THE QUEEN REGENT DEPOSED by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 30, 1881

THE QUEEN REGENT DEPOSED.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

NOTWITHSTANDING the Protestant party in Scotland had resorted to the use of arms in their own defense, it was not until they had become fully convinced that the Regent was determined upon subverting the national liberties that they conceived the idea of making any change in the government, or of assuming the exercise of supreme authority. Knox, however, entertained enlightened ideas of civil as well as religious liberty. He maintained that a mutual obligation existed between sovereigns and their subjects, and that if this was violated by the former, so that they became habitual tyrants, notorious oppressors, and destroyers of the commonwealth, the people were released from their obligations to them, and were at liberty to resist them. The Queen Dowager held the regency by the authority of Parliament. The question, Might she not be deprived of it by the same authority? now claimed the attention of the reformers. Finally, a numerous assembly of nobles, barons, and representatives of boroughs, was called in Edinburgh, and Knox and Willoch, the latter then the minister at that place, were summoned to attend and give their opinion respecting the lawfulness of the measure. They replied that the Regent, by the introduction of foreign troops, and otherwise, having evinced a fixed determination to oppress and enslave the kingdom, might justly be deprived of her authority by the nobles and barons of Scotland, the native counselors of the realm, whose petitions and remonstrances she had repeatedly rejected. Accordingly the assembly proceeded to suspend her from her authority as Regent until the meeting of a free Parliament, and to elect a council for the management of public affairs during the interval.

Soon after this step was taken by the reformers, the prospect before them became dark and forbidding. A messenger on his way from England, to whom had been intrusted four thousand crowns, designed to aid the cause in Scotland, was attacked and robbed. The soldiers in the service of the reformers mutinied for want of pay; they were repulsed and worsted in several assaults and skirmishes with the French troops. Secret emissaries of the Regent were busy and also successful among them; their numbers were decreasing daily, and those who remained were becoming disunited, dispirited, and dismayed. Finally Edinburgh was abandoned, and a precipitate and disgraceful retreat was made to Stirling.

The dejection produced by these disasters was universal; but amid it all Knox remained steadfast and immovably. His undaunted spirit rose above the discouraging circumstances. He said, often suffered the wicked to triumph for awhile, and exposed his chosen congregation to mockery, danger and apparent destruction, in order to abase their self-confidence, and induce them to look to him for victory. If they turned unfeignedly to the Eternal, he no more doubted that their present distress would be converted into joy, and followed by success, than he doubted that Israel was finally victorious over Benjamin after having been twice repulsed with ignominy. The cause in which they were engaged would, in spite of all opposition, prevail in Scotland. It might be oppressed for a time, but it would ultimately triumph. In the same discourse, which was delivered the day after Edinburgh was evacuated, he stated that their forces had confounded, that their enemies had triumphed, and inquired the cause why God had permitted them to be thus oppressed with sorrow and shame. The situation of their affairs requires plain language, he said, and he would use it. Having, in his remarks, divided the congregation into two classes, those who had been connected with the cause from the beginning, and those who had recently joined themselves to it, he proceeded to point out what he considered blamable in each; and after exhorting all to an amendment of life, prayer, and works of charity, he concluded with an animating address.

The deep despondency which had rested upon the audience was dissipated, and the people dispersed with renewed courage. Another messenger was dispatched to London to supplicate more effectual assistance from Elizabeth. The disaster which the Protestant army had encountered at Edinburgh proved beneficial to their cause, as it was by this means that the English court was led to abandon the cautious policy which had hitherto characterized it. An English army, consisting of two thousand horse and six thousand foot, was sent to assist the reformers, and with its aid the French were soon compelled to leave the country.