Knox to Queen Elizabeth
1559.
KNOX TO QUEEN ELIZABETH.
good myndis of the hoU Congregatioun, whicli is great, as I dowbt, but by otberis ye will understand
; but it is not thought expedient that so weghty a mater be untymouslie disclosed.
Trew and faythfuU preacheris in the Northt partes of England, can not but greetlie advaunce this cause.
Yf a learned and godlie man myght be appointed to Berwick, with licence also to preache within Scotland, I doubt not to obtean unto him the favouris of the most part of the gentillmen of the East and Mydde Bordearis.
Advert one thing, Sir, that yf the hartes of the Borderaris of both partes [can be] united togetther in Goddis fear, our victorie [then] shalbe easy.
The fear of no man, I traist^ this day, will cause any of those that have professed them selves ennemies to superstition within Scotland, [to] lift thare liandis against England, so long as it will abyd in the puritie of Christes doctryn.
Continuall laboris oppressing me (most unable for the sam), I am compelled to end with imperfection.
The spreit of all wisdom reull your hart to the end.—Amen.
So much I reverence your judgment, that I will ye first see my letter, or ye deliver it, and therfor I send it open.
Eead and present it if ye think meat.
To the right worshipfull Sir WilKame Cycill knight, cheaf Secretar to the Quen's Majestic.
XV.
Knox to Queen Elizabeth.
To THE VeRTUOUS AND GODLIE ELIZABETH, BY THE GRACE
OF God, Quen of England, etc., JOHNE KNOX desir-
ETH THE PERPETUALL INCREASE OF THE HoLIE SPIRIT.
As your G-race's displeasure against me, most unjustlie conceaved, hath beene, and is to my wretched hart a burthein greevous, and almost intollerabill ; so is the testimonie of a ^ A small portion of the letter in this within brackets may serve to supply part is torn out : the words enclosed the deficiencies.
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. cleene conscience to me a stay and uphold, that in desperation I sink not, how vehement that ever the temptation appear
: for in Goddis presence, my conscience beareth me record, that maliciouslie nor of purpose I ncA^er offended your Grace, nor your reahne ; and, therefore, howsoever I be judged of man, I am assured to be absolved by Him who onelie knoweth the secreates of hartes.
I cannot denie the writting of a booke against the usurped Authoritie and unjust Eegiment of Women
; neyther yit am I niyuded to retreate or to call backe anie principall point, or propositioun of the sam, till truthe and veritie doe farther appear.
Bot why, that eyther your Grace, eyther anie such as unfainedlie favour the libertie of England, sould be offended at the author of suclie a worke, I can perceave no just occasioun :
For, first, my booke tuichest not your Grace's person in especiall, neyther yit is it prejudiciall to anie libertie of the realme, if the time and my writing be indifferentlie considered.
How could I be enemie to your Grace's person, for deliverance quhairof I did more study, and interprised farther, than anie of those that now accuse me ?
And, as concerning your Eegiment, how could I, or can I, envy that which most I have thristed, and the which (als oblivion Avill suffer) I render thanks unfainedlie unto God ? That is, it hath pleased Him of his eternall goodnes to exalt your head there (who sometime was in danger), to the manifestatioun of his giorie, and extirpatioun of idolatrie ?
And as for my offense, which I have committed against England, eyther in writting that or anie other worke, I will not refuse, that moderate and indifferent men judge and discerne betuixt me and these that accuse me
; to witt, whither of the partiis doe most hurt the libertie of England?
I that affirm e, That no Woman may be exalted above anie realme, to make the libertie of the same thrall to a stranger, proud and cruell nation ; or, thai that approve whatsoever pleaseth princes for the time.
If I were als weill disposed till accuse, as som of them (till their owne shame) have declared themselves,
I no-
1559.
KNOX TO QUEEN ELIZABETH.
thing doubt, bot that in few words I should lett reasonabill men understand, that som that this day lowlie crouche to your Grace, and laubour to make me odious in your eyes, did, in your adversitie neyther show themselves faithfull friendis to your Grace, neyther yit so loving and carefuU of their native contrie, as now they wold be esteemed.
But omitting the accusatioun of others, for my owne purgation and for your Grace's satisfaction I say, that nothing in my booke contained, is, or can be prejudicial to your Grace's just regiment, provided that ye be not found ungrateful unto God
Ungrate yee sail be proved in presence of his throne (howsoever that flatterers justifie your facts), if ye transfer the glorie of that honour in which ye now stand, to anie other thing, than to the dispensation of his mercie, which onlie maketh that truthfull to your Grace, wdiich nature and law denieth to all weomen.
