The Motto of Dalziel, Earl of Carnwarth, now an attainted Title, is, "I Dare;" the reason of which is given by Crawfurd, in his Peerage of Scotland. The ancient armorial bearing of this Family was, A Man hanging on a Gallows, though it is now only a Naked Man with his Arms expanded. Some one of the Family having, perhaps, dropped the Gallows and the Rope, as deeming it an ignominious Bearing.

But to proceed to the Motto. The Historian says, that a Favourite of Kenneth II. having been hanged by the Picts, and the King being much concerned that the Body should be exposed in so disgraceful a situation, offered a large Reward to him who would rescue the Body. Alpinus, the Father of Kenneth, with many of his Nobles, had been inhumanly put to death; and the Head of the King (Alpinus), placed upon a Pole, was exposed to the Populace. It was not for the redemption of his Father's Body, that the new King, Kenneth, offered the Reward; but for that of some young Favourite, perhaps of equal age, who was thus ignominiously hanging as a public spectacle, for the King appears to have been beheaded.[301] This being an enterprize of great danger, no one was found bold enough to undertake it, till a Gentleman came to the King and said, "Dal Ziel," i.e. "I Dare," and accordingly performed the hazardous exploit. In memory of this circumstance, the Family took the above-mentioned Coat-Armour, and likewise the Name of Dalziel, with the interpretation of it, "I Dare," as a Motto. The Maiden Name (as I may call it) of this Family is not recorded, neither is the original Coat Armour of the Gentleman mentioned. These circumstances are related by Crawfurd, upon the authority of Mr. Nisbet, in his Marks of Cadency, p. 41.

Occasional changes in Coats of Arms, it is very well known, have always been common, owing to accidents and incidents, as well as atchievements, several instances of which may be seen in Camden's Remains.

Similar to the case of Dalziel, is the reason given for the Motto of Maclellan, Lord Kircudbright, which is, "Think on." Crawfurd's account is to this effect. A Company of Saracens, from Ireland, in the Reign of King James II. infested the County of Galloway, whereupon the King issued a Proclamation, declaring that "Whoever should disperse them, and bring their Captain, dead or alive, should have the Barony of Bombie for his reward." This was performed by the Son of the Laird of Bombie, who brought the Head of the Captain, on the Point of his Sword, to the King, who put him into the immediate possession of the Barony; to perpetuate which action, the Baron took for his Crest a Moor's Head, on the Point of a Sword, with the words "Think on," for his Motto.

It may be difficult to ascertain the meaning of these words; and one is at liberty either to suppose he addressed them to the King on the occasion, as if he had said "Think on your Promise:"—or they may apply to Posterity, advising them to Think on the gallant Action whereby they became ennobled: but I more incline to the former interpretation, because, in Yorkshire, which abounds with Scottish idioms, words, and proverbs, they say, "I will do so and so when I think on;" and "I would have done so and so, but I did not think on," Our expression is, "Think of it."

Maxwell, of Calderwood, has the same Motto, on a different idea. The Crest is "A Man's Head looking upright," to which the Motto seems to give a religious interpretation, and to imply, "Think on" Eternity[302].

A similar change appears to have been brought about, by religious attachments, in the Crest and Motto of Bannerman, which seems to extend to the rest of the Armorial Bearings. Sir Alexander Bannerman of Elsick, the chief, bore, "Gules, a Banner displayed Argent, and thereon a Canton Azure, charged with a St. Andrew's Cross. Crest, a Demi-Man in Armour, holding in his Right Hand a Sword Proper. Motto, Pro PatriÂ." This Bearing is by Grant, 1692; but a younger Son of this House bore (when Mr. Nisbet wrote) the Field and Banner as above, "within a Bordure Argent, charged with Four Buckles Azure, and as many Holly-Leaves Vert, alternately." Buckles, in certain case we shall see hereafter, admit of a religious interpretation, and the Holly-Leaves (quasi Holy-Leaves), seem to have a similar import, especially when added to the new Crest, viz. "A Man issuing out of the Wreath in a Priest's habit, and praying posture," with this Motto, "HÆc prestat Militia[303]." This change might possibly take place about the enthusiastic time of the Union of the two Kingdoms, when religious party spirit ran high in Scotland[304].

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Ross, Lord Ross, has the same Motto as Dalziel Earl of Carnwath; but on what pretensions does not appear.

