SOME OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE FIRST EDITION.

“With considerable literary skill he has compressed into a brief compass a most readable and impartial account of the efforts which from the time of Edward I. went on to weld the two countries into one.”—Edinburgh Evening News.

“Mr. Omond tells his story brightly and with full knowledge.”—Manchester Guardian.

“A genuine contribution to British history.”—Dumfries Courier.

“There is much to interest and inform in this volume.”—Liverpool Mercury.

“The conciseness of the sketch, instead of detracting from the worth of the work, rather enables the author to give a more vivid description of the course and progress of events.”—Dundee Advertiser.

“Mr. Omond has laid students of British history under a debt of gratitude to him for his work on the Scottish Union question.”—Leeds Mercury.

“Mr. Omond is at home in the struggles which led up to the act of Union in 1707.”—British Weekly.

“His book, modest and unpretentious as it is, is a careful contribution to the study of one of the most important features of the history of the two kingdoms, since 1707 united as Great Britain.”—Liverpool Daily Post.

“A handy summary of the history of such international relations, written with an orderly method and much clearness and good sense.”—The Academy.

“A handy, well-written volume.”—Pall Mall Gazette.

“A very interesting, as well as very instructive book.”—Literary World.

John Hamilton, Lord Belhaven.

The Early History
of the
Scottish Union Question
By
G. W. T. Omond
Author of
“Fletcher of Saltoun” in the “Famous Scots” Series

Bi-Centenary Edition
Edinburgh & London
Oliphant Anderson & Ferrier
1906

Now Complete in 42 Volumes

The Famous Scots Series

Post 8vo, Art Canvas, 1s. 6d. net; and with gilt top and uncut edges, price 2s. net

Preface

The history of the final union of England and Scotland, which took place on the 1st of May 1707, commences with the accession of Queen Anne; and with regard to that event, the best sources of information, apart from original letters, diaries, and other contemporary documents, are Daniel Defoe’s History of the Union, published in 1709, Dr. Hill Burton’s History of Scotland, Mr. John Bruce’s Report on the Events and Circumstances which produced the Union, published, for the use of Government, in 1799, and Dr. James Mackinnon’s Union of England and Scotland, published in 1896. In this volume I have endeavoured to describe the earlier attempts to unite the kingdoms. These commence, practically, in the reign of Edward I. of England, and continue, taking sometimes one form and sometimes another, down to the reign of William III.

While giving an account of the various negotiations for union, and of the union which was actually accomplished during the Commonwealth, I have tried to depict the state of feeling between the two countries on various points, and particularly in regard to the Church question, which bulks more largely than any other in the international history of England and Scotland.

It is a story, sometimes of mutual confidence and common aspirations, as at the Reformation and the Revolution, but more frequently of jealousies, recriminations, and misunderstandings, most of which are now happily removed.

My authorities are sufficiently indicated in the footnotes.

G. W. T. O.

Contents

CHAP.PAGE
I.International Politics before the Union of the Crowns[9]
II.The Union of the Crowns[52]
III.The Union during the Commonwealth[96]
IV.From the Restoration to the Revolution[122]
V.The Revolution Settlement[147]

The Early History
of the
Scottish Union Question