Scotland

Scotland is a kingdom ruling the upper half of the island of Britain; the lower half is ruled by the kingdom of England. When Spain invaded and conquered England in 1588, Scotland remained independent. It was ruled by King James VI, a Protestant and son of the late Mary Queen of Scots.

Though Scotland was a traditional enemy of England, Scottish kings often visited the English capital of London, where a palace with a park (also called Scotland) was maintained for their uses. However, James, wary of the militant Catholic government of Spanish-backed Queen Isabella, did not visit England during the decade it was part of the Spanish Empire.

Postings on the English-Scottish border were considered extremely undesirable for Spanish soldiers occupying England, and were often assigned as a disciplinary measure.