Editing Margaret, Maid of Norway (section)

=== Marriage negotiations ===
[[File:Government2.jpg|thumb|The [[Great Seal of Scotland]] used by the government of the realm after the death of King Alexander III]]

In May 1289, Eric II sent envoys to Edward I as part of the kings' unfolding discussion about the future of Margaret, whom they called "lady and queen". The Scots could only observe the negotiations between the two kings as Margaret was still with her father.{{sfn|Duncan|2002|p=179}} 

Eric was indebted to Edward, and Edward was determined to make the most of the situation. The guardians, accompanied by Bruce, finally met with English and Norwegian envoys at [[Salisbury]] in October. The [[Treaty of Salisbury]] was drawn up on 6 November 1289, stating that Eric and Margaret, "queen and heir of the kingdom", asked Edward to intervene on behalf of his grandniece so "that she could ordain and enjoy therein as other kings do in their kingdoms".{{sfn|Duncan|2002|p=180}} 

Margaret was to be sent, by 1 November 1290, to England directly or via Scotland. Once the Scots could assure Edward that Scotland was peaceful and safe, he would send her to them. Edward was allowed to choose her husband, though her father retained the right to veto the choice. At Edward's request, a [[papal dispensation]] permitting Margaret to marry her granduncle's son, [[Edward of Caernarfon]], was issued on 16 November 1289.{{sfn|Duncan|2002|p=182}} 

The guardians and other prelates and magnates wrote that they were firmly in favour of the English match for "the lady Margaret queen of Scotland, our lady". It was strongly implied that Margaret's husband would be king, and Edward insisted on referring to Margaret as queen to speed up the accession of his own son, although the Scots themselves normally described her only as their lady.{{sfn|Duncan|2002|pp=181–183}}

Negotiations about Margaret's marriage, [[dower]], succession, and the nature of the intended [[personal union]] between England and Scotland continued into 1290. A lavishly provisioned ship failed to fetch the Maid in May because of diplomatic difficulties.{{sfn|Prestwich|1988|p=361}} The [[Treaty of Birgham]], agreed on 18 July, provided that Scotland was to remain fully independent despite the personal union{{sfn|Reid|1982|p=79}} and that Margaret alone would be [[Scottish coronation|inaugurated]] as monarch at [[Scone, Scotland|Scone]].{{sfn|Barrow|1990|p=135}}