An Essay At Removing National Prejudices against a Union with Scotland ｜ 6

[6] Since this we have had four Conjunctures, in which the closer Union we are now to treat about, has been in some more than common manner enter’d upon, and which I may say were especially proper to have brought it to pass.

1. The First under King Edward the VI. when the Protestant Religion being just settled here, England courted her Sister Scotland to joyn Hands, and become one Family, under that good Prince : It was the first Juncture that we read of, that England was governed by a young unmarry’d King, and Scotland by a young unmarry’d Queen ; at the same time nothing was so natural, as that by Marriage the Kingdom would become one in the next Blood of both Races.

The English made the Offer first in Henry the VIIIth’s time, and now renew’d it, and the Contempt the Scots seem’d to show of it, and which appear’d to be the Faction of the Popish Party, fearing the Reformation, provok’d the English to a War ; in which the Scots were overthrown in the great Battle at Pinky or Mascelburgh.

’Twas at this time the famous Declaration was emitted by the Duke of Somerset, the English General, when though he was Conquerour, he told the Scots, he came not to conquer them, but unite with them, and to offer them all the Advantages of the English Amity. Some of the most significant Expressions of which Declaration, are such as these.

We Conquer, and yet we propose Peace ; We gain Victory by War, and we offer Amity and Friendship by Peace ; We seek not Conquest, but Alliance, that you may be united in all things with us, in Marriage, in Trade, and all the Advantages of a lasting Amity.

If any Man pelase to read the said Declaration at large, too long to be incerted here, he will easily see that Age had quite different Thoughts from us, concerning a Treaty with Scotland ; that they knew a Possession of Conquest would never keep Scotland ; and that Union, not Victory, was the common Interest of this Nation.