History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 2 · Body of book two · Floating text 8 – Letter 25
The DECLARATION of the Lords, against the former PROCLAMATION.
WE are compelled unwillingly to answer the grievous accusations most unjustly laid to our charges by the Queen Regent, and her perverse Counsell, who cease not by all craft and malice to make us odious to our dearest brethren,Note. naturall Scottish-men, as that we pretended no other thing, but the subversion and overthrow of all just authoritie, when God knoweth we sought nothing, but, That such authoritie as God approveth by his Word, be established, honoured, and obeyed amongst us. True it is, that we have complained (and continually must complaine, till God send redresse) That our common Countrey is oppressed with strangers; That this inbringing of Souldiers with their wives and children, and planting of men of War in our free Townes; appeareth to us a ready way to conquest. And we most earnestly require all indifferent persons to be judge betwixt us and the Queen Regent in this cause, to wit, Whether our complaint be just or not? For, for what other purpose should she thus multiply strangers upon us, but onelyonly in respect of conquest:The avarice of those of Loraine and Guise. Which is a thing of late divised by her and her avaritious house. We are not ignorant that six yeers ago the question was demanded of a man of honest reputation; What number of men was able to daunt Scotland, and to bring it to the full obedience of France? She alleadged, That to say that the fortification of Leith was of purpose devised in France, and that for that purpose were Monsieur de la Brosse, and the Bishop of Amiens sent to this Countrey; Is a thing so vaine and untrue, that the contrary thereof is notorious to all men of free judgement. But evident it is, whatsoever she alleadged, That since their arrivall Leith was begun to be fortified. She alleadged, That she seeing the defection of great Personages, was compelled to have recourse to the Law of Nature, and like a small bird pursued to provide for some sure retract to her self and her company. But why doth she not answer for what purpose did she bring in her new Bands of men of War?Note. Was there any defection espied before their arrivall? was not the Congregation under Appointment with her? Which whatsoever she alleadged, she is not able to prove that we have violated in any chiefe point, before that her new throat-cutters arrived, yea, before that they began to fortifie Leith, a place, saith she, most convenient for her purpose; as indeed it is, for the receiving of strangers at her pleasure: for if she had feared the pursuit of her bodie, she had Inche, Colme, Dumbar, and Blacknesse, Forts and Strengths already made; yet all these could not so well serve her turne as Leith, because it was her daughters property, and none other could have title unto it, and because it had been fortified oft before. That all men may know the just title her daughter and she had to the Town of Leith, The title that the Queen hath or had to Leith.we shall in few words declare. It is not unknown to the most part of this Realm, that there hath been an old hatred and contention betwixt Edinburgh and Leith; Edinburgh continually seeking constantly to possesse the liberty of Leith which by donation of ancient Kings they have long enjoyed: And Leith, by the contrary aspiring to a liberty and freedom in prejudice of Edinburgh. The Queen Regent, a woman that could make her profit at all hands, was not ignorant how to compasse her own businesse, and therefore secretly she gave advertisement to some of Leith, that she would make their Towne free, if that she might do it with any colour of Justice.The Laird of Lestarrig sup. riour to Leith. By which promises the principall men of them did travell with the Laird of Lestarrig, a man neither prudent nor fortunate, to whom the superiority of Leith appertained, That he should fell his whole Title and Right to our Soveraigne for a certain sum of Money, which the inhabitants of Leith paid, with a large Taxation more, to the Queen Regent, in hope to be made free, in desp…ght and defraud of Edinburgh: Which Right and Superiority when she had gotten, and when the Money was paid, the first fruits of their liberty they now eat with bitternes, is, That strangers shall possesse their Towne: This is the just Title which her daughter and she might claim to that Towne. And where she alleadged, That it was fortified before; we ask, If that was done without the