Scotland

Problems emerged in … after the death of Henry II of France

June 1599

Problems emerged in June 1599 after…

the death of Henry II of France

Henry II of France was succeeded by …

his son Francis II

why was it a problem that Francis II succeeded the French throne?

he was married to Mary, Queen of Scots, Elizabeth’s cousin & the main Catholic claimant to the English throne

Francis’ accession to the throne brought the...to power in France

strongly Catholic Guise faction

The Guises sought to use Scotland as an…

instrument of French policy

The Guises sent French troops to …

garrison major Scottish fortresses

the garrisoning of major Scottish fortresses by the Guises alarmed …

John Nox, the radical Calvinist, leader of the Scottish Reformation, and his political allies, the Lords of the Congregation who were seeking power in Edinburgh

the Lords of the Congregation requested…

assistant from Protestant England

how did Elizabeth feel about intervening in Scotland?

Elizabeth was cautious about interfering in the domestic affairs of another nation in which subjects were rebelling against sovereign authority & loathed Knox who had written an attack on the female & Catholic rule of Mary Tudor & Mary of Guise (mother of MQoS) asserting that there was no biblical justification for female rulership 

who supported the Scottish intervention in Elizabeth’s government?

William Cecil

why did Cecil support the intervention?

• he sympathised with the religious predicament of Scottish Protestants

• he knew that England would be more secure without a French force in Scotland

• he sought the removal of MQoS to weaken her influence as a potential Catholic claimant to the throne

• he wanted to incorporate Scotland within a wider imperial British State which he considered necessary for the survival of a Protestant England.

how did Cecil persuade Elizabeth to intervene?

he pointed to the action of Francis & Mary in using the English royal coat of arms on their own heraldic device & suggested his own resignation if Elizabeth failed to support him

what was initial English intervention like?

limited to money & armaments

what happened December 1559

the English navy was sent to the Firth of Forth to stop French reinforcements from landing

when was the English navy was sent to the Firth of Forth to stop French reinforcements from landing?

December 1559

when was the Treaty of Berwick?

February 1560

who was the Treaty of Berwick between?

The Lords of the Congregation & England

what happened Feb 1560?

Treaty of Berwick

what did the Treaty of Berwick entail?

offered the Lords of the Congregation conditional support

what happened March 1560?

an English army was sent to Scotland & with the navy blockaded Leith (just outside of Edinburgh) where most of the French force was situated

when was an English army was sent to Scotland & with the navy blockaded Leith?

March 1560

did the English seige of Leith in March 1560 work?

it failed

why did France retreat?

The French fleet was severely damaged by a storm & the regent Mary of Guise died

what did it mean that the French fleet was severely damaged by a storm & the regent Mary of Guise died?

Cecil was able to secure favourable terms in the Treaty of Edinburgh, July 1560

when was the Treaty of Edinburgh?

July 1560

what was the consequences of intervention in Scotland?

The Lords of the Congregation were accepted as a provisional conciliar government

what were the consequences of intervention for MQoS/the Guises?

With the death of Frances II in December 1560, the Guises fell from power & MQoS’s influence on French policy ended. She returned to Scotland & was forced to accept the political & religious power of her enemies.

how successful was intervention?

Cecil had succeeded in protecting the interests of Scottish Protestants & the influence of MQoS had been significantly reduced however Elizabeth was conscious that her success had been achieved through good fortune