Regents

This is a student project for the Scotland in Focus Unit for the Scottish Studies Award

1561-1570

The Earl of Moray

• Upon Mary Queen of Scots’ abdication, James became king despite being an infant.
• This began a set of Regents, the first being Mary’s half brother, the Earl of Moray. Moray had to deal with Mary still having heavy support throughout Scotland.
• Moray garnered Protestant support via the passing of laws of the Reformation Parliament of 1560, these favoured the Kirk. Additionally, he took action against Catholic priests, and this pleased the Protestants.
• Moray was later murdered in Linlithgow by one of Mary’s supporters.
• Moray’s successor was the Earl of Lennox, and then the Earl of Mar.

1570-1574

The Earl of Morton & Andrew Melville

• In 1572 the Earl of Morton stepped up to be regent, and his job was to guide policy until James became an adult. He tried to restore law & order, as well as secure Protestantism.
• It was put upon town councillors and ministers to declare they accepted loyalty to the King and the Kirk. Bishops were appointed as well.
• When Andrew Melville arrived back in Scotland after spending a decade away both studying and teaching in France, he was appointed the position of Principal - first of the University of Glasgow, and then St Andrews University.