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I shall now proceed to another conjectural interpretation, as to the Motto of Lord Napier; which is, "Ready, aye Ready." Sir Alexander Napier was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field (1513), leaving Issue Alexander, who married Margaret, the Daughter of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, ancestor of the Earls of Breadalbine. The Motto, or rather, perhaps, Slug-Horn, of the Laird of Glenorchy, was, "Follow me." On this marriage, therefore, I am led to believe that Alexander Napier might take the responsive Slug-Horn of "Ready, aye Ready," as if he had said, "always ready to follow you." This may, perhaps, prim facie, appear too hypothetical; but it is grounded upon the authority of a Friend, a Native of Scotland, who once told me that the Mottoes of the Lairds often had a reference to that of their Chief.

Something like this appears in the Motto of Fraser, late Lord Lovat, which is, "I am Ready." That Family is descended from a younger Branch, the elder having ended in Daughters. They had for their Ancestor, in the Female line, the Sister of King Robert I.; and the Motto seems, if not responsive, at least expressive of Loyalty.

This sort of Motto seems to prevail in the Family of Douglas. That of the elder Branches is, "Forward;" to which the younger Branches reply, "Jamais ArriÈre," which may, perhaps, be best translated by the vulgar Scottish expression, "Hard at your Back."

The Motto of Hay, Earl of Errol, which is, "Serva Jugum," deserves our particular attention; and is founded on a well-attested historical fact, related to this effect by Mr. Crawfurd. In the Reign of Kenneth III. (anno 980), when the Danes invaded this Island, and gave Battle to the Scots, whom they had routed at the Village of Loncarty, near Perth, a certain Husbandman of the name of Hay, who was tilling his Land, perceived his Countrymen flying before the Enemy; when he and his two Sons, arming themselves with their Plough-gear, the old Man having the Yoke of the Oxen for his own Weapon, upbraided the Scots for their Cowardice, and, after much difficulty, persuaded them to rally. They accordingly, under the Command of this unexpected Leader and his Sons, armed with Yokes and Plough-shares, renewed the Engagement; when the Danes, supposing their Enemy had received a reinforcement, fled in their turn. The King, in reward for this uncommon Service, advanced Hay to the Rank of Noblesse, and gave him as much Land as a Falcon, let loose from the Fists, should compass at one flight. The lucky Bird, says Dr. Abercrombie, seemed sensible of the merits of those that were to enjoy it; for she made a circuit of seven or eight miles long, and four or five broad; the limits of which are still extant. This Tract of Ground, continues my Author, being called Errol, the Family took from thence its designation, or title.

To these circumstances the Armorial Bearings of the Family have very strong allusions; for the Supporters are Two Labourers with each a Yoke on his Shoulder; the Crest is a Falcon; and the Motto "Serva Jugum." The Coat Armour likewise is, Argent, Three Escocheons Gules; or, to speak in the language of noble Blazonry, Pearl, Three Escutcheons Ruby; to intimate that the Father and his Two Sons had been the three fortunate Shields by which Scotland had been defended and saved.

Another Branch of the Family (Hay, Earl of Kinnoul,) gives the same Coat, with a Bordure for difference; the Supporters are likewise Two Husbandmen, the one having a Plough-share, and the other a Pick, or Spade, upon his Shoulder. The Yoke is preserved in the Crest, upon the Shoulder of a Demi-Man, from the waist upwards; and the Motto seems to refer to the rallying of the Scottish Army in these words, "Renovate Animos."

Buchanan, further tells us, with regard to the modesty of these unexpected Conquerors, that, when they were brought to the King, rich and splendid Garments were offered to them, that they might be distinguished in a Triumphal Entry which was to be made into the Town of Perth; but the old Man rejected them with a decent contempt; and, wiping the dust from his ordinary Clothes, joined the Procession, with no other distinction than the Yoke upon his shoulder, preceded and followed by the King's Train. More minute circumstances of this extraordinary Victory, obtained, after a palpable Defeat, at the instigation of one obscure Man, are related by Buchanan, to whom I refer your Lordship; and you will find it equal to any instance we have of Roman Virtue, and the Amor PatriÆ, so much boasted of among the Ancients.

