When Sir Thomas More laid his head on the block he carefully put
his beard aside, saying, "It hath done no treason." John Knox (born 1505
and died 1572), the famous Scottish reformer, whose name figures so
largely in the religious annals of his country, was remarkable for the
length of his beard. The Rev. John More was a native of Yorkshire, and
after being educated at Cambridge settled at Norwich. He was one of the
worthiest clergymen in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and gained the name
of "the Apostle of Norwich." His beard was the largest and longest of
any Englishman of his time. He used to give as his reason for wearing
his beard of unusual size "that no act of his life might be unworthy of
the gravity of his appearance." He died at Norwich in 1592.
[Illustration: John Knox, born 1505, died 1572.]
[Illustration: John Taylor, the Water Poet, born 1580, died 1654.]
In the first year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth an attempt was made to
add to the revenue by taxing at the rate of 3s. 4d. every beard of above
a fortnight's growth.
Pages:
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52