consent of the Nobility and Estates of the Realme, as now she and her crafty counsellors do, in despight and high contempt of us the lawfull and borne Counsellors of this Realme. How far we have sought support of England, or of any other Prince, and how just cause we had and have so to do, we shall shortly make manifest unto the world, To the praise of Gods holy Name, and to the confusion of all those that slander us for so doing: For this we fear not to confesse, That as in this our enterprise, against the Devill, Idolatry, and the maintainers of the same, we chiefly and onelyonly seek Gods glory to be notified unto man,Note. sin to be punished, and vertue to be maintained: So where power faileth in our selves, we will seeke it wheresoever GOD shall offer the same: And yet in so doing, we are assured neither to offend GOD, neither yet to do any thing repugnant to our Duties. We heartily praise God, who moved the heart of the Earle of Arran to joyn himself with us his persecuted brethren. But how malicious a lye it is, That we have promised to set him up in Authority, the issue shall declare: God we take to record, That no such thing hath entred into our hearts, neither yet hath the said Earle, neither any to him appertaining, moved us unto any such matter: which if they should do, yet are we not so slender in judgement, that inconsiderately we would promise that, which after we would repent. We speak and write to the praise of Gods glory;Note diligently. the least of us knoweth better what obedience is due to a lawfull Authority, then she and her counsell doth practice the Office of such as worthily may sit upon the Seat of Justice: For we offer, and we perform all obedience which God hath commanded; and we deny neither Toll, Tribute, nor Fear, to her nor her Officers, we onelyonly bridle her blinde rage, in the which she would erect and maintain Idolatry, and would murther our brethren, who refuse the same: But she doth utterly abuse the Authority established by God, she prophaneth the Throne of his Majestie on earth, making the Seat of Justice, which ought to be the Sanctuary and Refuge of all godly and vertuous persons unjustly afflicted, to be a den and receptacle to Thieves, Murtherers, Idolaters, Whoremongers, Adulterers, and of Blasphemers of God, and all godlinesse. It is more then evident what men they are, and long have been, whom she by her power maintaineth and defendeth; and also what hath been our conversation,The wickednesse of the Bishops. since it hath pleased God to call us to his knowledge, whom now in her fury she cruelly persecuteth. We deny not the taking of the houses of Brochtie; and the causes being considered, we think that no naturall Scotish man will be offended at our fact. When the assured knowledge came to us that the Fortification of Leith was begun, every man began to inquire,The cause that Broughtie Craig was taken. What danger might ensue to the rest of the Realm, if the French should plant in divers places, and what were the places that might annoy us. In conclusion it was found, That the taking of the said house by French men, should be destruction to Dundie, and hurtfull to S. Iohnston, and to the whole Countrey; and therefore it was thought expedient to prevent the danger, as that we did, for preservation of our brethren and common Countrey. It is not unknown what enemies those two Towns have, and how gladly would some have all good order and policy overthrown in them. The conjectures that the French-men were of minde shortly to have taken the same place, were not obscrure: but whatsoever they pretended, we cannot repent that we (as said is) have prevented the danger; and would God that power had been in the same manner to have foreclosed their enterprise at Leith: Let all men judge.For what trouble this poor Realm shall endure before that those murtherers and unjust possessors be removed from the same, the issue will declare. If her accusations against the Duke, and that we refused conference, be truly and simply spoken,The Dukes answer. we will not refuse the judgement of those very men, whom she alleadgeth to be of such reputation. They know that the Duke did answer, That if the Realme should be set at liberty from the bondage of those men of War, which presently did oppresse it, and was so fearfull to him, and to his brethren, that they were compelled to absent themselves from the places where she and they made residence: That he and the whole Congregation should come and give all dutifull obedience to our Soveraigne her daughter, and