Knox to the Duke of Chattelherault and the
1560.
KNOX TO MRS. ANNA LOCK.
bered.
I kuow not what of our brethren of Geneva be with you ; but to such as be there, I beseeche you to say, that I think that I myself doe now find the truthe of that which oft
I have said in their audience, to witt, that after our departure frome Geneva sould our dolour beginne.
But my good hope is in God, that it shall end to his glorie and our comfort.
Eest in Christ Jesus.
From Sanct Andrewes, the 4th of February 1559-[60].
Your Brother, John Knox I have writtin once or twise to Mr.
Bodlie, but as yet have receaved no answere.
Knox to the Duke of Chattelherault and the LoKDS AT Glasgow.
After humill commendation of my service :
Albeit I have writtin offer than anis to Mr. Henrie Balnaves, etc [See this letter, vol. ii. pages 40-42.] From Sanctandrois, the sixt of Februar, in haist, 1559
[GO].
Your Lordschipes to command in godliness, John Knox.
LI.
Knox to Sir W. Cecill After humill commendation of service, these presentis ar to requyr your confort, rycht Worschipfull, in the mater of on_jif njy espedall freindis, a young man named Eichard Anderson, who departed from us to France for dispaching of soni of his busines thare in the moneht of October ; and becaus that sence we have hard no word of him, it is supposed that he should be stayed in your countrey.
Yf so be, I dowbt not but by your
LETTERS, ETC.
1560. favoiiris, he, and thingis to him justly apperteaning, wilbe delivered ; for the young mau hath hein on of our nomher senqe the first erecting of the Church in Edinburgh.
His mother is the most faythfull matron, and most liberall to the Sanctis afflicted, that we have in those quarteris.
Yf he or she wer enemeis to this cause, thare should no earthlie thing cause me to procure in his favouris.
The soum which he was to receave from the handis of a banqueur surmounted xii'^ [1200] frankis.
Thus am I bold to requyr of you, becaus I am assured of your favouris towardis all that unfeanedlie profess Christ Jesus, whose ommnipotent Spreit assist you with wisdom, in all thingis to his glory.
From Sanctandrois, the 8 of February 155 9 -[60].
Youris, to command in godlines, John Knox.
To the right worshipfull Sir William Cycill, knyght, cheaf Secretary to the Quen's Majestic, and to hir Grace's most
Honorabill Prevy Counsall.
Be these delivered att Court in haist.
LII.
Randolph to Sie AV. Cecill.
Yf suche lettres as I wrote unto your Honour the x* of thys present, are come unto your handes, you are not ignorante of all thyngis that have passed here untyll that present day
; sens which tyme the Lordis of the Articles have consulted of maynie_ matters concerninge the state of this Eealme. ... Of the whole nombre that are present, yt stayethe the moste in the Earles
Marshall, and Atholl, th'other dependinge only ether upon their autoritie or power.
Their good wyll now appered more playnely then in the lettre of the Ladie Flemynge, which she desyered to be subscribed in her favour for a passeport, unto the which these two denied only to put to their handes, for that yt was a
1560.
EANDOLPH TO SIR W. CECILL.
Ill requeste to be made unto Englaiide.
So that your Honour are not lyke to be troubled with anie suche sute, except you see ether one or bothe their handes at it.
The obstinacie of these men hatha sore greved dyvers noble men that favour the cawse.
Their nature is estemed dyvers ; th'one fearefull and lothe to entre into anie matters of controversie, th'other obstinate and singular, withoute understondinge what daynger niaye insue unto his countrie whyleste that he is careles therof
The Erie of CrafFord' hathe twyse byne moved in my heringe to subscribe.
The fyrste tyme, he desyered advisement with his freiides ; the laste, he gave answer, that sens the lawe of oblivion was graunted, he sawe not howe anie man coulde, reseryinge his duetie to his
Soveraigne, gyve his consent to anie suche Coutracte : howbeyt, he wolde speake a worde in councill, which was, yf he might be sure, where yt wolde please the Queues Majestic to place herself in mariage ; he wolde not stay to do more than that, and so he knewe wolde maynie moe doe.
The fyrste parte of his answer he lernecle of Mr. James Magille, th'other perhappes also was put into his hedde by ane other.
I have spoken with my Lord Graye.
I fynde yet nothynge to anie eflecte.
He hathe promised to give me a better answer befor his departure.
The Duke's Grace also hathe bene thys day verey ernest with liys wyffe.
The Erie of Eglinton is also arrived.
Ther hath bein verie lyttle sayd unto hym as yet.
The Lordes Drummond, Yester, and Somervell, came yesterday unto thys towne.
The numbre (as yt ys saide) of Noble men is greater then of longe tyme yt I j iff hath byne at anie Parlement.
The Byshoppe of St. Andrews, upon motion that was made unto hym, was contente to tawlke with the Subprior of St. Andrews, the Eectour, and two others.
Thei have had much communication withowte hope ; he is stowte and bolde inoughe ; he rydethe and goetlie at large.
He came to the Duke's to supper, invited and convoide by Mr.
Gawen of Kylwynnynge ; ^ he was as whomly as welcome.
