- Making the Act of Union
- The 1690s: A Troubled Decade
- Years of Crisis 1700-1705
- Negotiating the Articles of Union 1705-06
- The commissioners
- The course of negotiations
- The Articles: constitution and trade
- The Articles: taxes and duties
- The Articles: legal and miscellaneous
- Finalisation of the Articles
- Ratification: October 1706-March 1707
- Opinion and debate
- End of the Scottish Parliament
- 1 May 1707 - The Union comes into effect
- Bought and Sold for English Gold?
The Articles: legal and miscellaneous
Article 18: In Scotland the laws regulating trade, customs and excises were to be the same as those applying in England. All other laws within Scotland were to remain in force as before, except those inconsistent with the treaty, and could be altered in future by the Parliament of Great Britain. All matters enshrined in Scottish law concerning 'private right' were to remain unchanged.
Glossary
- Private rights
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Rights or privileges that individuals might have or exercise by virtue of private grants, e.g. from members of the Scottish aristocracy, or under Scottish law in relation to the holding of property
- Court of Exchequer
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Part of the Scottish legal system with jurisdiction over revenue matters. In 1708, under the terms of the Union, the Court was re-established on the model of the English Court of Exchequer. It was presided over by 'exchequer barons' who were of the same rank as judges in other courts. It was abolished in 1875 and merged with the new High Court.
- Royal Burghs of Scotland
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Scottish cities and towns founded by royal charter. Burghs returned members to the Scottish Parliament, appointed bailies (magistrates), and had special trading privileges.
Family Tree
- Download PDF (1.1MB)
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Family tree of the English and Scottish royal dynasties.
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• © Palace of Westminster
Article 19: The Scottish legal system and its courts was to remain unchanged, but subject to any future change or improvement by the Parliament of Great Britain. A new Scottish Court of Exchequer was to be established to decide all cases concerning the customs and excise with the same powers as the Court of Exchequer in England. The Scottish Privy Council was to remain for the time being. The qualifications required of those appointed to the Scottish judiciary were tightened.
Article 20: All inherited offices and jurisdictions, and those held for life, were to be treated as private rights of property under the laws of Scotland and were to remain unchanged.
Article 25: Laws and statutes of either kingdom that were contrary to the terms of the Articles were to become void.
Miscellaneous
Article 16: The Scottish currency was to be standardised with English currency.
Article 17: Weights and measures were to be standardised throughout the United Kingdom in line with English practice.
Article 21: The rights and privileges of the Royal Burghs of Scotland were to remain unchanged.
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The Articles: taxes and duties