Knox. Nay, I am informed by divers, and even by you, my Lord Secretary, that I am already condemned, and my cause prejudged. Therefore I might be reputed a fool, if I would make you privy to my defences.
At those words they seemed both offended; and the Secretary departed. But the Earl of Moray remained still, and would have entered into further discourse with the said John concerning the state of the Court. But he answered, "My Lord, I understand more than I would of the affairs of the Court; and therefore it is not needful that your Lordship trouble with the recounting of it. If you stand in good case, I am content; and if you do not, as I fear ye do not already, or else ye shall not do before long, blame not me. Ye have the counsellors whom ye have chosen; my weak judgment both ye and they despised. I can do nothing but behold the end, which I pray God may be other than my troubled heart feareth."
John Knox is brought before the Queen and Privy Council.
Within four days, the said John was called before the Queen and Council betwixt six and seven o'clock at night. The season of the year was the midst of December. The bruit rising in the town that John Knox was sent for by the Queen, the brethren of the Kirk followed in such number that the inner close was full, and all the stairs, even to the chamber door where the Queen and Council sat. These had been reasoning amongst themselves before, but had not fully satisfied the Secretary's mind. And so the Queen had retired to her cabinet, and the Lords were talking each one with other, as occasion served. Upon the entrance of John Knox, they were commanded to take their places, and did so, sitting as Councillors, one opposite another.
The Duke of Chatelherault, according to his dignity, began the one side. Upon the other side sat the Earl of Argyll, and in order of precedence followed the Earl of Moray, the Earl of Glencairn, the Earl Marischall, the Lord Ruthven, then the common officers, Pittarrow, then Comptroller, the Justice Clerk, and Mr. John Spens of Condie, Lord Advocate; divers others stood by. Removed from the table sat old Lethington, father to the Secretary, Mr. Henry Sinclair, then Bishop of Ross, and Mr. James M'Gill, Clerk Register.
The Trial of John Knox for High Treason.
Things thus put in order, the Queen came forth, and, with no little worldly pomp, was placed in the chair, having two faithful supporters, the Master of Maxwell upon the one tor[219] and Secretary Lethington on the other tor of the chair. There they waited diligently all the time of that accusation, sometimes the one occupying her ear, sometimes the other. Her pomp lacked one principal point, to wit, womanly gravity; for when she saw John Knox standing at the other end of the table bare-headed, she first smiled, and after gave a gawf of laughter. When her placeboes gave their plaudits, affirming, with like countenance, "This is a good beginning," she said: "But wot ye whereat I laugh? Yon man gared me greet,[220] and grat never tear himself: I will see if I can gar him greet." At that word the Secretary whispered her in the ear, and she him again, and with that gave him a letter. After inspecting this, he directed his visage and speech to John Knox.
Lethington. The Queen's Majesty is informed that ye have travailed to raise a tumult of her subjects against her, and for certification thereof, there is presented to her your own letter subscribed in your name. Yet, because her Grace will do nothing without a good advisement, she has convened you before this part of the Nobility, that they may witness betwixt you and her.
Queen. Let him acknowledge his own handwriting, and then shall we judge of the contents of the letter.
So the letter was presented from hand to hand to John Knox, who examined it.