to EDWARD VI. in 1551; he addressed the work in a printed
_Epistle_ to Her Majesty: but his messenger brought him back word
that his homage was not kindly received by Her Majesty, because
she had been offended with him by reason of some writings
published with his approbation at Geneva.

CALVIN felt so greatly annoyed at this imputation, that he addressed a
letter[1] to Sir WILLIAM CECIL, in which he expresses himself with no small
degree of asperity on the subject of KNOX'S First _Blast_. He says--

Two years ago [i.e. _in_ 1557] JOHN KNOX asked of me, in a private
conversation, what I thought about the Government of Women. I
candidly replied, that as it was a deviation from the original and
proper order of nature, it was to be ranked, no less than
slavery, among the punishments consequent upon the fall of man:
but that there were occasionally women so endowed, that the
singular good qualities which shone forth in them made it evident
that they were raised up by Divine authority; either that GOD
designed by such examples to condemn the inactivity of men, or for
the better setting forth of His own glory. I brought forth Huldah
and Deborah; and added, that GOD did not vainly promise by the
mouth of Isaiah that "Queens should be nursing mothers of the
Church"; by which prerogative it is very evident that they are
distinguished from females in private life. I came at length to
this conclusion, that since, both by custom, and public consent,
and long practice, it hath been established, that realms and
principalities may descend to females by hereditary right, it did
not appear to me necessary to move the question, not only because
the thing would be most invidious; but because in my opinion it
would not be lawful to unsettle governments which are ordained by