The Reign of James I - The Union between England and Scotland

What did James I aim to be when he became King of England?

‘Rex Pacificus’, translating to mean ‘Peacemaker King’. He aimed to unite England and Scotland, claiming to be a bigamist for having two kingdoms that were not united.

Why was the union between England and Scotland proposed?

Wales and Ireland had already been conquered in 1605 but Scotland was still independent. The King could continue to rule separately or create a new relationship between England and Scotland; the union aimed to reduce conflict and to benefit the country economically due to trade.

Why was the proposal of a union between England and Scotland an issue?

Many Englishmen were anti-Scottish - a legacy of past hostilities that had been aggravated by the King’s numerous gifts of titles and pensions to his Scottish friends and courtiers.

Which MP attacked the union?

Sir Edwin Sandy, as he felt that England would lose its identity.

Why did the Scottish public not want the union to become a reality?

Although both countries were Protestant, there was a religious divide as the Presbyterian Church had ministers, not bishops. This meant there was a lack of support from the Scottish public.

Why were many MPs against the union also?

They did not want to lose their wealth.

What did all of these factors mean?

That the union failed and James lost failed in the House of Commons (which he referred to as the House of Hell).