had bene in
authoritie, God did nott alwyise use his immediate poware; but
sometymes he used other meanis whiche his wisedome thocht good and
justice approved, as by Asa he removed Maacha his awin mother from
honour and authoritie, whiche befoir sche had brooked; by Jehu he
destroyed Joram, and the haill posteritie of Achab; and by diverse
otheris he had deposed from authoritie those whome befoir he had
establesshed by his awin worde." [SN: The causes.] And heirupoun
concluded he, "That since the Quene Regent denyed her cheaf dewitie
to the subjectis of this realme, whiche was to minister justice
unto thame indifferentlie, to preserve thair liberties from
invasioun of strangearis, and to suffer thame have Godis word
freelie and openlie preached amanges thame; seing, moreover, that
the Quene Regent wes ane open and obstinat idolatress, a vehement
manteanare of all superstitioun and idolatrie; and, finallie, that
sche utterlie dispysed the counsall and requeistis of the
Nobilitie, he could see no reassone why they, the borne
Counsallouris, Nobilitie, and Baronis of the realme, mycht nott
justlie deprive her from all regiment and authoritie amanges
thame."

[SN: The judgement of Johne Knox, in the dispositioun of the Quein
Regent.]

Heirefter was the judgement of Johne Knox required, who, approving the
sentence of his Brother, added,--

"First, That the iniquitie of the Quene Regent, and mysordour owght
in nowyis to withdraw neather our heartis, neather yitt the heartis
of other subjectis, from the obedience dew unto our Soveranis.

"Secundarly, That and yf we deposed the said Quene Regent rather of
malice and privat invy, than for the preservatioun of the
commoun-wealth, and for that her synnes appeared incurable, that we
should nott escheap Godis just punishment, howsoever that sche had
deserved rejectioun from honouris.

"And Thridlie, He required that no suche sentence should be
pronunced against her, bott that upoun her knawin and oppen
reapentance, and upoun her conversioun to the commoun-wealth, and
submissioun to the Nobilitie, place should be granted unto her of
regresse to the same honouris from the whiche, for just causses,
sche justlie might be deprived."

The votes of everie man particularlie by him self required, and everie
man commanded