The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland: With Which Are Included Knox's Confession and The Book of DisciplineKnox, John
History
The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland: With Which Are Included Knox's Confession and The Book of Discipline
Knox, John
Reformation -- Scotland; Scotland -- Church history
"First, and chiefly, since the time I came into this realm, I have
taught nothing but the ten commandments of God, the twelve articles
of the faith, and the prayer of the Lord, in the mother tongue.
Moreover, in Dundee, I taught the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans;
and I shall show faithfully what fashion and manner I used when I
taught, without any human dread, so that your discretions give me
your ears benevolent and attent."
Suddenly then, with a high voice, cried the accuser, the fed sow,
"Thou heretic, runagate, traitor, and thief, it was not lawful for
thee to preach. Thou hast taken the power at thine own hand, without
any authority of the Church. We forethink[85] that thou hast been a
preacher so long." Then said the whole congregation of the prelates,
with their accomplices, "If we give him licence to preach, he is so
crafty and in Holy Scripture so exercised that he will persuade the
people to his opinion, and raise them against us."
[85] Repent.
Master George, seeing their malicious and wicked intent, appealed
from the Lord Cardinal to the Lord Governor, as to an indifferent
and equal judge. The accuser, John Lauder, with hoggish voice
answered, "Is not my Lord Cardinal the second person within this
realm, Chancellor of Scotland, Archbishop of St. Andrews, Bishop
of Mirepoix, Commendator of Arbroath, _Legatus Natus_, _Legatus a
Latere_?" And so reciting as many titles of his unworthy honours as
would have laden a ship, much sooner an ass,--"Is not he," quoth
John Lauder, "an equal judge apparently to thee? Whom else desirest
thou to be thy judge?"
This humble man answered, "I refuse not my Lord Cardinal, but I
desire the Word of God to be my judge, and the Temporal Estate,
with some of your Lordships, my auditors; because I am here my Lord
Governor's prisoner." Whereupon the prideful and scornful people
that stood by, mocked him, saying, "Such man, such judge!" speaking
seditious and reproachful words against the Governor and other the
nobles, meaning them also to be heretics. Incontinent, without
delay, they would have given sentence upon Master George, and that
without further process, had not certain men there counselled my
Lord Cardinal to read again the articles, and to hear his answers
thereupon, that the people might not complain of his wrongful
condemnation.
Shortly declared, the following were the articles, with his answers,
as far as they would give him leave to speak; for when he intended
to mitigate their lesings[86] and show the manner of his doctrines,
by and by they stopped his mouth with another article.
[86] Lying.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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