unto her, as Regent for the time: But to enter into conference so long as she kept above him and his brethren that fearfull scourge of cruell strangers, he thought no wise man would counsell him. And this his answer we approve, adding further, That she can make us no promise which she can keep, Note.nor we can credit, so long as she is forced with the strength, and ruled by the counsell of France. We are not ignorant that Princes think it good policy to betray their subjects by breaking of promises, be they never so solemnly made. We have not forgotten what counsell she and Monsieur Dosell gave to the Duke, against those that slue the Cardinall, and kept the Castle of S. Andrewes, Note.which was this, That what promise they list to require should be made unto them; but as soon as the Castle was rendred, and things brought to such passe as was expedient, that he should chop the heads from every one of them. To the which the Duke answered, That he would never consent to so treasonable an act, but if he promised fidelity, he would faithfully keep it. Monsieur Dosell said in mockage to the Queen in French, That is a good simple nature, but I know no other Prince that would so do. If this was his judgement in so small a matter, what have we to suspect in this our Cause? For the question is not of the slaughter of one Cardinall, but of the just abolishing of all tyranny, which that Romane Antichrist hath usurped above us; of the suppressing of Idolatry, and of the Reformation of the whole Religion, by that vermine of shavelings utterly corrupted. Now if the slaughter of a Cardinall be a sin irremissible,Note. as they themselves affirme; and if faith ought not to be kept to hereticks, as their owne law speaketh, What promise can she that is ruled by the counsell and commandment of a Cardinall,The quarrell betwixt Frauce and the Congregation of Scotland. make to us that can be sure? Where she accuseth us, That we usurp Authority to command and charge free Boroughs, to chuse Provests and Officers of our naming, &c. We will that the whole Boroughs of Scotland testifie in that case, Whether we have used any kinde of violence, but lovingly exhorted such as asked our support to chuse such in Office, as had the fear of God before their eyes, loved equity and justice, and were not noted with avarice and bribing. But wonder it is with what face she can accuse us of that, whereof we are innocent, and she so openly criminall, that the whole Realme knoweth her iniquity: In that case hath she not compelled the Towne of Edinburgh to retaine a man to be their Provest most unworthy of any Regiment in a well-ruled Common-wealth?The Lord Seaton unworthy of Regiment. Hath she not enforced them to take Bayliffes of her appointment? and some of them so meet for their Office in this troublesome time,Optim… collatio as a sowter is to sayle a Ship in a stormy day. She complaineth that we will not suffer provision to be made for her house: In very deed we unfainedly repent that before this we took not better order that these murtherers and oppressors whom she pretendeth to nourish for our destruction, had not been disappointed of their great provision of Victualls which she and they have gathered, to the great hurt of the whole Countrey: But as God shall assist us in times coming, we shall do diligence somewhat to frustrate their devillish purpose. What both what she and we pretend, we doubt not but God (who cannot suffer the abuse of his owne Name long to be unpunished) shall one day declare, and unto him we fear not to commit our Cause.Let the Papists judge if God hath not given judgement to the displeasure of their hearts. Neither yet fear we in this present day, that against us she maketh a malicious lye, where that she saith, That it is not Religion that. we go about, but a plain usurpation of Authority. God forbid that such impiety should enter in our hearts, that we should make his holy Religion a cloke and covertour of our iniquity: From the beginning of this controversie, it is evidently knowne what have been our requests; which if the rest of the Nobility and Commonalty of Scotland will cause to be performed unto us, if then in us appear any signe of Rebellion, let us be reputed and punished as traitors. But while strangers are brought in to suppresse us, our common wealth and posterity;Note. while Idolatry is maintained, and Christ Jesus his true Religion despised, while idle bellies, and bloody tyrants the Bishops are maintained, and Christs true Messengers persecuted; while finally, vertue is