History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 3 · Letter 1
The spirit of Iudgement, Wisedome, and Sanctification, I wish unto you, by Iesus Christ.
Iohn Knox his first Letter to Sir William Cecile.AS I have no pleasure with long writing to trouble you (Right Honorable) whose minde I know to be taken up with most grave matters, so I minde not greatly to labor by long Preface, to conciliate your favors, which I suppose I have already (howsoever rumors brute the contrary) as the favour it becometh one member of Christs Body to have of another: The contents therfore of my present Letter shall be absolved in 2 points: In the former, I purpose to discharge in few words my conscience towards you: And in the other, sum what must I speak, for my own defence, and in defence of that poor Flock of late assembled in the most godly reformed Church and City of the world, Geneva: To you, Sir, I say, that as from God you have received, life, wisdom, honours, and the present estate in the which you now stand, so ought you wholly to apply the same to the advancement of his glory, who onelyonly is the author of life, the fountain of wisdom, and who most assuredly doth and wil honor & glorifie them that with simple hearts do glorifie him; which alas in times past you have not done, but being overcome with common iniquity, you have followed the world, in the way of perdition: for to the suppressing of Christs true Evangel, to the erecting of Idolatry, and to the shedding of the blood of Gods most deare Children; Have you by silence consented and subscribed this your most horrible defection from the knowne Trueth, and once professed, hath God to this day mercifully spared? Yea, to mans judgement he hath utterly forgotten, and pardoned the same: He hath not dealt with you as he hath done with others (of like knowledge) whom in his anger (but yet most justly according to their deserts) he did shortly strike after their desertion: But you, guilty in the same offences, hath he fostered and preserved, as it were in his owne bosome, during the time of that most miserable thraldome, of that professed enemy of God, mischievous Mary: And now hath set you at such liberty, as the fury of Gods enemies cannot hurt you, except that willingly against his honour, you take pleasure to conspire with them. As this benefit which you have received is great, so must Gods Justice require of you a thankfull heart; For seeing that his MercieMercy hath spared you, being Traitour to his Majestie; Seeing further, That amongst your enemies he hath preserved you; And last, seeing, although worthy of hell, he hath promoted you to honour and dignity; of you must he require (because he is just) earnest repentance for your former defection; and heart mindfull of his mercifull providence, and a will so ready to advance his glory, That evidently it may appeare,Note. that in vaine you have not received these graces of God; to performance whereof, of necessity it is, That carnall wisdome and worldly policie (to the which both, you are bruted too much inclined) give place to Gods simple and naked Trueth: very love compells me to say, That except the Spirit of God purge your heart from that venome, which your eyes have seen to have been destruction to others, that you shall not long escape the reward of dissemblers. Call to minde what your eares heard Proclaimed, in the Chappell of S. Iames, when this Verse of the first Psalme was handled, Not so, O wicked, not so, but as the dust which the winde tosseth, &c. And consider, that now you travell in the same way which then they did occupie, to speak plainely, now you are in that estate and credit, in the which you shall either comfort the sorrowfull and afflicted, for righteousnesse sake, or else you shall molest or oppugne the Spirit of God speaking in his Messengers; the Comforters of the afflicted for godlinesse, hath promise of comfort, in their greatest necessities: but the troubles of Gods servants (how contemned that ever they appeare before the world) are threatned to have their Names in execration to the posterities following. The examples of the one and of the other, are not onelyonly evident in Scriptures, but also have been lately manifested in England. And this is the conclusion of that, which to your self, I say, except that in the cause of Christs Evangell, you be found simple, sincere, fervent, and unfained, you shall taste of the same cup, which politick heads have drank in before you.
