Colin Helling, The Navy and Anglo-Scottish Union, 1608-1707 by Thomas Malcomson

Colin Helling puts forward the position that the Royal Navy and its responsibilities to both Scotland and England under the regal union of 1608 contributed to the parliamentary union of 1707.The Royal Navy, in being the Crown's navy, and the single Crown ruling in both nations, was the single force common to both countries.Helling acknowledges, however, that it was not a typically shared institution, since the navy's materiel and monetary resources and overall control resided in England.Over the course of the seventeenth century, the realization of the navy's importance in shielding Scotland, to prevent invasion of England via the Scottish borders, came into clear focus, playing an important role in the political union.In the first portion of this story, from 1608 through to 1640, England and Scotland struggled to sort out jurisdictional issues under the royal union.Scotland did not have the resources for a permanent navy, nor the tariff base to help support the English navy.What they did have was an extensive fishing ground to which they allowed England access in return for naval protection.The Dutch maritime strength, both in naval and fishing fleets, drove this development forward.Yet here, as throughout the century, Helling notes that English shores always drew the bulk of the navy's attention.Charles I's effort to bring religious union to the two countries resulted in two Bishop's Wars, 1639 and 1640.Though the English navy underperformed, their ability to enforce a blockade did serve to undermine Scottish security.Scottish army success against the English led, in part, to a revolt in Ireland in 1641.At peace with England, Scotland offered to have its army deal with the Irish rebels, if the English provided naval protection for the convoy.The Scottish parliament could not afford transport and naval protection.England sent two ships.Over the next two years, the two countries negotiated a Scots guard, consisting of English ships to protect the Scottish coast and shipping.Scotland's reliance on English naval power proved catastrophic as Cromwell invaded the northern country in 1650-51.English ships supported the army allowing for its concentration and victories.The Scots were even unable to muster privateers to harass English shipping.Helling suggests that at the point of Restoration the Scottish elite had realized the importance of naval defence.The First and Second Dutch Wars further underlined the need for a single navy to protect the two countries.In mid-century, battle tactics shifted from pell mell to line of battle.Larger ships with more powerful guns were involved, increasing the capital outlay, maintenance costs, and harbour

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