Justice, A Sword in Pale, supporting a Balance.
Skene, Three Daggers, in the Scottish Language called Skenes.
Mottoes.
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."