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====Why was Scotland divided between Catholics and Protestants?====
Scotland was a poor country and it was constantly at odds with its larger neighbor to the south, England. The Scottish kings were little more than the vassals of the king of England, especially after the disastrous Scottish defeat at the Battle of Flodden. Scotland was closely allied with the French monarchy, in a bid to preserve her independence. The Scottish kingdom was often torn between the demands of England and France. The nobles of Scotland, especially after Flodden were very restive and often acted as independent rulers, especially those in the Highlands and Islands.<ref> Devine, T. M., <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0141002344/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0141002344&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=320a878a79a8488bbd51e18a7bbea459 The Scottish Nation, 1700–2000]</i> (London, Penguin Books, 1999, p. 118) </ref>
[[File: John Knox.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Knox polemic on Mary Queen of Scots]]
The Scottish monarch was usually weak and dependent on their nobles and indeed often their tools. The religious situation in Scotland in the first half of the sixteenth century was very tense. The Catholic Church was corrupt and in need of reform. Many Scottish nobles and townspeople wanted to introduce Protestantism. However, France was influential, and the Court of the monarch was usually Catholic. In the Highlands of Scotland, the Gaelic speaking population was decidedly Catholic. Religion became intertwined in the traditional and never-ending struggle between the nobles and the monarch.
