'Forgotten' treaty marked

THE 450th anniversary of a forgotten date in Scotland's history has been marked with a reception at the City Chambers.

Lord Provost George Grubb said the Treaty of Edinburgh, signed on 6 July 1560, was "the most significant event in the life of this city - but virtually unknown today".

It ended the siege of Leith, provided for the withdrawal of both French and English troops from Scotland and marked the end of the "Auld Alliance" between Scotland and France and a new accord between Scotland and England.

But it gave Scotland control of its own affairs at least for a while. The Scottish Parliament met in August 1560 and legislated to make Scotland a Protestant nation, angering Elizabeth I because of the amount of influence the treaty gave John Knox.