The ^ Gawin Hamilton, Commendator of Kilwinning.
See vol. ii. p. 320, note 2.
LETTERS, ETC.
1560.
Duke, after supper, tawlked long with him.
He was better wyllinge to here hym then to beleve anie thynge he spak.
Theie concluded in these wordes, that for his consciens he was determyned, in that mynde that he was of at present, to end his lyf.
For his boddie, goodes, and lyvinges, he was content to yelde all into his handes.
What bysydes matters of consciens, he wolde commaunde, he was alwayis reddie t'obeye ; so that the Duke thynkethe to brynge him to subscribe the Contracte.
The Bysshope of Dunkell remaynethe as obstinat, as ignorante.
Beinge moved to here Mr. Knox, he gave answere that he wolde never here an olde condemned hereticke.
Mr. Knoxe hath bene wyth hym for yt, sens that tyme ; so have also dyvers other that have preached.
Sermons are daylie, and great audience.
Thoughe divers of the Nobles present ar not resolved in religion, yet do tliei repayre daylie to the preachynges, which geveth a good hope to maynie that God wyll bowe their hartes.
The Byshoppe of Dumbleane is also now come, yt is not to reason upon religion, but to do, as I here, whatsomever the Erie of Argyle -vvydl commande hym.
Yf God have prepared hym and hys Metropolitane to die obstinate papystes, yet I wolde that theie, before theie goe to the Divell, wolde shews some token that ons in their lyves theie loved their countrie, and sette their handes to the Contracte, as hardly I can beleeve theie wyll.
That nyght that the Byshope supped with the Duke, ther were maynie, bothe noble and other offendyd, that ever he sholde receave suche humanitie in that place, and Iamongeste those men whome so spytefuUy he hath offended.
Howe gratefuU soinever he was to the Duke, I am sure there was never man worse welcome to the Sone.-'
As concernynge the doinges of this Parlement, I thought that better to referre them to the reporte of the Lord of Lidington^ then uncerteynely to wryte of that that I have nether harde nor seen.
Whatsomever shalbe omitted in his lettre for lacke of ' The Duke's sou.
- See the next letter, No. i.iu.
1560.
RANDOLPH TO SIR W. CECILL.
tyiue, I wyll supplie the same iu myue, as nere the trothe as I cane, ether by his reporte or suche other as ar no les privie to those affaires then he.
Touchynge other commen affaires yt maye pleas your Honour to knowe, that for the demolution of Leithe ther is myche lesse done then the case importethe.
AVliat the staye thereof is I knowe not, except that wher so niaynie matters are in hande, some are negligently overseen.
I wrote unto your Honour to knowe your pleasure, for Mr. Blunte and Mr. Strude, theie are now determyned to desyer leave of the Lordes to retorne ; I see also that ther is no farther use of them, except that ther are mo men to sett aworke.
Lyttle London, which is nexte the sea on the easte, and Loggen's bulwarke, stoude cleane hoole.
The Lordis are lothe that theie sholde departe, and yet ar theie our slowe to see thynges done owte of liande.
To Dombarre the Lords have sent one hundred pioneers with a capitayne, with speciall commaundement to Sarlabos t'admytte them to worke. He hath wrytten verie humbly unto the Duke,
I do not dowte but to sende your Honour the coppie of his lettre, for certayne poyntes contayned in the same.
The shotte that was founde iu the demolution of Leytlie is now shippinge, to be transported to Barwicke.
The Lordes this daye consulte upon the chosynge of the 24, in wliicli number nether the Erie Marshall nor Athell are lyke to be.
That beinge ended, theie intende to propounde the confirmation of the Contracte with Englande, of the which the Lordes that are allreddie adjoyned mayke themselves assured, being the greater nunibre.
Of those that shall be sent into Englande, I see that of necessitie Lydingeton must be one, otherwyse the Duke can no wayes be satysfied, thoughe
I knowe he cane be evile sx^ared from hens for dyvers respectes.
I wolde that the Master of Maxwell, whoe laborethe to be Lord Heres, myght be one.
I wolde gladly that the Lord Ivoberte myghte be th'otlier, for suche causes as your Honour shalbe informed shortly ether by Lydingeton or me.
VOL. VI.
LETTERS, ETC.
1560.
My Lorde Arrane hatlie more deeply wayed thynges sens your departure then before.
Over myclie suspicion, wher no cause was, somewhat transported his spirites.
Ther hathe byne sufficient saide unto hym yn that matter.
He understondethe hys errors; his Father yeldeth mych emore to reason than his nature bearethe.
The pestilent counsell of iij or iiij in this towne, seduce maynie honeste men bothe from good and ther countrie.
Mr. Knox spareth not to tell yt them ; he and Mr. Wyllockes were yesterdaye before the Lordes of the Articles, with the Bishoppes.
St. Andrews desyered to have a coppie of the Confession of their Faythe.
Yt was not denied hym to have yt shortly, thoughe yt be dowted that yt be to sende yt into France, before the Lordes do sende, then that he hathe any mynde t'examen the veritie or reforme hys consciens, be yt never so resonable.
Beinge but yesterdaye concluded, yt was not possible to send your Honour a coppie therof so soone.
