did you know that in commemoration of that event, Sir John Sinclair GCIE
GCIS (later Lord Pentland) - Secretary of State for Scotland and Governor of
Madras in India, both in the early 20th century - had two Scots *deerhounds*
as his supporters in his coat of arms, the dexter (left) holding a standard
'help' and the sinister (right) 'hold'?
----- Original Message -----
From: <Natrossinc@aol.com>
To: <sinclair@mids.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2000 5:36 AM
Subject: clan dogs
> Speaking of dogs,I love the ballad that commemorates the day that The
Bruce
> and Sir William de St Clair of Rosslyn were out hunting.William had his
two
> hunting hounds called 'Help' and 'Hold' and they were in the Pentland
Hills
> hunting an elusive white hind.When they spotted the hind,the hounds set
off
> in pursuit and it was an even bet that the hind would escape by swimming a
> burn or the hounds would bring it down.William wagered his life against
> ownership of the land they were hunting on that his hounds would win.The
> Bruce accepted this reckless wager and the ballad descibes how close a
call
> it was when the two hounds catch the deer in mid burn and drag it back to
the
> near shore.
> The last two verses--
> The bold St Clair he sleeps in Spain,
> For with good Lord James he did part.
> When they hewed a red path through the host of slain
> To follow the Bruce's heart.
>
> But Help and Hold,as I've been told,
> May be seen in St Katherine's chapelle:
> And scion and heir of the house of St Clair
> Still love a good hound well.
>
> I fondly think that the last line refers not to a love of hunting but more
to
> a love of dogs.It certainly applies to this Sinclair.
> Cheers
> Ross Sinclair
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>
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