contemned, and vice extolled; while that we a great part of the Nobility and Commonalty of this Realme are most unjustly persecuted, What godly man can be offended that we shall seek Reformation of these enormities (yea, even by force of Arms, seeing that otherwayes it is denyed unto us) we are assured that neither God,The causes that moved the Nobility of this Realme to oppose the Q. Regent. neither nature, neither any just Law forbiddeth us. God hath made us Councellors by birth of this Realme, Nature bindeth us to love our owne Countrey, and just Laws command us to support our brethren unjustly pursued, yea, the Oath that we have made to be true to this Common-wealth compelled us to hazard whatsoever God hath given us, before that we see the miserable ruine of the same. If any thinke it is not Religion which now we seek, we answer, That it is nothing else but the zeal of the true Religion which moveth us to this enterprise:The s…me minde remaineth to this day. For as the enemy doth craftily foresee, That Idolatry cannot universally be maintained, unlesse that we be utterly suppressed, So do we consider that the true Religion (the purity whereof we openly require) cannot universally be erected, unlesse strangers be removed, and this poor Realme purged of those pestilences which before have infected it. And therefore in the Name of the Eternall God, and of his Son Christ Jesus, whose Cause we sustain, we require all our brethren naturall Scotish-men prudently to consider our Requests, and with judgement to discerne betwixt us and the Queen Regent, with her faction, and not to suffer themselves to be abused by her craft and deceit, That to lift their weapons against their brethren, who seek nothing but Gods glory, Or yet to extract from us their just and dutifull support,This promise was forgot, and therefore God plagued. Wha spirit could have hoped for victory in so desperate dangers. seeing that we hazard our lives for preservation of them and us, and of us and our posterity to come: Assuring such as shall declare themselves favourers of her Faction and enemies unto us, That we shall repute them, whensoever God shall put the Sword of Justice in our hands worthy of such punishment as is due for such as study to betray their Countreyes into the hands of strangers.
This our answer was formed and divulgate in some places, but not universally, by reason of our day appointed to meet at Sterlin, as before is declared. In this mean time the Queens Posts ran with all possible expedition to draw men to her devotion. And in very deed she found more favourers of her iniquity then we suspected. For a man that of long time had been one of our number in profession, offered (as himselfe did confesse) his service to the Queen, to travell betwixt her Majestie and the Congregation for concord; she refused not his offer, but knowing his simplicitie,Note. she was glad to imploy him for her advantage. The man is Master Robert Lockard, a man of whom many have had and still have good opinion, as touching his Religion. But to enter in the managing of such affaires, not so fit as godly and wise men would require: he travelleth not the lesse earnestly in the Queen Regents affairs, and could not be perswaded, but that she meant sincerely, and that she would promote the Religion to the uttermost of her power. He promised in her name, That she would put away her French-men, and would be ruled by the counsell of naturall Scottish-men: when it was reasoned in his contrary, That if she were so minded to do, she could have found Mediatours a great deale more fit for that purpose. He feared not to affirme, That he knew more of her minde, then all the French or Scots that were in Scotland; yea, more then her own brethren that were in France. He travelled with the Earle of Glencarne, the Lords of Uchiltrie and Boyd, with the Laird of Dun, and with the Preachers, to whom he had certaine secret Letters, which he would not deliver, unlesse that they would make a faithfull promise, That they should never reveale the thing contained in the same. To the which it was answered, That in no wayes they could make such a promise, by reason that they were sworne one to another, and altogether in one body, That they should have no secret intelligence, nor deale with the Queen Regent, but that they should communicate with the great Counsell whatsoever she proposed unto them, so they did answer unto her, as by this answer written by Iohn Knox to the Queen Regent may be understood. The tenour whereof followeth.
To the Queen Regent.
