"The Union had popular support"

[part/time supporter]

So says the vice-principal of Dundee University, anyway.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...al/5378214.stm

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/pressrelease...dtheunion.html

[HailHail]

Originally Posted by part/time supporter

So says the vice-principal of Dundee University, anyway.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...al/5378214.stm

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/pressrelease...dtheunion.html

That'll be why news of the union was greeted with rioting in every major scottish town, and why the scottish signatories had to sign it in a bin cupboard where Murray house now is , to avoid the baying mob.

That'll be why there were 4 serious armed attempts to subvert it in it's first 40 years.

That'll be why the victorians spent so much time trying to brainwash us into thinking it was a good idea.

http://www.jacobite.ca/documents/1707union.htm

Strange to hear such an academic spouting such rubbish.

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Originally Posted by HailHail

That'll be why news of the union was greeted with rioting in every major scottish town, and why the scottish signatories had to sign it in a bin cupboard where Murray house now is , to avoid the baying mob.

That'll be why there were 4 serious armed attempts to subvert it in it's first 40 years.

That'll be why the victorians spent so much time trying to brainwash us into thinking it was a good idea.

http://www.jacobite.ca/documents/1707union.htm

Strange to hear such an academic spouting such rubbish.

The only thing that stands out in my mind about Dundee university is that awful TV advert a few years ago stating what a great place it is too study.

Unfortunately, they used such an obvious collection of nerds and @rseholes for their 'vox pop' amoung the students that no doubt tens of thousands of people like myself decided to give the place a miss.

Seems the Dundee University PR machine is still doing well

[HailHail]

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby

The only thing that stands out in my mind about Dundee university is that awful TV advert a few years ago stating what a great place it is too study.

Unfortunately, they used such an obvious collection of nerds and @rseholes for their 'vox pop' amoung the students that no doubt tens of thousands of people like myself decided to give the place a miss.

Seems the Dundee University PR machine is still doing well

Ah so this mans outlandish claims are actually a veiled attempt to entice unionists or people looking for an argument to choose Abertay? I'll argue with him

[Colr]

Originally Posted by HailHail

That'll be why news of the union was greeted with rioting in every major scottish town, and why the scottish signatories had to sign it in a bin cupboard where Murray house now is , to avoid the baying mob.

That'll be why there were 4 serious armed attempts to subvert it in it's first 40 years.

That'll be why the victorians spent so much time trying to brainwash us into thinking it was a good idea.

http://www.jacobite.ca/documents/1707union.htm

Strange to hear such an academic spouting such rubbish.

Rioting was a very common form of prtest in those days and cannot be seen as representative. It was almost a sport at one time - women and butchers were sometimes paid by organisers to get involved. Woman wouldn't suffer at the hands of the law and bur=tchers had very scarey looking aprons and knives.

What are the 4 serious armed attempts that you are thinking off?

[Bartok]

Whatley is an arse, pay no attention. I once went to one of his lectures where he was supposed to be discussing the post-WW2 political consensus, but he showed slides of his holiday in Estonia instead. No, really.

[HailHail]

Originally Posted by Colr

Rioting was a very common form of prtest in those days and cannot be seen as representative. It was almost a sport at one time - women and butchers were sometimes paid by organisers to get involved. Woman wouldn't suffer at the hands of the law and bur=tchers had very scarey looking aprons and knives.

What are the 4 serious armed attempts that you are thinking off?

The rising's of 1708, 1715, 1719 and 1745. The Stuart's commitment to reinstating our parliament gave nationalists a figurhead in their quest to re-assert our independence. Here we go again...

[Colr]

Originally Posted by HailHail

The rising's of 1708, 1715, 1719 and 1745. The Stuart's commitment to reinstating our parliament gave nationalists a figurhead in their quest to re-assert our independence. Here we go again...

Oh, dear, oh dear, oh dear.

[Hampden_Hibby]

There's only one reason why this individual is being deliberately contentious....

"In his new book, Scots and the Union, Prof Whately has claimed......."

It's as simple as that. You've been rumbled sir. Professor Plum in the library with a pack of lies.

[HailHail]

Originally Posted by Hampden_Hibby

It's as simple as that. You've been rumbled sir. Professor Plum in the library with a pack of lies.

[peever1745]

A Short History of the Union of 1707.
By Niall Aslen 9th September 2006.

We are holding our first march and rally on September the 30th and this
article will give you all the historical background about the significance
of the 3rd October 2006.

Queen Anne came to the throne in 1702, and her first act was to re-instate
Sir John Dalrymple, Viscount Stair as her chief Privy Councillor and close
confidante on Scottish affairs. Stair was venal and pliant and in exchange
for patronage, wealth and power, would give Her what she desired most, an
incorporating Union with Scotland for one reason alone. Security. An
Independent Scotland with many ties with France and the Continent was always
a brave and formidable potential enemy.

Scotland like England was also unstable, split on Religious and political
lines between Protestant and Catholic, Supporters of a protestant monarch or
Jacobites. Should the Jacobites gain the ascendancy, then Scotland could
easily become a deadly threat in times of war with France and the Low
Countries.

She also had a close advisor in Sir John Churchill the Duke of Marlborough
and she was somewhat manipulated by Sir John Churchill's wife Sarah, who
exerted great personal influence over the Queen in the early years of her
reign. Anne, influenced by the Marlborough's and the Lord Treasurer Sidney
Earl of Godolphin, set in motion the process that would lead to the
annexation of Scotland as a province of England.

In 1703, Queen Anne appointed Robert, Lord Harley the Speaker of the House
of Commons and a Tory, to set up the English Secret service on the French
and Spanish models, this secret service was the direct forerunner of the
Modern day MI5 and MI6. Lord Harley appointed one Daniel DeFoe as his
Spymaster,(after springing him from Prison for being a dissenter) who then,
furnished with plentiful funds, proceeded to set up a most comprehensive spy
network throughout England, Wales and Ireland to spy on the Political and
Religious beliefs of those in power and also to seek out their hidden
peccadilloes with a view to blackmailing them into compliance should it
prove necessary.

In 1705 DeFoe was commissioned to set up a Spy network in Scotland as moves
were afoot to force a Union of the Parliaments by all and any means
including military' force if that proved necessary. DeFoe was furnished with
1000 Guineas and a Dutch printing press along with 5 tons of type, which was
sent to Leith on a Dutch ship from the Netherlands direct.

Defoe was instructed to set up News-sheets, publish tracts, prints and
pamphlets favourable to Union, to 'silence' the opinions of the opponents of
union by blocking access to news-sheets and Printed material. He was to use
all means available to influence waverers to accept Union and use any means
to blackmail or browbeat the opponents of Union. This also included covert
assassination provided the crime could not be traced back to England. Any
funds required for Publishing, Bribery and the like would be provided by the
Commissioner for Equipment and Supplies for the Scottish Parliament,(Lord
Seafield) and in an emergency, from the Vice Admiral commanding the Royal
Naval squadron cruising off May Island. This squadron was ostensibly there
to prevent any landing by French or Spanish forces, but in reality was
enforcing a blockade against Scottish merchants trading with the Continent.

Defoe set to with a will, finding no lack of venal traitors prepared to sell
their country and fellow Scots in exchange for gold and in a short time he
had a spy network extending from the Highland line down to the Borders. He
travelled extensively as a merchant under false names such as Alexander
Goldsmith and Claude Guilot He even bought Cattle at the trysts to maintain
his cover. In 1707 in one of his weekly unsigned bulletin letters, he wrote
to Lord Harley 'In my management here among pro Catholic Jacobites, I am a
perfect emissary. I act the old part of Cardinal Richelieu. I have my spies
and my pensioners in every place, and I confess ''tis the easiest thing in
the world to hire people here to betray their friends.'

So effective was His Spy network, there was a joke passing round Queen Anne's
courtiers that the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, could not pass wind without
England knowing about it. Defoe Set up no less than FIVE News-sheets
including the Titles, 'The Review', 'Dyers News,' 'A Voice from the South,'
'The Scots answer' and 'The Trade of Britain stated.' Mostly they
disseminated half truths and lies, and argued various points between
themselves with the reading public completely unaware that the one man was
writing the letters and editorials for all five. DeFoe was a brave man, for
if his secret life had been revealed, then the Edinburgh mob would have
lynched him!

Through his many written articles, Defoe helped persuade the Scots
Establishment to join England in its war with France. (A move deeply
unpopular with the Scots man in the Street.) Defoe through his Freemasonry
contacts maintained prestigious standing among the Edinburgh elite and
intelligentsia and was enabled to infiltrate and influence many other groups
within the town. Defoe became a key member of society and various
community-minded groups. Most importantly, Defoe owned the City's five
newspapers outright. He was enabled to enter Scottish society and over a
short period of time, began to influence and then gain control over the
power groups and cliques. One can only Imagine how much power he had by
controlling the newspapers. He was able to circulate propaganda, all the
while sending information back to England.

It was around this time that Andrew Fletcher came to the fore. He had lost
his Haddingtonshire seat after the failure of Darien when his personal
popularity nosedived. However he busied himself with Public and written
discourses and It was in 1698 that he made his mark as a prolific serious
political writer. Fletcher wrote Two Discourses on the affairs of Scotland,
shortly after the Darien expedition had failed. On the fostering of the new
colony, the writer declares, 'depended the whole future of Scotland, cruelly
impoverished partly through her own fault, and partly because of the removal
of the seat of her government to London.'

The Speech upon the State of the Nation (1701) -dealt with the second of
these treatises, as completing the establishment of Bourbon ascendancy-it
'is like an alarum bell rung over all Europe. Pray God it may not prove to
you a passing-bell.' Fletcher clearly foresaw the implications of Bourbon
imperial policy from which he accurately foretold a century plagued by
warfare, culminating in the French Revolution.

A Discourse of Government with relation to Militias, published at Edinburgh
in 1698, is typical of Andrew Fletchers thinking, who, plunging into the
midst of the war of pamphlets started by the English Whigs and Tories, on
the question of standing armies which raged fiercely after the peace of
Ryswyk, was ready with a complete plan for rendering unnecessary the
dangerous expedient of a standing Army. 'The people must be trained to the
use of arms on a carefully planned system but for the purpose of defence
only.' The full Discourse is too long for this short article, but to give
you an idea of his thinking, please read on:

'But the undertakers must pardon me if I tell them, that no well-constituted
government ever suffered any such men in it, whose interest leads them to
embroil the state in war, and are a useless and insupportable burden in time
of peace. Venice or Holland are neither of them examples to prove the
contrary; for had not their situation been different from that of other
countries, their liberty had not continued to this time. And they suffer no
forces to remain within those inaccessible places, which are the chief seats
of their power. Carthage, that had not those advantages of situation, and
yet used mercenary forces, was brought to the brink of ruin by them in a
time of peace, beaten in three wars, and at last subdued by the Romans. If
ever any government stood in need of such a sort of men, it was that of
ancient Rome, because they were engaged in perpetual war.

