"Please your Majesty," he answered, "that
learned men in all ages have had their judgments free, and
most commonly disagreeing from the common judgment of the
world; such also have they published by pen and tongue; and
yet notwithstanding they themselves have lived in the common
society with others, and have borne patiently with the errors
and imperfections which they could not amend." Thus did
"Plato the philosopher:" thus will do John Knox. "I have
communicated my judgment to the world: if the realm finds no
inconvenience from the regiment of a woman, that which they
approve, shall I not further disallow than within my own
breast; but shall be as well content to live under your
Grace, as Paul was to live under Nero. And my hope is, that
so long as ye defile not your hands with the blood of the
saints of God, neither I nor my book shall hurt either you or
your authority." All this is admirable in wisdom and
moderation, and, except that he might have hit upon a
comparison less offensive than that with Paul and Nero,
hardly to be bettered. Having said thus much, he feels he
needs say no more; and so, when he is further pressed, he
closes that part of the discussion with an astonishing sally.
If he has been content to let this matter sleep, he would
recommend her Grace to follow his example with thankfulness
of heart; it is grimly to be understood which of them has
most to fear if the question should be reawakened.
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