The other Point concerning my self, and that poore flock now dispersed, and as I heare say, rudely used, is this; By divers Messengers I have requested such Priviledges as Turkes commonly do grant to men of every Nation; to wit, That liberty should be granted to me freely to passe through England, to the end that with greater expedition I might repaire towards my owne Countrey, which now beginneth to thirst for Christs Trueth. This request I thought so reasonable, that almost I had entered the Realme, without license demanded; and yet I understand that it hath been so rejected, that the soliciters thereof, did hardly escape imprisonment; and some of that poore flocke I heare to be so extreamely handled, That those who most rudely have shed the blood of Gods most deare Children findes this day amongst you greater favours,Note. then they do; Alas, this appeareth much to repugne to Christian Charity: for whatsoever hath been mine offence, this I fear not to affirme in their cause; That if any that hath suffered exile in those most dolorous dayes of persecution, deserve praise and commendation, for Peace, Concord, sober and quiet living, it is they. And as for me, how criminall that ever I be in Gods presence, for the multitude of my sins; yet before his Justice-seat I have a testimonie of a cleare Conscience, That since my first acquaintance with England, willingly I never offended person within it, except in open Chaire, to reprove that which God condemneth, can be judged offence: but I have (say you) written a Treasonable Book against the regiment and Empire of women; If that be my offence, the poore flock is innocent (except such as this day do fastest cry Treason) For Sir (in Gods presence I do write) with none in that company did I consult before the finishing of the same. Therefore in Christs Name I require, That the blame may be upon me alone. The writing of that Book I will not deny, but to prove it Treasonable, I think it shall be hard; for Sir, No more do I doubt of the Trueth of my Proposition, then that I doubt that this was the voice of God, which first did pronounce this penaltie against women; In dolour shalt thou beare thy children. It is bruited, That my book is, or shall be written against, or answered: If so be Sir, I greatly feare, That flatterers shall more hurt then helpe the matter which they would seem to maintaine; for except my errour be plainly shewne and confuted, by better authority then by such Lawes as from yeere to yeere may and do change, I dare not promise silence in so weighty a businesse; lest that in so doing, I shall appeare to betray the Verity which is not subject to the mutabilitie of time. And if any thinke me either enemy to the person, or yet to the Regiment of her, whom God hath now promoted, they are utterly deceived in me, for the miraculous Work of God, comforting his afflicted by an infirme vessell, I do acknowledge, and I will obey the power of his most potent hand (raising up whom best pleaseth his Mercy, to suppresse such as fight against his glory) albeit that both nature, and Gods most perfect Ordinance repugne to such Regiment. More plainly to speak, If Queen Elizabeth shall confesse, That the extraordinary dispensation of Gods great mercy, makes that lawfull unto her, which both nature and Gods Lawes do deny unto all women; then shall none in England be more willing to maintaine her lawfull authority then I shall be: But if (Gods wondrous worke set aside) she ground (as God forbid) the justnesse of her Title upon consuetude Lawes and Ordinances of men: Then I am assured, That as such foolish presumption doth highly offend Gods supreame Majestie; so do I greatly feare, That her ingratitude shall not long lacke punishment. And this in the name of the eternall God, and of his Son Jesus Christ (before whom, both you and I shall stand to make an account of all counsell we give) I require you to signifie unto her Majestie, in my name; Adding, That onelyonly humility and desertion of her selfe before God, shall be the firmenesse and stability of the Throne, which I know shall be assaulted mo wayes then one. If this you conceale from her Majestie, I will make it patent to the world, That thus farre I have communicated with you; having also further to speak, if my judgement may be heard. Alas, Sir, is my offence (although in that time, and in that matter, I had written ten Bookes) so hainous, that I cannot have Licence, by Preaching of Christ Jesus, to refresh those thirsty soules, which long have lacked the Water of Life: No man will I presently accuse, but I greatly feare, That the Leprous have no gre…t pleasure to behold faire faces in cleare glasse: Note.Let none be afraid, that I require to frequent the Court, or yet to remaine any long time in England; but onelyonly thirsts, in passing thorow to my native Countrey, to communicate with you, and some others, such things as willingly I list not to commit to Paper, neither to the Credit and knowledge of many. And then in the North parts to offer Gods favours, to such as I suppose do mourne for their desertion. And this, I trust, shall be no lesse profitable to the Queen, and to all godly within England, then it should be pleasing to me in the flesh.
This is the third time that I have begged Licence to visite the hungry and thirstie amongst you, which if now be denied, as before God, I have a testimonie, that I seek not for my selfe, but the advancement of Christs Evangell, and the comfort of such, as whom I know afflicted: so shall the godly understand that England in refusing me refuseth a friend, how small that ever the power be. The mighty Spirit of the Lord Jesus moove your heart deeply to consider your dutie unto God, and the estate of that Realme, in which by his appointment you now serve.
From Deepe, the 10 of April, 1559. Yours to command in godlinesse, Iohn Knox.
To this Letter was no answer made: for shortly the said Iohn Knox made forward to Scotland by sea, when he landed the third of May, and had such successe, as is in the second book declared. The said Iohn being in S. Andrews, after Cowper-Moore, entred in deep discourse with the Laird of Grange;As England had interest then not to suffer Scotland to perish, so likewise Scotland hath interest now, not to see Eng…and undon… ▪ the danger is very evident, but the support was not easie to be seen. After many words Iohn Knox burst forth as followeth; If England would foresee their own commodity, yea, if they would consider the danger wherein themselves stand, they would not suffer us to perish in this quarrell; for France hath no lesse decreed the conquest of England then of Scotland. After long reasoning, it was concluded betwixt them two, That support should be craved of England: And for that purpose the said Laird of Grange, first wrote to Sir Henry Percie, and after rode from Edinburgh and spake with him; to whom he made so plaine demonstration of the danger appearing to England, that he tooke upon him to write to Secretarie Cecil, who with expedition returned answer back again, giving him to understand, That our enterprise altogether misliked not the Councell, albeit that they desired further resolution of the principall Lords. Which thing understood, it was concluded to write to him plainely our whole purpose. The tenour of our Letter was this: