“The memory of this Parliament will be precious to the nation, so long as it has a being.” –George Ridpath.(1)
1702-1704
The majority of Scots had become thoroughly disillusioned with King William long before he died on 20th January 1702. To the Jacobites, he was always a usurper, but he also alienated many of those who considered him a liberator from the tyranny under James VII. His behaviour over Darien showed beyond all doubt that he was prepared to sacrifice Scottish interests to England. Blame for the Glencoe massacre in 1692 also clung to his reputation as a bloody stain. His dying wish was that there should be an incorporating Union between Scotland and England as soon as possible. In essence he wanted to be able to ride one horse instead of two, which were liable to go off in different directions.
This policy was maintained by Queen Anne despite according to Gilbert Burnet(2), many of her closet advisors ‘opposed it with much heat and not without indecent reflections upon the Scotch nation’. Despite this it was in the interests of England to secure its northern frontier against the interests of France and as such the Queen had her way and Parliament agreed to her appointing commissioners for the negotiation of a treaty of Union in November 1702.
Talks proceeded with little enthusiasm and were adjourned in February 1703. English Parliamentarians had never viewed the Scots in the same manner as their monarchs and had no wish for a further association with them. Despite these events, principally the war of Spanish Succession prevailed and persuaded many of their number that their interests required a firm and continuing means of controlling Scotland.
War had been declared in London on 4th May 1702 without the say of Scotland. Since James VI became James I of England, the Scots had no share in deciding matters of war and peace as foreign policy was made and decided by the monarch. As such war was conducted in the name of England and English interests, usually against Scottish interests and dominant trading partners. As they were officially at war, the Scots were expected to contribute men, money and supplies but were forgotten in the benefits which may flow from peace. Such was a consequence of the Union of the Crowns. When Scotland lost her own King, she lost her own foreign policy and much influence over these matters.
England was of course satisfied with the situation. She had a flow of men for the war, and at the same time controlled her northern border against pernicious foreign, French influences as had happened in the past. The imperative was shown in a greater light following the Act of Settlement in 1701 offering the throne to the Electress of Hanover in which the English expected the Scots to agree with.
The Scots responded with the act of Security in 1703. It declared that Scotland shall choose her own monarch upon the death of Queen Anne, and furthermore that it should be different from that of England unless certain economic, religious and political conditions were met. The bill was refused Royal Assent, but was passed in 1704 after Parliament refused to raise taxes and sought to withdraw troops from the war.
George Lockhart of Carnwath(3) was aware after time in London that English attitudes were hardening in the fear that Scotland should turn into a satellite state of France and create a new war on the English border. It was to this effect that he proposed the 1703 Act of Neutrality(4), in which it was made clear that no foreign troops would be allowed to set foot on Scottish soil, with the exception of England should they wish to establish up to four fortresses in Scotland, so long as the English troops comply with local laws.
The bill was created to ease their fears of Scottish influence from France. It was passed by 91 votes to 89 and offset anger in England over the act of Security. As a result by August 1704, English garrisons were being built near Inverness, Ullapool, Dumfries and North Berwick. It was unpopular threoughout Scotland, but understood by its Parliamentarians as the best way to secure Scotlands future.
As a result, Scotland secured itself a renewed independence in alliance with England.
(1) OTL Quote from contemporary book An account of the proceedings of the Parliament of Scotland which met at Edinburgh, May 6th 1703.
(2) The Bishop of Salisbury, again a contemporary quote from OTL.
(3) Scottish writer and politician. In OTL a Scottish Commisioner for the Treaty of Union and later a Jacobite agent.
(4) The POD! See!