No.39

The Scotch Thistle

The Scottish thistle has been the emblem of Scotland since the reign of Alexander III in the 13th century.

The story of how this humble plant acquired such an honour goes back to the feuding between Scotland and Norway. It’s said that one dark night an invading army of King Haakon’s men were stealing up on a camp of Scots, hoping to surprise them. One of the Norwegians in his bare feet stepped on a thistle and let out a cry of pain. This alerted the Scots and the attack was repelled.

In 1470, when James III was on the throne, the thistle appeared on Scottish silver coins.

It seems that not everyone admires our emblem. In some parts of America it has been declared Public Nuisance No1 and was said to be “a noxious and annoying little Scottish weed.”

Scotia's Thistle

Henry Scott Riddell 1798-1870)

Scotia’s thistle guards the grave,

Where repose her dauntless brave;

Never yet the foot of slave

Has trod the wilds of Scotia.

Free from tyrant’s dark control -

Free as waves of ocean roll -

Free as thoughts of minstrel’s soul,

Still roam the sons of Scotia.

Scotia’s hills of hoary hue,

Heaven wraps in wreathes of blue,

Watering with its dearest dew

The healthy lochs of Scotia.

Down each green-wood skirted vale,

Guardian spirits, lingering, hail

Many a minstrel’s melting tale

As told of ancient Scotia.

Wake, my hill-harp! Wildly wake!

Sound by lee and lonely lake,

Never shall this heart forsake

The bonnie wilds of Scotia.

Others o’er the ocean’s foam

Far to other lands may roam,

But for ever be my home

Beneath the sky of Scotia!

-o0o-