MADAME,
MY duty humbly premised: Your Majesties servant, Master Robert Lockard, most instantly hath required me and others to whom your Majesties Letters, as he alleadged, were directed, to receive the same in a secret manner, and to give him answer accordingly; but because some of the number that he required, were, and are of the great Counsell of this Realme, and therefore are solemnely sworne to have nothing to do in a secret manner, neither with your Majestie, nor with any that cometh from you, or from your Counsell. And so they could not receive your Majesties Letters with such conditions as the said Master Robert required, therefore thought he good to take backe to your Majestie againe the said Letters close; And yet because, as he reporteth, he hath made to your Majestie some promise in my name, at his request, I am content to testifie by my Letter and Subscription, the sum of that which I did communicate with him. In Dondie, after many words betwixt him and me, I said, That albeit divers sinister reports had been made of me, yet did I never declare any evident token of hatred nor enmity against your Majestie. For if it be the office of a true friend to give true and faithfull counsell to them whom he seeth run to destruction for lack of the same, I could not be proved enemy to your Majestie, but rather a friend unfeigned. For what counsell I had given to your Majestie, my Writings, as well my Letter and Addition to the same, now Printed, as divers others which I wrote from S. Johnston, may testifie. I further added, That such an enemy was I unto you, that my tongue did both perswade, and obtaine, That your authority and Regiment should be obeyed of us in all things lawfull, till you declare your selfe open enemy to this Common-wealth, as now, alas, ye have done. This I willed him moreover to say to your Majestie, That if ye following the counsell of flattering men, having no God but this world and their belly, did proceed in your malice against Christ Iesus his Religion, and true Ministers, that ye should do nothing else but accelerate and hasten Gods plague and vengeance upon your selfe and those that followeth you. And that ye (if ye did not change your purpose hastily) should bring your selfe in such extreame danger, that when ye would seek remedy it should not be so easie to be found as it had been before. This is the effect and sum of all that I said at that time, and willed him if he pleased to communicate the same to your Majestie. And the same yet againe I notifie unto your Majestie by this my Letter,
written and subscribed at Edinburgh, the 26 day of October 1559. Sic subscribitur. Your Majesties to command in all godlinesse, John Knox.
Postscriptum.
God move your heart yet in time to consider, That ye fight not against men, but against the eternall God, and against his Son Iesus Christ, the onelyonly Prince of the Kings of the earth.
At which answer, the said M. Robert was so offended, that he would not deliver his Letters, saying, That we were ungodly, and injurious to the Queen Regent, if we suspected any craft in her. To the which it was answered by one of the Preachers, That time should declare whether he or they were deceived, if she should not declare her selfe enemy to the true Religion which they professed, if ever she had the upper hand, then they would be content to confesse, That they had suspected her sincerity without just cause. But if she should declare her malice no lesse in times comming then she had done before they required that he should be more moderate, then to condemne them whose conscience he knoweth not, and this was the end of his travell for that time. After that he had troubled the conscience of many godly and quiet persons. For he and others who were her hired postes, ceased not to blow in the eares of all men, That the Queen was heavily dealt with, That she required nothing but obedience to her daughter, That she was content that the true Religion should go forward,Note how calumnies prevail upon the world for a time. and that all abuses should be abolished, and by this mean they brought a grudge and division among our selves. For many (and our brethren of Lowthian especially) began to murmure, That we sought another thing then Religion, and so ceased to assist us certain dayes, after that we were come to Edinburgh, which we did according to the former Diet the 16 day of October. This grudge and trouble amongst our selves was not raised by the aforesaid M. Robert onelyonly, but by those pestilents whom before we have expressed, and M. Iames Balfoure especially, whose venemous tongues against God and his true Religion, as they deserve punishment of men, so shall they not escape Gods vengeance, unlesse that speedily they repent.
After our coming to Edinburgh, the day forenamed, we assembled in Counsell, and determined to give new advertisement to the Queen Regent of our convention, and in such sort, and so with common consent we sent unto her our Request, as followeth.
The second Admonition to the Queen Regent.
MAdame, Your Majestie may call to minde, how at our last Convention at Hamilton, we required your Highnesse in most humble manner to desist from the fortifying of the Town of Lieth, then enterprised and begun, which appeared to us (and yet doth) an entrie to a conquest and overthrow of our Liberties, and altogether against the Lawes and Customes of this Realm, seeing it was begun, and yet continueth without any advice and consent of the Nobility and Counsell of this Realm. Wherefore now, as oft before, according unto our duty to our Common-wealth, we most humbly require your Majestie, to cause your Strangers and Souldiers whatsoever, to depart the said Town of Lieth, and make the same patent, not onelyonly to the inhabitants, but also to all Scottish men, our Soveraign Ladies Leiges; assuring your Highnesse, That if refusing the same, ye declare thereby your evil minde towards the Common-wealth, and Liberty of this Realm, we will (as before) move and declare the causes unto the whole Nobility and Commonalty of this Realm. And according to the oath which we had sworn for the maintenance of the Commonweale, in all manner of things to us possible, we will provide remedy therefore, requiring most humbly your Majesties answer in haste with the Bearer, because in our eyes the act continually proceeds, declaring your determination of conquest, which is presumed of all men, and not without cause. And thus after our commendation of service, we pray Almighty God to have your Majesty in his eternall tuition.
