The antiquarism and unionism of George Saltern

The article considers the basic aspects of the unionist idea, which became relevant after James I (1603-1625) succeeded to the English crown. James I declared immediately that he intended to transform the union of the English, Scottish and Irish crowns to the union of the kingdoms. James saw himself as the head of a new empire and the founder of a new nation. Despite the Parliament of England dragging out the Union and the common commission of Scottish and English parliaments failing to elaborate the Union model satisfying both sides, the idea of the Union found a lot of supporters. They hoped that the Union would strengthen the island kingdom and simultaneously would preserve Scottish and English identities. The supporters of the Union used geographic, religious, linguistic and antiquarian arguments evidencing the common origin of the two nations. George Saltern was a Bristol lawyer who responded to the King's unionist inquiry and wrote the treatise “Of the Antient Lawes of Great Britane” (1605). The treatise was based on the biblical tradition and antiquarian memorial myths, and conveyed the idea about the historical integrity of both nations. The author believed that in ancient time the two nations had a similar origin, the commonwealth and a common law. The separation and hostile disunity, which were brought about by a series of wars in the late 13 th - early 14 th centuries, had to be put to an end after the succession to the English crown had passed to the house of Stuarts in a peaceful and glorious way. The countries were to restore the integrity of old. Besides, George Saltern's unionist and antiquarian discourse unequivocally states the limits of royal power provided by the law.