The accession of James VI to the English throne saw an entourage of Scottish nobles, courtiers and servants follow him to London, provoking English resentment of place-seekers
In the previous issue of History Scotland, we explored the basic shape of the Scottish diaspora in England between 1603 and the middle of the 18th century. We saw that Scottish migration to England, while impossible to quantify, was probably substantial, but was focused in particular on a small number of ‘hot spots’, particularly Northumberland and London. We traced the varied ways in which Scots earned their livings in England, learning that, in some cases, they ended up slipping into dangerous or marginal lifestyles.
In the second part of this study, the focus shifts towards the relationship between Scottish migrants and the society around them, and in particular, towards the question of how far those Scots assimilated in England. After considering the Scots’ reception in England, we will explore the mechanisms by which they could smooth their integration and what effect this process had on their identity.