These our Letters received, our Messenger was threatned, and withholden a whole day, thereafter he was dismissed; without any other answer, But that she would send an answer, when she thought expedient. In this mean time, because the rumour ceased not, that the Duke usurped the authority, he was compelled with the sound of trumpet at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh to make his Purgation as followeth, the 19 of October.
The Purgation of the Duke.
FOrasmuch as the Duke of Chatellarault, understanding the false report made by these about the Queen Regent against him, That he and his son the Lord Arrane, should pretend usurpation of the Crown and authority of this Realm, when in very deed, he, nor his said son never once hath made any shew of any such thing, but onelyonly in simplicity of heart,Now the Duke seeing the Queens partie decline, and the Protestant party grow strong, he once more changeth the profession of his Religion, and joyneth with the Protestants, as strongest. moved parly by the violent pursuit against Religion, and true Professours thereof, partly by compassion of the Common-wealth, and poore Commonalty of this Realme, oppressed with strangers; he joyned himselfe to the rest of the Nobility, with all hazard, to support the common Cause of the one & of the other; and hath thought expedient to purge himselfe and his said son in presence of you all, as he had done in presence of the counsell of that said crime of old, even by Summons laid to his charge the second yeere of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Ladie: Which accusation hath continued ever against him, as guilty of that crime; he therefore now openly and plainly Protesteth, That neither he nor his said son, sues nor seeks any preeminence, either to the Crown or authority, but as far as his puissance may extend, is ready, and ever shall be, and his son also, to concurre with the rest of the Nobility his brethren, and all others,How true this is, the whole and constant course of the family can tell. whose hearts are touched to maintain the common causes of Religion, and Liberty of their native Countrey, plainly invaded by the said Regent, and her said Souldiers, who onelyonly do forge such vain reports, to withdraw the hearts of true Scottish-men from the succour they owe of bounden dutie to their Common-weale oppressed. Wherefore exhorting all men, that will maintain the true Religion of God, or withstand this oppression or plain conquest enterprised by strangers upon our native Scottish-men, not to credit such false and untrue reports. But rather concurre with us and the rest of the Nobility, to set our Countrey at liberty, expelling strangers therefrom, which doing, ye shall shew your selves obedient to the ordinance of God, which was established for maintenance of the Common-weale and true members of the same.
The 21 of Octob. came from the Queen Regent M. Robert Forman, Lion King of Arms, who brought unto us a Writing in this Tenor and Credit.
AFter commendations, We have received your Letter of Edinburgh, the 19 of this instant, which appeareth to us, rather to have come from a Prince to his Subjects, then from Subjects to them that beare authority. For answer whereof, we have presently directed unto you this Bearer, Lion Herald King of Arms, sufficiently instructed with our minde, to whom ye shall give credence.
At Leith, Octob. 21. 1559. Sic subscribitur. Mary R.
His Credit is this.
Let this be noted, and let all men judge of the purpose of the French and how good and wise Patriots they w…re, who sold our Soveraign to France for their private profit, and they by name were … Hamiltons.THat the Queen wonders how any durst presume to command her in that Realm, which needeth not to be Conquest by any force, considering that it was already Conquest by Marriage. That French-men could not justly be called strangers, seeing that they were Naturalized; and therefore that she would neither make that Town patent, neither yet send any man away, but as she thought expedient. She accused the Duke of violating his promise. She made long Protestation of her love towards the Common-wealth of Scotland, and in the end commanded, That under the pain of Treason all assistaries to the Duke and unto us, should depart from the Town of Edinburgh.
