CHAPTER XXX STRUGGLE IN ENGLAND FOR CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT 302. James I's dislike for Presby- terians. Policy of Knox and the Scotch Presby- terians. I. Difference of Opinion between James I and the Commons At a conference held in 1604, James had to listen to a speech by a Puritan divine which recalled to him his troubles with presbyteries in Scotland. At which speech his Majesty was somewhat stirred, yet, which is admirable in him, without passion or show thereof; thinking that they aimed at a Scottish presbytery which, saith he, as well agreeth with a monarchy as God and the devil. " Then Jack and Tom and Will and Dick shall meet and at their pleasure censure me and my council and all our proceedings. Then Will shall stand up and say it must be thus ; then Dick shall reply and say, ' Nay, marry, but we will have it thus.' . . . " I will tell you a tale. After that the religion restored by King Edward the Sixth was soon overthrown by the succession of Queen Mary here in England, we in Scotland felt the effect of it. Whereupon Master Knox writes to the queen regent 1 (of whom, without flattery, I may say that she was a virtuous and moderate lady), telling her that she was supreme head of the Church, and charged her, as she would answer it before God's tribunal, to take care of Christ, his Evangel, and of suppressing the popish prelates, who withstood the same. But how long, trow ye, did this con- tinue ? Even so long, till by her authority, the popish bish- ops were repressed. He [Knox] himself and his adherents 1 The mother of Mary, Queen of Scots. 218
