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Dear Laurel, Lena and Gerald and a tip of the hat to
the Sinclair List,
((In response to the notes that follow this
response;))
Excellent research and this is good evidence that the
motto existed in the family from before the 1400's. One of the interesting
observations of Rosslyn was that is was a stone depository or archive of many of
the cultural, mythical and spiritual values of the time. I leave it to better
scholars that I to develop this side. I do suggest though that the design and
carving at Rosslyn was done with the most planned purpose behind it hence the
inclusion of the motto is an important element and statement. I am assuming that
it was integrated with the original carvings of the time when the chapel was
built.
The important thing I have learned is that it predated
the revival of the clan culture in 1800 when a lot of what we know know as
"clan" identification was developed or redeveloped and was important
to the ancestral family.
Now I suspect that discovering the origin of such
mottos is very difficult and may go well back in time to sources that may remain
forever unidentified. What is then curious is the
following;
1. When did such mottos start becoming common for
family leaders.
2. Was the practice started in the Norman Culture or
did it await the period after the migration to the Anglo Saxon Culture in
England Wales and Scotland?
3. Was the letter "W" in the alphabet at the
time or was v = w or indeed was there a Swedish import of the motto into the
spelling of work-verk. We forget that the Swedish culture was highly developed
in the middle ages and had heraldry and chivalry to becoming a well developed
art. I suspect that because the "o" was also changed
(work = verk) we are looking at old English,
phonetic language or simply the import of another word from Sweden.
4. Alternatively was this a Scottish / British origin.
(As the use of mottos was widespread, I suspect not).
5. For the uninitiated, was the Caithness Coat of Arms
the same as the Sinclair Coat of Arms?
6.
What is the significance of the artichoke?
Great vork,
Neil (Morse -Wallgren) Sinclair
Toronto/PEI/Argyll
Hello Neil And all,
I hope I do not need permission to offer this quote? See the booklet entitled, "ROSSLYN CHAPEL" by The Earl of Rosslyn on page 14 ist paragraph -- "The memorial is surmounted by an artichoke and bears the Caithness coat of arms and the family motto, 'Commit thy verk to God' ". Yes, it is spelled verk and not work! Gerald Gibbons On 20-Oct-99, Neil Sinclair/Peggy Rintoul wrote: > Laurel posed an excellent question on mottos and one I have thought of yet > have never found an answer. In fact in any research I have conducted on > family crests and tartans, I never found any clue or authority as to where > any of the clan mottos originated and why. Any enlightenment is appreciated. > Neil Sinclair Toronto/PEI/Argyle > -----Original Message----- > From: Spirit One Email <laurel@spiritone.com> > To: Sinclair Discussion <sinclair@mids.org> > Date: 20 October, 1999 12:40 PM > Subject: Motto > > >> Cousins, >> Does anyone know when our Motto: "Commit Thy Works Unto God" was first >> adopted? Frederick Pohl seems to indicate pg 28 of "Prince Henry Sinclair" >> that Henry knew of it. But how far back does it go? >> Laurel >> >> [ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org >> [ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html |