Foreign Relations: Scotland Flashcards
What were relations like between England + Scotland at the start of Elizabeth’s reign?
Tense - because of the Auld Alliance
Who was the leader of Scotland at the start of Elizabeth’s reign?
Mary Queen of Scots but Mary de Guise regent
Who was married to James V of Scotland? When?
Mary de Guise
1538
When was Mary Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart) born?
8th Dec 1542
Who are the parents of Mary Queen of Scots?
Mary de Guise + James V of Scotland
Who became leader of Scotland when James V died in 1542?
Mary Queen of Scots (infant daughter)
Earl of Arran (regent until 1554 then Mary de Guise)
Who was Mary Queen of Scots groomed to marry by her mum?
Francis (French Dauphin - Catholic)
When did Mary Queen of Scots marry the French Dauphin?
1558
Who did the Earl of Arran want Mary Queen of Scots to marry? Why?
Edward VI (rough wooing - to unite England + Scotland)
Who did Mary de Guise want Mary Queen of Scots to marry? Why?
Francis (French Dauphin - Catholic)
When did the French Dauphin Francis become King of France? What did this mean for Mary?
1559
Mary Queen of Scots also Queen of France by marriage
What significant event happened in Scotland in 1559?
Rebellion by Lords of the Congregation
Who were the Lords of the Congregation?
Group of Scottish Protestants who rebelled (1559)
Who was the leader of the Lords of the Congregation?
John Knox
Why did the Lords of the Congregation rebel in Scotland in 1559?
- Opposed Catholic rule of Mary de Guise + Mary Stuart
- Opposed increasing role of the French Catholics in Scotland (after Francis acceded + sent garrisons to Scottish fortresses)
Which country provided support to the Scottish Lords of the Congregation?
England
Why did England support the Lords of the Congregation? Give 3 reasons
1) Catholic Scotland threatened Protestantism in England
2) French forces in Scotland threatened security of England
3) Mary Queen of Scots threatened security of England (her claim)
Who instigated the English support of the Lords of the Congregation? How?
Cecil
- Threatened to resign
- Showed Elizabeth that Francis + Mary were using the English coat of arms in their own heraldic device
Why was Elizabeth reluctant to support the Lords of the Congregation?
- Disliked John Knox (wrote ‘The Monstrous Regiment of Women’ in 1558 denouncing female rulers)
- Conflicted with Elizabeth’s aim of war avoidance
How did England provide support for the Lords of the Congregation?
- Sent money + arms
- Dec 1559: sent navy to stop French landing at Firth of Forth
- Feb 1560: Treaty of Berwick (offered conditional support)
- March 1560: sent army north to support (blockaded Port of Leith)
What was the Treaty of Berwick (1560)?
Elizabeth offering Lords of the Congregation conditional support
Was the rebellion by the Lords of the Congregation successful? How?
YES
- French fleets were damaged in storms
- Mary de Guise (regent) died in June 1560 leaving a Protestant power vacuum
When did Mary de Guise die?
June 1560
What was the treaty that ended the Lords of the Congregation rebellion in Scotland?
Treaty of Edinburgh (July 1560)
Who was the Treaty of Edinburgh (July 1560) between + what did it agree?
Between: England, Scotland, France
Agreed:
- End of conflict in Scotland
- Withdrawal of English + French forces from Scotland
- Lords of Congregation to be provisional gov in Scotland
- Withdrawal of Mary Queen of Scots claim from the England throne
When did Francis II of France die + who was he replaced with?
Dec 1560 - replaced by Charles IX
What happened to Mary Queen of Scots when her husband Francis II died in Dec 1560?
Had to return to Scotland from France + accept her reduction in power and Protestantism in Scotland
What were the 2 main events in Scotland under Elizabeth?
1) Lords of Congregation rebellion (1559)
2) Threat from Mary Queen of Scots (1567-1587)
How did Mary Queen of Scots have a claim to the English throne?
She was Elizabeth I’s closest living relative (cousin) + also a direct descendent of Henry VIII
Why did Elizabeth not want Mary to be her heir?
