"Of dancing, Madam, I said that, albeit in the Scriptures I found no praise of it, and in profane writers that it is termed the gesture rather of those that are mad and in frenzy than of sober men; yet do I not utterly condemn it, providing that two vices be avoided. Firstly, the principal vocation of those that use that exercise must not be neglected for the pleasure of dancing; secondly, they may not dance, as did the Philistines their fathers, for the pleasure that they take in the displeasure of God's people. If they do either, they shall receive the reward of dancers, and that will be drink in hell, unless they speedily repent, and so shall God turn their mirth into sudden sorrow. God will not always afflict His people, nor will He always wink at the tyranny of tyrants. If any man, Madam, will say that I spake more, let him presently accuse me; for I think I have not only touched the sum, but the very words as I spake them." Many that stood by bare witness with him that he had recited the very words that he had spoken publicly.
The Queen looked about to some of the reporters, and said, "Your words are sharp enough as ye have spoken them; but yet they were told to me in another manner. I know that my uncles and ye are not of one religion, and therefore I cannot blame you, albeit you have no good opinion of them. But if ye hear anything of myself that mislikes you, come to myself and tell me, and I shall hear you."
"Madam," quoth he, "I am assured that your uncles are enemies to God, and unto His Son, Jesus Christ; and that, for maintenance of their own pomp and worldly glory, they spare not to spill the blood of many innocents. I am therefore assured that their enterprises shall have no better success than have had others that before them have done what they do now. But as to your own personage, Madam, I would be glad to do all that I could for your Grace's contentment, provided that I exceed not the bounds of my vocation. I am called, Madam, to a public function within the Kirk of God, and am appointed by God to rebuke the sins and vices of all. I am not appointed to come to every man in particular to show him his offence; that labour were infinite. If your Grace will please to frequent the public sermons, I doubt not but that ye shall fully understand both what I like and mislike, as well in your Majesty as in all others. Or, if your Grace will assign unto me a certain day and hour when it will please you to hear the form and substance of doctrine which is proponed in public to the churches of this realm, I will most gladly await upon your Grace's pleasure, time, and place. But to wait upon your chamber door, or elsewhere, and then to have no farther liberty than to whisper my mind in your Grace's ear, or to tell you what others think and speak of you, neither will my conscience nor the vocation whereto God hath called me suffer it. For, albeit at your Grace's commandment I am here now, I cannot tell what other men shall judge of me, when they learn that at this time of day I am absent from my book, and waiting upon the Court."
"You will not always," said she, "be at your book," and so turned her back. John Knox departed with a reasonably merry countenance. Some Papists, offended at this, said, "He is not afraid." Hearing this, he answered, "Why should the pleasing face of a gentlewoman affright me? I have looked in the faces of many angry men, and yet have not been afraid, above measure." And so left he the Queen and the Court for that time.
The Queen negotiates with England.
In the meantime, the negotiation and credit was great betwixt the Queen of England and our Sovereign: letters, couriers, and posts ran very frequently. There was great bruit of an interview and meeting of the two Queens at York, and some preparations were made for this in both the realms. But it failed upon the part of England, and that by occasion of the troubles moved in France, as was alleged. These caused the Queen and her Council to remain in the south parts of England, to avoid inconvenience.
The King of Sweden proposes Marriage to Queen Mary.
That Summer, there came an Ambassador from the King of Sweden, requiring marriage of our Sovereign to his master the King. His entertainment was honourable; but our Queen liked not his petition. Such a man was too base for her estate; had not she been great Queen of France? Fie, of Sweden! What is it? But happy was the man that was forsaken of such an one. And yet she did not refuse one who was far inferior to a virtuous king.
The Queen and the Earl of Moray.