Scottish Myths and Legends

by Rodger Moffet

  Later that day Merlin was on his own in the forest when out of nowhere a group of men he recognised as being enemies appeared and set upon him. Merlin was beaten then pushed, causing him to fall into a nearby river, where he was finally run through with a stake whilst helpless in the water. This beating, drowning, and fatal impaling was the "triple death" that Merlin foresaw only hours earlier.

  Reference to Merlin's final resting place in Drumelzier has been made since as early as the 13th century. Thomas the Rhymer, famous laird, poet and supposed prophet, was said to have foreseen the 1603 Union of Crowns when he predicted that when the Tweed floods into Merlin's grave Scotland and England will have one king. And such a flooding from the Tweed occurred, no doubt coincidentally, on the very day Scotland's James VI was crowned King of England.

  The place in Drumelzier where Merlin is said to be buried is marked modestly by a thorn tree, near where a burn joins onto the River Tweed. The town has placed a plaque at the bottom of the tree acknowledging "the wizard Merlin's grave", and where it also states that the present tree is not the original one, which was swept away in a flood sometime in the late 1920s.

  Symbolic Scotland

  There are many symbols which can embody the character of a nation. Scotland is no different in that respect; The saltire, this thistle and the lion rampant are all significant symbols of our nation. Furthermore there are symbols held dear by the many of the Scottish Clans, Some obvious in their representation on clan crests others less well known in clan artifacts.

  The Story of The Saltire

  By Rodger Moffet

  Take a walk through Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness or any other Scottish town and city and you will see countless saltire flags. They adorn the flagpoles of buildings, appear on t-shirts, key rings, mugs - anything that can accommodate one. But how many know the story behind Scotland's national flag - prepare to be enlightened!

  First of all lets start with a very remarkable fact; The saltire is believe it or not the oldest continuously used sovereign flag in the world. Legend has it that in 832 AD, a Pictish army under King Angus MacFergus, High King of Alba, along with a force of Scots under Eochaidh, King of Dalriada (and grandfather of Kenneth MacAlpin), came up against a Northumbrian force under King Aethelstan of East Anglia in Lothian. The Pictish army were surrounded by superior numbers and prayed for assistance. That night Saint Andrew who was martyred on a saltire shaped cross appeared to Angus and assured him of victory.

  As both armies prepared for battle the following morning an image appeared in the sky of a white cross. The image encouraged the Picts and frightened the Northumbrian army who fled in panic. The site of the battle is known as Athelstanford after the Northumbrian leader who was killed in the battle. From then onwards the Saltire has been used as Scotland's national flag. Traditionally the saltire is blue (some say to represent the sky in the vision) but some versions have existed which have the white cross on a black background (due to the shortage of vegetable dyes that could reproduce the colour) and even green or red.

  The Saltire is also referred to as St Andrew's cross and as you will certainly know he is the patron saint of Scotland. what you may not know (unless you come from these countries) is that he also happens to be patron saint of Romania and Russia. St Andrew was a fisherman from Galilee and brother of Simon (Peter). One of the first disciples of Christ, Andrew is thought to have went on to be a missionary in Asia and Greece. He was finally crucified by the Romans at Patras in 69 AD. The legend of St Andrews cross came from the fact that feeling unworthy of a crucifixion similar to Christ he demanded to be crucified on an X shaped cross.

  His remains were entombed in Constantinople but later removed by St Rule who was told to take the remains to the 'ends of the earth' for safe keeping. He removed a tooth, arm bone, kneecap and some fingers from the tomb and set off for the most remote place he could find. That place was on Scotland's east coast and has become known as St Andrews. The relics were later destroyed during the Reformation and most of the other remains were stolen from Constantinople and moved to Amalfi in Italy. Some of these relics were presented to Scotland in 1879 and 1969.

  And so the Saltire became the flag of Scotland. The Saltire with its clear religious significance was worn by Scottish crusaders to the Holy Land and incorporated into their coats of arms. Many Scottish noble families adopted the saltire in this way; Bruces, Johnstones, Kirkpatrics and even some Norman families.

  In 1511 the warship 'The Great Michael' was launched. commissioned by King James IV of Scotland this was the biggest warship in the world at that time. The 'mayn standert' was the saltire and records show that it cost a whopping £72 7s. 6d. A few years later just before the battle of Flodden the flag makers were once again busy. Records of the accounts of the Lord High Treasurer show details of the commission for purchase of material and labour costs for making the King's standards.

  During the Scottish Reformation the Saltire appeared on many flags of the Covenanting forces. It is suggested that this "Covenanters flag" inspired the blue in the new flag of the United States during the American Revolution.

