Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/212

I9-? REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [011.58. He was rapidly going. On the 2^rd he told the people who were about him that he had been medi- tating through the night on the troubles of the Kirk. He had been earnest in prayer with God for it. He had wrestled with Satan, and had prevailed. He repeated the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer, pausing after the first petition to say, ' Who can pronounce so holy words ! ' It was the day on which a fast had been ap- pointed by the Convention for special meditation upon the massacre. After sermon, many eager persons came to his bedside, and, though his breath was coming thick and slow, he continued to speak in broken sentences. The next morning the end was evidently close. 'He was restless, rose, half-dressed himself, and then, finding himself too weak to stand, sank back upon his bed. He was asked if he was in pain. He said ' it was no painful pain, but such as would end the battle.' Mrs Knox read to him St Paul's words on death. ' Unto Thy hand, Lord,' he cried, ' for the last time, I commend my soul, spirit, and body.' At his own request she then read to him the I7th chapter of St John's Gospel, where he told them he first cast anchor. As night fell he seemed to sleep. The family as- sembled in his room for their ordinary evening prayers, and ' were the longer because they thought he was rest- ing.' He moved as they ended. * Sir, heard ye the prayers ? ' said one. ' I would to God/ he answered, ' that ye and all men heard them as I have heard them, and I praise God of the heavenly sound/ Then, with a long sigh, he said, * Now it is come.' The shadow