The argument can never be so strong in any other case. But the Romans well
knowing such men and liberty to be incompatible, and yet being under a
necessity of having armies constantly on foot, made frequent changes of the
men that served in them; who, when they had been some time in the army, were
permitted to return to their possessions, trades, or other employments. And
to show how true a judgment that wise state made of this matter, it is
sufficient to observe, that those who subverted that government, the
greatest that ever was amongst men, found themselves obliged to continue the
same soldiers always in constant pay and service.'

It is probably true to state that Andrew Fletcher became the most
influential political writer of his time. His published pamphlets, treatise's
and tracts were read widely in Scotland, England and especially on the
Continent amongst the protestant Rulers and their governments therein. The
English Whigs and Tories engaged the services of Daniel DeFoe to write a
great many counterclaims and rebuttals of Fletchers writings so greatly did
the English ruling classes fear the power of Andrew Fletchers thinking
expressed through the printed word.

In the summer of 1701, the English Parliament passed the Act of Settlement.
Without the basic courtesy of consultation with Scotland it was decided that
the heir to the crowns of England and Ireland, after the death of William
and Mary's surviving sister Anne, was to be the Protestant grand-daughter of
King James 1st (6th), Sophia, (daughter of the Empress Elizabeth of Bohemia)
the Electress of Hanover. The succession would then in turn pass to her 40
year old son, Prince George of Hanover. Then on the 5th September 1701:
James 2nd (7th) died in France. His claim to the throne and the Jacobite
cause passed to his 13 year old son, James Francis Edward Stewart. He was
recognised by the French King as King James 3rd (8th) of Great Britain, ipso
facto a declaration of war on William of Orange.

In the Scottish Parliamentary elections of 1702, Andrew Fletcher regained
his seat of Haddingtonshire. In a series of highly charged rhetorical
speeches, he urged the Scottish Parliament to seize the opportunity to
liberate Scotland from the dominance of the Administration in England and to
ensure Scotland's continuing Independence under any future shared Sovereign.
Here is a verbatim report of part of one of his speeches on this subject:
'All of our affairs, since the union of crowns, have been managed by the
advice of English ministers, and the principal offices of the kingdom filled
with such men, as the court of England knew would be subservient to their
designs: by which means they had so visible an influence upon our whole
administration, that we have, from that time, appeared to the rest of the
world more like a conquered province, than a free independent people.' The
Scottish parliament then went on with Fletcher's driving force to boldly
draft a number of Bills which the English found to be highly provocative. An
'Act anent peace and War' which ensured that no sovereign of the two
countries could declare war or make any alliance without the consent of the
Scottish Parliament.

The English trading companies were enraged when the Scottish parliament
passed the 'Wine Act' which formally permitted the import of French wines in
direct contravention of the English trade embargo on France. Naturally
enough, there was a great deal of smuggling going on over the border with
England. Then followed the act that had the English merchants gnashing their
teeth in rage, 'The Wool Act which permitted the export of Scottish wool to
the continent and at the same time banning the importation of English wool.
Then followed the one Act that had Queen Anne and Her court in Kensington
Palace, incandescent with rage, 'The Act of Security.'

Andrew Fletcher was prominent in drafting the 'Act of Security' which was
first put forward in 1703. This act declared that if Queen Anne died without
an heir, the Scottish Crown was NOT to go to the successor of the crown of
England, unless, there was provision made 'that the terms and conditions of
government settled and enacted as may secure the honour and Independence of
the Crown of this Kingdom.' 'Upon the said death of her Majesty, without
heirs of her body, or a successor lawfully designed and appointed, the
foresaid Estates of Parliament convened or meeting are hereby authorised and
empowered to nominate and declare the successor of the Imperial Crown of
this Realm and to settle the succession thereof upon the said successor and
the heirs of the successors body being always of the royal line of Scotland
and of the true Protestant religion,'

To be Blunt, this Act demanded major concessions. Scotland would no longer
be obliged to have the same Sovereign as England unless the English gave the
Scots 'Free communication of trade' and the liberty of the colonies. Under
Fletchers inspiring leadership the Scottish parliament began to assert
itself in the most forceful way, which it had never done previously, to the
great alarm and Indignation of Queen Anne's Ministers. Sir Walter Scott in
his 'Tales of a Grandfather, chapter 60, puts it thus:

'This formidable act, which in fact hurled the gauntlet of defiance at the
far stronger kingdom of England, was debated in the Scottish Parliament,
clause by clause, and article by article, with the utmost fierceness and
tumult. ' We were often, ' says an eye witness, ' in the form of a Polish
Diet, with our swords in our hands, or at least our hands on our swords.'
The Act of Security was carried in Parliament by a decided majority, but the
Queen's Commissioner refused the Royal assent to so violent a statute. The
Parliament, on their part, would grant no supplies, and when such were
requested by the member of administration, the hall rung with the shouts of
' liberty before subsidy!'. The Parliament was adjourned amidst the mutual
discontent of both ministers and opposition. '

The Act raised in the most direct and stark manner the very real prospect of
there being once again two Monarchs in a divided island. The following year
(1704) the
Act came up again and this time the Scots flatly refused to pay the supply
(Taxes) to finance the Scottish administration and gave Queen Anne's
administration an ultimatum either accept the Act or Scotland would recall
her troops fighting on the Continent and disband them. With great reluctance
Queen Anne was forced to accept the Act. The Scottish Parliament which had
been a docile wee lapdog for many years, was growling, showing it's teeth
and biting fat English posteriors. Now since the gauntlet had been thrown
down the English Government were galvanised into action.

