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

194
LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
were the most zealous, perceiving that the laws were
eluded, resolved to execute them, without making any
application to the court, and apprehended some of the of¬
fenders by way of example. These decided proceedings
highly offended the queen, as they were calculated to
defeat the scheme of policy which she had formed; but
finding that the signification of her displeasure had not the
effect of stopping them, she wished to avail herself of
the Reformer’s influence for accomplishing her purpose.
She dealt with him very earnestly, for two hours be¬
fore, supper to persuade the western gentlemen to desist
from all interruption of the Catholic worship. He told
her majesty, that if she would exercise her authority in
executing the laws of the land, he could promise for the
peaceable behaviour of the Protestants; but if her majes¬
ty thought to elude them, he feared there were some who
would let the Papists understand that they should not
offend with impunity. “ Will ye allow, that they shall
take my sword in their hands!” said the queen. “ The
sword of justice is God’s,” replied the Reformer with
equal firmness, “ and is given to princes and rulers for
one end, which if they transgress, sparing the wicked
and oppressing the innocent, they who, in the fear of
God, execute judgment where God has commanded, of¬
fend not God, although kings do it not.” He added,
that the gentlemen of the west were acting strictly ac¬
cording to law; for the act of parliament gave power
to all judges within their bounds, to search for and
punish those who should transgress its enactments. He
concluded with advising her majesty to consider the
terms of the mutual contract between her and her sub¬
jects, and that she could not expect to receive obedience
from them, if she did not grant unto them protection, and
the execution of justice. The queen broke off the con¬
versation with evident marks of displeasure.
Having communicated what had passed between them
to the earl of Murray, (which was the title now conferred
on the prior of St. Andrews), Knox meant to return to