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

LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
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madam, cast up, when you list, the acts of your Parlia¬
ment ; I have offended nothing against them; for I ac¬
cuse not, in my letter, your Grace, nor yet your nature,
of cruelty. But I affirm yet again, that the pestilent
Papists, who have inflamed your Grace against those
poor men at this present, are the sons of the devil, and
therefore must obey the desires of their father, who has
been a liar and manslayer from the beginning.”—“ You
forget yourself! you are not now in the pulpit,” said
one of the lords. “ I am in the place where I am de¬
manded of conscience to speak the truth; and therefore
the truth I speak, impugn it whoso list.” He added,
again addressing the queen, that persons who appeared
to be of honest, gentle, and meek natures, had often been
corrupted by wicked counsel; that the Papists who had
her ear were dangerous counsellors, and such her mother
had found them to be.
Mary perceiving that nothing was to be gained by rea¬
soning, began to upbraid him with his harsh behavioui
to her, at their last interview. He spake “ fair enough”
at present before the lords, she said, but on that occasion
he caused her to shed many salt tears, and said, “ he set
not by her weeping.” This drew from him a vindica¬
tion of his conduct, in which he gave a narration of that
conference. After this, the secretary having spoken
with the queen, told Knox that he was at liberty to re¬
turn home for that night. “ I thank God and the queen’s
majesty,” said he.
When Knox had withdrawn, the judgment of the
nobility was taken respecting his conduct. All of them,
with the exception of the immediate dependents of the
court, voted, that he was not guilty of any breach of the
laws. The secretary, who had assured the queen of his
condemnation, was enraged at this decision. He brought
her majesty, who had retired before the vote, again into
the room, and proceeded to call the votes a second time
in her presence. This attempt to overawe them incens¬
ed the nobility. “ What!” said they, “ shall the laird