PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xiii 



nobles ; befides alfo, the Anglo-Scots, who redding 

 chiefly in that kingdom, and knowing all the manoeu- 

 vres of their opponents, proved a mod defolating 

 enemy to their country, fcarcely giving or taking 

 quarter. 



But treaties were then, as they are at prefent, only 

 made to be broke ; and it appears from the moft 

 authentic records of both kingdoms, and the general 

 tenor of the fubfequenr. tranfadtions, that the Fng- 

 lifh monarchs never loft fight of the conqueft of 

 Scotland by marriage or arms, infomuch that the 

 latter found it necefTary to cultivate the friendfhip 

 of France, to whom the Scots proved a faithful and 

 important ally while the two Britilh kingdoms were 

 governed by feparate monarchs. 



The civil wars, which proved fo hurtful to Eng- 

 land from the death of Edward III. in 1377, to the 

 acceflion of Henry VII. in 1485, enabled the Scots 

 to repair the misfortunes of their country, and to 

 refume the arts of peace, with fuch vigour, that their 

 hiftory, from this period till the open renewal of the 

 Englifh claims by Henry VIII. and the fubfequent 

 regency, difplays one continued exertion of kings, 

 barons, dignified clergy, and the royal boroughs, for 

 the extenfion of commerce, fifheries, and naviga- 

 tion ; the improvement of lands, promoting litera- 

 ture, fcience, arts, and whatever tends to the civi- 

 lization, opulence, and fplendour of kingdoms, 

 till the fucceffion of James VI. to the crown 

 of England in 1602, after which event Scotland 

 became a poor neglected province, fubfervieftt in 

 all cafes, to the intereft of the greater kingdom, as 

 will appear from the fequel of tiieir hiftory. 



Falling over the fecret intrigues of queen Eliza- 

 beth, to divide and embroil that country, and the 

 open robberies of Oliver Cromwell and his foJlow- 

 . ers, we come to the aera of the revolution in ib88, 

 a period which united the majority of both kingdoms 

 in political fentiments, and feemed a prelude to a 



clofer 



