Signed in July 1560, the Treaty of Edinburgh served as a pivotal diplomatic agreement that brought a formal conclusion to the hostilities between England, Scotland, and France. The treaty was negotiated in the wake of the Siege of Leith, where English forces had intervened to support Scottish Protestant lords against the French-backed regency of Mary of Guise. By securing the withdrawal of French troops from Scottish soil, the agreement effectively neutralised French influence in the region and marked a significant shift in the balance of power during the early years of Elizabeth I's reign.

The settlement had profound implications for the religious and political landscape of Scotland. By undermining the authority of the Catholic French regency, the treaty facilitated the rise of the Scottish Reformation, allowing Protestant factions to consolidate their power and influence within the Scottish government. This transition not only altered the internal governance of the country but also fostered a new, more cooperative relationship between the English and Scottish crowns, laying the groundwork for future diplomatic stability between the two nations.

Key outcomes of the treaty included:

• The withdrawal of all French and English military forces from Scotland.
• The formal recognition of Elizabeth I as the legitimate Queen of England.
• The cessation of French interference in Scottish domestic affairs.
• The strengthening of Protestant political influence in Scotland.
• The removal of the French royal arms from the heraldry of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The treaty was a masterstroke of early Elizabethan diplomacy, helping to secure the northern border of England at a time when the young queen’s position was still relatively fragile. By forcing the French to acknowledge her sovereignty and removing their military presence from the Scottish border, Elizabeth I successfully mitigated the threat of a Catholic coalition led by France. The agreement remains a defining moment in Tudor Britain, representing a strategic triumph that prioritised national security and religious alignment over continued continental conflict.