The fleet arrived while the French were about to seize St Andrews (January 23, 1560), and the French plans were ruined.

The Regent, who was dying, found shelter in Edinburgh Castle, which stood neutral.

On February 27, 1560, at Berwick, the Congregation entered into a regular league with England, Elizabeth appearing as Protectress of Scotland, while the marriage of Mary and Francis endured.
Meanwhile, owing to the Huguenot disturbances in France (such as the Tumult of Amboise, directed against the lives of Mary's uncles the Cardinal and Duc de Guise), Mary and Francis could not help the Regent, and Huntly, a Catholic, presently, as if in fear of the western clans, joined the Congregation.

Mary of Guise had found the great northern chief treacherous, and had disgraced him, and untrustworthy he continued to be.

On May 7 the garrison of Leith defeated with heavy loss an Anglo- Scottish attack on the walls; but on June 16 the Regent made a good end, in peace with all men.