Gavin Douglas's hope had revived in January 1515 on the death of George Brown, Bishop of Dunkeld.

The queen nominates him to the now vacant seat, which he ultimately obtains, though not without trouble.

For the late John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl, had forced his brother, Andrew Stewart, prebendary of Craig, upon the chapter, and had put him in possession of the bishop's palace.

The queen appeals to the pope and is seconded by her brother of England, with the result that on February 18, 1515, the pope's sanction is obtained.

Some of the correspondence of Douglas and his friends incident to this transaction is intercepted.

When Albany comes from France and assumes the regency, these documents and the "purchase" of the bishopric from Rome contrary to statute are made the basis of an attack on Douglas, who is imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, thereafter in St Andrews Castle (under the charge of his old opponent, Prior Hepburn), and later in Dunbar Castle, and again in Edinburgh.

The pope's intervention procures his release, after nearly a year's imprisonment.

The queen meanwhile has retired to England.

Albany arrives at Dumbarton on May 26, 1515, with a squadron of eight ships, including the James and Margaret, which James IV had lent to Louis XII of France.

Northwest Europe (1516–1527 CE): Reformation Sparks, Diplomatic Shifts, and Cultural Renaissance

England: Early Reign of Henry VIII and Humanist Influence

Under Henry VIII, England continued to evolve both politically and culturally. Henry's dynamic personality and aspirations for continental influence led to shifting alliances and occasional military engagement, notably the diplomatic summit known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold with Francis I of France in 1520. At home, humanism further penetrated intellectual circles, prominently through Thomas More, whose seminal work, Utopia (1516), critiqued contemporary society and governance, becoming a cornerstone of Renaissance humanist literature. More, alongside scholars like John Colet and the Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus, continued advocating ecclesiastical reform and educational renewal.

Scotland: Regency Challenges and Diplomatic Maneuvers

Scotland, during the minority of James V, navigated significant political instability, managed primarily by regents including John Stewart, Duke of Albany. Scotland maintained cautious diplomacy, maneuvering between English and French interests. Cultural life continued to flourish, influenced by ongoing Renaissance currents from continental Europe and England.

Ireland: Increasing English Pressure and Gaelic Resistance

English attempts to exert stronger control in Ireland intensified, particularly under the governance of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey. Yet, the Gaelic lordships demonstrated notable resilience. The enduring dominance of Gaelic culture and adherence to traditional Brehon Law persisted despite incremental English encroachment, particularly beyond The Pale. This period witnessed sustained autonomy among powerful families like the O'Neills and the Fitzgeralds, who continued to resist comprehensive English hegemony.

Scandinavia: End of the Kalmar Union and Rise of Gustav Vasa

The Kalmar Union underwent dramatic collapse as Christian II's rule faced growing opposition. The Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520, Christian II’s notorious execution of numerous Swedish nobles, precipitated rebellion led by Gustav Eriksson (Vasa). Gustav successfully expelled Danish forces, and in 1523 became Gustav I, King of Sweden, dissolving the Kalmar Union and establishing Swedish independence. Concurrently, Denmark and Norway underwent turbulent political reconfigurations, marking a significant shift toward centralized monarchical authority and foreshadowing broader Protestant reforms.

Iceland: Economic Struggles and Literary Preservation

Iceland endured ongoing economic hardships and isolation but maintained vibrant literary activity. Scribes continued diligently copying manuscripts of sagas, poetry, and historical accounts, effectively safeguarding Iceland's rich literary heritage. The cultural resilience demonstrated by the meticulous preservation of texts helped sustain Icelandic identity during challenging times.

Cultural and Intellectual Renaissance

Northwest Europe experienced a deepening cultural and intellectual renaissance. In England, humanist thought profoundly influenced intellectual discourse and educational reform. Meanwhile, the works of poets such as John Skelton and emerging playwrights contributed to evolving literary expression. Architectural projects, notably the continued development of Magdalen College, Oxford, and the increasingly ornate Tudor style, showcased ongoing artistic and architectural innovation.

Prelude to Religious Reformation

The era was crucially marked by escalating religious dissent and critical evaluation of traditional Church authority. In 1517, Martin Luther's posting of the Ninety-five Theses in Wittenberg significantly impacted intellectual circles across Northwest Europe. Although England and Scotland remained officially Catholic, Luther’s ideas rapidly gained adherents among scholars and the wider populace, laying the groundwork for imminent religious transformation.