Queen Anne called a meeting of her privy councillors in the orangery of
Kensington Palace to formulate policy to deal with these upstart Scots. The
Earl of Stair (Lord James Dalrymple) proposed that the English Army should
invade Scotland and forcibly annex it as a province of England forthwith.
The Duke of Marlborough demurred stating that to do so when nearly half his
army were Scottish ran the great risk of mutiny with the Scots going over to
the French side. This in his view would lead to a disastrous defeat of
English arms and all the gains of the past two years would be lost. Sydney
Godolphin then proposed a policy of aggressively brow beating the Scots into
submission by means of legal stratagems, trade embargoes, bribery,
patronage, preferment and if these failed then the ultimate sanction was to
be the very potent and real threat of a military takeover . In his view he
believed the combination would make the Scots toe the line within a few
short years.

Immediately, some of the finest legal minds set to work and drafted an act
which was put before the English Parliament on the 5 February 1705: The
Aliens Act was an economic bludgeon against the Scots, designed to secure
English interests from what they saw as the subversion of England by the
Scottish Parliament. In effect, the Scots were invited to negotiate a full
union with England, on pain of seizure of Scottish assets, (Scottish
Nobility with English estates were panic stricken at the prospect of losing
them), imprisonment of Scottish citizens and the ending of Scottish exports
to England if they did not. Scotland was being blackmailed into appointing
commissioners to negotiate, within nine months ( by Christmas 1705 at the
latest), for an incorporating union between Scotland and England, on pain of
severe penalties. This was an iron fist without the benefit of a velvet
glove .

The Scots were naturally outraged by this economic blackmail. England had
abandoned its traditional opposition to closer political union, now they
were demanding it. The Scottish Parliament had no room of manoeuver and
began to yield to English Political pressure . The Scots agreed to the
establishment of a joint Parliamentary Commission with thirty-one members
each from Scotland and England. Once agreement was made the English
Parliament repealed the Aliens Act. Queen Anne's chief minister the Earl of
Godolphin chose John Campbell the second Duke of Argyll to mastermind this
Scottish Parliamentary negotiations. Argyll was twenty-seven years old,
arrogant , venal and highly ambitious. He was serving as a Colonel under the
Duke of Marlborough on the Continent . He demurred and refused the position
unless he was given lavish rewards including an English Peerage and seat in
the House of Lords. These promises were readily made to Argyll's
satisfaction.

Now follows a strange incident, the Duke of Hamilton Scotland's leading Peer
recognised as the patriotic leader of the anti union opposition ' Country
Party' in Parliament. He made the most extraordinary volte face and proposed
that the Scottish delegation on the joint commission should be nominated by
Queen Anne and her English Ministers. He said ' the Parliament is too much
in heats and feuds, and can never agree on proper persons but the Queen, who
is free from partiality, may doubtless make a good choice, but if she shall
make a bad choice, we will be safe, for all must return to us again, and we
may send the Act back to the place whence it came.' [See Appendix A. The
Pantheon of Infamy.]

The English establishment were delighted that their covert labours were
bearing fruit. Some £12,000 of the Dukes gambling debts were somehow paid
off around that time. A division was hastily rushed through in a matter of
hours and was passed. It ensured that the Scottish negotiators would be for
the most part pro-union. The joint Parliamentary Commission met in Whitehall
in April 1706 to negotiate the Articles of Union. The two sides sat in
adjacent rooms and communicated with each other by writing notes. Within ten
days they had agreed on the general terms of the Treaty and ten weeks later
a set of twenty-five Articles had been agreed. These Articles were now to be
debated by each of the two Parliaments.

Prior to the debates on the Articles, a war of words broke out with Andrew
Fletcher, Lord Belhaven and other Patriots printing and issuing leaflets,
discourses. Pamphlets and the like, all opposed to Union. Defoe was
instructed to shut the printers down by bribing them not to print. Nearly
all the printers accepted the bribes which was an easily won profit for them
except for one printer who refused. His premises were soon mysteriously
broken into, his presses smashed and his stocks of paper set on fire which
badly damaged the premises. The printers Son and two employees who were made
of sterner stuff contacted the 'Country Party' and offered to carry on
printing their messages of anti unionism.

This offer was taken up with alacrity, The largely Jacobite Country Party
adopted Defoe's tactics, and began spreading their own propaganda by way of
illegal underground printing presses, imported from Germany. Rapid response
to unionist propaganda was speedily responded to, with their own presses.
They could move into a town, set up shop in a rented house or stable and
begin distributing material immediately. Then, as suddenly as they came in,
they would move to another location or town before the Sheriff Officers
could arrest them and impound the presses.

There were illegal presses at work within the Old Town area of Edinburgh.
This was and is basically the area known as the 'Royal Mile' bounded by the
castle and hemmed in by the City walls. Then the Old Town consisted of very
high Tenements some of which in Robert Louis Stevenson's words 'Would put
many a crag and precipice to shame.' Below these tenements was a labyrinth
of subterranean dwellings, cellars, caves and tunnels which were inhabited
by tens of thousands of Edinburgh's poverty stricken citizens. Here was to
be found four of the presses with no lack of willing couriers, eager to earn
a few coppers by delivering bundles of Pamphlets and prints to the
distributers. The Town Guard would mount raids on the subterranean dwellings
but the inhabitants had good information and the presses would be spirited
away before they could be found.

