ance in August
1561.; with her came popery and all manner of profanity; the mass was
again publicly set up, at which the religious part of the nation were
highly offended, and none more than Mr. Knox, who ceased not to expose
the evil and danger of it on every occasion: On which account the queen
and court were much exasperated. They called him before them, and
charged him as guilty of high treason. The queen being present, produced
a letter, wrote by him, wherein it was alledged that he had convocated
her majesty's lieges against law; whereupon a long reasoning ensued
between him and secretary Lethington upon the contents of said letter;
in which Mr. Knox gave such solid and bold answers, in defence of
himself and doctrine, that at last he was acquitted by the lords of the
council, to the no small displeasure of the queen and those of the
popish party.

Mr. Knox, in a conference with the queen about this time, said, "If
princes exceed their bounds, they may be resisted even by power, for
there is no greater honour and obedience to be paid to princes than God
hath commanded to be given to father and mother. If children join
together against their father stricken with a frenzy, and seeking to
slay his own children, apprehend him, take his sword or other weapons
from him, bind his hands, and put him in prison till his frenzy
overpass, do they any wrong, or will God be offended with them for
hindering their father from committing horrible murder?--Even so,
madam, if princes will murder the children of God their subjects, their
blind zeal is but a mad frenzy. To take the sword from them, to bind
them, and to cast them into prison till they be brought to a sober mind,
is not disobedience, but just obedience, because it agreeeth with the
word of God." The queen hearing this, stood for some time as one amazed,
and changed countenance. No appearance was, at this time, of her
imprisonment[33].

After the queen's marriage with Henry earl of Darnly, a proclamation was
made in 1565, signifying, That forasmuch as certain rebels who, under
the colour of religion, (meaning those who opposed the measures of the
court) intended nothing but the subversion of the commonwealth,
therefore they charged all manner of men, under pain of life, lands, and
goods, to resort and meet their majesties at Linlithgow on the 24th of
August. Upon Sabbath the 19th, the king came to the high church of
Edinburgh, where Mr. Knox preached from these words,