Editing Mary of Guise (section)

==Conflict with Protestants==
{{main|Scottish Reformation}}
Mary's regency was threatened, however, by the growing influence of the Scottish [[Protestant]]s. To an extent she had tolerated the growing number of Protestant preachers. She needed to win support for her pro-French policies, and they could expect no alternative support from England at a time when [[Mary I of England|Mary Tudor]] ruled. The [[Wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Francis, Dauphin of France|marriage of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots]], to the [[Francis II of France|dauphin of France]] on 24 April 1558 was quickly followed by [[Death and funeral of Mary I of England|Mary Tudor's death]] and the succession to the throne of England by [[Elizabeth I|Elizabeth]] on 17 November 1558.<ref>[[Jenny Wormald]], ''Mary, Queen of Scots: Politics, Passion and a Kingdom Lost'' (Tauris Parke, 2001), p. 87.</ref> Mary Stuart's claim and rights of succession to the English throne depended in part on the Papal view of Elizabeth's legitimacy. If [[Henry II of France]] was to pursue Mary's claim with the Pope, as part of an ambitious plan that Scotland and England would succumb to French domination, he needed Scotland to be a secure Catholic country. Some modern historians such as Pamela E. Ritchie believe that the change to Guise's policy was not dramatic, but both Catholic and Protestant would perceive and react to the tense political situation.<ref>Pamela Ritchie, ''Mary of Guise'' (East Linton: Tuckwell, 2002), 205–207.</ref> As the Scottish Reformation crisis was developing, Henry II died on 10 July 1559, and Mary Stuart became Queen Consort of France. In France, Mary and Francis II began to publicly display the arms of England in their [[blazon]]. This too was a motivation for English intervention in Scottish affairs.<ref>[[John Guy (historian)|John Guy]], ''The Life of Mary Queen of Scots'' (Fourth Estate, 2009), p. 96.</ref>
[[File:Mary of Guise arms (1560), South Leith Parish Church.JPG|thumb|200px|Mary's coat of arms, in [[South Leith Parish Church]], showing Scotland impaled with Lorraine]]

In 1557, a group of Scottish lords who became known as the "[[Lords of the Congregation]]" drew up a covenant to "maintain, set forth, and establish the most blessed Word of God and his Congregation". This was followed by outbreaks of [[iconoclasm]] in 1558/59. At the same time, plans were being drawn up for a Reformed programme of parish worship and preaching, as local communities sought out Protestant ministers. In 1558, the Regent summoned the Protestant preachers to answer for their teaching, but backed down when [[laird]]s from the west country threatened to revolt.

The accession of the Protestant [[Elizabeth I]] in England in 1558 stirred the hopes and fears of Scottish Protestants. Elizabeth came to secretly support the Lords of the Congregation. In January 1559, the anonymous ''Beggars' Summons'' threatened [[friar]]s with eviction in favour of beggars. This was calculated to appeal to the passions of the populace of towns who appeared to have particular complaints against friars. Fearing disorder and now determined by circumstance to show less tolerance, the Regent summoned the reformed preachers to appear before her at Stirling on 10 May. Insurrection followed. The men of [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]] assembled in [[Dundee]] to accompany the preachers to Stirling, and on 4 May they were joined by [[John Knox]], who had recently arrived from France. Stirred by Knox's sermons in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] and Dundee, the mob sacked religious houses (including the tomb of [[James I of Scotland|James I]] in Perth). In response, the Regent marched on Perth, but was forced to withdraw and negotiate when another reformed contingent arrived from the west at [[Cupar Muir]].<ref>[[David Laing (antiquary)|David Laing]], ''Works of John Knox: History of the Reformation'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1846), pp. 350-355.</ref>

Among the Regent's ambassadors were the [[Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll|Earl of Argyll]] and [[James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray|Lord James Stewart, Earl of Moray]], both professed Protestants. When the Regent stationed French mercenaries in Perth, both abandoned her and joined the Lords of the Congregation at St Andrews, where they were also joined by John Knox. Even Edinburgh soon fell to them in July, as Mary retreated to [[Dunbar Castle|Dunbar]]. The Congregation Lords made a truce with Guise and signed the [[Articles of Leith]] at [[Leith Links]] on 25 July 1559 which promised religious tolerance, then withdrew to Stirling.<ref>''CSP Scotland'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1898); p.&nbsp;221, Croft to Cecil, 3 July 1559; 212–3, 215, Croft to English council, 19 & 22 May & 5 June 1559; no. 500, 'Articles of Leith'</ref>

In September, the previous regent, the 2nd Earl of Arran, with the safe return of [[James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran|his son]], accepted the leadership of the Lords of the Congregation and established a provisional government. However, Mary of Guise was reinforced by professional French troops. Some of these troops established themselves at [[Kinghorn]] in Fife, and after they destroyed [[Hallyards Castle]], the house of [[William Kirkcaldy of Grange]], Mary (according to Knox) declared, "Where is now John Knox's God? My God is now stronger than his, yea, even in Fife."<ref>John Knox, ''History of the Reformation'', book 3, various editions.</ref> In November, the rebels were driven back to Stirling.<ref>''CSP Scotland'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1898), 266–267, Randolph to Sadler & Croft, 11 November 1559.</ref>

Fighting continued in Fife. Mary of Guise, troubled by illness, contemplated resigning the Regency, and returning to France. [[René II de Lorraine, Marquis d'Elbeuf]] was appointed to rule as a French "viceroy" in her stead. His mission was abandoned, but more French troops arrived in Scotland.<ref>Pamela E. Ritchie, ''Mary of Guise in Scotland: A Political Career'' (East Linton, Tuckwell, 2002), pp. 240–241.</ref> All seemed lost for the Protestant side until an English fleet arrived in the [[Firth of Forth]] in January 1560, which caused the French to retreat to [[Leith]],<ref name=Magnus>[[Magnusson, Magnus]], ''Scotland: the Story of a Nation'' (New York: Grove Press, 2000) p. 337.</ref> the port of Edinburgh which Mary of Guise had re-fortified.<ref>Pamela E. Ritchie, ''Mary of Guise in Scotland: A Political Career'' (East Linton, Tuckwell, 2002), p. 230.</ref>

The Lords of the Congregation began negotiations with England. John Knox was excluded, as his published tract ''[[The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women]]'', although it aimed at [[Mary I of England]], rendered him unacceptable to the [[Coronation of Elizabeth I|newly crowned Elizabeth I]]. The [[Treaty of Berwick (1560)|Treaty of Berwick]], signed in February, agreed that England would act jointly with the Protestant Lords to expel the French. Elizabeth I, sent an English land army into Scotland to join their Scottish allies in [[Siege of Leith|besieging the French at Leith]].<ref name=Magnus /> As the fighting continued, the English ambassador in France [[Nicholas Throckmorton]] praised Guise for having the "hart of a man of warre" and the English bishop [[John Jewel]] described her as "a woman with a man's courage".<ref>Victoria Smith, 'Perspectives on Female Monarchy', James Daybell & Svente Norrhem, ''Gender and Political Culture in Early Modern Europe'' (Abingdon, 2017), pp. 148–149.</ref>