Lords of the Congregation
Encyclopedia
The Lords of the Congregation were a group of Protestant Scottish
nobles who in the mid-16th century favoured reformation
of the church along Protestant principles and a Scottish-English alliance.
(who became King Francis II of France from 1559 to 1560) and signed the 'First Band' or Covenant to work to make Scotland Protestant. The initial members were the Earl of Argyll
, his brother Colin Campbell
, the Earl of Glencairn
, the Earl of Morton
, and John Erskine of Dun
, though others, such as William Douglas of Whittinghame
quickly followed.
Following religious riots in Perth
, the Lords gained support and provided military help to John Knox
in opposing the troops of Mary of Guise
. Near Coupar, in Fife, the Lords were strong enough to face-off a French and Scottish army jointly led by the Duke of Châtelherault
, who as Regent had supported the French match, and D'Oysel
the French king's lieutenant. By July 1559 the Lords of the Congregation had taken Edinburgh. As Edinburgh Castle
was held against them, the Lords withdrew under the terms of the truce of the Articles of Leith
. In September, Châtelherault, now joined by his son the Earl of Arran
, changed sides and became leader of the Congregation Lords.
Mary of Guise, who had earlier offered a degree of religious tolerance, maintained that their motives were secular
in part. Queen Mary and King Francis wrote to her in November 1559, declaring that the lords were acting maliciously under the name and cloak of religion. French re-inforcements pushed the Lords and their Protestant army back to Stirling and Fife.
By the Treaty of Berwick
in February 1560, the Lords brought in an English army to resist the French troops. The armed conflict now centered on the Siege of Leith
. After the death of the Queen Regent in June and the conclusion of hosilities at Leith by the Treaty of Edinburgh
in July, the Scottish Reformation was effected in the Parliament of Scotland
in August 1560.
and John Knox
gave a list of members of the Congregation who expelled the troops of Mary of Guise from Perth
in June 1559 and moved on Edinburgh, these were;
These were joined in Edinburgh in July 1559 by: Alexander Cunningham, Earl of Glencairn
; the Earl of Morton; Lord Erskine
; Robert, Lord Boyd
; Lord Ochiltree
; Hugh Campbell, Sheriff of Ayr; and the Laird of Calder.
Knox and Kirkcaldy gave the names of another six lords who had not yet declared their alliance in July 1559; William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal
; the Earl of Athol; Lord Forbes; and James Douglas, Laird of Drumlanrig
; the Laird of Lochinvar; and the Laird of Garlies.
A list of the council for policy of the Lords of October 1559 includes; the former Regent Arran; his son the 3rd Earl of Arran; the Earl of Argyll; the Prior of St Andrews; the Earl of Glencairn; Lord Ruthven; Robert, 4th Lord Boyd; Lord Maxwell; Erskine of Dun; Wishart of Pitarrow; Henry Balnaves of Halhill
; Kirkcaldy of Grange; and James Halyburton Provost of Dundee.
The congregation received guidance in religious matters from:
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
nobles who in the mid-16th century favoured reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
of the church along Protestant principles and a Scottish-English alliance.
Historical events
In December 1557 a group of Lords opposed the marriage of the young Queen Mary to the Dauphin of FranceFrancis II of France
Francis II was aged 15 when he succeeded to the throne of France after the accidental death of his father, King Henry II, in 1559. He reigned for 18 months before he died in December 1560...
(who became King Francis II of France from 1559 to 1560) and signed the 'First Band' or Covenant to work to make Scotland Protestant. The initial members were the Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll was one of the leading figures in the politics of Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the early part of that of James VI.-Biography:...
, his brother Colin Campbell
Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll
Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and politician. He was appointed to the Lord Chancellorship of Scotland.-Biography:...
, the Earl of Glencairn
Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn
Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn was Scottish nobleman and Protestant reformer, prominent in the Scottish Reformation.-Biography:...
, the Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, jure uxoris 4th Earl of Morton was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of King James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four, since he did manage to win the civil war which had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of...
, and John Erskine of Dun
John Erskine of Dun
-Biography:The son of Sir John Erskine, Laird of Dun, he was educated at King's College, University of Aberdeen. At the age of twenty-one Erskine was the cause — probably by accident — of a priest's death, and was forced to go abroad, where he came under the influence of the new learning...