  In the1707 Act of Union, Scotland and England became the United Kingdom. A new flag was designed that united the crosses of St Andrew and St George. in early versions of the union flag flown in Scotland the cross of St Andrew appeared in front of the Cross of St George. Later the cross of St Patrick was added to recognise Irelands inclusion on the union. This cross is a red saltire which completes the well known design of the Union Flag (it is mistaken to refer to this flag as the 'Union Jack' as a 'jack' is a flag flown on a ships bow and not on land so any other representation of this flag should be called the union flag) Another interesting point regarding the union flag is that it has never been legally recognised as the official flag of the United Kingdom.

  During the time of the Jacobite rebellions the Jacobite forces again used the saltire, however this version sometimes featured a gold cross on a blue background.

  The official blue of the saltire has varied over the years; from sky blue to dark navy and this depended on the availability of dyes. The saltire component of the Union Flag is a darker navy blue and many saltire makers adopted this colour. In 2003 the Scottish Parliament met to discuss the matter and decided after consultation with the Lord Lyon King of Arms to adopt a lighter shade (Pantone 300 to be precise).

  As Scotland faces an exciting future filled with the promise of greater autonomy and self determination the Saltire will become even more important as a rallying symbol not just for residents of Scotland but for all those in every corner of the world who's hearts are here.

  The Luckenbooth

  By Rodger Moffet

  The Royal Mile is a long cobbled street that runs down from Edinburgh castle to the palace of Holyrood. When Edinburgh castle was first established this was the only accessible route, the castle's situation on the dark rocky plug of an extinct volcano made it impregnable from all but the east where the weather battered remains of the old volcano formed a natural ramp.

  With the establishment of Holyrood palace, or rather the original monastery in the 12th century the route between the two became an important thoroughfare. Businesses and government offices sprang up as well as several churches and the magnificent St Giles Cathedral.

  By the 16th century many parts of this route became dedicated to markets and the wide area running down from St Giles towards the Canongate featured some of the city's first permanent shops. Many of these housed small trade people who made and sold their wares and among the most popular were the jewellers. The shops themselves were very small and were called 'Locked Booths'. From this we get the word 'Luckenbooth'

  The Luckenbooth brooch became a very popular item in 16th century Scotland. It featured the heart and crown - the 'Heart & Crown of Scotland' and was romantically linked to the tragic Mary, Queen of Scots as it was the brooch she had given to Lord Darnley.

  The tradition was that the young man would give his lady the brooch on the
ir wedding day. When their first child arrived the brooch would then be pinned to the babies shawl to protect it from "evil spirits". As such it had very similar connotations to the Irish 'Claddagh' ring especially with the similar heart shaped theme.

  The style of the Luckenbooth brooch became very popular throughout the UK. By the 18th century the trade in silver to the new world featured the little brooch and many ended up traded with Native Americans, particularly the Iroquois of the Six Nations. As a result of this the Luckenbooth became a popular decorative symbol in their costumes.

  Today Luckenbooth can still be purchased from small traders on Edinburgh's Royal Mile as well as online!

  The Scottish Thistle

  By Rodger Moffet

  The thistle of Scotland is said to be the oldest national flower on record, the legend of how this proud and regal plant became a national emblem goes back many hundreds of years, to the time when Scotland was being rampaged by the vicious Vikings.

  From 795 Scotland was under assault by wave upon wave of vicious Vikings. It was a frightening time to live in, Scotland was vulnerable to attack it's delicate civilisation built by generations of Christian monks.

  For hundreds of years much of Scotland was part of the Kingdom of Norway. Even after Norway became christianised the attacks continued. Not until 1266 were the Western Isles returned to Scottish rule.

  By 1263 however, Norway seems to have had little interest in their former territory, that was until King Alexander III proposed to buy back the Western Isles and Kintyre from the Norse King Haakon IV. The thought of relieving King Alexander of some of his riches and territories appears to have re-kindled Norse interest in Scotland.

  Late in the summer of 1263 King Haakon of Norway, now intent on conquering the Scots, set off with a sizeable fleet of longships for the Scottish coast. Gales and fierce storms forced some of the ships onto the beach at Largs in Ayrshire, and a Norwegian force was landed. Legend has it that at some point during the invasion the Norsemen tried to surprise the sleeping Scottish Clansmen. In order to move more stealthily under the cover of darkness the Norsemen removed their footwear. But as they crept barefoot they came across an area of ground covered in thistles and one of Haakon's men unfortunately stood on one and shrieked out in pain, thus alerting the Clansmen to the advancing Norsemen.

  His shout warned the Scots who defeated the Norsemen at the Battle of Largs, thus saving Scotland from invasion. The important role that the thistle had played was recognised and so was chosen as Scotland's national emblem.

  Haakon died returning to Norway, a treaty returned the Hebrides to Scottish rule, and a marriage contract wedded Scotland and Norway.