One printing Press was even located in a cellar deep underground below the
Parliament House itself! The Lord Chancellor would be presiding over
proceedings in the House with it's intricately carved oak hammerbeam roof
and well lit by means of the large stained glass window depicting James V,
below his feet was the Laigh Hall where all the Scottish records were kept
and unbeknown to him, a press was churning out anti union literature and
even an obscene cartoon of himself defecating on Scotland. Large rewards of
£100 (English) were offered for information leading to the seizure of an
illegal printing press, but it says something about the patriotic character
of the ordinary Scots man and woman that the printers were never betrayed.
Even the Troglodyte dwellers of the subterranean cellars and caverns to whom
£100 was unimaginable riches and a passport to a better life, never
succumbed to temptation.

The following poem is perhaps typical of the sort of printed material that
was circulating and was recited at public meetings. It is a perfect
indicator of the mood of the Scottish people of 1705.

A Scots lancet for an English swelling. Edinburgh 1705.

Curs'd be the day (for then we were betray'd)
When first our King, the English sceptre sway'd;
Since when such fatal slav'ry we have bore,
As never state nor kingdom did before;
From neighbouring states we no assistance crav'd;
We scorn'd by foreign yokes to be enslaved;
Had wealth at home, alliances abroad;
Yea, of our friendship France itself was proud;
Each Scot was brave, with noble courage fir'd;
Our Court polite, and every where admir'd.

Forbid it Heaven! let's boldly claim our right;
Let England bully, but let Scotland fight;
And let another Bannockburn redress;
Too long endur'd affronts and grievances;
Our Country, now oppress'd, shall then produce
Hero's, like DOUGLASS, WALLACE and the BRUCE,
Who England's insolencies dare chastize,
When Scotland's liberties shall be the prize.
When our best troops are at the border rang'd
Then CALEDONIA'S wrongs shall be aveng'd.

During the Spring and Summer, argument and counter argument were hotly
debated by both sides and the volume of printed papers became a virtual
flood. Discourses and pamphlets were read aloud in Public houses and other
public places and it is remarkable how well informed the Scottish people
became regarding the articles of union and the arguments against it. Some of
these pamphlets caused ructions in the Parliament by 'Naming' various noble
Lords venality and lack of patriotism. In other cases, grotesque and
sometimes obscene cartoons were drawn and printed. In one memorable case,
three 'scurrilous' prints (Cartoons) were publicly burned outside the
Parliament building by order of the House. Fletcher Himself travelled round
the Country, addressing crowds and thus became a well ken't and popular
figure for his opposition to the union. Likewise his close friend, Lord
Belhaven did the same and had a great following amongst the Jacobites
although Belhaven was a staunch Episcopalian himself.

The Country Party split along Federal and incorporating Union lines and from
this party was formed the Squadrone Volante which was pressing for a federal
union or none at all. Fletcher Formed a party of patriots called the Home
Rule movement with a young Scotland Party with the same aims of mobilizing
the people. With the exception of William Carstares, the Moderator of the
General Assembly and perhaps a dozen others, he had virtually total support
from the Kirk who rightly feared English interference in their affairs. [A
fear that was to be realised some 5 years later when the U.K. Parliament
passed a number of anti presbyterian measures. In 1712 the Toleration Act
was introduced allowing greater freedom to Scottish Episcopalians. The
Patronage Act was also introduced in 1712 which reversed the abolition of
patronage which had occurred in 1690. By this Act the selection of ministers
to the Church was decided by the nobles and the Crown, in practice this Act
caused a great deal of friction between the Scottish Church and the Crown.]

Fletcher began pressing for new elections to be held as he argued
passionately and eloquently for fresh Parliamentary elections to debate the
whole question of Union. Had it been accepted by the administration, then it
was certain that a huge anti union majority would sit in the Parliament.
This petition was flatly rejected by The Lord Chancellor, the Duke of
Queensberry on the prior instructions of Queen Anne and her advisors. Daniel
Defoe was listening to the debates that day and he wrote thus to Lord
Harley, 'Saltoun made heartfelt pleadings for parliament to be prorogued,
indeed, many of the estates were moved to sustain this plea. This device
would have been grievously and mortally perilous anent all we have worked
for. Queensberry did his duty and denied Saltoun, so that the petition fell.'
[Daniel Defoe. The History of the Union. ]

Tasting defeat, Andrew Fletcher carefully weighed up the support for
rejecting the Union and realized that the odds were stacked heavily against
him succeeding. Determined to salvage something for the Scottish people he
then turned his attention to fighting for a Federal Union, whereby Scotland
would still run it's own internal affairs through it's own Parliament, Keep
it's laws intact, It's religion and system of education and raise it's own
taxes. He devoted much time canvassing support for this view. He campaigned
the length and breadth of Scotland, urging the people and Burgesses to
organise Petitions & Addresses to the Parliament. He even gained support
from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and also from the
Convention of Royal Burghs. Fletcher worked tirelessly, travelling and
speaking, and it is a measure of his leadership, oratory and personal
charisma that no less than 15 shires, 26 burghs & towns, 55 parishes & 3
presbyteries all wrote strong petitions against the Act of Union. Fletcher
even persuaded the pro unionist Moderator of the General Assembly to order
all parish ministers to preach sermons against the Union with great effect
upon the ordinary Scotsman and woman.

During a Public meeting in Dumbarton, Andrew Fletcher found he had a most
unusual ally in Sir James Stewart, the Queens Lord Advocate in Scotland. He
informed Fletcher that he had strongly advised the Queen to hold fresh
elections but she remained adamantly opposed to any such. The Lord Advocate
acknowledged Andrew Fletcher as the unquestioned leader of the anti
unionists and promised him help on a covert basis. This single contact was
to later furnish Andrew Fletcher with a great deal of damning evidence
against the Lords and Nobles who sold Scottish freedom and Independence for
slightly more than the 30 pieces of silver.

