[Scotland] Stuart, Gilbert, THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND, FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REFORMATION, TILL THE DEATH OF QUEEN MARY.  London: J. Murray and G. Robinson, 1783.  Second ed., speckled/polished calf full leather hardcover w/elaborate gilt titling/furniture to spine, 8vo (8.375x5”), Very good+/n.a., vol.1 frontis (15pp, contents), 1-475pp, (1p. adv.); vol.2 1-312pp, text; 1-159pp, appendix; (30pp., index).

     Light wear to head and tail of spines, as well as peripheral edges of binding, joints and hinges are unbroken, bookplate of the Alington family on both front paste-downs, light soiling/staining to the front and end matter of both volumes, some light tallow staining sporadically in vol.1 (from reading by candle), else fine and remarkably foxing free.

     From the Reformation in 1560 to Mary, Queen of Scots’ death in 1587, the Protestant Reformation dismantled Catholic dominance, while Mary’s Catholic reign faced significant opposition. She was imprisoned and executed for treason in 1587, leaving her son, James VI, to rule a Protestant Scotland.