CHAPTER X: KNOX AND THE SCOTTISH REVOLUTION, 1559.
Knox had learned from letters out of Scotland that Protestants there now ran no risks; that "without a shadow of fear they might hear prayers in the vernacular, and receive the sacraments in the right way, the impure ceremonies of Antichrist being set aside." The image of St.Giles had been broken by a mob, and thrown into a sewer; "the impure crowd of priests and monks" had fled, throwing away the shafts of the crosses they bore, and "hiding the golden heads in their robes." Now the Regent thinks of reforming religion, on a given day, at a convention of the whole realm.

So William Cole wrote to Bishop Bale, then at Basle, without date.

The riot was of the beginning of September 1558, and is humorously described by Knox.

{107} This news, though regarded as "very certain," was quite erroneous except as to the riot.

One may guess that it was given to Knox in letters from the nobles, penned in October 1558, which he received in November 1558; there was also a letter to Calvin from the nobles, asking for Knox's presence.