Arms of the R(nAi, Bi'rgh of Sanquhar. 89 



Library, which was founded in 1800. The first King- of 

 Scotland, so far as we know, to use the Thistle as a badge 

 was James the Third. It was he who gave the charter of 

 re-erection to Sanquhar in 1484, but whether there is any 

 connection between the two thing^s it is impossible to say. 

 Crests are not often recorded as part of burgh arms in 

 Scotland. Indeed they came into use much later than the 

 other parts of arms. The first Scottish King to ha\e a crest 

 upon liis ;'.rms was Robert III., 1371-1390. 



The thistle was a favourite badge with the old Scottish 

 regiments. It is borne by quite a number still servingf. 

 The accoutrements of the Xithsdale local Militia, which was 

 disbanded in 1814, had the thistle on them. It also ap- 

 peared on those of the Royal Dumfries Yeomanry, which 

 existed about the same time. 



In his Poems and Soui^^s, 1823, James Kennedy has some 

 spirited " Lines addressed to the Scotch Thistle encircling the 

 Castle of Sanquhar, as pourtrayed on the flag of the Incor- 

 porated Trades of said burgh, 1819." The opening lines are 

 as follows : — 



"Hail, Emblem proud, to Scotia long endeared! 



Begirt with threatening spears which never failed ; 

 When England's sons their thorn couched rose iipreared 

 Thou shook'st thy bearded head and still prevailed." 



In this poem, however, Kennedy makes no reference 

 to the thistle being the crest of the burgh, but only refers 

 to it as the national emblem. Similarly, he takes no notice 

 of tlic motto, " Nemo me impune lacessit," which appears 

 on a ribbon at the foot of the flag. 



The seal used in Sanquhar Post Office over a hundred 

 years ago showed the thistle with the word " Sanquhar '^ 

 above. Built into the wall of Sanquhar Churchyard is part 

 of what is belie\ed to be a pre-Reformation tombstone. It 

 bears what appears to be a thistle, but which may in reality 

 be the crowned flying heart of the Douglas family somewhat 

 defaced. 



At the last riding of the marches the thistle was in 

 evidence, for while the Cornet carried a banner — or, more 



