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.

MARGARET MAID OF NORWAY (1286-90)
The Maid of Norway was 3 when she became Queen of Scotland. The Guardians sent envoys to Edward I (Alexander III's brother-in-law) seeking his advice. Cunningly, Edward, who wanted to be recognized as the overlord of Scotland, arranged a dispensation from the Pope for a marriage between his son and the young queen. By the Treaty of Birgham-on-Tweed, the Scottish agreed to the marriage. Their terms at first seemed to allow for Scotland's independence but there were qualifications. Edward, the heir, was to receive a personal right to the Scottish inheritance if the Prince of Wales (Edward) and Margaret, or either of them, should have no heir, and Edward remarried. He could then pass the right to Scotland to his heirs by another wife. How this would have turned out, we cannot know because Margaret died on the voyage from Norway, thus bringing into question who had the right to the Scottish throne. It has been argued that if the marriage had succeeded that England and Scotland would have been united and three centuries of bloody warfare would have been avoided. But this argument can be countered with what we know of Edward, that to him 'union' meant 'suzerainty' and his methods to exploit this opportunity were characterized by arrogance and brutality which in effect aroused a native patriotism and hatred of England in the Scots and "made the idea of union intolerable to Scottish hearts." The death of the Maid of Norway ended the House of Canmore.

Source: http://www.nwlink.com/~scotlass/newpage1.htm

It is time to stop combing the library but we can not quit without some quotes from The Pocket Book of Scottish Quotations another great History bookshelf resident. Let's see what quotes we can find.

This month we continue with the subject of love.

The Yellow-haired Laddie sat doon on yon brae,
Cries - Milk the ewes, Lassiel Let nane o' them gae!
And ay she milked, and aye she sang -
The Yellow-haired Laddie shall be my gudeman!
Allan Ramsay ,The Yellow-Haired Laddie

While hard and fast I held her in my grips,
My very saul came lowping to my lips.
Allan Ramsay , The Gentle Shepherd

Love is ane fervent fire
Kendillit without desire;
Short pleasure, lang displeasure,
Repentence is the hire
Alexander Scott (c. 1520-c. 1590), A Rondel of Luve

Whatten ane glaikit fule am I
To slay myself with melancholy,
Sen weill I ken I may nocht get her?
Alexander Scott, To Luve Unluvit