A 1660 book quoted Mary, Queen of Scots as saying she feared this man’s prayers more than an army of men
Monday’s episode of Jeopardy! featured a memorable Final Jeopardy clue in the category “Men of Religion.” Contestants were asked to identify the figure referenced in a striking historical quote: “A 1660 book quoted Mary, Queen of Scots as saying she feared this man’s prayers more than an army of men.” The line alludes to a religious leader whose influence extended well beyond the pulpit and into the political tensions of 16th-century Scotland.
Contents
Who is John Knox?
The correct response was Who is John Knox? Knox was a central figure in the Scottish Reformation and a leading Protestant reformer in the 1500s. His preaching and political influence reshaped Scotland’s religious landscape and challenged the authority of the Catholic monarchy, including that of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Knox’s reputation as a formidable spiritual and political force is reflected in the quote cited in the clue. The statement that Mary feared his prayers more than an army of men underscores the perceived power of his convictions and the sway he held over the Scottish nobility and common people alike.
The Historical Context Behind the Quote
The remark attributed to Mary, Queen of Scots appears in a 1660 work by historian and theologian Thomas Fuller. By that time, Knox had already been dead for nearly a century, but his legacy remained influential in British religious history. The quotation illustrates the enduring perception of Knox as a man whose religious fervor carried political weight.
Mary, Queen of Scots, a devout Catholic, ruled during a period of intense religious upheaval. Scotland was undergoing a shift toward Protestantism, and Knox emerged as one of the most vocal and uncompromising advocates of reform. His sermons frequently criticized the Catholic Church and questioned the authority of Catholic rulers, placing him in direct ideological opposition to Mary.
John Knox and the Scottish Reformation
Born around 1514, John Knox became a leading voice in Scotland’s break from Rome. Influenced by the broader Protestant Reformation sweeping Europe, particularly the teachings of John Calvin, Knox promoted a Presbyterian model of church governance. His efforts helped establish Protestantism as the dominant faith in Scotland.
Knox’s influence extended beyond theology. He advised political leaders, shaped public opinion, and played a key role in drafting the Scots Confession of 1560. His opposition to female monarchs, expressed in his controversial work The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, further intensified tensions with Mary. Although the two met in person on several occasions, their exchanges reflected deep ideological differences.
Why the Quote Endures
The quote referenced in the Final Jeopardy clue captures the essence of Knox’s influence. Whether the wording is precisely accurate or somewhat dramatized through later retellings, it conveys how seriously Mary regarded his authority. In an era when religious allegiance could determine political alliances and national identity, a preacher with widespread support posed a tangible challenge to the throne.
Knox’s legacy remains significant in Scottish history. He is often credited with laying the foundations for the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and shaping the nation’s religious identity for centuries. The Final Jeopardy clue highlighted not only a memorable historical quotation but also the profound impact one religious reformer had on the course of a nation’s history.
