Starting with the religious inheritance of the 15th century, this book examines the religious policies pursued by both English and Scottish governments and looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the British churches at the turn of the century and new developments during the coming decades. Moving on to the period 1520-1570, there follows a description of the causes, course and impact of the Reformations in both England and Scotland, in comparison with one another and in international context. The final section examines how the Protestant churches were bedded down in Elizabethan England and Jacobean Scotland, with particular attention paid to the interaction btween the new religion and popular culture.