The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

And as for my offence, which I have committed against England, either by writing that Book, or by any other work, I will not refuse that moderate and indifferent men judge and discern betwixt me, and those that accuse me, viz. Whether of the parties do most hurt to the Liberty of England: I, who affirm that no woman may be exalted above any Realm, to make the Liberty of the same thrall, and subject to a strange, proud, and cruel Nation: Or they, that approve whatsoever pleaseth Princes for the time. If I were as well disposed to accuse, as some of them (to their own shame) have declared themselves, I nothing doubt, but that in few words I should let reasonable men understand, That some that this day lowly crouch and bow to your Majesty, and labour to make me odious in your eyes, did in your adversity neither show themselves faithful friends to your Majesty, neither yet so loving and careful of the native Country, as they would be esteemed. But omitting the accusation of others, for my own purgation, and your Majesties satisfaction, I say, That nothing contained in my book, is or can be prejudicial to your Majesties just Regiment, providing that you be not found ungrate unto God, ungrate you will be proved in the presence of his Throne (howsoever that flatterers justify your fact) if you transfer the glory of that honour in which you now stand, to any other thing, then to the dispensation of his mercy, which only maketh that lawful to your Majesty, which Nature and Law denieth to all women, to command and bear rule over men. Neither would I that your Majesty should fear, That this your humiliation before God, should in any case infirm or weaken your Majesties just and lawful Authority; Nay, Madame, such unfeigned confession of Gods benefits received, will be the establishment of the same, not only to your self, ⟨p. 226⟩but also to your seed and Posterity: Where contrariwise, a proud conceit, and elevation of your self, will be the occasion that your Reign will be unstable, troublesome, and short. God is witness, That unfeignedly I both love and reverence you Majesty; yea, I pray that your Reign may be both prosperous and quiet, and that for the quietness which Christs Members, before persecuted, have received under you. But yet if I should flatter your Majesty, I were no friend, but a deceivable traitor;

And as for my offence, which I have committed against England, either by writing that Book, or by any other work, I will not refuse that moderate and indifferent men judge and discerne betwixt me, and those that accuse me, viz. Whether of the parties do most hurt to the Liberty of England: I, who affirme that no woman may be exalted above any Realme, to make the Liberty of the same thrall, and subject to a strange, proud, and cruell Nation: Or they, that approve whatsoever pleaseth Princes for the time. If I were as well disposed to accuse, as some of them (to their own shame) have declared themselves, I nothing doubt, but that in few words I should let reasonable men understand, That some that this day lowly crouch and bow to your Majestie, and labour to make me odious in your eyes, did in your adversity neither shew themselves faithfull friends to your Majesty, neither yet so loving and carefull of the native Countrey, as they would be esteemed. But omitting the accusation of others, for my owne purgation, and your Majesties satisfaction, I say, That nothing contained in my book, is or can be prejudiciall to your Majesties just Regiment, providing that you be not found ungrate unto God, ungrate you will be proved in the presence of his Throne (howsoever that flatterers justifie your fact) if you transfer the glory of that honour in which you now stand, to any other thing, then to the dispensation of his mercy, which onely maketh that lawfull to your Majestie, which Nature and Law denieth to all women, to command and bear rule over men. Neither would I that your Majesty should fear, That this your humiliation before God, should in any case infirm or weaken your Majesties just and lawfull Authority; Nay, Madame, such unfained confession of Gods benefits received, will be the establishment of the same, not only to your self,