List of Jacobean union tracts facts for kids

King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England in 1603. This meant he ruled both countries. He really wanted to unite England and Scotland into one big country called "Great Britain." This idea caused a lot of discussion and debate. Many people wrote books, essays, and papers about whether this union was a good idea, how it should happen, or if it should happen at all. These writings are called Jacobean union tracts. They show us what people were thinking about this big change back in the early 1600s.

The Big Idea of Uniting England and Scotland

When King James took the English throne, he dreamed of a full union between his two kingdoms. This wasn't just about him being king of both. He wanted one government, one set of laws, and even one name for the new country. This idea led to many discussions in Parliament and among scholars. People on both sides wrote down their thoughts, arguments, and ideas. These writings are what we call "tracts" or "treatises." They were like the opinion pieces or detailed reports of their time.

Writers from Scotland

Many Scottish thinkers shared their views on the union. They often focused on making sure Scotland was an equal partner in any new arrangement.

• Sir Thomas Craig wrote De Unione Regnorum Britanniae Tractatus around 1604. This important work was published much later, in 1909.
• John Gordon wrote a sermon called EnΩtikon or a Sermon of the Union of Great Britain in 1604. He preached it to King James himself. Gordon also wrote A Panegyrique of Congratulation for the Concord of the Realmes of Great Britain in 1603, which was first in French and then translated.
• David Hume of Godscroft wrote De Unione Insulae Britanniae Tractatus in 1605. He strongly believed that if the countries united, they should be equal partners. He also wrote a second part, Tractatus Secundus, which wasn't published at the time.
• James Maxwell outlined his ideas in Britaines Union in Love in 1604. He believed that God wanted the union to happen.
• Robert Pont wrote De Unione Britanniæ in Latin in 1604, which means Of the Union of Britayne. This was a dialogue discussing the benefits of uniting the kingdoms.
• John Russell wrote A treatise of the happie and blissed Unioun, sharing his thoughts on the benefits of the union.

Writers from England

English writers also contributed to the debate. Some were for the union, others against it, and many offered different ideas on how it should work.

• Several anonymous writers created manuscripts (handwritten papers) discussing the union.
  • One manuscript, A Briefe Replication to the Answers of the Objections Against the Union, addressed concerns from the House of Commons (like today's Parliament).
  • Another, A Discourse against the Union, looked at how other European countries had united, finding few good examples of a full "statutory union" (union by law).
  • A Discourse on the Proposed Union between England and Scotland rejected the idea of a full legal union.
  • A discourse on the union as being triple-headed was against a union that would combine trade and laws.
  • The Divine Providence in the misticall and reall union of England and Scotland also touched on the idea of God's will in the union.
  • A treatise about the Union of England and Scotland was another general discussion.
  • In 1604, Pro Unione argued for the union and was against Catholics.
  • Rapta Tatio, also from 1604, supported a legal union.
  • Union by Concurrency of the Homager State with the Superior suggested ways to achieve a fuller union without needing Parliament's full approval.

• Francis Bacon, a very famous English writer and thinker, wrote two important pieces:
  • A Brief Discourse touching the Happy Union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in 1603, where he supported uniting the basic laws of both countries.
  • Certain Articles or Considerations touching the Union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in 1604, written for the special commission that was set up to discuss the union.

• William Clerk wrote Ancillans Synopsis, supporting the views of John Thornborough.
• Sir William Cornwallis wrote The Miraculous and Happie Union of England and Scotland in 1604, which was very much in favor of the union.
• John Dodderidge wrote A breif consideracion of the Unyon of twoe kingedomes.
• Alberico Gentili wrote De Unione Regnorum Britanniae in 1605. He was a legal expert and thought a "perfect union" was best, looking at it from a civil law point of view.
• John Hayward wrote A Treatise of Union of the Two realmes of England and Scotland in 1604. He suggested that the common law of England and the Scottish legal system should be partly combined.
• Sir Henry Savile wrote Historicall Collections.
• Sir Henry Spelman wrote Of the Union.
• John Thornborough wrote A Discourse plainely proving the evident Utilitie and urgent necessitie of the desired happie Union of the two famous Kingdomes of England and Scotland in 1604. This was a response to the House of Commons, who were against changing the king's title to "King of Great Britain." He also wrote an undated pamphlet called The Joiefull and Blessed Reuniting the two mighty and famous Kingdomes, England and Scotland, in their ancient name of Great Brittaine, which looked at past examples of unions.

These writings show how complex and important the idea of uniting England and Scotland was in the early 17th century. While a full union didn't happen right away, these discussions laid the groundwork for the future.