Knox adopted the same method with Mary Stuart: the method is impossible.

It is not to be marvelled at if the Regent did style the letter a "pasquil." Knox took his revenge in his "History" by repeating a foolish report that Mary of Guise had designed to poison her late husband, James V.

"Many whisper that of old his part was in the pot, and that the suspicion thereof caused him to be inhibited the Queen's company, while the Cardinal got his secret business sped of that gracious lady either by day or night." {71a} He styled her, as we saw, "a wanton widow"; he hinted that she was the mistress of Cardinal Beaton; he made similar insinuations about her relations with d'Oysel (who was "a secretis mulierum"); he said, as we have seen, that she only waited her chance to cut the throats of all suspected Protestants; he threw doubt on the legitimacy of her daughter, Mary Stuart; and he constantly accuses her of treachery, as will appear, when the charge is either doubtful, or, as far as I can ascertain, absolutely false.
These are unfortunately examples of Knox's Christianity.

{71b} It is very easy for modern historians and biographers to speak with genial applause of the prophet's manly bluffness.

But if we put ourselves in the position of opponents whom he was trying to convert, of the two Marys for example, we cannot but perceive that his method was hopelessly mistaken.