I imagine the first question anyone will ask is what is a column called "Scottish Flotsam". I guess we will have to begin with what is "flotsam". Among the definitions of the word are "things washed ashore" or "miscellaneous trifles". Well, we believe you can find some great treasure on the ocean shore. But -- you will never know what you will find or its value. So we decided that is what this column is - flotsam. We wanted a place to put things that didn't fit anywhere else and might be of interest. Each item could be a column itself and might be some day but for now it will be the flotsam, which washes our way.

According to James VIA (1566 - 1625) he was invited on 5 August 1600 to Cowrie Castle at Perth by Alexander, Master of Ruthven (c1581 - 1600), to meet someone who possessed a remarkable quantity of gold. But on arriving at the castle, again , so the King claimed, he discovered the real purpose of the invitation was to assassinate him. However, his shouts fro assistance were heard by his retainers and in the ensuing melee both the Master and his brother, John, Earl of Cowrie (c1577 -1600) were conveniently killed.

What really happened will always remain a mystery but it was not the first time that the powerful Ruthven family had seized the King. In fact, William, Earl of Cowrie, (1541 - 84), had done precisely this in 1582. On the other hand it could simply have been some sudden dispute between the parties that sparked off the violence, perhaps regarding the money the crown owed the Ruthvens. What is undeniable is that James used the incident as a means of testing the loyalty of the Edinburgh clergy who were required to summon their congregations and offer prayers for the royal deliverance. Robert Bruce (c1554 -1631), the solitary minister who persisted in refusing to do this, was banished to Inverness for his recalcitrance.
Willson, D. H., King James VIA and I, Jonathan Cape, 1956

Now lets look at some specific dates:

1911 - October 4
Dr Joseph Bell, distinguished Edinburgh surgeon and the prototype for Conan Doyle' Sherlock Holmes, died, aged 74.

1906 - October 13
Forward, Scotland's first Socialist weekly, was started.

1579 -October 20
An overoptimistic Act of Parliament urged the poor to seek sanctuary in the alms-houses of Scotland.

1635 - October 27
Catholic noblemen were making hurried arrangements to bring their sons home from abroad where they were being secretly educated. A new edict of the Scots Parliament threatened severe penalties if caught.

Source - Scotching the Myths by Jim Hewiston can be found in the History Book Section of Scottish Radiance.

It is time to stop combing the library but we can not quit without some quotes from Quotable Scots another great History bookshelf resident. Let's see what quotes we can find.

Inertia

Extreme busyness, whether at school or college, kirk, or market, a symptom of deficient vitality.
Robert Louis Stevenson An Apology of Idlers.

A bunch of lazy gits.
James Lambie, manager of Partick Thistle, describing his players a after a defeat against Rangers, Daily Record, 1995.

Cha bu ruith leam ach leum.

I would jump at it, not run.

You can find more articles in the archive under Scottish Flotsam.