Mary Queen of Scots and John Knox.
Much as I hate all popish pageantry—
Mere pagan pomp prankt out in the disguise
And fierce as I would fight for liberty
Of soul and body ’gainst both king and priest, 5
Yet I would rather Mary join at Mass
(I have no faith in it, but let this pass,)
Than sour-soul’d Knox, with whom I’ve not the least
Sympathy in his gloomy bigotry.
His courage and his candour I respect, 10
But throughout all his actions I detect
The love of power; and tyrants such as he
Would fain be more than Popes, with iron rod
Ruling both Church and State, pretending power from God.
George Markham Tweddell
p. 128 [in Miscellaneous Sonnets]
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