Maritime Ventures and Early Colonial Ambitions

Maritime exploration persisted, driven by commercial interests and growing imperial aspirations. Although substantial colonial establishments were not yet undertaken, exploratory voyages and trade expeditions continued to encourage England's nascent ambitions for overseas expansion.

Legacy of the Era

By 1527 CE, Northwest Europe stood on the cusp of profound religious, political, and cultural shifts. The period's humanist intellectual ferment, shifting diplomatic alliances, and emerging national identities set the stage for decisive transformations in the decades ahead, reshaping the historical trajectory of the region significantly.

John Stewart, Duke of Albany, had been called to assume the regency (or guardianship) in 1514 when the infant king's mother, Dowager Queen Margaret, had married again to the Scottish noble, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, who leads his own faction in Scotland and is opposed by other factions.

Albany has utilized the Scottish nobility’s innate distrust of Margaret.

After two years' of this uneasy situation, Margaret has to flee to England in 1516 (Albany besieges the queen at Stirling and gets possession of the royal children) and Albany thus succeeds in making himself the sole regent for James V.

The fragmentary and quarrelsome politics of Scotland will overthrow and restore Albany's powers several times over the next eight years.

The earl of Angus later in 1516 makes his peace with Albany.

The Treaty of Rouen and the Renewal of the Franco-Scottish "Auld Alliance" (August 26, 1517)

Between 1517 and 1520, John Stewart, Duke of Albany, Scotland's regent, resided predominantly in France, managing Scotland’s affairs remotely through trusted lieutenants, most notably Antoine d'Arces, sieur de la Bastie. This arrangement was a strategic consequence of Albany's strong personal and political ties to France, and it shaped Scotland’s political trajectory during the regency period.

Context and Key Figures

John Stewart, Duke of Albany, had assumed the Scottish regency during the minority of King James V, following the death of James IV at Flodden in 1513. Albany, a cousin to the young king, had close familial and political connections to France, reflecting the long-standing alliance between the two kingdoms, popularly known as the "Auld Alliance."His frequent absences from Scotland and residence in France underscored the enduring political and diplomatic influence France wielded over Scottish affairs.

In Albany’s absence, governance on the ground was conducted through a network of deputies, prominently led by the French-born Antoine d'Arces, Sieur de la Bastie, whose role underlined the heavy French influence in Scotland’s internal politics at the time.

The Treaty of Rouen (August 1517)

On August 26, 1517, Albany formalized these Franco-Scottish ties through the Treaty of Rouen, signed with Charles IV, Duke of Alençon, a senior figure in the French royal family. This treaty effectively renewed the traditional alliance between France and Scotland, which had been a cornerstone of both nations’ foreign policies for centuries, primarily directed against England’s geopolitical influence.

A significant clause within the treaty was France’s promise of a royal bride for the young James V, further strengthening dynastic connections between the kingdoms and securing ongoing French influence in Scotland.

The Scottish poet and diplomat, Gavin Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld, played a critical role in negotiating the treaty, underscoring Scotland’s recognition of the importance of literary and cultural diplomacy alongside military and political alliances.

Political and Diplomatic Implications

The Treaty of Rouen reiterated the strategic alignment of Scotland with France, bolstering Scottish security against potential English aggression while simultaneously serving French interests in maintaining a strong diplomatic foothold on England’s northern border. However, Albany’s frequent absences and reliance on deputies such as la Bastie eventually exposed vulnerabilities within the Scottish regency government, complicating internal stability.

Long-Term Consequences and Legacy

Albany’s sojourn in France and the subsequent Treaty of Rouen had substantial long-term implications. The enduring strength of the Auld Alliance kept Scotland closely tied to French political, cultural, and military spheres, shaping the kingdom’s international relationships through much of the sixteenth century. At the same time, it highlighted the challenges faced by a regency government conducted from afar, eventually contributing to tensions within Scottish nobility and influencing domestic politics.

Ultimately, the treaty demonstrated the complexity of Scotland’s geopolitical position in early modern Europe, balancing internal governance with external alliances, a delicate equilibrium significantly impacted by Albany’s decisions during this period.

Gavin Douglas had finally attained to the bishopric of Dunkeld in 1516, although only after a bitter struggle.

Douglas after July 1516 appears to have been in possession of his see, and to have patched up a diplomatic peace with the Duke of Albany, with whom he had proceed on May 17, 1517, to France to conduct the negotiations that ended in the Treaty of Rouen.