Neyther wold I that your Grace shuld feare, that this your humiliation before God should, in anie case, infirme or weaken your just and lawfuU author! tie before men.
Nay, Madame, such unfained confessioun of God's benefites receaved, shall be the establishement of the same, not onlie to your self, bot also to your seed and posteritie ; where, contrariewise, a proud conceate and elevation of your self shalbe the occasion that your reigne shalbe unstabill, trublesom, and short.
God is witnesse, that unfainedlie I both love and reverence your Grace ; yea, I pray that your raigne may be long, prosperous, and quiet ; and that for the quietnes which Christ's members, before persecuted, have receaved under you.
Yit if I should flatter your Grace, I were no freind, but a deceaveabill trator ; and, therefore of conscience I am compelled to say, that neyther the consent of people, proces of time, nor multitude of men, can establishe a law which God shall approve.
But whatsoever He approveth (by his eternal Word) that shalbe approved, and whatsoever he dampneth, shalbe condempneth, thogh all men on earth wold hazard the justificatioun of the sam.
And, VOL.
VI.
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. therefore, Madame, the onlie way to retaine and kcepe these .benefites of God, haljonndandlie poured now of late dayes upon Wou, and your reahne, is unfainedlie to render unto God his hnercie and undeserved grace the hoUe glorie of this your exalta- • T:ion.
Forget your birth, and all title which thereupon doth hang; and consider deepelie how, for feare of your life, you did decline from God, and bow in idolatrie.
Lett it not appeare a small offence in your eyes, that ye have declined frome Christ Jesus in the day of his battall.
Neyther yit wold I, that yee should esteeme that mercie to be vulgar and common which yee have receaved ; to witt, that God hath covered your former offences, hath preserved you when yee were most unthankfuU, and, in the end, hath exalted and raised you up not onlie frome
I the dust, but also from the ports of death, to rule above his people for the comfort of his Kirk.
It appertaineth to you, therefore, to ground the justnes of your Authoritie, not upon that law which from yeere to yeere doeth change, but upoun the eternall providence of Him, who, contrarie to nature, and without your deserving, hath thus exalted your head.
If thus in God's presence yee humble your seK, as in my heart I giorifie God for that rest granted to his afflicted flock within England, under you, a weake instrument, so will I with toung and pen justifie your Authoritie and Eegiment, as the Holie Ghost hath justified the same in Deborah, that blessed mother in Israel.
Bot if, these premisses (as God forbid) neglected, yee shall begin to brag of your birth, and to build your authoritie upoun your owne law, flatter you who so list, your felicitie slialbe short.
Interprete my rude words in the best part, as written by him wdio is no enemie to your Grace.
By diverse letters, I have required licence to visit your Kealme, not to seeke my self, neyther yit my owne ease or commoditie which, if ye now refuse and denie, I must remitt my cause to God; adding this for conclusion, that commonlie it is scene, that such as refuse the counseU of the faithfull (appear it never so
1559.
SIR W. CECILL TO THE LORDS, ETC.
sharpe), are compelled to follow the deceate of flatterers, to their owne perditioun.
The mightie Spirit of the Lord Jesus move your heart to understand what is said, giving unto you the discretioun of spirits, and so rule you in all your actiouns and enterprises, that in you God may be glorified, his Church edified, and yee your self, as a livelie member of the same, may be an exemple and mirrour of vertue, and of godlie life to others.
So be it.
From Edinburgh, the 20th of Julie 1559.
Your Grace's to command in godlines, JoHNE Knox.
To the ryght myghtie, ryght highe, and ryght excellente Princesse Elizabeth, Quen of England.
Be these delivered.
XVI.
Sir William Cecill to the Lords of the Congregation.
Eight Honorable and my good Lordes,—The berar herof brought the 26 of this moneth your letter dated the 19 of the same, as well to me a parte, as to my Soveraign the Queues Majesty.
By that wrytten to me, the answer to dyvers questions made by my former letters, uppon the matter moved by Mr.
Kyrkaldy, towchyng your causees now in hand, I have not only with myself considered the whole contents of your letter, but also with others, as by there letter shall appere, whose estate the berar hereof can best report unto your Lordships.
