WRITING FRAME
To what extent was the Scottish Reformation in 1560 a radical
break with the past?
Change
Continuity
 Scotland was a Protestant country
 A lack of leadership from the
Catholic hierarchy meant that the
old faith put up little resistance to
the reformers – the Archbishop of
Glasgow fled to France, and three
bishops joined the Protestants
 Scotland had a Catholic queen
 The First Book of Discipline was
never officially approved
 At this early stage nothing was
done to endow the new Protestant
Church or disendow the old
Catholic Church
 A practical difficulty was the
possession of most monastic lands
and revenues by the nobility
 Some Catholics remained firm to
their faith and maintained their
beliefs
 The destruction of religious
houses was not in most cases due
to the Protestant reformers but
mainly due to English military
operations, neglect in the preReformation period and
indifference in the postReformation period
 It was not practical to dispossess
Catholic clergy of their benefices
and they were allowed to retain
two-thirds of their revenues for
life
 Monks and friars were allotted
pensions and allowed to utilise
their quarters for life
Change or Continuity?
This list of points can be edited and points can be pasted under change
and/or continuity
 The policy of the Protestants was to purge churches of all signs of idolatry
but it was their intention to preserve and utilise existing buildings; while
Catholic ornaments were destroyed or sold, the proceeds of such activities
were frequently used to repair churches or aid the poor.
THE AGE OF THE REFORMATION, 1542–1603 (H, HISTORY)
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WRITING FRAME
 The reformers’ ambitious plans for the provision of educational facilities
were delayed when the funds that they had earmarked for education fell
into other hands.
 The reformers’ plans to provide for the poor were thwarted by vested
interests.
 The First Book of Discipline said little of any body comparable to a
General Assembly; Knox and his supporters would have accepted a ‘Godly
prince’ as head of the church had it not been for the impracticality of
having a Catholic queen as head of the church in Scotland.
Any other relevant factors?
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THE AGE OF THE REFORMATION, 1542–1603 (H, HISTORY)
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WRITING FRAME
How far was the death of Mary of Guise the main reason for
the success of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland?
Mary of Guise’s death
Other factors
 Her unexpected death in June
1560, created a ‘political vacuum’
and thus an opportunity for the
Protestants to take control
 English intervention – English
sent a fleet to the Forth – aim to
cut French supply lines. Army
sent into south east Scotland,
spring 1560
Mary of Guise’s death or other factors?
This list of points can be edited and points can be pasted under Mary of
Guise’s death and/or other factors
 She was regent of Scotland from 1554, during which time she promoted a
pro-French and pro-Catholic policy.
 She was an extremely able ruler who gover ned and looked after Scotland
for her absent daughter.
 She had managed to win many Scots over, partly through lavish gifts.
 Mary of Guise had maintained French troops in Scotland.
 Despite a Protestant rebellion she was regaining control prior to her death.
 The Reformation was by no means a certainty when Mary of Guise died.
 The Catholic Church’s failure to reform itself: it failed to deal sufficiently
with the challenge from Protestant ideas. It failed to deal with pluralism
and other corruptions in the system.
 Increased confidence amongst Protestant Scots after 1558 due to a number
of factors: Protestant Queen in England; Knox returned, and preached in
Perth; Perth and Dundee declared as Protestant towns; increasing numbers
of nobles now prepared to show their true allegiances; Lords of the
Congregation took up arms.
 The Protestants were organised and able to take advantage of the situation.
 There was no leadership from the Catholic Church – the Archbishop of
Glasgow fled to France. Three bishops joined the Protestants.
 The Treaty of Edinburgh removed French and English troops from
Scotland and the Reformation Parliament declared Scotland to have
accepted the reformed faith.
Any other relevant factors?
THE AGE OF THE REFORMATION, 1542–1603 (H, HISTORY)
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WRITING FRAME
To what extent were the efforts of the reformers res ponsible
for the success of the Protestant Reformation in 1560?
Reformers’ efforts
Other factors
 The Protestants were organised
and able to take advantage of the
situation
 The Catholic Church’s failure to
reform itself: it failed to deal
sufficiently with the challenge
from Protestant ideas. It failed to
deal with pluralism and other
corruptions in the system
Reformers’ efforts or other factors?
