_Queen Mary._ Think ye, that subjects having power may resist their princes. _John Knox._ If their princes exceed their bounds, Madam, no doubt they should be resisted, even by power. For there is neither greater honour, nor greater obedience to be given to kings or princes, than God has commanded to be given to father and mother. But, Madam, the father may be stricken with a frenzy, in which he would slay his own children. Now, Madam, if the children arise, join themselves together, apprehend the father, take the sword or other weapons from him, and finally bind his hands, and keep him in prison, until his frenzy be overpast; think ye, Madam, that the children do any wrong? Or, think ye, Madam, that God will be offended with them that have stayed their father from committing wickedness? It is even so, Madam, with princes that would murder the children of God that are subject unto them. Their blind zeal is nothing but a very mad frenzy; and, therefore, to take the sword from them, to bind their hands, and to cast them into prison until they be brought to a more sober mind, is no disobedience against princes, but just obedience, because it agreeth with the will of God. At these words the Queen stood as it were amazed, for more than quarter of an hour. Her countenance altered, so that Lord James began to entreat her, and to demand, "What has offended you, Madam." At length she said, "Well, then, I perceive that my subjects shall obey you, and not me; and shall do what they list, and not what I command: and so must I be subject to them, and not they to me." _John Knox._ God forbid, that ever I take upon me to command any to obey me, or yet to set subjects at liberty to do what pleaseth them. But my travail is that both princes and subjects obey God. And think not, Madam, that wrong is done to you when ye are willed to be subject to God. It is He that subjects people under princes, and causes obedience to be given to them; yea, God craves of kings that they be, as it were, foster-fathers to His Church, and commands queens to be nurses to His people. And, Madam, this subjection to God and to His troubled Church is the greatest dignity that flesh can get upon the face of the earth, for it shall carry them to everlasting glory. _Queen Mary._ Yea, but ye are not the Kirk that I will nurse. I will defend the Kirk of Rome, for I think it is the true Kirk of God.