VIII. THE STEM. 1 69 



The following notes, among many kindly sent 

 me on the subject of Scottish Heraldry, seem to 

 be the most trustworthy : — 



"The earliest known mention of the thistle as the 

 national badge of Scotland is in the inventory of the 

 effects of James III. ; who probably adopted it as an 

 appropriate illustration of the royal motto, In defence. 



"Thistles occur on the coins of James IV., Mary, 

 James V., and James VI. ; and on those of James VI. 

 they are for the first time accompanied by the motto, 

 Nemo me impune lacesset. 



" A collar of thistles appears on the gold bonnet-pieces 

 of James V. of 1539; and the royal ensigns, as depicted 

 in Sir David Lindsay's armorial register of 1542, are 

 surrounded by a collar formed entirely of golden thistles, 

 with an oval badge attached. 



"This collar, however, was a mere device until the 

 institution, or, as it is generally but inaccurately called, 

 the revival, of the order of the Thistle by James VII. (II. 

 of England), which took place on May 29, 1687." 



Date of James III.'s reign 1460 — -1488. 