, though others, such as William Douglas of Whittinghame
William Douglas of Whittinghame
William Douglas of Whittingehame was a Senator of the College of Justice at Edinburgh, and a Royal conspirator.-Family:...
quickly followed.
Following religious riots in Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, the Lords gained support and provided military help to John Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
in opposing the troops of Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
. Near Coupar, in Fife, the Lords were strong enough to face-off a French and Scottish army jointly led by the Duke of Châtelherault
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault and 2nd Earl of Arran was a Scottish nobleman.-Biography:He was the eldest legitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran....
, who as Regent had supported the French match, and D'Oysel
Henri Cleutin
Henri Cleutin, seigneur d'Oisel et de Villeparis , was the representative of France in Scotland from 1546 to 1560, and a Gentleman of the Chamber of the King of France.-Rough Wooing to Reformation:...
the French king's lieutenant. By July 1559 the Lords of the Congregation had taken Edinburgh. As Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
was held against them, the Lords withdrew under the terms of the truce of the Articles of Leith
Articles of Leith
The Articles of Leith were the terms of truce drawn up between the Protestant Lords of the Congregation and Mary of Guise, Regent of Scotland and signed on 25 July 1559. This negotiation was a step in the conflict that led to the Scottish Reformation...
. In September, Châtelherault, now joined by his son the Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran was a Scottish nobleman and soldier who fought against French troops during the Scottish Reformation....
, changed sides and became leader of the Congregation Lords.
Mary of Guise, who had earlier offered a degree of religious tolerance, maintained that their motives were secular
Secularity
Secularity is the state of being separate from religion.For instance, eating and bathing may be regarded as examples of secular activities, because there may not be anything inherently religious about them...
in part. Queen Mary and King Francis wrote to her in November 1559, declaring that the lords were acting maliciously under the name and cloak of religion. French re-inforcements pushed the Lords and their Protestant army back to Stirling and Fife.
By the Treaty of Berwick
Treaty of Berwick (1560)
The Treaty of Berwick was negotiated on 27 February 1560 at Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was an agreement made by the representative of Queen Elizabeth I of England, the Duke of Norfolk, and the Scottish Lords of the Congregation...
in February 1560, the Lords brought in an English army to resist the French troops. The armed conflict now centered on the Siege of Leith
Siege of Leith
The Siege of Leith ended a twelve year encampment of French troops at Leith, the port near Edinburgh, Scotland. The French troops arrived by invitation in 1548 and left in 1560 after the English arrived to assist in removing them from Scotland...
. After the death of the Queen Regent in June and the conclusion of hosilities at Leith by the Treaty of Edinburgh
Treaty of Edinburgh
The Treaty of Edinburgh was a treaty drawn up on 5 July 1560 between the Commissioners of Queen Elizabeth I with the assent of the Scottish Lords of the Congregation, and French representatives in Scotland to formally conclude the Siege of Leith and replace the Auld Alliance with France with a new...
in July, the Scottish Reformation was effected in the Parliament of Scotland
Scottish Reformation Parliament
The Scottish Reformation Parliament is the name given to the Scottish Parliament commencing in 1560 that passed the major pieces of legislation leading to the Scottish Reformation, most importantly Confession of Faith Ratification Act 1560; and Papal Jurisdiction Act 1560 .right|thumb|[[John...
in August 1560.
Personnel
Sir William Kirkcaldy of GrangeWilliam Kirkcaldy of Grange
Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange , Scottish politician and general, was the eldest son of Sir James Kirkcaldy of Grange , a member of an old Fife family...
and John Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
gave a list of members of the Congregation who expelled the troops of Mary of Guise from Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
in June 1559 and moved on Edinburgh, these were;
- Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 5th Earl of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll was one of the leading figures in the politics of Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the early part of that of James VI.-Biography:...
- James Stewart, Prior of St AndrewsPrior of St AndrewsThe Prior of St Andrews was the head of the property and community of Augustinian canons of St Andrews Cathedral Priory, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. It was established by King David I in 1140 with canons from Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire...
, later to become Regent MorayJames Stewart, 1st Earl of MorayJames Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray , a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V, was Regent of Scotland for his nephew, the infant King James VI of Scotland, from 1567 until his assassination in 1570... - Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of RothesAndrew Leslie, 5th Earl of RothesAndrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes, and his third wife Agnes Somerville, daughter of Sir John Somerville of Cambusnethan and Elizabeth Carmichael. He succeeded his father as 5th Earl in 1558...