- She was Roman Catholic
- She had strong political ties to France (mum + 1st husband)
Why was Mary Queen of Scots most threatening to Elizabeth after 1567?
Forced to abdicate + flee to England in 1567, from which she supported plots that directly threatened the English throne
Who were the 3 people Mary Queen of Scots married? When?
1) French Dauphin/Francis II of France (1558)
2) Earl of Darnley (1565)
3) Earl of Bothwell (1567)
Who was the Earl of Darnley?
An English nobleman married to Mary Queen of Scots (2nd husband)
What happened to the Earl of Darnley?
Murdered in Feb 1567
With which husband did Mary Queen of Scots have her child (future James V)?
Earl of Darnley
Who was the Earl of Bothwell?
A Scottish nobleman married to Mary Queen of Scots (3rd husband) + the murderer of Earl of Darnley (2nd husband)
What was initiated in Scotland when the Earl of Darnley was killed by the Earl of Bothwell?
Uprising by Scottish Protestant nobles - including Mary’s half brother the Earl of Moray
What caused Mary Queen of Scots to flee Scotland -> England?
She was imprisoned by the uprising Scottish Protestant nobles + forced to abdicate where she was imprisoned at Lochleven Castle - which she escaped to flee to England
Where was Mary imprisoned after abdicating?
Lochleven Castle
What were the 4 key Catholic plots to overthrow Elizabeth?
1) Ridolfi Plot (1571)
2) Throckmorton Plot (1583)
3) Parry Plot (1585)
4) Babington Plot (1586)
What was the Ridolfi Plot (1571)?
Conspiracy for Mary to marry Duke of Norfolk and overthrow Elizabeth
- Convinced Spain + Pope that the plot had potential
- Discovered by Cecil + Walsingham who executed Norfolk (1572)
Who was Francis Walsingham?
Key governmental figure (principle secretary) under Elizabeth
‘Spymaster’ - headed an espionage network
What was Walsingham’s espionage network most important in?
Uncovering Catholic plots to overthrow Elizabeth
What was the Throckmorton Plot (1583)?
Plan by Throckmorton (Catholic family) for a French landing in Sussex to help replace Elizabeth with Mary
- Discovered by Walsingham who executed Throckmorton
- Bond of Association created as a precaution, Mendoza (Spanish ambassador executed - implicated)
What was the Parry Plot (1585)?
Plot to assassinate Elizabeth
- Parry executed + bill to ensure Queen’s safety sped through parliament
What was the Babington Plot (1586)?
Conspiracy to assassinate Elizabeth + replace her with Mary (made by Mary + Babington)
- Letter deciphered by Phellipes (Walsingham’s code breaker)
- Mary arrested + executed a year later
Which Catholic plot against Elizabeth finally implicated Mary Queen of Scots and gave justification for Mary’s removal?
Babington Plot (1586)
Why did plotting Catholics choose Mary as their ‘rightful monarch’?
- Mary had a claim to the throne (descendant of H.VIII)
- Elizabeth excommunicated from Catholic Church in 1570 + Pope said English Catholics no longer needed to obey her
When was Elizabeth excommunicated?
1570
When did Elizabeth sign Mary’s death warrant?
1st Feb 1587
Why did Elizabeth delay ordering Mary’s execution?
- Regicide (killing a rightful monarch was interfering with divine right to rule)
- Mary was mother of future king of Scotland James
How were relations between England + Scotland by the end of Elizabeth’s rule?
Fairly peaceful
- Threat of French intervention + Mary were removed
- No other altercations between the countries
- In contact with James IV who would become James V
When did Mary Queen of Scots technically become Queen (even though she needed a regent)?
1542 (Dec)
When did Mary de Guise take over regency of Scotland from the Earl of Arran?
1554
When did Mary Queen of Scots have to return to Scotland?
1561
Who led the uprising in Scotland that caused the abdication of Mary Queen of Scots in 1567?
Earl of Moray (Elizabeth’s cousin)
