Folk now were bit by imperialist bugs,
Future wealth, foreign trade, seductive tugs
On everyone's minds and purse strings as well,
Founded the Firm, many shares they did sell,1
Bar the reluctance of Willie (the three),
To open his purse and spend a bawbee.
Pledged English money was then taken out,
Near half Scotland's wealth, or just there about,2
Was raised for the cost of Paterson's plan,3
(Now Bill was a Scot but also the man,
Trailblazed England's Bank, an ambitious lad),4
Who led the proud fleet when farewell they bade5
Set fair their course for America's land,
On Panama's Isthmus: thin longish strand,
On Spain's Darien they set out their stall,
Clay pipes and bonnets, the odd Paisley shawl,
Stockings and slippers, a few periwigs,
Natives, though nosy, preferred their own cigs.
Business was slow and the sales reps went mad,
Died many from fever; prospects looked bad,
The Spanish attacked; from England no aid,6
Abandoned the scheme, a dear price was paid7
Bankrupted Scots blamed Will and his cronies,8
Spanish appeasement pleaded those phonies.
Queen Mary had died without having sprogs,9
Sis Anne would succeed when Will popped his clogs,10
Anne's kids were all dead---who then was her heir?
Bohemian Soph---James (six), her grand-père!11
Scots not consulted when this act was passed,12
Post Anne, other kings around they would cast,13
The English went mad, tried devious tricks,14
Check-mated the Scots---who're now in a fix.
To focus their minds George Wade had been sent,15
To Newkie with arms---all knew what that meant!
Voting took place, "Should Scots Parliament stay?"
Inducements and bribes with Lords held most sway,
Burghs and shires both narrowly voted...16
Union had won but as has been noted17
For English gold we were both bought and sold,18
Justified words, if the truth it were told19
Union of equals was pie in the skies,
"Big Brother" too ready to patronise,
Despite Scottish soldiers' valiant stance20
In warring against imperial France21
With absent Scots soldiers Lou saw his chance,22
Set sail with a fleet his aim to advance23
Jacobites' cause: enhance his own standing,
Got lost in a storm, thwarting his landing.
Folks read all about it in the Gazette,24
Or in the Courant you also could get25
Friction increased which led to a notion,
Union repeal became a Lord's motion,26
All Scottish Lords combined Whig and Tory,
Voted in favour though they were sorry,
As lose they did though just by a smidgen.
Anne had now died so off flew the pigeon27
With good news for George, son of Sophia,28
If you recall was mentioned up higher29
King Georgie (the one) aged now fifty-four,30
Hanover's "in" left the Jacobites sore
Notes
1 The Company of Scotland, 1693.
2 £400,000.
3 William Paterson, (1658-1719).
4 He founded the Bank of England in 1694.
5 Left Leith, July 1698.
6 Fort St Andrew lost, 1699.
7 2,000 men and over £200,000.
8 William III, not Bill Paterson.
9 1694.
10 1702.
11 Wife of the Elector of Hanover.
12 English Act of Settlement, 1701.
13 Scottish Act of Security, 1704.
14 English Alien Act, 1705.
15 General Wade of later Highlands road building fame led a force to Newcastle.
16 The Lords voted 42-19 while the Burghs voted 30-20 and the Shires voted 38-30 all for union.
17 Union of Parliaments, 1 May 1707.
18 Robert Burns in "Such a parcel of rogues in a nation".
19 Scots £ worth one twelfth of English £.
20 War of The Spanish Succession, (1702-13).
21 Battle of Bleinham, 1704.
22 Louis XIV, King of France.
23 1708.
24 Edinburgh Gazette, published in 1699.
25 Edinburgh Courant, (1705-10).
26 House of Lords, 1713.
27 1714.
28 George I, (r.1714-1727).
29 James VI's Granddaughter.
30 The first Hanovarian king.
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