History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 3 · Letter 2 – Letter 3
The first Letter to Sir William Cecill, from the Lords of the Congregation.
THe contents of a Letter directed by you (right Worshipfull) to Sir Henry Percie, was notified unto us by Master Kirkcaldie of Grange this Sunday the 26 of July:1559. By the which we perceive that the said Laird of Grange, of zeale, and faithfull heart which he beareth to the furtherance of this our great, and before the world, dangerous enterprise, hath travelled with you, as with an unfained favourer of Christs true Religion, and of the libertie of our Countrey, for knowledge of your mindes towards us, in case that we be assaulted by any forraigne invasion, or greater power then we be well able to resist. Your comfortable answer to this question we have considered, to our joy and comfort, as also your motions,Note the Quaeres. and what you demand; To wit, What the Protestants within this Realme do purpose; To what end we mean to direct our actions; How we will, and how we be able to accomplish the same; What doubts we have of any adversary power; And finally, in case that support should be sent from you, What manner of amity might ensue betwixt these two Realmes,And Answers. &c. To the which, in briefe, we answer; That our whole and onelyonly purpose (as God knoweth) is to advance the glory of Christ Jesus, the true Preaching of his Gospel within this Realme. To remove superstition, and all sort of externall Idolatry, to bridle to our powers the fury of those that heretofore have cruelly shed the blood of our brethren; and to our uttermost, to maintaine the liberty of this our Countrey from the tyrannie and thraldome of strangers, as God shall assist us. How we be able to accomplish these premises, is to us unknown, onelyonly our hope is good, That he that hath begun this good worke in us, and hath by his power to this houre confounded the faces of our adversaries will performe the same to his glory,Let the enemies say, if their hope be not frustrate. which chiefly we seek in this our enterprise. Because we suppose, That neither our present danger, neither yet the warlike preparation which France maketh against us, are hid from you, nor from the counsell, we omit that part. As touching the assurance of a perpetuall amity to stand betwixt these two Realmes: As no earthly thing of us is more desired, so crave we of God to make us the instruments, by which this unnaturall debate which long hath continued betwixt us may once be composed,Note diligently. to the praise of Gods Name, and to the comfort of the faithfull in both Realms. And if your wisedoms can foresee and devise the means and assurances how the same may be brought to passe, perswade your selves not onelyonly of our consent and assistance, but also of our constancy, as men can promise, unto our lives end. Yea farther, of charge and commandment by us to be left to our posterity, That the Amity betwixt us (in God) contracted and begun, may be by them kept inviolate for ever. As for the revolting from you to France, which ye seem to fear and suspect at their pleasure, we utterly abhorre that infidelity; for now doth the voyce of God continually sound in our ears, That such as prophane the terrible and reverent Name of God, shall not escape vengeance. Our Confederacy, Amity and League shall not be like the Pactions made by worldly men, for worldly profit▪ but as we require it for Gods Cause, so will we call upon his Name for the observation of the same. Moreover, if we should lack any thing in Temporall commodity, yet should we never have occasion to returne to them: for we now perceive and feel the weight of their yoke, and intend (by Gods grace) to cut away such instruments as by whom this Realme was before abused. True it is, That as yet we have made no mention of any change in Authority, neither yet were we minded to do any such thing, till extreme necessity compelleth us thereto. But seeing it is now more then evident, That France, and the Queen Regent here, with her Priests, pretendeth nothing but the suppressing of Christs Gospel, the ruine of us, and the subversion of this poor Realme, committing our innocency to God, and unto the judgement of all godly and wise men, we are determined to seek the next remedy; in which we heartily require your counsell and assistance. And thus farre we have enterprised to make you participant of our purpose, because in the said Letters ye required the said Master Kirkcaldie some farther assurance then his owne word or writing, which we doubt not but ye shall shortly receive, from more then from us. We dare not hastily make the Assembly, neither of Nobles,Note. neither of Barons, privie in this Cause, for dangers that may ensue by policie and craft of the adversaries; your wisdom, we doubt not, will communicate these onelyonly with such as ye know favourers of such a godly Conjunction. It should much help, in our opinion, if the Preachers, both in perswasion, and in publike Prayers (as ours do here) would commend the same unto the people. And thus, after our most humble commendations to the Queenes Majestie (whose Raigne we wish may be prosperous and long, to the glory of God, and comfort of his Church) we heartily commit you to the protection of the Omnipotent.
From Edinburgh the 17 of Iuly, 1559.
With this our Letter Iohn Knox wrote two, one to the said Secretary, and another to the Queens Majesty her self: The Tenour whereof follows thus:
Iohn Knox his second Letter to M. Cecile, for the delivery of one other to the Queen.
SIR,
AFter my humble commendations, please you deliver this other enclosed to the Queen: It containeth a few and simple words of my Confession what I think of her Authority, how it is just, and what may make it odious in Gods presence. I hear that there is one Confutation set forth against the first blast; God grant that the writers thereof have no more sought the favours of this present world, no lesse the glory of God, and the stable good of his Countrey, then he who enterprised in that blast to utter his conscience. When I shall have time (which now is somewhat precious unto me) to peruse that work, I will communicate my judgement with you.
The time is now, Sir, that all, who either thirst for Christ to raigne in this Isle, or yet the hearts of the Inhabitants be joyned together in love unfained, ought rather to study how the same might be brought to passe, then vainly to travell for the maintenance of that, whereof already we have seen the danger, and feel the smart: If the most part of women be wicked, and such as willingly we would not should raigne over us: And if the most godly, and such as have are graces, be yet mortall, we ought to take heed, lest in establishing of one judged godly, and profitable to her Countrey, we make an Interest and Title to many; by whom not onelyonly will the Truth be impugned, but also will the Countrey be brought into bondage. God give you, and other favourers of your Countrey eyes to see, and wisedome to avoid the dangers appearing.
By divers Letters I have required license to have visited the North parts of England, but as yet I have received no favourable answer. The longer, Sir, this it be delayed, the lesse comfort will the faithfull there receive; yea, the weaker will the Queens favour be: If I were not an unfained friend to her Majestie, I would instantly beg such liberty; which to me, I know, will neither be profitable nor pleasing in the flesh. The common things here, I doubt not you know: some things I have (as often times I have written) which gladly I would communicate, but I minde not to commit them to Paper and Inke; finde therefore the means that I may speake with such a one as you will credit in all things.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ rest with you.
I heartily beseech you to have my service recommended to the Queens Majesty, adding, That whosoever maketh me odious to her Majestie, seeketh somewhat besides the glory of God, and her Majesties prosperity, and therefore cannot be assured and unfained friends from, &c.