The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Then the Earle of Morton, Chancellor, commanded Master George Hay to reason against John Knox in the head of obedience due to Magistrates, who began so to do; Unto whom John Knox said, Brother, that ye shall reason in my contrary, I am well content, because I know you to be both a man of learning, and of modesty; but that you shall oppose your self unto the Trueth, whereof I suppose your own conscience is no less persuaded,¹ then is mine, I cannot well approve; for I would be sorry, that ye and I should be reputed to reason, as two Scholars of Pythagoras, to show the quickness of our wit, as it were to reason on both parts: I protest here before God, That whatsoever I sustain, I do the same in conscience; yea, I dare no more sustain a proposition, known to my self untrue, then I dare teach false Doctrine, in the public place; And therefore Brother, if Conscience move you to oppose your self to that Doctrine which ye have heard out of my mouth, in that matter, do it boldly, it shall never offend me; But that ye shall be found to oppose your self unto me, ye being persuaded in the same Trueth; I say yet again, it pleaseth me not; for therein may be greater inconveniency, then either ye or I do consider for the public.

Then the Earle of Mortoune, Chancellor, commanded Master George Hay to reason against Iohn Knox in the head of obedience due to Magistrates, who began so to doe; Unto whom Iohn Knox said, Brother, that ye shall reason in my contrary, I am well content, because I know you to be both a man of learning, and of modesty; but that you shall oppose your selfe unto the Trueth, whereof I suppose your owne conscience is no lesse perswaded,¹ then is mine, I cannot well approve; for I would be sorry, that yee and I should be reputed to reason, as two Schollers of Pythagoras, to shew the quickenesse of our wit, as it were to reason on both parts: I protest here before God, That whatsoever I sustaine, I doe the same in conscience; yea, I dare no more sustaine a proposition, knowne to my selfe untrue, then I dare teach false Doctrine, in the publike place; And therefore Brother, if Conscience move you to oppose your selfe to that Doctrine which yee have heard out of my mouth, in that matter, doe it boldly, it shall never offend me; But that yee shall bee found to oppose your selfe unto mee, yee being perswaded in the same Trueth; I say yet againe, it pleaseth me not; for therein may be greater inconveniency, then either yee or I doe consider for the publike.