The suspension of the regent, October 1559

Summary

[By October 1559, while the regent continued to fortify Leith, the Congregation – reinforced by the accession of the duke of Châtelherault to their ranks – were in possession of Edinburgh and contemplating military action against the regent's French troops. The following extract from Knox's History (Laing MS, fos. 163r–167r; Laing, vol. I, pp. 441–9; Dickinson, vol. I, pp. 249–55) gives details of the debate among the Congregation preceding their decision formally to ‘suspend’ the regent's authority. In fact, the subsequent siege of Leith proved wholly abortive and the Congregation were never in a position to enforce their deposition.]

The order the suspension of the Queen Regent from the authority within Scotland

The whole nobility, barons and burghs then present were commanded to convene in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh the same 21 day of October for deliberation of these matters. Where the whole cause being exponed by the Lord Ruthven, the question was proponed: ‘Whether she that so contemptuously refused the most humble request of the born counsellors of the realm, being also but a regent, whose pretences threatened the bondage of the whole common wealth, ought to be suffered so tyrannously to empire above 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 called and instructed in the case, John Willock, who before had sustained the burden of the church in Edinburgh, commanded to speak, made discourse as followeth, affirming:

The discourse of John Willock.

1. ‘First, that albeit magistrates be God's 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.

2. […]