Lloyd, in his Worthies, among his observations on the Life of James Hay, Earl of Carlisle, tells us a chimerical story, but on what authority I do not discover; after having mentioned slightly the above fact, that James Hay, 600 years afterwards, "saved the King of that Country from the Gowries at their House with a Cultre (or Plough-share) in his hand;" and that he had as much Land assigned him as he could ride round in two days. It does not appear from the accounts we have of the Gowry conspiracy, that any person of the name of Hay was concerned; but rather that this story has been confounded with the other, because, according to Dr. Abercrombie's account, the Land over which the Falcon flew in the first case, was in a part of Scotland known by the name of Gowry.

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Conyngham, Earl of Glencairn, has this very singular Motto, "Over Fork Over," alluding to the principal Charge upon the Shield, which is the rude and ancient Hay-Fork, called in Scotland a Shake-Fork, and is in shape not unlike the Roman letter Y.

This Bearing, some of their Heralds tell us, was official, because, they say, the Family had been Hereditary Masters of the King's Horses and Stables, of which employment this instrument was indicative. Such official Charges and Sur-charges were common in Scotland: thus, Carnegie, Earls of Southesk, charge the Breast of their Blue Eagle with a Cup of Gold, being Hereditary Cup-Bearers to the Kings of Scotland. But this will not hold good as to the Conynghams; though their Sur-charge of a Man on Horseback upon the Shake-Fork may perhaps be such an official Bearing. Different conjectures have been brought forward; and Mr. Camden and some others have interpreted the Fork to have been an Archiepiscopal Pall; for which surmise a very vague reason is given, viz. that an Ancestor of the Family was concerned in the Murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Which Bearing, Mr. Nisbet observes, would in such case operate rather as an abatement than a badge of honour[305]. This conjecture, however, will not hold good on heraldic principles; for a Pall, when used as a Charge, is very differently represented, the three ends of it being square, and even touching the borders of the Escocheon; whereas the device before us is pointed at the ends, and does not come in contact with the edges of the Shield. But what has the Pall to do with the Motto? We must therefore advert to other circumstances for an interpretation of both the reason of the Armorial Bearing and the Motto, which generally assist to explain each other. The account which comes nearest the point in the present question is given by Mr. Nisbet from Frederick Van Bassen, a Norwegian, who, he says, was a good Genealogist, and left in MS. an account of the rise of some Scottish Families, and among the rest of this of Conyngham; from which MS. Mr. Nisbet gives this account—"that Malcome, the Son of Friskine, assisting Prince Malcom (afterwards surnamed Canmore) to escape from Macbeth's tyranny, and being hotly pursued by the Usurper's Men, was forced at a place to hide his Master by forking Straw or Hay above him. And after, upon that Prince's happy accession to the Crown, he, the King, rewarded his Preserver Malcome with the Thanedom of Cunnigham, from which he and his Posterity have their Surname, and took this Figure to represent the Shake-Fork with which he, Malcome, forked Hay or Straw above the Prince, to perpetuate the happy deliverance their Progenitor had the good fortune to give to their Prince." Admitting this to be a fact, or even a legendary tale, credited by the Family when this Bearing was granted or assumed, there is an affinity between the Device and the Motto not to be found among the other conjectures.

There is another Family where the true Armorial Ensigns are illustrated by the Motto; viz. the Arms of Bailie of Lanington, which have often been blazoned as Nine Mullets or Spurrials (or 3, 3, 2, and 1); whereas it is evident they were Stars from the Motto, which is, "Quid clarius Astris?"

I make no doubt there are many others of a like kind to be found, arising from inattention or ignorance. It has been observed, that the Shake-Fork is now much obscured by an Armed Man on Horseback within an Inescocheon, which is supposed to allude to the Hereditary Office of Master of the Horse; though whether this was the case, or whether that Bearing came by alliance, may be doubtful; for Mr. Crawfurd, in his Peerage, does not give it as a part of the Family Coat of Conyngham in 1716; though the more modern Peerages have it. The shape of the Fork is more discernible in the Arms of Conyngham, Peers of Ireland, where it is not covered by a Sur-charge. The meaning of the name is local, Konyng-Ham; i.e. The King's Village or Habitation; which Etymon has been so long obscured by age, that the Lion Office, on granting Supporters to the Family, have given Two Rabbits, or Conies. The Irish Branch has different Supporters; viz. a Horse and a Buck; though it preserves the Motto.

