Scotland/Scots > Life of John Knox ; and, The life of Alexander Henderson

124
LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
ing kingdom, were intended. The plan projected by the
gigantic ambition of the princes of Lorrain, brothers of
the queen regent of Scotland, has been developed, and
described with great accuracy and ability, by a celebrat¬
ed modern historian. Suffice it to say here, that the
court of France, under their influence, had resolved to
set up the claim of the young queen of Scots to the crown
of England; to attack Elizabeth, and wrest the sceptre
from her hands as a bastard and a heretic; and, as Scot¬
land was the only avenue by which this attack could be
successfully made, to begin by suppressing the Refor¬
mation, and establishing their power in that country.
Knox, in the course of his journies through France, had
formed an acquaintance with some persons about the
court; and, by their means, had gained some knowledge
of the plan. He was convinced that the Scottish refor¬
mers were unable to resist the power of France, which
was to be directed against them; and that it was the in¬
terest as well as duty, of the English court, to afford
them the most effectual support. But he was afraid
that a selfish and narrow policy might prevent them from
doing this, until it was too late; and was therefore anxi¬
ous to call their attention to this subject at an early pe¬
riod, and to put them in possession of the facts that had
come to his knowledge. The assistance which Elizabeth
granted to the Scottish protestants, in 1559 and 1560,
was dictated by the soundest policy. It baffled and de¬
feated the designs of her enemies at the very outset; it
gave her an influence over Scotland, which all her pre¬
decessors could not obtain by the terror of their arms,
nor the influence of their money; it secured the stabili¬
ty of her government, by extending and strengthening
the protestant interest, the principal pillar on which it
rested. And it reflects not a little credit on our Refor¬
mer’s sagacity, that he had formed this plan in his mind
at so early a period, was the first person who proposed it,
and persisted (as we shall see) to urge its adoption, un¬
til his endeavours were , crowned with success.