Mary, Queen of Scots Flashcards
Events of the Rough Wooing
- Scotland breaks the treaty of Greenwich, which states Mary will marry Prince Edward
- In response, Henry VIII invades Scotland
- Scotland loses Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
- Scotland wins Battle of Ancrum Moor
- Edinburgh destroyed, Mary’s home not safe
- Treaty of Haddington between Scotland and France brought French military assistance for the Scots in return for pledging Mary’s marriage to the French Dauphin
- Mary escapes to France to avoid kidnapping
Role of the Catholic Church
- people would receive blessings of
the sacraments from the Church - the Church would pardon sins in
exchange for land and money - the Church rented out land to
farmers - the Church collected taxes from the
people - the Church would take care of the
sick
Criticisms of the Catholic Church
- Priests were poorly educated, didn’t understand teachings or Latin
- Bibles were expensive and only written in Latin; inaccessible to common people
- Rampant nepotism; anyone related to the crown got high standing in church
- Concubinage; Priests broke vows of chastity, had relationships with women, fathered children
- Sold indulgences, free pass from sins, at a high price
- Corruption, money that was meant to help the poor was given to the rich
Protestants mistreated and killed
Powers of Monarchy and nobility in 1540s
- Monarch controlled country, religion and held control
over taxes and income from the church. - Monarchs could create royal burghs
- Monarchy had Privy council: group of advisors
- Scottish Parliament could influence a monarch but mostly just gave advice
- Nobles were in charge of law and order locally and influenced who received church appointments in their areas
- Nobles owned a majority of land, collected taxes
Mary’s move to France
- Henry VIII attempted to kidnap Mary to force her to marry Edward
- She was moved from castle to castle in Scotland for safety
- Despite Henry VII’s death, English invasion of Scotland continued
- Scottish defeat in Battle of Pinkie Cleugh meant Mary was no longer safe in Scotland
- Treaty of Haddington offered French soldiers to protect Scotland in exchange for Mary marrying Dauphin Francis
- In France Mary received an excellent education: learned languages, debating skills, arts
- Francis II died, Mary had to return to Scotland
Mary’s dynastic position on ascension of Elizabeth I
- Mary had Tudor ancestry, giving her a claim to the English throne
- Many Catholics believed that Elizabeth I was illegitimate, as she was born out of wedlock (to an unmarried woman)
- This would make Mary the rightful heir to the English throne
- Elizabeth I did not marry or have children, making the question of succession more
important - Mary tried to highlight how she thought she was the true heir through many means, like using the royal arms of England alongside those of Scotland and France
The growth of Protestantism in Scotland
- Protestant religious pamphlets were brought to Scotland to spread word of Luther’s protest
- Patrick Hamilton, an early Protestant, was pronounced a heretic and burned at the stake in St Andrews
- George Wishart was put on trial for Protestant teachings and found guilty as a heretic. On the orders of Cardinal Beaton he was hanged and burnt at the stake outside the castle.
- Wishart became a martyr for the Protestant cause
- The Protestant movement quickly spread English translations of the Bible, easier to read and cheaper
- Knox came to Scotland in 1559, giving popular sermons which inspired Protestants to attack Catholic buildings and statues
- Knox helped write the ‘The Scots Confession’, one of the founding documents of the new Kirk
The Lords of the Congregation
- Protestant Scottish nobles aiming to turn Scotland Protestant
- Opposed Mary of Guise, encouraged further Protestant unrest
- Travelled around Scotland reforming villages and ‘cleansing’ churches
- Led by James Stewart, illegitimate half-brother of MQS
- Negotiated and signed the Treaty of Edinburgh with England, signaling they wanted to end French interference in Scotland and to have closer ties
with England - Included powerful nobles such as the Earl of Arran, the Earl of Argyll and John Knox
Unpopularity of Mary of Guise
- England and France were in competition for influence in Scotland
Guise was unpopular because: - she was a woman
- she was French, seen as a foreigner
- she increased French influence in Scotland after MQS and Francis II married
- used French soldiers
- used French advisors
- she was Catholic and persecuted many Protestants
Rebellion against Mary of Guise
- The Lords of the Congregation encouraged rebellion against Mary of Guise
- Scottish Protestants became increasingly critical of the Catholic Church
- Beggars Summons posted on many friaries
- The Lords of the Congregation destroyed symbols of Catholic worship (eg relics in St Andrews)
- In response to the riot Mary of Guise gathered an army
- Guise’s army backed down due to propaganda campaign from LotC
English Intervention
- ‘the Army of the Congregation’, formed by the Lords of the Congregation, marched Edinburgh, took churches along the way
- The Lords of the Congregation turned to Elizabeth I for support as she was Protestant
- Elizabeth blockaded rivers to stop French forces from attacking them
- English and French troops agreed to leave, Treaty of Edinburgh signed
Treaty of Edinburgh (1560)
- French and English agreed to withdraw their forces from Scotland
- Elizabeth acknowledged as Queen of England and Ireland. Mary couldn’t claim to be the Queen of these Kingdoms
- French soldiers would not be brought to Scotland again unless the kingdom was invaded
- End of the 250 year old Auld Alliance
Reasons for Catholic persecution
- Protestants declared the end of authority of the Pope in Scotland in 1560
- Catholic mass made illegal
- Wealth of the Catholic Church attacked, land seized
- Law stated that all Scots had to take part in Protestant worship
- Fears over the possible influence of Catholicism from abroad eg France
- Many areas, like Highlands, stayed Catholic
The confirmation of the Reformation in Scotland
- Guise died while Mary was still in France
- This left opportunity for Protestant leadership
- Reformation Parliament met in Edinburgh, declared that
Scotland was a Protestant country (1560) - John Knox wrote the First Book of Discipline, set out the rules and aims of the new Protestant Church of Scotland.
