O Flower of Scotland

This is for Baiduriya, Tara and Rudra.

Once there lived in Greece  a king who had a son called Gathelus. Prince Gathelus was handsome and brave, but he was also wild and headstrong. He was frequently disobedient and eventually the King had to banish Gathelus from his land. When Gathelus learnt that he was banished, he took a ship along with all his wild and brave friends and sailed away to Egypt.When they arrived in Egypt the Pharaoh greeted them kindly. The Pharaoh was in the midst of a battle, and he needed young soldiers to fight for him. He hoped that these young knights would help him fight his enemies. Soon Gathelus and his friends defeated the enemy and the Pharaoh gave them large estates as rewards. However, Gathelus wanted to marry the beautiful Princess Scota, and the Pharaoh eventually gave consent.

Gathelus lived in Egypt for many years and grew rich and prosperous. He ordered that his family take the name of his wife and be called Scots.After some years he gathered a great fleet of ships and with his family and a huge company of people, he sailed across the sea in search of another country. After many months and after weathering many storms he arrived at the shore of Spain. Gathelus and his company were tired and exhausted, but the Spaniards were not willing to give them shelter. There followed a fierce battle in which the Spaniards were defeated. Gathelus and his Scots wished to live peacefully in Spain and gradually they learnt to speak the new language, adapt to the new country and lived in peace for many years.The Scots grew to be still richer and greater than they were in Egypt. They became so powerful that once again the Spaniards were jealous and would not allow the Scots to stay in their land.Two great battles ensued, and the Scots realised that it was their immense wealth, military skills and the wisdom of Gathelus that was coming in the way of permanent settlement in Spain.

Again they set sail. This time in search of a Green Island across the sea. Gathelus with his two sons Hiberus and  Himecus and all his family and troop landed on Green Island, The Scots found the inhabitants of the Island gentle and kindly. Hiberus and Himecus opened business and trade in the Green Island. They learnt the value of agriculture in this new land of soft soil and plentiful rainfall. The islanders were happy with the Scots, and changed the name of their island to Hibernia. The island is still sometimes called by that name, although we now know it as Ireland. 

For many years the Scots lived in Hibernia. Gathelus died, in time so did Hiberus and after them ruled many kings. At last after many hundreds of years, a prince called Rothsay sailed over to the islands which lay opposite Hibernia, and took possession of them. The island upon which he first landed he called Rothesay, and to this day there is a town of that name on the island of Bute.

The Scots finding these islands fertile and suitable for breeding cattle and sheep, sailed over from Hibernia in greater numbers (with their families) till they inhabited all the little islands and also a large part of the great mainland, which was then called Albion. After several years, the northern part of Albion came to be called the land of Scots, or Scotland, just as the southern part was called the land of Angles, or England.

The story of Prince Galthelus is not a fable. Long ago when people spoke of the Scots, they meant the people who lived in Ireland. And of course Scotland took its name from those who came from Ireland and settled in today's Scotland.