However during this time, behind the scenes DeFoe's spy network spread it's
tentacles and infiltrated further and further into the fabric of Scottish
life Such strange and controversial activities were extraordinary to
Scottish society in the early 1700s. Infiltration, spying and the unethical
conduct and morals associated with spying were highly objectionable to most
Scots. Nevertheless, they are to a high degree, really effective tools,
particularly as a means for monitoring the activities of groups and factions
and influencing their behaviour. In the battle of Spy and Counterspy, the
English with their extensive network, created over a number years, with more
than ample funding, were the clear winners. Soon, however English gold began
to flow north and with it the promise of the 'Equivalence' the Compensation
to repay the Darien scheme investors losses ( a sum of £398,086. 10/- worth
£26 Millions by today's standards.) This and promises of patronage, pensions
and increased salaries, immediately started to sway the doubters and some of
the anti unionists who had invested heavily and sometimes put themselves in
penury over their backing for the Darien venture.

From Aberdeenshire in the north to Dumfries in the south there were many
crowd actions across the Lowlands. Edinburgh in particular saw some of the
most violent riots. The ex Lord Provost Sir Patrick Johnstone who was known
to support Union had his house plundered and sacked, narrowly escaping with
his life. The crowds
followed progress of debates in Edinburgh by means of rumours, word of mouth
and by far the most important method was the pamphlets and news-sheets
published by Fletchers party on the underground presses.


Likewise on the 3rd October, there were serious riots in Glasgow over the
unwillingness of the Burgesses and magistrates to address Parliament against
union. Again Troops had to be used to maintain order but they could not
prevent the houses of many prominent Pro unionists from being sacked and set
on fire. The lord Provost had to flee for his life from the rioters who
wished to make an example by hanging him.

On the 3rd October 1706, the Scottish Parliament met to discuss the terms
and articles of Union. Mobs were roaming the streets voicing their
disapproval. Commissions and members of the Parliament known for their pro
Union views are booed, pelted with filth and stones, sometimes having the
windows of their carriages smashed. Troops of the Kings Horse Guards had to
escort them to the Parliament building and stand guard outside. Fletcher and
Belhaven could walk to Parliament and were cheered wherever they were seen.
Due to the mob violence, it was decided to placate the mob, by allowing the
petitioners to present their petitions. The following petition with over 300
Signatures and seals appended is typical of this type of Petition that
Fletcher and Belhaven had long laboured over:

The address of the Barrons Heritors and Freeholders of the Shire of Lanerk

That it being (by our Claime of Right) the uncontraverted priveledge of the
subject to address, wee look upon our selves bound both by honour and
Conscience in this criticall and dangerous Juncture to apply our selves to
your Grace and Honourable Estates. Our Church government as by Law
Established and her other concernes, cannot.But be in great danger and have
no maner of Security, when she is subjected to the British parliament wherin
26 prelates are members.It is not to be imagined that this nation is able to
bear a share of the heavie and great taxes imposed in England such as the
Excisse or malt, bear, all and salt etc: without being in a small time
reduced to the utmost misery.wee doe conceive that the articles of the Union
of the two nations as at present agreed to are contrair to the fundamentall
Laws, ancient priviledges, Rights, Liberties and Digneties of this Nation,
our Claime of Right Legall Establishment of our Church and the honour trew
entrest and welfair of every subject of whatsoever degree and station, in
all their concernes both Civill and Religious.
[National Archives of Scotland, PA 7/28/10]

Petitions some of them with thousands of signatures were brought in. With
one single exception, that from the Town of Ayr, they were all against union
and for the continued independence of Scotland. They made great piles on the
Chancellor's table. The Clerk asked the lord Chancellor what was he to do
with them and was airily told by the Duke of Argyle, 'Make kites of them,
they are good for nothing else!' [From 'Scotland's Ruine:' Lockhart of
Carnwath's Memoirs of the Union]

The following day, Parliament assembled to discuss Article 1. (Dealing with
an Incorporating union between Scotland and England.) The debate was
initiated by the Earl of Stair, Lord James Dalrymple then stood up to speak,
'I urge you all to consider the benefits of Union, a Union of the two
Parliaments and Governments, make an end to centuries of bickering and
warfare. Scotland as a small nation could never withstand the larger,
mightier and Richer nation of England. Would it not be better to recognize
these facts and join forces. It is a known fact that highly influential and
far seeing men in London are in favour of such developments.' Andrew
Fletcher got to his feet and spoke thus,

'The Noble Lord advocates Union, what doth such a union mean? When the
Smaller unites with the greater, what happens? The greater absorbs and
engulfs the lesser, it is ever thus and so will be! There are ten times as
many English as Scots. Think you then, when the ten becomes eleven, the
eleventh will partner the ten? Or, be swallowed up by the ten? Is this what
my Lord of Stair wants? An end to Scotland? The most ancient nation in
Christendom, a kingdom when England was but a medley of warring tribes!
Scotland, from whence Christianity spread to the English. Scotland, a people
with their own Kirk and laws, their freedoms, customs and pride. Is all that
for which our forefathers fought for untold generations, to be merely thrown
aside for a mess of trading privileges and navigation rights? I would rather
that Scotland sank to the bottom of the ocean rather than we lost one least
part of our cherished Independence and ages old identity!'