This answer received, credit heard, preconceived malice sufficiently espied, consultation was taken what was expedient to be done. And for the first, it was concluded, That the Herald should be stayed, till further determination should be taken.
The whole Nobility,The order of the suspension of the Queen Regent from Authority within Scotland. Barons and Burgesses then present, were commanded to convene in the Tolbuith of Edinburgh, the same one and twentieth day of October, for deliberation of those matters, where the whole cause being exposed by the Lord Ruthuen, the question was propounded, Whether she that so contemptuously refused the most humble request of the borne Councellors of the Realme, being also but a Regent, whose pretences threatned the bondage of the whole Common-wealth, ought to be suffered so tyrannically to domineer over them. And because that this question had not been before disputed in open assembly, it was thought expedient that the judgement of the Preachers should be required; who being instructed in the case, Iohn Willock, who before had sustained the burthen of the Church in Edinburgh, commanded to speak, made discourse as followeth:
Affirming,The discourse of Iohn Willock. first, That albeit Magistrates be Gods Ordinance, having of him Power and Authority, yet is not their Power so largely extended, but that it is bounded and limited by God in his Word.
And secondarily, That as subjects are commanded to obey their magistrates, so are the Magistrates commanded to give some duty to their subjects, so that God by his Word hath prescribed the Office of the one and of the other.
Thirdly, That albeit God hath appointed Magistrates his Lieutenants on earth, and hath honoured them with his own Title, calling them Gods, That yet he did never so firmly establish any, but at his pleasure, he seeing just cause, might deprive them.
Fourthly, That in deposing of Princes, and those that have been in Authority, God did not alwayes use his immediate power, but sometimes he useth second means, which his wisedome thought good, and Justice approved: As by Asa, he removed Maacha his owne mother from Honour and Authority which before she had used. By Iehu, he destroyed Ioram, and the whole posterity of Achab. And by divers others he hath deposed from Authority those whom before he had established by his own Word. And hereupon concluded he, That sith the Queen Regent denied her chief duty to the subjects of this Realme, which was, To minister Justice to them indifferently,The causes. to preserve their Liberties from invasion of strangers, and to suffer them to have Gods Word freely and openly preached amongst them. Seeing moreover that the Queen Regent was an open and obstinate Idolatresse, a vehement maintainer of all Superstition and Idolatry, as also she openly declares the Countrie to be conquest, and no more free. And finally, That she utterly despiseth the counsell and requests of the Nobility: he could see no reason why they the borne Counsellors, Nobility, and Barons of the Realme might not justly deprive her from all Regiment and Authority amongst them.
Hereafter was the judgement of Iohn Knox required,The judgment of Iohn Knox in the deposition of the Queen Regent. who approving the sentence of his brother, added, first, That the iniquity of the Queen Regent and disorder, ought in no wise to withdraw neither our hearts, neither yet the hearts of other subjects from the obedience due unto our Soveraigne.
Let no man then for privat ends, and bywayes, do any thing against their Prince, …nder pre…ence of the publike.Secondly, That if we deposed the said Queen Regent rather of malice and private envie, then for the preservation of the Common-wealth, and for that her sins appeared incurable, That we should not escape Gods just punishment, howsoever that she had deserved rejection from honors.
And thirdly, he required, That no such sentence should be pronounced against her, but that upon known and open repentance, and upon her conversion to the Common-wealth, and submission to the Nobility, place should be granted unto her of regresse to the same honours from the which for just causes she justly might be deprived.
The Votes of every man particularly by himself required, and every man commanded to speak as he would answer to God, what his conscience judged in that matter, there was none found amongst the whole number, who did not by his tongue consent to her deprivation. Thereafter was her Processe committed to Writing, and registred as followeth.