A new creed, like a new country, is an
unhomely place of sojourn; but it makes men lean on one
another and join hands. It was on this that Knox relied to
begin the union of the English and the Scotch. And he had,
perhaps, better means of judging than any even of his
contemporaries. He knew the temper of both nations; and
already during his two years' chaplaincy at Berwick, he had
seen his scheme put to the proof. But whether practicable or
not, the proposal does him much honour. That he should thus
have sought to make a love-match of it between the two
peoples, and tried to win their inclination towards a union
instead of simply transferring them, like so many sheep, by a
marriage, or testament, or private treaty, is thoroughly
characteristic of what is best in the man. Nor was this all.
He had, besides, to assure himself of English support, secret
or avowed, for the reformation party in Scotland; a delicate
affair, trenching upon treason. And so he had plenty to say
to Cecil, plenty that he did not care to "commit to paper
neither yet to the knowledge of many." But his miserable
publication had shut the doors of England in his face.
Summoned to Edinburgh by the confederate lords, he waited at
Dieppe, anxiously praying for leave to journey through
England. The most dispiriting tidings reach him.
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