The Fortnightly Review: No. CCCCLXIII, New Series [‎620v] (131/239)

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SCOTLAND AND JOHN KNOX.
finite. If your Grace please to frequent the public sermons, then
doubt I not but that ye shall fully understand both what I like
and mislike, as well in your Majesty as in all others.” It is only
fair to say that the sentence is slightly softened by the context, but
the passage is representative enough of the relations between the
Prophet and the Queen. Those who, like the present writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. ,
believe that John Knox was a great man, and that Scotland owes
him much, are best advised if they refrain from attempting to
justify the verbal inspiration of Knox’s addresses to Mary Stuart.
He is no true friend of Knox who refuses to admit that he had
the defects of his qualities. He was not the man for the task of
converting a young princess. We do not speak of his opposition to
her government; that is a very different question, with reference
to which we do not deny that he was amply justified. It forms,
indeed, great part of his title to the gratitude of those of us who are
Protestants. But even that gratitude is no good reason why we
should blind our eyes to the fact that Knox was never generous or
even fair in his treatment of his Queen, and that at times he was
not even decently respectful, just as Luther was not decently
respectful to Henry VIII. and to others. It is easy to argue that
it was the Prophet’s duty thus personally to insult the
Sovereign, and that his so doing was essential for the
interests of religion. Those who adopt the first position
are apt to confuse timidity with respect for a lady and
a Queen; as to the second, both Randolph and Lething-
ton were of opinion that Knox’s attitude to Mary rather hindered
than helped his cause. Yet, even in these interviews, the tone of
which repels us not a little, how great Knox at times appears. His
answer to the Royal question, prompted by the pride of Stuart
blood, What have you to do wdth my marriage? Or what are
you within this Commonwealth? ” is dignified enough : ” Madam,
a subject born within the same.” 0 si sic omnia! It was the
voice of a man and a leader of men, and it gave to future genera
tions a watchword for the liberty for winch they were to strive
and shed their blood. Even while one feels all that can be said
for Mary, it is impossible not to respect Knox. It is possible to
understand hatred for him, but to despise him is inconceivable.
If Knox s character as an apostle of the new faith has been
peisistently misunderstood, not less has his position as an historian
been misconceived. The History of the Reformation in Scotland
is not a pleasant book. It is easy to sneer at those who dislike
Knox s love of scandalous tales about his enemies, and to accuse
them of failing to appreciate the abhorrence of evil that inspires a
great prophet of righteousness, and so forth. Most of those who
defend Knox on these lines have probably never read his book.