St Kilda Kilts & Scottish Gifts

Lions were a popular symbol for the Dundas kindred. The old shield of the chiefly family, Dundas of Dundas (or ‘of that Ilk’) had a red lion rampant, and variations of that are found for the many cadet branches of Dundas. That was in use since at least the Slains Armorial of the 1560s.

The crest, of a lion peeking out of a bush of oak leaves, with motto Essayez (the French comman ‘try’, as in ‘try this’ or ‘try harder’), was recorded for the Dundas branch of Arniston, with a variation for the Dundases of Philipsotoun and Breast-Mill. This was recorded in Nisbet’s 1722 System of Heraldry.

Dundas of Arnistone in Nisbet, 1722.

The lion rampant in the shield is probably a general expression of loyalty to the Lion Rampant of the Scottish monarch. The crest however is a little more puzzling. At a stretch, it may be a reference to Charles II and the Royal Oak in which he hid after his defeat leading the Scottish army at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. As a rule of thumb, the Dundases tended to be Covenanters during the Civil Wars, no fans of Charles I, but supporters of Charles II against Cromwell.

Otherwise, it could be a more general symbol for cunning and ferocious nature of the Dundas lairds who carried this, but a reminder for patience and to lurk unseen until the right moment to pounce.

MKP 15 September 2023