ORDER OF THE THISTLE.

5

the fifteenth century ; and it is difficult to believe that the Order existed,as an organized Fraternity, until the reign of King James the Seventh ofScotland, and Second of England.

No better evidence of the use of Royal Arms, Badges, Ensigns, or Mottoes,is now extant, than the Coins, Seals, and Wardrobe Accounts of earlyMonarchs; and those of the Kings of Scotland afford much information. Onthe gold Coin of King Robert the Second, who ascended the Throne in 1371,and died in 1390, as well as on those of his successor, the Effigy of SaintAndrew, with his Cross, occurs between two Fleurs-de-Lis. 3 * * 6 The silver Coinof King Robert the Third also exhibit a Fleur-de-Lis, while those of his prede-cessors are generally impressed with Pellets, Trefoils, Mullets, or Spur Rowels,and occasionally with small Saltires, 7 which may have been intended for theCross of Saint Andrew. That Symbol was certainly introduced on the Coinsof King James the First, who ascended the Throne in 1406, and died in 1437;and he is represented on some of his pieces with a Fleur-de-Lis on his neck,below which are two small Saltires. 8 Some of the Coins of King James theSecond, who reigned until 1460, also contain the Effigy and Cross of SaintAndrew, together with Fleurs-de-Lis. King James the Third introduced theUnicorn, supporting a Shield of the Arms of Scotland on the money, thencecalled “ Unicornsand though the Thistle was at that time a Royal Badge,it was not placed on the Coinage (except as a Mint mark), until after theyear 1503.

The earliest notice of the Thistle, as the Royal Badge of Scotland, is inthe Inventory of the effects of King James the Third, who died on the 11th ofJune 1488. Among the Jewels of that Prince were, “ A Quhissill of gold,”and “ a Flour the Lys of gold,” and “ a Covering of variand purpir tarter

3 Nisbet, vol. II. pp. 104, 105.

* It is perhaps deserving of remark, that in the great variety of Oaths introduced into Sir David

Lyndsay’s “ Satyre of the three Estatis,” none of the parties are made to swear by Saint Andrew,though Saint James, Saint Anne, Saint Richard, Saint Dennis, and no less than ten other Saints areinvoked.

s Ashmole, p. 99. Nisbet, ut supra. 6 Cardonnel’s Numismata Scotise, p. 128.

7 Ibid.

8 It is said by Cardonnel, p. 67, that on the Coin of King James I. (Plate IV. No. 6.) “ in thecentre, on the breast, hangs a small Saint Andrew’s Crossbut an examination of the piece itselfhas created great doubt of the fact, as it seems to be merely a small saltire, not suspended from theneck.