"All of our affairs, since the union of crowns, have been managed by the advice of English ministers, and the principal offices of the kingdom filled with such men, as the court of England knew would be subservient to their designs"
About this Quote
Andrew Fletcher's statement reflects the deep anxieties and resentments present in Scotland following the Union of the Crowns in 1603, when King James VI of Scotland also became James I of England. Fletcher observes how, since this political union, Scottish governance has increasingly come under the influence of English ministers. Advisory roles, he argues, are now overwhelmingly shaped by English political interests, meaning Scottish affairs are no longer directed by true Scottish priorities. The principal offices, high administrative and governmental positions, are occupied by individuals chosen less for their merit or commitment to Scotland than for their willingness to further the agenda of England’s central government.
Fletcher’s words represent a critique of what he perceives to be the erosion of Scotland’s autonomy. The choice of language, specifically phrases such as “managed by the advice of English ministers,” implies a passive and subordinate role for Scotland in its own governance. The appointment of “such men, as the court of England knew would be subservient to their designs” suggests deliberate strategy: the English crown, according to Fletcher, ensures compliance and loyalty within Scottish leadership by installing figures amenable to English interests rather than Scottish welfare.
His observation also alludes to a loss of both power and national dignity. The Scottish elite, by accepting roles under English direction or by acting against Scotland’s self-interest for personal advancement, are complicit in this process. Fletcher exposes both English manipulation and Scottish acquiescence, presenting the situation as one where Scotland is being effectively governed as a client state rather than as a partner or equal.
The underlying sentiment is one of frustration with the political realities introduced by the union. Fletcher's critique warns of long-term consequences: diminishing sovereignty, increasing external control, and the weakening of Scotland’s institutions and identity as English influence becomes entrenched at the highest levels of power.
