livvsays:

idlepaddy:

Queen Mary of Scots encountering John Knox. Mary summoned Knox to Holyrood Palace after hearing that he had been preaching against her proposed marriage to the son of King Philip II of Spain. Mary began by scolding Knox, then she burst into tears. “What have ye to do with my marriage?” she asked, and “What are ye within this commonwealth?” “A subject born within the same, Madam,” Knox replied. He noted that though he was not of noble birth, he had the same duty as any subject to warn of dangers to the realm. When Mary started to cry again, he said, “Madam, in God’s presence I speak: I never delighted in the weeping of any of God’s creatures; yea I can scarcely well abide the tears of my own boys whom my own hand corrects, much less can I rejoice in your Majesty’s weeping.” He added that he would rather endure her tears, however, than remain silent and “betray my Commonwealth”.

This painting is literally the inspiration for my essay on Mary Queen of Scots. 

I love that every painting of Mary and John Knox together is just a giant historical eye roll.