322 WILD FLOWERS. 



although even the last, and more modern, event has 

 been a fertile source of dispute. Dr. G. Johnston, 

 of Berwick-upon-Tweed, points out that, according 

 to Pinkerton, the first notice of the badge of the 

 thistle in Scotland is contained in Dunbar's " Thris- 

 sell and the Rose;" which was written on the occa- 

 sion of the marriage of James IV. with Margaret 

 Tudor, in the year 1503. In this composition the 

 author mentions the plant as being chosen by that 

 king, and as being emblematic of every kingly attri- 

 bute ; telling us that he 



* * "callit scho all flouris that grew on field, 

 Discerning all thair fassionis and effeiris :" 



until he took notice of 



"Theawfullthrissell * * 

 And saw him kepit with a busche of speiris ; 

 Considering him so able for the weiris, 

 A radius crown of rubeis scho him gaif, 

 And said, ' In field go forth, and fend the laif.' " 



Many historians, however, agree in attributing 

 the establishment of the Order of the Thistle to 

 the Scottish king, Achaius : ; who, in the ninth cen- 

 tury, is supposed to have made a treaty, offensive 

 and defensive, with that " thatenreichsten Mann" 

 of Yon Platen, Charlemagne ; while Lesley, Bishop 

 of Ross, assures us that it dates from the battle be- 

 tween Athelstan, King of Northumbria, and Hungus, 

 King of the Picts ; on the eve of which, he says, the 

 Order of St. Andrew, or the Thistle, was instituted, 

 to commemorate the appearance of that saint in the 

 heavens, as an earnest of victory to his countrymen. 



Such are the marvellous tales of olden time. But 



