Knox to Sir William Cecill
; ;
LETTERS, ETC.
LXXl.
Knox to Sir William Cecill.
The sjyreit of righteous Judgement assist yow in all your yodlie business.
Yf I could be persuaded, ryglit WirshipfuU, that the most part of our counsellouris war not all readdy so voyde of grace that secreatly thei have consented to that which in the end shalbe thare owen distruction, and also shall hasard the quiettness of thare nyghtbouris, my care and fear in that behalf war both att ane end ; but becaus I understand more then I am assured ye do in that secreat, ye please not to be offended albeit I fear as befor, unto such tym as I fynd my self releaved by my God.
Of twelve I know, nyne have consented to set fordwards whatsoever may please the demander
; and yit agane I write, that yf better hand be not holden to that mater by tymes, the greatter part will draw the better over the score, and that or it be long.
Ye shall receave, as I understand, answ^eris pleasing yneuht att this tym, but what is ment tym will witness.
Yf the man most inward with you, and dear unto me for those graces that God hath bestowed upon him, be such as both our hartes wishe him to be, then will the few nomber that yit remane uncorrupted, strive for a seasson against the fors of the blinded multitud; but and yf hie follow the contrary faction (be it directlie, or be it indirectlie), then assure yourself that the rage of that storme shall anes ouerthrow the fors of the stronngest and yit I lytill fear for my awen part ; for I prase my God I have laid my compt, and fyudes my hole^ debtis discharged by signed, in the State Paper Office, is dated having, on Sunday the 15th August 9th October.
There are some slight 1563, during Queen Mary's absence, verbal differences, but not sufficient to made a forcible entrance into the Chapel require notice.
Knox (vol. ii. p. 393) has Royal, to prevent the priest saying mass given a particular account of the event but it is sufficient to refer to the notes which occasioned the above letter, and relating to this occurrence, contained thechargesniadeagainsthimselfforwritin vol. ii. pp. 393-400. ing it; viz., Patrick Cranstoun and others
•' Hole," whole.
LETTERS, ETC.
Jesus Christ, except that which is appointed to all llesch, which I daly thrust for.
But the multitud of these calamiteis that I see appearing to fall upon this yle, and all becaus the inordinat affections of hyr that is born to be a plague to this realme, ar followed without contradiction (maid by such who of dewty ar bounden to procure the rest and commoditie of thare commonw^ealht).
The forsight, I say, of appearing calamiteis is to me more fearfuU then ten corporall deahts.
The conveying of the Mess throuht those quarteris which longest have bein best reformed, hath so dejected the hartis of many, that men appear not to have that coraige thei had befor.
Thus have ye the plainnes of my troubled hart, use it as ye will ansuer to God, and as ye tender your commounwealht.
The sufficieucye of the bringar will instruct you in all other thingis.
I pray you remember my weak judgement coucernyng the furnissing of these Norht Bordoris.
The Eternall assist you with his ^rkicipall Spreit now and ever.
Of Edinburgh, the 6 of October 1563.
Youris to command in godliness, John Knox.
The Ynch, betuix Leyht and Kinggorne,^ is left woid."
Wliat straunge foules shall first lyght thare, God knoweht.
Our lusty bloodis will to Framice, whetther God will or not.
Judge what shall follow.
To the ryght wirshipfull Sir William Cicell, Knyght, cheaf Secretarie to the Quenis Majestic of England.
Deliver these att Court, or ellis whare in England.
1 The island of Inchkeith, about tlie 29tli June 1549, and continued to be niidille of the Firth of Forth, between held by a French garrison till after the Leith and Kinghorn, was taken possesdeath of Mary of Lorraine, Queension of and fortified by the English in Dowager, in June 1560, when its forti1547.
It was retaken by the French fications were demolished, auxiliary troops on Corpus Christi day, - " Woid," void, deserted.
VOL.
VI.
2 L