An answer to a letter of a Jesuit named Tyrie, be John KnoxAn answer to a letter of a Iesuit named Tyrie, be Iohne Knox

TO HIS LOVING MOTHER MISTRESS Elizabeth Bows, troubled in spirit, whom God comfort for his great mercies sake. Amen. ⟨image 42⟩PSALM. 79. RISE LORD, STRETCH out thy hand, forget not the sobs of the oppressed. RIGHT dearly beloved Mother in our Saviour Jesus Christ, now is our dolour appointed by God, and forespoken by his Prophets come upon us as the dolour of a woman in the birth of her first Child,¹ and so is it come, as with your ears, both openly and privately, oftentimes you have hard declared. When I remember your great infirmity, and the strong battle that continually ye fight, & calls to my mind how small comfort you have in earth: I am compelled to •ob and groan to him that only may give strength, comfort, and consolation, without help of any creature unto you, in these most dolorous days. And good hope I have that my petition shall not be repelled, but for Christ Jesus sake accepted and granted: albeit not in such sort as you and I most gladly would,² yet I doubt not but in such sort we shall obtain it, as his glory and our Everlasting comfort and profit requireth. It hes not been without the most ⟨image 43⟩special provide n•e, and favours of God that these many days by past, you have been grievously tempted, and sore assaulted, to revolt & turn back again to that abominable and blasphemous Idolatry: which now in G•odes anger is erected, before the uttermost of his plagues be power red forth upon t•e stubborn and inobedient which never would delight in y• truth of his word. And therefore of his just judgments,³ most justly hes he given them over according to there hearts desire: to delight in lies to their eternal condemnation. In the days I say (dearly beloved Mother) that no appearance there was, y ever such abominations should have taken place,