 |
- The lion and the
unicorn
- were fighting for
the crown.
- The lion beat the
unicorn
- all around the
town.
- Some gave them
white bread,
- some gave them
brown.
- Some gave them
plum-cake
- and kicked them
out of town.
The
history of the Unicorn
|
| King James VI of Scotland
succeeded Elizabeth I when she died childless in
1603, effectively uniting Scotland and England
beneath one rule. The Scottish Royal Arms had up
to that point used two unicorns as shield
supporters. The English Arms had used a variety
of supporters, but most frequently had included a
lion. In a tactful gesture then, he placed a lion
upon the left of the new Arms, and a unicorn upon
the right. This was a potent bit of symbolism,
for both the lion and the unicorn had long been
thought to be deadly enemies: both regarded as
king of the beasts, the unicorn rules through
harmony while the lion rules through might, It
came to symbolise a reconciliation between the
Scottish unicorn and the English lion that the
two should share the rule. The effectiveness of
the sentiment, unfortunately, is placed in some
doubt by the famous nursery rhyme. |
 |
 |
| In
the official coat of arms the shield shows the
various royal emblems of different parts of the
United Kingdom: the three lions of England in the
first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland
in the second and the harp of Ireland in the
third. It is surrounded by a garter bearing the
motto Honi soit qui mal y
pense (Evil to him who
evil thinks), which symbolises the Order of the
Garter, an ancient order of knighthood of which
the Queen is Sovereign. The shield is supported
by the English lion and Scottish unicorn and is
surmounted by the Royal crown. Below it appears
the motto of the Sovereign, Dieu
et mon droit (God and my
right). The plant badges of the United Kingdom -
rose, thistle and shamrock - are often displayed
beneath the shield |
The Scottish
version of the Royal Coat of Arms shows the lion
of Scotland in the first and fourth quarters,
with that of England being in the second. The
harp of Ireland is in the third quarter. The
mottoes read In defence
and No one will attack me
with impunity
Crown Copyright |
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Memorable Images 15
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Memorable Images 13
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