And now for replication to your common letter, I must nedes confess uppon the consideration of the same, the ij principall poynts intended by your procedings be such as all good Christien men ought to allow : first to abandon Idolatry, next to maynteane the liberty of your natyve Contrey from thralldome t| of strangers.
But lyke as the ende herof be symply good of
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. themselves, so yet the meanes thereto be divers, and thereby may arrise dyversitie of opmions : for the difference of the case is to consider, wlio they be that hibor on this, whyther it be the office of all sortes of men this to doo, or but some ? and if it be of all sortes, then is the question ended
; if it be but belonging to some, then to whom it belongeth, and to whom not.
Theis thyngs I move rather to be wayed and considered by yow then by the same to make any determination ageynst your doings.
Trew it is, nothyng can be more joyefull to us that have, by creattyng our Soveraign Lady to this kyngdom, abandoned Idolatry, and brought our Salvior Christ Jesus into tliis kingdom, than that the same blessing may come to yow
; and thereby this terrestryall kyngdom of Christ may be dilated through this noble He, and so the old great ennemyes of the trew Church of God may be kept out, and put to confusion.
And lykewise to speke of the other erthly tryumph of a nationall liberty, we have such cause indede to rejoyse that w^e be delyvered frely from the power of strangers, and be ruled by our naturall prince, and under hir by all naturall governors and magistrats, that of all erthly joyes we knowe there is none lyke to it.
And thereby may we measure in what dolor and greiff, in what affliction and calamytie, that your nation hath long lyved ; to what dangers, warres, and battells, ye have hertofore bene brought by there ambition, and if God provide not some remedy yow shall perpetually here after ly^^e in the same danger, untill that noble and ancient Nation shalbe by them spent and wythered.
We here see how theis miseryes have afflicted yow, we see how desirouse ye bee to provide remedy therfore, we see how godly a dede it is to succor yow we perceave also what wayes ye take therfore, partly ye attempt some thyngs yourself, partly ye requyre some premiss of ayde
; but whyther ye doo in dede take that waye that should botli sonest and suerliest leade yow therto, it may be, as it is, much dowted.
Ye knowe your oliief adversary^es, I meane the Popish
1559.
SIR W. CECILL TO THE LORDS, ETC.
kirkmen, be noted wise in there generation ; tliey be ricli also wherby tbey make many frends.
By there witt with false perswasions, by there rychess with corruption, as long as they fele no sharpeness nor offence they be bold ; but if they be once touched with feare, they be the gretest cowards.
In our first Eeformation here, in King Henry the viijth tyme, although in some poynts there was oversight for the helpe of the ministery and the poore, yet if the Prelacye had bene left in there pompe and welth, the victory had bene thers.
I lyke no spoyle, but I allow to have good thyngs putt to good uses, as to the enrichyng of the Crowne, to the helpe of the youth of the nobilite, to the mayntenance of ministery in the Chirch, of lerning in scooles, and to releve the poore membres of Christ, being in body and lymmes impoverist.
Herin I knowe of no better example in any 1) reformed state than I have hard to be in Denmark.
But your Lordships may saye, there is nowe no season to treate of this, the present tyme requyreth defence of yourselves.
True it is, and this that I mentioned not impertynent therto, and to me the more marvell that ye omitt also such opportunite to helpe yourselves.
Will ye heare of a strange army comming by seas to invade yow, and seke helpe ageynst the same, and yet permitt your adversaryes, who ye may expell, kepe the landyng, and strength for the others ?
Which of those ij is the easiest, to weaken one nomber first, or iij afterward ? Sueiiy what moveth this to be forbore, I knowe not ; but what hurt, yea what perill shall come thereof is evident.
How many of your flock in that realme lacke yow to show them selves redy to come to the fould, whylest these wolfes lye gaping ageynst them ?
What will be the end, when the begyninge be these ?
Will they favor yow in Scotland, that burne there owne dayly in France ?
What may the Duke's Grace there look for, when his eldest sonne-^ was so persecuted, as, to save his liffe, he was forced to flee France, and go to Geneva, not without great difficultie ; his second ' James Earl of Arran.
LETTERS, ETC.
