Including the fact that the kingdom had no reciprocal export trade and its once-thriving industries such as shipbuilding were in deep decline; goods that were in demand had to be bought from England for sterling, the late 17th century was a difficult period for Scotland which included the 1690s, Scotland's coldest decade in the past 750 years, and its economy was relatively small, its range of exports very limited and it was in a weak position in relation to England.
Including the fact that the kingdom had no reciprocal export trade and its once-thriving industries such as shipbuilding were in deep decline; goods that were in demand had to be bought from England for sterling, the late 17th century was a difficult period for Scotland which included the 1690s, Scotland's coldest decade in the past 750 years, and its economy was relatively small, its range of exports very limited and it was in a weak position in relation to England.