It is recorded that the Regent Morton on the occasion of John Knox’s funeral and while looking into his grave bore testimony to him in these words: “There lies one who neither feared nor flattered flesh.” All the historical evidence confirms the truth of that statement and not least what we have from the pen of the great Reformer himself. His history of the Reformation in Scotland reveals many traits of his character especially his moral rectitude and uncompromising fidelity to principle. He wrote in order that the posterity to come might understand “how potently God wrought in preserving and delivering those that had but a small knowledge of His truth, and for the love of the same hazarded all.” Knox’s account of his fourth interview with the Queen is full of interest. It is here given as found in the 1905 Edition of Knox’s History. He had preached a faithful sermon “before the most part of the Nobility” and “entered on a deep discourse concerning God’s mercies to the realm, and the ingratitude which he espied in almost the whole multitude, albeit God had marvellously delivered them from the bondage and tyranny both of body and soul.” In concluding he spoke very plainly:
“And now, my Lords, to put an end to all, I hear of the Queen’s marriage. Dukes, brethren to emperors, and kings strive all for the best game; but this will I say, my Lords — note the day and bear witness afterwards — whensoever the Nobility of Scotland, professing the Lord Jesus, consent that an infidel (and all Papists are infidels) shall be head to your Sovereign, so far as in ye lieth, ye do banish Christ Jesus from this realm; ye bring God’s vengeance upon the country, a plague upon yourselves, and perchance small comfort to your Sovereign.”
These words and this manner of speaking were judged intolerable. Papists and Protestants were both offended; yea, the most familiar friends of Knox disdained him for that utterance. Placeboes and flatterers posted to the Court to give information that he had spoken against the Queen’s marriage, and the Provost of Lincluden, Douglas of Drumlanrig by surname, brought the charge that the said John Knox should present himself before the Queen. This he did soon after dinner.
The Lord Ochiltree, and divers of the faithful, bare him company to the Abbey; but none passed in to the Queen with him in the cabinet but John Erskine of Dun, then Superintendent of Angus and Mearns. The Queen, in a vehement fume, began to cry out that never prince was handled as she was.
Queen. I have borne with you in all your rigorous manner of speaking, both against myself and against my uncles; yea, I have sought your favours by all possible means. I offered unto you presence and audience whensoever it pleased you to admonish me; and yet I cannot be quit of you. I avow to God, I shall be once revenged.
At these words, scarcely could Marna, her secret chamber boy, get napkins to hold her eyes dry for the tears; and howling, besides womanly weeping, stayed her speech. The said John did patiently abide all the first fume, and at opportunity answered.
Knox. True, it is, Madam, your Grace and I have been at divers controversies, in which I never perceived your Grace to be offended at me. But, when it shall please God to deliver you from that bondage of darkness and error in which ye have been nourished for the lack of true doctrine, your Majesty will find in the liberty of my tongue nothing offensive. Outside the preaching place Madam, I think few have occasion to be offended at me: and there, Madam, I am not master of myself, but must obey Him who commands me to speak plain, and to flatter no flesh upon the face of the earth.
Queen. But what have ye to do with my marriage?
Knox. If it please your Majesty to hear me patiently, I shall show the truth in plain words. I grant your Grace offered me more than ever I required; but my answer was then, as it is now, that God hath not sent me to wait upon the courts of princesses, or upon the chambers of ladies. I am sent to preach the Evangel of Jesus Christ to such as please to hear it. It hath two parts, repentance and faith. And now, Madam, in preaching repentance, it is necessary that the sins of men be so noted that they may know wherein they offend; but the most part of your Nobility are so addicted to your affections, that neither God, His Word, nor yet their commonwealth are rightly regarded. Therefore it becomes me so to speak, that they may know their duty.
Queen. What have ye to do with my marriage? Or what are ye within this commonwealth?
Knox. A subject born within the same, Madam. And, albeit I be neither Earl, Lord, nor Baron within it, God has made me a profitable member within the same, however abject I be in your eyes. Yea, Madam, it appertains to me to forewarn of such things as may hurt that commonwealth, if I foresee them, no less than it does to any of the Nobility. Both my vocation and conscience crave plainness of me. Therefore, Madam, to yourself I say that which I speak in public place. Whensoever the Nobility of this realm shall consent that ye be subject to an unfaithful husband, they do as much as in them lieth to renounce Christ, to banish His truth from them, to betray the freedom of this realm, and perchance they shall in the end do small comfort to yourself.
At these words, howling was heard, and tears might have been seen in greater abundance than the matter required. John Erskine of Dun, a man of meek and gentle spirit, stood beside, and entreated what he could do to mitigate her anger, giving her many pleasing words of her beauty, of her excellence, and saying that all the princes of Europe would be glad to seek her favours. But all this was to cast oil in the flaming fire. The said John stood still, without any alteration of countenance for a long season, while the Queen gave place to her inordinate passion.
In the end he said, “Madam, I speak in God’s presence. I never delighted in the weeping of any of God’s creatures; yea, I can scarcely well abide the tears of my own boys whom my own hand corrects, much less can I rejoice in your Majesty’s weeping. Seeing, however, that I have offered you no just occasion to be offended, but have spoken the truth as my vocation craves of me, I must sustain your Majesty’s tears, albeit unwillingly, rather than dare hurt my conscience, or betray my commonwealth through my silence.” Herewith was the Queen more offended, and commanded the said John to leave the cabinet, and to abide her pleasure in the chamber. The Laird of Dun tarried, and Lord John of Coldingham came into the cabinet, and there they both remained with her for nearly an hour. The said John stood in the chambers, as one whom men had never seen, so afraid were all, except that the Lord Ochiltree bare him company. Therefore began he to forge talk with the ladies who were sitting there in all their gorgeous apparel. This espied, he merrily said: “Oh fair Ladies, how pleasing were this life of yours if it should ever abide, and in the end we might pass to heaven with all this gay gear. Fie upon that knave Death, who will come whether we will or not! When he has laid on his arrest, the foul worms will be busy with this flesh, be it never so fair and so tender; and the silly soul shall, I fear, be so feeble that it can neither carry with it gold, garnishing, targetting, pearl, nor precious stones.” By such means gained he the attention of the company of women; and so passed the time until the Laird of Dun desired him to depart to his house.
The Queen would have saught the censement (judgement) of the Lords of the Articles as to whether such manner of speaking as that of the said John deserved not punishment; but she was councelled to desist: and so the storm quieted in appearance, but never in the heart!’