For as muche as yt is purposed shortly to sende them unto you, with whatsomever shallbe more resolved upon,
I do also for tliys tyme tayke my leave.
Wrytten at Edenbourge, the xvth [of August] at viij of the clocke in the mornynge, 1560.
Your Honour allwayes to serve, Thomas Eandolphe.
LIT I.
William Maitland of Letiiington to Sir William Cecill.
Sir,—I have receaved your two severall letters, the one fronie Eichmont, the first off August ; the other frome Otlands, the first off August.
I am bound to give your Honour most harty thanks.
I must confess that I have not off late written to yow so oft as my duety requireth, awayting when some mater sould fall out in our I'arlianient worthy the wrytiug.
The States are
1560.
MAITLAND TO SIR W. CECILL.
SO well assembled that I remember not in my tyme to have sene so frequent a Parliament.
It begouth the viij day off this instant, qnhilk day the late treaty with the Frenshe was ratified by the whole nomber, and ordeyned that one sould shortly go to France with it, and sute the King and Quenes Majesty our Soveraines Eatification.
I think that voyage shall lyght on the Lord off St. Jhons.
For all other maters the order off Parliament was observed, quhilk is the first day ; and choyse the Lords off Articles ; that is ten of eveiy Estait who shall I avissjand consult upon all articles presented unto the Estates.
There is sensyne already past the Confession off ouk Fayth, by ane uniforme consent off the haill Lords off Articles, and to be sent to the King and Queue, wheroff within these three or four dayes, I shall send you the copy.
The whole estait off the Clergy^ is on our syde, a few excepted off them that be present, as the Archebishop of St. Andrews,^ the Bishopes off Dumblane^ and Dunkeld.^ The Eeligion is lyke aneugh to fynd mony favourers off the whole off all Estates.
Now we meane to procede to the naming of the xxiiij of whome the Counsall must be chosen for rewling off the Eealme.
Thairafter to the Eatification off the treaty past at Barwick.
In the meane tyme no laubours shalbe ometted that may serve to allure every man to condescend eyther to the auld, or to mak a new off as good effect.
As yet, praysed be God, ther is no apparence off any division, but all lyke aneugh to continew in a good amity.
Wee thought good before all things to pas the Confession.
It is spoken and contended that some noblemen shall shortly come towardes the Quenes Majesty to give thanks.
I thynk th' Erl of Glencarne, the Lord Eobert, the Maister of Maxwell, or at least two off them, shall be sent.
I mon on force come with them, or els I se not how I can mainteyne amyty with the ^ James Hamilton, Archbishop of St.
^ Robert Crichton, Bishop of DiinAiKlrews, 1543-1570. keld, 1550-1561.
He was restored as ^ William Chishohii, Dishop of Dumtitular Bishop in 1581, and died at a blane, 1527-1564. very advanced age in 1584-5.
LETTERS, ETC.
1560.
Duke and my Lord off Arane, so ernestly have tliey preissed me and layd it to my charg, that no excuse will serve, and I neyther may or will lose theyr frendship.
I mervell what yow ment, to write that I was reserved for the voyage off France.
I think it wes not in ernest, ffor (I speake it in the presens off God) I had rather be banished Scotland ffor seven yeares than tak that journey on hand.
My Lords off Arane, Argyle, and my Lord James, have commanded me to remember theyr commendations unto yow, and maist glaidly receaved yours as proceading frome theyr dearest ffrend.
It will please yow to have me hartly recommended to my Lady your bedfallow, to whome with yow I wishe your harty desire.
Frome Edinbourgh, the xv day of August 15C0.
Your Honour at commandment, W. Maitland.
To the ryght honorable Sir William Cecill, knight, prmcipall Secretary to the Queues Majesty.
IJV.
Thomas Randolph to Sir W. Cecill.
.... Your Honour shall presently receave the coppie also of the Confession of their Fayth, written in such haste^ that I am ashamed to present yt unto you, as I may be also of al my other wrytinge, which I am forced with such haste to dispache out of my hands, that I have no leasure to consider what I wryte, as touchinge such things as ar concluded here in Parlyment, and fullie resolved upon hitherto.
I never harde matters of so great importance, nether soncr dispatched, nor with better will agreed unto.
The nuitturs eoneluded and past ^ This MS. copy of the Confession of spects from the ordinary copy.
See it Faith is preserved in the State Paper reprinted from tlie oi-iginal edition of OlKce, and difl'ers in no essential re1561, in vol. ii. pp. Oo-l"20.
1560.
RANDOLPH TO SIR W. CECILL.
by common consent upon Saturday last in such solemne sort, at the firste daye that thei assembled, are these :
Firste, That the Barons, accordinge to ane old Acte of Parliment, made in James's tyme the fyrste, tli!' yvare'of God TiTf, shall have free voice in Farlinient.
This Acte passed without anie contradictioun, as well of the Bishopes Papysts, as all other present.
@ The nexte was the ratification of the Confession of their Fayth, in the which the Bishope of St. Andrews, in niayiiie words saide this in effecte, That was a matter he had not byne accustomed with ; he had had no sufticient tyme to examin yt, or to confer with his friends ; howbeit as he yet will not utterly condemn it, so was he lothe to give his consent thereunto.