- John Graham, 4th Earl of MenteithEarl of MenteithThe Mormaer or Earl of Menteith was originally the ruler of the province of Menteith in the Middle Ages. The first mormaer is usually regarded as Gille Críst, simply because he is the earliest on record. The title was held in a continuous line from Gille Crist until Muireadhach IV , although the...
- Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord RuthvenPatrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord RuthvenPatrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven , played an important part in the political intrigues of the 16th century. He succeeded to the lordship in December 1552...
- Lord Ogilvy
- David, 2nd Lord DrummondEarl of PerthThe title Earl of Perth was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1605 for James Drummond, 4th Lord Drummond.The Drummond family claim descent from Maurice, son of George, a younger son of King Andrew I of Hungary...
- with Patrick, Master of Lindsay; William Douglas, Laird of LochlevenWilliam Douglas, 6th Earl of MortonWilliam Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton was the son of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven and Margaret Erskine, a former mistress of James V of Scotland. Sir William's half-brother from his mother's liaison with the king was James Stewart, Earl of Moray, Regent of Scotland from 1567 until his...
; John Wishart, Laird of Pitarro; William Murray, Laird of Tullibardine; Colin Campbell, Laird of Glenorchy.
These were joined in Edinburgh in July 1559 by: Alexander Cunningham, Earl of Glencairn
Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn
Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn was Scottish nobleman and Protestant reformer, prominent in the Scottish Reformation.-Biography:...
; the Earl of Morton; Lord Erskine
John Erskine, 17th Earl of Mar
John Erskine, 17th Earl of Mar , regent of Scotland, was a son of John, 5th Lord Erskine, who was guardian of King James V, and afterwards of Mary, Queen of Scots....
; Robert, Lord Boyd
Robert Boyd, 4th Lord Boyd
Robert Boyd, 4th Lord Boyd was a Scottish nobleman who supported various factions attempting to dominate Scottish politics during the reign of King James V and the minority of Mary, Queen of Scots.-Biography:...
; Lord Ochiltree
Andrew Stewart, 2nd Lord Ochiltree
Andrew Stewart, 2nd Lord Ochiltree fought for the Scottish Reformation. His daughter married John Knox and he played a part in the defeat of Mary, Queen of Scots at the battle of Langside....
; Hugh Campbell, Sheriff of Ayr; and the Laird of Calder.
Knox and Kirkcaldy gave the names of another six lords who had not yet declared their alliance in July 1559; William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal
Earl Marischal
The title of Earl Marischal was created in the peerage of Scotland for William Keith, the Great Marischal of Scotland.The office of "Marischal of Scotland" had been held heritably by the senior member of the Keith family since Hervey de Keith, who held the office of Marischal under Malcolm IV and...
; the Earl of Athol; Lord Forbes; and James Douglas, Laird of Drumlanrig
James Douglas, 7th Baron Drumlanrig
-Life:He was the son of Sir William Douglas, 6th Baron Drumlanrig and Elizabeth Gordon of Lochinvar....
; the Laird of Lochinvar; and the Laird of Garlies.
A list of the council for policy of the Lords of October 1559 includes; the former Regent Arran; his son the 3rd Earl of Arran; the Earl of Argyll; the Prior of St Andrews; the Earl of Glencairn; Lord Ruthven; Robert, 4th Lord Boyd; Lord Maxwell; Erskine of Dun; Wishart of Pitarrow; Henry Balnaves of Halhill
Henry Balnaves
Henry Balnaves was a Scottish politician and religious reformer.-Biography:Born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, around 1512, he was educated at the University of St Andrews and on the continent, where he adopted Protestant views. Returning to Scotland, he continued his legal studies and in 1538 was appointed...
; Kirkcaldy of Grange; and James Halyburton Provost of Dundee.
The congregation received guidance in religious matters from:
- Alexander Gordon, Bishop of Galloway
- John Knox
- Master Christopher GoodmanChristopher GoodmanChristopher Goodman BD was an English reforming clergyman and writer. He was a Marian exile, who left England to escape persecution during the counter-reformation in the reign of Queen Mary I of England. He was the author of a work on limits to obedience to rulers, and a contributor to the Geneva...
of England - John WillockJohn WillockJohn Willock , Scottish reformer, was a native of Ayrshire and was educated at the University of Glasgow....
.