Huguenots

"My tale is soon told--I was introduced into the castle of Avenel to

be page to the lady of the mansion."

"She is a strict Huguenot, is she not?" said the maiden.

"As strict as Calvin himself. But my grandmother can play the puritan

when it suits her purpose, and she had some plan of her own, for

quartering me in the Castle--it would have failed, however, after we

had remained several weeks at the hamlet, but for an unexpected master

of ceremonies--"

Scott’s Lady of Avenel, in “The Abbot”, is described as a Huguenot by hero Roland Graeme.  The novel’s time span is July 1567 to May 1568, or roughly five to six years after Catherine de Medici, acting as regent of France, officially recognized the Huguenots under the Edict of Saint Germain.  John Calvin himself died in 1564, and had begun his reform work in the 1530’s.  Catherine de Medici’s decree was dated January 17, 1562. 

Battle of Falkirk Muir

'WaveRleY riding post, as was the usual fashion of the period, without any adventure save one or two queries, which the talisman of his passport sufficiently answered, reached the borders of Scotland. Here he heard the tidings of the decisive battle of Culloden. It was no more than he had long expected, though the success at Falkirk had thrown a faint and setting gleam over the arms of the Chevalier. Yet it came upon him like a shock, by which he was for a time altogether unmanned. The generous, the courteous, the noble-minded Adventurer, was then a fugitive, with a price upon his head; his adherents, so Brave, so enthusiastic, so faithful, were dead, imprisoned, or exiled. Where, now, was the exalted and high-fouled Fergus, if, indeed, he had survived the night at Clifton? Where the pure-hearted and primitive Baron of Bradwardine, whose foibles seemed foils to set off the disinterestedness of his disposition, the genuine goodness of his heart, and his unshaken courage? Those who clung for support to these fallen columns, Rose and Flora, where were they to be sought, and in what distress must not the loss of their natural protectors have involved them? Of Flora, he thought with the regard of a brother for a sister: of Rose, with a sensation yet more deep and tender. It might be still his fate to supply the want of those guardians they had lost. Agitated by these thoughts he precipitated his journey.'

An victory and an opportunity missed for Charles Edward Stuart's forces. The battle itself was largely over in 20 minutes, and earned the man Hawley replaced, General Cope £10,000.  Legend has it that Cope bet that Hawley would be beaten by the Highlanders, as he had been.  Unfortunatley for the Jacobite cause, Stuart did not want to have Hawley pursued, after his defeat.  Hawley regrouped, and was ready at the Battle of Culloden.

The Papacy Returns to Rome

On January 17, 1377, Pope Gregory XI moved the papacy back to Rome, from Avignon, where it had been since 1309.  The Avignon Papacy spanned seven popes, from the French (Aquitanian) Clement V to Gregory.  The decision to exit Avignon is credited partly to the efforts of Saint Catherine of Siena.  In 1376, Catherine visited Gregory, serving as ambassador of Florence in an attempt to secure peace between Florence and the Papal States.  Her diplomacy failed to quell the strife, but Gregory was apparently impressed enough by Catherine that he was persuaded to return to Rome.

Saint Catherine is referenced in Scott's "The Abbot", along with a footnote on her role in influencing  Gregory's mind.

'..."They call me Lady Abbess, or Mother at the least, who address me,"said Dame Bridget, drawing herself up, as if offended at her friend's authoritative manner--"the Lady of Heathergill forgets that she speaks to the Abbess of Saint Catherine."...'