To that effect also spoke the Bishops of Dunkell and Dumblane.
Of the temporall Lords the Earle of Cassiles and the Earle of Caithnes said, Noe.
The rest of the Lords, with common consent, and as glad a will as cnxT I heard men speake, allowed the sanio.
Dyvers with protestation of their Consciens and Faythe, desyred rather presently to end their lyves than ever to tliinke contrarie unto that that allowed ther.
Maynie also offereit to shede ther blude in defence of the same.
The olde Lord of Lyndsay, as grave and goodly a man as ever I sawe, sayd,~I haVe li\^e& manie yeres ; I am the oldeste in thys companye of my sorte now that yt hath pleased God to lett me see this daye, wher so manie nobles and other have allowed so worthie a work, I will say with Simion, N'tmc dimittis.
The olde Larde of Lundie confessed howe longe he had lived in blindnes, repented his former lyf, and imbrased the same as his trewe beleive.
My Lord James, after some other purpose, saide, that he muste the sonner beleeve yt to be trewe, for yit some other in the compagnie did not allowe the same, he knew that Goddes truthe wolde never be without his adversaries.
The Lord Marshall saide, thoughe he were otherwyse assured that yt was trewe, yit might he be the bolder to pronounce yt, for that he sawe ther present the pyllars of the Pope's Church, and not one of them
LETTERS, ETC.
1560, tliat wokle speake agaynst yt.
Maynie other to lykc effect ; as tlie Laird of Erskin, Laird of Newbottlc, the Sub-Prior of St.
Andrews/ concludiuge all in one that that was the Faythe wherin thei ought to lyve and die.
1 ^vyll for the present most hmnblie take my leave.
Wrytten at Edenbourge, the xix of August 15 GO, rather in the morninge.
Your Honor's to serve, Tho. Eandolphe.
To the right honorable Sir William Cecill, knyght, &c.
LV.
EXTKACTS FEOM EaNDOLPH'S LETTERS TO
Sir William Cecill.^ .... The Byshops of St. Androws, Dunkell, Dumbleane, as soune as thei had put in their byll of complaynt of the misusinge of them and contempt of their autoritie, tlieie departed
; and being cawled in Parliament Howse to pursue the same, no man compered.
The byll put in by the Barons againste the Byschops contayned rather a generall accusation of all lyvinge Byshops, then anie speciall cryme that thei were burdayned with.
The other three are become good Protestantes, and have subscribed the contract.
The Byshop of Athens'^ preacheth earnestly, and prayethe hartely for the Queene's Majestic our soueraigne, and greatly extollethe her benefyttes
; Mr. Wyllocke, specially by name, prayethe both for France and Englande ; Mr. Knox universally, for all prynces lyvinge in the feare of God, desyring Him to turne the hartes of other, and to sende them in the ryclit way.
Mr. Goodman hathe latly byne in the '
Mr. .John Wyiimnic. letters furnish iiiueh iiuportant intbnimltaii<loli)li at this time was resident tien regarding wliat he calls " the prem l'lilinljuri;ii, in the eharacler of Queen sent state of matters iu Seotlaud."
Elizaheth's envoy at the Scottish court.
' Alexander Gordon, IJishoj) of tialIt is scarcely necessary to add, that his lowtiy, and titular Arehbishop of Athens.
1560.
RANDOLPH TO SIR W. CECILL.
He of Mau.
He lainentethe the sclendre reformatiou of religion there, and great lacke of preachinge amonge a people so well disposed to here God's worde.
He tarried ther x dayes, and preached twyse.
I have tawlked of late with them all, to serche ther opinions howe a uniformity myght be had in religion, in bothe these realmes.
These seme wylhnge that yt so were ; maynie commodyties are alleged that mycht insue therof.
Howbeit I fynde them so severe in that that thei professe, so lothe to remytte anie thing of that that thei have receaved, that I see lytle hope therof.
With other I have dealt more liberally then with them.
These fynde yt so expediente, that thei shall lacke no goodwyll in them theninto.
Their Book of common Reformation is nowe in translatinge into Latyne, and shalbe sent unto Calvine, Viret, Eeza, in Geneva ; INIr. jVIartyr, Bullinger, and other, in Zurich.
I perceave not ther opinion towards England to be such that thei wylbe content to stande in their judgment herin.
Howbeit thei wyll not refuse to common with anye learned in our nation to here their judgements.
The Confessioun of the Faythe^ shall shortley be translated and put in prente.
Ordre is taken for the ministers, and places appoynted wher evrie one shall preache : Mr. Knox at Edenbourge ; Wyllocks at CJlasgow ; and Goodman at St. Androws.
The Booke of Reformation,^ at thys tyme, was not presented unto the Lords of the Articles ; but dyvers other Acts passed agaynste the Pope' and hys auctority, the Masse abolished, dyvers penall statutes taken away for punishment of hereticks, your Honour shall understande more at large.
So muche allreddie is done, that all men that profess Chryste may lyve in freedome of their conscience.
