"God gave to us a most notable victory over His and our enemies: He brake their strength, and confounded their counsels: He set us at freedom, and purged this realm, for the most part, of open idolatry; to the end that we, ever mindful of so wondrous a deliverance, should have kept this realm clean from such vile filthiness, and damnable idolatry. But we, alas! preferring the pleasure of flesh and blood to the pleasure and commandment of our God, have suffered that idol, the Mass, to be erected again; and therefore justly does He now suffer us to fall into such danger that to look at an idolater going to his idolatry shall be reputed a crime little inferior to treason. God grant that we fall not further.
"God has, of His mercy, made me one amongst many to travail in setting forward His true religion within this realm, and I, seeing the same in danger of ruin, cannot but of conscience crave of you, my brethren, of all Estates, that have professed the truth, your presence, comfort, and assistance, on the said day, in the town of Edinburgh, even as ye tender the advancement of God's glory, the safety of your brethren, and your own assurance, together with the preservation of the Kirk in these apparent dangers.
"It may be, perchance, that persuasion will be made to the contrary, and that ye may be informed either that your assembly is not necessary, or else that it will offend the upper powers. But my good hope is that neither flattery nor fear shall make you so far to decline from Christ Jesus as that, against your public promise and solemn bond, ye will desert your brethren in so just a cause. Albeit there were no great danger, our assembly cannot be unprofitable; many things require consultation, and this cannot be had, unless the wisest and godliest convene. Thus, doubting nothing of the assistance of our God if we uniformly seek His glory, I cease further to trouble you, committing you heartily to the protection of the Eternal."
John Knox is betrayed.
The brethren, advertised by this bill, prepared themselves (as many as were thought expedient for every town and province) to keep the day appointed. But by the means of false brethren, the letter came to the hands of the Queen, in this manner. It was read in the town of Ayr, where was present Robert Cunningham, minister of Failford, who then was reputed an earnest professor of the Evangel. He, by means we know not, got the said letter, and sent it with his token to Master Henry Sinclair, then President of the Seat and College of Justice, and styled Bishop of Ross, a perfect hypocrite, and a conjured enemy of Christ Jesus, whom God afterwards struck according to his deservings. The said Mr. Henry was enemy to all that unfeignedly professed the Lord Jesus, but chiefly to John Knox, for the liberty of his tongue; for he had affirmed, as ever still he doth affirm, that a bishop that receives profit, and feeds not the flock by his own labours, is both a thief and a murderer. The said Mr. Henry, thinking himself happy to have found so good occasion to trouble John Knox, whose life he hated, posted the said letter, with his counsel, to the Queen, who then lay in Stirling.
John Knox is accused of High Treason.
The letter being read, it was concluded by the Council of the Cabinet, that is, by the most secret Council, that it imported treason; and the Queen was not a little rejoiced, for she thought to be revenged for once on her great enemy. It was also concluded that the Nobility should be written for, that the condemnation should have the greater authority. The day appointed was about the midst of December; and this was kept by the whole Council, and by divers others, such as the Master of Maxwell, the old Laird of Lethington, and the said President. In the meantime, the Earl of Moray returned from the north, and to him the Secretary Lethington opened the matter as best pleased him.
The Master of Maxwell gave the said John as it had been a discharge of the familiarity which before was great between them, unless he would agree to satisfy the Queen at her own sight.[217]
Knox. I know no offence done by me to the Queen's Majesty, and therefore I wot not what satisfaction to make.