Knox to the Queen Eegent
1550.
KNOX TO THE QUEEN REGENT.
and to remayue with me for a season ; the comfort of her con science, whiche cannot be quyett without God's woorde trulie preached, and his sacraments rightelie ministred, is the cause of her request, and of my care.
The Castell of Edinburghe hathe narowlie eskaped betrayeng, but nowe, I hope, it be in better assurance, because the Queue and her Frenche counsaile are disapoyntid of their purpose in that bihalfe.
They have began to fortefie Leyht.
Their soul diers supplie the place of pioners for augmentation of their wagis.
As other things occurrith, ye shall be advertised.
And this I commit you to the protection of the Omnipotent.
From St. Androwes, the xxj of September 1559.
Yours to his power, John Sincleak.
XXXVI.
Knox to the Queen Eegent.
My duetie humblie premissed,—Your Grace's servant, Mr.
Eobert Lokhart, most instantlie hath required me and others, to whome your Grace's letters, as he alledged, were directed, to receave the same in secreit maner, and to give him answere accordingiie.
But becaus some of the number that he required were and are upon the great Counsell of this realme, and, therefore, are solemnelie sworne to have nothing to doe in secreit maner, neither with your Grace, neither yitt with anie other that cometh frome you, or from your counsell, and so they could not receive your Grace's letters upon suche conditions as the said Mr. Eobert required, therefore thought he good to bring to your Grace againe the saids letters closed.
Yitt becaus, as he reporteth, he hath made unto your Grace some promise in my name, at his requeist I am content to testifie, by my letter and subscriptioun, the summe of that which I did communicate with him.
In Pundie, after manie words betwixt him and me, I said, That albeit diverse sinistruous reports had beene made of VOL.
VI.
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. me, yitt did I never declare aiiie evident tokin of hatred or inimitie against your Grace.
For, if it be the office of a verie freind to give true and faithfull counsell to them whome he seeth runne to destiaictioun for laike of the same, I could not he proved enemie to your Grace, but rather a freind unfained.
For what counsell I had given to your Grace, my writtings, als vveill my Letter and additioun to the same now printed,^ as diverse others which I wrote frome Sanct Johnstoun, doe testifie.
I farther added, that suche an enemie was I unto you, that my tongue did both perswade and obteane, that your authoritie and regiment sould be obeyed of us in all things lawfull, till you declare yourself open enemie to this conunoim wealth, as now, alas, yee have done !
This I willed him, moreover, to say to your Grace, that if yee, following the counsell of flattering men, having no God but this world and their bellie, proceed in your malice against Christ Jesus and his religioun, and true ministers, that yee sould doe nothing elles but accelerat and liasten God's plague and vengeance upon yourself and your posteritie ; and that yee, if ye did not change your purpose hastilie, sould bring yourself in suche extreme danger, that when yee would seeke remedie, it sould not be so easie to be found as it had bene before.
This is the effect and summe of all that I said at that time and willed him, if he pleased, to communicate the same to your
Grace by this my letter, written and subscribed at Edinburgh, the 6th day of October 1559.
Your Grace's to connuand, in all godKnesse, JoHNE Knox.
Postscrijpkim.—God move your heart yitt in time to consider that yee fight not against men, but against the Eternall God, and against his Sonne Jesus Christ, the onlie Prince of the kings of the earth.
' See the Letter addressed by Knox p. 69), and the same Letter augmented to the Queen Dowager in 1556 (vol. iv. in 1558 {ih. p. 423).