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The Earl of Traquair has for his Motto "Judge noucht;" though there is nothing in his Armorial Bearings to which it can allude. One is therefore to look for some event interesting to the Family to ground it upon, which probably was this: Sir John Stewart, first created Baron, and afterwards Earl, of Traquair, by King Charles I. was Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, anno 1635, and remained a firm friend to the Royal Cause to the last. His adherence to it, however, drew on him the resentment of the opposite party, insomuch that he was, 1641, impeached of High Treason, and found guilty; but the Parliament submitted his punishment to the King, who ordered him a Pardon under the Great Seal, the Preamble to which sets forth the King's high opinion of his abilities and his integrity in the discharge of his duty. Upon this transaction, it seems more than possible that the Earl, alluding to the rash and cruel treatment he had received from the Parliament for his loyalty to the King, might assume the Motto "Judge noucht;" the complement of which, we all know, is, "That ye be not judged."

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Johnston, Marquis of Annandale.—The modern Motto is "Nunquam non paratus;" but in the original Motto there is History, which connects with other parts of the Bearing. The Crest is "A winged Spur," and one of the Supporters is "A Horse furnished." The Crest was taken, because the Johnstons were often Wardens of the West Borders, and active in suppressing Thieves and Plunderers, who infested them during the Wars between England and Scotland; whence was derived the original Motto, "Alight Thieves all;" commanding, either by their authority or prowess, those Thieves to surrender. The Horse as a Supporter alludes to the same circumstance, or might be considered as a Bearing of Conquest, from a Horse taken from some famous Marauder[306].

The Johnstons of Westrow, or Westerhall, have a different principal Bearing in their Arms; viz. "A Man's Heart, ensigned with an Imperial Crown proper, in base," being part of the Arms of Douglas, in memory of the apprehension of Douglas Earl of Ormond, when in rebellion against James II.[307]

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Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton.—Motto, "Through." This Motto is older than the Nobility of the Family, if my conjecture be true; as it seems to have originated from a circumstance which happened in the Reign of the Scottish King, Robert I. in England, at the Court of our King Edward II. Battles, sieges, &c. had been maintained, with various success, between the two Kings, for a long time. During these animosities Sir Gilbert Hamilton, an Englishman, happening to speak in praise of the intrepidity of Robert I. King of Scots, one of the De Spencers (John, Mr. Crawfurd says,) who was of King Edward's Bed-chamber, drew his falchion, and wounded him. Sir Gilbert, more concerned at the contumely than at the wound, and being prevented at the moment from resenting it; yet when he met his antagonist the next day in the same place, ran him through the body. On this he immediately fled for protection to the King of Scots, who gave him lands and honours for this bold vindication of his valour[308].

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The Motto of Murray, now Duke of Athol, is, "Furth, Fortune, and fill the Fetters;" but it was originally given to John Stewart, Earl of Athol, and came to the Family of Murray by an intermarriage with the Heiress of Stewart. The first Earl of Athol of the name of Stewart was constituted Lieutenant to King James III. (1457); and for his defeating, and bringing to submission, Mac-Donald, Lord of the Isles, who had rebelled, he had a special grant of several lands, and the above Motto added to his Arms[309], which seems to mean, Go forth, be successful, and fill the Fetters with the Feet of all other rebellious Subjects; for I understand "Fortune" to be a verb, and chosen probably for the sake of the alliteration. One appendage to the Arms of Murray, probably received from Stewart, has an allusion to the Motto; for the Supporter, on the Sinister side, is a Savage, with his Feet in Fetters.

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Seton, Earl of Winton (attainted). The original Motto of Lord Seton was "Invia Virtuti Via nulla;" but another was assumed by the first Earl, alluding to an additional charge which he took, by grant I presume, when he was created into that dignity with great pomp (1601) at Holy-Rood House. To the original Sword and Imperial Crown which he bore in an Inescocheon with a Tressure, was added a Blazing Star of Twelve Points, with this new Motto, "Intaminatis fulget honoribus[310]," expressive of the unshaken Loyalty of the Family, which the last Peer unhappily forgot, and forfeited in the Rebellion 1715.

The Slughorn of the Family is Set on[311], which, by amplification, I apprehend, means Set upon your Enemy, as an incitement to ardour; and is rather analogous to the Motto Think on, of the Lord Kirkcudbright, before-mentioned.

