559-1560)
St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh
1559 – In January, most of Knox’s congregation safely returns to England
1559 – Knox arrives at Leith, Scotland on May 2nd and begins preaching in Perth
1559 – On June 11th Knox preaches at St. Andrews under threat of death; he fulfills his prophecy of preaching once again in St. Andrews
1559 – On June 29th Knox begins preaching at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh; opposition to reform increases
1560 – On June 11th the Queen Mother, Mary of Guise, suddenly dies
1560 – In August, Knox and five other “Johns” write the Scots Confession; adopted by Parliament
1560 – In December, Knox’s wife Marjory, his “dear bedfellow,” dies in Edinburgh (24 yrs. old)
IN THE CRUCIBLE: SEVERE TRIALS IN EDINBURGH (1560-1570)
Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587)
1561 – In January, the Book of Discipline is presented to Parliament and rejected
1561 – In August, Marie Stuart, “Mary, Queen of Scots”, arrives to assume her throne
1561 – 1st audience with Marie Stuart regarding her authority as Queen and private Mass
1561 – 2nd audience with Marie Stuart regarding Knox’s sermon critical of her actions
1562 – 3rd audience with Marie Stuart regarding Roman Catholic priests saying Easter Mass in her Chapel at Holyrood
1562 – 4th audience with Marie Stuart regarding her plans to marry a Spanish Prince
1562 – 5th audience with Marie Stuart regarding Knox’s suspected treason; he is formally accused
1562 – After a stout defense Knox is unanimously acquitted of treason by the Scottish Lords
1564 – Knox (50 yrs. old) marries Margaret Stewart (17 yrs. old); three daughters follow: Martha, Margaret, and Elizabeth
1565 – In July, Mary Queen of Scots weds Lord Darnley; confers on him the title of “King Henry”
1566 – James VI is born to Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley
1567 – In February, the Earl of Bothwell murders Lord Darnley (King Henry)
1567 – On May 15th Mary Queen of Scots weds the Earl of Bothwell to public outrage
1567 – In August, Mary Queen of Scots is deposed by the Scots General Assembly
1568 – Marie Stuart, the ex-Queen, escapes her captivity by fleeing to Elizabeth I in England
1570 – Civil War breaks out in Scotland
1571 – An assassin’s bullet is fired through the window of Knox’s study but misses its intended target
THE END NEARS: ST. ANDREWS AND EDINBURGH (1571-1572)
An ignominious end? John Knox’s grave in Edinburgh is now space #23 in a parking lot
1571 – In May, Knox temporarily moves to St. Andrews due to the Civil War that has broken out
1571 – Knox finishes compiling material for his History of the Reformation in Scotland
1572 – In August, Knox returns to Edinburgh and resumes preaching at St. Giles
1572 – On November 24th after hearing his wife read aloud John 17, “Where I cast my first anchor,” John Knox dies in his bed at Edinburgh (58 yrs. old)
He is buried next to St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland
Here are four fine volumes on the life and ministry of John Knox and those who followed him
Select Bibliography:
Bond, Douglas. The Mighty Weakness of John Knox. Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2011.
Cameron, Nigel M. de S., ed. Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1993
“Book of Common Order (1564)”, by H.R, Sefton
“First Book of Discipline”, by J. Kirk
“Kirk Session”, by A.I. Dunlop
“Major (Mair), John”, by J. Kirk
“Reformation, Scottish”, by J. Kirk
“St. Giles”, by G.I. Macmillan
Dawson, Jane. John Knox. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2015.
Douglas, J. D., ed. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church. Revised edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978.
“Beaton, David”, by J.D. Douglas
“Calvin, John”, by W.S. Reid
“Calvinism”, by W.S. Reid
“Common Order, Book of”, by W.S. Reid
“Discipline, Books of”, by Adam Loughridge
“Edward VI”, by P.W. Petty
“England, Church Of”, by John A. Simpson
“Geneva Bible”, by Robert D. Linder
“Genevan Academy”, by W.S. Reid
“Henry VIII”, by Robert Schnucker
“James VI (of Scotland) and I (of England)”, by Henry R. Sefton
“Knox, John”, by Richard L. Greaves
“Mary, Queen of Scots”, by Henry R. Sefton
“Mary Tudor”, by Peter Toon
“Presbyterianism”, by W.S. Reid
“Reformation, The”, by Robert D. Linder
“Scots Confession”, by W.S. Reid
“Scotland”, by W.S. Reid
“Scotland, Church of”, by W.S. Reid
“Wishart, George”, by J.D. Douglas
Knox, John. The History of the Reformation in Scotland. Charles J. Guthrie, ed. Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, Reprint 1982.
Knox, John. Select Practical Writings of John Knox. The Committee of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, 1845; Reprint, Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2011.
Lindsay, Thomas M. A History of the Reformation. 2 Volumes. New York, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1949.
MacGregor, Geddes. The Thundering Scot. London, England: MacMillan and Company LTD, 1958.
McEwen, James S. The Faith of John Knox. London, England: Lutterworth Press, 1961.
McFeeters, J. C. Sketches of the Covenanters. Philadelphia, PA: The Second Church of the Covenanters, 1913.
M’Crie, Thomas. The Life of John Knox. Originally published in 1811; Reprint, Glasgow, Scotland: Free Presbyterian Publications, 1991.
M’Crie, Thomas. The Story of the Scottish Church. London, England: Blackie and Son, 1875.
Morecraft, Joseph. “Calvin’s Influence on Scotland” in Volmer, Philip. John Calvin: Man of the Millennium. San Antonio, TX: The Vision Forum, 2009.
Murray, Ian H. A Scottish Christian Heritage. Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2006.
Reed, Kevin, ed. Selected Writings of John Knox. Dallas, TX: Presbyterian Heritage Publications, 1995.
Reid, W. Stanford. Trumpeter of God: A Biography of John Knox. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1974.
Ridely, Jasper. John Knox. London, England: Oxford University Press, 1968.
Schaaf, Philip. The Creeds of Christendom. 6th Edition. Reprint, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1983.
Sefton, Henry R. John Knox: An Account of the Development of His Spirituality. Edinburgh, Scotland: Saint Andrew Press, 1993.
Whitley, Elizabeth. The Plain Mr. Knox. Reprint, Ross-Shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 2001.
Wylie, James A. The History of Protestantism. 3 Volumes. Kilkeel, N. Ireland: Mourne Missionary Trust, 1990.
Dr. Marcus Serven, ThM and DMin The Genevan Foundation – Copyright 2016 – All Rights Reserved
