Knox replied that he had communicated Croft's letter "to such as partly induced me before to write" (October 29).

Very probably Lethington suggested the idea, leaving the burden of its proposal on Knox.

Dr.M'Crie says that it is a solitary case of the Reformer's recommending dissimulation; but the proceeding was in keeping with Knox's previous statements about the nature of the terms made in July; with the protestations of loyalty; with the lie given to Mary of Guise when she spoke, on the whole, the plain truth; and generally with the entire conduct of the prophet and of the Congregation.

Dr.M'Crie justly remarks that Knox "found it difficult to preserve integrity and Christian simplicity amidst the crooked wiles of political intrigue." On the behaviour of the godly heaven did not smile--for the moment.
Scaling-ladders had been constructed in St.Giles's church, "so that preaching was neglected." "The preachers spared not openly to say that they feared the success of that enterprise should not be prosperous," for this reason, "God could not suffer such contempt of His word.

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