e the poor flock in no less danger now than it has
been at any time before, except that the Devil has gotten a vissoure
upon his face. Before he came in with his own face discovered by
open tyranny, seeking the destruction of all that has refused
idolatrie; and then I think ye will confess the brethren lawfully
assembled themselves for defence of their lives. And now the Devil
comes under the cloke of justice to do that which God would not
suffer him to do by strength."

"What is this?" said the Queen. "Methinks ye trifle with him. Who
gave him authoritie to make convocation of my lieges? Is not that
treason?"

"Na, Madam," said the Lord Ruthven, "for he makes convocation of the
people to hear prayer and sermon almost daily, and whatever your
Grace or others will think thereof, we think it no treason."

"Hold your peace," said the Queen, "and let him answer for himself."

"I began, Madam," said John Knox, "to reason with the Secretare,
whom I take to be ane far better dialectician than your Grace is,
that all convocations are not unlawful; and now my Lord Ruthven has
given the instance, which, if your Grace will deny, I shall address
me for the proof."

"I will say nothing," said the Queen, "against your religion, nor
against your convening to your sermons. But what authority have ye
to convocate my subjects when you will, without my commandment?"

"I have no pleasure," said John Knox, "to decline from the former
purpose. And yet, Madam, to satisfy your Grace's two questions I
answer, that at my will I never convened four persons in Scotland;
but at the order that the brethren has appointed I have given divers
advertisements and great multitudes have assembled thereupon. And if
your Grace complain that this was done without your Grace's
commandment, I answer, so has all that God has blessed within this
Realm, from the beginning of this action. And therefore, Madam, I
must be convicted by ane just law, that I have done against the
duties of God's messenger in writing this letter, before that either
I be sorry or yet repent for the doing of it, as my Lord Secretare
would persuade me; for what I have done I have done at the
commandment of the general Kirk of this realm; and therefore I think
I have done no wrong."

This detailed report is in the form of an addendum to Knox's