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Bruce, Earl of Elgin. This, and other Branches of that ancient and once Kingly Family, has, for its Motto, "Fuimus," alluding strongly to their having been formerly in possession of the Crown of Scotland. The Crest is likewise denotative of Royal pretensions, viz. "A Hand holding a Sceptre." Something, however, is worth observing in several of the subordinate Branches, more distant from the original Stock, where one may discern the gradual dispirited declension of the Family, in point of Regal claims. One private House, indeed, bears the Lion Rampant in the Arms, and likewise the Crest, and the Motto of the Peer. Another descendant drops the Lion in the Arms, and only bears for Crest, "A Hand holding a Sword," with this modest Motto, "Venture forward." A third seems to give up all for lost, by the Crest, viz. "A Setting Sun," with this Motto, "Irrevocable;" while a fourth appears to relinquish a Temporal for the hope of an Eternal Crown, by this Motto, "Spes mea supernÈ."[312]

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Gordon, Duke of Gordon. The primitive Bearing of this Family was, "Azure, a Boar's Head couped, Or;" though at present it carries "Azure, Three Boars Heads couped, Or." The first is the more honourable Charge, as the Unit is always accounted in Heraldry preferable to Numbers, not only on account of its simplicity[313], but in a religious sense (often couched in Armory), as it betokens God the Father, while the Charge of Three has the like reference to the Trinity. The traditional story, however, relating to the particular Coat Armour before us, is told by Douglas, in his Peerage of Scotland, to this effect; viz. that in the Reign of King Malcolm Canmore, in the eleventh century, a valiant Knight, of the name of Gordon, came into Scotland, but from whence is not said, and was kindly received by that Prince. The Knight, not long afterwards, killed a Wild Boar, which greatly infested the Borders[314], when Malcolm gave him a grant of lands in the Shire of Berwick. These lands, according to the custom of those times, the Knight called Gordon, after his own name, and settled upon them, taking a Boar's Head for his Armorial Ensign, in memory of his having killed "that monstrous animal[315]." This may seem a trivial reason in itself, but we have another similar tradition in the Arms of Forbes[316].

In process of time the Gordons, according to the practice in Heraldry, increased the number of Boars Heads to three, two and one; and thus they continue to be borne at this day, with proper differences; one of which, being particular, I shall mention, viz. Gordon, Earl of Aboyne. The reference contained in the Motto of this Branch seems merely to be confined to the Cheveron placed between the Boars Heads, in these words, "Stant cÆtera Tigno," which last word is the acknowledged Latin word for the Cheveron[317]. This is, perhaps, the greatest compliment ever paid to the Cheveron, which is accounted one of the humblest Charges known, in Heraldic language, by the name of Ordinaries.

Thus much for the Arms of the Duke of Gordon, and for what has been said both of the Arms and Motto of the Earl of Aboyne; but the Motto of the Ducal Branch of the Family is yet unaccounted for, which is "Bydand." This, I make no doubt, is a compound word, and of no little antiquity; and I take the resolution of it to be, by contraction, Byde th' End, with the letter D in the place of the TH; for the Glossarist to some ancient Scottish Poems, published from the MSS. of George Bannatyne, at Edinburgh, 1770, p. 247, renders the word Bidand, pendente Lite. See also the Glossary, ad calcem. As to its import, it may refer to Family transactions, in two points of view; viz. either to loyal or religious attachments. In support of the first, we find that Sir Adam Gordon was a strenuous asserter of the claims of the Bruces, and peculiarly active in the cause of King Robert I. (in that long contest), who accordingly rewarded him with a large grant of land, sufficient to secure his interest, and make him byde the end of the contest as a feudatory under that King. The Son and Grandson of Sir Adam were both faithful to the interest of the Bruces, and had the above grant confirmed by King David II.[318] If this is not satisfactory, we have instances of acts of piety done by the early Branches of this Family, sufficient to warrant the Motto on the interpretation here given; for in the Reign of Malcolm IV. the Family had large possessions, part of which they devoted to religious purposes, by considerable endowments and benefactions given to the Abbey of Kelso[319].

I incline, however, more strongly to the military sense of the Motto; and the more, as it is borne by other Families, manifestly with that reference, though I cannot account for the connexion of the two Houses. Thus, for instance, Leith, in one Branch, has for the Motto, "Semper Fidus;" in another, "Trusty to the End;" and in a third, "Trusty and Bydand;" in this last, I think the contraction of the last word, as above suggested, is more clearly established[320].

