" This is all, I take it, out of respect for the
Reformer's own position; if he is going to be humiliated, let
others be humiliated first; like a child who will not take
his medicine until he has made his nurse and his mother drink
of it before him. "But I have, say you, written a
treasonable book against the regiment and empire of women. .
. . The writing of that book I will not deny; but to prove it
treasonable I think it shall be hard. . . . It is hinted that
my book shall be written against. If so be, sir, I greatly
doubt they shall rather hurt nor (than) mend the matter."
And here come the terms of capitulation; for he does not
surrender unconditionally, even in this sore strait: "And yet
if any," he goes on, "think me enemy to the person, or yet to
the regiment, of her whom God hath now promoted, they are
utterly deceived in me, FOR THE MIRACULOUS WORK OF GOD,
COMFORTING HIS AFFLICTED BY MEANS OF AN INFIRM VESSEL, I DO
ACKNOWLEDGE, AND THE POWER OF HIS MOST POTENT HAND I WILL
OBEY. MORE PLAINLY TO SPEAK, IF QUEEN ELIZABETH SHALL
CONFESS, THAT THE EXTRAORDINARY DISPENSATION OF GOD'S GREAT
MERCY MAKETH THAT LAWFUL UNTO HER WHICH BOTH NATURE AND GOD'S
LAW DO DENY TO ALL WOMEN, then shall none in England be more
willing to maintain her lawful authority than I shall be.
But if (God's wondrous work set aside) she ground (as God
forbid) the justness of her title upon consuetude, laws, or
ordinances of men, then" - Then Knox will denounce her? Not
so; he is more politic nowadays - then, he "greatly fears"
that her ingratitude to God will not go long without
punishment.
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