Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII's sister, was married to James IV of Scotland.

Somerset hoped to effect the union more directly by the marriage of Edward VI and Mary Queen of Scots.

That a party of enlightened statesmen in England should constantly keep the union in mind, is less remarkable under the circumstances than that there should have been built up a considerable body of Scotchmen aiming at the same goal.

Notwithstanding the vitality of patriotism and the tenacity with which small nations usually refuse to merge their own identity in a larger whole, very strong motives called forth the existence of an English party.

One favorable condition was the feudal disorganization of society.