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Tinoterius [John Knox]¹'Tinoterius' = man from the river Tyne. John Knox was born by the river Tyne which flows through Haddington, East Lothian. For further discussion of the identification see separate section. to Ministers at Geneva²Probably sent to Jean St André, Secretary of the Company of Pastors.

DATE: 1555 January 4³Possibly linked to Calvin's letter to the Frankfurt congregation, 20 Jan 1555, Troubles xxxiiii-vi; Calv Op. 15 No 2059.
LOCATION OF ORIGIN: Frankfurt
DESTINATION: Geneva
SOURCE: Latin original printed in Corpus Reformatorum XLIII Ioannis Calvini Opera quae supersunt omnia eds. W Baum et.al. (Brunswick, 1876)15 No. 2077 cols. 370-72.⁴Taken from a later copy in Biblioteque Nationale, Paris, Dupuy Vol 102 fo. 117.
TRANSLATED BY: Dr Jamie Reid Baxter

Grace and Peace.

I am compelled to disturb your studies with this little letter of mine, most illustrious sirs, not out of my own needs alone, but the needs of many. There has arisen no small controversy amongst those of your nation, Englishmen as I understand, over the observing of ceremonies. Not a few contend that the liturgy received in the English Church by law shortly before the death of King Edward⁵The 1552 ed. of Book of Common Prayer. should also be observed in every point in the little church which has begun to be erected here in Frankfürt. These folk (being several) have several arguments whereby they would carry their case: many of them allege the esteem and reputation of those fathers by whom these liturgies were published, in defence whereof (as is asserted) they are now in chains. There are those who cannot recognise the face of an English church unless it is painted with old-established ceremonies. And there are those who fear lest, if the received rites are abandoned, we be accused of frivolity and inconstancy, and being as it were followers of no religion.⁶Beneath Knox's unflattering summaries were the reasons given by the BCP 's supporters, Strasbourg to Frankfurt congregation, 23 Nov 1554, Troubles xxii-xxiii and reply 3 Dec 1554, Troubles xxiiii-vi; DD/PP/839 41-42.

With such reasonings, and more, which I have chosen not to write about, do the sponsors of the ceremonies prop up their case, ceremonies to which otherwise serious and learned men are clinging as if all true religion would perish with their disappearance. And there are those who vigorously strive for the contrary position, affirming that these growths should be rooted out, as being more likely to encourage superstition than true religion. And of this latter number I cannot deny myself to be one. Not because I like schism, or am moved (as God is my witness) by any private caprice of my own,⁷Knox had been accused by opponents, such as Bale, of being a schismatic and acting from personal motives, see John Bale to Thomas Ashley and Bale's Memo on the Catharytes, end Dec-early Jan 1555, Petyt MS 538/47 fos 380 & 473. but because to want to adorn the actions of Christ (I refer to His holy Supper) with ceremonies dreamed up by men seems to me both rash and impious. I would add that the simplicity of Christ’s actions, however much it may seem laughable to mere flesh, seems more in keeping with the light of the Gospel, than does a laborious and superstitious display of piety.⁸Knox was restating his adherence to the 'regulative principle' in worship, that nothing should be added unless it were found in Scripture. Just what these ceremonies are, for whose retention such bitterly fierce exertions are being made as could lead to the break-up of this little church, you may learn, most illustrious sirs, from the letter which our brother William Whittingham gave to Doctor Calvin in November,⁹This was probably the Latin Description of the BCP sent by Whittingham and Knox on 11 Dec 1554, though Whittingham wrote at the end of November to Jean St André, see St André 's reply 15 Dec 1554, DD/PP/839 43-44. which I beg and beseech you to read at leisure, and then agree to write back to me with your judgement in this matter. Not because I am asking for an exact refutation of pointless things from you (for that would be wicked), but so that by you a pronouncement may freely be made as to whether you deem that the church of Christ should be burdened with such a farrago of ceremonies. If you do pronounce on this, either you will call me back from my error (for it is said by many that I am in error to maintain that the sacraments of Christ should be administered in keeping with the purity of His word, not the regulations of men), or silence will be imposed on some captious folk¹⁰Or ‘silly little fools’. The Latin is obscure. who keep on clamouring that I am on my own in my persevering in this opinion.¹¹This was Bale's position; he asserted that traditions should be proved to be unacceptable rather than vice-versa and he maintained this was the generally-held view.

I am too embarrassed to put Dr Calvin to any trouble with such minor matters, whom I should nonetheless like you, in my name, to ask that, should he have occasion to write to those grave men of English nation who are at Zürich, he remind them that the gospel of Christ be not disturbed on account of ceremonies dreamed up by men, and at the same, that I may know from him, whether I may desist from this calling with conscience unharmed, since I see my labours are making for the scattering than for the building up of this flock.¹²Knox did offer his resignation, Troubles xxviiii. From these things, if your written judgement were shortly to give me greater certainty, it is not only myself, but also several of the faithful here plagued by the same worry, that you will set free from great trouble.

Farewell, most illustrious sirs and honoured brothers in Christ. May the Lord Jesus guide your counsels with His Spirit, and bless your labours to the praise of His glory. Frankfurt, 4 January 1555. In haste.

Your most devoted
John Tinoterius, Scotsman