Roberts Liardon tells us that they were to tell her that those she so blindly persecuted in her rage were God’s servants and her obedient subjects; that her religion was contrary to Christ’s; that her designs would not succeed; that, though she might humble some for the time being, she was really fighting against the almighty God; and that her end would be confusion if she did not repent. He required them to tell her the message “in the name of the eternal God,” and to say that he Knox was a better friend to her than those who flattered her.
Despite the words of Knox, the regent felt she must punish the citizens with treason for their mobbing. She sent a message ordering the people of Perth to abandon the city. They did not. Two days later, twenty-five hundred Protestants marched to Perth from western Scotland, on foot and horse, coming to the aid of their fellow believers. When they were six miles from the town, the regent decided to formulate an agreement with Perth, giving them freedom of worship.
The Protestant nobles informed Knox that if the regent did not keep this agreement, they would leave their positions in her court and join with him and the Reformers. Knox assured them that she would break her word. He was right.
Roberts Liardon says that a few days later, the regent marched into the city. The first shot fired killed a child standing in a window. From there she divided soldiers to hold the citizens under restraint as she had a Mass prepared in the desecrated monastery sites.
It was a deadly mistake on her part. The Protestant nobles that had served in high offices of her court did what they promised Knox. They denounced her and refused their support. Instead, they joined Knox in his efforts and used their skills to further the cause of the Reform.
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