OCR Specification focus:
‘The Treaty of Edinburgh (1560) reshaped Anglo-Scottish relations and facilitated the departure of the French.’
Introduction
The Treaty of Edinburgh (1560) marked a decisive turning point in Anglo-Scottish relations, reducing French influence, reshaping diplomacy, and signalling Elizabeth I’s cautious yet strategic foreign policy.
Background to the Treaty
Anglo-Scottish-French Triangle
Throughout the 16th century, France and Scotland maintained the Auld Alliance, a defensive and military agreement directed against England.
This alliance allowed France to maintain influence north of the border.
English monarchs faced the prospect of a two-front conflict: invasion from Scotland supported by France.
By the 1550s, the Scottish crown was in the hands of the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, with her mother, Mary of Guise, acting as regent. The Guise family, dominant in French politics, ensured Scotland remained firmly pro-French.
Religious and Political Pressures
The Scottish Reformation gained momentum in the 1550s, led by figures such as John Knox.
Protestant nobles (the Lords of the Congregation) sought English support against French dominance.
England under Elizabeth I, keen to protect her Protestant settlement, found common ground with these lords.
This combination of religious tension and geopolitical rivalry created conditions ripe for change.
The Road to the Treaty
English Intervention
Elizabeth I initially hesitated to intervene directly in Scotland due to financial constraints and the risks of provoking war with France. However, circumstances shifted:
The siege of Leith (1559–1560) saw Protestant Scots resisting the French garrison.
Plan of Leith’s French fortifications during the 1560 siege, showing the town, ramparts and key positions facing English-Scottish batteries. The image clarifies how Leith’s defences anchored French power immediately before the Treaty of Edinburgh. Labels closely match places referenced in scholarship; minor antiquarian stylistic details exceed syllabus needs but do not add complexity. Source
Fearing a strengthened French presence, Elizabeth authorised English military and naval support.
Siege of Leith: The prolonged conflict (1559–1560) in which Scottish Protestant forces, supported by English troops, sought to oust the French garrison from the port of Leith.
Death of Mary of Guise
The sudden death of the regent, Mary of Guise, in June 1560 undermined the French position.
Mary of Guise (c.1537 portrait by Corneille de Lyon), the French-born regent whose authority sustained French intervention in Scotland until her death in 1560. Understanding her role illuminates why the balance shifted toward negotiation and the Treaty of Edinburgh. This portrait includes artistic detail beyond the syllabus (court style and costume) but directly supports identification of the regent. Source
Without her leadership, French troops were more vulnerable, and negotiations became possible.
The Treaty of Edinburgh (1560)
Key Provisions
The Treaty of Edinburgh, signed in July 1560, contained crucial clauses:
Withdrawal of French and English troops from Scotland, ensuring no foreign domination.
Recognition of Elizabeth I as legitimate Queen of England, a significant concession, since Mary, Queen of Scots, had previously claimed Elizabeth’s throne through her Guise lineage.
Empowerment of the Scottish Estates to govern without undue French interference, facilitating a Protestant political ascendancy.
Significance of the Departure of the French
The departure of French forces marked the effective end of the Auld Alliance as a practical military threat.
Scottish politics shifted decisively towards Protestant leadership.
England secured its northern border against the possibility of French-backed invasion.
Auld Alliance: The historic alliance between Scotland and France, established in 1295, aimed at mutual defence against England.
Consequences for Anglo-Scottish Relations
Strengthened Protestant Cause
The removal of French troops gave space for the Scottish Reformation Parliament (1560) to formally establish Protestantism as the state religion. England’s indirect role in this victory increased her prestige among Protestant allies.
Elizabeth I’s Diplomacy
Elizabeth’s intervention was cautious yet effective:
She avoided full-scale war with France.
She gained influence in Scotland without committing to permanent occupation.
She strengthened her dynastic legitimacy through French recognition of her claim to the English throne.
Ongoing Tensions
Despite its significance, the Treaty of Edinburgh was not ratified by Mary, Queen of Scots.