The reste shall insue as tyme wyll gyve yt place, and myche the sooner that good success do follow the suite that shalbe made unto the Queues Majestic, wherof we have receaved some newe comforte, in that we see all the nobleman of thys Realme so wyllinge therunto, as by the byll subscribed ^ That is, the Book of Discipline, contained in vol. ii. pp. 183-258.
LETTERS, ETC.
1560. with their owne hands yt apperethe Most humbly
tayke my leave.
Wrytten at Edenbourge, the xxv of August 1560.
.... In my last lettres unto your Honor, I was bolde somewhat at large to discourse with you of the present state of matters here, and upon suclie thyngs as have byne passed and concluded in this Parliament.
May yt nowe please you to understond what hathe insued from the date of my last lettre unto this present, viz., the xxviitli.
The Lords of the Parliament assembled intlue Towbowth.
. They have deposed the Pope, and abrogated his autorite, withoute contradiction ; maynie penal statutes agaynst hereticks taken awaye ; the Masse utterly abolished, and paynes appoynted bothe to the sayers and hearers
;—the firste the confiscation of their goods ; the nexte, to banishment ; thyrd, the losse of thair lyves.
The iii Bishops, Androwes, Dumbleane, Dunkell, beinge cawled to pursue their byll gyven to the Lords of the Articles, compered not, whejupon a decree was made for the staye of their lyvings.
What other Acts, some which were published, concerned ether the commenwelthe or some private cause.
The Parliament is proroged untyll yt seme good unto the Lords upon some good causes to assemble themselves agayne Most humbly I take my leave.
Wrytten at Edenbourge, the xxvii of August, at iii of the clocke, 1.560.
....
If my poore advice myght have bene harde touching the Confession of the Faythe, yt sholde not so soone have come into the lyghte.
God hathe sent it better success for the confirmation therof then was looked for.
It passed men's expectatione to see it passed in such sorte as yt dyd.
Before that yt I was published, or maynie wordis spoken of yt, yt was presented i unto certayne of the Lords to see their judgements.
It was 1 1 commytted unto the Laird of Lydington and the Sub-Prior to be examined.
Thought theie coulde not reprove the doctrine,
1560.
RANDOLPH TO SIR W. CECILL.
yet djd theie mitigate the austeritie of maynie words and sentences which sounded to proceede leather of some evil conceaved opinion, then of anie sounde judgement.
The autor of thys worke had also put in this treatie a tytle or chapitar of the obediens or dysobediens that Subjects owe unto ther Magistrates.
It contayned lyttle les matter in fewe wordes then hathe bene otherwyse written more at large.
The surveyors of thys worke tliought it to be an unfit matter to be intreated at thys tyme, and so gave their advice to leave it owte.'^
Touchynge the Storie,^ yt is not yit absolved, as I am gevin to understande.
I am also made beleve that you shall have the ^1 fyrste sycht therof, as farther your honor shall knowe as soone as I can speake with the autor thereof, wdioe promysed longe sens to see the same Wrytten at Edenbourge the vii of September 1560.
....
I have tawlked at large with Mr. Knox concerning his Hystorie.^ As mykle as ys written thereof shall be sent to your Honour, at the comynge of the Lords Embassadours, by Mr. John Woode.
He hath wrytten only one Booke.* If yow lyke that, he shall continue the same, or adde onie more.
He sayethe, that he must have farther helpe then is to be had in thys countrie, for more assured knowledge of thyngs passed than he hath hymself, or can come bye here : yt is a work not to be neglected, and greatly wyshed that yt sholde be well handled.^ Wrytten at Edenbourge, 23d September 1560.
.... That he (my Lorde of Arrane) hathe also wrytten unto the Conestable, as unto whome he hathe byne verie myche 1 But this advice was not followed, tlie tion in a letter to Raylton, supra, page chapter, Of the Civil Magistrate, being 87.
See also Introductory Notice, vol. i. still retained.
See supra, vol. ii. p. 118. pxxvi.
- & ^ Knox alludes to this intention * This was the Second Book of his of writing his History of the ReformaHistory, vol. i. p. 297.
LETTERS, ETC.
1561. bouiide.
Of all these matters tber is no man previe except Knox, and he whome he trustetlie with the whole.
At Edenbourge, the iii of Januarye 15 GO -[61].
.... The Bysshope of Orkney^ begynethe to reforme his dioces, and prechethe hymself.
. The libertye that we have here to eate fleslie upon the Sondayes in Lent makethe us the bolder to do the same the whole weeke after.
The Communion was mynesterest here upon Sondaye last ; I assure your Honour with great decencie and verie good order.
There were none admitted but suche as made open protestation of their belief examined and admitted by the mynesters and deacons to the numbre of xiij and odd.
Upon Sondaye nexte tlieie chuse in dyvers places for all the Sheeres^ Superintendantes, knowne iand lerned men : of those that your Honour knowethe, Mr.
^/Willocke for Glascowe and that countrie ; for St. Andrews, the Sub-l*rior of the same.^ Mr. Knox thynkethe hys state^ honorable inoughe, yf God gyve hym strengthe to persyste in that vocation that he hathe placed hym in, and wyll receave no other.