The Earl of Stair interrupted. 'Mr Fletcher roars like a lion, but methinks
his roaring hideth a timorous heart! He fears a union, Why? Scotland would
still be Scotland. We would not be incorporated into England, only work with
her instead of against her! Is not harmony to be preferred to Enmity? We
should be Confederate states. As are those of the Netherlands, the Germans
and the Empire Electorates. They fare well enough in unity. Why not Scotland
and England?'

Fletcher was on his feet. 'My Lord, I sorrow to learn that I am so timorous
of heart and to learn that my Lord could be so forgetful of the elementary
facts of nature, and also of mankind, that he believes when the lesser joins
the greater, it can remain itself and maintain it's identity entire! When a
wee burn joins a river, which streams on? The wee Burn or the River? When a
Pike swallows a minnow, in all unity, who chooses the direction to swim?
When a man joins a crowd, can his lone voice be distinguished amid the
shouting of the many? No, My Lords and friends, you are all acquaint with
the answers to these questions. Could it be any different for us? I urge you
to consider this question of Union no more. Even if your souls appear to
reside in your pockets. Have you even considered English taxation? My
Friends, the English have ten taxes for every one of ours to pay for their
ambitious plans, their Armies and Fleets. Do you really wish to pay these
taxes also? You must, if we are united with them! Would this suit your
pockets and revenues?'
[Daniel Defoe. 'History of the Union' (1710) ]

Over the next few weeks all 25 Articles of Union were fiercely debated and
Fletcher was at the forefront of all these debates, seeking to ameliorate
the worst excesses and put in place safeguards on behalf of the Church, the
Law and Education systems of his day. He got very little rest and sleep over
this period due to his ex parliamentary campaigning and pamphlet writing.
Daniel Defoe, writing two years later, considered that Andrew Fletcher was
the most formidable adversary and debater he had ever listened to.

There were even greater disturbances on the 23rd October 1706 Troops had to
be used to restrain large hostile crowds attempted to disrupt Parliament by
protesting at Articles dealing with the imposition of Taxes and Duties.
Parliament had to be temporarily adjourned, forcing the Administration to
issue a 'Proclamation against tumults' the following day. Reports of rioting
and unrest came in from many parts of Scotland and rumours abounded that the
Jacobites had risen, the Cameronians were arming themselves, whilst untrue,
did cause much consternation in the administration.

On the 27th October 1706 Commissioner Queensberry requested that English
troops to be sent to the border and N. Ireland in case of rising. The Duke
of Marlborough immediately ordered the reinforcement of the garrison at
Berwick with 800 mounted dragoons (Heavy Cavalry). Although it sounds
unlikely, a combination of Cameronians from SW Scotland and Athol and
Jacobites from Perthshire started to gather in Hamilton. Numbers estimated
at 7000 to 8,000 were reported ready to rise by Lockhart of Carnwath. By now
seriously alarmed that events were slipping out of their hands, the
Commissioners used the tried and tested tactic of 'divide and conquer,'
whereby the largely moderate organisers were offered concessions to
Neutralise their demands.

Andrew Fletcher was very active in the drafting of the 'Act for Security of
the Protestant Religion.' This Act guaranteed that Scotland's Kirk and
system of church government would remain intact (Broken by the UK Parliament
in 1712.) Andrew Fletcher also proposed, drafting the clauses for
safeguarding the rights and liberties of the common people. He successfully
and skilfully managed to carry the house with him. This Act was Authorised
by Queen Anne who approved it several days later. The Act was passed on the
12th November 1706 and the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland,
satisfied that their Kirk and form of worship was safe, wrote to all the
presbyteries asking them to suppress local opposition.

Even worse riots took place on November 18th 1706 when Troops of the
Household cavalry rode down rioters and used the edges of their swords for
the first time. This caused fearsome injuries with many victims dying of
Gangrene and blood poisoning many days later. There is no accurate record of
the numbers killed, for some reason best known to the Commissioners no
records were ever kept. However diaries and letters written by some of the
Officers concerned reveal a completely callous disregard of human life.

November 18th 1706. A Crowd estimated at around 5,000 Cameronians gathered
to burn the articles of Union at Dumfries. The Provost read out the text of
a petition (See Below) to be presented in Parliament, before setting fire to
the Articles of Union. There were also similar crowd actions on record in
Kirkcudbright, Stirling and Lanarkshire.

'An Account of Burning the Articles of Union at Dumfries'

'So we protest that whatever ratification of the foresaid union may pass in
Parliament, contrary to our fundamental laws, liberties and privileges
concerning church and state, may not be binding upon the nation now, nor at
any time to come. .And so we earnestly require that the representatives in
Parliament, who are for our nation's privileges, would give timeous warning
to all corners of this kingdom that we and our posterity become not
tributary and bondslaves to our neighbours without acquitting ourselves as
becomes men and Christians.'
[From 'Scotland's Ruine:' Lockhart of Carnwath's Memoirs of the Union, p.
179]

November 19th 1706. Serious riots in Aberdeen and parts of Moray The unrest
was spreading to the country areas and many wild rumours about high taxation
were current. The Commissioners were aghast at the scale of the unrest and
set about drafting proclamations forbidding the gathering of more than 3
people in any one place. Naturally these were totally ignored by the patrons
of Inns and Public Houses. The unrest did not abate and on the 29th November
1706 a proclamation against Unlawful Convocations was enacted to prevent the
Cameronians from mustering. Due to a legality which made such a proclamation
unlawful, the following day on November 30th 1706. An Act anent all Musters
& Rendevouzes was hurriedly drafted and passed against a sizable minority
including Andrew Fletcher in Parliament who hoped thereby that the people
would arm themselves and rise.