In these Mottoes of Leith, it must be confessed there is more appearance of a religious application than in that of the Duke of Gordon, as the Armorial Bearings are partly compounded of Cross-Croslets, and the Crest of the first is likewise a Turtle-dove.

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Elphinston, Lord Elphinston; has for his Motto "Caus Causit[321]," or, as written by Mr. Nisbet, "Cause caused it."[322]

In Almon's Short Peerage of Scotland Caus or Cause is interpreted Chance, which leads us to search for some casual circumstance in the history of the Family, whereby it was elevated.

Alexander Elphinston was ennobled by King James IV. in the time of our Henry VIII.; to whom a fatal incident happened, to which his Descendants might have a retrospect when the Motto was assumed. Some branches of the story are controverted; but enough is left by tradition to found our conjecture, and for the Family to rest the choice of their Motto upon. This Alexander, the first Peer, was slain at the Battle of Flodden Field (1513), together with King James IV.; and being, in his person and face, very like the King, his body was carried by the English to Berwick, instead of that of the King, and treated with some indignity. The controvertible part of the circumstance is, that the King escaped by this means, and lived to reward the Family who had thus lost their valiant Chief; but strong proofs are to be found, that the King was actually slain, though by some accounts not in the Battle, as his body was identified by more than one of his confidential Servants, who recognized it by certain private indelible marks[323].

Buchanan allows that the King escaped from the Battle; but adds, that he was killed the same day by a party of his own Subjects, whose interest it was to take him off, to avoid a punishment due to themselves for cowardice in the preceding Battle[324].

Holinshed tells us, that in order to deceive the Enemy, and encourage his own Troops, the King caused several of his Nobles to be armed and apparelled like himself[325]; and this practice, at that time of day, seems not to have been uncommon; for Shakspeare makes Richard say, during the Battle of Bosworth Field,

Let this pass for truth; yet was Lord Elphinston's case the most remarkable, and most deserving of favour to his posterity, on account of the insults offered to his body, under a supposition that it was the body of the King. After the death of James IV. a long Minority ensued, and consequently a Regency; but what reward the Family of Elphinston had, or what weight they bore in the Reign of James V. or in that of Queen Mary, History is not minute enough to inform us; though we find, that the Great Grandson of the first Peer slain at Flodden-Field was of the Privy Council, and High Treasurer to James VI. (anno 1599) before his accession to the Crown of England. This King was too well read not to have known what passed in the Reign of his Great Grandfather respecting the first Lord Elphinston; and I am willing to suppose the Descendants of that Peer were equally informed of the fact above related; and that the Lord Treasurer Elphinston modestly imputed his elevation ultimately to that circumstance, and allusively took the Motto before us.

Lest this surmise should not be satisfactory, I will offer another on a very different ground, arising from the Crest, which is, "A Lady from the middle richly attired, holding a Castle in her Right Hand, and in her Left a Branch of Laurel." This throws the matter open to another conjecture; for the Bearing of the Lady, with the Castle in her Right Hand, may well be supposed to relate to Alliances; several of the Ancestry of the Family, which came originally from Germany in the time of Robert the Bruce (in the Reign of our Edward II.) having married Heiresses[327], whereby they obtained Lands, Castles, Power, and Nobility. These events often repeated, which may be termed the effects of chance, give us latitude to suppose the Motto may, on the other hand, relate to those casual means, whereby the Family rose to the honour of the Peerage.

These are the only two conjectures I have to offer; and I do not at present meet with any other historical matter to warrant a third.