This list of points can be edited and points can be pasted under reformers’
efforts and/or other factors
 Mary of Guise was Regent of Scotland from 1554, during which time she
promoted a pro-French and pro-Catholic policy that was unpopular with
many Scots.
 Despite a Protestant rebellion Mary of Guise was regaining control prior to
her death; her death in June 1560 created a ‘political vacuum’ and an
opportunity for the Protestants to seize control.
 English intervention: the English sent a fleet to the Forth – aim to cut
French supply lines. Army sent into south-east Scotland, spring 1560.
 Increased confidence amongst Protestant Scots after 1558 due to a number
of factors: a Protestant Queen in England; Knox returned, and preached in
Perth; Perth and Dundee declared as Protestant towns; increasing numbers
of nobles now prepared to show their true allegiances; Lord s of the
Congregation took up arms.
 The Treaty of Edinburgh removed French and English troops from
Scotland and the Reformation Parliament declared Scotland to have
accepted the Reformed or Protestant faith.
 There was no leadership from the Catholic Church – the Archbishop of
Glasgow fled to France. Three bishops joined the Protestants.
Any other relevant factors?
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THE AGE OF THE REFORMATION, 1542–1603 (H, HISTORY)
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WRITING FRAME
To what extent was Mary, Queen of Scots responsible for the
loss of her throne?
Mary’s actions
Other factors
 Mary’s poor choice of husbands
alienated many of her nobles
 Mary pardoned Riccio’s
murderers, perhaps knowing that
they might join a conspiracy
against her husband, Darnley
 The birth of a male heir to the
throne revived the old issue of a
male heir who could be
manipulated by discontented
nobles
 Riccio’s murder stemmed largely
from Darnley’s jealousy caused by
the birth of a son who was a
potential alternative monarch
Mary’s actions or other factors?
This list of points can be edited and points can be pasted under Mary’s
actions and/or other factors
 Mary was believed to have had a poor record of attending her Council
meetings.
 Mary isolated herself from her nobles and surrounded herself with French
servants.
 Mary suffered from depression on a number of occasions, leaving a power
vacuum.
 Mary’s marriage to Darnley resulted in the Chase-About Raid which,
although an unsuccessful rebellion, lost her the support of the Earl of
Moray, her half-brother.
 Darnley proved to be an unsuitable character who demanded the crown
matrimonial.
 Darnley’s murder at Kirk o’ Field was a crime that was reported
throughout Europe and the main suspect was the Earl of Bothwell, who
was protected by his friendship with the queen.
 Mary failed to mourn Darnley and very soon after married Bothwell.
 Bothwell was not a popular choice for a husband, and Mary’s Protestant
wedding alienated many Catholics in Scotland and England.
 Mary’s half-brother, the Earl of Moray, forced her to abdicate; he had her
imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle and her son was declared King, w ith
Moray as regent.
Any other relevant factors?
THE AGE OF THE REFORMATION, 1542–1603 (H, HISTORY)
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WRITING FRAME
How successful was James VI in his efforts to alter the Kirk by
1603?
Successes
Obstacles
 Increasingly, James would have
the General Assemblies meeting in
the north east where he could rely
on more support for the crown
 New Presbyterian movement in
the Kirk referred to as
‘Melvillians’ – conflict had
already developed during
Morton’s regency
Extent of James VI’s success in his efforts to alter the Protestant Church
by 1603?
This list of points can be edited and points can be pasted under successes
and/or obstacles.
 Second Book of Discipline was seen as a challenge to royal authority.
 ‘Black Acts’ (1584) subjected the Kirk to authority of the crown –
ministers are asked to subscribe and a number go int o exile, including
Andrew Melville.
 1592 – ‘Golden Acts’ reaffirmed the privileges of the Kirk, General
Assembly and Presbyteries, but the General Assembly could only meet
with the consent of the king.
 After Huntly’s surrender in 1594 James VI no longer ne eded support from
the Presbyterian faction.
 In 1596 Melville famously reminded James VI that he was but ‘God’s silly
(ie simple) vassal’.
 A religious riot in December 1596 forced James VI to flee from Edinburgh
but the radical insurrection collapsed without backing from the nobility.
 In 1597 Melville was deposed as rector of St Andrews.
 In 1600 James appointed Bishops to Parliament. He had clearly gone far in
his attempts to control the Kirk and thus help to control the state.
Any other relevant factors?
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THE AGE OF THE REFORMATION, 1542–1603 (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2009