Arms of the Roval Burgh of Sanquhar. 91 



It will be observed that the writer does not say that this 

 is the burgh motto but only that it appears on an old (\ng. 

 The motto, however, now finds a place on the Provost's chain 

 of office and on the burgh piper's heraldic banner, so that it 

 may be held to have been adopted by the burgh. Sanquhar, 

 it may be mentioned in passing, is one of the few, if not the 

 only burgh in Scotland, to possess an official piper. Such an 

 official was an important person in days gone past. Mr W. 

 Wilson, in Folklore, has preserved some interesting informa- 

 tion regarding those old time musicians. In the Records of 

 the Privy Council for 1607 there is a complaint made that 

 Lord Crichton of Sanquhar has mustered the men of the 

 Barony and Sir Robert Dalyell, younger, the Provost, " had 

 convenit the haill inhabitants of Sanquhar, and with drum 

 and pipe led them " to the borders of Ayrshire with intent to 

 commit crime. The present piper, Robert Brown, was 

 appointed by the Town Council in 1910, and a heraldic 

 banner was presented for his use in 191 4. In Xotcs and 

 Queries (page 38) Mr Tom Wilson makes the following in- 

 teresting remarks on the motto and crest : — " Quite as dis- 

 tinguished as the arms if not more so is the crest of Sanquhar 

 burgh. The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland, the 

 badge of our Kings, the symbol of freedom and independence. 

 It is a crest that every son of Sanquhar may well be proud of. 

 Nothing could more fitly represent the manly independence of 

 our forefathers. Then the burgh motto, ' Xemo me impune 

 lacessit,' ' No one attacks me with impunity,' or in the trans- 

 lation favoured by the Sanquhar weavers, ' Dinna meddle wi' 

 me or I'll bite ye,' surely nothing could more appropriately 

 accompany the castle and the thistle. It has for centuries 

 been the motto of the Kings of Scotland and is the proud 

 legend which encircles the St. Andrew's Cross of the Knights 

 of the Thistle. When or how Sanquhar got its grant of 

 arms is not known. They are not recorded in the Lyon 

 Office. But, as described abo\e, they have been in use for 

 the last two centuries. It is just possible that the thistle and 

 royal motto have some connection with the memorable visit 

 paid by King James the Sixth to Sanquhar on July 31st, 1617. 

 We know that he had a right kingly welcome. It was an 