Regency of Moray
- The Earl of Moray was illegitimate half brother of MQS
- Moray attended Mary’s tribunals to try and implicate Mary in Darnley’s death
- Moray passed laws to strengthen Protestantism in Scotland
- Moray also took strong action against Catholic priests
- Moray was shot to death by one of Mary’s supporters
Regency of Morton
- The Earl of Morton was a committed Protestant
- Kept Scotland on good terms
with England and received money from Elizabeth I - Helped the King’s Party retake Edinburgh Castle and end the Civil War
- Appointed bishops to organise the Kirk
- Morton was a strong regent who restored law and order and increased taxes
- James declared in 1578 he no longer needed a regent
The young James VI
- Never heard from Mary after she left for England and father, Darnley, was murdered
- Well educated by George Buchanan, though he was disciplined through beatings
- Brought up Protestant
- Believed in the ‘Divine right of Kings’
- Protestant nobles’ fear of Catholic influence on James led to the Ruthven Raid
Andrew Melville and the development of Presbyterianism in the 1570s
The Second Book of Discipline contained Melville’s ideas and developed the Presbyterian nature of the Kirk:
- the Kirk drew its authority from God, not from the state
- all ministers should be equal
- the Kirk should control behaviour in Scotland
The Scottish Kirk and the Black Acts, 1580s
- 13 Presbyteries (groups of ministers and elders who ran Parishes) planned
- Strict Kirk secession punished improper members
- Strict discipline gave the Kirk influence and authority over members of the congregation
Blacks Acts challenged the Presbyterian character of the Kirk: - stated that the King was the head of the Kirk
- stated King had the power to
make decisions on the church and state - said the General Assembly could not meet without the King’s permission
- Ministers would be punished if they criticised the King
Mary Queen of Scots in Scotland: return from France
- Returned as an 18 year old widow
- Some celebrated, many Protestants suspicious
Religious policy:
- royal proclamation that no attempt should be made to alter the present form of religion (Protestant)
- first Privy Council majority Protestant
- key advisors such as the Earl of Moray were Protestant
- met John Knox four times to try to address his criticisms of her
- funded new Kirk, allocated money
- Mary permitted to hold Catholic mass
Difficulties Mary faced on her return from France
Many hated her because:
* She was a woman
* She was Catholic
* She was seen as too young and inexperienced
* Mary of Guise (her mom) was widely hated
* She had no heir
* She was widowed (had no husband)
Relations with Elizabeth I
- Mary sent messengers in an attempt to meet with Elizabeth
- Sought to discuss MQS’ right to English throne in person
- Wrote many letters to Elizabeth
- Catholic supporters of Mary thought that Elizabeth was illegitimate
- Many believed Mary should be queen of England
- Elizabeth worried that foreign rulers could use Mary against her
- Elizabeth did not want to acknowledge her mortality by recognising an heir
Relations with Moray and the Scots nobles
- MQS had 3 moderate Protestant advisors, including Moray
- Many nobles were suspicious that Mary would replace them with Frenchmen
- Many nobles resented taking orders from a woman, Mary had to take nobles aside during Privy Council meetings to avoid appearing confrontational.
- Mary asked nobles join her in Catholic mass, raised suspicions of a counter-Reformation effort
Marriage to Darnley (1565)
- Mary was under pressure to produce an heir, secure Catholic rule
- Many suitors, none ideal
- Darnley was young and handsome. Shared a passion for hunting, dance and music with Mary
- Both Tudor, boosting claim to English throne
- Darnley was Protestant which appealed to public
- Married in Catholic ceremony
- MQS realised Darnley was a drunk, a gambler, and didn’t spend time with her
- Darnley insulted other nobles