1550. brother, the Lord David, now cmelly empresoned by Monsieur Chevignye, one chosen out to shew cruelty to your nation ; dyverse others of the Erie's family putt to torture
; and fynally, all the Duchy of Chastellheraltt seased to the Crowne ; and to shew yow there purposed tragedy, the youg Queue so feareth, so threatneth, so voweth to destroy all the House of Hamiltons,
\ as it is beyond all mervell to see your old Eegent there can enchant the Duke's eares to here nothyng hereof
: God oppen his hart according to his knowledge.
He maketh a slender acconipt to see his sonnes, one dryven away, the other empresoned in France, and yet to be abused to serve, as I think, ageynst his conscience, in the end to be the slawghter man of his owne famylye.
It is to manifest why the Queue, in the end, wilbe more cruell ageynst his famylye notwithstanding this, his presence than ageynst yow presently.
Well, my Lords, and yet this is the determynation had in there counsell first devised by the Cardinal of Lorreyn, that the tooking awey of iiij heades therof shall gett the matter; your purposes being souch as they be pretended, if yow think us here not utterly voyde of zeale to God, and wyll towards both our weales, this I answer, wee cannot but favor them, and nether neglect them nor see them quayle.
Nevertheless, the difficulties of the tyme herein be such, as I can not so well answer yow at this instant, as hereafter, uppon furder understandyng of your procedinge, I shall have better occasion.
Ye knowe how late the warres have cessed betwixt this realme and tliat, in what termes we stand by treaty with France.
"VVliat a matter of weight it is to enter into warr either not provoked, or not forseene, so many thyngs tlierbe to be herin (and specially by this counsall) considered as can not be conveniently wrytten nor soddenly determyned, and therfore have I imparted to this berar sondry thyngs to be declared to your Lordships, which being well resolved uppon, maye biyng furth some fruit to the glory of God, and the weale of both these Realmes.
God send yow the strengthe of his*spirite, not to faynte in the cause of
1559.
SIR W. CECILL TO THE LORDS, ETC.
his gospel, and to mayntene concord amongest yourselves, good, expert, trusty, and paycefull Counsellors, and increase of such noblemen to your nomber, as, by the authorite and fame of there names to be published abrode, X^urdoiugsmaye beare the uny^ versall name of the great Counsell of Scotland, for lack whereof your adversaryes maye rejoyse, and your frends rest perplexed.
Such is the valor and opinion of authoritie, and such hath bene not onely in France but in other Eealmes, the laudable reformation of the commonweales almost ruynated by insolency of Governors.
The biyngar herof I lyke so well for his fidelitie, as I have committed furder creditt to hym.
Copy of my letter to the Erles of Argyle, Glencarne, Lord Priour St. Andrews, Lords Boyde, Vcheltrey.^
XVII.
Sir William Cecill to Knox.
Maistek Knox,—Non est masculus neqiic foemina : omnes enim, ut ait Paulus, U7ium sumus in Christo Jesu.
Benedidus vir qui confidit in Domino : ct erit Dominus Jiducia ejus} I have resavit your letteris, at the same tyme that I have thocht to have sein your self about Stamfoord.^ Wliat is now hitherto the caus of your lett, I know not.
I forbear to descend to the bottome of thingis, untill I may conferr with such a one as you ar ; and, thairfoire, if your chance shalbe heirefter to cum hither, I wishe you furnissed with good credite, and power to mak good resolutioun.
Althocht my answer to the Lordis of Congregatioun* be some whatt obscure, yitt, upoun farther imderstanduig, ye sail find the matter plaiue.
I neid wishe to you no more prudence then Goddis grace, whairof God * 28 July 1559The above copy is " Blessed is the man who trusteth in in Cecill's own autograph, with nunicrthe Lord
: and the Lord will be his conous corrections and erasures. fidence."
^ That is, "There is neither male ^ ggg j^nox's explanation, vol. ii. p. 32. nor female, for as saith Paul, they are * In the previous letter, No. xvi. all one in Christ Jesus."
((lal. iii. 28.) see also voh ii. p. 35.
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. send you pleutie.
And so I end.
From Oxfoord, the 28tli of JuHj 1559.
Youris, as ane member of the same body in Christ, W. Cecill.
XVIII.
Instructions to John Knox.
The penult of Jnlij 1559.
1. We geve you commission to speak and propose these Heades subsequent :
In primis, To declayr to thame to whom ye ar direct, that this league is other then heirtofoir hath bem contracted or commoned upon betuix the two Eealmes.
2. To declayr the nomber of the Nobilitie and of the Tounes that requyr brotherlie concord with thame, and what ordour is tacken for consultatioun and determinations of maters.
