But it is time to lead to the matter I proposed, viz. the Scottish Mottoes; and yet, before I proceed to them, I wish to premise something on the grounds of a few of the Armorial Bearings among the most ancient Scottish Families, which have originated from History.
The principal Family of the name of
Douglas
carries "A Man's Heart Gules," as a fixed principal Charge, because the Good Sir James Douglas, as he is styled, carried the Heart of King Robert I. (of the name of Bruce) to Jerusalem, and there interred it[283]. The original Coat Armour of Douglas was, "Azure, in chief Three Stars Argent[284]." The Heart is now imperially crowned; but that is a later introduction[285], not borne at least by those who merely quartered the Arms.
Campbell,
Duke of Argyle, Marquis of Lorn, &c. bears in the Second and Third Quarters (for the Lordship of Lorn) a Feudal Charge of "Or, a Limphad (or small Ship) Sable, with Flames of Fire issuing out of the Top of the Mast, and from the Fore and Hindermost Parts of the Ship:" which Fire, says my Author, was called in old blazonry St. Anthony's Fire. The reason is, that, as the Territory lay upon the Coast, this Bearing was indicative of the Tenure by which the Lands were held in capite; viz. by supplying a Ship with twenty Oars in time of War, if required. The Reddendum runs, for the provision of "Unam navem viginti Remorum, si petatur, tempore Belli, &c."[286]
By Marriage, this Lordship, after many generations, came into the Family of Campbell, then Earl of Argyle; but, in process of time, the Flames issuing from the Ship have been extinguished.
This was not an uncommon Armorial Appendage to other Feudal Lords, and Lordships similarly situated.
Thus the Arms of the Isle of Arran are, "Argent, a Ship, with its Sails furled, Sable."
The Earls of Orkney and Caithness have the Bearing of a Ship for the like reason; being Lordships, or Feudal Earldoms, situate on the Coast; but with Differences.