He was back in Scotland towards the end of June.

Albany's longer absence in France had permitted the party faction of the nobles to come to a head in a plot by James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran, to seize the Earl of Angus, the Queen's husband.

The issue of this plot is the well-known street fight known as Cleanse the Causeway, in which Gavin Douglas's part stands out in picturesque relief.

The skirmish is the result of enmity between the House of Hamilton and the "Red" Angus line of the House of Clan Douglas, both powerful noble families jealous of each other's influence over King James V.

The Hamiltons, led by Sir Patrick Hamilton of Kincavil, half-brother of the Earl of Arran, and Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, the earl's bastard son, attempt to apprehend the Earl of Angus.

The Earl of Arran in 1517 had become Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

In a dispute over the sale of a cargo of timber from a Dutch ship, he had sided with Leith merchants over the Edinburgh burgesses.

The Leithers, supported by Robert Barton, had ignored any of the rights of the burgesses, but Arran had still given them his support, enraging the Edinburgh traders.

The burgesses of Edinburgh during the skirmish see the opportunity for revenge, and take the side of Angus.

The fight goes badly for the Hamiltons, and Sir Patrick Hamilton and about seventy others are killed in the incident.

The Earl of Arran and Sir James fight their way out, and escape along a narrow close.

Stealing a nearby pack horse, they flee through the shallows of the Nor Loch marshes.

Queen Margaret had sought to regain the regency, but in vain.

Young King James is kept a virtual prisoner by Albany, and Margaret is allowed to see her son only once between 1516 and 1524, the end of Albany's regency.

The triumph over the Hamiltons has had an unsettling effect upon the Earl of Angus.

He has made free of the Queen's rents and abducted Lord Traquair's daughter.

The Queen has set about to obtain a divorce, and has used her influence, secretly, for the return of Albany as a means of undoing her husband's power.

When Albany returns in November 1521, with a large body of French men-at-arms, Margaret now sides with him against her husband.

Thus Albany is able to keep an upper hand in regard to the ambitious Angus.

The regent takes the government into his own hands, compelling Angus, with the Bishop of Dunkeld and others, to flee to the Borders.

From this retreat Gavin Douglas is sent by the earl to the English court, to ask for aid against the French party and against the queen, who is reported to be the mistress of the regent.

Meanwhile, he is deprived of his bishopric, and forced, for safety, to remain in England, where he effects nothing in the interests of his nephew.

The declaration of war by England against Scotland, in answer to the recent Franco-Scottish negotiations, prevents his return.

His case is further complicated by the libelous animosity of James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow (whose life he had saved in the "Cleanse the Causeway" incident), who is anxious to put himself forward and thwart Douglas in the election to the archbishopric of St Andrews, left vacant by the death of Forman.

Albany in December 1521 puts Angus under charges of high treason.

Lautrec's defeat at Bicocca has brought England openly into the conflict.

The English ambassador in late May 1522 had presented Francis with an ultimatum enumerating accusations against France, notably that of supporting the Duke of Albany in Scotland, all of which were denied by the king.

Duke Charles II of Bourbon, Constable of France, seeing no hope of prevailing in his fight to keep King Francis from confiscating his late wife’s estates, makes a secret agreement to betray his King and offer his services to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The Emperor, the Constable, and King Henry VIII of England devise a grand plan to partition France.

Henry VIII and Charles on June 16, 1522, sign the Treaty of Windsor.

The treaty outlines a joint English-Imperial attack against France, with each party providing at least forty thousand men.

The plan to attack and partition France will fail, but the French will neither forgive Charles or fully trust him again.

Charles agrees to compensate England for the pensions that will be lost because of conflict with France and to pay the past debts that will be forfeit; to seal the alliance, he also agrees to marry Henry's only daughter, Mary.

James V, now twelve years old, dismisses his Regents in the autumn of 1524 and is proclaimed an adult ruler by his mother.

Several new court servants are appointed including a trumpeter, Henry Rudeman.

Francis now signs a secret agreement with Pope Clement VII, who pledges not to assist Charles in exchange for Francis's assistance with the conquest of Naples.

Against the advice of his senior commanders, Francis detaches a portion of his forces under the Duke of Albany and sends them south to aid the Pope.

Lannoy attempts to intercept the expedition near Fiorenzuola, but suffers heavy casualties and is forced to return to Lodi by the intervention of the infamous Black Bands of Giovanni de' Medici, which had just entered French service.