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Leslie, Earl of Rothes.—The Motto of this Family is "Grip (or Gripe) Fast[328]," and seems to contain a double allusion; first to the old Motto "Firm Spe," and afterwards to some parts of the additional Armorial Appendages. I call it the old Motto, from the account Mr. Nisbet gives of the original Bearing and its adjuncts; viz. "Argent, on a Fess, between two Cross-Croslets Azure, Three Buckles Or." Crest, "A Griphon's (or Griffin's) Head couped Proper, charged with a Cross-Croslet fitched Argent." Motto, "Firm Spe."[329] Herein the Cross-Croslets repeated, taken together with the new Motto, admit of a religious allusion, as holding fast the Faith of Christ with firm Hope, expressed allegorically by the Head of the Griffin. It may therefore be conceived, that the change of the Motto might take place after the Family, on being ennobled, chose Griffins for Supporters; thereby giving a loose and whimsical translation, if I may call it so, of "Firm Spe," by the words "Grip Fast." The ancient Bearings of the Cross-Croslets are now discharged, nothing remaining on the Field but a Bend, instead of a Fess, charged with Three Buckles; so that the meaning, couched under the Cross-Croslets, the Griffin's Head, and the original words of the Motto, is entirely lost: and at present nothing remains but a quaint allusion to the group of those chimerical Animals. The Buckles, borne first on the Fess, and afterwards on the Bend (a Change not uncommon as a Difference, in token of Cadency or Cadetship in Scotland), may likewise have regard to that strong metaphorical description of Christian Defence against the Powers of Darkness in the Sixth Chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians, or to the First Epistle to the Thessalonians (Chap. v. 21). "Hold fast that which is good;" viz. the Faith and Hope in the Cross of Christ. In support of this idea, as being primarily religious, it appears that one subordinate Branch of the Family (Leslie of Talloch) bears for a Crest, not a Griffin's, but "An Eagle's Neck, with Two Heads erased Sable;" with the Motto "Hold Fast:" and another has for its Motto "Keep Fast:"[330] so that Grip, or Gripe Fast, may be considered as a mere canting Motto, arising from old Heraldic wit. Leslie of Burdsbank, carries the quartered Coat of the Earl of Rothes, with Differences; with the Crest, "A Buckle Or," and the Motto "Keep Fast."

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I close this attempt (for I call it nothing more) with a singular Motto of a Private Family.

Haig, or perhaps Haigh, of Bemerside, has for the Family Motto "Tyde what may," founded on a Prophecy of Sir Thomas Lermont (well known in Scotland by the name of "Thomas the Rhymer," because he wrote his Prophecies in Rhyme), who was an Herald in the Reign of Alexander III. He is said to have foretold the time of his own death; and particularly, among other remarkable occurrences, the Union of England and Scotland, which was not accomplished till the Reign of James VI. some hundreds of years after this Gentleman died. These Prophecies were never published in a perfect state; but the Epitome of them is well known in Scotland, though Mr. Nisbet says it is very erroneous. The original, he tells us, is a Folio MS. which Mr. Nisbet seems to have seen; for he adds, "Many things are missing in the small book which are to be met with in the original, particularly these two lines, concerning his (Sir Thomas Lermont's) neighbour, Haig of Bemerside:

"And," continues Mr. Nisbet, "his Prophecy concerning that ancient Family has hitherto been true; for since that time till this day (1702) the Haigs have been Lairds of that place."[331]

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"Cave Adsum" is the Motto of Jardin, of Applegirth, Bart. in Scotland. The Ingredients (as they may be called) to which it alludes, are very dispersed, and to be collected from the Supporters, the Bearing, and Crest: the Arms having "Three Mullets charged on the Chief;" the Supporters, "An Armed Man and a Horse;" and the Crest, "A Mullet or Spur-Rowel." This might allude to Justs and Tournaments[332].

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I shall conclude with one Irish Motto; that of Fitzgerald—"Crom a Boo;" a Cri de Guerre, or Term of Defiance. A Boo means the Cause, or the Party, and Crom was the ancient Castle of the Fitz-Geralds. So Butler a Boo meant the Ormond Party, the Cri on the other side; by which they insulted each other, and consequently frays and skirmishes ensued[333].

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Simon Fitz-Alan had a Son Robert, who, being of a fair complexion, was called Boyt, or Boyd, from the Celtic or Gallic word Boidh, which signifies fair or yellow[334], from which he assumed his Sur-name, and from him all the Boyds in Scotland are descended[335].

Canmore is a Sobriquet. So might GoldBerry, from the colour of Boyd's hair. Sobriquets common in England and France; there was scarce a French King without some addition, relative to their persons, or to their good or bad qualities.

Goldberry is a Slughorn, for the Motto is Confido, as applying to the confidence the Chief had in the Vassals belonging to the Clan; though by the modern Crest (a Thumb and two Fingers pointing to Heaven) it seems to admit of a religious interpretation.

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