Attempts were made for large gatherings to address the treaty signatories in
Edinburgh in December and put pressure on them for an address to Queen to
call a new parliament. Defoe's agents soon uncovered these plans and the
militaristic organisers were dealt with summarily by being imprisoned and
held incommunicado. And the crowds were dispersed by brutal overwhelming
military force.

Public pressure from the ordinary Scottish people forced the Commissioners
to make some amendments to the economic articles of Union. These were: The
excise duty on Scottish two-penny ale to be kept low (Article 7). There was
to be no levying of the malt tax during the current war (Article 14).
Scottish-made salt was to be made exempt from duty for 7 years, low duty
thereafter (Article . This was vitally important to the salt fish trade.
Relief or drawback on all exported oatmeal, beer, etc. (Article 6). Once
these minor concessions had been made, the moderates became resigned to the
fact of union although many still hoped for a federal type union like Andrew
Fletchers Party.

There was still much public disorder in the Cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow
which required the use of troops to suppress. On the 27th December 1706 a
proclamation discharging Unwarrantable and Seditious Convocations and
Meetings was enacted, without much noticeable effect. The Pro Union members
of parliament became like hunted animals, dogged by mobs, jostled, sworn at
and suffered filth and stones being hurled at them. They took to travelling
to Parliament by back alleys and passages in order to avoid the hostile
mobs. All this Time Fletcher was unmolested and in him the ordinary Scots
placed their faith, that somehow he would salvage something for Scotland. In
Parliament Fletcher Argued and debated with carefully crafted oratory and
his speeches were printed and circulating within hours of their being
spoken. Sadly not many have survived as the Town guard were assiduous in
burning any such printed materials and the quality of the paper was very
poor due to a strict embargo on the import of printing paper. Only approved
printers who toed the government line were supplied. In the end, the
underground presses were forced to use wallpaper and wads of cartridge paper
as printing mediums.

January 8th 1707. The day began acrimoniously when Andrew Fletcher verbally
crossed swords with the Earl of Stair. Stair made the statement that it was
every patriotic Scotsman's duty to support the union. Indeed 'any man who
set's his visage against union is guilty of treason against the person of
the Queens grace. This realm is in need of firm governance in these perilous
times and the union in making two nations as one will be a sure shield and
defence against the rebels and the French who would enslave us .'

Andrew Fletcher then retorted angrily (according to the diarist he was
aflame with indignation and passion) 'The noble Stair speaks of treason and
firm governance! Does he recall his firm governance of Glencoe perchance?
The infamy of murdering innocent men, women and children in cold blood! The
blood even of infants that cries out for justice from a cruel demagogue!
Murder, oppression and barbarity for which he should have been justly tried
and hanged! In the past weeks and days, the murder and mortal injury of
unarmed Citizens of this City by dragoons acting on your orders sir? By your
infamous actions you reveal yourself as traitor! Like those in Longshanks
day who gladly sold their patriotism and duty to their country in exchange
for baubles (Bawbies?) and worthless honours! Now a new Surrey is set over
us, who like Caligula of old, will brook no resistance to his nefarious
designs.' By now there was a near riot in the house as members of the Court
party tried to shout Fletcher down.

The lord Chancellor was banging his gavel and calling for order and quiet in
the house but without much success. Stair was trying to interrupt and by all
accounts was red faced and breathless. Finally order was restored and Stair
rose to speak,'Saltoun, you impugn my honour in the presence of this house
and I demand a full apology for your intemperancy and impertinence!' Andrew
Fletcher then stood up to speak, 'We shall settle this matter as befits
Gentlemen with either swords or pistols! My man will be calling upon you
this evening.'

The Lord Chancellor tried to get both sides to temporise but Fletcher was
adamant. In his eyes, Stair was a traitor who had sold Scotland out for
English Pensions, privileges and honours and he refused the Lord Chancellors
request to abandon the challenge. The Chancellor had no choice but to
adjourn the proceedings for the day. Possibly this is what Fletcher wanted,
a delaying tactic. It is plainly clear that Fletcher fully intended to meet
Stair in a duel, perhaps it crossed his mind that this was one way of
reducing the votes for union by one. Fletcher was a noted Swordsman and
pistol shot, Stair was neither and there could only be one possible outcome.

At or around 8pm, John Dalrymple, Earl of Stair died of Apoplexy at his
dinner table
Had he lived longer he would have received generous pensions totalling some
£8,000 p.a. A seat in the House of Lords as a Senior English peer and a well
paid sinecure as a high Court Judge on the Queens bench in London. These
were given to others for their part in forcing the union through. When
Fletcher heard the news he was heard to remark, 'Stair is arraigned before,
and answering to a greater judge than himself and the blood of the innocents
will be visited upon him in full measure as he deservedly burns forever in
the fires of hell!'

16th January 1707: The Scottish Parliament agrees the Treaty of Union by 110
votes to 67.

14th February 1707. The General Officer commanding troops in Ulster receives
sealed orders regarding embarkation in transports to be provided if the
military Occupation of Scotland becomes necessary. Likewise the commanding
officers of the garrisons in Carlisle, Wark, Hexham, Newcastle, Tynemouth,
Alnwick and Berwick on Tweed were put on a weeks notice to move. Likewise
the Vice Admirals commanding the Forth and Clyde blockading squadrons also
received confirmatory orders regarding the military occupation of Scotland.
These orders make grim reading the squadro