XJntyll suche tyme other occasion servethe, I do most humblye take my leave.
At Edenbourge, the v of Marche 15G0-[G1].
.... Mr. Knox hathe ernestly requested me to desyr the ministers in this towne of Berwicke, that ther may be some conference betweene hym and his brethrene, oferand them in wrytinge or other, yf yt myght stande with the Queues plea sure.
Mr. Knox in certayne articles geven unto my Lord James at this tyme hathe mytigated somewhat the rigeur of his booke, referringe myche unto the tyme that the same was wrytten.
Barwicke, the xx of Marche 1560-[G1].
Your Honour to commaunde, Thomas Eandolphe.
' Adam Botbwell.
^ Dean John Wynrame.
^ Shires.
* As Minister of Edinburgh.
1561.
CALVIN TO KNOX.
LVI.—Calvin to Knox.^ About four months before your last letter was delivered to iiie, I had received from you another, in which you were anxious to exculpate yourself, because, when I had given your friends and countrymen an answer to certain Questions, I had taken it ill that I was asked to answer them a second time.
But thus the matter stands : Unless they had promised me that my letter should be safely conveyed, I shoidd certainly liave kept a copy by me ; but, seeing that through their fault and inconsiderate engagement I had felt too secure, whUe soon afterwards they informed me that the answer, about which they had affirmed there was nothing to fear, had perished, and begged that I would again undertake the same work.
I was roused, I confess, and answered that their request was suspicious, and looked like an attempt to ensnare me.
Do not, however, wonder that I spoke with such asperity.
I had before known for certain that my counsel on the subject did not tally with their opinion.
As, therefore, I knew that they were not satisfied, it occurred to me as probable that they desired to have what was not agreeable suppressed, and to return to me that they might elicit something more to their mind.
But I neither said nor suspected that you in any way acted deceitfully ; and at the same instant the misunderstanding had been removed, so that there was no need of an apology.
And it grieves me, that what fell from my lips ' has so sunk into your mind as to make you tliink that you were accused of bad faith or craftiness, of which I believe you to be incapable.
Away then with that fear or anxiety.
I come now to your letter lately brought me by a pious brother, who has come hither to pursue his studies.
I am, as I should be, greatly delighted that the Gospel has made so happy and joyful advances among you.
That conflicts are got up ' See p. 94, iwte 1.
LETTERS, ETC.
1561. against you, is nothing new ; but the goodness of God shines the more clearly in this, that hitherto no attempts of Satan and of wicked men have hindered you from pursuing the right course with victorious constancy, although you never would have been equal for the struggle, had not He who is higher than all sent you help from heaven.
In regard to Ceremonies, I trust that your strictness, although it may displease many, will be regulated by discretion.
We should, indeed, do our endeavour that the Church may be purged of all the defilements which |. flowed from error and superstition.
We should also earnestly « strive that the mysteries of God be not polluted by absurd H or unmeaning mixtures.
With this exception, you know well that certain things, though not positively approved, must^e tolerated.
I grieve much, as I ought, that your Noblemen are divided by intestine disputes ; and you are justly more vexed and tormented, because Satan is plotting in the midst of you, than you were formerly troubled by the movements of the French.
But prayer should be made to God that he may remedy this evil also.
Here we are surrounded with dangers.
Confidence alone in the protection of heaven keeps us from terrour, though we are not free of fear.
Farewell, excellent Sir and brother, worthy of the heart's affection.
The Lord be ever j with you, guide, defend, and sustain you by His goodness.
Your I widowerhood is to me grief and bitterness, as it ought to be.
^ but as I You found a Wife whose like is not found everywhere ; \ you have rightly learned w^hence consolation in sorrow is to be sought, I doubt not that you bear this calamity with patience.
Salute the pious brethren most dutifully in my name.
My colleagues also pray for your great wellfare.
Geneva, 23d of April 1561.
' Marjory Bowes, Mrs. Knox, appears to have dieJ at EdinLurgli in December 15C0.
1561.
CALVIN TO GOODMAN.
LVII.
Calvin to Christopher Goodman.^ Your letter was, for various reasons, most welcome to me.
But though it were unnecessary to excuse long silence, because I am not wont to exact tlie duty of writing from my friends, and certainly I am persuaded that it is impossible that your love towards me can ever cease, yet I was glad to receive it, because it was a proof of your pious concern lest I should think myself neglected.
Although I am not a little grieved that our brother Knox has been deprived of the most delightful of wives, yet I rejoice that he has not been so afflicted by her death as to cease his active labours in the cause of Christ and the Church.
It is no common comfort that he has found in you a very faithful and thoroughly qualified assistant.
Nor indeed do I see how it can be lawful for you, in such a scarcity of labourers, to leave that country ; nay, rather that scarcity which *^ you justly deplore should stir up you and others to go on with prudence.
But if necessity is the sharpest stimulus to activity, this ought certainly to be our strongest inducement in the work of God, that we know that in it our endeavours can never be vain, while the children of this world are often defeated by their own zeal.
Wherefore, most excellent Brother, I think you should persevere until God, by additional help, shall have more firmly established the Scottish Church."
