Knox to Cecyll
1559.
KNOX TO CECYLL.
VII.
Knox to Cecyll.
Tlie 2'»"i'X'ctuall encrease of the Holie Ghost, with most huinill commcndatioun of my service.
This is tlie ferd letter, liycht Honorable, which I have written unto you sence my departur from Geneva.
Two I did direct from Diep, in tham desiring that I niycht have had license to have })assed throughe England to my native country, and an other befor this, 1 have written from Sanct Andrewes,^ desiring licence to vesitt the northe partes of Englande to Newcastell or Duresme, not that in any of these my requeastes, so nmcli I speak my owen proffett, as that I do thrust to communicat with some secreat and man of solid judgment, such thinges as giaidly 1 wold not comitt to paper and ink.
By narration of many, I understand that I am becom so odius to the Queanes Grace and to hir Couusall, that the mention of my name is unpleasing to thare earis ; but yit I will not ceas to offer myself, requyring you in Goddes name to present to the Quean's Grace this my letter, smelling nothing of flattery
; and therfor I hope it shalbe mor acceptable, whether that eyther hir Grace, eyther yit the faythfull in hir realme, should reput me as enemye, I know no just cause.
One thing I know, that England, by me to this day, hath receaved no hurt ; yea, it hath receaved, by the power of God wirking in me, that benefitt which yit to none in England is knowen, neyther yit list I to boast of the same ; onlie this A\^ill I say, that when England and the usurped authorities therof was enemye to me, yit was I freind to it, and the fruit of my friendschip fanned the Borderis in there greatest necessities.
My eie hath long looked to a perpetual concord betuix these two Eealmes, the occasion wharof is now most present, yf God shall move your hartes ' The letter reifired to is not preserved.
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. unfeanedlie to speak the saim for humilitie of Christ Jesus crucified, now begun heir to be preached, may joyn togetther the hartes of those whome Sathan by pride hath long dissevered for the furtheraunce heirof I wold have licence to repayr towardes you.
God move your harte rychtlie to considder the estaite of both the Eealmes, which stand in greater daunger then many do espy.
The common bruit, I dowbt not, cariethe unto you the troubles that be laitly heir risen for the controversie in religion.
The treucht is, that many of the nobilitie, the most part of barrens and gentilmen, with many touns and on cietie, have putt to thare handes to remove Idolatrie, and the monumentis of the saim.
The Eeformation is somwhat violent, becaus the adversareis be stu^burn ; non that professeth Christ Jesus, userpeth any thing against the authoritie ; neyther yit intendest to usurpe, onles streangearis be brought in to subem and bring in bondaige the liberties of this poore contrey.
If any such thing be espied, I am uncertane what shall follow.
Advertise me, yf ye please, of the Queues Grace ansuer, if I may have licence to repayr towards you, whom I hartlie committ to the protection of the Omnipotent.
From Sanct Johnston, the 28 of June 1559.
Youris to commande, in godlines, John Knox.
I could have no tym to write the Queues letter for continuall travails, and for the suddane departure of the messinger.
One thing yit in Goddes name I will requyr from you in my name to say to the Queues grace, that willinglie I never offended hir
Grace, and therfor sche awglit not reput me an enemye.
To the right honorable Sir William Cycill knight. Secretary to the Queues Majesties most honorable Privy Counsell, be these delivered in haist.
1559.
KYRKCALDY TO SIR H. PERCY.
VIII.
William Kykkcaldy of Grange to Sir Henry Percy.
Theis salbe to certiffy you I resavit your letter this last of Junij, persavyug tliairby the dout and suspitioun ye stand into for the commyng forwardis of the Congregatioun, whome I assure you, ye ueid not to have in suspitioun; for they meyne nothing hot reformatioun of religion, quhillkis schortly, throughe out this Eealme, they will bring to pas ; for the Queue and jMonsieur Doisell, with all the Frenche men, for refuge ar retyrit to Dunbar.
The forsaid Congregatioun came this last of Junij, be thre of the cloke in the mornyng, to Eddingbrught, whair they will tak ordre for the menteynance of the trew Eeligion, and resistyng of the Kyng of France, yf he sendis ony force agaynst them.
The Duk, with allmost the hole Nobillite, hes declaret to the Queue that they are of the same religioun that the Congregatioun is of, and will tak part with them in that behalf, i Herefor assure your self that the professouris of Godis worde in this realme, beares the Queue your maistres ane unfeaned love, which sell prove in deid or it be long ; gyf it sell prove utlier- ^vyse esteme me no honest man ; therfor repos your self upon my worde, by the which ye have found no deseat at no tyme, hot als great truthe as ever ye sell fynde here efter with eny livyng creatur.
Farther, assure your self ther salbe nothyng wrought in this realme to the hurt of England, so long as it doetlie menteyne the gospell of Chryste ; bot ye salbe advertised i therof in due tyme, yf I eyther bruk lyf, or this cuntrey ; so, as I j have wretyn tuys, I wolde wyshe that all meynes wer sought and no tyme pretermitted to bind up a perpetuall freyndschip betwene the tuo Eealmes which presently is easy to be done therfor ones agane, put your self owt of dowt or suspitioun of thes conventions of the Congregatioun, for, as said is, there is VOL. VI. c
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. nothing ment by them to the hurt of England, hot by the contrarie great love and freyn.schip.
The nianour of thair proceidyngis in Reformatioun, is this :
They pull doune all maner of Freryes, and some Abayes, which willyngly resavis not tlier reformatioun.
As to paroys churchis, they cleyns them of ymages and all other monumentis of ydollatrye, and commandis that no Messis be said in them ; in place therof, the Booke sett fourthe be godlye Kyng Edward is red in the same churches.
They have never as yet medlit with a penny wurthe of that which pertenis to the Kyrk, bot presently they will take ordre throughowt all the partis whare they duell, that all the fruttes of the Abayes and uther churches salbe keipt and bestowet upon the faythfuU Ministres, unto suche tyme as ane farther ordre be teue.
Some suposes the Queue, seyng no uther remedy, will follow ther desyi^es, which is ane generall reformatioun throughowt the hole realme, to be maid conforme to the pure worde of God, and the Frenche men to be send awaye.
Yf hir Grace will so do, they will obey and serve hir, and anex the hole revenus of the Abayis to the Crowne : yf hir Grace will not be content with this, they are determinet to heare of no agreament.
Mak ernest laiboris that I the Fort-^ may [be] raiset, or ellis I feare the Frenche keip it still, seying they have few uther strenthes to keip them self into at this tyme.
Command the man, that here after ye purpos to send unto me, to be veray secrete.
Thus I commit you to God.
The first of Jullij, in haist, redy to tak the fe\rre.
Youris, as ye knaw, to the deathe.
(Added in Percy's hand ;) The letter that Knoxe wrythe to you is by the meanes of the hole Congregatione, the names of whome I sende yowe here inclosed.
Henry Percy.
* The Fort of Aymoutb, near Berwick.