_Endorsed_ JOHN KNOX.
To the myghty and excellent princess ELIZABETH the Quenes maiestie of
ENGLAND be these deliuered.
_State Papers, Scotland, Vol. 6, Art 55._
Despite this triumphant appeal to his quiet citizenship under MARY
STUART, the following description of her mother shows that the great
Scotchman never altered his private opinion on this subject.
The peace as said is contracted. The Queene Dowager past by sea to
F[r]aunce with gallies that for that purpose were prepared and tooke
with her diuerse of the nobilitie of Scotland. The Earles HUNTLY,
GLENCAIRNE, MERSHELL, CASSILLES. The Lordes MAXWELL, flying, Sir GEORGE
DOWGLASSE, together with all the kings sonnes, and diuerse Barrones,
and gentlemen of Ecclesiasticall estate: the Bishop of GALLOWAY, and
manie others, with promise that they should be rechlie rewarded for
their good seruice. What they receaued we can not tell, but few were
made rich at their returning. The Dowager had to practise somewhat with
her brethren, the Duke of GWYSE and the Cardinal of LORA[I]NE. The
weight wherof the gouernour after felt: for shortlie after his
returning, was the gouernour deposed of the gouernement (Iustlie by
GOD, but most iniustlie by man) and she made regent, in the yere of our
Lord 1554. And a crowne put vpon her head, as seemelie a sight (if men
had eyes) as to put a saddle vpon the back of an vnruly cow. And so
beganne she to practise, practise vpon practise, how Fraunce might be
aduanced, hir friends made rich, and she brought to immortall glorie.
For that was her common talke, “So that I may procure the wealth and
honour of my friendes, and a good fame vnto my selfe, I regarde not
what GOD doe after with me.” And in verie deede in deepe dissimulation
to bring her owne purpose to effect she passed the common sort of
women, as we will after heare. But yet GOD to whose Gospell she
declared her selfe enemie, in the end [did] frustrate her of her
deuises.
The Historic of the _Church of Scotland_, pp. 192-193. [Ed. 1584].