  Another version of this legend attributes the legendary King Achius with the appropriation of the thistle. This King is said to have founded the Order of the Thistle in the ninth century, limiting the number of Knights to 13, including himself. Unfortunately, this story is yet to be proved, but there definitely is an Order of the Knights of the Thistle which commenced – or was refounded – by James VII in 1687. The Order has had a chequered history but today is firmly anchored in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh.

  The Knights have the motto 'Nemo me impune lacessit', which translates as 'No one assails me with impunity', but is more commonly read as 'Wha daur meddle wi' me'. This motto is also used by Scotland as a nation and, thinking of the spiny prickles of the thistle, could hardly be bettered.

  The Fairy Flag of Dunvegan

  By Rodger Moffet

  One of the most treasured possessions of the clan MacLeod is the famous Fairy Flag of Dunvegan. The story behind the flag is one of the greatest romantic tales in all the highlands...

  A great young Chief of the clan MacLeod fell in love with a fairy princess, a bean sidhe, one of the Shining Folk. The pair were determined to marry but the King of the fairies forbade the union. Such was the young fairy princesses distress that he finally relented and agreed to a period of 'Handfasting'. This was a form of trial marriage which traditionally would last for a year and day and was common in the highlands at the time. however The king demanded that at the end of the handfasting the princess must return to her own folk and take nothing human with her.

  The couple lived in harmony and soon a young son was born to them. Alas the time sped by and soon the handfasting was over. The couple parted with great sorry at the famous fairy bridge and the princess returned to the fairy kingdom. As she left she made her husband, the chief promise that her son would be cared for well and never allowed to cry for the sound of his cries would cause her untold grief even in the far away fairy realm. The Chief kept his promise and the young MacLeod was never left unattended and never allowed to cry.

  However the young chief grieved terribly for the loss of his wife and the other clansfolk decided that they should organise a great party in the Castle of Dunvegan on the occasion if his birthday to take his mind away from his grief. The birthday celebration ran long into the night with high spirits and the young nursemaid assigned to watch over the infant crept from the room to watch the revelries. As she watch enraptured by the celebrations she did not hear the baby kick off his covers and begin to cry.

  The Child's mother heard the cries from her fairy realm and suddenly appeared by his side. She took up the young baby and cradled him back to sleep, covering him in a fairy shawl. She sang to the child and was still singing when the maid returned. The maid could hear the lullaby but not see where it was coming from. She immediately took the baby with the shawl she did not recognise to the chief and told him what happened.

  Many years later when the child grew into a young man he recounted a tale to his father that the shawl was a great talisman for the clan and that should they ever find themselves in mortal danger they could wave the flag three times and the fairy legions would come to their aid. however this talisman could only be used three times whereupon it would return to where it had come form taking the flag waver with it. The Chief instantly realised the young man was telling the truth and the flag was kept safe.

  The Flag has since been used twice; Once when the Macleod's were vastly outnumbered by their bitter enemies the MacDonald's. The chief took the flag from its case and waved it three times, at which point the battle suddenly turned in favour of the MacLeod's. A second time the land was blighted by a plague on the cattle and the clan kinsmen were dying of starvation. The chief again raised the flag and the Fairies returned to bring the cattle back to life.

  This may seem like a fanciful tale but many MacLeod's believe wholeheartedly in the legend. So much so that during world War II many Macleod servicemen carried a picture of the flag in their wallets. It is said that of the Macleod airmen who defended these shores during the Battle of Britain not one who carried the picture was lost and indeed the Chief of the clan offered to bring the flag to Dover to wave at the Germans should they attempt to invade.

  The flag can still be seen in Dunvegan Castle on Skye.

  The Clach na Bratach

  By Amanda Moffet

  The Clach na Bratach is considered to be the most precious relic of the Clan Robertson. It is a rock crystal charm stone and was unearthed when the chief's standard pole was pulled from the ground while on the march to Bannockburn. Since then the stone has been carried into battle by every Robertson chief.

  The Clach na Bratach is said to have been a mystical, power stone which could do many magical things such as heal humans and animals, and it could also predict the future.

  It is said that the Robertsons used to carry the Clach na Bratach into battle, and it was originally done by hand until they caged it on top of their standard pole. When it wasn't being carried to battle the stone was kept in a silken purse made by the Countess of Breadalbane.

  They say that the stones primary function was to heal, and if the Clach na Bratach came into contact with water, the water automatically gained curative properties for all.

  Legend tells that the stone could also predict the death of a Robertson clan chief. I
f the stone turned cloudy, then people would know that the chief's death would be imminent.

  In 1715 Alexander Robertson of Struan, also known as the Poet Chief, consulted the Clach before he headed off to fight in the first Jacobite Rising, and perhaps unsurprisingly it filled his heart with dread when it saw that the orb had developed a large crack. Perhaps it told the truth. If Struan had not joined the rebellion, his own fortunes and that of his successors might have been very different.

  The Annat Skull