Scotland, England, and the Reformation, 1534-1561 (review)

Increasing numbers of historians are now self-consciously heeding J.G.A. Pocock's call for a new 'British History'. Whilst Clare Kellar's Scotland, England and the Reformation 1534-1561 does not claim to be 'British', focusing only on Anglo-Scottish relations, it nonetheless benefits from this approach. Kellar explores the interactions between the two realms, considering how the religious upheavals effected a fundamental shift in the established pattern of Anglo-Scottish relations, and examines the contributions made by each nation to the process of reform in the other. The official beginning of the Scottish Reformation occurred around 25 years later than that in England, and was of a considerably different nature to the magisterial reformation experienced to the south. Historians have thus concluded that the two events remained separate, and have dealt with them accordingly. Kellar challenges this assumption, working within the period 1534-1561. Such a timescale may appear unconventional, but its range, from the time of Henry VIII's official break with Rome until the swift Scottish reformation rebellion in 1559-60, followed by the homecoming of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1561, enables Kellar to focus upon the connections between the two realms which have hitherto been overlooked. Through this approach, both reformations can be perceived through a new lens.

Kellar begins by considering the fact that the geographical Anglo-Scottish border had an added ideological element after Henry VIII's declaration of royal supremacy. The border did not function simply as a divide between the two realms, but had a dual function, both as an official barrier and an unofficial conduit, which opened the way to new connections and opportunities. Kellar draws upon a rich body of evidence to explore the links which were forged as a consequence of the movement of religious fugitives from each realm, and which would play some part in shaping the different church settlements.

It becomes clear that religious changes in one country had an immediate effect upon the other. The introduction of this 'volatile religious dynamic' meant Scotland's long-standing role as a 'backdoor' to England gained a renewed importance. Kellar perhaps exaggerates the orthodox nature of James V and his court, but nevertheless the official stance of the Scots, and fears that they would co-operate in a papal league against Henry, provoked a security crisis. This caused the English to revive former claims to suzerainty over Scotland, adding a religious element to schemes of union, which would come to dominate negotiations between the two countries.

In a work such as this, it is tempting to overstate the connections between the two realms. This is largely a trap which Kellar avoids, and she is careful to give due weight to European influence, usually making it clear that, when it came to reform, the Scots did not simply imitate the English model. However, her comparison between Archbishop Hamilton in Scotland and Thomas Cranmer in England is perhaps a little forced. She is undoubtedly right to point to the common European influences upon the two men, and the fact that, despite their clear theological differences, their approaches were remarkably similar, with both aiming to construct an inclusive settlement. Yet it is perhaps taking it too far to argue that they were both using the same source material in the form of Henry VIII's 'King's Book'. Rather than consciously basing his reforms on an English model, surely it is more likely that Hamilton was drawing upon more widespread opinion, since the texts which had inspired the 'King's Book' were being discussed on the Continent at that time? This could account for any similarities in wording.

The most exciting contribution from Kellar is to be found in her chapter 'Protestant Alliances: The Privy Kirks and the Marian Exile'. Traditionally, it has been assumed that the exile congregations on the Continent were primarily comprised of English exiles, fleeing the persecutions of Mary Tudor. Kellar, however, draws attention to the...