Mary Stuart and the Main Figures Among the Scottish Catholics in 1561
Mary Stuart and the Main Figures Among the Scottish Catholics in 1561

Summary/Abstract: Mary Stuart’s real importance, in the eyes of Europe and, soon, in her own, lay in the fact, not so much that she was queen of Scotland, but that by the Catholics she was thought to be the legitimate heiress of England. Soon after her husband, Francis II, died Mary received the proposal of the Scottish Catholics to return to Scotland, bring it back to Catholicism and with the help of Scottish and English Catholics, and perhaps Spain and the Pope, depose Elizabeth. However, the loyalty and the strength of the Catholic nobles in Scotland were very questionable, and most of the leaders of the “Catholic interest” were characterized not by religious zeal but by a general conservatism and aristocratic lineage. Nothing better could be said about the Scottish Episcopate, as of the eleven bishops who were in office in the early 1560's only two could be regarded as conscientious papalists and not fewer than eight were considered by the Holy See unfit to receive an invitation to the council of Trent. Realising the weakness of this party, Mary decided to decline their proposal and accepted the invitation of the Scottish Protestants to return to Scotland and rule with their help.

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