Scotland became little more than an English county.
( Scotland ( ( ( became ( little more ) ) ( than ( an ( English county ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Scotland)) (VP (VBD became) (NP (RB little) (JJR more)) (PP (IN than) (NP (DT an) (JJ English) (NN county)))) (. .)))
Scotland was hardly better than an English county. 
( Scotland ( ( ( was ( hardly better ) ) ( than ( an ( English county ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Scotland)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (RB hardly) (JJR better)) (PP (IN than) (NP (DT an) (JJ English) (NN county)))) (. .)))