Mary’s continued refusal to accept Elizabeth’s legitimacy kept dynastic rivalry alive.
Her later return to Scotland in 1561 ensured that Anglo-Scottish tensions persisted, even as French influence waned.
Broader European Context
France in Decline
At the same time, France was entering a period of instability due to the French Wars of Religion. This weakened its ability to project power into Scotland or challenge England.
England benefited from France’s domestic distractions.
The removal of French troops from Scotland was both a practical and symbolic loss for French ambitions in Britain.
Spain and Balance of Power
With France distracted, England’s main continental rival became Spain, particularly after the 1560s as the Dutch Revolt escalated.
The Treaty of Edinburgh can thus be seen as a stage in Elizabeth’s broader balancing act: neutralising one threat while preparing for another.
Long-Term Implications
Scotland’s shift towards Protestant governance aligned it more closely with England, though not yet in a formal union.
The end of the Auld Alliance removed a long-standing strategic danger.
Elizabeth’s successful diplomacy in 1560 foreshadowed her reliance on limited military commitments, naval support, and political negotiation throughout her reign.
Ultimately, the Treaty of Edinburgh (1560) both reshaped Anglo-Scottish relations and ensured the departure of the French, fulfilling its place as a pivotal moment in Tudor foreign policy.
FAQ
Elizabeth feared provoking a direct war with France, which could have drawn England into a costly and dangerous conflict.
She also faced financial constraints, as early in her reign the crown’s resources were stretched by debt inherited from Mary I.
Furthermore, Elizabeth was cautious about openly supporting Protestant rebels abroad, as this could set a precedent that encouraged rebellion within her own kingdom.
The Lords of the Congregation were Scottish Protestant nobles who rebelled against French dominance and Mary of Guise’s regency.
They appealed to Elizabeth I for support, framing their struggle as both religious and national.
By allying with them, Elizabeth ensured that Protestant forces had the strength to challenge French troops at Leith, creating the military and political pressure that culminated in the Treaty of Edinburgh.
Mary, Queen of Scots, was unwilling to recognise Elizabeth I’s legitimacy as Queen of England.
Her Guise relatives in France encouraged her claim to the English throne, particularly as Mary was married to Francis II, King of France.
Ratifying the treaty would have meant abandoning her dynastic rights, so she rejected it, ensuring continued tension between the two queens.
The treaty required the withdrawal of French troops from Scotland, leaving the Auld Alliance without military enforcement.
Without French garrisons or a strong regent, Scotland’s political direction shifted toward Protestant leadership.
Although the Auld Alliance was not formally dissolved, in practice it ceased to operate as a military threat to England after 1560.
The treaty paved the way for the Scottish Reformation Parliament of 1560, which established Protestantism as the national religion.
It reduced French influence, allowing Scottish nobles greater independence in shaping policy.
This settlement laid the groundwork for decades of Protestant dominance in Scottish government, even though dynastic disputes and Mary, Queen of Scots’ return in 1561 kept politics volatile.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In which year was the Treaty of Edinburgh signed, and what was its main impact on Anglo-Scottish relations?
Mark scheme:
1 mark for the correct year: 1560.
1 mark for stating its main impact, e.g. ended the French military presence in Scotland / reshaped Anglo-Scottish relations in favour of Protestant nobles / reduced threat of the Auld Alliance.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain why the Treaty of Edinburgh (1560) was significant for Elizabeth I’s foreign policy.
Mark scheme:
Up to 2 marks for accurate factual detail: e.g. recognition of Elizabeth’s legitimacy by France, withdrawal of French troops, empowerment of Scottish Protestant Estates.
Up to 2 marks for explaining the strategic benefits: e.g. removal of French threat on the northern border, decline of the Auld Alliance, strengthened Protestant cause in Scotland.
Up to 2 marks for wider contextual significance: e.g. how it reflected Elizabeth’s cautious diplomacy, impact of French instability during the Wars of Religion, or how it foreshadowed her balancing approach in foreign policy.
Maximum of 6 marks. Responses should show both factual recall and explanation of significance.
