The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

But to return from whence we have digressed.

But to returne from whence we have digressed.

¹Whether it was by counsel of others, or of the Queens own desire, we know not, but the Queen spake with John Knox, and had long reasoned with him, none being present, except the Lord James, two Gentlemen stood in the one end of the room. The sum of their reasoning was this: The Queen accused him, That he had raised a part of her subjects against her Mother and her self; That he had written a Book against her just Authority;² (she meant the Treatise against the Regiment of Women) which she had and would cause the most learned in Europe to write against it; That he was the cause of great sedition, and great slaughter in England; And that it was said to her, That all that he did was by Necromancy. To the which the said John answered; Madame, it may please your Majesty patiently to hear my simple answers: And first (said he) ⟨p. 311⟩my simple Answers: And first, (said he) if to teach the Word of God in sincerity, if to rebuke Idolatry, and to will a people to worship God, according to his Word, be to raise Subjects against their Princes, then cannot I be excused; for it hath pleased God of his mercy, to make me one (amongst many) to disclose unto this Realm the vanity of the Papistical Religion, and the deceit, pride, and tyranny of that Roman Antichrist:³ But Madame, if the true knowledge of God and his right worshipping be the chief cause which must move men to obey their just Princess from their heart, (as it is most certain that they are) wherein can I be reprehended?⁴ I think, and am surely persuaded, that your Majesty has had, and presently hath as unfeigned obedience of such as profess Christ Jesus within this Realm, as ever your Father or Progenitors had of those that were called Bishops: And touching that Book that seemeth so highly to offend your Majesty, it is most certain, that if I wrote it, I am content that all the learned of the world judge of it: I hear that an Englishman hath written against it, but I have not read him; if he hath sufficiently confuted my reasons, and established his contrary Propositions, with as evident testimonies, as I have done mine; I shall not be obstinate but shall confess mine error and ignorance. But to this hour I have thought, and yet thinks my self alone more able to sustain the things affirmed in that my Work, than any ten in Europe shall be able to confute it.