Farewell, excellent Sir and Brother, worthy of my love.
The Lord guide you by the spirit of wisdom and courage, and bless your labours.
My colleagues in the ministry salute you.
Geneva, 23d of April 1561.
* The original of this and of the pre- ^ Goodman remained in Scotland till ceding letter, addressed to Knox, of same the end of the year 1565.
See note, date, in Latin, are contained in the collecvol. ii. p. 413. tioa of Calvin's " Epistolaj et Eesponsa."
12(5
LETTERS, ETC.
1561.
LVIII.—Knox to Queen Elizabeth.
Grace from God the father throught our Lord Jesus, with perpetuall cncrease of his holie Spiritt.
May it please your Majestic, That it is heir certainlie spoken that the Quen of Scotland travaleht earnestlie to have a trcatiss intituled the "First Blast of the Trompett,"^ confuted by the censure of the learned in diverse realmes, and farther that she lauboreht to inflambe the hartes of princes against the writer. And becaus that it may appear that your Majestic hath interest, that she myndeht to travail with your Grace, your Grace's counsall and learned men for judgement against such a commen ennemey to Women and to thare Eegiment.
It war but foolishnes to me to prescribe unto your Majestic what is to be doune in any thing ; but especiallie in such thingis as men supposs do tuech myself.
But of one thing I think myself assured, and thairfor I dar not conceall it.
To witt, that neyther doht our Soverane so greatlie fear her owen estate by reasson of that book, neyther yit doht she so unfeanedlie favour the tranquillitie of your Majestie's reing and realme, that she wold tack so great and earnest panes ; onles that her crafty counsall in so doing shot att a farther marck.
Tuo yeares ago, I wrote unto your Majestic my full declaration tueching that work
: ^ experience since hath schawen that I am not desirus of innovations, so that Christ Jesus be not in his membres openlie troden under the feitt of the ungodlie.
With farther purgation I will not truble your Majestic for the present, beseching the Eternall so to assist your Highnes in all effares that in his sight ye may be found acceptable, your regiment profitable to the commen wealht, and your factes to be such that justlie thei may be '
In 1558 : sec it republislied in vol.
In his letter to FJizahctli, supra, ii. pp. 363-420 p. 47.
1tf -(re ~c -^.4; 1. tv*- __^^ ..y^ ^ -(^-/^v^*.
^^ ...... .1/; iii /i.
Ji>»iA Fn<m fjir Onfi,./ u, HJt.yfn/^ ISif-rOlKa
^ 'i"- ^':r^^^Tift.u n tT ffc ^K^ ' ^.-t*^tc^, Ur^ tx^,^fe
1561.
KNOX TO QUEEN ELIZABETH.
prased of all gocllie unto tlie cuming of our Lord Jesus, to /( whose myghtty protection I unfeanedlie committ your Majestie.
From Edinburgh, the 6 of August 1561.
Your Majestie's servand to command in godlines, John Knox.^ To the myghty and excellent Princess Elizabeht, the Queues
Majestic of England, be these delivered.
LIX.— Thomas Eandolph to Sir N. Throkmorton.
YoTJ must please your Lordship to pardon me, thoughe I be shorter at thys time then wyllingly I wolde be, or then I purposede, having so muche matter in score as wyllyngly I wolde that you sholde be partaker of.
The 19th of thys instant at ten of the clocke, the Queue ^ landed at Leethe, onlye two gaUayes with her three Uncles,^ Monsieur Danville, and certeyne other gentlemen.
The noblemen here were all absent, savinge the Lord Eoberte.
Her arrivall was so soddayne that no man thought of her.
Incontynent upon the newes here arrived the Duke's Grace fyrst, nexte the Lord James, then the Erie of Arrane.
Sens that tyme the repayre hathe byne great of all sortes.
All men welcome, all men well receaved, good intertaynement, great cheare, and fayer wordes.
I fynde no great alteration in thynges.
All men persyste in the same mynde that theie were of before theie saw her.
The Protestantes stowte in defence of God's cawse, and the Papystes nothynge incouraged any thynge that yet theie have founde.
Yf you saye unto me that yt [is] yet but newe dayes, then I answere, that when I ^ An accurate facsimile of this letter ^ Mary Queen of Scots. is here annexed, from the original in ' The Duke d'Aumale, the Grand H.M. State Paper Office.
Tiior, and the Marquis d'Elbceuf.
LETTERS, ETC.
1561. se newe occasiou you shall here as I fynde yt.
Four dayes she I, was with owte masse ; the next Soudaye after her arrivall she '' had yt in her chapell, sayde be a Frenche preste.
Ther were I only at that, bysyds her uncles and her owne howseholde, the Erie of Montros, Lord Grehame ; the Lord Hume wolde not be ther ; the rest were at Mr. Knox sermoundes, as great a number as ever was anye dayes.
The Erie of Cassels was that Sondaye at the preachynge, and the Mondaye at the masse
; that is saide that sens that tyme he hath repented yt, and this ys but Twesdaye.
I have not yet receaved my commission, whearfore I cane wryte nothyng of her Majestic.
I looke daylie for yt.
She asked the seconde daye of her arrivall what I made here, and when I dyd departe.