3. That the league which we desyr is onlie yit proponed to the Prevy Counsall, which consisteth of a certan of the Nobilitie, but is much desyred of the hole Barrens, who partlie accuse the Counsall of negligence in that thei have so long delayed to seak support.
4. To declayr that the Duk and Erie of Huntlie have by X thare honours and fayth promessed to concurr and assist with us, in case that the Queue Eegent do break any joit of this last APPOINTMENT, the heades whairof yee can declayr.
5. To requyr such support as may to us be confortable, and X may impead the interprise of the ennemye, and that to be in such readines upon the Bordouris, that upon advertisement, or upon the sight of our ennemies, thei may be able to joyn with us without long delay.
6. To requyr that the Queues Majestic and her counsall will X laubour to dress our borderaris to our effect, and especially the Homes and the Kerris.
7. To say that of necessitie we judge it that the fort of Hay-
1559.
INSTRUCTIONS TO JOHN KNOX.
X moiiht be incontinent after the sight of tlie French army tacken and keapt by thame ; for ellis that we ar assuredlie informed, that the ennemye purposeht to occupye it, and what incommodatie that shalbe ther wisdom may easilie consider.
Farther, that Stirvinhng is a key and principall place X which may devyd and cutt a sounder the Norht from the Souht/ and therfor yf money can be fiirnissed to sustean a garnison tliare, that we will interprise the tacken of it.
9. To declayr that som strenht most be maid by sea for the X saiftie of Dondie and Sanct Johnstoun, and therfor that Broghty and the fort wold be tacken and fortified, which now wilbe easy to do, by reasson of the favour and concurrence of the hole countrie.
1 0. To assure thame in our names that we and our posteritie shall bynd us to be ennemyes to thare ennemeis, and freindis to thare freindis, yf that thei and we do now throughtlie aggrie in this league proponed, that we shall never contract with Fraunce, nor appoint nor yit aggrie with tham without thare counsall, consent, and full mynd, and the sam requyr ye of thame in our names, to witt, that so we may be united in one body, that neather of both have power to do any thing, in eyther macking war or in contracting peace, without the consent of the other.
11. To declayr that the league we requyr for two causes:
X formar.
That the glory of God, the trew preaching of Christ /i Jesus, with the rycht ministratioun of his Sacramentis, may be
| universallie and openlie manteaned in this Yle, and that the { tyrannye and superstition of that Eomane Antichrist may be uterlie suppressed and abolissed in the same, SecondarKe, That the liberties, lawes, and priviledges of both these Eealmes may remane inviolated by any straunge or foren power
; and therfor promess you in our names, that neyther we will by our selves invaid thare Realme, albeit to the sam we be provoked
* See note supra, p. 41.
.58
LETTERS, ETC.
1559. by France, neyther yit will we sufler any other to molest thame, in so far as we be able to resist ; and the same we will that ye requyr of thame in all our names.
[Knox to Sie James Croft.] These formar Artickles war gevin nnto me with commission and power to amplifye and explane the sam yf any obscuritie appeared.
The Fifth artickle tuiching the comfortable support, I was commanded thus to explane, that [not] onlie must the Queues Grace, and liir Majesties honorable Counsall, have respect that souldiouris most be laid on garnisoun among us, and that men and schippes most be in competent readines, yf we be ssaulted,
1 but that also some respect must be had to some of the Nobilitie Iwho ar not able to sustean such housliolds as now in the begyn- 'ning of these trubles ar requisite ; for the practisses of the Queue Eegent, is to sture up ennemeis against every nobill man, particularlie evn in the partes where hir remaneht.
Farther, I had commission to speak Sir Hary Percie tuiching the entress of my lord Merchel, that yf his father the Erie Merchel wold plainly assist us, that then by consent of the said Sir Hary, his entress myght be prolonged upon the Lordis farther requeast.
Last, that licence may be granted and provision be maid that horses may be sold unto us for reasonable prices.
These ar the clieafe Headis which war commanded unto me to be communicated with you and with Sir Hary Percie, which I committ now hoUie to your wisdom, desiring not onlie that ye siguifye the sam unto the Quenis Majestic, or unto such of hir Graces counsall as ye think expedient, but also that ye mak the said Sir Hary participent of the hole, and be diligent for Chrystis saik.
The Spreit of wisdom rest with you now and ever.
{Xof signer/.)