230 A. D. 1603. 



fpent more treafure, to fave and reduce Ireland, than all her progenitors 

 fince the conqueft. 



Queen Elizabeth died 24th March 1603, and was fucceeded by James 

 VI king of Scotland, the firft monarch of Great Britain*. 



The acceffion of Scotland to the crown of England has undoubtedly 

 proved a great benefit to the later, not only as thereby a mofl danger- 

 ous back-door was for ever {hut againft France or any other foreign 

 enemy ; but likewife as it has largely fupplied England with flout and 

 able men, both for the land and fea fervice, befide other benefits need- 

 lefs to be enlarged on. But King James's accellion was undoubtedly de- 

 trimental to the Scots in many refpeds. It carried away the court, 

 their principal nobility and gentry, as well as foreign minifters and many 

 other ftrangers ; whereby the trading people were deprived of much 

 money that ufed to be fpent in that country. It confiderably decreaf- 

 ed the demand for both foreign and home commodities. It alfo de- 

 creafed the number of their people, and thereby created difcontent; all 

 which however were afterward well made up by a communication of 

 the Englifh trade and colonies to Scotland, the refult of the more happy 

 confolidating union in the year 1707. 



The refort of the Scottifh nobles to the court (which their anceftors had 

 fhunned as much as pollible) completed the union of London and Well- 

 minfter, by converting the antient country villas and gardens of the ci - 

 tizens, and the interjacent cottages, into a continued llreet, which is called 

 the Strand. 



King James, at his acceffion to the crown of England, called in all the 

 fhips of war, as well as the numerous privateers which the Englifli mer- 

 chants, during Queen Elizabeth's reign, had fo fuccefsfully employed 

 againft Spain, and by which they had done infinite damage to the com- 

 merce of that nation, declaring himfelf to be at peace with all the world. 

 The king's pacific difpofition gave an opportunity to mercantile and co- 

 lonizing adventurers to plant and improve tlie colonies of Virginia, New 

 England, Bermudas, and Newfoundland (if the laft may even at this day 

 be termed a colony) as alfo to make a confiderable progrefs in the trade 

 to the Eaft-Indies. The royal navy too was increafed in his reign to al- 

 mofl double the number of Qiieen Elizabeth's own fliips of war, viz, 

 from thirteen to twenty-four men of war. The largefi: of Queen Eliza- 

 beth's fhips at her death was of 1000 tons, carrying 340 mariners, and 

 40 cannon ; and the fmallefl: of 600 tons, carrying 150 mariners, and 

 30 cannon, befide fmaller veffels occafionally hired of private owners. 



* King Jaires faid i-f his pictleccfTor Eliz.abclll, ' that HiC \vr.5 cnt, who in wifdom and felicity of 

 * government lurpalfcd all princes finue the days of Augiiftus.' [ /^Wwoorf'j Miinoin, />. 2&.j An 

 -Excellent comparifon. M, i 