I looked them to have byne sent for.
Nowe, we stande in better termes then before, in speciall sens the Laird of St. Gome's-^ arrivall with her saulf-conducte four dayes after that she was landed.
She nether mette nor sawe shippe upon the sea, for all the bruit that was of her staye that shulde have byne.
» k Yt was concluded, upon Mnndaye, that all matters touchyuge \|m relygion sholde stande in the same state that she founde them.
She, her selfe, to use her howse withowte reproche of persone.
I se no hope of other in her then when you lefte her.
Yt dothe me good to remember that ther are yet but two Byshopes arrived, Andrews and Donkell [Dunkeld], bothe in longe gownes
V and typpettes, with hattes upon their heddes, but scharce dare , put their noses owte of their doores for feare of after clappes.
The preste that saide the masse, when he had his God at the hygheste, had almoste for feare [sic].
I say no more for re .
The Lord James dothe most with her ; nexte in credyt is Lidingt(jn.
Embassadeurs are appoynted to France, Euglande, Spayne, and their names you shall knowe when I am better assured.
Duke Domale and Monsieur Danville passe throughe I'^nglande, the Prior by sea, the Marquis wyll wynter with us.
Jaraes Stewart, Commeiulator of St. Coliue, or Inch-Colm.
See vol. ii. p. 53, 88.
1561.
RANDOLPH TO SIR N. THROKMORTON.
The Erie Bothwell is commaimded not to come to the Coiirte for the dyff'erance betwene the Erie of Arrane and hym.
The Erie of Huntlye is here, he cam sixteen horses in poste.
And to conclude, ther is not one that dothe absent hym self, or that is not well taken with for the fyrste face, savinge John Knox I / that thonderethe owte of the pulpet, that I feare no thynge so muche, that one daye he \vj^ marre all.
He rulethe the roste, and of hym all men stande in feare.
Wolde God you knewe howe myche I am amended myself : but nowe agayne in ernest.
The Frenche men are dislodged owte of Donbarre, and the Inche : Dombarre is commytted to the custodie of the Lord John of Coudingham, th'other I knowe not to whome.
Proclamation \ is allreddie made upon the Borders for the contynuance of jus-
tice and mayntaynance of amytie with Englande.
Thys is ' myche more then I thought my tyme wolde presently have served.
Nowe, what somever yt please yon, 1 am at your commaunde.
Scribled in haste the 2Gth of Auguste, Edenbourgc 1561.
Your Lordship's allwayes to commaunde, Tho. Eandolphe.
My humble commendations unto my verie good Ladie.
To the righte worshipfull Sir Nicolas Throgmorton, knyght, Embassadour for the Quene's Majestie of Englande in France.
LX.-^ICnox to Mes. Anna Lock.
/ daylic long for an end of miseries.
I HAVE receaved your token, deare Sister, without wryting.
I understand yomimpediment, and therfor I cannot complaine.
Yet if yow understood the varietie of my tentations, I doubt not but yee would have written somewhat.
The permissioun of that odious idol, the Masse, by suche as have professed themVOL.
VI.
LETTERS, ETC.
1561. selves enemeis to the same, doth hourlie threaten a siiddane plague.
I thrist to change this earthlie tabernacle, before that my wretched heart soiild be assaulted with anie suche newdolours.
I feare this my long rest sail not continue.
If yow, or anie other thinhe that I, or anie other preacher within this realme, may amend such enormiteis yee are deceaved
; for we have discharged our consciences, but remedie there appeareth none, unless we would arme the hands of the people in whome abideth yitt some sparkes of God's feare.
Our Noliilitie (I write with dolour of heart) beginne to find ease, good service of God.
If they be not troubled in their professioun, they can Weill enough abide the Queene to have her Masse, yea, in her owne chappell if she like.
She hath beene in her progresse, and hath considered^ the mindes of the people for the most part to be repugnant to her devilish opinioun
; and yitt, in her appeareth no amendement, but an obstinat proceeding frome evill to worse.
I have finished in open preachj ing the Gospell of Sanct Johne, saving onlie one chapter.
Oft I have I craved the misereis of my dayes to end with the same ; I for now. Sister, I seoke for rest.
My eyes have scene manie things, and yitt I feare one more terrible than all others.
My inward and particular dolour releaseth nothing ; yea, sometymes I am so tossed, that hard it is to discerne whether my owne wretchednesse be more offensive to God, or that which I see most damnable in others.
My onlie comfort is, mercie, with an assured expectation for the end of suche miserable corruption.
My Mother saluteth you.
Lett me know your owne estate.
Salute Mr. Hickman, with all other faithfuU acquaintance.
I A sent to you, and to some others, the Confession of our Faith, in I I quairs, unbound.^ If they came to your hands I cannot tell * The copy of tlie original edition, sent unlouiid.
It has written, evidently printed at Edinburgli in 15G1, in my in his hand, on the title-page, " To possession (formerly in the colh^ctions of Ror.EiiT Ask, mekciiant goldsmyht."
Herbert and George Chalmers) was one See it reprinted in volume ii. pages of the copies which Knox saj's he had 03-120.